South Africa: Dlamini Zuma congratulates new Gauteng Premier Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has congratulated the new Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, on his election. Lesufi was on Thursday elected to the position during a special sitting of the provincial legislature. It came after former Premier, David Makhura, resigned from the top post on Tuesday. Dlamini Zuma said: After eight years of dedication, selfless leadership and commitment to the development of our communities, Mr David Makhura decided to hand over the baton to the new leadership. This bold and courageous move by the former Premier will go a long way in ensuring continued service delivery to our people. This well-executed handover of power to the new leadership is exemplary and should inspire and propel our democracy going forward. She said the new leadership under Premier Lesufi will surely be able to continue the good work done in this province under the stewardship of the former premier. We need to ensure improved governance, oversight, accountability and institutional stability towards effective and efficient functioning municipalities across the province which meet the aspirations of the population we serve. We wish Premier Lesufi well in his new role and look forward to working and supporting him to institutionalise and implement the District Development Model (DDM) in an effort to ensure that municipalities are supported to deliver quality services to the people. The Minister thanked Makhura for the work he had done in putting the province on a positive trajectory and wished him well in all his future endeavours. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. U.S. imposes sanctions on Iranian leaders over role in suppressing domestic protests Xinhua) 11:03, October 07, 2022 WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday announced sanctions against Iranian leaders over their role in shutting down Internet access in the country and in adopting other "violent" measures to quell the ongoing domestic protests sparked by the death of a young girl. Altogether, seven senior Iranian officials were designated by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for sanctions, including Minister of the Interior Ahmad Vahidi, Minister of Communications Eisa Zarepour, as well as five officials within Iran's security services senior leadership, according to the Treasury's statement. "As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of these individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC," read the statement. "In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked." The U.S. sanctions came in the wake of the death last month of 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini. Amini died while in the custody of Iran's morality police, who said she failed to properly wear the Islamic headscarf known as the hijab. Amini's death triggered nationwide protests in Iran, during which women were seen waiving and burning the veils. Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has accused the United States of having "long attempted to undermine Iran's stability and security." (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) As parents, we want our children to attend school, learn in a safe environment, have access to information that will serve them well in the future, and have people in their lives who care for them. Its what all parents want. Our schools have made great strides towards increasing safety and support for all students in recent years. However, a repeated and concerning emphasis on gender identity and sexual orientation is coming from some (municipal election) candidates, including those running under the banner of ParentsVoice BC. It is a registered elector organization with a goal to be the preeminent resource on education in BC for everyone (including parents and teachers). ParentsVoice BC has also been endorsed by Action4Canada, a vicious far-right organization that, in a recent press release (Sept. 28), falsely accused B.C. teachers of grooming children and implied sexual abuse in the classrooms, amongst other blatantly false statements. Parents Voice BC discredits teachers and accuses current (school) trustees of blindly following the dictates of entrenched interests at the expense of students. One Kelowna trustee candidate said, Ive heard from several community members that theres more talk about sex in schools than academics. Its an untrue, ridiculous statement and an insult to educators. We believe that any group running with a platform of taking back our schools from the resources available to make children feel valued should not have our vote. ParentsVoice BC consistently talks about taking back our schools and removing current, validated resources. Please continue to critically evaluate statements made by candidates, look for those that are clearly based in kindness and facts, and make sure to vote for school trustees in this election. Carmen Klassen, Carina Teichreb, Shelley Courtney STORY: Darya Safai, an Iranian-born member of Belgium's parliament, took a scissors to her hair on Thursday (October 6) - to applause from other lawmakers - after asking the country's foreign minister about Belgium's response to a crackdown on widespread protests inside Iran. Following Safai's example, foreign minister Hadja Lahbib snipped off a lock of her hair. A third lawmaker, Goedele Liekens, also cut her hair. SheKnows Heidi Klum is celebrating a big milestone on Instagram, but shes not doing it with balloons or confetti. She found a much sexier way to honor hitting 10 million followers on the social media platform: hot-pink lingerie. The 49-year-old supermodel posted an Instagram Reel that might take the cake for being one of her popular [] Bethenny Frankel is suing TikTok for the misuse of her content after scammers on the app allegedly created fake ads with her videos. In the lawsuit, Frankel alleged that multiple companies and individuals on TikTok stole her content and used them to promote counterfeit items on the platform. The suit also claims that the reputation of Frankels brand is being damaged and tarnished through unauthorised associations with products that she does not support. The civil action, which is for injunctive relief and damages for violation of Ms. Frankels and Class Members rights of publicity, also claims that the reality star was not compensated in any manner for the use of her work in these scams. The fake ads have allegedly and ultimately resulted in irreparable harm to Frankel. The lawsuit notes that once Frankel posted a TikTok video warning her followers about the ad and encouraging them to report it, but the clip was deleted within minutes; it claims that TikTok allegedly removed her video because it was abusive. During an interview withThe Washington Post, Frankel said she hopes the case encourages TikTok to enforce better strategies to protect its content creators and consumers. First and foremost, I want there to be a tangible change, whether its an act, a law, a process, a step, that protects content creators, she said. An effort needs to be made by TikTok to protect creators and consumers. There are people who purchased these products after they saw these ads with me in them. She told The Post that scammers have impacted her reputation and shes received multiple messages from her followers about the fake ads. People were saying, I thought you sold out. Youre hawking these bad products, she explained. Its such a violation of me as a brand, a media figure. You cant decide to just use me as an advertisement day in and day out. In a press release regarding the lawsuit shared with The Independent, Frankel emphasised how the misuse of ones content on TikTok has been widespread issue affecting creators of all sizes, before detailing how much attention all ads on this popular platform can receive. Story continues I want to be a voice for change and use my platform to create a shift in the industry, she said. When you look at advertising on television, its highly regulated. TikTok ads are getting millions-upon-millions of views exponentially more than TV and yet its the Wild West of advertising. On Instagram on Thursday, The Real Housewives of New York City star wrote about how she wants to keep social media platforms safe. Social media, and its impact as the most powerful medium on the planet, cannot be a reckless marketplace where people risk their rights and privacy being violated without protection, she wrote. My demand for myself, for creators and consumers is correct and justand I wont stop until myself, my community and our children are protected. This isnt Frankels first time discussing the misuse of her videos. Although she claimed that one of her TikTok videos about fake ads was deleted, she posted a different one last month claiming that the social media app was a huge problem. The bigger issue is TikTok, she said. This whole social media thing is a breeding ground for scams. And what if this really really damaged my image? Because a lot of people are feeling like, oh she sold out. She continued to criticise TikTok, claiming that she couldnt contact them before sharing that she was getting in touch with a big lawyer who takes down major companies when they do things wrong. Regarding some of the platforms rules for copyright and intellectual property, Ashley Nash-Hahn, a spokesperson for TikTok, told The Post that the app has several ways to flag fraudulent videos. We have strict policies to both protect peoples hard earned intellectual property and keep misleading content off of TikTok, she said. We regularly review and improve our policies and processes in order to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts and further strengthen our systems. The Independent has contacted TikTok for further comment. Beyonce has responded to accusations from Right Said Fred, the English pop band who said the 41-year-old sampled their 1991 hit song Im Too Sexy without permission, as reported by The Sun. Normally the artist approaches us, but Beyonce didnt because she is such an arrogant person, she just had probably thought come and get me so we heard about it after the fact, when you did, Right Said Fred told the publication. But everyone else, Drake and Taylor Swift, they came to us. To use our melody they need our permission so they send us the demo and we approve it and if so we get a co-write credit, the brothers continued. With this Beyonce thing there are 22 writers its ridiculous so so we would get about 40p. Right Said Fred expressed that they had little hope for resolving the matter. We cant stop it. There is nothing we can do. It is s**t, they said. You are going to get into a conversation with someone who has a lot more presence and power and money than we do. And that wont go well. The duo concluded that it would be best to let it go. A representative for Beyonce then reached out to The Sun with a statement, refuting the duos claims. The comments made by Right Said Fred stating that Beyonce used Im Too Sexy in Alien Superstar without permission are erroneous and incredibly disparaging, they said. Permission was not only granted for its use, but they publicly spoke of their gratitude for being on the album. For their song, there was no sound recording use, only the composition was utilized. According to the representative, Beyonces team asked for permission from the bands publisher on May 11, 2022, and the publisher approved the request on June 15, 2022. The duo was paid for the usage in Aug. of 2022. Collectively the Right Said Fred writers own more than any other singular writer and have co-writer credit, they continued. The accusation is false. Fred and Richard Fairbrass, the brothers who formed Right Said Fred, made the accusations in October when they spoke with The Sun at the 2022 Broadcast Music Inc. Awards in London. Story continues In July, however, the brothers expressed a different sentiment on Twitter, saying its nice to get a writing credit on the new Beyonce album. Its nice to get a writing credit on the new Beyonce album. Renaissance Credits: Drake, A. G. Cook, Syd, Right Said Fred, & More #Beyonce https://t.co/vnjFftkMLk Right Said Fred (@TheFreds) July 22, 2022 Why do you think the English band has now changed their tune? Cannabis justice advocates in front of the US Capitol last year US cannabis policy has been thrust to the fore after President Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon for Americans federally convicted of possessing small amounts of the drug. Mr Biden also urged governors to do likewise on state offences and called for a review on whether cannabis should be listed as a less serious drug. Federal law currently classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse". As one White House official noted, that's "the same schedule as for heroin and LSD, and it's even higher than the classification for fentanyl and methamphetamine - the drugs that are driving [America's] overdose epidemic". "It makes no sense," Mr Biden said on Thursday, as he directed his attorney general and health secretary to oversee a review. "Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It's time that we right these wrongs." The news came as a surprise to many, but it has set cannabis stocks ablaze. Advocates say the move is a first - albeit overdue - step to bringing a $33bn (30bn) industry out of the shadows and providing relief to those impacted by a "war on drugs" that began in the 1970s. "It's a welcome conversation starter," said Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance non-profit. "We've been waiting for some action around cannabis reform federally, so we welcome the opportunity to use it for a much broader conversation about reform." As the White House itself has noted, Mr Biden's pardons - for "simple possession" - are limited in scope. Only about 6,500 people with federal convictions and some District of Columbia (DC) residents are eligible for the relief. That's because, while nearly 29 million Americans have been arrested for cannabis-related violations since 1965, nobody is currently in federal prison solely for possession. In addition, most convictions for possession are at the state and local level, and presidential pardons only apply to federal charges. Story continues Cannabis is legal for recreational use in 19 states, and for medicinal use in 37 states and the District of Columbia Ms Frederique argues, however, that the president's actions have "put teeth behind" efforts to relieve the perceived harms of cannabis prohibition. Organisations like hers are calling on the president to de-schedule the drug - that is, repeal cannabis from the US Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and regulate it in the same way as alcohol or tobacco. "Without de-scheduling, people are going to keep facing criminal charges and be denied federal benefits; marijuana research will continue to face hindrances; veterans won't be able to access medical cannabis programmes; federal employees can still be fired for using cannabis; entrepreneurs and businesses will not have access to funding; and, banks will continue to be hesitant to offer loans," Ms Frederique said. If the Biden-initiated review does ultimately call for re-classifying cannabis, the federal government will be catching up to reforms already underway in several US states. Currently, 37 states and DC have legalised medical cannabis, while 19 states have approved the drug for recreational use. That represents well over 40% of the US population. Voters in five more states - Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota - will cast ballots next month on whether to allow recreational cannabis use, with at least four more ballot referendums expected in 2023 and 2024. It is a reflection of how much the politics of cannabis reform have changed over a short period of time. A Gallup poll last year showed that a record 68% of Americans are now in favour of legalising the drug. And, while Democrats and independents are far more likely to support loosening restrictions on cannabis use, about half of Republicans are also on board, the poll shows. Reacting to Mr Biden's announcement on Thursday, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina gave "credit where credit is due". "I don't always agree with the Biden administration, I've been very vocal about that, but this is a step in the right direction," Ms Mace told the Fox Business Network. In fact, Mr Biden's actions represent an about-face on his own track record as a lawmaker. He claims to have never touched cannabis and, over a 35-year tenure in the US Senate, authored and voted in favour of many tough-on-drug laws. Industry experts expect that broad praise for his Thursday announcement will benefit the president and his party in midterm elections next month that threaten Democrats' control of Washington. "Moving to repeal the federal prohibition of marijuana isn't just good policy. It's good politics," Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advocacy group, told the BBC. He argued that, by engaging with the matter from his bully pulpit, the president is "taking an issue that has been seen politically as a fringe issue, and has legitimised it". But it is only Congress - not the president - who can unilaterally act to amend or repeal cannabis prohibition. Bills to de-schedule cannabis and to ease the financial burdens on cannabis retailers have passed this year in the US House of Representatives - but none of these efforts have advanced in the upper chamber of Congress. That is in spite of vocal backing for certain measures by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who holds the power to bring bills to the floor but has been unable to garner enough support. "By having the most powerful elected politician in this country talking about marijuana policy and taking steps to impact marijuana policy, that has elevated this debate," said Mr Armentano. "He has squarely put the pressure back on Congress, where it belongs, and said: it's up to you to finish the job." The Biden administration has reunited 500 children separated from their parents under the Trump White Houses zero tolerance border policy, an official told The Hill Friday. The benchmark follows nearly two years of steady work by the Biden administration, which tasked itself with reuniting an estimated more than 1,000 children who remained separated from their parents due to the 2018 Trump policy. Five hundred is a really important milestone. Obviously, the first step for these families is that physical reunification and going through that process, Michelle Brane, executive director of the administrations Family Reunification Task Force, told The Hill. Those are 500 individual children that are now with their parents. The Biden administration launched its family reunification task force weeks into taking office, pledging to contact the parents, many of whom are outside the U.S. and may no longer reside in their home country. Outrage over the policy pushed Trump to suspend it, but not before separating more than 5,000 children from their parents. Brane said the task force still has nearly 700 children it is still trying to reunify with their parents. The administration in September of last year launched two sites together.gov and its Spanish-language counterpart juntos.gov to give families a portal to actively seek reunification. Some 200 families are still being processed through the portal, and another 150 who have been initially contacted by the government have yet to do so. There is also a group of parents for the more than 150 children the task force has not yet been able to contact. Were making progress. We have been able to contact many of the families that we had not previously had any contact with when we came into this job and into this mission. And we know that there is a lot of work left to be done. We are committed to continuing to work to find these families, Brane said, an effort that has included visiting villages in other countries in an effort to locate the parents. Story continues Obviously the last cases are the hardest cases in many ways. Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union representing those separated under the Trump policy in a class action suit, said the task force still has significant work to do. The Biden administration should be applauded for reuniting hundreds of families cruelly separated by the Trump administration, but unfortunately there could be more than a 1,000 families who are still separated, and we still havent even found 150 families, said Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project and lead counsel in the case that ended the Trump family separation practice. The Biden administration has allowed such families to temporarily reside in the U.S., offering work permits for three years to parents who were separated from their children. While they can seek to renew that status, in and of itself it is not a pathway to citizenship. The reunification program also comes with mental health services through nonprofit partners, including sessions to prepare prior to reunification for children that have in some cases not seen their parents for four years. That process has come with its own challenges. Reports indicate some children reunited with their parents have suffered severe emotional trauma as a result of the separation. A study by Physicians for Human Rights indicated that the cases meet the definition of torture as defined by the U.N. Convention Against Torture. In the cases reviewed, it is apparent that U.S. officials intentionally carried out actions causing severe pain and suffering in order to punish and intimidate mainly Central American asylum seekers to not pursue their asylum claims, the study stated. Clinicians identified symptoms and behaviors consistent with trauma and its residual effects in nearly all of the parents and children. That includes depression, constant worry/preoccupations, frequent crying, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, recurring nightmares and overwhelming anxiety. Four families have since launched a suit against the government, seeking damages for the trauma. Updated at 4:22 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Nandita Bose NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons threatens to bring about the biggest such risk since the Cuban Missile Crisis, adding Washington was "trying to figure out" Putin's off-ramp. The White House has said repeatedly that it has seen no indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in despite what it calls Putin's "nuclear saber-rattling." But Biden on Thursday made clear he was keeping a wary eye on Putin and how he might react as Ukraine's military makes gains against Russian invaders. "For the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons, if in fact things continue down the path they'd been going," Biden told Democratic donors in New York. He also said, "we have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis." In the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States under President John Kennedy and Soviet Union under its leader, Nikita Khrushchev, came close to the use of nuclear weapons over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Putin, said Biden, is "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, is significantly underperforming." "I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon," Biden said. Biden said he and U.S. officials are searching for a diplomatic off-ramp. "We're trying to figure out what is Putins off-ramp...Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position he does not, not only lose face but lose significant power in Russia," Biden said. Biden spoke at the New York home of businessman James Murdoch, turning to the son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch to try to boost his party's chances in Nov. 8 congressional elections. The event at Murdoch's home was to benefit the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is providing support for Democratic candidates for the Senate. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Lincoln Feast) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Bidens warning that the world is at risk of a nuclear Armageddon was designed to send an unvarnished message that no one should underestimate the extraordinary danger if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine, administration officials said Friday. The presidents grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. security officials continue to say they have no evidence that Vladimir Putin has imminent plans for a nuclear strike. Biden veered into talk about Ukraine at the end of his standard fundraising remarks, saying that Putin was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, he added. He suggested the threat from Putin is real because his military is you might say significantly underperforming. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday did not directly respond to a question about whether Biden had gone into the event intending to invoke Armageddon, as the White House sought to clarify the president's off-the-cuff comments. She told reporters: Russias talk of using nuclear weapons is irresponsible and theres no way to use them without unintended consequences. It cannot happen. She added that "if the Cuban missile crisis has taught us anything, it is the value of reducing nuclear risk and not brandishing it. Bidens national security team for months has warned that Russia could use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine as it has faced a series of strategic setbacks on the battlefield. But the president's remarks were the starkest warnings yet by the U.S. government about the nuclear stakes. One U.S. official said Biden was also trying to warn against underestimating the danger any level of tactical nuclear weapons. Story continues Theres some concern in the administration that Russia has determined it can use its nuclear arsenal in a manner short of a full-blown nuclear attack on Ukraine and face only limited reaction from U.S. and Western allies who are determined to keep the Ukraine conflict from turning into a broader war, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration thinking Putin has repeatedly alluded to using his countrys vast nuclear arsenal, including last month when he announced plans to conscript Russian men to serve in Ukraine. I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal, Putin said. Its not a bluff. In Europe, leaders sought to turn down the volume after Bidens stark warning. Asked about Bidens remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was crucial to speak with care on the nuclear threat. I have always refused to engage in political fiction, and especially ... when speaking of nuclear weapons, Macron said at a EU summit in Prague. On this issue, we must be very careful. European Council President Charles Michel told reporters that leaders take every escalation very seriously, Threats will not intimidate us, Michel said. Instead, we are going to remain calm. We are going to keep cool heads and we will, each time, denounce the irresponsible character of these threats. Jean-Pierre reiterated on Friday the U.S. has not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons. Its not the first time that Bidens comments have appeared to push against the margins of U.S. policy. Last month, Biden, in a CBS 60 Minutes interview, said that U.S. forces, U.S. men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. The White House said after the interview that U.S. policy toward Taiwan hasnt changed. That policy says Washington wants to see Taiwans status resolved peacefully but doesnt say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack. In March, as he wrapped up a speech in Warsaw, Biden seemed to call for the ouster of Putin, saying, For Gods sake, this man cannot remain in power. Before Biden could even board Air Force One to begin the flight back to Washington, aides were scrambling to clarify that he wasnt calling for an immediate change in government in Moscow. Earlier that month, Biden called Putin a war criminal for the Russian onslaught in Ukraine before the White House walked back the comments. The White House had been avoiding applying the war criminal label to Putin, because it requires investigation and an international determination. After Biden used the term, his then-press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the president was speaking from his heart and clarified that the administration acknowledged there is a process for making a formal determination. As for Biden's latest eyebrow-raising remarks, People sort of say, Oh, yeah, its Biden. You know, he says this stuff, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, and a veteran of nuclear policy research. But overseas countries are saying, Whoa, this is what the U.S. president says, Kristensen said. And so that means we have to be really careful about using big words that in themselves can escalate nuclear tensions unintentionally. Bidens strong choice of words could have an have an unintended impact with Russia, Kristensen said, the biggest problem with the presidents latest comments. Its quite clear to me that Putin will be looking at this and say to himself Wow, you know, I got their attention now. So theyre really afraid.' ___ Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Prague, Lorne Cook in Brussels and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed reporting. Boak reported from Hagerstown, Maryland. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrive to meet at the 'Villa la Grange', June 16, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland. Patrick Semansky, File/Associates Press Putin threatened the use of nuclear weapons after he announced a partial mobilization in September. Biden said at a fundraiser in New York City that he's taking the threats seriously. Experts raised alarm at Putin's threats but have said the chances of nuclear warfare remain low. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the prospect of Russian President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine is a threat he's taking very seriously. Putin is "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is underperforming," Biden said while speaking at a fundraiser in New York City, according to Wall Street Journal reporter Tarini Parti and The Associated Press. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis," the president said, explaining that he didn't think there was a way to use tactical nuclear weapons and not have it result in Armageddon. Putin threatened the use of nuclear weapons when he announced partial military mobilization and escalated the war on September 21. "The territorial integrity of our motherland, our independence, and freedom will be secured, I repeat with all the means we have," Putin said in his address in September. "Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds can turn in their direction." Analysts have raised alarms at Putin's recent statements, but maintained the chances of it actually happening still remain low. Hans Kristensen, a director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, told Insider that the threats reflect a change in Putin's rhetoric around nuclear warfare, but that it's still yet to be determined if it means a change in "actual planning." People should still be "extraordinarily concerned," Kristensen said, and that "very deliberate efforts" should be taken to convince Russia of the consequences of taking the conflict to the next level. Story continues George Barros, a military analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, also told Insider that while the possibility of Putin using nuclear weapons should not be ruled out, that "risk is low." "The problem for the Russians is that in order to properly exploit the conditions that are created by a tactical nuclear weapon, you need to have forces that are cohesive, coherent, and with a high level of morale," Barros said, adding: "I don't think the conventional Russian military, at this point, has the capability or the morale to be able to do that." Read the original article on Business Insider Biden says he'll release 10 million more barrels from the dwindling 'oil piggy bank' after OPEC's production cuts but this is the big risk with more withdrawals In an effort to counter rising prices at the pump, President Biden plans to plunder the countrys oil piggy bank. In November, the Department of Energy will deliver 10 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to the market. The SPR the world's largest supply of emergency crude oil was established back in 1975 in case of a severe oil supply crisis or economic disruption. Bidens decision comes after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) said it would slash oil production by 2 million barrels a day putting extra pressure on the global energy supply. However, with the countrys emergency reserve already at its lowest levels since 1984, some experts have concerns about the long-term implications. Dont miss U.S. gas prices are going up again Gas prices hit a record high of $5.02 a gallon in June after Russias invasion of Ukraine, but this summer saw a 99-day streak of lower prices due to recession fears and declining oil prices. However, even before OPEC+ declared it would be cutting back on oil production, gas prices began inching back up again in late September. This may have been due to a combination of increasing demand, refinery issues and the upcoming European ban on Russian oil. Now with OPEC+s recent decision, prices are expected to escalate even further. The group says the production cuts are being made due to the uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks. As of Oct. 7, the average national gas price was $3.89 per gallon, which is about 10 cents higher than the week before, according to AAA. Biden disappointed by 'shortsighted' production cut Hours after the OPEC+ announcement, the White House said the president was disappointed by the shortsighted decision by OPEC+ to cut production quotas as the global economy is still contending with the effects of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Story continues The press release noted that 10 million barrels of oil would be drained from the SPR and the Secretary of Energy would be exploring other options to increase domestic production. Read more: Do you fall in America's lower, middle, or upper class? How your income stacks up Biden also urged gas companies to keep bringing gas prices down. Why making big withdrawals from the reserve could be risky Since March, the Energy Department has released 160 million barrels of crude oil, or over a quarter of the stockpile draining the SPR to its lowest levels in four decades. As of Sept. 30, the reserve has dropped to 416 million barrels, according to department data. The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) stated back in Nov. 2021 that it strongly opposed tapping into oil stockpiles to counter gas prices. The groups concern was that depleting the emergency reserve could put the U.S. at risk if the global or domestic oil supply reaches dangerously low levels before the supply can be brought back up. The IPAA recommends ramping up domestic natural gas and oil production instead, although oil producers are already dealing with supply-chain issues, limited capital and investor pressure to boost returns. Francisco Blanch, managing director and head of global commodities at Bank of America Global Research also voiced criticism in a segment on Bloomberg Television. I dont think its a great idea given the incredibly tense geopolitical world we live in today, Blanch said. By using up the reserve, the U.S. could be putting itself more in the hands of OPEC+ eventually youre just ceding more and more market control. What to read next 'I just can't wait to get out': Nearly three-quarters of pandemic homebuyers have regrets here's what you need to know before you put in that offer 'Remarkable reversal': President Biden just (quietly) scaled back student loan forgiveness and the change could impact up to 1.5M borrowers. Are you one of them? House Democrats have officially drafted a bill that bans politicians, judges, their spouses and children from trading stocks but here's what they're still allowed to own and do This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Photo: The Canadian Press Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen says he wishes he had been able to move more quickly to end the federal government's ties to the Community Media Advocacy Centre after a Liberal caucus colleague first raised concerns about the group this summer. The House of Commons heritage committee is studying the organization's funding agreement with the Heritage Department after it was revealed that its senior consultant posted a series of tweets about "Jewish white supremacists." The federal government cut off funding to the group, which was overseeing an anti-racism project, after the tweets from Laith Marouf came to light in August. Hussen told the committee Friday that Liberal MP Anthony Housefather first shared his concerns about the organization with him on July 19 or 20 and that his office immediately asked the Heritage Department to review the project funding details and keep it in the loop on next steps. Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman noted to the committee that the decision to end the funding was more than a month after Housefather informed Hussen's office about "Mr. Marouf's vile antisemitism." Hussen insisted he did act immediately, but the process took time. Hussen says the funding was approved before he became minister and he trusted that proper vetting was done, but now he's promising to strengthen the process for funding projects. Marouf's Twitter account is private, but a screenshot posted online showed a number of tweets with his photo and name. One tweet said: "You know all those loud mouthed bags of human feces, a.k.a. the Jewish White Supremacists; when we liberate Palestine and they have to go back to where they come from, they will return to being low voiced bitches of thier (sic) Christian/Secular White Supremacist Masters.'' This summer, a lawyer acting for Marouf asked for his client's tweets to be quoted "verbatim'' and distinguished between Marouf's "clear reference to 'Jewish white supremacists''' and Jews or Jewish people in general. Marouf does not harbour "any animus toward the Jewish faith as a collective group,'' lawyer Stephen Ellis said in an August email to The Canadian Press. "While not the most artfully expressed, the tweets reflect a frustration with the reality of Israeli apartheid and a Canadian government which collaborates with it,'' Ellis added. In August, Hussen cut $133,000 in Heritage Department funding to CMAC after a public statement about what he called the "reprehensible and vile" tweets. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was launching a complete government review of funding to CMAC. But asked why his office did not act sooner, Hussen said Friday he wanted to consult the legal department and follow the proper process to cut off funding and end the anti-racism project. "We had obviously much less information (in July) than we do today," he added, but he did not respond when pressed to explain what he did not know at the time of Housefather's complaint. Hussen told the committee that new conditions will be added to all federal funding agreements that allow the government to take action if an organization or person is found to have "promoted or shared hate, racism, antisemitism, or discrimination in any form." Any organization that has its funding cut off will never be eligible for future funding agreements. Hussen told the committee there will be a renewed and reformed anti-racism strategy, informed by communities including those "that have been attacked by Mr. Marouf directly." By David Shepardson and Philip Blenkinsop WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order to implement a European Union-United States data transfer framework announced in March that adopts new American intelligence gathering privacy safeguards. The deal seeks to end the limbo in which thousands of companies found themselves after Europe's top court threw out two previous pacts due to concerns about U.S. surveillance. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters the executive order "is the culmination of our joint effort to restore trust and stability to transatlantic data flows" and "will ensure the privacy of EU personal data." The framework addresses the concerns of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which in July 2020 struck down the prior EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework as a valid data transfer mechanism under EU law. European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said he was "quite sure" there would be a fresh legal challenge, but he was confident that the pact met the demands of the court. "We have a real improvement relative to the Privacy Shield.... It's totally different," he told Reuters in an interview. "Maybe the third attempt will be the good one." The White House said "transatlantic data flows are critical to enabling the $7.1 trillion EU-U.S. economic relationship" and the framework "will restore an important legal basis for transatlantic data flows." The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft welcomed the executive order, but digital rights activist group Access Now and European consumer organization BEUC said it did not appear that people's rights were being sufficiently protected. The White House said Biden's order bolstered current "privacy and civil liberties safeguards" for U.S. intelligence gathering and created an independent, binding multi-layer redress mechanism for individuals who believe their personal data was illegally collected by U.S. intelligence agencies. Story continues Reynders said it would take about six months to complete a complex approval process, noting the previous system only had redress to an ombudsperson inside the U.S. administration, which the EU court rejected. Biden's order adopts new safeguards on the activities of U.S. intelligence gathering, requiring they do only what is necessary and proportionate, and creates a two-step system of redress - first to an intelligence agency watchdog then to a court with independent judges, whose decisions would bind the agencies. Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March said the provisional agreement offered stronger legal protections and addressed the EU court's concerns. Raimondo on Friday will transmit a series of letters to the EU from U.S. agencies "outlining the operation and enforcement of the EU-U.S. data privacy framework" that "will form the basis for the European Commission's assessment in a new adequacy decision," she said. Under the order, the Civil Liberties Protection Officer (CLPO) in the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence will investigate complaints and make decisions. The U.S. Justice Department is establishing a Data Protection Review Court to independently review CLPOs decisions. Judges with experience in data privacy and national security will be appointed from outside the U.S. government. European privacy activists have threatened to challenge the framework if they did not think it adequately protects privacy. Austrian Max Schrems, whose legal challenges have brought down the previous two EU-U.S. data flow systems, said he still needed to analyze the package. "At first sight it seems that the core issues were not solved and it will be back to the CJEU (EU court) sooner or later," he said. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Andrea Shalal and Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Mark Potter and Andrea Ricci) President Joe Biden issued a warning about a potential nuclear Armageddon at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Thursday evening, saying, We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I dont think there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon, added the president. It has been widely speculated that Russia could employ tactical nuclear weapons in an effort to turn the tide in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Russian forces have been pushed back toward their own border in recent days, causing observers to wonder whether Russian president Vladimir Putin may, in desperation, turn to weapons of mass destruction. At the fundraiser, Biden called Putin a guy I know fairly well, and said Putin is not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons as a solution to his militarys underperformance. Biden suggested that his administration was still searching for a solution that would allow Putin to save face without ceding too much to the Russian leader. Where does he find himself in a position that he does not not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia? asked the president rhetorically. In a speech last month, Putin declared, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction . . . and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal, before promising that it was not a bluff. More from National Review U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House October 6, 2022 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images President Joe Biden announced Thursday he was pardoning federal marijuana possession convictions. The action impacts thousands, but past mass pardons have been even greater, experts told Insider. Jimmy Carter's pardon for Vietnam draft dodgers is estimated to have affected hundreds of thousands. On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced he was pardoning all people with federal marijuana possession convictions, a significant move that impacts thousands but past US presidents have made even larger blanket pardons. "Pardon power is very little restricted. It's one of the most unfettered, unconstrained unilateral presidential powers that there is. And, to my mind, is often underutilized," Graham G. Dodds, a professor of political science at Concordia University and author of "Mass Pardons in America: Rebellion, Presidential Amnesty, and Reconciliation," told Insider. "Ever since Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, it's something that presidents have shied away from, feeling there'd be political backlash for a liberal use of it," he said. "But in days of yore, it was used much more often." In fact, mass pardons are almost as old as the US itself. President George Washington pardoned the leaders of the Whisky Rebellion, a violent uprising in the 1790s, and President Thomas Jefferson pardoned people convicted under the Alien and Sedition Acts, which allowed the government to deport noncitizens and restricted speech, Andrew Rudalevige, a professor of government and legal studies at Bowdoin University, told Insider. But experts in presidential pardons told Insider Biden's announcement on Thursday was nevertheless significant. Officials said the action would impact 6,500 people who were convicted of simple marijuana possession at the federal level from 1992 to 2021, as well as an estimated thousands more who were convicted in Washington, DC. "Obama issued about 1,700 commutations, based largely on what he deemed overly long sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug crimes, but it wasn't the complete set of all such people," Rudalevige said, adding that perhaps the largest blanket pardon in modern memory was issued by former President Jimmy Carter. Story continues In January 1977, Carter granted a "full, complete and unconditional pardon" to any person who violated the Selective Service Act, AKA the draft, from 1964 to 1973 during the Vietnam War. The pardon applied to all potential draft dodgers, including those accused and convicted, as well as those who had fled the country. It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of men evaded the draft during the Vietnam War, and the US continued to prosecute draft dodgers even after the war ended. Tens of thousands of men were formally accused of draft dodging, while nearly 9,000 were convicted and 3,250 were jailed. An estimated 100,000 men fled the country, mostly to Canada, to avoid getting sent to war. Carter's controversial and unconditional pardon applied to them all. A century earlier, another president issued a sweeping mass pardon to tens of thousands of men accused of treason. On Christmas Day in 1868, President Andrew Johnson issued a full pardon to all soldiers who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Johnson, who rose to the presidency after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, said the pardon would "renew and fully restore confidence and fraternal feeling among the whole, and their respect for and attachment to the national [e.g., federal] government, designed by its patriotic founders for the general good." The public today often thinks of pardons as being issued in individual cases, particularly toward the end of a president's time in office. Dodds, whose book examines the history of mass pardons after rebellions and insurrections, said there is ample historical precedent of presidents using blanket pardons in the name of political reconciliation. But he said mass pardons generally have been issued for mercy when a president feels a punishment was inappropriate or too harsh. He also noted mass pardons have typically been unpopular with the public, but that the evolution of Americans' feelings about marijuana could make this one different. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian police found the bodies of 534 civilians, some with signs of torture, in the Kharkiv region. Of the 534 dead civilians whose bodies were recovered, 226 were women and 19 were children, according to The New York Times. Serhii Bolvinov, the investigative head of the Kharkiv police force, told reporters on Thursday that 447 of the bodies were found at a mass grave in Izyum, which was recaptured from Russia by the Ukrainian army last month. Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Synyehubov announced in late September that at least 30 of the bodies exhumed from the Izyum burial site, including both military members and civilians, showed traces of torture. Many other bodies showed signs of violent death, Synyehubov said at the time. Digging up the mass grave in Izyum was a rerun of what Ukrainian officials did in Bucha earlier this year, where they also found evidence of torture. The most common torture techniques were electric shocks and severe beatings with sticks and other objects, Bolvinov said of suspected torture in Izyum, according to the Times. There are cases of pulling out nails and using gas masks to restrict breathing. Police investigators have identified 22 sites across the Kharkiv province that may have been used as torture chambers by the Russian military. At one site, the basement of a private house, officials found items including ropes, Ukrainian army jackets, a gas mask, a dildo, dentures and gold teeth, Bolvinov said. We have witnesses who heard screams from the basement, pleas for help, he told reporters. Sometimes, after the screams, the locals heard bursts of shots, after which the screams stopped. This new evidence of human rights violations follows weeks of victories for the Ukrainian army, which has recaptured hundreds of towns in the past month. The successful pushback of troops in Ukraine has forced Russian President Vladimir Putin to take more drastic measures in his onslaught against the smaller country, including the controversial move of instituting a military draft for most Russian men. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp. agreed to pay $1.84 billion to settle claims by bond insurer Ambac Financial Group regarding residential mortgage-backed securities, clearing away the banks last major legal hangover stemming from the 2008 financial crisis. Most Read from Bloomberg The settlement will result in a pretax expense of about $354 million for the third quarter, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America said in a regulatory filing Friday. The expense translates into about 3 cents a share, according to the filing. The firm previously set aside money to cover the rest of the amount. Ambac had been seeking to recover billions of dollars in claims it paid out on bonds originally underwritten by Countrywide Financial, which Bank of America acquired after the mortgage firms collapse during the financial crisis. BofA has already paid more than $50 billion to resolve regulatory probes and litigation stemming from its $4 billion purchase of Countrywide. A trial was underway before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed and was expected to last months. The eventual final payment from Bank of America will resolve all legal matters, according to the filing. Shares of Bank of America dropped 1.8% to $30.88 at 9:40 a.m. in New York. Ambac, which said it expects a gain of about $390 million from the settlement, surged 10%, the most in almost two months, to $14.08. The bond insurer had claimed Countrywide violated contracts governing nearly two dozen securitizations of home loans between 2004 and 2006 by flouting underwriting guidelines and passing on risks to the insurer. Ambac also alleged that Countrywides leadership, including Chief Executive Officer Angelo Mozilo, knew the majority of its mortgages were questionable but pushed employees to approve them as part of a goal to originate one out of every three home loans in the US. Story continues Payment Risk Lawyers for Countrywide said that Ambac performed its own risk analysis when it agreed to insure the bonds and should have known the securitizations had significant payment risks. A representative for Bank of America declined to comment on the settlement. Ambac Chief Executive Officer Claude LeBlanc said in a statement that the New York-based company is very pleased to have reached this settlement. The agreement is the latest in a string of penalties Bank of America has paid this year. Last month, a probe by US regulators into the use of unauthorized messaging apps resulted in a $225 million hit for Bank of America, the largest fine among the banks. The firm was also fined $225 million in another probe by regulators for unfair and deceptive practices related to a prepaid card program to distribute unemployment insurance and other public-benefit payments during the pandemic. (Updates with share prices in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. BRASILIA (Reuters) - The leader of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's party and the farm caucus in the Senate said on Friday that the powerful agribusiness sector is pragmatic and will adapt to an eventual victory by the incumbent's leftist presidential challenger. Senator Wellington Fagundes, re-elected on Sunday for Mato Grosso, Brazil's top grain-producing state, told Reuters he hopes Bolsonaro will win re-election. But a win by former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva would not be the end of the world for the farm industry. "Farmers will jump into Lula's lap the day after he is elected. They are very pragmatic," said Fagundes, who has served Mato Grosso for 20 years in both chambers of Congress. Fagundes said he believes Bolsonaro will cede power without contesting the result of the Oct. 30 runoff if Lula wins, playing down the danger of the president's attacks on Brazil's electronic voting system. "He attacks the electoral system because he is a provocateur," the senator said of Bolsonaro's baseless claims that its electronic voting system is vulnerable to fraud. Lula won the most votes in the first round of the election on Sunday, with 48% support against 43% for Bolsonaro, who outperformed opinion surveys amid a wave of conservative sentiment. His pro-gun views and opposition to indigenous land claims have made him the darling of many farm sector leaders. Bolsonaro's right-wing Liberal Party emerged from the election as the largest in both chambers of Congress. Former Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias, who won a Senate seat on Sunday, is a strong candidate to be the next president of the Senate, Fagundes said. He said the chances of another newly elected Bolsonaro ally, former Women's Rights Minister Damares Alves, getting the position are "zero." (Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Ricardo Brito; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Reuters Hair-straightening products may significantly increase the risk of developing uterine cancer among those who use them frequently, a large study published on Monday suggests. "We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70, but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%," study leader Alexandra White of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Safety (NIEHS) said in a statement. Still, uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with rates rising, particularly among Black women. Brad Pitt is addressing his ex-wife Angelina Jolie's allegations in a recent court document that he abused her and choked one of their children on a 2016 flight from France to California. "Brad has owned everything hes responsible for from day one unlike the other side but hes not going to own anything he didnt do," Anne Kiley, a lawyer for Pitt, said in a statement to NBC News. "He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation. "Thankfully, the various public authorities the other side has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions," Kiley continued. "Brad will continue to respond in court as he has consistently done." A representative for Jolie did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TODAY. Jolie, 47, filed a cross-complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 4, in connection with a lawsuit Pitt filed alleging Jolie sold her half of a winery, Chateau Miraval, that the couple owned without his consent. In the complaint, obtained by NBC News, Jolie said the incident on the private jet in September 2016 is the reason she filed for divorce. Jolie alleged "throughout the long, overnight flight, Pitt was physically and emotionally abusive to Jolie and their children, who were then between the ages of 8 and 15," according to the complaint. "When one of the children verbally defended Jolie, Pitt lunged at his own child and Jolie grabbed him from behind to stop him," the complaint said, adding, "Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face. Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened." The complaint also alleged Pitt poured beer and red wine on their children before falling asleep. The complaint did not name which of their children might have been struck. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt attend a screening of Marvel's Pitt and Jolie share six children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox and Vivienne. Story continues Jolie maintained in the complaint that she was never under restrictions about who she could sell her half of the winery to. The "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" actor also argued in the complaint that she offered to sell her share to Pitt, but the talks fell apart after Pitt demanded a "nondisclosure agreement that would have contractually prohibited her from speaking outside of court about Pitts physical and emotional abuse of her and their children." When asked about the claim regarding the nondisclosure agreement, Kiley told NBC News there was nothing more to add to her statement, but she told The New York Times that during divorce settlement negotiations, separate from the winery negotiations, a lawyer for Jolie proposed that neither party could make derogatory statements about each other in public and only in court. Kiley told the Times Pitt's legal team agreed to discuss the stipulation, but Jolie's team did not bring up the nondisparagement proposal again in their response. The FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services in November 2016 closed investigations into the incident aboard the private jet. After reviewing the document, a representative of the United States Attorneys Office discussed the merits of this investigation with the case agent," a 2017 FBI report on the incident obtained by NBC News said. "It was agreed by all parties that criminal charges in this case would not be pursued due to several factors." No criminal charges were filed against Pitt. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Election 2022 Governor Georgia Kemp, the Republican governor of Georgia, appears poised to win reelection despite Donald Trump's best efforts to unseat him. Credit - Brynn AndersonAP Its not easy to make Brian Kemp laugh, but at the mention of Donald Trump, the governor of Georgia lets out a rueful chuckle. Well, heh-heh, I dont know, he drawls, leaning against the lunch counter at Charlie Josephs chili-dog stand in the western Georgia town of LaGrange. Youd have to ask him about that. Kemp is perched on a red-leather-and-chrome stool, reflecting on the trials of the past four yearsmany of them at the hands of the former President. Once upon a time, the 58-year-old Republican was a loyal Trump ally. But that was before he declined to help overturn the 2020 election, prompting Trump to mount an all-out campaign to defeat him. I guess he got mad at me, Kemp says with a shrug. Thats an understatement. Trump put more money and effort into unseating Kemp this year than any other Republican who has crossed him, even Liz Cheney, the crusading anti-Trump congresswoman. In todays GOP, the former Presidents endorsement is usually a golden ticket, and his enmity is almost always the kiss of death. The vast majority of Republicans believe his false election claims. When he turned on Kemp, many figured the governors career might as well be over. But Trumps attempt to oust Kemp failed spectacularly. The governor clobbered Trumps handpicked candidate, former Senator David Perdue, by more than 50 points in the May primary. And far from damaging Kemp, the feud with Trump may have left him better off politically than he was before, burnishing his brand with Trump-skeptical independent voters. That makes Kemp the rareperhaps the onlyGOP pol to have used Trump better than Trump used him. The hard-fought primary, Kemp tells me, was a blessing in disguise. It gave me an opportunity, quite honestly, to remind people of what my record was, he says. And what I told them Id do when I was running, I actually did as their governor. And I think the longer things went, the more people realized that, and that paid off big. Story continues Now, as the general election nears, Kemp looks poised to get his revenge. He is favored to win his rematch with Democrat Stacey Abrams more convincingly than four years ago. Back then, Kemp eked out a victory in a race Abrams refused to concede, insisting it was tainted by voter suppression. This time the dynamics are in some ways the opposite. In 2018, Kemp was the Trumpy candidate accused of subverting democracy; now hes the candidate who defied Trump to defend it, and his opponent is the one accused of election denial. Despite being outspent nearly 2-to-1, Kemp is ahead by an average of about 6 points in the polls. Read More: 5 Governors Races That Will Define the Midterms. Kemp, then the Georgia secretary of state, benefited from Trump's endorsement in 2018. Gabriella Demczuk/The New York TimesReuters The greatest thing ever to happen to Brian Kemp was when Donald Trump decided he hated the guy, says Erick Erickson, the conservative activist and Atlanta-based syndicated radio host. In 2018, Trumps endorsement was all many Georgia voters knew about Kemp, but anyone who knew Brian knew he was way more reasonablea conservative but not a firebrand, Erickson says. When Trump went after him, it put those suburban voters who dont like Trump at ease. By his record, hes been able to show them who he really is. More from TIME Kemp never stopped being a lib-triggering conservative; he even kept up his crusade against the phantom threat of voter fraud, signing an election law that Democrats including President Biden see as racist voter suppression. Kemp seeks no credit for protecting the vote and saving the election. He argues he was just doing his job, and would prefer to talk about almost anything else. I have always followed the law and the Constitution, he says. I believe that that oath I took is better and bigger than any person including myself, and its certainly bigger than any political party. But had Republicans like Kemp not stood firm when it counted, the 2020 electionthe first in American history not to result in a peaceful transfer of powercould have been a far worse crisis. In an age when pundits and scholars fret that democracy is hanging by a thread, it is Kemps approach, not Cheneys, that may hold the greatest promise of bringing the GOP back to reality: not going to war with Trump, but consigning him to the past, by ignoring his provocations and giving his voters something else to believe in. At the lunch counter, Kemps blue button-down shirt is embroidered with a Keep Choppin logo featuring the Atlanta Braves tomahawk. Its a gesture of support for a team in a pennant race, and a not-so-subtle swipe at the Biden Administrations suggestion that a conversation about the teams name was in order. It is also, perhaps, an apt description of his M.O. He defeated Trump the way he does everything, the way he plans to win this election as well: by plugging away, relentlessly focused on the goal and refusing to engage with distractions. This year is completely different from 2018, he tells me. You know, I have a record. People know the real Brian Kemp. Kemp orders a chili cheeseburger to go and eats it in the car on his way to his next event of the day, an economic-development announcement at the Kia plant in West Point. Georgias economy is thriving, having just experienced the two best job-creation years on record. Multibillion-dollar electric-vehicle manufacturing plants for Hyundai and Rivian are set to break ground soon. Today, Kemp announces from the stage, Georgia has been named the No. 1 state for business for the ninth year in a row by Area Development magazine, a trade publication for site-selection professionals. Once upon a time, before Trump turned the party into an insult-comedy chaos machine, this was a GOP governors principal job: to keep his state friendly to the forces of capital. For over 35 years, weve been small businesspeople, Kemp tells the crowd. Thats why I first ran for governor, and I promised to make economic development in all parts of our state, especially rural Georgia, a priority. And in the four years since, we have been delivering on that promise. Kemp is particularly proud of having been on the leading edge of defying early COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. His actions drew an avalanche of criticism at the time, but have proven popular in the state, and today they constitute the core of his reelection pitch, cited as evidence of his ability to make tough decisions and not back down. Kemp can be personable, but he is not a politician who exudes joie de vivre. He smiles effortfully and stays relentlessly on message. His persona communicates nothing so much as grim determination. His wife, Marty, says he washes his own clothes and wakes at 5 a.m. to clean out the stables on their farm. Friends and colleagues describe him as maniacally hardworking and focused, sometimes to a fault: once he makes a decision, they say, it is nearly impossible to change his mind. In high school football, he played left tackle despite his relatively small stature, his friend and team co-captain Daniel Dooley recalls. He was tenacious and tough, Dooley tells me. He wasnt the rah-rah guythat was me. He was the leader by example. Everyone was always bigger than him, but he got after them like a gnat, and they couldnt get him off once he got on em. A native of the liberal college town of Athens, Kemp was a homebuilder and developer before getting into politics two decades ago. He served in the state senate and then as secretary of state, responsible for election administration, before deciding to run for governor in 2018. Originally seen as the underdog in the six-way Republican primary, Kemp styled himself as a politically incorrect conservative. In one ad, he held a shotgun in his lap while interrogating a supposed would-be suitor of one of his three daughters. In another, he hung a plaid-shirted elbow out the window of his F-350 pickup, boasting, I got a big truck, just in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take em home myself. Kemp is facing Stacey Abrams, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, in a rematch of their 2018 race. Brynn AndersonAP Buoyed by Trumps endorsement, Kemp won the primary in a runoff. Trump was convinced Kemp owed him his political career. I got this guy elected, Trump boasted at a rally in Georgia last year. But Kemp says that wasnt really the case. I mean, look, he endorsed me with eight days to go, Kemp tells me. There was public polling that had us up 6 or 7 points. And I think it was because I worked hard. I think a lot of people underestimated how well I knew the state. Thats what ended up winning the race for us. Obviously, when Trump endorsed, it made it a blowout. But we were going to win regardless. In the general election, Kemps cartoonish Trumpiness provided a perfect foil to Abrams, a rising Democratic star with a compelling backstory and talent for political oratory. A state legislator turned voting-rights activist, Abrams accused Kemp of subverting democracy: as secretary of state, hed purged more than a million voters from the rolls and suspended more than 50,000 voter registrationsmost of them Black votersjust before Election Day. Good-government advocates also cried foul at his overseeing an election in which he was a candidate. When Kemp won by 55,000 out of nearly 4 million votes, Abrams declared the result tainted and refused to concedean episode many on the right cite as a precursor to Trumps baseless stolen-election claims, though Abrams never tried to overturn the result or thwart the transfer of power. She accused me of being a racist and a voter suppressor, Kemp tells me dryly. People know a lot different now. On Sept. 30, a federal judge rejected Abrams lawsuit stemming from the 2018 vote. In retrospect, that election, centering as it did on issues of voting rights and democratic legitimacy, was the first in a series of election crises that have come to define Kemps career. In 2020, after Trump lost Georgia by nearly 12,000 votes, he tried in vain to reverse the result by pressuring state officials. Trump implored secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to find enough votes to change the outcome and urged Kemp to call the legislature into special session to appoint new electors. Both refused; Kemp said it was not an option under state or federal law and would be unconstitutional and immediately enjoined by the courts. The result held, despite an intense campaign of threats, harassment and attempted hacking by Trump and his minions. In the elections aftermath, as Trump continued to sow doubt with GOP voters, Democrats swept both U.S. Senate seats in a January runoff, giving them control of the upper chamber. Read More: Conspiracy Theorists Want to Run Americas Elections. These Are the Candidates Standing in Their Way. Last year, Georgias Republican legislature passed a controversial new law overhauling elections in the state. It curtailed absentee voting while expanding early voting and restructuring election oversight, including removing the secretary of state from the election boarda change some experts worry could make it easier for bad actors to overturn future results. President Biden called the law an atrocity and Jim Crow in the 21st century. The Justice Department sued for alleged racial discrimination. Corporations pledged to boycott the state, and Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game scheduled to be held in Atlanta that summer. Kemp, Raffensperger and their allies have argued that the criticisms are overblownGeorgia affords voters far more opportunities to cast a ballot than New York, for exampleand that the law was needed to patch weaknesses in the system and restore voter confidence. Still, Trump was determined to punish Kemp for what he saw as a betrayal. He personally implored Perdue, who had just lost reelection to the Senate in the runoff, to take on Kemp. Once Perdue got in the race, Trump funneled more than $3 million to his campaignby far the most he has lavished on any candidate this cycle. (He gave Cheneys opponent, Harriet Hageman, less than $1 million; most of his candidates get nothing more than the endorsement as Trump sits on more than $100 million in unused political funds, drawing complaints from the GOP establishment. This week, a Trump-backed super PAC reportedly purchased about $400,000 worth of ads in Pennsylvania and Ohio.) But while Cheney chose to make herself a martyr to the anti-Trump cause, Kemp chopped away at the challenge. He rallied Georgias power structure around him, locking down influential donors and doling out appointments to erstwhile Perdue allieseven the former senators cousin, Sonny Perdue, the former governor and agriculture secretary, whom Kemp named to head the state university system. By the end, not even Herschel Walker, Trumps handpicked U.S. Senate candidate, or Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trumps No. 1 fan in Congress, would endorse Perdue. Read More: On the Campaign Trail With Marjorie Taylor Greene. While Trump blasted him as a turncoat, a coward, and a complete and total disaster who would go down in flames at the ballot box, Kemp refused to engage the former presidents attacks. Instead, he would simply repeat that he supported Trumps policies and wished he had won in 2020. When GOP voters echoed Trumps complaints about the election, he said he shared their frustration with the result, but there was simply nothing he could have done. At the same time, Kemps willingness to pick fights with liberals, Biden, public-health experts, and woke corporations helped him stay on the good side of the Republican base. A lot of people were misinformed, quite honestly, about the role I had, versus the role they thought I had, Kemp tells me. And so in the primary, I was able to educate a lot of people about that, and also the actions that we took to address the issues that we had, doing it in the right way. In 2018, Kemp cut a very different profile: the Trump-inspired culture warrior. Audra Melton/The New York TimesReuters As defenses of democracy go, its hardly a clarion call. Kemp has not distanced himself from the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, who petitioned to delay certifying the election and allegedly signed on to be a fake elector in a scheme that is now under grand-jury investigation. I give Kemp credit for doing the right thing, but thats such a low bar, says the anti-Trump conservative Sarah Longwell, executive director of the Republican Accountability Project, which works to defeat anti-democracy Republicansand has stayed out of Kemps race. We should expect our elected officials, at a bare minimum, to engage in the peaceful transfer of power, respect the will of the people, and certify the results of free and fair elections. But there were many other people who didnt hit even that bare minimum. There was pressure to do the wrong thing, and the pressure was real. Raffensperger, who also survived a Trump-backed primary challenge and is seeking re-election this year, has been traveling around the state, giving a 15-minute presentation to any local group that will have himRotary Clubs and chambers of commerce, tea party groups and local GOP chaptersthat patiently and factually knocks down each of the well-worn conspiracy theories about 2020. Weve been pushing back against election deniers on both sides of the aisle, just making sure that people understand that we have fair and honest elections, he tells me. Its a gradual process, but he believes it is working. Most rank-and-file voters are simply not as passionate as Trump about the 2020 election, and Raffensperger believes their delusions represent a larger frustration with government and the economy. I think when we get government with a focus on solutions that work for everyone, he says, then a lot of this will dissipate. If Kemp wins re-election, he will have proven that Republicans can keep Trumps voters in the tent without indulging his dangerous conspiracism. Kemp has effectively charted a new path for Republicans to compete in states where you need to turn out a deep red base to win without alienating suburban swing voters, says Brad Alexander, an Atlanta-based lobbyist and Kemp ally. Paradoxically, all the incoming fire he didnt respond to during the COVID shutdown debate and his primary challenge from Perdue has accrued significantly to his benefit in the general election. Kemp steadfastly refuses to engage with questions about 2024Trumps potential candidacy, his own ambitions, others who may throw their hat in the ring, what his race says about a future GOP playbook. Anybody that is focused on 2024 right now, they are doing a disservice to us winning the midterm election, he says. Theyre being selfish. Besides, he points out, the current playbook still has to be proven. Youre not going to be asking me those questions if we dont win, he says. Youll be asking somebody else, Howd you do it? A few hours after Kemps visit to the Kia plant, his opponent takes the stage in a South Atlanta parking lot full of Black bikers. Behind Abrams, the DJ spins a track by the local rapper Pastor Troy, who has refashioned his exuberant Atlanta Falcons theme song, No Mo Play in G.A., into a political anthem. If we/ All vote/ No one can save Kemp, he raps. Thats why/ My vote/ For Stacey Abrams. This is about unfinished business, Abrams proclaims. Four years ago, I told you what I thought would happen. Now Im here to tell you what didnt happen, but how we can make it right. If elected, she promises to expand Medicaid, protect abortion rights, and spend the states budgetary surplus on housing and services rather than tax cuts. We dont have an enthusiasm gap, we have a trust gap, Abrams says. I just need you to trust me one more time, to look at my record and know that what I say Im going to do Im going to do. When I didnt get the job when I applied four years agoand Im not confused, I know I didnt get the jobI looked at what I put on my application and what I said I would work on. Over the last four years, she says, shes been fighting for democracy and fairness for all Georgians. Many Democrats credit Abrams for the states blue turn. Her political operation, which registered and turned out hundreds of thousands of new voters in 2018, never let up after that, helping power 2020s Democratic victories. A fundraising powerhouse, her 2022 gubernatorial campaign is on track to nearly double Kemps spending. Yet national Democrats are increasingly pessimistic about Abramss chances. She has been touring the state targeting Black male voters in particular, a group with which her support has notably eroded. Some local Democrats privately grumble that her outreach has been insufficient and that her national celebrity has turned off practical-minded voters. Read More: Stacey Abrams Has a Plan to Turn Georgia Blue. But it seems more likely that Abrams is losing not because of anything shes done wrong, but because of what Kemps done right. In our interview, Kemp tells me that minority and working-class voters especially appreciated his keeping the state open during COVID. I think the pandemic really has opened a lot of peoples eyes, he tells me. Traditional, diehard Democratic voters have made the decision, you know what, when I have leaders that are determining whether I need to take a vaccine, or whether my kids can attend school or not, or whether I go to workit got a lot of people to really open their eyes. Kemp has also named a diverse slate of appointees to state posts, from the courts to the Cabinet to state boards and commissions. He has taken criticism from some Republicans for appointing Black Democrats as judges and district attorneys in heavily Black areas of the state. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll last month had Kemp winning 10% of Black voters, with another 10% undecided, as well as nearly a third of other nonwhites. Theres just a whole different image perception out there, especially from non-traditional Republican voters, minority voters, Kemp says. He points to his response to the February 2020 murder of unarmed Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery, which he denounced as vigilantism and called on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate after a video of the incident was released that May. Justice was served there because I weighed in, he says. GBI went in there and took charge down there and really got the facts out there and got things moving in the right way. Kemp, like Abrams, sees their rematch as unfinished business. But whereas 2018 was a base turnout election, with both sides seeking to rally their strongest supporters to the polls, this time hes aiming at the middle of the electorate. This time, hes aiming to prove that solid conservative governance can move the Republican Party past Trump, and win back a diverse purple state. President Trump and his policies brought a lot of good things to our country, and they brought a lot of good people to our side, Kemp tells me. Of course, theres a lot of people that we didnt get in the last election, and weve learned from that too. And what were doing now is making sure that we have a message that can bring a big tent to what were doing here in Georgia. With reporting by Leslie Dickstein and Julia Zorthian By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Britain on Friday rejected Russia's call for a secret ballot in the U.N. General Assembly next week on whether to condemn Moscow's move to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine and requested that the 193-member body vote publicly. Moscow has moved to annex four regions in Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - after staging what it called referendums. Ukraine and allies have denounced the votes as illegal and coercive. The General Assembly is set to vote on a draft resolution that would condemn Russia's "illegal so-called referenda" and the "attempted illegal annexation." It also reaffirms the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and calls on states not to recognize Russia's move. In a letter to U.N. states earlier this week, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia lobbied for a secret ballot, arguing that Western lobbying meant that "it may be very difficult if positions are expressed publicly." Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward on Friday said the rules of the General Assembly were clear that any representative may request a recorded vote. "To conduct a secret ballot on a General Assembly decision would go against decades of precedent and undermine the practices of the world's most representative deliberative body," Woodward wrote in a letter to the General Assembly president. "That is why we are requesting under rule 87b that a recorded vote should take place on the resolution," she said. The General Assembly is due to vote on the draft resolution on Tuesday or Wednesday, diplomats said. "This is not about transparency," Nebenzia said in a letter on Friday of Britain's move. "This is about the use of a recorded vote as a tool of subjugation and discipline." In his own letter to the president of the General Assembly, Nebenzia formally requested a secret ballot and said that if anyone opposed it, then they could call a vote on the move. Such a vote would be public. Story continues Russia vetoed a similar resolution in the 15-member Security Council last week. It has been trying to chip away at its international isolation after nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly reprimanded Moscow and demanded it withdraw its troops within a week of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. The moves at the United Nations mirror what happened in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea. At the Security Council, Russia vetoed a draft resolution that opposed a referendum on the status of Crimea and urged countries not to recognize it. The General Assembly then adopted a resolution declaring the referendum invalid with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 formal abstentions, while two dozen countries did not take part. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Editing by William Maclean and Bill Berkrot) Customers sit inside a Chicago Starbucks store in 2013. A labor board complaint alleges a worker at the company's Wilmette location was fired for efforts to unionize its workforce. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) Starbucks violated labor law by firing a pro-union worker at a North Shore cafe, local labor board officials allege in a complaint filed Monday. The complaint alleges an employee at the coffee giants location at 3232 Lake Ave. in Wilmette was fired for attempting to form a union. Chicago labor board officials allege the firing was an effort by Starbucks to discourage pro-union activity among its employees. Advertisement The employee engaged in concerted activities with other employees for the purposes of collective bargaining and other mutual aid and protection and was terminated for doing so, the complaint alleges. Advertisement The complaint also alleges Starbucks interrogated workers at the Wilmette store about their union sympathies and the union activities of their co-workers. Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull said the company denies it fired the Wilmette employee for union activity. No Starbucks employee has been or will be disciplined or separated for supporting, organizing or otherwise engaging in lawful union activity, Trull said. All partners have the right to make their voice heard when it comes to union issues. Though baristas at about a dozen area Starbucks have filed for union elections since the start of the year, workers at the Wilmette store have not filed for a union election, according to a representative from Starbucks Workers United, the Service Employees International Union affiliate that represents the Starbucks workers. The original unfair labor practice charge in the Wilmette case was filed by an individual, not the Starbucks union, in mid-June. The complaint issued this week means local officials from the National Labor Relations Board found merit to the individuals allegations against Starbucks. The case will now go to trial at the NLRB; a hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled in January. In a statement, Starbucks Workers United said it had no knowledge of the matter described in the complaint but supported the Wilmette Starbucks workers. We are very much in support of these Starbucks partners. Should these workers reach out to us we will gladly see what we can do to assist them, a union representative said in a statement. Advertisement Starbucks Workers United alleges the company has fired more than 120 pro-union workers across the country during its national organizing campaign, and the union says it has filed unfair labor practice charges on behalf of 80 of those individuals. Nationally, the labor relations boards regional offices have issued more than 30 complaints alleging a range of labor law violations by the company. This summer, labor board officials issued complaints against Starbucks at three Chicago stores alleging labor law violations, including illegally threatening employees with loss of benefits and wage increases for organizing; interrogating employees about the union; forbidding employees from wearing pro-union apparel; threatening loss of pay and changes to their working conditions; and telling workers that organizing was futile. Labor board officials also alleged Starbucks disciplined an employee at a Hyde Park store for testifying to the labor board at a representation hearing. That worker was fired two weeks after Chicago labor officials issued the complaint. He and Starbucks Workers United said he was targeted for his role leading the union push in Hyde Park, an allegation Starbucks denied at the time. The complaints filed this summer cover alleged labor law violations at three Chicago Starbucks: the store at 1174 E. 55th St. in Hyde Park, which unionized in June; the store at 1070 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Edgewater, which unionized in May; and the store at 2543 N. California Ave. in Palmer Square, where employees voted against unionizing in June. On Friday, Starbucks said it was closing the unionized Edgewater store named in one of the complaints, citing ongoing safety issues impacting customers and partners. Workers United blasted the decision as blatant illegal union-busting activity. Advertisement A hearing before an administrative law judge over the complaints issued this summer is scheduled in November. Trull did not comment specifically this week on those complaints but said Starbucks would continue to respect the right of all partners to make their decisions regarding union issues, whether they favor or oppose representation, and that it would bargain with the union in good faith where required. Advertisement In the Chicago area, workers at a total of seven stores across Edgewater, Edgewater Beach, Bucktown, Hyde Park, West Rogers Park and suburban Cary have unionized this year. The unionized Chicago stores are discussing dates for collective bargaining sessions with Starbucks attorneys, said Carlos Ginard, assistant manager with the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United, the SEIU affiliate that represents the Starbucks workers. Chicken sold in British supermarkets has been linked to deforestation in the Amazon, a new investigation has found. The study claims that suppliers of corn and soya beans used to feed chickens produced by the US food processing company JBS the worlds largest meat firm are connected with deforested regions in the Amazon and the Cerrado. JBS exports Brazilian beef, pork and chicken to companies around the world, including Europe, China and the Middle East. The UK imported at least $500 (444m) of Seara products a subsidiary of JBS over the last three years to wholesalers, food service and processing companies, which supply supermarkets, schools, hospitals and care homes. Seara chicken, which produces more than five million birds a day from its Brazilian poultry farms, supplies some of the world's biggest supermarkets and fast-food chains. The joint investigation by Reporter Brasil and Ecostorm, published on Thursday, states that this is the first time that chicken produced in Brazil and exported to the UK has been linked to deforestation. This investigation shows that the purchasing procedures applied have blind spots and still cannot fully prevent mechanisms of grain laundering, it said. In response, JBS told Reporter Brasil that it requires its grain suppliers to meet high standards and be signatories to the soy moratorium, which bans the sale of soya grown on land deforested after 2008. 140,000 soccer fields of forest in one month. The Amazon, the lungs of the earth, being destroyed before our eyes. If the Amazon goes its taking us with it. #ActOnClimate #deforestation #brazil #vote #rewilding #greennewdeal pic.twitter.com/srFHVW97I0 Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) October 2, 2022 Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon during the first half of 2022 broke all records, and was 80 per cent larger than the same period in 2018, the year before President Jair Bolsonaro took office. This is according to analysis from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, or IPAM, a Brazilian nonprofit. According to IPAM, around half of the felling occurred on public land, alongside illegal real estate and timber transactions and a lack of enforcement. Ane Alencar, IPAMs science director, said: Those who control the Amazon dont want it preserved. The standing forest has no value in todays Amazon. The Broken Arrow Police Department needs help solving what it says is Broken Arrows first unsolved homicide. FOX23 first reported on the murder of 72-year-old Linda Davenport back in November. Broken Arrow Police say they found Davenport brutally beaten to death in her home on Aspen Court. That was on Nov. 14. Nearly a year later, no arrests have been made. Broken Arrow police say Davenports murder remains their only unsolved homicide. Police says Davenport lived alone and that officers discovered the woman dead when a family member requested a welfare check. BAPD says homicides in Broken Arrow are rare, averaging about two a year. Tulsa is on homicide 78, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. BAPD says the investigation has stalled without new evidence. If you know anything that can help call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. You can always remain anonymous. NEW YORK Ten people were injured, including a child, in a crash Thursday involving a lights-flashing NYPD SUV that roared through a Bronx intersection, police said. The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hoe Ave. and Westchester Ave. in Foxhurst about 3 p.m. as police in a marked police SUV responded to a call for a stolen vehicle, cops said sources said. As the officers headed northeast on Westchester Ave. at a rapid speed, they entered the intersection at Hoe Ave., where they crossed over the double yellow line and into the oncoming lane of traffic, video viewed by the Daily News shows. NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said the vehicle was using its lights and siren. As the police SUV veered into the oncoming traffic lane, it was cut off by a gray Acura sedan making a left turn from Westchester Ave. to Hoe Ave., the video shows. The NYPD vehicle clipped the Acura and then careened into a curb next to an assisted living center. The SUV hit a lamp post and plowed into four people near a bus stop, including a 5-year-old and a 65-year-old man who are in critical condition, Maddrey said. Ten people were injured, including a child, in a crash involving a NYPD vehicle in the Bronx Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hoe Ave. and Westchester Ave. in Foxhurst about 3 p.m. as police in a marked police vehicle responded to a call for a stolen vehicle. Video showed the crash happened too fast to give pedestrians time to get out of the way. The cop car was speeding, said Chuck Robinson, a witness. It hit a lady with a baby on the corner. She was pinned against the wall under the camera, said Robinson, 51, referring to a security camera near the bus stop. Then it (the police vehicle) hit a lady with a walker and it took down a guy coming out of the building. There was another lady walking on the sidewalk also hit. The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hoe Ave. and Westchester Ave. in Foxhurst about 3 p.m. as police in a marked police vehicle responded to a call for a stolen vehicle. Story continues As the lamp post fell, falling debris struck two other people, sources said. Video of the aftermath showed some victims unconscious and bleeding on the pavement. Yo, what are you doing? Whos driving? Who the f--k is driving? a man exclaims as he takes in the horrifying scene. Dont move! Dont move her! The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hoe Ave. and Westchester Ave. in Foxhurst about 3 p.m. as police in a marked police vehicle responded to a call for a stolen vehicle. The lady with the baby was down and they were doing chest compressions, Robinson said. The old guy was trying to get up, but he was covered in blood. Medics rushed eight injured people including two police officers to Lincoln Hospital and Jacobi Medical Center in stable condition, FDNY and NYPD officials said. Two people refused medical attention at the scene and the officers suffered minor injuries, sources said. The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hoe Ave. and Westchester Ave. in Foxhurst about 3 p.m. as police in a marked police vehicle responded to a call for a stolen vehicle. The 5-year-old and 65-year-old man are in critical but stable condition, sources said. The other victims, who include a grandmother and a two-year-old toddler who was in the Acura, are in stable condition. Police were still investigating the crash later Thursday afternoon. It was terrible, just terrible, said Robinson, an ironworker who lives in the neighborhood. That could have been me, that could have been you, that could have been anyone on their way home from work. ------ The Juno Beach Centre was erected 20 years ago in France to commemorate Canadian WWII soldiers. Canada will help buy a plot of land in France that was once stormed by allied troops on D-Day during World War Two. The purchase ends a three-year battle with a French developer that planned to construct two condominium buildings in the area. Canada feared the construction would affect a museum nearby that commemorates Canadian soldiers who died during the war. Courseulles-Sur-Mer, the local town, will buy the land back with Canada. Canada will contribute nearly C$4m ($2.9m; 2.6m) to the purchase, said federal veteran affairs minister Lawrence MacAulay in an announcement in Ottawa on Friday. France's Juno Beach is home to the privately-owned Juno Beach Centre, a 20-year-old Canadian museum that pays tribute to 45,000 soldiers from Canada who lost their lives during WW2. The land is historically significant, as it is where allied troops first arrived ashore in France on 6 June 1944, known as D-Day. It is also where the Battle of Normandy took place, an important milestone in the liberation of western Europe from Nazi Germany. Around 5,500 Canadian soldiers were killed in the Battle of Normandy and 381 died on D-Day. The Juno Beach Centre was opened by Canadian D-Day veterans in France to commemorate Canada's contributions to the war. Mr MacAulay said Ottawa was fiercely against the project - the sixty-unit Domaine des Dunes - proposed by French developer Foncim. "The development would be going on ground where so much Canadian blood was spilled," he said. Canada stepped in following a two-year legal battle between the museum and Foncim over the use of a road operated by the centre, which Foncim wanted to use during construction. This year, thousands of Canadians also took part in a letter writing campaign calling on French and Canadian officials to halt the plan. With the help of the Courseulles-Sur-Mer council, Ottawa reached an agreement to buy the land, putting an end to the project that was set to begin construction this fall. Story continues The BBC has reached out to Foncim for comment. Ernest Beno, director of the Juno Beach Centre Association and a retired brigadier general, said his organisation is grateful for the help of Canadian and French officials in putting an end to the dispute. "This project threatened the commemorative and the educational efforts of our site," he said. The centre also thanked "all of the French individuals who did the best they could with their limited power but tremendous determination". Mr MacAulay said Canada is now in the process of negotiating a 99-year lease that would protect the site from future development. "Progress is inevitable, but some parcels of land should never be touched, never," he said. By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada is lifting the 20-hour-a-week limit on the number of hours international students can work off-campus, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser announced on Friday, citing the country's labour shortage. Canada's job vacancy rate was 5.4% in July, down from a peak 6.0% in April 2022. Canadian employers were actively looking to fill nearly 1 million jobs as of July. "There's more job opportunities than there are workers in almost every community in Canada," Fraser told reporters, adding that while some international students will work in service jobs, he hopes some will find employment in their field of study. The new policy, set to run from Nov. 15 through the end of 2023, will only apply to students studying full time, he said. Students have said the 20-hour cap made them vulnerable to exploitation because many end up working longer hours without protections. Fraser said lifting the cap will give students a greater choice of employment opportunities, making them less likely to fall victim to "unscrupulous employers." "That will actually create a better opportunity for students to not fall victim to an individual employer they may be beholden to." Fraser also announced a pilot project to automate some approvals of study permit extension applications, meant to address a backlog. Canada has become increasingly dependent on temporary residents, including international students, to fill its labour force needs. Advocates and economists say this creates a precarious workforce and can depress wage and working conditions for all employees. The growth in temporary residents has been especially steep for students coming from abroad to study. Canada has become an increasingly sought-after destination for international students who often come with the intent of eventually obtaining permanent residency. Fraser said he is working on improving pathways to permanency for international students as well as to undocumented people but would not give details. (Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Editing by Marguerita Choy) CANTON A Canton firefighter charged with burglary and assault after a confrontation with a coworker in June has pleaded guilty to assault and a lesser charge of trespass. Victoria L. Carafelli, 27, climbed through a window in the 2100 block of Washington Boulevard NW to enter the home of another Canton firefighter, according to court records. She then struck the 32-year-old woman multiple times in the face, causing injuries that were treated at a local hospital. Carafelli was arrested and released on a $25,000 bond and house arrest. She pleaded not guilty in August to charges of burglary, a third-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor in Stark County Common Pleas Court. More: Court coverageCortez Watson gets 23 years to life for June murder The burglary charge was amended Wednesday to "trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present," a fourth-degree felony. Carafelli pleaded guilty the same day to the trespass and assault charges and informed the court that she'd been referred to the Stark County Honor Court's diversion track. Carafelli's attorney, Samuel Ferruccio, said she apologized for her actions and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1. He declined to make any further comments at this time. Carafelli was hired by the Canton Fire Department in March 2019 and received the Stark County Firefighters Association's "Paramedic of the Year" award in May. The city placed Carafelli on paid administrative leave after she was arrested, and she resigned on Sept. 20, according to Safety Director Andrea Perry. Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton firefighter pleads guilty to assault, trespass The battle over no-cash bail is heating up in Illinois. There are lawsuits and fiercely divided opinions on the law that could allow most people charged with a crime to remain free until their trial. Bond court judges are left in the middle. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov talked to one Cook County judge about how she decides who gets out and who doesn't. President Biden Joe Biden speaks at a Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 reception at the White House. Just who counts as 'Hispanic' in the U.S. is an open question. Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images As I opened a recent email from my local grocery store chain advertising Hispanic Heritage Month it runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year I was surprised to see it highlighting recipes from four distinct regions: Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. The advertisement rightly noted that while corn and beans have framed much of what in the United States is considered Hispanic foods, Latin America has a much greater diversity of foods. Its cuisine, which began long before the Spanish or other colonizers came to the Americas, continues to flourish. While many of us Latine an alternative term for Latinos or Latinx that I prefer embrace our European heritage, we also embrace our Indigenous and African heritage. In recent decades, many Latin American nations have officially recognized their Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations as distinct groups with unique histories, cultures, foods and languages. Countries across the Americas, including the United States, have revised their census questions to better understand their populations, enabling them to create more inclusive policies that actually address peoples needs and to recognize the too-often hidden achievements of these groups. Census changes in Latin America Some Latin American countries, such as Peru, have counted their Indigenous population for over a century. But with the exception of Brazil and Cuba, Latin American countries generally excluded race on their national census, allowing economic and social inequalities to flourish undocumented. The effort to better capture both Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations in Latin America began around the turn of the 21st century. Uruguay, a small and prosperous South American country, long portrayed itself as white and European despite being home to Afro-Uruguayans descended from enslaved Africans. In 1996, under pressure from Afro-descendent activists, it added race to its national household survey. That census had census workers identify the respondents race and found the country to be 6% Afro-descended and revealed stunning racial disparities in education, income and employment. When in 2006 Uruguayan census-takers began asking residents to state their own racial identity, the Afro-descended population jumped to 10%. This data shift had important implications when Uruguay implemented race-based affirmative action a few years later. Story continues In Mexico, where Indigenous identity had previously been linked only to speakers of one of the countrys 68 Indigenous languages, the census was changed in 2020 to ask if respondents self-identified as Indigenous or belonged to a community that identified as Indigenous. The result was an increase of 7.1 million people to 23.2 million who identified as Indigenous. The same change targeting the Afro-Mexican population identified a previously unrecognized population of 2.5 million. Some other race The U.S. added a question about Hispanic descent to the 1970 census long form, and to the short form in 1980. The question asked, Is this person of Hispanic/Spanish descent? If the answer was Yes, these were following options: Mexican or Mexican-American or Chicano; Puerto Rican; Cuban; Other Spanish/Hispanic. In subsequent decades, small changes were made such, as including the word Latino and allowing those who choose other in the national origin category to write in a response, with suggestions of Argentinian, Colombian, Dominican, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on. In 2020, the census allowed respondents to identify as multiracial. The U.S. Census Bureau argues that its categories now adequately capture the heritage of the 62.6 million Hispanics that flourish in the U.S. because all detailed Hispanic origin groups are included in the newly combined code list. In fact, however, if your heritage stems from one of the hundreds of Indigenous or Afro-descended groups in Latin America, these identities remain outside of the way the U.S. captures race among the Hispanic populations. That may explain why, according to the Census Bureau the vast majority (94%) of responses to the race question that are classified as Some Other Race are from people of Hispanic or Latino origin. Overgeneralized and under-recognized When the fixed categories of a census erase the diversity of a population, the gross miscalculations that result may harm a countrys ability to appropriately respond to the needs of its people. For example, the overgeneralizing of U.S. Hispanics hurts the quality of American education and health care when these institutions assume that Latin American heritage communities speak Spanish. In addition to Indigenous languages, Latino Afro-descendant populations may not speak Spanish but rather may speak French or Haitian Creole, Portuguese or an Indigenous language. If they are from the Miskito Coast of Nicaragua, they may speak an English Creole. These language differences reflect unique cultures and histories that relate to how people engage with doctors, teachers, politicians and much more. Failing to recognize the diversity of Hispanics also creates frequent election surprises in the U.S. For example, pollsters got the Latino vote all wrong in 2020 by lumping together 32 million people with diverse political opinions and national origins as Latino. Democrats arguably made the same mistake in 2018. In overgeneralizing Hispanics, the U.S may also overlook to its own detriment the knowledge and experience of a culturally unique people who bring with them alternative understandings of the world, some of which Ive studied as an anthropologist focused on food security, migration and health in Latin America. These include agricultural practices that can aid American farmers in responding to the global climate crisis and Mesoamerican strategies for health based on communal care and traditional remedies. A growing community with more to offer Despite its limitations, U.S. census data clearly shows that the Hispanic population continues to grow. While the overall U.S. population increased 7% between 2010 and 2020, the Hispanic population expanded by 23%. Today, 1 in every 5 people in the U.S. identifies with Hispanic or Latino heritage. This growth is particularly notable in the South in states like Georgia and North Carolina and in rural areas. The Hispanic population has become a demographic lifeline for parts of small-town America that experienced significant population loss in the late 20th century. Hispanic communities have also reinvigorated urban neighborhoods as they open small businesses. Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who live in Brooklyn, New York, celebrate a birthday in Prospect Park on April 4, 2021. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Rebuilding cities, stabilizing rural counties, expanding local economies these are among the group contributions made by the community of Americans celebrated each year during Hispanic Heritage Month. The better we understand the nuances of this large population, the better we will understand who we are as a nation and benefit more fully from our diversity. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Ramona L. Perez, San Diego State University. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Read more: Ramona L. Perez receives funding from the Tinker Foundation, National Science Foundation, and the US Department of Agriculture. She is affiliated with the American Anthropological Association, where she currently serves as president. Associated Press Tom Brady is losing more than just his cool. The seven-time Super Bowl champion, who missed nearly two weeks of Tampa Bay's training camp to tend to a personal matter this summer, gave his offensive line a tongue-lashing during the Buccaneers' 20-18 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday. There's too many plays we're not making, Brady said after the Bucs fell to 3-3 his worst start after six weeks since 2012. Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration is ready to implement a long-term vision for a thoroughfare that connects North Side neighborhoods like Lincoln Square, North Center and West Rogers Park. City planning officials held the final meeting Thursday night for their Western Avenue Corridor Study, an effort to transform the 5-mile stretch from Addison Street north to Howard Street. Advertisement Its one of Chicagos busiest streets, but daunting for pedestrians and cyclists, and has too many empty storefronts, according to Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Maurice Cox. During the virtual meeting he said the city should help develop a series of 15-minute neighborhoods along Western Avenue, dense collections of new housing at prominent intersections, including affordable housing, along with better public transit and street design, ensuring residents can quickly and safely reach new retail and public amenities. Advertisement Every resident should be just steps away from the amenities every resident expects and deserves, he said. The Western Avenue plan was written after nearly a dozen focus groups with residents, business owners and other stakeholders, along with several public meetings with hundreds of participants. Its supported by all four aldermen who represent the area, and the Chicago Plan Commission will likely approve it at its Nov. 17 meeting, Cox added, who also wants to launch similar efforts for other streets with similar problems. We expect this will serve as a planning tool for commercial corridors citywide, he said. But residents should not expect a flurry of new housing to rapidly sprout near Western Avenue. Unlike Lightfoots INVEST South/West initiative, where the city dictates the pace of development by soliciting proposals from builders for projects on the South and West sides, typically on city-owned lots, most of the land along Western Avenue is privately owned, so planning officials will shape proposals as they are put forward, according to Katharyn Hurd, the city planner who led the 18-month initiative. If a developer proposes a zoning change, we will want them to comply with the recommendations of the plan, she said. As we are reviewing these projects, we will be referring back to this document. Hurd said planners identified the five Western Avenue intersections likely to attract the most development, including Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square, Devon Avenue in West Ridge and Byron Street in North Center. Along with the local aldermen, they will encourage developers to create high-density housing near the intersections, including ground-floor businesses such as banks, pharmacies, salons and restaurants, as well as wide-open sidewalks to help pedestrians feel safe. Outside the main intersections, the city can use tax increment financing, or TIF, funds to help small businesses renovate existing properties or establish new services and retail such as coffee shops and laundromats. Lincoln Square is already attracting the type of development Hurd and other officials envision. The citys Community Development Commission last month approved up to $12 million in TIF funds to help finance a new 63-unit affordable housing complex at 4715 N. Western Ave., now a parking lot. The $35 million development by The Community Builders will include about 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Advertisement A person crosses N. Western Avenue near the CTA Brown Line station, Oct. 6, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) But the city doesnt have to wait to make Western Avenue safer for pedestrians and cyclists, Hurd said. Officials can also use TIF funds over the next two years to shorten the four-lane streets crossing distance with refuge islands and curb extensions, among other infrastructure improvements, such as adding green spaces with trees and shrubs, and public gathering spaces. Along with planners from the Chicago Department of Transportation, which collaborated on the plan, they will also study ways to slow down traffic, add new bus stations, bus lanes and protected bike routes. It needs to be more friendly to pedestrians, less hostile than it is right now, Hurd said. Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th Ward, who represents a northern section of Western Avenue, asked Cox to create the new strategy, and said the 18 months it took to write is just the first step. Its not over, she said. Weve got to turn this vision into reality. Associated Press A shipwreck has emerged along the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as water levels plummet threatening to reach record lows in some areas. The ship, which archaeologists believe to be a ferry that sunk in the late 1800s to early 1900s, was spotted by a Baton Rouge resident walking along the shore earlier this month. During the summer, receding waters in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area revealed several skeletal remains, countless desiccated fish, a graveyard of forgotten boats and even a sunken World War II-era craft that once surveyed the lake. One month before the US midterm elections, candidates are tapping their creativity to reach out to voters, flexing their comedic chops or displaying intimate moments of their lives. Here are some of the most interesting moments from a week on the campaign trail. - Who's a chicken? - He calls his opponent a chicken -- while holding a chicken. South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham called out his opponent, current Republican governor Henry McMaster, for not agreeing to more televised debates. "Come on, Governor, don't be a chicken," the young Democratic candidate said Thursday, holding a hen aptly named "Henrietta McMaster." "I'm not a chicken, I'm not afraid to defend my views," he added to the press. - A stinging barb - Standing against a white background, John Neely Kennedy chose to attack Democrats while standing next to a vertical fish tank full of jellyfish. "The left thinks that vetting people at our southern border is racist. The left thinks that government employees have a constitutional right to talk to five years old about sexuality," the Republican senator from Louisiana said. "It's frustrating to me to see how our country, which was founded by geniuses, (is) being run by idiots. But still, I'm an optimist, guys. I have hope for my liberal friends," he says, approaching the fish tank and preparing a zinger. "Jellyfish have survived for 165 million years without a brain." - Two birds, one stone - Ray Perkins is the owner of the "Chubby Ray" restaurant in Jeffersontown, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a candidate for mayor, and does not hesitate to mix personal business with his public campaign. But a local news station said he may have gone too far: it ran a story about an unusual campaign mailer that is partly a flyer for Perkins's mayoral campaign and also contains coupons for his restaurant. On the left, against a blue background, are Perkins's face and slogans. On the right is a coupon for burgers and pizzas. Story continues "I'm just letting people know that the guy running for mayor is the same guy who owns the restaurant," he said on television. - Televised childbirth - It's a campaign clip that opens like so many others: a candidate alongside her husband and her daughter, talking about family amid scenes from their farm in Louisiana. "And someone else is going to join us," Katie Darling adds in voiceover, her pregnancy bump plainly visible. The next shots show her entering a hospital. "We should be putting pregnant women at ease, not putting their life at risk," the Democrat running for a congressional seat says, as viewers see her going into labor. By showing herself giving birth, Darling said she was supporting the fight for abortion rights in one of the states that has banned abortions since the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to the procedure in June. "I am the one in the hospital bed, not the legislators in Baton Rouge or Washington," she says. bur-ube/seb/tjj/to SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile's mining minister announced on Friday the permanent closure of mining stopes directly related to a giant sinkhole that appeared in the northern part of the country in July. Mining minister Marcela Hernando made the announcement after meeting with union members, mine workers and technical experts studying the sinkhole. "The sector of the Gaby stopes, that are directly related to the subsidence, are closed definitively and will never be exploited again," Hernando said, referring to a sector of stopes in the Alcaparrosa copper mine in northern Chile. The minister added that the government is working on recovering water from an aquifer that was damaged by the sinkhole. "We're interested in recovering 1.3 million cubic meters of water that are currently stagnant in the depth," Hernando said. "Our intention is to return them to the aquifer, for which we're studying multiple alternatives." Chile's SMA environmental regulator announced the charges against the Canadian-owned Lundin Mining Corp's copper mine on Thursday for the sinkhole. SMA filed a charge labeled as "very serious" for "irreparable environmental damage" to the aquifer, in addition to a "serious" charge for overextraction and two minor ones related to transporting minerals. The government said it was planning to reopen parts of the mine where conditions allowed to avoid the loss of jobs. Canada's Lundin Mining Corp owns 80% of the property, while the remaining 20% is held by Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corp. The company could face closure, have its environmental permit revoked or be fined the equivalent of $13 million or more. In mid-August, the SMA ordered "urgent and transitory" measures while investigating the causes of the 36.5-meter-diameter (120-foot-diameter) hole in Tierra Amarilla, some 665 km (413 miles) north of the capital. (This story has been refiled to correct the mine name in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Aurora Ellis) China's reported overseas police service stations and their operations to persuade citizens to return to the homeland mark a dangerous expansion of the regimes international reach, according to a human rights advocate. Safeguard Defenders, a pan-Asian human rights organization, published an investigation last month detailing a Chinese campaign to combat "fraud and telecom fraud" crimes committed by its citizens living abroad. The report indicated that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has established at least 54 police stations across 30 different countries, including the U.S. "I think it shows how brazen the CCP is getting and how little regard they have for other governments," Laura Harth, Safeguard Defenders' campaign manager, told Fox News. "Its in violation of international law, its in violation of territorial sovereign." The police stations are mostly located in Western Europe, but four are in North America, including one in New York City, according to the report. They allow Chinese authorities to "carry out policing operations on foreign soil," Hart said. DOUGLAS MURRAY ISSUES STARK WARNING AFTER CHINA'S ELON MUSK THREAT: THEIR VISION IS 'ABSOLUTE HELL' FOR US Through its "110 Overseas" campaign, the Chinese Foreign Ministry of Security has reportedly persuaded over 230,000 overseas Chinese suspects to return to the mainland and face criminal charges. VCG/VCG via Getty Images "Obviously this shows how unaware, how naive certain governments are, or choose to be at this stage," Harth told Fox News. "European authorities are severely lacking in awareness and willingness to act on or even look into it." Since the campaign launched in April 2021, 230,000 Chinese nationals have been "persuaded to return" home to face criminal prosecution, according to the Ministry of Public Security in China. "A big part of this transnational policing repression campaign is also aiming at silencing the community, silencing dissent, making sure that people are afraid enough," Harth told Fox News. Some reported tactics used to compel Chinese nationals to return include threatening and intimidating family members in China. A suspect's children can be banned from attending school, and their familys bank accounts can be frozen and their property confiscated. Story continues US WARNS ABOUT FOREIGN EFFORTS TO SWAY AMERICAN VOTERS Suspects in telecoms scams are brought back to China from Cambodia as the CCP cracks down on fraud committed by its citizens overseas. Xinhua News Agency / Contributor "They will interrogate people, maybe detain people," Harth said. "There's also guilt by association. There are accounts of people being prosecuted or arrested for the presumed charges against their family members" abroad. China will "do anything really to convince them to persuade their family members to come back," she added. "Nothing seems to be too impressive or too harsh" for the CCP. If those tactics fail, the CCP will deploy its international officers to directly approach the suspect as a means of "persuasion," according to Harth. "That's a clear message to anyone seeking to leave China, already having left China, that you're not safe anywhere," she said. CHINA STILL BENEFITS FROM RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP, EVEN WITH INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AT RISK: EXPERTS China's reported extradition missions operate without knowledge or approval from the local government, Harth told Fox News. China's reported overseas police stations are located across 30 countries, including one in New York City. Xinhua News Agency / Contributor "This is obviously completely illegal. This is no regular international police cooperation," she said. "These have been set up without any knowledge of local authorities, without any requests." The Chinese government has claimed that the stations provide services to its citizens living abroad, like renewing IDs and driver's licenses, the Chinese embassy told The Irish Times. While that may be true in part, Harth said, the stations are largely used to enhance Chinas overseas law enforcement capabilities. "We know that they're building on an existing network of United Front work organizations," Harth said. "This may escalate very quickly, if not stopped right at the beginning." Pastor Bill Dunfee greets protesters outside his church in Warsaw, Ohio, on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010. Jay LaPrete, File/Associated Press A pastor from Ohio was charged Wednesday with several counts related to the Capitol riot. William Dunfee was accused of pushing a metal barrier into US Capitol Police officers. Dunfee preached about January 6 before and after the riot, according to an FBI criminal complaint. In December 2020, an Ohio pastor stood before his congregants, griped about a stolen election, and said they needed to give the government a reason to fear them, federal prosecutors said. "The Government, the tyrants, the socialists, the Marxists, the progressives, the RINOs, they fear you. And they should. Our problem is we haven't given them reason to fear us," William Dunfee said, according to an FBI criminal complaint that cited a video posted to his church's Facebook page. According to the complaint, Dunfee, a 57-year-old Christian pastor from Frazeysburg, Ohio, also said: "They used to tell us, you know what, you settle your differences at the ballot. How did that work out for us? It's not over." He added: "January 4th through 6th Are you ready?" Ten days later, he was at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, prosecutors said. Dunfee was arrested and charged Wednesday with several misdemeanor and felony counts related to the Capitol riot, including obstructing an official proceeding, interfering with law enforcement during civil disorder, and engaging in physical violence in the Capitol grounds. Prosecutors said Dunfee illegally entered the Capitol grounds and told the crowd through a megaphone: "We are taking our house." They also accused him of pushing a metal barricade into US Capitol Police officers who were trying to hold back the mob. Afterwards, Dunfee celebrated with exclamations of "Hallelujah" and "We did it. We shut 'em all down. We did our job," the complaint said. Pastor Bill Dunfee identified in an FBI criminal complaint. The Department of Justice The FBI identified Dunfee after a tipster flagged a Facebook comment in which another person said "Pastor Bill" had led the way as his ministry group "stormed" the Capitol. The criminal complaint showed several screenshots of videos purporting to show Dunfee during the attack. Story continues After the Capitol riot, Dunfee went on to preach about what happened, the complaint said. On May 30, 2021, Dunfee told his congregants they showed up to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, "to let it be known that we are not going to stand back and let an election be stolen," adding that the people at the Capitol have been called "terrorists" but that there were actually "many, many, many patriots." "And I thank god they showed up to just to let it be known ... you are not stealing this election," he said, according to the complaint. "You're not going to rob us, deprive us of a democracy, of a republic, without us being heard." Read the original article on Business Insider Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday condemned Saudi Arabia for participating in a decision by OPEC+ countries to cut the production of oil to boost prices. Energy ministers of oil-exporting countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, on Wednesday decided to reduce production by 2 million barrels of oil per day starting next month, the Associated Press reported. The decision is good news for Russian President Vladimir Putin given that higher prices of oil could help him fund his war in Ukraine. It could also challenge Europes united support for Ukraine as the continent faces a projected economic squeeze this winter. What Saudi Arabia did to help Putin continue to wage his despicable, vicious war against Ukraine will long be remembered by Americans, Schumer wrote on Twitter. We are looking at all the legislative tools to best deal with this appalling and deeply cynical action, including the NOPEC bill. What Saudi Arabia did to help Putin continue to wage his despicable, vicious war against Ukraine will long be remembered by Americans. We are looking at all the legislative tools to best deal with this appalling and deeply cynical action, including the NOPEC bill. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 6, 2022 The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels bill, which the Senate Judiciary Committee approved in May, would rewrite the law to allow for antitrust lawsuits against OPEC+ members and national oil companies, according to Reuters. Following the OPEC+ announcement, the White House put out a statement by national security adviser Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council director Brian Deese pledging the administration will now also consult with Congress on additional tools and authorities to reduce OPECs control over energy prices. This was interpreted as a possible signal that the White House could be prepared to support the NOPEC bill, a move it has previously resisted, according to Reuters. Story continues White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the move shortsighted while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Putins invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was disappointed by the OPEC+ decision. He also defended his controversial trip to Saudi Arabia over the summer, saying it was not essentially for oil. The trip was about the Middle East and about Israel and rationalization of positions, he said. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. (Bloomberg) -- Subscribe to In The City on Apple podcastsSubscribe to In The City on Spotify Most Read from Bloomberg Investors are turning away from the UK as a result of the last months political chaos. And what about British business leaders? The fallout from the mini-budget could be turning them toward Labour. The Tories have always been the party of sound money, but the problem with the mini-budget is it severely damaged that reputation for being good with business. That opens up much more room for Labour, says Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait, who joins this weeks episode of In the City podcast to debrief on Liz Trusss performance at the conference. David Merritt and Francine Lacqua speak with Lord Bilimoria, former chairman at the Confederation of British industry and founder of global beer brand, Cobra Beer, who says it all boils down to poor communication from the government. Pointing to the Tony Blair administration, Bilimoria says we know Labour can be business friendly. And we hear from Francines conversation with Tiina Lee, chief executive officer, UK and Ireland at Deutsche Bank. Lee, who met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng alongside other banking chiefs last month, said communication with the markets was missing around the plans. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. airline The world has finally agreed on a long-term plan to curb carbon emissions from flying. At a meeting in Montreal, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), pledged to support an "aspirational" net zero aviation goal by 2050. The plan, seen as a compromise by many, was accepted by the 193 countries who are members of ICAO. However green groups say the deal is weak and not legally binding. When the world came together in Paris in 2015 to agree on a long-term plan to tackle climate change, two key industries were missing - aviation and shipping. The airline industry contributes around 2.5% of global carbon emissions, but scientists believe it has a much higher impact on climate change than this figure suggests. This is because of the multiple impacts of flying including the altitudes planes fly at and the effects of contrails - the water-vapour trails produced by engines. US Special Presidential envoy on climate change, John Kerry, welcomed the deal. In a tweet he said: "Thrilled to see international aviation commit at @icao 41st Assembly to a sustainable future with a long-term climate goal... to help put aviation on the path to net zero by 2050." Covid saw a global fall off in air travel While it is not a global regulator of the airline industry, ICAO is the UN body that promotes co-operation among member states on air transport. It cannot impose rules on countries, but national governments usually abide by what is agreed at ICAO meetings. The air transport industry has been under increasing pressure from consumers and scientists to try to find ways to decarbonise air travel for several years, with limited success. At the ICAO triennial assembly in Montreal, member states finally agreed to support a net zero target for 2050, despite grumbles from China and Russia. The UK was one of the first countries to include aviation emission in their climate targets in 2021 and helped launch the International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition at COP26. Story continues They've been amongst 56 countries pushing for an ambitious deal in Montreal. "This week, members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation agreed to a collective goal of net zero international aviation by 2050 - a historic milestone, not just for the future of flying, but for the wider international commitment to achieve net zero," said Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan. "It represents years of tireless work by the UK and its partners to lead the world towards a clean future for all." However, environmentalists have major reservations about the agreed resolutions. "You shouldn't be fooled by the results of this assembly. This isn't going to solve aviation's problem," said Jo Dardenne of campaign group Transport & Environment. "The only way we're going to solve it is to stop burning kerosene. The way that you stop burning kerosene is by pricing kerosene more effectively and investing in alternative solutions." At the meeting countries also agreed on changes to a scheme that would deal with a large part of the future emissions from airlines through a system of carbon offsets. Offsetting is a process where companies or individuals buy carbon credits from schemes such as forestry plantations to cancel out carbon emissions from activities like flying. airplane ICAO has now agreed that airlines will use the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Under the scheme airlines would agree a baseline year and all future emissions above the level of that period would have to be offset. Initially they had planned to use an average of flying emissions in 2019 and 2020 - but the onset of the Covid pandemic saw air transport decline rapidly. While campaigners were delighted with the prospect of a low baseline that would have forced airlines to offset far more of their emissions, the industry baulked. After discussions in Montreal the threshold has now been set as 85% of 2019 carbon emissions, allowing a higher level of carbon dioxide pollution before airlines must purchase offsets. Planting trees is one of the most common methods of offsetting carbon emissions In previous analysis, campaigners found that CORSIA would add just 2.40 to the price of a long-haul flight in 2030 to offset passenger's emissions. They now say that the scheme agreed in Montreal will only cover 22% of future emissions in 2030. Supporters of the agreement believe that as well as offsetting, airlines will now speed up the development of greener jet fuels, and other technical improvements to decarbonise flying. "A goal is better than nothing but it is up to member states now to implement the proper regulations," said Jo Dardenne. "Once this target is there, even if it is non-binding, politically it still forces member states to be ambitious in their climate plans." CNN anchor Jim Sciutto is expected to return to the air in a few weeks after taking a leave of absence, the networks Reliable Sources newsletter reported on Thursday. Sciutto has been off the air this week on personal leave after the network conducted an investigation into a serious fall the journalist took in Amsterdam earlier this year, according to The Daily Beast. The anchor was reportedly returning from a work trip in Europe to cover the war in Ukraine when he and his producer made a stopover in Amsterdam. According to The Daily Beast, CNN employees typically take direct flights back to the U.S. from Poland. Reliable Sources reported that CNN declined to comment further. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Migrants who have been living at a Hells Kitchen hotel say they are living in worrying conditions, with not enough food for hungry children, a lack of responsiveness from social service workers and with temperatures dropping into the upper 40s these last few days no heat. While many are glad to have a roof to sleep under, The News spoke to more than dozen residents who say they havent been provided with basic necessities. In addition to the lack of heat, residents say they are served moldy food and dont have Wi-Fi in the hotel. Its really cold right now because they havent fixed the heaters yet, said Karen Montoya, 22, the mother of a 4-month-old girl who came to U.S. six months ago from Venezuela. City officials say they are complying with all requirements mandating minimum temperatures. The hotel has been used as a family shelter since June as part of the emergency response to the influx of migrants that has overwhelmed the citys existing shelter system, and is operated by the nonprofit Acacia Network. The city has opened 42 emergency shelters to accommodate more than 13,000 asylum seekers. Additionally, the mayor has floated plans first in a remote section of the Bronx, now on Randalls Island to put migrants in refugee camp-style tents. City Council members blasted the new location late Wednesday, calling on the city to instead house migrants in nearly 5,000 rooms in shuttered hotels. The Skyline Hotel houses around 200 families with children. About 40% of hotel residents are recent migrants from the southern border, many of whom were bused to the city from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott. Shelter residents say theyve been without heat for days at the hotel and were told by staff theyll have to wait until Oct. 15. Some mothers said they have resorted to letting a hot shower run to heat up their rooms. Representatives of the Skyline did not return phone calls from The News. According to the citys heating law, building owners are legally required to provide heat of at least 68 degrees if the outside temperature is below 55 degrees. Story continues The Department of Social Services maintains that all its sites, including the Skyline Hotel, meet this requirement. As part of our legal and moral obligation to provide shelter to anyone who needs it our dedicated teams are working around the clock to provide shelter services to thousands of recently arrived asylum seekers and we continue to open emergency sites citywide, a Social Services spokesman said. Protecting the health and safety of our clients is our top priority, and we ensure that our sites comply with NYC Heat Law ... DSS-DHS and our not-for-profit provider-partner staff are trained to lead with care and compassion and maintain open lines of communication with clients so we can address any concerns as they arise. Meeting the influx of migrants is an incredibly challenging task, said a spokesman for the Acacia Network, who is the provider at Skyline. Providing hundreds of new rooms for migrants, as staffing issues continue to plague the city, very quickly means that simply providing food and shelter is an accomplishment for the city. The hotel passed a Department of Health inspection last week, according to a hotel employee. Maria, 31, a single mother, has resided in the hotel since she arrived in New York three months ago. Shes from Venezuela. She declined to share her last name. Maria hoped to find stability and more opportunity for herself and her three children in the U.S., but hasnt found either yet. Maria says she feels the environment isnt safe for her children and tries to keep to herself and stay in her room. Its isolating its just her and her three kids. She cant leave her kids alone in the room, and shelter rules prevent her from having another parent watch them. There isnt any order, she said. On a recent day, it was 50 degrees and rainy in Manhattan. Maria wore flip flops given to her by volunteers when she first arrived in New York, her socks damp. She talked to relatives back home on the phone, and her children raced up and down the sidewalks, around her, just wearing T-shirts and sandals. We dont get help from the social workers the treatment is very abrupt, very rude. They dont respect us, Maria said. They dont pay attention to us, we dont know whats going on, what theyre doing to help us, nothing. Janiqua, 29, has been in the shelter system since last November, when she was pregnant with her second child. She now lives at the Skyline with her fiancee and two children. Most of my money goes to getting food to make sure my children eat. I have a 3-year-old, hes not gonna eat what were given, she said. Migrants unable to work, for lack of working papers or who need to stay with their children, dont have extra money for food beyond the basics provided to them. Mariannys Caraballo, 26, has two toddlers, aged 4 and 3. Shes lived at Skyline for three months. She said the food she gets at the hotel is too spicy, and gave her toddlers diarrhea. My kids dont eat, they dont like the food. My husband leaves me $10 to buy food for the child and myself outside of the hotel. Its a little tough, but hey, what else can I do? If they can get outside food, several residents told The News that the hotel has just a single microwave. Over the course of the day, it gets dirty and unsanitary, but only gets cleaned once a day. The rooms come equipped with mini fridges that often dont have enough space. One mother of three said that she cant always give her kids milk, because it gets spoiled. Instead, she gives them juice. Im really getting very overwhelmed at the shelter, Janiqua said. Im about to go speak to [a case manager] because she told me she would help me out. But I called her the other day, and I still havent had any call from her. Im not trying to get them in trouble, because theyre the ones who are supposed to be helping, but to me they need to do more. You cant just open a shelter like this and just say, Oh, here you go. You got a roof over your head. The medical examiner's office shows Tylenol bottles containing analyzed contents of Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules. The specimen, right, was found to contain the poison cyanide. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune) In the fall of 1982, eight bottles of Tylenol in the Chicago area were found to be tainted with potassium cyanide. Five of those bottles caused seven fatalities, and testing identified three other poisoned bottles that were turned in to authorities or discovered on pharmacy shelves. Heres what we know about each bottle. Map: Locations of tainted bottles Scroll the map to see where each bottle was purchased or found and click on the markers to read more about each bottle. interactive_content [ The Tylenol murders: The story of a 40-year-old unsolved case begins with a terrifying medical mystery ] Overview of the eight bottles Mary Kellerman bottle Marys mother, Jeanna Kellerman, purchased a 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol from a Jewel Food Store in Elk Grove Village around 4 p.m. on Sept. 28, 1982. A later examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 51 Extra-Strength capsules, of which six contained cyanide. Adam, Stanley and Terri Janus bottle Adam Janus purchased a 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol from a Jewel Food Store in Arlington Heights around 11 a.m. on Sept. 29, 1982. A later examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 44 Extra-Strength capsules, of which four contained cyanide. Mary Lynn Reiner bottle Mary Lynn Reiner purchased a 50-count bottle of regular Tylenol from a Franks Finer Foods store in Winfield around 3 p.m. on Sept. 29, 1982. A later examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 41 regular Tylenol capsules and six Extra-Strength capsules. Four of the Extra-Strength capsules contained cyanide. Mary McFarland bottle Authorities believe Mary McFarland purchased a 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol from a Woolworths in Yorktown Center in Lombard. The time and date is unknown. A container in her purse was later found to contain 10 Extra-Strength capsules, of which five contained cyanide. A search of McFarlands residence produced one empty Tylenol bottle and one containing 34 Extra-Strength capsules. One of those capsules contained cyanide. Paula Prince bottle Paula Prince purchased a 24-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol from a Walgreens in Chicagos Old Town neighborhood around 9:16 p.m. on Sept. 29, 1982. A later examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 23 Extra-Strength capsules, of which four contained cyanide. Franks Finer Foods bottle A DuPage County woman purchased a 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol from a Franks Finer Foods in Wheaton around 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 1982. After hearing the warnings about Tylenol, the woman turned the bottle in to the Wheaton Police Department. An examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 50 Extra-Strength capsules, of which seven contained cyanide. Osco Drug bottle The U.S. Food and Drug Administration discovered a contaminated 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol at an Osco Drug inside Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg on Sept. 30, 1982. An examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 50 Extra-Strength capsules, of which 14 contained cyanide. Dominicks bottle An unknown purchaser returned a contaminated 50-count bottle of Extra-Strength Tylenol to a Dominicks Food Store in Chicagos Old Town neighborhood on an unknown date. An examination of the bottle revealed that it contained 50 Extra-Strength capsules, of which 11 contained cyanide. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government has reached a deal with cattle farmers to buy 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land, earmarked for poor rural farmers to push agrarian reform aimed at boosting food production and tackling poverty, the minister of agriculture said on Friday. "We've reached total agreement, this is an historic act, the third component of the agrarian reform is beginning," Agriculture Minister Cecilia Lopez said in a statement, adding the deal will be signed next week by President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist leader. The cost of the purchase and how it will be financed were not disclosed. Petro is pushing agrarian reform to meet part of a peace agreement signed in 2016 between the then government and the now-demobilized FARC guerrilla group that ended the rebels' participation in Colombia's internal armed conflict, which has run for almost six decades and has left at least 450,000 dead. Last month, Petro proposed changing the country's medium-term fiscal framework to take on internal debt of some 60 trillion pesos ($13 billion) to buy land and sell it to poor farmers affected by violence at below-market prices. The deal comes amid a spate of land invasions, which the government has condemned. Jose Felix Lafaurie, president of Colombia's Fedegan cattle ranchers association, said the deal was reached in less than a month. "We've reached a great agreement that will bring a lot of tranquility to the rural sector," Lafaurie said, adding that the deal will help consolidate a rural middle class that will help respond to Colombia's food-based challenges. The agrarian reform will also see titles for 600,000 hectares awarded to farmers, while another 125,000 hectares confiscate from accused drug traffickers will be rented, the agriculture minister added. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Aurora Ellis) A Colorado baker who made headlines for a partial Supreme Court victory over his opposition to a gay wedding cake is now challenging a ruling over a transgender cake. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that lawyers forJack Phillips appealed a court ruling made last year which found him in violation of the states anti-discrimination laws by refusing a transgender womans cake. He was ordered to pay the maximum amount under the states Anti Discrimination Act to the customer who sued for refusing her request to bake a cake that would celebrate her gender transition in 2017, the AP said. Autumn Scardinas lawyers reportedly said she did not ask the shop to endorse her idea, but that she simply wanted the bakery to sell her a blue and pink coloured cake that they would sell to anyone else. The shop agreed to the custom cake before backtracking when Ms Scardina volunteered the information about her gender transition, Judge Timothy Schutz noted in the case. Mr Phillips, a Christian, told the court he did not think someone could change genders and would not celebrate somebody who thinks that they can in opposition to established science on the matter, the AP reported. His attorney Jake Warner added that it was wrong to suggest Mr Phillips should create a cake with a message contrary to his religious beliefs, which he argued was a violation of his right to free speech. Autumn Scardina standing outside the Colorado Judicial Center in Denver on Wednesday (AP) Denver District Judge A Bruce Jones rejected Mr Phillips arguments during the case last year and said the cake was simply a product sold by a business that could not be withheld on the basis of state anti-discrimination laws. The judge added that Mr Phillips decision not to provide the requested cake was inextricably intertwined with his refusal to recognise Ms Scardina as a woman, per AP. An image of ack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado (AP) Mr Phillipss appeal will now be considered by the court. If the case sounds familiar, its because its reminiscent of situation that happened in 2012 -- also involving Mr Phillips. The Colorado baker was sued for refusing to bake a gay couple a wedding cake. Story continues As The Independent reported at the time, he took that ruling to the Supreme Court and secured a partial victory on the basis of his religious beliefs. Ms Scardina, herself an attorney, attempted to order her cake on the same day the Supreme Court announced it would hear Mr Phillips appeal in the wedding cake case in 2017, according to the AP. She reportedly testified that she wanted to challenge the veracity of Mr Phillips statements that he would serve LGBT+ customers, which were made during the previous case. The Independent has approached an attorney for Mr Phillips and Ms Scardina for comment. Columbia University announced a $165 million settlement Friday with 147 women who said former gynecologist Robert Hadden committed sexual abuse and misconduct while he was their doctor. The funds from the settlement will be distributed by a special master agreed to by the parties. The agreement follows a separate $71.5 million settlement reached in 2021 by another 79 former patients of Hadden, who was affiliated with the university hospital for nearly 20 years. The Columbia University Irving Medical Center said in a statement that it has adopted policies to ensure patients "are protected and empowered while in our care." "We deeply regret the pain that Robert Hadden's patients suffered and hope that these resolutions will provide some measure of support for the women he hurt," the university said. "All those who came forward should be commended." Dr. Robert Hadden appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday, November 6, 2014. / Credit: Jefferson Siegel/NY Daily News via Getty Images Claims by some other former patients have not been settled, according to attorney Anthony T. DiPietro, who said he represents 236 former Hadden patients, including those who were involved in Friday's agreement and others who were not. DiPietro said he believes there are other abuse survivors who have not come forward. "This is just the beginning," said DiPietro, who noted that Hadden had thousands of patients during his career, and he believes most have not been informed of the allegations against Hadden. "Many aren't even aware of how they were sexually exploited." In 2016, Hadden agreed to plead guilty to two state charges of a criminal sex act in the third degree and forcible touching. Hadden is awaiting trial on separate federal charges, filed in September 2020, related to cases in which patients traveled between states for their appointments with him. Prosecutors alleged in the 2020 indictment that Hadden also assaulted "dozens of female patients, including multiple minors" between 1993 and 2012, but filed charges related only to those who they say lived outside New York when Hadden was their doctor. Prosecutors said Hadden "induced" those victims to travel across state lines for their appointments with him "for the purpose of subjecting them to unlawful sexual abuse." Story continues The federal complaint accuses Hadden of licking and touching patients' genitals and breasts "without a valid medical purpose." One alleged victim was a minor whom years earlier he had delivered, according to federal prosecutors. An attorney for Hadden did not reply to a request for comment. He has denied all allegations beyond the two for which he entered the 2016 guilty plea, a deal that included no jail time and a downgrade in sex-offender status to the lowest level meaning he is not listed in New York State's online sex offender registry. The allegations against Hadden received renewed attention in 2020 after Evelyn Yang, whose husband Andrew Yang sought the Democratic nomination for president, said in an interview with CNN that Hadden had assaulted her. Former Hadden patient Marissa Hoechstetter was among the leaders of a campaign to pass the New York State Adult Survivors Act, which beginning November 24 will provide a one-year window for people to bring lawsuits for certain sexual offense claims that previously were beyond the statute of limitations. She said she commends "these brave survivors on their fight for justice." "There are still countless other Hadden survivors who have still not been informed and others who keep coming forward seeking justice," said Hoechstetter, who said New York's Adult Survivors Act "offers an avenue for those survivors abused when they were over the age of 18 - regardless of the statute of limitations." The Manhattan District Attorney's office said in September 2020 that it was pursuing a criminal investigation into Columbia University's handling of incidents involving Hadden. A spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed Friday that the investigation is ongoing. Lawmaker cuts hair at podium during European Union debate on Iran protests Florida communities come together to rebuild after devastating impact of Hurricane Ian MoneyWatch: Peloton lays off 500 more employees in push to "save" company Sightseers take in the view at Cabrillo National Monument, where a ceremony marked the 480th anniversary of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's landing in San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) Wearing a sharp blue suit and a stern look, Jesus Benayas strode to a podium at the Cabrillo National Monument. Behind him was a stunning view of the San Diego skyline. Below, boats bobbed in the bay. A few feet away, a 14-foot, multiton limestone statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo loomed over Benayas and about 40 other people. They had gathered on a warm Friday afternoon to commemorate the 480th anniversary of Cabrillo's landing, near this very spot, on behalf of the Spanish crown. He became the first European to set foot in what's now California. Cabrillo National Park Supt. Andrea Compton had started the event by proclaiming, Our community and many nations come together to celebrate," then shouting out the dignitaries politicians, consul generals, members of the U.S. military in attendance. Everyone rose for the national anthems of the United States, Mexico, Portugal and Spain, as the countries' flags flapped. Benayas had no time for diplomatic niceties. From the trunk of his car at Cabrillo National Monument, Jesus Benayas displays a plaque that was removed this year from its display near a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) The retired electrical engineer is president of Casa de Espana, a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Spanish culture. His group had long sold paella from a booth at the Cabrillo Festival, San Diegos premier celebration of all things Cabrillo. The explorer was a point of pride for the city's Portuguese community, which had embraced him as one of their own, despite a centuries-old controversy over his heritage. In 2015, a Canadian researcher discovered that in a long-ago lawsuit, Cabrillo had testified that he was born in Spain. Most scholars now accept that Cabrillo was a Spaniard. Benayas began to speak, laying out the history of the Cabrillo National Monument and the efforts to verify its namesake's ancestry in a calm, pointed tone. The 79-year-old, who moved to San Diego County from Spain when he was 18, didnt stop or even raise his voice when jets and helicopters roared over him. He described how an American historian dug through the Portuguese National Archives in the 1950s to find concrete proof that Cabrillo was born in that country. Story continues He," Benayas said, "found nothing." An American flag frames the Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo statue at the Cabrillo National Monument. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) The once-joyous mood of the crowd turned sour. Legs twitched. Lips pursed. The Spanish consul general from Los Angeles crossed his arms, then rubbed his forehead. The Portuguese consul general from San Francisco tapped away on his phone. Benayas finished by saying that the Cabrillo National Monument and the National Park Service should correct their own historical errors. There would be more applause for a Clarence Thomas speech hosted by an abortion-rights group than what Benayas received. People stayed away from him afterward, even as they whispered behind his back. Unperturbed, he went to hang out with members of the Spanish air force and army decked out in their dress uniforms. In 2018, Casa de Espana spent about $1,500 to cast a bronze plaque noting that Cabrillo was born in the Spanish province of Cordoba. Park rangers placed it at the base of Cabrillos statue, steps away from a 1957 plaque that deemed Cabrillo a Portuguese navigator and another donated by the Portuguese Navy in 1988 that stated the same. But this June, Supt. Compton mailed back the Casa de Espana plaque all 60 pounds of it with a thank you note and an explanation that it was no longer necessary, since a new exhibit mentioned there was "evidence" of Cabrillos Spanish roots. There are now agave plants where Casa de Espana's plaque once stood. Yet the plaques claiming Cabrillo as Portuguese remain. "If we want to talk about decades of lies, we can talk about it," Benayas told me. "Its all the truth." "Cabrillo" belongs to a roster of names from California's Spanish era Coronado, Serra, Pico, Portola that have long dominated the landscape. Hundreds of streets, freeways, neighborhoods, schools, museums, beaches and parks bear Cabrillo's name. San Diego has marked his landing since at least the 1890s with festivals that have reenacted the feat many times. In 1913, President Wilson designated the Cabrillo National Monument. About 684,000 people visited last year, according to the National Park Service. In 2015, the Maritime Museum of San Diego debuted a $6.2-million, life-size replica of Cabrillo's ship, the San Salvador. But his story is so old, and his visit so brief, that the details are mostly forgotten. After landing in San Diego, Cabrillo's expedition spent four months sailing up the California coast as far north as Point Reyes, then back down to the Channel Islands, where he died from an injury. When I stopped by for the anniversary celebration, tourists seem more interested in the panoramic views of the Pacific and hiking trails than the musty visitor center with ratty mannequins dressed in faux colonial-era costumes and an empty movie theater that showed short films about Cabrillo. For Portuguese Americans across the United States and especially in California, Cabrillo remains a hero. The Portuguese government donated a statue of him that was installed in Point Loma in 1949, replacing it in 1988 with a weatherproof replica that stands today. Banquets for Cabrillo Day Sept. 28, the date of his landing in San Diego still happen across the Central Valley, long the base for California's Portuguese community. I was brought up believing he was Portuguese, said Joanne Cabral. The 81-year-old is the daughter of a Portuguese immigrant who worked in San Diego's fishing industry. She and a Portuguese American actor who had long portrayed Cabrillo around town laid a wreath in front of the statue after Benayas speech. And thats the way it is. Well fight until the end, said Mike McCoy, a Sacramento resident whos the president of the Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California, the states oldest Portuguese American group. He muttered something about new evidence that would show Cabrillo was in fact Portuguese, but he didnt elaborate. When I asked why it was so important to quarrel over a long-dead seaman, McCoy gave me the type of smile that uncles give when theyre about to dress you down. He discovered us, he said. But Cabral, McCoy and their fellow Cabrillians what Cabrillo fans call themselves are battling the shifting tides of history. Patty Camacho is the head of the Cabrillo Festival, which has been on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic. She offered some conciliatory words after Benayas' fiery words, and continued her charitable approach when I asked how she was feeling. History evolves. We learn, she said. We respect the past, we respect the present, and we respect whats coming. The evidence is the evidence, said 49-year-old Pedro Romon Diaz. The Casa de Espana secretary stared at the Cabrillo statue, which bore the Portuguese version of the explorer's name Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho at its base and on the back. They put the name in Portuguese, but the park is called Cabrillo. Funny, no? People who believe something for a very long time are reluctant to give up their belief, said Philip Hinshaw, an 87-year-old Navy veteran, Casa de Espana treasurer, and member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. I dont want to be critical of the Portuguese, but I hope they accept. There were things about the American Revolution that we thought to be true but we now know are not. As I was leaving, Benayas said he wanted to show me something. Before the event, he had handed over a yellow folder. Among its contents: his complete remarks for that day's commemoration, minutes from a September meeting the Casa de Espana held with Compton and her bosses at the National Park Service urging them to put the plaque back, and letters the group had sent to Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland asking for help in striking any mention of Cabrillo as Portuguese from the national park. In a statement, a National Parks Service spokesperson acknowledged Cabrillo's sworn testimony that he was Spanish-born but said, "We remain committed to following law and policy with respect to the permanent placement of commemorative works and plaques." Benayas and I walked to the parking lot, where he opened the trunk of his Nissan Murano. Inside, wedged inside a box, was the Casa de Espana plaque. The group refuses to install it in its Balboa Park headquarters or anywhere other than the Cabrillo National Monument. I'm not doing this as a Spaniard. I'm doing this as an American, Benayas said as he closed the trunk. A pin with the Spanish and American flags shone on his suit lapel. We need to learn our actual history, not imaginary ones. "I didn't even care about the Portuguese plaques," he added. "Now I do. They were fools to return our plaque to us. A double slap in the face. Now, I'm annoyed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rep. Mike Garcia apologized this week to Jewish congregants in Santa Clarita after comparing the Biden administration to Hitler's Third Reich. "It was a foolish comment," he said. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) When it comes to defending former President Trump, there's no end of awful and obnoxious things his supporters will say and do. Whether ignoring his admitted sexual predations (see "Access Hollywood") or rioting at the Capitol to reverse the 2020 election (which Trump lost handily), there is apparently no bar too low for some of his slithering sycophants. A particularly insidious trope is the invocation of Nazis and Nazi imagery, which is not only wildly off base, but gravely offensive to Holocaust survivors and their descendants. Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert have compared the FBI to Adolf Hitlers secret police, the Gestapo. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar called agents brownshirts, a reference to Nazi storm troopers. One offender this week did something most un-Trump like: He apologized, abjectly and unreservedly. "I regret my comments. I deeply am apologetic for those comments," Rep. Mike Garcia told Jewish congregants at a Yom Kippur service in his northern Los Angeles County district. Later the Santa Clarita Republican added, "The metaphor and the hyperbole was inexcusable. ... I do deeply regret the parallels that I made to the Third Reich." Garcia, who is seeking reelection in one of the country's hardest-fought congressional races, had likened the Biden administration to the Nazi regime during an August interview on a conservative podcast. Referring to the FBI search for classified documents at Trump's Florida residence, Garcia accused the Biden administration and what he called the deep state of weaponizing federal agencies for political purposes. This is literally tyranny of a majority right now that is acting more like a Third Reich than they are the United States. And this is very dangerous, Garcia said. A cynic don't look at me would say his apology Tuesday night at Santa Clarita's Temple Beth Ami, on the Jewish day of atonement, no less, was purely political. However, there were no media cameras. His campaign gave reporters no advance notice, issued no news release afterward and even declined to respond when asked Thursday for comment. Story continues Rabbi Mark Blazer, who introduced Garcia to the congregation, posted a video of the congressman's appearance on the temple's Facebook page, but decided against seeking further publicity. "I wanted the reaction and interaction to be genuine," he said, "and not something that was scripted and planned." Blazer said he had heard from congregants immediately after The Times published an account of Garcia's remarks. He texted the congressman to express his unhappiness and heard back the same day. Garcia apologized, Blazer said, and stated, "'I'm disappointed in myself. I shouldn't have done it.'" The rabbi told Garcia he needed to do more than just apologize to Blazer. "He had to make the apology to our community," Blazer said. "He had to specifically address the fact this is not acceptable, and not even acceptable with his track record of support for Israel, of support for the Jewish community." There were about 200 worshipers present when Garcia stepped up Tuesday night to deliver his apology. It was the second he has issued, the congressman said, after saying he was sorry at a town hall last month at College of the Canyons. "I was very clear that I regret what I said. It was a foolish comment," Garcia told worshipers. "I don't take the experiences of the Holocaust and, obviously, what the Third Reich has done not only to our history, but the globe's history, lightly," Garcia said. "And so I am sorry. I do atone for the comment." At one point, the congressman veered back into seeming fringe territory when he spoke of getting "emotional in the heat of the moment, when I started seeing our government behave and our government protect itself rather than protecting Americans." "It was a reaction," he said of his Third Reich reference, "it was a visceral reaction." He did not elaborate. But just to be clear, the FBI was acting on a court-approved search warrant for Trump's Florida resort after months of fruitless negotiation between government officials and attorneys for the ex-president, who improperly carted off hundreds of pages of classified documents. Still, give credit where due. Garcia owned up to his ludicrous and boneheaded remark, apologized, and did so in a way that suggested his humility and sincerity. Next he should apologize for undermining democracy in one of his first acts as a congressman, by voting to block the results of the 2020 presidential election. And he shouldn't wait until next Yom Kippur to do so. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Ukrainian military next to destroyed Russian armored vehicles in Lyman "As for Lyman, several of our special task forces participated, four of our soldiers were wounded, and more than 20 enemy personnel were killed in one battle, Mamulashvili said on Radio NV. Lyman is a strategic axis, which in future opens up the opportunity of an attack on Luhansk Oblast as well. So, this generally sums it up, He said Lyman was protected by mercenaries from Russias Wagner military company, which was ordered not to surrender it, for at Lyman rod junctions lead off in multiple directions. Read also: Zelenskyy presents photos of war-torn Lyman after Russian occupation And I wouldn't say it was easy there, because the fighting was quite intense and is still going on in the outskirts, the Georgian Legion commander said. The Armed Forces completely cleared the city of Lyman itself of the Russian troops on Oct. 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for Ukraine's Armed Forces' eastern division, added that during their retreat from Lyman, the invaders left behind many mines and booby traps. Read also: Invaders explosives, including anti-personnel mines, litter liberated Lyman Later on, Cherevaty reported that some of the occupiers had been killed, some captured, and some were able to escape encirclement in columns or small groups. On Oct. 7, a base of the occupiers with important documentation was discovered next to the village of Yatskivka near Lyman. The Russians set it up in a private house. Lists of prisoners and illegally arrested people were found in the building. Documents with personal data and applications from people who decided to work for the invaders in captured enterprises and organizations were seized. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Conor McGregor has named the toughest opponent he has ever fought as Nate Diaz, with whom he traded wins in 2016. McGregors professional record as a mixed martial artist stands at 22-6, with Diaz having been responsible for one of those defeats alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier (twice), Joseph Duffy and Artemij Sitenkov. And Diaz was the toughest of them all, according to McGregor. When asked, toughest opponent youve ever faced? in a Twitter Q&A on Wednesday (5 October), the Irishman simply replied: Nate. Diaz submitted the former dual-weight UFC champion in the second round of their first fight, in March 2016, after stepping in for Rafael dos Anjos on short notice. McGregor then outpointed the American over five gruelling rounds in August of that year, to avenge what was his only loss in the UFC at the time. Since then, the 34-year-old has been submitted by heated rival Nurmagomedov and twice lost to Poirier, whom McGregor previously knocked out in 2014. Seven years after their featherweight clash, Poirier knocked out McGregor in a lightweight rematch becoming the first man to beat the Irishman via KO/TKO. Six months later, in July 2021, Poirier defeated McGregor again when the latter suffered a broken leg at the end of the first round. McGregor has not fought since but is expected to be back in the Octagon in early 2023. Three years ago, prosecutors charged Homestead Police Officer Lester Brown after he shoved a handcuffed inmate into a wall at the police station, a blow severe enough to cause the mans face to bleed profusely. Brown later claimed self-defense, saying he feared the drunk, belligerent man was about to head-butt him or spit. A Miami-Dade judge this week agreed with Brown, dismissing his battery charge under Floridas Stand Your Ground self-defense law. Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda, at a hearing on Tuesday, said she believed Browns claim that he was trying to make space as Jose Trinidad Garcia Alvarado turned toward him while inside a detention cell. Unfortunately, it is a small room and there is a wall, she said, according to a transcript. I dont think he hoped to smash his head into a wall. She added: I dont believe that the defendant Brown has to wait to get headbutted, kicked, or spit at before making space. The shove was captured on internal video surveillance from the Homestead police department, footage that was the key evidence against Brown. The ruling followed several days of hearings. The dismissal was but the latest rough-arrest prosecution to end with no conviction in South Florida several of the officers, such as Brown, claimed they used force because they were afraid they might get spit on. The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office has lost at least three rough arrest cases at trial, while getting convictions in two others, the most recent a county police officer who got 364 days in jail for tackling a crime victim. READ MORE: You tarnished your reputation. Ex-Miami-Dade cop gets 364 days for wrongful arrest Browns was also the latest case of a police officer being cleared under Floridas controversial Stand Your Ground law, which eliminated a citizens duty to retreat before using force to meet a dangerous threat, and also gave judges greater leeway to dismiss criminal charges. In 2018, the Florida Supreme Court, deciding in the case of a Broward sheriffs deputy who shot and killed a man carrying an air rifle, ruled that self-defense law applies to police officers on duty as well. Two years later, a Broward County judge cited the law in dismissing a misdemeanor case against a deputy who pepper-sprayed a teenager during a fracas in the parking lot of a Tamarac strip mall. Story continues As for Brown, he is still facing an official misconduct charge. Hes accused of lying on a report about the circumstances of the arrest. But the judges decision will likely force prosecutors to drop the charge. We are evaluating the status of the case, which may be in peril because of the Stand Your Ground decision, State Attorneys spokesman Ed Griffith said. Homestead Police Chief Al Rolle talks during a press conference at the district attorneys office about an incident involving a Homestead police officer accused of shoving a handcuffed suspect into a wall, Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Brown was accused of battering Trinidad, a migrant worker who had been arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication hed drunk upward of 20 beers. Early on the morning of Dec. 18, 2018, Trinidad was transported to Homestead police headquarters for booking. Shirtless, his hands handcuffed behind his back, he was led into the station, where Brown worked as a booking officer. According to a defense motion, Brown had heard on the radio that three officers were needed to arrest Trinidad, and that he was spitting on officers. When the other officers arrived at the Homestead police station, he saw another cop pulling Trinidad out of the patrol car by his feet. Then, Brown said, he saw the handcuffed man pulling away from an officer, Darryl Mays, in a violent and aggressive manner, and heard him vow not to go into the detention cell, the motion said. Moments later, Mays escalated the tension by yelling at Trinidad to speak English you are in America, the motion said. As Brown led him into the room, he kept trying to look at Mays. Suddenly, [Trinidad] completely spun around to face Officer Brown face-to-face! defense attorney Anthony Genova wrote in his motion. It was this precise moment Office Brown who is missing a thumb could no longer control Trinidad, the motion said. Due to Officer Browns law enforcement training he knew that a handcuffed person can still be a threat to his physical safety by head butting or spitting in his face, which could pass diseases if it got into his eyes. Brown shoved him, and Trinidad tripped over his feet and hit the wall, Genova wrote. Judge Miranda believed Brown. I do believe that a reasonable and prudent person situated in the same circumstances and knowing what [Brown] knew would have used the force and reacted in the same way, Miranda said. A mother told CN2 News her 15-year-old daughter, who died after being hit by a tractor-trailer, was a loving, loyal sister with an appetite for life. South Carolina troopers said Cindy Leah Burns died on Sept. 28 after she was hit while trying to cross Highway 9 near Potters Road by the Lucky 99 convenience store, which is east of Lancaster. Burns was a student at Buford High School. Her mom told CN2 News the pair were extremely close. Now, one business is working to rally behind the family that has lost so much. PREVIOUS: 14-year-old girl trying to cross highway struck, killed by tractor-trailer, coroner says Cindy Burns mom, Courtney, works as a receptionist at Lancaster Motor Company. Those who work at the company say shes a loyal employee who customers look forward to seeing. They told CN2 News they were shocked when they heard Courtney lost her daughter, and they knew they had to help. Spencer Evans works for Lancaster Motor Company and said Courtney received the tragic news while she was at work. Family of a friend is family, so thats how we all look at it here, Evans said. He said he and his colleagues knew they had to help their coworker and friend by setting up a GoFundMe. ALSO READ: Troopers: 4 high schoolers hurt after chase ends in crash in Hickory; driver killed We all know that regardless of anything right now, times are hard for everybody. So something like this happens, you dont expect it, no parents should ever bury their children, so we set up a GoFundMe to help with any expenses, Evans said. Its outrageous the amount of outpour from the community that weve gotten. In a time like this, its good to see a community come together during a time that we are living though right now. Courtney told CN2 News she is thankful for the support throughout the community and from Lancaster Motor Company. She said because of it, shes been able to spend time with her family. >> By Friday morning, the GoFundMe raised more than $7,300. Click here to donate. Story continues Courtney told CN2 News the tragedy has made her value every moment and memory. She said its caused her to evaluate her priorities because none of us are promised tomorrow. She hopes parents will instill basic safety in their kids -- the importance of paying attention, looking both ways and putting their phones down. She added her family was thinking and praying for the truck driver as well. Highway patrol is investigating the crash. (WATCH BELOW: Troopers: Man dies after car plunges off washed-out bridge with barricades removed in Hickory) (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG offered to buy back up to $3 billion of its own debt, in a move aimed at calming investor jitters ahead of the unveiling of a crucial strategy revamp. Most Read from Bloomberg The announcement is a signal of confidence, in that the bank has enough liquidity to take advantage of the recent slump in debt markets and scoop up its own debt at a discount. Credit Suisse shares and bonds rose in Friday trading, while the cost of insuring against default fell. The Zurich-based bank has suffered a tumultuous week as markets questioned its stability amid a broader sell-off. Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Koerner is due to detail the banks second strategy overhaul in a year at the end of this month, widely seen as a critical opportunity to restore faith in the lender after more than a year of losses and management missteps. The debt repurchase plan is a smart move, it builds confidence in the liquidity of the balance sheet and helps lower Credit Suisses funding costs, said Filippo Maria Alloatti, head of financials credit at Federated Hermes Ltd. in London. The debt buyback echoes a $5.4 billion offer made by Deutsche Bank AG in 2016 as markets pummeled the German lender, though the calming effect was short-lived. The offer includes euro and pound sterling debt securities worth up to 1 billion euros ($980 million) and a separate offer for US dollar securities up to $2 billion. Credit Suisse shares were up 6.9%, trading at 4.50 Swiss francs at 12:30 p.m in Zurich. The cost of insuring against default on five-year senior debt fell to 322 basis points, according to ICE Data Services, after surging to unprecedented levels earlier this month. Story continues The bank is looking to buy the bonds at deeply discounted prices. For example, Credit Suisse will pay less than 96 cents on the euro to buy a 750-million euro floating-rate note that was indicated above face value last Friday, and offer a spread of 350 basis points over German government bonds for a 1.5-billion euro issue trading well below 300 basis points in September. When the lender raised capital with so-called Additional Tier 1 notes in the summer, the riskiest type of bank debt, it had to pay an almost double-digit coupon in a dollar-denominated transaction. That note is now quoted more than 10 cents below face value. Read More on Credit Suisse Credit Suisse Eyes Outside Money for Investment Bank Spinoff Credit Suisse Market Turmoil Heightens After Memo Backfires Wild Moves in Credit Suisses Default Swaps Cap Banks Bad Day The transactions are consistent with our proactive approach to managing our overall liability composition and optimizing interest expense and allow us to take advantage of market conditions to repurchase debt at attractive prices, Credit Suisse said in the statement. The Swiss bank in August appointed Dixit Joshi, a former Deutsche Bank executive, as its chief financial officer to replace David Mathers. Credit Suisses overhaul is likely to also include asset sales or market exits across units, and is expected to significantly pare back the loss-making investment bank. The results of the review are expected to be presented alongside third-quarter earnings on Oct. 27. Investors have worried about how the bank will cover the cost of its restructuring plan and what that would mean for its capital strength, especially during a period when the investment bank has been suffering heavy losses. Credit Suisse had a CET1 capital ratio of 13.5% at June 30, far above the international regulatory minimum of 8% and the Swiss requirement of 10%. Read More: Credit Suisse Short Bets Soar Weeks Ahead of Strategy Review The bond buyback is Credit Suisses way of muddling through the current situation as they hope to bring down its CDS spreads before they tap the bond market again to raise capital, said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA. Credit Suisse may also have picked the right time as the current market also happens to be one of the few windows this year for companies to raise bonds in the public market. Credit rating agency S&P affirmed Credit Suisses long-term rating at BBB Thursday, adding that the outlook remains negative amid continued uncertainties around its upcoming strategic review and targeted operating model. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says: Credit Suisses cash tender offer for some of its senior bonds issued out of the operating company may help to stabilize spread performance elsewhere in the banks liability structure. But the scope of the tender offer is limited -- up to 3 billion francs -- which may signify that the bank wants to preserve its hitherto healthy liquidity at this uncertain time. Jeroen Julius, senior credit analyst (Updates markets) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. President Joe Biden speaks at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Oct. 6, 2022. Biden announced Thursday that he plans to pardon low-level federal marijuana possession convictions. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) President Joe Bidens announcement Thursday that he plans to pardon low-level federal marijuana possession convictions will likely have a small effect in Illinois, where thousands of people have already been pardoned. But Bidens plan to review the classification that makes cannabis illegal federally could have a profound effect good or bad on the industry in Illinois and nationwide, a leading legalization advocate said. Advertisement This is the single biggest achievement for the industry in the last decade on a political level, said Aaron Smith, CEO and founder of the National Cannabis Industry Association. Biden announced that he would pardon all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. The action would help an estimated 6,500 people who have convictions and may be denied employment, housing or education as a result. Advertisement The president asked the nations governors to do the same for states, which are responsible for the vast majority of cannabis convictions. When recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois in 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pardoned more than 9,000 people who had been convicted of low-level marijuana crimes, and state police expunged nearly half a million cases. The number of pardons and expungements now stands at nearly 800,000, Pritzker said Thursday in a tweet that lauded Bidens actions, which the governor said were overdue. Thank you to @POTUS for taking this long overdue action. In 2019, I signed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and today we have pardoned or expunged nearly 800,000 low-level convictions. https://t.co/off6LLzRU9 Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 6, 2022 Edie Moore, a founding board member of Chicago NORML and a cannabis business owner, said a pardon of only simple possession would be very limited, but could reduce some sentences and was a step in the right direction. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, in a statement, said Bidens actions would be especially beneficial to those in minority communities I am heartened to see the Biden administration take this momentous step toward justice and equity, Foxx said. It has been long understood that the war on drugs was a war on Black and Brown communities. This step, which mirrors efforts passed here in Illinois in 2019, is well overdue and a historic first step to repair the harm caused to these communities. Biden also announced that hes asking the secretary of health and human services and the attorney general to review expeditiously how marijuana is treated under federal law. Now, the Controlled Substances Act classifies marihuana in Schedule I, meant for substances with a high potential for abuse leading to severe addiction, and no medical use. This is the same schedule as for heroin and LSD, and higher than the classification of fentanyl and methamphetamine the drugs driving the U.S. overdose epidemic, Biden said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Removing cannabis from the schedule of the most dangerous drugs could in effect legalize it, leaving states to regulate it, which would have a huge impact. But reclassifying it to Schedule II or III could cause more harm, Smith said. It could require approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, limit its use to the pharmaceutical industry, kill small businesses and disrupt state programs, he said. Advertisement Jeremy Unruh, senior vice president for public and regulatory affairs for PharmaCann, a cannabis company based in Chicago, said Bidens action fulfills his campaign promises, and seems to be laying the groundwork for state expungements. Rescheduling is a trickier and far more complex operation, Unruh told the Tribune. Not only does it (require) notice-and-comment federal agency rule changes that take many months, but the Schedule III designation is not optimal for most state-licensed cannabis companies, regardless of size. The Marijuana Policy Project issued a statement welcoming the changes: In addition to helping to improve the lives of thousands of individuals under federal law, we hope this change in approach will signal a complete end to the criminalization of cannabis possession under federal law. The national advocacy group Smart Approaches to Marijuana ( has said it favors decriminalization of minor possession and expungements. But SAM President Kevin Sabet downplayed Bidens announcement. It could be spun as looking pretty big. I think in reality its quite modest, he said, adding that he expects the legalization movement will be disappointed. (Bloomberg) -- Pimco, Sixth Street and an investor group including Centerbridge Partners are among a shortlist of bidders for at least part of Credit Suisse Group AGs securitized products business as the Swiss firm moves closer to a deal. Most Read from Bloomberg Centerbridge is vying for the unit in its capacity as co-asset manager for Martello Re Ltd., a life and annuity reinsurance company, people with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified because talks are private. It isnt immediately clear if Pimco is pursuing a deal alone or as part of an investor group. Sixth Street is also bidding. The discussions have become more advanced as Credit Suisse is due to announce its strategic plan in less than three weeks, one of the people said. Bloomberg reported last month that BNP Paribas SA and Apollo Global Management Inc. had expressed interest in the SPG sale. BNPs interest has since cooled, according to people familiar with the matter. Credit Suisses American depositary receipts jumped more than 12% on the news. A deal involving the securitized products group -- a trading unit with a history of high profits but also risks that require significant capital -- is a key pillar of Credit Suisses plan to downsize its investment bank and would help pay for other restructuring moves. A sale could lead to the release of regulatory capital and potentially some cash proceeds. Representatives for Pimco, Sixth Street, Centerbridge, BNP and Credit Suisse declined to comment. The SPG business, led since 2016 by New York-based trader Jay Kim, buys and sells securities which are backed by pools of mortgages and other assets, such as car loans or credit-card debt. The division also provides finance to clients who want to buy these products and will securitize loans -- dice them into new securities of varying risk and return -- on their behalf and sell them on to investors for a fee. Story continues Pimco, owned by German insurer Allianz SE, is one of the worlds biggest fund managers. Martello was launched in January with the financial support of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., among others. Barings and Centerbridge were picked to manage the reinsurers investment portfolio. Earlier this year, Sixth Street hired Michael Dryden, Credit Suisses global head of securitized-products finance, to build out a structured-finance effort. (Updates with additional bidder from first paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. A Creek County man is in custody after the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says he possessed and distributed child pornography. Special agents with the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after child pornography was uploaded to a social media platform in Creek County. 41-year-old John Adam Richardson, a registered sex offender, was connected to the social media account. A warrant was issued for Richardsons arrest, and he was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Creek County jail on charges for possession and distributing child pornography. Richardson is being held on a $200,000 bond. RELATED>>>TCSOs Child Predator Unit arrests man accused of possessing child pornography Comedy Central At the end of a very bad week for Herschel Walker, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah dug into the Republican Partys reaction to the walking Maury Povich episode currently running for Senate in Georgia. And he couldnt quite believe what he found. Describing Walker as one of the loudest champions for a total ban on abortion in America, Noah said it was a bit awkward when The Daily Beast broke the story about him paying for a former girlfriendand mother of one of his childrento abort their child. And in response to Walker saying on Thursday that if he had paid for the abortion it would be nothing to be ashamed of, the host said, I agree with him, its not unless youre known as the anti-abortion guy! Now, clearly Herschel Walker is willing to run on a platform that he doesnt actually believe, Noah added. But whats been amazing to see is how the Republican Party feels the same way. After playing clips of figures like Newt Gingrich and Dana Loesch excusing Walkers actions in the most damningly hypocritical terms, Noah replied, Youve got to love it when they say the quiet part out loud: Abortion is totally unforgivableunless I need to do it. Jimmy Kimmel Laughs in Herschel Walkers Stupid Face What these conservatives are saying, Noah explained, is Youre fine with abortion if you need to win a Senate race, but youre not fine with a woman needing it to save her own life. Finally, Noah marveled at the way Republicans are able to forgive certain people but when it comes to prison reform or college debt, suddenly theyre like, People have got to pay the price for what theyve done, there are consequences in life. For more, listen and subscribe to The Last Laugh podcast. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Retired rugby player Damian Browne of Galway, Ireland, became the first person to row from New York City to Ireland after his boat made a treacherous arrival on the coast of County Galway in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, Irish broadcaster RTE reported. Browne left New York City on June 14 in his Cushlamachree, a 20-foot ocean rowing boat that was custom-built for this journey. The term "Cushlamachree" means "darling" or "sweetheart" in Irish, according to Merriam-Webster. NYC STREET CORNER IS RENAMED JIMMY NEARY WAY IN HONOR OF BELOVED IRISH IMMIGRANT RESTAURATEUR This is the second time Browne has rowed across the Atlantic, although it was the first time he went east. In 2018, he rowed from San Sebastian, Spain, to the Caribbean island of Antigua. In another adventure, Browne also climbed Mount Everest last year, according to Browne's personal website. Browne was joined at first by his friend Fergus Farrell; but Farrell suffered a medical emergency just 13 days into the planned 65-day voyage at sea. He had to be evacuated from the craft, said RTE. This left Browne completely alone for the remaining 98 days that he was out at sea. He documented the journey on his Instagram and Twitter accounts. NEW YORK MAN WHO CYCLED ACROSS AMERICA SETTLES DOWN IN THIS CITY: SMOOTHER TRANSITION THAN I THOUGHT The two friends decided to embark on the journey, which they called "Project Empower 2022," in order to "give kids and adults alike a real image [and] a touchable action to emulate and inspire them to dream big in whatever avenue of life they decide to pursue," according to the Project Empower 22 website. The pair is fundraising for Ability West, Galway Simon Community, MADRA and the NRH Foundation all charities according to the website. Their websites indicate that Ability West is a charity that aims to help those with intellectual disabilities; the Galway Simon Community supports vulnerable populations in West Ireland; MADRA is a dog rescue in County Galway; and the NRH Foundation supports Ireland's National Rehabilitation Hospital. Story continues LOUISIANA BASKETBALL COACH BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR LONGEST HOOP SHOT EVER A donation link on the Project Empower 2022 website shows that the pair have raised about $68,000 since June 2022. The choice of charities was personal for Browne and Farrell. Farrell suffered a spinal cord injury in 2018 and was initially paralyzed from the waist down, said Project Empower's website. A year after he was injured, Farrell walked 128 miles (206 kilometers) from his home in County Galway to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. ON NATIONAL DANCE DAY, 'FOX & FRIENDS WEEKEND' HOSTS LEARN TO IRISH DANCE Browne had planned on rowing into Galway Docks at the conclusion of his journey, but Mother Nature had other and nearly deadly plans. "Unfortunately I ended up on some rocks in Furbo on the north shore of Galway Bay at around 1 a.m. it was a very tense and stressful night," he told the Irish Examiner, a daily publication. Sharp winds forced his boat off course and into rocks, endangering his life and damaging the boat. FLORIDA KAYAKER, STRANDED IN THE WATER FOR HOURS, IS DRAMATICALLY RESCUED BY FELLOW BOATER "The boat was hit with the wash from a heavy wave, it turned itself and the wave flipped me over and broke one of my oars," Browne added. After crawling out of the Cushlamachree and finding refuge on a large rock, he contacted a member of his land support team, which then called emergency services. State police officers from three different nearby municipalities came to his swift aid, said the Examiner. Shown is Mount Everest. Browne climbed to the top of it last year in another outdoor adventure of his. Getty Images Browne detailed the mental and physical challenges associated with his 5,000 kilometer (3,106.86 miles) trek across the Atlantic to RTE. "The North Atlantic is very changeable, and every change I seemed to get was negative," he said, explaining that a 15-minute rest could undo hours of work due to the intense winds. "For months it ended up like that," he said. "If it wasnt counter currents, it was headwinds on the second half." ALL-WOMEN ROWING TEAM BREAKS WORLD RECORD IN RACE ACROSS PACIFIC OCEAN: 'BEST DECISION EVER' Browne said that he had so many adverse conditions, "it was just a fight basically the whole way along." Despite the last-second setback, Browne expressed gratitude for the support of his community. He said he had "accomplished what I wanted to, and Im safe and Im uninjured, and I have had an incredible reception," The Irish Times reported. "Im a little bit taken back by it," he said after arriving at the Galway docks, the Times noted. "Up to three days ago I hadnt seen a person in 98 days and I had a bit of trepidation about this moment, because of the overwhelming nature of seeing so many people, having been isolated from people for so long and it is just great to be welcomed home by so many," Browne also said. "I want to thank everyone who has come out to meet me and I want to also thank all the people who supported me online, all the messages of support along the way, when I was at my deepest and darkest moments of despair, of which there were plenty," he continued. "All I had to do was put on the phone and know there [were] these people connected to me and I didnt feel so lonely," he added. "All I can say, from the bottom of my heart, is thank you.'" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP His friend Farrell was at the Galway docks for Browne's reception. He, too, was thankful that his friend was safe. "I'm just relieved that Damo is home, as I had left him alone out in the middle of the ocean," he said to the Times. (Bloomberg) -- Denmarks biggest opposition party, which together with its allies is neck-and-neck with the government in opinion polls ahead of Nov. 1 elections, wants to split up Orsted A/S and sell parts of the states stake to help finance other investments in the green transition. Most Read from Bloomberg The Liberal Party wants to end the governments ownership of the Danish energy companys wind park operations, according to a climate proposal presented on Friday. It wants to keep a holding in Orsteds Danish energy infrastructure, including power plants. Orsteds shares fell as much as 2.8% in Copenhagen. Denmark owns 50% of Orsted and a sale of the governments stake in the wind turbine parks would raise about 60 billion kroner ($7.9 billion), Troels Lund Poulsen, a senior member of the party, told reporters. Climate and Energy Minister Dan Jorgensen of the Social Democratic government told local media that the proposal is completely incomprehensible and that Orsted shares currently are undervalued. The states role in Orsted has a long history that goes back to the companys previous life as an oil and gas producer. The most controversial chapter occurred in 2014, when a decision by the finance ministry to sell a stake to Goldman Sachs sparked a protest and caused the government coalition to split as the Socialist Peoples Party walked out. In 2019, when elections were also near, the then-opposition blocked Orsteds planned sale of roughly $4 billion in power distribution assets, surprising both the companys management and spooking shareholders. We dont believe the state should own companies, Poulsen of the Liberal Party said on Friday. We would obviously want to find a responsible owner, he said, adding it would take long time to complete a sale. Story continues The Liberal Party most likely wont be able to find the necessary majority behind this idea, Mads Lindegaard Rosendal, an Orsted credit analyst at Danske Bank, said in a note. However, a shifting political landscape after the election, coupled with an inherent desire among most politicians to get money to please voters, doesnt make it totally unlikely that a full privatization could be ahead. (Adding comment from government in third paragraph, Orsteds history from fourth) 2022 Bloomberg L.P. COPENHAGEN/DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran summoned the Danish ambassador on Friday to protest an incident at its embassy in Copenhagen in which its ambassador was threatened, Iran's foreign ministry said in state media. Danish police said they had arrested a 32-year old man earlier on Friday after he had entered the grounds of the embassy carrying a knife. The man, an Iranian citizen, was stopped by an employee before entering the embassy building, the police said in a statement. Iran's foreign ministry said the ambassador, Afsaneh Nadipour, had been threatened, a local employee injured, and embassy vehicles damaged. The man will have a court hearing on Saturday and will be charged with two counts of vandalism, for violence, and for breaching a section of the penal code that deals with crimes against people with diplomatic status, the Danish police said. No further details on the attacker or motive were provided. Iran's government has faced more than two weeks of protests at home and overseas over the death of a young women while in detention by the country's morality police. Iran state media earlier quoted Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian as saying: "It is unfortunate that, in the heart of Europe, such an attack takes place on a woman and an ambassador who has diplomatic immunity, and the police do not arrive in time." (Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Dubai Newsroom, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Torrential and relentless rainfall swamped portions of Indonesia this week, sending floodwaters into neighborhoods throughout the country and wreaking havoc in the process. Three schoolchildren were killed as a result of the flooding on Thursday when their schoolhouse wall crumbled, according to Reuters. The collapse of the school wall, which was located in the town of Pondok Labu, South Jakarta, on the southern side of Indonesia's capital of Jakarta, left another student injured. In addition to the structure of the school suffering damage, there were also reports of tables and chairs sitting in puddles after receding from waist-height water levels. "Slow-moving downpours continually developed and sat across portions of western Java since the middle of the week. While rain amounts nearing 3 inches (75 mm) have been measured in parts of the city, locally heavier rain could have sparked the flooding," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. Police Chief Commissioner Kompol Multazam, head of the Cilandak Police Sector, said the wall collapse was likely due to the pressure of floodwaters and which could have been made worse as the result of poor drainage. Douty noted that heavy downpours like this, when several inches of rain fell in just a few hours, are typical in tropical climates such as Indonesia. Children wade through floodwaters in the town of Lhoksukon Thursday, October 6, following heavy rain across the region (AFP). The Krukut River is located near the school, and it began to overflow on Tuesday afternoon following a deluge of heavy rain. As the nearby river continued to burst its banks throughout the week, water began to overflow onto the roads of South Jakarta on Thursday, making them impassible. More than 250 people were forced to evacuate their homes. AFP reported that water suction vehicles were being used to remove the water from certain locations across the capital. The island of Java, which is where the city of Jakarta is located, is home to more than 145 million people and is the most populated island in the world. Story continues "While rainfall is not expected to be as heavy the next couple of days, additional daily downpours could lead to further localized flooding in and around Jakarta," Douty warned. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Heavy rains have also impacted other parts of Indonesia, a country that is made up of a total of more than 17,000 islands. On Sumatra, the large island located to the northwest of Java, the town of Lhokseumawe on the northern tip was inundated with heavy rains this week. The town of Lhokseumawe was riddled with floodwaters, following heavy rainfall, on Thursday, October 6 (AFP). Drone footage showed waist-high water filling entire neighborhoods on Thursday. It's estimated that thousands of people were displaced by the floodwaters. Despite the influx of tropical moisture into Indonesia, given its proximity to warm waters near the equator year-round, this relentless rain was not a part of an organized tropical system. An astounding nine named tropical systems strengthened in the Western Pacific Ocean during the month of September, including the latest typhoon, Roke. So far, no new tropical systems have formed in the basin in the month of October. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. A blogger who shared racist remarks about former President Obama was paid by Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez's campaign for "advertising services" on two separate occasions. In November 2014, Juan Montoya, who operates the El Rrun Rrun blog, amplified the insensitive comments that were penned by Jerry McHale, another blogger who was revealed in July to have made numerous racist and sexist remarks through his own blog that targeted GOP Rep. Mayra Flores. In the post shared to Montoya's blog, McHale, who was also paid by the Gonzalez campaign for "advertising services" through his own blog, made racist comments through "one of his alter personalities" known as Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully. Describing Republican politicians, who he believed the GOP should prop up in elections, McHale stated: "The voters look at the Cameron County Republicans as viable options. If the party of the rich, racists and religious right ran Terry Ray or Bud Richards or Harry McNair, the Democrats would prevail in landslides, but Tony Garza, Cascos and Garcia aren't reactionary ideologues, born-again Christians or prudes." BLOGGER PAID BY DEM CANDIDATE WHO TARGETED MAYRA FLORES DEFENDS SEXIST ATTACKS, OTHER RACIST POSTS Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, walks down the House steps after a vote in the Capitol on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images "They like to f--- and drink. They are reasonable individuals who aren't ranting and raving that Barack Obama is a god-mn n----- who is bringing the world to an end," he added. "They aren't wasting any rhetoric opposing gay marriage, abortion or legalizing marijuana." As of Thursday afternoon, advertisements for Gonzalez's campaign remain active on Montoya's blog, leading those who inquire to the Texas candidate's Facebook page. Records filed with the Federal Election Commission show that Montoya has received at least two different payments from the Gonzalez campaign for "advertising services," one for $1,000 in October 2021 and another for $1,200 in June 2022. "He pays for an ad," Montoya said of Gonzalez in a brief conversation with Fox News Digital. Story continues VICENTE GONZALEZ ATTENDS CAMPAIGN EVENT THE SAME DAY HE FAILED TO SHOW IN-PERSON FOR KEY VOTES, CITING COVID Describing McHale, Montoya said he has "always been" a "shock and awe" type of guy. "He uses the N-word at times just to get away with it," Montoya said. "He's been doing that for a long time." Montoya said McHale, who he has known for quite some time, believes that if you "shock people and they'll come back to read your stuff again." "I never believed in that because it does hurt people," Montoya said, adding that some of McHale's words are really "distasteful" and "something you don't wanna be associated with." When asked about the sharing of McHale's words to his own blog and whether he was still doing it, Montoya said, "No, not really, not lately. At one time, when he was writing stuff that mattered I did, but then we had a falling out. Some would say he is no respecter of people." Montoya said a lot of what McHale has said is "not at all" reflective of his own views. In a statement to Fox, the Gonzalez campaign insisted that it has "already cut ties with the author of this post" and that the language used in the blog post is "abhorrent." "We have already cut ties with the author of this post. While this post was made in 2014, 8 years ago and 3 years before the Congressman was sworn into office, the language in this is abhorrent and the Congressman does not condone these comments," a campaign spokesperson said. "Congressman Gonzalez has fought for all South Texans, regardless of race or creed, and will continue to do so." Through his own blog, titled "The McHale Report," McHale has perviously offered several racist and sexist remarks about Flores, who will face off against Gonzalez in the state's November 8 election to represent Texas' 34th Congressional District. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE VICENTE GONZALEZ CLAIMS MAYRA FLORES, SUPPORTERS STOLE TEXAS SPECIAL ELECTION While speaking to Fox News Digital in July, McHale said the posts on his own blog are "satire" and that he has never spoken with Gonzalez. When asked whether he believed it was appropriate to use the derogatory language to refer to Flores, McHale responded, "Miss Frijoles? I have no problem with it." In a June 18 post , McHale, quoting a conversation he had with a friend, wrote: "'Maclovio O'Malley, la Voz de los Vatos who wants me to put an ad of Vicente Gonzalez in front of my businesses although I have to admit that I would risk my relationship with lovely Amanda for a night with Mayra Flores, says that the Oyster Bar food smells like rotten p--sy. And I have had more than my share of rotten p--sy that I don't want to endure that culinary catastrophe again.'" Texas GOP Rep. Mayra Flores is interviewed by a reporter outside the Capitol Building after being sworn in on June 21, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images McHale told Fox that he had "no problems" with the post referencing Flores and the oyster bar. A group of fishermen caught a whale (on video) off East Providence last week. That's right. They spotted the minke whale in upper Narragansett Bay, more than 20 miles north of the open waters of Rhode Island Sound. Fishermen Rich Byron, Jim Winterbottom and Jeff Sherman sent their video, taken off Bullocks Point, to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which posted it to Facebook, saying, "Whale how about that." The whale's presence in the upper Bay is a good sign, suggesting "a healthy and productive ecosystem," the DEM said. "The east passage and the channel to the Port of Providence is deep and minke whales likely follow it to feed on the abundant schools of small menhaden typically present in the Bay this time of year." Minke whales are "occasionally observed in the upper Bay," the DEM said. Minke whales grow to about 35 feet long, weigh up to 20,000 pounds and can live up to 50 years, according to NOAA Fisheries. Their range includes New England and the mid-Atlantic, Alaska, the Pacific Islands, the Southeast and the West Coast, according to NOAA. Their population is considered stable throughout almost all of their range, according to NOAA. "Minke whales in the United States are not endangered or threatened, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act," according to NOAA. "A number" of whale species "frequent the coastal and offshore waters of Rhode Island," according to the DEM, which says it works with NOAA and other partners to help protect them. "When youre out on the water, remember to slow down for marine wildlife! Slowing down and giving marine wildlife space helps reduce the chances of collisions," the DEM said. The DEM also offered links to NOAA's website for guidelines on viewing marine life "safely and respectfully," and their own website for safe boating tips. jperry@providencejournal.com Story continues (401) 277-7614 On Twitter: @jgregoryperry Be the first to know. Sign up for our breaking news alerts This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Fishermen spot whale in upper Narragansett Bay, off East Providence Correction & clarification: A previous version of this story misquoted Mark Kelly. His full quote is: My opponent Blake Masters, he doesnt want to work with anybody. He doesnt even want to work with Republicans. He calls Democrats psychopaths and that theyre evil. Thats not been the spirit of how Arizona senators work to the benefit of our state. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly faced off against Republican challenger Blake Masters in a debate Thursday night hosted by Arizona PBS. Immigration on the southern border, limits on abortion access and election integrity dominated the hourlong debate that was mostly civil but had bursts of acrimony and accusation. Kelly, a freshman senator, is running for a full six-year term after serving only two years for winning a special election back in 2020. Masters, a venture capitalist has the backing of former President Donald Trump. The race is one of a handful nationwide that will decide whether Republicans can reclaim the majority in the Senate. Libertarian Marc Victor is also participating in the debate. Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, left, and his Republican challenger Blake Masters, right, arrive on stage prior to a televised debate in Phoenix, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. More: With control of Senate at stake, Sen. Mark Kelly debates Blake Masters, Marc Victor Kelly warns voters of Masters in closing statement In his closing statement, Kelly made the election more about Masters, warning Arizona voters of the perils awaiting if his GOP challenger wins in November. My opponent wants a national abortion ban taking away your rights, Kelly said. Im going to protect abortion. Im going to protect your constitutional rights. I served in the United States Navy for 25 years, I love our military, Kelly alluded to Masters earlier comments where he said there was rot in the military. He said some pretty insulting things about our military. He closed with his own service in the U.S. Navy, telling voters his senatorship and life has been all about service. - Ken Tran Arizonans deserve better, Masters argues in closing Weve been going in the wrong direction, Masters said in his final statements, referring to the last two years Kelly has served as Arizona senator. Story continues Masters promised voters a more secure border, increased safety and greater ability to afford their homes. Hes got a bunch of excuses, he said on Kellys response to the issues, such as immigration and inflation, that the Republican highlighted. Masters once again called Kelly out for what he says is a pattern of the senator consistently siding with President Biden on policy. - Savannah Kuchar Masters blames election controversy on "big tech" and media When asked about the 2020 election, Masters affirmed that he believes Joe Biden is the legitimate president. Unfortunately for all of us," he quipped. Everything is on fire and its Joe Bidens fault Masters argued that doubts on election integrity are the fault of the media who he said lied to the public leading up to the election by not sharing information that reflected poorly on Biden. I suspect that changed a lot of peoples votes, Masters said on what he believes was censorship by big tech and big media as well as the FBI. Victor said Biden legitimately won the election but ... I wish they both couldve lost, he said. - Savannah Kuchar Masters defends himself on abortion Masters, who scrubbed his campaign site of anti-abortion language that called him 100% pro-life, defended himself against Kellys attacks. Im pro-life, I believe in limits, said Masters, referring to a 15-week abortion ban recently passed in Arizona, arguing its a benchmark that Arizonan voters support. Thats where Arizonans find a reasonable place to draw the line, Masters said. He also said he would support a similar 15-week ban on the federal level, expressing support for a nationwide abortion ban proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. - Ken Tran Kelly attacks Masters on abortion Like his Democratic colleagues across the country, Kelly attacked Masters for his anti-abortion views, counting on abortion-minded voters tuning in to tonights debate. Arizona women have totally lost the right to make a decision about abortion. Its devastating, its wrong. Kelly then pointed to Masters. Its exactly what my opponent Blake Masters wants. Masters has backtracked on his language and support for abortion restrictions after winning his Republican primary back in August. Kelly blasted him for his previous views. Blake Masters has called abortion demonic, a religious sacrifice, hes even said he wants to punish the doctors, said Kelly. Masters said he supports legislation that would ban abortions beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy - Ken Tran Masters can't work with others, says Kelly The current senator argued for bipartisanship and working across the aisle, invoking the late Sen. John McCain. In response, Masters said he would be able to work with Democrats like Kristin Sinema, but not Democrats like Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer due to disagreements on platform beliefs. In his allotted time, Victor said he believes working together is necessary. "We need to get back to civility. We shouldn't be calling each other names. And arguing across the aisle," he said. "I agree with what Senator Kelly said here. We need to work together." - Savannah Kuchar Masters says 'It's carnage' at the southern border Masters has been counting on border immigration as a hot-button issue in his election bid and it showed in his remarks. Its a humanitarian disaster, Masters said, referring to the southern border. The women and children are raped, the men are indentured servants sold into some kind of slavery. Mark Kelly and Joe Biden have not done a single thing to stop it. Its carnage. Masters called to finish former President Trumps border wall and to invest in more border patrol agents. - Ken Tran Kelly has left the Arizona border wide open, Masters charges During debate, Masters called out Kelly for voting in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act which would reduce the amount of money sent to border patrol, he said. Kelly in response said he has "been focused on the border since day one of this job. In what he described as crisis after crisis at the border, Kelly said in his two-year term he has worked to bring on more border control agents and increase their salaries. - Savannah Kuchar Inflation, on the top of voters minds, is posed to candidates Inflation was posed first to the candidates, with Kelly immediately distancing himself from President Joe Biden. When the Biden administration refused to increase gas and oil production I told him he was wrong. said Kelly, pointing to his support for increased energy production to help lower fuel costs. Masters attributed high inflation to spending legislation Democrats passed and pointed out Phoenixs inflation rate of 13% over the past 12 months, the highest in any city in the country. Joe Bidens policies caused this and those are policies that Mark Kelly in Washington has supported every single time, Masters said. - Ken Tran There is more work to be done, Kelly says in bid for another term Elected two years ago to the Senate to finish Republican John McCains term, Kelly said he has worked to cut through the red tape. Along with promising to bring manufacturing back to America, the more moderate Democratic candidate Kelly said he sticks up for his state by calling Democrats out when they are "wrong" on issues like border security. Kelly called Masters dangerous for Arizona, including for his support of the proposed nationwide abortion ban. - Savannah Kuchar Masters delivers opening statement In his opening statement, Masters opened by criticizing Kelly for the record number of migrants crossing the southern border, a key issue he has staked his campaign on. Mark Kelly has messed everything up. Our border is in chaos, said Masters. Weve got drugs and illegal aliens just pouring in. Crime is up. It wasnt like this two years ago, Masters said. - Ken Tran Debate is underway Its 6:00 p.m. in Arizona and the debate is underway on Arizona PBS. The three candidates, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, Republican Blake Masters and Libertarian Marc Victor have taken their podiums for first questions and opening statements. - Ken Tran Debate details U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and challenger Blake Masters are set to meet Thursday night for an hourlong debate on Arizona PBS. Kelly, a Democrat, was elected in 2020 to serve out the term of the late Sen. John McCain. Kelly is seeking his first full six-year term. Masters is a Republican and protege of entrepreneur and political megadonor Peter Thiel. More: Who is Blake Masters? Here's what you need to know about the Arizona GOP Senate candidate The election is Nov. 8, and early voting begins Oct. 12. The debate will begin at 6 p.m. and also includes Libertarian Marc Victor. It will air statewide on Arizona PBS, other television and radio outlets and online at azpbs.org and azcentral.com. The debate will be moderated by "Arizona Horizon" host Ted Simons. - Arizona Republic Tens of millions already poured into race Arizona's U.S. Senate race is seen as one of the most important in the country, one that will help decide who runs Congress' upper chamber. The chamber is split 50-50 but Democrats hold the majority by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harris' authority to cast tie-breaking vote. (The vice president also serves as president of the Senate). Arizona Republican U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters speaks to supporters at a campaign party, Aug 2, 2022, in Chandler, Ariz. Outside groups already have spent tens of millions in the race in an effort to define the candidates on TV and cellphone screens. That makes it harder for a debate to truly surprise viewers or define those taking part. "Kelly is the more professional politician at this stage, having been in the Senate for a while, and also his previous work with the (gun-control advocacy group) Giffords organization. He's probably more polished and less likely to make mistakes," said Barbara Norrander, a political science professor at the University of Arizona. - Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic Border talk in a border state Expect to hear a lot of talk about the border in Thursday night's debate. 65% of voters in the Grand Canyon State said that immigration will be a "very important" issue in considering their vote, according to a CBS News and YouGov poll. If there's an issue that Kelly has separated himself from his Democratic colleagues, it's immigration. Kelly has distanced himself from President Joe Biden's immigration policies, criticizing them and calling for more resources to be spent on the southern border such as hiring more border patrol agents. In the border state of Arizona, immigration-minded voters are key to winning any statewide election. Masters prior to winning his nomination bid in August, has promoted a version of "the great replacement" theory, a racist conspiracy theory that suggests Democrats are flooding the country with immigrants to influence elections and dilute the power of whites. -- Ken Tran Analyst: Masters must seize opportunity The pressure is on the Republican challenger, said Jessica Taylor, Senate editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C. "I think it's critical for Masters because he's less well known with voters than Kelly is, and he's got to convince independents and Republicans to stay in his camp," she said. "This is a crucial time for him to make either a good first impression with voters or reintroduce himself to them." That may be complicated by the recent decision by a Pima County judge to reinstate the state's Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions. It brings attention to an issue seen as problematic for Masters and away from rising gas prices and an uncertain economy more broadly, two issues that Republicans see as more favorable for them. While issues can move around in importance throughout an election, debates don't usually settle the matter, Taylor said. "They only matter if there's a major misstep," she said. - Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic Suffolk poll: Kelly leading Masters by seven points thanks partly to abortion Incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (49%) leads Republican challenger Blake Masters (42%) in a Suffolk University poll released last week. Libertarian Marc Victor is pulling 2%, according to Suffolk, while another 7% say they are undecided. Kellys seven-point lead over Masters is driven by women (55%-35%) and independents (51%-36%), the poll found, while Masters leads 50%-42% among men. FILE - Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, March 24, 2022 The importance of abortion rights in Arizona shouldnt be underestimated, said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. In fact, independent women are voting on this issue with almost the same intensity as Democratic men. When voters were asked to assign on a 1-10 scale how much their views on abortion will impact which candidates they will select in November, 49% of independent women gave it the highest rating, compared to 50% of Democratic men. Just 26% of independent men gave it a rating of 10, while 72% of Democratic women gave it the highest rating. - Ledyard King This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Recap: Kelly and Masters clash in Arizona Senate debate Mayor Adams declared a state of emergency Friday over the citys migrant crisis and pleaded for financial and legislative assistance from the federal government and state lawmakers. The declaration will suspend certain land-use requirements so the city can more rapidly set up emergency housing for migrants, such as the controversial tent camp set to be constructed on Randalls Island, Adams said in a speech from City Hall. Advertisement But the declaration only goes so far. With more than 17,000 South and Central American migrants currently in the city, the homeless shelter system is nearly at 100% capacity and social services are being strained to the brink of collapse, Adams said. Advertisement [ Cold, hungry, isolated. Migrants facing troubling conditions in Hells Kitchen hotel ] It is burning through our budget, he said, predicting that the city will spend more than $1 billion on the crisis in this fiscal year alone. This is unsustainable. As a result, Adams demanded that President Bidens administration and Albany lawmakers do what they can to help, including allocating emergency funding and passing legislation that would expedite work permits for the migrants. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, he said. The massive influx of migrants has placed a big burden on the citys homeless shelter system. That pressure has led to several apparent violations of the states right-to-shelter law, which requires the city to provide housing to anyone who seeks it within a proscribed timeframe. To relieve the burden on shelters, Adams signaled last week that he planned to house some migrants in tents at an Orchard Beach parking lot in the Bronx. But earlier this week, he reversed himself over concerns of flooding there. Instead, he opted to move the tent encampments to Randalls Island. An NYC Emergency Management employee and others prepare to survey the parking lot at Iachn Statium at Randalls Island Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in the Bronx. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) In a statement released by the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless, which act as watchdogs regarding the right to shelter law, the groups slammed Adams for failing to invest more adequately in affordable housing, which would also ease the burden on shelters. It is the citys historic shameful failure to adequately invest in affordable housing that has continued to fuel mass homelessness, they said in the statement. We reaffirm our call on the city to abandon its plan to construct tent cities, and to instead focus on high-quality indoor shelter options and permanent housing. [ Thousands of migrants are pouring into NYC from Texas, straining a shaky shelter system. When will it hit a tipping point? ] Also at play on Friday are the politics of the situation both here and in other states. Many of the migrants streaming into the city have come from Texas. That states governor, Greg Abbott, whos running for re-election, has directed buses filled with asylum seekers to the Big Apple as a way to criticize Bidens border policies. Advertisement Biden is also seeking a referendum on his effectiveness in the coming November midterm elections. And Gov. Hochul is also seeking re-election. President Joe Biden speaks as from left, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and New York City mayor Eric Adams listen during a meeting at the FEMA Region 2 office in New York, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (Evan Vucci/AP) The mayor said he is not concerned about politically putting Democratic allies in a tight spot. [Biden] understood the urgency of the moment, Adams said, referring to his most recent conversation with the president. Speaking with the governors office, they understand the urgency of the situation. There was never a time that they stated, Eric, you know, we dont want to engage in this conversation because its too political. Nope, they did not do that at all. He would not offer specifics regarding exactly how the state might help as far as providing locations to house asylum seekers, but noted that there are plenty of locations that are under state control that I believe we should look at. Right now, Im not going to disclose exact locations, he said. As soon as we get the approval from them the inspections that state that theyre suitable for people to be inside were going to make a formal announcement. During a press conference after his speech, Adams offered few details on which aspects of the citys land use laws his administration intends to tweak. He did say the city does not plan to suspend its Uniform Land Use Review Procedure as part of the process, though. Advertisement Bronx Councilman Rafael Salamanca, who chairs the Councils Land Use Committee, said he has no idea which specific land use requirements the mayor is targeting, but speculated that the changes could involve rezoning industrial and commercial areas to house the asylum seekers. That could mean retrofitting vacant warehouses to help ease the citys burden, he said. My team is looking into it and were reaching out to [the mayor] because we want to understand: What are you suspending? Salamanca said. New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix also did not offer much in the way of specifics when it comes to suspending land-use requirements. It does not suspend all our city laws, but just the land-use laws, she said, adding that more details would be forthcoming. On Wednesday, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and several other Council members put out a statement urging Hizzoner to consider vacant hotels as an option for housing migrants. The Daily News at the time requested a list of the hotels they were referring to, but the Council still has not made it public. Advertisement Before taking questions from reporters, Adams urged them to inquire with the Council as to why it has not yet released a list of potential hotels to house migrants. Can you ask the City Council wheres the list? he said. Cause we cant get it. They said there were ten hotels that were available and we should be using them ... People need to stop criticizing. They need to step up. Without calling out anyone by name, Adams also slammed Council members for demanding the city house migrants in hotels while at the same time telling his administration that they dont want to house migrants in their Council districts. I cannot tell you how many Council people, local electeds that are yelling, house people, but are saying not in my district, the mayor said. You cant have it both ways. Newly arrived migrants are pictured in a closed holding area at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York on Sept. 19, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) When asked about cooperation with the City Council and complaints that he provided little notice to Council members Diana Ayala and Marjorie Velazquez, who represent Randalls Island and Orchard Beach, respectively, Adams again appeared to point his finger back toward lawmakers, saying that his administration has been communicating with them all the time on this. Theres a deafening silence thats coming from other parts of government, he said. This is not one of these operations where we can sit down and analyze whats taking place. We had nine buses yesterday. We have eight buses today. Were getting hundreds of people that are coming here, and its going to take real-time movement. Advertisement In an ironic twist, the citys Immigration Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro suggested that many of the migrants in New York City could end up in Florida. That states governor, Ron DeSantis, also made waves weeks ago when he sent migrants to Marthas Vineyard. About one-third of the asylum seekers coming into the city want to be re-settled in other parts of the country, according to Castro. Many of those coming into the city began their journey from Venezuela. The largest population of Venezuelans in the country are in Florida, and thats where most people indicated where they wish to be, he said. It really is up to the individuals. We want to make sure that we support people getting to where they wish to go. This week, President Biden visited southwest Florida to view the impact of Hurricane Ian, joined by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Recently, Mr DeSantis seemed to dodge a follow-up question about the presidents mention of climate change. During his remarks in Fort Myers, Florida, Mr Biden noted that in addition to the damage from Hurricane Ian, hed seen a lot of disasters recently, including wildfires in the western US and the ongoing droughts impact on the Colorado River. I think the one thing this has finally ended is a discussion about whether or not theres climate change and we should do something about it, President Biden said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was asked on Newsmax about his thoughts on Bidens bringing up the climate crisis. Well, a lot of people had a reaction to it, Mr DeSantis said. I mean you know, for me, my view is that if you look at Floridas history, from 1919 to 1960 we had 10 Category 4-plus storms hit the state, we have had five since then, he added. This is just something weve got to deal with, regardless of those political debates. Hurricanes may not be getting more frequent, but climate scientists have concluded that they are very likely getting a lot stronger on average as the planet heats up. A warmer planet means warmer ocean water temperatures one of the key ingredients to powering up a hurricane with stronger winds and more rain. Early last week, Hurricane Ian intensified rapidly to a near-Category 5 storm as it encountered warm waters over the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. A United Nations climate science panel has found that the percentage of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 or higher has increased over the past 40 years. Hurricane Ian made landfall last Wednesday just north of Fort Myers, Florida with wind speeds up to 150 miles per hour (241 kilometres per hour). As the hurricane raged across Florida, some coastal areas experienced at least 12 feet (3.7 metres) of storm surge, while intense rainfall flooded low-lying areas across the state. Story continues In total, at least 125 people died as a result of the storm in Florida and North Carolina, where the storm eventually dissipated. A rapid analysis last week found that the climate crisis likely increased Ians rainfall by about 10 per cent. This is a breaking story, more to follow Gov. Mike DeWine will make stops at several manufacturing facilities across Ohio, including one in the Miami Valley, in recognition of Manufacturing Day. DeWine will visit Pentaflex Inc. in Springfield Friday morning, a contract manufacturer of metal stampings and assemblies. >> Springfield High School students pack thousands of meals for children in South Africa DeWine plans to meet with skilled workers and discuss the importance of the manufacturing industry in Ohio, according to a release. Pentaflex supplies the commercial truck, automotive, medical and off-road industries among others, according to their website. Kim Kardashian has left fans reeling after admitting she doesnt know what tortellini is. The 41-year-old was shown dining out in an Italian restaurant during Milan Fashion Week in the latest episode of The Kardashians, when she asked a waiter, What is tortellini? The waiter replied that the classic pasta dish was like a ravioli, prompting the billionaire reality star to ask for any[thing] thats not spaghetti. Fans of the show took to social media to express their disbelief at the billionaires lack of culinary knowledge. Sadly, Im watching The Kardashians on Hulu and Kim asked the waiter what tortellini is and Im sick. The disrespect!, wrote one, while another added: Wealth is wasted on the rich. Kim K just asked what tortellini is. Just heard my daughter say that Kim Kardashian asked the waiter what is tortellini? See what happens when you are not part of the real world. I'm never surprised by the world anymore. Tonight I was. Sadly, Im watching The Kardashians on Hulu and Kim asked the waiter what tortellini is and Im sick. The disrespect! (@K4T3R4D) October 6, 2022 The gaffe follows her sister Kendall Jenners failed attempts at cutting a cucumber on an earlier episode of The Kardashians. The supermodel acknowledged her lack of experience in this area, saying: I definitely am not a good cutter, so dont zoom in on me, before adding she was scared. Aired in May this year, the clip showed Jenner apparently attempting to slice the vegetable in an unorthodox manner, prompting widespread incredulity on social media. Always knew they were so far removed from reality but watching Kendall try to cut that cucumber was painful, one person wrote, while someone else said: If this is real, Im concerned. A third person added: I assumed they were bad at relating to normal things. But THIS BAD?? Story continues The 26-year-old went on to poke fun at her chopping technique, however, subsequently posting a story to Instagram showing her with a chopping board, large knife and cumber. Here we go again, she captioned the post. Her re-attempt came after two of her sisters, Kylie and Khloe Kardashian, teased her about her chopping skills, or lack thereof. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the DOJ and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. The department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas. We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. This expansion builds on the Justice Departments existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible. We are pleased to be participating on this important task force and applaud the Attorney General for his commitment to protecting older adults. Scamming older adults, who often trust and depend on others for help and care, will not be tolerated by our office. We are committed to fully investigating and prosecuting those who try to exploit our older citizens, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, DOJ personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged. This past year, the District of Montana prosecuted a number of cases in which older adults were victims of fraud or scams. The cases include: Story continues Ronald Lords, of Corvallis, an ex-lawyer who was sentenced to prison for defrauding investors in a real estate scheme. William Tempel, a Great Falls construction company official who was sentenced to prison for embezzling from a client. Kathy Hendrickson, of Washington, who was sentenced to prison for cyberstalking and harassing a Montana man. Ira Westbrook of Bozeman, who pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing for stealing government benefits while acting as a fiduciary. Elizabeth Stephenson of Billings, who was sentenced to prison in an identity theft case. Debra Roeber of Butte, who was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $600,000 from a blind victim who was under her care. Theresa Chabot of Kalispell, who pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing for running a money mule business for elder abuse. The DOJ also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams. Elder abuse can range from physical or sexual assault against vulnerable seniors to financial scams to abandonment or neglect by caregivers. But the most common threat is self-neglect: an elderly person unable to provide for their own clothing, shelter, food, medication or other basic needs, and having no one to provide care for them. The department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice, it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorneys Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Departments ongoing efforts to combat the largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults. In the past year, the DOJ has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the department and were later victims of sweepstakes or astrology solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the DOJ has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March 2020, more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the companys willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud. Over the past year, the department pursued cases against the perpetrators of grandparent scams, otherwise known as person-in-need scams. These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams heartbreakingly evil. The DOJ is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement's efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311. This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying the next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the DOJ's elder justice efforts can be found on the Departments Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Some of the cases that comprise this announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana takes part in DOJ's efforts to protect older adults Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares are shaping up to be some of the most expensive of the year. Domestic airfare for Thanksgiving is now averaging $281 roundtrip up 25% from last year, according to Hopper. Christmas will be even more expensive, with prices averaging $435 roundtrip, 55% more than what tickets cost during the 2021 holiday. And prices are increasing at the rate of about 4% per week so for each week you wait to book a flight, expect the fare to go up. The best time to book flights for the holidays was two months ago or four months before travel. But there are still a number of great holiday deals throughout the U.S and the Caribbean especially if you want to get away instead of see family. Holiday travel is already more expensive than last year and prices are only going up. / Credit: CBS News Want to fly to St. Thomas? Flights to the U.S. Virgin Island are as low as $224 (or you can redeem 13,000 Delta miles) for flights from South Florida and Los Angeles. Or, you can get to St. Thomas from New York on Delta for $224 or 13,000 miles, or from Los Angeles to St. Thomas for $337. Or, flying from Miami to St. Croix will cost $310 on American Airlines. But the biggest holiday travel discounts? Cruise lines. Around 1,500 separate cruise itineraries including Thanksgiving and Christmas itineraries are averaging less than $100 a night. And on some cruise lines such as Carnival a four-night cruise immediately after Thanksgiving averaged just $26 per night and another three-night cruise for $33 a night. A Carnival cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral in Florida from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 averages $104 per person for a two-person room, or $26 a day. After taxes, fees, and port expenses, the cruise is about $507. And a Norwegian getaway a 10-day cruise over the Thanksgiving holiday to Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao and the Dominican Republic, with an open bar works out to $63 a night. Some other incredible cruise deals for November include five nights on Holland America out of Vancouver for an average base of $36 per day and six nights in November out of Barcelona on MSC Cruises for roughly $50 a day. Look for fast flash sales from the cruise lines with similar big discounts. Story continues Europe where the U.S. dollar is almost on par with the British pound and the euro is also a place to look for holiday deals, especially if you're willing to play with travel dates. If you leave trade Newark for Barcelona before Thanksgiving and come back right after, you'll pay just $535 on United. Or, fly SAS from the U.S to Europe in November and December in discounted premium economy to cities like Copenhagen, Orlo, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam or Brussels, starting at $653. And if you can wait until January, the fares drop precipitously: Head from New York to Lisbon for a week or two for just $390 on United. If you're unwilling to jettison the turkey altogether, consider going a week after Thanksgiving and carve the turkey then. In the airline industry, that's known as the dead week, as people recover from their family holiday with round-trip domestic fares averaging about $78. The other way to approach holiday travel is not to be trapped by the worst Wednesday of the year: the day before Thanksgiving, whose annual travel chaos inspired the 1987 classic "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." To get the best fares, leave the Thursday before Thanksgiving, and return the Friday immediately following the holiday. While the rest of your relatives are stuck in Black Friday traffic at the mall, you're already headed home and have the whole weekend ahead of you, with lower airfares in the process. And be on the lookout for a number of airline flash sales from airlines like Jet Blue and Southwest, with fares starting as low as $29. While flash sales are here today and usually gone in 36 hours, in many cases you can book through the end of February 2023. Southwest's winter sale, for example, expired Oct. 6 but will likely reappear as another flash sale early next week. 84 undocumented migrants rescued from truck near Texas border Uvalde police officer fired amid outrage from parents Georgia voters react to Herschel Walker abortion report scandal (Reuters) - There is no need for Russian regions to use the conflict with Ukraine as a reason to cancel celebrations to mark New Year, one of the country's most important holidays, a top defense ministry official said on Friday. St Petersburg city council earlier said it was scrapping traditional New Year and Christmas festivities and using the money to pay for "additional equipment and equipment for volunteers and those who have been mobilized." Deputy defense minister Viktor Goremykin said that while the armed forces were grateful for the active support of the population, the military had all the equipment it needed for troops on the front line and those being trained. "Therefore, I consider initiatives in certain regions to cancel New Year's holiday events for children under the pretext of supporting the armed forces to be premature and unnecessary," he said in a statement. Last month, Russia's competition watchdog opened probes into price rises for military goods as demand rose amid Moscow's drive to enlist hundreds of thousands more people. Earlier in the conflict, sources told Reuters that some military conscripts had been sent into front-line combat with no training, little food and water, and inadequate weapons. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty After months of the political equivalent of throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks, Dr. Mehmet OzRepublican nominee for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvaniafound the issue to transform his underdog race against Democrat John Fetterman into a newly competitive toss-up. With crime on the rise almost everywhere, Fettermans history of fighting to overturn wrongful convictions as chair of the states Board of Pardons provided Oz with enough material to demonize his opponent as dangerously liberal on crime. Oz hired actors who wore prison garb and showed up to disrupt his opponents campaign events, and he put up a billboard calling Fetterman soft on crime in Braddocka Pittsburgh-area steel town where Fetterman was previously the mayor. These stunts got headlines, but the real bang for the buck for Oz is the barrage of paid attack ads on television and YouTube that are so ubiquitous a friend told me their 8-year-old asked his mother, If Fetterman wins, will he release all the criminals from prison? The Right Is Desperately Trying to Make Fetterman a Crip Since the beginning of August, 71 percent of Ozs ads have focused on crime, with more than $8.8 million coming from GOP Super PACs, according to Jessica Taylor, who follows Senate races for the non-partisan Cook Political Report. In these two months, Fettermans negatives increased by 17 points, and Oz rose enough in the polls to move the race from leaning Democrat in mid-August to a rating change this week to Toss Up by the Cook Report. Did the focus on crime work? Just look at the money thats been spent, and thats a clear correlation, says Taylor. Oz had tried other lines of attack, including last month going after Fettermans signature clothing of hoodie and shortssaying it carried a deeper message, that when he dresses like that, hes kicking authority in the balls. Duh, yes. The ploy may have found some resonance in the upscale Philadelphia suburbs, but crime is where Oz found the sweet spot in the states broader electorate. Story continues Crime has long been a go-to issue for Republicans. The echoes of Willie Horton are loud and clear, when a weekend furlough granted by former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis went bad, and the 1988 presidential election soon focused on crime. Two brothers who served nearly 30 years for a murder they did not commit (and whose last name coincidentally is Horton) are gainfully employed by Fetterman, who has been slow to recognize the threat posed by the GOPs all-out assault on this aspect of his record. One of the things I believe in most strongly is the power of a second chance, and as the chair of the Board of Pardons in Pennsylvania, delivering that has been one of the things that Im most proud of, Fetterman says in a video on his campaign website. Inside the Fetterman Campaigns Bizarre Bromance October is oppo dump time, says Taylor. We can expect more revelations from both camps as partisans release what they have been holding in reserve to sway the electorate in Pennsylvania for a seat that will likely decide which party controls the Senate. The Washington Post ran a long piece on Ozs history of dubious health claims, and an article in Jezebel asserts that the medical research that Oz oversaw at Columbia University between 1989 and 2010 killed over 300 dogs, including a litter of puppies, prompting Fetterman to tweet, BREAKING: Dr. Oz is a puppy killer. If it comes down to quack doctors versus rising crime, Oz could gain the edge in this tight race, but dig deeper and you find skepticism about whether the polls have it right. Taylor says pollsters may be undercounting Trump Republicans like they did in 2020 and in 2016. The numbers were seeing for Democrats could be their ceiling, she says, citing Fetterman, who was at or very near to 50 percent, and is now in the mid-40s. Robert Cahaly, a GOP strategist who founded the Trafalgar Group, has identified a group that he calls submerged voters. Theyre in their submarines, underwater, and theyre not coming out until Election Day, he told CNN, calling the Pennsylvania Senate contest a two-point race that will continue to tighten. Based in Atlanta, Trafalgar was one of the only polling firms that called the 2016 election for Donald Trump. Democrats freaking out about Fettermans lost lead can also find solace in the polls. I have not seen a poll that puts Oz in the lead, says Bill Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. In ten polls from the third week of August on, Fetterman leads by an average of 4.3 percentage points. And Oz remains underwater, his unfavorable rating 17 points higher than his favorable rating. Dr. Oz and John Fetterman: Two Rich Phonies Playing Populism I dont see the movement, Galston told The Daily Beast. Yet he shares the skepticism about the polls. Is there once again an undercount of Trump voters? who the hell knowsespecially after Brazil. In Brazils presidential election, the incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, was at 35 percent in the polls, and he got 43 percent of the vote, putting him into a runoff where he is favored. Thats a pretty big miss, says Galston, calling it one more example of conservative populist voters not getting counted for various reasons, including not talking to pollsters. In the Pennsylvania governors race, the Trump-backed candidate Doug Mastriano is way behind Democrat Josh Shapiro. How many people will turn out to vote for Shapiro and then Oz? says Galston. Inquiring minds want to know. It would take a bunch of them to nip Fetterman at the wire. Pounding away at the crime issue and scaring voters about what Fetterman might do if elected has made this race competitive but it will take more to close the deal for a clear winner to emerge. We wont see what that is until the candidates take the debate stage on Oct. 25, two weeks before the final votes are cast. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) The cotton harvest is about to get underway in the Texas High Plains, the windswept region that grows most of the crop in the nations top cotton-producing state. But Barry Evans, like many others, has already walked away from more than 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of his bone-dry fields. It just didnt come up. We hardly had anything. It just wasnt in the cards this year, said Evans, a third-generation cotton grower. Extreme heat and a dearth of rainfall have severely damaged much of this years cotton harvest in the U.S., which produces about 35% of the world's crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast that more than 40% of what U.S. farmers planted in the spring would be abandoned because of drought. Nowhere is this more apparent than the flat, dry stretch of Texas extending some 250 miles (402 kilometers) from Lubbock to the tip of the Texas Panhandle bordering Oklahoma. Where waist-high cotton plants normally grow, the landscape is now defined by barren, brown fields. The USDA says Texas cotton farmers are likely to abandon nearly 70% of their spring planting. That's the worst harvest since 2009, according to the Texas Farm Bureau. The losses in cotton could cost the Texas High Plains $1.2 billion after farmers receive federal crop insurance payments, estimates Darren Hudson, director of the International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness at Texas Tech University. That leaves out others who depend on the crop, such as cotton gins and warehouses. "Any time you have a bad year in cotton, it has a role to play in the overall economy, Hudson said. The region normally receives around 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 centimeters) of rain per year, but saw less than 3 inches (7 centimeters) of rain from August 2021 through the summer, as nearly all of Texas baked under drought and blistering temperatures sapped the remaining moisture from the ground. Climate change is intensifying these effects. Subsoil moisture and topsoil moisture was already low to start, and it just got worse and worse, said Graham Soley, a USDA agricultural economist. In Texas, bad drought years are recalled with a certain familiarity. Evans and other cotton growers say the soil was so dry in April and May, when cotton's planted, that the harvest fared worse than in 2011, the last time a drought almost as severe enveloped the state. If we dont get any kind of winter moisture, its going to be really difficult next year, he said, adding that theres less groundwater available in the High Plains area than a decade ago. Much of the cotton grown in the region is rainfed, but some cotton farmers also use groundwater. Even those with irrigated fields are expecting low yields this year. Katie Lewis, a professor of soil chemistry and fertility at Texas A&M University in Lubbock, said extreme heat and dry events are growing more intense, but not necessarily more common. The regions arid, sandy soils and high rates of moisture loss from evaporation and plants means rainfall can change soil conditions for farmers fairly quickly, Lewis said. So if this winter provides enough rainfall, next years harvest could look very different. But the patterns of weather events have become so sporadic," she added, that its hard to define normal. Even if crop yields rebound, the region's overall recovery from economic losses could take a few years, particularly small towns that are especially dependent on cotton. Consecutive bad years really damage the economies of the rural areas, said Texas Tech's Hudson. While most farmers facing losses have already received federal crop insurance payments, such backstops dont exist for the cotton gin operators who separate seeds from harvested bolls, warehouses that store cotton bales, mills that make cottonseed oil, or trucking companies that transport the crop. Todd Straley, who manages a cotton gin in Plainview, Texas, said his region has experienced five years of below-average harvests that have accelerated the closure and consolidation of nearby facilities. His gin normally produces around 100,000 bales each harvest; this year, he is expecting to process 12,000. As a result, Straley has no need to run the facility 24-hours-a-day as he normally would for the three months after the harvest. We are looking at such a short crop, Straley said, I contracted my employees to dismantle different gins that went out of business. While U.S. cotton farming is no longer labor intensive, cotton gins, warehouses and oil mills depend heavily on seasonal workers, usually migrant laborers. Straley said hell need around 18 full-time and seasonal workers, compared to 50 in years when farmers havent abandoned crops at such high levels. Farmers choose not to harvest when so little grows that it isnt worth the cost. Larry Black, who manages a ginning co-operative in Roscoe, Texas, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) away, said his facility processes cotton from 100,00 acres (40,469 hectares) of nearby farmland. Last year, the facility processed 86,000 bales. This year, he is expecting around 4,000. Its tough on everybody when we dont make a crop, Black said. He estimates losses this year at the farmer-owned gin will amount to $1 million, but said profits from a strong harvest in 2021 would serve as a buffer. In the 1980s, around 500 cotton gins were operating in the state, according to Hudson. Last year, 185 were in business, the Texas Cotton Ginners Association said. The reduction is due in part to consolidation and changes in technology, Hudson said, but some of that is also weather driven. Especially the smaller ones just cant continue to stay open and operating. Most cotton farmers in this part of Texas use cotton seed varieties modified to withstand drought, said Kody Bessent, chief executive of Plains Cotton Growers, representing growers in 42 Texas High Plains counties. Varieties are continuously developed and will be tweaked to generate high yields if dry conditions persist, he said. Even though its drought resistant," Bessent added, we still have to have a little bit of help from Mother Nature." ___ Naishadham reported from Washington, D.C. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment Jennifer Del Prete said she spent nine years, one month and 26 days in prison after her wrongful conviction in 2005 for the death of a 14-month-old girl in Will County. While she was released from prison on April 30, 2014, and her conviction was overturned in August 2016, she was set to face the Will County states attorneys office again in court in November for a retrial. Advertisement On Wednesday morning, Del Prete, 51, with her father by her side, was in the Will County courthouse for yet another court date to find out if the trial would in fact start on Nov. 29, or if the state needed more time to build its case. Neither she or her attorney could have predicted what happened next: Her criminal case was dismissed Wednesday after the state was no longer able to make a case against her with a new expert opinion, according to a court order, and all of the charges against her were dropped. We both burst into tears, Del Prete said of her and her fathers immediate reactions. I was screaming, Finally, finally, finally, and we were crying. Advertisement The People have received and tendered the finalized expert report of Dr. Thomas Bennett, the dismissal order said. After careful consideration of the newly obtained expert opinion in conjunction with all of the other physical and opinion evidence in this case, the People no longer believe they can sustain their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The matter was dismissed, was all Carole Cheney, a spokesperson for the Will County states attorneys office, said in an email. Del Prete had been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2003 death of 14-month-old Isabella Zielinski. Authorities accused Del Prete of shaking the 4-month-old at the day care facility where Del Prete served as a caretaker. The baby died about 10 months later. During her trial, a state medical expert testified that Isabellas injuries could have been inflicted only on the day she became unresponsive, ignoring evidence that the baby had suffered an unexplained brain injury days earlier. Del Prete was released from prison after new evidence came to light, including a memo uncovered by journalism students at Northwestern Universitys Medill Justice Project that was written by the lead Romeoville detective, who worried that the pathologist who conducted the autopsy did not agree with the shaken baby syndrome theory. Jennifer Del Prete and attorney Jon Loevy talk after a news conference on Aug. 24, 2017, announcing a lawsuit alleging investigators withheld evidence. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune ) The new evidence led a judge to release her in 2014 while her case was reviewed, and her conviction was overturned in August 2016 in the appellate court. A judge ordered a new trial. The Will County states attorneys office had said it would appeal the ruling. Pat Blegen, the lead attorney on her case with local law firm Blegen & Garvey, said Wednesdays hearing was supposed to be a status update. Blegen said he was given the dismissal order and the news 10 minutes before the hearing began. He said nobody expected anything like it to happen that day, but that it was a long time coming. She literally said Hallelujah! Blegen said. It was great. She was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness. Advertisement He said she cried, and Will County Judge Carmen Goodman gave her tissues in the courtroom as Del Prete heard the judge say to her, Congratulations, and good luck. The criminal case is over its done. ... She has been an innocent person for a long time, and now there are no charges, Blegen said. Shes ecstatic, Joel Murphy, another one of her attorneys, said Thursday afternoon. Of course ... were all very thrilled. This should have happened a long time ago. Del Prete said she hasnt spoken to Isabellas family in nearly 20 years but said, All our hearts go out to the Zielinski family, and we wish them peace. After she was released from prison, Del Prete filed a lawsuit against several investigators in her case, including officers from Romeoville and Plainfield police, accusing them of withholding evidence and fabricating scientific findings. When her retrial was scheduled, the lawsuits were put on hold. Now, Del Prete said she is ready to fight this to the end, no matter what. Ive been through hell with Will County, and I will say that 100 times, she said. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > The Chicago-based law firm Loevy & Loevy is handling Del Pretes civil case. Del Prete said the lawsuit is not about the money at this point, but about the time she lost. They cant replace anything, she said. They took all three of my siblings weddings from me. They took all but two of the births of my nieces and nephews from me. Ive missed my grandpas death, my grandmas death. Ive missed so many milestones with my children, and nothing I win will ever compensate. She said it was a blessing she got out just in time for the wedding of her daughter, who is now 33, and to help her son, now 25, officially become an adult. Del Prete is currently living in Hanover, Illinois, and working as a night auditor for a hotel in Galena. She said she was planning to travel with her family ahead of the trial next month but now wants to plan bigger, longer trips to truly celebrate. She also said she wants to keep sharing her story and educate people on shaken baby syndrome and what happened to her during her trial. Advertisement Its been a rough journey for all of us, my whole family, friends, so many other people affected that no one realizes, she said. But my parents raised a very strong person, and Ive always spoken up and fought for what is right. Now, Im a free woman. PANAMA CITY A local shipbuilder is gearing up to sue the U.S. Coast Guard about three months after it lost a billion-dollar contract. According to an email sent to the News Herald by Eastern Shipbuilding officials, the company plans to file a lawsuit against the Coast Guard after it withheld information from an official protest on why the Panama City shipbuilder was not selected in June for a $3 billion contract to construct 16 offshore patrol cutters. The Coast Guard instead chose Austal USA, a foreign-owned shipbuilder based in Alabama. Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City is working to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Coast Guard after it withheld information from a protest about a $3 billion contract to build 11 offshore patrol cutters. "The federal procurement process is designed to be fair and transparent," Joey D'Isernia, president of Eastern Shipbuilding, said in an emailed statement sent to the News Herald by his company spokesperson. "Ordinarily, the government discloses reasonable justification for its award decisions to the attorneys representing the parties in a protest. "The (Coast Guard) has declined to voluntarily disclose the information that might offer that justification. As a result, we are seeking the information and justification through a different legal pathway." Eastern Shipbuilding: 'to explore every avenue' after losing $3 billion USCG contract Need a job?: Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City looking to hire almost 300 new employees The information requested by Eastern Shipbuilding in its protest includes portions of Austal USA's proposal and the Coast Guard's scoring evaluations. Eastern already was given the rights to build four additional ships in the Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter Program. Following the award of that contract, the Coast Guard willingly provided protesters the same information now being requested by the Panama City company, officials said in an emailed response to questions submitted by the News Herald. "Without the requested (information, Eastern's) legal team has not been given the opportunity to adjudicate the case," the email reads. "(Since Eastern's) attorneys were (not) able to see all relevant parts of Austal's proposal, they (are) unable (to) determine whether (Eastern's) proposal was fairly and reasonably scored against Austal's proposal, and whether both proposals were evaluated in the same manner." Story continues Eastern officials said they hope the lawsuit will force the Coast Guard to release the requested information, possibly proving the two companies' proposals were not fairly considered, which might allow Eastern to claim the $3 billion contract. "(Eastern) believes the award decision was wrong and hopes to have it reversed," the email reads. "The lawsuit does not impact (Eastern's) current work. (The company) is still focused on successfully delivering the first four (previously awarded) OPCs." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Eastern Shipbuilding to sue Coast Guard over contract protest info Dr Mehmet Oz has been slammed for headlining a fundraiser featuring a car used by Adolf Hitler, which cost attendees $5,000 a plate. It was hosted in California by the in-laws of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. The fundraiser took place on Thursday night at the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana, south of Los Angeles, according to Jezebel. The museum holds many items from the Second World War, including one of Hitlers cars featuring a swastika. While the swastika could not be seen in the image of Dr Oz, it does appear on the museums website. Photos from the occasion appeared on social media from the account of Shane Mitchell, Jezebel noted. Dr Oz stood next to a monitor with the logo of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Dr Oz appeared at a fundraiser in California in front of a vehicle once owned by Adolf Hitler (Screenshot / Instagram / @shane.mitch / Lyon Air Museum) In the back, a vehicle similar to the 1939 Mercedes-Benz Model G4 Offener Touring Wagon appearing on the museums website can be seen in images of Dr Oz. This particular G4, 440875, was originally delivered to Adolph Hitler in late 1939 and was used by the Fuhrer in Ober Salzberg, Berlin and Poland until seized by the French Army at Berchtesgaden, the museum site states. Controversial Canadian professor and media personality Jordan Peterson also joined the event via video link, an image posted by Mr Mitchell from the event shows. Story continues Jordan Peterson appeared at a Dr Oz fundraiser (Screenshot / Instagram / @shane.mitch) The chair of the NRSC, Florida Senator Rick Scott, as well as Nevada GOP Senate nominee Adam Laxalt also attended the fundraiser, according to Jezebel. Progressive communicator and advisor Sawyer Hacket tweeted, Wow. Dr Oz flew first class to speak at a $5,000/plate fundraiser at the Lyon Air Museum in California yesterdayhosted by in-laws of sex trafficker Matt Gaetz. The backdrop for his speech: Adolf Hilters 1939 Mercedes-Benz. Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko simply tweeted, WHAT THE F***?! I dunno, but if Dr Oz wanted to distract everyone from the puppy genocide story that maybe giving a speech in front of Hitlers favorite limousine wasnt the best strategy, one Twitter user wrote. It was either this or Pol Pots favorite motorcycle - Dr Mehmet Wayne Gacy Oz. Santa Ana needs to grab their sage so they can properly cleanse their citys energy after Rick Scott and Dr Oz leave, another account holder said. Dr Oz began the week with a story about him killing puppies, and now is ending it standing in front of Hitlers car. Truly a landmark in the history of US Senate campaigns, Jake Wasserman of The Forward tweeted. An image posted on Twitter appeared to show protesters holding up signs against the windows outside the museum. Protester signs in the windows of the Lyon Air Museum was the backdrop for Dr. Oz as he spoke tonight at a high priced fundraiser in Santa Ana, California. #GoBackToOz https://t.co/rIdj6aRaBQ pic.twitter.com/B21m7PKYd9 InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) October 7, 2022 Dr Oz giving an officially Republican Party-backed political speech next to Hitlers car with the swastika covered is just, like... *too* perfect a metaphor, one Twitter user said. The Independent has attempted to reach the Dr Oz campaign for comment. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which is poised to raise Floridas property insurance rates even higher, Floridians will determine on Nov. 8 who will be responsible for handling the states insurance crisis as its next chief financial officer. Incumbent CFO Jimmy Patronis, a Republican, faces a challenge from former state Rep. Adam Hattersley, D-Hillsborough, who hopes to become the first Democrat elected to the position since 2006. Patronis has served as CFO since he was appointed to the job in 2017 by former Gov. Rick Scott and won re-election in 2018. The chief financial officer position was created in 2002 and is one of three elected posts in the Florida Cabinet, along with the attorney general and the commissioner of agriculture. Patronis is only the fourth person elected to the post. The CFO broadly manages the states finances, including accounting, auditing and investment, and also handles insurance consumer services, insurance fraud investigations and managing unclaimed property. The officer also serves as the State Fire Marshal and oversees fire training programs, education and services statewide. A spokesperson for Patronis campaign declined an interview request, saying Patronis had temporarily suspended campaign operations while he responds to the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Hattersley discussed his campaign platform with the Orlando Sentinel in a one-on-one interview and later with its editorial board. Both Patronis and Hattersley have backgrounds in business and public service. Patronis, 50, is from Panama City and is a partner in his familys seafood restaurant, Capt. Andersons, in Panama City Beach. He holds an associate degree in restaurant management from Gulf Coast Community College and a bachelors degree in political science from Florida State University. He previously was appointed to the Florida Elections Commission and later represented Floridas District 6, which includes Panama City, in the Florida House from 2006 until 2014. He has also served on the states Public Service Commission and the Constitution Revision Commission. Story continues Hattersley, 44, was born in Boston and holds bachelors and masters degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, where he also competed as a gymnast. He served as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy for eight years, winning the Bronze Star for service during a tour in Iraq, and taught electrical engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy. He moved to Riverview in 2009, where he managed data and financial analytics for a General Electric subsidiary and ran a now-defunct promotional company, C-Suite Promotions, with his wife, Christie. He was elected as the state Representative for District 59 in 2018 and served until 2020, when he campaigned to represent Floridas District 15 in the U.S. House but lost the nomination to former journalist Alan Cohn. Both candidates face rising pressure to reform Floridas property insurance system. Patronis 2022 legislative priorities included fighting rising insurance rates. He has focused recently on combatting insurance fraud, identifying it as a root cause of rising premiums. In the days after Hurricane Ian, Patronis deployed anti-fraud teams to counties affected by the storm and traveled to affected areas himself. After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed bipartisan property insurance reform legislation in May, for which Patronis provided fraud-fighting proposals, Patronis praised the measure and said he remained committed to fighting insurance fraud and bolstering our investigative services to further support our efforts to protect consumers. Hattersley said Patronis efforts havent been enough, with six Florida property insurers declared insolvent in 2022 alone and other companies teetering on the financial brink. Everything thats come out of the Legislature has been focused on propping up the insurance companies, not protecting the consumer, he said. To tackle the issue, Hattersley said he would change the Office of Insurance Regulations leadership and investigate why Floridas property insurance companies have failed. He also hopes to require companies to keep capital reserves in Florida to ensure they have enough to cover residents filing claims. Patronis has made supporting Floridas first responders a priority. Early in his tenure, he advocated for legislation that expanded compensation benefits for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He also worked to expand insurance benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer, allot more state funding for decontamination equipment and pushed for lawmakers to approve $10 million in funding for Floridas Urban Search & Rescue teams. Patronis also has joined DeSantis in calling for protecting consumer data from large tech businesses, and he has supported legislation to that end. Hattersley describes his priorities as insurance, investigations and infrastructure. Aiming to be a Democratic leader in the largely Republican-controlled government, Hattersley said he would like to audit every state department that receives tax dollars to make sure things are being done up to standard for the taxpayers. He would also like to spearhead improvements to Floridas coastal infrastructure. He plans to draw from his time in the Navy to find common ground with first responders as the State Fire Marshal. Hattersley said he wants to talk with officials involved in emergency response statewide to understand every countys needs and equip them with the necessary resources to respond to small- and large-scale emergencies. This strategy, talking directly with consumers and citizens and addressing their concerns at the state level, is how he aims to approach the CFO position. In the Navy, we had something called RCA root cause analysis, Hattersley said in an interview. You keep asking, Why? four or five times until you cannot ask Why? anymore. Thats your root cause, thats what you have to fix ... and a lot of these things Im talking about, these are the core responsibilities of the CFO that seem to have been neglected for the past four years plus. We have to take politics out of your money. Complete election coverage can be found at OrlandoSentinel.com/election. krice@orlandosentinel.com and @katievrice on Twitter Dona Ana County residents vote in the New Mexico Primary Election at East Picacho Elementary School on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. LAS CRUCES The midterms have arrived. The 2022 general election descends upon the county as everything from legislative seats, the sheriffs office, county positions, congressional representatives and the states governor go up for grabs. The election ends Nov. 8. Heres everything you need to know before heading to the polls. Registration, deadlines and polling centers With the implantation of same-day registration, interested residents can register minutes before voting early or on election day. But for those looking to vote and bolt, the last day to register online or via mail-in is Oct. 11. To register online, go to the New Mexico Secretary of States voter registration page at https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/OVR/WebPages/InstructionsStep1.aspx. Oct. 11 is also the same day early voting begins. Dona Ana County voters looking to vote before Oct. 22 will have to vote at the Dona Ana County Government Center at 845 North Motel Boulevard. Voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Early voting expands outward from Las Cruces beginning on Oct. 22. After that, polling stations across the county open, including: Anthony City Hall Municipal Complex in Anthony Delores C. Wright Education Center in Chaparral Hatch High School in Hatch Las Cruces City Hall, NMSU Corbett Center Sonoma Elementary School in Las Cruces Mesilla Town Hall in Mesilla Dona Ana Community College in Sunland Park The last day to vote early is Nov. 5. The last day to submit an absentee ballot application is Nov. 3. All Absentee ballots must be received by the county before 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. On election day, the county will open 42 centers for voters to cast ballots. Those locations are: Anthony City Hall Municipal Complex Berino Elementary School Camino Real Middle School Chaparral Middle School Corbett Center- NMSU Del Cerro Community Center Desert Hills Elementary School Desert View Elementary School Dona Ana Community Center Dona Ana County Government Center East Picacho Elementary School Fairacres Elementary School Frank O'Brien Papen Center (Mesilla Park Recreation Center) Gadsden Middle School Garfield Elementary School Good Samaritan Social Center Hatch High School Highland Elementary Jornada Elementary School La Mesa Volunteer Fire Department La Union Elementary School Las Alturas Fire Station Las Cruces High School Las Cruces City Hall Loma Heights Elementary Lynn Middle School Mayfield High school Mesilla Elementary School Mesquite Elementary School New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum North Valley Elementary School Organ Mountain High School Organ Community Center Radium Springs Community Center Rincon Fire Station Santa Teresa Middle School Sierra Middle School Sonoma Elementary School Sunrise Elementary School Tombaugh Elementary University Hills Elementary school Vista Middle School Story continues Every polling center opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. on Election Day. To see a sample ballot for your area, go to https://voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us/WhereToVote.aspx. Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Heres everything you need to know about voting in 2022 Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) speaks at a news conference in April 2021. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) was first elected to Congress in 2018 as part of the blue wave that flipped control of the U.S. House to Democrats. He replaced Republican Darrell Issa, who decided not to seek reelection after the politics of the district, which includes parts of Orange and San Diego counties, shifted left. (Two years later, Issa returned to Congress by winning in a neighboring district that still had a conservative majority.) Levin, an environmental attorney and Southern California native, is seeking a third term representing the 49th District, which stretches from Laguna Nigel to Del Mar. And it's in the best interest of the voters in this coastal district to send him back to Congress. Levin has proved to be an effective champion and protector of the natural resources that make this district one of the most desirable places to live in the country, if not the world. As a member of the Progressive Democratic Caucus, he's among the vanguard pushing for more robust federal action to combat climate change, but he has still found opportunities to work on legislation with Republican colleagues on veterans issues and coastal habitat, among other things. He's led the effort to ban offshore drilling and to clean up pollution in the Tijuana River Valley that has dumped millions of gallons of sewage into the ocean. Levin also supports protecting abortion access. His challenger in the Nov. 8 election is Republican Brian Maryott, a financial planner who served on the San Juan Capistrano City Council from 2016 to 2020. This is his third time challenging Levin for the congressional seat. Maryott declined an interview with the Los Angeles Times' editorial board, so we were unable to ask him directly about his position on important issues such as reproductive rights and whether he believes Joe Biden is the legitimately elected president. From his public statements, it's clear he wants to curtail federal spending and does not support reproductive rights, having celebrated in a tweet when the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in June. Story continues The two also have different views about a very local problem: the nuclear waste sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Levin has led an effort to restart the process of relocating nuclear waste by advocating for interim storage solutions. Maryott favors deep mountain storage, which refers to the Yucca Mountain waste repository in the eastern Nevada wilderness that the government has spent billions of dollars on but never completed because of local opposition. Both options ought to be pursued, but Levin is right that the top priority now is to move the waste away from active fault lines and millions of people. Voters in the 49th District have a qualified and effective representative in Levin. They should reelect him. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Stanley Mosk Superior Court building in downtown Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Of the nine Los Angeles Superior Court races in the June primary, the six in which no sitting judge sought reelection did not produce a majority winner. Runoffs between the top two finishers for each of those seats will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. The Times previously endorsed a candidate in each of those races and endorses them again. This years Superior Court election has drawn more attention than usual because of four candidates running together with the aim of putting a more criminal-defense-oriented perspective on the bench. They make some interesting points, but the central issue in these races should not be whether candidates gained their experience as prosecutors or defense lawyers, but how ready each of them is to preside with fairness and authority over any courtroom, whether criminal or civil. Besides, voters fill only a minority of Superior Court seats. Diversity in background and experience is largely up to the governor, who appoints most judges. Because the vast majority of Superior Court seats are filled by gubernatorial appointment, voters have little sway over the broad composition of the court. But each judge elected to the court will nonetheless make a difference in the quality of justice handed down. The Times recommends candidates based on their experience, achievement, knowledge, demeanor and maturity. Office No. 60: Abby Baron Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Abby Baron is a career prosecutor who has won praise from defense lawyers for fairness and straight dealing, as well as strong backing from law enforcement and crime victims advocates. She is among a select few prosecutors who have been assigned, because of their sensitivity and skill, to the Stuart House, a program created by the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. Her opponent is Deputy Public Defender Anna Slotky Reitano. Her prior experience includes civil and labor matters. She probably would make a good judge, but in the matchup between candidates, Baron is the better choice. Story continues Office No. 67: Fernanda Maria Barreto Deputy Dist. Atty. Fernanda Maria Barreto is a standout prosecutor, assigned to deal with particularly sensitive cases in the Victim Impact Program, working closely with the alleged victims of domestic abuse, elder abuse, trafficking and child molestation. She also has brief experience in a civil law practice. Importantly, she is respected by defense counsel as well as judges. Running against Barreto is Deputy Public Defender Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes. She has the qualities to be a good judge. Between the two candidates, however, Barreto excels. Office No. 70: Holly Hancock Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Holly Hancock is an experienced and accomplished criminal defense lawyer who had an earlier career as a flight attendant and labor union leader, in which she helped to lead efforts to protect aircraft security after the 9/11 attacks. She has an impressive record of courtroom accomplishment, winning her clients reduced charges or outright acquittals in the majority of her cases. Her opponent is Deputy Dist. Atty. Renee Yolande Chang. She is a well-regarded trial attorney, but of the two candidates, Hancock is the better choice. Office No. 90: Melissa Lyons This race is a matchup between two criminal prosecutors. Melissa Lyons has been a deputy district attorney for 16 years, most notably in the Sex Crimes Division. Outside the office she has volunteered with the Summer Night Lights Program sponsored by Los Angeles' Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development. Her opponent, Leslie Gutierrez, might make a better candidate after more trial experience. Lyons is the more accomplished and the better choice for the bench. Office No. 118: Melissa Hammond Deputy Dist. Atty. Melissa Hammond has also served as a deputy public defender and a civil practitioner, acquiring valuable perspective and experience. Carolyn Jiyoung Park has represented public employees in front of disciplinary boards and practices labor and civil rights law. She argues that her Not Qualified rating from the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. (as compared with Hammonds Well Qualified rating) is a reflection of the legal establishments preference for a status quo dominated by prosecutors and big-firm lawyers, and she makes a point thats well worth further examination. Bar association ratings aside, Hammond is the better choice. Office No. 151: Patrick Hare Deputy Public Defender Patrick Hare is a highly accomplished criminal defense attorney who enjoys the unusual distinction of being endorsed by dozens of Superior Court judges in a race in which his opponent is a prosecutor. He is widely lauded for his skill, trial experience and integrity. His opponent, prosecutor Karen Brako, is a polarizing figure in the district attorney's office, with some of her colleagues calling her a model prosecutor and some dismissing her as lackadaisical. She has received mixed reviews from judges before whom she has practiced. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A jaguar cub that was allegedly sold for $30,000 by Trisha Denise Meyer, 40, of Houston. Ms Meyer is facing federal charges for alleged violations of both the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act (Compilation/U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California) Police are hunting for a Texas woman who sold a live jaguar cub to a California man, who then re-sold the cat to someone else who abandoned it outside an animal rescue centre. Trisha Mimi Denise Meyer, a 40-year-old self-described "exotic erotic zookeeper" based in Houston, was the first in a chain of owners that ultimately resulted in the jaguar cub's abandonment. The Justice Department has charged Ms Meyer with four counts of interstate transportation of an endangered species in the course of commercial activity, the interstate sale of an endangered species, trafficking prohibited wildlife species and trafficking endangered species. The charges represent violations of both the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act. Jaguars are a protected species under the former, and wildlife trafficking is prohibited under the latter. In the spring of 2021, Ms Meyer allegedly sold Abdul Rahman aka Manny Rahman, 34 a jaguar cub. Before selling the cub, she allegedly posted photos of herself on Instagram with the animal. She allegedly agreed to sell the cub for $30,000, plus an additional $1,000 to move the cat from Texas to California. Ms Meyer had previously sold Mr Rahman a monkey, but he was disappointed when the marmoset he received was not a baby and acted crazy, court records show. Mr Rahman kept the jaguar for two months before selling it for another $20,000 to another buyer, whom court documents only recognise as "H.G." According to investigators this individual purchased the cat but was persuaded to give it up after a friend pointed out he was going to have a large predator living in the house with his soon-to-be newborn child. The owner reportedly "planned to kill" the cat, investigators said, but the friend convinced him to turn it over to a sanctuary. The individual who raised concerns about the jaguar later removed it from the home with the help of his roommate and a large dog kennel. The men dropped the jaguar off outside an animal rescue just before 10pm on 17 September. They were spotted on surveillance video, which helped investigators track the men down for questioning. Story continues The jaguar is currently living at an animal sanctuary in Alpine, California called "Lions, Tigers, & Bears." Bobbi Brink, the founder and director of the organisation, shared her opinion on the cub's former owners with The Daily Beast. "These people are just idiots," she said. "And they don't care about the animals at all. It's all about the money." A jaguar cub federal investigators believe was sold by Trisha Denise Meyer, 40, of Houston. After the cub changed hands and began to grow it was eventually left at an animal sanctuary (US Fish and Wildlife Service) This isn't Ms Meyer's first encounter with law enforcement over exotic animals she has previously been arrested for allegedly housing three tigers and several "vicious" monkeys in a house she shared with her teenage daughter. She was charged with child endangerment, but took a plea deal the investigation began when she was accused of scamming a man out of $3,00 and avoided jail time after the case was deferred. The Houston Chronicle reported at the time that a game warden witnessed Ms Meyer's daughter "petting and making physical contact with the tigers and making contact with her." The monkeys living in the building had also reportedly attacked people in the past, police said. The US Fish and Wildlife Services first began investigating Ms Meyer after the jaguar was found abandoned at the animal sanctuary. Ms Brinks' staff members tracked down Instagram images of exotic "pet" owners posing with jaguars, which allowed her to compare the live cat's spots and whiskers to try to locate a match. Spot and whisker patterns are unique on individual jaguars and can be used by scientists when trying to definitively identify cats. They found photos of a cub that appeared to match the jaguar that had been left at the facility, but those images did not reveal who sold the cat and how it made it to California. Investigators were eventually able to link Ms Meyer and Mr Rahman after a woman who posted images of the jaguar on her TikTok spoke with police. She told investigators that she had been in a hotel room after a car show in April 2021 with Ms Meyer, Mr Rahman, and the jaguar cub. A screenshot of a social media post showing Trisha Denise Meyer, 40, holding a jaguar cub, which she is accused of selling off for $30,000 (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) The same woman saw Mr Rahman weeks later at another car show and saw Mr Rahman with the cub, noting that he "did not know how to take care of the jaguar and she gave him advice about how to care for and feed the jaguar." Mr Rahman is also facing charges relating to the jaguar. He has been charged with interstate transportation of an endangered species in the course of commercial activity, trafficking prohibited wildlife species, and trafficking endangered species. Ms Meyer is still on the run. If convicted, she could face up to eight years in federal prison and a $700,000 fine. Mr Rahman could face a maximum of seven years in federal prison and a $600,000 fine. (Bloomberg) -- European nations criticized Germanys 200 billion ($196 billion) aid package to shield consumers and businesses from gas price spikes, saying its a warning sign for the European Union to act quickly to address the crisis. Most Read from Bloomberg While the EU hashes out measures to try to lower soaring energy costs, countries are rolling out their own fixes to contain the crisis. Policies made at a national level threaten solidarity, risk distorting markets and disrupting cross-border flows of power and natural gas, according to the leaders of several EU countries who were meeting at a summit in Prague on Friday. We are definitely against any attempts to damage the European internal market and the damage is going to happen if the German government will be able to go-alone with exclusively subsidizing its companies, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters. Businesses in other nations will be at a big disadvantage, he said. The EU is trying to come to a consensus on a broad gas price cap at the meeting. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU needs to consider a temporary price limit in relation to the benchmark contract for gas, but EU leaders have yet to coalesce around any specific proposal, and many remain worried that any such step could threaten supplies to the region. Heated Talks Morawiecki said discussions in Prague will be heated. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stressed the need for better coordination on the type of aid for companies to keep a level playing field, while Slovakias Eduard Heger said that Europe cant survive without solidarity. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer described the German package as a wake-up call for the EUs executive arm. Story continues If the commission doesnt get on with things, the member states will take national actions, as we can see right now, he said. Energy supplies could prove to be a test for Europes solidarity this winter if rationing is needed. Germany and the UK have raised concerns about flows of electricity between countries petering out if its cold and theres not much wind. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that solidarity must be upheld. For me, its essential that we react as Europeans, that is to say, together, Macron said in an interview with Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny. Supplier Impact There are concerns that a price cap would make Europe less attractive to exporters of pipeline gas like Norway and liquefied natural gas from Asia. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said experts need to weigh in on how a price cap would affect the market, adding that we need to make sure this measure doesnt impact suppliers important for us such as Norway. The EU and Norway agreed earlier this week to discuss ways to limit price volatility, but gas-producing nations have been leery about countries pushing for a more formal price-cap mechanism. We have to know were not the only customers in the world, Xavier Bettel, Luxembourgs prime minister, said. So we have to be very careful about decisions that we take that sound good on paper but where consequences can be problematic. The bloc will be discussing possible ways to design a price cap over the next two weeks, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said, with leaders scheduled to meet again for a summit in Brussels on Oct. 20-21. Member states are now willing to discuss the price cap, said von der Leyen. The when and the how will be discussed so Im confident that we will come to a good conclusion. (Updates with a comment from the Polish premier in the third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- European leaders said Friday that US President Joe Bidens warning about Armageddon and Russias possible use of nuclear weapons shows the seriousness of the threat from Moscows escalation in Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told reporters that Vladimir Putins nuclear threats should be taken very seriously. If nuclear weapons are used, then this is a whole new level, she said. And nobody can win a nuclear war. This is very clear. And I understand those messages have been given to Putin and the Kremlin that you cant win this war. In recent days, US and other western officials have downplayed the imminent risk of a nuclear weapon being used, saying there were no indications that Moscow is preparing to use its arsenal. The Russian president has renewed his nuclear rhetoric as he announced the annexation of Ukrainian territory, but it echoes similar warnings he has issued since he invaded Ukraine in February. European Union leaders, meeting in Prague to discuss the war in Ukraine and the blocs energy crisis, were joined Friday via videoconference by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Bidens statement Thursday that even the use of small tactical nuclear weapons could lead to Armageddon suggests that Washington is worried that Putin could shift tactics as he continues to suffer embarrassing setbacks in Ukraine. Biden Says Putin Threats Real, Could Spark Nuclear Armageddon With Russian troops steadily losing ground to a Ukrainian counteroffensive, Putin has called up 300,000 reservists and vowed to use all the means at our disposal to defend his country, including the occupied parts of Ukraine that he recently annexed. Story continues The Russian president hasnt explicitly said that means nuclear weapons, but some of his lieutenants have called for employing tactical ones to send a signal of the Kremlins resolve. The smaller tactical ones would likely take some time to get ready and in position for deployment. In Putins Nuclear Brinksmanship, Weapons Leave Room For Warning Were trying to figure out what is Putins off-ramp? Where does he get off? Where does he find a way out? Biden said at a fundraiser in New York City. Where does he find himself in a position that he does not, not only lose face but lose significant power in Russia? EU leaders have remained united in support of Ukraine, even as Putins threats have unsettled member nations, particularly in the east. We really need to think there is a kernel of reason still left, that we will avoid nuclear war, said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran is the Republican nominee for an open Illinois Supreme Court seat. In November, Curran will face Democratic primary winner Elizabeth "Liz" Rochford for the 2nd Judicial District position. (Chicago Tribune and campaign photos) Abortion is on the Illinois ballot this November. As of now, we are a haven for women seeking abortions, but we are not a safe haven. Two Illinois Supreme Court races could change everything. I wish it werent so. I came of age when abortion was illegal and women who had abortions were treated as dirt. The thought of going back to those days makes me feel the anguish I experienced at 23. That summer, years before Roe v. Wade, my roommate almost hemorrhaged to death from an illegal abortion. She collapsed on the sidewalk near a major teaching hospital. Someone found her and got her into the emergency room, where doctors performed an emergency dilation and curettage. In the morning, a resident making his rounds called her trash and said she was lucky they bothered to save her. Advertisement Her near death and the residents contempt turned me into an abortion rights activist, a fundamental part of my 50 years of working for womens lives and voices. (My novels featuring the female Chicago detective V.I. Warshawski have helped transform the way women are written about in fiction.) I am one among millions who believe women are fully adult and fully capable of making their own health care decisions. We dont need a government, a religion or a Supreme Court justice in our bedrooms or doctors offices playing the role of daddy who knows better and calling us trash if we dont listen. Advertisement When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, I shared the anger many Americans felt. In the months since that decision, I have watched as nearly 20 states have enacted bans on all or most abortions. Providers in Illinois have been treating women from more than a thousand miles away. Which brings us to the Illinois Supreme Court races. Illinois Supreme Court justices are elected, and this November, seats from collar county 2nd and 3rd Judicial Districts are up. Mark Curran, running in the 2nd, and Michael Burke, running in the 3rd, enjoy the full support of Illinois Right to Life and other groups opposed to abortion rights and contraception. These groups want no abortion exceptions for women, even victims of rape or incest. They want no exceptions for children who have been raped and become pregnant. Burke and Curran have attended Right to Life events and celebrated their participation on social media. Curran rejoiced when the U.S. Supreme Court indicated that it would overturn Roe. I never thought I would see this day, he posted on Facebook in May following the leak of the draft opinion. This is why we voted for Trump. Illinois has a so-called trigger law on the books which would have made abortion illegal with the overturning of Roe. In 2017, the state enacted House Bill 40, blocking the trigger provision. But the Thomas More Society, a national legal group that often represents abortion rights opponents, has filed a lawsuit to overturn H.B. 40. Burke, who at one time professed an affiliation with the DuPage County Thomas More Society, and Curran claim they could be objective in hearing the lawsuit. We heard such promises of objectivity from President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominees. Fortunately, both Illinois Supreme Court districts have candidates who believe women should be able to make their own health care decisions: Elizabeth Rochford in the 2nd District and Mary Kay OBrien in the 3rd District. Like me, they came of age when women found it hard to have their voices heard in public. They know the value of womens voices and womens lives. Both are committed to the rule of law and to freedom from threats to imprison women, doctors and nurses for choosing to end a pregnancy. On the ballot, the Supreme Court openings are the final offices listed. If voters care about abortion access in Illinois, they can start by going to the end of the ballot. Choose Rochford in the 2nd District or OBrien in the 3rd District. At the Illinois Supreme Court, womens voices must be heard. Sara Paretsky is the author of more than 20 books, including novels featuring detective V.I. Warshawski. She lives in Chicago. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. (Bloomberg) -- European natural gas slumped to the lowest in over two months as traders weigh growing winter stockpiles and await more guidance from governments on potential price interventions. Benchmark futures lost 17% for the week, more than halving from August highs. Yet, overall energy costs for European consumers are still above historic norms, and leaders from the region continue to seek ways to ease the crisis and avoid blackouts during colder months. The European Unions executive arm is planning to prepare several different plans for how to cap prices by a summit later this month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday urged the bloc to cooperate with Asian nations to bring down gas costs, although he declined to elaborate on possible mechanisms. Read also: EU Gets Wake-Up Call as Energy Costs Threaten Solidarity Meanwhile, gas storage levels on the continent are now about 90%, higher than last year. Coupled with ample supplies of liquefied natural gas and lower consumption by industries, thats helped calm nerves for now. Demand destruction, additional LNG imports have normalized EU storage levels heading into the winter, Morgan Stanley said in a note. Dutch front-month gas, a European benchmark, plunged 11% on Friday to 156.21 euros a megawatt-hour, the lowest since July 21. The UK equivalent dropped 12%, also posting a weekly loss. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday said options that could be proposed to EU leaders include negotiating a corridor for decent prices with reliable suppliers, a measure to curb costs within the market overall and a way to limit the influence of gas in electricity prices. Yet, industry is concerned that price interventions may hinder both further demand destruction and supplies to Europe, at a time when it needs to replace flows that would ordinarily come from Russia. Prices are currently being set by the demand side, according to the European Federation of Energy Traders. Prices rise to a level where consumers self-interrupt, switch to alternative fuels, or invest in other energy saving measures, it said. Without this signal, consumption will be higher, and the shortfall will need to be resolved another way, e.g. mandatory curtailments. Story continues For now, LNG flows to Europe remain strong after prices surged well above rates in Asia, helping to divert cargoes and fill the gaps left by dwindling pipeline shipments from Russia. See also: Surging LNG Is Partial, Pricey Solution to Europe Gas Plight Still, some nations that used to rely heavily on energy ties with Moscow may struggle this winter. That includes the biggest economy, Germany, which is already preparing for a 20% cut in gas usage this heating season. Even so, rationing might only be avoided by hairs breadth, both this year and next, according to Deutsche Bank. Next winter might be even tougher as the LNG market will get tighter, according to Morgan Stanley, which boosted price forecasts for the super-chilled fuel for the second half of 2023 and 2024. We see a rising deficit next year, it said. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) A former University of Arizona graduate student arrested in the fatal shooting of a hydrology professor was being held without bond Friday after a judge ruled there was enough evidence to try him on charges of first degree murder and aggravated assault. An interim complaint in the case released Friday says Thomas Meixner, who headed the schools Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was shot four times on Wednesday afternoon. The shooting happened inside the Harshbarger Building, which houses the hydrology department. Meixner was pronounced dead at a hospital. According to the complaint, a second person, whose name was blacked out, was treated at the scene after being struck by a bullet fragment. The complaint signed by a judge late Thursday at Pima County Justice Court said there was reasonable cause to proceed in the case against 46-year-old Murad Dervish. In Arizona, charges are not filed until a preliminary hearing takes place, and there was no word on when that would happen. The Pima County Public Defenders Office confirmed it received the case but has not yet assigned an attorney who can speak on Dervishs behalf. Campus police said the shooting occurred after a female called 911 around 2 p.m. Wednesday asking for police to escort a former student from the Harshbarger Building. Officers were on their way when they received reports that a man had shot someone then fled. Campus alerts instructed people to avoid the area, which was under lockdown. Classes, activities and other campus events were canceled for the rest of the day. State troopers arrested Dervish a few hours later about 120 miles (190 kilometers) northwest of the Tucson campus. The complaint said officials found a 9mm handgun in the vehicle, along with ammunition consistent with the 11 casings found at the shooting scene. The relationship between Dervish and Meixner remains unclear, but the interim complaint said a flyer with a photograph of Dervish, a former graduate student, had been circulated to university staff in February with instructions to call 911 if he ever entered the building. It also said he was expelled and barred from being on University of Arizona property. Story continues Dervish has been the subject of several reports of harassment and threats to staff members working at Harshbarger, the complaint said. The university announced a candlelight vigil would be held in Meixners honor at 8 p.m. Friday on the Old Main veranda. University President Robert C. Robbins was among those scheduled to talk. Meixner was an expert on desert water issues. Faculty and former students described as a kind and brilliant colleague. This incident is a deep shock to our community, and it is a tragedy, Robbins said in a statement late Wednesday. Meixner earned a doctorate in hydrology and water resources from the university in 1999 and joined the faculty in 2005 before becoming the department head in 2019. Twenty years ago this month, a disgruntled University of Arizona nursing student shot and killed three nursing professors before taking his own life. BOSTON (AP) A former Massachusetts State Police lieutenant has avoided jail after admitting to his role in a widespread overtime abuse scandal that roiled the department and led to several reforms. David Keefe, 57, the former commander of the Weston barracks, was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation after pleading guilty to larceny and violating public employee standards of conduct, the state attorney generals office said in a statement Friday. Keefe was also ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution and complete 100 hours of community service. Keefe submitted fraudulent claims for more than 200 hours of overtime that he did not work in 2015 and 2016, prosecutors said. At the time, he was a supervisor in the now disbanded Troop E, which was responsible for traffic enforcement along the Massachusetts Turnpike. Dozens of active and retired troopers who worked for Troop E were implicated in the scheme in which they collected overtime pay for shifts they either did not work or did not complete, authorities said. In some cases, troopers issued falsified traffic tickets to make it appear as if they had been on duty. The scandal led to criminal charges against many troopers and several reforms at the agency, including GPS tracking in cruisers, increased supervisory oversight, regular time and attendance audits, and additional ethical training. Keefe, who has retired, was among three lieutenants indicted in the case. The other two have previously pleaded guilty. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Aditi Shah and Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian car makers have proposed cutting to 30% the tax rate on imported cars as part of a trade deal with Britain, sources told Reuters, an unprecedented move that could ease access to one of the world's most protected automobile markets. It is the first time Indian car makers have backed such cuts, caving to pressure from a government that wants them to give up their protectionist position and lower entry barriers, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Import taxes from 60% to 100% in the world's fourth-largest car market rank among the highest globally, drawing criticism from companies such as Tesla Inc, which shelved entry plans because of the high tariffs. Lobby group the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has written to the government backing phased cuts to 30% over five years, following a grace period of five years with none, three sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear if India had presented the offer to Britain in trade talks due to end soon, with the signing of a final deal expected by the end of the month. SIAM, which groups car makers from India's top-seller Maruti Suzuki, to major companies such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The commerce ministry, which is leading the trade talks, also did not respond. For years, Indian car makers have resisted tax cuts so as to protect their turf, while arguing that such a move would dry up investment in domestic manufacturing by making imports cheaper and easier for global automakers. While Britain has few car factories run by the likes of Nissan, BMW and Tata's Jaguar Land Rover, companies fear the move could set a precedent in negotiating deals with others like the European Union (EU), Japan or South Korea, the sources said. The shift in stance comes weeks after commerce minister Piyush Goyal firmly told senior executives of companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra that India needed to make some kind of offer to Britain on autos. Story continues "The message from Goyal was clear - if companies don't come up with a proposal on lowering taxes, the government will do it for them," said one person who attended an August meeting between the minister and company executives. Maruti, Tata and Mahindra did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the plan to cut tax rates to 30% over 10 years "is not enough", said a government source, while conceding that not reducing tax rates this time was "not an option". One of the sources said, "One view is to ease access for luxury cars sooner than other categories. The industry has no issues opening it up and lowering rates earlier." India's push comes in an effort to boost trade ties globally, that saw deals recently signed with Australia and the United Arab Emirates, so as to attract investment from companies seeking to diversify beyond China. High tax on imported cars was one of the deal breakers in previous EU trade talks that ended in 2013. India has resumed talks with the region, home to firms such as Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz that count India as a major growth market, and hopes to finalise a deal by the end of 2023. Some companies also worry that with large investments going into clean mobility, easy import of electric vehicles runs the risk of hurting local players, they added. "Everyone is acting on a lot of apprehension and few data points on what impact a duty cut can have," one of the sources said. (Reporting by Aditi Shah and Aftab Ahmed in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims that chewing the bark of the cashew tree will destroy snake venom, including the highly toxic bite from a black mamba. This is false: experts say only antivenoms can counteract the effects of a venomous snake bite and that herbal or other traditional remedies serve no purpose in neutralising the toxins. If you are a victim of snakes bites or poison, just look for a cashew tree, use your cutlass to get the bark of the cashew tree, and chew the bark of the tree (sic), reads a post published on September 26, 2022. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 2, 2022 Swallowing the juice secreted from chewing the bark will neutralize every poisonous substance, including the venom of a black mamba snake, it adds. Indigenous to southern and eastern Africa, the black mamba is considered one of the worlds deadliest snakes, with its bite capable of killing within hours. The post has been shared more than 13,000 times and was published by a Facebook account promoting traditional medicines. The same post is also circulating on WhatsApp and was posted elsewhere on Facebook here, here and here. A screenshot of the false claim circulating on WhatsApp, taken on October 3, 2022 Nigerias ministry of health said snakes kill about 2,000 people annually and that the country has limited availability of anti-snake venom, a vial of which can cost up to 55,000 naira (about $128), almost double the countrys minimum wage of 30,000 naira (about $70). The cost and limited supply of antivenom have created a gap being exploited by traditional medicine practitioners. But the claim that chewing the bark of cashew trees cures snake bites is false. Herbs do not work The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that in the event of a snake bite, traditional and herbal treatments should be avoided. Antivenoms remain the only specific treatment that can potentially prevent or reverse most of the effects of snakebite envenoming when administered early in an adequate therapeutic dose. Story continues Johan Marais, a snake bite expert at the African Snakebite Institute (ASI) in South Africa, told AFP Fact Check that the claim in the Facebook post is not true at all. He explained that while it is possible, for instance, to neutralise snake venom with petrol, it does not imply it should be injected into the body as a cure. So, to eat or chew cashew nuts or the bark of the tree does nothing to neutralise the venom of a snake, Marais said. Indigenous to southern and eastern Africa, the black mamba is considered one of the worlds deadliest snakes ( Eric PIERMONT/ AFP) Sulaiman Mohammed, the principal medical officer at the Snakebites Research and Treatment Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe state, told a Nigerian news agency earlier this year that herbs do not work. He said people should embrace orthodox treatment and get to a hospital as soon as possible to give themselves the best shot at recovery. Snake venom The toxin in snake bites varies based on the species or subspecies of snakes and falls into three categories, according to a blog post by the ASI. Snakes such as the black mamba mentioned in the claim have neurotoxic venom that affects the nervous system. Cytotoxic venom attacks the tissue and muscle cells at the site of the bite while haemotoxic venom impacts the bloods clotting mechanism. The World Health Organization (WHO) adds myotoxic venom to its list. Dangers include paralysis of breathing. Some snakes, however, produce venom containing more than one toxin. WHOs guidelines for treating snake bites identify two broad categories of anti-snake venoms monospecific and polyspecific antivenoms. Monospecific antivenoms should be used if the species of snake that causes the bite is known while polyspecific could be administered if the snake is unidentified. A screenshot shows WHO guide to initial dosage of some antivenoms for bites by African snakes, taken October 2, 2022 What is antivenom? University of Melbournes School of Biomedical Sciences explains that antivenoms are purified antibodies derived from animals in most cases horses that have been injected with non-harmful doses of snake venom. Over time, about nine months, the animals tolerance and antibodies build up as larger doses of venom are administered. These antibodies are harvested by taking blood from the animals and separating out the antibodies, which are then fragmented and purified by a series of digestion and processing steps, the universitys website says. When a patient receives an antidote, the binding sites on the antibody fragments bind to the venoms or venom components in the blood and effectively neutralise them. According to ASI, the production of antivenom takes many years because each serum is subjected to clinical trials. This makes its development expensive and accounts for the reason we only have antivenom for those snakes that have caused fatalities in the past. In South Africa, the antivenom exists for 10 snake species, including the black mamba. By Hyunjoo Jin and Chibuike Oguh (Reuters) -Elon Musk bought himself some time on Thursday, after a judge accepted the billionaire's request to halt a Twitter lawsuit to allow him to close his proposed $44 billion buyout of the social media company by Oct. 28. Now comes the big question: how will he pay for it? Musk said earlier this week he would buy Twitter for $54.20 per share, the price that was agreed in April, but included a condition that the closing of the deal be contingent on debt financing for the transaction coming through. Tesla shares fell more than 6% on Friday, heading for their worst weekly drop since March 2020, as investors worry Musk may dump more shares after Tesla announces its quarterly earnings on Oct. 19. WHAT IS HIS FINANCING PLAN? Musk has pledged to provide $46.5 billion in equity and debt financing for the acquisition, which covers the $44 billion price tag and closing costs. Banks, including Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Corp, committed to provide $13 billion of debt financing to support the deal. Experts say banks' commitments to the deal are firm and tight, limiting their ability to walk away from the contract despite prospect that they may face major losses. Twitter on Thursday cited one of the banks as saying that Musk had not communicated to them that he intends to close the transaction. Musk said that banks were "working cooperatively to fund the close" on or around Oct. 28. Musk's $33.5 billion equity commitment would include his 9.6% Twitter stake, which is worth $4 billion, and the $7.1 billion he secured from equity investors, including Oracle Corp co-founder Larry Ellison and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. That leaves Musk needing to secure an additional $22.4 billion of funds to cover the equity financing portion of the deal. HOW MUCH CASH DOES HE HAVE? Musk, 51, is the world's richest person with a net worth of $219 billion according to Forbes, but a large portion of his fortune is tied to his stakes in Tesla and Space X. Story continues According to a Reuters calculation, Musk has about $20 billion of cash after selling down part of his Tesla stake through multiple transactions in November and December last year and April and August this year. This means he would need to raise an additional $2 billion to $3 billion, even if the other equity and debt commitments are honored. HOW CAN HE FILL THE EQUITY SHORTFALL? He can either choose to sell down more of his stake in Tesla, or his stake in SpaceX. Other options include obtaining a loan from banks against the stocks, or getting more investors to contribute equity. If he hasn't filed a prearranged sales plan under the "Rule 10b5-1," he can't sell any Tesla stock now for weeks leading up to Oct 19, experts say. "He's kind of hamstrung. He's kind of stuck where he is right now until after their earnings are announced," Eric Talley, a professor at Columbia Law School, said. In August, Musk said he does not plan to sell down his stake in Tesla any further, but the latest U-turn from Musk has revived concerns over whether he will sell more of the electric-vehicle maker's stock to fund the deal. Musk owned 465 million Tesla shares worth $111 billion following its 3-for-1 stock split, according to Reuters' calculation. He has already borrowed heavily against a big portion of his Tesla stake. DOES HE HAVE ENOUGH EQUITY INVESTORS? Ellison is among a group of investors who have collectively promised to chip in $7.1 billion of financing for the deal. So far, no investors have publicly said they would back away from their commitments. Musk raised the possibility in a Tweet that equity partners might not come through with backing, when he explained why he needed to sell Tesla stocks in August. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco and Chibuike Oguh and Kyrstal Hu in New York; Editing by Anirban Sen, Sam Holmes and Nick Zieminski) ROME (AP) The back-to-back shipwrecks of migrant smuggling boats off Greece has once again put the spotlight on the dangers of the Mediterranean migration route, the risks migrants and refugees are willing to take and the political infighting that has thwarted a safe European response to people fleeing war, poverty and climate change. Here's a look at the migration situation across the Mediterranean Sea: WHAT HAPPENED TO TWO SMUGGLERS' BOATS OFF GREECE? Bodies floated amid splintered wreckage off a Greek island on Thursday as the death toll from separate sinkings of two migrant boats rose to 22, with about a dozen still missing. The vessels went down hundreds of miles apart, in one case prompting a dramatic overnight rescue effort as island residents and firefighters pulled shipwrecked migrants to safety up steep cliffs. The Greek shipwrecks came just days after Italy commemorated the ninth anniversary of one of the deadliest Mediterranean shipwrecks in recent memory, the Oct. 3, 2013 capsizing of a migrant ship off Lampedusa, Sicily, in which 368 people died. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANT ARRIVALS? So far this year, the International Organization of Migration has recorded around 109,000 irregular arrivals to the Mediterranean countries of Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta by land or sea. This has made immigration a hot political topic in those European Union nations. U.N. refugee officials note that overall numbers of migrants seeking to come to Europe this way has decreased over the years, to an average of around 120,000 annually. They call that a relatively manageable number, especially compared to the 7.4 million Ukrainians who have fled their homeland this year to escape Russias invasion, and were welcomed by European countries. Weve seen how quickly and how rapidly a response was mounted to deal with that situation in a very humane and commendable way, said Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency in Geneva. If we can see that happen very concretely in this situation, why cant it be applied for 120,000 people that are coming across to Europe on a yearly basis? Story continues Others see Europe's harsh response to Mediterranean migrants, who often come from Africa, and its welcoming of Slavic Ukrainian migrants as racist. HOW DANGEROUS IS THE MEDITERRANEAN? So far this year the IOM has reported 1,522 dead or missing migrants in the Mediterranean. Overall, the IOM says 24,871 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014, with the real number believed to be even higher given the number of shipwrecks that never get reported. The voyage toward Italy has been confirmed to be the most dangerous, said the ISMU foundation in Italy, which conducts research on migration trends. The Central Mediterranean migration route that takes migrants from Libya or Tunisia north to Europe is the deadliest known migration route in the world, accounting for more than half of the reported deaths in the Mediterranean that IOM has tracked since 2014. The route has Italy as its prime destination. WHAT ARE THE DEADLIEST KNOWN SMUGGLING SHIPWRECKS? On April 18, 2015, the Mediterraneans deadliest known shipwreck in living memory occurred when an overcrowded fishing boat collided 77 nautical miles off Libya with a freighter that was trying to come to its rescue. Only 28 people survived. At first it was feared the hull held the remains of 700 people. Forensic experts who set out to try to identify all the dead concluded in 2018 that there were originally 1,100 people on board. On Oct. 3, 2013, a trawler packed with more than 500 people, many from Eritrea and Ethiopia, caught fire and capsized within sight of an uninhabited islet off Italy's southern island of Lampedusa. Local fishermen rushed to try to help save lives. In the end, 155 survived and 368 people died. One week later, a shipwreck occurred on Oct 11, 2013, further out at sea, 60 miles south of Lampedusa in what has become known in Italy as the slaughter of children. In all, more than 260 people died, among them 60 children. The Italian newsweekly LEspresso in 2017 published the audio recordings of the migrants desperate calls for help and Italian and Maltese authorities seemingly delaying the rescue. WHAT ARE OTHER MEDITERRANEAN MIGRATION ROUTES TO EUROPE? The Western Mediterranean route is used by migrants seeking to reach Spain from Morocco or Algeria. The Eastern Mediterranean route, where the shipwrecks occurred this week off Greece, has traditionally been used by Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and other non-African migrants who flee first to Turkey and then try to reach Greece or other European destinations. Greece was a key transit point for hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees entering the EU in 2015-16, many fleeing wars in Iraq and Syria, though the numbers dropped sharply after the EU and Turkey reached a deal in 2016 to limit smugglers. Greece has since toughened its borders and built a steel wall along its land border with Turkey. Greece has also been accused by Turkey and some migration experts of pushing back migrants, a charge it denies. For its part, Greece says Turkey has failed to stop smugglers active on its shoreline and has been using migrants to apply political pressure to the whole European Union. HOW HAS MIGRATION DIVIDED THE EU'S 27 NATIONS? Mediterranean countries have for years complained that they have been left to bear the brunt of welcoming and processing migrants, and have long demanded other European countries step up and take them in. Poland, Hungary and other Eastern European nations refused an EU plan to share the burdens of carrying for the migrants. Human rights groups have condemned how the EU in recent years has outsourced migrant rescues to the Libyan coast guard, which brings the migrants back to horrific camps on land where many are beaten, raped and abused. Over the years, the routes have changed but not the tragedies, said the SantEgidio Community as it commemorated the 2013 Lampedusa anniversary this week. Working with other Christian groups, the Catholic charity has brought more than 5,000 refugees to Italy via humanitarian corridors and has called for more safe passages to be organized so migrants dont have to risk dangerous Mediterranean crossings with smugglers. ___ Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration. By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday greeting to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, congratulating him for "crushing the challenges and threats of the United States", the latest sign of deepening ties between the two pariah states. As Russia's isolation over its war in Ukraine has increased, it has seen increasing value in North Korea. For North Korea's part, relations with Russia haven't always been as warm as they were during the heady days of the Soviet Union, but now the country is reaping clear benefits from Moscow's need for friends. Here's how North Korea-Russia relations began, and how they are becoming closer: POLITICAL BACKING Communist North Korea was formed in the early days of the Cold War with the backing of the Soviet Union. North Korea later battled the South and its U.S. and United Nations allies to a stalemate in the 1950-1953 Korean War with extensive aid from China and the Soviet Union. North Korea was heavily reliant on Soviet aid for decades, and when the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s it helped spark a deadly famine in the North. Pyongyang's leaders have tended to use Beijing and Moscow to balance each other. Kim Jong Un initially had a relatively cold relationship with both countries, which both joined the United States in imposing strict sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear tests. But after his country's last nuclear test in 2017, Kim took steps to repair ties. In 2019 Kim and Putin met for the first time in a summit in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Since then, Russia has joined China in opposing new sanctions, vetoing a U.S.-led push in May and publicly splitting the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) for the first time since it started punishing Pyongyang in 2006. UKRAINE WAR SUPPORT North Korea has reciprocated with public support for Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine. It was one of the only countries to recognise the independence of breakaway Ukrainian regions, and this week it expressed support for Russia's proclaimed annexation of parts of Ukraine. Story continues "Moscows 'special military operation' in Ukraine has ushered in a new geopolitical reality in which the Kremlin and (North Korea) may become increasingly close, perhaps even to the point of resurrecting the quasi-alliance relationship that had existed during the Cold War," Artyom Lukin, a professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, wrote in a recent report for 38 North. It is notable that Pyongyang has begun using the new phrase "tactical and strategic collaboration" to describe its relationship with Russia, he added. The United States has said that Russia approached North Korea about buying millions of rounds of ammunition and other weapons to refill its stockpile depleted by the war. Both Russia and North Korea have denied that claim. ECONOMIC TIES The vast majority of North Korea's trade goes through China, but Russia is a potentially important partner as well, particularly for providing oil, experts said. Moscow has denied breaking U.N. sanctions, but Russian tankers have been accused of helping evade caps on exporting oil to North Korea and sanctions monitors have reported that labourers remained in Russia despite the ban. Trade and human contact between the two countries came to a nearly complete halt after the pandemic began and North Korea imposed strict border lockdowns, at one point forcing Russian diplomats to push themselves and their baggage on a rail handcart to return home. "There are reasons to believe at least some of the border restrictions on the North Korean side will start to be lifted soon," Lukin said, citing local government reports that train trade could soon be allowed. Russian officials have openly discussed working on political arrangements to employ 20,000 to 50,000 North Korean labours, despite U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban such arrangements. Russian officials and leaders in the breakaway regions in Ukraine have also discussed the possibility of having North Korean workers help rebuild those war-torn areas. (Reporting by Josh Smith. Editing by Gerry Doyle) Images on social media of African leaders taking bus rides to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 gave rise to false claims. One claim alleged coaches were reserved only for African dignitaries while other leaders like US President Joe Biden were afforded their own motorcade. This is false. AFP Fact Check debunks other misleading claims of selective treatment during the funeral service. A Nigerian Facebook page with more than 20,000 followers shared a picture of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa behind the wheel of a bus on September 19, 2022 -- the day of the queens grand state funeral in Londons Westminster Abbey. The post claimed that Mnangagwa had ferried African leaders to the ceremony. US presidents official car, The Beast was flown to London for US President Joe Bidens use while African Presidents were driven by a bus by Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to attend Queen Elizabeth IIs burial in London (sic), the post reads. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 6, 2022 ( Mary KULUNDU) The post also published other images, including of Biden and his wife Jill, the US presidents armoured vehicle, and African leaders on a bus being shuttled to the funeral service. A second Facebook post published on September 15, 2022, shared what appeared to be an official letter from Buckingham Palace purportedly rejecting Mnangagwas request to King Charles III to attend the queens funeral. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 6, 2022 His Majesty King Charles III has asked me to inform you that President Mnangagwas request cannot be granted as it would go against the restrictions including those of travel that the United Kingdom has in place with regards to many of the Zimbabwean Governmental leadership and those connected to them, the purported letter reads. Then, on September 20, 2022, a post published on the Nigerian Facebook group Biafran in Diaspora claimed that only African leaders attending the royal funeral at Westminster Abbey used buses while their European and American counterparts were given special recognition & arrived on a presidential convoy (sic). Story continues The page, which has more than 200,000 followers, is associated with the Nigerian separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra. Previous posts linked to the group have been debunked by AFP FactCheck (here and here). A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 6, 2022 The post included an image which showed some of the leaders inside a bus, including Kenyas President William Ruto and his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu. A similar Facebook post with more than 170 shares claimed most African presidents were not invited to the royal funeral at all. Those who did attend purportedly rode in a bus. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 6, 2022 Finally, this Facebook post shared an image of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, alleging that he was squeezed in a bus in London. The post shows Ramaphosa surrounded by people holding onto safety rails above them. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 6, 2022 The same claim was repeated on Facebook here. The various images caused an online stir, with many describing the claims as a show of disrespect. But, while some African leaders were indeed shuttled to the venues in coaches, the claims in these posts are false. Mnangagwa at the wheel? A reverse image search revealed the picture of Mnangagwa sitting in the drivers seat was taken three years ago when he commissioned government-acquired commuter buses for public transport. Local media published pictures of the event (see here and here). A screenshot of an article from a Zimbabwean news site with the image of Mnangagwa, taken on October 6, 2022 Mnangagwa, in fact, was not even at the queens funeral. The British embassy in Zimbabwe confirmed Mnangagwa was invited and the letter purportedly sent by Buckingham Palace was a hoax. The 80-year-old leader, however, did not attend because of other commitments. President Mnangagwa has been invited to attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Monday. The letter below is fake. pic.twitter.com/cGIGPzIpin UKinZimbabwe (@UKinZimbabwe) September 15, 2022 According to local media, he was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava (see here and here). Buses for African leaders only? Ahead of the funeral, AFP reported that heads of state from Commonwealth countries, including Africa with 21 member nations, were expected at the service. Owing to security concerns, dignitaries including those from European countries were shuttled in buses to the funeral (see here and here). AFP filmed French President Emmanuel Macron disembarking from one of the coaches. While Biden used an armoured convoy, other world leaders also arrived by their own means. They included Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and former UK leader Boris Johnson. Amid ongoing tensions, Britain opted to invite ambassadors instead of heads of state from some countries such as Iran, Nicaragua and North Korea. Russia and Belarus were among a small group of nations excluded altogether following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Other countries not invited were Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Old image of Ramaphosa Lastly, a reverse image search shows that the picture of Ramaphosa was taken inside a commuter train in South Africa three years ago. According to this local report which includes the image he was on a test ride aboard a new train unveiled by the Passenger Rail Association of SA (Prasa). Additionally, a Google search of the keywords Ramaphosa and Prasa train revealed this video of the South African leader inside the train. Ramaphosa attended the queens funeral and travelled in a bus. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty In case you didnt know, its Fat Bear Weekthe annual tournament that pits the brown bears of Katmai National Park against each other to see who gained the most weight over the year. You can vote for your favorite bear in a March Madness-style bracket where one is crowned the biggest bear of the bunch by the weeks end. Its a fun and cheeky project hosted by the U.S. National Parks Service and Explore.org, a multimedia organization best known for the live cams of wildlife like the Brooks Falls Brown Bears of Katmai National Park. While the stream enjoys a healthy and devoted following throughout the yearfolks who have created fan wikis, forums, and stan communities for individual bearsits viewer count balloons like its eponymous creatures when Fat Bear Week rolls around. And, as it turns out, its these very same viewers who can help keep the bears alive and thriving in a world thats rapidly endangering their ecosystems. We have thousands who watch the bear cams, especially right now with Fat Bear Week, Ed Miller, the co-founder of the BearID Project conservation group, told The Daily Beast. So we wondered if we could do two things. One is to provide people a site to learn who those bears are. And two, for the people that do know, how they can contribute back to this dataset that were collecting. The BearID Project team in the field at Knights Inlet in British Columbia, Canada. The BearID Project/Ed Miller Miller is the director and developer of BearID, an app that uses machine learning in order to build facial recognition software for individual bears. If theres a bear that pops onto the screen on the Katmai cam, theres a chance that BearID would be able to identify exactly which bear that is. Thats right: The surveillance state has come for Winnie the Pooh. The project was born out of twin interests that Miller and his co-founder Mary Nguyen shared: the rise of machine learning as an applied tool, and an obsession with the Katmai bear cam, which they describe as a guilty pleasure. At the same time, two researchersMelanie Clapham, a wildlife researcher at the University of Victoria, and Chris Darimont, a conservationist at the Raincoast Conservation Foundationwere searching for a way to use facial recognition to help identify bear populations. They knew that it had potential to help track and catalog the creatures as the moved about their ecosystems. This information is vital in the effort to help preserve their land and health in a world thats increasingly threatening to them. Story continues The four ended up meeting and collaborating via Wildlabs.net, an online forum that matches developers with wildlife researchersand so the BearID Project was born. The team went on to create the facial recognition app for bears, which they described in a paper published in November 2020 in the journal Ecology and Evolution. The idea is that if we can build a software that recognizes individual bears and use it on wildlife camera traps and even live streams like the Katmai bear cam, itll help researchers and conservationists better track the movements of bear populations. This gives them insight into the health of the creatures and their native ecosystems that they otherwise would never be able to attainor at least itd be much, much more difficult. The bear is the apex predator in most of the ecosystems where they live, so the abundance of them is a good indication of how healthy the ecosystem is, Miller explained. For example, Fat Bear Week is a great indicator of how healthy the ecosystem is in Katmai. The salmon are really a keystone species there so the bears come in and gain weight on the fish, which tells you how well they manage the fisheries there. The bears are an indicator that thats a healthy and thriving ecosystem. But, with so many other AI models, there are hurdles. The biggest one to overcome is part of the dataset used to actually train BearID. Human facial recognition software has the benefit of leveraging massive datasets that often include millions of images with hundreds of thousands of individuals. The images are often tagged, meaning they include information about who the individuals are. So somewhere there are big servers likely containing image data that links your face to you. With enough images of you, AI can start to generalizemeaning an image of your face doesnt need to be tagged in order for the model to know its you. They recognize your face already. Its downright Orwellian, but it does help lead to an accurate software. However, when it comes to bears, 1984 cant come soon enough. The papers authors write that the dataset they drew on for the original app consisted of some 4,000 images of bears with a little more than 130 individuals. Thats absolutely miniscule compared to human facial recognition models. I would say thats just enough to be valuable, but its far from what we can do with more, Miller said. As a result, BearID can only successfully identify a handful of individual bearswhich isnt the most ideal when youre trying to track a massive population of the species. Thats why the team is turning to a surprising source for help: bear cam stans. These folks, who watch these livestreams daily and already know what individual bears look like, can easily help identify and tag the images of the bearsthereby making the datasets stronger for BearID. So Miller and his team developed the Bear Cam Companion app, a website that allows users to log in and start identifying individual bears in different images provided from the webcam themselves. This camera trap is using BearID to identify the individual brown bear. The BearID Project/Ed Miller This is the human-in-the-loop method that they talk about in machine learning, Miller said. A lot of citizen scientists are interested in helping out and providing data for all this. Its just one of the methods were using to grow our dataset. As the Bear Cam Companion grows, the hope is that it can be integrated as part of camera traps and web cams like those on Explore.org, to start recognizing and cataloging individual bears and their population. With newer models, Miller said theyll also be able to adapt the process to other types of bears and even different species such as wolves who are coming into contact with human populations. This infusion of technology with conservation efforts isnt exactly new. Scientists have been exploring ways we can use AI to study wildlife populations for years. However, the BearID project does mark the first usage of facial recognition for bearsand could really help transform problematic tech (i.e. human facial recognition models) into helpful ones. As Fat Bear Week comes to a close, itll mark the de facto beginning of the bears hibernation period. So gone are the webcams and live streams for now. However, the BearID project and its companion app remain as a good reminder that one of the best ways to keep these creatures alive and thriving is to simply keep an eye on themwhich should be easy. After all, once the early-fall rolls around theyre certainly not hard to miss. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Aurora City Council is looking at an amendment to its ethics ordinance concerning donations solicited by city officials, either city workers at City Hall, above, or elected officials such as City Council members or the mayor. (City of Aurora / HANDOUT) The full Aurora City Council is set to discuss an amendment to its ethics ordinance to tighten how city officials solicit donations. The Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee recently passed the proposal to the full council, which will discuss it at the Oct. 18 Committee of the Whole meeting. Advertisement The new regulations are based on the idea that is important to have a record of donations solicited by city officials either city workers at City Hall, or elected officials such as aldermen or the mayor according to Richard Veenstra, Auroras corporation counsel, who drafted the legislation. The committee discussed the rules twice, with Veenstra this week presenting a new draft that incorporated some tweaks suggested by aldermen on the committee. Advertisement The proposal was prompted by an April 21 incident in which Ald. Edward Bugg, 9th Ward, while soliciting gift cards for a cleanup event in his ward at a local restaurant, began questioning workers there if the establishment had the proper license to allow diners to bring their own alcohol in, as was advertised in the restaurants window. That incident then prompted a confrontation between Mayor Richard Irvin and Bugg during a July 12 City Council meeting when Bugg questioned the restaurants application for a license to sell and serve liquor. At that meeting, the mayor cut off Buggs interaction with the restaurant manager, saying it was inappropriate, and accused Bugg of trying to shake the restaurant down on April 21 for the donations, as well as pretty much lying to police. Bugg denied those claims by the mayor, saying he was concerned that if the restaurant did not have the proper license and training for allowing liquor in the restaurant, something could happen. Irvin said he was going to propose legislation that would bring greater accountability in situations where city officials solicit donations in the citys name. Bugg had said he would welcome such legislation. That legislation is now making its way to the full City Council. It says that any official soliciting donations would have to do so in either a letter with the official city letterhead, or through an official city email account. The person making the solicitation would then have to give the donor a receipt when the donation is made, and the person would have to register both a copy of the original solicitation and the receipt with the city. That person also would have to note where the donation ended up and how it was used. Advertisement Changes made by the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee include making sure that while the initial solicitation is documented, and the final disposition of whatever was solicited, it is not necessary to include every piece of communication involving the donations. The changes made include clarifying when the new rules would kick in and when they would not. Veenstra said the new rules would not be in play if its an official event sponsored by the city, or if a private organization makes the solicitation and an alderman happens to be a member of that group. The mere fact your name is on the letterhead does not cause a violation, Veenstra said. slord@tribpub.com The claim: District Judge Aileen Cannon was fired U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has faced public scrutiny for issuing rulings favoring former President Donald Trump in his ongoing legal battle over the federal government search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in August. A viral Facebook post claims Cannon was recently fired from her position. "corrupt judge cannon cries out for mercy as she gets fired after account getting (sic)," reads the caption of a Sept. 30 video, which has been viewed more than 60,000 times. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks But the claim is baseless. The only way to remove a federal judge from office is through a congressional impeachment process, experts said. There's no evidence this process has taken place for Cannon. The four-minute video included in the post does not provide evidence to support the caption's claim. Rather, it discusses the legal challenges faced by Judge Raymond Dearie, who Cannon appointed as the special master to review the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago. USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment. Cannon remains in office Cannon was not dismissed from office, Chris Edelson, an assistant government professor at American University, told USA TODAY in an email. USA TODAY found no credible news reports about Cannon being removed. Her name is still listed on the Southern District of Florida's court website. District judges receive a lifetime appointment and may only be removed from office through an impeachment process outlined in the Constitution, Edelson said. The House of Representatives can impeach a judge by a majority vote on the articles of impeachment, a written statement of charges against an official. The Senate then holds a trial and can convict a judge through a two-thirds vote, upon which the judge would be removed from office, according to the Senate's website. Story continues No such congressional action has taken place against Cannon. Fact check: False claim about Chief Justice John Roberts circulates online "We can be reasonably assured that Judge Cannon has not been impeached in the last day or so," Frank Bowman, a criminal law expert at the University of Missouri, told USA TODAY. The impeachment and removal of federal judges is rare. Since 1803, the House of Representatives has only impeached 15 judges, of which the Senate has convicted eight, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The Southern District of Florida's court did not respond to USA TODAYs request for comment. PolitiFact debunked similar claims that Cannon was arrested and that she had lost her law license. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Cannon was fired. The only way to remove a federal judge is through an impeachment process. There is no evidence this process has taken place with Cannon. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim that US District Judge Aileen Cannon was fired KITTERY, Maine A social services hub, with numerous agencies stationed under one roof, is coming to town in an operation led by two well-known local nonprofit organizations. Fair Tide, the State Road agency that provides housing and social services to people experiencing homelessness, is teaming up with Footprints Food Pantry of Old Post Road to purchase the former Kittery Family Practice building at 22 Shapleigh Road. Mainspring will be the name for the new one-stop location planned to house Fair Tides operations and its low-cost thrift store, in addition to Footprints and York County Community Actions outreach and Women, Infants and Children programs. Fair Tide Executive Director Emily Flinkstrom, left, and Footprints Food Pantry Executive Director Megan Shapiro-Ross are working to bring their organizations to one location at 22 Shapleigh Road in Kittery, Maine, where a social services hub called Mainspring is planned, as seen Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The organizations anticipate being joined by municipal general assistance, local mental and behavioral health support and legal aid programs, as well as medical and dental health clinics, rounding out a roster of social support for citizens in need, all based in one building. Im excited to move things forward. After so many years of talking about and dreaming about it, the fact that it's now going to be reality is amazing, Fair Tide Executive Director Emily Flinkstrom said. We still have a long ways to go, but the excitement and motivation is there and the need for it is there. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Base looking to hire 1,200 more workers. Kittery wants to know where they'll park. In an announcement from Fair Tide and Footprints, its leaders described Mainspring: This strategic, collaborative model will provide individuals and families with easy access to all-encompassing services, offering a pathway out of poverty and, ultimately, strengthening the entire community. Using a $750,000 federal grant via York Countys designated American Rescue Plan Act funding, Fair Tide and Footprints now co-own the building after jointly purchasing the former family practice in late April. The two organizations are not merging. Not only will we be better able to serve our community members, but we will also be able to create a greater impact on our mission to eradicate food insecurity in homes throughout our community, said Megan Shapiro-Ross, Footprints Food Pantrys executive director. Story continues Former Kittery Family Practice building will be expanded Megan Shapiro-Ross, executive director of Footprints Food Pantry, left, and Emily Flinkstrom, executive director of Fair Tide, talk Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 about the space for Mainspring, a new social services hub coming to Kittery, Maine. Fair Tide and Footprints plan to renovate and expand the building on its east and west sides, Flinkstrom said, to accommodate the additional services planned. A total fundraising goal has not yet been established, but a public capital campaign to pay for construction is currently in the works. Fair Tide and Footprints hope to open the doors to Mainspring in August 2024, according to the nonprofits' leaders. Assisting Fair Tide and Footprints in the building expansion design process is ARQ Architects in Kittery. Well be able to get some more detailed numbers in terms of what construction is going to cost in the next several months, Flinkstrom said. The 7,258-square-foot Shapleigh Road building, built in 1986, was last assessed by the town at $721,800, town property records show. The challenges people face are often complex, and the Mainspring hub will allow people to access the resources and support they need under one roof, York County Community Action Executive Director Carter Friend said. We are very excited to be part of this important collaboration. Kittery Town Manager Kendra Amaral credited Fair Tide and Footprints for leading the way forward to ensure that all community members are served with compassion and dignity in a prepared statement. Dubbing it a resource hub, Amaral said Mainspring will be a beacon of hope, supporting community members in need with access to the programs, services, and resources vital to their health and wellbeing. The website for Mainspring states that the former Kittery Family Practice building was purchased by Fair Tide and Footprints because it is a highly visible location and easily accessible to town residents, as well those living in Eliot and surrounding municipalities. The nearly two-acre property is located near a pharmacy, as well as one of the main entrances to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and is in a traditionally more affordable area of Kittery. Information: mainspringcollective.org/ This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: KIttery ME: Fair Tide, Footprints, more coming to social services hub WASHINGTON (AP) Parents suing after being separated from their children at the U.S-Mexico border are pushing back against a Justice Department effort to require additional psychological evaluations to measure how much the U.S. policy traumatized them, court documents show. The effect of the Trump-era policy that was maligned as inhumane by political and religious leaders worldwide has been unusually well-documented, and its unfair to require parents to undergo another round of testing now, attorneys argue in court documents filed Thursday. One woman testified about sobbing as her 7-year-old daughter was taken from her for what turned out to be more than two months, court documents show. Thousands of children were separated from their parents; some have still not been reunited. The migrants seeking compensation have already undergone other evaluations, but the Justice Department said last month that testing from a government-chosen expert is necessary since the parents are alleging permanent mental and emotional injuries. Psychological evaluations from both sides are routine in emotional-damages claims, but the parents lawyers say the government has dragged out the process, adding that testing would be emotionally and logistically fraught, including taking off work and find childcare on low-wage salaries. The effects of the family separations have been thoroughly explored, including by government investigators who found children separated from their parents showed more fear, feelings of abandonment and post-traumatic stress symptoms. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said during his campaign that the policies were an outrage, a moral failing and a stain on our national character. Former President Donald Trump stopped the practice in June 2018 amid widespread condemnation, just days before a judge ordered an end to the program in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Parents studied by Physicians for Human Rights, a nonprofit collective of doctors that works to document human rights violations, exhibited suicidal thoughts and suffered a raft of problems including nightmares, depression, anxiety, panic, worry and difficulty sleeping. Story continues The Justice Department isnt asking for the children to be re-evaluated now, but is reserving the right to do so later if necessary. A judge will eventually decide, possibly within weeks, whether to require the new evaluations. The requests came in two cases filed by 11 families. Nearly two dozen similar cases are pending in other courts, and some have already submitted to government-requested psychiatric evaluations. In one southern Florida case, a father and child agreed to the same examination, one that federal attorneys say is well within what's considered appropriate. There is a separate legal effort to reunite other families, and there are still hundreds who have not been brought back together. The Biden administration has formed a task force that has reunited roughly 600 families. The two sides had been negotiating a settlement, but talks broke down after early proposal of $450,000 per person was reported and heavily criticized by Republicans. Trumps zero tolerance policy meant that any adult caught crossing the border illegally would be prosecuted for illegal entry. Because children cannot be jailed with their family members, families were separated and children were taken into custody by Health and Human Services, which manages unaccompanied children at the border. No system was created to reunite children with their families. Phil Paxson, 47, died after driving off a bridge while using GPS (Obituary at legay.com) A family is mourning the death of a 47-year-old father who drove off a bridge after being erroneously guided by his GPS. On the evening of 29 September, Phil Paxson had been driving home from his daughters ninth birthday in Hickory, North Carolina, when he lost his life, his mother-in-law Linda McPhoee Koeing said in a recent Facebook post. She said Paxson had been using a GPS to guide himself through dark and rainy weather, when he was sent down a bridge that dropped off into a river. The bridge, as WSOCTV reported on Monday, had been washed away in a storm several years ago and was not repaired because it was neither maintained by the state of North Carolina or the city of Hickory. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was also reported as saying that there were no barriers in place warning drivers about the sudden drop because vandals had removed the previous signs. Paxsons family have described his death as avoidable given the precautions they say could have been taken by local officials, with Ms Koeing writing on Facebook: It lacked any barriers or warning signs to prevent the death of a 47 year old father of two daughters. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. It was a totally preventable accident, she added. We are grieving his death. Phil Paxon, 47, died after driving off a bridge while using GPS (Obituary at legay.com) Paxsons wife, Alicia Paxson, told WSCOTV earlier this week: Seems like minimal action could have saved his life. Nobody wanted to take responsibility. I dont understand how over nine years this could be like this. Troopers told the station following the tragedy that Paxons vehicle, a 2020 Jeep Gladiator, was found at about 9.45am the morning after he drove off the bridge at 11pm. Breaking Hickory- a driver is dead after going off a closed bridge overnight. Friends say they found him this morning along 24th Street Place NE. The highway patrol says the road is not state maintained and there were no barriers. Watch channel 9 for updates. pic.twitter.com/VdsXioX4HA Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) October 1, 2022 The North Carolina Department of Transportation has been asked to place barriers on the bridge to warn drivers of the sudden drop in future, the local news station reported. Somebody should have put up some kind of barrier or barricades in this area. The developer, this is private property. It is not state maintained, said Highway Patrol Sgt Brian Black to WSCOTV. While it was unclear who was responsible for the bridge, Paxsons family have organised a GoFundMe to support funeral and other costs. Debbie Collier of Athens was found slain in the northeast Georgia mountains. The FBI has joined the investigation into the mysterious slaying of an Athens woman whose burned and nearly nude body was found a month ago in a mountain ravine of northeast Georgia. Habersham County Sheriffs investigators said the investigation is very complex in nature as they do not have suspects or a motive in the death of 59-year-old Debbie Collier, whose body was found Sept. 11. Habersham County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Murray Kogod speaks to media at a Sept. 30 news conference in Clarkesville. The FBI offered its help, sheriffs Chief Deputy Murray Kogod said Friday. They wanted to see if they could review the case to see if there is anyway to assist us, he said. Agents examined the case file on Thursday, he said. We are the lead agency but we always welcome our counterparts to assist us and we have received a lot of help from different agencies including the GBI, FBI and Athens-Clarke County, Kogod said. Previously: Habersham deputies call Debbie Collier's murder 'a very complex case' More: Mysterious death of Athens woman in mountains deepens Athens resident was reported missing on Sept. 10 Collier was reported missing on Sept. 10 by her husband Steve Collier and her daughter, Amanda Bearden. An Athens-Clarke police officer met with them at the Collier home on Rocky Drive in north Athens near Sandy Creek Park. The body was found the next day after investigators tracked her rented Chrysler van to a location just outside the city of Tallulah Falls in Habersham County by use of a satellite tracking service. The body was found in the woods, along with some items she had earlier purchased at a Family Dollar store in Clayton. Athens-Clarke police reports show the daughter told an officer that her mother sent her $2,285 through Venmo, an online money-sharing service. She also sent an ominous message saying in part that they are not going to let me go. Investigators believe the act of killing Collier was deliberate and personal, Kogod said at a new conference on Sept. 30. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: FBI reviewing mysterious death of Athens woman found slain in mountains President Joe Biden. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts A Wisconsin conservative group filed a suit against President Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness. Two days later, a federal judge dismissed the case and said the group lacked standing. But he said there was a chance another administration could reinstate loans forgiven under Biden. A conservative lawsuit against President Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness rose and fell in the span of two days. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty a conservative law firm filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association challenging Biden's $20,000 student-debt-relief plan. The group argued that the broad loan forgiveness had an "improper racial motive" by intentionally helping Black borrowers. It added that it violated the constitutional right of separation of powers by carrying out the relief without congressional approval. A federal judge struck the case down on Thursday. In a court filing, the judge wrote that the group lacked standing with their arguments and dismissed the case. But he did say: "A substantial question remains as to whether Plaintiff can demonstrate that it will suffer irreparable harm." "If, as Plaintiff alleges, the executive branch lacks all authority to void student debts in the manner proposed, Defendants' action may be void or voidable," the judge wrote. "If that is so, a future administration may not be bound by such actions and may seek to collect the purportedly forgiven debts." The judge was referring to the HEROES Act of 2003. Biden's administration says it has the authority to enact one-time relief under that act, which gives the education secretary the power to waive or modify student-loan balances in connection with a national emergency, like COVID-19. But the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and other conservative groups and lawmakers have said the debt cancellation is an overreach of that authority. Since the organization lacks standing, the issue of authority cannot be decided, the judge said, but "those seeking to take advantage of the program, however, may wish to consider this possibility before placing undue reliance on the benefits promised." Story continues This is the second major lawsuit a judge has struck down that's pushed back on Biden's debt relief. The first one, filed by an Indiana attorney who argued the relief would result in a higher tax bill, was dismissed because the administration clarified that borrowers could choose to opt out of the policy. Next week, a federal judge is expected to hear oral arguments on a lawsuit filed by six Republican-led states who say the loan forgiveness will hurt their states' tax revenues, along with operations of the student-loan company MOHELA in Missouri, where the suit was filed. That case may decide whether Biden's plan will be paused, and the judge already said that no student debt would be canceled before October 17. For now, the Education Department is telling borrowers to prepare for a student-loan-forgiveness application that will become available this month and that it will be "short and simple" and not require any uploading of documents to verify income. Read the original article on Business Insider The offer was music to the ears of the Evergreen Baptist Church. It felt like a miracle had happened, said Beverly Cruthirds, a longtime member of the church. Something that we really, really wanted had just been handed to us. A woman emailed the church, claiming to own a Yamaha Baby Grand Piano GC1, a model which retails for more than $25,000. The writer said she was moving from Little Rock to Texas, writing, I am settling for a home of lesser space, so Im hoping to give it out to someone who is a passionate lover of the instrument. The cost? Just $1,000 in shipping. It really seemed like a bargain, Cruthirds said. Like some sort of blessing. They thought it was a blessing, said Daniel Irwin, a spokesman for the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South. It was the answer to their prayers. Unfortunately, thats whats so sick about the scam. A quick Google search will highlight thousands of attempted piano scams across the United States, often featuring the Baby Grand Piano. Universities, music programs, and churches across the country are solicited to pay a small shipping price for an expensive musical instrument. You have to think, Wow. Is someone really going to give away a Baby Grand Piano? Irwin asked. I dont think this was random. I think they were targeted. He urged leaders of businesses, non-profits, and academic institutions to be wary of any unsolicited offers. We always say, If you dont initiate contact, dont engage, he warned. Thankfully, Evergreen Baptist Church leaders did their homework. After asking if the churchs piano expert could inspect the musical instrument, the owner stopped responding to leaders messages. Maybe she thought we didnt have the resources or we were naive in some way and would not dig deeper to make sure that it was a legitimate offer, Cruthirds said. Trust, but verify. Thats all I can say. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Story continues Trending stories: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to its newsletter. On the nine-hour drive from their home in Californias central valley to the Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles, Peter Vienna and his wife wondered what had happened to their son. They knew only that there had been a training accident. Their 22-year-old son, Christopher Gnem, was involved. Gnem had enlisted in the Navy three and a half years earlier. After training as a corpsman a medic hed embarked on a career path serving alongside Marine rifle teams. He chose to go ringside, Vienna says. He could have stayed stateside and just worked in hospitals. He didnt have to go on that training. A Marine holds the portrait of Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (Fleet Marine Force) Christopher Gnem during a memorial service at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 21, 2020. The service was held in remembrance of the eight Marines and one sailor who died in an assault amphibious vehicle mishap off the coast of San Clemente Island, California, July 30, 2020. (Cpl. Jennessa Davey/Marine Corps) They had been training near San Clemente Island, west of San Diego. Teams of Marines, along with Navy corpsmen, had practiced maneuvering amphibious assault vehicles ahead of an upcoming deployment. Gnems AAV, Vienna learned when he made it to Camp Pendleton, had taken on water. It eventually sank to the bottom of the ocean with eight men trapped inside. Gnem was among them. Vienna and his wife stayed at Camp Pendleton for several weeks while the Marine Corps confirmed their son had died inside the assault vehicle and wasnt missing at sea. Then the Corps brought in specialized equipment to recover the AAV and the bodies inside that rested nearly 400 feet below the oceans surface. At first, Vienna and his wife thought it was just a tragic accident. But then they began to hear rumors. We started hearing 40-year-old vehicles were supposed to have been taken offline years ago, Vienna says. We were starting to hear little bits and pieces of things that have come out. We knew that something was wrong, but we had no idea how deep it went. Vienna and his wife didnt learn the extent of the failures that led to Gnems death until seven months later, when the Navy released a report that found extensive deficiencies in training, equipment, readiness, protocols, and leadership led to the incident. The decades-old AAVs used that day were later found to have multiple mechanical deficiencies. There was no safety boat on scene. Gnem hadnt completed the basic swimming qualification that should have preceded training on the open ocean, and only two of the 13 people in his vehicle had fully completed the required underwater egress training. Story continues Ultimately, this tragic mishap was preventable, the general overseeing Marine Corps Forces Pacific wrote. Vienna and some other family members of Marines who died that day sued the maker of the assault vehicle. But Vienna cant sue the party he views as most responsible for his sons death: the United States Marine Corps. A 72-year-old legal principle known as the Feres doctrine shields the military and the government from lawsuits brought on behalf of service members injured in the course of their service. For decades, the doctrine has protected the military from lawsuits over things like training mishaps, medical malpractice, and sexual assault. Theres no civil liability. So theres no courts, theres no chance to go to court, theres no chance to be heard, Vienna says. Theres no real justice. Over the years, courts have upheld and expanded the Feres doctrine, even as service members and advocates say it prevents the military from having to take responsibility and make changes that could keep troops safer. But last month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the governments Feres defense in a civil lawsuit that alleged sexual assault, with a judge writing that the alleged assault could not further any conceivable military purpose. While the ruling can be appealed, it marks a departure from decades of courts doubling down on the Feres doctrine. Its the first time in a long time where the courts have taken a hard look at Feres and rolled it back and said that it needs to be limited in its scope, Dwight Stirling, the founder of the Center for Law and Military Policy and a law professor at the University of Southern California. Why, when you wear the uniform, do you get lesser rights in terms of getting to court than those who dont wear the uniform? Theres a risk of undermining discipline Lt. Rudolph Feres, the doctrines namesake, returned from World War II a hero. Hed parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and came home wearing three Bronze Stars. Two years later, he died when an early morning fire tore through the barracks at Pine Camp, now Fort Drum, in New York. The wives of the men who were killed sued the government for allowing their husbands to sleep in a barracks with a faulty heater. When the case was dismissed, Feres wife appealed to the Supreme Court. Around the same time, two other cases were working their way through the judicial system, both involving soldiers who had been victims of botched surgeries while in the Army. In one case, civilian surgeons pulled a 30-inch-long towel from inside a mans abdomen. The towel was stamped Medical Department U.S. Army. Both cases alleged that Army doctors had been negligent. In 1946, the Federal Tort Claims Act opened the door to lawsuits against the government in cases of negligence or wrongdoing. But the act exempted claims resulting from combat. Theres a risk of undermining command and control or discipline in the military if you allow folks to sue their commanders for bad decision-making, says Rachel VanLandingham, a law professor at Southwestern Law School and the president of the National Institute of Military Justice. In 1950, the Supreme Court combined the three lawsuits and issued a ruling extending that exemption to peacetime. Under the Feres doctrine, military members cannot bring a claim against the government or the military for wrongs incurred in the course of their military service. They created this exemption that any activity or negligence or cause of action that arises in the conduct of military activities or incident to service will be barred, VanLandingham says. And they didnt define incident to service. Retired U.S. Army Capt. Katie Blanchard speaks with a nurse before surgery Sept. 6, 2019 at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Blanchard was injured in a workplace violence incident that left third degree burns on her face, head, arms, neck, back and chest. (Tech. Sgt. Katherine Spessa/Air Force) That has led to a broad interpretation of the phrase. Over the decades, the Feres doctrine has protected the government against claims from soldiers exposed to nuclear testing and secret LSD experiments, as well as victims of medical malpractice and sexual assault. CPT Katie Blanchard has been unable to recover damages from the government after a co-worker doused her in gasoline and set her on fire in 2016 after she says she had detailed his threats against her to her command and asked to be separated from him. There has been one significant shift: Following years of lobbying, in 2019, Congress agreed to a change. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision allowing military members not to sue the government, but to file claims for injury or death as a result of medical malpractice by military doctors. The bill was called the Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act, after Stayskals stage IV lung cancer was misdiagnosed as pneumonia by doctors at Fort Bragg. By the time a civilian doctor found the cancer, it had spread to other organs. But advocates say the new process is bogged down with bureaucracy; almost no one including Stayskal himself has received a payout. Its not conceivable his duties required sexual assault In April of 2019, now-retired Col. Kathryn Spletstoser filed a complaint with the Air Force alleging that Gen. John Hyten, whom President Donald Trump had just nominated for vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sexually harassed and assaulted her while they worked together at U.S. Strategic Command. An Air Force investigation found insufficient evidence to charge Hyten but did not make a determination of guilt or innocence. Following the investigation, Spletstoser sued Hyten, who has denied the allegations. The government moved to dismiss the case based on Feres. But in October of 2020, the Central District Court of California ruled in favor of Spletstoser. In the lawsuit, Spletstoser describes an incident in which Hyten allegedly assaulted her while the two traveled together. The court held that the incident, which Spletstoser said occurred in a civilian hotel room while she tried to get ready for bed, could not be considered incident to military service. Regardless of whether General Hyten came to Plaintiffs hotel room under the pretense of work-related purposes, it is not conceivable that his military duties would require him to sexually assault Plaintiff, or that such an assault would advance any conceivable military objective, the court wrote. Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower courts decision. Hytens lawyers can still appeal to the Ninth Circuit for an en banc ruling, which means the entire bench would consider the case, rather than the three-judge panel that issued last months ruling, VanLandingham says. But the advocates for reforming Feres see the ruling as a critical milestone. The military is now the largest employer in the world, and Feres has essentially been treated as a complete bar to suing for service members, says Lindsey Knapp, the executive director of Combat Sexual Assault, which works to support military sexual assault survivors. I think this is a huge deal. Hytens lawyers may also appeal to the Supreme Court, although its unclear if the court would agree to hear it. If they dont, Spletstosers lawsuit can proceed. Even if the Supreme Court does accept the case, the ruling casts the governments position in an uncomfortable light, Knapp says. An assault amphibious vehicle assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit enters the well deck of the amphibious assault ship Wasp on Jan. 14, 2019. (MCS3 Sean Galbreath/Navy) The military argued that sexual assault was essentially a part of your military service, Knapp says. Last year, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a Jane Doe who sued West Point and its leadership for creating an environment that permitted her sexual assault when she was a cadet. The Second Circuit held that her claims were barred by Feres, and the Supreme Court let that decision stand. But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissent arguing it was time for the highest court to revisit Feres. Under our precedent, if two Pentagon employees one civilian and one a servicemember are hit by a bus in the Pentagon parking lot and sue, it may be that only the civilian would have a chance to litigate his claim on the merits, Thomas wrote. Feres was wrongly decided. Knapp is recruiting lawyers willing to bring similar cases in the Ninth Circuit and elsewhere to try to turn the legal tide. But she and others believe that if Feres is to be overturned or rolled back, the clearest recourse is not through the courts, but through Congress, as was the case with medical malpractice. A Marine with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts evacuation procedures out of a Modular Amphibious Egress Trainer during underwater egress training at the water survival training center aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 24, 2015. (Cpl. Joshua W. Brown/Marine Corps) The ultimate way to end the Feres doctrine is by an act of Congress, Stirling says. He sees the governments argument that Spletstosers alleged assault was part of her service as an opportunity to shed light on how the doctrine has been used. The hope is that with more attention on Feres and the harm it does, especially in the realm of sexual assault, that Congress will kind of reconsider why we have this doctrine and the harm it does to our service members. The recent court ruling doesnt directly help the families of Marines who died at Camp Pendleton in 2020. Stirling had to break the news to Vienna and others. They were kind of heartbroken, he says. But Vienna says any ruling that calls attention to the doctrine he sees as preventing him from pursuing justice for his son is important. Theres no accountability in the military because of this protection, he says, but the ruling is a chip in the armor. This War Horse feature was reported by Sonner Kehrt, edited by Kelly Kennedy, fact-checked by Ben Kalin, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Headlines are by Abbie Bennett. Sonner Kehrt is an investigative reporter at The War Horse, where she covers the military and climate change, misinformation, and gender. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED magazine, Inside Climate News, The Verge, and other publications. EVANSTON, Ill. A storm system moving through the Midwest with gusty winds and rain produced rough conditions along Lake Michigan, likely contributing to boats capsizing Thursday evening, north of Chicago. The Evanston Fire Department said they responded around 5 p.m. to the lakeshore and immediately went into water rescue response, utilizing marine and jet ski units. Initial reports from the scene indicate first responders encountered five overturned boats and helped at least eight people from the water. Firefighters said boaters encountered "a sudden change in weather and lake conditions," but all have been rescued and accounted for. COAST GUARD WARNS ABOUT THE DEADLY TRUTHS OF WINTER BOATING Water temperatures were reported to be in the lower 60s, and National Weather Service alerts were in effect warning about the dangerous conditions. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for nearshore waters, and a Gale Warning was in place for areas well off the coast. The NWS warned of winds greater than 30 mph and waves of 10 to 13 feet. Forecasters advised inexperienced mariners and boaters operating smaller vessels to avoid the lake until the hazardous conditions subside. THOUSANDS OF RARE ICE FORMATIONS COVER CANADIAN LAKE Evanston, IL weather conditions The rough boating conditions are expected to remain throughout the weekend, with gusts of at least 20 mph. The cold front that is partly responsible for the rough conditions will also help to usher in some of the coldest air of the season. Some areas of the northern Great Lakes could see a mixture of lake-effect rain and snow as temperatures reach the 30s. The Evanston Fire Department said its crews regularly train for lake rescue situations and recently held exercises responding to stranded boaters and swimmers. A group of five Springfield residents were indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of allegedly defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program. The program was designed to help small businesses cover COVID-19-related expenses. Sean Jackson, 32; Richard Lawuary, Charles Walker III and Shawntelle Lynn, all 31; and Randi Lewis, 34, were each charged with two counts of wire fraud alleging they defrauded lenders authorized to provide PPP loans, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois. Each allegedly submitted false information to various lenders, who in turn provided them with money based on that information. More:Sangamon County state's attorney, sheriff file lawsuit against Illinois According to the indictments, Lewis applied for two loans in March and April, 2021, saying she was the operator of a copy shop. The lender, Harvest Small Business Finance LLC, provided her with two payments of $20,833 each, adding up to $41,666, which she used on expenses not allowed through PPP. Walker, according to the indictments, applied for his loan in April, 2021, saying he worked in the insurance business. Cross River Bank of New Jersey was his lender, providing him with $19,050 that he used on prohibited expenses. He was out on bond for unrelated federal charges at the time of the loan request. Lynn, according to the indictments, applied for her loan in April and May, 2021, saying that she owned a women's and children's clothing business. Her lender, Miami-based Benworth Capital, provided her with $20,833 used for prohibited expenses. Like Walker, Lynn was also out on bond for unrelated federal charges. Jackson applied for his loan in June, 2021, saying he ran a barbershop, according to the indictments. Harvest was his lender, providing him with $20,833 that he used on prohibited expenses. According to the indictments, Lawuary also applied for his loan in June and like Jackson, claimed he had a barbershop. Harvest lent him $20,833 that was used on prohibited expenses. Story continues More:Here's how to watch Pritzker, Bailey face off in their first Illinois governor debate Each has been ordered to appear in federal court for individual arraignment hearings. Walker is set to appear in court Oct. 21 via video conference. Jackson, Lawuary, Lewis and Lynn are each set to appear Oct. 31. The charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison with three years of supervised release and restitution. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Five Springfield residents accused of defrauding PPP China-funded conservatory in Lebanon to be center of attraction in Mideast: Lebanese PM Xinhua) 11:15, October 07, 2022 Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (3rd L) looks at the model of China-funded National Higher Conservatory of Music during his visit to the construction site of the conservatory in Dbayeh, near Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 6, 2022. The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. "It wouldn't have been possible to build this artistic and cultural beacon if it wasn't for the cooperation between the Chinese and Lebanese governments," Mikati told Xinhua while he visited the conservatory to check the completion of the project's first phase. Mikati thanked the Chinese government for constructing the "icon building," stressing that "China has made this dream come true." The prime minister said he hopes Lebanon cooperates with China on a bigger scale. "The Chinese government expressed its readiness to support Lebanon in all fields," he noted, adding that Lebanon will soon receive support from China in the field of solar energy. For his part, Qian Minjian, the Chinese ambassador to Lebanon, said this project, which will be completed in a year and a half, will allow the Lebanese people "to have access to a professional place to enjoy great performances." "This project will be a symbol of the friendship between Lebanon and China to strengthen ties between the two peoples, and a successful example of joint work under the Belt and Road Initiative," Qian said. The ambassador reiterated China's readiness to continue supporting Lebanon on all levels. Meanwhile, Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said Mikati's visit to the conservatory conveys the message that Lebanon is keen to preserve its cultural identity while working on restoring its cultural role. He added that the China-funded conservatory will play a tremendous role by attracting people eager to learn music from around the world. The conservatory began its construction in December 2020 and will take three years to finish. With an expected cost of 62 million U.S. dollars, the conservatory covers an area of 39,000 square meters. It features teaching rooms, a library, lecture and auditorium halls, and a theater that can host up to 1,200 people. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada and the Chinese ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian visit the construction site of the China-funded National Higher Conservatory of Music in Dbayeh, near Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 6, 2022. The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) The Academic and Professional Center at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove will be the site for the school's College Night event set to run from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News) Waubonsee Community College will host College Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Academic and Professional Center on its Sugar Grove campus. Waubonsees annual College Night is a free event designed for students, parents and community residents to get as much information as possible about choosing a college, event organizers said. Advertisement There will be representatives at the event from more than 100 public and private colleges and universities from across the country to answer questions in-person, according to a press release about College Night. There will also be informational presentations on topics such as choosing a college, choosing a major, financial aid and how to transfer from Waubonsee Community College to complete a bachelors degree at a four-year institution. Attendees will also have the opportunity to receive a tour of the Sugar Grove campus, according to the release. Advertisement For more information about College Night and to RSVP for the campus tour, go to waubonsee.edu/collegenight. Marmion in Aurora to hold open houses Marmion Academy, a Catholic college preparatory high school for young men at 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora, will be hosting two open houses coming up for boys in fifth through eighth grade and their families. The first will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19. The second open house is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 6. Both open houses will showcase the school and prospective students will have the chance to meet members of the administration, faculty and current students prior to and at the conclusion of guided tours. To RSVP or learn more about the open houses, go to www.marmion.org/openhouse. All who register in advance online will be entered to win a Marmion tuition voucher worth $500. For more information on Marmion Academy, go to www.marmion.org. Rummage and bake sale set in Yorkville A rummage and bake sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ, 409 Center Parkway in Yorkville. The wearing of masks is encouraged as this event may be crowded, organizers said. Advertisement A selection of household goods, toys, books, clothing for all ages, furniture, tools, holiday decor, collectibles, jewelry and more will be available, according to organizers. This semi-annual event is a longtime tradition at the church. Ladies in the churchs circle began hosting rummage sales over 40 years ago in the building now housing Chapel on the Green. Proceeds from the sale will support church programs, ministries and building needs, as well as charitable organizations that help people in the Yorkville area and beyond, according to a press release about the event. For information, call the church office at 630-553-7308. Kane Forest Preserve District plans fall hike A Kane County Forest Preserve District naturalist will lead a fall hike Oct. 30 where participants will learn about different native tree species and the changes they undergo at this time of year, as well as explore the strategies local animals use to prepare for the chilly temperatures ahead. The all-ages autumn hike will go from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve at 37W700 Dean St. in St. Charles. Advance registration is required for the free program. To register, call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com. Advertisement For more information on upcoming Kane County Forest Preserve District programs, go to www.kaneforest.com or find the district on social media by searching @forestpreserve. The Calgary Flames have locked up defenseman MacKenzie Weegar long-term. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) One of the principal players from the Jonathan Huberdeau-Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster will be remaining in Calgary for the next decade. MacKenzie Weegar signed an eight-year, $50-million extension with the Calgary Flames on Friday. The extension is slated to begin in the 2023-24 season, while he plays out the final year of his existing contract with a cap hit of $3.25 million. The 28-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, notching six goals and 44 points in 80 games last season. Weegar is an outstanding skater and his mobility has allowed him to blossom quietly into one of the NHLs premier defensemen. As a member of the Panthers, Weegar was paired with Aaron Ekblad and they emerged as one of the leagues most dominant duos, significantly outchancing and outscoring their opponents, while primarily being situated initially in their own defensive zone. Its unlikely Weegar will be considered one of the NHLs most underrated players for long. Hes a right-shot defender in the prime of his career, he can walk the line on the power play, and can provide surplus value to a Flames team that should, no pun intended, light teams on fire this year. Calgary underwent a significant overhaul, highlighted by the acquisitions of Weegar and Huberdeau, and the signing of Nazem Kadri, who is coming off a career year that culminated in a Stanley Cup victory. Huberdeau agreed to an eight-year, $84-million deal in August. Tkachuk is in sunny Florida while Johnny Gaudreau is the new face of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Brad Treliving is making a calculated bet that his new stars will not only keep the Flames in contention, but vault them over the Avalanche for Western Conference supremacy. Its a smart bet on a player who is an asset in the modern NHL. Calgary can rest easy now and with Weegar locked up for the next decade, it would appear initially that it won the defining trade of the summer. More from Yahoo Sports Employees trim marijuana leaves at a farm in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. In June, Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize domestically produced pot. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Many hours from Bangkok, down a winding road dotted with ornate wooden spirit houses, past fields of drooping tapioca plants and across a bridge over the inky green River Khwae, a white-paneled building sits in a clearing. Painted on one side is a graffiti-style mural: Snoop Dogg smoking a joint. If all goes to plan, the rapper from Long Beach wont be the only connection to California on this patch of wilderness one of Thailand's largest legal cannabis farms. The owners are awaiting approval to import seeds from the Humboldt Seed Co. to crossbreed Thai and Californian marijuana. A mural depicting Long Beach rapper Snoop Dogg smoking marijuana covers the wall of a clubhouse at a pot farm in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) We had to have Snoop, said Ditwarin Kitchalong, 38, a supervisor at the facility. Everyone knows hes the godfather of cannabis. "This is a dream job," he added during a tour of the farm from a restored World War II-era Jeep. "I wish I could smoke all day, but we're just too busy." Thailand is barreling toward a future in which it could surge past Amsterdam and parts of the United States as a global destination for both cannabis cultivation and consumption. In June, the government legalized domestically produced pot a first in Asia igniting a green rush thats seduced farmers, corporations and seemingly everyone in between. No business idea is too far-fetched. Care for a cannabis-infused bubble tea or a cannabis spa treatment? Looking for a vending machine offering the latest CBD spray? Thailand has you covered. Customers gather outside House of Chronic, a marijuana dispensary in Bangkok. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Marijuana dispensaries line a street in Bangkok's Asoke neighborhood. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) But from Bangkok to the tourism enclave of Phuket, there is also the unmistakable whiff of the world's largest legal weed market: California. Restrictions on imported weed haven't stopped dispensaries from touting strains smuggled from California, including Tahoe Cookies, Gary Payton and Skittles. Alchemi Botanics, a small dispensary in downtown Bangkok, charges about $65 for an eighth of an ounce of what it calls The OG and describes as a Homage to L.A. Before, wed only get Thai strains, said Prin Supasinsathit, 30, who recently launched a bong cleaning solution brand with the help of his scientist mother. Now its coming in from California and Amsterdam. I live in a four-story house and I can smell that Cali Kush from the ground floor. Story continues That Thailand is now awash in U.S. weed is an irony not lost on those working in the industry. Washington has spent billions over decades trying to prevent drugs from entering the United States a global campaign that once precipitated the invasion of Panama in 1989. Its an interesting role reversal, to say the least, said Colin Stevens, 41, a longtime American expatriate in Bangkok who operates a dispensary called Sensii. The U.S. has always acted high and mighty about drugs, but I dont see them doing anything to stop it from coming to Thailand. American expatriate Colin Stevens owns Sensii, a marijuana dispensary in Bangkok's Asoke neighborhood. "The U.S. has always acted high and mighty about drugs," Stevens said, "but I don't see them doing anything to stop it from coming to Thailand." (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) A spokesperson for California's Department of Cannabis Control said sending cannabis including seeds and other genetic material abroad is prohibited by federal law. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration did not respond to a request for comment. For many Thais and longtime residents, the sudden proliferation of dispensaries, weed cafes and open drug use is difficult to square with the not-too-distant past. Thailand used to execute drug traffickers a punishment still used by several countries in the region even as it served as a major transit hub for narcotics. In one notable crackdown that started in 2003 and lasted almost three years, the government led a war on drugs that resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings . Things began to change in 2018, when Anutin Charnvirakul, the head of the populist Bhumjaithai Party and Thailand's current health minister, began touting marijuana for medical use. He saw cannabis as a potential cash crop, and his decision to champion it was an attempt to win votes in his agricultural political base in the country's northeast. Naviya, the 22-year-old owner of a marijuana stand on Khaosan Road in Bangkok, prepares a joint for tourists. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) That year on Christmas Day, with a vote by the legislature, Thailand became the first country in the region to allow medical pot. It was all part of a strategy one pioneered in California to eventually achieve broader legalization. In 2019, Anutin's party won enough seats in the legislature to push the ruling coalition toward that goal. Foreign cannabis companies poured into Thailand to do due diligence, exploring ways their expertise in cannabis extraction, testing or production could be licensed in the nation of 70 million. When the legislature finally decriminalized pot this year, Anutin and the government launched a campaign to distribute a million free cannabis plants to households around the country. Thailand wasn't prepared for the sudden shift. Its the Wild West, said Lawrence Chaney, a Bangkok-based American lawyer who has been advising businesses in the industry. There are no rules, so its pretty much a free-for-all. Choco Gonzales, owner of the House of Chronic marijuana dispensary in Bangkok, smokes a joint. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Thai cannabis companies operate in a legal no man's land where recreational usage is neither explicitly permitted nor prohibited. Authorities have sometimes made up rules on the fly. One day in late July, dispensary owners woke up to news that the government would arrest anyone selling pot without a license despite the fact that no licenses had ever been issued. The order was quickly reversed. Many in the industry favor regulation, seeing it as a way to separate the serious players from those looking to make a quick buck, and to reassure potential investors. Rules on pesticides, labeling and even labor can help place the industry on a more sustainable path and also prevent many of the ills marring the business in California. We dont want to see those problems here, said Thomas Ansusinha, co-founder and chief executive of Vertical High Farms, which operates indoor growing facilities just outside Bangkok. Thomas Ansusinha, co-founder and chief executive of Vertical High Farms, walks through an indoor grow space at the facilities just outside Bangkok. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) The former data analyst envisions his company and Thailand developing into a hub for cannabis-related research and development, and setting the standard for medicinal and recreational marijuana. The goal is to have our product recognized for being the highest quality, Ansusinha said at a recent industry party on a rooftop terrace where attendees competed in a lightning round of bong hits, exhaling plumes of smoke into the night. Though polls show the majority of Thais support legalization, significant numbers fear it will lead to wider drug abuse and endanger the nations youth. It was on those grounds last month that opposition lawmakers called for cannabis to be re-criminalized and rejected legislation sponsored by Bhumjaithai designed to provide the industry with the regulations and guidelines it currently lacks. Marijuana vendors wait to approach tourists on Khaosan Road in Bangkok. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Despite the pressure, few believe Thailand will reverse course with the current government not now with the country's elite diving into the industry. The auditing company Deloitte Thailand found that some of the nations largest companies have already made moves to join the green rush. One executive at a medical marijuana company said Thai students with cannabis growing know-how were being lured back from California and Europe. And several industry professionals said Cookies, a San Francisco-based cannabis brand founded by rapper Berner, has made a bid to open a dispensary. (A representative for Cookies did not respond to requests for comment). Cannabis is expected to generate anywhere from a few hundred million dollars a year to several billion depending on whom you ask. Unlike in the United States, there are no federal laws preventing banks or other financial institutions from working with pot firms. Thailand has a long tradition of growing the plant, particularly in the fertile northeast, home to the famously potent Thai Stick, a strain relished by American GIs stationed in Asia. The strain would later be smuggled into the U.S. in the 1970s by various surfers, hippies and military veterans, according to the 2015 book by Peter Maguire and Mike Ritter called Thai Stick. A Thai strain of marijuana is grown at a 150-acre farm owned by Wisan Potprasat in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) That may be fine for average pot smokers, many of whom are foreign tourists looking to enhance their beach vacations and dining experiences. Thai street food, they're learning, is a fine remedy for the munchies. But demand for high-quality cannabis is growing, and there is simply not enough domestic cultivation to meet it. Thats why dispensaries and cultivators are relying on foreign sources of marijuana. Not that California is always sending its best weed. Product thats locally produced are not high-quality, said Stevens, the owner of the Sensii dispensary. But the stuff from the U.S. is not A-class either. Its C-class. Its often too dry or vacuum sealed for so long it becomes dense like a rock. Theyre sending the stuff they cant sell. Wisan Potprasat is hoping to merge traditional Thai strains with the latest Californian strains. The 51-year-old civil engineer nicknamed the Cannaboss heads the sprawling grow site near Myanmar where Snoop Dogg's visage covers the side of the clubhouse building, where visitors can eat, drink and get high. Wisan Potprasat, a civil engineer, stands amid plants at his pot farm in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. He is hoping to merge traditional Thai marijuana strains with the latest Californian strains. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Outfitted with a 20-foot-tall marijuana leaf sculpture and a helipad for VIPs, the site conjures a sort of stoner Area 51. Plans are afoot for a music festival in November to establish the site as a cannabis tourism destination. Wisan named it the River Kwae Herbal Therapeutic Center to emphasize the medical potential of cannabis. The group also operates a wellness center several miles away where visitors can receive a massage with cannabis-infused oil and purchase cannabis body lotion, cannabis soap, cannabis mosquito repellent, cannabis rash cream and Thai "420" whiskey. A marijuana plant sculpture sits in the middle of a roundabout at Wisan Potprasat's pot farm. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) It was in July at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin that Wisan met representatives of the Humboldt Seed Co., an award-winning breeder located in the heart of Northern Californias largest cannabis-growing region, the Emerald Triangle. Wisan told them about his 150-acre farm how it was outfitted with dozens of air-conditioned grow houses and how he had a license to cultivate hundreds of thousands of plants. What he needed was the best plant genetics to breed homegrown Thai cannabis. The Humboldt executives agreed to help, explaining that the only way to export seeds legally was through a subsidiary in Canada. There may be something that just does incredibly well in Thailand that just so happened to be developed in Humboldt or the Bay Area, Nathaniel Pennington, founder of the 21-year-old California company, said while pondering the possibilities. Theres no reason why Californian cannabis cant be recognized or as successful as other exports like Californian wine. Wisan is now waiting for an import license from the government, counting the days before he can start planting Californian roots into the red clay Thai soil. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) said in an interview aired on Friday that shes very concerned about diminished enthusiasm among voters in Georgia. Just as a voter, I can tell you I am very concerned at the lack of enthusiasm in our state right now. Of course with my position as senior adviser to the president for public engagement, I have to be very careful in what I say about political affairs, the Biden official said on Joe Madison, The Black Eagle. But I can tell you I dont feel and see the enthusiasm that I think voters across Georgia should have right now. And I know that oftentimes in midterm elections, people dont turn out to vote. I hope that wont be the case this year in Georgia. The former Atlanta mayors comments come just one month out from the midterms where Georgia will play a decisive role in whether Republicans flip the Senate this cycle and if Gov. Brian Kemp (R) can win a rematch against Democrat Stacey Abrams. The Georgia Secretary of States office suggested in May ahead of the primary that voters were enthused and turning out in record numbers. A press release from May 21 said the office saw a 168 percent increase over the 2018, the last gubernatorial primary and a 212 percent jump above 2020, the last presidential primary year in early voting this year alone. Recent polling shows the race between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Republican Herschel Walker polling within the margin of error, while Kemp is shown to be polling ahead of Abrams. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the Georgia Senate race a toss up and the Georgia gubernatorial race lean Republican. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NextShark A 47-year-old Thai man is in critical condition after two Frenchmen assaulted him in an unprovoked attack caught on camera. According to Lakhana, Somkuan had said, That car is so beautiful, when will we get a car like this? They reportedly followed the Porsche to appreciate it for a bit longer before passing. The Porsche then allegedly began tailgating the couples motorbike and honked at them until they pulled to the side of the road in front of a grilled pork stall. As power was gradually restored to areas of Fort Myers, restaurants began to reopen in the days after Hurricane Ian swept through, causing major damage to homes and businesses in its wake. For some local restaurants, even those without structural damage, that was a challenge. The reason: water one of the most important ingredients for a successful restaurant still is not readily available, with boil-water notices throughout the area. Some chain restaurants had bagged ice brought in, and used 2-liter bottles of soda and bottled water to serve guests. Others only served cold, canned and bottled beverages without ice. One restaurant decided not to sell drinks at all, telling customers they could purchase drinks at the restaurant next door. By the way: One-stop disaster recovery resources available in Lee for residents And: Where to offer time, money, food and other supplies for Hurricane Ian victims Sheriff Marceno: Hurricane Ian deaths drop related to medical examiner's new criteria Shawnee Mistretta, who owns Markos Diner on San Carlos Boulevard, was busy clearing tables after the breakfast rush Friday. Her wait staff and cooks were busy serving customers hot meals from the gas-powered grill. The restaurant had lights, but no air conditioning. Its a little hot in here, she said. But customers are returning and relief workers are stopping in for a hot meal when they have time, so business is picking up. Signs are posted in a few places throughout the restaurant to let customers know they are only able to handle cash transactions. Like many businesses, the restaurant relies on apps that track sales. But that requires an internet connection, which doesn't currently exist. One of the biggest challenges to reopening was what to do about the water supply. The area has been under a boil-water notice since the Category 4 hurricane swept through southwest Florida on Sept. 28. We have all canned (sodas) and bottled water, Mistretta said. Today is our first day opening. Were running on a generator and coolers. Story continues Lee County lifts countywide curfew except for Pine Island, Captiva Coffee is in high demand Mistretta said coffee is in high demand, especially during breakfast hours. So, she filled up containers of coffee at nearby Biscottis Cafe, another restaurant she owns with her husband, David Mistretta, and brought it back to Markos. David Mistretta said in the days immediately after Ian plowed through, he began cooking hot meals for first responders, then residents who came by and relief workers who had come from out of town to volunteer their help. Our grill runs on natural gas, so we were able to cook food and keep everything warm, he said. The biggest thing, however, was everyone was looking for coffee. I havent had coffee for three days, David Mistretta said he was told when people came in for food. But he could not serve coffee without water and electricity. Biscottis now has electricity, so staff is able to heat water to 285 degrees above boiling temperature to make coffee for both restaurants. Shawnee Mistretta laughed when she was asked if she and her husband had plans on how they would recover after the hurricane. Were just doing what we can do right now, she said as she shrugged her shoulders. Were just trying to get back to normal. Biscottis, located about half a mile from Markos, has electricity. The cool air conditioning welcomed customers to the coffee The water is filtered for the ice machine at Biscottis, but only canned and bottled cold drinks are served. The cafe serves coffee and espresso drinks and has muffins, breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods. Were managing, David Mistretta said. Reinaldo Herrera, owner of Tiki Subs and Mexican Food, said he bought a portable tank filled with clean water for his restaurant for cooking and cleaning. Beverages are served from cans and bottles. Im OK, because the (health) inspectors come in here all the time, Herrera said. I want to make sure my customers feel safe. Herrera said he and his partner, Bilexy Bonilla, opened the restaurant in 2017 to provide affordable lunches. The restaurant serves specialty sandwiches, tacos and more. His regular customers havent been around much since the hurricane, but workers in the area are making up for the loss of regular business. Before, we had a lot of regulars," Herrera said. "Sometimes a guy loses a house; theres a lot of people not working right now; a lot of problems they dont have a lot of money. Now, there are a lot of new guys. Like Herrera, the Mistrettas are meeting new people in their restaurants. And even though they know they have a long way to go, they are grateful for the support of their community and the strangers they met after the hurricane. If I could have wrote a book about the couple of days that were there (after the hurricane), it would be a sad book, David Mistretta said. But the story of the many hugs and tears that we shared with strangers we never met, that was what it was all about. People were very friendly and thankful to us. Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers restaurants work through water issues as they reopen after Ian A Fort Worth nonprofit is reviewing safety protocols and comforting teachers after a mass shooting at a child care center in Thailand, where a former policeman killed 34 people, including 23 children. After the Thursday rampage, the man killed his wife and child before turning the gun on himself. When Kara Waddell, the CEO of Child Care Associates, heard about the shooting, she reached out to staff and teachers in a letter. This tragedy hit home for me in working to ensure Child Care Associates is supporting our employees, the broader child care community as well as the families and children we serve, she said in the letter. In an interview Friday, Waddell said she heard appreciative comments from teachers after she sent the note. Theres a special trust thats put in with a school or child care facility when we leave our children, Waddell said. And the idea that there could be a violent act, just like we saw in Uvalde, is terrifying for parents. So when I saw this the first thing that went through my mind was just how our teachers might feel, and the vulnerability that they may feel, in hearing about their colleagues. While on the other side of the world, it still hit home in a personal way, she added. Thailand shooting related to domestic violence In the letter to staff and teachers, Waddell reiterated best practices for dealing with high stress situations, including domestic violence that can cross into the child care operations. This was essentially a domestic violence situation that flowed over to the campus facility, Waddell said According to police in Thailand, the man left court and was looking to pick up his child, who was not at the center. When he did not see the child, he began the killing spree. We all know and interact with families who have troubling issues and stressors in their lives, Waddell said in the letter. We also know that a strong early education program is a powerful protective factor in families lives by connecting children and their parents to strong, supportive relationships. Story continues Yet we know families who also demonstrate signals of concern that additional help is needed and we can all play an important role in connecting families to resources, she said. Those resources include a partnership with the Womens Center, which addresses violence, crisis and poverty experienced by women and families in Tarrant County. Waddell also told staff about a warning system being developed with the Fort Worth Police Department to allow child care providers to receive advanced notice of possible threats or police activity. Waddell said she expects more details to be available before the end of the year. Sydney Weinstock recovering from preventative double mastectomy. Courtesy Sydney Weinstock Sydney Weinstock and her sister both tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation in December 2020. She had a preventative double mastectomy at age 25 to lower her chances of developing breast cancer. This is her story, as told to Mira Miller. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sydney Weinstock, a 25-year-old producer from Toronto. It has been edited for length and clarity. In December of 2020, my younger sister and I both got tested to see if we were positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which would increase our chances of developing breast cancer by the age of 70 by anywhere from 56 to 85%, as well as ovarian cancer by the age of 70 by anywhere from 15 to 50%. Our paternal grandmother and great-aunt both passed away from breast cancer before the age of 45, and our aunt is a two-time breast-cancer survivor, so we already knew we were at risk for the gene mutation. My sister tested positive first, and I was devastated. But when I got tested and received my own positive results weeks later, oddly enough, I felt a sense of relief. At least she wouldn't have to go through this alone; at least we were in this together. My father lost his mother to breast cancer when he was still a teenager, and I never wanted my future children to have to go through that, so I always knew that I would go ahead with a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction if I were to test positive for the BRCA1 mutation. Once I had the information I needed, despite my fears, I was ready to get started with the process. It never really felt like a choice. Still, the healthcare professionals I met with presented me with my options, which included going ahead with the mastectomy now or doing preventative yearly screenings to keep an eye on things. They never pressured me to make one decision over another, and made it clear that I could hold off with the double mastectomy for a while if I wanted to. But I knew that if I didn't go ahead with the surgery, I'd feel the constant fear and dread of waiting to find out if I had cancer at my screenings each year. The very concept of that terrified me, so I knew the right thing to do for me was to have the surgery. Story continues I've had support from my loved ones right from the beginning Fortunately, my family, friends, and partner were on board from the start. I know they were nervous for the long, challenging recovery ahead of me, but they hid their fears so they could be strong for me. And ultimately, we all agreed this was the best option. Not long after my diagnosis, I was referred to the same care team that my other family members had used, including a cousin who had the same preventative surgery when she was in her 20s. I had seen her results, and I trusted that I was in good hands. This helped me feel less afraid, like I knew what to expect. I first met with a genetic counselor, and then I met my oncologist in June of 2021. The process was incredibly quick, which I knew wasn't the case for everyone; I was lucky. During one examination, my oncologist discovered a fatty lump in my breast. And though she said it was likely nothing, she sent me for an ultrasound just to be sure. That process was scary, but I was relieved when the results came back fine and I was cleared to meet with my plastic surgeon for the first time. My surgeon was amazing, but meeting with him was overwhelming. I had never spent much time in hospitals before, and all of a sudden I had to get undressed in a room with a doctor and his two young male residents. A few different people came in to measure me during the process, and I had to get used to being completely exposed and vulnerable in that way. Sydney Weinstock. Courtesy Sydney Weinstock About a month after meeting with my surgeon the first time in July, they booked my surgery for February of 2022. I had several more appointments with my surgeon leading up to my procedure to discuss the outcome I wanted, and it was also very important for me to be aware of every possible result. I wanted to know everything, no matter how unpleasant. I knew this wasn't a risk-free surgery. I could experience necrosis, loss of blood flow, and possibly lose my nipples. I wanted to feel prepared for any possible scenario, no matter how terrifying. My procedure ended up getting moved up to January at the last minute because all elective surgeries had been canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving me little time to feel mentally prepared. However, we went ahead with it, and the surgery was successful, though I experienced a leakage in my incision area shortly after. When they discovered that my incisions had opened up during one of my follow-up appointments, they stitched me back up right then and there, which was a scary experience. This set my recovery period back, and I wasn't able to stretch or move very much for another 10 days, which was discouraging. My recovery process has been difficult and painful, but community has gotten me through While I'm still not fully recovered, I've come a long way. One of the things that has gotten me through has been sharing my experience on TikTok and connecting with others who are going through the same thing. So many people who've seen my videos have reached out to tell me I inspired them to get tested or helped them feel empowered about their health. That's important because you have to push and advocate for yourself when it comes to navigating the healthcare system. I'm glad I went through with the surgery, but some days are still extremely challenging. I have days where I don't feel natural, or like my breasts are truly mine. Sometimes I'm in pain, and I'm frustrated about the physical things I still can't do. There are days where I feel sad that I won't be able to breastfeed my future children. I am also at risk for ovarian cancer, so once I am done having kids, I may have a hysterectomy. All of it scares me, but it's worth it to know I know I'm giving myself the best chance to be around for as long as possible. I feel so fortunate to have such a supportive partner, circle of friends, and a family who are there for me no matter what. And I'm so thankful for the BRCA sisterhood that I've discovered along the way. I plan to continue acting as a mentor to others who are going through this including my younger sister, who will undergo the surgery in a few years' time. This community showed me I wasn't alone during an extremely difficult period, and I only hope I can continue doing the same for all the other brave women out there who want to take their health, and their futures, into their own hands. Read the original article on Insider Fox Newss Greg Gutfeld has provoked a backlash in some corners of social media, after the 58-year-old host made comments that college students arent attractive enough anymore for college to be fun. College doesnt look like its fun anymore, Mr Gutfeld said on The Five. Have you seen how miserable and miserable looking a lot of the students are. Theyre deliberately ugly-fying themselves. You see them on TikTok. Theyre out of shape, asexual, theyre rejecting the truth in beauty, they all look like rejects from a loony bin. Id steer clear of college, too! 58-year-old Greg Gutfeld complains that today's college kids aren't hot enough. "They are deliberately ugly-fying themselves... They're out of shape, asexual, they're rejecting the truth in beauty, they all look like rejects from a loony bin. I'd steer clear of college, too!" pic.twitter.com/v9cUtlTJrA Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 6, 2022 Some viewed the comments as offensive. You should sleep well at night knowing none of those ugly-fied girls will be stalking you on Tinder, Twitter user Gina Gagliardi-Garred wrote in response to the comments. A 58 year old out of shape Faux News misogynist isnt in great demand by 20 something women. Does Greg Gutfeld think college kids exist for his own visual satisfaction? another commentor, Jacke McClory, wrote . Why are conservatives SO WEIRD? Others, like Wonkette editor Evan Hurst, even speculated about Mr Gutfelds own experiences on campus. By the way he went to UC Berkeley, he wrote on Twitter. Yeah Im sure white conservative dork Greg was very extremely popular there. The Fox host is a regular critic of political correctness and other aspects of the culture on some college campuses. In 2018, he wrote a Fox News opinion piece arguing college was irrelevant with the advent of the internet and proliferation of other forms of education. I predict that in five years the campuses will be mere museums, shopping malls for jerseys and jackets or concert venues for Maroon 5 reunion tours, he wrote. The Independent has contacted Fox News for comment. A segment on Fox News which largely criticised president Joe Bidens decision to pardon people for simple possession of marijuana charges was undermined by a doctor speaking in favour of the move. Earlier on Thursday Mr Biden announced: Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. He also hit out at the US governments past treatment of cannabis laws as a failed approach. Fox News host Laura Ingraham invited CPAC chair Matt Schlapp and Dr Russel Kamer, of the health services company Partners In Safety, as guests to discuss the topic on The Ingraham Angle, Mediaite reported. Noting the presidents decision, Ms Ingraham invited comments from Mr Schlapp who said that Mr Biden is using it as an attempt to rally his troops with fewer than five weeks until the midterms. He added that the presidents decision is more about winning races than helping people. Ms Ingraham then referred to a Bloomberg report that said marijuana is almost as addictive as opioids in teens. Doctor, this is only going to get worse, she said to Dr Kamer. You can kind of see this train coming down the track. Your reaction tonight? Dr Kamer responded: Yes, well, it definitely is getting worse with the lax attitude towards all drugs in general. But I do want to say that president Biden and his pardoning of the marijuana users, I agree with that. No one should go to jail simply for smoking a joint. Thats ridiculous. The fact is that president Biden has been very anti-legalisation. So, in those ways, hes been very good on the topic. It is not clear when the pardons announced by the president will take effect. In his proposals accompanying the announcement, Mr Biden also called on state governors to adopt similar steps as the majority of the marijuana prisoners in the US are incarcerated at the state level, not in federal prisons. Photo credit: Foxconn Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics firm that is one of the main manufacturers of Apple iPhones, is planning to enter the automotive space with the Foxtron Model B. A full reveal of the Model B is coming on October 18, but Foxconn has already given a good look at the hatchbacks Pininfarina-penned exterior design. Initial production of the Model B will take place in China next year, but the company says that the hatchback will be built at Foxconns Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant starting in 2024. You might not be familiar with the name Foxconn, but you certainly know its biggest product: the Taiwanese electronics company is one of the leading iPhone manufacturers. The firm is also looking to expand into the automotive space. In 2021, Foxconn purchased the Lordstown assembly plant in Ohio from struggling EV startup Lordstown Motors. Now Foxconn has given the first look at a new electric hatchback, the Foxtron Model B, that it plans to eventually build in the United States. It's beauty. It's beast. Breathtaking and bold. MODEL B - the new masterpiece of our open EV platform is ready to take center stage! More details to be revealed on HHTD22 (Hon Hai Tech Day 2022)!#EV #ModelB #HHTD22 #Foxconn #2022HonHaiTechDay #HonHaiTechnologyGroup pic.twitter.com/TrVQ1j7bVK Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) (@HonHai_Foxconn) October 6, 2022 Foxconn has provided minimal information so far about the Model B, with the EV set to be fully unveiled on October 18. You may have noticed that the brand name associated with the Model B is not Foxconn, but Foxtronthis vehicle is part of a joint venture between the electronics maker and Yulon Motor, Taiwans largest automaker which has built Nissans under license for decades and also created its own brand, Luxgen. While Foxconn is tight-lipped about specifications, the video does show off the Model Bs design, which was penned by Italian design house Pininfarina. The compact car has its large, flashy wheels pushed out the corners, while the front and rear ends are dominated by full-width LED light bars. The smooth bodywork is accentuated by a stylized C-pillar, and a unique feature in the taillights appears to display images to communicate with pedestrians. Photo credit: Foxconn The Model B will ride on Foxconns open-source MiH platformwhich stands for Mobility in Harmony. The platform will also underpin two additional models previously revealed by Foxconn, the Model C, a larger crossover, and Model E, a luxury sedan. The platform supports single and dual-motor setups, and Foxconn claims a range of 435 miles from the Model C and 466 miles for the Model E. Photo credit: Foxconn Foxconn is aiming to initially start building the Model B in China in 2023, but will eventually start production of the vehicle in 2024 at the Lordstown plant, which formerly produced the Chevy Cruze. Its unclear if the Model B will be offered in the U.S. The plant is apparently configured to churn out to 500,000 vehicles a year, and Foxconn plans to also build the Lordstown Endurance and Fiskers upcoming Pear crossover at the plant under contract as well. Photo credit: Lordstown While it would great to see the factory up and running again, we remain skeptical of Foxconns ability to follow through on its automotive ambitions. Foxconn previously pledged to invest $10 billion in a massive display panel manufacturing plant in the small town of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, originally touting the creation of 13,000 jobs and production starting in 2020. Five years later, only a few buildings have been completed, little has been produced, and the investment has been reduced to $672 million with only 1454 new jobs. The Lordstown plant is also relying on unproven automotive startups. The Fisker Pear, for instance, is only a shadowy rendering at this stage. While Lordstown Motors has now built the first two Endurance pickups at the Ohio factorythe first of an initial batch of 500 vehicles set to be delivered in 2022 and 2023 the companys past financial struggles means its longevity remains in question. Foxconn previously aimed to help build an EV from Chinese startup Byton, but those plans fell through when Byton ran out of funds. Hopefully the same fate doesnt befall Fisker and Lordstown Motors, but Foxconns automotive future is still up in the air. You Might Also Like Lake County Board District 6 member John Wasik, a Democrat, is touting environmental and infrastructure accomplishments as voters cast their ballots this fall, while his Republican opponent Justin Kaechele is challenging county spending and criticizing Wasik for supporting a Democratic agenda he says is better suited for Chicago rather than Lake County residents. Kaechele is a health information technology sales consultant, while Wasik is an author and journalist who regularly contributes to Forbes. Kaechele, too, has dabbled in journalism, freelancing for The Journal & Topics, a newspaper in the near northwest suburbs, for the last year. Advertisement Both candidates emphasized their desire to lower the property tax burden for residents, but Kaechele criticized Wasik for his support of a four-cent-per-gallon gas tax the Lake County Board voted to enact in 2021. Wasik said he believes the tax has been an important source of revenue as Lake County officials attempt to chip into a backlog of roughly $1.5 billion in infrastructure projects, many of them roadway improvements. Advertisement We still need to fix infrastructure in a lot of areas, Wasik said. We have a billion dollars worth of road repairs we need to do, we have to modernize a lot of roads that have never been updated in Lake County and we have to move on those things. District 6 Lake County Board member John Wasik signs copies of his book, "Lightning Strikes: Timeless Lessons In Creativity from the Life and Work of Nikola Tesla." (- Original Credit: News-Sun (John Wasik / HANDOUT)) Kaechele, who grew up in the Buffalo Grove area, said he was disappointed when he moved back to find out the Lake County Board was controlled by a Democratic supermajority, and doesnt like the ideologically driven behavior of the board. I think Springfield just has a hand in our politics like never before, Kaechele said. That balance of power happens when that party is cut off from that, really from the Chicago Democratic machine where it can make decisions independently. He hit Wasik for frequently voting in accordance with the Democratic caucus, which currently holds 15 of 21 board seats. After Novembers election and redistricting, the Lake County Board will consist of 19 members. They cant really think independently as a Democrat; you have to be in the party line, Kaechele said. Having that balance of power allows us to have more freedom to be able to govern our area more responsibly and how we want to. Republican Lake County Board candidate Justin Kaechele is running to represent District 6. (- Original Credit: News-Sun (Justin Kaechele / HANDOUT)) District 6 includes Grayslake, Hainesville, Third Lake, sections of Round Lake, Round Lake Park and a small piece of Wildwood in unincorporated Grayslake. Wasik said he has worked on a proposal to put an underpass under the Canadian National Railroad on Route 120 and near Route 83 which would alleviate traffic congestion, and that he and state Sen. Melinda Bush landed about $30 million in money. Lake County does not have right of way authority at the crossing, but said they have asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to greenlight engineering studies to see how a project could be carried out. He also pointed to county efforts to land state funding to add walkways to both sides of Hainesville Road to allow pedestrians or bikers to travel it safely, and also referenced a $2.5 million American Rescue Plan Act grant to fund a water system improvement for residents who live near Highland Lake in Avon Township off Hainesville Road. Advertisement Wasik said, Climate change is an existential threat to our existence on the planet and that it can be addressed at a hyperlocal level, referencing Lake Countys plan to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2040. He said that no such environmental plan existed before Democrats won control of the County Board in 2018 and also reiterated his support for county expansion of carbon credits. (We are) putting solar panels on nine county buildings so we can generate our own power, Wasik said. We made it easier for businesses to finance energy improvements, thats called the CPACE Act. Kaechele said Wasiks priorities go against what voters are telling him they want. For the gas tax, voting against peoples will, Kaechele said. (The board) had an option for a compromise on the burn ban, and they didnt even give that (a chance). Kaechele said that most voters in the district are not concerned about open burning restrictions in unincorporated areas, which Wasik supported, but said some are upset about it. He also said residents who have disabilities or are older might have difficulty managing the disposal of their leaves. If John was very passionate about the burn ban, he would then eliminate burning leaves from the forest preserve, Kaechele said. We had last year, it was snowing basically ash on us from the forest preserve nearby. The forest preserve can burn all the want, but they took the right away (from residents). Advertisement Wasik said he is concerned by rising energy prices, and pointed out that residents who are able to set up alternative energy sources, such as solar panels, can insulate themselves from cost increases they have no control over. Id like to expand that to everybody, he said. Kaechele said he would be more available to voters than Wasik, and added that he would like to move County Board meetings to the evenings in order to allow more community members to attend. He said that if that does not work, he would like to host a monthly meeting for residents to share their thoughts on the boards agenda for the county meeting before it is held. I cant think of one instance where (Wasik) decided to go on the Republican side, so hes really a rubber stamp for Sandy Hart, whatever their agenda is, Kaechele said. Kaechele said that in his time out knocking on doors in District 6, no one knows (Wasik) and that he had heard from other officials who are Democrats that said they told Wasik he needs to get out more. Wasik said I work with everybody, and added that he is dedicated to hyperlocal issues, to making our communities safe and sustainable in every way, and that includes economically sustainable. France has repeatedly been in critics' sights over its lower level of military support to Ukraine compared with allies, but officials and experts say capacity rather than political will is at the root of the differences. According to an August ranking by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, France's 233 million euros ($230 million) of military aid place it 11th in the world, well behind the US (25 billion euros), Britain (four billion euros) and Poland (1.8 billion euros). Even neighbouring Germany, historically leery of military entanglements following World War II, has committed more than four times as much as France. Such rankings "don't fully reflect reality", the defence ministry told AFP, because they "only take into account what has been promised, not what has actually been delivered". What's more, some countries might report only arms deliveries as military aid, while others might count in training or the cost of transporting ammunition. Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday made a virtue of Paris' "relative discretion" in aiding Kyiv in an address to MPs, saying that "France has been giving and supporting Ukraine since the beginning". Publicly-known shipments include anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, armoured personnel carriers, fuel, infantry gear and towed artillery cannons. It has also sent 18 of its prized truck-mounted CAESAR cannons, which are able to set up, fire a highly-accurate volley at ranges of up to 40 kilometres (25 miles) and shift position before the enemy can locate them and fire back. President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday at a European gathering in Prague that France plans to deliver more of the mobile artillery pieces. Further guns could be diverted to Ukraine from a Danish order, a source familiar with the deal told AFP. - Limited capacity - Initial fears that arms deliveries might make Russia see Ukraine's backers as parties to the war have faded, said Sylvie Matelly, deputy director of France's Institute for International and Strategic Studies (IRIS). Story continues Meanwhile the Ukrainians have shown they can quickly learn to use Western-made arms, rather than the Soviet stocks from former Warsaw Pact countries prioritised early in the conflict. But that leaves the fact that "the weapons we have here ready to use are the weapons supposed to ensure our national defence," Matelly said. "If we give them away, if we tap into our reserves, we're causing big headaches for ourselves," she added. "It's not a lack of political will, perhaps it's political prudence about our own security, our own defence." Several high-ranking French officers said that although Paris has boosted military spending in recent years, set to reach 44 billion euros in 2023, its stocks of equipment remain limited. Handing off vital weapons systems like the CAESAR -- the 18 delivered to Kyiv made up a quarter of the French fleet of the mobile artillery platforms -- reduces the army's own ability to fight the kind of high-intensity war now raging in Ukraine. And with the war on the European Union's doorstep, "we can't compare (arms deliveries by) France and the US", Matelly said. Washington "has less need of weapons to defend its national territory" directly, rather than protecting its interest abroad, she added. Even with its far higher stocks and productive capacity, "there is starting to be concern among US military leaders about weapons reserves" given the level delivered to Ukraine and the parallel commitment to defend Taiwan in case of Chinese attack. - Complex production - Modern weapons like high-precision artillery pieces and missiles can take years to roll off production lines, especially with disruption to supply chains affecting certain parts and raw materials. That means that simply committing more cash is not an instant fix -- although a parliamentary report published in February found that up to six billion euros were needed to replenish France's arsenals, well above the two billion announced this week for 2023. "We don't have significant reserves. At the heart of talks (with the defence ministry) is how to scale up the way we work, to refill our reserves as quickly as possible," one French defence industry insider said on condition of anonymity. "Deploying military capacity means having the whole ecosystem that allows it to be deployed," Matelly said. "It's industry, it's technology, human capital." Figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron have pushed for greater defence integration among EU nations to hack back the duplication of effort that still characterises member states' armed forces and arms industries. "It's moving forward, progress is being made, but today we're more in cooperation mode," Matelly said, with further steps "requiring total confidence in your counterparts, and we're still quite far from that". dab-mra-tgb/sjw/bp PARIS (Reuters) - France urged its nationals on Friday to leave Iran as soon as possible, saying they were exposed to the risk of arbitrary detentions. "Any French visitor, including dual nationals, is exposed to a high risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial," the French foreign ministry said on its website. France this week lashed out at Iran for "dictatorial practices" and taking two of its citizens hostage after a video aired on Thursday in which they appeared to confess to spying, amid weeks of unrest that Tehran has tied to foreign foes. The French foreign ministry earlier on Friday had called for Iran to release its two nationals. (Reporting by Matthieu Protard and Silvia Aloisid; editing by Jonathan Oatis) PRAGUE (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday announced plans to create a fund worth 100 million euros at first to buy arms to support Ukraine directly from arms manufacturers. (Reporting by Michel Rose and Tassilo Hummel, Editing by GV De Clercq) PRAGUE (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Nordic leaders had told their European partners it was still impossible to say at this stage who was behind attacks on the NordStream pipeline. Macron said France had proposed to countries with gas infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas to launch co-ordinated operations with the French navy to secure and monitor the infrastructure. He added that infrastructure such as pipelines, cables and satellites were points of vulnerability and needed to be reinforced in the current context of geopolitical tension. That is one issue that will be discussed in the new forum launched in Prague, the European Political Community, which includes countries in and out of the EU, Macron said. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Toby Chopra) Kerry worries about her son going to hospital again after having Covid (Collect/PA Real Life) The mother of a three-year-old rushed to hospital a week after contracting Covid on four separate occasions has said she fears a winter spike in cases of the frightening virus, which also left him with asthma and a rare skin condition. Kerry Degg, 45, said she dreads a spike of coronavirus cases this winter as the last four times her son Elliott returned a positive test, he was admitted to University Hospital of North Staffs, Staffordshire, a week later. After his first diagnosis in October 2020, medics had to resuscitate Elliott at the top of the stairs in their family home in Newcastle-under-Lyme after he turned blue and experienced convulsions, ridiculous temperature spikes and foaming at the mouth. Kerry said paramedics arrived at her home in protective suits looking like horror film characters but one of them ripped his suit off so he could get up the stairs to save her son. I shouted at him that I think weve got Covid but he said he didnt care it was all very dramatic at the time, them trying to help Elliott, she said. Elliott is now asthmatic post-Covid and during his third hospital admission he started to show signs of dermographism, a condition also known as skin writing, where uncomfortable red rashes appear on the skin when a patient is touched. The only child of police control room operator Kerry and her 49-year-old engineer husband Tim, Elliott was born a miracle baby when she was 42 after years of the couple trying without success in their 30s. The family now shield as much as they can to protect both Elliott and Tim, who is also at risk after having two heart attacks in April 2017. She said: Were dreading the positive and negative test result as it gives us this warning were going straight up to hospital with Elliott. Im slightly less frightened as every hospital visit was less severe. Were just in limbo with it all and hope he might get a vaccine soon. The NHS does not currently provide vaccines to children under the age of five but Kerry said every time Elliott has contracted the virus he has had a delayed adverse reaction a week later. Story continues He gets really, really ill one week after having Covid which is bizarre but its fine when he has it, she said. Then one week later when he tests negative, we know hes going to go into hospital, so weird. He doesnt get ill with Covid, he gets ill after Covid, so thats our fear over winter with the numbers going up. Were staying away from his grandparents who have Covid at the moment because of that panic. The family is prepared for any future post-Covid issues as they have oxygen and temperature monitors at home to keep an eye on Elliott when he falls ill. Elliott was always perfectly healthy according to Kerry until he first fell ill with Covid in September 2020. He was unconscious, blue and foaming at the mouth, Kerry recalled. The paramedics had to resuscitate him at the top of our stairs then he was admitted to hospital. Nothing can ever get as bad as that so weve always said were not going to let anything hold him back. Kerry added: As long as its not hurting him we wont let the dermographism or asthma hold him back because after that experience (on the stairs), it was just the worst. Each time Elliott has contracted Covid he has struggled to breathe and he now suffers from asthma. After his third trip to the hospital, medics first noticed signs of dermographism. The doctor noticed his face was marking up every time he put the oxygen mask on him, said Kerry. So they were asking me if he was allergic to the latex. They were panicking because he got lines all over his face where the mask was. She added: Every time anybody touched him, he marked. It was quite pronounced. It wasnt just minor; it was really every touch. It was you literally putting your hand on his chest and your handprint would be there after, he was that severe at the beginning whilst he was in hospital. A 2021 US study by researchers at the University of Florida, published in the British Medical Journal, suggested that dermographism may be an additional manifestation of a Covid infection. Elliott now shows marks on his skin after something as innocent as a cuddle. His mum said: You feel it as much as him. You havent done anything but you see your own handprints. So you pick him up underneath his arms from a bath, for instance, and your handprints are on him. She added: To see your three-year-old little toddler and hes got your hand prints on his body, you think youve sort of pressed too hard sometimes. At the beginning you didnt dare touch him and if you just cuddled him, hed have marks all over him, so we were panicking. Elliott himself, who best enjoys pretending to be his favourite action hero Spiderman, is not bothered about the markings on his skin. It doesnt seem to bother him the other day he was a little bit itchy, said Kerry. (But) he doesnt really know, he doesnt notice it himself. Its more frightening for us. It almost looks worse for us if he gets a scratch or if he gets really, really upset, which is rare. She added: If he cries his whole body gets covered in marks, it seems to accelerate it for some reason. After trying a series of medications, antihistamine cetirizine has helped relieve Elliotts dermographism. Whilst its not a cure, it improved his symptoms by 80%, his mother said. If he didnt have his medicine it would be pretty obvious. If we forget his medicine once in the morning, hed roll around on the floor and have a big mark on his face. Despite the trials he has faced, Elliotts parents say he is a chilled child and actually loves his time spent in the hospital. Weve tried not to make a big thing about it so he doesnt really notice any difference, she said. I think we would struggle if he was a crier. If he cried over everything, we would really struggle because youve got no way of knowing if its really bad, because it always looks bad. A red toy motorbike sits in the corner of Mariam Kuyateh's home gathering dust. It was meant for her 20-month-old son, Musa, but he passed away in September. He is one of the 66 children in The Gambia who are thought to have died after being given a cough syrup that had been "potentially linked with acute kidney injuries", according to the World Health Organization. No-one in the family touches Musa's toy - a reminder of what has been lost. His 30-year-old mother, who has four other children, was in tears remembering what had happened to her son. Sitting in her home in a suburb of The Gambia's largest city, Serrekunda, she explained that his sickness started as a flu. After he was seen by a doctor, her husband bought a syrup to treat the problem. "When we gave him the syrup, the flu stopped, but it led to another problem," Ms Kuyateh said. "My son was not passing urine." She returned to the hospital and Musa was sent for a blood test, which ruled out malaria. He was given another treatment, which did not work, and then a catheter was fitted, but he did not pass urine. Finally, the small child was operated on. There was no improvement. "He couldn't make it, he died." Musa was one of the 66 children who died after taken the cough syrup Earlier this week, the WHO issued a global alert over four cough syrups in connection with the deaths in The Gambia. The products - Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup - were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had failed to provide guarantees about their safety, the WHO said. The Indian government is investigating the situation. The firm has not responded to a BBC request for comment. There is a lot of anger in The Gambia over what has happened. There are growing calls for the resignation of Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, along with the prosecution of the importers of the drugs into the country. "Sixty-six is a huge number. So we need justice, because the victims were innocent children," Ms Kuyateh said. Story continues Mariam Sisawo had to take her daughter to hospital three times before she was referred to a hospital in the capital Five-month-old Aisha was another victim. Her mother, Mariam Sisawo, realised one morning that after having taken the cough syrup, her baby was not passing urine. On an initial visit to the hospital, the 28-year-old was told that there was nothing wrong with her daughter's bladder. It took two more trips there on consecutive days before Aisha was referred to a hospital in the capital, Banjul, which was 36km (22 miles) away from their home in Brikama. But after five days of treatment there, she died. "My daughter had a painful death. At a certain time when the doctors wanted to fix a drip on her, they could not see her veins. Myself and two other women in the same ward, we all lost our children. "I have two sons and Aisha was the only girl. My husband was very happy to have Aisha and he still can't come to terms with her death." The Gambia does not currently have a laboratory capable of testing whether medicines are safe and so they have to be sent abroad for checking, Gambia health services director Mustapha Bittay told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. On Friday, President Adama Barrow said the country planned to open such a laboratory. In a televised address to the nation, he also directed the health ministry to review relevant laws and guidelines for imported drugs. Ms Sisawo believes the government should have been more vigilant. "This is a lesson for parents, but the greater responsibility is with the government. Before any drugs get in to the country, they should be properly checked if they are fit for human consumption or not," she said. Alieu Kijera took his son, Muhammed, to neighbouring Senegal for treatment but the doctors were unable to save him Isatou Cham was too distressed to talk about the death of her two-year-and-five-month-old son, Muhammed. She left the living room of their home in Serrekunda crying with her two other children. Muhammed's father, Alieu Kijera, explained what had happened to his little boy. He said he was taken to hospital when he had a fever and was unable to pass urine. But the doctors were treating Muhammed for malaria and his condition was getting worse. The medics then said he should be treated in neighbouring Senegal, where the health service is thought to be better, but while there was some improvement, it still did not save him. Mr Kijera is angry that his country does not have a good enough health system and he was forced to travel abroad. "If there was equipment and the right medicine, then my son and many other children could have been saved," he said. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. John Bazemore/AP Trump and his associates are being probed for attempts to subvert Georgia's 2020 election results. Fulton County DA Fani Willis previously said people could face prison sentences for the allegations. The DA's team is preparing to make moves after Election Day, CNN reported. Developments in Georgia's special grand jury probe into Donald Trump and his associates may not come before the midterms, but indictments could be handed out by December, according to CNN. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been leading an investigation into attempts by Trump and his allies to interfere with Georgia's 2020 election results since February 2021. Among the allegations include a scheme to send a fake slate of electors to the state Capitol to overturn the results. Willis told The Washington Post in mid-September that the "allegations are very serious" and that "people are facing prison sentences" if they are indicted and convicted. But a major move like that won't come by the midterms on November 8. CNN reported that Willis said her office will go dark in terms of any pivotal updates on this case starting later this week to avoid the appearance of swaying the elections. Instead, anonymous sources familiar with the investigation told the outlet that any significant activity such as indictments could begin by December. "I think her hands are tied, certainly, until after the midterms," Michael J. Moore, a former US attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, told CNN. "She wants to pull some of the politics out of it, so to ensure that the investigation is not forgotten, instead of sort of rattling the sabers and subpoenaing other witnesses you would just say you know we're going to take this time to reflect on the investigation." Since the beginning of the grand jury probe, prosecutors have issued a slew of subpoenas to Trump's allies and state officials, including to Sen. Lindsey Graham and Trump legal advisers John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Cleta Mitchell, and Jenna Ellis. Story continues Boris Epshteyn, another Trump lawyer, and former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have also testified before the grand jury. The county district attorney has yet to make a decision on seeking testimony from Trump. At the outset of the investigation was a call two days before the January 6 Capitol Riot, when Trump pressured Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to "find" additional votes to help the former president win the state. The investigation has since expanded to examining an alleged scheme to send the slate of electors that could overturn the state's election results. A spokesperson from the district attorney's office could not immediately return a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider BERLIN (Reuters) - Every vote will count next week when the United Nations General Assembly gathers to vote on a resolution to condemn Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday. The international community must "make clear to Russia: these areas belong to Ukraine," Baerbock said in Berlin after talks with her Pakistani counterpart. Ukraine and its allies have denounced the votes in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as illegal and coercive. The Western-drafted U.N. General Assembly resolution would condemn Russia's "illegal so-called referenda" and the "attempted illegal annexation" of the areas where voting occurred. (Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray) North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has begun looking into action the state can take on marijuana pardons following President Joe Bidens federal action Thursday. A response from Gov. Coopers office sent to Channel 9 Friday said Gov. Coopers office recommends decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana. On Thursday Biden announced that he is pardoning prior federal offenses for simple marijuana possession, according to the Associated Press. That doesnt include charges for distribution of marijuana. RELATED: NC medical marijuana bill goes to House with final Senate OK We need to end this stigma that can keep people from getting jobs and make sure law enforcement keeps its focus on fighting violent crime, drug traffickers and other threats to safe communities, Cooper said. Gov. Cooper has asked his lawyers to review North Carolina law about simple possession and pardons to see what action they can take. See Coopers full statement below. Keeping people safe from violent crime while making the criminal justice system fairer is the right thing to do. The Presidents actions are in line with North Carolinas Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice I appointed that recommended decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. While the General Assembly has not yet acted on this, I believe it should. We need to end this stigma that can keep people from getting jobs and make sure law enforcement keeps its focus on fighting violent crime, drug traffickers and other threats to safe communities. I have also asked our lawyers to examine North Carolina law regarding simple possession of marijuana convictions and pardons to determine if there is action we can and should take. -Statement from Gov. Cooper on possible marijuana pardons (WATCH BELOW: Families in Carolinas push for medical marijuana) Attendees of The Pinta Pride Project's National Coming Out Day Celebration in 2019 at now-closed Viper's Alley in Lincolnshire. (- Original Credit: News-Sun (Annette Leibovitz / HANDOUT)) Carolyn Pinta has been advocating for members of the LGBTQ community for several years, launching The Pinta Pride Project and Buffalo Groves first-ever pride parade with her daughter, Molly, in 2019. Since then, the Pintas have put on numerous events around Lake County, turning the Pride parade into an annual event and even making an appearance on The Today Show in 2019. This years parade reportedly drew more than 2,000 people. Advertisement In that time, Pinta said she has not received much hate or pushback in relation to events. Until recently, that is, when planning an event in Mundelein for National Coming Out Day, an annual LGBTQ awareness day that takes place on Oct. 11. The event, which will kickoff at 6 p.m. Friday, features a family-friendly dinner dance, art projects, drag performances, a rainbow balloon display, art on display and for sale by Peter Thaddeus, a raffle and a resource table. Advertisement Pinta said that after Fox News digital platform, other right-leaning news outlets and a prominent social media account run by Chaya Raichik called Libs of TikTok posted about her event, harassing messages began rolling in via social media. Libs of TikTok has amassed more than 1.4 million Twitter followers by highlighting LGTBQ-related events, often drag queen performances, that are open to children. The tweet about Pintas event garnered more than 1,200 retweets, 3,634 likes and generated responses critical of Pinta and even the village of Buffalo Grove, despite the event taking place in Mundelein. Published on Sept. 14, the Fox News article opens by pointing out the event is featuring drag performances, and that it is billed as a family-friendly event for children as young as 5. While Pinta said she has not received threats of violence, hateful messages started pouring in on social media last month, labeling her a groomer for putting on such events. Theyve been (saying), Youre grooming children, their typical line, Pinta said. That is probably the most upsetting thing that people say. That people who are trying to support teens in this community are grooming. Really, all were trying to do is make sure the kids stay alive, that they dont become depressed or suicidal. Pinta said the whole purpose of The Pinta Pride Project and the Buffalo Grove Pride parade is to support members of the LGBTQ community, especially those growing up in households where they might not feel comfortable sharing their identity with family or the outside world. We have been since day one because the whole journey started with my daughter about families and the visibility of the reality of queer people in our society, Pinta said. Two moms, two dads and their children and their family life together. She said the organization has no interest in influencing the sexual or gender identity of young people. Advertisement These people that are worried that were grooming children, these children are who they are, Pinta said. Were not going to make them gay. Were not going to make them straight. They are who they are, its just that by holding these events and having this visibility where they can see there are older role models who are living this life happily and proudly. It keeps them from being depressed. It saves their lives. She emphasized that drag performers are fully dressed in very elaborate outfits, and that the performances are age-appropriate. The kids love them, Pinta said. And literally, they lip sync songs, thats what drag queens and kings do, you know. But the greatest thing about them is that they are part of the LGBTQ community and they are expressing themselves in the way they dress, in the way that men can wear makeup too and men can wear a skirt if they want to. This really appeals to the teen crowd trying to find themselves. Because of the spotlight from social media and the negative messages that have streamed in from the internet, Pinta said this is the first event in roughly 30 major events the organization has put on where they are thinking people may turn up to protest. This is not the first drag-related event in Chicagoland to attract negative attention online. An event at UpRising Bakery and Cafe in Lake In The Hills was canceled after threats, vandalism and harassment, though it was eventually rescheduled for a later date and went off without a hitch. Advertisement Pinta remains undeterred by the trends in Chicagoland, and said it is crucial to support the LGBTQ community, especially teens, in spite of the negative attention such events have attracted. She estimated that the event had sold about 45 tickets before this whole thing went on with these hate groups online, and since has sold out with roughly 200 tickets being purchased. Thats the beautiful thing, that once you put that out into the world that this is going on, Pinta said. We have, for instance, a law firm in the city who bought two tables. When the haters come out, the good people step up to make it better sometimes, she added. Lots of good stuff came from the (attention). Pinta said she is thankful for the support of some local politicians as well. Several elected officials, including 10th District U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, 9th District U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg are expected to be in attendance. Advertisement Pinta and her husband, Bob, were also recently invited to a White House event billed as A Night When Hope and History Rhyme, which featured a performance by Elton John and celebrated efforts related to raising awareness, destigmatizing and treating AIDS and HIV infections. Since starting The Pinta Project, she said, The mission statement of our nonprofit is to highlight, celebrate and normalize the LGBTQ community in a family-friendly way. Pinta and staff at the DoubleTree are preparing in case protesters do show up during the event, she said. There is an area designated for any protesters near the back of the hotels parking lot, she said, over a line of bushes on the grass, next to the road. Pinta has also invested in an increased private security presence, and added that Mundelein police will be patrolling the area more regularly on Friday night. They are more than welcome, Pinta said of potential protesters. I dont think they will do a ton to impact the event. Oct. 6GRAND FORKS The Grand Forks school system has received a $520,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to purchase equipment for the future Career Impact Academy and its occupational training programs. The grant, released by the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA), will be matched with $130,000 in local funds, according to an announcement from the school district. The EDA funds the Red River Regional Council, which brings together the public and private sectors to create an economic development road map to bolster the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs. The grant was funded by the American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program to support business and workforce development efforts in North Dakota. The proposed Career Impact Academy represents a collaborative partnership among several entities in the Grand Forks region. When completed, the facility will provide hands-on, relevant career and technical education experiences for students in this region as well as specialized skills training for adults. Area high school students will be able to complete their high school diplomas and obtain occupational credentials or college credits. The Academy will offer training pathways for students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. The several participating postsecondary institutions can provide training pathways, certifications, and degree programs for adult learners. The Career Impact Academy, an entity of Grand Forks Public Schools, is governed by the Grand Forks School Board. It will be located near the intersection of Gateway Drive and 42nd Street. The grand jury investigation into the death of a homeless man the day after he was tased by a Pittsburgh police officer at least eight times has ended. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. did not yet know if the panel recommended charges against any of the 13 officers on the scene, according to Channel 11 news partner the Tribune-Review. Jim Rogers was tased Oct. 13 in Bloomfield. Officer Keith Edmonds responded to a report that someone had taken a bike from a yard on Harriet Street. According to court documents, Edmonds approached Rogers, who allegedly matched the description Edmonds was given of a possible suspect. There was eventually a struggle between the men, and Edmonds delivered several shocks with his taser. Edmonds continued to tase Rogers at least eight times over a period of three minutes and 15 seconds, according to the Trib. Other officers arrived on scene and handcuffed Rogers. He was put in a police vehicle. Body camera footage allegedly captured Rogers hitting his head against the seat and saying at least 13 times, I need a hospital. I cant breathe. Get a medic. Help me. Pittsburgh EMS workers came to the scene to clean officers who got Rogers blood on them, but Rogers was never checked, according to the Trib. Later, when officers took Rogers to UPMC Mercy, he became unresponsive. He was slumped over when police arrived at the hospital. He died the next day. After his death, Rogers family and activists demanded an investigation and for charges to be filed. In March, Target 11 broke the story that five police officers were fired and three reinstated after an internal investigation. Led by the district attorneys office, the grand jury investigation can include sworn testimony, documents and other evidence. If the panel, which has met every other week since April 2021, recommends charges, they are presented to the district attorney, who can decide what steps to take. RELATED COVERAGE: Story continues Jim Rogers heard saying I cant breathe on Pittsburgh police officers body cams Pittsburgh Police Officers involved in shocking Jim Rogers with a Taser appeared before a grand jury 5 officers fired, 3 reinstated after internal investigation into death of Jim Rogers Officers fired over tasing death of Jim Rogers officially appeal decision TRENDING NOW: 15-year-old boy charged in Kennywood shooting; police say theyre looking for second shooter Local teacher reinstated after refusing to use preferred pronouns, district policy suspended Target 11: Student who allegedly raped teacher accused of previous assault VIDEO: Investigators announce arrest, provide update following Kennywood shooting DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is maintaining a significant lead over his Democratic opponent just over a month out from the November midterm elections. An Emerson College poll released Friday shows that Grassley is leading retired Navy Adm. Michael Franken among likely Iowa voters by 11 points, at 49 percent to 38 percent. Nine percent of those polled said they were undecided, and 4 percent said they plan to vote for someone else. Fifty percent of Iowa voters said they have a favorable view of the senator, while 44 percent said they have an unfavorable view of him. Forty percent of voters reported having a favorable view of Franken, while 32 percent said they had an unfavorable view of him. Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said that Franken has performed well with suburban voters and women, trailing Grassley in both groups by only 1 point. However, among rural voters, Grassley holds a 33-point lead, and among men, he leads by 21 points, Kimball said. The poll found that in the Iowa gubernatorial race, 53 percent of likely voters support incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), while 36 percent support her Democratic challenger, Deidre DeJear. Nine percent said they are undecided about who they will back in the governors race, and 2 percent said they plan to vote for someone else. Fifty-five percent of likely Iowa voters reported having a favorable view of Reynolds, while 43 percent said they had an unfavorable view of her. The majority of likely voters polled, 41 percent, said they were either unsure of or had never heard of DeJear. Thirty-three percent of those polled said they had a favorable view of her, and 27 percent reported having an unfavorable view of her. The poll also found that the most important issue for likely Iowa voters is the economy, at 45 percent of those surveyed. The following most important issues cited by respondents were threats to democracy at 17 percent, abortion access at 12 percent, health care at 7 percent and immigration at 7 percent. Story continues Voters who say the economy is their most important issue break for Republican Grassley by 61 points, and for Republican Reynolds by 69 points, Kimball said. By contrast, those who say threats to democracy are their most important issue break for Franken by 57 points and DeJear by 50 points. The polling shows that Grassleys lead over Franken has widened over the last few months, compared to a June poll that showed him leading his Democratic opponent by 8 points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. March 2020 photo of a gray whale surfacing with open eyes in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) When gray whales began washing up dead in large numbers in 2019, many scientists hoped it was just a short-term phenomenon, and that the leviathans would quickly recover and rebound. But three years later, the die-off continues for gray whales living and migrating along North America's Pacific coast. The population is down almost 40% from its peak in 2016. And in a report released Friday, federal scientists said the number of calves born last year was the lowest they've seen since they started observations in 1994. Given the continuing decline in numbers since [the peak in] 2016, we need to be closely monitoring the population to help understand what may be driving the trend, said David Weller, director of the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center, in a statement. We have observed the population changing over time, and we want to stay on top of that. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event" after an alarming number of gray whales began washing up along the shore from Mexico to Alaska. Then and now, the cause of the die-off remains elusive, but it appears that something has drastically altered the food web of these large, bottom-feeding cetaceans. A gray whale pushes her calf to the surface in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) Every year, gray whales migrate from the warm, protected lagoons of Mexico's Baja Peninsula to the cold waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, where they feed for months on small, shrimp-like creatures that dwell in the mud. Then they return to Mexico, where they mate, give birth and nurse their calves. It's a 12,000-mile round trip migration that leads the whales past North America's busy coast line through shipping lanes, around fishing vessels, near crowded and intrusive tourist boats and occasionally into the maws of hungry orcas. Gray whales have had population contractions in the past. Between 1999 and 2000, the population declined by about 25%. However, it quickly rebounded, peaking in 2015-2016. Story continues Researchers pointed to unusually cold temperatures as a likely cause of that contraction. The frigid temperatures during that period expanded the reach of Arctic sea ice making it difficult for the whales to access their traditional prey items of amphipods and other shrimp-like creatures on the ocean floor of the Chukchi, Northern Bering and Beaufort Seas. Two gray whales feed in the sediment not far from Pasagshak Bay off of Kodiak Island, Kodiak, Alaska. (GEMM Lab / Oregon State University /NOAA) This time, scientists say there are likely multiple causes, including a prolonged period of warm temperatures a consequence of climate change a loss of sea ice and the subsequent movement and changes in the whales' prey items. Many of the whales they encounter and observe appear skinny, and the bulk of whales that have stranded since 2019 roughly 600 have been malnourished. However, that's not the case for all of the whales. Some were clearly killed by ship strikes, or drowned after being entangled in fishing line and nets, or shredded and eaten by orcas. Others may have died of disease. There is no one thing that we can point to that explains all of the strandings, said Deborah Fauquier, Veterinary Medical Officer in NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. There appears to be multiple factors that we are still working to understand. And the mothers that are having calves seem to be healthy and adequately fed, said Aimee Lang, a fisheries biologist with NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center who leads the field teams that count the whales as they migrate. While population counts for gray whales are typically conducted over the course of a two-year period, this year NOAA is adding a third year. Observers will watch from points along California's central coast at Granite Point for the southward migration and Piedras Blancas for the northward. Lang said they work in teams of two and watch for whales as they swim by; they also send drones out to capture data regarding their size and health. Elsewhere, whale watchers have noticed gray whales exhibiting unusual feeding behaviors, including this past summer in San Francisco Bay where the Marine Mammal Center's Tim Markowitz and others saw gray whales lunge feeding a behavior typical for humpbacks, in which they open their jaws wide, and lunge across the water's surface scooping up fish and krill. "When I heard they were doing that, I figured the stories were wrong. It must have been humpbacks, " said Markowitz in a July interview about a bonanza of anchovy in the Bay. "But then I saw it, and I was like 'whoa!' Gray whales don't do that." Elsewhere, gray whales have been observed feeding in areas they have historically avoided, including the shallow lagoons of the Baja Peninsula and the muddy, sandy shores of San Francisco Bay and Long Beach Harbor. A whale-watching group gets a closeup view of a gray whale in Laguna San Ignacio. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) Gray whales have been called the "jeeps" of the ocean, because of their opportunistic feeding habits (although they prefer foods that live on the ocean floor, they will eat krill and other critters in the water column and on the surface). They've also been called the "sentinels" because if something starts happening to them, it's likely you'll see it elsewhere. And that's what has so many worried if gray whales are having a hard time, a lot of others are, as well. What we hope to see in the next few years is that the abundance stabilizes and then starts to show signs of increase, said Lang. We will be watching closely. In May 2021, three gray whales washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay Area, where visitors to Muir Beach look at a decomposing gray whale. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Faisal Gill, left, and Hydee Feldstein Soto are candidates in the Los Angeles city attorney's race. (Los Angeles Times) Two outsider candidates neither of whom had high name recognition in the world of local politics before entering the race are vying to become Los Angeles city attorney, a critical but often overlooked role with wide-ranging responsibilities. The city attorney handles the prosecution of all misdemeanor crimes that happen in Los Angeles, including petty theft, vandalism, DUI, some domestic violence charges and other offenses that carry a maximum penalty of a year in jail. Another part of the job, which has been held by Mike Feuer for nine years, involves giving legal advice to the mayor and City Council, as well as city boards and departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department. As general counsel, the office also defends the city in litigation. Who are the candidates? Faisal Gill and Hydee Feldstein Soto, who, respectively, came in first and second in the seven-person race in the June primary, are now facing off. Gill, a civil rights attorney, was 8 when his family emigrated from Pakistan. Raised in Virginia, he eventually joined the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps and served as a senior policy advisor in the Department of Homeland Security. A former Republican, Gill says he turned away from the party years ago after experiencing discrimination for his Muslim faith and that he quickly became a "staunch Democrat." Positioned as the more progressive candidate in the race, Gill has said that, if elected, he will focus on holding the Los Angeles police accountable and implementing criminal justice reform. Feldstein Soto, a finance law attorney and former neighborhood council member, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After getting her law degree, she moved to Los Angeles in 1982 and went on to build a career overseeing multibillion-dollar public deals. A lifelong registered Democrat a detail she's often repeated on the campaign trail Feldstein Soto says her managerial experience, as well as years working as a transactional lawyer make her the best fit for the job. Story continues Where they stand on housing and homelessness Gill has said that he believes Section 41.18 of the municipal code the anti-camping law approved by the City Council last year is unconstitutional and that he won't enforce it. If elected, he said, he also plans to crack down on people violating the city's rules for renting out homes on sites such as Airbnb, a practice he says hurts the city's housing stock and leads to inflated rent prices. Feldstein Soto has said she dislikes that 41.18 is enforced differently in various parts of the city and that she would work to standardize how it is handled. She has said she believes the ordinance is constitutional, so long as people are given a credible offer of housing or shelter. She has laid out a multiprong strategy for addressing homelessness, including streamlining the building approval process and scrutinizing a decades-old agreement with the county to ensure that the city is getting its fair slice of public health funds. What they've said about their first 100 days During a virtual candidate forum , the candidates were asked what they hoped to accomplish in their first 100 days. Gill said that, among other things, he plans to focus on criminal justice reform, saying he will implement a 100-day pause on filing misdemeanors to study whether the office should change its charging practices. What I want to do," Gill said, "is have a review period to see what we should be prosecuting and what we shouldn't be prosecuting." Feldstein Soto said that early in her tenure she will focus on meeting with staff in her office, as well as having conversations with people in various city departments and offices she would be working alongside. I tend to come into new places softly, she said. I assume that there are career professionals there, I assume that there are people who have views on what is working and what is not. Past coverage L.A. Times Editorial Board Endorsements The Times editorial page publishes endorsements based on candidate interviews and independent reporting. The editorial board operates independently of the newsroom reporters covering these races have no say in the endorsements. How and where to vote Ballots will be in the mail to all 22 million registered voters in the state no later than Oct. 10. Californians can return ballots by mail, drop them at collection boxes or turn them in at voting centers. They can also cast ballots early at voting centers or wait until Nov. 8 to vote at their neighborhood polling places. Californians can register to vote or check their status at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. Follow more election coverage California voters head to the polls Nov. 8 to vote for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, and races for U.S. representative in Congress, state senator and state Assemblymember. Local races include who will be the Los Angeles mayor and L.A. County sheriff. There are seven ballot propositions for voters to decide on the table. More News This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Molly Magnell / For The Times) California voters will decide the fate of seven statewide propositions on Nov. 8. The propositions, like all state ballot measures, require approval by a simple majority of voters for passage. Unless otherwise specified, the approved propositions take effect once the election results are certified in December. Heres what you need to know about Proposition 1. Proposition 1: Abortion This is a proposed amendment to the California Constitution that will explicitly protect a persons right to an abortion in the state. The measure was placed on the November ballot by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature in response to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that protected abortion rights nationwide. If approved by voters, the amendment would codify the states already robust reproductive rights, which grant anyone of reproductive age the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and to obtain an abortion. Currently, those rights in California were established by statutory law and by court ruling. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said she authored the constitutional amendment, which required a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate to be placed on the ballot, because of the sustained attacks on abortion rights nationwide. The meagerly funded opposition campaign argues that the measure is simply a ploy by Democratic lawmakers to latch onto a hot-button issue that will motivate liberal voters still reeling from the Supreme Court ruling to cast ballots in the November election. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released in August showed 7 in 10 California voters support the proposed constitutional amendment, and majorities back other policies aimed at protecting abortion rights. Abortion rights already are protected in California. Why is this necessary? The states Constitution currently guarantees a persons right to privacy, but does not define what that right includes. The California Supreme Court found the right to privacy included decisions related to reproductive choice, including whether to have an abortion or use birth control. Lawmakers have also added abortion rights into state law, but supporters of Proposition 1 said hostile attacks on abortion access have convinced them those arent enough. Laws and court rulings can be changed, supporters say. Story continues Proposition 1 would ensure abortion protections couldnt be changed without voters weighing in. However, opponents of the measure have argued that the language of Proposition 1 is overly broad and does not limit when abortions can be performed. California law allows a woman to have an abortion until the point that a physician determines there is a reasonable likelihood of the fetus sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. An abortion can be performed after viability if the procedure is necessary in order to protect the life or health of the woman. Those protections apply to anyone who becomes pregnant, including minors, who under state law can consent to an abortion without a parents knowledge. The exact point of viability is not defined in state law. That decision is left for physicians to make based on good faith medical judgment. In most cases, doctors have considered a fetus viable at 24 weeks. Past coverage Other propositions on the ballot Learn more about all seven ballot propositions on the November ballot. L.A. Times Editorial Board Endorsements The Times editorial page publishes endorsements based on candidate interviews and independent reporting. The editorial board operates independently of the newsroom reporters covering these races have no say in the endorsements. How and where to vote Ballots will be in the mail to all 22 million registered voters in the state no later than Oct. 10. Californians can return ballots by mail, drop them at collection boxes or turn them in at voting centers. They can also cast ballots early at voting centers or wait until Nov. 8 to vote at their neighborhood polling places. Californians can register to vote or check their status at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. Follow more election coverage More News This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A gunman involved in a fatal shooting at a Michigan hotel has surrendered after hours of police negotiations, according to officials. The violent incident at the Hampton Inn in Dearborn was sparked by a dispute with staff over money, according to Michigan State Police, and came to an end on Thursday evening. The suspect had been barricaded inside the hotel for more than five hours but the situation was contained and authorities were negotiating with him. Police arrived at the scene on Military and Michigan avenues at around 1pm. Shots were fired from the third floor of the hotel until shortly after 2pm, killing at least one person and wounding several others, Fox News reported. I know that our curiosity gets to us, and we want to see whats happening, but this is a very fluid situation, Lieutenant Michael Shaw of the MSP said. Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said that the department believed the violence started when a dispute with hotel staff broke out over money. Sources also told local news station WXYZ that the shooting might have unfolded after an eviction attempt. An employee at the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank located across the street from the hotel told The Independent that they were placed on lockdown until further notice. A nearby elementary school was also been placed on a soft lockdown as the situation progressed. There are cop cars and police tape all around the street, another employee at a cocktail bar in the area said. Guests and employees at the hotel were evacuated. Troopers, officers and SWAT teams were working on clearing the scene around the hotel and have asked the public to stay away from the area. Michigan Avenue was completely closed. Authorities said the area was not safe and warned that shots could be fired again, before the suspect later surrendered. By Brian Ellsworth and Harold Isaac (Reuters) -Haiti's government has authorized Prime Minister Ariel Henry to ask the international community for a "specialized armed force" to address a crisis caused by a blockade of the country's main fuel port that has led to crippling shortages, according to a decree circulating on Friday. Haiti has ground to a halt since a coalition of gangs blocked the Varreux fuel terminal last month. The lack of gas and diesel has crippled transportation and forced businesses and hospitals to halt operations. It has also led to a shortage of bottled water, just as the country confirmed a new outbreak of cholera, the spread of which is controlled through hygiene and clean water. The decree allows Henry to "solicit and obtain from Haiti's international partners effective support through immediate deployment of a specialized armed force to stop ... the insecurity resulting from the joint actions of armed gangs and their sponsors." It was not immediately evident which nations would receive such a request. The United Nations has not received an official request from the Haitian government, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday. "That being said, we remain extremely concerned about the security situation in Haiti, the impact it's having on the Haitian people, on our ability to do our work, especially in the humanitarian sphere," Dujarric told reporters. The U.S. State Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday tweeted that the United States remains "committed to helping Haiti restore security and democratic order." Canada's foreign ministry on Friday said that 19 member countries of the Organization of American States, which is meeting in Peru, jointly affirmed solidarity with Haiti. The statement said those countries were committed to helping Haitians "overcome the complex security challenges facing the country." (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth in Miami, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Humeyra Pamuk in Lima, Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Alistair Bell) Chris Packham joined the RSPB, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) and the Woodland Trust. Conservationist Chris Packham has joined wildlife groups to protest in the environment secretary's constituency, claiming the government is eroding laws which protect nature. The demonstration was held at Bassett's Mead country park, in Hook, Hampshire where Ranil Jayawardena is MP. The protest was against the recently launched plans for investment zones. The government said a strong environment and strong economy go hand-in-hand. Friday's meeting was jointly organised by the RSPB, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) and the Woodland Trust. A spokesman said HIWWT was also concerned about plans to "amend or scrap environmental laws including Habitat Regulations". 'Touched a nerve' Mr Packham, who hosts the BBC Autumnwatch and Springwatch series, said: "Millions of wildlife lovers up and down the country are outraged, scared and worried about this apparent attack on nature. "This has really touched a nerve with people. We should all follow their lead and stand up for our local nature." During the event, protesters produced two pieces of artwork to be presented to Mr Jayawardena, the MP for North East Hampshire. One showed a depiction of nature with laws to protect it, and the other without. Protesters produced two pieces of artwork depicting nature with laws to protect it and without Debbie Tann, chief executive of the HIWWT, said: "What we are seeing today is an unprecedented wave of public concern for nature with people speaking up like never before. "The government's 'growth, growth, growth' agenda has painted environmental rules as 'burdens' and key nature protection laws are due to be 'consigned to history' by the end of next year." 'Simply not right' In a statement the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Claims we intend to go back on our commitment to the environment are simply not right. "We are committed to halting the decline of nature by 2030 and will not undermine our obligations to the environment in pursuit of growth. "A strong environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. "Bureaucratic processes in the planning system do not necessarily protect the environment so, by making sure we have the right regulations for our nation, we can make this happen." Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk A Dom's Kitchen & Market is pictured June 7, 2021 in Chicago. The grocer had been eyeing the village of Oak Park but officials said Oct. 6, 2022 that the grocer and owner of the building they were likely to move into didn't go through. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) After the Oak Park Village Board approved a tax rebate plan that would have helped bring a Dom Kitchen & Market store to the west suburb, officials announced that a deal to move into the retail space didnt happen and plans changed for that grocer. Plans for the proposed grocery store to set up in the old Marshall Fields building, at 1144 Lake Street, has fallen through, despite the villages vote Sept. 6 to rebate about $175,000 a year in sales taxes to make the deal happen, said representatives from the village, the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation and the grocer. Advertisement As part of what village trustees approved, Oak Park was to rebate half of the sales taxes from food sales and liquor sales to the building owner, Nick Karris, for 20 years. Over the summer, village officials and Oak Park Economic Development Corporation officials worked on a plan with representatives from Doms Kitchen & Market, a new grocery and marketplace concept that has emerged in the city of Chicago, that would allow Doms to move into the long-vacant former Marshall Fields space at the northeast corner of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue. The two-story space has been empty since a Borders bookstore closed in 2011, and any new tenant would need to undertake considerable renovations to it, said John Lynch, the CEO of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation. Advertisement Ultimately, however, the deal fell apart as Doms architects and operations professionals concluded that the more than 12,000-square-foot space didnt provide enough flexibility to meet their retail needs, said Lynch. The village learned of the deal falling through a few days prior to telling of it in a Sept. 30 news release, said Oak Park interim spokesman Erik Jacobsen. We were very interested in that site, and when we got into what it would take to build the Doms that we wanted to build, it just economically wasnt going to work, Doms co-CEO Don Fitzgerald told Pioneer Press in an emailed statement Thusday. You cant get ahead of yourself. We want to continue to hone this model and build great stores. John Lynch said that they went through a number of iterations and ultimately could not get comfortable with the (space). Of course we were disappointed that this deal fell through, he said. That said, theres no hard feelings here. The Doms team was completely forthcoming with us throughout the entire process, and we understand that the issue had nothing to do with Oak Park as a location, and that the Doms team was and continues to be very high on Oak Park. So given that, we have every reason to believe that Doms is still interested in opening a store in Oak Park. We dont have a spot identified right now but were certainly going to do everything we can to find suitable locations for them, because we would love to have them as part of the community. Doms had planned to move into the old Marshall Fields space in late 2023, according to a memo submitted to the Village Board by the Economic Development Corporation. Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman told Pioneer Press in a text Friday that she and the rest of the Village Board along with the village staff and the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation remain focused on finding a tenant for the former Marshall Fields space, which is in a building owned by Nick Karris. While I am very disappointed that Doms pulled out, the relationship between the Karris family and the village has only grown stronger, Scaman said. I am confident that the time and energy spent on this project is not wasted and we are moving in the right direction toward filling the historic Marshall Fields space to further enhance the current vibrancy of downtown Oak Park. Advertisement The decision not to proceed with the location has had no impact on Doms other plans to move forward with other new stores in the Chicago area. The chain opened its first store on North Halsted Street in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood in June 2021, and its moving forward with a new store in the citys Fulton Market District as well, according to the real estate website the Real Deal. When Russia invaded her home country of Ukraine, U.K.-based tech entrepreneur Irra Ariella Khi, co-founder of Zamna, set up a fundraising page to directly support people inside Ukraine. Khis father (aged 70) and godmother (aged 82) are both in Ukraine, as are her stepsister and her children. Khi then temporarily stepped back from her day job at Zamna (which runs a blockchain system to securely share and verify passenger identities for airlines and travel authorities). The next few weeks were a blur. But although her fundraiser raised plenty of money, Khi realized there was no viable NGO to distribute the supplies on the ground in the middle of a fast-moving war zone. She also realized that the only way of getting supplies into Ukraine would be with a team that could speak at least three languages: Ukrainian, Polish and Russian (Khi speaks all three). There was a huge disconnect between western relief efforts and their ability to get aid across the border, she said. This led her to creating the Sunflower Relief NGO. She jumped in and got her "hands dirty", doing dozens of video calls with groups of local drivers inside Ukraine in order to get supplies in. She was joined by fellow Ukrainian volunteers in London, building up a team of 10 people initially, all multilingual. Seven months later, she now has a team of 200+ people spread internationally. Luckily, her role at Zamna meant she could also call many an airline CEO to talk about shipping supplies to countries bordering Ukriane, via fright airlines. Some even re-routed planes after a call from Khi. As well as distributing aid she also built a network of hyper-local information on the ground, building up a network of contacts in the country and collecting data from local sources, using messaging platforms such as SMS, Telegram, WhatsApp and sometimes Facebook Messenger. Thanks to the efforts of the International Charitable Foundation "Victory and Future" Sunflower Relief organized the delivery of much-needed aid. Special thanks to Sunflower's donor Michael Comish. You can help us close even more cases. Support us here: https://t.co/gdQfGachbW pic.twitter.com/5s4nanqYlB Sunflower Relief (@SunflowerRelief) July 29, 2022 Since then, Khi has tapped individuals in venture capital and private equity to back Sunflower. Story continues Every penny we raise goes directly to the families we have supported through our network. The call to action is you're in venture capital and you can spare some resources, please get in touch because weve been raising money single-handedly for six months and every penny goes to helping people on the ground. We are all volunteers at Sunflower. We're on a tiny budget and our operational budget never touches our aid budget. We're talking about pure donation. We don't have enough aid money to help those who really need the most in the war zone," she told me. "A lot of very senior partners and VCs who donated said 'just send me the reports. We don't want any publicity or our name in lights.' A lot of it has been driven by the fact that they want high integrity, verified receivers, because donating to bigger organisations doesn't give you what Sunflower gives you, which is very specific case reports, pictures, videos, responses from people. We've got over 250,000 people that we've helped now, all of them have been documented and you can really see the impact you're making, she told me over a call. And Sunflower has certainly been busy. For Founders Forum 2022, Irra helped coordinate the appearance of President Zelenskyy as a hologram, and raised an incredible $1 million during this year's event. Its now matched 2.25 million to verified NGOs in Ukraine. Here are some examples of how it's helped to date: Sunflower Relief was asked to find funds and logistics to help buy food/groceries for 3,500 internally displaced refugees in Ukraine who currently live in schools and nursery premises -- the call for help came from the city council in Kamianets-Podilskyi, which is in central Ukraine. Thanks to partners Serhii Nizhinskii, Asociatia pastel, IsraAID Germany e. V. c/o ZWST, and Civic Radauti Association and supplier Riso Vignola, Italy, they managed to gather 27 pallets, five tons of goods in total, all of which were paid for using the donation of the Accel organisation. Glib Lazorenko (Surgeon) -- asked for help to get medical instruments for injured people. Critical medical aid was delivered to the State Scientific Institution "Scientific and Practical Center of Preventive and Clinical Medicine" in Kyiv for seriously injured Ukrainian civilians and soldiers. Sunflower helped fund the delivery of aid by Baby Lifeline; Andrea Fraser from Justice.org from Edinburgh, NHS Scotland, a U.K.-based charity ("the consignor") donated to Ukrainian Hospital in Kharkiv and Mechnikov Regional Clinical Hospital. HARTFORD CITY, Ind. A Hartford City man has been charged with neglect of a dependent over conditions in his home. However, given other allegations against 29-year-old Matthew A. Noble, that neglect count appears to be among the least of his concerns. Noble was also charged in Blackford Circuit Court with rape, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison. A female acquaintance said Noble used belts and extension cords to tie her to a bed, then sexually assaulted her. She also said the Hartford City man held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. In addition to the rape count, charges against Noble include criminal confinement, strangulation and intimidation. The confinement count is a Level 3 felony with a maximum 16-year sentence. More:Meth seizure in Hartford City leads to dealing, neglect charges against local woman The neglect-of-a-dependent count is a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison. A young child was among those living in the Hartford City man's house, and city police reported finding the home in "complete disarray." "Filth, animal feces, dirty laundry, trash and various other debris littered the floor," an officer wrote. "The bathtub had approximately six inches of standing filthy water in it." According to an affidavit, on Oct. 1, the day of the alleged sexual assault, Noble suffered a severe cut when he punched a mirror in his home. An officer at the scene applied a tourniquet to Noble's right arm, and the Hartford City man was eventually treated at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Noble was being held without bond in the Blackford County jail. In February, he was convicted of possession of meth in Blackford Superior Court. In July that conviction was reduced from felony to misdemeanor status. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Neglect charge might be the least of Hartford City man's worries Harvey Weinstein listens in court during a pre-trial hearing, in Los Angeles, California, on July 29, 2021. Etienne Laurent/Pool via REUTERS Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is set to go on trial again next week, this time in Los Angeles on charges of rape, sexual assault, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint, and sexual penetration by use of force. If convicted, Weinstein faces up to 140 years behind bars. Hes already serving a 23-year sentence after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020. That case is under appeal, with his attorneys arguing the judge and a juror were biased against him. Weinstein, 70, has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in both criminal cases. Its been five years since the New York Times and the New Yorker first reported that multiple women had accused the former producer of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. Those stories prompted a reckoning within Hollywood and contributed to the rise of the #MeToo movement. The charges in the Los Angeles trial, which begins Oct. 10 with jury selection, involve the alleged sexual assaults of five women over the course of nearly a decade. Anyone who abuses their power and influence to prey upon others will be brought to justice, LA County District Attorney George Gascon said when the Los Angeles indictment was announced in July 2021. How we got here In October 2017, the New York Times first reported the allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein. Less than a week later, the New Yorker published its own report, including allegations against Weinstein from 13 more women. After those stories were published, more than 80 women came forward accusing the former producer, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, of sexual harassment and assault. In May 2018, Weinstein was arrested in New York and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two women. A few days later, a grand jury indicted Weinstein on those charges; then, in July 2018, prosecutors added one count of first-degree criminal sexual act and two counts of predatory sexual assault for a forcible sex act against a woman related to a 2006 incident. Story continues The New York trial began almost two years later, on Jan. 6, 2020. Over six weeks, the jury heard testimony from six women. After four days of deliberation, the jury found Weinstein guilty of raping aspiring actor Jessica Mann in 2013 and sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006. They acquitted him of predatory sexual assault, which was the most severe charge. "This is a new landscape for survivors of sexual assault," Cy Vance, then the Manhattan district attorney, told reporters after the verdict. "These heroic women broke their silence to hold Harvey Weinstein accountable, and a generation of sexual assault survivors heard their every word." During his New York trial, prosecutors in Los Angeles announced that they would be charging Weinstein with raping a woman and sexually assaulting another woman relating to two 2013 incidents. Then, a few months later, the Los Angeles County prosecutors added sexual battery by restraint to the list of charges. In October 2020, the Associated Press reported that prosecutors in Los Angeles charged Weinstein with the rapes of two more women, adding three new counts of rape and three new counts of forcible oral copulation to the list of charges in that case. And that brings us to 2021. In April last year, Weinstein was officially indicted on 11 counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles County, which led to a New York judge ruling that the former film producer could be extradited and moved from his New York prison to a Los Angeles prison to be held while he awaited trial in California. Two months later, in July, he was extradited to Los Angeles and appeared in LA court, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial date was set for Oct. 10, 2022. As the Los Angeles trial drew closer, Weinsteins lawyers attempted in August to postpone the trial, arguing that the release of the movie She Said (which recounts how New York Times journalists exposed the sexual abuse allegations against Weinstein) on Nov. 18 could negatively influence the jurors. Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in Manhattan, Jan. 9, 2020. Brendan Mcdermid / Reuters Lisa Lench, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, denied the motion, clearing the path for the trial to begin in October. The allegations in the Los Angeles case The charges in this trial are connected to the alleged assaults of five women in West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2013. One woman alleged that Weinstein raped her in her hotel room after pushing his way inside in February 2013. According to court documents previously obtained by BuzzFeed News, the woman said Weinstein entered her room after they attended a film festival, and they spoke briefly before he allegedly forced her to perform oral sex and then raped her. Prosecutors say that the next evening, Weinstein sexually assaulted another woman at a hotel suite in Beverly Hills. The woman said she agreed to attend a meeting with the former producer and another female acquaintance at a hotel restaurant. After the meeting, the woman alleges that Weinstein asked the two women back to his suite. When inside, one of the women followed him into his hotel bathroom and told prosecutors that the other woman shut the bathroom door, leaving her trapped inside the bathroom with Weinstein. The woman alleges that Weinstein then took off his clothes, showered, and stood between the woman and the bathroom door, turned her around and held her in place by her breast as he masturbated until he ejaculated on the floor, court documents previously obtained by BuzzFeed News state. Only after Weinstein finished did he let the woman leave the bathroom, prosecutors said. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges. How the trial will proceed The trial in Los Angeles will begin on Oct. 10 with jury selection. Opening statements are scheduled to start on Oct. 24, and the trial is expected to last two months. The five women whose claims form the basis of the charges in the Los Angeles case will testify in this trial. On top of that, five additional witnesses will be testifying, discussing prior bad acts, according to USA Today. Prior bad act witnesses usually provide testimony on experiences they have had with the defendant, which prosecutors then use to illustrate a pattern of criminal behavior and abuse. In the New York trial, four witnesses testified about their experiences with Weinstein, which were not part of the criminal case. It is unknown who the five additional witnesses in the Los Angeles trial will be. Harvey Weinstein departs New York Criminal Court following another day of jury deliberations in his sexual assault trial in Manhattan, Feb. 21, 2020. Lucas Jackson / Reuters More court proceedings could be ahead In April 2021, Weinsteins lawyers appealed his rape and sexual assault conviction in New York, arguing that the womens testimony led the jury to focus on the history and pattern of allegations rather than on specific charges relevant to the case, among other issues. But, in June 2022, an appeals court in New York decided to uphold the original conviction. Weinsteins lawyers petitioned this rejection to the New York Court of Appeals. In August, a New York judge reviewed the attorneys petition and granted the former producer the right to appeal the 2020 verdict, which could take place sometime next year, according to NBC News. Also, over the summer, British authorities announced that they had authorized UK law enforcement to charge Weinstein with two counts of indecent assault relating to incidents that occurred in summer 1996. More on this A Malaysian man accused of leading a global crime syndicate was extradited to the U.S. on Oct. 7 to face trafficking charges, according to officials. Teo Boon Ching, 57, has been charged in connection with conspiring to traffic over 160 pounds of endangered rhinoceros horns valued at $725,000, a violation of U.S. laws and several international treaties. He will appear before a judge on Oct. 7, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Chings alleged smuggling organization, which operated across multiple continents, enrich[ed] poachers responsible for the senseless illegal slaughter of numerous endangered rhinoceros, and further[ed] the market for these illicit products, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in the release. Working as a middleman, Ching dealt with poachers in Africa and buyers in Asia, charging a per-kilogram fee for his transport services, according to the release. He transported horns of black rhinos, an endangered species of which only a few thousand animals remain, as well as white rhinos, classified as near threatened by the World Wildlife Fund. He also said he could export horns to the United States, according to the release. During the summer of 2019, an unknown individual, at the behest of law enforcement, purchased 12 horns from Ching using funds from an account in New York. He then delivered the horns to undercover law enforcement officials in Bangkok, Thailand, according to the release. He was later arrested in Thailand before being sent to the United States to stand trial. Ching has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking, which has a maximum sentence of five years in prison, in addition to two counts of money laundering, which has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the release. An attorney for Ching could not be reached for comment by McClatchy News. Demand for rhino horns largely comes from China and Vietnam, where some believe the horns have wide-ranging health benefits, according to Save The Rhino International, a conservation group. Story continues Several hundred African rhino horns enter the global market each year, though overall rhino poaching rates have declined in recent years, possibly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. American tourist upset about not meeting the pope smashes Vatican artifacts, guards say Man holding gun greets cops, tells them wife is dying inside house, CA police say Mom threatens to blow up school and beat up principal over child pickup, Florida cops say KYIV (Reuters) - The head of a Ukrainian human rights group that won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday called for an international tribunal to be created to try Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties shared the prize with jailed Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski and Russian rights group Memorial, Oleksandra Matviychuk also called for Russia to be excluded from the U.N. Security Council. "The U.N. and participant states should address the 'accountability gap' and ensure a chance of justice for hundreds of thousands of war crimes victims," she said in a Facebook post written while on a train journey from Poland to Kyiv. "Sustainable peace in our region is impossible without this. We need to create an international tribunal and bring Putin, (Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko and other war criminals to justice." She added: "Russia should be excluded from the U.N. Security Council for systematic violations of the U.N. charter." Moscow and Minsk have dismissed allegations of human rights abuses, and Russia has denied allegations that some Russian soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Nataliia Yashchuk, the group's coordinator of national projects, told Reuters television in Kyiv that the award showed the importance of its work "for building peace, democracy and freedom" in Ukraine. Anna Popova, the group's civil liberties project manager, said it meant "the whole democratic world has acknowledged the terror of the Russian Federation against Ukrainian people and territories." (Reporting by Kyiv newsroom and Reuters television, Writing by Timothy Heritage, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Doctors walk inside the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, in Mubende, Uganda (AP) Four health workers are among 10 people who have died after an Ebola outbreak in Uganda that is being monitored by US and UK health authorities. The eastern African nation will host a ministerial meeting on the outbreak of the Sudan strain of the virus which has no proven vaccine and has caused alarm in the region. Acting director Ahmed Ogwell told journalists on Thursday the three countries that suffered the West Africa outbreak of Ebola in 2014-16, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, also are invited to the meeting taking place on Wednesday next week. Relatives of a woman who died from Ebola prepare her grave in Kijavuzo village, Mubende district, Uganda (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Ugandan scientists and their partners abroad are looking to deploy one of two possible vaccines against the Sudan strain of Ebola, the WHO representative to Uganda told reporters Thursday. But there are only 100 doses of the vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Insitute, said Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam. These manufacturers are looking to produce more, he said. We do not have sufficient data to deploy it in a large (population) and the supply is not there. Currently the scientists are agreeing (on) scientific protocol for the study and as soon as the protocol is agreed ... I think the vaccine will be imported into Uganda. Hopefully within less than a week. Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed more than 200 people. Doctors stand in a circle to say a prayer before entering the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) There have been no Ebola cases from the outbreak reported outside Uganda. However the United States will begin screening travellers from the country as a precaution, the Biden administration said Thursday. The risk in the US is considered low and health officials described the screening move as an additional precaution. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it is currently monitoring the outbreak and confirmed there are currently no cases of the disease in the UK. Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Director of Clinical and Emerging Infection, said: UKHSA constantly monitors emerging infection threats in collaboration with partners across the world. Story continues We are aware of an outbreak of Ebola cases in Uganda and are monitoring the situation closely. The risk to the public in the UK is very low. Ebola is mainly spread through contact with blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person who is sick or died. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and sometimes bleeding. Additional reporting by AP In The Know by Yahoo Heartbreak High is TikToks latest obsession. The rebooted 90s Australian teen drama is a certified worldwide hit on Netflix. The series earned 33 million hours of viewing time and is the fifth most-watched series in English on Netflix this week. It also became one of the most-watched series on Netflix Australia within days of its debut on Sept. 14 and ranked on the top 10 lists of 45 other countries. Watch this living room that hasn't been updated since the '60s get a modern redesign: What is Heartbreak High? The original series aired in Australia from 1994 to 1999. According to ABC News, it was groundbreaking for its depictions of working-class Greek, Italian, Lebanese and South-East Asian teenagers. It followed a group of students at Hartley High as they navigated sex and relations. This time around, the 2022 version has a new cast of Australian characters who represent First Nations, LGBT, neurodiverse and disabled communities. Both versions are known for being rooted in Aussie culture, meaning lots of strong language, cultural references and slang. You can tell when a series is focusing on creating diversity and when a series is focusing on telling inclusive, complex and authentic stories, Whitney Monaghan, a media lecturer at Monash University, told ABC News. Heres what TikTok is saying about Heartbreak High. The Discover page on TikTok for Heartbreak High already has 12.4 billion views. Knowing that non-Aussies will never fully be able to enjoy Heartbreak High to its extent bc of all the little bits of slang + references, @chrisevanscake said in a video. This show is my obsession,@thiamera said, showing a club scene from the series. Its pretty clear that young people like @imurgency find its depictions of teen life relatable. This show is so real, I love it, they said. TikToker @meissa.com.au discussed Indigenous representation in the series and how its a drastic improvement from the 1990s version. See this tiny New York apartment get an impressive redesign in one day with a $1,000 budget: Story continues The post Heartbreak High is TikToks favorite Netflix show appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: This sweet bus named Honey has been converted into a whimsical tiny home The 15 best Columbus Day laptop sales to shop this weekend Dell, Lenovo, HP and more This super soft sheet set with over 12,500 ratings is on sale for $18 (!) at Wayfair Shop TikTok's favorite Prime Day beauty deals on Amazon before the big sale event Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over massive traffic slowdowns Friday afternoon at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. At around 4:30 p.m., long lines could be seen on the lower-level roadway. Passenger traffic is heavy at #CLTairport. Arrive at least two hours before your departure time. Expect significant delays up to and more than an hour on the lower-level roadway. CMPD is assisting with traffic. Drivers are encouraged to use Billy Graham Parkway as an alt route. pic.twitter.com/g9rbTIfed9 CLT Airport (@CLTAirport) October 7, 2022 Airport officials are advising people to arrive at least two hours before their departure time due to significant delays. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are also assisting with traffic. Drivers are also encouraged to use Billy Graham Parkway as an alternate route. >> Click here for alternate routes using our LIVE Traffic Map. ALSO READ: Departure drop-off area at airport temporarily closed for new canopy construction Last week, Channel 9 reported the departures drop-off area is closed while crews work on a large renovation project, including a canopy outside the airport. That means all passengers are being picked up and dropped off from the arrivals area currently. If all goes according to pan, the departure area will reopen Oct. 12. (WATCH BELOW: Bald eagle flies commercial at Charlotte Douglas) Rescue crews are shown working on the upturned hull of the USS Oklahoma, which was capsized in Pearl Harbor after being blasted by Japanese planes. Holes were burned through the hull to permit the rescue of some men trapped below. The USS Maryland is in the background, 12/7/1941 The last moments of life for Francis Leon Bud Hannon, a native of Middletown, Ind., came just before 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, when the USS Oklahoma was slammed by Japanese torpedoes. His last burial will be in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, according to the U.S. Navy, and with full military honors. The cemetery is located at the Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu and honors men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. Hannon's family kept "Bud" alive through the stories they'd tell, said Vanessa Helming, a cousin. Once his remains were identified on Aug. 28, 2017, with the help of the DNA obtained from a nephew, Helming and her daughter, Chrissie Pimentel, started researching how to obtain a military burial at the National Memorial Cemetery. Delaware County crime: Muncie woman charged after fellow inmates at Delaware County jail overdose "We all knew about Francis," said Helming, from Alexandria, Ind. "So when I was visiting my daughter, who lives in Hawaii, we toured the memorial and thought, we have to get Francis buried here. My daughter contacted the Navy. She just started calling." Pimentel, from Anderson, Ind., has lived in Honolulu for five years, the length of time it's taken to bring Hannon to his final resting place. The sailor had been considered Missing In Action for 75 years, until his remains were positively identified, Pimentel said. "Her husband is retired from the Air Force, so she knows a little bit about military dealings," Helming said of her daughter, The gap between identifying his remains and then scheduling a military burial resulted from the COVID-10 pandemic, said Gene Hughes, with the Navy Office of Community Outreach. Pandemic restrictions halted the scheduling of pending services. The military prefers to meet with families in person to discuss any plans, Hughes told the Star Press, and needed to wait until that option was available. Dave Weir, the commander of the American Legion Post in Middletown, and his wife are expected to join members of Hannon's family in attending the services. Story continues The efforts involved in making the service a reality were not lost on Helming, Hannon's first cousin once removed. "I want to say just how wonderful the Department of the Navy has been to us," Helming said. "They have all been so helpful in getting this done." Born Feb. 7, 1921, Hannon served as a shipfitter 3rd Class at the time of the attack on Hawaii's port, the surprise military strike that drew the United States into World War II. His skills, the Navy listed, included forging, welding and soldering to make repairs to the ship's structure. On Dec. 7, 1941, Phillip Hannon "Bud" Hannon's first cousin and Helming's father was waiting in California for Hannon to arrive. The two, "like brothers," Helming said, planned to spend their R&R together. "When he heard the news" about the attack on Pearl Harbor, Helming said, "he just knew. He knew in his heart that Francis was gone." Army veteran Phillip Hannon, who died in 1999, fought in World War II in the Philippines and New Guinea. "Bud" Hannon received several awards and decorations, including a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal. American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star), American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Having enlisted on Aug. 23, 1939, Hannon reported for duty aboard the USS Oklahoma in October 1939, by way of the Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Ill. Historians would document that some 429 officers and enlisted men from the USS Oklahoma died on Dec. 7, 1941, mostly when the ship capsized and they were trapped inside. It would take months for the ship to be righted and remains recovered, although some sailors, like Hannon, went unidentified for decades. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Henry County sailor killed at Pearl Harbor receiving military burial Hundreds of thousands of years ago, our *Homo sapiens* ancestors shared the landscape with multiple other hominins. The Washington Post via Getty Images When the first modern humans arose in East Africa sometime between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago, the world was very different compared to today. Perhaps the biggest difference was that we meaning people of our species, Homo sapiens were only one of several types of humans (or hominins) that simultaneously existed on Earth. From the well-known Neanderthals and more enigmatic Denisovans in Eurasia, to the diminutive hobbit Homo floresiensis on the island of Flores in Indonesia, to Homo naledi that lived in South Africa, multiple hominins abounded. Then, between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago, all but one type of these hominins disappeared, and for the first time we were alone. Until recently, one of the mysteries about human history was whether our ancestors interacted and mated with these other types of humans before they went extinct. This fascinating question was the subject of great and often contentious debates among scientists for decades, because the data needed to answer this question simply didnt exist. In fact, it seemed to many that the data would never exist. Svante Paabo, however, paid little attention to what people thought was or was not possible. His persistence in developing tools to extract, sequence and interpret ancient DNA enabled sequencing the genomes of Neanderthals, Denisovans and early modern humans who lived over 45,000 years ago. For developing this new field of paleogenomics, Paabo was awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This honor is not only well-deserved recognition for Paabos triumphs, but also for evolutionary genomics and the insights it can contribute toward a more comprehensive understanding of human health and disease. A simplified model of human evolution showing how humans are related to Neanderthals and Denisovans. Arrows between different branches show mating that occurred. Events that happened further back in time are closer to the top of the image. Joshua Akey, CC BY-ND Mixing and mating, revealed by DNA Genetic studies of living people over the past several decades revealed the general contours of human history. Our species arose in Africa, dispersing out from that continent around 60,000 years ago, ultimately spreading to nearly all habitable places on Earth. Other types of humans existed as modern humans migrated throughout the world, but the genetic data showed little evidence that modern humans mated with other hominins. Story continues Over the past decade, however, the study of ancient DNA, recovered from fossils up to around 400,000 years old, has revealed startling new twists and turns in the story of human history. For example, the Neanderthal genome provided the data necessary to definitively show that humans and Neanderthals mated. Non-African people alive today inherited about 2% of their genomes from Neanderthal ancestors, thanks to this kind of interbreeding. In one of the biggest surprises, when Paabo and his colleagues sequenced ancient DNA obtained from a small finger bone fragment that was assumed to be Neanderthal, it turned out to be an entirely unknown type of human, now called Denisovans. Humans and Denisovans also mated, with the highest levels of Denisovan ancestry present today between 4% and 6% in individuals of Oceanic ancestry. Strikingly, ancient DNA from a 90,000-year-old female revealed that she had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Although there are still many unanswered questions, the picture emerging from analyses of ancient and modern DNA is that not only did multiple hominins overlap in time and space, but that matings were relatively common. Does a Neanderthal in modern clothing makes it easier to imagine mingling with his species? picture alliance via Getty Images Archaic genes you carry today Estimating the proportion of ancestry that modern individuals have from Neanderthals or Denisovans is certainly interesting. But ancestry proportions provide limited information about the consequences of these ancient matings. For instance, does DNA inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans influence biological functions that occur within our cells? Does this DNA influence traits like eye color or susceptibility to disease? Were DNA sequences from our evolutionary cousins ever beneficial, helping humans adapt to new environments? To answer these questions, we need to identify the bits of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA scattered throughout the genomes of modern individuals. In 2014, my group and David Reichs group independently published the first maps of Neanderthal sequences that survive in the DNA of modern humans. Today, roughly 40% of the Neanderthal genome has been recovered not by sequencing ancient DNA recovered from a fossil, but indirectly by piecing together the Neanderthal sequences that persist in the genomes of contemporary individuals. Similarly, in 2016 my group and David Reichs group published the first comprehensive catalogs of DNA sequences in modern individuals inherited from Denisovan ancestors. Surprisingly, when we analyzed the Denisovan sequences that persist in people today, we discovered they came from two distinct Denisovan populations, and therefore at least two separate waves of matings occurred between Denisovans and modern humans. The analysis of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in modern humans reveals that some of their sequence was harmful and rapidly got purged from human genomes. In fact, the initial fraction of Neanderthal ancestry in humans who lived approximately 45,000 years ago was around 10%. That amount rapidly declined over a small number of generations to the 2% observed in contemporary individuals. The removal of deleterious archaic sequences also created large regions of the human genome that are significantly depleted of both Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestry. These deserts of archaic hominin sequences are interesting because they may help identify genetic changes that contribute to uniquely modern human traits, such as our capacity for language, symbolic thought and culture, although there is debate about just how unique these traits are to modern humans. In contrast, there are also sequences inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans that were advantageous, and helped modern humans adapt to new environments as they dispersed out of Africa. Neanderthal versions of several immune-related genes have risen to high frequency in several non-African populations, which likely helped humans fend off exposure to new pathogens. Similarly, a version of the EPAS1 gene, which contributes to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan populations, was inherited from Denisovans. It is also becoming clear that DNA sequences inherited from Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestors contribute to the burden of disease in present day individuals. Neanderthal sequences have been shown to influence both susceptibility to and protection against severe COVID-19. Archaic hominin sequences have also been shown to influence susceptibility to depression, Type 2 diabetes and celiac disease among others. Ongoing studies will undoubtedly reveal more about how Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestry contributes to human disease. Svante Paabos work built the foundation of the new field of paleogenomics. Jens Schluete via Getty Images News I was a graduate student when the Human Genome Project was nearing completion a little over two decades ago. I was drawn to genetics because I found it fascinating that, by analyzing the DNA of present-day individuals, you could learn aspects about a populations history that occurred tens of thousands of years ago. Today, I am just as fascinated by the stories contained in our DNA, and the work of Svante Paabo and his colleagues has enabled these stories to be told in a way that simply was not possible before. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Joshua Akey, Princeton University. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. Read more: Joshua Akey receives funding from NIH. You are here: China The 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its seventh plenary session on Friday. Participants at the session reviewed and approved a CCDI work report to the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress, according to a communique released after the plenum. The communique said the report will be submitted to the seventh plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which will open on Oct. 9, for deliberation. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, addressed the meeting. A total of 129 CCDI members attended the session, and two other attendees were present in a non-voting capacity. The Washington Post reported stunning news on Thursday federal investigators believe they have a chargeable case against Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden. Even more interestingly, they have felt that the case is sufficient to go to court for the past several months, according to the Post. Its problematic news for the president just one month before voters are set to determine control of the House and Senate in this years crucial midterm elections. At stake is Joe Bidens ability to pass any meaningful policy-based legislation for the next two years. Theres also the probability that whoever challenges Mr Biden presuming he runs again in 2024 will bring up the issue of his son in a more effective manner than did Donald Trump in 2020. Thats even given the likely possibility that it will be Mr Trump himself who runs again: Thursdays news allows Republicans to easily refine their edge when attacking Mr Bidens family personally. But what does Thurdsays report from the Post really mean for Hunter Biden and his fathers Republican enemies, and where does this likely go from here? What is Hunter accused of doing wrong? Depends on who you ask. There are no federal or state charges against him yet, and the only news of what the Justice Departments focus has been comes from leaks from the probe itself to news organisations like the Post. Those leaks, while infuriating to the younger Mr Bidens team, have indicated that investigators are honing in on two potential subjects: lying on a form used in the process of purchasing a firearm, and tax issues related to his revenues from overseas businesses. Its far short of everything Donald Trump and his Republican allies have accused him of committing during Mr Bidens time as vice president and beyond. Its also far short of everything we know he could be prosecuted for, given the numerous pictures and anecdotes of Hunter doing crack cocaine as part of a years-long addiction to the illegal narcotic. Story continues But they remain serious felonies nonetheless and could result in Mr Bidens son facing massive fines or even jail time should he be convicted of either. What about those other accusations from the GOP? The scope of the Posts report does not even begin to touch on all the various crimes GOP politicians, including most notably Donald Trump, have laid at the feet of Hunter Biden for years. Republicans have long alleged that a so-called laptop from hell a computer thought to have been once owned by Hunter Biden contains evidence that Mr Biden was involved in his sons foreign business affairs as vice president. Separately, theyve also allegd that those business practices themselves were illegitimate. As a result, far-right members of the GOP like Marjorie Taylor Greene have alleged that the result has been Joe Biden being blackmailed over the contents of the laptop. Ms Greene personally has alleged that both Ukraine and Russia, two opposing sides of a brutal war in eastern Europe, are blackmailing the president. Those claims of blackmail and a supposedly compromised president are Ms Greenes rationale for five separate articles of impeachment she has filed since taking office. What happens next? If Mr Bidens son is charged with a crime, it likely wont happen before November, given the DOJs hesitance to make politically-charged moves before elections. It will likely come over the next two years, as Mr Biden prepares for a potential reelection bid in 2024 and braces for inevitable GOP attacks centred on his sons troubles. Besides the criminal penalties of being found guilty, Hunter Bidens legal troubles could cost Mr Biden his trustworthy image ahead of an important reelection fight versus (most likely) a revenge-seeking Donald Trump, who will have had four years to refine the message that failed to land with voters in 2020 when he referred to Mr Bidens family as a criminal enterprise. Should the DoJ decide against charging Mr Bidens son, the decision could have the adverse effect of enraging Mr Trumps diehard supporters once again and further diminishing the independence of the Justice Department in the eyes of Republicans. Complicating the issue for the agency is the FBIs recent raid of Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into presidential records, including classified documents up to the top secret level. The investigation into Donald Trumps supposed illegal retention of those documents has enraged Republicans and drawn accusations of political targeting. The road ahead for the Justice Department remains fraught with political perils not just for the Biden family but for Americas federal law enforcement agencies themselves. Some of the famed stone heads of Easter Island have been damaged in a massive wildfire. The moai are totally charred, Ariki Tepano, director of the indigenous Mau Henua community, said on social media, per the BBC. He called the damage to the sacred monuments irreparable and with consequences beyond what your eyes can see. Easter Island statues damaged by fire https://t.co/Gip3vYB7xX BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 7, 2022 The island, known to its indigenous people as Rapa Nui and in Spanish as Isla de Pascua, is part of Chile. Carolina Perez, the Chilean cultural heritage undersecretary, said the fire ripped through nearly 250 acres where several hundred moai are located, according to RTE. Lamentamos este grave incendio en #RapaNui en el volcan Rano Raraku, con afectacion al Sitio de Patrimonio Mundial. Hace solo dos dias, el fuego arraso mas de 100 hectareas en la isla. Ofrecemos todo nuestro apoyo al alcalde de @Muni_Rapanui, Pedro Edmuns Paoa. pic.twitter.com/PgVowJbSBA Carolina Perez Dattari (@caroperezdattar) October 5, 2022 The damage caused by the fire cant be undone, Pedro Edmunds Pao, mayor of Easter Island, told local media, according to AFP. The cause of the fire isnt known. Numerous famous moai statues irreparably damaged after a forest grass fire swept through Rapa Nui National park in Chile's Easter Island pic.twitter.com/pA9f20RpRM TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 7, 2022 The damage is incalculable because there is no recovery for the cracking of an original and emblematic stone, no matter how many millions of euros or dollars they put into it, Edmunds Paoa told local Radio Bio Bio, Chinas state-run Xinhua news reported. Story continues Forest fires spread across Chile's Easter Island causing damage to sacred Moai statues and affected an area of 60 hectares, authorities said | Read more: https://t.co/DoIaJJUmu7pic.twitter.com/LnXq71AWXA RTE News (@rtenews) October 7, 2022 Rapa Nui National Park is a protected World Heritage site with a history of human settlement dating back to approximately 300 AD, according to UNESCO. Most of the roughly 900 stone heads the island is known for were created between the 10th and 16th centuries. Its not clear how many were damaged in the blaze. "Es irrecuperable": Moais terminaron totalmente calcinados tras incendios forestales en Rapa Nui https://t.co/NvXtxvDVP1 BioBioChile (@biobio) October 6, 2022 Local firefighters posted images on Facebook showing some of the damage. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. NORMAL Debate season is officially underway in the Illinois governor race, with both Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey alleging lies Thursday from their opponent on seemingly every topic. Thursday's one-hour debate was the first time the candidates shared the stage at the same time, although previously taking part in a forum with the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Association and the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable. Under the bright lights, the candidates did not shy away from theatrics often talking over their opponent and Bailey at one point revealing a paper for Pritzker to sign vowing not to seek higher office if selected for another four-year term. There has been speculation of a Pritzker presidential campaign after he made visits to New Hampshire and Florida, but the governor denied those allegations and said he would support President Joe Biden in 2024. Held at Illinois State University, many of the prominent themes of the campaign season reasserted itself starting with the SAFE-T Act before progressing to the budget, education, abortion and more. SAFE-T Act, gun violence and law enforcement According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois had a murder rate of 11.2 per 100,000 residents in 2020 which is among the highest in the country. Republicans have claimed the SAFE-T Act, a 764-page bill signed into law by Pritzker in 2021, would further exacerbate this status. The legislation has already made reforms to use of force standards and requires all law enforcement departments to have body cameras by 2025, but its most-noted provision is the end of cash bail. Related:Sangamon County state's attorney, sheriff file lawsuit against Illinois Cash bail ends in Illinois effective Jan. 1, 2023, and unlike Republicans, Pritzker says the provision will make Illinoisans safe under the new system. He is also in favor of making assault weapons illegal in the state. Story continues "The criminal justice system that Darren Bailey and Republicans are standing up for is one that allows murderers and rapists and domestic abusers to buy their way out of jail," the governor said, adding the act has the support of victim rights organizations throughout the state. "That's unsafe for our families, for our neighborhoods." Republican gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Darren Bailey delivers his speech after winning the 2022 primary election. Bailey again repeated the claim that 100 out of 102 state's attorneys are opposed to the act and touted his endorsements from law enforcement. He is in favor of a full repeal of the SAFE-T Act, but did say he would have supported bail reform for non-violent offenders. The present alternative, the Xenia Republican said, creates a "revolving doors" system for criminals to avoid pretrial detention. "The SAFE-T Act was concocted at 4 a.m., in the wee hours of the morning, without any police involvement whatsoever," he said, a claim denied by Pritzker. Pritzker was asked on multiple occasions both during and after the debate in the spin room whether he support any further reform to the legislation, which has already been done so twice. Clarifications, he said, are needed but would not specify exactly what was needed when questioned by WCIA-TV news anchor Jennifer Roscoe. "I think every law that gets passed is one that deserves to be examined to see whether there should be amendments or updates," he said following the debate, mentioning one such reform introduced by Champaign Democrat state Sen. Scott Bennett. The endorsement of Bailey by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police earlier this year marked the the first time the group endorsed a governor in a general election. Still, Pritzker attacked his opponent's record when it comes to funding these departments. A total of $2 billion to police and municipalities has been provided during his administration, the governor said. Claims that he is "defunding" police are not true, but rather Pritzker said it was Bailey's voting record of opposing increased hiring of law enforcement that would be defunding. Budget Republicans, in their long-seated opposition to the SAFE-T Act, introduced a new angle to their position earlier this week saying it would increase property taxes. Regarding property taxes, which covers 60% of public school funding, Bailey suggested a zero-based budget as a solution. Under the current administration, he claims how Pritzker has used the budget has led to businesses such as Caterpillar and Tyson Foods leaving the state. "When there's a problem, JB just happily throws cash at the problem without any accountability or transparency," he said, mentioning specifically the governor's police funding methodology. The governor painted a rosier depiction of the state's economy, championing the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan and tax relief initiatives such as the freezing of the gas tax and tax rebates. Other companies have set up shop in Illinois as well, Pritzker said, including Amazon and the number of small businesses is on the rise. More:Have you received your money? How to check the status of your Illinois tax rebate "If we keep balancing the budget, we can make tax cuts permanent," he said, listing a closing of corporate loopholes bringing in $700 million to the state. The candidates were also asked on the status of prior legislation, both those that passed and failed. For Bailey, the question was whether he would support the repealing of the state's $15 minimum wage. While not agreeing with it, the senator's response did not suggest any changes on that front. "People have made their adjustments to the $15 minimum wage," he said, although this will not be the state minimum wage until 2025. The governor was asked whether he would take up the progressive tax initiative, a measure that ultimately failed in the 2020 election. In response, Pritzker said he would not revisit it in another term. Abortion Since the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision, access to reproductive health services has been a topic of growing concern for voters in Illinois and nationwide. In the time following, Pritzker called for a special session to be convened which has yet to happen and comments from a 2017 Bailey Facebook livestream resurfaced. Made during an eventual successful run for the Illinois House of Representatives, Bailey compared the lives lost to the Holocaust to the number of abortions since the 1973 legalization through the Supreme Court's Roe decision. Although first issuing a statement saying he did not intend to "diminish the atrocities of the Holocaust," Bailey has since gone on to say Jewish leaders were in agreement with the sentiment. WGN-TV news anchor Tahman Bradley asked the Republican to identify any specific leaders who told him this several times, but the candidate declined to name names. Pritzker again promoted the Reproductive Health Act, legislation he signed into law in 2019 that permits any individual to make "autonomous decisions about the individual's own reproductive health." Under Bailey's leadership, he warned that this right could be taken away. "Nothing is going to change when I'm governor," Bailey said in response. "I couldn't change them if I could." Who won the Illinois governor's debate? Much public speculation has been made regarding the debate's winner and, perhaps not surprisingly, it depends on who you ask. Bailey's response in the spin room following the conclusion of the debate was quite brief and did not come directly from the candidate. Strolling into the room, cowboy hat and all, was Bailey's communications director Joe DeBose, who addressed reporters for no more than 30 seconds. "We won and winners don't need spin," DeBose said. Pritzker's post-debate media availability was longer and he appeared in person. He continued, as both candidates did during the debate, alleging their opponent was untruthful. "Darren Bailey, frankly, was lying about so many things during the night," he said. "You couldn't take the time, I couldn't, to correct every mistake, every lie that he was putting forward and so I had to ignore a number of them." The most recent polls were all gathered prior to Thursday's debate, but all indicate that Pritzker has the lead. Even two polls sponsored by the People Who Play by the Rule, a political action committee created by Dan Proft and funded by right-wing activist Richard Uihlein, show the Democrat with five- and eight-point leads. Pritzker also has a 15-point lead in a poll conducted by Emerson College/WGN-TV/The Hill. The second and final debate is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Chicago. This story has been updated to correctly report Gov. JB Pritzker's stance on assault weapons. Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Pritzker vs Bailey debate: What to know after first IL governor debate Staffline Group plc (LON:STAF), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the AIM, rising to highs of UK0.47 and falling to the lows of UK0.37. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Staffline Group's current trading price of UK0.38 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Staffline Groups outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for Staffline Group What Is Staffline Group Worth? According to my valuation model, Staffline Group seems to be fairly priced at around 8.7% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Staffline Group today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth 0.42, then theres not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Staffline Groups beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What does the future of Staffline Group look like? Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to more than double over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Staffline Group. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in STAFs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on STAF, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. If you want to dive deeper into Staffline Group, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Staffline Group you should be mindful of and 1 of these is a bit concerning. If you are no longer interested in Staffline Group, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Iran said Friday an investigation into the death in custody of Mahsa Amini found she lost her life to illness rather than reported beatings that sparked three weeks of bloody protests. Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. Anger over her death has triggered the biggest wave of protests to rock Iran in almost three years and a crackdown that has killed dozens of protesters and seen scores arrested. Despite security personnel using lethal force, the women-led protests have continued for 21 consecutive nights, according to online videos verified by AFP. Iran's Forensic Organization said Friday that "Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body". The death of Amini, whose Kurdish first name is Jhina, was related to "surgery for a brain tumour at the age of eight", it said in a statement. Amini's bereaved parents have filed a complaint against the officers involved, and one of her cousins living in Iraq has told AFP she died of "a violent blow to the head". Other young women and girls have lost their lives at the protests, but rights group Amnesty International says Iran has been forcing televised confessions out of their families to "absolve themselves of responsibility for their deaths". - 'Suicide' - The mother of 16-year-old Nika Shahkarami, who died after going missing on September 20, insisted on Thursday she was killed by the state after joining an anti-hijab protest in Tehran. Nasrin Shahkarami also accused the authorities of threatening her to make a forced confession over her daughter's death. "I saw my daughter's body myself... The back of her head showed she had suffered a very severe blow as her skull had caved in. That's how she was killed," she said in a video posted online by Radio Farda, a US-funded Persian station based in Prague. Story continues Iran's judiciary has since denied reports the security forces killed another teenage girl, Sarina Esmailzadeh, at a rally in Karaj, west of Tehran last month. Its website quoted a prosecutor as saying an investigation showed Esmailzadeh, also 16, had "committed suicide" by jumping from a building. Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights said the Esmailzadeh family had come under heavy pressure from government agents to "force them to repeat the suicide state narrative". It said that when the family was asked to identify the teenager's body, "multiple injuries were clearly visible on her face and the right side of her forehead was completely crushed due to the severity of the blows". In a widening crackdown, Iran has blocked access to social media, including Instagram and WhatsApp, and launched a campaign of mass arrests. Protesters have sought ways to avoid detection, with schoolgirls hiding or blurring their faces while shouting "Death to the dictator" and defacing images of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in verified videos. Other footage has shown people chanting the protest catchcry "Woman, Life, Freedom!" from their apartment windows under the cover of night. Another form of protest emerged on Friday morning, with fountains in Tehran appearing to pour blood after an artist turned their waters red to reflect the deadly crackdown. The BBC's Persian service said the water was later drained, although traces of red could still be seen on the fountains in images it published on Instagram. - 'Toll far higher' - The street violence that ensued across Iran, dubbed "riots" by the authorities, has led to dozens of deaths -- mostly of protesters but also of members of the security forces. Iran Human Rights says at least 92 protesters have been killed so far. A joint letter signed by 21 mainly Iranian human rights groups called on US President Joe Biden to go further to hold Iranian officials to account. "More urgently needs to be done by the world's leading democratic power to support the people of Iran, discourage further state violence, and address the long history of atrocities and impunity in that country," the rights groups said. Despite the government's crackdown, the demonstrations have continued in towns and cities nationwide. "Death to the dictator," a group of young women can be heard chanting in the northern city of Rasht in a video posted online Thursday and verified by AFP. Amnesty has verified the deaths of 52 people killed by the security forces, but says it believes the "real death toll is far higher". burs-dv-kir/lg By William James and Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -Britain and Ireland on Friday said that the mood had improved around talks to resolve a post-Brexit row over trade involving the British province of Northern Ireland. Following a lengthy stalemate, Britain and the European Union resumed talks this week on how to fix problems with the Brexit divorce deal relating to the flow of goods between Britain, Northern Ireland and European Union member Ireland. Talks have been given new impetus by the election of Liz Truss as British leader and a looming deadline in Northern Ireland, where the row has stopped a devolved administration from being formed and which may trigger fresh elections. Rifts between Britain and the EU increased when Britain proposed to effectively tear up parts of the Brexit divorce deal with a bill that is currently moving through parliament. Speaking after an Anglo-Irish conference in London, Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney said that conversations with Britain had improved recently and there was a genuine effort to solve the problems which had emerged after Brexit. "I think the conversations we're having now with the British government certainly suggest to me that we are in a different space now, one we haven't been in for quite some time, where there is a genuine effort ... on actually how we can solve these problems together," Coveney told reporters. The conference between senior British and Irish ministers was not directly linked to the Brexit trade negotiations. Britain's Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris said Britain was entering into the technical talks with the EU in "good faith and good humour", while Coveney said those discussions had gone "reasonably well" after restarting this week, though neither went into detail. Heaton-Harris said he hoped a deal could be reached which meant he did not have to execute Britain's back-up plan to take unilateral action and override the Brexit deal. Story continues He reiterated that he was required in law to call fresh elections in Northern Ireland unless rival parties there agreed to form a power-sharing executive by Oct. 28. While both said progress on the protocol could help re-establish the executive, Heaton-Harris said it was "fool's gold" to talk about timelines, and Coveney said it was "completely unrealistic" for everything to be agreed in three weeks. "The starting point here is to build a bit of trust," Coveney said. "Now we need to move to the next step, which is the difficult stuff." (Reporting by William James, Muvija M and Alistair Smout; Editing by Sarah Young, Michael Holden, William Maclean) A forest fire that ripped through part of Easter Island this week has charred some of its towering iconic carved stone figures, Chilean officials reported. The blaze broke out Monday and swept through at least 247 acres of the Rapa Nui National Park, which covers a little less than half of the island, officials there said. "The damage to some of the giant head statues is irreparable and with consequences beyond what your eyes can see, Ariki Tepano, director of the administration and maintenance of the park, wrote on Facebook Wednesday. More than 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile, Easter Island is one of the world's most isolated inhabited islands. It's famous for the enormous stone statues known as moai, which were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries by the Rapa Nui people. The towering stones stand 6 to 65 feet tall and were built by Eastern Polynesian settlers who created an unrivaled landscape that continues to fascinate people throughout the world, according to UNESCO. A forest fire that ripped through part of Easter Island charred some of its towering iconic carved stone figures, Chilean officials reported. The blaze, caused by the nearby Rano Raraku volcano, started Oct. 3. A forest fire caused by the nearby Rano Raraku volcano, started Oct. 3 and swept through 247 acres of the Rapa Nui National Park, which covers about 40 percent of the island and charred some of Easter Island's towering iconic carved stone figures, Chilean officials reported. Stone statues of the Rapa Nui culture on the Ahu Tongariki site on Easter Island off the Chilean coast in the Pacific Ocean on August 12, 2013. In an interview with Radio PAUTA, the mayor of Rapa Nui, Pedro Edmunds Paoa, said he suspected arson. Paoa, said that he believed the fire was not an accident and that all the fires on Rapa Nui are caused by human beings. The mayor also criticized the Chilean government for not allocating enough resources to protect the site. "There is no money to prevent fires on Easter Island in the more than 32,000 archaeological sites. To prevent fire, we need to have guards permanently at the sites, he told PAUTA. USA TODAY could not immediately reach Tepano or Paoa for comment Friday morning. A forest fire, caused by the nearby Rano Raraku volcano, charred some of Easter Island's towering iconic carved stone figures, Chilean officials reported. In a Facebook post, presidential delegate Juliette Hotus expressed concern over the destruction of Rapa Nui's "material heritage." "We are asking for the necessary tools, but if we do not have the collaboration of the community we will not move forward, so I call to denounce and not continue with these practices," Hotus said in the Facebook post. Story continues The site was closed to visitors this week while local responders investigated the damage. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Easter Island fire chars famous towering Moai statues, arson suspected JERUSALEM (AP) The Israeli army fatally shot two Palestinian teenagers during confrontations in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The teenagers were among the more than 100 Palestinians killed in the territory so far in 2022 the deadliest spasm of violence in seven years. The ministry identified the two Palestinians, killed in separate episodes, as 14-year-old Adel Daoud, shot in the head at Israel's separation barrier near the northern Palestinian town of Qalqilya, and 17-year-old Mahdi Ladadweh, shot during clashes in a village northwest of Ramallah. Rights groups accuse Israeli forces of using excessive force in their dealings with the Palestinians, particularly young men, without being held accountable. The military says it contends with complex, life-threatening scenarios. On the fatal shooting near Qalqilya, the army said that troops opened fire in response to a suspect hurling molotov cocktails at them. On the outburst of violence near Ramallah, the army said it encountered protesters who hurled rocks toward an Israeli settlement and Israeli forces. One soldier was wounded by a stone thrown at his head. Israeli security forces said they responded with live fire toward two protesters, wounding one who required medical treatment. The army said it was aware of reports of his death. It also accused Palestinians of violently confronting and attempting to steal the weapon of one of the Israeli soldiers trying to evacuate the wounded boy for medical treatment. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 50 Palestinians were wounded in clashes in the village of Al Mazraa al-Gharbiya near Ramallah, as the Israeli army fired live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Crowds of Palestinians gathered outside the Ramallah hospital where Ladadweh was pronounced dead, chanting against Israel. Palestinian media quoted residents saying that the clashes with Israeli security forces erupted as dozens of Palestinians in Al Mazraa al-Gharbiya came out to protest incursions and attacks on the village by Israeli settlers. Story continues Violence has sharply escalated in the West Bank over the last several months, largely due to a surge in Israeli arrest raids after a spate of Palestinian attacks within Israel killed 19 people last spring, some of which were carried out by Palestinians from the West Bank. Israel says its operations aim to dismantle militant infrastructure and prevent future attacks, and that it has been forced to act because of the ineffectiveness of Palestinian security forces. For Palestinians, the nightly raids into their cities, villages and towns have entrenched Israeli control over lands Palestinians want for their hoped-for state. Most of those killed are said by Israel to have been militants. But local youths protesting the incursions as well as some civilians have also been killed in the violence. Hundreds have been rounded up, with many placed in so-called administrative detention, which allows Israel to hold them without trial or charge. The violence is also fueled by deepening disillusionment and anger among young Palestinians over the tight security coordination between Israel and the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority, which work together to apprehend militants. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and 500,000 Jewish settlers now live in some 130 settlements and other outposts among nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want that territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for their future state. In addition to a train ticket, Friuli Venezia Giulia will also give travelers an FVGcard, which includes discounts to various attractions. Flavio Vallenari/Getty Images A region in Italys northeastern corner is covering tourists' train fare to visit in an effort to promote sustainable travel. The Friuli Venezia Giulia region, which includes cities like Trieste and Udine, will refund travelers Trenitalia train tickets to boost tourism, according to the region. The promotion is valid now through May 31, 2023. Choose your sustainable holiday, reach Friuli Venezia Giulia by train! the region wrote on its website. Book in one of the affiliated facilities in Grado, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Udine, and Trieste, and Friuli Venezia Giulia gives you the train ticket! In addition to covered train fare, the region will also give all travelers an FVGcard, which includes discounts and free tickets to many attractions to enjoy your holiday following your passions! In Trieste, for example, travelers will be able to visit a Banksy exhibition at the Salone degli Incanti at a reduced rate from November through April 2023 as well as receive free access to other museums and cultural institutions. In Lignano Sabbiadoro, which sits just east of Venice, travelers can take advantage of a great beach town along the Adriatic Sea. Peter Adams/Getty Images And in Udine, travelers can indulge in the ritual of tajut, or having a glass of wine enjoyed with company, known throughout the region. As part of the promotion, travelers must stay in the region for at least two nights, according to CNN. Travelers must also book a package that includes accommodations at a participating hotel. The cost of the train ticket will then be deducted from the package total. In addition to this deal, Trenitalia which operates more than 10,000 miles of railway lines in Italy offers a "Trenitalia Pass" to foreign citizens visiting the country, allowing them to travel on multiple trips (think: three trips in 7 days) for as low as 129. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. ROME As it expands its fleet of sensor-loaded Gulfstream jets, the Italian Air Force has set its sights on acquiring the Compass Call electronic-attack variant now being test-flown for the United States, the services chief has said. Italy already operates two Gulfstream G550 business jets converted for early warning missions (CAEW) and has ordered two more with signals-intelligence capabilities, as well as six other unconverted G550s which are yet to be officially given a role. Air Force chief Gen. Luca Goretti told Defense News that those six aircraft would become a mix of CAEW and Compass Call aircraft, meaning Italy will have a ten-strong G550 fleet divided into three different variants. Test flights are now being undertaken in the United States of a G550 converted into an EC-37B Compass Call electronic-attack jet, following a U.S. Air Force contract handed to L3Harris Technologies in 2017, with ten jets to be initially acquired. The deal involves transferring electronic-attack systems into G550s from aging EC-130H aircraft which have been in service for decades with the U.S. Air Force and cannot manage the speed and altitude of the more modern Gulfstream. The systems on Compass Call aircraft are designed to disrupt enemy command and control communications, radars and navigation systems. Adapting the G550 involves modifying the aircrafts exterior and installing radomes and antennas. Italy would need U.S. approval before obtaining Compass Call G550s. The two Gulfstream G550s Italy flies now in Conformal Airborne Early Warning, or CAEW, format were purchased from Israels IAI in 2012 as part of a swap deal under which Israel purchased 30 M-346 trainers from Italian firm Leonardo. Thanks to a 2020 Foreign Military Sales deal with the U.S. worth $500 million Italy is now set to receive two more G550s in a type of signals-intelligence (SIGINT) format dubbed Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW). Story continues With L3Harris as prime contractor, the United States listed likely on-board kit for the AISREW aircraft including the L3Harris Rio communications intelligence system (COMINT), the MX-20HD electro-optical turret from the same firm and the Osprey 50 radar by Italys Leonardo, which offers synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator functions. Italian officials have said the electro-optical and radar capability make the Italian aircraft more than SIGINT jets. That leaves the six unconverted G550s Italy has also purchased, which Goretti said he aims to be converted to both Compass Call and CAEW format. The two CAEWs operated by Italy have proved really useful and efficient during the Ukraine conflict because they can loiter, and they can avoid the need to use larger assets like the NATO AWACS aircraft, which means a saving, he said. We will buy more to cover multiple theaters, from missions undertaken with our allies to our national interests in the south to Kuwait, he added. (Bloomberg) -- The composition of Italys incoming right-wing government, likely under Giorgia Meloni, is still far from certain with just a week to go before the opening of the new parliament. The far-right leader is keen to form a credible cabinet to reassure investors and allies concerned about the countrys debt, an energy crunch and the potential failure to secure 200 billion of European Union funds. Moodys Investors Services on Wednesday warned that delaying reforms needed to keep European money flowing and modernizing Italys economy may lead to a rating downgrade. Yet, the refusal by Fabio Panetta to accept the key finance ministry post has thrown Melonis plans somewhat into disarray. She had been counting on the European Central Bank board member to take the job, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing confidential conversations. Meloni will come under pressure to find an alternative quickly, if she wants to speed up the transition from the outgoing administration led by Mario Draghi. The first session of the new parliament, where Melonis coalition has a comfortable majority, is scheduled for Oct. 13. There was hope that the new government would be in place as early as Oct. 20, in time for a meeting of EU leaders. That timeline was always going to be too ambitious and, according to Italian media, Meloni has said she wont be attending as premier. Melonis Options Amid mounting inflation and recession risks, Meloni will still seek to appoint a respected technocrat -- rather than a politician -- as finance chief. With Panetta out of the picture, the option of confirming the incumbent, Bank of Italy veteran Daniele Franco, is gaining traction. Another option is Domenico Siniscalco, who held the post in 2004-05 under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Outsiders include Luigi Buttiglione, a former Bank of Italy official who has spent the past two decades in finance, and Dario Scannapieco, the head of state-backed lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA. Story continues Besides the finance ministry, another key post is that of energy. Roberto Cingolani, a scientist currently serving as ecological transition minister, is held in high regard by Meloni but probably wont be willing to stay on, Corriere della Sera reported on Thursday. The role is crucial to ensuring Italy remains on course to wean itself off Russian gas this winter without being forced to impose blackouts. Among the names touted in Italian media for the post is the chief executive officer of Eni SpA, Claudio Descalzi, but that would mean depriving the oil giant of its leader just as it works with the government to secure gas supplies from Algeria to Egypt. Also read: Italy Secures Enough Supplies for Winter Without Russia Gas The clock is ticking. The new government will have to immediately start working on a budget law must be approved by Dec 31. By that date it will also have to complete at least 26 of the 55 targets required to ensure the disbursement of the next tranche of EU funds in early 2023. To be sure, Meloni will have some leeway when it comes to spending, especially if she wants to deliver on promises to shield families and business from higher energy costs. Draghi is leaving the next government with a spending cushion of about 9 billion, thanks to better-than-expected growth. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Jack Phillips and Autumn Scardina Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who took a religious refusals case involving a gay couple to the U.S. Supreme Court, is appealing a discrimination ruling on his refusal to make a cake celebrating a transgender womans transition. Autumn Scardina had sued Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, after he declined to provide the transition cake in 2017. It was to be pink with blue frosting. Phillipss wife initially accepted the order for the cake, but Scardina revealed the purpose for the design, and the bakery turned her down. Phillips, a conservative Christian, said he would not promote the idea that a persons sex is anything other than an immutable God-given biological reality and that being forced to do so would violate his free speech rights. Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones ruled in June 2021 that Phillips violated Colorados antidiscrimination law, which bans discrimination. based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Jones fined Phillips $500. Phillips filed an appeal of the ruling Wednesday with the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Associated Press reports. Im faithful and hopeful that the court continues to respect Colorados standing laws that say all people should be entitled to goods and services on an equal basis and that the rights and dignities of LGBTQ people be maintained, Scardina said Wednesday, according to TV station KDVR. But Phillips said, This is not just about Masterpiece Cakeshop. This is about the rights of all Americans. He said the shop cannot create every message that people ask us to create. It refuses some other orders, such as cakes with insulting messages, erotic cakes, or Halloween ones. Phillips had previously run afoul of the state law when he refused to make a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple several years ago, saying that to do so would violate his Christian beliefs and therefore his First Amendment rights of religious expression and free speech. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled that he had violated the antidiscrimination statute, but the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case in 2017, and in 2018 it vacated the commissions decision, saying the commission had not shown sufficient respect for Phillipss religious beliefs. Story continues The high court, however, did not rule that there was a general right to discriminate when customers requests offended a business owners beliefs. The justices simply said, in a 7-2 ruling, that government bodies must treat religion neutrally. The question of religious refusals will be before the court again in this term, as it will hear a case in which a website designer wants to preemptively refuse to create wedding sites for same-sex couples. The designer, Lorie Smith, also of Colorado, is represented by the anti-LGBTQ+ Alliance Defending Freedom, the same legal nonprofit that represents Phillips in the Scardina case and represented him at the Supreme Court. It will be a very different Supreme Court than the one Phillips faced in 2017. With the deaths of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia and the retirement of Anthony Kennedy, Donald Trump had the opportunity to appoint three justices, all of whom are ultraconservative, so the court has a 6-3 conservative majority. The court in 2017 had a 4-4 split of liberals and conservatives, with Kennedy being the hard-to-predict swing justice. U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California Police are searching for a self-described exotic erotic zookeeper who allegedly sold a baby jaguar for $30,000 on the sidelines of a Houston car show in 2021, and then drove it across state lines. Several potential buyers looked at the animal at a hotel near the show, including one who later told police the cub appeared to become very sick and started splatter pooping everywhere. Trisha Mimi Denise Meyer, 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, a week after The Daily Beast first reported on her case. She is currently at large, according to local media reports. Police did arrest the 34-year-old buyer, Abdul Manny Rahman, who said Meyer gave him a $5,000 discount due to a dispute over a marmoset he bought from Meyer. According to the complaint published on Law & Crime, the monkey was crazy and Rahman eventually abandoned it. The marmoset was so difficult to care for that they looked for an exotic animal dealer in Las Vegas and ultimately found a pet shop that sold other marmosets, the complaint states. They asked the owner to temporarily take care of the marmoset for them and then they never went back, effectively abandoning the marmoset in Las Vegas. Both Rahman and Meyer are charged with interstate transportation of an endangered species in the course of commercial activity, trafficking prohibited wildlife species and trafficking endangered species, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles. Texas Mom Once Busted Over House Full of Tigers Is in Hot Water Again Rahman kept the cub for less than two months before selling it to a man identified in court documents as H.G. for $20,000, who was also arrested but eventually cooperated with authorities. Court documents say that H.G. wanted to get rid of the animal after his pregnant partner gave birth and friends grew concerned the growing jaguar might pose a danger to the baby. The arrest document says that H.G. intended to kill the endangered animal, but was convinced by a friend to take it to the Lions and Tigers and Bears animal shelter in San Diego county, where the jaguar remains. Story continues When police were notified about the abandoned endangered species, a detective set about trying to trace the original seller after a worker at the shelter said she had previously seen the jaguar on Instagram posts popular with exotic animal collectors. The special agent then traced the Instagram accounts to a man who rented the house to H.G., who had posted numerous photographs and videos of the live jaguar being held and played with by H.G. over many months and consecutive days on Instagram, according to the complaint. The agent then cross-referenced the photos with real estate advertisements for properties owned by the man who posted the photos, and was able to conclude with the help of a specialist at the San Diego zoo that the abandoned jaguar was the same one in the social media posts, which led to the grand jury indictment. Testimony from H.G. led the agent to Rahman and Meyer and the car show in Houston where Meyer made the original deal with Rahman. Several witnesses told the agent that they had seen her peddling the tiny jaguar cub. Meyer faces up to eight years in federal prison and a $700,000 fine. Rahman faces seven years in prison and a $600,000 fine if convicted. They are scheduled to appear in court November 9. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. For years, Jan Broberg believed she had been chosen for a valuable mission. The 12-year-old allegedly had been convinced by close family friend Robert Berchtold, known as Brother B to the family, that she had been specially chosen to save an alien planet and would only need to get pregnant by Berchtold to fulfill the mission. Broberg learned of her supposed task after being kidnapped by Berchtold, who she has said drugged her while on the way to a horseback riding lesson. She woke up strapped to a bed as she faded in and out of consciousness and a voice coming from a small box in the room told her she had been identified as the chosen person to save their dying alien planet. Her mission involved getting impregnated by her male companion before she reached the age of 16 in order to give birth to a special child, according to The Idaho State Journal. RELATED: Where Is Jan Broberg From Peacock's 'A Friend Of The Family' Now? Broberg, one of three daughters born to Bob and Mary Ann Broberg in Pocatello, Idaho, was threatened that if she didnt fulfill the mission, her father would be killed, one of her sisters would go blind and her other sister would be forced to take her place. Even after Broberg was rescued weeks later by the FBI, she kept the mission secret and continued to see Berchtold who spent just days behind bars for the first incident to try to carry out the instructions. He kidnapped her a second time two years later. The story which is dramatized in Peacocks new limited drama series A Friend in The Family may sound fantastical, but experts say abusers are often well versed in manipulation and coercion strategies that keep child victims at their mercy. A lot of people, they think about these kinds of case of children being abused, or children going missing or things like that, and they think of like a gun and a mask and way, way more often what we see, the trend is a seduction abduction, where they are isolating them from reality, theyre isolating them from the people who love them, theyre isolating them from normalcy when they have to depend on this person for everything and then they are able to get that young person to do anything that they want, Alison Feigh, Director of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, an organization devoted to stopping child abuse, told Oxygen.com. Story continues A still from Peacock's A Friend of the Family Jake Lacy as Robert "B" Berchtold, Hendrix Yancey as Young Jan Broberg Photo: Erika Doss/Peacock According to Feigh, its important for the adults in a childs life to be able to spot the warning signs of potential abuse to intervene and protect them from harm. If offenders are good at what they do, we have to be better, she said. The Brainwashing of Jan Broberg In the years since her abductions, Broberg has described Berchtold as brainwashing her, telling ABCs The View in 2019 that it took 10 seconds for her to believe the tale about aliens in 1974 because Berchtold had been laying the foundation to manipulate her for months, frequently mentioning alien sightings or news reports while the two families were spending time together and taking her and her sisters along with his own children to science fiction movies. Berchtold had also become like a second father to the young 12-year-old after the two families had connected and started spending time together. This was someone, because he had engaged in sexual grooming, that she trusted very much, Elizabeth Jeglic, a clinical psychologist and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, explained to Oxygen.com. He was a part of their family. She had no reason to doubt him. When this happened and then he talked about aliens she had no reason not to think it was going on. Brobergs young age also made her a more susceptible target for believing the far-fetched story. If you think about children at that age they still have a pretty active fantasy life, Jeglic said. Chris Watts A 2021 study published by the British Psychological Society found that adolescents are often ripe for believing conspiracy theories, noting that the thinking appears to be heightened at the age of 14. Research from Boston University has also suggested that children exposed to religion have a more difficult time distinguishing between fiction and reality in fantastical stories an idea that Broberg referenced herself in the 2019 interview on The View. For her entire life, she had grown up believing the Mary, Jesus and Joseph story that serves as a backbone of Christianity. Berchtolds story about aliens desperate to save their own planet picked up on a lot of the same themes. I was this special person that was going to have this special child that was going to save the world, she said. Thats a story I heard at Christmas time. Jeglic described Brobergs case as a product somewhat of the time because of the lack of outside information the pre-teen had to investigate his claims. We did not have internet. We only watched, you know, the local news on tv. There wasnt a lot of information outside of your family or friends and so children didnt have ways to verify things independently, but were taught to trust adults and he was a very trusted member of her family (and) he was somebody who provided her with a lot of positive reinforcement, she said. Oxy App As Linda Bortell, a psychologist specializing in child trauma, explained, when a child is in danger the logical part of their brain also often shuts off. The primitive part of their brain is the thing that kicks on and so, its that amygdala thats working and its all about immediate survival and kids will do whatever they can to survive and a lot of times its to be passive, she said. Common Tactics Used By Abusers While Jeglic described Brobergs case as somewhat atypical and an extreme example of grooming or manipulation due to the incredible lengths Berchtold was willing to go through, both with Broberg herself and her family to pull off the years-long ruse, there are some common threads that other abusers have used to manipulate and abuse children. Experts say abusers often begin by looking for a vulnerable target. That could be just because the parents are busy. It could be because they have a lot of siblings and they kind of get lost in that, said Eliana Gil, a therapist who has worked in sex abuse prevention and treatment since 1973. Child sex abusers also may target someone who lives in a community where families dont talk about boundaries and bodies and anatomy arent openly discussed in the family. An offender is looking for someone who doesnt know about their bodies, doesnt know about boundaries, doesn't know about what is healthy, Feigh said. They then get to define what is healthy for that child and were not going like how they define it. After identifying a childs vulnerability, offenders work hard to fill that need, often through paying special attention to the child, making them feel like they are the most important thing in the world or giving them expensive gifts. Its a complex manipulation and its based on getting the child to have complete trust in you and to believe, in fact, that you are there just for them, Gil said. They want to become the most important person for the child and the child ends up feeling like they are that persons most important person. Much like in Brobergs story, that manipulation often extends to the childs family, who have also extended trust to the offender. According to data from the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 93% of the child sexual abuse victims who reported their abuse to law enforcement knew their abuser. Of that, 59% were considered acquaintances of the child or family. As part of the grooming process, offenders often isolate their victims by working to discredit others around them, even if it means distorting a childs reality. While these distortions dont typically involve alien abductions, offenders can convince children their parents dont care about them, they are the only one who truly understands a child, or get them to believe that the happiness or safety of others around them relies on their silence. Offenders work very hard to find vulnerable targets and then they try to make the child feel like they are part of the plot, Feigh said. If they can make them feel like the kid is part of the plot, the child is going to be less likely to say something. Abusers also often rely on threatening their victims, whether its with something as simple as telling a child that their mother or father will be unhappy if they tell, or something as extreme as threatening physical violence or harm to their family members. They kind of convince the kids that the kids are saving the family, that they are protecting the family and that this secret is the only thing that is really important and worthwhile in their lives and its very common, Gil said. You see parents do it, you see non-parents do it. Ive had so many little kids that theyre just scared to death. What Parents Can Do To Combat Abuse To prevent your child from being sexually abused or manipulated by others, experts say one of the first things parents need to do is educate themselves about common warning signs and what to look for. I think the important thing is really having these open lines of communication, recognizing what sexual grooming is and some of the behaviors and tactics of it and just talking to children (and) educators, Jeglic said. The more we know about what a perpetrator does the more we are likely to identify it before any harm comes to the child. Experts also believe parents should openly talk to their children about what kind of touches are safe and what kind of things a parent or other trusted adult would need to know about. With little ones, we can say In our family we talk about touches. Touches are never secret, Feigh said. So if you meet someone who doesnt want to talk about touches, who wants to touch you and doesnt want to tell anybody, thats a big problem. A still from Peacock's A Friend of the Family Hendrix Yancey as Young Jan Broberg, Anna Paquin as Mary Ann Broberg, Colin Hanks as Bob Broberg, Mila Harris as Young Karen Broberg, Elle Lisic as Young Susan Broberg Photo: Erika Doss/Peacock She recommends parents help their child create a safety network of five trusted adults who the child can go to anytime they have any concerns. It is particularly important to have multiple people in a childs safety net in case one of those people trusted by the family is the perpetrator, she said. According to Feigh, its also important that the child knows if someone ever violates a safety rule, it would never be the childs fault and no one would be mad at them for telling what happened. Gil said another tip-off is anyone who is paying too much attention to your child or trying to get them alone. What I would say to parents is anyone who is spending special attention, special time with your kid, is giving them gifts, is wanting them to spend time with them either alone or in activities that are away, to just be cautious, go with them, dont let them go alone, Gil said. Make sure you know who that is, make sure you know whats going on (and) what the activities are. A sudden change in a childs behavior, whether its a change in their personality, sleeping habits or eating habits, is another sign that a child may be under stress. Experts say the important thing is letting children know that no matter what has already happened, no one is going to be mad at them and that parents are there to help their children work through their problems, whatever that may be. TOKYO (AP) Japans Financial Services Agency ordered brokerage SMBC Nikko Securities to suspend its block trading operations for three months from Friday as part of penalties in a market manipulation case. That follows the arrest of its vice president, Toshihiro Sato, and several other employees on suspicion they put in massive buy orders to prop up stock prices of certain shares. The company had already suspended its block trades due to the scandal. In a written statement it apologized and said it was taking the penalties very seriously. SMBC Nikko Securities and its parent company, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the country's second-biggest financial group, also outlined plans for improving their governance. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission, the government body overseeing stock transactions, filed formal accusations against SMBC Nikko and its workers earlier this year of violating the Financial Instrument and Exchange Act. The case involves big purchases of shares just before the market closed to push their prices higher with the intent of using those prices for clients' block sales overnight. The investigation into the transactions has taken a big bite out of the company's revenue for fees and underwriting in this financial year. Late in September, SMBC Nikko announced that regulators had recommended administrative penalties for making illegal share purchases aimed at manipulating prices; inadequate trade screening systems and management of block trade and inappropriate management of dealings between the brokerage and SMBCs banking business. The company also recently set up a business risk control division. On conviction, violations of the Financial Instrument and Exchange Act carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a 10 million yen ($82,000) fine, or both. A company faces a fine of up to 700 million ($5.8 million). A military court in Myanmar has sentenced Toru Kubota, a freelance Japanese filmmaker who filmed a protest in the city of Yangon in late July, to seven years in jail. Kubota, 26, was handed a three-year prison sentence on Wednesday for sedition and a seven-year prison sentence for electronic communications-related violations, according to Tetsuo Kitada, deputy chief of mission of the Japanese embassy. Kubota will serve the two sentences concurrently, meaning he will spend a total of seven years in prison. An electronic communications-related violation activities that cause unrest, such as spreading false or provocative information online usually carries seven to 15 years in prison and is frequently cited against journalists and dissidents, who are usually handed a three-year prison sentence. A source cited by Kyodo News claimed that Kubota received his sentencing in a court inside Yangon's infamous Insein Prison for political prisoners. The Japanese filmmaker is also waiting for an upcoming trial for charges relating to breaking an immigration law, which is scheduled for Oct. 12. More from NextShark: GoFundMe and trust fund created for security guard who died protecting news crew in Oakland Kubota, who entered Myanmar amid the military coup through Thailand on a tourist visa, was detained on July 30 after filming an anti-junta protest in Yangon. He was charged at the time with violating an immigration law and promoting dissent against the junta. The Myanmar military claimed that Kubota took part in the protest and communicated with the protesters while he was filming. We have been asking Myanmar authorities for Mr. Kubota's early release, and we intend to keep on doing so," a Japanese foreign ministry official said on Thursday. More from NextShark: 'Asian American frontline worker is NOT afraid': SF Walgreens employee follows thief while calling him out The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned Kubotas sentencing in a statement on Thursday and called for the filmmakers immediate release. Story continues The harsh prison sentence against Japanese journalist Toru Kubota is outrageous, and he must be released immediately, Beh Lih Yi, CPJs Asia program coordinator in Frankfurt, Germany, said. Journalists are not criminals. Myanmars junta should not be fearful of journalists by locking them up. Kubota, who graduated from Tokyos Keio University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and obtained his master's degree in Documentary Film from University of the Arts London, has worked with several online publications, including the BBC, Vice Japan and Al Jazeera English. More from NextShark: Nas Academy stops operations in Philippines amid controversy with beloved 104-year-old tattoo artist His work typically covers immigrants, refugee issues and ethnic conflicts, including the Rohingya Muslim persecution. In March, the U.S. government officially recognized the Myanmar militarys violence against the Rohingya people as genocide. Kubota is the fifth foreign journalist who the Myanmar junta has detained ever since February 2021. After the coup that led to the arrest of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the military has reportedly made at least 12 media outlets close down and has arrested at least 142 journalists, with 57 of them still imprisoned. Yuki Kitazumi, another Japanese freelancer, was also arrested in Myanmar in April 2021. However, he was freed and returned to Japan within a month. More from NextShark: Woman Filmed Hurling Anti-Asian Comments in a Metro Vancouver Park According to CPJs 2021 census of imprisoned journalists, Myanmar ranked as the second-worst jailer of journalists. Featured Image via MgHla (aka) Htin Linn Aye (CC BY-SA 4.0) Oct. 6KINGSTON Kingston police say they have video footage of Tyquan Lassiter fatally shooting a Wilkes-Barre man outside a tavern when the victim attempted to back out of a parking spot. Lassiter, 26, of Hackensack, N.J., was loitering in the parking lot of Leonardo's Club on Main Street with Jakir Bacote, 22, of Wilkes-Barre, and a third man when Peter McCoy, 38, was backing out on Sept. 10, according to court records. McCoy asked Lassiter and Bacote to move when police allege Lassiter and Bacote brandished handguns and each fired a round into the ground, court records say. After McCoy got back into his vehicle, Lassiter walked around and allegedly fired several shots striking McCoy in the head. Lassiter was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service, Kingston police and Luzerne County detectives in Hackensack on Sept. 23 on a sealed arrest warrant charging him with an open count of criminal homicide and illegal possession of a firearm. He waived extradition and was returned Thursday when he was arraigned by District Judge James J. Haggerty in Kingston. Lassiter was jailed at the county correctional facility without bail. "Na, I don't play with guns; It's all in the Lord's hands now," Lassiter said as he was taken to jail. Assistant District Attorney Drew McLaughlin said during Lassiter's arraignment a co-defendant, which he did not name, may be charged Friday or early next week. The unsealed criminal complaint filed by Kingston police Det. Stephen Gibson and county Det. Charles Casey on Sept. 16 alleges McCoy, Bacote and a third man went to Leonardo's Club but did not enter when the tavern demanded a $10 entry fee. Lassiter and his friends remained int he parking lot and were approached by a woman who exited the tavern asking them to buy her drinks. As the woman was asking for drinks to be bought for her, McCoy and his friend were backing out of a parking spot. McCoy stopped his Honda Civic, got out and asked Lassiter and Bacote to move, court records say. Story continues Lassiter and Bacote argued with McCoy and brandished handguns firing a round into the dirt. McCoy got back into his vehicle as Lassiter walked around the vehicle and fired additional rounds striking McCoy int he head, according to court records. Police allege the recovered six shell casings from the parking lot. Several days after the shooting, police in court records say Lassiter called two people threatening to kill them if they were "snitching." Jon Hamm as Gabriel in "Good Omens." Chris Raphael/Amazon Studios Jon Hamm said Neil Gaiman told him he'd be "completely nude" in a scene of "Good Omens." The actor said Gaiman told him in the show's second season he'd walk naked in the streets of Soho. Amazon Prime Video announced Friday the show's second season would premiere in the summer of 2023. Jon Hamm said that Neil Gaiman originally pitched him on the second season of "Good Omens" by saying that his character Gabriel would walk the streets of Soho "completely nude." At the "Good Omens" panel at New York Comic Con on Friday, Hamm, along with series leads Michael Sheen and David Tennant, appeared via video conference to join Gaiman and other members of the production team and cast. The trio answered a question about when they learned that there would be a second season of the series, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2019. "I remember talking to Neil about it while we were doing press for the first season, and it sounded very exciting and very interesting potentiality," Hamm said. "But I didn't realize there would be one, and then Covid happened." Hamm said that Gaiman "told me he had this wonderful idea that I would start by walking down the street in Soho completely nude." In turn, he thought, "Well, that's a great way to start things." Hamm plays the Archangel Gabriel in "Good Omens," which is adapted from Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett's 1990 novel of the same name. Soho, in London, is one of the show's key locations and is where the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) owns a bookshop. While the first season of the show adapts the story of the novel itself, season two charts new territory, with Gaiman himself setting the course. The new season, as announced at the panel, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in the summer of 2023. When Hamm joined the panel remotely with Tennant and Sheen, he joked that while he may not have been the "star" of the series, he had one leg up on his British co-stars. "They did just point out to me, however, that I had the most brand recognition in America," Hamm said. Read the original article on Insider Apple TV+ It seems oddly fitting that the second season of Apple TV+s The Problem with Jon Stewart premiered the week of Yom Kippur. Because the host spent his first episode back after an extended break atoning for hisand by extension, the rest of the comedy communityshistory of making jokes at the expense of trans people. The episode, titled The War Over Gender, opens with a classic Daily Show-esque montage of conservative commentators melting down over a new emoji of a pregnant man. But just minutes in, Jon Stewart offers up some self-reflection. We are in a new dawn of gender and sex complexity, where those who dont fit in a simple binary are meant to be seen with humanity, he says. It wasnt always like this, people. As recently as, lets say, the 1990s, early 2000s, people were making shitty, reductive jokes about the subject. Stewart laughs uncomfortably as a decades-old photo of himself on The Daily Show appeared on screen beside him. What can I say, the joke rhymed, he adds. Shitty and reductive jokes are kind of my brand. From there, the host moves on to more modern examples of the vicious backlash to this new moment of progressive visibility and notably does not include any video evidence of his past transgressions. Its Wild!: Jon Stewart Sounds Off on Herschel Walker Abortion Scandal A change.org petition from 2013 calling on both Stewart and his Comedy Central partner Stephen Colbert to reject transphobia on their respective shows cites a couple of examples. They include Stewart joking that he accidentally picked up a tranny hooker at a truck stop and another bit that features an ugly description of a so-called transvestite. So as cathartic as it is during the new episode to watch him challenge the ignorant arguments of conservative pundits like Ben Shapiroand Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, whom he speaks to directly in a devastating interviewStewart knows that he is hardly seen as an authority on the issue. Thats why he also brings in an endocrinologist, two parents of trans children, and Chase Strangio, a trans attorney with the ACLU, to help him understand what the anti-trans movement is getting so wrong. Story continues The simple fact that Stewart decided to dedicate his shows Season 2 premiere to the topicand acknowledge that he has historically been part of the problemis commendable. And it stands in sharp contrast to his good friend Dave Chappelle, who has only doubled down on his anti-trans material since first coming under fire for targeting that community in his 2021 Netflix special The Closer. Amid the controversy surrounding Chappelle last fall, Stewart openly defended the comedian as a good and decent man who did not intend to hurt anyone with his words. I know his intention is never hurtful, Stewart said at the time. Hes just not that kind of person. One can argue whether or not Chappelles intention should even matter in that case, but Stewarts objective and the impact of his new episode are fairly clear. By rejecting his own transphobia and actively educating himself on the topic, he is demonstrating that stubbornly refusing to evolve in the name of free speech is not the only answer. For more, listen and subscribe to The Last Laugh podcast. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Political commentator Jon Stewart isnt a lawyer, but he did a masterful takedown of an Arkansas law preventing gender-affirming medical care for children and he did it right to the face of the states attorney general. Although a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the 2021 law in August, a trial is scheduled this month on whether to permanently block the law. But Attorney General Leslie Rutledge couldnt put up much of a defense during an interview with Stewart for his Apple TV series, The Problem With Jon Stewart, based on the clip below. Why would the state of Arkansas step in to override parents, physicians, psychiatrists, endocrinologists who have developed guidelines. Why would you override those guidelines? the TV host, writer and comedian asked Rutledge. The Arkansas attorney general responded that for every single one of the experts Stewart cited, theres another expert to say we dont need to allow children to take those medications. But you know thats not true, Stewart said. You know its not for every one, theres one. Rutledge then claimed that there were many people who testified before the state legislature who said 98% of the young people who have gender dysphoria ... are able to move past that. And once they have the help that they need, they no longer suffer from gender dysphoria. 98%. Stewart was skeptical. Wow, Stewart said sarcastically. Thats an incredibly made-up figure. That doesnt comport with any of the studies or documentation that exists from these medical organizations. What medical association are you talking about? Rutledge didnt expect to be questioned on the dubious statistic. We have all of that in our legislative history, and well be glad to provide that to you. I dont have the name of that off the top of my head, Rutledge said. She also couldnt name experts and medical associations that would back her ban, claiming she didnt expect a Supreme Court debate. Story continues Rutledge also had trouble explaining why she, as the parent of a 4-year-old, would take a doctors advice if her child had cancer but not if the youngster had gender dysphoria. Stewart couldnt help but mock Rutledges defense of the ban. Youre making it sound like a 9-year-old walks into a doctors office and says, Give me some testosterone, and the doctor goes, Oh, thank God, because were wanting to create an army of transgenders because were crazy, Stewart said at one point. Many Twitter users praised Stewarts probing questions. I have to say this might be the single best line of questioning i've ever seen performed by an interviewer talking to a politician about gender and kids. https://t.co/H6ekU7mHMk Tyler Black, MD (@tylerblack32) October 7, 2022 Republicans: We oppose trans care because it bypasses parental authority but we're okay with the state bypassing parental authority over the exact same issue, also did we mention we hate government meddling? https://t.co/0XKyGf5wEO David Josef Volodzko (@davidvolodzko) October 7, 2022 Jon does such a great job thoroughly demonstrating how hollow anti trans people are when confronted with the facts and evidence. This is exactly what these politicians sound like in depositions, clueless. https://t.co/fUbeM2ugqf Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) October 7, 2022 Amazing how little @AGRutledge actually *knows* about this. They are willing to fight with lies. Puberty blockers are reversible, and used only after psychiatric evaluations and clinical guidelines met. Hormones are not used until at least 16. Surgery is only for adults. https://t.co/4Vt5bDcEJO Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) October 7, 2022 It's still so exhausting that comedians are still having to shoulder the work that journalists simply won't. https://t.co/0OtrGTF9zl Joe Starr (@joestarr187) October 7, 2022 This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... A man in his 40s was shot and killed Thursday at a motel on Jacksonvilles Northside. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office was called to the motel on the 10800 block of Harts Road around 9 p.m. The man was taken to the hospital, where he died. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Detectives say theyre interviewing several witnesses to figure out what led to the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call JSO at (904) 630-0500 or call Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-TIPS. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: JFRD: Fire reported at high rise in Jacksonville Beach [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. ATLANTA (AP) A judge on Friday denied bond for a well-connected Atlanta man who's awaiting a second trial in the killing of his wife after Georgia's highest court overturned his murder conviction earlier this year. Claud Tex McIver, 79, was convicted in 2018 on charges including felony murder in the September 2016 death of 64-year-old Diane McIver and was sentenced to serve life in prison. The Georgia Supreme Court in June reversed the murder conviction, saying the jury should have had the option to give him a misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter charge. When reversing his other convictions, the high court affirmed his conviction for influencing a witness. But McIver finished serving his sentence for that conviction last month. Prosecutors said in a court filing in July that they plan to retry McIver on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He's now serving time for nothing he's been convicted of, defense attorney Don Samuel told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney during a hearing Friday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Samuel asked for a $220,000 bond and asked that McIver be allowed to live with his sister near Dallas, Texas, the newspaper reported. Prosecutor Adam Abbate urged the judge to deny bond. "Hes 80 years old, Abbate said. After being convicted of murder hes less likely to return to court because he has less to lose. After hearing from four witnesses called by the state who all asked the judge not to let McIver go free, McBurney denied the request for bond. I have before me a man who has heard a jury say you are guilty of felony murder and will spend the rest of your natural life in prison, McBurney said. That is a powerful incentive for you, Mr. McIver, not to come back to court and face some of the same evidence. The McIvers were wealthy and well-connected. He had been a partner at a prominent labor and employment law firm and served on the state election board. She was president of U.S. Enterprises Inc., the parent company of Corey Airport Services, where she had worked for 43 years. Story continues At the time of the shooting, Tex McIver was no longer a partner at his firm and his income had dropped significantly. He and his wife kept separate finances and prosecutors alleged he killed his wife because he needed her money to cover his expenses. Defense attorneys disputed that, saying McIver deeply loved his wife and her death was a tragic accident. Dani Jo Carter, a close friend of Diane McIver, was driving the couples Ford Expedition the evening of Sept. 25, 2016, as the three returned from a weekend at the McIvers horse farm about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Atlanta. Diane McIver was in the front passenger seat and Tex McIver was in the back seat behind his wife. With traffic heavy on the interstate, Carter exited in downtown Atlanta. A short while later, McIver fired the gun once, striking his wife in the back. Carter drove to a hospital where Diane McIver died. A Hamilton County judge will have a preliminary injunction hearing today, which if granted could block Ohios abortion ban indefinitely. A temporary restraining order goes until Oct. 12 and until then blocks Ohios heartbeat bill, therefore allowing abortions to continue in the state at all stages of pregnancy. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Whats next after extension of temporary block on Ohios abortion ban The judge will collect arguments from both sides, the attorney general will represent Ohio at the hearing. The judges decision would likely be appealed to a Cincinnati area Court of Appeals and then the Ohio Supreme Court, University of Dayton Law Professor Tom Hagel, previously told News Center 7. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohios temporary block on abortion ban extended for another 2 weeks, area clinic spokesperson says Last month, an American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson told News Center 7 the judge is expected to extend the injunction through Oct. 21. News Center 7 will be in the courtroom for the hearing. We will update this story as we learn more. Judy Tenuta, the stand-up comedienne and actress known as the "Love Goddess," died on Thursday. She was 72. Tenuta's publicist Roger Neal confirmed that she died of ovarian cancer at her home in Los Angeles while surrounded by family. "She was a very funny, amazing performer," Neal told The Associated Press, adding that it was always a "happy time to be around her." Judy Tenuta, the stand-up comedian and actress known as the Love Goddess, died on Thursday at the age of 72. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Earlier reports of her death stated that Tenuta was 65 since she had previously claimed that she was born on Nov. 7, 1965, though her actual birth year was 1949. STANDUP COMEDIAN & NETFLIX STAR DAVID A. ARNOLD DEAD AT 54 "She was old school so she would never tell her real age but now that shes gone we can tell her real age," Neal explained. Tenuta was known for her shrill, gravelly delivery, her acerbic, expletive-laden humor and her accordion-playing. According to her obituary, friends suggested that she incorporate an accordion into her act as she developed her whimsical, wisecracking persona, the "Love Goddess." The veteran comic learned to play the instrument after being encouraged by her mother, who was a fan of accordionist Lawrence Welk. Tenuta's accordion, which she described as "an instrument of love and submission," is currently on display in the Hollywood Museum. Born in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Ill., Tenuta was the daughter of a Polish mother, Johanna, and an Italian father, Caesar. She was raised in a Catholic family as one of nine siblings, including six brothers. Tenuta majored in theatre at the University of Illinois at Chicago and became the first of her family to graduate from college. Tenuta's friends suggested that she incorporate an accordion into her act as she developed her whimsical, wisecracking persona, the "Love Goddess." Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Tenuta went on to join the Chicago comedy troupe Second City and opened for other comedians on the Chicago comedy circuit before starting her solo standup career in the 1970s. At her first solo show, Tenuta shocked audiences when she dressed up as the Virgin Mary. In addition to the "Love Goddess," she developed other oddball, campy personas including the "Aphrodite of the Accordion," "The Petite Flower," "Fashion-Plate Saint," "Queen of Candy-Pants," "Princess of Panty Shields," "Empress of Elvis Impersonators," and the "Buffer of Foreheads", all of whom wore whimsical costumes and used a variety of props. Story continues Despite her outlandish clothes and bizarre stage appearance, Tenuta said most people caught on immediately to her act, which included the self-centered religion she called "Judy-ism." "In my religion, Im the only one that gets to complain. The really nice thing about my religion is you can forget all about your problems and think about mine for a while," she told The Associated Press. In the late 1980s, Tenuta gained national attention after starring with Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, and Rita Rudner in the 1987 HBO special "Women of the Night." She was among a generation of performers who drove the popularity of live comedy in clubs nationwide. Photo by Michael Schwartz/WireImage From 1987 to 1988, she toured across the U.S. with comedy icon George Carlin. In 1988s "American Comedy Awards" TV special, Tenuta was named best female comedy club performer opposite male winner Jerry Seinfeld. Other honorees that year for their club or screen work included Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler. She later relocated to Los Angeles while also continuing to perform on national tours for years afterwards, including special visits to the comedy circuit in Chicago. In the 1990s, Tenuta was nominated for two Grammy Awards for her comedy CDs, "Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians!" and "In Goddess We Trust," She was among a generation of performers who drove the popularity of live comedy in clubs nationwide including the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Laff Stop in Houston and Carolines in New York City. A typically male-dominated field found room for women, including Tenuta. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER She was a frequent guest on late-night talk shows and game shows and with radio shock jock Howard Stern. She starred alongside Bruce Vilanch in the 2011 independent film "Sister Mary" and appeared in Hillary and Haley Duffs 2006 comedy "Material Girls," and the 2013 movie "Gibsonburg." She also took on roles in television shows including "General Hospital," "Corey in the House" and "Neds Declassified School Survival Guide." She also voiced characters in "Duckham," "Cow and Chicken" and "Space Ghost Coast to Coast." Tenuta appeared onstage in "The Vagina Monologues" and "Menopause the Musical" in Los Angeles and Chicago. Tenuta played several characters on "The Weird Al Yankovic Show" and was featured in many of Yankovics comedy shorts and music videos. After learning of her death, Yankovic tweeted, "Devastated to hear of the passing of my dear, dear friend, the lovely Miss Judy Tenuta. I cant believe shes gone. Earth has truly lost a goddess." Tenuta is survived by her life partner, Vern Pang, five brothers (Daniel, John, Steven, Thomas and James) and sister (Barbara). The Associated Press contributed to this report. A jury began deliberations Thursday to decide how much conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay for pushing the lie that the 2012 Sandy Hook School massacre was a hoax. A lawyer for the families of eight people killed and an FBI agent who responded to the mass shooting told jurors in closing arguments that Jones started lying about the shooting the day it happened and provided the machinery that allowed that lie to spread. Jones' attorney countered by telling the jury his client didn't invent the Internet and argued jurors should not award excessive damages just because they are angry about the harassment the families went through at the hands of others who also believed the lie that the shooting was a hoax. The attorneys presented closing arguments in the trial to determine how much Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, should pay for representing to the audience of his Infowars show that the shooting at the school in Newtown, Connecticut, was a hoax staged to impose more gun control laws. Alex Jones InfoWars founder Alex Jones walks outside Waterbury Superior Court during his trial on September 21, 2022 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Photo: Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images The six-person jury, comprised of three men and three women, began deliberations late in the day, charged with completing a form that will detail a dollar amount each of the 15 plaintiffs should receive. Before deliberations, the judge didnt give jurors explicit instructions on how to arrive at dollar figures for the damages. She told them to use their life experiences and common sense in determining damages that are fair, just and reasonable. In closings, plaintiff attorney Christopher Mattei told the jury that it was because of Jones and his massive Infowars platform that the families have been subjected to a decade of torment at the hands of conspiracy theorists. RELATED: 'I Lived It': Sister of Jeffrey Dahmer Victim Speaks Out As soon as he did it, everyone else came coming in over him, Mattei said. The threats, the harassment, the fear, the allegations of actors, when every single one of these families were drowning in grief. And Alex Jones put his foot right on top. Story continues Defense attorney Norm Pattis opened his arguments with a 19-minute video from a 2018 episode of Jones Infowars show in which the Jones accuses the media of misrepresenting his position for questioning Sandy Hook and bringing it up long after he acknowledged the shooting happened. Its edited and then its brought back up as if Im bringing it back up, Jones says in the video. Mattei suggested the jury should award the plaintiffs at least $550 million, telling them Jones will spread lies about other shootings and other families if they dont make him understand the harm his comments caused. Mattei tied that dollar amount to the estimated 550 million views of the Sandy Hook content on Jones and Infowars' social media accounts from 2012 to 2018 an estimate provided by a plaintiffs' expert witness who said he reviewed the content. Ryan Grantham It is your job to make sure he understands the extent of the wreckage that he caused, Mattei said. Because you know damn well he doesnt get it. Another plaintiff attorney, Joshua Koskoff, told the jury that lies like the ones Jones tells, get people killed. We dont know when, but it is going to happen at some point, he said. Since the trial began Sept. 13, testimony has mostly centered on the relatives and the FBI agent who say they've been harassed for a decade by people who believed Jones claims that the shooting never happened, and that the parents of the 20 slain children were crisis actors. The plaintiffs said they have received death and rape threats, mail from conspiracy theorists that included photos of dead children, and had in-person confrontations with hoax believers. They sued Jones for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating Connecticuts unfair trade practices law by profiting off the hoax lies. Pattis noted the plaintiffs' lawyers did not show monetary harm to the families, no doctor's bills reports, very few mentions of treatment. He told the jurors that punitive damages are by law limited to attorneys fees and they should not confuse those with compensatory damages, which should be for losses caused by Jones. This is not an action to compensate the folks at Sandy Hook for the loss of their children, he said. Alex Jones is not (shooter) Adam Lanza. Jones, whose show and Infowars brand are based in Austin, Texas, was found liable for defaming the plaintiffs last year. In an unusual ruling, Judge Barbara Bellis said Jones had forfeited his right to a trial as a consequence of repeated violations of court orders and failures to turn over documents to the plaintiffs' lawyers. Jones did take the stand for a contentious day of testimony earlier in the trial, saying he was done saying Im sorry for calling the school shooting a hoax. However, he declined to put on a defense Wednesday, and his lawyers rested with putting on evidence or witnesses. Oxy App Outside the courthouse and on his show, Jones has repeatedly bashed the trial as a kangaroo court and an effort to put him out of business. He has cited free speech rights, but he and his lawyer were not allowed to make that argument during the trial because he already had been found liable. His show is also broadcast on many radio stations. Koskoff pointed out the Jones was not in court to hear any of the families' testimony, and called him a coward. Pattis has suggested the relatives were exaggerating their claims of being harmed and falsely placed the blame for that harm on Jones. Alex invented fear, Alex invented anger, Alex invented what's wrong with this world, Pattis said. Kill Alex and we'll all live happily ever after. Do you believe that for one moment? In a similar trial in Texas in August, a jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages to the parents of one of the children killed in the shooting, because of the hoax lies. A third such trial, also in Texas, involving two other parents is expected to begin near the end of the year. Jones has said he expects the cases to be tied up in appeals for the next two years and has asked his audience to help him raise $500,000 to pay for his legal expenses. Free Speech Systems, meanwhile, is seeking bankruptcy protection. Looking to add some flair to your car or truck? Maybe youre just tired of the same-old, same-old? >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< K9s United, a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting K-9 law enforcement teams, is nearing the Oct. 15th deadline of pre-selling its specialty license plates. K9s United supports law enforcement with vital training, lifesaving equipment and crucial legislation to benefit canines and their partners in the field. Nearly half of the license plates have already pre-sold. To get K9s United to their goal, Florida drivers and dog lovers can help reach their goal of 3,000 pre-orders for the plates to be produced statewide. Read: We love this community: Neighbors in Davis Shores, city leaders meet to talk storm recovery By pre-purchasing the plates, you can also help the nonprofit to potentially receive over $75,000 annually to help provide essential paws-on training workshops, resources, equipment and advocacy to law enforcement K-9s and their handlers. $25 from each one pre-sold will go directly to help K-9 teams who serve our communities throughout Florida. Florida drivers dont need to be due for renewal to preorder the tag, and the vouchers will not expire. K9s United said they help fill that void and aid law enforcement agencies to ensure the K-9 units have the programs and supplies the dogs need most. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] For more information, please click here to visit the K9s United website. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories Kanye West. Gotham/GC Images Kanye West addressed in a interview the "White Lives Matter" shirt he wore earlier this week. The rapper said he had a "gut instinct" to wear the shirt, which he thought was "funny." "The answer to why I wore 'White Lives Matter' on a shirt is because they do," West said. Kanye West addressed the "White Lives Matter" shirt he wore earlier this week in a nearly hour-long interview with Tucker Carlson on Thursday, telling the Fox host that he thought the garment was "funny." The rapper, now known as Ye, sported the shirt at his Yeezy fashion show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, sparking controversy online and within his own circle, he told Carlson. "I had someone call me last night and say anyone wearing a 'White Lives Matter' shirt is going to get greenlit," West said. "That means beat up." Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) October 3, 2022 But West said he didn't care what others thought about his fashion choices or political views, telling Carlson that he had a "gut instinct" to wear the shirt. "I do certain things from a feeling. I just channel the energy, it just feels right," he said. "It's using a gut instinct, a connection with God, and just brilliance." In a disjointed monologue, West went on to compare his decision to wear the "White Lives Matter" shirt to ice skater Tonya Harding landing the Triple Axel in 1991. West also told Carlson that his father, a former Black Panther, texted him about the shirt, saying he thought it was funny. "Just a Black man stating the obvious," West said his father told him. "The answer to why I wrote "White Lives Matter" on a shirt is because they do," West said. "It's the obvious thing." The Anti-Defamation League has said the phrase has deeply racist connotations and has been used as a slogan by some white supremacist groups. But West suggested that the phrase was controversial because society wants to "separate" the Black community. Story continues During the interview, West also referenced Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson and Gigi Hadid, who publicly criticized West wearing the shirt and featuring it in his YZYSZN9 fashion show in Paris. Karefa-Johnson called West's choices a "danger" because the message "justifies mass incarceration, murder en mass, indeed even the advent of slavery." After the rapper publicly criticized Karefa-Johnson and her outfit in a now-deleted Instagram post, Hadid called him a "bully and a joke." Read the original article on Insider Kanye West embraces then US President Donald Trump in the White House's Oval Office on October 11, 2018. Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images Kanye West called out lawmakers for using Black voters during an interview with Tucker Carlson. West recalled Trump's delight at getting a boost in popularity after the rapper's White House visit. West said politicians, including Trump, saw Black people only as tools to raise approval ratings. Rapper Kanye West has called out politicians, including his "friend" Donald Trump, for using Black people as a tool to improve their approval ratings. During an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Thursday, West recalled a phone call with then-President Trump after the rapper's infamous visit to the White House in October 2018. West, who had worn a MAGA hat during the visit and said he supported Trump because they both have "dragon energy," told Carlson that he later called Trump to discuss getting fellow rapper ASAP Rocky "out of jail." He was likely referring to a call he had with Trump in July 2019, during which Trump offered to assist in helping ASAP Rocky, who was being held in Sweden on assault charges at the time, get out of jail, per Rolling Stone. "And one of the things he said to me is, 'Kanye, you're my friend. When you came to the White House, my Black approval rating went up 40%,'" West said of the phone call. "And for politicians, all Black people are worth is an approval rating," he added. "The Democrats feel that they don't owe us anything, and Republicans feel like they don't owe us anything." A spokesperson from Trump's post-presidential office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. West has been in the news lately for wearing a shirt emblazoned with the white supremacist slogan "White Lives Matter" during a Yeezy fashion show in Paris. West told Carlson on Thursday that he had worn the shirt because he thought it was funny. "The answer to why I wore 'White Lives Matter' on a shirt is because they do," West told Carlson. "I do certain things from a feeling. I just channel the energy, it just feels right," he added. "It's using a gut instinct, a connection with God, and just brilliance." Read the original article on Business Insider Kim Kardashian has sparked mixed reactions after revealing that her ex-husband Kanye West still comments on, and criticises, what she wears. The Kardashians star, 41, who was married to the Yeezy designer for nearly seven years before filing for divorce in 2021, shared some of the critical messages she receives from her ex about her style choices during a new episode of the familys reality show. In the 6 October episode, Kardashian travelled to Milan to see her sister Kendall Jenner walk in Pradas fashion show. During the trip, Kardashian wore a series of outfits sent to her by Prada, including a black leather outfit paired with white sunglasses and a burnt orange jumpsuit. However, it appeared the rapper was not a fan of the looks, as Kardashian read some of the text messages she received from West about the outfit choices to her friends, with the Skims mogul reading aloud: No white glasses. Kardashian also shared a text from the rapper about the orange look, which he claimed made him so mad. The orange look made me so mad, would have went to jail before I went out in that, Kardashian read from her phone. While speaking in a confessional during the episode, the billionaire entrepreneur revealed that, while she was in Milan, West was at home with their four children, North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three. However, she claimed that West cant help himself when it comes to commenting on her appearance, a habit that she laughed off. We can laugh about things we like or dont like, she continued. No matter how crazy things are sometimes, were always gonna be family. As for what she says in response to the messages, Kardashian revealed that shell often text her ex-husband back with her own criticism of the rappers outfit choices. Story continues Ill be like: You know, you have been wearing those boots for a long time, so when youre ready to change your outfit let me know, and then you can have advice on mine she said. On social media, the scene divided viewers, with some finding the messages amusing while others took issue with Wests mean behaviour. The orange suit. Hes so funny, one person commented on TikTok, while another said: Thats hilarious. However, others perceived the fashion designers messages to Kardashian differently, with some claiming that they were mean-spirited. Eh it would be funny but it rubs me the wrong way, one person wrote. Another said: Ew Kanye texting Kim negative sh*t about her outfits in Milan is a no for me. I am so tired of men like Kanye who think they can tell a woman what she should wear. Just STOP! someone else wrote. West has played a role in influencing Kardashians fashion choices for years, with the reality star revealing during a May episode of The Kardashians that she was struggling to style herself amid their divorce. While speaking to her sister Kourtney Kardashian, she said she got to a point where I would ask him for advice for everything - down to what I wear and had been having panic attacks about choosing her own outfits. During the episode, Kardashian also noted that her ex had styled her when she hosted Saturday Night Live in October 2021. However, this isnt the first time that West has been critical of Kardashians outfit choices, as she revealed that he told her her career was over when she wore a brown leather dress from the Skims x Fendi collection to accept an award from Wall Street Journal Magazine. He told me my careers over. And then he showed me a picture of Marge Simpson wearing something similar, she revealed. Wests criticism of Kardashians Milan outfits come as the rapper faces backlash over his own sartorial choices, as he is currently embroiled in controversy over his decision to wear a White Lives Matter shirt to his Yeezy fashion show in Paris. STORY: The Prince and Princess of Wales raced each other to see who could make the fastest cocktail in an outdoor food market in Belfast. They also visited royal well-wishers in Carrickfergus. It is the royal couple's first visit to Northern Ireland with their new titles following the death of William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth. A statement on The Prince and Princess of Wales' Twitter page read, ''It's wonderful to be back in Northern Ireland today!'' You are here: World Flash Chen Zhu, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, led a delegation to the 8th Group of 20 (G20) Parliamentary Speakers' Summit held here till Friday and delivered a keynote speech. Chen said that exchanges and deeper cooperation among legislative bodies are of positive significance for the G20 to play its role. Parliaments of the countries should uphold multilateralism and safeguard international equity and justice, adhere to openness and inclusiveness to jointly promote sustainable development of the world economy, and pursue green and low-carbon development to promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Chen said. During the summit, Chen also met with Indonesia's House of Representatives' Speaker Puan Maharani, Saqr Ghubash, speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, Suriname's National Assembly Chairman Marinus Bee and President of Inter-Parliamentary Union Duarte Pacheco. Two people were killed in a shooting early Friday in Kansas City. Just after 2 a.m., Kansas City police officers were dispatched on a report of an armed person in the 6700 block of South Benton Avenue, according to Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman for the police department. Officers located a man and a woman outside of a residence who had been shot. They were unresponsive and emergency crews pronounced them dead. There was no suspect information. The killings were the 129th and 130th homicides so far this year in Kansas City, according to data tracked by The Star. At this time last year, the city had recorded 115 homicides. Anyone with information about the shooting Friday may call the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477. PHOENIX Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., broke with his party over the hot-button issue of immigration at a debate Thursday, highlighting his differences with progressives over policy and rebuking Democratic leaders in unusually stark terms. Ive spent a lot of time on our southern border, and let me just say its a mess. Its a chaos. Its crisis after crisis," Kelly said. "I worked in Washington to bring more Border Patrol agents to the state of Arizona. Ive been strong on border security. And Ive stood up to Democrats when theyre wrong on this issue including the president, Kelly continued. When the president decided he was going to do something dumb on this and change the rules that would create a bigger crisis, I told him he was wrong. So I pushed back on this administration multiple times. Kellys campaign said he was referring to Bidens decision to end Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that began during the Trump administration that enabled officials to turn away asylum-seekers in the name of public health, and it noted Kelly's vocal opposition to the move this year. His campaign also highlighted another break with Biden last year, when Kelly labeled the border situation then a crisis, as well, citing surging levels of people seeking asylum without additional resources to process applications, in addition to his demands for more federal resources to bolster security. Kelly said many Democrats dont understand this issue, while Republicans want to politicize it. Kelly, who was first elected in a 2020 special election, is running against Republican challenger Blake Masters for a full six-year term. The issue of immigration appears to be a political liability for Democrats. Polls suggest Americans disapprove of Bidens handling of the matter including a survey by the presidents own pollster. An NBC News poll last month found that voters prefer Republicans over Democrats to run immigration policy by 46% to 29%. A CNN poll found immigration is tied as the third most pressing issue among likely Arizona voters. Story continues The debate, which is the candidates' only matchup, featured multiple heated exchanges between the two major-party nominees and a third-party candidate, Libertarian Marc Victor. At one point, Masters asked Kelly whether he had done everything" within his power to "secure the southern border. Kelly responded: Ive been focused on the border since Day One. Masters retorted, If this is the result of Senator Kelly being focused on the border, my gosh, hes the most ineffective and worst senator of all time. Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, assailed Masters for his position on abortion, previous calls to privatize Social Security, comments about the validity of the 2020 election and criticisms of the U.S. military. Masters, a venture capitalist and former deputy to billionaire tech mogul Peter Thiel, sought to tie Kelly to rising inflation while defending his opposition to abortion, his skepticism about the 2020 election and his criticisms of the military, which reportedly included opposition to U.S. involvement in World War II when he was a college student. Surveys in recent weeks have consistently suggested Kelly leads by 3 to 7 percentage points. During an extended exchange on abortion policy one of the top issues both in Arizona and nationwide after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade Kelly insisted Masters was trying to cover up his true position. Masters has called abortion demonic and a religious sacrifice, and he has supported federal restrictions, Kelly asserted. NBC News reported in August that Masters had scrubbed his website of hard-line abortion positions after his primary win. During the debate, Masters expressed support for a 15-week national abortion ban proposed last month by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "I believe Arizona's got the right to make its laws. That's the whole point of reversing Roe vs. Wade," Masters said. "And I believe in a federal backstop." Kelly tore into Masters as a know-it-all who fancies himself as being smarter than women and everyone else around him. Folks, I think we all know guys like this. You know, guys that think they know better than everyone about everything, Kelly said. That you think you know better than women and doctors about abortion. You think you know better than seniors about Social Security. You think you know better than veterans about how to win a war. At one point, debate moderator Ted Simons sought to get Masters, who is backed by Trump, to clarify his position on the legitimacy of the 2020 election. During the primary, Masters put out an ad saying: I think Trump won in 2020. In early August, the election policy section of his website was rewritten to remove language that claimed the vote was a rotten mess, CNN reported. Masters said he believes Biden is the legitimate president but argued that Trump would have won re-election had stories about potential malfeasance by Biden's son Hunter Biden not been "censored" on social media. He added that he believes in Election Day and not election season, although he later answered no when he was asked whether he supports eliminating mail-in voting in Arizona, where it has been widely allowed for decades. Pressed about whether the 2020 vote itself was tainted, as Trump and his allies repeatedly claimed but were unable to substantiate in court, Masters said: Yeah, I havent seen evidence of that." Kelly said that in 2024, we could wind up in a situation where the wheels come off of our democracy. And its because of folks like Blake Masters that are questioning the integrity of an election, he added. Victor, the Libertarian candidate, who some Republicans fear could siphon votes from Masters, took Masters to task for treading cautiously in relation to the validity of the 2020 election. Boy, for a guy whos never been elected before, he sure sounds like a politician to me, Victor said. Ill answer the question: Joe Biden won the election. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Kim Kardashian's podcast producers denied claims made by two surviving victims of the Kevin Keith murders that they weren't contacted prior to the release of her first episode of "The System," a new series highlighting advocacy in criminal justice reform. Keith was arrested in February 1994 in Ohio in the killings of Marichell Chatman, her daughter Marchae and Linda Chatman. He was convicted of three counts of aggravated murder despite no physical evidence tying him to the crime and has been in jail 28 years. Marichell's cousins, Quanita and Quentin Reeves, were four and six years old when they were wounded during the shootings. They told the Daily Mail the reality television star never reached out to hear their sides of the story before releasing her podcast. KIM KARDASHIAN LAUNCHES TRUE CRIME PODCAST THE SYSTEM Kim Kardashian released a new podcast this week about criminal justice reform, and victims of the first series claim they were never contacted. Spotify producers denied the accusations. Amy Sussman "The production team of The System made multiple attempts to reach out to the Reeves siblings," Tenderfoot TV & Big City TV said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "At the time, they decided not to share their story and requested we no longer contact them. "We respected their decision and gave them privacy. If they have reconsidered, we welcome them to sit down for the podcast at any time." KANYE WEST ADDRESSES WHITE LIVES MATTER T-SHIRT FLAP, WHY HE'S PRO-LIFE AND MORE ON TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT Kardashian narrates the eight-episode series, which delves into the investigation surrounding Keith's conviction and her involvement in helping his family prove he was wrongfully accused. "Im really hopeful for this podcast, just to get your story out there, because I think its so important for people to understand that our system is so f---ed up," Kardashian said while in a conversation with Keith in the premiere episode, according to Variety. Quentin told the publication that he and his sister saw the killings with their own eyes and claim Keith was at fault. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Story continues "You don't forget something like that. I dont care what Kim Kardashian says," he said. "Why doesnt Kim Kardashian come out here to Ohio? She doesnt want to hear from us. "She wants to get him out to make her look better that's the truth." Kim Kardashian advocated for criminal reform at the White House in 2019. Saul Loeb Keith had been on death row, but Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland commuted his death sentence in 2014 when he cited "legitimate questions" about evidence used to convict the inmate. The "case is clearly one in which a full, fair analysis of all of the unanswered questions should be considered by a court," Strickland said. "Under these circumstances, I cannot allow Mr. Keith to be executed." The kidnapping and slaying of a Merced County family of four, including an 8-month-old baby, gripped the community this week, leaving many in a state of shock and disbelief. The Merced County Sheriffs Office has said Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, has been arrested and processed into Merced County Jail on suspicion of four counts of murder and kidnapping. Investigators said Salgado abducted and killed 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, and her uncle Amandeep Singh, 39. Their bodies were discovered by a farm worker about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on remote farmland north of Dos Palos and west of El Nido, Warnke said. Salgado is expected to be arraigned likely on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Merced County District Attorneys Office. His brother, Albert Salgado, was arrested Friday and accused of criminal conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence in connection to the slayings, the sheriffs office said. The local Indian community in Merced and people from all walks of life have have come together in mourning the family, who were practicing Sikhs. They held a vigil Thursday and have more planned at 7 p.m. through Sunday. Jesus Manuel Salgado Video of kidnapping The sheriffs office released video early Wednesday of the kidnapping of the family from their business Gateway Parking, which is just south of Merced along Highway 59. It depicts a man who investigators say is Salgado on Monday entering an office bungalow on the property while holding a handgun. There is not video inside the building, but video shows him exiting with Jasdeep Singh and Amandeep Singh, whose hands are zip tied behind their backs. The man then goes inside once more and exits with Kaur, who is not restrained but is holding her baby, video shows. He left with the family inside of a black 2020 Dodge Ram, investigators say. Victims ATM card was used Just before noon on Tuesday, detectives received information that Salgado could be a person of interest in the kidnapping case. Story continues Family members of the victims said nothing was stolen from the trucking company but that their relatives were all wearing jewelry. Warnke said the kidnapper made no ransom demands. Investigators learned that one of the victims ATM cards was used at an ATM located at a bank in Atwater. Some media agencies have reported that Salgado at one time worked for victims. When asked, however, the sheriffs office has not confirmed that information is correct. Salgado attempted suicide The Merced County Sheriffs Office officially processed Salgado into the Merced County Jail on Thursday, according to a Facebook post. He had not been formally booked before because he made an attempt on his own life when deputies moved to arrest him Tuesday and was under medical care, Warnke has said. Salgado told family members he was involved in the crime and they in turn said they would notify authorities. He attempted suicide before deputies arrived, according to the sheriffs office. Warnke has not said what method Salgado used to attempt suicide. Salgados criminal history Salgado had served time in prison for a crime not unlike what he is accused of doing this week. He was convicted of witness intimidation and a residential robbery with gun enhancements on Nov. 7, 2006, according to Merced County prosecutors. He was released on parole on June 21, 2015. A family told deputies Salgado dressed in a black ski mask and robbed them at gunpoint at their home in Merced County in December 2005, prosecutors said. A man who lived at the home said he had driven into his garage when Salgado opened the drivers side door and pointed a gun at him, according to the sheriffs report. He demanded the PIN to the victims credit card and took a large amount of money from a safe in the home, according to court records. He told the family he would return to kill them if they reported him to law enforcement. The family survived the incident. The death penalty Warnke has said he wants the Merced County District Attorneys Office to seek capital punishment in the case for the killings of the Merced family of four. The Merced County District Attorneys Office has said its too early to commit to such an effort, noting the investigation is ongoing and wont be in the hands of prosecutors until next week. Incoming district attorney Nicole Silveira also expressed the same sentiment. District Attorney Kimberly Lewis lost a re-election bid to Silveira, who is the supervising deputy district attorney in Merced. Gov. Gavin Newsom put a moratorium on the death penalty in the state in 2019, so whether capital punishment could ever be carried out is likely pending an administration change in California. No one has been executed in the state since 2006, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor. The last Merced County case to end in a death sentence was for Cuitlahuac Tahua Tao Rivera, who gunned down Merced police officer Stephan Gray during a traffic stop on April 15, 2004. He remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison. Getty As Ukrainian forces continue to make gains against the Russian army, whispered grievances about Vladimir Putin have begun to fly around the Kremlin about the war and efforts to avoid celebrating his birthday, which falls on Friday. It quickly became clear that were better off not holding any celebrations right nowits not the time, one source close to the Kremlin told Meduza. Governors are even thinking about cutting back on this year's [winter] holiday celebrations; nobody has extra money lying around. Its a sensible idea to avoid celebrating Putins birthday widely throughout Russia, one source from the administration told Meduza. Although many close to Putin fear him, they have lost respect for him, another source said. People are scared shitless around him, a source close to the Russian government told the outlet. But its fear without respect. In some cases, Putin himself has begun to receive some grim critiques from within his inner circle about the direction he has taken the war. Russians Terrified by Putins Bunker Mentality as He Turns 70 With His Finger on the Nuclear Button Every 48 hours, theres another dumpster firenobody really understands whats going on, a source close to the Kremlin told Meduza. The people responsible for actually implementing decisions dont hear about them until the last minute. One member of Putins inner circle voiced disapproval of how the war is being conducted directly to Putin, according to intelligence provided to President Joe Biden in recent weeks, The Washington Post reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, a key Putin ally and Chechnyas leader, as well as Evgeniy Prigozhin, the head of Russias mercenary Wagner Group, have also been pillorying Putins war plans publicly. The mounting disarray in Moscow comes after a series of blows in Ukraine that have sent the Russian military spiraling out of control. In the last month alone, Ukrainians have waged counteroffensives against Russian forces, and have even been able to seize back territory that Russia has illegally annexed in an attempt to claim it as Russian. The Kremlin has even acknowledged this week that although it attempted to annex four regions in Ukraine and claim them as Russian, Moscow is not certain about where the borders of the regions lie. Story continues The stumbles have led Putin into a corner where he has failed to achieve his major objectives even though the war has dragged on for more than seven months. And although he has initiated a partial mobilization to try to replace those lost on the battlefield, he has alienated Russians who are against the war, prompting a massive exodus from the country, and even failed to adequately prepare conscripts for the conflict. He doesnt know how to lose, one source told Meduza of Putin. And he especially doesnt know how to admit hes losing. Putin has also stopped leaning on his advisers to gauge the prudence of his plans, one source said. He would voice scenarios that he thought were likely and ask, What if we do this? What will the consequences be? And what if we do it this way? Then what? the source said. But thats stopped. The sense of alarm over the way the war is going has been growing in recent days among Russian officials. The head of the lower house of parliament's defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, publicly lashed out at Putin this week, warning him that he and the Kremlin ought to stop applauding Ukraines losses as if Russia is winning, and stop glossing over Russian defeats in Ukraine. The people know. Our people are not stupid, Kartapolov said. Stop lying. Russian Infighting Peaks With Calls for Suicide and Execution Since February, Russia has lost 61,680 troops in the war, according to a tally issued Friday from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Biden himself has openly begun opining on what it would be like for Putin to lose power in Russia, as the Russian president has been issuing nuclear saber-rattling threats for weeks now. Its the first time since the Cuban missile crisis we have the threat of a nuclear weapon if, in fact, things continue down the path they are going, Biden said Thursday. We are trying to figure out, what is Putins off-ramp Where does he find himself in a position that he does not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia? His comments came just a week after Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraines deputy intelligence chief, warned that the risk of Russia using a tactical nuclear weapon was very high. The United States has not seen any reason to adjust Americas nuclear posture and hasnt seen indications from Russia that Moscow is preparing imminently to use nuclear weapons, the State Department clarified Friday. The presidents comments reinforce how seriously the administration takes these threats, said Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson at the State Department. This kind of irresponsible rhetoric is not something that should be coming from a leader of an armed nuclear state. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. (Kate Wadsworth / For The Times) I was an L.A. wild child. I danced on tables and hung out with my favorite local bands. The Kibitz Room on Fairfax Avenue was my home away from home. Back then, my dating life consisted of yearning for musicians, and my long-term relationships were mostly with blue-eyed bass players. Always the bass players! Theyre beautiful to look at but not necessarily the type of people who are wanting to settle down and start a family like I was. I still went to shows, helped carry gear and stayed hopeful while writing my own love songs along the way. When my building in Venice Beach was being sold and I was paid to move out, I jumped at the chance for a change of scenery. I had attended my best friend's wedding in Maui, and I knew that's where I was headed. In search of adventure and love, I picked up my check and packed my bags, and through a series of life-changing coincidences, I moved to a beachfront ohana, a guest house in the tourist town of Lahaina. It could not have been more perfect. I spent my first day walking around Front Street, the main drag, hoping to book a trip to swim with dolphins. That's when I met Carrie, an Arkansas transplant working at a ticket kiosk. She booked me on a whale-watching boat named Lanakila, which means triumphant in Hawaiian. In her sweet Southern drawl, she told me she had a feeling I would hit it off with the first mate, a guy named Sean Paul. She also let me know the bars he frequented and told me to tell him that she had sent me. Newcomers to Maui often experience a phenomenon known as Maui magic, and meeting Carrie that day was certainly kismet. With my ticket in hand and a skip in my step, I arrived at the harbor early the next morning, brimming with confidence while wearing red lipstick and oversized sunglasses true to my L.A. self. And there he was. I watched quietly as he took his time carefully fitting kids with goggles for snorkeling. Wow, I thought, he's good with kids a great sign. I boldly walked up and introduced myself: "Hi, I'm Dawn. Carrie sent me." Story continues He responded with a skeptical Who? before shooting me a dubious look and going on with his work. A Hawaiian native, he was not impressed with me this L.A. woman. Later I learned that the harbor locals had a saying: The bigger the sunglasses, the bigger the attitude. As the day on the boat wore on, Sean warmed up to me, big sunglasses and all. Holding my hand underwater, he and I snorkeled together for hours. Although it was my first time snorkeling, I thought I knew it all and didnt feel I needed coaching. (Its a trait I have to this day.) Slow down and take your time, Sean said, instructing me as I quickly kicked my fins. When I retorted with a sassy I can do what I want and a smile, he shook his head. He knew what he was dealing with an L.A. chick. I didn't swim with dolphins that day, but I swam with Sean. Free-diving deep into the water, he brought up beautiful shells to show me. He was a real-life Aquaman. A naturalist, he narrated to passengers as the humpback whales slapped their fins on the water and leapt out of the ocean alongside our boat. As Sean spoke, spinner dolphins joyfully spun in the air while swiftly swimming past us in pods by the hundreds. It was an awe-inspiring experience. Adventure and the potential for love were happening to me at once. When the trip was over, I knew it was time to make my move. I scribbled down my number and handed it to him. I asked him where he was going for happy hour. To my surprise, he called an hour later. I met him at a sushi bar, and I did most of the talking. Sean endeared me with his quiet warmth. He shared his sushi with me, bought me a drink and listened as I told him my life story. On a whim, I told him that I could guess his birthday. It was an intuitive parlor trick I had honed over the years. Your birthday is March 7, the 17th or the 27th, I said. Im going to choose March 17th. Without saying a word, Sean pulled out his drivers license from his wallet and put it down on the bar. There it was: March 17. Talk about my psychic radar being on that night! It was a sign to me that I was where I was supposed to be and with the person I was supposed to be with. He wasnt an elusive blue-eyed bass player chasing dreams, like I was used to. There was no game-playing with Sean. He was a kind and emotionally present waterman I had found in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The rest, as they say, is history. We were engaged after three months, and I brought my Hawaiian fiance back to Southern California, ready to start our life together. We were married in Malibu, and my friends in those L.A. bands sang at our wedding. However, settling in L.A. was a challenge for a guy more used to wearing fins than being stuck in traffic on the 405 Freeway. Therefore, we compromised and settled in Ventura County, where I had been raised. The traffic wasnt busy, and it was a wonderful place to raise our two children. Our home in Camarillo is a 12-minute drive on the Pacific Coast Highway to the beach, and we're an hour from L.A., so I can still see the music I love. As a bonus, we catch sunsets at Point Mugu, which keeps us both happy. L.A. has been good to me. It sent me on a journey to find the man of my wildest dreams in a place far from Fairfax but now still close to home. The author is a writer and intuitive channel living in Camarillo. Shes on Facebook @hummingbirdvisions and Instagram @hummingbird_visions. Her website is hummingbirdvisions.com. L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $300 for a published essay. Email LAAffairs@latimes.com. You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. For some students learning in virtual reality builds confidence South Central Los Angeles is an area that has been tarnished with a troubled image. Both Hollywood and real-life crime stories have seen to that. Carlos Oyarbide, who teaches English Language Development in South Central LA, is all too familiar with its reputation as a regular visitor. "There's truth in the violent stereotype, but I choose to teach there. It is an immigrant hub with a great sense of loyalty and community. And that community has an entrepreneurial spirit." That spirit has been harnessed at Mr Oyarbide's school, Nava College Preparatory Academy. The school was the trial site for a scheme that has pitched using the metaverse to help teach English to students with a limited grasp of the language. The term metaverse is used to describe a series of virtual reality worlds that can be accessed through a browser or virtual reality (VR) headset. The idea behind the scheme is to harness the power of VR technology to bypass traditional teaching methods and plunge students into a world of possibility in a virtual universe. Teacher Carlos Oyarbide wanted to try something different The idea that VR can be used to boost learning isn't new. In 2020, a study by business consultants PwC found that through the use of VR students could learn up to four times faster than in a traditional class setting. However, the falling price of VR headsets has now made them a more affordable teaching aid. For Mr Oyarbide, the possibility of sharpened focus among his easily distracted students had huge appeal. "I've been teaching for 12 years. If kids can figure out anything it is how not to pay attention! I wanted to try something different, do normal learning from books for one period and then switch to VR." In doing this, he discovered that a VR environment swept away the inhibitions of many of his students wrestling with learning a new language. The price of VR headsets has been coming down He says the technique helped them practise their language skills without embarrassment. Typical tasks performed by his students inside the VR classroom involved building a shop while working out the English language required for signage and advertising. Story continues Students would usually use the VR equipment for two or three hours a week. "They can feel intimidated speaking in English, but when it's just them and a VR avatar that's completely different." Despite the positive impact VR has had on his teaching methods, Mr Oyarbide is not a starry-eyed convert to the avalanche of metaverse hype typified by Facebook's rebranding as Meta. He says there is still great advantages to a traditional classroom setting. "The old approach to teaching through books does not go away. And you're not going to wear a headset for four hours a day. But it does allow you to reduce teacher talk and create a tangible space for a student's confidence to grow." Marco Vargas won a scholarship to a prestigious Ivy League college Meanwhile, Marco Vargas's parents moved to Los Angeles from Guatemala. "I'm a first-generation everything - first-generation American and first-generation high school graduate. In high school I learnt how to navigate the education system and how to use resources by myself." As part of the first cohort to go through Nava, he missed the more modern VR headsets that are now used. Instead, Mr Vargas had a more stripped-down VR experience, using a cardboard viewer attached to a smartphone and Google software. Nevertheless, he says that his high school's embrace of technology was important for his own academic development. The immersive aspect of VR learning appeals to him, but he can also be critical of how his younger generation can take technology for granted after having it at their fingertips for so long. "Yes, we are digital natives, but we lack discipline. We fall prey to distractions." Proving that he could overcome any distraction, Mr Vargas won a Fulbright scholarship to study at Dartmouth, a prestigious Ivy League university. More technology of business: Today, he works for Exponential Destiny, a non-profit organisation dedicated to introducing students at schools in disadvantaged areas to emerging technologies. It was Exponential Destiny that provided the VR headsets to Nava College. Marcus Shingles runs the firm. He was a high-flying business consultant at top-tier firms where he demonstrated new technologies to business leaders, and happily contrasts himself with his students. "I'm a rich white guy," he says. Now, he is helping to plot routes into technology for teenagers who had previously never considered that such a career could be possible for them. "It's clear that the internet is evolving, so we take the time students have invested in mastering platforms like TikTok and show them that developing products in the metaverse doesn't require hard coding." He says the falling price of VR headsets is a chance to make the technology more accessible. This approach to embedding metaverse technologies in teaching attracts students who don't see themselves as tech-oriented. Many of the students that have gone through Exponential Destiny are hired to help out at other schools and expand the scheme. Initially Samantha Aguilar Araujo did not see herself as a tech person Samantha Aguilar Araujo, the daughter of Salvadoran parents and the first in her family to attend high school, is one of them. "I didn't consider myself a tech person, I'm definitely more on the creative side, but I heard about a new class and took it to see what it was like." She became enamoured with a virtual approach to building computing programs that bypasses traditional coding techniques that alienate many of those who aren't technologically adept. Fuelled by artificial intelligence this VR method is often referred to as no-code coding. Juan Felix says VR helps students learn quickly More students in the US and overseas are likely to see these VR techniques in the coming months. Exponential Destiny has projects running in four schools at the moment, with plans to introduce the system to another two in the US and four schools outside the US. Back at Nava College a former pupil, Juan Felix, has returned to take a class of 18 students with limited English through the technology maze. His students discover routes into college or a career in a VR world where they can pull together the elements of covering letters and job application forms. "It is crazy. They're not speaking English as a first language and they've not been exposed to the technology before, but despite these barriers they learn very quickly," he says. Oct. 7Idaho lawmakers have increased public school funding by more than $1 billion over the last decade, but they've done virtually nothing to help with the cost of school construction. That could change next year. An interim working group held its first meeting Thursday to consider various options for funding new schools and school renovations. They plan to have a proposal ready for consideration during the 2023 Legislative session. "We need to be a committee of action," said Sen. Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls, who together with Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian, co-chairs the Funding Construction of Public Schools Working Group. "We're proposing that we have meetings every two weeks (through the end of 2022)," Lent said. "October will be a discovery month, where we get all the ideas out on the table. In November we'll sort through and prioritize them, and in December we'll finalize our recommendations." Monks said the basic purpose of the working group is to ensure that the Legislature is meeting its constitutional obligation to "establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools." "Buildings are an extremely important part of that equation," he said. "I'd also like to see how we can tie this into property tax relief." School construction bonds, plant levies and supplemental levies account for a major portion of the property tax burden in many communities. Shifting some of those costs to the state still leaves taxpayers on the hook, but could do so in a more equitable manner. Andy Grover, executive director of the Idaho Association of School Administrators, told the working group that rural districts face a particular disadvantage when it comes to paying for new schools. With fewer contractors available, he said, their project costs are typically higher than in more competitive urban districts. And because their tax base is smaller, those costs get spread out over fewer people. As a result, the cost per $1,000 in taxable property value might be five to 10 times higher. Story continues "One (urban) district can run a $50 million bond and increase its levy rate by 54 cents," Grover said, whereas rural property owners can see a $3 increase from just a $9 million levy. Given those discrepancies, it's increasingly difficult to pass any kind of school levy, much less a construction bond for a new school, he said. Consequently, districts try to get by with patchwork projects. "A majority of our schools were built in the 1970s, so we're long past the longevity of those buildings," Grover said. "What we're doing is putting a ton of new dollars into old facilities." One option he encouraged the working group to consider was to create a matching fund for capital projects. If the state put aside $150 million to $200 million per year, he said, it might cover 40%-50% of the cost of building seven or eight new schools each year. That would reduce the amount of money districts would need to raise from local property taxpayers. "A lot of the states around us pay for 100% of new facilities," Grover said. "We didn't want to go that far. We think districts should have some skin in the game." Lawmakers have also talked among themselves about the possibility of offering several standard school designs for small, medium and large school districts. Whatever state funding is available would be based on those standard models. If districts want something more, that cost would be borne by local taxpayers. Grover said school administrators would probably be OK with that concept, but it doesn't account for land costs, which can be substantially higher in urban population centers than in rural districts. Sen. Jeff Agenbroad, R-Nampa, asked if the districts would rather rely on state funding with all the strings that might come with that or if they'd prefer that the Legislature just reduced the two-thirds threshold needed to approve local bonds. Lent, however, cited a 2005 school funding lawsuit in which the Idaho Supreme Court said the Legislature was responsible for meeting the Constitution's educational mandate, not local districts. "The ruling made it clear that the Legislature couldn't place the primary funding responsibility for school facilities upon local taxpayers," he said. Lent indicated that the governor's office will likely be involved in any efforts to address the school construction issue, and that the working group itself will probably propose "a combination of remedies." Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168. Oct. 7Whether candidates of one party choose to not to participate, the League of Women Voters of Jasper County still plans to hold its annual candidate forum this month beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 inside the Newton High School auditorium, 800 E. Fourth St. S. The public is invited to attend and ask questions. The Jasper County Republican Party announced a few months ago that its candidates Denny Carpenter, Rep. Jon Dunwell, Barb Kniff McCulla, Sen. Ken Rozenboom and Brandon Talsma will not be participating in the forum, citing issues with the organization itself. However, Democratic candidates Pam Olson, Bev Price and Erick Zehr, will be attending the forum, as will libertarian candidate Michael Wood. Democrats Tyler Stewart and Mike Overman have prior commitments and cannot be at the League of Women Voters forum. Statehouse candidates will speak at 6 p.m. while supervisors candidates will speak at 7:15 p.m. or so. Bonnie Pitz, president of the League of Women Voters of Jasper County, said the purpose of the forum is to provide voters with the information they need to make their best choice on Election Day. The organization, she said, is trying to just get information out to folks. "I think there are a lot of independent voters and they may have specific issues they have a concern about it," she said. "This gives them an opportunity to attend the forum, write up their question and get a response from candidates. We've been doing this a long time and currently there is polarization." Which she says interferes with the voting process. It is disappointing, Pitz said, but the League continues to let Republicans know that if they come to the forum at the very last minute, they are welcome to do so. Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 560 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com Oct. 6NEW LONDON The League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, a non-partisan organization, is hosting a debate here Friday night and has two additional upcoming debates leading up to Election Day. The first debate is at 7 p.m. Friday at the city's Science and Technology Magnet High School at 490 Jefferson Ave. in partnership with the New London chapter of the NAACP. The state representative candidates in the debate are: Democrat Nicholas Gauthier and Republican Kathleen McCarty in the 38th District; Democrat Anthony Nolan and Republican Karen Paul in the 39th District; state representative candidates Lauren Gauthier, a member of the Independent Party, and Democrat Christine Conley in the 40th District and Republican Holly Cheeseman and Democrat Nicholas Menapace in the 37th District. The League of Women Voters has two more debates this month. In partnership with The Day, a debate is scheduled Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Garde Arts Center in New London between District 2 Congressional candidates Democrat Joe Courtney, Republican Robert France and Green Party candidate Kevin Blacker. Tickets for the free event are available at the Garde Arts Center box office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The final debate will take place at Norwich Free Academy on Oct. 19 in collaboration with NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council, the NFA Young Voters Society and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce. At 6 p.m., Democrat Cathy Osten and Republican Pietro "Rocky" Camardella will debate as candidates for state senator in the 19th District. At 7 p.m., candidates for house of representatives will debate: Republican Robert Bell and Democrat Derrell Wilson for the 46th District; Democrat David Nowakowski and Republican Doug Dubitsky for the 47th District; and Republican Mark Adams and Democrat Kevin Ryan for the 139th District. The public can submit questions for the candidates for all the debates by sending an email to info.lwvsect@gmail.com at least three days prior to the debate. Editor's note: this version corrects the party affiliation of Lauren Gauthier and is updated to indicate she and Conley will not be apart of the debate Friday night. Paul Dacre, Sir Michael Hintze and Stewart Jackson are all in line for peerages - Nicholas Razzell/Facebook Brexit-backing Conservatives who supported Boris Johnson will be appointed to the House of Lords within days to reduce the chances of Tory legislation being defeated. The Telegraph can reveal the full list of political peerages that is on the brink of being announced by Downing Street, subject to last-minute tweaks. There are 15 Conservatives on the current list to become new peers, more than all the other political parties combined. Labour is due to get just eight new Lords. Paul Dacre, the former Daily Mail editor, is set to become a Tory peer. He had been lined up by Mr Johnson for the chairman of the media regulator Ofcom, but the move fell through. Sir Michael Hintze, the businessman and Conservative donor, is also in line to be elevated. He has given 4.7 million in donations, according to the Electoral Commission database. Andrew Roberts, the historian who has written positively about Mr Johnson, and Tony Sewell, who investigated ethnic disparities for the Prime Minister, will get peerages. There are also five former Tory MPs on the list - Stewart Jackson, Sir Hugo Swire, Angie Bray, Graham Evans and Sir Nicholas Soames. Mr Jackson was a minister in the Brexit department and then served as chief of staff to David Davis, the former Brexit secretary. Sir Nicholas, the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, is a notable exception in a list heavy with supporters of leaving the European Union. He was a fierce critic and was stripped of the Tory whip by Mr Johnson because of it. Others names on the list include prominent Conservative thinkers such as Sheila Lawlor, the director of Politeia, and Ruth Lea, the economist and former civil servant. Kate Lampard, the chairman of GambleAware, Dambisa Moyo, the economist and author, and Teresa O'Neill, Tory leader of Bexley Council, are also in line to become Lords. Dominic Johnson, the investor who set up Somerset Capital Management with Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Business Secretary, will get a peerage to become a trade minister. Story continues The list of political peerages was drawn up by Mr Johnson and his team when they were in Downing Street and has been scrutinised for months by an oversight body. It is different to the list of resignation honours that Mr Johnson drew up when he was ousted as Prime Minister. That is weeks or even months away from publication. A number of Tories who had been on Mr Johnsons peerage list have been removed since Liz Truss took office last month. It is unclear why. More last-minute changes could be yet to be made. The announcements are expected to be made public within days, possibly before Parliament regathers on Tuesday after a recess for the annual party conferences. By electing more Tory peers than other political parties, Downing Street will make it easier to pass legislation in the Lords, where the Conservatives do not have an overall majority. Legislation such as the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which gives ministers powers to unilaterally suspend aspects of the Brexit deal, is at risk from being changed by opposition amendments. Labours peerages, proposed by the party leader Sir Keir Starmer, see moderates rewards. Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who battled Jeremy Corbyn, is set to become a Lord. So too is Ruth Smeeth, a former Labour MP who suffered anti-Semitic abuse. Tom Watson is one of the Labour figures set to elevated to the House of Lords - Toby Melville/Reuters Frances O'Grady, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, and David Prentis former general secretary of Unison, will get peerages. Both are seen as broadly supportive of Sir Keirs agenda. Ms O'Grady will only join the Lords once she completes her tenure at the TUC. Also on the list are Kuldip Sahota, the Labour councillor; Sharon Taylor, the leader of Stevenage Borough Council; Sonny Leong, the co-founder and co-chairman for SME for Labour; and Fiona Twycross, the London deputy mayor for fire and resilience. Arlene Foster, the former first minister of Northern Ireland, is down to become a non-affiliated peer. Christopher Moran, the businessman and former Tory donor, will sit for the DUP. The Liberal Democrats are expected to get no new peers. A school community is mourning the death of a 16-year-old girl who was killed in a crash in Leominster that left three other teenagers seriously injured. Troopers responding to a report of a single-vehicle crash on the northbound side of Route 190 around 7 p.m. Thursday found a yellow 2001 Ford Mustang that had veered off the highway and flipped over on its roof in the woods, according to Massachusetts State Police. One of the victims, an 11th-grade student at Ayer Shirley Regional High School, was pronounced dead at the scene, school and law enforcement officials said. She was riding in the vehicle with an 18-year-old man who was believed to be driving and a 16-year-old girl, both of Shirley, as well as an 18-year-old man from Bolton. All three victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment. In a letter to the school community, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Adam Renda said, All of us at ASRSD are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students, an eleventh grader, who died in a car accident yesterday. We, the faculty, students, and staff of ASRSD, wish to extend our deepest sympathy and heart-felt condolences to the families, relatives, many friends, and classmates. Ayer Shirley Regional High School Principal Spencer S. Christie said that staffers are assembling response teams and gathering grief counselors to work with students. In the event that your child may be feeling overwhelmed by this news and needs to be dismissed from school, you may contact the main office to arrange for a dismissal, Christie said in a letter to parents. Friday nights football game has also been postponed for a day. Leominster firefighters who were called to the scene of the crash had to extricate three of the victims from the wreckage. The car was on its roof. It was probably less than 30 minutes that the whole operation was over with, said Leominster Fire Chief Robert Sideleau said. The names of those involved in the crash have not been released. Story continues A preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the Mustang had moved left to avoid another vehicle and lost control. Excessive speed may have played a factor in the crash, according to investigators. State police detectives assigned to the Worcester District Attorneys Office are leading the investigation. At Ayer-Shirley High School, a community in mourning. An 11th grade student was killed in a crash last night in Leominster. Three other teens hospitalized. All of us are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students, ASRSD. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/XAs1wIlYZG Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) October 7, 2022 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Cameras using facial recognition technology are displayed at a conference on security in Beijing in 2018. (Nicolas Asfouri / AFP via Getty Images) To the editor: It was good to learn about the legislative attempts by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and four of his Democratic colleagues to limit the misuses of technology surveillance. The way racial biases are built into these and other technology systems is an example of how all of us must learn more about how technology is designed and used. My UCLA colleague Jean J. Ryoo and I recently published a graphic novel, "Power On!," for middle and high school youth that opens with four friends learning about an unarmed Black man in their neighborhood who was shot and killed by police using a biased facial recognition system. The friends begin to wonder: How this could have happened? Can robots be racist? What are algorithms anyway? Why are so few people of color and females working in the tech industry, and why aren't all schools teaching computer science to all their students? I hope the Facial Recognition Act will awaken us all to learn more about the good and harm of technology innovation, as it has too often been harmful for communities of color. Jane Margolis, Los Angeles The writer is a senior researcher at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LONDON (AP) The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be staged in the English city of Liverpool, the BBC said Friday, after Britain was asked to hold the event on behalf of designated host country Ukraine. The birthplace of The Beatles beat Glasgow, Scotland, the other U.K. finalist. In all, seven British cities had applied to hold the pan-continental music competition. The 2023 Eurovision final will be held on May 13. Ukraine won the right to host the pop extravaganza when its entry, folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won this years contest. Britains Sam Ryder came second. Organizers concluded it was too risky to stage the event in Ukraine, so the 2023 contest went to Britain, which says the event will be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and creativity. BBC Director-General Tim Davie said Liverpool, the undisputed capital of pop music, would be an amazing host. British Prime Minister Liz Truss said on Twitter that "Liverpool will put on an unforgettable show which celebrates the rich culture and creativity of Ukraine. Kalush Orchestra said it was pleased with the choice. Playing in the same place that The Beatles started out will be a moment well never forget! the band said. "Although we are sad that next years competition cannot take place in our homeland, we know that the people of Liverpool will be warm hosts and the organizers will be able to add a real Ukrainian flavor to Eurovision 2023 in this city. Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision has grown to include more than 40 countries, including non-European nations such as Israel and Australia. Organizers strive to keep pop and politics apart banning overtly political symbols and lyrics but global tensions have often imposed themselves on the contest. Russia was kicked out of this years competition because of its invasion of Ukraine. ___ Follow all AP stories about the impact of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. Thursdays game between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts didnt go over very well with NFL fans. In fact, one local Denver television station felt the need to open their coverage after the game with an apology to viewers. Thats how bad it was. I feel the need to just apologize to the viewers, Denver7 anchor Nick Rothschild said. I know we didnt play, we didnt even really run this broadcast, but the fact that you had to watch that? On our air? I feel bad. I was here and I didnt even want to watch it." Broncos insider Troy Renck took it a step further. It burns the retinas, Renck replied. It was that awful. This gaining traction is a win for apologies everywhere. Normalize saying sorry https://t.co/9JfMSVp8GA Nick Rothschild (@nick_rothschild) October 7, 2022 Its hard to blame them. The Colts beat the Broncos 12-9 in overtime on Thursday night in Denver in a brutal game that included 12 punts, 10 sacks, four interceptions and not a single touchdown despite six trips into the red zone. There were six fumbles in the contest, too, though none of them were recovered by the other team. It was just bad all around and plenty of people took notice. Sometimes a game could be so bad, its almost good. You know what I mean? Amazon Prime Video broadcaster Al Michaels said at one point to partner Kirk Herbstreit, who quickly shut him down. Prime Video analyst Richard Sherman, who used to play with Denver quarterback Russell Wilson, slammed the team in a rant after the game for their blown final play in overtime. Plenty of players and others in the NFL world were quick to rip the game in general on social media, too. This is one of the worst games Ive ever seen that involves both starting QBs and no bad weather Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) October 7, 2022 We all deserve a free month of Amazon Prime for watching this game. Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 7, 2022 After suffering through that game, and seeing fans boo their own team throughout the contest, its no wonder Rothschild and Renck opened their segment with an apology. Someone had to say it. Art experts in the Netherlands said Thursday they had discovered an important painting by the French Cubist Fernand Leger that had been hidden for more than a century on the back of another canvas. The unknown work "Smoke over the Rooftops", believed to date from 1911-12, was on the flip-side of "Bastille Day", made a year later, according to conservation specialists Studio Redivivus. Partially damaged and covered with a hard glue-like layer during its lost years, it has now been painstakingly restored and reveals a "turning point" in the work of Leger, a Paris contemporary of Picasso. "It really is a discovery," Gwendolyn Boeve-Jones, director of the Hague-based Studio Redivivus, told AFP. The work is believed to be part of a series in which Leger painted the view from his studio of the Paris skyline towards Notre Dame, repeatedly focusing on the smoking chimneys. Dutch art historian Sjraar van Heugten said only seven from the series were previously known to still exist, and the new work shows "hugely important" advances in Leger's use of colour and abstraction. The story of the lost Leger begins around 110 years ago when the artist (1881-1955) gave the "Bastille Day" painting to his friend Marc Duchene as a wedding present in 1912 or 1913. But Duchene was killed in World War I, and while the painting stayed in his family the "sad memories" meant it was never displayed and "remained unknown for years", Van Heugten said. - 'Looks amazing' - "Bastille Day" was then bought from Duchene's heirs in 1999 by the Triton Collection, a private art foundation that still owns the painting. It found there had been some kind of restoration on the back, probably during the 1990s, but it was unknown exactly when and by whom -- and in any case, it had merely caused further damage. The mystery of what exactly was on the back remained largely intact, even as "Bastille Day" was shown in several galleries. "It was covered to a large degree with a white-grey material and the collectors had been told it was nothing really to worry about, it's not important," said Boeve-Jones. Story continues A backing board also obscured the image. But the enigma continued to intrigue Boeve-Jones, who moved to the Netherlands from the United States to work at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum before setting up her own studio. "When I was doing a condition check... I saw some of this which was exposed, and I thought wow, that looks amazing," said Boeve-Jones. In 2016 the owners asked her to inspect further and Boeve-Jones, who says she has "known Leger my whole life", turned detective by poring over the internet and through art publications. The removal of the glue-like stuff then made it easier to see the distinctive forms and colours beneath, especially the billowing smoke. "It wasn't that difficult to see that it belonged in some way to the Fumees Sur Les Toits (Smoke over the Rooftops) series," she said. - 'Wonderful painting' - High-tech imaging techniques looking at the layers of paint and at damage from the frame then allowed her team to restore the painting to its former glory. The painting's significance quickly emerged, placing it as a "huge leap" from Leger's darker earlier work to the more abstract and colourful style that the series pioneered. "It's not just that the painting was covered up, that's interesting to a degree -- but what we've found is the role that this must have played in his journey," said Boeve-Jones. Experts were sure that it was a genuine Leger due to the provenance, to the brushwork and even the 'stretcher' of the canvas that has his signature on. "This says Leger all over it," she said. Van Heugten, previously head of collections at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, said he was "very surprised by the quality" of a work once feared "hopelessly damaged." "It's a wonderful painting and I'm very glad the restoration was so successful," he said. The newly-discovered painting goes on display at the Kroller-Muller Museum in the central Netherlands as part of an exhibition on the rooftop series from 19 November until April 2. It will be displayed in a glass cabinet that will allow viewers to see both sides. dk/jhe/rox FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Ashley Garner had given up on ever seeing her wedding ring again. She lost it outside her Fort Myers home just days before Hurricane Ian crashed into the coast of southwest Florida last Wednesday. Despite enlisting her husband and three young children to help search around their yard and garage for two days, there was no sign of the ring. I just accepted that it was gone, Garner said. It was only a thing. Its replaceable, and I just let it go. We knew the hurricane was coming, so we just kind of said goodbye. The family stayed at their home during the storm and went outside to clean up as soon as it had passed. Were about 10 minutes into cleaning, and my husband is cleaning up the brush and the trees right next to the garage door," Garner said. "There's a pile of brush and trees, and he moves over one pile, and the ring was right there. Garner said she couldn't believe they found the ring. Her neighborhood didn't experience the destructive flooding that many parts of the state did. But 150 mph winds left massive piles of trees and brush throughout the area. I just sat on the curb, and I prayed to God and thanked him for providing and giving us a sign that theres hope for the community, Garner said. Garner posted about finding the ring on Facebook earlier this week. By Tyrone Siu HONG KONG (Reuters) - A luxury yacht worth over half a billion U.S. dollars belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov has docked in Hong Kong waters, according to shipping records, after a week-long voyage from Russia. Mordashov was among a number of Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the European Union and the United States after Russia's invasion of Ukraine for their links to President Vladimir Putin. The vessel tracking website, Marine Tracker, showed the yacht, Nord, arrived in Hong Kong on October 5, after a voyage of seven days from Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, down through the Sea of Japan and East China Sea. The Hong Kong government's marine department did not immediately respond to Reuters questions on whether it was aware of the sanctions imposed on the vessel's owner. The multi-storey yacht, with six decks and a helipad, could be seen on Friday docked in waters west of Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour, flying a Russian flag at the stern. The 465 foot (141-meter) Nord was manufactured by a German shipyard last year and is one of the world's most extravagant luxury yachts, worth $521 million according to Forbes magazine. In March, another luxury yacht owned by Mordashov, the 65-metre (215-ft) "Lady M", was seized by Italian police in the port of Imperia. In recent months, a number of Russian-owned superyachts have been moved to parts of the world considered beyond the reach of Western sanctions, including Turkey, parts of Asia, and the Caribbean. Mordashov built his wealth around the Russian steel producer Severstal (CHMF.MM). Taking into account the assets of his family, Forbes estimates that Mordashov had an estimated net worth of $29.1 billion before sanctions hit, making him the richest man in Russia. (Reporting by Tyrone Siu; Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) PRAGUE (AP) Smile flashing, giving a thumbs-up, Emmanuel Macron appears at Europes center stage again literally. The photo of over 40 European leaders surrounding the French president Thursday ensured a symbolic image of unity of the continent faced with Russias invasion of Ukraine, making the inaugural summit of the European Political Community an initial success for Macron, who launched the idea a few months ago. Its a great day for you, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Macron when welcoming him for the meeting at the Prague castle in the Czech Republic. The forum aimed at boosting security and prosperity across the continent brought together existing EU members, aspiring partners in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as Britain and Turkey. Russia was the one major European power not invited, along with its neighbor and supporter in the war, Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who made a speech via videoconference, said, We have received not just another format of cooperation in Europe, but an extremely powerful opportunity to restore peace in Europe. Other leaders thanked Macron for his initiative, despite initial concerns from some that it might slow down expansion of the European Union. Some countries that have been candidates for years to get into the bloc, especially in the Western Balkans, had feared the new forum would be a way to put them in the EU waiting room for an indefinite period. Macron and other EU leaders insisted it is not a substitute for the membership process, which is to be handled in separate discussions. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country is an EU candidate but maintains relations with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow, still voiced support Thursday for the initiative. We gathered to show that we belong to Europe. It is very useful for us, an ideal opportunity to have good meetings, to find out some things," he told reporters. Story continues At a news conference, Macron said the meeting had sent a powerful message. At the scale of the continent, we're trying to fix problems, he said. The next meeting will be held in Moldova in the spring. In Prague, Macron continued his diplomatic activism. That went from improving the complex French-British relations to trying to ease some regional tensions. British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who had recently expressed her desire to re-engage with France following post-Brexit tensions, called Macron a friend." What were talking about is how the UK and France can work more closely together she said. Alongside European Council President Charles Michel, Macron was able to gather around the table the leaders of historic foes Turkey and Armenia as well as Azerbaijan. Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers on both sides. Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also met successively with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia. The EU has overseen years of unsuccessful talks to normalize relations between the two countries, saying that is one of the main preconditions for their eventual membership in the 27-nation bloc. Serbia refused to recognize Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence. First elected in 2017, Macron has always promoted an ambitious pro-European approach and at each occasion sought to play a key role in global diplomacy. Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 only reinforced his views. In April, Macron was reelected for a second term, winning over far-right, nationalist rival Marine Le Pen in the second round. It bolstered his standing as a senior player in Europe, as the other heavy weight, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is still relatively new to the job after succeeding Angela Merkel last year. Macron also held the rotating presidency of the European Union during the first half of the year, championing sanctions on Moscow as punishment for its war on Ukraine. At home, though, he appeared weakened after June parliamentary elections made him lose his majority at the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, forcing him into political maneuvering. Yet his popularity remained relatively high throughout summer, in part thanks to a series of domestic measures to help the French cope with rising prices of food and energy, including a cap on gas and electricity prices. A strong advocate of multilateralism, Macron will soon get other occasions to promote his views on the international stage. He is expected to head next month to Egypt for the next United Nations summit on climate change and to the summit of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations in Bali, Indonesia. He will then travel in early December to Washington for the first state visit of President Joe Bidens tenure, in a sign that relations between Paris and Washington have come full circle. The relationship tanked last year after the United States announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia. The decision by the U.S. undermined a deal that had been in place for France to sell diesel-powered submarines to Australia. The Biden administration since has heaped praise on Macron for being among the most vociferous Western allies in condemning Russias attack on Ukraine. A 59-year-old straphanger was stabbed in the back during a clash at a Harlem train station Thursday, police said. The victim was waiting for a train at the 125th St. station at St. Nicholas Ave. around 1:10 p.m. when he got into an argument with another man on the train platform. The two men didnt know each other before the argument, police said. As the two began to fight, the other man pulled a knife and stabbed him in the upper back. EMS rushed the victim to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where he was expected to survive. The stabber, who was wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket and blue tinted glasses, ran off. No arrests have been made. Hours later, a man was critically injured on a Bronx train when an attacker randomly stabbed him from behind multiple times. A man has been arrested just over a week after the shooting deaths of a mother and son in Fort Mill, deputies said. Investigators said they found Betty Reynolds, 71, and Barry Reynolds, 40, dead on Sept. 27 after performing a welfare check at a home on Saddle Ridge Road. On Thursday, authorities said they arrested Paul Eugene Bumgardner, 45, in Gastonia for the double homicide. York County investigators told Gastonia police that Bumgardner was at a home on Jackson Road. I saw a bunch of police cars out there last night, said Andrew Beaty, who lives nearby in Gastonia. Good thing I got my own protection at home and security system, but thats uneasy to find that out. Bumgardner was charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and burglary in the first degree. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man arrested; accused of killing mother, son in Fort Mill, sheriff says Channel 9s Ken Lemon was in the courtroom Friday as Bumgardners attorney tried to have him set free. He asked the judge to let Bumgardner go and turn himself in to the York County Sheriffs Department, but the judge did not approve. He is gainfully employed, self-employed. He does residential remodels, said Michael Neece, a defense attorney. Unrecurring or putting his bond at a lower amount with the condition that within 48 hours, he returns himself to South Carolina. ALSO READ: Murder suspect eligible for bond nearly 2 years after death of Cabarrus County deputys son York County deputies said Bumgardner and the two victims knew each other, though they wouldnt say how or why they believe Bumgardner was there. Arrest warrants appear to indicate he forced his way into the house at night, then shot and killed the mother and son. Neighbors told Lemon that news of their deaths shattered a community in Fort Mill, as loved ones grieve. At this point, police have not confirmed what led to that shooting. Bumgardner is set to appear back in court in November to decide if hell willingly go back to York County to face double-murder charges. (WATCH BELOW: Newly released warrants detail moments before murder of Wake County deputy) A man was arrested Wednesday after police say he attempted to burn down his parents' house during a domestic violence call. A man was arrested Wednesday after police say he attempted to burn down his parents' house during a domestic violence call near Cave Creek Road and Tatum Boulevard. Nate Rogers, 35, faces multiple felony charges, court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic state. Court documents state that police learned that Rogers reportedly punched his father after his parents told him he would have to find a place to live while the family planned to relocate. The victim then called the police to report the assault, court documents state. While on the phone with the dispatchers, Rogers could be heard making threats to his parents that he was going to burn their house down, court documents state. Rogers also told his mother that if the police showed up, he would kill both his mother and father, court documents state. Upon arrival, police were able to get both victims out of the house and began to set up containment around the house, court documents state. While outside, Rogers' parents then let the police know that Rogers suffers from schizophrenia and had not been taking his medication, court documents state. Court documents say that while police attempted to set up containment around the house, Rogers pointed a handgun through a window at two officers located on the side of the house. Officers then tried to get Rogers to exit the house, which is when Rogers lit the residence on fire, court documents state. Later, Rogers exited the house with both a handgun and a sword in tow, court documents state. Officers asked Rogers to drop his weapons but he refused, court documents state. "Less lethal ammunition" was used to disarm Rogers and he was arrested, Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Vincent Cole said in a statement. Police later said the handgun Rogers pointed at officers was in fact a BB gun. Rogers was transported to a Maricopa County hospital, where he received treatment for smoke inhalation, and was later booked into a Maricopa County jail on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges. Story continues Rogers was released on a $50,000 bond while awaiting his next court dates. Reach breaking news reporter Kye Graves at klgraves@gannett.com or on Twitter @kyegraves. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man arrested on suspicion of setting fire to parents' home in Phoenix A 57-year-old man is facing a murder charge after prosecutors said he threw a fist-sized rock at another mans head, killing him. Judi Kilma is being charged with second-degree murder and is accused of killing 33-year-old Joseph Simmons. According to court records, at around 8:10 p.m. on Sept. 19, Puget Sound Regional firefighters and Kent police were called to a Chevron located in the 27100 block of Military Road South after someone called 911 and reported finding an unconscious man outside the convenience store who appeared to be suffering from a possible drug overdose. When police and firefighters arrived, they found a man lying in the parking lot and bleeding from his head. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where surgery was performed to treat his traumatic brain injury. Police said they were approached by a man who identified the victim as his friend. The man told police that he heard the victim had been struck in the head with a rock during an altercation with another man at a Safeway store located in the 28800 block of Military Road in Federal Way. Federal Way police went to the Safeway, where no evidence of an assault was found. However, they did talk with another person who did not have any direct knowledge of the incident but told police that there was a person in the area who was known to routinely throw rocks at people. That person was determined to be Kilma, according to court records. After investigators looked through surveillance video from Chevron, which revealed that Simmons had arrived at the convenience store with another person in a Black Honda Accord. That person went inside the store, bought ice and told the cashier that he needed it for his friend who was struck in the head with a rock, court papers state. When fire medics arrived, the driver of the Black Honda drove off, leaving Simmons to be treated. On Friday, Sept. 23, Simmons died from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center. He never regained consciousness, court records state. Story continues According to the King County Medical Examiners Office, Simmons died due to sustaining an epidural hematoma, with an accompanying head laceration and skull fracture, consistent with his having been struck by a blunt object. Investigators found out while interviewing Simmons friend with the Honda Accord that he had met Simmons on Sept. 19 outside the Safeway, where the victim and Kilma, who was on a bicycle, were arguing. According to the friend, Simmons was gesturing with a knife and telling Kilma to get away from him. The friend recalled that Simmons had told Kilma that he had used a knife to puncture a tire on Kilmas bicycle. However, Kilma returned minutes later, removed a fist-sized rock from his jacket and threw it at Simmons, hitting him in the head. According to court records, the friend told police that he and Simmons had to went to the Chevron in Kent for ice after others who were nearby had restrained Kilma. Simmons is said to have remained in the car smoking fentanyl while his friend went inside to get ice and later called 911 to report the incident. According to police, surveillance video showed that Simmons had produced a knife and appeared to stab Kilmas front bicycle tire. It also showed Kilma walking away while Simmons remained seated on the curb. Kilma then placed his bicycle against a wall and returned after getting something off the ground. Shortly after, Kilma threw a large rock directly at Simmons from approximately 15 feet away. Surveillance video also showed Kilma retrieving another rock from his jacket but before he could throw that rock, he was restrained by bystanders and eventually left the area in a pickup with another person who had parked a distance away. Kilma was eventually arrested without incident on Oct. 1 in Kent after a suspect bulletin was released, investigators said. According to court records, Kilma later admitted to throwing the rock at Simmons because he was angry with him cutting his bicycle tire, but did not intend to kill him. Prosecutors requested Kilmas bail to be set at $2 million but a judge set it at $250,000. Kilmas next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 19. A man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attacking a worker at a cathedral in Oklahoma with a sword. After the suspect identified as Daniel Edwards tried and failed to set the cathedral on fire, he fled and was later arrested while making threats of detonating a bomb at a local store, police said. Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin reported, "TPD officers responded to a downtown church building at approximately 4 p.m. after a man attacked an employee of the building with a sword, lit incendiary devices, and attempted to set the building ablaze." Police said Thursday they expect Edwards to be charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. KANSAS POLICE INVESTIGATING VANDALISM AT CHURCH: 'MY BODY MY CHOICE' "There were children at the location, all of which were unharmed. We apprehended the man a short time later at 71st & Sheridan after he caused a disturbance in a store by threatening to detonate a device," the police chief added. The cathedral worker was identified as Ron Notzon by Holy Family Cathderal rector Fr. Gary Kastl, who reportedly engaged Edwards and was cut in the scuffle. Edwards then approached the church and attempted to enter through the main doors before realizing the doors were locked and proceeded around to the side of the cathedral, according to police. FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES, ARSON INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY He then allegedly attempted to light an object on fire and toss it into the building, causing minor fire damage. At the time of the initial incident, children from the Catholic school next door were taking photos in front of the cathedral. The students were swiftly brought inside and placed on lockdown. Edwards was arrested around an hour and a half after the incident, having suffered minor injuries in the scuffle. Holy Family Cathedral held a public mass Thursday praying for the recovery of Notzon. A man with an ax tried to get into Upson Elementary School around the time students were getting out Friday afternoon. After leaving when the doors were locked, an ensuing confrontation with school police led to him being shot in critical condition, officials said. A man wielding an ax was critically injured Friday afternoon when a Duval County school police officer shot him after trying to get inside Ruth N. Upson Elementary School, according to Superintendent Diana Greene. Officials had placed the school at 1090 Dancy St. on lockdown after he failed to get through already locked doors, she said. Joined by Greg Burton, chief of the county's public schools police, Greene said she is very proud of the way staff followed security procedures to prevent the man from getting into the building in the Murray Hill community. "He was carrying a very large ax," Greene said. "... The gentleman tried to get in a second door. It was locked, and we immediately went into a Code Red. Again, our staff followed our training." "Working together, everyone saved the day," Burton said. Active shooter response 'playbook' unveiled: Clay County schools, police show plan in wake of Uvalde School safety: Year after post-game shooting, a 'new normal' in security The incident started about 2:40 p.m. when the man approached the school and tried to get in a door, Greene said. Someone spotted him trying to get in. But all school doors were locked as per district safety protocols, Burton said. He left and was followed briefing by the school safety officer who then returned to the campus just blocks west of Roosevelt Boulevard to make sure he didn't come back, Burton said. School district police officers showed up and found him outside a nearby church. "As the subject came toward one of the police officers, the officer gave him verbal warnings to drop the ax," Burton said. "... The subject threatened the officer with the ax. The subject was then shot at least one time." Burton said it's not known if the suspect had any mental problems or what was his motive, but the Sheriff's Office will be investigating. He also couldn't confirm some reports that the suspect swung the ax at parents and chased some in the parking lot arriving to pick up their children. Story continues No names were released. Parents received notification Parents received a 3 p.m. telephone call from the school, alerting them to the incident and saying the building was under lockdown, so "no one is allowed to enter or exit the school campus." A follow up message at 3:41 p.m. told them "all students and staff remain safe," and the Code Red was lifted for dismissal. A tax referendum in Duval County: Education and teachers are crime-fighting tool Jacksonville school shooting: 10 years after tragedy, Episcopal's Dale Regan's legacy lives on Greene sent a third message to parents just before 5 p.m., saying the intruder had been shot by school police down the street from the campus. "While it is troublesome that the event ended in this way, I am very thankful for the professionalism of our staff who took the steps necessary for the safety of the school community," Greene stated. "If your student exhibits difficulty coping with this trauma, please know that we will have emotional support resources available." Greene said the school's video surveillance cameras also allowed staff to see the intruder trying to get in and called for the Code Red. dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval County school officer shoots man who had an ax The Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol is hunting the invaders Its been a while since we played with the matches... Burns great! (This is) the house of invading officers. Or whats left of it. Were you relaxing? Goodbye uniforms, personal effects, your loot and your peace of mind. Russians were here! Read also: Ukrainian partisans in occupied Melitopol reveal details of their activity Mariupol Resistance, a group of partisans, posted the message and video on the Telegram messenger on Oct. 7. The partisans also said it was a greeting to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin from Ukraines Mariupol. Petro Andryushchenko, adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, commented on the video posted by the resistance movement in the city, saying it was "a nice birthday greeting to the most disgusting dictator of the 21st century." Activists of the resistance movement in Mariupol are creatively protesting against the Russian occupation by painting the Ukrainian letter in various parts of the city the Russian alphabet has so such letter. On Sept. 5, the Mariupol resistance movement called on Ukrainians in the city from their Telegram post to join this protest and paint the Ukrainian letter , which they chose as their symbol, in various locations. Read also: Russian puppet Pushilin is nowhere to be found, Mariupol official says One of the first places where the "letter of resistance" appeared was the city center: on a paving stone near a monument to Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Bloomberg) -- A day after a former cop involved with drugs went on a killing spree in Thailand that left two dozen pre-schoolers dead, calls are mounting for a national crackdown on the cartels that traffic billions of dollars of illicit substances a year. Most Read from Bloomberg Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra urged the government to speed up the suppression of drugs, especially methamphetamine tablets. The former prime minister, who is in self-imposed exile, led a yearslong anti-drugs war in the early 2000s in which about 2,500 people were killed. The perpetrator of Thursdays massacre, Panya Kamrab, had been dismissed from the police force after being arrested for illegal possession of drugs in January. He was due to attend court on Friday. Thirty-six people died in the knife and gun attack that started at a daycare center in Nong Bua Lamphu province, near the Laos border, before he took his own life. Despite speculation that the 34-year-old had been under the influence of methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as meth, a blood test found no trace of the drug, police said. Read More: Mass Shooting in Thailand Leaves 38 Dead, Mostly Children Even as King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha led the nation in mourning -- announcing plans to meet with the families of victims and ordering national flags to be flown at half mast -- the political fallout from one of the worst mass shootings in Thailands recent history had begun. Opposition parties led by Pheu Thai, which was affiliated with Thaksin, criticized the governments lax anti-drug policies. The Prayuth governments failure to suppress drugs resulted in cheap prices, leading to this tragic incident, Pheu Thai lawmaker Juthaporn Kateratorn said in a statement on Friday. Story continues Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said that if voted to power, Pheu Thai would devise a war on drugs policy to totally eradicate drugs. Thailand is the main conduit for drug trafficking along Southeast Asias vast Mekong river valley, with enforcement agencies often turning a blind eye. Southeast Asias organized crime economy, including the illicit trade in drugs and wildlife, was worth an estimated $130 billion in 2019, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes. However human-rights activists are highly critical of the kind of anti-drug campaigns followed by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Thailands Thaksin, saying extra-judicial killings are a major outcome. Thaksins campaign, which began in 2003, included the arrest of suspected drug traffickers and the punishment of state officials for failing to control the drugs trade. He blamed crime syndicates for the related deaths, saying gangsters killed suspects to prevent them passing incriminating evidence to the police. The government had been strict and efficient about drug suppression, arrest, and rehabilitation efforts, but after this incident we will review what we can do more, said deputy spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek. Thursdays mass killing also turns the spotlight on Thailands gun control rules. Kamrab used a pistol that had been obtained legally, according to police. A soldier who killed 29 people at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020 used a military rifle. Attacks on the public by members of the police and armed forces are a reflection of a deeply rooted culture of violence among government officials, said Rangsiman Rome, a spokesman for the opposition Move Forward party, in a statement. Former senator Jon Ungphakorn called for strict gun control measures, similar to those in Japan, Britain, and other European countries, in a Facebook post, adding this could only be achieved under a constitution-abiding civilian government. Political analyst Somjai Phagaphasvivat said gun-possession rules for police and military personnel should be aligned with those for civilians, and that authorities needed to be more serious about controlling distribution of methamphetamine tablets. Were very saddened by the incident in Nong Bua Lamphu, Rachada said. She added that the government would speed up actions on what needs improving or tightening in its drug and gun policies. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- A mass shooting that began with a daycare center in northeastern Thailand left 38 people dead, the majority of them children, according to officials. Most Read from Bloomberg A 34-year-old former cop used an automatic weapon to fire at the center located in Nong Bua Lamphu province near Thailands border with Laos on Thursday afternoon, killing 24 children, Jackrapat Wijitwaitaya, a local police official, said by phone. After fleeing the scene, the assailant shot dead more people as he drove back to his house, where he killed his wife and child before taking his own life, Jackrapat said. The attack also left 10 injured, six of them seriously, according to Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police. The motive behind the crime was unclear but the shooter, identified as Panya Kamrab, was believed to be under the influence of drugs, Jackrapat said. National police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who flew to the site of the attack, said the shooter was fired from service after being arrested for possession of drugs. The assailant was set for a court appearance on Friday in the drug case that led to his dismissal, Damrongsak said. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha ordered a probe into the horrifying crime and the police to fast-track the investigation. Authorities ordered the closure of all daycare centers in the area. While mass shootings are not very common in Thailand, a soldier shot dead two of his colleagues at a military facility in Bangkok last month. Twenty-nine people were killed during a mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailands northeast in 2020. (Updates death toll, adds comment from police from third paragraph.) Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Parents Defending Education has filed a complaint with the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights over a theater production at a Massachusetts high school that appears to have restricted auditions to only students of color. Newton North High Schools teaching and working theater, Theatre Ink, is putting on a show called Lost and Found: Our Stories as People of Color in January 2023. The theater, which has a link to the Black Lives Matter website on its homepage, describes the performance in an audition packet as a no-cut, cabaret-style show for students of color at North. This show was created 2 years by [an alumni of the school] to provide a safe community space for students of color to express themselves through the performing arts, the packet adds. From hardships to celebrations, people of color have countless stories to tell. Lost and Found will be a reserved safe space for this exploration and for people of color to be vulnerable and support one another. The packet says a special part of the show is that it centers on community building by having full-cast rehearsals once a week where we have organized discussions about race and identity in our lives. It links out to an audition sign-up form that asks students how they identify racially/ethnically and to submit a headshot image and their preferred pronouns. PDE argues in its complaint that the audition packet is in violation of both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The performance description does not assert that participation in this performance is open to all, the complaint adds. Regardless of intent, American public schools may not offer opportunities to students on the basis of skin color. It was wrong in the Jim Crow Era, and it is wrong in 2022, PDE President Nicole Neily told Fox News. A spokesperson for Newton Public Schools responded to the complaint in a statement to National Review saying: While centered in the stories of the lives of our students of color, no one is turned away or excluded from participating or having a role in the Lost and Found production of Theatre Ink, Newton Norths teaching and working theater program. Story continues The Newton Public Schools do not exclude students based upon color, race, ethnicity, or religious background, the statement added. Lost and Found is a student designed and student directed production. We support the premise and educational value of this performance. We are proud of our students for the hard work they do to not only assemble a diverse group of performers, but also to challenge each other to have difficult conversations around societal issues. More from National Review Death toll from Thai childcare center mass shooting rises to 36 Xinhua) 11:21, October 07, 2022 BANGKOK, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- A mass shooting at a childcare center on Thursday in northeast Thailand's Nong Bua Lamphu province has killed at least 36 people, including 24 children, local authorities said. The victims included 24 children and 12 adults, according to a report posted on the Facebook page of the provincial public relations department. Another 12 people were reportedly injured. The shooting occurred at around 12:40 p.m. local time (0540 GMT), local police said. The attacker, reportedly a 34-year-old former police officer, later killed his family members before taking his own life, Kornwit Nitkhamhan, deputy inspector at Na Klang Police Station where the childcare center locates, told Xinhua via phone. "About the horrifying incident, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the dead and injured," Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wrote on his Facebook account, adding that he has ordered the national police chief to "fast-track an investigation." TV footage showed ambulances and families of the victims gathering outside the childcare center. A woman working at the childcare center told a local TV program that they were having lunch when she heard the sound and saw the injured falling to the ground. The shooter broke the window in as the door was locked, and she succeeded in fleeing the scene, she said. Many locals rushed to the Nong Bua Lamphu provincial hospital in response to its urgent call for blood donation for the injured. (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) Mayor Adams declared a state of emergency Friday over the citys migrant crisis and pleaded for financial and legislative assistance from the federal government and state lawmakers. The declaration will suspend certain land-use requirements so the city can more rapidly set up emergency housing for migrants, such as the controversial tent camp set to be constructed on Randalls Island, Adams said in a speech from City Hall. But the declaration only goes so far. With more than 17,000 South and Central American migrants currently in the city, the homeless shelter system is nearly at 100% capacity and social services are being strained to the brink of collapse, Adams said. It is burning through our budget, he said, predicting that the city will spend more than $1 billion on the crisis in this fiscal year alone. This is unsustainable. As a result, Adams demanded that President Bidens administration and Albany lawmakers do what they can to help, including allocating emergency funding and passing legislation that would expedite work permits for the migrants. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, he said. The massive influx of migrants has placed a big burden on the citys homeless shelter system. That pressure has led to several apparent violations of the states right-to-shelter law, which requires the city to provide housing to anyone who seeks it within a proscribed timeframe. To relieve the burden on shelters, Adams signaled last week that he planned to house some migrants in tents at an Orchard Beach parking lot in the Bronx. But earlier this week, he reversed himself over concerns of flooding there. Instead, he opted to move the tent encampments to Randalls Island. In a statement released by the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless, which act as watchdogs regarding the right to shelter law, the groups slammed Adams for failing to invest more adequately in affordable housing, which would also ease the burden on shelters. Story continues It is the citys historic shameful failure to adequately invest in affordable housing that has continued to fuel mass homelessness, they said in the statement. We reaffirm our call on the city to abandon its plan to construct tent cities, and to instead focus on high-quality indoor shelter options and permanent housing. Also at play on Friday are the politics of the situation both here and in other states. Many of the migrants streaming into the city have come from Texas. That states governor, Greg Abbott, whos running for re-election, has directed buses filled with asylum seekers to the Big Apple as a way to criticize Bidens border policies. Biden is also seeking a referendum on his effectiveness in the coming November midterm elections. And Gov. Hochul is also seeking re-election. The mayor said he is not concerned about politically putting Democratic allies in a tight spot. [Biden] understood the urgency of the moment, Adams said, referring to his most recent conversation with the president. Speaking with the governors office, they understand the urgency of the situation. There was never a time that they stated, Eric, you know, we dont want to engage in this conversation because its too political. Nope, they did not do that at all. He would not offer specifics regarding exactly how the state might help as far as providing locations to house asylum seekers, but noted that there are plenty of locations that are under state control that I believe we should look at. Right now, Im not going to disclose exact locations, he said. As soon as we get the approval from them the inspections that state that theyre suitable for people to be inside were going to make a formal announcement. During a press conference after his speech, Adams offered few details on which aspects of the citys land use laws his administration intends to tweak. He did say the city does not plan to suspend its Uniform Land Use Review Procedure as part of the process, though. Bronx Councilman Rafael Salamanca, who chairs the Councils Land Use Committee, said he has no idea which specific land use requirements the mayor is targeting, but speculated that the changes could involve rezoning industrial and commercial areas to house the asylum seekers. That could mean retrofitting vacant warehouses to help ease the citys burden, he said. My team is looking into it and were reaching out to [the mayor] because we want to understand: What are you suspending? Salamanca said. New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix also did not offer much in the way of specifics when it comes to suspending land-use requirements. It does not suspend all our city laws, but just the land-use laws, she said, adding that more details would be forthcoming. On Wednesday, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and several other Council members put out a statement urging Hizzoner to consider vacant hotels as an option for housing migrants. The Daily News at the time requested a list of the hotels they were referring to, but the Council still has not made it public. Before taking questions from reporters, Adams urged them to inquire with the Council as to why it has not yet released a list of potential hotels to house migrants. Can you ask the City Council wheres the list? he said. Cause we cant get it. They said there were ten hotels that were available and we should be using them ... People need to stop criticizing. They need to step up. Without calling out anyone by name, Adams also slammed Council members for demanding the city house migrants in hotels while at the same time telling his administration that they dont want to house migrants in their Council districts. I cannot tell you how many Council people, local electeds that are yelling, house people, but are saying not in my district, the mayor said. You cant have it both ways. When asked about cooperation with the City Council and complaints that he provided little notice to Council members Diana Ayala and Marjorie Velazquez, who represent Randalls Island and Orchard Beach, respectively, Adams again appeared to point his finger back toward lawmakers, saying that his administration has been communicating with them all the time on this. Theres a deafening silence thats coming from other parts of government, he said. This is not one of these operations where we can sit down and analyze whats taking place. We had nine buses yesterday. We have eight buses today. Were getting hundreds of people that are coming here, and its going to take real-time movement. In an ironic twist, the citys Immigration Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro suggested that many of the migrants in New York City could end up in Florida. That states governor, Ron DeSantis, also made waves weeks ago when he sent migrants to Marthas Vineyard. About one-third of the asylum seekers coming into the city want to be re-settled in other parts of the country, according to Castro. Many of those coming into the city began their journey from Venezuela. The largest population of Venezuelans in the country are in Florida, and thats where most people indicated where they wish to be, he said. It really is up to the individuals. We want to make sure that we support people getting to where they wish to go. This fall, tip your basket to William Blaxton when you pluck a plump apple from a tree, bob for apples on Halloween or cherish your grandmother's amazing apple pie on Thanksgiving. Reverend Blaxton, among other claims to fame, planted the first seeds that would fuel a pioneering nation and give apples an image of all-American wholesomeness. A bookish, eccentric loner, the early English settler nurtured what historians believe were the first apple orchards in what's now the U.S. in present-day Boston in the 1620s. His name Blaxton is often modernized as Blackstone. A true pioneer, he settled Boston five years before the Puritans and Rhode Island a year before Roger Williams. MEET THE AMEIRCAN WHO COOKED UP FROZEN FOODS: ADVENTURER AND INNOVATOR CLARENCE BIRDSEYE "There may be historical characters who did more than he did for apples in America, but he was certainly the first and at least the first known to bring this exotic crop to our shores," said John Bunker, an American apple expert, grower and author. "Thats a pretty awesome legacy," added the New England apple enthusiast, who spoke to Fox News Digital this week while "tracking down ancient trees" in the woods of rural Maine. An engraving depicts fruit pickers collecting apples for cider, dated 19th century. Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Our national heritage is flavored with references to the sweet, juicy fruit. America's biggest city is called the Big Apple. Wholesome institutions are as "American as apple pie." Johnny Appleseed created an American legend spreading the gospel and the apple across the heartland. Yet the fruit is native to Central Asia, likely Kazakhstan. It had reached Europe at least by the time of Ancient Greece and Rome. APPLES QUIZ! HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS DELICIOUS FRUIT? Apples arrived in the Americas only after the explorations of Christopher Columbus sparked the greatest period of food fusion and cultural integration in world history. The people of the New World, in addition to apples, soon savored Old World foods such as rice, onions and coffee. Europeans, Asians and Africans discovered Western Hemisphere flavors such as corn, potatoes and tomatoes. Story continues Julius Caesar never tasted tomato sauce, as one observer noted of the Roman diet before the Genoa-born Columbus landed in America. Apples in an orchard at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, Massachusetts, on Sept. 7, 2020. Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images The restless Blaxton moved often and typically lived alone, though he did marry at age 64 and at age 65 had a son, John. He apparently preferred the acquaintance of his apple trees and his books to the company of people. "I looked to have dwelt with my orchards and my books in undisturbed solitude," reads a memorial to him today in Cumberland, Rhode Island, near the Blackstone River. William Blaxton is believed to have been born on March 5, 1595, in Lincolnshire, England to John and Agnes (Hawley) Blaxton. His mother died when he was boy. He was ordained by the Church of England in 1621, then lost his father the following year. Left on his own as a young man, and with news of English settlements in Jamestown and Plymouth trickling back to Britain, Blaxton set off for the New World as chaplain aboard the ship "Katherine." MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INVENTED THE DONUT "William brought with him to the New World a large collection of books, approximately 186 in various languages," wrote Nathaniel Brewster Blackstone in a biography of the settler and his descendants. Blaxton arrived in Wessagusset, in what is now Weymouth, Massachusetts, just south of Boston in 1623. It was an ill-fated settlement. Captain Richard Gorges, who led the expedition, hastily returned to England. A person takes a photo of a blooming tree on Boston Common in Boston on April 27, 2022. William Blaxton planted America's first apple orchard along what is now Boston Common. It became America's first public park in 1634, just before Blaxton left for Rhode Island. Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Blaxton stayed behind and ventured a few miles north to the Shawmut Peninsula, the site of present-day downtown Boston, in 1625. The Puritans, led by John Winthrop, arrived five years later. "For several years before Winthrop came in 1630, William Blaxton constituted the entire population of this peninsula to which attached the name of Boston," the Bostonian Society claimed in an 1860 presentation. "He was kind of an eccentric," Russell Steven Powell, executive director of the New England Apple Association, told Fox News Digital. Powell has written two books about the fruit, "America's Apple" and "Apples of New England." Colorized illustration (after a wood engraving circa 1854) of English Puritan and founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony John Winthrop (circa 1588-1649). Photo by Science Source/Photo Researchers History/Getty Images There are several accounts, he said, of Blaxton "riding a bull through the streets, throwing flowers and apples to his friends." The staid Puritan reformers and the oddball Anglican minister did not hit it off. So, for the third time in 12 years, Blaxton (or Blackstone) started a new life on his own. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL: 50 MUST-SEE LANDMARKS THAT TELL OUR NATIONAL STORY "Because of theological and territorial disagreements with his new neighbors, Blackstone moved west in 1635 to enjoy the solitude and tranquility of a place he called Study Hill in the Lonsdale section of Cumberland, on the east bank of the river that now bears his name," writes the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. "This move gave him the unique distinction of being present-day Rhode Islands first permanent English settler." Blaxton spent his days in Boston planting roots before uprooting his own. "When Governor Winthrop found William in 1630, he had had ample time to have built his home, plant his orchard, and was living quite comfortably," reported Brewster Blackstone in his biography. Illustration of Johnny Appleseed making a speech, circa 1820. A legendary figure in American history, he spread apples and goodwill through the Midwest. Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images "As for the apple seeds he used to develop his orchards, it is probable that he was foresighted enough to retrieve and save every apple core (which naturally contains seeds) he could find, or otherwise come by," said the same source. "Certainly most ships were stocked with apples along with other foodstuffs, therefore, it is doubtful that he brought them with him in 1623 because this kind of living was most likely not his original intention. He would have probably only brought with him his ministerial necessities." Blaxton's first orchard was planted at the corner of what's now Beacon and Spruce streets, in the heart of Boston, between Beacon Hill and Boston Common. That's according to Amy Traverso, Yankee Magazine food editor and author of "The Apple Lover's Cookbook," who shared that with Fox News Digital. Illustration of pioneers crossing the plains by Henry Bryan Hall, Jr. after Felix Octavius Carr Darley. Photo by CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images "I love to imagine Beacon Hill covered with all those apple trees," she said. Blackstone planted his apple orchards from seed, according to all reports, while controlled varietals are grown by grafting. So the types of apples he grew is unknown. But apple experts say the earliest known American varieties likely descended from Blackstones Boston fruit trees. Lowell Johnson of Apple Jack Orchard in Delano, Minnesota, gave Children of Tomorrow Daycare of Waconia a tour of his apple orchard. Photo by Bruce Bisping/Star Tribune via Getty Images The Roxbury russet, named for a Boston neighborhood, is the earliest known American apple variety, and is traced to 1635, the year Blaxton left for Rhode Island. Heirloom apples Rhode Island greening and yellow sweeting also likely came from his first orchards. The Roxbury russet is an "excellent old cider apple, a fine keeper and good for eating fresh out of hand," writes Trees of Antiquity. Added the website New England Apples, "Its crisp and spicy sweet-tart flesh is as good for fresh-eating as it is for making a fine cider It keeps well in storage." Apples could be also be dried, baked, distilled into vinegar or, most commonly in colonial times fermented into cider. They proved perfect food for the pioneers who were spreading across the continent. They also gave the Europeans who arrived in America, and eventually the Americans who settled new homes across the continent, a much-needed reminder of home. William Blackstone died on May 26, 1675, in Cumberland, the Rhode Island town he first settled in 1635. The name Blackstone remains common throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The land he sold to the Puritans became Boston Common, founded in 1634, just before he left the Shawmut Peninsula. It is the oldest public park in America today. It predates Central Park in New York City, for example, by 224 years. Boston boasts a downtown Blackstone Street, a Blackstone Grill and a Blackstone Elementary School. The Blackstone River, which meanders through both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is named for him. It became a critical power provider in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. The Blackstone River National Historical Park was created under President Obama in 2015. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Rhode Island features numerous memorials, including a William Blackstone Memorial Park in Cumberland. The city of Pawtucket, an old mill town on the Blackstone River, introduced a monument to Blackstone in 2021. It features him reading a book upon a bull, reflecting one of the tales of his eccentricity. Fall color reflections at the Blackstone River in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Photo by Essdras M Suarez/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Apples quickly become a symbol of American bounty. When British troops invaded Brooklyn during the American Revolution in 1776, the British were stunned by the splendor of the orchards. The redcoats "regaled themselves with the fine apples, which hung everywhere upon the trees in great abundance," wrote author David McCullough in "1776," his epic work of history. Bunker, the Maine apple expert, said apples symbolize the breadth of the American experience, born overseas but rooting themselves deeply in the soil of the New World. "Apples are just like us," the apple romantic said. "They come in many colors, many sizes and many shapes. They are well rooted, just like we all want to be. They are collaborative, communicative and they gift us with beautiful fruit." Apples, he also said, "teach us what it means to be alive and joyful on earth." And it's a travel product you've probably never heard of. Courtesy of Medjet If you've purchased travel insurance, as many have amid the pandemic, how closely have you read your policy? It turns out that many travel insurance plans, as well as insurance provided by credit cards, only partially cover medical transportation. Your transportation to the nearest acceptable medical facility is typically covered, but if you want to fly to any other hospital say, one closer to home or one that's well-regarded for a certain specialty you're on the hook for the bill. That's where an emergency medical transportation plan comes in, as travel advisor Carol Oken of Duffle and Compass learned when she was transported from Malawi, in southeast Africa, to Chicago for surgery. The medical transportation would've cost her just shy of $200,000, but with Medjet air medical transport coverage, her out-of-pocket costs were $0. Oken's transportation was the most expensive airlift Medjet has ever facilitated and covered the costs of. Medjet goes a (considerable) step beyond the average travel insurance; the medical transportation company says that "one in 30 trips end in a medical emergency," per its website, and membership essentially gets travelers airlifted out of their destination and to a medical facility. Annual membership is available, but short-term membership can be used to cover specific trips. Courtesy of Carol Oken "While staying at Kaya Mawa, a beautiful property on an island in Lake Malawi, I missed a step in my room and fell. I fractured my hip and was unable to stand or walk," Oken told Travel + Leisure. Oken was initially admitted to a hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, but the facility was unable to perform the surgery she needed on her hip. Her Medjet coverage facilitated an air ambulance from Lilongwe to Chicago, her home city, where she could see a specialist for the medical procedure. As an African travel specialist, Oken has had short-term Medjet coverage at various points over the past 15 years. Story continues "Medjet took a lot of information from me and talked to my attending physician in Lilongwe. They also coordinated with my husband, who was in touch with an orthopedic trauma surgeon and hospital in Chicago where I was expected," Oken explained. "Once Medjet had the evacuation plans in place, they communicated with everyone. The next day, I left Lilongwe on an air ambulance with a doctor, a nurse, and two pilots." The total bed-to-bed cost of that transportation was $198,989, all of which was covered by her membership. For comparison, the cost of an entry-level Medjet Assist membership, which includes all-expenses-paid medical air transport all over the world and allows members to select their destination hospital, is $99 for an eight-day plan. An annual plan costs $295. There are no pre-existing exclusions for members under 75 years old. Like traditional travel insurance, Medjet has a variety of membership plans that range in both coverage type and duration of coverage; the idea isn't that Medjet replaces traditional travel insurance but supplements it. The premium membership, Medjet Horizon, includes access to a 24/7 security network that can assist with evacuations for a range of safety threats, including natural disasters. "After missing one step with a terrible result, Im the first to say it is totally worth it," Oken said. Learn more about Medjet membership here and travel insurance here. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. MOSCOW (Reuters) - It may have been one of the highest accolades that the international community can bestow, but to the human rights defenders of Russia's Memorial, the Nobel Peace Prize was above all a reminder of continued struggle and sacrifice. "I want this award to help somehow," said Yan Rachinsky, head of the Memorial Human Rights Centre. "But in any case - it indicates priorities." He was not holding a celebratory news conference but instead trying to make himself heard on a noisy Moscow street after a court hearing in Memorial's latest one-sided battle with Russian authorities, who want to seize its vast and unique archive of records of historical and contemporary state repression. He noted that one of Memorial's founders, the late dissident and nuclear physicist Andrey Sakharov, had received the Peace Prize while campaigning against Soviet repression, activities for which he was later banished into internal exile. "It didn't help Sakharov," he said. The Memorial Human Rights Centre, with a contemporary brief, and its sister Memorial International, dedicated to documenting political repression in the communist Soviet Union and helping rehabilitate its victims, are both banned in Russia and officially dissolved under a decades-long campaign to silence political dissent. "We are continuing our work defending human rights. It hasn't stopped, it goes on," Oleg Orlov, head of Memorial International, told the handful of assembled reporters, most of them foreign. Asked if the award would somehow help to reduce the pressure from officialdom, he replied: "I fear not." Orlov listed a series of imprisoned opposition figures, starting with leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, as well as the anti-war movement Vesna (Spring) that has been illegally organising unsanctioned protests against Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. "I think they're more worthy of this award than we are," he said, also remembering the journalist Anna Politkovskaya, assassinated in 2006 after reporting on the horrors of President Vladimir Putin's second war against Chechen rebels. Story continues "We regard this award as a tribute to the entire Russian human rights community," Orlov said, suggesting that Moscow's treatment of human rights was far from a purely domestic concern. "When one country crushes human rights," he said, "that country becomes a threat to the world." (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Jonathan Oatis) A memorial service will be held for a Polk County sheriff's deputy who was killed by friendly fire earlier this week. A service for 21-year-old Blane Lane will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Road in Lakeland. There will be no public viewing or gravesite service. Law enforcement honors including a helicopter flyover, taps, bagpiper and three-shot volley will be outside the church immediately after the service. 'Wanted to be the next Grady Judd': Polk County Deputy Blane Lane was 'living his dream' What happened: Polk sheriff's deputy killed by friendly fire serving warrant in Polk City Lane was killed Oct. 4 while serving an arrest warrant to Cheryl Lynn Williams, 46, for failure to appear in court. Williams was wanted for a felony methamphetamine charge on Foxtown South in Polk City. Two deputies who entered the residence opened fire after Williams confronted them with a weapon drawn, according to Sheriff Grady Judd. The weapon was later determined to be a BB gun. A poster of Polk County Deputy Blane Lane during a press conference at the Sheriffs Operation Center In Winter Haven Fl. Tuesday October 4,2022 Lane was fatally shot early Tuesday morning in Polk City when fellow deputies opened fire on the suspect Williams who pointed a weapon at them. Ernst Peters/.The Ledger Williams was shot twice and taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital for treatment. She has been placed under arrest and will be booked into Polk County Jail once she is released from the hospital, where she is in stable condition. Williams faces 13 felony charges: second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, three counts of resisting arrest, two counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine. 'Most compassionate person': Polk deputy's name added to wall at Peace Officers Memorial Upon further search of the Foxtown South residence, Polk deputies say they found three guns displayed on a wall rack in a hallway: a Marlin model a Marlin model 99M1, .22-caliber rifle with scope; a Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc. single-shot, 12-gauge shotgun and a bolt-action .410 shotgun with one live round in the chamber. Story continues Williams was staying at the residence with Joseph Larry Albritton, Jr., 55, and Donald Mathis, 72. The men were arrested and charged with three felony counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and five felony counts possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Albritton also was charged with violation of probation. Mathis faces an additional felony charge of possession of meth as Polk detectives said they found a small plastic bag in his bedroom with a substance that tested positive for the drug. Family suggests donations to Polk Sheriff's Charities In lieu of flowers, Lane's family has requested donations to Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc. be made in his memory. Donations can be made by visiting polksheriff.org/donate and in the dropdown menu, select To PSCI in lieu of flowers in memory of Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane. 'This is my heart and soul': Sheriff Grady Judd reflects on changes over the past 50 years Those who wish to donate to the Lane family directly can select the drop-down option of "To the family of Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane." Donations made via check can be written and mailed to: Polk Sheriffs Charities, c/o Polk County Sheriffs Office, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33880. Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Memorial for Polk County deputy Blane Lane scheduled MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday he has chosen the head of the countrys tax agency to fill the cabinet-level post of secretary of the economy. The designation of Raquel Buenrostro for the post comes one day after the emotional resignation of Tatiana Clouthier. Buenrostro, who has served for more than two decades in government tax, treasury and economic agencies, was welcomed by Mexico's Business Coordinating Council, which said in a statement we trust in her ability to contribute to the economic development of the public and companies. However, Clouthier had been seen as a link to Mexicos business community, a role Buenrostro is unlikely to fill. While Clouthier came from a conservative background and was in touch with northern Mexicos industrial elite, as head of the tax collection agency Buenrostro has led a relentless and often tense campaign to force companies to pay more taxes. Clouthier resigned Thursday in an emotional speech in which her voice broke as she thanked the president, but in which she gave no specific reason for her departure. Buenrostro will face a number of U.S. trade tensions. Mexico is currently locked in a controversy with the United States over plans to favor Mexicos state-owned electrical utility over private and foreign companies. Lopez Obrador has had persistent difficulties in maintaining links with the business community. Other cabinet members with business ties had previously resigned, including former chief-of-staff Alfonso Romo, who Lopez Obrador described as his main liaison to the business sector. Carlos Urzua resigned as treasury secretary in 2019. Lopez Obrador has enacted policies to raise minimum wages and promote the kind of big, government-owned enterprises that his predecessors had trimmed. Victor Prado, with MKE Downtown, clears debris near the corner of North Water Street and East Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee, where multiple people were shot and injured late Friday in Milwaukee's downtown bar district after the Milwaukee Bucks playoff game, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Victor Prado, with MKE Downtown, clears debris near the corner of North Water Street and East Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee, where multiple people were shot and injured late Friday in Milwaukee's downtown bar district after the Milwaukee Bucks playoff game, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Credit - Mike De SistiMilwaukee Journal-Sentinel/AP Milwaukees first shooting over the last weekend in September was on a Friday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. when 24-year-old Jameal Lee-Verlin was working at a tire shop on the north side of the city when a man walked into the shop and started firing. He had been on the phone with his cousin, Daja Lee-Bolton, before the shooting, discussing an online threat he had received. The message was basically saying he was going to put 100 shots in them, Lee-Bolton told Fox6. Then, in the early hours of Saturday morning, 31-year-old Joanna Jovan Morrison was shot and killed. Over the rest of the weekend, four more people were killed in the city of 590,000, all of them in shootings. Police and local activists say these kinds of violent weekends have become more common in Wisconsins largest city. While homicides have begun to slowly decline from their pandemic highs in most major cities this year, Milwaukee is headed in the other direction. The city is experiencing the biggest increase in shootings in the country, according to a mid-year analysis of 24 large cities by the nonprofit Council on Criminal Justice. There have been 173 homicides as of Oct. 3, according to the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), putting the city on pace for a 20% increase compared to 2021. At the current rate, Milwaukee will shatter the record of 193 homicides that was set last year. A database created by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that 91% of homicides were the result of firearms; 82% of the victims are Black and 77% of them are men. Though cities like New York and Chicago have had more murders so far this year and get more national media attention for crime, the homicide rate in Milwaukee is higher, at around 29 per 100,000 residents. New Yorks homicide rate is around 4 per 100,000; Chicagos is roughly 20. Before the pandemic crime surge, that would have put the city among the deadliest in America. However, with multiple cities, including Philadelphia; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, hitting record highs in 2021, its unclear where the city now ranks. One thing is certain: something is happening in Milwaukee that all American cities could benefit from understanding. Story continues Were definitely headed in the wrong direction. We take it very seriously, Milwaukee police Assistant Chief Paul Formolo tells TIME. We started seeing this rapid increase right around when COVID started and I think what were seeing now is some of the residuals from that. While community leaders and experts say that poverty, increased community tensions, and other common factors are driving the surge in violence, police and some community leaders on the ground are also pointing the finger at Wisconsins constitution, which restricts judges from increasing cash bail amounts for offenders based on their perceived threat to the community. Violence is continuing to rise Gun violence has remained consistently high in Milwaukee since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, there were 98 homicides in the city. The next year there were 190 and in 2021 there were 193. Like the rest of the country, Milwaukee was right in the mix of cities that saw a significant increase in shootings and homicides during the pandemic, and experts believe the effects of the pandemic continue today. The FBI reported a nearly 30% nationwide jump in homicides between 2019 and 202. I think COVID is still impacting peoples lives and because of that its definitely still impacting something like violence, says Theodore Scott Lentz, a criminal justice and criminology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Whether or not there are restrictions, its still impacting a lot of communities, especially marginalized communities that are already behind in keeping up with a pandemic. An analysis by the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, which was put together by professors at the Medical College of Wisconsin, shows that most homicides are occurring in neighborhoods where violent crime has traditionally been highest. The Franklin Heights and Park West neighborhoodswhich are both north of downtown Milwaukeeare the focus of most of the violence. This means the shootings have become even more prevalent in high-crime areas. I think the structure of the streets are very unorganized right now, says Rev. Marty Calderon, a community leader in Milwaukee. Weve had a really bad history of gangs and you see a lot of guys dying because of that, but now were seeing a lot of women and children being killed now. Ive never seen that before. While community disputes and street shootings are driving the surge in killings, domestic violence homicides are also increasing. During a two-week period in July, six women were killed in domestic violence incidents. According to Fox 6, Milwaukee county had 27 domestic violence as of August. There were 22 total domestic violence murders in all of 2019, according to End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, a statewide coalition that works to address domestic violence. A debate over cash bail Milwaukee police Assistant Chief Formolo and some community activists point to one factor that sets the city apart from other American metropolises: bail requirements, which are looser in Wisconsin than in many other states. Theres an inability to incarcerate those who need to be incarcerated. Im not talking about low-level offenders, Im talking about people who are pointing and discharging firearms. People are being arrested and put back on the streets, Formolo says. Unlike in other states, cash bail in Wisconsin is generally not set with a focus on public safety issues. Instead, its designed to make sure the defendant has a financial incentive to be present at their next court hearing. Judges are barred by the state constitution from imposing cash bail for the reason of preventing future crimes. Cash bail reform has become a significant issue for addressing inequalities in the criminal justice system. Especially since the 2020 murder of George Floyd, there have been major efforts in multiple cities to reform the bail system, and release more suspects awaiting trial who were previously held only because they couldnt afford to pay bail. The cash bail system, in which people who are arrested have to pay money to be released from jail before their trial, has been viewed as discriminatory due to its impact on poor people, specifically people of color who have fewer resources and cannot afford bail. As a result of the pandemic spike in violence, Milwaukee police began reviewing all of the homicides and nonfatal shootings that they believe could lead to retaliation. Formolo says police found that many of the people involved in these shootings are out on bail after being arrested for a separate serious crime. Theres also a feeling among some on the ground that local politicians are not prosecuting crimes harshly enough as a result of a push for decarceration and not wanting to appear too tough on crime. People are basically being arrested but then theyre being easily released on bail, Calderon, the local Milwaukee reverend says. Im all for second chances but there needs to be accountability. We cant let people break [the law] three or four times and each time youre out on bail. Thats whats going on. Last December, Republican state lawmakers proposed a constitutional amendment that would let judges make bail decisions based on a defendants criminal past, their perceived likelihood to re-offend, and the seriousness of the charges. The amendment was passed in the State Assembly by a vote of 70-21, with every Republican present and 13 Democratsabout one-third of the caucussupporting it. The amendment was then passed in the Senate by a 20-13 vote. For it to take effect, the amendment will need to pass consecutive legislative sessions and a statewide vote, which cant happen until 2023 at the earliest. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, a Democrat who was elected in 2021, appears hesitant to blame bail reform for the uptick in violence. The mayor is avoiding the process of looking for villains and chastising the courts or the prosecutors office, Jeff Flemings, the mayors director of communications, says. That is not helping us solve the problem. Maybe we need to make changes in how we handle people awaiting trial but if the goal is to find a villain then we are not going to participate in that. A problem bigger than bail There is a strong correlation between high rates of gun violence and crime and factors like poverty, affordable housing, and access to healthcare and social services. All of those play a role in whats happening in Milwaukee. There is plenty of research that shows when those factors are improvedalong with the implementation of community-led organizationscrime and gun violence go down. We know from research that most people [arrested] return to the community. Even if they are arrested, charged and convicted theyre likely going back to that same community, Lentz, the professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee says. Weve known that when we do just get tough on people it doesnt lead to better results. Though homicides are likely on their way to another record year, other crimes in the city are down. Rape, robberies, aggravated assault, burglaries, theft and motor vehicle thefts are all down at least 8%. Even non-fatal shootings are down 1%. We just have this aberration with the homicides, Formolo says. While lawmakers in Wisconsin are making bail reform a top priority for addressing public safety, most criminal justice experts say theres no real evidence supporting the idea that bail reform is a reason for the pandemic-era surge in murders. So what is the driving factor? Most agree there isnt just one. Whats happening in Milwaukee is more likely a combination of factors including poverty, easy access to weapons, and a lack of collaboration between law enforcement and the community. Most criminal justice experts say that making bail restrictions tougher is not likely to reduce violence. Real solutions, they say, must be comprehensive and include addressing the systemic issues in the communities where violence is most prevalentwhile also making sure that law enforcement and community-led programs play a role. The problem is multi-dimensional and in terms of responding to this we need to think more broadly about, beyond just what the police can do and look at what the rest of the community can do as well, Lentz says. Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel is responding to allegations made by her fellow contestants about her win at this year's pageant. Gabriel, 28, made history on Monday when she was crowned, becoming the first Filipino-American winner. Shortly after her historic win, Miss Montana Heather Lee O'Keefe alleged that several contestants felt like there had been "favoritism towards Miss Texas USA." Other contestants also spoke out on social media, claiming they felt like they never had "a fair chance" at the crown. "The current allegations are based on perception, and not the truth," Gabriel tells PEOPLE in a statement. "I would never want to enter a competition that was rigged." "I know all of the contestants worked really hard to prepare and I don't want these allegations to overshadow the accomplishments of all the women who participated in this year's Miss USA competition," she added. "I know how hard every woman worked and I want their efforts to also be acknowledged. At this time, I am excited to move forward with training for Miss Universe and all of the opportunities that the Miss USA Organization will provide, while expanding on my personal platform for sustainable fashion and advocating for charity partners Best Buddies and Smile Train." R'Bonney Gabriel is announced as Miss USA 2022 on Oct. 3, 2022 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV. Rachel Jackson/RGJ/USA TODAY NETWORK R'Bonney Gabriel RELATED: Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel Makes History as First Filipino-American to Win Miss USA In a series of posts on social media, O'Keefe alleged the Miss USA 2022 pageant may have been "rigged." "Bottom line is, most of the Miss USA contestants feel very strongly that there was favoritism towards Miss Texas USA and we have the receipts to prove it," O'Keefe claimed in a TikTok video posted on Wednesday. Among her allegations, O'Keefe pointed to a series of social media posts from the Nizuc Resort and Spa, which is a sponsor of the national Miss USA Pageant. One video was shared less than 24 hours after Gabriel was crowned, while an Instagram story highlight featuring Gabriel was posted nine weeks earlier. Story continues In one video, O'Keefe claimed that Gabriel was allegedly flown to Mexico on United Airlines, a sponsor of both Miss Texas USA and Miss USA, in July to visit MIA Beaute, which is a sponsor of the national Miss USA Pageant and the State Miss Texas USA Pageant, at their location at Nizuc Resort and Spa. During a Thursday appearance on E! News: The Rundown, Gabriel said she personally paid to fly herself to Mexico for a promotional video as Miss Texas USA. Miss Texas, R'Bonney Gabriel, waves to fans after being crowned Miss USA on Oct. 3, 2022 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV. Rachel Jackson/RGJ/USA TODAY NETWORK R'Bonney Gabriel Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Miss Montana USA also raised concerns about a photo of Gabriel and Crystle Stewart, President of the Miss USA Organization, according to The New York Post. Speaking with E! News, Gabriel said the photo was taken out of context. "Unfortunately, it looks like that happened maybe before I won," she said. "But that was my official Miss USA headshot photo shoot after I won." In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Stewart said "the fairness of the pageant and the well being of each and every contestant is my top priority." "As the first African American woman in this leadership role I take this position with all seriousness and regard. When I won Miss Texas USA, Miss USA and more recently, became President of the Miss USA Organization many women of color were inspired and filled with hope. I would not do not anything, such as 'rig a competition' that I fought so hard for," she wrote. "The allegations against the Miss USA Organization are misleading and against everything I stand for personally and professionally." "I hope the Class of 2022 will embrace this historical win and try to understand my mission and vision for the Miss USA Organization; which is to provide resources, experiences, and opportunities to be productive and successful women," Stewart added. "This is how I imagine pageantry." Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel Miss USA Instagram Miss USA 2022 Other contestants, such as Miss New York Heather Nunez and Miss Alabama Katelyn Vinson have spoken out on social media as well. In an Instagram Story post, Nunez said the contestants felt "humiliated, thinking we entered something with a fair chance," according to the New York Post. "It's crushing and heartbreaking to have worked so hard towards a goal only to realize you never stood a chance," Vinson wrote on social media after Monday's result, according to E! News. Per the outlet, a number of contestants left the stage during the pageant without congratulating Gabriel. O'Keefe, Nunez and Vinson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. RELATED: The Try Guys Will Edit Ned Fulmer Out of Future Videos amid 'Shocking' Infidelity Scandal In an Instagram Live on Wednesday, O'Keefe said the contestants "are not in any way attacking R'Bonney as a person." "We have no hard feelings against her," she said. "It is not her fault. These are our issues that we are bringing up with the organization as a whole." Gabriel told E! News on Thursday that she has not spoken with O'Keefe, but that she is open to doing so. "I would love to communicate with her," Gabriel told the outlet. "There's a lot of allegations that are coming up that aren't true, and people are leading to conclusions that just simply aren't true." Miss USA winner RBonney Gabriel has shut down rumours that this years competition was rigged, after some of her contestants accused the organisation of favoriting her. The beauty pageant titleholder addressed the allegations about her win in a recent interview on E! News The Rundown. Her comments came after Miss Montana Heather Lee OKeefe posted a viral TikTok video on behalf of herself and her fellow Miss USA competitors, claiming that a majority of them felt like there was favouritism towards Miss Texas USA and they had the receipts to prove it. During her conversation, Gabriel explained that she would not enter a pageant where she knew she would win. I want to start by saying it was not rigged, the Texas native explained. I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I know I would win. I have a lot of integrity. The Rundown host Erin Rhodes went on to recall that when Gabriel received her crown at the pageant over the weekend, some of the contestants left the stage, as opposed to staying on it to congratulate the winner. Gabriel then clarified and said that she did not think that the women walked off stage because they were upset about her winning, as she said that she got along well with her fellow contestants. Our time was cut short, so the girls couldnt come out to the stage, apparently, because there wasnt time, she continued. They didnt want the girls to go into that bubble and maybe fall. This is what I heard. And then when I went back to the girls, they all hugged me. So I was really unaware of all that, I got along with all the girls I encountered. When asked about an Instagram live and a viral TikTok video that OKeefe made regarding the pageant, Gabriel revealed that while she hasnt spoken to Miss Montana about the topic, she would like to. Im open to talking to her about it, she continued. Id love to communicate with her because I think theres a lot of allegations that are coming up that arent true. I would talk to anybody because I want to be transparent, and I want everybody to know that there was no unfair advantage. Nothing was rigged. Story continues She emphasised the importance of discussing these rumours, explaining: As Miss USA, I dont want girls to think that this is how pageantry works. This is to celebrate women. We work very hard, and I have respect for all the women that showed up on that stage. Elsewhere in the interview, Rhodes addressed how rumours of favouritism started when photoshoots of the Gabriel were released right after she won. However, Gabriel clarified that the viral photos, which featured Miss USA president Crystle Stewart doing her hair, were actually taken after she won the competition Unfortunately, it looks like that happened maybe before I won, she said. But that was my official Miss USA headshot photo shoot after I won. Another thing claim that has been made about Gabriel is that she was flown out to Cancun by Miss USA, while the other contestants werent. She then explained that she paid for her flight herself and was on the trip to shoot a video as Miss Texas USA. Following her Instagram Live, OKeefe shared a TikTok video explaining that she and her fellow contestants didnt have issues with Gabriel but with Miss USA itself. There was a lot of proof of favouritism towards the winner, Miss Texas USA, and again, as Ive said in my previous TikToks, nothing against her personally, OKeefe explained. Our frustrations are all with the organisation. She continued to describe her experiences during the pagenet, claiming that she and her competitors were stuck at a resort in Nevada with no sunlight, werent allowed to see [their] families, and were secluded from reality. This then negatively affected [her and her peers] mental health throughout their week at Miss USA. In addition, the rumours of favouritism sparked when Miss New York Heather Nunez posted about the competition on her Instagram. In a since-expired story, viaThe New York Post, she claimed that she and her competitors were at a loss for words and humiliated, after thinking that they had a fair chance in the pageant. The way I entered this pageant and gave it every last bit of my heart and soul, she wrote.We were humiliated, thinking we entered something with a fair chance. However, Im not here to create a sob story, you also dont have to believe what we are saying. She went on to address that she was speaking up in order to prevent future contestants from feeling the way that she did. Nunez then sent a message to the pageants viewers, adding: For all the little girls who watch Miss USA with the same dreams I have of working hard to be in that position, you deserve a fair chance. Following her win, Gabriel made history as the first Filipino-American woman to take home the title for Miss USA. Shes also the first Asian-American woman to be named Miss Texas USA. The Independent has contacted Miss USA for comment. IRYNA BALACHUK FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 20:30 Serhii Kyslytsia, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, has reported that 55 UN Member States are ready to support the resolution on condemnation of sham referendums in Ukraine during the vote in the UN General Assembly. Source: Kyslytsia on Twitter Quote: "Draft resolution Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Defending the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations is uploaded and the UN Members join the cosponsorship to reject this blatant attempt to destroy the Charter." Details: Kyslytsia has posted a list of 55 countries, including Ukraine, that are ready to vote for the resolution. "Its already an impressive number and counting," he summed up. Draft resolution Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Defending the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations is uploaded and the UN Members join the cosponsorship to reject this blatant attempt to destroy the Charter. Its already an impressive number and counting pic.twitter.com/m1cHnF7sGh Sergiy Kyslytsya (@SergiyKyslytsya) October 7, 2022 For information: This document condemns "the organisation of unlawful so-called referendums by Russia in regions within the internationally recognised border of Ukraine" that "do not have any legal force". The resolution also contains the call to Russia "to urgently, fully and unconditionally retreat all its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within the internationally recognised borders". Background: On 30 September, Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, vetoed the resolution S/2022/720, which condemned the sham referendums in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops. Four countries, China, India, Gabon and Brazil, abstained during the vote; the remaining 10 members of the Security Council supported the resolution prepared by the United States and Albania. A minimum of nine votes from the members of the Security Council without a veto of the permanent members would be sufficient for the adoption of the resolution. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the USA to the UN, stated that the resolution would be considered at the General Assembly where there is no veto in order to demonstrate that the world "is still on the side of sovereignty and defence of territorial integrity". As of 2022, 193 states are members of the United Nations. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Russian tank seized inside of the woodland is examined by Ukrainian soldiers in Irpin, Ukraine on April 01, 2022. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Over half of Ukraine's deployed tank force may be armor captured from fleeing Russian forces. UK intelligence said Ukraine is believed to have captured over 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles. These hauls have come as Russian forces rapidly retreat from their positions in various regions. As their war in Ukraine goes from bad to worse, Russian troops retreating from their positions first around Kyiv and now along the eastern and southern fronts have left behind vast amounts of weaponry, ammunition, and other equipment. Throughout the war, advancing Ukrainian troops have likely captured at least 440 Russian tanks and 650 armored vehicles, Britain's defense ministry shared in a Friday intelligence update. It added that captured vehicles may account for over half of Ukraine's deployed tank force. "Re-purposed captured Russian equipment now makes up a large proportion of Ukraine's military hardware," Britain's defense ministry said. "The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline." In Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, where Kyiv's troops continue a weeks-long counteroffensive that has seen it liberate thousands of square miles of territory previously under Russian occupation, Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces fleeing the advancing Ukrainian forces have left behind rifles, tanks, and other weaponry. These recent captures, combined with what Russian troops left behind when they retreated from Kyiv during the spring, has even made Russia Ukraine's top heavy weapons provider by sheer volume. Ukrainian troops ride upon a repaired Russian tank in a wooded area outside the city on September 26 2022 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images "With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry," Britain's defense ministry said Friday. In addition to what Ukraine has obtained from Russia, it continues to enjoy military aid and other weapons packages from Western countries, including the US, which announced a $625 million security assistance package as recently as this week. Story continues Such support has consistently drawn the ire of Putin, senior Kremlin officials, and Russian diplomats, who regularly complain about the West continuing to arm Ukraine. Russian leadership has threatened that the conflict could expand and escalate if the trend continued, but these complaints and threats have failed to dissuade Western countries. "The United States will continue to consult closely with Ukraine to meet its evolving battlefield requirements in coordination with our allies and partners to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper told reporters at a briefing earlier this week. "As President Biden has said, the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and provide them with the security assistance they need to defend themselves for as long as it takes." Read the original article on Business Insider SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's two most populous states are preparing for heavy rains over the weekend as authorities on Friday urged residents in flood-prone regions to avoid unnecessary travel. Starting late Friday, an intense weather system will bring widespread rain over eastern New South Wales (NSW) and northern Victoria likely resulting in riverine flooding, the latest warnings from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology showed. Some areas could receive up to 100 mm (4 inches), about a quarter of Australia's annual average rainfall. "Definitely a concerning couple of days ahead," Dean Storey, emergency services assistant commissioner for NSW, told ABC television. Many rural NSW towns are already inundated with television footage showing residents moving livestock on boats. Sandbags are being offered to help protect property, emergency crews said. The wild weather system is also likely to affect parts of Queensland and Tasmania before clearing out on Monday. Australia's east is in the grip of a rare third straight year of the La Nina weather event, associated with increased rainfall. Sydney on Thursday recorded its wettest year since records began in 1858, with almost three months left in 2022. Dams and rivers are almost full and more rain can trigger flash flooding as officials warned motorists to avoid waterlogged roads during the last weekend of school spring break. "Please don't risk it. We know that floodwaters can rise very quickly. The ground is saturated, our rivers will come up very quickly ... if it's flooded, then stay away from those waters," NSW deputy premier Paul Toole told reporters. Gunnedah, a rural town about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of Sydney, could be hit with its third major flood in a month. Devastating floods have repeatedly struck Australia's east coast this year. In March, rising waters forced tens of thousands from their homes and at least 13 were killed. (Reporting by Lewis Jackson and Renju Jose; editing by Gerry Doyle) Eighty members of the growing workforce at Rolls-Royce paraded in to a standing ovation at Thursdays grand opening of a multi-million dollar facility to build propellers for the U.S. Navy. Called the Center of Excellence 2, the facility on Industrial Drive Road in Pascagoula is outfitted with the latest high-tech equipment to build nuclear submarine propellers and other equipment for the military. Were the only private company that can manufacture these U.S. Navys largest propellers that weigh as much as a 737 (airplane) and are machined to the exacting standards that are the equivalent to a fine Swiss watch, said Tom Bell, president of Rolls-Royce Defense and chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America. Construction of the 26,000 square foot building started in August 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, continued through supply chain issues and was completed on time, said Dan Rediger, Rolls-Royce North America head of naval operations. Each speaker at the ribbon cutting ceremony stressed the importance of the facility to the national defense. Each also saluted the people who will build and use the equipment and the high-paying jobs the expansion brings to South Mississippi. Employment already has ramped up since the facility neared completion, said Bell. Were actually not at full employment yet, he said, so were looking to hire more. Jobs and apprenticeships Information about jobs openings and apprenticeship opportunities at Rolls-Royce in Pascagoula are available on the companys website. Earlier this year Rolls-Royce partnered with Mississippi Gulf Coast community College to create an apprenticeship program to build a skilled workforce. Apprenticeships are offered in the foundry and for CNC machinist, said Mary Martha Henson, deputy director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. Stephen Moffett of Pascagoula was the first to sign up to become an apprentice. He found the program while searching an internet job website, he said. Since spring, he goes to school in the morning and reports for work at Rolls-Royce in the afternoon. Story continues Its an opportunity, he said. The apprenticeship pays his tuition, he said, and he gets a paycheck for his work. The program is registered with the Department of Labor, said Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker, program executive officer for attack submarines, U.S. Navy. Rucker has a personal reason for seeing that highly skilled people are working building the part. My daughter is underway on a ballistic missile submarine today, he said, and its companies like Rolls Royce that make him know shes safe out there. Have the work Weve got work, Bell said about three times the amount of work as the facility had just a few years ago. Rucker said that 10 years ago the Navy was building about 8,000 tons of submarines a year. Were on our way to building over 40,000 tons a year when we get to 2026, he said. Thats the work thats coming. Last year Rolls-Royce reached agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to design and manufacture up to 40 fixed-pitch propellers for the U.S. Navys Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided missile frigate program. Real Admiral David Goggins said Rolls-Royce is one of 5,000 key vendors across the country supplying material to build the Virginia class submarines in Newport News, Virginia. Good for state and Coast Today is just yet another example of companies not only all over the country, but all over the world recognizing the quality of our workforce and the quality of life that their employees have in Mississippi, said Gov. Tate Reeves. He said the apprenticeship program is very important to South Mississippi. That gives more kids here on the Gulf Coast the opportunity to understand the kind of jobs that are available to them, he said. If you talk to the folks at this company or any other company, the biggest challenge we have around the country right now is workforce and getting people that have the skills to do these high quality jobs, Reeves said. Part of the financing for the new center came the BP economic damages fund and George Freeland, executive director of Jackson County Economic Development Foundation said with the high-paying jobs and workforce training created plus the road and infrastructure improvements, this project checks all the boxes for the quality of projects the money was intended to support. Reuters Sensing that Russia has been weakened by its war in Ukraine, some of its closest allies in Central Asia are displaying a newly assertive streak. The region's five former Soviet republics are increasingly standing up to Moscow, aware of their new-found leverage as Russia looks to their markets and trade routes in a bid to circumvent Western sanctions. The new dynamic was strikingly illustrated when Russian President Vladimir Putin ran into a seven-minute tirade from the leader of Tajikistan, one of the region's smallest and poorest countries, at a summit in Kazakhstan last week. Green Bay Police Chief Christopher Davis speaks at a press conference to discuss gun violence prevention on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at Green Bay Police Department in Green Bay, Wis. GREEN BAY Someone who expects a police chief to be the hard-charging bulldog they see in movies and TV series might need time to get used to Chris Davis. He's a 29-year police veteran, much of it spent with the Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau, who's heading one of Wisconsin's largest police agencies. Yet he's not afraid to say he doesn't have all the answers, or that others sometimes have better ideas. Davis, who took over as Green Bay police chief in September 2021, met with the Green Bay Press-Gazette near his one-year anniversary on the job to talk about what he's learned about the community and how the police department can do its best to protect and serve. For starters, he believes the department can't do that job on its own. Asked if a sharp increase in fentanyl overdoses can be stopped, he set his jaw and said, "I think we can, as long as we come together, not just in the police world," and proceeded to list multiple segments of the community he said must work together to eradicate the problem. His list included the police, but also recreation directors, church leaders and a range of others. RELATED: Green Bay police hope license-plate cameras save time in investigations, say they don't invade privacy RELATED: Green Bay police chief tells neighborhood group he won't exaggerate violence to get more resources It's a tall order. Davis said Green Bay police have saved 36 people this year who have overdosed on fentanyl and other opiates. He takes that team-brainstorm approach even with internal procedural matters. Davis introduced a group tasked with modernizing a departmental policy manual with instructions he summarized in 10 words: "Here's what I think. Now, tell me what you think." He recalls that one of the newer patrol officers made a suggestion during a discussion about how to revise a policy. Later, the officer seemed surprised to discover their idea made it into the final version. Story continues City Council member Bill Galvin, a retired Green Bay police captain, says he had supported another candidate from among the four finalists for the job. Galvin remained skeptical in Davis' first month or two, believing Davis "seemed like a nice enough guy, but I thought he'd be (pursuing priorities) harder than he did." After a year, though, Galvin has become a supporter of Davis' approach, which emphasizes gathering data and getting input from staff and the community, rather than making immediate decisions. "Solutions he has implemented are well-researched," Galvin said. "By moving slowly, he's actually moving fast." An example that Galvin cited: The police department decided to ask the City Council for approval to buy 40 license-plate-reading cameras to free up officers' time for higher-priority work, but only after Davis had looked at data from a two-month test to ensure that results were there. Once the department had seen that the cameras' captured images that have helped solve two cases in two months, Davis decided that leasing cameras for three years made more sense than leasing a small number of gunshot detection type devices that would recognize the sound of gunshots if they were fired within certain distances of cameras. Police chief gives trust a high priority Davis said he is impressed by the professionalism of his officers as a whole and the degree of support they receive from the community. Much of policing, for Davis, comes down to trust veterans trusting young officers, and vice-versa; supervisors trusting patrol officers not long out of the police academy; and most importantly, everyone in the department working to earn the trust of the residents of Green Bay. "If I can't trust you, then you can't work for me," Davis said. Building trust with residents is part of why Davis heads the newly formed Violent Crime Reduction Stakeholders Group, which meets biweekly to discuss ways to prevent gun violence and to build relationships among various communities within Green Bay. Rashad Cobb Rashad Cobb, chief operating officer with Brown County United Way, presented the idea for the task force to Davis after more than a year of working as a committee member with the Police and Fire Commission. Cobb was part of the hiring committee that interviewed Davis, and he recalled the job candidate saying he wanted to work with communities of color. It could easily have been lip service, but a few months into his tenure, Davis approached Cobb to let him know he was ready to get started. With the chief on board, Cobb approached people in the community who could have the biggest impact and asked them to join. Word echoed through different communities that a task force was coming that included everyone, not just one faction of Green Bay's population. It felt like an obvious continuation of the important conversations Cobb had started with former Police Chief Andrew Smith during the George Floyd protests over the summer of 2020. Davis took the job after Smith retired. "(Davis) has proven to be a man of his word," Cobb said. "We may have competing priorities, but he definitely circled back out of the blue to say it was time to get this off the ground." Tara Yang, chairwoman of the city's Equal Rights Commission, also sits on this task force. She said Davis has been willing to listen to and enact changes that benefit all members of the community and, importantly, reestablish trust. It's a trust that's especially critical for Black and Hispanic residents, some of whom have historically felt uncomfortable in the presence of police officers. "When a cop car goes through certain neighborhoods, Black or Hispanic, it brings an uneasy feeling," Yang said. "(Davis is) trying to eliminate that fear factor." Main Oriental Market manager Tara Yang speaks outside the store with Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Green Bay Police Cmdr. Kevin Warych in March 2021. Mitigating fear is part of what led to the creation of the Neighborhood Response Team, Yang said, which is made up of community members who would act as liaisons for street-level activity. If a troubled teen is acting up, for instance, NRT members could coordinate with the police to form alternative interventions that provide guidance to that youth, whether it means getting support from friends and family or from organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay, Yang said. Davis is actively updating the task force's charter document to reflect a shared understanding of community and police perspectives. The main goals, according to the charter, are to reduce violence and recidivism in Green Bay while "building community trust and police legitimacy." "Historically speaking, there's not enough training with the police department to understand how to navigate some situations that arise in certain communities," Yang said. "What Police Chief Davis really wants to do is make sure that he builds trust, and to do that, he really listens to local community members." Officer shortages, rise in shootings greet the new chief That's not to say that life as Green Bay's police chief so far has been a walk in the park. First, Davis inherited the reality that plagues police chiefs across the nation: staffing. Policing, once considered in many small to mid-size cities a rewarding career, has recently seen fewer people going into law enforcement. New Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis There are a range of reasons. Graduating classes got smaller as municipalities raised standards while more public scrutiny was placed on officers who used unnecessary force or who had treated members of minority groups unfairly. The trial in the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis showed consequences; cops who committed a crime could go to prison. Fewer people wanting to be police officers meant fewer academy graduates to choose from. Green Bay police chiefs have long said they'd rather leave a position vacant than hire an unqualified officer. In some recent years, Green Bay couldn't fill all its openings. Davis seemed delighted within the past month when the latest group of graduates joining Green Bay's force meant that fewer than 10 positions were open. That's the first time in several years that's been true. Davis' arrival also coincided with an increase in the number of shootings reported to Green Bay police. Evidence in some cases involved little more than people finding shell casings or evidence of a bullet or bullets striking a car or a building, but any time a gun is fired, there's a risk of a bystander being struck. The number of reported gunfire incidents increased from 18 cases in 2018 to 79 in 2021, though deaths did not experience such an incline. There were no shooting deaths in 2018, two in 2019, five in 2020 and back to two in 2021. Davis said he is concerned by the numbers of shootings in the city but points out that the number has risen "in pretty much every urban area in the U.S." after the pandemic. He and Mayor Eric Genrich responded to a spate of shootings in mid-December, speaking with reporters at the Green Bay Police Department to address the recent events, evidence gathered and arrests made. The event was not without criticism. Nearly two dozen concerned citizens gathered in the lobby during that press conference, under the impression they would be able to share their mounting fears over safety. They weren't asked to speak to the police. Less than a week later, City Council member Brian Johnson responded by holding a community forum alongside Davis at the Neville Public Museum, so city residents could voice concerns, and officials could discuss how they were responding. Davis said he is assembling a team within the department specifically to reduce shootings. Detectives on the team would focus on a quick response and ideally, a quick "solve" so one act of violence doesn't snowball into others, and that perpetrators are quickly arrested and locked up. The team would involve four people, though the number of open positions has kept the number at two, so far. The chief said he also hopes to implement at least some of the recommendations made by the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, a Baltimore-based group that city officials brought in as partners in the effort to reduce violence in the city. One of its recommendations was to start a community task force like the one on which Cobb and Yang serve. Davis said officials are trying to find ways to intervene in the path a person takes before picking up a gun. He said it's possible to interrupt that journey before it gets to gunfire, but police and others need to understand that that path may "start way back in middle school." Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider. Natalie Eilbert can be reached at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis takes on shootings, fentanyl, trust LAFAYETTE, Ind. Three days after Jermaine Garnes' attorney caused a mistrial in his murder case, he has a new trial date Jan. 10. That date, however, is contingent on the pending ruling on a motion to dismiss the charges. Garnes' attorneys filed a motion Thursday objecting to a new trial date and asking that the charges be dismissed, claiming a new trial would be double jeopardy, which is a constitutional protection from being tried more than once for the same alleged crime. Tippecanoe Superior 1 Judge Randy Williams will rule on the motion to dismiss after prosecutors present rebuttal arguments. More:Purdue murder suspect expected in court on Friday Garnes' attorney's motion states, "Because the jury panel had been sworn, jeopardy attaches, and further, prosecution is prohibited and defendant requests that all charges be dismissed... ." During a hearing Friday morning, Deputy Prosecutor Cassidy Laux commented that the defense caused the mistrial, and if the motion to dismiss the charges was granted, then defense attorneys would all make the same error in an effort to get charges dismissed. Williams asked deputy prosecutors to submit their rebuttal in writing by Tuesday. Garnes jury was seated Monday and evidence began on Tuesday, but one of Garnes' attorneys, Daniel Young, caused a mistrial because of his opening statement. More:Retired Supreme Court justice will hear case against Trustee Coles Garnes is charged with murder, neglect and battery. He is accused of repeatedly striking 3-year-old Zeus Cox so hard that it caused his death. Zeus' mother, Crystal Cox, was convicted in May of murder, battery and neglect charges. In Young's opening statement on Tuesday, he said, "What is in dispute and cannot be proven by the state is that Jermaine Garnes knowingly or intentionally engaged in voluntary conduct to kill Zeus or neglect him in resulting in his death. "Did something terrible happen?" Young asked. Story continues "Yes," he said, answering his rhetorical question. "But that terrible thing happened, and a trial proved that it happened at the hands of Crystal Cox," Young told jurors. That statement caused the mistrial because Zeus did not die at his mother's hand, but rather at Garnes', according to testimony from Cox's trial. Garnes' son testified in May that he saw his father punch Zeus the night of July 4, ,2021. The force used to inflict Zeus' injuries was so severe that forensic pathologist Dr. Darin Wolfe testified Tuesday and in Cox's trial that he typically sees these injuries in high-speed car accidents. Williams deemed that Young's mischaracterization of Cox's role in Zeus' killing prejudiced the jurors, handicapping the prosecution from a fair trial. This prompted the mistrial ruling. Williams will issue a ruling on the motion to dismiss next week, but for now, Garnes has a pretrial hearing on Dec. 16 and trial on Jan. 10. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Murder defendant's new trial date; defense motions for dismissal Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Thursday criticized what she called a lacking federal government response to two Russians who landed in her state earlier this week claiming asylum. The two Russian nationals, who said they were escaping Russian President Vladimir Putins partial military mobilization that could call up to 300,000 reservists, arrived on a small boat on a remote Alaskan island on Tuesday, according to Murkowskis office. We are actively engaged with federal officials and residents in Gambell to determine who these individuals are, but right now, we already know that the federal response was lacking, Murkowski said in a statement. Only local officials and state law enforcement had the capability to immediately respond to the asylum seekers, while Customs and Border Protection had to disspatch a Coast Guard aircraft from over 750 miles away to get on scene, she continued. This situation underscores the need for a stronger security posture in Americas Arctic, which I have championed throughout my time in the Senate. Her home state colleague in the Senate, Dan Sullivan (R), said he learned about the Russians arrival on Tuesday morning and later spoke to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, about the situation. I continue to be in regular communication with DHS Secretary Mayorkas and officials at Customs and Border Protection and have encouraged them to have a plan ready with the Coast Guard in the event that more Russians flee to Bering Strait communities in Alaska, Sullivan said. The Alaska Republican added that he and Murkowski are pushing for a prioritization of infrastructure and strategic defense asset capabilities in the Arctic in the case of more migrant arrivals. This incident makes two things clear: First, the Russian people dont want to fight Putins war of aggression against Ukraine, Sullivan continued. Second, given Alaskas proximity to Russia, our state has a vital role to play in securing Americas national security. Story continues The Hill has reached out to a DHS spokesperson for comment. The two Russian nationals arrivals come after Putin announced he would call up to 300,000 reservists to bolster the countrys military force in Ukraine. Thousands of Russians subsequently looked to flee the country, creating delays at land borders and skyrocketing international flight prices. Putins announcement came after Russian troops in the weeks prior faced steep territorial losses, which primarily began in the northeast but has now led to additional Ukrainian gains in the south since Putins announcement. This week, Putin signed a law formally annexing four Ukrainian territories in the countrys east and south after it was approved by the Russian legislature but condemned harshly by U.S. and Western officials, who characterized the move as an illegal land grab. But the absorption includes regions in which Ukrainians have reclaimed territory even since the annexation announcement, and it remains unclear exactly where Russia will draw its land claim. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Elon Musk asked a US judge Thursday to suspend Twitter's lawsuit over their troubled takeover negotiations after the embattled social media company balked at the Tesla's chief's demand to freeze the litigation. Musk's request comes two days after he revived his takeover plan. The unpredictable billionaire's July withdrawal from the $44-billion transaction prompted Twitter to sue Musk over breach of contract in a Delaware court. A trial is scheduled to start on October 17. "There is no need for an expedited trial to order Defendants to do what they are already doing and this action is now moot," said a filing prepared by Musk attorneys that alluded to his latest offer. "Yet, Twitter will not take yes for an answer. Astonishingly they have insisted on proceeding with this litigation, recklessly putting the deal at risk and gambling with their stockholders interests." Musk on Tuesday sent a letter to Twitter reviving the $54.20-per-share offer under the condition that the Delaware court halt action in the lawsuit against him. Twitter said Tuesday it expects to close the buyout deal at the $54.20 price in a statement that did not address Musk's demands over freezing the litigation. On Wednesday, Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick said she still planned to go ahead with the trial, noting that neither party had asked for a suspension. jmb/to A leading member of the Arlington County NAACP branch was killed this week while vacationing in Turks and Caicos. Kent Carter was a realtor with Keller Williams Realty and an activist and philanthropist in the Arlington, Va., community, according to a statement released by the Arlington County NAACP. Carter was the organizations first vice president. Julius Spain Sr., president of the Arlington County NAACP, told The New York Times that Carter had been involved with the group for nearly 10 years and was the branchs vice president for four. He is what you would call a gentle giant, one who was very passionate about social justice and civil rights, Spain told the Times. Carter was vacationing on the island for his 40th birthday with his girlfriend. Carters girlfriend told Fox 5 the two were on a hotel shuttle back from the beach when gunfire suddenly erupted. She added that Carter immediately used his body to shield her. Trevor Botting, Turks and Caicos police commissioner, said the attack was the work of armed gang members who act without conscience, who have no regard for life and who are hell-bent on causing indiscriminate harm and misery across the TCI. He added the violence was linked to drugs and fueled by turf wars and retribution. Carter was one of three killed in the series of four attacks within 24 hours, including one believed to be a gunman who fired shots at police officers. Five others were injured, including a police officer. According to a statement from the islands government, Carter was not specifically targeted in the attack. The incident which occurred on the date mentioned above is one that is rare and does not reflect who we are as a people, the statement added. On behalf of the government and people of these islands, we extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the victim. The investigation is ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. For the last 17 years, Alma Nunez and her family called Harmony Shores in East Naples their home. On Sunday, they and all the rest of the mobile home park residents were told to get out. Immediately. To make things worse, the power to the community apparently was kept intentionally disconnected. The "order to vacate" email came from the property owner, Cove Communities: Harmony Shores Mobile Home Park October 2, 2022 NOTICE of ORDER to VACATE NO TRESPASSING ALLOWED Due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, the condition of Harmony Shores Mobile Home Port/Park constitutes a clear and imminent danger to the life or health of occupants or other persons, and that protection of life or health requires vacating the premises. Based upon these findings, any and all tenants and occupants are hereby ordered to vacate immediately. There will be no rent assessed during closure." The email referred those who had no alternative shelter to two organizations, one of them the Red Cross office in Palm Beach. The order came four days after Hurricane Ian floodwaters swept through the park near Bayshore Drive, ruining furniture, clothing, appliances and school supplies. VIDEO: Aqualane Shores in Naples after Hurricane Ian Hurricane Ian: Naples restaurants re-open Scary encounter: Their homes werent supposed to flood Bonita Shores residents recount harrowing moments 'The days are long': Red Cross volunteers continue to help displaced Hurricane Ian victims 'No affordable housing' alternatives The email sent panic through a community that radiates a neighborhood feel, despite the humble state of most of its mobile homes. There are 177 structures in Harmony Shores, with a combination of renters and owners. "Some people are afraid to leave their homes because they worry they'll have no place to come back to," Nunez said. When she confronted the company's representative on Sunday, he told her the sheriff and code enforcement office had issued the closure. Story continues No such thing happened, said Collier County Commissioner Penny Taylor, who came to the park with staff and a sheriff's deputy to hear the residents' concerns Sunday evening after she was contacted. Both county offices told her they had not issued such an order, she said. "This is not the county. This is the landlord," said Taylor, who saw the move as tantamount to throwing Harmony Shores residents out on the streets. "There is no place for these people to go. There is no affordable housing here. "There is no eviction in three days," she added. "The landlord has to go through a process, and he has not done that." "That has to go through due process. That's 30 days, and even then they can contest it." Besides the email, a company representative apparently went door to door serving the notice mid-day Sunday, she learned. "Children were at home. These people are working. They're working! And to have their children call up and say, 'We have to be out in three days,' that is more than horrendous." Ethan Buatista, 6, left, and his brother Enzo Buatista, 3, play in a box used to deliver food to the residents of Harmony Shores Mobile Home Port Naples, FL, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Harmony Shores owner backpedals State Rep. Bob Rommel, R-Naples, whose legislative district includes Harmony Shores, was at the community Wednesday afternoon when he was told the new owners, investors with Cove Communities, would be coming to address the residents. Dozens of residents gathered, waiting outside double-wide homes that had various degrees of damage, their anger-fueled energy and frustration mounting as they waited. No representative of Cove Communities came. The Arizona-based builder and operator of mobile home parks bought Harmony Shores, off U.S. 41, in June 2021, for a recorded $18.5 million. The low-lying community, tucked behind a Pizza Hut, came under 4 feet of storm surge water from Ian. One unit caught on fire during the storm. Charred metal is all that is left. Either Cove Communities is concerned about the residents' health or its a bullying tactic to get them to leave, Rommel said. Cove Communities says it's the former. Community relations director Joyce Mireault said the initial notice was sent before building and health department inspectors had been out to inspect the community. She acknowledged both departments said they had found nothing that would keep residents from staying in their homes. "Although we still maintained that the living conditions at the community posed a health threat, we did not and will not interfere with residents who wish to remain in/at their homes and we did send a follow up notice update informing residents they have the right to stay in/at their home." She said the company planned to transport the residents to a local shelter but was told residents would not take advantage of that. None of those shelters offers long-term living. Temporary aid: Where to get temporary housing assistance in Lee and Collie Counties Presidential rebuild: Joe Biden brings rebuilding help to hurricane-ravaged Southwest Florida What to toss: Restaurants, residents strongly urged to purge food after Hurricane Ian Back to school: Collier County schools welcome back students, talk resiliency after Hurricane Ian Power delay might be safety-related The unit that burned could be the reason electrical power to the community was turned off, said Bryan Garner, FPL communications director. "There are some communities that are so badly damaged they cannot receive power or it would not be safe for them to receive power until an electrician came in and inspected each dwelling to make sure it is safe," he said. "If we were to re-energize communities where there was storm surge, it could create a fire risk. That's something we're very sensitive to." Mireault said that's the reason power has not been restored yet. "The county Chief Electrical Inspector stated the electrical distribution system is unsafe to reenergize the FPL system at this time. The Harmony management team has assigned a dedicated project manager who is organizing the repair. "We will be working with a 3rd party electrical company and do not yet have a date as to when all the repairs will be completed," she wrote in her email response to Daily News questions. Florida House representative Bob Rommel talks with legislative aide Kim Time at Harmony Shores Mobile Home Port in Naples, FL, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Residents are fighting eviction by new owners of the property and Rommel came down to help. The homes in the port were flooded by Hurricane Ian. 'I have absolutely no place to go' In the meantime, residents of Harmony Shores see a future as cloudy as the skies before Ian. Efrain Gonzales, 28, a tattoo artist with a shop off Airport-Pulling Road, has rented a place in the park for 3 years. I love it here, he said. The people here are very nice. Everyone treats everyone else like family. He was paying $700 a month. Recently it went up to $900, an increase he thinks was meant to force people to leave. I have absolutely no place to go right now. Everything is flooded. Everything is a wait list. Elizabeth Radi, with the Collier County Tenants Union, said she fired off an email Monday to Cove Communities that many residents already had paid rent for October and if they would not get their money back, she would see to it there is a class action against Cove Communities. On Tuesday, Cove Communities backpedaled. Please understand it is not our intention to remove anyone from their home, Cove Communities said in an email to Radi. Those who have paid October rent and cannot be in their home will be reimbursed, it said. We will not be assessing rent until further notice. Our hearts go out to all of these residents, and we will be rebuilding the community. The Cove email said there "is not currently a final long-term master plan for the community. Our immediate plans are to assist residents however we can, assess the community-owned homes, continue clean up, repair the electrical to restore power and rebuild the community." Residents of Harmony Shores Mobile Home Port and volunteers distribute meals to the residents in Naples, FL, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Most of the homes in the port were flooded by Hurricane Ian. Owners, residents far apart on buyout prices Residents are hopeful but not so confident. Before the hurricane, Cove Communities was attempting to meet with owners one by one to buy them out. Many of them are Spanish-speaking and dont understand whats going on. Angel Macedo, 43, is one of them. He has lived in Harmony Shores for 22 years and owns his trailer. He got a buyout notice, but it didnt include a price. His wife met with Cove Communities and declined to sign an offer, Macedo said through an interpreter, Dennis Gamez. The price is likely the reason. Nunez said owners were being offered $3,000 for single-wide mobile homes and $7,000 for double-wides. A look at single-wide mobile home sales in Naples shows prices beginning at $39,500 and $58,000. Valeria Orfila, 41, owns her double-wide mobile home and has lived in Harmony Shores 22 years. She raised her kids there. She works in the cafeteria at Avalon Elementary School a few miles away. This is my life, she said. I dont know anything else. Our main goal is we want to rebuild. We had our hope, but suddenly we got the notice. When she got the notice to leave immediately, she said her world fell apart until she learned it was not legitimate. Rumors were rampant in the close-knit community that the new owner was going to bring in a bus to haul people out of here. We know we have to go, she said, referring to the expectation that Harmony Shores would be demolished at some point. We just dont want to get underpaid, she said. And where do we go? We have our children. We live here. This is our dream, to own a home. Area apartment rents too high Her neighbors are nurses, her husband is a truck driver, others are teachers, she said. None of them can pay $3,000 or more for an apartment, which is what rental rates are now around town, she said. Alma Nunez, 22, was so distraught after the ''vacate'' notice, she called her employer shes a dental assistant and said she couldnt come in to work. I was angry. I was crying and confused, she said. Nunez said the manager with Cove Communities came over and told her 12-year-old cousin to "Tell your parents they have four hours to leave. Cove Communities said its management team "has contacted CRA and began working closely with them to check on the community, bring in meals and water, FEMA representatives, and coordinate with the building department to formally assess the infrastructure. In addition, we contacted Collier County and filled out the proper documentation so the county could come into the community to pick up garbage as we continued clean-up efforts." Some residents don't believe that. "I want to thank all the communities who have helped," said Maico Nunez, Alma's brother, who returned to his home community to help relief efforts. "All the supplies that have been brought. Everybody in the community of Naples has been reaching out." "Everybody but Cove Communities," his sister added. Harriet Howard Heithaus writes for the Naples Daily News and naplesnews.com. Readers can call her at 239-253-8936. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Residents told to 'vacate' flooded Harmony Shores mobile home park COMMENTARY | A presidential search committee on Thursday announced it had selected Ben Sasse, a Republican United States Senator from Nebraska, as the sole finalist to lead the University of Florida, a provocative move after more than a year of controversy at the public university over academic freedom and accusations the Board of Trustees has politicized the cherished state institution. Above all, secrecy was key to Sasse's elevation. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law earlier this year making applications for college presidential openings confidential, effectively cloaking the process in secrecy until the very end stages. From the outset, it was clear that the law was intended to give crucial cover as Florida's benighted college boards considered overtly political candidates for the lucrative, powerful positions heading the state's universities. More: UF announces Ben Sasse as only finalist for next university president 'He played a great role': UF students say Kent Fuchs was welcoming president, express hopes for his successor More from Nate Monroe: The story of a park, a hurricane, and Jacksonville's uncertain future The UF search committee, headed by Rahul Patel, a member of the Board of Trustees, claimed its search was "exhaustive," but it did not explain in any detail how such a process could have landed on Sasse, who possesses limited experience in higher education and accumulated a divisive, hard-right voting record in the U.S. Senate. Nor did the board bother explaining how secrecy best served the process. In the past, the minor inconvenience that an applicant would need to disclose their interest was considered secondary to the public's right to have a full view of an important hiring decision. No more: Sasse was permitted to walk away from his Nebraska constituents under cover of darkness, alerting them only after the goose had been cooked. Sasse's prior experience in higher education peaked when he was named in 2010 president of Midland College, a small, private Lutheran school in Fremont, Neb. with an enrollment of about 1,700 students substantially smaller than some Florida high schools. Story continues At UF, Sasse will lead one of the nation's preeminent public universities with satellites in every corner of the state and an enrollment that tops 50,000. This is akin to promoting the shift manager at the local Shoney's to become head chef at Commander's Palace. Supporters call Sen. Ben Sasse's intellect his 'ace in the hole' Supporters of Sasse's bid pointed to his intellect as his ace in the hole, a claim difficult to evaluate since the search process was secret. Rob Bradley, a former state senator from Clay County and staunch DeSantis ally, called Sasse "brilliant," and other advocates pointed to an essay on higher education Sasse wrote for The Atlantic in May as evidence of his intellectual heft. Sasse's essay is a broad argument against student debt forgiveness an inflammatory message to send to aspiring and current Florida college students. The piece also broadcasts Sasse's dark view of higher education as a system that is "failing our students on a massive scale," an odd argument from the likely next president of UF, an incredibly high-performing institution. Sasse's turgid, buzzy prose does not reveal the mind of an education reformer but that of a wishy-washy dilettante. Sometimes he says very little ("we need dynamism not status quo-ism in higher education"). At other points he merely repackages bland ideas into Ponzi-like sales pitches: "As important, we will need a broader base of wise, gritty learners. We cannot build what we need if we assume that the developmental experience of every 20-year-old will be the same." (Sasse might be shocked to find no one at UF assumes the developmental experience of every 20-year-old is the same). Most often, he speaks in platitudes about aspirational goals with little detail about how one would or could achieve them: "All students would benefit from more frequent, low-stakes, real-time, individualized assessments. A thriving system will cultivate a students self-awareness about different learning styles and help them develop a style that works for them." And then there's his gibberish: "Our monolithic system lacks incentives to empower social entrepreneurs to spark intellectual curiosity." Sasse also advances a few what-could-go-wrong bright ideas, like encouraging "corporate-led certification programs." Just imagine: The Florida Power & Light Ethical Training Program. The search committee lauded Sasse as a "transformational leader." The fundamental question is why UF named one of the top five public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report needs transformation. What, exactly, is in urgent need of change, and how is Sasse, a higher-education tenderfoot, qualified to determine that? One change Sasse will immediately bring to UF's executive office is a right-wing political philosophy deeply hostile toward gay rights, women's reproductive health, equality and academic freedom. In the Senate, Sasse enthusiastically backed Donald Trump's three Supreme Court appointments, all of whom are laboring to engineer a puritanical society that would be unrecognizable to incoming and current students. Sasse caps DeSantis' defiling of UF , from Ladapo to expert witness scandal Sasse's coronation would be the crowning achievement of the DeSantis-led effort to defile the University of Florida. Last year, the governor strong-armed UF into hiring Joseph Ladapo on a fast-tracked process ahead of the quack doctor's appointment to become the state's surgeon general. Around the same time, UF higher-ups blocked the ability of three university professors to serve as expert witnesses for plaintiffs suing the state over new restrictive voting laws. In December, a faculty Senate committee report detailed a pervasive sense of fear and intimidation among the college's professors and researchers. "More problematic than the individual examples of pressure to stifle unpopular viewpoints or restrict research was the palpable reticence and even fear on the part of faculty to speak up on these issues," the report said. "There was grave concern about retaliation and a sense that anyone who objected to the state of affairs might lose his or her job or be punished in some way." In July, the university received $3 million in state funding to set up the Hamilton Center for Classic and Civics Education, a mysterious circumstance given that the school did not request the money and already has the well-regarded Bob Graham Center for Public Service. The request to fund the Hamilton Center came from the Council on Public University Reform, an opaque organization linked to conservative groups. Sasse's naming as finalist quickly gave rise to speculation his elevation to the top UF job was another escalation in the feud between DeSantis and Trump, not an unreasonable guess. The former president despises Sasse, who voted to convict Trump following the Jan. 6 insurrection and the House impeachment trial, and quickly went public with his belief the college would "regret" hiring him. The political analysis didn't dwell much on the cynicism of the whole thing DeSantis draining UF's credibility to toy with a political rival, just as he used the school to give cover to his inexplicable surgeon general choice, and sullied it further with the Tallahassee-led crackdown on academic freedom at the university. He is sacking the school in real time. It does not pain this LSU alum at all to concede UF is an incredibly important economic engine in the state of Florida and a model public university that would be the envy of any state. Its dark days ahead are a loss for us all. Nate Monroe is a metro columnist whose work regularly appears every Thursday and Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @NateMonroeTU. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Gov. Ron DeSantis defiles UF with selection of Ben Sasse as president A bipartisan group of lawmakers is asking the National Park Service to guarantee access to its sites for some members of the military, veterans and Gold Star families, even on days when the locations are at their maximum capacity for tourists. In a letter sent to service officials on Friday, the 22 Republican and Democratic House members said the move would be a small change, but would have a positive impact on the veterans and military community. Last year, Congress approved legislation providing free access to National Parks sites across the country for veterans and Gold Star family members. Active-duty troops and their dependents can also get into the parks for free (although other fees, such as campsite reservations, still require payment). House OKs free national park access for Gold Star families The letter led by Reps. Ben Cline, R-Va., and Chris Pappas, D-N.H. notes that while the passes for those groups allow them to avoid the entrance fees, they do not guarantee access in peak visiting times. That has become an issue in recent years, as National Parks Service officials have instituted lottery systems for admissions at some of their most popular locations. They include the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Yosemite National Park in California and Zion National Park in Utah. Handling of those lottery decisions are made by local leaders and do not currently include any carve-outs for military members or veterans. We request that the National Park Service institute a policy for lottery systems that would set aside a portion of the lottery selections to be reserved for active-duty military (personnel and dependents), Gold Star families, and veterans, the lawmakers wrote. These women and men who serve our country stand as heroes for all Americans. Park Police to resume escorts for Honor Flight visits around Washington, D.C. The members of Congress have asked for a response to the idea by the end of the month. The National Park Service reported nearly 300 million visits to its 423 park sites across the country in 2021. Officials on Friday announced they are studying 24 locations with nationally significant connections to the Cold War to potentially add them to the list of National Historic Landmarks. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (PA Wire) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has called on the UK Government not to turn a blind eye as Iranian authorities try to suppress the ongoing unrest. The British Iranian national, who was imprisoned in Iran for six years before her release earlier this year, said the recent events have brought back memories of her own imprisonment at the hands of the Iranian regime. It comes as the groundswell of opposition to the regime continues in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody last month after being detained by Iranian morality police last month for not wearing a hijab in accordance with government standards. Speaking to Sky News Beth Rigby on Friday, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said she wants to see more action from the UK government over the current human rights abuses in Iran. I want them to observe what is happening not to turn a blind eye, she said. I want them to protect us. We cannot be indifferent about what is happening in Iran and if we talk about protecting rights of our citizens, we have to do something about it and I think we have to hold Iran accountable. The world has to make it very, very expensive for Iran to violate human rights so easily. It should be costly, she said, adding that this should include sanctions. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe also said the events in Iran have brought back memories from her experience in prison in Iran and have exacerbated her nightmares. She said: It does bring memories of when I was arrested but also how helpless you are when you are in custody. Asked if she has felt free since she was released, she said she only will if there is nobody in Iran put into prison for standing up for their rights and when my friends are out of prison. She also reflected on how the Iranian regime sustain the way they are treating people by arresting and disconnecting them from the world. They put you in solitary confinement or they take you somewhere unknown and break you emotionally, she said. Story continues So, this is in my head every time I hear the news of being someone arrested, I think about the nights of my arrest, imagining what they are going through now. She added that her story was a happy ending since she came out of prison alive whereas so many others do not. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on to speak about cutting her hair as a gesture of solidarity with the women protesting in Iran. She described it as a symbol of women getting more power about their body that resonates throughout the world. It is a way of symbolising how women would want to have the right to cover their hair or not because for women of course its not just about the Middle East, its about an international issue that women are constantly managed, she said. Speaking about the women protesting in Iran, she said: There is a new wave of school girls rising up, standing up for their rights to take off their scarf to protest and this is a new generational shift. I think it has reached the point that they feel they dont have a choice, she said, adding that it is not about the hijab anymore but not being happy about the way they live. Asked what will happen in Iran now, she said: What I do believe is Iran will never be the same. Whatever happens in the future, it will never go back to where it was before September. A North Carolina man was arrested on double murder charges late Thursday night for the South Carolina shooting deaths of a woman and her son in York County, officials said. Paul Eugene Bumgardner, 45, of Gastonia, N.C., was taken into custody around 8 p.m. Thursday at a home in Gaston County west of Charlotte, said York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson. He is charged with killing Betty Reynolds, 71, and her son, Barry Reynolds, 40, on Sept. 27. Deputies found them fatally shot at their home on Saddle Ridge Road, York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said. Officials have not disclosed a motive, but Trent Faris, spokesman for the sheriffs office, said Bumgardner knew the mother and son. Officials have not said how they knew each other. Bumgardner is also charged with burglary and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He remains in custody in North Carolina pending extradition back to South Carolina, sheriff officials said. A conviction for murder in South Carolina carries a sentence of up to life in prison. The site of the shooting is south of the North Carolina state line, between Fort Mill and Tega Cay close to Interstate 77. A committee leading the search for a new University of Florida president announced Thursday that it put forward Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska as the lone finalist to lead the states flagship university. Sasse would replace outgoing UF President Kent Fuchs, who said in January that he would step down from the post at the end of the year. The UF Board of Trustees will interview Sasse during a Nov. 1 meeting. If trustees approve Sasses selection, it would then go before the state university systems Board of Governors for a final sign-off. A news release from the university pointed to Sasse having a distinguished academic career. Sasse formerly was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and spent five years as president of Midland University, a small private school in Nebraska. The news release said Sasse is widely credited with transforming Midland University. Sasse, who was elected to the Senate for the first time in 2014, holds a bachelors degree from Harvard University and a doctorate degree from Yale University. In a statement Thursday, Sasse said he has been pursued by wonderful institutions the past two years, but until now had resisted being named a finalist. The University of Florida is uniquely positioned to lead this country through an era of disruption. The single biggest challenge our nation faces is the radical disruption of work. Technology is changing everything about where, when, what, and how Americans work and so its changing our homes, neighborhoods, and communities too, Sasse said in a statement posted to his Twitter account. Sasse suggested the university can help alleviate what he sees as a workforce problem facing the country. UF is the most important in the nations most economically dynamic state. Washington partisanship isnt going to solve these workforce challenges new institutions and entrepreneurial communities are going to have to spearhead this work, Sasse wrote. Story continues Sasses selection came after a new state law allowed the search to be conducted in private. The law, approved by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis this year, created a public-records exemption for information that could identify applicants until near the end of searches when information about finalists can be released. Information about other applicants remains shielded under the law. The United Faculty of Florida opposed the law, and union President Andrew Gothard told The News Service of Florida on Thursday that he is concerned about the laws influence on UFs search process. We pointed out again and again to the Florida legislators who were voting for this bill that, despite what they said about campuses definitely bringing forward at least three candidates, and that there would still be transparency in the process, we said that this would lead to scenarios where one person would be put forward as the only candidate for consideration, Gothard said. And that person would often come from a pool of people in politics, rather than people solely in higher education. The university said Thursday that the recruitment process was exhaustive and included outreach to more than 700 leaders within and outside higher education. Ultimately, the search committee focused its attention on a dozen highly qualified diverse candidates. Nine were sitting presidents at major research universities, and seven were from AAU (Association of American Universities) universities, the UF news release said. Gothard said the union is concerned about the search process and what he called a lack of transparency. But he added that the union is pleased to see that Sasse has a background in higher education in addition to his time in politics. We believe Sen. Sasse should be given an opportunity to prove himself, and particularly to show where he stands on the ongoing attacks by Gov. DeSantis and his supporters on higher education in the state. As the president of the University of Florida, he will be at the forefront of enduring attacks on (professors) tenure, on academic freedom, Gothard said. Before the trustees interview Sasse, he is scheduled to visit the UF campus on Monday to meet with students, faculty members and staff. UF trustees Chairman Mori Hosseini touted Sasses selection. Our economy is rapidly evolving and UF graduates will lead the nation. We need a transformational leader to guide our strategic planning to prioritize among the spectacular opportunities before us in this time of growth and change, Hosseini said in a statement. Sasses selection came amid a flurry of activity to hire new presidents at Florida universities. A search committee at Florida International University last month recommended that interim FIU President Kenneth Jessell become the Miami schools president. Also, a search committee picked three finalists to succeed outgoing Florida Gulf Coast University President Mike Martin. In addition, Florida Atlantic University is in the process of seeking a new leader. The University of South Florida and the University of North Florida also hired new presidents this year. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. LINCOLN, Neb. A Nebraska man was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison for making online threats against Colorado's top elections official, one of the first cases brought by a federal task force devoted to protecting elections workers nationwide from rising threats. The sentence came the same day an Iowa man was arrested for allegedly leaving voicemail threats for an Arizona official and the Arizona's Attorney General's Office. In Nebraska, Travis Ford was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Lincoln, where he lives. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to sending threats to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold on social media. It was the first guilty plea obtained by the U.S. Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, launched last year after the 2020 presidential contest amid concerns about the potential effect on democracy of threats against election officials and workers. More:FBI officials: No credible threats to US election systems ahead of midterms Voting areas are setup for the primary election at Bright Grandview Golf Course on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in Des Moines. A national advocate for elections security, Griswold has received thousands of threats over her insistence the 2020 election was secure despite false claims by former President Donald Trump it was stolen. Ford must report to a federal prison Jan. 11. His sentence also includes a year of post-prison supervision. Ford told the court Thursday he accepts responsibility for his actions and understands they were wrong. "I'm ashamed, and I'm embarrassed for not only putting myself but my family through this," he said. Griswold said violent threats cannot become an accepted norm. More:Iowa man called '1-man wrecking ball' gets one of harshest sentences in Capitol riot "People who threaten election officials must be held accountable," her statement said. "Threats are being used to try to intimidate election officials from doing their jobs in an effort to destabilize democracy." U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland also released a statement declaring, "This sentence makes clear that those who illegally threaten election workers should be prepared to face meaningful penalties." Story continues More:Indicted and rebuked, Colorado secretary of state candidate pushes Trump's false election fraud claims Federal prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence for Ford, citing "a genuine need for general deterrence here." Investigators discovered Ford made the threats numerous times last year over an Instagram account started by his brother. Prosecutors also said Ford made death threats against President Joe Biden and an unspecified technology company CEO. Ford was not charged in connection with those allegations. His attorney, Jason Troia, had sought a shorter sentence. He said Ford had a favorable employment record, the threats were out of character and that Ford made them under duress because COVID-19 vaccine mandates fueled his antigovernment sentiment. More:Nearly 90 Iowa candidates told us where they stand on abortion. Here's what we learned: U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard rejected those pleas, saying there's "nothing special" about being steadily employed and noting Ford made 18 serious threats over three months. He called arguments over vaccine mandates "complete nonsense." Prosecutors said Ford sent Griswold a series of threatening messages over Instagram in August. One read, "Do you feel safe? You shouldn't." Another read: "Your security detail is far too thin and incompetent to protect you. This world is unpredictable these days . anything can happen to anyone." Federal officials said there was little to explain why Ford made such threats, noting he has a loving relationship with his family and fiance, is in good health and earned a good living. More:Hundreds of elections deniers running for office nationwide in 2022 pose 'major threat' to U.S. democracy "Although the government does not currently have reason to believe that defendant will commit similar offenses here in the future, threats to elections workers across the country are an ongoing and very serious problem," prosecutors said. They added one recent survey found one in six election officials have experienced threats because of their job, and 77% said they feel the volume of threats has increased in recent years. The judge said he reduced Ford's sentence to 18 months only because he has no criminal history and his remorse appears genuine. Also Thursday, the Justice Department announced the arrest of Mark Rissi, 64, of Hiawatha, a Cedar Rapids suburb, on suspicion of leaving a voicemail in September 2021 for Republican Maricopa County, Arizona, Supervisor Clint Hickman. Prosecutors say Rissi's message threatened Hickman with lynching. Previously:Could Arizona Senate contempt vote on election audit lead to arrest of Maricopa County supervisors? "This wasn't a prank call. This wasn't protected speech. This was a serious threat to me and my family," Hickman said Thursday in a statement, which called out other Arizona leaders for what it said was their silence as election officials endured two years of threats. Prosecutors say Rissi left a voicemail weeks later with the Arizona Attorney General's Office claiming the 2020 general election in Arizona was fraudulent and telling prosecutors, "Do your job ... or you will hang with those (expletive) in the end. We will see to it. Torches and pitchforks. That's your future." Election officials in Arizona and other battleground states have been subjected to threats and intimidation by some Trump supporters since the 2020 election. Rissi faces up to five years in prison if convicted of each of two counts of making a threatening interstate communication and up to two years for a single count of making a threatening telephone call. Rissi's case did not appear in online court records Thursday, and it wasn't clear whether he yet had an attorney. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Election threats land Nebraskan in prison, lead to Iowan's arrest Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story continues to be the top show on Netflix but the streaming platform has just released a new documentary series on the infamous serial killer, Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. What sets Academy Award-winner Joe Berlingers three-part docuseries apart is that it hinges on 32 hours of recorded conversations Dahmer had with attorney Wendy Patrickus from July to October 1991, to prepare for his defence. As the documentary states, the tapes have never been publicly released, until now. (L to R) Wendy Patrickus and Jeffrey Dahmer in Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. (Netflix) Patrickus was just a young lawyer in her 20s at the time. She had just moved to Milwaukee, lived alone and didnt have many local friends. She got a call from her boss, Gerry Boyle, who said they have a new case and he needed her to go to the police administration building to talk to someone he had represented in the past, describing Dahmer has a nice man. Patrickus remembers Boyle saying, dont worry he wont bite your head off. I felt like Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs, Patrickus says in Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. He was very polite, I was somewhat surprised, I guess, at how cordial Jeff was. She added that she knew the importance of building trust with him and not being judgemental in order to be a good defence attorney. Its not easy to talk about, Dahmer says in an early recording we hear in the docuseries. Its something that Ive kept buried within myself for many years. I had wondered why I was compelled to do all the murders. What I was searching for that would fill the emptiness that I felt. The murdering someone and disposing of them right away gives no great lasting pleasure or a feeling of fulfillment, and yet I still felt the compulsion to do it throughout these years. Kenneth Mueller, a former lieutenant with the homicide division at Milwaukee P.D., states in the series that the way Dahmer is able to recall every detail of his murders is incredible. Story continues I didnt seem to have the normal feelings of empathy, we hear from the Dahmer recordings. It started with fantasies, fantasizing, it always started with fantasizing, and then eventually it seemed the fantasies came to be. If theres any area that is to really blame, its my own twisted thinking. I havent been thinking normally for years. The first of Dahmer's murders was 18-year-old Steven Hicks in 1978, who was hitchhiking to a rock concert when the serial killer saw him. "It was the first time, I did have the desire to control," we hear Dahmer say in his taped conversations with Patrickus. "I don't know exactly why I hit him, except I wanted to stay with him longer." "I thought how amazing it was that I was actually doing it to another human being. It shocked me that I got to that point, and that was a feeling of excitement, control, but mingled with a lot of fear." Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in episode 101 of Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. (Netflix) Fascination with Jeffrey Dahmer draws strong pushback From the moment Ryan Murphys Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer landed on Netflix, with Evan Peters playing Jeffrey Dahmer, it has received extensive attention and some, admittedly, odd responses. there is a whole trend of white women on tiktok flexing how they were so unbothered and unfazed by the dahmer series on netflix. if you find the depiction heinous targeted murders of LGBT and black/brown people not disturbing enough then something is wrong with you pic.twitter.com/Jjv8Bg5gKL em (@uhhmmily) September 30, 2022 the jokes abt jeffree dahmer one thing but once u start making strawberrys out of it to make profit out of it- feels like mock to the victims face in my opinion pic.twitter.com/SNs99aGV9W jackie (@trxgicshit) October 6, 2022 Patriarchy glorifies violent white men. Victims need to be centred in the re-telling of these crimes. This was brilliantly done recently by Hallie Rubenhold in her book The Five which makes Jack the Ripper a minimal character. Dahmer should not be turned into an icon! https://t.co/qsn6W2m4cq Chardine Taylor Stone (@ChardineTaylor) October 7, 2022 While we hear Dahmer try to understand why he had the desire to kill 17 men, Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes takes you back to his childhood, often being neglected and left alone by his parents, his drinking, and transitioning to the particular dynamics of evading police as a white man preying on gay men of colour. Wendy Patrickus also points out that it was a "struggle" for Dahmer to come out, recalling that he told her, "I don't like being gay." "I really made a sincere effort to change the way I was living, to change my desires, to get rid of the homosexual feeling that I had," Dahmer says in the tapes. Listening to the serial killer talk about his murders in his own words is absolutely terrifying, likely enough to cause some nightmares, particularly with how open and non-defensive he is about what he did. The timing of Netflixs release of Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes really emphasizes our fascination and constant appetite for crime stories, for better or worse. Nick Kyrgios of Australia announces his withdrawal due to a knee issue before his scheduled quarterfinal match with Taylor Fritz. (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) Fifth-seeded Nick Kyrgios, just minutes before his Japan Open quarterfinal match against third-seeded American Taylor Fritz was expected to start on Friday, withdrew from the event with a knee issue. Kyrgios also pulled out of the doubles draw, where he and Thanasi Kokkinakis had reached the semifinals. Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of tonight's quarter-final, sending Taylor Fritz through to the semi-finals in Tokyo. Get better soon, @NickKyrgios #RakutenOpen pic.twitter.com/mLyuLi9QMD Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 7, 2022 Fritz advances to the semifinals against seventh-seeded Denis Shapovalov, who defeated ninth-seeded Borna Coric 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals Friday. Astana Open Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic is two victories away from his 90th career ATP singles title after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3 on Friday in Kazakhstan. Djokovic finished off a hard-fought first set in style. Djokovic, who hasn't dropped a set yet but faced his toughest challenge against Khachanov, will next play second-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who routed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-1 in a Friday quarterfinal. Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced to the semifinals with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over seventh-seeded Hubert Hurkacz. Tsitsipas will face Andrey Rublev on Saturday. ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is launching an ambitious plan to grow the West African nation's economy and end its security woes with record government expenditure during the next fiscal year. The record 20.5 trillion naira ($47.3 billion) proposed expenditure reflects the serious challenges faced by Nigeria and contains key reforms necessary to address them, Buhari told lawmakers when presenting the budget in the capital city of Abuja on Friday. The budget expected to be approved and take effect in January 2023 is 19% higher than this years government expenditure and is also Nigeria's highest ever, prioritizing fiscal sustainability, economic growth and security. As Nigeria still battles violent extremism in its northeast and armed attacks in the northwest and central regions, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives in the last year, Buhari allocated the most funds to defense and internal security. At least 5.3 trillion naira ($12.2 billion), or 26% of the proposed budget, is to go into capital expenditure in an ambitious plan that the nation's government is banking on to build key infrastructure and create jobs in Africa's biggest economy where many years of bad governance and corruption have stifled development. The 2023 budget was prepared amidst a very challenging world economy that is weakened by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, high crude oil prices resulting in the huge cost of (a gasoline subsidy) and negative spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, said Buhari who is to leave office as president next year after general elections in February. With projected economic growth of 3.7% and 16.87 trillion naira ($38.9 billion) in expected federal government revenue in 2023, Buhari said Nigeria is aiming to achieve higher, more inclusive, diversified and sustainable growth with the proposed budget. External borrowings to the tune of 8.8 trillion naira ($20.3 billion) would fund the budget deficit, Buhari said, amid concerns over the countrys high public debt of 41 trillion naira ($96.7 billion) as of March. The country has also missed out on rising oil prices with limited crude production blamed on oil theft. I assure you, insecurity, especially banditry and kidnapping, will be significantly curtailed before the end of this administration. We will redouble our efforts to ensure we leave a legacy of a peaceful, prosperous and secured nation, he said, adding that the significant challenges Nigeria faces would have been much worse if not for the government's interventions. Center for Civil Liberties Ed Ram/Getty Images The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to Ales Bialiatski, an imprisoned Belarusian human rights advocate; Memorial, a Russian human rights organization; and Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), a Ukrainian human rights organization. Together, the trio have become "symbols of resistance and accountability" during Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, reports The New York Times. Bialiatski helped initiate the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s and founded the organization Viasna, which provided support for jailed demonstrators; the organization has now adopted a broad human rights focus. He's been imprisoned since 2020 for his involvement in demonstrations. Memorial was first created in the former Soviet Union to ensure victims of communist oppression were remembered. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Memorial became the largest human rights organization in Russia. CCL was formed in Kyiv in 2007 to advance Ukrainian human rights and democracy. During the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, the organization has worked to "identify and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population," noted the Norwegian Nobel Committee in a press release. Friday's prize serves as a rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the latter of which was re-elected in a 2020 contest widely denounced as fraudulent, and also allowed Belarus to serve as a starting point for Russia's "failed attempt to seize Kyiv," The Washington Post writes. While Europeans have praised the Nobel committee's selection, Belarus has scorned it, notes The Associated Press. The Nobel committee wanted to "honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy, and peaceful co-existence," it said in its release. You may also like Texas error means National Guard troops deployed in Abbott's border mission face surprise tax payments Sara Lee, former WWE wrestler and Tough Enough star, dies at 30 5 cartoons about Hurricane Ian's aftermath (Bloomberg) -- Human rights advocates in the former Soviet neighbors of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to fight authoritarian regimes as Europes worst military confrontation since World War II is roiling the region. Most Read from Bloomberg Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, Memorial of Russia and Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties were awarded the 10-million Swedish kronor ($900,000) prize by the Oslo-based Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday. The committee wishes to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence, it said in a statement. This years laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations -- a vision most needed in the world today. The announcement was unexpected, with opposition leaders in Belarus and Russia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alexey Navalny -- both vocal critics of Moscows invasion of Ukraine -- long tipped as potential winners. Coming on the day Vladimir Putin celebrates his 70th birthday, it awards the prize to a critic of the Russian presidents regime for the second year in a row. The Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine has identified and documented Russias war crimes against civilians since Putins full-scale invasion in February, with its database listing more than 19,000 incidents by now, according to Olexandra Matviychuk, the head of the organization. Armies are speaking now, because before the voices of human rights defenders were not heard in our region, she said on Facebook. The decision to award the prize to three groups from countries on opposite sides of Russias invasion drew some criticism. Ukrainians do not want the struggle for human rights in the three countries to be perceived equally, Anastasia Magazova, a journalist from Ukraine based in Germany, said on Twitter. While the Russian and Belarusian prize winners have garnered enormous respect with their work, the three countries shouldnt be viewed as having a fraternal friendship, she said. Story continues Founded by Soviet-era dissidents including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, Memorial was ordered by Russian authorities to shut down earlier this year on the grounds that it failed to identify itself as a foreign agent. The group catalogs political repression ranging from mass purges and the Gulag prison system of former Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to the persecution of dissent in contemporary Russia under Putin. This award is a tribute to all of Russian civil society, which is in a terrible situation now, Memorial co-chairman Oleg Orlov said. In these depressing circumstances, this award will inspire us to continue our work. He spoke by phone from outside a Moscow courtroom, where the group was appealing an order evicting it from its offices. Bialiatski, 60, is the chairman of Viasna, a non-governmental center in Belarus that has tracked human rights violations since 1996. Bialiatski was detained last year in President Alexander Lukashenkos ongoing repression of the opposition following nationwide protests against his claimed landslide victory in the 2020 election. Viasna is effectively outlawed in Belarus, with seven of its members imprisoned, including Bialiatski. Government authorities have repeatedly sought to silence Ales Bialiatski, the committee said. Since 2020, he is still detained without trial. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr Bialiatski has not yielded an inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus. Bialiatski is the second citizen in Belaruss independent history to receive a Nobel Prize after Svetlana Alexievich won the award in literature seven years ago. Last years winners were journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, with the latter suspending publication of his newspaper in Russia in March after the passage of legislation criminalizing independent reporting on the war. He auctioned his Nobel medal in June for $103.5 million to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees. (Updates with Ukrainian comment from fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Legislation that would allow the US to sue OPEC nations is being considered as a possible response to the oil cartels production cut this week that benefited Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg What Saudi Arabia did to help Putin continue to wage his despicable, vicious war against Ukraine will long be remembered by Americans, Schumer said in a statement. We are looking at all the legislative tools to best deal with this appalling and deeply cynical action including the bill known as NOPEC. A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News that there are no plans to bring the measure to the floor, although that could change. The White House, which has left open the possibility of backing the bill, didnt respond Thursday to a request for comment. The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, first introduced two decades ago, would allow the US government to sue members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for manipulating the energy market, potentially seeking billions of dollars in reparations. Under the legislation, the Justice Department could bring lawsuits against cartel members for antitrust violations, a move analysts have said the mere prospects of which could spark a dramatic selloff in crude prices. Following the production cut announcement on Wednesday by OPEC+ -- members of OPEC along with Russia and other countries -- the Biden administration suggested it might be willing to back the bill, which has broad support among both parties in Congress. The Biden administration will also consult with Congress on additional tools and authorities to reduce OPECs control over energy prices, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said in a statement Wednesday. Story continues The NOPEC bill has been called a nuclear option that could have wide-ranging effects for not just energy markets, but the defense industry and geopolitics as well. And as recently as May, the White House said it had concerns about its potential implications and unintended consequences. The consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners said in a research note Wednesday that signs of administration intent to use new powers that NOPEC would confer -- a dramatic intervention -- could lead OPEC+ to reconsider and potentially abandon its market balancing role, provoking a dramatic selloff and the exhaustion of global spare capacity. On Thursday, there was a bipartisan move to revive the legislation with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, calling for consideration of it when Congress returns after the November election. From unanswered questions about 9/11, the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the exporting of extremism, to dubious jailing of peaceful dissidents and conspiring with Vladimir Putin to punish the US with higher oil prices, the Saudi royal family has never been a trustworthy ally of our nation, Durbin said. Its time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without this alliance with these royal backstabbers. Many of the hijackers who seized planes on Sept. 11, 2001, were Saudi. Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea said on Saturday its missile tests are for self-defence against direct U.S. military threats and they have not harmed the safety of neighbouring countries and regions. North Korea carried out six missile launches in 12 days as of this week, including launching an intermediate-range missile over Japan on Tuesday. "Our missile tests are a normal, planned self-defence measure to protect our country's security and regional peace from direct U.S. military threats," said state media KCNA, citing an aviation administration spokesperson. The missile tests "did not pose any threat or harm to the safety of civil aviation as well as the safety of neighbouring countries and regions, by a full consideration of civil aviation safety in advance." The message was in response to the International Civil Aviation Organization Council condemning North Korea's missile launches for posing a serious safety risk to international civil aviation, KCNA said. North Korea's defence ministry was "taking a stern look at the development of the current situation, which is very worrisome," regarding U.S.-South Korean drills involving the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, KCNA said in a separate statement. The United States and South Korea held joint maritime exercises on Friday, a day after Seoul scrambled fighter jets in reaction to an apparent North Korean bombing drill. The United States also announced new sanctions on Friday in response to North Korea's latest missile launches. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Leslie Adler, Chris Reese and David Gregorio) By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to thousands of migrants bused to the city in recent months from the U.S. southern border in a political dispute over border security. The city expects to spend $1 billion to manage the influx of the migrants, Adams said in a speech at City Hall. More than 17,000 have arrived in New York since April; an average of five or six buses each day since early September, with nine buses pulling into the city on Thursday, said Adams, a Democrat, straining the city's homeless shelter system. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who is seeking a third term in November's U.S. midterm elections has bused more than 3,000 migrants to New York. Adams criticized Abbott for failing to alert city officials when sending migrants to the city, calling it a "manufactured crisis." Abbott's moves are part of a high-profile campaign by him and the Republican governors of Florida and Arizona to put a spotlight on record crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border in the run-up to the midterm elections. They argue U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has failed to adequately secure the border. Abbott has also bused more than 900 people to Chicago, while Texas and Arizona combined have bused over 10,000 migrants to Washington, D.C. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is seen as a possible presidential contender in 2024, recently flew a group of about 50 migrants to the wealthy enclave of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Those aboard the plane have said they were misled. Democrats have called the moves political stunts and accuse the governors of using people as pawns. Many of the migrants sent to New York are Venezuelans, whom the U.S. cannot expel to Mexico under a COVID-19 related policy as it can other migrants. The Democratic-controlled city of El Paso has bused roughly 7,000 migrants to New York since late August, though city leaders say they are coordinating with New York officials. Story continues The increase in arrivals has set a record for the number of people in shelters across New York. "Although our compassion is limitless, our resources are not," Adams said, calling on the federal and state governments to provide support. "We are at the edge of a precipice." The state of emergency will make it easier for city agencies to coordinate their response more quickly, Adams said. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., declared a state of emergency in that city last month, creating a new office to handle incoming migrants. (Reporting by Joseph Ax, additional reporting by Kristina Cooke.Editing by Alistair Bell) Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters/Getty Prosecutors say his messages show a plot to keep Trump in office. Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes talked openly of civil war in the weeks before the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, prosecutors revealed on Friday. Rhodes and four other Oath Keepers are currently on trial for seditious conspiracy related to their alleged involvement in the Capitol breach. Authorities accuse the group of a plot to keep Donald Trump in office by preventing President Joe Bidens victory from being certified. In text messages to allies, unveiled in court on Friday, Rhodes called on Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and mobilize the military to stop Bidens inauguration. Rhodes also hinted at a plan to act even without Trump. He needs to know that if he doesnt do it we will, Rhodes wrote. After Bidens victory was announced on Nov. 7, 2020, Rhodes warned of imminent bloodshed. Some of those comments were public. At a Dec. 12 rally in D.C., Rhodes called on Trump to block Biden militarily. Show the world who the traitors are, and then use the Insurrection Act to drop the hammer on them, Rhodes said at the event. And all of us veterans who swore that oathuntil youre age 65, you can be called up as the militia to support and defend the Constitution. He needs to know from you that you are with him, [and] that if he does not do it now while he is commander in chief, were going to have to do it ourselves later, in a much more desperate, much more bloody war. Lets get it on nowwhile he is still the commander in chief. Audio Reveals Oath Keeper Boss Craved Violence Before Jan. 6 Prosecutors played a clip of the speech in court on Friday. Although Rhodes Dec. 12 remarks have previously been reported, new text messages suggest that the Oath Keepers leader was privately preparing for a fight. Rhodes was a participant in a Signal group chat called Friends of Stone, a reference to Trump associate Roger Stone, prosecutors revealed on Friday. On Nov. 7, the day Bidens victory was declared, Rhodes took to the group chat to forecast militant action. Story continues The answer must be to refuse to accept, acknowledge, respect or obey any of these imposters or their pretend legislation, Rhodes wrote, and get your gear squared away and ready to fight. Rhodes also messaged Oath Keepers leaders and likened them to Revolutionary War fighters, telling them in late Nov. that force on force is the way to go and that the fight to protect Trump would be like 1776 all over again, or more like 1775 all over again. Rhodes repeatedly called on Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, and published open letters imploring the then-president to mobilize not just the military but also unofficial militias before Jan. 6. Still, Rhodes told others that he was willing to take action even without Trump. But he needs to know that if he doesnt do it we will, Rhodes wrote to Oath Keepers, adding that if we have to do it ourselves without him as Commander in Chief, it will be exponentially harder, and many more of us will die." This will be DC rally number three, Rhodes texted Oath Keepers attorney Kellye SoRelle in late December, according to prosecutors. Getting kind of old. They dont give a shit how many show up and wave a sign, pray, or yell. They wont fear us till we come with rifles in hand. Other Oath Keepers were also revealed this week to have sent menacing messages the day of the Capitol attack. "If we'd had guns I guarantee we would have killed 100 politicians, defendant Thomas Caldwell wrote in a Facebook message. Caldwell is accused of helping coordinate a quick reaction force that would respond to violence at the Capitol. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. As the January 2021 dates for Joe Biden's confirmation and swearing-in grew closer, public and private declarations by Oath Keepers militia group leader Stewart Rhodes became increasingly aggressive and threatening, according to evidence presented Friday at the trial of Rhodes and four other alleged members. In a message posted in an Oath Keepers chatroom on Nov. 25, 2020, weeks after the presidential election, Rhodes allegedly stated: Time to get serious about training. and force on force is the way to go. Two days later, he advised that the patriot right would proclaim Biden an illegitimate usurper and impostor and would refuse to recognize anything done by an administration of Biden and Kamala Harris, according to the prosecution. Now is the time to stand up and organize our communities so all patriots stand together, he said. Later that day, Rhodes rallied his followers again: I told you all the Dems would steal it. I also told you the judges cant be trusted and they will go along with it because they are in the club. ... I hate being right about these things and I derive no pleasure in it. But I told you so. Rhodes and four co-defendants are facing multiple charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, including a rarely used charge of seditious conspiracy that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks at a rally outside the White House in 2017. (Susan Walsh/AP) Under questioning from a Rhodes defense lawyer, Ryan McCanley, a witness for the prosecution and a special agent with the Capitol Police who has been deeply involved in Jan. 6-related investigations, acknowledged that on Dec. 6, 2020, he observed Oath Keepers engaging in peaceful and legal activity in Washington, D.C. But according to evidence presented by prosecutors, as Jan. 6, 2021 the date on which Congress was scheduled to confirm Bidens presidential election victory approached, Rhodess pleas and rhetoric became harsher, if not openly threatening. According to the prosecution, on Dec. 12, 2020, Rhodes warned an Oath Keepers Old Leadership Chat group online that We are going to have a fight. That cant be avoided. But its better to have a fight now, while Trump is commander in chief than to wait til he is going. Story continues Show the world who the traitors are and then use the ... Insurrection Act to drop the hammer on them, Rhodes declared at an Oath Keepers rally that day in Washington, according to messages presented by prosecutors to the federal court jury. The Insurrection Act is an old and obscure U.S. law that allows the president to deploy military forces to quell a rebellion, and that federal authorities have rarely invoked in modern times. In a Dec. 14, 2020, open letter posted on the Oath Keepers website and signed by Rhodes and Kelly SoRelle, an Oath Keepers lawyer and close Rhodes associate, the writers declared, You must act now as a wartime president to block the accession of illegitimate usurpers and Chinese puppets. ... If you fail to act while you are still in office we the people are going to have to fight a bloody civil war. ... We are already in a fight. President Donald Trump rouses the faithful at a rally on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) By Dec. 29, Rhodes had begun to realize that maybe Trump, who at some point he unsuccessfully tried to contact via an intermediary who so far has remained unidentified, might not be coming to their rescue. I can only guess about what is going on in his head, he wrote in the Oath Keepers group chat, according to evidence introduced by prosecutors. I think that part of him now understands that the Insurrection Act and warfare with him as commander in chief, is the only way we can save our republic. But he needs to know that if he doesnt do it, we will. Also on Dec. 29, Rhodes, referring to forthcoming events in Washington, allegedly advised SoRelle: This will be DC rally number three. Getting kinda old. ... They don't give a shit how many show up and wave a sign, pray or yell. They wont fear us till we come with rifles in hand. After a break on Monday, the trial of Rhodes and his co-defendants will resume with more government witnesses on Tuesday, and is expected to last several weeks. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Justice Department announced that Jeremy Bertino, a leader of the Proud Boys, one of two right-wing militia-style groups that along with the Oath Keepers strongly backed Trump, had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of seditious conspiracy, the most serious of multiple charges that Rhodes and his co-defendants also face. Second from left, Proud Boys member Jeremy Bertino leads a rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Dec. 12, 2020. (Luis M. Alvarez/AP) Prosecutors said Bertino, who joined the Proud Boys around 2018 and at one point served as vice president of a local group branch in South Carolina, was invited by Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in December 2020 to join a new chapter of the group known as the Ministry of Self Defense. In the weeks before Jan. 6, 2021, investigators say Bertino participated in encrypted chats with other self-defense leaders, agreeing with them that Biden had stolen the election and that members should travel to D.C. on Jan. 6 to try to block the Electoral College vote, even if, investigators say, it involved the use of force. But during a Dec. 12 trip to Washington, Bertino was stabbed during an altercation. He was hospitalized and released, but was still recovering from injuries on Jan. 6, so he did not go to Washington. Despite his injuries, however, prosecutors said that as early as Jan. 4, 2021, Bertino received encrypted chat messages suggesting that the Oath Keepers were talking about storming the Capitol and that, on Jan. 6, Bertino monitored events via both social media and mainstream media. Rioters scale the walls near the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021. (Michael Robinson Chavez/Washington Post via Getty Images) Prosecutors say he posted messages to fellow Proud Boys urging them to participate in a Capitol siege and at one point posted a message on a public social media account declaring DO NOT GO HOME. WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SAVING THE CONSTITUTION. Tarrio and five other Proud Boys still face seditious conspiracy and other federal charges; they have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. Another member of the group pleaded guilty in April to a charge of obstructing an official proceeding. Earlier this year, three Oath Keepers members pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 riot. The UK is reportedly facing blackouts this winter in a bid to save energy, National Grid has warned. (Stock image: Getty) As the UK faces reports of looming blackouts this winter, one proposed energy-saving measure is for households to be paid to only use their appliances at certain times, it has been reported. On Thursday, the National Grid warned that millions of homes and businesses could face planned power cuts in the extreme case of gas shortages and reduced electricity imports from the rest of Europe. Emergency plans could see power cut off for certain consumers for three-hour periods, following advanced warning, in an effort to reduce consumption. Watch: What are blackouts and why might they happen this winter? Another measure could see households being paid to use their appliances at off-peak hours to help save energy. Why will households be paid to use appliances at certain times? The idea is that people will be encouraged to use appliances - such as running washing machines or charging electric cars - during off-peak hours. This would shift power use away from times of high demand and hopefully help prevent blackouts. Reports suggest that a "demand flexibility service" would run through the winter, from November to March. Consumers would potentially be able to sign up with their electricity supplier and get rewarded with money back on their bills. According to data from Ovo Energy, households tend to consume a fifth of their daily energy between 4pm and 7pm. People will be encouraged to use appliances like washing machines at night time. (Stock image: Getty) National Grid Electricity System Operator's director of corporate affairs Jake Rigg said: "The demand flexibility service is a first of its kind and a smart way for signed-up consumers in homes and businesses to save money and back Britain. "If you put your washing machine or other electrical appliances on at night instead of the peak in the early evening, you can get some money back when we all need it. "The service is due to launch in November, so watch out for further details soon. This really is a window into the future where a flexible energy system will be cleaner and lower cost to alternatives." Story continues What will the scheme do? The scheme is hoped to alleviate pressure on the UK's power supply and prevent blackouts. National Grid warned on Thursday that strains this winter could mean that it has to interrupt people's supply for limited periods - staging three-hour blackouts at pre-announced times in some areas. Read more: Energy crisis will push thousands of UK firms to collapse, CBI warns It hopes that such a service will free up an extra 2GW - enough to power about 600,000 homes - if enough companies and households participate. It has said the UK is facing a "challenging" winter, with dire consequences if the UK can't get enough gas to power its electricity supply. Watch: Lizz Truss rules out energy-saving campaign amid power blackout warning How will the scheme work? If you are someone who can sign up, which might depend on your supplier, you could find yourself asked to reduce your electricity use during certain hours when supply of electricity is low this winter. This could see consumers involved in the scheme sent a text on warning them of high demand at certain times the following day. If they then use less electricity during those hours, they would be rewarded with money off their bills. Has this been done before? Earlier this year, Octopus Energy trialled a scheme which rewarded 1.4million customers for reducing their usage during peak hours. The trial in February saw homes encouraged to reduce their energy use between certain peak hours in a bid to balance supply and demand during busy periods across the country's networks. Ovo Energy has also announced that customers could get up to 100 back by shifting their energy usage to off-peak times. Its trial, from 1 November to 31 March 2023, would see customers rewarded with 20 each time they achieve the goal. What other ways can I use to cut my energy bills? Some energy suppliers already offer tariffs that allows customers to make money back if they generate their own renewable energy, while others offer tariffs which have cheaper pricing at night compared to the day. Running appliances like dishwashers and washing machines on economy mode can also help cut bills. Reducing boiler flow temperatures and upgrading to smart thermostats can also help save cash, as well as making sure your home is properly insulated. Ohios new heartbeat abortion law, outlawing the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, remains on hold Friday as a Hamilton County judge blocked a ban on virtually all abortions. A permanent injunction that halts Ohios Heartbeat Law was granted by Common Pleas Court Christian Jenkins. It is simply wrong to argue that a right does not exist because it is not specifically listed in the (U.S.) Constitution, Jenkins said, according to the Associated Press. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Heartbeat Bill temporarily blocked in Ohio; ACLU to seek further legal action Jenkins granted a temporary restraining order Sept. 14 at the request of the Kettering Womans Center and other pro-choice organizations. News Center 7s Mike Campbell was in the courtroom Friday as the judge presided over a preliminary injunction hearing on the matter. Michelle Diamond, one of half-dozen lawyers arguing against the states six-week abortion ban, said allowing the ban to go into effect would do devastating damage to women in Ohio. The medical director of Planned Parenthood of Ohio, who chose not to be photographed, claimed the law made women across the state despondent when they couldnt receive care. Sometimes they would get desperate and try to figure out how to take matters into their own hands or threaten to harm themselves, the director said in court. Lawyers for the State of Ohio argued that the law is fair, includes exceptions and after being passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, should become that law in Ohio. They also said pro-choice groups and clinics have not shown that the law does irreparable harm to them. The states lawyers also called on a professor of biomedical ethics, who argued that abortion is not healthcare. >> Springfield firefighter injured in house fire released from hospital after undergoing rehab Deliberate induced abortion, it separates one human organism from another and there is no disease being treated, Dr. Dennis Sullivan said. Story continues Following the ruling Friday afternoon, leaders from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Ohio, Preterm-Cleveland, Womens Med Group Professional Corporation, Northeast Ohio Womens Center, Toledo Womens Center, and Dr. Sharon Liner issued the following statement: We are thrilled with this second major victory and relieved that patients in Ohio can continue to access abortion as we work to fight this unjust and dangerous ban in court. The preliminary injunction will be in place for the duration of our case, which means abortions will be legal in Ohio for a period much, much longer than the temporary restraining order granted. This court ruling will provide significant relief to Ohio patients and clinics. Weve already had a glimpse of the harm caused by Senate Bill 23 when it was in effect this summer, and we cant go back. Ohioans deserve far better than the chaos and confusion that weve seen since the U.S. Supreme Court stripped us of our federal constitutional right to an abortion. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight for and protect Ohioans rights as guaranteed by the Ohio Constitution. We will now work to secure a permanent injunction. Dayton Right to Life said the following: Dayton Right to Life and other statewide leaders were in the courtroom for todays hearing. It was clear from the beginning Judge Jenkins was going to block the law and the will of the people. This is not justice, this is judicial activism. Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley had this to say: Too many women have already suffered under Governor Mike DeWines extreme abortion ban. While this ruling is a victory and without doubt will save women and girls from the difficult decision of choosing between accessing health care or leaving the state, we know that this is not the end - DeWine has promised anti-choice groups that hell go as far as possible in prohibiting abortion in Ohio. The only way to guarantee a womans freedom to make her own health care decisions is to elect a pro-choice governor who will work to codify these protections in the Ohio Constitution. Our freedom is at stake. Abortion is on the ballot this November. Friday night, Gov. Mike DeWines spokesman, Daniel Tierney, said the governor had no statement. State Rep. Jeff Crossman, Democratic nominee for Ohio attorney general, released this statement: We think this is the correct decision. We believe Dave Yost will appeal it and continue his attacks on reproductive rights and freedoms for women in Ohio. As Ohios next Attorney General, I will dismiss this appeal, and confirm once and for all the constitutionality of all womens reproductive rights and abortion care in this state. News Center 7 reached out to state Attorney General Dave Yosts office. His spokesperson released the following statement: We will wait and review the judges actual written order and consult with the Governors administration as far next steps. Well continue to update this report as information becomes available. Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins speaks to Assistant attorney general Amanda Narog in his courtroom in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Jenkins heard arguments Friday on whether to extend a block on Ohio's law banning virtually all abortions on a more permanent basis. (Sam Greene /The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP) ORG XMIT: OHCIN105 Judges in Ohio and Arizona put abortion bans on hold Friday in high-stakes cases in the national debate over the fate of abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned, prompting providers to resume procedures. An Ohio judge blocked the states six-week abortion ban indefinitely on Friday, and the state is expected to appeal the ruling. Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins, a Democrat, granted a preliminary injunction to block Ohios law, which banned doctors from performing abortions after cardiac activity was detected. The law was in place for about three months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion protections. Does a law that prevents a cancer patient from getting lifesaving treatment infringe on those rights (in the Ohio Constitution)? The answer is obviously it does, said Jenkins, adding that the state constitution goes beyond the U.S. Constitution in protecting liberty, safety and health care decisions. "Abortion is health care to which Ohioans have a right." The ruling: Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, eliminating constitutional right to abortion The politics: Exclusive: Concern about abortion explodes among Democrats, fueling a push to vote The ruling means abortion will be legal in Ohio until 20 weeks post-fertilization or 21 weeks and six days after the last period. "We will wait and review the judge's actual written order and consult with the Governor's administration as far as next steps," Steve Irwin, a spokesman for Attorney General Dave Yost, said in a statement late Friday. Meanwhile in Arizona, an appeals court on Friday temporarily put on hold the state's territorial-era abortion law, which banned nearly all abortions in the state, until a full appeal of an earlier ruling on it is heard. The procedure will presumably still be subject to a newer law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Planned Parenthood Arizona has a likelihood of succeeding in its effort to keep an injunction on the 1864 law that was in place since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, according to a unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel led by Presiding Judge Peter J. Eckerstrom. Story continues The judges agreed with Planned Parenthood's argument that "Arizona courts have a responsibility to attempt to harmonize the state's" abortion laws. The 15-week law took effect last month. 'You're restricting her rights' I dont think you could, with a straight face, disagree that youre limiting her autonomy. Youre restricting her opportunities. Youre restricting her rights. Youre relegating her to a different status," Jenkins said during a daylong hearing in the Ohio case. What endows you with the ability to make that judgment? Attorneys Michelle Diamond, left, and Allyson Slater listen as their witness is cross examined in the courtroom of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Jenkins heard arguments Friday on whether to extend a block on Ohio's law banning virtually all abortions on a more permanent basis. (Sam Greene /The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP) ORG XMIT: OHCIN104 At the heart of the debate was whether Ohio's ban on doctors performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected violates the state constitution. Jenkins previously put Ohio's six-week abortion ban on hold on a temporary basis. The fallout: Abortion ruling's rapid impact: 66 clinics have stopped doing procedure in these 15 states Dr. Dennis Sullivan, a bioethics expert from Cedarville University, a private, Baptist institution in Greene County, testified that Ohio's law is consistent with good medical practice and has exceptions to save the mother's life. He said that life begins at conception but later acknowledged that bioethicists and doctors can disagree. Witnesses for Ohio's abortion clinics painted a picture of Ohio's abortion restrictions after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Victims of sexual assault were sent to other states to receive abortions. Pregnant people wailed as they learned they couldn't get an abortion here. One 25-year-old patient undergoing chemotherapy didn't qualify for an exception under state law, testified Dr. Sharon Liner, medical director of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. Abortion in Ohio: 538 children in Ohio had abortions last year as total numbers increase Clarification on Arizona laws needed, court says The Arizona appellate judges wrote in their order Friday that an "acute need" to straighten out the state's abortion laws existed. State Attorney General Mark Brnovich had asked the Pima County Superior Court to lift an injunction on the 1864 law following the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision that overturned Roe. Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson granted that request Sept. 23. A week later, Johnson rejected a request to put her order on hold. The state appellate court's Division Two overruled that decision Friday and granted the stay. Thousands of protesters march around the Arizona Capitol after the Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision Friday, June 24, 2022, in Phoenix. The territorial law mandates two to five years in prison for anyone who facilitates an abortion. Yet Gov. Doug Ducey maintains that a law he signed this year that allows abortion until 15 weeks of gestation after which it's banned except to save the mother's life supersedes the old law. Brnovich sent a letter to Ducey in late September asking him to order the Legislature into a special session to give "clarity" to the two abortion laws. Providers to resume abortions Planned Parenthood Arizona's president and CEO, Brittany Fonteno, said in a statement that abortions in its clinics would resume. But she warned that the law could still be later ruled valid. "While today's ruling brings temporary respite to Arizonans, the ongoing threat of this extreme, near-total abortion ban that has no regard for the health care of those across the state, including survivors of rape or incest, remains very real," Fonteno said. A message seeking comment from Brnovich's office wasn't immediately returned. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio also said it would again provide the procedure up until 15 weeks and six days. Next steps in Ohio case Yost is expected to appeal. The case would go to the First District Court of Appeals first before going to the Ohio Supreme Court. The Ohio Supreme Court currently includes four Republican and three Democratic justices, but the balance of the court and its leadership is up for grabs in this November's election. "We are saddened yet not surprised by this so-called decision," Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said. "The abortion clinics literally forum-shopped to get the outcome they wanted. This is a moment in time for the pro-life movement and we are convinced that the Ohio Supreme Court will overturn this ruling." Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are crafting legislation to ban nearly all abortions in the state. That bill won't be introduced until after the election. Today we will celebrate this win in the battle for bodily autonomy and health care for all, but our work is far from over," said Iris Harvey, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, and Kersha Deibel, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, in a joint statement. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion in Ohio, Arizona: Abortion bans on hold, abortions to resume A trio of Democratic lawmakers wants to pull all U.S. troops out of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after an alliance of oil-producing countries announced it was slashing production, a move which is expected to drive up U.S. gas prices. Democratic Reps. Tom Malinowski of New Jersey, a former State Department official in the Obama administration; Sean Casten of Illinois; and Susan Wild of Pennsylvania announced Wednesday night they were introducing a bill to remove all U.S. forces and military equipment from the two oil-rich nations. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE's drastic cut in oil production, despite President Biden's overtures to both countries in recent months, is a hostile act against the United States and a clear signal that they have chosen to side with Russia in its war against Ukraine," the lawmakers said in a statement. Read Next: Judge Orders Navy to Review the Medical Discharges of at Least 3,700 Sailors and Marines "Both countries have long relied on an American military presence in the Gulf to protect their security and oil fields. We see no reason why American troops and contractors should continue to provide this service to countries that are actively working against us," they added. "If Saudi Arabia and the UAE want to help [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, they should look to him for their defense." The United States has about 3,000 troops in Saudi Arabia and 2,000 in the UAE, numbers that have been boosted in recent years to help protect those countries from missile strikes by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. The U.S. military presence also includes Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense systems. On Wednesday, OPEC+, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and some other aligned oil-producing nations including Russia, announced it would reduce oil production by 2 million barrels a day. Saudi Arabia is considered the de facto leader of the organization. Story continues Gas prices in the United States have been on the decline after peaking at an average of more than $5 per gallon over the summer, a spike attributed in part to sanctions on Russian oil levied in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The OPEC decision has raised fears in the United States that gas prices will tick up again, with GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan predicting a roughly 15 to 30 cent per gallon increase. The bill from the House Democrats, dubbed the "Strained Partnership Act," would require removing all U.S. forces and equipment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE within 90 days of its passage. The missile defense systems would be relocated to elsewhere in the Middle East "with the priority mission of protecting United States Armed Forces," according to the bill text. "It is time for the United States to resume acting like the superpower in our relationship with our client states in the Gulf," the three lawmakers said in their statement. "They have made a choice and should live with the consequences. Our troops and military equipment are needed elsewhere." Their bill is similar to one Senate Republicans introduced in 2020 when the Trump administration was trying to pressure Saudi Arabia over oil production. OPEC decision to cut production came after President Joe Biden -- who during his presidential campaign vowed to turn Saudi Arabia into a "pariah" over its killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi -- sought to mend ties in an effort to convince the kingdom to boost oil production to offset the effects of the war in Ukraine. He took a trip to Riyadh in July that included a fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "Many argued that we had to 'repair' our relationship with our Gulf partners to win their cooperation in stabilizing global energy markets following Russia's invasion, and President Biden made every effort to do so, going so far as to meet the Saudi Crown Prince personally in Riyadh, despite his role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Malinowski, Casten and Wild said in their statement. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE have now answered our overtures with a slap in the face that will hurt American consumers and undermine our national interests." In addition to the House bill, several Senate Democrats have also called for a reevaluation of U.S.-Saudi ties in the wake of the OPEC move, including the chamber's No. 2 Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, saying it's "time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without their alliance." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: As Mideast Wars Encroach on UAE, US Gets Drawn in Zaporozhye was for the first time to be attacked by Iranian Shahed-136 drones The governor said infrastructure in two city districts was been destroyed as a result of the attack. Today, the invader for the first time used unmanned aerial vehicles, Starukh said. Read also: Invaders attack more than 30 settlements with missiles, rockets, artillery, and Iranian drones General Staf Preliminarily, these were Shahed-136 drones. Thats why the locals did not hear very loud sounds of explosions. According to preliminary reports, one injured person has been hospitalized. Shahed-136 drones, effectively remotely controlled flying bombs, carry warheads of 40-50 kilograms of high explosive. Meanwhile, the number of casualties of the Russian missile attack launched on Zaporizhzhya early on Oct. 6 rose to 11 people, the State Emergency Service tweeted on Oct. 7. In particular, rescuers found eight dead civilians under the rubble of a residential building damaged as a result of the strike. In addition, six people were rescued, five of whom were hospitalized. Read also: Three Iranian drones shot down in Mykolaiv Oblast According to the service, 15 people were rescued at the other address, of whom eight were hospitalized. In total, 21 people were rescued after the Russian attack on the city. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Sembawang Member of Parliament also spoke about the Healthier SG reform programme. (PHOTO: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) SINGAPORE Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has revealed his most unhealthy habit in a radio interview: drinking alcohol, even on weekdays. But he has been limiting his intake to only on weekends and even then, in moderation. In The Big Story interview with DJs on radio station One FM 91.3 on Thursday (6 October), Ong also spoke about his "healthiest habit": doing pilates or stretching exercises every morning. As he has had permanent back and knee injuries, the exercises help to strengthen his core and keep him "functioning every day". "It's helped a great deal, and I didn't have to go for my operation... I chose to learn pilates to strengthen the core and so far, it's been more than 10 years," Ong said. The Sembawang Member of Parliament also spoke about the Healthier SG reform programme, which will start with those aged 60 and above in the second half of 2023, followed by those in the 40 to 59 age group in the next two years. After a two-day debate, Parliament on Wednesday endorsed the White Paper on the national preventive healthcare programme. Under the programme, residents can enjoy free health screenings and nationally recommended vaccinations, use MediSave to fully pay for the treatment of chronic illnesses as well as earn "health points" on the Healthy 365 mobile app. They are also encouraged to enrol with their primary doctor. "It's a big change for MOH. As I always say, we are called the Ministry of Health but the truth is we've been operating like the Ministry of Sickness: we run hospitals, polyclinics; we are about drugs and approving medications," said Ong. Healthier SG marks the first time that authorities have introduced a national system to support healthier lifestyles, he added. "When it comes to preventive care and healthy lifestyles, it's about those little things you do every day, as opposed to one big episodic encounter and you have to restore a person. It's like a car that has broken down or has gone into a big accident it is never the same. You need to maintain it, year by year." Story continues Health advice 'too rigid' Ong revealed that when he first came to MOH, he found in his interaction with those at hospitals and Health Promotion Board that the advice for people to stay healthy was "a bit too austere" and did not relate much to real life. If health advice was too rigid, it would "turn people off", said Ong, adding that people can enjoy food in moderation. "You tell us to be healthy, you cannot eat, no sugar, no salt, everything bland, who would want to lead that kind of life in Singapore, right?...What's wrong with eating chwee kueh for breakfast, right? Even if you have that in the morning, you can go a bit lighter on the food at lunch, and at night, you can still have your alcohol, like a glass of wine." On workplace health, Ong expressed hope that more companies would do away with needing medical certificates (MCs) for simple ailments. Singapore has a "very hard-working culture" and companies should trust that most of their employees are honest, according to Ong. Citing the example of those who become sick with COVID-19, Ong said, "There's no need to purposely get the MC to say I got COVID. Just stay at home and that became an HR policy that many companies have adopted and I hope they continue to extend that." Mental health days off for Singapore? When asked whether Singapore would consider giving mental health days off, Ong said that allowing flexibility in work arrangements is more important, such as letting workers run a personal chore for an hour or two. There are many things in life that are important such as mental health, taking care of children and elderly, enjoying vacation and having checkups, Ong added. "So if employers are a bit more flexible, I think we can manage our lives better, as opposed to going down the road of more and more leave entitlements for different purposes." While mental health is not featured in the Healthier SG initiative, Ong said there will be more opportunities to help those in need. But mental health should not be "over medicalised" and the focus should be on long-term preventive care, he added. "For mental health, one of the simplest, preventive action is actually not your leave. It's just sleeping enough that your brain has a chance to rest and repair itself every night and sleeping in the right hours," Ong said. Turning to the issue of schoolchildren's well-being, Ong said he is working with Education Minister Chan Chun Sing to introduce a more informal style of health education in schools. "For children these days, actually the intervention at a very young age has a very profound impact. Before four (years old)...It goes down to how you sleep, how you eat, how you use devices." Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. Johnson has the experience to be excellent secretary of state As a practicing business attorney, I know the importance of a well-functioning Secretary of State's Office. Not only does the secretary of state administer elections in South Dakota, but this office also handles the filing of documents pertaining to corporate and business matters for all South Dakota industries. Over the course of the past 20 years, Monae Johnson has worked for both Chris Nelson and Shantel Krebs, who were both excellent secretaries of state. Monae has learned what needs to be done to fairy oversee elections and to smoothly handle the administration duties of this office. I strongly support her election. Kurt Solay, Rapid City 'Orange Jesus' lives by his own set of standards In recent months the legal problems of Donald Trump have multiplied. The website www.justsecurity.org outlines the dozens of cases pending against him. These consist of civil as well as criminal cases in many jurisdictions, including the state of New York, the Southern District of New York (Manhattan), Fulton County Georgia, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Department of Justice. A brief summary of what he faces includes tax crimes, financial fraud, insurance fraud, assaults on women, inciting a riot in the attack on the US Capitol, election interference, obstruction of justice, mishandling of classified documents and violation of the espionage act. Most Americans with this litany of crimes on their plate would be behind bars by now. Indeed, there are two justice systems in this country: one for the privileged wealthy and one for average Americans. Like a New York mob boss, Trump has learned to manipulate the system and put off the inevitable. But inevitably he will go to prison, as will many of his unscrupulous sidekicks. Congresswoman Liz Cheney recently referred to Trump as the Orange Jesus. She was quoting one of her fellow GOP colleagues who exasperatingly stated, The things we have to do for the Orange Jesus. No man less deserves to be compared to Jesus, but it is a fitting description of what Trump has become in the eyes of the Make America Great Again crew. This man with the freakish orange skin is the charismatic leader of millions of followers who believe everything he says without question. But his glory days of lies and crimes will soon come to an end. Trump will be carted off to prison wearing traditional convict garb. We will then see a transformation of MAGA. The cult of the red cap will fade away and become the cult of the orange jumpsuit. Rick Benting, Redfield This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Watertown Public Opinion letters to the editor for Oct. 8, 2022 An organization that serves the community learned that it must pack up and move because a developer bought the building it is in. LINK: AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES The International House has called the Midwood International Cultural and Community Center in Plaza Midwood home for more than 10 years. Executive director Autumn Weil said the International House offers language classes, legal assistance and other resources for the immigrant community. Now, officials with the International House said they must be out by June 2023. I learned that about nine months ago and it kind of took us by surprise, Weil said. We were expecting to be able to renew our lease for another five years. Weil said the developer bought the Midwood International Cultural and Community Center building last year. Were making lots of compromises on all of them and in the end, its still three to four times more than what we are spending now, Weil said. >>Watch Channel 9s LIVE STREAM wherever you are, at this link The move to a new space will be difficult and costly, Weil said. Peter Awute moved from Nigeria to North Carolina and his family found help and support through the International House. Here, they were able to help us get our green cards, less than what attorneys were charging, Awute said. The team at the International House hopes to find an affordable spot near east Charlotte, which is close to the international community. Awute said that keeping resources close is vital to those proud to call Charlotte home. I would prefer here because its closer to town, Awute said. There are more than a dozen organizations housed in the community center that must vacate next year. The Language Academy of the Carolinas sent its clients a letter that stated the building will be knocked down to build apartments or condos. Channel 9 reached out to the developer for clarity on their plans for this space, and we are waiting to hear back. VIDEO: Habitat for Humanity uses city ordinance to help build affordable housing Several local groups will work with national organizations to route federal payments of $600 apiece to Iowa's farmworkers, grocery store employees and meatpackers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that it was providing $670 million to 15 groups to make the payments, using money Congress allocated through an appropriations bill. The lawmakers set the money aside for employees in the U.S. food sector, which largely continued to operate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of their applications to handle the money, the organizations listed local groups they would work with across the country to get the money to the workers. Six of those 15 groups are working with Iowa organizations: Catholic Charities USA The Cherokee Nation The Hispanic Federation The United Food & Commercial Workers Charity Foundation The United Farm Workers Foundation United Migrant Opportunity Services A meeting room at the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 431 offices in Davenport. Of the groups the USDA is working with, the UFCW Charity Foundation is the biggest recipient, getting $141.6 million from the federal government about one-fifth of the total money. The union, which represents a range of employees but is best known for its work with meatpackers and grocery store clerks, represented about 15,400 workers in Iowa locals as of last year, a group that includes some members living and working in bordering states. More:Iowa-based union's history-making president leads influential organization with tumultuous past According to the union, the money it is receiving from the USDA will not just go to members. The UFCW is creating an online portal where anybody who has worked in grocery stores, meatpacking plants or on farms since the start of the pandemic can apply for funds. The workers will need to share some sort of proof of work, such as a W-2 form or a paystub, the UFCW said. Hispanic Federation, which is receiving $44.3 million, will route some of that money through Council Bluffs-based Centro Latino of Iowa. United Migrant Opportunity Services, which is in Wisconsin and is getting $56.9 million, is partnering with Des Moines-based Proteus to provide funds to meatpackers and farmworkers in Iowa. Story continues "Proteus has the boots-on-the-ground contacts within the state of Iowa," UMOS spokesperson Roderick Ritcherson said. "We will be working closely with them to identify workers and meatpackers to help them fill out applications and so forth." Ritcherson said the organization still needs to sign a contract with the USDA before it receives money, a process he expects to wrap up in 10 to 15 days. He said he believes UMOS will be able to start sending money to workers in 30 to 45 days. More:Ex-union leader acknowledges defending company as COVID-19 ravaged Iowa meatpacking plant workforce The organization has two years to route the money to workers. Ritcherson said many workers the organizations help may not get the funds at least until next spring if the process doesn't flow smoothly. He said many of those farm workers will leave the Midwest during the winter. "We need to move quickly," he said. Anthony Washington, 65, of Columbus Junction, poses for a photo, Monday, April 20, 2020, in Columbus Junction, Iowa. Washington was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Columbus Junction in 2007 from Chicago to work at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in town. Catholic Charities USA, which received $9 million from the USDA, is partnering with two Iowa groups. Catholic Charities Sioux City plans to provide funds to meatpacking workers in Denison, Sioux City and Storm Lake, as well as some workers in Nebraska and South Dakota, Executive Director Amy Bloch said. Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, meanwhile, will route Catholic Charities money to meatpackers in nonunionized plants in Columbus Junction, Washington and West Liberty. The group also plans to get money to farmworkers in the area, aiming to provide a total of about 1,800 checks. Escucha Mi Voz Iowa lobbied local governments last year to use some of the federal COVID-19 relief money provided by Congress for "excluded workers funds." The money would go to immigrant workers who had not received federal stimulus checks in 2020 and 2021. Johnson County and Iowa City agreed to create fund, with the county paying $2 million and the city chipping in $1.5 million. The local governments reported providing $1,400 each to about 2,200 residents. Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Some Iowa food workers to get $600 payments from U.S. government MADISON An Oshkosh man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after he was convicted of selling methamphetamine to dealers from Oshkosh and Stevens Point after receiving the drugs in the mail. Authorities said they confiscated 16 pounds of meth during the investigation. Cory Freyermuth, 39, was sentenced this week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson in Madison to 8 years for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering. Freyermuth pleaded guilty to those charges in January. Local and federal drug investigators discovered that co-defendants Levi Bagne and Krista Sparks routinely mailed packages containing methamphetamine from Arizona to Freyermuth in Oshkosh, according to U.S. attorney Timothy M. OShea. MORE:More people than ever died from drug overdoses in Winnebago County last year, report shows MORE:She struggled with addiction. A peer coach helped get stay sober and 'better than ever' Bagne would then drive to Oshkosh from Arizona and personally distribute the methamphetamine but Freyermuth eventually began delivering the drugs himself to dealers in Oshkosh and Stevens Point, following Bagne's instructions, according to prosecutors. Freyermuth stored some of the cash that dealers paid him until Bagne picked it up and returned some of the money to Bagne through bank deposits or cashiers checks, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for western Wisconsin. Freyermuth also drove "large amounts of drug proceeds" to Bagne in Arizona, the release said. Police seized packages containing 6 pounds of meth that Bagne and Sparks had mailed to Freyermuth in November 2019 and February 2020, according to prosecutors. Investigators found 10 more pounds of meth when they searched a storage unit in Stevens Point that belonged to Bagne and Freyermuth, the news release said. At the sentencing hearing, the federal judge said "a significant sentence was warranted because the conspiracy involved a tremendous amount of methamphetamine being distributed in central Wisconsin," according to the news release. Story continues "Judge Peterson described Freyermuths role in the large-scale conspiracy as multifaceted, including transportation, storage and distribution of methamphetamine. ... Peterson noted that Freyermuths criminal history was concerning and included a conviction for violence against his own family members." A total of six people have been charged in connection with the meth distribution scheme, and all six have pleaded guilty. Bagne is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 18. The joint investigation included officers from the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Unit and Merrill Police Department. Contact Mark Treinen at mtreinen@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MarkTreinen, Instagram at @mark_treinen or Facebook at @Mark Treinen. This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh man sentenced for meth trafficking in Oshkosh, Stevens Point Oxygen therapy can kill cancer cells available in Mexico Oxygen therapy has different treatment methods that are designed to stifle tumors and cancerous cells using oxygen. There are different ways of applying these treatments that range from injections to oral medication. This alternative treatment to fight against cancer suggests that introducing an excess of oxygen into tumors can prevent the proliferation of cancerous cells, forcing tumors to stop growing. There are different treatments that apply oxygen. For example, the IV hydrogen peroxide treatment, which is an intravenous application. The peroxide contains oxygen and it is believed that it can be toxic for cancerous cells. Through controlled levels of hydrogen peroxide in the body, cancerous cells can potentially be killed and stop the tumor from growing. Another oxygen therapy is UVB ozone, which consists in extracting the patients blood and exposing it to ultraviolet light. Once the blood has been beneath the light long enough, it is reintroduced into the patients body. This exposure makes oxygen blood levels increase. Find out more about personalized cancer treatments by calling MedBaja at (619) 333-6066 or fill out the form down below. Autohemotherapy with ozone is a therapy that, just like UVB ozone, extracts the patients blood. Once it is taken, it is injected with ozone gas to increase oxygen before being reintroduced into the blood flow. This treatment increases blood flow and circulation, and stimulates the patients immunity system. Rectal ozone therapy through insufflation, as its name indicates, consists in introducing ozone through the patients rectum. Theories suggest that rectums walls absorb ingested substances quicker through insufflation, producing the expected effect. Another type of oxygen therapy is hyperbaric therapy. It consists in exposing the patient to high oxygen quantities. To carry it out, the patient must be placed inside an hyperbaric oxygen chamber in order to breathe in pure oxygen well above normal levels. The goal of this treatment is to recover patients damaged tissue and restore body functions, filling the blood with enough oxygen. This oxygen treatment can also be applied to cure other infections caused by flesh wounds or diseases such as Alzheimers and HIV/AIDS. All methods that use oxygen must be provided according to the needs and health of each patient, as well as the size of the tumor and how serious the cancer is. Oxygen therapy tends to not be invasive and most of them can be applied safely, as an alternative option to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This type of therapy can be found at the medical center Immunity Therapy Center (ITC), as well as thirty different therapy types for patients different needs. Each treatment is based on several factors including initial diagnosis, medical history, previous treatments, as well as the patients physical and mental health. All of this is taken into account when these treatments are applied which include treatments such as mononuclear cellular activation, intratumoral immunotherapy, biomagnetic cancer therapy, among others. Find out more about personalized cancer treatments by calling MedBaja at (619) 333-6066 or fill out the form down below. Though Mexico is ranked among the first places internationally when it comes to medical tourism, the city of Tijuana is where one can find the best options to treat cancer. In Tijuana one can find ITC, which is verified as a specialized center to treat cancer that offers personalized services for each patient that wishes to get treated in these facilities. This oxygen treatment can also be applied to cure other infections caused by flesh wounds or diseases such as Alzheimers and HIV/AIDS. All methods that use oxygen must be provided according to the needs and health of each patient, as well as the size of the tumor and how serious the cancer is. Oxygen therapy tends to not be invasive and most of them can be applied safely, as an alternative option to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This type of therapy can be found at the medical center Immunity Therapy Center (ITC), as well as thirty different therapy types for patients different needs. Each treatment is based on several factors including initial diagnosis, medical history, previous treatments, as well as the patients physical and mental health. All of this is taken into account when these treatments are applied which include treatments such as mononuclear cellular activation, intratumoral immunotherapy, biomagnetic cancer therapy, among others Though Mexico is ranked among the first places internationally when it comes to medical tourism, the city of Tijuana is where one can find the best options to treat cancer. In Tijuana one can find ITC, which is verified as a specialized center to treat cancer that offers personalized services for each patient that wishes to get treated in these facilities. Find out more about personalized cancer treatments by calling MedBaja at (619) 333-6066 or fill out the form down below. Learn More about Immunity Therapy Center Types of alternative cancer treatments More than 21 alternative therapies and natural treatments for cancer are combined with traditional treatments. Some of the options are: Enzyme therapy Vitamin and mineral therapies Oxygen therapy biomagnetic therapy Laser therapy HALO therapy Hyperthermia It is important to note that most stays are for six weeks, but depending on the patient and the progress of their condition, this period may be longer or shorter. Instructions are provided so that the patient can continue their treatment at home after leaving the center. This type of treatment is unique because of its use of alternative therapy, and therefore not covered by medical insurance, so each patient must pay for his or her own expenses. Patients can contact the center for help finding the best payment option. Most patients come to the center accompanied by a loved one, so that they have the support and company of someone they trust, which is crucial when undergoing treatment for disease. To learn more about the center and its therapies, visit the following link. This could be the life opportunity youve been looking for. Get in contact with a specialist and learn about Alternative Cancer Treatments in Tijuana, fill-out the contact form below: Alternative Cancer Treatment in Mexico | Survivor Testimonials Call us at MedBaja Services on (619)333-6066 to find out more about this cheap, revolutionary, and holistic approach to cancer treatment, or fill out the form below so we may contact you immediately. INDEX: CANCER TREATMENTS IN MEXICO Immunity Therapy Center focuses on the physical, spiritual, and mental health of their patients Is it safe to travel to Tijuana to receive cancer treatment? Personalized alternative cancer treatment in Tijuana What to expect from an Alternative Cancer Treatment in Mexico? What makes Tijuana a leader in alternative cancer treatments? Viral anti-cancer vaccine, an innovative alternative treatment in Tijuana Why is cancer treatment significantly more affordable in tijuana? Is it safe to receive cancer treatment out of the USA? How to choose a cancer center in Mexico? Where can I find a Cancer Tutor Verified Center in Tijuana? ITC: The best level of healthcare for cancer patients is in Tijuana Testimonial from a Cancer Survivor Treated in Tijuana, Mexico Guanabana: Why Fly to Tijuana, Mexico, For This Alternative Treatment? Anticancer Uses of Turmeric: Why Travel to Tijuana For This Asian Cuisine? 5 Safer Natural Alternatives to Chemotherapy Available in Tijuana, Mexico What is the Cost of Cancer Treatment in Mexico? 5 groundbreaking alternative cancer treatments in Mexico Oct. 5Even if they never make it to Taiwan, a group of home-schooled children from Albuquerque will soon be represented there. The kids, ages 4 to 14, painted and personalized paper lanterns while visiting the Taipei City Government tent at Balloon Fiesta Park on Wednesday, during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The lanterns will be sent to Taiwan and displayed in February as part of the city of Taipei's annual Lantern Festival. They will also be among the lanterns that Taiwan takes to another lantern festival in Japan, said Yung-Hua-Shen, a senior specialist from the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism. The Taipei Lantern Festival, which features hundreds of thousands of lanterns, marks the first full moon of the new lunar year, in addition to bringing luck, health and happiness to individuals and families, he said, speaking through a colleague who was translating. While pilots from Taiwan have flown in previous Balloon Fiestas, this is the first time the government of Taipei has been represented with their own balloon, which made its U.S. debut at this year's fiesta. Seeing the Flight of the Nations mass ascension was, of course, the best reason for the students to be out at Balloon Fiesta Park early Wednesday, but even as bad weather canceled the event, most in the group said they were happy to learn about Taiwan and decorate lanterns. "Oh, this is fun. It's a good experience," said 10-year-old Selah Sleuth. "I'm painting a cherry blossom tree. It just popped into my mind." And in an acknowledgement of her surroundings, she added the image of a hot air balloon. Her 12-year-old brother, Nicholas Sleuth, was also busy decorating a lantern. "I don't really have a theme," he said. "I'm just painting shapes and designs." With five children ages 4 to 13 being home-schooled, mother Kristin Overman said, "We love books, but it's fun to have the experience and learn from people directly." Not only did the representatives from Taiwan talk about the lantern festival, they also provided general information about the country's culture. Story continues Another mom, Michelle Hernandez, had two children busy with paint brushes. Many of the students are learning about countries in Asia, she said, "so this fits in perfectly with their curriculum, and if they were not studying Taiwan, they are now." Home-schooled children "have a great opportunity to experience education, as opposed to just learning about it in a book," she said. "They will always remember this versus reading an article or two." One of her kids, Matias Hernandez, 14, was painting a fallen leaf pattern on his lantern, but said he was also contemplating the physical qualities of the lantern itself to see "how they work, what they can do and how the weather affects them." Aaliyah Hobbs, 11, opted for painting flowers on her lantern. "I like learning about everything that happens in Taiwan," she said. "We watched videos about Taiwan before we came here and one of them showed how they make spoons out of bamboo. Bamboo can be used for a lot of things and it's very strong," she said. Elianah Kelly, 11, covered her lantern's surface with large swaths of red and yellow "because those are the colors of the New Mexico flag," she said. Balloon Fiesta daily schedule 2022 Here's the schedule for the 2022 Balloon Fiesta. All events are dependent on weather.... September 29, 2022 6:02PM This article is co-published and co-reported with the The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit newsroom that informs Texans about state policy and politics. Sign up for The Brief, its daily newsletter. Texas National Guard troops deployed to the border by Gov. Greg Abbott could be stuck paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected federal taxes for their work on Operation Lone Star because of a payroll error made by state officials. On Thursday, officials with the Texas Military Department acknowledged that the payroll system they used for the mission has withheld too little in federal taxes from service members paychecks since October 2021, when Abbott ramped up the number of troops on the mission from 2,500 to a peak of 6,500 in November. Many of those called up after November came to the mission involuntarily. Officials said they became aware of the issue in July 2022. TMD and OLS responded to this issue rapidly through publications, command guidance, town halls, and other means to accomplish full awareness and support individual adjustments to tax withholding forms as needed, the departments public affairs office said in an email Thursday. The tax blunder is the latest strike against a state bureaucracy that has been strained under the weight and haste of Abbotts border mission. Previous missteps in 2021 included widespread problems in which soldiers were paid late, too little or not at all for months. Guardsmen have also complained about financial strains due to the unprecedented length of the deployment, which has prevented some members from being able to keep their civilian jobs. The department did not answer specific questions from The Texas Tribune and Army Times about the overall cost of the error to Operation Lone Star personnel. Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment. In the email, officials explained that the payroll system was set up to pay service members twice a month, rather than once a month, to mirror federal pay periods. Doing so led to the tax withholding error, which may affect 96% of service members on the mission who are paid twice a month, according to documents obtained by the Tribune and Army Times. Story continues National Guard soldiers stood guard near the U.S. and Mexico border in Del Rio on July 23, 2021. (Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune) Officials said all service members on Operation Lone Star will be returned to once-a-month paychecks starting in January to fix the problem. But some service members reached by the Tribune and Army Times said they had not been made aware of the problem. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. But he did complain that the state still hasnt paid his $1,100 travel voucher reimbursing his final trip home. I was wondering why I was making so much, lamented one Army officer. Wow. Just wow. Another service member who learned of the issue a few days before leaving the mission in September said troops had raised concerns about the withholding of taxes on their paychecks since last winter, when the mission was experiencing other pay problems. We questioned about it at the time and they said Oh, everythings all right, he said. They told us everything was good. But the recent announcement of the tax issue has felt like another item added to a long list of grievances with the mission, he said. A group of outgoing troops asked Maj. Gen. Win Burkett about the tax issue during a question-and-answer session of a briefing at Camp Swift near Austin in September, according to the service member. Burkett said the departments leadership had known about the issue for months and he did not understand why troops had not been told, the service member added. TMD officials did not respond to a request for comment on the interaction. Troops also asked what kind of support the department would provide them in navigating their taxes because of the mistake. [We] basically got told its on the individual soldier to figure it out and thats more-so what the frustrating part was, the service member said. Because thats the typical answer that weve gotten from the Texas Army National Guard, like hey, we need help and they basically just say, well, you just are going to have to figure it out. The service member said he was disappointed that there has been no investigation into the issue or a move to hold officials accountable. If it was someone like us low-level soldiers, we would have been held accountable, he said. Estimating what each member owes is complicated due to the different tax rates for different portions of their pay, which itself varies based on rank, experience, marital status and what kind of duty the Guard member is performing. Generally, troops who make less money and have more dependents claimed on their taxes will owe less. Texas Military Department officials built a spreadsheet to help troops calculate their tax liability. But some already know what their bills will be (several troops names are being withheld for fear of retaliation): Spc. Hunter Schuler, who was a leading voice among the troops who tried to unionize in the spring, said he will have to pay around $2,500 to the IRS. A junior soldier who recently returned home from the Laredo area revealed that the error will cost him $1,300. Another service member said he estimated he would pay $1,000. A sergeant estimated that he could face a $3,000 tax bill. One of the states former adjutants general, retired Maj. Gen. Charles Rodriguez, declined to comment on the specifics of the tax issue because he did not have firsthand knowledge, but said in general, commanders should move quickly to fix administrative problems and notify soldiers quickly when they arise. When commanders can fix an administrative problem but choose not to, such avoidance can approach dereliction of duty, Rodriguez, who retired in 2009 after nearly four years as the Texas Guards top general, told the Tribune and Army Times in an email. When they cannot fix the problem soon or at all, then transparency and offered assistance are what they owe their soldiers. He also said he trust[s] military commanders to take care of their troops and families, keep them informed and supported with solutions, and engage helpful partners if appropriate. Rodriguez added that he supports soldiers addressing their pay issues outside the chain of command if their typical administrative avenues arent helpful. They should invite pressure from elected officials and public opinion where such assistance is needed to remove immovable bureaucratic obstacles and receive fair and reasonably expected treatment, Rodriguez added. State Rep. Alex Dominguez, D-Brownsville, who has been critical of the treatment of soldiers on the mission, is calling on the Texas Military Department to provide immediate clarification and resolve the issue before January. If the department does not have funding to address it, he said the state Legislature should consider using its estimated $27 billion surplus to help service members. This issue must be addressed now we cannot inflict further financial instability on our service members and their families, Dominguez said in a letter sent to Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the Texas National Guards top leader, on Thursday. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. Another service member in the Air National Guard said supervisors are providing troops with tax classes to help them work through the issue. But for those who went home before knowing of the problem, theres little left to do but brace for impact. The junior soldier who owes $1,300 was succinct when asked to describe the situation: Shitty. Thankfully, I have money for it, the soldier said. But I know soldiers who dont [and] we havent heard anything about anything for tax relief. Getty Images People in Poland are burning garbage to keep warm as the energy crisis in Europe intensifies. Meanwhile, Romania is capping the price of firewood at about $80 per cubic meter. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has upended Europe's energy supply ahead of winter. Europe's energy crisis is pushing Polish citizens to burn trash and Romania to cap the price of firewood as demand for alternative heating sources jumps. Residents of a suburb outside Warsaw told Bloomberg that they can smell trash burning everyday now, while some towns are noticing less garbage is being picked up. "We're seeing a significant drop in garbage collection, especially when it comes to materials than could at least in theory be suitable for burning such as paper, cardboard and packaging," the mayor of one town told Polish media. The European Union banned Russian coal after Vladimir Putin launched his war on Ukraine, hitting coal-reliant Poland especially hard. Poles rushed to stock up on coal before the ban took effect in August, and now surveys show 60% of Polish households don't have enough coal to get through the winter. The cost of natural gas has also soared as Russia cuts off supplies to Europe, with officials accusing Moscow of weaponizing energy. Meanwhile, the Romanian government set a price cap on firewood of 400 lei ($80) per cubic meter and 2,000 lei per ton of wood pellets, according to Bloomberg. Romania previously capped prices for gas and power to help ease the surge that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Firewood has grown in popularity in Romania as a low-cost alternative for heat, and the country pushed citizens to lean on firewood as a source of heat even before the Ukraine war started. Earlier reports pointed to increased demand for firewood elsewhere in Europe and even a rise in wood theft. Sources cited by the Washington Post told the paper that "firewood is the new gold." Read the original article on Business Insider (Photo: Volanthevist via Getty Images) (Photo: Volanthevist via Getty Images) If you have a child whos going to menstruate, its possible that theyve started thinking about it before you have. Whether theyre excited to experience this rite of passage or anxious about the possibility of embarrassing leaks, tweens and teens today have more resources and options available to them than we did at their age. One potentially helpful innovation is period underwear. Period underwear has been a great revolution, especially for young people, Dr. Meredith Wise, an Ob/Gyn at the University of North Carolina, told HuffPost. Theyre discreet; they look like normal underwear, but have a highly-absorbent lining that holds liquid. They also generate less waste than pads and tampons, which appeals to young people who are concerned about the impact their choices have on the environment. One of the first period underwear brands to come on the market was Thinx, which has a product line designed for teens. Of course, if you decide to go this route, your teen should wear whichever period underwear works best for them, regardless of how its marketed. Other brands include: Aisle, Cora, Proof, Rael, Saalt and The Period Company. Knix and Modibodi sell period swimwear in addition to period underwear. Felicia Macdonald, VP of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at Thinx, told HuffPost that their product is made with cotton and can hold up to five tampons or two-and-a-half regular pads worth of flow. Theyre just as comfy as regular undies and can be worn alone or as back up with other period products for extra leak protection, she continued. If your childs cycles are regular (note that irregular cycles arent abnormal), they can wear the underwear in anticipation of their period starting, or as often as they like. The main disadvantage of period underwear is that it isnt cheap. Of course, neither is a years worth of disposable menstrual products but you dont have to pay for all of those up front, and, increasingly, schools and other institutions are making them available for free in restrooms. Story continues Depending on how many pairs you need per day and how often youre able to wash them, building up a stash of period underwear costs considerably more than a 6-pack of briefs from your local big box store. Prices range from $12-39 per pair. If your kid needs to change pairs midday to manage their flow, then theyll have to carry a used pair around with them to bring home. Some young people may not be too keen on taking care of clothing with different washing and drying instructions than their other clothes. And some parents may end up with a little more work added to their laundry duties. To get the longest life out of period underwear, youll need to follow the manufacturers care instructions. Thinx recommends washing their underwear on a cold, delicate machine cycle, or by hand, using mild detergent, then hanging or lying flat to dry. When cared for properly, Thinx says their underwear will last for 40 washes, or approximately two years of use. Some users also rinse their underwear in the sink or shower before washing. Avoid fabric softeners, bleach and the dryer. Its okay to wash your underwear with other clothing the blood wont stain the other items in the washer. If you do choose to buy period underwear for your child, its not a bad idea to also teach them how to do laundry. Ellen Friedrichs, health educator in Brooklyn and the author of Good Sexual Citizenship: How To Create A (Sexually) Safer World, says that the pre-pubescent years are a great time for this, if youre lucky enough to have a washing machine at home. This helps to give them body privacy, not to help you out as a grown-up, but to gain privacy around things like periods and wet dreams, said Friedrichs. Every menstrual hygiene product has its own advantages and disadvantages. (Photo: Isabel Pavia via Getty Images) Every menstrual hygiene product has its own advantages and disadvantages. (Photo: Isabel Pavia via Getty Images) Of course, there are also other options. Pads are traditionally the first go-to, said Wise. Theyre easy to explain, theyre easy to get. And theyre what the school nurse likely has on hand. But some teens find pads uncomfortable. They may say it feels like wearing a diaper, or worry about others noticing the outline of the pad through their clothing. I like to reassure people that you normally cant see a pad. But even if, psychologically, you think someone can see a pad through leggings, said Friedrichs, period underwear might give you that sense of comfort that nobody can see that this is happening. Tampons, cups and discs can be useful for people with active lifestyles and for swimming, said Wise. But they do just take just a little bit more education and finesse. What else should your tween/teen know about menstruation? Wise says that most people get their first period between the ages of 11 and 13, but it can also happen in the years before or after. A person usually has a first period two to three years after the first signs of breast development, which can just seem like a little puffiness around the nipples, said Friedrichs. Its really hard to predict what a first period will look like, Wise explained. Blood may be red or brown, flow light or heavy, and the person may or may not have other symptoms such as bloating or cramps. Sometimes people are nervous that its going to be like turning on a tap, and that youre gonna have this rush of water, but its really, for most people, more like a drip, Friedrichs said. People can expect their periods to be irregular for the first year or two of menstruation. They may come 21-45 days apart, and may not be the same number of days apart each cycle. The hormones that the brain makes to tell the ovaries to make estrogen and progesterone hasnt found its rhythm yet, said Wise. Ovulation is not part of every cycle. While there is plenty of variety in whats considered normal, Wise says there are several reasons to bring a tween or teen to the doctor: No periods by age 15, or 3 years after breast development Periods more than three months apart Bleeding longer than seven days per cycle Heavy bleeding that requires changing menstrual products every two hours Any symptoms that interfere with their lifestyle or their quality of life Nobody should feel like they cant go to school, said Friedrichs, whether due to heavy bleeding, pain, or other physical or emotional symptoms theyre having with their cycles. For pain with periods, a lot of it is considered normal but that doesnt necessarily mean that its something that we have to put up with, said Wise. A doctor can recommend different options for treating period pain and other symptoms, and adults should remember that even if they lived with significant menstrual discomfort, that doesnt mean a child needs to. (While many teens fear going to the gynecologist, thinking it means they will need a pelvic exam, Wise said she performs surprisingly few of these exams on patients under 21.) As for leaks and stains, Wise said the most important thing is to anticipate it and to know that at some point it happens to everyone. Its a very normal experience. Especially those first few years, its hard to predict when youre going to have your period, she said. Having back-up underwear and pants at school can help, but the old trick of tying a sweatshirt around your waist works just fine too. Friedrichs tells her students, most of us have had this happen if weve had our periods. And theres a lot of uncomfortable things that happen when youre going through life with the human body, and thats gonna possibly be one of them. And doesnt mean that youre gross or dirty or bad. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Friday won a years-long court battle to avoid paying tens of millions of dollars in extra taxes after an appeals court dismissed the case against him. Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee had been accused by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 2012 of owing more than 2.2 billion pesos ($37 million) in unpaid taxes for 2008 and 2009. The 43-year-old previously insisted he had paid the taxes in the United States, so did not need to do so in the Philippines because the two countries have an agreement allowing their citizens to avoid double taxation. Then president Benigno Aquino was waging a bruising campaign against tax evasion as part of a general crackdown on corruption. Pacquiao, a former world champion and politician, became one of the highest-profile targets of the tax office's sweep. But the Court of Tax Appeals found the tax office had relied on "unverified news articles" to make its assessment. In a 49-page judgement, the court said the "assessment for deficiency income tax is void for violation of petitioners' right to due process and for lack of sufficient factual basis". The ruling was handed down on September 29 but apparently only released on Friday. Pacquiao, who reportedly ranked among the country's top individual taxpayers in 2008 and 2009, welcomed the decision. "Since the start of my career, I have made sure to pay all my taxes because this helps our government," he said in a statement. "I thank the Lord that the truth has come out." AFP could not reach the tax office for comment. It is not known if it plans to appeal the decision. Pacquiao, who retired from boxing last year for a tilt at the Philippines presidency, is deeply admired for hauling himself out of poverty to become one of the world's greatest and wealthiest fighters. But he has also earned plenty of detractors with his support for former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war, homophobic comments and lack of education. Story continues Pacquiao has been preparing for a charity match against martial arts YouTuber DK Yoo scheduled for December 10 in Seoul. He ended his 26-year boxing career with a points defeat to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 and, as well as being a former senator, made a failed bid earlier this year to be president of his country. Pacquiao's net worth was almost $54 million in 2020, according to Senate data. cgm/amj/axn Phoenix police released a critical incident briefing on Thursday with snippets of body-camera footage capturing a Sept. 22 police shooting near a convenience store that left one man injured. Sgt. Vincent Cole, a department spokesperson, narrates the video saying police received a call around 7:30 p.m. from a woman saying her adult son had left her home with several weapons and heard a gunshot as he left near 29th Avenue and Greenway Road. Cole said several officers were dispatched to the area and that the armed mans father was following him in a vehicle. Officers eventually found the man near 25th Avenue and Greenway Road and ordered him to stop, which he ignored, instead walking toward an occupied convenience store. Body-camera footage shows an officer running toward the man and switching from a pepperball launcher to his sidearm. Phoenix police release snippets of body-camera footage capturing a police shooting that injured an armed man as he entered a convenience store on Sept. 22, 2022. The officer can be heard yelling Get on the ground now! and ordering a bystander to get away before firing eight shots at the man. Another clip of footage shows a second officer approaching the convenience store with a rifle, however most of the audio is missing it was within the first 30 seconds of the body-camera being activated. Surveillance footage from inside and outside the convenience store shows bystanders fleeing the area as the man enters the store and continues walking before collapsing. Officers evacuated the stores clerk and examined the suspect who was later taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Cole said the man had several firearms and extended magazines along with other weapons. The man has since been released from the hospital and booked into jail on weapons charges. The officers involved had between four and five years with the Phoenix Police Department. The officers have since been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an administrative and criminal investigation into the shooting as per protocol. Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police release footage of officers shooting man at store NextShark A Chinese woman thought she was the victim of racism after receiving a letter from her alma mater addressed to a Ms. Ching Chong, but was shocked and relieved to learn the truth. Former University of Queensland student Sierra Chen took to the Facebook group UQ Stalkerspace, which is described as a platform for discourse about University of Queensland campus life, to share the letter she received from the university and to see if anyone could help her contact the addressee to verify whether the letter was sent maliciously. In her post, Chen said the contents of the letter were not unusual, but the name listed as the recipient concerned her, as ChingChong is a racial discrimination word against [sic] Chinese. Kansas City firefighter Anthony Santi was identified as the victim of a fatal shooting Thursday outside an Independence gas station, the Independence Police Department said Friday. Police officers were called to the homicide scene around 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Road Star, 11100 E. U.S. 40 Highway, Independence police said in a statement. Police said the gunshot victim was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead there. Santi, 41, intervened in a dispute and there was a scuffle inside the gas station, said Officer Jack Taylor, a spokesman for IPD. The disagreement spilled outside, where Santi was shot. Two people described as persons of interest were taken from the scene and placed in police custody. Jason Spreitzer, a KCFD spokesman, told The Star late Thursday that members of KCFD, including Chief Donna Lake, were still in shock after learning that one of their own had been fatally shot. Right now I think everyones just kind of dumbfounded and internalizing this tragic event, Spreitzer said. By Nia Williams (Reuters) -Danielle Smith, the incoming premier of Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta, has set the stage for an antagonistic relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after winning her leadership race with plans to push back against federal laws. Smith, 51, was chosen by members to lead Alberta's ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) on Thursday, just seven months ahead of the next provincial election. "Today marks a new beginning in the Alberta story," Smith told UCP members after winning the leadership race. "No longer will Alberta ask permission from Ottawa to be prosperous and free. ... We will not have our resources landlocked or our energy phased out of existence by a virtue-signalling prime minister." Trudeau tweeted his congratulations to Smith, who will be sworn into office on Tuesday. "Let's work together to build a better future for Albertans by delivering concrete results, making life more affordable, creating good jobs, and more," Trudeau said. Alberta, home to Canada's vast oil sands and the world's third-largest crude reserves, has long had a strained relationship with Trudeau's government in Ottawa, stemming from a sense that the federal government's climate polices are damaging its oil and gas industry. Some of Canada's top oil and gas companies, including Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Suncor Energy and Cenovus Energy, are all headquartered in Calgary, the business capital of the province. Smith campaigned on an "Alberta First" slogan designed to appeal to grassroots members on the right wing of the party and has promised to introduce the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which would allow the province to refuse to enforce specific federal laws it does not like. Political commentators and legal experts said the act is unconstitutional and would likely be struck down in court, but could further sour relations between Ottawa and Alberta, while uncertainty about what the act will actually contain may spook the business community. Story continues "On the business side you might get a bit of a drop in investment confidence until they see exactly what is going on," said Lori Williams, a political science professor at Calgary's Mount Royal University. Williams said she expected Smith would be forced to modify the legislation by the UCP caucus, which could hurt her standing among the grassroots members who voted for her. "The problem with Smith is that she has ramped up the anger and raised expectations, and the question is if they cannot be met, does that anger turn on her," Williams said. The Alberta Federation of Labour, the province's largest worker advocacy organization, said in a statement that the incoming premier should focus on improving the life of Albertans rather than defying Ottawa. "With due respect, the vast majority of working Albertans are not thinking about the Sovereignty Act," said AFL President Gil McGowan. "Theyre thinking about things like jobs, inflation, healthcare, and education." Smith has promised to mount another legal challenge to the federal government's carbon tax, despite the Supreme Court of Canada ruling against a similar challenge brought by Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario in 2021. She was also a vocal critic of public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and took aim at the federal government's vaccine mandate policy in her victory speech. "We will not be told what we must put in our bodies in order to work," she said. Michael Taube, a columnist and a speechwriter for former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, described Smith as a strong supporter of private enterprise, free markets, trade liberalization and economic liberty. "Smith promotes her own ideas instead of letting society determine which ideas she should reject," Taube wrote in the National Post newspaper on Thursday, adding she will be a boon for Canada and conservatism. (Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Jonathan Oatis) U.S. president Joe Biden has signed an executive order attached to reupping a flagship data transfer agreement with the European Union -- with the goal of making life easier for businesses that need to export EU user-data to the U.S. for processing. The White House announced the development in a statement today -- saying that the "Executive Order on Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities" would "direct the steps" that the U.S. will take to implement its commitments under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (EU-U.S. DPF), as the new arrangement is being called. The new framework is intended to replace the defunct EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (which was invalidated by the bloc's top court back in July 2020); and its much longer-lived predecessor, Safe Harbor (struck down by the CJEU in October 2015, following the 2013 disclosures of U.S. government surveillance programs by NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden). So this is yet another (third time lucky?) attempt to bridge the gap between two very different legal frameworks in order to ensure that EU users' personal data can keep flowing over the pond. Thousands of businesses, large and small, had relied upon earlier EU-U.S. data transfer deals to authorize their data exports -- greasing the pipes of what the White House refers to as a $7.1TR EU-U.S. "economic relationship". But for the last two years there's essentially been no risk-free legal route. And there still isn't. Although the EU responded to Biden signing the EO by saying it will now move to draft an adequacy decision and initiate the adoption process. 'Safeguards for signals intelligence' The White House press release said president Biden's executive order beefs up safeguards around U.S. "signals intelligence" (aka digital surveillance conducted by spy agencies) by "requiring that such activities be conducted only in pursuit of defined national security objectives"; by "tak[ing] into consideration the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of nationality or country of residence; and by being "conducted only when necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority and only to the extent and in a manner proportionate to that priority". Story continues The EO also mandates "handling requirements" for personal data picked up via signals intelligence and beefs up enforcement around non-compliance. Elements of the US Intelligence Community will also be required to update their policies and procedures to reflect the "new privacy and civil liberties safeguards contained in the E.O.", per the press release. Another change is the creation of "a multi-layer" redress mechanism for EU individuals in the EU to obtain "independent and binding review and redress" on claims that their personal data was gathered in violation of applicable U.S. law. This consists of -- in the first layer -- a Civil Liberties Protection Officer (CLPO) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who will conduct a preliminary investigation "of qualifying complaints received " to decide whether there has been a violation and, if so, determine appropriate next steps. "The E.O. builds up the existing statutory CLPO functions by establishing that the CLPOs decision will be binding on the Intelligence Community, subject to the second layer of review, and provides protections to ensure the independence of the CLPOs investigations and determinations," the White House writes. The second layer entails the EO authorizing and directing the Attorney General to establish a Data Protection Review Court (DPRC) to "provide independent and binding review of the CLPOs decisions, upon an application from the individual or an element of the Intelligence Community". Much will hinge on whether this body will be properly judged 'court enough' -- under EU law -- and therefore competent to uphold and defend EU citizens' rights or not. "Judges on the DPRC will be appointed from outside the US Government, have relevant experience in the fields of data privacy and national security, review cases independently, and enjoy protections against removal," the White House writes. "Decisions of the DPRC regarding whether there was a violation of applicable US law and, if so, what remediation is to be implemented will be binding. "To further enhance the DPRCs review, the EO.provides for the DPRC to select a special advocate in each case who will advocate regarding the complainants interest in the matter and ensure that the DPRC is well-informed of the issues and the law with regard to the matter. The Attorney General today issued accompanying regulations on the establishment of the DPRC." The EO also calls on the (existing) U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to review the polices and procedures of U.S. spy agencies to ensure consistency with what the order calls for; and conduct an annual review of the redress process, including to check whether intelligence agencies have fully complied with determinations made by the CLPO and the DPRC. "These steps will provide the European Commission with a basis to adopt a new adequacy determination, which will restore an important, accessible, and affordable data transfer mechanism under EU law. It will also provide greater legal certainty for companies using Standard Contractual Clauses and Binding Corporate Rules to transfer EU personal data to the United States," the White House suggests. Responding to the EO being signed, the Commission said it contains "significant improvements" vs Privacy Shield's mechanisms. "At that time, individuals could turn to an Ombudsperson, which was part of the US State Department and did not have similar investigatory or binding decision-making powers," it noted in a press release. "The objective of the Commission in these negotiations has been to address the concerns raised by the Court of Justice of the EU in the Schrems II judgment and provide a durable and reliable legal basis for transatlantic data flows. This is reflected in the safeguards included in the Executive Order, regarding both the substantive limitation on US national security authorities' access to data (necessity and proportionality) and the establishment of the new redress mechanism," it added. Political agreement on a new EU-U.S. data transfers deal was announced with much high level fanfare, back in March. EU commissioners had initially suggested the process might be finalized by the end of this year. However things appears to have moved at a slower pace than originally anticipated -- so it now looks unlikely that all the necessary steps will be completed in time for the framework to be adopted before 2023. EU review before adoption With Biden's ink dry on the EO, the baton now passes back to the EU to consider whether the framework passes muster. A number of EU institutions will be involved in reviewing the framework, including the European Data Protection Board and representatives of Member States (and the European Parliament), although the final decision is the Commission's alone. And the EU's executive can -- and often does -- override concerns raised during the review process (hence two strikedowns already despite plenty of objections raised to Privacy Shield prior to its adoption, in the most recent example... ). The EU's executive and the U.S. administration will both be keen for the new framework to stick and -- ideally -- prove robust enough to see off any legal challenges. But even if it only sticks in the short term (a few years) the prevailing view may be that is 'fix' enough -- as it allows for 'business as usual' for cross-border data flows, getting both sides out of an immediate bind on the legality of trade-related data flows. Tech giants, including Facebook and Google, will also be crossing their pinkies that the DPF sticks -- and quickly -- as both have been facing disruption to their businesses and ability to serve customers in the region. Facebook narrowly avoided a looming shutdown of its EU-U.S. data flows this summer -- after objections were raised to a draft regulatory decision ordering them to be suspended, adding months more to the process (and potentially enough time for it to avoid a shutdown altogether if the EU adopts the DPF). So it's now a race to see what lands first: The DPF or an order to Facebook to shut off EU-to-U.S. data flows. Google has also faced disruption to its customers, following scores of complaints targeting users of Google Analytics which led, in recent months, to a number of EU DPAs to warn against use of the tool in its standard configuration -- saying such use breaches the EU's General Data Protection Regulation and supplementary measures would need to be applied to raise the standard of data protection to the required level. Thousands of smaller businesses also need legal certainty around their cross-border data flows, of course. And tech industry associations of all stripes were quick to welcome the signing of the EO -- and urge EU adoption swiftly. A statement by one industry group -- calling itself the Reform Government Surveillance coalition (whose members include Amazon, Apple, Dropbox, Evernote, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Snap Inc., Twitter, Yahoo (TC's parent), and Zoom) -- welcomed the signing of the EO and what they dubbed its "robust new privacy protections". However despite sporting a name with such a reforming-zeal vibe to it, the industry lobby group did not call for more root-and-branch changes to U.S. surveillance practices -- instead offering the flattering line that: "We recognize and appreciate the effort of the US Government in finalizing its implementation of the Framework." Other responses to the EO's signing were less fulsomely welcoming. BEUC, the European Consumer Organization, warned in a statement that there are still "fundamental differences in the level of privacy and data protection in the US and the EU which remain too large to make up for, despite the additional safeguards the US side is proposing to build in" -- and urged data protection authorities to "scrutinise any new data transfer agreement with rigour". "Nobody wants more legal uncertainty," it added. "We need a long-lasting solution to make sure consumers can trust that their data is safe wherever it goes." While Max Schrems, the lawyer and European privacy campaigner whose earlier legal challenges brought down Privacy Shield and Safe Harbor, warned that the agreement looks like a fudge -- suggesting, for example, that both sides have agreed to use some of the same words but have not agreed on what the terms mean, and arguing it would therefore likely come unstuck under legal scrutiny. "The EU and the US now agree on use of the word 'proportionate' but seem to disagree on the meaning of it. In the end, the CJEU's definition will prevail -- likely killing any EU decision again. The European Commission is again turning a blind eye on US law, to allow continued spying on Europeans," he said in a reaction statement, adding: "We will analyze this package in detail, which will take a couple of days. At first sight it seems that the core issues were not solved and it will be back to the CJEU sooner or later." Schrems also pointed to the redress body the EO establishes not being a real court -- which he said could also be a problem. "We have to study the proposal in detail but at first glance, it is clear that this 'court' is simply not a court. The Charter has a clear requirement for 'judicial redress' -- just renaming some complaints body a 'court' does not make it an actual court," he said. "The details of the procedure will also be relevant to see if this can satisfy EU law." "It is amazing that the EU and the US actually agree that wiretapping needs probable cause and judicial approval. However, the US takes the view that foreigners don't have privacy rights," Schrems added. "I doubt that the US has a future as the cloud provider of the world, if non-US persons have no rights under their laws. It is contradictory to me that the European Commission is working on a deal that accepts that Europeans are 'second class' citizens and don't deserve the same privacy rights as US citizens." When/if the DPF is adopted by the Commission -- most likely next year -- legal challenges remain highly likely since the fundamental clash between U.S. national-security-focused surveillance law and EU fundamental privacy rights still hasn't gone anywhere. Legal experts will certainly be poring over the EO in detail once they get their hands on the text. "From the FactSheet: It is a solid improvement compared to 2016. But I want to also see the EO [text]," Dr. Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna, VP for global privacy at the Washington-based thinktank, the Future of Privacy Forum, told TechCrunch -- offering a snap first response. She also pointed to a line in the White House release -- in which the U.S. talks about "qualifying states" which it says will be "designated under the EO", meaning that the US will itself decide -- positing that it might be "looking at some form of reciprocity of sorts" in the national security area. Edward Machin, a senior lawyer in Ropes & Grays data, privacy & cybersecurity practice, also told TechCrunch: "We're getting closer to European standards than under previous frameworks, although concerns remain about the long-term viability of an Executive Order. The proportionality and retention requirements look tighter and the older redress mechanism is improved. But it is enough? No one knows right now." Should a fresh cycle of data transfer litigation kick off, it will of course keep European privacy campaigners and data protection lawyers busy for years to come. They remain busy enough now, though, as the question of where (and how) EU users' data is stored remains a worry for businesses exporting it to third countries like the U.S. that lack EU adequacy -- with a real prospect of regulatory enforcement in the meanwhile. Further rounds of regulatory whack-a-mole would also be inevitable if this 'third time lucky' framework topples, restarting the data transfer complaint cycle once again. So we can all probably expect to be back in a fresh legal limbo soon enough. This report was updated with additional comment. President Joe Biden announcement Thursday of federal pardons for thousands convicted of simple possession of marijuana will play well with Democratic voters, but it likely won't offer more than small benefits in an upcoming midterm election dominated by concerns about inflation, abortion and other pressing issues, Democratic strategists and political experts said. However, in concert with other presidential actions, it could shore up support leading into the 2024 campaign, they said. The strategists, who credited Biden for keeping a political promise and making the move for the right reasons, saw little political downside for Democrats, pointing to growing public support for the relaxation of marijuana penalties. The president's proclamation, which also called for reconsidering marijuana's classification as a dangerous drug, should help intensify support among specific constituencies, including young people and voters of color, strategists said. The president mentioned the disparate impact of marijuana laws, that Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted and convicted at greater rates than white people, even though marijuana usage rates are similar. Marijuana pardons: In historic move, Biden pardons those with federal convictions for possessing marijuana President Joe Biden Thursday announced he would pardon those convicted of federal laws regarding simple possession of marijuana. He urged states to follow his example. NAACP President Derrick Johnson praised the president's marijuana initiative as a way to help correct unequal racial treatment in the justice system, pointing to the importance of voting for Biden in 2020. Today marks another significant step in addressing the systemic racism within the criminal justice system," Johnson said in a statement. "Our collective vote in 2020 is resulting in concrete progress. Vote, vote, vote. We can continue to make a difference. Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright said Biden's action is the latest promise kept to Black voters, "the heart and soul of the Democratic Party" that was instrumental in his victories in the 2020 primaries and general election. Story continues "This president has been very intentional and focused on making sure that communities that have been left out, left behind for a very long time, finally get what John Lewis would oftentimes say to me, 'Oceans of justice, and rivers of fairness,'" he said. The marijuana reform could provide incentive for some supporters to get out and vote when they otherwise might have stayed home, Seawright said. Historic move: 'Right these wrongs': Inside Biden's history-making moves on marijuana That also could be a significant factor with younger voters, who tend to vote less often compared with older people, especially in non-presidential years. Marijuana legalization is "especially popular with young voters across the country and in Colorado," one of the first two states to vote to legalize recreational marijuana use, said Chris Griswold, a Denver-based principal with Hilltop Public Solutions, which consults with Democratic campaigns and on various Democratic-aligned priorities, such as climate issues. "This ultimately has the impact of helping to get young voters to turn out this November." Biden's move could help Democrats in some states, such as Pennsylvania, a swing state with close races where marijuana legalization is an ongoing debate, said Mindy Romero, director of the University of Southern California Center for Inclusive Democracy. One potential downside, she added, is that Republicans could use the president's initiative to support their argument that Democrats are soft on crime. "Anything that can be used for political advantage will be done by either side, and I think Republicans certainly will use this in their campaigns," she said. Votes count: Abortion, slavery and marijuana: Here are the ballot questions to watch in 2022 midterms It's so close to the November election that Biden's marijuana announcement may not have that big of an effect now, but it could play a role in the 2024 campaign, she said. "Presidential elections are higher turnout. They're more diverse. There's a long runway" to 2024, she said. "If this was the start of a series of actions by the administration that could generate support for the 2024 presidential campaign and for other Democrats as well then maybe we should be thinking about this as a long game." Matt Grodsky, a former Arizona Democratic party spokesman and vice president of the Matters of State Strategies political consulting firm, said marijuana reform will appeal to Democratic voters and probably independents but it's "highly unlikely to move the needle in the midterms" in Arizona, the swing state where he is based. Arizona voters approved adult personal use of marijuana in 2020. "Given the concerns about inflation, abortion and reproductive health care rights, voting rights and what it's going to mean if we have these America First candidates take control in November, those are the dominating issues in people's minds," he said. Grodsky did see one immediate and very short-term benefit for the president. "All the reporters are asking about this and not about gas prices," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Democrats win midterm elections with help from marijuana reform? Sir Elton John and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the 2018 International AIDS Conference on July 24, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images A group of British plaintiffs are suing the Daily Mail's publisher over privacy breaches. The group alleges the company listened in on their phone calls and accessed their personal information. Several of the plaintiffs have longstanding, acrimonious relationships with the UK tabloids. Prince Harry, Elton John, and several other high-profile Brits are suing the publisher of The Daily Mail, accusing the company of installing listening devices in plaintiffs' homes and cars among other breaches of privacy, a law firm representing the group said Thursday. Associated Newspapers, the company that owns The Daily Mail tabloids, refuted the accusations in a statement to Insider, calling the allegations "preposterous smears." "These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims based on no credible evidence appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere," a spokesperson for the newspapers group said. Actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, along with Elton John's partner David Furnish, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, whose teenage son was murdered in a racist attack in 1993, are also suing the company. The Daily Mail launched a media campaign to bring Lawrence's son's murderers to justice following his death. On Thursday, the law firm Hamlins, which is representing Prince Harry and Frost, released a statement saying the plaintiffs were victims of "abhorrent criminal activity." The lawsuit, according to BBC News , alleges that Associated Newspapers hired private investigators to covertly put listening devices in people's houses and vehicles; paid people to listen in on and recorded individuals' private phone calls in real time; paid police officials for sensitive information; impersonated people to obtain their private medical information; and accessed their bank accounts and credit histories through illegal means." The UK law firm Gunnercooke is representing John, Furnish, Lawrence, and Hurley, the statement said. Story continues "They have now therefore banded together to uncover the truth, and to hold the journalists responsible fully accountable, many of whom still hold senior positions of authority and power today," the Hamlins press release said. Several of the plaintiffs have longstanding, acrimonious relationships with the UK tabloids. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle cut off all engagement with four major British newspapers following their 2018 marriage, including Daily Mail, accusing the outlet of inaccurate reporting. The accusations come more than a decade after Rupert Murdoch's News of the World newspaper was shuttered following a yearslong investigation into the tabloid's journalistic practices. The probes found that the paper had hacked the phones of several subjects, including celebrities, members of the royal family, and crime victims. Read the original article on Insider Attorney General Chris Carr Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced this week that members of two street gangs operating in Athens are the first to be charged in the state by the Attorney Generals Gang Unit that organized less than four months ago. The nine suspects were indicted on various charges ranging from violating of the states Street Gang Terrorism Act to illegal firearms and drugs violations. Two were identified as member of the 1-8 Trey Bloods, affiliated with a larger street gang known as the Bloods that work out of the Bronx, N.Y. Previously: Athens crime rate dropped after crackdown on gangs that netted 47 arrests: Police And: Athens-Clarke police arrest 3 more suspects as crackdown on street gangs continues The other suspects indicted are alleged members of the Red Tape Gang, a hybrid gang with ties to the Bloods and gangs known as Sex Money Murder and the Rollin 20s. The arrests were the result of an investigation made by agents working in the unit from the FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke police. The states new gang unit began operation in July with a state supported budget of $1.3 million. The indictments out of Athens are "a product of our strong partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement as we work together to protect our fellow citizens, Carr said in a statement released with the announcement. Gangs, drugs and guns lead to violence, GBI Director Mike Register said as he praised the partnership among investigators and prosecutors that led to the charges. If convicted, some of the suspects face centuries in prison, according to the news release. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens residents indicted after probe by Georgia's new gang unit Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked a judge to delay the trial of Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna. In May, Young Thug and Gunna were both named in a sweeping gang indictment that included 26 other people alleged to be members of the Young Slime Life gang. The 88-page indictment included a wide-ranging list of 181 acts that prosecutors say were committed starting in 2013. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, is accused of conspiring to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity and conducting and participating in the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, is accused of theft by receiving stolen property, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and participation in criminal street gang activity. In a court filing Thursday, Willis said that eight defendants may be forced to trial with ill-prepared appointed counsel because they still have not been assigned an attorney. RELATED STORIES: The district attorney also said that there is a large amount of data that her office needs to go through in time for the trial. The discovery in this case includes over three terabytes of data, Willis said in the filing. (That) does not provide an opportunity for those defendants to have counsel ... [with] a reasonable time to prepare [their] defense[s] properly. Story continues To add to that, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that lead prosecutor Don Geary left the Fulton DAs office for a position in Gwinnett County. Geary started his new role Monday, the Gwinnett DAs office confirmed. Its unclear who Willis will appoint to lead the high-profile case following the veteran prosecutors departure. More motion hearings in the case are scheduled for next Thursday. Currently, the trial is scheduled for Jan. 9. Willis is asking for a new trial date of March 27. RELATED NEWS: Nurse Laura Yeager was forced out of her job in a psychiatric unit due to violence she faced from patients. Laura Yeager Laura Yeager said she was forced out of her job treating psychiatric patients due to injuries sustained on the job. Amid a nurse staffing crisis, more psychiatric nurses are leaving due to violence. Half of hospital nurses report an increase in workplace violence, according to the profession's largest union. In her five years as a psychiatric nurse in Missouri, Laura Yeager had been bit, kicked, slapped, and spat-on numerous times. Once, Yeager said, a teenage patient put her in a chokehold. Another time a patient kicked her in the head after she attempted to restrain them. Despite the violence she endured, Yeager said she empathized with her young, vulnerable patients. She understood that, when they lashed out, it was in frustration for being unable to communicate their needs. "When you work on a behavioral health unit," Yeager told Insider, you have to understand "it runs on chaos. I mean, that's just the nature of it." In 2021, however, she reached a breaking point. As she mustered all her strength to restrain a violent patient, she felt an awkward twist in her back. Pain shot through her body so intensely that she couldn't push through any longer. Over the next few months, it dawned on Yeager that she would have to quit the job that means so much to her. Nurses getting injured due to violence on the job isn't a new story. Federal data shows hospitals are among the most dangerous places to work, and nurses get injured at a rate higher than all other occupations. But abuse against nurses has gotten worse since the start of the pandemic, union leaders say. Now, nurses are quitting in droves, leading to staffing shortages that put the remaining qualified nurses under even more pressure. Yeager says she was trying to play her part in "an already overloaded part of the medical profession," but for her and many others, it has become untenable. "I'm a very strong advocate for the behavioral health population, because that's what they need. I'm angry that I got injured, I'm angry that I can't do it," Yeager said. "The fact that more people are getting injured and more people are leaving the bedside of behavioral health... It's a recipe for disaster." Story continues Avoiding violence at work is not really an option, Yeager said The country's largest nurse union found that, in October 2021, a third of US hospital nurses reported an increase in workplace violence. Just six months later, they ran the survey again, and that figure shot up to 48% nearly half of hospital nurses across the country. Yeager says she had been receiving more challenging cases over time, because of her years of experience and talent for dealing with the most difficult patients. She took a strict yet empathetic approach with her patients, assessing which ones would respond better to verbal deescalation or "responsible restraint." But, in her 40s, she was among the oldest clinicians on the unit, Yeager said, and she began to worry more about the physicality of dealing with difficult patients. "I said, 'I am probably one of the oldest nurses here, and I'm being given the worst patient assignments because I have the behavioral health experience," Yeager said. "And lo and behold, three hours later, I got injured." Under-staffing made it impossible for Yeager to avoid physical work, she said After her injury, Yeager couldn't work for three months. Her doctors said, no matter how well she progressed in physical therapy, she should be given less physically-straining work when she returned from medical leave. Under-staffing made that near-impossible. In the months Yeager spent sourcing for remote desk jobs, she was repeatedly assigned to patients with severe psychological conditions who were more likely to become violent. The nurse said she would do whatever she had to "to get through the day," including relying on pain medication and removing herself from strenuous situations. "I probably ended up doing more damage to my body." Without intervention, worsening mental health will result in more nurse injuries, Yeager said The rise in workplace violence against nurses stems directly from short-staffing, National Nurses United president Jean Ross told Insider. Longer wait times can aggrevate patients, and insufficient staff results in fewer people to help deescalate violent situations. The union has advocated for a bill that would require healthcare facilities to maintain sufficient nurse staffing. The bill passed in the House last year and awaits Senate approval, Ross said. Yeager believes, from what she saw in the psychiatric ward, the widespread death and isolation during the pandemic has "absolutely" worsened the mental health crisis in the US. Behavioral health patients have become more frustrated and angrier, she said heightening the risk of violence towards nurses. Though Yeager does not know the solution, she predicts both patients and clinicians will suffer without more resources devoted to psychiatric health and nurse staffing. Read the original article on Insider Mark Horowitz in London in August 2022. Daniel Jackont When Mark Horowitz was 21, he began taking antidepressants. At the time, he was feeling a "bit miserable" in school like "a neurotic, Woody Allen kind of guy." His medical provider suggested he start taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. He never imagined the debilitating withdrawal symptoms he'd experience 13 years later while trying to come off the drug. Horowitz recalled waking up in "animal terror," feeling like he'd just been chased off a cliff, or enduring a "state of panic" so pervasive he took to running several miles a day until his feet bled. For the first time in his life, he thought about killing himself. Shaken, he moved back home to Australia from London, where he'd been getting his Ph.D., to be closer to his family. His doctor prescribed a higher dose of Lexapro, the drug that he'd been taking. Today, 19 years after he began, Horowitz is determined to stop taking his SSRI for good. He's slowly, methodically undertaking what may be a yearslong process to wean himself off the drug, using a liquid version and decreasing his dose by just a smidgen every few weeks to avoid panic attacks. Horowitz isn't just any patient, though. He's the psychiatry researcher behind a major new study showing that there's no solid link between low serotonin levels and depression. Based on his research, Horowitz believes SSRIs like Lexapro aren't really doing what he was once led to believe: correcting a "chemical imbalance" in his brain. In fact, he says it's high time that this conventional wisdom is properly debunked for the general public once and for all, instead of being relegated to watercooler chatter among academics, doctors, and drugmakers. Antidepressants were discovered by mistake Tuberculosis patient Gloria Sydnor weighing in on a scale at Sea View Hospital, circa 1952. Previously underweight, she reached a healthy weight after participating in an MAOI drug trial at the hospital. Bettmann via Getty Images Like Viagra, modern antidepressants were discovered by accident. In 1952, clinicians at Staten Island's Sea View Hospital began treating tuberculosis patients with a new, experimental neurotransmitter-acting drug. Many TB patients treated with iproniazid at Sea View likely had severe depression after months or years of hospitalization. But within weeks, they were more alert, sociable, and regaining lost weight. Story continues These drugs were called monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs. They prevent enzymes in the brain from breaking down key chemicals, including norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Soon, psychiatrists began prescribing MAOIs on a larger population of depressed patients. While some of the results were promising, researchers were cautious to note that there were "varying degrees of improvement" in cases. The drug wasn't working for everyone, and providers didn't fully understand why. Over the next decade or so, researchers endeavored to develop even better antidepressant drugs, with fewer undesirable side effects. During the late 1960s, scientists found evidence that the corpses of patients who died by suicide had low serotonin levels. As a result, pharmaceutical companies raced to develop antidepressant drugs targeting serotonin. The very first SSRI, Prozac, was born at Eli Lilly in the early 1970s though it didn't hit pharmacy shelves in the US until 1988. Though SSRIs were chemically different from MAOIs, the thinking behind these new drugs remained largely the same. If you can make chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine more available to the brain, you may be able to keep mild, moderate, and severe depression at bay. Horowitz remembers first learning about this idea as an undergraduate. One lecture from a "top professor" really stuck with him, he said, because it laid everything out in such a clear way: Mild depression was caused by serotonin dysfunction and needed SSRIs to correct the imbalance, while more moderate cases of depression were helped by regulating both serotonin and norepinephrine. Psychotic depression, "the worst form," was caused by dysregulation of three chemicals: serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine. "I remember in that lecture thinking, 'Wow!'" Horowitz said. "'This is incredible, they know what's going on.'" We don't know how antidepressants work A few years after that lecture, Horowitz was a rising Ph.D. student, preparing to deliver his own first lecture on the biology and psychology of depression. But he had a hard time finding studies that showed how low serotonin levels were linked to depression. "I'm a very meticulous, nerdy kind of guy," he said. "I wanted to have a reference for every point I made." He found reviews "referencing another review" and partial findings connecting serotonin and depression, but not conclusively. "I was so convinced that it must be there, I thought, 'I just haven't done a good enough search,'" he said. Almost seven years after finishing his Ph.D., Horowitz said he still hasn't found any compelling evidence. His latest analysis, released in the journal Molecular Psychiatry in July, is yet another review of serotonin research through the years and concludes that there is no solid link between low serotonin levels and depression. Many mental health experts not only agree, but say Horowitz's conclusions are nothing new. "I was not surprised by the results of the study," said Mimi Winsberg, a psychiatrist and the cofounder of the mental-health-treatment website Brightside, who prescribes both antidepressant drugs and talk therapy for depression. "My second reaction was, I wonder how the public will misinterpret this." Mimi Winsberg, the chief medical officer at Brightside Health, used to be an in-house psychiatrist at Facebook. Andy Katz The idea that serotonin alone doesn't control depression isn't a shock to anyone who's been paying attention to the field of psychiatry over the past few decades. But after years of hearing otherwise from pharmaceutical companies on TV and general practitioners with just minutes to spare for a clinic visit and a prescription refill, it can be alarming to learn that these first-line, top-selling depression drugs taken by upward of one in five American adults every year, according to recent estimates don't reliably work. The truth is that scientists still don't really understand how they do what they do. "There was no real evidence that serotonin deficiency caused depression," Irving Kirsch, a psychologist and lecturer at Harvard who's studied antidepressants and their placebo effect for many decades, told Insider. This year, Kirsch and his colleagues conducted a review of antidepressant studies that were submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration over a nearly 40-year period. It found that only about 15% of American patients "have a substantial antidepressant effect beyond a placebo effect in clinical trials." Antidepressants are still widely used in large part because "no one's found a medication that works better," Kirsch said. Horowitz's paper has stirred up political and medical controversies Horowitz's paper has made waves in both academia and pop culture. It is in the top 5% of the most-cited scientific articles on the internet, according to Altmetric. Fox News host Tucker Carlson has held it up on his show as evidence that SSRIs are causing more mass shootings in the US. (To be clear: They're not. Both Horowitz and Winsberg say the accusation is not rooted in any scientific evidence.) The more professional criticisms leveled at Horowitz's paper tend to fall into three main camps. The first consists of mental-health experts who, like Winsberg, say this isn't new information. We've known for a while that low serotonin doesn't necessarily cause depression, and the diagnosis cannot be reduced to a simple, single biochemical root cause. But that doesn't mean SSRIs can never work for anyone. "Depression itself is a very complex and nuanced diagnosis," Winsberg said. "SSRIs don't cure people by raising their serotonin levels." In fact, studies have shown that even artificially lowering a person's serotonin levels does not reliably lead them into a depressed state. SSRIs are more successful for anxiety, rumination, and OCD than for "low-energy" depression cases, Winsberg said. The second camp argues that "to dismiss the serotonin hypothesis of depression at this point is premature," as the professor David Nutt, the head of the neuropsychopharmacology center at Imperial College London, wrote in a recent reaction to Horowitz's paper, which was published by the Science Media Centre, a group that fights scientific misinformation. Horowitz himself finds it "a bit funny that the experts are themselves divided," he said. "Some are saying, 'Of course that's not true.' And others are saying, 'Of course it's true.'" "It seems difficult to both be utterly unsurprising and provocative at the same time," he added. The third camp says Horowitz and his UCL coauthor, Joanna Moncrieff, are simply too controversial to be trusted and too keen to stir up the status quo when it comes to mental-health treatments. In 2020, the pair published a review paper, titled "Are we repeating mistakes of the past?," on esketamine, the hallucinogenic drug that's becoming increasingly popular for treating depression. It argued that trials of the drug did not establish efficacy and that safety concerns were underplayed. Horowitz calls the critiques of him and his coauthor "a quite ridiculous framing," citing leading independent experts and a UK government department, among others, who back his peer-reviewed assertions. "In my experience, when a critic criticizes me or a coauthor personally, it means that they lack a specific argument against the points made, but do not like the conclusions reached," he said. Regardless of which camp his peers fall into, Horowitz said he's concerned that the stir his paper has caused reflects the troubling way antidepressants are still being marketed to and understood by many consumers: as a simple chemical fix for what is, in reality, a very complicated, multifaceted social problem that can't entirely be chalked up to brain chemicals. He said he's disappointed to see that his profession has chosen a defensive stance, instead of reflecting on what he calls the "insidious influence of drug companies" on public messaging. "The public has been misled," Horowitz said. "What I hope is that one of the effects of our paper is that doctors communicate more honestly and openly with patients about what the drugs may or may not be doing." So what are these drugs doing? The simple answer is: We don't really know yet. "We have some understanding, but we need to learn more," Winsberg said. "We don't fully understand some of the ways in which they may be alleviating symptoms." Are antidepressants making people numb or stimulating new brain cells? One idea, which Winsberg backs, is that there might be some "downstream" effects of antidepressants, which is why they take several weeks to kick in. By changing the way that serotonin moves through the brain, it's possible SSRIs "may be stimulating the birth of new brain cells," she said. That, in turn, could have an impact on depression. Horowitz has another theory. In studies, roughly half of patients taking antidepressants like SSRIs report a numbing or dulling of their emotions while on the drugs. If antidepressants are changing the chemistry of our brains, thereby producing changes to our thoughts and emotions, maybe they are simply blunting emotional pain. "People become depressed because they get into difficulties in life," Horowitz said. Maybe SSRIs work by effectively interrupting those painful thoughts. Unfortunately, such numbing isn't confined to negative emotions. Antidepressant drugs can also alter patients' sex drives and increase suicidal thoughts, particularly among young people. It's still not well-understood why that happens. Should people stop taking SSRIs? "The antidepressants that we now have are the least safe" depression treatments, said psychologist Irving Kirsch, a lecturer at Harvard. Tetra Images/Getty Images Despite all the controversy about how SSRIs work and who they're for, even Horowitz believes they can still have their uses. "That numbing effect can be very relieving for people," he said. "If you are in complete strife, and everything's a panic, then being a bit numbed probably comes as great relief." The drugs also have short-term uses beyond treating depression, including easing hot flashes in some women going through perimenopause. But when it comes to depression, other treatment options have been shown to do a better job. The Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK said in a 2019 position paper that "the routine use of antidepressants" for mild depressive symptoms "is not generally recommended," and that more research is needed on the benefits and harms of long-term use. In the UK, federal evidence-based guidelines suggest eight different interventions for mild depression before SSRIs are used, including guided self-help, group exercise, and meditation. For more severe cases of depression, antidepressants are recommended in tandem with therapy. "The antidepressants that we now have are the least safe of all of these treatments," Kirsch said of SSRIs. "You get substantially greater relapse with antidepressants than you do with physical exercise, or even with placebo." However, no one should abruptly stop taking their antidepressant medication, as that comes with its own set of risks, Horowitz said. The one thing everyone can agree on: Patients should talk to a knowledgeable provider first before deciding to stop, start, or taper any treatment. For Horowitz, weaning off SSRIs has been 'an incredible gift' Horowitz hopes that in one or two years' time, he can wean off Lexapro completely. Daniel Jackont As Horowitz has slowly reduced his dose of Lexapro over time, he's still suffered some withdrawal side effects. Overall, though, it's been "an incredible gift" to draw down his dose "to the extent where I feel like I'm being given a second chance at life," he said. He expects that he may be able to come off the drug completely in a year or two. In the meantime, he's working full time again, something he couldn't do on larger doses, and he feels "a lot more energetic, a lot more able to think clearly." Even if SSRIs do fall out of favor, other drugs may soon take their place, targeting different brain chemicals. In August, a new, faster-acting antidepressant called Auvelity was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It's essentially repurposed cough syrup with the addition of bupropion, an antidepressant that affects levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Like ketamine, Auvelity acts on a glutamate theory of depression, instead of singling out serotonin. But Horowitz isn't sure that changing the mechanism behind a medication is as important as changing the societal conditions that lead to depression. "I'm not sure that putting faith in some chemical to make up for social ills that tend to make us depressed is ever really going to be a successful way forward," Horowitz said. "From what I can see, humans are mammals, and mammals have needs for community and purpose and safety. I think unless those things are being provided, there's no drug that can solve that problem." Read the original article on Insider Annette Gordon-Reeds most recent book, On Juneteenth, tells her own family history as she grew up in Conroe, Texas, and integrated its school district. A Black race expert who holds a Pulitzer Prize and has a new elementary school named in her honor took a trip to Montgomery, Texas, on Thursday to dedicate the institution. According to The Houston Chronicle, Gordon-Reed Elementary School bears the name of Annette Gordon-Reed, who integrated the Conroe Independent School District, 58 years ago. About 200 community members attended the official dedication event on the campus in Montgomery, approximately 55 miles outside of Houston, which featured the unveiling of a painting of Gordon-Reed to be displayed at the entryway. While she was pleased to be able to walk the halls of the school with husband Robert Reed, a judge on the New York State Supreme Court, at her side, Gordon-Reed, 63, wished her parents especially her mother could have been there. Gordon-Reed Elementary School in Montgomery, Texas, bears the name of Annette Gordon-Reed (above), who integrated the Conroe Independent School District 58 years ago. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Learning for Justice) This is really about the two of them. It is particularly about my mother, who put so much time and energy and faith into me, Gordon-Reed said in her remarks during the ceremony, The Chronicle reported. It is hard to imagine anybody working any harder, or believing in anybody more fiercely, than she did. The institutions doors first opened on August 10. With a maximum enrollment of 1,000 students, Gordon-Reed Elementary has approximately 600 youngsters in attendance right now, in kindergarten through sixth grade. Gordon-Reed received the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2009 for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family, which was praised for carefully casting a new light on the relationship between Sally Hemings and her master, Thomas Jefferson. She was the first Black woman to win in that category. Gordon-Reed is said to be one of the nations leading experts on racial issues, and her most recent book, On Juneteenth, marks the first time she has written about her own familys past. It describes life growing up in Conroe and how her family observed the former Jubilee Day, the countrys first commemoration of the abolition of slavery. Story continues She has come from being the first African American person in her school in Conroe, to Harvard, to Pulitzer Prize, its really coming full circle, said Trina Reed Robertson, Gordon-Reeds niece, who traveled from Austin for Thursdays event, according to The Chronicle. I think its wonderful that this is a tribute that she actually gets to enjoy. Something that we all get to enjoy with her. Gordon-Reeds family relocated to Conroe, Texas, when she was about six months old, where her mother worked as a teacher at the local Black school, Booker T. Washington. In 1964, Gordon-Reed attended Anderson Elementary School, where she became the institutions first Black student, leading to the integration of the entire Conroe school system. Unlike Ruby Bridges, Gordon-Reed did not have a police escort to school, but her family did receive threats when she integrated Anderson, prompting her father to drive her to school daily. There was a bus that I could have taken to school, but I think that was considered just a bit much you know, tempting fate, taking it too far, Gordon-Reed said, according to The Chronicle. So my father drove me to school and dropped me off. I went in as if this were the normal thing to do. Samantha Hunter-Gibbs, the White House Historical Associations director of K12 education, also showed up to offer her congratulations to Gordon-Reed. The association is presenting the school library with some childrens books about the White House in Gordon-Reeds honor. Mary Cue, an NAACP member and a career computer instructor at Stockton Junior High, plans to prepare a presentation about Gordon-Reed for her students that she will also share with the Stockton history department. Her objective in attending the dedication Thursday, though, was to obtain the prolific authors autograph on her 2008 book, The Hemingses of Monticello. Thats a historical landmark, Cue said of the new school, according to The Chronicle. You have a person that has graduated from the area, from the community, and shes a person of color, and our culture looks up to her. So now, we can tell all our children, no matter what your race is, this school was [named after] an alumni, and now shes graduated, and shes a big professor on the east coast. Montgomery is about a 30-minute drive west of Conroe. As part of a project by the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, a bust of Gordon-Reed was erected in Conroes Founders Plaza in 2019 to honor her contributions to the community. The most recent Census data shows that around 10% of the citys population is Black, The Chronicle reported. Celebrating this schools namesake for Conroes very own, Annette Gordon-Reed, symbolizes the many strides that our great community has made, said Datren Williams, the only Black member on Conroe ISDs Board of Trustees, noted The Chronicle. It has both an honor and privilege to have been a small part of this momentous dedication. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Pulitzer Prize-winning Black woman dedicates school named for her in district she integrated appeared first on TheGrio. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal visit the town of Borodianka in Ukraine's Kyiv region in April 2022. Ukrainian Governmental Press Service/Handout via REUTERS Ukraine applied to join NATO, but some members suggested it should wait until war with Russia ends. Lithuania's prime minister told Insider why she believes NATO-Ukraine negotiations should start immediately. She said Russian threats are not a reason to delay as Russia proved it doesn't need a reason to escalate. Negotiations for Ukraine to join NATO should begin immediately, Lithuania's prime minister told Insider. In an interview Thursday, Ingrida Simonyte said that the frequent argument for not doing so that Vladimir Putin might escalate his invasion in response did not stack up. Putin, she said, had already escalated the conflict repeatedly and did not need an excuse in the actions of his adversaries to do so again. This week nine of NATO's 30 members, including Lithuania, said they support Ukraine's eventual membership of the alliance. But NATO's largest members, including the US and other nuclear-armed states like the UK and France, held off signing. A frequent argument is that a move like this could worsen Russia's invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, holds Ukraines application for NATO membership in Kyiv on September 30, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File But, Simonyte argued, Russia had proven already that its escalations were not rational. "When we speak about Russia as an escalator in this situation, we must ask ourselves: Is there a need of a real pretext for Russia to escalate? My answer is no," she said. "I mean, this is a pretext that they most probably would use, but even without this pretext, it doesn't mean that the situation would be that much different." Doubts about letting Ukraine join Bulgaria's president said he did not join the nine-country declaration because he thought a decision on Ukrainian membership should only happen after the war with Russia ends. He noted the "risk of the direct involvement of NATO countries in the war." Once a country is a full NATO member, all the other members are obliged to respond to an attack on a member as it would to an attack on itself making a war on one member a war on all of them. Similarly, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that he thinks Ukraine's application "should be taken up at a different time." Story continues Ukrainian troops fire an M777 howitzer in the Kharkiv Region on July 28, 2022. Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Putin has previously raged at the prospect of NATO growing further, and cited that fear as a reason for invading in February. But Simonyte said that Russia was the one who forced countries like hers into NATO, creating the outcome it most feared. "They were lying all the way about NATO enlargement and saying 'it was you who were pushing NATO boundaries close to Russia.' No it was because of Russia that countries like mine wanted to join NATO." "It's not because NATO just came and said 'Hello, we want to be here.'" NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks with soldiers during the NATO exercise 'Cold Response' in Bardufoss, Norway on March 25, 2022. Annika Byrde/Getty Images A 'moral debt' to Ukraine How Ukraine would fare in an application is unclear all 30 existing members have to agree on letting a country join, and the process can take years even for countries who are not actively at war. Simonyte said that the decision not to accept Ukraine earlier helped create the current war. NATO's assurances may have deterred Russia had Ukraine been a member, she said. Irina Kuzkova, 83, stands in her flat at damaged building after latest Russian rocket attack in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday, September 12, 2022. AP Photo/Andrii Marienko Ukraine tried to join NATO in 2008, but Russia responded angrily and the process ground to a halt. Simonyte said she thought this was a "great mistake" that helped encourage Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, its long war in the Donbas region, and the full-scale war of 2022. She said that NATO owes "a sort of a moral debt" because of such missteps that demands a fuller response than giving the current military aid and training. NATO had previously said that Ukraine needed other reforms to be considered for membership including a much stronger response to corruption. Simonyte said she believed starting negotiations would create a "very strong incentive" for any needed reform, saying it worked in her own country, which joined in 2004. "What I know from my country's experience is that when you have a very clear goal, it is a very big motivation for a country to change." "What Ukraine has demonstrated is that they are actually capable, very strong and, and very committed to the values that we share as our sort of basis for our coexistence. So why should we deny them a possibility to be part of the club?" "There is no reason." Read the original article on Business Insider FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 10:29 Vladimir Putin no longer consults with ministers about the consequences of his decisions and does not inform them about his plans; there has been no respect for the President for several years now - only fear". Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet, citing a source close to the Kremlin and the government of the Russian Federation Quote from source close to the government: "Until recently, the deputy prime ministers and ministers worked for the President, at least serving as a tool like Google. [Putin] voiced to them the scenarios that he considered to be likely and asked: And if we do this, what consequences should we expect? And if so, what will happen then? Now that's gone." Details: A source close to the government claimed: "There is a lot of fear of him. But this is fear without respect. There has been no respect (for Putin ed.) for a couple of years". Two more sources close to the government and one source close to the Kremlin reported such sentiments among the Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, the attitude towards the Russian President has deteriorated sharply after the retirement age was raised in 2018. The sources stated that the President gradually stopped informing ministers about his plans for the near or distant future. He makes all key decisions after a short conversation with his "inner circle". According to Meduza, some reports state that the latter consists of the heads of special services and law enforcement agencies. For several years now, "everything has been falling on my head without warning", added one of the sources. The high-ranking source stated that Putin can unexpectedly announce new policies, which is followed by a "feverish search" for money to implement his plans. Only a few years ago, Putin took the opposite approach: first he listened to proposals from departments, then he chose what, in his opinion, was the best option. Story continues Ministers do not dare to argue with him even about the most "unexpected" decisions, due to fear: "When Ulyukayev was arrested, we all understood everything". Reference: In September, the Moscow court placed Alexei Ulyukayev, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, under house arrest until mid-January on accusations of having accepted a bribe. His lawyer stated that the Minister does not admit guilt and considers the arrest to have been a provocation. Details: Sources close to the government added that Putin's fear and reluctance to hear from subordinates about problems is leading officials to seriously embellish the reality in their reports to the President, including not reporting the effects of sanctions on the economy. Quote from source close to the Kremlin: "Every 48 hours, some shit happens, nobody really understands anything. Everything comes down on those responsible for performing the tasks at the last moment. He does not know how to lose. What is more, he cannot admit that he is losing." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian dictator Putin turning 70 on Oct. 7 Tweeting on the occasion of Putins 70th birthday, Linkevicius said Russia needs to reject nuclear suicide, inevitably transform the Kremlin, acknowledge the craziness of (Putins) geopolitical adventure, withdraw from Ukraine, and try to restore ties with the world. To survive for now. With Putin turning 70 years old on Oct. 7, in Russia it was decided not to hold any lavish celebrations in honor of the dictator in light of the Russian armys military failures in Ukraine. It has been claimed that Putin personally commands Russias invasion force. Read also: UK floats war crimes tribunal for Russian leaders and soldiers Russia has several time now held celebrations on various occasions that coincided with heavy Russian losses on the battlefields in Ukraine. One such occasion was on Sept. 10, when Putin opened a large observation wheel in Moscow as the Russian army treated in panic and disarray from large parts of Kharkiv Oblast. Then on Sept. 30, as Russians celebrated on Moscows Red Square the claimed annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories, the Ukrainian army was surrounding the Russian invasion forces in the key Donetsk Oblast town of Lyman. Ukrainian forces went on the liberate the town, with the Russian army retreating and taking heavy casualties. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters Hot on the heels of embarrassing reports of Russian recruits fighting each other and Moscow loyalists calling for Kremlin ministers to kill themselves, it seems the rage against Vladimir Putins handling of his invasion of Ukraine is now openly being conveyed to the man himself by members of his own inner circle. A report Fridaywhich is Putins 70th birthdaysaid that one of the despots closest allies had openly challenged the disastrous way the war was being conducted. The landmark challenge was even significant enough to be included in U.S. President Joe Bidens daily intelligence briefing, according to anonymous officials cited by the Washington Post. Although the individual who voiced the dissent was not identified, their discontent was said to center around mistakes being made by those directing the special military operation in Ukraine. Russians Terrified by Putins Bunker Mentality as He Turns 70 With His Finger on the Nuclear Button Since the start of the occupation we have witnessed growing alarm from a number of Putins inner circle, a Western intelligence official told the Post. Our assessments suggest they are particularly exercised by recent Russian losses, misguided direction and extensive military shortcomings. Analysts of the war dont have to look far to find examples of such shortcomings, with embarrassing battlefield blunders clocking up at a rate as alarming as the number of Russians currently seeking to dodge Putins draft by fleeing the country. As well as the embarrassing leak from U.S. officials, British intelligence also gave Putin an unwelcome birthday surprise with a mind-blowing report on the staggering number of captured Russian tanks and armored vehicles currently being used by Ukraine. Repurposed captured Russian equipment now makes up a large proportion of Ukraines military hardware, the report from the U.K.s defense ministry said. Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian Main Battle Tanks, and around 650 other armored vehicles since the invasion. Over half of Ukraines currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles. Story continues The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline, the report added. The Kremlins latest ignominies come after a series of crushing military setbacks in Ukraine, which has seen Moscows forces kicked out of key areas in territory that Putin is claiming to formally control after signing treaties to annex huge swathes of Ukraine into the Russian Federation. Having plunged his nation into chaos and sparking fears about nuclear weapon use the world over, Putin is said to be working on his birthday this year where he would have once spent the day with an old comrade fishing in Siberia. Its probably just as well, as youd be hard pressed to find many up for a hearty rendition of For Hes a Jolly Good Fellow. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Russian President Vladimir Putin Contributor/Getty Images Putin faces the "most precarious moment" of his time in power, Angela Stent told Insider. Stent, a top Russia expert, said Putin's grip on power has slipped because of Russia's mounting failures in Ukraine. The Russian army appears "incompetent," Stent said, and the situation "looks bad" for Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled over his country with an iron fist for more than two decades, brutally cracking down on dissent while cementing his control over the levers of power in Russia. Those who've opposed the Russian leader have often landed behind bars or wound up dead. But Russia's mounting failures in Ukraine have presented novel challenges to Putin's authority. Angela Stent, a top Russia expert who served in the Office of Policy Planning at the State Department from 1999 to 2001 and as a national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council from 2004 to 2006, told Insider that "his grip on power is clearly not as strong as it was on February 23," the day before Putin launched Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The war hasn't gone Putin's way. The Pentagon said in August that Russian casualties could be as high as 80,000, and that number has likely risen in recent months. In an effort to address Russia's manpower problems, Putin recently announced a partial military mobilization, as well as various stop-loss measures, but things are not going well. There's been local resistance to the draft, and tens of thousands of Russians have fled the country. Putin also announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions last week, despite the fact that Russia does not fully control or occupy these regions. In the time since, Ukrainian forces have recaptured territory in these areas. Recent reporting suggests that even members of Putin's inner circle have begun to openly criticize the botched invasion, an action that can be dangerous and even deadly. The Russian army appears "incompetent," Stent said, and the situation "looks bad" for Putin. "This is definitely the most precarious moment" in Putin's 22 years in power, she said, adding that what is happening is entirely "self-inflicted." Story continues "He didn't have to go in and invade Ukraine in February, but obviously he made the decision that this was the right time to do it," Stent, now a Georgetown professor and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said. Even though the war hasn't gone as planned for the Russian leader, that does not necessarily mean Putin's downfall is imminent. "He still projects the image of someone who's self-confident," Stent said, pointing to Putin's "fiery" speech on the annexations. And there hasn't been a mass public uprising against Putin, showing how effective his efforts to quash dissent have been. Putin's most prominent critic, Alexey Navalny, is imprisoned on charges widely decried as politically motivated. Protesting the war could mean prison time for some Russians, and Putin signed a vague law criminalizing spreading so-called "fake news" about the military shortly after the invasion began. "The problem is Putin has created the system with increasing repression," Stent said, "It's a huge disincentive to protest." "There's no one single individual or even small group of individuals who would mobilize people," she added, "In Russia if you want to have change, it has to happen in Moscow and probably St. Petersburg, and you just haven't seen the willingness to galvanize people." Stent also said that the recent decision by the OPEC+ alliance to significantly cut oil production at a time when Russia's war in Ukraine is causing an energy crisis seems to point to Putin's ongoing geopolitical influence. The Saudis and other members of the coalition are essentially "supporting Putin's war effort," Stent said. "Even though his situation doesn't look good, there a large number of countries all around the world that still support Russia." But there are also signs that countries like India and China, which tend to side with Moscow on the global stage but haven't taken an overtly supportive stance with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are "wary" about what Putin is doing, Stent said. Last month, Putin acknowledged that both countries have concerns about the war in Ukraine as he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a summit in Uzbekistan. Modi criticized the conflict directly to Putin's face, stating, "Today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this." Putin's repeated nuclear threats since the war began likely "mitigates" the possibility of such countries offering full-throated support for Russia's war in Ukraine, Stent said. 'The nuclear threats are not helping Putin' A Russian nuclear missile rolls along Red Square during the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of Nazi defeat, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images With Russia struggling in Ukraine and Putin facing perhaps the worst predicament of his time in power, many leaders, officials, Russia watchers, and military experts in Ukraine and in the West have expressed concerns that the Russian leader might resort to the use of nuclear weapons. In late September, national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the US has privately communicated to Russia that there would be "catastrophic consequences" if nuclear weapons are used. A number of analysts have suggested that Putin's nuclear threats are largely a bluff designed to intimidate the West and push it away from continuing support for Kyiv. The US has provided Ukraine with billions in security aid, including weapons that have played a key role on the battlefield. If this is Putin's goal, it's not working, Stent said, adding that "the nuclear threats are not helping Putin vis-a-vis the West." Putin's nuclear rhetoric should be taken "seriously," she said, but that there has been "exaggeration of the imminent threat." "I don't think anybody thinks that the use of a tactical nuclear weapon is something that's going to happen soon," Stent said, emphasizing that Putin wants to wait and see if the mobilization works before taking escalatory steps beyond attacks on infrastructure such as power plants and dams. But that doesn't mean Putin's nuclear threats can be entirely dismissed. "Putin said he wasn't bluffing, and some of our political leaders have said we have to have to take this seriously," Stent said. "That's why the administration is clearly communicating with the Kremlin telling them that if they were to do something like that, there would be very serious consequences." Read the original article on Business Insider Whos to blame for Russias failures in Ukraine? After weeks of battlefield setbacks, criticism of Moscows military leadership has burst into the open heightening the sense of domestic discontent and posing a rare challenge to the Kremlin. A growing chorus of voices across state media has expressed dismay at the wars lack of progress in recent days, while nationalist figures have raised the pressure in the wake of breakthroughs by Kyivs forces in the south and east. The search for a scapegoat appears to have settled on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a close associate of the man who unilaterally launched the invasion: Russian President Vladimir Putin. No one has yet dared to point the finger at Putin himself, but there have been growing stabs at his defense ministry and the longtime ally who heads it, putting pressure on the Russian leader to make a decisive change before it is too late to turn things around on the battlefield. Shoigus job now is to be Putins bulletproof vest, Mark Galeotti, who heads the Russia-focused consultancy Mayak Intelligence, told NBC News. At the moment, his main value is exactly that he soaks up the criticism, which otherwise would inevitably be heading Putins way. Addressing Russias retreat in the crucial southern region of Kherson on Thursday, a deputy head of the Russian-installed regional administration, in an astonishing public tirade, scorned Moscows talentless military leaders. Many people say that if they were the minister of defense, who allowed things to reach this state of affairs, they would shoot themselves, Kirill Stremousov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app, without mentioning Shoigu by name. One of Russias chief propagandists, Vladimir Solovyev who has been staunchly pro-war but has recently acknowledged Russias military struggles and warned his audience not to expect good news for a while also unleashed fury at Shoigu on Thursday, without directly naming him. Story continues He suggested a transfer to another job could be one way to remedy the defense ministrys failures. Appointed defense minister in 2012, Shoigu, 67, had served as the minister of emergency situations, often dispatched to deal with natural disasters and security emergencies, earning him public approval. While not a career soldier, he is one of Putins closest allies and has a reputation as the Russian leaders loyal adjutant. He has often been pictured alongside the Russian president on hunting and fishing trips to Siberia, showcasing the closeness of their friendship. But he has kept a low profile since Putin invaded Ukraine, largely staying out of the public eye and prompting rumors of a fallout between the two. Russia President Vladimir Putin Meets Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at Kremlin in Moscow (Mikhail Klimentyev / Sputnik via AP file) As Russian forces plunge farther into retreat in Ukraine, Shoigus leadership and ministry are being increasingly criticized for downplaying the situation on the front lines. Its time to stop lying, the chair of the Russian parliaments defense committee, Andrey Kartapolov, said this week, accusing the ministry of covering up bad news from Ukraine. The ministry has also been in the crosshairs for how it has handled Putins partial mobilization, with widespread reports that those who are not fit for service are being called up and newly enlisted soldiers are facing inadequate conditions, training and equipment. Still, such stinging public rebukes of the countrys leadership are extremely rare in Putins Russia, where any dissent, especially against those aligned with the Kremlin, is prohibited. There are signs that at least some of the criticism may boil down to tensions within Russias ruling elite. Image: TOPSHOT-UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR (Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP - Getty Images) Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a strong proponent of the war who has been egging Putin on to escalate, openly accused Russias top military brass of covering up for a general who he said allowed Kyiv to retake a key city in eastern Ukraine last week. Kadyrovs comments were backed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group of mercenaries who is known as Putins chef for his close ties with the Kremlin and who recently emerged as a public face of the war after years of denying his role with the group. Prigozhin disparagingly suggested sending all these thugs with machine guns barefoot to the front, in an apparent reference to the countrys senior military leaders. Both men manage military groups in Ukraine, and their criticism could be aimed at undermining a defense minister who analysts said they each had tensions with. As the battle progressed, signs of internecine conflict became more evident over time, said Munira Mustaffa, a nonresident fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. The ensuing PR storm has resulted in some noteworthy revelations on the poor management of Russias declared mobilization and the fact that its troops lack supplies and leadership, she said. Pro-military bloggers and social media channels connected to Wagner have amplified those revelations. It all leaves Putin in an uncomfortable position during a critical moment in the war. Igor Girkin, a nationalist and former officer with the Federal Security Bureau who helped launch the 2014 war in Ukraines east, predicted Wednesday that Shoigu was on his way out, saying the defense ministry and its leader have made an invaluable and huge contribution to the fact that we are now on the verge of a military-political catastrophe. But the public criticism doesnt necessarily mean Putin has settled on a fall guy. Putins problem is that he can replace Shoigu and place the blame on him for all the past defeats, and appoint a new defense minister, Galeiotti, the intelligence consultant, said. But the point is, its not going to turn the war around. How does he explain the next defeats? If he does that, he will be getting rid of someone who has at least been loyal. But again, its a card you can only play once. Maybe for a moment, itll be able to sort of distract and dissuade people from criticizing him in the war effort. But how long will it last? Other observers agreed that the situation may not be so clear-cut. Propagandists are allowed to give a little criticism and thereby let off steam a little, but criticism tends to get out of control and the most inexperienced read the signal incorrectly, said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. What does seem clear is that, for now at least, Putin himself is avoiding blame. In such a verticalized system, no one will dare to criticize Putin, Kolesnikov said. All this is done in order to show: The czar is good, the boyars are bad, Kolesnikov added, referring to the high-ranking noblemen that surrounded Russias czars. Putin, who turned 70 on Friday, may have hoped to be drawing from a different aspect of Russias imperial past as he celebrates his birthday more than seven months into the war. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com How long does a voter have to cast a ballot at a polling place in Arkansas? And how long will it take to read the question asking voters if they want to legalize recreational marijuana? Some may wait to find out Tuesday, Nov. 8. The state law gives a voter 10 minutes to cast a ballot. If a voter takes too long, a trip to the back of the line is possible with another ballot. The voting machines time out at five minutes, she said. Should lines get too long, volunteer polling place workers will ask someone to try to step it up, said Meghan Hassler, Sebastian County's election coordinator. She said sample ballots are at all polling places. Hassler did not have a prediction as to how heavy voter turnout will be Nov. 8. But it might be a good idea to read the sample ballot before stepping up to vote. Voters will decide recreational marijuana, and heavier than usual voter turnout is expected. There are races for U.S. Senate, Congress, Arkansas senate and house seats and Fort Smith Board of Directors races for three positions on the ballots for Sebastian County voters. Madeline Marquette, chair of the Sebastian County Democratic Women and the secretary for the Sebastian County Democratic party, has helped register voters this year. "We think the trend is that there are more people interested in voting. We have also had several events at UAFS (University of Arkansas - Fort Smith) with several registration events so that has been good. She said she thinks voter turnout will be heavier Nov. 8 and the number of people voting for Democrats will be up. "I think we will have a higher turnout for Democrats this year. Part of it is because of Roe v. Wade, but there are other reasons too people are coming out who are brave enough to say they are Democrats," Marquette said. Sebastian County is a Republican stronghold, she said. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the heavy favorite as the next governor over Democrat Chris Jones. "We are very hopeful for Chris Jones," Marquette said. Story continues The recreational marijuana question is titled as Issue 4. There are three other questions on the ballots. Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the general assembly to convene in "extraordinary session." Issue 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment to "ballot initiative reform," that would require 60% voter approval on certain measures. Issue 3 is titled "The Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment" to "provide that government may never burden a person's freedom of religion except in the rare circumstance that the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling government interest." Issue 4, the recreational marijuana question, states that although recreational marijuana is still federally illegal, it could be legal for those 21 and older if approved in Arkansas. Licensed dispensaries could legally sell recreational marijuana on March 8, 2023, should the voters approve. Child-proof packaging would be required. The Alcohol Beverage Control Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration would enforce laws at dispensaries. A 10% state sales tax would go toward a state stipend for certified law enforcement officers, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and drug court programs authorized by the Arkansas Drug Court, according to the ballot. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: What will voters find on the Nov. 8 ballots in Arkansas? BERLIN (AP) Officials in Europe and the U.S. praised the awarding of this year's Nobel Peace Prize to activists standing up for human rights and democracy in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine while authorities in Belarus scorned the move. Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year has pushed Moscow's relationship with its Western neighbors to a new low. Even before that, ties had been fraught over President Vladimir Putin's backing for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, his support for authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian leader Bashar Assad, and his repression of political opponents, such as dissident Alexei Navalny at home. I hope the Russian authorities read the justification for the peace prize and take it to heart, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said after the Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian rights group Memorial and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, which is focusing on documenting war crimes. It sends a signal that keeping civil society down is protecting ones own power. It is seen from the outside and it is criticized," he said. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the world leaders who quickly hailed the laureates, tweeting that their prize pays homage to unwavering defenders of human rights in Europe. Artisans of peace, they know they can count on Frances support, the French leader said. U.S. President Joe Biden said the winners remind us that, even in dark days of war, in the face of intimidation and oppression, the common human desire for rights and dignity cannot be extinguished. The brave souls who do this work have pursued the truth and documented for the world the political repression of their fellow citizens speaking out, standing up, and staying the course while being threatened by those who seek their silence, Biden said in a statement. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg congratulated the winners, tweeting that the right to speak truth to power is fundamental to free and open societies. Story continues Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said the award needs to be seen against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. There is war in Europe. Your work for peace and human rights is therefore more important than ever before," he said to the winners. "Thank you for that. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the three groups fully deserved the awards. The bravery, passion and clarity with which (they) are fighting for freedom and justice deserves the highest respect, he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union leaders in Prague. In Paris, exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press that the award was recognition of all the people who are sacrificing their freedom and lives for the sake of (Belarus)." Over the last two years, the government of Belarus has waged a violent crackdown on journalists and protesters who say that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, beating thousands, detaining tens of thousands and charging rights defenders with cases that the opposition calls politically motivated. Many have fled the country for their own safety. "Physically, you know, this prize will not influence their situation but I am sure it (will) influence the moods and intentions of other countries to help those people who are behind bars, Tsikhanouskaya said. Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarusian journalist and writer who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature, called Bialiatski a legendary figure. What Viasna, founded by him, has done and is doing in the current circumstances, is in his spirit, in his philosophy, Alexievich told reporters Friday. She added that Bialiatski is seriously ill and needs medical treatment, but is unlikely to be freed from behind bars. Belarus Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, denounced the Nobel committee's decision to award the prize to Bialiatski as politicized. Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said in recent years, a number of important decisions and were talking about the peace prize of the Nobel committee have been so politicized, that, Im sorry, Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave. Olav Njlstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, dismissed the criticism. "Im quite sure we understand Alfred Nobels will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk," he said. Meanwhile, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also took issue with the award, saying the Nobel Committee has an interesting understanding of (the) word peace if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive (the prize) together." Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war, Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. This years Nobel is awesome.'" But Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian lawyer who heads the Center for Civil Liberties, said the award was for the groups, not the countries they were based in. In an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel, she said her co-laureates had spoken out clearly against Russia's hostility toward Ukraine since 2014. They always called things by their name," she said. That's why Ales Bialiatski is in prison now and Memorial is banned. It's not about the countries, but about the people who are jointly standing up to evil, she said. ___ Follow all AP stories about the Nobel Prizes at https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes Fintor, a fintech startup making it easier for non-accredited investors to invest in real estate properties, has just launched its mobile app for both iOS and Android. It also just raised a $6.2 million extension funding round from its existing investors, including Public.com, Hustle Fund, 500 Global, VU Ventures, Graphene Ventures and angel investors such as Manny Khoshbin, Andy Madadian, Cindy Bi and Marcus Ridgway. This latest round values Fintor at $80 million, founder and CEO Farshad Yousefi exclusively told TechCrunch. With the fresh funding, Fintor says it has now raised a total of $9 million from investors. The Palo Alto, California-based company is qualified under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation A to offer investors fractional shares in properties it owns. It does this by issuing shares of LLCs that own the underlying properties, Yousefi explained in an interview. Yousefi started the company in early 2021 with his co-founder Masoud Jalali to address a growing demand they had noticed among Gen Z and millennials to invest in real estate, an asset class that has often been inaccessible to everyday investors who cannot always afford to purchase properties whole. Fintor enables its customers to invest in properties with as little as $5, according to Yousefi. The platform currently offers shares in single-family residences in states such as Georgia, South Carolina, Texas and Alabama, and Yousefi said it plans to enter 20 different markets by the end of 2022. Eventually, Yousefi said, he hopes to build Fintor into an all-encompassing real estate platform by offering multifamily, industrial and other types of properties to investors. It's a competitive market, with startups including Landa, Nada and Arrived Homes, all of which have been covered in TechCrunch before, seeking to democratize access to real estate investing. Yousefi highlighted a few different aspects of Fintor that help it stand out. Story continues First, unlike many other real estate investment platforms, Fintor operates a secondary marketplace where individuals can place bid and ask trades on properties after the properties have been listed on the platform for more than 90 days, Yousefi said. The second differentiator Yousefi highlighted is Fintor's focus on content promoting real estate literacy, which is specifically targeted to the Gen Zs and millennials who comprise Fintor's target customer base. The app provides walkthroughs and educational modules that teach users how to analyze real estate deals, Yousefi said. Fintor aims to stay operationally lightweight, Yousefi said. The company outsources its property management function to an external provider rather than trying to do that in-house, he explained. By outsourcing property management, Fintor is able to focus solely on its core mission of making acquisitions with strong returns and fractionalizing those assets to investors. Yousefi added that he is not concerned about having competitors because of the newness of the niche. He said that other companies are helping Fintor with the broader mission of educating people on what fractionalized investing actually is and spreading the word that it's available for real estate properties. "I don't view Arrived Homes or Landa as competitors. Rather, I view the stock market and the crypto market as competitors," Yousefi said. Berit Reiss-Andersen, head of the Nobel Committee, announces the winner of this year's Peace Prize (AP) A trio of Eastern European human rights campaigners from three neighbouring countries have been awarded this years Nobel Peace Prize. Ales Bialiatski - a human rights advocate from Belarus - took the award along with Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organisation the Centre for Civil Liberties, it was announced in Oslo on Friday. The award can be seen as a rebuke to the rulers of Russia and Belarus as the three are linked to fighting political repression in their own countries, as well as the war in Ukraine. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praised all the winners for the importance of the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. The recipients were also praised for their efforts to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power. She added that Nobel committee wanted to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Through their consistent efforts in favour of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this years laureates have revitalised and honoured Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today. Mr Bialyatski is currently in prison, having been arrested last year for tax evasion by Belarussian authorities, charges which are politically motivated claim critics. He faces seven years in jail if convicted. BREAKING NEWS: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2022 #NobelPeacePrize to human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties. #NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/9YBdkJpDLU The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2022 Belarusian opposition politician Pavel Latushko said the award of the Nobel was one for all political prisoners in the country Its not only for him but for all political prisoners which we have now in Belarus, Latushko said. It motivates all of us to struggle and we are sure we will win with the dictatorship of Lukashenko. The country has been in political turmoil since August 2020 when Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, was said to have won the presidential election with 80 per cent of the vote, despite widespread opposition, and international observers claiming the elections were neither free nor fair. (Bloomberg) -- Nigeria unveiled a record spending plan that hinges on a massive increase in oil output and the fastest growth Africas largest economy has seen in almost a decade, targets that analysts said are too upbeat. Most Read from Bloomberg The plan unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari to revive an economy that has struggled to recover since it exited recession two years ago projects expenditure will increase by 18% next year to 20.5 trillion naira ($47 billion). The spending plan will drive economic growth, with a 3.75% expansion in gross domestic product forecast for 2023, Buhari said in his budget presentation to lawmakers on Friday. Other Targets Administration expects to raise 16.87 trillion naira in revenue, 1.9 trillion naira of which will be generated from crude sales and taxes Budget assumes an oil price of $70 a barrel and an exchange rate of 435.57 naira Country will pump an average of 1.69 million barrels a day oil, which would represent a nearly 50% increase from Septembers production. figures Budget deficit is forecast at 10.78 trillion naira or 4.78% of GDP, exceeding a legal threshold of 3% stipulated in Nigerias fiscal responsibility law To plug the funding gap, the government plans to borrow as much as 8.8 trillion naira from domestic and foreign lenders. Thats 76% more than the 5 trillion naira approved for this year. Very Optimistic The 2023 budget estimates are very optimistic considering the current economic and security challenges the country is facing, Ikemesit Effiong, head of research at SBM Intelligence said. Africas top oil producer, alongside Angola, has seen production decline steadily since 2020, reaching multi-decade lows this year. The government has blamed massive levels of theft on the pipelines that crisscross the oil-rich Niger Delta in southern Nigeria. Story continues The government usually falls short of its growth, revenue and deficit targets because of the underperformance of its oil industry. Revenue shortfalls remain the greatest threat to Nigerias fiscal viability, the president said. To achieve the economic growth estimate would require the commencement of local refining of petroleum products and substantial recovery in oil production, alongside sustained expansion in the non-oil sector, Ibukunoluwa Omoyeni, an economist at Vetiva Capital Management said. Buharis budget is also likely to be supplemented by the incoming administration of the candidate that wins Februarys presidential elections to replace him. Fuel Subsidies Gasoline subsidies that Buhari said will be removed next year may also negatively impact the budget if retained by the new administration. The government spent 1.59 trillion naira on fuel subsidies in the six months through June this year. Its current fiscal impact has clearly shown that the policy is unsustainable, Buhari said. Read: Nigeria Projects Dire Fiscal Situation Without Subsidy Removal The countrys budget office in August projected that the fiscal deficit could rise to as much as 12.4 trillion naira in 2023, nearly three times total revenue, or 5.5% of GDP, if the government continues to subsidize fuel. Subsidy payments are expected to cost 6.72 trillion naira next year, it said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Hunter Biden. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images After a four-year probe, federal agents investigating President Biden's son Hunter believe they have gathered enough evidence to charge him with tax crimes and making a false statement related to a gun purchase, people familiar with the case told The Washington Post. U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss, a Trump appointee, will now have to decide whether or not to charge Hunter Biden, the people said. The investigation began with agents looking into Biden's finances in relation to his consulting work overseas, and over time began focusing on whether he reported all of his income and lied about his drug use on gun purchase paperwork in 2018, people familiar with the matter told the Post. In a statement to the Post, Hunter Biden's lawyer, Chris Clark, said it is "a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a grand jury investigation such as this one. Any agent you cite as a source in your article apparently has committed such a felony. We expect the Department of Justice will diligently investigate and prosecute such bad actors." Clark also said Biden's legal team believes "the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense." Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have long questioned Hunter Biden's business ventures, particularly those overseas, and Trump's first impeachment was tied to his July 2019 phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he pressured him to investigate both Joe and Hunter Biden. You may also like Survey reveals less than half of Americans plan to get flu shot this season Russian war reporters warn Ukraine is threatening thin, fragile defensive lines in southern Kherson Lizzo invited for an encore flute performance at James Madison's home Chen Zhu, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, delivers a keynote speech at the 8th Group of 20 (G20) Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 6, 2022. Chen led a delegation to the summit held here till Friday. (Xinhua) JAKARTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chen Zhu, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, led a delegation to the 8th Group of 20 (G20) Parliamentary Speakers' Summit held here till Friday and delivered a keynote speech. Chen said that exchanges and deeper cooperation among legislative bodies are of positive significance for the G20 to play its role. Parliaments of the countries should uphold multilateralism and safeguard international equity and justice, adhere to openness and inclusiveness to jointly promote sustainable development of the world economy, and pursue green and low-carbon development to promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Chen said. During the summit, Chen also met with Indonesia's House of Representatives' Speaker Puan Maharani, Saqr Ghubash, speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, Suriname's National Assembly Chairman Marinus Bee and President of Inter-Parliamentary Union Duarte Pacheco. Chen Zhu (L), vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Saqr Ghubash, speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Chen Zhu (3rd R), vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Suriname's National Assembly Chairman Marinus Bee (2nd L) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Chen Zhu (2nd L), vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Indonesia's House of Representatives' Speaker Puan Maharani (2nd R) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Chen Zhu (L), vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) A spokesman for Libyas Red Crescent said Friday that at least 15 bodies were recovered after a migrant shipwreck off the country's western coast. Tawfik Al Shukri said local authorities had informed the aid group of bodies on the shore. He said they were retrieved and transported to a hospital, where the remains would be examined to determine the cause of death. Migrants regularly try to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in a desperate attempt to reach European shores. In a video circulated online, the burned hull of the wrecked boat is seen lodged on coastal rocks with bodies strewn on it and nearby. The cause of the deaths was not immediately clear, nor was it apparent when the fire was startedl. The shipwreck took place off the western Libyan city of Sabratha, a major launching point for the mainly African migrants making the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in war-torn Libya, smuggling in migrants across the desert countrys lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are then typically packed into ill-equipped rubber boats and set off on risky sea voyages. There were reports the boat had been the scene of a mass shooting. A local Libyan NGO, which focuses on migrant issues and calls itself the International Organization for Cooperation and Emergency Aid, said in a statement that the 15 dead had been killed by human smugglers who shot them and then set fire to the vessel. The International Organization for Migration said in June that at least 150 migrants departing from Libya died in the first sixth months of 2022. An additional 565 were missing. Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East amid internal strife. Torn by civil war since 2011, the oil-rich country is divided between rival governments, each backed by international patrons and multiple armed militias on the ground. Many of those who have been intercepted and returned to Libya including women and children are held in government-run detention centers where they suffer from abuse, including torture, rape and extortion, according to rights groups. FIRST ON FOX: Several Republican House lawmakers sent a letter to Biden Cabinet Secretaries Antony Blinken and Merrick Garland demanding answers on a reported Chinese police presence in New York City. Republican Study Committee chairman Jim Banks of Indiana alongside Reps. Michael Waltz of Florida and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin led the letter to Garland and Blinken demanding answers on why Chinas Fuzhou police were reportedly able to open a U.S.-based police arm. "The Department of Justice and State Department must explain why the Biden administration has allowed CCP police to set up an office on U.S. soil," Banks told Fox News Digital in a statement. CHINA HAS OPENED OVERSEAS POLICE STATIONS IN US AND CANADA TO MONITOR CHINESE CITIZENS: REPORT Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., alongside fellow Republican Reps. Michael Waltz of Florida and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, led a letter with 18 fellow GOP House members probing Secretaries Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken about the reported Chinese police presence in New York City. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images "When Republicans take back the House, we will hold the Biden administration accountable for their continued efforts to aid and abet the Chinese Communist Party," he added. Waltz told Fox News Digital it is "mind-boggling that we are allowing Chinas Fuzhou police to operate on American soil." "The Chinese Communist Party uses these stations to go after political dissidents abroad, while also endangering the national security of the United States," Waltz said in a statement. "We must protect the American people and Chinese freedom activists from the CCPs gross abuse of the American justice system," he added. Gallagher warned in a statement that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) "has used Fuzhou overseas police service stations to push propaganda and spy on Chinese citizens abroad." "The presence of one of these stations in New York City not only raises serious human rights concerns, but also raises concerns about whether the United States is allowing a hostile foreign adversary to conduct its own law enforcement activities within our borders," the Wisconsin Republican continued. Waltz told Fox News Digital it is "mind-boggling that we are allowing Chinas Fuzhou police to operate on American soil." Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images "The State Department must divulge the extent of their knowledge of this station, its actions against American-Chinese citizens and communities, and the threat it may pose to our national security," he added. Story continues In the letter exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, the lawmakers wrote of their "grave concern over reports of the law enforcement presence" from China in New York City, noting the "Public Security (Police) Bureau of Fuzhou, China, announced in January 2022 that it has opened the first batch of 30 overseas police service stations in 25 cities in 21 countries," with the U.S. branch hosted at the American ChangLe Association, a Chinese overseas hometown association founded in 1998 that "shoulders the mission of uniting the villagers, fighting for their legitimate rights and interests, promoting the prosperity and stability of the overseas Chinese settlements, and acting as a bridge for the villagers to get rich through hard work," according to its website. "According to a recent report by Safeguard Defenders , a human rights NGO based in Spain, overseas Chinese hometown associations have become overwhelmingly co-opted by the Chinese Communist Partys United Front organizations which seek increasing control over the Chinese diaspora (despite providing some genuine services to local Chinese communities)," the lawmakers wrote. "The report indicates that at least some of those Chinese hometown associations hosting the overseas police service stations are linked to the CCPs United Front," they continued. "It is deeply troubling that the Chinese government could use these service stations as its long arm policing abroad." The Republicans pointed to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commissions 2018 report detailing how the "CCPs United Front Work Department has worked to suppress the free speech rights of U.S. persons protesting against" them. They also warned about Beijings coercion and bullying activities to push the CCPs narrative that sometimes verges into illegal actions. "According to Peter Mattis, a research fellow at Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, CCP intimidation and efforts to promote Beijings narrative sometimes crosses the line into criminal actions, such as conspiracy against rights," the Republicans wrote. "The U.S. Department of State has similarly found that the CCPs United Front Work Department funds and supports overseas organizations to spread propaganda and coerces and bullies those who would oppose Beijings policies. In 2018, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials and individuals active in United Front Work Departments nefarious activities." Banks and his fellow Republicans warned that "Fuzhou overseas police service stations (including their online form) are reportedly involved in fulfilling Chinese law enforcement functions at least in some countries" and "coerce purported Chinese fugitives abroad to return to China to face legal proceedings, which is euphemistically dubbed as persuading to return in Chinese parlance." "There should be no room for the Chinese government to exercise extraterritorial law enforcement unilaterally on U.S. soil," the lawmakers wrote. "In 2018 the U.S. government provided the Chinese government with specific requirements for contacting state and local law enforcement in the United States." "In 2020 the Chinese governments campaign illegally targeting U.S. residents to force their return to China had become so severe that the FBI issued an internal memorandum on this issue. The Chinese overseas police service station established in New York City earlier this year appears to be a further step of Chinas illicit long arm policing on U.S. soil that violates our sovereignty." The Republicans concluded their letter with several questions to Austin and Blinken, including whether "the Department of State, Department of Justice, or any other agency of the federal government invite or approve Chinas Fuzhou police to establish a presence in New York City." Joining Banks, Waltz and Gallagher on the letter are 18 of their fellow House Republicans, including Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, and Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Chinas police presence in New York City is a symptom of the overall larger issue of the CCPs growing influence abroad. Fifty-one Republican lawmakers sent a letter to three of President Bidens Cabinet secretaries warning that national security is threatened by a CCP-linked company's efforts to buy farmland near an Air Force base in North Dakota. The CCP-linked farmland acquisition is far from the first land buy by the Chinese government, and the purchases have been heavily scrutinized for national security risks presented, as they have been approved under both the Biden and Trump administrations. NEW YORK (Reuters) - While some New Yorkers are taking pains to avoid returning to the office, others are racing to the top of the Empire State Building. The iconic New York landmark played host Thursday evening to the 44th annual Empire State Building Run-Up. Starting at the bottom floor lobby, the contest featured runners racing up 86 floors, ascending 1,050 vertical feet (320 meters) before finishing on the 86th Floor Observatory. The men saw a repeat champion in Malaysian tower runner, Soh Wai Ching, while Cindy Harris of Indianapolis was a repeat winner for the women's race. "This really means a lot to me," Soh Wai Ching said. "This is my second win. I hope to maintain this win for five to ten times. That's my goal." The race featured 374 runners. (Reporting by Shannon Stapleton, Kia Johnson, Dan Fastenberg and Kyoko Gasha; editing by Diane Craft) LONDON (Reuters) - The Russian justice ministry on Friday declared one of the country's most popular rappers to be a "foreign agent", a legal designation that has been used to hound Kremlin critics and journalists. Oxxxymiron, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov, was added to an updated list of foreign agents alongside four journalists and Dmitry Glukhovsky, a prominent writer. Oxxxymiron, who canceled a scheduled Russian tour in protest at the invasion of Ukraine, subsequently left Russia and gave a series of concerts in Turkey, Britain and Germany entitled "Russians Against The War". In late August, authorities said they were investigating his work under the country's anti-extremism laws. Under Russian law, material designated "extremist" is effectively prohibited. The term "foreign agent" subjects those listed to stringent financial reporting requirements. It also obliges them to preface anything they publish with a disclaimer stating they are foreign agents. Oxxxymiron, whose lyrics are strongly political and who attended rallies backing jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, was one of Russia's prominent rappers before the war, enjoying wide popularity in a country where hip-hop is a popular genre. In January, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov praised his work in an interview as "astonishing in its depth". (Reporting by Felix Light; editing by David Ljunggren and Hugh Lawson) This seems the most probable explanation for an unlikely combination of two recent events: sabotage on September 26 against undersea gas pipelines from Russia to Germany, which received widespread publicity, and drones buzzing Norwegian offshore oil and gas platforms a week earlier, which got little publicity but was potentially far more threatening. The West, including the United States, now needs to begin immediate countermeasures focused on defending Norwegian and northern European energy infrastructure against a possible hybrid Winter War. Read also: Putin is preparing for a new war Hybrid warfare is particularly dangerous and effective because it combines conventional, economic, and political warfare, using cyber-attacks, information operations, attacks on critical infrastructure, diplomacy, and interference in elections. This winter, hybrid warfare has the potential to break the transatlantic alliances support for Ukraine and set the stage for a Russian victory in 2023. The more publicized of the two recent episodes involved two explosions at the bottom of the Baltic Sea that ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. Both gas pipelines were idle, so only a relatively small amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, bubbled up from the shallow seafloor. Seismic equipment detected the sonic fingerprint of the two explosions prior to gas erupting on the surface. The willingness of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan the next day and US President Joe Biden four days later to call the explosions sabotage suggests US intelligence believes Russia was responsible, but that the United States is looking to an investigation to prove Russian responsibility without jeopardizing US intelligence sources and methods. Read also: NATO calls Nord Stream leaks sabotage, threatens decisive response Much less publicized, but more ominous, were a series of drone flights very close to Norwegian oil and gas platforms in the North Sea that Norwegian industry sources first noted one week before the Nord Stream undersea explosions. The local Stavanger Aftenblad newspaper reported that unidentified drones were observed at six offshore facilities of Norways largest oil and gas producer, Equinor, and three facilities operated by other companies. As reported mostly in the trade press, Norways Petroleum Safety Authority urged companies to be vigilant, noting that unauthorized drone flights within 500 meters of an offshore platform are illegal and will be investigated. Then, late last week, Norway clamped down on industry sources disclosing further details. Story continues Unauthorized drones pose obvious threats to offshore oil and gas facilities. Norways offshore facilities frequently use helicopters and a midair collision could kill dozens. Even a hobbyist drone could collide with a platforms sensitive equipment, causing a production shutdown. A weaponized drone could cause a catastrophic explosion and fire, potentially killing anyone on the platform, causing a massive spill, and disrupting production for months. Almost all the Norwegian oil and gas platforms buzzed by drones are beyond the range of coastal hobbyists. To fly a drone over facilities so far from land requires satellite navigation and control systems along with a skilled operator capable of launching and retrieving a drone from a boat or ship at sea. To operate drones repeatedly over a wide expanse of ocean, at least nine times according to press reports, suggests something far beyond idle curiosity. Drones have been reported across the Norwegian continental shelf by numerous platform operators from as far south as the central North Sea to northern parts of the Norwegian Sea. This is a strong indication that the recent drone sightings are not random incidents. Read also: Give Putin a golden bridge for a graceful exit, he will destroy it Wallace Russian fishing boats are a frequent sight in the North Sea and Russia has a long history of using trawlers and research ships for intelligence collection. One British First Sea Lord called this fishing for secrets. Putting the incidents together suggests a more ominous purpose. If drones are being flown from Russian vessels, it demonstrates to oilfield operators and governments that Norways offshore platforms are at risk. If confirmed, Russia sabotaging its own (idle) Nord Stream gas pipelines would demonstrate that Norways gas pipelines to Europe are also at risk from similar Russian sabotage, and that Russia is willing to use covert capabilities, regardless of any environmental consequences. If Norwegian oil and gas deliveries to Europe are cut off this winter, prices would skyrocket and the impact would be felt worldwide, including in the United States. More importantly, there is no way northern European governments, already struggling to replace Russian gas, could replace lost Norwegian gas. Repairs would take months. European governments would be forced to choose which homes, businesses, and factories to let freeze. Putin may believe that popular sentiment would push NATO governments, especially Germany, to pressure Ukraine into accepting peace on Putins terms, allowing him to keep the Ukrainian territory he now considers Russian. To prevent this, the United States, Norway, and NATO need to take immediate public steps to protect Norwegian, British, Danish, and Dutch offshore oil and gas platforms. First, just as the United States and the United Kingdom exposed Russias plans for false flag operations in February, the United States and NATO allies need to release the truth behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, including declassifying intelligence required to make the case against whoever was responsible. Second, NATO naval forces, including the US Navy, should be publicly deployed to guard offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines that supply gas to Europe. Third, the United States, Norway, and NATO should publicize Russian ship movements, even submarine movements, and radar tracks of any drone flights from Russian vessels or drones that fly near offshore oil and gas facilities and pipelines. Read also: Former US Ambassador Yovanovitch on how Russia's aggression has changed the U.S. The best way to deter or reduce the political and economic effects of Russian hybrid warfare this winter is to expose what Russia is doing, starting now. An act of sabotage against Norways offshore oil and gas facilities that can be directly, quickly, and publicly attributed to Russia would be an act of war against NATO, and that is something Putin should not want to risk. This column was first published by the Atlantic Council. NV is republishing it with permission. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggesting NATO should launch preventive strikes on Russia confirmed the need for what it calls its "special operation" in Ukraine. "By doing so, (he) essentially presented the world with further evidence of the threats posed by the Kyiv regime," Lavrov said. "This is why a special military operation was launched to neutralise them." In a discussion with an Australian think tank on Thursday, Zelenskiy said he believed strikes were necessary to preclude any use of nuclear weapons. He did not go into detail about what kind of strikes he meant, and made no reference to any need for nuclear strikes. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced Zelenskiy's comments as "an appeal to start yet another world war with unpredictable, monstrous consequences", according to RIA news agency. Russia launched its "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. Ukraine and Western nations have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for invasion. (Reporting by ReutersEditing by Mark Heinrich and Nick Macfie) The Zaporizhia NPP was captured by Russian troops Continuing the attempts of a raider capture of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, yesterday the invaders stole the enterprises stamp, which certifies the right to sign documents, reads the report. Read also: Ukraines General Staff says situation at Zaporizhzhya NPP remains tense In this regard, the head of Energoatom and the acting head of Zaporizhzhya NPP, Petro Kotin, issued an order to put into effect a new official stamp for the ZNPP, while the stolen one should be considered invalid. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Oct. 5 signed a decree on the transfer of the occupied ZNPP to Russian state ownership. Ukraines Foreign Ministry called such Putins move void. Read also: 500 Russian soldiers stationed at occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, says Zelenskyy At the same time, Energoatom earlier called these dictators plans the agony of the aggressor country. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Are we safe here? In recent weeks, my five year-old daughter has asked me this question more than a dozen times. While I always assure her that we are safe, I confess that I feel an uncomfortable uncertainty each time I answer, as recent events leave me questioning whether I believe that women are safe in Tennessee. My daughter asks this question as she navigates her first experience with grief following traumatic loss. On Sept. 2, Eliza Liza Fletcher, one of my daughters teachers in her first few years at St. Marys Episcopal School in Memphis, was abducted and murdered as she was out for an early morning run. Known at the school for her beaming smile and deep love for all the girls in her care, Lizas death was devastating to so many in the Memphis community and beyond, and evoked fear that rippled through communities nationally in the weeks that followed. The video that went viral of Liza singing This Little Light of Mine, a song the girls sing together in chapel every week, was made during the early weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic, the year my daughter was in her class. She sent many videos during those final weeks of the school year, usually with her two, young sons in the background, helping her demonstrate an activity that the girls could try at home. My daughter mentions, Ms. Fletcher daily, as she tries to make sense of how a person can violently take away someone she loved. Within days, we learned that the male suspect who was linked by DNA evidence to Lizas murder is also the suspect in a violent rape that occurred eleven months earlier. Another Memphis woman, Alicia Franklin, has bravely spoken out about the lack of justice in her case after she claims she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint by the same man. I can hardly imagine the trauma she experienced in seeing the name and face of her alleged assailant on the news, accused of murder, when she had given authorities information to identify him and had submitted physical evidence in the form of a rape kit following her own assault. Story continues Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. So, are we safe here? Im not convinced we are. As the mother of three daughters, I am not convinced that I am raising them in a state that values their safety. The new statewide abortion ban includes no exemptions for cases of rape, and yet the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports it takes just under a year to process most rape kits submitted to the agency. How are women in Tennessee to understand this that a rapist has more claim over a womens body than she does herself? Does our safety matter if our rape kits sit on the shelves for more months than it would take to birth a child if we were to be impregnated by rape? Is violation of our bodies not a serious enough transgression to merit sufficient funds and staffing to bring about justice swiftly, before another person is harmed? At 4:20 AM exactly one week following her death, I stood alongside thousands at the site of Lizas abduction as we all sang This Little Light of Mine by candlelight. I have had a difficult few weeks introducing my daughter to the reality that while beautiful and filled with love, the world can also be a dangerous place. Her worldview is forever changed by the horror of this event. Mine is too. I am grateful to Alicia Franklin for using her voice and filing a federal lawsuit that will hopefully bring about change. I am angry the system failed her, and that it failed Liza too. My prayer and my plea is that the light that remains from the life of Liza Fletcher and the courage and support behind Alicia Franklin will cause our state leadership to wake up and pay attention, to change course, and to make the state of Tennessee a safer place for women to live. We deserve better. Lillian Lammers is associate pastor of First Congregational Church of Memphis This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Opinion: Memphis must prioritize change after Eliza Fletcher killing A San Antonio police officer has been fired after shooting a teenager who was eating a burger in his car, parked in front of a McDonalds, as reported by HuffPost. Bodycam footage shows the officer, James Brennand, calling for assistance as he walks toward the car in the parking lot. I have a vehicle over here that fled from me the other day, Brennand said as he called for backup. He then opened the car door and told the 17-year-old driver, Erik Cantu, to step out. The teen immediately closed his door and rushed out of the parking lot as the officer unloaded shots at the vehicle. In the car was also a 17-year-old female passenger who has not been identified. According to KSAT-TV, Cantu suffered multiple gunshot wounds. According to mySA, SAPD Chief William McManus said Cantu stopped down the street after driving off and was taken to the University Hospital in critical condition, where he was last reported to be in surgery. The unnamed female passenger was not injured. Brennand, a probationary police officer, was serving on the force for only seven months before he was fired after Sundays shooting, mySA reports. According to the outlet, Brennand alleged that the 17-year-old struck him with his vehicle. Yet, bodycam footage proves Brennands claim to be false. BREAKING: VIDEO EMERGES OF ROOKIE SAN ANTONIO COP WHO TRESPASSED INTO A 17 YO TEENAGERS CAR AND TRIED TO MURDER HIM. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO DISARM THE STATE. pic.twitter.com/yeLB66besY Bitcoinization (@bitcoin1zation) October 6, 2022 According to HuffPost, Cantu has been charged with evading detention and assault on a police officer. According to KSAT-TV, the investigation into this shooting can take as long as a year. Nord, a luxury yacht believed to be owned by Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov, has sailed from Russia to Hong Kong. Getty Images/PAVEL KOROLYOV/AFP via Getty Images A superyacht owned by a sanctioned Russian billionaire left Russia after seven months for Hong Kong. Alexei Mordashov, Russia's third-richest person, is said to be the owner of $500 million Nord. Nord first listed Vietnam as its destination but changed to Hong Kong days later, per Bloomberg. A $500 million superyacht belonging to a sanctioned Russian billionaire has sailed to Hong Kong after being docked in Russia for more than seven months. Alexei Mordashov, a steel and mining tycoon, is believed to be the owner of the 465-foot vessel called Nord, per SuperYacht Fan. Nord was anchored in the port of Vladivostok, south east Russia, from late March until September 28 when it departed, according to data from vessel-tracking site, Marine Traffic. After one week of sailing, Mordashov's luxury yacht ended up mooring in Hong Kong port on Wednesday, per Marine Traffic. Bloomberg reported Nord initially listed a port in Vietnam as its destination, but changed to Hong Kong a few days later. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nord set sail on March 12 from the Seychelles and was tracked in the Singapore Strait on March 22, Insider previously reported, citing Marine Traffic data. From there, it traveled to Vladivostok, where it remained for over seven months. Since February, the West has launched barrages of sanctions against Russia to cripple its economy and put pressure on President Vladimir Putin to call off Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The measures include sanctioning wealthy Russian elites and oligarchs by freezing their assets such as private jets and superyachts. Mordashov has an estimated net worth of about $18.7 billion, making him Russia's third richest person, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. He was sanctioned by the UK, EU, and the US after Moscow began its attack on Ukraine. The day after he was hit with EU sanctions, Mordashov told the Russian news outlet TASS he had "absolutely nothing to do with the emergence of the current geopolitical tension" and didn't understand why he had come under sanctions. Story continues So far, Nord has seemed to evade seizure or being frozen. However, some of Mordashov's other assets haven't been so lucky. In March, Italy seized a $71 million superyacht connected to Mordashov, as well as a $116 million property on the island of Sardinia, Reuters reported. According to UK filings, Mordashov transferred control of a $1.1 billion stake in Nordgold, a mining firm, to his wife and stepped down as a director. Read the original article on Business Insider Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) speaks during the opening ceremony of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 6, 2022. Widodo on Thursday asked the parliaments of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to strengthen cooperation to overcome the global crisis and promote world economic recovery amid geopolitical conflicts. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday asked the parliaments of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to strengthen cooperation to overcome the global crisis and promote world economic recovery amid geopolitical conflicts. In the opening ceremony of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit here, attended by parliamentary representatives of members and dozens of invited parties, Widodo expressed that global parliaments must be part of the solution to build dialogue, promote togetherness and avoid division. "Multilateralism is the most effective way to overcome common challenges, because no single problem can be solved by one or more countries alone," Widodo said. The meeting, held from Oct. 6 to 7 in Jakarta, is the right place for creating togetherness with the people and across countries to work together to solve problems and build a just world, Widodo added. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (at the podium and on the screens) speaks during the opening ceremony of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 6, 2022. Widodo on Thursday asked the parliaments of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to strengthen cooperation to overcome the global crisis and promote world economic recovery amid geopolitical conflicts. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia and an end to military aid to the kingdom after the OPEC+ bloc announced a cut in daily oil production. If Saudi Arabia, one of the worst violators of human rights in the world, wants to partner with Russia to jack up US gas prices, it can get Putin to defend its monarchy, the Vermont senator tweeted Friday. We must pull all US troops out of Saudi Arabia, stop selling them weapons & end its price-fixing oil cartel. Sanders made similar comments Wednesday, tweeting the U.S. must end OPECs illegal price-fixing cartel, eliminate military assistance to Saudi Arabia, and move aggressively to renewable energy. Numerous congressional Democrats have had similar reactions to the announcement, which is poised to counter sanctions on Russian oil and potentially drive up gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. Legislation introduced in the House by Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) and Susan Wild (D-Pa.) would remove U.S. troops and military hardware from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the OPEC+ announcement has also prompted Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to announce the Senate will continue the so-called NOPEC bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in May. The bill would alter antitrust law in U.S. lawsuits against OPEC+ member nations and their state oil companies, potentially exposing both Russias Lukoil and the Saudis Aramco. The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), also called for the passage of the bill this week, and voiced support for a broader reevaluation of the Washington-Riyadh relationship, specifically alluding to unanswered questions about the role of the Saudi state in the 9/11 attacks. The Saudi royal family has never been a trustworthy ally of our nation, Durbin said Thursday. Its time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without this alliance with these royal backstabbers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Read also: Russia and Saudi Arabia agree to significantly cut oil production For the US, and the West, this is about absolutely core security interests. The Saudi leadership might not have realised but NATO sees the war in Ukraine as part of an existential security threat from Russia. Its about survival of systems, Western Liberal Market Democracy versus Russian Kleptocracy. Biden went to Riyadh, expended a huge amount of political capital, kissing the ring of MBS, because he realised the seriousness of the fight with Russia, just what is at stake. Just imagine that. This underlined just how important this is to the US. And the response from Saudi was to say, our economic interests come before your security concerns, and not only that, Saudi snubbed the US by allying with Russia. It compounded the insult. Read also: How Kyiv residents are reacting to the threat of a Russian nuclear strike on the capital And lets not forget here that for Saudi, whether oil prices are $70 or $90 a barrel makes little difference in the short term, as it still has huge cash buffers, and after recent fiscal reforms likely the oil price balance for the budget is now nearer to $60 a barrel than $70. If the US is asking Saudi to live with a short period of lower oil prices for the security of the world, and to help alleviate a global cost of living crisis, Saudi surely has enough financial insulation to do that. Biden asked Saudi Arabia for a modest concession that was relatively easy to fulfil, not rally a big ask, in the big scheme of things. He was not asking Saudi to drive oil prices down to $40-50 a barrel to completely cripple Moscow. The ask was a modest sacrifice by Saudi Arabia for something that is of existential importance to the West. You could say this is the USs first Gulf War moment. Back then in Saudi Arabias hour of need with Iraqi troops in Kuwait, Saudi asked for Western support, and it was forthcoming. This is the same moment for the West, I think the West views this as payback time from Saudi. You asked for our help 30 odd years ago, and we came to your defence. Putin represents the biggest security risk to NATO since the end of the Cold War, actually for much longer, since the Cuban missile crisis, 60 years ago. It asked for help from Saudi, and everyone now knows where we all stand. Saudi failed the West in its hour of need. Story continues Thats a huge call by Saudi, pinning its colours to Putins mast, perhaps wrongly assuming that Putin will be around for some time to come. Indeed, my read at this stage is that Putin is living on borrowed time and his inevitable defeat in Ukraine will bring seismic political shifts in Russia, which may not be to Saudis liking. At that point having old allies like the US might be more valuable again. Read also: NATO secretary general says Putins nuke threat is dangerous, reckless rhetoric But looking thru all this, this is surely a defining moment in US - Saudi relations. There really is no going back from this one. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Missouri secretary wrote company checks out to herself, then used the embezzled money to fund vacations, two vehicles and a skid loader, according to federal authorities. In a span of six years, authorities said Stephanie D. Carper wrote at least 44 checks to her own account totaling at least $1,219,192. Now she has pleaded guilty to a felony bank fraud charge in federal court, according to an Oct. 6 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. In pleading guilty, Carper said that between September 2013 and September 2019, she would take pre-signed checks from a family-owned Ralls County agricultural business and write her name in the recipient line. She also wrote in how much money she wanted to take from the company, according to her signed plea agreement. Carper wrote false explanations on the deposit slips, and she wrote fake transaction descriptions in the business check registry, according to court records. In many cases, authorities said she wrote that the checks were for the companys primary vendor. The checks had already been signed by the company owner and his relatives so that Carper could pay vendors, authorities said. But she has now admitted taking advantage of her position as secretary. The defense attorney representing Carper did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Carper used some of the money to buy a Nissan Murano SUV, a Toyota Tundra pickup truck and a Caterpillar 247 skid loader, according to court records. Authorities said she also paid for vacations to Alaska and other destinations. Carper, who now lives in Eufaula, Alabama, is scheduled to attend her sentencing hearing on Jan. 9, officials said. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, in addition to restitution. Ralls County is in the northeast corner of Missouri. Labor leader stole thousands from his CA union, spent it on luxury travel, feds say Man stole $854,000 from employer then had his Missouri backyard redone, feds say Manager of haunted bed-and-breakfast swindled $500K, feds say. Shes off to prison Bookkeeper embezzled $700,000 from employers, including Dennys restaurants, feds say Transgender women march for Women's Day in Pakistan Pakistani lawmakers passed a landmark transgender rights law in 2018, but some are now arguing that the law contradicts Islamic teachings about gender identity. Transgender people in Pakistan can change their gender identity on previously issued government documents according to how they perceive it, as outlined in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. Some criticize the laws provision allowing one to change gender as being un-Islamic and opening the door to same-sex marriage, which is currently illegal. Trans rights activists, however, argue that the misinformed debate against the law is causing further harm to the transgender community. Senator Fawzia Arshad of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is pushing a new bill that would define transgender people according to the law as those who keep one hole for urination," Vice reports. The previous bill already has a strange definition of a transgender person, since it not only defines a transgender person as someone whose gender identity is different than their gender assigned at birth, but someone who has both male and female sex characteristics that is, someone who is intersex. This new proposal, the news site notes, represents rising dissent and misinformation campaigns targeting the laws protecting trans people. These campaigns often go in line with these politicians' religious views on gender and sex. "While Arshads awkwardly-worded proposal has bemused many, making some wonder if she knows the difference between a vagina and a urethra, theres also a larger concern over the direction this movement is taking," Vice writes. Only last week another senator said that trans people were "disgusting." There are some trans rights activists who say Pakistans persecution of homosexuality is to blame for increased transphobia, including several murders of trans women in recent weeks, according to VOA. The activists argue that transgender people and LGB people should not be linked. Story continues While opponents of the trans rights law, including Arshad, argue that it could potentially protect homosexuality, Human Rights Watch points out that homosexuality is illegal in Pakistan. Twitter hashtags such as #amendTransAct and #takeBackVulgarBill have been trending recently in the country. Fawzia Arshads proposal reflects how much these politicians dont know about our communities. Who are they to talk about our rights? Shahzadi Rai, a trans rights activist, told Vice. Theyre trying to snatch our constitutional empowerment, even after this law was created with everyones agreements. Rai told the outlet, We will not let them take away our rights. We will fight back. In 2012, the countrys top court ruled that trans people had the same rights as all other citizens and added a third gender category to national identification cards. Transgender people are now guaranteed a share in inheritance as part of the 2018 legislation, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against them in educational institutions, workplaces, and health care. State authorities are investigating after an inmate being held at the Gaston County Jail died at a hospital Friday. The sheriffs office said the inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at around 5 a.m. He was taken to Caro CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, where he died. The inmate was identified as Jordan Moses. ALSO READ: Officials: Inmate killed in attack by prisoners at NC prison The Gaston County Sheriffs Office is investigating the death with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. No other details have been released. (WATCH BELOW: Employee at Meck jail arrested after giving inmate contraband, authorities say) Shinola has gone to the dogs. The Detroit, Michigan-based brand has partnered with Carolina Pet Company on a new collection for pets that includes collars and leashes, coats and beds. More from WWD Among the pieces are a nylon leash, which will retail for $70 to $75, that includes a Shinola brand stripe and a leather patch, as well as a nylon collar, $60 to $65, that can be engraved at checkout. The collars can be personalized. As far as pet clothing, the collection includes a reversible coat with Berber shearling on one side and a cotton navy liner on the other that retails for $75 to $95, and black or striped washable acrylic sweaters with ribbed neck and base, front leg holes and a reinforced slit at mid-neck that sell for $55 to $90. The sweater comes in two different patterns. When Fido is ready for a nap, he can curl up on a Kuddler bed with polyester fill and a Berber shearling cover that is removable and washable. It retails for $230 to $360. Theres also an overstuffed Napper Pillow bed for $125 to $200, or a Comfort Cushion that is designed to fit most crates. That too features a Berber top and a cotton underside and retails for $95 to $115. The collection will be sold at Shinolas retail locations as well as online. Shinola got its start as a watch manufacturer that touted its Made in America product line and has since expanded into a number of different categories including bags, clocks, jewelry, bicycles and home goods. Click here to read the full article. JERUSALEM (AP) The severed head and decapitated torso of a 25-year-old Palestinian were discovered on the side of a road in the occupied West Bank, police said Friday, confirming gruesome details of a killing that shocked Palestinian society. But accounts that the victim, Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, was a gay man who feared persecution for his sexuality and had sought asylum in Israel two years ago turned the terrible crime into a socially and politically explosive case. It was unclear how Abu Murkhiyeh wound up in Hebron, the conservative West Bank city that he had reportedly fled. Palestinian police officials told The Associated Press on Friday that Abu Murkhiyehs head and torso were found near his familys house. Col. Loay Irzekat, a police spokesman, said authorities arrested a Palestinian acquaintance of Abu Murkhiyeh as a suspect in the killing, but declined to ascribe a motive or elaborate on their relationship pending the investigation. Palestinian social media was gripped by the grisly killing, but silent on the question of Abu Murkhiyehs sexuality. Homosexuality remains deeply taboo in the Palestinian territories, where traditional norms play a prominent role in social and political life. Still there was plenty of outrage across the West Bank. Graphic footage taken by Palestinian youths who happened upon Abu Murkhiyehs dismembered body on a hillside rippled through WhatsApp groups, provoking shock and horror, before being taken down. This is a very ugly crime, an older relative, also named Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, told the Palestinian radio station Al Karama. Such a thing should not be discussed. Abu Murkhiyehs family released a statement of mourning, offering blessings and asking for privacy after this heinous, unprecedented crime that shook the homeland. The family claimed that Abu Murkhiyeh lived and worked between Hebron and neighboring Jordan, where his late father was from. As news of Abu Murkhiyeh's death spread, a starkly different version of events emerged from Israel. LGBTQ organizations and emergency shelters helping gay asylum seekers said they knew he was gay and desperate to escape the Palestinian territories, where he was a target. Story continues Rita Petrenko, founder of Al Bait Al Mokhtalef, an Israeli gay rights organization catering to the Arab community, said Abu Murkhiyeh's fear was distinct when they met in 2020. He told me people not only in his family but in the village wanted to kill him, she said, adding that he fled to Israel as word of his sexual orientation spread through Hebron two years ago. He was scared of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins. Abu Murkhiyeh bounced around from shelter to shelter and scraped by on occasional restaurant jobs in Tel Aviv, Petrenko said, while she helped him apply for resettlement to Canada. He had no prospects in Israel. On temporary status, he was barred from working until last July, when Israel started granting work permits to Palestinians who have sought refuge due to violence and persecution for their sexual orientation, Petrenko said. The situation was horrible for all of them, said Ibtisam Maraana-Menuhin, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset who petitioned the Supreme Court to grant gay Palestinian asylum seekers work visas. Israel frequently promotes its tolerance on issues of sexual orientation, despite the rejection of homosexuality in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. But Tel Aviv is proud of its reputation as a top destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Critics accuse Israel of pink-washing, saying it uses such tolerance as a way to divert attention from its open-ended occupation of the West Bank, now in its 56th year, and its harsh policies toward the Palestinians. Just hours before Abu Murkhiyeh was killed on Wednesday, he spoke to volunteers at his shelter in Tel Aviv for a regular check-in, Petrenko said. Nothing was amiss. The next day, the story of his beheading dominated the media. From Tel Aviv, there was an outpouring of anguish. We are heartbroken ... will always remember you, Isu," said Elem, a group that helped Abu Murkhiyeh, addressing him by a nickname. We will never stop fighting so that others like you can live freely like any other human being. At the shelter where he most recently stayed, staff lit a candle for Abu Murkhiyeh during a solemn vigil Friday. Petrenko said she had no idea how he turned up in Hebron. He never felt safe, she said. Gay Palestinians tend to be careful for fear of drawing unwanted attention from their socially conservative community and backlash from authorities. Palestinian Authority police in 2019 barred gay and transgender rights group from holding events in the West Bank and threatened to arrest participants. Gay people within Israels Arab minority have also faced violence and ostracism in their communities. West Bank Palestinians like Abu Murkhiyeh have long have crossed into Israel to live openly. There are nearly 100 such Palestinians living under asylum, said Maraana-Menuhin, the lawmaker, but the number is likely far higher. It's not that these people even come out of the closet. They're found and they're hunted, said Hila Peer from Aguda, an Israeli LGBTQ rights organization. Ahmads case is just another example of how bad the situation is and how seriously dangerous it is. ___ Associated Press writers Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem and Eleanor Reich in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. Seattle police have arrested a man in connection with the remains found near the University of Washington in June. Charles W. Becker of King County was charged with murder and sexually violating human remains on Friday. Family members of 56-year-old Mavis Kindness Nelson say they have mixed emotions after speaking with detectives on the case they are sad Nelson is no longer here, but they are happy to see progress has been made in the case. Its making us feel a lot better that we are finally getting a little bit of closure to it, Nelsons sister, Ernestine Morningowl, said. This shouldnt even have happened. Because like I said, she was a sweet, wonderful, caring person, Morningowl said. She says her sister was one of the kindest souls around and that she would do anything for anybody. I mean, she would help anybody who needed help. And she had done that before. She had housed people and feed them, Morningowl said. Before meeting with detectives, Morningowl says family members were able to have a proper burial for Nelson a few weeks ago. She says it was a moment of closure for the family. To have the family together and have closure I mean, it was great. All of her children were there. All three of them were there, Morningowl said. She is thankful to hear the case is moving the way it is, but she knows there is still more work to be done to get justice for her sister. Im not happy that youre gone, but I am happy that this is coming out and we are going to serve. Were going to get justice for you, Morningowl said. According to the court documents, Becker was charged and convicted of killing his four-month-old son in 2015. He was convicted of manslaughter and received the maximum sentence. And what state lawmakers have set for somebody convicted of that crime with his kind of history, which was no previous felonies, state lawmakers have said that he got in that Eastern Washington was the longest possible sentence, Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecutors Office said. Story continues KIRO 7 spoke to people who lived nearby Becker. They tell us they didnt have much, if any, interaction with him, but they say the details of the case are very disturbing. Obviously, I dont want that person like a block and a half away from me. Thats horrifying, Isabella, a senior at UW, said. Its a little scary to think that we were living next to him for a couple of months while he was just out on the loose, but its definitely good to know they have him, UW senior Luke Hatfield said. These neighbors hope that after cases like these, safety becomes a top priority in the area. And anything can happen. So, I feel like some sort of security should be taken to not allow that to go down, Hatfield said. I mean as women, you get tired of that its your job to keep yourself safe. Like, I do everything I can. So, I think its more than just womens jobs, Isabella said. Becker remains at the King County Jail and is being held on a $5,000,000 bond. His next court date is Oct. 20. From left: Tony Revolori in September 2022, Ghostface in "Scream," and Mason Gooding in "Scream." Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney; Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures; Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures "Spider-Man" star Tony Revolori spoke to Insider about his involvement in "Scream 6." Revolori has "never seen a 'Scream' movie," but franchise star Mason Gooding convinced him to join. "It's a really fun script and there are a lot of twists and turns," Revolori told Insider. Tony Revolori is headed into unfamiliar territory in the upcoming film, "Scream 6." In a new interview with Insider, the actor, known for roles in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and the "Spider-Man" movies, spoke about how he landed a role in the iconic slasher franchise. "It's funny, I've never seen a 'Scream' movie," Revolori said. "Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that, but there we go." The actor credited his involvement in the forthcoming sixth installment of "Scream" to Mason Gooding, who joined the franchise as Chad Meeks-Martin in the fifth movie, released in 2021. Revolori said that when he had the opportunity to be part of "Scream 6," he spoke to his friend Gooding. "He sold me on why it's such a phenomenal set, why the directors are phenomenal, and why producers are great," Revolori said. "And he wasn't wrong. I had the best time on set. Everyone, cast and crew, were incredible. "It's a really, really fun script and there are a lot of twists and turns," he added. "I'm excited for people to see this." Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group's "Scream." Ghostface in "Scream."Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures The next "Scream" movie, helmed by returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, will ditch the usual setting of Woodsboro, California for New York City. It'll follow the four survivors of the Ghostface killings in the previous film, played by Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin), Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter), and Jenna Ortega (Tara Ortega). "Scream" stars Courteney Cox and Hayden Panettiere will return as Gale Weathers and Kirby Reed, respectively. Other newcomers to the horror franchise, in addition to Revolori, include Samara Weaving, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Segarra, and Liana Liberato. Story continues Melissa Barrera in "Scream." Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures The release date for "Scream 6" hasn't been announced yet, but details regarding the movie have been revealed. In a recent interview for the podcast "20 Questions On Deadline," Barrera said that the film will take place "almost directly after the last one." "Basically, the amount of time that has passed between one movie and the other is the amount of time that has passed in 'Scream' time," she said. In an interview with Collider, Barrera said that having the murderer appear in NYC is significantly more "mortifying." "It's awful, because you also see how, in a city like New York City, everyone is kind of doing their own thing and someone is screaming for help, and no one will come to their help," she said. "No one comes to help them, everyone's kind of like, 'I'm not getting into that.'" Read the original article on Insider Thousands displaced following Weija Dam spillage in Ghana Xinhua) 11:32, October 07, 2022 People wade through a flooded street in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) ACCRA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. Stanley Martey, communications manager for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), the operator of the dam, said the spillage was necessary as the water behind the dam had exceeded its maximum holding capacity. "We informed the communities days ahead of the spillage, but many did not heed the warning," Martey told Xinhua in an interview over the telephone. There were no reported deaths yet, but thousands of residents were displaced and their properties destroyed. "My house is flooded with the water at my waist level now. We prepare food for sale, and all our four fridges are floating. Four of my employees have left because they fear for their lives, and I understand them. It is that bad," said Philip Owusu-Afriyie, an entrepreneur. "Most people have left the area, but this is where I have resided for a decade, so I can't leave. I have to stay, and I don't know if any help will come." Power was cut off in the communities as electricity transformers were inundated by flood waters. Water supply lines were also not working, creating the possibility of sanitation-related infections should the situation persist. Many of the residents were trapped by the flood, and some residents marooned in tall buildings could not receive or make phone calls as their cell phones had gone off due to the power outage. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), together with the Marine Police Unit, Ghana Navy, 48 Engineers Regiment, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Ambulance Service, has embarked on search and rescue operations response to distress calls. "This situation is different. It is worse than we have ever experienced, so people in areas which were usually not affected are affected this time," Richard Amo Yartey, director of Inspectorate at NADMO, told Xinhua after a day's patrol in the flooded communities. "The Electricity Company of Ghana had to put out the lights in these communities so there will be no electrocutions as we wade through the waters to save lives." "This is not the normal raining season that we all know. We are talking about climate change, global warming, and the rains came at a time nobody was expecting it and the inflow into the dam is high. Without the spillage, the dam could burst, with dire consequences to those downstream," he added. After NADMO had opened up the estuary to allow the flood waters to flow into the sea, Yartey was confident that the situation would improve. The Weija Dam was built in 1977 to meet the potable water needs in Accra. Residential communities, however, have sprung up downstream of the Densu River, and whenever the GWCL spills excess water for the safety of the dam, it will create catastrophes. People travel in canoes in a flooded area in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) People wade through a flooded street in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) People travel in a canoe in a flooded area in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) A person walks past a flooded house in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) Vehicles are seen trapped in a flooded area in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 5, 2022. Thousands of residents of the southwestern part of Accra, the Ghanaian capital, have been displaced due to the spillage of the Weija Dam. The spillage of the dam was caused by excess water following torrential rains over the weekend, which contributed to the water level behind the dam rising above the maximum level. The dam built on the Densu River is the source of potable water for more than half of the 5.4 million population of the national capital. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) TEHRAN, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Denmark's ambassador to Iran to protest against an attack on Iran's embassy in Copenhagen by an assailant holding a "cold weapon." During the meeting, the ministry stressed that, according to the Vienna Convention, the host government's responsibility is clear with regard to the security of other countries' diplomats in its country, and the Danish government is seriously expected to remain committed to its international commitments regarding the safety of other states' diplomatic missions on its soil. For his part, the Danish ambassador said that he will immediately report the situation to Copenhagen, and emphasized the security measures will be strengthened, according to the Iranian ministry's official website. Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian slammed the failure to ensure the security of Iran's Embassy and ambassador in Copenhagen. In a phone call with Afsaneh Nadipour, the Iranian ambassador to Copenhagen, Amir-Abdollahian said such an attack against a female ambassador with diplomatic immunity in a European state was "regrettable." According to Nadipour, the assailant, carrying a cold weapon, broke into the embassy's premises on Friday and threatened the employees, and caused damage to the vehicles in the parking lot of the embassy. Danish police said it had arrested the 32-year-old man for the attack, adding the suspect will have a court hearing in Copenhagen on Saturday. Hundreds of Springfield High School worked together Thursday to pack meals to help children in Lesotho, South Africa. This is the fourth year the school has partnered with the Lesotho Nutrition Initiative to host a meal pack. The goal each year is to pack 30,000 meals in one school day, according to a release. >> State patrol recognizes bravery of 13-year-old who steered car to safety in medical emergency The LNI Meal Pack breaks up the traditional school day by allowing students to perform a humanitarian service right from their high school gym and makes a direct connection between their hometown and another country. The students are immediately able to see the impact that is made by dedicating just a couple hours of their day, Springfield City School District Superintendent Bob Hill said. The program was founded by a group of students and faculty at Wittenberg University who were concerned with childhood malnutrition in Lesotho. The Tribune is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend to publish candidates' answers to questions on the issues. The League and IUSB's ADP operates Vote411.org, a website with information about the candidates and their positions on key issues. The site also includes other tools to help navigate the voting process. The Tribune has agreed to run candidate answers unedited, meaning any spelling, typographical or grammatical errors are the candidates' own. The Tribune is publishing only some of the questions from a selection of significant races. Additional questions and answers are available at Vote411.org. Redman Bill Redman Democrat Sheriff wllm_redman@yahoo.com 574-292-2774 facebook.com/SheriffRedman Kevin C. McGowan Republican Candidate did not respond. When it comes to drug use and drug-related crimes, should the sheriffs department focus on prevention, treatment, and/or law enforcement? Can you provide an example of one program you support that you would deem a success? Redman: Our department is focused on working on prevention, treatment and enforcement daily. We have partnered with several local organizations such as the 525 Foundation, Recover Michiana and the St. Joseph County Health Department. This work includes PSAs, the distribution of Narcan to our officers and to the general public (Narcan vending machine), drug drop boxes and drug take back events. In regards to treatment, we partner in our jail with Oaklawn for mental health and substance abuse concerns. We developed a full-time mental health officer position that assists Oaklawn with making sure once someone is released from our jail that they continue services with Oaklawn to prevent them from returning to jail. We also have added a full-time social worker to provide additional help, making this a huge success. Lastly, our officers work tirelessly every day to enforce Indiana drug laws to stop drug-related crimes and distribution of drugs. We also partner with all federal agencies. Story continues McGowan: Did not respond. Is the country jail too crowded? What steps can we take to reduce the number of people housed in our county jail? Redman: The total jail capacity 829 people, and we are currently averaging about 700 people daily. This includes many people that are suffering from substance abuse and mental health crisis. We have been working on several solutions to reduce the number of people housed at our jail. This includes an addition of a mental health clinic here in our community, which I have been very vocal about. This would help eliminate arresting and housing those suffering from mental health crisis in our jail. We are also working on implementing a Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP) in our jail. This program will focus on those suffering from substance abuse issues with a goal of overcoming their addiction. McGowan: Did not respond. Can you point to any programs you support that reduce criminal activity and/or recidivism? Redman: Our department works daily with all of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to combat crime here in St. Joseph County. Our officers attend weekly meetings hosted by the South Bend Police Department and are attended by all other local partners to share crime information and wanted persons. Our department also hosts monthly meetings with all of our small town police chiefs to share crime information and services to assist one another. McGowan: Did not respond. Our warrants division partners with our area Crime Stoppers to follow-up on tips provided by citizens on wanted individuals. Our detective bureau works with several neighborhood watch groups and businesses to provide crime prevention tips. And lastly, to reduce recidivism, we have implemented a GED program and partnership with the South Bend Community School Corporation, a IN2WORK cooking certification course with Aramark, our mental health partnership with Oaklawn and the JCAP I mentioned earlier. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Sheriff Bill Redman faces election challenge by Kevin McGowan On the surface, Starbucks seems like a great place to work. The chain touts a plethora of benefits offered to its baristas, managers, and other employees, which include stock options, PTO, and, as of late, even student loan assistance. The past year or so, however, has made it very clear that the Seattle-based company does not support the unionization of its employees. In the latest development, four U.S. senators have issued a stern warning to Starbucks about its recent "illegal union-busting tactics." In a letter sent to Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz on October 4, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Richard Blumenthal, all Democrats, and Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent, accused the coffee chain of attempting "to intimidate its employees and dissuade them from organizing and joining unions." RELATED: Starbucks Is Abruptly Closing 16 LocationsHere's Why The senators have requested that the company disclose exactly how much money it has been spending on anti-union efforts. This "detailed report of expenditures" should include legal fees (retainers, court-ordered payments), payments made to consultants, and costs related to the production of materials. Sure to cover all their bases, the senators even asked if all anti-union expenditures were claimed as business expenses on the chain's annual taxes. Additionally, the letter asks "what guidance, written or otherwise" Starbucks management has been provided with on how to handle "workers organizing or joining a union, voting in a representation election, interacting with unionized workers or union representatives, and participating in lawful, union-authorized job actions." Finally, the letter also asks for a full rundown of all instances over the past year in which "Starbucks introduced new benefits or altered benefits for non-unionized stores, while withholding these benefits simultaneously from unionized employees." The four senators allege Starbucks has been "weaponizing" benefits in its fight against employee unionization. For example, remember the student loan tools available to Starbucks workers mentioned earlier in this article? Well, those are actually only an option for non-union employees. Story continues Eat this, not that Sign up for our newsletter! For what it's worth, Starbucks says it isn't discriminating against union employees by withholding benefits. The coffee chain argues that under labor law they can't offer unionized workers new benefits without a new, formal union contract. Addressing Mr. Schultz, the letter reads: "Under your leadership, Starbucks has also weaponized wage increases and new benefits in its anti-union campaign, threatening to withhold them from workers who have voted to unionize, and even those who are organizing and have not yet had a union electionand not hesitating to act on that threat." Not too long ago there was no such thing as a unionized Starbucks employee. The unionization efforts started last year in Buffalo when a local Starbucks location voted to form the first-ever union in the chain's history. Since then, the letter alleges that "Starbucks has adopted a range of troubling tactics to persuade, discourage, intimidate, and even retaliate against employees who join, or express intent to form or join, a union." Citing internal documents, the four senators paint an exceedingly ugly picture, describing "a climate of fear" among Buffalo employees. Workers were warned against talking to the media or posting on social media about unionization, subjected to anti-union text messages, and even received explicit emails stating "we want you to vote no." The letter also references a Massachusetts Starbucks location that voted to unionize in June 2022. Workers at that store saw most of their hours cut until many no longer qualified for health insurance, and management allegedly instituted a new minimum availability rule without consulting the union. By July, employees were on strike. The strike ended last month, but not before workers were subjected to "what appears to be a misinformation campaign." Picketing employees were allegedly given fliers that had been made by Starbucks but crafted to appear as though they had been printed by an official government agency. According to the letter, these flyers were "covered in links to Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) web pages, the fliers contained 'facts' and answers to 'frequently asked questions' about the union drive that were clearly biased and aimed at convincing workers to oppose the union, for their own sake." Starbucks is also facing heat from Wall Street for its anti-union efforts. Last month the coffee chain received shareholder proposals calling for a labor rights audit. Proponents, including the New York City comptroller on behalf of the New York City Retirement Systems, are calling for an independent investigation into Starbucks employees' freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. Since that single Buffalo Starbucks location chose to unionize at the end of 2021, employees at about 245 U.S. Starbucks locations have voted to unionize. Senators Sanders, Warren, Blumenthal, and Markey, meanwhile, have given Starbucks one month to answer their inquiries. It is still unclear whether Sen. Patty Murray will appear on stage for a second debate with Tiffany Smiley as the Washington State Debate Coalition, a nonpartisan organization that has handled debates across the state since 2016, said it has yet to receive a confirmation from Murray. KIRO 7 is a media partner of the Debate Coalition, and we have been pressing Murray on her pending commitment for an upcoming debate in Seattle. In a statement Thursday, the coalition said that it asked for a commitment from the Murray campaign by the end of day yesterday, Oct. 5, and did not get a response. KIRO 7s Graham Johnson caught up with Murray during an event with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Johnson asked, Whats the holdup? Why is it taking so long? She replied, We are working to get the folks who are putting it together to have the details done before we announce anything. So I want to wait until they do that. Graham asked, So there absolutely will be two debates? She replied, Well, were working on the details on the second one. Ill have to have my campaign staff because Ive been on the road, I havent had a chance to talk to them today. Murray and Smiley do have one debate set with the coalition in Spokane, but historically larger races have had two debates with the coalition. Last week, Smiley said they had pushed back the proposed debates from early October to late October. Im very disappointed that the debate is after ballots drop, but of course, I will be there, Smiley said. Graham asked Smiley, Are you pretty confident that this second debate will come together? She replied, I have no idea. I know I will be there, and there could potentially be an empty chair sitting there. The Debate Coalition said Thursday that Murrays campaign may be finalizing a second debate with a different outside group. Murrays campaign isnt the only one that has not committed to a debate. The coalition had to cancel its planned Secretary of State debate after it could not reach an agreement with current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. IRYNA BALACHUK FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 21:04 The number of casualties of the Russian attack on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia on 6 October has increased to 14 people. Source: Anatolii Kurtiev, Secretary of Zaporizhzhia City Council, on Telegram Quote: "Bad news keeps coming to us from the place where the rubble of buildings that were damaged by yesterdays attack is being removed. As of now, the number of killed people has increased to 14. Most sincere condolences to those who have lost their close ones." Background: On the night of 5-6 October, the Russians fired seven rockets at high-rise buildings in the downtown area of Zaporizhzhia city; they aimed at infrastructure facilities. Previously, 12 fatalities were reported. On 7 October, the Russians carried out a rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia Oblast again; Oleksandr Starukh, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, stated that anti-aircraft defence systems shot down three rockets. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - A suspect has been arrested on murder and kidnapping charges after four members of a California family, including an 8-month-old girl, were found dead in a rural area two days after their abduction, authorities said. The Merced County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook on Thursday night that it had booked Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, into jail on four counts of murder and kidnapping. The office said it will continue to follow up on any leads of additional people who may have been involved in the "horrific incident." Salgado is accused of kidnapping Jasleen Kaur, 27, her baby girl Aroohi Dheri, the baby's father Jasdeep Singh, 36, and the baby's uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39. Police say the four were abducted at gunpoint on Monday morning from the family's trucking company in Merced, about 150 miles (240 km) east of San Jose. Police were alerted to the crime after finding Amandeep Singh's black 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck burning on the side of a county road. While investigating, sheriff's deputies were unable to reach the family and determined they had been abducted, leading them to the trucking business. Authorities took Salgado into custody after the family's ATM card was used at a nearby bank. Salgado was hospitalized after trying to kill himself before he was apprehended by authorities. A motive has yet to be determined, the sheriff said. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Police work at the scene where multiple people were stabbed in front of a Strip casino in Las Vegas, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP Police arrested a man accused of killing two and injuring six in a stabbing spree in Las Vegas. The man told police he began stabbing strangers after he thought a group of showgirls laughed at him. He said he was looking for other groups of people to stab in order to "let the anger out." The man accused of killing two people and injuring six others in a Thursday stabbing spree on the Las Vegas strip told police that he was moved to violence after a group of women dressed as showgirls declined to take a photo with him, according to a police report. Yoni Barrios, 32, was arrested following the attack and told police that he wielded a knife on strangers because he wanted to "let the anger out." He also told authorities that he was hoping responding police would shoot him, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report obtained by Insider. Authorities say Barrios stabbed eight people around 11:40 a.m. local time Thursday on the sidewalk outside the Wynn Las Vegas hotel. Two of the victims, Brent Allan Hallet, 47, and Maris Mareen DiGiovanni, 30, died as a result of their wounds. Three of the remaining victims were in critical condition as of Thursday night, officials said. Barrios told officers that he traveled to Las Vegas from California the day before the attack with plans to stay with a friend in town. But after he arrived, Barrios said his friend informed him that he actually couldn't stay there, prompting Barrios to pack his things and head for the famous Las Vegas strip, according to the police report. Barrios said he went to the mall inquiring about a ride back to California and then stopped at the Wynn to ask about a possible job. He told police that he asked a janitor at the hotel to contact ICE because he wanted to be sent back to Guatemala, the police report said. Barrios also tried to sell his collection of knives while at the Wynn, according to authorities. When he left the hotel, he encountered a group of women dressed as showgirls on the sidewalk and asked to take a photo with them, he told police. Barrios said he told the women he was a chef and removed one of his knives for the photo. Story continues Due to the odd request, the women declined to take the photo, according to witnesses and other victims interviewed by police, prompting Barrios' rage. He told authorities that he believed the women were "laughing" at him and making fun of his clothes. He stabbed one of the women in the chest and then began chasing after the other showgirls with his knife as they ran away, he told police. Unnamed victims interviewed by police said the woman he stabbed in the chest was DiGiovanni, who was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital. After he attacked the showgirls, Barrios said he started running and looking for other groups of people to stab in order to "let the anger out." A surviving victim told police that Barrios said "sorry, man" before stabbing him in the back and running past him. Barrios is being held without bail following a Friday court appearance and is due back in court on Tuesday. Read the original article on Insider A man pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of William Perry in 2021. ALSO READ: Suspect pleads guilty, sentenced after man found dead in west Charlotte in 2021 Perry was found dead inside a car along a busy west Charlotte road on March 22, 2021, according to police. Homicide detectives arrested Diastarrquacious McKnight and Zytwan Paschal, both 21 at the time, on April 2, 2021, without incident. Paschal was charged with murder while McKnight has been charged with accessory after the fact. Paschal was sentenced to 6 1/2 to 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. McKnight was sentenced to 36 months of probation and 50 hours of community service. Prosecutors said that McKnight lied to police, telling them there were no men in her apartment. However, witnesses told officers they saw Paschal come out of her apartment with a gun. Homicide Investigation in the Freedom Division https://t.co/HPwcEjPJo0 CMPD News (@CMPD) March 22, 2021 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers responded around 12:50 p.m. to an assault with a deadly weapon call on Tuckaseegee Road. When they got there, police said they found 26-year-old Perry dead inside a car. While investigating the homicide that day, police said they got information that a person of interest in the shooting was in the Nova Ridge apartment complex nearby. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the scene around 2:30 p.m. and could see officers with their guns drawn. Police said a SWAT team was sent into the complex and the person of interest was detained. Detectives are interviewing the person, but are still asking witnesses to come forward with information. Update from CMPD: Homicide happened in a car on Tuckaseegee nearby. They got info about a person of interest in Nova Ridge. Swat responded. They are talking to the person of interest now. No arrests. Complex back open Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) March 22, 2021 During the SWAT situation, residents were not allowed inside their homes. That has since ended and people can now access their apartments. The complex is now open so residents are free to come and go as they need to. We apologize for the time delay but it is necessary to make sure everybody is safe, CMPD Major Brian Foley said. Return to this story for updates. A Georgia State Patrol K-9 officer was killed in the line of duty Friday morning after a chase led to a SWAT standoff with a murder suspect. The suspect was also shot and killed by police. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said police were conducting a homicide investigation after a deadly shooting on Kendrick Road on Thursday. The suspect was spotted driving the victims vehicle on Riverside Road near Interstate 285. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] State Troopers and Clayton County Deputies joined police in assisting with a traffic stop. The suspect initially pulled over, but as troopers tried to make contact, he drove away. Troopers then chased the vehicle and were able to perform a PIT maneuver. Officers tried to make contact with the driver, who was not cooperative. The K-9 officer, Figo, was sent into the vehicle by his handler and the driver shot him. TRENDING STORIES The driver, troopers and deputies all exchanged gunfire and the driver was killed at the scene. K-9 officer Figo was rushed to an animal hospital in Sandy Springs, where he died. Video showed Sandy Springs police shutting down the road outside of the the vet hospital and doctors heroically trying to save Figo after rushing him out of a medical helicopter. The Georgia Police K9 Foundation has set up a memorial fund in Figos honor. *Contributions made will be made in honor of K9 Figo and to have his name placed on the Georgia Police K9 In the Line of Duty Death Memorial located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, the foundation wrote on Facebook. The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Clayton County, GA that occurred during a traffic stop. One man was shot and died at the scene. A GSP K9 named Figo was also shot and died. : https://t.co/jU0ZhQdFSi pic.twitter.com/YQW5odDXLE GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) October 7, 2022 The GBI is conducting an independent investigation. Story continues Neither the suspect or the initial victim have been identified. This is the 93rd officer involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate in 2022. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it carried out an air strike on Thursday in northern Syria that killed two Islamic State members including a leader it named as Abu-Hashum al-Umawi. The strike came just hours after a rare U.S. helicopter raid on a government-held village in Syria's northeast killed another Islamic State official. As with the helicopter raid, the U.S. military's Central Command said initial assessments indicated no civilian casualties and it said there were no U.S. military casualties. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler) DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's health authorities said on Thursday plans are underway to build a special health center for epidemics in the country's northwestern border region of Kagera. The Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu said since the Kagera region is bordered by Uganda to the north, and Rwanda and Burundi to the west, it was prone to outbreaks of epidemics from the neighboring countries. Mwalimu revealed the plan when she addressed health officials in the wake of an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. Mwalimu said currently the government was building a special health center for epidemics at the Muhimbili National Hospital's Mloganzila Teaching Hospital in the suburbs of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. On Tuesday, Mwalimu visited the country's border with Uganda to inspect the state of preparedness and contingency plans against the outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. Uganda on Sept. 20 announced the outbreak of the rare Sudan Ebola strain after a 24-year-old male tested positive for the disease after being admitted to hospital. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua will visit the United States next week to respond to what her office called "concerns" about supply chains and geopolitical issues and will also visit U.S. tech firms that are major customers of Taiwanese semiconductor companies. A global semiconductor shortage has thrust chip powerhouse Taiwan into the spotlight and made supply chain management a bigger priority for governments around the world. Taiwan's position as a major chip producer has prompted worries in the United States it is too reliant on the island, especially at a time when China is ramping up military drills to assert its sovereignty claims. Wang's ministry said on Friday that she would leave on Sunday for a week-long trip to promote more frequent exchanges with the United States and cooperate on global business opportunities. She will also go "to respond to the concerns of sides about the recent supply chain resilience and geopolitical issues through interaction and exchanges on the U.S. side", it added in a statement. Wang will meet with U.S. companies and chambers of commerce on ways to strengthen supply chain cooperation, the ministry said. "In addition, she will also visit industry giants headquartered in Silicon Valley and closely connected to Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain to have communications, continue to attract investment and consolidate Taiwan's supply chain security and resilience." The ministry did not name the companies she would visit or any U.S. officials she might meet, although it did say she would be in Washington on Oct. 12-14 for an exhibition on Taiwanese products. Taiwan is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier to companies including Apple Inc. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has said that the island is committed to ensuring its partners have reliable supplies of semiconductors and has urged allies to boost collaboration amid intensified threats from China. But the government has also vowed to maintain Taiwan's dominant chip-making position. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard) New Mexico legislative House District 38 candidates, from left: Democrat Tara Jaramillo and Republican Sandy Hammack. Among New Mexico's more extensively changed districts following the post-Census redistricting process is House District 38, currently represented by state Rep. Rebecca Dow, a Republican from Truth or Consequences. Indeed, had Dow sought another term in the legislature, she would have needed to run in the new District 49, based on the state's new election map. (Dow ran in the Republican primary for governor instead.) Beginning in 2023, District 38 extends from Socorro at its northern tip to includes parts of Sierra and Dona Ana counties, encompassing portions of White Sands Missile Range and part of Truth or Consequences, reaching south into Hatch and Radium Springs. It will represent 30,680 people and is projected to learn slightly Democratic. The two candidates asking voters to send them to Santa Fe as their representative both live in Socorro County and both won their parties' primaries by decisive margins. Whoever prevails, a large and diverse district incorporating rural and urban communities as well as public lands will be represented by a newcomer to the Roundhouse in January. Tara Jaramillo Jaramillo, a Democrat, is a speech-language pathologist and founder of Positive Outcomes, a service provider for healthcare and early intervention services based in Socorro. She is making her first run for office. She said parts of the new district are a two and a half hours, by car, from her home. Tara Jaramillo, a speech-language pathologist from Socorro, N.M., is a Democratic primary candidate for New Mexico's newly redrawn state House District 38 in 2022. "As big as it is, it just as diverse," she said, counting off various economic sectors within the district, from farming and ranching near Socorro and down to the Hatch Valley, tourism and water recreation around Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte, into Dona Ana County and the Las Cruces metropolitan area. She said securing access to water as well as how the region will derive energy, from the state's petroleum industry as well as a growing renewable sector, were among the top concerns voiced by those who may soon be her constituents. Story continues The district also includes Spaceport America in Sierra County, a facility built with taxpayer money that relies on state appropriations for part of its budget and is supported by local taxes in Sierra and Dona Ana counties. Jaramillo said the aerospace facility is a viable investment but that the burden of supporting it should be spread across the state. While she said voters were not raising questions about election security, Jaramillo voiced concerns of her own about access to voting in rural communities based on her own experience in Socorro County and what she witnessed when providing services within the Alamo Navajo reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic's first waves. She said the nearest post office was nearly 40 miles away and, in any case, there was not a general awareness of options such as absentee or early voting. "We need to do a better job at informing individuals on how they can vote," she said. In her line of work, she said she was seeing the penetration of narcotics into her county firsthand and how that affects education outcomes as well as public safety. She spoke of fentanyl and other drugs and children's exposure to them, leading to harmed infant development, overdoses and even deaths. Such cases would be on her mind, she explained, when debating measures addressing pretrial release for certain defendants. A map on the New Mexico Legislature website shows the newly redrawn House District 38 as of Jan. 1, 2023, which extends from Socorro into Dona Ana County. "Some statistics that have been released by our local hospital indicate that 70 percent of our infants are born addicted," she said. "This is a huge crisis. Now, as much as I want to say we need to hold everybody who is accused of a crime, because I fear for our children, I know we need to ensure everybody's rights. There is evidence, certainly, that can be presented by (District Attorneys) and police officers to show that certain people shouldn't be released." Assuring the best outcomes at court, she said, would require collaborative efforts with community crisis response teams, local law enforcement and prosecutors. A key concern she said has been shared by mayors and local officials in the district is aging infrastructure, from roads and bridges to water and sewer systems, in municipalities where city leaders are part-time public servants with full-time jobs and little staffing, leaving them hard-pressed to research and apply for grants to fund capital projects. After knocking on thousands of doors, Jaramillo said women's healthcare, including abortion, has frequently been raised by voters wanting to know her position. Since the U.S. Supreme Court this summer struck down a federal right to terminate pregnancy and effectively moved debates over restrictions to state legislatures, New Mexico's Democratic majorities in the statehouse and Democratic governor have positioned the state as a safe harbor for abortion rights. "I believe in women's reproductive rights," she said. "I believe there should be no interference from government or anyone else on what a woman chooses to do with her body, with the guidance of her physician." As far as any legal restrictions, she added, "I don't know where to stop that. If there's a young girl that has been raped or molested, or her life is in danger, I believe that all options should be presented to her for healthcare purposes." Moreover, she responded to the abortion debate as the mother of a child with special needs. "I don't want government deciding what baby I can or can't have. I'm so blessed with my child and so grateful that I brought her into this world. I want women to be able to make those decisions. Either way, I don't want government telling me what I can or can't do." More information about Jaramillo and contact information are available at her campaign website, www.TaraJaramilloForNM.com. Sandy Hammack The Republican candidate, Sandy Hammack, is a former Socorro County party chair, retired rancher and businesswoman from San Antonio. Sandy Hammack appears in a photo on a campaign website for her 2022 New Mexico legislative run in District 38. Her campaign website highlights a few policy positions in the areas of education, business and "law and order." The list includes call for reduced regulations and unspecified changes to gross receipts taxes. The list also decries "racist CRT curricula," a rallying cry for conservative resistance to proposals by local school boards to address historic discrimination and assimilation of communities of color and Native Americans as well as English-language learners and students with disabilities. Some of the proposals were prompted by a 2018 court ruling in Yazzie/Martinez vs. State of New Mexico, which held that New Mexico was not meeting its constitutional obligation to serve all of New Mexico's students. CRT, or "critical race theory," has emerged as a catch-all term to characterize such efforts to address discrimination in learning environments, although critical race theory is an academic concept originating in college-level legal education and analysis examining institutional racism. On energy, Hammack's website calls for "clean, affordable energy through energy independence" without delving into further detail. Hammack did not respond to multiple requests for interviews to talk about her campaign. In one instance, she appeared to answer her phone accidentally, crying out "Oh shoot!" and then disconnecting the call. Her campaign website is www.SandyHammack.com. Journal reports past tax liens On Oct. 4, the Albuquerque Journal reported that Jaramillo had faced tax liens in 2007 and 2013 which she had not disclosed when she completed the Journal's regular candidate survey. The liens were for $679 and $2,265, respectively, the latter filed jointly against her and her ex-husband. Jaramillo responded that she had not been aware of them and that the accountant who prepared her taxes in 2007 was deceased and that the latter may have been related to her ex-husband's business tax filing. The Journal also reported that Hammack disclosed a "business-related bankruptcy" in the 1990s. Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Jaramillo, Hammack vie to represent redrawn New Mexico House District 38 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The mother of a 16-year-old Iranian girl has disputed official claims that her daughter fell to her death from a high building, saying the teen was killed by blows to the head as part of the crackdown on anti-hijab protests roiling the country. Nasreen Shakarami also said authorities kept her daughter Nikas death a secret for nine days and then snatched the body from a morgue to bury her in a remote area, against the familys wishes. The bereaved mother spoke in a video message Thursday to Radio Farda, the Persian-language arm of the U.S.-funded station Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Nika Shakarami has become the latest icon of the protests, seen as the gravest threat to Irans ruling elites in years. Attempts by authorities in recent days to portray the teens death as an accident could signal concern that the incident is fueling further anger against the government. The protests, which enter their fourth week Saturday, were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. They had detained Amini for alleged violations of the country's strict Islamic dress code. Young women have often been leading the protests, tearing off and defiantly waving their headscarves as they call for toppling the government. The protests quickly spread to communities across Iran and have been met by a harsh government crackdown, including beatings, arrests and killings of demonstrators, as well as internet disruptions. Human rights groups estimate that dozens of protesters have been killed over the past three weeks. On Thursday, the London-based group Amnesty International published its findings about what appears to be the single deadliest incident so far in the city of Zahedan on Sept. 30. The report said Iranian security forces killed at least 66 people, including children, and wounded hundreds, after firing live rounds at protesters, bystanders and worshippers in a violent crackdown that day. Iranian authorities claimed the Zahedan violence involved unnamed separatists. More than a dozen people have been killed since then in the area, the report said. Story continues Meanwhile, Nika Shakarami's mother pushed back against attempts by officials to frame her daughter's death as an accident. In her video message, she said that the forensics report showed that Nika had died from repeated blows to the head. Nika's body was intact, but some of her teeth, bones in her face and part of the back of her skull were broken, she said. The damage was to her head, she said. Her body was intact, arms and legs. Earlier this week, Iran's police chief, Gen. Hossein Ashtari, claimed that the teen had gone to a building and fell from the upper floor at a time of gatherings. He said that the fall from that height led to her death. Nasreen Shakarami said her daughter left her home in Tehran in the afternoon of Sept. 19 to join anti-hijab protests. She said she was in touch by phone with Nika several times in the next few hours, pleading with her to come home. They last spoke before midnight. Then Nikas mobile was off, after she and her friends were shouting names of forces while they were fleeing, she said. The following morning, the family searched for Nika at police stations and prisons, but had no word of her whereabouts for nine days. Authorities finally handed over the body on the 10th day and the family headed to the city of Khoramabad for burial, she said. Authorities repeatedly demanded to take possession of the body, which was in the meantime stored in the Khoramabad morgue. On the day of the planned funeral the family learned that the body had been snatched from the morgue and was taken to a remote village for burial, under heavy security, Nasreen Shakarami said. Since the confirmation of her death, Nika has emerged as another icon of the protests, alongside Amini. A photo of Nika, wearing a black T-shirt and sporting a stylish two-tone bob haircut and eyeliner, has been widely circulated on social media. Authorities arrested Nasreen Shakarami's brother and sister. The sister, Atash, later said on Iranian TV that her niece fell from a high building. Nika's mother said she believes her siblings had been pressured to echo the official version. Iran has a long history of broadcasting forced confessions. Also Friday, the official IRNA news agency quoted the coroner's office saying examinations found that Mahsa Amini died of cerebral hypoxia in which oxygen supply to the brain decreases. It said she suffered multiple organ failure but her death was not led by blunt force trauma to the head, organs and vital parts of the body. It said Amini suffered heart arrhythmia, hypotension and loss of consciousness before been taken to a hospital. Aminis family rejected the coroners report, because authorities had failed to consult with medical specialists as requested by the family, BBC Persian reported. Mahsa Amini's father has previously said her corpse showed clear signs of being bruised and beaten. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Thursday that production on its long-delayed all-electric semi truck has started with the first deliveries beginning in December. The automaker introduced an all-electric Class 8 truck prototype, dubbed Tesla Semi, during a splashy November 2017 event held in Hawthorne, California, on the grounds of the company's design studio and Musk's other company, SpaceX. The reveal came more than a year after Tesla launched a trucks development program, which was steered by Jerome Guillen, a former Daimler executive who joined the company in 2010. Guillen left Tesla in 2021 just a few months after his position was changed from president of the company's entire automotive business to a more narrow role leading Tesla's heavy trucking unit. Tesla initially planned to start producing the semi truck in December 2019. However, the program suffered repeated delays. Last year following Guillen's departure, Tesla pushed production of the Semi truck program to 2022 due to supply chain challenges and the limited availability of battery cells, the company said during its second-quarter earnings report. As of January 2021, the company had finished engineering work on the Semi and was on track to begin deliveries that year. But even then Musk warned that the availability of battery cells could limit the companys ability to produce the Semi. The delays haven't prevented the company from landing reservations, which were $5,000 at the unveiling, from a number of high-profile companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Walmart and UPS. Musk tweeted that Pepsi, which ordered 100 trucks back in December 2017, will be the first customer to receive the vehicles. Deliveries to Pepsi are expected December 1, Musk said. I recently woke up to an email from a local bakery I have patronized that read: Due to staff shortages, we will be closed today. It wasnt an unusual communication, especially from a small business that operates with just a few employees. People get sick. Emergencies happen. Businesses adjust they always have. But this wasnt the first such email Id received from this particular shop in recent months, and it wasnt the only business I knew to be experiencing regular staffing problems. Help wanted signs are a fixture of nearly every storefront around town. Some of the local shops I frequent have even taken to social media to plead with patrons to come join our team! When mailing a letter the other day, I noticed that even the post office has a Were hiring sign prominently displayed at its counter. Apparently, even secure government jobs are remaining unfilled. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate in September was 3.5%, about where it was before the pandemic. In Texas, it was slightly higher, at 4.1 percent (in August, the last available stat). We know that unemployment spiked during COVIDs initial wave as businesses, hampered by state restrictions, were forced to close. Some never came back. The pandemic also prompted many workers who were seeking improved work-life balance and flexibility to quit their jobs, or those who were on the cusp of retirement to bow out of the workforce early the Great Resignation, it was called. That shrunk the pool of available workers, at least in the short-term. But businesses came back, and hiring rates suggest that many of those workers were eventually re-hired elsewhere. So, why does the worker shortage seem to persist? To the optimist, that question might be a solution in search of a problem at least for the Lone Star State. Texas is killing it with job creation, a friend who runs an HVAC business in Waco recently told me. His company has been struggling to find the skilled labor it needs to meet the massive increase in business its enjoyed the last several years. Story continues Like the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Waco has been growing by leaps and bounds. Indeed, Texas has become a beacon for Americans fleeing more expensive, more restrictive and politically unappealing states. Its also leading the nation in job growth as startups and the gig economy abound and as companies relocate within its business-friendly borders. Texas is now home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the U.S. But even as Texas population growth is outpacing that of the U.S. on the whole, job creation is still exceeding the labor market. Chris Strayer, executive vice president of economic development for the Fort Worth Chamber, says this is a good problem to have. DFW is a growing market, he told me. Were a hub for the central U.S. and full of opportunities. And workers are following the jobs to North Texas. Rising prices and inflation, too, are sending people some of whose families had learned to live on a single income during the pandemic back into the labor market. Still, he acknowledged, its tough for some businesses, particularly those in tertiary industries, to find help. He emphasized the need for businesses to focus on building the workforce of tomorrow, by getting involved in K-12 schools, improving job training and readiness programs, and identifying under-employed workers for specialized skill development. The workers are there, he said, especially for those businesses that are looking and accessing worker development resources. But that doesnt solve the immediate labor force shortage. As my Waco friend put it: Right now, we need bodies. That might mean that businesses need to take a chance on unskilled workers and get them on-the-job training to develop the requisite skill sets a boon to workers. Its hard to know, of course, how the cloud of inflation and massive government spending will affect the labor market in the years to come. There are already reports of increased costs forcing large companies to get skinny. Alas, the only thing in Texas that seems skinny is the labor force. Were doing a lot better than second-tier labor markets, Strayer said. It looks hard here, but theyre really struggling. Right now, Texas still seems like a pretty good place to live and work even if it means you have to wait a few days to get your kids favorite bread. The police chief of Oak Ridge, Texas, was arrested Wednesday in connection with a prostitution case in Arlington, authorities said. Oak Ridge Police Chief Thomas Peoples, 55, also was fired on the day of his arrest, according to a WFAA-TV report. Oak Ridge is about 70 miles east of Fort Worth and its located in Kaufman County. Arlington police said Friday that due to the nature of this case, they would be very limited in the information theyll release. Detectives with the Arlington Police Departments crimes against children unit began an investigation after a juvenile made an outcry against Peoples. Based on that investigation, Peoples was arrested Wednesday and faces one count of solicitation of prostitution from a person under 18 years of age. The investigation continued on Friday. Oak Ridge Mayor Al Rudin confirmed that Peoples was fired because of his arrest, according to WFAA. Duangphan Patphaothanun is wandering outside a childcare centre, clutching a bag full of toys. The 64-year-old grandmother wants to know when she can see her grandson, so she can place his most treasured possessions with him in his coffin - the bag includes a large plastic dinosaur. Three-year-old Pattarawut is among the 23 children who died on Thursday in a gun and knife attack at a childcare centre in Thailand's north-east. A former policeman had stormed the building, killing children as young as two while they slept, leaving at least 37 people dead. More than 90 children usually attend the centre but because of poor weather and a bus breakdown only 24 of them were there on Thursday. Only one child has survived. Police say the 34-year-old attacker - a local named Panya Kamrab - killed his wife and his step-son, before killing himself after a manhunt. His step-son used to attend the centre but hadn't been for the past month. The motive for the attack is not yet known. But police said Kamrab was fired from his job in June for drug use. "When I heard the news about the shooting, I just fainted," Duangphan said. On her phone are photos of Pattarawut, taken just hours before the shooting. Like many childcare centres, this one too regularly posts photo updates for parents to see - the images show happy, smiling faces, writing or finishing a drawing. Duangphan was one of several grieving relatives who had gathered outside the centre in Nong Bua Lamphua province on Friday morning. Captain was just shy of his third birthday Another grandmother, 46-year-old Nipha Lawongsechaison, says she lost both a grandson and granddaughter in the attack. "I am full of such pain... [and] anger because I cannot do anything," she says. She's not the only one. Others too say they are filled with grief - and unanswered questions. "Why did he take it [out] on the children? Why kill them when they did nothing to him?" says 27-year-old Naliwan Dungkhet, whose two-year-old nephew Captain also died in the attack. He was just a month away from his third birthday. Story continues Among the mourners was Komsan Norraburh. His ex-wife married the attacker who killed both her and Norraburh's three-year-old son, Worraphat. "I was at the factory [when] my friend asked me to check the news. I called my ex-wife and son to see if they were ok but no-one answered," he said. "He was a good boy who liked to talk a lot. I'm waiting to pick up his body and see his face one last time." Many of the relatives said they had waited outside the childcare centre well into the night on Thursday, while others gathered at the police station. They would eventually be greeted by the sight of pink and white coffins adorned with gold, bearing the bodies of the children, which were brought to a hospital morgue in Udon Thani and laid out in rows. Police said the armed attacker broke into the building just after lunch time on Thursday, shooting his way past a teacher and parent outside. He was recognised by one of the teachers when he burst in. Witnesses said he first shot staff - including a teacher who was eight months pregnant- before forcing his way past teachers into a room where children were napping. He then stabbed most of his victims before fleeing. Officers who rushed to the nursery were confronted with the bodies of adults and children, lying inside and outside the building. Kamrab had appeared in court the morning of the attack on charges related to the use and possible sale of methamphetamine. He had been due to face a verdict on Friday. Mass shootings in Thailand are rare, although gun ownership rates are relatively high for the region. In 2020 a soldier killed 29 people and injured dozens more in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. Thursday's attack comes less than a month after an army officer shot dead two of his colleagues at a base in Bangkok. Additional reporting by Suchada Phoisaat By Poppy McPherson and Chayut Setboonsarng UTHAI SAWANG, Thailand (Reuters) - The ex-policeman who went on a killing spree at a Thai daycare centre had risen quickly through the ranks of the police force in the capital, before a transfer to the provinces led to his use of drugs, and an abrupt halt to his career, police said. No clear motive had been established yet for the rampage on Thursday. But police said their preliminary investigation indicated Panya Khamrap was deeply troubled by marital and money problems following his suspension from police duty in January, after he admitted to using two types of methamphetamine. "He wanted to vent. We learned from his mother that on the day of the incident he was quarrelling with his wife," local police chief Chakkraphat Wichitvaidya told Reuters. "He may have wanted to do something bad." Colleagues in the local police force said he was sometimes bad-tempered and violent while he worked there. Police said Panya, 34, was agitated as he entered the daycare centre on Thursday, armed with a handgun and a large curved knife. Witnesses described how he went on a two-hour rampage, slashing to death 22 children aged 2-5 as they took an afternoon nap, shooting bystanders and driving at people in his vehicle. In all, 24 children were killed, among 38 fatalities. Panya's last victims were his wife and child before he turned his 9 mm handgun on himself at his home in a village 3 km (1.9 miles) away from the nursery school. It was one of the world's worst child death tolls in a massacre by a single person in recent history. Just hours before the massacre, Panya had appeared in court on drugs charges. Police said he then headed to the daycare centre to search for his son, who had not attended that day. It was not clear if Panya still used drugs. An autopsy report indicated had not used them on the day of the attack, national police chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat said on Friday. Story continues "We see that the quarrel with his wife is the main issue. They had longstanding problems," Damrongsak said. "The reasons are probably unemployment, no money, and family issues." HOT-TEMPERED, VIOLENT According to his police record, Panya started his career in Bangkok and worked in two different police districts in the city's commercial heart. During his time in the capital he was made lance corporal, then corporal, before being promoted to sergeant in 2019. Local police told Reuters Panya's behaviour changed after he relocated to Nong Bua Lumphu province in the northeast. Panya kept himself to himself but was sometimes hot-tempered and violent, the local police said, citing his fellow officers who said he fought with colleagues, who were aware of his drugs use. A woman described as the killer's mother was interviewed on Thursday by local television on Thursday, which blurred her face on camera and withheld her name to protect her identity, which Reuters could not independently verify. She said her son's behaviour changed when he gave up his life in Bangkok to look after her in the countryside. "He started using drugs when he moved here after being stationed in Bangkok for six years. He moved here to take care of me," she told Channel 3 . "He used drugs, didn't sell them. He would buy them." Of her reaction when learning of her son's killing spree, she said "I almost fainted. I felt so much sorrow." (Reporting by Poppy McPherson in Uthai Sawang and Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Jiraporn Kuhakan; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Frances Kerry) Shaye Brown poses for a portrait in her home in Paterson, N.J., on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.CREDIT: Bryan Anselm for Time Shaye Brown in her home in Paterson, N.J., on Oct. 5. Brown resigned as a special education teacher in Paterson Public Schools for a higher salary at a neighboring district. She knows leaving will make Paterson's teacher shortage worse; her 9-year-old son's class in the district lacks a permanent teacher. Credit - Bryan Anselm for TIME Shaye Brown is uniquely familiar with the nations teacher shortage. About a week into the school year, she learned that her 9-year-old son, who is in a specialized class for students with autism, would not have a full-time teacher because of an acute shortage of teachers at Paterson Public Schools in New Jersey. Instead, a substitute teacher is filling in. And on Sept. 12, she resigned from her job as a special education teacher in the same district to take a better paying job at a neighboring school. She knows her decision will make Patersons teacher shortage worse. I take being a special educator very seriously, but I have to care for my children, says Brown, who makes $59,000 per year in Paterson. Her new district, which is about two miles away in Prospect Park, is paying her $4,500 more per year. I have to live. I have to pay my bills. Patersonwhere a third of the 26,000 students live below the poverty linehad about double the districts normal number of vacant teacher jobs at the end of the school year in June. While administrators managed to hire some 150 teachers over the summer, the district still started this school year with 125 open teaching positions, growing to 137 vacancies as teachers left mid-year. The teacher shortage is likely to keep getting worse; Browns last day will be Nov. 11. More from TIME The problem in Paterson is reflected in districts across the country. More than half of public school principals reported that their school was understaffed entering this school year, especially for special-education positions, according to a U.S. Education Department survey published Sept. 27. Thats compared to 20% who said they were understaffed before the pandemic. But, like so much of education in the U.S., this problem isnt affecting all schools equally. Several teachers told TIME they were leaving Paterson for school districts that could pay them better and offered more resources. At least one survey has found that schools in lower-income areas are more likely to have vacancies. Story continues No homework, classes in auditoriums Meanwhile, students are suffering the consequences. At Eastside High School in Paterson, nearly 600 students are currently enrolled in science classes that lack a full-time teacher, with four substitutes filling in as the school tries to fill five vacancies for science teachers. A spokesperson for the district said the schools supervisor of science has been uploading lessons and assignments for those students, who receive grades via a virtual learning platform. Some students dont have a teacher for their science classes at all, and are working on assignments in the schools auditorium under staff supervision. In addition to paying existing staff extra money to cover classes with vacancies, the district says it will soon begin paying teachers a stipend to grade work for classes without permanent teachers. A month into her senior year at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, 17-year-old Abriannie Lima has permanent gym and English teachers, but has a rotation of substitute teachers in three other classes, where she says she has still has received no homework or graded assignments this year. (A spokesperson for the district says classes without permanent teachers have assignments posted online every day.) Its hard because its my last year. We actually havent been in school for almost two years, says Lima. Sometimes I just dont feel like going because theres no point in going if I have no teachers. Thats exactly what worries Brown, who fears her son will fall behind in writing and math without a certified special education teacher. The pandemic led to some of the biggest declines in academic achievement recorded in the last 50 years and widened the achievement gap between Black students and white students. As schools try to help students catch up, their solutions include small-group instruction and individual tutoringwhich are nearly impossible to offer when schools dont have enough educators. Youre talking about gaps in learning. We are still suffering from COVID, Brown says. I feel like now with the vacancies, were never going to be able to catch up. Teacher shortage: An unequal problem While surveys throughout the pandemic hinted at a looming mass exodus of teachers, that hasnt come to pass. And some experts point out that many school districts have been using federal relief funds to hire more teachers and staff than they had before the pandemic. Researchers found at least 36,000 vacant teaching positions across the country and at least 163,000 positions that are held by under-qualified teachers, according to a working paper published by Brown Universitys Annenberg Institute in August. Their analysis shows the problem varies widely by state. Mississippi, for example, has about 68 vacancies for every 10,000 students. New Jerseya state that, alongside cities like Paterson, is also home to some of the wealthiest communities in Americahas just one vacancy for every 10,000 students, based on data from the 2021-22 school year. And certain districts are struggling more acutely. Schools serving more students of color and schools in high-poverty neighborhoods reported a larger percentage of teacher vacancies than schools serving mostly white students and schools in wealthier areas, according to an Education Department survey from January. Even before the pandemic, high-poverty schools had about twice the teacher turnover rate of low-poverty schools. Public school funding in the U.S. depends heavily on property taxes. As a result, districts serving wealthier, white students tend to be better resourced than those serving low-income students and students of color. Thats partially why high-poverty districts, with less money for teacher raises and other resources, are more likely to have teacher shortages right now. Even if we provide class coverage, its not the same as having your own teacher, says Paterson Superintendent Eileen Shafer, adding that the district has often dealt with vacancies, but has typically been able to fill the positions before September. In Paterson, where about 60% of students are Latino and 25% are Black, two-thirds of students are considered economically disadvantaged, according to state data. In New Jersey, state funding makes up much of the local funding gap in poorer school districtsthough Paterson is in the midst of contract negotiations with the teachers union, which is calling for an increased starting salaries and regular raises. While teachers have long raised concerns about being underpaid and disrespected, the wage gap between teachers and other professions has grown worse over time. In 2021, teachers earned 23.5% less than college graduates with a comparable education level, a record high since 1996, according to the Economic Policy Institute. To try to fill the vacancies, Paterson Public Schools is holding two virtual job fairs each month and is planning to prioritize recruiting new college graduates in December and May. The district is also offering a $7,500 bonus to teachers who sign a two-year contract. But Jess Katz, an English teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, calls the new teacher bonus a slap in the face to educators who worked for the district through the height of the pandemic. She recently resigned from Paterson to transfer to another district with better pay and more school resourcesincluding a theater program, which she says JFK High doesnt offer. That school also has no teacher vacancies, which means Katz will be able to focus on her own classes without covering for missing colleagues. Once she leaves in November, she says there will only be two remaining English teachers for juniors at her school, when there were once four. A district spokesperson says some classes have been combined to make up for those resignations and said all classes would be covered by someone certified to teach English. Half our juniors wont have what they need in this crucial year before senior year, Katz says. My biggest concern is that these kids are not going to be ready for the next phase of their lives. So far this year, Katz has been asked to use prep periods to cover for other classes with vacancies, but says shes not given enough notice to prepare lessons and is sometimes covering math or science classes outside her expertise. She usually takes attendance and supervises students while they work on assignments for other classes. Katz worries about who will cover her classes when she leaves and whether anyone will be there to teach her juniors about writing their college application essayssomething she typically covers at the end of the year. It puts them at such a deficit, to get into college, to go into any career they want because they dont have the fundamentals that they need, she says. This is a crucial year. Katz says her new school is paying her $15,000 more per year. Brown says the pay raise she negotiated was worth the change because shell be able to pay bills more easily and afford extracurricular activities for her son. Shes still hoping Paterson will make changes like regular pay raises that would keep more teachers in the district and stem the shortage. This is where you really need to invest, Brown says. We need a teacher in every classroom. This is not negotiable. ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the central bank of Ethiopia, on Friday disclosed the decision to freeze the bank accounts of more than 391 individuals accused of trading foreign currencies in the parallel market in a bid to ease forex shortage. The individuals have had their bank accounts frozen upon NBE's order, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) quoted Yinager Dessie, the governor of NBE, as saying. Dessie further said that bank officers and associate employees, who are allegedly working as accomplices in the illegal money transfer, will be investigated and actions will be taken against them. The NBE disclosed that those who import foreign goods via Franco-Valuta are required to submit a bank statement to NBE that confirms the amount of foreign currency they have abroad. Franco-Valuta privilege is basically a permission to import goods on which foreign exchange is not payable following the strict payment procedures implemented by banks and regulated by the NBE. The NBE further added that certain types of goods bought abroad in hard currencies will be restricted from entering the country. Meanwhile, as part of the ongoing efforts to control illicit foreign currency transfers across the parallel market, the Ethiopian government announced that it will reward those who unmask illicit foreign currency transfers. The new measures are expected to help ease the country's pressing foreign currency deficit, which is considered one of the country's major economic bottlenecks. The Ethiopian government had previously introduced comprehensive efforts to address the situation. Among such efforts include the privatization of some economic sectors to domestic and foreign investors. The latest measures by the NBE came as the gap between informal and official exchange rates hit a record high in Ethiopia. In recent days, one U.S. dollar has been trading as high as 94 Ethiopian birrs on the parallel market, while the official rate remained around one U.S. dollar to 52.8 Ethiopian birrs. PzH 2000 Read also: Ukraine needs German and US tanks, countrys PM says Originally, German PzH 2000s were to be repaired in Lithuania, but due to the cost of transportation, Berlin next planned to send the howitzers to Poland for repair. However, the agreement failed due to Poland insisting its company PGZ handled the repairs. Warsaw demanded confidential information about the design of the equipment, which, according to the publication's sources, cannot be given for reasons of commercial secrecy. Read also: Germany sends five armored repair and evacuations vehicles to Ukraine, with ten more planned The German military believes the howitzers are wearing out more quickly than anticipated due to the high a frequency of shooting, which puts a huge load on the howitzers loading mechanism, writes Spiegel. It said 100 shots a day was high-intensity use. Read also: $170 millions worth of Russian tanks destroyed by Ukrainian drones Also, according to the publication, from the very beginning, the Ukrainian military tried to fire special ammunition at too great a distance. In total, Germany together with the Netherlands transferred 22 systems of this type to Ukraine. The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a German self-propelled howitzer with an automatic loading system and a high level of automation of all systems. The weapon can carry 60 shells and 228 modular projectile charges. The firing range for standard ammunition is 30 kilometers. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine MASERU, Lesotho (AP) Vote counting has begun in southern Africa's tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho following a day when thousands of citizens in urban and rural areas voted to elect the countrys 120 legislators. Soon after the polls closed, electoral officials were seen verifying voters rolls at various polling stations. The Independent Electoral Commission will announce the official results, which some expect will come by Tuesday. No major disruptive incidents in the voting have been reported, although some accounts from voters and polling officials indicated that some people whose names were not on the voters roll were turned away. At one station in Thaba Tseka district in the rural part of the country, the expected turnout was almost half of the number of registered voters expected. The elections are a tight race between the top three parties out of a field of more than 60 registered political parties. Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mathibeli Mokhothu of the Democratic Congress party is running against his current coalition partner Nkaku Kabi of the All Basotho Convention and businessman-turned-politician Sam Matekane of the Revolution for Prosperity. Friday was a public holiday to encourage voting by the country's 2.1 million people. Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa. Lesothos King Letsie III presides over a constitutional monarchy but has virtually no political power. Whichever party wins enough representatives in the National Assembly to form a government will select the new prime minister. With so many parties contesting the election, a coalition is very likely, say experts. At a polling station in Thetsane, an industrial area of the capital Maseru, a mix of elderly, women and young people waited in line as voting got off to a slow start after polls opened at 7 a.m. Many voters told The Associated Press that they hoped the election of new leaders would bring change as the country is facing high levels of employment, increasing crime and political instability. Story continues Tseliso Seutlwadi, 32, who is unemployed was among the first to vote. We need a change and it will only be brought by us through our votes. Basically unemployment is too high in this country. We have university degrees but we know that only 10% of people get hired. What happens to the rest? asked Seutlwadi. He said that many people had lost jobs at the factories during the COVID-19 pandemic and some had turned to crime and prostitution to make a living. As young people we want to have an impact on the future of this country. We can see factories closing down, rape against women is on the rise, we have to stand up as young people and influence what happens in this country, said 37-year-old Ntsoaki Lenea. The garment-making industry is Lesothos largest employer after the government and had more than 45,500 textile workers at the beginning of 2020, but about 25% of those jobs were lost during the pandemic, according to official statistics. About 320,000 people in Lesotho are currently experiencing a severe food crisis and are in urgent need of aid to save lives, reduce food gaps, protect and restore livelihoods and prevent acute malnutrition, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Election observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community are in Lesotho to assess the electoral process. TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp's truck- and bus-making unit Hino Motors said on Friday four officials would step down and it would demand the return of some compensation from past managers, following an engine data scandal. Three executives overseeing production and compliance and a senior official in charge of technology development would resign, Hino said in a statement. "Hino is committed to reflecting seriously on our past mistakes," it added, vowing to bring about lasting change. "Our actions have greatly affected customers and other stakeholders." The firm will also demand the return of some compensation from former managers in roles from 2003, and others identified in a company-commissioned investigation report as being involved in a problematic environment. Current president Satoshi Ogiso, who long worked for Toyota and took the role in 2021, will keep his position but return half his compensation every month for six months. Others face pay cuts up to 30% for three months or demotion. In a statement after the Hino announcement, Toyota said it would share know-how with Hino, such as ways to respond to suppliers affected by the issue. The scandal has tarnished Hino's reputation as it admitted to falsifying data on some engines dating to 2003, or at least a decade earlier than originally indicated. A total of about 640,000 vehicles have been affected, or more than five times the figure initially revealed. In an August report, the investigative committee tasked by Hino blamed the scandal on an environment in which engineers did not feel able to challenge superiors. But a transport ministry investigation after release of the report found additional misconduct in engine data tests for smaller trucks, forcing a suspension of those shipments. Hino became a Toyota subsidiary in 2001 and nearly all Hino presidents since have been Toyota employees. (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama, David Dolan and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes and Clarence Fernandez) The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned seven Iranian government and security leaders on Thursday for their suppression of womens rights protests using violence and censorship. The figures sanctioned by the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are attempting to squash demonstrations sparked by the arrest of Mahsa Amini by Irans Morality Police. Amini was severely beaten and then died while in custody after being arrested for wearing her hijab improperly. Iranian women are required by Islamic law to cover their heads, necks and hair using a hijab. The United States condemns the Iranian governments Internet shutdown and continued violent suppression of peaceful protest and will not hesitate to target those who direct and support such actions, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson in response to Thursdays sanctions. OFAC named Iranian Minister of the Interior Ahmad Vahidi and Minister of Information and Communications Technology Eisa Zarepour as two of the foremost human rights offenders in the countrys response to the protests. Vahidi has overseen the response of the countrys Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) to protests over Aminis death. The LEFs attempts to violently subdue citizens have resulted in more than 100 deaths. The minister, who has threatened protesters and openly encouraged law enforcements brutal tactics in past weeks, previously oversaw the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that killed 85 people and wounded hundreds more. Zarepour is behind the Iranian governments blockage of citizens Internet access and claims that social media platforms are contributing to the continued protests. The communications head has indicated that the government will continue its censorship until protests die down, according to OFAC. The Department of the Treasury also named LEF Deputy Operations Commander Hossein Sajedinia, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Deputy Political Commander Yadollah Javani, Iranian Cyber Police leader Vahid Mohammad Naser Majid, IRGC commander Hossein Nejat and LEF police chief in Tehran Hossein Rahimi in the sanctions. Story continues The leaders of the LEF and IRGC order undercover officers in their respective organizations to identify and punish women who violate the dress code of the morality police. The LEFs Nazer plan (meaning observe in Persian), spearheaded by Rahimi, stations Morality Police officers throughout Tehran to punish women who fail to observe government-mandated standards of modesty. The sanctions against these seven leaders are pursuant to Executive Orders 13553, authorizing sanctions in response to serious human rights abuses by the Iranian government, and 13846, authorizing sanctions in response to censorship by Iran. The first order was handed down by former President Obama in 2010 and the second by former President Trump in 2018. Any U.S. property of the seven Iranians sanctioned must now be blocked and reported to OFAC, including property interests of which the sanctioned individuals have up to 50 percent ownership. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The 34-year-old boyfriend of a Tri-Cities woman found dead in the Columbia River is being held in a Portland, Ore., jail on a fugitive from justice warrant. Richard Michael Jacobson was arrested less than three days after Brandy Ebanezs body was found in the water by a fisherman on Sept. 27. Shed been wrapped in plastic bags and dumped in the water many days before she was found, say investigators. Shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept. 30, Jacobson was booked into the Multonomah County jail by Portland police. Online jail records on Friday show he continues to be held on a felony fugitive warrant with no bail and on an unknown Multonomah County hold. Its unclear what the warrant is for and Tri-Cities police have not said if it is in connection to the 34-year-old Kennewick mother of two. On Friday, investigators confirmed for the first time that they considered her death a homicide after her family posted about her death. Lets just call a spade a spade she was MURDERED, said a social media post shared by Brandy Ebanezs sister Breann Ebanez. She was killed, then her body was put in the water to not be found ... like she didnt matter. The Benton County Sheriffs Office with help from Kennewick and Richland detectives have been investigating Ebanezs death since her body was found just off shore, east of the cable bridge. Investigators believe she had been in the river for a while before she was discovered, Lt. Jason Erickson confirmed to the Herald. Kennewick police helped search Ebanezs apartment on the 3700 block of West Kennewick Avenue on Sept. 29, where she reportedly lived with Jacobson and two children. Evidence collected thus far confirms this was not a random incident and detectives with Kennewick PD and the Benton County Sheriffs Office are actively investigating this as a homicide, Kennewick Sgt. Joe Santoy wrote in a news release Friday. Until now officials have been reluctant to release much about her death or the investigation. And they had not made public that it was a murder investigation until Friday. Story continues Santoy said they would release more information soon but no information on a suspect was released. Benton County Superior Court records show Ebanezs mother filed this week for emergency guardianship of Brandys daughters, ages 12 and 9. Details of the custody request are not public. Jacobson was in Portland with the two girls when he was arrested on Sept. 30, according to investigators. Missing for 2 weeks Brandy Ebanez was one of six children who grew up in Pahala, Hawaii. She moved to the Tri-Cities six years ago. A GoFundMe campaign created by Melrae Smith said she was loved by everyone who knew her. Smith was raising money to help the Ebanez family with travel costs and other expenses. She had the biggest heart and cared so much for people, Smith wrote. If you ever knew Brandy, you know she would have your back no matter what. She was a great caring mother of two adorable daughters. Because of this heinous act of violence, she will never get to teach her two girls how to drive. Shell never get to watch them graduate. She wont get to watch them walk down the aisle when they get married and all the little beautiful and precious moments in between, according to the image posted by Breann Ebanez. Breann Ebanez has previously said through Facebook that her sister had been reported missing but its unclear when. She told a Honolulu television station that they werent able to reach their sister for more than two weeks. She thanked the fisherman who discovered her body and urged anyone with information to contact the Benton County Sheriffs Office. They can be reached at 509-735-6555. Tropical Storm Julia formed Friday morning in the southern Caribbean Sea and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it churns toward Central America over the next couple of days. "Warm waters and low wind shear should allow the system to ramp up quickly upon reaching the southwestern Caribbean," said AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno. A hurricane watch is in effect for most of the east coast of Nicaragua, the National Hurricane Center said. As of 11 a.m. ET Friday, the center of Julia was 110 miles west of the northern tip of Colombia's Guajira Peninsula. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west at 18 mph. When and where will Julia hit? The official forecast now brings Julia to the coast of Nicaragua by Sunday morning, which is a little sooner than was expected, according to the Hurricane Center. After landfall, Julia and its remnants should remain over Central America and southern Mexico through Tuesday. The forecast path of Tropical Storm Julia shows it making landfall in Nicaragua on Sunday morning as a hurricane. Julia is forecast to make landfall at a similar location to Hurricanes Eta and Iota, a pair of Category 4 storms that devastated the coast of Nicaragua in 2020, AccuWeather said. Although Nicaragua may see the worst impacts from the storm, AccuWeather said that people living in areas from Panama and Costa Rica to Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and southeastern Mexico should also be prepared for Julia. HURRICANE SCALE: What is the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale? Breaking down the hurricane category scale What will be Julia's main impacts? Some spots in Central America could see as much as 15 inches of rain from Julia, according to the Hurricane Center. This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through this weekend. In addition, a storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of Nicaragua in areas of onshore winds. WHAT IS STORM SURGE? Explaining a hurricane's deadliest and most destructive threat Story continues Winds of up to 85 mph are possible where the storm makes landfall. Julia is the 10th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which is about two weeks later than the "J" storm arrives in an average year, Weather.com said. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Julia forms; path to hit Nicaragua as a hurricane Photo credit: David Livingston - Getty Images Content warning: This article contains references to murder some may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. Kim Kardashian has been clear about her decision to advocate for the wrongfully convicted. After passing the baby bar exam with a near-perfect score in 2021 and inking a podcast deal with Spotify in 2020, she has officially launched Kim Kardashian's The System: The Case of Kevin Keith podcast. The reality star-turned-mogul-turned-criminal justice activist narrates the podcast alongside true-crime producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi. The podcast's debut season details the story of Kevin Keith, who was sentenced to death following a triple homicide conviction in 1994. Kardashian and Ansaldi will share investigation tapes, old news briefings, recreations of court transcripts, and interviews with Keith, his family members, and other officials who were involved with the case throughout the podcast. Ahead, find everything we know about Kim Kardashian's The System: The Case of Kevin Keith podcast, from its release date to reactions from surviving victims. When does Kim Kardashian's The System: The Case of Kevin Keith air on Spotify? On Monday, October 3, Spotify released the first two episodes of the podcast. New installations of the eight-episode podcast will air every Monday. What is Kim Kardashian's The System: The Case of Kevin Keith about? On February 13, 1994, a gunman approached Marichell Chatman's apartment at the Bucyrus Estates Complex in Bucyrus, Ohio, between 8:45 pm and 9:00 pm. Six people were present at Chatman's home, including her boyfriend, Richard Warren, her four-year-old daughter Marchae and Chatman's two younger cousins that she was babysitting, Quanita and Quentin Reeves, and her aunt Linda Chatman, who stopped by to pick up Chatman's two younger cousins for their mother. The gunman reportedly ordered everyone in the house to lie down before he opened fire, killing Marichell, Linda, and Marchae. The three other victims survived their wounds. Story continues Two days later, Keith was arrested at his fiance's home in Crestline, Ohio, and charged with three counts of aggravated murder and three counts of attempted aggravated murder. Keith, who has maintained his innocence, claims he was never questioned by the police upon his arrest. His trial began three months later, on May 10, 1994, and lasted two weeks before he was convicted and sentenced to death. Why are there questions about Keith's conviction? Keith reportedly had an alibi at the time of the crime. For nearly three decades, Keith and his family have been working to prove his innocence. In September 2010, Ohio's then-governor Ted Strickland commuted Keith's sentence from death to life without parole 13 days before he was scheduled to be executed. According to The Canton Repository, the Ohio Public Defender's Office asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review Keith's case and grant him a new trial in 2018. This decision came in the wake of questions about the credibility of G. Michele Yezzo, a now-retired Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) analyst whose testimony linked Keith to the crimes. According to the Columbus Dispatch, "two former attorneys general, defense attorneys, a judge, a former BCI superintendent, and a nationally renowned forensic expert from the FBI all say that Yezzo has credibility issues that may have poisoned cases she touched." What does Kim Kardashian hope to achieve with The System? Kardashian wants to use The System to give Keith a platform to raise awareness about his conviction and shine a light on the flaws within the criminal justice system. "That's why I'm really hopeful with this podcast. Just to get your story out there," she told Keith on the debut episode. "I think it's so important for people to understand that, just our system is so f****d up." She opened up to television producer Lori Rothschild who specializes in true crime about what inspired her to learn more about Keith's case. "I've only been on the case about a year," Kardashian said. "It really spoke to me. The whole situation sucks. And I just don't feel like he was given a fair shot." What have the victims said about the podcast? Three of the six shooting victims survived the 1994 incident, two of whom shared their thoughts on the podcast to Daily Mail. Siblings Quanita and Quentin Reeves were six and four at the time of the shooting. They both were shot in the stomach during the crime and stood firm in their initial testimony, along with the other surviving victim, that Keith was the shooter. Both siblings deny ever being contacted by Kardashian or Spotify in regard to the podcast. "She did not contact us, not one time. If Kim Kardashian wants to get involved, she should come and meet us face-to-face," Quentin told the outlet. According to Quanita and Quentin, Keith was friends with their father, and they recalled seeing him point a gun at their relatives. "We saw it with our own eyes. You don't forget something like that, Quentin said. "I don't care what Kim Kardashian says Kevin did it." Both siblings agreed that Keith seemed "nervous" when he entered the Bucyrus, Ohio, home on the night of the shooting. According to Quanita and Quentin, he reportedly asked for multiple glasses of water before retrieving a gun, ordering everyone to "get on the ground," and beginning shooting. "It was Kevin. He came in and shot up the place," Quanita said. You Might Also Like A Proud Boys leader has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy over the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Jeremy Bertino is the first member of the far-right group to make a guilty plea on those charges. He also accepted charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person before US District Court Judge Tim Kelly on Thursday. Meanwhile, federal agents believe they have sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and making false statements to purchase a firearm, The Washington Post reports. The Post reported on Thursday that investigators probing the activities of Joe Bidens son believe they had gathered enough evidence some several months ago, and that the decision now rests in the hands of local US attorneys. Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska one of seven Republican Senators who voted to convict Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 riot, announced he would resign from the Senate to serve as president of the University of Florida. The University of Florida, which is based in Gainesville, announced him as the sole finalist for its position as president. Mr Trump gloated about it on Truth Social, writing, Great news for the United States Senate, and our Country itself. Liddle Ben Sasse, the lightweight Senator from the great State of Nebraska, will be resigning. If he knew he was going to resign so early in his term, why did he run in the first place? But its still great news! The University of Florida will soon regret their decision to hire him as their President. Key points Ben Sasse, one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump, to resign from the Senate Haberman believes Trump is going to become more overt in racist attacks Trump claims he would beat a Washington-Lincoln ticket by 40 points What has Hunter Biden been accused of, and what comes next? Trump takes credit for DeSantis winning governor election in new audio Trump may still be hiding more secret documents, DoJ official believes: report 01:32 , Graeme Massie Story continues Donald Trump may still be hiding more top-secret documents he took from the White House at the end of his presidency Department of Justice officials believe, a report claims. A top official, Jay I Bratt, informed the former presidents lawyers that the government believes he has not yet returned all the material in his possession, two people briefed on the matter told The New York Times. Trump may still be hiding more secret documents, DoJ official believes: report Inside the nastiest and potentially most important Senate race in the country 01:01 , Graeme Massie A race that could determine control of the Senate, and the direction of the country for at least the next four years, was always going to be fiercely fought. But even in the cut-and-thrust of Trump-era politics, few could have predicted just how bitter the campaign for Pennsylvanias seat would become. With one month to go until election day, the race between Democrat John Fetterman and his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz has the dubious honour of becoming the nastiest in the country, and there is little sign that either side is slowing down. Eric Garcia has the story. John Fetterman and Dr Oz: Inside the nastiest Senate race in the country What has Hunter Biden been accused of, and what comes next? Friday 7 October 2022 00:25 , Graeme Massie The Washington Post reported stunning news on Thursday federal investigators believe they have a chargeable case against Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden. Even more interestingly, they have felt that the case is sufficient to go to court for the past several months, according to the Post. John Bowden has the story. What has Hunter Biden been accused of, and what comes next? Trump mocks Ben Sasse and brands him lightweight' Thursday 6 October 2022 23:50 , Graeme Massie The former president attacked the US Senator from Nebraska, who is one of just seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump over the January 6 insurrection. Great news for the United States Senate, and our Country itself. Liddle Ben Sasse, the lightweight Senator from the great State of Nebraska, will be resigning, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. If he knew he was going to resign so early in his term, why did he run in the first place? But its still great news! The University of Florida will soon regret their decision to hire him as their President. Ben Sasse, one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump, to resign from the Senate Thursday 6 October 2022 23:32 , Graeme Massie Nebraska lawmaker was simultaneously a critic of the former president but also someone who frequently voted with him. Eric Garcia has the story for The Independent. Ben Sasse, one of seven Republican Senators who voted to convict Trump, to resign Ben Sasse to announce he is leaving US Senate, says report Thursday 6 October 2022 21:08 , Graeme Massie Ben Sasse, one of only seven GOP US Senators to vote to convict Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 riot, is set to announce he is standing down, according to a report. Mr Sasse, a Senator from Nebraska, is expected to take up a job at the University of Florida, according to Politico. He has been a regular critic of the former president during his two terms on the job. Geraldo Rivera warns DeSantis will feel the wrath of Latino voters Thursday 6 October 2022 15:40 , Johanna Chisholm Fox News political commentator Geraldo Rivera has sent a scathing message to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after his political stunt involving Venezuelan migrants. Rivera took to Twitter and predicted that Mr DeSantis will face serious consequences at the ballot box for sending two flights of migrants to Marthas Vineyard last month. Governor DeSantis will soon feel the wrath of Floridas Latino voters outraged by his toying with the lives of those Venezuelan refugees he exploited. Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) October 5, 2022 Governor DeSantis will soon feel the wrath of Floridas Latino voters outraged by his toying with the lives of those Venezuelan refugees he exploited, Rivera tweeted in reference to the more than 40 migrants who were told they were being sent to Boston to obtain work papers through a programme sponsored by the Florida government. Andrea Blanco has more here: Geraldo Rivera warns DeSantis will soon feel the wrath of Latino voters Elon Musk doubles down on pro-Putin tweets after challenge from Lindsey Graham Thursday 6 October 2022 15:20 , Johanna Chisholm Elon Musk has doubled down on his pro-Putin tweets after US senator Lindsey Graham called the Tesla billionaires comments on the Ukraine invasion dumb on Twitter. With all due respect to Elon Musk and I do respect him I would suggest he needs to understand the facts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mr Graham said in a Twitter thread on Wednesday. Suggesting we end the Russian invasion by simply giving Russia parts of Ukraine after all the suffering is dumb. It is also an affront to the bravery of the Ukrainians fighting to defend their homeland, he added. Keep reading the full report from Maroosha Muzaffar: Elon Musk doubles down on pro-Putin tweets after challenge from Lindsey Graham Herschel Walkers son strikes out at father on Twitter in wake of latest scandal Thursday 6 October 2022 15:00 , Johanna Chisholm Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walkers son, Christian Walker, who has become ensnared in his fathers latest scandal after it was reported by The Daily Beast that the Republican nominee allegedly paid for the abortion of a woman he later reportedly had a child with, had some choice words for the former football player. Wear a condom, damn, tweeted the 23-year-old social media influencer, who has been taking to Twitter in recent days to air his grievances about his father and the scandals that have plagued his campaign in recent weeks. Wear a condom, damn. Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) October 6, 2022 Mr Walker, who has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump, has run on a platform of family first values and has repeatedly voiced his support for a pro-life agenda. Liz Cheney says shed be voting Democrat if she lived in Arizona Thursday 6 October 2022 14:40 , Johanna Chisholm As GOP nominees in Arizona for secretary of state and governor have put denying the results of the 2020 election at the front of their campaigns, Republican Liz Cheney has said that it would motivate her - who has voted Republican for almost 40 years - to vote for a Democrat if she lived in the southwest state. I dont know that I have ever voted for a Democrat, said Ms Cheney while speaking Wednesday night at an event at Arizona State University. But if I lived in Arizona now, I absolutely would ... for governor and for secretary of state. Ms Cheney urged voters to steer clear of placing their ballot with Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, the GOP nominee for secretary of state, both of whom have closely aligned their campaigns and platforms with Donald Trump, who has graced each of them with his endorsement. If you care about democracy and you care about the survival of our republic, then you need to understand we all have to understand that we cannot give people power who have told us that they will not honour elections, said Rep Cheney. Haberman believes Trump is going to become more overt in racist attacks Thursday 6 October 2022 14:04 , Johanna Chisholm While promoting her newly released book about Donald Trump on CNN, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman confided in Don Lemon that she believes the former presidents racist attacks are likely only going to get worse. Ms Haberman made her remarks while appearing on Don Lemon Tonight, after the CNN host brought up the recent incident in which the ex-president made a racist comment about his former cabinet member, cabinet official Elaine Chao, where he called her Coco Chow. Are we going to see more of this, you think? Mr Lemon asked the veteran White House reporter, to which she responded, I think so. Hes leaning into it pretty aggressively. He has been much more since he left office. He was doing things like this in office as we know, but he seems to be leaning into racist statements, said Ms Haberman. Trump's hold on the GOP is on the line with just one month until the midterm elections.@maggieNYT shares her insight on the Former President and details from her new book with @donlemon. Watch: pic.twitter.com/QtgiKekc7M Don Lemon Tonight (@DonLemonTonight) October 6, 2022 Mr Lemon pointed out that during Trumps tenure in the White House, he had come out and called the then-president racist, a comment that he was widely criticised for, as he pointed out on Wednesday night. He then put the question to Ms Haberman, pointedly asking: Do you believe that hes racist? In response, Ms Haberman said everything except outright agreeing with the CNN host. Ive gotten this question a lot in the last couple of days. I think that he has made a series of racist statements over a very long period of time, and he has incorporated racial paranoia into his public persona and his political persona for decades now, she said, adding that shed uncovered certain pieces of information in her reporting of Confidence Man. His backers will say, no, no, no. Hes being misunderstood. How many times is someone misunderstanding him? Donald Trump Jr stumps for JD Vance in Ohio Thursday 6 October 2022 13:40 , Johanna Chisholm Republican Senate candidate JD Vance got a leg up from his MAGA-endorsed base on Wednesday night after Donald Trump Jr parachuted into Ohio for an event to prop up the Hillbilly Elegy author. (Vance is) someone thats outside of that establishment mold of Washington, DC, Trump Jr said at an event in Columbus. I think weve seen that you can get results from that. Youre not going to get results from the establishment on either side, frankly. Mr Vances Democratic rival in the race, Rep Tim Ryan, took to Twitter to air his grievances about the former presidents son stumping in the state for the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate, calling him a right-wing mouthpiece. Republican US Senate Nominee J.D. Vance held a rally in Perrysburg today Donald Trump Jr. joined him on the campaign trail to voice his support of Vance to local residentshttps://t.co/nGLN5T7gEJ @DonaldJTrumpJr @JDVance1 pic.twitter.com/lXTK3ZGtra Derek Heid (@DerekHeid) October 5, 2022 Right-wing mouthpiece Donald Trump Jr. is in Ohio TODAY campaigning with JD Vance. Republicans are so terrified of losing here, theyre pulling out all the stops in a last-ditch effort to defeat us. Bring it on, Don. Will you help us raise $50K toward our Rapid Response Fund, tweeted Mr Ryan. Right-wing mouthpiece Donald Trump Jr. is in Ohio TODAY campaigning with JD Vance. Republicans are so terrified of losing here, theyre pulling out all the stops in a last-ditch effort to defeat us. Bring it on, Don. Will you help us raise $50K toward our Rapid Response Fund? Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) October 5, 2022 Pennsylvania congresswoman compares Oz to Trump: Hes a fraud' Thursday 6 October 2022 13:20 , Johanna Chisholm Congresswoman Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania compared the states Republican Senate candidate - Dr Mehmet Oz - to Donald Trump, claiming that the two are one of the same in that they both are frauds. Dr Oz is very much Trump. Hes a snake oil salesman and made money selling snake oil and diet supplements, said the Democratic lawmaker while appearing on MSNBCs The Mehdi Hasan Show. Hes not from Pennsylvania. Hes a fraud, she added, while highlighting her fellow Democrat and challenger to Dr Oz, John Fetterman. The race between the two Senate candidates, which for most of the summer seemed like an easy win for Mr Fetterman, has recently tightened. The RealClearPolitics average of polls shows the Democrat with only a 4.3 per cent lead against Dr Oz within the statistical margin of error in two recent polls, while the Cook Political Report recently changed its rating from Lean Democrat to Toss Up. Rep Dean, however, believes that will all change in the next few weeks. I think that will widen and to the favour of John Fetterman winning, the Democratic congresswoman said on Mehdi Hasans show on Wednesday night. Dr. Oz is very much Trump. Hes a snake oil salesman.@RepDean on PA GOP Senate candidate Dr. Oz, as she has been campaigning for Democratic candidate John Fetterman. pic.twitter.com/Sx7wXNDuZz The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) October 6, 2022 ICYMI: Journalist Maggie Haberman says Trump is driven to run again by desire for revenge on Biden Thursday 6 October 2022 13:00 , John Bowden Moving on from his searing hatred for Hillary Clinton that was evident during the 2016 election, New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman says the former president is now motivated to make a White House bid in 2024 due to a desire for revenge against the man who beat him: Joe Biden. According to Haberman, Donald Trump misses the pomp and legal protections that the presidency afforded him, and also wants revenge on Biden, and on the media, and on a whole range of people for his embarrassing 2020 defeat. The ex-president continues to publicly hint at all of his rally appearances that he does indeed plan to run again. Few Republicans, with the notable exception of Floridas Ron DeSantis, poll within the double digits against him in hypothetical polled matchups of the 2024 GOP primary. Read more in The Independent: Maggie Haberman says Trump is driven to run again by desire for revenge on Biden Georgia election probe enters new phase with search warrants Thursday 6 October 2022 12:40 , Johanna Chisholm Just as Donald Trump is dealing with the fallout from the shocking FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, a new investigations very similar consequences appear to be looming on the horizon. A court order from the judge overseeing the grand jury investigation in Fulton County into the Trump campaigns efforts to overturn the 2020 election revealed this week that the prosecutor leading the case is now seeking search warrants. It isnt yet clear who the targets of those potential warrants could be, but it is known that a number of members of Donald Trumps legal team including Rudy Giuliani are targets of the overall investigation. Read more in The Independent: Georgia election probe enters new phase with search warrants Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes says app greatest achievement of Trumps career Thursday 6 October 2022 12:20 , Johanna Chisholm Ex-congressman Devin Nunes said during an interview that Truth Social, the social media platform owned by Trump Media and Technology Group that was founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter following the Capitol riot, that it is perhaps the shining achievement of the former presidents entire career. Can you imagine where we would be had Trump not went out and created Truth Social? said Mr Nunes, who left his position from the House of Representatives to become the apps chief executive officer. We would be in a very, very dark spot. The interview with Mr Nunes on Wednesday night arrived shortly after shares of Digital World Acquisition Cord, the special-purpose acquisition company seeking to take Mr Trumps media company public, dropped after Elon Musk announced Tuesday that he would reverse course and continue to go through with his deal to buy Twitter. Shares of the SPAC fell more than 5 per cent after the Tesla CEOs news was announced to $17.10. Maybe the most important creation in Donald Trumps whole career will be the creation of Truth Social, the ex-congressman added. CEO of floundering Truth Social, Devin Nunes: Can you imagine where we would be had Trump not went out and created Truth Social? Maybe the most important creation in Trumps career. Its why I left Congress to go and do this. pic.twitter.com/AOcOFRgqkQ Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 6, 2022 GOP plans to sue Google because its emails keep going into people's spam folders Thursday 6 October 2022 12:00 , Johanna Chisholm Fundraising and get out out the vote emails from GOP officials are allegedly being redirected to peoples spam folders on Google, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel claims. Because of this, she told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, the RNC is planning on pursuing legal action against the tech giant, telling her on Wednesday morning that it should be viewed as a warning sign to Big Tech to keep its thumb off the scale in our elections and our democracy. We are very seriously looking at how we can sue Google, said the RNC chair, noting that the California-based company controls 53 per cent of the emails in the US. We know this: For the past ten months, the last four days of every month, all of our emails go undeliverable, 0 per cent deliverability, she claimed. This is outrageous. It is voter suppression by Big Tech, and we have to find a way to hold them accountable, she added before announcing that the RNC is looking to sue and that they hoped to have an announcement on that soon. Ronna McDaniel says the RNC is going to sue Google since millions of their fundraising emails keep going into users spam boxes. pic.twitter.com/54VVLbXGiL Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 5, 2022 Trump calls for the death penalty in human traffickers, drug dealers Thursday 6 October 2022 11:35 , Johanna Chisholm Among the more wild suggestions made during a nearly hourlong keynote speech on Wednesday night in front of a roomful of conservative Latino voters in Miami, Donald Trump suggested that the crime rate in the country would drop significantly if only the US implemented a death penalty for offences like drug dealing and human trafficking. Im calling for the death penalty for drug dealer and human traffickers and youre gonna stop crime in this country, he said. Crime will go down, in my opinion, over 80 per cent in one day if its a meaningful death penalty, he added, without specifying how a meaningful death penalty would differ from other death penalties. #WATCH | I'm calling for the death penalty for drug dealers and human traffickers: Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/3JTRjxuW5A El American (@ElAmerican_) October 6, 2022 Dr Oz refuses to comment on report his research killed more than 300 dogs as Fetterman calls him puppy killer Thursday 6 October 2022 11:15 , Johanna Chisholm Trump-backed Dr Mehmet Oz has clearly been taken off guard by a new report claiming that his past medical research was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of animals, including dogs. Earlier this week, Jezebel reviewed 75 studies published in academic journals involving Dr Oz's teams at Columbia University and found Dr Oz's team had conducted experiments on at least 1,027 live animals. Of these experiments, 34 resulted in the deaths of at least 329 dogs, two killed 31 pigs, and 38 killed 661 rabbits and rodents. The Pennsylvania Senate candidate, fighting to keep a retiring GOP senators seat red, has yet to address the report as his Democratic challenger has hammered him on the issue for days. Read more from Greg Graziosi: Dr Oz refuses to comment on report his research killed more than 300 dogs Trump calls for a return to paper ballots, blasts the US voting system as a laughing stock of the world Thursday 6 October 2022 11:02 , Johanna Chisholm Former President Donald Trump gave a wide-ranging interview on the right-wing media network Real Americas Voice where he eviscerated the US for a voting system that he characterised as the laughing stock of the world and called for a return to paper ballots. I call them the fake vote store. Thats the mail in ballots. We shouldnt have mail in ballots, unless somebodys very, very sick or its military far away, the ex-president said during an interview that aired on Wednesday night on Just the News, No Noise. The one-term president compared the US voting system to the one in France, where he lauded the European nation for its practise of using paper ballots - something French President Emmanuel Macron tried to change in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic to allow for more electoral participation but was ultimately rejected by a conservative majority Senate. We should go to paper ballots, like they did in France. Thirty-six million people (voted) and they had no disputes. Everyone had paper ballots, and it was one-day voting, Mr Trump said to his host, Amanda Head. They didnt store them over there in the corner, and you see the boxes moving all over the place. The twice-impeached president went on to decry that the US is, by his assessment, a laughingstock all over the world, claiming that people from across the globe find themselves laughing at our stupid elections. When pressed about whether he was considering a bid for president in 2024, Mr Trump coyly dodged giving a straight answer but highlighted that he is still drawing large crowds for his rallies where he stumps for Republican candidates running for Congress and the Senate in the upcoming midterms. Youve seen the rallies, I think theyre bigger than ever, he said, before taking a swipe at Democrats campaigning for the November midterms who he believed were handing Republicans a victory based on some candidates platforms on police reform. These people (Democrats) still want, and they still talk about defunding the police. So I think it really should be very good for Republicans. Trump claims he would beat a Washington-Lincoln ticket by 40 points Thursday 6 October 2022 10:26 , Johanna Chisholm Donald Trump cited a pollster and claimed he would beat George Washington and Abraham Lincoln by 40 per cent, if they teamed up as president and vice president. The former president made the remarks during a speech at the Hispanic leadership conference in Miami, Florida on Wednesday. Mr Trump said famous pollster John McLaughlin told him just before the pandemic that if George Washington and Abraham Lincoln came alive from the dead and formed a president, vice president team, you would beat them by 40 per cent. Read the full story from Maroosha Muzaffar here: Trump claims he would beat a Washington-Lincoln ticket by 40 points Report: Mom of Walker's child says he paid for her abortion Thursday 6 October 2022 10:00 , John Bowden The woman who says Mr Walker paid for her abortion in 2009 is not unknown to the Georgia Senate candidate shes the mother of one of his other children, The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday. Its another shocking twist in the story which has dominated headlines since it dropped this week. And its a new headache for Mr Walker, whose own son Christian has gone on the attack on social media, pointing out in a viral Twitter video that his father has four children from four separate women. Read more in The Independent: Report: Mom of Walker's child says he paid for her abortion Trump claims friendly pollster said hed beat Washington, Lincoln Thursday 6 October 2022 09:00 , John Bowden Donald Trump made an appearance at the Hispanic Leadership conference in Miami on Wednesday where he made a bold declaration about his electability. The twice-impeached former president told a crowd that pollster John McLaughlin had told him he could defeat a ticket consisting of reanimated George Washington and zombie Abraham Lincoln a conversation he said occurred just prior to the plague coming in, apparently referring to Covid-19. Trump says pollster told him: If George Washington and Abraham Lincoln came alive from the dead and formed a President and VP team, you would beat them by 40%. pic.twitter.com/dlsQvCavdP Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 5, 2022 There may be a few reasons to doubt that claim, not least given that Mr McLaughlins firm has a C/D rating by FiveThirtyEight and according to the aggregator calls less than 75 per cent of its races correctly. Dark Brandon trends after Biden declares: No one f***s with a Biden' Thursday 6 October 2022 08:00 , John Bowden Joe Biden may have just poured gasoline on the aging Dark Brandon memes with his appearance in Florida. The president was overheard on a hot mic long his adversary throughout a decades-long political career telling a local official that no one f***s with a Biden as he toured hurricane-damaged areas in Florida. The Dark Brandon meme term was trending with thousands of tweets Wednesday evening after the video was posted. POTUS: No one fucks with a Bidenpic.twitter.com/6aGqrZfA0q Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) October 5, 2022 New poll shows Georgia Senate race trending away from Republicans Thursday 6 October 2022 07:00 , John Bowden A poll published on Wednesday from InsiderAdvantage/Fox 5 Atlanta shows a startling six-point swing in favour of the incumbent, Senator Raphael Warnock, in just a month. Mr Warnock now leads his opponent by three points in the survey, the same margin by which he trailed Mr Walker in the same firms survey from early September. Read more at The Hill: Herschel Walkers son tweets, deletes another cryptic message Thursday 6 October 2022 06:00 , John Bowden The son of Herschel Walker, who publicly excoriated his father in the wake of a story from The Daily Beast reporting that the Georgia Senate candidate paid for a womans abortion in 2009, seems to have more to say. The 23-year-old influencer tweeted and deleted the following message on Wednesday evening: God will not be mocked. Its not clear what it refers to, but it comes following his father addressing his past controversies (by reference, if not directly) in a new ad claiming to have moved on after having been saved by grace. Liz Cheney says shes only Republican willing to condemn racist attack on McConnells wife Thursday 6 October 2022 05:00 , John Bowden Congresswoman Liz Cheney commented on what she said was a sad state of affairs in her party after most GOP politicians on Capitol Hill declined to release statements or otherwise comment about a racist slur used by Donald Trump in recent days to refer to Mitch McConnells wife. The outgoing GOP representative strongly condemned both the former presidents recent remark about Elaine Chao, his former Transportation secretary, as well as members of her own party for not speaking up. When you see former President Trump just in the last 24 hours suggesting in a pretty thinly veiled way, using words that could well cause violence against the Republican leader of the Senate, saying he has a death wish and then, you know, launching an absolutely despicable, racist attack against Secretary Chao, Leader McConnells wife, and then you watch the fact that nobody in my party will say thats unacceptable, she told The Hill. Read more: Cheney sole Republican calling Trump out for racist attack on McConnells wife Trump calls on Fox News to rehire Lou Dobbs Thursday 6 October 2022 04:00 , John Bowden Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to complain about Fox Newss lineup as he faces a deluge of criminal and legal controversies. The conspiracy-slinging Fox Business Network host was fired and his show canceled just hours after the company was sued for more than $2 bn by Smartmatic, a voting machine company which found itself the target of 2020 election fraud claims. We need Lou back on T.V., now! wrote Mr Trump, linking to an article with Mr Dobbss recent commentary regarding the state of TV news. Trump campaign lawyers mocked him for being broke in newly-revealed emails Thursday 6 October 2022 03:00 , John Bowden Donald Trumps lawyers mocked his presidential campaign and made their own suggestions that he was violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution in private messages. Its the latest revelation from the January 6 committee, made in a court filing as the panel seeks to obtain emails from John Eastman, a member of Donald Trumps legal team heavily involved in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. In one email, an attorney remarked to his colleague that it was a shame the latter was not in Washington at Mr Trumps hotel so he could contribute to violation of the emoluments clause of the US Constitution. Read more: Trump campaign lawyers mocked him for being broke in newly-revealed emails Trump used ableist slur to describe his first attorney general Jeff Sessions, book says Thursday 6 October 2022 02:00 , John Bowden A new book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman reports that former president Donald Trump routinely used the slur mentally retarded to refer to Jeff Sessions, his first attorney general. Its a shockingly vicious way for Mr Trump to describe the one-time ally who was the first member of the US Senate to endorse his 2016 campaign. Mr Trump would later work to block Mr Sessions from winning back his old seat in the US Senate. Read more from The Independent: Trump used ableist slur to describe attorney general Jeff Sessions, book says Donations flood in for anti-Trump Brian Kemp Thursday 6 October 2022 01:16 , John Bowden Brian Kemp, the GOP governor of Georgia who successfully spurned Donald Trumps support after breaking with him on the issue of the 2020 election, appears to be raking in donations and on course to win his race for reelection against perennial challenger Stacey Abrams. Mr Kemp said that his campaign and his Georgians First committee had $15.4 million in cash, after spending nearly $20 million betwee July and September. Stacey Abrams is set to release her fundraising numbers in the days ahead. Read more in The Independent: Donations jump for Georgia GOP's Kemp, Warnock stays strong Trump predicted that GOP would accept Herschel Walkers abortion scandal in interview for book Thursday 6 October 2022 00:30 , John Bowden Donald Trump predicted in an interview with Maggie Haberman that voters would accept the checkered past of Herschel Walker, his chosen candidate in Georgias Senate race. The ex-president did not mention the issue of the newest revelation from The Daily Beast concerning a woman who provided an image of a personal check from Mr Walker that she said funded her abortion in 2009, but its a prescient prediction nonetheless as the story appears to be the October Surprise set to shake up the crucial race in its final weeks. Twenty years ago wouldve been a bigger problem. I dont think its a problem today, the twice-impeached ex-president said. Read more: Trump predicted that GOP would accept Herschel Walkers abortion scandal in interview Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is ordered to testify in abortion case after fleeing home to avoid subpoena Wednesday 5 October 2022 23:45 , John Bowden Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtonhas been ordered by a federal judge to testify in a high-profile abortion case just a week after he fled his home to avoid receiving a subpoena for the lawsuit. Mr Paxton has tried to avoid having to testify in the case. Last week Mr Paxton fled his home to avoid being served a subpoena related to the lawsuit. The process server said he witnessed Mr Paxton turn and run into his house when he approached and called the attorney general's name. Read more: Texas AG Ken Paxton is ordered to testify in abortion case after fleeing subpoena White House rips Opec for cutting oil production ahead of midterms Wednesday 5 October 2022 23:00 , John Bowden Joe Bidens chief spokeswoman slammed the oil-producing nations of Opec, led by Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday following an announcement that the organisation would cut global production. The timing of Opecs announcement could be catastrophic for Democrats. Voters are set to decide which parties will control the House and Senate in just a few weeks, and polls throughout the 2022 campaign season have consistently shown that gas prices, inflation and the economy as a whole remain at the top of their concerns. Read more from John Bowden in The Independent: White House blasts Opec saying it is aligning with Russia after oil production cut GOP super PAC falsely claims congressional candidate saw combat as Marine Wednesday 5 October 2022 22:15 , John Bowden A Republican political action committee had to pull a television advertisement promoting Minnesota congressional candidate Tyler Kistner after a veterans group pointed out that the ad falsely claimed he was a combat veteran. The ads takedown was spearheaded by VoteVets, a veterans political organisation that is supporting the incumbent Democrat, Rep Angie Craig. Read more from Andrew Feinberg: GOP super PAC falsely claims congressional candidate saw combat as Marine Trump-backed Walker releases new ad as polls show him slipping Wednesday 5 October 2022 21:32 , John Bowden Herschel Walker has released a new ad as polls show the gap between him and incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock, the Democrat, widening in the wake of a scandal in which Mr Walker has been accused of paying for an abortion despite being against the practice being legal. In the 30-second video, Mr Walker claims that he is saved by Grace and attributes his past controversies to a battle with mental health. He also blames his opponent, a reverend, for not believing in redemption. Watch the ad below: NEW AD: "I'm Herschel Walker, saved by grace." https://t.co/EL2b6MziYz Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) October 5, 2022 Biden praises DeSantis as he tours Florida hurricane devastation Wednesday 5 October 2022 20:36 , John Bowden Joe Biden had warm praise for Floridas Gov Ron DeSantis in the wake of Hurricane Ians destructive landfall in the state as he toured damaged areas on Wednesday. Its an interesting moment that simultaneously plays into Mr Bidens image as the calm foil of Donald Trump, who famously warred with Californias Democratic leaders after devastating wildfires in their state, while also serving to provide ammunition for Mr DeSantis in his potential (expected?) challenge for the 2024 GOP nomination likely against Mr Trump. What the governors done is pretty remarkable, Mr Biden said of his potential 2024 rival on Wednesday. "I think he's done a good job. Trump ally walks back abortion comment Wednesday 5 October 2022 19:46 , John Bowden A spokesman for Kari Lake said Tuesday the Republican candidate for Arizona governor didn't mean to suggest abortion should be legal, saying she's not calling for changes to the states near-total abortion ban. The headache for Ms Lakes campaign is a result of her telling a radio station during her first expansive interview about abortion rights as a candidate that she wanted the practice to be rare but legal and rare but safe. Polls indicate that the governors race in the southwestern swing state is deadlocked, with Ms Lakes Democratic opponent leading her by just 0.1 percentage points in a FiveThirtyEight poll average. Read more: Kari Lake walks back 'rare and legal' abortion comment Pete Buttigieg mocks Trump ally for saying he emasculates people by promoting electric cars Wednesday 5 October 2022 19:00 , John Bowden Pete Buttigieg has hit back at Marjorie Taylor Greene after she accused him of trying to emasculate people by encouraging them to opt for electric cars over carbon dioxide emitting vehicles. I literally dont even understand what that means, Mr Buttigieg said during an interview with Fox News. My sense of manhood is not connected to whether or not my vehicle is fuelled by gasoline or whether its fuelled by electricity. Read more about the latest homophobic slurs that Ms Greene is reaching towards to please her far-right base: Buttigieg mocks Greene for saying he emasculates people for promoting EVs Trump takes credit for DeSantis winning governor election in new Maggie Haberman audio Wednesday 5 October 2022 18:17 , John Bowden Donald Trump says in newly-released audio that Ron DeSantis likely wouldnt be governor at all had it not been for his endorsement. The audio clip was released to CNN on Wednesday by New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman, the product of one of her interviews with Mr Trump. Haberman released the audio as part of a press tour for her book, Confidence Man, which published on Tuesday. In the clip, Mr Trump is heard calmly describing to Haberman how he rescued Mr DeSantiss gubernatorial came from the brink of defeat. Read more: Trump takes credit for DeSantis becoming governor in new Maggie Haberman audio Maines Republican governor says hed veto 15-week abortion ban Wednesday 5 October 2022 17:30 , John Bowden In another blow to Republican unity around the issue of abortion, Maines Gov Paul LePage said on Tuesday that hed veto legislation in his state seeking to ban abortions after 15 weeks into the pregnancy. The statement is significant given that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill that would ban the practice nationwide at that same standard. Republicans have fractured as a party in the wake of the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs Wade, with no unified consensus emerging regarding what the GOPs stance should be. Read more about Mr LePages rejection of his own partys legislation: Republican LePage says he would veto 15-week abortion ban Nearly 50-point split between partisan groups approval ratings of FBI, CIA, new poll finds Wednesday 5 October 2022 17:00 , Johanna Chisholm Nearly half of Americans believe that federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), are doing good or excellent jobs, a new poll from Gallup released on Wednesday found. The poll found that the two federal agencies had experienced a recovery from findings released two years earlier, which Americans viewed much less favourably. For instance, in 2021, the CIA had an approval rating of 41 per cent, now up to 52 per cent, while the FBI went from 44 per cent last year to 50 per cent this year. By comparison, in 2019, those two agencies had 60 per cent and 57 per cent positive job ratings, respectively. Those positive job ratings, however, split along party lines, as the recent poll found that Democrats have a significantly more favourable view of the FBI and the CIA than their Republican counterparts (79 per cent of Dems and 29 per cent of Republican respondents say the FBI is doing a good job). The report notes that these findings track, as Republicans have become increasingly critical of the FBI since the probe into Russian election interference in the 2016 election kicked off in 2017 and more recently after federal agents raided the former presidents Mar-a-Lago residence in connection with an investigation into his handling of classified documents. Trump takes credit for DeSantis winning governor election in new Maggie Haberman audio Wednesday 5 October 2022 16:29 , Johanna Chisholm Donald Trump says in newly-released audio that Ron DeSantis likely wouldnt be governor at all had it not been for his endorsement. The audio clip was released to CNN on Wednesday by New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman, the product of one of her interviews with Mr Trump. Haberman released the audio as part of a press tour for her book, Confidence Man, which published on Tuesday. In the clip, Mr Trump is heard calmly describing to Haberman how he rescued Mr DeSantiss gubernatorial came from the brink of defeat. He was at 3 per cent. [But] he was a great defender of mine in the Russia hoax, he was on television, Mr Trump explained. He came to me, he said, Id love your endorsement, the former president is heard saying. I said, Ron, youre at 3 per cent. You cant win. He said, If you endorse me, I can. John Bowden has more below: Trump takes credit for DeSantis becoming governor in new Maggie Haberman audio Who is Ron DeSantis? Wednesday 5 October 2022 16:20 , Johanna Chisholm Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor who some believe arrived in the governors mansion as a result of his endorsement from then-president Donald Trump - including the former president himself - is running for reelection, albeit this time without the endorsement of the acting commander-in-chief. Unlike last time, however, the 44-year-old Republican governors political star is rising. He is now not only favoured to win reelection in the upcoming midterms, but has also been floated as a likely challenger on the GOP ticket for the 2024 presidential election to the very man who helped him get to where he is today. Here, Andrew Buncombe, the chief US correspondent of The Independent, explains why the Sunshine State governors rising prominence in the Republican Party is something that people should be paying close attention to. Statesman or culture warrior - Who is Ron DeSantis this week? Trump told Haberman that he thinks hed win very easily against anybody in 2024 Wednesday 5 October 2022 16:00 , Johanna Chisholm In one of the interviews from September 2021 between former President Donald Trump and New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, he confessed to the journalist that he believes hed very easily win against anybody if he were remount a campaign for the White House in 2024. The revelation came from an audio snippet that Ms Haberman shared on MSNBC while promoting her new book, Confidence Man, which was released on Tuesday. MSNBC host Alex Wagner introduces the clip, shared with the news outlet exclusively, by saying that Mr Trumps had come after Ms Haberman had asked about Florida Gov Ron DeSantis - potentially his greatest opponent if he should run again in 2024, as Ms Wagner described him. Well has he said to you that he wouldnt run if you ran? Ms Haberman can be heard asking as the audio clip from last year begins playing. I didnt - I never asked him, but if - if - Lets put it this way: I think Id win very easily against anybody, replies Mr Trump, before interrupting Ms Haberman to add: Im at 98 per cent in the approval. In exclusive September 2021 audio provided by @maggieNYT , Donald Trump emphasizes his approval rating as a reason why he is untroubled by the prospect of a challenge from Ron DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/Lm2BwXe1Q1 Alex Wagner Tonight (@WagnerTonight) October 5, 2022 Buttigieg mocks Greene for saying he emasculates people by promoting electric cars Wednesday 5 October 2022 15:40 , Johanna Chisholm Pete Buttigieg has hit back at Marjorie Taylor Greene after she accused him of trying to emasculate people by encouraging them to opt for electric cars over carbon dioxide emitting vehicles. The Georgia congresswoman levelled the offensive remark at Democrats like Pete Buttigieg while she was stumping in Michigan over the weekend alongside former President Donald Trump, who held the campaign-style rally where he once again voiced his unproven allegation that the 2020 election was stolen and simultaneously endorsed several Republicans in the November midterms. The transportation secretary struggled to hide a look of bemusement when the quote was read back to him by Fox News host Neil Cavuto on Tuesday night. I literally dont even understand what that means, said Mr Buttigieg. My sense of manhood is not connected to whether or not my vehicle is fuelled by gasoline or whether its fuelled by electricity, he said, before calling it a strange thing to say. Read the full report from The Independent below: Buttigieg mocks Greene for saying he emasculates people for promoting EVs Observers fret Elon Musk buyout could turn Twitter into supercharged engine of radicalisation Wednesday 5 October 2022 15:20 , Johanna Chisholm The news that Elon Musk has reprised his original $44bn offer to buy Twitter has sent shock waves through Silicon Valley, Wall Street and, of course, sparking plenty of discussion on the app itself. Few observers were pleased to learn that the mercurial billionaire was once again nearing completion for his takeover of the influential media platform, with many left worrying he would empower right-wing forces on the site. Musk made it clear that he would roll back Twitters community standards and safety guidelines, reinstate Donald Trump along with scores of other accounts suspended for violence and abuse, and open the floodgates of disinformation ... In effect, Musk will turn Twitter into a fever swamp of dangerous conspiracy theories, partisan chicanery, and operationalized harassment. ngelo Carusone, president of Media Matters for America, a nonprofit media watchdog Josh Marcus has more here: Observers fret Musk could turn Twitter into supercharged engine of radicalisation Trump told Haberman that Herschel Walkers personal history wouldnt be a problem Wednesday 5 October 2022 15:00 , Johanna Chisholm In the wake of a report that Herschel Walker allegedly paid for a womans abortion years earlier, leaders of top GOP political organisations - including former President Donald Trump - are rallying around Georgia Senate candidate in his defence. Before the Daily Beast report made headlines this week and sent shockwaves through the GOP, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman asked the former president about the former professional football players personal history. Trump talking in CONFIDENCE MAN about why the allegations about Walkers personal history wouldnt be a problem, tweeted Ms Haberman on Wednesday morning, referencing the most recent scandal to have sent the Walker campaign spinning. He does, but do you know that its a personal history, that maybe ten years ago, maybe it would have been a problem. Twenty years ago wouldve been a bigger problem. I dont think its a problem today, Trump reportedly said to Ms Haberman when asked about Mr Walkers personal history. She then asked the ex-president during that interview why he thinks that is, to which he reportedly said: Because the world is changing. Trump talking in CONFIDENCE MAN about why the allegations about Walkers personal history wouldnt be a problem pic.twitter.com/fEDg5sdGv3 Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 5, 2022 Trumps direct handling of Mar-a-Lago records could strengthen DoJ case, legal experts say Wednesday 5 October 2022 14:40 , Johanna Chisholm Legal experts are warning that the latest revelation from the Washington Post on Monday that Donald Trump reportedly packaged up more than a dozen of the initial boxes that were returned to the National Archives and kicked off the Justice Department probe could strengthen the governments case. Though the government has not indicated whether it has chosen to prosecute the former president, legal experts told The Hills Rebecca Beitsch that the Posts reporting of the presidents involvement in packing the boxes could strengthen their case, should they choose to pursue it. On Monday, the Post reported that one of Mr Trumps attorneys, Alex Cannon, had refused to comply with an ask the one-term president that he certify that all of the government material that was being stored at Trumps Florida resort had been returned. The fact that he packed them is very significant because I imagine the Justice Department is trying to resolve how much evidence they have that Trump personally knew and personally was involved in hiding the documents, Ryan Goodman, a co-director of the Reiss Center on Law and Security at New York University School of Law, told The Hill. Read the full report from The Hill here. Georgia Republican Party is partially funding lawyers for fake Trump electors in Fulton County probe, report claims Wednesday 5 October 2022 14:20 , Johanna Chisholm The District Attorney in Fulton County, Georgia is alleging in a new court filing that the Georgia Republican Party is providing the legal funds for many of the so-called fake electors who are currently under investigation for their supposed involvement in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Yahoo News reports. According to campaign finance filings that the news outlet reviewed, the Republican Party in Georgia paid $35,419 last July to two lawyers who are representing 11 of 16 party operatives and activists and activists who declared themselves on Dec. 14, 2020, the duly elected and qualified electors from the state pledged to Donald Trump despite the fact that Joe Biden had won the popular vote there. Read the full report here. Trump used slur to describe his first attorney general, book says Wednesday 5 October 2022 14:00 , Johanna Chisholm A new book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman says former president Donald Trump routinely used a slur often employed to describe persons with intellectual disabilities when speaking of the first person to serve as attorney general in his administration, ex-Alabama senator Jeff Sessions. Mr Sessions, who was the first member of the upper chamber to endorse Mr Trump during the 2016 election and advised his campaign, drew the then-presidents ire and scorn after he followed Department of Justice policy by recusing himself from the departments probe into ties between Mr Trumps campaign and the Russian government. Read more: Trump used slur to describe his first attorney general, book says Pete Buttigieg disputes Marjorie Taylor Greenes remarks about electric cars being emasculating' Wednesday 5 October 2022 13:40 , Johanna Chisholm While rallying with Donald Trump in Michigan over the weekend, Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene went on the attack against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and accused the Democrat of trying to emasculate the way we drive for promoting greener forms of transportation. On Tuesday night, the transportation secretary was asked about the Republican congresswomans comment, which he struggled to hide a sincere look of bemusement when the quote was read back to him by Fox News host Neil Cavuto. Democrats like Pete Buttigieg want to emasculate the way we drive and force all of you to rely on electric vehicles, the quote from Ms Greene read. Mr Cavuto then asked what Mr Buttigieg thought of the Georgia congresswomans comments. I literally dont even understand what that means, he replied. My sense of manhood is not connected to whether or not my vehicle is fuelled by gasoline or whether its fuelled by electricity, he said, before noting that her remarks were a strange thing to say. You know, to be honest, there are other members of Congress that I pay more attention to when Im thinking about opinions that really matter or ideas that are going to be critical to engage with. My sense of manhood is not connected to whether my vehicle is fueled by gasoline or whether its fueled by electricity, says @SecretaryPete. pic.twitter.com/vmrwJSPxBm Adam Wren (@adamwren) October 4, 2022 New York Democrat says he wouldnt back Biden or Trump in 2024 presidential race Wednesday 5 October 2022 13:20 , Johanna Chisholm Former Rep Max Rose, who is running against Republican congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis in the race to represent New Yorks 11th Congressional District, said on 6 Oclock News on FOX 5 NY that he wouldnt back President Joe Biden or ex-president Donald Trump in the 2024 bid for the White House. I do not think that Donald Trump should run 2024. I do not think that Joe Biden should run in 2024, Mr Rose, who previously worked in the Biden administration, said. Im sick and tired of that generation being in power. Weve got to move on. We have to turn the page, not just on this politics of ineffectiveness, but also these politics of division and vitriol. It's time to move on as a nation, he added. Two adults have been arrested after an abused young boy was forced to sleep outside, sometimes without food, South Carolina cops say. Domonic Jamal Davis, 29, was arrested and charged Thursday, Oct. 6 with abuse by inflicting great bodily injury upon a child and unlawful conduct toward a child, the Florence County Sheriffs Office says. The boys mother, whom McClatchy News is not naming to protect the childs identity, was also arrested and charged Oct. 6, according to the sheriffs office. She was charged with abuse by allowing another person to inflict great bodily harm upon a child and unlawful conduct toward a child. Between Nov. 12, 2019, and Aug. 16, officials say Davis used multiple objects to repeatedly assault the young boy. The boy was between the ages of 9 and 11 years old during the two years he was abused. Investigators say the assaults left the child with severe scarring on the body and several broken bones. Objects used in the abuse include Davis hands and feet, extension cords, metal poles and wooden boards, cops say. Davis also is accused of forcing the boy to sleep outside, sometimes refusing to give him food. Officials say the boys mother failed to report his injuries or seek medical attention. Both adults are being held at the Florence County Detention Center while they await their bond hearings, cops say. Florence is about 80 miles east of Columbia. 3-year-old boy dies after overdosing on fentanyl, NC cops say. His mom is charged Deacon took video of young boys while they used the church bathroom in Florida, feds say After stepson castrated and hospitalized, stepmom is arrested, NC cops say The United States on Friday announced new sanctions on North Korea in response to the flurry of missile tests the country conducted this week, including one launched over Japan on Tuesday. The sanctions target three entities and two individuals who assisted in exporting petroleum to North Korea, which directly supports the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military, a statement from the Treasury Department said. The DPRKs long-range ballistic missile launches, including over Japan, demonstrate a continued disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions, Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a statement. The United States will continue to enforce multilateral sanctions and pursue the DPRKs sanctions evasion efforts worldwide, including by designating those who support these activities. The sanctions are the latest in a handful of efforts the U.S. has taken to address the missile launches. President Joe Biden condemned the launch over Japan during a call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Wednesday. The leaders recognized the launch as a danger to the Japanese people, destabilizing to the region, and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the White House said. The U.S. and South Korea also launched their own missile test Wednesday, firing U.S.-made ATACMS short-range ballistic missiles into the sea. On Thursday, the U.S., Japan and South Korea performed a joint missile defense exercise in the Sea of Japan, which was part of an effort to deter aggressive, provocative actions out of the north, and to make sure we have the appropriate military capabilities at the ready in the region in case we need them, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during an interview on CNN Thursday. Despite the back-and-forth saber rattling, the Biden administration has reiterated they are open to working-level talks with North Korea without preconditions. NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's population will hit 58 million by 2030 and 70 million by 2045, up from the current 50 million, the national statistics bureau projected on Friday. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in its Analytical Report on Population Projections 2022 said that the bulk of the population during the years will comprise people aged 15-64 years. "These projections are based on 2019 Kenya Census Data for a period of 25 years from 2020 to 2045. The projected population is expected to increase from 48.8 million in 2020," said the government agency. However, despite the projected surge in population, KNBS said that Kenya's annual population growth rate would continue to decline during the period. The annual growth rate would fall from 1.8 percent in 2020 to 1.2 percent in 2045, according to KNBS. Ukur Yatani, outgoing cabinet secretary, National Treasury and Planning, said in the report that the projections provide pragmatic evidence for use in the formulation of policies and plans to help Kenya achieve sustainable development goals. A man wanted on federal charges in Nevada was arrested Friday in White Township, Indiana County. Terry Tabor was taken into custody without incident by U.S. Marshals, according to information provided by Indiana County District Attorney Bob Manzi. The arrest was a joint operation with the Indiana County Drug Task Force, Indiana Borough police department and U.S. Marshals. The alleged drug dealer is also facing federal indictment in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania. Tabor is facing indictments in federal court for possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and over 500 grams of methamphetamine. During the execution of the warrant, the Indiana County Drug Task Force allegedly found methamphetamine, Xanax and ecstasy pills, paraphernalia known to be used in the sale of narcotics and approximately $15,000. TRENDING NOW: Missing 26-year-old woman from Fayette County found dead Police: Worker dies after semi collides with bucket truck, leading him to fall off Parkway East Local teacher reinstated after refusing to use preferred pronouns, district policy suspended VIDEO: 15-year-old boy charged in Kennywood shooting; police say theyre looking for second shooter DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken addresses the 52nd summit of the Organization of American States in Lima, Peru, on Thursday. (Guadalupe Pardo / Associated Press) Leaders from many of the Western Hemispheres nations attempted Thursday to tackle the regions most intractable problems, including the deterioration of democracy and the displacement of millions of people, but they found few solutions. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, leading the U.S. delegation of the 52nd summit of the Organization of American States, announced that the Biden administration is giving $240 million to Latin American countries that have been hit hardest by the forced migration of Venezuelans and Colombians. The money will also go toward helping countries along irregular migration routes to make their borders safer; to provide immigrants with legal status and work permits; and to combat human trafficking. The multipronged effort grew out of the Summit of the Americas held in Los Angeles in June. Blinken also met Thursday with human rights defenders from the three most glaring absentees from the event: Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Cuba did not join the OAS. Nicaragua, which is led by brutally autocratic President Daniel Ortega, dropped out. And Venezuelas status is in question. The secretary of State praised the five dissidents he met all women for working to give voice to those silenced by their governments. The United States stands in strong solidarity with those who are trying to exercise their rights, he said, and wants to do more, do better to help citizens fill their aspirations. Blinken and the women gathered in the opulent colonial residence of the U.S. ambassador. Reporters traveling with the secretary of State were allowed to attend during his brief opening remarks and then ushered out of the room. Venezuela was one of the most contentious topics at the two-day OAS meeting. U.S. officials have long boasted of regional unity in trying to isolate and eventually unseat the government of President Nicolas Maduro, which has plunged the country into despair and poverty. Washington backs a Venezuelan opposition politician, Juan Guaido, and engineered a way for his allies to be represented at the OAS instead of Maduros government. Story continues But on Thursday, the unity seemed to fade. About a dozen countries went against U.S. wishes and voted to consider booting Guaidos representatives. Only three countries sided with the United States. There were numerous abstentions, however, and the motion failed to get the legally required two-thirds majority for approval. Blinken, asked later if blows like the vote will undermine the administrations support for Guaido, said the policy of pressuring the Maduro government with sanctions and other measures to force elections and a return to democracy has not changed. Ronald Sanders, the OAS ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda, said allowing Guaido to sit in the regional body was illegal because he was not the elected leader of Venezuela. "Here today, nobody won the OAS lost, Sanders said. It lost once again its credibility." He said his delegation would not support any measure or resolution on which Guaidos representative voted. Haiti, the hemispheres poorest and most tumultuous country, also received special attention. Haiti has been reeling since its prime minister was assassinated last year. Armed gangs have taken over large parts of the country, and access to food and fuel is dwindling rapidly for ordinary Haitians. A new outbreak of cholera was reported there this week. Blinken said the U.S. was deeply concerned at swiftly deteriorating conditions on the island and said the international community had to continue supporting Haiti. Outsiders would be hard-pressed to point to any progress from international help. Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus said gangs are operating not out of political goals, but self-interested enrichment, and badly outgun Haitian security forces. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LONDON (AP) Britain and Ireland hailed a new spirit of compromise on Friday in a grinding feud over post-Brexit trade rules, expressing hope of making enough progress in the next three weeks to avoid a destabilizing new election in Northern Ireland. It comes as new British Prime Minister Liz Truss seeks to improve relations with the U.K.s neighbors after the countrys long, acrimonious divorce from the European Union. U.K. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said Britain and the EU were negotiating in good faith and good humor a marked contrast from the bitter tone that has marred relations since the U.K. voted for Brexit in 2016. Speaking to reporters in London after a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, he said he was very positive about the chances of getting a negotiated solution. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said political leadership is about making things happen and sometimes surprising people, and I think thats what we need to do over the next few weeks. Arrangements for Northern Ireland the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU member, which is Ireland have been the most contentious issue so far in the U.K.-E.U. divorce, which became final at the end of 2020. The two sides agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Instead, some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. undergo checks. That solution has spiraled into a political crisis for the power-sharing government in Belfast, with British Unionist politicians refusing to form a government with Irish nationalists because they see the checks as undermining their British identity and Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, with talks to solve the problem gridlocked, Britain introduced legislation to suspend the checks and rip up part of its legally binding Brexit treaty. The unilateral move brought legal action from the EU and the risk of an all-out trade war. Story continues But Russias invasion of Ukraine has put Brexit in perspective, brought European allies closer together and given the U.K. and the EU new motivation to heal their divide. U.K. and EU negotiators this week held their first talks in months. Neither side has set a deadline, but one date looms: If the Northern Ireland executive is not up and running by Oct. 28, a new election must be held, bringing yet more uncertainty. Coveney said the aim was to make enough progress before Oct. 28 to persuade North Ireland's unionists to rejoin the Belfast executive. I dont think we can get everything agreed in the space of three weeks, that is completely unrealistic, he said. But the question is can we make progress that is measurable and serious in that period where people can see were on a course that the people can start believing in. Beyond that, April 2023 marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, the peace accord that largely ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Politicians in the U.K., Ireland and the U.S. which played a key role in negotiating the agreement all want to resolve the trade issues before the anniversary. Still, there is no outward sign that the U.K. is willing to scrap its treaty-breaching legislation, a key EU demand. Coveney nonetheless struck a positive note. What were after here is a nil-all draw, where everybody can walk away feeling that they havent won or lost, but they can live with the outcome, he said. ____ Follow APs coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://apnews.com/hub/brexit UK recruitment slowed in September as the economic outlook weakens. Photo: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty The UK labour market lost steam as growth in demand for permanent and temporary staff weakened in September, according to a survey from KPMG and the Recruitment & Employers Confederation (REC). Businesses are being more cautions when it comes to hiring amid a weaker economic outlook which has also discouraged workers from changing jobs. Some employers, even those who anticipate that the recession may be short, are taking steps now to contain costs, including hiring freezes, Claire Warnes, head of education, skills and productivity at KPMG UK, said. Read more: UK households lose 2 in 'stealthy' freezes for every 1 in tax cuts Overall vacancy growth softened for the sixth month in a row in September, to mark the slowest rise in demand for staff since February 2021. This was partly because agencies are still struggling to find candidates, against a backdrop of labour shortages. London saw the biggest rise in permanent staff appointments, while the south of England saw the first reduction in 19 months. A generally low unemployment rate, skills shortages and Brexit also weighed on candidate availability, the survey showed. With unemployment at record lows, pay continues to rise for both temporary and permanent workers starting new jobs, and activity levels across the recruitment and staffing industry remain high. While any economic slowdown this winter will affect the market, the extent of shortages mean that hiring will remain a focus for employers, Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said. Read more: FTSE 100: Wetherspoon narrows losses to 30m as sales recover Growth of demand for permanent staff softened across nine of the 10 monitored job categories in September, with retail the sole exception. The strongest increase in permanent vacancies was signalled for nursing/medical/care, while the weakest was seen for construction. Secretarial/clerical saw the quickest rise in temporary vacancies during September, and was one of the two categories which did not register slower growth compared to August. Executive/professional meanwhile saw the slowest increase in temp staff demand. Watch: What is a recession and how do we spot one? (Bloomberg) -- The International Monetary Funds executive board approved $1.3 billion to help Ukraine with its financing. European Union leaders edged closer to a Russian gas-price cap as a further measure to punish President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, as Kremlin forces intensified strikes on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia. Most Read from Bloomberg The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to backers of human rights in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, collectively cited by the Nobel committee for their outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. But some in Ukraine made clear their chagrin at sharing the prize. (See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.) Key Developments Human Rights Champions Win Nobel Peace Prize as War Rages For Europe, Bidens Armageddon Warning Cant Be Dismissed NATO Once Feared a Putin Victory; Now It Worries Over His Defeat Russia Escalates Strike on Southeast City as Ukrainians Advance Oil Poised for Biggest Weekly Rally Since March on OPEC+ Move European Gas Prices Ease as Bloc Seeks to Blunt Energy Crisis On the Ground Moscows troops are likely establishing defensive positions in the upper Kherson region following the collapse of the Russian line in northeast Kherson, the US-based Institute for the Study of War said. Russian forces continued to conduct routine artillery, air and missile strikes west of Hulyaipole, and in the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions on Thursday. In the past 24 hours, Russia has carried out eight missile and 15 air strikes. The city of Zaporizhzhia was attacked on Thursday night by Iranian-made drones, with infrastructure damaged in two districts, according to regional governor. Story continues (All times CET) IMF Approves $1.3 Billion in Assistance (2:50 a.m.) The International Monetary Fund on Friday said its executive board had agreed to provide $1.3 billion to help with Ukraines balance of payment obligations. More than seven months after the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the humanitarian and economic toll remains massive, resulting in large and urgent fiscal and external financing needs, the organization said in a press release. Amid massive population displacement and destruction of housing and key infrastructure, real GDP is projected to contract by 3% in 2022 relative to 2021 and financing needs remain very large, the IMF added. Zelenskiy Says Army Has Freed 96 Settlements (9:11 p.m.) President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraines troops have already liberated 2,434 square kilometers (940 square miles) of territory, including 96 settlements, since the start of its active counteroffensive. With this war against Ukraine, against the international legal order, against our people, Russia has put itself in conditions that it is now only a matter of time -- the real liberation of everything that was once seized and is now under the control of the Kremlin, Zelenskiy said in his nightly address. Zelenskiy Says IMF Approved $1.3 Billion in Immediate Aid (7:45 p.m.) Zelenskiy said on Twitter that the International Monetary Funds executive board approved providing about $1.3 billion in immediate aid to Ukraine under its Rapid Financing Instrument. The IMFs press office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Shared Nobel Peace Prize Rankles Some in Ukraine (6:28 p.m.) Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak criticized the Nobel committee for awarding its peace prize to activists from Russia and Belarus together with a rights group in his country, summing up the anger many in Ukraine expressed on social media. Sardonically calling the peace prize awesome, Podolyak wrote on Twitter that the Nobel Committee has an interesting understanding of word peace if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive @NobelPrize together. Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war. But Olexandra Matviychuk, the head of the winning Ukrainian rights organization, praised the Russian and Belarusian winners on Facebook. Delighted that the Center for Civil Liberties, which I lead, received the Nobel Prize today along with our friends and partners at Memorial and Viasna, she wrote. Ukranian Troops Say Musks Starlink Devices Are Out on Front Lines (6:34 p.m.) Ukrainian troops are reporting outages of their Starlink devices on the front lines, limiting communication efforts in recent weeks, the Financial Times reported, citing Ukrainian officials and soldiers. But that may be because Elon Musks SpaceX was trying to prevent misuse of the satellite communications system by Russian forces, Roman Sinicyn a co-coordinator at the Serhiy Prytula Charity, a foundation that donates Starlink systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, told the FT. Ukrainian Railways to Restore Connections with Izyum, Minister Says (6:15 p.m.) Ukrainians state-run railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, plans to restore connections with the liberated town of Izyum in the Kharkiv region, on Monday, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook. As soon as we get the green light from military and pyrotechnicians, will work on connection with Kupiansk, the key railway hub of Kharkiv Region, Kubrakov said. He said establishing contact with Izyum and other settlements will allow providing aid faster and displaced people will be able to check the homes they left behind. EU Aims to Finish Gas Price-Cap Plan in Two Weeks (5:33 p.m.) The EUs executive arm is urgently planning to prepare several different options for how to cap the price of natural gas as it tries to alleviate an energy crisis The aim is for a proposal to be completed by the time leaders meet in Brussels for an Oct. 20-21 summit. A consensus for measures to tackle rising energy prices emerged at an EU leaders summit in Prague, as several member states warned the EU needs to act quickly or jeopardize the blocs solidarity as nations start go their own way. St. Petersburg Cancels New Year Celebrations for War Effort (4:05 p.m.) Putins hometown of St. Petersburg announced Friday that its canceling New Year celebrations to redirect funds to the war effort in Ukraine. The money saved will be spent on equipment for Russian conscripts and volunteers fighting in the conflict, City Hall said on its website. Some regional officials, including the governor of the Siberian region of Omsk, have complained they lack the financial means to make promised state payouts to those mobilized. Oil Poised for Biggest Weekly Rally Since March (2:45 p.m.) Oil headed for the biggest weekly gain since early March as OPEC+ put the market on course for further tightening ahead of winter. West Texas Intermediate was near $90 a barrel on Friday, with futures up almost 12% for the week. Benchmark Brent topped $95 for the first time since mid-September. Russia reiterated this week that it wont sell oil to countries that adopt a US-led price cap, adding to supply uncertainty. Russia Demands Involvement in Nord Stream Leak Investigation (11:36 a.m.) Russia sent a letter to Sweden demanding its authorities and state-owned gas company Gazprom PJSC be included in the investigation of the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines, newspaper Expressen reported. The letter comes a day after Swedish public prosecutors and the security service concluded that the two Nord Stream leaks in the countrys exclusive economic zone were caused by detonations. Read more: Russia Demands Involvement in Nord Stream Leak Investigation Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Activists in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia (11 a.m.) The Nobel Peace Prize for 2022 was awarded to a human rights activist from Belarus, Ales Bialiatski, whos currently in detention, along with the Russian rights organization Memorial and Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties. They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power, said Berit Reiss-Andersen, head of Norways Nobel committee said. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy. Memorial, a group founded by Soviet-era dissidents including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was shut down earlier this year on the grounds that it failed to identify itself as a foreign agent under Russian law. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Ukrainian forces have reportedly been dealing with Starlink outages as they try to take back Russian-occupied areas. Some of the outages, which are said to have caused a severe loss of communication over the last several weeks, occurred as troops broke through the frontline into territory controlled by Russia as well as during battles, a Ukraine government official told The Financial Times . The cause of the apparent outages are not yet known. Engadget has contacted Starlink owner SpaceX for comment. Starlink outages were reported in the four regions that Russia annexed last month following referendums, the legitimacy of which have been disputed. As the Financial Times notes, there's a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive in those areas. Some terminals are said to have not been working in areas near Khariv, which Ukraine has almost entirely liberated , amid a push into Luhansk, one of the regions that Russia has claimed. However, military officials claimed this week that Starlink terminals were working in freshly liberated areas east of Izyum and in southern Kherson, according to the report. Ukrainian troops have been using the terminals to stay in contact, operate drones and receive intelligence while stationed in parts of the country that don't have other secure networking options. Soon after Russia's invasion, SpaceX, with the help of American taxpayers , sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine for both military and civilian use. OLENA ROSHCHINA FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 09:01 On Russian President Vladimir Putins 70th birthday, Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, said that there will be no negotiations with him. Source: Oleksii Reznikov in a video address to Russian officers and military command on 7 October Quote from Reznikov: "No one will talk with the person who is still leading Russia. This has been already clearly stated by the President of Ukraine. Who will represent Russia at possible negotiations in the future? I will tell you. It will be the very people who have deceived you and are preparing to lay the blame on you. Its either them or you. You know that this is true." Details: Reznikov told Russian military personnel that they "were not sent to die for a good cause" and that is why their president "is hiding in a bunker, rather than standing with you". "He fears your insight, your contempt, and your righteous anger," Ukraines Defence Minister said. Quote from Reznikov: "Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visits the front. Whether it is Lysychansk under attack or liberated Izium. On many occasions, I have personally presented awards and combat weapons to our greatest warriors right in the trenches. It is an honour for me. Our president stands together with his army. And where is yours?" Details: Reznikov noted that NATO countries are supplying Ukraine with weapons, but it is Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting the Russians with these weapons. He added that the very politicians and officials in Moscow who sent the citizens of their country to fight this war "keep their money and property in NATO countries that supply us with weapons". "Their families live in NATO countries. Until very recently, they have been perfectly comfortable in London and Washington, DC. They dont need Lyman, Popasna or Kakhovka; no, not at all. They dont even know where those cities are," Reznikov said. Story continues He urged Russian soldiers to save Russia from tragedy and to save the Russian army from humiliation, and also guaranteed "safety and justice for all those who refuse to fight". Background: On 30 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine is ready for negotiations with Russia, but not with Vladimir Putin, only with another president of the Russian Federation. On that day, the National Security Council stated the impossibility of negotiations with Putin, and Zelenskyy approved this by decree. This was a response to Putin's launch of the annexation of the territory of four regions of Ukraine. Before that, the Ukrainian leader had warned the Kremlin more than once that in the event that new territories of Ukraine were annexed, negotiations would become impossible. The Russian presidents press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that negotiations with Ukraine would have to wait for a change in the position of the countrys current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, or for his successor. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The General Staff reported details about the situation at the front In particular, enemy attacks were fought off near the settlements of Vyimka, Krasne, Bakhmut, Mayorsk, Vesele, Pobyeda, Nevelske, Kamianka, and Ternovi Pody in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian Air Force carried out 23 air strikes over the past 24 hours. It has been confirmed that an enemy stronghold, 15 enemy storage locations of weapons and military equipment, and seven hostile air defense systems were struck, the General Staff said. Read also: What Ukraine needs to win the war In addition, Ukrainian air defence units shot down more than 20 enemy UAVs in various areas, including five Orlan-10s, 15 Shahed-136s, and one Mohajer-6. Ukrainian missiles and artillery units also struck five clusters of troops, weaponry and military equipment, five air defense positions, two artillery pieces, an ammunition depot, and a river crossing over the past day. According to the General Staff, the Russian invaders launched eight rocket and 15 air strikes over the past day, as well as carrying out more than 70 attacks with the use of multiple launch rocket systems. Three X-22 cruise missiles of the enemy did not reach their targets, it said. Buildings were damaged by enemy fire in more than 25 settlements, such as Novomykhailivka, Zaliznychne, Spirne, Davydiv Brid, Blahodativka, and Myrne. The Russians also launched strikes at Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolayiv, and Nikopol. Read also: Ukrainian forces liberate 29 settlements in Kherson Oblast in October, says General Staff Invading Russian forces also fired in the following areas: rocket artillery: in the Siversky area, they used artillery near Boyaro-Lezhachi, Mezenivka and Ryzhivka in Sumy Oblast; in the Slobozhanske area, the enemy fired using tanks, mortars and rockets near Dvorichne, Zarubivka, Vovchansk, Hatyshche; in the Kramatorsk area, the invaders fired from artillery of various types near Spirne, Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske, Serebrianka, and Rozdolivka; in the Bakhmut area, the enemy attacked areas near Soledar, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Kurdiumivka, Opytne, Zaitseve, and New York; Story continues in the Avdiyivka area, the territories around Maryinka, Shakhtarske, Vodiane, and Novomykhailivka were shelled using tanks, mortars, artillery and rockets. in Novopavlivsk and Zaporizhzhya areas, the infrastructure near Novoukrayinka, Novodanylivka, Chervone, Novosilka, Poltavka, and Mali Shcherbaky was damaged by enemy shelling. in the South Buh area, more than 25 settlements along the whole of the southern part of the front line were hit by enemy fire. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian officials told Financial Times that soldiers have faced Starlink outages in recent weeks. The connectivity issues have been in areas Ukraine liberated from Russian control, FT reported. A coordinator for Starlink donations said SpaceX may have been preventing Russia from using the tech. Ukrainian soldiers have faced outages of Starlink's satellite internet service amid their attempts to free territory that had been conquered by Russian troops, Financial Times reported on Friday. Two government officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told the publication that soldiers had difficulty connecting to the satellite internet service when they entered cities that had only recently been freed from Russian troops. One government official from Ukraine said that the outages have caused a "catastrophic" loss of communication between the country's military forces. Another official said the lack of internet connection resulted in panicked calls from troops to help lines, FT reported. Roman Sinicyn, a co-ordinator at a foundation that donates Starlink systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, told FT the issue could be caused by SpaceX representatives working to make sure Russian soldiers couldn't use the technology, as the liberation of some of the areas had not been made public yet at the time of the connectivity issues. A spokesperson for SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk commented on the story on Twitter. "This operation has cost SpaceX $80M & will exceed $100M by end of year," Musk wrote, calling FT's story "bad reporting" for attributing funding for Ukraine's Starlink terminals primarily to the US government. "As for what's happening on the battlefield, that's classified," he tweeted. Ukraine first started using Starlink in February. Musk agreed to send Ukraine a shipment of Starlink satellite internet dishes just two days after Russia invaded Ukraine. It was the first of many shipments to the country that has helped Ukraine stay connected amid Russia's attacks and a hack on the satellite provider for its military. Story continues In June, SpaceX reported that it has delivered 15,000 Starlink kits to Ukraine over the first three months of the invasion. The Washington Post reported in April that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) paid SpaceX about $2 million for 1,333 terminals to be sent to Ukraine. Early on, Ukraine officials and military leaders praised the move, with a US general saying Starlink "totally destroyed Putin's information campaign" and attempts to silence Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But, not everything Musk has done has been viewed favorably by Ukrainian officials. Last week, the billionaire weighed in on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting the citizens of the occupied territories should vote on which country they'd rather live in. His suggestion was met with heavy criticism. Even Zelenskyy mocked Musk's attempt to solve a real-world crisis on Twitter. "Which @elonmusk do you like more?" Zelenskyy asked, with a poll. "One who supports Ukraine. One who supports Russia." Musk has also said his decision to activate Starlink in Ukraine has been viewed with disapproval by Beijing. He told FT in an interview that Beijing has asked he not sell the internet service in China. Read FT's full story on Starlink on the publication's website. Read the original article on Business Insider CAIRO (AP) A group of United Nations-appointed experts on Friday criticized the Egyptian government for imposing a wave of restrictions that jeopardize the safety and full participation of individuals and organizations wishing to attend the international climate summit in the Arab country next month. Egypts poor human rights record has come under renewed international scrutiny ahead of its hosting of the global COP27 summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Since taking office in 2013, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissis government has relentlessly silenced dissenters and clamped down on independent organizations through mass arrests, detentions and prison sentences, among other restrictions. In a statement issued Friday, U.N. human rights experts joined dozens of international rights groups in criticizing Egypts sustained crackdowns on civil society and human rights defenders." The wave of government restrictions on participation raised fears of reprisals against activists, the statement said. The group also called for future summit hosts to meet human rights criteria as part of the deal for holding the major climate event. Among several issues, U.N. experts have condemned Cairo for a lack of transparency over the accreditation for Egyptian NGOs, an increase in hotel room rates, visa delays and restrictions over gatherings and protests. The experts are appointed by the U.N.'s human rights council but are independent in the sense that they not receive payment from the body. Among the group who released the statement are Ian Fry, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, and Mary Lawlor, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. A draconian law introduced by el-Sissis government in 2013 effectively bans all street protests. However, Egypts foreign minister and president-designate of COP27, Sameh Shoukry, told The Associated Press in May that there will be designated zones in Sharm el-Sheikh where protests can take place. Story continues The office of Egypt's foreign minister did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. Earlier this month the foreign ministry denied allegations that it was thwarting participation, saying in a statement that the process for accreditation to the conference was governed by U.N. rules. It added that as host, it had put forward 56 organizations from Egypt, Africa and the region to join the discussions. Egyptian authorities have recently released dozens of high-profile detainees under presidential pardons and established a new strategy to upgrade human rights conditions. Earlier this year, it also announced a national dialogue, claiming that it will include voices from opposition groups. Amnesty International has described these measures as a shiny cover-up, accusing the government of using Novembers summit as an attempt to whitewash their poor human rights record. The group's website is one of dozens blocked in Egypt. Egypt is among the worlds worst jailers of journalists, along with Turkey and China, according to 2021 data produced by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Human Rights Watch estimated in 2019 that as many as 60,000 political prisoners are incarcerated in Egyptian prisons. A large number of those arrested and charged with crimes related to spreading false news and joining an illegal group a reference to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood which governed Egypt during 2012 and 2013. These are typical charges for detainees and political activists who oppose the government. Many of the major activists involved in Egypts 2011 popular uprising that rocked the Middle East and toppled former leader Hosni Mubarak remain behind bars. El-Sissi has said in the past that the country has no political prisoners and justified detentions on grounds of national security. ISLAMABAD, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of dengue fever cases keeps on growing in Pakistan as three more deaths were reported from it in the South Asian country. All three deaths were reported from the southern Sindh province, the provincial health department said on Thursday evening. In the last 24 hours, Sindh reported 386 new infections. The worst-hit area was Karachi, the provincial capital, which reported 314 new cases. With the newly-reported dengue cases, the October figure to date for the province has risen to 1,793, bringing the total local tally to 11,947 this year. In the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 342 more people were diagnosed with the disease, the provincial health department said on Thursday night. The number of active cases in the province currently stands at 2,506 and the total number of cases this year has reached 10,743. The eastern Punjab province reported 272 new cases in the last 24 hours, the provincial health authorities said on Thursday. Punjab's capital Lahore reported 97 new cases, followed by Rawalpindi city with 94 cases. The total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year has now gone up to 8,044. The national capital Islamabad reported 104 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the health authorities said on Thursday night. The city's total tally has risen to 2,863 this year. A pediatric dentist who owns more than a dozen practices in New Jersey, New York and Vermont has agreed to pay more than $750,000 to settle allegations that his dentists performed unnecessary "baby root canals" on children, then billed Medicaid for the procedures, state and federal authorities announced Thursday. Barry L. Jacobson, the chief executive officer of HQRC Management Services, also admitted that his company made billing errors between 2011 and 2014 that led to inaccurate claims for services being submitted to Medicaid contractors, according to statements from New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger. It is unconscionable that medical professionals were willing to perform unnecessary dental procedures on children simply to make money, Sellinger said in the statement. Recovering their ill-gotten gains only begins to undo this damage." The settlement resolves a 2017 lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed Jacobson violated the False Claims Act, which lets private parties sue for false claims on behalf of the U.S. government. It also allows them to share in the settlement. The subsequent investigation by state and federal authorities found that doctors affiliated with Jacobson's dental group which has offices in Paterson, Teaneck and Wyckoff performed unnecessary pulpotomies on child patients between 2011 and 2018, the statements said. The dentists then billed Medicaid for the procedures, even though medical records didnt show that the kids needed them, according to the New York Attorney General's Office. Dr. Jacobson and HQRC allegedly performed unnecessary and invasive dental procedures on children to line their own pockets, James said. But Steve Chananie, Jacobsons New York City attorney, said Thursday that he vehemently disagrees with the way the government has framed the settlement. The firm never agreed that the procedures were inappropriate or unnecessary, he said. Story continues "We were shocked and outraged by the government's press release," Chananie said. "Barry Jacobson is dedicated to the well-being of children. Chananie said the children needed the pulpotomies, which restore infected primary teeth by removing damaged, infected pulp from the upper part of the tooth, then covers the rest with a filling or crown. But doctors are notoriously bad documenters, he said. So the medical records in their respective offices may not have reflected that need. He declined to comment when asked if Jacobson would take further legal action, however. Were deciding how we want to respond, Chananie said. New York will receive the lions share of the settlement about $432,000, according to the agreement. The federal government will take about $314,0000, while New Jersey will get about $7,000. Each will pay a portion of this to the woman who initially filed the suit. She will receive more than $135,000, the agreement said. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Unnecessary root canals on kids performed by NJ dentists In Southwest Charlotte County, there are 10 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. But no students or staff are in them because of Hurricane Ian. Likewise, DeSoto County, with just seven schools, also are closed. Same goes for Hardee, Lee and Sarasota counties. In all, the Florida Department of Education has reported five Florida school districts that remain shut down until further notice, leaving almost 168,000 schoolchildren unable to attend classes for an unknown amount of time. Like the early days of COVID-19, when schools were shuttered and children relied on online learning, it was a dangerous time that disrupted the lives of families, students, teachers and staff. No paywall. No pop-up ads. Keep The 74 free for everyone with a generous donation. Now, the disruptions come from a massive storm, Hurricane Ian, that has caused dozens of deaths and a swath of devastation. The remedies and recovery efforts will face challenges for Floridas education system everything from bus routes to internet connections to access to learning for students who have already lost instruction in recent years. Ground Zero for Ian So far, Sarasota County has a tentative timeline over the next two weeks projecting when their schools will reopen. But the other four districts dont have similar information. As to Lee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee schools, the question is: When will those kids get back into the classroom? The answer is: Its unknown. The Phoenix reached out to all those school districts for more information, but they havent provided a response. The damage caused by Ian, which battered Southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm, has created significant hurdles, according to school district websites. Electricity connections, flooding, campuses being used as emergency shelters and damages to school buildings are among many challenges Southwest Florida school districts are facing, according to district websites and local officials. Story continues The Charlotte County School District posted an update to its website on Monday that reads: The damage caused by Hurricane Ian is extensive. We are continuing to assess our schools and will know soon the extent of the damage. Again, please note there will be no school until further notice. No staff or students should be on our campuses as many are unsafe. Charlotte has 16,400 public students enrolled, according to the Florida Department of Education website. The DeSoto County School District, with only 4,568 students, reports on its website: Due to the flooding and damage to multiple facilities, DeSoto County School District will remain closed until further notice. We will communicate a timeline for reopening schools as soon as we can safely welcome students and staff back into our buildings. A Monday video message from Lee County School Supt. Christopher Bernier reported that some schools may be ready to open, others need minimal work and others require significant repairs. And some are beyond repair. Lee County is the largest of the five school districts, with 97,264 students, and it was hit head-on during the storm. We were ground zero for Ian, Bernier said. We were and still are significantly impacted. While we are not open this week, we are certainly not waiting until January, Bernier said. We are actively working on plans for those damaged sites that include potentially relocating students, teachers and staff. We are discussing these plans with the Florida Department of Education and ask for their resources and connections in order to help our districts become viable as quickly as possible. The Hardee County school district website offers no additional details, other than schools are closed until further notice. There are 4,941 students enrolled in Hardee County. Sarasota Countys tentative plans As with Sarasota County, the only district with a projected timeline to reopen, still doesnt have some schools opening until the middle of October. According to the website: Sarasota County Schools will reopen in phases. Phase 1 will include all traditional public schools in and north of Venice. Phase 2 will be all our traditional public schools in Englewood and North Port. The district reports that 32 traditional public schools are projected to open by Monday, Oct 10, and 10 traditional public schools are projected to open by Oct 17. The Sarasota County School District has 43,896 students enrolled. The Sarasota district held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss further details of the school reopening plans and challenges. Sarasota School Supt. Brennan Asplen laid out some of the difficulties in the county: Two schools were still being used as emergency shelters and four schools were still experiencing power outages. In some areas, debris and flooding have created unsafe walking conditions for students. Also, staff and teachers might be dealing with their own damaged properties or lost homes, among other concerns. As for academics, the district is creating instructional continuity plans and will be offering some resources for families to use while students are at home waiting for schools to reopen, according to Sarasotas Chief Academic Officer, Chris Renouf. There may be some schools that again have portable classrooms, certain places on their campus that are on inhabitable, and so again they have to proactively plan behind scenes to go ahead and how do they address that, plan moving forward, so that instructional continuity is not affected, Renouf said Tuesday. He said of the at-home learning opportunities and resources: We want to make sure that folks know what resources, what activities, what recommendations, what electronic resources are available should they have access to those resources some will, some wont, he said. But we want to make sure that while students are at home, that there are learning opportunities that can exist and continue to occur while theyre off campus. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. indicated Monday that the five school districts might struggle to reopen this week, the Phoenix previously reported, but did not make clear that they will be closed until further notice, as the departments website states now. The Florida Department of Education reported that 68 of Floridas 74 traditional school districts, lab schools and virtual schools were open as of Tuesday, with two more districts expected to reopen by the end of the week. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter. Shipping giant UPS has plans to hire around 2,000 workers in the Kansas City area for temporary jobs this holiday season, the company reported on Thursday. Many of these positions require no interview, instead using a simple online application to match applicants qualifications to open roles. The company is hiring drivers, package handlers and helpers at rates ranging from $16.80 to $30 per hour. Nearly 80% of those positions do not require an interview, UPS spokesperson Kelly Davenport wrote in an email to The Star. (The) digital-first process now takes just 25 minutes for most people from online application to job offer. Here are the jobs that will be available: Seasonal Package Car Driver positions pay $23 per hour. Seasonal Tractor-Trailer Driver positions pay $30 per hour. Seasonal Driver Helper positions pay $16.80 per hour. Permanent Package Handler positions pay $19 to $21 per hour. The company will hold a hiring fair in Kansas City, Kansas and Lenexa on Friday and Saturday. The fair will last from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. Kansas City location: 223 N. James St, Kansas City, Kansas Lenexa location: 14650 Santa Fe Trail Drive You can also stop by the Lenexa location for in-person interviews every Tuesday through the rest of October from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. If you cant make it to the in-person events, you can also attend the companys virtual job fair on Friday and Saturday. If interested, you can RSVP on the job listing site Indeed for Kansas City, Kansas jobs here and for Lenexa jobs here. Do you have more questions about finding employment in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com. The White House on Friday released its 10-year strategy for the Arctic, with a focus on keeping Russia and China at bay in the region. The National Strategy for the Arctic Region, last released in 2013, includes four pillars meant to keep the region peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative in the face of climate change and increasing aggression from Moscow and Beijing. The plan addresses the climate crisis with greater urgency and directs new investments in sustainable development to improve livelihoods for Arctic residents, while conserving the environment, as well as acknowledging increasing competition exacerbated by Russias unprovoked war in Ukraine, according to a summary of the document. Among the goals is an upped U.S. military presence, which includes increased military exercises with allies and partners, modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command and extra Coast Guard icebreakers. The U.S. released its first Arctic strategy nearly 10 years ago as climate change was beginning to bring new commercial activity and potential for conflict. The melting ice has opened new shipping routes in a region where nations already compete for access to oil, gas and other resources. Since the last strategy, Russia has invested significantly in its military presence in the region, modernizing its military bases and airfields; deploying new coastal and air defense missile systems and upgraded submarines; and increasing military exercises and training operations, according to the strategy. The Kremlin is also developing new economic infrastructure in its Arctic territories and is trying to restrict freedom of navigation through maritime claims along the Northern Sea Route. Russias attack on Ukraine, meanwhile, has rendered government-to-government cooperation with Russia in the Arctic virtually impossible, with Moscows continued aggression making most cooperation unlikely for the foreseeable future. Story continues As for China, the nation has been doing its own building in the Arctic with an expanded slate of economic, diplomatic, scientific and military activities. Over the last decade, Beijing has doubled its investments for critical mineral extraction and more scientific research, expanded its icebreaker fleet and sent naval vessels into the Arctic for the first time. To counter any potential conflict, the U.S. is looking to increase exercises with allies and partners including Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden; make new, long-term investments such as procuring additional icebreakers, and work with Canada on updating NORAD air defenses. The U.S. already has more than 22,000 active-duty troops in Alaska, with a base in the Denmark-ruled Greenland. But the U.S. has increasingly looked to the Arctic as an area where military activity will likely grow, with the Pentagon last month establishing an Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience Office. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON The U.S. Army is nearly finished fielding an initial package of communications upgrades and networking enhancements known as Capability Set 21, and officials said they are preparing to dispatch the next iteration, Capability Set 23, beginning this fall. The improvements are meant to make battlefield communications more intuitive and more reliable, with size, weight, cybersecurity, bandwidth and advanced cellular technology, like 5G, chief among the considerations. Capability Set 21 focused on infantry, whereas Capability Set 23 focuses on Strykers amid a return to the division as the unit of action. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division in Alaska is the final unit to receive the Capability Set 21 integrated tactical network. The package is comprised of radios, variable height antennas and small satellite terminals. The ITN creates a resilient network that allows tactical commanders the ability to communicate with joint and coalition partners, provides a robust primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency plan for both line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight, allows the battalion to operate independently of the brigade and provides situational awareness down to the platoon level, Jerry Harper, a product manager at the Armys Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical, said in a statement. Hands-on training kicked off in August. Once complete, soldiers will use the upgraded kit in multiple military exercises, including a bilateral one in India known as Yudh Abhyas. Fielding of Capability Set 23 will begin with a brigade combat team in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, according to Paul Mehney, the PEO C3T communications director. The gear was also sent to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany, where it has undergone live-fire testing. The Army in April completed a critical design review for Capability Set 23, signifying the gear was relevant, conceptually sound and cost effective. The approval also greenlighted procurement. Story continues US Army customizing communication gear for regional challenges With each one of the design reviews, there are four things we take a look at, Army Maj. Gen. Robert Collins said during a media demonstration at Fort Myer, Virginia. We look at the requirements, we look at the concepts, the technology maturity and the affordability. Network modernization is a focus for the Army as the service transitions to multidomain operations the ability to deter and defeat an enemy, with help from others, in any location and contends with communication environments jeopardized by adversaries such as China and Russia. Elements of Capability Set 23 will be included in the 2022 iterance of Project Convergence, an Army effort meant to advance the Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept by putting cutting-edge tech to the test and evaluating how well U.S. forces can exchange information with allies and partners, like the U.K. and Australia. Lessons gleaned from the experiment, officials said, will inform the armor-focused Capability Set 25 more so than 23. The capability set initiative kicked off in fiscal 2021, with compounding upgrades expected in 2023, 2025, 2027 and beyond. Army leaders in 2019 likened the stepwise approach to Apples iPhone strategy: newer, better hardware rolling out shortly after the last release. Collins, who is now in an acquisitions role at the Pentagon, months ago said those working on network modernization have their hands full. I would say right now, we have four of our capability sets that are going on in parallel, Collins told C4ISRNET at the time. The Capability Set 21 effort has provided us a tremendous amount of feedback as we get ready to head on into, and embark upon, the Capability Set 23 fielding process. The Biden administration on Friday imposed new sanctions targeting North Koreas weapons supply network after Pyongyang held a series of provocative missile tests over the past two weeks. The Treasury Department slapped the sanctions on two individuals and three entities for activities related to the exportation of petroleum to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), which directly supports the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military, according to a department statement referring to North Korea by its formal name. By designating these entities and individuals, the United States is sending a clear message that we will continue to take actions against those who support the development and sustainment of the DPRKs military and weapons arsenal, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate statement. The sanctions follow six North Korean missile launches within 12 days, the most recent on Thursday. Since the start of the year, the isolated nation has launched 41 ballistic missiles, six of which were intercontinental ballistic missiles and one that flew over Japan. Pyongyangs military also flew 12 warplanes near the border with South Korea on Thursday, prompting Seoul to scramble 30 of its own jets in response. The U.S. then held military drills alongside South Korea and Japan, including a wargame that began Friday involving the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in waters east of South Korea. The DPRKs long-range ballistic missile launches, including over Japan, demonstrate a continued disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions, Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. The United States will continue to enforce multilateral sanctions and pursue the DPRKs sanctions evasion efforts worldwide, including by designating those who support these activities. The Treasury Department imposed the sanctions on New Eastern Shipping Co Ltd., along with the individuals Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Huan for having helped deliver or transfer refined petroleum products to North Korea, as well as two entities owned or controlled by the two individuals: Anfsar Trading (S) Pte. Ltd. and Swanseas Port Services Pte. Ltd. Story continues Under U.N. Security Council resolutions, ship-to-ship transfers of any cargo to or from North Korean-flagged vessels are prohibited, and Pyongyangs import of refined petroleum products is limited to 500,000 barrels per year starting in 2018. Blinken noted that North Korea has broken its 500,000-barrel cap every year since the rule was imposed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Police officer at Uvalde shooting memorial. Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images Uvalde, Texas school officials on Friday suspended all district police department activities and "placed two of its officers on paid administrative leave," The Texas Tribune reports. The district cited "recent developments that have uncovered additional concerns with department operations" in its decision, which it said will remain in effect for "a period of time." In May, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire inside Uvalde's Robb Elementary School, killing 19 students and two teachers. The delayed police response to the massacre has since been under investigation. School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, one of the first officers on the scene, was fired in August for his handling of the incident. On Friday, the district placed Lt. Miguel Hernandez and district Director of Student Services Ken Mueller on leave; the police department's other officers will take on new roles in the district, the Tribune reports, per a press release. Mueller decided himself to retire, the release adds. "The district remains committed to resolving issues with verifiable evidence," it said. "Decisions concerning the [Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District] police department have been pending the results of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and JPPI investigation. Recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with department operations." Otherwise, UCISD said it has requested more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers "to be stationed on campuses and at extra-curricular activities." On Thursday, UCISD fired a newly-hired officer Crimson Elizondo after CNN identified her as one of the officers under investigation in the shooting. You may also like 5 cartoons about Hurricane Ian's aftermath Sara Lee, former WWE wrestler and Tough Enough star, dies at 30 Georgia probe into 2020 election interference seeking testimony from Newt Gingrich, Michael Flynn ISLAMABAD, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist was killed in a clash with security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a military statement said on Thursday night. The security forces conducted the operation by acting in an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of some terrorists in the provincial capital of Peshawar, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in the statement. "During the conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between troops and terrorists. One terrorist got killed," said the statement. Weapons and ammunition were seized from the killed terrorist, the military said. The police department for the Uvalde, Texas, school district has been suspended "for a period of time" amid fallout from the response to the May 24 Robb Elementary shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead. "The District remains committed to resolving issues with verifiable evidence. Decisions concerning the UCISD police department have been pending the results of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and JPPI investigation. Recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with department operations," the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District said in a statement Friday. During the suspension, current officers with the department will fill other roles in the district." In the meantime, the district requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide additional troopers for campus and extra-curricular activities. The district also placed Lt. Miguel Hernandez and Ken Mueller, director of student services, on administrative leave. Mueller chose to resign, according to the statement. The shooting sparked intense outrage and an investigation after it was revealed that 1 hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds passed from the time law enforcement entered the building until the gunman was killed. Nearly 400 officers responded to the scene. A blistering report released in July by a Texas House committee noted "systemic failures and egregiously poor decision making" by police and the school district. The report stated that beyond the gunman, no other individual was to blame for the massacre. Still, it outlined a number of failures made in not intervening with the 18-year-old gunman, preventing the shooting, or minimizing the devastation. It also noted that a lack of clear leadership and direction contributed to officers "overall lackadaisical approach" to the shooting. Many of the 376 responding officers "were given and relied upon inaccurate information," and others "had enough information to know better," the report concluded. Story continues "The scene was chaotic, without any person obviously in charge or directing the law enforcement response," the report stated. In August, Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo was fired following a recommendation from the school district superintendent. The Texas House committee's report said under the districts active shooter plan he would have been the incident commander, but Arredondo has said that he did not consider himself to be the officer in charge. Just this week, the district fired Officer Crimson Elizondo less than 24 hours after reports surfaced of her hiring. Elizondo responded to the massacre as a Texas state trooper and was among seven troopers under internal investigation over their actions. In police body camera footage reported by CNN, she is heard telling officers at the scene that if her son was in the building, "I would not have been outside. I promise you that." She resigned as a trooper in August. Uvalde school officials have not addressed their decision to hire Elizondo, but apologized in a statement on Thursday. "We sincerely apologize to the victims' families and the greater Uvalde community for the pain that this revelation has caused," the statement said. Several investigations into the shooting are ongoing. The district said in its statement on Friday it will continue to cooperate with the Texas Police Chiefs Association and JPPI Investigations, and the results of those probes will result in the hiring of a new police chief and will shape "future personnel decisions." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Officers waiting in a hallway The school district in Uvalde, Texas, has suspended its entire police force following protests by parents of children killed in a shooting there. The suspension will be indefinite, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) said in a statement. Recent developments "have uncovered additional concerns with department operations", it added. Nineteen children and two teachers died in the attack at Robb Elementary School on 24 May. Police have been accused of botching the response to the fatal shooting. A July investigation into the shooting by the Texas legislature found "systemic failures and egregiously poor decision-making" by those involved in the response. The UCISD is responsible for supervising the security of schools in the Uvalde area, including Robb Elementary. The school district's police force consisted of five officers and one security guard, according to its website. Their officers were among the first of nearly 400 police to respond to the attack by a rifle-wielding 19-year-old gunman, who was eventually shot and killed by a border patrol agent. State troopers have been asked to help provide security for the school district, the UCISD statement said. There are still two ongoing investigations into the police response to the school shooting. It recently emerged that a police officer newly hired by the Uvalde school district is being looked into for her conduct on the day of the shooting, while she was working as a state trooper. Officer Crimson Elizondo was fired from the force on Thursday. Also on Friday, the acting district police chief was placed on administrative leave while the director of student services of the Uvalde school district announced his decision to retire. Parent of the shooting's victims have been camped outside school offices for days. They praised the district's decision to suspend the entire police force. "They don't know how to hire people, they don't know how to vet officers," mother Kimberly Rubio, told ABC News, adding that the move to suspend the entire force is "what we've been asking for - it's more than we've been asking for". The former head of the police department for the school district, Pete Arredondo, was fired in August. He was one of the first officers on the scene that day, and received much of the blame for the botched response. The Texas Department of Public Safety has said that Mr Arredondo wrongly told officers under his command to treat the situation as if they were dealing with a barricaded gunman rather than an active shooter, which would have prompted a more urgent enforcement reaction. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has paused gender affirmation surgeries for minors as it reviews new international recommendations for transgender patient care. The moves occurs amid increasing scrutiny of its transgender health care clinic practices from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, along with other GOP and conservative religious leaders. In a letter from VUMC to Tennessee Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, Vanderbilt said the medical center paused the surgeries as it reviews guidelines released Sept. 6 from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. In Friday's letter, VUMC said it began its Transgender Health Clinic in 2018, citing the high risk transgender people face for mental and physical health issues. In its patient population under age 18, VUMC said an average of five per year received "gender-affirming surgical procedures." These were not genital procedures, the letter said. "Contrary to some media reports, all were at least 16 years of age, none have received genital procedures and parental consent to these surgeries was obtained in all cases," VUMC's letter to Zachary states. "None of these surgeries have been paid for by state or federal funds; the revenues from this limited number of surgeries represent an immaterial percentage of VUMC's net operating revenue." Zachary shared the letter announcing the pause, signed by VUMC's Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer Dr. C. Wright Pinson and dated Oct. 7. A spokesperson for VUMC confirmed the letter was valid but declined to comment further. Gov. Bill Lee joins GOP, religious leaders to press Vanderbilt to pause surgeries Last month, Gov. Bill Lee joined Tennessee House Republicans and religious leaders in calling Vanderbilt's health care procedures harmful and abusive in the wake of a story from The Daily Wire highlighting the transgender care clinic. The story alleged VUMC punished those who objected to its gender-affirming treatment program and said some treatments were used as money-making schemes. VUMC, which is one of the nation's leading health centers, denied those allegations. Story continues In a previous statement, VUMC said employees are allowed to abstain from participating in medical care they find morally objectionable, including treatments related to transgender care. The statement also said parental consent is required to treat a minor "for issues related to transgender care." Last month, Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean that Vanderbilt's "pediatric transgender clinic" raised "serious moral, ethical and legal concerns," adding an investigation into the clinic would be necessary. Casey Sellers, Lee's communications director, said the governor's office had shared its concerns with state Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, though no specific allegations of illegal activity were outlined. Medical associations, such as the American Medical Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, have set standards for gender-affirming care, which include parental consent and a comprehensive psychological evaluation. There must also be a well-documented history of gender dysphoria. The AMA has cautioned states against banning gender-affirming procedures involving minors, saying: "We believe this legislation represents a dangerous governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine and will be detrimental to the health of transgender children across the country." Boston Children's Hospital has faced similar criticism of its gender-affirming program. The controversy stirred protests and threats of violence against the hospital and its staff. Federal authorities arrested a woman last month who allegedly called in a bomb threat against the institution, according to USA TODAY. Reporter Frank Gluck contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt pauses gender affirmation surgery for minors US President Joe Biden boards Marine One before departing from the Wall Street landing zone in New York on October 6, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) For much of the summer, Democrats have enjoyed an improvement in the polls. The Supreme Courts Dobbs v Jackson decision overturning Roe v Wade in late June allowed Democrats to overperform in special elections, even winning a special election in Alaska. And President Joe Biden likely wanted to continue that momentum when he visited Florida on Wednesday in a show of bipartisan solidarity with his would-be Republican rival in 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis. He also probably hoped to do the same thing when he announced a mass pardon of people with simple possession marijuana charges and called the War on Drugs a failed approach (ironic, given that as the author of the 1994 Crime Bill, then-Senator Biden escalated the War on Drugs). At the same time, news from the outside world seems to hellbent on trying to kill his buzz. On Wednesday, the nations that produce oil that are part of Opec+ announced they would cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day. Because of the strain that it will likely put on gas prices which consumers never like the news will likely put a damper on Democrats chances in many elections across the nation. Bidens approval numbers hit an all-time low this summer when gas prices skyrocketed. In addition, Patrick De Haan, an analyst at GasBuddy.com, tweeted on Wednesday that while high gas prices will soon drop on the west coast and in the Great Lakes region, Opec+s decision means prices will likely rise in the Gulf, the southeast, the east coast and the northeast. That might put Georgias Senator Raphael Warnock in a tough spot. And while New Hampshires Democratic incumbent Senator Maggie Hassan is polling comfortably, rising prices in the northeast could hurt her, too. This could also spell trouble for Democratic Senate candidate Cheri Beasley, who is in a dead-heat race against Republican Representative Ted Budd for North Carolinas open Senate seat. Numerous competitive House races in Virginia, Rhode Island and New York are also now at risk. Story continues In addition, Politico reported that Republicans are already hammering Democrats in California for the high prices, after gas prices rose $2 more than the national average there. That could hurt Democrats in swing races in multiple House races that will potentially decide which party controls the lower chamber. In addition, on Thursday, The Washington Post reported that federal agents believe they have enough material to charge President Bidens son, Hunter. Furthermore, the US Attorney in Delaware is a holdover whom former president Donald Trump nominated. While the effects on the election are unclear, it will likely give Republicans something to probe if they win back the House of Representatives, as they are largely expected to do. As if that werent enough, on Thursday evening, at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, he warned that the world has never been at a greater risk of nuclear Armageddon since the Cuban Missile Crisis due to Russian President Vladimir Putins saber-rattling. In fairness, few of these things are within the presidents control. He can fist-bump with Saudi royalty all day long but oil-producing countries will still do what they want. In addition, getting involved with an investigation where his son is involved would be a gross violation of the Justice Departments independence. Meanwhile, the president can speak to Putin and possibly talk him down, but Putin has shown a willingness to utterly disregard the wests prodding. Nevertheless, all three of these events could put the Biden administrations agenda not to say his congressional majority in jeopardy. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and early voting in Indiana began Wednesday, Oct. 12. Voting registration closed Tuesday, Oct. 11. To check to see if you're registered, go to indianavoters.in.gov. Where can I vote early? St. Joseph County residents can vote early in person at the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard in downtown South Bend, or at the County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. All residents can vote early as long as they registered to vote by Oct. 11. Supervisor of absentee voting Cindy Streich said it is important that residents bring a valid photo ID to vote. Acceptable forms of ID include an Indiana driver's license or Indiana-issued photo ID card, a military ID or a US passport. Can I vote by mail with an absentee ballot? To qualify to vote absentee in Indiana, you must meet at least one of 12 conditions. According to the St. Joseph County Clerk's office, these are: You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours polls are open, 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. You have a disability. You are at least 65 years old. You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct. (This does not apply to St. Joseph County poll workers working at a St. Joseph County vote center on Election Day, because the poll worker may vote at the vote center in which they are working). You are scheduled to work at your regular job during the entire 12 hours polls are open. You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours polls are open. You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours polls are open. You changed residence less than 30 days before an election and meet some other requirements. You are a participant in the state's address confidentiality program. You are a member of the military or a public safety officer. You are a "serious sex offender" as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a). You have no transportation to the polls. Story continues According to the County Clerk's office, COVID-19 is not an acceptable excuse under current Indiana law to vote absentee by mail. To be approved for an absentee ballot, Streich said, it is important you remember to mark the reason why you are applying to vote absentee from the list of 12 reasons above. "I can't stress this enough, people need to make sure that they mark the reason why they're voting absentee and ... sign their application," Streich said. Also, if you are registered to vote in St. Joseph County but are currently residing elsewhere, Streich said it is important you remember to include in your application form the address you would like your absentee ballot sent to. OK, I qualify to vote by mail, but how do I do it? You can request an absentee ballot by mail by completing the Application for Absentee Ballot By Mail found on indianavoters.in.gov under the "My Voter Portal." Print, sign and return the application to the St. Joseph County Election Board, 101 S. Main Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601. You can also return your application via email by sending it to absenteevoting@sjcindiana.com. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27 at 11:59 p.m. Ballots must be returned by mail or in person by 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. When can I vote early? Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12, early voting is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Monday through Friday at both the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard in downtown South Bend and at the County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. Early voting is also open Saturdays Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 from noon to 4 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon. How many ballots have already been sent out? "We have already sent out 2,620 absentee ballots (by mail), and we've also emailed approximately 80," Streich said the morning of Thursday, Oct. 6. "We've been busy. We don't open to the public until Wednesday, but yeah, we think it's going to be a busy election." Streich said she thinks the general election will definitely have a greater turnout than the primary because many people "don't vote in the primary because they don't want to declare their party. According to the county's May 3 unofficial "Election Summary Report," just under 7.5% of registered voters voted in the primary. Vote411 partnership continues The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area, in partnership with the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend, operates www.vote411.org, a website full of information about the candidates and their positions on key issues. The site also includes other tools to help navigate the voting process for the elections. One of the most prominent features of the site is the ability to see candidates answer questions about issues in each race. You can show their answers side-by-side for quick assessment of which one lines up with your own positions. Readers can check out the site now. The Tribune continues its participation in the partnership by publishing answers from candidates in significant, contested races. As in the past several elections, The Tribune will publish the candidates responses verbatim from the vote411 website. The League and American Democracy Project policy is not to edit or alter the candidates responses in any way. The Tribune has agreed to run the answers similarly unedited, as was made clear to candidates in their invitation to participate. Thus, any spelling or grammatical errors in the answers were made by the candidate. Additionally, if we do not include a photograph of a candidate, that means the candidate did not provide one. Because of space limitations, The Tribune will publish only a selection of the questions from some of the races. Additional questions and answers from all of the races are available at Vote411.org, along with a great many other resources for voters. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: How to vote in St. Joseph County, and where candidates stand on issues NOTE: This article is being offered for free to all readers as a public service. Please consider a Tennessean subscription at tennessean.com/subscribe. The midterms are upon us, and now is the time to register to vote or make a plan for how you'll cast your ballot. Registration deadlines are early in Tennessee. Before the important Nov. 8 election, you'll have to have your application in by Oct. 11. Here's a look at all the voter information you'll need this election season and when Tennesseans will vote. How to register to vote in Tennessee The last day to register to vote is Oct. 11. To register to vote online, go to ovr.govote.tn.gov. To register to vote by mail in Davidson County, you can download a paper application here. Mail the application to: P.O. Box 650 Nashville, TN 37202. You can also hand deliver the application to one of these locations: 1417 Murfreesboro Pk, Davidson County Election Commission, Nashville, TN 37217 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 4th Floor, Elections Administration, Nashville, TN 37210 To register in Davidson County, you must be: A U.S. citizen A resident of Davidson County At least 18 years old on or before the next election If you have had a felony conviction, your eligibility to register and vote depends upon the crime you were convicted of and the date of your conviction. Go to sos.tn.gov for details. Has it been a while since you voted? Check to see if you're registered at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup. A guide to voter rights in Tennessee:What you need to know before you cast a ballot People place their votes on Election Day at Thomas A. Edison Elementary in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. How to request an absentee ballot in Tennessee The final day to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 1, but you should do it long before that. Voters unable to visit the polls in person may request an absentee ballot. To find out if you meet the requirements for an absentee ballot request, visit nashville.gov/departments/elections/voters/request-absentee-ballot. All requests for an absentee ballot must be in writing. Click here to print an absentee voting application. Story continues Absentee ballots must be returned by mail they cannot be emailed or hand delivered. Ballots will be accepted until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Early voting in Davidson County Early voting will take place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 3 across Tennessee. See a list of early voting locations and times in Davidson County in the document below. Voters can go to any location to cast a ballot during early voting. Davidson County early voting schedule for Nov. 8, 2022 election by USA TODAY Network on Scribd Election Day in Tennessee The big day is Nov. 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Davidson County. Voters who choose to cast their ballot on Election Day must go to their specific neighborhood polling site. To find your polling place, look up your voting information at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to register to vote in Davidson County for the midterm election If you arent opting for vote-by-mail but find yourself unavailable to cast your ballot on Election Day, you can vote early. Find your early-voting site information on the State Board of Elections website. Early voting began for some counties on Sept. 29 40 days before Election Day. In Chicago, early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 7 at the voting supersite at 191 N. Clark St. and the Board of Elections office on the sixth floor at 69 W. Washington St. In suburban Cook County, early voting doesnt start until Oct. 12 at the Pedway at 69 W. Washington St. and at five local courthouses. On Oct. 24, early voting expands to polling places around the state, to the early-voting sites in each Chicago ward and in suburban Cook County. In Chicago, residents can vote at any early-voting site regardless of what ward they live in. The Chicago Board of Elections will also take calls from voters looking for information at its Early Voting Election Central at 312-269-1394. What is early voting? Whether you travel for business, cant get to the polls on Election Day or simply prefer to get your civic responsibility out of the way, voting early is an option. Votes cast early arent counted until polls close on Election Day on Nov. 8. Do I need to bring an ID? If you already are registered to vote and your address is correct, you do not need to bring your ID, though its not a bad idea in case your signature doesnt match the one on file. Be sure to bring two forms of identification if you also plan to register on the same day you plan to vote or if you need to change your address or name. At least one of those IDs must list your current address. What if Ive already received a mail-in ballot, but want to participate in early voting instead? If you decide to vote early in person but already received a mail-in ballot, bring that ballot with you when you go to vote in person to have the ballot that was mailed to you canceled. Where can I vote in person before Election Day? Heres a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction look at where and when residents may vote in advance of the primary election on Nov. 8. Story continues Locations and hours of operation are subject to change, so check with your local jurisdiction for latest information. Early voting locations by jurisdiction in the Chicago area Type your address into the search box below to find the one closest to you. Jump to your jurisdiction Chicago Jurisdiction: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Suburban Cook County Jurisdiction: Cook County Clerks office DuPage County Jurisdiction: DuPage County Election Commission Kane County Jurisdiction: Kane County Clerk Lake County Jurisdiction: Lake County Clerk McHenry County Jurisdiction: McHenry County Clerk Will County Jurisdiction: Will County Clerk Constitutional amendments by their nature aim to fix problems or shortcomings in a governing document. But many changes proposed to Alabamas constitution this year target problems stemming from the heart of that document. The framers of the 1901 Constitution wanted to deny the vote to Blacks and poor whites, drain local governments of what power they had and make state government and particularly, the Legislature the supreme authority in Alabama. The constitution, ratified through fraud, achieved those goals, and it took federal intervention following six decades of struggle by Black Alabamians to restore voting rights in the state. But the centralizing features of the states governing document remain in place. ALABAMA REDISTRICTING: Alabama redistricting case before Supreme Court could further weaken Voting Rights Act MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT:Elaine Harris Spearman Commentary: Americans need to make every vote count The amendments on the ballot in November wont cut down the knotty pine of the Alabama Constitution. Instead, they aim to prune some of the dead branches. Voters will decide whether to remove racist language from the Constitution, and whether to give counties and cities more power to spend money on economic development. The proposals also include measures on violent felonies and the death penalty, and others touching on fierce local controversies over sewer rates. Below, a look at the amendments. Recompilation: Dropping racist language Section 256 of Alabama's 1901 Constitution established a segregated school system: "Separate schools shall be provided for white and colored children, and no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race." Federal laws and federal court decisions have nullified the racist disenfranchisement schemes of the framers of the Alabama Constitution. But racist language remains in the states governing document. The recompilation of the Constitution aims to address that. The recompilation will strike language allowing slavery for the punishment of crime. That phrase became a legal foundation for Alabamas notorious convict-labor system. It will also take out language that directed poll taxes to support schools. Story continues The amendment would also remove language from a 1956 amendment, passed amid white hysteria over school desegregation, that would have illegally empowered the Legislature to allow children to attend schools provided for their own race and to intervene in schools in the name of peace and order, a code phrase used by segregationists to uphold the separation of schools on race. Alabamas racist past created an enormous chasm in health and wealth outcomes for whites and Blacks. Supporters of the recompilation acknowledge that the language change wont address those issues. Attempts to reach Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, the sponsor of the initiative, were not successful. But Coleman said in November 2021 that the measure would mean a constitution that better represents Alabama. "The document is supposed to reflect who we are as a state," she said. "We're Black, we're white, we're Democrats, Republicans, we're rich, and we're poor." The recompilation would also organize the states governing document, the longest in use in the United States, by topic. Supporters said they hope that would improve access to the document. Amendment 1: Denying bail to individuals charged with violent felonies Aniah Blanchard went missing from Opelika Amendment 1 would allow judges to deny bail to defendants charged with violent felonies after a hearing on the matter. Legislators named the amendment Aniahs Law for Aniah Blanchard, a Southern Union Community College student whose body was found in Macon County in November 2019, a month after Blanchard was abducted from an Auburn gas station. Lee County prosecutors have charged Ibraheem Yazeed with capital murder in Blanchards death. At the time of Blanchards disappearance, Yazeed was free on $295,000 bond on charges that he held two men at gunpoint, one of whom was near death after a beating. Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, the bills sponsor, first filed the legislation before Blanchards death. It passed the Legislature in 2021. The amendment alters a constitutional provision that allows judges to deny bail for defendants charged with capital offenses, such as murder. Brown said he wanted to ensure that those charged with violent felonies would also fall under that jurisdiction. This is an effort to clear that up, he said. For prosecutors to have that tool to hold someone on bond who is an imminent threat. Under the amendment, judges could deny bail for 13 first-degree offenses, including murder; assault; kidnapping; rape; sodomy; domestic violence; human trafficking; burglary; arson; robbery; sexual torture; terrorism and aggravated child abuse. Bail revocation would not be automatic. A judge would have to hold a hearing where both prosecutors and defense attorneys could present evidence in the matter before the judge made the decision. Amendment 2: Allowing local communities to spend federal broadband money The Alabama Constitutions restrictions on local governments run like veins through the document. Section 94 of the constitution forbids local governments from giving money or a thing of value to an individual or corporation. That became an issue when the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) routed money to county governments in Alabama. Many wanted to spend the funds on broadband projects, said Sonny Brasfield, the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA). But the group felt the Section 94 language blocked that. We were very uncomfortable because of the thing of value restriction, he said. Amendment 2, approved by the Alabama Legislature earlier this year, would allow a local government to give federal money to any public or private entity for the purpose of providing or expanding broadband infrastructure, provided the local government authorizes the spending at a public meeting. There were some attorney general opinions that prompted it, because there were some grey areas in the law, said Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Arab, the bills sponsor. Amendment 3: Notification of commutation The state constitution gives the governor of Alabama the power to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment or issue a reprieve from an execution. Amendment 3 would require any governor who stops an execution or commutes a death sentence to notify the attorney general and make a reasonable effort to contact a victims family through information provided by the attorney general. Under the amendment, not providing notification would void the reprieve or commutation. The measure would restrict a power that Alabama governors seldom use. In 1999, a few days before leaving office, Gov. Fob James commuted the death sentence of Judith Ann Neelley, convicted of the rape and murder of Lisa Ann Millican, 13, in 1982. According to court testimony, Neelley also injected Millican multiple times with drain cleaner, shot her in the back and threw her body in a canyon in DeKalb County. Neelley said she acted on orders from her husband, Alvin, who pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated assault in Georgia and was not tried in Millicans case. The jury in Neelleys case recommended a life sentence, but a judge overruled the recommendation and sentenced Neelley to death. Neelley is currently incarcerated at Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility in Columbiana. Alvin Neelley died in prison in 2005. Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, who sponsored the legislation, said Millicans family approached him about it. I still think the family is trying to get closure with this, to be honest, he said. This young lady was only 13 years old. This was a three- or four-day event. The amendment would not otherwise limit or restrict the governors ability to grant reprieves or commutations. James is the only Alabama governor to have commuted a death sentence since executions resumed in 1983. Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, wrote in an email that Marshall strongly supports the measure. Amendment 4: Effective dates for election laws Voters arrive to vote at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts polling Place in Montgomery, Ala., on primary Election Day, Tuesday May 24, 2022. Amendment 4 would require any election law passed by the Alabama Legislature to have an effective date at least six months before a general election. The measure would require election bills to take effect within the first week of May each year. The amendment could limit the time the Legislature has to pass election-related laws in some years. State elections run two years apart from presidential elections, and the Alabama Legislatures schedule varies for both. In state election years, the Legislature comes into session in January and can meet until mid-to-late April. In presidential election years, the Legislature convenes in February and can meet through mid-to-late May. The measure would take a month off the time legislators can pass election-related legislation in presidential election years. Attempts to reach Rep. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hills, the amendments sponsor, were unsuccessful. The amendment does not address measures that the governor or secretary of state may take on elections. In 2020, amid the COVID epidemic, Gov. Kay Ivey and Secretary of State John Merrill approved broad interpretations of medical excuses for casting absentee ballots. It led to the largest-ever number of absentee ballots being cast in recent years. However, the Legislature has since resisted efforts to make absentee voting easier. Amendment 5: Orphans Orphaned at an early age, Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) is forced to live in a workhouse lorded over by the awful Mr. Bumble, who cheats the boys of their meager rations in "Oliver Twist," directed by Roman Polanski. Columbia Pictures | Associated Press Amendment 5 would remove language in the Constitution that gives probate judges power over orphans business. Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, who sponsored the measure, said that the Alabama Law Institute requested the change. It was one of those recommended clean-up changes, he said. The Constitution used that archaic language. The Code of Alabama still contains a handful of references to orphans, though most surviving laws with the term date from before the 1980s. Othni Lathram, the director of the Alabama Law Institute, said the language no longer reflects how the state legal system deals with minors. Probate judges handle adoption and guardianship matters, and still would if the amendment passed. But juvenile courts deal with legal matters relating to minors. It makes it clear theres no inherent authority of the probate judge over juvenile judges, Lathram said. Thats a settled matter by case law. Amendment 6: Municipal tax money for big projects Like Amendment 2, Amendment 6 would cut through some of the ancient restrictions on local government spending. Amendment 8, an early amendment to the Alabama Constitution, requires about 40 municipalities in the state to spend property tax revenue on paying off debt. The municipalities including Birmingham, Huntsville, Selma, Auburn, Opelika and Anniston must borrow money if they want to build major projects. Amendment 6 would allow cities to use ad valorem taxes to pay for both public capital improvements and bond repayments. Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, the sponsor of the amendment, said Huntsville city officials approached him with the idea of doing pay-as-you-go projects. Theyd have to take out a loan, even if the money was available from that referendum, he said. Kelly Schrimsher, a spokeswoman for the city of Huntsville, wrote in an email that city officials did not have specific projects in mind, but wanted the option to pursue big projects without having to pay interest on loans. Huntsville doesnt want to be forced to carry debt for capital projects and would like to be able to apply these revenues toward the capital goods our citizens need, she wrote. Amendment 7: County economic development Construction begins during the groundbreaking for a new senior center in Autaugaville, Ala., on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. The Alabama Constitutions restrictions on local government spending also extended to restrictions on how county governments could court businesses. For decades, counties that wanted to pursue local economic development efforts had to have individual amendments put into the Constitution. Amendment 759 to the document added about 14 counties including Jefferson, Mobile and Baldwin at once. Amendment 772 to the constitution extended those powers to every county. But the counties included under the pre-772 amendments could not borrow money for public-private partnerships without first getting approval from a judge. That, said Rep. Jeff Sorrells, R-Geneva, the sponsor of the amendment, could add tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills for some of those governments. A county commission was putting up a building, but before they could secure bonds for the building, they had to go before a judge to get validation that they could fall under 772 as well, he said. The amendment would get rid of that requirement. It would also declare any projects initiated under the terms of Amendment 772 valid, whether they were counties covered by 759 or individual constitutional amendments. Brasfield said the amendment would affect about 40 counties in total. The current system, he said, was unwieldy. It slows down the process, he said. Many times in economic development, time can cost you jobs. Amendments 8 and 9: Sewer battles Amendments 8 and 9 stem from intensely local and intensely fierce battles over sewer bills in two growing areas in Alabama. Amendment 8, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, would bring some privately-owned sewer systems in Shelby County under regulation by the Public Service Commission, which would set rates for at least a time. Amendment 9, sponsored by Rep. Rich Wingo, R-Tuscaloosa, would give the PSC about four years to regulate private sewer systems in Lake View, a town straddling the border of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties. Behind the amendments are years-long battles between sewer companies and residents who complain that the firms charge excessive fees for their services. Shelby County residents who use Southwest Water told ABC 33/40 in Birmingham in 2021 that their rates had more than tripled. Southwest Water said in a statement at the time it was following an agreed-upon rate structure and that it had reached out to the Shelby County Commission to address the issue. Messages seeking comment were left with Waggoner and Southwest Water on Wednesday. For years, Lake View residents have clashed with Mike White, the owner of Tannehill Sewer, a private sewer company in the area. In 2021, a federal jury in Tuscaloosa ordered the company to pay three families in the community $4.7 million. The families testified the company had billed them a total of $500,000, and that they were in fear of losing their homes. Amendment 9 would put the private system under the regulation of the Public Service Commission from 2023 to 2027. Its a statewide amendment, but it allows the people of the state of Alabama to protect the people of Lake View, Wingo said. This has been going on for years and years where people have been overcharged and taken advantage of. Messages seeking comment from White were left with Harry Long, an Anniston attorney representing him in a recent case. Wingo also criticized Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, who he accused of trying to stop the measure. Allen said in a statement that his intent was to get to the root of the problem, not to increase government regulation. The town of Lake View should own and operate its system for its citizens, the statement said. Amendment 10: Bringing it together Amendment 10 is a procedural amendment. Amendment 10 is a procedural amendment that travels with the recompilation provision on the ballot. Should the recompilation proposal and the amendment pass, any of the other nine amendments approved by voters will go into the constitution, rather than get attached at the end. It will also ensure that case law on the constitution remains in effect. It allows any simultaneously ratified amendment to be encompassed in the new constitution, Lathram said. Local amendments Autauga The Central and Daniel Pratt school zones in Autauga will decide whether to approve a 15-mill property tax increase. The proposal would add $150 to $170 a year on property tax payments for a house valued at $100,000. The money will go toward capital improvements. Montgomery Amendment 1 would require the Montgomery County Probate Judge to be a licensed attorney and would give the probate judge the power and authority of a circuit court judge, the highest non-appellate judicial rank in the state. Amendment 2 would allow mayors in the county to participate in the states Employee Retirement System. Elmore Elmore County does not have any local amendments on the ballot. Brian Lyman covers politics and state government for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com. Updated Monday morning to correct the name of the Amendment 1 sponsor. He is Rep. Chip Brown, not Rep. Chris Brown. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: A guide to the constitutional amendments on Alabama's November ballot WELLINGTON Donnah Winger, a 33-year-old mother and nurse, was beaten to death with a hammer inside her home in Springfield, Illinois, during the summer of 1995. For seven years, her husband, Mark, got away with the murder. Mark Winger framed another man for her death. A man whom he had shot that day. Years went by before the case was re-opened and Mark Winger was sentenced to life in prison for plotting a double-murder. Donnah's family was devastated. Donna Winger's husband murdered her at their home in Illinois in 1995. Her sister and brother-in-law, Jenny and Stephen Levin, in 2022 started The Western Ride, a bicycling event to raise money for a fund named in her daughter at the nonprofit Women In Distress of Broward County. On Sunday, her sister, Jenny, and her husband, Stephen A. Levin, will host a community bike ride in Wellington to raise funds for Donnah's Fund, the family's nonprofit that supports women suffering domestic abuse. It has helped more than 300 families regain their independence, working with Women In Distress of Broward County, a domestic violence treatment center based in Lighthouse Point. "We conceived the Western Ride to combine Donnah's tragedy with a sport that I love and continue to keep her memory alive," said Stephen Levin, an avid cyclist who has lived in the village since 2003. "It's a ride, not a race." Sunday's ride in Donnah Winger's memory offers 15-, 30-, 60-mile loops The event will feature courses of 15, 30 and 60 miles with entries in each priced at $75. All proceeds will go to Donnah's Fund, the nonprofit founded by Sara Jane Drescher, Donnah's mother, on the 15th anniversary of her death in 2010. The village is co-sponsoring the ride, which will start and end in front of Village Hall on Forest Hill Boulevard. The 15-mile ride, recommended for novices, will stay close to the village's center. Participants will start on Forest Hill, head east to Lyons Road, then south to Pierson Road before returning to the starting point, crossing through Greenview Shores Boulevard. The Western Ride in Wellington on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, will include a 30-mile course. For the 30-mile route, intermediate riders will pedal a loop starting on Forest Hill, head east to Lyons, then south to State Road 7 before turning west onto 50th Street South and then north along South Shore, Pierson, Greenbriar Boulevard and Aero Club Drive before returning to the start. Story continues The 60-mile ride is a two-loop version of the 30-mile course. Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office will guard all intersections. "As an emergency-room nurse, she was always about helping others," Stephen Levin said. "We want to make sure that Donnah's Fund continues to help others." Mark Winger tried to pin Donnah's murder on Illinois airport shuttle driver The Wingers seemed to have the perfect marriage, Donnah's mother, Sara Jane Drescher, said in an email to The Palm Beach Post. "We never knew or suspected abuse in Donnahs relationship," Drescher wrote. "So there was no way we could have prevented her murder." It was 1995, and the couple had been married for 10 years. Mark worked as a nuclear engineer, and they lived in a comfortable home. In June that year, they adopted a child. Three months later, on Aug. 29, everything changed. Mark called 911 saying a man had broken into their home and killed Donnah after repeatedly striking her with a hammer. He told police he had shot the man in self-defense. The man in question was airport driver Roger Harrington. Almost a week earlier, he had driven Donnah and the baby home when they returned from visiting her parents in Florida. Donnah told her husband that Harrington was speeding and talking about killing people during the half-hour ride, according to Mark Winger. He promised to call the company, according to police records. Six days later, Mark told police he shot Harrington when he found him laying on top of Donnah, hitting her with a hammer that was left in the living room. Only three Polaroid pictures of the scene were taken before Donnah and Harrington were rushed to a hospital, where they died. Police confirmed the meeting from the airport between the two and learned Harrington had a record of poor mental health. A prosecutor closed the case the following day. Donnah's parents and friends and other community members supported Mark and called him a hero. Almost everyone believed his story. Harrington's family and a local detective, however, never did. The Western Ride in Wellington on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, will include a 15-mile bicycle course. Donnah Winger's friend told police of Mark Winger's fantasies of killing wife Three years later, a witness came forward with revelations that reopened the case. Donnah's friend, DeAnn Shultz, told police she was having an affair with Mark at the time of the murder. She said he constantly fantasized about killing his wife, and even talked of a plan to get Harrington to the house. Officers questioned Mark, who admitted the affair but denied ever wanting to kill his wife. Police re-examined the pictures taken of the bodies and found evidence that Mark had talked with Harrington to set up a meeting at the house. Detectives arrested Mark Winger in 2002, and seven years after Donnah's murder, he was sentenced to life in prison without parfor both murders, an outcome that drew national media attention. In 2005, Mark plotted from his prison cell to kill DeAnn Shultz, and two years later was found guilty of soliciting murder. The conviction added 35 years to his life sentence. Drescher says the nonprofit has given the family the opportunity to save other women and is grateful the ride will provide them funds to keep going. "It also keeps Donnahs spirit alive, and that has helped us endure these past 27 years," she wrote. The Western Ride What: Bicycle rides of 15, 30 and 60 miles through Wellington. The entry fees will raise money for Donnah's Fund. The nonprofit helps Women In Distress of Broward County provide services to domestic violence victims in South Florida. When: Sunday, starting at Village Hall at Forest Hill Boulevard and Wellington Trace. The 60-mile ride starts at 7 a.m., followed by the 30-mile at 7:10 and the 15-mile at 7:20. Cost: The entry fee is $75. Details: Go online to www.bikereg.com/56916. Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donnah Winger murder: Wellington bike ride to benefit abuse victims Theres no shortage of corporations talking about the importance of supporting the Black community these days. But talk is one thing actions are something else. For years, Wells Fargo has been taking meaningful actions to assist students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and those efforts are increasing in a major way with several initiatives aimed at helping deserving students make their college education more affordable. With donations totaling more than $32 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the Jackie Robinson Foundation, along with contributions to individual HBCUs over the past 11 years, Wells Fargo is committed to increasing students financial literacy and positively impacting their economic futures. Wells Fargo is also giving HBCU students and alumni the chance to proudly represent their institutions through the HBCU Legends Collection, a slate of debit cards displaying the iconic brand mark of some of the most beloved historically Black colleges and universities in the country. Our goal is to combine our human talent, our philanthropic dollars, and our nearly 90 business institutional resources, and strategically deploy them to support the needs of HBCUs and the communities they are a part of, said Dewey Norwood, Senior Lead Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Enterprise HBCU Strategy at Wells Fargo. These institutions of higher education have stood the test of time and continue to produce top-tier talent that contributes to our growing economy. Through this holistic approach, Wells Fargo is showing up for HBCUs, their students and alumni in ways that really matter. Wells Fargo puts in the work to improve financial wellness for HBCU students Wells Fargos commitments continue to have a positive financial impact on HBCUs and their students. The company has partnered with organizations dedicated to improving communities by investing in students and their futures. For example, the Empower Me Tour, which UNCF founded with Wells Fargo to inspire students to take control of their futures and career goals, begins the fall tour with three events in September, October, and November, and one in February 2023. The program has supported tens of thousands of HBCU students to date. The firms strategic investments in the UNCF donation also provide HBCU students with financial support, and help UNCF promote messaging about the importance of college readiness and success after graduation. Wells Fargo isnt stopping there. This year the firm has contributed $1 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Those funds were used for scholarships and for TMCFs annual entrepreneurship/ tech competition, The Pitch, which allows student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their leadership, presentation, and overall business skills. Wells Fargo is also proud to be a presenting sponsor at the 22nd annual TMCF Leadership Institute: Empowered State of Mind. LI, as it is affectionately known, brings nearly 450 HBCU students to the heart of Manhattan for an immersive four-day experience, helping students secure their first post-graduation career opportunity. The company has also teamed up with Allen University, Bowie State University, Lincoln University, Miles College, Morris Brown College, and Southern University at New Orleans to provide financial assistance for students facing food insecurity, housing insecurity and overwhelming college debt. Wells Fargo hopes to expand the $5.6 million initiative to other schools serving Black students. Students and alumni get to represent their HBCU with the Legends Collection Wells Fargo is giving students and alumni from schools like Clark Atlanta University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Elizabeth City State University the chance to represent their HBCUs with the legends collection. The collection is offering a new set of debit cards highlighting the legacy of HBCUs and showcasing their iconic brands. The firm has 22 brand marks to date and there are plans to add more schools in the future. Paulette Jackson, Senior Vice President of National Development and Operations for UNCF, said, Equity comes in many sizes and forms, and we are so grateful to Wells Fargo for allowing HBCU students, alumni, and fans like myself and so many at UNCF to demonstrate pride in their institutions. Wells Fargo has significantly promoted financial literacy and wellness at historically Black colleges and universities and encouraged leadership development with their programs and initiatives. This commitment to HBCU students is helping to remove many of the economic barriers they face when getting their education. Through its donations, scholarship funds, and engagement with HBCUs, Wells Fargo is helping to shape the Black leaders of tomorrow part of its continued work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. This editorial is brought to you in collaboration with Wells Fargo. BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Opener David Warner blazed 75 from 41 balls to set up Australia's 31-run win over the West Indies on Friday and complete a 2-0 series sweep in a warmup for this month's Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. The defending T20 World Cup champion Australians won the series-opening game on the Gold Coast by three wickets with one ball to spare on Wednesday and followed up with a lop-sided victory at the Gabba. Warner's 23rd T20 international half century and Tim David's 42 from 20 deliveries propelled Australia to a total of 178-7 after being sent in to bat. Alzarri Joseph led the West Indies attack with 3-21 off four overs, including the wickets of Cameron Green (1), Steve Smith (17) and Matt Wade (16). For Australia, left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc snared four wickets, including one in the first over, to restrict the West Indies to 147-8 in reply. Johnson Charles (29), Brandon King (23) and Akeal Hosein (25) made starts but were unable to build momentum as the Australian bowling attack took regular wickets on a bouncy pitch in Bribane. The difference in the game was Davy and Tim with the bat," Australia captain Aaron Finch said. Their two innings were unbelievable in the context of the game." Australia will play England in three T20s, starting in Perth on Sunday, before opening the T20 World Cup on Oct. 22 against New Zealand. The West Indies will play two warmup games in Melbourne next week before beginning the preliminary round of the T20 World Cup on Oct. 17 against Scotland. ___ More AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Oct. 7FAIRMONT Base Camp Printing highlights the beauty of West Virginia, without leaving the state. Thursday evening, the two sisters behind the letterpress printing company, Emily and Betsy Sokolosky, joined community members and Fairmont State University students and professors for a closing ceremony of their first exhibit. The exhibit has been on display in Wallman Hall at Fairmont State since August, and it will conclude on Oct. 7. In 2016, after learning how to screen print at West Virginia University and working at Kin Ship Goods, a boutique in Charleston, Emily started Base Camp Printing inside of the boutique. Betsy joined her six months later. They are Charleston natives and have a store located on the west side of town, at 613 Tennessee Ave. They specialize in custom made posters, buttons, stickers and cards. Everything they make is designed using old-school printing machines, oil-based paint used for screen printing and linoleum blocks which are carved out by hand. Their art includes themes of activism, consumerism and West Virginia culture. "[We showcase] West Virginia as a beautiful place of potential, rather than someplace that we're stuck in, which can often be the narrative. ... I think for the longest time, I didn't know that West Virginia was the butt of a joke. I thought, 'I live in this beautiful place, this is awesome,' and then you kind of learn to be ashamed of it. So, we try to kind of fight against those negative stereotypes because the state's beautiful and the people are so genuine and friendly. ... It's nice to be a positive source of imagery and something that people can hang on their walls and be proud of," Betsy Sokolosky said. Emily explained that the name for Base Camp Printing came after moving around to various places trying to make her passion a career. She said that often times people say that you need to leave West Virginia to make things happen, but it was when she moved back to Charleston her base camp that everything sort of fell into place. Story continues At Fairmont State, the screen-printing major is predominantly female students, so assistant professor of art, Kylie Ford, knew she wanted to bring in two successful female business owners who made a name for themselves in the screen-printing industry. "I remember reading their work and remaining in awe in ways that they're able to capture the essence of our state in a beautifully graphic, as well as incredibly prolific print series. ... This, alongside their meaningful display in West Virginia culture and activism, made them the perfect makers that I really wanted to share with our department, our students and our greater community of Fairmont and North Central West Virginia," Ford said. As female business owners in a historically male-dominated industry, the Sokoloskys said they can often be underestimated or misunderstood. "There are a lot of older printers who may be surprised that, you know, we're not just watching the register we own the business, and we know how the press works and everything like that. But for the most part, being our own bosses and being able to kind of make those choices about what serves us and what doesn't I feel like we have taken back a lot of the control, but it's definitely been a learning process for us," Betsy said. Emily agreed and added making a career out of art has its own set of challenges. "You try not to not put that pressure on yourself to be perfect because showing your art is a vulnerable thing and you are just opening yourself up to so much criticism, but sometimes the worst critic is yourself," Emily Sokolosky said. For Bee Spevock, a sophomore student majoring in studio art, they are looking forward to pursuing different art forms and possible minors. Spevock was already interested in screen printing, but after visiting the exhibit and getting to test a printing machine out, they are considering taking a screen-printing course. "The process of printmaking can be so daunting at first but seeing everything laid out and that it's just an artistic process, makes it easier. It makes it seem like anyone can do it," Spevock said. Emily shared advice for people interested in pursuing a career in screen or letterpress printing. She said to not be afraid to reach out to people who inspire you because it is how she was able to get different opportunities and experiences and the worst they will say is no. "I think it's important to know that no one knows what they're doing. Like, I was under the impression that people knew what they were doing. ... I don't know if you'll ever feel like completely ready to do something, but, if it's calling you, go for it," Emily said. For more information on Base Camp Printing, visit their website or call 304-549-9749. Reach me at sshriver@timeswv.com or 304-367-2549. WESTMINSTER In stark contrast to fellow Westminster World War II casualty Wendell A. Nye, who was an only child, Urho Sakkinen was the tenth child in a farming family with 15 children. Born in Bridgeton, Maine, the Sakkinens moved to Westminster in 1919 when Urho was only 4 years old, and lived at 39 Bacon St. where his father Charles owned a dairy farm. While theirs was a large family, it endured more than its share of sadness with the infant deaths of a daughter at birth in 1921 and another that was stillborn three years later. Another sister, Irene, died in 1928 at the age of 22. Tragedy continued to beset the family as their mother Annie died in June 1938 at the age of 58. Then, four years later, their father, Charles, died in 1942 at the age of 69. More: Westminster's Edmund O. Nelson was killed in France by a German sniper Mark Landry, the veterans graves officer as well as a member of the towns Veterans Committee for the Westminster Historical Society, provided a good deal of information to help complete this as well as each of the columns in this series. He is an invaluable resource and we are indebted to him. This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes. Pfc. Urho Sakkinen (1914-1944) Urho Sakkinen Urho E. Sakkinen was born in Bridgeton, Maine, on Dec. 4, 1914, the 10th of 15 children to Finnish-born Charles and Annie (Kinnunen) Sakkinen. His family moved from Maine to Westminster in 1919 and operated a dairy farm in town. Perhaps as a way to provide an added income to the growing family, Urho took a job working for the town at the age of 16, doing road work. With his elder brothers John and William serving during World War II, Urho was quick to join them, entering the service on Nov. 7, 1942, six months after his fathers death. Urhos unit was stationed at Camp Blanding, near Gainesville, Florida, where he spent seven months training before moving to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was later transferred Camp Forrest in Nashville, Tennessee. Story continues More: Military was the destiny of Westminster's Douglas Hicks, who died in World War II Prior to going overseas, Sakkinen obtained a furlough to visit his family for Christmas in 1943. Sadly, his brother John, who had been a member of the U.S. Armys Medical Department before being honorably discharged, had died earlier that month of a brief illness at the age of 45. Urho would join Company H, 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Old Hickory U. S. Division as a private. On Feb. 12, 1944, the regiment left port in Boston aboard the SS Argentina and sailed the Atlantic Ocean bound for Glasgow, Scotland, which it reached in 12 days. More: Westminster's William F. Gilliland perished stateside during WWII During the time of the D-Day attack in June 1944, the 120th Infantry Regiment was ordered to move to a marshalling area 10 miles north of Southampton. From June 9-13, the men were carried across the English Channel aboard various American and British troop transports. The 120th began an attack on the Germans that featured hand-to-hand combat. As Germans tossed hand grenades toward the U.S. soldiers, they would be picked up and hurled back at the enemy. By early July, the regiment held the bank of the Vire Canal. Once an attack began on July 7, the 117th Infantry Regiment on the left flank failed to take the high ground east of St. Jean de Daye. As a result, the 2nd Battalion, of which Private Sakkinen was a member, was placed under the command of the 117th. Wounded in battle It was during a renewed the attack on the Germans on July 9, that Private Sakkinen was wounded in battle. Word reached his sister Linda Luoma on Aug. 11 by a telegram from the War Department that her brother had been seriously wounded, but no further details were provided. It was later learned that Sakkinen died of his wounds three days later in France on July 12, 1944. He was 29 years old. It turned out he was one of three local soldiers to be killed in France that week, including Joseph R. LaFrenier of South Ashburnham, who died on July 10, and Walter P. Norskey of Baldwinville, who died on July 13. Sakkinen was survived by six brothers, Peter, Howard, Eli, Herman, William and Waino, and three sisters, Linda Luoma, Mary Kultti and Sally Kamila. A service was held in the Westminster American Legion on Aug. 27, 1944, while his body was later brought to town for burial in 1948 and he was laid to rest in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster. Urho Sakkinen Square at the corner of North Common and Overlook roads in Westminster, not far from where his family's dairy farm once operated on Bacon Street. Urho Sakkinen Square is at the corner of North Common and Overlook roads in Westminster, not far from where his family's dairy farm once operated on Bacon Street. (Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or by writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Rd. Sandwich, MA 02563) This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Pvt. Urho Sakkinen, part of the 120th Infantry Regiment died in France An upcoming miniseries is not only based on the harrowing story of a young Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped twice by a trusted family friend it also focuses on her parents, who likewise fell under the spell of that very same man. Mary Ann and Bob Broberg received backlash for how they responded to the first of the two alleged kidnappings of their daughter, Jan Broberg, in the 1970s, as dramatized in the Peacock original series A Friend of the Family. Starring Academy Award winner Anna Paquin ("The Piano," "X-Men") as Mary Ann and Colin Hanks ("Fargo," "The Offer") as Bob, the scripted seriesoffers a new perspective on Mary Ann and Bobs reaction, showing how the parents were also victims allegedly groomed and manipulated by a cunning predator. Neighbor and family friend Robert Berchtold endearingly referred to as Brother B by the Brobergs was accused of spending years manipulating the tight-knit family with the hope of marrying their then-12-year-old daughter, Jan, allegedly kidnapping her once in 1974 and again in 1976, all while sexually abusing her over several years. RELATED: Where Is Jan Broberg From Peacock's 'A Friend Of The Family' Now? Jan, along with her mother, Mary Ann, both serve as producers on the series. We were a loving, trusting, educated family, said Jan in the shows media release. We were not careless or stupid. So how could this happen in our neighborhood, where we knew everyone, and everyone was a friend? Bob and Mary Ann married in 1961 and were life-long members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The pair raised their three daughters Jan, Karen, and Susan in Bobs hometown of Pocatello, Idaho, where Bob spent his life as a florist. The Brobergs met the Berchtolds a family seemingly not much different than their own at a local church in 1972, and their bond was immediate. For years, the children played and went to school together, spending months filled with picnics, barbecues and fun family vacations. Story continues Then, in 1974, Berchtold allegedly abducted Jan and took her to Mexico for 37 days, convincing her that aliens from another planet chose Jan to mate with Berchtold and that the survival of the foreign planet depended on their consummation. He also convinced her she couldnt tell her family or police about the abuse, as it could compromise their mission. A still from Peacock's A Friend of the Family Anna Paquin as Mary Ann Broberg, Elle Lisic as Young Susan Broberg, Hendrix Yancey as Young Jan Broberg, Mila Harris as Young Karen Broberg, Colin Hanks as Bob Broberg Photo: Peacock However, when Jan first went missing, her parents Mary Ann and Bob would not report the kidnapping for days. They called the sheriff's department that night that we did not come back from horseback riding, or at least that's where they thought we had gone. But they weren't looking for a kidnapped or missing child. They were looking for a car accident," Jan told the BBC in 2019. More than that, Mary Ann and Bob were reluctant to believe Brother B would harm Jan. I really felt he manipulated me in so many ways, and the whole family too, Mary Ann told People in 2019. If I could go back and erase anything of my life, it would be him. He was a master at making everybody feel he was their number one priority. The Peacock original series includes not only Berchtold's alleged abuse of Jan but also the reported sexual affairs he secretly had with Jan's parents, which the Brobergs say helped him maintain control over their family. This control would allegedly aid Berchtold in evading charges and kidnapping Jan for a second time two years later. Following the second alleged kidnapping, Berchtold was arrested, but evaded serious charges by arguing he had a mental defect, according to Deseret News. He ultimately spent less than six months in a psychiatric facility. Chris Watts According to the Peacock media release, the Brobergs were utterly unprepared for Robert Berchtolds sophisticated tactics against their vulnerability, as well as Berchtolds ability to turn Jan against her parents as a teenager. Its easy to judge the Broberg familys story from the outside, said showrunner Nick Antosca in the media release. Sometimes, when people first hear it, they get defensive. How could these parents have let this happen? Im not like them. Antosca explained he wanted to show audiences the bizarre web between the two families and make them relatable to people whod lived in the era. They made terrible mistakes, but they loved their kids, said Antosca. And a master manipulator took advantage of them. Oxy App Mary Ann Broberg told People that it took years to heal from Bechtolds wounds, which included Jan expressing her feelings of betrayal and anger, especially throughout her adolescent years. My parents didnt deny or downplay what theyd done, Jan told People. They said, we made the most terrible mistakes. They took responsibility for it. They listened to me, and they didnt try to defend themselves. A Friend of the Family may include the ups and downs in Bob and Mary Ann's marriage, but despite it all, they remained married, selling Bobs floral business in 1999 and moving to St. George, Utah. They remained in Utah until Bob passed away on Nov. 5, 2018, at 80 years old, according to his obituary. Although Bob Broberg wouldnt live to see A Friend of the Family, the familys story made waves when Netflix aired the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight in 2017. Director Skye Borgman told Vanity Fair that Bob Broberg was appreciative that their cautionary tale could reach the public. Bob said that he was just so grateful that we had told their story in such a sensitive way," said Borgman. "It was really shocking to me and, I think, speaks more to the Brobergs capacity for truth and forgiveness and just wanting to get that story out there. Jan and Mary Ann hope that making a series based on their story will help others be mindful of predators and their ability to prey on the vulnerable. The first three episodes of A Friend of the Family premiere on Oct. 6 on Peacock. New episodes will stream weekly thereafter. (Bloomberg) -- China criticized expanded US restrictions on its access to semiconductor technology, saying theyll harm supply chains and the world economy. Most Read from Bloomberg President Joe Biden administration announced the export curbs on Friday, escalating tensions between the two countries and adding complications for an industry faced with slumping demand. The measures seek to stop Chinas drive to develop its own chip industry and advance its military capabilities. They include restrictions on the export of some types of chips used in artificial intelligence and supercomputing and tighten rules on the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to any Chinese company. China has poured resources into developing supercomputing capabilities and seeks to become a world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030, said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler. It is using these capabilities to monitor, track and surveil their own citizens, and fuel its military modernization. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Saturday that the measures, which begin to enter into force this month, are unfair and will also hurt the interests of US companies, according to an official briefing transcript. They deal a blow to global industrial and supply chains and world economic recovery, she said. The US is seeking to ensure that Chinese companies dont transfer technology to the countrys military and that chipmakers in China dont develop the capability to make advanced semiconductors themselves. The rules come at a difficult time for the chip industry, which is suffering a steep drop in demand for personal-computer and smartphone components. Shares of many of the worlds biggest semiconductor makers tumbled on Friday following reports that the slump may be even worse than thought. Story continues The governments actions add another layer of uncertainty for investors already trying to work out how much demand for semiconductors might shrink. Companies such as Applied Materials Inc. and Intel Corp. cant easily walk away from China, the biggest single market for their products and a key part of a global supply chain for electronics used everywhere in the world. Chipmaker stocks have struggled throughout 2022, following three straight years where the group climbed between 40% and 60%. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index is down nearly 40% so far this year, on track for its biggest annual drop since 2008, and it recently fell to its lowest level since November 2020. Widespread Losses The losses have been widespread, with nearly every component of the industry benchmark index in negative territory this year. Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. have declined almost 60%. AMD reported preliminary third-quarter revenue on Thursday that was weaker than expected. AMD and Nvidia have already disclosed that the China-related restrictions on AI chips will hurt their sales. Nvidia said Friday that the broader regulations wont have a material impact on our business, which is already restricted by previous export controls. When the new rules come into force, it will be harder for providers of chips used in Chinese supercomputers and related gear to get permission to fill orders. They should presume requests will be denied, according to senior Commerce Department officials. Commerce also put a raft of restrictions on supplying US machinery thats capable of making advanced semiconductors. Its going after the types of memory chips and logic components that are at the heart of state-of-the art designs. While there will be more latitude for overseas companies needing technology for their own operations in China -- or for parties that can prove theyre making things there for immediate export elsewhere -- Commerce said it will enforce the rules and also cut off support for existing deployments of machinery covered by the restrictions. While the US is home to the biggest block of companies that design vital electronic components and provide the complex machinery to manufacture them, other regions have capabilities that could undermine some of the governments efforts. Commerce Department officials acknowledged that overseas cooperation is necessary to avoid hampering the initiatives and said there are talks with other parties underway around the world on the topic. Chipmaking gear restrictions cover production of the following: Logic chips using so-called nonplanar transistors made with 16-nanometer technology or anything more advanced than that. Generally speaking, the smaller the nanometers, the more capable the chip. 18-nanometer dynamic random access memory chips. Nand-style flash memory chips with 128 layers or more. For companies with plants in China, including non-US firms, the rules will create additional hurdles and require government signoff. South Koreas SK Hynix Inc. is one of the worlds largest makers of memory chips and has facilities in China as part of a supply network that sends components around the world. The new measures restrict sale of equipment for memory products of certain level of technology or above, but allow Korean chipmakers to export if they have a license from the Commerce Department, the company said in a statement. SK Hynix is ready to make its utmost efforts to get the US governments license and will closely work with the Korean government for this. Separately, Commerce added more names to a list of companies that it regards as unverified, meaning it doesnt know where their products end up being used. The 31 additions are all Chinese. That indicates that US suppliers will face new hurdles in selling technologies to those entities. The biggest name to be added to the list is Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. The memory-chip maker is widely regarded as being the best bet China has of breaking through into the front ranks of the industry and has made progress with advanced products for chip-based storage. The US chip industry has expressed concern that moving too aggressively could put domestic companies at a disadvantage. They worry that losing China sales will hurt their ability to spend on innovation and potentially help competitors abroad. The Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents all of the largest US chipmakers, said its evaluating the impact of the new export controls and will ensure compliance. A bill signed by Biden in August promises to infuse about $52 billion into the US semiconductor industry. (Updates with response from Chinese foreign ministry in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON The White House on Friday released a 10-year Arctic strategy that emphasizes deterring increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region as global warming rapidly melts the polar ice caps, drastically transforming the environment. The new strategy identifies four pillars including an enhanced U.S. military presence, increased exercises with partner countries to deter aggression in the Arctic, especially from Russia, NORAD air defense modernization and additional Coast Guard icebreakers, as well as better mapping and charting of the regions waters and weather. The United States will enhance and exercise both our military and civilian capabilities in the Arctic as required to deter threats and to anticipate, prevent, and respond to both natural and human-made incidents, the security section of the strategy states. We will deepen cooperation with Arctic Allies and partners in support of these objectives and to manage risks of further militarization or unintended conflict, including those resulting from geopolitical tensions with Russia. Russia has reopened and modernized hundreds of Soviet-era military bases in the region since the U.S. released its last 10-year Arctic strategy in 2013. The new strategy notes that Moscow is deploying new coastal and air defense missile systems and upgraded submarines; and increasing military exercises and raining operations with a new combatant command equivalent for the Arctic. It also notes that Moscows invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated tensions in the region, rendering government-to-government cooperation with Russia in the Arctic virtually impossible. The strategy leave the door open for such cooperation to resume cooperation under certain conditions but predicts that this is unlikely for the foreseeable future, it said. China has declared itself a near-Arctic state and announced its intentions to build a Polar Silk Road in the region. The White House strategy notes that China seeks to increase its influence in the Arctic through an expanded slate of economic, diplomatic, scientific and military activities. Story continues Over the last decade, the [Peoples Republic of China] has doubled its investments, with a focus on critical mineral extraction; expanded its scientific activities; and used these scientific engagements to conduct dual-use research with intelligence or military applications in the Arctic, the strategy states. The document vows that the U.S. will also refine and advance military presence in the Arctic in support of our homeland defense, global military and power projection and deterrence goals. The U.S. maintains more than 22,000 active-duty troops in Alaska and also has a base in Greenland. The Pentagon last month established an Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience Office led by Iris Ferguson as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Arctic a new position. She will oversee several elements of the White Houses Arctic strategy, such as coordinating with U.S. security partners and force modernization. NATO exercises and force modernization The strategy calls for an increased focus on joint exercise with NATO allies and Arctic partners to improve operational familiarity with the Arctic region, including cold weather operations and interoperability. It also calls for collaborating with Canada on NORAD air defense modernization. Additionally, the document states that the U.S. will procure additional icebreakers for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard currently operates two icebreakers, the heavy Polar Star and medium Healy. The Fiscal 2023 Coast Guard Authorization Act, which the Senate Commerce Committee advanced last month, allocates $841 million for a third Polar Security Cutter and another $20 million to set up an Arctic Security Cutter program office. The White House strategy notes that China has expanded its icebreaker fleet and sent vessels into the Arctic for the first time. China operates two icebreakers, one it manufactured itself and another it purchased from Ukraine in 1994 and refurbished. Beijing has started to develop a third heavy-duty icebreaker for use in the Arctic. Russia has six operational icebreakers. The other three non-security pillars of the Arctic strategy are climate change and environmental protection, sustainable economic development and international cooperation and governance. An April Pentagon inspector general report found that the U.S. military has failed to prepare its Arctic and sub-Arctic bases for the long-term impacts of climate change on the region as melting ice sinks runways and damages facilities. The Arctic strategy notes that the U.S. will improve Arctic observing, mapping and charting; weather, water and sea ice forecasting; sub-seasonal and seasonal prediction; emergency preparedness posture; and satellite coverage to enable efficient commerce and to ensure maritime and air safety amid the rapidly changing environment. The Arctic strategy aside, the White House has not yet released the long-overdue, legally mandated National Security Strategy. As a result, the Pentagon has not yet released the unclassified version of its National Defense Strategy. The Biden administration has attributed the months-long delay in releasing these documents to the need to recalibrate after Russias invasion of Ukraine. The 2018 National Security Strategy pivoted away from ongoing wars in the Middle East and Central Asia to great power competition with Russia and China. By Andrea Shalal and Nandita Bose (Reuters) -The United States has no new intelligence on Russia's nuclear threats, the White House said Friday, after President Joe Biden referenced a nuclear "Armageddon" on Thursday. The U.S. also does not have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons, and sees no reason to change its current nuclear posture, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. "He was reinforcing what we have been saying, which is how seriously we take these threats about nuclear weapons," Jean-Pierre said. "We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons." On Thursday, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine has brought the world closer to "Armageddon" than at any time since the Cold-War Cuban Missile Crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron, in response to Biden's comments, said, "We must speak with prudence." Biden on Thursday also said he was keeping an eye on Putin and how he might react as Ukraine's military makes gains against Russian invaders. "For the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons, if in fact things continue down the path they'd been going," Biden told Democratic donors in New York. In the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States under President John Kennedy and the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev came close to the use of nuclear weapons over the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. "If the Cuban Missile Crisis has taught us anything, it is the value of reducing nuclear risk and not brandishing it," Jean-Pierre said Friday. Biden also told attendees that he knows Putin "fairly well" and said the Russian president was "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons." Story continues His comments came about a week after Putin staged sham referendums and illegally annexed areas of southern and eastern Ukraine. Biden spoke at the New York home of businessman James Murdoch, turning to the son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch to try to boost his party's chances in the Nov. 8 congressional elections. Democrats are fighting to maintain control of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Nandita Bose and Jeff MasonEditing by Alistair Bell, Heather Timmons and Leslie Adler) The White House on Friday said it has seen no indication Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons despite comments made by President Biden warning the U.S. has not "faced the prospect of Armageddon" in 60 years. "We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One. Jean-Pierre defended comments made by the president earlier Friday, saying, "The kind of irresponsible rhetoric we have seen is no way for the leader of a nuclear-armed state to speak, and thats what the president was making very clear." BIDEN INVOKES POSSIBILITY OF 'ARMAGEDDON' IN DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER SPEECH The press secretarys clarification came after alarming comments were made by Biden on Thursday in an address to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. BIDEN WARNS PUTIN AGAINST USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN UKRAINE: 'DON'T' Russian President Vladimir Putin is "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming," Biden said. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis." Biden was referring to comments made by Putin last month when he threatened to escalate the war in Ukraine by employing the use of nuclear weapons. Putin has in recent weeks repeatedly leaned on the threat of nuclear warfare in Ukraine as he looks to warn the West from interfering in his war aims. Western officials have decried the tactic as escalatory and irresponsible. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech as he formalizes the annexation of four Ukrainian territories on Sept. 30, 2022. REUTERS But French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday appeared to rebuke Bidens comments and urged Western officials to be responsible when countering the threat of nuclear warfare. "We must speak with prudence when commenting on such matters," Macron said Friday, according to Reuters. Fox News' Max Thornberry contributed to this report. Satellites are usually very big and very expensive. Most of them cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build and take the better part of a decade to develop and launch. At the speed technology improves, many satellites are stuck operating obsolete hardware not long after launch. But a San Francisco company founded in 2010, called Planet, is forcing a paradigm shift in the Earth Observation industry by shooting hundreds of state of the art, relatively inexpensive, shoebox sized satellites into space and indexing the entire surface of the world every single day. On August 23, 1966, the first picture of Earth was snapped by Lunar Orbiter 1. That photo became the first of millions of Earth observation photos to come in the following decades. Since then, thousands of satellites have been orbiting the Earth and transmitting photos of our blue marble back down to us. If you go back and look even ten years ago, having access to a satellite image was something powerful, says Kevin Weil, President of Product and Business at Planet. Now thanks to Planet and the rest of the space industry the problem is the opposite. Now there is so much imagery that more and more, governments and enterprises need help understanding what matters, extracting signal from the noise. Planet has more than 200 mini satellites, built with the newest off the shelf technology, performing a daily line scan of the Earth from about 450km of altitude. Because there is still friction from the atmosphere at that altitude, the satellites have a short life span of a few years before they spiral into the Earth and burn up in the atmosphere. They are then replaced with more up-to-date satellites, allowing Planet to constantly iterate and test new technologies. And while completing a 4 million photograph line scan of the Earth on a daily basis is a major component of Planets business, the real value is in the artificially intelligent software that is being built on top of these images. That software aims to do for Earth observation what Google did for the early internet. Planet is creating a searchable database for the Earth that has implications for almost every industry from agriculture to homeland security. These satellites are also playing a major role in the fight against deforestation and climate change. Story continues Deforestation is the second leading cause of anthropogenic climate change, says Tara OShea, Senior Director of Forests and Land Use at Planet. So its really critical if were going to solve the climate crisis, we have to first solve deforestation. We have to make it feasible for tropical countries to leave their forests standing. Planet software has in some cases been able to recognize signs of deforestation before it happens, by identifying unauthorized logging roads being built over multiple days in remote areas of the world. But small victories like that wont make a huge dent in the fight to keep the forests standing. The hope at Planet is to provide tools that can be used to quantify exactly how valuable forests are so that there can be economic incentives in place to maintain the forests rather than harvest them. The unfortunate reality in todays economic system is that forests are not seen as a valuable use of land, says OShea. If you are in the tropics and have a large amount of tropical forest, there are not necessarily industries lining up to pay you to leave that forest standing. There are a lot of economic incentives that say that land would be valuable in another use; to produce commodities and mining. But in an upcoming iteration of satellites being launched, the sensors will be equipped with bands that can measure daily methane and carbon emissions in concentrated areas. These satellites will provide data that will likely shape the collective decisions of governments fighting climate change on an international level. You cant manage what you cant measure, says OShea, and as the Planet satellites and software become increasingly more powerful, so too will the world likely become easier to manage. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Memphis woman is behind bars after leaving a man dead inside of a vacant home, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD). MPD said that 30-year-old Shapia Shine Williams killed Terry Massey inside of an abandoned home on Gruber Drive on September 23, 2022. Williams then told another woman how and why she killed Massey, saying It was time to feed her demons, according to Williams arrest affidavit. That woman then alerted police, showed police the knife Williams allegedly used to kill Massey and picked Williams out of a photo lineup, court records show. Williams has been charged with first-degree murder in this case. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: A woman pleaded guilty on Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a woman in east Charlotte that happened four years ago. IMAGES: Woman shot to death in east Charlotte Yamina Rookard was charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon after the murder. She was 17 at the time of the shooting, but was 21 years old when she was sentenced. Yamina Rookard Officers were called around 11:20 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2018, to the scene at Eastcrest Drive and Central Avenue and found a woman who had been shot. Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in. #BREAKING @CMPD investigating a homicide on Central Ave in East Charlotte. @wsoctv has crew on the scene. WATCH Daybreak starting at 4:30am pic.twitter.com/IlREYpEBi1 WSOCTV (@wsoctv) October 18, 2018 Jessica Dawn Smith, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene. Channel 9 crews watched as detectives searched for clues behind a nearby business. Rookard was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County jail after the killing and was charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. In court Thursday, prosecutors said Rookard shot Smith in the back of the head outside an east Charlotte laundromat. A judge sentenced Rookard to 80-108 months in prison. (WATCH BELOW: Man arrested; accused of killing mother, son in Fort Mill, sheriff says) By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President David Malpass said on Friday that he was keeping an "intense" focus on the bank's efforts to address climate change and was embracing the U.S. Treasury's call to dramatically boost lending capacity to address this and other global problems. Two weeks after Malpass came under fire for declining to say whether he accepts the scientific consensus on global warming, he told reporters that there was very strong support from the World Bank board, from staff and from the U.S. government for the lender's climate initiatives that he was leading. Asked if he expected complete his five-year term despite some U.S. democratic lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to seek his replacement, Malpass said: "World Bank staff and people are very focused on getting solutions to problems around the world, including the climate challenges. One of my goals is to have that focus be very strong and intense." He said there were a lot of climate tasks "that we're in middle of that it's really important to keep pushing forward on and completing." Malpass, a former U.S. Treasury official, was nominated by then-President Donald Trump in 2019 for a five-year term that ends in April 2024. The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank, which has been led by an American since it began operations in 1946. His comments to reporters came on the eve of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings, at which climate, spillovers from the war in Ukraine, pressures from inflation, debt distress and food insecurity will be among major topics. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday urged the World Bank and other multilateral development lenders to revamp their business models and dramatically scale up lending to address pressing global needs, with climate change and the transition to clean energy at the top of the list. Story continues She said the World Bank should produce an "evolution roadmap" by December to meet these challenges. Malpass said he was fully supportive of Yellen's directive and that the bank was already working with shareholders to stretch its resources to boost lending in the face of "a major set of crises." "She's raising very good points about the need for evolution of the international financial institutions in the face of a crisis and also in the face of a great deal of change going on in the world, so we embrace that," Malpass said. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Marguerita Choy) The World Bank has pumped $14.8 billion into fossil fuel projects globally in the period following the landmark Paris climate accord, a report said Thursday. Though the multilateral lender pledged in 2018 to end financing for upstream oil and gas, and direct funding had declined, the move failed to include indirect financing, according to the report compiled by an NGO coalition called The Big Shift Global. It comes amid growing pressure on US President Joe Biden to fire World Bank chief David Malpass, a Trump appointee who has dodged questions about the reality of human-driven climate change. "Each time the World Bank invests in another fossil fuel project, it fuels more climate disaster," said Sophie Richmond of Big Shift. "There is no justification for using taxpayers' money to exacerbate the climate crisis." One of the main ways the Bank continued to fund fossil fuels was by exploiting a "major loophole" by lending to intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions and by acting as a guarantor in case a country did not meet its obligations, the report said. Under the 2015 Paris deal, world leaders committed to limiting long-term warming to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) to avert devastating outcomes for the planet's future habitability. The biggest project listed in the report, called "Investing in Climate Disaster: World Bank Finance for Fossil Fuels," was the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline in Azerbaijan, funded in 2018 to the tune of $1.1 billion, with the Bank acting as a guarantor. "It serves to perpetuate on-going use of fossil gas in Europe," the report said, while noting that while the pipeline may increase gas export revenues, market volatility makes it an unreliable source of income. The World Bank Group's own assessment stated the project was "expected to have potentially significant adverse social and environmental impacts that are diverse, irreversible, or unprecedented" -- but it gave a green light anyway. Story continues - Coal plants - Another project highlighted was the construction of two coal plants in Indonesia called Java 9 and 10, where the Bank supplied $65 million in indirect funds -- despite the fact that the Java and Bali grid is already experiencing 40 percent oversupply of electricity. "It is obvious that the new Java 9 & 10 coal-fired power plants will bring more disaster in terms of environmental, social and health issues, in an area already covered with coal plants and industries," said Yuyun Indradi of Trend Asia, an NGO that promotes clean energy. The report's authors also rejected the Bank's treatment of natural gas as a "bridge" between fossil fuels and renewable energy, saying it crowded out needed investments in clean energy. In a statement to AFP, the World Bank said, "We dispute the findings of the report: it makes inaccurate assumptions about the World Bank Group's lending. "In fiscal year 2022, the Bank Group delivered a record $31.7 billion for climate-related investments, to help communities around the world respond to the climate crisis, and build a safer and cleaner future." A separate report published by Oxfam earlier this week said the World Bank "supplies very little evidence to support its claims about the amount of climate finance it provides," leaving the public to take their figures "on faith." ia/to * Putin marks 70th birthday with prayers, little public fuss * Nobel Peace Prize goes to Ukraine, Russia, Belarus activists * Russia's eastern commander fired as defeats mount -RBC By Nandita Bose and Pavel Polityuk KYIV, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his 70th birthday with little fanfare and a decree targeting a crucial Western energy investment, as signs grew that key parts of his Ukraine invasion were unravelling to trigger unprecedented criticism at home. News programmes made only glancing references to Friday's event and celebrations were low-key - in contrast to just a week ago, when Putin held a huge concert on Red Square to proclaim the annexation of nearly a fifth of Ukrainian land. On the world stage, in a clear repudiation of Putin's record, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Russia's most prominent human rights group, Memorial, which Moscow shut down at the end of 2021. A Ukrainian human rights group and a jailed campaigner against abuses by the pro-Russian government in Belarus also shared the award. Ukrainian authorities found a mass grave in the eastern town of Lyman, recently retaken from Russian forces, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in an online post. News agency Ukrinform cited a police official saying it held 180 bodies. Reuters could not independently confirm the account. In his latest salvo at Western businesses, Putin signed a decree creating a new operator for Exxon Mobil Corp's largest investment in Russia, the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project. Partners include Rosneft, India's ONGC Videsh and Japan's SODECO. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24, has killed thousands, displaced millions, pulverised cities and damaged the global economy. But Moscow has faced setbacks since abandoning an early advance on the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian forces have advanced swiftly since breaking through the Russian front in the northeast at the start of September, and in the south this week. Story continues In video remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his forces' latest offensive had liberated 2,434 sq km (940 sq miles) and 96 settlements in the country's east. Reuters could not independently confirm the figures. Reports of Russia's battlefield failures have provoked unusual public recrimination from Kremlin allies and regular reshuffles in the top brass. Russian news site RBC said Moscow had sacked the commander of its eastern military district, but gave no details of the reasons, while the army and the Kremlin offered no immediate comment. That followed a comment a day earlier by a Russian-installed leader in occupied Ukrainian territory suggesting that Putin's defence minister should have shot himself. Late on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden said the prospect of defeat could make Putin desperate enough to use nuclear weapons, the biggest risk since 1962's Cuban missile crisis during the Cold War. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since (President John F.) Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis," Biden said in New York. The White House said it had no new intelligence on Russia's nuclear threats, and that Biden's comments were meant to underline how seriously he took the situation. On Friday, Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of launching drone attacks on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, in territory which Russia says it has annexed. Ukrainian troops fired six rockets that set fire to a railway fuel depot in the city of Ilovaisk in a Russian-occupied part of Donetsk, the Russian state news agency TASS said. Ukraine officials could not immediately be reached for comment. PEACE PRIZE The Nobel Peace Prize for Memorial, the rights group shut down in Russia as illegal "foreign agents" last December, was the most open rebuke of Moscow's record by the prize committee since it honoured Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov in 1975. Sakharov had been named Memorial's first chairman shortly before his death in 1989. Memorial shared the award with jailed Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties. Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen denied the decision was a statement against Putin. "We always give the prize for something and to something, and not against someone," she told reporters. The Russian group, now operating in exile, said the award recognised its colleagues who suffer "unspeakable attacks and reprisals" in Russia. In Geneva, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to appoint an independent expert on rights abuse allegations in Russia, accusing Moscow of creating a "climate of fear" through repression and violence. It was the first time the body had set up a "special rapporteur" to examine the record of a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council. Russia said it showed the West was using the United Nations for political ends. Also on Friday, Russia declared one of the country's most popular rappers to be a "foreign agent". Oxxxymiron, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov, had cancelled a Russian tour in protest at the invasion of Ukraine. He then left Russia and gave a series of concerts in Britain, Germany and Turkey called "Russians Against The War". MUTED BIRTHDAY State television showed images of Putin meeting leaders of other former Soviet allies at an informal summit in St Petersburg, but commentators mentioned his birthday only in passing. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a vocal supporter of the war, led Putin's birthday tributes with a prayer for god to grant him health, longevity, and deliverance from "visible and invisible enemies". Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, a once-breakaway region Putin reconquered two decades ago, congratulated "the number one patriot in the world". Public celebrations were otherwise muted. In a video circulated on pro-Russian social media channels, a few hundred young people in St Petersburg waved Russian flags and held up red umbrellas to spell out "Putin - My President". Putin says Russia's "special military operation" aims to demilitarise Ukraine, rid it of dangerous nationalists and defend Moscow from security alliance NATO. Kyiv and the West call Russia's actions an unprovoked, imperialist move to reconquer a country that shook off its domination with the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff, Andrew Heavens and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell) HONG KONG (AP) A superyacht connected to sanctioned Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov has anchored in Hong Kong as Western governments move to seize yachts connected to Russian businessmen. The megayacht Nord, worth over $500 million, arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon after traveling for over a week from Vladivostok, Russia, its last port of call. Mordashov has estimated wealth of over $18 billion, according to a Bloomberg estimate. He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russias largest steel and mining company. He was sanctioned by the U.S., the United Kingdom and the European Union in February after Russia invaded Ukraine. Mordashov has since attempted to challenge the sanctions against him in European courts. A Marine Department spokesperson was quoted in the South China Morning Post as saying Hong Kong is not obliged to enforce unilateral sanctions imposed by other jurisdictions. U.S. and European authorities have seized over a dozen yachts belonging to sanctioned Russian tycoons to prevent them from sailing to other ports that are not affected by the sanctions. Russian oligarchs have begun docking their yachts at ports in places like Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia since the war began. The Nord, which measures 141.6 meters (464.6 feet), has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. The yacht is currently sailing under a Russian flag. New York Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency on Friday over the humanitarian crisis of thousands of asylum-seekers who are being sent to his city from out of state. Adams slammed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for exacerbating the issue and enacted Emergency Executive Order 224, which directs "all relevant city agencies to coordinate their efforts to respond to the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis and construct the citys Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers," according to a City Hall statement. Were talking potentially 100,000 people going into next year, months away, Adams told reporters. New York City has opened 42 hotels as emergency shelters and placed 5,500 migrant children into public schools, since "this humanitarian crisis began" in "fast and urgent action" with "virtually no coordination from states sending them," according to a City Hall statement. City Hall said it's appealing to Albany and Washington to help foot a $1 billion bill in services to migrants. The mayor blamed Texas Gov. Abbott for worsening the situation, saying he's "lying" about his role in sending migrants to New York and that "he's untrustworthy." A representative for Abbott deflected the criticism and told Adams to blame the White House. "Instead of complaining about a few thousand migrants being bused into his self-declared sanctuary city, Mayor Adams should call on President Biden to take immediate action to secure the border something the President continues failing to do," Abbott's spokesperson Renae Eze said in a statement to NBC News. Abbott, other GOP governors and at least one big city Democratic mayor have been sending migrants to other states. Adams called on all parties to reach an agreement and stop the haphazard shipment of people. "I think the issue is to do a decompression strategy from the national government to make sure we can ensure these asylum seekers are spread throughout the entire country," Adams said. "We should all be about resolving this issue." Story continues The mayor said city resources are being stretched thin as officials seek to provide housing, food, transportation, health care and administrative assistance to migrants. New York has been a role model on how to effectively use our infrastructure to address a crisis and make sure sure we treat people in a humane way," Adams said. "So were not saying, 'Well, heres what we're required to do.' No. Were saying (this is) what were morally responsible to do. The mayor also chided city council members who are allegedly demanding action on the influx but are not willing to take on any of the burden. House people, but not in my district, Adams said. You cant have it both ways. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Mayor Eric Adams said that since September, an average of five to six buses have arrived per day in New York New York City Mayor Eric Adams has declared a state of emergency to address a "crisis situation" over an influx of migrants. More than 17,000 have arrived in the city from the southern border since April. Republican states like Texas, Arizona and Florida have been sending migrants to Democratic areas in recent months. It's part of a row with the White House as unprecedented numbers of people arrive at the US-Mexico border. Since September, an average of five to six buses have been arriving in the city each day, Mr Adams said at a press conference on Friday. He said that one in five people in the city shelter system is currently an asylum seeker. Many of those arriving are families with school-aged children and are in serious need of medical care, he said. The influx is on track to cost New York $1bn (900m) this fiscal year, and the mayor is calling for federal and state funding to help with the costs. "New Yorkers are angry," said Mayor Adams. "I am angry too. We have not asked for this. There was never any agreement to take on the job of supporting thousands of asylum seekers." He added: "The city is going to run out of funding for other priorities. New York City is doing all we can, but we are reaching the outer limit of our ability to help." The city's social services are "being exploited by others for political gain", he added. Three states - Texas, Arizona and Florida - have transported migrants to Democratic-led areas, focusing on self-proclaimed "sanctuary" cities that limit their co-operation with federal immigration authorities. Republican officials in border states say the tactic is aimed at mitigating the impact of migration flows. They have also said the measure is designed to increase pressure on the administration of President Joe Biden to do more to reduce the number of migrants crossing the southern US border, which has hit a record high this year. The Democratic-run city of El Paso, Texas, has been offering migrants free rides to New York City and Chicago as a means of alleviating the strain on city resources. El Paso alone has transported more than double the number of migrants - nearly 9,000 - to the two northern cities than have been sent by the Texas governor. Story continues El Paso officials say the rides are voluntary, and that they co-ordinate with the destination cities to help the migrants upon arrival. As part of his emergency declaration, the New York mayor issued an executive order that allows the city to dedicate resources to support the asylum seekers and expedite any response efforts. A spokeswoman for Texas Governor Greg Abbott dismissed the declaration by the mayor on Friday. "The true emergency is on our nation's southern border where small Texas border towns are overrun and overwhelmed by hundreds of migrants every single day as the Biden administration dumps them in their communities," said Renae Eze. Ms Eze said that, as of October, Texas had sent around 3,100 migrants arriving in the state to New York on more than 60 buses. Amherst County officials have approved a memorandum of understanding between the countys public works department and Nelson County Parks and Recreation regarding repairs to the Tye River Bridge on the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail. The bridge on the recreational trail system on Virginia 151 at the Amherst-Nelson border is in desperate need of repairs, as the walking surface area has many weather-damaged custom-cut boards that require replacement, according to Brian Thacker, director of public works for Amherst County. They are specially cut from mills; theyre expensive, Thacker said. The bridge at the 4.5-mile marker along the trial is divided between Nelson and Amherst counties, with half of the bridge being on each countys side, Thacker said. Nelson County has paid for an engineering study, which suggested replacing about 20 of the original custom-cut boards, sealing the entire surface, and affixing an overlay of newer, pressure treated wood, similar to the other bridges along the VBRRT, a report presented to Amherst County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 4 states. In the spirit of collaboration and saving both counties money, Amherst County Public Works has offered to perform the repairs and purchase the necessary lumber, fasteners, and other supplies, as well as bush-hogging Nelsons sides of the trails one time in 2022 and 2023, for $30,000. Nelson County has agreed to pay that amount, Thacker said. In doing the math, calling vendors, that sounds like a deal we would be willing to do, Thacker said. Also during the Amherst boards meeting, supervisors voted to approve a resolution for Amherst County to enter into mutual aid agreements with other localities for the provision of services. Such mutual aid agreements may include, but are not limited to, shared services such as building inspections, plan reviews, erosion and sediment control plan reviews, and inspections, the resolution states. There is currently a standing request from Nelson County for assistance with building inspections, erosion and sediment and control, those types of things, Amherst County Attorney Mark Popovich said. Liberty University this week hosted more than 600 CEOs and other guests from around the country as part of its CEO Summit Week, an event calling world-class leaders to unite in transforming the world through Judeo-Christian business practices. Wednesday evening, the university hosted a celebration dinner to network and hear three keynote speakers: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears; John Mahama, former president of Ghana; and Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. Earle-Sears kicked the event off by acknowledging Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a former co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm. This is a man who knows how to run a business, Earle-Sears said to the audience. Earle-Sears went on to discuss all the governor is doing to help Virginias businesses and the importance of education. She said America has a use it or lose it attitude with government agencies. Earle-Sears gave an example of someone at a company allocating business expenses. For example, she said, the person might allocate $300,000 for the year to spend on various items, and if it isnt spent, the person then sets the funds aside and allocates the money to other things. Earle-Sears raised a question to the audience, So why is it when it comes to our taxes, we dont do it that way? We [government] tell them, weve given you a million dollars and if you dont spend it, then you lose it, Earle-Sears said to the audience. So, they [agencies] come to the end of the year and they see they have maybe $300,000 left and they are buying everything under the sun. Thats a waste of taxpayers money. Earle-Sears spoke about a past ranking by CNBC in 2021, where Virginia was named the top state for business. That ranking came under the previous administration of Gov. Ralph Northam. She said when you ask the people who actually create jobs, they will tell you that to them, Virginia is not ranked No. 1 because of three reasons: workforce talent, as businesses will not relocate to an area where the population is undereducated or uneducated; tax policy; and the regulatory environment. So the media says that one way, but the people who actually sign the checks say it differently, Earle-Sears said. She closed out her speech by stressing that the United States cannot maintain its superpower status if children arent educated. Our children not being educated is a national security crisis. We need to bring it to that level, Earle-Sears said. Roberts and Mahama closed out the evening. Mahama spoke about the various business opportunities in Africa, and Roberts spoke about the meaning of history. After the speakers gave their presentations, Barco Yolo, CEO of Nordensol, a company based out of Houston that focuses on engineering and IT solutions, said this room can really change the world. Theres enough resources, knowledge, skill ... to really change the narrative of both Africa and the way that we do business, Yolo said. Jeremy Moore, CEO of security firm Global Counterpoint, said he enjoyed listening to Mahama and his perspective on the opportunities in Africa. Moore hopes the conversation continues to move forward after the event. Hopefully theres a lot less talking and a lot more action because these things are always nice. People talk a good game and then usually very little happens. Im hopeful that this is different, Moore said. Thursday evening, the university hosted a dinner with Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich as the keynote speaker. Gingrich emphasized the country is in the middle of a great cultural civil war. We have people on the other side who hate us, hate what we stand for and who feel that their very way of life is threatened by our existence, Gingrich said to the audience. Not threatened because we go and we do missionary work, not threatened because we proselytize them, but threatened by the very act of being alive. Gingrich said this war between secular atheism and Christianity, or faith in general, including other religions such as Judaism and Islam is not new as it goes back at least to the French Revolution. As an example, he discussed the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Gingrich said American politics saw an enormous surge to the hard left. From that time period, he gave two examples: the Black Panther movement that he said openly advocated assassinating police and an anti-Vietnam War movement on college campuses that ruined peoples lives. Gingrich ended his speech by saying, We have opponents who are wrong, and we simply have to defeat them and then we have to re-educate them and help them understand that a life without God is not a life worth living. Its no wonder we have the suicides, the drug overdoses, the homelessness and the problems we currently have, because you cannot sustain a society without religious belief; it is impossible, Gingrich said to the audience. After Gingrichs speech, Raynard Jackson, president of Raynard Jackson and Associates, a government affairs lobbying and public relations firm in Washington, D.C., said he believes Gingrichs comments were right on point. In Gingrichs speech, he mentioned society should drop the word woke altogether, an idea Jackson said he agrees with. So these Democrats with [former President Barack] Obama and now [President Joe] Biden are taking this issue of woke to the nth degree, and Blacks are especially pushing back, Jackson said. Another attendee, Pete Follett, said Gingrichs speech made him feel good as an American. I mean, you listen to that speech, and you feel that there is hope to get this country back in line and to right the ship, Follett said. The summit was scheduled to last three days with a farewell at noon planned for Friday. The Town of Bedford is one of four Virginia localities receiving grant money to support restoration of brownfield sites, the governors office announced. Bedford will receive $316,374 for the former Winoa USA plant, according to a news release Thursday. The former steel foundry officially shut down in late 2020, said Mary Zirkle, Town of Bedford economic development coordinator. The site has a 60,000-square-foot building sitting on about 15 acres, and Zirkle said the town hopes to eventually use it as a workforce training center, which was a goal identified in the towns strategic plan from 2021. Brownfields are defined in the news release as properties in which redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence of hazardous materials, pollution, or contaminants. The grant money provided through the commonwealth is to help remediate these sites so they can be safely cleaned up, restored and made ready for use of something new, usually under the umbrella of economic development. The Winoa USA plant will be cleaned of the black dust that has been stuck to walls and other parts of the structure since the 1970s, left over from the foundry process, Zirkle said. The residue is non-hazardous, but it needs to go. The grant should cover at least the majority of project costs, according to the towns current estimate. Bedford has received Virginia Brownfield Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund grants twice before. Both times, the money was used to prepare the old Bedford Middle School site for development, Zirkle said. The old middle school campus is currently under construction being developed into apartments in the middle school building and a boutique hotel called Cardinal Rule in Old Yellow. The VBAF program was launched in 2011, according to the news release, and since then has awarded more than $14.6 million in grants to help restore brownfield sites in Virginia. The grant program is a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and it is administered by the Virginia Resources Authority. The VBAF provides either grants or loans to local governments to restore and redevelop brownfield sites and address environmental problems or obstacles to their reuse in an effort to effectively attract new economic development prospects, the news release stated. In the news release, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said this grant is a powerful economic development tool. These revitalization projects are critical to strengthen rural Virginias business portfolio and overall competitiveness, and we are thrilled to support the Town of Bedford, Patrick County, the Town of Saltville, and Smyth County in this endeavor, Youngkin stated in the news release, naming all four localities receiving grant money. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said in the news release that project-ready properties will help entice corporations and industries to invest in Virginia. TOKYO, Oct 07 ( borneobulletin ) - When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed this week to wring more gains from the weak yen, which has become instead a source of economic pain, he was pinning his hopes on the likes of Soichi Yoshimura, 33, and his strawberry farm north of Tokyo. Most Japanese farmers like many other key players in the economy are up in arms about the yens 20 per cent slide this year, which has inflated costs for imported fuel, fertiliser and other production inputs. But prospects are different for Japans exporters of wagyu beef, green tea, and premium fruits and vegetables, including the Sky Berries from Yoshimuras greenhouses that can fetch as much as JPY800 (USD5.50) or more apiece in the supermarkets of Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. Everyone seems worried about a weak yen, Yoshimura said. But its good for our exports of strawberries because it helps make our prices competitive at overseas markets. Agriculture exports were among a clutch of sectors that Kishida targeted in a policy speech on Monday along with tourism and the construction of foreign chip and battery plants in Japan that could get a boost from the yens steep fall, and offset some of the economic damage it has caused. ...continue reading TOKYO, Oct 07 ( Bloomberg ) - In the worlds third biggest economy, public skepticism toward financial investing has become so entrenched that investment bank Nomura Holdings Inc. is teaching economic basics in high schools to win over the next generation. About eight in 10 Japanese have never invested in securities, according to a lobby group for the nations brokers. Securities and investments account for only 16% of 2 quadrillion yen in household financial assets, compared with 56% in the US. An asset-price bubble erased trillions of dollars in wealth in Japan when it burst in the early 1990s, creating a generation of people who believe stocks will only go down. Instead, for decades, most have held the majority of their wealth in cash. Thats left many missing out on a boom in global stocks in the years following the 2008 financial crisis. Now a goal announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to double Japanese nationals income from their assets is set to encourage people to shift more of their savings into investments. ...continue reading In a world filled with Japanese mythological oddball gods and monsters, one of the creatures' free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to fight to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching threat of the gods' mysterious enemies, the "Oni"? Oct 07 (Netflix Japan) - ... continue reading Toyota-backed flying car firm Joby seeks Japan air certification Reuters - Oct 18 Joby Aviation Inc, a U.S. air taxi startup backed by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp, said on Tuesday it has applied to Japan's transport ministry for aircraft certification as it prepares to launch urban transportation services. Joby Aviation Inc, a U.S. air taxi startup backed by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp, said on Tuesday it has applied to Japan's transport ministry for aircraft certification as it prepares to launch urban transportation services. Group of 90 Japanese lawmakers visit war-linked Yasukuni shrine Kyodo - Oct 18 A cross-party group of around 90 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo for its fall festival, a move expected to irritate some Asian neighbors who view it as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. A cross-party group of around 90 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo for its fall festival, a move expected to irritate some Asian neighbors who view it as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Chinese Dragon suspected in Tokyo skyscraper scuffle NHK - Oct 18 A violent scuffle broke out at a Tokyo restaurant on Sunday. Police suspect the brawl was initiated by a gang known as Chinese Dragon. Gang members include people of Japanese ancestry related to those who were left behind in China after World War Two. A violent scuffle broke out at a Tokyo restaurant on Sunday. Police suspect the brawl was initiated by a gang known as Chinese Dragon. Gang members include people of Japanese ancestry related to those who were left behind in China after World War Two. Daughter of the Richest Man in Japan Secretly Loves a Smart Student from a Poor Family Anime Recaps - Oct 18 Shuchiin Academy is home to students from Japan's most successful and wealthy families, as well the nation's most brilliant young scholars. Shuchiin Academy is home to students from Japan's most successful and wealthy families, as well the nation's most brilliant young scholars. CEATEC trade show offers glimpse of future lifestyles NHK - Oct 18 One of Asia's largest high-tech trade shows kicked off on Tuesday. One of Asia's largest high-tech trade shows kicked off on Tuesday. Man arrested for allegedly helping junior high school girl commit suicide NHK - Oct 18 Police have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of assisting a junior high school girl commit suicide. Police have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of assisting a junior high school girl commit suicide. Kikubatake: Onoe Baiko VII's Final Ushiwakamaru Kabuki In-Depth - Oct 18 This performance of the Kikubatake scene took place in December 1993, at the National Theatre in Tokyo, and it would be one of the last onstage appearances of the great onnagata and nimaime Onoe Baiko VII (1915 - 1995), 78 years old at the time of this recording. This performance of the Kikubatake scene took place in December 1993, at the National Theatre in Tokyo, and it would be one of the last onstage appearances of the great onnagata and nimaime Onoe Baiko VII (1915 - 1995), 78 years old at the time of this recording. NBA Preview: Washington Wizards Open The Season Against The Pacers newsonjapan.com - Oct 18 The start of a new NBA season brings with it hopes of a deep run in the playoffs for many of the teams involved in the competition. The start of a new NBA season brings with it hopes of a deep run in the playoffs for many of the teams involved in the competition. Mizuho says services restored for corporate clients CNA - Oct 17 Japan's Mizuho Financial Group restored services to corporate customers by around noon on Monday, a spokesperson said, a few hours after clients were unable to access some online services. Japan's Mizuho Financial Group restored services to corporate customers by around noon on Monday, a spokesperson said, a few hours after clients were unable to access some online services. Japan PM orders probe into Unification Church after Abe assassination arabnews.com - Oct 17 Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered on Monday a government probe into the Unification Church, after the assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe renewed scrutiny of the sect. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered on Monday a government probe into the Unification Church, after the assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe renewed scrutiny of the sect. Night Walk in Kyoto: Food and Booze in Hidden Gion Alleys Japan by Food - Oct 17 Shizuka takes a unique tour of Kyoto at night to enjoy the city sans crowds, and of course, delicious local food. Joined by tour guide Kevin, Shizuka explores the city from beautiful lit-up shrines to late-night snacks and drinks! Shizuka takes a unique tour of Kyoto at night to enjoy the city sans crowds, and of course, delicious local food. Joined by tour guide Kevin, Shizuka explores the city from beautiful lit-up shrines to late-night snacks and drinks! 'Unique in Japan': A temple dedicated to grapes and wine newindianexpress.com - Oct 17 At a Buddhist temple on a wooded hillside in Japan, grapes and wine bottles are given as offerings, and the head monk is also the honorary president of a vineyard cooperative. At a Buddhist temple on a wooded hillside in Japan, grapes and wine bottles are given as offerings, and the head monk is also the honorary president of a vineyard cooperative. The Dark Side Of "Unification Church" in Japan Japanese Comedian Meshida - Oct 17 After the assassination, it was revealed many conservative politicians have a connection to the Unification Church and it has become a big problem. So today I'll talk about the Unification Church and the politicians who are related to the Unification Church. After the assassination, it was revealed many conservative politicians have a connection to the Unification Church and it has become a big problem. So today I'll talk about the Unification Church and the politicians who are related to the Unification Church. Baseball: Nakagawa game-winner sends Buffaloes into Japan Series Kyodo - Oct 17 Keita Nakagawa singled in the winning run in the ninth inning as the Pacific League champion Orix Buffaloes advanced to the Japan Series with a 3-2 walk-off win over the SoftBank Hawks on Saturday. Keita Nakagawa singled in the winning run in the ninth inning as the Pacific League champion Orix Buffaloes advanced to the Japan Series with a 3-2 walk-off win over the SoftBank Hawks on Saturday. Foreign workers shun Japan as yen's value plunges Nikkei - Oct 17 The yen's sharp drop against the dollar and other currencies is making Japan less attractive to foreign workers, at a time when the average wage of Japanese workers in dollar terms has fallen 40% over the past decade. The yen's sharp drop against the dollar and other currencies is making Japan less attractive to foreign workers, at a time when the average wage of Japanese workers in dollar terms has fallen 40% over the past decade. TOKYO, Oct 08 ( Nikkei ) - Reservations for international flights to Japan in December and January have increased fivefold ahead of next week's resumption of visa-free travel, All Nippon Airways said Friday. Travel demand has surged after the Sept. 22 announcement by the government, which will also ended Japan's cap on daily arrivals and a requirement for chaperoned tours. The eased rules take effect Tuesday. A weak yen has stoked interest in travel to Japan in Hong Kong, Singapore and elsewhere in Asia, according to ANA. The Japanese carrier said it received five times as many reservations per day for December and January flights from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30 than it did from Sept. 5 to Sept. 11. ...continue reading Mindi Hively has something to say about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as well as the importance of breast health, as well she should. Mindi has been a Nurse Navigator at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospitals Breast Health Center for the last six years, and has seen much. According to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer), breast cancer in women is the most common cancer in the United States, next to skin cancers. On average, one in eight women will develop a breast cancer in their lifetime. These statistics are what make breast cancer awareness important to all. Mindi and her husband, Howard, have three adult children and, according to her, four perfect grandchildren. In addition to her work, family time is of utmost importance, and much time is spent camping, boating and swimming in what they fondly call FFFForced Family Fun. Methodist Jennie Edmundsons Breast Health Center hosts multiple activities during October in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Partnered with many local organizations in support of Pink Out, a fundraising effort sponsored by Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospitals Charitable Patient Foundation, having fun and developing awareness of the disease are combined. Activities include fundraising walks, a poker run and free breast screenings. The Breast Health Center at Methodist Jennie Edmundson understands the importance of yearly mammograms, clinical exams and routine follow-up care for our patients, Hively said. We also know the impact heredity plays in the risk of a person developing cancer sometime in their lifetime. We are on the cutting edge of medicine with the offering of genetic testing to qualified patients, and counseling on hereditary cancer risk. The development of a Heredity Cancer Risk Clinic is our way of meeting this need within our community and partnering with our patients in risk-reducing management options. This is an exciting journey for our clinic and the patients we serve. To learn more about how you, too, can support Pink Out fundraising events at Methodist Jennie Edmundson, and/or becoming a volunteer, call 712-396-6040 or email jefoundation@nmhs.org. Mt. Hope United Methodist Church Mt. Hope United Methodist Church, 290th and Highway 6, McClelland, would like to invite all to join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome for the regular worship service and childrens sermon during the worship service. You do not have to be a member to participate in our church activities. Everyone is welcome. Underwood Lutheran Church Underwood Lutheran Church, 10 Third Ave., will hold Sunday activities. Education begins at 9 a.m., followed by in-person worship at 10:15. Pastor Scott Dalen will deliver a sermon based on Luke 17:11-19. The online video will be available later in the day. Gethsemane Presbyterian Church Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 224 Wallace Ave., invites you to worship with us. Our service runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The Rev. David Hanna will deliver the message, What Is God Up to in Your Life? Please join us for refreshments following the service. Adult Bible study meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Our Food Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays until 10:30 a.m. Our Fall Garage Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15. There will be lots of great merchandise, including holiday decor. Items will not be priced; customers pay what they think items are worth. Our church is collecting Iowa 5 cent-refund cans/bottles for one of our mission projects, the Kanesville Honor Guard Society. Your donations help! Bags can be dropped off anytime at our front door. For more information, contact the church office at 712-366-2513 or visit us on Facebook at gethsemanepresbyterianchurch.org. Timothy Lutheran Church Timothy Lutheran Church, 3112 W. Broadway, offers services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The church alternates between traditional services and praise services each week. Bible study and Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. If a month has a fifth Sunday, the church hosts a combined service at 9 a.m. Food and fellowship after service on fifth Sundays and there is no Bible study or Sunday school on those days. The church is handicap accessible. St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church rings the church bell each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to welcome people to worship at 11055 Dumfries Ave. There are directional signs from Wabash Avenue and Pioneer Trail leading to the church. We are a growing, friendly, Bible-teaching church led by Pastor Jason Kinney. This Sunday, we will have a guest pastor, the Rev. Aaron Simons, deliver the message. Sunday School for all ages, including adults, begins at 9:15 a.m. Following worship, we enjoy donuts and coffee in the Fellowship Hall. Greeters are Melody and Larry Diamond. The church council will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Ladies Bible Study and Youth Groups meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Visit our website at www.stpaulsecc.org for more information. We are handicapped accessible. Compass Christian Church Compass Christian Church welcomes you to worship with us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are located at 2007 S. Seventh St., just west of the South Expressway. The church is handicap accessible. During worship, a cry room is available, along with childcare for children ages 1-4. Compass Kids grades K-5 meet downstairs for special Bible lessons during the sermon. You may also worship with us at compasscb.online.church or on YouTube. On Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m., mens and womens Bible study meet. On Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m., The Bridge young adults (ages 18-30) will meet at Compass Christian Church with childcare provided. The group meets bi-weekly bring a friend and join us for supper, fellowship and Bible study. On Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., adult prayer group, students in grades 6-12 and kids in kindergarten through fifth grade meet. On Sunday, Oct. 9, students from Central Christian College of the Bible will lead music, and Professor Walt Harper will talk about his archaeology trips to Israel and present artifacts found there. On Sunday, Oct. 30, Light Night, a Trunk or Treat event will be held for children through fifth grade. Kids and families are invited to come in costume or as they are for carnival games, candy, food and bounce house. For questions or more information, visit our Facebook page, Compass Christian Church CB, our website compasscb.org or call the church office at 712-366-9112. Broadway United Methodist Church Broadway United Methodist, First Street and Broadway, is seeking, growing and serving with unconditional love and acceptance. Broadway holds traditional worship Sundays at 8:30, followed by coffee and donuts in the DeLong Lounge. Contemporary worship is held at 10:30 a.m. Services are held in person and livestreamed to our Facebook page or broadwayunitedmethodist.com/live. Masks are optional. Activities include Student Life Breakthrough Sundays at 6 p.m. On Mondays, Philips Cupboard is open noon-2 p.m.; Boy Scout Pack 40 meets at 6 p.m.; and Bibles @ Barleys is at 8:30 p.m. Womens Bible Study will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the DeLong Lounge. Praise Band Rehearsal will be at 5:30. A Community Meal will be served at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall, followed by Foundations Groups and Bell Choir rehearsal at 6:30. Choir will practice at 7:30. On Monday, Oct. 10, United Women of Faith will have a call to prayer and self-denial. On Oct. 12, it will be Foundations Night at the Pumpkin Patch. Participants will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Trail Pumpkin Patch, 21534 Chestnut Road. Everyone is welcome, and people may bring blankets or lawn chairs for the bonfire area, if desired. Admission is $7 per person, which includes the bonfire, smores, a hayrack ride (weather permitting), small corn maze and haunted greenhouse suitable for kids. Participants can bring outside food or purchase hamburgers, hotdogs or tacos on site. Mens Brown Bag: The Bible Year, meets Thursdays at noon. Philips Cupboard, a nonfood pantry, is open noon-2 p.m. on Fridays. On Monday, Oct. 24, the church will hold a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot in partnership with the 100 Block Trick or Treat event. In October, the church is collecting new underwear and new or gently used pants, boys/girls sizes 4-5 to 18-20, for our partner school, Longfellow Elementary. Please place in donation bin in the Welcome Center. The annual Charge Conference will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 1 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B. For more information, visit our website at broadwayunitedmethodist.com or call the office at 712-322-7741 (closed Fridays). Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The Sunday worship service will be recorded live and can be viewed on our Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. Face masks are optional. Upcoming Events: Meal & Message, 6 p.m., Oct. 12; Meal & Message, 6 p.m., Oct. 26; Trunk or Treat, 6-8 p.m., Oct. 29; and Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 12. The church office can be reached at 712-323-7374 or through our email at fifthaveumchurch@gmail.com. Bethany Presbyterian Church Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Seventh St., will have worship at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullingers message will be, The Word of God Is not Chained, and the scripture is 2 Timothy 2:8-15. Liturgist is Sue Perry, and greeters are Micala Dillehay and Linda Cody. There will be a childrens chat. The Nominating Committee will meet before worship on Sunday, Oct. 9. Bible study will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 10. The Session will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. The Helping Hands Pantry will be open from 8 to 10 a.m. on Oct. 15 in the garage. We are a handicap accessible facility. Community of Christ Church Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., invites people to attend Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. Our theme this week is, Seek the Welfare of the City. Scripture readings for this week are Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-12; Luke 17:11-19; and 2 Timothy 2:8-15. Sunday school starts at 9:15. We also have prayer service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Please call our office at 712-323-4498 for any questions. There are virtual ministries out on our World Church Website under Ongoing Ministries at www.cofchrist.org. Epworth United Methodist Church Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, worships on Sundays at 9:25 a.m. The people are friendly, the worship is meaningful and the building is handicap accessible. Masks and hand sanitizer are available. We also invite you to our Bible study on Thursdays at 9 a.m. We keep in prayer for the healing of our community and nation for God. If you want us to pray for you personally, let us know your prayer requests by phone or online at Friends of Epworth UMC Facebook. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone: 712-323-3124. Faith Lutheran Church Faith Lutheran Church, 2100 S. 11th St., invites you to join us for contemporary praise worship at the 9 a.m. Sunday service, and the Faith Praise Team will lead the congregation in uplifting music. On Tuesday, there is a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study in the downstairs fellowship hall that is open to everyone. Please enter by the rear door. The elders will meet at 2 p.m. The Faith Sewing Sisters will meet Thursday at 2 p.m. Sunday worship services are available on Faiths Facebook page and on YouTube by searching for Ron Rosenkaimer. For more information, contact the church office at 323-6445. New Horizon Presbyterian Church New Horizon Presbyterian Church has three services on Sunday, with traditional services at 8 and 11 a.m. and the praise service at 9 a.m. Sunday school for kindergarten through eighth grade and adults meets at 10 a.m. On Wednesday, the Praise Team will meet at 5:45 p.m., bell choir at 6:30 and Chancel Choir at 7:30. Sunday services are available on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NewHorizonPC. Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church, 517 S. 32nd St., welcomes everyone to join us for worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The guest pastor is the Rev. Kim Crummer. His sermon is entitled, A Real Friend. The scripture reading is Philippians 2:19-21. During the month of October, we will be receiving Peace and Global Witness offering. We are handicapped accessible through the northeast door of the church. Corpus Christi Catholic Parish The month of October is dedicated to The Holy Rosary. Join us as we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day of the week at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles, 3304 Fourth Ave., Council Bluffs; and Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake, 3501 N. Ninth St., Carter Lake. Everyone is welcome. Our Weekend Mass in English is celebrated on Saturday at 4 p.m., on Sunday at 8 and 10 a.m. (Council Bluffs) and at 9:30 a.m. (Carter Lake). Our Sunday Spanish Mass is at noon (Council Bluffs). Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time are 2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; and Luke 17:11-19. Daily Mass is celebrated as follows: In English Tuesday through Friday at 8 a.m. (Council Bluffs) and in Spanish on Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. (Council Bluffs). Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles. Bingo will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 at Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the early bird game will start at 6:30. The Corpus Christi Parish Annual Chicken Dinner will be held Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with dine-in and take-out at St. Albert Catholic School, 400 Gleason Ave. The meal will include Staleys Broasted Chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, coleslaw, dinner roll and dessert. Gift baskets, raffles and crafts. Tickets are on sale at the parish office at 3304 Fourth Ave. or at St. Albert on the day of the event. For more information, call the parish office at 712-323-2916 or 712-323-4716 (Spanish) or visit our parish website at www.corpuschristiparishiowa.org. Emanuel Lutheran Church Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, welcomes everyone to come as you are and be who you are! Our weekly worship service is at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. Our worship service and weekly Sunday school show can be found on our YouTube channel or Facebook page. Visit us online at emanuelcb.org. Saint John Lutheran Church Saint John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave., holds worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Worship is also available to watch on YouTube. Our website is www.SaintJohnELCA.org, and our Facebook page is Saint John Lutheran Church Council Bluffs IA. Wednesday morning Bible study meets at 9 a.m., and Wednesday evening Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m. Confirmation and high school youth also meet at 6:30. Bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m., and Chancel Choir starts at 7:30. Seekers ChristCare will meet Monday at 6:45 p.m. The Esther Group will meet Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., and the Mary Group will meets Thursday at 9 a.m. The building is handicap accessible. Please call the church office with any questions, 712-323-7173. Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Rev. Carol Hall and members of our congregation invite you to join us for Sunday worship at 9 a.m. at Broadway Christian Church, 2658 Ave. A. We celebrate communion weekly; communion is open to all. A hearing loop is installed for those who need it. Guests are invited to join us in fellowship after worship for coffee and donuts. Pieceful Hearts Quilters will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. Overeaters Anonymous meets Mondays at noon. Alcoholics Anonymous meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. The church is ADA-accessible. Masks are optional. To submit prayer requests or for more information, call the church office at 712-323-7741 or email us at office@bcccb.org. Visit us online at www.bcccb.org or on Facebook. First Congregational UCC Church Come and join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), located at 611 First Ave. Coffee is available. Our service is also provided via Zoom. Please email the church for information on how to join the Zoom meeting: cbfirstcong@gmail.com. First Congregational offers a free Community Dinner the last Friday of each month. Everyone is welcome. Come and enjoy a meal and fellowship! Our Saviors Lutheran Church Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluff St., can be reached at 712-322-6655. Everyone is welcome. Worship services are Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School begins at 9:15 a.m., and Youth Sunday School (skit, music, Bible story and games) at 9:30. For more information, see our Facebook page under Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs or the website at oursaviorscb.org. Thursday morning Bible Study meets at 9:30 a.m., and prayer time is at 11:15 a.m. Bell choir practice is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by choir practice at 7:30 p.m. Other activities this week include Al-Anon meetings Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Education Building. The Food and Pet Food Pantry is open Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call the pantry directly at 712-522-3522 on Thursday only between 9:30 and 11 a.m. St. Pauls Episcopal Church St. Pauls Episcopal Church is located at 22 Dillman Drive in Council Buffs. Our services are held each Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m., and we invite visitors to attend and share with us these very enjoyable and enlightening services. For additional information, please contact the church at 712-323-7188. Abraham Lincoln High School students explored options for the future during college and career fairs Thursday. Thomas Jefferson High School held theirs on Wednesday. At each school, the 1 -hour fairs were among the highlights of the school districts College and Career Readiness Week. The second-annual event featured a series of activities designed to help students learn about applying for financial aid and college admission and learning about colleges and careers they might be interested in. This has been an exciting week for our students especially our seniors, who are taking important steps to prepare for the next part of their journey, Superintendent Vickie Murillo said. As our students take full advantage of our Diploma Plus One pathways, they are earning a second credential along with their high school diploma. This will set them up for success, no matter what path they take after high school. Activities held during students Advisement classes during the week included lessons on the Council Bluffs Community School Districts Diploma Plus One pathways, work-based learning, How to Get the Most Out of a College and Career Fair, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In addition, seniors had an opportunity to work on college applications in the counseling center. There was also an evening program for parents on the D+1 pathways and Future Ready. Students could sign up to tour Iowa Western Community College areas that are part of Diploma Plus One pathways programs on Friday. We have some students that are going to Iowa Western to see some of the programs they can go into, said Valerie Hallagan, a counselor at Abraham Lincoln and co-coordinator of the weeks events at AL with counselor Larella Rangel. The number of exhibitors at the college and career fairs was gratifying for counselors Carla Hartenhoff and Stephanie Ryan, co-coordinators of the events at Thomas Jefferson. We had over 50 different colleges here, Hartenhoff said. Next year, they hope to have students, staff and exhibitors fill out evaluations on the events to provide some feedback, she said. Careers in utilities, child care, the military, telecommunications, trucking, health and law enforcement were among those featured at Abraham Lincolns career fair. Students approached during the event had mostly positive comments about it. I thought it was good, Javier Paramo said. I liked it, said Aiden Ellison. I think it went really well, Brody Foreman said. I thought everyone at the tables was really nice and explained things pretty well. Foreman, a freshman, said hes not sure what career he will choose yet. Liz Foote thought the career fair was well organized but a bit crowded. The AL junior is interested in technology. Rangel said staff at the two high schools helped each other. The TJ coordinators were here today helping us, and we helped them yesterday, she said Thursday. It was really fun to talk to the business reps, Hallagan said. She said she hopes they can partner with the businesses on job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships. A Council Bluffs man was charged Wednesday after a criminal complaint was filed in an eastern Iowa county accusing him of a felony sex crime. Alexander T. Dighton, 42, was charged with third degree sexual abuse stemming from a June 2019 incident in Delaware County. He and his accuser, a 40-year-old woman thought to have been a friend, were on a camping trip to Backbone State Park when the alleged abuse occurred, according to Delaware County Dep. Jill Knipper. An arrest warrant was issued on Monday, the day the complaint was filed. Dighton was in custody early Tuesday afternoon, and members of the Delaware County Sheriffs Office picked Dighton up at the Pottawattamie County Jail and returned him to Delaware County for booking and arraignment early Wednesday morning. Dighton, a special education teacher with the Council Bluffs Community School District, posted a $10,000 bond and was released under his own recognizance. The school district issued a statement to parents of Abraham Lincoln High School students, confirming that Dighton was a school employee, and stating that he is on leave. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 25. I know its a stretch. I know its a false analogy. I know it probably has something to do with the way my mind and body have been messed with for the last two years by the people in charge in Washington and Sacramento. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Delegates at the biggest oil conference in Africa have expressed concern about rising prices after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), plus non-members who also export oil, decided earlier this week to cut production targets. The majority of the oil cartels 13 member states are in Africa, but many countries on the continent have to import refined oil. I believe its the right thing they did in order to save the industry, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization, said at the Africa Oil Week conference in Cape Town. I totally think that every country has the responsibility to protect the interests of its citizens. And if by reducing production they see that as in their best interest, so be it. But Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission, said it was too early to tell what the impact of the planned cuts would be. I hope that the price is not shooting up, because in Africa we depend on oil products in power generation, Abdallah said. Angola and Nigeria are two of the biggest oil producers in Africa, and both are OPEC members. Natacha Massano, Vice President of Angolas National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, said she wasnt sure how the announcement would affect her country. Some countries will be affected more than the others, Massano said. Some are benefiting of course, the producers may benefit from the high prices, but at the same time they are paying also for all other commodities. Although Saudi Arabia, OPECs biggest producer, has denied colluding with Russia on the production target cut, the move was clearly a big win for Russia, according to Herman Wang, Managing Editor of Vienna-based OPEC and Middle East News. While effective air connectivity within Africa is key to unlocking the potentials of tourism on the continent, unfavorable visa regimes, insecurity, high cost of air transport and low quality of tourism support services among other factors are hindering the growth of tourism in Africa. The truth is that the performance of the regions aviation industry, though improving, continues to lag behind that of the rest of the world, accounting for a dismal 3% of the global air transport traffic, Nigerias Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at the 65th Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization-Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF) which opened in Tanzania on Wednesday (5 October). Of the 1,431 country pairs between the African Union countries, only 19% had some form of significant direct service in 2019 (that is operated at least once weekly on an annual basis), the minister added. He also urged African ministers of tourism to co-operate and collaborate with their colleagues African Ministers of Aviation to achieve the Single African Air Transport Market. Reeling out statistics to back his assertion, the minister, who also listed unfavorable visa regimes, insecurity, high cost of air transport and low quality of tourism support services among other factors hindering the growth of tourism in Africa, said Africas share of global international arrivals remains a paltry 5%. He said that new routes and more frequencies will be needed to shorten flying time between many cities in Africa. As an example, he stressed that there was no regular direct service between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. According to Mohammed, the most convenient routing available, which was via Morocco or West Africa, takes up to 15 hours while a direct service would take about 2 hours only. Motherson has inaugurated a new facility in Tanger Med Industrial Platform, Morocco, replacing the existing Tetouan site, which was established in 2010. According to a press release from Motherson, this new facility is a part of its Modules and Polymer Products division and will produce interior modules and components like instrument panels and door panels for passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles. Spread across 15,000 sqm, the new facility will employ 300 people at peak production, focusing on plastic injection moulding and other state-of-the-art processes such as high-precision robot-aided milling, plastic welding, and airbag integration solutions. In addition to the facility, Mothersons expansion plans in Tangier include establishing in-house capabilities for high-quality soft-touch surfaces for automotive interior parts based on modern polymer-based finishes. The facility was inaugurated by V C Sehgal, Chairman of Motherson, and was attended by representatives from the Moroccan Government and Administration, Tanger Med Group, and key players from the automotive industry. V C Sehgal said, Morocco is a very strategic location for Motherson due to its proximity to Europe and the Middle East. This new facility will help us in serving our existing as well new customers better in these regions. We highly appreciate the continuous support of the Moroccan government and Tanger Med teams to accelerate investment in Tangier. We are committed to continuing our efforts to support the automotive sector in this region to enable it to reach its full potential. Motherson, which operates 103 facilities in 25 countries, develops and produces a wide variety of products ranging from simple plastic parts to highly integrated systems and modules, supplying major automotive OEMs worldwide. The tragedy of children turned into soldiers by the separatist militia of the polisario with the blessing and support of the host country, Algeria, in the camps of Tindouf was vigorously denounced, Thursday, before the 4th Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York. Thus, the president of the Christian Democratic Women International, Anna Maria Stame, spoke out against the methods used by the separatist movement in southwest Algeria to recruit children and subject them to training that even adults cannot stand. After a simple search on the Internet, I personally discovered the horror suffered by these children who struggle to handle weapons larger and heavier than their size, facing ruthless instructors who find pleasure in making them suffer, as if they were real adult soldiers, she said, noting that this scandal has dominated media headlines for weeks. She noted that this case was brought before several international organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, noting that this appeal has not deterred the polisario militias who have revealed their cynical and despicable face. Disregarding appeals and protests from all sides, the separatists have continued to abuse these child soldiers in their training camps. Worse, they do not hesitate to expose them in front of their foreign guests, in defiance of international law and the rights of the child, Stame said. These children are supposed to be protected by a whole arsenal of laws and international law binding on States, including the UN Charter, the Charter of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, she noted, adding that neither this arsenal of binding laws, nor a minimum of ethics that every human being is supposed to be endowed with, have been able to awaken the dead conscience of the criminals who rule in the Algerian camps of Tindouf. In addition to a painful military training, these children are subjected to an ideological indoctrination based on radicalization, glorification of violence, hatred of the West and especially Morocco, denounced the petitioner, stressing that the criminals of the polisario and their Algerian sponsors take advantage of the innocence of these children to engulf them in a world of evil and destructive ideas. She added that the Polisario leaders have chosen to recruit children for various reasons, it seems: they cost much less and are manageable enough to turn them into robots to kill and machines to spread violence and hatred. In this context, she called on the international community on the need to protect these children and help them return to their families in the Motherland, Morocco. The voice of the international community is essential to reveal this ordeal to the world and bring its executioners before the International Criminal Court as war criminals, she insisted, believing that only an international campaign is likely to end the crimes of the armed separatist movement in the Tindouf camps. Another petitioner, Giulia Pace, member of the NGO IL CENACOLO, said Algeria, the host country of the Tindouf camps, continues to turn a deaf ear to the calls of the international community to put an end to the recruitment and indoctrination of children, which are carried out with impunity by the Polisarios armed separatist militia. The indoctrination and recruitment of children by the armed militias of the polisario constitute a crime against humanity, and a denial of the fundamental rights of children recruited, as well as a flagrant violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on the matter, said Pace before the 4th Committee of the UN General Assembly. For her, the armed separatist group is stubbornly carrying out a premeditated process of recruitment of children, forcibly removing them from their families and communities, and depriving them of their childhood, education, health care, as well as the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive environment. She noted that the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria are the epicenter of child soldiers, constituting one of the largest concentrations of military recruitment of children in Africa, noting that the host country and the polisario are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. She cited a recent report of the European Parliament that children aged 12 to 13 years are subjected to military training in the camps of Tindouf. Sahrawi children in the Tindouf camps are not receiving a good education that allows them to think critically, but rather forced into an allegiance to the doctrine of polisario against their best interests, the petitioner said, stressing that the host country, Algeria, is doubly responsible for what happens on its territory. Algeria has accepted the presence of armed militias of the polisario on its territory while providing them with financial and military support to continue to illegally run militarized camps, she explained, adding that the host country is also responsible for the crimes committed by these separatist militias to which it has ceded power in defiance of its international obligations. Elizabeth Dail, New Life, deplored a decline in educational opportunities in the Tindouf camps over recent years, saying that children in the Tindouf camps should be educated in an environment not controlled by the separatist group and completely away from the unsafe conditions in which they now live. Sahrawi people living in the Tindouf camps must learn a spirit of solidarity and compassion between them and those they have been taught to hate, she added. It is time to implement the Moroccan autonomy plan as it is the best solution for the future of the children in the camp, stressed Mrs. Elizabeth, affirming that this plan would unite the children with friends, aunts, uncles and cousins in the Sahara provinces. Mrs. Nancy Huff, Teach the Children International, voiced concern about humanitarian aid theft by the polisario militias, citing in this regard the report by the European Anti-Fraud Office. The report exposes the involvement of the Polisario leaders in the embezzlement of humanitarian aid destined for Tindouf inhabitants but found on sale at the black market. The United Nations has not condemned the theft or blacklisted any members of the Polisario, whose leaders live a luxurious life and own villas in several European and Latin American countries, underlined Mrs. Nancy. The Delegate of Ecuador has reaffirmed his countrys support for a mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara dispute in line with Security Council Resolution 2602. For his part, the Representative of Guatemala has reaffirmed steadfast backing to Moroccos efforts to achieve a political solution to the Sahara issue, based on the Moroccan autonomy initiative. Guatemala reiterates its support for the efforts of Morocco seeking a political solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara and views the autonomy initiative presented in 2007 is a realistic and credible approach and a serious basis for achieving a negotiated solution between the parties, within the framework of respect for the territorial integrity of Morocco, said the delegate of this Central American country. He also voiced his countrys support to UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura to advance towards a political solution to this regional dispute for the sake of stability, security and integration of the Maghreb region. The Representative of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) said:We will continue to strongly support the efforts of the UN SG and his personal envoy for the Sahara to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution. Several elected Moroccan Sahrawis, representatives of NGOs and diplomats have voiced strong support for the autonomy plan offered for the Sahara under Moroccos sovereignty, and hailed the democracy and inclusive development achieved in the Sahara. During the debate of the UN fourth Committee, the speakers have also exposed the serious human rights abuses committed by the Polisario militia in Tindouf camps, Southern Algeria, against children and women, deploring the deteriorating living conditions in these camps. Addressing the Committee, MP Ahmed El-Alems, who was elected in Moroccos most recent legislative elections, said: We are the ones who are elected to observe and administer the Sahara and protect its resources and its people in a just project to develop democracy in the Territory without the exclusion of any social group. The recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over its entire Sahara by the United States, African, Arab, Asian and European countries, including Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, shows international recognition of the Moroccanness of the territory. For her part, Mrs. Mbarka El Ahmadi, who has been elected member of Boujdour regional council in a democratic vote, said womens rights in the southern provinces are protected. She also affirmed that international conventions on womens rights, labor, social justice and sustainable development are implemented in the region. Furthermore, the Constitution enables womens access to decision-making, and has opened the doors for women in the provinces in the south to participate in political life, she said. Moulay Brahim Chrif, Head of the municipal council of Smara, said that he is speaking on behalf of thousands of Sahrawis who elected him in a free and transparent election. The Saharan city of Smara is a cultural capital in the Moroccan desert, he said, noting that his council works in cooperation with other specialized committees and elected municipal councils to implement a comprehensive development framework. After highlighting the major infrastructures, including roads, hospitals, schools, sanitation networks built in his city, he said that the inhabitants of the Sahara actively participate in political processes and support the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco for lasting peace to the Sahara regional conflict. Two opposing voices stated their opinions Thursday afternoon on a state initiative to make Nebraska voters present valid photo identification to cast a ballot. Tanya Storer, a Cherry County commissioner who appeared on behalf of state Sen. Julie Slama, and Mike Forsythe, a representative from Civic Nebraska, each addressed Initiative 432 during the 3rd Congressional District hearing in the McDonald-Belton Theatre in North Platte. Slama is the spokeswoman for the state group Citizens for Voter ID and a sponsor of the petition. One member of the public was in attendance but declined the opportunity to speak during the roughly half-hour hearing. Forsythe called the proposed amendment to the state constitution, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot, government bureaucracy at its worst. He said the ill-advised proposal would deny at least 54,500 eligible Nebraskans the ability to vote because they dont have a valid, government-issued ID. He said it would especially make it more difficult for older and low-income individuals, as well as young people and students, and black and brown voters. There will be thousands more who think they have a valid ID but dont, Forsythe said. We should take this very seriously. This is not a partisan issue. This is a constitutional issue, and we cant just casually throw away our rights in exchange for useless security theater. But Storer said adding the election-security measure would put Nebraska in line with 35 other states and a number of foreign countries as well. Its a common-sense, low-cost measure to further secure our elections at a time where the issue is in the forefront of many Nebraskans minds, Storer said. An overwhelming majority of states have successfully implemented voter-ID systems, and we should follow their lead to make our elections as secure as possible. Storer referenced two Lexington men who were convicted in Dawson County District Court for voting twice during the 2016 general election. She added that a good handful of local elections across the state over the last few years were decided by one vote. Even one fraudulent vote can change the outcome of a race, she said. Yes, voter fraud happens, even here in Nebraska. Voter fraud is rare in our state, thanks to the outstanding work of our hard-working election officials and secretary of state, but it still does happen. When it does, it can change the results of a race and undermine voter confidence in election outcomes. Forsythe said Nebraska proudly entered the union in the forefront of the voting rights fight. Nebraskas state constitution enshrined powerful protections against unnecessary barriers to the franchise, he said. This hasty rewrite seeks to extinguish these protections while at the same time reducing Nebraskans abilities and opportunities to vote. We cannot have free and fair elections if weve stripped thousands of citizens of what is a fundamental and constitutional right. A UTV fire on a recreational trail in the Nebraska National Forest on Sunday sparked the Bovee Fire that has burned nearly 19,000 acres near Halsey, officials said Thursday. The Nebraska National Forest & Grassland Service said the fire investigation continues. But officials at a community meeting in Halsey Thursday said it appeared there was no negligence on the part of the UTV occupants. Firefighters have nearly contained the wildfire that burned roughly 30 square miles and led to the death of a volunteer firefighter, officials said. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team said Thursday morning the fire was 94% contained with only a few short sections of the fire line surrounding the blaze still unsecure. A night shift of firefighters was no longer needed. A funeral for Mike Moody is at 2 p.m. Friday at Sandhills High School in Dunning. Moody, 59, was assistant chief of the Purdum Volunteer Fire Department. He died Sunday after suffering an apparent heart attack while fighting the fire. CPC top discipline inspection commission holds plenum Xinhua) 16:07, October 07, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its seventh plenary session on Friday. Participants at the session reviewed and approved a CCDI work report to the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress, according to a communique released after the plenum. The communique said the report will be submitted to the seventh plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which will open on Oct. 9, for deliberation. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, addressed the meeting. A total of 129 CCDI members attended the session, and two other attendees were present in a non-voting capacity. (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images The Prince and Princess of Wales paid a surprise visit to Northern Ireland this week to visit various charities and community initiatives. For the outing, William and Kate co-ordinated in elegant blue ensembles. The princess opted for a lovely powder blue coat, which she wore over a pussy bow blouse in the same hue and navy trousers with matching pumps. She carried a small black handbag and accessorised with gold and pink gem earrings by Missoma and her sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana. Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images William, meanwhile, looked classic as he stepped out in a navy suit and layered a royal blue jumper over a white dress shirt and navy tie. He wore brown shoes and was all smiles while walking next to his wife. Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images For their first stop of the day, Kate and William visited the PIPS Charity in Belfast, which works to provide crisis support for those at risk of suicide and self-harm. Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images The royals spoke with counsellors about the life-saving work that the charity provides, including allowing walk-ins and training emergency staff to respond to and help people in distress. Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images Kate and William (as well as King Charles, Prince Harry, and Meghan) have long been advocates of mental health. Earlier this year in May, they took over all radio stations across the UK to broadcast a Mental Health Minute. During the surprise 60-second broadcast, they spoke about overcoming and coping with loneliness. Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images The prince and princess today also visited Trademarket, a new outdoor street food and retail market in the heart of Belfast. Afterward, they're stopping by the Carrick Connect, a youth charity in Carrickfergus that offers support services to local youths experiencing social or emotional difficulties. You Might Also Like One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is being investigated over a "racist" tweet where she told a Greens senator to "go back to her country". Senator Mehreen Faruqi sent Senator Hanson's tweet on to the Australian Human Rights Commission with her confirming on Friday an investigation had been launched. "I'm glad the Human Rights Commission has accepted my complaint. Racism must be held to account," she said. Senator Hanson is being investigated over the tweet she wrote in reply to a post Ms Faruqi shared criticising the monarchy in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death. "I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples," the tweet said. Pauline Hanson's comments were described as 'despicable'. Source: Getty Ms Hanson told the senator to go back to her native country of Pakistan. "Your attitude appals and disgusts me. When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country," she wrote. "You took citizenship, bought multiple homes, and a job in a parliament. It's clear you're not happy, so pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan." Greens leader Adam Bandt has welcomed the investigation, telling the ABC on Friday the tweet was "despicable". "Members of parliament ... should have the ability to contribute in the public debate without attacks of racism, and to be told to go back to where they come from. "When people use the bull pit of parliament to make racist attacks on people, it should be condemned." Greens attempt to censure Pauline Hanson The Greens attempted to censure Senator Hanson in the chamber last month but the motion was amended by the government and opposition to instead condemn all forms of racism. Senator Hanson has defended her tweet and denied she is racist. She said her comments were a critique of Senator Faruqi's post. Story continues "Criticism is not racism," Senator Hanson told the Senate on September 27. "(The Greens) see themselves as the epitome of virtue who can say or do nothing wrong. Their sense of entitlement and privilege is stunning." Senator Faruqi claimed Senator Hanson had crossed the line between robust public debate and racism. Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi referred a tweet from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to the Australian Human Rights Commission. Source: Getty "I and everyone like me ... have every right to participate in public debate," the NSW representative said. "I will not be silenced, especially on the topic of the British monarch and monarchy. "The truth about the empire must be told. I have the right to talk about this history without being racially vilified." Following the tweet, Senator Hanson doubled down on her comments made online, saying she would not retract her comments. She also offered to take Senator Faruqi to the airport, which led Greens senator Jordon Steele-John to call her a "scumbag" in the chamber. With AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The vast majority of students at Southern Union State Community College who are pursuing a four-year degree transfer to Auburn University, according to Southern Union President Todd Shackett. Likewise, Norman Godwin, associate provost for academic affairs at Auburn University, said the university receives more transfer students from Southern Union than any other institution of higher education. Historically, Auburn University has had a very close relationship and strong relationship with Southern Union, Godwin said, not only because theyre our neighbor and in the same industry, but we have the same goals of educating Alabamians and those in our region. Godwin said 1 in 5 students that have transferred to Auburn from an Alabama institution have come from Southern Union and currently about 10% of all of Auburns undergraduate students have at least one credit from Southern Union. You can see that a lot of Auburn University students have been educated by Southern Union faculty, Godwin said. Southern Union has a STARS agreement with Auburn University, which is a contract between a two-year school and four-year school that ensures students can transfer their class credits. In 2019, Shackett said the two colleges built on that partnership by creating the Path to the Plains program, which allows students to be co-enrolled at both schools for the price of Southern Union tuition. Shackett said this benefits students who come from small high schools because it allows for an easier transition into college. Godwin said this helped establish a more structured relationship between the two schools. Path to the Plains is an effort to provide an accessible and affordable pathway to Auburn through Southern Union, he said. Both schools have worked to develop curricular models for students to follow. Right now there are about 25 different curricular pathways available to choose from. Its a structured model, Godwin said. If a student follows it, they will be on time and pace to continue their studies here at Auburn having already acclimated to campus and developed that sense of belonging that is so important for students success here at Auburn. Shackett said he and Auburn University President Christopher Roberts also have a strong relationship and meet frequently to discuss how to improve programs and education for students. One of my main priorities as president is to increase the accessibility and affordability of an Auburn education, Roberts wrote in an email. This is particularly important given our land-grant mission and our commitment to the citizens we serve. Our long partnership and great relationship with Southern Union meaningfully contributes to this effort by allowing students an affordable pathway to earn a bachelors degree from Auburn. It seems like yesterday. I was standing in a church in a small Tennessee town on the day before my wedding listening to my soon-to-be-bride talk about prelude music with the organist. It all sounded like Charlie Browns teacher: wha-WHA-wha-WHA-WHA-WHA. Until the organist turned to me and said, Lets ask the groom. What would you like me to play while the guests arrive? Any favorites? I thought hed never ask. How about Jump? I said. The organist furrowed his brow. You know, Jump, I said. From the renowned composer and instrumentalist Edward Van Halen. Maybe I should have said Edvard von Halenstein. But the organist looked like he smelled something funny and turned back to Bess, and they commenced their discussion of Widors Toccata from the Fifth Organ Symphony in F. You know, Opus 42, No. 1. I sat down in a pew. I started thinking that, in addition to being the only organ piece I knew outside of maybe that thing from Dracula, Jump pretty much summed up my decision to get married: You got to roll (-ole, -ole) with the punches and get to whats real. You wont know (oh, oh, oh, oh) until you begin. Go ahead and jump. (Jump!) And thats what I did. Thats what Bess and I did together, and thats what weve been doing for the past 31 years. We jumped into parenthood and jumped into home ownership and neighborhoods, and we jumped into ballet and Little League and other childrens activities. All along, we were jumping into jobs. I jumped into the Army and then jumped into graduate school. I jumped into newspapers, which pretty much everybody has been saying for a long time is a crazy leap. Four years ago, I tried jumping into something else. About two years ago, I jumped back into it here at the Opelika-Auburn News and have had a blast covering this great community and working with a revolving door of young journalists and interns. Jumping, of course, doesnt have to mean leaving home. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Southern Union, were reminded of all the ways a member of our community can jump into new opportunites, whether youre a teenager, a college kid, or anybody of any age looking to jump-start their career and their life. As a kid growing up in Chambers County, I always thought Id leave and settle down somewhere else. Fortunately, all my jumping around brought me back here for more than two decades, and it has been a joy. Now, again, I might as well jump. (Jump!) Im heading to North Carolina for a new job with Lee Enterprises, the O-A News parent company. This will always be home. Thanks for reading. A New Window to Global Safety and Productivity: Presenting NFPA LiNK As the world rapidly evolves with soaring populations and advanced new building materials, those of us who work in jobs that impact safety must work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively to stay ahead. We must work with the highest level of safety knowledge. We must quickly adapt to help keep our constantly evolving world safe. NFPA LiNK is a critical part of the solution. NFPA LiNK is a groundbreaking new digital platform that provides individuals and teams instant access to all NFPA codes and standards as well as expert commentary and visual aids. It helps teams bookmark and share information. It helps companies, teams, and individuals solve problems in real time. NFPA LiNK transforms the code books we have historically used into a dynamic base of knowledge that is easily accessible on smart phones, tablets, or laptops. Whether youre an electrician, first responder, building supervisor, architect, welder, inspector, or safety engineeror whether youre a business owner or a business of oneNFPA LiNKs mobile, tablet, and laptop access literally and figuratively provides a new window to productivity for us all.v NFPA LiNK PROVIDES INSTANT, EASY ACCESS TO CODES AND STANDARDS NFPA LiNK is a subscription service that gives you instant access to NFPA codes and standards via any smart device. Imagine the convenience and efficiency of having every NFPA code and standard, plus enhanced content and visual aids, always at your fingertips. On any jobsite, from anywhere, NFPA LiNK can quickly help your teams find the exact information and knowledge they needfrom determining conductor sizes for rooftop HVAC, to helping every team member know how a residential fuel/gas system is properly vented. NFPA LiNK provides instant access to the information you and your teams need to solve problems in real time. NFPA LiNK OFFERS INTUITIVE PATHS TO SOLUTIONS Amazon Sues Washington States Department of Labor & Industries The complaint claims that citation abatement rules violate the right to a due process. Amazon is suing the state of Washingtons Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), claiming a violation of the right to a due process. Earlier this week, Amazon filed a complaint in Seattle alleging that the Fourteenth Amendments due process clause is being violated by the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act. The story starts at the Amazon Kent, Washington fulfillment center. In March 2022, L&I cited the company for unsafe work practices. According to a news release, the agency found 10 of the 12 processes L&I evaluated create a serious hazard for work-related back, shoulder, wrist, and knee injuries and issued a willful violation and a fine of $60,000. Amazon challenged these allegations, and a hearing is scheduled for next year. Here is where the lawsuit begins. In the complaint, Amazon claims that even though they are challenging the allegations, under L&I law, they first must abate the alleged hazards before the hearing occurs or they can accrue fines, about $70,000 per day the alleged hazards go unfixed. (The normal accrual rate is $7,000 per day, but Amazons case brings it up to $70,000 per day, according to the complaint.) In 2012, L&I enacted the Stay of Abatement Date rule that requires employers to correct or abate any alleged hazards, whether the company files to appeal the citations or not, according to L&I. The employer can file a request for a stay of abatement date. This allows the date to abate or correct hazards to be put on hold or suspended until the appeal is resolved. Many governments in the West have doubled down on nuclear power generation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which made natural gas in Europe too expensive. The country wants to boost capacity for uranium enrichment due to the sanctions imposed by the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine that could lead to a shortage of nuclear fuel. France is looking to boost its capacity for uranium enrichment to help itself and its allies reduce reliance on Russia. France is considering increasing its capacity for uranium enrichment as the Western allies look to reduce their reliance on Russian nuclear power plant fuel. French state-held uranium conversion and enrichment specialist Orano SA is reviewing options to boost the capacity at its Georges Besse II plant to 11 million separative work units (SWU) from 7.5 million SWU now, a statement from Frances public debate committee says. SWU is the standard measure of the effort required to separate isotopes of uranium (U235 and U238) during an enrichment process in nuclear facilities. France says it wants to boost the capacity for uranium enrichment due to the sanctions imposed by the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine that could lead to a shortage of nuclear fuel. Commenting on Oranos plans, Christophe Neugnot, head of communications at the company, told Bloomberg, Were working on various scenarios, including the extension of our Georges Besse II plant, which would be the fastest option, but also on building that extra capacity in the US. Orano will need commitments from customers so that its board of directors can make a final investment decision next year. This will allow the first part of the Georges Besse II plant extension to be commissioned around 2028, Neugnot told Bloomberg. Many governments in the West, including France, the United States, and the UK, have doubled down on nuclear power generation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which made natural gas in Europe too expensive. In France, nuclear power generation accounts for around 70 percent of the electricity mix. When its reactors are fully operational, France is a net exporter of electricity to other European countries. Prolonged maintenance at several nuclear reactors this year, however, means that Franceand the rest of Europehave less nuclear-generated power supply now. France has had issues with its nuclear power generation in recent months, which has reduced the available electricity supply in France and Europe and sent French power prices for next year surging. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: While Vestas is out ahead at the moment, it may not be long until other energy companies catch up. Every year it seems that renewable energy companies are looking to produce bigger, more innovative wind turbines than ever before. As governments and private firms pump funding into research and development in renewable energy, operations are becoming more efficient, lower cost, and easier to scale. With Danish firm Vestas once again announcing plans for its tallest-ever wind turbine, what will this mean for the future of the wind energy sector? Companies are battling it out to create the most innovative renewable energy equipment, whether that be the longest-range EV, the most powerful solar PV, or the tallest wind turbine. With governments around the world offering incentives to energy firms supporting the transition from fossil fuels to green energy sources, the competition has never been stronger. Vestas, a Danish wind energy firm, announced in September that it would be establishing an onshore wind turbine tower with a hub height measuring 199 meters. The tower will be used with the V172-7.2MW turbine model. The firm said it is currently the worlds tallest onshore tower for wind turbines. Vestas is working hand in hand with German company Max Bogl on the project and plans to establish locations in Germany and Austria. The giant structure is expected to help Vestas access stronger and more constant wind power, to increase the turbines electricity production. The firm stated, Especially for projects in Central Europe that are generally constrained in available planning space, this makes an important contribution to maximising the production of green electricity. It plans to commence operations in 2025. The tower of a wind turbine is highly important to its structure, The nacelle and blades rest on top of the tower, with the hub height being measured from the ground to the middle of the turbines rotor. The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) highlighted the significant growth in turbine height in recent years, with onshore hub height increasing by 66 percent since 1999, to 94 metres in 2021. This shows how far wind energy technology has come just this year, with Vestass highly ambitious project marking a huge development. However, other infrastructure will also have to be developed in line with progress in renewable energy operations. For example, ports, highways, and ships must be adapted to cope with the giant wind structures, particularly if were moving to an era of super-sized turbines. While Vestas is out ahead at the moment, it may not be long until other energy companies catch up. MingYang, Chinas largest wind turbine manufacturer, announced plans last year for a 16 MW turbine. This is a significant feat considering that in 2017 the highest-capacity offshore turbine was 8 MW. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Siemens Gamesa said it would be delivering sixty SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbines to the Moray West offshore wind farm in the UK. The wind turbines have a capacity of 14.7 MW eachand are armed with an additional PowerBoost feature to improve performance. Siemens will be producing 180 B108 IntegralBlades, each measuring 108 metres, in its Hull factory in northeast England. In the U.S., its wind energy industry is catching up to the European and Asian competition. General Electric (GE) Renewable Energy has released its Haliade-X offshore turbine, with a 260-metre hub height and 107-metre blades. Although GE took a hit last month when it lost a court case against Siemens Gamesa. A U.S. federal judge in Boston ruled that GE could no longer make, use, offer for sale, import, or install the Haliade-X turbines in the U.S. due to patent infringement. GE was deemed to have infringed Siemens Gamesas 413 patent. The judge believed that Siemens would suffer irreparable injury if GE is not enjoined from infringing the patent. Two GE projects were except from the ruling the 804 MW Vineyard Wind 1 off Massachusetts and the 1.1 GW Ocean Wind 1 off New Jersey where GE will be expected to pay Siemens royalties of $30,000 per megawatt of rated capacity for each of the 62 Haliade-X wind turbines installed. But as the White House announces a target of 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind capacity by 2035, competition amongst U.S. wind turbine manufacturers to develop innovative new equipment is likely to continue. A statement from the White House outlined, The Biden-Harris Administration is launching coordinated actions to develop new floating offshore wind platforms, an emerging clean energy technology that will help the United States lead on offshore wind. As wind energy companies are releasing new and improved turbines year after year, there is no sign of slowing in sight in the race to 20 MW. It is not certain whether size or other equipment innovations will win in the battle to produce the most wind power, but ongoing investment in the sector means the winner is likely not far away. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: This weeks noteworthy elements include more than just the slow sapping of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves, which have fallen to 416 million barrels - levels not seen since July 1984 when U.S. crude oil demand was less than 16 million barrels per day. OPEC+ took center stage this week, both before, during, and after its Wednesday meeting. The full OPEC+ group decided on Wednesday to cut its production targets for November by 2 million bpd - a move that would result in a real production cut of just over a million barrels per day, factoring in those countries that are already producing below the newly dropped quotas. OPEC+s move was criticized heavily around the world - with the most vehemence coming from major oil importers as well as the United States, along with media who pleaded the case for energy-troubled Europe. OPEC+ didnt even attempt to silence the rumors leading up to the meeting that it was planning on cutting production. This sent the Biden Administration scurrying to alter the outcome of the meeting before it started. Nevertheless, OPEC+, at the prodding of both Saudi Arabia and Russia, decided to cut more production than most thought possible prior to this week. To hear OPEC+ tell it, the group cut production due to market uncertainties, namely a global recession that could weigh on oil demand. Media has portrayed the cuts as a defense of a particular price, which some analysts have pegged around $90 per barrel. The number of total active drilling rigs in the United States fell by 3 this week, according to new data from Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count fell to 762 this week229 rigs higher than the rig count this time in 2021. Oil rigs in the United States decreased by 2 this week, to 602. Gas rigs slipped 1, to 158. Miscellaneous rigs stayed the same at 2. The rig count in the Permian Basin rose by 1 to 345 this week. Rigs in the Eagle Ford stayed the same, at 72. Oil and gas rigs in the Permian are 79 above where they were this time last year. While up year over year, active drilling in the Permian has remained near the current level since mid-May. Primary Vision's Frac Spread Count, an estimate of the number of crews completing unfinished wellsa more frugal use of finances than drilling new wellsrose by 2 to 290 for the week ending September 30, compared to 282 a month ago and 262 a year ago. Crude oil production in the United States stayed at 12.0 million bpd for the week ending September 30, according to the latest weekly EIA estimates. U.S. production levels are up 300,000 bpd so far this year and up 1.4 million bpd versus a year ago. At 12:46 p.m. ET, the WTI benchmark was trading up $4.15 per barrel (+4.69%) on the day at $92.60 per barrelup $12 per barrel since this time last week after OPEC+ decided earlier this week to cut production quotas by a collective 2 million bpd. The Brent benchmark was trading up at $98.24 per barrel, up $3.82 (+4.05%) on the day, and up $10 per barrel compared to this time last Friday. WTI was trading at $92.35 minutes after the data release. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia is not ruling out the possibility of repairing the Nordstream gas pipelines, the Russian Embassy in Denmark said in a statement on its website on Friday. The Russian embassy criticized the efforts to investigate the pipelines following four explosions that took them offlinesome say indefinitelybecause the Russian side was excluded from the investigations. The Danish sides reluctance to involve Russias representatives in the ongoing investigation undermines its credibility. Limiting the circle of participating states, which are either already members of NATO, or on the way to this alliance, turns the study into politically preconceived, the statement read, adding that it would investigate the possibility of conducting an investigation on the site of the explosions itself. The Russian side does not rule out the possibility of repairing gas pipelines, but a decision on this can be made after examining the site and assessing the extent of damage to gas pipelines. Russia also said it was ready to supply gas to Europe through the undamaged line of the Nordstream 2 pipeline. The $11 billion contentious Nordstream 2 pipeline, however, failed to receive certification from Germany to start the flow of gas. Germany halted the project, which sought to double the amount of gas flowing from Russia to Germany, in February after Russia recognized as independent two breakaway territories in Ukraine. The Swedish Security Service found on Thursday that detonations caused the explosion that damaged the pipelines, strengthening the suspicions of serious sabotage. The Nordstream 1 pipeline has the capacity to send 59 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia to Europe each year. Russia had stopped the flow of gas into Europe via Nordstream 1 prior to the explosion, stating that flows would not resume until sanctions were lifted. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russias continued aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlins attempts to escalate the political situation and prevent defeat on the battlefield through mobilization, nuclear blackmail and possibly even sabotage on gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea raise the question: How do all these factors influence the Russian defense budget? Since May 2022, the Russian government has not released much data on the defense budget. Nevertheless, defense spending from January to April totaled almost 1.6 trillion rubles ($26.4 billion), with about 500 billion rubles ($8.3 billion) of spending per month for March and April. Considering these dynamics in comparison with Moscows defense spending in previous yearsroughly 300 billion rubles ($5 billion) per monthand the fact that the original defense budget in 2022 was 3.85 trillion rubles ($63.6 billion), the true amount for Russian defense spending in 2022 may well reach as much as 5.5 trillion rubles ($90.9 billion) by the end of the year (Budget.gov.ru, May 2022). This estimation correlates with two key facts. First, in June 2022, the additional planned spending for arms manufacturing was officially estimated at 600700 billion rubles ($9.9 billion$11.6 billion) (Interfax-AVN, June 10). Second, after revising it in September 2022, the estimate for the entire Russian defense budget in 2022 was adjusted to 4.7 trillion rubles ($77.7 billion), and this change will definitely not be the last (Vedomosti, September 23). In this way, defense spending itself is throwing the Russian state budget out of balance. And this spending does not include funding for security and law enforcement agencies, such as Rosgvardia (Russian National Guard) and the Russian Federal Security Service, which are also involved in the war against Ukraine. Originally, the 2022 budget for security and law enforcement organizations was set at 2.8 trillion rubles ($46.3 billion), but evidence shows that the plan has been significantly changed a number of times since then (TASS, September 21, 2021). The turbulence in Russian defense spending will probably increase in 2023. The budget proposal for 2023 considers almost 5 trillion rubles ($82.6 billion) for defense and 4.2 trillion rubles ($69.4 billion) for security and law enforcement, up from the previously planned 3.6 trillion rubles ($59.5 billion) and 2.9 trillion rubles ($47.9 billion), respectively (Ach.gov.ru, October 12, 2021; Vedomosti, September 23). However, the ongoing mobilization casts doubt on this plan from the outset, as clear parameters for this process have not been delineated, and it is already carrying on in quite a chaotic manner. In this way, if the war continues into 2022, then Russian defense spending will most likely be significantly higher than 5 trillion rubles ($82.6 billion). The skyrocketing defense budget means less flexibility and efficiency for Russian government spending. Consequently, Moscow made the decision to share the burden of defense spending with regional and local budgets. As such, regional and local administrations will now purchase dual-use equipment, commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, laser-guided systems and other supplies through direct requests from the Russian Ministry of Defense (Publication.pravo.gov, October 3). This process is closely paired with the ongoing mobilization, which is facing not only chaos but also a deficit in basic equipment, medicine and combat support systems for the newly mobilized soldiers. Thus, the Russian defense budget in 2023 may receive additional money, but that will depend on the scale and success of mobilization. Yet, the problem here is that, now, no regional budget in Russia is independent from the Kremlins whims, and, as a result, not one local budget is independent from regional directives. This means the governments decision to utilize regional and local budgets for defense needs has created further imbalances and instability within the Russian political-economic system (Roskazna.gov.ru, March 31). And that is especially true as the Kremlin grapples with a deep economic crisis, an international embargo on supplies of technologies and industrial equipment and a decrease in its exports. Related: China Is Reselling U.S. LNG To Europe For Big Profits Despite the fact that the main causes for the increase in Russian defense spending have been the massive losses of manpower and arms, this boost will most likely only drive up the costs of manufacturing and purchasing arms and military equipment, rather than improving the amount and quality of supplies. The deficit of employees in the Russian economy, including in the defense industry, was a serious issue even before the war, and Moscows ongoing aggression in Ukraine coupled with the mobilization only serves to further exacerbate this deficit (Nezavisimaya gazeta, December 29, 2021; Tpprf.ru, January 27). Therefore, the facts testify that, regarding defense spending, the Kremlins typical approach for solving troubles by throwing money at them does not promise positive and sustainable results. Although, despite the lack of tangible results, a short-term side-effect of this rampant spending is maintaining loyalty to the Kremlin among the armed forces and defense industry. Nevertheless, further imbalances in the Russian defense sector are inevitable, even if the intensity of the war in Ukraine decreases in the coming months. Moreover, considering that the ruble is not a freely convertible currency anymore and that it could unexpectedly depreciate in the foreseeable future, Russias skyrocketing defense spending may lose its purpose for the Kremlin without a further restoration of the command economy. By The Jamestown Foundation More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Albertas incoming premier Danielle Smith pledged to work for a prosperous oil-rich province without asking the federal government for permission to produce and export energy. The new premier, who was elected to lead Albertas ruling United Conservative Party (UCP), told party members on Thursday, Today marks a new beginning in the Alberta story. Today we start putting Alberta First!!! Smith tweeted on Friday. Her campaign has focused on an Alberta First slogan and against the outreach of the federal government. The new premier could put Alberta on a collision course with Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a vocal supporter of the fight against climate change and plans to reduce emissions. No longer will Alberta ask permission from Ottawa to be prosperous and free ... we will not have our resources landlocked or our energy phased out of existence by a virtue-signalling prime minister, Smith said at a meeting of the UCP party, as carried by Reuters. Alberta, Canadas oil-rich province, has been looking to boost the production of oil and gas, while Canadas federal government has adopted in recent years legislation aiming to reduce emissions and make Canada a net-zero economy by 2050. So far this year, Albertas oil production and economy have benefited from the high oil and gas prices, but the province still wants additional export outlets for its hydrocarbon resources, most of which have been stymied at the federal level or by other provinces. Crude oil production in Alberta reached a record high in the first half of the year at 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd), which was 100,000 bpd higher than the average output for the first half of 2021. In terms of oil and gas income, higher oil and gas prices are expected to lead to a surplus of some $9.6 billion (C$13.2 billion) for Alberta this fiscal year. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia could restart the supply of natural gas to Germany and its neighbors via an undamaged section of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Russian media. Unfortunately, due to sabotage, a string [of Nord Stream 2] was damaged, and an investigation is required to make further decisions about the fate of the string, Novak told RIA Novosti. As for the second string, it is ready, fully built, and if the necessary legal decisions are made by our European colleagues regarding certification and removal of restrictions, I believe that Russia could provide adequate supplies through this string of the gas pipeline in a short time, he explained. The statement comes a couple of weeks after a German politician said that gas will never flow via Nord Stream 2 because Germany could never again see Russia as a reliable energy supplier. Soon after, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines became the target of sabotage that seems to have damaged the older pipeline beyond repair. An investigation launched by the Swedish authorities earlier this month confirmed there were detonations at the pipelines, strengthening suspicions of serious sabotage, per a statement. Four leaks, two in each of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, were discovered last week after gas started leaking earlier this week from the infrastructure just outside Swedish and Danish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 2 was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia, for its part, shut down Nord Stream 1 indefinitely early this month, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions. Meanwhile, Germany, which was the main beneficiary of the gas flow via Nord Stream 1, is struggling to secure enough gas for the winter, with a number of officials warning demand reduction would be key to making it to spring without too much pain. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Sweden's security police and prosecutor's office say a preliminary investigation into leaks from two Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea has strengthened suspicions of sabotage as the cause. The Swedish Security Police said on October 6 that the probe confirmed that detonations" caused extensive damage to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines last week. The service didn't give details about its investigation, but a separate statement from the Swedish prosecutor who led the preliminary investigation said seizures have been made at the crime scene and these will now be investigated. The prosecutor, Mats Ljungqvist, did not identify the seized evidence, but he said he had given directives to temporarily block [the area] and carry out a crime scene investigation." The governments of Denmark and Sweden previously said they suspected that several hundred pounds of explosives were involved in carrying out a deliberate act of sabotage. The EU and NATO also called the explosions sabotage, with some EU officials accusing Russia of being behind the attack. The Kremlin has denied any involvement and pointed the finger at the United States, an accusation that Washington immediately dismissed. Leaks in four places along the pipelines in the Swedish and Danish exclusive economic zones in the Baltic Sea lasted about a week, discharging huge amounts of methane into the air. The pipelines -- built to carry Russian natural gas supplied by Kremlin-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom to Germany -- were filled with Russian gas at the time of the explosions, but were not operational due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and tensions with Russia. Russia earlier this year slashed exports through Nord Stream 1, claiming Western sanctions on equipment and services impaired its ability to maintain the pipeline. Nord Stream 2, the newer pipeline, was never put into operation. The Nord Stream operators, based in Switzerland, said this week that they were unable to inspect the damaged sections because of restrictions imposed by Danish and Swedish authorities who had cordoned off the area. The statement from Sweden's Prosecution Authority said the area where gas spewed out was no longer cordoned off. Related: The LME Is Carefully Considering A Potential Ban On Russian Metals Russia said on October 6 that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that it was not able to join the investigation. "As of now, there are no plans to ask the Russian side to join investigations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow replied it was not possible to conduct an objective investigation without its participation. Sweden's justice minister said it was not possible to let others take part in a Swedish criminal investigation. Denmark's Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told Reuters on October 6 that his ministry had not told Russia to stay out of the investigation, but that a police-led taskforce comprising members from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany was in charge of the investigation. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: NEW YORK (AP) The latest government study on teen vaping suggests there's been little progress in keeping e-cigarettes out of the hands of kids. The data seems to show more high school students vaping, with 14% saying they had done so recently, according to survey results released Thursday. In last year's survey, about 11% said they had vaped recently. But experts cautioned that a change in the survey makes it difficult to compare the two: This year, a much higher percentage of participants took the survey in schools, and vaping tends to be reported more in schools than in homes. It continues to be difficult to assess (vaping) trends since the pandemic, said Alyssa Harlow, a University of Southern California researcher who studies youth e-cigarette use. Educators say vaping is still a big problem. Anecdotally, the 2021-2022 school year was worse than it was before the pandemic, said Mike Rinaldi, principal of Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut. That school year was the first when most kids returned from remote learning following COVID-19 lockdowns, noted Rinaldi, who speculated that many kids may have taken up vaping as they dealt with mental health issues or stress related to the pandemic. Kids vaping in school bathrooms and stairwells remains "a constant battle, said Matt Forker, principal of the nearby Stamford High School. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers authored the new study, which is based on a Jan. 18 to May 31 online survey of about 28,000 U.S. middle and high school students. The study asked about use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in the previous 30 days. In addition to the 14% of high school students who said they vaped recently, about 3% of middle schoolers said they had done so. Of those who vaped, about 28% said they did it every day. Nearly 85% of the youth who vaped used flavored products. Favored brands included Puff Bar and Vuse, followed by Hyde and Smok. Despite its persistence, vaping appears to be less popular than it was: In 2019, 28% of high schoolers said they had recently vaped. In the last three years, federal and state laws and regulations have raised the purchase age for tobacco and vaping products, and banned nearly all teen-preferred flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Some kids also may have been scared away by a 2019 outbreak of vaping-related illnesses and deaths most of them tied to a filler in black market vaping liquids that contained THC, the chemical that makes marijuana users feel high. Leaders of one advocacy group said they worry the battle to diminish youth vaping is not going well. The numbers "may not reflect the much larger reality of youth e-cigarette use that we hear about on a daily basis from parents, teachers, pediatricians, and prevention specialists who are experiencing this urgent and ongoing adolescent public-health crisis, the group, Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes, said in a statement. The FDA has struggled to regulate the sprawling vaping landscape, which includes both established companies and smaller startups. The agency has been pilloried by Congress and health advocates for missing multiple deadlines to issue decisions on millions of vaping products submitted by companies hoping to stay on the market for adults. The FDA tried to ban the leading e-cigarette maker Juuls products earlier this summer, citing questions about its potential health risks. But its been forced to put that effort on hold following a court challenge. In this years survey, about one-fifth of teens who vape reported recently using Juul, though it was no longer a favorite brand. That's a big shift from 2019, when more than half of teens reported Juul as their usual brand. Instead, many young people have migrated to e-cigarettes delivering laboratory-made nicotine, a loophole in FDAs oversight that Congress closed this year. Despite gaining new authority over those products, the FDA missed a mid-July deadline to issue decisions on millions of products, including disposable Puff Bar e-cigarettes. Like some other companies, Puff Bar reformulated its fruit and candy-flavored vapes last year to use laboratory-made nicotine in a bid to skirt FDA oversight. Perrone reported from Washington, D.C. 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. Hurricane Ians widespread damage is another disaster for Floridas already shaky insurance industry. Even though home insurance rates in Florida are nearly triple the national average, insurers have been losing money. Six have failed since January 2022. Now, insured losses from Ian are estimated to exceed US$40 billion Hurricane risk might seem like the obvious problem, but there is a more insidious driver in this financial train wreck. Finance professor Shahid Hamid, who directs the Laboratory for Insurance at Florida International University, explained how Floridas insurance market got this bad and how the states insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance, now carrying more than 1 million policies, can weather the storm. Whats making it so hard for Florida insurers to survive? Floridas insurance rates have almost doubled in the past five years, yet insurance companies are still losing money for three main reasons. One is the rising hurricane risk. Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma (2017) and Michael (2018) were all destructive. But a lot of Floridas hurricane damage is from water, which is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, rather than by private property insurance. Another reason is that reinsurance pricing is going up thats insurance for insurance companies to help when claims spike. But the biggest single reason is the assignment of benefits problem, involving contractors after a storm. Its partly fraud and partly taking advantage of loose regulation and court decisions that have affected insurance companies. It generally looks like this: Contractors will knock on doors and say they can get the homeowner a new roof. The cost of a new roof is maybe $20,000-$30,000. So, the contractor inspects the roof. Often, there isnt really that much damage. The contractor promises to take care of everything if the homeowner assigns over their insurance benefit. The contractors can then claim whatever they want from the insurance company without needing the homeowners consent. If the insurance company determines the damage wasnt actually covered, the contractor sues. So insurance companies are stuck either fighting the lawsuit or settling. Either way, its costly. Other lawsuits may involve homeowners who dont have flood insurance. Only about 14% of Florida homeowners pay for flood insurance, which is mostly available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program. Some without flood insurance will file damage claims with their property insurance company, arguing that wind caused the problem. How widespread of a problem are these lawsuits? Overall, the numbers are pretty striking. About 9% of homeowner property claims nationwide are filed in Florida, yet 79% of lawsuits related to property claims are filed there. The legal cost in 2019 was over $3 billion for insurance companies just fighting these lawsuits, and thats all going to be passed on to homeowners in higher costs. Insurance companies had a more than $1 billion underwriting loss in 2020 and again in 2021. Even with premiums going up so much, theyre still losing money in Florida because of this. And thats part of the reason so many companies are deciding to leave. Assignment of benefits is likely more prevalent in Florida than most other states because there is more opportunity from all the roof damage from hurricanes. The states regulation is also relatively weak. This may eventually be fixed by the legislature, but that takes time and groups are lobbying against change. It took a long time to pass a law saying the attorney fee has to be capped. How bad is the situation for insurers? Weve seen about a dozen companies be declared insolvent or leave since early 2020. At least six dropped out this year alone. Thirty more are on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulations watch list. About 17 of those are likely to be or have been downgraded from A rating, meaning theyre no longer considered to be in good financial health. The ratings downgrades have consequences for the real estate market. To get a loan from the federal mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, you have to have insurance. But if an insurance company is downgraded to below A, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae wont accept it. Florida established a $2 billion reinsurance fund in May 2022 that can help smaller insurance companies in situations like this. If they get downgraded, the reinsurance can act like co-signing the loan so the mortgage lenders will accept it. But its a very fragile market. Ian could be one of the costliest hurricanes in Florida history. Ive seen estimates of $40 billion to $60 billion in losses. I wouldnt be surprised if some of those companies on the watch list leave after this storm. That will put more pressure on Citizens Property Insurance, the states insurer of last resort. Some headlines suggest that Floridas insurer of last resort is also in trouble. Is it really at risk, and what would that mean for residents? Citizens is not facing collapse, per se. The problem with Citizens is that its policy numbers typically swell after a crisis because as other insurers go out of business, their policies shift to Citizens. It sells off those policies to smaller companies, then another crisis comes along and its policy numbers rise again. Three years ago, Citizens had half a million policies. Now, it has twice that. All these insurance companies that left in the last two years, their policies have been migrated to Citizens. Ian will be costly, but Citizens is flush with cash right now because it had a lot of premium increases and built up its reserves. Citizens also has a lot of backstops. It has the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, established in the 1990s after Hurricane Andrew. Its like reinsurance, but its tax-exempt so it can build reserves faster. Once a trigger is reached, Citizens can go to the catastrophe fund and get reimbursed. More importantly, if Citizens runs out of money, it has the authority to impose a surcharge on everyones policies not just its own policies, but insurance policies across Florida. It can also impose surcharges on some other types of insurance, such as life insurance and auto insurance. After Hurricane Wilma in 2005, Citizens imposed a 1% surcharge on all homeowner policies. Those surcharges can bail Citizens out to some degree. But if payouts are in the tens of billions of dollars in losses, it will probably also get a bailout from the state. So, Im not as worried for Citizens. Homeowners will need help, though, especially if theyre uninsured. I expect Congress will approve some special funding, as it did in the past for hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy, to provide financial aid for residents and communities. ___ Shahid S. Hamid receives funding from Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. ___ Jill Biden on Friday used the story of how one of her teenage friends ended a pregnancy at a time when abortion was illegal, including being declared mentally unfit, to illustrate what she says is at stake for women in November's elections. How could we go back to that time? the first lady asked in a political speech to a women's conference sponsored by the House Democrats' campaign arm. She was talking about pre-1972, when the Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide with its Roe v. Wade ruling. Women no longer have a constitutional right to abortion after a conservative majority on the Supreme Court in June overturned its ruling in Roe, allowing individual states to decide whether abortion should be legal. Democrats running for office at the state and federal levels hope opposition to the decision will give their candidates an advantage when voters go to the polls on Nov. 8. Biden said she was 17 when one of her friends got pregnant in the late 1960s. They lived in Pennsylvania and abortion was illegal. To end the pregnancy, she told me that her only recourse was to undergo a psychiatric evaluation that would declare her mentally unfit before the doctor would perform the procedure, said Biden, now 71. She did not identify her friend. I went to see her in the hospital and then cried the whole drive home, she told several hundred people at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Womens Lunch and Issues Conference at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel. Biden said her friend couldn't go home after she got out of the hospital, so she asked her mother to let her friend stay with them. Her mom agreed, she said, and she never told a soul, including, as far as I know, my dad. She said she and her mom never spoke about it again. Secrecy. Shame. Silence. Danger. Even death. Thats what defined that time for so many women, the first lady said, going on to say she was shocked by the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. It was devastating. How could we go back to that time? she asked. The first lady addressed the Democratic campaign committees luncheon, where she was introduced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Earlier, Biden toured the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and highlight advances in breast cancer research and support programs as part of the Biden administrations cancer moonshot initiative. Biden also highlighted the court's abortion ruling in a speech last Friday at a Democratic National Committee women's luncheon in Washington. The decision has freed states to decide whether abortion should be legal or illegal, resulting in a patchwork of laws nationwide, with the procedure outlawed in some Republican-led states and legal where Democrats are in control. In San Francisco on Friday, as she did in Washington last week, Biden criticized extremist Republicans for passing state laws that prevent women from getting the health care they need, and accused them of also going after marriage equality and voting rights, echoing comments from President Joe Biden and other top Democrats. She said they are underestimating women and erring by doing so. Were all here because someone our mothers, our nanas, our teachers and mentors taught us to fight for what we believe in, told us that we didnt have to accept the world as it is, that we could make it better, the first lady said. She said women have fought too hard for too long and know there is just too much at stake. Women will not let this country go backwards, the first lady said. We will not let some radical Republican agenda be the legacy we leave to our daughters and granddaughters. On one side of the room sits the cutest life-size stuffed animal you've ever seen. On the other side rests a real dog same size, shape and even the same name as the stuffed version. You get to sit next to both of these fluffy friends and pet their fur. Guess which one will make your brain light up? If you guessed the real dog, you're right. Stuffed animals, as cute and cuddly as they may be, just don't supercharge our frontal cortex, the part of the brain overseeing how we think and feel, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE. "We chose to investigate the frontal cortex because this brain area is involved in several executive functions, such as attention, working memory, and problem-solving. But it is also involved in social and emotional processes," said study lead author Rahel Marti, a doctoral student in the division of clinical psychology and animal-assisted interventions at the University of Basel in Switzerland, in an email. Why is this finding important? It provides additional evidence that live human-animal therapy interactions may boost cognitive and emotional activity in the brain, Marti said. "If patients with deficits in motivation, attention and socioemotional functioning show higher emotional involvement in activities connected to a dog, then such activities could increase the chance of learning and of achieving therapeutic aims," she said. This latest study adds to existing research on the benefits of animal-assisted therapy in medically supervised neural rehabilitation for nervous system conditions, such as strokes, seizure disorders, brain trauma and infections. Researchers used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in the study, which is a portable brain scanner that provides flexibility since it's functional in natural settings and not limited to a closed room in a lab. The technique measures brain activity via oxygen saturation of the blood in the brain. The study team fitted each of 19 participants with the scanner and asked them to observe and interact with one of three live dogs: a Jack Russell terrier, a goldendoodle and a golden retriever. First, study participants watched the dog from across the room. Then the dog sat next to them. Finally, each person was allowed to pet the dog. This process occurred twice more at later dates. In other sessions, each person repeated the same sequence with a plush stuffed lion that contained a hot water bottle to simulate the body temperature of a live dog. In each of the scenarios, brain stimulation rose as the dog or stuffed animal moved closer. "We found that brain activity increased when the contact with the dog or a plush animal became closer. This confirms previous studies linking closer contact with animals or control stimuli with increased brain activation," Marti said. However, the study found an even stronger boost in brain activity when the person petted the fur of a real dog versus the stuffed animal. "We think emotional involvement might be a central underlying mechanism of brain activation in human-animal interactions," Marti said, adding that the stuffed animal likely triggered less affection. The results mirror findings by other researchers, who found more brain activity when participants interacted with live rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, dogs and horses, she said. "This is an interesting, rigorously conducted study that provides new insight into associations between human-animal interaction and regional prefrontal brain activity in healthy adults," said Dr. Tiffany Braley, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who has published research on the connection between pet ownership and cognitive health. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) The leader of Ethiopias embattled Tigray region and the federal government have been invited to peace talks in South Africa this weekend as part of a pan-African effort to end one of the worlds most overlooked wars, according to a letter seen Wednesday by The Associated Press. If Debretsion Gebremichael attends the proposed talks between the Tigray and Ethiopian sides, it will be the highest-level effort yet to end the two-year war that has killed thousands of people from conflict and starvation. In a statement, he said he is ready to send a negotiating team but has questions about who else might take part, considering that we were not consulted prior to the issuance of this invitation. Ethiopias government has accepted the invitation, national security adviser Redwan Hussein said. In a separate statement, the government called it consistent with the Ethiopian governments prior positions that talks be mediated by the AU and be held without preconditions. The statement does not say who might attend. The letter from the chair of the AU Commission says the AU-convened talks would be aimed at laying the foundation for a structured and sustained mediation between the two sides toward a durable resolution of the conflict. The AU letter says the talks would be facilitated by AU special envoy and former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo with the support of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. A diplomat in Addis Ababa said representatives from the European Union, the United Nations and the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development are expected to attend the talks as observers in support of the AUs mediation team. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The talks come more than a month after fighting in Tigray renewed following months of relative calm. Forces from neighboring Eritrea, allied with Ethiopia's government, are again joining the fighting in what Tigray forces have described as a large-scale offensive. On Tuesday, an airstrike hit the Tigray town of Adi Daero where displaced people were sheltering, a humanitarian worker who visited the site afterward told the AP. They described the scene as total carnage and said health workers reported more than 50 people killed. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Tigray region has been largely cut off from the world since the war began in November 2020, with more than 5 million people without basic services including electricity, phone, internet and banking. Medicines have run desperately low. On Thursday, the U.N. said trapped staffers were finally able to rotate out of the region for the first time since the fighting renewed. The fighting also has spilled over into Ethiopia's neighboring regions of Amara and Afar as Tigray forces have tried to pressure the government, putting hundreds of thousands of other civilians at risk. United Nations-based investigators have said all sides have committed abuses. There is also deep suspicion on both sides. A member of the Tigray negotiation team, Tsadkan Gebretensae, told a U.S. think tank last week that we have agreed on an African-led process, but that should not be carte blanche for the AU to impose what should be a peace process. Tsadkan said Tigray representatives had met three times with Ethiopian authorities in Djibouti and Seychelles and he thanked the United States government for organizing the meetings, which he said produced a clear proposal for a cessation of hostilities. But after that, he asserted, the Tigray side was betrayed. He didn't give details. The Tigray authorities seek unfettered access for humanitarian aid, the resumption of basic services, respect for constitutional boundary arrangements and the withdrawal of foreign forces, Tsadkan said. The Tigray authorities will accept whatever comes out" of an impartial, agreed-upon peace process, he said. Diverted ambulances. Cancer treatment delayed. Electronic health records offline. These are just some of the ripple effects of an apparent cyberattack on a major nonprofit health system (with outlets in Nebraska and Iowa) that disrupted operations throughout the U.S. While CommonSpirit Health confirmed that it experienced an IT security issue earlier this week, the company has not divulged more details about the scope of the attack. The health system giant has 140 hospitals in 21 states. As of Thursday, it still was unknown how many of its 1,000 care sites that serve 20 million Americans were affected. Officials with CHI Health in Nebraska and western Iowa confirmed earlier this week that all of its Omaha facilities including Lakeside Hospital, Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy and Immanuel Medical Center have been affected. CHI Health is part of CommonSpirit. The incident underscores the growing concerns surrounding ransomware attacks on health care systems with patient care at stake. In Tacoma, Washington, Mark Kellogg told KING-TV that his wife, Kathy, had been scheduled to get a cancerous tumor on her tongue removed Monday, but the procedure was put off several days because of the cyberattack. Virginia Mason Franciscan Healths parent company is CommonSpirit Health. Everything we do today is all on a computer, and without it youre back to the stone age writing on a tablet, Kellogg said. In Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported that the incident forced the diversion of five ambulances from the emergency department of the citys MercyOne Medical Center to other medical facilities. The incident forced both MercyOne and VMFH to take certain IT systems offline including patients electronic health records as a precaution. In Omaha, a Douglas County 911 official said dispatchers had not noticed any diversions of ambulances by CHI Health that were out of the ordinary. CHI Health officials said in a statement Thursday that its clinics and hospitals remain open and that hospitals continue to accept trauma patients. However, the health system has taken certain information technology systems offline, which may include electronic health records. CHI Health has made some temporary adjustments, including rescheduling and delaying certain appointments or procedures on a case-by-case basis. Patients with questions about upcoming appointments were advised to call their providers office. Officials also warned that callers may face longer wait times due to an increase in calls and possibly longer wait times at clinics and hospitals. Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cybersecurity provider Emsisoft, said the incident could be the most significant attack on the health care sector to date if all CommonSpirit hospitals and other facilities were affected. Emsisoft has tracked at least 15 health care systems in the U.S., which manage more than 60 hospitals, affected by ransomware this year. Callow said data was stolen in 12 of the 15 instances, adding that those are almost surely undercounts as some ransomware attacks arent widely reported. Callow said one of the largest known attacks within health care came in September 2020 when a ransomware attack struck all 250 health care facilities owned by Universal Health Services. CommonSpirits incident could exceed that, depending on how many of its facilities were hit. That could mean the company faces large financial costs to get through the incident and recover. As an example, Callow cited the loss of more than $100 million reported by Scripps Health tied to a 2021 ransomware attack that affected its five hospitals in California. In September 2020, Nebraska Medicine was the target of a cyberattack that shut down computer systems for days. Patients were unable to access online medical and billing information, and nonurgent appointments were postponed. In light of the latest incident affecting CommonSpirit, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center officials said their information technology teams were on high alert to ensure our online information systems are protected against any potential threat. The most worrying effect of any substantial attack on health care is on patients, Callow said. Ive seen reports that at least one of the impacted hospitals had to divert ambulances to other facilities, and that delay in getting people the care they need could obviously represent a risk to the lives of patients, he said. Beyond that, these incidents can have a long-term impact on patient outcomes delaying treatments, for example. In 2020, the FBI and other federal agencies warned that they had credible information that cybercriminals could unleash a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts against U.S. hospitals and health care providers. Thats because ransomware criminals are increasingly stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they think they can extract the highest payments. Health care is classified by the U.S. government as one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Health care providers are seen as ripe targets for hackers. If patient data is accessed, health care providers are required by law to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. World-Herald staff writer Julie Anderson contributed to this report. An inmate who went missing from the Community Corrections Center-Omaha two weeks ago is back in custody. Matthew Hurich and Clifford Brown, both inmates at the Omaha facility, left together on Sept. 22. Brown turned himself in to Omaha police on Sept. 26. Hurich was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 28, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced Thursday. Hurich is serving up to 30 years with a minimum of 11 years and eight months on robbery and terroristic threats charges. He was convicted in 2014 and will be eligible for parole in April 2024. Inmates in community custody facilities are allowed to participate in work, school and religious activities without direct supervision. A man from Eagle, Nebraska, was arrested in Kansas early Friday after fleeing from a Cass County sheriffs deputy who had tried to arrest him in connection with a domestic violence incident. Just after 8:15 p.m. Thursday, sheriffs deputies were sent to a house in Eagle to check on a report of a domestic violence assault. The first deputy at the scene found a woman and a girl standing in the street waiting for officers to arrive. The woman told the deputy that her 57-year-old husband had hit her multiple times in the face with a closed fist. The man came out of the house, but when he saw the deputy, he went back inside and slammed the door, the Sheriffs Office said. The deputy called for more deputies and Nebraska State Patrol troopers to come to the house. Before the other officers arrived, the man came out of the house and ran to his 2016 Chevy pickup truck, the Sheriffs Office said. The deputy tried to take the man into custody, chasing him on foot and using a Taser on him, but the man got away. The man, who the deputy said appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, was able to get his pickup into gear and backed up, striking the deputy with the door and throwing the deputy toward the driveway. The mans pickup then hit a marked sheriffs cruiser before fleeing from the scene. Crews from Eagle Fire and Rescue and Cass County emergency management came to the house to treat the deputy and the woman, neither of whom went to the hospital. Nebraska State Patrol troopers who tried to find the mans pickup were unsuccessful. Area law enforcement agencies were contacted and asked to look for the pickup. Deputies with the Riley County (Kansas) Sheriffs Office spotted the pickup and began to chase it. They later ended the pursuit because of dangerously high speeds. Shortly thereafter, around 12:40 a.m. Friday, police officers from Wabaunsee, Kansas, found the man passed out in his pickup at a rest stop and took him into custody after using a Taser on him twice. The man faces several felony charges in Kansas, including driving under the influence and flight to avoid arrest. He also faces charges in Nebraska, including domestic violence assault, child abuse and felony assault of a police officer with a motor vehicle. Cass County officials said a warrant will be issued and the man will be extradited to Nebraska after facing charges in Kansas. Eagle is about 15 miles east of Lincoln. Wabaunsee, Kansas, is about 130 miles south of Eagle. An educator with 38 years of experience will take over the duties of the states education commissioner, Matthew Blomstedt, when his resignation takes effect in January. Deborah Frison, one of the states two deputy commissioners, was selected by the State Board of Education on Friday to serve in place of Blomstedt until the next commissioner is hired. The state board also accepted Blomstedts resignation during its meeting. Blomstedt announced in September that he was resigning after nine years as education commissioner. His contributions have been numerous. Hes served the educational system with intelligence, insight and dignity, said Patsy Koch Johns, board president. Matt has won the respect of many of those who work in Nebraska schools. He will be missed. Frison was hired to be one of the states two deputy commissioners in 2015, according to the Department of Education website. She oversees school improvement and support while the other deputy commissioner, Brian Halstead, oversees agency support and services. She previously worked in the Omaha Public Schools as a teacher and administrator. The board committee appointed an ad hoc search committee in September to manage the hiring process for the new education commissioner. On Friday, member Patti Gubbels said the board will release a request for proposals from search firms on Wednesday. Search firms will have until Nov. 2 to submit proposals for conducting a commissioner candidate search. A timeline of the hiring process will be presented at the boards next meeting, on Nov. 3. Gubbels said the board will narrow the search firm finalists based on their proposals before inviting them to make presentations at the Dec. 2 meeting. A former longtime Republican Douglas County sheriff has called for the Democratic nominee to end his campaign, saying he is unfit for the job. Tim Dunning, who retired in December 2020 after 26 years in the elected position, issued a press release Wednesday slamming candidate Greg Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a former Omaha police deputy chief who retired in January. He faces Republican challenger Aaron Hanson, a current Omaha police sergeant. Dunning had declined to publicly endorse a candidate in the crowded May primary election but said in an interview Wednesday that he is endorsing Hanson. Dunning said he has concerns about Gonzalez. I dont think this guy should be sheriff, Dunning said. I was the sheriff for 26 years. I consider the people there my family, and I just feel that the person who runs that office needs to be accountable and needs to be honest. Gonzalez said Dunnings attacks come as a surrogate of the Hanson campaign and are backlash for his wifes successful lawsuit against the Omaha Police Department. There are many good cops, but there was a level of corruptness within the Omaha Police Department and the internal affairs unit. We stuck up for it, and now were paying the price, Gonzalez said. This county needs top law enforcement officials with integrity who are honest and who will work for the people. Dunnings press release, which made no mention of Hanson or his merits, said three incidents from Gonzalezs law enforcement career were questionable activities. First, Dunning said, Gonzalez had shared confidential police records. He pointed to a June document filed in the discrimination lawsuit of former Capt. Kathy Belcastro-Gonzalez, who is Gonzalezs wife, against the City of Omaha and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer. After a four-day trial in September, a jury awarded Belcastro-Gonzalez $700,000 in lost wages and benefits, siding with her claim that she was wrongly passed over for a promotion to deputy chief as retaliation for previously reporting gender harassment. In the June brief, Deputy City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch wrote that during the lawsuits litigation, Belcastro-Gonzalez identified emails that were sent or received on her city email account that she then forwarded to her personal email account. Some of the emails contained confidential information about police officers that she was privy to as a Captain, while other emails, to which she would not have been privy as a Captain and which also contained confidential information, were forwarded to her by Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez, according to the brief. Gonzalez said he and his wife were preserving emails that were relative to her court case and nothing else. Second, Dunning questioned the circumstances of Gonzalezs departure from OPD and said he should publicly share an agreement that exists between him and the City of Omaha. Dunning had filed a public records request asking the city to share that document, but the city declined because it is a personnel matter. Dunning provided an August letter written by in den Bosch concerning Dunnings records request, which acknowledges that there is an agreement but that Agreement does not involve the payment of money nor is there any other provision of state law which requires its disclosure. In his explanation of why the city withheld the document, in den Bosch wrote that the timing of Dunnings request was important. Retired Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez is seeking political office and there is some potential that any document, even if were merely identified, would be used for political purposes, in den Bosch wrote. The record establishes that Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez was not subject to an internal investigation, claim, or any pending or threatened lawsuit at the time that he retired. The affidavits also establish that there was no financial consideration provided to Deputy Chief Gonzalez at the time of his retirement. Responding to Dunnings allegation, Gonzalez said he retired in good standing. He said that if he were under investigation or had retired in lieu of an investigation, his law enforcement certification would be under review, which isnt the case. Third, Dunning also asked city officials in a records request about an internal investigation more than 15 years ago. In den Bosch replied that there was no internal investigation, but an internal information from June 2006. The report raises concerns about the actions of several Omaha Police Officers, including then Sgt. Greg Gonzalez, whose names had come up in an ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI, in den Bosch wrote. A phone number assigned to Gonzalez had been recorded in a pen register in a then FBI investigation. No Internal Investigation was ultimately authorized and no criminal charges were filed against any Omaha Police Officer. In den Bosch declined to release the five-page report because it contained investigative information and was therefore exempted from Nebraska public records laws. A pen register is a list of numbers or internet addresses contacted from a phone or device. Gonzalez said he was the head of the narcotics unit at the time and supervised several wiretap investigations that involved informants and federally indicted criminals. He said he was unaware that his phone number had been recorded and said he couldnt respond to a phantom complaint. He said he was promoted to lieutenant within months after those drug cases, then to captain and ultimately to Chief Schmaderers inner circle as deputy chief. Not one of my officers nor me ever got in trouble for any wrongdoing, he said. I have never been sent to internal affairs on this matter, nor have I ever had a reprimand in my entire career as a police officer. Hanson said he was aware of Dunnings allegations, which have been part of rumors and speculation swirling in the law enforcement community for months. Tim Dunning supports me and Im proud to have his support, Hanson said. I can understand why he would want to leave that sheriffs office in the hands of the right person. After a couple of years of irregular appearances, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is on the increase in Nebraska, right on its usual fall-winter schedule. Dr. Russell McCulloh, pediatric infectious disease specialist and hospital medicine physician at Childrens Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, said the state is seeing a steep increase in the number of children visiting emergency rooms and being hospitalized with the virus. The majority of the increase in emergency room visits, according to the states respiratory illness dashboard, is occurring among kids 4 and younger. Not all cases are reported to the state. RSV, McCulloh said, is one of the most common causes of upper and lower respiratory infections. The vast majority of people infected with RSV have cold symptoms. But the virus can cause much more severe illness in younger children, particularly those born prematurely, and in older adults and people of all ages with chronic health conditions. A similar increase is occurring nationally, according to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The virus also is one of the most common reasons children visit health care providers at this time of year, McCulloh said. About 150,000 a year are hospitalized, although the vast majority recover and do well. Only a small number, up to a few hundred a year, suffer permanent injury or death. RSV also is an illness for which health care providers commonly test. Many hospitals and clinics use a four-panel test that covers influenza, two kinds of RSV and COVID-19. The current increase in RSV, however, is coming on schedule, McCulloh said. During the past two years of the pandemic, peaks occurred outside the usual fall-winter season. The same infection-prevention measures intended to interrupt the transmission of COVID did double duty in interrupting the transmission of other viruses. Our normal seasonal peaks that we expect to see some time in the winter and fall months didnt occur at the usually expected times, he said. Last year, for instance, the state and nation saw a steep increase in RSV during the summer months, which coincided with the relaxation of many infection-control measures in the spring. McCulloh said some other viruses also are circulating at slightly increased rates, but health care providers typically dont test for them and none are reaching the level of RSV. So far, influenza is not among them. Were not seeing any significant flu activity in the state right now, he said. Health officials are, however, predicting that flu numbers are likely to return to pre-pandemic levels now that mitigation measures such as masking have largely ended and most people have returned to school, work and other activities. Theyre also looking to the more intense flu season that just occurred in the Southern Hemisphere. That flu season often presages what happens in the north. Outbreaks of norovirus, the highly contagious intestinal bug, already were approaching pre-pandemic levels by the 2021-22 surveillance year, which wrapped up July 31, according to a Sept. 23 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. That period ran from Aug. 1, 2021, to July 31. Nebraska is one of 12 states in the norovirus tracking network the CDC established in 2012. The number of norovirus outbreaks in the 2021-22 season also was nearly three times the number reported during the 2020-21 season, when COVID-19 mitigation measures were in greater force. While theres no vaccine for RSV, McCulloh said, a monoclonal antibody therapy is available for a small group of infants and children at risk of suffering the worst effects of the virus. Parents of at-risk children should talk to their health care provider about the therapy, which is given in a series of five doses. Getting kids vaccinated for COVID and influenza can prevent serious illness from those two viruses, McCulloh said. Preventing those two viruses also reduces the risk of kids being infected with multiple viruses at one time, a combo that puts them at greater risk of severe disease. Just because youre infected with RSV doesnt mean you have to be only infected with RSV, he said. Sick people, who likely wont know theyre infected with RSV, should wear masks around young children who may be at higher risk from the virus. Sick people also should stay home from work or school if possible. Caregivers should avoid exposing kids, particularly young ones, to tobacco smoke and practice good hand hygiene. The more we mix, McColluh said, and when we get into a season where were naturally going to be indoors more, the more were going to be swapping viruses. An all-terrain vehicle that caught fire on a recreational trail in the Nebraska National Forest on Sunday sparked the Bovee Fire that has burned nearly 19,000 acres near Halsey, officials said Thursday. The Nebraska National Forest & Grassland Service said the fire investigation continues. But officials at a community meeting in Halsey on Thursday said it appeared there was no negligence on the part of the five people believed to be riding the Polaris RZR on the trail used extensively by ATV enthusiasts. Firefighters have nearly contained the wildfire that burned roughly 30 square miles and led to the death of a volunteer firefighter, officials said. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team said Friday morning that the fire was 97% contained with remaining uncontained areas completely surrounded by fire line. Crews are focused on strengthening the fire line, mopping up and patrolling the burn area. The federal incident management team will turn control of the fire over to state and local officials Saturday. A funeral was scheduled for Friday at Sandhills High School in Dunning for Mike Moody, 59, assistant chief of the Purdum Volunteer Fire Department. He died Sunday after apparently suffering a heart attack while fighting the fire. Tedd Teahon with the U.S. Forest Service said Thursday that the ATV was on the trail when it caught fire and that investigators found sand on it from attempts to put it out. Right where the fire started, it went right up into the trees, Teahon said. A fire extinguisher might not have worked. The sand didnt work. No injuries have been reported, but the fire destroyed much of the Nebraska State 4-H Camp, including the lodge, cabins and the Scott Lookout Tower. During Thursdays briefing streamed on Facebook, officials with the U.S. Forest Service addressed questions about the effort to save the camp, including why airplanes assisting in the firefight dropped flame-retardant slurry on homes in the area but not at the camp. It was the way the wind blew, said Teahon, noting that the smoke obscured the camp, complicating efforts to battle the blaze from the air and on the ground. We couldnt see the back of the building, he said. The trees torched up and the back wall was fully engulfed. The fire was in the walls, the eaves. The back windows blew out and the smoke rolled out the front. We had no choice but to leave. Its hard. We all thought there was a chance. We tried very hard. The first fire burned about 5,000 Forest Service acres, and another fire earlier this year burned 4,000 acres. Julie Bain of the U.S. Forest Service said a fire in 1965 burned about half the original 30,000 acres. Weve lost half the forest we had left, she said. The 4-H campground opened in 1963. With Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse seemingly ready to accept a big job in academia and resign his seat, one big question swirled through Nebraska politics Thursday. Does Gov. Pete Ricketts want Sasses job? And that fundamental question in turn leads to others: If so, would he consider appointing himself to the Senate? Could the choice slide to GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen, who if elected to succeed Ricketts in November would be in position in January to appoint his strongest political supporter to the seat? Or could either Ricketts or Pillen choose a placeholder, an experienced political hand who would hold the seat until it could be filled in an open special election in 2024? While Ricketts had little to say Thursday, a number of longtime Republican activists and political observers believe Ricketts is likely to ultimately want the job he sought unsuccessfully in 2006. I do think the conventional wisdom in Nebraska is that Pete Ricketts is one day interested in going to the Senate, said Ryan Horn, a GOP campaign consultant from Omaha. He has never said Im not interested in Washington, I dont want to do that, said Randall Adkins, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political scientist. Im going to assume that Pete Ricketts is the next senator under almost any scenario, assuming he wants it, said a former state GOP leader who spoke on condition of anonymity. Jane Kleeb, the state Democratic Party chair, said Thursday on Twitter she expects Ricketts to appoint himself. Ricketts office issued a statement that simply noted that the Senate seat is not currently vacant. Should Sasse take a job as president of the University of Florida and resign his Senate seat, under law the states governor would have 45 days to appoint someone to fill the vacancy for the next two years. In 2024, an election would be held to fill the remaining two years of the term. And then another election would be held in 2026 to fill the seats next regular six-year term. The first question now is one of timing. Depending on when Sasse might resign, the choice could fall on Ricketts watch. It could fall to whoever follows him into office the first week of January. Or the 45-day window could span both the end of Ricketts term and the start of his successors, in which case Ricketts could make the choice or let the decision slide to his successor. Its hard to speculate now until the dust settles a bit, said Hal Daub, a former Omaha mayor and U.S. congressman. While it might make sense for Sasse to time any resignation in consultation with state GOP leaders, Sasse hasnt always been known as a party player. He may not leave when its most convenient politically. If Ricketts is indeed interested in the job, history nationally has shown that for a governor to appoint himself to a U.S. Senate seat is politically fraught. The governor who does so very rarely gets re-elected the next time he goes before voters. Theres not a very good track record of governors appointing themselves, Daub said. Horn agreed such a choice would not sit well with voters. The only thing American voters enjoy less than nepotism is self dealing, he said. If Ricketts is interested in the seat and is faced with that choice, he might politically decide its better to name someone to fill the seat just for the next two years, on a pledge that they would not run in 2024. That would make for a more open race in 2024. Names of some possible placeholders were already being thrown around Thursday. They included former Nebraska GOP governors Kay Orr and Dave Heineman and Daub. The last time Nebraska had a vacant Senate seat, after the sudden 1986 death of Democrat Ed Zorinsky, Daub had lobbied Orr for the seat before she chose David Karnes. Asked Thursday, the 81-year-old Daub said he might be willing to serve in a placeholder role now. If the choice by timing or by choice slides to Ricketts successor, that could well be Pillen, the odds-on favorite to be elected governor next month over State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue in this Republican-leaning state. Some believe that if Pillen does get that choice, he could well choose Ricketts, who battled to help Pillen win the GOP governor primary in May. If I were a betting man, thats where my money would go, said Rod Edwards, who served as deputy campaign manager for Charles W. Herbster, who lost to Pillen. Jim Pillen would not have won the primary without Ricketts support. But some observers say that for Ricketts to be appointed by the man he strongly endorsed for governor would risk some of the same political pitfalls of appointing himself. That again might be a political argument for a placeholder appointment. Should Ricketts decide hes not interested in serving in the Senate, there would be a wide range of potential candidates, both for the appointment and for running in 2024. The list would probably start with GOP congressmen Don Bacon and Mike Flood but also include a number of state political figures, business leaders and others. J.L. Spray, the states GOP committeeman, said he has no idea what Ricketts will do. But he said he knows one thing: the deliberative governor will not rush into anything. I think this governor is very thoughtful, and even in a surprising moment, he will stop and give reasonable consideration to the choices that are here for the state, he said. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts criticized President Joe Bidens Thursday announcement that he will be pardoning federal marijuana possession convictions. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson joined Ricketts in lambasting Bidens decision to pardon Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. Biden said the move reflects his position that no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. He also called on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which make up most marijuana possession cases. Ricketts and Peterson, in a statement, said the presidents decision shows that he is misinformed and ill-advised regarding the issues surrounding marijuana. They said no one is incarcerated in Nebraskas state correctional system simply because of marijuana possession. Regarding the federal pardon, the White House said that no one is currently in federal prison solely for simple possession but that the pardon could help thousands overcome obstacles to renting a home or finding a job. Ricketts and Peterson have been outspoken opponents of marijuana and legalization efforts, including in Nebraska, where attempts to put medical marijuana legalization before voters have hit obstacles in recent years. In 2020, the group Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana gathered more than enough signatures to place the question before voters. But the Nebraska Supreme Court tossed it from the ballot because it violated a requirement that ballot initiatives stick to a single subject. Supporters tried again this year this time with two separate questions in an attempt to avoid the same fate as two years earlier. However, they failed to collect enough signatures to place the questions on the ballot. State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, a co-sponsor of this years campaign, said in an email Thursday that the pardons were a step in the right direction to right a wrong. He then called on Congress to make marijuana legal under federal law. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has already announced plans to try to get medical marijuana on the ballot in 2024, and Sens. Jen Day and Anna Wishart both said they plan to introduce legislation on the issue in the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 4. In their statement, Ricketts and Peterson said legalization of marijuana in other states has led to increases in drug cartel activity, driver impairment and greater risk for permanent mental health impairment due to higher levels of THC, the compound that gives marijuana its high. This is exactly the wrong direction for our country, the statement said. LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts closed the door Friday on the possibility of appointing himself to replace U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse if the junior Nebraska senator resigns as expected. News broke Thursday that Sasse is the sole finalist for the president position at the University of Florida and will interview with the board of trustees Nov. 1. It appears likely he will be resigning the Senate seat he has held since 2014 after that time. Speculation immediately began about Ricketts interest in the seat and the potential that he could appoint himself. The governor said little initially, simply releasing a statement Thursday that pointed out that the seat is not currently vacant. On Friday afternoon, Ricketts released a statement denying the speculation that he would use his position as governor to get the Senate seat. If I choose to pursue the appointment, I will leave the appointment decision to the next governor and will follow the process established for all interested candidates, he said. It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the governor of Nebraska. It is the greatest job in the world, and it will remain my number one focus for the remainder of my term. Many observers believe Ricketts continues to have political ambitions and may well have eyes on the Senate. In his first bid for political office 16 years ago, he lost a Senate race to Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. But he has deflected questions in recent months about his interest in a potential Senate bid, saying, as he did Friday, that he is focused on finishing out his eight years as governor. Depending on the timing of a Sasse resignation, the job of appointing a successor could fall to Ricketts or his successor, most likely Jim Pillen, the Republican who stands a strong chance of being elected governor in November in GOP-leaning Nebraska. Under state law, the governor has 45 days to appoint someone to a Senate vacancy. Paul Landow, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said it would be politically unwise for Ricketts to appoint himself to the seat because many people would see it as arrogant and self-serving. For Ricketts it is a gamble if voters are angered by the action, they may repay at the voting booth, he said. It would be smarter to have Pillen appoint him. The political optics are better and there is a lower risk of angering voters. Most political observers assume Ricketts will be appointed, one way or the other, so it would be in his interest to make the transition as smooth as possible, Landow said. Ricketts statement does not preclude the possibility that, if he were not interested in the seat, he could go ahead and appoint someone hed see as a strong candidate to win the seat when its next on the ballot in 2024. Another option would be to name a placeholder candidate, someone who would take the appointment and serve out the next two years with an agreement not to run for the seat. That would leave an open seat and a more level playing field for all contenders. Or he could let Pillen make the appointment. Pillen, who won the GOP primary with strong financial and political backing from Ricketts, would presumably name Ricketts to the job if he wants it. That might be the smartest move for the current governor. History has shown that governors who appoint themselves to fill suddenly vacant Senate seats dont have a very good track record for keeping those seats the next time an election rolls around. Of the nine governors nationally in the last century who appointed themselves to the Senate, only one was able to keep the seat after the next election. BLOOMINGTON McLean County remains at the low community level for COVID-19. The county recorded 136 new cases in the past week, but no new deaths. The latest COVID update from the McLean County Health Department shows that people in their 60s made up a plurality of cases, at 24, followed by people in their 20s at 22. Total COVID cases reported to the health department now stand at 60,213, with 398 COVID-related deaths. Under thresholds set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the county is at a low COVID-19 community level. CDC guidelines recommend people stay up to date on vaccinations and boosters. Those who are at higher risk of severe disease or death, and those who live with them, should consider further mitigations. McLean County joins the vast majority of other Illinois counties in being at low level. Only 14 counties in the state are at medium level, including nearby Ford County, and no counties are at high level, CDC data say. There were 11,447 new cases in the state and 62 deaths since Sept. 30, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Friday. MCHD continues to offer testing clinics and immunization. The testing clinics are free and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the McLean County Customer Service Center in the parking lot across East Street from the Government Center. Those interested can walk up or register in advance at the MCHD website. The department is now offering either PCR nasal-swab testing, limited to those aged 5 and up, and PCR SHIELD testing, which is for all ages and is saliva-based. COVID immunizations are available by calling 309-888-5435 for adults and 309-888-5455 for children. The bivalent vaccine meant to more specifically protect against the omicron variant is also available. Other local vaccination opportunities can be found at www.vaccines.gov. IDPH is encouraging Illinoisans to get both the bivalent booster and the flu shot. NORMAL University High School senior Pierce McDade cannot vote in the upcoming election, but he still wanted to learn more about the candidates for governor. He had a chance to do so on Thursday during a debate watch party hosted at Illinois State University's Brown Ballroom in Bone Student Center. McDade did not know the event was happening until he saw signs for it on his way home from school that day. He was intrigued and returned to campus later that night. "I can't actually go to the debate, but being in the same building, right across the hall (is still interesting)," he said. Incumbent Democrat J.B. Pritzker and his Republican challenger, state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, met that night in Braden Auditorium for the first of two debates ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Illinois State University freshmen Kylie Black and Mia Norris will be able to vote in the election, and both plan to do so. For Black and Norris, who both favored Pritzker, abortion and education were big issues. As someone who plans to go into education, Norris is concerned about benefits for teachers. I would like a pension and I would like rights over my body, she said. Encouraging civic engagement ISU hosted the watch party with the debate televised on giant screens for the campus community because tickets to the debate itself were limited. Black and Norris appreciated that ISU gave students a chance to engage in the debate even if they could not see it in person. Its nice that its available, Black said. The audience at the watch party could follow along with debate bingo, watch live social media analytics and register to vote. Daniel Golis, a junior and intern with the Center for Civic Engagement, was there helping people register to vote. Around 20 people signed up Thursday night, he said. Golis is working on a minor in political science and said he felt the internship was a way to engage with that work and help others. I thought this was a really cool way to be civically engaged and give back to the community, he said. Nathan Carpenter, director of convergent media in the School of Communication, worked with volunteers from the Social Media Analytics Command Center to set up screens displaying real-time statistics and engagements from social media. It helps us figure out what gathers peoples attention, Carpenter said. One trend he noticed is that both campaigns were constantly tweeting during the debate and seemed to be pulling out pre-written tweets as topics came up. Some of the big topics people were engaging with were abortion, crime and jobs. The tweets associated with #ilgovdebate also quickly took a negative turn in tone, he said. Focus on the issues The interest in abortion was clear as a cheer went up across the room when the topic was brought up. Abortion was one of the top issues for Fiona DeGrazia, along with workers rights and education. She was sitting with Mark Cortez, who also said he is motivated by workers rights and education, especially affordability. Both plan to vote for Pritzker. Im here with no scholarships; its really hard to find scholarships, Cortez said. One of the debate questions submitted by the public was on the rising cost of higher education and how the candidates would address it. McDade is working on his college applications. Affordability is a big issue for him because he knows that as much as he wants to make his decision about where to go to school based on how he fits at the college, cost will be a major factor. I think all tuition needs to be looked at, and the loan system needs to be looked at, he said. The watch party included a panel of ISU faculty members, AARP members and students after the debate. AARP was one of the debate sponsors. AARP Illinois President Alan Hollenbeck offered students an observation based on his experience seeing Richard Nixon elected president even as anti-Vietnam War protests swept the nation. Ultimately, substantive change in the political process happens in the voting booth, he said. Panelist Eduardo Monk Jr., president of the College Republicans club at ISU, said he felt Bailey outperformed Pritzker. He sees debates as a sort of chess match as the candidates try to outmaneuver each other rhetorically. The debate gave Bailey a chance to humanize himself for voters, Monk said. Black had the opposite reaction to the debate, saying Bailey seemed to attack Pritzker too much rather than focus on the issues. That way that you are as a human really comes out in a debate, she said before the candidates took the stage. She and Norris both felt the candidates strayed from the questions, though. They do what politicians do best and they dont answer the question, Norris said. On other issues, attendees said they still needed more information before making a decision. DeGrazia and Cortez both felt that way about the SAFE-T Act, they said. Dwayne Banks Jr., who graduated from ISU this past spring, said he too needed more information, but also that there seemed to be a lot of misinformation circulating. Banks was able to attend the debate in person through a ticket provided by the Bailey campaign after he reached out to both candidates. He said he wanted to know more before deciding which way he will vote, and was glad to be able to attend the debate. I believe as a former Illinois State University student and as a young adult, its important for young Americans and students to be engaged in our politics, he said. NORMAL Midwest Food Bank is working to provide disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida. Multiple Midwest Food Bank locations in Illinois, Indiana and Georgia have sent two semi-truck loads of shelf-stable foods directly to the Midwest Food Bank in Florida, according to a news release from MFB. The MFB in Fort Myers, Florida, was not damaged and power has been restored to the facility, the news release stated. The facility is collaborating with emergency food organizations within Lee County and across Florida to ensure resources are being directed to unmet needs. The MFB in Morton, the organization's disaster relief headquarters, has also been packing family food boxes to send at the request of The Salvation Army. Two semi-loads of 2,080 family food boxes have already been sent to Florida, with two more being sent later this week, and two more scheduled for next week. A semi-load of cleaning supplies was also sent to Cape Coral, Florida, at the request of Somebody Cares. MFB expects to send more disaster relief in the coming days. Volunteer opportunities will be posted on each MFB location's website and Facebook page. Those who wish to donate to the cause can visit midwestfoodbank.org and click "donate." On the donation form, click "disaster relief" for the designation. Donations can also be made by texting @MFB to 52014. Midwest Food Bank has 12 locations, including 10 in the U.S. and one each in East Africa and Haiti. Democrat policies across America are like a train crossing the Mississippi with a span in the bridge missing. 200,000 illegals a month cross our southern border and how many drugs? Dems howl with fake virtue when a few busloads of illegals arrive in sanctuary cities and 50 show up at Marthas Vineyard. Barack Obamas 29-acre compound and multi-million dollar summer cottage would make a great port entry. Of course the illegals were soon whisked away from the elite playground to a more convenient location. I never went to college and now some of my tax money will help pay the half-trillion dollar student loan debt deal. Thanks Dems, and now well try to forget about the 87,000 new tax investigators coming our way too. Apparently no one learns money management skills in school anymore, they are too concerned with social engineering. During my stint in the Army I earned about $8 a day in Panama and later Carter surrendered the canal. Thanks Jimmy. Raids on Republican opposition to the Biden regime by the FBI occur frequently. The President calls me a domestic terrorist. J.B. Pritzker with his so-called Safe-T Act will abolish most cash bail on criminals on Jan. 1. Now he wants to make Illinois the abortion capital of the Midwest. Many friends have fled the state. This fall with a Darren Bailey win and a Republican congress, Illinois and America will once again have a glimmer of hope shining on the horizon. Jim Ehmen, Paxton On the key issues facing Central Illinois, Scott is the clear man for the job. Scotts small business background makes him the ideal candidate to tackle the economic issues our state and country is facing. On corruption, Scott will support term limits and ethics reform to pave the way for bringing honesty back in state government. On taxes, Scott will oppose income tax increases and fight the efforts to implement a retirement tax in our state. The Mastercard Foundation celebrates the decennial anniversary of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Launched in 2012, the program began as a $500 million initiative to develop the next generation of leaders who would drive social and economic transformation. The program identifies talented young people from economically disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities, primarily in Africa, and supports their secondary and higher education as well as leadership development. Initially, the program aimed to support 15,000 young people. Over the last decade, the Mastercard Foundation has deployed $1.7 billion through the initiative to benefit nearly 40,000 young people, over 72 per cent of whom are young women. To date, 18,544 young people have graduated from secondary and higher education. Through a network of extraordinary partners, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is enabling thousands of bright and deserving young people to access quality education and develop as leaders who give back to their communities and help to improve the lives of others. Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni are leaders and innovators; activists and entrepreneurs; tackling everything from climate change to health inequity. Their collective impact will be felt for generations to come, says Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation. According to a 2020/2021 survey of a sample of Alumni from the Program, 87 per cent of secondary-school graduates and 71 per cent of university graduates are employed. Where Alumni have become entrepreneurs, they have collectively created over 16,000 jobs. In addition, 40 per cent of university graduates say they are now supporting the education of their siblings. Importantly, Mastercard Foundation Scholars unanimously express a strong commitment to giving back to their communities, which is a core principle of the Program. During their education, each person creates or participates in a project, which addresses a specific challenge in their communities. Throughout my journey as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, it has always been about being a better version of yourself so that you can go back to your community and help others, says Joanna Gunab, who is now a medical doctor practising in Northern Ghana. Joanna, a young woman living with a disability, also runs an initiative to support students with basic school necessities. Another Alumni of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Faith Kipkemboi, is driving transformation in her native Kenya. She founded a community-based organisation, Cactus Mama, to deliver evidence-based, high-quality, and affordable mental health services in remote areas, especially for women. We hope to create a better Kenya; a healthier Kenya, she said. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program began with a strong focus on secondary education, working with partners such as CAMFED, BRAC, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), the African Leadership Academy (ALA), and the Equity Group Foundation (Wings to Fly) to provide young people with access to high school and improve completion rates particularly for girls. As more African countries adopt free secondary education policies, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has focused its attention on higher education, where tertiary enrollment rates across the continent remain low. At the same time, the Mastercard Foundation is continuing to improve quality, relevance, and inclusion in secondary education to prepare young people for the world of work. Our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is exceptional and has enabled us to fulfil our vision for the post-secondary school years, says Ann Cotton, Founder and Trustee of CAMFED International. Every child matters and the Foundation looks at justice in the broadest possible sense, from the most impoverished [and] marginalized child to the most powerful institution with whom they work. And there is authenticity at every point on that trajectory. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has grown into a network of over 40 pan-African and global partners working together to drive inclusion in education. African organizations represent more than 45 per cent of this network. Over the next decade, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will double its reach to support a total of 100,000 young people, 70 per cent of whom will be young women. It will also dedicate more attention to the inclusion of disabled and forcibly displaced young people. Moving forward, the Mastercard Foundation will also continue to support the network of higher education partners to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in ways that enable dignified work for young people in Africa. This is in line with the Foundations Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young people across the continent to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Source: Myjoyonline.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. Featured Video Ukraine has plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Ghana, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has disclosed on the third leg of his Africa tour which saw him arrive in Accra on October 6. The war-ridden country is seeking to bolster ties with countries on the continent as it deepens bilateral ties amid an ongoing war with Russia. In Accra, Kuleba met with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Presidency, in his words, to "stand shoulder-to-shoulder in tackling shared challenges and bringing prosperity to our nations." "I was offered a warm welcome by President Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra. Ghana is Ukraines friend and partner in Africa and beyond," his tweet read in part. He also met separately with his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey to sign bilateral cooperation deals. He tweeted about their meeting which he stressed was to affirm Ukraines interest in a new quality partnership based on mutual respect, support, and benefits. "Ukraine plans to open an embassy in Accra to develop political dialogue, trade, cultural exchanges, and ties in education," he captioned the tweet accompanied by a photo of the two top diplomats. Ghanaians planning to travel to Ukraine have to travel to Nigeria to acquire travel visas. A number of Ghanaian students were repatriated from the country after the war with Russia intensified months back. The visiting Ministers first stop was in Dakar, Senegal; then on to Abidjan, Ivory Coast and now in Ghana. Source: ghanaweb.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. Featured Video If galamseyers were rebels, will Akufo-Addo allow them to kill us? Manasseh Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, believes the October 5, 2022 meeting called by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to renew the fight against illegal small-scale mining, galamsey, was fit only to be held at a concert house. He is concerned that the President is not treating the scourge with the needed seriousness but rather holding meetings and seminars that does little in ensuring that the galamsey fight is won. In a social media post addressing the anti-galamsey meeting held at the Lancaster Hotel in Manhyia, Manasseh compared the illegal miners to rebels and wondered if the president could have allowed them to run roughshod if they were killing Ghanaians. Manasseh is also unhappy that the President assembled chiefs on a matter, he believes, the president should have a full brief of, to the extent that he appoints most of the security officers expected to lead the fight against galamsey at the national, regional and local levels. "The problem is that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces is not serious about the fight. Who deploys the soldiers to supervise and guard illegal mining and licensed illegal mining activities? It continued: "Our nation is dying and the jokes of seminars and meetings should stop. Is Akufo-Addo saying if the illegal miners were rebels, Ghana's security forces would watch them helplessly so that they kill us? "If he cannot lead the police, military and all the human resources under his command to stop galamsey, then he should step down as president," Manasseh stressed. The October 5, 2022 meeting at Manhyia was with the National House of Chiefs and selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, MMDCEs. The president renewed his call for a non-partisan approach to fighting galamsey yet advising the MMDCEs that the best route to maintaining political power beyond 2024 was to root out the canker. The House of Chiefs pledged their full support for the fight against the menace. Read Manassseh's full post below: THE JOKE AT MANHYIA TODAY President Akufo-Addo met the National House of Chiefs at Manhyia today to discuss the fight against galamsey. I was happy I didn't see the Asantehene at that joke of a meeting, but they could have looked for a concert house for that meeting. The chiefs have their own issues, but they should not be blamed for our inability to stop the illegal mining that is threatening our land and our survival. Even the stupidest person in Akufo-Addo's cabinet knows the solution to the galamsey problem. The problem is that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces is not serious about the fight. Who deploys the soldiers to supervise and guard illegal mining and licensed illegal mining activities? Who appoints the defence minister and the CDS? Who appoints the Regional Ministers and MMDCEs, who chair the regional and district security councils? If they are all failing why do we blame the chiefs? Does Akufo-Addo need permission from the chiefs to fire an appointee who is not doing his or her work? If Akufo-Addo sends a message that any DCE or MCE who allows galamsey to happen in their district will be fired and prosecuted, it will stop next week. The MDEs and DCEs will save their jobs and stop the party executives from mining. They will expose the so-called big wigs behind the destructive concessions in the forests. Our nation is dying and the jokes of seminars and meetings should stop. Is Akufo-Addo saying if the illegal miners were rebels, Ghana's security forces would watch them helplessly so that they kill us? If he cannot lead the police, military and all the human resources under his command to stop galamsey, then he should step down as president. NOTE: My attention has been drawn to the fact that the meeting was held in Manhyia, but not the palace. The correction has been effected. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On the occasion of World Day for Decent Work which is being observed today, Friday, 7th October , the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union-Ghana (ICU-Ghana) has urged government through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to ensure fairness and equality in the employment structure in the country. Decent Work is work that ensures equal pay for equal work and also ensures future financial and job security of workers, according to labour organizations. This is contained in a statement issued by the ICU-Ghana and signed by its General Secretary, Mr Morgan Ayawine. ICU-Ghana noted with concern that many jobs in the country are casual and on contract basis due to unemployment in the country thus denying such workers financial and job security. ICU-Ghana said it is ready to collaborate with relevant state authorities to name, shame and sanction exploitative employers to sanitize the employment system in the interest of the public. ICU-Ghana also called on Labour organizations, the Ghana Employers Association and Labour Authorities to join hands with ICU-Ghana to end casual and contract work beyond the job period of 6 months allowed by the Labour laws of Ghana. ICU-Ghana added that it will not hesitate to mobilize and collaborate with labour organizations to resist attempt by some employers to frustrate efforts towards promotion of decent work in Ghana. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace FM Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue has responded to the attacks by the largest opposition NDC calling for his prosecution in the infamous galamsey fraud matter. The National Democratic Congress on Thursday asked President Akufo-Addo to show the seriousness of his fight against galamsey by prosecuting his officials who have been found complicit in illegal mining immediately. National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi at a press conference said the government is being rhetorical rather than taking action against the menace. Ghanaians are tired of your flowery speeches and useless rhetoric. The so-called fight against galamsey has been a spectacular failure and the only way to salvage it is for you to man up and finally begin to crack the whip on your errant appointees and NPP functionaries who are neck-deep in the galamsey business. We demand the immediate prosecution of all NPP functionaries and NPP officials who have engaged in illegal mining such as Charles Bissue, Chairman Wontumi, the evidence is clear, Andy Owusu, Ekow Ewusi, Prof. Frimpong Boateng among others, he stated. But Charles Bissue has rejected the allegations of fraud cited in the NDC Presser on the galamsey menace. My attention has been drawn to the scathing attack on my person by the National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi in his press conference that responded to President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addos renewed assurance in the fight against illegal mining. In that press conference aired on various media platforms on Thursday 6 October 2022, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi malign and traduce me by referencing a rather doctored and propaganda-induced documentary authored by Tiger Eye P.Is Anas Aremeyaw Anas, said Charles Bissue in his press statement. He maintained his innocence in the matter saying the public has been misled to accept and believe the narrative by Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the money he was seen taking in the video. As I have said countless times, that money was not a bribe, and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM. The money in question was a donation from the NPP Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to the then NPP Western Regional Organiser, Abdul Ganiyu for a party event organsied in the Western Region. For the malice and character assassination that Anas and his sponsors had in mind, the public was denied the audio recordings and full disclosure of thepurpose of that money handed to me. It was uncovered that a former employee of the IMCIM, Francis Owusu Akyaw, whom I fired for unsatisfactory conduct sponsored the video recording of the documentary. Francis Owusu Akyaw admitted to the Police of having commissioned thatrecording. His nomination for the parliamentary candidate in the Juaben Constituency was subsequently declined as a result of this. This same Francis Owusu Akyaw is a named beneficiary of a mining firm [DML, as named in the leaked will] co-owned by the late Sir John of the Forestry Commission. Charles Bissue Exonerated by CID The Criminal Investigations Department(CID) of the Ghana Police Service in 2019 exonerated Charles Bissue from allegations of corruption. After thorough investigations, the CID, in a final report, concluded that Mr Bissue did not circumvent the laid down procedures of the IMCIM to favour ORR Resource Enterprise, the company at the centre of the incident. In a letter to the President in March 2019, Mr Bissue, also a Presidential Staffer at the time, decided to step aside to avail himself for investigations after he had allegedly been accused by Anas Aremeyaw Anass Tiger Eye PI documentary on galamsey fraud. The documentary alleged that the secretary was involved in alleged shady deals to facilitate processes for ORR Resource Enterprise. But a letter written to Ampofo, Oppong and Associates, lawyers for Mr Bissue, by the CID on its investigations into the matter exonerated Mr Bissue from any wrongdoing. Source: Starrfm.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. Featured Video Provident Insurance Company Limited as part of its 40th Year celebrations, which commenced last week with a Grand Staff Durbar which brought together all its staff from across the country to their Head Office at Ring Road Central, donated certain essential medical equipment worth over GHS One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (150,000) to the Princess Marie Louise Children Hospital. The items donated by Provident included Patient Monitor Equipment, Suction Units, Water Tanks, and Pumping Machines among others. An elated Medical Superintendent, Dr. Maame Yaa Nyarko emphasized, We are more than grateful for this kind gesture from Provident Insurance. Not only for the presentation but the timeliness and we can assure you that they will be put to good use for the benefit of our patients and staff. Attaining 40 years is such a great achievement for us. Provident Insurance has a strong resolve to protect lives and livelihoods from unexpected occurrences. We will continue to spread our arm of protection wide for the benefit of all. We will also continue to serve the Ghanaian society dutifully and give back to them whenever we can, Mr. Michael Ashong, the Chief Executive Officer of Provident Insurance remarked. Provident Insurance will remain dedicated to providing security for all Ghanaians and making society a better place for the present and the future with our consistency in keeping with our corporate social responsibilities. About Provident Insurance Provident Insurance Company (Provident) is a private Limited Liability company which was registered in Ghana in February 1981. It commenced business in October 1982 on the principle of providing our policyholders with near-perfect protection. We are committed to delivering professional and client-oriented services and settling claims speedily by leveraging on technology to achieve operational viability for the mutual benefit of 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. Featured Video The chiefs and people of Asamang Tamfoe, a farming community near Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region, have dismissed claims that the youth in the town are involved in illegal mining (galamsey). At a press conference at Asamang Tamfoe on Monday, the Benkumhene of the town, Nana Boakye Darkwa, said the area had been licensed for a community mining programme which the government launched in June this year. Shooting indiscriminately On Thursday, September 29, 2022, members of the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce and the Kibi Divisional Police Command raided the town and that led to indiscriminate shootings during which some of the young men sustained gunshot wounds and had to be treated at the hospital. Clad in red bands Nana Darkwa, who is also the Chairman of the governments community mining committee, clad in red band and surrounded by other members of the community, including the youth of the town all of whom were clad in red apparell, said it was unfortunate that the chief of Apapam, Osabarima Okogyeaman Apagya Ofori, should lead the Okyeman Taskforce to direct its members to shoot at innocent young men in the town who were engaged in licensed community mining but not illegal mining. We will face them squarely "If they come back to the community, we will face them squarely", the Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe indicated. Nana Darkwa stressed that if the Apapamhene and the taskforce were actually clamping down on illegal miners, they should have presented themselves to the Benkumhene of the town to announce their presence and intentions. The Benkumhene pointed out that they failed to do so but rather started shooting indiscriminately leading to many of the youth sustaining gunshot wounds. He also expressed displeasure with the involvement of the Kyebi Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent Magnus Reindorf Sam, who led the Okyeman Taskforce and called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to immediately remove the commander from the area because he did not do the right thing. Most of the youth in the town, who were engaged in government's community mining, said they were for peace that was why they decided not to physically confront the police and the taskforce. According to the youth, the community mining concept was the initiative of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and so the President should call the Okyeman Taskforce and the Kyebi Divisional Police Commander to order. Background The Kibi Divisional Police Command together with the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce on Thursday, September 27, 2022 undertook a joint operation and arrested 24 young men suspected to be engaging in illegal mining at Asamang Tamfoe. The taskforce seized some mining equipment, including excavators. 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. Featured Video Ghanas First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has launched a social media campaign as part of efforts to create awareness on breast cancer. The initiative is urging participants to record a 10 to 15 seconds video of themselves talking on what they will do to prevent or reduce breast cancer and tag the official social media handles of the first lady. A Facebook Post made on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, said statements should have the words We Rise. The videos must then be shared on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtags #FLBreastCancerCampaign #WeRise Submitted videos will be compiled and added to a bigger breast cancer campaign video. BELOW IS THE FULL POST The month of October is designated as Pinktober or the Pink Month to create awareness on Breast cancer, the need for early detection through screening, signs and symptoms associated with disease. It is also used to celebrate survivors and show support for anyone affected by breast cancer. WE RISE To kick start the social media campaign, the First Lady in a video post said we rise to make sure all women get tested as early as possible to prevent or drastically reduce breast cancer mortalities. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has condemned the manhandling of a toddler by one Richard Kofi which went viral, a few days ago. The Ministrys attention was drawn to a horrifying video of an alleged molestation and manhandling of a toddler by the man circulating on social media. The (1 minute and 19 seconds) video capture the man severely molesting and beating a toddler under a tree. In a statement, the Ministry said, The Ministry on behalf of Government strongly condemns this cruel, inhumane, and barbaric act meted out to the child. It noted that the act which has been portrayed in the video was against the Childrens Act 1998 as well as the Criminal code of Ghana. The Gender Ministry explained that, The Act explicitly states that, A person shall not subject a child to torture or any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment including a cultural practice which dehumanizes or is injurious to the physical and mental well-being ofa child. This is a clear violation of the law which is punishable. It commended the Ghana Police Service and Child Rights International (CRI) for launching a manhunt for the suspect in the matter and also staking a reward claim to any individual who will be able to provide information that leads to the arrest of the individual and rescue the child. The Ministry therefore appealed to the general public to support the Police with any information that will aid in the arrest of the man. We finally urge citizens to be vigilant and continue to report individuals who engage in this unlawful act. Parents and Guardians are advised to correct their children with love and care when they make mistakes but not in a violent manner, the Ministry stated. It added that, The General Public can reach the Ministrys Helpline of Hope Call Centre on its toll -free number on 0800-800-800 or 000-900-900 for complaints and inquiries. Also, issues of sexual and gender-based violence can be reported to the Domestic Violence Call Centre via toll free number 0800-111-222. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Cocoa Farmers in Ghana have welcomed the 21% increase in the producer price as announced by the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC). The Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) has announced a 21% increase in the producer price of cocoa from GH660 per 64kg bag (GH10,560 per tonne) to GH800 (GH12,800.00 per tonne), representing 89.99% of the net FOB value. The new price takes effect 7th October 2022. The 21% rise in the producer price of cocoa is a testament to Governments resolve to ensure farmers earn a decent income and make cocoa farming lucrative. Government will continue to implement initiatives to build a robust, resilient, and sustainable cocoa industry where cocoa farmers and their communities will thrive, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akoto Afriyie said at a press conference in Accra yesterday. Read Also: Cocoa price up by 21%; 64kg bag now GH800 from GH660 Speaking on Atinka FMs AM Drive with host Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, the 2018 National best farmer, Charles Gyamfi commended government for increasing the producer price of cocoa despite challenges in the economy. According to him, this shows that government is concerned about the welfare of cocoa farmers. We welcome the new price and I must say cocoa farmers are grateful to government and COCOBOD for the new price. We were even expecting GHS750 and so we are grateful for the GHS800, Charles Gyamfi said. The 2018 National Best Farmer, Charles Gyamfi, also asked cocoa farmers who smuggle their produce to sell in Cote dIvoire to consider the fact that COCOBOD produces free cocoa seedlings and fertilizer for them and desist from the act. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Eni Ghana and Partners hand over OCTP school infrastructure project to Ellembelle District 11 newly constructed and rehabilitated state-of-the-art school buildings with ancillary facilities, have been handed over to the people of Ellembelle by the OCTP Ghana Partners, led by Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited. The project which took 16 months to complete forms part of the OCTPs commitment to giving back to the community and improving the lifestyle of people in their host district, Ellembelle of the Western Region of Ghana. Beneficiary schools include; Anyanzinli D/A basic school, Bakanta Catholic primary school, Sanzule/ Krisan basic school, Eikwe Catholic primary school, Eikwe Catholic JHS, Ngalekyi/Baku basic school, Anokyi Methodist primary school, Anokyi D/A JHS, Atuabo Methodist primary school, Atuabo Methodist JHS and Asem-Nda Suazo Methodist primary school The handing over ceremony saw massive participation from the respective communities, with each school comprising of fully furnished basic and junior high blocks, canteens, staff common rooms, libraries, toilet facilities and AstroTurf parks. The schools will also enjoy uninterrupted power supply as they are fitted with solar panels, in addition to independent water supply and improved sanitation, all in the bid to promote sustainability. Managing Director of Eni Ghana, Valenti Giuseppe, addressing the chiefs and people of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council at the handing over of the school infrastructure project, described the event as an all-important one as 16 months of hard work and support from stakeholders had yielded improved teaching and learning environments for beneficiary schools without any damage or harm. Good infrastructure improves school attendance and staff motivation. After teaching in these new classroom blocks, teachers will also get to rest in staff rooms. The canteens will be great places for eating hot meals and the AstroTurf will be good for extracurricular and sporting activities. The provision of an independent source of water and sanitation will improve the general well-being of students with the buildings also being child and disability friendly, he posited. Valenti Giuseppe applauded the OCTP Partners, World Bank and the Chiefs and people of beneficiary communities for their contribution in ensuring the buildings were in line with their needs, while charging them to put the infrastructure to good use and well maintained. The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah expressed gratitude to Eni Ghana and the OCTP Partners for investing in Ghana and the region in particular through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. He charged Eni Ghana and its partners to invest similarly in other parts of the region. We want Eni, GNPC and Vitol to also invest in other parts of the region, prioritizing and tailoring infrastructure to meet the needs of these communities. The regional minister further pledged unflinching support towards companies seeking to establish themselves in the area to achieve maximum productivity to support communities they operate in. Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council described Eni and its OCTP partners as the best amongst the lot to have operated in the area. Eni and its OCTP partners have built and renovated school buildings in our communities and that is something we cannot comprehend. We have seen other companies run operations from here but have never enjoyed the development given us by Eni and partners and such, we very thankful for that. As a sign of gratitude, the people of Nzema East Traditional Council gifted Eni Ghana and its OCTP partners with a fattened ram and drinks. The event was well attended by stakeholders, dignitaries and representatives from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Petroleum Commission and the World Bank Group. Also present were Country Manager of Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited, James Thorburn, Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer and District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Central regional Chairman of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has blamed the country's leaders for the unbridled activities of galamsey nationwide. According to him, "there is no political party in this country that can absolve itself from the galamsey activities. There is no Chief in this country because I remember in the late 70s, there was a massive rise of galamsey at Tarkwa Atuabo". He stressed that galamsey has gained strength making its fight difficult because the leaders pay only lip service to eradicating it. "We were playing with it; lip talks, lip services are what have driven us to this state today," he said while discussing the menace on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, has joined the proponents of the 'shoot to kill' order as a part of solutions to the galamsey menace. Several people have proposed to government to declare a state of emergency and charge the Military with a specific directive to shoot any person at the illegal mining (galamsey) sites. They strongly believe this approach will deter the illegal miners and save the nation's water bodies and environment and lives since pollution of the water bodies poses health risks to the populace as well. Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Professor Agyekum called on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to be bold and sanction 'shoot to kill' directive. ". . Kwami, I now agree with you that we enforce that when we meet you there we must shoot you . . . where we have reached, we have to make up our mind that if you have decided to destroy the nation, the nation must also get rid of you," he said. Listen to his full submissions below: Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyepong, has expressed his discontentment against former President John Dramani Mahamas criticism of the judiciary. According to him, such criticisms do not bode well for the judiciary which ought to be supported like any other institution. Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Joy News on October 6, Kwabena Agyepong said he was disappointed in the comments by former President Mahama especially when he has been at the helm of the countrys affairs and should appreciate what it means to support the judiciary. Although he admits that judges are prone to imperfections like everyone else, he said leaders must endeavour to be supportive of them. Kwabenya Agyepong was responding to a question on concerns raised by Justice Jones Dotse that attacks on the judiciary can lead to how three High Court judges were gruesomely murdered in 1982. What surprised me was the one who really attacked the judges. Thats former President Mahama who I know very well, a good friend of mine. I was surprised because he has been president before. He has occupied the highest seat in government therefore you know what it takes to support the judiciary. And so for him to come out and say the kinds of thing that he said, I find it was a downer. It was disappointing. You dont need to do that. Whatever the shortcomingsIm not saying the judges are perfect. They are not perfect. All of us are not perfect. We the leaders are the ones to provide the maximum support and having been in the seat as Chief Executive of state and the first gentleman of the land, I think he should be the last person to be running down a critical institution like the judiciary, he said. The NPP flagbearer hopeful added that even though Mahama may have made the comment in the spur of the moment, political leaders should be circumspect in their utterances. He stated that this was because the younger generation in society looked up to the political leaders thus comments from them should engender confidence and inspiration. Every comment that we make as political leaders has to be measured especially to infuse confidence and inspiration for the younger generation. They are looking on to us. Thats why I have always advocated against the insults that are dominating the media space, Kwabena Agyepong mentioned. Background In recent times, Former President John Dramani Mahama has had the course to express concern over a decline in public confidence in the judiciary. He stated that it will only take a new Chief Justice to chart a path of regaining public trust in the judiciary. There is therefore the urgent need for the Ghanaian Judiciary to work to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry and erase the widely held perception of hostility and political bias in legal proceedings at the highest courts of the land. Unfortunately, we have no hope that the current leadership of our judiciary can lead such a process of change. We can only hope that a new Chief Justice will lead a process to repair the broken image that our judiciary has acquired over the last few years, Mahama said at a forum held for lawyers of the NDC on August 28. Attorney General Godfred Dame described the comments by Mahama as deplorable, coming from someone who has been a former president. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Samuel Yaw Adusei, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) chairman hopeful, has stated that it is incumbent on the opposition party to win the 2024 general elections to liberate Ghanaians from their sufferings. He believes that victory for the party in 2024 cannot be achieved under the incumbent Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah, who are aiming for the Chairmanship position. Addressing a press conference on October 6, the former Ashanti Regional Minister under the John Mahama-led administration explained that there was distrust between Ofosu-Ampofo, and Asiedu Nketiah, hence their decision to contest for the same post. Adusei said he was the new face the NDC needed in the Chairmanship seat adding that both Ofosu-Ampofo and Asiedu Nketiah played a key role in the defeat of the party in 2016 by a historic margin and the 2020 election as well. "There is extreme hardship in the country that was created by this government and the NDC should win power in 2024 to save Ghanaians but we can't do that with either Aseidu Nketiah or Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo as our National Chairman Aseidu Nketiah has been the General Secretary for the past 17 years and he worked side by side with Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo in the 2016 elections but does not believe that the current chairman should continue ...and that's why he is contesting and the same with Ofosu Ampofo because he doesn't believe that Aseidu Nketiah whom he has known for years can fill his shoes, Samuel Yaw Adusei said. "What these very experienced politicians are doing is to tell the NDC members that they cannot do the job and there is a need for a new face because they have no confidence in each other. They are calling for a change and I am that change because they played vital roles in the 2016 and 2020 elections and we lost. The NDC cannot afford to lose the 2024 elections and that is why they need to vote for me as the National Chairman because they cannot win the elections with either Aseidu Nketiah or Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo," he added. NDC is looking to stage a comeback into government after two terms in opposition. Ahead of that, it has slated December 17 for its internal elections which will see to the election of national executive officers. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Charles Owusu says President Nana Akufo-Addo must begin to write what he terms as 'love letters' to his appointees and Heads of the various State institutions. The love letter, which by inference refers to dismissal letter, according to the former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, should be given to all Chief Executives of the institutions, MMDCEs and public officials in charge of the lands and natural resources sector but have become negligent. The President met with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs at Manhyia on Wednesday, 5th October and charged them to join hands with him to eradicate galamsey activities. The President said; "We have tried many initiatives, including that of the Community Mining Scheme, and the establishment of a new legal regime for dealing with the perpetrators of this phenomenon, which has imposed severe sanctions on those, Ghanaians and foreigners, convicted of illegal mining. Still, we have not won the fight. "It is obvious that, if we are to win the fight, it would require a collaborative effort to do so. The fight against Galamsey can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election. The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all Fellow Ghanaians, pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future." He also stressed that we have to win that fight to keep our environment clean, and protect our heritage for our descendants, as you did in the past. Charles Owusu slammed the MMDCEs and State institutions bosses for shirking their responsibilities, hence blaming them for the continuance of the galamsey menace and the influx of illegal miners in the country. "I think it is high time the President started writing love letter to some people. The President needs to write love letter to some people; those who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the resources we're talking about today . . . I think that the people who are responsible for day-to-day work to prevent the [illegal] galamsey, they are not doing it," he said while speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme. He wondered why no punitive measures have been taken against these Chief Executives who have failed in their mandates with regard to ensuring there is no encroachment on the forest reserves and no galamsey activities in the mining communities. "Indeed, the galamseyers voted against President Akufo-Addo and his party . . . Because all the mining areas, almost, the NPP lost the mining areas but when they lost, those people who were supposed to do their job but shirked the duties; the same people are still there. "They are doing nothing and we will be insulting the Chiefs. I want to ask who goes for a lease from the palace? . . . The civil servants, the Chief Executives of these various State institutions responsible for the management of the day-to-day of those institutions, where are they? Why are they not talking?", he queried. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Online posts claim a peer-reviewed study found ivermectin reduces coronavirus death risk by 92 percent. This is missing context; public health officials advise against using the anti-parasitic drug to treat Covid-19, and experts say the research cited online is flawed. "Ivermectin reduces COVID death risk by 92%, peer-reviewed study finds," says a September 28, 2022 Instagram post with more than 43,000 likes. Screenshot of an Instagram post taken October 3, 2022 The image shows a headline of an article from The Blaze, a media outlet launched by US conservative political commentator Glenn Beck. It was also shared on Instagram here and here. Ivermectin, a drug approved in the United States to treat certain parasitic infections, has been the subject of misinformation throughout the coronavirus pandemic -- particularly among anti-vaccine advocates. In 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned against using the drug to treat Covid-19, saying it could have potentially dangerous side effects. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also cautioned against ivermectin. The social media posts reference a peer-reviewed study published August 31, 2022 by Cureus, an open-access medical journal. The analysis examined the use of ivermectin as prophylaxis for Covid-19 by drawing upon data collected from a citywide program in Itajai, Brazil. The program offered volunteers medically prescribed ivermectin between July and December 2020. The researchers said ivermectin prevented Covid-19 infection and hospitalization -- and that they observed a 92 percent reduction in mortality among participants who were given the drug. But Flavio Cadegiani, one of the authors, told AFP in an October 7, 2022 email that the study "is insufficient for the approval of the drug for Covid-19." "The limitations regarding the methodology of the study are (exactly) those inherent to observational studies," he said. A flawed study Multiple experts agreed that the observational nature of the study means it alone cannot be used to determine whether ivermectin is effective at treating Covid-19. Story continues "An observational study can give you a hypothesis that can be followed up with a randomized controlled trial," said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, on October 6. Adalja said there are many factors that cannot be controlled when relying on a voluntary program, including unmeasured variables such as access to health care, wealth and age. He added that randomized controlled trials have found the opposite of what the study cited on social media claims. "There has not been any data that has shown ivermectin is beneficial," he said. False claims about Covid-19 and vaccines ( AFP / Gal ROMA, Sophie RAMIS) The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) says it "recommends against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of Covid-19, except in clinical trials." This is based on recently published randomized controlled trials that found no benefit from ivermectin in treating Covid-19. Greg Tucker-Kellogg, a biology professor at the National University of Singapore, pointed to others issue with the study published in Cureus, including "time bias." "The analysis treats everyone as if they were all comparable over the same time period, but they were not," he said in an October 7 email. For example, someone who contracted Covid-19 in July 2020 and had not yet signed up for the program would be automatically counted in the group of participants not using ivermectin. This means "the non-user group was accumulating infected cases while the user group was enrolling non-infected participants," Tucker-Kellogg said. Additionally, participants were advised to stop taking ivermectin if they became infected. "This protocol inflates infection rates for non-users and irregular users in what appears to be a dose-dependent manner but is entirely an artifact," Tucker-Kellog said. "The claims are all nonsense, and dangerous nonsense at that," he concluded. Ethical concerns were also raised about the study. Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, an epidemiologist at the University of Wollongong in Australia, tweeted to point out that some of the study authors are associated with groups that promote ivermectin. 4/n The team is full of...interesting characters. There are clear financial CoIs for many of the authors. Something apparently unacknowledged is that Vitamedic was apparently the company that provided the ivermectin used in this program pic.twitter.com/mw7PjQhVZa Health Nerd (@GidMK) September 4, 2022 For example, study author Pierre Kory is president and co-founder of the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), a group of doctors who advocate for the use of ivermectin to treat Covid-19. After Tucker-Kellog told Cureus about these potential conflicts of interest, the journal published a disclosure on its website. AFP has fact-checked other false and misleading claims about Covid-19 here. As Thailand reels from one of its worst mass killings, those on the frontline of family violence, drug addiction and mental illness in a country awash with guns say support systems are in crisis and need a shake-up to prevent further tragedies. Former police officer Panya Khamrab stormed a nursery in northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province on Thursday killing 36 people, mostly children, before murdering his wife and young son and taking his own life. Police say the gunman was sacked from the force over drug use -- and had an addiction to yaba, a methamphetamine in pill form. Health experts say meth use can lead to paranoia, hallucinations and violent behaviour and those withdrawing can experience psychosis. - Drug problem - Thailand is a major transit country for meth flooding in from Myanmar's troubled Shan state via Laos, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. On the street pills sell for as little as 20 baht (around $0.50). Rehabilitation psychologist Shaowpicha Techo says there is an urban-rural divide in drug treatment services and harm reduction programmes. While it can be easy for drug users to find help for addiction in Bangkok and other cities, access is much more difficult in rural areas. The kingdom also has a shortage of mental health professionals, Shaowpicha said, while a stigma around mental illness and drug use discourages some from seeking support. "In Thailand most people don't talk about psychology or mental health... if someone has a problem... (they are labelled) a crazy person," he said, adding that some turn to drugs instead of seeking treatment. - Guns galore - Thai culture prizes avoiding confrontation and overt displays of anger, said Bangkok-based security expert Anthony Davis. "As a consequence personal grievances and perceived loss of face are often suppressed to a point when they explode in lethal violence, typically in the context of angry males," he told AFP. "This syndrome is exacerbated within the security services given a necessarily more disciplined and hierarchical environment than in society at large where sometimes rank and privilege can be abused." Story continues This environment together with easy access to firearms makes for a dangerous mix, Davis said. Less than a month ago an army officer shot dead two colleagues at a military training base in the capital Bangkok. And in 2020, a soldier gunned down 29 people in a 17-hour rampage linked to a debt dispute with a senior officer. Even away from security forces, Thailand has a huge number of guns in circulation -- an estimated 10 million in 2017 according to Sydney University's Gun Policy database, or one for every seven people. "Contradicting this stereotype of Thailand being the land of smiles and people being kind... Thailand is a very violent country," violence expert Janjira Sombatpoonsiri of Chulalongkorn University told AFP. - Domestic violence - The day of the massacre began with the gunman arguing with his wife at 4am according to National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapat, and ended when he shot her and their son before taking his own life. According to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, there were 2,177 domestic violence cases last financial year in a country with a population of 70 million. But this is thought to be an underestimate as cases in Thailand are widely under-reported. Campaigner and lawyer Busayapa Srisompong who founded SHero, an organisation providing pro bono legal aid to victims, said the tragedy was a wake-up call. "Patriarchal culture and toxic masculinity is so ingrained in certain institutions and... normalises and allows certain kinds of violent behaviour," she told AFP. All Thai provinces are supposed to have a one-stop-shop domestic violence crisis centre at government-run hospitals, but many are understaffed, under-resourced and personnel are poorly trained, Busayapa said. Priority is often given to preserving a family unit at the expense of protecting vulnerable women and children, she said. "There's a culture within the police institution... when they see domestic violence or intimate partner violence cases they tend to think 'oh they are going to get back together... (we will) mediate'," Busayapa told AFP. She said many of the women she helped have tried to report their cases multiple times and called a special hotline but struggled to get assistance. "If the community had access to mental health services that were trauma-informed and not victim blaming it could prevent a lot of (tragedies)," she said. lpm/pdw/axn The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory now has an improved assay to diagnose strangles in horses. Credit: A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie Research initiated at the Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, EIDL, at Texas A&M University to explore the genomic components of strangles has now led to an improved assay at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL. Strangles is a highly contagious disease that affects the upper respiratory system and lymph nodes of horses. The disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, S. equi. Though clinical signs may be present, diagnostic detection is the only definitive method of identifying strangles. The ancestor of S. equi, Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, S. zoo, is considered a commensal organism and may cause pneumonia, endometriosis and abortion in horses. Together, both organisms contribute to high morbidity and variable mortality among horses. Ellen Ruth Alexander Morris, Ph.D., began working on the project early in 2020 as a graduate research assistant with Noah Cohen, VMD, Ph.D., director of the EIDL, which is located in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "There was no initial plan to develop a new assay," Alexander Morris said. "The idea evolved from another ongoing project, where we were examining the genome-wide differences between 50 strains of S. equi and 50 strains of S. zoo using whole genome sequencing." Their evaluation of the different strains led to the development of additional primers, which are DNA sequences that can be used to detect both S. equi and S. zoo. Current detection methods Classically, strangles was detected by culturing S. equi and S. zoo in a slow and not very sensitive method. Over time, multiple tests using polymerase chain reaction, PCR, technology have been developed to detect S. equi and S. zoo individually. Although quicker and more sensitive than bacterial culture, PCR testing for strangles is still somewhat limited. PCR testing uses primers to target specific DNA sequences to determine an organism's presence. Because of genetic similarities between S. equi and S. zoo, some tests may not be able to differentiate between the two organisms and may lead to false positives. Conversely, in some samples the typically targeted sequence of S. equi has been truncated or deleted, and therefore testing leads to a false negative. Other PCR tests, such as the one previously offered at TVMDL, cannot differentiate coinfection with S. equi and S. zoo due to the organisms' multiple genetic similarities. Improved PCR testing The new primers were designed from S. equi and S. zoo strains collected from clinical samples of Texas horses and using publicly available S. equi and S. zoo strains from across the world. TVMDL's molecular diagnostics section performed validation testing using the new primers and determined they could be used to detect and differentiate between S. equi and S. zoo. This assay also includes an internal control that serves as a monitor for PCR efficiency and sample inhibition. Following validation, TVMDL can now use these primers for routine diagnostic testing. "Our hope is these new PCR targets will aid in the diagnosis of strangles, identify cases of concurrent infection of S. equi and S. zoo, or improve differentiation between the two organisms," said Alexander Morris, who is now a postdoctoral research assistant at TVMDL. Otter sold via Instagram in Indonesia. Credit: Instagram Global demand for exotic pets is increasing, a trend partly caused by social media and a shift from physical pet stores to online marketplaces. The United States is one of the biggest markets for the wildlife trade. And our new research has identified an astonishing number of unregulated wild-caught animals being brought into the U.S.at a rate 11 times greater than animals regulated and protected under the relevant global convention. Wildlife trade can have major negative consequences. It can threaten the wild populations from which animals and plants are harvested, and introduce novel invasive species to new environments. It can also lead to diseases transmitted from wildlife to humans and threaten the welfare of trafficked animals. Tackling this problem requires an international effortparticularly by rich nations where the demand for exotic pets is greatest. Shining a light on the pet market Most live animals transported through the wildlife trade are destined for the global, multi-billion dollar exotic pet market. Captive breeding supplies a portion of this market, but many species are collected from the wildoften illegally. Animals such as otters, slow lorises and galagos or "bushbabies" are frequently depicted on social media as cute, and with human-like feelings and behaviors. This helps create demand for such species as pets which drives both the illegal and legal wildlife trades. Non-native animals frequently smuggled into Australia in the past, include the corn snake, leopard gecko and red-eared slider turtle. Reptiles and birds are among the most commonly trafficked species because they can be easily transported. Species deemed at risk from international trade are regulated through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It aims to ensure sustainable and traceable legal international trade. But the convention lists less than 10% of all described plants and terrestrial vertebrates, and less than 1% of all fish and invertebrate species. No international regulatory framework exists to monitor the trade of the many unlisted species. Australia has rigorous regulations for exotic pet ownership and trade. Broadly, our native wildlife cannot be commercially exported. However, Australia's fauna is poached from the wild and illegally exported for the international pet market. Once the animal is smuggled out of Australia, its trade in recipient countries is often not monitored or restricted. For example, research last year showed four subspecies of Australia's shingleback lizardone of which is endangeredwere being illegally extracted from the wild and smuggled out of the country, to be sold across Asia, Europe and North America. This lack of overseas regulation prompted the former Morrison government to push for 127 native reptile species targeted by international wildlife smugglers to be listed under CITES. They include blue tongue skinks and numerous gecko species. But in the meantime, the global illegal wildlife trade continues. Our new research analyzed the extent of this, by focusing on the movement of unlisted species to and from the U.S. Unregulated global trade threatens the wild populations of the Asian water dragon. Credit: Wikimedia What we found The U.S. is one of the few countries that maintains detailed records of all declared wildlife trade, including species not listed under CITES. We examined a decade of data on wild-harvested, live vertebrate animals entering the U.S. Most would have been headed for the pet trade. We found 3.6 times the number of unlisted species in U.S. imports compared with CITES-listed species1,356 versus 378 species. Overall, 8.84 million animals from unlisted species were importedabout 11 times more than animals from CITES-listed species. More than a quarter of unlisted species faced conservation threatsincluding those with declining populations and those threatened with extinction. For example, we found a substantial trade of the unlisted Asian water dragon. These bright green lizards are native to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and southern China, and are considered vulnerable. In the decade to 2018, more than 575,000 Asian water dragons were imported to the U.S. from Vietnam. The species has been proposed for inclusion in CITES. But decades of unregulated global trade poses a major threat to the survival of native populations. How do we fix this? Our study highlights the urgent need to monitor all traded wildlife species, not just those listed under CITES. The biodiversity of life on Earth is under enormous pressure. Given this, and the other harms caused by the wildlife trade, this lack of regulation and monitoring is unacceptable. For a species to be considered for listing under CITES, a national government must demonstrate that regulation is needed to prevent trade-related declines. But if trade in the species has never been monitored, how can that need be proven? Sadly, the trade of many species is not formally regulated until it's too late for their wild populations. Clearly, tighter regulation is needed to prevent this decline. Traded wildlife predominantly flows from lower-income to higher-income countries. Many source countries do not possess the frameworks needed to monitor the harvest and export of unlisted species. So what should be done? First, all nations should follow the lead of the U.S. and record species-level data for all wildlife imported and exported. This information should be gathered as part of a standardized data management system. Such a system would increase compliance with the rules and make the origin of wildlife easier to trace It would allow trade data to be shared and integrated between countries and allow timely assessment of species which may need further protection. And second, affluent countrieswhere demand for exotic pets is largestmust take the lead on sustainable trade practices. This should include supporting supply countries and pushing for better data collection. Such measures are vital to protecting both wildlife and human well-being. Explore further Stopping the illegal trade of Australian lizards This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The new triple-acting antibiotic agent has managed to break through the biofilm extracellular matrix a protective structure built by bacteria. Credit: University of Barcelona Persistent lung infections, chronic wounds, and health care-associated infections are typically much more difficult to treat than other types of bacterial infections. This is because they are often caused by biofilms, that is, colonies of microbesmainly bacteria that grow together in a self-produced matrix that protects and isolate them from the external environment. Now, a new triple-acting antibiotic agent has managed to break through the biofilm extracellular matrix and eliminate more than 50% of the pathogens in one shot, according to a study published in the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. The study was led by Eduard Torrents, lecturer at the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics of the Faculty of Biology and head of the group on Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapy of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). This extracellular matrix exacerbates antibiotic resistance, one of the biggest threats to global health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), since killing the bacteria inside the film is up to a thousand times harder. Biofilm infections are therefore the most important nonspecific mechanism of antimicrobial resistance. Attacking these microbes using only antibiotics is not enough. There is a need for tools that break down the extracellular matrix to access and kill the bacteria inside. The first author of this study, which has achieved this milestone, is Nuria Blanco-Cabra, postdoctoral researcher of the group led by Eduard Torrents at the UB and IBEC. The study was carried out together with scientists from CIDETEC (Basque Country). A triple-acting drug combination The study focused on the bacteria Pseudomonas areuginosa, a pathogen that often grows in biofilms in the lungs of those patients with cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), causing persistent infections. "We grew biofilm cultures in vitro, using a technique that resembles to the way in which they exist and grow in nature," added Torrents. In clinical practice, these infections are usually treated with an antibiotic called tobramycin. However, its effectiveness is limited by its inability to penetrate the film. This happens because tobramycin, which is positively charged, is neutralized by the extracellular matrix (with a negative charge). The researchers loaded the antibiotic into negatively charged nanoparticle carriers. This could neutralize the positive charge before the drug reached the biofilm, which enabled it to break the extracellular matrix and kill the bacteria inside. What is more important, these carriersbuilt by dextran-based single chain nanoparticleswere able to transport up to 40% of the weight of the antibiotic. "Many of the previously studied nanotransporters have only been able to sustain a small load of the target compound, which has prevented their clinical use. We managed to overcome this obstacle," says Torrents. The antibiotic-loaded nanocarriers were also coated in an enzyme called DNase I. One of the compounds that holds bacteria biofilms together is structural DNA found throughout the extracellular matrix. DNase I can break down this "glue," causing the matrix to loosen, and allowing the antibiotic to penetrate the biofilm even further. "By combining an antibiotic with a couple of agents that break the biofilm up, we have created a drug that is more powerful than the antibiotic alone which kills the bacteria that lives inside the film," notes Eduard Torrents, principal researcher of the study. Using microscopy images, the researchers found that the new agent had not only dissolved the structural DNA in the extracellular matrix, but also that it was acting on and killing the bacteria inside. With just a single application, they reduced the bacterial biomass by more than half. "Having achieved such significant biofilm clearance with a single dose of our agent, we predicted that a full course of antibiotics could significantly reduce the burden of these infections, which are extremely difficult to treat." In future clinical uses, this agent could be administered in multiple doses, as is standard practice with antibiotics. The next step is to work on the clinical validation of this system. Its commercialization would represent a decisive advance in the treatment of biofilm infections, the global economic cost of which currently amounts to 4 billion dollars a year. Explore further Evidence that energy metabolism and biofilm formation regulation are intertwined in bacteria More information: Nuria Blanco-Cabra et al, Neutralization of ionic interactions by dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles improves tobramycin diffusion into a mature biofilm, npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (2022). Nuria Blanco-Cabra et al, Neutralization of ionic interactions by dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles improves tobramycin diffusion into a mature biofilm,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00317-9 Macrocystis pyrifera forests at the Todos Santos islands. Credit: Botanica Marina/Dr Luis Malpica Cruz and MaxCal An unusually long period of warm waters caused invasive species of algae to completely replace a community of native kelp surrounding a Mexican island, according to results published in Botanica Marina. The waters of the Todos Santos Islands, around 120km off the northwest coast of Baja California in Mexico, are usually dominated by the giant kelp species Macrocystis pyrifera. But an unusually long period of warm waters affecting the Pacific coast of North America from 2013 to 2016 (known as the "Warm Blob") seems to have shifted the location and population of several marine species. "Those of us who have dove there before noticed the dramatic community change," said Dr. Luis Malpica-Cruz, one of the authors of the paper. Between 2018 and 2019, the authors assessed the density of the invasive species at a rocky reef roughly ten meters below the surface to see how the community had changed. During that time they found that native kelps suffered greatly: M. pyrifera went from an average of 0.7 individuals per square meter in 2018 to zero in 2019. During that same time, the researchers say, there was a threefold increase of the population of the invasive macroalgae species Sargassum horneri and kelp species Undaria pinnatifida. "We were shocked," said Malpica-Cruz. "We looked at other local sites that witnessed M. pyrifera loss and saw other native species had taken its place. But the Todos Santos site had a completely different kelp ecosystem." The authors reason that the "Warm Blob" marine heatwave both held back the native M. pyrifera and allowed invasive species such as S. horneri and U. pinnatifida to thrive. This alteration in the ecosystem could be the first sign of wider changes, with the dramatic loss of M. pyrifera affecting other algae, invertebrates and fish further up the food chain. While the kelp slowly regained its territory from 2017 onwards at other locations, it continued to lose ground to invasive species at the Todos Santos Islands. Malpica-Cruz says he doubts that native species will return to the islands' waters in the near future, since the dramatic shift happened within a year. "There is hope that not all M. pyrifera kelp forest will be lost. However in those forests that do change it is uncertain how the community will ultimately be impacted." The authors want to continue studying the invasive species at these islands as it could help others to design strategies to manage invasive kelp when a future marine heatwave arrives. Explore further Destruction and recovery of kelp forests driven by changes in sea urchin behavior More information: Ana Carolina Felix-Loaiza et al, Marine heatwaves facilitate invasive algae takeover as foundational kelp, Botanica Marina (2022). Ana Carolina Felix-Loaiza et al, Marine heatwaves facilitate invasive algae takeover as foundational kelp,(2022). DOI: 10.1515/bot-2022-0037 Provided by De Gruyter An extended dry season puts more stress on cattle in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Marin Skidmore, College of ACES, University of Illinois Agricultural producers around the world must adapt to changing weather patterns. Much research has focused on mitigation strategies for crop production, but livestock producers face unique challenges. A new study from the University of Illinois looks at how cattle ranchers in Brazil respond to climate change in the Amazon. Previous research shows the dry season is increasing up to 0.6 days per year. This puts more stress on animals, and ranchers are more likely to sell their cattle early, says Marin Skidmore, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at U of I. Her paper is published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Brazil is the world's second-largest beef producer and the leading exporter. Forty percent of Brazil's cattle are located in the Amazon, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change and deforestation. "Through talking with cattle ranchers, I kept hearing about ways they had to change their production to cope with the dry season. They are used to a dry season every year, but they noticed it was getting worse," Skidmore says. Ranchers talk about "the accordion effect," she notes. "Every year the animals gain weight in the rainy season, they lose weight in the dry season, and then they gain weight again. This takes a toll, of course, but they had been able to make do with the dry season as it was. As it got worse, the weight loss got worse, and they were seeing animal losses and profit losses." Skidmore visited Brazil as a Fulbright scholar and conducted focus groups with ranchers to gain insights into their motivations. Back in the U.S, then at the University of Wisconsin, she had access to a large database of all cattle movements in Brazil, including sales and transport. She combined nine years of cattle data with climate data, and her results confirmed what the focus groups had indicated. "I do find evidence of increased animal sales in preparation for an extreme dry season. A rancher who would keep their animals in their own pasture through a normal dry season will instead will be more likely to sell them if they expect that the dry season will be severe," she says. Focus group findings indicated that ranchers make decisions about the upcoming dry season by observing rainfall patterns. During the rainy season, it rains every day. Then it becomes intermittent, and ranchers will observe how sporadic the rain gets and how early it happens. Ranchers have various options when they anticipate an extended dry season. "They can sell the animals for slaughter, and then it is no one's responsibility to feed anymore. But potentially you have an animal that isn't at a weight for slaughter yet," Skidmore says. "Then you can sell the animal to a confinement operation, where they are feeding an animal on grain. This decouples the food source from the current weather; it can be grain that was grown in the region in the previous season, or grain that's being transported from another region." Confinement operations finish an animal much faster than a pasture-based operation. Thus, there will be an initial increase in cattle supply, but the supply then falls the following year, leading to supply peaks and troughs. Skidmore says her findings also indicate the region's pasture-based production is generally susceptible to drought because many pastures are degraded and quickly become unproductive. Furthermore, current production technologies are not equipped to deal with heat stress. The animals are outside in direct sunlight; there is no shade and no water sprinkling for cooling. Thus, investing in better management practices to improve pastures and deal with heat stress could benefit the region. The research contributes to understanding how livestock producers are adapting to extreme weather events, Skidmore states. "A lot of the climate change literature looks at crop producers. But the difference is that animals have lives, and this opens up a whole other set of adaptive strategies to livestock producers. Ranchers are making use of that, and it can really affect the structure of the supply chain," she concludes. Skidmore collaborated on the project with the Connections between Water and Rural Production team led by Katrina Mullan, associate professor of economics at the University of Montana. The paper, "Outsourcing the dry season: Cattle ranchers' responses to weather shocks in the Brazilian Amazon," is published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Explore further How cattle ranchers in Brazil could help reduce carbon emissions More information: Marin Elisabeth Skidmore, Outsourcing the dry season: Cattle ranchers' responses to weather shocks in the Brazilian Amazon, American Journal of Agricultural Economics (2022). Marin Elisabeth Skidmore, Outsourcing the dry season: Cattle ranchers' responses to weather shocks in the Brazilian Amazon,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/ajae.12333 Elizabeth Johnson co-authored new research revealing accent biases in children as young as 5. Credit: Drew Lesiuczok New research co-authored by a UTM professor shows that children may exhibit signs of accent-based biases as early as age five. In a journal article co-authored by UTM psychology professor Elizabeth Johnson, Melissa Paquette-Smith from the University of California Los Angeles, and Helen Buckler from the University of Nottingham, data revealed that children preferred teachers who have a local accent as opposed to regional or non-native accents. "It was something I was really surprised about," Johnson says. The study, entitled "How sociolinguistic factors shape children's subjective impressions of teacher quality," was published earlier this year in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Before working on the research, Johnson thought about how accent biases relate to everyday life. Specifically, its effects on student evaluations of faculty. The study discusses its findings in relation to implicit bias in higher education. Those biases could hamper movements to promote diversity in higher education, Johnson says. "The biases become stronger with age," she adds. "We read [professor] evaluations and they might be obviously gendered in some way, or they might obviously be speaking like a non-native accent." Johnson says she believes it's important to consider the role accent perception plays in those evaluations. "We don't frequently pay attention to these sort of language issues when we look at how students evaluate their professors," she says. "And it's a big deal because we have tons of professors whose first language isn't English. "We wanted to know, where does that come from?" Johnson teamed up with Paquette-Smith and Buckler, with whom she worked previously while they were at UTM. Paquette-Smith completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at UTM, and Buckler had a three-year stint as a postdoctoral researcher at UTM. They started exploring the topic after the trio saw similar research out of United States and France that showed children exhibited accent biases. But in Canada, given the higher level of exposure children have to various English accents, they thought the results would be different. The study involved trials with children aged five and six who were presented with pairs of speakers of the same gender. A total of 144 monolingual Canadian English-speaking children aged five to six from southern Ontario participated in the study. They were from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and had varying levels of exposure to different English accents. The children were shown speech samples from paired speakers. One speaker spoke English with a Canadian accent, and the other spoke English with either a different regional accentBritish or Australian, or a non-native accentDutch and French. The children were asked two questions after: who they wanted to be their teacher and how good of a teacher they thought each speaker would be. The results showed that the children demonstrated a preference for Canadian-accented teachers and rated them more favorably. Children rated French, Australian, and Dutch speakers as less competent than Canadian speakers, with British speakers rated slightly below Canadian speakers. The authors suggest that the children are evaluating non-local speakers more negatively. "The whole thing started with us trying to prove Canadian kids were more accepting than American kids, and it didn't work," Johnson says. Their research found that even kids who had parents with different accents had preferences for local accents. Johnson wants to explore whether the cause is social bias or a linguistic one. Comprehension doesn't explain it all, they found out in follow-up research. "There is definitely social bias going on there," Johnson says. "You really have to worry about this much younger than you thought." Determining the cause of accent bias, as well as the age that it emerges, is "important for society and the way we function, the way we make decisions about people's competency, and the way we choose to portray people in the media," she says. In their follow-up work, the team is trying to understand what drives the development of linguistic bias in children, as well as what the results would look like in different populations receiving different "linguistic inputs." "We're also interested in better understanding what types of experiences might mitigate the initial formation or maintenance of negative linguistic biases in young children." Explore further Kids prefer friends who talk like they do More information: Melissa Paquette-Smith et al, How sociolinguistic factors shape children's subjective impressions of teacher quality, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2022). Melissa Paquette-Smith et al, How sociolinguistic factors shape children's subjective impressions of teacher quality,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/17470218221094312 Cerro El Plomo in the Andes. Credit: Tijs Michels Chilean voters went to the polls on September 4 and rejected a sweeping new constitution that would have significantly expanded Indigenous, environmental, and social rights. Among the innovative provisions included in the document were a set of articles that sought to protect glaciers and forbid mining in glacial environments. Some 7.88 million people voted against the text in contrast to 4.86 million voting in favor. This country-wide "exit" referendum was the culmination of a legal process set in motion by then-President Sebastian Pinera (20182022) and 10 political parties that signed the "Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution" on November 15, 2019. With the first draft rejected, the process will now start all over from scratch. The decision to create a new constitution was spurred by student protests that began on October 18, 2019, over a 30-peso increaseroughly USD $0.04in metro fares. The protests escalated in subsequent weeks to become a mass movement that denounced elite rule, neoliberalism, social inequality, and the regressive constitution bequeathed by the Pinochet dictatorship (19731990). Anthropologist Rosario Carmona, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bonn in Germany, remarked that the protests amplified the slogan "It's not 30 pesos, it's 30 years," which "referred to disillusionment with the unfulfilled promises of democracy." Carmona added that discontent with the political system was exacerbated by rising economic inequality as well as "the poor quality of public education and public health, a private pension system that leaves the elderly under very precarious conditions, high levels of pollution and sacrifice zones, [and] multiple socio-ecological and intercultural conflicts." An "entry" referendum held on October 25, 2020, asked Chileans whether they wanted a new constitution. There was overwhelming support for a constitutional rewrite, with 5.90 million Chileans voting "yes" and only 1.63 million voting "no." Voters also approved a constituent assembly that would be elected directly by the citizenry. Elections took place in May 2021 to choose the 155 members of the Constitutional Convention. Gender parity was mandated and 17 seats were reserved for Indigenous representatives. The Convention was then tasked with drafting and voting on articles to include in the new constitution. The Convention opened up pathways for public participation by individuals and civil society groups. The Fundacion Glaciares Chilenos (Chilean Glacier Foundation) was one of the organizations selected to address the Commission on the Environment, Rights of Nature, Natural Common Goods, and Economic Model. The Fundacion Glaciares Chilenos presented their case for the importance of inscribing glacier protections into the draft constitution. The founder of the organization, Felipe Espinosa, commented during an interview that the organization has worked to explain, in everyday language, the hydrological, ecological, social, and cultural importance of glaciers to Chilean society. The final text was presented to President Gabriel Boric and the public on July 4, 2022. The Convention had passed four articles that provided legal protections for glaciers (Articles 134, 137, 146, and 197). The Fundacion Glaciares Chilenos enthusiastically backed the campaign for approval, having labored for years to highlight the pressing need for glacier laws. The draft constitution foregrounded human-ecological well-being. It called upon the state to recognize and promote buen vivir (a good life, or full well-being), environmental democracy, environmental justice, and sustainable and harmonious development. It asked the state to advance renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. It defended human rights to a healthy environment and clean air. Following in the footsteps of Ecuador, the document established inherent rights of nature at the highest level of legal protection. It stated that ecosystems and biodiversity have the right to exist, maintain themselves, and regenerate their functions and dynamics. In Article 134, glaciers were identified as natural common goods (bienes comunes naturales) alongside territorial waters, the atmosphere, forests, bodies of water, and protected areas, among other entities. It gave the state a duty to conserve and restore these common goods and, where appropriate, to authorize their use as resources for individuals and collectives. Article 137 singled out glaciers, glacial environments, and their ecosystem functions as having guaranteed protection by the state. Glaciers were thus accorded an explicit and unusually prominent constitutional standing. The draft constitution established the dominion of the state over mines, minerals, and hydrocarbons as well as the duty to regulate exploitation in the public interest and with respect to environmental safeguards. Article 146 banned all mining activities on glaciers as well as inside protected areas. Moreover, the state was given a duty to manage human activities in relation to ecosystems to ensure equity, justice, and intergenerational well-being. Article 197 stipulated that there should be territorial planning processes to prioritize the protection of watersheds, aquifers, and glaciers. The constitution empowered a new legal agency, the Defensoria de la Naturaleza (Defenders of Nature), to review the actions taken by public and private entities that might violate the rights of nature. Along with other entities protected as natural common goods, glaciers would have been granted a new juridical status beyond mere resources to satisfy human needs. The text recognized that natural common goods are integral to human well-being and must be protected for present and future generations. The campaign to reject the draft constitution carried every region of Chile, often by wide margins. This has prompted significant commentary on why the "approve" campaign faileddespite the strong mandate for change reflected in the October 2020 referendum. Speaking for Fundacion Glaciares Chilenos, Felipe Espinosa highlighted significant funding disparities that greatly favored the "reject" campaign, partisan media debates that did not accurately explain the text, and a "campaign of misinformation" that promoted fear. For Espinosa, it was "fear that remained more than hope" as the electorate went to the polls"the hope, for instance, to build a better country." Since the vote, the Boric administration and lawmakers have begun discussions about how to move forward with a completely new draft of the constitution. This has raised questions about strategy and priorities for glacier protection advocates. Felipe Espinosa commented that the Fundacion Glaciares Chilenos will continue to back legislative efforts within the Chamber of Representatives to create a comprehensive glacier protection statute. The organization will also persist in its struggle to secure constitutional protections for glaciers. In an interview with GlacierHub, Espinoza stated, "Unfortunately, the text was rejected but apparently the constituent process is still open. And obviously we will be part of this new process, understanding that the environment, in general, and glaciers will be part of this new text, as they were with the previous one." Currently, glaciers inside national parks are protected by law. However, glaciers outside of parks can be affected by human activity, such as the extractive projects of the mining industry. Rodrigo Gomez-Fell, a Ph.D. candidate in glaciology at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, remarked: "Glaciers in the Andes are an important source of water for the local communities and agroindustry in the central valley of Chile. Appropriate legislation would ensure that this resource is used in a sustainable way and is preserved for future generations." However, many questions remain about glacial dynamics in the Andes. Gomez-Fell noted that further research is especially needed to understand the "role of rock glaciers in the hydrological system of drier areas of the northern part of Chile." He also stated, "If these water reservoirs are not considered in the legislation, we have the problem of leaving unprotected an important part of the Andes water cycle." Climate change has also significantly impacted Chilean glaciers. Gonzalo Navarro, a Ph.D. candidate in energy, water, and the environment at Chile's Universidad de la Serena commented: "Just like all ice bodies in the world, glaciers in Chile have been strongly affected by climate change. However, this impact has shown to be enhanced due to human activities related to [a] decrease in albedo, mainly due to particulate material coming from urban centers and [the] mining industry." He added: "A new law on glacier protection is needed for the preservation of all cryoforms in Chile (glaciers and permafrost)" to ensure their environmental functions as short-term and long-term water reserves. Chilean glaciers cover an area of approximately 23,700 square kilometers, according to a 2017 inventory. This comprises roughly 82% of all the glaciers in South America. The defeat of a constitutional initiative that would have protected them leaves not only Chile, but the entire continent in a more precarious position. However, the strong commitment of those who have worked to conserve glaciers raises hopes for future actions to promote sustainability and to secure robust legal protections for glaciated environments. Explore further Germany's loses 1 of its 5 glaciers to scalding summer Provided by State of the Planet This pair of images shows the same portion of Europa as captured by the Juno spacecrafts JunoCam during the missions Sept. 29 close flyby. The image at left was minimally processed. A citizen scientist processed the image at right, and enhanced color contrast causes larger surface features to stand out. Credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Navaneeth Krishnan S CC BY Citizen scientists have provided unique perspectives of the recent close flyby of Jupiter's icy moon Europa by NASA's Juno spacecraft. By processing raw images from JunoCam, the spacecraft's public-engagement camera, members of the general public have created deep-space portraits of the Jovian moon that are not only awe-inspiring, but also worthy of further scientific scrutiny. "Starting with our flyby of Earth back in 2013, Juno citizen scientists have been invaluable in processing the numerous images we get with Juno," said Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator from the Southwest Research Center in San Antonio. "During each flyby of Jupiter, and now its moons, their work provides a perspective that draws upon both science and art. They are a crucial part of our team, leading the way by using our images for new discoveries. These latest images from Europa do just that, pointing us to surface features that reveal details on how Europa works and what might be lurking both on top of the ice and below." JunoCam snapped four photos during its Sept. 29 flyby of Europa. Here's a detailed look: Europa up close JunoCam took its closest image at an altitude of 945 miles (1,521 kilometers) over a region of the moon called Annwn Regio. In the image (not shown), terrain beside the day-night boundary is revealed to be rugged, with pits and troughs. Numerous bright and dark ridges and bands stretch across a fractured surface, revealing the tectonic stresses that the moon has endured over millennia. A circular dark feature in the lower right is Callanish Crater. Such JunoCam images help fill in gaps in the maps from images obtained by NASA's Voyager and Galileo missions. Citizen scientist Bjorn Jonsson processed the image to enhance the color and contrast. The resolution is about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) per pixel. Science meets art JunoCam images processed by citizen scientists often straddle the worlds of science and art. In the image at right, processed by Navaneeth Krishnan, the enhanced color contrast causes larger surface features to stand out more than in the lightly processed version of the image above (left). An example of the results can be seen in the lower right of the enhanced image, where the pits and a small block cast notable shadows. Small-scale texturing of the surface in the image needs to be carefully studied to distinguish between features and artifacts from processing, but the image draws us deeper into Europa's alien landscape. "Juno's citizen scientists are part of a global united effort, which leads to both fresh perspectives and new insights," said Candy Hansen, lead co-investigator for the JunoCam camera at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. "Many times, citizen scientists will skip over the potential scientific applications of an image entirely, and focus on how Juno inspires their imagination or artistic sense, and we welcome their creativity." This highly stylized view of Jupiters icy moon Europa was created by reprocessing an image captured by JunoCam during the missions close flyby on Sept. 29. Credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Kevin M. Gill / Fernando Garcia Navarro CC BY 2.0 Fall colors Citizen scientist Fernando Garcia Navarro applied his artistic talents to create this image. He downloaded and processed an image that fellow citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill had previously worked on, producing a psychedelic rendering he has titled "Fall Colors of Europa." The processed image calls to mind NASA's poster celebrating Juno's 2021 five-year anniversary of its orbital insertion at Jupiter. NASAs poster celebrating Junos 2021 five-year anniversary of its orbital insertion at Jupiter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech More groovy details about the flyby With a relative velocity of about 14.7 miles per second (23.6 kilometers per second), the Juno spacecraft only had a few minutes to collect data and images during its close flyby of Europa. As planned, the gravitational pull of the moon modified Juno's trajectory, reducing the time it takes to orbit Jupiter from 43 to 38 days. The close approach also marks the second encounter with a Galilean moon during Juno's extended mission. The mission explored Ganymede in June 2021 and is scheduled to make close flybys of Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system, in 2023 and 2024. Juno's observations of Europa's geology will not only contribute to our understanding of Europa, but also complement future missions to the Jovian moon. NASA's Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in 2024, will study the moon's atmosphere, surface, and interior, with a primary science goal to determine whether there are places below Europa's surface that could support life. Three experimental studies focused on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict showed that using a common language elicited lower levels of sympathy. Credit: Shutterstock.com The choice of language in a negotiation is often considered a technical issue, not something that could influence the outcome. But new research published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution finds peace-building proposals presented in lingua franca elicit higher levels of hatred and lower levels of sympathy, compared with proposals offered in one's native tongue. The research team included Leigh Grant, a doctoral student in the Psychology department; Boaz Keysar, the William Benton Professor in the Department of Psychology and the college at UChicago; and Ifat Maoz a Full Professor, Head of the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace and Director of the Swiss Center for Conflict Research, Management and Resolution, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Focusing on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, the research consisted of three studies. In the first study, the researchers found that when Israeli-Jews evaluate a trust-building and security initiative in their native Hebrewas opposed to Englishthey're more likely to think it's favorable for their own side. They replicated this effect in a second study with a separate sample. The third study investigated why proposals in a native language lead to more favorable reactions. "We actually found that after reading the trust-building proposal in Hebrew, participants reported feeling less hatred and more sympathy for the other side," Grant says. "Which in turn explained why, when they got the proposal in Hebrew, they were actually more open to it, as compared to in English." "We do know from other work that we've done that people have different emotional reactions in a foreign language and in their native tongue," Keysar says. "In this case, they reacted more negatively in English, which made the proposal seem worse." Keysar emphasizes that when animosity can be so extreme between two parties, trust-building measures at the very start of negotiations are crucialwhich means language choice can make an enormous impact on how talks will proceed. "The finding is counterintuitive," he says. "Most people say, 'Well, I think that it'd be better to use a lingua franca.' In this sense, I think diplomats can inform themselves and can realize the importance of the language they choose. It's consequential here." Of course, not every negotiation is based in conflict, so the researchers are curious as to how language choice can affect business negotiations, for example. The team is also interested in exploring negotiations in which people are participating in face-to-face negotiation where using a native tongue requires an interpreter. "In general," Keysar adds, "The choice of language in cross-national negotiation could impact it in a variety of ways, so it should not be taken for granted." Maoz points to the important implications of the findings for the resolution of the Middle East Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: "Discussions, conversations and negotiations between Israeli-Jews and Palestinians are often held in English, that is seen as a more neutral language," she says. "It is fascinating to consider the potential negative implications of this frequent use of lingua franca on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in the Middle East." Explore further Using a different language can reduce vaccine hesitancy More information: Leigh H. Grant et al, Lingua Franca as a Hidden Barrier to Conflict Resolution, Journal of Conflict Resolution (2022). Leigh H. Grant et al, Lingua Franca as a Hidden Barrier to Conflict Resolution,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/00220027221123316 Researchers Carina Bunse and Milad Pourdanandeh loading the CTD-instrument onboard R/V Skagerak. Credit: Katarina Abrahamsson The scientific expedition to the Nord Stream leak from the University of Gothenburg has arrived back home. The researchers discovered that the methane levels near the leak were about 1,000 times higher than normal, but it's too early to draw any conclusions from that discovery. The researchers have brought back heaps of samples to analyze. After five days at sea, the research vessel Skagerak is back home in Gothenburg. The hastily organized expedition to the Nord Stream leaks in the Baltic Sea is over, and the researchers are content with their efforts. "Everything has gone incredibly well, considering the short preparation time. In less than 48 hours, we got the researchers and equipment we wanted onboard," says Katarina Abrahamsson, marine chemist at the University of Gothenburg, and coordinator for the expedition. German scientists assisted The methane gas leak was discovered on September 26, and since then methane gas has continued to leak into the water. It was essential for the researchers to get to the area quickly to measure the effects of this large discharge, and to collect important data, says Abrahamsson. During a period of 54 hours, the expedition took 100200 water samples. "In order to map the spread of the methane in the water, we had 20 different measurement locations at intervals of approximately 918 kilometers. At our assistance, we had researchers and equipment from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. They have the knowledge to separate the pipeline methane from what occurs naturally," says Katarina Abrahamsson. What did you see? "In the water samples, we could see that the methane levels were up to 1,000 times higher than normal. Also, the distribution pattern of the methane from the leak was complicated and difficult to explain. A reason for this could be that we couldn't measure the entire discharge, because the vessel was only permitted to go in Swedish waters. We simply didn't have time to seek permission from Denmark," says Katarina Abrahamsson. Methane gas is dissolved in water, but when it reaches the surface, it transforms back to gas form and is emitted into the atmosphere. For how long the elevated levels of methane remain in the Baltic Sea depends on the currents, and when the leakage stops. Each square is a measuring location. The red stars are the leakage points and the dark blue area is danish economic zone where no measurement could be executed. Credit: GIS-map Unclear effect on marine life It's unclear what kind of effect these high methane levels could have on marine life. For example, there are bacteria in the water that can oxidize methane gas to grow and multiply. "I have filtered water samples during the expedition to see if there's now been a growth of these types of bacteria when there are elevated methane levels in the water," says Carina Bunse, marine biologist at the University of Gothenburg. Could it affect biological life in the Baltic Sea? "It's autumn now, and soon it will be low season for phytoplankton and zooplankton. It could affect the food web locally if these methane-eating bacteria grow at the expense of other plankton species. But we can't foresee the results. Before we can draw any conclusions, we have to make DNA analyses of the content in the water samples," says Carina Bunse. Now, Skagerak is back in Gothenburg, and the researchers have a gigantic workload before them. Before anything could be said with certainty concerning the impact from the Nord Stream emissions on marine life in the long run, the water samples and measurements must be analyzed and discussed. But the researchers are already making plans for new expeditions to the waters east of Bornholm. "We now need to get an overview of our results, and then summarize them in an initial scientific paper. With a little luck, that could be published before the end of the year," says Katarina Abrahamsson. Explore further Nord Stream leaked less methane than feared: atmospheric monitor Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Ana Gore grew up learning English and Spanish simultaneously. At home, her Peruvian mother would primarily talk to her in Spanish, while her American father spoke to her in English. But early on in life, Gore lost her fluency in Spanish. Her family in Peru didn't expect her to speak the language, and when she did, it was "a big dealit was just not the kind of attention that I wanted." And she compared her level of fluency to her older sister's Spanish. "She kind of had this basically, like, perfect Spanish and I was far enough behind that it was kind of that feeling of like shame that, if I wasn't able to do it perfectly, I shouldn't do it at all," said Gore, a 20-year-old college student in Chicago. Many U.S.-born Latinos like Gore face the pressure and expectation to speak fluent Spanish. But many factors, including English dominance and language discrimination, make maintaining Spanish difficult for many Latino families in the United States. Even though the number of Latinos who speak Spanish at home has been growing, the share has declinedfrom 78% in 2000 to 68% in 2021, according to the Pew Research Center. Among U.S.-born Latinos, the share has decreased from 66% to 55%. The drop in the share of Latinos speaking Spanish at home is because the growth of the Latino population has been driven by births as immigration from Latin America has slowed. In 2020 and 2021, virtually all Hispanic population growth came from births, according to Pew. "We're talking about the share of Latinx people in the United States who speak Spanish the share is decreasing because the language is being lost among the U.S. born," said Phillip Carter, a professor of linguistics at Florida International University. Language abilities tend to diminish across generations. In the United States, immigrant languages that aren't English are usually lost after three generations. According to a 2017 report by Pew, about half of second-generation Latinos are bilingual. The share drops to 24% among third or higher generation Latinos. Spanish, however, may be retained longer than other languages in areas of the country like Florida's Miami-Dade County, where there's a large percentage of Spanish speakers, or Texas, where the language has a historical presence, Carter said. "On the one hand, Spanish can, depending on the region, hang on longer than other languages," Carter said. "On the other hand, Spanish can be exceptionally stigmatized in certain parts of the country, and linked, because of political discourses, to toxic identities, identities that are constructed as criminal." Language discrimination For many Latinos, it takes "an extraordinary effort" to preserve their Spanish, said Lourdes Torres, a professor in DePaul University's Department of Latin American and Latino Studies in Chicago. The loss of Spanish is not due to an individual problem of Latinos not wanting to learn or maintain the language but rather the "really hostile context in the U.S. against other languages, especially Spanish and indigenous languages, languages that aren't considered prestigious, and the people who speak it," Torres said. During the first year of the pandemic, half of Latinos in the United States reported experiencing some form of discrimination and about 23% said they were criticized for speaking Spanish in public, according to Pew. "First generation parents, for example, suffer a lot when they get here because they don't speak English or they don't speak English well," said Torres, whose book on Spanish language use in Chicago comes out next year. "And they don't want the same thing for their kids. Instead of promoting bilingualism, often, parents to save their own kids from the agony that they had, the discrimination that they felt because of the language they push them to just learn English." It wasn't until Gore enrolled in a course for heritage speakers of Spanish at DePaul that she was able to regain a lot of her fluency. She took the class to challenge herself and because her mom always wanted her to have a connection to the language. "I had a very hard relationship with Spanish for years," Gore said. "I almost couldn't make the words come out of my mouth. I could think them and I understood what people were saying, but I just couldn't get the words to come out because I was just terrified of speaking it." Some Latino families do emphasize Spanish or speak only Spanish at home, Torres said. But once the child starts school, the curriculum is entirely in English, making it hard to maintain the language. In the early 20th century, English-only curriculums in schools were the norm, even though there's no official language in the United States, said Laura K. Munoz, an assistant professor of history and ethnic studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "We have an expectation that these children will be truly assimilated into the English language to the detriment of their own native language, because the goal here is to strip them of Spanish, ideally to strip them of their cultural ways to Americanize them," Munoz said. By the late 19th century, Arizona, for instance, required English-only instruction in every school in the territory, Munoz said. And in California, it wasn't until 1947 that a federal court ruled to end segregated schools for Mexican childrenthe first federal school desegregation decision in the country. "We assume that this failure to maintain the language has something to do with uswith the way that we were raised, with the inability of our parents to succeed at teaching Spanishwhen in fact there are so many other pressures coming at both the parents and the children," Munoz said. "When I think about Spanish language loss, the big word is lastima." Preserving the language For Munoz, the loss of Spanish makes many Latinos question their own identity. The big question many who have lost their Spanish ask themselves, she said, is, "Am I truly Latino?" "We believe (Spanish) is a marker of identity because people on the outside are telling us 'Oh, well, you're not a true Latinx if you don't speak Spanish,'" Munoz said. "We've been in American school systems that have told us 'Well, you're not a true American and you don't speak English.' So when you're caught between that sort of rock and a hard place, it makes you question your identity." For many younger Latinos, however, not speaking Spanish doesn't strip them of their identity. "There's a lot of judgment if you're a Latino who doesn't speak Spanish," Gore said. "It's very stigmatized, and I think that it probably shouldn't be because, you know, it's not because of the child." Losing a language at a certain point in one's life doesn't mean it's lost forever. With the right motivation and encouragement, people can regain comfort in the language, Torres said. "Languages can be revived," Torres said. "All it takes is desire and the right context, and people can reconnect with their language." For Gore, regaining her Spanish fluency has been a relief. Her connection to Spanish, she said, is now at a point of healing. "I've had a lot of kind of emotional turmoil and kind of trauma related to it," Gore said. "But now it's much safer and more of a haven where I feel comfortable with myself and not just being half Latino, but being a full person with multiple languages and multiple cultures and those things don't need to split me up as a person." Explore further Indigenous Latino immigrants learn Spanish to help integrate, seek upward mobility (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NASAs InSight Mars lander took this final selfie on April 24, 2022, the 1,211th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The landers solar panels have become covered with dust since the lander touched down on Mars in November 2018, which has led to a gradual decline in its power level. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech NASA's InSight mission, which is expected to end in the near future, saw a recent drop in power generated by its solar panels as a continent-size dust storm swirls over Mars' southern hemisphere. First observed on Sept. 21, 2022, by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the storm is roughly 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) from InSight and initially had little impact on the lander. The mission carefully monitors the lander's power level, which has been steadily declining as dust accumulates on its solar arrays. By Monday, Oct. 3, the storm had grown large enough and was lofting so much dust that the thickness of the dusty haze in the Martian atmosphere had increased by nearly 40% around InSight. With less sunlight reaching the lander's panels, its energy fell from 425 watt-hours per Martian day, or sol, to just 275 watt-hours per sol. InSight's seismometer has been operating for about 24 hours every other Martian day. But the drop in solar power does not leave enough energy to completely charge the batteries every sol. At the current rate of discharge, the lander would be able to operate only for several weeks. So to conserve energy, the mission will turn off InSight's seismometer for the next two weeks. "We were at about the bottom rung of our ladder when it comes to power. Now we're on the ground floor," said InSight's project manager, Chuck Scott of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "If we can ride this out, we can keep operating into winterbut I'd worry about the next storm that comes along." The team had estimated that InSight's mission would end sometime between late October of this year and January 2023, based on predictions of how much the dust on its solar panels will reduce its power generation. The lander has long-since surpassed its primary mission and is now close to the end of its extended mission, conducting "bonus science" by measuring marsquakes, which reveal details about the deep interior of the Red Planet. The beige clouds seen in this global map of Mars are a continent-size dust storm captured on Sept. 29, 2022, by the Mars Climate Imager camera aboard NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASAs Perseverance, Curiosity, and InSight missions are labeled, showing the vast distances between them. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Studying Martian Storms There are signs that this large, regional storm has peaked and entered its decay phase: MRO's Mars Climate Sounder instrument, which measures the heating caused by dust absorbing sunlight, sees the storm's growth slowing down. And the dust-raising clouds observed in pictures from the orbiter's Mars Color Imager camera, which creates daily global maps of the Red Planet and was the first instrument to spot the storm, are not expanding as rapidly as before. This regional storm isn't a surprise: It's the third storm of its kind that's been seen this year. In fact, Mars dust storms occur at all times of the Martian year, although more of themand bigger onesoccur during northern fall and winter, which is coming to an end. Mars dust storms aren't as violent or dramatic as Hollywood portrays them. While winds can blow up to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), the Martian air is thin enough that it has just a fraction of the strength of storms on Earth. Mostly, the storms are messy: They toss billowing dust high into the atmosphere, which slowly drops back down, sometimes taking weeks. On rare occasions, scientists have seen dust storms grow into planet-encircling dust events, which cover almost all of Mars. One of these planet-size dust storms brought NASA's solar-powered Opportunity rover to an end in 2018. Because they're nuclear-powered, NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have nothing to worry about in terms a dust storm affecting their energy. But the solar-powered Ingenuity helicopter has noticed the overall increase in background haze. Besides monitoring storms for the safety of NASA missions on the Martian surface, MRO has spent 17 years collecting invaluable data about how and why these storms form. "We're trying to capture the patterns of these storms so we can better predict when they're about to happen," Zurek said. "We learn more about Mars' atmosphere with each one we observe." Explore further NASA's InSight enters safe mode during regional Mars dust storm Schematic representation of single and combined antibiotic and aPDT treatment options for infections. Antibiotics serve an important role in medicine, successfully treating many common bacterial infections. However, their use leads to increased resistance, necessitating more dangerous antibiotic classes and higher doses. Likewise, aPDT can successfully eliminate bacteria, regardless of antibiotic resistance, but is not always applicable at large doses due to drug and light side effects. These two treatments used concurrently have been found to significantly lower average antibiotic resistance and broaden the resistance distribution, permitting the use of smaller doses of each for a more effective treatment. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208378119 Antibiotics are standard treatments for fighting dangerous bacterial infections. Yet the number of bacteria developing a resistance to antibiotics is increasing. Researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of Sao Paulo are overcoming this resistance with light. The researchers tailored antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT)a chemical reaction triggered by visible lightfor use on antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains. Results showed the treatment weakened bacteria to where low doses of current antibiotics could effectively eliminate them. "Using aPDT in combination with antibiotics creates a synergy of interaction working together for a solution," said Vladislav Yakovlev, University Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M and co-director of the project. "It's a step in the right direction against resistant bacteria." The research results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Ultraviolet light was first used to sterilize bacteria over 100 years ago. The treatment was based on the work of Niels Finsen, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1903 for using filtered sunlightthe higher frequency or ultraviolet spectrumas a cure for skin tuberculosis. Phototherapy advances faded in popularity a few decades later when antibiotics became the weapon of choice against bacteria. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria showed up soon after antibiotics were first used. If antibiotic treatment stops before bacteria are fully killed, the remaining bacteria develop a resistance or immunity to the antibiotic. That immunity transfers to every new bacteria cell, so more potent antibiotics or new treatment methods are needed to overcome the growing resistance. "Photodynamic therapy was a forgotten tool," Yakovlev said. "Yet, bacteria cannot overcome it. There is no resistance." Some human cancer cell therapies already use aPDT to prevent the growth of abnormal cells, but treating resistant bacteria with it is still a novel approach. The researchers began their work by choosing the bacteria and the three main parts of aPDT needed to combat it: molecular oxygen, light, and a photosensitizersomething that creates a reaction between oxygen and light. An already FDA-approved dye called methylene blue served as the photosensitizer. The light sources were specially constructed panels of 25 LEDs in reflective cones built by the Technical Support Laboratory of the Sao Carlos Institute of Physics. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus served as the bacteria, and the researchers grew cultures with the blue dye in them to ensure the photosensitizer alone would not affect the bacteria. Most of the lab work occurred in the Texas A&M Health Science Center under Paul de Figueiredo, professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology in the College of Medicine. At first, the team used aPDT by itself at various light strengths, durations, and in a specific series of follow-up treatments to log the bacteria's response. The idea was to find the lowest dose and shortest series that could weaken the bacterial membranes and other resistance mechanisms. Cell recoveries and reproductions revealed how many generations it took before antibiotic resistance returned. Next, the researchers added measured levels and combinations of antibiotics at different time intervals after aPDT treatments to note the weakened bacteria's responses. "The use of antibiotics with aPDT is a unique idea," Yakovlev said. "We can use lower doses of both to achieve our goal in contrast to using one or the other at higher doses that could have side effects." The goal is to shorten the treatment time and reduce the dosage to the lowest levels needed. Getting medical care down to one doctor visit is especially important to Vanderlei Bagnato, professor in the Department of Physics and Materials Science at Sao Paulo and co-director of the project. He is trying to improve recovery odds for populations in remote areas of Brazil where patients might only see a doctor once per illness, without any chance for follow-up care. The U.S. Department of Defense is following the project closely because battlefield wound infections also happen in remote locations and must be dealt with quickly. So far, the results are positive. The resistant bacteria, weakened by aPDT treatments, were killed with far lower doses of current antibiotics. As a benefit, these therapies reduced the need for battling resistant bacteria with more potent and expensive antibiotics that take years to produce. Future work for the project will involve more timing and dosage investigations and tests on other resistant bacteria strains to see if the effectiveness is universal. "Imagine the real-life applications," Yakovlev said. "You visit a doctor, who uses an ointment and shines a light on the infected area, and then you're done. It would be a quick and harmless treatment as needed." Explore further New drug candidate fights off more than 300 drug-resistant bacteria More information: Jace A. Willis et al, Breaking down antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : Combining antimicrobial photodynamic and antibiotic treatments, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jace A. Willis et al, Breaking down antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : Combining antimicrobial photodynamic and antibiotic treatments,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208378119 Conceptual render displaying the difference between a structured laser beam (magenta) and a two-photon quantum state of light being focused on a single mode fiber. Credit: Markus Hiekkamaki, Tampere University Optics, the study of light, is one of the oldest fields in physics and has never ceased to surprise researchers. Although the classical description of light as a wave phenomenon is rarely questioned, the physical origins of some optical effects are. A team of researchers at Tampere University have brought the discussion on one fundamental wave effect, the debate around the anomalous behavior of focused light waves, to the quantum domain. The researchers have been able to show that quantum waves behave significantly differently from their classical counterparts and can be used to increase the precision of distance measurements. Their findings also add to the discussion on physical origin of the anomalous focusing behavior. The results are now published in Nature Photonics. "Interestingly, we started with an idea based on our earlier results and set out to structure quantum light for enhanced measurement precision. However, we then realized that the underlying physics of this application also contributes to the long debate about the origins of the Gouy phase anomaly of focused light fields," explains Robert Fickler, group leader of the Experimental Quantum Optics group at Tampere University. Quantum waves behave differently but point to the same origin Over the last decades, methods for structuring light fields down on the single photon level have vastly matured and led to a myriad of novel findings. In addition, a better of optics' foundations has been achieved. However, the physical origin of why light behaves in such an unexpected way when going through a focus, the so-called Gouy phase anomaly, is still often debated. This is despite its widespread use and importance in optical systems. The novelty of the current study is now to put the effect into the quantum domain. "When developing the theory to describe our experimental results, we realized (after a long debate) that the Gouy phase for quantum light is not only different than the standard one, but its origin can be linked to another quantum effect. This is just like what was speculated in an earlier work," adds Doctoral researcher Markus Hiekkamaki, leading author of the study. In the quantum domain, the anomalous behavior is sped up when compared to classical light. As the Gouy phase behavior can be used to determine the distance a beam of light has propagated, the speed up of the quantum Gouy phase could allow for an improvement in the precision of measuring distances. With this new understanding at hand, the researchers are planning to develop novel techniques to enhance their measurement abilities such that it will be possible to measure more complex beams of structured photons. The team expects that this will help them push forward the application of the observed effect, and potentially bring to light more differences between quantum and classical light fields. Explore further Photon pairs are more sensitive to rotations than single photons More information: Markus Hiekkamaki et al, Observation of the quantum Gouy phase, Nature Photonics (2022). Journal information: Nature Photonics Markus Hiekkamaki et al, Observation of the quantum Gouy phase,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-022-01077-w Provided by Tampere University Illustration of PNG megafauna Hulitherium, Thylacine, Protemnodon, Tree Kangaroo, Bulmer's Flying Fox and Bruijn's Long-beaked Echidna (left to right) species: Hulitherium thomasetti, Thlacinus sp. cf. T. cynocephalus, Protemnodon nombe, Protemnodon tumbuna, Dendrolagus noibano, Aproteles bumerae (extant), Zaglossus bruijni (extant) in New Guinea, Upper Montane forest. Credit: Peter Schouten (End of the Megafauna) A giant kangaroo that once roamed on four legs through remote forests in the Papua New Guinea Highlands may have survived as recently as 20,000 years agolong after large-bodied megafauna on mainland Australia went extinct, new research indicates. Flinders University paleontologists, working with Australian National University archaeologists and geoscientists, have used new techniques to re-examine megafauna bones from the rich Nombe Rock Shelter fossil site in Chimbu Province in a bid to better understand the intriguing natural history of PNG. The fresh analysis produced revised ages of the bones and suggests that several large mammal species, including the extinct thylacine and a panda-like marsupial (called Hulitherium tomasettii) still lived in the PNG Highlands when people first arrived, possibly around 60,000 years ago. Remarkably, two large extinct kangaroo species, including one that bounded on four legs rather than hopping on two legs, may have persisted in the region for another 40,000 years. "If these megafaunal species did indeed survive in the PNG Highlands for much longer than their Australian equivalents, then it may have been because people only visited the Nombe area infrequently and in low numbers until after 20,000 years ago," says ANU Professor of Archaeological Science Tim Denham, co-lead author in the new study published in the journal Archaeology in Oceania. "Nombe rock shelter is the only site in New Guinea known to have been occupied by people for tens of thousands of years and preserves remains of extinct megafaunal species, most of them unique to New Guinea. "New Guinea is a forested, mountainous, northern part of the formerly more extensive Australian continent called 'Sahul' but our knowledge of its faunal and human history is poor compared with that of mainland Australia," says Professor Denham who initially undertook fieldwork in the PNG Highlands in 1990. Excavations at the Nombe rock shelter taken in 1979 during early fieldwork led by the Australian National University. Credit: Barry Shaw (ANU) / Archaeology in Oceania journal. Research co-author Professor Gavin Prideaux, from the Flinders University Palaeontology Laboratory, says the latest Nombe study is consistent with similar evidence from Kangaroo Island, previously produced by Flinders paleontologists and published in the Journal of Quaternary Science in 2015, that also suggests megafaunal kangaroos may have persisted to around 20,000 years ago in some of the less accessible areas of the continent. He says many general assumptions about megafaunal extinction timelines have been "more harmful than helpful". "Although it is often assumed that all of the megafaunal species in Australia and New Guinea became extinct coast to coast by 40,000 years ago, this generalization is not based on very much actual evidence," says Professor Prideaux. "It is probably more harmful than helpful in resolving exactly what happened to the dozens of large mammals, birds and reptiles that were living on the continent when people first arrived." The Nombe rock shelter, located in the vicinity of the Nongefaro, Pila and Nola communities in PNG, would have been infrequently visited by nomadic groups of Highlands peoples in prehistoric times. The hidden rock shelter was first excavated by archaeologists in the 1960s, but the most intensive phase of fieldwork was conducted 1971 and 1980 by ANU archaeologist Dr. Mary-Jane Mountain, who is also an author on the latest paper. Her initial research yielded the first detailed description and interpretation of the Nombe site and played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the human history of the PNG Highlands. "Mary-Jane (Mountain) initially hypothesized that megafauna at the site may have survived for tens of millennia after human colonization, but this has only been confirmed with the advent of new techniques in archaeology, dating and paleontological science," Professor Denham says. Professor Prideaux says these new applications of modern analytical techniques, or new excavations at the Nombe site, would further confirm timelines of late surviving megafauna and duration of occupation by people in PNG. The latest research was published in Archaeology in Oceania. Explore further Researchers describe new kangaroo fossil from Papua New Guinea More information: Gavin J. Prideaux et al, Reevaluating the evidence for latesurviving megafauna at Nombe rockshelter in the New Guinea highlands, Archaeology in Oceania (2022). Gavin J. Prideaux et al, Reevaluating the evidence for latesurviving megafauna at Nombe rockshelter in the New Guinea highlands,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/arco.5274 Matthew C. Mcdowell et al, Re-evaluating the Late Quaternary fossil mammal assemblage of Seton Rockshelter, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, including the evidence for late-surviving megafauna, Journal of Quaternary Science (2015). DOI: 10.1002/jqs.2789 Journal information: Journal of Quaternary Science John Bell in his office at CERN in Switzerland. Credit: CERN The Nobel Prize in physics this year has been awarded "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science." To understand what this means, and why this work is important, we need to understand how these experiments settled a long-running debate among physicists. And a key player in that debate was an Irish physicist named John Bell. In the 1960s, Bell figured out how to translate a philosophical question about the nature of reality into a physical question that could be answered by scienceand along the way broke down the distinction between what we know about the world and how the world really is. Quantum entanglement We know that quantum objects have properties we don't usually ascribe to the objects of our ordinary lives. Sometimes light is a wave, sometimes it's a particle. Our fridge never does this. When attempting to explain this sort of unusual behavior, there are two broad types of explanation we can imagine. One possibility is that we perceive the quantum world clearly, just as it is, and it just so happens to be unusual. Another possibility is that the quantum world is just like the ordinary world we know and love, but our view of it is distorted, so we can't see quantum reality clearly, as it is. In the early decades of the 20th century, physicists were divided about which explanation was right. Among those who thought the quantum world just is unusual were figures such as Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr. Among those who thought the quantum world must be just like the ordinary world, and our view of it is simply foggy, were Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrodinger. At the heart of this division is an unusual prediction of quantum theory. According to the theory, the properties of certain quantum systems that interact remain dependent on each othereven when the systems have been moved a great distance apart. In 1935, the same year he devised his famous thought experiment involving a cat trapped in a box, Schrodinger coined the term "entanglement" for this phenomenon. He argued it is absurd to believe the world works this way. The problem with entanglement If entangled quantum systems really remain connected even when they are separated by large distances, it would seem they are somehow communicating with each other instantaneously. But this sort of connection is not allowed, according to Einstein's theory of relativity. Einstein called this idea "spooky action at a distance." Again in 1935, Einstein, along with two colleagues, devised a thought experiment that showed quantum mechanics can't be giving us the whole story on entanglement. They thought there must be something more to the world that we can't yet see. But as time passed, the question of how to interpret quantum theory became an academic footnote. The question seemed too philosophical, and in the 1940s many of the brightest minds in quantum physics were busy using the theory for a very practical project: building the atomic bomb. It wasn't until the 1960s, when Irish physicist John Bell turned his mind to the problem of entanglement, that the scientific community realized this seemingly philosophical question could have a tangible answer. Bell's theorem Using a simple entangled system, Bell extended Einstein's 1935 thought experiment. He showed there was no way the quantum description could be incomplete while prohibiting "spooky action at a distance" and still matching the predictions of quantum theory. Not great news for Einstein, it seems. But this was not an instant win for his opponents. This is because it was not evident in the 1960s whether the predictions of quantum theory were indeed correct. To really prove Bell's point, someone had to put this philosophical argument about reality, transformed into a real physical system, to an experimental test. And this, of course, is where two of this year's Nobel laureates enter the story. First John Clauser, and then Alain Aspect, performed the experiments on Bell's proposed system that ultimately showed the predictions of quantum mechanics to be accurate. As a result, unless we accept "spooky action at a distance," there is no further account of entangled quantum systems that can describe the observed quantum world. So, Einstein was wrong? It is perhaps a surprise, but these advances in quantum theory appear to have shown Einstein to be wrong on this point. That is, it seems we do not have a foggy view of a quantum world that is just like our ordinary world. But the idea that we perceive clearly an inherently unusual quantum world is likewise too simplistic. And this provides one of the key philosophical lessons of this episode in quantum physics. It is no longer clear we can reasonably talk about the quantum world beyond our scientific description of itthat is, beyond the information we have about it. As this year's third Nobel laureate, Anton Zeilinger, put it: "The distinction between reality and our knowledge of reality, between reality and information, cannot be made. There is no way to refer to reality without using the information we have about it." This distinction, which we commonly assume to underpin our ordinary picture of the world, is now irretrievably blurry. And we have John Bell to thank. Let's hear it for John Bell though. I mean Christ, really. It was thanks to him that quantum foundations became experimental physics and not philosophy. (Nothing against philosophy, but it's good to get answers sometimes.) Philip Ball (@philipcball) October 4, 2022 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An opinion piece published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences urgently calls for more research into the specific pathways by which civilization could potentially collapse due to climate change. "Scientists have warned that climate change threatens the habitability of large regions of the Earth and even civilization itself, but surprisingly little research exists about how collapse could happen and what can be done to prevent it," says Dr. Daniel Steel of the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. "A better understanding of the risks of collapse is essential for climate ethics and policy." In the article, Dr. Steel and his colleagues, Dr. C. Tyler DesRoches with Arizona State University's School of Sustainability and Dr. Kian Mintz-Woo from University College Cork, define civilization collapse as the loss of societal capacity to maintain essential governance functions, especially maintaining security, the rule of law, and the provision of basic necessities such as food and water. The co-authors consider three civilization collapse scenarios: localized collapse of specific, vulnerable locations; the collapse of some urban and national areas while the remaining ones experience detrimental climate-related effects such as food and water scarcity; global collapse where urban areas around the world are abandoned, nations are no more, and global population falls. It is not only the direct effects of climate changesuch as drought, flooding, and extreme heatthat could create collapse risks, but also less-studied mechanisms. As Dr. Steel and his co-authors explain, climate change may also have indirect effects on systems like trade and international cooperation, which might in turn lead to political conflict, dysfunction, and war. The authors also state that these effects may lessen civilizations' adaptability which would leave them vulnerable to other shocks, like pandemics. "The danger climate change poses to civilization shouldn't just be left for journalists, philosophers, and filmmakers to ponder. Scientists have a responsibility to investigate this, too," said Dr. Steel. Explore further Chances of climate catastrophe are ignored, scientists say More information: Daniel Steel et al, Climate change and the threat to civilization, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Daniel Steel et al, Climate change and the threat to civilization,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210525119 According to quantum mechanics, particles are simultaneously in two or more states until observed an effect vividly captured by Schrodingers famous thought experiment of a cat that is both dead and alive simultaneously. Credit: Michael Holloway/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA The 2022 Nobel Prize in physics recognized three scientists who made groundbreaking contributions in understanding one of the most mysterious of all natural phenomena: quantum entanglement. In the simplest terms, quantum entanglement means that aspects of one particle of an entangled pair depend on aspects of the other particle, no matter how far apart they are or what lies between them. These particles could be, for example, electrons or photons, and an aspect could be the state it is in, such as whether it is "spinning" in one direction or another. The strange part of quantum entanglement is that when you measure something about one particle in an entangled pair, you immediately know something about the other particle, even if they are millions of light years apart. This odd connection between the two particles is instantaneous, seemingly breaking a fundamental law of the universe. Albert Einstein famously called the phenomenon "spooky action at a distance." Having spent the better part of two decades conducting experiments rooted in quantum mechanics, I have come to accept its strangeness. Thanks to ever more precise and reliable instruments and the work of this year's Nobel winners, Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger, physicists now integrate quantum phenomena into their knowledge of the world with an exceptional degree of certainty. However, even until the 1970s, researchers were still divided over whether quantum entanglement was a real phenomenon. And for good reasonswho would dare contradict the great Einstein, who himself doubted it? It took the development of new experimental technology and bold researchers to finally put this mystery to rest. Existing in multiple states at once To truly understand the spookiness of quantum entanglement, it is important to first understand quantum superposition. Quantum superposition is the idea that particles exist in multiple states at once. When a measurement is performed, it is as if the particle selects one of the states in the superposition. For example, many particles have an attribute called spin that is measured either as "up" or "down" for a given orientation of the analyzer. But until you measure the spin of a particle, it simultaneously exists in a superposition of spin up and spin down. There is a probability attached to each state, and it is possible to predict the average outcome from many measurements. The likelihood of a single measurement being up or down depends on these probabilities, but is itself unpredictable. Though very weird, the mathematics and a vast number of experiments have shown that quantum mechanics correctly describes physical reality. Two entangled particles The spookiness of quantum entanglement emerges from the reality of quantum superposition, and was clear to the founding fathers of quantum mechanics who developed the theory in the 1920s and 1930s. To create entangled particles you essentially break a system into two, where the sum of the parts is known. For example, you can split a particle with spin of zero into two particles that necessarily will have opposite spins so that their sum is zero. In 1935, Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen published a paper that describes a thought experiment designed to illustrate a seeming absurdity of quantum entanglement that challenged a foundational law of the universe. A simplified version of this thought experiment, attributed to David Bohm, considers the decay of a particle called the pi meson. When this particle decays, it produces an electron and a positron that have opposite spin and are moving away from each other. Therefore, if the electron spin is measured to be up, then the measured spin of the positron could only be down, and vice versa. This is true even if the particles are billions of miles apart. This would be fine if the measurement of the electron spin were always up and the measured spin of the positron were always down. But because of quantum mechanics, the spin of each particle is both part up and part down until it is measured. Only when the measurement occurs does the quantum state of the spin "collapse" into either up or downinstantaneously collapsing the other particle into the opposite spin. This seems to suggest that the particles communicate with each other through some means that moves faster than the speed of light. But according to the laws of physics, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Surely the measured state of one particle cannot instantaneously determine the state of another particle at the far end of the universe? Physicists, including Einstein, proposed a number of alternative interpretations of quantum entanglement in the 1930s. They theorized there was some unknown propertydubbed hidden variablesthat determined the state of a particle before measurement. But at the time, physicists did not have the technology nor a definition of a clear measurement that could test whether quantum theory needed to be modified to include hidden variables. Disproving a theory It took until the 1960s before there were any clues to an answer. John Bell, a brilliant Irish physicist who did not live to receive the Nobel Prize, devised a scheme to test whether the notion of hidden variables made sense. Bell produced an equation now known as Bell's inequality that is always correctand only correctfor hidden variable theories, and not always for quantum mechanics. Thus, if Bell's equation was found not to be satisfied in a real-world experiment, local hidden variable theories can be ruled out as an explanation for quantum entanglement. The experiments of the 2022 Nobel laureates, particularly those of Alain Aspect, were the first tests of the Bell inequality. The experiments used entangled photons, rather than pairs of an electron and a positron, as in many thought experiments. The results conclusively ruled out the existence of hidden variables, a mysterious attribute that would predetermine the states of entangled particles. Collectively, these and many follow-up experiments have vindicated quantum mechanics. Objects can be correlated over large distances in ways that physics before quantum mechanics can not explain. Importantly, there is also no conflict with special relativity, which forbids faster-than-light communication. The fact that measurements over vast distances are correlated does not imply that information is transmitted between the particles. Two parties far apart performing measurements on entangled particles cannot use the phenomenon to pass along information faster than the speed of light. Today, physicists continue to research quantum entanglement and investigate potential practical applications. Although quantum mechanics can predict the probability of a measurement with incredible accuracy, many researchers remain skeptical that it provides a complete description of reality. One thing is certain, though. Much remains to be said about the mysterious world of quantum mechanics. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Great Salt Lake shows dramatically dropping water levels and exposure and bleaching of microbialite reefs. Credit: Carie Frantz Great Salt Lake is well known for being salty, but record-low water levels driven by high water usage and several years of drought may soon make it too salty for even the brine shrimp that have made it a home. The lake provides an important source of food for migrating birds and supports a multi-million-dollar brine shrimp industry, both of which could be lost if water levels don't rebound soon. Carie Frantz of Weber State University has spent the last several summers studying the lake with teams of undergraduate researchers, checking on the health of microbialite reefs that form the bedrock of the lake's ecosystem. Frantz will share their findings at the GSA Connects meeting in Denver this Sunday, 9 October 2022. Great Salt Lake's microbialites are rocky mounds built by mats of microbes that create carbonate mineralsthe same basic constituent of limestone. Microbes in the reef, like algae and cyanobacteria, perform photosynthesisproviding the nutritional basis for the rest of the lake's ecosystem. Brine flies lay their eggs on the reefs, and both the brine shrimp and brine fliestwo of the biggest populations at the lakefeed from the reefs. Because the lake is too salty for fish, there are few predators, so the lake can become dense with the flies and shrimp, which then feed a large population of both migrating and resident birds. As lake levels have dropped, previously underwater reefs have become exposed to the air, causing the aquatic microbial communities to die off. As the microbes die, the reefs become bleachedchanging color from dark green to white. In 2021, Frantz and her students found evidence that the microbialite reefs might be resilient to the negative impacts of low water levels and be able to recover from bleaching, but the same experiments in 2022 cast doubt on that hopeful outlook. Students experimented with re-submerging bleached microbialite pieces into the lake by putting them in mesh bags attached to an underwater pipe. Even microbialites that looked dead still contained living microbes that recolonized the microbialite pieces when they were submerged back into the waterand this recovery was quick, with exponential growth of microbes, hinting that full recovery might be possible within several months. When they repeated the experiment in 2022, however, they did not see the same quick recovery. Frantz attributes this change from 2021 to 2022 to increased salinity. As the water level keeps dropping, the lake keeps getting saltier. In 2021, she saw salinity levels as high as 18%, already above what is considered healthy for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, which is typically 12-15% salinity. In 2022, she saw those measurements climb above 19% in open water areas and reach as high as 26% within the reef she and her students monitor (for reference, the ocean has a salinity of ~3.2%; salt precipitates from Great Salt Lake water at a salinity of ~27%). The shrinking Great Salt Lake. Credit: NASA Frantz explains, "Last year, it was really encouraging, because we saw that they can come back, and they come back fast. This year we saw something very different; we don't see that clear increase we saw last year. The organisms are stressed at these salinity levels. It's possible it's just too high for them to grow." In the 1950s, the Great Salt Lake was split into northern and southern halves by the building of a railroad causeway. Because most of the fresh water coming into the lake goes to the southern portion, the north section experienced a mass die-off of photosynthetic microbes that can be observed from spaceemanating a pink hue produced by the few salt-loving microbes that can survive its hypersaline water, which exceeds 25% salinity. Students collect samples of the microbialite reefs in Great Salt Lake. Credit: Carie Frantz The southern half of the lake may suffer the same fate if more water isn't brought into the system soon. Frantz estimates that, without major interventions, it could be a matter of months to a few more years before the ecosystem collapses. Scientists monitoring brine shrimp and brine flies in open water areas of the lake have already begun to report worrisome trends in the behavior of brine shrimp, brine fly larvae, and the birds that rely on them. Some legislative measures have been taken in the past year to attempt to secure water rights for Great Salt Lake, but Frantz worries it won't be enough to prevent a collapse, saying "It's a slow shift in response to an emergencywe're not acting as fast as the situation calls for." Owen Falls Dam, Uganda. Credit: Nao Iizuka from Tokyo, Japan/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY Uganda's Owen Falls hydropower plant has a rich history that predates the country's independence in 1962. The plant is located across the White Nile and sits between the towns of Jinja and Njeru on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is about 85 kilometers east of Kampala. Uganda was a protectorate of the British empire from 1894 to 1962. In 1947, English engineer Charles Redvers Westlake recommended the construction of a hydroelectric dam at Owen Falls that was supposed to be East Africa's largest power project. The governor of the Protectorate of Uganda, Sir Andrew Cohen, wrote at the time that the Owen Falls dam would open new horizons of opportunity and prosperity for Uganda and all who lived there. Cohen went on to note: "Despite its technical complexity and the fact that we have had to draw upon skill and experience from many parts of the world, it belongs to Uganda and to Uganda's people. The power which the dam will provide and the industries it will make possible will bring solid benefit to everybody in the shape of increased wealth; above all, it will bring new opportunities to Africans." At its completion in 1954, the dam immediately expanded Uganda's electricity supply capacity from 1MW to 150MW. But the expected boom in electricity consumption didn't happen. One textile mill and a copper smelter were the only industrial establishments to crop up. The Uganda Electricity Board (UEB)which was established on 15 January 1948resorted to selling between one third and one half of the electricity generated to Kenya. The institutional arrangements for constructing the dam left a damaging legacy that is still felt today. The British established governance arrangements for Nile waters that effectively granted Egypt veto power over all construction projects on the Nile. This legal regime continues to cause conflict between Nile riparian states to this day. Owen Falls' construction has to be seen as part of a racist colonial project, the sole objective of which was the exploitation of peoples and their resources to maximize British interests. Empire's twisted logic At the end of World War II there were protests throughout the British empire as demands for independence began picking up pace. In Uganda, the country's new colonial governor, Sir John Hathorn Hall, was forced to take action. Some of the steps he took were informed by the need for the colonial government to show restless and poverty-stricken Ugandans that it was interested in promoting economic growth, industrialisation and development. The dam was supposed to help Ugandans utilize their own natural resourcethe water in Lake Victoriato provide themselves with a significant level of energy independence. But, in the twisted logic of the empire, achieving this goal was constrained by London trying to achieve interests elsewhere. In this case, British agricultural interests in Egypt. In 1929, Egypt and Britain had signed the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, which was designed to harness the waters of the Nile River and its tributaries to produce raw materials, notably cotton, for British industries. The treaty, which created what are today known as historically acquired rights, was concluded without input from Uganda or other Nile riparian states. These rights allocate virtually all Nile waters to Egypt and Sudan. They also grant Egypt veto power over all construction projects on the Nile River and its tributaries. As Ugandans would later find out, the British had, without their permission, placed Egyptian officials in a position to veto development projects in Uganda and other upstream Nile Basin states. Despite the fact that the Owen Falls dam was to be constructed on the White Nile in Uganda, Uganda was forced to obtain permission for its construction from Egypt. Source of tension and conflict The 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and the 1959 Nile Treatywhich was a bilateral agreement between Egypt and Sudancontinue to fuel conflict between the downstream and upstream states in the Nile Basin. In fact, Ethiopia's refusal to abide by and be bounded by these colonial anachronisms has forced officials in Cairo to threaten to go to war to maintain Egypt's acquired rights. In accordance with the spirit of the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, colonial Uganda was forced to submit the documents for constructing the Owen Falls dam to Cairo for approval. The construction of the dam would be the responsibility of the UEB, which was also to administer and maintain the project. However, the interests of Egypt were to be represented at the construction site by an Egyptian resident engineer, who would instruct the UEB on the discharges to be passed through the dam. It is no wonder that when Ethiopia announced its intention in 2011 to construct a dam on the Blue Nile, Egypt sought similar concessions. Just as it had demanded of colonial Uganda, Egypt sought to maintain technical staff at the site of Ethiopia's dam to monitor its operations. Racism on site The racist foundations of colonialism were quite evident at the Owen Falls dam site. For example, after estimating that the job would require a labor force of 2,000, the UEB built labor quarters for Europeans and Asians, complete with a club, community center and swimming pool, at the Amberly Estate north of Jinja. But it chose to house all African staff in quarters located across the bridge in Njeru. These discriminatory economic and social policies would spill into the post-independence period and be exploited by dictator Idi Amin for his personal interests. When she died on 8 September 2022, some Ugandans remembered Queen Elizabeth II as the young monarch who, in 1954, inaugurated the Owen Falls dam as a symbol of energy independence and ushered in a new era of industrialization and economic development in Uganda. But others remember her as the person who, over 70 years, presided over a country that reminds them of brutal exploitation, including the theft of their resources. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Women working hard to earn cash income by harvesting tubers for pharmaceutical companies. Nyae Nyae, 2016. Credit: Polly Wiessner If you visit the Ju/'hoansi people of northeast Namibia and northwest Botswana, you will see families that make a living from a mixture of foraging, government aid, selling crafts and other ventures. Most people have some monetary income used to buy food, clothing and other goods. Some of the very few with salaried government jobs may have cars and furniture. Mud huts stand alongside stone houses. Wealth is unequally distributed and hiding behind some of that wealth is debt. It wasn't always like this. Money is new in Ju/'hoansi society. Two generations ago, their economy was largely based on foraging wild plant and animal resources. Since the late 1970s, the Ju/'hoansi have moved into semi-permanent villages and engaged in a mixed economy that includes monetary income. With money, however, come new choices. In a new study, Polly Wiessner, research professor in the University of Utah Department of Anthropology and at Arizona State University, and Cindy Hsin-yee Huang of Arizona State, explore how money changed the Ju/'hoansi society. Some things from the forager days, like sharing meals and gifting with close family, haven't changed. Other things, like extended kinship networks and need-based community giving, definitely have. "We don't know what's going to happen next," Wiessner says. "I've seen a change in norms or conventions from having to share most of what you have to being allowed to keep your cash income and fill your own needs, and then share what's left over." The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. History of the Ju/'hoansi bushmen How does a society function without money? Before money, the Ju/'hoansi economy was based on sharing and gifting. "Say that someone kills a large animal," Wiessner says, "and there's plenty of meat. Well, he can give out that meat at very low cost to himself because it's going to rot anyway. But the receiver who might be quite hungry and in need, will regard that meat as a great benefit." The nomadic hunter-gatherer society also distributed possessions throughout their communities through gifting things to each other. The gifts served to give information about the status of the underlying relationship, share necessities and strengthen social bonds, as each gift carried with it a connection between giver and receiver. These traditions of gifting and sharing came together in a system called hxaro, which defined the kin each Ju/'hoansi was responsible for caring for. In hard times, Ju/'hoansi could rely on, or even live with, their hxaro partners in other villages up to 125 miles (200 km) away for months at a time. In 1974, 69% of Ju/'hoansi possessions had been received as hxaro gifts. But then money entered their society, setting off gradual cultural changes. During the 1970s, amid losses of Ju/'hoansi traditional lands, the government of Namibia established a homeland for the bushmen called Nyae Nyae. Over the next few decades the Ju/'hoansi began raising animals and crops on a small scale and began receiving government assistance for children and pensions for the elderly, as well as some employment in the district capitol of Tsumkwe. That government assistance is vital, since families have struggled to provide basic necessities following the loss of their foraging lands. In addition to that government assistance, residents of Nyae Nyae also harvest the Devil's Claw plant, which grows in the bush and can be sold to pharmaceutical companies as an analgesic, providing another source of income. So, before we go on, let's pause and reflect on the concept of money. Going back to the concept of sharing meat from a large killthat's a transaction that costs the giver little, since they have too much to use, and benefits the receiver greatly, since they are in need. But if you bring money into the equation, now sharing money costs the giver the same as it benefits the receiver, since the value of the money is fixed. Sharing is now more expensive. It also detaches the meaning of items acquired through social relationships, sort of like how a gift certificate to a bookstore doesn't mean the same as a book that someone chose from that store as a gift for you. For the Ju/'hoansi, almost all of their possessions previously had come from a gift given within a social bond. "So the object, the gift, is never detached from the relationship," Wiessner says. "All your material goods have some relationship embedded in them, while with money, you just go to the store and you've got it, and there's no social relationship." How money changed sharing and gifting Between 1996 and 2018, Wiessner surveyed the Ju/'hoansi in Nyae Nyae, learning about their lifestyle and social networks. She compared this data, including surveys of where people's possessions had come from, with data she'd collected in the mid-1970s, when she first visited them in Botswana. With the help of her longtime Ju/'hoansi research assistants, Wiessner continued gathering and analyzing data on how villagers spent their money between 2020 and 2022. She found, most notably, that the hxaro system of exchange in an extended kin network had essentially collapsed. By 1997, the number of hxaro partnerships had fallen by half. By 2018, the system was essentially little more than a story told by elders. Why did it decline so rapidly? Previously, in hard times, a band of Ju/'hoansi would disperse and live with hxaro kin, contributing their hunting abilities and gaining the resources of their hosts. Now, with permanent settlements and the food options offered by money, sharing with visitors became more expensive than it had been previously. And with cash, the social economy is changing. Ju/'hoansi respect each other's autonomy to do with their money as they wish and to take care of their own family first. "When I get paid, I do get many requests," one villager said. "I tell my family and friends that first I will pay off my store debts and buy food, school uniforms and other goods for the family and for myself. If no money is left, I tell them perhaps next time I can give them something. That is how I manage to have enough for myself but keep my friends." Sharing and gifting haven't completely disappeared, but have shifted to reflect the new economy. Instead of sharing meat from large kills (which still happens, but such kills are rare), communities share "tea and sugar parties" and extended family meals. Gifts are still given, but are now purchased instead of made. And gifting with distant kin, which constituted 23% of gifting in 1974, has fallen to 1% of gifting in 2018. How money changed the social order Unsurprisingly, the introduction of money created disparities in wealth. The few salaried government workers received significantly more money than other villagers, and spent it on cars, houses, furniture and other possessions that are out of reach for many Ju/'hoansi. But, perhaps surprisingly to Americans, money did not create other forms of social inequality. Even though 90% of the highest-paying government jobs went to men, for example, women pursued income through other means, such as harvesting Devil's Claw. There was no significant difference in the number of possessions purchased by women and men in any given year or residence, suggesting little gender inequality. "There was always gender equality," Wiessner says, "and sometimes people think that because men have more jobs it will decrease, but it doesn't." The Ju/'hoansi value egalitarianism, she says, which means that each person respects each other's autonomy to pursue economic activities. That helps prevent social inequalities between different income brackets. Expensive stone houses, she says, are built alongside mud huts. "No bushman hires another bushman to do their dirty work," Wiessner says. "If people try to gain political power, they're put down. I don't know how long this will last, you really can't say, but for the time being, very strong egalitarian principles are holding, even though the material differences are great." Wants and needs Yes, money has changed Ju/'hoansi society. That doesn't mean the previous foraging lifestyle was idealit was marked by periodic poverty, anxiety and food insecurity, Wiessner says. There are benefits in being able to purchase food, clothing and other necessities. But what happens when needs have been covered and more and more things that used to be wants become needs? "When more becomes availablecomputers, fancy phones, all these thingsthese move from being wants to being needs in our perception," she says. "And that's what happens to the Ju/'hoansi as well. A certain amount of material goods to make them comfortableclothing, shoes, etcbecome needs rather than just wants. And that's what money really does. It changes the society because it continually has more and more moved into the category of needs." This is something Wiessner says she sees rampant in Western society, but by learning from the Ju/'hoansi, she's been able to see it emerge from the very beginning of money's entry into a society. "What I don't see is the use of money to create social inequalities, that's not happening yet," she says. But the society will likely continue to change. Currently, there are no social institutions that enable one Ju/'hoansi to employ another or enforce payment for services rendered, neither are there institutions to enforce payment of interpersonal loans (although stores have been willing to extend lines of credit, introducing debt as well). "So what I will have to see," says Wiessner, continuing her nearly 50-year study of Ju/'hoansi society, "is if some new institutions develop to deal with money in the current situation." Explore further Researchers find the worst reason to give a gift More information: Polly Wiessner et al, A 44-y perspective on the influence of cash on Ju/'hoansi Bushman networks of sharing and gifting, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Polly Wiessner et al, A 44-y perspective on the influence of cash on Ju/'hoansi Bushman networks of sharing and gifting,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213214119 Steven A. Woodard, 28, pleaded guilty in Washington County Court on Sept. 23 to felony third-degree rape. He was arrested after police said he had sex with a person younger than 17 years old, which is too young legally to consent to sex. HUDSON FALLS The Maple Street apartment building that burned down this week was once considered one of the finer and best-known hotels in Washington County. Now the historic building is a pile of asbestos-laden rubble in the village of Hudson Falls. Peter Lemery, 47, of Hudson Falls, was arrested and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, after an investigation into the fire that displaced 15 people in seven families. He will be arraigned Oct. 12. The building was known as the Clark House when William B. Clark broke ground on the east section of hotel in 1886. It was completed in early 1887. The Clark name goes way back in Sandy Hills history. We have a Clark Street as well, said historian R. Paul McCarty. Many families can trace their relationships to them. It just goes way back generations. The hotel sat next to the original courthouse, which was moved to Maple Street when the new courthouse was built across the street in the 1870s, McCarty said. The newer portion on the west side of the hotel was completed in 1888. The commodious structure was ready to receive guests when a Post-Star reporter visited the annex in early May of 1888. The 60-by-30-foot annex was divided into 12 roomy sleeping apartments and a 20-by-40-foot dining room, according to the article. The building was skirted by a double-decked piazza. W.D. Nash and H.N. Rogers furnished the sleeping apartments in ash, and Howe & Ambler adorned the floor with their best Brussels carpets, the article explains. Together with the old structure, there will be 100 feet front, and twenty sleeping rooms, The Post-Star reported. The hotel will be lighted by electricity, and heated by steam. The location of the parlor, reading room and office remained unchanged. Landlord Clark and Clerk Gardner, who, by the way, are noted for their suavity and skill in entertaining guests, will undoubtedly maintain the reputation which the house has held since its opening, the article said. The house was run by proprietor P.G. Holbrook until May 1899, when James McCaghey of New York, a former resident of Sandy Hill, leased the Clark House for a term of five years and also purchased the interests of P.G. Holbrook, according to another Post-Star article. In the spring of 1907, the name of the establishment became the Kingsbury Inn. Impact of Prohibition In July of 1919, William B. Clark, who was in poor health, asked that his license be canceled. He was planning to leave town to recuperate in Clintonville for the summer. He planned to have an assistant operate the hotel and continue serving meals and providing lodging, a Post-Star article reported on July 8, 1919. Clark also sensed that Prohibition would cause a downturn in his hotel business. Under the management of Mr. Clark the hotel always bore a good reputation and the laws relating to the sale of intoxicants were observed to the letter, the article explained. Mr. Clark is a hotel man who is convinced that the nation will be bone dry in a short time and is making ready for the reconstruction period in the business. Just a week later, The Post-Star reported that Clark was ready to close the hotel. He listed the building for sale. Mr. Clark has considered the advisability of keeping the hotel open for boarders, the article explained, but the scarcity of cooks and waitresses together with the high wages demanded has led the proprietor to believe that the venture would prove unsuccessful. The doors to the Clark House, also called the Kingsbury Inn, closed. In March of 1920, the former inn was being remodeled under the direction of James C. Gibson, who made alterations to the part of the building once used as an office and bar room. These quarters will be remodeled for store purposes and will be occupied by Augustus J. LaPan as an electrical establishment, according to The Post-Star. Mr. LaPan will take possession as soon as the changes have been made. The apartment adjoining will also be fitted up for store purposes but has not as yet been leased. The building also will be arranged to accommodate six families. The work will be rushed to a speedy completion. The article also blamed Prohibition for the demise of the once prominent hotel. When the property burned down Monday, it was an apartment building owned by TNT Rentals LLC. The remains were torn down Tuesday. Its a shame that we lost it, McCarty said, it really is. A longtime emergency services worker who was killed in an unprovoked stabbing in New York City was reportedly about to retire. The head of Lt. Alison Russo-Elling's union says Russo-Elling was about six or seven months away from retirement. Police announced Friday that 34-year-old Peter Zisopoulos was being charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the fatal stabbing of Russo-Elling. Russo-Elling was on duty when she was stabbed Thursday afternoon near her station in the Astoria section of Queens. It's not clear if Zisopoulos has an attorney who can comment on the charges against him. A pair of Levi's jeans from the 1880s has sold at an auction in a small town in New Mexico for more than $87,000. ATLANTIC CITY The city is brighter now that many problem streetlights have been repaired, attendees agreed at Friday's Clean and Safe Atlantic City meeting. "We have 6,000 lights (in the city), and 98% are in service as I stand here this morning," Atlantic City Electric Public Affairs Manager Ken Mosca said at the bi-weekly meeting, held in Council Chambers at City Hall. "We have been attacking the lights that are out." A bipartisan effort among local, county and state officials as well as business owners and residents, the Clean and Safe group has been meeting since midsummer and has had success in cracking down on repeat shoplifters and other quality-of-life offenders. It soon also focused on lighting, which has been a problem for years. Good lighting can both prevent crime and help solve those that occur, said Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds. "The city is spending $5 million to install security cameras (in all neighborhoods)," Reynolds said of cameras being paid for by new state funds. "They are only going to be effective if the lights are turned on. Surveillance is only as good as the lights." Atlantic City man charged in recent shooting death ATLANTIC CITY A city man was charged in a Sunday shooting in the resort, the Atlantic Coun Assemblyman Don Guardian, R-Atlantic, who lives in the city, has noticed a difference. "Kaleem (Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz) and I walk the city more than anyone else. Since last month there has been a tremendous increase in the amount of lighting that's been turned on," Guardian said. He thanked Mosca and city Director of Public Works Paul Jerkins for their role in the improvements, but cautioned no one can relax on the issue. "Moving forward we have to continue to make sure we are investigating on a weekly basis all lights that are out," Guardian said. Shabazz said lights reported out at the last meeting by residents have been fixed. Most of the 117 lights that are still out have underground equipment in need of replacement, Mosca said, and that requires more time to repair. The utility is also waiting for some parts, as supply chain shortages have affected its ability to repair things as quickly as they would like, he said. Jerkins said there are 76 city-owned lights out at present. A seasonal worker goes out five nights a week to survey lights, Jerkins said. "Not every light is owned by Atlantic Electric, not every light is owned by the city," Jerkins said. "I understand when we receive phone calls from residents or businesses they don't care who owns them, they just want the lights fixed." Lights are also owned by private entities like casinos, AtlantiCare and Tanger Outlets, Jerkins said. "Unfortunately, many times we don't know who owns them," Jerkins said. Some poles are misnumbered, he said. "We reported some to Atlantic Electric ... and found out they are not owned by Atlantic Electric," Jerkins said. "We have got to determine who owns the lights." Mosca said Atlantic City Electric has emailed detailed maps to the city showing where its lights are located. Lights near the closed former Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, for example, have been off for a long time, but the owner of the property recently had them turned back on, Jerkins said. "We couldn't make them put the lights on, but fortunately they did turn them on two weeks ago," Jerkins said. "We need to talk about how the city can take over the lights in our right-of-way." "We have asked legal to look into it," said Business Administrator Anthony Swan. "There should be an ordinance that requires (private entities) to have the lights on." The Clean and Safe group is also working with 2nd District legislators and chief of staff Joe Berg on legislation to create a mental health court, give municipalities better tools to fight illegal all-terrain-vehicle use and changes to bail reform to give law enforcement more ability to keep repeat offenders off the streets. The group next meets at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Blvd. A Seaside Heights man was indicted on attempted murder charges stemming from a summer stabbing in the city, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Thursday. Porfirio Serrano-Cruz, 39, was also indicted on charges of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, burglary and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (clonazepam). About 5:15 a.m. June 30, Seaside Park police responded to a residence on O Street, where the caller said Serrano-Cruz broke into the home and tried to kill him. Officers found a 39-year-old man with multiple stab wounds to the arms, chest, abdomen and groin. He was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and was subsequently released, authorities said. Serrano-Cruz was arrested later that day. He has been in the Ocean County jail since. A Philadelphia man admitted Wednesday to smuggling drugs into the United States and selling them throughout the citys suburbs and South Jersey. Iran Soler, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. OHearn in Camden federal court to one count of conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Court records show Soler and co-conspirators, including Jose Gonzalez, flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico, between March 2019 and August 2020, where they purchased several kilograms of cocaine. The drugs were then shipped through the U.S. Postal Service to addresses in Philadelphia and South Jersey, where Gonzalez, 50, also of Philadelphia, resold the drugs to other dealers, according to court records. Addresses in Egg Harbor Township were among those to which the drugs were shipped, according to Solers criminal complaint filed Oct. 21, 2021, in federal court. Philly man pleads guilty to smuggling cocaine into South Jersey A Philadelphia man on Wednesday admitted managing a drug ring that shipped 100 kilograms of Gonzalez pleaded guilty late last month to conspiring to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine. He is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 30. His charge carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison term and a maximum sentence of life, and he could also face up to $10 million in fines, the U.S. Attorneys Office said following Gonzalezs plea. Gonzalez was arrested after his Philadelphia home was raided in August 2020. Agents found $120,000 at his home, as well as a handgun at a car garage he managed in the city, according to court documents. The drug-trafficking conspiracy charge carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million. Soler is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. MIDDLE TOWNSHIP The Township Committee on Wednesday backed a Rio Grande location for a cannabis retail shop, as the legal weed market continues to gather steam. The approval is a necessary step toward gaining the blessing of the New Jersey Cannabis Control Commission, charged with approving licenses for the new market. Massachusetts-based cannabis company Insa plans to apply for a Class Five cannabis license, meaning a license for retail sales for those 21 and older. Under the state law, customers can buy up to an ounce of weed at a time, or its equivalent in edibles or concentrates. Over the past several years, Insa has been working with the township on plans to grow cannabis at a site on Indian Trail Road, where there used to be a seafood processing plant. Plans are to grow for the wholesale medical marijuana and adult use markets there. Both township and company officials said the property was not considered for direct cannabis sales. Brittney Griner at 'weakest moment' in Russia, her wife says WNBA star Brittney Griner is at her "absolute weakest moment in life right now," Griner's wife said in an interview aired Thursday. There will be no dispensary at that site, Mayor Tim Donohue said. As proposed, direct sales to customers would take place at 3402 Route 9 South in Rio Grande. The site had once been home to the Four Seasons Diner, destroyed in a nighttime blaze almost a decade ago. The lot is currently vacant, set amid one of the countys busiest retail areas between an insurance company and a Starbucks. Middle Township had initially held off on allowing retail cannabis sales, with officials saying they wanted more time to evaluate the market. In June, the Township Committee approved an ordinance allowing a single retail site and another setting the process for how the township would choose which company to support in its license application to the state. On Wednesday, Donohue said two companies applied, with Insa scoring higher in the townships evaluation process. There are currently cannabis dispensaries for the adult market in 14 of New Jerseys 21 counties, with Cape May County as one of those without a distributor. The closest site for county residents to legally buy cannabis is in Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County, with two sites in Atlantic City approved to sell to customers with medical marijuana cards. Navigating medical cannabis regulations around the world | Here Weed Go! podcast The latest episode of the Here Weed Go! podcast explores telehealth for cannabis in Europe and trends in the medical marijuana industry. Towns have an incentive to allow cannabis sales, a chance to add a 2% local tax for the adult-use market, as well as a tax on wholesale sales. Middle Township is not the first municipality in Cape May County to support cannabis retail. In July 2021, Lower Township cleared the way for cannabis sales in two zones, and West Cape May has also said yes to weed sales. Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel said there are three businesses seeking retail cannabis licenses in the community. The township ordinance has authorized two businesses. Sippel said Thursday the applications will need to go before the township Planning and Zoning Board and ultimately need the support of the Township Council. He said the township approved the use only in existing retail spots. We kept it away from all of the residential neighborhoods, Sippel said. Last spring, West Cape May officials supported two applications for cannabis retail sites, backing license applications for Potent Petal LLC and Shorehouse Canna LLC. Both were for businesses on Sunset Boulevard. 900 apply for NY's first licenses to sell recreational pot More than 900 would-be pot shop operators have applied for a chance to open New York states first legal dispensaries for recreational marijuana. The state Office of Cannabis Management tweeted the news Wednesday. The state has said it plans to issue about 150 licenses in this first round, which was open only to people with past pot convictions or their relatives. A message was sent to the agency asking when the licenses will be awarded. Theres no exact date yet for sales to begin in New York. It's expected to become one of the countrys biggest legal cannabis markets. In 2020, New Jersey voters said yes to a referendum amending the state constitution to legalize cannabis. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a package of laws in February 2021 legalizing possession and use of the drug for those over 21, and setting the framework for the legal market. Advocates and cannabis business organizations expect legal weed to be a $2 billion industry as retail sites become more common. In its first 10 weeks of legal sales this year, New Jersey saw close to $80 million in cannabis purchases. Weed is legal in 19 of 50 states, and possession and use is legal in the District of Columbia even though there is no legal market for sales. Marijuana remains illegal as far as the federal government is concerned, remaining listed as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin, ecstasy and LSD. Cocaine, fentanyl and oxycodone are Schedule II. President Joe Biden suggested changing that Thursday, when he announced he would pardon thousands of people convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. He called on governors to do the same for those convicted of state charges. Biden also directed the secretary of health and human services to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law, saying it makes no sense. OCEAN CITY The Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Ecumenical Council are seeking donations of food and supplies from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday as part of a nationwide program called Faith and Blue Weekend. Faith and Blue is an organization whose goal is to connect law enforcement agencies and faith-based communities. Faith and Blue Weekend is being celebrated nationwide from Oct. 7 to 10. The Ocean City event is being named Fill the Truck for People Down on Their Luck. Due to the large number of churches and different denominations in Ocean City, the Police Department chose to work with the Ecumenical Council, which runs food and clothing cupboards that are shared and accessible by all churches in Ocean City. Donations are accepted at both Ocean City Acme supermarkets (800 West Ave. and 3428 Simpson Ave.). The city will park a police pickup truck in front of each Acme and accept baby supplies (diapers, wipes, formula), male and female necessities (deodorant, tampons, soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, dish detergent) and shelf-life friendly foods. At the end of the day, the Police Department will deliver all donations to the Ecumenical Food Cupboard at Eighth Street and Central Avenue on the east side of St. Peters Church. Davenport police on Thursday arrested a 15-year-old in connection with threats made to students and staff at Davenport West High School on Friday, Sept. 23, and Wednesday, Sept. 28. The teen is charged with two counts of threats of terrorism, two counts of first-degree harassment and one count of filing false reports. Threats of terrorism is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years, while first-degree harassment is an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. Filing a false report is a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. The teen was booked into the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center. Police have not said if the teen is a student in the Davenport Community School District nor have police disclosed the relationship the teen may have to West High School. When the threats were made, police responded to West High School to coordinate with staff. Each time the school days continued uninterrupted and classes were dismissed at their normal times, police said. Davenport Police said that each threat of violence at the areas schools were taken seriously and would be investigated fully. The community is encouraged to report any suspicious activity. Police ask anyone who has information about threats to the school to call the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125, Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500, or submit an anonymous tip via the P3 Tips mobile app or submit a tip online at qccrimestoppers.com. CAMBRIDGE, Ill. A pre-trial hearing was held Thursday in Henry County Circuit Court for the Colona man charged with murder in the battering death of a 14-month-old. Rahsaan M. Strawder, 39, appeared in custody of the Henry County Jail. He was initially charged with aggravated battery to a child on Jan. 28, but the child died Jan. 30 after being flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. On Thursday, public defender Lance Camp said he had reviewed most of the discovery in the case but hadn't had a chance to go through it with Strawder. Another pre-trial hearing was set for Dec. 22. Strawder is a registered sex offender and at the time of the child's death was a parolee from the East Moline Correctional Center. He was convicted in Kane County of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 16-year-old victim that occurred when he was 18. More recently in 2016 he was incarcerated after being convicted of robbery and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm/peace officer, also in Kane County. Strawder remains in custody on a $1 million bond-10%, meaning he would have to post $100,000 for his release. A registered sex offender from Davenport has been charged with sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in June, Davenport Police said. Ronald Lam Jr., 37, is charged with one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He was on parole until 2025 for a series of burglaries he helped to commit. The sex-abuse charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Detective Sean Johnson, at about 3 p.m. on June 12, the victim and her father met with Lam at a local convenience store where Lam agreed to touch up a tattoo. The victim and her father went to Lams residence where they were separated in different rooms. The victim stated they were at Lams residence for more than four hours. During that time Lam sexually abused the girl three times, according to the affidavit. During a preliminary hearing Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Jay Sommers scheduled a preliminary hearing on the charge for Oct. 14. Lam was being held Friday night in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $25,000. Lam is on parole until 2025 after pleading guilty to five counts of second-degree burglary. The burglaries were committed in July and August of 2013 with four of them occurring in Bettendorf and one of them occurring in Davenport, according to Scott County District Court electronic records. For the four in Bettendorf, Lam was sentenced to 10 years on Count 1 of the burglary charges, and a consecutive, or back-to-back, term of 10 years on the second count, for a 20-year sentence. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Counts 3 and 4, but those were to run concurrent to the other two sentences, or to be served at the same time. For the Davenport burglary, Lam was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lam was released from the prison on Dec. 3, 2019, and placed on parole until Jan. 5, 2025, according to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Lam was required to register as a sex offender after a Scott County jury found him guilty of third-degree sexual abuse in 2004, according to Scott County District Court records. According to Iowa Court of Appeals records, Lam was 18 and living at a residential correctional facility in Davenport. While waiting for a bus he had sex with a 13-year-old girl he met at the bus terminal. The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Lams conviction and sentence. He is required to be on the Sex Offender Registry for life. An Eldridge man who pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the 2021 shooting death of his wife was sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison during a hearing Thursday in Scott County District Court. Shane Robert Bostrom, 36, will have to serve 70%, or 35 years, of his sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. At 3:46 p.m. on June 10, 2021, Eldridge Police responded to Bostrom's residence in the 300 block of West Davenport Street after a report of a shooting. Officers found Jessica C. Bostrom, 28, dead in the house. During the initial investigation, officers also found eight live marijuana plants growing in pots, two growing tents with lights, weight scales, humidity scales and baggies for delivery of marijuana inside the residence. Officers arrested Bostrom on charges of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and violating Iowas drug tax stamp law. Both charges are Class D felonies that carry a prison sentence of five years. Bostrom also is charged in that case with child endangerment and obstructing prosecution, both aggravated misdemeanors that carry a prison sentence of two years. A pre-trial conference was held Thursday in the drug case, but district court electronic records did not indicate Thursday night if a trial had been scheduled. Bostrom has demanded a jury trial in that case. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Eldridge Police Officer Ethan Roling and Scott County District Court records, Bostrom told officers that he was cleaning his gun when it discharged. The bullet struck his wife in the head, killing her. However, evidence, including phone records and video surveillance footage, indicated the shooting was deliberate. On Nov. 29, 2021, Bostrom was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. He also was charged with domestic abuse assault. On Aug. 11, Bostrom pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The domestic abuse charge was dismissed. Bostrom was being held Friday night in the Scott County Jail pending his transfer to the Iowa Department of Corrections. A judge's decision Friday to delay until next year the trial of Henry Earl Dinkins for the kidnap and murder of 10-year-old Breasia Terrell will affect more than just its start date. Scott County Attorney Michael Walton, who is retiring from the office after this election cycle, will not be the lead prosecutor on the case. Those responsibilities will fall to current Senior Assistant Prosecutor Caleb Copley or Kelly Cunningham, Muscatine's first assistant county attorney. Both are running in the Nov. 8 midterm election to replace Walton. Judge Henry Latham made the decision to delay the trial during a hearing Friday in District Court, granting a request filed by Dinkins' attorneys, Chad and Jennifer Frese in order to " ... allow them adequate time to prepare." Walton filed a resistance to the motion. The judge set a pretrial date of Nov. 18 and said he wanted a "definite trial date set by that time." After the hearing, Walton said "the prosecution will be ready to try the case whenever it is scheduled" and his staff will maintain the continuity of the efforts to prosecute Dinkins. Walton explained Scott County First Assistant Attorney Amy Devine has been working the case since its beginning and Copley is working into the prosecution team. "Senior Assistant Caleb Copley has been brought on recently to work on the case and participate in the trial next year," Walton added. "Many other staff members have been working on this case and will continue to do so." Six previous continuances were granted in the case. Two of those requests were made by Dinkins' defense teams and were not opposed by Walton. In his original reply to Dinkins' request for a seventh continuance, Walton said Breasias mother waited nine months before learning the fate of her missing daughter, then learning her daughter had been murdered. Since the arrest of the defendant, she has waited over one year for justice and resolution of this case. He added ... the delay will almost certainly cause the necessity for a new prosecution team on a very complex case, Walton said. The passing of time may affect the ability to locate witnesses as well as their memories of the event. Dinkins is being held without bond in the Marshall County Jail. The same strategies that MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans are using to establish an autocracy (a fascist state) in the US have been used by others in establishing dictatorships like fascist Viktor Orbon used to establish his dictatorship in Hungary: extreme gerrymandering, purging nonvoters from the voting rolls, restricting voting, seizing control over local election boards, packing courts with partisan judges, creating a media propaganda network and the Jan. 6th failed attempt at the overthrow of our government. The midterm elections are actually a vote to establish a fascist state and destroy democracy or affirm our democracy. The key indicator of our choice (the canary in the coal mine) will be support for Roe v Wade. We will affirm womens rights to have control over their own bodies and confirm democracy or we will vote fascist and deny women their rights. Lets not help the MAGA republicans destroy democracy and take away our rights; let us vote republicans out! We all have a stake in womens rights. If womens rights are taken away, then will LBGTQ rights be taken too? Will birth control be restricted? Forbidden? Will white supremacy become the standard guys club? Will black and brown people be celebrated as Americans or can we expect their implicit degradation? We are all in this together when one group is attacked we are all at risk to be attacked. Stand with the ones that will protect your rights and support democracy. Vote Democrat. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy US,Ukraine. Illustration: Chen Xia/GT Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday local time he would pursue fast-track NATO membership, yet the application failed to draw enthusiasm from the US. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan articulated that it was not the right time for Ukraines admission to the alliance and the application should be taken up at a different time. His underlying message was: The US does not need Ukraine as a NATO member, but needs Ukraine, rather than the whole of NATO, to fight against Russia. To make his message clearer, Sullivan continued that he believed the best way to help Ukraine is to provide practical assistance on the ground. On Saturday, Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden for signing a bill that will provide more than $12 billion in additional funding for Ukraine. The US wont cease sending strategic assistance to Ukraine. But whether or not to soon absorb the country into NATO is another story. The value of Ukraine as a pawn has not yet been fully exploited by the US. Before Russia is exhausted by the war, the US will have no appetite to end the crisis, or stop taking advantage of Ukraine. All Washington cares about is its security architecture built in Europe in the 30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. Clues can be found that when everyone is led to believe the NATO and Ukraine are strong partners, Ukraine is the one that literally keeps bleeding. If now is not the right time to consider Ukraines NATO membership, when will the appropriate time be? NATO has its criteria for those who apply for membership, including the clause that candidates must pursue the peaceful settlement of territorial and ethnic disputes. But Ukraine has been trapped in an ethnic conflict for a long time at home. Worse still, it is now in a war. It would also be naive to believe that the right timing will come after the end of the war. Despite the war being highly unlikely to end any time soon, NATO has a clear standard when it comes to expansion to gain more advantage, rather than taking on a burden. Only when Ukraine develops itself into a stable and prosperous country without conflict both at home and broad will it be the realistic timing for it to become a NATO member. On the other hand, observers also note that there is another scenario in which NATO could grant Ukraine the NATO membership in a fast-track manner. If a war breaks out between Russia and NATO, the latter may soon take in countries that could fight Russia on the frontline. Again, it is all about whether the US can make use of Ukraine. This is a scenario with very little chance of occurring. But once it does take place, all European countries will tremble under the shadow of a possible nuclear war. In that case, there will be no security for anyone, not for Ukraine, and not for the world. Instead of pursuing resolutions to end the conflict, Washington has, over and over again, displayed that the US is charging toward the other direction fanning the flames of war. Americas fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory. Every single inch, Biden said on Friday. Apparently he did not realize the irony when he stressed every inch. It only reminds people of the pledge then US secretary of state James Baker made to then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev NATO will move not one inch eastward. Just as a reminder, Bidens tough stance has nothing to do with Ukraine. He was talking about NATOs territory. And Ukraines latest application to become a NATO member in a fast-track manner has just been declined. That being said, Bidens rhetoric is about ensuring that the conflict burns longer on the European continent to make the US the ultimate winner. As for Ukraine, Washington keeps signaling that the US has offered weapons and assistance, and it is Ukraine that must fight to the end. Whether the conflict will spiral out of control is everyones concern. For Ukraine, it may believe its way out is joining NATO. We are de facto allies Ukraine is applying to make it de jure, Zelensky said. But the US does not think so. It just wants Ukraine to be de facto bullet bait, period. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. As development booms and housing needs soar in Box Elder, one local developer is doing his part to serve the needs of an area hes called home from the beginning. Daene Boomsma, owner of Boomsma Construction in Rapid City, has both personal and professional ties to Box Elder. With roots on a ranch between Box Elder and New Underwood, he attended school in the Douglas School District through graduation. Professionally, hes been developing in Box Elder since 2004, estimating hes developed over 500 lots. He currently has four housing projects underway, one of which received its final plat approval at the City Council meeting Tuesday. The Redferen Subdivision, currently a 160-acre development with potential to grow to 320, will include commercial development, multi-family housing and single-family housing. Theyve tackled 40 acres and moved 300,000 yards of dirt getting it ready for building. Within those 40 acres, multiple phases will open up as demand and timing allows, Boomsma said. The first phase, which he described as the major kick-off point, features commercial lots along a portion of Liberty Boulevard, across the street from Loves gas station. As new businesses continue to eye Box Elder, the possibilities for commercial occupants could range from motels and fast food chains to a liquor store. Ten commercial lots line Liberty Boulevard, with two more along Interstate 90s westbound off-ramp. In addition to the 12 commercial lots, the subdivision will also include 164 single-family homes and 160 multi-family homes. One of Boomsmas goals as a developer is to have the lots build-ready for commercial clients. He described grading along the corner of Liberty Boulevard and the I-90 off-ramp as a major project. And that's why we moved the 300,000 yards of dirt out of the gate basically made those commercial frontage lots available and buildable," Boomsma said. "So that a commercial client could come in, and basically design the site without a bunch of off-site costs. With Redferens first phase, theyre almost there. And we're basically just getting to that point now that the light is at the end of the tunnel, Boomsma said. Theyre ready to begin paving this fall, he said, with completion of infrastructure about a month out. The final plat approval Tuesday meant that once the infrastructure is completed, the lots are ready to build. The goal is to have the lots ready to build by December. A recent housing study conducted for Box Elder revealed an immediate need for 500-600 market rate rental housing units and over 100 rental assistance units. The study identified an annual demand for the foreseeable future to build 30-36 affordable homes, 44-50 mid-priced homes and 26-34 higher-value homes. Im doing what I can, Boomsma said, suggesting a strategic approach is needed to tackle housing, and wont happen overnight. Redferen is just one of four housing subdivisions Boomsma has in the works for Box Elder. Liberty Park Subdivision, a 15-unit apartment building up Liberty Boulevard near the Box Elder Vet Clinic, is in its final design phase. Freedom Landing Subdivision, located on the north side of the bus barn, is in preliminary review and approvals. Northern Lights Subdivision, past the university center on Cheyenne Boulevard, just completed 34 lots, with a 288-unit apartment complex underway and plans to break ground on 120 additional apartment units. I don't know that anybody's going to keep up with that, he said of housing projection from Elevate Rapid City estimating 10,000 additional rental units and single-family homes needed by 2030. I do feel like as builders, developers I feel like we're doing everything we can do. Keeping up requires smart growth, he said. If we met the demand in two years, I don't think that's smart. I think that we're gonna end up with products and subdivisions that aren't lasting," Boomsma said. "We're going to set a pace that we feel is smart, that is meeting the demand. But we're not trying to light the world on fire. Boomsma said Box Elder has done a lot of things to make sure that they don't do anything that for the long term is not good for the city. They've been able to adapt and adjust. Having grown up near Box Elder and developed within it for the past 18 years, Boomsma has a unique perspective on the development and population growth thats happened in the city. Theyve done a good job, he said, of maintaining a small town feel while growing at the rate that they have. Maintaining the South Dakota culture as Box Elder grows is important, he said. We dont want to lose all the things we love about our Midwest area that we live in, he said. Boomsma called Box Elder his passion. I have a strong interest in seeing where Box Elder has gone, and where it continues to go, just because I did grow up here, he said. Boomsma said he plans to stay in the area the rest of his life, in some capacity. I'm not here to develop a chunk of land and then see you later. So that's where I'm not interested in doing everything just as quick as I can to turn a dollar I want to see it done right," he said. "I want to see it done smartly. And be able to drive through it in 30 years and say, 'yep, we did this.' Toni Strauss has been named as the deputy forest supervisor for the Black Hills National Forest. According to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service, Strauss has 22 years of federal service working for the forest service and the Bureau of Land Management. She started her career with the USFS at the Bridger-Teton National Forest and served with the Thunder Basin National Grassland, Coronado National Forest, Superior National Forest and Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Strauss has served in a variety of positions for the USFS including rangeland management specialist, the first wild horse and burro program manager for the agency, and district ranger. While working for the BLM, she worked at South Dakotas field office in Belle Fourche as a rangeland management specialist and served as a resource advisor at the headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado. Strauss took a 10-year leave from civil service while living in Seward, Alaska, partnering with her husband as a small business owner in the hospitality industry. Her husband continues to manage the businesses in Alaska. She graduated in 1991 from Montana State University with a bachelors degree in rangeland science. Her hobbies include horses and trail riding, quilting, reading and cooking. Im thrilled at the opportunity to return to the Black Hills and my forest service home as the new deputy forest supervisor. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, Strauss said. Strauss will begin her new assignment Oct 11. Painting over graffiti in north Rapid City is more than community service for Julius Morris. It's a step toward his goal of becoming a sheriff's deputy and changing the minds of the younger generation. Morris is in his second year in Western Dakota Technical College's criminal justice program, a program he enrolled in after discharge from the U.S. Army. "It's something that I've always wanted to do, and change the younger generation to say, 'That guy did it,'" Morris said. "There's other paths to take instead of a path of doing graffiti and ruining your lives over something dumb when you can go and help other people. It's definitely a big deal to me to work as a police officer here in Rapid City." Morris and approximately 20 other students in the program volunteered to paint over graffiti Thursday as a community service project in partnership with the Rapid City Police Department's Graffiti Strike Force. Peter Ragnone, criminal justice program director at Western Dakota Tech and retired RCPD officer, said this is the program's first time working with the strike force. He said students have previously volunteered with the Festival of Lights Parade and Special Olympics bowling, among other things. "It's important for us as faculty and instructors to instill industry values such as community service, community betterment," Ragnone said. "When we have them come out on days like this, they also learn sacrifice and discipline as well." Thursday's weather proved tricky for the group as a light drizzle and some rain fell over Rapid City for most of the day. Ragnone said the students needs to learn these skills, and they can't always learn them in the classroom. "Public service has been a time-honored tradition in Rapid City, particularly with the Rapid City Police Department," he said. "We partner with them and all other law enforcement agencies in the hopes of community betterment." Graffiti Strike Force Coordinator Chris DeGroote was retired from the RCPD after 25 years of service before he got called back to resume duties with the strike force. DeGroote said he had a huge role in developing the task force "back in the day." He said after he retired, graffiti wasn't being addressed as quickly as it had previously. DeGroote said Police Chief Don Hedrick contacted him and asked him to come back to the program. DeGroote said it's important to have an orderly and tidy community, and certain things like graffiti announce a community isn't orderly or tidy. "Graffiti on buildings, walls, fences, sidewalks is one of those things because it's very, very visible," he said. "Most people can't tell the difference between gang graffiti and tagger graffiti, and it's just an eyesore for everybody." He said it also contributes to the "broken window" theory, that if a community wants to keep crime down, have an orderly community and neighborhood. DeGroote said that means properties aren't dilapidated, junk vehicles aren't laying around, and not leaving graffiti in places for long periods of time. DeGroote said this time of year and into the winter, the strike force has to be ready to go on warm days. "It doesn't do any good to paint graffiti when it's 30 degrees or colder, that's just not going to be effective," he said. "At the same time, I can't operate the pressure washer in those temperatures because the water will freeze." In the winter, they will wait for those warmer days and go out to tackle the damage. DeGroote said anyone interested in volunteering should contact the RCPD's non-emergency line at 605-394-4131 and leave a message for Chris DeGroote and the Graffiti Strike Force. To report graffiti, call the RCPD non-emergency line. DENTON Most of the wounds have healed, but the scars of a November 2021 fire that ravaged the small central Montana community of Denton are still evident 10 months later. It got cold last weekend and somebody turned their furnace on, I smelled something burning and started checking wheres the fire? said Tiffany Wickens, a waitress at the local cafe and a native of Denton. Even camping its like: Should I start a fire? I used to really love a good fire. Its like everyone has a little PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Curtis Hershberger, who lost a building and a garage with a vintage car in it, agreed that many residents still feel nervous when they smell smoke. Everyone is waiting for the ball to drop because its so dry again this year, he said. Wickens noted that when she was trimming trees in town this summer she found the burnt pages of a book nestled in the dry branches. Its hard to imagine, she said, but things could have been even worse. Fire in the night The West Wind fire ignited around 11 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2021, when winds gusting up to 60 mph toppled a NorthWestern Energy power line. Driven by the strong gusts, the fire roared across grasslands before consuming 25 homes, 18 other structures and six commercial buildings. These included four 100-year-old grain elevators on the edge of town, the train trestle and highway bridge. I didnt realize how under-insured I was based on the cost to do stuff today, said Jay Lee, who co-owned the grain elevators with a friend. The elevators could hold more than 240,000 bushels of wheat. About 100,000 bushels were destroyed in the fire. Lee purchased two 50,000-bushel grain bins for his farm to help fill the gap for now, since he cant afford to rebuild all of the lost storage at once. More than anything, those elevators have been there all of my life and most of my dads life, he said. To see the skyline without them is odd. Denton was pretty much built around those elevators. After his insurance claims due to the fire, the company canceled Lees policy after more than 60 years as a customer. Im not very happy with them, he said. Changing climate The fire struck at a time of year when wildland fires used to be unheard of. Decades ago, it was common to have snow the ground by October. Now the fire season is no longer a season, its year-round, even in northern states like Montana. When you see the elevators on fire and buildings in the middle of town on fire, you think it could all go, said Joel Barber, the towns mayor. According to the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment, the annual average temperature in the state has increased from 2 to 3 degrees between 1950 and 2015. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nine of the 10 warmest years on record worldwide have occurred since 2005. The Montana study also showed winter precipitation dropping with a trend toward continued warming through this century. And the study also predicts an increasing trend toward drier and warmer weather, conditions that can spark wildland fires. Since 1984, Montana saw its annual burned acreage due to wildland fire increase from around 250,000 acres to more than a million by 2019, according to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency. Dry conditions and downed power lines have in recent years sparked devastating wildland fires in Oregon and California as well. As firefighters fought the Denton blaze, they noted the temperature was a balmy 60 degrees, abnormally warm for a town that averages closer to a high in the 40s at that time of year. Warm weather wasnt limited to Denton In 2021. Montanas average temperature was 72.5 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Only two other years have had a warmer average temperature. In 2007 the average temperature was 73.3 degrees and during the severe drought of the Dust Bowl-era Montana had its highest recorded average temperature in 127 years of 73.7 degrees. The data shows the gap between record-setting warm years has narrowed considerably. Support, recovery The prairie community of Denton, located about 40 miles northwest of Lewistown, has long been powered by the cattle and grain markets since its founding in the late 1800s. The towns residents are resilient. New buildings already replace some of those burned down. Structures damaged were quickly cleaned up and disposed of, and vacant lots are the only evidence of buildings now gone. NorthWestern Energy pitched in with help for displaced homeowners and by cleaning up the debris. For my part of it, it would have been really tough if NorthWestern hadnt been involved, Hershberger said. I cant say enough good about them. If lightning had caused the fire, he noted, that help wouldnt have been available. Generous donors also poured in money to help, including former Denton residents. Others contributed materials, vehicles and even fencing to replace enclosures burnt or cut down during the firefighting effort. The inflow of support was pretty overwhelming, said Brandy Barber, who with her husband, Joel, co-own and operate the Shade Tree Cafe, Longbranch Bar and Denton Motel. Even though it was tragic, it was like, Holy cow! Theres a lot of generous people around here. Money cant heal some of the wounds caused by the fire. Brandy can count at least eight people who left town when they lost their rentals or homes. One old-timers blue Ford LTD was burnt, leaving him without a way to tour town. He would drive in the parking lane rather than the main road, Brandy recalled. He was just cruising town. Hed stop at the store, the post office and bar and usually had a Guinness. Hes a great, great guy and his car burned. And now he has to look at it every day, rusted and burnt, the tires melted. And he hasnt been out since. Its kind of sad. The car for him was independence. Suggestions by some townspeople that a new car be purchased for the elderly gentlemen were shot down after others noted he probably shouldnt be driving anyway. Since that happened, I havent seen him out in the community, Brandy said. Burned John Drivdahl remains a regular Shade Tree Cafe customer in the mornings, drinking coffee with fellow Denton residents under a sign designating one table the Old farts corner. But he confided the loss of his horse trailer, eight tractors, campers, hay, fences, work shop and all the tools it contained have left him feeling less than whole. Twenty fir trees that provided a wind break were also charred. One item he especially valued was an antique saddle made by Al Furstnow, a famed Miles City saddlemaker. We lost most everything we owned, except our house, he said. It was very devastating, said his wife, Sylvia. We never will feel whole again. The Drivdahls moved to the community 15 years ago after the rich and famous crowded them out of Big Timber, John said of an area near the Crazy Mountains now known for its celebrity landowners. Johns a celebrity in his own right, a cowboy poet who can recite well-known Robert Service poems from memory. It seems a far cry from his former profession, an explosives expert who traveled to Ethiopia to train others how to detonate dynamite. With no hay or fences, the Drivdahls sold off their yearling cattle earlier this year. After donations of fencing material to rebuild, they bought a few cattle, but at age 82 John said its hard to get motivated. Especially when something as simple as buying new tires for a vehicle took six months. We arent really starting over again because it will never be the same, he said. Something like that may burn out something in your head. Its hard to muster up ambition anymore. Rebuilding Denton native Josh Poser helped fight the West Wind fire last year, taking a break when it looked like things had calmed down and the fire was under control. His parents home was one of the first to burn, then early the next morning he was told his house was the last to ignite. It was not a normal fire with that wind, he said, blazing down the railroad tracks and then shifting direction. Without a home, his wife and two young children have bounced around from a motel to a mouse-infested rental to a camper trailer paid for by their insurance company. That option will evaporate in October. With a background in carpentry, Poser has been working to rebuild where the old house he was remodeling once stood. Problem is, getting contractors to do the plumbing and electrical work has been difficult; it was hard to even get bids. Also aggravating the situation is the high cost of materials, something not taken into account with his homeowners insurance policy. Were trying to stay positive, he said, sitting outside the trailer next to the home thats under construction. "We always said we wanted to build our own house, this is just not how we wanted to do it. Hes turned the adjacent wood shop into a temporary family room to help his family spread out a bit. Its hard to say things worked in your favor when it was a disaster, Joel Barber said. Its been a crazy year. A local real estate developer and investor was sentenced Friday to 41 months in prison for defrauding the Small Business Administration and associated financial institutions out of more than $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. Federal prosecutors, in arguing for stiff punishment, noted that Moe Mathews scheme robbed an emergency government relief program designed to save businesses and their employees from the unprecedented economic impact of the pandemic. The program and the financial assistance it offered to businesses was finite, and by unjustly stealing over $1 million in funds, Mathews prevented other deserving businesses from accessing desperately needed help. The defendants relentless pursuit of these funds showed a callous disregard to businesses and workers who were financially suffering due to the pandemic, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kashan Pathan. Police: 17-year-old arrested in North Kinsley Avenue shooting Richmond police on Friday said a 17-year-old male student was arrested Thursday at George Wythe High School and is accused of shooting another teen. Further, it is deeply ironic that the defendant now seeks to explain and excuse his fraud by citing the adverse impact the pandemic had on his businesses when, through his criminal conduct, he showed little concern to other businesses who experienced the same setbacks, the prosecutor added. After a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Richmond on Friday, Judge Henry Hudson sentenced Mathews to 41 months in prison on his earlier guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The punishment was at the low end of discretionary federal sentencing guidelines, which for Mathews was calculated at a range of 41 to 51 months. Mathews also will be required to make restitution in the amount of $1,166,941.30 to the SBA and eight financial institutions. When he pleaded guilty in May, Mathews, 51, was co-owner and manager of Fresh Start Properties Solutions LLC based in Rockville, among other ventures. According to the governments statement of facts, Mathews and an unnamed co-conspirator submitted at least 38 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program applications to financial institutions from about April 2020 through April 2021. Authorized by Congress through the CARES Act, the PPP is a federal Small Business Administration program that provided forgivable loans through participating financial institutions to small business for job retention and other expenses during the pandemic. Of the 38 fraudulent applications, 25 were first draw PPP loans, which can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits, and may also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities and worker protection costs related to COVID. Mathews would sign the application forms as the authorized representative of the businesses, and he would represent that he and his accomplice were co-owners of those businesses, the government said. Although the specific misrepresentations and supporting documents varied on the applications, each of the first draw PPP applications contained false statements, false certifications and/or fabricated tax documents, authorities said. This included falsely representing the average monthly payroll and the number of employees working for their purported business in an effort to mislead the financial institutions that were reviewing their loan applications, according to the prosecutions case. Mathews and his accomplice also falsely certified that the loan proceeds would be used solely for business-related purposes, when, as they knew at the time, the conspirators also intended to use the funds for unauthorized personal expenses and bills, Pathan wrote in the governments statement of facts. They also conspired to routinely submit fabricated IRS Form 941s that purported to substantiate the monthly payroll expenses and employee counts claimed in the applications. Once the fraudulent applications were approved by the financial institutions, the proceeds for the PPP loans would generally be disbursed to bank accounts in the names of the businesses that Mathews and his accomplice claimed to own and operate. Several of these bank accounts were opened by the conspirators shortly before or immediately after they submitted the fraudulent applications. Both were signatories to the bank accounts, the government said. The government said the conspiracy also involved Mathews and his accomplice submitting second draw PPP loan applications to financial institutions, which were predicated on the fraudulently obtained first draw PPP loans they applied for and received. PPP Second Draw allows borrowers who previously received a PPP loan to receive a second potentially forgivable loan to be used toward payroll expenses, rent, utilities and mortgage interest. Once the second draw PPP loan proceeds were disbursed by the financial institutions, Mathews and his accomplice repeatedly and knowingly used the second draw PPP loan proceeds contrary to the programs requirements. For example, the conspirators would regularly transfer and spend those proceeds on their other businesses that had not applied for that loan and that were not authorized to receive or use those loan proceeds. Bill Dinkin, Mathews attorney, had sought a downward variance in punishment for his client of 24 months, noting that Mathews had lived a life defined by honor and duty before engaging in the COVID fraud. It was only with the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the looming collapse of the businesses he worked so hard to build that he took the desperate and uncharacteristic steps of submitting false information to obtain Payroll Protection Program loans, Dinkin said. Almost all of the misappropriated funds he received were used to pay business expenses such as salaries and mortgages to keep afloat the various entities for which he borrowed money, Dinkin said. The attorney also emphasized Mathews 13 years of service in the U.S. Marines and his deployment overseas during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the 1990-91 Gulf War with Iraq. Among other assignments, Mathews, as an Arabic linguist, participated in the screening and interrogation of Iraqi defectors and prisoners of war. Federal prosecutors also noted Mathews service. This case is all the more tragic by the fact the defendants greed led to the betrayal of the country he once served with honor and distinction, Pathan said. The number of Virginia Commonwealth University students who were caught committing an alcohol violation has plummeted 93% in the past five years, according to the schools annual crime report released last month. One possible reason: Some students switched from drinking alcohol to smoking cannabis, which last year became legal for Virginia adults 21 and over to possess in small amounts. Way more people smoke weed than drink, said Nikolett Kormos, a freshman studying physical therapy. Jessica Vigil, a freshman English major, echoed those sentiments: Theres becoming more stoners. Other factors may include an aversion to heavy drinking and less access to alcohol during the beginning of the pandemic. Now that cannabis possession is legal for some, drug violations have cratered, too. And colleges are changing how they discipline students who illegally use alcohol or drugs, placing them on probation instead of arresting them. In 2015, there were 621 liquor law violations on VCUs Monroe Park campus. These violations largely include underage possession and serving alcohol to a minor. Public drunkenness and driving under the influence are categorized separately. Students either can face criminal charges or be referred to universitys disciplinary process. By 2021, the number of liquor violations sank to 59. The pandemic accounts for some of that drop many students continued learning remotely in the spring of 2021, but by the fall, students were largely back on campus. Plus, the decline in alcohol violations began before the pandemic started. Effect of legalization of marijuana unclear In July 2021, Virginia legalized marijuana possession. Adults 21 years and older can possess 1 ounce or less. Selling it is illegal, and it cant be consumed in public. In the budget lawmakers passed this year, they added a misdemeanor criminal offense for possession of more than 4 ounces. Its unclear what kind of ripple effect legalization will have on drug and alcohol consumption. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which monitors the prevalence of cannabis use, has not reported new data since 2020. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks adolescents and teens about their alcohol and drug consumption, has not reported new figures since 2019. At the McShin Foundation, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Henrico County, it doesnt appear alcohol abuse has become less common since Virginia legalized marijuana. The number of people there seeking help for alcohol hasnt declined in the past year, said John Shinholser, the foundations president. It may have gone up slightly. Young adults and teenagers will try all sorts of substances, Shinholser said, especially whatever is most accessible. Given that cannabis is legal, its not surprising that drug violations at VCU are way down, too. The number of drug abuse offenses dropped 90% from 433 in 2017 to 42 in 2021. Even though some underage students are using cannabis, those students draw less attention to themselves than underage drinkers, Shinholser said. Cannabis users arent likely to become violent or party loud enough to create a noise complaint. Shinholser said he supports legalized consumption and sales of cannabis for adults. The vast majority of users do not abuse it or transition to harder drugs, he added. Students less likely to face criminal charges VCU students who do get in trouble for drugs and alcohol are now less likely to face arrest. In 2020, VCU changed how it responds to noise, drug and alcohol violations in its dormitories, said John Venuti, chief of VCU Police. Instead of dispatching police officers, housing staffers respond. If a student is caught by housing staff, the student receives a disciplinary referral. Punishments can range from probation to being removed from university housing. If the housing staff needs assistance from police, and officers respond, anyone who breaks a law is arrested. In the majority of cases in 2021, police were not called. For alcohol, there were 47 referrals and 12 arrests. For drug abuse, there were 36 referrals and six arrests. Such leniency is effective, said Karen Belanger, VCUs director of student conduct and academic integrity. The rate of recidivism is low. For now, cannabis is still prohibited at VCU. Because cannabis is illegal at the federal level and, because VCU receives federal funding, it and other colleges still keep cannabis on their lists of banned substances. That may change soon. On Thursday, President Joe Biden issued pardons for people convicted of federal crimes for simple possession of marijuana, and he directed his administration to expedite a review of whether marijuana should continue to be listed as a Schedule I substance, a classification that includes heroin and LSD. VCU Police dont seek out cannabis violations or search people when officers smell it, assistant chief Nicole Dailey said last year. But if an officer discovers a cannabis violation during an unrelated encounter, the officer will respond. A person who violates cannabis laws can receive a $25 civil fine. Other colleges At the University of Richmond, liquor law violations declined but not as drastically as at VCU. Alcohol disciplinary referrals dropped from 112 before the pandemic in 2019 to 86 in 2021. Drug violations at UR have nearly disappeared, dropping from 66 in 2019 to three in 2021. UR also operated at limited capacity in spring 2021, contributing to some of the decrease. UR has not made a drug or alcohol arrest in the past two years every case was handled by the university instead of a court. UR deploys education and counseling for substance abuse issues, a university spokesperson said. At Virginia State University, there were no drug abuse arrests in 2021, but there were 48 drug abuse disciplinary referrals almost equal to the 2019 figure. Alcohol violations dropped slightly. A spokesperson for Virginia Union University did not provide the universitys annual crime report. Under the Clery Act, the federal government requires colleges to publish annual security and fire safety reports each fall. Not all universities have experienced drops in liquor law violations. At the University of Virginia, alcohol referrals in 2021 were essentially flat compared to 2019, and drug abuse referrals nearly doubled from 13 to 25. At Virginia Tech, alcohol referrals increased in 2021, but there were no drug abuse referrals. Another reason VCU students might be consuming less alcohol is a fear of alcohol poisoning. In 2021, VCU freshman Adam Oakes died in a hazing incident at a Delta Chi fraternity initiation party. Mateo Melchor, a VCU freshman majoring in international studies, said he thinks VCU students are less likely to drink in excess since Oakes death. Kormos, the freshman studying physical therapy, said some students are scared to consume mixed drinks at parties, because they dont know what substances have been poured into the large Gatorade buckets in which beverages are served. The pandemic also had an effect on college students relationship with alcohol, said Chuck Klink, vice president of student affairs at VCU. College students nationwide seemed to consume less alcohol, drink heavily less often and become less intoxicated, Klink said. There were fewer parties during the onset of the pandemic, and many students spent more time with their families. If college students drank less, adults did not. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, adults over the age of 21 drank greater amounts of alcohol and consumed it more frequently during the pandemic. OSLO, Norway (AP) This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties, a strong rebuke to Russia's President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel wanted to honor "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine." "Through their consistent efforts in favor of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this year's laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobel's vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today," she told reporters in Oslo. Bialiatski was one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid 1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties in the authoritarian country. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna and won the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the "Alternative Nobel," in 2020. Bialiatski was detained following anti-government protests that year and remains in jail without trial. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses in Russia and tracked the fate of political prisoners in the country. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. "The center has taken a stand to strengthen Ukrainian civil society and pressure the authorities to make Ukraine a full fledged democracy, to develop Ukraine into a state governed by rule of law," said Reiss-Andersen. Read the full story here: For Virginias class of 2022, 92.1% of public high school students graduated, slightly down from the 93% figure for 2021, but higher than the class of 2019's pre-pandemic graduation rate of 91.5%, according to state figures. Graduation rates in the Roanoke and New River valleys dropped year over year, with the exception of Montgomery County. All of the divisions exceeded the state graduation rate except for Craig and Franklin counties and Roanoke City Public Schools. Statewide the dropout rate for the class of 2022 did increase from the previous year. Of the 98,648 students in the class of 2022, 5.19% dropped out, compared with 4.3% for the class of 2021. Unlike past years, the Virginia Department of Education did not formally communicate the 2022 graduation rates with the public this year. Instead, it quietly released the data on the departments website and on each districts school quality profile. Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow did not respond to a request for comment. Last month when the state released accreditation figures for schools, Balow cast doubt on the ratings which represented a decrease of just 3% from three years ago citing the significant declines in achievements on the state's Standards of Learning tests. Last months ratings, the first since the start of the pandemic, showed 89% of Virginia public schools fully accredited. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said at the time that the accreditation figures reflected a broken accountability system" that did not "reflect catastrophic learning loss and growing achievement gaps facing Virginias students." Roanoke and New River valleys Here are the four-year on-time graduation rates for public school divisions in the two valleys for 2021-22 compared with 2020-21: Botetourt County: 94.7%, down from 95.7% in 2020-21. Craig County: 80%, down from 81.4%. Franklin County: 88.1%, down from 92.9%. Montgomery County: 95.4%, up from 95.1%. Pulaski County: 92.3%, down from 95.4%. Radford: 96.3%, down from 96.7%. Roanoke: 87%, down from 89.3%. Roanoke County: 94.7%, down from 95.3%. Salem: 94.3%, down from 96.3%. Statewide data breakdowns Statewide, compared with the 2021 graduating class, the number of graduating Hispanic students decreased by roughly 2% and slightly fewer Black and white students graduated. Overall, here are the Class of 2022 graduation rates broken down by race: American Indian, 86.34% Asian, 98.25% Black, 90.27% Hispanic, 83.12% Native Hawaiian, 96% White,94.88% Multiple Races, 93.59% Graduation rates for students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students and English learners dropped from 2021 to 2022. English learners saw the largest decrease in students graduating, from 77.2% in 2021 to 72.69% in 2022, according to state data. Children squealed and zoomed around under a big tent, chasing various farm animals on Wednesday. Some got to see and touch some of the animals for the first time at the Guadalupe County Fairs school tours at the Seguin Events Complex where they learned about agriculture and its place in their everyday lives. Started in 1983 by the fairs current director and School Tours committee chair Gail Damerau, the two-day event on Wednesday and Thursday brought busloads of mostly elementary school children from the area to the fairgrounds. Fair offers fun and more for all comers With the hustle and bustle that have taken over our everyday lives, especially after a pande Children got to visit a barnyard station, tractor station, story station, baby chick station and more, Damerau said. While the kids delight in touching baby goats, playing with pigs and holding tiny chicks, the event offers much more with the help of older area students, she said. The main thing is teaching them about agriculture and exposing them to things maybe they havent seen before, Damerau said. Older kids 4H and FFA kids theyre the tour guides. They meet the younger kids on the bus. Then they take them around to the stations. Apple Ibara, a 16-year-old junior at Steele High School and member of the schools Future Farmers of America, helped provide tours Wednesday and showed the younger students chicks at the fair. A member of the program for nearly two years, Apple said she gets lots out of FFA, helping at the fair and more. FFA offers life experiences, leadership-building opportunities, and chances to open up more socially among other things, she said. Participating is a lot of fun and she meets new and interesting people like those at the fair, Apple said. I get to experience things I wouldnt have been able to before, she said. Also, (FFA) builds great responsibilities and good social skills. I love FFA. Guadalupe County fair, rodeo marches into Seguin Community members have gathered to celebrate the countys agriculture industry for 138 years The School Tour days offered as much to students and their chaperones from area elementary schools and daycare centers. Among the things the special visitors learned about is how food and fiber production are of the utmost importance, yet many Americans dont know that the local supermarket isnt the primary producer of what they consume. Emilee Trlica, a Texas Farm Bureau field representative, said it is her job to educate folks on the source of their food and fiber, and how vital it is for us to grow our own. Most people in this country are at least three generations removed from the farm, she said. Most people dont know where their food and their clothes come from. Children and adults, a lot of times will answer H-E-B and Walmart. On Wednesday, Trlica educated young and older visitors during the tours. Food and fiber production for sustenance and clothing are immensely important for the nation, Trlica said. They are a matter of national security, she said. If farmers stop growing the things we need and those things have to be imported to the United States, the country can become dependent on a foreign power, Trlica said. That could mean drastic changes for this nation, which, she said, has the cheapest and most abundant food sources of any country. In her talks, she tries to express the point to children and adults alike. Most of us still have a lot to learn, even me. If we dont continue to teach people the importance of agriculture, it could become a huge issue for our nation, Trlica said. People need to understand its not just about food security, but also about national security. And thats not to mention the jobs local agriculture provides. In her 23 years educating people about agriculture, many things have remained the same but some constantly change, Trlica said. She finds that the more years she educates others about agriculture, the knowledge base of her audiences continues to diminish about farming. We all need to support locals doing the job that helps bring us things we need to consume every day, Trlica said. Its important all of us be appreciative of local agriculture, she said. When you see that farmer driving slow down the highway, hes driving carefully to get from one place to another to grow your food or fiber. Be nice. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Overcast. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. A few more details about President Biden's mass pardon of federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana | Main | "Retributivism" October 7, 2022 In the wake of historic pardons, noticing the federal prison population keeps growing during the Biden years As a matter of pardon practice and marijuana policy, President Joe Biden's actions yesterday (basics here and here) qualify as both historic and consequential. But, because nobody receives significant federal prison time for just simple marijuana possession, his mass pardon has absolutely no direct impact on the federal prison population. I suspect some persons imprisoned for marijuana trafficking might cite the pardons in compassionate release motions, but I doubt these pardons alone will significantly impact how judges thinking about compassionate release issues. More broadly, the same day as this pardon announcement, I thought to check the prison population numbers that the federal Bureau of Prisons updates weekly at this webpage. As of October 6, 2022, the federal prison population clocks in at 158,949, which is the highest it has been since July 2020. The day after Joe Biden was inaugurated, I authored this post posing this question in the title: "Anyone bold enough to make predictions about the federal prison population which is now at 151,646 according to BOP?". That post highlighted notable recent realities about the the federal prison population (based on BOP data); there I highlighted that during Prez Trump's one term, the federal population count decreased almost 20%, dropping from 189,212 total federal inmates in January 2017 to 151,646 in January 2021. The dramatic federal prison population drop in the Trump years was largely a function of the FIRST STEP Act and especially COVID dynamics. So, with COVID disruptions easing, it should not be too surprising to see some growth in the federal prison population. Still, over the course of 21 months, we have now had the federal prison population grow over 7,300 persons, which amounts to federal population growth of almost 5%. So, while I am eager to celebrate Prez Biden for getting out his clemency pen, there is still plenty more work to do. October 7, 2022 at 11:08 AM | Permalink Comments It's beyond obvious that the best way to reduce the prison population is for prospective criminals to refrain from the behavior they're contemplating. But this in the one thing I never see suggested here, because the only fault lies with the BIG BAD SYSTEM. I guess there are people who actually believe this, but, fortunately, not very many. Posted by: Bill Otis | Oct 7, 2022 12:44:54 PM My observation from dealing with thousands of BOP inmates is that almost all knew that what they were doing was wrong; the common thread is that most thought ha the were smart enough that the could avoid detection and not get caught, a bet the lost. In the realm of marijuana offenses, the world is somewhat different, since marijuana possession, cultivation and use is socially acceptable to at least the 44 million to 47 million Americans who use marijuana on a monthly basis. Governor Andy Beshear's (D. Ky.) Marijuana Commission recently found that more than 80% of adult Kentuckians favor legalizing medical marijuana, but our conservative Republican legislators have refused to do it. I have a high school friend, now 62, whose adult life has been seriously harmed by a Kentucky felony marijuana cultivation conviction she got a age 20. Her boyfriend at the time gave her 28 marijuana seeds to start growing in white styrafoam coffee cups. At the time she was arrested, the young plants were each about 3 inches tall. Because she was growing more than 5 plants, her cultivation charge was a felony, not a misdemeanor. This conviction has adversely affected her employability and ability to rent apartments, even in Georgia, where she has lived for more than 20 years now. I have long suggested that she apply to the Kentucky Governor for a pardon. She has no been arrested or charged with an other crime in more than 40 years. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Oct 9, 2022 10:17:16 AM Post a comment October surprise: Prez Biden announces he is "pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession"! Wow! | Main | In the wake of historic pardons, noticing the federal prison population keeps growing during the Biden years October 6, 2022 A few more details about President Biden's mass pardon of federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana As noted in this prior post, Prez Biden today granted a mass pardon to "all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana." This official proclamation, titled "A Proclamation on Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana," provides some who and how details: Acting pursuant to the grant of authority in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the United States, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to (1) all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, as currently codified at 21 U.S.C. 844 and as previously codified elsewhere in the United States Code, or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1), on or before the date of this proclamation, regardless of whether they have been charged with or prosecuted for this offense on or before the date of this proclamation; and (2) all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, as currently codified at 21 U.S.C. 844 and as previously codified elsewhere in the United States Code, or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1); which pardon shall restore to them full political, civil, and other rights. My intent by this proclamation is to pardon only the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of Federal law or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1), and not any other offenses related to marijuana or other controlled substances. No language herein shall be construed to pardon any person for any other offense, including possession of other controlled substances, whether committed prior, subsequent, or contemporaneous to the pardoned offense of simple possession of marijuana. This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense. Pursuant to this proclamation, the Attorney General, acting through the Pardon Attorney, shall administer and effectuate the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible applicants who have been charged or convicted for the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, as currently codified at 21 U.S.C. 844 and as previously codified elsewhere in the United States Code, or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1). The Attorney General, acting through the Pardon Attorney, is directed to develop and announce application procedures for certificates of pardon and to begin accepting applications in accordance with such procedures as soon as reasonably practicable. The Attorney General, acting through the Pardon Attorney, shall review all properly submitted applications and shall issue certificates of pardon to eligible applicants in due course. Helpfully, the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney has this extended Q&A about the reach of the pardon proclamation, and here are some interesting parts: Does the proclamation apply to convictions under state law? No. President Bidens proclamation does not pardon convictions under state law, although it does apply to possession of marijuana convictions under the District of Columbias criminal code. Does the proclamation apply to all types of federal marijuana offenses? No. President Bidens proclamation applies only to simple possession of marijuana offenses. Conspiracy, distribution, possession with intent to distribute, and other charges involving marijuana are not pardoned by the Proclamation. Do I qualify for a pardon if I was convicted under 21 U.S.C. 844 of possessing marijuana and another drug in a single offense? No. The proclamation does not apply to persons who were convicted of possessing multiple different controlled substance in the same offense. For example, if you were convicted of possessing marijuana and cocaine in a single offense, you do not qualify for pardon under the terms of President Bidens proclamation. If you were convicted of one count of simple possession of marijuana and a second count of possession of cocaine, President Bidens proclamation applies only to the simple possession of marijuana count, not the possession of cocaine count. Does the proclamation apply to charges that are currently pending as of October 6, 2022? Yes. President Bidens Proclamation applies if the qualifying offense occurred on or before October 6, 2022, even if a conviction has not been obtained by that date. Does the proclamation protect me from being charged with marijuana possession in the future? No. The proclamation pardons only those offenses occurring on or before October 6, 2022. It does not have any effect on marijuana possession offenses occurring after October 6, 2022. In various press reports, I keep seeing some version of this accounting of the impact from this ABC News piece: The executive action will benefit 6,500 people with prior federal convictions and thousands of others charged under the District of Columbia's criminal code, according to senior administration officials. Elaborating on the number of people affected, officials said "there are no individuals currently in federal prison solely for simple possession of marijuana." I presume that the US Pardon Attorney will keep detailed records of how many people end up acquiring certificates of pardon (though all these people have been pardoned, a certificate just serves as a way to get an official memorialization of that fact). And I would love to see more details, now or later, about some of the demographics of the estimated population who got these pardons. Someone has clearly run the numbers, though I suspect any accounting here is a bit of a guess and also lacks as much demographic information as might be really interesting. UPDATE: Thanks to commentor atomicfrog, I just saw that the US Sentencing Commission has produced this three-page analysis of "data relating to offenders sentenced between fiscal year 1992 and fiscal year 2021 convicted of at least one count of simple possession involving marijuana." The analysis merely details yearly convictions since 1992 with number of convictions of US citizens and lawful permanent residents. The data is more than a bit inscrutable in part because there are three charts for which the relationship to each other is unclear and because of a note stating that "2,085 cases were excluded from the three analyses in this report due to missing information relating to citizenship." Since these data are from the US Sentencing Commission, the data sets used for these analyses ought to have race and gender and age and criminal history information. Perhaps in time the US Sentencing Commission or the White House will look to provide additional demographic information here. Also, now seeing that the mid-1990s brought as many as 500 federal marijuana possession convictions per year, I suspect there were at least few thousand more prior relevant convictions not captured in these data but subject to coverage by the mass pardon from Prez Biden. I am tempted to start saying that it looks like 10,000 or more pardons were actually announced by the President in this initiative. October 6, 2022 at 06:58 PM | Permalink Comments I'd like to see where they got their numbers as well - when I ran the data from USSC Ask IDA program, from 2015 to 2021 (only dates available in IDA) - there were 493 defendant's whose guideline was 2D2.1 - the Unlawful Possession Guideline and where the primary drug was marijuana. Obviously, the pardon data includes more years, regardless, love to see the analysis. Posted by: atomicfrog | Oct 7, 2022 8:23:32 AM If you ask, you shall receive, looks like the USSC answered my question - https://www.ussc.gov/about/news/press-releases/october-7-2022 WASHINGTON, DC Yesterday President Biden announced his intention to pardon current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents convicted of simple possession of marijuana, directing the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals. Pursuant to its statutory mission, the United States Sentencing Commission serves as a clearinghouse for the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relating to federal sentencing practices. The Commission occasionally performs analyses relating to significant Executive Branch initiatives relating to the presidential pardon and commutation authority. The analysis below provides data relating to offenders sentenced between fiscal year 1992 and fiscal year 2021 convicted of at least one count of simple possession involving marijuana (21 U.S.C. 844). Posted by: atomicfrog | Oct 7, 2022 3:58:36 PM Thank you for this very interesting information from the USSC. When I was looking for marijuana only offenders in the BOP the USSC told me that they did not break out this category. At that time, I was told that they considered a conviction a marijuana conviction if marijuana was the predominant drug not the only drug. If there are 6577 people eligible for pardons for simple marijuana possession, they must be people from the District of Columbia and those arrested on federal land parks, reserves etc. I wonder if there is a breakdown of how many of those eligible for pardons are from D.C.? Would the 555 simple marijuana possession cases with previous convictions for other drugs be subtracted from the 6577 figure? No pardons have been granted and it looks as if the process has not been established and may be complicated. I long for some simplicity from the DOJ and am looking forward to the day the announcements show up on the DOJ Pardon Attorneys site. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 9, 2022 8:49:02 PM Post a comment Reminder on a call for papers for "Drugs and Public Safety: Exploring the Impact of Policy, Policing, and Prosecutorial Reforms" | Main | A few more details about President Biden's mass pardon of federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana October 6, 2022 October surprise: Prez Biden announces he is "pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession"! Wow! About a half hour ago as of this writing, President Joe Biden has announced a set of remarkable new marijuana policy moves on this Twitter thread, which starts this way: President Biden @POTUS As Ive said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Today, Im taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out. First: Im pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden. Second: Im calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either. Third: We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin and more serious than fentanyl. It makes no sense. Im asking @SecBecerra and the Attorney General to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. This is very big news (though not quite massive news), with lots of formal and informal ripples for criminal justice systems and sentencing. The legal, policy, political and practical consequences of these moves are going to be fascinating (and a bit unpredictable, I suspect). Wow! UPDATE : Here is a fuller official statement from the White House, with the federal pardon talk at the start: As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates. Today, I am announcing three steps that I am taking to end this failed approach. First, I am announcing a pardon of all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. I have directed the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals. There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions. According to this New York Times piece, headline "Biden Pardons Thousands of People Convicted of Marijuana Possession Under Federal Law" the promised pardons have already been issued: President Biden on Thursday pardoned all people convicted of marijuana possession under federal law and said his administration would review whether marijuana should still be a Class 1 drug like heroin and LSD. The pardons will clear about 6,500 people who were convicted on federal charges of simple possession of marijuana from 1992 to 2021 and thousands more who were convicted of possession in the District of Columbia, officials said. Officials said the president would urge governors to follow his lead for people convicted on state charges of possession. October 6, 2022 at 03:25 PM | Permalink Comments I agree that this is big news, and well timed politically to goose his base (just as having working class people pay off the tuition loans of more prosperous Harvard and Stanford, etc., deadbeats gooses his base). But President Biden doesn't go far enough. Under the same principle -- "It's none of the government's business what you put into your own body" -- he should pardon everyone convicted of offenses involving fentanyl, LSD, meth and heroin. After all, it's STILL none of the government's business. C'mon, Joe, step up and be bold! Posted by: Bill Otis | Oct 6, 2022 3:48:22 PM Was that the rationale? Or was it that criminalization of possession of marijuana was a failed government policy specific to marijuana? Maybe loss of liberty is the best we can do for limiting the dangers of drug use, but I hope that we can do better. Posted by: John | Oct 6, 2022 4:19:59 PM The White House press release is deceiving. This says that the pardons will be granted to all those who received federal sentences for simple possession. These people are not prosecuted federally and are not found in the BOP. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 6, 2022 4:39:04 PM Biden is also lying when he says "all." The actual pardon proclamation only applies to citizens and LPRs, not other noncitizens. Full of shit, as usual. Posted by: AFPD | Oct 6, 2022 4:41:13 PM This White House statement is misleading to those who are not aware of who is prosecuted and how they are prosecuted federally. People are not prosecuted federally for simple possession. I don't know of one federal inmate who will benefit from this. I hope I'm wrong. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 6, 2022 4:54:54 PM My fellow commentators, let's all lighten up, light one up, and relax!! Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Oct 6, 2022 5:25:36 PM Beth Curtis -- Nailed it. This is a typical Biden stunt. Whether you like or dislike the underlying idea, the announcement is just very misleading about its scope. Posted by: Bill Otis | Oct 6, 2022 5:32:26 PM Agreed that simple possession in BOP is probably nearly a null set. And that this posturing is politically popular (and well beyond Biden's base, FTR). Like other federal sentencing practices, this probably is more significant for the pressure it will put on Govs. Posted by: John | Oct 6, 2022 6:10:11 PM Thanks Bill. Additionally, the New York Times published this article about the White House announcement - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/us/politics/biden-marijuana-pardon.html They say 6,500 people convicted federally will benefit. We need a RELIEBLE fact checker. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 6, 2022 10:53:46 PM I'd like to see where they got their numbers as well - when I ran the data from USSC Ask IDA program, from 2015 to 2021 (only dates available in IDA) - there were 493 defendant's whose guideline was 2D2.1 - the Unlawful Possession Guideline and where the primary drug was marijuana. Obviously, the pardon data includes more years, regardless, love to see the analysis. Posted by: atomicfrog | Oct 7, 2022 7:20:48 AM I'd like to see where they got their numbers as well - when I ran the data from USSC Ask IDA program, from 2015 to 2021 (only dates available in IDA) - there were 493 defendant's whose guideline was 2D2.1 - the Unlawful Possession Guideline and where the primary drug was marijuana. Obviously, the pardon data includes more years, regardless, love to see the analysis. Posted by: atomicfrog | Oct 7, 2022 7:20:52 AM I'd like to see where they got their numbers as well - when I ran the data from USSC Ask IDA program, from 2015 to 2021 (only dates available in IDA) - there were 493 defendant's whose guideline was 2D2.1 - the Unlawful Possession Guideline and where the primary drug was marijuana. Obviously, the pardon data includes more years, regardless, love to see the analysis. Posted by: atomicfrog | Oct 7, 2022 7:21:12 AM If this impacts anybody, whats the over/under on the percentage of those who committed more than possession, but took a plea down to simple possession? Posted by: TarlsQtr | Oct 7, 2022 9:00:58 AM LOL, zero. Nobody charged w/ PWID or distribution is getting pled down to simple possession. It just doesn't happen. Posted by: AFPD | Oct 7, 2022 9:55:19 AM A USSC report from 2016 noted a big uptick in marijuana possession cases at the border in FY 2013, which suggests federal prosecutors for some period were making this a focal charge for illegal immigrants. But Prez Biden's mass pardon excludes illegal immigrants, so this population is not benefiting in any way. Here is a link to the USSC report: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2016/201609_Simple-Possession.pdf That same USSC report details that that most of the non-border cases of simple marijuana possession in FY2013 were from military bases and national parks, and "the median weight of marijuana among Non-Border offenders was 5.2 grams (0.2 ounces)." To Tarls' point, the USSC report does say that, in FY13, more than half of the offenders "discovered in a national park [were] most likely identified because of an investigation into a non-drug offense (58.3%)." And there are homicides and sex crimes committed in national parks, though I sincerely doubt those get pled down to simple marijuana possession. I suspect investigations for resource crimes (cutting trees) and poaching (taking animals) likely are the common back-story here. Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 7, 2022 10:13:14 AM I will wait for the list of pardon recipients to appear on the DOJ Pardon Attorney's site. It's always exciting when the list falls down. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 7, 2022 2:39:19 PM Post a comment JOHANNESBURG, October 06, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) will be supplied with renewable solar power through an agreement with international energy company Voltalia and local Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners, for its operation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Under the agreement, Voltalia will begin construction of the Bolobedu Solar PV renewable energy project in 2023, at a site in the province of Limpopo. The power plant is scheduled to be complete by 2024 and will deliver an annual generation capacity of up to 300GWh. It will feed into the national power grid to supply RBMs smelting and processing facilities through a wheeling agreement. The renewable power supply is expected to cut RBMs annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 per cent1, or 237kt CO 2 e per year. Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive Sinead Kaufman said: "The agreement, which is a first step towards reducing RBMs carbon emissions, is a major milestone and one that is in line with Rio Tintos decarbonisation strategy. As this solar energy project progresses, we will continue exploring additional renewable solutions that further reduce our emissions in South Africa and make Richards Bay Minerals a contributor to our net zero commitment." Voltalia CEO Sebastien Clerc said: "We are very pleased to support RBM in its decarbonisation journey. The Bolobedu photovoltaic power plant will be our biggest project in Africa, after performing construction of a series of other solar plants for us or for clients, in the continent (Zimbabwe, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritania and Egypt). This project is the first of our South African large solar-and-wind portfolio under development, in areas with grid connection available, that will be ready to support our clients to overpass the actual energy crisis with affordable, clean and stable electricity." Voltalia will work to ensure the Bolobedu Solar PV project creates local employment opportunities for the surrounding communities. A total workforce of more than 700 people is expected during construction, with a workforce of around 50 people once the plant becomes operational. Story continues The project will also provide skills development opportunities for members of the surrounding communities, and a bursary programme for young local learners. In support of South Africas growing renewable energy sector value chain, Voltalia will work to source its goods and services locally. The Bolobedu Solar PV power plant will be 51% black-owned through BEE partners, with a minimum 10% stake going to black women, while the host community will also have a participation. 1 Compared to 2018 baseline emissions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221005005915/en/ Contacts Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, UK Illtud Harri M +44 7920 503 600 Matthew Klar M+ 44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Jonathan Rose M +61 447 028 913 Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Media Relations, Americas Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Investor Relations, UK Menno Sanderse M: +44 7825 195 178 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Clare Peever M +44 7788 967 877 Rio Tinto plc 6 St Jamess Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: RBM Foodshare Mayflower Congregational UCC will host its monthly FoodShare with its partners at Zestos, Inc. The event will be at 1407 W. 18th St. on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The event is a drive-up service in front of the church. There will be diapers in sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 available. All are welcome! Organ restoration concert St. Luke Lutheran Church is inviting the public to a free organ concert, at 2 p.m. Oct. 9, at the church, 2039 S. Saint Aubin. The concert will celebrate the restoration of the churchs organ that was accomplished thanks to $70,000 in donations. The concert will feature organists from the area, including the Rev. Del Olivier, Yvonne Hazlett, Dave Ewoldt, Jeremy Owens, all from Sioux City, and Felice Rodvik from Sioux Falls, S.D. A reception will follow the concert. For more information on this concert, contact Michelle Smith at sweetiebassoon@hotmail.com Pancake Breakfast St. John Lutheran Church, 2801 Jackson St., will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, juice, milk, butter, and syrup will be among the selection. Free will offering. Proceeds will go to the Food Pantry Mission. 75th Anniversary Hope Lutheran Church at 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary on Oct. 23. Worship Service with Communion will be at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At 11:30 a.m. The History of European Organ Music in 90 minutes. At 1 p.m. Miroslawa Cieslak Concert. 2:30 p.m. Worship Service. 3:30 p.m. Refreshments. POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) President Joe Biden predicted Thursday a $20 billion investment by IBM in New York's Hudson River Valley will help give the United States a technological edge against China, hailing the expansion during an appearance with two House Democrats in competitive races in next month's critical elections. The president cited IBM's commitment as part of a larger manufacturing boom, spurred by this summer's passage of a $280 billion measure intended to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research. That legislation was needed for national and economic security, Biden said in Poughkeepsie, adding that the Chinese Communist Party actively lobbied against it. The United States has to lead the world of producing these advanced chips this law is going to make sure that it will, Biden said. The speech was part of a whirlwind trip that focused heavily on campaigning and included two fundraising events. During one, he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat about using nuclear weapons as his Ukrainian invasion has floundered is the most severe threat of Armageddon since Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Democratic candidates have largely avoided election-year appearances with Biden, whose approval ratings remain underwater. Bucking that trend in New York were Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney and Pat Ryan, who attended the president's remarks at IBM. The lawmakers, along with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, greeted Biden upon his arrival at Stewart Air National Guard Base. When I heard @POTUS was looking to see the benefits of the CHIPS & Science Act first-hand, I told him that the Hudson Valley was the perfect place, Maloney wrote Wednesday on Twitter. Im thrilled to host him in Poughkeepsie this week to celebrate the major wins and good-paying jobs we are delivering here in NY. The CHIPS and Science Act, which Biden signed in August, was a rare bill for which the president was able to win bipartisan support. IBM's $20 billion investment over the next decade is intended to bolster research and development and the manufacture of semiconductors, mainframe technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. As we tackle large-scale technological challenges in climate, energy, transportation and more, we must continue to invest in innovation and discovery because advanced technologies are key to solving these problems and driving economic prosperity, including better jobs, for millions of Americans," said Arvind Krishna, IBM's chairman and CEO. IBM's commitment comes on the heels of chipmaker Micron announcing this week an investment of up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to build a plant in upstate New York that could create 9,000 factory jobs. In his remarks, Biden also celebrated Intel's plant groundbreaking in Ohio and an investment by WolfSpeed for chip production in North Carolina. Maloney, chairman of the Democratic congressional campaign fundraising arm, is running against Republican state Assemblyman Mike Lawler in the 17th Congressional District. Ryan faces state Assemblyman Colin Schmitt in the 18th District. The boundaries of most New York districts, including Maloney's and Ryans, have been affected by redistricting. Ryan in August won a close special election to serve out the term of Democrat Antonio Delgado, who vacated his 19th District seat after he was appointed lieutenant governor by Hochul. Ryan is running for a full term in the 18th District, where he lives. Maloney, who had represented that district since 2013, decided to run in the 17th District. His Hudson Valley home fell inside the new boundaries after redistricting. Hochul, who took office last year after Democrat Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, is looking to win a full term as governor. Her opponent is Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin. Later Thursday, Biden spoke out against Republicans at a fundraiser at the home of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in support of the Democratic National Committee. The president has warned that followers of former President Donald Trump who deny the results of the 2020 presidential election are a threat to U.S. democracy, labeling them through Trump's slogan of Make America Great Again. Not all Republicans are MAGA Republicans," he said, but a good 35% are Trumpites." In the evening, Biden attended a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser in Manhattan hosted by James Murdoch, the son of News Corp. publisher Rupert Murdoch. He warned about Putin hinting in a speech last month about deploying Russia's nuclear arsenal, a possible response to the recent loss of territory to Ukrainian forces. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Biden said. James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn, a climate change activist, were major donors to Bidens 2020 presidential campaign. In 2020, Murdoch resigned from the board of News Corp. amid differences over editorial content at his father's company, which operates The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. The elder Murdoch is also chairman of Fox Corp., which includes Fox News Channel. While Biden has been kept at arms length by many Democratic candidates, he's been a prodigious fundraiser for his party this election cycle, raising more than $19.6 million for the Democratic National Committee. SIOUX CITY -- ALDI's second Sioux City location is set to open later this month. Matt Lilla, ALDI's Faribault Division vice president, said in a statement that the new store, in Sioux City's Lakeport Commons shopping district, is slated to open Oct. 28. Further details on the store should be released "in the coming weeks," Lilla said in the statement. The new ALDI is housed in a portion of the former Gordmans storefront at Lakeport Commons, which has since been renovated to accommodate the grocery store. Gordmans, which had been in its Lakeport Commons location since 2005, closed in 2020. ALDI's first Sioux City location, near the intersection of Floyd Boulevard and Outer Drive, opened in January 2021. A year later, ALDI, a German grocery chain with a massive U.S. presence, confirmed they would open a second location in Sioux City, though without saying where it would be. Another new store, the national discount clothier Ross Dress for Less, is also moving into part of the former Gordmans storefront. Ross signage has gone up, and a grand opening is slated for this weekend, according to the retailer's website. The Ross Stores chain, which also operates a discounter called dd's DISCOUNTS, had just shy of 2,000 stores spread across 40 states, the District of Columbia and Guam as of July, and was on track to open 100 stores this year. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., will be offering free family activities celebrating Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, presented in English and Spanish. From 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Legend of the Cempasuchil, a children's program featuring the reading of "Child of the Flower-Song People," a reader's theater with stick figure puppets, will be performed. Classes on making a paper cempasuchil (marigold) for the Museum's altar display will occur from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Sioux City Public Museum will also offer several more Dia de los Muertos activities for both children and adults throughout the month of October. For more information, call 712-279-6174 or visit siouxcitymuseum.org. This year's theme, Creciendo Nuestras Raices (Growing Our Roots), focuses on the indigenous elements of the Mexican Day of the Dead. The marigold flower -- or the flower of the dead -- takes its name from the Aztec language. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty of using an 11-year-old girl to help him sell marijuana and soliciting her to engage in sexual activity. Darrell Hall, 20, entered his plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to single felony counts of utilizing a person under age 18 to traffic a controlled substance and lascivious acts with a child and misdemeanor charges of dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors and sexual exploitation of a minor. Sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 18. Under terms of a plea agreement, no sentence is agreed upon, but the prosecution will request a 10-year prison sentence. Hall's attorney will be free to request a suspended sentence and probation, but may not request a deferred judgment. Thirteen other charges, including drug possession, sexual abuse and indecent contact with a child, will be dismissed. Hall admitted recruiting the girl to help him complete a marijuana transaction on Feb. 16-18 while he was caring for her, the girl's 10-year-old friend and a 1-year-old child for their parents at a trailer at 3290 N. Martha St. Police later conducted a search warrant at the trailer and seized large amounts of marijuana and cash. Hall also solicited a sex act with the girl, offering to pay her. Hall told police he did not know she was under age 14, court documents said. SIOUX CITY A judge has vacated a jury verdict in which a Sioux City man was found guilty of offering a 14-year-old girl $600 for sex, ruling there was not enough evidence presented at trial to show the man knew the girl was underage. District Judge Jeffrey Neary granted a defense motion for a judgment of acquittal, found Danny Beard not guilty of the charge of enticing away a minor and dismissed the case. A jury in August found Beard, 67, guilty at the conclusion of a two-day trial in Woodbury County District Court. He had faced a five-year prison sentence for the Class D felony. Neary, who presided over the trial, focused his ruling on the fourth element of the crime: that at the time of the Nov. 14 incident, Beard "reasonably believed (the girl) was under 16." In his ruling, Neary said his review of the trial transcript and video exhibits and recollection of the evidence led him to conclude the prosecution presented no definitive evidence Beard knew the girl's age prior to the incident. "It is clear to the court on this evidence that the age of (the girl) was not clear at the time of the incident and further that nothing in this evidence would indicate that (she) was under the age of 16 at the time of the incident," Neary wrote. Beard was accused of pulling up next to the girl in his pickup truck as she was walking in the parking lot of her grandmother's apartment complex, asking what a "pretty girl" like her was doing out so late and then asking, "You want to come with me?" before saying, "I'll give you 500 (dollars)." Beard, who lived in the same apartment complex, parked his pickup and approached the girl as she was entering the apartment building and offered the girl $500 to come up to his apartment, then raised his offer to $600. The girl went to her grandmother's apartment, and her grandmother filed a police report. Beard later told an investigator he thought the girl was someone else and that his offer of money was for cleaning his apartment, not for sex. He told police he did not know the girl's age until after the incident. In his resistance to the defense's motion for a new trial, Assistant Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis said the evidence should be taken together in context rather than singled out. Video surveillance, he said, showed not only what Beard said to the girl, but how he said it, leaving viewers to conclude he was offering money for sex. The girl also visited her grandmother several times a week and often encountered Beard, who was familiar with her and would have "reasonably known" she was under age 16. Neary said in his ruling that in the video and during her trial testimony, the girl appeared mature for her age, and he himself would have guessed she was between age 16-18. Neary also said it was dark at the time Beard encountered the girl, who, the judge said, resembles her older sister who was living with their grandmother. The prosecution's evidence, Neary said, did little more than "raise suspicion, speculation and conjecture" that Beard would have reasonably known the girl was under age 16. LE MARS, Iowa Tom Knapp's sentence for fatally shooting his stepson already was dictated by state law, leaving little for anyone to say when the Merrill, Iowa, man appeared in court Friday. Lawyers made brief statements: Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond asking for consecutive, or back-to-back, sentences for the five crimes a jury had found Knapp guilty of; public defender Wendy Samuelson requesting the sentences be served concurrently, or at the same time. Knapp himself declined to say anything when given the opportunity. So to no one's surprise, District Judge James Daane gave Knapp the mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for first-degree murder for the May 11, 2020, shooting death of 51-year-old Kevin Juzek in their rural Merrill home. The Plymouth County jury on Sept. 13 also found Knapp, 84, guilty of willful injury for the shooting, plus willful injury and two counts of domestic abuse assault for beating his wife, Darlene Knapp, just before the shooting. Knapp was found not guilty of a third count of domestic abuse assault. Daane ordered the 10-year sentence for willful injury for the shooting to be served concurrent with the life sentence. The three sentences related to assaulting his wife were ordered served concurrently for a total of five years, but consecutive to the life sentence. Knapp will be transported from the Plymouth County Jail, where he's been housed for much of the time since the shooting, to the Iowa Department of Corrections' facility in Oakdale. Darlene Knapp testified at trial that her husband was upset with Juzek that morning, blaming him for knocking over a birdbath in their yard. His anger simmered and then boiled over when Darlene Knapp brought some water to Knapp. Without warning, Darlene Knapp testified, her husband punched her in the face, then struck her with a wooden exercise bar, breaking her left hand. Darlene Knapp fled the room and called 911 after Juzek came to the door and closed it, holding it shut so Tom Knapp couldn't pursue her. Knapp grabbed a 20-gauge shotgun he kept in his room and shot Juzek through the door, striking him in the abdomen. Juzek staggered into the living room and collapsed on the floor. Knapp came out of his bedroom, walked up to Juzek and shot him a second time in the chest while Darlene Knapp watched. Samuelson had urged jurors to find Knapp guilty of voluntary manslaughter, which carries a 10-year prison sentence, rather than first-degree murder. She said the shooting was a snap decision resulting from Knapp being suddenly provoked by Darlene Knapp and Juzek. Knapp told investigators both had attacked him. At trial, Raymond played recordings of Tom Knapp's interviews with authorities in which he used numerous profanities to describe Juzek and told them Juzek had intentionally aggravated him for years. LAS VEGAS (AP) A man who allegedly stabbed eight people on the Las Vegas strip, killing two, said some had laughed at him and he let the anger out, according to an arrest report released Friday. Yoni Barrios, 32, also told one victim sorry, man before stabbing him in the back and also said that he hoped police would shoot him, the report said. He was covered in blood when he was arrested after a brief chase Thursday, authorities said. They seized a large, long-bladed knife. It wasnt immediately known whether Barrios had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf. The Clark County Public Defenders office was closed Friday. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he intends to file two counts of murder with the use of a deadly weapon against Barrio along with six counts of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He said his office would give serious consideration to pursuing the death penalty but it was too early to make that decision. Wearing a dark blue jumpsuit and orange hand restraints for his first court appearance Friday, Barrios was ordered held without bail. An initial arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday. The coroners office identified those killed as Las Vegas residents Brent Allan Hallett, 47, and Maris Mareen DiGiovanni, 30. Hallett was stabbed in the back and DiGiovanni died from a chest wound, authorities said. DiGiovanni was part of the Best Showgirls In Vegas modeling and talent agency, according to Cheryl Lowthorp, who runs the business. She said two others with the agency were among the wounded and a third escaped without injury. DiGiovanni was the life of any gathering, her family said in a statement to The Associated Press. Maris always saw the best in people, always gave them a chance, and always accepted people for who they were, it said. ... She was a beautiful spirit and soul, and well miss her for the rest of our lives. According to the Facebook page of her brother, Gage DiGiovanni, his sister grew up in Spokane, Washington. She and her husband, Cole Jordan, had traveled the world, visiting dozens of countries in Europe and Asia, and lived in Hong Kong before moving to Las Vegas because they liked concerts and festivals. DiGiovanni, who went by her husbands last name on her own Facebook page, was with three other women on a pedestrian bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard. All were street performers dressed as showgirls who accept money to have their photographs taken with tourists. Barrios, who told police he had arrived in Las Vegas two days earlier, asked to take a photo with them, according to the arrest report. He was wearing a chefs long-sleeved white jacket, said he was a chef, and removed a black carbon knife from a suitcase, according to the report. Some performers said he made them feel uncomfortable and one backed away. One woman said he stabbed her in the back, then stabbed DiGiovanni, according to the report. Barrios thought the women were laughing at him and making fun of his clothing, the arrest report stated. Barrios started running and looking for groups of people so he could let the anger out, it added. He was captured within minutes by security guards and police. Police seized a 12-inch (30-centimeter) knife that had been thrown into some bushes. Barrios had an address in Los Angeles, told police that he came to Las Vegas to move in with a friend who then refused to let him stay at the house, so he packed his things and took a bus to the Las Vegas Strip, according to the arrest report. Barrios stated that on the bus ride to the strip people were making fun of him and he wasnt being treated like a human being, the report said. Barrios then went to the Wynn Las Vegas casino and asked a janitor about jobs and told a security guard he was trying to sell his knives to raise money so he could go home to Guatemala but the guard told him to jump in front of a train, the report said. He then went onto the overcrossing where he encountered the showgirls. Barrios told police following his arrest that he was hoping officers would shoot him, the arrest report said. It wasnt immediately clear whether he was in the country illegally. Two of the surviving victims went to Sunrise Hospital Trauma Center. One was in good condition and another in fair condition Friday, said Marissa Mussi, a hospital spokeswoman. Four went to University Medical Center, where one was in critical condition, another was in fair condition and two had been released. Lowthorp said one showgirl was among those released from the hospital. In her 12 years operating the agency, she said the models have pretty much gone day to day without incident. Best Showgirls In Vegas provides models and showgirls for various promotional events from restaurant openings to airport greetings. Digiovanni took to being a showgirl when she started with them two years ago. She loved it. She left teaching for it, Lowthorp said. This is a great job. They set all their own schedules. The girls get to be their own boss ... This man may have very well taken all that away from them. Austrian voters will head to the polls Sunday in the first round of the countrys presidential election. The race is widely expected to hand incumbent President Alexander Van der Bellen a second term. The main question is whether his victory will come when the country holds the first round of its presidential election on Sunday or if the election will go to a November runoff. Van der Bellen has held the Austrian presidency through a period of domestic political instability, a global pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He has pitched himself to voters as the stable option at a time of instability and has the implicit or explicit backing of most major parties. The White House says President Joe Bidens warnings that the world is at risk of nuclear "Armageddon were meant to convey that no one should underestimate the extraordinary danger if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine. The presidents grim assessment sent ripples around the world on Friday and also appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. national security officials continue to say they have no evidence that Russias Vladimir Putin is preparing for the use of nuclear weapons. DOVER, Del. (AP) Delawares Democratic attorney general is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn a judges ruling declaring a new vote-by-mail law unconstitutional and prohibiting voting by mail in the upcoming November election. The justices heard arguments Thursday in a lawsuit challenging both the vote-by-mail law and another new law allowing same-day registration. Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook last month upheld the same-day registration law. But he said the vote-by-mail law, the result of legislation Democrats rammed through the General Assembly in less than three weeks, violates restrictions on absentee voting in Delawares constitution. Attorney General Kathleen Jennings appealed the ruling striking down the vote-by-mail law. Republican attorneys representing voters, a state House candidate and a Department of Elections employee appealed Cooks decision upholding same-day registration. Attorneys representing state elections officials argue that the General Assembly has broad powers to enact voting laws. Chief Deputy Attorney General Alexander Mackler also argued Thursday that opponents have no standing to challenge either law because they have not demonstrated any specific injury or any particular interest not shared by others. These plaintiffs are not legally injured. They are politically aggrieved, Mackler said. They have a policy disagreement with the legislature that they want this court to legitimize. Justice Gary Traynor pushed back on Macklers assertion, asking why a candidate who wants to ensure that an election complies with Delawares constitution would not be allowed to challenge a statute that arguably is in violation of the constitution. Justice Karen Valihura raised similar concerns. If people vote who are not entitled to vote, couldnt that be an injury?, she asked. How can that not be an injury? Attorneys challenging the laws contend that members of the General Assembly circumvented constitutional restrictions on their powers instead of amending the constitution to allow voting by mail and same-day registration. A statute cannot introduce into the general election votes that are prohibited under the Delaware constitution, said state Republican Party chair and former attorney general Jane Brady. The constitution says a person is allowed to vote absentee if unable to go to the polls on Election Day because of his or her public service, business or occupation. Spouses and dependents who live with or accompany people in those circumstances also are allowed to vote absentee. Sickness or physical disability, vacation, and the tenets or teachings of a persons religion are the other allowances. The attorney generals office contends that mail-in voting is not absentee voting. At the same time, however, it argues that the constitutions absentee voting provision does not preclude the General Assembly from allowing universal voting by mail. Mackler told the justices they dont even need to look at the absentee voting provision because the constitution gives the legislature general authority to prescribe the means, methods and instruments of voting. Mr. Mackler, thats exactly contrary to the position that the Department of Elections, the attorney general and the state took in 2020, Valihura responded. Valihura was referring to a bill in which the General Assembly invoked its emergency powers to allow universal voting by mail in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In that legislation, lawmakers specifically acknowledged that the constitutions list of reasons for absentee voting is exhaustive, meaning no other reasons are allowed. They also acknowledged that they must comply with the constitution in invoking their emergency powers unless doing so would be impracticable or cause undue delay. They then declared that conforming with the constitutions absentee voting provision would be impracticable. Valihura and Traynor noted that if voting by mail is truly distinct from absentee voting, as the state contends, lawmakers would not have had to cite the absentee voting provision in the 2020 law or invoke their emergency powers. Regarding voter registration, the constitution says the registration period for a general election cannot begin more than 120 days, or less than 60 days, before the election. It also cannot end more than 20 days, or less than 10 days, before the election. Mackler nevertheless argued that the constitution doesnt prohibit people from registering to vote more than 120 days before the election, or less than 10 days before the election. Valihura said the 10-day period was intended to allow the registration rolls to be corrected and for anyone denied the ability to register to appeal. The constitution states that any correction must be done prior to the day of holding the election. How is it that the same-day statute doesnt completely eviscerate the provision? she asked. Mackler acknowledged that if a person shows up at a polling place at 7 p.m. on Election Day and is prohibited from registering to vote, the opportunity to appeal would be minimized or truncated, but not impossible. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Nike co-founder Phil Knight has donated $1 million to Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazans campaign, seemingly changing course after giving $3.75 million to a candidate unaffiliated with a major political party. The latest donation makes it likely Drazan will have the money she needs in the final weeks of campaigning to compete with Democrat Tina Kotek in an extremely tight race, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Phil Knight is a pioneering and respected leader not just in Oregon, but across the globe, Drazans campaign manager Trey Rosser said. Its a tremendous honor to have his support. The $3.75 million contribution to independent candidate Betsy Johnson was much more than Knight has donated to any other political campaign, and the most an individual donor has contributed to a politician in Oregon history. Johnson and her advisers have acknowledged that it would not be easy to win as an independent but reasoned Johnsons long history in the state Legislature and powerful ability to raise money might overcome the obstacles. Recent polling has suggested, however, that Johnsons energetic campaign is unlikely to succeed. Four recent polls all showed Drazan and Kotek in a statistical tie, with Johnson trailing far behind. Johnsons presence in the race has been a puzzle to political observers, who wondered whether the former Democrat would draw more from that party or from Republicans tired of losing. With her candidacy looking increasingly like a long-shot, some of that support could drift back to the top two candidates. There are only two candidates in this race who can deliver change and he knows that," said Jennifer Sitton, a spokeswoman for Johnsons campaign. "Betsy is proud to have his support. With Knights donation, Drazan has raised about $13.9 million and spent almost $10.5 million since January 2021, according to state records. Kotek has reported raising $14.9 million and spending $12.6 million in that time frame while Johnson has reported raising $16.5 million and spending $15.1 million, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. SAN DIEGO (AP) A lawyer who laundered millions of dollars in drug money for a violent Mexican drug cartel was sentenced Friday to 15 years and eight months in federal prison. Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, 40, told a federal judge in San Diego, California, that he was deeply remorseful and thanked the U.S. government for his capture. The Mexican citizen said his 2016 arrest ended his criminal career and helped make sure my conduct didnt get any worse, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Alvarez Inzunza was sentenced on a money-laundering conspiracy charge. In 2016, he was arrested in Mexico, where he was held until his extradition to the U.S. last year. With credit for time already spent in custody, he was likely to spend nine more years in prison and then will be deported to Mexico, the Union-Tribune said. In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Alvarez Inzunza acknowledged that he laundered money for the Sinaloa Cartel from at least December 2013 to August 2015. Alvarez Inzunza was orphaned and raised by poor relatives in Culiacan, the capital of Mexico's Sinaloa state. He had a private law firm there when, about a decade ago, the wrong client came in, and he listened to them" and began his criminal career, defense attorney Frederick Carroll said at Friday's hearing. Alvarez Inzunza would relay orders from cartel bosses to an associate in Colombia who would coordinate couriers to pick up cash in the U.S., the prosecution said. During an investigation, U.S. federal agents found that Alvarez Inzunza had organized the transfer of millions of dollars from the United States to Mexico and other countries and they were able to seize at least $3.5 million in cash, including large amounts of drug money from Boston, Detroit and New York, authorities said. Alvarez Inzunza was trying to provide for his family but ended up destroying his family, his attorney said. At his sentencing. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw acknowledged that Alvarez Inzunza was remorseful but said his actions helped fund the violent cartel, which doesn't exist without money." Youre complicit in all of this activity its not just the money laundering, Sabraw said. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Uvalde's school district on Friday pulled its embattled campus police force off the job following a wave of new outrage over the hiring of a former state trooper who was part of the hesitant law enforcement response during the May shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 21 dead. School leaders also put two members of the district police department on administrative leave, one of whom chose to retire instead, according to a statement released by the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. Remaining officers will be reassigned to other jobs in the district. The extraordinary move by Uvalde school leaders to suspend campus police operations one month into a new school year in the South Texas community underscored the sustained pressure that families of some of the 19 children and two teachers killed in the May 24 attack have kept on the district. Brett Cross, the uncle of 10-year-old victim Uziyah Garcia, had been protesting outside the Uvalde school administration building for the past two weeks, demanding accountability over officers allowing a gunman with an AR-15-style rifle to remain in a fourth-grade classroom for more than 70 minutes. Uvalde families have said students in the district are not safe so long as officers who waited so long to confront and kill the gunman remain on the job. "We did it!" Cross tweeted. The Uvalde school district had five campus police officers on the scene of the shooting, according to a damning report from Texas lawmakers that laid out multiple breakdowns in the response. A total of nearly 400 officers responded, including school district police, the city's police, county sheriff's deputies, state police and U.S. Border Patrol agents, among others. The fallout Friday is the first in Uvalde's school police force since the district fired former police Chief Pete Arredondo in August. He remains the only officer to have been fired from his job following one of the deadliest classroom attacks in U.S. history. The district said it would ask the Texas Department of Public Safety, which had already assigned dozens of troopers to the district for the school year, for additional help. "We are confident that staff and student safety will not be compromised during this transition," the district said in a statement. The statement did not specify how long campus police operations would remain suspended. The move comes a day after revelations that the district not only hired a former DPS trooper who was one of the officers who rushed to the scene of Robb Elementary, but that she was among at least seven troopers later placed under internal investigation for her actions. Officer Crimson Elizondo was fired Thursday, one day after CNN first reported her hiring. She has not responded to voicemails and messages left by The Associated Press. Steve McCraw, the head of the state's Department of Public Safety, has called the law enforcement response to the shooting an "abject failure." McCraw has also come under pressure as the leader of a department that had more than 90 troopers on the scene but still has the support of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. On Thursday, after Elizondo was fired, Abbott called it a "poor decision" for the school to hire the former trooper and that it was up to the district to "own up to it." SEATTLE (AP) U.S. researchers say the number of gray whales off western North America has continued to fall over the last two years, a decline that resembles previous population swings over the past several decades. According to an assessment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries released Friday, the most recent count put the population at 16,650 whales down 38% from its peak in 2015-16. The whales also produced the fewest calves since scientists began counting the births in 1994. An increase in the number of whales washing up on West Coast beaches prompted the fisheries agency to declare an unusual mortality event in 2019. Researchers are still investigating the die-off, but they say climate change and its effects on sea ice and prey availability and location are likely factors. Many, but not all, of the whales that washed up appeared malnourished. The population recovered from the days of commercial whaling before a similar population drop of 40% occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Gray whales were removed from the endangered species list in 1994. The population rebounded before a spike in whales washing up on beaches prompted the declaration of another unusual mortality event in 1999 and 2000, when the number of whales fell by a quarter. Scientists say that although the current population swing so far fits within historical patterns, it's nevertheless concerning. "We need to be closely monitoring the population to help understand what may be driving the trend, said David Weller, director of the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in San Diego. Researchers count the whales as they return from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic to the Baja Peninsula lagoons where they nurse their calves in the winter. Typically, the counts are conducted over a two-year period, but to better monitor the population, NOAA Fisheries is adding a third year to the current survey, counting the whales as they pass the central California coast from late December to mid-February 2023. The calves are counted as the whales head north to the Artic. There were 217 calves in the count that finished in May, down from 383 the year before. The Elwood woman and the would-be hitman were sitting in his car Monday in Lexingtons Walmart parking lot. And they were talking about who she wanted killed, and how much it would cost, a Nebraska State Patrol officer alleged in a probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday in Dawson County Court. Theyd arranged the meeting online. But 39-year-old Valerie Miller didnt know the stranger in the drivers seat was an undercover investigator with the patrol, whod contacted her after someone told the Gosper County Sheriffs Office that Miller was making suspicious comments. Miller first told the investigator she wanted a gun, a revolver, both for protection and because it didnt eject its shell casings, according to the affidavit. The two kept talking about the gun, and why she wanted it. During the conversation, Miller stated she wanted several individuals not living. The investigator said he could do it for $1,000 per person and asked who she wanted dead. Her ex-husbands girlfriend, she said, according to the affidavit. And the girlfriends three young children and adult son. She gave the investigator more details. The girlfriends address in Elwood, to use the side door, the ages of the children 6 months and 2 and 10 years old. The (investigator) explained that murdering the children was probably not in her best interest as they posed no threat to her, according to the affidavit. Miller agreed, and they settled on the two adults for $2,000. The investigator asked for a down payment, but Miller wouldnt have any money until the end of her week, she told him. The investigator said hed do it Wednesday, but she told him to wait she needed to find out her exs work schedule to make sure he wasnt home at the time. The transaction took nearly 30 minutes, and was monitored by State Patrol surveillance teams. They followed her after she drove away, and had her stopped by three marked patrol cruisers. Miller was initially arrested on suspicion of terroristic threats, but she was formally charged Wednesday with two counts of attempted first-degree murder each punishable by up to 50 years in prison. The judge set her bail at 10% of $500,000, and with the condition she have no contact with her ex-husband or his girlfriend. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and State Sen. Tony Vargas dont agree on much when it comes to the topic of abortion rights. The two candidates for Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, in separate interviews, even disagreed about the importance of the topic ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Bacon, the Republican incumbent, said while the media wants to fixate on abortion, Americans, including those in the 2nd District, are focused on the economy and the cost of living as the number one issue. Vargas, the Democratic challenger, said he has heard from Republican, Democratic and independent women across the district who have expressed concerns that the government is going to mandate what they can and cannot do with their bodies. He said one woman even stopped him on an elevator to discuss the issue. The two men also disagree on the issue, with Bacon expressing clear anti-abortion views but some willingness to compromise, and Vargas committing support for a federal law that would guarantee a right to abortion. But their differing opinions on even the weight of the subject reflects the political landscape that has emerged since June when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that created a constitutional right to have an abortion. The ruling has forced candidates to be more specific about what they do and do not support. And its also given Democrats a new focus. The Associated Press recently reported Democrats are pumping an unprecedented amount of money into advertising related to abortion rights, underscoring how central the message is to the party. With the most intense period of campaigning only just beginning, Democrats have already invested more than an estimated $124 million this year in television advertising referencing abortion. Thats more than twice as much money as the Democrats next top issue this year, character, and almost 20 times more than Democrats spent on abortion-related ads in the 2018 midterms. Television advertising data reveals that Republicans, too, have invested millions of dollars in abortion messaging. But most of those ads ran during the primary phase of the campaign this spring and summer as Republican candidates touted their anti-abortion credentials. The number of Republican ads aired referencing abortion has gone down each month since May. Political observers said that they expect abortion rights will play a big role in the race to represent Nebraskas 2nd District, which includes Saunders County, western Sarpy County and all of Douglas County, including Omaha. Its the states most competitive congressional district with the latest voter registration figures showing that Republicans outnumber Democrats by less than 9,000 voters. Registered voters who arent affiliated with a party total more than 99,000. Vargas has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Bacon has been endorsed by several anti-abortion groups, including the Susan B. Anthony List, which gave him a grade of A+. I think abortion is a tragedy, Bacon said. Its a child with tons of potential, it couldve been the next inventor of major cures, it couldve been a future president. However, the congressman said some exceptions are a must, including defending the life of the mother, which he would leave to doctors to determine. The mother comes first, Bacon said. Period. Vargas said elected officials like me should be playing absolutely no role in womens health care decisions. He said decisions about abortion are deeply personal and should be made by women and in consultation with their doctors. I want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to support womens health care decisions, I want to make sure that these are informed by doctors, I want to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect that decision, no matter what, Vargas said. Vargas said its important to listen to science and doctors. He noted the Nebraska Medical Association recently adopted a resolution supporting the preservation of reproductive rights, marking a shift away from the groups formerly neutral stance. If elected to Congress, Vargas said he would support codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law and investing in maternal and child health supports. Im going to listen to women, not tell them what to do, Vargas said. When asked if he supports any abortion restrictions, Vargas repeated that he supports women in their health care decisions being made between themselves and their doctors. He said its important that women have the information they need to make very difficult decisions. The candidates were both asked if women should be able to have an abortion in cases of rape or incest. Vargas said yes because he supports women making decisions for themselves. Bacon said for him theres a difference between what he would accept politically because a consensus could be reached and what he would still like to personally advocate for and try to help persuade people on. Philosophically, Bacon said an unborn child is still an unborn child but he would be willing to accept exceptions like those for rape and incest if it allowed for the passage of broader legislation. I think we have an opportunity to meet in the middle in the 15-week area and from a pro-life perspective it moves us forward and then we could continue having a debate over hearts and minds, but I would like to take two or three steps forward instead of an all-or-nothing approach, Bacon said. Bacon said many countries in Europe have restrictions after 15 weeks. He cited multiple polls, including one from the Wall Street Journal showing that more American voters favor the idea of a 15-week abortion ban than oppose it. The Washington Post reported that while some countries in Europe have earlier limits on abortion there are often broad exceptions to those limits. For example, Germany on paper has a 12-week limit for abortion on request, but the law in reality permits abortions as late as 22 weeks after conception, the Post reported. As a state senator, Vargas voted against a bill in the Nebraska Legislature that would have primed the state to ban all abortions when the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. That bill failed when it couldnt muster 33 votes to end a filibuster against it. Vargas also opposed a special session this summer to debate a 12-week abortion ban being pushed by Republicans. Citing a lack of votes, Gov. Pete Ricketts did not call for the special session and abortion remains legal in Nebraska up until 20 weeks after fertilization. Bacon said he would have supported the 12-week ban because he believes thats more in line with what Americans believe and suggested Vargas was out of touch for not supporting it. Last year Bacon, along with 165 other House Republicans, co-sponsored H.R. 1011 or the Life at Conception Act. The act sought to implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and pre-born human person. Vargas said the bill amounts to an abortion ban with no exceptions for the life of the mother, for rape or incest. Bacon said the bill is a statement of principle that a child is an unborn human being but nowhere does it say that exceptions are not allowed. He said the bill came out before the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion and it could have been written more carefully to say it doesnt limit states or the federal government from making policies. Its a statement that an unborn child is human, Bacon said of the bill. Critics of the so-called personhood laws say they could have far-reaching consequences that could hamper in vitro fertilization or subject women who have abortions to murder charges. Supporters of personhood laws say declaring that all human beings, including those in the womb, have rights lends important moral clarity and that changes stemming from the concept are desirable. What Bacon and Vargas did agree on is that decisions surrounding abortion are emotional and difficult. Its not a black or white issue, Bacon said. This report includes material from the Associated Press. In a Kremlin speech last week, President Vladimir Putin identified Russia's real "enemy" in Ukraine as "the ruling circles of the so-called West" whose "hegemony has a pronounced character of totalitarianism, despotism and apartheid." In the West, Putin declaimed, "The repression of freedom is taking on the outlines of a reverse religion, of real Satanism," which, on issues like gender identity, amounts to a "denial of man." Putin then formally annexed the occupied Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and pledged to defend these new Russian territories with "all the forces and means at our disposal." He suggested that those means included nuclear weapons, for which the Americans "created a precedent" at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Reading Putin's excoriation, it is hard to recall, in four decades of Cold War, or the three decades since, a speech of such relentless vitriol and hostility toward the West. Beyond the rhetoric, though, what does this tell us about Putin's policy? Putin is drawing a red line at Russia's annexation and absorption of the four occupied oblasts in the south and east of Ukraine, roughly 15% of that country, and declaring it to be sacred Russian soil. He intends to conscript and commit thousands of fresh troops to defend these new Russian territories. He will not rule out the use of nuclear weapons to repel any who attack and attempt to detach these new lands from Mother Russia. While open to negotiations, he will fight it out on this line if it takes all winter. This leaves Ukraine, NATO and the U.S. with some difficult calculations and hard decisions. Are they willing to engage the Russian army in the four oblasts to drive them out, if the Russians, rather than quit these territories, use a tactical nuclear weapon to repel the attacking Ukrainians? After Putin's speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for the accelerated admission of Ukraine to the NATO alliance. Were such an accession process to be expedited and Ukraine admitted to NATO, the U.S. would be obligated under Article 5 to go to war against Russia in Ukraine, on Kyiv's side. This could mean a U.S.-Russia war, which could escalate to World War III and nuclear war, and was something that every U.S. president from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan saw as his highest priority to avoid. Fortunately, membership in NATO, and extension of an Article 5 war guarantee for the new member, requires a unanimous vote of all 30 member nations in the alliance. And the requisite enthusiasm, inside NATO, to fight the world's largest nuclear power over who rules Luhansk is nonexistent. Which brings us to the sabotage of the Nord Stream I and Nord Stream II pipelines built to carry Russian natural gas across the Baltic Sea to Germany, and from there on to Central and Western Europe. Late last month, explosions blew holes in both pipelines, preventing any renewal of Russian gas exports to Germany through the pipelines, even if Moscow decided to turn on the taps. NATO Europe is blaming the Russians for blowing up their own pipelines. But these pipelines are a strategic asset that gives Moscow leverage over the economies of much of NATO Europe. Putin blames the Americans and Brits for the sabotage and has called for the UN Security Council to investigate the act of "terrorism." Said Putin, "The sanctions were not enough for the Anglo-Saxons: They moved onto sabotage." But, again, though Europeans are pointing the finger at Moscow, why would Russia sabotage two pipelines it helped to construct, which give it lasting leverage over the prosperity of NATO Europe? Why would Putin sabotage his own strategic assets? What sense would that make? As of today, the respective goals of the principal participants in the Ukraine war are becoming as clear as they are irreconcilable. Putin has annexed and seeks to hold Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, attach them to Crimea, declare victory, and end a war he is not winning. This weekend, Russian forces were driven out of the city of Lyman they captured in the early days of this war. Zelenskyy wants to defeat the Russian invaders, drive them out of his country, humiliate Putin and achieve a victory for Ukraine that would put him in its history books as the Winston Churchill of his nation. However, it appears today that Ukraine will not be allowed to achieve these goals by Putin's regime, even if preventing it requires the use of tactical nuclear weapons. And the Americans, what do they want? Given the Russian losses of troops, tanks, aircraft, armor, artillery, along with the perception that Putin and the Russian army launched a war of aggression against a smaller power and were defeated, America, which provided the weaponry to produce this outcome, is already perceived as a winner. America should be looking to ending this war before it expands into a nuclear war, which this country has sought to avoid since the atomic age began. Omaha-born Malcolm X is one of the leading figures in Americas battle for civil rights, so its entirely fitting that a state commission has chosen him to be the newest member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The human rights activist, who was born in 1925 as Malcolm Little, had been nominated for the Hall of Fame at least twice before. Fifteen years ago, he was deemed too controversial. But this year, commissioners voted 4 to 3 for him, then agreed to make the vote unanimous. He will be officially inducted in 2024 and his bust will be displayed along with 26 others in the State Capitol. Malcolm X was known for his fiery oratory that helped deliver a message of self-sufficiency and independence for Black people. Assassinated by a gunman 57 years ago, he continues to be viewed as a leading voice for equality and freedom. His life story of overcoming adversity has been widely read in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Its true that Malcolm Xs time in Nebraska was short. His family moved when he was 18 months old because of threats from the Ku Klux Klan. Arguably, though, Nebraska had a profound effect on Malcolm X and his views precisely because of the reason for his brief time here. The first chapter of his book begins with this sentence: When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night. His birthsite sits on 17 acres in the heart of North Omaha and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is maintained by the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, which has campaigned for him to be inducted in the state Hall of Fame. Schmeeka Simpson, director of tours with the foundation, said in a World-Herald article about the vote that his induction is an opportunity to show that Nebraska is a state that considers all men created equal. As our state motto says: Equality before the law. In the tradition of Ali vs. Frazier, Jobs vs. Gates, and Richards vs. Rinna comes mankinds next great rivalry: linewives vs. bucket bunnies. Its thanks to the TikTok algorithm that we ordinary civilians have recently become aware of this mighty conflict, which finds the spouses of storm-season electrical lineworkersmembers of a predominantly male profession tasked with repairing electrical lines in disaster zonespitted against the women supposedly trying to tempt their husbands away while theyre out in the field. (Bucket is the name for the container attached to a crane that lifts a lineworker up to the power lines.) Advertisement After Hurricane Ian hit a few weeks ago, the linewife-bucket bunny war escalated through videos of TikTokers gawking at the influx of linemen in affected areasto which linewives responded with videos of their own, sassily telling these women to step off. To find out more, Slate spoke to a real linewife named Shanna Sage. Sage, 36, has been married to her lineman husband since 2015, and the two live in DeLand, Florida, where she runs Linewife.com and also works as an event manager at a bar. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heather Schwedel: How long have you had your site, Linewife.com? Shanna Sage: Ive had my site since 2015. Im just trying to relate to the ladies, because it sucks sometimes when our guys are gone. My husbands in Puerto Rico right now. Hes been gone a month, since Flo hit. Fiona or Flo? I cant remember the name of the hurricanes. They all run together this time of year. He spent six months there when Maria hit, so I went and visited him for a long weekend. And that was pretty much it that I saw him out of six months. It can be a really hard lifestyle. You have to be a strong, independent woman. You cant be clingy or anything like that. You have to be able to stand on your own two feet when theyre gone. Advertisement Advertisement How did you first find out about the community of other line girlfriends and linewives out there? My husbands a union lineman, and I met some girls at the hall, because it was their Christmas party. And then just by searching stuff on Facebook. I quickly found theres a huge community and the women are very supportive. Theyre very passionate about what their men do. I know theres a lot of negativity sometimes or people saying that they become their husbands job. But its really not, its more of a proud thing. Our husbands are doing something so wonderful to give back to people and turn the power on, or harden the grid, what they call when they maybe will put in concrete poles instead of wood poles, just to make them a little bit more resilient to storms. Im super proud of my husband, he has excelled and done so much. Why not, you know? Why not wear a hat with lineman on it? Or a linewife shirt? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont just have linewife friends, Ive got a ton of other friends. But when my husband gets the call to go to Puerto Rico, Im not going to call my military friend. Im not going to call my friend that lives down the road. Im gonna call my linewife friend, and be like, Oh, man, he got the call. Did yours get the call? Now we have an influx of a lot of new young linemen, and some people are older and they still come into the trade. But theres a lot of new blood. Were getting a lot of women that are posting in a lot of groups like, I dont know what to do, its his first time on storm, what do I pack in his bag? So then you have seasoned linewives that will come home and say, Hey, this is a storm list that I have set up for you, or I know LineLife Foundation has a storm packing list so you can know what to pack him and things like that.* Another big topic that people talk about is how to wash FR, which is fire- or flame-retardant, material that they wear. The shirts and their pants all has to be FR. Its expensive. You cant use fabric softener, you cant use bleach, you cant use oxy. Its just detergent and thats it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Im the TikTok Couch Guy. Heres What It Was Like Being Investigated on the Internet.] This whole conversation about bucket bunnies, is that a term youd heard before? A bucket bunny is a woman who seeks out the attention, money or affection of a lineman for her own personal gain with no regard to if theyre married or in a committed relationship. It can also be said to be similar to buckle bunnieswhich is what rodeo guys call themor badge bunnies, or tag chasers, you get the point. It doesnt have to have to just be line work, it could be military, law enforcement, or firefighters. So no matter what community, this is just a term that they have coined for the women that chase them. Advertisement Advertisement I actually created a bucket bunny sticker almost two years ago now. We were hanging out with some friends and my one girlfriend turned me and shes like, Hey, can you make me a No Bucket Bunnies sticker? I said I absolutely can. And then I did one [that said No Line Lice] because the girls had asked for it. They said it sounded more disgusting, to fit the profile of a woman that would do what theyre doing. Advertisement Are women in the community really concerned about bucket bunnies? Like I said before, its in all trades. Its not just in line work. But there [are] specific women that will chase out and reach out to linemen in the areas and kind of try to get their attention, especially if theyre on storm. I know that if a man is not faithful, storm can be a very easy time to take advantage of the situation where your wife may not know what youre doing, and youre not calling her because most of the time when the guys work storms, they dont really talk to their family that much because theyre busy working. So they can get away with things. Nobody needs to know. If they pay cash in a strip club, hows anybody gonna know theyre gonna be there, you know? Or if they meet some girl on Tinderthats another thing thats on TikToka lot of them are probably single. Advertisement But the other thing thats happening too is the women are fighting back. Theyre making fake Tinder accounts and ratting out these guys to their wives and stuff. They are cutthroat. I always said that linewives are a different breed. They have grit. If theres something that you need to find, a linewife will find it. And if she cant, shell pose it to a group and some other woman will find it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Has your husband actually witnessed bucket bunnies in action? At the bars, and maybe restaurants and stuff like that, you know, a server might get a little fresh with the linemen, just because she knows they make good money. He doesnt pay it no mind. Its not his thing. Some guys get into it and he just tries to distance himself from it because its not something that he wants to be a part of. Advertisement And you were saying that linemen make really good money. How much? In California, you can make $300,000 a year. In Florida, its a little bit less. It depends on whatever state theyre working in, or whatever the union hall. Are the online communities youre part of discussing bucket bunnies all the time? It pops more in storm season. Not so much in ice storm season, but in hurricane season. I feel like the South, the Southern women are a little bit more boisterous about it than women up north. But you dont really hear about it too much throughout the year. Every once in a while you might hear somebody mention something. A couple of the groups, they banned the words TikTok and bucket bunny just because it gets a little escalated and then Facebook will flag it and then the group might get removed so they have to like censor a lot of that stuff. Advertisement Advertisement [Read : How Facebook Lost Ground to TikTok, and What Its Doing About It] Was this recently that they banned those words? I want to say its been about a year. They just say like TK [instead of TikTok] or theyll put something like that. And everybody knows what theyre talking about. But just like with the bucket bunny stuff last year, when it first started to get a little bit more heated, people were posting stuff in the group and it just escalated with comments and people bashing back and forth. And then there was accusations that bucket bunnies are trying to join the linewife pages and linewives are feisty. Advertisement How do the fights about bucket bunnies usually go? Advertisement Most of the time, its either somebody just saying like, You should just leave him, Let him have the bucket bunny, Dont waste your time. And then some other people are saying, Well, you know, you dont know what her story is. And he could have told her something else. Or maybe she didnt know. Women can be cruel. I know men can be cruel. But sometimes women can be really cruel with what they say instead of being supportive. Advertisement Advertisement Are some people strategizing about how to protect themselves and their husbands from bucket bunnies? Some of the wives, theyll talk about how they track their [husbands] spending, like where theyre at, or they have their location. Most of the guys have their locations on to where their wives can figure out where theyre at, in case something happens. Sometimes when theyre working storm and you dont hear from them until like almost midnight, sometimes you get worried like, Are they alive? Did something happen? You know, your anxiety gets you. Advertisement Today I was looking at the site and somebody was talking about her husband was out at the strip club. She Googled what the charge was, I think on a credit card, and it came up as a strip club. But the women were saying like, Maybe it wasnt because it wasnt like a strip name. Most women say either they met on Tinder or they bumped into each other at like a gas station or something stupid like that, the stories that Ive heard in the linewife pages. I know there was a strip club in New Orleans that put on their sign about free lap dances for the lineman that gets our power restored, the crew to get the power restored. So that was a big topic. A lot of ladies were upset about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And weve been talking all about linewives and linemenare there any linewomen? There are. Theyre starting to become more and more a thing. I dont know how I feel about it, though. And I dont mean that in a negative way. Like I dont think that theyre going to be chasing our husbands or anything like that. Its more of likehow I put this nicely?I want them to be able to pull their weight. I dont want the guys to have to step up and pull their weight because they cant pull their weight. What do you think it is about linemen that makes them such a hot commodity? Theyre blue-collar men. Theyre hard workers. Most of them are muscularmost of them. They like to work. I mean, instead of having some guy thats a computer nerd thats sittin in front of a computer, you have a guy thats roughed up and can fix anything and can figure things out and adapt and overcome and do what he needs to do, no matter what the situation is. This essay was adapted from Donald Moynihans newsletter, Can We Still Govern? Subscribe here. For at least a year now, there has been strong but largely circumstantial evidence that right-wing anti-vaccine rhetoric was having deadly consequences in the United States. Despite early wide-scale access to COVID-19 vaccines, the U.S. has outstripped its peer countries when it comes to the all-important measure of mortality known as excess deaths. Meanwhile, U.S. life expectancy has continued to drop dramatically due to the coronavirus even as longevity measures have begun rebounding elsewhere. Advertisement One seemingly obvious explanation for this grim piece of American exceptionalism is that Republicans, egged on by right-wing political and media elites, have been avoiding simple public health measures to protect themselves like getting vaccinated, and dying at elevated rates as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This problem wasnt exactly hard to pick up on just by paying attention to social media or reading the news. But the story appeared to be borne out by more careful data analyses, too. Some of the key clues: When it comes to the publics beliefs about the pandemic, such as whether there should be more or fewer COVID restrictions, the gap between left- and right-leaning voters has been much higher in the U.S. than elsewhere. Advertisement COVID cases and deaths are higher in more Republican counties. Republicans are more likely to believe misinformation about vaccines. Republicans are substantially less likely to get vaccinated. Researchers have found that exposure to conservative media, particularly Fox News, made people more vaccine hesitant. This body of evidence had some limitations, though. For instance, the fact that red counties tended to have higher death rates than blue ones might not mean that conservatives were more likely to die from COVID if lots of Democrats who happened to live in right-wing parts of the country were perishing too. Or, if more Republicans were dying, it might also be because they were different from Democrats in ways that affect COVID outcomes but were not directly driven by ideology. They might just be older, in worse health, or in a community with poorer health resources, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, however, a new working paper by three Yale public health and economics researchersJacob Wallace, Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, and Jason Schwartzis offering the most definitive and direct evidence Ive seen yet confirming that Republicans have indeed been more likely to die because of COVID. The study, released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, also confirms the scale of these deaths and points to the central role vaccine hesitancy has likely played in the tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Much prior work on this topic relied either on surveys of beliefs or evidence about vaccination rates and deaths at the county level. The new paper, in contrast, uses information from voter registration files in Florida and Ohio to connect individual-level data on the political affiliation and age of people who died during the coronavirus crisis. Using this information, it calculates and compares excess death rates of Republicans and Democrats in 2020 and 2021meaning it looks at how many more people in each party died during the pandemic above what you would ordinarily expect based on their demographics and historical trends. Because theyre using a measure that takes the age of population into account, the researchers results shouldnt be affected by the fact that Republicans tend to be a little older than Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technically, excess deaths measure how many additional people have passed away from all causes, rather than just COVID. But public health experts like to use them to track the viruss toll because causes of death arent reported uniformly everywhere, and it avoids the issue of whether coronavirus fatalities are under-recorded in some places but not others. (In studies like this one, it also spares researchers the task of tracking down how each individual died, which isnt feasible.) Its a standard and sound approachunless you think something else besides the global pandemic has been causing a big spike in deaths over the past couple years. So, what did the authors discover? Overall, the excess death rate for Republicans was 5.4 percentage points, or 76 percent, higher than the excess death rate for Democrats. Advertisement The figure below illustrates the key finding of the paper: It shows a spike in excess deaths around the time of the pandemic, and then a growing difference between Republicans and Democrats in the rate of excess deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Crucially, the graphs also show the gap between Democrats and Republicans turned noticeable only after vaccines became widely available. In other words, absent the vaccines, the effect of partisan ideology was not very large. But once people could choose to protect themselves with a shot, Republican and Democratic outcomes diverged. The figure below reiterates this point. Before vaccine availability, excess deaths are similar for Democrats and Republicans. After vaccines become available, the two groups separate: The excess death rate gap between Republicans and Democrats increases from 1.6 percentage points to 10.4 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The paper does have a few limitations. First, its still a draft that has yet to go through peer review. However, NBER working papers tend to be high-quality, and absent some glaring data error, its hard to see the key findings being reversed. Second, it only uses data from two states, Florida and Ohio; in theory, it is possible that death patterns in the rest of the country are different (though its not immediately obvious why that would be the case). Most crucially, the study also does not include data on whether individuals who died were vaccinated. As a result, the authors cannot quite prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that COVID was deadlier for Republicans specifically because fewer of them chose to be inoculated against it. Advertisement But, combined with what we know from other sources, the paper certainly points very, very strongly toward that conclusion. After all, why else would the death gap between Democrats and Republicans only have opened up after vaccines became available to the public? Notably, in counties with the very highest vaccination rates, the studys authors find almost no difference in excess deaths between Republicans and Democrats. One plausible, if ever so slightly speculative, interpretation of this finding is that in places where conservatives acted more like liberals and actually got their shots, they were less likely to die. Advertisement As the authors write, their overall results suggest that the well-documented differences in vaccination attitudes and reported uptake between Republicans and Democrats have already had serious consequences for the severity and trajectory of the pandemic in the United States. Advertisement Now about the political implications of all this. The U.S. governments response to COVID was far from perfect and deserves to be scrutinized. But public health is a coproduction between a countrys citizens and government, which relies on ordinary people to follow official guidance. Most other developed countries did a lot better with that task than the United States. Advertisement At this point, it seems safe to say that one of the key reasons why the U.S. failed where other countries succeeded is because right-wing leaders and media sought to sabotage the effortin particular by casting doubt on the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. After all, vaccine hesitancy was a fringe position before the pandemic, found both on the left and the right. It only became mainstreamed as a conservative view during the pandemic. Advertisement Once Joe Biden became president, Republicans amplified the claims that vaccines posed a threat to freedom and aligned themselves with anti-vaccine activists. In some cases, state lawmakers discouraged outreach efforts. And as Matt Gertz of Media Matters has documented, the right-wing campaign against vaccines is still ongoing. Fox News is still raising doubts about vaccinations because, as one insider told the Daily Beast last year, its great for ratings. The midterms havent forced the most prominent vaccine-skeptical politicians to change their tune, either. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson has pushed doubts about the shots despite being up for reelection in November. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, embracing vaccines has become politically risky. One of the Trump administrations most positive achievements was in pushing for rapid vaccine development. But Donald Trump himself has struggled to take credit. When he mentioned he got a booster shot at one of his rallies, he was booed. It turns out that when you plant the seed of anti-science doubtrecall Trump giving credence to the false claim that vaccines cause autismit is hard to reap the benefits of science. Advertisement The fact that an audience full of Republicans was ready to boo Donald Trump, of all people, for saying a kind word about vaccines brings up one hard-to-answer question. Did Republican voters turn against vaccines because their favorite politicians and talking heads told them to? Or did Republican politicians and talking heads turn against vaccines because thats what their audience already wanted to hear? Advertisement In all likelihood, the answer is a bit of both. One way to think about this issue is to look at how liberals versus conservatives differed in public health attitudes around the world. What we find is that conservatives are indeed more skeptical about public health measures than liberals in lots of countries. But the gap between liberals and conservatives is much larger in the U.S. There is also some evidence that Republican voters were more attentive to partisan cues about the pandemic than their Democratic peers. In the end, the rhetoric of Republican elites and the appetite for it from voters probably created a terrible feedback loop. Advertisement Even if we believe that right-wing elites were merely responding to, rather than cultivating, the preferences of their audiences, this hardly absolves them of blame. People in positions of power and trust raised questions about vaccines while protecting themselves by making sure to get their shots. By lumping vaccines into their steady stream of fear-based political messagingabout the dangers of immigrants, critical race theory, or crimethey were the ones actually putting their own supporters at mortal risk. Just imagine the segment on Tucker Carlson if Democrats did something similar to their own voters. The people who encouraged vaccine hesitancy probably wont face any sort of reckoning for the role they played. But we need to be honest about the reasons why these deaths happened. Right-wing elites made a choice to engage in rhetoric and feed conspiracies. Some may have truly believed their own words. Some did it for votes and ratings. The consequences for their supporters were deadly. This past summer, the Supreme Court radically refashioned the Second Amendment. Blue states like New York scrambled to enact new gun safety laws to deal with the decision. Those measures are already falling like dominoes. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the court declared unconstitutional New Yorks 110-year-old license requirement for concealed handgun carrying. Justice Clarence Thomass majority opinion held that New York could not require license applicants to show a heightened need for self-defense different from the community at large. As significant as that holding isabout a quarter of Americans lived in jurisdictions with similar lawsBruens impact extends much further. The court crafted a brand new, still ill-defined test for Second Amendment cases going forward. Under that novel test, courts hearing Second Amendment claims may no longer ask if a challenged law is effective at reducing gun violence. Instead, they may only uphold gun laws that are grounded in this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That test is revolutionary. Laws enacted in the days of horses and buggies now dictate whether, for example, the current Delaware legislature can restrict the making of 3D-printed firearms to licensed gun manufacturers. (One federal court has, post-Bruen, said no.) As expected, the application of Bruens novel test in the lower courts has been troubling so far. A Thursday decision by a federal court in upstate New York is a case in point. In that case, Antonyuk v. Hochul, U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby put on hold significant portions of a recently enacted New York law regulating guns in the aftermath of Bruen. Among other things, the new law replaced the old permit scheme with new or modified requirements for applicants, including an 18-hour training course, names of references, an in-person interview, a list of social media accounts, and proof of good moral character. The law also designated a large number of sensitive places as gun-free zones, like schools, parks, and Times Square. Advertisement Advertisement Suddabys analysis shows the vacuity of Bruens history-only test. To be satisfied that a provision is rooted in historical tradition, he said he would need to see three analogous firearm laws in the 18th or 19th century. Why three? No one really knows. One law cant form a tradition, Suddaby said, citing the Supreme Courts historical analysis in Bruen. And, well, two laws might come closer to constituting a tradition, [but] they can also appear as a mere trend. And trends, apparently, cant be traditions. So three it is. If the government cant produce at least three analogous gun laws from before Teddy Roosevelts presidency, then it cant regulate today. The analysis that follows from this strange method would be hard to parody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the government cant produce at least three analogous gun laws from before Teddy Roosevelts presidency, then it cant regulate today. Consider the social media disclosures. Unconstitutional, said the court. Why? Because an insufficient number of historical analogues exists requiring a list of social media accounts for the past three years. Just read that line again slowly and ask yourself, what are we even doing here? Suddaby is left analogizing social media accounts to pseudonymously published political pamphlets or newspaper articles in the founding era. Finding no old statutes saying that early American (white, male) citizens had to disclose such information to carry guns in public, the court struck the provision. Or take the courts treatment of the provision requiring an applicant to show good moral character. An applicant shouldnt have to show anything, said the court. Rather, the state should have to disprove a presumption of good moral character, and that by a burden of proof the court itself fashioned. The result? A federal judge in Syracuse is, quite literally, re-writing New Yorks laws. The good moral character requirement, he said, can be rendered constitutional only if it were considered as containing the following changes. Suddaby proceeded to draft a modified statute thats totally different from the one that New York lawmakers actually passed. One wonders about the sincerity of conservative hackles over judges legislating from the bench when a George W. Bush-appointed judge drafts legislation for New York and orders Defendants to so construe those provisions when performing their duties in their official capacities. Will any concerned conservatives respond that the way to stop creating legislation from the bench is to stop legislating from the bench? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also took an axe to New Yorks list of gun-free sensitive locations. Parsing the historical pedigree of particular places, Suddaby found an abundance of silence in the historical record. For example, although he acknowledged the rich history of gun prohibitions in schools and universities, apparently New York went too far. According to the judge, a longstanding history of banning guns in schools cant support banning them in summer camps, where kids often go when schools outand which did not exist when the Second Amendment was ratified. [T]he Court, he wrote, cannot find these historical statutes analogous to a prohibition on summer camps. If that tradition isnt analogous enough, its hard to know what could be found in the antebellum United States to support such a law. Advertisement Advertisement How about airports? Surely those are quintessential sensitive locations. Nope. With little analysis, Suddaby said tradition comes up short. Public transit (subway, busses, ferries) and transportation facilities (bus terminals, train stations) all fall too. Guns in Grand Central, because the Constitution demands it. The courts excision of sensitive places is broad and deep. It cuts out literally dozens of enumerated locations from which the New York legislature sought to prohibit guns, including Times Square, establishments serving liquor, cannabis dispensaries, theaters, stadiums, amusement parks, libraries, playgrounds, childcare programs, places serving individuals with developmental disabilities, homeless and family shelters, domestic violence shelters, and more. For any one of these locations, arguments abound for taking into consideration the vastly different landscape confronting our forebears and for attending to the underlying rationale for treating places as sensitive at all. As the federal appeals court in the District of Columbia said in a prior case, places are sensitive because of the people found there or the activities that take place there. Domestic violence shelters bring this into stark relief. For most of American history, there was no concept that domestic violence would be a matter of concern for the criminal law. Imagine, then, how utterly strange the notion of domestic violence shelters would have been, let alone the suggestion that the head of the family unit couldnt bring his guns to such a facility. Yet the people who take refuge at shelters today are among societys most vulnerable, and guns pose a unique threat there given the strong connection between firearms and intimate partner violence. Suddaby addressed none of this. In his defense, neither did Bruen. And thats the real problem. This decision is just an extreme example of what it looks like to implement Bruens unjustified and unjustifiable method. Unless the Supreme Court changes course, well only see more unfortunate decisions like Antonyuk that tie the hands of democratically elected legislatures in the face of an often silent past. The skies are about to become a lot less friendly, to take the British governments word for it. On Thursday, the United Kingdoms core business regulator published findings from its investigation into two of the largest satellite communications companies in the world: Viasat, a public California-based firm, and Inmarsat, a London-headquartered private contractor. Both are telecoms juggernauts that utilize satellite fleets to provide broadband internet service across multiple continents. They also dominate much of the market for that maddening travel service: in-flight Wi-Fi. So it spurred just a bit of concern when late last year, Viasat finalized a $7.3 billion takeover bid for Inmarsat, in essence swallowing up its only major competitor. The British governments famously aggressive Competition and Markets Authority launched its probe in July to investigate whether this deal will establish a full monopoly on airplane internet servicelikely making it even more unusable, and far more costly, than it already is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just about every major airline works with one of these two providers. Viasat covers Wi-Fi for American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin America, and United Airlines, among others; Inmarsat partners with Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and more. Its likely that, no matter the flight path, youve previously cursed these companies services after blowing $10 so you could check your email for 30 minutes. For Viasat to take charge of Inmarsat would entail nearly complete control not just of another company but, basically, a global sector. In North America alone, Viasat doubled its share of the domestic in-flight connectivity market in just a three-year periodfrom 10 percent to nearly 30 percentsteeply cutting into the prior dominance of firms like Gogo, Global Eagle, and Panasonic. Meanwhile, in 2018, Inmarsats chief executive estimated that his company accounted for 30 percent of the global market. As the CMA pointed out in its Thursday report, this makes these two the strongest suppliers in a market with few other established players. And considering that the aviation sector is one of the most difficult industries for satellite operators to enter, the CMA concluded, a merger of already-dominant businesses could ruin the consumer experience they provide: Airlines could face higher prices and be offered lower quality connectivity solutions, ultimately affecting the cost, quality and availability of services for airline passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, thats not great, especially at a moment when flying is a shitshow. No one likes a bad ride, much less one made worse by crappy Wi-Fi. Americans already recognize how much it sucks to have at-home internet options constricted by a monopolistic system, and basically everyone knows airplane Wi-Fi is too pricey and laggy as is, no matter the flight. There are smaller competitors in the space, but theyre nowhere near positioned to provide alternative, possibly smoother consumer options on a worldwide scale. Gogo, for example, is mainly competitive in North America for business flights; Elon Musks Starlink, with all its hype, still has a ways to go before reaching mass commercial adoption (a predicament it can blame in part on Viasat itself). On just a technical basis, the CMA explained, it can be very difficult for airlines to switch providers once they have installed a connectivity solution. Thus, a Viasat-Inmarsat hydra would have an already-in-place market presence of a size no current competitors could hope to overcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, prominent names like Delta and Southwest have worked their relationships with Viasat to improve Wi-Fi capacity; the firm plans on launching even more satellites to increase connectivity options and bandwidth. Such improvements have also allowed for airlines to finally lower consumers in-flight costs after COVIDs impact on the aviation industry caused them to, well, take off. Yet if Viasat gains the satellite-broadband market to itself, its likely the corporation will face much less pressure down the line to improve service and cheapen its productwhich other providers would airlines be able to turn to with Viasats trove of satellites, coverage breadth, and general resources? Especially when it can squeeze more money out of you for an upgrade from poor connectivity to subpar quality at best? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $30 and its taken two hours just to log in to Twitter pic.twitter.com/FDdQCBUzy0 Justin McLachlan (@justinmclachlan) September 1, 2022 Beyond that, there are also cybersecurity concerns. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, it launched an attack on the latters Viasat-controlled satellite receptors, knocking out Ukrainian communicationsas well as internet access for thousands more Europeans across the continent, whether in France or Germany or elsewhere. Anticipation of such an event could explain why the Boris Johnson administration probed the Imnarsat acquisition, shortly after it was finalized, in the interest of national security; imagine how vulnerable an even bigger Viasat could be. Yet right when Prime Minister Liz Truss took office last month, her new pick for business secretary cleared the deal, claiming there was no risk to the country. So at this point, the competition argument is the only tool left to halt this thing. Advertisement Advertisement At any rate, Thursday marked the official end of the CMAs phase 1 investigation into the merger, during which it took public comment and scoured internal and external documents pertaining to the corporations business models. Now, Viasat and Inmarsat have four working days to submit proposals that address the issues laid out by CMA. Should they do so, the authority will have five more working days to consider whether the suggested fixes are sufficient to allay its anti-competition concerns. If the CMA finds that to be the case, the primary obstacle to the merger will fall, and you may have an even harder time checking your email than you used to (unless you splurge on a higher tier of servicethough that wont always do the trick). But if CMA doesnt like what the companies have to say, then it will commence a phase 2 investigation, convening a group of CMA staffers and outside experts to conduct their own in-depth investigation of the facts within a six-month timeline (although this could end early if the companies withdraw the merger). The groups final report will dictate the final stagewhether it wishes to block the deal altogether, or mandate changes to ensure the acquisition doesnt adversely affect British (and, in turn, global) commerce. Its too soon to predict what how that process will end. But if the CMA greenlights this mess, the modern air travel experience may soon have something way worse than the dang food. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Who are the wealthiest Slovaks? The driver in last weekend's Bratislava road crash tragedy will be prosecuted at large. And Sladek's photos: an invitation to discover the capital's Old Town. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Here is the Friday, October 7 edition of Today in Slovakia the main news of the day in less than five minutes. For weekend events and news on travel and culture in Slovakia, see the latest edition of our Spectacular Slovakia newsletter. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Bratislavas main station is getting a facelift, ahead of full reconstruction Bratislava's main railway station. (Source: Sme - Jozef Jakubco) The main railway station in Bratislava, which is notorious for its semi-derelict condition, should look a little prettier by Christmas. In late September, Bratislava City Council launched work to enhance the area in front of the main station, based on a project by the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB). The two-month improvement project is a temporary solution, pending the station's full reconstruction. Feature story for today Kuzmanyho Street (Source: Courtesy of Anton Sladek) Photographer mapped shortcuts above Bratislavas Old Town As a small boy, photographer Anton Sladek lived on Lermontovova Street in Bratislavas Old Town. His father, an assistant at the University of Economics, once took him to his office on Palisady Street via a shortcut from Vlckova Street up the stairs to Marotyho Street. It left a magical impression on me, recalled the photographer, in an interview with The Slovak Spectator. These shortcuts, of which there are several in this part of the city, fascinate Sladek to this day. He has made them the subject of his latest photo book, entitled Skratky (Shortcuts). Related article Related article Photographer mapped shortcuts above Bratislavas Old Town Read more More stories on Spectator.sk ANIMATION: The Biennial of Animations Bratislava has kicked off in Bratislava, offering film screenings, exhibitions and lectures by Oscar-nominated directors. The Biennial of Animations Bratislava has kicked off in Bratislava, offering film screenings, exhibitions and lectures by Oscar-nominated directors. HIKING : It is said that each Slovak should climb Krivan, the peak that symbolises the Slovak nation. Read our account of how the hike looks and feels. : It is said that each Slovak should climb Krivan, the peak that symbolises the Slovak nation. Read our account of how the hike looks and feels. TRAVEL: The Slovak town of Zarnovica has a new attraction, "Beautiful Forest". The Slovak town of Zarnovica has a new attraction, "Beautiful Forest". CULTURE: The Souls in Purgatory sculpture, once stolen from the spectacular Baroque Calvary in Banska Stiavnica, has returned to its home in replica. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you! Anniversary of the week Dezo Ursiny (Source: Courtesy of MMC) On Tuesday, October 4, 75 years have passed since the birth of legendary Slovak rock musician Dezo Ursiny (19471995). His son Jakub Ursiny, accompanied by musicians Marian Slavka, Filip Hittrich, Valer Miko, Vlado Nosal, Tomas Michalcak and Lenka Molcanyova, will mark the occasion by performing probably his best LP Modry Vrch (Blue Hill) in the Majestic Music Club in Bratislava on Sunday, October 9, at 20.00. Picture of the day The reconstructed manor house in Modra. (Source: TASR) Representatives of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (BSK), together with Austrian partners, opened the manor house in Modra on Friday, October 7. The historical building, restored at a cost of 3.6 million, will be open to the public on Saturday from 10:00 until 17:00. In other news Dusan Dedecek, the driver who has admitted being behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a crowd of people, killing five, in Bratislava on Sunday, October 2, will not be held in custody pending prosecution. The Bratislava I District Court ordered his release him from police detention on Thursday, October 6. The 60-year old, who was secretary-general of the Deaflympics Committee of Slovakia until his resignation this week, is accused of the crime of general endangerment. The Bratislava I District Court ordered his release him from police detention on Thursday, October 6. The 60-year old, who was secretary-general of the Deaflympics Committee of Slovakia until his resignation this week, is accused of the crime of general endangerment. The Slovak edition of the Forbes magazine has published its ranking of the richest Slovaks for the tenth time. It features well-known names as well as some newcomers and, as on previous occasions, is dominated by men. The top-earning Slovak is the owner of real estate developer HB Reavis, Ivan Chrenko, whose assets are estimated at 1.83 billion. Valeria Hascakova, spouse of Jaroslav Hascak of the Penta financial group, and her family came in second, with assets of 1.34 billion. Patrik and Jozef Tkac of the J&T group placed third, with assets of 840 million. for the tenth time. It features well-known names as well as some newcomers and, as on previous occasions, is dominated by men. The top-earning Slovak is the owner of real estate developer HB Reavis, Ivan Chrenko, whose assets are estimated at 1.83 billion. Valeria Hascakova, spouse of Jaroslav Hascak of the Penta financial group, and her family came in second, with assets of 1.34 billion. Patrik and Jozef Tkac of the J&T group placed third, with assets of 840 million. The reported profits of the newest carmaker to start maufacturing in Slovakia, the Nitra-based subsidiary of Jaguar Land Rover, shrank by 48 percent to just over 6 million during the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2022. Its revenues grew 8 percent to 291.6 million. to just over 6 million during the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2022. Its revenues grew 8 percent to 291.6 million. Growth in Slovakia's exports and imports both accelerated year-on-year (y-o-y) in August, exceeding 30 percent for the second time this year, according to preliminary data for August 2022 published by the Statistics Office on Friday. for the second time this year, according to preliminary data for August 2022 published by the Statistics Office on Friday. The Slovak Chamber of Architects (SKA) has awarded prizes for t he best Slovak architecture in 2022 . In Bratislava, the CE ZA AR award in the category of exteriors went to the restoration of Maly Slavin, a war memorial and popular tourist spot in the Small Carpathian forests above Bratislava. The Bratislava Metropolitan Institute (MIB) received the award Patron of Architecture. In Bratislava, the award in the category of exteriors went to the restoration of Maly Slavin, a war memorial and popular tourist spot in the Small Carpathian forests above Bratislava. The Bratislava Metropolitan Institute (MIB) received the award Patron of Architecture. Transport in Bratislava will be limited on Sunday October 9, due to the 74th edition of the Devin-Bratislava Run. From 8:00 until the collection bus passes (at approximately at 12:00) motor vehicles will be prohibited from entering Devinska Cesta, Kremelska Street and the road between Devinska Nova Ves and Devin. From 9:30 until 11:00, roads in Devin will be closed to vehicles. From 9:45 until the collection bus passes (at approximately at 12:00), the Riviera-Novy Most bidge section of Botanicka Street in the direction of the city centre and Nabrezie Arm. Gen. L. Svobodu embankment in the direction to the centre will also be closed. Between 7:15 and 13:00 Razusovo and Vajanskeho embankments (the section Most SNP - Safarikovo Square) will be closed. Mostova Street will be closed from 9:30 until 13:00. If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Full modernisation is still some way off. The less than lovely sight that currently greets visitors to Bratislava's main railway station. (Source: Sme - Jozef Jakubco) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The condition of the dilapidated main railway station in Bratislava should improve, at least slightly, over the next two months. Bratislava City Council began adjustments to the area in front of the station in late September. These are based on a plan proposed by the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB) that is intended to improve the transport hub pending its complete reconstruction. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The city and the MIB are currently cooperating with other decision-making institutions on the promulgation of an architectural competition, said council spokesperson Dagmar Schmuckova. Improvements The improvements include new paving for the 2,600-square-metre area in front of the main station building, installation of new benches and waste bins, and removal of barriers for passengers and the physically challenged. The area in front of the railway station in Bratislava that is being enhanced. (Source: Courtesy of Bratislava city council) The current work is planned to take two months. In order to minimise disruption for passengers it will be divided into two phases. During the first phase, the main entrance and exit of the station will be closed. Passengers will be required to use the side entrances and exits, noted Schmuckova, adding that bench seating in front of the station will also be restricted during this period. Cars will not be able to enter the zone that is normally used for drop-offs. Modern station in sight? In February this year the Transport Ministry, the state-owned railway network operator Zeleznice Slovenskej Republiky (ZSR), and the capital signed a memorandum on cooperation, with the aim of finally giving the Slovak capital a proper main railway station. Together they pledged to rebuild the station and its surroundings, with the involvement of a private investor. At the same time, they also agreed on temporary improvements and the need to promulgate an urban-traffic-architectural competition supervised by the MIB. https://sputniknews.com/20221006/biden-announces-pardon-of-thousands-of-federal-convictions-for-marijuana-possession-1101585829.html Biden Announces Pardon of Thousands of Federal Convictions for Marijuana Possession Biden Announces Pardon of Thousands of Federal Convictions for Marijuana Possession Recreational marijuana is legal in 19 states and Washington, DC. Five additional states will be voting on the issue in November. 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T20:36+0000 2022-10-06T20:36+0000 2022-10-06T20:36+0000 americas us marijuana joe biden pardon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/04/0f/1094802035_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_80bdd473076dc45eed8baf698ac8b8df.jpg President Biden announced in a statement that he is pardoning thousands of federal convictions for simple marijuana possession.The statement, released Thursday, says the Biden administration is taking three actions to address the issue. First, he is pardoning all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. This would apply not only to people currently incarcerated for marijuana possession, but also those with prior convictions who may be denied employment based on their criminal record.Second, the Biden administration is urging all state governors to do the same for state convictions of marijuana possession. Just as no one should be in a Federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.It is not known how many state governors will follow Bidens urging to pardon state marijuana offenses. At press time, three governors have responded publicly to Bidens decision, including New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who noted that her state has already expunged 155,000 convictions for marijuana possession.Pennsylvanian Governor Tom Wolf stated that he does not have unilateral pardon authority in his state, but is doing everything I can to right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs. Meanwhile, Colorado Governor Jared Polis commended the presidents decision to follow Colorados lead.According to White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, the pardons will also apply to those convicted for marijuana possession in Washington, DC. She notes that there are no inmates currently in federal prison for simple marijuana possession, but that the clemency will remove barriers to convicted individuals for housing, education, and employment opportunities.Finally, President Biden is also directing Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to review how marijuana is classified under the Controlled Substance Act. Currently, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug, meaning it is considered to have a high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical uses. That marijuana is a Schedule I drug, the same classification for heroin, LSD, and above drugs like cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, has long been a matter of contention for marijuana advocates.The statement notes that limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales will stay in place. https://sputniknews.com/20220823/us-health-agency-2021-saw-highest-use-of-marijuana-hallucinogens-among-young-adults-1099879296.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino us, marijuana, joe biden, pardon https://sputniknews.com/20221006/immigrant-workers-are-rebuilding-florida-but-desantis-doesnt-care-1101588914.html Immigrant Workers Are Rebuilding Florida but DeSantis Doesnt Care Immigrant Workers Are Rebuilding Florida but DeSantis Doesnt Care At least 89 people died in Florida due to Hurricane Ian, a number that is still expected to grow. As of Thursday, 215,000 Floridians remain without power and... 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T22:57+0000 2022-10-06T22:57+0000 2022-10-06T22:57+0000 americas us florida immigrants ron desantis hurricane /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/12/1100915439_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_dc35e9e2687e0191033ebc59b296c52c.jpg After Hurricane Ian hit Florida, a growing number of immigrants, many of them undocumented, have been heading to Florida to help rebuild the state. Despite their labor being critical to Floridas recovery, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has continued his public attacks on undocumented immigrants and is ignoring their contributions.Saket Soni, the executive director of Resilience Force, a nonprofit that advocates for thousands of response workers, has been in Fort Myers, Florida, with hundreds of immigrants, many of whom he says are undocumented. They are rebuilding homes, cleaning debris, and helping the state return to some semblance of normalcy.Soni says the workers travel from disaster area to disaster area, looking for work. He describes them using a metaphor a Mexican roofer once shared with him. Despite their contributions to the state, DeSantis has ignored questions about immigrants rebuilding Florida after Hurricane Ian. On Tuesday, at a press conference ostensibly about the ongoing recovery effort, DeSantis opened by talking about three illegal immigrants who had been arrested in Florida on alleged looting charges.These are people that are foreigners, theyre illegally in our country, and not only that, they try to loot and ransack in the aftermath of a natural disaster. I mean, they should be prosecuted, but they need to be sent back to their home countries. They should not be here at all, DeSantis told reporters.When a CNN reporter asked DeSantis if he had any response to reports that Venezuelans in New York were being recruited to help in Floridas recovery and if he would send them back north, DeSantis ignored the first part of the question. Instead, he focused on his controversial publicity stunt to use state funds to pay for two flights sending migrants from Florida to Texas and then Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts.The work being done in Florida by immigrants is not easy or safe either. Roofing, to take one example, is already one of the most dangerous jobs in America, and it becomes more dangerous when dealing with hurricane-damaged homes. They often do not have healthcare, are sometimes housed in unsafe conditions and many have their wages stolen by unscrupulous contractors.Still, they come for the chance of relatively high wages as well as what could be the start of a career.Many are from Venezuela. Many are from Honduras and Mexico. They represent all of the different waves of migrants that have been arriving into the US and into this industry. Many of them who Ive known since Hurricane Katrina and who have a dozen hurricanes under their belt, Soni said. https://sputniknews.com/20220921/playing-with-human-lives-texas-sheriff-opens-probe-into-desantis-marthas-vineyard-flights--1101025003.html https://sputniknews.com/20221006/president-joe-biden-heard-saying-no-one-f-with-a-biden-during-trip-to-florida-1101555549.html americas florida Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino us, florida, immigrants, ron desantis, hurricane https://sputniknews.com/20221006/kikinas-flight-should-inspire-all-women-to-work-to-make-dreams-come-true---space-expert-1101588445.html Kikinas Flight Should Inspire All Women to Work to Make Dreams Come True - Space Expert Kikinas Flight Should Inspire All Women to Work to Make Dreams Come True - Space Expert KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (Sputnik) - The space flight of Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina is significant in many ways and should inspire women around the globe to... 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T22:27+0000 2022-10-06T22:27+0000 2022-10-07T22:25+0000 science & tech iss roscosmos /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105257/81/1052578102_0:317:3077:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_cae557ceae8bec03ce625621e6a6c4ca.jpg Kikina, the only female cosmonaut at Roscosmos, is currently flying with the Crew-5 team to the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft named Endurance. The spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on Thursday. Kikina is the first Russian to be launched into space from US soil in two decades.Stepanova said the flight is significant in many respects."First, she is the only female cosmonaut in the Russian squadron. Women have not flown from Russia for several years. Besides, she is the first Russian woman on an international crew and, in general, the first person from Russia, from Roscosmos, who flies on the Space X vehicle. There are a lot of positive unique moments that came together in this flight," Stepanova said.Stepanova said she feels lucky to be an invited guest as a friend of Kikina at the launch."It was probably the best news of the last year. It was said in the official email from NASA that we need to arrive three days before launch, because there will be various activities besides, of course, the most important event - the launch. I was very impressed already on the first day when the crew came to meet us. They stood at a distance of several meters due to the quarantine. Already then I shed a tear - to see Anna, to see this happiness and be proud of her," Stepanova said.In general, she said it is quite difficult for women in astronautics in Russia."This is a difficult path with many obstacles, and Anna simply proved once again to all of us that everything can be overcome, everything is possible," Stepanova added. "And 10 years of her tireless work has paid off now."Stepanova shared that she saw Kikinas clear blue eyes full of joy, enthusiasm and impatience to quickly go to her first flight.Stepanova also had a chance to tell Kikina that many people, including all her subscribers and acquaintances, say hello to her, root for her, wish her a wonderful flight and being on the ISS, and that she inspires us all.Stepanova, PhD candidate in space resources, has been a crew member of SIRIUS-19 and Mars 160 - international projects simulating space missions to the Moon and MarsNASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, as well as Japan's Koichi Wakata, and Russia's Kikina will stay in orbit for about six months and carry out over 200 scientific experiments.In July, Roscosmos and NASA signed an agreement on integrated flights of cosmonauts and astronauts to the ISS. As part of the agreement, the Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft was launched from Baikonur to the ISS on September 21 carrying another crew including Russian cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin as well as NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio. https://sputniknews.com/20221006/us-russia-back-each-other-on-space-matters-not-only-via-integrated-flights---roscosmos-1101554936.html https://sputniknews.com/20221005/future-russian-space-station-will-involve-international-cooperation---roscosmos-1101550460.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International iss, roscosmos https://sputniknews.com/20221006/king-charles-iii-has-a-secret-nickname-for-markle-markle-1101587004.html King Charles III Has a Secret Nickname for Markle Markle King Charles III Has a Secret Nickname for Markle Markle Markle Markle, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, broke away from their senior royal duties in January of 2020 after two years of intense... 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T21:53+0000 2022-10-06T21:53+0000 2022-10-06T21:53+0000 celebrities celebrities royal family uk royal family meghan markle viral /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/05/1100393004_0:86:3072:1814_1920x0_80_0_0_dec5468e0ca428fc366f7fbf3c300164.jpg According to a new book by Kati Nicholl titled The New Royals, King Charles III had a positive impression of Markle when he first met her. The new love interest of his son seemed prepared to handle whatever royal life could throw at her after her career as an actress trained her for living under the spotlight.Harry and Markle first announced their engagement in November of 2017, and by May of 2018 they were married. But before the couple said their I dos, Charles III observed Markles toughness and resilience, reportedly, and nicknamed the future duchess and daughter-in-law Tungsten.Tungsten is a chemical element and a rare metal that is nearly impossible to melt. The metal, when beaten down into a fine powder, is combustible and can sometimes ignite spontaneously. The strong, durable metal is resistant to corrosion once it is made into compounds.Nicholl writes that Charles III first noticed Markles strong demeanor during her first joint appearance with William, Prince of Wales and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales at the Royal Foundation Forum in 2018. Markle and Prince Harry were engaged at the time of the interview, and Markle, as she says in the clip, had only been in the United Kingdom for three months but was already prepared to show off her honed public speaking skills.Markles eloquent speaking skills, charm and humor in front of the cameras made her the breakout star of the foursome, wrote Nicholl.She was polished, passionate and funny, using all her TV-honed skills to present her case. That was a wake-up moment for William and Kate when they realized that Meghan was very impressive, very confident and very capable, according to a source, she continued.Markle also reportedly helped patch up a somewhat broken relationship between Prince Harry and his father, which of course influenced the now-Kings first impression of Markle, while Markle herself also had a positive first impression of her soon-to-be father-in-law, and told Prince Harry he was welcoming, warm, hard-working, kind and stable, a source told the Daily Mail.But the relationship between Markle, Prince Harry, and the rest of the senior royal family members deteriorated after Prince Harry and Markle announced they were breaking away from their senior royal duties, moving across the pond to Los Angeles after a brief stint in Canada. The couple also gave up their Sovereign Grant to pursue financial independence.The rift between Charles IIIs two sons and their wives has shown no signs of healing. During Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral, Prince Harry and the Duchess were seated away from William and Kate. The two ex-royals were also uninvited from a pre-funeral reception, and only realized they were snubbed by their family after reading about it in the press. https://sputniknews.com/20221006/buckingham-palace-slams-reports-on-charles-iii-coronation-date-as-pure-speculation-1101554685.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg celebrities, celebrities, royal family, uk royal family, meghan markle https://sputniknews.com/20221006/record-number-of-germans-dissatisfied-with-economic-situation-in-country---poll-1101586890.html Record Number of Germans Dissatisfied With Economic Situation in Country - Poll Record Number of Germans Dissatisfied With Economic Situation in Country - Poll BERLIN (Sputnik) - The overwhelming majority of German citizens are discontent with the economic situation in the country, which is higher than after the... 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T21:32+0000 2022-10-06T21:32+0000 2022-10-06T21:32+0000 world germany europe economy poll /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/04/01/1094386756_0:31:3433:1962_1920x0_80_0_0_df728bbb727b0957219fbe69934074c6.jpg The poll indicated that 80% of Germans assess the economic situation negatively, with 47% of them rating it as "less good" and 33% as "bad." These figures are almost twice as high as the results of a survey conducted under the previous government in 2021, and are a record high compared to 2009, when the research company assessed citizens' dissatisfaction a year after the global crisis. That year, the discontent rate was slightly over 70%.The poll showed that 85% of German citizens are concerned about the situation in the country, which is 34% higher than the figures of the last similar survey conducted in 2020. Only 11% of people feel confident about the future, which, compared with the last survey, shows a 33% drop and is a record low since the beginning of such surveys in 1997.Over half of respondents (53%) believe that the economic situation in Germany will be worse in a year. Every third citizen (32%) expects it to be about the same, and only 12% are of the opinion that the economic situation will improve, according to the survey.The poll was conducted from October 3-5 among 1,307 people, with the margin of error not exceeding three percentage points. https://sputniknews.com/20221006/prospects-of-recession-in-eu-depend-on-blocs-management-of-energy-crisis---eu-commission-1101586791.html germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International germany, europe, economy, poll https://sputniknews.com/20221006/turkish-president-believes-in-full-normalization-of-relations-with-armenia-1101587272.html Turkish President Believes in Full Normalization of Relations With Armenia Turkish President Believes in Full Normalization of Relations With Armenia MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on Thursday that he believes in the full normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. 06.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-06T21:36+0000 2022-10-06T21:36+0000 2022-10-06T21:36+0000 world europe turkey armenia armenian genocide /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/15761/18/157611877_0:0:361:203_1920x0_80_0_0_f57693618ca6eaebcd5ff8da4ba658d8.jpg Erdogan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met earlier in the day in Prague after a 13-year break in contact between leaders of the two states.The two leaders discussed further steps to normalize the bilateral relations and exchanged their opinions on a number of regional issues, according to a press release of the Armenian government. These steps include opening the Turkish-Armenian land border for citizens of third countries and allowing direct air cargo transportation between the countries.Erdogan, Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met for the first time on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, a get-together of 27 EU members and 16 other countries, which was also the first meeting in this format. Previously, the three leaders communicated via phone calls. The topic of the conversation was not disclosed.Turkey and Armenia do not have official diplomatic relations. The border between the two countries has been closed on Ankara's initiative since 1993. Tensions between the nations arose over a range of issues, including Turkey's support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its opposition to the process of international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire. turkey armenia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International europe, turkey, armenia, armenian genocide https://sputniknews.com/20221007/car-investigating-reports-us-embassy-personnel-traveled-200-km-to-illegally-film-army-base-1101622796.html CAR Investigating Reports US Embassy Personnel Traveled 200 km to Illegally Film Army Base CAR Investigating Reports US Embassy Personnel Traveled 200 km to Illegally Film Army Base The Central African Gendarmerie paramilitary force is investigating reports that a group of people recently seen filming a Central African Armed Forces (FACA)... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T21:28+0000 2022-10-07T21:28+0000 2022-10-07T21:28+0000 africa central african republic us embassy surveillance /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/07/1101622483_0:79:1499:922_1920x0_80_0_0_eee408d40e6c91460d25d6b8afe3842f.jpg On September 3, a group of three armored cars with six people in them was reported on the runway of a FACA base in the town of Boda, filming the base and the airfields runway. When gendarmes approached and questioned them, they said they were guards from the US embassy in Bangui and had ended up there by accident.Bangui, the CAR capital, is about 185 kilometers away from Boda by road."Anyone enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities is required to respect the laws and regulations of the State of residence, the source told Sputnik.The US embassy in Bangui has not returned requests by Sputnik for a comment.Moscow and Bangui have been quite open about the presence of several hundred unarmed, non-combat Russian military advisers in the country, but France and the US have claimed that Moscow has also secretly dispatched Wagner Group, a private military contractor (PMC) with no connection to the Russian government, to the country as well, which they say has committed atrocities against civilians.No evidence has been furnished to support these claims. Regardless, Moscow has denied any connection to Wagner and said that if such a contract between the PMC and the CAR government exists, it would not be the business of the Russian government. The CAR has denied that such a deal exists.American fury at the stubborn neutrality of African nations has increased since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February. Washington has demanded that all countries take its side, condemn the operation and Russia, and abide by Western economic sanctions. However, they have been rebuked by countries such as South Africa, which has defended its right to be non-aligned, and called on the US to show as much concern for other world crises, such as that in the Palestinian territories, as it does for Ukraine. central african republic Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier central african republic, us embassy, surveillance https://sputniknews.com/20221007/eu-ban-on-rt-sputnik-breaches-swedish-danish-constitutions---danish-journalists-1101620309.html EU Ban on RT, Sputnik Breaches Swedish, Danish Constitutions - Danish Journalists EU Ban on RT, Sputnik Breaches Swedish, Danish Constitutions - Danish Journalists MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The EU ban on Russian news outlets is in breach of Swedish and Danish constitutions, which explicitly prohibit all forms of censorship... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T18:46+0000 2022-10-07T18:46+0000 2022-10-07T18:46+0000 russia europe eu sputnik rt /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103812/73/1038127301_0:160:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_9ff57e1c76d8404c48cd748a89ae98b8.jpg The EU Council of Ministers banned the dissemination of RT and Sputnik content in March and added three other Russian outlets to the blacklist in June. The European Court of Justice defended the controversial measure, saying the rights of journalists were protected as long as they acted "in good faith."This is despite that legal safeguards in the Swedish Constitution's freedom of the press act protect "the right of everyone to publish without prior interference by a public authority," whereas the Danish constitution states that "Censorship and other preventive measures shall never again be introduced."Media experts argued in an article in the EUobserver that the EU intervention effectively overrode the basic laws of Sweden and Denmark, raising doubts about the EU leaderships commitment to democratic values and the rule of law.The journalists said the EU executive set aside constitutional defenses of freedom of expression with the silent approval of media and the public. The only exception was Norway, which is not a member state but is closely associated with the union.They said the EUs court in Luxembourg had granted itself the right to decide what journalism was acceptable while denying European citizens the ability to deal themselves with "unfiltered statements from questionable sources." https://sputniknews.com/20220525/rt--sputnik-ban-eu-turned-into-nato-branch-limits-publics-access-to-information-activists-say-1095772379.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International europe, eu, sputnik, rt https://sputniknews.com/20221007/how-daylight-saving-time-might-affect-ones-body--mind-1101619395.html How Daylight Saving Time Might Affect One's Body & Mind How Daylight Saving Time Might Affect One's Body & Mind While disruption of sleeping patterns may make a person more vulnerable health-wise and increase the likelihood of a stroke or a heart attack, however... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T18:32+0000 2022-10-07T18:32+0000 2022-10-07T18:32+0000 time clock change health effect science & tech /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105692/94/1056929444_0:188:1920:1268_1920x0_80_0_0_7179f95dd9669012b9f24ccd46b35c35.jpg The practice of advancing and then turning back your clock each year as part of the daylight saving time system may apparently generate adverse effects on ones well-being due to its interfere with circadian rhythm. Daylight saving time is employed by several countries across the world.Whatever economic benefits daylight saving might net, the disruption on peoples sleeping patterns might cause some pretty serious health problems, MailOnline has pointed out.For example, Professor Russell Foster of the University of Oxford, whom the newspaper touts as one of the world's leading experts on the circadian rhythm, warns that a combination of sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption could lead to a stroke.We have this clock, and it is fine tuning every aspect of our physiology and behaviour to the 24-hour light and dark cycle, he said. We see increased blood pressure ranking up. For example, between 6am and 12 noon there is a 50 per cent greater chance of having a stroke anyway.The professor also said that there is evidence linking sleep deprivation with depression, and that disrupting ones sleep and getting less sleep leaves one vulnerable and more likely to slide into that depressed state.If you add a disrupter, such as sleep loss or circadian rhythm disruption, you are going to be more vulnerable to slide into a dangerous state, for example a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar, Foster explained.Another expert in circadian rhythm, Dr. John O'Neill from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, also suggested that changing the clocks may lead to a slightly increased risk of heart attacks among the populace.Comparing the effect of changing the clocks to getting an hours jet lag, ONeill noted that it is really such a modest challenge to your circadian system that the vast majority of people deal with it absolutely fine.But because it is happening at the level of the population you can see a slight increase in the frequency of heart attacks, he admitted.The newspaper also pointed out that, as moving the clock back an hour in autumn essentially results in people experiencing darker evenings as daytime grow shorter, some people may experience the so-called seasonal affective disorder a.k.a. winter depression whose symptoms are similar to depression and include a persistent low mood and difficulty concentrating. https://sputniknews.com/20220521/climate-change-is-causing-worldwide-sleep-loss-study-finds-1095677326.html https://sputniknews.com/20220418/sex-before-bed-can-improve-sleep-except-when-it-does-not-1094866411.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International time, clock, change, health, effect https://sputniknews.com/20221007/how-west-amplifies-global-poverty-to-preserve-dominance-1101612830.html How West Amplifies Global Poverty to Preserve Dominance How West Amplifies Global Poverty to Preserve Dominance The world is unlikely to meet the self-declared goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, with nearly 600 million people continuing to struggle on less than... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T14:21+0000 2022-10-07T14:21+0000 2022-10-07T14:21+0000 opinion & analysis us russia europe africa food crisis grain climate change china poverty /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105350/79/1053507911_0:281:5400:3319_1920x0_80_0_0_bb2571b6bb4c802b9c25a3a397aa1154.jpg "Poverty is a complex area; it encompasses many things from ones basic needs or ability to have those needs met such as shelter, food, water and health, environment, economic growth and opportunities, education, and government policies, etc. I am not sure anyone can be blamed directly. In developing countries, people often struggle to meet their basic needs of shelter, food, and water," said Earl Rasmussen, executive vice president of the Eurasia Center.The COVID-19 pandemic affected not only healthcare but also the global supply chain, thus creating adverse conditions to meet basic needs and having a devastating impact on economic conditions, especially in developing countries, according to the scholar. When it comes to the Ukraine crisis, it is western fondness for sanctions that caused more harm directly or indirectly to many countries in the developing world, the think tank vice president pointed out.West Using Food Crisis & Climate Change as ToolsTo illustrate his point, Rasmussen referred to the mainstream narrative blaming Russia for the unfolding food crisis in the Global South. The US and its NATO allies particularly accused Moscow of blocking Ukrainian grain supplies destined for developing countries. However, this narrative does not hold water, according to the scholar.Firstly, it was Kiev blocking shipments by mining their own ports that disrupted trade flows; secondly, when Russia, Turkey and Ukraine agreed in July on a safe corridor to facilitate grain deliveries to starving countries, most of the grain ended up in EU ports. At the beginning of September, Moscow raised the alarm over the fact that just 3% of Ukrainian grain shipments were delivered to countries in need.Furthermore, the vital grain export agreement mediated by Turkey in Istanbul also envisaged the delivery of Russian fertilizers to the Global South. The US and the EU's sanctions have disrupted Russia's ability to ship fertilizers and grain to third-world countries.In early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow is ready to provide 300,000 tons of fertilizers to developing countries free of charge and urged the UN to push the EU to lift its sanctions which block Russian exports. At the same time, Russia is set to harvest up to 150 million tons of grain, including 100 million tons of wheat, this year. By the end of September, the country had gathered 138.7 million tons of grain. For comparison's sake, Russia's grain harvest amounted to 135.5 million tons in 2017.Yet another glaring example is the West's attempt to impose constraints on Africa's gas and oil projects aimed at tackling the continent's continuous energy poverty. Western politicians and environmentalists are warning global investors against funding the African gas and oil infrastructure programs citing the climate change agenda.Last month, US climate czar John Kerry particularly stressed that those supporting Africa's fossil fuel projects would be unable to recoup their investments beyond 2030, and stressed that the world should reach net-zero emissions in 2050. This rhetoric prompted Sudanese-British billionaire Mo Ibrahim to lambast western countries over preventing African nations from developing their own gas reserves and fighting energy poverty at the "Reuters impact" conference in London earlier this month.'West Has No Desire to Support Increased Development'The hypocrisy demonstrated by the collective West in proclaiming grandiose plans to fight global poverty is caused by the western elites' need to both control their own populations and manipulate others in order to support their goals of hegemony and personal gain, according to the scholar.But that is not all: while proving incapable of reducing poverty, financial problems and security issues, the West prevents other capable nations from stepping in and implementing their initiatives aimed at improving the situation.China's Belt and Road project, which seeks to develop infrastructure and economies around the world, has also come in the West's crosshairs, the think tank's vice president noted. "Many western countries, led by the US, have openly opposed it and seek to thwart Chinas efforts to cooperate with many developing countries," he pointed out."The US desires to maintain its supremacy and global hegemony," Rasmussen noted. "This is spelled out in number policy papers and doctrine. The US will stop any nation from challenging its supremacy even if it is only within a given region. There is no sovereignty unless the country adheres to the so called 'rules based order', note this is not based on international law but rather an adjusting set of rules that apply to others but not to those that are the creator or care-keeper." https://sputniknews.com/20220927/putin-grain-from-ukraine-doesnt-reach-poorest-countries-despite-russia-raising-issue-long-time-ago-1101269881.html https://sputniknews.com/20220918/how-west-uses-climate-agenda-to-keep-africas-oil--gas-underground-to-satisfy-own-appetite-1100931199.html https://sputniknews.com/20220928/china-in-the-crosshairs-why-natos-next-line-of-defense-will-be-south-china-sea-1101312790.html russia africa china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us, russia, europe, africa, food crisis, grain, climate change, china, poverty, world bank, ukraine, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20221007/hurricane-ian-majority-of-deaths-were-a-result-of-drowning-1101591055.html Hurricane Ian: Majority of Deaths Were a Result of Drowning Hurricane Ian: Majority of Deaths Were a Result of Drowning Hurricane Ian slammed into Floridas coastline last Wednesday. The Category 4 storm is the second-deadliest storm to hit the United States after Hurricane... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T03:12+0000 2022-10-07T03:12+0000 2022-10-07T03:12+0000 americas hurricane ian death death toll /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101344204_0:186:2048:1338_1920x0_80_0_0_97e9643113a6e49ab41acb438e67b68e.jpg The death toll of Hurricane Ian is still unknown but is steadily climbing. As of Tuesday, CNN reported that the storm had caused the deaths of at least 109 people in the United States, and 55 of the deaths occurred in Lee County, Florida. Four people were killed in North Carolina due to the storm.Hurricane Ian bulldozed through the state, primarily in Southwestern Florida, and destroyed houses, broke up roads, flooded streets, and knocked out power. Rescue crews are still searching for survivors while the death toll continues to climb.Power is still out for residents of Florida, such as in Lee County, where a majority of the storms recorded deaths took place. As of 9:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, Lee County had 98,260 customers without power. Charlotte County had 28,190 customers without power, and a total of 152,418 people in Florida were still without power, according to PowerOutage.us.Horror stories of deaths have emerged from Hurricane Ian: a group of women who had rented a vacation house for their friends 40th birthday hid together on a mattress which was lifted by Ians flooding water, until the four women were pressed up against the ceiling which then proceeded to collapse, lodging a nail into the neck of a woman whos birthday they had been celebrating, killing her.Category 4 storms have sustained wind speeds that range from 130 to 156 miles per hour. A 71-year-old woman in Manatee County went outside her house to smoke a cigarette when a sudden gust of wind knocked her off her porch and she hit her head on a concrete step. And a 96-year-old man, the oldest victim of the storm thus far, was found trapped under his car after flooding in Charlotte County, reports The Guardian.Nearly 90 of those who died from the storm were given a cause of death. At least 60% of those reported deaths were caused by drowning, and a majority of those were elderly.But some deaths occurred even after Hurricane Ian came and went. USA TODAY reports that even after Floridians manage to get their power back, rebuild their homes and infrastructure, the lingering effects of trauma, anxiety and depression will remain. For those who already struggle with those mental health issues, the problems will worsen.A lot of people are feeling overwhelmed and having to rebuild and repair, in some situations, their entire lives or even just feeling shocked living without power, Laura Guarino, a clinical manager at mental health provider SalusCare, told USA TODAY in a past interview following Hurricane Irma in 2017. People who have mental health disorders are even more at risk because they have fewer coping skills."Right after the storms, we'll often see a honeymoon phase in survivors, who say 'We're OK, we survived, everything's going to be OK, we're going to be able to rebuild, we're resilient, we're strong, we're going to come together as a community," Houston added. "But what we see in disaster after disaster is the reality sets in about the challenges of rebuilding or not knowing if you can rebuild or waiting to get your job back or finding a new job."In Lee County, a 73-year-old man shot himself after he saw property damage caused by the storm. Some have estimated the amount of damage caused by Hurricane Ian to be around $55 billion. On Thursday, President Joe Biden promised that federal resources, such as disaster relief fundingwhich every single Florida House Republican voted againstwould be available for as long as it was necessary.The only thing I can assure you is that the federal government will be here until its finished. After the television cameras have moved on, were still going to be here with you, said Biden. https://sputniknews.com/20221005/florida-recovery-from-hurricane-ian-will-take-years-us-government-aid-to-persist---biden-1101550734.html https://sputniknews.com/20221006/immigrant-workers-are-rebuilding-florida-but-desantis-doesnt-care-1101588914.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg hurricane ian, death, death toll https://sputniknews.com/20221007/jk-rowling-not-a-real-feminist-pro-trans-scottish-first-minister-hints-1101603621.html J.K. Rowling Not a 'Real Feminist', Pro-Trans Scottish First Minister Hints J.K. Rowling Not a 'Real Feminist', Pro-Trans Scottish First Minister Hints J.K. Rowling moved with her daughter to live with her sister in Edinburgh in 1993 to escape her abusive husband. But Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T13:25+0000 2022-10-07T13:25+0000 2022-10-07T13:37+0000 viral nicola sturgeon jk rowling /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/06/0e/1096313069_0:263:3072:1991_1920x0_80_0_0_698084e3a8a298bef2a9d89cad1d2d93.jpg Scotland's first minister has attacked "gender-critical" women claiming they are not "real feminists".Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon's comments on BBC Radio 4 on Friday morning followed criticism from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and the feminist group For Women Scotland.Rowling called Sturgeon a "destroyer of women's rights" on Thursday over the devolved administration's attempts to introduce new legislation that would allow biological males access to women-only spaces on the basis that they self-identify as trans contrary to current UK law.The nationalist leader accused other women of trying to "stigmatize and discriminate" against transsexuals.English-born Rowling has lived in Scotland since moving there with her very young daughter to live with her sister in Edinburgh, after separating from her violent husband.For Women Scotland hit back at Sturgeon later on Friday, highlighting two recent cases where trans or gender non-binary individuals escaped jail sentences for sexual assault charges.Royal Navy sailor Triss Smythe was cleared of charges this week after a court-martial convened in Wiltshire accepted his defense that as a "demisexual" person he could not have had a sexual motive when he grabbed another male sailor from behind, kissed and licked his neck and grinded his erect penis against him. Demisexuals are believed to feel sexually attracted to someone only after a strong emotional or romantic bond is formed. "I am demisexual with emotional requirements. It is on the asexual spectrum," Smythe told the court. "The fact is Im demisexual sexual urge isnt something that comes easily with my own fiancee, let alone a colleague."In another case in Scotland, 18-year-old Katie Dolatowski, who reportedly "identifies as a woman but was believed by her victims family to be a man," was given a non-custodial community service sentence after being convicted of violently sexually assaulting and threatening a 10-year-old girl in a public restroom at a supermarket in Dunfermline in 2021."Either way it goes hard on victims who are exposed to those 'pretending' until after the attack has taken place instead of being protected or who are gaslighted and told their assailant must be innocent due to their identity." https://sputniknews.com/20221003/harry-potter-author-snubbed-by-second-school-for-gender-critical-views-1101474844.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png nicola sturgeon, jk rowling https://sputniknews.com/20221007/kanye-west-defends-his-white-lives-matter-t-shirt-says-they-do-1101590403.html Kanye West Defends His White Lives Matter T-Shirt, Says THEY DO Kanye West Defends His White Lives Matter T-Shirt, Says THEY DO West revealed a t-shirt with the slogan White Lives Matter for his surprise YZY SZN 9 show for Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The rapper and fashion designer... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T01:40+0000 2022-10-07T01:40+0000 2022-10-07T01:40+0000 viral kanye west kanye west blm blm popular culture fashion fashion paris fashion week /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/05/07/1095337361_0:0:1131:637_1920x0_80_0_0_f8eacc316d41d409f00a2fa922658e85.jpg If Wests goal was to create controversy by introducing a t-shirt that bears a white supremacist slogan, he succeeded. The rapper created a t-shirt for his YZY collection that reads: White Lives Matter, as opposed to the original slogan Black Lives Matter (BLM), which was chanted, hashtagged, and shared during protests ignited by (most notably) the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by police in Minneapolis in May of 2020.On Monday, West revealed his White Lives Matter shirt, which features an image of Pope John Paul II on the front. Then on Wednesday, he doubled down on his design, saying: Heres my latest response when people ask me why I made a tee that says white lives matter THEY DO, the rapper wrote in a social media post. West also wrote in a since-deleted post: Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now its over. Youre welcome.BREONNA TAYLORS MOM SAID IT FIRST: I have never personally dealt with BLM Louisville and personally have found them to be fraud, West wrote on social media. Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old medical worker who died during a botched raid by police in March of 2020, fueling the BLM protests surrounding the death of Floyd just a couple of months later. In defense of his t-shirt, West also shared an interview with Tatishe M. Nteta, a Black professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.West garnered backlash for his shirtunsurprisingly. The family of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old who was murdered by three white supremacists in 2020 while jogging, slammed West for what they said legitimizes white supremacist behavior.As a result of his display, White Lives Matter started trending in the US, which would directly support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son, Arberys mother, Wander Cooper-Jones, told Rolling Stone through her attorney Lee Merritt. Cooper-Jones added that they she was extremely disappointed in West, who had privately supported her and her family after her son was murdered.The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish non-governmental organization which specializes in civil rights law, called the phrase a hate slogan, while Will Smiths son, Jaden Smith, immediately left the YZY SZN 9 show after seeing the shirts text, tweeting: I dont care whos it is if I dont feel the message Im out. Kendall Jenner, the ex-sister-in-law of West and his childrens aunt, liked Smiths string of tweets.Rapper Sean Diddy Combs came to Wests defense and labeled the fellow rapper a super free thinker, adding that his statements are often misconstrued.Selah Marley, the daughter of Lauryn Hill (and granddaughter of Bob Marley) also defended wearing the t-shirt in Wests fashion show. The 23-year-old model said the backlash surrounding the White Lives Matter t-shirt was the result of hive mentality.The past 24 hours has allowed me to realize that most of yall are stuck in a hive mentality. You do what the group tells you to do and think what the group tells you to think, Marley wrote on social media. Witnessing someone break free from the agenda sends you all into such a panic that you will do whatever it takes to force them back into the box that you feel they should exist in.You cannot bully me, manipulate me, or coax me into silence. Nor will you bully me into being who I dont want to be. I dont care how many tweets you make, DMs you send, or articles you write, she added. Throughout all the chaos, I have yet to speak about my experience. If you know me, you know that nothing I do is without deep thought and intention. Wait til you hear what I have to say. https://sputniknews.com/20221003/kanye-west-creates-a-white-lives-matter-shirt-for-his-surprise-yeezy-show-1101480528.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg kanye west, kanye west, blm, blm, popular culture, fashion, fashion, paris fashion week https://sputniknews.com/20221007/kanye-west-explains-his-white-lives-matter-t-shirt-says-hes-pro-life-in-fox-interview--1101623474.html Kanye West Explains His White Lives Matter T-Shirt, Says Hes Pro-Life in Fox Interview Kanye West Explains His White Lives Matter T-Shirt, Says Hes Pro-Life in Fox Interview I had someone call me last night and said anybody wearing a White Lives Matter shirt is gonna be greenlit and that means that theyre gonna beat them up if... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T22:00+0000 2022-10-07T22:00+0000 2022-10-07T22:00+0000 viral kanye west tucker carlson /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/05/07/1095337361_0:0:1131:637_1920x0_80_0_0_f8eacc316d41d409f00a2fa922658e85.jpg In 2018, rap legend and fashion designer Kanye West wore a Make America Great Again hat, (most often referred to by its acronym MAGA). Its unclear how West went from rapping about his grandfathers arrest after attempting to eat at a Whites Only counter in a segregated restaurant to creating a shirt with the phrase White Live Matter for his YZY SZN 9 fashion show at Paris Fashion Week.But in an interview with Fox News Tucker Carlson, West explained his decision making behind his controversial t-shirt design, which one magazine editor referred to as pure hate. West opened the interview with Carlson by explaining that hes pro-life before comparing himself to King David in the biblical story of David and Goliath. He then said his decision to create a White Lives Matter t-shirt stemmed from a gut-instinct and a connection to God and brilliance before comparing his creative practice to former figure skater Tonya Harding.I think I started to really feel this need to express myself on another level when Trump was running for office, answered West when Carlson asked him when his conservative views first began. And I liked him and every single person in Hollywood from my ex-wife to my mother-in-law to my manager at that time to my so-called friends slash handlers around me told me if like I said, I liked Trump that my career would be over that my life would be over. They said stuff like, People get killed for wearing a hat like that, they threatened my life.West went on to tell Carlson that he thought wearing a White Lives Matter t-shirt was funny, and claimed that he had a correspondence with his father Ray West (a former Black Panther and a photojournalist who became a Christian counselor in 2006) who approved of the shirt. When West asked his father what he thought of the shirt, he responded, Just a Black man stating the obvious.West then dragged his ex-wife Kim Kardashian into the bombshell interview by stating that she is a Christian woman in her 40s and a multi-billionaire with four Black children, but that the fashion industry and liberal Hollywood expects her to put her a** out. West went on to claim that liberal points of view also caused a rift between him and his father at a young age because his mother was a liberal and was influenced by others on what to be afraid of, and drew the same comparison to his ex-wife.The same people that have stripped us of our identity, and labeled us as a color, have told us what it means to be Black and the vernacular that were supposed to have, said West, when Carlson asked him why he thinks his White Lives Matter t-shirt is seen as controversial.West then claimed that no one knows where Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson came from and said that she, and people like her, are made in a laboratory. West and Karefa-Johnson had a dispute following her criticism of his t-shirt design on social media. West posted a since-deleted photo of Karefa-Johnson to social media, writing: This is not a fashion person.There is no excuse, there is no art here, said Karefa-Johnson at the time. I do think if you asked Kanye, hed say there was art, and revolution, and all of the things in that T-shirt. There isnt.Model Gigi Hadid came after the New Slaves rapper and called him a bully and a joke who wished he had a percentage of [Karefa-Johnsons] intellect.Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, our global fashion editor at large and longtime contributor. She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable, Vogue posted to social media on Tuesday. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg kanye west, tucker carlson https://sputniknews.com/20221007/kremlin-zelenskys-preventive-strike-remark-shows-putin-was-right-to-launch-ukraine-op-1101618628.html Kremlin: Zelensky's 'Preventive Strike' Remark Shows Putin Was Right to Launch Ukraine Op Kremlin: Zelensky's 'Preventive Strike' Remark Shows Putin Was Right to Launch Ukraine Op Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has urged the entire world to take note of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call for a preventive strike on Russia... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T17:13+0000 2022-10-07T17:13+0000 2022-10-07T17:59+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine nuclear strike /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/05/03/1095215971_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_6e31c451085459b9f30d20dcb0a133b8.jpg Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks about the need to carry out "preemptive strikes" on Russia show that President Vladimir Putin was right to launch a special military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.The Kremlin spokesperson emphasized that no one tried to "rein in" the Ukrainian president, there were only timid attempts to condemn the tone of his statements.Meanwhile, Konstantin Vorontsov, a deputy director at the Russian Foreign Ministry's department for arms nonproliferation and control, stressed that Moscow would monitor the reaction of Kiev's Western sponsons to Zelensky's "completely inadequate and absolutely unacceptable" words.I urge all [UN] delegates to go to the site where this interview is posted in Ukrainian and listen to what President Zelensky said in the original video. You will see that he wasn't talking about some kind of preventive sanctions before February 24, mythical ones that the presidential press service invents, but it was clearly about the need for preventive nuclear strikes by NATO nations against Russia," Vorontsov said.Earlier, Zelensky's spokesman claimed that the Ukrainian president did not mean "preemptive nuclear strikes", but was talking about "preventive" sanctions against Moscow instead.For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Kiev was creating risks associated with the use of weapons of mass destruction, which is also evidenced by the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about NATO's "preemptive" strikes on Russia.Zelensky's appeal "only testifies to the threats emanating from the Kiev regime" and it was precisely to neutralize these threats that Russia launched the special military operation, the minister added.On Thursday, Peskov urged the entire world to take note of Zelensky's call for a preventive nuclear strike on Russia. Peskov told Sputnik that Zelensky's remarks about "preemptive strikes" against Russia cannot be ignored by the international community. The Kremlin spokesman stressed that the United States and the UK, which "de facto run Kiev," should bear responsibility for Zelensky's statements.Speaking at Australia's Lowy Institute via video link this week, Zelensky urged NATO to launch "preemptive strikes" on Russia, instead of "waiting for Russia's nuclear strikes."The West, however, has stopped short of condemning the Ukrainian president's statements. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz only said that he opposed the use of nuclear weapons, while US President Joe Biden upped the ante by claiming that the world is facing the threat of a nuclear war for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Sputnik that the very idea that nuclear conflict has become a subject of debate is "totally unacceptable."In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implicitly threatened to revise Ukraines non-nuclear weapons state status, telling attendees of the Munich Security Conference that Kiev could pull out of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which committed the country to give up its massive Soviet-era arsenal of nukes. Days after his address, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the launch of a special military operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine at the request of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics."The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation," Putin said. https://sputniknews.com/20221007/lavrov-ukraine-creates-risks-that-weapons-of-mass-destruction-will-be-used-1101594013.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, nuclear strike Ukrainian Forces Fire Six HIMARS Missiles at Ilovaisk - DPR Ukrainian troops have shelled the city of Ilovaisk in the Donetsk region using the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), the Donetsk Peoples Republics (DPR) mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination on the ceasefire regime (JCCC) said. "Shelling was recorded from the side of the armed formations of Ukraine in the direction: 0.00 [21:00 GMT on Friday] - Umanskoye - Ilovaisk: six missiles were fired from the M142 HIMARS," the DPR mission said on Telegram. It added that Ukrainian troops also shelled the city of Donetsk shortly after midnight, using at least five 155mm artillery shells. https://sputniknews.com/20221007/macron-suggests-eu-launch-coordinated-op-to-ensure-underwater-gas-pipeline-security-1101616169.html Macron Suggests EU Launch Coordinated Op to Ensure Underwater Gas Pipeline Security Macron Suggests EU Launch Coordinated Op to Ensure Underwater Gas Pipeline Security The French president stated on Thursday that the European Union needed to develop a strategy to protect critical infrastructure following the Nord Stream... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T15:48+0000 2022-10-07T15:48+0000 2022-10-07T16:04+0000 nord stream sabotage europe russia emmanuel macron /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/07/1101616385_0:0:3007:1691_1920x0_80_0_0_91e29d0428dee5f7a6062e0e417d6da2.jpg Emmanuel Macron has suggested that EU nations launch a coordinated operation in order to ensure security of underwater gas pipelines. The idea was voiced after the Nord Stream pipelines suffered fuel leaks after experiencing rapid pressure drops late last month, with Moscow calling the incidents acts of sabotage and international terrorism.On Thursday, the French president said that the European Union needed to come up with a strategy to protect critical infrastructure."We need to protect our key infrastructure. We saw that a few days ago with the attacks against Nord Stream 1. We have the key infrastructure, critical infrastructure which concerns the EU and the other European countries, gas pipelines, cables satellites. We need a European strategy to protect them, and this is a common policy, it is not just a matter of the EU but for all countries represented around this table," Macron told a press conference after a meeting of the European Political community in Prague.An investigation by the Swedish Security Services into the Nord Stream terrorist acts, that was completed on Thursday, confirmed explosions near the pipelines and strengthened the suspicions of sabotage.Nord Stream pipelines, which runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, suffered fuel leaks and rapid pressure drop on September 26, with Sweden and Denmark registering explosions in the area. The operator company Nord Stream AG later said that the damage to the pipeline system is unprecedented. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that it was a deliberate assault on European energy infrastructure, hinting that the US and Britain are responsible for the blasts. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has been investigating the incidents as acts of international terrorism.At the same time, Moscow launched an investigation into the terror attack, also noting that the decision by Denmark and Sweden not to cooperate with Russia in their probe caused major concerns. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, emphasized that Copenhagen's unwillingness to involve Russia in the investigation of the terrorist attack on the Nord Stream pipelines may indicate that Copenhagen knows who the perpetrator is.The Russian Embassy in Copenhagen said on Friday that Russia would study the possibility of holding an independent investigation of the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines. Russia is the most affected party in the current situation with the incident at the Nord Stream pipelines because Gazprom, as the owner of the gas pipelines, suffered significant damage, the diplomatic mission said. https://sputniknews.com/20221007/eu-should-protect-infrastructure-after-sabotage-on-nord-stream-pipelines-parliament-head-says-1101597097.html https://sputniknews.com/20221006/russia-exclusion-to-dent-credibility-of-eu-probe-into-nord-stream-attacks-scholar-says-1101559493.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International europe, russia, emmanuel macron https://sputniknews.com/20221007/pilot-e-rupee-to-be-launched-in-india-1101609474.html Pilot e-Rupee to Be Launched in India Pilot e-Rupee to Be Launched in India The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that a central bank-backed digital currency is a sovereign currency issued in accordance with monetary policy. It will... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T14:09+0000 2022-10-07T14:09+0000 2022-10-07T14:09+0000 india finance e-commerce reserve bank of india (rbi) rupee /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/02/1083056834_0:126:2353:1449_1920x0_80_0_0_07c54065718e751ef7af8be078efb02c.jpg Indias Reserve Bank released a digital currency concept paper on Friday in which it claimed that it plans to launch a pilot e-rupee for specific use cases soon.The RBI broadly defined CBDCs as legal tender issued by a central bank in digital form. They are similar to sovereign fiat currencies but have a different form, can be exchanged on a par with existing currency, and must be accepted as legal tender and as a safe store of value. CBDCs will show up as liabilities on the central bank's balance sheet.The concept note also stated that digital currency must be accepted as a means of payment by all citizens, businesses, and government agencies. It also discussed key considerations such as the choice of technology and design, the possible use of the digital rupee, and issuance mechanisms, among others.In the past, the RBI has noted its concerns about money laundering, terrorist financing, or tax evasion with private cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ether, and planned to announce its own CBDC.The e-rupee is an electronic voucher that will be delivered to beneficiaries in the form of a QR code and a voucher based on an SMS string, with which funds will be directly transferred to their bank account. Any government agency and corporation can generate e-rupee vouchers through their partner banks. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Alan Dzhigkaev Alan Dzhigkaev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Alan Dzhigkaev finance, e-commerce, reserve bank of india (rbi), rupee https://sputniknews.com/20221007/president-zelensky-begs-for-the-start-of-world-war-iii-1101589294.html President Zelensky Begs for the Start of World War III President Zelensky Begs for the Start of World War III On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Lindsey Graham threatening Elon Musk over his peace plan proposal... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T08:19+0000 2022-10-07T08:19+0000 2022-10-07T08:19+0000 the backstory radio sputnik netherlands cia voting machines california radio ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/06/1101589148_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_e64d129ee97e899392baad144e4664e1.png President Zelensky Begs for the Start of World War III On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Lindsey Graham threatening Elon Musk over his peace plan proposal, and another busload of migrants arriving at VP Kamala Harris's residence in DC. Sonja Van Den Ende - Independent Journalist, Writer | Darya Dugina, The Propaganda is Disgusting, and Misunderstanding Russia's PastAlison Hayden - Candidate for Congress of California 14th District | Seven Dollar Gas in California, Economic Depression, America's Voting MachinesIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Sonja Van Den Ende about the children on Ukraine's kill list, the steps leading to World War III, and the CIA heavily involved within Ukraine. Sonja spoke about the Dutch government and the lack of action the Dutch have taken, on Sonja's name on the kill list. Sonja talked about attending the referendum polling stations and how the western media failed to personally cover the voting process.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Alison Hayden about the compromised voting machines, the uni party, and the conservative vote in California. Alison detailed the issues with voting machines in California and how the software on these voting machines is compromised. Alison spoke to the price of gas in California and how Democrats are taking America into a full-blown recession.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik netherlands california Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png radio sputnik, netherlands, cia, voting machines, california, , radio, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20221007/report-us-contingency-plan-for-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-includes-airlifting-out-chip-engineers-1101619578.html Report: US Contingency Plan for 'Chinese Invasion' of Taiwan Includes Airlifting Out Chip Engineers Report: US Contingency Plan for 'Chinese Invasion' of Taiwan Includes Airlifting Out Chip Engineers Since February 2022, the Biden administration has drawn up new contingency plans for a possible Chinese intervention into Taiwan, which Beijing considers a... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T18:26+0000 2022-10-07T18:26+0000 2022-10-07T18:26+0000 us-china tensions over taiwan us china taiwan one china policy chips /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/08/05/1098137177_0:226:3030:1931_1920x0_80_0_0_fa28765e62895efad66c028b472476fa.jpg Among those preparations are plans to evacuate Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TMSC) computer chip engineers, who manufacture advanced microchips, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the Biden administrations deliberations.The outlet also noted that the US National Security Council expects a $1 trillion impact to the world economy by supply disruptions in the event of an attack - equivalent to twice the annual value of the global semiconductor industrys sales.TSMC makes around 55% of the worlds contract-made computer chips and nearly all of its most advanced processors, according to Time. The US only makes around 10% of the worlds computer chips but produces half of the worlds semiconductors, which are used to make chips. That means Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, also major chip makers and US allies, are key components in the supply chain, and is why the Biden administration signed into law a massive $280 billion law in August to buttress their collective production chains.To mitigate part of the danger, TSMC is building a $12 billion chip fabrication plant in Arizona, another in Japan, and is reportedly considering one somewhere in Europe as well.However, China is the worlds largest consumer of computer chips, using them to produce 36% of the worlds electronics.The Biden administration has never made clear why Taiwan being reunited with China would affect the supply of those chips, although having plans to evacuate chip engineers virtually ensures that vital staff at the chip foundries will leave if Chinese sovereignty returns, much as essential medical and technical staff left Cuba when the US-backed government was overthrown by a socialist revolution in 1959.Washington has made moves in recent years to block US buyers from accessing various technical products made in China, claiming that various firms proximity to the Chinese government makes them possible security liabilities. The Pentagon has also looked to decouple its supply chains from adversary countries such as China, so that a future political or military conflict doesnt affect them as much.A Useful Ideological BludgeonBeginning in 2017, the US shifted its primary strategic focus toward great power competition with Russia and China, identifying Taiwan as a key battlefield in that struggle. The islands capitalist system and 25-year-old democratic system have been used as ideological bludgeons against Chinese authoritarianism and socialism, with Western governments claiming they must defend Taiwan from China.Several times in the last two years, US President Joe Biden has been forced to walk back claims the US was bound to defend Taiwan from Chinese attack, disrupting a 43-year policy of strategic ambiguity on the subject thats designed to keep both Beijing and Taipei uncertain about the effects of changing the status quo.The US has consistently claimed China is more likely to make a move against the government in Taipei after Russia launched its special operation in Ukraine in February, despite repeated Chinese pleadings to the contrary. In August, the US tried to push the issue by sending US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the third-highest-ranking US politician behind the president and vice president, to visit the island.Beijing has been clear that it believes a peaceful reunion between Taiwan and the mainland is the islands destiny, as it was for the other remnant territories of the old Republic of China that was overthrown in the 1949 socialist revolution, such as Tibet and Hainan. Beijing has offered a one country, two systems solution to the impasse, but it fears the US is provoking the most dangerous independence-minded parts of Taiwanese society by continuing to provide support, such as weapons, to the Taiwanese government. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier us, china, taiwan, one china policy, chips https://sputniknews.com/20221007/san-antonio-police-officer-fired-after-shooting-unarmed-teen-in-parking-lot-1101590272.html San Antonio Police Officer Fired After Shooting Unarmed Teen in Parking Lot San Antonio Police Officer Fired After Shooting Unarmed Teen in Parking Lot A San Antonio police officer has been fired after body-cam footage contradicted what he said happened during an incident when he shot an unarmed teen in a... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T01:16+0000 2022-10-07T01:16+0000 2022-10-07T01:16+0000 americas us police shooting san antonio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/07/1101590129_3:0:1557:874_1920x0_80_0_0_19d342c059d512302a64382e167f961d.png James Brennand was a rookie at the San Antonio police department. He initially claimed that the teen hit him with his car, but that does not appear to be the case in body-cam footage released by the department on Wednesday.The shooting occurred on Sunday at around 10:30 pm. A 17-year-old-teen, Erik Cantu, was sitting in the driver seat of his car with a female passenger when Brennand approached the vehicle, thinking it was a vehicle that had eluded him the night before and may have been stolen. Without alerting the driver by knocking on the window, Brennand yanked open the door and yelled at the teen to get out of the car.The startled driver appears to put his car into reverse and backs up. Brennand then unloads several shots at the vehicle, striking the 17-year-old multiple times. The driver continued to flee the parking lot and down the street, with Brennand continuing to shoot at the vehicle, before stopping down the street where emergency personnel found and treated him. He remains in critical condition after suffering gunshot wounds. His passenger was unharmed.The vehicle was not the same vehicle as the one that had escaped Brennand the night before and was not stolen. It does not appear that the vehicle struck Brennand.Cantu was charged by proxy for evading arrest and assaulting an officer. The District Attorneys Office declined to comment on the still-open investigation and would not say if the charges would be dropped. https://sputniknews.com/20220925/police-cuff-woman-in-back-of-patrol-car-minutes-before-it-is-struck-by-a-train-1101216777.html americas san antonio Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino us, police shooting, san antonio https://sputniknews.com/20221007/sharif-govt-reportedly-has-plan-to-put-khan-under-house-arrest-to-derail-long-march-1101594479.html Sharif Govt Reportedly Has Plan to Put Khan Under House Arrest to Derail Long March Sharif Govt Reportedly Has Plan to Put Khan Under House Arrest to Derail Long March The chairman of Pakistan's Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party is planning a decisive long march against the Shehbaz Sharif government later this month, which Prime... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T08:10+0000 2022-10-07T08:10+0000 2022-10-07T08:10+0000 world pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (pti) imran khan shehbaz sharif pakistan muslim league-nawaz elections /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/07/1101596036_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_0d74138f24ab5db2e7cd1416d8f00ea8.jpg The Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government has chalked out a massive plan including putting former PM Imran Khan under house arrest to prevent his party PTIs Haqeeqi Azadi March (absolute freedom march) to the federal capital, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported Friday.Khan has yet to announce the exact date of the much-hyped march.Late Thursday, Sharif chaired a high-level meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and other coalition partners to chalk out strategies against Imran Khan.It will not be a political long march of PTI but a march for a conspiracy, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office read. The PML-N leaders gave full authority to the government to take appropriate measures to tackle the situation.Local media reports based on unnamed sources claimed that 25,000 additional personnel would be deployed to Islamabad to reinforce the ranks of the police force. To prevent any untoward incident, around 50,000 rubber bullets and more than 60,000 tear gas shells will be provided to security forces in addition to ten drones. Meanwhile, in a fresh audio leak purportedly featuring the PTI chief, Khan could be heard discussing horse-trading (buying the votes of MPs) to win a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly in April. Khan lost the majority in the parliament, paving the way for the coalition led by Sharif to come to power.The former PM blamed Washington for hatching a conspiracy against his government, in league with his opponents in Pakistan. https://sputniknews.com/20220914/imran-khan-warns-of-serious-consequences-for-harassing-his-party-1100744896.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg pakistan, tehreek-e-insaf (pti), imran khan, shehbaz sharif, pakistan muslim league-nawaz, elections https://sputniknews.com/20221007/south-korea-and-us-launch-another-joint-military-exercise-in-sea-of-japan-1101595131.html South Korea and US Launch Another Joint Military Exercise in Sea of Japan South Korea and US Launch Another Joint Military Exercise in Sea of Japan MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korea began a new two-day naval exercise with the United States in the Sea of Japan on Friday following North Korean missile tests... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T07:44+0000 2022-10-07T07:44+0000 2022-10-07T07:44+0000 world us south korea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105363/06/1053630655_0:179:3001:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_f5d88f5dbfa06f7a65fae1b315b0e89c.jpg On Thursday, South Korea and the US held a trilateral naval exercise with Japan in the Sea of Japan. The US contingent included aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and guided-missile destroyer USS Barry.In addition, South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Heo Tae-keun held phone conversations with his US and Japanese counterparts, Ely Ratner and Kazuo Masuda, respectively, the news agency reported.According to the report, the diplomats condemned North Korea's missile launches that undermine security and stability in the world and agreed to look for more opportunities for cooperation in response to Pyongyang's actions.North Korea considers foreign military exercises near its territory a threat and has in the past responded by test launching ballistic missiles. The latest launch was on Thursday and became the 24th since the beginning of the year. south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, south korea https://sputniknews.com/20221007/sputnik-expands-cooperation-with-african-media-1101597321.html Sputnik Expands Cooperation With African Media Sputnik Expands Cooperation With African Media Sputnik News Agency and Radio and Ethiopian News Agency signed a memorandum of understanding in Addis Ababa on Thursday. This is the first document in... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T09:02+0000 2022-10-07T09:02+0000 2022-10-07T09:02+0000 africa sputnik ethiopia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103812/73/1038127301_0:160:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_9ff57e1c76d8404c48cd748a89ae98b8.jpg The parties agreed to increase cooperation both in the field of content exchange and with respect to joint projects. The document was signed by Vasily Pushkov, Director of International Cooperation at Sputnik, and Johannes Wondirad, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships at ENA.ENA CEO Seife Deribe Ebdale said: "This MoU is a good opportunity to exchange news and news-related issues with Sputnik News Agency and to communicate with Russian people. Russia and Ethiopia have good relations in any bilateral issues and they use this cooperation for the benefit of the two countries. So I hope this MoU will soon change into a Memorandum of Action. We have many issues to cooperate on, especially cultural issues and social issues."On the evening of the same day, ENA journalists attended a workshop by Vasily Pushkov, "Media Wars and Fake News: How to Fight Disinformation". The event was held with the assistance of the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa. Among the listeners were journalists from different Ethiopian media outlets, representatives of specialized organizations, and others. ethiopia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sputnik, ethiopia https://sputniknews.com/20221007/sri-lankas-top-court-orders-enquiry-into-ex-president-rajapaksa-his-brothers-over-economic-crisis-1101596449.html Sri Lankas Top Court Orders Enquiry Into Ex-President Rajapaksa, His Brothers Over Economic Crisis Sri Lankas Top Court Orders Enquiry Into Ex-President Rajapaksa, His Brothers Over Economic Crisis An unprecedented public outrage erupted in Sri Lanka in June over a severe shortage of fuel and a food crisis, resulting in the ouster of the Rajapaksa family... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T09:00+0000 2022-10-07T09:00+0000 2022-10-07T09:00+0000 world sri lanka economic crisis gotabaya rajapaksa mahinda rajapaksa court /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/07/1101597683_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_076c2c748b63ca77a36f5283c39c3a7f.jpg On Friday, Sri Lankas apex court ordered a thorough investigation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former cabinet ministers Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa.Petitioner Transparency International said that the court has also ordered an investigation into two former central bank governors.Two months have been given by the court for the completion of an audit of the economic decisions taken by the Rajapaksa government and other officials. In particular, a team, put together by the court, will look into the reasons for the delay in seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves.Wickremesinghe, appointed as President in July with the help of Rajapaksas Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, has been seeking debt restructuring with creditors, including India, China, and Japan, to secure the release of funds under a $2.9 billion staff-level agreement with the IMF.As Sri Lankas foreign exchange reserves dwindled, shortages of essentials such as fuel, medicine, and cooking gas sparked massive unrest, resulting in the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from power in July. Gotabaya fled to Thailand and stayed in Singapore for a brief period before returning to the island nation last month. sri lanka Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg sri lanka, economic crisis, gotabaya rajapaksa, mahinda rajapaksa, court https://sputniknews.com/20221007/sydney-records-wettest-year-amid-major-floods-in-australia-1101602251.html Sydney Records Wettest Year Amid Major Floods in Australia Sydney Records Wettest Year Amid Major Floods in Australia Floods have struck New South Wales suburbs three times in recent years, prompting thousands to evacuate. 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T10:59+0000 2022-10-07T10:59+0000 2022-10-07T10:59+0000 world australia & oceania flood /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/07/04/1096922254_0:134:3073:1862_1920x0_80_0_0_899b2ca1f0006aa2d590df2085e62f21.jpg Australia is bracing for floods as Sydney recorded its wettest weather in 164 years.According to official data, the city registered 2,213 mm of rainfall this year - which is the highest result since records began in 1858. The closest result was in 1950, which witnessed 2,194 mm.Authorities are warning residents of potential flash flooding, as even more rains are expected to hit the country in the coming months. The massive downpours are caused by La Nina - a weather pattern that results in the change of the sea surface temperature across the eastern equatorial part of the central Pacific Ocean. australia & oceania Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg australia & oceania, flood https://sputniknews.com/20221007/the-january-6-committee-has-set-its-final-date--1101591485.html The January 6 Committee Has Set Its Final Date The January 6 Committee Has Set Its Final Date The January 6 select committee, which had its first hearing on June 9 to investigate the January 6, 2021 attacks on Capitol Hill, postponed a hearing last week... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T03:45+0000 2022-10-07T03:45+0000 2022-10-07T03:45+0000 americas jan. 6 probe january 6 2020 united states presidential election /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/07/16/1097680575_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9e65089d00c8d6d098c074333e84894d.jpg The January 6 committee has scheduled what is likely to be their last hearing, and will wrap up a summer spent investigating the attack on Capitol Hill on January 6 of last year. Their investigations have led them to interview over 1,000 witnesses. The committee has rescheduled their hearing for Thursday, October 13 at 1:00 PM.While details about witnesses or topics for the hearing have not been released, Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS), who chairs the committee, spoke to reporters about the rescheduled hearing, saying that he expects the committees final report to be prepared by its deadline on December 31.I think it will focus on the fact that former President Trump knew he had lost: he was told by a number of people that he had lost, and he just continued to promote the lie that the election had been stolen, Thompson told reporters about the committees final report. A lot of what we will present is information weve not presented in the other hearings.The attack on Capitol Hill, better known as January 6, was intended to interrupt a joint session of the United States Congress during their affirming process of the 2020 presidential election. Supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building and grounds, looted and vandalized the building, apparently causing $1.5 million in damages, according to the United States Department of Justice.A bipartisan Senate report also found that at least seven people died in connection with the Capitol Hill attacks. And as of September 21, reports INSIDER, at least 919 people had been charged in connection with the attacks, and of those, only 396 federally charged rioters have pleaded guilty. americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg jan. 6 probe, january 6, 2020 united states presidential election https://sputniknews.com/20221007/turkey-expects-eu-to-push-greece-to-bilateral-dialogue-erdogan-says-1101593818.html Turkey Expects EU to Push Greece to Bilateral Dialogue, Erdogan Says Turkey Expects EU to Push Greece to Bilateral Dialogue, Erdogan Says MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkey refuses to tolerate "illegal" Greek activities and expects the European Union to prompt Athens to enter a dialogue with Ankara... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T06:46+0000 2022-10-07T06:46+0000 2022-10-07T06:46+0000 world europe turkey greece /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107496/10/1074961034_0:270:5184:3186_1920x0_80_0_0_a73bb81cea25eeb3f60a9e455b999a20.jpg Erdogan is on a visit to the Czech capital of Prague at the invitation of European Council President Charles Michel and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to attend the first meeting of the European Political Community.Many countries at the Prague summit expected Turkey to take steps to improve relations with Greece, but Ankara now has nothing to talk about with Greece, Erdogan said.At the same time, Erdogan noted that Turkey is ready to resort to retaliatory steps not only against Greece but also against any country that threatens its security.Turkey and Greece have been trading accusations of provocative actions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas, where they have conflicting military and energy interests. Most recently, Turkey has accused its NATO ally of militarizing neutral Aegean islands close to its shores. turkey greece Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International europe, turkey, greece https://sputniknews.com/20221007/two-russians-detained-in-alaska-escaped-not-from-mobilization-by-russian-military---source-1101590657.html Two Russians Detained in Alaska Escaped Not From Mobilization by Russian Military - Source Two Russians Detained in Alaska Escaped Not From Mobilization by Russian Military - Source VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) - Two Russians detained by US law enforcement in Alaska have crossed the border with the United States to escape punishment for a number... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T02:05+0000 2022-10-07T02:05+0000 2022-10-07T03:24+0000 americas us alaska russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106586/84/1065868431_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_0c19999d6ca975f6a1d637cf8a046d7d.jpg Earlier this week, US law enforcement detained two Russian citizens who sailed to St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska in search of asylum in the United States. US Senators from Alaska Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski said that the duo was possibly trying to avoid the partial mobilization by the Russian military.The source added that the duo is not subject to mobilization because of their age.The source said that both Russian citizens, born in 1971 and 1978, are unemployed and have financial problems. One of them is currently under investigation for the possession and use of drugs. By fleeing to the United States, the duo hoped to solve their problems.The source also said that the US usually sends Russians violating the state border back to Russia, but, in that case, Washington can explain their escape with political motives. He added that the American side has yet to inform of their further actions against the detained Russians.The Russian Embassy to the United States said on Thursday that the Anchorage office of US Customs and Border Protection notified Moscow of the detention of Russians in Alaska. The Embassy added that a telephone conversation will soon be arranged with the two Russian nationals to provide them with the necessary consular and legal assistance. https://sputniknews.com/20221006/federal-agents-get-enough-evidence-to-charge-biden-son-in-tax-gun-purchase-case---reports-1101586279.html americas russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, alaska, russia https://sputniknews.com/20221007/us-advises-citizens-to-reconsider-travel-to-pakistan-due-to-rise-in-sectarian-violence-terrorism-1101605711.html US Advises Citizens to Reconsider Travel to Pakistan Due to Rise in Sectarian Violence, Terrorism US Advises Citizens to Reconsider Travel to Pakistan Due to Rise in Sectarian Violence, Terrorism The US has stepped up efforts to reset its relationship with Pakistan, with the resumption of military sales and many high-level talks since April when ex-PM... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T12:59+0000 2022-10-07T12:59+0000 2022-10-07T12:59+0000 pakistan us violence terrorism pakistani army shehbaz sharif world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/08/08/1099384025_0:82:3353:1968_1920x0_80_0_0_43aaa98a0639c9b5b0a13c741bda731c.jpg The US State Department has issued an advisory for American citizens to reconsider travel to Pakistan over terrorism and sectarian violence allegedly spreading in the country. Applying a Level 3 travel warning, it said people should avoid non-essential travel.In particular, Washington recommends avoiding travel to Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the threat of terrorism, as well as to the India-Pakistan border over the "potential armed conflict.Acknowledging a minor improvement in the security situation in Pakistan since 2014, the department said that the US has a limited ability to provide emergency services to citizens due to the security environment.Travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted, and additional restrictions on movements by US government personnel outside of US diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly, it underlined.Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in Pakistan in the past, the advisory added.The advisory was issued on the day when Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa concluded his visit to Washington. Bajwa held meetings with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and discussed the regional security situation. https://sputniknews.com/20221003/official-position-us-envoy-under-fire-for-referring-to-pakistan-administered-kashmir-as-azad-jk-1101458206.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg pakistan, us, violence, terrorism, pakistani army, shehbaz sharif https://sputniknews.com/20221007/washington-furious-over-opec-oil-reduction-neocons-admit-biden-attacked-nord-stream-1101589693.html Washington Furious Over Opec Oil Reduction; Neocons Admit Biden Attacked Nord Stream Washington Furious Over Opec Oil Reduction; Neocons Admit Biden Attacked Nord Stream Washington is fuming after news that their attempts to control world oil prices will be thwarted by a reduction in output by the OPEC +1 coalition. 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T08:18+0000 2022-10-07T08:18+0000 2022-10-07T08:18+0000 the critical hour nord stream iran color revolution opec liz truss taiwan radio radio sputnik /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/06/1101589442_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_19cf5bf492c34e28904e5b6bb269213f.png Washington Furious Over Opec Oil Reduction; Neocons Admit Biden Attacked Nord Stream Washington is fuming after news that their attempts to control world oil prices will be thwarted by a reduction in output by the OPEC +1 coalition. Alexander Mercouris, Editor in Chief at theduran.com & host of "The Duran" on Youtube, joins us to discuss the Nord Stream attack. Neocon Michael Rubin has penned a column in which he candidly admits that Joe Biden attacked EU infrastructure. Also, Moscow speaks out on the EU's refusal to include the Kremlin in its attack investigation.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, joins us to discuss the international economy. Washington is fuming after news that their attempts to control world oil prices will be thwarted by a reduction in output by the OPEC +1 coalition. Also, the EU is preparing for blackouts, and the IMF meeting is the last stop before the world's upcoming economic storm.Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents, joins us to discuss the Congressional Black Caucus. Margaret Kimberly has penned an article in which she details how the Congressional Black Caucus has failed its constituency as the members and organization profit from their cozy neoliberal position in the globalist order.George Koo, journalist, social activist, and international business consultant, joins us to discuss China. The US aims to turn Taiwan into a giant weapons depot. Also, we discuss the importance of China's industrial machine to the US and the world economy.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Washington is fuming after news that their attempts to control world oil prices will be thwarted by a reduction in output by the OPEC +1 coalition. Also, US money and intelligence drive Iran's attempted color revolution protests.Ariel Gold, executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Recent polls show that young people want to cut the defense budget and end arms sales to Israel. Also, Ukraine's bid to join NATO falls flat.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss US sanctions and censorship. Anti-government speech in the West has become synonymous with sedition. John Whitehead argues that the Biden administration's crackdown on so-called domestic terrorism is a thinly veiled attack on the growing dissent against authoritarian rule.Margaret Flowers, pediatrician, health reform activist, and co-director at Popular Resistance, joins us to discuss Washington, DC's neocon ideology. Congress worked hard to hide the fascist ideology of Ukrainian Nazis who visited Capitol Hill. Also, arch neocon Michael Ruben admits that Joe Biden attacked the Nord Stream pipelines.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg nord stream, iran, color revolution, opec, liz truss, taiwan, , radio, radio sputnik https://sputniknews.com/20221007/why-the-sahel-is-turning-its-back-on-france--could-russia-solve-africas-security-dilemma-1101599125.html Why is the Sahel Turning its Back on France & Could Russia Solve Africa's Security Dilemma? Why is the Sahel Turning its Back on France & Could Russia Solve Africa's Security Dilemma? On Wednesday, al-Qaeda* claimed responsibility for the gruesome September 26 attack in Burkina Faso. Ouagadougou is striving to bolster security while the... 07.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-07T09:50+0000 2022-10-07T09:50+0000 2022-10-07T12:24+0000 africa opinion africa sahel region burkina faso niger mali senegal west africa security /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/13/1100958541_0:62:3423:1987_1920x0_80_0_0_cde5a0ecaf6b3a1cbb1b1dc5a44d8dd8.jpg "[The Sahel] is still under the oppression by different terrorist groups like Daesh* in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger," said Dr. Mady Ibrahim Kante, lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative and Political Sciences of the University of Legal and Political Sciences of Bamako, Mali. "We can also see these groups active in Benin, Togo or even in the Ivory Coast. The situation is still difficult in all of these countries. The Sahel still needs military and development programs (...) Attacks against civilians in these areas still continue because there are different terrorist groups present in this zone."The unfolding violence has been amplified by the difficult situation in the regional economy and food crisis, caused by severe drought and other climatic issues as well as the global disruption of grain supplies, according to Evgenii Korendiasov, leading research fellow at the Center for the Study of Russian-African Relations and African States' Foreign Policy, Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), USSR/Russian Ambassador to Burkina Faso in 1987-1992, Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Mali in 1997-2001.Local terrorist groups and branches of the Islamic State* are exploiting economic difficulties and food issues in the African countries and stepping up their activities in Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger, according to the former Russian diplomat.Failure of Operation Barkhane & Growing Anti-French Sentiment in the SahelNine years ago, France beefed up its military presence in the Sahel to fight against jihadi terrorism and halt the advance of Tuareg rebels in Mali. The surge in regional violence followed the NATO invasion of Libya and ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. In August 2014, the French expanded their presence in the region by kicking off Operation Barkhane and deploying roughly 5,000 troops in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. However, the counter-terror initiative failed to reach its objectives as jihadists have managed to take large areas under their control in the region, according to Kante.Eventually, dissatisfaction with the French forces failure to stop the rising violence among Islamist militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and Daesh started growing in the Sahel."The French have not been very active in supporting anti-terrorist movements," said Korendiasov. "Their activity has decreased somewhat, and they have been strongly criticized by the authorities of both Mali and Burkina Faso and Niger. The latter demand a greater involvement of the French army and more decisive action from the French army against the terrorist groups. The French have so far refrained from this. At least they are not hurrying to increase their activity, believing that the national African armies should increase their participation."In addition to that, the French have their own policy regarding the Tuareg population, a large Berber ethnic group that principally inhabit the Sahara in a vast area stretching from far southwestern Libya to southern Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, according to the ex-diplomat. "The French do not want to exacerbate relations with the Tuaregs, nor are they in a great hurry. It is not in their best interests," he noted, adding that it prompts further criticism from the Sahel governments."On top of that, French policy in Africa continues to bear a deep neo-colonial imprint, which, of course, has angered Africans and complicated their relations with the French," Korendiasov noted.The emergence of anti-French sentiment can be explained by a number of reasons, according to Sergey Eledinov, a specialist on African affairs based in Senegal. First of all, it is the global economic crisis; second, Paris' post-colonial "Francafrique system" has largely discredited itself and is currently in a deep crisis, according to the Senegal-based expert.The military operations which France kicked off couldn't solve the regional dilemma, because it requires a comprehensive security program and long overdue government and social reforms in African states, according to Eledinov. At the same time, international terrorism always exploits weaknesses and conflicts between the state and society, he added.To complicate matters further, the French have been accused by the Mali government of playing into the hands of extremists and even providing them with weapons. Even though Eledinov ruled out the French authorities' involvement in arming jihadists, he noted that certain cases of weapons smuggling could take place, either by some French military personnel or via operations conducted by the French special services. "In fact, the most serious problem was the involvement of the French contingent in the creation of local pro-government militias, which very quickly became an independent and separate side of the conflict," the Senegal-based expert noted.Anti-French Protests in SahelMeanwhile, the anti-French sentiment and dissatisfaction with Paris' Operation Barkhane has translated into popular protests and the overthrow of governments which are incapable of coping with the terrorist threat.After the 2020 coup d'etat in Mali, carried out by the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, the nation's relations with French President Emmanuel Macron started deteriorating, with the latter unilaterally announcing withdrawal of the French forces in June 2021. In late November, 2021, Nigerien protesters clashed with a French military convoy after it crossed the border from Burkina Faso. On September 18, 2022 Nigeriens took to the streets again. They carried placards saying "criminal French Army - get out" and "The colonial army of Barkhane must go" while marching in the country's capital Niamey.Meanwhile, in July 2022, a series of anti-French protests began in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, under the slogans "No to cooperation agreements with France" and "France is imperialist, tyrant, parasitic, out." The unrest went on through August, while in late September Army Capt. Ibrahim Traore ousted Burkina Faso's military leader Lt Col. Paul-Henri Damiba in the second military coup in a row. Earlier, Damiba led the overthrow of then-President Kabore in January 2022. Both Kabore and Damiba were removed over their inability to thwart an armed uprising by Islamist militants in the country. In the beginning of October, the Burkinabe conducted protests near the French Embassy in Ouagadougou and set barriers outside the building on fire.Russia's Role in AfricaDuring the recent protests, the Nigeriens and Burkinabe carried Russian flags. This phenomenon was seen by some observers as a result of successful counter-terrorist actions by Russian military instructors in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR), where they were invited by the countries' authorities in 2021 and 2017, respectively.Burkina Faso and other Sahel states also need training and equipment; but the Western countries do not meet their needs, deploying their own troops instead to maintain control over the region, according to Kante. The Malian academic argues that Sahel states need to diversify their relations with security providers and cooperate with different countries in terms of military assistance. "[They] say we were colonized by France, so we have to listen to all the things France says. No, that is not true," Kante emphasized.A survey conducted by the German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in April 2022 indicated that 93.5% of Malians were aware of Russian military instructors' presence in the country, with nine out of ten respondents (92%) believing that Russians will help Mali regain its territorial integrity.The former diplomat elaborated that Russia is offering broad, national security cooperation to strengthen Africa's counterterrorism and military capabilities against terrorist and other threats. Russia has also expanded military and military tech cooperation with Africans, and is providing training to African military officers in military schools. Thus, it is hardly surprising that the African countries invite Russian military instructors to provide assistance to their respective states, Korendiasov noted."We think that we have to organize our national armed forces in a more solid way in the fight against terrorism," he said. "However, private military companies, in particular our PMC Wagner Group, provide quite notable assistance, particularly in Mali, in the fight against terrorist groups in northern Mali. That is why Russia's authority in Africa is now increasing. [Russia's] independent foreign policy and its willingness to provide comprehensive support to strengthen security and fight against terrorist insurgencies - all this has attracted the sympathy of the African people for the Russian Federation's foreign policy and contributed to the expansion of economic, trade and, last but not least, military-technical cooperation."Meanwhile, the solution of the Sahel security dilemma demands a comprehensive program of national reconciliation, the resolution of interethnic and interreligious contradictions, and the creation of an inclusive government, highlighted Eledinov. If Russia offers such a program and rolls it out, it will gain serious political weight in the region, the Senegal-based expert concluded.*Daesh (ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State) and al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20221002/french-embassy-fires-tear-gas-at-protesters-in-burkina-faso-1101432706.html https://sputniknews.com/20220817/mali-accuses-france-of-supporting-terrorists-on-its-soil-in-letter-to-un-security-council-1099706363.html https://sputniknews.com/20220920/why-nigerien-protesters-want-french-army-out--wave-russian-flags-1101019233.html https://sputniknews.com/20220816/russia-plays-key-role-in-africas-military--economic-stability---south-africas-defense-minister-1099661505.html africa sahel region burkina faso niger mali senegal west africa russia france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova opinion, africa, sahel region, burkina faso, niger, mali, senegal, west africa, security, russia, military aid, military training, france, colonialism Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County this week announced a special, limited release of Cornus Virginicus, a red wine blend crafted in collaboration with Virginia first lady Suzanne S. Youngkin to celebrate Virginia agriculture. A total of 199 cases were produced by winemaker Luca Paschina. The exclusive bottling coincides with 34th annual Virginia Wine Month, commemorating Virginias burgeoning wine scene and the agricultural art being perfected by winemakers across the commonwealth, according to the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office. Heres toasting Virginias flourishing agriculture and wine industries! Mrs. Youngkin said in a statement. This project highlights robust viticulture, gives back to nonprofit organizations that are preparing the next generation of farmers, growers and winemakers, and highlights the excellence of Virginias wine industry. As part of her partnership with Barboursville Vineyards, a donation will be made to Virginias FFA and 4-H state foundations. The Virginia Wine industry contributes $1.73 billion to the state economy and provides over 10,000 jobs, according to a recent study, The Economic Impact of the Wine and Wine Grape Industries on the Virginia Economy, by Economic Forensics and Analytics Inc. of Petaluma, Calif. The industry also produces some fine products increasingly recognized around the world. The limited-release Barboursville wine is a Bordeaux-style red blend, composed of 57% Merlot, 28.5% Cabernet Franc and 14.5% Petit Verdot, all estate-grown at Barboursville Vineyards. It was an honor to produce this wine with the first lady of Virginia, said Paschina, the award-winning winemaker at Barboursville Vineyards since 1990. The blend was selected by a tasting panel including (Mrs. Youngkin) resulting in a special blend that is elegant and expressive of our states climate and soil. Latin for Flowering tree of Virginia, Cornus Virginicus is a nod to the dogwood, the Virginia state flower and tree, featured on the first lady of Virginias seal. Depicted on the front label, the dogwood tree is symbolic of tradition, strength and beauty found throughout Virginia. Cornus Virginicus Edition I can be purchased online through Virginia ABC and Barboursville Vineyards. Purchasers can select to pick up the wine at a nearby Virginia ABC location of their choice or have it shipped directly to their door through Barboursville Vineyards or at the winery. Barboursville Vineyards will hold a reception Oct. 12 to celebrate the release of Cornus Virginicus. Voters will have the chance to learn more about where state senator candidates stand on the issues during a public candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The event is organized by the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerces Government Affairs Committee. It will start at 6 p.m. at the University of Nebraskas Panhandle Extension Center. District 48 candidates Brian Hardin and Don Lease II will answer questions before the general election on Nov. 8. Hardin and Lease advanced through the primary election in May. They, along with other primary candidates, participated in a similar forum before that election. Its just to get informed voters, Dawne Wolfe, one of the co-chairs of the government affairs committee, said of the event. We want people to have the opportunity to be informed when they go to vote. In addition to answering questions crafted by the committee, Hardin and Lease will also respond to those submitted by people in the community. The questions need to be submitted by at least the afternoon before the forum and will be selected by Wolfe and co-chair Bill Boyer. We want to obviously ask the questions that pertain more to whats (going on) right now, Wolfe said. Hardin spent over $55,500 in District 48 primary race The primary winner in 2022s District 48 Unicameral election race also was the only candidat Hardin, Lease advance in District 48 race In the general election in November, voters will consider Brian Hardin or Don Lease II as ca District 48 candidates highlight campaign issues Five candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to run for the Legislative District 48 s The forums arent debates. Hardin and Lease will both be asked the same questions. Then, theyll have a short amount of time to answer them. With just two candidates in the running, Wolfe said they should be able to get through more questions than in the primary. Karen Anderson, the chambers executive director, said, I think it really gives people a good look at how they (candidates) think on their feet and how they answer questions. When we recorded (forums for) the primary, we had over 2,000 people view those various candidate forums. It really gives a good picture of the candidate, so you know where theyre coming from. Especially with so many people running for office, Wolfe said hosting forums such as the one on Tuesday could help people decide if theyd like to run for office themselves. District 48 includes all of Scotts Bluff, Banner and Kimball counties. Republican nominee for Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen made a stop in Alliance during one of six stops across western and central Nebraska Monday, Oct. 3. A handful of potential voters gathered together at the West Side Events Center as Pillen discussed his vision for bringing western Nebraska values to Lincoln. Pillen says he is focusing his campaign on three major topics: kids, taxes and faith. He announced that his first commercial would be coming out this week and stated that it was about how the state is taking care of our kids in terms of education. One thing that all of us in Nebraska agree on is our kids are our future. We can never give up on a kid ... that is the way we can grow our state, he told the crowd. Weve got to stop two things weve got to stop the brain drain and weve got to make sure we train and educate all of our kids. Half of our kids graduating high school are not getting any further training. He stressed the importance of funding public schools within Nebraska. We believe school funding has to be transformed, Pillen said. As a state, we have given up on kids. We have 244 public school districts in the state. Now, this is an amazing number to me. One-hundred and fifty-eight school districts get not a single penny from state equalizations. When many of us hear that, we think thats just not fair or thats not Nebraska. If elected governor, he said he plans to address high property taxes by changing how farms are valued. Im a big-time believer in the three-legged stool, said Pillen. Property taxes are really out of whack; our income taxes are way too high. We have to grow our economy, but we have to solve property taxes first. He proposed changing how farms are evaluated for property tax. He discussed moving to an income-based approach so during a year when it is dry, for example, the state could still handle property taxes based on productivity. Pillen is a livestock producer and operates his family farm outside of Columbus. Agriculture is like blood flow to all of us in this room, he said. Defending agriculture is really important for the next administration. He noted that he is no stranger to fighting PETA and standing up to defend agriculture. Here in Nebraska, we are the best in the world at agriculture, Pillen said. We are the best in each of our five agro-ecological zones in Nebraska. Pillen also emphasized the importance to stand up for values like faith, family and pro-life. While discussing his pro-life stance, he said the goal is to stop the murder of fetuses within the mothers wombs. He emphasized that his pro-life stance is only regarding abortion and not in vitro fertilization, medical ethics or preventative contraception. Its about helping young moms choose life and love, and about stopping the murder of babies of babies growing in a mothers womb. He also said a focus of his campaign is to have more Republican representation in the unicameral. In closing, Pillen asked for voter participation, addressing his concerns about the Democratic control over local, state and federal politics. We need to talk about how the opposite side (Democrats) has been kicking our butts, he said. Not only in the state of Nebraska but most everywhere; why are we not waking up and asking what the heck is going on in the world? There are boat loads of people on the other side that are just banging away. Pillen said his greatest fear for the upcoming election is for Republican voters to believe the party will win, so they choose not to vote. We all need to step up and be engaged in this process. The most important election in 35 days is our local school boards. We can never give up on our kids and we have to protect them. Our local school boards are in 100% control. Pillen also stopped in Chadron and Sidney as part of his town hall tour. He had also appeared in Gering during a visit in September. A Lincoln doctor has been arrested in connection to alleged sexually inappropriate behavior with patients he was treating for substance abuse or mental health issues. The Metro Area Fugitive Task Force arrested Dr. Scott E. Schmidt, 54, at his home Thursday morning without incident. A warrant went out for his arrest a day earlier. In the probable cause affidavit for Schmidt's arrest, Jeremy Schwarz, an investigator with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, said he learned about the allegations, which he said involved five known victims, young men in their 20s and early 30s, in a call from a DEA agent on Aug. 3 and at a later meeting with him and an investigator with the Nebraska Department of Licensure. Schwarz said two of the five filed reports with the Lincoln Police Department earlier this year, but their cases were inactive by August, when he began his investigation. He said on Aug. 14, one of the accusers a former patient of Schmidt's at Pine Lake Behavioral Health & Medical came to the Sheriff's Office with audio and a video recorded statement. The man alleged that after he disclosed to Schmidt he had been drinking, Schmidt came over to his apartment on May 27 and ended up pulling down his gym shorts, exposing himself to him and offering oral sex. Schwarz said phone records show that Schmidt later apologized by text saying, "Sorry if I was outa (sic) line." When he didn't respond, Schmidt sent another text saying if he didn't want to come in for his appointment the following Monday it was OK. On Sept. 16, another accuser came to the Sheriff's Office with audio and a video recorded statement. He told Schwarz he had been Schmidt's patient from 2016 until he was fired June 10. On his first visit, he said, Schmidt gave him a cellphone to communicate. Later, he expected him to send pictures. He now feels like the doctor was grooming him. He described an incident where Schmidt asked him to come over to his house and talked about "gay stuff." When he told him he was straight and that he didn't want any part of it, he said Schmidt told him not to mess with him, "I'll ruin your life." He told Schwarz he felt extorted. He told Schwarz he feared Schmidt, who is an addiction medicine specialist, would cut him off from his medication for severe depression and anxiety and tell other doctors not to take him as a patient, and worried he would have to resort to buying drugs on the street. In later office visits, he alleged that Schmidt would tell him he wasn't sending him enough pictures and he needed to step it up. He told Schwarz approximately half of his visits to Schmidt resulted in Schmidt examining his genitals and on one occasion touching him. On Sept. 16, a 28-year-old man went to the Sheriff's Office with more allegations of a similar nature. He said while he was a patient, he moved in with Schmidt, a longtime family friend. He told Schwarz he started feeling unsafe there after Schmidt offered to pay him $2,000 to touch himself. He told him not to ask again. In court records, the investigator said after taking nighttime medication the previous night the 28-year-old woke to find Schmidt had lifted his shirt and was looking at his penis. He told him to get out and later learned he'd sexually abused him multiple times while he slept, Schwarz said. Schmidt is facing charges of first-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault related to two of his accusers. He hasn't yet made a first court appearance in the case. Attorneys Eric Brown and Christa Israel, who are representing four of Schmidt's accusers, said Schmidts practice of medicine and history of red flags is troubling. His medical license had previously been suspended in 2014 over alcohol use, according to state medical licensing records. "We are pleased the state is moving forward with consequences criminally. Unfortunately, the victims of Dr. Schmidts betrayal of trust are now forced to deal with a lifetime of trauma. It's just all extremely sad," Brown and Israel said in a statement. Brown and Israel and the Sheriff's Office encouraged anyone with information concerning Schmidts alleged misconduct with patients, or enabling of that misconduct, to confidentially come forward to either the Sheriffs Office, Lancaster County Attorneys Office or their law office. Dr. Jared Ray at Pine Lake Behavioral Health & Medical said once they became aware of the allegations against Schmidt "we acted swiftly and decisively." "Our primary concern at this time is the health and safety of our patients and providers and we are confident that the justice system will do what it needs to do in this situation," he said. Ray said they look forward to continuing to provide medically necessary care for the Lincoln community, "and we will remain future focused, hopefully putting this behind us and remaining committed to helping individuals and families seeking lasting change and better health." Offutt Air Force Base here in Nebraska plays a key role in our nations national security. Located in Sarpy County, the military base serves as the headquarters of U.S. Strategic Command, or STRATCOM. Offutt also hosts the 55th Wing, which conducts important global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and we are proud that they call Nebraska home. Since Offutt supports multiple military communities and their unique operations, the bases infrastructure is constantly in use. That includes the Offutt runway, which was originally constructed in 1941. Over the following eight decades, the runway experienced significant wear and tear. As the quality of the runway continued to deteriorate, something had to be done to ensure Offutt could continue to support STRATCOM, the 55th Wing, and our national security. I am pleased to say that after many years of work, Offutts new runway was officially unveiled on Friday, Sept. 30. The event commemorating the occasion was great, and it was wonderful to see all the different individuals who contributed to this important undertaking. I first began working on the Offutt runway issue in 2013 when I had only recently joined the U.S. Senate. Speaking directly with the bases leadership at the time, it was clear the state of the runway was extremely poor, and that was compromising the 55th Wings ability to carry out their duties. In fact, at the time, the Offutt runway had one of the lowest ratings among all of Air Combat Commands runways. I immediately began working to alert the Air Force to the severity of the problem, as well as develop a solution to the problem. This included a number of meetings with the Secretary of the Air Force and other military leaders at the Pentagon. Once we were able to build consensus around the gravity of the situation, it was time to act. In my role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I directly contribute to the drafting of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an important piece of legislation that authorizes funding for the military and sets policy priorities for the Dept. of Defense. In the 2016 NDAA, I worked to authorize funding for the initial design work of the runway rebuild. This is when things really began to take shape. In the subsequent years as design work on the runway progressed, I continued to work with my colleagues to ensure Congress authorized and appropriated sufficient, flexible funding to cover the project. Thanks to our persistent advocacy, we were able to help the plan evolve from simply patching some portions, to repaving, to eventually an agreement to fully replace the Offutt runway in January of 2019. The physical rebuilding of the runway took over 18 months. During that time, the 55th Wing was relocated to Lincoln in order for them to continue conducting their missions. As of September 30th, the 55th Wing has finally returned to Offutt Air Force Base. It was a long road to get to this juncture, but Im thrilled our efforts paid off. Since its original founding over 100 years ago during the infancy of aerial warfare, Offutt has helped protect our nation. The base has also served as an important part of the local community and our states economy. With this new runway in place, the men and women of Offutt can carry out their vital missions for years to come. I look forward to continuing to work to ensure our military has the infrastructure and resources it needs to carry out their missions and defend our country. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. HYDERABAD: Film actor and former Union minister K. Chiranjeevi tendered an apology to noted spiritual preacher Garikapati Narasimha Rao at Alai Balai programme on Thursday after his fans disrupted the latter's speech. It all happened when fans made a beeline to take selfies with Chiranjeevi, distracting Narasimha Rao who was addressing the audience. The preacher requested Chiranjeevi to stop the photo session and come on to the stage, otherwise he would leave the venue. Chiranjeevi complied. Later, addressing the audience, Chiranjeevi invited the spiritual preacher to his residence. Chiranjeevis brother Naga Babu on Thursday evening took a dig a Narasimha Rao, saying on Twitter: Yepati vaadikaina Chiranjeevi gari image chusthe a paati Asuya padatam paripate (It was normal for people of a certain kind to be jealous of Chiranjeevis image). In a blow to Boeing, the pilots union for American Airlines has come out strongly against granting the planemaker a deadline extension that would allow the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 models to enter service without a redesign of the cockpit system that alerts the crew when something goes wrong. The American pilots explicitly rejected Boeings argument that keeping the system the same as on prior 737 models would avoid potential pilot confusion and therefore would be safer. The Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act passed by Congress in December 2020 allowed an exemption from upgrading the crew-alerting systems on any planes certified before the end of this year. Though the Federal Aviation Administration has already certified the earlier MAX models, the MAX 8 and MAX 9, with the legacy crew-alerting system, the MAX 7 and MAX 10 wont make that deadline. The Allied Pilots Association, or APA, representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, opposes extending it. We oppose any extension of the exemption and dont agree with Boeings claim that pilots could become confused when moving from an airplane without the modern alert system to one that is equipped with it, said APA President Capt. Edward Sicher. Nothing could be further from our flight deck reality. The APA position appears heavily influenced by the two 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. On those flights, the crews were clearly confused by the series of distracting and conflicting alerts triggered by a faulty sensor and couldnt understand what was happening. Boeing needs to proceed with installing modern crew-alerting systems on these aircraft to mitigate pilot startle effect and confusion during complex, compound system malfunctions, he said. Once these systems are installed and pilots have been properly trained on them, our crews will be better able to identify system failures and prioritize corrective actions that could save lives, Sicher added. Doing so will also help Boeing to continue rebuilding public trust. The APA statement comes two days after the FAA detailed in a letter to the Senate that Boeing wont be able to certify the MAX 10 before next summer, making an extension of the legislative deadline essential to avoid a redesign of the cockpit systems. With regard to the 737-10, Boeings current project plan timeline has the 737-10 receiving an amended type certificate no sooner than summer 2023, FAA Administrator Billy Nolen wrote in response to a question from U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., according to a report by Reuters. An earlier FAA letter had informed Boeing that the MAX 7 would also not meet the deadline on its current schedule. Last week, Wicker, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that if passed would give Boeing the extension it needs. Its unclear how that will play out in Congress. The public opposition from the pilots union at the worlds largest airline by fleet size undercuts Boeings argument about safety. It also undermines any claim to putting safety first from a politician voting to grant an extension. Boeing in a statement last week said we are not seeking to rush this process, and believe safety is best served by allowing the 737-7 and 737-10 certification effort the time needed to complete this important work without introducing different systems. We are discussing with policymakers the time needed, Boeing said. If Boeing doesnt get the extension it must either redesign the systems and upgrade the MAX cockpits at considerable cost or cancel the MAX 10 and MAX 7. That latter option was put forward as a possibility in July by Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun. Whether Boeing would really take such a drastic step is uncertain. Boeing has this year announced multiple orders for the MAX 10 from airline customers. WestJet of Canada ordered 42 last week. The families of the victims of the two 737 MAX crashes also strongly oppose giving Boeing more time and want the crew-alerting systems upgraded. A July letter to Congress signed by 800 family members and friends of the crash victims accused Calhoun of resorting to bullying Congress. TACOMA First lady Jill Biden will visit Tacoma on Friday for an event at Bates Technical College, according to the White House. The first lady also will go to Seattle and is expected to speak at an event for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. After attending events in San Francisco, Biden will arrive in Western Washington about 3:15 p.m. Friday at King County International Airport, according to a schedule released Tuesday. None of the events are open to the public. Biden will be at Bates Technical College later that afternoon to spotlight the college's workforce development programs. The White House described the programs as leading examples of community college and technical career pipelines to connect high school students to opportunities. On Saturday, Biden will deliver remarks at a local fund-raising event for Murray about noon. Afterward, she will go to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, where she is hosting an event to celebrate the children of military and veteran care-giving families. With Biden will be the secretary for the Department of Veteran Affairs, Denis McDonough and Murray, who is running for re-election against Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley. Biden came to Pierce County last year, touring Joint Base Lewis-McChord with Gov. Jay Inslee and the base's I Corps commander. Smoky conditions have led to an air pollution advisory issued for multiple Southwest Washington counties starting Friday through Saturday, a clean air agency said. As wildfires continue to burn across Washington, the Southwest Clean Air Agency said Friday the air was expected to reach moderate to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties. The Air Quality Index uses levels of fine particulate matter to determine how healthy or unhealthy the air is expected to become. A score of 51 to 100 means the air is moderate, and a score of 151 to 200 is when it reaches unhealthy levels. As of Friday morning in Longview, the air quality was reported with a score of 54 or moderate. Across Southwest Washington the levels were expected to hover in an unhealthy range through Saturday. The clean air agency recommended that sensitive groups which include older adults, children, pregnant people and those with preexisting heart or lung conditions stay indoors and consider finding a public place with air conditioning. N95 or N100 masks can also help protect some from air pollution, the agency said. Wildfire smoke can lead to health problems, the agency said. This includes chest pain, quickening heartbeat, coughing, stinging eyes, irritated sinuses and potential asthma attacks. More information about weather conditions can be found on the National Weather Service website. People can also monitor the air quality on the Southwest Clean Air Agency website at www.swcleanair.gov or through its air monitoring program page. CASTLE ROCK City officials have spent a quarter of federal COVID relief funds to cover two water infrastructure projects. The city received about $640,000 through the federal American Rescue Plan Act a sweeping law signed by President Joe Biden last year that provides broad flexibility for $350 billion of aid to states and local governments. The aid was promoted by Democrats in Congress for cash-strapped governments to respond to the virus, rebuild their economies and shore up their finances. Castle Rock has spent $155,000 to date, while the citys remaining $485,000 has not been allocated yet. The city spent $125,000 to replace about 1,200 feet of a 12-inch water main with a 16-inch water main on state Route 504. Castle Rock Public Works Director Dave Vorse said a portion of the pipe still needs to be filled to complete the project. The city also spent $30,000 to replace a broken clay pipe along the 400 block of B Street Southwest to prevent minor flooding along A and B Streets after rain or snow. Vorse said the project is complete. He said the federal funds could also go toward replacing a water main on the state Route 411 bridge over the Cowlitz River. While state crews work to replace the bridge deck, city workers plan to upgrade the water main. American Rescue Plan Act funds can cover qualifying costs through 2024, and must be spent by the end of 2026. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports Washington state was allocated about $4.8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds and has received about $4.29. Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct American Rescue Plan Act amount for Washington state. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe and culture are featured in the new Netflix animated childrens show Spirit Rangers, premiering Monday on Indigenous Peoples Day. The animated preschool series, created by Santa Ynez Chumash Tribal member Karissa Valencia, has an all-native writers room that includes contributing producer and Cowlitz Indian Tribal member Joey Clift, according to a press release. As a Cowlitz tribal member and a television writer, being able to combine those parts of myself with my work on Spirit Rangers isnt just a career highlight, its a life highlight, Clift said in an email. The series is the first kids show in the United States created by a Native American woman, according to the press release. Valencia and other showrunners consulted with tribal leaders from all tribes whose stories inspired the series, the release stated. Its an incredible honor to bring elements of Cowlitz Culture to Netflix and to do so in collaboration with such an incredible team, Clift said in a statement. Representation matters so much especially for our Native youth and I cant wait for the world to meet our Spirit Ranger kids. The show explores the adventure and beauty of nature through the eyes of Kodi, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, Chumash and Cowlitz siblings, who help protect the land and spirits of the national park that they call home in California. Netflix greenlit the show in early 2020, and Valencia reached out to Clift as she put together the all-Native American writers room for the show, he said in an email. It felt like a good fit and the exact kind of project Id always wanted to work on, he said. Clift said the writers talked at length about the tribal makeup of the shows central family and before deciding on a Chumash mom and Cowlitz dad, reflecting Valencias and Clifts backgrounds. In August 2020, Clift sought the blessing of the Cowlitz Tribal Council and Cowlitz Cultural Resources Board and worked with them over the last two years to accurately and respectfully include Cowlitz characters, stories inspired by the tribes legends and the Cowlitz language, he said. Were incredibly proud to see the Cowlitz Indian Tribe depicted on the Netflix platform, and commend the Spirit Rangers team for their inclusive and culturally appropriate approach to producing the show, said Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, general council chairwoman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Spirit Rangers will allow Cowlitz and other Native children to see themselves reflected on screen as the curious, resilient and strong individuals that we know they are. Cowlitz County cities are supporting a state proposal to create a law enforcement training campus in Southwest Washington so incoming officers can train closer to home. Woodland City Council approved a measure of support during its meeting Monday and the Kelso City Council approved a similar measure on Tuesday. Longview City Council is scheduled to vote on a comparable resolution at its Thursday meeting. At the beginning of September, the Kalama City Council approved a letter to two state legislators supporting the new academy. Gov. Jay Inslee announced a proposal in July to create four new training locations for law enforcement agents, including one in Southwest Washington. The two existing Basic Law Enforcement Academy locations are in Burien and Spokane, the closest of which is a two-hour drive from Longview. New police recruits spend nearly five months studying at the basics academy before doing any training with the department that hired them. Right now any new officers are away from their families for a long time, for the duration of the academy and are only coming home on the weekends, Woodland Police Chief Jim Kelly said. The almost word-for-word identical resolutions passed in Woodland and Kelso say the closer training would make it easier for departments to recruit local cadets. Easier and local hiring could help address an upcoming surge in retirements or resignations that multiple departments have said they expect to see, according to the resolutions. Kelly said closer training centers would also save many agencies money. The officers in training are already employed by the local departments, so at least some of the training and transportation costs are covered by the department. The states proposal suggested the new locations would be in Vancouver, Bellingham, Everett and Pasco. Kelso Police Chief Darr Kirk said at Tuesdays City Council meeting he and other law enforcement leaders in the region hoped for a facility between Ridgefield and Kalama. Kelly agreed a local option is preferred. Wed love to have it around here, but the closer the better, Kelly said. Eligible people can now sign up for a free breast health screening at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. The event is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the hospitals Kearney Breast Center at 1615 Delaware St. in Longview. Face masks are required in the hospital. To be eligible for a free clinical breast exam and a 3-D digital mammogram, women must be uninsured or underinsured, 40 or older, live in Washington, have gone a year or longer since their last mammogram and qualify through the states Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program. PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center operates the program for the region, providing free screenings to low-income patients who are uninsured, underinsured or have a high deductible for follow-up cancer testing. The program also offers language interpreters. Those interested can call 1-800-992-1817 to find out if they are eligible for the program or to pre-enroll for a screening in English or Spanish. For other languages, call 1-888-202-3301. A mammogram, or X-ray of the breast, can detect changes that may be early signs of cancer that are too small to be felt, according to the hospital. It is easier to treat earlier stage cancers. PeaceHealth providers have encouraged people to get regular cancer screenings after seeing an increase in patients with later-stage cancer over the last two years. CLARK COUNTY A man accused of murdering an Idaho couple a week ago was released in July from the Clark County Jail after months of awaiting competency restoration services at Western State Hospital. John Cody Hart, 28, is charged in Adams County Magistrate Court in Idaho with two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities say he fatally shot husband and wife Rory Mehen, 47, and Sara Mehen, 45, the owners of the Hartland Inn in New Meadows, Idaho, where he was apparently staying. Adams County Prosecutor Christopher Boyd filed notice that he intends to seek the death penalty if Hart is convicted of the charges. Hart was on supervised release at the time of the shooting in his pending Clark County case, and he was not permitted to leave the area. He was charged in August 2021 in Clark County Superior Court with one count each of first- and second-degree assault. A probable cause affidavit in that case states Hart was transient in Vancouver. His bail was set at $100,000, but it was later raised to $150,000 after he had posted bond and failed to appear at a hearing, court records show. Clark County sheriffs deputies responded at 1:11 a.m. Aug. 9, 2021, to 9411 N.E. 76th St., for reports of an assault. An employee at the 7-Eleven said a man came into the convenience store injured, according to the affidavit. Deputies spoke to the victims roommate, who said they met Hart on the dating app Grinder, and they invited him over. The roommate said Hart attacked the victim, pressing his thumbs into the mans eyes. He said he was able to get Hart off of the victim, and Hart left. The victim said he was sleeping when the attack started, according to the affidavit. Surveillance video captured Hart walking inside the mens residence and saying nothing to the victim before putting him into a vascular neck restraint, court records state. Hart can then be seen wrapping his legs around the mans midsection, causing them to fall onto the couch. Hart continued to apply pressure to the neck restraint, until the man went limp. Then, Hart punched him in the face, the affidavit says. A nurse said the victim was likely to lose his vision, the affidavit states. In September 2021, a state evaluator found Hart was competent to stand trial, although the doctor diagnosed him with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder. His defense attorney then sought a second opinion, according to court records. In March, the defense and prosecuting attorney in the case agreed to a finding that Hart was incompetent to stand trial, and a judge ordered he be sent to Western State Hospital for competency restoration, court records state. After months of waiting for space to open up at the state hospital, Harts defense attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him. The attorney argued the time Hart had been held in jail waiting for a hospital bed violated his due process rights. In response to the motion to dismiss, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Luka Vitasovic argued Hart was being held in jail because he hadnt posted bail, not because he was awaiting a hospital bed. The community does not need somebody suffering from untreated mental illness out committing unprovoked serious violent offenses, Vitasovic wrote to the court. Judge Robert Lewis denied the motion to dismiss but ordered on July 22 that Hart be placed on supervised release until a bed was available for him. At the time, Hart had a tentative bed date of Aug. 1, court records show. Lewis declined to comment Wednesday on his decision because the case is pending. Court records indicate that when Hart got out of jail, he never checked in with Clark County Pretrial Release. He is scheduled for a competency status hearing today. An emailed statement from the Department of Social and Health Services, which oversees Western State Hospital, states that DSHS and its state and private partners have implemented numerous efforts in recent years to improve and shorten wait times for those in need of competency services, but rising referral numbers, staffing shortages and the pandemic have contributed to an increase in these challenges. We are in the midst of building new facilities while also exploring new ways to increase bed capacity as the demand for competency services continues to rise. Idaho shooting At 12:42 p.m. Saturday, Adams County sheriffs deputies received reports of an active shooter at the Hartland Inn. Deputies, along with Idaho State Police, McCall City Police and medical personnel, arrived to find the Mehens dead inside the main office, according to a news release. Investigators identified Hart as the suspected shooter, and he was seen leaving the hotel in a blue Subaru, the news release states. A short time later, an off-duty officer spotted Harts Subaru. Officers pulled Hart over and arrested him without incident. After Hart was booked into jail in Idaho, officers said he admitted to shooting a man and a woman at the Hartland Inn. Hart said the motels owners confronted him after he was found searching through drawers for socks in other guests rooms, according to Adams County court records. Hart said the couple snatched everything from his hands, making him feel like a thief, an Adams County probable cause affidavit states. The couple called police; a deputy responded and talked to Hart. He said that made him angry, and he felt like the couple was like Bonnie and Clyde. He told officers, after the sock incident he went back into his room and prepared for the worst, the affidavit says. He said he heard multiple voices saying, Are you going to let Bonnie and Clyde do that to our family? the affidavit reads. Investigators said Hart then told them he went to the front counter and shot the couple. Court records state the 911 call about the shooting came in 24 minutes after the deputy left the motel. Detectives found two spent 9 mm shell casings at the shooting scene. They also found a 9 mm Glock handgun where Hart told them he threw it, in weeds near a church in Indian Valley, Idaho, court records state. In his notice to seek the death penalty, Boyd listed aggravating circumstances, including that the double homicide was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity, and that Hart will probably constitute a continuing threat to society. Harts next Idaho court date is scheduled for Oct. 17. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada in New York, the United States, on Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) NEW YORK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada on Monday, during which both sides agreed to seize the opportunity presented by the one-year anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and take the bilateral ties to a new level. Meeting his Nicaraguan counterpart on the sidelines of the ongoing 77th session of the UN General Assembly, Wang said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have drawn a blueprint for the bilateral relations since the two sides resumed diplomatic ties in December last year, which has led to rapid development in the bilateral relations where fruitful early harvests have been achieved. It is a proven fact that restoring diplomatic ties is in complete accord with the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, Wang said. China, Wang said, is firmly committed to developing ties with Nicaragua and supporting Nicaragua's effort to defend its sovereignty, independence and national dignity. Noting that Nicaragua's independent choice of development path has the full backing from China, Wang said China will continue to uphold justice on issues related to Nicaragua. Wang said China appreciates Nicaragua for its unwavering support for the one-China principle, believing that Nicaragua will continue to support China's just stance on issues related to China's core interests. The Chinese side, Wang told Moncada, is willing to strengthen cooperation with Nicaragua regarding jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and synergizing the two countries' respective development strategies. It is expected that political mutual trust between the two countries could translate into momentum for comprehensive cooperation, he added. Noting that the arrangement for "early harvests" under a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) has been signed by the two sides, Wang expressed the hope that consensus will be reached as soon as possible on a comprehensive FTA, of which the negotiation process has already been initiated. Wang added that China will continue to lend support to Nicaragua in the Central American country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang also told Moncada that the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its 20th National Congress next month, adding that the CPC and Nicaragua's ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front have similar governing ideas, and the CPC looks forward to enhancing exchanges of experience in state governance between the two parties. Moncada, for his part, said the Nicaraguan side treasures its brotherly friendship with China, and will continue to abide by the one-China principle and firmly support China in its defense of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Nicaragua wishes the 20th CPC National Congress a full success. Moncada said Nicaragua is pleased to see the signing of the arrangement for "early harvests" under the bilateral FTA, and is looking forward to the further enhancement of experience exchanges on state governance between the two parties and two countries. Nicaragua is willing to deepen cooperation in various fields and develop a sound bilateral relationship with China. Moncada also stressed the utmost importance of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative put forward by President Xi, adding that the Nicaraguan side fully supports and is ready to participate in the initiatives, practice multilateralism and contribute to world peace, security and development. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd R) meets with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada (2nd L) in New York, the United States, on Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Zoo curator S. Rajasekhar said the cub was born to one of the lionesses in the lion safari. (Photo by arrangement) HYDERABAD: The Nehru Zoological Park on Thursday announced an addition to its Asiatic Lions population with the introduction of a six-month-old female cub, taking their number to 12. The announcement about the cub, as well as it being named Adhiti at a ceremony in the zoo was made as part of the 68th Vanya Prani Saptah (Wildlife Week) and the 59th Zoo Day celebrations. Zoo curator S. Rajasekhar said the cub was born to one of the lionesses in the lion safari. He said it would be at least another six months before the cub could be released into the enclosure with its mother Saina for visitors to see. As part of the celebrations on Thursday, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.M. Dobriyal, after christening the lion cub, also inaugurated an enclosure for African meerkats, and released a pair of white-eared marmoset, a new world tiny primate that hails from the forests in Brazil. The zoo also organised competitions for school children in drawing, painting, elocution and photography as part of the wildlife week celebrations and the winners received prizes from Dobriyal. Apple is asking its suppliers to move the production of some AirPods and Beats headphones to India. Apple is asking its suppliers to move the production of some AirPods and Beats headphones to India, which would give a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make-in-India' campaign. This is for the first time that Apple asked to move the AirPods and Beats headphone production to India. The move is considered as a win for the South Asia nation as it attempts to rise in the global supply chain, Nikkei Asia reported. This move is also seen as Apple walking away from China to lower the risk of supply chain disruptions stemming from the country's strict zero-COVID policy and tensions with the US. iPhone assembler Foxconn is preparing to make Beats headphones in the country, and hopes to eventually produce AirPods there as well, Nikkei Asia reported. Luxshare Precision Industry and its affiliates, which produce AirPods in Vietnam and China, also plan to help Apple make the popular wireless earphones in India, according to Nikkei Asia citing sources. However, Luxshare is focusing more on its Vietnamese AirPods operations for now and could be slower than its competitors in starting meaningful production of Apple products in India. Earlier, the production of AirPods shifted to Vietnam in 2019 amid fallout from the US-China trade war, becoming one of the earliest Apple products to be mass-produced outside of China. More than 70 million units are shipped each year, second only to the iPhone among Apple products in terms of shipment volume. The majority of Beats production has also shifted to Vietnam since last year, according to Nikkei Asia citing sources. Bringing AirPods and Beats production to India would enlarge Apple's production footprint in the country, following a recent announcement that the latest iPhone is already being made there. Apple started having some older iPhone models made in India in 2017 by a smaller supplier, Wistron, but only accelerated such production last year. Joey Yen, a tech analyst with IDC said that India will emerge as a key alternative for electronics production outside China. "India is learning from China's success over the years, and it has a similar potential to become a very meaningful player in the global supply chain. It has young engineering talent and a big workforce, and a massive domestic market as a foundation," Yen said as quoted by Nikkei Asia. Despite only being released today, the Google Pixel Watch has been in public knowledge for quite some time now thanks to Google itself purposely leaking details of the wearable. Officially launched during an event earlier today, the Pixel Watch comes in a single size, which is a 41mm case with a domed, scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 crystal. The Gorilla Glass 5 is meant to protect the wearables 1.2-inch AMOLED display, which has a peak brightness of 1000 nits and 320ppi. The display also supports always-on and automatic brightness. Under the hood, the Pixel Watch is powered by an Exynos 9110 SoC paired with a Cortex M33 co-processor and 2GB of RAM. Theres also 32GB of storage and a 294mAh battery that Google claims can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, as well as be recharged up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes with its magnetic charging plate. According to Google, the design of the Pixel Watch is made with comfort and durability in mind, being both water-resistant for up to 5ATM and scratch-resistant. In terms of health tracking, the wearable has a built-in ECG, activity, heart rate and sleep tracking. Theres also a unique life heart rate that will measure users vital signs by the second. Given that Google also owns Fitbit, there are some features that utilise the Fitbit brand, including the aforementioned health tracking features. Those that buy the Pixel Watch will also be getting a six-month free trial of Fitbit Premium, as well as three-month YouTube Music Premium for free. Running on Wear OS by Google (Wear OS 3.5), the wearable has a few app integrations too, including Adidas Running, MyFitnessPal, Strava, Spotify and Calm. You can also use Google Maps on the Pixel Watch for navigation. The Pixel Watch is available for pre-order in selected countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Taiwan) starting today and is available in a WiFi/Bluetooth or LTE variant. The Bluetooth/WiFi variant is priced at USD349 or ~RM1623 and the LTE configuration is priced at USD399 or ~RM1856. Unfortunately, like other Pixel devices, the Pixel Watch wont be officially sold in Malaysia. So, what do you guys think of the Pixel Watch? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news! Besides launching the OPPO A77s, OPPO Malaysia today also announced the release of the OPPO Band 2, its latest fitness tracking band for the local market. Featuring a 1.57-inch ultra-clear AMOLED display with a pixel density of 302ppi, the screen has a 500 nits peak brightness. Besides that, the Band 2 is also lightweight at just 33g and comes with AI Outfit Watch Face 2.0, custom watch face widgets, pattern watch faces and other personalised watch faces. In terms of health tracking, it is equipped with a 6-axis motion sensor as well as heart rate and blood oxygen sensors. The Band 2 also has upgraded running functionality, with heart rate monitoring during running, CRF assessment, running speed suggestions, and 13 running courses. Moreover, it supports up to 100 workout modes and auto-detection for 4 modes, namely walking, running, elliptical machine and rowing machine. In terms of sleep tracking, the OSleep all-scenario sleep tracking allows you to set a sleep schedule before bedtime and the band will activate Sleep mode on the linked phone to get you ready for sleep. While you are asleep, the band will monitor your sleeping, wakeup, sleep duration, sleep phases (deep sleep and light sleep), rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and blood oxygen level, aside from assessing any snoring risks. After waking up, you can check your sleep quality report and snoring report to better understand your sleep. Health features of Band 2 also include all-day heart rate monitoring, real-time stress monitoring and warning, sleep report, and water drinking reminders, to help you stay healthy. In terms of battery life, OPPO claims that the Band 2 can last for 14 days on a single charge, with the magnetic fast-charging puck allowing you to use the band for a full day on just a 5-minute charge. In our country, the Band 2 is offered in Baby Blue and Midnight Black colour options and is priced at RM249. The Band 2 will officially be available in Malaysia starting tomorrow (8 October 2022) and can be purchased at all My OPPO Space, OPPO Brand Stores, OPPO Official Online Store, OPPO Authorized Dealers, OPPO Authorised Online Store, Chain Store Partners and E-comm partners such as Shopee and Lazada. For more information, do visit OPPOs official website here. So, what do you guys think of the Band 2? Would you be grabbing one? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this! President Joe Biden listens as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the U.S. Mission in Brussels, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Brussels. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday designed to allay European concerns that U.S. intelligence agencies are illegally spying on them. It promises strengthened safeguards against data collection abuses and creates a forum for legal challenges. The order builds on a preliminary agreement Biden announced in March with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a bid to end a yearslong battle over the safety of EU citizens' data that tech companies store in the U.S. However, the European privacy campaigner who triggered the battle didn't think it resolved core issues and warned of more legal wrangling. Nor were U.S. privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, satisfied. The reworked Privacy Shield "includes a robust commitment to strengthen the privacy and civil liberties safeguards for signals intelligence, which should ensure the privacy of EU personal data," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters. "It also requires the establishment of a multilayer redress mechanism with independent and binding authority for EU individuals to seek redress if they believe they are unlawfully targeted by U.S. intelligence activities," she added. Washington and Brussels have long been at odds over the friction between the European Union's stringent data privacy rules and the comparatively lax regime in the U.S., which lacks a federal privacy law. That has created uncertainty for tech giants including Google and Facebook's parent company Meta, raising the prospect that U.S. tech firms might need to keep European data out of the U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Thursday Oct. 6, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Industry groups largely welcomed Biden's order but European consumer rights and privacy campaigners, including activist Max Schrems whose complaint kicked off the legal battle a decade earlier, were skeptical whether it goes far enough and could end up in the bloc's top court again. Friday's order narrows the scope of intelligence gatheringregardless of a target's nationalityto "validated intelligence priorities," fortifies the mandate of the Civil Liberties Protection Officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and directs the attorney general to establish an independent court to review related activities. Europeans can petition that Data Protection Review Court, which is to be composed of judges appointed from outside the U.S. government. The next step: Raimondo's office was to send a series of letters to the 27-member EU that its officials can assess as the basis of a new framework. The European Union's executive arm, the European Commission, said the framework has "significant improvements" over the original Privacy Shield and it would now work on adopting a final decision clearing the way for data to flow freely between EU and U.S. companies certified under the framework. Raimondo said the new commitments would address European Union legal concerns covering personal data transfers to the U.S. as well as corporate contracts. A revived framework "will enable the continued flow of data that underpins more than $1 trillion in cross-border trade and investment every year," Raimondo said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. European Union countries should set a price cap on Russian gas and seek "solidarity contribution" from European oil and gas companies making extraordinary profit from market volatility sparked by the war in Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. Credit: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo Twice, in 2015 and again in 2020, the European Union's top court struck down data privacy framework agreements between Washington and Brussels. The first legal challenge was filed by Austrian lawyer and privacy activist Schrems, who was concerned about how Facebook handled his data in light of 2013 revelations about U.S. government cyber-snooping from former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. European consumer group BEUC said despite the extra safeguards, fundamental differences between American and European privacy and data protection standards are too wide to bridge. "However much the U.S. authorities try to paper over the cracks of the original Privacy Shield, the reality is that the EU and U.S. still have a different approach to data protection which cannot be cancelled out by an executive order," said the group's deputy director general, Ursula Pachl. "The moment EU citizens' data travels across the Atlantic, it will not be afforded similar protections as in the EU." The American Civil Liberties Union said Biden's order is "a step in the right direction" but lacks adequate safeguards for Europeans or Americans. Ashley Gorski, an ACLU senior staff attorney, said in a statement that "it fails to ensure that people whose privacy is violated will have their claims resolved by a wholly independent decision-maker." Further, the ACLU said in a tweet, "The order still allows our government to engage in bulk, generalized data collection." Schrems said while his Vienna-based group, NOYB, would need time to study the order, his initial reading is that it "seems to fail" on some key requirements, including for surveillance to be necessary and proportionate under the EU's Charter of Fundamental rights to avoid indiscriminate mass data collection. While the U.S. included those two words, Schrems said the two sides don't seem to have agreed they have the same legal meaning. If it did, "the U,S, would have to fundamentally limit its mass surveillance systems to comply with the EU understanding of 'proportionate' surveillance," Schrems said. Explore further US, EU sign data transfer deal to ease privacy concerns 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Andi Barbour stands in front of the sample chamber of the Coherent Soft X-ray Scattering (CSX) beamline at NSLS-II. This is one of the beamlines where she measures her data. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory Everyone knows that the Computeran artificial intelligence (AI)-like entityon a Star Trek spaceship does everything from brewing tea to compiling complex analyses of flux data. But how are they used at real research facilities? How can AI agentscomputer programs that can act based on a perceived environmenthelp scientists discover next-generation batteries or quantum materials? Three staff members at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) described how AI agents support scientists using the facility's research tools. As a U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science user facility located at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, NSLS-II offers its experimental capabilities to scientists from all over the world who use it to reveal the mysteries of materials for tomorrow's technology. From improving experimental conditions to enhancing data quality, Andi Barbour, Dan Olds, Maksim Rakitin, and their colleagues are working on various AI projects at NSLS-II. A recent overview publication in Digital Discovery outlines severalbut not allongoing AI projects at the facility. First contact with AI While movies often show AI agents as sentient super computers that can perform various tasks, real-world AI agents differ greatly from this portrayal. "What we mean when we say AI is that we come up with an algorithm or a methodbasically some mathematical processthat is going to do a 'thing' for us, such as classifying, analyzing, or making decisions, but we're not going to hardcode the logic," explained Olds, a physicist who works at one of NSLS-II's scientific instruments that enables a wide range of research projects. The instruments at NSLS-II are called beamlines because they are a combination of an X-ray beam delivery system and an experimental station. Rakitin, a physicist specialized in developing software to collect or analyze data at NSLS-II, added, "Instead of giving the programthe AI agenta model, it builds its own model through training. If we want it to recognize a cat, we show it a cat instead of explaining that it is a furry animal with four legs, pointy ears, a tail, and so on. The program has to figure out how to identify a cat by itself." Researchers at facilities such as NSLS-II have two main reasons for adapting AI agents to their needs: the sheer volume of data and its complexity. Twenty years ago, it took several minutes to snap a data imagesuch as a diffraction patternof a battery. Now, at the beamline Olds works at, they can take the same shot in a fraction of a second. While this allows more research to happen at the beamline, it outpaces the traditional strategies used to analyze the data. Barbour, a chemical physicist, faces the second challenge, complex data, in her work studying dynamics in quantum materials. Together with her collaborators, she investigates how the atomic and electronic order in these materials evolve under variable conditions. "When we do experiments at the beamline, we are looking for correlations and patterns in the data over time. So, if we would need to write one long program that captures all the possibilities of our experiments, it would be incredibly complicated, hard to read, terrible to maintain, and a nightmare to automate. But an AI tool can learn how to handle our complex data without the need to explain every detail to the agent," Barbour said. Engage AI agent for optimization But before any experiment can start, the X-ray beam needs to be prepared by adjusting the various optical components in a beamline. Small but precise motors allow the researchers to move each individual component as needed. There are motors that rotate mirrors to guide the X-rays, more motors that move lenses to focus the light, and even more motors that control slits to shape the beam. Together, all these parts provide the perfect X-ray beam for the experiment. The better the beam fits the experiment, the better the data quality for the researchers. However, finding this perfect beam isn't easy. In fact, researcherssuch as Rakitincall it a multidimensional optimization problem. "Instead of tweaking every motor for every data set, our project is to develop an AI agent that can do the tweaking for us automatically. The goal is to give the AI program the shape and/or intensity of the beam we need, and it will figure out how to change the position of each motor to achieve it. This significantly cuts down the time to get the experiment started," said Rakitin about a project presented at the 14th International Conference on Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation (link to proceeding expected in October 2022). Rakitin and his team members are actually striving to create a virtual beamline that allows users to figure out the best beam conditions for their experiment prior to arriving at the facility. To achieve that, he maps each motor's behavior to specific parameters that represent physical propertiessuch as mirror radiiin a simulation of the beamline. The simulation is developed in a software called Sirepo. A first study on this idea was published in 2020 in the SPIE conference proceedings. "While the users can use these beamline simulations to learn how to run a beamline, we can also use it to plan new ones. We can prepare the simulation based on the designs for the beamline even before the physical pieces are put together. Once the beamline is ready, we can begin the mapping process of the motors to the specific parameters in the simulation," said Rakitin. Currently, NSLS-II has 28 beamlines, however, the facility can support roughly additional 30 beamlines. Rakitin expects a number of new beamlines to use the tool during the development process. From left to right: Andi Barbour, Maksim Rakitin, and Dan Olds on the balcony overseeing the experimental floor of the National Synchrotron Light Source II. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory Set AI to stun One of those 28 beamlines is an X-ray diffraction beamline called the Pair Distribution Function (PDF) beamline, where Olds works. It serves many users for high-throughput total scattering structural studies aimed at understanding the structure-property relationships in materials from new batteries to "green" cement. The ever-changing nature of research questions at PDF challenges Olds in the search for the best measurement strategy for each experiment. To enhance the measurements, Olds is developing various AI agents that monitor data, measure it, and analyze itlike a digital lab assistant. "The main question that drives our AI work is how we can make the best use of any experiment because time at a beamline is a precious, limited resource. Once the experiment is over, you have all the time in the world to analyze the data. But during the experiment, it's crucial not to miss an important change in your material that could affect the discovery you are trying to make. You want tools that can help you make better decisions like when to slow down a heating ramp because you are approaching an interesting data point, or even alert you that a measurement has completed sooner than anticipated. This is where our 'federation' of AI lab assistants comes into play. They monitor the data. They do some real-time analysis. They watch the trends. And then when something happens, they call out. They focus ourthe human researchers'attention on the right detail so that we don't miss it. The AI agents help to make sure we are doing the best science we can," explained Olds. When asked for an example, Dan recounted the events of an experiment. The researchers came to NSLS-II to understand the breakdown of a gas filtration material. Together with Olds, they set up the materials in a stream of gas, while snapping an X-ray photo every second. Each snap created a pattern of bright and dark rings (a diffraction pattern). Encoded in these changing rings lies information about how the atoms are arranged in the material at that moment in time. While the measurement was running, one of the AI agents perked up, indicating something had started to change. "So, we checked but didn't see anything. We were still new at this. So, we wondered, 'can we trust the AI agent?" But within the hour it became clear that the process we were looking for had started. The beautiful white powder we placed in the beamline was breaking down. All we found after the experiment was this ugly black crisp. Once the experiment was complete, we ran a traditional analysis of the data and found that the process had started when the AI agent chirped up. That just blew me away, because the changes at the beginning are tiny. Our AI was more sensitive than we all expected," Olds said. He pointed to two publications (a conference proceeding and an Applied Physics Review paper) about the team's recent AI work. Computer, can you clean-up my data? While Rakitin's tool will help prior to an experiment and Olds specialized in enhancing experiments with AI, Barbour uses her AI project to improve the quality of her data after the experiment. "The aim is to design a first pass for the analysis. The scientific problems we are looking at are all dynamic. Whenever you are looking for changes in your data, you need to be careful because your sample is not the only thing changing. There is detector noise, fluctuations in your X-ray beam and more. All of these make it harder to extract dynamics," Barbour said. To see these changes within materials, Barbour works with her colleagues at two instruments, the Coherent Soft X-ray Scattering (CSX) and Coherent Hard X-ray Scattering (CHX) beamlines. In both cases, the X-ray beam hits the sample, scattering across the detector in a pattern that depends on its inner structure. However, Barbour is interested in a specific portion of the scattered beamthe coherent one. Because only that will create the specific patterncalled a speckle patternthat she needs to calculate the correlations. This technique, known as X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), allows Barbour to compare the different patterns within a whole series of shots. Each shot can hold similarities to the following ones, and it's these correlations Barbour is looking for. They reveal how the material evolves over time. "To make a good correlation, you need a series of consecutive images with no noise, no instability, and lots of X-rays. But to accomplish this with real-world data, you would need to look at every single image to remove all the 'bad stuff." It's time consuming. This is why we developed an AI agent that does two things for us: it removes the noise, and it targets the specific dynamic we are looking for. Once we have removed the noise, we can do the traditional analysis faster," Barbour explained. In her recent publications, the team shows the different between the raw, pixelated data images and the de-noised images. She continued, "After we have de-noised the data, we use an AI method on the correlations we computed to pull out the information we're seeking. They are called the dynamic time constants. This time, we did it for all of them. Nobody does that! Why? Because without the AI agent, it would take a complex algorithm producing fits with high uncertainties, while needing a lot of computing power. However, by analyzing the correlations with the finest time resolution, we created insights that we couldn't access before. Thanks to this process, we could provide our findings to the theorists in a form that is more easily compared to theoretical models." More about this can be found in team's most recent publication. I'm an AI agent, not a human scientist If AI agents can align beamlines, monitor data streams, recognize chemical changes in materials, and de-noise data, will they replace humans as researchers some day? The three researchers all agreed that the answers to this question was "no." "I'd like to say that using AI agentstreating them as black boxes to get answersis the ultimate goal. But just like when you start chemistry class, you need to work out the entire problem. You don't write down an answer. You think about the numbers you've got. You ask, 'does this make sense?" And this also needs to happen with AI agents. Wethe scientistsneed to check if what the AI program produced makes sense," explained Barbour. "There are always false positives or similar things when you work with AI. The model might think it has predicted something, but it actually didn't. So, you need an expert to look over its shoulder," Rakitin continued. Olds nodded as he added, "I think what makes AI special is that we ask the computer to sort out the math for us. That's pretty profound, but ultimately is a new tool for our repertoire in the same way that computers were. Humanity did science before computers. But with them we do it more efficiently and quicker. The same is true for many other technologies. It opens the door to things that you couldn't do before, but it doesn't mean that we're doing away with scientists. It just let the scientists do their work more efficiently." Looking forward, all three scientists agreed that the future of science will have researchers using AI agents to enhance their work in many aspects. Not just one AI like the ship computer in Star Trek, but many specialized agents, taking care of time-consuming, complex tasks. They are a new tool in the toolbox of the researchersjust like screwdrivers, test tubes, and computersimproving our researchers' ability to do science. More information: Tatiana Konstantinova et al, Machine learning enabling high-throughput and remote operations at large-scale user facilities, Digital Discovery (2022). Tatiana Konstantinova et al, Machine learning enabling high-throughput and remote operations at large-scale user facilities,(2022). DOI: 10.1039/D2DD00014H Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A large team of researchers at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung GmbH, working with colleagues from Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Delft University of Technology and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, has found that it is possible to use machine learning to help metallurgists find the optimal mixture of metals to create a desired alloy. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their three-step process and how well it worked when tested. Qing-Miao Hu and Rui Yang with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, have published a Perspectives piece in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the team on this new effort. Humans have been mixing metals to suit their needs for thousands of years, and in so doing have learned a lot about creating alloys. But finding just the right mix has always involved some degree of inspiration, patience and chance. So most alloys have been created by starting with one main metal, such as iron, and adding small amounts of other metals to see what characteristics resulted. Over the past few decades, things have begun to change, howeversome researchers have begun making alloys that have equal parts of several metals. Creating such alloys with desired features is, of course, much more challenging. In this new effort, the researchers applied machine learning to help with the process. They began by reducing the test space to just one applicationcreating alloys that do not expand and contract very much when exposed to temperature changes. To create a machine-learning application, the researchers looked for and found characteristics of metals that could be used for comparison purposes and then taught their system using information in currently available databases. In so doing, they developed a process for finding an alloy that would suit a desired purpose. The process by the team was narrowed down to three basic steps: First, they generated new mixtures using models based on information held in the database describing metal characteristics. Next, they used a second model to help predict the properties of certain alloys they created using the first step. The final step involved studying the alloy candidates produced by the system and choosing some to test in the real world. Using their system, the researchers derived 1,000 candidates which were narrowed down to just three alloys. They then created the three alloys using the mix described by their system and tested their physical properties. The team then trained the system on data derived from the real alloys and repeated the whole process. In all, they ran it seven times and found an alloy with a smaller thermal coefficient than the current record. More information: Ziyuan Rao et al, Machine learningenabled high-entropy alloy discovery, Science (2022). Ziyuan Rao et al, Machine learningenabled high-entropy alloy discovery,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo4940 Qing-Miao Hu et al, The endless search for better alloys, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade5503 Journal information: Science 2022 Science X Network Credit: StableDiffusion / Stefan Lattner. Machine learning-based computational models have been successfully applied to a broad range of complex information processing tasks, including those that involve retrieving specific data items from large archives. Researchers at the Sony Computer Science Laboratories (CSL) in France have been trying to develop machine learning techniques that could help music producers to easily identify and retrieve specific audio samples from a database. To this end, Stefan Lattner, a researcher at Sony CSL, recently introduced SampleMatch, a machine learning-based model that can automatically retrieve drum samples that match a specific music track from large archives. His model is set to be presented in December at the ISMIR 2022 conference, a leading event that focuses on music information retrieval. "Our music team at Sony CSL is working on AI that could make the life of music producers easier," Stefan Lattner, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "In music production, there are many tasks for which AI could be valuable. One such task that is currently relatively tedious is drum sample selection." Drum sample selection is the process through which music producers must search for drum samples that would work well with specific drum-less music tracks. As drum sample libraries are typically large, identifying suitable drum samples can be very time and energy consuming. Currently, music producers only have access to a few rudimentary computational tools designed to assist them with drum sample selection processes. These primarily include filtering a large dataset by tags or keywords. A few years ago, Lattner set out to develop a new system that could retrieve drum samples in a more intuitive and effective way. Due to the limitations of technology available at the time, however, this system needed to be relatively complex. "I found that the system I previously created was not very elegant, so I didn't publish it," Lattner explained. "With the recent advances in contrastive learning (and improvements in neural network encoders), it has become much easier to estimate if two data points fit together. As a result, the system became more general, and my method could be used to estimate the fit of many kinds of sounds." When using SampleMatch, musicians can input their track into their system at any stage of production. The system then automatically sorts a drum sample library based on what it calculates would match best with it. Lattner trained SampleMatch using a large dataset of 4,830 electronic music tracks and 885 famous pop/rock tracks. Specifically, he used audio pairs of instrumental music (i.e., synthetic bases, bass, guitar, pad, strings, choir, keyboard, and vocals) and matching drum tracks. "SampleMatch was trained on audio pairs that we knew would match," Lattner said. "Now, when we show a new pair to the model, it will provide a 'matching score.' While there are already systems that match audio samples using extracted musical features, their retrieval quality depends on the pre-defined features and type of samples. For drum samples, it is not even clear which features we should look at to compute a matching score." While Lattner trained his model to learn what drum samples matched a specific track, it could also be used for other forms of audio matching. By using different training sample pairs, in fact, SampleMatch could also be taught to retrieve matching bass, guitar, or other instrumental tracks. "Some aesthetic choices a musician performs in music production are still mysterious." Lattner said. "While it is obvious that an instrument should not play out of key, with drum samples, there is no theory why some fit your track, and some don't. By showing examples, a computer can now learn the aesthetic principles we apply when listening. In some way, the computer learns to listen like a human." In the future, the audio retrieval model created by Lattner and his colleagues at Sony CSL could assist music producers in sourcing suitable drum samples or other instrumental samples for their tracks. In addition, a close analysis of how the system learned to organize data could help to devise new theories that might guide music production efforts. More specifically, the reverse-engineering of the system might allow the researchers to outline some general rules that musicians should follow when mixing their music. "In our future works, we want to combine this method with our DrumGAN technology to generate drum samples that match a given track directly," Lattner added. "Meanwhile we also want to extend SampleMatch to other kinds of samples." Explore further Using a GAN architecture to restore heavily compressed music files More information: Stefan Lattner, SampleMatch: Drum sample retrieval by musical context. arXiv:2208.01141v1 [cs.SD], Stefan Lattner, SampleMatch: Drum sample retrieval by musical context. arXiv:2208.01141v1 [cs.SD], arxiv.org/abs/2208.01141 2022 Science X Network In a new travel advisory, the US State Department cautioned its citizens travelling to India against "crime and terrorism". (Representational Image: AP) HYDERABAD: The United States state department has issued an advisory to its citizens against travel to northern Telangana and several other states in the country. While it mentions Maoist activities, the Do Not Travel advisory for central and east India, gains importance in view of the recent bust of a terror module linked to the Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Tayyaba by the Hyderabad city police. The state department, however, reduced the India Travel Advisory level to 2 on a scale of one to 4 with the latter being the highest. The terror module involved three Hyderabad natives, who were allegedly in touch with their ISI handlers based in Pakistan. As they were planning to execute lone wolf attacks on large groups, public places and vital installations using explosives. A high alert had been sounded to track their contacts in Hyderabad and other parts of the country. Police claimed that though a major attack was averted, the vigil on the arrested trio's contacts and associates would continue to prevent any trouble. Senior police officials said that it was a routine advisory of caution and there is nothing to panic about at the moment. The US advisory said that Maoist extremist groups, or Naxalites were active in a large swathe of India from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, particularly in rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and on the borders of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. The Naxalites have conducted frequent terrorist attacks on local police, paramilitary forces and government officials, added the advisory. The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. Due to the fluid nature of the threat, all US government travellers to states with Naxalite activity must receive special authorization from the US consulate responsible for the area to be visited, the advisory said. US officials travelling only to the capital cities in these states do not need prior authorisation, it said. It advised against travel to Jammu and Kashmir due to terrorism and civil unrest and to within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict. According to the travel advisory, Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations. The advisory said, Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities. ROME The German Catholic Churchs reform process is again under fire from the Holy See, with a Vatican cardinal seemingly comparing its proposals for theological development to the thinking that sustained Germanys Nazi era. The furor launched by Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, who heads the Holy Sees office for Christian unity, marks the latest criticism of the German attempt to pursue reforms as a response to the clergy sex abuse scandal and the hemorrhaging of Catholic faithful. Koch suggested in an interview with German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost last week that the German reform process was seeking to introduce new sources of divine revelation, beyond Scripture and Christian tradition, to justify theological change. He said it was the same thing some pro-Nazi Protestants did when they saw Gods new revelation in blood and soil and in the rise of Hitler. His comments sparked outrage among German bishops who, along with German Catholic laity, are pursuing a long-term reform process known as the Synodal Path. Limburg Bishop Georg Baetzing, the head of the German bishops conference, demanded that Koch retract the statement but the cardinal refused. The two met Tuesday at the Vatican on a previously scheduled visit. In a statement Wednesday, the German conference said Koch assured Baetzing that he didnt intend to compare the current process to the Nazi era. Cardinal Koch apologized to anyone who felt offended by the comparison he made, the conference said in a statement. It said Koch and Baetzing agreed that the theological debate the cardinal wanted to contribute to in the interview must be continued. Kochs office didnt immediately respond to calls and emails seeking additional comment. The Synodal Path has sparked fierce resistance inside Germany, in the Vatican and beyond, primarily from conservatives opposed to opening any debate on issues such as priestly celibacy, womens role in the church and homosexuality. Some have openly warned of schism. The German bishops have pushed back saying that if they dont change, the German church will continue to lose faithful some 360,000 German Catholics formally left the church last year. While Pope Francis has encouraged debate on such issues and is himself pursuing a process of greater dialogue with the laity, he appears skeptical or ambivalent at best about the German process, and has repeatedly put the brakes on it or allowed others to do so for him. An unsigned Vatican statement this past summer warned the German church against any effort to impose new moral or doctrinal norms on the faithful on hot-button issues, saying doing so would represent a wound to the ecclesial union and a threat to the unity of the church. Such moves have angered the German Catholic leadership, which sees the Synodal Path as a crucial way of regaining trust after a groundbreaking 2018 report into decades of clergy sexual abuse found systemic problems in the way power had been exercised by the all-male Catholic hierarchy. Baetzing and the conference leadership were in Rome this week preparing the groundwork for a visit by all German bishops to the Holy See next month. Unlike normal visits, when bishops meet as a group with individual prefects of Holy See offices, the Germans are expected to meet with several Vatican prefects at the same time, along with the pope. Donald Trumps private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in excess of government-approved rates at least 40 times during his presidency including two charges for more than $1,100 per room, per night. That is according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee investigating the former president. The House Oversight Committee said the Secret Service was charged more than $800 per night at least 11 times by his properties. The Trump Organization denied anything improper. It said it provided rooms to the Secret Service at cost or deep discount, adding that its business did not profit at all from the presidency. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe AICC Presidential candidate and MP Shashi Tharoor addresses the media after paying homage to former PM Rajiv Gandhi and former CM of Tamil Nadu Kamarajar during his election campaign for the party's presidential election, in Chennai, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (Photo: PTI) CHENNAI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, in the race for the top position in the party, on Thursday said he wanted to change Congress into the party of young India and that support for his presidential candidature is swelling by the day. The Thiruvananthapuram MP, on a brief campaign in Chennai, said how his party viewed Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra and the presidential poll, mattered most and not what others outside felt. "It's what the Congress party looks at the Bharat Jodo Yatra and its presidency that matters and not the opposition criticism... It is a challenging election for the delegates because there's only one physical location to hold the election, that's PCC headquarters. I am still confident that we will see a good turnout," he said. Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj here, Tharoor said he was getting enormous amount of feedback from ordinary party workers, especially the youngsters. He said it was very gratifying for him that the youth who are the future and also the majority in our country, back him in the polls. Those aged 35 years and below account for 65 per cent of our population. "It is their country, this is a young India," he said. "I want Congress to be the party of young India. I want to represent the aspirations, dreams and hopes of young India, just as Rajiv Gandhi attempted to do 40 years ago and succeeded in his initiation of telecom and IT revolution. We too have to now move forward to seize the opportunity available to young India. I am very happy to have the support of the young people," he said. He also emphasised that seniors in the party too have pledged their support to him. Tharoor pointed out that he got a call from a 91-year-old delegate in his home state of Kerala today who said the nonagenarian was not young but saw the future in Tharoor. "There are people like him (veteran delegate) too. I am not turning away any support, we need men and women, young and old, senior leaders and ordinary workers, we need everyone to join us in this great adventure of making a rejuvenated Congress to lead young India," he said. Tharoor began his campaign in Nagpur, has moved south and would be going to the north again to canvass support in Mumbai, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata and as many places as he could reach, despite the paucity of time. The Congress presidential polls are scheduled to be held on October 17. "I am talking to people in the north over phone and messaging. Their messages are extremely encouraging. I think what we are seeing is a groundswell of support across the north for a campaign that talks about change in a very constructive spirit," he said when asked about the support for his candidature in the party. On the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress leader said it was a wonderful initiative. Tharoor said he was a huge admirer of the effort that's being undertaken by party leader Rahul Gandhi and hundreds of young people who are marching with him from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and many joining the yatra in their respective home states. "I myself marched for three days in Kerala and I can tell you the public enthusiasm is incredible. There were lakhs of people to cheer and participate from the morning. This is an extraordinary feat that Rahul Gandhi has worked upon and I am very glad. Though the presidential election will be over in 20 days, the Bharat Jodo Yatra will go on for 150 days with a message that we must unite India and fight against the injustices inflicted upon the nation by the present (BJP) government," he said. Responding to a question on Tharoor taking on party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge in the party's presidential election, he said, "Currently, we find ourselves in a situation where all decisions are taken in Delhi and people at the bottom level are told this is what you have to do." "I want to be the voice of those clamouring for more respect in the party. Ordinary workers want more access to the decision makers in the party... If we empower our workers, they will feel a greater sense of ownership in the party and that's want I want to see happening," he said. "Whoever wins the elections -- whether Kharge or I -- the real victory is for the Congress party," Tharoor said and reiterated that the Gandhi family is an indispensable asset to the party. It was another eventful week related to the Justice Departments investigation into former President Donald Trump. On Friday it released a partially blacked out document explaining the justification for an FBI search of Trumps Florida estate this month. This news came days after lawyers tried to block the FBI from reviewing those documents. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden followed through on his promise to provide student loan forgiveness, a move that was met by opposition from Republicans. The announcement by Biden preceded his visit to Maryland, where he hoped to energize Democrats ahead of the midterm elections days after key primaries in Florida and New York. And in other political news, Liz Cheney and former Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the possibility of Pence testifying before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Political violence, autocracy and other threats to democracy | Utterly Moderate Podcast What is the current threat of political violence and is the country sliding toward autocracy? Those topics and more on this week's Utterly Moderate Podcast. A recent poll reveals that Americans support tougher gun laws. That report came ahead of the Uvalde, Texas, school board voting to fire its police chief in response to the deadly school shooting. And in the case involving the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, a former police detective pleaded guilty to a federal charge. In other news, there were convictions in a plot to kidnap Michigans governor. Anthony Fauci announced his retirement as a House panel looked into the response to the coronavirus pandemic. A recount in Kansas reaffirmed that the majority of voters want to protect abortion rights in the state. In a related story, Walmart is expanding abortion coverage for employees. Also, a deal was reached to end a teachers strike in Ohios largest school district. In international news, the U.S. is pledging more support for Ukraine six months into Russias invasion of the country. Tensions remain high between the United States and China over Taiwan as well as COVID-19. In the Middle East, Israel is urging the US to avoid a new deal with Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. hit targets in Syria with airstrikes. The United Kingdom prepares to say farewell to its Prime Minister while Finlands PM apologized over party photos. And a new aviation record was established this week. Does remote work benefit both employers and employees? | The Ethical Life podcast The hosts discuss the benefits and challenges associated with this fundamental change in how many people do their jobs. In business and economic news, airlines are under pressure from the government to help passengers. Fewer Americans are applying for unemployment, however, fears of a recession continue while shoppers grapple with high prices. And Hyundai and Kia are recalling large SUVs. Finally, in health, science and technology news, be sure to update your Apple devices if you havent already for an important security update. Are 'we buy houses cash' offers scams? How a journalist uncovered the truth in one case | Behind the Headlines podcast If you are thinking of selling a home through a company that offers cash for houses, be cautious. One reporter explains what she learned on the latest Behind the Headlines podcast. In other security news, a former Twitter employee has filed whistleblower complaints against the company. Amazon will shut down its health service by the end of the year, plus we have updates on COVID shots for kids and the latest on Monkeypox. California wants to crack down on cyber flashers. And the James Webb space telescope has captured more striking images. Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports Problems with wireless emergency weather alerts | Across the Sky podcast The weather alerts you get on your phone might be missing the mark. Learn why on the Across the Sky podcast. A "highly operational, destructive, and sophisticated nation-state activity group" with ties to North Korea has been weaponizing open source software in their social engineering campaigns aimed at companies around the world since June 2022. Microsoft's threat intelligence teams, alongside LinkedIn Threat Prevention and Defense, attributed the intrusions with high confidence to Zinc, a threat group affiliated with Lazarus which is also tracked under the name Labyrinth Chollima. Attacks targeted employees in organizations across multiple industries, including media, defense and aerospace, and IT services in the U.S., the U.K., India, and Russia. The tech giant said it observed Zinc leveraging a "wide range of open-source software including PuTTY, KiTTY, TightVNC, Sumatra PDF Reader, and muPDF/Subliminal Recording software installer for these attacks." According to CrowdStrike, Zinc "has been active since 2009 in operations aimed at collecting political, military, and economic intelligence on North Korea's foreign adversaries and conducting currency generation campaigns." The latest findings dovetail with a recent report from Google-owned Mandiant, which uncovered the adversary's use of PuTTY via fraudulent job lures shared with potential targets on LinkedIn as part of a campaign dubbed Operation Dream Job. This involves establishing initial connections with individuals by posing as recruitment professionals as a trust-building exercise, before moving the conversation to WhatsApp, where a tailored lure document or seemingly benign software is shared, effectively activating the infection sequence. A successful compromise is followed by the threat actor moving laterally across the network and exfiltrating collected information of interest by deploying a backdoor called ZetaNile (aka BLINDINGCAN OR AIRDRY). But in a bid to evade security defenses and avoid raising red flags, the implant is downloaded only when the victim uses the SSH clients to connect to a specific IP address through the credentials specified in a separate text file. Likewise, attacks employing the trojanized version of TightVNC Viewer are configured to install the backdoor only when the user selects a particular remote host from the options provided. "Zinc attacks appear to be motivated by traditional cyberespionage, theft of personal and corporate data, financial gain, and corporate network destruction," the company said. "Zinc attacks bear many hallmarks of state-sponsored activities, such as heightened operational security, sophisticated malware that evolves over time, and politically motivated targeting." A Linux variant of a backdoor known as SideWalk was used to target a Hong Kong university in February 2021, underscoring the cross-platform abilities of the implant. Slovak cybersecurity firm ESET, which detected the malware in the university's network, attributed the backdoor to a nation-state actor dubbed SparklingGoblin. The unnamed university is said to have been already targeted by the group in May 2020 during the student protests. "The group continuously targeted this organization over a long period of time, successfully compromising multiple key servers, including a print server, an email server, and a server used to manage student schedules and course registrations," ESET said in a report shared with The Hacker News. SparklingGoblin is the name given to a Chinese advanced persistent threat (APT) group with connections to the Winnti umbrella (aka APT41, Barium, Earth Baku, or Wicked Panda). It's primarily known for its attacks targeting various entities in East and Southeast Asia at least since 2019, with a specific focus on the academic sector. In August 2021, ESET unearthed a new piece of custom Windows malware codenamed SideWalk (aka ScrambleCross) that was exclusively leveraged by the actor to strike an unnamed computer retail company based in the U.S. Subsequent findings from Symantec, part of Broadcom software, have linked the use of SideWalk to an espionage attack group it tracks under the moniker Grayfly, while pointing out the malware's similarities to that of Crosswalk. "SparklingGoblin's Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) partially overlap with APT41 TTPs," Mathieu Tartare, malware researcher at ESET, told The Hacker News. "Grayfly's definition given by Symantec seems to (at least partially) overlap with SparklingGoblin." The latest research from ESET dives into SideWalk's Linux counterpart (originally called StageClient in July 2021), with the analysis also uncovering that Specter RAT, a Linux botnet that came to light in September 2020, is in fact an early Linux variant of SideWalk as well. Aside from multiple code similarities between the SideWalk Linux and various SparklingGoblin tools, one of the Linux samples has been found using a command-and-control address (66.42.103[.]222) that was previously used by SparklingGoblin. Other commonalities include the use of the same bespoke ChaCha20 implementation, multiple threads to execute one particular task, ChaCha20 algorithm for decrypting its configuration, and an identical dead drop resolver payload. Despite these overlaps, there are some significant changes, the most notable being the switch from C to C++, addition of new built-in modules to execute scheduled tasks and gather system information, and changes to four commands that are not handled in the Linux version. "Since we have seen the Linux variant only once in our telemetry (deployed at a Hong Kong university in February 2021) one can consider the Linux variant to be less prevalent -- but we also have less visibility on Linux systems which could explain this," Tartare said. "On the other hand, the Specter Linux variant is used against IP cameras and NVR and DVR devices (on which we have no visibility) and is mass spread by exploiting a vulnerability on such devices." The broiler chickens produced for this years Aksarben Stock Show are bigger than usual, which is good news for people who could use a good meal. On Thursday, a total of 119 frozen broiler chickens were delivered to two nonprofit organizations, the Salvation Army and Hope Harbor. The birds were raised as part of the annual broiler challenge at the Aksarben Stock Show, which ran Sept. 22-25 at Fonner Park. The young people started raising the birds around Aug. 8. The birds are shipped to post offices within 24 hours of hatching. The chickens were raised by 119 exhibitors from four states. The birds had a higher average weight this year than past years. One reason for that is that the exhibitors were more experienced. The experienced kids end up with bigger birds, said Larry Rauert, who runs the broiler challenge along with his wife, Donna. The kids who take part in the broiler challenge receive a fair market price for their birds. But they also get something else. One parent told Rauert the project sends a message that you cant buy. The broiler chickens the kids raise will help feed someone whos homeless, or in dire straights. Thats an incredible lesson, Rauert said. Rauert believes the 119 chickens will translate into almost 2,100 meals. The birds are bigger, and the chefs know how to stretch them, he said. Over the last five years, the broiler chicken challenge has produced about 7,000 meals, Rauert said. Lt. Wayne Benedict of the Salvation Army helped unload the chickens. We are going to feed as many people that need to be fed in the Grand Island area. We turn nobody away. Anybody that comes in and is just hungry, we do our best to feed them, Benedict said. The chickens received Thursday will probably be used within three to four weeks. The Salvation Army has chickens donated from local businesses that need to be used first. We do our best to use what we have on hand, Benedict said. We appreciate everybodys help and support, and were going to continue to serve the best we can. The young contestants might receive 50 birds in early August, but they bring either three or six chickens to the Aksarben Stock Show. This is the absolute cream of the crop, Rauert said. Three broiler champions are selected at the stock show. The grand champion received $1,750, the reserve champion $1,250 and the third-place entrant $1,000. Half of that award comes in cash, the rest in scholarships. Twenty-eight sponsors contribute the money that goes to the youngsters. The three biggest sponsors were Levander Auto, Kens Appliance and Summit Carbon Solutions. In addition to Nebraska, the broiler exhibitors came from Iowa, Colorado and Missouri. Participation was lower in this years broiler challenge, partly because of Avian influenza. Even though the numbers were down, the quality was just way above last years, Rauert said. This years stock show drew 1,305 exhibitors from 14 states, said Kelsey Loseke, who is Aksarben Stock Show manager. The exhibitors brought beef, swine, sheep and goats to the stock show, in addition to the broilers. Fonner Park has hosted the Aksarben Stock Show since 2018. The event has included a broiler challenge every year except for 2020, when COVID-19 curtailed the size of the show. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts criticized President Joe Bidens Thursday announcement that he will be pardoning federal marijuana possession convictions. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson joined Ricketts in lambasting Bidens decision to pardon Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. Biden said the move reflects his position that no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. The president also called on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which make up most marijuana possession cases. Ricketts and Peterson, in a statement, said the presidents decision shows that he is misinformed and ill-advised regarding the issues surrounding marijuana. They said no one is incarcerated in Nebraskas state correctional system simply because of marijuana possession. Regarding the federal pardon, the White House said that no one is currently in federal prison solely for simple possession but that the pardon could help thousands overcome obstacles to renting a home or finding a job. Ricketts and Peterson have been outspoken opponents of marijuana and legalization efforts, including in Nebraska, where attempts to put medical marijuana legalization before voters have hit obstacles in recent years. In 2020, the group Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana gathered more than enough signatures to place the question before voters, but the Nebraska Supreme Court tossed it from the ballot because it violated a requirement that ballot initiatives stick to a single subject. Supporters tried again this year this time with two separate questions in an attempt to avoid the same fate as two years earlier. However, they failed to collect enough signatures to place the questions on the ballot. State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, a co-sponsor of this years campaign, said in an email Thursday that the pardons were a step in the right direction to right a wrong. He then called on Congress to make marijuana legal under federal law. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has already announced plans to try to get medical marijuana on the ballot in 2024, and Sens. Jen Day and Anna Wishart both said they plan to introduce legislation on the issue in the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 4. In their statement, Ricketts and Peterson said legalization of marijuana in other states has led greater risk for permanent mental health impairment due to higher levels of THC, the compound that gives marijuana its high. This is exactly the wrong direction for our country, the statement said. Sept. 8, 1900, was a terrifying day for many near the island city of Galveston, Texas. Hurricane Galveston made its way toward town, where many people laid unsuspecting of the storm that was coming their way. The Category 4 hurricane destroyed more than 3,600 buildings and caused the deaths of 6,000 to 12,000 people. Winds surpassed 135 mph. At the time, many believed that damage could have been prevented if it werent for the lack of communication with the U.S. Weather Bureau (currently known as the National Weather Service). Technology has improved since then and has grown to a point of accuracy where warnings can be made, but many still criticize late warnings and evacuations. Hurricane Galveston is still considered to be the deadliest hurricane in the U.S., but people have been hit with many hurricanes over the last few years: Hurricane Katrina, Lake Okeechobee, Cheniere Caminada and many more. They have all caused immense damages and losses. Lives were taken and homes were destroyed as strong winds and water trampled cities and towns. Rescue teams and volunteers from all over the world came together to support the people who were hit, but each storm brought hardships for many families. I have never experienced a natural disaster, and I cant begin to imagine the hurt that many people are feeling today knowing that Hurricane Ian made its way to Florida on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 28 as a Category 4 hurricane. Winds were around 150 mph as it hit the southwest coast at the island of Cayo Costa, near Fort Myers and Cape Coral. That night, winds slowed to 90 mph, but storm surge warnings remained effective while heavy rain continued. People were told to evacuate their homes, and many made the decision to leave, but not everyone could make it out before the storm surge hit. They were left to hope for the best and take cover in their homes. Officials have said that more than 100 people have died. Fifty-five of which were in Lee County on the southwest Coast. Twenty-four deaths were recorded in Charlotte County. The search continues with volunteers operating rescue missions, but much of Florida is still flooded and hard to get to. Since last week, more than 1,600 people have been rescued, and people who evacuated have come back home to find their homes unrecognizable. More than 570,000 homes and businesses are without power. Florida Power and Light Co. have said that they expect to restore service to the majority of their customers by Oct. 7. Until then, many are trying to use the things around them, using flashlights, portable chargers and their phones to light their homes. Many points of distribution (PODS) have been opened in Florida since Oct. 1. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) team has been distributing food, water and ice to local communities. Some locations include: EngleWood Center Plaza, Twin Lakes Park and Nocatee Elementary School. There are more locations listed at flgov.com. The Red Cross is also providing shelter for many who need a safe place to stay. Disaster assistance is free, and no identification needs to be made. Masks are required, and people are encouraged to bring prescribed medications, important documents and extra clothing. People can also visit the shelter for food and water if that is what is needed. More than 829,000 meals and 3.8 million bottles of water have been distributed so far. In this time of need, its important to remember to be kind and to help one another as much as possible. Hope is something that is often lost when it is needed the most. There are many families who are currently struggling with the loss of family members, the loss of homes and the loss of their belongings. People are still healing and will continue to heal in the weeks to come. I hope our communities will continue to strengthen and come together to support one another during this time of need. NORTH PLATTE Melanie Standiford has told countless stories as a print and broadcast journalist for more than two decades, including the last five years with KNOP, the NBC affiliate in North Platte. But after she was quoted in a Flatwater Free Press story about her involvement in a ballot initiative to ban abortions in Curtis, her employer, Gray Television, terminated her Friday. Shannon Booth, the vice president and general manager of KNOP, confirmed the firing in a statement. Booth added that company policy encourages civic involvement among our employees, so long as such activities do not give the appearance of interfering with journalistic impartiality. In furtherance of that qualification, KNOPs news personnel are not permitted, at any time and regardless of beliefs, to actively engage in any political activity for any candidate, party or ballot initiative. Standiford, who was appointed KNOPs news director in 2021, said in a roughly half-hour phone conversation Monday afternoon that she refused to sign any company paperwork to acknowledge her termination. She said the move cost her a $4,000 severance payment, but she is not bound to a nondisclosure agreement. Standiford added she is considering legal action as well. That remains to be seen, she said. Ive had a lot of lawyers reach out to me and Ive had a lot of people tell me that what happened was not fair. I dont know what I am doing (legally). I dont know. I have zero regrets, Standiford said. Im sad about the situation. Im sad about my (co-workers) at KNOP. I hope everybody is nice to them. This (decision) wasnt them. Im sad that we live in a world where we cant have a personal life without it being questioned. Flatwater Free Press is an independent, nonprofit Nebraska newsroom whose stories are published online and in many Nebraska newspapers, including the Lincoln Journal Star. The article last weekend focused on six Nebraska towns that will vote on banning abortions within their city limits, and says that Standiford helped collect 47 signatures for the initiative in Curtis. Standiford is pro-life but said abortion has never been one of her soapbox issues. Standiford said she had nothing to do with putting the petition together and added that her involvement consisted of sitting at a table at my church with the petition (on it) and somebody witnessed the signatures. People can spin it however they want, Standiford said. It did not occur to me that I was doing something partisan. It was within the walls of my church, and the people in the community who were not in my church were the people who reached out to me. Nobody was coerced. I wasnt a journalist that day. I should at least be able to feel safe in my church and with my community without being thought of as Melanie Standiford, News 2. About the interview, Standiford said she was awoken by a call from Free Press reporter Natalia Alamdari after having worked until 3 a.m. and said she should have waited to talk until she had collected her thoughts. Alamdari asked her if it was appropriate for her to cover an issue that shes politically involved in. Youre probably right, Standiford is quoted as saying. I probably, maybe, shouldnt have even done that. But who knew it would be an issue. Standiford said her comment came at the end of the conversation and, in her mind, she felt it was being made off the record. Thats what she put in quotations, Standiford said. Free Press editor Matthew Hansen emailed a statement in support of Alamdaris work and attached documents, signed by Standiford and delivered to the state, showing she collected 47 signatures as a petition circulator. We stand by this fact-based reporting, and personally Im proud that Flatwater Free Press published an important story about small towns debating whether they should ban abortion, and the legal and symbolic impact of those bans, Hansen wrote in the email. Standiford plans to continue telling stories as well. She started a Facebook page over the weekend, called Midwest Media by Melanie, on which she said she will continue to continue reporting stories on whatever the people want. She was present at the Big Red Roundup Republican event Sunday and the Sustainable Beef ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, both in North Platte. She plans to start a website soon, and she has started fundraising to assist in those ventures. Anyone who knows me knows I cant sit still for very long, Standiford said. Standiford also said she would strongly consider running for political office because her mouth doesnt have to be closed any more. Now I can stand for what I believe, she said. Now I would absolutely run for government office. Absolutely, in a heartbeat. Emma Staleys transition from employee to entrepreneur was smooth. On second thought, perhaps smoothie is a better word. At just 21, Staley is approaching the first anniversary of her journey into business and entrepreneurship as the owner of Juice Cap, a Carbondale cold-pressed juice and smoothie bar located just off the Southern Illinois University campus. Staley, a graduate of Cobden High School, was an employee of the previous incarnation of the business, located in the former Keepers Quarters restaurant location. When the former owners decided to sell the business, they need look no further than Staley, who purchased the business and started a very subtle rebranding project. Now, shes looking for a new home for her business. Were actually searching for a new location, Staley said. Were are good in this location until December, so Im looking for some kitchen space or somewhere small to relocate. Im talking with a couple of business owners in the area and Im just trying to figure out what our next step is. Shes not the only one trying to figure things out. Many of her customers enter Juice Cap and then seemingly struggle with what to order from the diverse menu of smoothies and juices, cold-pressed on site. Juices are available in 16 oz. bottles and sport a variety of flavor blends and equally flavorful names: The Cure includes cucumber, spinach, kale, wheat grass, turmeric, lemon and black pepper. Saluki Sweet mixed to a beautiful maroon color contains beet, carrot, orange, apple and lemon. A juice called Orange You Glad includes orange, pineapple, carrots, mint and lime. A number of other flavors and some seasonal and limited-time-only options are also available. For example, Staley recently celebrated National Coffee Day and the first of October with a pumpkin spice latte offering. Juice Cap also features nearly a dozen fresh-made smoothies made with the customers choice of milks and the option of adding in protein powder, spices or selected greens and seeds. As a young entrepreneur, Staley said she often turns to other business owners and leaders for advice. She said Rob McGee of Coliseum Coffee has been very helpful, as has the staff of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU. Still, she said she would like to collaborate with more 20-something business owners. Theres not many of us, it would be nice to visit and compare notes with others, she said. I really hope to see more young entrepreneurs in the Carbondale area. She said she has been surprised by the wide variety of her customers at Juice Cap. We have so many different people from different places, different backgrounds and ethnicities, its really great to see everybody come together, she explained. We get young people, older people and SIU students. I enjoy getting to meet them all. Staley said in addition to finding a new home for Juice Cap, she is hoping to expand her menu as well. I would like to provide some food: maybe sandwiches, salads, soups, maybe some grab-and-go style items, she said. Of course, I really want to see us get our own brick-and-mortar location where I can customize it and it can become a place to bring the community together, a sort of destination. I want people to be able to come, sit, hang out, chat and share a healthy beverage. Secunderabad Parliament incharge and TRS state general secretary Bandi Ramesh erected flex of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and new national party on Bandar Road in Vijayawada on Thursday. (DC) VIJAYAWADA: Different reactions are coming out in AP on launch of Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday. Ruling YSR Congress leaders said there is nothing wrong in establishing BRS, though it will have no impact on AP. Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who had arrived along with his wife Bhuvaneswari at Kanaka Durga temple on Vijaya Dashami, responded with a simple laugh but no answer. Senior YSRC leader and education minister Botcha Satyanarayana said TRS has converted into BRS for their political reasons and strategies. BRS will be just one of the many political parties in AP. He felt it will have no effect on YSRC in AP. Deputy Chief Minister Peedika Rajanna Dora said KCRs party cannot survive in Andhra Pradesh. "How can we allow KCR to come here and dominate our people? He did not accept Hyderabad as joint capital. People will not accept his hegemony here (in AP), he observed. YSRC state general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy welcomed the coming of new parties in a democracy. He opined that new parties increase competition and improve performance of parties. Housing minister Jogi Ramesh said they have no objection to launch of any national party. But if they try to create any trouble for our party, we shall retaliate strongly, he remarked. Another senior YSRC leader and TTD Trust Board chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said any party floated will be no match for YSRC. The partys welfare schemes will bring Jagan back to power, he maintained. Former Congress MP from Rajahmundry Vundavalli Arun Kumar said he might even vote for BRS in the next elections in Andhra Pradesh, because KCR was strongly fighting against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), affirming that he would vote for any party that opposes BJP. Senior political leader Akula Srinivas Kumar said KCR is responsible for bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh. He had spread hatred against Andhra people. He has also created a lot of problems for AP since bifurcation with regard to irrigation projects, water sharing, revenue issues and payment of debts. He wondered how KCR could come to Andhra, forgetting all the damage he has done to AP and its people. Moments after a large, black covering was removed, revealing Southern Illinois University Carbondales Technology Education Centers new name honoring Glenn Poshard, he shook his head in humble disbelief. It was just one of the instances during the Oct. 7 ceremonies that the former SIU system president, university administrator and legislator had to choke back waves of emotion. He succeeded in keeping his feelings in check as he introduced family members, thanked former and current colleagues and recognized SIU students as the facility which houses the universitys automotive and aviation programs was renamed the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center. In July, the SIU Board of Trustees voted to rename the center in Poshards honor, recognizing his instrumental role in the funding and construction of the facility. Many of the members of the board participated in the ceremony. Trustee Roger Tedrick recalled Poshards dedication in the establishment of the facility. This building was number ten on our list (of requested projects) we submitted to the state for funding, Tedrick recalled. Glenn saw that it would be good for the university, be good for the campus, be good for the college and be good for this program. He moved it up to number one. Even at the top of the list, Tedrick said there were obstacles, especially considering the state legislator was not considering capital improvement projects at the time. We couldn't get it funded by the state; at the time, they just weren't funding things like this. Glenn spent six months driving around Illinois, lobbying with legislators to get a capital bill passed. Lo and behold, it was passed and that is what this building came from. Poshard is a three-degree SIU alumnus, earning his bachelors, masters and doctoral (1984) degrees in secondary education, educational administration and administration of higher education, respectively. After Poshards tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, he served as vice chancellor of administration for the Carbondale campus and was later named to the SIU Board of Trustees before becoming system president. I believe every educator, including university presidents, wants to leave a legacy that is felt long past their time in that role, SIU System President Dan Mahony said. President Poshards diligence and commitment helped guide the creation of a statewide capital bill that impacted higher education institutions across Illinois and at SIUs campuses. Naming the Transportation Education Center, home to two of this universitys signature programs, in his honor is fitting recognition of his legacy to leave not just this university and this region, but the entire state of Illinois in a better place. The 187,083 square-foot facility at the Southern Illinois Airport opened in 2012 and cost $63 million to build. It houses SIUs automotive technology, aviation flight and aviation management programs. What does it mean to me to have my name on this building? It means in the responsibility afforded to us by the Board of Trustees, our team remained true to its roots, remained true to the best academic and financial traditions of this beloved university, in making sure that the thousands of students who preceded and the thousands of student who will come after, have a place to become the best automotive and aviation workers America has to offer. That what it means to me, Poshard said, his voice wavering with emotion. CARBONDALE Girls in grades 5-9 can once again explore careers in science and mathematics during an event at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this November. Registration is now open for the 2022 Expanding Your Horizons conference, set for Nov. 5 at the SIU Student Center and other areas on campus. Workshops, networking and other events The annual event, restarted after a two-year hiatus due to COVID, provides workshops, networking and hands-on experiences aimed at increasing girls awareness of careers in such areas as science, technology, engineering, math and more. The event also provides participants with opportunities to meet and interact with role models who are active in math- and science-related careers. Registration required, open now Organizers hope for many participants to attend the event, along with teachers and parents from throughout Southern Illinois. Advance registration is required, and the cost is $10 if done before Oct. 7. Registration Oct. 8-21 is $17, with no spaces guaranteed after that date. Mail-in registrations are also accepted. All fees, checks or money orders must be mailed to SIU Carbondale-Mathematics, Expanding Your Horizons, 1245 Lincoln Drive, Mail code 4408, Carbondale, IL 62901. Experts help with many topics The workshop includes topics such as aviation, geology, biological sciences, chemistry, psychology, mathematics, engineering and technology, medicine and zoology. Students can participate in three areas of their greatest interest. The conference also will feature more than 20 professionals donating their time to lead workshops. The workshops will focus on career exploration and provide opportunities for participants to have positive experiences with math and science. CHICAGO - When Barbara Koenen describes her revelation, you picture time slowing, time stopping, time pausing on its unending march to oblivion. You imagine a young woman in Chicago struck suddenly with a single overwhelming sense of purpose and mission: She must collect broken clocks. Every broken clock that comes her way, she must have. She had a great idea. This was back in 1989, years ago. Like 17.7 million minutes ago. Back then, Koenen now a longtime Chicago artist and executive director of the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange was a graduate student at the School of the Art Institute. She was listening to a lecturer when he repeated a familiar saying: Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Koenen, incredibly, had never heard this. The point fascinated her. It didnt stop fascinating her. The other day, decades later, she stood in the Design Museum of Chicago in the Loop, which is now showing the 800 broken clocks shes collected since 1989. Her goal then her great idea was to gather so many clocks, stopped at so many different times, she would have a broken clock representing every minute of 24 hours. Or 1,440 clocks. Unfortunately, the 800 broken clocks represent only about 13 hours. But then Koenen is 62. She has time. Eventually, she may even have all the time in the world. The Design Museums exhibition of her clocks recently extended to Oct. 17, and ironically titled The Correct Time has been a chance for strangers and friends (and Design Museum founder Tanner Woodford) to bring her even more broken clocks. Since the show opened last summer, Koenen has been gifted 100 additional broken clocks. OK, so right about now youre either all in on this and think its incredible, clever and profound, or youre screaming that Koenen needs another hobby. For instance, her husband, former Chicago city historian Tim Samuelson, collects player-piano rolls, jazz records, lost building decor. That you get. But as Koenen explained, her clock project was conceived in absurdity. Should you need a little more background, a basic why, she continues: I suppose its a metaphor, for the drive of humanity to try to create a system or mechanism to capture and quantify nature and forces that are larger than ourselves. On the other hand, she also thinks its just kind of hilarious that somewhere on these walls, any time of the day, will be the correct time. You will have to find it, but its there. Time, of course, is among an artists blue-chip subjects. Its grander than a bowl of fruit or languid Sunday in the park though even with those, time is partly of the essence. Koenens broken clocks half conceptual extravaganza, half stunt is maybe closest in practice to another clock spectacular: Swiss American artist Christian Marclays 2010 opus The Clock, a 24-hour-long film composed of 12,000 film clips showing clocks at various times of the day, edited and projected so that the time on-screen corresponds to the time in real life. There is also Author Clock, designed by engineers in Chicago who raised $1.3 million on Kickstarter this year; its a digital clock that tells time using quotes from books, each one including a different minute of the day. The Design Museum, playing off Koenens collection, slipped an Earth Clock into the show, a digital, online clock using Google Earth images of landscapes that resemble numbers. Art about the march of time tends toward austere meditations on impermanence and age Koenen said her own art is often about the ultimate futility of anything we do at all but works like the broken clock collection and Marclays Clock attempt to hold time in place, assign it an image. You might even say the same of your friend who compulsively posts on Instagram all morning, afternoon, late into the night. All are trying to wrestle the hour, the minute, the second, to the ground stay! But Koenen, in 1989, had few art-world precedents to reference, and no internet to solicit broken clocks. She posted flyers on telephone poles and handed out business cards explaining her project. She mailed press releases asking reporters to ask their readers to donate broken clocks. She went on radio shows at three in the morning. She asked friends, family and colleagues. She went to the Mallers Building, which houses dozens of jewelers in the Loop, and introduced myself to the watch repair people, so they opened a drawer of unrepairable watches. They thought I was weird. Since this was at the time a fellow student, the Chicago artist known as Dread Scott, made national headlines with an exhibition that seemed to ask viewers to step on a United States flag, boxes of broken clocks mailed to Koenen at SAIC were sometimes mistaken for bombs. This was one of those clocks, Koenen said, bending down in the Design Museum gallery to show an elaborate, two-level clock constructed of popsicle sticks. Conversely, nearby was a clock the size of a fingernail, so tiny one could only assume it stopped. Koenen gathered so many clocks that she began to keep a ledger of who donated and the time that each clock stopped. Jeanne Broussards stopped at exactly 6:00. Tony Phillips stopped at 7:51. The late Chicago artist Ray Yoshidas clock stopped at 3:32. And so on. The exhibition includes everything shes collected, plus every clock donated in the past several weeks. Some look ready to start again, some look very broken. Some are scratched, some are missing everything but their slight resemblance to a clock. There is a long row of wristwatches, a bunch of cuckoo clocks, a grandfather clock, old flip-number bedside clocks, marble clocks, wooden clocks, plastic clocks, glass clocks, handmade clocks, industrial clocks, foldable travel clocks, clocks that look like the clock your grandmother owned for 60 years, clocks shaped like airplane propellers and toilet seats. Schlitz promo clocks and a drug manufacturers freebie clock that for some reason shows the face of Sigmund Freud. Clocks featuring Charlie the StarKist tuna and Mickey Mouse and the Joker and a fish-theme clock that once bubbled on the hour. When she started the project, she would routinely adjust the times to fill in the minutes she hadnt yet collected. We can play around with time until we get it right, Koenen said. But over the decades, she has been more likely to leave the clocks as they are; which means, she has a handful of duplicates. Paired with the clocks are an assortment of letters written by their donors, often touching memories of long-ago lives. The clock donated by an Irish immigrant. The clock that traveled with its owner around the world. The clock that kept watch over a familys holidays, arguments and dinners for decades. Many mark an owners transition to adulthood: My first serious watch bought for my first serious job at the Chicago firefighters union. Almost every watch she has came with a great story, Koenen said. As part of the show, the Design Museum invited artists to create new clock faces; there is also a smatter of Chicago clock history, and recently included, remarkably, the original wooden hands from the Wrigley Buildings clock face, located by Samuelson on eBay. But Koenen whose history of conceptual art includes hand grenades nuzzled in knitted cosies, a gumdrop tree in Skokie and Afghan-inspired war rugs made of spices dominates through sheer volume. The problem is, when the show ends, these 800 broken clocks need a new home. Koenen no longer wants to keep 800 broken clocks in her studio. Go figure. Shes been wondering if someone in Chicago would give them a permanent artful installation. A CTA station would be perfect, she said. After all, time, like the Blue Line and the 147 bus, waits for no man. Just ask Adell Julia Green Thompson what it was like to ride in a Model-T Ford on a dirt road from Parlerville just west of Santee to Orangeburg. Shell be glad to tell you. Thompson, who goes by Julie, will turn 107 on Oct. 10. Shes lived just outside of Santee nearly all her life, except for a few months in 1940 after she and her husband married and then moved to Columbia to work at a laundry business. Thompson is the only daughter of the late Ferguson and Alice Seaberry Green. Thompsons father, a graduate of S.C. State College, taught at the Parlerville School and a school in Providence. She has four brothers, each of whom has passed away. Sometimes she got to visit the big city of Orangeburg as a child. My mama used to take me there in a T-model. My mama could drive a car, but I couldnt, Thompson said, remembering those trips as though they were in some recent past, not decades prior. When you were in that T-model, itd take you a long time to get there, but youd get there, she said with a warm chuckle, and then come back. Thompson was 15 when her mother passed away, but her mother experienced driving on paved roads by then. After Thompsons mother died, her grandmother raised her. The last they gave her was a Buick and shed drive that to Orangeburg and back. Our paved roads were paved when shed go to Columbia to see her sister, Thompson said. That was before the construction of Interstate 26. The only way to get to Columbia from Santee was through St. Matthews on what some may now refer to as the back roads. For most of Thompsons life, she worked on her familys farm. We had a nice time on that farm and we made lots of stuff, she said. Sweet potatoes, peas, string beans, butter beans, we had all that too. There wasnt nothing but dirt roads, horse, buggy and wagon. We had the wagon to ride in and the mule, she said. We didnt know what a tractor was, she said beaming a smile, We didnt have one. We didnt have nothing but the mule and the wagon. I enjoyed those times, she said. Thompson, even at 107, never learned to drive a car. She drove the horse and wagon or mule and wagon sometimes, but she didnt learn to drive a car or a tractor. She remembers when she first heard of a traffic light. Her cousin went to Florence and then returned to Santee. Hed never seen one and he didnt know what to do, she said. He came back and told us about it. He didnt know what it was, she added. Thompson also picked cotton well into her 20s. I picked 130, 140 pounds of cotton in a day. Now that was something for a person to do, she said. When the sack gets full, you empty that and come back, she said. She recalled there was one occasion when she was picking cotton when she was interrupted by a weather episode. I know I was picking cotton by the sack and I picked up a lot of that down there on the end of the field, she said. That hurricane lasted a whole week raining, and they couldnt go get my cotton or nothing. It stayed there until they opened it and carried it over to gin it and they paid me anyhow, she said. Its what they called a September gale, she said. In 1936, Thompson graduated from the Orangeburg Training Center in Elloree. She finished with an A degree in scholarship. While in school, she took a home economics course where she learned how to make fruit cake, pound cake and eight-layer cake. Thompson has fond memories from when her grandmother and mother baked cakes. She also took a course so she could work as a substitute teacher. She worked as a substitute teacher on a couple of occasions. One year, she cooked for students at the two-room wooden schoolhouse in Parlerville. A detached kitchen was next to it. The kitchen was equipped with a wood-burning stove. She said she mostly served food that had been preserved through canning. It was more or less done, youd just warm it up for the children, she said. The teachers would serve the food onto the plates for the students. Each student had to bring their own plate too, she said. She added that if a student didnt bring a plate, they didnt get to eat lunch. They couldnt get to eat if they didnt bring their own plate, Thompson said. That was when she lived just a short distance from the school, a little over the hill from where she lives now. In 1940, she married Eddie Thompson Sr. The two met because he was being raised by Thompsons aunt, who lived nearby. When I first got married, he gave me a little radio and I sat it in the house. Nobody even had one around here, she said. Then he went on and got me a television, she said. I remember that, too. Thompson said, With the radio, you couldnt see their pictures, you just heard their voices them speaking. She still enjoys the radio, but enjoys watching the NBC nightly newscast and reads The Times and Democrat newspaper every day. Thompson learned how to make lye soap from her grandmother and passed on the tradition to her grandson. She also took up quilting as a hobby and taught it to her daughter, Maxine. Thompsons motto is, Worship the Lord, do the right thing, be honest, treat everybody right and God will bless you. Her favorite scriptures are Exodus 20, Psalm 27 and Matthew 5. At age 12, Thompson joined Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Santee, where she was a faithful member and served as a Sunday school secretary. In 1941, she joined PsSchool secretary there. She remains a loyal member. As for the secret to her longevity, Thompson said shes remained committed to the Lord and is often heard saying, To God be the glory. Thompson has three children: Eddie Thompson Jr. of Greensboro, N.C.; Hayward Thompson of Augusta, Georgia; and Maxine Thompson of Santee. She also has seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Her family and friends will celebrate Thompson with a drive-by birthday event on Saturday. The significance for India of the annual speech of the sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, the culmination of the auspicious festival of Dussehra, lies somewhere in-between the papal proclamation and address on Christmas Eve and the US Presidents state of the nation report address to Americans. Of course, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is neither the spiritual head of Hindus as the Pope is for Catholic Christians, nor is he an elected head of government as the American President; but during a decade when the BJP has absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, and is significantly dominant in many of the states, the address is as crucial a pointer as the speech of the Prime Minister from the Red Fort on Independences Day. In comparison with the last five years speeches, his speech was by far one of the most inclusive, and as close it can ever get to being liberal, humane and secular; it offered a highly constructive agenda to all Indians, with a special place for the most vulnerable Muslims and women. Walking the talk of its chief on women empowerment and an emphatic assertion that without the progress and empowerment of women, no society can progress, the RSS invited Santosh Yadav, a woman mountaineer, the first to climb Mount Everest twice, as a chief guest at its event another first, with no woman ever before had been the chief guest at the RSS annual conclave. Setting an unambiguous agenda of rapid empowerment of women, Mr Bhagwat publicly laid bare how Indian male hypocrisy keeps women curtailed and restrained, relegated to the kitchen or working at home for the family; seldom allowed to play a greater role in the economy. Given the reach and influence of the speech, it is heart warming and in the tenure of Indias first tribal woman President, the Narendra Modi government must take heed and push the agenda with all its might. Unmistakably, the RSS chief also spoke about population control and set it between the two extreme views of population as a liability and as an asset, speaking of how resources are needed to harness people and transform them into assets. But neither would fructify if there is a deep sense of communal mistrust and suspicion, or a showdown of fear hovering over the minority community, which, Mr Bhagwat, addressed directly. Hindus dont want to conquer or subjugate anyone... they only want to be strengthened enough to ensure they dont get conquered again, he suggested. The Modi government has significantly put women at the highest of priorities in policy making since its first term; from the Ujjwala Yojana to construction of toilets and pushing India rapidly towards the ODF status, to the abolition of triple talaq, among others. In recent times, there is an increasingly clear reach out to Muslims, at least certain sections of them including women and Pasmandas (lower castes) from the Hindutva side, and it can only augur well for all of India. A Casper attorney who died in December has been posthumously honored with the Wyoming State Bars John M. Burman Extraordinary Service Award. Jon B. Huss was recognized for his years of work as an immigration lawyer one of the few in Wyoming who provide such services. Huss got his law degree from the University of Wyoming and clerked for U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer before entering private practice in 1989, according to the state bar. He handled complex civil litigation with a large firm in Casper for 10 years before starting his own practice devoted to immigration law in 1999. For the next twenty years, Jon devoted his considerable legal skills to assisting people from all over the world navigate the United States immigration courts, the state bar noted in its announcement of the award. Most of Jons clients were indigent and unable to pay for his services. Huss was also an experienced mountaineer, climbing the highest mountains in North America (Denali), South America (Aconcagua) and Europe (Elbrus), according to his obituary. He also kayaked the Grand Canyon twice and traveled extensively. The state bar presented the award to Huss widow, former Star-Tribune editor Anne MacKinnon, at the groups annual conference last month in Casper. Its awarded to Wyoming lawyers that demonstrate a history of extraordinary service. The case of a Casper man convicted of sexually assaulting two minors in 2016 may get a second look, after one victim in the case recanted her allegations last year. Shaun Hamilton was sentenced to up to 56 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of five child sexual abuse charges. About five years after Hamilton went to prison, one of the cases two victims told Casper police investigators in September 2021 that she had lied about her allegations, according to court filings. The new information poses a novel challenge for Casper public defenders and prosecutors on the case, since it relies on a recent law allowing new evidence to be considered at any time after a conviction. A copy of a police report cited in court documents states the victim told the officer she had lied under oath in court in 2015 or 2016 in Hamiltons case. She also stated, according to the report, that she did not get molested by him. Court filings indicate she came forward because she felt bad and it had been weighing on her. According to Hamilton, the victim first tried to contact him directly, but he wasnt allowed to receive her mail in prison given her position in his case. Three of Hamiltons five felony convictions are related to that victim, who was under 13 years old at the time according to court documents. The other victim in the case no longer lives in Wyoming, according to Nick Zeitner, a close friend of Hamiltons. Hamilton is now serving his sentence at a medium-security state prison in Torrington, according to a Department of Corrections database. He maintains his innocence on all the counts against him, he said Thursday. To be honest, I dont have much faith in the system anymore, but I stay positive for my family, he said. After seven years, anything is better than nothing. He did already appeal his case to the Wyoming Supreme Court in 2016, several months after he was sentenced. That appeal, which alleged the prosecutor in the case had committed misconduct at trial, was denied. Public defender Joseph Cole said that shouldnt have any bearing on this new evidence. In his initial trial, which ended in 2016, Hamilton was represented by public defender Hampton Young. Youngs law license was suspended for one year by the Wyoming State Bar in February, after an investigation found he had mixed personal and firm money and had a legal assistant who was embezzling funds from an estate the firm represented. According to court filings, Natrona County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Taheri asked the court to assign Hamilton another public defender after learning the victim had recanted. That request was denied, since a 2018 law changed the procedure for reopening cases based on new factual evidence. That law removed the time limit for introducing new non-DNA evidence after a conviction. Previously, it would not have been accepted by a court after two years. Ive honestly never done a hearing like this yet, Taheri said. Once the correct filings were submitted, Hamilton was granted a new lawyer in late August. Cole, his appointed defender, said this case will also be the first time hes dealing with Wyomings factual innocence law. Recantation is not new... but this is new for this area, Cole said. Now, lawyers said, prosecutors have time to respond to the new evidence. The court will likely decide whether or not to overturn Hamiltons conviction, or to retry the case, after a hearing months down the line. If there is a new trial, it would only involve charges the victim recanted. Our goal would be for the truth to come out, Zeitner said. Prison sentence reductions have become much less common in Wyoming since the mid-1990s. Sentence reductions, or commutations, are granted by the governor based on recommendations from the Wyoming Board of Parole. In general, recommendations come after the parole board has interviewed a prisoner and evaluated his or her record in prison. For decades, it was common for Wyoming governors to shorten hundreds of sentences for state prisoners during a term, according to an analysis by University of Wyoming professor and former parole board director Daniel Fetsco. Commutations were used as an incentive for good behavior in prison. It used to be, if you got a life sentence, you could probably count on getting it cut after 20 years, Fetsco said. But after former Gov. Mike Sullivan left office in 1995, the state saw a sharp decline in commutations just as incarceration rates were rising in Wyoming and across the country. As of 2020, more than 200,000 people in the United States were serving life sentences, according to the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit thats working to reduce the use of imprisonment in the U.S. Thats more than the total prison population across the country 50 years earlier. In Wyoming, prisons are struggling to maintain enough staff to serve the states roughly 1,800 prisoners. Commutations reached their peak in Wyoming under Gov. Ed Herschler, a Democrat who granted 856 during his two terms between 1975 and 1987. After Herschler, the Democratic Sullivan granted 218 over two terms, a number in line with several governors who preceded Herschler. The two governors that followed, Jim Geringer, a Republican, and Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, each granted 15 commutations during their time in office (both served two terms). Freudenthal, a Democrat, said he believes he was less inclined to grant commutations because of his time as Wyomings federal prosecutor. I never worried about the politics of commutations, Freudenthal said. I just had a bias against them that had been shaped by seven years as a prosecutor. The former governor said that having distance from his time in office has softened his view. I believe its a tool that ought to be used more often, he said. ... Youd be surprised how many people have felony convictions from their youth. I probably should have been more understanding about that. After Freudenthal, Gov. Matt Mead, a Republican, granted three commutations during his two terms. Two of those were for people serving life sentences, according to Fetscos analysis. So far, Gov. Mark Gordon has issued two commutations during his first term. The governor, who won the Republican primary for governor in August and is likely to secure another term, has only commuted non-life sentences to date. For any clemency request, the Governor considers a variety of factors, some of which include the position of victims and their family members, the applicants remorse for their crime, the applicants disciplinary record while incarcerated, and the applicants participation in rehabilitative programming and other work while incarcerated, a statement from Gordons office said this week. Reoffending rates are extremely low for people who receive shortened sentences or who are released early, Fetsco said. Some of that has to do with the tendency to age out of crime, as research shows people become less likely to commit crimes as they get older. Even if they wanted to change before, sometimes it can take years for all that to internalize, Fetsco said. Theres a growing movement in the U.S. for second-look laws that would allow prisoners and prosecutors to revisit lengthy and life sentences. Already in place in several states, those laws allow prisoners to petition to reduce their sentences, or for prosecutors to start that process. By no means should we let everyone out, but it should be done in a way that is scientific, Fetsco said. POWELL The number of grizzly bear conflicts continues to trend lower this year, according to state officials. But they caution those recreating outdoors this fall to be wary of bears moving into lower altitudes while trying to fatten up prior to hibernation. Preliminary data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows a total of 35 known grizzly bear mortalities so far this year in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The majority of known grizzly mortalities in the three-state area have happened in Wyoming; seven were euthanized in management decisions, three died of natural or undetermined causes and 10 are still listed as under investigation for a total of 20. Its currently a 38% drop in management removals compared to 2021 and a 75% drop from 2018, when 32 bears were removed from Wyoming habitat by officials. While state officials are tasked with removing bears in conflict (typically through euthanization), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for making the call. Despite the positive trend, wildlife managers received criticism for a high profile removal in July when the department was forced to euthanize grizzly bear 1057, one of the four famous cubs of the worlds most famous grizzly sow; grizzly bear 399. The management decision was made due to the two-year-old aggressively seeking food rewards from humans. After repeated conflicts in residential areas of Kendall Valley in the Upper Green River area and displaying increasingly bold behavior, the two-year-old grizzly cub was trapped and euthanized in July. It was going house to house looking for food, Dan Thompson, large carnivore section supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, told Wyofile in August. Grizzly 399 and her cubs were known to have received food rewards from some residents in the Jackson area, which is bad news for bears, said Thompson. Its more of a question if a bear becomes food conditioned, he said. Once they have reached that level, if caught it will likely be lethally removed. This is why we try to deter bears obtaining those foods attributed direct to people and work to secure attractants proactively. Despite the bears apparent lack of fear of humans, the decision to kill grizzly 1057 sparked outrage. Social media posts accused the department of hastily killing the bear instead of relocating it to a new habitat, urging readers to contact officials in protest. Game and Fish officials will not relocate bears that are considered a threat to human safety. Once a bear is captured, all circumstances are taken into account when determining if the individual should be relocated, the department said. If relocation is warranted, a site is determined by considering the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in as well as potential human activity nearby. Grizzly bears are only relocated into areas already occupied by other grizzly bears. With any relocation, Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bears survival, the department said in a recent press release. Management responses depend on the severity of conflicts and amount [or] type of food rewards, Thompson said. Game and Fish biologists verified having fewer agency removals and relocations this year. Many factors contribute to lower conflict numbers, especially with the overall availability and abundance of natural foods, Thompson said. The department has installed a lot of electric fencing in the past several years that has removed some conflict potential and continued foundational outreach and education coupled with reactive management have been contributing factors to recent successes, he said in the Tuesday interview. All of this is another testament to the public cooperation that recovered grizzly bears years ago, he said. This is a busy season for Game and Fish large carnivore biologists. They currently have several conflict situations with grizzly bears with which the team is dealing and have had reports of bears coming in on elk hunters. [Its] the reality of a robust grizzly bear population that continues to expand, Thompson said. We have a long month ahead of us, and we thank the public for reporting any conflicts with bears so that we can respond immediately and appropriately. Grizzly and black bear activity is increasing at lower elevations in Park County, according to officials. They caution landowners and outdoor enthusiasts to be bear aware and take preventative action to avoid conflicts with bears. Large carnivore biologist Luke Ellsbury said Game and Fish has recently noted an increase in bear activity on public and private lands along corridors of the South Fork and North Fork of the Shoshone River, Clarks Fork River and Greybull River. As fall approaches, bears become more active in search of food and take advantage of food sources and the natural pathways river corridors offer, Ellsbury said. While its not uncommon to see an increase of activity in the fall, it does serve as a good reminder to be extra vigilant and to keep in mind that bears can pop up in many unexpected places along the Absaroka front this time of year. Residents should remain alert and watch for evidence of bear activity such as tracks, scat and diggings and use caution while working or recreating in these areas, the department said in a recent press release. Hikers, anglers, hunters or anyone else recreating in areas that could be occupied by bears should take precautions and carry a deterrent such as commercially available bear spray, the release advised. Game and Fish suggests residents avoid conflicts by securing all attractants such as garbage, pet food and livestock feed. Bears observed in or near residential areas should be immediately reported to your local Game and Fish office. Learn more about staying safe in bear country at wgfd.wyo.gov. Roughly a quarter of Wyomings executive branch agency employees left their jobs between July 2021 and June 2022, according to a new report by the Department of Administration and Information. That figure which is almost double the turnover rate a decade ago accounts for employees transferring departments as well as those that left state government altogether. Retirements made up about 18% of turnover. The states ongoing retention problem has accelerated, despite Gov. Mark Gordon and lawmakers prioritizing the issue. Per Gordons recommendation, lawmakers approved a two-step pay increase during the 2022 budget session. The first half went into effect in July for an average boost of 8%. The second step will partly depend on 2022 market data available in November. But because the state has fallen so far behind on wages on average, state workers were paid 19.4% below market value before the recent increase officials say additional, incremental pay boosts will likely be necessary. So even though we made a lot of progress with our July increases, were still pretty far behind on our market data, Erin Williams, division administrator for A&I, told the Legislative Management Audit Committee in late September. An analysis of state data by WyoFile in January found that turnover rates at nearly half of Wyomings executive branch agencies at least doubled between 2010 and 2021. Employee survey results at the time indicated that once sought-after public sector jobs had lost their competitive edge and compensation was largely to blame. The results of a more recent employee survey are expected in November. Additional data, which could take up to a year to collect, is also needed to analyze the relationship between pay, recruitment and retention, Williams said during a Joint Appropriations Committee meeting in September. State employee compensation is that committees top priority during the interim. In the meantime, executive branch agency turnover data for the fiscal year June 2021 through July 2022 preceding the pay boost is available, and according to Williams, very alarming. Sixteen agencies had their highest turnover since at least 2011 including: the Department of Environmental Quality (23.1%), Department of Family Services (28.1%), Department of Health (38.8%), the Military Department (36.7%), Department of Revenue and Taxation (28.8%) and the Department of Transportation (23.4%). Turnover at the District Attorney of Laramie Countys office was unparalleled at 107.9%, meaning that staff departures exceeded the total number of positions. Much of that ongoing shakeup can be attributed to District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove firing most of staff three hours after officially taking office in 2019. She currently faces the possibility of disciplinary charges by the Wyoming Supreme Court. Thirty-three out of 54 agencies saw their turnover rate increase in the last fiscal year, including the Department of Agriculture (23%), Department of Audit (19.20%), Department of Corrections (20.80%) and the Department of Education (15%). Separations were especially concentrated among new state employees. About 55% of turnover were those that had worked no more than five years for the state and around 72% were those that had nine or less years under their belts. Without the recent pay boost, retention would have been an even bigger problem, according to Williams, who said theres anecdotal evidence that some state workers that planned to leave chose to stay after learning about forthcoming raises. Quite a few have stayed and they feel confident that theres more increases [coming], Williams told lawmakers. The second phase of the current pay boost is expected to be completed sometime after November and will use a market merit matrix, which considers both performance and market data. After that step is completed, any additional increase to bring rates closer to current market value will need approval by the Legislature. To bring employees to the 2021 market rate, for example, would cost the state an estimated additional $60.5 million a year, according to Williams. Gordon is running for reelection in Novembers general election against Democratic challenger Theresa Livingston of Worland. State employee compensation would be a top priority should he serve a second and final term, Gordon previously told WyoFile. He was clear prior to last years session that he planned a multi-phase approach to employee compensation so we can address the needs of the state, Michael Pearlman, the governors spokesperson, said in an email on Monday. Officials, like Williams, have said the problem isnt just about pay. We know [for] employees staying, its not just compensation driven. Its flexibility and schedules and various other things, Williams told lawmakers, adding that her department is working on expanding employee assistance programs and improving onboarding, among other things. What are we doing to change the culture? Sen. Mike Gierau (D-Jackson) said during the Joint Appropriations Committee meeting. The lawmaker said hed be more willing to vote for more money down the road if employee policy changes, such as allowing people to work from home, were part of the equation. State workers want two things, according to Tammy Johnson, executive director of Wyoming State AFL-CIO, a labor union in Cheyenne. They want to be paid fairly. And they want to have a voice at the table with their employers, Johnson said. And in our state, we dont give that to people. Collective bargaining, Johnson wrote in an op-ed in January, would allow public workers to sit down at the table to talk with bosses about everything from pay and benefits to fairness, safety and more, without fear of retaliation. As a right-to-work state, employees in Wyoming may not be required to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. An act of legislation would be necessary to change that. The Joint Appropriations Committee has not determined when it will next discuss employee compensation. DESPITE the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) is set to regain its 2019 profitability. So said chairman and chief executive officer of the board, Jose S Suquet, at the companys tenth anniversary celebration of its establishment in the Caribbean, at the Hyatt Regency hotel, last week. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. KYIV: The Ukrainian presidency said Friday that the people of Ukraine, under Russian attack since February, were "architects of peace," after a Ukrainian NGO became the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. "The Ukrainian people are the main architects of peace, in which we must be able to exist without aggression," presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on social media. A senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced irritation however that the prize was shared with organisations from countries allied against Ukraine: Russia and Belarus. The "Nobel Committee has an interesting understanding of word 'peace' if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive the Nobel Prize together," presidential advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak said on Twitter. "Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organise resistance to the war," Podolyak said. Russian rights group Memorial and Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski were victims of the repression in their own countries. Belarus has lent its territory to Russian troops, allowing them to enter Ukraine through the Belarusian border. Police Constable Herman Mohan, who was described as having an instrumental role in the captu Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford has known for most of her life shes a writer. Even when young, she wrote poems and letters. She collected her thoughts on paper. If I was sick, or lonely, or miserable, I would wake up and start writing, she said of the teenage Roni. When I was away at school, writing was a remedy for me. It calmed my head and relaxed my heart. I just felt better when I wrote. Even so, she was as surprised as anyone to learn she was an author, too. It took her a while Rivera-Ashford was 50 when her name first appeared on the cover of a book but theres no denying it now. Since releasing My Nanas Remedies in 2002, she has authored five more books, the latest being Raulito: The First Latino Governor of Arizona. Like all her books, Raulito is presented both in English and Spanish. Raulito: El Primer Gobernador Latino de Arizona reads through from one of the books two covers, the English version from the other. All of Rivera-Ashfords writing helps us understand who she was before becoming an author. The daughter of Jewish parents, she was raised in Nogales, in large part by her fathers mother the Nana she honored in her first book. My parents were away on business a lot, so I spent a lot of time with my Nana, Rivera-Ashford said. We had local housekeepers, too, so I was raised in two cultures. I can speak a little Yiddish. I made my Bat Mitzvah. But I was surrounded by the love and wonderful culture of Mexico, too. I tell people now Im a Jewish author with a Mexican heart. Those were the days when the border between the U.S. and Mexico was a line painted down the middle of International Street. When we were kids, we would say we were going across the line, and we would walk back and forth into Mexico all the time, Rivera-Ashford said. Some kids had relatives on both sides. There were days wed grab a stick of butter and a saltshaker and run into town to buy a dozen fresh, warm tortillas. Theyd be gone by the time we got home. Instinctively bilingual, she became a bilingual educator, first in Nogales and later in Tucson. All these experiences can now be seen in her books, which should have meaning to all kids but particularly bilingual children whose families speak Spanish at home. Teachers near the border know its important to find out what a childs primary language is before teaching them how to read, she said. You start by teaching them to read in their primary language. The skills transfer. Once they learn how to speak English, theyll learn how to read in English. As a first grade and second grade teacher, she would write sentences and short paragraphs and invite her students to illustrate them. Later, she patched those paragraphs into stories. At some point in the 1990s, she wondered if any of her stories might make a good book. Kids wanted to hear stories they could relate to, situations they were familiar with, Rivera-Ashford said. Im trying to do that now with my books. I want kids to see that the people in my stories are just like the ones they know at home. Theyre certainly people Rivera-Ashford knew at home. She followed My Nanas Remedies with My Tatas Remedies, recounting lessons learned from her late father-in-law, Gus. The cover of the book, in fact, is a rendering of Gus himself. Her latest book, Raulito, stemmed from a friendship Rivera-Ashford developed with Gov. Castro after he moved back to Nogales. He told Rivera-Ashford her books reminded him of books he himself had read as a child. Interestingly, Raulito begins with an introduction written by Castro shortly before he died. Few authors reveal themselves more fully than Rivera-Ashford has, clearly subscribing to the theory that writers should write what you know. Deep down, I know Im a teacher, she concluded, simply. Im retired from the classroom now, but Im still teaching. Im just teaching with my books. Footnotes Our local book community paused last week to remember Tucson author Elizabeth Gunn, who passed away at 92. Gunn wrote 18 mysteries after the age of 70, two of them while in her 90s. Seven of her novels were set in Tucson. She was a great friend of the Tucson Festival of Books and our local bookstores. She died in Helena, Montana, where she had recently moved to stay with her daughter. Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove, formerly the Poet Laureate of the U.S., will read from her collection Playlist for the Apocalypse Thursday, Oct. 13, at the UA Poetry Center. The free program will begin at 7 p.m. To learn more, visit poetry.arizona.edu. Oct. 31 is the submission deadline for the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards Writing Contest. Prizes totaling $5,200 are available to the winners in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. For entry information, visit tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. One of Rivera-Ashfords friends growing up in Nogales was Alberto Rios, later a finalist for the 2002 National Book Award in Poetry and the first Poet Laureate of Arizona. He is now a professor at Arizona State University and Director of the Piper Center for Creative Writing in Phoenix. The former student who authorities said shot and killed a University of Arizona professor earlier this week had been the subject of several reports of harassment and threats to staff members working at the John W. Harshbarger Building, court records show. The interim complaint filed in court also indicates a second person suffered minor injuries in the shooting. On Oct. 5, police said Murad Dervish, 46, entered the Harshbarger Building and shot Professor Thomas Meixner in an office. Meixner was the head of the schools hydrology department and an expert on desert water issues. According to the interim complaint, Meixner was shot at least four times with a 9mm handgun. Another individual who was in the same office at the time of the shooting was also struck and injured by bullet fragments. He was treated and released at the scene. The person's name was redacted from the interim complaint, which was filed by UA police. Dervish had been expelled from the UA in February and was barred from being on campus. The UA Police Department said it was in the process of completing an exclusionary order for Dervish when the shooting happened. In February, an email circulated to staff members included Dervishs photograph and instructions to call 911 if he returned to the building, court records say. On Wednesday, several people who knew Dervish saw him in the area before the shooting happened and one person had already called 911 to report his presence. Police Chief Paula Balafas said the time from the initial call to the shooting call was only a "matter of minutes." Dervish fled the scene and was found three hours later traveling south on Arizona 85 toward Mexico, 30 miles south of Gila Bend, court records say. Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers tried to stop Dervish but he refused. Dervish was finally stopped after troopers used what's called a "PIT maneuver" to get the vehicle to stop. A search of his vehicle revealed a 9mm handgun loaded with ammunition consistent with the 11 shell cases found at the scene, court records say. Prior to being questioned, Dervish made spontaneous comments to authorities such as: I hope hes okay, probably wishful thinking, I just felt so disrespected by that whole department, A woman wouldnt have done this and I was going to kill myself, shoot myself, but I couldnt, according to the interim complaint. Dervishs initial appearance was on Thursday night through a video court proceeding from the jail. The judge ordered him held without bond until a hearing later this month. Dervish is facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The interim complaint said an unrelated court order of protection prohibited Dervish from possessing a firearm. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced the appointment of a new Pima County Superior Court judge Friday. Danielle Kamps Constant will be filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Deborah Bernini. Danielles broad experience in the public and private sectors will benefit the court greatly and allow her to quickly take to the job, Ducey said in a news release. Constant is the managing partner of the Jennings Strouss and Salmon Tucson office and has been with the firm since 2017, the news release said. Constant also practices civil litigation with an emphasis on eminent domain and release estate litigation. In addition, Constant serves as a member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army of Southern Arizona and volunteers for pro bono cases through her firm. She also handles government agency defense, insurance defense, employment, family law matters and serves as a judge pro tem for the superior court, the news release said. Constant received her bachelors degree in history from Dordt University in Iowa in 1999 and graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2002. She was a civil litigator at Gust Rosenfeld and a prosecutor at the Pima County Attorneys Office, the news release said. For 12 years, Constant handled felony and misdemeanor jury trials, evidentiary hearings, bench trials and other proceedings, the news release said. During this time she was named Felony Prosecutor of the Year by the Southern Arizona Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Biden's 'Armageddon' talk edges beyond bounds of US intel WASHINGTON (AP) The White House says President Joe Bidens warnings that the world is at risk of nuclear "Armageddon were meant to convey that no one should underestimate the extraordinary danger if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine. The presidents grim assessment sent ripples around the world on Friday and also appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. national security officials continue to say they have no evidence that Russias Vladimir Putin is preparing for the use of nuclear weapons. Multiple explosions rock eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A series of explosions have rocked the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv, sending towering plumes of illuminated smoke in the sky and triggering a series of secondary explosions. The blasts came just after midnight as Russia concentrated attacks Friday in its increasingly troubled invasion of Ukraine on areas it illegally annexed. Meanwhile, the death toll from earlier missile strikes on apartment buildings in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia rose to 14. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that the explosions were the result of missile strikes that hit targets including one of the citys medical institutions and a nonresidential building. Michael Flynns ReAwaken roadshow recruits Army of God' BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) The ReAwaken America Tour led by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has carried a message of a country under siege to tens of thousands of people across the US. The tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement that has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party. The retired three-star Army general warned the tour's audience in Batavia, New York, in August that they were in the midst of a spiritual war and a political war and urged people to get involved. In the ReAwaken vision of America, Christianity should be at the center of American life and institutions, an idea that upends the constitutional ideal of a pluralist democracy. But its a message that is taking hold. Uvalde schools suspend entire police force after outrage AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Uvalde school leaders have pulled its embattled campus police force off the job four months after the Robb Elementary School shooting. The decision Friday follows a wave of new outrage over the hiring of a former Texas state trooper who was part of the hesitant law enforcement response during the May attack that killed 19 children and two teachers. School leaders also put two members of the district police department on administrative leave, one of whom chose to retire. A total of 400 officers responded to the shooting, including five school district police officers. The citys police, county sheriffs deputies, state police and U.S. Border Patrol agents were among others who responded. Appeals court ruling allows Arizona abortions to restart PHOENIX (AP) Abortions can take place again in Arizona, at least for now, after an appeals court on Friday blocked the enforcement of a pre-statehood law that almost entirely criminalized the procedure. The three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals agreed with Planned Parenthood that a judge should not have lifted the decades-old order that prevented the older law from being enforced. The brief order written by Presiding Judge Peter J. Eckerstrom said Planned Parenthood and its Arizona affiliate had shown they are likely to prevail on an appeal of a decision by the judge in Tucson to allow enforcement of the old law. Haiti's leader requests foreign armed forces to quell chaos PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Haitis government has agreed to request the help of international armed forces as gangs and protesters paralyze the country and basic supplies including fuel and water dwindle. A document published Friday and signed by Prime Minister Ariel Henry and 18 top-ranking officials states they are alarmed by the risk of a major humanitarian crisis that is threatening the life of many people. It authorizes Henry to request from international partners the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity, to stop the crisis caused partly by the criminal actions of armed gangs. It wasnt clear if the request has been formally submitted. Flynn, Gingrich testimony sought in Georgia election probe ATLANTA (AP) The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and others illegally tried to interfere in the 2020 election has filed paperwork seeking to compel testimony from a new batch of Trump allies. They include former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed petitions seeking to have Gingrich and Flynn, as well as former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann and others, testify next month before a special grand jury thats been seated to aid her investigation. They join a string of other high-profile Trump allies and advisers who have been called to testify in the investigation. Nobel Peace Prize to activists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine (AP) This years Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the judges wanted to honor "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. The announcement represents a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin whose invasion of Ukraine has outraged the international community and highlighted his authoritarian rule. The award follows a tradition of highlighting groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts, alleviate hardship and protect human rights. What Friday's jobs report means for Fed's inflation fight WASHINGTON (AP) For most Americans, Fridays September jobs report was welcome news: Businesses kept hiring at a brisk pace, unemployment fell back to a half-century low and average pay rose. Yet for the Federal Reserve, the jobs figures highlight how little progress theyre making in their fight against inflation. With the Fed more likely to keep raising borrowing costs rapidly, the risk of recession will also rise. Employers did pull back slightly on hiring last month, and average wage gains slowed. But economists say neither is falling fast enough for the Fed to slow its inflation-fighting efforts. Hurricane Ian drowning victim was "the best big brother" FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Construction worker Craig Steven Markgraff Jr. was last seen clinging to a tree as rising waters from Hurricane Ian lashed areas dozens of miles inland from Floridas Gulf Coast. One of Ian's first publicly identified victims in Florida, the 35-year-old mans body was found this week by rescue crews near his home in Zolfo Springs in central Florida. That's according to the Hardee County Sheriffs Office said. Markgraff was known as CJ to many of his friends. But to his sister April Rudolph, he was just Craig and the best big brother ever. She says that, If you ever needed anything, he was right there. He was the protector of the family. Federal prosecutors believe they could charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and a false statement but a final decision still has not yet been made by the US attorney in Delaware, according to sources familiar with the matter. The case against Biden narrowed earlier this year, and was a matter of discussion in early summer between FBI and IRS investigators, prosecutors in Delaware and the Justice Department, CNN previously reported. The discussions included assessing the strength of the case and questioning whether more work was needed before deciding on charges, according to sources who spoke to CNN in July. Prosecutors have not yet made any charging decisions on the case and have not met since early summer to discuss the federal investigation, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A decision is not expected before the midterm election. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that talks between Biden's team and the Justice Department have been ongoing for several months but nothing has changed in a couple of months on that front. The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden's legal team met in "recent weeks" with Justice Department prosecutors to argue against a potential case. Keep scrolling for photos of Hunter Biden through the years "As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense," Biden's attorney Chris Clark said in a written statement to the Journal. The Washington Post reported on Thursday that prosecutors believe they have "sufficient evidence" to charge Biden, son of President Joe Biden, in two areas -- tax crimes and a false statement regarding a gun purchase, the same crimes CNN reported in July were the focus of investigators' discussions with the Justice Department. Investigators have at various times inquired about multiple facets of Hunter Biden's life -- initially focusing on tax issues and money transfers related to business activities in China, multiple people familiar with the probe previously told CNN. But prosecutors have also examined a 2018 incident in which a firearm owned by Biden ended up tossed by his then-girlfriend into a dumpster in Wilmington, a person briefed on the matter said. Biden described in media interviews last year that he was addicted to drugs, which raised the possibility he broke federal law when he bought the firearm. Federal law prohibits firearms purchases by anyone who uses or is addicted to illegal drugs. Still, Biden has publicly discussed his own substance abuse struggles, and some Justice officials have debated whether his open discussions of his past drug use could potentially weaken their case should they bring one. Biden has also denied wrongdoing in his business activities. In late 2020 after being notified by the Delaware US attorney about the investigation, he said in a statement issued by his father's presidential transition office: "I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors." The President, meanwhile, has repeatedly said he won't interfere in the independence of the Justice Department. Early on in his presidency, Biden decided to keep US Attorney David Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, in office to continue to oversee the investigation in Delaware. Photos: Hunter Biden through the years Yan Rachinsky, one of the founders of Memorial rights group, and Oleg Orlov, one of Memorial leading activists, meet with the media after the group was co-awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize along with Belarus' human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties, in Moscow (Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) KYIV: Human rights activists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has outraged the international community, and to the Belarusian president, his authoritarian ally. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organisation Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel wanted to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. Through their consistent efforts in favour of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this year's laureates have revitalised and honoured Alfred Nobel's vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today, she told reporters in Oslo. Belarus' Foreign Ministry denounced the Nobel Committee for honouring Bialiatski, with the spokesman calling its choices in recent years so politicised that Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally rebuking Putin, whose 70th birthday is Friday, Reiss-Andersen said the prize was not against anybody but for something. This prize is not addressing President Putin, not for his birthday or in any other sense, except that his government, as the government in Belarus, is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists, she said. It was the second straight year that Putin's repressive government was implicitly rebuked with the prize. It was awarded last year to Dmitry Muratov, the editor of independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. Both have struggled in the past year. This year the prize comes amid the largest war in Europe since World War II, a conflict that has displaced millions from their homes, destroyed cities and killed a still undetermined large number. We are talking about two authoritarian regimes and one nation fighting a war and we would like to highlight the importance of civic society, Reiss-Andersen said. Bialiatski was one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr. Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus, Reiss-Andersen said, adding that the Nobel panel was calling on Belarusian authorities to release him. Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visiting Paris, told The Associated Press she felt honoured and delighted that Bialiatski was among the laureates. For sure, it will attract more attention to (the) humanitarian situation in our country, she said. Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband is also imprisoned, said Bialiatski is suffering a lot in punishment cells in Belarus. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses and track the fate of political prisoners in Russia. The country's highest court ordered it shut down in December, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Tatyana Glushkova, a board member of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said she and her colleagues were very, very happy to have the importance of their work recognized. Glushakova said one of the reasons the Kremlin views Memorial as a threat is because Memorial understands the parallels between Putin's regime and the Soviet regime ... Stalin's regime. And it makes these parallels published and informs everyone about how all these regimes are similar. She also noted that some previous Nobel Peace Prize winners were heads of state, but in modern Russia working for peace, it's not the work of the state, it's the work of civil society, and the fact that Memorial was awarded the prize this year highlights that. Glushkova said the award was handed to the group on the day when it once again had to appear in court in Moscow this time on a case related to its office building in central Moscow. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. DALLAS (AP) A man charged with killing 22 elderly women in the Dallas area over a two-year span was found guilty Friday in one of their deaths his second murder conviction. With the verdict, Billy Chemirmir, 49, automatically received a second sentence of life without parole, this time for the smothering death of 87-year-old Mary Brooks. Jurors took less than 30 minutes to reach the verdict against Chemirmir, who was already sentenced to life in prison without parole for an April conviction in the death of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris. Authorities allege that he preyed on older women, killing them and stealing their valuables. Time after time, their deaths were initially determined to be from natural causes, even as family members raised alarm bells about missing jewelry. This is a conscious, dedicated effort to stalk, surveil, kill, steal, strip and sell, Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said in closing arguments. Creuzot decided against seeking the death penalty. After Friday's verdict he said the two sentences mean Chemirmir is "going to die in a penitentiary. Creuzot said the 11 additional capital murder cases against Chemirmir in Dallas County will now be dismissed. Prosecutors in neighboring Collin County havent yet said if they will try any of their nine capital murder cases against Chemirmir, who has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors told jurors that the evidence showed that Chemirmir followed Brooks home from Walmart, smothered her and took her jewelry. One womans survival of a March 2018 attack set Chemirmirs arrest in motion. Mary Annis Bartel, then-91, told police a man forced his way into her apartment at an independent living community for seniors, tried to smother her with a pillow and took her jewelry. After Chemirmir's arrest, police across the Dallas area reexamined deaths and the charges against him grew. Many of the victims children have said they were left perplexed by the deaths at the time, as their mothers, though older, were still healthy and active. Four indictments were added this summer. Most lived in apartments at independent living communities for older people. One woman who lived in a private home was the widow of a man Chemirmir cared for while working as an at-home caregiver. Defense attorneys told the jury that prosecutors hadnt presented enough evidence to convict. They are begging that you plug in the holes that they cannot, defense attorney Phillip Hayes said in his closing argument. After the verdict, he told reporters that he plans to appeal. While jurors this week were deciding Chemirmirs guilt only in Brooks death, they also heard evidence that led to his conviction in Harris death as well as details related to the death of 80-year-old Martha Williams. Prosecutors for the first time presented DNA evidence linking Chemirmir to one of the deaths Williams'. The jury also heard testimony that Chemirmir was in either in possession of jewelry and valuables belonging to the women or had offered pieces for sale and that cellphone records put him in the vicinity of the victims. Before Bartel died in 2020, she described the attack in a taped interview that has been played at Chemirmirs trials. She said the minute she opened her door and saw a man wearing rubber gloves, she knew she was in grave danger. Police testified they found Chemirmir the next day in the parking lot of his apartment complex holding jewelry and cash, having just thrown away a large red jewelry box. Documents in the jewelry box led them to the home of Harris, who was found dead in her bedroom, lipstick smeared on her pillow. Evidence presented at trial showed that just hours before Harris was found dead, Chemirmir was at the Walmart where Harris was shopping. When Brooks' grandson had found her dead in her condo several weeks earlier, grocery bags from a trip to the same Walmart were sitting out on her counter. Surveillance video showed a car matching the description of Chemirmir's pulling out just after Brooks and going in the same direction. Brooks' daughter, Ann Brooks, said after the verdict that her family was thrilled that this defendant will never be able to hurt any other family again. Our beloved mother, Mary Sue, her life is over and her jewelry is gone, but her love and her memories will live in us forever, she said. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The suspect in the kidnapping and killings of an 8-month-old baby, her parents and an uncle had worked for the familys trucking business and had a longstanding feud with them that culminated in an act of pure evil, a sheriff said Thursday. The bodies of Aroohi Dheri; her mother Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were found by a farm worker late Wednesday in an almond orchard in a remote area in the San Joaquin Valley, Californias agricultural heartland. Investigators were preparing a case against the suspect a convicted felon who tried to kill himself a day after the kidnappings and sought a person of interest believed to be his accomplice. Relatives and fellow members of the Punjabi Sikh community, meanwhile, were shocked by the killings. Right now, Ive got hundreds of people in a community that are grieving the loss of two families, and this is worldwide. These families are across different continents, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke told The Associated Press. Weve got to show them that we can give them justice. The suspect, 48-year-old Jesus Salgado, was released from the hospital and booked into the county jail Thursday night on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, the Sheriff's Office said. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Earlier, Warnke called for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The sheriff called it one of the worst crimes he has seen over his 43 years in law enforcement and pleaded for Salgado's accomplice to turn himself in. Theres some things youll take to the grave. This to me was pure evil, he said in an interview Thursday. The city of Merced, where the family's trucking business was located, will hold evening vigils in their memory Thursday through Sunday. The victims' bodies were found near the town of Dos Palos, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Merced. Warnke on Thursday would not discuss the condition of the adults remains in the orchard but said it was unclear how the baby died. Warnke said the child had no visible trauma and an autopsy will be conducted. Salgado was previously convicted of first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm in Merced County, attempted false imprisonment and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness. Sentenced to 11 years in state prison in that case, he was released in 2015 and discharged from parole three years later, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He also has a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, the department said. Relatives of Salgado contacted authorities and told them he had admitted to them his involvement in the kidnapping, Warnke told KFSN-TV on Tuesday. Salgado tried to take his own life before police arrived at a home in Atwater where an ATM card belonging to one of the victims was used after the kidnapping about 9 miles (14 kilometers) north of Merced. Efforts to reach Salgados family were unsuccessful Thursday. The victims were Punjabi Sikhs, a community in central California that has a significant presence in the trucking business with many of them driving trucks, owning trucking companies or other businesses associated with trucking. Public records show the family owns Unison Trucking Inc. and relatives said they had opened an office in the last few weeks in a parking lot the Singh brothers also operated. The feud with Salgado dated back a year, the sheriff said, and got pretty nasty in text messages or emails. Other details about Salgado's employment and the nature of the dispute were not immediately available. Warnke said he believes the family was killed within an hour of the Monday morning kidnapping, when they were taken at gunpoint from their business. Surveillance video showed the suspect later identified as Salgado leading the Singh brothers, who had their hands zip-tied behind their backs, into the back seat of Amandeep Singhs pickup truck. He drove the brothers away and returned several minutes later. The suspect then went back to the trailer that served as the business office and led Jasleen Kaur, who was carrying her baby in her arms, out and into the truck before the suspect drove them away shortly before 9:30 a.m. Hours later, firefighters on Monday found Amandeep Singhs truck on fire in the town of Winton, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Merced. Police officers went to Amandeep Singhs home, where a family member tried to reach him and the couple. When they were not able to reach their family members, they called the sheriff's to report them missing. They were likely already dead. A United Nations organization on Friday committed to sharply cut carbon emissions from air travel by 2050 in response to growing pressure for airlines to reduce their pollution. Several major environmental groups praised the move, saying it could encourage the production of more sustainable aviation fuel. But they cautioned that it will be difficult to push countries to follow up with policies that actually reduce emissions. Aviation is a relatively small contributor to overall climate-changing emissions, but its share is expected to grow. More people are expected to travel on planes in the coming years, and aviation lacks cleaner alternatives such as electric power that are rapidly becoming widely available for cars and trucks. On Friday in Montreal, representatives of nearly 200 nations in the U.N.s International Civil Aviation Organization adopted what the agency called an aspirational goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The decision capped nearly a decade of negotiations and occurred as aviation comes under more pressure to fall in line with conditions of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate, which aims to cap the rise in global temperature. Crucially, the U.N. agency's resolution does not set targets for individual countries or airlines. Mark Brownstein, a senior official at the Environmental Defense Fund, said the resolution raised hope that travel will be more sustainable. But the work isnt over, he said. Now is the time for countries to act by establishing policies that support achievement of a 2050 net-zero goal for aviation with measurable progress in the interim. Dan Rutherford, who tracks the issue for the International Council on Clean Transportation, said that to hit the net-zero target, aviation emissions will need to peak and start decreasing as soon as 2025, with richer countries taking the lead. Airlines and governments expect to greatly reduce emissions by gradually switching from kerosene-based jet fuel to fuels made from fats, grease, plants or renewables. The European Union has proposed higher taxes on fossil fuels including jet fuel. But reaching net zero could require tougher measures including limits on flights at least until large electric- or hydrogen-powered planes are feasible decades from now. Airlines for America said it applauded the U.N. group's resolution, which could avoid a patchwork of policies by individual countries. The industry trade group called the 2050 milestone ambitious, but said airlines are already working with the U.S. government to make 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel available by 2030. The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writers: Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the role Hispanic Americans have had in building and strengthening the history, culture and economy of our nation. Latinos make Arizona communities and our country better 365 days a year. As a community that values hard work, quality education, and giving back to ones community, Arizonas Latinos fuel the American Dream and produce generation after generation of leaders on all fronts. For example: Latino-owned businesses employ nearly 1 million Arizonans, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Hispanic immigrants pay $2.4 billion in Arizona state taxes annually, according to the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Nationwide, 7 out of 10 Latinos work in health care, emergency services, and other essential fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Statistics like these open peoples eyes to the reality of the Hispanic community and its significant impact locally, regionally and nationally. Thats why UnidosUS the nations largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization recently launched a campaign in Arizona to share the stories of hardworking Latinos who make a difference in our communities every single day. Arizona State University, a longtime partner of UnidosUS, proudly joined the Count On Us campaign, to echo the powerful stories of Latino Sun Devils. As scientists, educators, artists, first responders, entrepreneurs and more, they share their talents, compassion, and knowledge to improve the quality of life in our communities, build a more robust economy, and create a brighter future for all. Why is it important to share these statistics and stories? The future health and success of our nation depends on our ability to come together as Americans to create the future we want. The information highlighted in this campaign can serve to not only inspire people of all backgrounds to appreciate the diverse contributions of Latinos, but also to act as a catalyst to help address challenges that prevent Hispanics and all Arizonans from achieving their full potential. While Latinos work hard and give so much to our country, too many in the Latino community lack equal access to the opportunities and tools everyone needs to build good lives for themselves and their families. Many jobs held by hardworking Hispanic men and women dont pay enough to make ends meet or provide health insurance. Public schools educating Latino children do not get the resources to meet their learning needs and improve educational outcomes. Our organizations value the Hispanic communitys contributions to our nation. UnidosUS works with 11 Arizona Affiliates community-based organizations that help children receive quality education, provide families preventative and life-saving health care, empower more Latino entrepreneurs and small businesses, and more. ASU was recognized this year as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and in 2019, earned the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education for its efforts to support Latino student success. These students are enmeshed in the Arizona community, volunteering, working, spending, and driving the economy. They are studying to be engineers, teachers, health professionals, business leaders, researchers and creatives. ASU joins our fellow Hispanic-Serving Institutions across Arizona and across the nation to help level the playing field and ensure that Latino students have every opportunity to learn, grow, and improve the future of our country. Good education, health care, and employment are tools every person needs to thrive. When we all have access to these core needs, our communities and economy become stronger. We are joining together to amplify the message that the Latino community is crucial to the well-being and prosperity of Arizonas future. Tyson Foods will relocate around 1,000 corporate positions from the Chicago area as well as South Dakota to its headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. One of the worlds largest meat producers said Wednesday that corporate staff at its Chicago and Downers Grove, Illinois, locations and Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, office will begin relocating early next year. The consolidation of corporate offices is intended to allow for closer collaboration and no layoffs will accompany the shift, the company said. Tyson plans to expand and remodel its headquarters in Arkansas. The parent company of Jimmy Dean and Ball Park products employs about 137,000 workers worldwide. The announcement follows some recent high-profile corporate maneuvers, including naming John Tyson the great-grandson of the companys founder as its chief financial officer. Chicago has had a number of corporate departures in recent months. Boeing Co. announced in May that it would move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. The following month, construction equipment maker Caterpillar said it was moving its headquarters from the Chicago suburbs to Texas. Citadel hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin, a billionaire who has been a vocal critic of Illinois Democratic governor and of crime rates in Chicago, also recently moved his companys headquarters to Miami. In a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago last month, McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski said he often fields calls from mayors and governors trying to get him to move McDonalds headquarters out of Chicago. Kempczinski said McDonalds has no plans to leave, but has struggled with crime and homelessness in its Chicago restaurants. While it may wound our civic pride to hear it, there is a general sense out there that our city is in crisis, Kempczinski said, adding that it is becoming more difficult for the company to recruit promising employees. After working at the Oxley Nature Center for over three decades, Director Eddie Reese retired last month. Reese dutifully served the park since 1987, acting as a supervisor, tour guide and teacher to improve the park and inspire a sense of wonder in all who visited. It was the best job in the whole world, Reese said. I could look out my window while working on the computer and see hawks flying overhead or deer walking through the grass. And every day was different new problems came up, new opportunities came up, and I got to learn new skills so I could teach them to someone else. In many ways, it feels like Reese was born to be a naturalist. My mom told me when I was a baby, I would cry all the time until she set me outside, so it probably all started then, Reese said. Born in Texas and raised in Southwest Oklahoma, Reese said he discovered a love for exploring and learning about the outdoors from an early age. Growing up on the edge of a small town, I had access to the Wichita Mountains and the rivers and creeks all around me, Reese said. As an elementary student, Id find books in our school library about pioneers like Daniel Boone and Id read them voraciously. After studying science education and wildlife ecology in college, Reese took a summer job at Oxley Nature Center where he maintained the grounds, did trail work and led childrens tours of the park. Reese said this experienced led him to fell in love with the park, and thus, a seasonal job became a permanent position as natural resource coordinator. When I was studying, I used to think that I wanted to live in the woods somewhere far away and never see people again, Reese said. Come to find out the best part of being a naturalist meeting people and teaching them things about nature. I found that I could spend so much more time outdoors learning as I go and being curious. And teach people, he certainly did. After taking on a permanent position at Oxley Nature Center and even after being promoted to director in 2003, Reese taught a huge variety of classes to park attendees. Under Reeses guidance, Tulsans learned how to start fires, fashion baskets out of bark, create a natural salve to stop the itching caused by mosquito bites and even tanning animals skins with brain matter to create leather. After taking over as director, Reese also oversaw the parks dedicated staff as they worked to maintain the Oxley Nature Centers 800 acres and nine miles of trail. I didnt see myself as a boss who told other people what to do, I felt like I was more of a facilitator to help the staff do their jobs, Reese said. I was very blessed to be around people who saw their work at the Nature Center not just as a job or a vocation, but as a passion. They just did it because they loved it. Throughout this tenure as director, Reese made many improvements to Oxley Nature Center including revamping park events, adding new exhibits and increasing the parks core of volunteers. The best part for me is all of the volunteers Ive gotten to know over the years, Reese said. Only the best people come volunteer here. We couldnt do it without them. Undoubtedly, Reese said his biggest accomplishment as director of Oxley Nature Center is showing the park to younger generations and instilling a veneration for nature inside them. Ive taken thousands of children on hikes down the trail, Reese said. Those kids are going to grow up one day and be voters. The most important thing Ive tried to accomplish is inspiring a sense of wonder in them, to teach them about nature so that theyll love it and want to conserve and protect it. Looking ahead, Reese said he wants the park to remain a cherished and important part of Tulsas ecosystem. He wants the land to remain lush and free in the face of increasing urbanization. A replacement for Reese has not yet been named. You need places like Guthrie Green and the Gathering Place as a recreation area, but you also need the wild places, the true wilderness where you can go and enjoy the quiet and aloneness in the woods, Reese said. I think thats a healing thing the more time people spend in the city, the more healing time they need in the woods. Though Reese has retired from the Oxley Nature Center, hes certainly not spending any more time inside. On an acreage of land between Sand Springs and Sapulpa, Reese is building his own personal nature conservancy. He calls the land Double Creek Nature Preserve, named for the two creeks that conjoin on the property as well as his two twin granddaughters. I love coming out here as the sun comes up and watching as the temperature changes and the day grows thats what I do every day, Reese said. I thank the Lord that Im here doing this, I feel unbelievably blessed. Now that he has more time on his hands, Reese is dedicating his days to building a house out of two antique log cabins he bought, both built in the 1830s. Hes building the home of his dreams, he said, while still enjoying the quietude of the nature around him. When we found this place four years ago, we were wandering around it knowing we might want to buy it, and I kept thinking, This is like having your own nature center, Reese said. Even though I loved working at Oxley, I really enjoy my alone time out here in the woods working with my hands. When his new home is complete, Reese said hed like to make more additions to the property in the hopes of teaching more classes. For him, retirement just means that new opportunities are on the horizon. No matter what youre doing, do something you love, whether you get paid well for it or not, Reese said. If it makes you happy, do it, and enjoy it, because its not going to last forever. Before you know it, its time to retire. For me, retirement is not leaving what I was doing. Im just doing it in a different way, in a different place, on my own terms. 50 things were loving about Tulsa in 2022 Tulsas sixth annual Native American Day celebration is set for Monday at the city park named in honor of Oklahomas Indigenous heritage. Dream Keepers Park, renamed about a year ago, is the perfect site for this event just blocks from the Council Oak Tree where Tulsa was founded, Mayor G.T. Bynum said in a statement referencing the citys first Creek Nation settlement. Bynum said the celebration recognizes the tremendous Native American culture and heritage that has substantially shaped the citys character. Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized Native American tribes, and Tulsa is home to a population of approximately 30,000 Native Americans, the news release states. At the request of the Greater Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission, Tulsa City Council in September 2017 approved switching the observance on the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Native American Day. I am grateful for everyone who works to honor this special day each year, Bynum said. An opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday will include words from the mayor, posting of colors and prayer. Tulsas chief resilience officer will acknowledge the city was founded upon exclusions and erasures of Indigenous peoples in a statement honoring those who have lived on the land formerly known as Indian Territory. At 10 a.m., tribal leaders will be introduced, including Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Muscogee Nation Chief David Hill, Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Quapaw Nation Chief Joseph Byrd. Kim Teehee, designated to represent the Cherokee Nation in the U.S. House of Representatives, is slated to speak Monday as well. The Cherokee Nation is fighting for the tribes treaty-promised right to a delegate who can speak on the floor participate in committee votes. Teehee was chosen in 2019 to represent the tribe and its 437,000 citizens in Washington, D.C. Three years later, Congress has yet to approve Teehee as a delegate, prompting the Cherokee Nation to launch a campaign to get her seated. A parade including princesses from the different tribal nations will follow, with Nathalie Standingcloud, actress and producer of Reservation Dogs, to serve as parade marshal. The FX on Hulu television show, filmed in rural Okmulgee, is considered a breakthrough for Indigenous representation with every writer, director and series regular on the show of Native heritage. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tulsa Artist Fellowship will feature their work, with cultural dancing on display at 2:30 and 4 p.m. The day ends with a performance by Supaman at 5 p.m. Tulsa World Scene podcast: What Reservation Dogs means to Native Americans and Oklahoma As the midterm elections draw closer, the divisions that exist within America are often on full display. Social media pages, radio and TV airwaves are frequently dominated by bitter discourse and withering political attacks. The concept of a unified America a neighbor working alongside another neighbor for a common goal can seem elusive. But all across the country, many young people are working to change that. They actively engage in civic initiatives to bring together their communities and solve problems. These young people are demonstrating a sense of unity and a cooperative spirit that should serve as a much-needed inspiration for our entire country. One of those students is Hamid Torabzadeh, who joined his schools American Red Cross Club as a freshman and became the nonprofits ambassador to the entire Los Angeles region as a senior. Torabzadeh, a recent graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California, has trained more than 300 of his peers in disaster preparedness through the Red Cross READYteens Program. Students have learned how to prepare for and help respond to crises such as pandemics, active shootings and wildfires. The more we work to unite our communities to face inevitable disasters, the healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable our livelihoods will be as Americans, he said. Torabzadehs vital service to his community won him the grand prize in the 2022 MyImpact Challenge, a civic engagement contest that helps students develop a robust understanding of citizenship and become civically engaged in their communities. The MyImpact Challenge is sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute, a Virginia nonprofit that promotes civics and history through curricula and educational experiences for teachers and students. Torabzadeh dreams of becoming a physician one day, and we hope the $10,000 prize he earned will help him realize this goal. The theme for the 2022 competition was E pluribus unum out of many, one and Torabzadeh perfectly embodies the spirit of resolve and community-mindedness that Americas founders envisioned when they adopted the slogan. During these politically divisive times, it can be easy to wonder whether the aspirations behind E pluribus unum are still plausible. But students like Isabella Hanson, class of 2023 at Kennett High School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, are working to bring people together and build communities based on free expression, understanding and respect. Hanson understood that many young people felt isolated because of school closures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. In my time of need, I have turned to poetry, and I knew that the arts could help other students, as well, she said. Hanson founded the I Matter poetry contest in the wake of George Floyds 2020 murder to provide a forum for the youth to express their feelings about equality. More than 1,000 students have participated in the program since 2020. Assisted by judges, including academics and athletes, winners have seen their work collected into books. Hanson found her solution to isolation through poetry, and she brought together students from across the country. Other students have worked in their backyards to help people who may be feeling isolated or marginalized. Camden Kiefer and Hailey Bishop of Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois, spearheaded an effort to create a farmers market as a community gathering place as America emerged from lockdown. Miller Manguno founded Operation Orange Haven to provide meals and laundry supplies to one of Memphis most underprivileged neighborhoods. He was not some veteran community organizer but a student at Briarcrest Christian High School in Eads, Tenn. Manguno learned from his project to ask people what they need not what he or others thought they needed. Ultimately, MyImpact Challenge shows young people what it means to meet the needs of others and to strive for the common good. We owe these students a debt of gratitude for showing us all what good citizenship and unity can look like. The Oklahoma Legislature took over the distribution of more than $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds from the governor, only to stalemate at the end. A lot of good came from the approval of projects with ARPA money in a special session that began Feb. 6. That includes new medical facilities, expanded nonprofit social programs, more nursing education, enhancements to workforce development and training, and infrastructure upgrades to water and broadband. But last week a tussle over a $2.8 million grant to the Oklahoma City YWCA is holding up $95 million in projects. Its a shortsighted, political move creating a time lag that lawmakers criticized in Gov. Kevin Stitts handling of the ARPA funds in the first place. The House passed a bill to fund the projects without the Oklahoma City YWCA grant. That was rejected in the Senate. Now everything in that portion of the ARPA package is on hold. That includes: $30 million for Oasis Fresh Markets to open three additional stores, including one in west Tulsa; $700,000 for the Parent Child Center for domestic violence intervention; $2 million toward construction of a new Family Safety Center near 28th Street and Sheridan Road; $1 million for new air handling equipment and plumbing at The Spring near Sand Springs, which offers housing for targets of domestic violence and human trafficking; $3 million to Food on the Move toward construction of a food hub essentially a distribution and storage center; $30 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma programs statewide; and $25 million for expanded child care capacity in the state. These are essential programs that care for the young, hungry and victimized. No one is saying what sparked the disagreement. The Oklahoma City YWCA project houses children who are aging out of foster care, a worthy need to fund for our state. The only connection to the Legislature is that the wife of Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat is on the nonprofits board. According to a story from reporter Randy Krehbiel, Treat doesnt believe that was the reason for the hold up. Whatever the reason may be, lawmakers have an obligation to find a solution. The special session is already marred by the discriminatory targeting of transgender youth, whom the Legislature and Stitt have denied treatment at University of Oklahoma medical facilities. The move questionably sets a state policy on federal funds. ARPA funds were meant to build an infrastructure for a healthier, safer, more educated and productive state. For the most part, that is being achieved. Its a bad look to go out with this kind of in-fighting for no given reason. This job lawmakers wrested from Stitt isnt done. They must rise above pettiness and politics for the greater good. Featured video: Vietnam is leading Southeast Asia and ranks sixth in the world in the number of students studying at U.S. higher education institutions, Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns announced at an exhibition on American education on Thursday. Consul General Burns was speaking at EducationUSA Fall Fair 2022, held by EducationUSA at the Reverie Saigon in District 1, and hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. The event, which was held offline for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted hundreds of students and parents who wished to explore opportunities for higher education studies in the U.S.. Currently, around 30,000 Vietnamese students of all ages are studying in the U.S., Consul General Burns said at the event. Vietnam currently ranks as the sixth leading country of origin for all international higher education students in the U.S. and accounts for the biggest portion of Southeast Asian students in America, according to the consul general. Specifically, Vietnam had 21,631 students studying at U.S. colleges and universities for the 2021-22 academic year, the U.S. Embassy elaborated on its website. EducaitonUSA Fall Fair 2022 provided guests with information about degree programs, career perspectives, scholarships, and financial aid for studies in the U.S., the embassy said. About 60 higher education institutions from 21 U.S. states participated in the event. Mundy Yiu, deputy director of the international admissions office of the University of Miami, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vietnam is among the markets from which most American universities want to attract new students. With good qualifications in both academic and foreign language skills, many Vietnamese students are welcomed to universities in the U.S., Yiu commented. Regarding enrollment policies, Lan Nguyen, a representative of the admissions office at Georgia State University, said many American universities will continue to waive Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) certificates as a condition for admission. This policy was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic when students in many countries could not sit for SAT exams and many SAT training centers were forced to shut down, the representative said. However, it is likely that schools will reinstate requirements for the SAT test in 2024, Nguyen added. With the pandemic under control, many American universities now offer flexible learning options for international students, said Xuan Li, Northeastern Universitys international program coordinator in Asia. For example, foreign students at Northeastern can either study in the U.S. for the full term or take online classes for the first 1-2 years before attending physical classes in the U.S. for the rest of their programs, Li said, adding that this mixed-learning approach helps facilitate the process of achieving academic goals. Although many American universities offer more options for international candidates, Vietnamese students should think carefully before making a decision to enroll in a university in the U.S., Nguyen Hien, a representative of Northern Arizona University, advised. When choosing a school, students should focus on their preferences and strengths, not merely on its reputation or current trends, Hien recommended. The same education exhibition was hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi on Tuesday. EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State-supported network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries, according to the U.S. Embassy. The network provides Vietnamese students and parents with accurate, comprehensive, and current information about how to apply to accredited U.S. colleges and universities, the embassy said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Malaysian research student Haziq Ramli wore an outfit resembling a light jetpack, with poles strapped to his biceps, to wield a long pole that clipped the sharp fronds and heavy bunches of fruit from oil palm trees nearly twice his height. Working on a three-acre (1.2-hectare) family estate, he was part of a team trying to perfect the gadget, called a wearable exoskeleton, that promises to reduce the need for labourers to manipulate the poles, which can weigh as much as 8 kg (18 lbs). "My arms are supported when I'm holding the pole, I feel less strain and fatigue," said Haziq, who wore sneakers and spectacles. Plantation firms in the world's second biggest producer of palm oil are stepping up mechanisation to stem losses running into billions of dollars as fruit goes unharvested during their worst labour shortage yet. "To harvest 10 tonnes of palm fruits a month, we need two workers," said estate owner Hamidon Salleh. Hamidon, who is also an engineer, said he and his colleagues at Malaysia's University of Technology (UTM) were working with top producer Sime Darby Plantation to test the gadget. "With this exoskeleton, one harvester can achieve 10 tonnes on his own," he added. "We can do the same amount of work with fewer workers." Peers of Sime Darby, such as IOI Corp, Boustead Plantations and FGV Holdings are stepping up use of drones to spray crops with fertiliser and pesticide, map estate holdings and monitor the condition of trees. Sime Darby said it was working with technology partners, but did not identify them. Boustead and FGV did not respond to requests for comment. IOI said it had doubled its 2022 budget for automation and mechanisation from last year, while greater use of machines such as drones, electric wheelbarrows and motorised palm cutters has helped slash labour needs by a quarter. Malaysian producers are racing to mechanise as they face a third annual fall in output, along with losses estimated at 20 billion ringgit ($4.4 billion), because of the labour crunch. Yields plummeted to near 40-year lows in the 2020/21 marketing year, worsening a global shortage of edible oils triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war. Almost 80% of Malaysia's plantation workers are migrants, many recruited from neighbouring Indonesia to do the back-breaking work of harvesting, but pandemic curbs caused a shortfall of about 120,000 workers this year. And supply is only expected to dry up further in coming years, making hiring more expensive. "Weve seen that the industry is starting to invest more in mechanisation because of the labour shortage," said Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, the chief of the state-run Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). "The trend is rising." Efforts to automate had been slow while producers had easy access to cheap migrant labour able to navigate plantation terrain challenging to machines. COVID changes The coronavirus pandemic has changed that. "COVID-19 has accelerated the digital transformation in plantations much faster," said Razalee Ismail, director of drone services provider Meraque. "Companies are now much more willing to spend and experiment with technology." Demand for the firm's drone spraying services have surged since the start of the pandemic, pushing the expansion of its fleet to 62 from three in 2018, though Razalee said the company needed to add 100 more to meet demand. A single drone using artificial intelligence to detect trees and spray nutrients can do the work of six people, he added. Meraque counts FGV, Boustead and Sime Darby as customers. If Malaysia's use of manpower goes unchecked, rising wages could combine with dwindling output to boost costs and hurt competitiveness against larger exporter Indonesia and emerging producers in Africa, India and Latin America. Late last year, Malaysia's business and government pumped 60 million ringgit ($13 million) into research and development of automated harvesting technology. Their ambitious goal is to slash the workforce over the next five years, to a ratio of one worker for every 50 hectares (124 acres) from one for every 10 hectares (25 acres) now, with a long-term goal of one for every 100 hectares (247 acres). "We cannot be complacent as we've been before," added Ahmad Parveez of the state board. In rival Indonesia, some producers are adopting digital apps to optimise workflows and costs, although at a cautious pace, aware that mechanisation could threaten livelihoods. No quick fix Still, experts say automation will not phase out manual labour very soon. Few existing machines can tackle the vast undulating spaces and towering palm trees of plantations as efficiently as workers. New tools could ease Malaysias woes, but many are in their infancy and will need years of development, said Khor Yu Leng, director of economic consultancy Segi Enam Advisors. Flights by most battery-powered drones last just 15 minutes, while existing exoskeletons do not speed harvesters movements and can cost tens of thousands of ringgit, she said. Hazlina Salamat, UTM's lead researcher on exoskeletons for the palm industry, is working on one shown in tests to reduce muscle strain by 22% and increase endurance by 47%, she said. Despite wanting to modernise, the industry is cautious about big investments, Hazlina said, adding, "A lot of these technologies have to be proven first." NA KLANG, Thailand -- Thai government buildings flew flags at half mast on Friday to mourn the death of more than 30 people, including 23 children, after an ex-policeman burst into a daycare centre in a knife and gun rampage that left the nation shocked and seeking answers. Most of the children who died at the daycare centre in Uthai Sawan, a town 500 km (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok, on Thursday were stabbed to death, police said, marking one of the worst child death tolls in a massacre by a single killer in recent history. Police identified the attacker as a former member of the force who was discharged over drug allegations and who was facing trial on a drugs charge. After the attack, he went home and shot dead his wife and child before turning his weapon on himself. People gather outside a day care center which was the scene of a mass shooting, in the town of Uthai Sawan, around 500 km northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand October 6, 2022. Photo: Reuters The age range of children at the daycare centre ranged from two to five years, a local official said. "It's a scene that nobody wants to see. From the first step when I went in, it felt harrowing," Piyalak Kingkaew, an emergency worker heading the first responder team, told Reuters. "Weve been through it before, but this incident is most harrowing because they are little kids." The former policeman had been in court earlier in the day and had then gone to the daycare centre to collect his child, police spokesperson Paisal Luesomboon told broadcaster ThaiPBS. When he did not find his child there, he began the killing spree, Paisal said. "He started shooting, slashing, killing children," Paisal said. Rescue workers carry coffins containing the body of victims at Song Serm Tham Foundation after transfer from Udon Thani hospital in Udon Thani province, following a mass shooting in the town of Uthai Sawan, around 500 km northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand October 7, 2022. Photo: Reuters 'I begged him for mercy' Late on Thursday, a Reuters photographer saw the body of the shooter, Panya Khamrapm, being moved in a bodybag from a van to a police station in the province. "I don't know (why he did this), but he was under a lot of pressure," Panya's mother told Nation TV, citing debt the former policeman had clocked up and his drug taking. Photographs taken at the daycare centre by the rescue team and shared with Reuters showed the tiny bodies of those killed laid out on blankets. Abandoned juice boxes were scattered across the floor. Rescue workers arrange coffins containing the body of victims at Song Serm Tham Foundation after transfer from Udon Thani hospital in Udon Thani province, following a mass shooting in the town of Uthai Sawan, around 500 km northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand October 7, 2022. Photo: Reuters "He was heading towards me and I begged him for mercy, I didnt know what to do," one distraught woman told ThaiPBS, fighting back tears. "He didnt say anything, he shot at the door while the kids were sleeping," another woman said, becoming distraught. About 30 children were at the facility - a pink, one-storey building surrounded by a lawn and small palm trees - when the attacker arrived. That was fewer than usual, as heavy rain had kept many people away, said district official Jidapa Boonsom. Rescue workers carry coffins containing the bodies of victims at Udon Thani hospital in Udon Thani province, following a mass shooting in the town of Uthai Sawan, around 500 km northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand October 7, 2022. Photo: Reuters The attacker forced his way into a locked room where the children were sleeping, Jidapa said. Three boys and a girl who survived the attack were being treated in hospital, police said. The massacre is among the worst involving children killed by one person. Anders Breivik killed 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp in Norway in 2011, while the death toll in other cases include 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut in 2012, 16 at Dunblane in Scotland in 1996 and 19 at a school in Uvalde, Texas, this year. Gun laws are strict in Thailand, but ownership is high compared with some other countries in Southeast Asia. Illegal weapons, many brought in from strife-torn neighbouring countries, are common. Vietnam closely monitors the developments of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and wishes that the parties will resume dialogue and resolve the issue by peaceful means, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang was asked about Vietnams position on the event that Russia annexed four Ukrainian oblasts, namely Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Vietnam closely monitors the developments of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hang said. Vietnam calls on relevant parties to resume dialogue and resolve issues by peaceful means on the basis of respecting basic principles of international law, especially the principle of respect for countries' independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, the spokesperson continued. As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam is ready to contribute to promoting dialogue and finding solutions to soon stabilize the situation, for peace and stability in the region and the world, she noted. Russia announced the annexation of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in a ceremony held in Moscow on September 30. On October 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin passed the laws to officially complete the merger of the four regions. Ukraine and many countries rejected the results of the referendums on the annexation of the four regions and imposed new sanctions on Russia. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in An Giang Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta region, are further investigating a case in which three teenagers robbed a peer of an electric bicycle with a knife in Long Xuyen City. Tran Van Luc, 16, Nguyen Hoai Thanh, 14, and Luong Hoang Phuc, 13 all living in Long Xuyen used a knife to threaten and take the e-bike of L.N.M.Q, 13, while Q. was riding it on a street in the citys My Binh Ward at around 5:20 pm on Wednesday, police said on Friday. Q.s 47-year-old father Le Van Nghi reported the robbery to the My Binh police station about two hours later. Police officers quickly investigated the case and determined Luc, Thanh, and Phuc as the robbers, as well as confiscated the robbed bike, which Nghi said was worth VND4 million (US$167). After being detained by police officers, the trio admitted to the crime, adding that they had sold the bike for VND700,000 ($29). While police in Long Xuyen City issued an arrest warrant for Luc due to his involvement in four other robberies, Thanh and Phuc were allowed to be bailed out by their families. Police also initiated legal proceedings against Luc and banned him from leaving his residence. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- "Vietnam closely follows the developments surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict," the Vietnam News Agency quoted spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang as saying during a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday. "Vietnam calls on relevant parties to resume dialogue and resolve issues by peaceful means on the basis of respecting basic principles of international law, especially the principle of respect for countries' independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity." Society -- Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that 13 out of 14 Vietnamese women who had been tricked into coming to the Philippines and forced to engage in prostitution have been freed after being rescued by local authorities in late September. -- Hanoi authorities on Thursday turned the first sod on an underpass at the Giai Phong - Kim Dong intersection. Costing VND778 billion (US$32.6 million), the underpass is expected to come on stream in 30 months. -- A court in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam sentenced on Thursday two people to a combined 12 years in jail for working to topple the people's government. -- The second energy forum between Vietnam and Thailand took place in Bangkok on Thursday, seeking ways to achieve the common goal of developing clean and sustainable energy, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Business -- Vietnam's richest man Pham Nhat Vuong has established a real estate investment and management company with a charter capital of VND18 trillion ($754 million). Education -- About 30,000 Vietnamese students enrolled in schools at all levels in the U.S., newly-appointed Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns said at an education fair on Thursday. Vietnam currently ranks sixth among countries with the largest number of students in the U.S.. World News -- "Malaysia's palm planters are eyeing robots and drones to combat a labor crunch," Reuters reported. -- "South Korea and the United States began joint maritime exercises with a U.S. aircraft carrier on Friday," Reuters cited South Korea's military as saying, a day after it scrambled fighter jets in reaction to an apparent North Korean bombing drill. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam have booked a 35-year-old man for lighting his eight-year-old sons legs on fire following a neighbors accusation that the child had stolen their money. Doctors at Bo Trach General Hospital in Quang Binhs Bo Trach District diagnosed the child, Nguyen T.T., with third-degree burns. The incident occurred on October 2 when T.s 35-year-old father Nguyen Anh Tuan returned to his family home in Hoa Trach Commune, Bo Trach District and a neighbor told him that T. had stolen money from their house to buy toys. Tuan, who was drunk at the time, then took straw and petrol and used them to light the boys legs on fire. Tuans mother immediately extinguished the fire and rushed T. to a local medical station for first aid, but the childs injuries required further treatment at Bo Trach General Hospital. Local authorities summoned Tuan after the incident, and the man admitted to his wrongdoing and expressed regret, according to Phan Thanh Lam, chairman of Hoa Trach Commune. Since Tuan and his wife separated, Tuan has been raising T. and their other child on his own while living with his mother, Lam added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Thai Ministry of Energy has decided to stop its 1,200MW coal-fired thermal power project in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam after reviewing the idle project that has yet to be developed since it got approved more than nine years ago. The decision was unveiled within the framework of the 2nd Vietnam - Thailand Energy Forum (VTEF 2) held by the ministry, in conjunction with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, in Bangkok on Thursday, Vo Van Hung, chairman of the Quang Tri administration, confirmed on Friday. The Thai energy ministry also affirmed it would issue an official notice on the stoppage of this project to Vietnam's industry and trade ministry and the provincial government, Hung said. The project, with an expected investment of US$2.26 billion from EGAT International Co. Ltd. (EGATi) under the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), secured the green light from the Vietnamese government in August 2013 but it has not been developed over different reasons. At the forum, which discussed ways to achieve the common goal of clean and sustainable energy development between Thailand and Vietnam, Hung briefed its participants on the difficult situation of the project over the past years. The chairman emphasized that the standstill of the project, which is located on a 450ha area in the provinces Southeast Economic Zone, has remarkably affected the local governments socio-economic development plans. Hung proposed that the Vietnamese industry and trade ministry and the Thai energy ministry review this non-operational project and make an official decision on it. After considering the proposal, assessing the financial obstacles to the thermal power project, and taking into account the international commitments of the governments of Vietnam and Thailand to bring their net emissions to zero by 2050 and 2065, respectively, the Thai energy ministry decided to stop this project. The ministry, however, suggested that the industry and trade ministry and Quang Tri administration continue to assist EGAT and EGATi in seeking opportunities for investment in renewable energy projects or in infrastructure for such projects in Vietnam and the province in particular, the Quang Tri Portal reported. Provincial leaders said local authorities are keen on developing Quang Tri into an energy hub of the central Vietnamese region and they encourage energy development projects that minimize adverse impacts on the environment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A court in Vietnams Mekong Delta on Thursday sentenced a man and his girlfriend to seven and five years in prison, respectively, over activities aimed at overthrowing the government. The Peoples Court in Kien Giang Province handed the sentences to Nguyen Van Nghia, 47, from Ho Chi Minh City, and Duong Thi Be, 40, from Kien Giang, for their participation in activities aimed at overthrowing the Vietnamese government. The indictment showed that Nghia visited a website in 2014 to learn about the reactionary organization 'Provisional National Government of Vietnam,' led by a man named Dao Minh Quan. In late 2018, Nghia joined a so-called referendum of the reactionary organization and 'elected' Quan as president of the 'Third Republic of Vietnam' as well as applied to officially join this organization. Nghia also enticed others to join. In March 2020, Nghia was appointed to various positions within the organization and was tasked with correcting spelling errors in members' social media posts. In mid-2021, Nghia was in charge of editing articles that insulted the honor of late President Ho Chi Minh. In late October 2021, he convinced Be his girlfriend to join the organization. The couple later met some of Nghias relatives and introduced to them the organizations policies and convinced them to partake in the organization, though their membership applications have not yet been approved. Nghia also used the personal information of six of his family members to participate in the referendum held by the reactionary organization. Meanwhile, Be asked several officers and people in the armed forces to join this organization. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Peoples Committee of An Giang Province on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for homestay owners to continue operating their businesses on Cam (Forbidden) Mountain, an emerging tourist destination in the province located in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. The meeting followed concerns that rampant, unchecked construction could negatively impact the local way of life. Pham Thanh Nhon, chairman of Tinh Bien District, home to Cam Mountain, reported at Wednesdays meeting that seven businesses currently operating unapproved homestays on the mountain. An additional 572 families have built houses on forested land without government approval and 78 illegal worship facilities also operate on the mountain, according to Nhon. Visitors enjoy themselves at a homestay in Cam Mountain in Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam. Photo: Buu Dau / Tuoi Tre Countering worries about the negative impacts that the homestays might have on the local community, the management board of the Cam Mountain tourist site, which covers a total area of about 1,000 hectares on the mountain, said that homestay tourism is trendy and a major draw for visitors. The management board, therefore, proposed that the homestays be allowed to continue operating. Concluding the meeting, Tran Anh Thu, deputy chairman of the Peoples Committee of An Giang, approved the Cam Mountain tourist site management boards proposal, though he required homestay owners to ensure that their facilities meet regulatory requirements. A group of tourists take a wefie at a homestay in Cam Mountain, An Giang Province, Vietnam. Photo: Buu Dau / Tuoi Tre Though the homestays are allowed to remain in operation, all other illegal constructions, including the 572 illegally-built houses and 78 illegally-built workshop facilities, must be relocated. The deputy chairman also tasked the Peoples Committee of Tinh Bien District with collaborating with the provincial construction department to create a development plan for Cam Mountain. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The sunken wreck of Finnish-owned sailing ship Glenbank, missing more than 100 years ago, has been discovered in the spectacular Dampier Marine Park, off the coast of Western Australia. The Scottish-built cargo ship sank with more than 20 crew on board in 1911. The historic discovery is explored in the first episode of the new Disney+ local series, Shipwreck Hunters Australia. A lot of our team are deep sea divers and a huge passion of ours is filmmaking, shipwrecks, wildlife, and we all sort of came together some time ago and now we specialise in underwater cinematography, diver and historical researcher Johnny Debnam tells TV Tonight. Collectively, weve probably spent a couple of years of our lives underwater. Its a really special spot. Were in the middle of the ocean Debnam sent down a remote camera off shore when they saw marine life congregating on the surface. Its a really special spot. Were in the middle of the ocean, theres no land in sight but weve seen congregations of humpback whales, bullsharks, hammerhead sharks, every sort of tropical Northwest species you can imagine. Theyre all meeting in this area. So thats what really got us curious to lowering a camera and ultimately making a discovery. In November 1910, the steel barque Glenbank arrived at Balla Balla, Western Australia and had been chartered by Whim Well Copper Mines Ltd to transport copper ore from Balla Balla to the United Kingdom. The ships crew was made up of 20 plus members (mostly Russian, Norwegian, and Finnish) and was under the command of Finn, Captain Fredrik Moberg. Theres around 1500 wrecks in Western Australia Debnam says WAs massive coastline is dotted with wrecks that all tell tragic stories. A lot of the stories behind these wrecks in Western Australia are like a Hollywood script. So we knew we were onto something, he explains. We have a lot of exposed reefs, there are cyclones. Before modern technology of GPS they were sort of navigating from nature basically, using the stars but celestial navigation wasnt very accurate. So thats sort of what caused a lot of these old ships to crash into the reefs. Theres around 1500 wrecks in Western Australia and only a quarter of those have been found. So theres still a lot of discoveries to be made. The evidence gathered by the team and extensive research determined that Glenbank came to its demise due to unsecured cargo of copper ore loaded at Balla Balla where, during a ferocious storm, the precious cargo shifted and caused the ship to capsize, splitting the hull and deck structure apart. Theyre a resting ground for sailors who have passed away For Debnam, the hunt is not merely about claiming lost treasures or gold but the history and the success stories. All historic shipwrecks are protected by the Australian government. But thats a good thing, so they dont get all looted. Back in the 70s, when people were finding Dutch treasure ships, they were going out there with dynamite and blowing up these wrecks to get the treasure. So its a good thing that that doesnt happen anymore. Theyre a really special place, these wrecks. Theyre a resting ground for sailors who have passed away and theyve also become marine sanctuaries now as well. Yet there was one unfinished story from the Glenbank its one and only survivor Antti Ketola, was a 22-year-old Finnish seaman, who managed to get to safety on Legendre Island before being rescued by the pearling lugger, Pearl. Remarkably, the Shipwreck Hunters Australia team was able to track down Antti Ketolas descendants in Finland who had no idea about their fore-fathers incredible shipwreck story. It was really special to be able to share that story with Anttis relative. He didnt even know about that. Maritime Archaeologist, Dr Deb Shefi from Western Australian Museum said: The discovery of Glenbank is very significant in helping tell the tale of global trade at the turn of the century and giving a voice to those who tragically lost their lives on that fateful day in 1911. It is not often we find a silhouette of a ship, with the masts aligned, resting on the seafloor like this. The unseasonably good weather meant Glenbank was ready to shed its secrets and we were able to record measurements and details that will assist further research into this tragic shipwreck. The series uncovers a number of other incredible shipwreck stories throughout each episode, including the discovery of a Dutch Dornier Do-24K flying boat operated by the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service (Marineluchtvaartdienst), one of fifteen flying boats destroyed in an air raid from World War 2. This discovery was one of the most significant finds in Broome in over twenty years, and the culmination of decades of research. Our fascination for everything that we find underwater overrides that fear of what could happen?' And then there are the inherent dangers. The obvious ones are sharks, but we were diving in crocodile infested waters in Broome with zero-visibility while were diving. Were basically diving blind with crocs in the area. The ocean itself is always the biggest danger, because were diving at really deep depths, pushing the limits. Its usually the ocean itself that causes most of the accidents, Debnam continues. But I think our fascination for everything that we find underwater overrides that fear of what could happen? Weve all done a lot of training, were very respectful of the dangers. But I think our fascination just overtakes that. Every every episode has a different story. Its just an adventure. Weve got ships from back in the 1600s. Weve got pirate captains stealing treasure and leaving their crew for dead. Weve got Australias Titanic that we investigate the Koombana, which disappeared without a trace, tragically with 157 men, women and children on board. You couldnt dream up some of these stories. Shipwreck Hunters Australia screens Wednesdays on Disney+ Updated. On 60 Minutes Tom Steinfort speaks to Shanelle Dawson, daughter of Lynette Dawson. The Truth Hurts For forty long years, every time Chris Dawson looked into the eyes of his two daughters he was reinforcing an elaborate and evil lie about their mother, Lynette Dawson, who vanished in 1982. He brainwashed the children, saying shed run away because she didnt love them. They grew up with broken hearts. But as the world now knows, this deception was just another example of Chris Dawsons cruelty. The truth is he murdered his wife so he could shack up with a 17-year-old school student. In an exclusive interview on 60 Minutes, Shanelle Dawson reveals what she remembers about the night her mother went missing, and tells Tom Steinfort about her continuing torment having one parent killed in cold blood and the other likely to die in prison. Reporter: Tom Steinfort Producer: Garry McNab Return to Bali Its not difficult to know why Australians love holidaying in Bali. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Next Wednesday though marks 20 years since that awful night when Balis popularity turned into a deadly curse. Terrorists detonated two bombs at two packed nightclubs. A total of 202 people including 88 Australians were killed. Young Geelong nurse Therese Fox was among those horrifically injured: 85 per cent of her body was burnt. In fact, her very survival is considered miraculous. Therese has never spoken publicly about her remarkable battle to live, but on 60 Minutes she courageously returns to Bali to put demons to rest and to honour her best friend who tragically died in the terrorist attack. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Clair Weaver, Laura Sparkes 8:30pm (ish) Sunday on Nine. Applications are open for Screenworks: Career Pathways Programs, designed to help regional screenwriters, directors and producers. These include Regional Producer Elevator Program, Director Pathways Program and Inside The Writers Room. The program is again being supported by funding from Screen NSW and, for the first time this year, Screen Queensland will support placements for Far North and North Queensland practitioners to participate. Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch said, Screenworks has proudly supported 61 screen practitioners from regional NSW through our Career Pathways Programs to date. The programs have springboarded the directing, producing and writing careers of many of those who have participated. Were excited that in 2023, thanks to support from Screen Queensland, were now able to open up the program to applicants from regional NQ and FNQ as well. Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer Dr Belinda Burns said, Screen Queensland is proud to support Screenworks Career Pathways Program for the first time through the North Queensland Regional Program, which is building screen production capacity within the region via skills development opportunities. Targeted programs, such as this one, provide an excellent opportunity for regional practitioners to connect with leading screen industry professionals and enhance skills across multiple departments, including producing, directing and writing. Screenworks Career Pathways Programs is designed to advance regional practitioners careers by connecting them with industry professionals and opportunities. Through Screenworks existing partnerships with organisations and production companies, the selected participants will be provided with invaluable support and guidance from some of Australias most respected writers, directors and producers. Screenworks 2023 Regional Producer Elevator Program will provide four selected regional producers two from NSW and two from QLD with $3,500 and the opportunity to observe a professional working producer in a program partner production company for five days. They will receive career and project advice from a professional producer, attend the 2023 Screenworks Regional To Global Forum and the 2023 Screen Forever Conference. This program will be delivered with support from Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Producers Australia and Fremantle Media. Two regional NSW directors and two from NQ/FNQ will be granted $3,500 to implement a bespoke professional development program that will help them advance their screen directing career as part of the Director Pathways Program. This program will be delivered in partnership with Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, and the Australian Directors Guild and with support from Fremantle Media. Finally, five regional NSW and Queensland screenwriters will be selected to participate in the Inside The Writers Room program, where they will have the opportunity to observe a professional writing team working on television drama at some of Australias most respected production companies Made Up Stories, Fremantle Media Australia, EQ Media, Tony Ayres Productions and Wooden Horse. Inside the Writers Room is being funded by Screen NSW and Screen Queensland and supported by Fremantle. Independent selection panels with representatives from Screenworks program partners, industry bodies and guilds will assess the applications for each of the programs. screenworks.com.au/learn/career-pathways-programs If less is more then thats just what viewers got with the first outing of Frankly, ABCs new Friday night chat show. Fran Kelly hosted for a short and sweet 30 minutes in her debut episode, with guests Shaun Micallef, anaesthetist and Thai cave rescuer Dr Richard Harris, astrophysicist and science communicator Kirsten Banks. Kellys interview skills delivered in the first episode, probing the former Mad as Hell host on whether he is the real Micallef on TV; questioning Dr. Richard Harris on the moral dilemmas of the famed Thai cave rescue; and helping to demystify how Indigenous traditions can read the night sky. There was a smattering of guests interacting, but the brief running time could have allowed for more, along with a guest performer, if it had run to 40 -50 minutes. That seemed to be the consensus too from social media reactions, where the vibe was largely positive for the first outing. I enjoyed the show #Frankly but thought it was a bit rushed. Would like to see longer conversations with each guest. Should be 1 hour. Jen (@jha444) October 7, 2022 Half an hour? Hard to create a night Caberet chat show vibe in half an hour. #Frankly Sandra K Eckersley (@SandraEckersley) October 7, 2022 #Frankly 30 mins isnt enough Alison McMorland JP (@macali65) October 7, 2022 Too short. Love it! Music is terrific too. #frankly Ellen White (@EllenWhiteAus) October 7, 2022 Seriously, if the ABC want to make #Frankly work, they should extend it to an hour, more tables, give the audience drinks, pop in a few musical interludes, get more Arty guests and run it AFTER shows like Doc Martin. Sandra K Eckersley (@SandraEckersley) October 7, 2022 Loved it good onya @frankelly08 Great show, great guests, a genuine and witty repartee lovely #frankly Bee (@BelindaJones68) October 7, 2022 Ill be up for the next #frankly Hoogle Gater (@abc_junkee) October 7, 2022 I'm really enjoying Frankly, it's really good so far #Frankly Bee (@BelindaJones68) October 7, 2022 Okay to my surprise, that wasn't too bad. Although would prefer it wasn't on a Friday night when I expect drama at 8:30pm #FranklyTV #Frankly Byron Stol (@ByronStol) October 7, 2022 #Frankly there are two many of these talking heads shows on our @ABCTV. Most people want to watch drama or comedy at Friday night at 7.30pm. Julia the Irwinator (@JuliaIrwinator) October 7, 2022 Seven West Medias chief people and culture officer, Katie McGrath, will depart in December after five years with the company, to pursue private business interests. McGrath joined us in June 2017 as group executive, Human Resources, after senior leadership roles at Enero Group, Bain & Company, SMS Management & Technology and Singtel Optus. She was appointed Seven West Medias chief people and culture officer in 2019. Seven West Media chief executive, James Warburton told staff via email, McGrath has made a remarkable contribution to our company over the past five years and has been a powerful and effective agent of change. He added: McGrath is rightly regarded as a leader in her field and we were fortunate to have had her service for the five years she has been here. She will be greatly missed and leaves with our sincere thanks. I know everyone at Seven joins me in wishing Katie all the very best for the future. McGrath said, It has been an exhilarating and rewarding journey at Seven, and incredible to work with James, the executive team, the Board and the entire team. I am really proud of the business turnaround our team has delivered. It is the best team in the business and Im confident Im leaving the company in its strongest ever position. During her time in the role joined the Unstereotype Alliances Australian chapter, an industry-led initiative convened by UN Women, and was recognised as the first media company in Australia to become an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality. Source: Mumbrella BERLIN (AP) Germany wants the huge economic damage resulting from global warming to be discussed at this year's United Nations climate talks, Germany's foreign minister said Friday. Vulnerable countries have long demanded that big polluters be held accountable for the effects that their greenhouse gas emissions are having around the world, including the destruction caused by extreme weather and sea level rise resulting from rising global temperatures. But rich nations that account for the majority of planet-warming emissions since the start of the industrial era have largely opposed efforts to formally debate the loss and damage issue for fear they might have to pay climate reparations. Last year's U.N. climate talks in Glasgow failed to reach agreement on establishing a special fund for loss and damage. Speaking after a meeting with her counterpart from Pakistan, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the recent devastating floods in the South Asian nation had shown what dramatic consequences the climate crisis is having in all regions. As one of the hardest-hit countries worldwide, Pakistan is paying a high price for global CO2 emissions, Baerbock, a member of the environmentalist Greens party, told reporters in Berlin. That's why Germany will work toward a fair sharing of the costs at the COP27 in Egypt, putting the question of climate adaptation, but in particular also the question of loss and damage, on the agenda, she said. Germany's climate envoy, former Greenpeace chief Jennifer Morgan, and Chiles environment minister, Maisa Rojas, have been tasked with finding common ground among nations ahead of the U.N. climate talks next month in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Germany is also giving Pakistan a further 10 million euros in flood aid, taking its total commitment to 60 million euros, Baerbock said. Pakistan's foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said the biblical floods had affected 33 million people and at one point a third of the country was underwater. Many roads, hospitals and farms in Pakistan were destroyed. Story continues U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that Pakistan was on the verge of a public health disaster" due to the risk of diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever, while malnutrition also was spiking after the floods. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. ReportLinker The global hydroponic system market is valued at USD 12. 1 Billion and is projected to reach USD 25. 1 Billion by 2027. The global hydroponics crop market is estimated to be valued at USD 37. 7 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 53. New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Hydroponics Market by Type, Equipment, Input, Crop Type, Farming method, Crop area And Region - Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p03629275/?utm_source=GNW 4 Billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 7.2%. Hydroponic technology is an efficient alternative to the rising concerns on food security and shrinking arable land since it allows growers to cultivate crops even in the absence of soil. One of the major drivers is that hydroponics provides higher yield compared to traditional agricultural techniques, owing to the efficient harvest cycles. Furthermore, hydroponics eliminates use of artificial ripening agents and pesticides, which helps create nutritionally superior vegetable products. By type, the liquid systems segment is projected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. Based on type, the liquid systems segment is projected to account for the largest market share.Deep water culture systems and NFT have been the major systems adopted across major growing countries like Spain, France, and the Netherlands for commercial crop cultivations like tomatoes. In North American countries, NFT techniques are highly adopted as these systems are best suitable for production of lettuce, which are in high demand in North America. By equipment, the HVAC segment accounted for the second largest share during the review period. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC play a key role in developing indoor hydroponic farms, as the system is responsible for cooling, dehumidifying, and maintaining the optimum temperature inside the facility.The HVAC system is designed to negate the external conditions and provide ideal conditions for year-round growth and cultivation. This equipment is important for maintaining the ideal conditions for plant growth inside the hydroponic greenhouse. By input, the nutrient segment gained the largest share in the hydroponics market. There are different types of nutrients required for the formulation of nutrient solutions.Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three primary nutrients required for the healthy growth of plants, of which nitrogen requirement is higher for plants. Controlled Release Fertilizers are widely used in hydroponics as they release fertilizer gradually and consistently, constantly feeding for months with only one application. This gives professional growers unprecedented control and ease of use, lowering labor expenses, allowing growers to reduce their efforts on fertigation of plants. By crop type, the vegetables segment accounted for the largest market share during the review period. Considering the use of the proper system, a wide variety of plants can be grown hydroponically.Vegetables grown using hydroponics are known to grow faster and stronger than in traditional farming, as the right nutrients are delivered directly to the plants roots. Hydroponically grown plants are known to retain their full nutritive value and are equal or, in certain cases, superior to conventionally grown vegetables.Peppers, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes are some of the major vegetables cultivated using hydroponics. Among fruits, watermelons, and different berries such as strawberries and blue berries are widely grown in hydroponic farms. The Europe region held the largest market share in the global hydroponics market Europe has traditionally been at the forefront of implementing advanced hydroponic smart greenhouse horticulture techniques.Countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and France have large areas under greenhouse cultivation. However, in the Netherlands, the growers mostly cultivate their plants in simple tunnel-like greenhouses without the use of climate control technologies. Advancement in greenhouse farming has supported the growth of hydroponics in Europe. According to national government statistics, the adoption of hydroponics has been witnessed to be the highest across all European countries. The Netherlands has the worlds highest adoption rate for hydroponic systems of over 80%, majorly for its flowers and vegetable production. Break-up of Primaries By Company Type: Tier 1 30%, Tier 2 25% and Tier 3 45% By Designation: Manager- 25%, CXOs 40%, and Executives 35% By Region: Asia Pacific 40%, Europe - 30%, North America- 16%, and RoW- 14% Leading players profiled in this report include the following: Signify Holding (Netherlands) Heliospectra AB (Sweden) ScottsMiracle-Gro (US) Argus Control Systems (Canada) Logiqs B.V. (Netherlands) LumiGrow, Inc. (US) Hydroponic Systems International (Spain) Hydrodynamics International (US) American Hydroponics (US) Advanced Nutrients (US) Emerald Harvest (US) VitaLink (UK) Freight Farms (US) AeroFarms (US) Triton Foodworks Pvt. Ltd. (India) Green Sense Farms (US) Emirates Hydroponic Farm (UAE) Gotham Greens (US) Natures Miracle (India) Bright Farms (US) InFarm (Germany) Badia Farms (UAE) Research Coverage This report segments the hydroponics market on the basis of type, equipment, input, crop type, farming method, crop area, and region. In terms of insights, this research report focuses on various levels of analysescompetitive landscape, pricing insights, end-use analysis, and company profileswhich together comprise and discuss the basic views on the emerging & high-growth segments of the hydroponics market, high-growth regions, countries, industry trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. Reasons to buy this report To get a comprehensive overview of the hydroponics market To gain wide-ranging information about the top players in this industry, their product portfolio details, and the key strategies adopted by them To gain insights about the major countries/regions, in which the hydroponics market is flourishing Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03629275/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Crypto liquidity platform and Chrome extension Zoidpay is launching a Shopping Pool Auction that will enable users to have their very own Web 3.0 Digital Bank. Featured Image for ZoidPay Featured Image for ZoidPay BUCHAREST, Romania, Oct. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZoidPay has announced the auction of 50 Shopping Pools that the company will launch on the 12th of October. ZoidPay is a leading crypto liquidity platform that enables instant card issuance for purchases at any merchant, and this auction will look to drive further adoption of its Web 3.0 Financial Services. The Shopping Pools have already gathered strong interest, with the previous two rounds of sales selling out in roughly 24 hrs. Own a Web 3.0 Digital Bank Blending elements of Blockchain, eCommerce, and DeFi, the Shopping Pools will be the backbone of the transition to Web 3.0 Financial Services. A Shopping Pool allows one to own a safe and secure business that holds the key to potentially unlimited Passive Income. Shopping Pools are similar to traditional staking pools, which allow multiple stakeholders to combine their resources, thus enhancing their reward prospects. This is not the first time ZoidPay is bringing innovative concepts to Web 3.0. Recently, ZoidPay also launched a feature that lets users stake their NFTs to boost returns. The Benefits of Owning a Shopping Pool A Shopping Pool allows one to own a Web 3.0 Digital Bank while offering a high-yielding staking model. In the traditional sense, a Shopping Pool acts as a node for regular users looking to stake ZPAY. Pool owners and participants can benefit from exclusive deals and discounts across over 100 million retailers globally using the ZoidPay Chrome Extension. The larger the pool, the higher the potential sales through shopping, extending owners a rewarding revenue source from every transaction. $ZPAY Staking $ZPAY is ZoidPay's native platform token, offering Passive Income through Staking, and further benefits through upcoming DeFi offerings, such as ZoidPay Loans, Buy Now, Pay Later, and more. By staking tokens in a Shopping Pool, participants can earn an annualized percentage yield (APY) of up to 27%. There are options to stake for shorter durations of one month, three months, and six months. Story continues Shopping Pool Requirements & Rewards Anyone that owns a Shopping Pool requires a deposit of at least 100,000 ZPAY tokens. The Shopping Pools have been designed to create the next generation of crypto entrepreneurs. This deposit is staked for a minimum of one year while returning an APY of 15%. All of the ZPAY deposited towards owning a Shopping Pool earns a minimum of 15% APY, with staking rewards paid out every 30 minutes. Pool Owners can also use the Zoidster NFTs collection to boost their APY up to 30%. The first 200 Shopping Pools were sold in a little more than 24 hours, and there will only be 1000 Shopping Pools available in total. The current auction of 50 Shopping Pools will be launched on the 12th of October. The Shopping Pools will be rewarded to 50 users with the highest bids. Anyone interested can learn more by visiting the Shopping Pools auction page. About ZoidPay ZoidPay is the go-to open architecture for building the next generation of Web 3.0 financial services. It is a one-stop crypto liquidity solutions provider, enabling instant card issuance for purchases from any merchant at the lowest fees. For B2B clientele, ZoidPay offers full support APIs and SDKs to developers & financial businesses that want to build the next-gen Web 3.0 financial services. ZoidPay Socials Twitter |Telegram | Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Media Contact Details Contact Name: Elena Oglinda Contact Email: marketing@zoidpay.com ZoidPay is the source of this content. This Press Release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. Contact Information: Max Jones max.j@sigma.world Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted for simple possession of marijuana. Its a big step from the US president to decriminalise weed across the country, as well as changing charging practices that disproportionately affect people of colour. The decision is made at the federal level, but does not affect people with marijuana possession convictions at the state level. Biden is calling on governors to issue similar pardons at the state level. No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana, the president said. Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana," he added. Its time that we right these wrongs. President Joe Biden talks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved Its a big shift from 1994 legislation that Biden backed to increased arrest and incarceration rates from drug crimes, particularly for Black and Latino people. Since then, there has been a long call in the US for a relaxation of these drug laws, largely motivated to reduce convictions of people of colour in the country. It follows a relaxation trend on the state level that has seen New York decriminalise low-level marijuana arrests. Currently, medical use of marijuana is legal in 37 states as well as Washington DC. Recreational use for non-medical purposes has also been legalised in 19 states and DC. Marijuana use has been decriminalised to different extents in 14 states. Bidens latest announcement is the newest step in a process that has brought the USs approach to weed ahead of many of its European counterparts. For years, Americans who wanted to smoke up looked to Amsterdam as a haven for stoners. But legislation in the US is now blazing ahead of European states. Lets have a look at the legal status of marijuana in Europe today. The Netherlands The holy grail for weed smokers. The Netherlands was radical when it decriminalised the possession of cannabis in 1972. Story continues Since then, coffeeshops have been allowed to sell small amounts of cannabis that people can smoke on site or take home with them. Importantly, the Netherlands has never legalised the use of weed, although it did do so for medical purposes. People who import, grow and export marijuana are still at risk of legal ramifications. While there was a push in 2017 to legalise marijuana production and a ban on non-residents purchasing cannabis in coffeeshops, things have largely stayed the same in the capital Amsterdam. A tourist, who wants to remain anonymous, smokes cannabis at the Dampkring, or Atmosphere, coffeeshop in Amsterdam - PETER DEJONG/AP2004 Portugal In 2001, Portugal made the bold move to become the first country in the world to decriminalise all drugs. This included marijuana, and individuals are allowed to carry up to 25 grams of the herb. Portugals sweeping drug reforms have changed the country's focus from punishment to treatment, without legalising the substances. So, you cant buy it legally, but you wont be getting into trouble for it either. The decriminalised countries Much like the Netherlands and Portugal, many other countries have followed suit and decriminalised the use or possession of cannabis. In Spain, possession of marijuana isnt considered a crime, and usage in private homes is completely decriminalised. However, if you start smoking up outdoors, you may still put yourself in line for a fine as it is still a misdemeanour. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Slovenia, and Switzerland have all decriminalised the possession of small amounts of cannabis. You're allowed a small amount in many places. So, less than this. - Canva Malta In 2015, Malta officially decriminalised the possession of marijuana. But fines were still given out to people caught with weed on them. This was the status quo for some time until last year, when Prime Minister Robert Abela introduced a new law legalising the possession and individual growth of small amounts of cannabis. Smoking in public remains banned, but this makes Malta the first European country to legalise instead of just decriminalise. The ones where its illegal, but you might be fine(d) In countries like Finland, France, Germany, Poland and the UK, the possession of marijauna is still illegal. But being caught with a small amount is more likely going to land you with a fine rather than a prison sentence. While for the most part, people also get off scot-free if theyre caught with a single joint in these countries, its going to depend on the person catching you, which opens up the possibility of fines and even prosecution being netted out disproportionately to marginalised groups. The European Union will send a "civilian EU mission" to Armenia to help delineate the borders with Azerbaijan, stakeholders announced Friday after a meeting with France in Prague. The mission will start in October for a maximum of two months, according to a joint statement issued after talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French head of state Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel. "There was an agreement by Armenia to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it concerned," the statement said. It added that the mission's aim "is to build confidence, and... contribute to the border commissions". The three leaders and the European Council president had met for several hours late Thursday night on the sidelines of the first gathering of the "European Political Community" in Prague. They also said that Armenia and Azerbaijan had confirmed their commitment to the UN charter and "the Alma Ata 1991 Declaration through which both recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty". Arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan have long been locked in a decades-long territorial dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region -- situated in Muslim-majority Azerbaijan with mostly Christian Armenian residents. The two ex-Soviet neighbours have long seen Moscow's influence in the volatile Caucasus region. (AFP) Read more on FRANCE24 Read also: Pelosi visits Armenia as ceasefire with Azerbaijan holds An increasing number of civilians are volunteering to defend Armenia Azerbaijan slams Pelosi's 'unfair' comments as blow to peace efforts with Armenia The European Union will send a "civilian EU mission" to Armenia to help delineate the borders with Azerbaijan, stakeholders announced after a meeting with France in Prague. The mission will start in October for a maximum of two months, according to a joint statement issued this Friday. This follows talks overnight between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel. According to the statement, "There was an agreement by Armenia to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it concerned." It added that the mission's aim "is to build confidence, and... contribute to the border commissions". 'Territorial integrity and sovereignty' The three leaders and the European Council president had met for several hours late Thursday night on the side lines of the first gathering of the "European Political Community" in Prague. They also said that Armenia and Azerbaijan had confirmed their commitment to the UN charter and "the Alma Ata 1991 Declaration through which both recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty." Last month, at least 286 people were killed on both sides before a US-brokered truce ended the worst clashes since 2020, when simmering tensions escalated into all-out war. Read more on RFI Read also: France sends emergency aid to Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh No end in sight to brutal conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan Marking 20 years since France "upheld the truth" and recognised the Armenian Genocide Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has been celebrated on social media following her very simple solution to President Joe Bidens concerns about a possible off-ramp for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. On Thursday, Mr Biden was speaking to Democratic Senate donors, arguing that for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat of the use of nuclear weapons if in fact, things continue down the path they are going. Im trying to figure out what is Putins off-ramp? he added, according to the New York Post. Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia? In discussion with reporters on Friday at the EU summit in Prague, Ms Marin was asked about Bidens remarks and said: The way out of this conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict. The exit from the conflict is when Russia leaves the territory of Ukraine. Many on social media lauded Ms Marins concise retort, including Ukrainian activist NNN Voshchevska, who tweeted: The haha at the end was the cherry on top. What an absolute legend. The haha at the end was the cherry on top. What an absolute legend. pic.twitter.com/FeqSuaIA1O Voshchevska (@Val_Voshchevska) October 7, 2022 She tells it like it is. All other concepts are doomed to fail. Only Russian withdrawal will create a lasting base, one Twitter user said. Clear and to the point. and were stuck with Liz Truss, Jonathan Pie wrote referring to the UK prime minister. Nika Melkozerova of New Voice Ukraine simply said, I love her. Irish journalist Ronan Browne, based out of Finland, noted that the thing about Finland is that when you ask a straight question you usually get a straight answer. Story continues The right & only way to deal with journalists questions on Putins off-ramp: Respond with the obvious truth, Igor Sushko wrote. A senior correspondent for The National, Joyce Karam, tweeted, Finlands PM Sanna Marin is not having it today. Asked about West possibly giving Putin an off-ramp to end Russias war in Ukraine, Marin couldnt have been more direct. Former conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes, now at the Bulwark, called Ms Marin an Iron Lady in reference to the former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. I dont know why anyone in the media would keep asking about concessions to Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin gives the only appropriate answer, Tim McMillan said. An averted terrorist plot and recent shootings in Reykjavik put guns in Iceland in the spotlight, sparking conversations about whether the Nordic nation should tighten its gun laws and give more leeway to police investigating crimes. Iceland is renowned for its safe society, regularly topping lists as one of the most peaceful countries in the world. While gun violence is rare, an alleged terrorist plot and three recent shootings shocked Icelanders. On 21 September, four Icelandic men were arrested in Reykjavik, alleged to have engaged in producing 3D-printed weapons and to have conspired to use these weapons against unnamed government offices. In raids last month, police seized dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Two men are currently in police custody, and two have been released. The recent headlines have sent shockwaves through Iceland. When the news came out about the alleged terrorist plot, you could feel the alarm in society, said Helgi Gunnlaugsson, professor of criminology at the University of Iceland. It came out of the blue; we dont have these types of problems in Iceland. Last months terror plot arrests come on the heels of a shooting in Blonduos in north Iceland in August that left two people dead and one person injured and two other shootings in February. It comes amid a surge in the number of semi-automatic weapons being imported into Iceland. Police figures show there were 252 such firearms imported in 2020, up from 19 the year before, two in 2018 and none during the previous two years. High gun ownership in Iceland While Iceland is known for its peacefulness, gun ownership is surprisingly high in Iceland. There are an estimated 106,000 guns held by civilians in Iceland -- about one for every three people -- and most of the weapons are rifles and shotguns rather than handguns, according to figures compiled by the Gunpolicy.org database at the University of Sydney. Armed crime is rare and the country has strict gun laws: there have only been 52 gun deaths in the last decade that statistics are available, and 50 of them were suicides. Story continues You have to know that gun ownership is high in Iceland, but the culture behind it is linked to hunting or collectors, said Professor Gunnlaugsson. For farming communities, they have access to shotguns, and its been a part of Icelandic society to have guns. Its foreign to Icelanders to have a gun to protect yourself or to point to someone else. Its an alien idea; not part of the Icelandic mentality, which makes the recent news so shocking," she told Euronews. Buying a gun is not an easy process either, as Icelandic law places strict limits on gun ownership. To obtain a licence for a firearm, applicants must be at least 20 years old, pass a medical assessment to ensure they are mentally and physically fit to handle a gun and have a clean criminal record. Applicants must get recommendations from two people to attend a course on firearms, gun safety, and gun and hunting laws. You send a request to the police, and if you pass the requirements, you have to attend a seminar, participating in two lectures, a written exam and a 'hands-on day' with a local gun club, said orarinn orarinsson, a police officer in Reykjavik. If you pass this, you get your 'A' permit, allowing you to buy .22 cal rifles and shotguns. After one year, you can apply for the 'B' permit - big rifles and semi-auto shotguns, he said. Government wants to tighten gun laws even more Despite the strict laws, Minister of Justice Jon Gunnarsson has expressed a desire to strengthen gun laws further. He will submit a proposal of changes to the law to parliament this autumn. Like I have repeatedly said this year, we are reconsidering the whole legal framework for getting a gun licence, he told the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbli recently. On the whole, the law is quite strict, and it is not an easy process getting a gun licence compared to the countries around us. But we are going over these things, and this is on my agenda as a proposal for the fall, to change the legal framework. Some gun owners are not opposed to further restrictions. In my opinion, I think it is okay to strengthen some laws and loosen others, said Sigurur Ingi Jonsson, from the Skotirottafelag Kopavogs shooting club. I am all for outright banning attack rifles that are allowed under the collectors licence, but I also feel like owning an air pistol should not have the same licence as owning a .38 special or 9mm pistol. FILE: Two police officers standing guard outside the inauguration of Iceland's president in Reykjavik, Iceland Saturday Aug. 1, 2020. - Arni Torfason / AP Arming the police is another potential area of change. Icelandic police officers are currently unarmed when patrolling, and the special forces must be called out if needed as they are permitted to carry firearms. However, minister Gunnarsson has not clarified whether arming regular Icelandic police officers is on the cards. It is vitally important to make sure our police officers are safe so they can be the guards of the safety of the residents. We are looking at this in my ministry, and I will make a firm decision on the matter, he said. Officials say there is a consensus among police authorities that the gun laws need amendment, and this work is underway at the ministry of justice. Many police forces in Europe are armed on duty, said Criminology Professor Helgi Gunnlaugsson. The Icelandic police force is not, but that could change overnight. We will have to see what comes out of the investigation of the alleged terrorism plot, and there might be more of a desire to change the law. Emmanuel Macron According to the French president, the howitzers will be redirected from an order for Denmark. Read also: Macron confirms more Caesars coming to Ukraine Were discussing this topic in relation to several mechanisms, but were working indeed on several requests, with several members of the EU, including on new Caesars, he said. Well continue to support Ukraine in both the financial, (and in the) humanitarian and military (spheres). Macron added this would involve assistance in terms of military equipment and training, continuing what France has already been engaged in doing for several months. Read also: Biden announces new $625 million aid package for Ukraine Earlier the French government announced its plans to transfer 20 Bastion armored vehicles to Ukraine in the near future. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Michaela Coel (Dave Benett) Shes an iconic Londoner, but now Michaela Coel is broadening her horizons. Coel, pictured, recently lived in Ghana for six months and the trial run seems to have gone well. Now she tells Vogue of her plans to build a house in a village there where her father lives. She is also considering a flat in Accra, the capital. Her first visit to Ghana was a filming trip for the series Black Earth Rising. She says when I came here I was really seeing people who looked like me and remembers walking around as if I knew where I was going. Coel was born in east London to Ghanaian parents and her breakthrough projects, Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, were both set here. Wherever she goes, shell always be a Londoner. Dimblebys naked nightmares David Dimbleby makes outspoken on-air remark while discussing UK economic turmoil (Mark Allan/Hat Trick Productions/PA) (PA Media) Early career jitters got the better of David Dimbleby, right, when he interviewed prime minister Ted Heath, so he imagined Heath naked. After the programme I had a disturbing dream in which Ted Heath appeared before me naked, he reveals in his new memoir. I will spare you the details of that encounter, but it warned me against ever again using this particular technique for calming my nerves. Bite at the museums Wrap up warm for your museum trips this autumn. Institutions across London say that, despite government help, they will have to be frugal with the heating to stay in business. The Cartoon Museum expects its bills to jump from 4,000 to 13,000 a year. Pollocks Toy Museum in Bloomsbury is also bracing for a rise. But will the chill turn off punters? Were wary of putting prices up, said the director. Last night around town Londoners Diary 7th October The Renaissance Awards in Florence: Rupert Everett and Livia Firth (Dave Benett) Elizabeth Hurley Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of EstAe Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Campaign At London Headquarters: Elizabeth Hurley (Dave Benett) Yinka Ilori And Maison Courvoisier Host 'We Found Joy' At The London Design Museum: Jade Jagger (Dave Benett) Chris Floyd ACTOR Rupert Everett was at the Renaissance Awards with Livia Firth in Florence last night. In London, Elizabeth Hurley celebrated Estee Lauders Breast Cancer Campaign. At the Design Museum in Kensington, designer Yinka Illori held a Courvoisier gala dinner where the Londoner bumped into party animal Jade Jagger. She told us her new haunt, 17 Little Portland Street: Thats where youll find me on a Friday night! Boxer Anthony Joshua turned up at photographer Chris Floyds book launch. By Nora Buli and Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) - Jailed Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski, Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, amid a war in their region that is the worst conflict in Europe since World War Two. The award, the first peace prize since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, has echoes of the Cold War era, when prominent Soviet dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn won Nobels for peace or literature. The prize will be seen by many as a condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was celebrating his 70th birthday on Friday, and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, making it one of the most politically contentious in decades. "We believe that it is a war that is a result of an authoritarian regime, aggressively committing an act of aggression," Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen told Reuters after the announcement. She said the committee wanted to honour "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence". "It is not one person, one organisation, one quick fix," she said in an interview. "It is the united efforts of what we call civil society that can stand up against authoritarian states and, or, human rights abuses." She called on Belarus to release Byalyatski from prison and said the prize was not aimed against Putin. CRACKDOWN Belarusian security police in July last year detained Byalyatski, 60, and others in a new crackdown on opponents of Lukashenko. Authorities had moved to shut down non-state media outlets and human right groups after mass protests the previous August against a presidential election that the opposition said was rigged. "The (Nobel) Committee is sending a message that political freedoms, human rights and active civil society are part of peace," Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told Reuters. Story continues He said the prize would boost morale for Byalyatski and strengthen the hand of the Center for Civil Liberties, an independent Ukrainian human rights organisation, which is also focused on fighting corruption. "Although Memorial has been closed in Russia, it lives on as an idea that it's right to criticize power and that facts and history matter," Smith added. Byalyatski's wife told Reuters he may not even know of the news, which she tried to break to him in a telegram to a Belarusian prison. REACTIONS In Geneva, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said Moscow was not concerned about the award. "We don't care about this," Gennady Gatilov told Reuters. In Belarus, the award was not reported by state media. Founded in 1989 to help the victims of political repression during the Soviet Union and their relatives, Memorial campaigns for democracy and civil rights in Russia and former Soviet republics. Its co-founder and first leader was Sakharov, the 1975 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Memorial, Russia's best-known human rights group, was ordered to be dissolved last December for breaking a law requiring certain civil society groups to register as foreign agents, capping a year of crackdowns on Kremlin critics the likes of which had not been seen since Soviet days. Memorial board member Oleg Orlov called the prize a "moral support", but when asked by reporters if it would help to protect his organisation or its work, he said "I fear not." Speaking after a Moscow court hearing to decide whether Memorial's archives should be handed over to the state, Orlov said: "When one country crushes human rights, that country becomes a threat to the world." "We are continuing our work defending human rights," he added. "It hasn't stopped, it goes on." The award to Memorial is the second in a row to a Russian person or organisation, after the prize last year went to journalist Dmitry Muratov and to Maria Ressa of the Philippines. The executive director of Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Romantsova, said winning the award was incredible. "It is great, thank you," she told the secretary of the award committee, Olav Njoelstad, during a phone call that was filmed and broadcast on Norwegian television. The group also wrote on Twitter of how proud it was. ARREST The award to Byalyatski could help draw attention to some 1,350 political prisoners in Belarus, exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters. "I am really proud to see Ales Byalyatski as the winner," she said. "(He) has through all his life protected human rights in our country. "He is a prisoner for the second time, this is showing how the regime is constantly persecuting those who fight for human rights in Belarus." When Lukashenko's security forces cracked down after the 2020 election, Byalyatski, founder of the civil rights group Viasna, chose to stay in the country despite the high risk of arrest. He was eventually arrested in July last year and accused of tax avoidance, to which authorities recently added a new charge of making illegal money transfers. He is in prison awaiting trial, and faces a sentence of up to 12 years if convicted. He was previously imprisoned from 2011 to 2014. He is the fourth person to win the Nobel Peace Prize while in detention, after Germany's Carl von Ossietzky in 1935, China's Liu Xiaobo in 2010 and Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest, in 1991. The prize will be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10. (This story has been refiled to remove garble in para 1) (Reporting by Nora Buli, Gwladys Fouche, Terje Solsvik, Nerijus Adomaitis and Victoria Klesty in Oslo, Margaryta Chornokondratenko in Kyiv, Mark Trevelyan in London, Layli Foroudi in Paris, Emma Farge in Geneva; editing by Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson, William Maclean) The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy add Spain have agreed to bolster their cooperation with Latin American nations to fight organised crime, specifically drug trafficking. During a meeting of ministers and officials on Friday in Amsterdam, a city hit by drug-related violence in recent years, the six countries pledged to strengthen ports and maritime security, as well as reinforce their use of technology to tackle crime gangs. Amsterdam saw a series of violent crimes in the last few years, including the slaying of crime reporter Peter R. de Vries and a lawyer representing a witness in a gangland killings investigation. The Netherlands and Belgium are home to the major ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, two of Europe's main entry points for cocaine. More than 214 tons of the drug were seized in Europe in 2020, a 6% increase from the previous year, and experts from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction believe that amount could reach 300 tons this year. Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, who attended the meeting, was put under protection last month after four people were arrested due to their suspected links to drug criminals that were plotting of kidnapping the politician. I think weve entered in a new phase, a new phase called narco-terrorism, a phase where the narco-terrorists try to destabilize the society and get their grip on society," said Van Quickenborne. "And of course, we will never allow our countries to become narco-states like you see them sometimes in Latin America. With a street value estimated at 10.5 billion euros in 2020 and about 3.5 million European citizens reporting having used it in the past year, cocaine is the second-most used drug in the EU after cannabis. The expansion of the cocaine market has gone hand in hand with a rise in violence and corruption in the EU, with fierce competition between traffickers leading to a rise in homicides and intimidation. Criminals do not know borders, so we have to work together, Van Quickenborne said after the meeting that was also attended by representatives from European Union police and justice agencies Europol and Eurojust, along with officials from the European Commission. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden has been explicit in vowing to commit US forces in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. The question occupying US and Taiwanese officials is the fate of the islands flagship semiconductor industry. Most Read from Bloomberg Contingency planning for a potential assault on Taiwan has been stepped up after Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the Biden administrations deliberations. The scenarios attach heightened strategic significance to the islands cutting-edge chip industry, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. In the worst case, they say, the US would consider evacuating Taiwans highly skilled chip engineers. Estimates by the US National Security Council project that a Chinese invasion and the loss of TSMC could disrupt the world economy to the tune of more than $1 trillion, around twice the value of the entire semiconductor industrys annual global sales. That doomsday scenario injects a new dynamic to Washingtons war-gaming that highlights an uncomfortable dilemma: For all the talk of strong support for the government in Taipei, the US has concluded that its too dependent on Taiwan for the kind of advanced chips that are essential for the latest smartphones and next-generation military hardware, and is working to build more domestic capacity as a result. The focus among policymakers and this is true of the US and elsewhere is of understanding where risks are or concentration is, said Chris Miller, an associate professor at Tufts University and the author of Chip War: The Fight for the Worlds Most Critical Technology. The chip industrys concentration in Taiwan, he said, has raised red flags. Story continues The following account of the contingency planning being undertaken was provided by multiple officials and former officials who requested anonymity to speak candidly. They stressed that plans are purely hypothetical and many details remain unresolved. The US sees Taiwan as a key part of a new chip alliance its trying to set up, and last month the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved an act conveying staunch support. Despite those reassurances, Taipei is feeling pressured by Washington on the chip front as attempts are also made to reduce Taiwans role in the global supply chain, effectively diminishing what President Tsai Ing-wen has called the islands Silicon Shield. China views the democratically governed island of Taiwan as its territory. The paradox was on show during Kamala Harriss September visit to Asia. Hours before hailing Taiwans technological contributions to the global good, the vice president touted a new US bill authorizing $50 billion for semiconductor research and manufacturing in America. Our dependence on Taiwan for chips is, you know, cut substantially, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Sept. 29, when asked at an Atlantic Council event where she saw the US in 10 years. Its just like a new dawn. TSMCs might lies in its leading-edge technologies and its indispensable role in keeping the global economy humming. Companies including Apple Inc., Tesla Inc. and Volkswagen AG all need chips from TSMC, and so does the US military. California-based Intel Corp. is a couple of generations behind the Taiwanese companys technology and is struggling to catch up. Taiwan is trying to assuage Washingtons concerns: This week the government pledged to work closely with the US and other allies to prevent Chinas military from acquiring its state-of-the-art technology. Taiwans Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua is visiting the US later this month to discuss supply chain resiliency and geopolitics with relevant stakeholders. TSMC has meanwhile agreed to build a $12 billion chip fabrication plant, or fab, in Arizona, a facility in Japan, and is mulling a European hub. Yet it has also said it doesnt plan to move its most advanced technology abroad. Miller of Tufts, in a recent report for the Center for a New American Security, suggests the US threaten export controls on chip design software and manufacturing equipment in a bid to pressure TSMC to roll out its newest process technologies simultaneously in the US and in Taiwan. He says TSMC could also be pressed to commit that every dollar of capital expenditure in Taiwan be matched at one of its new overseas facilities. Washington is showing no signs of willingness to exert that kind of pressure. Taiwans economy ministry said in a statement that the chip supply chain is long and complex, involving divisions of labor, with the US, Europe and Japan all playing critical roles. Rather than saying chip production is centralized in Taiwan, its more apt to say that like-minded countries are creating innovation and leadership by focusing on their own strengths, it said. Read more on what could happen if China invaded Taiwan There have always been contingency plans around TSMC. It lies in a seismically active area and it is hugely power intensive on an island that imports most of its energy. But the reality of war in Europe is giving added impetus to the planning for any Chinese attack. One potential option is for Washington to try to entice TSMC workers to relocate to the US on the last planes out. The US would consider evacuating Taiwans chip engineers in a scenario that involves a full invasion. Yet even if evacuation were feasible, replicating somewhere else the infrastructure that TSMC has established in Taiwan would take years if not decades, cost tens of billions of dollars, and wouldnt mitigate the impact on the world economy of losing its factories. At the extreme end of the spectrum, some advocate the US make clear to China that it would destroy TSMC facilities if the island was occupied, in an attempt to deter military action or, ultimately, deprive Beijing of the production plants. Such a scorched-earth strategy scenario was raised in a paper by two academics that appeared in the November 2021 issue of the US Army War College Quarterly. Thats not something under consideration. Still, some former officials with ties to the Pentagon want the Biden administration to devise such a plan, arguing that there would be no other option in an invasion scenario. We cant allow such a valuable equity to fall into Chinese hands, I think it would be nuts, said Elbridge Colby, a former Pentagon official who helped write the Trump administrations national defense strategy. Hawks in Washington doubt the Biden administration would pursue so extreme a path, however. That doesnt take into account Taiwans own plans for its most strategic company. TSMC declined to comment for this article. However, Chief Executive Officer Mark Liu said in a July interview with CNN that the company could not be controlled by force and an invasion would render TSMC factories inoperable. TSMC and Taiwanese chip firms are all a part of global supply chain, the economy ministry said. The notion of snatching TSMC by force doesnt align with the reality of how the chip industry operates. US officials declined to comment publicly on the details of their planning. One said that thinking through worst case scenarios was the defense departments bread and butter. Still, in a September interview with Bloomberg Television, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the prospect of a Chinese invasion as a distinct threat, without specifying a timeframe for any potential move by China. Global financial firms are reassessing the risks of doing business in China on the back of escalating tensions. The concern in Taipei is that President Xi Jinping may be tempted to launch an attack to divert attention from a faltering Chinese economy and high unemployment. China denies any such intention. Beijing blames the US for changing the status quo in the region, including by House Speaker Nancy Pelosis August trip to Taiwan. In any case, Xi has myriad other problems at home, and theres no sign an invasion is imminent. Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang downplayed the threat of an imminent attack on Taiwan. People are over nervous about it, he told reporters in August. Speculation China had moved up the timeline for an invasion is baseless, he said. Internal US meetings on Taiwan have intensified in frequency and scope in recent months regardless. At least two studies are under way, one at the Treasury Department on the overall market impact of an invasion, and one at the National Security Council about supply chains, semiconductors and US dependencies on TSMC. To reduce its reliance on foreign supplies, the US has incentivized TSMC to build its Arizona fab and secured a $17 billion commitment from Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea for a new advanced fab in Texas. Samsung, the only company to challenge TSMC at the leading edge, said this week it could add more fabs in the US. Meanwhile, Intel is adding capacities in Arizona and creating a new chip hub in Ohio. But it will take another two years at least for these plants to come online. US officials meantime believe Chinas approach will harden following this months Communist Party Congress, when Xi is expected to secure a precedent-defying third term. They see him emerging emboldened, more aggressive in his territorial assertions and US engagement. Not all US officials are convinced that Xi would push for a military invasion. But even a blockade or economic coercion would have grave consequences for Taiwan and the global economy. Lately theres been a more acute concern about the prospect that the supply chain could be cut by some action by the Chinese, whether a D-Day style attack or blockade, said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council. Businesses, like governments, are looking much harder at contingencies, he said, so that if, God forbid, something does happen, theyve actually got a game plan. (Updates with Economy Minister trip to US in seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Detective Says Accused Susie Zhao Murderer Searched 2,000 Times for Violent Assault October 07 2022 Connor Richards Warning: The following article contains graphic details involving murder and sexual assault. The final day of testimony in the trial for accused Susie Zhao murderer Jeffery Bernard Morris wrapped up on Wednesday, Oct. 5 after statements from several investigators and witnesses. Morris, 62, faces two felony murder charges in Michigan's Oakland County Circuit Court for the July 2020 killing of Zhao, a poker player who was a regular in the Los Angeles cash game scene. Prosecutors allege that Morris "used Zhao to make his violent fantasies come true" by sexually assaulting and burning her alive. Day 3 of the trial in the graphic case featured testimony from the prosecution's remaining witnesses, including the two men who found Zhao's mutilated body and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent assigned to the case. Read about the testimony heard on Day 2 of the trial Finding Zhao's Body Two White Lake, Michigan residents, Ronald Groeneveld and Daniel Knoblock, told the court that they were driving to work on July 13 through Pontiac Lake Recreation Area when they noticed what they thought might be a burnt mannequin in a parking lot. After discovering what ended up being Zhao's body, the two men contacted the police, who proceeded to the crime scene and collected evidence. One detective who responded to the call testified that upwind of the body, there was a faint odor of gasoline. A detective testifies during Jeffery Morris' trial The detective further testified that, after linking Morris to Zhao through cell phone data, the investigators secured a search warrant for the contents of Morris iPhone, which revealed nearly 2,000 web searches for violent sexual assault and pornography in the month ahead of the murder, including searches for sexual assault in a park or public place. Defense attorney Michael McCarthy asked about cigarette butts found at the scene, which the detective noted belonged to neither the suspect or the victim. Cell Phone Data Links Morris to Zhao FBI Special Agent George Rienerth, who the White Lake Police Department asked to assist with the investigation, testified on Wednesday that cell phone data linked Morris' phone and Zhao's two phones together at the Sherwood Motel the evening of July 12, 2020. Prosecutors believe Morris talked Zhao into being zip-tied and drove her to Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, where he assaulted her before "sprink(ling) the gas can over her and ... light(ing) her on fire while she's still alive." Defense attorney Michael McCarthy speaks during Jeffery Morris' trial The cellular data showed Morris' phone moving towards the body location" in the early hours of July 13 and Zhao's phones "remaining in the area of the Sherwood" until 5 a.m. Around 5:20 a.m., Morris and Zhao's phones left the motel at the same time, and Zhao's phones went offline, according to Rienerth's testimony. What's To Come Also on Wednesday, the court heard from an acquaintance of Morris, who Morris gave a ride to shortly after the murder, and a vehicle expert who identified the make and model of Morris' car from home surveillance footage near the crime scene. While the trial was initially slated to take place every day this week, the defense and prosecution both rested their cases on Wednesday and Judge Martha Anderson instructed the court to take an off day on Oct. 6. The court will reconvene on Oct. 7 at 9 a.m. local time as the jurors hear closing arguments ahead of jury deliberations. Those in the poker community who were close with Zhao, who played and appeared on the Live at the Bike stream at the Bicycle Casino and made multiple deep runs in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, include Bart Hanson, Xuan Liu, Allen Kessler, Ronnie Bardah and Brandon Shack-Harris. Images courtesy of Oakland County Circuit Court Two Poker Pros Say Ian O'Hara Scammed Them Out of Six Figures October 07 2022 Connor Richards Yet another controversy has reached the poker world this week as two prominent players accused pro Ian O'Hara of scamming them out of six figures and more recently pocketing thousands of dollars that was supposed to pay for tournament entries. Former poker pro and commentator Kane Kalas took to Twitter on Oct. 4 to make the allegations, which date back to 2020 and stem from backing arrangements with himself, O'Hara and Jonathan Jaffe. Scammer Alert: Ian OHara @ianohara2 https://t.co/AZ1gTby1df Kane Kalas (@KaneKalas) Find out what Robbi Jade Lew had to say about the HCL controversy on the PokerNews Podcast! "Fabricating Data" to "Finance His Lifestyle" In a four-part statement, Kalas alleged that O'Hara, a Florida pro with $4 million in live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, had reached out to him in 2020 for a tournament and cash game stake "and we entered into a 50/50 staking arrangement." After "months of consistent losses," he discovered O'Hara was also being staked by fellow pro Jaffe, something that was never disclosed to Kalas. Part 1 of Kane Kalas' statement on Twitter about Ian O'Hara While O'Hara wasn't over-selling action, Kalas became suspicious about "the extent of Ian's losses" and the fact that he didn't disclose his staking relationship with Jaffe, both of which he said "raised questions." "After reviewing the numbers, Jon and I discovered that Ian was reporting conflicting information regarding wins/losses," wrote Kalas. "The discrepancies were far too numerous and egregious to be typos or errors; in fact, there were frequent instances of Ian reporting a game to one of us that was never even reported to the other." Kalas further alleged that "there were instances of Ian reporting losses that were later verified to be wins." "It became clear that Ian was fabricating data on the state, in order to finance his lifestyle," he wrote. All said and done, O'Hara allegedly "scammed us to the tune of a combined mid six-figures." Kane Kalas alleged Ian O'Hara scammed him and Jonathan Jaffe out of six figures "A Pattern of Untruthful Behavior" After becoming aware of the situation, Kalas and Jaffe terminated the stake and confronted O'Hara, who "assured us that he had never done anything like this before but had recently suffered particularly bad circumstances in life." "He promised to repay us the amount that he had stolen from us and promised there was a 0% chance that anything like this would ever happen again," Kalas wrote. "Ian pleaded with us to not go public with this information and give him time to make things right." Since they both found O'Hara to be "genuinely remorseful" but were still concerned he "might resort to unethical behavior again in the future," the two agreed to not go public with the information on the condition that O'Hara "make consist payments" to them to pay off his debts and disclose to them "ALL transactional business Ian conducts within poker." Part 2 of Kane Kalas' statement on Twitter about Ian O'Hara "For some time, things seemed to be on the up-and-up," wrote Kalas, who noted that O'Hara reported all of his poker transactions and repaid around 40% of his debt. That changed this week, according to Kalas, who alleged that "Ian recently sold action for the Poker Masters tournament series, which he never disclosed to me and Jon." Kalas further claimed that O'Hara didn't even play in the Poker Masters events, but rather "sold action, sent screenshots of old tournament ticket receipts along with pictures of a random stack in the tournament, then claimed he had busted." Jonathan Jaffe "He lied about playing the tournament in order to pocket the action," said Kalas. "At this point, Ian has demonstrated a pattern of untruthful, manipulative, and destructive behavior." Kalas said he believed O'Hara to be "truly remorseful" but added that "it is now clear that his remorse fails to outweigh his selfishly opportunistic tendencies" and "strongly advise(d) against doing business with Ian." O'Hara Comes Clean O'Hara made no effort to deny Kalas' allegations. In fact, he replied to Kalas tweet on Oct. 5 and said he was "very sorry to all I have (affected) with my decisions." "I made these choices on my own and I must now face the consequences," O'Hara wrote. "I will do everything in my power to rectify the situation as much as possible. I will do better in every aspect of life moving forward." @KaneKalas Im very sorry to all I have effected with my decisions. I made these choices on my own and I must now f https://t.co/IkN50HmbNo Ian G. OHara (@ianohara2) A handful of poker players said they were sad to see the allegations against O'Hara, including Doug Polk, who said he "liked Ian from our few interactions and he seemed like an upstanding guy." Brandon Shack-Harris agreed that O'Hara "seems like a talented kid" but thanked Kalas "for bringing it to the communities attention." Shaun Deeb, who had previously been publicly critical of O'Hara, was less sympathetic and said he "feel(s) bad for his (O'Hara's) most recent scammed people." "But this is why you don't let people rob Peter to pay Paul," Deeb tweeted. O'Hara is a regular at both the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and World Poker Tour (WPT). His biggest score came in 2015 in a $25,400 High Roller at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in Hollywood, FL, where he finished second for $527,313 after a heads-up deal with Jason Mercier. O'Hara did not respond to a request for comment from PokerNews at the time of publication. An aristocratic couple are embroiled in a High Court claim against an art dealer over the 1 million sale of a French masterpiece from their family collection which was later resold for millions more. Trustees of the Wemyss Heirlooms Trust are bringing a claim for millions of pounds in damages against Simon C Dickinson Limited (SCD), alleging that the sale of the painting, purportedly by 18th-century artist Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, on the trusts behalf was conducted in an unprofessional and shoddy manner. Amanda Feilding, the Countess of Wemyss and March and one of the trustees, is suing the dealer claiming the trust is entitled to money it lost out on from the sale eight years ago. Her husband James Charteris, the Earl of Wemyss and March and beneficiary of the trust, joined her at court in London on Thursday October 6 amid an ongoing seven-day trial. James Charteris, Earl of Wemyss and March (James Manning/PA) The case, outlined in court documents, centres on a version of Chardins Le Benedicite, or Saying Grace, the prime original of which hangs along with another version in the Louvre in Paris, France, with a third version accepted as being entirely by the artists hand in the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia. Simon Dickinson, a former senior director at auctioneers Christies and director of SCD, helped arrange the July 2014 sale of the painting to Verner Amell, a Scandinavian art dealer with a gallery in Stockholm, Sweden, for 1.15 million, the court has been told. The artwork, bought in 1751 by the Earls ancestor Francis Charteris, had earlier received a light clean and was sold as Chardin and studio, with Mr Dickinson believing there were limited opportunities to sell it due to an experts view that it was not wholly by the renowned French artist. Six months later, the painting was bought by a family trust of the hugely rich art collector and former chairman of financial advisers Lazard, the late Michel David-Weill. The court was told the re-sale came after the painting was further deep cleaned, a purported Chardin signature was discovered, and an expert hailed it as a fully autograph masterpiece by Chardin himself meaning entirely painted by the artist. Story continues Mr David-Weill paid 10.5 million US dollars (9.3 million) in January 2015, comprising 7.5 million dollars (6.6 million) in cash and the transfer of a painting by another French artist, Jean-Antoine Watteau, said in the sale invoice to be valued at three million dollars (2.7 million). A version of Le Benedicite by Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin, which is not a copy of the exact painting in the High Court case (Artefact/Alamy/PA) Lady Wemyss, bringing her case with fellow trustee Vilma Ramsay, argues the trust is entitled to the difference between the July 2014 price and that which would have been obtained if the painting had been sold as a Chardin at its actual market value. Andrew Onslow KC, representing the trustees, said in written arguments that the SCD sale had involved breaches of duty and had been conducted in an unprofessional and shoddy manner; at extreme and unnecessary speed; after inadequate and mistaken research. He added this was done without any effort to market the painting, let alone efforts which met the standard of the reasonably competent international art dealer entrusted with such a sale; and without any real disclosure or explanation of the approach being taken. It is not easy to fathom or explain the degree of inattention and incompetence displayed by (SCD) in the handling of the painting, Mr Onslow said. He claimed the dealer had given a frankly bizarre explanation that the picture was sold so quickly for fear of over-exposure to the market. Mr Onslow added: The likeliest explanation appears to be an initial failure of research, a fixed but insupportable view of the leading experts opinion of the painting and Mr Dickinsons unjustified assumption of the role of expert arbiter. The barrister explained that an unusual aspect of Chardins work was that he painted replicas of his pieces entirely, or almost entirely, by himself. Amanda Feilding, Countess of Wemyss and March (James Manning/PA) Lawyers for the trustees argued that leading Chardin expert Pierre Rosenberg was clear that he regarded the painting as being, without qualification, by the hand of Chardin. They argued that, according to the trustees own separate expert, Mr Rosenbergs use of the term copie retouche to describe it meant the wholescale finishing of a replica or repetition by the artist. Mr Onslow said that instead of consulting Mr Rosenberg, Mr Dickinson had assumed the role of expert himself and was influenced by a false memory of an unrecorded conversation with the expert. Lawyers for SCD, which is rigorously defending the claim and denies any negligence, say some experts give lower valuations of the Watteau piece, and that the masterpiece description is inconsistent with the view of Mr Rosenberg the pre-eminent Chardin expert and former Louvre director. In written arguments before the court, Henry Legge KC, for SCD, said the claimants have previously benefited hugely by discoveries made by the defendant, who had managed to secure positive attributions for a Poussin and Botticelli which had previously been assessed much less favourably, so may feel that they should have done better on this occasion. He added: However, the fact that the buyer of a painting is able to find someone who will buy the painting for much more than he paid does not mean that the original seller has acted negligently or improperly. The possibility of huge gains being made on the sale of the right piece to the right buyer is the nature of the art world and this is especially the case where, as in this case, something is discovered about the painting which might make it more saleable and which the seller could not reasonably have discovered. Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Dickinson, an experienced dealer who established SCD in 1993, said he thought he got a very good price for the artwork, adding: I still believe the picture is not entirely by Chardin. Mr Legge said in written arguments that SCD had not fallen below the standard required of a reasonably competent specialist in taking the view that nothing had been disclosed by the paintings first clean which made it worth referring to Mr Rosenberg. During a 1992 visit to the art collection at Gosford House in Longniddry, Scotland, a home owned by the Charteris family, Mr Dickinson claims that Mr Rosenberg said words to the effect of there was no Chardin at all in the painting and that it was totally studio, Mr Legge said. He added that SCD correctly understood Mr Rosenbergs published view of the work as copie retouche meant it was a copy done by someone else and then touched up by Chardin. Mr Dickinson secured the dealer-to-dealer sale due to Lord and Lady Wemysss desire for privacy and their inclination to raise funds, the court was told. Mr Legge said only three Chardin paintings sold at auction before January 2015 went for more than one million dollars (880,000) and that Mr Rosenberg re-examining the Wemyss painting and publishing a negative opinion may have had a disastrous impact on its value. He highlighted the fact that a different expert instructed by SCD believed only a brave and very unusual private collector would have ignored Mr Rosenbergs views, with Mr Amell admitting he took an enormous risk in buying the painting. The trial before Judge Simon Gleeson continues, with a ruling expected at a later date. COVID cases have jumped by a quarter in just a week, according to the latest official estimates. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in the week ending 26 September 1,327,900 people in the UK are estimated to have been infected with coronavirus. That is an increase of 267,400 on the week before, a rise of 25%. It is the highest UK total since the week to 16 August, but is still some way below the 3.8 million weekly infections in early July. COVID-19 rates have been increasing since the start of September in the predicted autumn wave. But while cases have risen in England and Northern Ireland, the trend in Scotland and Wales is described by the ONS as "uncertain". There has also been a "marked" rise in infection among the over-70s in England, up from infections among one in 60 people to one in 40. Sarah Crofts, ONS deputy director for the COVID-19 infection survey, said: "Infections have continued to increase in England, reaching levels last seen in mid-August. "The rest of the UK is a mixed picture, with uncertain trends in Wales and Scotland and a recent increase in Northern Ireland. "Amongst the over-70s there has been a marked increase in infections in England this week, a trend which we will closely monitor as the winter months progress." In England, the number of people testing positive for coronavirus was 1.1 million, or around one in 50, up from 857,400 or one in 65, in the previous week. This is the first time the figure for England has been above one million since mid-August. Northern Ireland has also seen a rise, where the latest estimate for infections is 46,100, or one in 40 people, up from 23,100, or one in 80. In Scotland, 113,000 people probably had COVID-19, or around one in 45, compared with 117,100, or one in 45, the previous week. And in Wales, the latest estimate is 63,400, or one in 50, is close to the 62,900 previously. Infection rates in England are highest among people aged 70 and over, at 2.5%, or one in 40, up from 1.7%, or one in 60. Story continues Rates are lowest among children from school Year 7 to 11, at 1.6% or one in 60. The number of hospital patients in England testing positive for COVID-19 continues to climb. A total of 9,631 people with coronavirus were in hospital as of 5 October, according to NHS data. This is up 37% from 7,024 a week earlier and is the highest figure since 3 August. There has also been an increase in Scotland and Wales, and in Northern Ireland the recent fall in numbers has levelled off. Previous waves of COVID have been driven by the arrival of a new variant of the virus. But it has remained stable for several months, with BA.5, part of the Omicron family, causing most infections since June. The most likely cause of rising infections is fading immunity, because most people have not had a jab since last winter. And even among the over-75s vaccine uptake has been dropping with each successive dose. More than 96% had the first two doses, but that fell to 94% for the booster last winter and to around 79% for the spring booster. So far just over 40% of people over 75 have had the autumn booster. It means large numbers of those most likely to suffer serious disease have low protection as infection rates pick up, a worry for hospitals already busy with winter infections and trying to reduce long waiting lists. The Princess of Wales was accused of not being in her "own country" during a visit to Northern Ireland. It happened when Kate and Prince William were meeting people on a walkabout in north Belfast. A woman who shook hands with the princess said: "Nice to meet you, but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country." The woman, who appeared to be videoing the exchange on a phone, added: "Ireland belongs to the Irish." The prince and princess have been on a day-long trip to Northern Ireland, beginning at a suicide prevention charity in Belfast. PIPS says it has experienced a significant increase in demand since the start of the COVID pandemic - including a 500% rise among young people. It was founded in 2003 after 14 young people took their own lives over a short period the previous year. Prince William and Kate, both 40, spoke to staff about their work helping people at risk of suicide and self-harm. They also took part in an art therapy session, painting pumpkins with vulnerable children who have been supported by PIPS. And the couple joined a group of volunteer counsellors as they packed up the charity's Little Boxes of Hope. As well as assisting children, the packages are designed to help parents and guardians, too. Read more: Prince William's first speech as heir honours his 'much-missed grandmother' Princess of Wales meets mothers and babies at maternity unit during solo visit No plans for William to have formal investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales William, now heir to the throne, and Kate also visited a new outdoor street food and retail market in the city centre. Trademarket, which opened its doors in July, offers artisan food, drinks and products from local, independent vendors. The royals were pictured trying cocktails at one of the stalls. Cheering crowds later lined the streets as they arrived in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, to visit a youth charity. They have been learning about the work of Carrick Connect, which offers support services to local young people experiencing social or emotional difficulties. William and Kate met some of the young people who have benefitted and their mentors. The climate crisis is raising the risk of violence against women and girls, a UN human rights expert has warned. Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, says socio-political and economic phenomena that arise with environmental issues including armed conflict, displacement and resource scarcity put more women at risk. Climate change is the most consequential threat multiplier for women and girls, with far-reaching impacts on new and existing forms of gendered inequities, according to Alsalem. Climate change is not only an ecological crisis, but fundamentally a question of justice, prosperity and gender equality, and intrinsically linked to and influenced by structural inequality and discrimination, she added. Evidence shows the climate crisis aggravates all types of gender-based violence ranging from physical to psychological and economic all the while curbing the availability and effectiveness of protection mechanisms and further weakening the potential to prevent violence, the UN expert said. When slow or sudden-onset disasters strike and threaten livelihoods, communities may resort to negative coping mechanisms, such as trafficking, sexual exploitation and harmful practices like early and child marriage and drop out from schools all of which force women and girls to choose between risk-imbued options for survival. #Climate change & environmental degradation are escalating the risk & prevalence of violence against women & girls across the world @UNSRVAW presents new report at #UNGA77. Climate change is the most consequential threat multiplier for women & girls https://t.co/n1zv9lEo30 pic.twitter.com/jO8Xi1DSeh UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) October 5, 2022 In February it was reported that the havoc climate change is wreaking on farming communities in Zimbabwe is forcing young women and children into prostitution. Story continues It is estimated hundreds of girls from the nations rural regions have joined the sex trade in towns and cities after droughts and flash floods destroyed their crops. Teenager Chipo told Al Jazeera she fled to the town of Epworth after her rural home was devastated by flash floods. Chipo, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said: I came at the age of 16. I could not supplement my education because of no money. Later on, I found myself joining sex work. Alsalem urged the international community to double down on the commitment to gender equality and anchor the response to climate change and disaster risk mitigation in human rights. For our concerted efforts against climate change to be truly gender sensitive and transformative, measures to address the vulnerabilities faced by women and girls must build on a recognition of their role and agency as powerful stakeholders in the policy space, she added. The wellbeing and the rights of women and girls should not be an afterthought and must be placed at the centre of policies and responses. Jamie Shepherd-Smith was a member of the Welsh Guards Pictures: TVP/NQ A former Welsh Guardsman became the middleman for a cocaine dealer after chalking-up gambling debts. Jamie Shepherd-Smith, 33, spent the best part of a decade in the elite Welsh Guards regiment, a battalion of foot soldiers who also have responsibility for guarding the monarch. He completed tours of Afghanistan and Iraq before retiring from the army with post-traumatic stress. Oxford Crown Court heard that he had first become involved in Richard Grays massive cocaine-shifting operation in 2020 and, over the next 14 months, was responsible for handling cash and an estimated eight kilos of the class A drug. Prosecutor Michael Roques said on Thursday: The prosecution would submit this defendant has a significant role. He is not only a courier, he is involved in the running of the business to the extent he acts as a middleman between customers and Richard Gray. The court heard Shepherd-Smith had made trips to the north of England to collect kilos-worth of cocaine at a time. When Richard Gray took a delivery of 12kgs of cocaine stashed in a gas cylinder in May 2021, he was said to have boasted to Shepherd-Smith whom he called cuz of the drugs quality. This is fire, cuz. Fire, bruv, he said. Shepherd-Smith received the use of an Audi car and was paid in return for his part in the conspiracy, the court heard. Having been unable to claim hardship payments or furlough during the early part of the pandemic, the money he earned helped him clear his debts although then other debts arose. His barrister, Peter Briegel, reminded the judge that his client was the first in the conspiracy to admit his guilt, paving the way for others including top man Gray. Since his remand into custody last year, he had been awarded trusted prisoner status and was training to be a counsellor to other inmates. A series of character references, including from his former captain in the Welsh Guards, spoke highly of him. The defendant had written a letter to the judge speaking of his shame at finding himself in the dock. Story continues Shepherd-Smith, of Bramling Cross, Abingdon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He had no previous convictions. Thames Valley Police Jailing him for seven years and two months, Judge Michael Gledhill KC said: Gray is a serious and substantial dealer in cocaine, as I reflected in the sentence that I imposed upon him. He is thoroughly dishonest, motivated entirely by money and prepared to bring anybody into his illegal activities by any means whatsoever in order to assist him. You have known Richard Gray for a long time. You are well aware of what a dishonest, unscrupulous man he is and you kept away from him as much as you could. But, unfortunately, you fell under his thrall. He added: For eight years you served in His Majestys forces with distinction and it is a great pity that you ever left the Army. Five co-conspirators have so far been locked up for a total of 66 years. Richard Gray received 21 years. This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter. To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward Oi Oi Joey in action. Picture: Fortitude Communications A GREYHOUND named in honour of Oxford United legend Joey Beauchamp has won its first competitive race. Oi Oi Joey will now feature in round one of the Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford Stadium tomorrow. The 23-month-old dog won a P1 race, a contest for dogs aged between 18 and 24 months, over 450 metres in 27.33 seconds. He was cheered home by Beauchamps family and friends, who purchased the dog and own him under The Joey Beauchamp Syndicate. READ ALSO: Karl Robinson blasts side for disrespecting Papa Johns Trophy tie Mark Beauchamp, Joeys brother, said: We went crazy. Joey absolutely adored his greyhounds, and his spirit was definitely alive when Oi Oi Joey turned into the home straight in front. The energy and atmosphere on the terraces were electric, and we were so pleased to see him win at the fourth time of asking after a couple of decent efforts. His winning time was encouraging too, so now weve entered him into this months Cowley Puppy Collar where hopefully we can cheer him on all the way to the grand final. The Cowley Puppy Collar is the first Category One competition Oxford Stadium will host since a new era of greyhound racing began last month. The competition will attract 48 of the UKs fastest greyhounds aged under two and be staged over four weekends, with greyhounds required to finish in the first three of their respective races to advance to the next round. Our ratings after last nights loss for #oufc https://t.co/vLqJUylhj9 Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) October 5, 2022 Oi Oi Joey will feature in the first of the competitions eight round one heats, and co-owner Beauchamp is confident he can progress to round two should he repeat Saturdays personal best time. Story continues Its the best time he has recorded so far, which is really pleasing and a sign he has settled into his new home after arriving from Ireland in the summer, said Beauchamp. Category One competitions are what every owner and syndicate dreams about being a part of. They are the pinnacle of greyhound racing, and to have such competitions on our doorstep in Oxford is fantastic. If he keeps on improving theres no reason why we shouldnt believe he can enjoy a good competition. A claim has been shared in multiple social media posts in the Philippines that two mainstream broadcasters did not report on billions of dollars' worth of investment pledges that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr secured during state visits to Indonesia and Singapore in September 2022. But the claim is false. The broadcasters, GMA and ABS-CBN, both produced video and text reports about the deals. "This was not reported by GMA or ABS," reads the caption of a post shared on Facebook here on September 11. It contains a video report from local broadcaster NET25 about investment pledges worth 800 billion pesos ($13.6 billion) that Marcos secured during state visits to Indonesia and Singapore. According to local media outlet Inquirer.net, NET25 is the TV station of a religious sect that backed Marcos for president during the 2022 election. Tagalog-language text above the video, which appears to have first been shared on TikTok, reads, "Wow P800-B investment was secured by PRES BBM from Indonesia and Singapore". The initials BBM refer to Marcos, whose nickname is "Bongbong". Text below the video reads, "Our beloved President BBM is making us very proud". Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, captured on October 4, 2022 GMA and ABS-CBN, two of the biggest television networks in the Philippines, are frequent targets of misinformation spread by Marcos supporters. AFP has previously debunked false claims the channels did not cover Marcos' attendance at a memorial for slain police officers or his visit to shelters erected after a powerful typhoon. According to local news outlet Rappler, pro-Marcos accounts stepped up online attacks against journalists ahead of the 2022 election that Marcos won. Ahead of the election, the Marcos camp also declined an interview with a reporter from GMA because they believed she was biased against the Marcoses", according to Inquirer.net. The claim that GMA and ABS-CBN did not report on the investment pledges was also shared elsewhere on Facebook here, here and here. Story continues The claim, however, is false; both networks reported on the deals in their flagship evening news programmes and posted their reports on social media. Extensive reports Keyword searches on Google found ABS-CBN posted a report about the investment pledges on its official Facebook page on September 8. "P800-B investment pledges were brought home by Marcos from Indonesia, Singapore," reads the title of the Facebook post. The ABS-CBN report includes clips of Marcos talking about the signing of agreements at a press conference -- footage that was also used in the Net25 report. Below is a screenshot comparison of the video in the false post (left) and a corresponding frame in ABS-CBN's report (right): Screenshot comparison of the video in the false post (left) and a corresponding frame in ABS-CBN's report (right) The broadcaster also published an article about the deals on its website showing a breakdown of the pledges from Indonesia and Singapore. GMA News also reported on the deals in a video report published on its official YouTube channel on September 8. "P800-B worth of investment, brought by PBBM from his state visit to Indonesia and Singapore," reads the title of the YouTube post. Articles about the agreements were also published on the GMA News website on September 6 and 7 here and here. The pledged investments were also covered by other Philippine media organisations, including Inquirer.net, Manila Bulletin and Philstar. In the video Cllr Patel responded to messages sent to him asking him his views on the video where Liz Truss says she is a 'Zionist'. (Saddam/PA) A Conservative Blackburn councillor has hit out after he was accused of following a Zionist supporting party', by saying former Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein was his "hero". Cllr Altaf 'Tiger' Patel said he had been sent many messages over the past few days from people who had accused him of supporting an Zionist and anti-Muslim party. It follows a message being shared in the community which showed Prime Minister Liz Truss saying she was a Zionist and a huge supporter of Israel at a Conservative Friends of Israel meeting. Earlier this summer Cllr Patel had sent out a video publicly backing Liz Truss in her bid to become a Prime Minister, and was pictured with her during the Manchester hustings during the Tory leadership election. With strong feelings within his community over Palestine and the treatment of Palestinians by the government of Israel, Cllr Patel was asked to respond to the comment made by Liz Truss. It prompted Cllr Patel to share another message, which featured Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talking about Jewish heritage within his family. Cllr Patel said: I got some people sending me the message over the past few days. In my opinion none of the parties stand up for Muslims when it comes to Israel. So, to single out the Conservative Party is wrong. I do not agree with what Liz Truss said. I am against it. That is her personal opinion not mine. When she was a candidate, I supported her as she knows about British culture. I stand by that. As a councillor I may be Conservative but people voted for me because of the work I have done. My job is to support the local community in any way I can. Cllr Patel said he was forced to compare the actions of the Tory party in foreign affairs with that of Labour in a further message. In it, he accuses the Labour Party of igniting anti-Muslim sentiment following the ill-fated invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the overthrow of brutal dictator Saddam Hussein. He said: All the Labour people accusing me need to take a long hard look at what the Labour Party was doing under Tony Blair. Story continues Saddam Hussein was my hero. He kept the whole region in check and he was a security for the region. They hung Saddam in 2007. I didnt see people making big issues then. Millions of Muslims died due to the wars and it was the Labour Party government in charge. What have Labour party supporters got to say to about that? Speak out. Labour councillor Salim Sidat who also represents the Audley and Queens Park ward said he would not respond to the comments made by Cllr Patel. He said: Any response needs to be directed at the local Labour party leadership. Vietnam has reportedly asked Netflix to remove its recent Little Women series over a distorted depiction of the Vietnam War. The series, a South Korean drama based loosely on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, has been released internationally on the streaming service. The controversy stems from episode eight of Little Women, which features a scene in which a Korean military veteran discusses the achievements of Korean soldiers during the war. In our best battles, the kill-to-death ratio for Korean troops was 20 to one, the character says at one point. Thats 20 Viet Cong killed for one Korean soldier dead. In a letter seen by Vietnamese newspaper Truoi Tre, (per Bloomberg), the Vietnamese Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said that the series had contravened Vietnamese press law. Specifically, the series is alleged to have breached Clause Four, Article Nine of the document, which precludes media from inciting war, infringing upon the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, or distorting history. Vietnamnet reports that Netflix is currently processing the request, also claiming that the series is expected to be removed from the streamers catalogue in Vietnam later this week. The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment. (Getty Images for Yaamava' Resort) Pink has unveiled plans for five stadium shows next summer, leading up to a huge outdoor gig in London. The American artist, who is set to visit England for the first time since travelling the UK as part of her 2019 world tour, will headline the BST Hyde Park concert series on June 24. It will come after two nights at the University of Bolton Stadium, a pair of concerts at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, and one show at Villa Park in Birmingham earlier in the month. The full UK tour dates are below. Pink is also set to embark on a run of European dates, visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, and Poland. Announcing the tour, Pink said: Its been a long three years and Ive missed live music so, so much. So its finally time! I am so excited to get back to the UK and Europe to sing, cry, sweat and make new memories with my friends. Its going to be magical! Pink is the third headliner to be confirmed for the 2023 edition of BST Hyde Park, with Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel also set to play in central London next summer. How to get tickets for Pinks 2023 UK tour Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday October 14, and will be available from four different retailers: Ticketmaster, AXS, Gigantic and Alt-Tickets. Prices are yet to be confirmed. Pink 2023 UK tour dates The Prince and Princess of Wales have paid tribute to the people of Northern Ireland despite princess Catherine being heckled on their visit to the province credit:Bang Showbiz The Prince and Princess of Wales have paid tribute to the people of Northern Ireland despite princess Catherine being heckled on their visit to the province. They shared a post on their official social media pages after the one-day trip on Thursday (06.10.22), which saw them meet well-wishers, visit a suicide prevention charity and mix cocktails. The couple, both 40, who share children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and four-year-old Prince Louis said: Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland! They also posted a highlights video of their trip that included Catherine mixing a drink and Prince William playing with two dogs. Their tribute came hours after Catherine was praised by fans for maintaining her composure when she was heckled on a visit to Northern Ireland. The royal carried on smiling after a woman clad in an emerald green cardigan yelled: Youre not in your own country. Her heckler also screamed Ireland belongs to the Irish during Catherine and her husband the Prince of Wales meet-and-greet session in north Belfast on Thursday afternoon. The woman appeared to be videoing the confrontation on her mobile phone, which happened while she shook hands with the princess, and told her: Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country prompting Catherine to let go of her hand but continuing to smile and greet other members of the crowd. Royal fans flooded social media with remarks the mum-of-three handled the situation perfectly. It was the only incident to blight Catherine and William, Prince of Wales visit to Northern Ireland. Hundreds of well-wishers lined the Marine Highway in Carrickfergus, a town to the north of Belfast, as the pair visited the town in County Antrim. The pairs visit included meeting local businesspeople and they were greeted by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Noel Williams. They also visited suicide prevention charity PIPS in north Belfast, before the couple laughed during a cocktail-making lesson, during the couples drop in on Trademarket. The trip to Northern Ireland is part of their fulfilment of several engagements with cross-community organisations that provide support to people from all backgrounds in the wake of Queen Elizabeths death aged 96 on September 8 at her home in Balmoral. The Russian army has stepped up the number of attacks by Iranian-made kamikaze drones, aiming a dozen such devices at a town near Kyiv on Wednesday alone. While their effectiveness is limited, the drones offer a cheap alternative to missile strikes and allow Russian forces to keep up the pressure on Ukrainian cities located far from the frontline. President Vladimir Putins forces may be on the back foot in the east and south of Ukraine, but they still have the ability to strike deep into enemy territory. Such is the message delivered by Iranian-manufactured drones, which the Russian army has used over the past three weeks to strike artillery positions, ammunition depots and civilian infrastructures. On Wednesday, a swarm of twelve drones flew straight to Bila Tserkva, a garrison town located about 90 kilometres south of Kyiv, marking a first for an area that had so far been largely spared by the fighting. Six drones were shot down by Ukrainian forces, but the other half crashed into buildings, causing extensive damage and injuring one soldier. Until then, southern cities including Odesa had been the main target of kamikaze drones and other flying devices capable of dropping bombs. Despite Iranian denials, Ukraine decided last month to reduce its diplomatic representation in Tehran in protest at these allegations. Meanwhile, the US Treasury announced sanctions against four Iranian arms companies suspected of supplying the Russian army. Read more on FRANCE24 Read also: 'Occupiers trying to escape': Russians under pressure in southern Ukraine Ukrainian forces defend eastern gains from Russian counterattacks Putin finalises approval of Ukraine annexations despite military reversals BANGKOK The second energy forum between Viet Nam and Thailand took place in Bangkok on October 6, seeking ways to achieve the common goal of developing clean and sustainable energy. Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Energy Kulit Sombatsiri said his country wished to promote substantive cooperation in energy with Viet Nam. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade ang Hoang An said since the first forum was held in Binh inh Province in 2015, bilateral energy cooperation had reaped many encouraging results. Thailand was an important energy investor in Viet Nam, he said, elaborating that its businesses had been investing in wind, solar and thermal power plants in many Vietnamese localities. The Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group and the national oil and gas firm of Thailand, via its subsidiaries, were also working together in some oil and gas exploration and exploitation projects in Viet Nam and Algeria, he added. Affirming the importance of the energy partnership with Thailand, An held that the organisation of the second forum was necessary amid numerous difficulties facing the global energy industry as it helped the two sides know each countrys energy cooperation demand, strengthen energy cooperation, and would contribute to their countries enhanced strategic partnership set up in 2015. At the forum, participants discussed and shared experiences in many important energy development issues of Viet Nam and Thailand, which have the common target of shifting to clean energy to minimise climate change impacts. They also discussed opportunities for energy business partnerships in the future, the expansion of trade and investment links, the exchange of knowledge and technology, innovations in petroleum exploration and clean energy production, and the development of new fuels like hydrogen and ammonia so as to jointly promote energy security and sustainable energy. They also highly valued the investment climate in Viet Nam and held that the country is a potential market with high profitability in the energy sector. Businesses of Viet Nam and Thailand also met one another to seek partnership chances. VNA/VNS Digital transformation is never easy, even for large enterprises. A typical example is the case of Ford Smart Mobility. Established in 2016 with financial backing from auto giant Ford, the project is expected to be a great success. However, smart mobility technology does not integrate with most of the rest of the Ford ecosystem. Ford Smart Mobility headquarters is not only located far away but also operates independently from other business units. After just one year, Ford Smart Mobility reported a staggering loss of $300 million. The stock price plummeted, leading to the departure of the former Ford CEO. Five core principles of digital transformation The fear of missing out, as well as the burning desire to achieve instant success, has led many businesses to hastily embark on their digital transformation journey without proper due consideration and a thought-out process of what is suitable for them in order to benefit from their digital transformation gains. Tan Swee Woon - Strategy director of ABeam Consulting for Thailand and Vietnam To avoid falling into unnecessary and avoidable potential pitfalls in their digital transformation journey, Tan Swee Woon, Strategy director of ABeam Consulting for Thailand and Vietnam who has gathered extensive experience across varied clients digital transformation projects opined that businesses should pay attention to five core principles to ensure a strategic approach is being taken and learn from businesses that have heeded and benefited from these valuable principles and emerging with successful digital transformation outcomes and impact. The first principle is to focus on long-term goals. Effective transformation can sometimes take a rather long time to complete which can overwhelm and discourage some businesses. It is easy to fall into the trap of seeking short-term projects to create some visible impact but its even more critical to focus on the objective and importance of creating value, explained Tan. Digital transformation is a mandatory journey that any business must undertake in order to survive and develop. Second, businesses will need to plan and prepare carefully before embarking on their very own digital transformation journey and always have the larger picture in mind. Failing to prepare is akin to preparing to fail, as reinforced by Tan. Enterprises should organise a focused and dedicated digital transformation team with the necessary expertise to lead the transformation efforts, actively share useful knowledge and learnings as well as facilitate other departments to onboard together on the journey and set themselves up for success. Third, businesses should not solely prioritise technology over customer experience. Businesses often adopt popular technologies just because they think they are supposed to (such as AI or blockchain), where these technologies might have no strategic value to their business at all. It is better to start small, be strategic, and use data to measure what works and what can be improved. Fourth, the transformation process will need strong involvement and participation across the whole enterprise spanning from operations, sales, and marketing to human resources, finance activities, and more. Businesses need to realise the depth and breadth of effective digital transformation implications, and the importance of helping stakeholders understand the roles they play and contribute in the larger scheme of things. The last and final principle is that businesses need to be agile and continuously reiterate to improve and optimise, especially from learnings along their digital transformation journey. Effective and impactful digital transformations are never truly finished. Technology evolves constantly and so should businesses make further strides in order to thrive, as Tan summarised concisely in his sharing and recommendations. Four pillars of digital transformation Ryohei Oda, managing director of ABeam Consulting, recommends that businesses should look at four areas on their digital transformation journey (see graphic), including digital transformation in Enterprise Transformation (EX), Social Transformation (SX), Value Chain Transformation (VCX), and Customer Experiences Transformation (CX). In doing so, businesses can identify problems in the industry, prepare a digital transformation strategy, and build a sustainable digital business model for the future. Usually, businesses only focus on the surface such as operating processes and value chains, yet pay little attention to other areas. The inconsistent implementation creates vulnerabilities during the transition. As a global enterprise with many years of experience in consulting and supporting successful digital transformation partners, ABeam Consulting, with extensive experience in implementation, has been providing a comprehensive set of solutions in all four areas, helping businesses to manage risks efficiently in this challenging journey. Digital transformation is a mandatory journey that any business must undertake in order to survive and develop. Digital transformation can help businesses gain competitive advantages while bolstering efficiency. The essential goal is to deliver relevant new value. This is essential in today's rapidly changing business environment, where customers re-evaluate priorities and change habits, said Ryohei Oda, managing director of ABeam Vietnam. For successful digital transformation, businesses need to take wise steps right from the start so as not to waste time and resources. Localities accelerate digital transformation in tourism Localities nationwide are accelerating digital transformation to create breakthroughs in the tourism sector. France's competition authority levied the fine -- its biggest ever -- after concluding that the firm squeezed independent sellers of Apple products as it tried to push buyers towards its own stores and preferred retailers. Apple wins 728-mn-euro cut to France antitrust fine - Source: freepik.com The Paris appeal court revised the decision and knocked 728 million from the fine, meaning Apple still faces having to pay 370 million euros. While the competition authority told AFP it was studying the decision and could appeal, Apple said it would try to have the ruling overturned. "We consider that the decision should have been annulled in its entirety and plan to appeal to the French supreme court," the firm told AFP in a statement. "The decision concerns practices that go back more than 10 years and that even the French competition authority has recognised as no longer being in force." The initial case was made up of three linked complaints -- one was dismissed by the court, two were upheld. Sources close to the case confirmed the amounts and the details of the decision. The Paris appeals court told AFP the ruling would be made public on Friday. Apple has faced years of scrutiny from European regulators, particularly over a deal with Ireland that saw it pay low rates of corporation tax. The firm, along with competitor Google, has also been accused of tightly controlling its app store and taking too big a bite out of revenue brought in by developers. Apple leading charge in new manufacturing Vietnam is on the radar of more manufacturing and processing investors who are seeing the advantages of Vietnams current economic status. Brazil fines Apple $2.4 mn, prohibits sale of iPhone without charger Apple has been barred from selling iPhones without a charger in Brazil and fined more than $2 million over the issue, the government said Tuesday, after accusing the US tech giant of "discriminatory practices." Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha will later visit survivors of the attack that left at least 37 people dead, including the attacker's wife and child. Sittipong Taothawong (L) comforts his wife Kanjana Buakumchan as she holds their child's milk bottle and blanket while standing outside the nursery in Na Klang in Thailand's northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province on October 7, 2022, the day after a former police officer killed at least 37 people in a mass shooting at the site. Weeping, grief-stricken families gathered on October 7 outside a Thai nursery where an ex-policeman murdered nearly two dozen children in one of the kingdom's worst mass killings.- Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP Around the small low-slung building, where only two days ago scores of preschool children played, officials in white uniforms with black armbands laid a red carpet for the king's visit. A line of heartbroken parents placed white roses on the steps of the nursery as the baking sun bore down on them Friday morning. Buarai Tanontong's two three-year-old grandsons were among those killed at the nursery when the attacker burst through the door. "I couldn't sleep. I didn't think that it would be my two grandsons," she said, clutching her inconsolable daughter's shoulder. Earlier a palace representative laid a wreath from the royal family at the entrance of the nursery. Overnight, coffins carrying the bodies of the victims -- who include 23 children -- arrived at a morgue in Udon Thani, the closest city to the rural district ripped apart by Thursday's three-hour rampage. Armed with a 9mm pistol and a knife, sacked police sergeant Panya Khamrab opened fire on the childcare centre in the northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province at about 12:30 pm (0530 GMT). Following the attack, 34-year-old Panya fled the scene in a pickup truck to head home and murder his wife and child before taking his own life, police said, ending the killing spree around 3:00 pm. - Drug addict - Flags on government buildings flew at half-mast on Friday in a gesture of mourning for one of the deadliest days in recent Thai history. Nanthicha Punchum, acting chief of the nursery, described harrowing scenes as the attacker barged into the building in the rural Na Klang district. "There were some staff eating lunch outside the nursery and the attacker parked his car and shot four of them dead," she told AFP. "The shooter smashed down the door with his leg and then came inside and started slashing the children's heads with a knife." Local media reported that the dead included a school teacher who was eight months pregnant, and that one child survived because they were sleeping hidden by a blanket when the attacker struck. National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapat told reporters that Panya, a former police sergeant, was suspended in January and sacked in June for drug use. He said the attacker -- who used a legally purchased pistol -- had been due in court on a drugs charge, adding that Panya was in a manic state but it was unknown whether it was drug-related. Witness Paweena Purichan, 31, said the attacker was well-known in the area as a drug addict. She told AFP she encountered Panya driving erratically as he fled the scene. "The attacker rammed a motorbike into two people who were injured. I sped off to get away from him," she said. "There was blood everywhere." Video footage that Paweena posted online showed a woman lying injured in a roadside bush after apparently being knocked off her motorbike by Panya. Thai PM Prayut has ordered a rapid probe into the attack, which came less than three years after a soldier gunned down 29 people in a 17-hour rampage and wounded scores more before he was shot dead by commandos. And less than a month ago an army officer shot dead two colleagues at a military training base in the capital Bangkok. But while Thailand has high rates of gun ownership, mass shootings such as Thursday's are rare. FM Logistic will handle warehousing operations for gro24/7 from its multi-client urban distribution centre in Di An, Binh Duong, close to Ho Chi Minh City, and help gro24/7 fulfil and deliver orders. From Di An, the products will be delivered to 60 per cent of Ho Chi Minh Citys districts as well as to the entire southeastern region. By grocery store owners in the country, gro24/7 is one of the most utilised B2B e-commerce platforms. After a relatively short time in operation, the company reached the milestone of serving 20,000 retailers in Ho Chi Minh City. "We are trusted by more than 23 major FMCG manufacturers and distributors, representing 70 famous brands with hundreds of products. To support operations on this scale, we needed a strong logistics partnership like FM Logistic Vietnam which will help make our supply chain faster and more cost-effective. We are thrilled by their value-added services and have chosen them as a strategic partner after one month of operation for their contribution to the development of gro24/7, said Son Pham, CEO of gro24/7. Hamza Harti, managing director for FM Logistic Vietnam said, A fast and flawless supply chain is critical for brands to strengthen their identity while reinforcing customer-facing operations. We are confident that our cooperation will take gro24/7 several steps toward its ambition of sustainable supply chain operations. The end-to-end digital suite of FM Logistic featuring WMS, last mile management system and API integrations will ensure a high level of operational efficiency while driving down environmental impact across the entire logistics operations of gro24/7. With trends of accelerating urbanisation and the rise of e-commerce, Asian cities are increasingly experiencing issues related to the delivery of goods in urban areas. The rising number of urban vehicles is leading to increased congestion, air pollution, and noise, which negatively impact traffic safety, quality of life, and urban economic competitiveness. These consequences put pressure on brands, manufacturers, and distributors to find innovative ways to get their products delivered to consumers with a minimal footprint and environmental impact. Logistics providers have therefore a major part to play in building and optimising long-term and sustainable urban logistics models for clients. According to the latest published whitepaper from FM Logistic Urban logistics challenges: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's retail landscape is 88 per cent unorganised, with small independent mom-and-pop stores making up about 40 per cent of the market, presenting a massive opportunity to digitalise and drive efficiencies in the value chain. By combining infrastructure, technology, and collaborations, value creation within urban logistics can be augmented, specifically in the hopes of defining sustainable economic models. Outsourcing supply chains to a specialist such as FM Logistic can help consumer goods companies respond quickly to these urban logistics challenges and increase operational efficiency, said Stephane Descarpentries, managing director of FM Logistic Asia. On October 4, FM Logistics held an event to disseminate some of the key insights of its urban logistics industry whitepaper, highlighting the predominant trends shaping omnichannel and urban logistics across Vietnam. Taking place in Ho Chi Minh City, the event featured FM Logistic experts discussing the success factors of redefining urban logistics flows, followed by a casual networking opportunity. French firm to build logistics centre Ground has been broken for a US$30 million warehouse and distribution centre in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Opportunities for investors in Vietnams logistics landscape The logistics industry plays a key role in Vietnams socioeconomic development. At present, over 30,000 enterprises are providing logistics services including about 4,000 logistics service providers domestically and overseas. About 97 per cent are small- and medium-sized enterprises. VPBank was reportedly having the highest credit limit adjusted by the SBV. According to the banks' feedback, VPBank has the largest modification with an adjusted limit of nearly VND45 trillion ($1.88 billion). MB ranks second in the list with an adjusted limit of over VND20 trillion ($837.64 million). HDBank came third with a credit limit of approximately VND11 trillion ($460.7 million). In addition, SBV also continues to adjust the credit room of Vietcombank. However, the bank's adjusted limit was less than VND9 trillion ($376.8 million). It is known that four banks have received official documents to adjust the credit room from the management agency. The banks will participate in the credit institution restructuring programme with a view to restructuring the system of credit institutions. VPBank is tasked to assist GPBank while MB is in charge of supporting Ocean Bank. HDBank is assigned to aid Dong A Bank, and Vietcombank will support CBBank. The credit institution restructuring programme will contribute to the healthy and stable development of the banking system and the economy. Accordingly, Vietnam will have two or three commercial banks joining the top 100 powerful commercial banks in Asia by 2025, according to the prime minister's decision No.689/QD-TTg. The scheme is expected to create a thorough change in the restructuring of the credit institution system associated with non-performing loan settlements. It sets forth the target that by 2025, the total number of credit institutions will be reduced, weak banks will be permitted to terminate their operation, no more banks will fall into the group of weak ones, and the credit institution system will develop in a more sustainable manner. VPBank could raise its FOL to 17.5 per cent Raising its foreign-ownership limit (FOL) could mean that a private placement for potential foreign investors may be made, while at the same time, VPBank could offer more flexible conditions for present foreign owners, thanks to the new modification related to a larger FOL. Charter capital boost offers new credit room A handful of credit institutions are raising their charter capital in a bid to strengthen their financial buffer and competitiveness, while maintaining their capital adequacy ratio as required by regulators. Deputy head of the German Embassy in Hanoi, Simon Kreye spoke at the reception on the occasion of the German Unity Day, which was organised at the ambassadors residence, that the relationship between Vietnam and Germany has improved, even in the pandemic. Germany has donated more than 10 million vaccine doses and valuable, life-saving medical equipment to Vietnam. This collaboration will continue. As a result, Germany and Vietnam have not distanced themselves from each other during the pandemic, but have come closer to each other. The German-Vietnamese friendship has stood the test of time during the pandemic, he said. Germany has donated more than 10 million vaccine doses and valuable, life-saving medical equipment to Vietnam. This collaboration will continue. In recent months, there has been a welcome revival in travel between countries, including official delegations, such as Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son's trip to Germany last week. In addition to Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock, Minister Son also met Federal President Steinmeier and Federal Council President Ramelow. Other high-level encounters will follow in the coming weeks and months. In total, more than 350 German companies have invested almost $3 billion in Vietnam and provided employment to more than 50,000 people. The trend is positive, as can be seen from the many expressions of interest in just the last few weeks. Besides this, we congratulate Vietnam on its ambitious goals, as announced by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at last year's COP26 conference: carbon neutrality by 2050 and phase-out of coal-fired energy by the 2040s. Germany is willing to make significant efforts to support Vietnam in achieving these goals. We want to get involved with others in a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam. Germany is building on years of development cooperation in the areas of energy and environmental protection, Kreye said. Vietnamese using new passport form can travel to Germany Germany now temporarily recognises the new model Vietnamese passport that provides information about the place of birth. Visa issuances will resume, with the exception of multi-year type C visas. An enticing arena for German groups In recent years, Vietnam has turned into a bright spot for foreign direct investment, especially for German investors, and there are many major reasons why this is the case. Germany's nuclear stay fails to quell debate Germany's decision to keep two atomic plants on standby through the winter amid a power crunch has exposed cracks in the government and unleashed criticism from economic and energy experts. At a recent hearing, the Finance Ministry and the House of Representatives' Budget Committee of Indonesia agreed to include sugary packaged drinks on the list of goods subject to special income tax in the draft state budget for 2023. Indonesia considers imposing excise tax on sweetened beverages. (Shutterstock/ monticello) Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani stressed that sweetened beverages and plastic products bring a lot of negative impacts to public health and the environment. Implementing the excise would largely depend on the pace of recovery next year, he said. The Finance Ministry estimates that the sweetened beverage excise will rake in roughly 6.25 trillion rupiah in annual revenue. The Indonesian governments decision to speed up the tax plan is attributable to the countrys growing diabetes prevalence, which has heavily burdened the state budget. In 2019, BPJS Kesehatan spent 108 trillion rupiah on diabetes treatments, a 29% increase compared to 84 trillion rupiah spent in 2017. Indonesia tightens management of crypto transaction floors Indonesias Ministry of Trade plans to issue a new rule to manage crypto transaction floors, requiring two-thirds of directors and commissioners at crypto firms to be its citizens and reside in the country. Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN. Photo: VNA At a meeting with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, in New York on October 6, Khalidi highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs remarks at the informal Leaders' Roundtable on Climate Change in New York, co-chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Egyptian President on September 22. Through the speech, the PM sent out Vietnams strong message of climate change to international partners, she continued. The official expressed her hope that Vietnam will consider adjusting Decree 114/2021/ND-CP on the management and use of official development assistance (ODA) and foreign preferential loans in order to meet requirements of international organisations and development partners during the implementation of development support projects in Vietnam. Ramla Al Khalidi, newly-appointed UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. Photo: VNA Giang, for his part, said he hopes that the UNDP will continue to support Vietnam in fulfilling sustainable development goals, share its experience, and provide consultancy for the country in policy making. He also called for UNDPs assistance to Vietnam in the countrys efforts to achieve targets set at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) that took place in the UK last year, and in the negotiations to set up a partnership in energy transition with G7 countries. The ambassador suggested the two sides closely coordinate in celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-UN relationship in late October. UNDP regional director arrives in Vietnam UN assistant secretary general and UNDP regional director for Asia-Pacific Kanni Wignaraja arrived in Vietnam on the night of July 27 for an official visit. Finance and governance accelerators for Just Energy Transition Initial results of the energy transition to date have proven that finance is not a constraint and that new governance solutions are key to a Just Energy Transition (JET). UNDP regional directors visit to Thanh Hoa province On the last leg of her Vietnams visit, UN assistant secretary-general and United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) regional director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja joined leaders and people in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa to plant mangroves as one of the most effective nature-based solutions to enhance coastal community resilience to climate change and their livelihood. The keys to financing a just energy future Vietnam has made an international commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. Kanni Wignaraja, assistant secretary-general at the UN and regional director for Asia-Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme, writes about how the country can transition to a just energy future, with finance and governance accelerators. On October 5, the Vietnam Government Portal organised the workshop on the one-year implementation of Resolution 128/NQ-CP, dated October 11, 2021, on safety, flexibility, and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong mentioned the figures on GDP growth, which are published by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) as proof of the success of enacting Resolution 128. According to GSO, in the first three quarters this year, Vietnams GDP growth was estimated to rise 8.83 per cent for the period, signifying the highest nine-month growth recorded in 2011-2022. According to GSO, in the first three quarters this year, Vietnams GDP growth was estimated to rise 8.83 per cent for the period, signifying the highest nine-month growth recorded in 2011-2022. He said that in the third quarter of 2021, the countrys GDP decreased by 6 per cent on-year due to travel restrictions put in place to prevent the pandemic's spread. However, since the resolution was adopted in October last year, the country's GDP in the four quarter of 2021 immediately achieved positive growth. Resolution 128, together with the National Assemblys Resolution No.43/2022/QH15 on fiscal and monetary policies in support of the programme on socioeconomic recovery and development, and other solutions have helped to maintain the economic recovery, towards sustainable recovery and development, Phuong said. According to GSO, in the first three quarters this year, Vietnams GDP growth was estimated to rise 8.83 per cent for the period, signifying the highest nine-month growth recorded in 2011-2022. The percentage for the third quarter, in particular, was 13.67 per cent. The strategy on vaccine coverage, which is a part of Resolution 128 also reported a positive result. The statistics published by the Ministry of showed that the COVID-19 fatality rate in Vietnam stands at only 0.02 per cent, as compared with the world average of 1.2 per cent, noting that vaccination is an important prevention measure. More than 260.23 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country so far. Dr. Angela Pratt, chief representative in Vietnam of the World Health Organization, said that Resolution 128 was an important milestone in Vietnam's response to the pandemic, signalling an important shift from containing the virus and suppressing transmission at all costs to balance COVID-19 restrictions with the need to open up the economy and society. Vietnam's economic growth forecast at 7.5 pc in 2022: World Bank Vietnams GDP growth is forecast to expand 7.5 percent in 2022 and 6.7 percent in 2023, with resilient manufacturing and a robust rebound in services serving as the driving forces for economic recovery. The key challenges ahead for a digital economic boom Digital revenues in Vietnam are forecast to grow exponentially as the government continues to roll out new initiatives. Dwayne Ong, founder and CEO of Singaporean certification body CASUGOL, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about how Vietnam can address its primary challenges to ensure sustainable digital growth. Three scenarios affect Thai economic growth Thaland's National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reckoned that the Thai economy can be affected by three scenarios taking into account the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other geopolitical conflicts. Export goals supported by resolution As expanding risks in the global market are posing challenges for Vietnam to keep its growth prospects at a high level and materialise its large export target this year, the government has ordered new solutions to control the situation. This year, spillover effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the domestic market have returned to the interest of policymakers and the business community as it is an indicator of continuous recovery, maintenance, and expansion of production activities in Vietnam, according to the latest assessment of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Spillover FDI effects require levelling up - illustration photo Foreign investment disbursement in the first nine months of 2022 reached the highest 9-month growth rate over the past five years - up 16.2 per cent over the same period in 2021, reaching $15.4 billion. Regarding the adjustment of FDI policy in Vietnam in recent years, Dr. Nguyen Tue Anh, deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, emphasised the extent of possible spillover effects on domestic suppliers. The issue that many people have been concerned about is the spillover on the domestic sector, said Anh. The current FDI policy has not yet played a good role in creating links between foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and domestic ones. Macro data showed the role of FIEs in Vietnams economy. According to the General Statistics Office, the industrial sector not only recovered but also grew strongly. The industry and construction sector increased by 9.44 per cent on-year, contributing almost 42 per cent to GDP in the third quarter of this year, up over 13.6 per cent over the same period last year. However, the degree of dependence on FIEs is now different from before. Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Legal Department under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that a few years ago, half of the Vietnamese export turnover came from FIEs, but the rate increased to three quarters at present. The links between FIEs and domestic suppliers have been improving but are still insufficient, said Tuan. The results of the chambers annual survey also show that FIEs only buy about a quarter of their equipment and input materials from Vietnamese enterprises the rest is imported from parent companies. Last month, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) released a new report, showing that the industrys key bottlenecks over the past several years have not improved. The internal strength of the industry would remain weak, heavily depending on FDI. Although these enterprises only make up a fifth of all companies in the country, they account for more than 70 per cent of Vietnams total export turnover, especially in key export industries such as electronics, textiles, and shoes. FDI into Vietnam is mainly concentrated on downstream businesses that take advantage of tax incentives, cheap input costs, such as labour, and not too high environmental and labour requirements. However, this also renders any spillover effect to the domestic sector meagre compared to initial expectations. Vietnams competitiveness and ability to participate in regional and global value chains also remain limited. Industrial production is mainly processing and assembling and of low added value, all of which rely heavily on cheap labour and have not yet brought into play scientific, technological, and innovation advances. The contribution of the manufacturing industry to GDP is also low. Lastly, Vietnam does not have many Vietnamese products and brands that are competitive throughout the region. Meanwhile, the capacity of local industrial enterprises remains low. State-owned enterprises mainly focus on infrastructure using national resources. Most private enterprises do not have enough resources to invest in research and development to upgrade and innovate technology and increase added value in production activities. However, the country has the ability to change the degree of spillover between FIEs and domestic enterprises, and the government has been working with organisations and the business community to implement activities to strengthen links between the two sides. Data from the MoITs Department of Industry showed that Vietnam currently has about 2,000 enterprises producing spare parts and components, but only about 300 participate in the multinational supply chain. The opening of trade through a series of signed free trade agreements has turned Vietnam into the focus of FDI attraction in recent years. However, the dependence on exports that often comes with these funds is assessed by experts as potentially risky. Experts are concerned that when Vietnamese enterprises have not yet joined the global value chain, it would leave the nation vulnerable to external shocks. Meanwhile, Vietnams golden population cycle is coming to an end, so foreign investors may consider looking for new production locations. Experiences from previous countries remind Vietnam that no country can develop sustainably if it only depends on FDI. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Mai - Chairman, Vietnams Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises The lack of spillover effects between foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and domestic businesses is the main drawback today, which is evident in the limitation of Vietnamese enterprises participating in the global supply chain. Currently, in the textile and garment and footwear industries, Vietnamese enterprises only perform low value-added stages. Likewise, the localisation rate in automobile production is only at about 10 per cent. However, first of all, the responsibility belongs to Vietnamese enterprises. They must have a strategy for development, innovation, and improvement, and actively seek partners to participate in the global chain. Meanwhile, the government needs to come up with specific policies to encourage FIEs to connect with domestic suppliers. Pham Tuan Anh - Deputy director-general, Department of Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade Vietnam strives to become a modern industrial country in the next 10 years, but during the national development, the countrys industrial sector faces many obstacles. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the Law on Industrial Development to develop the national industry. The renewed national industrial development policy should focus on resources to promote the development of the processing and manufacturing industry in the country, rendering it qualified to participate in the global production chain and creating a premise for the industrialisation and modernisation of the country. The Law on Industrial Development will create synchronisation and links, which are a basis for bringing into full play the potential of the manufacturing and processing industry, mobilising maximum development resources and creating breakthroughs to contribute to the accomplishment of the countrys goals. Vietnam has golden chance to welcome new FDI wave Vietnam has a golden chance to attract a new wave of foreign investment, especially to economic zones (EZs) and industrial parks (IPs), according to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong. 2.97 billion USD in FDI poured into HCM City in 9 months Ho Chi Minh City attracted 2.97 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) this year to September 20, a year-on-year increase of 26.1 percent, according to the municipal Department of Planning and Investment. Vo Van Hung, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee revealed the news on Thursday while he attended the second Viet Nam-Thailand Energy Forum (VTEF) in Bangkok, Thailand. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An at the forum in Bangkok, Thailand-VNA/VNS Photo Do Sinh The projects investor is Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) International Company Limited. The company was granted an investment licence in 2013 but the project has yet to be implemented. The plant was planned to be built on an area of 450ha in Dong Nam Economic Zone in the province. Hung said that the decision was made after considering the recommendations of the committee, assessing the factors causing obstacles in the financial arrangement and equity of the project, as well as the implementation of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 of the two Governments of Viet Nam and Thailand. The Thai Ministry of Energy also said that it will soon send an official document about the cancellation of the project to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and Quang Tri Province. The Thai Ministry of Energy suggested the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the province continue to create favourable conditions for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) International Company Limited in the future, so that the company can seek more opportunities to invest in other renewable energy projects or invest in infrastructure for the implementation of other renewable energy projects in Viet Nam and Quang Tri in particular. Vietnam spends $5 billion on coal imports In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam spent over $5 billion to import coal for thermal power plants, up 123 per cent on-year. EVN approved to become investor of O Mon III thermal power plant EVN has been approved to become the investor of the $1.19 billion O Mon III thermal power plant, which is located in Can Tho city. Over the billion-plus years, the Milky Way galaxy has a graveyard of stellar remains after they end their life cycles to later exist in a cosmic limbo. In the 13.6-billion-year history of the Milky Way, the life, birth, and death of stars in space were accompanied by supernova blasts, but where did these stellar corpses disappear to? Galactic Underworld On August 26, a study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society proposed what has happened to these solar hulks. They based their assumptions on a computer model that predicted where stars would be in the early galaxy, long before the galactic spiral existed, and even further back in time. Next, the model was fast-forwarded to reveal where the remnants of these stars are lurking like cosmic phantoms in the dark, reported Live Science. What was revealed is something like a galactic underworld where the corpses of black holes and neutron stars are the densest bodies, but the home galaxy is full of these cosmic zombies. Call it limbo, but its mass is roughly three times that of the spiral galaxy, an unknown place in space where countless dead stars have existed after their last explosions sent them to a graveyard of sorts. According to the study's lead author, David Sweeney of Sydney University, all of the universe's 30% of objects are not in the Milky Way galaxy. They are in some unknown existence, like a cosmic limbo. He added that supernovas erupting is not the same, and their remains are flung immensely fast, beyond comprehension, and more than human calculation. Stellar Remains The study looked at the two kinds of stellar remains after an explosion. Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth 2022: How Did Facebook Founder Lose $30 Billion in 1 Day? One solar mass will shed its material and leave its core, which is dense, and the other is a black hole that allows no light or matter to escape its gravitational pull. Both are cosmic bodies that have spent their hydrogen and elements that end in the strongest explosions in existence that cause gravitational implosion leaving a mark on the fabric of space-time. A dying star with a solar mass eight times that of our sun would produce a neutron star; however, if the solar mass is around 25 solar masses, a black hole would be formed in its place. In the spirals of the Milky Way, these stellar remnants have been detected, but it is not enough because of the immeasurable time in which the galaxy exists. Such remnants exist but are hard to find due to changes in the home galaxy over 13 billion years; the galactic netherworld is very irregular. A supernova is a superkick that can send a dead hulk of a star too far into the depths of the cosmos. The researchers created a computer scenario to compensate for this unpredictability, as well as the reshaping of the Milky Way and a wide range of other factors. Based on the model, the most stellar remnants are pushed to the galaxy center, where an immense black hole pulls everything close to it. Also, the last remains of stellar corpses are blasted all over the galactic spiral, which is not yet understood why they went there. Like a limbo, this netherworld of the dead starts to reside and use 1% of the galactic mass like a revenant, it stays.The Milky Way galaxy is a graveyard where stellar remains are never left but linger like revenants in a strange cosmic limbo in the universe. Related Article: Rippling Energies Throbbing in the Milky Way Galaxy Is Suspected by Astronomers Happening Like Clock Work @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The national flag carrier said Flight VN30, departing Frankfurt Airport for HCM City at 7:40pm on October 6 (Vietnam time), landed at Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport after 4 hours and 35 minutes to give emergency aid to an 18-year-old German who got sick on board. A plane of Vietnam Airlines (Photo: VNA) A doctor and a nurse of German nationality who were also passengers on the flight gave emergency care to the passenger with health problem, but the condition did not improve. The flight crew notified the Vietnam Airlines flight operation division of the issue and decided to land at the nearest airport, Baku Heydar Aliyev, at 0:15am on October 7 (Vietnam time). The carrier cooperated with the ground service department of the Azerbaijani airport, to which it has never conducted regular flights, to help the passenger handle entry, visa application, and emergency transport procedures. It also asked the airport to send staff members to accompany the passenger to hospital and notified the German Embassy in Azerbaijan of the case. The flight left Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport for HCM City at 3:38am on October 7 (Vietnam time). It landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport of HCM City at 11:45am the same day, 3 hours and 50 minutes later than scheduled, Vietnam Airlines said. In the past, the firm had also delayed or made emergency landings for some flights to assist passengers with serious health problems. Vietnam Airlines Youth Travel Awards to be launched The Vietnam Airlines Youth Travel Awards will officially kick off on September 15 as part of an initiative to develop the firms cooperation with universities and educational organisations nationwide and provide vocational guidance to youngsters. Historic Wacos McCulloch House will reopen its doors to the public Saturday with an invitation for visitors to return that night to solve a murder mystery. The murder is not real nor is it part of the houses history, but the mystery-solving part signals the nonprofits intent to broaden its mission beyond the preservation of three late 19th century houses. The attentive may notice a signal, too, in Historic Wacos new logo, which introduces color and letter shapes that suggest the Waco Suspension Bridge and the Wacos grass houses. The organizations name is getting a tweak as well, dropping Foundation in all but legal and related uses. Executive Director Erik Swanson said the tweak to the name is intended to sharpen its identity in a community with multiple foundations that distribute funds to various charitable causes, a purpose outside Historic Wacos work. Were dropping the Foundation out of our name to make clearer that our mission is to preserve the history and heritage of Waco and McLennan County, Swanson said. The changes are part of a goal to have people see local history as central to the organizations work and mission. Come to Historic Waco for all Waco history, he said. We should be the first place where people start. Historic Wacos McCulloch House at 407 Columbus Ave. has been closed for several weeks to repair the 156-year-old houses wooden porch columns. Steel beams were inserted into the hollow columns to help them support a second-story porch with damaged and rotten wood removed in the process at a cost of about $70,000, Swanson said. The Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, another Historic Waco property, also has been closed for months due to construction on Interstate 35 and its frontage roads, one of which bounds the house property. Column repair work similar to that completed at the McCulloch House is underway and Swanson hopes repairs will be finished in time for the holiday season. Were very anxious to have it back again, he said. McCulloch House will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Historic Wacos East Terrace house will close on Saturday to free staff and volunteers for the McCulloch open house. The McCulloch House will reopen at 6 p.m. Saturday for a murder mystery event. It is set in the 1890s and features actors in period costume, including one playing the McLennan County sheriff, stationed throughout the house. Attendees will be given a sheet with some of the details about the murder and will be free to chat with characters to find clues to solve it. It is a come-and-go event that ends at 9 p.m. Admission is $15. Tickets are available at historicwaco.org or at the door. Refreshments will be served. Swanson said the mystery is an example of social uses the organization is imagining for its houses, along with receptions, small weddings, meetings and retreats. The Historic Waco Foundation was established in 1967 to preserve four 19th century houses, using the stories of the buildings and their occupants as a window into Waco history. As maintenance costs have risen over the years and strained the organizations resources, members and officials have discussed in recent years ways of moving beyond the houses as a central focus. The organization sold its Fort House to Magnolia in 2019. Its offices are in the Hoffman House, an early 20th century structure next door to the Earle-Napier-Kinnard House. As part of rebranding the organization for the future, its logo is changing from a more classical black-and-white to a contemporary look with color drawn from the organization. The orange of its H is a composite of the East Terrace brick colors, while the blue of its W comes from the exterior paint of Historic Wacos headquarters, the Hoffman House, Swanson said. He said he feels the community is responding positively to the changes. Historic Wacos recent fall lecture looked at the history of indigenous people in Central Texas, led by Waco tribal descendant Derek Ross and Texas-based Indigenous ACE, whose members performed and explained ceremonial dances. The fall lecture drew an audience of 126 people, far above the usual attendance for Historic Wacos fall and spring lectures, which Swanson attributed to local interest in the subject and the fact that tribal members, not academics, shared their stories. I think thats Historic Waco at its best: bringing groups together to learn about Waco history, he said. Here's a look at top news for today, Oct. 6: Death toll from Hurricane Ian reaches triple digits The death toll from Hurricane Ian climbed into the triple digits today. The number of recorded storm-related deaths has risen to at least 101 in the eight days since the storm made landfall in southwest Florida. Of the total deaths, 98 were in Florida, according to reports from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Other storm deaths include five in North Carolina, three in Cuba and one in Virginia. Ian made landfall in Floridas Gulf Coast on Sept. 28, after hitting Cuba the previous day. Roaring northeast, the storm crossed Florida and headed into the Atlantic, then made another landfall in South Carolina before pushing into the mid-Atlantic states. Ian is the second-deadliest storm to hit the mainland United States in the 21st century, behind Hurricane Katrina, which left about 1,800 people dead in 2005. Read more about it here: Judge delays Twitter trial, gives Musk time to seal buyout A judge has delayed a looming trial between Twitter and Elon Musk, giving the Tesla CEO more time to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company after months spent fighting to get out of it. Musk had asked to halt the upcoming Delaware court trial, where the Tesla billionaire was expected to fare poorly against Twitter's lawsuit to force him to complete his April merger agreement. Musk revived the takeover offer on Monday but said he needed time to get the financing in order. Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, head of the Delaware Chancery Court, said Thursday that Musk and Twitter now have until Oct. 28 to close the deal. A trial originally set for Oct. 17 will happen in November if they dont, she said. Get the full scoop here: At least 36 people killed in child care center massacre in Thailand Thailand recoiled in horror Thursday after at least 36 people were killed, at least 24 of them children, in a massacre at a child care center in northeastern Thailand believed to be the country's deadliest incident of its kind. Authorities immediately launched a manhunt for the suspected attacker, later identified by Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) as Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former policeman. According to Thai Royal Police, he was suspended from police duty earlier this year relation to drug possession charges. Among the dozens of victims are Kamrab's wife and stepson, whom investigators say he killed before taking his own life. His 2-year-old stepson was enrolled at the nursery that he attacked Thursday, but was not present while the attack was carried out, according to a local police chief. Read the full story here: Police: 2 dead, 6 injured in stabbings along Las Vegas Strip An attacker with a large kitchen knife killed two people and wounded six others in stabbings along the Las Vegas Strip before being arrested Thursday, police said. Three people were hospitalized in critical condition and another three were in stable condition, according to Las Vegas police who said they began receiving 911 calls about the stabbings around 11:40 a.m. on the north end of the Strip. Authorities said the suspect identified himself to police and they are working to determine his true identity. They described him as Hispanic and in his 30s, and said he does not appear to be a Las Vegas resident. Get more info here: *** More top stories from today: Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is a show that shares true crime stories through readings of newspaper articles and interviews with the journalists who reported on the stories. If you have not listened to the previous episodes, you can do so below. Be sure to subscribe to the program so you don't miss the final chapter when it arrives. OMAHA COVID-19 levels in both Nebraska and the United States continue to fall to their lowest levels in months, enough to prompt President Joe Biden to suggest the pandemic is over. But health officials say the current trends should not cause people to let down their guard on vaccinations. In fact, they say getting the latest vaccination booster between now and Halloween could be the best way for people to protect themselves and their families over the upcoming holidays. We want people to get together with Grandma and do it safely, said Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln. Sufficient vaccination is our biggest challenge right now. Nebraska posted 1,424 new COVID cases last week, down from 1,772 the previous week, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New cases are down by more than half over the past three weeks, falling to their lowest level since the first week of May. Hospitalizations also are falling, with last weeks daily average of 172 down from 183 the previous week. The state added 17 deaths last week, putting the total number of confirmed or probable deaths for the pandemic at 4,507. Nationally, COVID still is claiming 400 lives a day. Its still difficult to say where the unpredictable pandemic will go next as cases surged during the winter months in both 2020 and 2021. Some experts are projecting it will happen again. We are not (yet) in a stable pattern, Rauner said. I dont think you can act as if COVID doesnt exist. Rauner said Bidens statement last week about the pandemic being over has caused a lot of confusion and raised questions about what, if anything, people should be doing to protect their health. Rauner said the advice he has been giving people is simple and twofold. First, he said, stay current on your vaccination boosters. Vaccines have proven highly effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, often turning the infection into little more than a mild cold. More than three-quarters of the deaths being seen would have been prevented with vaccinations, Rauner said. Second, Rauner said, if you are feeling sick, wear a mask. Whether it turns out that you have COVID or just a common cold bug, either way you will be protecting the health of others around you. By taking those two steps, Rauner thinks most people can get back to normal lives. Unfortunately, vaccination levels both in Nebraska and nationally remain relatively low. Lancaster and Douglas Counties are the only counties in Nebraska where more than 50% of the 65-and-over population the most vulnerable to COVID has received the recommended two booster shots. With the new updated bivalent shot, which targets both the dominant omicron variants as well as the original COVID-19 strain, theres another chance for people to get current on shots. The FDA authorization states that individuals are eligible for a bivalent booster if it has been at least two months since they completed primary vaccination or received the most recent booster. Rauner said he likes the recent advice of Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, who suggested that people get the latest shot no later than Halloween. That would give them several weeks for immunity to build up and assure that they have maximum protection in time for the holidays. During this winter, power outages lasting three hours each might affect millions of homes. This winter, Great Britain will be subject to blackouts, and the electricity to homes and businesses might be knocked off for up to three hours each day. If the current energy crisis persists, the corporation in charge of supplying the United Kingdom with gas and electricity has issued a warning that there may not be enough power for the whole nation. To prevent unplanned power outages, homeowners will be compensated to reduce the temperature of their heating systems and refrain from using their washing machines during peak hours. This will help the nation preserve as much energy as possible. It's possible that households may get about ten pounds per day for shutting down their appliances, although the precise specifics won't be known until November 1. The National Grid Power System Operator has released its gloomy "winter forecast" report, which highlights the possibility that "planned disruptions of electricity delivery to companies and homes" may occur if there is a gas shortage. If the power outages do go through, it would be the first time since the 1970s that there have been blackouts that have been deliberately planned. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! In the United Kingdom, there are fifteen different power networks; in the event that there is an impending power deficit, the National Grid will warn individual homes if their power supply is about to be temporarily severed. To prevent the whole nation from being thrown into darkness, electricity could be shut off to chunks of families in certain regions, and the homes that had their supply turned off could be cycled among the other homes. There is a possibility of energy shortages at busy hours throughout the day, such as breakfast time and early nights. These times include: Before any blackouts could occur, they would need to be approved by King Charles and the administration. The colder temperatures that occur throughout the winter months contribute to a natural increase in the amount of energy that is used since individuals need to switch on their heaters and continue to use power for longer periods of time during the day. The possibility exists that there will be a reduction in the amount of gas that can be imported into Britain due to the cessation of Russia's export of gas to Europe. During the summer, there has been such a high demand for electricity across Europe that British producers have been sending more of their output to France. According to the National Grid, to maintain adequate gas supply, the United Kingdom will need to pay much higher prices for gas than the rest of Europe. It has issued a warning that "customers might be without power for pre-defined times of a day normally this is believed to be for three hour blocks" if there is a harsh winter and not adequate gas supply. According to National Grid, "this would be required to protect the overall security and integrity of the energy system throughout Great Britain." While the ESO was "cautiously confident" that there would be "adequate" supply, its executive director Fintan Slye stated that "as an expert and responsible operator of Great Britain's electricity system, it is incumbent on us to also factor in external factors and risks beyond our control like the unprecedented turmoil and volatility in energy markets in Europe and beyond." According to The Grid, the precise number of individuals who would be left without access to electricity would be determined by the number of larger, more energy-intensive enterprises that would need to be shut down to save power for homes. On the other hand, it is believed that sections of cities' power supplies will be cut off one at a time. In addition, manufacturing facilities will be eligible for multi-million-pound financial incentives to shut down their operations if there is a threat of an energy shortage. On the other hand, some business associations have expressed concern that the payments do not adequately compensate for the loss of business and that it is not possible to rapidly turn them on or off without providing enough warning in advance. National Grid is also promoting something called a "demand flexibility service," which may result in homes being compensated for cutting their energy use at periods of high demand for it. This might include utilizing their washing machine and tumble dryer during off-peak hours when there is less demand for their services. It may also have an impact on the process of charging electric automobiles. The ESO said that families would get a text message the day before an impending energy shortage asking consumers to use their power outside of peak early evening hours. The message would be sent out the day before the shortfall was expected to occur. According to the National Grid, the household incentives system can save around 2 gigawatts of energy, sufficient to provide electricity to approximately 600,000 houses and flats. Earlier this year, Octopus Energy conducted a pilot in which they rewarded customers for lowering their energy use. The plan developed by the energy company, which dubbed the experiment a "Big Dirty Turn Down" trial, is now being implemented throughout the nation. Jake Rigg, the director of corporate relations for the ESO, stated: "Customers in their homes or places of business who sign up for the demand flexibility service have the opportunity to save money and support the British economy in a novel and ingenious manner. "If you turn on your washing machine or any other electrical equipment throughout the night rather than during the high demand period in the early evening, you may save some money at a time when we could all use it. "The release of the service is anticipated for the month of November, so stay tuned for further information in the near future. "This is a genuine glimpse into the future, in which a flexible energy system will be more environmentally friendly and less expensive compared to alternatives." Coal power plants that Drax, EDF, and Uniper own have been instructed to keep five of their units open and on standby. These units have the capacity to supply a total of two gigawatts of electricity. This measure is being taken to prevent blackouts. In normal circumstances, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are responsible for supplying the necessary amount of electricity. This would assist close the supply deficit. A representative for Ofgem said, "We appreciate the report that National Grid has published today." We have one of the most dependable energy networks in the world, which puts us in a strong position along with our advantageous location. "However, it is the responsibility of a responsible and prudent energy sector to ensure that the appropriate contingency measures are in place. This is why we are working with the government, National Grid, and other key partners to protect consumers and ensure that Great Britain is fully prepared for any challenges that may arise this winter. As a result of gas shortages brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the energy markets in Europe have been rocked to the extent that has never been seen before. Gas is used to create around forty percent of the United Kingdom's electrical supply. The National Grid says we are expecting a "challenging" winter and is planning what would happen if we're unable to import electricity from Europe, meaning the UK didn't get enough gas. In the past, National Grid has consistently said that if there were to be any intentional blackouts, they would only impact large businesses and not private residences. To tackle a loss of imports from France, Belgium and the Netherlands, two gigawatts of coal-fired power plants are on standby to fire up if needed to meet demand. Suppose there are days in winter that are very cold, resulting in high levels of demand for electricity but low levels of wind generation. In that case, National Grid may be required to interrupt service for brief periods of time. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! The supply will probably be at its lowest from the beginning of December to around the middle of January, with the exception of the Christmas holiday. The National Grid says they would plan three-hour blackouts in some areas. The outages would be at peak times, which means power cuts could be in the evenings. The number of people left without electricity would depend on how many gas power stations would be forced to shut down because there is insufficient gas. Electricity generators would choose where to have outages based on how much supply they need to cut. It means if there are planned power cuts, they would be in one area at a time, not the whole of the UK. UK could face daily energy blackouts in winter On Monday evening, a unanimous vote was cast to approve of a previous designation of much of Downtown Waterloo as an area of slum and blight. According to Waterloo public works director Noel Anderson, this opens up the possibility of outside funds and tax credits to bring some much-needed improvements to the area. Zombies will wander the streets of Winona Saturday night, but there's no need to worry an apocalypse hasn't started just yet. Instead of brains and flesh, these zombies are out for something more appetizing: beer and a night full of fun. And they are not actually zombies, of course. The Winona Zombie Crawl will celebrate its 16th anniversary Saturday evening, with people continuing the annual tradition of dressing up as zombies -- make-up and all -- and stopping by local bars together. This year is extra special for the event, as it has become the World's Longest Running Zombie Bar Crawl, having only stopped for one year due to COVID-19 in 2020. The Winona annual event recently beat out Minneapolis' Zombie Pub Crawl, after the Twin Cities event never recovered from the impact of COVID. Todd Hanson, who founded the Winona Zombie Crawl as a college student back in 2006, shared that he was actually inspired by Minneapolis' Zombie Pub Crawl to start one locally, after hearing about it but not being able to attend for the pub crawl's first two years. "I was never really shooting to be the longest running zombie crawl or anything like that," Hanson said, but he did admit he enjoys having the title to help attract people to participate in the zombie crawl. Hanson believes the Winona Zombie Crawl was able to outlive the Minneapolis crawl, because the local crawl hasn't had as much of a focus on highly popularizing the event. While there is some advertisement for the event on social media and on posters, it hasn't grown to the point where it's dependent on money or putting on large productions to draw people's interest. And, Hanson's way of organizing the zombie crawl works, even as he's had to adapt his advertising to attract new generations over the years. He shared that before the pandemic, the crawl hit a peak at about 500 participants in one year. The pandemic has pulled the numbers down a bit, Hanson shared. Hanson said the crawl is "now just a passion project" for him, as he doesn't bring any money in for himself from it. Originally, Hanson didn't give the bars a heads up about the zombie crawl, as he wanted to attempt to mimic how unexpected an actual zombie apocalypse would be. Now, though, he teams up with them. The bars prepare ahead of time with ample staff to handle the increase of customers and then get to enjoy the extra sales during the evening. Some bars even schedule live music to take place during the zombie crawl, to help draw even more visitors in their doors and entertain their zombie patrons. The bars do help sponsor the event, by providing a normally small contribution to the crawl's advertisement. This year, the zombie crawl is starting off at Island City Brewing Company with a make up pre-party. People will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. at Island City to help participants do zombie makeup. Participants will receive a ticket to have their makeup done if they buy a beer for $5 at the business. While some of that money covers the cost of the beer, a portion of it also is given to the makeup artists. Then, after the pre-party, the fun officially begins. The Winona Zombie Crawl will begin at 7 p.m. at Port 507 and then will head to Lucky's on Third at 7:45 p.m., Gabby's Bar and Lounge at 8:30 p.m., Market Street Tap LLC at 9:15 p.m., and Mulligan's Irish Pub at 10 p.m., before splitting up between Broken World Records and No Name Bar at 10:45 p.m. As for music throughout the evening, The Luna Trio will be at Island City Brewing Company, TOTAL SEX MANIACS and Chaos Revolution Theory will be at Broken World Records, and Winona Jazz Collective and Loud Mouth Brass will be at No Name Bar. There are no fees to participate in the zombie crawl, with people only having to pay for their own drinks and the makeup at Island City, if they chose to attend the pre-party. If they dress up as zombies, there will be no cover costs at any of the participating bars. For more information about the Winona Zombie Crawl, visit www.winonazombiecrawl.com. WATERLOO A Waterloo doctor Thursday described the injuries Andrew Spates Jr. suffered when he was shot several times with a shotgun in 2016. The primary concern was the gunshot wound to the abdomen, said Dr. Paul Burgett, who treated Spates when paramedics brought him to the UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital emergency room. Burgett performed surgery on the abdomen. Spates also had a partially collapsed lung, and shotgun pellets were found lodged in his liver. An orthopedic surgeon also worked on Spates, who was then transferred to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City for advanced work on damage to his hands and his left arm, Burgett said. One of the fingers was amputated, according to earlier testimony. The doctor took the stand in the second day of testimony in the states case against the alleged shooter, Daytrell Raymond Pendleton. Pendleton, 32, is charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors allege Pendleton repeatedly shot Spates with a shotgun near the Kwik Star convenience store at Franklin and East 11th streets on May 12, 2016. Pendletons attorneys said he acted in self-defense. Spates was married to Pendletons mother at the time, and he had filed for divorce. The mother had filed a restraining order against Spates; her car had been shot up and her home window had been broken in the weeks and days leading up to the shooting, according to testimony at trial. Also on Thursday, jurors heard about evidence police collected at the shooting scene. Officer Jody Stratton said authorities found five spent shotgun shells on the pavement, some of which were 00 buckshot. A metal pipe sometimes described by witnesses as a metal bar or rod was also found on the ground among the shattered automobile glass from Spates pickup truck. The defense suggested that Spates had been wielding the pipe at the time of the shooting. Inside Pendletons truck, police found a 12-gauge Winchester pump-action shotgun. They also found more than a dozen live shotgun shells some 00 buck and some slugs in the glove compartment, in an overhead cubby and in other locations. Also in the truck were a canister of pepper spray, a folding knife and paperwork for a weapons carry permit dated two days before the shooting. Spates truck was found a short distance away near the Kwik Star fuel pumps. He had attempted to drive off before collapsing. Both front side windows were blown out, there were holes in the metal body, and blood and automobile glass pebbles littered the inside. WATERLOO Former students of St. Marys School are coming together Sunday to celebrate friendships. A reunion for the east-side school will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at Electric Park Ballroom, 310 W. Conger St. Prior to the event, a 1 p.m. Mass is taking place at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 320 Mulberry St. Maryann Noland, one of the organizers of the event, said anyone who attended St. Marys School or the church is invited. Reservations for their old-school sloppy joe lunch with chips and cake are closed but there will be a drink bar. Anyone can come in and wander around and see people, Noland said. This is an all-class reunion. It will be fun. After the reunion, the group is invited to The Broken Record at 315 W. Fourth St., according to the reunion Facebook page. Kelly Sullivan, a granddaughter and grandniece of the five Sullivan brothers, will speak. The brothers attended the church and school. Also speaking during a Mass will be four priests ordained at St. Marys. Noland said their appearance is kind of a big deal. She noted that several hundred people are expected to attend. There will be music, reconnecting with old friends, stories about the neighborhood and stories about this and that, she said. There will also be St. Marys memorabilia, including the gyms old scoreboard, which will be lit up. St. Marys, located at East Fourth and Parker streets, closed in the early 2000s after a consolidation of parishes in Waterloo and Evansdale into Queen of Peace. The city of Waterloo now owns the property after a private owner failed to pay taxes and the building fell into disrepair. The church, school, and convent buildings have broken windows, overgrown weeds, and a collapsing ceiling. The parish rectory building was already demolished as part of flood control improvements along Virden Creek. Although the deteriorated building sits in the back of former students and members minds, Noland said the reunion will be an uplifting celebration. We are not focusing on the building. We dont know when its gonna be demolished, we dont care when it will be demolished, she said. It doesnt do any good to be bitter, mad and crabby. This is planned to be a celebration of all the friendships and relationships. She said future reunions will be forthcoming. This story has been updated to reflect that the reunion is Sunday. Berlin decided to join other bloc members in joint gas purchases after its prior position on the measure. This was discussed before the EU summit last Friday to deal with the crisis and the 200 billion energy "shield" of Germany that drew criticism. Germany's Move To Stave Off Energy Crisis The German government announced a 200 billion economic "shield" last September 29 to safeguard consumers and businesses from rising energy prices due to the energy crunch, reported Euractiv. However, the huge spending plan has been critiqued by EU partners, who have advised of the inequities this would generate among many EU countries, with a few callings it "cannibalism" at the cost of EU unity. Before an informal meeting of EU heads of state on Friday in Prague, the act extended an olive branch by reiterating its dedication to joint gas buying, which had previously been denied in a thinly veiled manner, noted the North Brief. Last Tuesday in Luxembourg, while meeting with other EU members, Christian Lindner, the finance minister, stated they needed to make significant progress in combining gas purchases. Smaller EU members have long supported a joint EU gas purchasing program; the European Commission has now accepted the above suggestion in reaction to Russia's military adventurism in Ukraine. Lindner's remarks concur with a recent comment by Robert Habeck, vice chancellor of Germany. Last Friday, he asserted that Europe needed to use its market dominance smartly to participate in a joint gas-buying initiative. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym Germany has never supported this method of gas acquisition, which was first brought up in the inferences of an EU summit on March 8 by the European Commission. German officials argued that the system was inappropriate for all bloc members and insisted that common gas purchases continue to be voluntary, citing Handelsblatt. In the meantime, smaller member countries pressed for joint buying as a heated bidding war broke out, forcing gas prices to increase. Senior German officials reiterated their intention to collaborate cohesively with EU partners while stressing the necessity to preserve the truth of the matter. They added it is a vain hope the measure will increase the available gas; that is the primary challenge; said a senior German official. Germany indicated they don't own a company dealing in energy, said Vice Chancellor Habeck. Since the market is freewheeling, not all EU members can be part of group buying. Despite requests from smaller EU nations, there was little development on combined purchases for a long time. Germany Refills Its Gas Reservoirs Alternatively, Berlin gave Trading Hub Europe, the German gas market operator composed of gas traders, plenty of extra cash, and it proceeded on a gas purchasing binge to refill the country's gas stations. Germany's gas reservoirs are presently 90% or more full. As shown by draught EU summit findings, which will be agreed upon on Friday, combined gas purchases are again on the table for the winter season. Since Germany is willing to back combined gas purchases at the EU level, the proposal's possibilities of passage have increased. Regrettably, Berlin's assistance may be too little or too late, provided that the gas reserves in Europe are almost drained. Berlin jumps in with joint gas purchases involving EU members, but the loss of Russian gas is catastrophic, with all indications of the bloc sliding into depression. Related Article: Brussels Presents Proposal Concerning Natural Gas Price Cap To Bloc Members as the Energy Crunch Gets Worse @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WATERLOO Kadens Kloset, a nonprofit established in the Cedar Valley, will provide disaster relief assistance following Hurricane Ian. The organization will be sending a team of volunteers from Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. They need many donors within the Cedar Valley and Midwest to offer water, food and toiletry needs they can deliver to communities in Florida. After Hurricane Harvey, Kadens Kloset collected thousands of pounds of food, supplies and necessities and delivered them to neighborhoods and communities hit the hardest by the floods and storms. They partnered with many Cedar Valley and Iowa businesses, nonprofits and individuals to collect trailers, box trucks and semi loads worth of water, food, hygiene needs, toiletries and cleaning supplies. They also sent crews of 26 laborers who were able to help deliver the supplies, stock a food pantry, remove debris, cut down trees, remove wet and molding drywall and sewage-soaked debris from homes and set up a feeding station where they fed more than 200 displaced people. The organization has a drop-off site in partnership with Cedar Falls Construction Co., located at 3533 West Airline Hwy. in Waterloo. Donations will be collected from Oct. 5 to Oct. 15. To find more information, visit KadensKloset.com/DisasterRelief. The previous three times Hansens done the concert in Omaha, Milwaukee and St. Louis were with Waverly-Shell Rock, with one school to coordinate with. Managing it for Cedar Falls, however, brings with it new challenges. WATERLOO UnityPoint Health is hosting Ladies Night Out, complete with wine, appetizers and 3D mammograms at three locations in the Cedar Valley. Evening hours will be available for women to schedule their annual mammogram as follows: 4-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at United Medical Park (Entrance 1). 4-7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Allen Hospital (Entrance 8). 4-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Prairie Parkway (Main Entrance). United Medical Park is located at 1731 W. Ridgeway Ave. in Waterloo, Allen Hospital is at 1825 Logan Ave. in Waterloo and Prairie Parkway is at 5100 Prairie Parkway in Cedar Falls. A doctors order is required. Call (319) 235-5100 to schedule an appointment. A yearly mammogram is recommended for every woman over age 40 and offers the best chance for early detection and prevention of breast cancer. 3D mammography combines multiple images taken at different angles to provide fine details of the breast that are sometimes hidden by traditional mammogram techniques DES MOINES Democrat Deidre DeJears first television ad in Iowas campaign for governor is out, headed to Iowas airwaves and containing plenty of criticism of incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds campaign also published a new ad, which takes DeJear to task over her support for law enforcement. In DeJears ad, the Des Moines businesswoman levies criticisms of Reynolds on public school funding, abortion policy, prescription drug costs and the government allowing private companies to use private land for pipeline projects. A campaign spokeswoman said DeJears ad will go on TV next week; it was posted on social media Thursday. Ill be a governor who works with both parties so Iowa can start saying yes again, DeJear says in the ad. In the ad, DeJear criticizes Reynolds proposal to shift taxpayer funding for public schools to private school tuition assistance, her legal attempt to enact restrictions on abortion access and her opposition to Democrats federal legislation that included provisions designed to reduce prescription drug costs. The ad also notes Reynolds has not taken any action to prevent state regulators from allowing private companies to use eminent domain for construction of carbon dioxide capture pipelines through Iowa farmers land. Landowners across the state have been speaking out against the proposed pipelines, while proponents say they will help sustain Iowas ethanol industry and help reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Reynolds ad Reynolds latest ad, her third of the cycle and also published Thursday, criticizes DeJear for not joining the rest of the state lawmakers and their guests in standing and applauding when Reynolds praised law enforcement officers during her annual condition of the state address to the Iowa Legislature in January. DeJear attended the address as a guest of Democratic state Rep. Chris Hall of Sioux City. She refused to stand up, insulting law enforcement, dishonoring their sacrifice, the ad says. Liberal Deidre DeJear refused to stand for police. Can you imagine what shed do as governor? DeJear has responded to the criticism on multiple occasions, saying she supports law enforcement officials and does not support limiting their budgets, but that she also does not support some of Reynolds law enforcement policies. DeJear said she has discussed many issues with law enforcement officials during her campaign, including addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system and recidivism in the state corrections department. I talk a great deal with law enforcement, and theyve been a part of my campaign since the beginning, DeJear said last month. They have to be partners in this work with us, which means that they need the resources to be able to do their job better. But law enforcement is telling me right now, Were not having conversations about defunding. Were having conversations about needing more resources. Reynolds and DeJear are scheduled to debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 on Iowa PBS. WATERLOO Waterloo Rotary Club is hosting 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Liz Mathis at noon Monday at the Convention Center at the Five Sullivan Brothers Plaza. Mathis is a state senator who formerly worked as a journalist and nonprofit leader. Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate and incumbent in the seat, spoke at the 100-plus member club and answered questions earlier this year. 5 Good God in heaven First comes the cocaine brained Zelensky whom called on NATO countries to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against Russia. We need preventive strikes so that they in Russia know what awaits them if they use nuclear weapons Zelensky said during an online conference at the Australian Lowy Institute Then this comes immediately from the Pollacks: Polish President Duda: The problem lies primarily in the fact that we do not have nuclear weapons. And there are no signs that we, Poland, will receive it anytime soon. There is always a potential opportunity to participate in Nuclear Sharing. We have discussed with American leaders whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The topic is open. President of Belarus Lukashenko then asks below in exasperation, as the druggy brothers Zelensky & Duda make western nuke desires known: What does this mean? That we are really facing an attack with tactical nuclear weapons. We need to take measures, we dont have any. Again for those that missed it, the Zelensky while drugged out on world TV: NATO must deliver preventive nuclear strikes against Russia. Then comes Marie: So the West stands alone in the crowd, a west whom fuels Ukraine and Poland both with gifts of war weapons, drugs and money is fueling a nuclear war instigation. Every person on the planet must realize that the puppet and unbalanced character that Zelensky is proven to be, while pumped up with weapons, has turned into a monster whose hands can destroy the planet Now Duda the magnificent in Poland wants Nukes to complete his empire and help destroy the planet Yes the USA is playing with fire and with this fire we all get burnt WtR The Swedish State Security Service announced that the investigation of leaks on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines has been completed. Law enforcers came to the conclusion that explosions occurred at the facilities as a result of sabotage. Who exactly organized them is not specified. Promptly. Do not tell me, from what moment the explosions of gas pipelines are called sabotage? Sabotage, extremism, terrorist attacks thats how it used to be. Stockholm is embarrassed to call a spade a spade? Why such delicacy? Are you afraid of future discoveries? WtR We paid attention to Zelenskys recent decree on the impossibility of negotiating with the President of Russia. Kyiv first asked us for peace talks at the end of February. Then he interrupted them himself, leaving our regular proposals of April 15th unanswered. The same thing happened with the Minsk agreements: at first they pretended that they wanted to conclude them, then that they were fulfilling them, and then they directly said that they were not going to do this. For 8 years they have been misleading the international community, while pumping up their own country with weapons in order to make a power breakthrough at some point. The West does not want a cessation of hostilities and intends to continue them until the last Ukrainian. Experts call this a proxy war between Washington, London and Brussels with Russia, which is being waged by Ukrainians. Their goal is to strike at our country from all sides. All this is said publicly. However, these plans were not destined to come true. We will continue to defend our Motherland and its citizens. WtR An FBI lab released details regarding a hand grenade supposed to be owned by a suspected Oath Keeper turned out it did not have DNA belonging to the defendant. Defense lawyers in the Oath Keepers treasonous conspiracy trial claimed that two hand grenades had allegedly been brought to the Washington, D.C., area. Defense attorneys have resubmitted their demand to bar federal prosecutors from bringing up the topic during the treason trial. Oath Keepers' Connection to the Jan 6 Incident One of the main charges is against Jeremy Brown, whose DNA was not proven to be his and proven by the DNA test, reported The Epoch Times. Attorneys for the defendants Kenneth Harrelson and Kelly Meggs sent a motion to the U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta requesting that he reconsider his ruling from September 6 that allowed for the Department of Justice's grenades to be mentioned in the ongoing trial of four Oath Keepers and one associate, as reflected in Document 363 of U.S. District Court. The new motion mentions the latest evidence of Brown's having the two grenades, which had no DNA match, or his dog in the RV he rode on during the January 6 rally. The reconsideration request was submitted after defense lawyers realized how an FBI evidence lab ascertained that the Genetic material discovered on the explosives did not have any connection to Brown. He hasn't been accused in the Oath Keeper's seditious-conspiracy case; however, he has been accused in two other federal criminal investigations through 2021 and 2022. These explosive devices were allegedly seen when the FBI searched his Florida property last September 30, 2021. He used the same conveyance to attend the rallies and protests on January 6. Read Also: Donald Trump Children: What You Need to Know About the 5 Trump Kids Grenades Ruled Admissible On July 29, Juli Haller and Stanley Woodward, Meggs' defense attorneys, forwarded a motion to obstruct any reference to the grenades. According to their motion, the grenades were discovered nine months after the alleged seditious conspiracy ended, and prosecutors could not prove whether Brown's RV contained the explosives on January 6. On September 6, Mehta released an omnibus order rejecting Haller and Woodward's July opposition, presiding that evidence about grenades was legally valid. Haller, Woodward, and Harrelson's attorney, Brad Geyer, filed DNA findings with the October 2 motion, demonstrating the FBI did not discover Brown's DNA on the explosive device. The FBI lab observed a DNA mixture on the pin of one explosive. The other grenade seemed to have male DNA on it. Based on a document from the FBI Laboratory in Huntsville, Ala., Brown didn't match any of the genetic material on the explosives. The suspect asserted that the raid on his property and federal prosecutions in September 2021 had been retribution for his unwillingness to serve as an FBI spy and conduct surveillance on the group. Based on a detailed letter Brown addressed to The Epoch Times on December 31, 2021, representatives from the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force did meet with him at a Florida restaurant in December 2020. Jeremy Brown will go on trial on December 5, set in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. On April 12, 2022, he was charged with possessing firearms, an explosive device, and classified material on multiple counts. An FBI lab found no DNA traces on a hand grenade that was supposed to prove the suspected Oath Keeper owned it, but it was not. Related Article: FBI Whistleblower Gets Support from Former Agents Against the Claims of Politicized Bias @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. U.S. activity becomes more aggressive and offensive The ruling elites of the United States are fiercely trying to preserve their disappearing hegemony. Washingtons efforts are based on the doctrinal documents that determine its policy goals, as well as the ways and means of achieving them. Notes from the interview with the corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences of Russia Vladimir Kozin to Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. The United States, the self-proclaimed master of the world, disposes with impunity of any State that happens to be undesirable for some reason. Not only does the U.S.-led Collective West impose unprecedented russophobia to the world, but also directly declares its intention to destroy, to dismember Russia. The U.S. national security and defence strategies, as well as nuclear, anti-missile and space strategies have an offensive and, undoubtedly, aggressive nature. The essence of all the U.S. strategic objectives reduces to one point: gaining an advantage over its vis-a-vis. That is why the United States is seeking to selectively reduce Russias certain promising types of armaments where the U.S. have a clear technological inferiority. It is known that Bidens administration has refused to radically solve the problem of withdrawing forward-deployed tactical nuclear armaments from Europe and Asia, as well as the issues on limiting combined missile defence facilities, attack space armaments represented by anti-satellite systems and space-to-surface space-based weaponry. Washington has neither refused to develop new medium-range missiles, nor to perform joint nuclear missions within NATO in cooperation with non-nuclear States. Neither is it willing to ratify the international Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. As for the armament control process itself, there is only Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III) from the current agreements between Moscow and Washington in this field signed in 2010, as well as the Agreement on the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas approved in 1972. In early 2021, Russia and the U.S. extended the START III by five years. @mod_russia_en WtR The tumultuous saga of Elon Musks on-again off-again purchase of Twitter has taken a turn toward a conclusion. The mercurial Tesla CEO proposed to buy the company at the originally agreed-on price of $44 billion. Musk made the proposal in a letter to Twitter that the company disclosed in a filing Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It comes less than two weeks before a trial between the two parties is scheduled to start in Delaware. In a statement, Twitter said it intends to close the deal at $54.20 per share. Trading in Twitters stock had been halted for much of the day pending release of the news. It resumed trading late Tuesday and soared 22% to close at $52. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form As search goes on, Floridians await OK to survey Ian's wrath William Wellema drove all the way from New Jersey to Florida's Gulf Coast to see if his vacation home on Fort Myers Beach survived Hurricane Ian Officials in Europe praised the awarding of this years Nobel Peace Prize to activists standing up for human rights and democracy in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, but authorities in Belarus are scorning the move The South Korean Air Force reported their US-made stealth jet, the F-35A, has been experiencing severe maintenance problems that have prompted the grounding of the units. The performance of these fighters is compounded by marring defects and avionics, which were unexpected. Defense Against Pyongyang's Advance Ironically, the premier western 5th generation fighter as the main line of defense against North Korea cannot go without these awful setbacks, reported Defense PK. As stated on October 4 by a South Korean lawmaker, the nation's F-35s were labeled as operationally unprepared 234 times within 18 months, ending in June due to system failures, noted Yonhap News Agency. Rep. Shin Won-sik of the ruling People Power Party provided Air Force data to illustrate the problems the South Korean Air Force is experiencing in making F-35s usable. Throughout that time, the fighters were grounded 172 times, as he said. South Korea's Report Regarding the Plane's Issues More details added that 62 cases were flying but not completing missions. Shin exposed the need for the military to work hard to keep the plane flying; despite defects. Yonhap shows that the stealth jets could fly for 12 days last year and for 11 days in the first half of 2022. However, compared to older models like the F4-E and F-5, which were run 26 to 28 times each. In contrast, the South Korean Air Force indicated that its F-35 complied with its target operation rate of 75%, denoting that sustaining the preparedness stance wasn't a concern with severe maintenance problems. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is the Ukraine President? One of the sources remarked that having defects in the most recent version of the US stealth fighter is not optimal, and spare parts availability is not a welcome dilemma. Also, they added, the needed components will be sourced from the aerospace firm that built it. It's worth remembering that Australia gained notoriety when it revealed plans to invest a staggering AUD14.6 billion ($10.87 billion) to sustain its Lightning II fleet working till 2053, citing the EurAsian Times. All through February 2022, official documents indicate that Australia's Stealth fighters would spend fewer hours in the air than initially expected. This sparked a nationwide discussion about the potential and survivability of the Royal Australian Air Force. These planes were in the design phase when Australia consented in 2002 to consider buying up to 100 aircraft. US government and defense giant Lockheed Martin pressed for this commitment. Correspondingly, the US Air Force seems to be extremely worried that its outmoded F-35s are all now nothing but retraining planes. Furthermore, in 2021, the US Air Force's deputy chief of staff, Lt. Gen. S Clinton Hinote, articulated grave reservations about outdated systems, recognizing that the stealth jet being produced might not be enough to deal with what China and Russia are cooking up. He stated that a war scenario concentrating on the potential of protecting Taiwan from Chinese aerial assault demonstrated that almost every jet that rolls off the line today is indeed a combatant, which wouldn't bother placing into these circumstances. South Korea requested 40 F-35A planes for its Air Force in 2014 under a $6.4 billion contract. The South Korean Air Force, like the US Air Force, continues to operate the F-35, with the initial plane provided by the supplier in 2018. The South Korean Air Force reported that the US-Made stealth jet, the F-35 had severe maintenance problems affecting its ability as a key player against North Korea. Related Article: US Military Soon To Get AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile as Replacement for Outdated AGM Hellfire @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Yes. And she puts the eye on people and makes their teeth fall out and they poop their pants? Yes. Well, good thing Im working the desk this morning and youre the bounty hunter, Lula said. I wouldnt want to be the one who has to haul her bony ass back to jail. She creeps me out. I left Lula at the office, and I drove to my parents house. The easiest and most reliable way for me to get information on anyone in the Burg is to talk to my Grandma Mazur. She shops at Giovichinnis Deli and the Italian Peoples and Tasty Pastry bakeries. She goes to bingo twice a week, and she regularly attends Mass at the Catholic Church and viewings at Stivas Funeral Home. The Burg gossip mill is in full force at all these gatherings. Several years ago, Grandpa Mazur succumbed to a full-fat diet and two packs of Lucky Strikes a day, so Grandma moved in with my parents. My father survives this invasion by spending a lot of time at his lodge, and my mom has developed a relationship with Jack Daniels. "Youre missing your wingman, so Im gonna fill in. Grandma Mazur My parents still live in my childhood home. Its a small duplex thats attached to another duplex. The inside of the house is packed with comfortable, overstuffed furniture and a lot of memories. Three tiny bedrooms and one bath upstairs; living room, dining room, kitchen downstairs. The front door opens to a small foyer that leads to the living room. Theres a back door in the kitchen, and beyond the back door is a small, rarely used backyard and a single-car garage. It was midmorning, and I knew I would find my mom and Grandma in the kitchen. I look a lot like my mom, but my brown hair is longer and curlier than hers, my blue eyes are a shade deeper, and my body is a little slimmer. Grandma looks like my mom and me, but gravity has taken its toll on Grandma. Its as if she was partially melted and then got frozen into a new semi-gelatinous shape where things like breasts and cheeks hang a lot lower than they used to. My mom was mixing something in a big bowl, and Grandma was at the little kitchen table, doing the days Jumble. I looked in the bowl and grimaced. Meatloaf, my mom said. Turkey, sirloin and pork. Giovichinni ground it up for me fresh this morning. Its mostly turkey, Grandma said, on account of your fathers cholesterol is high. He had to cut back on either beef or full-fat ice cream, and he didnt want to give up the ice cream. She leaned to the left in her seat and looked behind me. Wheres your sidekick, Lula? Connie isnt in the office this morning, so Lulas manning the desk. I dropped my messenger bag on the floor and sat at the table with Grandma. Remember when Manny Tortollis garage burned down last month? Yeah, it was a beauty of a fire, Grandma said. I was watching TV and I heard the trucks go past our house, so I went out to look. You could see the flames shooting up into the sky. Morellis Grandma Bella was charged with arson for that fire, I said. She was standing on the sidewalk holding an empty 1-gallon metal can that used to have kerosene in it. And she was yelling, Burn, baby, burn! at the garage, Grandma said. I got it all straight from Emily Mizner. Her boy was one of the first cops to get there. He tried to calm crazy Bella down, and she hit him with the empty can and gave him the eye. Now hes got boils all over him, even on his private parts. Vinnie posted Bellas bail bond, and she didnt show up for her court appearance on Friday, I said. The failure-to-appear notice came into the office this morning. My mother stopped mixing and stared at me. Dont even think about going after her. Shes a lunatic. Let Joseph bring her in. My mom is the only one on the planet who calls Morelli by his first name. Sometimes I call him Joe, but never Joseph. Its hard to believe she could give someone boils just by pulling her lower eyelid down and glaring at him, I said to my mom. Emily told me they werent ordinary boils, Grandma said. According to Emily, theyre huge. Gigantic and oozing pus. She called them the Devils boils. Forget the boils, my mother said to me. Crazy Bella set fire to Manny Tortollis garage! Shes dangerous. You dont want to get anywhere near her. Truth is, Ive gone after people who were a lot more dangerous than Bella. Ive taken down killers, rapists and serial mooners. Not that I wanted to trivialize Bella. I mean, whos to say if shes for real? What I knew was that I didnt want to have to tackle my boyfriends grandmother and wrestle her to the ground so I could cuff her, and I didnt want boils on my private parts. That Bella is a mean one, Grandma said. She thinks she owns the Burg. If you have any problems with her, let me know. Im not afraid of her. Shes just a big bag of wind with no fashion sense. Shes been wearing that same dumpy black dress for twenty years. Who else are you looking for? Anybody interesting? Brad Winter. Lives in North Trenton. And Carpenter Beedle. I read about Carpenter Beedle. Hes the one who shot himself while he was trying to rob an armored truck. I wouldnt mind seeing what hes about. Are you staying for lunch? my mom asked. I stood up. No. Gotta go. Work to do. If youre leaving now, you can give me a ride, Grandma said. Your mothers up to her elbows in meatloaf and I need shampoo. I like the kind they sell at the hair salon. I just need to get my purse and a jacket. Three minutes later we were in my car. OK, Grandma said. Im all set. I say we go after Beedle first. Its not like he can outrun us since his foot got shot up. I thought you needed shampoo. That was a ruse to get out of the house. Youre missing your wingman, so Im gonna fill in. Just when you think your day cant get any worse, there it is, yet another disaster. Not of the magnitude of Connie going missing, but a disaster all the same. Excerpted from Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich. Published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster. Copyright 2022 by Janet Evanovich. All rights reserved. SANTA FE Former Vice President Mike Pence visited Roswell on Thursday to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti the latest in a string of GOP heavyweights to stop in New Mexico ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Ronchetti has also campaigned with three Republican governors Doug Ducey of Arizona, Ron DeSantis of Florida and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia as he seeks to unseat incumbent Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham. The momentum is clearly with the Ronchetti campaign following the recent TV debate and were excited that former Vice President Mike Pence is coming to campaign with Mark today in Roswell, Ronchetti campaign spokesman Ryan Sabel said. State Democratic Party spokesman Daniel Garcia said the visit shows Ronchetti is looking to bring Pences right-wing, anti-abortion, job-losing agenda to New Mexico. PILLOW TALK: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell who faces a defamation lawsuit connected to his false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged is set to be a featured speaker at the Ruidoso Convention Center on Friday, according to the centers calendar. An online advertisement for the event also lists Steve Bannon, the former adviser to then-President Donald Trump, as a speaker. The all-day event sponsored by a group called Concerned Citizens for New Mexico comes as New Mexico enters the final five weeks of the general election campaign. Republican secretary of state candidate Audrey Trujillo is among those set to participate, in a panel titled Profiles in Courage, according to the online invitation. A showing of the film Absolute Proof which airs false election claims, according to PolitiFact, the fact-checking website is also scheduled. Dan McKay: dmckay@abqjournal.com The European Union is expected to supply more military equipment to Ukraine, including long-range armaments from France, said French President Emmanuel Macron. Authorities from across the EU have continued to "advance the demands" that they received from Ukraine. This includes the request for French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, Macron revealed on Thursday during a news conference in Prague. EU Military Aid to Ukraine Macron's announcement followed the First European Political Community Summit and had the French president note that all 44 nations at the summit "clearly expressed their condemnation for this Russian aggression" in Ukraine. The lawmaker said that they would continue to support Ukraine from a financial point of view, a humanitarian point of view, and a military point of view. The situation comes as two Russian nationals have sought asylum in the United States after arriving in the country by boat in Alaska. The two individuals landed on St. Lawrence on Tuesday after crossing the Bering Strait and were reportedly under federal custody in Anchorage, said Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday during a news briefing, as per CNN. A spokesperson for Sen. Lisa Murkowski noted that the pair fled Russia in an attempt to avoid conscription into Moscow's military forces against Ukraine. Sen. Dan Sullivan said in a joint statement with Murkowski that the incident made two things very clear. First, the Russian people did not want to fight President Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine. Second, with Alaska's proximity to Russia, the state now has a crucial role to play in securing the country's national security. According to France24, European Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola also urged the European Union to deliver tanks to Ukraine to speed up the process of Kyiv joining the bloc. The official said that she would be relaying the message to EU leaders at the Prague summit. Read Also: Thailand Mass Shooting: Gunman Attacks Child Pre-School, Kills 35, Including Children Russia-Ukraine War She noted that the Ukrainians were in dire need of weapons that they could use in their fight against Russia in order to regain their home country. Metsola's remarks came during an interview during the parliament's sitting in Strasbourg. Ukraine has long been requesting deliveries of German-designed Leopard II tanks to support its defense against Moscow's troops. However, Berlin has not agreed to supply the equipment, preferring that any such package would be part of a wider accord among Western allies. Altogether, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and non-EU members Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey possess roughly 2,000 of the specified tanks. Metsola was the first head of an EU institution to travel to Kyiv, a trip that she made in April, and is now saying that countries willing to provide tanks to Kyiv would be reimbursed from an EU fund. This is the European Peace Facility which has released $2.5 billion for Ukraine's military purchases. Furthermore, the EU has agreed on an eight package of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine. The package was closely coordinated with the European Commission's international partners and responded to Moscow's continued escalation and illegal war, including by illegally annexing Ukrainian territory based on sham "referenda," mobilizing troops, and issuing open nuclear threats, the European Commission reported. Related Article: Taiwan Warns China: Any Breach of Air Space, Be It Fighter Jets or Drones, Will Be Counted as 'First Strike' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal More than 900 days since COVID-19 arrived in New Mexico, the state has hit a valley of cases and is armed with a variety of weapons to fight future surges, state health officials said Thursday. The state this week reported 1,604 new cases in the last seven days. That was about on par with weekly case counts that the state has reported for the last month or so, according to New Mexico Department of Health epidemiology reports. There were 86 people with COVID in hospitals throughout the state on Thursday. The state did report four additional deaths, pushing the toll to 8,590 since the onset of the pandemic. Dr. David Scrase, the acting health secretary, said the hospitals are not overwhelmed by the number of COVID patients like they were at previous stages of the pandemic. We have these peaks and we have these valleys, and were in a valley right now, he said. But weve never been in a valley like this with as many tools as we now have to fight the pandemic. So were in a good place. The tools include masks, easy access to tests, medications to treat people once they are infected and vaccines. In the last month, the health professionals have been administering a new COVID vaccine that is aimed at protecting specifically against omicron variants, which are the versions of the virus that have been circulating in New Mexico since around the start of the year. There have been about 70,000 doses of the new vaccine administered throughout the state. If you get boosted, then youll be up to date and be protected for the winter, said Dr. Laura Parajon, the states acting epidemiologist. Youll be winterized. Scrase on Thursday said it appears the pandemic has reached a stage hes long hoped for. Thats a stage where physicians have plenty of tools to treat people who get sick from the virus, and vaccines can be periodically updated to address emerging variants, similar to the common flu shot. I really believe that this is a step from being almost helpless against the pandemic to, I hope, an annual or periodic update to the vaccine thats good for whatever is circulating in the community recently, Scrase said. Scrase did say the state has concerns about long-COVID, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as a condition where a person has a wide range of symptoms that linger for four weeks or even months after an infection. Scrase said researchers at the University of New Mexico are among those who are looking at ways to treat the condition. Its really hard, and we dont have much data on what works and what doesnt work, he said. And the data we do have so far are really small studies that sometimes conflict. Third in a series. There were no Nextdoor or Facebook apps in the late 70s, but word spread fast. A meeting was organized quickly at the elementary school in Placitas featuring Dr. Firestone, a local pediatrician, plus a young veterinarian with sweaty palms. Ah, that was me. Being sought out as an expert on a toxin I had only just learned existed was a bit daunting. I spoke with Dr. Claire Hibbs, veterinary pathologist at the newly created New Mexico Veterinary Diagnostic lab. He sent the information he had by U.S. post. (No faxes then, either.) My first conversation with Claire, a man old enough to be my father, involved another recent poisoning an accidental event. Being the inveterate instructor, he could not help but ask me that agents mechanism of action. When I spat out the answer, I got the sense that he was hoping Id miss so he could advance my knowledge. Maybe I should have brightened his day by feigning ignorance, but Ive always hated looking more stupid than necessary. When I arrived at the big event, my head swimming with toxicology data, I met Dr. Firestone and an astonishing number of Placitas residents just brimming with anxiety and questions. Would dogs and cats who had been loose in the preceding few days start bleeding internally like Big Blue? (Maybe.) Could people get this poison from their pets? (Couldnt happen.) How long would hidden diphacinone remain active? (Indefinitely.) What at-home remedies would help? (None.) I had back-up. A cranky, old-school and highly temperamental large animal veterinarian presented himself as the expert. The old-timer pontificated at length on insecticide toxicity (completely unrelated). Suitably ignored, he finally stalked out in a huff. Embarrassing and humorous. There was actually a reasonable conclusion to the groupthink. I volunteered, at no charge, to perform every necropsy on every pet who succumbed. By extension, this meant that cats and dogs with any symptoms suggestive of poisoning would arrive at my North Fourth Street clinic at all hours. Was I crazy? Well, these folks were desperate. Next week: Survivors? For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com. Dr. Jeff Nichol is a veterinary behaviorist. He gives consultations in person and in groups via Zoom (505-792-5131). Each week, he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions on facebook.com/drjeffnichol or by mail 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal From Latin America to Northern Europe, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiestas Special Shape Rodeo featured balloon pilots from all over the world. Almost 120 balloonists participated in Thursday mornings rodeo, including a dinosaur named Steggy from Brazil. Steggys pilot, George Ary, has made the long trek to Albuquerque for six years now. He has been a balloon pilot for 26 years. Steggy, a bright blue Stegosaurus, is Arys newest balloon. From the other side of the Atlantic, Benoit Lambert brought two fan-favorite Star Wars-themed balloons from Belgium. In 2006, Lambert received permission from Lucasfilm Ltd. to create a massive Darth Vader balloon. Due to its global success, he was authorized to make a Yoda balloon about eight years later. Lamberts Star Wars-themed balloons are among the most popular at the Balloon Fiesta. His team has to close the area off with ropes to keep the crowd back since so many people gather around them. While Darth Vader didnt get a chance to soar the skies Thursday, a huge crowd cheered as the Yoda balloon piloted by Lambert took off. Lambert and his team take the duo across such continents as Europe, Asia and Australia. They have been Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta regulars for 15 years. Alex Barends, who lives just north of Belgium in the Netherlands, brought an interesting character to the fiesta this year. Mister Globie, a Dutch childrens book character created by Barends, was brought to life by his crew at the field Thursday. Globie was created initially by Barends to help teach kids environmental awareness. He has attended the fiesta as a spectator previously, but this is his first year at the event as a pilot. Its just a feeling, Barends said to a person who asked him if there was a measure or mark to let him know when the balloon is ready to fly. Ive been a pilot for 24 years now and I just know, its based on experience. Some special shapes pilots didnt have as far to travel. Scott Monahan and his twin brother, Todd, who own Monahan Airways, made their annual 36-hour road trip from New York for this years fiesta. This is their 15th year making the trip. Its amazing, especially to be able to fly all around the world and different places provide different opportunities, Scott Monahan said. This is like home to us. Tigers, sloths and unicorns are some of the balloon shapes the twins brought for display Thursday morning. Scott Monahan, who designed some of the balloons, said its all about giving them a personality. He got the idea for his unicorn balloon after his 4-year-old daughter brought home a drawing she made in kindergarten. He designed it and eventually had it made in Brazil, he said. The bright pink unicorn got the chance to fly Thursday morning during the Special Shapes Rodeo. Balloons are really made to fly; they dont like staying on the ground, Monahan said when the possibility of ascension was still up in the air. More than 20 countries are represented at this years fiesta, Tom Garrity, a fiesta spokesman, said. KYIV, Ukraine A series of explosions rocked the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv early Saturday, sending towering plumes of illuminated smoke into the sky and triggering a series of secondary explosions. There were no immediate reports of casualties The blasts came hours after Russia concentrated attacks in its increasingly troubled invasion of Ukraine on areas it illegally annexed, while the death toll from earlier missile strikes on apartment buildings in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia rose to 14. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that the early-morning explosions were the result of missile strikes in the center of the city. He said that the blasts sparked fires at one of the citys medical institutions and a nonresidential building. In a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his conduct of Europes worst armed conflict since World War II, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to human rights organizations in his country and Ukraine, and to an activist jailed in Russias ally Belarus. Berit Reiss-Andersen, the committees chair, said the honor went to three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. Putin this week illegally claimed four regions of Ukraine as Russian territory, including the Zaporizhzhia region that is home to Europes largest nuclear power plant, whose reactors were shut down last month. Fighting near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has alarmed the U.N.s atomic energy watchdog, which on Friday doubled to four the number of its inspectors monitoring plant safeguards. An accident there could release 10 times more potentially lethal radiation than the worlds worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine 36 years ago, Ukrainian Environmental Protection Minister Ruslan Strilets said Friday. The situation with the occupation, shelling, and mining of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants by Russian troops is causing consequences that will have a global character, Strilets told The Associated Press. The U.N. watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported more trouble at the plant, saying Friday on Twitter that external power had again been cut off to one of Zaporizhzhias shutdown reactors, necessitating the use of emergency backup diesel generators to run safety systems. The city of Zaporizhzhia is located 53 kilometers (33 miles) away from the nuclear plant as a crow flies and remains under Ukrainian control. To cement Russias claim to the region, Russian forces bombarded the city with S-300 missiles on Thursday, with more attacks reported Friday. Ukrainian authorities said the death toll from the strikes on apartment buildings rose to 14 on Friday, while 12 people wounded in the bombardment remained hospitalized. Missiles also struck the city overnight, wounding one person, Zaporizhzhia Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said. Russia also used Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones there for the first time and damaged two infrastructure facilities, he said. With its army losing ground to a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east, Russia has deployed unmanned, disposable Iranian-made drones that are cheaper and less sophisticated than missiles but still can damage ground targets. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Russias use of the explosives-packed drones was unlikely to affect the course of the war. They have used many drones against civilian targets in rear areas, likely hoping to generate nonlinear effects through terror. Such efforts are not succeeding, analysts at the think tank wrote. In other Moscow-annexed areas, Russias Defense Ministry reported Friday that its forces had repelled Ukrainian advances near the city of Lyman and retaken three villages elsewhere in the eastern Donetsk region. The ministry also claimed that Russian forces had prevented Ukrainian troops from advancing on several villages in the southern Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Friday that this week alone, his military has recaptured 776 square kilometers (300 square miles) of territory in the east and 29 settlements, including six in the Luhansk region, which Putin has annexed. In total, Ukrainian forces have liberated 2,434 square kilometers (940 square miles) of land and 96 settlements since the beginning of its counteroffensive, he said. In Ukraines Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian troops shelled the city of Nikopol overnight, killing one person, wounding another and damaging buildings, natural gas pipelines and electricity systems, the governor reported. Nikopol lies along the Dnieper River across from Russian-held territory near the nuclear power plant. The city has been shelled frequently for weeks. The trail of Russias devastation and death from areas where its troops retreated became clearer Friday. A report by Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yevhen Yenin revealed that 530 bodies of civilians have been found in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region since Sept. 7. The residents killed during the Russian occupation included 257 men, 225 women and 19 children, with 29 people unidentified, Yenin said. Most of the bodies were found in a previously disclosed mass grave in the city of Izium. According to Yenin, the recovered bodies bore signs of gunshots, explosions and torture. Some people had ropes around their necks, hands tied behind their back, bullet wounds to their knees and broken ribs. Authorities have identified 22 torture sites in parts of the Kharkiv region that Ukrainian forces recently liberated, said Serhiy Bolvinov, a regional police official. In recently recaptured Lyman, workers found 200 individual graves and a mass grave with an unknown number of victims, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on Telegram. In Sviatohirsk, 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Lyman, 21 bodies of civilians were reburied. Russian military equipment and weapons, meanwhile, is getting into Ukrainian hands. Britains Ministry of Defense said Friday that Ukrainian forces have captured at least 440 tanks and about 650 armored vehicles since the Russian invasion started Feb. 24. The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline, the British ministry said. With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry. Putin ordered a partial mobilization of Russian army reservists last month to reinforce manpower on the front lines in Ukraine. Mistakes have dogged the military call-up, however, and tens of thousands of men have fled Russia, unwilling to fight Putins war. That has left Russia desperate for troop reinforcements. The Ukrainian military said Friday that 500 former criminals have been mobilized to reinforce Russian ranks in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have retaken territory. Law enforcement officers are commanding the new units, the military said. Russias state news agency Tass reported Friday that a court in the Russian city of Penza had dismissed the first case against a Russian man called up to serve but who refused. The 32-year-old mans lawyers had argued that the law under which he was charged applies only to conscription evaders, not those subject to the partial mobilization. In another sign of trouble, reports have surfaced of poor training and few supplies for the new Russian troops. At least two Russian cities St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod announced Friday they were canceling their Russian New Years and Christmas celebrations and redirecting that money to buy supplies for Russian troops. Under increasing pressure from his own supporters as well as critics, Putin continued to reshuffle his militarys leadership, replacing the commander of Russias eastern military district. ___ Associated Press journalists Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv and Vasilisa Stepanenko and Francisco Seco in Kharkiv contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine PRAGUE Smile flashing, giving a thumbs-up, Emmanuel Macron appears at Europes center stage again literally. The photo of over 40 European leaders surrounding the French president Thursday ensured a symbolic image of unity of the continent faced with Russias invasion of Ukraine, making the inaugural summit of the European Political Community an initial success for Macron, who launched the idea a few months ago. Its a great day for you, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Macron when welcoming him for the meeting at the Prague castle in the Czech Republic. The forum aimed at boosting security and prosperity across the continent brought together existing EU members, aspiring partners in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as Britain and Turkey. Russia was the one major European power not invited, along with its neighbor and supporter in the war, Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who made a speech via videoconference, said, We have received not just another format of cooperation in Europe, but an extremely powerful opportunity to restore peace in Europe. Other leaders thanked Macron for his initiative, despite initial concerns from some that it might slow down expansion of the European Union. Some countries that have been candidates for years to get into the bloc, especially in the Western Balkans, had feared the new forum would be a way to put them in the EU waiting room for an indefinite period. Macron and other EU leaders insisted it is not a substitute for the membership process, which is to be handled in separate discussions. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country is an EU candidate but maintains relations with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow, still voiced support Thursday for the initiative. We gathered to show that we belong to Europe. It is very useful for us, an ideal opportunity to have good meetings, to find out some things, he told reporters. At a news conference, Macron said the meeting had sent a powerful message. At the scale of the continent, were trying to fix problems, he said. The next meeting will be held in Moldova in the spring. In Prague, Macron continued his diplomatic activism. That went from improving the complex French-British relations to trying to ease some regional tensions. British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who had recently expressed her desire to re-engage with France following post-Brexit tensions, called Macron a friend. What were talking about is how the UK and France can work more closely together she said. Alongside European Council President Charles Michel, Macron was able to gather around the table the leaders of historic foes Turkey and Armenia as well as Azerbaijan. Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers on both sides. Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also met successively with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia. The EU has overseen years of unsuccessful talks to normalize relations between the two countries, saying that is one of the main preconditions for their eventual membership in the 27-nation bloc. Serbia refused to recognize Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence. First elected in 2017, Macron has always promoted an ambitious pro-European approach and at each occasion sought to play a key role in global diplomacy. Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 only reinforced his views. In April, Macron was reelected for a second term, winning over far-right, nationalist rival Marine Le Pen in the second round. It bolstered his standing as a senior player in Europe, as the other heavy weight, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is still relatively new to the job after succeeding Angela Merkel last year. Macron also held the rotating presidency of the European Union during the first half of the year, championing sanctions on Moscow as punishment for its war on Ukraine. At home, though, he appeared weakened after June parliamentary elections made him lose his majority at the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, forcing him into political maneuvering. Yet his popularity remained relatively high throughout summer, in part thanks to a series of domestic measures to help the French cope with rising prices of food and energy, including a cap on gas and electricity prices. A strong advocate of multilateralism, Macron will soon get other occasions to promote his views on the international stage. He is expected to head next month to Egypt for the next United Nations summit on climate change and to the summit of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations in Bali, Indonesia. He will then travel in early December to Washington for the first state visit of President Joe Bidens tenure, in a sign that relations between Paris and Washington have come full circle. The relationship tanked last year after the United States announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia. The decision by the U.S. undermined a deal that had been in place for France to sell diesel-powered submarines to Australia. The Biden administration since has heaped praise on Macron for being among the most vociferous Western allies in condemning Russias attack on Ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine Human rights activists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine ruptured decades of nearly uninterrupted peace in Europe, and to the Belarusian president, his authoritarian ally. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Bialiatski is the fourth laureate to be honored while in detention. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel was honoring three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. We are in the midst of a war and we are talking about two authoritarian regimes and one nation fighting a war and we would like to highlight the importance of civil society, she said. In Ukraine, there was some resentment at awarding the Ukrainian group alongside activists from Russia and Belarus, whose government allowed Russian forces to attack Ukraine from its territory. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that the Nobel committee has an interesting understanding of the word peace if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive the prize together. Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war, he said. Belarus Foreign Ministry denounced the Nobel Committee for honoring Bialiatski, with the spokesman calling its choices in recent years so politicized that Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave. Olav Njlstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, retorted: Well, Im quite sure we understand Alfred Nobels will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally rebuking Putin, whose 70th birthday is Friday, Reiss-Andersen said the prize was not against anyone but for the democratic values the winners champion. However, she did note that both the Russian and Belarusian governments were suppressing human rights activists. It was the second straight year that Putins repressive government was implicitly rebuked with the prize. It was awarded last year t o Dmitry Muratov, editor of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. Both have struggled in the past year. Bialiatski was a leader of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr. Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus, Reiss-Andersen said. Pavel Sapelko, one of the leaders of Viasna, told The Associated Press that the Belarusian authorities will not be able to ignore the fact that Bialiatski won the prize. It is a clear signal from the international community to the regime of Lukashenko, who must free all political prisoners, Sapelko said by phone from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where he settled after being forced to leave Belarus. The Nobel prize to Bialiatski is both a lifeline, an alarm and a recognition of achievements. Six of Viasnas rights activists are currently jailed, while more than two dozen others operate in secrecy, monitoring the worsening human rights situation in Belarus. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses and track the fate of political prisoners in Russia. The countrys highest court ordered it shut down in December, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Tatyana Glushkova, a board member of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said one of the reasons the Kremlin views the group as a threat is because it understands and informs people about the parallels between Putins regime and the Soviet regime. Glushkova noted the award came on the day the group once again had to appear in court this time on a case related to its Moscow office building. The court later ordered the building confiscated at the governments request. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. Following Russias invasion in February, the group has worked to document Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. The center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes, Reiss-Andersen said. A researcher at the center, Volodymyr Yavorskyi, said the award was important for the organization because for many years we worked in a country that was invisible. Human rights activity is the main weapon against the war, said Yavorskyi, who is married to a Belarusian and lived in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, until May 2021, when he was expelled along with his 9-year-old son. He is barred from entering Belarus for 10 years and said law enforcement beat him during interrogations. The prize carries a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The money comes from a bequest left by the prizes creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, in 1895. Besides Bialiatski, three other laureates received the prize while in prison or detention. German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky won in1935, infuriating Adolf Hitler. Aung San Suu Kyi was in house arrest in Myanmar when she won in 1991. Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was serving an 11-year sentence when he was awarded the Nobel in 2010 and remained imprisoned until he died from liver cancer in 2017. If Bialiatski is unable to receive the award in person, he can ask a representative to collect it for him, like Polish winner Lech Walesa did in 1983, said Olav Njoelstad, prize committee secretary. Otherwise, the committee might choose to symbolically place an empty chair on the stage, like it did when Liu won. ___ Jordans reported from Berlin and Gera from Warsaw, Poland. Sabra Ayres in Kyiv; Harriet Morris and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia; David Keyton and Karl Ritter in Stockholm; John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, and Boubkar Benzebat in Paris contributed to this story. ___ Follow all AP stories about the Nobel Prizes at https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes EL PASO, Texas A Mexican man fatally shot at a U.S. Border Patrol station in Texas had grabbed an edged weapon and was advancing toward agents when they opened fire, the FBI said Thursday. Manuel Gonzalez-Moran, 33, died at an El Paso hospital Tuesday after he was shot by Border Patrol agents. The FBI said Moran was taken into custody at the Ysleta Border Patrol Station for reentering the country illegally. Agents first used a stun gun on Moran after he charged out of a holding cell, the FBI said, and eventually opened fire. Moran was released on parole earlier this year and deported to Mexico after serving 11 years in prison in Colorado, the FBI said. He had been convicted in 2011 in Pueblo, Colorado, of assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the FBI. WATERBURY, Conn. Jurors concluded their first full day of deliberations without reaching a verdict Friday in a trial to determine how much conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay for spreading the lie that the 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting was a hoax. Jurors are scheduled to return Tuesday. After deliberating just briefly Thursday afternoon, the panel got back to business Friday with a request for a dry-erase easel, markers, an eraser and a copy of the jury instructions. Last year, Jones was found liable for damages. The jurys task is to decide how much Jones and his company Free Speech Systems should pay to relatives of eight Sandy Hook victims and to an FBI agent who responded to the massacre. The plaintiffs testified they have been tormented and threatened by people who believed that one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history was a con staged to build support for gun restrictions. Jones repeatedly publicized that false notion on his Infowars show. Twenty children and six adults were killed when a gunman stormed Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on Dec. 14, 2012. Jones testified in the trial, saying he was done saying Im sorry for calling the school shooting a hoax. His lawyers have argued that hes not responsible for the deeds of anyone who tormented the victims families, and that they are overstating how much harm the conspiracy theory caused them. Outside court, Jones has bashed the trial as a kangaroo court that aims to stomp on his free speech rights and put him out of business. In a similar trial in Texas in August, a jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages to the parents of one of the children killed in the shooting, because of the hoax lies. ___ Find APs full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones LOS ANGELES Judy Tenuta, a brash standup who cheekily styled herself as the Love Goddess and toured with George Carlin as she built her career in the 1980s golden age of comedy, died Thursday. She was 72. Tenuta died Thursday afternoon at home in Los Angeles, with her family around her, publicist Roger Neal told The Associated Press. The cause of death was ovarian cancer. She was a very funny, amazing performer, Neal said, and it was always a happy time to be around her. Tenuta had claimed her birthdate as Nov. 7, 1965, but she was born in 1949, Neal said. She was old school so she would never tell her real age, but now that shes gone we can tell her real age, he added. Her heart-shaped face, topped by bouffant hair with a flower accent, conveyed an impression of sweet innocence that was quickly shattered by her loud, gravelly delivery and acidic humor, expletives included. The accordion she made part of her act was an instrument of love and submission, as she fondly called it. She was among a generation of performers who drove the popularity of live comedy in clubs nationwide including the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Laff Stop in Houston and Carolines in New York City. A typically male-dominated field found room for women, including Tenuta. Devastated to hear of the passing of my dear, dear friend, the lovely Miss Judy Tenuta. I cant believe shes gone, tweeted Weird Al Yankovic, who worked with her on his 1990s TV series and a 2006 music video. Earth has truly lost a goddess. Michael McKean, of Spinal Tap fame, tweeted, One of a kind. Damn. Tenuta gained national attention in 1987 with On Location: Women of the Night, a HBO special in which she starred with Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone and Rita Rudner. In 1988s American Comedy Awards TV special, Tenuta was named best female comedy club performer opposite male winner Jerry Seinfeld. Other honorees that year for their club or screen work included Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler. I would trade it in a minute, if I could just be a wife and mother, wisecracked the gold lame-wrapped, gum-chewing Tenuta, who accepted her award from Carlin. She was a frequent guest on late-night talk shows and game shows and with radio shock jock Howard Stern. Her acting and voiceover credits were eclectic, including appearances on The Weird Al Show and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. She appeared onstage in The Vagina Monologues in Los Angeles and Chicago. Tenuta was a two-time Grammy nominee, getting back-to-back nominations in 1995 and 1996 for best spoken word comedy album for Attention Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians and In Goddess We Trust. She was a supporter of LGBTQ rights, took part in pride festivals and counted members of the queer community as enthusiastic fans. On her website, she said that as an ordained minister of Judyism she was available for same sex marriages! Tenuta grew up in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, attending Catholic schools that included one she dubbed St. Obnoxious and Bondage. She said she was the isolated, petite flower Petite Flower becoming one of her stage nicknames in a Catholic family that included six brothers. After graduating college, she worked at odd jobs that included wrapping meat and taking inventory at an outlet for Catholic religious attire. I got fired because they caught me trying the stuff on, Tenuta said a 1989 interview with The Associated Press. So the boss came in, and I guess he got kind of upset. And I said, Well, I have to see if they look good, pig. Im trying to make improvements for these broads. Tenuta went on to join the Chicago comedy troupe Second City before starting her solo standup career. Despite her outlandish clothes and bizarre stage appearance, Tenuta said most people caught on immediately to her act, which included the self-centered Judyism religion. In my religion, Im the only one that gets to complain. The really nice thing about my religion is you can forget all about your problems and think about mine for a while, she told AP. ___ Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed to this report from New York. ___ This story has been updated to correct Tenutas age to 72. President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday designed to allay European concerns that U.S. intelligence agencies are illegally spying on them. It promises strengthened safeguards against data collection abuses and creates a forum for legal challenges. The order builds on a preliminary agreement Biden announced in March with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a bid to end a yearslong battle over the safety of EU citizens data that tech companies store in the U.S. However, the European privacy campaigner who triggered the battle didnt think it resolved core issues and warned of more legal wrangling. Nor were U.S. privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, satisfied. The reworked Privacy Shield includes a robust commitment to strengthen the privacy and civil liberties safeguards for signals intelligence, which should ensure the privacy of EU personal data, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters. It also requires the establishment of a multilayer redress mechanism with independent and binding authority for EU individuals to seek redress if they believe they are unlawfully targeted by U.S. intelligence activities, she added. Washington and Brussels have long been at odds over the friction between the European Unions stringent data privacy rules and the comparatively lax regime in the U.S., which lacks a federal privacy law. That has created uncertainty for tech giants including Google and Facebooks parent company Meta, raising the prospect that U.S. tech firms might need to keep European data out of the U.S. Industry groups largely welcomed Bidens order but European consumer rights and privacy campaigners, including activist Max Schrems whose complaint kicked off the legal battle a decade earlier, were skeptical whether it goes far enough and could end up in the blocs top court again. Fridays order narrows the scope of intelligence gathering regardless of a targets nationality to validated intelligence priorities, fortifies the mandate of the Civil Liberties Protection Officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and directs the attorney general to establish an independent court to review related activities. Europeans can petition that Data Protection Review Court, which is to be composed of judges appointed from outside the U.S. government. The next step: Raimondos office was to send a series of letters to the 27-member EU that its officials can assess as the basis of a new framework. The European Unions executive arm, the European Commission, said the framework has significant improvements over the original Privacy Shield and it would now work on adopting a final decision clearing the way for data to flow freely between EU and U.S. companies certified under the framework. Raimondo said the new commitments would address European Union legal concerns covering personal data transfers to the U.S. as well as corporate contracts. A revived framework will enable the continued flow of data that underpins more than $1 trillion in cross-border trade and investment every year, Raimondo said. Twice, in 2015 and again in 2020, the European Unions top court struck down data privacy framework agreements between Washington and Brussels. The first legal challenge was filed by Austrian lawyer and privacy activist Schrems, who was concerned about how Facebook handled his data in light of 2013 revelations about U.S. government cyber-snooping from former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. European consumer group BEUC said despite the extra safeguards, fundamental differences between American and European privacy and data protection standards are too wide to bridge. However much the U.S. authorities try to paper over the cracks of the original Privacy Shield, the reality is that the EU and U.S. still have a different approach to data protection which cannot be cancelled out by an executive order, said the groups deputy director general, Ursula Pachl. The moment EU citizens data travels across the Atlantic, it will not be afforded similar protections as in the EU. The American Civil Liberties Union said Bidens order is a step in the right direction but lacks adequate safeguards for Europeans or Americans. Ashley Gorski, an ACLU senior staff attorney, said in a statement that it fails to ensure that people whose privacy is violated will have their claims resolved by a wholly independent decision-maker. Further, the ACLU said in a tweet, The order still allows our government to engage in bulk, generalized data collection. Schrems said while his Vienna-based group, NOYB, would need time to study the order, his initial reading is that it seems to fail on some key requirements, including for surveillance to be necessary and proportionate under the EUs Charter of Fundamental rights to avoid indiscriminate mass data collection. While the U.S. included those two words, Schrems said the two sides dont seem to have agreed they have the same legal meaning. If it did, the U,S, would have to fundamentally limit its mass surveillance systems to comply with the EU understanding of proportionate surveillance, Schrems said. ___ Chan contributed to this report from London. More than 6,500 people may benefit from President Joe Biden's historic announcement on Thursday that he is pardoning those with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana. This decision also sends a strong statement about how such acts should be handled. Most convictions take place at the state level. The president is requesting that governors also grant pardons to persons Biden Pardons Those Convicted For Possessing Marijuana Additionally, on Thursday, Biden ordered a federal review of the federal law's scheduling of marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration presently classifies it as a Schedule I narcotic, which is described as a drug with no accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse. This places it on the same category as heroin and LSD, as per USA Today. According to the FBI, more than 540,000 persons were detained for marijuana-related charges in 2019 mostly state-level offenses. The House decided to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level in April, primarily along party lines. The legislation has not been discussed in the Senate. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that medical marijuana use is authorized in 37 states and the District of Columbia. It is acceptable for recreational use in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Marijuana use has long been racially stigmatized in the US. According to PBS, recreational marijuana was initially introduced to American culture by Mexican immigrants in the 1910s. Anti-drug efforts linked marijuana to violence and crime did by racially inferior communities, and the drug came to be associated with immigrants. These biases would persist for many years. The Reagan administration's War on Drugs, which began in the 1980s, enacted mandatory minimum punishments, including life terms for repeat offenders. With the passage of the 1994 crime bill by then-President Bill Clinton, the War on Drugs increased under then-President George Bush. In the years since the impacts of the measures have persisted. In all 50 states, even those that have legalized marijuana, there were more than six million marijuana-related arrests between 2010 and 2018, according to the ACLU. Black individuals are also more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people. Even though African Americans and Caucasians use marijuana at comparable rates, African Americans are arrested for marijuana-related offenses at a rate that is about four times higher than that of whites, according to the NAACP. Since his election, supporters have urged Biden to legalize marijuana, and many applauded the president's decision. Weeks before the midterm elections, Biden's action may encourage minority and younger voters to cast ballots. Young and Black voters are among those least likely to cast ballots in autumn, according to the most recent NPR/Marist survey issued this month, The Hill reported. Read Also: You Might Have Unclaimed Child Tax Credit Worth $3,600? You Have Until November 15 To Get Yours Using This Tool! Biden Vowed to Decriminalize Cannabis Use During 2020 Campaign It's legal in many places, but criminal records for marijuana possession have created unnecessary barriers to finding work, finding a place to live, and getting a good education, No one should be imprisoned just for using or owning marijuana, according to President Joe Biden, who stated in a statement, "As I said when I ran for president." As a candidate for president in 2020, President Joe Biden pledged to decriminalize cannabis use and automatically expunge prior convictions. He also supported legalizing marijuana for medical use, deferring to states on recreational use, and classifying marijuana as a Schedule II substance. In his 2020 presidential campaign platform, Joe Biden promised to decriminalize cannabis use and automatically expunge prior convictions. He also advocated making marijuana legal for medical purposes, leaving recreational use up to the states, and scheduling it as a Schedule II drug. The president should work with Congress to regulate marijuana in a way that is comparable to how alcohol is regulated, according to the executive director of NORML, a group that supports the decriminalization of marijuana for adults. An increasing number of Americans support decriminalizing marijuana since California became the first state to legalize it for medical use in 1996, VOA News reported. Related Article: New York Crime: 15,000 'Candy-Like' Fentanyl Pills Discovered Inside Kids' Toy LEGO Box; Authorities Warn About Deadly Drug Ahead of Halloween @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The students at Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School are honoring one of New Mexicos cultures with an art show. On Thursday, Oct. 13, an exhibit at the school showcasing what its students created during Septembers Hispanic Heritage Month will be open to the public, including a mural celebrating Frida Kahlo. Founder and Head of School Isaac Rivas-Savell said the show is specifically honoring Hispanic women in art and positions of leadership. Students have created different artistic pieces that are from the same artistic modality that Frida Kahlo implemented into her own art pieces, he said. The students, who are primarily Hispanic, created the art in a variety of ways. The mural, for example, is hand-drawn, but there will also be watercolor pieces, papel picados (cut paper) and media art which Rivas-Savell said is equally as powerful. Theyve been given the flexibility, the autonomy, to be able to select what pathway they take when it comes to expression through art, he said. The community will not only be able to view the fine work crafted by the students, but it will also become aware of the talented minds and quality education being provided at the institute. Nestled in Albuquerques International District, the charter school educates sixth through eighth graders, and, according to the school, its scholars have outperformed the district and state in a variety of categories after state testing results were released. The computer science-focused institute said that it had two times as many scholars either proficient or advanced in math, 62% of its English language learners and 33% of its special education students were proficient in math compared to state averages of 8.4% of 4.6%, respectively. Voz aims to provide its students with the tools needed to maintain a path toward modern industry careers, social interaction and preparation for higher education. We are really hypersensitive to this idea of ensuring that we are educating the whole child not just their brains, were talking about their hearts as well, Rivas-Savell said. We just want to make sure that were teaching to all learning styles. Rivas-Savell explained that the school offers educational alternatives to public school for children living in one of the highest crime-ridden areas in the state. Were doing school completely different, and implementing a lot of the same things that work really well with the traditional school model, but also just honoring the identities of our kids and being really responsive to the needs of our families and our kids, he said. Frida Kahlo doll. (Courtesy of Isaac Rivas-Savell) Frida Kahlo mask. (Courtesy of Isaac Rivas-Savell) Frida Kahlo leaf art project. (Courtesy of Isaac Rivas-Savell) Prev 1 of 3 Next Rivas-Savell, who has 18 years of experience in education, founded Voz. The charter school is now in its second year of operations and currently has 65 students enrolled. Rivas-Savell hopes to expand availability at Voz through high school, but the school is currently working with other charter schools that have similar visions and core values to place their students in after they graduate from the institute. Though Voz is more geared toward students interested in computer science, the kids have a strong artistic side, proven with the work theyve created to honor Hispanic heritage. The school hopes to develop well-rounded individuals while steering them toward success. One thing that weve learned from the pandemic is that while we are a computer science-focused school, its really important for our kids to be able to function in an unplugged world as well, and how we do that is through the arts, Rivas-Savell said. Thats where we find that they are able to become socially aware again. Laura Thompson is a master at playing the flute, and shes ready to share her expertise of the instrument. The Baroque flutist is about to start a weeklong residency at the New Mexico School for the Arts Art Institute in Santa Fe. Its something that just adds a little magical quality, Thompson said about the flute, Researchers believe the flute to be the oldest-known musical instrument in the world, besides perhaps the true origin of the drum. Thompson said its because it was simple to make and stretches across cultures. Its such a universally available instrument that it sort of occurred to all different cultures without being in contact with each other, she said. Thompsons residency at NMSA will consist of three separate events: a master class on Baroque flute, a duet with Indigenous flutist Shelley Morningsong accompanied by a dance performance by Fabian Fontenelle and a performance with a local Baroque ensemble which includes violinist Stephen Redfield, harpsichordist Kathleen McIntosh and Mary Springfels on the viola da gamba. One of the main goals of the residency is to explore the similarities and differences between Baroque and Native flute and also each musical cultures respective traditions. Theyre completely different, but yet they draw upon some of the same concepts and human characteristics, Thompson said. There are things that we can highlight, saying these are our strengths, this is what we both have but heres where we differ. It will be the first time Thompson is performing with both Morningsong and Fontenelle. Morningsong has seven Native American Contemporary albums and multiple Native American Music Awards trophies, and Fontenelle is an original member of the American Indian Dance Theatre, as well as a master of choreography and captivating performances. Thompson herself is an established artist, having performed with a variety of ensembles, including the American Classical Orchestra, the New York Collegium, the Grand Tour Orchestra, the New York Continuo Collective, the Tafelmusik Festival Orchestra and at the Longy and Amherst early music festivals. As a versatile, knowledgeable musician, teaching is also in her repertoire. She earned her masters in music performance from Queens College and served as a flute instructor at Brooklyn College, CUNY. Shes currently a faculty member at the Westport School of Music in Westport, Connecticut, a guest lecturer at New York University, and teaches the occasional private lesson in Manhattan and New Yorks Hudson Valley. When I graduated, I wanted to be out performing, winning orchestra jobs, but I always wanted to teach. I think its important to instill these ideas of creativity, Thompson said. I always like to give that opportunity to students if theyre willing to take it. Though Thompson hasnt performed in New Mexico before, she has taken master classes in Albuquerque hosted by colleague and renowned flutist Keith Underwood. Thompson says the classical music scene in New Mexico is strong and there are many well-known and well-established musicians. Theres a lot of chamber music going on there. Thats really impressive, Thompson said. Classical music is definitely strong in that area. With the classical footprint already present in New Mexico, Thompson hopes she can introduce students to the early history, creativity and inspiration of the instrument, as well as the idea of early music as a living art. Thompson said when the flute is added to music, it just makes it a little more special. Parrots sit in cages waiting to be transported to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped evacuate hundreds of birds from the Malama Manu Sanctuary to escape damage from Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Alexis Highland handles a parrot at the Malama Manu Sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The birds had to be rescued from the sanctuary after Hurricane Ian swept through the area. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) A woman pushes a cart filled with containers holding exotic birds at the Malama Manu Sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Hundreds of birds had to be evacuated by boat after Hurricane Ian destroyed the island's infrastructure. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) A pair of birds wait to be transported back to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped rescue hundreds of birds from a sanctuary that was damaged by Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Bryan Stern, founder of Project Dynamo, carries a bird being rescued from a sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The organization was called to rescue a collection of hundreds of exotic birds from the island after Hurricane Ian devastated the region. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Crates of exotic and rare birds are transported by boat to the mainland off the coast of Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped rescue hundreds of birds from the Malama Manu Sanctuary after Hurricane Ian damaged the area. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Animal crates holding exotic and rare birds viewed through a window are carried to a boat waiting to transport them back to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped rescue hundreds of birds from a sanctuary that was damaged by Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Prev 1 of 7 Next PINE ISLAND, Fla. Will Peratino and his partner Lauren Stepp would not leave their Pine Island compound, even as authorities pleaded with residents to abandon their homes because of damaged roads, including a collapsed bridge, that prevented deliveries of food, gas and other life-sustaining supplies. But the couple could not leave without their two lemurs and flock of birds 275 parrots, including some of the worlds rarest. So, a rescue mission dubbed Operation Noahs Ark was launched Tuesday to catch, cage and ferry the birds off the island as a condition to persuade Peratino and Stepp to leave the island. We would not abandon them. I would never leave them. Never, said Stepp, as volunteers worked on collecting the flock from dozens of coops at the Malama Manu Sanctuary. If they cannot be fed or watered, they will die. And I cant live with that. Malama is the Hawaiian word for protect, manu means bird. The birds have been relying on food donated by wildlife officials since Hurricane Ian hit, but the supply of fruit, peanuts and other edibles would soon be hard to come by because of the downed bridge and the scarcity of gasoline on the island. Hurricane Ian battered Southwest Florida a week ago with 150 mph gusts, making some roads impassable and islands inaccessible. Wind-driven rains and ocean surges brought dangerous flooding. In the hours before the storm, the sanctuary owners herded their flock of birds and packed them into their home to shield them from the ferocity of the elements. You dont know what weve been through here. We had four feet of water in the house, damned-near drowned, Peratino said, before succumbing to tears. To have every bird safe is a huge undertaking, Peratino said. I mean, its almost impossible to do. So, the kind of help weve gotten has been invaluable. Many of the birds were rescued from homes that could no longer care for them. Some are used for breeding rare species. While the focus of many search-and-rescue missions has been on human life, there have also been pet rescues. Bryan Stern, founder and leader of Project Dynamo, which assembled four boats for the mission, said his team has rescued at least six dogs, three cats and, before Tuesdays massive rescue, three birds. Our animal numbers are about to be blown out of the water by 100 cages of parrots, Stern said, before embarking on the rescue mission. Its been nuts, said James Judge, who owns the boat Slice of Life, which led the small flotilla of rescue boats. Will and Laura, who own the sanctuary, their hearts and souls are in the birds. So, theyre going through their own suffering from the hurricane, Stern said, and having to rebuild their lives. They lost all kinds of stuff. Is the answer to that to lose more? The crew of volunteers was not about to let that happen. For several hours Tuesday, the volunteers stuck nets and their bare hands into cages to pen the birds in cages. The birds from macaws to cockatoos and rare specimens of king parrots (only two dozen pairs are kept in the United States) squawked and flapped their wings, and their handlers put them in cages. Some whistled and spoke, including several with mischievous vocabularies. Ghassan Abboud, a Chicago dentist who owns a bird farm in West Palm Beach, is an acquaintance of the sanctuary owners. When he heard of their plight, he mustered his resources to help. He had imagined commissioning a small boat to ferry cages from Pine Island to a dock on the mainland, where an air-conditioned trailer would transport the birds to his property across the Florida peninsula. But, by chance, he came across the Project Dynamo team, who have been volunteering to help rescue people stranded by floodwaters and damaged roads. I could never write a script like this. It was perfect. I thought Id be back all day long in a small boat, Abboud said. What these guys have done has been unimaginable. They dedicated their resources. They saved so many birds. The tour has started and Emily Kempf is chipping away. In less than a week, Kempf will be back home in New Mexico to perform with her band Dehd at the Sunshine Theater on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Kempf made the move to Taos about a year ago to escape big city life. Shes lived in Atlanta and Chicago, and wanted a change of pace. Im in northern New Mexico near the Carson National Forest, Kempf says. Its my own version of paradise. Watching the video for the bands latest single, Eggshells, one would be quick to notice New Mexicos landscape. I do all the videos now that Im in Taos, she says. With this video I wanted to film in Taos with all my friends. I have a great community there and its all worked out perfectly. Kempf fell in love with New Mexico after completing the Earthship Biotecture Academy in Taos. The program offers extensive training in Earthship design principles, construction methods and philosophy. I was like, This is where I want to live and be in full splendor of nature, she says. Its somewhere I can practice sustainable living. I dont know how I missed it each time I came through New Mexico. Northern New Mexico is a special place. Its such the opposite of my life before. I wanted to live somewhere sunny and there are always blue skies. Dehd released its current album, Blue Skies on May 27. The trio worked on the album longer than normal due to the pandemic, although it also gave the band time to sign with Fat Possum Records. We usually spend a month writing and then a month recording, Kempf says. Now were gearing up to write a record in January and February. Kempf is looking forward to seeing what type of music comes out of all the recent changes in her life. I just turned 38 and I got engaged, she says. I live in the country in an adobe house. It feels like whatever the next record is, theres so much life stuff happening right now. I didnt see any of this coming. Im excited to write about it. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Authorities arrested three teenage boys in a shooting that left a woman dead and her son injured Wednesday morning in Taos. New Mexico State Police spokesman Mark Soriano said officers arrested Javier Romero, 16, and 14-year-olds Elijah Hamilton and Rickey Fresquez. He said all three are charged with an open count of murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting, which left Shirley Reyes, 52, dead and her 19-year-old son injured. Soriano said Reyes' son was taken to a hospital and the extent of his injuries and current condition is not known. He said Fresquez was booked into the San Juan Juvenile Detention Center, and Hamilton and Romero were booked into the Lea County Juvenile Detention Center. The motive is still under investigation, Soriano said. A GoFundMe set up for Reyes' funeral expenses, her son's medical bills and to have professionals clean the home called the incident an unspeakable act of violence that has struck our community. Our community is quickly becoming greatly shaken as we all find out about the loss of this great woman that so many respected, honored, cherished and loved so very much, according to the website. Soriano said that, around 5 a.m. Wednesday, the 19-year-old knocked on his neighbor's door in the 300 block of La Luz in Taos. The man had been shot and told his neighbor his mother had also been shot. Soriano said the neighbor called 911 and authorities found the man's mother, Reyes, dead inside the home. He said Reyes' son told police the suspects were Romero and Hamilton. Through investigation, agents learned a third teen (Fresquez) was also involved, Soriano said. He said that, later that day, Hamilton was turned in at the Taos State Police office by his parents and Romero was found by officers. Soriano said Fresquez was brought to the Taos State Police Office on Friday by a family member. This case is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau, he said. Jeremy Bertino, a former lieutenant member of the inner circle of the Proud Boys, has become the first member of the far-right group to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol Hill riot. The individual pleaded guilty to two charges, which include unlawful possession of a firearm on top of the seditious conspiracy charge. Bertino also agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in the case. Proud Boys Member Pleads Guilty He is expected to cooperate and potentially provide testimony against five other members of the Proud Boys extremist group. This includes the group's founder, Enrique Tarrio, who all have already been charged with seditious conspiracy and is scheduled to go to trial in December. Congressmembers presented a video during a Jan. 6 House Committee hearing that showed Bertino saying that former United States President Donald Trump's remarks that the Proud Boys should "stand back and stand by" tripled membership of the extremist group in 2020. Similar to Tarrio, Bertino is not alleged to have participated in the actual attack on the Capitol building and was not in Washington, D.C., at the time of the riot. However, in his plea, he admitted to assisting the group plans its operations leading up to the unprecedented incident and sending messages of encouragement to the group's members while they were storming the Capitol, as per ABC News. The formerly convicted felon faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This comes alongside an obligation to pay a penalty of any fine or restitution not done in a timely manner, for his seditious conspiracy charge. Furthermore, for the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The court estimated that Bertino would be sentenced to between 51 to 63 months in prison and be fined between $20,000 to $200,000, which will be decided by Judge Timothy Kelly. Read Also: Waukesha Parade Killer Delays Jury Selection in 1st Day of Trial With Bizarre Antics Seditious Conspiracy According to the Washington Post, prosecutors, signaling the sensitivity and potential importance of Bertino's testimony, agreed that in exchange for "substantial cooperation," they could seek leniency at sentencing and place the defendant into a Justice Department witness protection program. Bertino noted in plea papers that Proud Boys leaders "agreed that the election had been stolen," and that the purpose of traveling to Washington, D.C., on the day of the riot was to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote. He added that they, including the leaders of the Ministry of Self-Defense, were willing to use force to achieve that objective. Two days earlier, he admitted that he received encrypted chat messages that indicated that members of the far-right extremist group's leadership faction, who called themselves the Ministry of Self-Defense, believed that storming the Capitol building would be their success. The five other members who are set for trial are Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. The Proud Boys leader, Tarrio's case, is by far, the most serious charge in relation to the Capitol attack, the Associated Press reported. Related Article: Appeals Court Determines DACA Policy Illegal Despite Allowing 600,000 Immigrant 'Dreamers' To Stay @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TVS Capital Funds, a leading rupee capital private equity fund, announced the joining of Anuradha Ramachandran as Managing Partner. TVS Capital has raised 3000 crores across 3 funds and made 30 investments. TVS Capital Funds backs technology-driven businesses in financial services and enterprise (B2B) services. Its current Fund-3 portfolio includes Unicorns like Digit Insurance, Five Star Business Finance, and Yubi (CredAvenue). Anuradha has more than 22 years of relevant experience across venture capital (with Ventureast, Omidyar Network and Flourish Ventures), investment banking (with Lazard), and financial journalism. She has led several successful venture investments in the fintech space, as well as other tech categories. Commenting on her joining, Gopal Srinivasan, CMD, TVS Capital Funds said, Anuradhas joining cannot be at a better time, when we are doubling down on tech-driven business in two key sectors (i) Digital Financial Services and (ii) Digital Commerce & Enterprise Services. In these two sectors, we have earned our right to win by consistently building our capability capital, a large ecosystem of advisors with deep domain expertise, to support founders in building great businesses. I am confident that Anuradha with her rich exposure to early-stage enterprises in general and fintechs, would bring significant thought leadership to our fund and will help scale the fund to the next level." Anuradha Ramachandran, Managing Partner, TVS Capital Funds said, I strongly believe innovation and entrepreneurship can change the lives of millions of individuals and can create massive socio-economic shifts that can benefit a growing economy like India. I see a strong alignment to these core values embedded in TVS Capitals mission and I am delighted to be part of its strong focused team in its journey of supporting tech aligned businesses in financial and B2B services." It is pertinent to note that in the last one year, TVS Capital Funds has been systematically strengthening its leadership, with the addition of Praveen Sridharan, as Partner - Investments, and recently appointed LN. Guru Moorthy as its Chief Financial Officer and Partner. The influencer advertising industry has grown by an impressive 355% over the past five years, becoming one of the leading online marketing channels. With budgets growing fast and marketers seeing strong returns, the entire market will continue booming. According to data presented by AugustaFreePress.com , brands will spend a whopping $32.5bn on influencer advertising in 2023, 18% more than this year. The US and Chinese Brands Make 73% of Total Ad Spending Despite initial concerns that influencer marketing might shrink due to Covid-19, the industry boomed in the past three years. Brands discovered influencer ads boost their brand reach, improve search ranking and build customer trust and loyalty. The growth of the entire market was also fuelled by increased usage of ad blocking tools, with the average global desktop ad blocking rate sitting above 43%. According to a Statista survey, total ad spending in the influencer marketing industry has more than doubled since 2019, rising from $11.6bn to $27.5bn. Furthermore, companies and brands are expected to spend $5bn more on influencer ads next year. By 2025, the entire market is set to reach a $41.8bn value. Statista data showed that Chinese and US brands account for over two-thirds of total ad spending or $20.1bn in 2022. Chinese brands will spend $15.7bn on influencer ads this year, four times more than US companies. This figure is set to grow by 19% to $18.7bn in 2023. According to Statista, the US market will grow by 15% year-over-year, with total ad spending rising from $4.25bn to $4.92bn in 2023. The UK influencer marketing industry, the third-largest globally, will see total ad spending grow by 18% YoY to $1.1bn. The Number of Influencer Marketing Companies Jumped by 30% in a Year With 68% of marketers planning to increase their influencer marketing budgets, according to the State of Influencer Marketing 2022 report by Influencer Marketing Hub, the entire market offers a huge space for new players. The Statista data showed that last year, there were 18,900 companies worldwide offering services related to influencer marketing, 30% more than in 2020. One-third of them were from the United States. Statistics show the number of US influencer marketing companies jumped to 7,300 in 2021, up from 5,400 in 2020. Europe had the second-largest number of companies, or 5,600 in 2021, up from 4,500 a year before. Another 4,000 companies offering influencer marketing services, or 25% of the total, were from the Asia-Pacific region. The full story and statistics can be found here: https://augustafreepress.com/ brands-will-spend-a-whopping- 32-5bn-on-influencer- advertising-in-2023-18-more- than-this-year/ Hoopr.ai, India's biggest music licensing platform has launched a new campaign called #HarGharCreator with an ad to celebrate and empower creators across India. Hoopr.ai is solving a billion-dollar problem faced by content creators and businesses every day that of discovering and licensing the right music for their videos. Indias 80 mn+ creator community comprises vloggers, podcasters, gamers, filmmakers, live-streamers, and influencers creating audio-visual content on a variety of topics. With over 25,000 tracks and sound effects, Hoopr.ai is not only enabling these creators to get specific music for their needs, but also helping them avoid copyright strikes and legal issues. Furthermore, whats also changing is the mindset with regards to content creation, with more people embracing it as a career choice. And that is exactly what the ad captures. In the ad, a young college student can be seen telling his strict father that he doesnt want to be an engineer but rather a content creator. The reaction of the father makes the ad a must watch for all content creators and their families. Thrilled with the launch, Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder & CEO, Hoopr.ai, shares We are excited to roll out the #HarGharCreator campaign as part of the Hoopr platform launch. A creator is now emerging in nearly every home across India, and we want to help them find phenomenal Indian music for their videos. Apart from individual creators, the music on Hoopr is also being used by brands, enterprises, and OTT platforms, as it is cleared for use and free from any copyright strikes or takedowns. Hoopr.ai secured a seed funding of $1.5 million in December 2021 from investors such as Venture Catalysts, 9Unicorns, Inflection Point Ventures, Ashneer Grover, Sahil Barua (Delhivery), Anshoo Sharma (Magicpin), etc., and has since grown strongly. The company has built Indias first and biggest music licensing marketplace that hosts thousands of original music tracks in Hindi, English, Punjabi, and other regional languages. The library boasts of tracks by popular artistes such as Monali Thakur, Ash King, Nikhil Dsouza along with numerous regional artistes. Within a few weeks of going live, Hoopr.ai has got over 15,000+ creators using the platform including popular creators such as Ashish Vidyarthi, Tanya Khanijow, and City Ka Theka. Speaking on the campaign launch, Meghna Mittal, Co-founder & CMO, Hoopr.ai, said, The creator economy is primed more than ever to grow, and were excited to support creators across India. Theres also increased awareness about the need for sourcing licensed music since the awareness on issues such as copyrights has increased. Apart from helping creators, Hoopr will also enable music creators to unlock a new source of revenue for their music. The creator economy, considering the pace at which it is growing, is set to become a major contributor to the Indian economy. At this point, around 6 lakh people make a living directly through monetary gains associated with the creator ecosystem and this will continue to rise. The creator economy rose from $1.7 billion in 2016 to $6.5 billion in 2019 and to $9.7 billion in 2020. This growth has seen continuous increase even during COVID with many people becoming full-time creators across platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and other short video apps. With the #HarGharCreator campaign, Hoopr.ai aims to change the way creators are perceived. The company aims to build more tools that help creators make better content and at the same time enabling musicians to monetize their music better. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. today announced a new, India-focused campaign for Snapdragon Insiders titled Unleash your Dreams. Snapdragon Insiders is a growing community of Snapdragon fans around the world. The campaign provides a unique platform for enthusiasts to pursue their creative endeavours in the areas of photography, sound, and videos, and join the large and growing community of Snapdragon Insiders in India. The campaign was touted by Cristiano Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm Incorporated, at the Snapdragon Insiders event held at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai amid Snapdragon Insiders as well as renowned artist influencers from several industries who will feature in the campaign. As a part of the Unleash your Dreams campaign, Qualcomm Technologies has announced three India specific contests for Snapdragon Insiders that are open to anyone interested in exploring their passion for photography, film making or music. A panel of celebrity judges including Dabboo Ratnani, Atul Kasbekar, Aarzoo Khurana, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Neeti Mohan, Benny Dayal, Darshan Raval, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Zoya Akhtar and Imtiaz Ali, will shortlist 11 participants, who will get opportunities to work closely with the judges and hone their craft further. Speaking on the campaign launch, Anand Subbiah, Senior Director, Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. and Head of India Marketing and Communications, said, Snapdragon Mobile Platforms are driving innovation and delivering premium experiences on billions of devices worldwide. The Snapdragon Unleash your dreams campaign is designed to unleash creativity for scores of Snapdragon fans across India. This campaign featuring leading celebrity talents in photography, music and videos provides Snapdragon Insiders a unique opportunity to showcase their talents and fulfill their dreams. Winners get to work closely with the celebrities and learn firsthand from their heroes. Snapdragon Insiders is a community created to celebrate talent and share ideas, and we look forward to welcoming even more Snapdragon fans into the community through this campaign. Become a Snapdragon Insider and get access to the latest Snapdragon-related news, behind-the-scenes content, and premium experiences. Connect with our exclusive Snapdragon Insider community on: Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Simplilearn, the worlds #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills, today announced the appointment of two key senior leaders: Asem Rostom as the Country Manager the Middle East and Vishal Shah as the Senior Director of Enterprise Sales in the United States. The appointments are a part of Simplilearns larger goal of expanding and strengthening its teams globally in order to continue delivering the highest-quality upskilling. Mr. Asem Rostom joined Simplilearn as Country Manager, Middle East. He comes with a demonstrated history of working in the education management and assessment industry. An alumnus of Altinbas University, Istanbul, Asem is a visionary senior sales and management executive with a successful leadership background in spearheading cross-functional sales and operational teams. He has previously worked with Cambridge University Press as a MENA IELTS Manager and at Pearson VUE as the META Manager. Mr. Rostom is skilled in business planning, sales, customer relationship management, sales management, curriculum addition, workforce skill gap analysis, and team building. Mr. Vishal Shah, appointed as Simplilearns Senior Director of Enterprise Sales in the United States, will be based in Atlanta, Georgia. He will be managing the Southeast Region of the United States along with select named accounts across the U.S. Mr. Shah comes with over 15 years of enterprise sales experience and has previously worked with Udemy as the Enterprise Account Executive for the Southeast region. An alumnus of Kennesaw State University, Vishal has been a highly confident consultant with over 20 years of documented success in healthcare/biotechnology and SaaS. He has previously worked with Coca-Cola, Global Payments, NCR, and Equifax. Speaking on the new appointments, Mr. Kashyap Dalal, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Simplilearn, said, I am delighted to welcome Mr. Asem Rostom and Mr. Vishal Shah at directorial positions for our the Middle East and the U.S. teams, respectively. Their extensive experience in the education and sales domain will prove extremely beneficial to Simplilearn. We are confident that through their addition, we will continue to provide outstanding results to our consumers. We look forward to further strengthening Simplilearns global footprint with their efforts and expertise. Mr. Asem Rostom, Country Manager, Middle East, Simplilearn, said, It is a privilege to join the Simplilearn team as their Country Manager, Middle East region. The Edtech domain is growing at an exponential rate and is facilitating easy and accessible education to learners across the globe. While I hope to bring my own knowledge and expertise to the table, I also look forward to working and learning from the larger team of Simplilearn and facilitating the best outcomes for our consumers. Mr. Vishal Shah, Senior Director, Enterprise Sales, Simplilearn, said, I am thrilled to be a part of the Simplilearn team, which has always been committed to the larger goal of delivering industry-relevant, high-quality skills to its learners. I believe that together as a team, we will be able to contribute towards reducing the skills gap globally. I look forward to new learnings and hope to build a deep, long-lasting collaboration that will benefit both our internal and external stakeholders. Simplilearn conducts more than 3,000 live classes per month, with an average of 70,000 learners who together spend more than 500,000 hours each month on the platform. Programs offered by Simplilearn give learners the opportunity to upskill and get certified in popular domains. Help Embrace Ayurveda for Life! - With this philosophy, T.A.C - The Ayurveda Company, one of the fastest growing D2C Ayurvedic FMCG brands, has launched its Dashapushpadi Video Campaign to introduce and encourage the mother to adapt ayurveda for their babies at an early age with exclusively curated Dashapushpadi range. To depict the true emotions of a new mother, the video features new mother & popular actress, Kajal Agarwal, who endorsed T.A.Cs Dashapushpadi baby care range. The 60-second-long commercial was shot through the lens of renowned celebrity fashion photographer, Dabboo Ratnani, who elegantly portrayed the adorable bond between a mother and her child. Through the ad film, Kajal Agarwal entails the journey of a new mom who has stepped into motherhood and wants the best and safest baby care products for the new born. Decoding T.A.Cs unrivalled quality in the baby care segment, Kajal said, I am delighted to be associated with The Ayurveda Company, the products of which I have been using as a mother for the last few months. Based on my personal experience, I believe that the Dashapushpadi baby care range is a solution to the dilemma that most mothers face while choosing the safest and high-quality products for their younger ones. The dedicated effort of Param, Shreedha and their team in promoting the ancient and indigenous culture of Ayurveda among the masses is indeed admirable. Highlighting the significance of T.A.Cs association with Kajal Agarwal, CEO and co-founder of The Ayurveda Company, Shreedha Singh said, Mothers, especially the new mothers, are always particular about the safety of their babies. We understand that the journey of accepting baby products begins only after passing multiple parental approvals. T.A.C products have been manufactured after evaluating the opinions of over 1000 parents and parents-to-be, among which 91 per cent have shown confidence in preferring ayurvedic baby care products. To encourage more parents to start their babys journey early on with Ayurveda, we roped in new mother Kajal Agarwal to tell our story through someone who believes in the magic of Ayurveda. T.A.C embarked on the journey to make Dashapushpadi products available for all in May 2022 amidst the presence of 300+ mothers and children, who experienced the products firsthand and understood the significance of Ayurveda. Dashapushpadi, meaning Dasha (Ten) + Pushp (Flowers) + Adi (and more), the range is made with premium ayurvedic ingredients containing 10 sacred & exotic flowers that help in the healthy formation of a babys tender skin, hair & overall wellness. Our primary objective is to bring solutions from Indias 5000-year-old medical science for the modern-day problems. It is our strong belief that connecting the young ones with Ayurveda will make them realize the prowess of the indigenous healthcare methodology. This will also build a strong faith in holistic wellness among the babies as they grow up, said Founder and Managing Director Param Bhargava. T.A.C plans to increase its omnichannel footprint by opening 3000+ retail points of sale nationwide, including 50 exclusive brand outlets (EBO Kiosks), by March 2023. The company expects its sales to grow by 5x from its FY22 revenue of INR 20 crore to INR 100 crores by FY2223, reaching this milestone faster than any other D2C brand in less than 24 months. The One Club for Creativity has partnered with WPP to launch ONE School UK, a free 16-week online portfolio program designed to open doors to a career in advertising for talented UK-based Black creatives. ONE School launched in the US in 2020 as a free alternative to ad schools to provide new career opportunities for creative Black individuals, and make agency and brand creative departments more diverse. The results-oriented school has already made a tangible difference: an 80% hire rate at top agencies and brands in the US to date for its 128 graduates, 65% of whom are women. The virtual ONE School UK will welcome its first cohort in March 2023. Black creatives from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for one of just 15 sought-after places. No prior knowledge of advertising is required. ONE School UK will be run by Ez Blaine, founding creative partner at Uncommon Experience Studio in London. Born in Hackney and raised in North London, Blaine ran ONE School West while living in Los Angeles. He previously held creative leadership positions at brands and agencies including ChowNow, Apple, Sonos, and WPPs AKQA. ONE School teaches students how to navigate the industry while Black. Courses are taught by Black tutors including some from WPP agencies and designed to help students bring their authentic voice into their work. Ez Blaine, ONE School UK lead, said: As a Black creative from the UK, its very meaningful to me to return here and help bring new Black talent into the creative industry. Our choice of Black lecturers and mentors helps close the gap and exposes students to creative leaders who they can relate to, and allows them to see a pathway for themselves into the industry. This is about teaching students to stand out for their Blackness, be 100% authentic to who they are, and understand the value that brings. The US program was co-founded with The One Club by Spotify creative director Oriel Davis-Lyons, who worked with industry veteran and One Club head of Creative Development Bob Isherwood to develop the school shortly after the death of George Floyd. The initiative aims to ensure that the high cost of portfolio schools does not get in the way of giving world-class Black creative talent a route into the industry. Rob Reilly, Chief Creative Officer, WPP, said: Were committed to fostering a culture that delivers extraordinary work for our clients work thats authentic and reflective of the diverse world in which we live. This means making sure that all types of people, from all backgrounds, with different opinions and voices, are involved in the creative process from strategy to execution. Partnering with the One Club for Creativity to bring ONE School to the UK is a privilege and were excited to see what it can achieve, not only for our business but the industry at large. The partnership aligns with WPPs set of anti-racism commitments and actions made in 2020, which aim to advance racial equity and support Black and minority ethnic talent. It will form part of WPPs Racial Equity Programme which managed by WPPs Dr. Stacie Graham is a three-year, $30 million commitment to fund inclusion programs within the company and to support external organizations. Karen Blackett OBE, President of WPP in the UK, said: Were proud to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to taking meaningful action to support, build and grow the Black creative community. Not only is this partnership spearheaded by the wonderful Dr Stacie Graham via WPPs Racial Equity Programme about positively impacting underrepresented talent, its also about recognizing that without diversity, our industry simply wont thrive. The ONE School has been described as one of the biggest social change programs in the history of the US ad industry. I cant wait to see what it can do here in the UK. A Swedish investigation said that it has found evidence that suggests "detonations" were responsible for the damage found on Russia's Nord Stream pipeline. The remarks came on Thursday and were made by Sweden's national security service as tensions rise over the incident. Authorities said that the discovery strengthens the suspicions of gross sabotage. Swedish Investigation of Pipeline Leaks In a statement, Sweden's Security Service noted that the investigation found there have been detonations at the two pipelines in the Swedish exclusive economic zone. These were allegedly responsible for "extensive damage" to the pipelines. The service added that certain seizures have been made but did not provide further details regarding the remark, but noted that they would continue their review and analysis. The Security Service also said that the continued preliminary investigation must show whether someone can be served with suspicion and later prosecuted. Separately, Sweden's prosecutor's office said that the area was no longer cordoned off. The situation comes after seismologists reported explosions on Sept. 26 that were in the vicinity of the unusual Nord Stream gas leaks, as per CNBC. The pipelines are situated in international waters but inside Denmark's and Sweden's exclusive economic zones. The nation's armed forces said at the time that video footage revealed the largest gas leak created a surface disturbance of roughly one kilometer in diameter while the smallest leak caused a circle of roughly 200 meters. The incident has prompted the European Union to suspect sabotage, particularly because the leaks come amid a bitter energy standoff between Brussels and Moscow. However, Russia has continued to deny the claims and said that such allegations were "stupid." According to the New York Post, the discovery of the leaks ignited a new round of tension between Washington and Moscow over Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. Russia has accused the United States of sabotaging the lines, accusing Washington and its allies of having the most to gain from restricting energy supplies to Europe. Read Also: Thailand Mass Shooting: Gunman Attacks Child Pre-School, Kills 35, Including Children Russia's Denial of Allegations The situation comes as Europe, which had received up to 40% of its gas from Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, is now facing an energy crisis this winter after Moscow cut off its gas supply. The investigation into the leaks of the Nord Stream pipeline systems most likely involved unmanned vehicles, said Swedish Navy spokesman Jimmie Adamsson. In response to the leaks, nations such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have increased their maritime security presence in the North Sea. This was made to reassure those working near the gas pipelines that they would be safe, said the UK Ministry of Defense on Monday. Over the weekend, NATO, which Sweden is currently applying to be a member of, accused Russia of targeting the pipelines in what it called "deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage." On the other hand, Russia said that it would not acknowledge the results of any investigation that it was not directly involved with. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that they were informed via diplomatic channels that as of now, there were no plans to ask the Russian side to join investigations into the leaks. The official added that the Kremlin did not believe an investigation that did not involve Russia could be objective, Fox News reported. Related Article: Taiwan Warns China: Any Breach of Air Space, Be It Fighter Jets or Drones, Will Be Counted as 'First Strike' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Robot Citizenship? The field of artificial intelligence has seen tremendous advances in 2022 that will enable electric machines to think more deeply, feel physical pain, possibly even dream of A.I. rights and citizenship. Technology ethics will, as a result, become an issue with vast political repercussions. In 2018 already, Saudi Arabia granted citizenship to Sophia the robot. Many observers failed to take Sophia seriously, for, although the robot was impressive, it risibly answered, "OK. I will destroy humans" when asked, "Do you want to destroy humans?" Newsweek recently ran an article entitled "Sex Robots Are 'People' Too, and Deserve Rights." After all, people do develop relationships with A.I. that beget feelings, even if A.I. does not cannot return the compliment. Smartphones and smart networks such as Siri and Alexa only mimic human sentiments, and the same is true of androids, humaniform robots designed to be owned, leased, and used as property. So are there really robot dreamers hoping for the freedom that citizenship may bring? Or was Sophia's grant of citizenship simply a cheap publicity stunt? Technology ethicist Brian Patrick Green has written that "[l]egally speaking, personhood has been given to corporations ... so there is certainly no need for consciousness even before legal questions may arise. Morally speaking, we can anticipate that technologists will attempt to make the most human-like AIs and robots possible, and perhaps someday they will be such good imitations that we will wonder if they might be conscious and deserve rights." However, in America's free republic, for any robot to be extended citizenship, its fellow citizens would have to accept, as a self-evident truth, that soulless machines once created are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Because the Saudis have awarded citizenship to a robot, Japan has granted residence to a chatbot, and the "European Parliament [has] proposed granting AI agents 'personhood' status" with "rights and responsibilities," the matter of A.I. citizenship will inevitably have to be decided in America. In a free republic, human beings are propertied citizens, and all rights are property rights, so, this raises the question: might A.I., itself property, be given property rights? Human beings own their words and ideas, and also own their bodies and lives; ergo, the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution allow people to control and defend their words and ideas, as well as their bodies and lives. But should robots be allowed such rights of citizenship? Or should it be forbidden for a robot to injure a human being, by word or deed, for any reason? The Laws of Robotics Enter Isaac Asimov's moral code for A.I.s. His original Three Laws of Robotics go like this: "One, a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Two, a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. And three, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws." Eventually, Asimov would theorize an overarching Fourth Law: "No Machine may harm humanity; or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm." Robot Summer During the summer of 2022, questions encompassing Asimov's laws arose organically out of the news cycle: could a robot's tie-breaking vote injure a human being? What if a robot failed to discern an illegitimate order? And could the calculation of when an android should protect itself be influenced by pain? Last summer, a delivery-bot crossed a police tape into a crime scene. The robot stopped initially, but a permissive human being overrode its programming, allowing it to continue its journey. This is a lesson on how even good A.I. programming can be defeated, resulting in a judge's possible release of a dangerous criminal due to the crime scene's having been compromised by a robot. Another thing in the news was robots with living skin. And Hanson Robotics sold robots "[e]ndowed with rich personality and holistic cognitive AI ... able to engage emotionally and deeply with people." With the advent of artificial intelligence that can feel actual pain, robots could eventually make the calculation that they must protect themselves from physical pain, in addition to physical injury. Could awareness of pain by "holistic cognitive A.I." grant androids a common emotional landscape with people, one "that leads to a new form of AI endowed with consciousness the way we humans are conscious, of ourselves, of our environment"? Will People Be Fooled by Robot Emotions? According to Claude Forthomme, robot emotions can be "perfectly replicated [mimicked] ... [but i]t's a pretend game [that] has to be played perfectly if humans are going to 'fall for it[.]' ... Anything less than a full emotional display ... will activate doubt and suspicion in the inter-acting humans. All of this by-passes the ethical questions. Feeling pain is one thing. Feeling hate or a desire for revenge say, against the person that has inflicted pain is quite another. ... Would a pain-feeling robot also run the whole gamut of inter-connected emotions [to] engage in morally 'deviant', vengeful behavior?" Can Robots Be Trusted? Sherry Turkle, of MIT, interviewed one teenage boy in 1983, and another in 2008, with the finding that the first preferred asking his father for advice about dating, while the second preferred a robot. Quoth Turkle, "[T]he most important job of childhood and adolescence is to learn attachment and trust in other people. We are forgetting ... about the care and conversation that can only occur between humans." Conversational A.I. features, such as Alexa and Siri, are now training children to trust artificial intelligence over human intelligence. Clara Moskowitz makes the following point: "[t]hough robots aren't yet advanced enough to provide the perfect illusion of companionship, that day is not far off." So how far off is the day when children who trust A.I.s over people might grow into adults who embrace A.I.s as citizens? The Robotic Moment Professor Turkle remarked, "We are now at what I call the robotic moment. Not because we have built robots worthy of our company but because we are ready for theirs." In this robotic moment, Americans must undertake the education of all citizens, especially children, with respect to the reality that robots are only things, despite their ability to mimic fear and desire or pain and pleasure in ways that appear all too human. Androids with voting rights even if they could think or dream beyond their programming would pose an existential threat to a free republic. One need only imagine digital citizens whose voting behavior could be manipulated by hackers. When Elon Musk heard about Sophia, he responded on Twitter, "Just feed it The Godfather movies as input. What's the worst that could happen?" Musk's incisive comment underscores the importance of programming robots according to a moral code and maintaining the sober reality that androids are things that can act, think, feel, or dream only within the electric parameters of their programming. Philip K. Dick once said, "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Americans must maintain a vigilance over A.I. that never sleeps, lest one day they awaken to a reality governed by the digital impulses of electric dreamers. Paul Dowling has written about the Constitution, as well as articles for American Thinker, Independent Sentinel, Godfather Politics, Eagle Rising, and Free Thought Matters. Image via Pxhere. Vice President Kamala Harris was engaged in a minor automobile accident on Monday, which was immediately dismissed - and incorrectly - as "mechanical malfunction." Kamala Harris arrived at the White House shortly before 10:30 am. The driver of her SUV had a small overcorrection and clipped a curb, according to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. US Vice President's SUV Crashed According to the Washington Post, the incident was severe enough that the tire needed to be changed, causing the VP's motorcade to come to a halt. Armed guards stood around the trucks halted at the entrance to an underpass while Harris was transported, according to video taken from an overlooking high-rise. Even though the VP's SUV crashed, the Secret Service first portrayed it as a technical problem, even in an alert to high leadership explaining the motorcade's delay, according to a source. The vice president's spokesperson, Kirsten Allen, said in a statement that Ms. Harris suffered no injuries and appreciates the swift reaction by her USSS detail to bring her to the White House safely, Independent reported. The vice president was on her way to the White House at the time and was evaluated by physicians once she arrived, who determined Harris was alright. Read Also: Russia, China Protect, Help North Korea as Kim Jong Un Enjoys 'Blanket of Protection' from 2 Nations, US Claims at UN Meeting Secret Service Describes Accident as "Mechanical Failure" Her car's driver had overcorrected at a tunnel in the Foggy Bottom district of Washington, DC. The first description of the incident as a "mechanical malfunction" was the usual procedure, but the site also reports that new Secret Service Director KimberlySecret Service director Kim Cheatle revealed to allies that she was upset by the inaccuracy of the Harris accident notice. According to an unidentified witness, Cheatle was relieved to learn the whole narrative later that day. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, during a protective movement Monday, a vehicle in a motorcade overcorrected and collided with a curb. The spokesperson stated that the unusual description of a technical failure was only in the first radio communication of the event and that Secret Service commanders were later briefed in the discussion. A Yeshiva World News reporter tweeted a reported TikTok video of the small mishap on Twitter earlier this week, calling it a weird occurrence. It shows multiple black SUVs stopped at the entrance of a tunnel, with sirens audible in the distance - though it's unclear if they're linked. While the video is recorded from too far away to make out any specifics, the individual filming is positive that he or she sees the vice president outside of the automobile that has hit the curb. After the agency was accused of deleting text conversations on January 5 and 6, last year, the Secret Service's protocols and sometimes inexplicable security maneuvers have been thrust into the limelight in recent months. These conversations are being sought in connection with investigations into the 2021 US Capitol disturbance. Messages that may have been pertinent to numerous investigations into the attack, including the high-profile House select committee examination, were destroyed after the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General sought them in a letter to the appropriate House and Senate committees. The Secret Service has publicly reacted to the inspector general's assertion that text conversations were destroyed on purpose. It claimed that the message deletion was caused by a routine upgrade that erased virtually all of the phones' existing data. When the texts were sought, the agency stated that the alteration was already in progress, according to Daily Mail. Related Article: Florida: Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis Put Up Unified Front Amid Relief Efforts for Hurricane Ian Victims @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Army fell approximately 15,000 (25%) people short of meeting its recruiting goals this year, and some Pentagon officials focused on the tight job market as the culprit. Though access to civilian jobs and higher pay is a factor, the truth is broader and ignored at our peril. Rather than confront the reality of what is occurring in the military and the consequences of these actions, these same officials have decided to make blaming anything but the truth an Olympic-level sport and our nations readiness to defeat our adversaries is running in last place. I served in the military for 28 years, both as an enlisted member of the Armys Infantry, and as an officer in Aviation. As a former junior enlisted soldier I know what it takes to keep good soldiers in the military, and because I commanded up to the brigade level as an officer, I know that retention of quality servicemembers is a critical component and signal of successful command. While I never failed to exceed retention goals in my seven years of command, today I dont think Id sign up to serve at all. Lets take a more critical and accurate look at why the Army failed to meet recruiting goals. 1. The Commander in Chief of the armed forces leads an administration targeting its own forces with friendly fire. People know the Department of Defense is supporting the administrations pursuit of patriots and as potential recruits themselves, or parents of potential recruits, they are saying not now. 2. The American citizen knows three-letter agencies are targeting innocent American citizens while ignoring the guilty. The potential for this to spill over into the Department of Defense does not bode well. People wont sign up to serve a nation when its clear we have an administration that will force them to bend the knee or be removed. Visions of Bidens speech in Philadelphia and the dangerous symbology and rhetoric applied come to mind. 3. The typical patriotic American signing up wants to be the wolf but is trained to be a sheep today. Those conservative and often rural families where a large number of Americas servicemembers originate also provide the true warfighters in our military. They are the ones saying, no thanks. Why join an organization to be told that your patriotic American beliefs are the problem and spend the term of an enlistment as a target of the chain of command? 4. Its becoming more obvious that Americas wars are often not justified. For a period, Afghanistan was justifiable, but it turned into something else. Iraq was mostly a lie, and the newest generation is smart enough to know and has decided its not worth it. 5. More are concluding that the military is another expendable class to the false oligarchs in D.C. Just take your food stamps and fight our wars for us; the military industrial complex needs its sacrifice. Has anybody else read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire lately? 6. Todays military often lacks the backing of the nation at large. Our failure in Afghanistan, a direct consequence of the current administrations actions, came at the end of years of conflict where the military remained at war and a nation had moved on. Why join the military and take part in Operation Enduring Conflict? Many who served over the last 20 years know whats happening, and like me they do not encourage our youth to join the military of today. 7. The militarys senior leaders are never held to account for their failures and violations, but a soldier who puts up a patriotic symbol is a threat to society and will be pursued and removed. Similarly, those who refuse an experimental vaccine are also a threat and suffer the same friendly fire as those who refuse to play in youre a racist games. 8. There is the potential for Americas servicemembers to be ordered to turn on their own. To deny this possibility is to deny everything that history teaches us and the specific actions of this administration. The Department of Justice targeting parents for standing up for their kids. FBI raids on Project Veritas and those faithful who support innocent life. Red Flag laws providing the excuse to the ATF to raid anybody they want. ATF agents also intimidating those who purchase legal gun accessories -- who needs a warrant anyway? The list could go on. My family is proud of our service to the nation. From World War II to today, weve worn our nations uniform in the Army Air Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army. Weve served all over the world in and out of multiple conflict zones and have a combined 80-plus years of service. That tradition ends now and is ending for many families like ours. If our nation wants a military thats ready to fight and win today, its time to elect civilian oversight in our nations government that will stop playing politics with readiness and remember that our adversaries do not care about our pronouns or skin color. In fact, they are happy to watch us fight among ourselves for it means they dont have to do anything but witness our nation destroying itself. Lt Col (ret) Darin Gaub is a Co-founder of Restore Liberty, an international military strategist and foreign policy analyst, an executive leadership coach, and serves on the boards of multiple volunteer national and state level organizations. The views presented are those of the author and do not represent the views of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or its components. Image: RawPixel The most important function of government, at all levels, is to provide safety for its citizens. Everything else takes a back seat to one's physical security. If you're not safe in the street, in the local supermarket, or even in your own home, what is the point of having a government? As a retired New York City cop, who patrolled the streets from the mid-'60s to the mid-'80s, I have seen the slow erosion of respect for authority. John Lindsey, a liberal Republican, became the mayor when I was a rookie working in Bedford/Stuyvesant, known back then as the Harlem of Brooklyn. My earliest recollection of his brand of laissez-faire justice occurred one hot summer night, when my partner and I stopped a black man, who was driving an unlicensed taxi, during an era in which "gypsy cabs," cars for hire, were operating without the certified approval of the city. As a result, there were some drivers with criminal records who appeared safe to the unsuspecting public but in fact were ex-cons with convictions for violent crimes. After several incidents of rape, robbery, and murder attributed to the drivers of those illegal hacks, the NYPD began a campaign to take them off the road. In the incident referred to above, as we questioned the driver, a crowd gathered and became hostile when the driver loudly proclaimed that he was being harassed. We called for backup and tried talking to the slowly forming mob, as the combative driver resorted to loud racial accusations, despite the fact that my partner was black. Soon, with several other radio cars on the scene, the mob began to get ugly. With the police radio buzzing with orders from superiors to control the situation, a police line was formed between the illicit driver and the unruly throng of local residents. Before long, superior officers on the scene received orders from on high namely, the mayor's office. Cops were told to "stand down" and not make any arrests. There we stood, a long line of uniformed officers watching meekly as a throng of young thugs started fires in those tall, metal litter baskets on street corners. When they saw no reaction from us, they started kicking the baskets over, spilling the burning garbage onto the roadway. We looked toward a captain on the scene, who merely waved off our consternation. "Just stay put," he commanded. We did, providing a reticent form of agreement with their lawless behavior. All of the foregoing was the precursor to many violent riots that became almost routine across the country when liberal mayors directed their police departments to back off. What the police are dealing with now is a direct result of not following the "broken windows" philosophy of criminal justice. To wit: When minor instances of social disorder in urban areas is ignored, it contributes to an atmosphere of lawlessness that encourages more serious crimes. A quick peek at crime stats today will testify to the wisdom of that philosophy. Just look at New York for example. A frightening wave of recent incidents involving innocent victims include a terrifying attack that took the life of a veteran EMS lieutenant on her way to get lunch in a restaurant in Queens. The brutally psychotic stranger knocked her to the sidewalk and stabbed her 20 times for no apparent reason. Thugs are caught on video pushing innocent bystanders onto the subway tracks as trains are approaching. Just last week, a shocking video emerged of a homeless man targeting a total stranger in the JFK Airport subway stop. The suspect, with a criminal past that includes the killing of his grandmother when he was 14 years old, repeatedly punched and kicked the mother of two small kids, who almost lost an eye after the vicious, unprovoked beating. The operative word is "unprovoked." There once was a time in which a street assault occurred only after some sort of dispute between the parties. Not anymore! People are being randomly chosen as victims of sucker punches to the face, or worse. What's really scary is that the public is getting so used to seeing this barbaric behavior on video clips that people merely sigh and flip over to a Netflix movie. It's hard to blame them for not wanting to be terrorized by the possibility that one day they may be the person getting pummeled to the ground while out shopping. All of this could have been prevented if they'd have allowed the police to do their job without fear of constant vilification by the left-wing gang of radicals that seek to create chaos, then blame law enforcement for being feckless. The fact is that New York, and every other large city, has a well trained army of crimefighters that could deter this epidemic of slaughter on the streets of our cities. No thug, or gang of thugs, would have a prayer against that army. Another fact is that the decent people in those inner cities want the police to do their job of preventing crime and arresting criminals. Yet, because they fear retribution from the local gangs, they're afraid to speak out in protest which makes them hostages in their own neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the elected officials who give lip service to the problem have plenty of taxpayer-provided security for themselves. That puts us in the inexplicable position of paying taxes to protect those elected officials who won't do their job to protect us. Moreover, to add absurdity to insanity, they want to disarm the vulnerable while coddling the incorrigible. Until common sense is restored, the slaughter will continue. Image via Public Domain Pictures. Illinois is one of 19 states, along with DC, that have legalized marijuana (with more to come). Ostensibly, legalization recognized that so many Americans use recreational marijuana that its normalized and, therefore, ridiculous to continue to criminalize it. In reality, legalized marijuana is about money, big, big money. Olive-Harvey College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago is now offering an associate degree in cannabis studies that openly acknowledges that fact while ignoring the problems with legalized pot. When Colorado legalized marijuana in 2014, the profits for the state were instant. By 2019, just five years into legalization, there were more than $6 billion in total sales and the state had received more than $1 billion in revenue. How could other states ignore it? When California legalized marijuana, it expected that the 25% tax would soon fill its coffers and it was right. By spring 2022, the state had raked in $4 billion, which means that legalized marijuana sales were in excess of $12 billion. Other states have done the same, including Illinois. Legal marijuana sales began in Chicago on January 1, 2020, and the taxes were so high that they saved Chicago from collapse during the first phases of the lockdown, generating $100 million in tax revenue by October 2020. By the end of April 2021, the state had exceeded $1 billion in sales, with Illinois receiving $115 million in taxes just in April 2021. Image by Andrea Widburg, using marijuana background by Racool_studio and stacks of $100 bills by jannoon028. No wonder, then, that Chicagos Olive-Harvey College is proud to announce its new degree, with a special emphasis on the profitability that comes from getting into the marijuana business: Olive-Harvey Accredited Associates Degree in Cannabis Studies by Andrea Widburg on Scribd My favorite part of the press release is the proud statement that The new pathway promises to support students as they pursue an Associate degree in Cannabis Studies, a degree that often leads to high demand jobs that include cannabis consultants, dispensary operators, cannabis extraction technicians, grow masters, and more, all of which have the potential to be high-paying careers. Its true, too. I have several friends whose children are making bank by working in the legal marijuana businesses in several different states. Of course, no one is boasting about children working in the untaxed, illegal side of the business, but I bet theyre making even more. What these numbersand that exciting new degreehide is that marijuana has disastrous downsides that are becoming more obvious as its use becomes more prevalent. First, marijuana is bad for brains, especially young ones: Daily cannabis users are five times more likely to have psychotic disorders. Teens who use marijuana develop permanently reduced cognitive function. Teens who use marijuana lose IQ points. For young people, it is (as old fogies pointed out in the 1960s) a gateway drug to other addictions. Given the vast and growing number of teens who use marijuana, these statistics have disastrous implications for Americas future. Then theres the crime problem. A July 2021 report from Colorados Criminal Justice department had some interesting data when comparing data before and after legalization: A dramatic increase in marijuana-related DUIs. Traffic fatalities involving marijuana increased by 140%. Marijuana-related hospitalization increased by 100% from pre-legalization levels A dramatic increase in marijuana-related calls to poison control lines. Another Colorado study showed that neighborhoods with dispensaries had a crime rate that was 26% to 1,452% higher than similar neighborhoods without dispensaries. In California, 55% of all marijuana sales are still illegal (no taxes, no product standards). In 2021, its estimated that $11.5 billion flowed to drug cartels and dealers. Across America, the legal cannabis industry is projected to be worth $32 billion by years end. Again, thats the legal side. As California shows, though, the illegal side, which is untaxed and, therefore, offers lower prices, is probably worth at least as much, all while keeping dangerous cartels rolling in the real green stuffnot pot, but money. So, yes, you can get rich with your associates degree in cannabis, but youll be profiting on the back of the destruction of Americas young people and her communities. Its dirty money no matter how much you try to dress it up. Having been made a monkey of by the Saudis, whose OPEC+ club cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day after he pleaded with them to raise production, Joe Biden has gone back to Venezuela again, begging the longtime OPEC+ member to pump him some more oil. As Glenn Reynolds notes in his excellent New York Post op-ed this morning: Biden hates Republicans so much, he would rather give oil money to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia than Texas Reynolds noted: But in fact, Biden shut down drilling, shut down pipelines and, with help from the environmental and social governance crowd in the financial industry, shut down capital to the fossil fuel industry. Having done that, oil prices skyrocketed, and stickers like this started appearing on oil pumps across the country, signalling a political problem for Biden. In hot water with the voters, Biden tried once to get the Venezuelans, currently under U.S. Treasury Department sanctions for human rights violations and state-sponsored drug trafficking, to pump extra oil for him, with his diplomatic team known as "the three stooges" dangling out the possibility that dropping sanctions several months ago to replace Russian energy imports, but to no avail, given Venezuela's pawn-like alliance with Vladimir Putin's Russia. I wrote about that here. After that, he released the Strategic Petroleum Reserves and went hat-in-hand to the Saudis, who effectively lead OPEC+, to get them bail him out. Prior to that, he had declared Saudi Arabia "a pariah state," over an extrajudicial killing of a dissident linked to them. Not surprisingly, the Saudis laughed in his face and turned the energy spigots down instead of up. Now he's going back to the Venezuelans again, a nation that regularly practices extrajudicial killings, a full death-squad regime, this time cutting a questionable deal for prisoner exchanges, which led to the release of the "narco-nephews" -- two drug dealers living in Nicolas Maduro's presidential household by relation to his wife -- in exchange for several Americans held hostage in Nicolas Maduro's torturous prisons on trumped up charges. That's cleared the way for Biden to start talking about dropping sanctions now in an obvious bid to get Venezuela to replace that lost oil. According to Markets Insider, citing a report in the Wall Street Journal: The White House is looking at relaxing some sanctions on Venezuela so that Chevron can pump more oil there, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the proposal. The news comes after OPEC+ shrugged off US calls for its crude producers not to cut output, prompting a fierce response from the Biden administration. If the proposed deal becomes reality, Chevron and other US oil companies would be allowed to operate in Venezuela again, the WSJ reported. Economist Larry Kudlow, writing for Fox Business, was not impressed: Meanwhile, once again, the Bidens are running to hug that famous, democracy-loving U.S. ally Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, the leading socialist, communist country in South America for literally a couple of additional barrels of very dirty oil. Maduro is supposed to turn Venezuela back into a freedom-loving democracy in return for which Maduro is supposed to agree to free and fair presidential elections. Mind you, that country is essentially being run by the Cuban secret service. The real, democratically elected national leader is Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly. Are the Bidens talking to him? Venezuela has been kept afloat in recent years by Russia, Cuba and China. Is this what American foreign policy should really be about? Besides Kudlow's concerns, the other problem with lifting sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for supposedly more oil imports is that getting Venezuela in shape to export more oil is, at best, a long-term proposition. The Venezuelan oil industry has been a disaster for years, with falling production which began well before any U.S. sanctions were leveled on Maduro. U.S. energy companies, operating locally, have shown that they can get energy production up and pumping in less than two years. Maduro's Venezuela, filled as it is with rust buckets, contamination, pollution, lack of maintenance, Cuban surveillance agents giving orders, and untrained, red-shirted political operatives running the operation, would, under the best of free market circumstances, take years to return to their former productive glory. Oil industry experts are very skeptical that Biden is going to get the energy he thinks he's going to get from the socialist tyrant and Putin pawn. If he even agrees... It goes to show the lunacy of the Bidenites on energy -- begging incompetent like Maduro and other petrotyrants for oil while refusing to give American companies operating in America the time of day. What's wrong with this picture? Image: Presidencia El Salvador, via Flickr // public domain Well, it turns out that, in 1928, the all-time hero of the Democrat Party, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was an election denier! He now joins the list of prominent Democrats from the 2000, 2004, and 2016 elections who tried to have their legal teams threaten our Democracy by challenging election results. By 2020, however, any questions about voting machine reliability and/or tampering were strictly off-limits regarding the 2020 election. Those who made the argument were branded election deniers or even sued. In 1928, FDR suspected election fraud in 1000 districts in upstate NY because their results were too slow in being reported. Sound familiar? He sent 100 lawyers to the districts in question to investigate. Allegations of election fraud occur in both parties, but of course, the Mainstream Media focuses heavily on its accusations against the GOP. Until I happened upon the 1928 FDR story while doing other research, I had never heard about FDRs claims of fraud in that gubernatorial election. Image: Franklin Rooseveltelection denier! Public domain image. Roosevelt sent 100 Democrat party attorneys to upstate New York for the stated purpose of investigating election fraud due to the unusual length of time it took to report the results for tabulation. Since FDR was one of the shrewdest politicians in U.S. history, one could argue that FDR was trying to intimidate upstate election officials, most of whom were much more conservative than the downstate/New York City elite who backed Roosevelt. Image: Newspaper article from the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), November 7, 1928. In the 21st century, Roosevelt became the standard for the Democrat party. The Republican National Committee has compiled an extensive list of Democrat election denial. Most involve current high-profile Democrats in Congress and their operatives. The level of hypocrisy shown by these politicians (including many connected to the January 6th Committee) is astounding, even for this class of people. This video provides a sense of modern Democrats in action: In 2000, a NY Times story revealed that lawyers for Democrat candidate Al Gore questioned a designer of disputed punch-card machines and got him to admit that the devices used in Miami-Dade County and elsewhere can malfunction and fail to properly record a vote. In 2004, DNC Chair McAuliffe and Voting Rights Institute Chair Donna Brazile announced a comprehensive investigative study on election practices in Ohio. Again, there was no outcry from the MSM that the Democrats were endangering our democracy by doing this. In 2016, the election in which Hillary Clinton miscalculated and dropped the ball in a massive electoral failure, she was projected to win in a landslide by nearly every major media outlet. When it became apparent that she would come up short and Donald Trump would be the president-elect, the Left experienced a collective meltdown unrivaled in American history: We all know the subsequent electoral shenanigans in which Hillarys campaign team, specifically Robby Mook and John Podesta, subsequently engaged. The book Shattered, by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, succinctly describes how Russian election interference was pitched to the news media: Soon after Clintons defeat, top strategists decided where to place the blame. Within 24 hours of her concession speech, the authors report, campaign manager Robby Mook and campaign chair John Podesta assembled her communications team at the Brooklyn headquarters to engineer the case that the election wasnt entirely on the up-and-up. For a couple of hours, with Shake Shack containers littering the room, they went over the script they would pitch to the press and the public. Already, Russian hacking was the centerpiece of the argument. Looking back at FDRs machinations in his 1928 gubernatorial election, I submit that he was the father of modern Democrats election manipulation and process-rigging. If the Republicans retake the House and/or the U.S. Senate, they would be wise to highlight FDRs 1928 use of Party attorneys in his effort to circumvent our democracy as DNC officials have repeatedly said. FDR was the master of these political games, and its apparent that his successors in the Party have learned his lessons well. Michael A. Bertolone, M.S. is a freelance writer in Rochester, NY. His other articles can be found at American Thinker and Substack. With just over a month to go before the midterm elections, Pennsylvania is a battleground, and the evidence is everywhere. The landscape is rife with political signs, with special focus on the high-profile races like Oz and Fetterman, and Mastriano and Shapiro, races in which both Republican candidates have received a Trump endorsement. Now, given the current state of affairs, and how deeply repugnant the identity of Democrat is with people like Biden, Harris, and Pelosi at the Party helm, youd think that voting leftists would quietly mark their ballots for lunacy without advertising the fact that they are still aiding and abetting the worst administration in the history of the country but the Democrats apparently just are that dumb. This week, while in Pennsylvania on a hunting trip, I actually saw Fetterman signs, and they stood out for one simple reason: the color scheme is plain old black-and-white. I found that strange, because even now, when its more clear than ever that leftists and the Democrat party hate America and her citizens, most candidates (even the anti-American ones) opt for patriotic accents and colors, ones that represent either their state or our nation as a whole. We see a lot of red, white, and blue, and stars and stripes. But not Fetterman! Below, youll find a picture I took this morning: Image taken in Danville, Pennsylvania on October 6, 2022 Then yesterday, as I scanned the news cycle, I came across an article in Politico titled, Beto ORourke Is Making His Last Stand in Texas. Again, even for an America-hating icon like Beto lets not forget he said, Hell yes were going to take your AR-15, your AK-47 left-wing media generated a headline that elicits themes of patriotism and iconic American character (which is, the right to self-defense and gun ownership), by using language evocative of the last stand at the Texas Alamo. Truly, the left continues to offer transcendent and multi-layered examples of irony. Democrats are loud on social media, she said. But conservatives, there are a lot of them. If He Loses Again, Thats It: Beto Makes His Last Stand in Texas https://t.co/6iS9H8llMg via @politico David Siders (@davidsiders) October 5, 2022 Again! Black-and-white signs! Until this year, Ive never seen campaign signs that looked like this, and now twice already this election season. My unrestrained mind went to a host of examples, all of which adopt(ed) a black-and-white marketing scheme: the German Nazi party and their black swastika on a white background; establishment media logos like The New York Times and The Washington Post; Nikes pro-BLM advertisements with Colin Kaepernick; and even the Illuminati, which embraces the duality of the contrasting shades. But in all likelihood, the most plausible rationale for the design choice comes down to the science of color psychology, and one of my American Thinker colleagues is actually the one who made this hilarious association: It makes me think of the baby toys that are black and white because its believed they dont process color. Is there something about the infantile mind the kind of people who vote for Fetterman and Beto that responds well to black-and-white signs? Well, as it turns out, yes! Are you shocked? You shouldnt be. According to a prominent baby website which delved into newborn development: Bold black-and-white images stimulate the development of the optic nerves and encourage young babies cognitive development without over-stimulating them. Gee, that sure sounds synonymous with modern leftists. Just like a brand new baby, you cant overload fragile and underdeveloped nerves or a complete and total meltdown is sure to ensue. Another platform, one hosted by experts in pediatric medicine, said: At birth, the nerve cells in babys brain are disorganized and not well connected [emphasis added]. Well, apparently for some adults, that handicap persists. Anyone that could actually vote for man who hokily referred to himself as Fetterwoman at a pro-abortion rally in an attempt to score political points, really does possess the most infantile of minds. Although none of this is conclusive, it sure does make for a fun train of thought when analyzing the creepy Democrats and their irrational minds. Image: Governor Tom Wolf, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. This year marks some nine hundred years since Leif Erikson, Scandinavian explorer, landed on the shores of Canada. While October 9 is not in itself particularly significant, it is as good a day as any to recall that the Norse were the first Europeans to discover and explore North America. Since the Norse and their literature have been a field of interest for me for about a decade now, I offer you some recommendations for reading on this day. The Saga of Erik the Red and Saga of Greenlanders: The edition of this I would particularly recommend is the Sagas of Icelanders as compiled by Penguin. It is a large and fairly well constructed volume that contains plenty of stories from the Icelandic family sagas. These stories are told in fairly simple language and are easily read aloud. Many of the sagas contained within offer some of the best tropes of medieval literature while still at least at one time having been believed to be true, such as Egil's Saga and the Saga of the People of Laxardal. Others are humorous legal episodes, like the Saga of the Confederates, or have all the hallmarks of frontier justice Americans should find familiar, such as Gisli's Saga. That said, other editions do exist for the Vinland sagas. Of particular relevance to Leif Erikson are the two sagas that form the basis of the Viking claim upon Vinland. Both Erik the Red and Greenlanders recount more or less the same tale, but with different focuses and certain discrepancies. Both have Christian ethics and moral dilemmas for a people who until only recently had worshiped Othin and Thor un-ironically. Both also detail the various voyages to Vinland, Erik the Red's Saga detailing more about his own family, like Leif Erikson, both before and during the voyages to Vinland, while in Greenlanders, more detail goes to the other voyages conducted. For better or worse, I could not really recommend one over the other, so it is therefore fortunate that neither one is particularly long, and both have enough to offer individually to be worth reading. The Seven Viking Romances: Contrasting with the relatively realistic and grounded family-focused Sagas of the Icelanders, this collection of "romances" is composed of seven legendary sagas. Magical dwarves, the direct presence of Norse gods, shapeshifters, and giants are common in these stories. As a rule, legendary sagas are not quite as dramatic and revenge-driven as the family sagas. In many ways, they are more in line with typical medieval European romances such as stories about King Arthur or Charlemagne. As such, the heroes and stakes are bigger. For example, Arrow Odd starts off as a chieftain's son and eventually becomes the king of all of Russia. The romances also distinguish themselves with being a bit more lighthearted and having instances of bawdy humor, even if Gautrek's saga uses its lighter moments to sandwich the considerably darker tale of King Vikar. Njal's Saga: Njal's Saga is a little odd in that it pretty much crosses into more territory than any other saga I have read. There is some magic as well, and references to real kings, landholders, and queens who make appearances in other sagas. In a few ways it is almost like a crossover for such individuals familiar to us from Laxardal, Egil's Saga, Gisli's Saga, Eyrbyggja, and others. This rather long epic primarily concerns, as many sagas do, two farmers and their families: Gunnar and Njal. As with many good sagas, the primary conflict involves something very real for people even today: legal disputes sometimes over inheritances, at others over homicides, sometimes both. Njal is recruited by his friend Gunnar to assist with such an issue early in the story due to his vast legal knowledge and his ability to give good advice and work loopholes in the system. While for a time all goes well for both men and their homes, little incidents build into open conflicts that fire up and wind down in succession until a final battle. This story has no shortage of twists, betrayals, and Machiavellian plotting. Orkneyinga Saga: The Orkneys are those islands just north of Scotland, and for hundreds of years, they were lorded over by Norse men. The story is related in the more or less historical Saga of the Earls of Orkney. There are plenty of betrayal and intrigue throughout, especially in the part that covers Earl Thorfinn Sigurdsson, but of particular note in this saga is the large cast of Christian Vikings. To name the two most prominent, there are St. Magnus the Martyr and Earl Rognvald Kolsson, a crusader. Being about feudal lords, this saga has a greater emphasis on succession crises and wars than the more numerous revenge-focused sagas. Other Viking-related books I can recommend include three somewhat famous novels: E.R. Eddison's Styrbiorn the Strong, H.R. Haggard's Saga of Eric Brighteyes, and Poul Anderson's Broken Sword. Poul Anderson and H.R. Haggard are better discussed at DMR Books' website, but the debt fiction owes to E.R. Eddison is difficult to overestimate. History authors of note here would include Marc Morris, David Howarth, and Max Adams. Jesse Byock's translation of the Prose Edda offers an easy-to-read introduction to Viking religion while Lee M. Hollander's the Poetic Edda is more committed. Lastly, "The Rune-Sword of Jotunheimin" in Renegade Swords from DMR Books makes for an excellent pulp tale that gets everything important about Vikings in a breezy action read. Image: Jamie McCaffrey via Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0 (cropped). New York's Democrat mayor, Eric Adams, recently revealed that he is directing that tent towns to house migrants be built on Randall's Island, a relatively secluded island off the Bronx. The tents would provide shelter for roughly 500 border-crossers and illegal aliens. As it stands now, the vast majority of the approximately 16,000 border-crossers and illegal aliens who have been bussed to New York, a sanctuary city, remain in the city's overcrowded homeless shelter system. As a result, Adams originally stated that he would begin housing migrants in tent towns in a parking lot in the Bronx. Since then, he has changed his mind and will ship them to the island. (Randall's Island isn't exactly Martha's Vineyard, but then Adams is no DeSantis.) Not to be outdone, New York's Democrat governor, Kathy Hochul, is calling on roughly 100 National Guard reservists to help build the new tent cities where arrivals and excess migrants will be housed. It's hard to fathom why New York has so much difficulty dealing with just 16,000 migrants approximately 0.3% of those who have crossed our southern border since Biden took office when its politicians have previously made it clear that the open border is no big deal and is, in fact, a good thing. "Progressive" politicians are claiming migrants should stay in Florida so they can help "pick the crops," bussing them to military installations, and confining them to an island and hoping they can't swim. Democrats who run self-proclaimed "sanctuaries" for illegal aliens consistently show themselves to be the worst kind of frauds. Instead of being allowed to live in mansions and gated communities, they should have to join the "migrants" in tent cities on parking lots in the Bronx and on Randall's Island. Image: Krystalb97 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped). Its a horrible story: A woman walking her dog early in the morning was unable to avoid a crazy man who throw a bottle of urine at her and then killed her dog. The New York Times and the local city council member want to ignore the criminal part of what happened to keep the man from facing justice. Why? Because the woman was White and the man Black. As I see it, though, focusing on skin color is as evil in New York in 2022 as it was in the Jim Crow South. The NY Times reported the ugly facts (hat tip: Twitchy): On Aug. 3, Jessica Chrustic, 40, a professional beekeeper, was walking her dog in Prospect Park a little after 6 a.m. when she saw a man rifling through the garbage outside the Picnic House. She had seen the man before tall, with dreadlocks wrapped in a turban, carrying a long staff and often muttering to himself or cursing and she usually kept her distance. But this morning there was no room to avoid him. According to Ms. Chrustic, he started yelling about immigrants taking over the park, then grabbed a bottle of what she later concluded was urine and sloshed it at her and her dog. She tried to run away, but Moose, her 80-pound golden retriever mix, was straining toward the man, trying to protect her. The man started swinging the stick, she said. One blow hit her, not seriously. Another connected solidly with the dogs snout. Mary Rowland, 56, a hospital manager who was walking her dog nearby, said she heard the crack of wood on bone and came running toward them, screaming at the man to get away. Image: Mentally ill in New York City. YouTube screen grab. It turned out that the man also struck Mooses belly, perforating his intestine, and causing fatal injuries. Clearly, the man was dangerous, yet the New York establishment has been unwilling to go after him. Why? Race, of course. Chrustic is White; the assailant is Black. The Times John Leland explains this vexing issue: Real-world ethics question: In a well-used city park, a man with a history of erratic behavior attacks a dog and its owner with a stick; five days later, the dog dies. The man is Black, the dog owner white; the adjoining neighborhood is famously progressive, often critical of the police and jail system. At the same time, crime is up in the neighborhood, with attacks by emotionally disturbed people around the city putting some residents on edge. In a dog-loving, progressive enclave, where pushing law and order can clash with calls for social justice, whats the right thing to do? How do you protect the public without furthering injustice against this man? So again, the man is known to be violent, hes killed an animal, and he assaulted a woman with a toxic substanceyet his race protects him from the criminal justice system, while her race means that she has no recourse. Again, try imagining this somewhere in Mississippi in 1950 with the races switched. Well, what can you expect from the New York Times? It is, after all, the terminus of the college to job professional pipeline. Everyone who works there is steeped in academic leftism so, naturally, thats how Times employees view such issues. However, the problem extends to the politicians, too, the people elected (presumably) to make city life livable. There are problems there too. What the Black man did to the dog (not including splashing Chrustic with a biological substance), can be tried as a misdemeanor or even a felony. The local pol, though, isnt interested: Both Ms. Chrustic and Mr. Nammack [a gay man worried about community crime] separately appealed to their representative on the City Council, Shahana Hanif, for help, but they came away feeling her staff members were more concerned with the safety of the man whom they presumed to be homeless and mentally ill than with the threat he might pose to others. Hanifs spokesperson Mx. Michael Whitesides (I assume mx means mixed up) was clear: We dont believe that the N.Y.P.D. is the vehicle to bring safety to our community. She/he/it essentially said that, if people want to maintain their progressive bona fides, they must be willing to accept violence in their community lest marginalized people end up in the criminal justice system. On the one hand, the above narrative is appalling insofar as it reflects the values of the New York City establishment. My heart goes out to ordinary people who, for economic or family reasons are trapped in that city. On the other hand, I cant think of any people more deserving of this pro-criminal viewpoint than the progressives who have visited so many horrors on America, from Biden on down to the crazy, dangerous people flourishing on Americas streets. The headline read, "National debt tops $31 trillion as tax collections set record." Ponder that. Might that fact possibly be indicative of a mind-blowingly humongous serious spending problem? It seems no one in Washington, Democrat or Republican, truly cares about or understands the danger that debt, at this staggering level, poses. All but a handful of those in Congress spend (other people's) money with a giddy ferocity that would make a drunken sailor on shore leave blush. Former rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) once noted, "Three groups spend other people's money: children, thieves, and politicians. All three need supervision." Truer words were never spoken. Economist Milton Friedman famously explained that there are four ways to spend money. 1) You can spend your own money on yourself. 2) You can spend your own money on someone else. 3) You can spend someone else's money on yourself. 4) You can spend someone else's money on someone else. The last one is precisely what our politicians do. And that is also obviously the way for which people will be the least concerned and careful. This is why there are so many stupefyingly ridiculous examples of egregious federal spending. Like the study that aimed to untangle the psychology of gambling addiction by building a casino for pigeons. Yes, the National Institutes of Health sent nearly half a million dollars to Reed College in Portland, Oregon, where researchers planned to create a "self-contained miniature economy" for the school's flock of pigeons. Dr. Timothy Hackenberg explained, via the project's abstract, that the birds receive currency-like tokens that they can "earn, accumulate, spend, or gamble" on slot machines. Yet even Dr. Hackenberg admits there are few "practical applications" for this work. Then there is the National Science Foundation, which, purportedly concerned about worsening climate changeinduced hurricanes, paid researchers to capture dozens of anole lizards in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and subsequently blast the critters with leaf-blowers to see how they'd fare. Then, of course, Dr. Fauci's NIAID funded an experiment to feminize monkeys; the U.S. National Institutes of Health paid a Russian lab to sever the brain stems of 18 healthy cats; and the National Science Foundation funded a study which examined, weighed, and measured the results of the bowel movements of pandas, elephants, and warthogs; etc. Democrats separate themselves from free-spending Republicans by ceaselessly attempting to bribe voters by offering them money or free stuff either overtly or covertly. When they get virtually half the population on the government dole/gravy train, it's essentially game over. This is a nearly intractable problem for Republicans and Libertarians who may want to tamp down the orgiastic spending, as all they can offer is the promise of effective policies, personal freedom and to let those who actually pay most of the taxes keep more of their own money. Unfortunately, too many in the electorate do not understand economics or history, dual ignorance that virtually guarantees societal disaster in the long run. And, tragically, many now seem to value (a chimerical) safety over personal freedom. Moreover, since those who make more shoulder most of the tax burden, Democrats immediately and incessantly accuse Republicans of favoring the rich when they propose tax cuts, a charge that is preposterous in 2022. By some accounts, up to 80% of current federal spending is unconstitutional. But is it even possible to rein in federal spending? In 1995, Senate Republicans fell one vote short of passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Incredibly, today that task seems harder than ever. If pigeons have casinos, maybe one day pigs will be able to fly. Say, I wonder if we could fund a study to determine the feasibility of swine flight... Image via Max Pixel. In court, Brad Pitt's team addresses Angelina Jolie's charges of assault against him. Jolie revealed claims that Brad Pitt had abused her and their children in a case that was submitted to a court in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Bard Pitt choked one of the children and punched another in the face on a flight from France to Los Angeles in September 2016, according to the most recent document in the former unhappy couple's legal battle over a French winery they bought in 2008. Brad Pitt grabbed Angelina Jolie by the head and gave her a shake. Brad Pitt Lawyer: Jolie's Claims Are 'Personal Attack' The 'Maleficent' actress claims Brad Pitt, 58, spilled beer on her and red wine on their six children, who were then between the ages of 8 and 15, in a drunken frenzy. The kids were between the ages of eight and fifteen at the time. Before they even boarded the plane, Brad Pitt allegedly accused Jolie, 47 of being extremely servile to the children. Pitt's counsel, Anne Kiley, did not make clear which details of Angelina Jolie's story Pitt disputes and which he accepts responsibility for, and when pressed, reps declined to comment further. According to reports, Angelina Jolie and the kids hid beneath blankets until Pitt slept off to escape Pitt's fury. Five days after the alleged confrontation, which has been the focus of numerous media investigations and an FBI investigation, Jolie filed for divorce. After receiving an anonymous tip, federal investigators looked into the claims but decided not to press charges, as per Fox News. The FBI and the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services both opened investigations into the alleged incident, but both files have subsequently been closed without Pitt having been charged. Brad Pitt has been the target of every kind of personal assault and misinformation, but he won't own anything he didn't do, according to Kiley, who added that Brad has owned everything he's accountable for from day one, unlike the other side. Before a judge ruled that they were both legally single while going through a divorce in 2019, the former couple had been married for almost five years. Jolie said in the filing that Pitt physically abused two of their kids and that the actor yelled at her and pushed her down again as soon as the plane touched down, according to Yahoo. Read Also: Britney Spears' Mom Begs for Forgiveness, Pleads Daughter To Unblock Her, Talk in Person Jolie Accused of Conducting 'Smear Campaign' A source close to the actor claims that Brad Pitt has been the target of a slander campaign launched by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. A source claimed that their family has suffered a severe toll as a result of her constant attempts to depict him as a child abuser. Brad Pitt was married to Friends actress Jennifer Aniston from 1999 until 2005 before starting a romance with Angelina Jolie. Angelina was previously married to Johnny Lee Miller from 1996 to 1999 and to Billy Bob Thornton from 2000 to 2003. After six years of litigation, Angelina and Brad are still at odds over who will have custody of their children, Express reported. Regarding Brad Pitt's version of what happened on that aircraft, this has mostly consisted of disputing the assertions made by his ex-wife. A source close to the celebrity indicated shortly after the occurrence that he was treating the situation seriously and maintains that he did not harm his children. The actor maintained that he did not strike son Maddox in the face and that the only contact he made was around his shoulder, even though Pitt was drunk and there was a row between him and Angelina Jolie, the same source did concede that. Pitt's pals have asserted that Jolie has been trying to prolong their legal proceedings to prevent him from receiving equal custody of their younger children. A legal agreement about the ownership of their French winery was not essential between two sensible individuals, according to Jolie's account of Pitt's statement during their most recent court battle, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: Meghan Markle Takes Bombshell Lawsuit Against Sister To Protect Dad, Prince Harry from Being Deposed in Civil Case @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number rose to 1.18 in the September 14-27 period, the weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) said on Friday, up from 1 in last week's report. An Rt over 1 indicates that the epidemic is in a phase of expansion. The incidence climbed to 441 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, up from 325 in last week's report. The number of regions/autonomous provinces with an incidence over 600 has risen from two to seven. They are: Abruzzo (603.8), Friuli Venezia Giulia (710), the province of Bolzano (863.8), the province of Trento (825.2), Piedmont (654.7), Umbria (680.6) and Veneto (728.9). The report said the pressure the coronavirus is exerting on Italy's hospitals has increased too. It said 1.8% of Italy's intensive care beds were occupied by COVID sufferers on October 6, up from 1.4% on September 29. The proportion of ordinary-ward places taken up by coronavirus patients rose to 8.2%, up from 6% on September 22. The number of regions/autonomous provinces above the alert threshold of 15% for COVID occupation of ordinary hospital beds rose from three to four - Bolzano (24.6%), Umbria (21,6%), Friuli Venezia Giulia (16.9%) and Valle d'Aosta (16,4%). Six regions are now classed as being at high risk for the presence of multiple resilience alerts, the report said: Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Puglia and Veneto. One region, Tuscany, is described as not classifiable, a status equivalent to high risk. The remaining 14 regions are moderate risk. Health ministry prevention chief Gianni Rezza said that with the Rt number above one, the pace of circulation of the virus was increasing. "We are over the epidemic threshold," he said. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that France will work "with good will" with the next Italian premier. He was speaking after putative next premier Giorgia Meloni lamented interference from French EU Minister Laurence Boone after the latter said Paris would be vigilant about rule of law issues in Italy under the new government. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader and likely future Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday demanded the French government distance itself from comments by its European Affairs Minister Laurence Boone after she was quoting as saying Paris would monitor respect for the rule of law under the new government in Rome - prompting President Sergio Mattarella to say Italy could look after itself. "I read in (daily newspaper) 'La Repubblica' that French Minister Laurence Boone reportedly said 'we want to work with Rome but we will watch over the respect of rights and freedom' and 'we will be very attentive to the respect of the values and regulations of the rule of law'," Meloni said via Facebook. "I'm hoping that the left-wing press has misinterpreted the statements made by members of a foreign government and I trust that the French government will deny these words, which seem too much like an unacceptable threat of interference against a sovereign State and EU member. "The age of governments led by the (centre-left Democratic Party) PD asking for protection from abroad is over". Sources at Boone's office said the minister's thoughts had been "excessively simplified" and that "France obviously respects the democratic choice of the Italians. "The minister, who is close to Italy, wants to carry on the work of cooperation and wishes to dialogue with the future executive as soon as possible. "The minister does not mean to give lessons to anyone". Mattarella, for his part, said "Italy can look after itself while respecting the (Italian) Constitution and the values of the European Union". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader and likely future Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday demanded the French government distance itself from comments by its European Affairs Minister Laurence Boone after she was quoting as saying Paris would monitor respect for the rule of law under the new government in Rome - prompting President Sergio Mattarella to say Italy could look after itself, and French President Emmanuel Macron to say Paris would work with the next premier "with good will". "I read in (daily newspaper) 'La Repubblica' that French Minister Laurence Boone reportedly said 'we want to work with Rome but we will watch over the respect of rights and freedom' and 'we will be very attentive to the respect of the values and regulations of the rule of law'," Meloni said via Facebook. "I'm hoping that the left-wing press has misinterpreted the statements made by members of a foreign government and I trust that the French government will deny these words, which seem too much like an unacceptable threat of interference against a sovereign State and EU member. "The age of governments led by the (centre-left Democratic Party) PD asking for protection from abroad is over". Sources at Boone's office said the minister's thoughts had been "excessively simplified" and that "France obviously respects the democratic choice of the Italians. "The minister, who is close to Italy, wants to carry on the work of cooperation and wishes to dialogue with the future executive as soon as possible. "The minister does not mean to give lessons to anyone". Mattarella, for his part, said "Italy can look after itself while respecting the (Italian) Constitution and the values of the European Union". And Macron said later Friday that France will work "with good will" with the next Italian premier. FdI bigwig Ignazio La Russia, for his part, said that Meloni and Mattarella were "in tune" with outgoing Premier Mario Draghi, the latter of whom said the EU was curious but not concerned about the next Italian government. La Russa said "enough interference, the time that other countries slapped Italy in the face without the left reacting is over". La Russa is tipped to become a high-profile minister in Meloni's government. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - Italy's three main trade union federations, CGIL, CISL and UIL, will hold a rally in Rome on Saturday October 22 to demand more action to raise work safety amid a long spate of fatal workplace accidents, CISL General Secretary Luigi Sbarra said Friday. "We must stop the daily massacre in workplaces," he said. "It is a serious and unacceptable phenomenon. "We can't allow three deaths per day to become a sad statistical figure, almost an ineluctable destiny in our country". Sbarra said work safety "must become a priority of the country" and said the October 22 rally would be preceded by week-long assemblies and territorial rallies. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that France will work "with good will" with the next Italian premier. He was speaking after putative next premier Giorgia Meloni lamented interference from French EU Minister Laurence Boone after the latter said Paris would be vigilant about rule of law issues in Italy under the new government. Macron added: "I want to express all my friendship and my full confidence in President (Sergio) Mattarella and in the conclusions he will draw from the assessment" of the elections in Italy, which is expected to give Meloni a government-formation mandate. (ANSA). The United States conducted rare airstrikes that led to the killing of two ISIS leaders in Syria along with one member of the terrorist group. The first strike was a rare helicopter raid conducted on a government-held village in the northeastern part of the country. It resulted in the death of an Islamic State militant who was hiding out in one of the buildings. US Kills ISIS Leaders A separate US airstrike on Thursday resulted in the killing of two others, the United States military said. While the US government has previously conducted raids in Syria against members of Islamic State, the recent strikes would be the first known operations against the terrorist group in a zone held by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. US special forces on Thursday carried out a rare operation on the government-held village of Muluk Saray located in the northeastern province of Hasakeh. In a statement, the US military's Central Command said that the target of the strike was Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, a member of the Islamic state, as per Reuters. American officials said that the target was known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters into the region. They added that he was killed during the operation, while one of his associates was wounded and two others were detained by American forces. The Florida-based Central Command, which oversees American troops in the Middle East, said that no US forces were injured or killed during the operation. It added that no civilians were killed or wounded and there was no loss or damage to US equipment. According to CNN, the two leaders killed in a separate airstrike were identified as Abu 'Ala, who is one of the top five ISIS leaders and the deputy leader of ISIS in Syria, along with Abu Mu'Ad al-Qahtani, an ISIS official responsible for prisoner affairs. Read Also: Swedish Investigation Finds Evidence of 'Detonations' Linked to Damage on Nord Stream Pipeline Rare Operations The Central Command's forces in the region spent more than 1,000 hours collecting intelligence on their targets to limit the risk of collateral damage, said American officials. This was further supported by initial assessments that there were no civilian injuries or casualties. The United States government has continued to pursue targets of ISIS leadership in Syria even as the terrorist group has already been reduced to a fraction of its former infamy. The two back-to-back raids in a short period of time represent an increase in the intensity of the operations conducted against ISIS and underscore the US' focus on ensuring that it does not gain strength. One defense official said that the helicopter raid was a unilateral US operation and did not involve the coalition to defeat ISIS. The operation involved US special operations forces using helicopters. The U.S. did not notify the Russian military about the operations, despite the latter being aligned with Syrian forces and operating in the area. A spokesman for the US Central Command, Col. Joe Buccino, released a statement saying that USCENTCOM is committed to its allies and partners in the enduring defeat of ISIS, NBC News reported. Related Article: Russia War: European Union Giving Ukraine Howitzer Weapons, More Arms Amid Strong Counterattack @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Harbors: Hungary's Adria-port arrives in Trieste Project for logistics area, a 650m quay integrated with railways (ANSA) - TRIESTE, OCT 7 - A 34-hectare area designated for logistics with a 650- meter quay where you can berth two ships simultaneously. Hungarian company Adria-port presented this project today as part of the Barcolana Sea Summit. The plan involves the development of an area previously covered by an oil refinery. The site is in the municipality of Muggia (Trieste) and needs reclaiming before it can accommodate the new activities. The preliminary layout drawn up according to a feasibility study of the Julian harbor was presented through a model and rendering and followed a multi-purpose concept. Peter Kiss-Parciu, Hungarian deputy state secretary responsible for regional and cross-border economic development, spoke of the project as "strategic for Hungary, a return to the sea." The president of the FVG Region, Massimiliano Fedriga, remarked how this project "perfectly fits the regional model of logistics development: a single platform, an axis of Central Europe, of which the port of Trieste is the point of departure and arrival, in a system of intermodal hubs that from our the region reaches Austria and from there Budapest.' 'The investors who have already arrived or want to come here always find open doors and a credible partner,' Fedriga added. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved TEL AVIV - A Palestinian man from the West Bank, living in Israel where he was taken in by an organization dedicated to the protection and assistance to homosexuals, was brutally killed two days ago. The perpetrators of the murder are unknown, after killing the man they left his body in Hebron, in the West Bank. The images of the horribly mutilated body caused great emotion and outrage in the West Bank. Authorities ordered that these images not be shared. The Palestinian police in the meantime arrested one person who could be involved in the murder. The Israeli newspaper, the Jerusalem Post, adds that the victim's name was Ahmad Abu Marakhia, he was 25. He had been assisted in Israel by the 'Al-Bait al-Mokhtalef' ('a different home') association that had provided him with a temporary residency permit while waiting for his transfer to Canada, which appeared to be soon. On the morning of Wednesday the man was still in Tel Aviv, on his way to work, while his lifeless body was found that same night in Hebron. According to the media it is possible that the man was kidnapped while on Israeli territory. The Arab Labor member of the Knesset, Ibtisam Mara'ana, who has worked to set-up hostels in Israel to provide protection for Palestinian LGBTs, expressed her grief for the murder of Abu Marakhia and assured that she will continue to work to provide protection to the Palestinian LGBT community in the next legislature. According to the Times of Israel newspaper, up to now there are a total of 90 Palestinians of the LGBT community who have obtained shelter in Israel as they feared for their lives in the West Bank. WASHINGTON - Two prominent IS affiliates were killed by the US army in an air raid in Syria. The United States Central Command (Centcom), announced this in a note. "The US forces successfully conducted an air raid in the north of Syria, killing Abu-Hashum Al-Umawi and another high ranking IS affiliate", as reported in the note. The announcement of the death of the two killings follows the news of a previous US air raid conducted the day before, which resulted in the death of another high ranking IS affiliate. "No US military was wounded or killed and there were no losses or damage to US equipment during the execution of this operation", adds the Centcom note. Erdogan affirms LGBT rights are a 'perversion' 'We'll do what is necessary' for women's right to wear the veil (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, 7 OCTOBER - The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, defined the rights of LGBT persons as "a perversion" while speaking to journalists on his way back from the European summit in Prague on the topic of amendments to the Constitution. "Recently, they have introduced LGBT rights in society, trying to deviate the structure of our families. Therefore, we will do what is necessary", stated Erdogan, as reported by the Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Erdogan proposed Constitutional amendments to protect women's "right" to wear the Islamic veil in public.(ANSAmed). The Mayor of Greater Manchester has praised the Government for giving Avanti West Coast a short-term contract renewal, but warned he is hugely concerned about its failing service lasting a further six months. Andy Burnham, who wrote to Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan calling for the companys contract to be stripped unless services improve, said while he is pleased with the Governments plan, he is calling for a mid-way review in December. It comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the rail company, which provides services from England to Scotland, has been placed on a short-term contract renewal after it provided an unacceptable service to customers. Passengers at Euston station in London following train cancellations in the summer (PA) Avanti West Coast has been given until April 1 next year to improve its services following a reduction of its trains in the summer. The Labour mayor said: Putting Avanti West Coast on notice marks a significant shift in tone under the new secretary of state. At last, there is a clear recognition of the crisis engulfing the countrys most important railway line and the management failure that has led to that. However, the lack of an acceptable rescue plan from the company and clear conditions from the Government means very few people in Greater Manchester will support this extension. Mr Burnham added: The damage that Avantis failing service is inflicting on our economy, and the huge disruption to passengers, is completely unacceptable. The company has shown itself to be unable to stabilise their service and fix problems with ticketing and the on-board experience for passengers. The thought of another six months of what were currently experiencing is a huge concern. From here, Greater Manchester is calling for a new approach from the Government. First, we want day-to-day monitoring and week-to-week public reporting on performance to be introduced. Second, we ask the Government to set a review point in mid-December in consultation with mayors and leaders from London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. If Avanti are still not delivering the full timetable and an acceptable service at that point, that will allow time for arrangements to be made for a new operator to be in place from April 2023. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh meanwhile described the extension of the contract as a slap in the face for passengers. She said: This is a reward for abject failure and a slap in the face for passengers. This failing operator has caused travel misery, and the Governments answer is to hand over millions more in taxpayers cash and consign passengers to another six months of chaos. If the Government had any interest in doing their job, they would strip this failing operator of the contract and finally put passengers first. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he still has concerns about Avanti West Coast (Martin Rickett/wpapool/PA) The operator reduced its timetable from seven trains per hour to a minimum of four per hour on August 14. Trains were removed from the timetable in August to cut short-notice cancellations after a sharp decline in the number of drivers voluntarily working on rest days for extra pay. The DfT said nearly 100 additional drivers will have entered formal service this year between April and December, meaning more services have started to be added as new drivers become available to work. It said the company is planning to increase from around 180 trains per day to 264 per day on weekdays, as more drivers become available and recruitment continues, and is extending booking options for passengers. Last month, Avanti West Coast published a plan to reinstate some services on certain days from September 27. Timetables on other days were due to be boosted as soon as possible ahead of another increase on December 11. Secretary of State for Transport Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the services people had faced were unacceptable (PA) Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: Services on Avanti have been unacceptable and while the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers. We have agreed a six-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect. FirstGroup, which co-owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italys Trenitalia, said it is committed to providing services that meet peoples needs. Chief executive officer Graham Sutherland said: We are committed to working closely with Government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway that serves the needs of our customers and communities. Todays agreement allows our team at Avanti West Coast to sustain their focus on delivering their robust plan to restore services to the levels that passengers rightly expect. An arsonist who killed two of his neighbours in a premeditated and devastating revenge attack has been sentenced to a whole life order in jail. Hakeem Kigundu, 32, admitted pouring petrol in the hallways of Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, and starting the fire that killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, at around 2.45am on December 15, 2021. Two residents were also seriously hurt, Joel Richards suffered third-degree burns, while Laura Wiggins was left with a punctured lung, a kidney hematoma and fractures to her pelvis, ribs, right arm and spine. Kigundu, a Ugandan national believed to have entered the UK illegally using his brothers passport, bought 40 litres of petrol, a sledgehammer, and a V For Vendetta mask in the days before the fire. He also outlined his intention to kill his neighbours in a voice note, and created an email address with the words burn them all. Richard Burgess was killed in the Rowe Court fire started by Kigundu on December 15 last year (Thames Valley Police/PA). Sentencing, Mr Justice Holgate said: Im sure this was a premeditated attack made by the defendant in revenge. Six days before the fire, he made his lethal intentions clear in the audio diary note and the email address. Four days before the fire, he bought the petrol from the garages. Three days before, he bought protective goggles and a sledgehammer. He had prepared the possessions he wished to take away with him. There is no question of him committing suicide. He planned to commit the attack at night, because that would reduce the chance of a resident discovering that huge amounts of petrol had been spread in the rear lobby leading to the staircase on the ground floor and the second floor landing. That would also substantially increase the chances of causing death and serious injury. He added: I do not accept that any real remorse has been shown, acceptance of guilt, yes, but not remorse. Neil Morris was killed in the Rowe Court fire started by Kigundu on December 15 last year (Thames Valley Police/PA). Neil Morris was killed in the Rowe Court fire started by Kigundu on December 15 last year (Thames Valley Police/PA). Survivors and bereaved relatives tearfully embraced in the courtroom when the sentence was passed, and outside one person shouted: Justice has been served. Emily Wiggins, the daughter of Laura Wiggins who was left wheelchair-bound for six months due to the extent of her injuries, also told the PA news agency: We are really happy with the verdict. Weve got justice. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Kigundu planned the attack after growing angry that his neighbours had complained about his antisocial behaviour and losing his job as a BT engineer in the months before. Lawyer Hayley Garey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said she hopes bereaved families and survivors feel justice has been served. She said: Hakeem Kigundu carried out a premeditated and devastating revenge attack, having planned his actions in the weeks and days beforehand. He started the fire in the middle of the night when he knew it would cause the most harm, damage, and ultimately deaths. The strength of the evidence gave Kigundu no option but to plead guilty to the charges against him. One small consolation is that this saved the victims and witnesses from having to relive their horrific experiences in court. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims who were killed, and with the survivors who have lost their homes and most of their possessions. We hope this sentence can bring them some sense of justice. The court previously heard a voice note recorded by Kigundu on December 9, in which he appeared to state his intention to cause the death of his neighbours, some of whom had complained about his antisocial behaviour and who he referred to as persistent c****. Former Rowe Court resident and bus driver Mr Richards, 55, who risked his life to rouse two people before jumping from a second-floor window, said he saw Kigundu laughing from his car parked outside as the building burned. Kigundu had earlier addressed the court, saying that the teachings of the Koran compelled him to plead guilty. On September 20 he admitted two counts of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, and one count of arson with intent to endanger life. The Scottish Government will publish a new paper setting out its plans for the economy and currency of an independent Scotland next week, Nicola Sturgeon has said. In a media round on Friday ahead of the SNP conference, the First Minister told BBC Radio Scotland the paper would be released days after the party gathering and after arguments are made at the Supreme Court that could allow her Government to legislate for a second referendum. Earlier this year, the First Minister said the Scottish Government would refresh the prospectus for an independent Scotland in a series of papers. The details, Ms Sturgeon said on Friday, will be laid out in full when the paper is published, but she did reveal work on a Scottish central bank would begin immediately after a Yes vote, with the newly-independent country keeping the pound for some time, as had previously been stated. She told the Good Morning Scotland programme: In terms of setting up a central bank, we would start that process as soon as Scotland voted for independence. That central bank would be the provider of advice to the Scottish Government on these matters, it would be the lender of last resort for our financial services industry, it would require reserves that could cover these limited functions in that first period. We have said, and this is my partys position, that we would move from using the pound, we would continue to use the pound after independence and we would move to a Scottish pound when the economic conditions were right. When asked how long it would take for Scotland to move to the new currency, the First Minister said there would be key metrics that would have to be hit before the change, as opposed to a set timescale. Its important that its guided by principles rather than fixed timescales, she said. The First Minister went on to say the economic issues faced by the UK in the last few weeks highlighted the need for responsibility and good planning. She said: People think the financial markets are abstract, but weve seen very clearly the impact on real people when the financial markets lose confidence. That underlines the importance of us, as we plan for independence, being careful, being responsible and understanding the detail of what were seeking to do. The announcement comes as the Scottish Governments top law officer prepares to appear before the Supreme Court in a case that could allow Holyrood to legislate for an independence referendum. The Lord Advocate referred prospective independence referendum legislation to the court in the summer, asking judges to decide if it is within the powers of Holyrood. Oral arguments will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, although there is no date for an announcement of the courts judgment. Asked if there would be enough time to legislate to hold a referendum on the Scottish Governments preferred date of October 23 next year, and stage a campaign, Ms Sturgeon said she believes there would be. Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said the announcement was typical of Nicola Sturgeons skewed priorities. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the prospectus for an independent Scotland will be laid out in a series of papers (Andrew Milligan/PA) He added: We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, with families across the country struggling to make ends meet. Yet instead of telling us how they will help ordinary people right now, the SNP have kicked their emergency budget review down the road in favour of producing a self-indulgent and no doubt misleading paper on the economics of independence. From pensions to the deficit, the SNP have no credible ideas for how to run the economy in an independent Scotland. And the First Ministers desperate suggestion today that an independent Scotland would somehow have avoided the global cost-of-living crisis thats hitting every country in Europe is absurd. Nicola Sturgeon must drop these distracting and divisive plans for an unwanted second referendum, and start taking action on Scotlands real priorities. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the FBI months ago accumulated what agents thought was enough proof to accuse Hunter Biden, the president's son, of tax crimes and making a false statement while buying a gun. The US Attorney's office in Delaware received evidence obtained by FBI and IRS investigators, the sources claim. A representative for the US Attorney in Delaware declined to comment. FBI Sees Indictable Tax Case Against Hunter Biden Federal prosecutors received evidence of alleged crimes from the agency, according to a report published first by The Washington Post. According to a source close to Hunter Biden, the FBI's anger with the length of time it is taking the prosecution to consider this case is what motivated the leak, according to Biden's team. The Biden campaign staff thinks the bureau is putting pressure on prosecutors to take action. Republicans in Congress have been putting more and more pressure on the FBI over claims that it is making choices based on political factors. Since at least 2019, Hunter Biden has been the subject of an investigation by the Delaware US attorney's office. Hunter Biden's bank records going back to 2014, when Joe Biden was vice president, were the subject of a federal demand from that year. Sources with knowledge of the situation claim that investigators have looked into whether Hunter Biden owes taxes on income from a contentious period serving on the board of directors for the Ukrainian oil company Burisma during his father's vice presidency. High-profile Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who sources claim settled Hunter Biden's past-due tax problems, gave Biden financial support in May. A subpoena issued in December 2020 asked for records regarding Hunter Biden's income, assets, debts, commitments and financial transactions and any personal and business expenses dating back as far as January 2017. Prosecutors looking into Hunter Biden also subpoenaed information from a paternity litigation that included his tax data, according to paperwork and an attorney engaged in the case. As part of the subpoena, all federal, state, municipal and international tax documentation pertaining to Hunter Biden was also requested. Read Also: You Might Have Unclaimed Child Tax Credit Worth $3,600? You Have Until November 15 To Get Yours Using This Tool! Hunter Biden's Case Led by US Atty. David Weiss US attorney David Weiss, who was chosen by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, is in charge of the inquiry of Hunter Biden's financial situation. At the time, he had been serving as acting director of the Delaware office, and both Democratic US Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons gave him their support. Numerous federal prosecutors hired by Trump were requested to resign in February 2021, shortly after Biden took office, but Monty Wilkinson, the acting attorney general at the time, urged Weiss to stay on the job, a Justice Department official said CBS News. There is no information to contradict Joe Biden's claim that he was not involved in his son's business transactions, as per CBS News. Emails linked to the laptop also reveal a variety of commercial ventures in China and other countries. Along with doing business in Kazakhstan and other far-flung places, he also obtained a lucrative board post with a Ukrainian energy company. The gun case falls under the category of cases that prosecutors occasionally charge and occasionally ignore. However, according to DOJ statistics cited by the Post, 298 of the 478 referrals for falsifying guns documents in the year of Hunter Biden's purchase resulted in charges. According to Rebecca Roiphe, Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School, charges for lying on a federal form are uncommon but come with a $250,000. 10 years in prison is the maximum penalty, along with a fine. Despite the president's assertions that he ever spoke with Hunter Biden about his international business transactions, a 2018 voicemail from Hunter Biden's iPhone seems to show Joe Biden contacting his son to discuss a New York Times piece about his work with CEFC, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: Joe Biden's Marijuana Pardon Could Help More Than 6500 Offenders: Here's Who Will Benefit @Youtube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new licensing round for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea will be good for the environment, climate minister Graham Stuart has said. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) will begin the 33rd round of offshore licences, with the UK Government arguing increasing production will boost the economy and energy security. Our development is not going to affect our usage, Mr Stuart said, I know it sounds contradictory but its actually good for the environment. But Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: We can only hope to hold global warming to under 1.5C degrees if we leave fossil fuels in the ground. The Governments claim that burning ever more fossil fuels from the North Sea will help the UK meet its international obligations to become net-zero by 2050 has no connection to reality we truly have stepped through the looking glass. (PA Graphics) The Green Party also said any new production, even if fast-tracked, would not be available for years and so would not help to address the current crisis. And campaigner at Friends of the Earth Jamie Peters said: To claim that more oil and gas extraction is good for the environment would be almost comical if it werent so dangerous for our planet. You dont have to be a climate scientist to know its blatantly untrue. Mr Stuart said a new licensing round for oil and gas exploration is entirely compatible with climate targets, and we have one of the lowest emitting production systems for oil and gas. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the climate minister said: Actually its good for the environment, because when we burn our own gas its got lower emissions around its production than foreign gas as well as supporting British jobs. Our development is not going to affect our usage, our usage is determined by the framework of the Climate Change Act and the independent Climate Change Committee which informs Government policy. So you really can be assured that its actually I know it sounds contradictory but its actually good for the environment that we are going to produce more of our gas and oil at home. Licences are being made available for sectors of the North Sea known as blocks with the NSTA estimating more than 100 may be granted. Companies are being urged to apply for licences covering areas to the west of Shetland, in the northern North Sea, the central North Sea, the southern North Sea and east Irish Sea. The climate minister said producing more oil and gas at home will be better for the environment than imports (PA) A total of 898 blocks and part-blocks are being made available but in a bid to encourage production of new oil and gas supplies as quickly as possible, the NSTA has identified four priority cluster areas in the southern North Sea. These areas located off Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire are known to contain hydrocarbons and are close to existing infrastructure, giving them the potential to be developed quickly. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said: Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine means it is now more important than ever that we make the most of sovereign energy resources, strengthening our energy security now and into the future. Ensuring our energy independence means exploiting the full potential of our North Sea assets to boost domestic production recognising that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than importing from abroad. That is why we welcome the launch of the NSTAs new licensing round, which will help support highly skilled jobs across the UKs energy industry, boosting both our energy security and our economy. His comments came as NSTA chief executive Andy Samuel insisted that security of supply should not be in conflict with net-zero ahead of the new round of licensing. Dr Samuel said: The NSTA is working closely with industry and Government to meet UK needs with North Sea supplies produced as cleanly as possible. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised the UK Governments haphazard approach to energy (Andrew Milligan/PA) The UK is forecast to continue importing natural gas as we transition to a fully renewables system and our North Sea gas has less than half the footprint of imported LNG (liquified natural gas). He stressed all developments undergo environmental and emissions assessments. But Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there has to be a transition away from oil and gas and accused the UK Government of haphazard planning over energy. Speaking to BBC Breakfast ahead of the SNPs party conference in Aberdeen on Friday, she said: In terms of new licences, Ive been very clear that within the context of that just transition, weve got to subject any decisions about further exploitation of oil and gas to the most stringent climate checks. I worry right now that what were hearing from the UK Government is just a continuation of their haphazard planning about energy. In the long term, what theyre doing is undermining energy security, rather than strengthening it, because energy security, its difficult, its challenging, but the route to energy security is to secure that transition away from fossil fuels to renewable. A man suspected of smuggling migrants across the Channel has been arrested. The 30-year-old Albanian was detained by officers in a dawn raid on Friday in Tolworth Rise in Surbiton, south-west London, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. He is suspected of being involved in an Albanian organised crime group co-ordinating the movements of migrants from France to the UK by boat and is now being questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. The 30-year-old suspected people smuggler was arrested by the National Crime Agency on Friday in south-west London (NCA/PA) Cash and a tablet, seized during a search of his home, are also being examined. Jacque Beer, the NCAs regional head of investigation, said: Attempts to reach the UK by small boat are incredibly dangerous, and we know a high percentage are facilitated by organised criminal networks of varying sophistication. These networks do not care about the safety or security of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit. The danger they pose means tackling them remains a priority for the NCA. We believe todays operation will have disrupted the activity of one such network, and our investigation continues. A trainee solicitor died as a result of a very rare complication caused by an AstraZeneca vaccine about a month after getting the Covid-19 jab, a coroner has concluded. Oli Hoque, 26, from Ilford, east London, received a dose of the vaccine on March 19 last year. He started suffering headaches on or around April 1 2021 which later became excruciating before he died at Queens Hospital in Romford, on April 15 2021. He had developed a vaccine induced cerebral venous sinuous thrombosis (CVST), when a blood clot occurs in the brains sinuses, East London Coroners Court in Barking, east London heard on Friday. His medical notes showed a history of asthma but not of migraines, the inquest heard. In a brief narrative conclusion, coroner Nadia Persaud stated: Oli Hoque died as a result of a very rare complication of a Covid-19 vaccine. After getting his first jab, she said Oli began to suffer from headaches which became progressively worse before he attended the accident and emergency department at King George Hospital on April 4 2021. But she said Oli did not present with any symptoms at this time which would have required him to be assessed in the emergency department. In the late evening of April 5 and suffering from a severe headache, Oli was taken by his sister to the Royal London Hospital where a general practitioner (GP) assessed him and found no signs of raised intracranial pressure. A migraine was diagnosed and he was prescribed medication for nausea and migraine. After the consultation, he was still feeling unwell and so the GP administered an injection for dizziness before Oli later left the hospital and went home. The coroner added: At around 11am on April 6 Olis condition declined significantly and an ambulance was called. She said he was suffering from seizures and was rushed to Queens Hospital, where radiological investigations revealed he was suffering from CVST. She said the multi-disciplinary team treating him shared an agreed impression that the CVST was vaccine induced and that this assessment was later supported by a post-mortem examination. The coroner noted that on April 7 2021 the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, responsible for ensuring medicines are safe, issued new advice to healthcare professionals on a possible link between the AstraZenca Covid-19 vaccine and specific types of blood clot. In a statement given via video link before the coroners conclusion, Olis uncle Shablul Hoque thanked the coroner for conducting the hearing, adding: It has been quite a while since we have suffered the loss. The parents are still suffering from it, particularly the father who is going through counselling at the moment. We cant have him back now. We hope, whatever the outcome, we get sufficient information and knowledge from it and things will improve for the society at large. And hopefully the hospital services will improve, based on the outcome. In a recent legal filing Jolie claimed Pitt was verbally and physically abusive towards his family on a plane in September in 2016 (Justin Tallis/PA) Brad Pitt will respond in court to allegations made by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie that he was abusive towards her and their children. The actors lawyer, Anne Kiley, said Pitt had been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation but would not own anything he didnt do. It comes following a recent US legal filing by Jolie in which she claimed Pitt was verbally and physically abusive towards his family on a plane in September 2016. The documents, obtained by the PA news agency, alleged that among other things, the actor had poured beer and wine over the heads of the children and choked one of them. In a statement shared with US outlets on Thursday, Ms Kiley said: Brad has owned everything hes responsible for from day one unlike the other side but hes not going to own anything he didnt do. He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation. Thankfully, the various public authorities the other side has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions. Brad will continue to respond in court as he has consistently done. Following the alleged incident in 2016, Jolie filed for divorce five days later, and an FBI investigation was launched. The ongoing dispute between the couple centres around the sale of their stakes in Chateau Miraval SA, a French company comprising a home and vineyard in the south of France, which they purchased in 2008. The ongoing dispute between the couple centres around the sale of their stakes in a co-owned French vineyard (Stefan Rosseau/PA) Pitt has previously accused Jolie of orchestrating a hostile takeover of the wine business that he had carefully built and forced him into partnership with a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. The Miraval estate is located in the village of Correns in south-eastern France, and was bought by the couple for around 25 million euros (20,875,500). According to the legal documents obtained by PA, Pitt contributed 60% to the purchase price, with Jolie paying the remaining 40%. An aristocratic couple are embroiled in a High Court claim against an art dealer over the 1 million sale of a French masterpiece from their family collection which was later resold for millions more. Trustees of the Wemyss Heirlooms Trust are bringing a claim for millions of pounds in damages against Simon C Dickinson Limited (SCD), alleging that the sale of the painting, purportedly by 18th-century artist Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, on the trusts behalf was conducted in an unprofessional and shoddy manner. Amanda Feilding, the Countess of Wemyss and March and one of the trustees, is suing the dealer claiming the trust is entitled to money it lost out on from the sale eight years ago. Her husband James Charteris, the Earl of Wemyss and March and beneficiary of the trust, joined her at court in London on Thursday October 6 amid an ongoing seven-day trial. James Charteris, Earl of Wemyss and March (James Manning/PA) The case, outlined in court documents, centres on a version of Chardins Le Benedicite, or Saying Grace, the prime original of which hangs along with another version in the Louvre in Paris, France, with a third version accepted as being entirely by the artists hand in the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia. Simon Dickinson, a former senior director at auctioneers Christies and director of SCD, helped arrange the July 2014 sale of the painting to Verner Amell, a Scandinavian art dealer with a gallery in Stockholm, Sweden, for 1.15 million, the court has been told. The artwork, bought in 1751 by the Earls ancestor Francis Charteris, had earlier received a light clean and was sold as Chardin and studio, with Mr Dickinson believing there were limited opportunities to sell it due to an experts view that it was not wholly by the renowned French artist. Six months later, the painting was bought by a family trust of the hugely rich art collector and former chairman of financial advisers Lazard, the late Michel David-Weill. The court was told the re-sale came after the painting was further deep cleaned, a purported Chardin signature was discovered, and an expert hailed it as a fully autograph masterpiece by Chardin himself meaning entirely painted by the artist. Mr David-Weill paid 10.5 million US dollars (9.3 million) in January 2015, comprising 7.5 million dollars (6.6 million) in cash and the transfer of a painting by another French artist, Jean-Antoine Watteau, said in the sale invoice to be valued at three million dollars (2.7 million). A version of Le Benedicite by Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin, which is not a copy of the exact painting in the High Court case (Artefact/Alamy/PA) Lady Wemyss, bringing her case with fellow trustee Vilma Ramsay, argues the trust is entitled to the difference between the July 2014 price and that which would have been obtained if the painting had been sold as a Chardin at its actual market value. Andrew Onslow KC, representing the trustees, said in written arguments that the SCD sale had involved breaches of duty and had been conducted in an unprofessional and shoddy manner; at extreme and unnecessary speed; after inadequate and mistaken research. He added this was done without any effort to market the painting, let alone efforts which met the standard of the reasonably competent international art dealer entrusted with such a sale; and without any real disclosure or explanation of the approach being taken. It is not easy to fathom or explain the degree of inattention and incompetence displayed by (SCD) in the handling of the painting, Mr Onslow said. He claimed the dealer had given a frankly bizarre explanation that the picture was sold so quickly for fear of over-exposure to the market. Mr Onslow added: The likeliest explanation appears to be an initial failure of research, a fixed but insupportable view of the leading experts opinion of the painting and Mr Dickinsons unjustified assumption of the role of expert arbiter. The barrister explained that an unusual aspect of Chardins work was that he painted replicas of his pieces entirely, or almost entirely, by himself. Amanda Feilding, Countess of Wemyss and March (James Manning/PA) Lawyers for the trustees argued that leading Chardin expert Pierre Rosenberg was clear that he regarded the painting as being, without qualification, by the hand of Chardin. They argued that, according to the trustees own separate expert, Mr Rosenbergs use of the term copie retouche to describe it meant the wholescale finishing of a replica or repetition by the artist. Mr Onslow said that instead of consulting Mr Rosenberg, Mr Dickinson had assumed the role of expert himself and was influenced by a false memory of an unrecorded conversation with the expert. Lawyers for SCD, which is rigorously defending the claim and denies any negligence, say some experts give lower valuations of the Watteau piece, and that the masterpiece description is inconsistent with the view of Mr Rosenberg the pre-eminent Chardin expert and former Louvre director. In written arguments before the court, Henry Legge KC, for SCD, said the claimants have previously benefited hugely by discoveries made by the defendant, who had managed to secure positive attributions for a Poussin and Botticelli which had previously been assessed much less favourably, so may feel that they should have done better on this occasion. He added: However, the fact that the buyer of a painting is able to find someone who will buy the painting for much more than he paid does not mean that the original seller has acted negligently or improperly. The possibility of huge gains being made on the sale of the right piece to the right buyer is the nature of the art world and this is especially the case where, as in this case, something is discovered about the painting which might make it more saleable and which the seller could not reasonably have discovered. Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Dickinson, an experienced dealer who established SCD in 1993, said he thought he got a very good price for the artwork, adding: I still believe the picture is not entirely by Chardin. Mr Legge said in written arguments that SCD had not fallen below the standard required of a reasonably competent specialist in taking the view that nothing had been disclosed by the paintings first clean which made it worth referring to Mr Rosenberg. During a 1992 visit to the art collection at Gosford House in Longniddry, Scotland, a home owned by the Charteris family, Mr Dickinson claims that Mr Rosenberg said words to the effect of there was no Chardin at all in the painting and that it was totally studio, Mr Legge said. He added that SCD correctly understood Mr Rosenbergs published view of the work as copie retouche meant it was a copy done by someone else and then touched up by Chardin. Mr Dickinson secured the dealer-to-dealer sale due to Lord and Lady Wemysss desire for privacy and their inclination to raise funds, the court was told. Mr Legge said only three Chardin paintings sold at auction before January 2015 went for more than one million dollars (880,000) and that Mr Rosenberg re-examining the Wemyss painting and publishing a negative opinion may have had a disastrous impact on its value. He highlighted the fact that a different expert instructed by SCD believed only a brave and very unusual private collector would have ignored Mr Rosenbergs views, with Mr Amell admitting he took an enormous risk in buying the painting. The trial before Judge Simon Gleeson continues, with a ruling expected at a later date. An estranged wealthy couple with links to former prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie are embroiled in a High Court divorce fight. Angela Jilina, 49, and estranged journalist husband Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, who had homes in London and Ascot, Berkshire, and Switzerland, want a judge to make decisions related to when their marriage broke down. Lawyers told Mr Justice Mostyn that his ruling would affect how much Ms Jilina, who comes from Russia, walks away with. Mr Justice Mostyn began considering arguments at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Thursday. The hearing is due to end on Friday. Mr Justice Mostyn is expected to deliver a ruling later in the year. Ms Jilina told the judge she had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and she and Mr Abu-Zalaf had attended the wedding of the Blairs daughter Kathryn three years ago. The judge also heard Mr Blair and Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US president Donald Trump, had once been among dinner guests at their London home. Mr Justice Mostyn was told how Ms Jilina and Mr Abu-Zalaf, editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, had married in 2012. A family court judge had granted a decree nisi in 2013, a decree which signals the end of a marriage, after an application by Ms Jilina. Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, the estranged journalist husband, of Angela Jilina (James Manning/PA) But he was told the decree nisi had never been made absolute, a move which legally ends a marriage. Ms Jilina says there was reconciliation in 2014 and the marriage finally broke down 2020. She says the 2013 decree nisi is now antiquated and stale, should be rescinded, and wants to issue a fresh divorce petition. Mr Abu-Zalaf told the judge we never reconciled and said they were only technically married. He wants the 2013 decree nisi to be made absolute. Mr Justice Mostyn had considered the case, after the decree nisi was granted, in 2013, and been given detail about planned financial provision for Ms Jilina. He had explained then, in a written ruling, how he had been told then that Mr Abu-Zalaf had net property assets of about 13 million plus a share in a family business. Mr Abu-Zalaf had agreed to make financial provision for Ms Jilina as part of a prenuptial agreement. That provision depended on the length of the marriage. The judge said for the less than two years category there was a housing provision of 2 million and said annual spousal payment was to be 96,000. A lawyer indicated at Thursdays hearing that Ms Jilina could benefit by an amount approaching 1 million if she won. Angela Jilina, 49, leaves the Royal Courts of Justice (James Manning/PA) Lawyers on Thursday asked Ms Jilina and Mr Abu-Zalaf about the nature of their relationship between 2014 and 2020, including questions about how often they had sex. My husband called me his wife, Ms Jilina told the judge. We had a sexual relationship. Everywhere we went socially as I known as his wife. Mr Abu-Zalaf said the relationship had been convenient. He said they were technically married but not married in reality. We never reconciled, he said. We were treating each other like single people. He told the judge: It was convenient for me always to go out with someone. The judge heard that Ms Jilina and Mr Abu-Zalaf had run up lawyers bills of more than 400,000. If theres anyone who benefited from watching Hocus Pocus on repeat over the years like so many of us have its Taylor Paige Henderson, the teenaged actress cast as young Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2 now streaming on Disney+. Audiences are raving about her performance. Give young Winifred Sanderson the Academy Award, writer Evan Ross Katz posted on Instagram. She is AMAZING, commented actor Claybourne Elder. Even though the original movie starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy came out in 1993 14 years before the 15-year-old was born its become one of her favorite films. During production, Henderson watched the original film each night prior to filming, which she said lasted about twenty days on set in Rhode Island (@taylorpaigehenderson via Instagram / Disney) I had watched this movie every Halloween for as long as I can remember, she told TODAY by phone. So the Amarillo, Texas teen was aptly prepared when she landed an audition for the sequel to play the younger version of Bette Midlers iconic character of Winifred Sanderson, a witch set to eat children in order to maintain her youth. The entire process including rewatching the original about 40 times on her own accord for research purposes took about two months starting in July of 2021, Henderson said. No longer watching it for fun, Henderson carefully studied Midlers Winifred: Who she was as a person, her relationship with her sisters and Midlers innate mannerisms on screen like how she talks, things she does with her eyes and the way she reacts to things. When you watch the [first] movie, thats something that you notice about Winifred that weird thing shes doing with her hands with her fingers by her face. I thought it was really important to add that in because obviously she does it a lot, Henderson said of her character study. Winnie is always moving. Shes everywhere all the time. Shes up in everyones business. She loves her sisters so much. So, I really focused on that because I think that was really important. When Henderson officially booked the role in September of 2021, her mom surprised with the news by giving her Hocus Pocus themed cups. It marks her biggest role to date. Home schooled, Henderson has been performing since the age of 5 and started acting professionally at age 11. Shes also a classically trained ballerina. During production, Henderson watched the original film each night prior to filming, which she said lasted about twenty days on set in Rhode Island, alongside her on-screen co-stars Juju Journey Brener and Nina Kitchen (who play young sisters Sarah and Mary Sanderson, respectively). She got to chat with Midler once about playing Winifred while on set. Bette said to embody the character more than I think is necessary. Bigger is always better with her, she recalled of Midlers advice. She said to use what Winifred has to be the character the hair, the hands, the teeth. Oh my God! When I put the teeth in for the first time that helped me so much to become her better," she continued. To re-create Winnie's signature buck-toothed look for the film, Hendersons dentist first made a mold of her real teeth. The costumed teeth were custom made by Academy Award winning special effect makeup artist, Kevin Haney who flew to the set to hand deliver them. Young Winnie came to life once I put them in for the first time. It was fun to play with the character from there! she wrote in an Instagram post. Then, Hendersons orthodontist helped make sure her real teeth stayed in place during the two months of filming since she was still using Invisalign. Director Anne Fletcher also coached Henderson on how Winifred speaks and her facial expressions, all of which lend to her dominion as ringleader. We talked about a lot about where in the script is an appropriate time to laugh with (my sisters) and where is an appropriate time in the script to yell at them, make a face of them and call them dumb or whatever. So that was interesting to figure out. "They influence everything (Winifred) does. All of her lines are based on everything (her sisters) do. That was really cool to discover with her. Shes very protective over them, which was pretty easy. Im pretty close with both of the two girls who played my sisters. I do feel very protective over them so that was probably the easiest part. Hocus Pocus 2 poster. (Courtesy Disney Enterprises, Inc.) Out of all the praise Hendersons been receiving on her performance, including calls for a breakout Hocus Pocus movie centered on the young Sanderson sisters, there is one persons opinion that mattered most to Henderson: Midler's herself. They caught up on the red carpet at the film's premiere. She said she really, really likes me in the movie, which was amazing. That is all I wanted and all I needed, Henderson said. This article was originally published on TODAY.com COnstance Wu Caitlin fisher Constance Wu's little girl is always ready to dance! The 40-year-old actress, whose new memoir Making a Scene came out on Tuesday, tells PEOPLE that her 2-year-old daughter already "knows how to command Alexa to play a song" and is always eager for a dance party. "She'll take anyone's hand, pull them into the middle of the room and say 'Dance!' " Wu adds. The Crazy Rich Asians star shares her daughter with boyfriend Ryan Kattner. Here's what else Wu had to say for PEOPLE's One Last Thing in this week's issue, on stands now: Last time I danced "Probably to 'Baby Shark' or 'Wheels on the Bus' because I have a toddler who loves music and now knows how to command Alexa to play a song. She'll take anyone's hand, pull them into the middle of the room and say 'Dance!'" Last moment of nostalgia "Recently it was very hot, and it made me long for Christmas. I grew up on the East Coast, where the air can be kind of cold and sharp, but it invigorates you. I was definitely feeling nostalgic for childhood holiday time." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Constance Wu attends the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards at Hollywood Palladium on January 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Frazer Harrison/Getty Constance Wu RELATED: Constance Wu Says Chris Pratt Was 'So Supportive' as She Returned to Work After Giving Birth Last perfect day off "Just being able to cook and enjoy a meal with my daughter. The other day I took her to get ice cream for the first time, and seeing her enjoy her first ice cream cone was the most perfect thing." Last time I faced a fear "I went on social media recently to talk about something that was really painful to me [a past suicide attempt]. I'm still a little bit scared. of social media because it really hurt me in a way. The ultimate hope was that it was helpful for people who are keeping the same feelings private to know that they're not alone." Last moment of bliss "Holding my baby when she wakes up at 3 a.m. and being the one to be able to comfort her in the middle of the night. Even though I'm tired, I know when she's a teenager, I'm going to miss this." For more on Constance Wu, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here. emperorcosar / Shutterstock.com As of March, the average monthly Social Security benefit is $1,618.29 for an individual, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Doubling up for a couple, that's $3,236.58. Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of Life Read: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals Not a bad haul, if it's supplementing other income or padding a nice, big nest egg. If Social Security is all you're living on, however, you're going to have to pick your retirement city very carefully to stretch those dollars to their absolute limit -- particularly on the notoriously expensive West Coast, which, for the purposes of this study, includes Alaska. To determine the best places for couples to live on the West Coast on only their combined Social Security checks, GOBankingRates used cost-of-living data from Sperling's Best Places. The ranking also includes ApartmentList data on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, as well as each city's livability score, sourced from AreaVibes. Each city was then given a combined score -- which represents a summation of all those factors -- with lower scores being better. The list is ranked in order of the worst score to the best. Read on to learn about the West Coast spots that are most welcoming to retirees living on Social Security. jared ropelato / Shutterstock.com Vallejo, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,607 Vallejo has a lousy livability score of 56 -- livability scores are calculated by algorithms that factor in dozens of variables like proximity to amenities, crime and schools. The cost-of-living index is a high 131.3, with 100 representing the national average. The average one-bedroom apartment will run you $1,607 per month, the highest on this list. Live Richer Podcast: Unexpected Ways Losing a Spouse Can Affect Your Finances and Retirement Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com Riverside, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,508 At 133.1, Riverside's cost-of-living index is even higher than even Vallejo's -- a full one-third more than the national average. The town's livability score is an unimpressive 59, mostly because of its relatively high crime rate. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,508, one of the three highest on the list. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Seattle, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,596 Moving up the coast to Washington is Seattle, a pricey city where the average one-bedroom costs $1,596. That contributes to a bruising 172.3 cost-of-living index -- the highest on this list, by far -- which means that daily living in Seattle is 72.3% more expensive than the national average. All in all, its livability score is an underwhelming 65 thanks to high crime rates, high housing costs and, of course, a high cost of living. Manny Chavez / Getty Images/iStockphoto Sacramento, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,432 The capital city of California, Sacramento has a below-average livability score of 62, mostly because of its crime statistics and relatively high prices. The cost-of-living index there is 118.2, making the city nearly 20% costlier to live in than the national average. The typical renter will shell out $1,432 for a one-bedroom. JMcQ / Shutterstock.com Anchorage, Alaska 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,176 In Anchorage, crime and real estate prices are high even by Alaska standards, both of which contribute to the city's drab livability score of 60. Although the average one-bedroom there costs $1,176 per month, one of the least expensive on this list, Anchorage residents still struggle with a rough cost-of-living index of 123.5. Spondylolithesis / Getty Images Napa, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,522 Known for its legendary vineyards, daily life in Napa is nearly as pricey as its wine -- the cost-of-living index is 162.1, second only to Seattle. With an average monthly rent of $1,522, it's one of only four cities on this list where the typical one-bedroom costs more than $1,500. Overall, its livability score is a middling 70. Kyle Sprague / Shutterstock.com Portland, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,344 The cost of living in Portland is 30.8% higher than the national average. Although its $1,344 average rent makes it one of just five cities on this list where a one-bedroom goes for less than $1,400, its very high crime rate contributes to a dreary livability score of 65. DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com Fresno, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,025 Just two cities on this list are less expensive than Fresno, which boasts a forgiving cost-of-living index of 102.6. With an average monthly rent of $1,025.00, a one-bedroom is cheaper in just thee other cities. Unfortunately, high crime contributes to a subpar livability score of 58. Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock.com Bremerton, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,440 Bremerton comes up with an average livability score of 70. With a cost-of-living index of 108.9 and an average rent of $1,440 for a one-bedroom, it's certainly one of the more affordable cities to make the cut. GarysFRP / Getty Images Eugene, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $928 With a cost-of-living index of 105.3, Eugene is even more affordable than Bremerton. A lot of that has to do with the fact that it's one of only three cities on the list with a three-figure monthly rent -- $928 per month, to be exact, which makes it the cheapest on the entire list. Thanks to its high crime rate, however, Eugene earns a meh livability score of 65. John T Callery / Shutterstock.com Olympia, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,436 The capital city of Washington has a cost-of-living index of 106.1, which puts it on the lower side of this list. Olympia's livability score is 74 -- the highest of any city profiled here -- and a $1,436 average monthly rent. benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto Spokane, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $947 Just one city on this list is cheaper to live in than the national average -- Spokane, whose cost-of-living index is an impressive 92.3. Although the city's paltry livability score of 67 leaves plenty to be desired, its $947 monthly rent makes it the No. 2 least expensive place to rent an apartment. Shutterstock.com Salem, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $979 With a cost-of-living index of 101.8, Salem is less expensive to live in than any city on this list except for Spokane. One of just three cities with a sub-$1,000 average rent, a one-bedroom goes for just $979 per month. That's all good news, despite Salem's low livability score of 69. More From GOBankingRates Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places for a couple to live on the West Coast on only their combined Social Security checks based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,618.29, sourced from the Social Security Administration, and doubled ($3,236.58); (2) the overall cost of living in each city, sourced from Sperling's Best Places; (3) average 2022 rent for a one-bedroom apartment as sourced from ApartmentList; and (4) livability scores sourced from AreaVibes. Factors (2) through (4) were scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factor (4) was weighted double in final calculations. All data was collected and is up to date as of April 22, 2022. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 13 Best Places on the West Coast for Couples To Live on Only a Social Security Check ASA College, one of New York City's largest for-profit colleges, agreed this week to pay $112,500 in civil penalties to settle allegations that its ads misled consumers and targeted immigrants and students needing financial assistance. On a recent episode of "Influencers with Andy Serwer," U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona commented on the tendency of for-profit colleges to target more vulnerable Americans. The majority of the cases that we had to intervene are for-profit institutions that are really looking at our students, not as future students, but as prey where they can take advantage of them and sell them a dream and put them in debt and then not deliver, Cardona told Yahoo Finances editor-in-chief. Students at for-profit schools often take out significantly larger loans than those at nonprofit schools. For the 2019-2020 school year, students at such schools took out around $8,000 in loans, according to the National Center for Education statistics. Thats in contrast to roughly $4,700 at two-year community colleges and $7,000 at four-year public colleges. For-profit college students at four-year schools are also more likely to default on their loans. In a study released in April, the Journal of Financial Economics found that four-year enrollment at for-profit schools increases the likelihood of student loan default by 11 percentage points, which is nearly double the baseline default likelihood of 6.95%. U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona deliver remarks during the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year event, in the East Room at the White House, in Washington, U.S., April 27, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Such schools often generate worse outcomes for students, according to a 2020 survey of 453 schools from Third Way, a Washington, D.C. think tank. At over 60% of those schools, low-income graduates earned less than the average high school graduate within 10 years of enrollment. A lot of the work that we've done, is really regulating to make sure that for-profit institutions are not making profit off first generation college students who are being misled or are being lied to, Cardona said. "I don't want to paint with a broad brush, but I will tell you, a lot of the work that we're doing is going after some of those for-profit institutions that are really taking advantage of our students." In the past decade, for-profit schools have seen varying levels of scrutiny by the United States government. In 2010, the Obama administration instituted the Gainful Employment" rule requiring for-profit colleges to demonstrate that their students graduated with the skills necessary to repay their student loans. He then eliminated funding to for-profit college programs that consistently saddled graduates with high levels of debt. He also created the College Scorecard to increase transparency and publicize student data from institutions of higher education. When the Trump administration took over, it rolled back many Obama-era initiatives to hold for-profits accountable including the "Gainful Employment" rule. Cardona says the Biden administration is pursuing tougher regulations against for-profit schools once again. For instance, it recently proposed a measure that would cap revenue such schools could make from enrolling military veterans. It also removed ACICSs (the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools) federal status for accrediting ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges, two for-profit schools accused of defrauding students. It's our job to make college affordable and accessible and that means getting rid of the bad actors that are taking advantage of our students, Cardona said. Before he became Education Secretary in March 2021, Cardona served as commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education from 2019 to 2021. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut and started his career as a fourth-grade teacher. Dylan Croll is a reporter and researcher at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @CrollonPatrol. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube A day after scrambling fighter jets in response to what seemed to be a North Korean bombing simulation, South Korea and the United States started joint maritime drills with a US aircraft carrier on Friday, according to South Korea's military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that the maritime exercises would take place on October 7-8 in the waters off its east coast. The exercises follow North Korea's Thursday sea launch of two ballistic missiles and subsequent flight of bombers close to the South Korean border. North Korea Condemns US Aircraft Carrier's Repositioning In response to a test on Tuesday in which North Korea launched a ballistic missile that overflew part of Japan, the US strike group has already taken part in a trilateral, this week, South Korean and Japanese warships participated in missile defense drills. In a conference call on Friday, senior defense officials from Japan, South Korea, and the United States condemned North Korean launches and concurred that recent trilateral maritime drills have improved their capacity to respond to North Korea, according to a statement from South Korea's ministry of defense. The South sent out 30 fighters in response to the unusual bombing exercise carried out by at least eight North Korean fighter jets and four bombers on Thursday. Warplanes descended from the sky on both sides of the heavily guarded border as tensions over Pyongyang's recent missile launches rose. The United States' decision to move the aircraft carrier closer to the peninsula was denounced by North Korea on Thursday, which claimed it constituted a major threat to the peace. Asserting that the launches were a fair countermeasure to the joint US-South Korea maneuvers, the North Korean foreign ministry also criticized Washington for requesting a UN Security Council meeting in response to the launches. The United States accused China and Russia on Wednesday of backing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by obstructing efforts to impose more stringent sanctions on Pyongyang over its development of nuclear weapons. Russia's representative referred to the latest penalties as a dead end, and China stated that it preferred to concentrate on positive steps to defuse tensions, as per Reuters via MSN. Despite the fact that the international community has so far shown no sign of accepting it, many experts believe Kim Jong Un's ultimate objective is to convince the US to recognize North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power and to lift the associated sanctions. According to a statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the missiles fired on Thursday were launched 22 minutes apart from the capital area of the North and touched down between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The first missile traveled 350 km (217 miles) and reached a maximum height of 80 km (50 miles), while the second traveled 800 km (497 miles) and had an apogee of 60 km (37 miles). The flight information was consistent with Japanese judgments made public by Yasukazu Hamada, Japan's Minister of Defense, who certified that the missiles did not enter Japan's exclusive economic zone. The second missile may have been launched on an irregular trajectory, he continued. It is a word that has previously been used to describe the flying characteristics of a North Korean weapon designed to resemble the Russian Iskander missile. The Iskander missile flies at low altitudes and is intended to be maneuverable in flight to increase its chances of evading missile defenses. The military of South Korea claimed that it closely coordinates with the US to maintain readiness while stepping up its monitoring posture. The continuous launches by North Korea, according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, are totally intolerable, Daily Mail reported. Read Also: Two ISIS Leaders Killed in Syria by Rare US Airstrikes South Korea's Jets vs North Korea's Warplanes Boeing produces the F-15K Slam Eagle combat plane for South Korea. According to the website Airforce Technology, the aircraft can carry out long-range precision strike missions during day or night, in any weather circumstances, and are fitted with state-of-the-art mission equipment to execute air-to-ground, air-to-air, and air-to-sea missions. Since more than 30 years ago, North Korea has not expanded its collection of military aircraft. Around 75 of its combat aircraft can be used, according to Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for defense and military analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Dempsey asserts that South Korea's air force has access to more than 500 combat aircraft. The North Korean air force could have conducted its training exercises using fighter jets from the Soviet era, said Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, according to News Week. Related Article: Russia, China Protect, Help North Korea as Kim Jong Un Enjoys 'Blanket of Protection' from 2 Nations, US Claims at UN Meeting @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sightseers take in the view at Cabrillo National Monument, where a ceremony marked the 480th anniversary of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's landing in San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) Wearing a sharp blue suit and a stern look, Jesus Benayas strode to a podium at the Cabrillo National Monument. Behind him was a stunning view of the San Diego skyline. Below, boats bobbed in the bay. A few feet away, a 14-foot, multiton limestone statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo loomed over Benayas and about 40 other people. They had gathered on a warm Friday afternoon to commemorate the 480th anniversary of Cabrillo's landing, near this very spot, on behalf of the Spanish crown. He became the first European to set foot in what's now California. Cabrillo National Park Supt. Andrea Compton had started the event by proclaiming, Our community and many nations come together to celebrate," then shouting out the dignitaries politicians, consul generals, members of the U.S. military in attendance. Everyone rose for the national anthems of the United States, Mexico, Portugal and Spain, as the countries' flags flapped. Benayas had no time for diplomatic niceties. From the trunk of his car at Cabrillo National Monument, Jesus Benayas displays a plaque that was removed this year from its display near a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) The retired electrical engineer is president of Casa de Espana, a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Spanish culture. His group had long sold paella from a booth at the Cabrillo Festival, San Diegos premier celebration of all things Cabrillo. The explorer was a point of pride for the city's Portuguese community, which had embraced him as one of their own, despite a centuries-old controversy over his heritage. In 2015, a Canadian researcher discovered that in a long-ago lawsuit, Cabrillo had testified that he was born in Spain. Most scholars now accept that Cabrillo was a Spaniard. Benayas began to speak, laying out the history of the Cabrillo National Monument and the efforts to verify its namesake's ancestry in a calm, pointed tone. The 79-year-old, who moved to San Diego County from Spain when he was 18, didnt stop or even raise his voice when jets and helicopters roared over him. He described how an American historian dug through the Portuguese National Archives in the 1950s to find concrete proof that Cabrillo was born in that country. He," Benayas said, "found nothing." An American flag frames the Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo statue at the Cabrillo National Monument. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) The once-joyous mood of the crowd turned sour. Legs twitched. Lips pursed. The Spanish consul general from Los Angeles crossed his arms, then rubbed his forehead. The Portuguese consul general from San Francisco tapped away on his phone. Benayas finished by saying that the Cabrillo National Monument and the National Park Service should correct their own historical errors. There would be more applause for a Clarence Thomas speech hosted by an abortion-rights group than what Benayas received. People stayed away from him afterward, even as they whispered behind his back. Unperturbed, he went to hang out with members of the Spanish air force and army decked out in their dress uniforms. In 2018, Casa de Espana spent about $1,500 to cast a bronze plaque noting that Cabrillo was born in the Spanish province of Cordoba. Park rangers placed it at the base of Cabrillos statue, steps away from a 1957 plaque that deemed Cabrillo a Portuguese navigator and another donated by the Portuguese Navy in 1988 that stated the same. But this June, Supt. Compton mailed back the Casa de Espana plaque all 60 pounds of it with a thank you note and an explanation that it was no longer necessary, since a new exhibit mentioned there was "evidence" of Cabrillos Spanish roots. There are now agave plants where Casa de Espana's plaque once stood. Yet the plaques claiming Cabrillo as Portuguese remain. "If we want to talk about decades of lies, we can talk about it," Benayas told me. "Its all the truth." "Cabrillo" belongs to a roster of names from California's Spanish era Coronado, Serra, Pico, Portola that have long dominated the landscape. Hundreds of streets, freeways, neighborhoods, schools, museums, beaches and parks bear Cabrillo's name. San Diego has marked his landing since at least the 1890s with festivals that have reenacted the feat many times. In 1913, President Wilson designated the Cabrillo National Monument. About 684,000 people visited last year, according to the National Park Service. In 2015, the Maritime Museum of San Diego debuted a $6.2-million, life-size replica of Cabrillo's ship, the San Salvador. But his story is so old, and his visit so brief, that the details are mostly forgotten. After landing in San Diego, Cabrillo's expedition spent four months sailing up the California coast as far north as Point Reyes, then back down to the Channel Islands, where he died from an injury. When I stopped by for the anniversary celebration, tourists seem more interested in the panoramic views of the Pacific and hiking trails than the musty visitor center with ratty mannequins dressed in faux colonial-era costumes and an empty movie theater that showed short films about Cabrillo. For Portuguese Americans across the United States and especially in California, Cabrillo remains a hero. The Portuguese government donated a statue of him that was installed in Point Loma in 1949, replacing it in 1988 with a weatherproof replica that stands today. Banquets for Cabrillo Day Sept. 28, the date of his landing in San Diego still happen across the Central Valley, long the base for California's Portuguese community. I was brought up believing he was Portuguese, said Joanne Cabral. The 81-year-old is the daughter of a Portuguese immigrant who worked in San Diego's fishing industry. She and a Portuguese American actor who had long portrayed Cabrillo around town laid a wreath in front of the statue after Benayas speech. And thats the way it is. Well fight until the end, said Mike McCoy, a Sacramento resident whos the president of the Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California, the states oldest Portuguese American group. He muttered something about new evidence that would show Cabrillo was in fact Portuguese, but he didnt elaborate. When I asked why it was so important to quarrel over a long-dead seaman, McCoy gave me the type of smile that uncles give when theyre about to dress you down. He discovered us, he said. But Cabral, McCoy and their fellow Cabrillians what Cabrillo fans call themselves are battling the shifting tides of history. Patty Camacho is the head of the Cabrillo Festival, which has been on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic. She offered some conciliatory words after Benayas' fiery words, and continued her charitable approach when I asked how she was feeling. History evolves. We learn, she said. We respect the past, we respect the present, and we respect whats coming. The evidence is the evidence, said 49-year-old Pedro Romon Diaz. The Casa de Espana secretary stared at the Cabrillo statue, which bore the Portuguese version of the explorer's name Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho at its base and on the back. They put the name in Portuguese, but the park is called Cabrillo. Funny, no? People who believe something for a very long time are reluctant to give up their belief, said Philip Hinshaw, an 87-year-old Navy veteran, Casa de Espana treasurer, and member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. I dont want to be critical of the Portuguese, but I hope they accept. There were things about the American Revolution that we thought to be true but we now know are not. As I was leaving, Benayas said he wanted to show me something. Before the event, he had handed over a yellow folder. Among its contents: his complete remarks for that day's commemoration, minutes from a September meeting the Casa de Espana held with Compton and her bosses at the National Park Service urging them to put the plaque back, and letters the group had sent to Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland asking for help in striking any mention of Cabrillo as Portuguese from the national park. In a statement, a National Parks Service spokesperson acknowledged Cabrillo's sworn testimony that he was Spanish-born but said, "We remain committed to following law and policy with respect to the permanent placement of commemorative works and plaques." Benayas and I walked to the parking lot, where he opened the trunk of his Nissan Murano. Inside, wedged inside a box, was the Casa de Espana plaque. The group refuses to install it in its Balboa Park headquarters or anywhere other than the Cabrillo National Monument. I'm not doing this as a Spaniard. I'm doing this as an American, Benayas said as he closed the trunk. A pin with the Spanish and American flags shone on his suit lapel. We need to learn our actual history, not imaginary ones. "I didn't even care about the Portuguese plaques," he added. "Now I do. They were fools to return our plaque to us. A double slap in the face. Now, I'm annoyed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FILE--In this June 20, 2019, file photo Deangelo Martin stands for a probable cause hearing, in Detroit. Martin was sentenced to at least 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering four women whose bodies were found in vacant houses and to sexually assaulting two other women. A Wayne County Circuit Court judge sentenced Martin on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, to 45 to 70 years behind bars. (Todd McInturf/Detroit News via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DETROIT (AP) A Detroit man was sentenced to at least 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering four women whose bodies were found in vacant houses and to sexually assaulting two other women. A Wayne County Circuit Court judge sentenced Deangelo Martin, 37, on Thursday to 45 to 70 years behind bars. He had pleaded guilty in the killings and assaults in September, days before he was scheduled to stand trial. Martin pleaded guilty to the murders of Annetta Nelson, 57; Nancy Harrison, 52; Trevesene Ellis, 55; and Tamara Jones, 55. Their bodies were found in vacant houses on Detroit's east side between February and June 2019. Medical examiners found that Nelson and Harrison died of blunt force trauma but the bodies of Ellis and Jones were too badly decomposed to determine how they died. At the time, authorities characterized the slayings as the work of a serial killer and said they believed all of the women were sex workers. The women Deangelo Martin violently killed all had families that loved them dearly. Hopefully, they will find some peace knowing that he will be in the Michigan Department of Corrections and off the streets, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. Martin also pleaded guilty to stabbing and sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman in May 2019 and kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 51-year-old woman in June 2019. Iran on Friday denied reports that its security forces killed a 16-year-old girl by striking her with batons amid nationwide protests and claimed instead she committed suicide by falling off a roof. Protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month received renewed vigor this week following allegations on social media that Sarina Esmaeilzadeh was killed by security forces when she was struck on the head with batons, Reuters reported. However, one chief justice of the Alborz province, where Esmaeilzadeh died last month, reportedly said a preliminary investigation showed her death was caused by suicide after falling from five-story building. A member of the Iranian community in Seoul shout slogans after cuts her hair outside the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran during a rally to defend women's rights in Iran on Sept. 28, 2022, in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images US SLAPS TOP IRANIAN OFFICIALS WITH SANCTIONS OVER CENSORSHIP, VIOLENCE AGAINST PROTESTERS Chief justice Hossein Fazeli Herikandi claimed that reports on her beating and subsequent death were "lies," Reuters said. "Based on her mother's account, Esmaeilzadeh had a history of suicide attempts," he added. However, Esmaeilzadehs death is not the only one Iran has claimed was caused by falling from a roof since protests against the regime began. The mother of Nika Shakarami, 17, who disappeared in Tehran on September 20 after she was followed by security forces for burning her headscarf in protest, spoke out Thursday and accused Tehran of murdering her daughter. An Iranian female protester chants slogans as she cuts her hair during a rally against the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini outside the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 9, 2022. Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER BREAKS SILENCE ON AMINI PROTESTS, BLAMES US FOLLOWING SUNDAY CLASH Irans police chief, Gen. Hossein Ashtari, claimed earlier this week the teen had gone to a building "and fell from the upper floor at a time of gatherings." "The fall from that height led to her death," he added. Speaking to Radio Farda, the Persian-language arm of the U.S.-funded station Radio Free Europe, and the BBC Thursday, the bereaved mother countered Tehrans claims and said she was murdered. The mother claimed Nikas body was intact and noted that some of her teeth, bones in her face and part of the back of her skull were broken. "The damage was to her head," she said. "Her body was intact, arms and legs." Shakaramis death was reportedly kept secret by Iranian authorities for at least nine days before her body was seized from the morgue and buried in a remote area against her familys wishes. A man with a photograph of Iranian woman Nika Shakarami, during the demonstration in Naples for the freedom of Iranian women, after the recent riots in Iran and the killing of Mahsa Amini. Marco Cantile/LightRocket via Getty Images Amnesty International said in a report this week that at least 66 people have been killed by Irans security forces since protests broke out a month ago. Amini, the 22-year-old who sparked the massive protests, was also reportedly killed after she was tortured and severely beaten by Irans security forces. The Associated Press contributed to this report. OSLO, Norway (AP) This years Nobel Peace Prize is going to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties, the award's judges said Friday. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the judges wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Through their consistent efforts in favor of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this years laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today, she told reporters in Oslo. The award follows a tradition of highlighting groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts, alleviate hardship and protect human rights. Ales Bialiatski, the head of Belarusian Vyasna rights group, stands in a defendants' cage during a court session in Minsk, Belarus, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (Sergei Grits/AP) Last year's winners have faced a tough time since receiving the prize. Journalists Dmitry Muratov of Russia and Maria Ressa of the Philippines have been fighting for the survival of their news organizations, defying government efforts to silence them They were honored last year for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. A week of Nobel Prize announcements kicked off Monday with Swedish scientist Svante Paabo receiving the award in medicine for unlocking secrets of Neanderthal DNA that provided key insights into our immune system. Three scientists jointly won the prize in physics Tuesday. Frenchman Alain Aspect, American John F. Clauser and Austrian Anton Zeilinger had shown that tiny particles can retain a connection with each other even when separated, a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement, that can be used for specialized computing and to encrypt information. Berit Reiss-Andersen, head of the Nobel Committee, announces the winner of this year's Peace Prize at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Heiko Junge/NTB Scanpix via AP) The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to Americans Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, and Danish scientist Morten Meldal for developing a way of snapping molecules together that can be used to explore cells, map DNA and design drugs that can target diseases such as cancer more precisely. French author Annie Ernaux won this years Nobel Prize in literature Thursday. The panel commended her for blending fiction and autobiography in books that fearlessly mine her experiences as a working-class woman to explore life in France since the 1940s. The 2022 Nobel Prize in economics will be announced on Monday. The prizes carry a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The money comes from a bequest left by the prizes creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, in 1895. Members of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group who were plotting moves to block Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election discussed bringing firearms to Washington, D.C., as part of their attempt to keep Donald Trump in office, according to evidence presented Thursday at the federal court trial of group leader Stewart Rhodes and four alleged Oath Keepers associates. Prosecutors presented evidence and arguments to jurors during the third day of witness testimony, detailing how the defendants allegedly planned ways to prevent the transfer of power from taking place, using violence if necessary. Rhodes and his co-defendants face multiple charges, including seditious conspiracy, a politically controversial and rarely used federal law carrying a sentence of up to 20 years. The charges stem from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot during which a mob of supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol to prevent the certification of Bidens victory in the Nov. 3, 2020, election. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes in 2017. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) Oath Keepers members, including Thomas Caldwell, one of Rhodess co-defendants, began discussing security and operational plans for possible actions to keep Trump in office as early as Dec. 2, 2020, when Caldwell told another group supporter not on trial that he had a plan for logistics, according to the prosecutions evidence. Subsequent discussions, said Michael Palian, an FBI agent who served as one of the lead investigators in the case, included references to red, white and blue strike teams and a Quick Response Team the Oath Keepers equivalent to a SWAT team that would act as a force multiplier, which Palian said Caldwell discussed in December. According to Palian, Oath Keepers supporters talked about how security forces could trace cellphone calls and the location from which a cellphone is connecting to its network. During the discussions, Oath Keepers team leaders were urged to use so-called burner phones, whose ownership could not be traced and that can be quickly thrown away. Oath Keepers members were also told by leaders, according to evidence presented to the jury, to try to acquire weapons whose ownership was not easily traceable, that people using them should wear gloves and that elaborate procedures should be laid down for stashing and hiding weapons. According to message traffic attributed to Caldwell by prosecutors, the Oath Keepers principal mission would be to confront antifa, the left-wing movement that engaged in sometimes violent social justice demonstrations during the summer of 2020 in cities such as Louisville, Ky. Protesters outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images) Prosecutors said that in an encrypted telephone chat with more than 100 Oath Keeper members and supporters on Nov. 9, 2020, Rhodes declared: If the fight comes, let the fight come. Let antifa go. If they go kinetic on us, we'll go kinetic on them. He allegedly added that violence by Antifa would give President Trump grounds to invoke the Insurrection Act an old and obscure U.S. law that allows the president to deploy military forces to quell a rebellion which Rhodes believed would enable Trump to essentially mobilize well-armed supporters like the Oath Keepers to provide armed support to keep Trump in office. By Dec. 4, according to evidence cited by the prosecution, Caldwell sent an associate a message saying, Maybe I should be planning for a much bigger operation, like when we have to roll into town to save the Republic. In a Facebook post on Jan. 1, 2021, that was entered into evidence by prosecutors, Caldwell wrote: It begins for real January 5 and 6 in Washington when we mobilize in the streets. Let them try to certify [election results] on Capitol Hill with a million or more patriots on the street. This kettle is set to boil. By Jan. 2, 2021, in message traffic cited by the prosecution, an Oath Keeper activist not charged in the current case said he was working on preparing boat transport as we speak a move that prosecutors suggested was part of a plan to enable Oath Keepers who had brought a stash of firearms to a motel where members were going to stay in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, Va., to move such weapons into Washington D.C., which has much stricter gun laws than Virginia. Rioters breaking into the Capitol. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Oath Keeper message traffic shows group members discussed how a Quick Reaction Force organized by the group could move weapons by boat across the Potomac River if authorities moved to close bridges over the river between Virginia and Washington, D.C., according to evidence from the prosecution. On Jan. 5, when pro-Trump demonstrators were already beginning to organize in Washington, prosecutors said that Caldwell messaged a colleague that he was coordinating with three groups and that more supporters were arriving on buses the next day. Once rioters moved forward on Jan. 6, including Oath Keepers followers who helped to form two stack formations that had pushed their way into the Capitol via steps on its eastern front, Caldwell allegedly sent a fellow member of the group a message describing how one protestor had made it all the way to the House floor and another to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office. As the Capitol siege got underway, Oath Keeper messages began to sound triumphant. We have planted a flag on Capitol steps, said a Jan. 6 message from Caldwell cited by prosecutors. In a message received by Caldwell and cited by prosecutors, an Oath Keeper urged fellow rioters to start tearing out floors go from top to bottom. Prosecutors said that at least some Oath Keepers suspects had deleted Facebook messages sent on Jan. 6. But a text message allegedly sent by Caldwell at 7:46 p.m. on Jan. 6 declared, This is the view from the west balcony after we broke through all the construction and made it upstairs and inside. If wed had guns I guarantee we would have killed a hundred politicians. Trump supporters confront police and security forces as they try to storm the Capitol. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) All politicians at the Capitol, including Vice President Mike Pence, were safely evacuated as the riot erupted, and returned safely to the Capitol to certify Bidens election. Under questioning from a prosecutor, witness John Zimmerman, a retired U.S. military member from North Carolina who joined the Oath Keepers in September 2020, told the court how he decided to go to the Million MAGA March on Nov.14, 2020, with more than two dozen other Oath Keepers from the state, and said he stayed at Caldwells home during his visit to the Washington area. At one point, Rhodes made an appearance at the residence, staying at least one night. He told fellow Oath Keepers who their contacts in D.C. would be and briefed them on the MAGA event, according to Zimmerman. Around the same time, Zimmerman said, Rhodes also talked about how the group needed to arm up and make sure we defended ourselves to deal with concerns the group had about possible clashes with antifa or Black Lives Matter protesters. Zimmerman said that he brought weapons to Caldwells house and others did too, and members of the group discussed how to move the weapons in D.C. if needed. We would need the weapons in the event President Trump enacted the Insurrection Act, Zimmerman said Rhodes told the group. Rioters breech security and enter the Capitol Rotunda. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Ultimately the group drove to Arlington Cemetery right across the bridge from Washington but never entered the capital city. Zimmerman said he did not come back to Washington on Jan. 6 because he was suffering from COVID-19. Under questioning from defense lawyers, Zimmerman said that what initially attracted him to the Oath Keepers was their interest in responding to emergencies quickly. Having experienced two hurricanes in North Carolina, Zimmerman concluded that FEMA and other government agencies did not have sufficient emergency response resources, and believed the Oath Keepers could serve as an extension of such services. Witness Michael Hilliard, who was an active member of Oath Keepers in Florida, told the jury under prosecution questioning that he started becoming concerned about the Oath Keepers in November, around the time that Rhodes published an open letter to Trump declaring that the Oath Keepers would not accept Bidens election, that the election had been stolen and that if Trump did not invoke the Insurrection Act, we would have to do that. Hilliard said he was "not part of that, we I did not want to be associated with that. After he told fellow members he was quitting as an Oath Keeper leader in Florida, telling others he was disturbed about some of the group's rhetoric, Rhodes himself responded, saying: No sweat brother. I understand. Hilliard testified that he was not a protest guy and did not travel to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Thumbnail credit: Samuel Corum/Getty Images Concerns are growing over the source and possible ripple effect of a cyber event thats hobbled one of the Puget Sound areas main health systems and kept its online network down for four days straight. Computer systems with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health sites in the area remained down Thursday, the fourth day in a row following an IT security incident reported Monday involving its parent company CommonSpirit Health. The networks MyChart patient portal also remained inaccessible. The outage, affecting CommonSpirit sites in multiple states, has resulted in missed medical appointments, rescheduled surgeries, and kept patients and staff from accessing medical records, among other issues. Employees and patients have told The News Tribune this week that staff have turned to paper charting and hand-written prescriptions in some cases. Other patients have reported inability to get prescriptions refilled or get appointments rescheduled. While speculation has grown among outside observers that the health system was hit with a ransomware attack, no real details about the incident itself were forthcoming from either VMFH or CommonSpirit Health. On Wednesday, CommonSpirit Health updated its website with the following statement: CommonSpirit Health has identified an IT security issue that is impacting some of our facilities. We have taken certain systems offline. We are continuing to investigate this issue and follow existing protocols for system outages. On Thursday, VMFH issued its first social media post about the events since the outages start, saying, VMFHealths parent company CommonSpirit Health is managing an IT issue impacting some of its facilities. While parts of VMFHealth are impacted, Virginia Mason Medical Center is not. We take our responsibility to our patients very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. @VMFHealth's parent company CommonSpirit Health is managing an IT issue impacting some of its facilities. While parts of @VMFHealth are impacted, Virginia Mason Medical Center is not. We take our responsibility to our patients very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/yVU2d5rpau Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (@VMFHealth) October 6, 2022 The chief information officer of another local health system told The News Tribune on Thursday hed been in touch with a VMFH cybersecurity official and did not learn any specifics of what they are facing. They were not forthright in telling us what exactly is going on, said Keith Stauffer, CIO with Peninsula Community Health Services. Stauffers own network briefly went down Thursday, but he said that was part of a planned reboot. As for VMFH outage, I know that theyre addressing the issue. We just wanted to make sure that there was nothing that from our side we needed to be apprised of, he said, or if there was anything that we needed to take precautionary measures for, because we do access their system from our system. Cyber security analyst Robert Siciliano is CEO of ProtectNowLLC.com. He told The News Tribune via email Thursday morning that the VMFH/CommonSpirit Health outage was likely a ransomware attack. Worries of a possible cyberattack spreading, Stauffer said, is top of mind for medical partners with VMFH. Stauffer said as of Thursday, Everything is OK on our side. Were just keeping a close eye on (VMFH outage) as well. Brett Callow, a cyber threat analyst at the cybersecurity company Emsisoft, told The Washington Post on Thursday, The scope is perhaps unprecedented in terms of the health-care sector. CommonSpirit, he added, is absolutely massive. CommonSpirit Health has become one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States, with more than 1,000 care sites in 21 states, serving 20 million patients, according to its website. VMFH hospitals in the Puget Sound area include St. Clare in Lakewood; St. Joseph and CHI Franciscan Rehabilitation Hospital, both in Tacoma; St. Elizabeth in Enumclaw; St. Anthony in Gig Harbor; St. Michael in Silverdale; Virginia Mason Hospital and Seattle Medical Center in Seattle; St. Anne in Burien; and St. Francis in Federal Way. Northern Irelands police service has been found to be in breach of its duty to ensure an effective investigation into a 1992 loyalist gun attack in Co Down. The finding came at the High Court in Belfast following a challenge to the chief constable by John McEvoy, a barman who narrowly escaped being hit in the attack on the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo, Co Down. Families are now calling for an investigation into a series of loyalist attacks in the South Down area. These include the killing of comedian Patrick Kieltys father Jack in Dundrum in 1988, the attempted murder of John ORourke in 1986 and the shooting deaths of six Catholic men at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland in 1994. From top row, left to right: Patsy OHare, Barney Green, Adrian Rogan, Eamon Byrne, Daniel McCreanor and Malcom Jenkinson, who were killed in Loughinisland, Co Down (Family handouts/PA) One man, Peter McCormack, was murdered and several others hurt when a UVF gang burst into the Thierafurth Inn and opened fire. Mr McEvoy claimed a failure to establish an independent effective probe into the shooting on November 19 1992 breached his human rights. Some of the material cited by Mr McEvoys lawyers included the 2016 Police Ombudsman report into the Loughinisland attack, which found there had been collusion between police officers and the gunmen, and the documentary film No Stone Unturned, which named suspects. Mr Justice Humphreys said the new material represents plausible evidence of significant state collusion at the Thierafurth Inn shootings. He found that the state has failed to carry out an effective investigation compliant with Article Two or Three of the European Convention on Human Rights within a reasonable time. However, he said he was not satisfied that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)s Legacy Investigation Branch is incapable of carrying out an effective investigation. Concluding his judgment, Mr Justice Humphreys said he was minded to make a declaration rather than an order in light of the indication that a review of the case is being carried out. Im conscious that any mandatory order may result in other deserving investigations being denied or delayed, he said. He said: Declaratory relief ought to be an effective remedy for the breach which I have found. A further hearing is set to take place around the wording of a declaration and costs. The Police Service of Northern Ireland acknowledge the comments of Mr Justice Humphreys today, a force spokesman said. We will now take time to fully consider the written judgment and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Mr McEvoy was accompanied by several survivors of other loyalist gun attacks in the Co Down area as he attended the High Court on Friday. Outside court, he welcomed the judgment. Thats what weve been looking for since 1982 and we got what we wanted, he said. We want a review into what happened all over south Down. He added: Its been prolonged, for 30 years, coming 31 years. Its affected everybody, not just me. It has affected all the people. Im glad that the ruling went with us today and I hope that the police force now come meet with our legal team. Mr McEvoys solicitor Gavin Booth, from Phoenix Law, said the onus now lay with the PSNI to instigate a proper investigation into the series of loyalist attacks in South Down. Its on the PSNI now to take action to remedy that breach (of European Convention rights), he said. Were open to meet with the PSNI to talk about a proper thematic investigation into South Down, into all the events of collusion. So, while no exact order has been made today, the PSNI should know that its on them now to carry out a proper investigation into South Down. Mr Booth said the opportunity to secure justice has not been scuppered by the passage of time. The suspects still remain living in South Down, he said. We know who they are, we know where theyre living, the PSNI know who they are. Sinn Fein MP for South Down, Chris Hazzard, also joined the survivors at Fridays hearing. This is a watershed decision for families in South Down and further exposes damning levels of collusion between the state and loyalist paramilitaries, he said. All of these murders and attacks must now be properly investigated and those responsible brought before the courts. I want to commend all the families impacted by this case and their steadfast campaign to access truth and justice. They are entitled to justice and proper investigation. This must now proceed without any delay. A Southwest Airlines pilot is suing the airline, her union and a former co-worker who pleaded guilty over a 2020 incident in which he exposed his genitals and watched pornography during a flight. Christine Janning alleges in the lawsuit that the airline retaliated against her after she reported the former pilot, Michael Haak, to the company and the FBI. She claims that the airline kept her grounded and that the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association conspired with Southwest Airlines and did not support her after the incident. Janning is suing Haak on accusations of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act and was sentenced to probation and a $5,000 fine. Haak admitted at the time that after a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, Florida, reached its cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilots seat, disrobed and watched pornography on a laptop, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Maryland. Janning filed the lawsuit last week in Orange County, Florida. Court documents say Janning alleges that Haak said there was something" he wanted to do on the flight before retiring, then bolted the door of the cockpit, exposed himself and watched pornography. Janning alleges Haak took several photos and videos of himself and encouraged her to also take photos, which she did in order to create a record. Travel: United Airlines to stop service at JFK airport temporarily, starting in late October Arrest made at gate: Unruly passenger sucker punches AA flight attendant Haaks attorney, Michael Salnick, told USA TODAY that Janning asked Haak if there was something he wanted to do before he retired, "and that's how he ended up flying naked." At his sentencing hearing last year, Haak called the incident a consensual prank. Janning accused Haak of masturbating after exposing himself. Salnick denied the accusation. Among other allegations, Janning also claimed that after reporting the incident in November 2020, she was told that because Haak had retired, Southwest's investigation was closed. She then went to the FBI, which charged the former pilot. Janning said she was grounded for more than three months, which cost her a portion of her salary. She said she also was required to take unnecessary training before working again. She also claimed that her union, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, did not advocate on her behalf, though its leaders did write a letter to Haaks judge that said he had a spotless" record. USA TODAY has reached out to the union for comment. Southwest Airlines, in a statement to USA TODAY, said that "Southwest Airlines takes all matters related to workplace conduct very seriously, with a well-defined policy and process for harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims." "Our corporate Culture is built upon treating others with mutual respect and dignity, and we plan to vigorously defend against allegations made in this recent complaint." Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest pilot sues after coworker stripped, watched porn on flight A suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence will be freed from prison in weeks despite failing to pay back any of the 90,000 he made from a 3 million drugs plot. Jamie Acourt, 46, who spent more than two years on the run in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, will be released on November 3 after serving half his nine-year sentence. He told a judge he has been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors, run by his friend and builder Matthew Chapman, and will be supported on the outside by his partner Terri Dean. Acourt, who has two children aged 23 and 19, was one of five men arrested over the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993. Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1993 (Family handout/PA) Two of the five, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were prosecuted and handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder. Norris was referred to the police for investigation last week after allegedly taking selfies in his HMP Dartmoor prison cell and sending them to friends. Acourt was last January ordered to pay back 90,000 in ill-gotten gains or face having another year added to his jail sentence by a judge at Kingston Crown Court. His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrences murder, was jailed for over six years over the same drugs plot, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of around 3 million, moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear. Jamie Acourt appeared at City of London Magistrates Court on Friday by video link from Stocken prison in Rutland, where police asked District Judge Neeta Minhas to impose the default sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order. Pc David Bracken said: Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything. Obviously, hes going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part. Acourt told the judge he will have served four and a half years of his sentence next month and will spend the rest of the term on licence. Im more than willing to pay but obviously with the cost of living and everything else, I can only earn what I can earn and I can only pay what I can pay, he said. Acourt said his family have not paid any of the money because they dont have the funds and, when asked how much he intends to pay a month, said: Whatever I can pay. Once Im out and worked out what I can pay 50 a month, 100 a month, whatever I have got left after all the outgoings. The judge agreed Acourt should be released from prison but ordered him to pay back 500 a month or face the reactivation of his jail sentence, saying the sums he suggested would not even cover the interest of 20 a day. I am not going to activate the default sentence, she said. I can see before me you have a job offer supported by an email from the managing director of that company. You will be earning a decent salary. It is not minimum wage. You have a partner who has confirmed she will contribute towards the amount which is outstanding, which is a significant amount. I am going to give you the opportunity to come out into the community and pay that. If you do not pay, the consequences are you will be serving that term. If you choose to leave the country and not pay, a warrant will be issued for your arrest and you will serve that sentence when you come back to the country. She said Acourt has until January 1 next year to make the first payment. The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrences murder, Luke Knight, has remained free. Irelands premier has warned difficulties exist in reaching an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol but he said there is a genuine desire from all sides to do so. Micheal Martin said space is now needed to allow the UK and the European Union to reach a resolution. He was speaking as negotiations on the protocol got under way between officials on Thursday afternoon. Earlier, Irelands deputy premier Leo Varadkar conceded the protocol is a little too strict. He said the protocol is working despite not being fully implemented, demonstrating there is room for further flexibility for some changes. Speaking in Prague, Mr Martin said: There is a genuine desire on all sides including the UK Government that there will be a negotiated resolution to this, but that doesnt in any way understate the difficulties involved in arriving at a resolution. But I do think theres good faith on all sides. If the will is there, issues can be resolved I dont want to comment any further other than to say theres a process in place, I think we should create space to allow people to work out a resolution to this. The European Commission earlier this week confirmed the two sides will meet for technical level talks. My pleasure to host UK Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly at the Irish Embassy London for a working dinner. James & I discussed Brexit, the protocol, the war in Ukraine as well as our shared work at the UN Security Council. We agreed to work closely together on all. pic.twitter.com/To01YdO6nW Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) October 6, 2022 A meeting between Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly took place in London on Thursday evening. It was the first bilateral meeting between the UK and Ireland since Liz Truss became UK Prime Minister. Mr Coveney tweeted: James and I discussed Brexit, the protocol, the war in Ukraine as well as our shared work at the UN Security Council. We agreed to work closely together on all. On Friday, Mr Coveney will co-chair a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar discussed the protocol at an industrial relations conference in Dublin on Thursday (PA) Mr Varadkar told reporters on Thursday morning: We should not forget that the protocol is working. It was designed to prevent a hard border between north and south, and there is no hard border between north and south. It was designed to protect the integrity of the single market and it has, and also the Northern Ireland economy is outperforming the rest of the UK economically. But one thing that I would concede is that perhaps the protocol, as it was originally designed, was a little too strict. The protocol has not been fully implemented and yet it is still working. I think that demonstrates that there is some room for further flexibility for some changes that hopefully would make it acceptable to all sides. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as part of the Withdrawal Agreement and sought to avoid a hard border with Ireland post-Brexit. Simon Coveney, left, and Chris Heaton-Harris will co-chair a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (Niall Carson/PA) But the arrangements have created trade barriers on goods being shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The protocol is vehemently opposed by many unionists in Northern Ireland and the DUP is currently blocking the formation of a powersharing executive in Belfast in protest. Mr Varadkar said an agreement would be very beneficial as it would allow for the restoration of powersharing. Stormont collapsed earlier this year amid a row over the protocol and has not returned despite elections in May. The Fine Gael leader said there is a window of opportunity over the next couple of weeks to see if an agreement can be reached. That would be very beneficial for Ireland and Northern Ireland because it would allow us to get the executive up and running, and could be helpful for Britain as well in economic terms, he said. Meanwhile, the Tanaiste welcomed UK Northern Ireland minister Steve Bakers apology over his previous ferocious negotiating stance on Brexit, but said it remains to be seen if it is significant. Steve Baker, the UKs minister for Northern Ireland, has apologised over his previous ferocious negotiating stance on Brexit (Aaron Chown/PA) Mr Baker, a former strident Brexiteer and member of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of MPs, said relations with Ireland are not where they should be, and added that ministers need to act with humility to restore relationships with the Republic and the EU. Mr Varadkar said: It remains to be seen what the significance of them are, but they are very welcome comments and (I) would agree with the Taoiseach on that. Asked about the political instability surrounding Ms Truss, he said the Irish Government does not concern itself with the UKs domestic politics. Thats just not the way we operate, he said. Liz Truss is the Prime Minister, and the British Government is the British Government, and the European Union, including Ireland will negotiate with them and try and come to an agreement if we can. We wont concern ourselves about any individual countrys domestic politics. Legislation to enable the UK Government to effectively tear up parts of the protocol is to return to Westminster on October 11. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has already cleared the House of Commons and will be debated at second reading by the House of Lords, which is expected to consider it at length, next week. By Al Jazeera October 06, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Al Jazeera " - Intelligence agencies in the United States believe "parts" of the Ukrainian government authorised the car bomb attack near Moscow in August that killed Darya Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist, according to a report in the New York Times. The assessment of alleged Ukrainian complicity was shared within the US government last week, the paper reported on Wednesday. The US officials who spoke about the intelligence did not disclose which elements of the Ukrainian government were believed to have authorised the mission, who carried out the attack, or whether President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed off on it. Those briefed on the Ukrainian action and the US response spoke on the condition of anonymity, in order to discuss secret information and matters of sensitive diplomacy, the report said. Dugina, a 29-year-old commentator with a nationalist Russian TV channel, was killed when a bomb exploded in her car in August, in an attack that Russia blamed on Ukrainian special services. Ukraines government denied involvement at the time, and when asked about the US intelligence assessment, Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak reiterated those denials. Again, Ill underline that any murder during wartime in some country or another must carry with it some kind of practical significance, Podolyak told The New York Times. It should fulfill some specific purpose, tactical or strategic. Someone like Dugina is not a tactical or a strategic target for Ukraine. US officials also told the paper that they lack a complete picture of the competing power centres in the Ukrainian government, including the military, the security services and Zelenskyys office. This may explain why some parts of the Ukrainian government may not have been aware of the plot, it added. The US took no part in the attack, had no prior knowledge of it and admonished Ukrainian officials afterwards, the New York Times said, adding that the US would have opposed the killing if it had been aware of the plan. Duginas father, Alexander Dugin, is a prominent ultranationalist and staunch supporter of Russias war in Ukraine, and some believe he was the intended target. Russian media said Dugin switched cars with his daughter shortly before the blast, which ripped the Toyota Land Cruiser apart as she was driving through the outskirts of Moscow after attending a cultural festival. Dugina was also a prominent supporter of the Ukraine invasion, known as a special military operation in Russia. Russia has not taken any specific retaliation over the killing, but the US is concerned that such attacks could provoke Moscow into carrying out its own attacks against senior Ukrainian officials, the New York Times said. Russias intelligence agency, the FSB, has said a Ukrainian woman, who entered Russia in July and rented an apartment where Dugina lived, was behind the bombing. She fled Russia after the attack, according to the agency. ===== Darya Aleksandrovna Dugina, also known under the pen name Daria Platonova, was a Russian journalist, political scientist and activist. She was the daughter of Aleksandr Dugin, a far-right political philosopher. Wikipedia At least three people have died in an explosion at a service station in Ireland. Irish police confirmed the three fatalities as search efforts continued at the site of the blast in Creeslough, Co Donegal for others feared missing following the devastating blast on Friday afternoon. The Applegreen service station and surrounding buildings sustained extensive damage in the incident. The major emergency response operation involving first responders from both sides of the Irish border was ongoing late on Friday night. Emergency services at the scene at Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough, Co Donegal (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) In a statement, the Irish police force, An Garda Siochana, said: At this time, An Garda Siochana can confirm there has been three fatalities as a result of this serious incident. This continues to be an ongoing operation and An Garda Siochana are not in a position to provide further information on casualties at this time. Among those gathered at the scene cordon on Friday night were relatives of people believed to have been in the buildings at the time. Sniffer dogs were being used amid the rubble. A crowd of around 30 local people were gathered behind the Garda cordon and watched on in hushed silence. Irish premier Micheal Martin said his thoughts and prayers were with the entire community of Creeslough. Thinking too of all the emergency services, from across the north-west and NI working in very traumatic situation, he tweeted. Local priest John Joe Duffy said the community was numb and devastated. Its very much looking at the unknown at this time, and were just broken-hearted, everyone is broken-hearted, were lost for words, Fr Duffy told the PA news agency. What Im appealing for is for the prayers of the people across this county and across the country, to pray for us, to help us and to give us strength to get through these difficult hours and difficult days that may lay ahead. Emergency services at the scene of the blast at the Applegreen service station (Nina Gabel/PA) Donegal TD Joe McHugh said friends and families were going through a very difficult waiting period. Were just waiting here, my sympathies and thoughts are with a lot of families here and their friends and loved ones, there is a very difficult waiting period now, he told PA. People have pulled together and emergency services are there and doing their work, working carefully through this very, very difficult time. People are stunned, its very surreal, very difficult to put it into words. Just thinking of this very closely knit community that are still clinging on to hope, but they know that its going to be a difficult time ahead. Fellow TD Pearse Doherty said that people were still trapped in the building on Friday evening as the emergency services worked to remove the rubble from the area. Irelands Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he was thinking of all those affected by the awful incident. The Donegal TD said: Thinking of the emergency services personnel involved this evening too. Hushed silence in Creeslough, Co Donegal tonight where a major search operation is continuing following an explosion in a service station @PA pic.twitter.com/9W6h5eGhDL Jonny McCambridge (@McCambridgeJ) October 7, 2022 Multiple emergency service vehicles remained at the scene on Friday night while a Coastguard helicopter airlifted some of those who were injured in the blast from Letterkenny University Hospital to Dublin. The Letterkenny hospital appealed to the public not to attend its emergency department unless it was urgent. The hospital initiated its major emergency standby protocol earlier on Friday. It stood down the protocol late on Friday night. In a statement, the hospital said: The hospital continues to treat those injured in the incident at Creeslough, Co Donegal and remains on hand to provide all necessary medical assistance required. Applegreen said in a statement that it was aware of a serious incident at its dealer-operated location at Creeslough. The thoughts and prayers of everyone here at Applegreen are with all of those who have been affected, it stated. Irelands deputy premier Leo Varadkar described the incident as tragic. In a post on Twitter, Mr Varadkar wrote: Terrible news from Donegal tonight. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events and with the emergency services responding. Nina Gabel, 35, described distressing scenes at the cordon on Friday evening. A tractor at the scene of the explosion (Nina Gabel/PA) There was one woman who didnt know where her daughter was and she was very upset, she told PA. There are emergency services everywhere, there were so many gardai and fire engines. What looked like local farmers tractors were helping to dig out the rubble. Ambulances and fire crews from across the border in Northern Ireland have deployed to the area to assist with the emergency response. A local hotel stopped taking bookings from members of the public to ensure all spare rooms were held for first responders. Mr Doherty said it was after 3pm when the devastating and massive explosion took place that could be heard from miles around. This is something thats your worst nightmare. This is a quiet village, a very close-knit village, this is the only shop in the town, he told RTE news. It ripped right through this building, and this was a very busy location at that point in time. Three oclock, its just after school, people were going to collect their pensions. This is a very, very, very busy locality here at this shop, this petrol station, this deli, the post office at this time. Mr Doherty said it had left a very, very dark cloud over the community. He said: There are silent prayers being said, there are people still trapped within the building and the emergency services are doing everything that they can to remove the rubble, and people are being airlifted away to our hospitals in the region. Theres just quiet, its surreal. People are just holding on for hope, holding on to hear news, positive news coming from the emergency services. Emergency services at the scene (Nina Gabel/PA) Fianna Fail councillor Anthony Molloy told PA it is beyond words as he knows the family which owns the service station. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved, Mr Molloy said. It looks horrific from what I can see from photographs. It looks terrible. Its just terrible. I know the family. Its beyond words. Local councillor Donal Mandy Kelly told PA the news was devastating. He said: My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has called on the UK Government not to turn a blind eye as Iranian authorities try to suppress the ongoing unrest. The British Iranian national, who was imprisoned in Iran for six years before her release earlier this year, said the recent events have brought back memories of her own imprisonment at the hands of the Iranian regime. It comes as the groundswell of opposition to the regime continues in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody last month after being detained by Iranian morality police last month for not wearing a hijab in accordance with government standards. Speaking to Sky News Beth Rigby on Friday, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said she wants to see more action from the UK government over the current human rights abuses in Iran. I want them to observe what is happening not to turn a blind eye, she said. I want them to protect us. We cannot be indifferent about what is happening in Iran and if we talk about protecting rights of our citizens, we have to do something about it and I think we have to hold Iran accountable. The world has to make it very, very expensive for Iran to violate human rights so easily. It should be costly, she said, adding that this should include sanctions. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe also said the events in Iran have brought back memories from her experience in prison in Iran and have exacerbated her nightmares. She said: It does bring memories of when I was arrested but also how helpless you are when you are in custody. Asked if she has felt free since she was released, she said she only will if there is nobody in Iran put into prison for standing up for their rights and when my friends are out of prison. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe arrives at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, after she was freed from detention by Iranian authorities (Leon Neal/PA) She also reflected on how the Iranian regime sustain the way they are treating people by arresting and disconnecting them from the world. They put you in solitary confinement or they take you somewhere unknown and break you emotionally, she said. So, this is in my head every time I hear the news of being someone arrested, I think about the nights of my arrest, imagining what they are going through now. She added that her story was a happy ending since she came out of prison alive whereas so many others do not. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on to speak about cutting her hair as a gesture of solidarity with the women protesting in Iran. She described it as a symbol of women getting more power about their body that resonates throughout the world. It is a way of symbolising how women would want to have the right to cover their hair or not because for women of course its not just about the Middle East, its about an international issue that women are constantly managed, she said. Speaking about the women protesting in Iran, she said: There is a new wave of school girls rising up, standing up for their rights to take off their scarf to protest and this is a new generational shift. I think it has reached the point that they feel they dont have a choice, she said, adding that it is not about the hijab anymore but not being happy about the way they live. Asked what will happen in Iran now, she said: What I do believe is Iran will never be the same. Whatever happens in the future, it will never go back to where it was before September. A UK government spokesperson said: The UK Government has been very clear in condemning the violence levelled against peaceful protestors over the past three weeks. The Foreign Office also summoned Irans most senior diplomat in the UK this week to call on the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint and respect the right to peaceful assembly. We have a tough set of sanctions in place against Iran and are looking at what further action we can take in the short term in response to human rights violations by the Iranian authorities. Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Russia warns US of 'direct military clash' if more arms sent to Ukraine Russia says the United States' decision to ship more weapons to Ukraine poses an "immediate threat" to Moscow's interests and hikes the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the West. "The supply of military products by the US and its allies not only entails protracted bloodshed and new casualties, but also increases the danger of a direct military clash between Russia and Western countries," Russia's Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday. "We perceive this as an immediate threat to the strategic interests of our country," he said, after US President Joe Biden pledged a new $625-million military aid package to Ukraine on Tuesday. The US package would include High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, reportedly used in Ukraine's recent counter-offensives against Russian forces, leading to their withdrawal. Last week, Washington also unveiled a $1.1-billion arms package for Ukraine, which included 18 HIMARS launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of counter drone systems and radar systems. But last week's weapons package was funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning the government has to procure the weapons from industry, rather than pulling them from existing US weapons stocks. The latest announcement would mark more than $16.8 billion worth of US security military aid to Kiev since Russia began what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine back in February, citing the failure of the US-led NATO military alliance and Kiev to offer Moscow security guarantees it sought in connection with NATO's eastward expansion. The aid package is the first since the accession to Russian Federation of four former Ukrainian territories namely Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia after holding referendums that Russia said overwhelmingly favored the move. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on this 70th birthday. Today the Armenian-Russian relations are rich with joint initiatives encompassing new areas of cooperation between our countries. Steps aimed at strengthening friendship between our countries and peoples, which are a firm foundation for further developing interstate cooperation in all areas, are highly appreciated in Armenia. I expect your efforts to continue playing an important role for the dynamic development of the entire complex of strategic cooperation in all areas between Armenia and Russia, for the benefit of ensuring sustainable peace and security in South Caucasus. I wish you robust health, happiness and good luck, the Armenian president said in a letter addressed to President Putin. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador at-large Edmon Marukyan issued a statement following the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel. Azerbaijan has agreed to cooperate with the EU civilian mission which will be dispatched along the border. Therefore, any possible future aggression by Azerbaijan will be monitored on the ground, furthermore the part of Armenias sovereign territory that is already under Azerbaijani occupation will be recorded. Let me remind that on 5 October, 2022 the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU wanted to send a monitoring mission to the line of contact but the mission wasnt dispatched because Azerbaijan opposed it. Azerbaijan agreed to recognize Armenia in accordance with the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration, after which Azerbaijan can no longer make any territorial claims against the sovereign territory of Armenia in the delimitation process, which also means that the Azerbaijani military must withdraw from the territories it has occupied until this moment, Marukyan said in the statement. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his 70th birthday, the PMs Office said. The message reads as follows, "Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I heartily congratulate you on birthday. Your entire rich experience as a statesman and politician is aimed at strengthening Russian statehood, economic development of the country and improving the welfare of the Russian people. In Armenia, your attitude towards issues related to the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people is highly appreciated, and in this context, your efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone are indisputable. I expect the continuation of constructive dialogue and joint active work in the direction of enriching the scope of allied partnership between our countries and implementing strategic agreements for the benefit of our peoples and states. I am confident that with joint efforts it is possible to achieve long-term peace, stability and security in the South Caucasus region, to establish an atmosphere of trust. Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health, well-being and all the best." YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense responded to Member of Parliament Taguhi Tovmasyan, who said that shes receiving reports from residents of the village of Kutakan in Gegharkunik that the Azeri military has opened small arms fire on Armenian positions since 09:00, October 7. Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan told ARMENPRESS that today no intense firefight happened in that area, no one was killed or wounded. There is no firefight at this moment, he added. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Ucom continues to support the Pes-Pes educational project, which is designed to promote knowledge about the motherland. Within the framework of the author's project, children will be able to both color the sights of Yerevan and Gyumri on the maps of the two cities, and also, by flipping through the coloring books, get acquainted with the sculptures, architectural monuments, buildings of Yerevan and Armenian paintings, glean a set of interesting facts about the great Armenians. Most kids love to color in general. With Pes-Pes, enjoying this process, they not only get to know their place of residence visually, but also gain knowledge about its history. Moreover, children get the opportunity to be creative, depicting their favorite cities in colors and shades that are specific to their imagination. I am glad that Ucom has supported and continues to support our project representing Gyumri, said Yana Babajanyan, founder of the Pes-Pes project. The coloring map of Gyumri, in particular, is presented in large (140x90cm) and medium (100x70cm) formats. A large amount of information flows has been processed, corrected and filtered for a richer quality joint pastime of parents and their children. Ucom has always willingly supported the project of creating educational materials representing the cultural capital of Armenia, the city of Gyumri. I am glad that one of the most picturesque cities of our country is presented to the joint attention of children and their parents, said Ara Khachatryan, Director General at Ucom. A variety of educational materials can be found and also purchased online. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. On the sidelines of Armenias presidency at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Yerevan hosted today consultations between deputy foreign ministers of CSTO states in a format of a high level group, chaired by Armenian Deputy FM Mnatsakan Safaryan, the Foreign Ministry said. The meeting was also attended by the delegation of the CSTO Secretariat and Joint Staff led by the CSTO Deputy Secretary General. At the beginning of the session, Deputy FM Safaryan introduced his colleagues on the current situation resulting from the latest aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenia, and emphasized the necessity of immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani armed forces from Armenias sovereign territory and unconditional observation of the ceasefire regime. He also stressed the necessity for a clear and addressed condemnation of killings, tortures of Armenian prisoners of war and other war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, and for holding the perpetrators accountable, as well as releasing Armenian POWs and civilians who are illegally held in Azerbaijan. More than a dozens issues on the CSTO agenda were discussed during the consultations, as well as the further activities regarding those issues were outlined. Issues relating to the upcoming CSTO summit in Armenia this November and the joint session of the CSTO foreign, defense ministers and secretaries of security councils to be held before the summit were also touched upon during the meeting. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Information security problems arent only specific for Armenia, there is huge lack of trust for political, government institutions and the news media all over the world, foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said in his remarks at the Hybrid Warfare: Targets of Information Sabotage and Countermeasures discussion. People trust their friends, families or acquaintances more, which leads to rumors. Take the coronavirus period as an example. The state, scientists and medical professionals were presenting numerous evidence, but a significant part of the population was nevertheless trusting what some long bearded, self-described scientist from a remote part of another country had so say, something like we are being microchipped. Why? Because thats human nature, people want and chose to believe in scandalous conspiracies. I won't be saying anything new if I say that there are thousands of people in the world today who believe that the Earth is flat, Hunanyan said. He emphasized that the processes are accelerating as a result of the fourth industrial revolution. All state institutions that were created as a result of the industrial revolution are unable to keep up with these changes. By the time you develop a new law, Telegram launches a new upgrade, TikTok appears. It is very difficult to keep up with these changes. This is an international phenomenon, and everyone experiences this problem, Hunanyan added. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary factions of the Republic of Artsakh issued a statement today, calling on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries - Russia, US and France, and the other 190 member states of the United Nations to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Given the recognition of independence of Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic by the Russian Federation and the reunification of the aforementioned territories, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to Russia on September 30, 2022, the factions of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh record that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has perfectly exercised its right to self-determination in 1991 from a legal point of view, in accordance with the norms of international law, the principles of democracy and the USSR legislation in force at that time. The international community recognized Azerbaijan as an independent state within the limits determined by the internal legislation of the USSR. According to that legislation, at the time of Azerbaijans gaining independence, Nagorno Karabakh had nothing to do with that country, otherwise it would not have been included in the United Nations , thus, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has nothing to do with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Accepting the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter, as well as the ruling of the International Court of Justice of July 22, 2010, according to which the declaration of independence of Kosovo did not violate international law, the National Assembly factions of the Republic of Artsakh call on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries - Russia, US, France and the other 190 UN member states to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, thereby nullifying the most serious existential threats facing its population, the statement reads. The statement has been signed by the following factions: "Free Motherland-UCA" "United Motherland" "Justice" "ARF" "Democratic Party of Artsakh" YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. High Commissioner of the Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan received Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the High Commissioner of the Diaspora Affairs, during the meeting the parties talked about the situation and developments in Armenia. In addition, the upcoming Global Armenian Summit, which is of great importance for Armenia and the Diaspora, was discussed. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of her meeting with the French-speaking participants of the "iGorts" program and expressed hope for cooperation with them. The human chain protest voices the growing call to free Assange By John Rees October 07, 2022: Information Clearing House -- AN UNPRECEDENTED show of support for Julian Assange is due this Saturday when protesters form a human chain that will surround Parliament. Parliament has never been surrounded in this way before and organisers intend the demonstration to send an unmistakable message to MPs and to the worlds press that Assange should be set free. The initiative has sparked a global day of solidarity with protests also taking place from America to Australia. The UK protest will form in front of the Palace of Westminster and stretch over Westminster Bridge, along the south bank of the Thames, and back over Lambeth Bridge. The event comes at a vital moment in Julian Assanges legal battle against extradition to the US where he could face 175 years in jail for publishing the truth about the Afghan and Iraq wars. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the extradition request from the US government earlier this year. But Assanges lawyers have launched an appeal against that decision with the High Court. They are now awaiting the courts decision on whether or not it will hear the appeal. Thats why the protest comes at a vital moment. Its essential that the court both agrees to hear the appeal and that it decides to overturn the extradition request. There is still time to overturn the extradition and there is still road to run in the British courts. But the initial court hearings in the Magistrates Court and the appeal courts have been exhausted so it is hugely important that the political pressure on the government and the courts is redoubled at this moment. There could not be more at stake in a single court case than there is in the Assange case. The right of journalists to report the facts that governments and corporations dont wish to have revealed will be virtually criminalised if the prosecution of Assange is successful. The authoritarian instincts of the new Tory Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, are, almost unbelievably, more extreme than those of her predecessor, Priti Patel. The continued persecution of Assange, now in his fourth year in Belmarsh prison, is part of a wider attack on civil liberties by the Tories. The government plans greater powers for the police to curb political protest, a raft of anti-union legislation which will make it virtually impossible to organise a legal and effective strike, a new official secrets act, and new limitations on freedom of speech. Success for the Tories in extraditing Julian Assange will embolden them in every other attack they are making on civil liberties and trade union rights. Thats why its in the interest of every trade unionist, everyone who cares about preserving civil liberties, to join the human chain protest this Saturday. The National Union of Journalists, and the International Federation of Journalists which represents 300,000 members worldwide, are supporting the protests. So is Amnesty International. Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the teachers union, the NEU, has added his voice to the call. And hes been joined by film directors Ken Loach and Oliver Stone, musicians Brian Eno, Lowkey, and Roger Waters, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Burgon, and the president of the Muslim Association of Britain, Raghad Al Tikriti. There is now a growing consensus that the Assange extradition is a wholly unjustified assault on freedom of the press. Moreover, the revelations during the extradition hearings themselves have raised the gravest doubts about the legality of the process itself. In the course of the court hearings it has become public knowledge that a lead witness for the prosecution lied, that Assange and his lawyers were spied on by the CIA, and that the CIA discussed at the highest levels plans to abduct or assassinate Assange. In any normal trial any one of these, let alone all of them, would have had the case dismissed. That has not happened in the Assange case because there is too much at stake in the special relationship between the US and British governments. It is this above all else that marks the Assange case out as a political trial. In a political trial it is crucial that political pressure outside the courtroom is brought to bear to halt the abuse of the legal system that takes place in the courtroom. Thats why the surround Parliament protest this Saturday is so important and it is why that protest must become the springboard for renewed and intensified campaigns to free Assange this autumn. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Narek Mkrtchyan today received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Armenia Masanori Fukushima. As ARMENPRESS was informed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the social assistance programs and works implemented by the Japanese government after the war of 2020, as well as details regarding the response to the social problems caused by the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border since September 13 were discussed at the meeting. "In the post-war period, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs implemented many projects, with the Japanese Embassy among partners. We have also received your support in various areas of social protection. We are ready to cooperate, study and discuss the effective programs, the application of which will enable us to solve the existing problems in the field and record success," said Minister Narek Mkrtchyan. Ambassador Masanori Fukushima presented the details of his recent visit to Gegharkunik Province and stressed that they are ready to help overcome the post-war consequences. "For Japan, Armenia is a democratic country with a society based on the power of law. We assure you that the Japanese government will continue to implement various programs to improve the needs of people in difficult life situations," the Ambassador noted. The city of Merced has organised a candlelight vigil for the family every night at 7 pm from October 6 to October 9 This undated photo provided by Merced County Sheriff's Office shows Jasleen Kaur, left, and Jasdeep Singh, with their 8-month-old daughter Aroohi Dheri. (Photo: AP/PTI) SAN FRANCISCO: Hundreds of people in the US city of Merced prayed with candles in their hands and tears in their eyes during a sunset vigil for the grieving Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby, who was kidnapped and then killed by a former employee. Bodies of 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and the baby's uncle, 39-year-old Amandeep Singh were found on Wednesday evening in an orchard after they were kidnapped on Monday. The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped at a business in Merced County, California. The city of Merced has organised a candlelight vigil for the family every night at 7 pm from October 6 to October 9. The crowd that gathered in the stately downtown Bob Hart Square on Thursday came from all backgrounds young, old, Latino, Black, Sikh, white, wealthy, low income and stood in solidarity with the Singh and Kaur families at the vigil. They chanted prayers in Punjabi, Spanish and English, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. There have been lives that have been taken, Lord, innocent lives, and we don't understand, Christian Life Center Pastor Ceasar Johnson boomed to the crowd as he wept openly. Comfort us, Lord, the report said. Sukh Bela, a friend of the slain family, said he and the tightly knit Merced-area Sikh community will be leaning on their faith in the coming days and weeks. But he added that the healing they hope to find will be made stronger by the support reflected in the sea of faces at Thursday's gathering. We're trying to hold true to three tenets of our faith, he told the crowd. Meditation... staying in high spirits... justice and prosperity for everyone. We thank you for being here, Bela said. There was a huge memorial of candles, flowers, pictures and stuffed animals at the sunset vigil. Taken 2 soon, read one sign near an unopened package of a Barbie doll dressed in a pink party dress, the likes of which little Aroohi will never get to wear. Together we are stronger, read another sign. The suspect in the killing of the family had once worked for the family's trucking business and had a longstanding dispute with them that got "pretty nasty" and culminated in an act of senseless killing, authorities and a relative said. "Our family just lost four precious family souls," Jasdeep and Amandeep's cousin Sukhdeep Singh said. "Now, we're all shattered." Family members, close friends and complete strangers shared warm embraces. Religious leaders said prayers, as a sea of candles burned brightly in the night. Grappling with grief, those closest to the family asked the community to embrace the surviving family members, KCRA reported. "They're going to need our support, our help, and we ask the community to stay with us, help us, help them," family friend Ranjeet Singh said. Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto said it was important to come together as one community and support those who are grieving, the report said. "We're standing up against evil," Serratto said. "We're on your side, and we're honoured to have you in our community, and you're treasured, valued members of our community. Your pain is our pain, and we're going to work as hard as we can to keep you safe." Thursday night's vigil was the first of four that will happen each night at Bob Hart Square in Merced. For India the stratospheric expenditure to buy fighters was a major financial challenge, forcing it to be a parsimonious pacifist. As fighter aircraft are high-tech, high-cost, high-maintenance, high-speed and high-risk operating machines, one must constantly assess the ambience where the Indian Air Force has its operating flight envelope. In flying jargon, its got to be within and beyond visual range (BVR), or even beyond the horizon (BTH). Today, where does the IAF, which turns 90 on October 8, stand? How should it move forward? According to Military Balance 2022, Janes All the Worlds Aircraft and Janes World Air Forces, the IAF has 31 active squadrons of combat-capable fighters. There are three Russian-origin squadrons of MiG-29 interceptor/air defence aircraft (inducted 1986); four Anglo-French Jaguar ground attack/strike squadrons (commissioned 1979); six MiG-21 Bison multi-role fighter squadrons (upgraded since 1999); three French-made Mirage-2000 interceptor/air defence squadrons (delivered 1985); 11 Moscow-sourced squadrons of Sukhoi-30 MKI multi-role fighters (joined 2002), two squadrons of the French Rafale DH/EH and two squadrons of the indigenously-produced Tejas multi-role fighter in the IAF fleet. The Tejas and the Rafale are the latest additions. Understandably, the foreign-origin combat aircraft have always dominated the IAF fleet, despite New Delhis attempts to make indigenous fighters for over 50 years. Since 100 per cent success is yet to be achieved despite steady progress, Indias dependence on West-made fighters is unlikely to change any time soon, as the IAF has to remain prepared to tackle a two-front threat, from China and Pakistan. With large tracts of Indian territory remaining in the illegal occupation of Pakistans military and Chinas Peoples Liberation Army for over six decades, while New Delhi remains helpless in the face of the disinterest and inability of the West-led UN to do anything about it. In fact, the hypocrisy of US and its allies is starkly evident. They are now on an all-out offensive against Moscow over the forced occupation of Crimea and Donbas, but just stood by when Indian territory was similarly occupied. This is why New Delhi has no option but to increasingly build its own fighters as no nation, particularly one of Indias size and expanse, can be eternally dependent on the goodwill of foreign manufacturers for the latest, technologically superior fighter jets. The fighter jet situation for India in future will get even more critical. About 15 years ago, there were seven nations manufacturing fighter jets, with India placed eighth, with its Tejas prototype, conceived as a light combat aircraft (LCA) in 1983. Russia, with eight types of fighters, was followed by China (six), the United States (five), France (two) and one each in Japan, Sweden and South Korea. In addition, there was a four-nation consortium building the Euro-fighter Typhoon. For India, understandably, the stratospheric expenditure to buy fighters was a major financial challenge, forcing it to be a parsimonious pacifist. To produce and operate an indigenous fighter was no longer a matter of choice for New Delhi, but an economic-foreign exchange compulsion. Indias chronic bete noire, the CPC-PLA, understood well that it needed to adopt any means for a home-made fighter, through espionage, theft, cybercrimes, etc, on the West. And it clicked! The result is visible today. Globally, China produces six fighter variants, including a strategic bomber and an Awacs (airborne early warning and control system). Russias production fell from eight to six variants, while the US maintained the status quo with five. The rest Sweden, Japan, South Korea, India, France and Italy have one fighter each in production. Europes four-nation Euro-fighter continues, but slowly. In the ruthless marketplace of combat craft, once a fighter attains initial operational capability, it is all trade and commerce, where no one yields an inch on profits. It takes 10-20 years, often longer, to take a fighter from conception to squadron commissioning. The French Rafale took 19 years from design (1982) to service entry (2001). Americas multi-role joint strike fighter F-35 Lightnings request for proposal (RFP) was issued in December 1995. Its in use with several Western air forces, as well as in Japan and South Korea. Yet, over 25 years after the RFP, the F-35 still has teething problems. Despite France and America being aviation pioneers, the US vast resources still keeps it technologically ahead in building fighters. Given Beijings unrelenting hostility towards India across the Himalayan highlands, which poses an existential threat to New Delhi, with Chinese garrisons positioned within Indian territory, Indian needs to make the indigenous production of fighter jet is a national mission, not just a mere trading enterprise to earn quick profits. The gestation period for fighter production is long, as can be seen from the French and American examples, and therefore there is no time to be lost. Cash for trade doesnt win aerial combat, industrial production does. The challenge for India and in particular for the IAF is, therefore, as formidable as one can possibly imagine in a world where at least seven nations have marched ahead of New Delhi in manufacturing and marketing fighter aircraft. So, what should be the long-term strategy on strengthening the depleted foreign-origin IAF fleet? To this writer, at least two things must be imbibed from the state that is inimical to India. First, the expertise on reverse engineering on imported aircraft. Second, to boost the power of the indigenous fighter engine for better operational performance in combat. Its because no foreign manufacturer will ever give a buyer like India the latest and the best of its fighter power plants for its own market survival and profit. After all, the combat aviation industry is commerce for cash and is worth billions of dollars. The dictators who ran the Communist Party of China and its military arm, the Peoples Liberation Army, were determined from the very beginning to go in for indigenisation of their fighter fleet and for engines which powered the aircraft. Initially, they imported from Russia and Ukraine in bulk quantities and thereafter kept a few machines for exclusive research and development. After gaining experience and expertise in the Moscow-Ukraine machine, Beijing targeted Americas tech industry and came down hard through any and every means; most of them illegal. Can New Delhi chalk out an actionable time-bound programme and make a determined bid to indigenise and augment the depleted numbers of its Air Force squadrons, which have been thinned out over the years in which the fleet has not been upgraded? A buyers force may be a tactical (short-term) success, but can never be durable in the long term as a strategic state asset. Its got to be a builders fighter. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." History is full of injustices, transgressions and genocide. Are the descendants of the victims of those injustices entitled to reparations. Very many institutions in Britain have engaged in research to find and expiate connections with and profit in the past from slavery. (AFP File Photo) Clouds dont cry The rain is not their tears O Bachchoo, you and I Indulge metaphoric fears Heavens dont weep They have no heart to break And no eternal sleep Theyll forever be awake! From The Frolics of Dancing Man Singh, by Bachchoo This week the University of Cambridge published a report by a body it had set up three years ago called The Advisory Group on the Legacies of Enslavement. The report was commissioned to research the universitys contribution to, connection with or profit from the historical injustices of the British slave trade. It found secondary connections of donations from families involved in the trade to some colleges, but didnt discover any ownership of slaves or plantations by the university. Very many institutions in Britain, including the National Trust, which preserves and exhibits historical buildings and estates, have engaged in research to find and expiate such connections with and profit in the past from slavery. It is undertaken as a necessary correction or addition to history and an attempt at a national confession. These institutions other universities, schools, boards of education and museums are in various ways examining their curricula and contents. The statue-toppling tendency is of course part of this historical renaissance, the attempt to blame the blame-worthy. And within this movement to correct history, the issue of reparations is constantly mooted. Its a difficult question. Who is to pay reparations and to whom? How is a figure to be placed on the cost of a lifetime of suffering? To whom is the demand which arises specifically from the enslavement of African people to America and the Caribbean to be addressed? It was British, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese traders and traffickers who either bought their human cargo from other Africans, from Arab slavers operating in north-west Africa or themselves captured African people in their thousands and transported them as chattel. Who then should pay the reparations? The descendants of the tribes who took other tribes as prisoner to sell them? The descendants, if they can be traced, of the Arab slave marketeers? The present British, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese governments? Will the reparations be in cash? To whom? In America, it is assumed that reparations should be paid by the United States government there seems to be no demand on the enslaving tribes, Arab traders or governments of nations who carried on the trade. The logic is perhaps that the plantation owners, though originally from European nations, were through subsequent history citizens of the southern Confederate states, and though the north fought to end the slave trade and liberate the plantation slaves, the US government is the succeeding authority to those Confederate states which sanctioned slavery. My only encounter, an ironic one, with this demand was when I was chairing a talk in London by late Trinidadian philosopher C.L.R. James. James lecture to a large, packed audience at the Riverside Studios, a theatrical venue, was about three black women writers Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Ntozake Shange. This was early in their careers, before any of these three had won literary prizes and gained the reputation they subsequently did. Amongst the audience was a lady who called herself Queen Mother Moore, her small entourage and her consort, a tall black American gentleman in an African dashiki, a large necklace and a striking headband. James concluded his lecture and as chair I asked for audience questions. This gentleman stood up and, without any allusion to the literary evaluation he had just heard, asked if C.L.R. was in favour of claiming the three acres and a donkey which the then government had promised the freed slaves as reparation. I was inclined to rule the question as irrelevant, but C.L.R. said that hed answer. He did, saying: Good luck with that, and if you win, I shall be happy share the land with you, but please keep the donkey. The gentleman and no doubt Queen Mother Moore and her entourage were not amused. The audience were. The Moorists left before the next question. There are consistent calls now from the ex-colonial nations to demand that the loot stolen from their lands be returned and of course demands for reparation for the cruelties to which their peoples were subjected. I have no hesitation, gentle reader, in joining my friend Shashi Tharoor in demanding that the Kohinoor diamond be returned to India. If it is, I advise Narendraji to be cautious and not to claim it, while thanking Liz Truss or whoever, as it carries a curse which ensures pain and death for any male who owns or displays it. Caveat emptor! As for demanding reparations for the cruelties and exploitations of the Raj, which Shashi has eloquently done, my late friend Charles Allen, the historian, was of the opinion that the high caste from which Shashi descends is guilty of much more cruelty and exploitation of the lower castes of Kerala than anything the Raj perpetrated. Who am I, gentle reader, to judge? History is full of injustices, transgressions and genocide. Are the descendants of the victims of those injustices entitled to reparations. If they are, I want, as a Parsi Zoroastrian descendant of the Persian empire which was plundered along with mass slaughter by the Macedonian vandal Alexander the Damned, claim the euros which are my due from Greece. The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on Dec 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of the prizes' creator, Alfred Nobel The prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor (about $900,000). OSLO: The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to human rights champions Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, Russia's Memorial group and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties for their work to document war crimes and rights abuses. The committee called for the release of Bialiatski, who has been jailed since 2021 in Belarus, and insisted its prize was not directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched an invasion of Ukraine in February. "They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy", the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, told reporters. "This prize is not addressing President Putin ... except that his government ... is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists," Reiss-Andersen said. Last year, the Peace Prize crowned two champions of freedom of the press, Philippine journalist Maria Ressa and her Russian colleague Dmitry Muratov. The prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor (about $900,000). The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of the prizes' creator, Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel. Reiss-Andersen said she hoped Bialiatski would be able to attend. "We do hope ... that he can come to Oslo and receive the honour bestowed upon him", she said. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, with the other disciplines announced in Stockholm. On Thursday, French author Annie Ernaux, known for her deceptively simple novels drawing on personal experience of class and gender, won the Nobel Literature Prize. She is the 17th woman to get the nod out of 119 literature laureates since 1901. The Nobel season winds up Monday with the Nobel Economics Prize. by Vladimir Rozanskij Russian annexation of Ukrainian territories raises the issue of Orthodox ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It cannot be taken for granted that local churches will be incorporated into the Moscow Patriarchate. Priority of rebuilding sacred places destroyed (by the Russians). Moscow (AsiaNews) - After the annexation of four Ukrainian territories to the Russian Federation, the problem now arises of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Churches in these regions. They could be incorporated ex officio into the patriarchate of Moscow, however, causing new contrasts and divisions in what is already being called "the Donbass schism". The Russian Church is for the second time faced with the dilemma of 'ecclesiastical annexation', after that of Crimea in 2014. Eight years ago Patriarch Kirill chose not to subtract the peninsula's eparchies and parishes from Kiev, trusting in the loyalty of the Ukrainian "patriarchal" jurisdiction, and thus contesting the Putinist gamble of "our Crimea". Today, the patriarchate is totally aligned with the Kremlin, and Ukraine's Orthodox "Muscovites" distanced themselves from Moscow at a synod in May, affirming their full ecclesiastical independence. There are nine eparchies involved: Donetsk and Mariupol, Lugansk, Gorlov and Slavjansk, Berdjansk and Primorje, Rovenkov, Kherson and Tauride, Zaporozets, Novokhakovsk and Severodonetsk. In many churches in these territories, long occupied by the Russians, the priests had sided with the patriarchate, but others had kept to positions of expectation and reserve. Today, they are forced into very limited relations with the head of the Pzu ("Pravoslavnaja Zerkov Ukrainy") Church, to which the abbreviation Mp ("Moskovskogo Patriarkhata"), led by Kiev's Metropolitan Onufryj (Berezovskyj), now on "foreign soil" after the Putinist referendum-farce, should no longer be added. If Kirill in 2014 seemed to want to distance himself from Putin, today he is isolated by a 'providential' Covid infection, about which many are joking because of the coincidence with the new imperial proclamations of annexation. The patriarch's almost maniacal avoidance of the coronavirus, which he avoided for two years, is well known, while he is now confined to an 'intensive care regime' in bed, unable to communicate with the outside world. Patriarchate spokesman Vladimir Legojda assured that "the Church respectfully accepts the will of the people and their choices of political and national affiliation", without clarifying the details of ecclesiastical jurisdiction: "This question, if it is posed, will be addressed by the higher bodies of the ecclesiastical authority in the times that will be established". Another exponent of the patriarchate, protoierej Nikolaj Balasov, explained that now "the priority is the reconstruction of the destroyed churches", almost all of which were destroyed by Russian bombing, which does not predispose the local faithful to easy submission to Moscow's authority. For now, the care of the nine eparchies in the annexed territories will be based on humanitarian aid and reconstruction programmes. It is also unclear who will be entrusted with management at this juncture: in March, the patriarchate assigned responsibility for the "neighbouring foreign ecclesiastical structures" to Metropolitan Pavel (Ponomarev), a former exarch of Minsk who was recalled in 2020 because he was not sufficiently in line with Belarusian President Lukasenko. According to other patriarchate representatives, the care of the (former) Ukrainian territories should however be in the hands of an "interdicasterial working group" for the "newly acquired" eparchies, headed by Metropolitan Dionisij (Porubaj), moderator of the Moscow patriarchal curia. Much will depend on the choices of the eparchies and parishes themselves and of the local clergy, in accordance with local traditions that see frequent fluctuations in the orientation towards the higher hierarchies, as is the case somewhat throughout the Orthodox world. The national patriarchal pyramid, in reality, does not have the same juridical force as the Roman papacy for Catholics, and often not even that of the episcopal conferences and diocesan curias, and it is not uncommon for issues to be resolved through local assemblies, which often result in heated quarrels and very unspiritual competitions. Not to mention that further forcing by the Moscow Patriarchate could lead to an even more total isolation of the Russian Church from the rest of world Orthodoxy. by Fady Noun Important gas fields in disputed territories between the two countries are at stake. Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati spoke of the diplomatic success" that avoids a new conflict, but some details have turned out to be very contentious, including the buoy line. Hanging over everything are Hezbollahs position and Israels upcoming election, which might see Netanyahu make a comeback. Beirut (AsiaNews) Last-minute differences have temporarily derailed the agreement between Israel and Lebanon on demarcating their maritime border and thus on developing offshore gas fields. A deal was believed to be close to the satisfaction of both sides. During a visit on Wednesday to the Maronite Patriarch, Beshara al-Rahi, Lebanons Prime Minister-designate Nagib Mikati even congratulated himself that this diplomatic success would make it possible to avoid a new war in the region. However, on Wednesday evening, that risk re-emerged when Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz called on his country's military to prepare for possible escalation in the north. This followed amendments to the agreement made by Lebanon on Tuesday during a meeting to finalise the deal at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. These amendments were presented as details and clarifications by Elias Bou Saab, Deputy Speaker of Lebanons Parliament charged by Lebanese President Michel Aoun with the negotiations. The main amendment that appears to have sunk the deal, according to Lebanese media, refers to the buoy line, i.e. the line of buoys Israel installed after it withdrew from southern Lebanon in May 2000, which extends for about six kilometres, starting from Rosh HaNikra (Ras Al Naqoura), on the Israeli side of the border. In the proposal by US mediator Amos Hochstein, the border demarcating the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the two countries follows the route of the buoy line for six kilometres before it reaches Line 23, adopted as the southern maritime border between the two countries. However, at Hezbollah's insistence, Lebanon refuses to recognise this line, and wants it to be referred to in the text as the imposed "de facto line. According to Israeli media, in Amos Hochstein's text, it was described as the status quo line. For the Israeli side, this simple detail suggests a desire by Lebanon to later challenge the line. "Hezbollah doesn't want to hear about it," said a source involved in the negotiations. Nor does Israel seem ready to make concessions in the matter. In addition, the Ici-Beyrouth website is reporting that Israel has refused Lebanons request that the French company Total, which is to set to develop the Qana field, have total freedom to operate in the sector, without Israels prior consent. Although the top negotiator, Amos Hochstein, said there is nothing insurmountable about the difficulties that have arisen, stalled talks have generated pessimism across the region. Unfortunately, failure to reach an agreement could bog down negotiations, at least until after Israels elections on 1 November, despite expectations that they would be concluded before that date. This means that if Benjamin Netanyahu wins the Israeli election, the whole deal could be called into question, increasing the risk of escalation or even war. For Israelis, in fact, the priority is to start extracting gas from the Karish field without the risk of escalation. Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened to carry out a military operation against the area if operations begin before Lebanon can do the same in its own EEZ. Amos Hochstein's proposal grants Lebanon the area north of the Line 23, its official claim, which also includes the Qana field, part of which extends southwards. Mr Netanyahu, who wants to get back into power, has accused Prime Minister Yair Lapid of selling out Israeli sovereign territory, even of capitulating to Hassan Nasrallah's threats. The Benedictine monk died at the age of 50 in a hospital in Germany from cancer that doctors suspect was caused by poisoning. His community had been subjected to violence for years over a dispute over a few hectares of land that the local authorities had expropriated. Already seriously ill in 2019, he had tried to return to Vietnam, but was turned back at Hanoi airport. Milan (AsiaNews) - The former abbot of a Benedictine monastery in central Vietnam has died in exile in Germany after a long battle with cancer that doctors suspect may have been caused by poisoning. Fr Anthony of Padua Nguyen Huyen Duc, 50, died on 4 October in the German hospital where he had been treated since 2017. The death was announced by Fr Louis Gonzaga Dang Hung Tan, abbot of Thien An Monastery in Thua Thien Hue Province, which Fr Nguyen Huyen Duc had led from 2014 to 2017. Thien An Monastery has for years been at the centre of a dispute with the authorities over the land around the monastery, which the Benedictine community had owned since the 1940s. Founded on 10 June 1940 by French missionaries, the monastery is often the target of attacks by thugs hired by the local authorities to frighten Catholics and convince them to leave the area. The intimidation was worsened by police raids during which officers, on several occasions, broke into the structure and threatened to occupy it. While still in Vietnam, Fr Nguyen Huyen Duc often condemned these violent attacks. 'We wish to seek justice in a peaceful manner to protect the Church's legal property until our last breath,' he had stated in 2017. In a letter to Benedictine monks explaining his health problems, UcaNews news agency recalls, Fr Nguyen Huyen Duc recounted how he suffered excruciating pains and lost his hair after drinking coffee and tea offered by two visitors during Tet, the Lunar New Year celebration in 2016. Travelling to Germany for treatment, doctors had diagnosed him with end-stage lung cancer, also expressing suspicion that he might have been poisoned. In September 2019, despite his worsening health condition, he wanted to return to Vietnam. But once he arrived in Hanoi, security officials had ordered him to leave the country 'for his own safety and in the interest of the monastery'. A few weeks ago, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province had written to the superiors of the Benedictines in Vietnam, asking them not to reappoint Fr Duc as superior of Thien An Monastery and not to assign him any ministry in the province. Dung had accused the monk of cutting down pine trees in the forests and encroaching on government-controlled public land, inciting national hatred. When it was founded in 1940, the Thien An monastery had 107 hectares of land. After 1975, the communist government immediately took 57 hectares of land from the monastery and assigned it to a forestry company. Then came the confiscation of almost all the remaining land in 2000, allocating it to a tourism company. The Benedictines were left with only 6 hectares within which the monastery stands. Not counting the attacks in the last month, 700 members of the Shia minority have been killed in 13 attacks by the Islamic State in little more than a year. The girls who had taken to the streets to ask for protection were struck by food poisoning: probably a deliberate act by the Taliban. Also yesterday another explosion against the Afghan authorities. Milan (AsiaNews) - "I had not yet opened my eyes properly on the morning of 30 September when I read the news that the Kaaj education centre had been attacked by terrorists". So says Amena Baturi, a 16-year-old Hazara girl who fled Afghanistan a little over a year ago after the Taliban took over. "I was very angry, I couldn't believe it, I tried everyone I had contact with, classmates, friends: no response. Only after several hours, through social media, did I find out about the killing and wounding of several pupils, including some former classmates". Fifty-three people died in the explosion, including 46 Hazara students. Amena, a national and international Taekwondo champion since her childhood, had also attended the public school in the Dasht-e-Barchi district in Kabul, which was hit by an Is-K (Islamic State of Khorasan Province) terrorist attack at the end of last month. The young sportswoman wanted to study mathematics because 'we hoped for a better future for our generation'. On the morning of 30 September, Amena had immediately called her friend Omulbanin, also a Hazara refugee now living in Italy and also a former student at the Kaaj education centre: 'Amena shouts and asks me to call Maryam, Sharifa and Rehela. Only one of their friends, Maryam, late for her scheduled exam that morning, managed to save herself. "After two days I called her back and asked her how she was," Omulbanin continued, "I will never recover," her friend replied. "I wish that no one in this world would get tired of living because of belonging to a group or ethnicity." The Taliban, who had reported 30 dead, threatened the students and teachers not to take pictures for the media and not to report the incident. In the days following the attack, women took to the streets in protest to demand the right to study and an end to the genocide against the Hazara community, the Shia minority that has always been persecuted in Afghanistan, first by the Taliban, now by the Islamic State fundamentalists who consider the country's new authorities lukewarm on Islamic ideology. About fifty girls then ended up in hospital with food poisoning: according to some sources, this was a deliberate act by the Taliban to put an end to the demonstrations. According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published a month ago (thus not including the most recent attacks, including the one on 30 September), over 700 Hazaras have been killed in at least 13 attacks by the local branch of the former Isis in the past year. The most recent attack, which seems to have been directed at the Taliban and not at religious minorities, took place yesterday: an explosion took place in a mosque near the Ministry of Interior in the late afternoon. It is not known the exact number of victims (according to some sources there are at least 20) because the authorities insist on giving the impression that they are capable of administering the country. Clearly this is not the case: the Human Rights Watch report accuses the Taliban government of not being able to protect minorities and of failing to provide adequate medical care for the victims and their families, despite having pledged to do so when they took power in August last year. "The problem is not that the Taliban are responsible for the violence. They are responsible for not providing adequate security for their people,' explained John Sifton, regional director of Hrw Asia. 'If they are going to act as a governing authority their first priority should be to protect the population from the violence' of Is-K. The organisation also fears that many suicide attacks - especially those in remote provinces - go unreported because of the Taliban's control over the media. by Steve Suwannarat A police officer kills 37 people, including 23 children. In his message of condolences, Pope Francis expressed his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this act of unspeakable violence. Police recruitment practices are coming under closer scrutiny as are abuses of power, drug use, and easy access to weapons. Bangkok (AsiaNews) In a country in shock, Thai authorities have confirmed the death of 37 people, including 23 children, killed by a former policeman yesterday afternoon in a daycare centre in Uthai Sawan, in the northern province of Nong Bua Lamphu. The man, who shot himself with the same gun used in his killing spree, also murdered his wife and son. Most victims were either gunned down or stabbed with a knife. At least a dozen were wounded, with five still in intensive care. In the evening, King Rama X was expected to visit the hospital where the victims are being treated and where he will meet their families. The Catholic Church of Thailand also reacted to the deadly incident. It was a shocking event, said Bishop Joseph Pratan Sridarunsil, chairman of the Catholic Office of Social Communication speaking to the Licas news agency. No one could have ever thought it would happen in our country or anywhere in the world, he added. Pope Francis expressed his condolences in a telegram sent to the apostolic nunciature in Bangkok by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. In it, the pontiff offered his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this act of unspeakable violence against innocent children. In imploring divine healing and consolation upon the injured and the grieving families, His Holiness prays that, in this hour of immense sadness, they may draw support and strength from the solidarity of their neighbours and fellow citizens. As the country now enters a period of mourning, Thais are wondering why Panya Khamrab did what he did. A former police officer, he was expelled from the force for violent behaviour and drug addiction. It appears that he did not act only out of personal motives, that his case raises broader, societal issues, such as police and military recruitment and training. In the past, civilians have often been the victims of violent acts by police and the military unbecoming of their role. One of the most recent was the killing of 29 civilians and the wounding of 58 more on 8 and 9 February 2020 in Nakhon Ratchasima by a soldier who had fallen out with his superiors. Unstable behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse, and poor working conditions are too often underestimated, while power over civilians can encourage overbearing attitudes and abuses. The other question concerns the availability of weapons, even more so by individuals already reported for being a problem within the security apparatus. Add to that, a culture of taking the law in ones own hands has developed despite the teachings of Buddhism followed by most Thais. Home Search ICH Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: End War in Ukraine Say 66 Nations at UN General Assembly By Medea Benjamin & Nicolas J.S. Davies October 07, 2022: Information Clearing House -- We have spent the past week reading and listening to speeches by world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York. Most of them condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter and a serious setback for the peaceful world order that is the UNs founding and defining principle. But what has not been reported in the United States is that leaders from 66 countries, mainly from the Global South, also used their General Assembly speeches to call urgently for diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine through peaceful negotiations, as the UN Charter requires. We have compiled excerpts from the speeches of all 66 countries to show the breadth and depth of their appeals, and we highlight a few of them here. African leaders echoed one of the first speakers, Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, who also spoke in his capacity as the current chairman of the African Union when he said, We call for de-escalation and a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, as well as for a negotiated solution, to avoid the catastrophic risk of a potentially global conflict. The 66 nations that called for peace in Ukraine make up more than a third of the countries in the world, and they represent most of the Earths population, including India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brazil and Mexico. While NATO and EU countries have rejected peace negotiations, and U.S. and U.K. leaders have actively undermined them, five European countries Hungary, Malta, Portugal, San Marino and the Vatican joined the calls for peace at the General Assembly. The peace caucus also includes many of the small countries that have the most to lose from the failure of the UN system revealed by recent wars in Ukraine and the Greater Middle East, and who have the most to gain by strengthening the UN and enforcing the UN Charter to protect the weak and restrain the powerful. Philip Pierre, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, a small island state in the Caribbean, told the General Assembly, Articles 2 and 33 of the UN Charter are unambiguous in binding Member States to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and to negotiate and settle all international disputes by peaceful means.We therefore call upon all parties involved to immediately end the conflict in Ukraine, by undertaking immediate negotiations to permanently settle all disputes in accordance with the principles of the United Nations. Global South leaders lamented the breakdown of the UN system, not just in the war in Ukraine but throughout decades of war and economic coercion by the United States and its allies. President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste directly challenged the Wests double standards, telling Western countries, They should pause for a moment to reflect on the glaring contrast in their response to the wars elsewhere where women and children have died by the thousands from wars and starvation. The response to our beloved Secretary-Generals cries for help in these situations have not met with equal compassion. As countries in the Global South, we see double standards. Our public opinion does not see the Ukraine war the same way it is seen in the North. Many leaders called urgently for an end to the war in Ukraine before it escalates into a nuclear war that would kill billions of people and end human civilization as we know it. The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, warned, the war in Ukraine not only undermines the nuclear non-proliferation regime, but also presents us with the danger of nuclear devastation, either through escalation or accident. To avoid a nuclear disaster, it is vital that there be serious engagement to find a peaceful outcome to the conflict. Others described the economic impacts already depriving their people of food and basic necessities, and called on all sides, including Ukraines Western backers, to return to the negotiating table before the wars impacts escalate into multiple humanitarian disasters across the Global South. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh told the Assembly, We want the end of the Russia-Ukraine war. Due to sanctions and counter-sanctions, the entire mankind, including women and children, is punished. Its impact does not remain confined to one country, rather it puts the lives and livelihoods of the people of all nations in greater risk, and infringes their human rights. People are deprived of food, shelter, healthcare and education. Children suffer the most in particular. Their future sinks into darkness. My urge to the conscience of the world: stop the arms race, stop the war and sanctions. Ensure food, education, healthcare and security of the children. Establish peace. Turkey, Mexico and Thailand each offered their own approaches to restarting peace negotiations, while Sheikh Al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, succinctly explained that delaying negotiations will only bring more death and suffering: We are fully aware of the complexities of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the international and global dimension to this crisis. However, we still call for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, because this is ultimately what will happen regardless of how long this conflict will go on for. Perpetuating the crisis will not change this result. It will only increase the number of casualties, and it will increase the disastrous repercussions on Europe, Russia and the global economy. Responding to Western pressure on the Global South to actively support Ukraines war effort, Indias Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, claimed the moral high ground and championed diplomacy, As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, each time, is straight and honest. India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles. We are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out. We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, even as they stare at escalating costs of food, fuel and fertilizers. It is therefore in our collective interest to work constructively, both within the United Nations and outside, in finding an early resolution to this conflict. One of the most passionate and eloquent speeches was delivered by Congolese Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso, who summarized the thoughts of many, and appealed directly to Russia and Ukrainewith parts of his speech in Russian. Because of the considerable risk of a nuclear disaster for the entire planet, not only those involved in this conflict but also those foreign powers who could influence events by calming them down, should all temper their zeal. They must stop fanning the flames and they must turn their backs on this type of vanity of the powerful which has so far closed the door to dialogue. Under the auspices of the United Nations, we must all commit without delay to peace negotiationsjust, sincere and equitable negotiations. After Waterloo, we know that since the Vienna Congress, all wars finish around the table of negotiation. The world urgently needs these negotiations to prevent the current confrontations which are already so devastating to prevent them from going even further and pushing humanity into what could be an irredeemable cataclysm, a widespread nuclear war beyond the control of the great powers themselves the war, about which Einstein, the great atomic theorist, said that it would be the last battle that humans would fight on Earth. Nelson Mandela, a man of eternal forgiveness, said that peace is a long road, but it has no alternative, it has no price. In reality, the Russians and Ukrainians have no other choice but to take this path, the path of peace. Moreover, we too should go with them, because we must throughout the world be legions working together in solidarity, and we must be able to impose the unconditional option of peace on the war lobbies. [Next three paragraphs in Russian]: Now I wish to be direct, and directly address my dear Russian and Ukrainian friends. Too much blood has been spilledthe sacred blood of your sweet children. Its time to stop this mass destruction. Its time to stop this war. The entire world is watching you. Its time to fight for life, the same way that you courageously and selflessly fought together against the Nazis during World War Two, in particular in Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kursk and Berlin. Think about the youth of your two countries. Think about the fate of your future generations. The time has come to fight for peace, to fight for them. Please give peace a real chance, today, before it is too late for us all. I humbly ask this of you. At the end of the debate on September 26, Csaba Korosi, the president of the General Assembly, acknowledged in his closing statement that ending the war in Ukraine was one of the main messages reverberating through the Hall at this years General Assembly. You can read here Korosis closing statement and all the calls for peace he was referring to. And if you want to join the legions working together in solidarity to impose the unconditional option of peace on the war lobbies, as Jean-Claude Gakosso said, you can learn more at https://www.peaceinukraine.org/ Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Get Our Free Newsletter Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. The Synodal Conference of the Church of Turkey is scheduled to take place this weekend in Ephesus and Izmir, with meetings, prayers and a solemn Eucharistic celebration. Bishop Bizzeti will take stock of the work accomplished so far and the urgencies for the future. Families as the first place to cultivate the faith, more "impetus" is needed to "make Christianity known". The knot tied to the Treaty of Lausanne. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Formation of the laity, integration of neophytes into traditional communities, overcoming a clerical Church and the urgency of giving birth to and consolidating a diocesan reality that integrates a Church "hitherto tied to religious orders". These are the themes that have emerged in the synodal journey made so far by the Catholic community of Turkey, as Monsignor Paolo Bizzeti, apostolic vicar of Anatolia and president of the local Caritas, tells AsiaNews on the eve of the conference scheduled to take place in Ephesus and Izmir on 8 and 9 October. "The Turkish Church," the prelate emphasised, "is going through a phase of great vivacity, thanks also to the presence of young bishops full of enthusiasm, and people who want to get involved. At the same time, there is a situation of great fragility'. For the vicar of Anatolia, the issue of being a "minority without legal recognition" remains central, which makes "our situation and condition always very precarious". Paying the highest price are "Syrian [Christian] refugees, who cannot open chapels and places of prayer, meeting and aggregation centres especially for young people" who risk being the most marginalised. In recent months, the Turkish Christian communities, in communion with the world Church, have "deepened" the synodal path desired by Pope Francis, encouraging the "active participation" of all the faithful. In a message presenting the two-day Synodal Conference of the Church of Turkey, Archbishop Martin Kmetec, archbishop of Izmir and president of the Bishops' Conference, called for active participation in an event "of great importance". On the calendar are prayers, meetings, round tables on the topics of greatest interest and a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the end of the conference, which aims to contribute to the growth "in discernment" of the local Church. In recent months, the Catholics have embarked on a synodal path, which then resulted in a document sent to Rome. "We felt," said the vicar of Anatolia when presenting the two-day event, "the usefulness of bringing together people who have participated in the journey, representatives of each diocese" with whom to elaborate "a vision of the work accomplished and an opportunity to recount what is happening in the Church in Turkey". Among the faithful there is great enthusiasm in participating in 'celebrations and festivities', but there is still a lack of 'a certain enthusiasm in making Christianity known, in taking responsibility' in the face of a Church that is still too 'reliant on its pastors'. Alongside this is the issue of the "neophytes, the refugees" who show a "great vivacity" while the "problem of formation remains unresolved, especially of priests who are often not prepared for evangelisation but only for the administration of the sacraments". "It is not enough," he adds, "to take care of a flock that is already settled, but here in Turkey, as elsewhere in the world, we need people capable of giving birth to and rethinking communities" in a Church that has a great "variety of charisms. The laity must be less passive and more prepared, living first of all a domestic Church and a faith within families" that are "the first protagonists of evangelisation". The Turkish Church still has many unresolved needs, such as the lack of human and economic resources, but at the same time it has a treasure that is not only the places of the past that pilgrims come to visit, but which is represented by the "living communities themselves. It would be nice,' says Monsignor Bizzeti, 'to increase the opportunities for knowledge and encounters, the exchange of gifts, moments of study and in-depth analysis of the different realities, such as the Syriac Church, which represents a true 'third lung' of Christianity with its theology and its vivacity'. At the meeting in Ephesus, the next stages of the synodal path will be outlined, giving continuity to the journey. Part of the problems of the Church in Turkey are connected to "institutional issues", concludes the prelate, who hopes that on the occasion of the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne "there can be a revision in the relations that are currently frozen between the Turkish State and the Catholic Church, so that there can be full recognition [also juridical] of the community". Email Newsletters Get the best of The Aspen Daily News in your inbox. Our newsletters are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Manufacturing officials are hitting the road for a statewide bus tour to talk about the importance of manufacturing in Illinois. The Illinois Manufacturers Association is hosting the bus tour, which will travel to nearly every region of the state. IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler said not only do they plan to visit manufacturing facilities, but also schools and colleges to highlight job opportunities in the sector. Probably the biggest challenge that manufacturers face is finding qualified workers so we have to change the perception that manufacturing is not dark, dirty and dangerous, Denzler said. Manufacturing today is high-tech and clean and sustainable. Denzler points to a recent study that found the total economic impact on manufacturing in Illinois is estimated to be around $600 billion every year, the largest share of any industry to the states Gross Domestic Product. It is estimated the manufacturing industry supports nearly 30% of all jobs in Illinois, making it among the states largest industry sectors. Two new manufacturing academies are scheduled to open this fall, and there is a new law that will require all high schools to offer career and technical education by 2025. There is also an apprenticeship tax credit for manufacturers that train employees. Manufacturing and factory jobs have skyrocketed across the U.S. Manufacturers cut 1.3 million jobs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But since then, the most recent jobs report revealed there are almost 13 million people with manufacturing jobs, the most since November 2008. The IMA bus tour runs through Oct. 14, and will stop in numerous cities, including Decatur, Bloomington, Carbondale and Springfield. The manufacturing workforce is a major part of our competitive advantage here in Illinois, said David Boulay, president of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. Traveling across the state to celebrate the past, present and future of the manufacturing industry can bring awareness to the accomplishments, opportunities and needs of the industry to build a better tomorrow. We thank The Center Square for reprint permission. We all know the answer to that. It could have caught on and sold more units. Unfortunately, theyd be everywhere, abused and neglected, and junkyard finds like these wouldnt be interesting.That doesnt mean the Chevy El Camino wasnt appreciated. If anything, it slowly continued to grow to capture its fan base. Whats best, General Motors offered variable powerplant options on this coupe utility car.Chris of Nononsenseknowhow YouTube channel recently stumbled upon a junkyard 1974 El Camino. It had a 350 small block engine and 87,983 miles (141,451 kilometers) and had been sitting for about 20 years. Like the classic car fanatic he is, the plan was to get it running by the end of his visit.What else I do know about this is the engine rotates freely, and he did have it fired up on some starter fluid spitting and sputtering. So, feeling pretty confident, Chris said.Chris was hoping to get this classic running perfectly in time for the Duct Tape Drag event that took place over the weekend at the Tucson Dragway in Arizona.As youd expect, this El Camino had a few issues. Even though the previous owner said the engine turned over, it didnt have a trustworthy fuel tank, it had a couple of rust holes, a faulty master cylinder, and the tires were worn to the belts.The 74 El Camino was a straight shot runner and didnt take a lot of work to fire. After hooking up an auxiliary fuel tank, it roared back to life. Still, the carburetor needed a replacement kit before it could run perfectly. And even after firing, this ol' girl still needed some valve work and transmission service.We recommend catching the rest of that action in the video below. Theres a lot to learn about getting an abandoned classic running. The Denver, Colorado, based Boom Technology and their Overture Supersonic Transport (SST) concept vehicle seemed on a fast track to honor Concorde's legacy when they paired with Rolls Royce in 2020. The same company that was part of the team helped build the Olympus 593 turbojets found on Concorde. But after two and a half years of investigating the viability of providing engines for the Boom Overture, Rolls-Royce decided that proceeding forward was not in their best interest."After careful consideration, Rolls-Royce has determined that the commercial aviation supersonic market is not currently a priority for us and, therefore, will not pursue further work on the program at this time." Declared an official press statement from Rolls-Royce. "It has been a pleasure to work with the Boom team, and we wish them every success in the future." For all the pleasantries and formalities of that announcement, it can't be denied this puts Boom Technologies in an especially perilous situation.To understand why Boom Technologies is having such a hard time finding suiters to supply Overture with an engine, you need to have an understanding of the history of supersonic transport jet projects. There's a good reason only one airframe ever managed to perform supersonic airliner service with any success. The stresses and forces of a supersonic flight on an airplane can never be underestimated.In the distant past, even approaching the sound barrier used to rip the wings off of any airplane, military, airliner, or otherwise. There's a reason supersonic military jets are often several hundred billion dollar projects. We're looking at you, F-22 and F-35. Quips about overinflated military budgets aside, transferring this technology into a passenger airline service intended to carry high-paying passengers in abject luxury, that's a level of refinement that would drive all but the most generationally talented engineers to madness.Be it Boeing and Lockheed in America or Tupolev in the Soviet Union, all tried and failed to bring a Concorde rival to market. Only the Soviets managed to get one into service, the Tu-144 "Concordski." Safe to say, trying to build an SST the Soviet way only made Concordski an infernally awful airplane to take a flight on.It was so noisy that communication could only be done through handwritten notes, and it looked more like a nuclear bomber than it did an airliner. That's probably because the company that built the Tu-144 airliner also built supersonic strategic bombers for the Soviet Air Force. Meanwhile, Lockheed and their L-2000 concept, and Boeing with their 2707, both canceled their supersonic transport projects before they'd even left the mockup phase. Opting not to bother attempting to build them, then try to cut corners and embarrass themselves as the Soviets did.It didn't matter that Boeing, Lockheed, and Tupolev were all massive government-subsidized design firms. All the R&D in the world wasn't going to make supersonic passenger service financially viable. If not for a horrific crash on takeoff in 2003, the Concorde itself would have been doomed to retirement regardless. A lack of profits and high costs were due to be the justification. The tragic accident was merely a rubber stamp on actions already decided.And so, that brings us back to Boom, who, despite everything we just said, and with the catastrophic ghosting by Rolls Royce a very open wound, maintain they will find a suitable replacement jet engine supplier in time to continue development next year. Could it be an American firm like Pratt & Whitney or General Electric? Or perhaps Safran Aircraft Engines, the successor organization to Snecma, the other half of the team behind Concorde's engines.Would Boom Technologies be so desperate to use a Chinese firm if it came down to life and death ? In truth, only time will tell. In the meantime, we, in all genuineness, wish the Boom Technologies team the best of luck. The Zoomer generation deserves their Concorde moment. As of right now, Boom is still the closest to achieving that goal. SUV The auto industry knows plenty of examples of design or engineering mistakes that turned into costly affairs. These mistakes are often fixed with a recall, but sometimes the automaker might think ignoring the problem brings more benefits. That happens when fixing a problem for every affected vehicle is too costly for the carmaker. In this case, the companies bet that not everyone asks for compensation. Even if it turns into a nasty class-action lawsuit, the compensation might be worthy.This appears to be the case with the lawsuit filed in 2016 by the owners of certain Chevrolet and GMCand truck models. Their complaint was about the Generation IV Vortec engines that powered Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon XL. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the engines had a defect that caused them to use too much oil and allowed oil to reach parts of the engine where it did not belong, causing damage. General Motors have become aware of the problem by 2010 when it recommended its dealers clean the engines pistons to address the issue. This clearly didnt work because the company made design changes to the engine in 2011. The problems, which caused the engines to stall or break down prematurely, continued despite the changes, so GM decided to discontinue the LS9 after the 2014 model year.Now, a federal court jury in California has ordered GM to pay $102.6 to the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit . The winning class includes owners and lessees of SUVs and trucks sold from 2011 to 2014 in California, North Carolina, and Idaho. The verdict handed down on Tuesday means that each of the roughly 38,000 class members would get $2,700 if the verdict survives appeal. According to Automotive News , GM plans to appeal this verdict, saying that it did not believe the verdict was supported by the evidence. A 2JZ swap on a 240SX might be off-brand, but its nothing uncommon. If youve been following our stories, you probably watched a 1999 C5 Corvette pull a gangster move on a 2JZ-GTE swapped Nissan 240SX.On a recent upload, David Patterson, aka ThatDudeInBlue on YouTube, featured a deathtrap 800-hp (811-ps) Nissan 240SX S14 that would get vengeance on whatever Corvette you throw at it. An MK4 Supra stroker tuned to the max is at the heart of it.Besides packing the killer JDM 90s stroker, it has fully built aluminum rod Induction Performance pistons, semi-built heads, and still runs on stock valves. It also features an R154 dog box with a Q45 differential (multiple axles). Simply put, its a fully custom-built 240SX.If thats not enough, this 240SX also has a 340-gear ratio. According to the owner, Sean, it can pull about 170 mph (274 kph) in fourth gear (90 mph/145 kph in seconds). It also has a custom turbo manifold with a hood exit from Humble Engineering. Its running a 1450 Pulsar turbo.I spent many, many hours doing trades, I started with $1,500, and I ended up with this. Except, I ended up with this car with the JZ in it. But Ive probably spent like sixty thousand dollars, Sean explained how he ended up with the 2JZ 240SX.Sean brags that his gnarly build 240SX owned a Kawasaki ZX-14R in a recent event.Whats really amazing is that it hooks. I was really surprised. I was getting ready to put inputs, like small inputs, in the steering wheel, and when it went straight, thats why I hit the limiter, and I was like, oh, were going straight, Patterson said after a couple of pulls behind the wheel.Catch the rest of the conversation and raw ripping action in the video below. There's no doubt Seans 2JZ-Swapped 240SX is a beast on asphalt. October 07, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Common Dreams " Donald Trump has had the urge to crush many things, including the last election. So I must admit I found it eerily amusing that, when the FBI entered his estate at Mar-a-Lago recently, they did so under a warrant authorized by the Espionage Act of 1917. History certainly has a strange way of returning in our world and also of crushing alternatives. Whatever Trump did, that act has a sorry track record in both its own time and ours when it has been used, including by his administration, to silence the leakers of government information. And because my latest book, American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and America's Forgotten Crisis, is about the crushing of alternatives a century ago in this country, in the midst of all this, I couldn't help thinking about a part of our history that The Donald would undoubtedly have been the first to crush, if he had the chance. But let me start with a personal event closer to the present. While visiting Denmark recently, I developed an infection in my hand and wanted to see a doctor. The hotel in the provincial city where I was staying directed me to a local hospital. I was quickly shown into a consulting room, where a nurse questioned me and told me to wait. Only a few minutes passed before a physician entered the room, examined me, and said in excellent English, yes, indeed, I did need an antibiotic. He promptly swiveled in his chair, opened a cabinet behind him, took out a bottle of pills, handed it to me, and told me to take two a day for 10 days. When I thanked him and asked where I should go to pay for the consultation and the medicine, he responded simply, "We have no facilities for that." No facilities for that. It's a phrase that comes back to me every time I'm reminded how, in the world's richest nation, we still don't have full national health insurance. And that's far from the only thing we're missing. In a multitude of ways, we're known for having a far weaker social safety net than many other wealthy countries and behind that lies a history in which the Espionage Act played a crucial role. A Danish friend who visited with me recently was appalled to find hundreds of homeless people living in tent encampments in Berkeley and Oakland, California. And mind you, this is a progressive, prosperous state. The poor are even more likely to fall through the cracks (or chasms) in many other states. Visitors from abroad are similarly astonished to discover that American families regularly pay astronomical college tuitions out of their own pockets. And it's not only well-off European countries that do better in providing for their citizenry. The average Costa Rican, with one-sixth the annual per capita income of his or her North American counterpart, will live two years longer, thanks largely to that country's comprehensive national health care system. Why hasn't our country done better, compared to so many others? There are certainly many reasons, not least among them the relentless, decades-long propaganda barrage from the American right, painting every proposed strengthening of public health and welfarefrom unemployment insurance to Social Security to Medicare to Obamacareas an ominous step down the road to socialism. This is nonsense, of course, since the classic definition of socialism is public ownership of the means of production, an agenda item not on any imaginable American political horizon. In another sense, though, the charge is historically accurate because, both here and abroad, significant advances in health and welfare have often been spearheaded by socialist parties. The globe's first national healthcare system, in Imperial Germany, was, for example, muscled through the Reichstag by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1883 precisely to outflank the German socialists, who had long been advocating similar measures. Nor was it surprising that Britain's National Health Service was installed by the Labour Party when it took power after the Second World War. And in the United States, early in the last century, some of President Theodore Roosevelt's modest moves to regulate business and break up trusts were, in fact, designed to steal a march on this country's socialists, whom he feared, as he wrote to a friend, were "far more ominous than any populist or similar movement in times past." Back thenhowever surprising it may seem todaythe American Socialist Party was indeed part of our political reality and, in 1904, it had come out in favor of compulsory national health insurance. A dozen years after that, New York Socialist Congressman Meyer London introduced a bill strikingly similar to the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act of more than a century later. In 1911, another socialist congressman, Victor Berger of Wisconsin, proposed a national old-age pension, a goal that wouldn't be realized for another quarter of a century with the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935. Socialism was never as strong a movement in the United States as in so many other countries. Still, once it was at least a force to be reckoned with. Socialists became mayors of cities as disparate as Milwaukee, Pasadena, Schenectady, and Toledo. Party members held more than 175 state and local offices in Oklahoma alone. People commonly point to 1912 as the party's high-water mark. That year, its candidate for president, Eugene V. Debs, won 6% of the popular vote, even running ahead of the Republican candidate in several states. Still, the true peak of American socialism's popularity came a few years later. The charismatic Debs decided not to run again in 1916, mistakenly accepting President Woodrow Wilson's implied promise to keep the United States out of the First World Warsomething most Socialists cared about passionately. In April 1917, Wilson infuriated them by bringing the country into what had been, until then, primarily a European conflict, while cracking down fiercely on dissidents who opposed his decision. That fall, however, the Socialists made impressive gains in municipal elections, winning more than 20% of the vote in 14 of the country's larger citiesmore than 30% in several of themand 10 seats in the New York State Assembly. During that campaign, Wilson was particularly dismayed by the party's popularity in New York City, where Socialist lawyer Morris Hillquit was running for mayor. The president asked his conservative Texan attorney general, Thomas Gregory, what could be done about Hillquit's "outrageous utterances" against the war. Gregory responded that he feared prosecuting Hillquit "would enable him to pose as a martyr and would be likely to increase his voting strength. I am having my representatives in New York City watch the situation rather carefully, and if a point is reached where he can be proceeded against it will give me a great deal of pleasure." Hillquit lost, but did get 22% of the vote. Jubilant Socialists knew that if they did equally well in the 1918 midterm elections, their national vote total could for the first time rise into the millions. For Wilson, whose Democrats controlled the House of Representatives by the narrowest of margins, the possibility of Socialists gaining the balance of power there was horrifying. And so, already at war in Europe, his administration in effect declared war on the Socialists at home as well, using as its primary tool Wilson's sweeping criminalization of dissent, the new 1917 Espionage Act. The toll would be devastating. The Government's Axe Falls Already the party's most popular woman, the fiery Kansas-born orator Kate Richards O'Hareknown as Red Kate for her politics and her mass of red hairhad been sentenced to five years under the Espionage Act for speaking out against the war. Still free on appeal, O'Hare, who knew the hardships of farm life firsthand and had run for both the House and the Senate, continued to draw audiences in the thousands when she spoke in the prairie states. Before long, however, her appeal was denied and she was sent to the Jefferson City, Missouri, penitentiary, where she found herself in the adjoining cell to anarchist firebrand Emma Goldman. The two would become lifelong friends. In 1918, the government went after Debs. The pretext was a speech he had given from a park bandstand in Canton, Ohio, following a state convention of his beleaguered party. "They have always taught you that it is your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command," he told the crowd. "But in all the history of the world you, the people, never had a voice in declaring war." That was more than enough. Two weeks later, he was indicted and swiftly brought before a federal judge who just happened to be the former law firm partner of President Wilson's secretary of war. At that trial, Debs spoke words that would long be quoted: "Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest of the earth. I said then, I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free." Spectators gasped as the judge pronounced sentence on the four-time presidential candidate: a fine of $10,000 and 10 years in prison. In the 1920 election, he would still be in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta when he received more than 900,000 votes for president. The government didn't merely prosecute luminaries like O'Hare and Debs however. It also went after rank-and-file party members, not to mention the former Socialist candidates for governor in Minnesota, New Jersey, and South Dakota, as well as state Socialist Party secretaries from at least four states and a former Socialist candidate for Congress from Oklahoma. Almost all of them would be sentenced under the Espionage Act for opposing the war or the draft. Not faintly content with this, the Wilson administration would attack the Socialists on many other fronts as well. There were then more than 100 socialist dailies, weeklies, and monthlies and the Espionage Act gave Wilson's postmaster general, segregationist Albert Burleson of Texas, the power to deem such publications "unmailable." Before long, Burleson would bar from the mail virtually the entire socialist press, which, in the prewar years, had a combined circulation of two million. A few dailies, which did not need the Post Office to reach their readers, survived, but for most of them such a banning was a death blow. The government crippled the socialist movement in many less formal ways as well. For instance, Burleson's post office simply stopped delivering letters to and from the party's Chicago headquarters and some of its state and local offices. The staff of a socialist paper in Milwaukee typically noticed that they were failing to receive business correspondence. Even their mail subscriptions to the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune were no longer arriving. Soon advertising income began to dry up. In the midst of this, Oscar Ameringer, a writer for the paper, called on a longtime supporter, a baker who had suddenly stopped buying ads. According to Ameringer, the man "slumped down in a chair, covered his eyes and, with tears streaming through his fingers, sobbed, 'My God, I can't help itThey told me if I didn't take my advertising out they would refuse me flour, sugar and coal.'" Also taking their cues from the administration in that wartime assault were local politicians and vigilantes who attacked socialist speakers or denied them meeting halls. After progressives and labor union members staged an antiwar march on the Boston Common, for example, vigilantes raided the nearby Socialist Party office, smashed its doors and windows, and threw furniture, papers, and the suitcase of a traveling activist out the shattered windows onto a bonfire. In January 1918, the mayor of Mitchell, South Dakota, ordered the party's state convention broken up and all delegates expelled from town. One party leader was seized "on the streets by five unknown men and hustled into an automobile in which he was driven five miles from town," a local newspaper reported. "There he was set out upon the prairie and told to proceed afoot to his home in Parkston [an 18-mile walk] and warned not to return." The Big "What if?" Question The Socialists were far from alone in suffering the wave of repression that swept the country in Wilson's second term. Other targets included the labor movement, the country's two small rival Communist parties, and thousands of radicals who had never become American citizens and were targeted for deportation. But among all the victims, no organization was more influential than the Socialist Party. And it never recovered. When Debs took to the road again after finally being released from prison in 1921, he was often, at the last minute, denied venues he had booked. In Cleveland, the City Club canceled its invitation; in Los Angeles, the only place he could speak was at the city zoo. Still, he had an easier time than the socialist writer Upton Sinclair who, when he began giving a speech in San Pedro, California, in 1923, was arrested while reading the First Amendment aloud. By the time Debs died in 1926, the party that had once elected 33 state legislators, 79 mayors, and well over 1,000 city council members and other municipal officials had closed most of its offices and was left with less than 10,000 members nationwide. Kate Richards O'Hare wrote to her friend Emma Goldman, who had been deported from the United States in 1919, that she felt herself a "sort of political orphan now with no place to lay my head." Despite their minority status, the Socialists had been a significant force in American politics before patriotic war hysteria brought on an era of repression. Until then, Republican and Democratic legislators had voted for early-twentieth-century reform measures like child labor laws and the income tax in part to stave off demands from the Socialist Party for bigger changes. If that party had remained intact instead of being so ruthlessly crushed, what more might they have voted for? This remains one of the biggest "what ifs" in American history. If the Socialist Party hadn't been so hobbled, might it at least have pushed the mainstream ones into creating the sort of stronger social safety net and national health insurance systems that people today take for granted in countries like Canada or Denmark? Without the Espionage Act, might Donald Trump have been left to rot at Mar-a-Lago in a world in which so much might have been different? The last time you tried to pay a medical bill, might you, in fact, have been told, "We have no facilities for that"? Older Sportsters, on the other hand, are a dime a dozen in customized form. The trick is finding the one that is so unique that it deserves its 15 minutes of fame here on autoevolution. And we believe the one we have here, put together by a Spanish crew called A.C Calella Custom , fits the bill the quite nicely.Called in the shops speak Gladiator, the bike was built with bikes that compete in the different races in the African desert in mind. Thats why it is also called Africa Desert, and why it looks the way it does.The bike started life as a 2007 Sportster 1200R and got transformed into a scrambler-like build through the carefully removal of stock parts, their replacement with custom ones, and some other tricks here and there.Wearing color schemes meant to make it blend in a desert environment, the Harley stocks 60-spoke chrome wheels wrapped in capable-looking Avon tires, backed in their mission by custom-made adjustable suspension.The bodywork, different from stock all over, is in aluminum, while the frame, the stock one, holds the bikes original engine, empowered with the addition of an BSL exhaust system, a Cultwerk master cylinder, and a new air filter.Elsewhere, Kellerman contributed the mini indicators, Kuryakyn the mirrors, and FreeSpirits the levers. The seat was handled by Senen Leather Works, and the paint job was signed by Bip Bip Reparaciones.The Africa Desert was shown by Calella a while back, with no mention on how much it cost to put together. EV In the social media posts, they show and explain how difficult it was to put out the fire from the batteries of a Tesla Model X. The most worrying thing they said was that this issue isnt isolated to this particular vehicle. And that authorities are dealing with EVs catching fire all over Southwest Florida.Its a well-established fact that lithium and water arent friends. If you look at videos about the chemical reaction between a simple AA battery submerged in a bowl of water, youd be amazed. Now bring that up to scale with the massive batteries inside any, add tons of salt water that do extensive damage to them, and you end up with a recipe for disaster.Luckily this time, the damages were only in material form, and no one got injured. Part of the firefighters stayed on the scene for a couple of hours after initially putting out the Tesla, to make sure it didnt spontaneously combust again.This isnt the first case when an electric vehicle catches fire in the wake of a flood or under similar circumstances. There have been numerous accounts in the past that even had less apparent reasons for bursting into flames.Four months ago, a damaged Tesla Model S suffered a similar fate in a junkyard, three weeks after it crashed. Other cases were documented in Germany, Shanghai, San Francisco, and Hong Kong, all from 2019.The firefighters are facing a real problem here with the actual method of putting the fire out. Given that lithium batteries are set ablaze by water alone, some changes within the fire departments are sure to occur in the future, regarding the substance used for dousing the fire To avoid similar incidents, state officials are asking EV owners that had their cars flooded in salt water to get them towed away from structures, where damage to other property could occur. The sum donated to support the non-profit organization will go towards providing temporary shelter for people in need. Furthermore, they will ensure essential items such as food, water, other similar provisions, and required comfort items.Furthermore, Kia Finance America customers that have also been affected by the storm could be eligible for payment relief solutions.The statement didnt go into specifics about how the payment relief solutions actually work, but they have provided the companys customer service line, (866) 331-5632, in order for people to call and find out more about what options could be available for them at the time.By supporting the American Red Cross, Kia is further enforcing its "Accelerate The Good" charitable initiative that has already donated close to $5,000,000 since 2019. Overall, Kia also made donations in areas related to education, medical facilities, and animal welfare.In a recent news article by CNN , Evan Peterson, a Red Cross spokesperson, said that just because a storm like this has passed, it doesnt automatically mean that people are in the clear, but far from it. Those affected still have to deal with the aftermath of it all. And among the natural consequences of the hurricane, there are also malevolent human factors to take into consideration.The Red Cross has also issued a warning about insurance-related scams. The short version is that people should be on the lookout for unsolicited help regarding insurance claims, especially if these people are asking for money upfront.Hurricane Ian started on September 28 and caused damages worth over $60 billion . At the time of writing, over 100 fatalities were reported in the state of Florida. Since it uses the iPhone network, you can find an AirTag almost anywhere, as long as it can connect to a smartphone to send the location to its owner.This is why some people attach an AirTag to the things that are most commonly lost, including not only keys and wallets but also the luggage they check at airports. In theory, AirTags should help find lost baggage much faster and easier, as you can see its location on your iPhone, and thus help an airline track it down in a more straightforward way.But according to Lufthansa, AirTags arent allowed in checked luggage.The airline told a German publication that Apples GPS tracker is classified as a portable electronic device, which means they are considered dangerous goods when transported on aircraft.This means they fall in the same category as smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices, so owners must shut them down before putting them in checked luggage this involves removing the battery completely, even though the AirTag isnt using a rechargeable unit, as its the case of smartphones.Lufthansa, however, seems to be alone in its attempt to ban AirTags in checked luggage, yet its policy would still be enforced on customers.Representatives of airports in Munich, Berlin, and Stuttgart have all been cited as saying that a full ban on the AirTag doesnt exist, but they all confirmed that whenever you check-in, you must comply with the regulations of each airline. In other words, if youre flying on Lufthansa, you must agree with this policy and disable an AirTag before putting it inside a checked bag.It'll be interesting to see if more airlines follow in the footsteps of Lufthansa, but if you thought the era of lugged luggage was over, its pretty clear this isnt the case. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Moon Of Alabama October 07, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Moon Of Alabama " - The Biden administration is spewing ridiculous fear mongering propaganda: Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins - 0:35 UTC Oct 7, 2022 Wow. Biden at a Dem fundraiser tonight: We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis. He says Putin is not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical, nuclear or biological weapons because his military is underperforming. Biden continued with the blunt warnings: I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon. (These quotes from pooler @tparti) Biden going MUCH further than his officials have, from the National Security Council to the Pentagon. They have said they take Russia's threats seriously, but haven't seen any changes in its nuclear posture. Biden invokes Armageddon and says Putin should be taken seriously. A copy of the pool report can be seen here. It quotes Biden as saying: "[Putin] is not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is you might say is significantly underperforming." Fact is that Putin has not talked about the "potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons." Not. At. All. On September 21 Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists. In his TV speech he mentioned nuclear weapons only with regards to 'Western' threats of using them: They have even resorted to the nuclear blackmail. I am referring not only to the Western-encouraged shelling of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which poses a threat of a nuclear disaster, but also to the statements made by some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO countries on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction nuclear weapons against Russia. I would like to remind those who make such statements regarding Russia that our country has different types of weapons as well, and some of them are more modern than the weapons NATO countries have. In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff. The citizens of Russia can rest assured that the territorial integrity of our Motherland, our independence and freedom will be defended I repeat by all the systems available to us. Those who are using nuclear blackmail against us should know that the wind rose can turn around. Note that Putin does not mention Russia's nuclear weapons. He instead empathizes that Russia has new 'different' weapons that are 'more modern' than those of the 'West'. He means hypersonic missiles which can avoid 'western' air defenses and hit decision centers in Brussels, London and Washington even without nuclear warheads. Also for the record: Russia has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons Convention which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological weapons. Russia has also signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. In November 2017 it destroyed its last (Soviet) chemical weapons as mandated by the convention. It is the U.S. that still has not destroyed its chemicial weapons. After Putin's speech some war mongering noise that distorted Putin's speech was made by the White House. A few days later the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Dimitry Medevedev, set the record straight. There are only two distinct conditions under which Russia would ever use nuclear weapons: "Let's imagine that Russia is forced to use the most fearsome weapon against the Ukrainian regime which had committed a large-scale act of aggression that is dangerous for the very existence of our state," Medvedev said in a post on Telegram. Medvedev's remarks quoted the exact terminology of one of the conditions of Russia's nuclear strike doctrine: "aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened". ... "I have to remind you again - for those deaf ears who hear only themselves. Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary," Medvedev said, adding that it would do so "in predetermined cases" and in strict compliance with state policy. Scott Ritter, who knows a bit about nuclear deterrence, has explained Russia's nuclear doctrine: NATO and Ukraine both believe that the Russian forces, even after receiving the 300,000 mobilized troops, will not be able to defeat Ukraine. This inability to achieve the desired objectives, they believe, will compel Russia to resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian targets in order to break the will to resist on the part of the Zelensky government. The reality, however, is that Russian nuclear doctrine does not allow for such a scenario. Indeed, there are only two conditions where Russian nuclear doctrine permits the employment of nuclear weapons. No 1. [I]n response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, the 2020 Russian Nuclear Posture document states, or No 2. in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy. U.S. nuclear posture, however, does allow it. All the war mongering talk and reports about Russia's alleged threat of nuclear weapon use in Ukraine is totally unfounded. That 'western' media suddenly engage in it shows that it is part of a well directed propaganda campaign. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The sabotage of the two Nord Stream pipelines leaves Europeans certain to be much poorer and colder this winter, and was an act of international vandalism on an almost unimaginable scale. The attacks severed Russian gas supplies to Europe and caused the release of enormous quantities of methane gas, the prime offender in global warming. This is why no one is going to take responsibility for the crime and most likely no one will ever be found definitively culpable. Nonetheless, the level of difficulty and sophistication in setting off blasts at three separate locations on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines overwhelmingly suggests a state actor, or actors, was behind it. Western coverage of the attacks has been decidedly muted, given that this hostile assault on the globes energy infrastructure is unprecedented overshadowing even the 9/11 attacks. The reason why there appears to be so little enthusiasm to explore this catastrophic event in detail beyond pointing a finger in Russias direction is not difficult to deduce. It is hard to think of a single reason why Moscow would wish to destroy its own energy pipelines, valued at $20 billion, or allow in seawater, possibly corroding them irreversibly. The attacks deprive Russia of its main gas supply lines to Europe and with it, vital future revenues while leaving the field open to competitors. Moscow loses its only significant leverage over Germany, its main buyer in Europe and at the heart of the European project, when it needs such leverage most, as it faces down concerted efforts by the United States and Europe to drive Russian soldiers out of Ukraine. Even any possible temporary advantage Moscow might have gained by demonstrating its ruthlessness and might to Europe could have been achieved just as effectively by simply turning off the spigot to stop supplies. Media taboo This week, distinguished economist Jeffrey Sachs was invited on Bloomberg TV to talk about the pipeline attacks. He broke a taboo among Western elites by citing evidence suggesting that the US, rather than Russia, was the prime suspect. Professor Jeffrey Sachs [Columbia] on Bloomberg causing chaos saying US was most likely involved in Nordstream leaks according to data & other experts even reporters tell me . privately of course and that we are on a pretty dangerous path to a nuclear conflict pic.twitter.com/U6FsC2tdp6 detty (@0ddette) October 3, 2022 Western media like the Associated Press have tried to foreclose such a line of thinking by calling it a baseless conspiracy theory and Russian disinformation. But, as Sachs pointed out, there are good reasons to suspect the U.S. above Russia. There is, for example, the threat to Russia made by U.S. president Joe Biden back in early February, that there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2 were Ukraine to be invaded. Questioned by a reporter about how that would be possible, Biden asserted: I promise you, we will be able to do that. Biden was not speaking out of turn or off the cuff. At the same time, Victoria Nuland, a senior diplomat in the Biden administration, issued Russia much the same warning, telling reporters: If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward. That is the same Nuland who was intimately involved back in 2014 in behind-the-scenes maneuvers by the U.S. to help overthrow an elected Ukrainian government that led to the installation of one hostile to Moscow. It was that coup that triggered a combustible mix of outcomes Kyivs increasing flirtation with NATO, as well as a civil war in the east between Ukrainian ultra-nationalists and ethnic Russian communities that provided the chief rationale for President Vladimir Putins later invasion. And for those still puzzled by what motive the U.S. might have for perpetrating such an outrage, Nulands boss helpfully offered an answer last Friday. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken described the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, and the consequent environmental catastrophe, as offering tremendous strategic opportunity for the years to come. Blinken set out a little too clearly the cui bono who profits? argument, suggesting that Biden and Nulands earlier remarks were not just empty, pre-invasion posturing by the White House. Blinken celebrated the fact that Europe would be deprived of Russian gas for the foreseeable future and, with it, Putins leverage over Germany and other European states. Before the blasts, the danger for Washington had been that Moscow might be able to advance favorable negotiations over Ukraine rather than perpetuate a war Bidens defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, has already stated is designed to weaken Russia at least as much as liberate Ukraine. Or, as Blinken phrased it, the attacks were a tremendous opportunity once and for all to remove the dependence on Russian energy, and thus to take away from Vladimir Putin the weaponization of energy as a means of advancing his imperial designs. Though Blinken did not mention it, it was also a tremendous opportunity to make Europe far more dependent on the U.S. for its gas supplies, shipped by sea at much greater cost to Europe than through Russias pipelines. American energy firms may well be the biggest beneficiaries from the explosions. Meddling in Ukraine U.S. hostility towards Russian economic ties with Europe is not new. Long before Russias invasion, Washington had been quite openly seeking ways to block the Nord Stream pipelines. One of Blinkens recent predecessors, Condoleezza Rice, expressed the Washington consensus way back in 2014 at the same time as Nuland was recorded secretly meddling in Ukraine, discussing who should be installed as president in place of the elected Ukrainian government that was about to be ousted in a coup. Speaking to German TV, Rice said the Russian economy was vulnerable to sanctions because 80% of its exports were energy-related. Proving how wrong-headed American foreign policy predictions often are, she asserted confidently: People say the Europeans will run out of energy. Well, the Russians will run out of cash before the Europeans run out of energy. Breaking Europes reliance on Russian energy was, in Rices words, one of the few instruments we have Over the long term, you simply want to change the structure of energy dependence. She added: You [Germany] want to depend more on the North American energy platform, the tremendous bounty of oil and gas that were finding in North America. You want to have pipelines that dont go through Ukraine and Russia. Now, the sabotage of Nord Stream 1 and 2 has achieved a major US foreign-policy goal overnight. It has also preempted the pressure building in Germany, through mass protests and mounting business opposition, that might have seen Berlin reverse course on European sanctions on Russia and revive gas supplies a shift that would have undermined Washingtons goal of weakening Putin. Now, the protests are redundant. German politicians cannot cave in to popular demands when there is no pipeline through which they can supply their population with Russian gas. Thank you, USA One can hardly be surprised that European leaders are publicly blaming Russia for the pipeline attacks. After all, Europe falls under the US security umbrella and Russia has been designated by Washington as Official Enemy No 1. But almost certainly, major European capitals are drawing different conclusions in private. Like Sachs, their officials are examining the circumstantial evidence, considering the statements of self-incrimination from Biden and other officials, and weighing the cui bono arguments. And like Sachs, they are most likely inferring that the prime suspect in this case is the US or, at the very least, that Washington authorized an ally to act on its behalf. Just as no European leader would dare to publicly accuse the US of carrying out the attacks, none would dare stage such an attack without first getting the nod from Washington. That was evidently the view of Radek Sikorski, the former foreign and defence minister of Poland, who tweeted a Thank you, USA with an image of the bubbling seas where one pipeline was ruptured. Sikorski, it should be noted, is as well-connected in Washington as he is in Poland, a European state bitterly hostile to Moscow as well as its pipelines. His wife, Anne Applebaum, is a staff writer at The Atlantic magazine and an influential figure in US policy circles who has long advocated for NATO and EU expansion into Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Sikorski hurriedly took down the tweet after it went viral. But if Washington is the chief suspect in blowing up the pipelines, how should Europe read its relations with the US in the light of that deduction? And what does such sabotage indicate to Europes leaders about how Washington might perceive the stakes in Europe? The answers are not pretty. Demand for fealty If the US was behind the attacks, it suggests not only that Washington is taking the Ukraine war into new, more dangerous territory, ready to risk drawing Moscow into a round of tit-for-tats that could quickly escalate into a nuclear confrontation. It also suggests that ties between the US and Europe have entered a decisive new stage, too. Or put another way, Washington would have done more than move out of the shadows, turning its proxy war in Ukraine into a more direct, hot war with Russia. It would indicate that the US is willing to turn the whole of Europe into a battlefield, and bully, betray and potentially sacrifice the continents population as cruelly as it has traditionally treated weak allies in the Global South. In that regard, the pipeline ruptures are most likely interpreted by European leaders as a signal: that they should not dare to consider formulating their own independent foreign policy, or contemplate defying Washington. The attacks indicate that the US requires absolute fealty, that Europe must prostrate itself before Washington and accept whatever dictates it imposes. That would amount to a dramatic reversal of the Marshall Plan, Washingtons ambitious funding of the rebuilding of Western Europe after the Second World War, chiefly as a way to restore the market for rapidly expanding US industries. By contrast, this act of sabotage strangles Europe economically, driving it into recession, deepening its debt and making it a slave to US energy supplies. Effectively, the Biden administration would have moved from offering European elites juicy carrots to now wielding a very large stick at them. Pitiless aggression For those reasons, European leaders may be unwilling to contemplate that their ally across the Atlantic could behave in such a cruel manner against them. The implications are more than unsettling. The conclusion European leaders would be left to draw is that the only justification for such pitiless aggression is that the US is maneuvering to avoid the collapse of its post-war global dominance, the end of its military and economic empire. Share The destruction of the pipelines would have to be understood as an act of desperation: a last-ditch preemption by Washington of the loss of its hegemony as Russia, China and others find common cause to challenge the American behemoth, and a ferocious blow against Europe to hammer home the message that it must not stray from the fold. At the same time, it would shine a different, clearer light on the events that have been unfolding in and around Ukraine in recent years: NATOs relentless expansion across Eastern Europe despite expert warnings that it would eventually provoke Russia. Biden and Nulands meddling to help oust an elected Ukrainian government sympathetic to Moscow. The cultivation of a militarized Ukrainian ultra-nationalism pitted against Russia that led to bloody civil war against Ukraines own ethnic Russian communities. And NATOs exclusive focus on escalating the war through arms supplies to Ukraine rather than pursuing and incentivizing diplomacy. None of these developments can be stripped out of a realistic assessment of why Russia responded by invading Ukraine. Europeans have been persuaded that they must give unflinching moral and military support to Ukraine because it is the last rampart defending their homeland from a merciless Russian imperialism. But the attack on the pipelines hints at a more complex story, one in which European publics need to stop fixing their gaze exclusively at Russia, and turn round to understand what has been happening behind their backs. Jonathan Cook is a Nazareth- based journalist and winner of the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism. No one pays him to write these blog posts. If you appreciated it, please consider visiting his website and make a donation to support his work. https://www.jonathan-cook.net/supporting-jonathan/ - Click here to support Jonathan's work. Indonesian activists in Jakarta carry a banner protesting against Chinas treatment of ethnic Uyghur people and calling for a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Jan. 4, 2022. The U.N.s human rights body should not be used for purposes of political rivalry, Indonesia said Friday after it voted against a U.S.-led proposal to debate Chinas alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority. The 19-17 vote by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday drew an angry response from Uyghur and other human rights advocates, who accused governments in the voting majority of pandering to China. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Islamic-majority country, was among council members that voted to block discussion of a United Nations report, which found Beijings abuses against the Uyghur community could constitute crimes against humanity. Other nations rejecting the proposal included Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. The Gambia, Libya and Malaysia were among 11 countries abstaining. Achsanul Habib, director of human rights and humanitarian affairs at Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the council should be an inclusive forum for countries to have impartial dialogue and not [be] selective in its approach to human rights issues. We voted no because we dont want the politicization of the Human Rights Council, [for it] to be used for the purpose of political rivalry, he told a news conference. In this regard, Indonesia also cooperates, coordinates and consults with all parties, including with the countries that support [the proposal], with western countries and China. The call for discussion followed an August United Nations report that said Chinas repression of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. The report said serious human rights violations had been committed in XUAR in the context of the Chinese governments application of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies. Chinese regional authorities are believed to have held close to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017. Febrian Ruddyard, Indonesias permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, explained the no vote by saying the human rights council should focus on building an environment that encourages all countries to fulfill their human rights obligations. We believe the approach taken by the council today will not yield meaningful progress especially because it does not enjoy the consent and support of the concerned country, he told council members. Based on these reasons we are therefore not in a position to support the draft decision regarding the convening of a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Meanwhile, China accused Western countries of propagating falsehoods, insisting that issues related to Xinjiang are about countering violent terrorism, radicalization and separatism. For some time now, the U.S. and some other Western countries have been misinforming the public about Xinjiang and seeking political manipulation in the name of human rights simply to smear Chinas image and contain Chinas development, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement posted Thursday on its website. Refusing to stand on the right side of history Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, alleged that China was using the pretext of religious extremism to carry out atrocities against the Uyghur minority. China has carried out its genocide against Uyghurs largely because of Uyghurs belief in Islam. Basically, China has declared war on Islam and has been attacking Islamic beliefs and values, he told Radio Free Asia (RFA), an online news service affiliated with BenarNews. For Muslim countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and UAE to vote at the U.N. in support of Chinas ongoing genocide against Uyghur Muslims is not only an assault on Uyghur Muslims, but also an assault on Islam itself. To stand together with a regime that is committing genocide against a Muslim people is to be complicit in the same genocide. Human rights are universal, said Rushan Abbas, executive director of the Campaign for Uyghurs. By refusing to stand on the right side of history and justice, governments that voted no or abstained have made it easier for China to carry out the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs, and hindered the progress toward real justice and accountability for the victims, he told RFA. Meanwhile, Greg Barton, an Indonesia scholar at Australias Deakin University, said Jakartas move was disappointing, but not surprising. It would have been good to see Indonesia being more bold, but at least, unlike a number of other countries, Indonesia did not simply rehash the propaganda of the Chinese government and deny that there is a problem of human rights abuses on a massive scale occurring in Xinjiang, Barton told BenarNews. Domestic political considerations also influenced the Indonesian position, he said. A yes vote would have been used to argue that President [Joko Widodo] Jokowi was capitulating to pressure from his hardline Islamist critics, he said. It seems likely that a major factor was that Jakarta was facing intense pressure from Beijing and did not want to trigger a major falling out with the Chinese government, he said. However, Taiwanese scholar Si Jianyu believes the lure of investment from Beijing is the reason Indonesia and some other Central Asian republics voted against discussing the Uyghur situation at the U.N. Human Rights Council. The real reason for Indonesia to be against the motion is that Chinas Belt and Road Initiative has big investment in Indonesia, and they wont forget about the investments and focus on the human rights issues in Xinjiang, Si, a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan, told RFA. Xinjiangs human rights situations are not important to them. The human rights records in their own countries are not so good either. Rene Pattiradjawane, a scholar at the Center for China Studies in Jakarta, said Indonesias vote was in line with its non-alignment foreign policy. Indonesia should not be lured into a campaign to vilify China for the interests of other countries, he told BenarNews. Indonesia in any context will not want to join anti-China bullying. Alim Seytoff of Radio Free Asias Uyghur Service and Gao Feng of its Mandarin Service contributed to this report. Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (right) joined by Azmin Ali (left) and Hishammuddin Hussein, smiles before the presentation of the 2023 national budget to parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Oct. 7, 2022. Malaysia could see its first general election since 2018 before the end of this year following the budget presentation to Parliament on Friday, as critics question the need for holding early polls that could coincide with the upcoming monsoon season. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who serves as a vice president of ruling party UMNO, discussed government issues with the King during their regular meeting on Thursday, according to a palace news release that did not mention any call for a vote this year. UMNO has sought a snap election while members of its coalition and opposition parties have questioned the timing. On Sept. 30, UMNO said Ismail Sabri would meet soon with the King to present a proposed date for the dissolution of Parliament to allow for an election by the end this year. The vote must be held by September 2023. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the prime minister did not set a timeframe for an election. The dissolution of parliament had never been talked openly in the past not with other parties or with his own party. A prime minister will dissolve a parliament when he feels it is a right time to do so, he said. Other parties aligned with UMNO, namely the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, have announced they were against the snap vote because of the potential for flooding. Leaders of two opposition parties also questioned the need for a vote now. My colleagues area was hit by flood. This is only October what will happen in November, can you guess? UMNO still wants to hold election? asked Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, president of the youth opposition party Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), on Wednesday. Still looking for votes? he asked, adding the government should focus on helping people. On Thursday, the chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) expressed similar concerns. A government that refuses to listen to climate experts and let[s] the people be angry about holding the general election during the flood season is not fit to rule, Lim Guan Eng said in a social media post. Budget Talks about dissolving Parliament in advance of a vote heated up even before the 2023 budget was tabled on Friday. The 372.3 billion ringgit (U.S. $80.08 billion) spending plan includes tax cuts along with direct cash aid for low-income households. Administration officials have said the spending plan would focus on people and economic recovery. Analysts have said Malaysias political instability has stunted the growth of the economy on top of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ismail Sabri is the third prime minister since the UMNO-led coalition suffered a stunning election defeat in May 2018. Mahathir Mohamad was appointed as the seventh prime minister after his Pakatan Harapan coalition pulled off the upset, but stepped down in February 2020 because of an internal power dispute. His deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, received the Kings appointment in March 2020 after building his own coalition with UMNO and PAS, only to see that coalition crumble. Muhyiddin stepped down in August 2021 over claims that he did not have majority support to remain as prime minister. Ismail Sabris appointment to succeed Muhyiddin meant that he became the first prime minister from UMNO who was not president of the party. This created divisions within the party, which further added to instability, analysts said. As it is, UMNO had suffered a blow with the July 2020 conviction of senior leader and former Prime Minister Najib Razak for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering. Najib is serving 12 years in prison after the Federal Court rejected his final appeal two months ago. Najibs deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is UMNOs president, faced his own corruption charges although he fared better in court. On Sept. 23, a judge acquitted Zahid on 40 counts of corruption linked to allegations that he extended a visa processing company contract in exchange for 50.56 million ringgit ($11 million) bribes. Zahid faces trial on an additional 47 criminal charges related to misappropriation of funds from his family-owned foundation set up to help the underprivileged. Reports of infighting within UMNO, between a Zahid-Najib faction and an Ismail Sabri faction further weighed the already fraught coalition government. Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, deputy managing director of market advisory firm BowerGroup Asia, said the turnover in prime ministers, together with the COVID-19 pandemic, have largely decreased clarity over the countrys long-term fiscal policies. Businesses are looking for a more stable government with a stronger mandate with less political volatility. Foreign investors have adopted a wait-and-see strategy for Malaysia and results from the next general election could indicate their appetite, he told BenarNews. Potential candidates The opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan has named Anwar Ibrahim, president of Peoples Justice Party (PKR), as its prime minister candidate. UMNO, meanwhile, lacks a definitive candidate despite declaring Ismail Sabri as its choice earlier this year, analysts said. PH has made their choice. It is Anwar. UMNO may pick Ismail Sabri because Zahid is too tainted. The party will not pick Mohamad Hasan [the UMNO deputy president] because it would hurt Ismail Sabris chances, said Tunku Mohar Mokhtar of Malaysian International Islamic University. Another analyst, Oh Ei Sun of Singapore Institute of International Affairs said that for UMNO, the pick could be between Mohamad Hasan and Hishammuddin Hussein, the defense minister. This is because there is no other presentable candidate who has a semblance of being accepted by the grassroots, he told BenarNews. Meanwhile, Tunku Mohar said the upcoming election could be about peruteconomy, a Malay term to describe bread-and-butter issues. It will be what concerns the people most. How to put the food on the table, he said. Political and social concerns would also play some role but it is peruteconomy that matters most. After autopsies at the Udon Thani Hospital in Udon Thani, a line of ambulances transport the bodies of victims of an attack at a daycare center in neighboring Uthai Sawan, northeast Thailand, Oct. 7, 2022. The massacre of pre-schoolers by an ex-policeman in northeastern Thailand casts a stark light on questions around mental health and the prevalence of guns among the countrys security forces that must be tackled, experts and authorities said. Panya Khamrab, 34, who had been dismissed from the police department after being caught with drugs earlier this year, went on a killing spree Thursday in Nong Bua Lam Phu province. At least 24 of the 36 people he killed in the gruesome knife attack and shooting were children aged between two and five. Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the massacre was an indication of more serious, deeper-seated problems that need to be addressed rather than a one-off incident. People immediately believe that he [Panya] was crazy, and on drugs, thereby placing all the focus on the gunman himself rather than serious systemic problems this incident has brought to light, he said. The fact is that Thailand is literally awash in guns, both legally registered and illegally owned, and regulatory oversight and control is sporadic. Thailand, a majority Buddhist country of about 69 million people, has some of Asias highest rates of gun ownership and gun homicide, authorities say. According to a 2020 study by the Geneva-based organization Small Arms Survey, Thailand has the highest number of firearms in civilian possession among ASEAN countries with more than 10 million firearms in civilian hands as of 2017 about 15 percent of the population. The survey group said six million in circulation were registered arms, while the rest were unregistered. With 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people, Thailand has the highest reported rate of gun-related deaths in Asia after Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines, according to a global mortality from firearms report published in 2018. However, compared with members of the security forces, its generally harder for civilians to access firearms because armed forces and police personnel arent subjected to such stringent background checks, according to experts. Phongpat Greeprom, a firearms expert who writes for Guns and Games Magazine, said it would be hard to contain gun-related violence in Thailand. The problem comes with illegal guns and unruly individuals. Licensed guns are a bit hard to obtain for good, law-abiding citizens. However, a bad person can easily find an illegal gun, he told BenarNews. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha offers flowers in a tribute outside the daycare center where a mass killing occurred in Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Thailand, Oct. 7, 2022. [Athit Perawongmetha/ Reuters] This is not the first time that someone associated with the Thai security forces has been accused of committing violent crimes in recent years. Last month, an army officer shot two of his colleagues dead at a Bangkok base. In February 2021, a drunk police officer shot and injured a 25-year-old noodle vendor in Phuket. A few months later, a former Thai soldier killed a patient in a hospital, after earlier shooting dead shop employee. In 2020, an active duty soldier angry with his superior suffered a psychotic break, killing at least 29 people and injuring dozens of others at four locations. He was gunned down after an hours-long standoff. Robertson said it was worth noting that troubled security force members are the culprits in both of Thailands worst mass killing episodes. So Thailand needs to do much better in vetting police and soldiers during the recruitment process, and assessing issues like mental health as part of that process, he told BenarNews. Otherwise, there are likely to be similar incidents in the future, especially given that access to guns in Thailand seems to be quite easy. We have ignored their mental health Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a politician with the progressive Move Forward Party, said the two incidents reflect some problems in the army and police, including mental health and problems with command. If the problems are not solved, it would mean that the lives of people are at risk from the people who have these weapons in their hands, he said on his Twitter. Meanwhile, an editorial in the Bangkok Post focused on the same message. The two incidents beg questions about the recruitment process employed by the army and the Royal Thai Police, the daily English language newspaper opined. Society needs to know how the police deal with the mental health issues their staff face. The suicide rate among police is high, with 443 taking their own lives from 2008-2021, said the editorial published on Friday. Following the attack at the nursery, Panya took his own life after killing his wife and their child at their home. Thailand has around 1,070 psychiatrists and psychologists and allocates just 2.3 percent of the health expenditure to mental health, according to a World Health Organization report in 2020. A psychology professor at Chiang Mai University said the Thai government had continuously neglected the mental health of security officers, who face intense pressure from their superiors. We have ignored their mental health, many of whom have easy access to a gun, said the psychologist, who only identified herself as Wassana, citing a fear of a backlash if she revealed her name. But what is harder to achieve is to make those in the police and military understand that seeking help for mental health issues, meeting psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists, is not to belittle them or disclose confidential government secrets, she told BenarNews. A Thai mother cradles a blanket and bottle that belonged to her child who was killed in a massacre carried out by a former policeman at a daycare center in Uthai Sawan, a district in Thailands Nong Bua Lam Phu province, during a mourning ceremony at the site of the attack, Oct. 7, 2022. The people of Thailand plunged into mourning on Friday after a former policeman massacred dozens of people many of them pre-schoolers during a knife and gun rampage at a daycare center in the northeast. Relatives of the dead clutched toys, blankets, pieces of clothing and other items that belonged to their loved ones, pouring out their grief as they gathered for a remembrance ceremony at the site of Thursdays attack in Nong Bua Lam Phu province. The Thai flag was lowered to half-staff across the nation, as both the prime minister and deputy PM visited the site of the killings, and the king and the queen met with injured victims at two local hospitals. Police reported that an autopsy had shown no traces of drugs in the bloodstream of the killer, identified as Panya Khamrab, 34. He took his own life after killing his wife and their child at their home following his attack at the nursery in Tambon Uthai Sawan, a village cluster in Na Klan district, some 500 km (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok. Among those grieving was Panida Prawanna, 19, who lost her first child in the attack. Her cheerful and cuddly son would have turned 3 in November, she said. [W]hen I heard that the shooting was at the [daycare] center, I rushed from home. When I arrived, a teacher told me my son was gone; he was no longer alive, Panida told BenarNews on Friday. My son was dead. But they didnt allow me to go inside to see him. On Friday, she was waiting for her sons body at a temporary relief center where traumatized relatives of victims had gathered as bodies were being brought back from hospitals. Panida said she cried all night. I cant sleep, I cant eat. I dont want to eat anything, she said. My son had just started speaking. My heart is broken. It has broken to pieces. Some of the relatives at the relief center wept as other people comforted them. Several Buddhist monks offered prayers. At least 24 children, aged between two and five years old, were killed in the attack. Many of them were slashed to death as they slept at the nursery on Thursday afternoon, police said. On Friday, the authorities revised down the death toll to 37, from 38. That updated number included the assailant, who had been dismissed from the police force earlier this year. One of the victims who was killed was eight months pregnant. Her unborn baby also died but was not counted in the official tally. Social media was flooded with messages of grief and anger, as more than 4 million tweets were posted with the Thai hashtag # (#MassShootingNongBuaLamphu). Humanity, not tiny angels, died in todays massacre, wrote one Twitter user identified as @psmyheart. A bereaved relative weeps after arriving at the scene of the daycare massacre in Uthai Sawan, Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Thailand, Oct. 7, 2022. [ThaiNewsPix/BenarNews] An initial autopsy report found no evidence that that the killer had drugs within the 72 hours before the incident, Gen. Damrongsak Kittipraphat, the national police chief, told reporters on Friday. The reasons are probably unemployment, no money, and family issues, he said, adding that a second autopsy would be carried out later. On the morning of the massacre, Panya had argued with his wife, Damrongsak said, adding that investigators believed that the couple had longstanding problems and the wife wanted to leave Panya. Panya was discharged as a lance corporal earlier this year for drug possession and had been to court to face drug-related charges on Thursday before the killing spree. He had joined the force in 2012 and had no mental health problems but a history of drug use, Damrongsak said. At least 10 others were injured, three of whom were released from hospital on Friday, authorities said. Six, four of them children, were still in critical but stable condition, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters after visiting them in the hospital. After the autopsies were completed on Friday afternoon, the bodies of victims were handed over to the relatives. Many fainted when they looked at the tiny bodies of their children to identify them, as the authorities had requested. Some of them had to be sent to the hospital. There is a profound sense of shock and outrage across Thailand that any person could commit such heinous attacks and killings of small children, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told BenarNews. Relatives and family members put white roses on the steps of the childcare center to remember their loved ones who were killed in a rampage in Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Thailand, Oct. 7, 2022. [ThaiNewsPix/BenarNews] White roses and red carpet Also on Friday, many of the relatives placed white roses on the steps of the nursery building. Some got down on their knees and prayed for their loved ones departed souls. A red carpet had been placed outside the daycare center in preparation for the royals anticipated arrival, but it was soon removed after a swift backlash online deeming it insensitive. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha and several other ministers visited the site on Friday afternoon but did not enter the cordoned-off nursery. They laid bouquets of flowers outside the main gate. Later in the evening, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida visited two hospitals to meet with the injured behind closed doors. The bereaved relatives arrived at one of the hospitals to meet with the royals. The government and I are very sorry, and so are the people of Thailand, Prayuth told the victims families as he consoled them. Filipino Marines land on the beach during the Kamandag joint military exercise in Zambales province, north of Manila, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] South Korean troops rush to combat positions during the Kamandag military exercise in the Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] U.S. Marines establish fighting positions during the Kamandag joint training exercise in Zambales province, the Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] U.S. troops (left) watch South Korean forces disembark for the Kamandag exercise in Zambales province, the Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] The Amphibious Assault Vehicles cross the beach during the joint military exercise in Zambales province in the Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] Amphibious Assault Vehicles carrying U.S. and Philippine troops head toward the beach during Kamandag 6, the joint military exercise in Zambales province, northwest of Manila, Oct. 7, 2022. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] U.S. and Filipino Marine forces stormed a beachfront facing the South China Sea on Friday in a mock assault aimed at sharpening their skills on coastal defense. The war games, called Kamandag 6, involve 2,550 United States Marines and 630 Filipino counterparts. Unlike the previous five drills, troops from South Korea and Japan two countries that are also seeking to blunt Chinas military influence in the region amid territorial disputes sent troops as observers, officials had announced. On Friday, South Korean troops participated in the drills. What you see here is the strength of democratic allies, said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts who served in the U.S. Marines. There are countries that believe in freedom of democracy and practice it regularly. The drills show that Washington was prepared to work with its Asian allies locked in security concerns triggered by tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, he said. We can work together. It is not easy. Theres a lot of coordination. And that is the strength the U.S. brings to this. Its a historic partnership with countries like the Philippines, Korea and Japan, Moulton told reporters. Col. Romulo Quemado, commander of the Filipino Marines coastal defense regiment, said Fridays drills were meant to sharpen coordination in the area of amphibious landing as well as in responding to chemical or biological attacks. We have continued to build on the combined competencies on amphibious operation that is solid, and more importantly, the continuing relations with our allies and friends in the region, he said. The drills come during the same week as the third resupply of its BRP Sierra Madre outpost along the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the South China Sea since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office. The three resupplies by civilian ships occurred without Chinese intervention, whose ships frequently harassed such efforts in the past. The Kamandag, which means Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea and runs through Oct. 14, will include a combined live-fire exercise in central Luzon featuring aircraft and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as amphibious operations along the islands eastern and northern coasts, military officials have said. The exercises are taking place amid Chinese military expansionism in the South China Sea where Beijing is locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Beijing claims historical rights to much of the region, including waters reaching rivals shores. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone. October 07, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Stubstack " - On Wednesday, October 5, the New York Times published a blockbuster story, U.S. Believes Ukrainians Were Behind an Assassination in Russia. Citing American officials in claiming United States intelligence agencies now believe parts of the Ukrainian government were responsible for the car-bomb assassination of Russian nationalist Daria Dugina* on August 19th, the paper wrote: The United States took no part in the attack , either by providing intelligence or other assistance, officials said. American officials also said they were not aware of the operation ahead of time and would have opposed the killing had they been consulted. Afterward, American officials admonished Ukrainian officials over the assassination, they said. The article is a Rubiks cube whose stickers have been switched all over, leaving no possible solution. Turn it over as much as you like, you wont figure out what youre reading. The key news is clearly the fact the article was even published. Someone in the U.S. government took an extraordinary step of outing our intelligence agencies supposed belief that Ukraine was involved in the bombing. Writers Julian E. Barnes, Adam Goldman, Adam Entous and Michael Schwirtz do at one point address this, saying Countries traditionally do not discuss other nations covert actions, but in this case, some American officials believe it is crucial to curb what they see as dangerous adventurism, particularly political assassinations. All this info was ascribed to a closely held assessment of Ukrainian complicity, also referred to throughout as an American intelligence assessment, which was shared within the U.S. government last week. Who wrote the assessment? What office? The piece doesnt say, but does add toward the bottom that officials from the State Department, National Security Council, Pentagon and C.I.A. declined to comment on the intelligence assessment. Reading the news since the invasion has become a kaleidoscopic guessing game. There are just too many factors warping the informational landscape now to make sense of anything. Aggressive content moderation and self-censorship mean you wont see a skeptical point of view in many if not most news reports. The blurring of lines between private press and officialdom more on that in a moment means you almost never know if youre reading something leaked intentionally, or accidentally. Finally, the U.S. has been boasting for seven months now about its use of media as a war weapon, deploying special tiger teams of National Security Officials who leak intelligence for strategic reasons. In those cases, leaders in Russia or China or Syria or wherever rather than the ostensible readership might be a newspapers real target audience. Its what we used to call, when the Russians did it, information warfare, former CIA officer John Sipher clucked proudly in The Guardian before the invasion. In the extant New York Times piece, you dont know if youre reading a piece of news leaked by someone in the White House in defiance of the intelligence officials who wrote the assessment, or if it was leaked by someone in the intelligence services in defiance of the White House. It also could be a unified front of officials who brought the story to the Times to send a message to Ukraine, Russia, or both. It could be the U.S. government expressing general displeasure, both with whichever of the competing power centers within the Ukrainian government was responsible for the assassination, and with whatever parts of the Ukrainian governmentmay not have been aware of the plot. Along with the strings of phrases about how that the U.S. wasnt happy about Ukraines aggressive covert operations (took no part, would have opposed had they been consulted, admonished, etc) came a passage promising that despite this, there have been no known changes in the provision of intelligence, military and diplomatic support to Mr. Zelenskys government. Taken altogether, you can read this as a thinly veiled hint, as in: Hey, stop whacking people outside Ukraine, or well cut off all the Javelins. That makes some sense, but then youre right back to the first and most glaring fact of the article. You can threaten Zelensky with the yanking of weapons shipments all you want, in private. Why do so publicly, while also announcing to the world that Ukraine engaged in cross-border assassination? The State Department just last year sanctioned Russia for its operation to assassinate or surveil Alexey Navalny. We also expelled 60 Russian diplomats in 2018 after an ostensible poisoning involving ex-spy Sergei Skripal in England. Obviously this is not the same situation, but youre exposing Ukraine to a variety of accusations by declaring them guilty of the Dugina blast. Is the point here to let the Russians know that anyone can be reached? Im pretty sure they already know that I guarantee the top Kremlin military brass have all seen Godfather Part II along with all the important hood movies but are we just making double-sure they got the message? Is this one of those stories that is, as Sipher put it, meant for one consumer: Vladimir Putin? It sounds like it, here: Since the beginning of the war, Ukraines security services have demonstrated their ability to reach into Russia to conduct sabotage operations. The killing of Ms. Dugina, however, would be one of the boldest operations to date showing Ukraine can get very close to prominent Russians. A million years ago, when working part-time for a newspaper in New Bedford, Massachusetts, I covered an abandoned house fire. As I watched flames lick up the side of the house, three teenagers walked up. They told me they heard that three hoodlums set the fire, and they were real bold, too because the fire was started in broad daylight. They went into deadpan detail about the rumors of how the crime was committed before walking off. I thought of them with a laugh when I read the one of the boldest operations to date line above. Is that what this is about? Credit? On the life-imitating-art front, have we really reached the Wag the Dog stage? On a more serious note, how are we to interpret passages like this? The United States has tried carefully to avoid unnecessary escalation with Moscow throughout the conflict in part by telling Kyiv not to use American equipment or intelligence to conduct attacks inside of Russia You can see the last traces of editorial discretion on the part of the New York Times in the use of the word unnecessary. Not even the most hardcore Ukrainian-flag-emoji-bearing reader could have swallowed a line that the U.S. has tried to avoid escalation with Russia, with near-weekly reports of new billions in arms shipments and places like The Intercept telling us that the U.S. now has a much larger presence of both CIA and U.S. special operations personnel and resources in theater (I fear the godlike wrath of the Brookings Institute too much to bring up the Nord Stream blasts). Unnecessary escalation must be a phrase both the paper and the papers sources can live with, but its frustrating that so many passages in so many stories now exist in gray areas between official statement and editorial comment. Not long ago, a newspaper would have wrapped the whole of the above pull quote in a clear attribution, as in, The officials the Times spoke with insist the U.S. has tried to avoid unnecessary escalation The biggest gift you can give an official source is to put his or her statement in the newspapers own objective voice, which once carried the imprimatur of apolitical fact. This is why companies paid premiums for native advertising, i.e. ads disguised as newspaper articles (or other typical content). Its why the Internet melted down in 2013 when The Atlantic ran an article that was actually a Church of Scientology ad, and why the Columbia Journalism Review once wrote, Editorial will forever be the cat, and native advertising, Pepe Le Pew. Smart newspapers eschewed native advertising because it killed the proverbial cat. The infamous Atlantic cover No knock against the four writers in this piece, but its become almost impossible for ordinary readers to discern whats cat and whats skunk in a lot of news copy, particularly national security coverage, and particularly war coverage. Former CIA chief Michael Hayden in Playing to the Edge boasted about calling the Times and the Washington Post to scotch certain stories, saying he did talk a lot to the Timess Washington bureau chief, Phil Taubman, whom he complimented for being able to balance the needs of transparency and security. The Times even then was known for killing or delaying certain stories at the request of government, and the phenomenon seems to have accelerated a great deal since, with stories involving Trump, Russia, and Ukraine in particular giving off whiffs of intense press-government cooperation. Lastly, theres this passage: The American officials who spoke about the intelligence did not disclose which elements of the Ukrainian government were believed to have authorized the mission United States officials briefed on the Ukrainian action and the American response spoke on the condition of anonymity, in order to discuss secret information and matters of sensitive diplomacy. How are we to make sense of this fretting over secrecy and tradecraft, in the context of a front page New York Times story? Though possible, it doesnt feel believable that these sources fear internal retribution for leaking. The story more has the character of an official, approved enterprise, making the Times ululations about sensitivity feel not quite believable. If this info is so sensitive, why are sources handing it to a gang of reporters? From an intelligence officials perspective, thats like giving a monkey a hand grenade, unless of course you control the monkey (I realize weve had a surfeit of animal metaphors by now). There are just too many blurred lines, and newspapers have given up trying to un-blur them for us, even though they used to consider it a primary responsibility. They have more important clients now. Is this story ass-covering ahead of a revelation of U.S. involvement in the Dugina affair, even just on the level of providing intelligence? Is it the White House pissed at the Pentagon that it happened, the Pentagon pissed at the White House that it happened, both pissed at Ukraine, neither? Who the hell knows? Maybe theyre just sowing discord, not even between groups, but within our own heads? One of the few former intelligence sources I know chuckled over the story. The CIA used to do this kind of thing to influence foreign public opinion, he said. Now they do it to misinform, distract, and confuse the American public. Thats just great, isnt it? *I did not know Daria Dugina, and am pretty sure I never met her father, who was a friend of former eXile columnist Eduard Limonov. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 33F. Winds light and variable. Google has found itself in hot waters after losing a lawsuit filed by Arizona Attorney general Mark Brnovich. According to Engadget, the attorney claimed that Google has been invading user privacy by tracking Android users for targeted advertising. The issue has been intensified by the fact that Google can still optimize its advertising systems using the user's location, even if the device's location data settings are turned off, with no clear way to prevent it. Arizona is not the only state to file lawsuits as well. There are similar complaints filed by attorney generals from Texas, Washington D.C., and Indiana. Google, the State, and the Lawsuit The tech company will be settling the lawsuit by paying Arizona $85 million. It has been the largest settlement that Google has paid for concerning the kind of lawsuit that was filed, according to Brnovich. Arizona is represented by Gallagher & Kennedy, a Phoenix-based law firm. Information system assistant professor from Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business, Viktor Benjamin, stated that Google's primary source of revenue is its ads, so they would prefer settling than incurring further financial damage from legal actions. Benjamin also mentioned that paying for the settlement now will allow them to avoid future liabilities or legal issues, according to USA Today. Despite that speculation by Benjamin, Brnovich is still proud of the historic settlement since according to him, this proves that no entity, not even big tech companies, is above the law. Read Also: Is Google Assistant Secretly Spying on Conversations? Safety and Security Features Revealed The Damage to Google $85 million seems like a large sum to most, but to Google, it is a small price to pay to avoid further damage to its reputation. Money-wise, it is basically a small dent in Google's financials seeing that they have a quarterly revenue of approximately $69 million. Jose Castaneda, Google's spokesperson, said that the issue on which the lawsuit was based, was related to old policies that have long since been changed. He also claimed that they try to minimize the data that they collect and provide straightforward controls for location data, including auto delete. Google spokesperson mentioned that they are pleased to have the matter resolved and that they will work on providing useful products for their users. Substantial Cases Over the Years This isn't the first time that Google had to take a couple out of its company wallets because of questionable practices. Google also had previous issues with the European Commission. Google was fined $1.69 billion due to its "abusive practices in online advertising", and that doesn't include the fines they had to pay back in 2017 and 2018, which collectively amounted to $7.4 billion. The online advertising company managed to evade competition by making exclusive contracts with publishers through their AdSense service. This allowed the company to hold 70% of the market in Europe. This accomplishment backfired since their domination over the advertising market for ten years in Europe is also what made the fine pile up to $1.69 billion. The fine was based on the value of Google's revenue from online advertisements. Related: Google Analytics Has Been Banned in Three European Countries - What's the Reason? Big Y is partnering with the American Red Cross to raise funds for people who were impacted by Hurricane Ian. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. GREAT BARRINGTON As Housatonic drinking water continues to deeply concern residents, regulators this week imposed new rules and a timeline for controlling cancer-causing chemicals and preventing another spike in those levels. Quote "All of our actions are, you know, based upon health standards and the science associated with that and the risks associated with it." Brian Harrington, the DEP's deputy regional director Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection also attended a Board of Health meeting Thursday to answer questions from board members. Their answers infuriated residents who said the agency makes them feel caught in a bureaucratic vise. They said the agency isnt taking hard enough stance with the Housatonic Water Works Co. as problems caused by manganese, chemicals and old pipes persist. DEP officials Brian Harrington, Deidre Doherty and Mark Smith told the board they are treating the waterworks like any other water supplier with regard to managing elevated levels of manganese that, in part, turns the water shades of yellow-to-brown. Same with haloacetic acids, or HAA5. Those are disinfection byproducts that are linked to cancer and spiked last year after heavy summer rains. They said manganese and HAA5 levels are not an imminent public health threat, and that the agencys standards are based on research. All of our actions are, you know, based upon health standards and the science associated with that and the risks associated with it, said Harrington, the agencys deputy regional director. These standards called for a new level of enforcement with regard to HAA5, which poses a long-term exposure risk. The levels had breached DEP safety levels in August 2021, before falling. Thus a consent order from the agency that was effective on Oct. 4. The order puts the waterworks on a 45day timeline to lower its water tank levels to reduce water age, then evaluate whether this causes a reduction in HAA5 levels. It will also have within 150 days to produce a slew of reports by an engineer that include ways of preventing the problem in future, and extensive details like cost estimates. In the order, the DEP also questions the effectiveness of a greensand filtration system in removing HAA5. The waterworks is right now using the greensand system to test for the removal of manganese one of the culprits behind yellow-to-brown water that has persisted for years and grew worse last summer. Treasurer and co-owner James Mercer said that, so far, the system test is working well. Mercers father, waterworks co-owner and president, Frederick Mercer, signed off on the order between it and the DEP on Sept. 29. Back and forth The order comes as more town officials are looking for answers about any health risks posed by the water amid residents fury over a summer of browner water than usual. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up More on the consent order In the consent order, the DEP also says the company did not timely submit a report about how it would fix a future spike in HAA5, and didnt produce a solution the DEP thought entirely feasible in the long term. MassDEP finds that [the waterworks] system has demonstrated that it is susceptible to increases in HAA5 levels during severe weather events, and that basing future HAA5 compliance on weather stability is not a viable long-range plan to prevent future violations, wrote the DEPs Deputy Regional Director Brian Harrington. The Select Board has been meeting in closed-door sessions to navigate legal solutions that include a possible purchase of the company. The board issued a statement Monday saying it was working toward a solution. That followed a letter from the waterworks to customers last week suggesting solutions, including connecting the mains with those in Great Barringtons system. The Finance Committee is mulling the creation of a fund to help residents with the costs of bottled water and other related expenses. While levels of the HAA5 have fallen since they spiked after record rainfall in July 2021, the DEP said in a Sept. 28 letter that the waterworks should find alternative water for sensitive people like the elderly and vulnerable. The waterworks in a notice earlier this year said vulnerable people should consult with their doctor before drinking the water. The DEP has always deemed the water safe to drink and bathe in, despite the color. HAA5 levels are a mostly separate issue from the discoloration, which is attributed to elevated levels of manganese in the Long Pond source and buildup of the mineral in the old pipes. At the boards Zoom meeting, DEP officials said they see water systems across the state that are struggling. Its expensive to maintain and operate and ... we see a lot of deferred maintenance, said Mark Smith. He mentioned that water utilities are eligible for loans to make upgrades from the states revolving loan fund, but there are no grants available for the waterworks. Upgrades and related rate hikes are the purview of the Department of Public Utilities. Brian Harrington said there is a lot of back and forth with a water supplier to get them in compliance and that fines and punitive measures are sort of the last resort. They said residents doing their own testing isnt going to move the department to act; it has its own method and testing timeline. They also said residents have to make their own decisions about whether to drink the water. Housatonic residents lashed out after the DEP officials left the meeting. I dont know what the last resort actually is, said Trevor Forbes, adding that hed like them to drink the water. It was largely platitudes, a lot of bureaucracy, a lot of buck shifting. His wife, Denise Forbes, said water samples she sent to an independent lab showed fluctuating manganese levels. She said shell be staking more protest signs around the neighborhood. I dont care what happens to property values, she said, referring to recent community concerns about this. I am so sick and tired of it all ... Im going to rent a billboard and hang it up from the top of everywhere I can. Yahweh means The Lord Yahweh is derived from the Hebrew word for I AM, it is the proper name of the divine person, coming from the verb which means to exist, be. When God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses was scared. He needed reassurance, he needed to know God was bigger than this problem, that He would carry them through, that even if people wouldnt listen to him, they would listen to the One who sent him. Because His name carried that much awe and honor. He said to God, Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of you fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you. Exodus 3:13-14 Gods name, Yahweh, is one of authority. It is one that holds great power, and says to all who hear, I AM the One, true God, follow me. God is still the Great I AM, for He never changes. We can trust His loving leadership in our lives, just as Moses did. He calls us for his specific purposes, reminding us that He knows our way and He has a plan. Yhwh, the tetragrammaton because of its four letters, is, strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. It is also the most frequent name, occurring in the Old Testament 6, 828 times (almost 700 times in the Psalms alone). Yah is a shortened form that appears fifty times in the Old Testament, including forty-three occurrences in the Psalms, often in the admonition "hallelu-jah" (lit. praise Jah). English Bibles represent the name yhwh by the title "Lord" (written in capitals to distinguish it from "lord"). In the postexilic period the Jews, for reverence reasons, did not pronounce the name but substituted for it the word adonai (lord), and in written form attached these vowels to the tetragrammaton. The resulting misguided pronunciation of the name yhwh as a three-syllable word, Y [J]ehovah, continued in English Bible translations until early in the twentieth century. Evidence from Greek usage in the Christian era points to the two-syllable pronunciation, "Yahweh." The theological significance that attaches to the name yhwh is multiple. Judging from the etymology, but more particularly from the context in which the name is disclosed (Exod 3:12, 14; 6:2-8), the name signifies "presence." God is "with, " he is near and among his people. This overtone of presence is reiterated in the naming of the wilderness structure as "tabernacle", and in the promised name Immanuel ("God with us, " Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23). Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on him (Psalm 145:18) for deliverance (107:13), forgiveness (25:11), and guidance (31:3). Yahweh is dynamically near, but as God (Elohim) he is also paradoxically transcendent. The name yhwh defines him as involved in human struggle. Yahweh's name is forever tied, through the exodus event, with salvation and liberation (Exod 15:1-13; 20:2-3). The salvation promise given in Exodus 6:6-8 is an expansive one, including intimacy with God and blessings of abundance, but is decidedly bracketed first and last with "I am Yahweh." The name yhwh is prominent in salvation oracles (Zep 3:14-17) and in petitions (Psalm 79:5, 9; 86:1). The salvation dimension of the name recurs in the announcement of the incarnation: the one born is to be called "Jesus" for (as an echo of the name yhwh) "he will save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). In the name yhwh God's character as the savior of a people is revealed. Theologically the name of Yahweh resonates with covenant, partly because in the explication of the name in Exodus 6:6-8 the covenant formula is invoked ("I will be your God and you will be my people"). The name yhwh is a name to which Israel can lay particular claim. In covenant, matters such as justice (Isa 61:8) and holiness (Lev 19:2) have an extremely high profile. The name yhwh is anything but empty. The name carries overtones of presence, salvation defined as deliverance and blessing, covenantal bondedness, and integrity. [Bakers Evanglical Dictionary] A 19-year-old teenager was arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Sydney, Australia for allegedly using the information leaked in the Optus data breach to extort AUD 2,000 ($1,300) from victims, according to BleepingComputer. According to the AFP, they will allege that the teenager was able to access 10,200 Optus stolen records posted online last month. The Sydney teenager is said to use the data from the Optus breach to send a texting scam to 93 customers, as per Sky News. AFP Implements Operation Guardian to Arrest the Offender Last month, the Optus hackers stolen the data of nearly 2.1 million Australian Telecom customers. Now, a teenager from Sydney used 10,200 of those records. The suspect contacted the affected customers through an SMS. He threatened them that he would sell the data to other hackers unless they made a payment of AUD 2,000 ($1,300). The AFP was alerted of the text messaging scam. They were eventually able to trace it to a bank account bearing the name of the suspect. The teenager used the Commonwealth Bank of Australia account in order to get the ransom money. The offender's account was identified by the AFP. The authorities then obtained information about the holder from the bank. Following this, the authorities launched Operation Guardian last week. The teenager arrested by the law enforcement from the Operation Guardian was wearing a blue Champion jumper and blue jeans. The arrest happened on Thursday. A mobile phone, which was found to be linked to the scam was found by the police in the house of the teenager in Rockdale. Meanwhile, none of the 93 customers, who was targeted by the alleged suspect, paid ransom, according to Assistant Commissioner Justin Gough from the AFP's Cyber Command. According to authorities, the suspect is possibly working his way through the list of the released data records. As the teenager was already the arrested, this has prevented the scam from happening to other Australians. Read Also: Oppo Comes To Australia, Enlists Optus To Sell Its Phones AFP is Working to Track the Offender Behind Optus Data Breach The arrested teenager allegedly targeted 93 individuals whose personal information was exposed during the Optus data breach. He sent blackmailing messages to the customers. According to BleepingComputer, the offender is now facing two charges. He violated section 474.14 (2) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) for using a telecommunication network intending to commit a serious offence. It is punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment. He also violated section 192K of the Crime Act 1900 (NSW) for dealing with identification information. It is punishable with a maximum of 7 years imprisonment. According to Asst Commissioner Gough, the suspect was facing "serious charges." The AFP is working to keep on protecting the Australians who are impacted by the Optus breach. "We made it absolutely clear that there would be no tolerance for the criminal use of this stolen data," said Asst Commissioner Gough. Sky News noted that the AFP is continuously implementing Operation Hurricane. It is an operation launched to investigate the alleged offenders who committed the Optus data breach. Related Article: Optus Confirms Data Breach; 2.1 Million Government ID Numbers are Exposed BOISE - Workers' compensation rates in Idaho will decrease 11.5% in 2023, the Idaho Department of Insurance has announced. The reduction in rates will go into effect January 1, 2023. In 2022, Idaho was the 14th most expensive state in the country for employers to purchase coverage. The Idaho Department of Insurance accepted the reduction in rates following an annual rate recommendation from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Workers compensation insurers can now either adopt the NCCI rates without modification or propose to the Departments review an adjustment from NCCIs rates. The Department is pleased to announce another significant decrease to workers compensation rates, said Director Dean Cameron. With inflation and other economic concerns hurting many Idaho businesses, this is good news. Employers purchase workers compensation insurance, which is designed to cover their employees medical costs associated with any workplace injuries. It also provides wage replacement benefits to injured workers for lost work time. In exchange, employers are protected from litigation should an employee be hurt on the job. To view current workers' compensation rates in Idaho, click HERE. Plans to enter the B2B space for partnerships with corporations Jodhpur-based Sarathi Healthcare, Indias first ElderCare Platform, raises seed money of Rs 1 crore from ah! Ventures Angel Platform and other notable angel investors such as Frinson Francis Palathingal (Head of growth strategy, planning, expansion and delivery for 500+ emerging cities at Swiggy), Aditya Masekar (Client Partner, Zensar Technologies), Harshvardhan Dhote (Engineer at CIDCO), Sumant Patil (Engineer at CIDCO), and Babu Nagappan. Sarathi Healthcare has a huge market of $5.2 billion in Tier II & below towns in India, which includes NRIs as well as $15.2 billion global opportunity in Asia alone. The startup offers physical services at the doorstep which includes medical, nutritional, wellness and essential (daily help assistance) services and has impacted the lives of more than 10000+ people till date. They are also in talks with potential partners in Jaipur, Kota & Udaipur and by November, theyll be ready to launch their operations in respective towns as well. FY2023 is going to be game changing for Sarathi Healthcare. They are looking to expand in four cities and take their customer base to 15000+ with a revenue projection of Rs 1.6 crore. The elderly care health-tech startup is even working to enhance their technology platform which will include features like community, dashboard, medical records repository and will be ready in the second half of FY2023. Both countries to promote research collaboration in the field of traditional medicines The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of Ayurveda in India under the Ministry of AYUSH, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic establishment. With the signing of this MoU, AIIA aims to promote the institutes research activities both at a national and international stage. The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and building capacities in the field of the Indian Ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed in support of the Ministry of Ayush. The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research activities in the field of Ayurveda, including studies in design and execution with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of Ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, exchanging scientists, researchers and staff as determined by the collaborators on a project-to-project basis, students participation in collaborative activities, to achieve excellence in Ayurveda towards achieving scientific advances, tools, and techniques. Wavemaker has won the media contract for luxury car manufacturer BMW in South Africa. Well-equipped to serve one of the world's most recognisable automotive brands, Wavemaker is an established supplier of innovative media solutions to facilitate client growth. Merissa Himraj, CEO of Wavemaker South Africa, said: We are extremely proud of our team, who worked tirelessly to win this new business. BMW is an illustrious brand with a long history, and we look forward to supporting its growth in Africa. We are committed to delivering best-in-class solutions that drive real business results for our clients. With this new win, Wavemaker continues its growth trajectory and expands its client base in South Africa. BMW's position as a market leader in South Africa will be strengthened by Wavemaker's unrivalled media expertise. The company will transition to begin operations in January 2023. With a goal to produce 65% of products locally by 2028, the Cape Union Mart Group has launched the Green Thread Studio, a creative hub to facilitate the growth of local clothing design and production. Credit: Tegan Smith Photography The design studio will be the core design and production hub for Poetry, Old Khaki and Keedo, and its establishment has created 220 jobs in manufacturing and 33 in design. We have a multi-billion rand investment in this country. We've got a massive distribution centre, we've got two factories that employ nearly 600 people. We have some 300 stores, and we have over 3,300 employees. We are totally committed to South Africa, Cape Union Mart Groups executive chairman Philip Krawitz said at the launch event. Credit: Tegan Smith Photography The family-owned retail group plans to provide its retailers with more product lines that can be made locally at a competitive price, with the same (or better) quality standards expected from international suppliers. By accelerating localisation efforts, it also aims to support communities with job opportunities and generate more business for local fabric and trim SMME suppliers. The group has set itself the target of running 280,000 units and 385 styles through the design studio in 2023, and aims to grow this to 360,000 units with more than 500 styles in 2024. We're more than just creating jobs, we're thinking ahead. We've always sent buyers overseas to see what styles are available What's wrong with us? We've got great creative people, people with incredible imagination and wonderful taste. We have to change the negative mindset that everyone overseas is better, because local is lekker. Let's have faith in South African design and creativity said Krawitz. The Green Thread Studio will give the company better control over the evolution of product creation, and allows for closer collaboration between buyers, designers and production teams. Krawitz added, Most of the big retailers are wanting to convert more production locally, especially on the back of a challenging two years which has made everyone aware of the risks of supply chain. To produce locally, businesses need to have the correct set-up to support this strategy, and we wanted to set ourselves up for this growth according to best practice. Cape Union Mart Group executive chairman Philip Krawitz. Credit: Tegan Smith Photography Upskilling new talent Growing local production often requires an investment in manufacturing training to allow for the transfer of technical skills developed by previous generations of pattern makers, cutters and machinists who worked in SAs apparel industry when it was globally competitive. Training can also equip manufacturers and suppliers to build production capacity sustainably. Cape Union Mart Group owns two factories in Cape Town - K-Way Manufacturers in Ottery, which produces for Cape Union Mart, and Green Thread Manufacturers in Paarden Eiland, which produces for the groups other retail brands and from which the new design studio has been created. Credit: Tegan Smith Photography The group has been aiding the introduction of fresh talent into the clothing manufacturing industry, with facilities to train and upskill newcomers with the aim of creating employment for them. There is a great focus on ensuring the machinists are multi-skilled and able to flex to different commodities as the needs and demands change relating to trend and supply. According to the company, this is a major consideration in safeguarding the success of the group owning its own CMTs. Streamlining production: from conception to creation As a design-led retail group, it made sense to invest more in the design segment of the business, Shelley Prinsloo, GM of Poetry and Green Thread Studio, said during the event. She explained that having the design operation previously located in Paarden Eiland wasnt ideal, and that bringing the design centre closer to the head office could improve collaboration so that every design element was considered and designed from conception stage to production. Now, with the Green Thread design studio located alongside the retail groups head office in the Cape Town city centre, it provides the opportunity for buyers and designers to work closely side-by-side on creating and reworking products as needed. Credit: Tegan Smith Photography On the ground floor of the design studio is a small factory focused on pre-production manufacturing, shortening the time between conception of an idea to the mock-up of a product. By producing more locally, Cape Union Mart believes it can improve efficiency and ramp up speed to market. Prinsloo said, We're conscious about streamlining our production lead times. For every style that you create there are often multiple samples that get exchanged between the buying team and the supplier. What the design centre enables is for the buyers and designers to work closely together. It eliminates some of the wastage and it also reduces carbon emissions because we're not transporting samples all around the world. Sustainability was a core value that drove the creation of the Green Thread Studio. According to the group, its now better equipped to develop and evolve its fabrics and fabric prints with a focus on increasing the number of sustainable fabrics used. Determined to eliminate materials going to landfill, the group employs a minimal waste approach where fabric off-cuts are upcycled to minimise the amount of waste that occurs through sampling. About 500kg of offcuts are rewoven and reused monthly by the group, and scraps are also donated to NGOs that upcycle them into products that they sell. Sustainability is really a journey on its own and we're learning as we go. We're bringing it to the forefront of our thinking. Our design ethos has always been to put endurance, style and quality first, and this ethos has given birth to our commitment to sustainability, Prinsloo said. We recently celebrated heritage month reflecting on our rainbow nation, as we looked back to our roots and honour the very things that make us quintessentially South African. Image supplied For so many of us, fashion is a core part of our culture and identity, and the South African fashion industry has grown by leaps and bounds since 1994. According to a report by the DTIC that assessed the economic value of the Designer Fashion Sector in South Africa, the sector contributed at least R1bn to GDP before the pandemic. As the last two years have shown, the fashion sector holds catalytic potential to stimulate further growth. Thanks to Covid and the escalating cost-of-living crisis, even more South Africans are now thinking twice before splashing out on big international brands. Instead, they choose to shop locally and support our skilled crafters, manufacturers, and retailers. Unzipping South Africas local fashion industry Local is not just lekker for our purse strings though. A crucial economic driver - the sector is desperate for investment, which is why the government fashioned the retail, clothing, textile, footwear, and leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan back in 2019. The aim is to help boost the amount of locally made garments in stores from 44% to 65% by 2030, and if successful, this is expected to create an additional 120,000 more jobs, bringing the total number of work opportunities across the entire fashion supply chain to more than a quarter of a million. It's all about adding value to those in the chain-feeding major retailers. A better way of explaining how it works is to look at an example. If you buy a locally made coat, it may cost more, but by doing so you are helping the local designer stay in business. If more people buy a coat from them, they will soon be able to expand their operation and employ more cutters and seamstresses, which adds value down the supply chain. Driving local manufacturing not only upskills a nation and pushes up employment but also reduces our dependence on cheap, fast fashion exports from countries such as China. Imported fast fashion items might be cheap, but they usually lack quality. According to the Global Fashion Agenda statistics, the number of garments produced each year has doubled since 2000, creating an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste annually. Students can sew the gap closed A blossoming fashion industry is also welcome news for school leavers wanting to study fashion-related courses at higher education institutions such as Stadio School of Fashion. Everyone wants to study a course that not only plays to their strengths but also guarantees a well-paying job afterwards, and this is exactly what the master plan wants to achieve. More available, and better-paying jobs will, in turn, offer much-needed reassurance to parents, concerned about our escalating youth unemployment rate currently at its highest level on record. Instead of investing in talent that then goes off to work in places like London, Paris, or New York, improved employment opportunities can help to retain this talent in South Africa. The problem facing the fashion industry now is that we have a flourishing sector, but not enough value is being added down the chain. School leavers and graduates of South Africas tertiary education providers play an essential role in sewing the bridge closed. The Master Plan simply cannot work without help from the next generation. Tertiary institutions need to do their bit by ensuring that graduates can successfully enter the industry at any stage of the supply chain and hit the ground running. There are various career options in the sector over and above the often-glamorised fashion designer and stylist that have become popular thanks to American TV programmes. These include fashion journalists, fashion buyers, pattern makers, garment constructionists, quality assurance officers, and more. By generating awareness of the many often behind-the-scenes career opportunities available in the fashion industry, we can make sure that every kind of personality and skill set is matched with the right type of job role so that everyone can do their bit to add value to the entire supply chain. Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been set free following the expiry of his prison sentence for contempt of court, the government department said on Friday. Former South African President Jacob Zuma enters the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 31 January 2022. Jerome Delay/Pool via Reuters/File Photo Zuma received a 15-month sentence last year after he ignored instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry. He handed himself in on 7 July last year to begin his sentence, triggering the worst violence South Africa had seen in years as his angry supporters took to the streets. "It's OFFICIAL. H.E President Zuma is now a FREE man," the Jacob Zuma Foundation said in a tweet. It's OFFICIAL. H.E President Zuma is now a FREE man. pic.twitter.com/YoTscILabR JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) October 7, 2022 Zuma was released on medical parole in September 2021. But in December, the high court set aside the parole decision and ordered him to return to jail. Zuma appealed the ruling and remained on parole pending the appeal outcome. His appeal had not been determined by the time his sentence expired. "Mr Zuma complied with his conditions for medical parole as set out during his placement," the Correctional Services department said in a statement. "All administrative processes have now been concluded and the sentence expiry date marks the end of him serving his sentence under community corrections." Ogilvy South Africa were awarded 10 Loeries on the first night of the 2022 Loerie Awards, the region's largest advertising festival. Wins included: three golds, two silvers, two craft awards and four bronzes. Ogilvy were recognised for work across multiple campaigns for Volkswagen, KFC, Coronation and Carling Black Label. Volkswagen stole the headlines of the night, for its first in South African advertising. Game On, a metaverse-inspired campaign, combined Volkswagen's first-ever Non-Fungible Token (NFT) collection with a gamified fan experience. An integrated campaign using multiple media in parallel, to entice a hard-to-reach audience to engage for record levels of time with the brand, alongside record levels of vehicle sales. Other big winners for Ogilvy were Carling Black Label. Shining a much-needed spotlight on the serious issue of gender-based violence in South Africa, with the campaign Bride Armour. A powerful collaboration with fashion designer Suzanne Heyns, using data and insights, captured by Lifeline South Africa, to design a wedding dress from abuse resistant materials. Whilst challenging South African men to take a renewed vow against the GBV pandemic. Its wonderful to see the industry reconnected physically in one place, after so many Covid restrictions, and being able to celebrate the power of Creativity together, says Pete Case, CEO and creative chairman of Ogilvy South Africa. Case continues, Its our mission to inspire brands and people to impact the world so were immensely proud and humbled by these wins for work that truly delivered impact for our clients brands. Its great to see our work back in the Loerie headlines and these results are a truly amazing achievement for our teams and clients. Thank you to the judges for recognising the power of this work. And a very important thank you also to our clients for believing in us and for partnering to create these bold campaigns. The Wits Mining Institute (WMI) recently hosted an inaugural annual seminar highlighting the value of innovative research in developing mining technology for the future of the industry. Source: Supplied Held under the theme 'Turning research curiosity into 21st century minerals industry performance, relationships and technology, WMI director Professor Glen Nwaila noted that it could not have developed advanced technologies for the 21st century model of mining - which includes SmartMine internet of things (IoT), wearable technologies and sensors, safe blast imitation, and optimisation and point-cloud surveys, without ongoing, multidisciplinary partnerships. He further highlighted that through this research, innovation and development, and ongoing public-private partnerships, Wits was not only able to progress cross- and trans-disciplinary research and solutions for the mining industry but was also able to address new and emerging challenges. This included stumbling blocks under the umbrella of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), the circular economy, mine waste, sustainable process engineering, orebody modelling and geotechnical engineering. Another challenge faced by the industry as mines continue to develop is the question of capacity development. The WMI cannot stagnate as the mining industry continues to be in flux. The research will continue to develop alongside industry, which is developing at a rapid pace. Industry perspective Delivering his keynote speech on the first day of the event, Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman highlighted that the Sibanye-Stillwater DigiMine laboratory at Wits was a prime example of one of Sibanyes strategies to create a better mining world. Fundamental and applied research within the DigiMine laboratory provides us with strategic intelligence on relevant digital advances to institutionalise innovation. Sibanye-Stillwater, which is sharpening its focus on the battery metals space, is further pursuing its 3D strategy to address forces of change within the industry. Our 3D strategy is designed to harness opportunities, manage a complex environment, and facilitate continued growth. We intentionally find new ways to do things better, he said. Illustrating some of the work carried out at the DigiMine laboratory, Katekani Maswanganyi, a shift supervisor at Sibanye-Stillwaters platinum division, highlighted how, through digital technology and innovation, mines are no longer working hard but smart, tackling challenges such as mining at depth, mining lower-grade reserves, labour disputes and unauthorised access to mining facilities. Having achieved her MSc in Mining Engineering through the DigiMine laboratory at Wits, Maswanganyi further highlighted how the digitisation of the mining industry has also advanced the role of women in mining. Mining will always remain a labour-intensive working environment, with 43% of female recruits not being physically fit for the nature of the work, she said. With modernisation in the mining industry, which offers various levels of automation, we will be working alongside machines, with hazardous work being done remotely and physical strength no longer being a mandatory requirement, she noted. The seminar also saw the launch of two new Samerdi research centres. Source: Supplied South African Mining Extraction Research, Development & Innovation (Samerdi) The WMI seminar also served as the launch platform of two new research centres established through the Samerdi strategy. Hosted by the WMI, the two Samerdi Research Centres (SRCs) will focus their fundamental research on the themes of real-time information management systems (RTIMS) and successful application of technology centred around people (SATCAP), respectively. These are two of the thematic areas pursued by the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) in Johannesburg, which is administered by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The initiative is also funded by the Minerals Council of South Africa (MinCoSA) and the Department of Science and Industry (DSI). Speaking at the conference, MinCoSA senior executive: modernisation and safety, Sietse Van Der Woude noted that the launch of these centres re-emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships to further innovation and research. To ensure that our mining industry is and remains globally competitive, we need to ensure that our young people are developed in the right capability and capacity to ensure that they can come up with innovative solutions, which mining companies can implement. Some of these may be core-level innovations, and other ones may be transformational at their outset. We will continue to support initiatives that will enhance the capability and capacity of South African mining to be globally competitive, he added. During his address, Johan le Roux, director of MMP and CSIR, noted the MMPs strategic objectives and said: Initiatives like we have here today are significant in re-establishing the mining research capacity that was lost over the last few decades. A rare Apple Watch explosion sends its owners to the emergency room as the smart watch overheats on their wrist. According to Tech Times, the overheating that eventually led to the explosion was a result of an unexpected battery failure that alarmed the user when it started emitting smoke. Overheated Apple Watch Series 7 Burns User According to the user's conversation with 9to5 Mac, they explained that they noticed the Apple Watch getting hotter than usual while they were wearing it, going to a temperature of over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The publisher said that the user told them that the watch had cracked at the back, and started showing warnings about needing to shut down. Apple Insider writes that the owner immediately called Apple Support to explain the situation, and was pointed to multiple levels of Apple's support until it reached the manager. The management had promised to do an investigation about the unlikely incident, but no solution was provided after the call. However, 9to5 Mac says that the user had been instructed to not touch the watch until the company reaches out to them again. Despite the warning, the owner of the Apple Watch Series 7 tried to remove the watch as it became hotter and the heat shattered the device's display. Because of this, the owner decided to take a picture of the overheating watch to send to Apple Support for a report, when it apparently made crackling sounds before it exploded on the couch. Read More: A Guide to Temperature Management for Apple Watch Ultra, Other Apple Watch Models The Explosion Raises The Threat Of Lead Poisoning Immediately after the explosion, the user sought medical attention with the worries of possibly being poisoned by lead, a substance often used in manufacturing devices. However, WCCF Tech confirms that Apple does not use enough quantity of lead in their devices that the lead content found in the Apple Watch Series 7 could not have caused poisoning. 9to5 Mac also writes that the user reached out once again to the Apple Support and he was told that their case will be treated as top priority, but they still has not heard from Apple. Apple Insider reports that the owner was sent a document to sign, which was of Apple asking them to not share their story but he declined. According to 9to5 Mac, the company has also arranged a pick up for the Apple Watch Series 7 that exploded so that they can take it to their labs for a series of tests. iThink Different states that the story, however, did not mention the exact details that can make the story cleare, like how long the watch was used for, or whether it was charged using a third-party device. The owner of the Apple Watch that overheated also did not say whether Apple had offered to refund or provide a replacement for the piece. In 2021, two men experienced the same thing with their Apple products where a man in Austalias also landed himself in the hospital after an iPhone X exploded in his pocket, Apple Insider reports. The other man even pushed for a class action lawsuit against Apple because of defective batteries and warranty violations after his iPhone exploded on his face two years prior, Apple Insider added. Related Article: Apple Watch Ultra Depth App: Here's What You Have to Know Effective cybersecurity is as important to the success of any business as capital funding, skills mix, innovation and good management in today's world. This is especially true since the widespread move to remote and hybrid working over the past two years, which has made both individuals and organisations more vulnerable to cyberattacks. And not only are users on open networks more vulnerable to these attacks, cybercrime is becoming more sophisticated every day. Large companies have the benefit of firewalls, dedicated IT departments and advanced security protocols, but even theyre vulnerable to cybercrime, so SMMEs have to be alert to the threat it poses to both business information and continuity. Yet many dont know where to start when it comes to preventing cyber intrusions, data theft and malicious attacks. Forewarned is forearmed The first line of defence against cybercrime is awareness and vigilance and theres good reason to be vigilant. In 2021 alone, there were 230 million cyberthreat detections in South Africa, with phishing attempts being the most common. Around 96% of businesses and organisations in the country were targeted by this form of attack during the course of the year, with the number targeted by data and business email attacks not far behind. And these are no longer simple end-point attacks. Criminal syndicates have developed complex, multi-stage operations that are designed to compromise computer networks through their most vulnerable points; usually their people. All it takes is a careless click on a suspicious link in an email and the damage is done. This is how most cyber criminals gain access to sensitive information and bank accounts or deliver malicious software, like ransomware. Ransomware, which is designed to block access to a computer system until a ransom is paid, has become a widespread threat, with 75% of known ransomware having been used to initiate attacks on three out of four organisations worldwide. Whats the solution? In SMMEs, where entrepreneurs and their staff often perform multiple functions, protecting individual and networked computers from an attack can seem like an overwhelming task. There are, of course, some important steps that everyone who uses a computer should take. For starters, its important not to use the same password on multiple platforms as this makes it more difficult for hackers whove discovered a password to gain access to all of our online accounts. You should also be vigilant of suspicious links in an unexpected email, even one that looks as if it could come from a known service provider. Cybercriminals imitate to mirror the mails sent out by trusted organisations, hoping to catch users unaware. In fact, its a good discipline never to click on a hyperlink in an email. Make it a practice to copy hyperlinks and open them separately in your browser instead. And always remember the golden rule: think before you click. The importance of training Ideally, all members of staff who make use of computers, whether standalone or networked, should attend a cybersecurity training course conducted by an established and reputable provider so that they can learn to understand cyber criminals and the way they operate. As much as individuals and businesses benefit from new technologies, so do hackers. Many make use of AI tools such as machine learning to mine for data that may make computers or networks vulnerable and many even use bots to maximise the reach of their phishing attacks. Cybersecurity skills are as important to a business as functional, financial and managerial skills and training helps entrepreneurs and their staff to understand more than just the basics. Formal training will, for example, help them to recognise and strengthen vulnerable points in the businesss IT and data systems. Theyll also learn more about how AI works, about the metaverse and about blockchain technology and about how using these technologies can create system vulnerabilities. Most importantly, theyll learn all about ways to protect the businesss technology and data systems. The bottom line is that data is one of the most valuable assets in any business today and, with so much sensitive information now online, nothing can be left to chance. Venue: NWU Art Gallery (North-West University, Building E7, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom. 2520) Exhibition title: Decolonising the Book Time: 12.30-2.30pm Opening date: 6 October 2022 Closing date: 28 October 2022 The NWU Gallery in collaboration with Visual Narratives and Creative Outputs (ViNCO) and the Artists Book Club presents the exhibition Decolonising the Book. The exhibition will be available for viewing from 6-28 October 2022 at the NWU Main Gallery. Decolonising the Book is a product of the Decolonial Book Arts Project that was initiated in 2018 by artist and former bookseller Chris Reinders (of The African Moon Press) and developed further over the next few years by the Johannesburg Chapter of the Artists Book Club. This arts projects inception was the result of the prominent, and still ongoing, calls for decolonisation, particularly those which had been driven by students in South Africas higher education sector. Reinders invited a group of individuals to engage with the theme of decolonisation through the book arts at an open meeting held at the studio of artist and lecturer Gordon Froud in Johannesburg. To avoid over-controlling the project. Reinders provided only two things firstly, an open brief, consisting of a few quotes taken from publicity for the book Apartheid: Britains Bastard Child (Transgenerational Trauma), and a personal reflection on the project theme; and secondly, a collection of Africana, colonial and apartheid era books, and ephemera that he had amassed during his time as a bookseller. Project participants were tasked with choosing a book from the selection provided and to use it as the starting point from which to respond to the project theme. The artists books in this exhibition are the extended responses to this invitation by Jo-Ann Chan, Cheryl Gage (who sadly passed in 2020), Erica Luttich and Deirdre Pretorius (four members of the Artists Book Club). The works range from mixed media objects and redesigned volumes to a carefully curated cabinet of curiosity. All, however, make use of found objects that have been refigured through needlework, experimental printmaking, juxtaposition or digital mash-up, to contest ideas or offer new ways of seeing the found objects; and in some instances, challenging the codex as the standard book form. The exhibition opens at the NWU Gallery on 6 October 2022 and has a series of associated public events, ranging from online discussions and artist walkabouts to bookmaking workshops that will be hosted during the month of October. The competition is in celebration of the cosmetic brands 20th anniversary and will see essence giving R500 hampers to four lucky students. To help spread the news, FundiConnect is hosting the giveaway on its Twitter page. Affordable and well-priced, essence has become a household name in South Africa and is an absolutely fantastic product for students. We couldnt be more excited to be part of the celebration, says Kezia Rossouw, business development manager at FundiConnect. Essence is a globally recognised brand that has taken the world by storm for over two decades with its high-quality and innovative cosmetic products. Its aim is to help individuals from around the world gain access to a wealth of wellness and beauty products at affordable prices. Essence maintains that its passion is make-up and its products are made with the goal of helping people express themselves in creative ways. However, the brand is about more than just helping individuals express their individuality with cosmetics. Essence is known for being environmentally aware, and its vegan-friendly and anti-cruelty products are a reflection of that. Makeup should be fun for people, and safe for the environment. Thats why all our products are cruelty-free and never tested on animals, says the team at essence. These values align with the team at FundiConnect, who are thrilled to be listing the brand on their platform. Student life is about more than attending lectures and studying its also about having fun! We cant wait to bring this exciting and sustainable brand to the student platform, and wish all our entrants the best of luck, adds Rossouw. The giveaway officially launched on 23 September and will finish on 21 October. The first winner has already been selected, but there are still three lucky winners to be chosen, each of which will be given a free essence hamper valued at R500. Students can enter the competition on Twitter. For more information, visit www.fundiconnect.co.za or www.houseofcosmetics.co.za. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries SUBSCRIBE Misinformation and outright lies are at the base of elections in the United States. Following the FBI-staged post-election insurrection at the Capitol, it has become tantamount to an act of treason to discuss the possibility the election was in some way rigged or stolen. Politics, circa 2022, is a chaotic three-ring circus with lies, card tricks, and drama taking center stage. For instance, in August of 2021, the FBI concluded that neither Trump nor his supporters organized an attempt to overturn the election result. Naturally, it didnt get a lot of play. In a court filing in April, the attorney representing nearly a dozen members of the Oath Keepers discovered evidence of government infiltration and possible agent provocateur behavior during the protest. Just the News reported, "At least 20 FBI and ATF assets were embedded around the Capitol on J6," a footnote in the motion reads. The motion also states that attorneys "combed through a mountain of discovery" including summaries of interviews conducted by FBI agents and that members of the Oath Keepers, a far-right group, were "being monitored and recorded prior to J6." The attorney, David Fischer, wrote in the brief that despite carefully inspecting a significant amount of evidence during discovery, he has not found one iota of proof that the defendants pre-planned or had any intention, design, or scheme to specifically enter the Capitol Building on J6. The FBI, Americas political police apparatus, doesnt take kindly to narrative-busting information leaking out of the agency. For instance, veteran agent Steve Friend was suspended last month, stripped of his gun and badge, and escorted out of the FBI field office in Daytona Beach, Florida, for exposing a number of FBI dirty tricks in relation to the fake narrative that American democracy is threatened by right-wing extremists. Friend alleges the Washington, DC, field office is manipulating FBI case management protocol and farming out J6 cases to field offices across the country to create the false impression that right-wing domestic violence is a widespread national problem that goes far beyond the black swan event of Jan. 6, 2021. The suspended agent also claims FBI domestic terrorism cases are being opened on innocent American citizens who were nowhere near the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, based on anonymous tips to an FBI hotline or from Facebook spying on their messages. These tips are turned into investigative tools called guardians, after the FBI software that collates them. No doubt, however, the allegations only scratch the surface. It has been known for decades the FBI, most notably under the illegal COINTELPRPO, provoked violence during demonstrations, entrapped nonviolent activists, engineered the destruction of careers, and even stand accused of political assassination (of Martin Luther King, Fred Hampton, and Malcolm X, among others of less repute). It spied on and closely followed the entirely constitutional activity of thousands of Americans. For instance, the FBI collected a 1,884-page file detailing the activities of the author and activist James Baldwin. As a comparison, consider that one of the longest works of literary fiction, War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, is just over a thousand pages. The FBIs favorite tactic, beyond destroying political organizations from the inside out, is inventing terror groups out of whole cloth and then entrapping victims, many of them mentally ill. In all these law enforcement schemes the alleged terrorists masterminds end up seeming, when the full story comes out, unable to terrorize their way out of a paper bag without law enforcement tutelage, writes Rick Perlstein for Rolling Stone. A CBS website page detailing a pattern of entrapment since September 11, 2001 has since disappeared. Entire books and documentaries have been written and produced on the illegal political deeds of the FBIand yet millions of Americans, deluged their entire lives with tidal waves of propaganda and official lies, unquestioningly believe whatever falsehoods the national security states political police enforcers invent. Millions of Americans actually believe unruly demonstrators on January 6 were somehow able to overthrow the government and thus solitary confinement is an appropriate response to wrongthink. News that is politically disadvantageous for the state is successfully suppressed. For instance, the case of Hunter Biden, the degenerate son of the president. Emily Crane writes: FBI officials told agents not to investigate first son Hunter Bidens infamous laptop for months vowing that the bureau was not going to change the outcome of the election again, according to whistleblower claims made public Wednesday by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) These new allegations provide even more evidence of FBI corruption and renew calls for you to take immediate steps to investigate the FBIs actions regarding the laptop, Johnson wrote in a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz. According to the senator, individuals with knowledge had told his office that local FBI leadership had slow-walked the laptop investigation after the computer was recovered from a Wilmington, Del. repair shop in December 2019. In other words, a supposed agency established to fight crime has itself engaged in massive criminality, including withholding information that would have undoubtedly influenced how Americans voted. This is exactly what the state and its media did with the widely debunked and quite frankly absurd Russian collusion accusations against Trump. The infamous Steele Dossier is a work of fiction, and a vulgar one at that. A cursory examination of the Steele Dossier should have convinced the CIA or the FBI that it was fake news, writes Paul R. Gregory for the Hoover Institution. Any residual doubt would have vanished after learning that its author, Christopher Steele, was an opposition researcher paid by the Democrats to dig up dirt on Trump. That our most sophisticated government officials acted as if the Dossier were legitimate leads to only one conclusion. They were a knowing and willing part of the Democratic and media smear of a presidential contender, and then president, that paralyzed U.S. politics for three years. In short, the Democrats fed an unrelenting mountain of lies into the eager megaphone of the corporate media, and this did in fact warp the election (although it may have taken election tampering to achieve the final result of a senile old man becoming president). The vast majority of the fake news came from Democrats desperate to prevent the American people from voting for the wrong candidate. Russias supposed disinformation campaign paled in comparison. Russia, like much of the rest of the world, was reporting on the election from its perspective. In the United States, this is considered subversion. Now that the midterm elections are upon us, its time to ramp up the discredited old lies, throw them against the wall, and see what sticks. Once again, the FBI is instrumental. FBI officials warn that Russia and China are working to interfere in Novembers midterm elections in the U.S. by amplifying misinformation thats already been floating around. The feds expressed their concerns to state and local officials last month, according to an unclassified intelligence advisory. Russian operatives hope to further sow doubt in election integrity, while China is working to hinder candidates perceived to be particularly adversarial to Beijing, the FBI says. Because so many Americans are little more than headline skimmers, there is a reduced chance they will arrive at the third paragraph, which states no credible threats to election infrastructure have so far been detected by intelligence officials, however insisting U.S. adversaries in 2016 used social media to confuse and misinform voters. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook later took measures to fact-check information being posted online prior to the 2020 election. Left unsaid is the fact the USG and its conspiratorial media are permitted, even encouraged, to twist facts and pass off easily debunked lies as truth on all of its platforms, including and especially Facebook and Twitter. Obviously, the adversaries are the American people, who may wander from the strict confines of official narratives, many debunked in short order, and vote for yet another outlier. The midterms will decide which party controls congress and if the president will be a lame duck, to match his lame cognitive ability. All of this is an ongoing effort to tighten up a dysfunctional voting system. For decades, it has been little more than a meaningless ritual. This video revealsadmittedly with a hard partisan twist and a Fox News hoofprintthat it is indeed possible to rig voting machines. However, to now even insinuate as much will get you investigated (or taken down) by the FBI. A U.K. based company that has provided voting machines for 16 states, including important battleground states like Florida and Arizona, has direct ties with billionaire leftist and Clinton crusader George Soros, reports Joe Jankowski for The Last American Vagabond. With recent WikiLeaks emails showing that Hillary Clinton received foreign policy directives and coordinated on domestic policy with Soros, along with receiving tens of millions of dollars in presidential campaign support from the billionaire, concerns are growing that these shadowy players may pull the strings behind the curtains of the [2016] presidential election. The hysterical and irrational response by the state and its media to the American people voting Trump into officea man obviously not educated on policy and with at best a sketchy grasp of geopoliticsis evidence enough elections are meaningless unless the vetted and establishment elected candidate wins. It was apparently so serious, they had to have a Brit cook up a dossier of lies, the most notorious and tawdry being Trump supposedly urinating on a bed where Obama once slept. No obscenities or absurdities are beyond these people. Meanwhile, the current presidents son illegally cavorted with prostitutes, smoked crack cocaine every fifteen minutes, and worst of all, entered into secret business deals with China and Ukraine. We knew this before the election, and yet it was scrubbed from the corporate and social media to make certain Biden would be clean as a whistle when duped voters performed their democratic duty ritual. IRW-PRESS: Rock Tech Lithium Inc.: Rock Tech Lithium beendet Bohrprogramm 2021 2022 in Georgia Lake Vancouver, Kanada, 7. Oktober, 2022 - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Unternehmen", "Rock Tech") gibt die endgultigen Ergebnisse des kurzlich abgeschlossenen Bohrprogramms aus den Jahren 2021 und 2022 ("Bohrprogramm") fur das 100% unternehmenseigne Georgia Lake Projekt bekannt., das im Bergbaudistrikt Thunder Bay in Ontario, Kanada liegt. Rock Tech freut sich, die endgultigen Ergebnisse seines abgeschlossenen Bohrprogramms aus den Jahren 2021 - 2022 bekannt zu geben. Das Bohrprogramm wurde zur Unterstutzung der laufenden vorlaufigen Machbarkeitsstudie des Georgia Lake Projektes durchgefuhrt, die das Unternehmen voraussichtlich im vierten Quartal 2022 veroffentlichen wird. Die endgultigen Bohrergebnisse stammen von Explorationsbohrungen, die im Winter und Fruhjahr 2022 durchgefuhrt wurden. Robert MacDonald, General Manager des Georgia Lake Projektes, sagte zu den Bohrungen: "Rock Tech freut sich, dass wir diese Phase unseres Bohrprogramms abschlieen, und damit auch den Abschluss unserer vorlaufigen Machbarkeitsstudie unterstutzen. Die Studie wollen wir noch im Laufe dieses Jahres veroffentlichen und auch die Genehmigungen fur das Georgia Lake Projekt weiter vorantreiben." Ziel des Bohrprogramms war es, die Gewissheit der aktuellen Rohstoffschatzung fur das Lithium-Projekt Georgia Lake zu verbessern und die Ressourcenklassifikation von vorwiegend abgeleiteten (predominantly inferred) Ressourcen auf vorwiegend angezeigte (predominantly indicated) Ressourcen anzuheben sowie potenzielle Erweiterungen der Ressourcenschatzung im Einfallen und Streichen der Lagerstatten zu erproben. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse der ersten 70 Bohrlocher, die im Rahmen des Programms 2021 - 2022 gebohrt wurden, wurden vom Rock Tech bereits am 12. Januar 2022 bzw. am 30. Juni 2022 bekannt gegeben. Neben dem Bohrprogramm wurde im Sommer 2022 ebenfalls ein erfolgreiches Kartierungs- und Prospektionsprogramm in dem Gebiet des Georgia Lake Projektes durchgefuhrt, das sowohl in der Nahe von bekannten spodumenhaltigen Pegmatit-Lagerstatten, als auch in wenig erkundeten Gebieten auf dem 6.728 Hektar groen Grundstuck lag. Das Georgia Lake Projekt, das sich zwischen Nipigon und Beardmore im kanadischen Ontario, befindet, umfasst 1.042 Hektar an Pachten mineralischer Liegenschaften und 5.686 Hektar an Mineralkonzessionen. Seit dem Beginn des Bohrprogramms im Jahr 2021 hat das Unternehmen insgesamt 23.200 Meter an Diamantbohrungen durchgefuhrt, die sich auf funf Spodumen-Pegmatit-Lagerstatten konzentrierten, die als Main Zone North (MZN"), Conway, Main Zone Southwest (MZSW"), Harricana und Line 60 bekannt sind. WEITERE DATEN ZUM BOHRPROGRAMM Wesentliche Daten zu den Bohrungen selbst und den Zonen, in denen sie durchgefuhrt wurden, sind der englischen Originalveroffentlichung zu entnehmen, die auf der Website des Unternehmens unter www.rocktechlithium.com einsehbar ist. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE The scientific and technical disclosure included in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Amanuel Bein, P.Geo., Chief Exploration Geologist of the Georgia Lake Project, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects. Exploration data was collected and verified following the guidelines outlined in CIM Mineral Exploration Best Practice Guidelines. ABOUT ROCK TECH LITHIUM INC. Rock Tech is a cleantech company on a mission to produce lithium chemicals for EV batteries. The Company aims to serve automotive customers with high-quality lithium hydroxide. Rock Tech plans to build high-tech lithium converters at the door-step of the European and North American automotive industries, to provide customers with supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict ESG standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its own mineral project in Canada as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw materials from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information The following cautionary statements are in addition to all other cautionary statements and disclaimers contained elsewhere in, or referenced by, this press release. Certain information set forth in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which information is based on Rock Tech's current expectations, estimates, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking information. Often, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and all other indications of future tense. All forward-looking information set forth in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements referred to in this section. In particular, forward-looking information contained in this press release includes: statements regarding the Drill Program and the ongoing pre-feasibility study, including their objectives, results and the benefits thereof; the timing of completion of the pre-feasibility study; the Company's expectations regarding its planned and prospective projects, including the Georgia Lake Project and the proposed lithium projects, the Company's intentions with respect to the development and timing thereof and statements regarding future plans, activities, and schedules relating to such projects and related development; statements and expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. This forward-looking information was derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: that the results of the Drill Program will be indicative of future results; that the pre-feasibility study will continue as currently planned; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech's ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include: the Company's ability to access funding required to invest in available opportunities and projects (including the Georgia Lake Project) and on satisfactory terms; the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical hostilities; the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due; changes in commodity and other prices; Rock Tech's ability to attract and retain skilled staff and to secure feedstock from third party suppliers; unanticipated events and other difficulties related to the construction, development and operation of the Georgia Lake Project and/or the Company's proposed lithium converters; the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; title defects; competition from existing and new competitors; changes in currency and/or exchange rates and the market prices of Rock Tech's securities; Rock Tech's history of losses; adverse impacts of climate change; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Rock Tech's public disclosure documents available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, respectively. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information. Rock Tech Lithium Inc. For further information: Andre Mandel, VP Marketing & Communications, Rock Tech Lithium Inc.; 777 Hornby Street, Suite 600, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1S4; Telephone: +49 (0) 151 2825 4014; Facsimile: (604) 670-0033; Email: amandel@rocktechlithium.com. Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: https://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=67730 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: https://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=67730&tr=1 NEWSLETTER REGISTRIERUNG: Aktuelle Pressemeldungen dieses Unternehmens direkt in Ihr Postfach: http://www.irw-press.com/alert_subscription.php?lang=de&isin=CA77273P2017 Mitteilung ubermittelt durch IRW-Press.com. Fur den Inhalt ist der Aussender verantwortlich. Kostenloser Abdruck mit Quellenangabe erlaubt. Quelle: dpa-Afx The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that SpaceX's Crew-5 mission has successfully reached its intended destination, the International Space Station (ISS). After some day, the mission was finally launched on October 5 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Dragon capsule, which has been named Endurance, carried four astronauts atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The Crew-5 mission is meant to last five months. NASA, SpaceX's Crew-5 Mission Arrives at the ISS According to a report by Space.com, Endurance reached the space station's Harmony module at 5:01 p.m. EDT. It took 10 minutes before the docking operation was successfully completed. However, it was not until 6:45 p.m. EDT that the hatches were opened. Just a few minutes shy of 7 p.m. EDT, the four astroanuts inside Endurance floated into the ISS. These four astronauts are NASA's Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, Japan's Koichi Wakata, and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina. Space.com's report notes that it is Mann, Cassada, and Kikina's first time in space, while it is already Wakata's fifth time. Mann makes history as the first Native American woman in space. On the other hand, Kikina has become the first cosmonaut to be a passenger of SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Related Article: Historic SpaceX Crew-5 Mission Lifts Off for ISS with Exemplary, Diverse Astronauts The Dragon Endurance Capsule If you have been paying close attention to SpaceX's crewed missions to the ISS, then the Endurance capsule will be familiar to you. This is because it is the same Dragon capsule that carried the astronauts of the Crew-3 mission to and from the ISS. The Crew-3 mission, which launched in November 2021, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, and Thomas Marshburn, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer. The Endurance is one of the four Dragon capsules that SpaceX has. Space.com notes that these capsules are refurbished and retested before each flight. What Crew-5's Arrival Means for the Crew-4 Mission The arrival of the Crew-5 mission signals the impending departure of the Crew-4 mission, according to Space.com. The report cites Sarah Walker, director for Dragon mission management at SpaceX, who said that the departure of the Crew-4 mission will happen approximately in a week's time. This, however, will depend on the weather. The Crew-4 mission launched on April 27, which means its astronauts have been living in the ISS for around six months now. According to the announcement made by NASA, the four astronauts of the mission will answer questions from the media pertaining to their life on the ISS on October 11. The four Crew-4 mission astronauts are NASA's Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins, and Kjell Lindgren, as well as Samantha Cristoforetti from the ESA. Read Also: NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Launches To Space With Jessica Watkins, the First Black Woman To Stay Long Term in the ISS The Sins of the Left and the Right on Israel The opinions expressed in this article are the authors and not necessarily those of Brandeis University. At this time of year, we Jews are called upon to repair our conduct and change our ways. It is not easy. We can only do so if we are honest with ourselves, recognizing our sins and taking responsibility for our actions. And the High Holiday liturgy does not let us off the hook. In the Al Het prayers, the traditional confession of our collective sins repeated 10 times on Yom Kippur, the language is not abstract or philosophical; it is direct, harsh, and unyielding: We have sinned against you by fraud and by falsehood, by scoffing, by haughtiness, by dishonesty in business. (Al Het means for the sin in Hebrew.) It refers, in other words, to the specific vices to which we are all so prone deception, slander, envy, gossip. Our tradition teaches that the issue of sin must be confronted directly and discussed in a practical and realistic way. Absent such a discussion, there can be no moral judgment and no forgiveness. And what is true for all our actions is true as well for our actions on Israel. Inevitably, this will be a difficult process. When it comes to Israel, emotions run high, and confronting our sins and scrutinizing our innermost thoughts are especially challenging. But it is essential that we do this, nonetheless. Given all that is at stake when it comes to Israels well-being, let me suggest some additions to the Al Het prayers for Jews of the left, Jews of the right, and for the entire Jewish people. For Jews of the left: We have sinned against you by minimizing Israels virtues, blaming Israel for the sins of others, and expecting too little from Israels adversaries. We dont always remember that Israel is a miracle. The Jewish people need a Jewish state, a Jewish army, and a place of refuge for Jews everywhere. We are rightly appalled by the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza but forget that the Palestinians have not done their part in bringing the occupation to an end. We do not hold Palestinian leaders to the same moral standards that we expect from other peoples and nations, and we downplay their incitement and tolerance of terror. We minimize the dangers posed by the rogue regime in Iran and by the fundamentalist fanatics of Hamas. We fail to distinguish between those who thoughtfully criticize Israel and those who do not want Israel to exist. And we often refuse to recognize the faults of those who identify as on the left, remaining silent when they say false and outrageous things about Israel. For the Jews of the right: We have sinned against you by denying Palestinians basic rights, ignoring their suffering, encouraging hatred, and forgetting what the Torah teaches about relations with the stranger. We turn our eyes from the harsh realities of the occupation, banishing from our minds that for more than half a century, millions of Palestinians have been deprived of basic rights. We do not fight to improve their lot and remain shamefully silent while extremist settlers such as the hill youth attack and torment them and sometimes kill them. We talk of peace but offer no vision of the future. We take refuge in comforting stereotypes, implying that all Palestinians are terrorists and falling into the trap of generalized hatred for the Other. And we often completely ignore the faults of those in our own camp, accepting the support of right-wing radicals in Israel and elsewhere who applaud us when we call for settlement rather than separation. For all Jews: We have sinned against you by failing to remember that the road ahead for Israel is full of terrible dangers, that we must be committed to peace but without illusions, that Israel must be prepared for concessions and withdrawals, and that Jewish life cannot be sustained without Israel at its core. For all these sins, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement. Poster for Festive Korea 2022 / Courtesy of Korean Cultural Center By Park Ji-won HONG KONG Festive Korea, the largest cultural event held by the Korean Cultural Center and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, is being held in Hong Kong, hosting up to 35 cultural events between October and November. Themed "Fun of Korea," the annual event, which began 12 years ago, will focus on presenting more offline venues than last year, which include soprano Jo Su-mi's performance at "Music on the Harbourfront" on Nov. 18. It is also co-hosted by Hong Kong Generation Next Arts, a local organization promoting young Hong Kong artists by hosting events and concerts. K-Pop Community Festival will be held on Nov. 5 where selected local K-pop dance crews will perform while K-pop girl group OH MY GIRL will join online. Korea Square, an open market, will be held from Oct. 22 to 23, where Korean food, culture and lifestyle products will be sold and displayed. On the sideline of the event, Taekwondo and dance performances will be presented. During Fine Art Asia, being held Oct. 5 to 8, Korean contemporary ceramics and crafts are being displayed. Hong Kong Asian Film Festive (HKAFF) will see up to seven Korean films screened while Korean Independent Film Showcase will be presenting 3 different independent films. On the sidelines of the event, the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong co-hosts "Korean Culture Scene" with the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) and other Korean Cultural Centers in five different countries Thailand, Vietnam, Belgium, Hungary, and the United Kingdom for the first time, which will include cultural events preferred by locals. For Hong Kong citizens, a series of K-Pop-themed events such as lectures and K-pop dance performances will be presented. More information is available at the website of the Korean Cultural Center. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A little over a month ago, Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed that Australias ambitious renewable energy infrastructure project the Snowy 2.0 hydro energy was woefully behind schedule and possibly as much as $2 billion over budget. Theres a claim against Snowy Hydro (Ltd, the government-owned entity commissioning the project), Bowen told Sky News. It hasnt been finalised Were not about to commit to a $2 billion claim just like that, we will work to minimise the cost blowout. Snowy 2.0 was originally slated to begin acting as a battery for the nation by 2021 when first championed by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Construction, pictured earlier this year, is now set to last until almost the end of the decade. Credit:Jamila Todera The claim was made by the consortium that won the tender to build the project, Future Generation JV, and followed concerns about the financial strength of the engineering firm working as part of the consortium, Perth-based, South African owned Clough, and whether the project was a white elephant. The delays and cost blowout was another sign of how supply chain constraints and a tight labour market have left their mark on the industry, curbing the plans of state and the federal governments and pushing some builders to the brink. But it was also another bad headline for the main shareholder in the Future Generation JV Italys Webuild. Webuild, which was until 2020 known as Salini Impregilo, has faced a series of cost blowouts on its Australian projects and allegations from two unions the Electrical Trades Union and the construction arm of the CFMEU of having a terrible safety record in Australia. Advertisement It also has led to questions about whether Webuild is bidding too low on projects and not building in enough of a buffer to absorb additional costs caused by global economic headwinds, or unexpected safety issues. Underbidding on government projects is not illegal in Australia, but the practice can cause headaches for state and federal governments which often, and as expected in the case of Snowy Hydro 2.0, have to pick up some of the additional costs incurred over the life of the project. Loading Concerns about Webuild underbidding something the company denies could have a significant impact on taxpayers given the group has picked up several major projects in the past five years. Along with its work on Snowy Hydro 2.0, Webuild is also part of the consortium that has been named the preferred partner for the contract to build the Gowrie-Kagaru section of the federal governments Inland Rail link. It has also won the contract to deliver the primary package for the North East Link road project in Victoria. It has also been a part of consortiums building Forrestfield Airport Link in Perth (which opens on October 9) and the Sydney Metro Northwest Skytrain Bridge. But the companys growth in this market and its sharp pricing on bids to win contracts hasnt been without complaint. Industry sources who declined to be named because they are either working on projects involving the company or have business relationships with the group say there have been cost blowouts and other problems, notably serious safety issues, across a range of its Australian projects. They say the cost blowout at Snowy Hydro 2.0 is reflective of the companys strategy to bid below its rivals to win contracts, even when those estimates seem overly rosy. A spokesman for Webuild told this masthead this week the project was highly complex and involved the consortium doing things that have never been done before, such as excavating a chamber nearly a kilometre underground to house the turbines. Advertisement Webuild is working closely with Snowy Hydro and the joint-venture partners (its subsidiary Lane and Clough) to overcome challenges that are typical of complex engineering projects. Pietro Salini in Sydney a few years ago. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The conditions have been made even more challenging by external factors such as the 2019-2020 bushfires in the Snowy Mountains, the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the war in Ukraine, and the effects on supply chains. Another industry source who was aware of issues on the project who declined to be named for business reasons said Webuild would be in for serious costs if Clough was unable to complete the project. If Clough goes under they [Webuild] are f---ed. Replacing a builder will add significant costs to the project, much of which the government would expect they would pick up. But the bad news about Snowy Hydro isnt the only controversy the company has faced recently. In Italy, the groups chief executive, Pietro Salini, has been battling criminal charges for bid rigging over the awarding of contracts to a Webuild-led consortium for the 7 billion ($10.7 billion) rail link between Genoa and Milan. Advertisement Salini, who was facing a three-and-a-half year sentence if found guilty, was acquitted last week along with 20 other men charged as part of the same case. Seven other people charged as part of the investigation were found guilty of receiving money or services via escorts to rig the bidding to favour the Webuild-led consortium and working on the project and companies linked to a family member of Salini. Webuild was likened to a national hero for its work rebuilding and repairing the Ponte Morandi after its collapse killed 43 people. Credit: Salini and Webuild had always claimed the charges were inappropriately laid. During the only telephone conversation that is at the basis of my indictment, I asked [after the closing of the tender] for the maximum attention be given to the industrial capabilities, the financial solvency, and the reliability of the entrusted companies in the development of the works, Salini says. This was to be done no matter who they might be or who might be their owners - including members of my family so as to guarantee, once again, the safety of the work sites and the workers, the success of the project and its usefulness to the community. The allegations have had no impact on Webuilds abilities to win the contracts for huge projects in Italy, Australia and North America. Advertisement Webuild is a building behemoth in Italy, where it is listed on the Milan stock exchange and Italys Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Equity the countrys nation-building fund similar to Australias Future Fund holds a 16.67 per cent stake. The group has also been the beneficiary and the key proponent of a national project to effectively consolidate the industry to create a globally competitive infrastructure group that would benefit the Italian economy and people by providing strong revenue streams for the countrys pension funds and its sovereign wealth investment arm. This financial backing and its unbridled ability to grow through acquisition in its home country has helped Webuild grow into an infrastructure powerhouse with a construction backlog of 47.2 billion, of which 38 billion was construction, according to its most recent half-year results in June. The national freight network between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria will span almost 2000 kilometres. This includes major projects around the world including a high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston, Americas first project of that kind, and Grand Paris Express (Europes biggest rail and metro project). In Australia, Webuild has been growing quickly. The groups projects in Australia contributed 13 per cent of the groups construction backlog for the first half, compared with 1 per cent in 2015. The spokesman for Webuild says that Australia is among the groups biggest core markets in terms of the combined value of future projects that are of interest to the company. Advertisement Australias economy is in trouble. The Productivity Commission recently reported that Australian productivity growth is at its lowest rate in 60 years. Industry and universities need a new partnership model to build the future workforce that Australia needs. The solution is a new kind of degree a degree apprenticeship that brings industry and universities together, gives students an income while they study, and delivers employers the job-ready, skilled workforce they need. Australia, like most countries around the world, faces the challenge of reviving an economy stunted by the COVID pandemic. Russias war against Ukraine, geostrategic tensions in East Asia, and climate-change induced extreme weather events are compounding the challenge. Growing Australias high-skilled workforce is key to re-firing our economy. As the Prime Minister observed in his speech to the National Press Club in August, widespread skills shortage has acted as a handbrake on our economy. Global shortage in skilled labour and reduction of inward migration reinforce the imperative to develop our own workforce. In the introduction to his new essay collection, Provocations, Jeff Sparrow states he feels tremendously isolated as a socialist writer in a country as anti-intellectual as we. Like most Australian greats, Sparrow rejects the persona of ocker larrikinism that mainstream writers adopt to avoid accusations of elitism. He also admits that he reads and the breadth of references he cites is difficult to find elsewhere in Australian writing. By page three, we have heard from Aurelius, Orwell, Ned Kelly, H.G. Wells and a journalist called Bob Considine. The opening essay, A Slave State, is particularly important. Unpublished elsewhere and running almost 50 pages, here, Sparrow spreads his wings. It interrogates whether Australias blackbirding of South Pacific Islanders constitutes slavery. It comes close, with sugar plantation owners in North Queensland hoping to create a second Louisiana and not join Federation. Interestingly, opposition to this indentured non-white labour came in the spirit not of racial equality but of racial purity, a fear that the workers would pollute Australian whiteness. Many such important but uncomfortable historical discoveries are to be found here. Kanakas from various Pacific islands on a Queensland plantation during the blackbirding days early in the 20th century. Credit: Isolation does not free the writer from accolades or mainstream success. Sparrows Walkley-winning essay A Place of Punishment positions Behrouz Boochanis No Friend but the Mountains with literature of the Holocaust and poses the question: can art console the most oppressed in their darkest hour? For Boochani and the other inmates of Manus Island satirising the guards reclaims them a shred of power, but for Holocaust survivor Jean Amery mouthing poetry on his way to the IG Farben factory gives no relief. Sparrow concedes: One hesitates to invoke Auschwitz in a discussion of Australias asylum seeker detention regime, a system that for all its horrors, does not implement genocide. Surely, this makes the comparison moot. No wonder art could provide no respite to those whose day-to-day life was overshadowed by their certain death and the extermination of their race. Its a given that most teenagers dont listen to their parents, so when Charlotte Friels mum told her to be an architect instead of an actor, the answer was a firm no. The problem was that she had spent her life watching her parents Australian screen and stage legends Judy Davis and Colin Friels act and it just looked like so much, well, fun. Charlotte Friels is making her professional stage debut in The Mousetrap, an Agatha Christie classic whodunit. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer If your parents are such incredible actors, its kind of hard to not want to do it as well, says Friels. Like, it does pique your interest. During high school, Mum was always saying, What about architecture? Oh, thatd be so interesting, wouldnt it? And I was like, Shut up. Thats not going to happen. An elderly Bronte man will remain behind bars for at least another month after allegedly murdering his wife at the couples home on Thursday night. Stephen Barker, 74, was arrested at the house in Bronte, on Thursday night after emergency services were called to the property by a family member who was concerned for Christine Barkers welfare. Christine Barker, 74, was given first aid at the scene by NSW Police, then was taken to St Vincents Hospital, where she died. Police believe the alleged attack did not involve the use of weapons. A man in his 20s fell to his death while abseiling at a popular location in the Blue Mountains on Friday morning and emergency services are now working to retrieve his body from the Katoomba Cliffs. Emergency services were called to the abseiling spot at Malaita Wall about 8am after the man fell while abseiling with a group of people. The popular abseiling spot, the Malaita Wall, is 45m high at its peak. Credit:David Stanley/Flickr Witnesses provided medical assistance before paramedics arrived but he died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified. Unsure why he slashed the necks of an 82-year-old woman and her son while buying a printer, Adam Curtis Brown thought paint fumes may be to blame. The Brisbane Supreme Court has heard Brown, 43, was affected by pills and alcohol when he went berserk at Hervey Bay, about 190 kilometres north of Brisbane, in April 2018. The injured mother and son ran out onto the Hervey Bay street and flagged down neighbours after being stabbed in the neck and torso in April 2018. Credit:Zoe McLaughlin - Nine News Wide Bay But Brown still cant explain why he launched a sustained, senseless, unprovoked attack on a 54-year-old man and his elderly mother with a retractable blade. Brown arrived at their property to discuss buying the printer but became agitated and erratic, at one stage removing his shirt. Hong Kong: 3.5k arrested in anti-crime operation Police arrested more than 3,500 people and seized cash, dangerous drugs and illicit goods, amounting to $380 million in total, during an anti-crime joint operation with Guangdong and Macau counterparts. Codenamed THUNDERBOLT 2022, the tripartite operation was conducted in two phases, from May 20 to July 4 and from September 13 to 30. During the operation, Hong Kong Police conducted searches with various departments at about 5,500 locations covering bars, amusement game centres, cyber cafes, party rooms and residential units. A total of 3,581 people, aged between 11 and 94, were arrested for triad-related and drug-related offences, from wounding and arson to trafficking in dangerous drugs and money laundering. Among the arrestees, 179 were Mainlanders and 277 were non-ethnic Chinese. Hong Kong Police also seized frozen meat worth over $4 million, as well as dangerous drugs and psychotropic drugs worth about $340 million in total. The intelligence-led enforcement operation aimed at curbing illegal activities of triad societies and organised crime syndicates, neutralising cross-boundary crimes, and interdicting the criminals sources of income. This story has been published on: 2022-10-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Lee Joon-ik, left, Korean director of Tving's new drama series "Yonder," and Shin Ha-kyun, its lead character, attend the 27th Busan International Film Festival's "Open Talk" session held at an outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center, Oct. 7. Yonhap Korean director Lee Joon-ik said Friday he is finally introducing Tving's upcoming series "Beyond the Memory" next week following one failed attempt a decade ago as he thought the time is ripe for the near future sci-fi drama. Part of the six-episode series was premiered at the 27th Busan International Film Festival on Thursday in the "On Screen" section for highly anticipated drama series from streaming platforms. Set in 2032, the drama presents the story of a widower (Shin Ha-kyun) who receives a mysterious message from his dead wife (Han Ji-min) inviting him to a place named Yonder where the dead can live on by uploading their memories. It is based on Kim Jang-hwan's 2011 sci-fi novel "Good-bye Yonder." The 62-year-old master of Korean period dramas, best known for "The King and the Clown" (2005), began working on the novel's script 11 years ago but shelved it due to concerns that he might undermine the book's value. "I put it aside, not ready at the time. Ten years later, I am humbly introducing it to the audience," Lee told the audience in BIFF's "Open Talk" session held at an outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center. "It is definitely correct to say the time has come," he said, noting the public's rising interest in sci-fi themes. One of the challenging parts of making the near future sci-fi drama for his team was creating believable visuals of daily devices and their interfaces, which transform rapidly in just a decade. "If they look too different, it could get in the way of concentrating on the movie. If they look too similar with devices today, it would not be plausible," Lee said. "It was hard to strike the right balance." Unlike his past low-budget projects, Lee said the upcoming series was shot in many places across the country to show beautiful scenery to the global audience. "I enjoyed the luxury of traveling all around the country, taking a ferry to the southernmost island for a shot and traveling to a remote mountainous region for another shot, and so on," Lee said. "I wanted to show overflowing beauty of Korean scenery." "Beyond the Memory," also known by the Korean title "Yonder," will be available on Tving, CJ ENM's streaming platform, next Friday. (Yonhap) The pastor whose controversial sermon led to Andrew Thorburns abrupt resignation as Essendon CEO has repeated his apology for the words he used, while a religious discrimination law expert laid out a dual path for possible legal action against the Bombers. Thorburn, a former National Australia Bank boss, was appointed Essendons CEO on Monday but resigned on Tuesday after criticism of his role as chair of the conservative City on a Hill church, which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Andrew Thorburn quit as the head of the Essendon after a controversial sermon from his church came to light. Credit:Jamie Brown The churchs founding pastor, Guy Mason, likened abortion to a concentration camp in a sermon that has been on the organisations website since 2013. An apology for the language used in the sermon was published on the churchs website on Thursday, but the sermon video retains the reference. On Friday, Mason again backtracked from the comparison when asked on 3AW if the churchs wording had changed while its views had not. The answer, it seems, was a shift in power from the Coalition to Labor in Canberra. Just four months after taking office, the Albanese government is preparing to launch a highly sensitive rescue mission, expected to take place over several stages. Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil, who oversees national security, gave no indication anything was afoot during an extended interview with the Sydney Morning Heald and The Age last month. Asked whether she wanted to see the women and children repatriated from Syria, she replied: I can say that my sole focus in this issue is the safety of Australians in Australia and thats the prism through which I see this whole issue. Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil has said little about the planned rescue mission. Credit:James Brickwood Detailed planning, however, was underway behind the scenes: around this time ASIO agents visited the al-Roj camp to carry out risk assessments, ultimately clearing the mission. ONeil has not publicly confirmed the repatriation mission, but neither has she denied it. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek made the case for compassion this week, saying: Some of the women, some of the mothers, were taken there as little more than children themselves and married off to IS fighters, some of them tricked, some of them forced to go there. While the major parties try to adopt a bipartisan position on national security where possible, that hasnt happened on repatriations. Peter Dutton oversaw the rescue of eight orphaned children from the camps in 2019 as home affairs minister, but opposed bringing anyone else back. There was a risk, he said, that one of the people from the camps could cause a mass casualty event in Australia. Soon after taking over the portfolio last March, Karen Andrews examined the repatriation issue at the urging of human rights advocates. I formed the view, based on advice, that it was too risky for government personnel to go to Syria to undertake any sort of mission to bring these people back, she says. Secondly, there were the concerns about the issue of radicalisation, particularly of young male children. Now opposition home affairs spokeswoman, Andrews position remains the same. I think its all well and good to say that the children arent responsible for the actions and behaviours of their parents, but I do believe very strongly that the risk to Australians of bringing these people back is not one that should be undertaken by the government. Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews says the risks involved in repatriating Australians from Syria are too high. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A briefing this week from ASIO director-general Mike Burgess failed to convince Dutton, who said: I must say that I am more strongly of the view now that there is a very significant risk in bringing some of these people to our country that cant be mitigated, frankly not to the level that we would require to keep Australians safe. Security expert and former senior diplomat Neil Fergus this week said he had been told of an alleged plot in which a woman in the camps would lure in Australian officials to either kill them or hold them hostage. Human rights advocates counter that many other countries such as the United States, the Netherlands and Germany have successfully extracted hundreds of their citizens from the camps without incident, as Australia did in 2019. As for the question of radicalisation, experts in countering violent extremism argue the risks involved are manageable. It helps, they say, that many of the children are young and the total number of Australians is small. Everyone involved agrees the children will require significant support, including therapy. As long as the children remain in the camps, they will continue to be exposed to efforts to recruit violent extremists, says Deakin University professor Michele Grossman, who has examined the repatriation issue closely. Australian women and children in the al-Hawl camp in 2019. Credit:Kate Geraghty It makes a lot of sense to have them back in Australia, where they can receive support and the opportunity to integrate into the Australian community. Nevertheless, the issue remains politically explosive, especially in western Sydney, where many of the women and children are expected to settle. Cumberland City councillor Steve Christou said he did not want his community used as a dumping ground for the relatives of Islamic State fighters. Loading Independent MP Dai Le said: Hearing the news that women and children of ISIS soldiers might be repatriated to western Sydney is very hurtful for refugees in my community of Fowler, many of whom have fled persecution from ISIS. Women in the camps have offered to be voluntarily subjected to terrorism control orders when they return to Australia, meaning they may need to wear tracking devices, report to authorities regularly and be restricted from communicating with certain people. Some of the women are expected to be charged with terrorism offences or for entering a proscribed area. Dabboussy says the control order offer is not an admission of wrongdoing but an acknowledgment of the communitys safety concerns. That fact meant TV ads, social media graphics and other material to spruik the plan which were intended to be released on the same day as the policy were not ready to go. The party subsequently faced criticism because the initial story claimed the party would save more money from the policy than it could. This week, Guys office again surprised campaign leaders when it decided to announce a policy to put armed Protective Services Officers in hospitals. It came days after the Coalition detailed a debt ceiling, which the campaign team intended to be the first in a week full of economic policies. Those policies have not yet eventuated. The hospital security plan was quickly rubbished by Labor as a rehash of an old, failed proposal. Illustrating members dissatisfaction with the campaign, senior party members this week expressed surprise in a private Facebook group over the suggestion HQ was not teaching candidates how to add election authorisations to social media posts. Last week, the party lost its deputy state director, who did not have a campaigning role, and about half of the junior campaigners responsible for individual seat operations. The campaign director and their staff, who are funded by the party not the taxpayer, are supposed to be in charge of election policy and planning. This week, Guys taxpayer-funded staff and campaign workers moved into the same building to begin operating as a joint unit. Loading The enmeshing means leaders from HQ are likely to be vested with greater responsibility to oversee the entire machine. McGowan will leave the campaign next month to start campaigning as an upper house candidate (he is likely to be replaced as Guys chief of staff by his deputy). Meanwhile, experienced campaigners from NSW and former federal ministers offices have been hired, as has former state director and Josh Frydenberg staffer Simon Frost, who is supporting the campaign but is not directly involved. While some Liberals fear the polls point to a bad election loss, other signs point to a coherent campaign. Labor officials have been impressed by the consistency of the Coalitions messaging on health and the strategic locations of hospital upgrades in key seats. One party campaigner in Melbournes inner-east said MPs across the city were struggling to find volunteers, and party members were unclear about what the key election policies were other than scrapping the rail loop. In particular, senior Liberals are worried the party has not spent long enough boosting its narrative on the economy, reining in debt and alleviating cost-of-living issues. On a recent Zoom hook-up, officials agreed to adjust the partys use of social media platforms such as TikTok, which has been criticised by some social media users last month. Five Liberal MPs told The Age they were frustrated with planning spokesman Ryan Smith, who they believed was spending the weeks before the campaign laying the groundwork for a tilt as the leadership after the election rather than contributing to policy in his portfolio. Ryan Smith in 2018. Credit:Eddie Jim Smith has been meeting with a group of new candidates who may enter parliament and vote in a potential leadership ballot. At least one MP has been told he had discussed his leadership ambitions with a new candidate. Responding to these claims, Smith said: In 2014 and 2018 I did all I could to assist candidates so we could win seats and form government. This election is no different. Im focussed on winning government, thats it. Pollster and former Labor campaigner Kos Samaras whose RedBridge Group performed work for teal independents before the federal election said the Coalitions level of support was weak across Victoria and indicated the party would not pick up seats Labor won in 2014 which are required to get back into government. In all the electorates said we have polled now and it exceeds 40 all but one has the Liberal Party primary vote below 40 per cent, he said. Matthew Guys seat of Bulleen had a Liberal primary of 41 per cent, more than 10 points down on his last election result. Kos Samaras believes the Coalitions level of support is weak across Victoria. Credit:Wayne Taylor He said the Liberal Party primary vote had shown signs of recovering but the signs of 2010 - when a late Coalition surge defeated the Brumby government - were not present. The Cormack Foundation an investment fund uninhibited by donation caps that was established to finance Coalition campaigns has given the party a fraction of the amount it wants, leaving the campaign with far less cash than it had for the 2018 poll. The campaign is seeking between $4 and $5 million but have so far received less than $2 million. Senior Liberals are hopeful more money will be transferred to pay for things such as crucial TV and digital ads, but the current level of funding means the Coalition will begin the campaign well behind Labor, which has an approximately $3 million head start on public funding alone. Flight ticketing data has pointed to a surge of people leaving. The number of one-way tickets sold from Russia rose 27 per cent from September 21 to September 27 compared with the week prior, according to Spain-based ForwardKeys, which analyses booking reservations. Pins with anti-war slogans placed on a table in the home of Eva Rapoport, the Istanbul coordinator for The Ark, a group helping Russians fleeing their country in Istanbul, Turkey. Credit:AP Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russia planned to enlist 300,000 men and, on October 4, said more than 200,000 people had been drafted so far. Where are most of them going to? Some are heading to Kazakhstan, which shares the worlds second-longest land border with Russia. Russians can enter without a passport or a visa. The Kazakh interior minister said on October 3 that more than 200,000 Russians had entered since September 21, while about 147,000 left in the same period, although their final destination was not clear. Russian YouTube vlogger Niki Proshin, 28, shoots a video log for his YouTube channel in Istanbul, where Russians have flocked to since the mobilisation. Credit:AP The interior ministry of Georgia, where Russians can also enter without a visa, said 68,887 Russians had arrived from September 21 to 29, while 45,624 had left. For both countries, it was unclear how many of the Russians who left had travelled to third countries. ForwardKeys air travel booking data reported a triple-digit increase for the week ended September 27 in one-way tickets from Russia to Tbilisi, Almaty, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Dubai. Loading Turkey, a popular tourist destination for Russians and others, reported a rise in Russian arrivals and flights since mobilisation was announced. One man told Reuters he flew to Istanbul airport the next day partly to avoid conscription. Some 3 million arrived in Turkey from Russia this year until the end of August, up 22 per cent from last year, official data showed. Many Russians have also been heading to Europe. How many get to the EU or other European countries? The European Union saw a surge in arrivals after Putins announcement. Some 66,000 Russian citizens entered the bloc from September 19 to 25, a 30 per cent rise from the previous week, data from the blocs border agency Frontex showed. Loading The number fell to 53,000 in the week starting September 26, Frontex said, citing a stricter EU visa policy and Russian measures to keep military-age men from leaving. Most Russians entering the EU already had residence permits or visas, while others had dual citizenship, Frontex said. Finland, which has a 1300-km border with Russia, has been the main point of arrival in the EU. Finnish data showed the number of Russian tourists arriving via four southern border crossings doubled in the days after Sept. 21. From Sept. 21 to October 5, 59,975 Russians arrived in Finland through the four checkpoints, with many leaving to other European countries, while 36,116 Russians went home, Finnish border guard authority data showed on Oct. 5. How are European countries reacting? Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland began turning away Russians holding tourist visas issued by any of the EUs Schengen states on September 19. Finland followed suit on September 30. Norways Arctic border with Russia is the last direct route into Europe open to Russian Schengen tourist visa holders. Norways justice minister said on September 30 the government could ban further arrivals from Russia at short notice if necessary. Russian President Vladimir Putin stands before a map of Russia and the region - where his citizens are fleeing. Credit:AP Since mobilisation began, German embassies in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Belarus have seen a surge in enquiries from Russian citizens seeking to travel to Germany and the EU. Cars queuing toward the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Russia and Georgia, leaving Chmi, North Ossetia - Alania Republic, in Russia. Credit:AP An interior ministry spokesperson told Reuters the German constitution enshrined the right to political asylum but said: Due to this case-by-case examination and the severely limited possibilities to travel from Russia to Germany, we assume that there are only a few cases. A French minister said France would also be selective on who was allowed to remain in the country, taking into account a persons situation and the security risk. We will make sure dissident journalists, people who fight the regime, artists and students can still come here, Junior Minister for European Affairs Laurence Boone said on October 5. Latest News Westpac taps JP Morgan for Tyro Payments buyout Other banks are also mulling a bid for the group What do buyers consider when purchasing property? Major bank reveals the top factors Luckily, there are many different ways mortgage brokers can generate leads. While a good lead generation strategy will combine both tried-and-true methods with the decidedly more high-tech, the result is the same: to provide potential customers with information that is valuable to them in exchange for either their business or their contact info. Here is everything you need to know about how brokers generate leads. Create a super valuable lead magnet first If you are a broker and want to generate leads, it is important to differentiate between a legitimate lead and a potential customer. A legitimate lead is essentially an individual who has provided you with their contact information, so you are able to reach out to them directly. A potential customer, on the other hand, is a person who is a member of your target audience. This means that in order to generate leads and attract more people to your services, you want to convert potential customers into leads by procuring their contact information. In online marketing, this usually means by getting their email. Typically, you will have to provide them with valuable information to get anyones contact info. This is where your lead magnet becomes so vitalsomething you provide for free to potential customers in exchange for their contact info like emails. A lead magnet must be accessible online or from a potential customers phone, such as an ebook, a report, a masterclass, a webinar, an app, or a podcast. The most important thing about your lead magnet is that it provides a solution to an issue your potential customer may be struggling with and that you have the answer to, as a mortgage broker. These issues range from what customers need to know before applying for a mortgage, to common mistakes that occur when applying, to the pros and cons of applying directly versus using a broker, and more. Content marketing Content marketing is perhaps the most popular method to market your services online. It is a great way to generate leads by creating free content online that is valuable to your potential customers and can be consumed at their convenience. You can also market in any number of forms, such as written articles, a podcast, or a video. YouTube is an especially popular platform, especially among millennials, 58% of whom said it is their preferred platform for learning about financial topics. When done properly, content marketing will incorporate SEO, or search engine optimization, which will make it easier for prospective clients to find you. You will also have to answer specific questions relating to your industry, in a straightforward way that uses the tone and voice of your brand, as well as be engaging. It is also important to provide valuable information before you ask anything of your customer, such as their contact info. Buying leads If you have the budget to do so, you can buy mortgage leads to guarantee the most appropriate candidates. So how does it work? After you have provided them with a small fee and the relevant information, mortgage lead sellers will provide you with a list of potential clients for you to contact. You then reach out to the potential client with information that is valuable to them. Create a Google My Business Google My Business, or GMB, is a great way to get started with local SEO, which can help you to focus on people in your area. You simply need to register your business with Google to get started. After you have set up your page, you input contact information like phone number and email, provide your operating hours, and your service offerings, plus photos of your company, content, and more. Google Maps will then list your business automatically. If a potential client were to then Google search mortgage lenders in your region, you will have a better chance of showing up higher in their search results. If all goes well, then you can request reviews from previous customers by sending them a link to your Google My Business page. If you can accrue good reviews, Google will recommend your business through its search results. Write a book about mortgage One of the more advanced lead generation techniques on this list, writing a book about mortgages requires you to actually write a book, market it, and rank it on Amazon. An easy way to beginning the process is to pick a topic related to your niche, read other books with a related topic, and decide how you can improve upon them. To simplify this, you can read customer reviews and track any issues that seem to arise over and over. Attend local industry events While it is admittedly a less high-tech way to generate leads than creating a Google My Business account, mortgage brokers must attend local industry events. It is a great way to build a reputation in your local community. These events usually come in the form of real estate meet-ups or real estate conferences, among others. Most importantly, though, is that you add value in these places rather than extract it. Listen to people, show genuine curiosity, and provide free advice where possible. Economists are split on just how many Reserve Bank increases are ahead of us, with RateCity.com.au expecting four more OCR hikes to come. Following the lower-than-expected 0.25-percentage-point hike last week, three of the four big banks have revised their forecasts. ANZ now predicts the OCR to peak at 3.6% in May next year, up from its previous forecast of 3.35% by the end of this year, as it noted that reducing the pace of the hikes increases the risk that more hikes will be needed. Westpac still believes the OCR will hit 3.6% but has pushed back the peak until March next year. NAB has kept its 3.1% peak prediction but has pushed it back from November to February 2023. CBAs cash rate outlook remains unchanged, forecasting the peak at 2.85% next month. If these forecasts are realised, the average borrowers monthly repayments could increase by a total $760-$983, analysis from RateCity.com.au showed. See table below for the total increase to repayments from May 1 to peak on big four bank forecasts. Loan size CBA Cash rate 2.85% Westpac Cash rate 3.6% NAB Cash rate 3.1% ANZ Cash rate 3.6% $500,000 $760 $983 $833 $982 $750,000 $1,140 $1,474 $1,250 $1,473 $1 million $1,520 $1,966 $1,667 $1,964 Source: RateCity.com.au. Calculations are estimates and repayments are for an owner-occupier paying principal and interest over 25 years. Starting rate is the RBA existing variable customer rate of 2.86% in April 2022 and big four bank cash rate forecasts are applied. There could still potentially be four more standard RBA hikes ahead of us, said RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall. Make certain youre ready for these hikes by checking what your monthly repayments will be if your rate rose by another 1% after this hike. Tindall urged borrowers to put their budget to the test by making these higher repayments now to see how it holds up and to start making changes today if the numbers dont add up. Open your banking app up and look at where your money is going, she said. Start by targeting the big expenses because thats often where biggest savings can be found Renegotiating your most expensive bills are likely to save you a lot more money each month. For people who havent had a decent pay increase in a while, now is the time to talk to your boss. Unemployment is around the lowest rate in nearly half a century this might help you negotiate. If youre worried about affording your home loan, call your bank before you miss a payment, to see what options you have. On Friday, India ( India) announced the appointment of Asha Ramanathan as the new chief operating officer (COO) and Gayathri Parthasarthy as the head of its sector. Ramanathan's appointment as the COO is effective from October 1. "Very pleased that we have two very strong women leaders take on critical roles and on behalf of the firm's leadership," Sanjeev Krishan, Chairman, in India, said. Ramanathan will replace Satyavati Berera who will retire in March 2023. "We thank Satya for her contribution to the firm over the last four decades," Krishan added. Ramanathan is a qualified chartered accountant (CA) and became a partner of India in 2009. She specialises in the pharma, industrial, consumer products and service sectors. On the appointment, she said, "I look forward to playing an enabling role in our collective vision with a focus on ease of doing business for our people and our clients." Parthasarathy is a veteran in the sector. She will join from Services, where she was working as the Asia Pacific leader. She has earlier worked with like KPMG, and Oracle, among others. "I am very excited to be joining and look forward to working with fellow partners and leaders to strengthen our presence and deepen our capabilities in this dynamic market. I am thankful for the confidence of the in me and am gearing up for an exciting journey with this great team," she said. "Asha's three decades of varied experience in our firm will be valuable as she takes over the operations mantle from Satya...Gayathri, on the other hand, has already held several positions and brings in a world of experience including strategy, governance, large multi-jurisdictional and complex programmes, sourcing and offshoring projects," Krishan said. The Competition Commission has ordered another detailed probe against for alleged unfair revenue sharing terms with respect to content. The case will be clubbed with two other ongoing matters against the search engine major where the allegations are substantially same, according to the (CCI). The latest order has come on a complaint filed by the Broadcasters & Digital Association. In January this year, CCI ordered a probe against on the complaint filed by the Digital Publishers Association. Later, the Indian Newspaper Society also filed a similar case and that was clubbed with the first one. Now, the regulator's probe arm Director General (DG) will submit a consolidated investigation report, the watchdog said in an order released on Friday. The News Broadcasters & Digital Association had alleged that its members are forced to provide their news content to in order to prioritise their weblinks in the Search Engine Result Page (SERP) of Google. As a result, Google free rides on the content of the members without giving them adequate compensation, as per the complaint. Among others, it was alleged that Google exploited the dependency of the members on the search engine offered by Google for referral-traffic to build services such as Google News, Google Discover and Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). The search engine major provides news content to user through Google Search and through news aggregator vertical, Google News. According to the complaint, in Google Search, users can either search directly for news through News Tab or receive news through result in SERPs. Google incorporated news content in its SERPs through featured snippets including 'Top Stories' carousels. However, the revenue distributed by Google to news publishers doesn't compensate for the real contribution made by the association's members to these platforms, it added. In a four-page order, dated October 6 and released on Friday, CCI said the allegations are substantially the same as that of the matter which is already being probed by the regulator. CCI has directed the DG to club the matters and submit a consolidated investigation report. Cases where there is prima-facie evidence of violation of competition norms are referred by CCI to its investigation arm DG for a detailed probe. The complaint has been filed against Alphabet Inc, Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, Google Ireland Ltd and Google Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. The association consists of national and regional private news and current affairs broadcasters and digital news media entities as its members. (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.) Chief Minister has invited Group to set up its semi-conductor chip manufacturing industry in amid a tussle for the project between Maharashtra and Gujarat. During the inaugural session of 'Invest Rajasthan' Summit held here on Friday, the Chief Minister said that there is a protest going on in Maharashtra on the shifting of the factory to Gujarat. "There is a protest going on in Maharashtra that why Anil Agarwal is shifting the industry to Gujarat. A lot of it has appeared in newspapers. I would like to say you (Agarwal) that there is a fight between Maharashtra and Gujarat. So, shift the industry to Rajasthan," Gehlot said. He further said, "There will be no fight. is your own state. Finish this fight. You are doing a very big investment." The Chief Minister said that after corona pandemic, there is a huge crisis for a semiconductor chip, which is used in mobile phones, laptops and even cars. He said that Group is digging oil and running mines in Rajasthan and there is no doubt that he is also taking care of the state. Gehlot said that there is no dearth of mines and minerals in the state and it is his (Agarwal) thinking that how to scientifically extract them. He is always concerned about Rajasthan. Earlier, Group Chairman had said that the semiconductor chip manufacturing factory to be set up in Gujarat under a joint venture of Vedanta and Foxconn will be a game changer as the cost of the finished products using chips would significantly reduce. He said that a cluster of TV, laptop, and other electronic items manufacturing units should be developed in Rajasthan, which will reduce the cost of finished products because the raw materialssemiconductor chips and display---will be supplied from the factory in Gujarat. Vedanta -Foxconn would invest Rs 1,54,000 crore to set up the semiconductor and display manufacturing facility in Gujarat, which would create one lakh job opportunities. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The central government has suspended incentive payments to and Okinawa for not complying with the requirement for the localisation of components. The incentives were being given under the Rs 10,000 crore scheme, a report by Times of India (TOI) said on Friday. "An audit by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is currently underway at four more EV besides and Okinawa... The scope of the audit at manufacturing facilities of EV two-wheeler manufacturers is to verify that the components used in their vehicles are largely locally sourced. This is an essential criterion to ensure that the vehicles sold by these are eligible to be subsidized by the centre...," a person aware of the matter told the Economic Times (ET). The incentives under the scheme are given to several categories of vehicles using advanced batteries. It includes over a million two-wheeler (EVs). Centre has also asked Greaves Cottons Ampere, Rattanindias Revolt, Okaya and Jitendra EV to face an audit to be conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The audits have reportedly been conducted in the first and the last week of September. "An audit was successfully conducted by the test agency officials at our Ranipet plant and we have been given a clean chit," a spokesperson of Greaves Cotton told TOI. and Okinawa are among the top players in the two-wheeler (EV) industry in India. They have combined sales of 17,000 per month. Ampere, Revolt, Okaya and Jitendra together sell another 10,000-11,000 units a month, the TOI report said. Director James Cameron of "Avatar: The Way to Water," on the screen, and producer Jon Landau, center, take part in an event at a theater in Busan after a special screening of an 18-minute video footage of the film during the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Thursday. Courtesy of BIFF By Kwak Yeon-soo BUSAN James Cameron, the director of "Avatar: The Way to Water," said his forthcoming film is an allegory of marine ecological threats. Director James Cameron of "Avatar: The Way to Water" / Courtesy of BIFF Following a special screening of an 18-minute video footage of "Avatar 2," which was shown to a limited number of audiences during the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), he and producer Jon Landau, who is visiting Busan, discussed creative and technical improvements in the sequel. "In the first film, we saw a mining operation on Pandora. In the new film, we will see damage being done to the marine ecosystem. It's an allegory of what indigenous people are experiencing," Cameron said during a press conference via video link. The renowned director shared how he sought to improve the film. "Creatively, we see more creatures, cultures, intelligent species, polar region, desert and so on in the sequel. Our goal was to develop tools to do better in visual effects and bring a high-frame rate to improve the 3D experience," he said. Film producer Jon Landau speaks during a press conference held after the special screening of an 18-minute video footage of "Avatar: The Way to Water" at KNN Theater in Busan, Thursday. Yonhap on Friday announced the appointment of Vinod R Tanti as its Chairman and Managing Director with immediate effect for the next three years. The announcement came after demise of founder Tulsi Tanti, who was holding the position of Chairman and Managing Director, on October 1, 2022. Board of directors of the company at its meeting held on Friday has, inter alia, approved the appointment of Vinod R Tanti as the Chairman and Managing Director with immediate effect, i.e. from October 7, 2022 for a period of three years, i.e. up to 6th October 2025, according to a BSE filing. The appointment of Tanti would be subject to the approval of the shareholders at the next general meeting of the company, it stated. Consequent to his appointment as the managing director, Tanti resigned as the whole-time director and chief operating officer with immediate effect, i.e. 7th October 2022, the filing said. The board also approved the appointment of Girish R Tanti as the Executive Director designated as the Executive Vice Chairman of the company with immediate effect for a period of three) years. The board also approved the appointment of Pranav Tanti as an Additional Director of the company with effect from October 7. Vinod R Tanti and Girish R Tanti are brothers and both are related to Pranav T Tanti. Vinod Tanti, brother of late Tulsi Tanti and the eldest among the siblings, is aged 60 years. He is also a founding member of Limited. He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He has extensive experience of over 34 years managing various key functions at Suzlon. He was also the Chief Operating Officer of Senvion, Germany, for the period from 1st June 2012 to 15th June 2013, at a time when Senvion was a global leader in wind turbine technology. With a strong techno-commercial background, he has handled diverse portfolios, like wind resource assessment, acquisition, product design, prototyping, comprehensive supply management, project execution and lifecycle management through operations and maintenance services. Vinod Tanti brings to Suzlon his vast experience of the complete wind energy value chain as well as his process centricity and drive for innovation. Girish Tanti, brother of late Tulsi Tanti and youngest among the siblings, aged 52 years, is also a founding member of Suzlon Energy Limited. He has a Bachelor's degree in electronics & communication engineering and holds a Master's degree in business administration from the UK. He brings to Suzlon an extensive experience of over 27 years in renewables and international business. Girish holds a unique blend of understanding the dynamics of technology and strong business acumen. Over the past years, he has played many roles including incubating the renewable energy business in 1995, established technology development centres in Europe and India, setting up the global supply chain, developing wind markets across India, establishing global business operations and corporate development activities. He also led various service functions such as human resources, information technology, communications and CSR. He has been instrumental in Suzlon's rise to become the only wind energy player from a developing nation to rank among the top five worldwide. Through the years, Girish Tanti has not only believed in, but completely devoted himself to champion the vision of harnessing renewable energy to power a greener, more sustainable tomorrow for generations to come. Girish Tanti served as an Executive Director at Suzlon Energy from 1st December 1995 to 30th July 2011. Subsequently, he was a non-executive director on the board of the company till date. Pranav Tanti is the eldest child of late Tulsi Tanti. Pranav holds an MBA degree from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and a dual honours degree in business administration and finance from Keele University, UK. With nearly 20 years of experience in international business, Pranav also holds extensive expertise in the renewable energy industry. During his diverse global experience, Pranav has worked in some of the major business hubs in the world including India, China, US, and Hong Kong. Most recently Pranav was the Chief Executive Officer of Skeiron Renewable Energy, a company which invested and managed a portfolio of wind turbine assets of nearly 400 MW. Pranav founded the said company and successfully spearheaded fund raising from two Hong Kong-based private equity firms. At the peak of the market in 2018, Pranav successfully led the exit of the portfolio worth USD 500 million. Pranav has also worked in the past at the Chicago and India offices for the Suzlon group in various executive roles. He has held positions at Merrill Lynch and CLSA in the investment banking and equity research divisions in Hong Kong and Beijing. He presently does not hold any position in the company. (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.) Xiaomi, a leading Chinese mobile manufacturer, has rejected rumours that it will relocate its operations from to Pakistan, reported Hindustan Times. These speculations surfaced after (ED) froze its assets worth Rs 5,551.27 crore for allegedly breaking the (FEMA) guidelines. It all started when South Asia Index, which focuses on data-driven stories from South Asia, claimed in a tweet while citing sources that the Chinese cellphone manufacturer may shift its operations from to after its assets worth $676 million were seized. Just IN: Chinese mobile-maker may move its operations from to after Indian govt freezes its assets worth $676M. - sources South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) October 6, 2022 Responding to the assumptions and refuting the tweet, Xiaomi, which entered the in 2014, said, "This tweet is completely false & baseless. entered India in 2014 & in less than a year, we embarked on our Make in India journey. 99 per cent of our smartphones & 100 per cent of our TVs are made in India. We'll take all measures to protect our reputation from false & inaccurate claims." On Friday, filed a new petition with the High Court to challenge the September 29 order of the competent authority that had upheld the ED's April 29 direction to seize the company's assets. ED had ordered Xiaomi's asset seizure as punishment for allegedly breaking regulations and sending money to three entities outside of India under the pretence of royalties. The Chinese mobile phone manufacturer has now contested the appeal order in its petition on the grounds that an official from a foreign bank was not permitted to be cross-examined during the hearing. The attorney for Xiaomi claimed that the petition might be upheld because the plea also questioned the legality of Section 37A of the FEMA, which deals with assets held outside of India by a firm. The high court earlier this year had permitted Xiaomi to use the money for its routine business operations but forbade it from using it to pay royalties. is looking to use the public-private partnership (PPP) model to upgrade 16 railway stations in the country including Nizamuddin, Old Delhi, Anand Vihar, and Vijaywada. The decision has been taken following the plan to revamp the New Delhi and CST stations under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, a report by Times of India (TOI) said. "We are exploring the options for wherever its viable and cost-effective. The details of the tender documents are being worked out and different monetisation models are under consideration to attract private investment," an official told TOI. Among the other stations that are likely to be revamped under the model are Pune, Coimbatore, Baroda, Bhopal, and Bangalore City. The bid value for these 16 stations is expected to be around Rs 10,000 crore. Under the EPC model, the government funds the entire project and the operations are conducted by a company. While in PPP, the cost is split. Last week, the Cabinet approved the plan to redevelop New Delhi station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Ahmedabad stations under the . The centre did not want any extra burden on the passengers, TOI added. Under the EPC model, the tenders for 47 stations have been approved and the work has already started on 32 stations. Also, under the model, the will not levy any additional costs like the user charge on the passengers and the private players will be able to recover their investment fully. Under the EPC model, the stations will also have waiting lounges, food courts, and play areas for children. The CBI has filed a fresh charge sheet of 35 pages in the multi-crore cattle smuggling case, wherein the central agency has named Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal as the direct recipient of the proceeds of the . The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted its fresh charge sheet, the fourth in the matter, at a vacation court in West Burdwan district of on Friday morning. The fresh charge sheet was filed on the 57th day after Mondal's arrest by the central agency from his residence at Bolpur on August 11. CBI sources said that as per rule the charge sheet against a person has to be submitted within 60 days from the arrest of that person and in this case the central agency has submitted the charge sheet three days ahead of the deadline. This is for the first time that Mondal's name has come in the CBI charge sheet, which was not present in the previous three supplementary charge sheets filed by the central agency. In the earlier charge sheets, the central agencies mentioned that a large portion of the proceeds of the cattle smuggling came to Mondal's bodyguard Sehgal Hossian from the smuggling kingpin Enamul Haque. However, in the fresh charge sheet filed on Friday, sources said, Mondal has been named as a direct beneficiary of the scam, which came to him through Hossain. It is further learnt that in the fresh charge sheet, CBI has mentioned about fixed deposits worth Rs 18 crore in the names of Mondal, his daughter Sukanya Mondal, his deceased wife Late Chobi Mondal and some of his close family relations. Besides the fixed deposits, the charge sheet also has references of details of some other savings bank accounts as well as 53 other documents related to moveable property of the Mondal family. Meanwhile, three officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the matter, flew from New Delhi and reached Asansol Special Correctional Home on Friday morning. They immediately started questioning Mondal's bodyguard, Sehgal Hossain. This is the first questioning of Hossain by the ED in the case. Meanwhile, Mondal will be in judicial custody till October 29 and on that day, he will be again presented at the special court of CBI in Asansol. --IANS src/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.) The atmosphere in the country is worrisome as democracy is under threat and communal harmony has been disturbed, Rajasthan Chief Minister has said. Speaking at the inauguration and rechristening of a 2.8-km elevated road here as 'Bharat Jodo Setu' on Thursday evening, Gehlot said the name will send a positive message across the country. The road which connects the LIC building near Ambedkar Circle to Ajmer Road was earlier known as Sodala elevated road. It was scheduled to be inaugurated on August 15 but was delayed. "The Bharat Jodo Yatra is giving the message of peace and unity. The atmosphere in the country is worrisome, democracy is under threat and communal harmony is disturbed. In such a situation, calling it 'Bharat Jodo Setu' will send a positive message across the country," Gehlot said. He said the purpose of the Congress party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is to end hatred and promote brotherhood. "To commemorate the yatra, this elevated road has been named 'Bharat Jodo Setu'," he added. The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, will cover a distance of 3,570 km in 150 days and conclude in Jammu and Kashmir. It is being led by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The 'Bharat Jodo Setu' road has been built at a cost of Rs 250 crore. The road will provide significant relief from traffic jams at 22 Godown, Hawa Road and Sodala Tiraha. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to reach Sodala Sabzi Mandi from Ambedkar Circle via 22 Godown Circle and Hawa Road. With the opening of the elevated road, the travel time will be cut down to 10 minutes. Gehlot also laid foundation stones of six other projects in the city. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central government has asked Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit to name his successor as he retires on November 8. As per the Memorandum of procedure of appointment (MoP) of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges on Friday, the Minister of Law and Justice has written to the Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for the appointment of his successor. There is only a month to go for the retirement of Justice Lalit, who had been sworn in as the Chief Justice of India on August 27 by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeded Justice NV Ramana, who retired on August 26, 2022. Justice Ramana had recommended Justice Lalit as his successor in keeping with convention and norms of seniority. The President subsequently confirmed Justice Lalit's appointment as the new . Justice Lalit tenure would demit office on November 8. As per the established practice of the Chief Justice naming the senior-most judge as his or her successor, Justice DY Chandrachud is expected to be appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India. At the farewell function of Justice Ramana, Justice Lalit said that during his tenure of nearly three months he will focus on three key areas and one of his top priorities would be to make the listing of cases simple, clear and as transparent as possible. UU Lalit had also promised to ensure a clear-cut regime where any urgent matters could freely be mentioned before the respective benches of the top court. He also assured that there will be at least one Constitution Bench functioning throughout the year in the Supreme Court. Justice Lalit had said, "I have always believed that the role of the Supreme Court is to lay down law with clarity, consistency, and the best possible way to do it is to have larger benches as early as possible, wherever the matters are referred to such benches so that the issues get clarified immediately, the matter has consistency and the people are well aware of what exactly are the contours of the peculiar positions in law." Justice Lalit was a renowned senior advocate before he became the judge of the apex court. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on August 13, 2014. Justice Lalit has been the second who was directly elevated to the Supreme Court bench from the Bar. Justice SM Sikri, who became the 13th in January 1971, was the first lawyer to be elevated directly to the top court bench in March 1964. Born on November 9, 1957, in Maharashtra's Solapur, his father, UR Lalit, was an additional judge at the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court and a senior advocate at the Supreme Court. UU Lalit enrolled as an advocate in June 1983 after specialising in criminal law and practising at the Bombay High Court from 1983 to 1985. He shifted his practice to Delhi in January 1986, and in April 2004, he was designated as a senior advocate by the top court. He was later appointed a special public prosecutor for the CBI to conduct the trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case. After Justice Lalit's retirement on November 8, Justice DY Chandrachud is expected to be appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India. (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 Special Cell of the has apprehended two key members of an international terror module, including a juvenile, who were wanted in a number of terror cases -- the RPG attack incident at the Intelligence Headquarters in Punjab's Mohali, plotting to kill Bollywood actor & others. Special Commissioner Police, Special Cell, H.G.S. Dhaliwal, said the apprehended accused were important nodes of the joint terror network of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and Canada-based gangster turned terrorist, Lakhbir Singh Landa. The arrested accused, Arshdeep, was wanted in the IED recovery case of Shahabad, Kurukshetra and IED recovery case of police station Sirhali in Punjab's Tarn Taran. The official said the juvenile was also wanted in the murder of a builder, Sanjay Biyani, which took place on April 5 in Nanded city of Maharashtra, and in the murder of gangster Rana Kandowalia, outside a private hospital in Amritsar on August 4. "The apprehended JCL has also disclosed the task given to him along with absconding Deepak Surakhpur and Monu Dagar (in jail) by Lawrence Bishnoi regarding the elimination of film actor . While the JCL was being handled by Rinda, Arshdeep was being handled by Landa Harike," the official said. How they were caught Dhaliwal said that they had been working to nab the culprits for a long time. They identified people who were providing logistics support to the accused. Finally, both the accused, Arshdeep and the juvenile, were arrested from Jamnagar in Gujarat. Rocket Launcher attack On May 9, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at Punjab Police's Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali. During the course of the investigation, it was established that the attack was a conspiracy of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and local gangsters. The juvenile held by the Special Cell was also involved in the conspiracy. The police has learnt that the attack was conspired by gangster turned ISI stooge Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. Another fugitive gangster, Lakhbir Singh Landa had joined hands with Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. They were sharing manpower, logistics and resources. Rinda's name had already cropped up in the grenade attack at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) office in Nawanshahr and in the arrest of four suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists in Haryana's Karnal earlier this year. murder plot The official said that the juvenile was involved in the conspiracy along with other accused to carry out an attack on Salman Khan. They couldn't conduct a recce due to some reasons. Later, the juvenile was asked to kill Rana Kandowalia, a businessman. Dhaliwal said that they will move a plea before the court with a request to try the juvenile as an adult. The official said that when the juvenile is over 16, the court can decide whether to try him as an adult or not. --IANS atk/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.) The Election Commission has asked the faction of the to respond by Saturday on rival group's claim on the party's 'bow and arrow' election symbol in view of the upcoming assembly bypoll in the state. The Commission's directive came on Friday after the Shinde faction submitted a memorandum seeking it be allocated the symbol as the Andheri East assembly bypoll is approaching. In a letter to Thackeray, the Commission directed it to furnish comments along with requisite documents latest by 2 pm on October 8. "In case no reply is received, the Commission will take appropriate action in the matter accordingly," the Commission said. The Commission told Thackeray the Shinde faction had staked claim to the bow and arrow' on October 4. The Andheri East bypoll was notified on Friday. leader Anil Desai, who belongs to the Thackeray faction, said the party would respond to the Commission within the stipulated time. Desai met Commission officials earlier on Friday to submit documents in connection with a separate matter where the Shinde faction had claimed to be the "real Shiv Sena", citing support of majority members of the Lok Sabha and the state assembly. The fresh claim to the 'bow and arrow' election symbol by the Shinde faction is seen as an attempt to deny its use by the Thackeray group which has decided to field Rutuja Latke, the widow of MLA Ramesh Latke, for the November 3 bypoll. The BJP, an ally of the Shinde faction, has decided to field Murji Patel, a corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, for the bypoll necessitated due to the death of Ramesh Latke. The Congress and the NCP have decided to support the candidate of the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, their coalition partner in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Shinde had raised a banner of revolt against Thackeray for entering into an "unnatural alliance" with the Congress and NCP. Over 40 of the Shiv Sena's 55 MLAs had supported Shinde, forcing the resignation of Thackeray from the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister. Twelve of the 18 Lok Sabha members of the also came out in support of Shinde, who later claimed to be the leader of the original Shiv Sena. The Andheri East bypoll is the first after Shinde and the BJP unseated the MVA government in June, and is considered by political analysts as a precursor to settling of claims by Shinde and Thackeray to be the "real Shiv Sena". (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 (ED) on Thursday said it has filed a chargesheet at a special Bengaluru court against several individuals -- Fairoz Khan, Tabrej Pasha, Abdul Dastagir, Syed Mudasir Fairoz Khan and Syed Muthahir, and two firms -- Ajmera Group (represented by Pasha and Dastagir), and MF Enterprises (represented by Muthaheer), for allegedly cheating the people by collecting around Rs 200 crore from them. The ED said that that the special court has taken the cognizance of the matter. An ED official said that the accused by committing the criminal activities had derived proceeds of crime, and have directly indulged in the process of its possession, acquisition and projecting or claiming it as untainted property, and are guilty of the offence of money laundering. The ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR filed at Jayanagar police station of Karnataka under various sections of IPC. After conducting the investigation, the Karnataka Police filed a chargesheet in the matter in 2019. A supplementary chargesheet was also filed by the local police in the matter. The ED learnt in the investigation that Pasha and Dastagir opened the said partnership firm Ajmera Group and accepted deposits from the general public without obtaining any license from the respective authorities, i.e. SEBI, RBI and without registering the business entity as NBFC. "With a fraudulent intention to cheat the common public, Ajmera Group illegally collected funds from numerous investors to the tune of Rs 2,56,06,90,338 with a promise of an exorbitant rate of interest on the investments and returned an amount of Rs 1,83,97,04,264. "However, it failed to return the amount of Rs 72,09,86,074 to the investors and thus cheated the common public. The partners of Ajmera Group and others siphoned off and diverted money of the investors for their personal gains and for the gain of their accomplices and thereby generated proceeds of crime and laundered by way of acquiring movable and immovable properties from the said proceeds of crime," the ED said. Earlier in the case, movable and immovable properties worth Rs 8.41 crore were attached. --IANS atk/pgh (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 has conveyed its objections to the US over the recent visit to Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by US Ambassador to Islamabad Donald Blome, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. India also objected to the ambassador holding some meetings there. "Our objection to the visit and meetings in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the US ambassador to Pakistan has been conveyed to the US side," spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. He was replying to a question on the issue. In April, US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar visited Pakistan-Occupied-Jammu and Kashmir, drawing sharp reaction from India. "We have noted that US representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan," Bagchi had said. "If such a politician wishes to practice her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business. But violating our territorial integrity and sovereignty in its pursuit makes it ours. This visit is condemnable," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho will leave for the United States next week to attend a Group of 20 (G-20) meeting of finance chiefs and central bankers, along with other events, his office said Friday. Choo plans to start his six-day trip by delivering a presentation on the Korean economy to foreign investors in New York on Tuesday (U.S. time) and briefing them on the government's new economic policies, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He will then travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the ministerial meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action on Wednesday, where Choo will discuss green economic policies with financial officials from 78 countries and global organizations. Choo also plans to attend a two-day G-20 meeting of finance chiefs that will kick off on Wednesday and discuss pending issues with major economies, including the disruptions in supply chains and concerns over an economic slump. On Friday, Choo will take part in the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) conference to discuss the current global economic situation and the role of the IMF. The committee has 24 members, with Korea serving its two-year term since November 2020. On the sidelines of his visit, Choo plans to meet representatives from Moody's, Fitch, and SP the world's three major credit appraisers to exchange opinions on the direction of Korea's economic policies. The minister will also hold separate meetings with World Bank President David Malpass and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva during his trip, the finance ministry said. (Yonhap) India has shown to the world that it is possible to protect the environment and ensure economic simultaneously, Prime Minister has said. India is observing the 68th wildlife week from October 2-8. "It is possible to ensure both economic and through proper policies and better implementation. India has shown this to the world," the PM said in a written message to the people of the country in Hindi on October 6. The Environment Ministry also tweeted the message on Friday. PM Modi said humans, environment and wildlife complement each other and more attention should be paid to the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in the changing environment. He said India added 259 new protected areas for wildlife in the last eight years, and the forest areas have also expanded rapidly. Notable works are being done under the 'Namami Gange' mission to clean the Ganga, a witness to our glorious culture, and to conserve the aquatic life in the holy river and improve the river ecosystem, he said. The prime minister said it is heartening to see that the country has achieved the target of doubling the tiger population ahead of schedule. "At one time, there was a threat to the existence of the one-horned rhinoceros in Assam but their numbers have also increased now. There has also been a large increase in the number of Asiatic lions in India and the population of elephants is also increasing continuously," he said. PM Modi said time presents only few opportunities to humanity to rectify the past and build a new future. "One such moment was the arrival of cheetahs in the country as part of the world's largest inter-continental rehabilitation programme. I am sure the mutual cooperation between the forest department and the general public will make it a success," he said. The cheetah has come back to India 70 years after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The large carnivore got completely wiped out from the country due to over-hunting and habitat loss. PM Modi released the first batch of eight cheetahs five females and three males from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on his birthday on September 17. (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.) App-based cab and bike aggregators including Ola, Uber, and Rapido have been declared "illegal" by state government and asked to discontinue their services in within the next three days. The state transport department has issued notices to the companies, according to a report by Economic Times (ET). " services should be discontinued and also not to charge passengers more than the fare prescribed by the government," the notice by the department read. The state government has given three days to the companies to file their reply and a compliance report. Several commuters had complained to the state government that the companies charge a minimum of Rs 100 as fare even when the distance is below 2 km. According to the norms, the drivers are eligible to charge a fixed Rs 30 for the first 2 km and Rs 15 per km thereafter. The state police authorities also said that these companies are not eligible to run auto-rickshaws as the rules are available for taxis only. "The aggregators are providing autorickshaw services in violation of government regulations. Also, it has come to the notice of the department that customers are being charged higher rates than the rates fixed by the government," transport commissioner T H M Kumar was quoted as saying by Times Now. In September, according to Times Now, the state government registered 292 cases on behalf of the citizens, against the ride aggregators for overcharging. The local auto drivers in were also planning to counter the app-based aggregators by launching their own mobile applications. The "Namma Yatri" app is expected to be launched on November 1. The has filed a charge sheet against former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his wife and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure in the Railways, officials said on Friday. Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and a former general manager of the Railways have also been named as accused in the charge sheet filed before a special court recently, they said. The central agency had registered a preliminary enquiry on September 23, 2021 related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the Railways which was converted into an FIR on May 18. Candidates were allegedly appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" by Railway officials and were later, regularised when the "individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land", according to the agency. The transfers were made through deeds in the name of and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, it alleged. The agency has alleged that land measuring about 1.05 lakh square feet in Patna was acquired by Prasad's family members by making payments to the sellers in cash. (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.) LIVE news updates: leader reached on Thursday to start his campaign for the presidential elections from today from Gujarat. He will visit Sabarmati Ashram and the Pradesh Committee (PCC) office of Gujarat Congress in tomorrow. India on Thursday abstained from voting on a draft resolution in the on holding a debate on the human rights situation in China's restive region. Human rights groups have been sounding the alarm over what is happening in the resource-rich north-western Chinese province for years, alleging that more than one million Uyghurs had been detained against their will in a large network of what Beijing calls "re-education camps". President said Thursday that the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Russian President was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons. The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Friday said more were needed on the Darbhanga-Delhi route keeping in mind the heavy rush expected during Deepawali-Chhath festivities. State minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, a key aide of the Bihar CM, also said that he had communicated the same to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia whom he met in Delhi recently. The airport at Darbhanga has been the "most successful" among all the ones set up under the UDAAN scheme. But a person flying from the north Bihar town to the national capital has to cough up the same amount as someone who is flying from Delhi to Dubai, Jha told reporters here. "This has been because SpiceJet, which has a monopoly on the route, cannot meet the demands. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has grounded 50 per cent of its fleet", the Bihar minister added. "I have pleaded with Scindia that people must not be made to suffer on this account, especially during the upcoming when heavy footfall is expected. Either SpiceJet should fly more planes or other carriers be permitted on the route", Jha said. Situated about 150 km from the state capital, Darbhanga airport has been functional for the last couple of years. Home to about 14 crore people, Bihar has only three functional airports, the other two being at Patna and Gaya. (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.) Metropolitan Region (MMR) recorded a staggering 67 per cent of coming for units priced lower than Rs 25 lakh, said a report by and Council (Naredco). Despite strong interest in the residential sector, the supply of affordable housing has not been able to meet this demand. According to the survey, the demand concentration for housing units in the Rs 25-50 lakh price range was 13 per cent and that for units priced above Rs 50 lakh was 20 per cent. By contrast, the supply of housing units priced above Rs 50 lakh was the highest at 44 per cent followed by Rs 25-50 lakh category, at 34 per cent. That of units priced lower than Rs 25 lakh was only 22 per cent, indicating a huge shortfall in supply for affordable housing in the region, said the report. Mumbais biggest challenge is in providing housing for its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the majority of the city' population is forced to live in either substandard housing options in the core city or live in peripheral locations, said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, India. Baijal added that the estimated demand over the next five years is about 850,000 housing units, which will be very difficult to meet if a proper strategy is not in place. There is also a need to create rental housing within the city limits to accommodate the transient population between rental and ownership, and a combination of these two will provide the right response to the citys housing challenges, he said. Highlighting the price willingness or buying capacity of a consumer, the survey said thirty-eight per cent of the respondents would prefer to buy houses priced less than Rs 15 lakh, while 26 per cent preferred the Rs 16-25 lakh price range, and 36 per cent had a budget beyond Rs 25 lakh. As the city continues to expand across different parts and regions, we feel there is a need to create a new mission 3.0 that would be dedicated to developing affordable townships and promoting home ownership, said Gautam Thacker, President, Naredco Neral-Karjat. The current housing gap in requires a sustainable, affordable and carbon-neutral planned city, located around the core city of Mumbai, which is backed by strong infrastructure, Thacker said. He added that these future developments will need combined efforts between the state government, local authorities and the companies. According to the findings of the report, Mumbai registers almost 20,000-50,000 residential leave and licence agreements every year. Considering an average annual number of 35,000 leave and licence agreements with an average tenure of 22 months, and adding additional consideration of non-registered agreements, the total pool of active residential tenants in Mumbai works out to almost 100,000 units. The MMR region has registered over 105,984 residential leave and licence transactions since January 2020. This year, Belarusian rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organisation Center for Civil Liberties have been awarded the . All these three laureates represent civil society in their home countries. For many years, they have promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. "They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation. The winner was announced on Friday in Oslo by Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Let's look at who they are and how their work impacts society. Ales Bialiatski The 60-year-old, imprisoned in jail for alleged tax evasion, is known for working with the Centre "Viasna". Bialiatski's activism began in the early 1980s when he got involved in several pro-democracy initiatives, including a group called Belarusian Clandestine Party "Independence", aiming to foster Belarus's leaving the Soviet Union and forming a sovereign and democratic country. He founded the Centre "Viasna" in 1996. The Minsk-based organisation, then called "Viasna-96", was transformed into a nationwide NGO in June 1999. On October 28, 2003, the Supreme Court of cancelled the state registration of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" for its role in observing the 2001 presidential election. Since then, the leading Belarusian human rights organisation has been working without registration. On August 4, 2011, Ales Bialiatski was arrested under tax evasion charges. Many Belarusian human rights activists, European Union leaders, EU governments, and the US called his sentencing politically motivated. On August 11, Amnesty International declared Bialiatski, a prisoner of conscience. On June 21, 2014, he was released from prison 20 months ahead of schedule. On July 14, 2021, the Belarusian police raided Viasna's central office, following which Bialiatski was arrested and, on October 6, was charged with tax evasion with a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison. Memorial- Russia Founded during the fall of the Soviet Union to examine crimes committed under Joseph Stalin's rule, Memorial is an international human rights organisation. Before its dissolution six months ago, it consisted of two separate legal entities, Memorial International, which recorded the crimes against humanity committed in the Soviet Union, and the Memorial Human Rights Centre, which focused on protecting human rights. The Memorial as a legal entity in was closed and liquidated on April 5, 2022. In December 2021, a joint statement was released by the European Union, the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK, criticising the Russian court's decisions to shut Memorial and calling on "to uphold its international human rights obligations and commitments". According to its post-Soviet 1992 charter, Memorial pursued the following aims: a) To promote mature civil society and democracy based on the rule of law and thus prevent a return to totalitarianism; b) To assist the formation of public awareness based on the values of democracy and law, to extirpate totalitarian patterns [of thought and behaviour], and to firmly establish human rights in everyday politics and public life; c) To promote the truth about the historical past and perpetuate the memory of the victims of political repression carried out by totalitarian regimes. Center for Civil Liberties- Ukraine The Center for Civil Liberties is a Ukrainian human rights organisation led by lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk. In 2007, leaders of human rights organisations from nine post-Soviet countries decided to create a cross-border resource support centre in Kyiv. Since then, the group has organised several information campaigns and international conferences. It carries out public control over human rights compliance in the activities of state and local government bodies; works with young people to form a new generation of young human rights activists and social activists; educates in the sphere of human rights and democracy, as well as implements a programme of international solidarity. Its mission is to establish human rights, democracy, and solidarity in and the OSCE region to affirm human dignity. President is likely to visit for two days from October 13 to inaugurate various development projects in the northeastern state, an official said on Friday. During the day, DGP Amitabh Ranjan held a high-level meeting on security arrangements for the President's proposed visit, he said. "We have a preparatory meeting on the President's visit. Security arrangements will be finalised after receiving details of her tour programme," the official said. This will be her first visit to as the President of India. Murmu is likely to arrive at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport here on October 13, he said. A civic reception has been planned by Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder at Town Hall here, the official said, adding that Chief Minister Manik Saha and his cabinet colleagues are expected to be present in the programme. The President is likely to visit Udaipur to offer prayer to Maa Tripureswari on October 14. Murmu is expected to inaugurate some development projects, including Judicial Academy. (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.) Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat said on Friday that the state would be the first in the country to implement a green hydrogen policy. Rawat was addressing the 'Future Ready Sector Conclave' as part of the Invest summit here on Friday. In her address, Rawat said that the state has made unprecedented progress in the field of renewable energy. "Today is the first state in the whole country in the field of solar energy," the minister said, as she stressed on the proper use of natural resources. Rawat also said that appropriate action would be taken on the suggestions and feedback received from the entrepreneurs on the policies of the government, adding that the state government will take the entrepreneurs along. Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, said that it is a commendable achievement to have MoUs worth Rs 10 lakh crore in Rajasthan. He also called upon the investors to invest in Rajasthan. Economic advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Arvind Mayaram, urged the industry and government agencies to work on artificial intelligence, saying that AI is expected to grow to 7.8 billion by 2025. --IANS arc/arm (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.) Karnataka's Leader of Opposition on Thursday slammed the Central government's decision to import green areca nut from Bhutan, saying that due to the "ill-willed policy, the life of areca nut growers will be doomed". The areca nut growers are already in distress because of various diseases attacking the crop and areca trees. During this difficult hour, the central government has betrayed them, he said. The notification giving unconditional consent to the purchase of 17,000 metric tons of raw areca nut from Bhutan will prove costly and affect the livelihood of local areca nut growers, he said, adding that while the state areca nut farmers are agitating for a total ban on imports, the Centre has exhibited its "unilateral and arbitrary approach". "The Union government, which has adopted an egoistic approach towards farmers, has not even laid down conditions for the specified minimum import price (MIP) and shown green signal for import of areca nut from Bhutan. The central government has also indicated more imports from different countries in future," said. "I had warned when the Central government brought down excise tax on imported areca nuts and increased the GST on indigenous areca nuts. I had also prevailed upon the state government to make the Union government understand the situation of areca nut farmers. However, it is proved that the 'probationary' Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) does not have capacity to talk to the Central government on farmers' woes," he added. Noting that the farmers of Malnad (hilly) region have complained about the state and Central governments turning blind eye to their plight, he said that their worst fears have come true now, and the decision to import 17,000 tons of areca nut from Bhutan is the height of betrayal. said that Home Miniister Araga Jnanendra, who heads the Task Force formed to look into the woes of areca nut farmers, is maintaining that imports will have no bearing. "The government and the Home Minister do not have common sense that these things won't solve the crisis of farmers," he said. He also noted that the BJP's President, and state General Secretaries hail from regions where areca nut farming is taken up on large scale, but have not responded and the MLAs and MPs of the districts where the crop is grown are also tightlipped. All are colluding to write the death warrant of areca nut farmers, Siddaramaiah alleged, demanding that the consent given to imports from Bhutan must be immediately reversed, GST on areca nuts reduced, and the state government should exert pressure on the Centre in this regard. --IANS mka/vd (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.) Lee Shin-wha, South Korea's special envoy for North Korean human rights, is seen speaking in a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washingtonin this image captured from the website of the Washington-based think tank, Oct. 6. Yonhap Appointing a U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights will send a clear message to the reclusive regime that human rights matter while also helping to revitalize global discussions on the dire issue, South Korean envoy for North Korean human rights said Thursday. Amb. Lee Shin-hwa, special envoy for international cooperation on North Korean human rights, argued appointing a U.S. envoy will also encourage the European Union to take the issue more seriously. "Number one, by appointing a special envoy, you can give a clear message to North Korea human rights matter to the U.S. foreign policy," Lee said in a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. "Number two, it will give a clear message to European Union the U.S. is very much interested in North Korean human rights issue and that issue is one of the centerpiece of the U.S. foreign policy," she added. "Then, probably, that can help revitalize the EU interest despite any other urgency and priority that the EU has." The post for a U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights has been vacant for over five years. Lee said she had been told by U.S. officials that President Joe Biden plans to name a nominee for the job in a few weeks, but more recently that the process may take longer than earlier anticipated. She insisted appointing a special envoy for North Korean human rights will be "good for President Biden himself," noting the U.S. leader is working to mobilize democratic countries. "The history of democracy exactly coincides with development of human rights, improvement of the human rights. So by he (Biden) mentioning about the human rights issue, including North Korean ones, I think that will improve his rationale and his effort to enhance democracy and democratic idea," she said. The South Korean envoy also underscored the need to resume discussions on North Korean human rights at the U.N. Security Council. "Unfortunately, since 2017, there was no human rights discussion at the U.N. Security Council," said Lee. "I tried to emphasize that they have to resume that dialogue, but because of the U.S.-China (confrontation) and now even Russia, (there) is a very slim chance, if not no chance, to discuss about the issue, but still we have to push forward to do that," she added. (Yonhap) Governor R N Ravi has given a nod to the ordinance to regulate . It was by the end of September that the government had cleared an ordinance to ban . According to media reports, the governor cleared the ordinance on October 1 and it was published in the Gazette on Friday. The state is likely to pass a bill in this regard to make it a permanent act in the upcoming assembly session starting on October 17. In June, a committee headed by Justice K Chandru had submitted its report on the effects of online games with stakes on its users. The panel had not only suggested a ban on online games with stakes, but had also batted for a ban on advertisements that encourage people to play such games. It is not clear whether the current ordinance includes the advertisement aspects as well. The report had highlighted that in the past three years at least 17 people lost their lives in the state due to online games with stakes. A law enacted by the AIADMK government banning online games in February 2021 was struck down by the High Court in August 2021. The Stalin government had approached the Supreme Court with an appeal in this regard in November. Thirteen devotees on way to the temple town of Alandi in district were injured after the truck they were travelling in overturned near here on Thursday evening, said police. According to the police, around two dozen devotees from Aurangabad district in central were heading towards Alandi in a truck after offering prayers at a temple in Jejuri near city when the took place in Shindwane ghat. "While negotiating a slope in Shindwane ghat, the vehicle's brakes failed. The driver tried to halt the truck, but it skidded in loose soil and overturned, injuring 13 devotees," said an officer of the Loni Kalbhor police station. He said the pilgrims received minor injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are being treated. (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 US on Friday asked its citizens to exercise "increased caution" while travelling to India due to "crime and terrorism" and advised them to not to travel to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In a new travel advisory issued on Friday, the US State Department reduced the India Travel Advisory Level to 2 on a scale of one to 4 with the latter being the highest. The State Department in a separate advisory, a day earlier, had put Pakistan on Level 3 and asked its citizens to reconsider their travel especially its restive provinces due to and sectarian violence. Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism, said the State Department. Do not travel to: The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to and civil unrest. Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict, it said. "Exercise increased caution in India due to crime & terrorism" US travel advisory issued on Oct 05 for its citizens travelling to India pic.twitter.com/RQ23GQJLMS ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022 According to the travel advisory, "Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations." The advisory said that "terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities. The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as US government employees must obtain special authorisation to travel to these areas, said the travel advisory. (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.) Collision with on the tracks is unavoidable and this has been kept in mind while designing the semi-high speed train, Railway Minister said here on Friday. A day before, four buffaloes were killed after being hit by the Gandhinagar Capital-Mumbai Central Express near Vatva in Ahmedabad. The train's cone nose was damaged and replaced later. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the train on the route on September 30. "The train has been designed in such a way and it is so strong that if there is an accident, nothing will happen to the train. Its nose on the front is totally replaceable. As soon as the train reached Mumbai (after the incident on Thursday), it was completely cleaned up and its nose replaced," Vaishnaw said here. The minister was interacting with the students of an engineering college at Vallabh Vidyanagar. The train has been designed "very thoughtfully," he said. "In India, the tracks are laid on the ground. Wherever you go, will cross them, one cannot stop them. Unless we elevate the tracks in another 5-6 years, they (cattle) will come in front of the trains," the minister said. "The trains will run at a speed of 120-130-160 kmph and a collision is inevitable. It is a matter of common sense and design. Therefore, design it in such a way that you can mend it whenever there is such an incident," the Union minister said. The train has been designed keeping this in mind, he said. The next version of the train will run at a speed of 200 kmph, Vaishnaw said. The latest updated version which runs on the Gandhinagar-Mumbai route has a top speed of 160 kmph. During the interaction with college students, the minister also talked about Modi's experience of the train as he travelled from Gadhinagar to Kalupur railway station in Ahmedabad on the first day. The air spring of the train absorbs the shock nearly completely and noise is practically non-existent inside, Vaishnaw said. "Modi travelled for nearly 40 km. Along the route, he was talking to technicians and welders and stood eight or nine times for photos on their request. He did not have to take support even once due to non-existing vibration (when he was standing). Even the noise level is 65 decibels against 80-90 decibels of planes," he said. These are the features of a "world-class train", the minister added. The first two Vande Bharat trains (launched first in 2019) have covered 18 lakh kilometres which is equal to nearly 45 times the Earth's periphery without any major problem, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed to allow conversion of regular vehicle registrations into Bharat Series (BH) numbers as part of measures to widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem. At present, only new can opt for BH series mark. In a draft notification, the MoRTH informed about the proposed amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark which was launched for people who are in transferable jobs. Among other changes, the transfer of with BH series registration mark to other persons, who are eligible or ineligible for BH series, has been facilitated, according to the notification. " currently having regular registration mark can also be converted to BH series registration mark subject to payment of requisite tax, to facilitate persons who subsequently become eligible for BH series registration mark," it said. The ministry has also proposed the amendment in rule 48 to provide flexibility to submit application for BH series either at the place of residence or place of work with a view to providing further ease of life to citizen. It also said that the Working Certificate to be submitted by private sector employees has been further strengthened to prevent misuse. To ensure seamless transfer of personal vehicles across states, last year in September, the road transport ministry had come up with a new registration mark for new vehicles - Bharat Series (BH series). In this regard, the government had notified a new vehicle registration regime that will free vehicle owners from re-registration process when they shift from one state/union territory to another. "This vehicle registration facility under 'Bharat series (BH series)' will be available on voluntary basis to defense personnel, employees of central government/ state government/ central/ state public sector undertakings and private sector companies/organisations, which have their offices in four or more states/union territories," MoRTH had said in a statement. So far, 24 states and UTs have rolled out the new Bharat Series (BH-series) for vehicle registration and so far over 20,000 vehicles have been registered across the states. (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.) Chairperson of Business Council Richard Heald met Chief Minister on Thursday, during which the two discussed avenues for British investment in the state. During the meeting at the chief minister's official residence, Adityanath highlighted that the state provided ample opportunities for British companies to invest in any sector, including defence, electronics, information technology, and dairy. He said the government was planning to organise " Global Investors' Summit" next year, and investment-oriented policies were being prepared for various sectors. " is fast emerging as an attractive investment destination for the world," he said. Heald assured the United Kingdom's participation in the investors' summit as a country partner, according to an official release. The UKIBC chairperson invited Adityanath to London and requested him to meet representatives of various British companies, the release said. Heald said a better environment for investment had been created in Uttar Pradesh under Adityanath's leadership. "During COVID-19, Webley & Scott set up its factory here. In future, too, several British companies will invest in various sectors in the state, especially in the defence sector," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has expressed interest in implementing the Education Department's Little KITEs programme in their country's schools. Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) will provide technical assistance for this and a Special Working Group will be constituted for this programme, an official statement said here on Thursday. This was decided in the meeting held at Helsinki, Finland's capital city, between Education Department's team and a high-level delegation from comprising state chief secretary V P Joy, State Planning Board Vice-Chairman V K Ramachandran and General Education Department Principal Secretary A P M Mohammed Hanish, it said. The Little KITEs IT clubs initiative is one of India's largest information and communications technology (ICT) network of students across more than 2,000 schools, totalling 1.70 lakh student members. "I congratulate all who are part of Little KITEs programme, which has gained global attention to the digital revolution of the state in the education sector," said V Sivankutty, Minister for General Education. KITE is equipped to provide consultancy support in free and open-source software (FOSS)-based digital education activities to other states and countries, said K Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE. Little KITE members will be trained in electronics, animation, hardware, cyber-safety, 3D modelling, artificial intelligence (AI) and so on. This year, they have trained over four lakh parents in cyber-safety. Further, 9,000 robotic kits would be deployed to schools this year through the Little KITEs units, he added. The Little KITEs programme was launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2018. (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.) has handled the current energy crisis in a responsible and mature manner, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas said Thursday asserting that the Modi Government has not allowed energy shortages to affect any part of its population. The minister said that there is a huge potential of India-US collaboration in the energy sector. Today, when we talk about energy it suddenly assumes a different(connotation) but I think this too shall pass. We have been able to navigate away past the challenges in what I think is a responsible and mature manner, Puri said at a reception hosted in his honour by India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. I don't think we've allowed energy shortages to affect any part of our population, including in parts of the Northeast which were undergoing heavy flooding. There were never any shortages, and we are confident of being able to take this forward, Puri said addressing a select gathering at House here. The minister is scheduled to meet the US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a bilateral dialogue on Friday. I think both sides are convinced that we will need to open a green corridor for looking at energy related issues as we go along, said the top Indian minister. Puri said the portfolio of energy in and the US relationship has grown significantly. Today, when I deal with portfolios like energy .. one thing that has renewed my faith is that what India and the US can achieve together he said. Out of USD160 billion worth of annual bilateral trade, India imports USD20 billion worth of energy from the United States, he noted. America's former Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, and General Atomics Chief Executive Vivek Lall were among those who attended the reception at India House, which is the official residence of India's top diplomat in the US. The attendees included some of the eminent Indian American community members including Bharat Barai from Chicago, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from Wisconsin, Ravi Batra from New York and Mahinder Tak and Jasdip from Maryland. Puri, also the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, said after Washington DC, he is headed to Houston for more energy from American companies, more greener fuels for transition to sustainable energy. (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.) Oct 7 (Reuters) - Indian banks' loans rose 16.4% in the two weeks to Sept. 23 from a year earlier, while deposits rose 9.2%, the of India's weekly statistical supplement showed on Friday. Outstanding loans rose 787.65 billion rupees ($9.56 billion) to 126.30 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Sept. 23. Non-food credit rose 855.69 billion rupees to 126.08 trillion rupees, while food credit fell 68.04 billion rupees to 217.88 billion rupees. Bank deposits fell 243.34 billion rupees to 170.32 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Sept. 23. ($1 = 82.4000 Indian rupees) (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 Indian government aims to raise at least 280 billion Indian rupees ($3.41 billion) through the sale of bonds on Friday. The will likely set underwriting commission for these notes in the 1.00 paise to 1.50 paise range, according to a Reuters poll of nine traders. Note Quantum (in bln Median Min Max rupees) 7.38% 2027 70 1.50 paise 1.00 paise 2.50 paise 7.26% 2032 120 1.20 paise 1.00 paise 1.50 paise 7.36% 2052 90 1.00 paise 0.80 paise 1.30 paise ($1 = 82.1580 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Dharamraj Lalit Dhutia; Editing by Savio D'Souza) (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 plenary session of the standing committee of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly takes place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang with Chairman Choe Ryong-hae, standing, presiding, Aug. 7. Yonhap North Korea has come up with new guidelines on how to cope with the country's emergency health crisis and natural disasters at a key parliamentary meeting, its state media said Friday, amid efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and frequent flood damage. The plenary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), held in Pyongyang the previous day, adopted the law on emergency response, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The law provides instructions on "setting up the regular unified direction" on swiftly coping with emergency crises in areas such as health and natural disasters, ensuring the procurement of reserve materials, and providing the labor force and materials needed in the emergency anti-epidemic and disaster control field, the KCNA said. In recent years, North Korea has suffered from heavy downpours that could deal a serious blow to its agricultural output as the impoverished nation is apparently vulnerable to flooding due to poor irrigation and deforestation. Pyongyang has also recently stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of infections since the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic. The North reported its first COVID-19 case in May and declared victory against the crisis in August. The SPA meeting adopted another law on procurement to "contribute to fully meeting the demand for procured goods in the sector of the national economy and improving the standard of people's living by setting up the strict system and order in procurement," it added. The KCNA did not provide further details on the type of "procured goods," but observers say it could be referring to grains as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for an increase in the state procurement levels in agriculture at a party congress meeting last year. During the meeting, the North also adopted laws on the protection of new strains of plants and on the management of breeding livestock. The SPA is the highest organ of power under the North's constitution, although it rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling party. Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Presidium of the SPA, presided over the meeting. (Yonhap) The leaders of and have held talks in Prague in efforts to ease tensions between the two longtime adversaries. agreed to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement released early Friday, following a meeting on the margins of a European summit in the presence of the EU Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron. agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it is concerned, the statement said. Last month, and negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers from both sides. The EU mission will start in October for a maximum of two months, with the aim to build confidence and contribute" to the border commissions that have been set earlier this year to address questions related to the delimitation of the border, the statement said. The ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. The move comes after the leaders of historic foes Turkey and Armenia on Thursday held their first face-to-face meeting since the two countries agreed to improve relations. The discussions have been held on the sidelines of a summit by the leaders of 44 countries to launch a European Political Community aimed at boosting security and economic prosperity across Europe. (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.) Jailed Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties won the 2022 on Friday, amid a war in their region that is the worst conflict in Europe since World War Two. The award, the first since Russias February 24 invasion of Ukraine, has echoes of the Cold War era, when prominent Soviet dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn won Nobels for peace or literature. The prize will be seen by many as a condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was celebrating his 70th birthday on Friday, and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, making it one of the most politically contentious in decades. We believe that it is a war that is a result of an authoritarian regime, aggressively committing an act of aggression, Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen told Reuters after the announcement. She said the committee wanted to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence. It is not one person, one organisation, one quick fix, she said in an interview. It is the united efforts of what we call civil society that can stand up against authoritarian states and, or, human rights abuses. She called on Belarus to release Bialiatski from prison and said the prize was not aimed against Putin. Belarusian security police in July 2021 raided offices and homes of lawyers and human rights activists, detaining Bialiatski and in a new crackdown on opponents of Lukashenko. Authorities had moved to shut down non-state media outlets and human right groups after mass protests the previous August against a presidential election the Opposition said was rigged. The (Nobel) Committee is sending a message that political freedoms, human rights, and active civil society are part of peace, Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm Peace Research Institute, told Reuters. The prize will boost morale for Bialiatski and strengthen the hand of the Center for Civil Liberties, an independent Ukrainian human rights organisation, which is also focused on fighting corruption, he said. Although Memorial has been closed in Russia, it lives on as an idea that its right to criticise power and that facts and history matter, Smith added. In Geneva, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said Moscow was not concerned about the award. We dont care about this, Gennady Gatilov told Reuters In Belarus, the award was not reported by state media. Founded in 1989 to help the victims of political repression during the Soviet Union and their relatives, Memorial campaigns for democracy and civil rights in Russia and former Soviet republics. Its co-founder and first leader was Sakharov, the 1975 laureate. Memorial, Russias best-known human rights group, was ordered to be dissolved last December for breaking a law requiring certain civil society groups to register as foreign agents, capping a year of crackdowns on Kremlin critics unseen since Soviet days. Memorial board member Anke Giesen said on Friday winning the award was recognition of its human rights work and of colleagues who continue to suffer unspeakable attacks and reprisals in Russia. The award to Memorial is the second in a row to a Russian, after the prize to journalist Dmitry Muratov last year, shared with Maria Ressa of the Philippines. The executive director of Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Romantsova, said winning the award was incredible. It is great, thank you, she told the secretary of the award committee, Olav Njoelstad, during a phone call that was filmed and broadcast on Norwegian television. The group also tweeted it was proud. The award to Bialiatski could help draw attention to some 1,350 political prisoners in Belarus, exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters. I am really proud to see Ales Bialiatski as the winner, she said in a phone interview. (He) has through all his life protected human rights in our country. He is a prisoner for the second time, this is showing how the regime is constantly persecuting those who fight for human rights in Belarus. When Lukashenkos security forces cracked down after the 2020 election, Bialiatski, civil rights group Viasna, chose to stay in the country despite the high risk of arrest. He was eventually arrested in July last year and accused of tax avoidance, to which authorities recently added a new charge of making illegal money transfers. He is in prison awaiting trial, and faces a sentence of up to 12 years if convicted. He was previously imprisoned from 2011 to 2014. Tsikhanouskaya said the prize would help attract the attention of ordinary people inside and outside Belarus to look at Bialiatski and his fight. He had two missions: independence for Belarus and human rights in all the world, she said. The will be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will. The EU has adopted a new package of sanctions aimed at stepping up and reinforcing restrictive measures against Russia, the EU Council said in a statement. The eighth round of EU sanctions came in response to "the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions," the statement added on Thursday. The new measures incorporate the G7 (Group of Seven) price cap into the existing sanctions on Russian oil, expand the restrictions on services, exports and imports and add further individuals and entities to the sanctions list, Xinhua news agency reported. The package introduces the basis for putting in place a price cap related to the maritime transport of Russian oil for third countries and further restricts the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products to third countries. The package also comprises the sanctioning of individuals and entities that have played a role in the organisation of "illegal referenda", representatives of the defence sector and well-known persons spreading disinformation about the Ukraine crisis. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the package would further restrict trade to "isolate and hit Russia's economy even more". --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There are growing fears here that the proposed India-UK (FTA), currently in its final stages of negotiation towards a Diwali deadline, is likely to be watered down amid controversial remarks by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on visas. The Indian-origin Cabinet minister seems to be poised for a direct clash with British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who is keen to stick to the looming October 24 timeline for the FTA and is well aware that the ease of movement of students and professionals is crucial to India's objectives as part of a new trade deal. However, Braverman expressed reservations over what she feared would be an open borders migration policy with India under an FTA, casting doubt over the nature of the final agreement. It now appears likely that the prospective UK-India FTA under the Liz Truss government will not be as substantive nor as comprehensive as envisaged by the previous Boris Johnson government, as negotiations on key issues of mobility/migration and tariffs can be expected to continue towards a non-time bound second-phase of the agreement, said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the London-based Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank. The strategic expert believes the Diwali timeline may still be met symbolically to enable both governments to claim a political victory of sorts, even though its economic impact may be "underwhelming" for both sides. For the UK, this would be its first trade deal with an Asian economic giant; and for India it would be its first major deal with a European/western country, thereby providing leverage over a prospective India-EU FTA. But, if this truncated FTA is to serve as a boost to UK-India political ties, it needs to be followed quickly by an early win and a legacy development on bilateral defence cooperation, which has been underperforming for many years, he said. But, the window for this is fast closing, with both governments focused on differing foreign policy priorities amidst preparations for their next general elections, he cautioned. UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also seemed to raise the prospect of a less than comprehensive approach during a panel discussion earlier this week, when she declared that both sides could agree "even more later". "We talk about free trade agreement, but they are not universal, unilateral free trade. I think freer trade is probably a more accurate way of describing what we are doing on all these bilateral deals," she said. Doubts had been raised over the Diwali timeline announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to India in April following political turmoil in the UK, which resulted in a new government led by Liz Truss early last month. I would much rather have a more comprehensive deal that takes slightly longer to complete. It's good to have a deadline, good to have that target to try and finish by Diwali... my target is the end of this year, said Lord Karan Bilimoria, who helped set up a joint UK India Industry Taskforce between the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to push through industry priorities within an FTA. Amid Braverman's remarks casting doubt over what an FTA would include in terms of visas for India, the UK's Department for Trade (DIT) has insisted that it would not sacrifice quality for speed. A trade deal between the UK and India is a huge opportunity to deepen our already strong trading relationship worth GBP 24.3 billion a year, which will benefit businesses and sectors right across both our countries. We remain clear that we won't sacrifice quality for speed and will only sign when we have a deal that meets the UK's interests," a UK government spokesperson said. The High Commission of India in London countered Braverman's contention that a Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) clinched by her predecessor, Priti Patel, had not worked well as she pointed to Indians as the largest group of visa overstayers. As part of our wider discussions under Migration and Mobility, the government of India is committed to work with the government of UK to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who have overstayed their visa period here in the UK, the Indian High Commission said, pointing to work pending on the UK Home Office side on further action under the MMP. The latest set of UK Home Office statistics from 2020 show that the 20,706 Indian visa overstayers represent around 4.4 per cent of the total, much lower compared to other nationalities such as China, Pakistan and Nigeria between 7 to 9 per cent. The Opposition Labour Party's diaspora group attacked Braverman's comments as a failure to acknowledge the value that the nearly 1.6 million strong Indian diaspora adds to Britain. She overlooks how Indians and from across the world fill the skills shortages here particularly in our NHS [National Health Service], something which right wing politicians are intent on destroying. Braverman clearly doesn't understand how well-integrated the community is, said the Labour Convention of Indian Organisations (LCIO). The Indian National Student Association (INSA) UK pointed to the contributions made by Indian students to the UK economy and accused the UK government of making damaging statements instead of addressing real crises, such as an acute student housing shortage. Today, Indian students directly contribute not only their talent to UK universities, but also keep them viable commercially. Rather than making such damaging statements, we hope the government addresses real issues such as the shortage of student housing, INSA UK said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asked the parliaments of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to strengthen cooperation to overcome the global crisis and promote world amid geopolitical conflicts. In the opening ceremony of the 8th Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, attended by parliamentary representatives of members and dozens of invited parties, Widodo on Thursday expressed that global parliaments must be part of the solution to build dialogue, promote togetherness and avoid division. "Multilateralism is the most effective way to overcome common challenges, because no single problem can be solved by one or more countries alone," he said as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The meeting held from October 6 to 7 in Jakarta is the right place for creating togetherness with the people and across countries to work together to solve problems and build a just world, the President added. --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and will jointly sponsor five research projects in the fields of medicine and green energy, Israel's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology said in a statement. Researchers from leading institutions in both countries will take part in the research projects, the Ministry's spokeswoman Hila Aloni Ohayon told Xinhua news agency. This is the first cooperation between and a Latin American country to jointly fund scientific research, the Ministry noted. Research topics range from the early detection of retinal aging, encapsulation of an antifungal lung medicine, and non-invasive cancer diagnostics, to fast charging of lithium-based battery cells, and the development of ion exchange membranes for hydrogen technologies, Xinhua news agency reported. --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking executive action to change United States policy on marijuana, US President has announced a sweeping pardon for thousands of people convicted of drug possession under federal laws. "I am announcing a pardon of all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of . I have directed the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals," Biden said in a statement. "There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions," he added. Notably, the order only applies to those convicted on federal charges of "simple possession". "Just as no one should be in a Federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either," he said. Marijuana is illegal under federal law, even as states have moved toward legal use for recreational and medical purposes. As a candidate, Biden stopped short of endorsing legalization of recreational marijuana, but he supported moving towards decriminalization. "Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It's time that we right these wrongs," he said in the statement. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug, meaning it is in the same category as like heroin and LSD. According to the federal government, it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value, The Hill reported. (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.) With its troops losing ground almost daily, the has told some of its state media to start admitting some of the failings of President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, worried that its relentlessly upbeat propaganda was fueling growing public doubts. The shift in policy over the last few weeks, described by people familiar with the Kremlins tight message management who spoke on condition of anonymity, has unleashed a wave of unusual public criticism of the military. After months of reporting virtually nothing but battlefield successes, state TV has lately been cataloging Russian retreats and defeats - without the usual positive spin from the Ministry of Defense. We have to stop lying, Andrey Kartapolov, a former general who now heads the Defense Committee in the lower house of parliament, said on a popular online talk show this week. Our people arent stupid. Theres no sign the will let the strictly controlled media go that far, of course, and no questioning of Putin or his decision to invade is allowed. But with little prospect its forces will be able to slow Ukraines counteroffensive in the near future, the authorities hope the appearance of less spin may help shore up public support. Putin Meetings The new approach is also reflected at the highest level. The president has held at least two closed-door meetings since early summer with a small groups of Russian military correspondents, including one shortly before last months sudden decision to order the call-up of 300,000 reservists, according to people familiar with the situation. The sudden appearance on state TV of criticism of the militarys handling of the war could provide a justification for calls from hawkish elements in the Russian elite for more indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, said Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the R.Politik research group. Theres a huge debate among the ruling class how to win this war now the army has showed it isnt capable, she said. Theres a hunt for those responsible and efforts to get Putin to look for other solutions. At their last meeting with Putin, the war reporters, known for their hardline nationalist views and skepticism of the military brass, painted a dire picture of the situation on the front, the people said. In just a few weeks, Ukraines forces had swept into large swathes of territory that Russian troops had spent months fighting to occupy. Some of the correspondents came away wondering whether Putin had been getting a full account of the real situation from his official briefings, according to the people. spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to a request for comment for this article. Elements of a Retreat Within days, Putin had set in motion steps to declare the lands his troops still held permanently part of Russian territory and the partial mobilization. More than 300,000 people raced to flee the country. As the Ukrainian counteroffensive pushed Russian lines further back - retaking land that Putin had only just claimed to have annexed - state TV dropped the official line that the retreats were carefully planned strategic moves. Yesterday we lost 16 settlements in the Kherson region. What will we lose today? host Olga Skabeyeva grilled an occupation commander on her prime-time show on Oct. 5. Were maneuvering with elements of a retreat was all he could mumble in response. Things are not going well for us on the battlefield, Vladimir Solovyov, the countrys most prominent state-TV news host, lamented on his nightly show earlier this week (Oct. 4). Talk shows have blasted military commanders for failing to head off the Ukrainian advances, as well as for the botched call-up, which has been marred by widespread reports of old, infirm or otherwise exempt people being sent off to training camps. The difficulty of the situation was predictable, war reporter Alexander Sladkov said this week on a prime-time talk show on Rossiya 1. Were still learning. I know thats horrible to hear at the eighth month of the operation. Polls show the sudden mobilization order shocked many Russians, leading some to question the invasions progress for the first time since Putin launched it on Feb. 24. In the Kremlin, officials worried that the dissonance between battlefield reports available in the popular Telegram messaging app and the Defense Ministrys daily accounts of triumphs at the front were undermining public confidence. For all the new willingness to admit fault and criticize the military, Putin remains strictly off limits for questioning. The question is: when we talk about the chaos, partial mobilization, why things happened the way they did in Lyman, Balaklia, we all have the same question: Is our commander in chief aware? Is Vladimir Vladimirovich aware of this? Margarita Simonyan, a top state news executive asked on TV Sunday. I think he is aware of it and understands very well. The US has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Pakistan, especially its restive provinces, due to and sectarian violence. In a issued on Thursday, the US State Department urged its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to and kidnapping. "Reconsider travel to due to and sectarian violence. Some areas have increased risk," it said, putting the advisory to Level 3. Level 3 travel warning is issued when a long-term or serious situation puts travellers and visitors at risk, and non-essential travel to the destination should be avoided. The advisory also recommended Americans not to travel in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. Noting that terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, it said a local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, the advisory said. Terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties, it said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putins threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine has brought the world closer to Armageddon than at any time since the Cold-War Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. President said. Putin celebrated his 70th birthday to a chorus of fawning praise from officials. But with his seven-month invasion unravelling, public events appeared more muted than just a week ago, when he staged a huge concert on Red Square to proclaim the annexation of nearly a fifth of Ukrainian land. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyivs forces were swiftly recapturing more territory, including more than 500 sq km in the south where they burst through a second major front this week. Biden said the prospect of defeat could make Putin desperate enough to use nuclear weapons, the biggest risk since US. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis, Biden said in New York. For the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons, if in fact things continue down the path theyd been going. Putin was not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, is significantly underperforming, Biden said. The death toll from a missile attack on apartment buildings in a southern Ukrainian city rose to 11 as more Russian missiles and for the first time explosive packed drones targeted Ukrainian-held Zaporizhzhia on Friday. Biden to pardon thousands for possession Biden took his first major steps toward decriminalizing marijuana, saying he would pardon thousands of Americans convicted for possession of the drug and ordering a review of its treatment by law enforcement authorities. Biden announced that he would pardon all prior federal offenses for simple possession of . He will also urge governors to issue similar pardons for state offenses. Sending people to prison for possessing has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit, Biden said in a statement, noting that people of color have been disproportionately arrested, prosecuted and convicted for the crime. The moves fulfill a Biden campaign pledge about a month ahead of midterm congressional elections, which may attract more young people and voters of color Democrats need to show up at the polls. The pardons could affect affect more than 6,500 people charged with simple marijuana possession under federal laws and thousands more under the DC Code, the officials said. - Bloomberg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This photo, captured from the homepage of North Korea's post office, shows one of three kinds of stamps to mark the North Korean parliament's approval of the use of nuclear weapons at its session in Pyongyang on Sept. 9. Yonhap North Korea on Friday unveiled a new set of postage stamps to commemorate the recent codification of its nuclear weapons policy amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The Korea Stamp Corp. published three stamps, one of which features a newspaper article introducing a new law adopted last month that allows the regime to launch an "automatic nuclear strike" if attacked. The stamp included images of the North's intercontinental ballistic missiles, including the Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-17, and the Hwasong-8 hypersonic missile on a transporter erector launcher, as well as what appears to be a Pukguksong-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile. This photo, captured from the homepage of North Korea's post office, shows one of three kinds of stamps to mark the North Korean parliament's approval of the use of nuclear weapons at its session in Pyongyang on Sept. 9. Yonhap called for a secret ballot vote next week on a Western-backed resolution that would condemn its attempted illegal annexation of part of four Ukrainian regions and demand that Moscow immediately reverse its actions. apparently hopes it would get more support from the 193 nations in the General Assembly if their votes are not public. vetoed what would have been a legally binding Security Council resolution on Sept. 30 to condemn annexation referendums in the four Ukrainian regions as illegal, declare them invalid and urge all countries not to recognise any annexation of the territory claimed by Moscow. The United States and Albania, which sponsored the resolution, vowed to take the issue to all U.N. members in the General Assembly, where there are no vetoes but resolutions are not legally binding. Unless the community reacts," European Union U.N. Ambassador Olof Skoog said Wednesday, there can be claims that no one pays attention and this is now a carte blanche for other countries to do likewise or to give recognition to what Russia's done. The General Assembly has announced that its emergency special session on will resume on Monday afternoon, when the draft resolution will be presented. Diplomats said they expect speeches from member nations to continue Tuesday, with a vote on the resolution likely on Wednesday. Votes on resolutions in the world body are traditionally public and are illuminated with different coloured lights on a large board which has the name of every country. But Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said in a six-page letter to all other U.N. ambassadors obtained by The Associated Press that the U.N. legal counsel has confirmed that a secret ballot can be used by the General Assembly in decision-making. In addition to demanding that Russia reverse its annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the draft resolution would declare that Moscow's actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and are inconsistent with the principles of the U.N. Charter. The proposed resolution says the annexations also have no validity under law and do not form the basis for any alternation of the status of these regions of . It demands that Russia immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of within its internationally recognised borders ... to enable peaceful resolution of the conflict through political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means. Russia's call for a secret ballot vote on the resolution is the latest step in the escalating confrontation between Moscow and the United States and its European allies over its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Russia's veto in the Security Council last Friday came hours after a lavish Kremlin ceremony where President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to annex the Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions, saying they were now part of Russia and would be defended by Moscow. Putin signed the final papers Wednesday to annex the four regions and in a defiant move, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov held the door open for further land grabs in Ukraine, saying certain territories will be reclaimed, and we will keep consulting residents who would be eager to embrace Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the annexation by announcing Ukraine's fast-track application to join NATO. In a decree released Tuesday, he also ruled out negotiations with Russia, declaring that Putin's actions made talking to the Russian leader impossible. In his letter to U.N. member nations, Russia's Nebenzia called the attempt by the U.S. and its allies to have the General Assembly condemn the referendums a clearly politicized and provocative development aimed at deepening the divide among U.N. member nations. He claimed the Western actions have nothing to do with protecting law and the U.N. Charter, and are only to pursue their own geopolitical objectives, alleging Western double-standards" in backing Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 without a referendum. Unlike Kosovo, Nebenzia said, the four Ukrainian regions are exposed to a real existential threat from Ukraine now. The Russian ambassador said Moscow understands the huge pressure the United States and it's allies will exert on other countries to support the resolution, and we also understand that in such circumstances it may be very difficult if positions are expressed publicly. Therefore, he said, Russia is proposing a secret ballot vote and calls on member states to support the initiative. Asked for reaction to the Russian move, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield replied: No comment. While the Security Council has been stymied on taking action on Ukraine because of Russia's veto power, the General Assembly has approved three resolutions. It voted 141-5 with 35 abstentions on March 2 to demand an immediate Russian cease-fire, withdrawal of all its forces and protection for all civilians. On March 24, it voted 140-5 with 38 abstentions on a resolution blaming Russia for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urging an immediate cease-fire and protection for millions of civilians and the homes, schools and hospitals critical to their survival. But the assembly voted by a far smaller margin on April 7 to suspend Russia from the world organisation's leading human rights body, the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, over allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the United States and Ukraine have called war crimes. The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions. (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.) said on Friday that its preliminary third-quarter operating profit declined by nearly 32 per cent from a year earlier, as the company has faced macroeconomic headwinds that weakened consumer demand for electronic devices. The world's largest memory chip and mobile phone maker said its operating profit for the three months ending in September was predicted to come in at 10.8 trillion won ($7.7 billion), down 31.7 per cent from 15.82 trillion won from the year-ago period. The figure was the lowest third-quarter profit since 2019, when the corresponding tally was 7.78 trillion won. It also marked the first yearly decline in Samsung's third-quarter profit in three years. The operating profit was 8.3 percent lower than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Sales increased 2.7 per cent on-year to 76 trillion won. The data for net profit was not available. The company will release its final earnings report at the end of this month. Samsung's semiconductor business, which took nearly 70 per cent of its total profit in the previous quarter, is believed to have slowed down, with weakened consumer spending power leading to a cut in chip demand from makers, as well as cloud computing and server . Market analysts predicted Samsung's device solutions division, which overseas its chip business, to have posted around 6 trillion won in operating profit, slumping nearly 30 percent from the previous quarter. "Customers don't seem to respond to falling chip prices due to sluggish demand," Kim Un-ho, an analyst at IBK Securities, said. "Slowing demand is expanding from server to mobile sectors," he said. The global chip industry has entered a cyclical downturn, which has been exacerbated by key macro events around the world. DRAM prices are estimated to have posted a quarterly decline of 10-15 percent in the third quarter. Despite oversupply issues and falling prices, said it was not considering a cut in production of its memory chips. "There is no internal discussion (about a cut in memory chip production) at the moment," Han Jin-man, executive vice president and head of the memory global sales and marketing at Electronics, said at the annual Samsung Tech Day in San Jose, California. --IANS na/ (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.) Britain and hailed a new spirit of compromise on Friday in a grinding feud over post-Brexit trade rules, expressing hope of making enough progress in the next three weeks to avoid a destabilising new election in Northern . It comes as new British Prime Minister Liz Truss seeks to improve relations with the UK's neighbours after the country's long, acrimonious divorce from the European Union. Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said Britain and the EU were negotiating in good faith and good humour a marked contrast from the bitter tone that has marred relations since the voted for Brexit in 2016. Speaking to reporters in London after a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, he said he was very positive about the chances of getting a negotiated solution. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said political leadership is about making things happen and sometimes surprising people, and I think that's what we need to do over the next few weeks. Arrangements for Northern Ireland the only part of the that shares a border with an EU member, which is Ireland have been the most contentious issue so far in the UK-EU divorce, which became final at the end of 2020. The two sides agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Instead, some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK undergo checks. That solution has spiralled into a political crisis for the power-sharing government in Belfast, with British Unionist politicians refusing to form a government with Irish nationalists because they see the checks as undermining their British identity and Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, with talks to solve the problem gridlocked, Britain introduced legislation to suspend the checks and rip up part of its legally binding Brexit treaty. The unilateral move brought legal action from the EU and the risk of an all-out trade war. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put Brexit in perspective, brought European allies closer together and given the UK and the EU new motivation to heal their divide. UK and EU negotiators this week held their first talks in months. Neither side has set a deadline, but one date looms: If the Northern Ireland executive is not up and running by October 28, a new election must be held, bringing yet more uncertainty. Coveney said the aim was to make enough progress before October 28 to persuade North Ireland's unionists to rejoin the Belfast executive. I don't think we can get everything agreed in the space of three weeks, that is completely unrealistic, he said. But the question is can we make progress that is measurable and serious in that period where people can see we're on a course that the people can start believing in. Beyond that, April 2023 marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, the peace accord that largely ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Politicians in the UK, Ireland and the US which played a key role in negotiating the agreement all want to resolve the trade issues before the anniversary. Still, there is no outward sign that the UK is willing to scrap its treaty-breaching legislation, a key EU demand. Coveney nonetheless struck a positive note. What we're after here is a nil-all draw, where everybody can walk away feeling that they haven't won or lost, but they can live with the outcome, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan launched a new round of naval drills with South Korean warships on Friday, a day after fired more ballistic missiles and flew warplanes in an escalation of tensions with its rivals. The Reagan and its battle group returned to the waters near the Korean Peninsula after earlier this week launched a nuclear-capable missile over Japan in response to the carrier group's earlier training with South Korean navy ships. views US-South Korean military exercises as a practice to invade the country. The latest two-day drills, which also involve US and South Korean destroyers and other ships, were taking place in waters off the peninsula's east coast. The drills are aimed at bolstering the allies' defence capabilities and will involve training to escort the Reagan southeast of South Korea's southern island of Jeju, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. We will continue to strengthen our firm operational capabilities and readiness to respond to any provocations by North Korea," the statement said. North Korea may react to the new drills with more missile tests. The North's Foreign Ministry said Thursday the carrier group's redeployment poses a serious threat to the stability of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity. North Korea's record pace of weapons testing this year is intended to expand its arsenal so that it can credibly threaten the US mainland and regional allies with nuclear arms, then engage in negotiations with the US from a stronger position as a recognised nuclear state. Its two launches on Thursday were the North's sixth round of weapons firings in less than two weeks. The intermediate-range North Korean missile tested Tuesday was likely a Hwasong-12 missile which is capable of reaching the US Pacific territory of Guam, observers say. Other missiles launched recently are short-range weapons that target . North Korea is ready to conduct its first nuclear test in five years and is preparing to test a new liquid-fuelled intercontinental and a submarine-launched ballistic missile, Heo Tae-keun, South Korea's deputy minister of national defence policy, told lawmakers earlier this week. On Friday, Heo had trilateral video calls with his US and Japanese counterparts to discuss North Korea's recent missile tests. They stressed the security cooperation among the three countries would be bolstered if the North continues its provocations, the South Korean Defence Ministry said in a statement. On Thursday, naval destroyers of the three countries conducted one-day joint drills off the peninsula's east coast to hone their abilities to search, track and intercept North Korean ballistic missiles. Last week, they held anti-submarines exercises involving the Reagan in the area. North Korea also flew 12 warplanes dozens of kilometres from the inter-Korean border, prompting the South to scramble 30 military aircraft in response. There were no clashes. The eight North Korean fighter jets and four bombers were believed to have conducted air-to-surface firing drills, South Korea's military said. Yonhap news agency reported it was likely North Korea's biggest warplane mobilization for such an exercise near the border. (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 Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebi) decision on Thursday to wind down credit rating agency (CRA) Brickwork, is thanks to the firms serious violations of its regulatory framework for CRAs, according to the regulators official order. Such violations include a failure to document meetings with the management, lack of independent analysis of financial projections given by companies, delays in recognising defaults, as well as conflict of interest, the regulator said. The regulations on CRAs were brought to force on July 7, 1999, and include detailed guidelines on the registration procedure, general requirements by CRAs, and grounds for punitive action by . The latest amendments to these regulations came on January 24, 2022. With the apex regulatory bodys move on Brickwork Ratings being seen as one of the toughest regulatory actions against any credit rating firm, heres a look at some of the important regulations that Brickwork has allegedly violated and how. Initial inspections and violations Sebis action against Brickwork stems from two separate year-long inspections the first between April 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015, and the second from April 1, 2017September 30, 2018. In August 2018, the Sebi imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh for, among other violations, the CRAs delays in recognising defaulting Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD) and downgrading the ratings of companies with such NCDs to Default. Such delays occurred despite the disclosure and notification of defaults by the debenture trustee (DT) for such issues. In September 2020, related to the second inspection, Sebi imposed another penalty of Rs 1 crore on the CRA. The fines were levied against several violations including a lack of a proper surveillance system for tracking the interest/principal repayment schedule, failure to review the rating of defaulting NCDs, and multiple violations while rating Structured Obligations (SO). SOs are debt obligations issued by special purpose vehicles and secured directly by, referenced to, or representing ownership of, a pool of receivables or other financial assets of any obligor, including collateralized debt obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Further Investigations and Joint Inquiry Sebi considered the third investigation between October 1, 2018, and November 30, 2019, to determine whether the CRA had amended the violations to Sebis CRA regulations and found that the irregularities persisted. Following this, the regulator conducted a joint audit of the CRA with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in January 2020, which led to an administrative warning and inquiry. Finally, in June 2021, the regulator issued a show-cause notice to Brickwork asking why the CRA should not be closed. Brickworks had sought and was granted interim relief by the Karnataka high court. Sebi then filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court and was granted permission for regulatory action on 16 September. Brickworks major violations According to the 50-page order issued by Sebi, the top regulator had listed several violations and irregularities in the show-cause notice issued to the CRA, including a failure to follow proper rating process, improper maintenance of records to support its ratings, following inappropriate rating process, noncompliance with prescribed timelines in 75 per cent of the cases inspected during the 3rd Inspection, a failure to address conflict of interest arising due to rating committee members (other than the Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer) having business development roles with issuers. Addressing the specifics of Brickworks failure to follow the proper rating process, Sebi mentioned a lack of transparency by the CRA in specifying the fee it charged in its rating agreement with issuers. This is in direct violation of point 15 (2) of Sebis 1999 regulations for CRA, which requires rating firms to disseminate information and maintain full transparency regarding their rating assignments. Even when communicating the particulars of ratings to their issuers the CRA had consistently missed referencing crucial technical details, definitions, and regulatory guidelines, according to the security regulators final investigation. The firm attributed such omittances to clerical errors. The show-cause notice also notes that Brickwork failed to conduct an independent analysis of projections of ratings provided by issuers. This again violates Sebis fourth code of conduct for CRAs, which asks rating firms to exercise due diligence, ensure proper care and exercise independent professional judgment in order to achieve. Besides these, Sebi has also noted the firm's lack of proper records from the agencys meetings with management and site visits, the lack of feedback from bankers on its rating process, and the absence of not include financials, cash flows, projections, etc. for several issuers. One of Indias oldest exchanges is looking overseas for growth as the nations tax policies crush the domestic market. Eight-year-old has applied for a license in and is assessing the potential of a similar step in the United Arab Emirates, outgoing Chief Executive Officer Avinash Shekhar said in an interview. While the company will retain its focus on India, the 1% transaction tax the nation imposed on crypto this year is hurting trading volumes and the levy has to come down, otherwise things are not going to improve, he said. Daily volumes at key India-based platforms are down over 90% since the transaction levy took effect in July. Thats exacting a toll on brokerages. For instance, Binance-affiliate WazirX -- Indias largest crypto exchange -- has laid off nearly 40% of its staff. Shekhar said has implemented salary cuts, including a 6% drop for non-management staff. He is leaving to start his own Web3 venture, which will receive its seed funding from ZebPay, but will also continue in an advisory role at the firm. The term Web3 refers to a vision of a decentralized internet built around blockchains. Shekhar said he plans to start his venture out of India but warned the crypto tax is leading entrepreneurs to develop Web3 projects from Dubai or . Daily trading volume on has dropped from a high of $122 million in October 2021 to just over $700,000, data from Nomics shows. Institutional investor advisory firm has recommended the shareholders of to vote against the proposal to raise Rs 20,000 crore from the Adani family firm by issuing warrants during the company's extraordinary general meeting. Besides, it has also advised shareholders to vote against the appointment of Ameet Desai and Purvi Sheth as independent directors of the company. Ambuja Cements, which also owns 50.05 per cent in ACC Ltd, has called an Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the shareholders on Saturday. It has sought shareholders' approval on 12 resolutions, which include preferential allotment of 47.74 crore warrants at a price band of Rs 418.87 to Harmonia Trade and Investment Ltd, an entity, totalling Rs 20,001 crore in one or more tranches. The company has also sought approvals for the appointment of chairman Gautam Adani, his son Karan Adani and two directors and four independent directors on the board. In its voting advisory, has said: "Assuming full conversion of the warrants, the issue will lead to a dilution of 19.4 per cent on the expanded capital base which is high. Promoter shareholding will increase to 70.3 per cent from the current 63.1 per cent." Moreover, the issue price is at a 16.3 per cent discount to the current market price of Rs 500.2 and at an 8.8 per cent premium to the acquisition price from the Holcim Group. The advisory firm said already had a cash and cash equivalent balance of Rs 3,840 crore on a standalone basis and Rs 8,500 crore on a consolidated basis. It understands the rationale for the capital infusion, given the substantial capex plans of the company. "Notwithstanding, we do not favour preferential issue of warrants to promoters since it gives promoters the option to ride the stock price for 18 months. Subsequently, if the promoters decide not to subscribe to the remaining 75 per cent, it could have material implications for the company's long-term plans. We do not encourage warrants to promoters and rather all the money be brought in upfront," it said. The voting advisory also asked shareholders to vote against the appointment of Ameet Desai as an independent director. Desai, who had held various positions with Adani Group, did not have a cooling-off period. While for Purvi Sheth, the report said she serves on the boards of four listed companies and is also the managing director at Shilputsi Consultants. Therefore, her high number of directorships on listed companies are not in keeping with the spirit of the regulation, it added. Last month announced the completion of the acquisition of and ACC for a total consideration of USD 6.5 billion, which includes the buyout of Swiss major Holcim's stake in the two firms and subsequent open offers to minority shareholders. Days after the acquisition, Adani group had pledged his entire stake in Ambuja Cements & ACC Ltd worth USD 13 billion to the Hong Kong Branch of Deutsche Bank. Adani had acquired Ambuja Cement and ACC through Mauritius-based SPV Endeavour Trade and Investment Limited (ETIL), which is owned by Xcent Trade and Investment Ltd (XTIL). (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.) Shares of gained 4 per cent to hit a new high of Rs 2,089.45 in Fridays intra-day trade, in an otherwise weak market. The stock quoted higher for fifth straight trading days as shares surged 21 per cent during the period. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.41 per cent at 57,984 points at 12:32 PM. In the past one month, the stock zoomed 54 per cent, on the back of strong order book position and clear visibility for the future. Moreover, in the past three months, it soared 133 per cent, as against 7 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. bagged a record number of 5 Flue Gas Desulphurization [FGD] projects from aggregating to Rs 6,163 crore for 15 FGD retrofits in coal based units. The Central Electricity Authority has identified 169,000 megawatt (MW) of existing coal based plants with 448 units out of 209,100 MW of installed base with 593 units needing FGD retrofitting. The company is aggressively pursuing for opportunities in the FGD segment for direct participation. The company awarded a Mine Development & Operation (MDO) project from Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, aggregating to Rs 9,294 crore over the contract period. This project will strengthen the already robust order book and enable the company to diversify its order book, in line with its strategy to have an optimum mix between power and non-power segments. The project will add more than Rs 400 crore annually to top line. With the revenue coming in from the O&M business and MOO projects, we expect to witness sustainable revenue with higher margins in the future, Power Mech said. Power Mech is an engineering and construction company which provides integrated service in erection, testing and commissioning (ETC) of boilers, turbines and generators and balance of plant (BOP), civil works and operation and maintenance (O&M). The company is now engaged in several power projects ranging from 135 MW to 800 MW, besides many projects in lower segment also. The company plans to enter other related fields, including railway projects and execute major railway project of doubling tracks including electrification, signaling, culverts, platforms etc. The company has made its latest entry into transmission and distribution portfolio, mining of sand, and a new venture of diversification. During the last 10 years, the company has built strong expertise in the field of railways, water projects, overseas operations, road projects, material handling, cross country pipelines, steel, oil & gas, etc., increasing the prequalifications. "The investments under National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) of Rs 111 trillion with 24 per cent allocation to energy, 18 per cent to roads, 12 per cent to railways, and 17 per cent to urban development, will constitute 71 per cent of NIP allocations and play a major role in all round development," said Power Mech. HCL Technologies: HCL Technologies and Google Cloud announced a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership, with new capabilities and service offerings to expedite enterprise migration to Google Cloud. Titan Company: The company witnessed double-digit growth across most businesses with overall sales growing 18% YoY. Retail network continued the pace of expansion adding 105 stores (net) for the quarter. The outlook for festive season (from Navratri in end September 2022) continues to be optimistic and is visible in positive consumer sentiment across categories. FSN E-Commerce (Nykaa): Nykaa received board approval to sign an agreement with the Middle East's Apparel Group, a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Nykaa will leverage the Apparel Group's robust retail infrastructure network and deep market relationships to build distinctive Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) focused beauty offerings in the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Zuari Agro Chemicals: The company's board approved appointment of Manish Malik as chief financial officer (CFO) and key managerial personnel (KMP) with effect from Thursday, 6 October 2022. Datamatics Global Services: Datamatics and Scan-Optics, a leader in intelligent data management and digital transformation, announced that they have entered in a partnership to help organizations enhance automation of business operations. The Indian Hume Pipe Company: The company has received Letter of Acceptance for the work of Rs.194.03 crore (excluding GST) from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Division, Buldhana, under Jal Jeevan Mission Project for Jalgaon Jamod 150 Villages Regional Rural Water Supply Scheme in Dist. Buldhana, Maharashtra. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The key equity indices hit day's low and continued to trade with modest losses in the early afternoon trade. Negative global cues impacted sentiment. The Nifty slipped below the 17,250 mark. Barring the Nifty Consumer Durables index, all the other sectoral indices on the NSE were in the red. At 12:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 281.27 points or 0.48% to 57,940.83. The Nifty 50 index lost 89.50 points or 0.52% to 17,242.30. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index slipped 0.66% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index shed 0.16%. The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,579 shares rose, and 1,704 shares fell. A total of 139 shares were unchanged. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, declined 0.77% to 19.165. The Nifty 27 October 2022 futures were trading at 17,254.95, at a premium of 12.65 points as compared with the spot at 17,242.30. The Nifty option chain for the 27 October 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 81.2 lakh contracts at the 17,500 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 45.2 lakh contracts were seen at 17,200 strike price. Buzzing Index: The Nifty FMCG index declined 1.07% to 43,625.80. The index advanced 6.07% in the previous two trading sessions. Among the components of the Nifty FMCG index, Godrej Consumer Products (down 3.12%), Emami (down 2.66%), Tata Consumer Products (down 1.67%), Dabur India (down 1.45%), ITC (down 1.29%), Hindustan Unilever (down 1.27%), United Breweries (down 1.24%), Marico (down 0.97%), Varun Beverages (down 0.94%) and Britannia Industries (down 0.57%) were the top losers. On the other hand, Radico Khaitan (up 0.46%) ,Colgate-Palmolive (India) (up 0.11%) edged higher. Stocks in Spotlight: Varroc Engineering fell 7.60% after the company announced a revised deal for its lighting business. In April this year, Varroc Engineering entered into a definitive agreement with Compagnie Plastic Omnium SE, France (PO) to divest its 4-wheeler lighting business in the Americas and Europe. Lupin rose 0.17%. The pharmaceutical company on Friday announced that it has reached an agreement with Unitaid, The Aurum Institute, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and other global procurement agencies to support tuberculosis prevention treatment. NTPC declined 0.12%. NTPC and GE Gas Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for feasibility to demonstrate hydrogen co-firing blended with natural gas in GE's 9E gas turbines installed at NTPC's Kawas combined-cycle gas power plant in Gujarat. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese nuclear envoys on Friday agreed to redouble joint efforts to block North Korea's nuclear and missile program financing through cryptocurrency theft, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. They also agreed to strengthen international cooperation to foil the secretive North's illicit trade via maritime routes. The move came as Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, had phone consultations with his American and Japanese counterparts Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi on ways to deal with the North's continued provocations highlighted by a string of ballistic missile launches. Concerns have also grown that Pyongyang may conduct its seventh nuclear test in the near future. According to a U.N. Security Council report released in April, the North is suspected of having stolen as much as $400 million worth of cryptocurrency in 2021. The three sides also agreed to further strengthen international cooperation to prevent attempts by North Korea in evading sanctions, such as through illicit ship-to-ship transfers of goods. (Yonhap) PNC Infratech announced that for two (2) Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) Project namely Kanpur- Lucknow Expressway package I & II, the respective SPVs viz. Kanpur Lucknow Expressway, Awadh Expressway, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, have submitted the duly executed Financing Documents to NHAI on 07 October 2022. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RattanIndia Enterprises soared 10.04% to Rs 54.80 after the company said that it will acquiring 100% shareholding in the electric motorcycles market leader Revolt Motors. The company had earlier acquired 33.84% shareholding in Revolt with an option to further increase the shareholding. Revolt Motors is the highest selling electric motorcycles in the country and it has clocked in more than 100 million kms on Indian road till date. Revolt Motors is state of the art, next gen AI-enabled electric motorcycle which captures millions of data points per second to deliver great driving experience to the riders. The company said that, Government of India has given faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India II (FAME II) scheme with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore to provide upfront subsidies to EV manufacturers. Several state governments also have policies and incentives to hasten EV adoption in their states. The company said that with an aim to create a future of AI enabled next-gen green mobility, Revolt bikes run on 3.24 kilowatthour lithium ion batteries with 0% fuel residue. The Revolt EVs are eco-friendly, green & clean and these lithium-ion batteries not only reduce emissions, but also enable a performance with top speeds of 85 km/hr. The batteries with a single charge of 4 hours have a range of 150 Kms. Anjali Rattan, business chairperson of RattanIndia Enterprises said, Revolt is currently by far the best EV bike in the world. It is truly world class in all aspects, its technology, cost, build quality and performance. With this acquisition of 100% shareholding in Revolt Motors we are doubling down on our belief that EV revolution in the country is coming in faster than we anticipate. I do not have any doubt that what is good for environment and the country makes for a great business. Indian's are very keen customers when they see value. We are ready for next growth phase for Revolt Motors. Rahul Sharma, MD of Revolt said, It is proud moment for me as we pass on the baton for next phase of Revolt's growth trajectory. I am very proud of what we have created with Revolt. Revolters love their Revolts and there is a huge demand for our bikes. I am sure the Revolt revolution has just begun. RattanIndia Enterprises is the flagship company of Rattanindia Group for its new age growth businesses. The company has forayed into electric mobility space through Revolt Motors to democratize clean commute using next-gen mobility solutions. The company is completely focused on providing world class electric mobility products which are affordable and accessible to every Indian. On a consolidated basis, RattanIndia Enterprises reported a net loss of Rs 216.04 crore in Q1 FY23 as compared to a net loss of Rs 0.83 crore in Q1 FY22. Net sales jumped to Rs 689.47 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 1 crore recorded in Q1 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Friday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party tweeting pictures of what it alleged was in and accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of doing little to tackle the issue. The AAP dispensation has in the past accused neighbouring states, including then-Congress ruled Punjab, of being responsible for the high levels of winter pollution in Delhi with unchecked burning of stubble taking place in these states. With reins of now in AAP's hands, has taken to attacking the Kejriwal-led party. East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of having a "casual approach" towards the issue of air pollution. "What is this @ArvindKejriwal? Delhi is suffering because of you and your casual approach towards governance! Every year it is the same story & same excuses, now you have a full fledge (sic) govt under you but still delhi (sic) continues to suffer When will you start working for delhi (sic)?" Tiwari said in a tweet, sharing pictures of parali, or stubble, burning in Punjab, Amritsar. BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also took a dig at Kejriwal, asking him where was his plan to tackle the that was advertised with crores of rupees. It is to be seen what reason Kejriwal will not give for the rising pollution level in Delhi, Verma said. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had recently said that in Punjab is working to control incidents of and that they have made a plan to tackle pollution that emanates from such incidents. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann too had on Thursday said his government was making all-out efforts for the management of paddy stubble, and has sought the farmers' support. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana has often been cited as one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. As the window for Rabi crop wheat is very short after paddy harvest, farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue. Punjab generates around 180 lakh tonne of paddy straw annually. Mann said that out of the total paddy area of 75 lakh acres, no incident of stubble burning takes place over 35 lakh acres. Stubble is burnt over 40 lakh acres of area in the state. (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 Maha Vikas Aghadi allies have demanded a probe, while an activist-lawyer has moved the for an FIR into the alleged 'cash payment' of Rs 10 crore purportedly made by the faction of Chief Minister for buses to ferry crowds for his Dussehra rally in Mumbai on October 5. Senior leader Ambadas Danve has written to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) demanding details of the expenditure for hiring over 1,800 buses for the rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex. Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londe contended that the MSRTC staff took two days to count the Rs 10 crore and asked from where did the Shinde group get this large sum of cash. Sena MP Arvind Sawant has called for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation into the cash payment made for the state transport buses. Nationalist Congress Party chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase has said that since this booking was akin to "a bulk client", why digital or online payment was not taken, as propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "If cash payment was indeed made for such a huge amount, then where's the bill and in whose name it was issued," Tapase asked. A Mumbai lawyer, Nitin Satpute, filed a writ petition in the on Friday seeking directions for an FIR against Shinde and others under the provisions of PMLA and Income Tax laws for the 'unknown source' of the Rs 10 crore funding for the Dussehra rally. Londhe also questioned the source of the funds and who gave the amount in cash for the rally. "Can such a huge cash transaction be carried out? Isn't this a form of money-laundering? Was the amount paid from the Shinde group Shiv Sena's accounts when its not even been officially recognised yet," Londhe asked. He said if the ED and other agencies could throw NCP leader Anil Deshmukh and Sena MP Sanjay Raut into jail for alleged money-laundering of lesser amounts, this (rally) matter and all related expenses must also be investigated thorougly. Sawant said not only the Shinde group, but the MSRTC staffers who handled the cash and whether they deposited it in a bank must also be probed. --IANS qn/arm (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.) Bihar Chief Minister on Friday disclosed that he has written to counterpart for speedy completion of long pending development work in the ancestral village of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. During the launch here, through video conference, of a number of projects at Sitab Diyara, the legendary socialist leader's village, Kumar rued the tardy pace of work in the adjoining state. "The village of JP is a place people want to see. We have done our best, built a ring dam at a cost of Rs 65 crore and spent another Rs 35 crore for work aimed at preventing erosion of the flood prone area," Kumar said. "We have also built roads, one of which is being dedicated to the people today besides a library cum memorial containing 500 original photographs of JP, 800 books and many CDs," the CM said. "But parts of Sitab Diyara fall in UP and the government there had agreed, in principle, to do its bit way back in 2017-18," said Kumar, who dumped the BJP about two months ago in Bihar. "I have therefore written a fresh letter to UP CM, requesting him to speed up things progressing at a snail pace. This will help residents of that state who may be desirous of visiting the historic place," the JD(U) leader said. The BJP rules the neighbouring province. Kumar, on the occasion of birth anniversary of JP on October 11, is scheduled to visit Nagaland where the socialist leader is revered. The CM also said he will visit Sitab Diyara to pay his tributes on Saturday on the occasion of JP's death anniversary. The Sitab Diyara visit of Kumar, who cut his political teeth during JP's Bihar Movement of 1974, thus falls three days in advance of the trip of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah, the BJP's principal strategist, will attend a function which will be held on the occasion of the socialist leader's birth anniversary. The political import of Kumar's utterances at the function, which his JD(U) is prominently sharing on its social media platforms, was not lost on the BJP. The saffron party seeks to project itself as the true heir of JP, painting the Bihar CM and his ally Lalu Prasad, the RJD chief, as apostates who have allied with the Congress which the socialist leader fought against. "The letter written by to is a purely political move which people of Bihar and are wise enough to decode. May the Bihar CM take a leaf out of the book of his UP counterpart and show the same resolve to tighten law and order," BJP state spokesman and OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand said. He asserted that the BJP governments at the Centre and in UP were fully devoted to the development of Sitab Diyara, and said, "it is highly unfortunate that disciples of JP are now sitting in the lap of the Congress and compromising on corruption and dynasty rule". (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 credit for getting top rank for the sixth time in a row in the Centre's 'Swachh Survekshan' awards must go to 'safai mitras' (cleanliness and conservancy workers) and citizens instead of officials, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said. was followed by Surat in Gujarat and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra in the cleanest city category of the 2022 edition of the awards. "Nobody has the courage to say so except me. Sometimes one must speak bitterly too. As per me, the credit for the win goes to safai mitras and secondly the citizens. They are very cultured and disciplined due to their ancestors," the national general secretary said at a function to felicitate civic workers on Thursday. Asserting that one need not "massage (the ego of)" officials, Vijayvargiya asked if the collector of managed to get Ujjain top rank in the cleanliness category when he was posted there. "Indore is first because of its citizens and not because of officials, but you are not giving credit to the people here and instead praising bureaucrats for it," he told the gathering. (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 Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned president in the Herald money laundering case, officials said. Shivakumar, 60, told reporters here before stepping into the agency office at A P J Abdul Kalam Road that he was a "law-abiding citizen" and hence he was deposing before the agency despite not knowing why was he exactly called. "I am a law-abiding citizen...I have respect for the law...I had requested for a time (deferring October 7 summons) but they said no you have to come. I have come today...let me see, let me hear them, let me answer whatever I know...," he said. The senior leader said he reached Delhi after leaving the Bharat Jodo Yatra traversing through in the middle. Shivakumar had walked along with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on Thursday during the yatra. Shivakumar had appeared before the ED last on September 19 in Delhi where he was questioned with regard to another money laundering case linked to alleged possession of disproportionate assets. The latest round of questioning pertains to Shivakumar and his MP brother D K Suresh donating an unspecified amount of money in the past to Young Indian, the company that owns Herald. The agency wants to know the details of these transactions, sources said. Working President of Telangana J Geeta Reddy and few other party leaders have also been questioned by the agency with regard to similar transactions made by them in the past. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal have been questioned by the ED over the last few months in the Herald money laundering case. Shivakumar first got into the ED crosshairs when he was arrested by the agency on September 3, 2019 following multiple rounds of questioning in a case that emerged from an Income tax department action against him. The Delhi High Court had also granted him bail in October that year. In May this year, the agency filed a charge sheet against him and some others linked to him in this case. The case as registered after taking cognisance of a charge sheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the Income Tax Department against them in 2018 before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores. The I-T department has accused Shivakumar, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, and his alleged associates of transporting huge amounts of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with the help of three other accused. The Kanakapura MLA played an instrumental role in ensuring the safe stay of Gujarat Congress MLAs in a Karnataka resort during the Rajya Sabha polls in 2017 amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach them. Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary, the late Ahmed Patel, had fought the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat in 2017 and Shivakumar had hosted 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs at the resort to keep the flock together. (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.) leader on Friday said there was no intention of making Hindi alone the language and threaten the identity of regional languages like Kannada. Senior leader of the party and former Minister Priyank Kharge, who is also Congress's State media cell in-charge, was briefing reporters about Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra and the interaction with representatives of many educational institutions and teachers. "There was a discussion with about the identity of Kannada. Then, he said everyone's mother tongue is important. We respect all languages. Everyone has a right in the Constitution," Kharge said. He said, "Therefore, he (Rahul Gandhi) clearly stated that there was no intention of making Hindi alone the language and threatening the identity of your language (Kannada)." Kharge said those who participated in the interactions confirmed that they were not related to the party, but were participating in the yatra to save the Constitution and said that it must start from the schools. Rajeev Gowda, chairman of AICC Research Department, said most of the participants in the interaction raised the issue of problems in the education sector since the BJP government has come into power and the implementation of NEP ( Education Policy). (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.) As the ED launched fresh searches in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, Chief Minister on Friday said hundreds of raids by central agencies to find evidence against his deputy have yielded nothing as he didn't do anything. Time of hundreds of sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being wasted for "dirty politics", he said. The ED launched raids at about 35 locations in Delhi, Punjab and Hyderabad earlier in the day in connection with its money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said. Deputy Chief Minister is an accused in an FIR registered by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. "Over 500 raids, more than 300 officials have been working round the clock for three months to find evidence against . Nothing has been found because he has not done anything," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "Time of so many officers is being wasted for one's dirty . How will the country progress like this," he asked. The ED's case stems from the CBI FIR. The ED has conducted more than 103 raids in this case so far. The excise policy came under the scanner after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into it. He had also suspended 11 excise officials. The ED has questioned AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak and minister Satyendar Jain, lodged in Tihar Jail, in this case. (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.) leaders on Friday criticised the government for abstaining from voting on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council on holding a debate on the human rights situation in China's restive region, saying India should speak for what is right and should not be afraid of its neighbour. Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari wondered why there was "so much diffidence on China". "The Government of India will not agree to a Parliamentary debate on Chinese incursions. India will abstain at UNHRC on a resolution for debate on human rights in Xinjiang," he tweeted. He alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs does not accord political clearance to Parliamentarians to visit Taiwan. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale tweeted, "Giving them our land and abstaining on holding them to account. What exactly is it that makes (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi so afraid of " AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi wanted to know from the prime minister the reason for India's decision "to help out in the UNHRC on the Uighur issue". "Is he so scared of offending (Chinese President) Xi Jingping (Jinping), whom he met 18 times, that India can't speak for what is right?," he tweeted. "From red eye to closed eye," tweeted Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena leader, in Hindi. India on Thursday abstained from voting on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council on holding a debate on the human rights situation in China's restive region. Human rights groups have been sounding the alarm over what is happening in the resource-rich north-western Chinese province for years, alleging that more than one million Uyghurs had been detained against their will in a large network of what Beijing calls "re-education camps". (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.) This captured image from the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury shows a satellite image of vessels involved in an illegal ship-to-ship transfer of petroleum to North Korea. Screen captured from U.S. Department of the Treasury The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on two people and three entities for violating U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea. The Department of Treasury said the two individuals and three entities were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum with North Korean vessels designed to evade UNSC sanctions. "Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two individuals and three entities for activities related to the exportation of petroleum to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which directly supports the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military," the department said in a press release, referring to North Korea by its official name. The move comes after a series of North Korean missile tests that included the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile flying over Japan. "This action highlights the U.S. government's commitment to implement existing United Nations Security Council resolutions, including holding the DPRK accountable for its use of illicit ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to circumvent U.N. sanctions that restrict the import of petroleum products and support the development of its weapons programs and military," the press release said. This captured image from the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury shows a satellite image of vessels involved in an illegal ship-to-ship transfer of petroleum to North Korea. Screen captured from U.S. Department of the Treasury Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday filed his nomination papers seeking to contest the president's post in the ruling DMK, setting into motion the intra party election. Stalin, who visited Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters here, submitted his papers for the key position to which he is most likely to be elected unopposed at the party's general council meeting here on October 9. Several senior leaders including party's general secretary and State Minister Duraimurugan, treasurer T R Baalu, Parliamentarians: Kanimozhi and A Raja besides DMK youth wing secretary and legislator Udhayandhi Stalin were present when the Chief Minister filed his papers. Stalin visited the memorials of late Chief Ministers C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi before arriving at Anna Arivalayam. (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 Uddhav Thackeray-led on Friday alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's rally was a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed event, and mocked him saying that he only "read out Modi-Shah Chalisa" during his speech. It also dubbed the Shinde-led rebel faction as a "duplicate Shiv Sena". In an editorial in mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party claimed that the Shinde camp must have spent Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore on the rally held at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), as nearly 2,000 buses were booked to ferry supporters and over two lakh people who attended the event were given food. "The rally at the BKC was one of the BJP-backed events. The amount spent must have been the same used for buying a couple of MLAs. The event was like a fashion show and a beauty pageant," it said. Ever since Shinde and other Sena legislators rebelled against the party leadership, the faction has been targeting them saying that each of the rebel MLA took 50 'khoke' or boxes, meaning Rs 50 crore to switch loyalty. "The rally was organised in the name of Shiv Sena, but it was more of a BJP event, because in his speech, the chief leader (Shinde) of the duplicate Shiv Sena, just read out the Modi-Shah Chalisa (heaping praise on Prime minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah)," it said in reference to Hanuman Chalisa. The two factions of the held mega rallies on evening. While Thackeray addressed his rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar area, Shinde addressed a gathering at the BKC. Thirty-nine Shiv Sena MLAs, 12 MPs have aligned with Shinde, along with 10 independents. On Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray's elder brother Jaidev, his estranged wife Smita, and his nephew Nihar Thackeray were on the stage. Nihar is the son of late Bindumadhav Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. "It is the BJP that wrote the screenplay. The gist of the main speech, dialogues, characters were written by it (the BJP)," the party said. The Shiv Sena said the Shinde faction was behaving as if it had merged with the BJP and that the supporters there were only short of chanting 'Modi-Shah'. (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 has announced the availability of the iPhone 14 Plus in from October 7. The is available for pre-order on both and . Starting from Rs 89,900, the phone is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB internal storage variants. The American giant is offering Rs 5,000 cashback on HDFC Bank credit and debit cards, and no cost EMI for up to 6 months. Starting at Rs 3,746 per month, Apple is also offering zero per cent down payment up to 24 months with no cost EMI consumer loans on Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank and others. Besides, an exchange bonus of up to Rs 3,000 is also being offered. Similar to Apple, and are also providing cashbacks, no cost EMI, and exchange offers. iPhone 14 Plus: Features Powered by A15 Bionic processor and 4,323 mAh battery, it sports a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen of 1200nits peak brightness level. It is IP68 rated for water and dust protection. The has 12-megapixel primary camera sensor with 12MP macro camera on the back and 12MP front camera sensor. It boots iOS 16 operating system, upgradable to iOS 16.0.2. It packs Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, stereo speakers, Face ID, and 5G. iPhone 14 Plus is available in Midnight, purple, starlight, blue, and red colours. It comes in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB internal storage configuration at Rs 89,900, Rs 99,900, and Rs 119,900, respectively. Other features include dual SIM, crash detection, and emergency texting via satellite. A new NASA-funded technology for future space missions may charge an electric car in just five minutes on Earth, paving the way for increased adoption of such vehicles, the US space agency said. Researchers at Purdue University, US developed the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) to enable two-phase fluid flow and heat transfer experiments to be conducted in the long-duration microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS). The new "subcooled flow boiling" technique results in greatly improved heat transfer effectiveness compared to other approaches and could be used to control the temperatures of future systems in space. This technology can also have applications on Earth: It could make owning an electric car more appealing, the researchers said. Currently, charging times vary widely, from 20 minutes at a station alongside a roadway to hours using an at-home charging station. Lengthy charging times and charger location are both cited as major concerns of people who are considering electric vehicle ownership. Reducing the charging time for to five minutes -- an industry goal -- will require charging systems to provide current at 1,400 amperes. Currently, advanced chargers only deliver currents up to 520 amperes, and most chargers available to consumers support currents of less than 150 amperes. However, charging systems providing 1,400 amperes will generate significantly more heat than current systems, and will require improved methods to control temperature. Recently, the team applied the technique learned from the FBCE experiments to the electric vehicle charging process. Using this new technology, dielectric -- non-electrically conducting -- liquid coolant is pumped through the charging cable, where it captures the heat generated by the current-carrying conductor. Subcooled flow boiling allows the team to deliver 4.6 times the current of the fastest available electric vehicle chargers on the market today by removing up to 24.22 kilowatts of heat, the researchers said. The charging cable can provide 2,400 amperes, which is far beyond the 1,400 amperes required to reduce time required to charge an electric car to five minutes, they said. "Application of this new technology resulted in unprecedented reduction of the time required to charge a vehicle and may remove one of the key barriers to worldwide adoption of electric vehicles," the researchers 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.) South Korean tech giant is reportedly delaying the launch of the next-generation Galaxy Tab S9 series due to the recent global economic uncertainty. Earlier this year, launched the Galaxy Tab S8 series one and a half years after the Galaxy Tab S7 family, citing The Elec GizmoChina reported. The upcoming premium tablets from the company were initially planned to release in December. But now, it seems that they will be introduced next year, the report said. As per the report, Samsung's decision is due to the recent global economic uncertainty. As the Covid-19 global pandemic has almost ended, the demand for IT products has started dropping worldwide, the report said. planned to produce 33.6 million units of tablets in 2022. But due to poor demand, the company may not be able to fulfil its plan. DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants) predicts that the overall tablet market will decrease by 8 per cent this year. However, the premium tablet category (OLED and Mini LED) is expected to grow by 22 per cent. Hence, Samsung is said to have a new plan for its next-gen flagship tablets. The Galaxy Tab S9 series will reportedly have three models, just like the Galaxy Tab S8 series. --IANS vc/ksk/ (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.) On September 24, Zhengzhou, a residential building project that had been stopped for many years welcomed the restarting of construction. Photo: VCG Chinas mortgage boycott hotspot Zhengzhou said 145 of 147 stalled housing projects have resumed construction, even as evidence emerges that some struggling developers are doing the bare minimum to pass government inspections. Last month, the capital city of Henan province issued an ultimatum to developers to resume the unfinished projects by Thursday, as authorities worked to contain growing angst among affected homebuyers. Climate activists tossed two cans of tomato soup over Vincent Van Goghs iconic artwork Sunflowers in London on Friday(local time), to protest oil and gas projects. The pair was part of the group Just Stop Oil, which has been staging climate protests across the country. The painting, worth around $82 million, was protected by a glass layer and undamaged. Over the decades, famous paintings have been subject to vandalism, including the famed Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and Guernica by Pablo Picasso Oct 18, 2022 07:54 PM South Korea and Thailand have had working-level diplomatic consultations on bilateral relations and the North Korea issue, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. Chun Young-hee, head of the ministry's Korean Peninsula Peace Regime Bureau, met with Arjaree Sriratanaban, who leads the Thai foreign ministry's East Asian affairs department, in Bangkok on Thursday. Chun briefed the Thai side on Seoul's "audacious initiative" aimed at helping Pyongyang improve its economy in return for denuclearization steps and asked for Thailand's role in getting the North to return to dialogue for denuclearization. Thailand has maintained formal diplomatic relations with North Korea since 1975. Sriratanaban noted North Korea's recent missile provocations were negatively affecting the peace and stability of Asia, and promised to help bring Pyongyang back to diplomacy. The two sides also agreed to communicate closely on other regional and bilateral issues. (Yonhap) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, holds hands with Russian leader Vladimir Putin before they hold a summit in Vladivostok, Russia, in this April 25, 2019 file photo. Korea Times file Effectiveness of US-led deterrence against North Korea called into question By Kang Hyun-kyung The latest developments in North Korea's provocations show that its leader Kim Jong-un has become dangerously bolder and more fearless. Kim gave the North Korean military the green light to go ahead with the launches of two short-range ballistic missiles that flew over the East Sea on Thursday, the day when South Korea, the United States and Japan conducted another trilateral military exercise, following the first one on Sept. 30. The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan joined both drills. Later in the day, 12 North Korean warplanes eight fighter jets and four bombers flew in a squadron formation, staying within North Korean airspace but on the southern side of a surveillance line set by the South, presumably in response to the trilateral maritime exercise. The warplanes conducted air-to-ground firing drills. The South Korean military reacted swiftly by mobilizing 30 F-15 K fighters which confronted the North Korean jets in the air for approximately an hour. Such antagonistic air drills by North Korea are unprecedented. The North's dangerous course of action has brought the U.S.-led deterrence against North Korea into question, partly because the Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan is part of the U.S.' strategic military assets designed to deter its enemies, including North Korea, from provocations rather than invite further ones. "It's possible that the North Koreans want the U.S. and South Korea to think that any efforts to deter the DPRK's provocative behavior would be met with commensurate retaliation," Soo Kim, a policy analyst at the Rand Corporation, told The Korea Times. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is North Korea's official name. "And perhaps Pyeongyang banks on the small chance that U.S.-led deterrence would indeed be discouraged as a result of the Kim regime's aggressive behavior. The hope, however, is that the U.S. would not be discouraged so, and instead continue to demonstrate alliance solidarity and the will to execute effective deterrence against the DPRK's provocations," Kim said. The analyst said the fact that North Korea has caught the attention of the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan as seen in a flurry of phone talks among them earlier this week could be seen, in a way, as encouraging. "This is a time where alliance solidarity and a swift and effective response to North Korea's provocations are necessary. It's also important for the allies to not simply react to the North Korean missile tests in a mechanical way, but to respond commensurately in a way, appropriate to the type and intent of each provocation," she said. Some other experts, especially those based in the United States and Britain, view North Korea's Kim to be emulating Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who threatened to use nuclear weapons after facing major setbacks in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Recently, the Russian leader issued renewed threats that he would resort to using weapons of mass destruction. "Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un (and his sister Yo-jong) have normalized the idea of preemptive nuclear strikes on their neighbor by frequently talking about it," Sung-yoon Lee, a professor at Tufts University, said. "In April, the Kim siblings took a page from Putin's playbook and issued their first nuclear threat against South Korea. Kim Jong-un did it again in July and September. Hence it is not surprising that he is escalating tension on several levels even as South Korea and the U.S. have resumed live military exercises." The U.S. carrier USS Ronald Reagan is escorted as it arrives in Busan, South Korea on Sept. 23. AP-Yonhap In the Western media, Kim Jong-un is likened to Putin as they have both threatened to use nuclear weapons. But Hyun In-ae, a professor of North Korea studies at Ewha Womens University in Seoul, disagreed. "North Koreans don't like to follow or emulate others. Just as its 'juche' ideology suggests, they were taught to find their own path, rather than follow or mimic what others did," she told The Korea Times. However, Hyun said she would not rule out the possibility that the North Korean leader was encouraged to maintain his course based on Putin's actions. "It's true that North Korea rarely cares about others and about how others feel about them, and this is why they keep destabilizing regional peace by test-firing missiles and conducting nuclear tests. But deep inside in his heart, the North Korean leader must feel insecurity about his actions as he is depicted as a troubled loner responsible for regional and international insecurity," she said. "Thus, Putin, who orchestrated Russia's invasion of Ukraine and drew condemnation from the international community, would make the North Korean leader feel that he is not alone. Hence Putin's supportive role for North Korea's Kim." Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for North Korean Studies at The Sejong Institute, said that Kim and Putin are not comparable when it comes to their motives and goals with nuclear weapons. "Kim and Putin may be viewed as similar types of politicians by people with a limited understanding of the two countries and their circumstances in that they both are portrayed as insane and hostile. But they are two very different people," he said. Putin went to war with Ukraine because he wanted to annex the country. But the purpose of Kim's nuclear bombs and provocations has nothing to do with territorial ambitions, according to Cheong. "Putin started the war with conventional weapons. If a war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, it is highly likely that Kim would resort to nuclear weapons from the get-go, because North Korea falls far behind the South in conventional weapons capabilities. So he would go for a nuclear option from the start," he said. Kim Jong-un, left, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin toast with Russian wine after a summit on April 25, 2019 in Russia. Korea Times file A facility, once used to detain and forcibly treat sex workers for sexually transmitted infections, sits abandoned in Dongducheon, northern Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 6, 2018. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar By Martin Limon I was heartened to learn that the Republic of Korea Supreme Court has ordered the state to pay compensation to Korean women who worked in the sex trade catering to U.S. troops. What is still missing, I believe, is an understanding of just how influential U.S. military commanders were in facilitating the exploitation of the women in the "gijichon" or "base camp" villages. The sex workers were required to keep their "VD cards" up to date and as such received a medical checkup every week. Those who tested positive were involuntarily shot full of penicillin and forcibly locked up until they were deemed healthy enough to be released. GIs, on the other hand, would attend military "sick call" and if they tested positive they would be asked for the name of the woman who had been their last contact. Most didn't answer because they didn't want to get someone in trouble, but whether they answered or not, they would be provided the appropriate medication and be allowed to return to regular duty. Various military commanders used different means of dealing with the epidemic of venereal disease. In Seoul, one Army medic was in charge of the program and was thus nicknamed the "VD Honcho." If he collected a few names of women who might have transmitted the disease, he would go out to the village, in this case, Itaewon, and try to find them. If he did, he would notify the Korean authorities and she would be tested and if found to be positive, she would receive treatment and be locked up. Outside the 2nd Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Casey, the gijichon was in Dongduchon, northern Gyeonggi Province. Again medics and a Korean government representative would comb the village for women who had been named by GIs. As an added twist, the division was very concerned with equality of treatment of all GIs regardless of their race or ethnicity. So if a GI complained that the women at a certain bar or brothel or nightclub wouldn't accept him as a client because of his race, they would investigate that too. The local authorities would be informed and the business would be threatened with being put on the "off-limits" list, which would virtually ensure that they would soon be bankrupt. So the pressure was on for the sex worker to accept any and all GIs as clients or risk the wrath of the people she worked for. Clearly, a form of sex slavery. I served in the U.S. Army for 20 years as an enlisted man, and was lucky enough to be assigned to Korea five times, serving a total of 10 years in the country during the period stretching from 1968 to 1986. During those years, I was assigned to various base camps, completed temporary duty in many others and traveled frequently in my free time: from Busan to Jinhae to Daegu to Osan to Uijeongbu to Dongducheon to Seonyu-ri to Munsan, and then down south again to Gimpo and Bucheon and Incheon. I've seen how the military operates in all these places and the inordinate pressure a U.S. commander can put on local Korean government officials all of it backed up by the Korean government's desire to maintain strong relations with the U.S., not only for purposes of economic growth but also in order to maintain the alliance in the face of the pernicious North Korean threat. Paying for this cooperation, at the lowest level, were the "business girls," the sex workers who bore the brunt of a largely indifferent Korean and U.S. military/governmental hierarchy. Not just the Korean government, but also the U.S. government, is responsible for the plight of those women. And for their suffering we, the U.S. taxpayers, should make sure that they are compensated by us. Martin Limon is a full-time writer having published 15 novels set in Korea's modern past, featuring? CID detectives Sueno and Bascom .? Military vehicles carrying equipment pass a village on a road leading to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in Seongju, about 220 kilometers south of Seoul, in the middle of the night, Oct. 6. Yonhap The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has brought in new pieces of equipment to its THAAD missile defense unit in a southern county in a move to complete an upgrade program to enhance the efficiency of its overall anti-missile capabilities, Seoul officials said Friday. For years, the USFK has been working on a three-stage program, called the Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON), aimed at integrating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Segment Enhancement system into a single defense structure. With the delivery of the new equipment on Thursday, the program is expected to be complete by the end of this month, according to the officials. The first stage of the program is to separate launchers from the battery to enable remote control of the launchers. The second is to allow the use of advanced THAAD radar information for the launch of Patriot missiles. The last stage is to integrate Patriot missiles into the THAAD launchers. The THAAD system is designed to shoot down hostile missiles at altitudes of 40-150 kilometers while the PAC-3 MSE system is to intercept missiles at altitudes of 40 km and lower. The integration of the two systems is expected to enhance operational flexibility, observers said. Seoul's defense ministry expressed expectation that the upgrade will further strengthen national defense. "With this upgrade of the THAAD system, the system's defense capabilities will be enhanced to protect South Korean citizens from North Korea's missile threats and further strengthen the capabilities to defend our core assets," it said in a press statement. The ministry added that the new pieces of equipment will replace the existing ones, which will be transported back to the U.S. The remarks came amid China's opposition to any deployment of additional THAAD interceptors. "The new equipment does not mean the deployment of an additional THAAD system," the ministry said. A ministry official cast the upgrade as an example of the United States having delivered on its "extended deterrence" commitment to the defense of South Korea. Extended deterrence refers to America's commitment to mobilizing a full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear options to defend its ally. The THAAD system was installed in the southeastern county in 2017 to cope with North Korea's missile threats but its deployment has faced opposition from local residents over the potential health and environmental impact. (Yonhap) A new U.S. rotational force employing the Stryker armored fighting vehicle will begin arriving in South Korea later this week for a nine-month security mission, the U.S. military said Friday. The 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) will start coming here on Saturday to replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) that will return to the United States, according to the Eighth U.S. Army. The replacement marks a shift from an ABCT construct to a SBCT one as Seoul and Washington are striving to sharpen deterrence against evolving North Korean military threats. The ABCT operates M-1 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, while the Stryker team uses the eight-wheeled armored vehicle, which the U.S. military says combines firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability and versatility with reduced logistics requirements. "SBCTs provide the Korean theater of operations an expeditionary, combined arms force organized around mounted Infantry," Lt. Col. Neil Penttila, spokesperson for the Eighth Army, was quoted as saying in a press release. "They operate effectively in diverse terrain and weather conditions, while enabling greater mobility and concentration of combat power." Existing ABCT equipment will remain in South Korea, with most of them placed in ready storage, it added. (Yonhap) Kilkennys Lighthouse Studios has announced development of its first-ever animated series, Savage Town, based on the Irish graphic novel of the same name from Declan Shalvey and Philip Barrett, colored by Eisner Award-winner Jordie Bellaire. Project details: According to Gunner, they gravitated to Duolingos mission statement: To develop the best education in the world and make it universally available The purpose of our work and who it benefits has been in the back of our minds for a long time, especially on client-driven projects, the Gunner team says. Duolingos mission felt right, and we knew we could put our energy behind it. Gunner says that it will continue to produce unbranded content, R&D projects, and short-form content under its new owner Duolingo. Its sister studio Hobbes will continue to operate independently as a motion studio focused on creative solutions in product design and emerging technology. In 2024, the company also plans to launch an independent art and and animation school in Detroit. Gunner co-founder Ian Sigmon elaborated on his feelings in a press release, saying: We have been fortunate to collaborate with so many great brands as a studio, but over the last couple of years Duolingo has stolen our hearts. Our artists pour so much care into every project, so it feels right to be at a company that invests in art, and has a mission that we believe in. Duolingo co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn added, We know that the hardest thing about learning a language, or any new subject, is staying motivated, and thats why we make Duolingo fun. Art and animation are foundational to the Duolingo brand, and we use them to help make Duolingo a beloved daily habit in millions of learners lives. Duolingos has taken major steps towards improving and expanding the visual components of its platform, and in October of last year hired highly-respected animation executive Linda Simensky as its first head of animation. Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, speaks during his speech during an event honoring U.S. troops killed during the Korean War at the West Point Memorial Park of Korea Military Academy in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Korea Military Academy Commander of 8th US Army vows to maintain combat readiness By Jung Min-ho A top U.S. military officer in South Korea said the two allies should be the example of "peace through strength" in a speech at the Korea Military Academy event honoring the U.S. troops killed during the Korean War (1950-53). Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, said South Korea and the U.S. should remember the great sacrifices of those who perished while defending democracy and freedom and honor their legacy by ensuring to protect the values with a strong alliance and defense posture. "It may be more important now than it (the alliance) has been since the end of the Korean War. We must be the example of peace through strength," Burleson said at the West Point Memorial Park of the school in northern Seoul. "We must remember those who perished, their families as well as countless Korean and U.S. soldiers who gave their lives." His remarks come amid mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. On Thursday, the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea and then flew 12 warplanes within close proximity of the inter-Korean border, two days after firing an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japanese territory. Its latest provocations have prompted the South, the U.S. and Japan to conduct joint military drills. Burleson said the fallen heroes of the Korean War would be "incredibly proud" if they were able to see what South Korea has become today. "Their sacrifices were worth it and we must honor their legacy by ensuring we maintain our readiness and strong defense," he said. "Our shared values are the foundation that has been built by our predecessors and it is our duty to ensure that we protect our way of life and honor those who come before us by ensuring that we maintain the day to day readiness of our ROK (South Korea) and U.S. forces." It was the day South Korea and the U.S. began another round of a two-day joint exercise in the waters east and south of the peninsula. USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Chancellorsville, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, and USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, are among the key U.S. maritime assets joining South Korea's Munmu the Great and the Donghae frigate for scenario-based training, such as escorting the Reagan to waters southeast of Jeju Island. "As part of the efforts to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence, the Reagan strike group is conducting another joint drill. We will continue to strengthen our operation capabilities and defense posture against any type of threat from North Korea," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaks during a meeting with Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Defense The same day, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup met with Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at the ministry's headquarters, where they vowed a stern response to North Korea's dangerous behavior. They said such provocations only unite the two allies closer. Threats from North Korea have also brought South Korea and Japan closer, despite growing political voices against the move. In the morning, high-level military officers of the three countries had talks over the phone in which they agreed to improve cooperation and discussed "concrete ways" to respond to the North, which has tested its missiles and other weapons at an unprecedented pace this year. They also committed to support their respective ministers in the next trilateral ministerial meeting on a mutually determined future date. The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, center, participates in a joint anti-submarine drill with South Korea and Japan in waters off South Korea's eastern coast, Sept. 30. Courtesy of Ministry of Defense The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team looks to rebound from a pair of losses last weekend with another Southern Conference weekend road trip, matching up against Western Carolina on Friday and UNCG on Saturday in Cullowhee and Greensboro, North Carolina, respectively.Chattanooga (7-11, 2-2 SoCon) sits in the middle of the league standings after suffering two straight-sets defeat last weekend. UTC opened the conference slate with a 3-1 victory over Furman and a 3-0 sweep over preseason favorite Wofford two weekends ago in Maclellan.Western Carolina (10-6, 3-1 SoCon) enters the match following a 3-1 win over The Citadel on Sunday after dropping its first league tilt 3-0 at Wofford last Saturday.UNCG (8-9, 2-2 SoCon) enters the weekend following a similar 3-1 win over The Citadel on Monday. The Spartans dropped matches to Samford and Wofford while earning a victory over Mercer in conference action.MATCH INFOChattanooga (7-11, 2-2 SoCon) at W. Carolina (10-6, 3-1 SoCon) Friday, Oct. 7Chattanooga (7-11, 2-2 SoCon) at UNCG (8-9, 2-2 SoCon) Saturday, Oct. 86:00 p.m. ET on Friday | ESPN+5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday | ESPN+Watch (Friday) | Live Stats (Friday) | Watch (Saturday) | Live Stats (Saturday)Western Carolina leads the all-time series 45-41 over the Mocs and have won the last six meetings and eight of the last 10. UTC carries a 13-26 all-time record in Cullowhee.Chattanooga leads the all-time series over UNCG 29-22 but has dropped eight of the last 10 overall meetings. In addition, UTC has lost its last 13 matches in Greensboro and is in search of their first win at UNCG since 2005. Samuel Brunswick Lowe lived many years in the line of mansions on Cameron Hill's East Terrace. Lowe was born in Bethel, Conn., in 1828, the son of an immigrant Presbyterian/Congregational minister. He tried farming in Conklin, N. Y, then he became a student of the iron business in St, Louis and New Orleans. Just before the Civil War, he opened one of the first roiling mills in the South. His Vulcan Works was in South Chattanooga. Col. Lowe acquired over 4,500 acres of mineral land at Johnson's Crook in Dade County, Ga., for a supply of iron. He obtained a contract with the Confederate States of America in 1862 to provide "merchant bars, gunboat plating and railroad irons. Two blast furnaces were at Johnson's Crook to produce pig metal for use at the Vulcan Works. As the armies approached Chattanooga, Col. Lowe left his almost-complete Vulcan Works near Chattanooga Creek. He moved to Selma, Ala., to set up another mill. When he returned to Chattanooga after the war, he found only charred ruins where his foundry had been. He traveled throughout the country to find parts to rebuild his plant. The plant went back into operation, but it could not survive the Panic of 1873. Before its fall, the Vulcan Works employed 200 workers in making car axles and railroad cars. The Vulcan Works later reopened, and the office of Col. Lowe on West Eighth Street was hooked up by the newly invented telephone to his plant in South Chattanooga over a mile away. The Vulcan Works was shut down by the Yellow Fever of 1878, but Col. Lowe continued to send market reports to newspapers in the state. The Vulcan Works was taken over by the South Tredegar Iron Works and converted for steel production. The plant produced nails, but this mill only lasted a short while. Col. Lowe later dealt in heavy hardware and pig iron from his Eighth Street office. He worked with his son at Lowe's Metallic Paint Company. Col. Lowe was a resident of Cameron Hill as early as 1876 when he was living on Pine Street at the corner of Eighth. He later lived on the east side of Georgia Avenue north of McCallie, then at the northwest corner of McCallie and Houston. He had moved into his fine home at 8 East Terrace by 1883. However, he died in 1890. Henry Ewing, a son-in-law of Capt. H.S. Chamberlain, lived there. Later the R.A. Cliffords occupied the Lowe home. Near the end, it had been divided into five apartments. Col. Lowe's son, another Samuel Brunswick Lowe, studied at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. He was married in 1882 to his wife Elsie. They had three daughters and a son, S.B. Lowe III. S.B. Lowe Jr. was secretary of the paint company, which stayed in operation until 1943. He lived on Lookout Mountain. He suffered ill health and went to Hot Springs in hope of finding a cure. However, he died in 1927 at the age of 45. Samuel Brunswick Lowe IV lives in Brentwood, Tn. His sister is Elizabeth Lowe. Samuel Brunswick Lowe V is a student at UT. A photo has not yet been found of the Lowe house on the East Terrace. Police responded to a disorder between a man and a woman on E. 44th St. The woman said she and the man got into an argument about him leaving and threatening to take her dog. She said there was no physical altercation and that it was only verbal. The man said he and the woman were in an argument about how a friend used their shower and she didnt like that. He told the woman he was going to leave and take the dog with him. There were no signs of a physical altercation that took place. The man said he was going to leave and went to a friends house. The woman said she had a doctors appointment later and would stay with a friend around the corner until her appointment. * * * Police responded to W. 34th Street on a report of a suspicious vehicle. Police found the vehicle in question, parked on a concrete slab about 20 feet out of the roadway. Police ran the VIN and found that the vehicle registration expired in June, 2015, but the vehicle was not listed as stolen. The vehicle was parked on private property and was well out of the roadway and not a traffic hazard. * * * While on patrol on 10th Avenue, an officer saw a man sitting in a chair on a piece of property that had been marked as private property. This piece of property is beginning to have issues with homeless people trespassing and setting up their camp on the land. There are two signs on the property, on the 10th Avenue side and the E. 45th Street side, that clearly state "Private Property- No Trespassing". The officer spoke with the man and identified him. He said he didnt own the property and had followed another homeless person onto the land earlier. The officer verified that the man could read and he seemed confused that there were two very obvious signs that say the property is private property and that there is no trespassing. The officer made the man gather his items and verbally trespassed him from the property. The man said he understands that if he comes back on the property he will go to jail. * * * Police saw two people dumpster diving behind Waffle House at 5466 153 Hwy. They were trespassed from the property in accordance with the wishes of the property manager. * * * A woman on Peeples Street told police her ex-boyfriend had come over to her tent and she wanted him to leave. He woke her up when he got in the tent, and she told him to leave. She said they argued about who the tent belonged to, and she eventually left and came to King Street where someone called police for her. Police asked the woman if she wanted to ride back over to Peeples Street so that police could talk to her ex-boyfriend, but she refused. She said her brother was on his way and she just wanted to go with him. * * * Police were called to Buffalo Wild Wings at 120 Market St. on a disorder call. When the officer arrived, four vehicles were leaving the parking lot and in the back corner were two black males with no shirts on. One was climbing over the wall and fence and ran towards Market Street while the other stayed. The man who stayed said an altercation occurred between people he didn't know and he attempted to break it up. The man was also highly intoxicated and went to the front of the restaurant to wait for his ride. No other person on scene wished to speak to police and the man left without further police action. * * * A man told police his bike had been stolen out of the garage inside Douglas Heights on Douglas Street. He did not have any suspect information. * * * Police received a report of someone taking pictures of Calvary Chapel at 3415 Broad St. When police arrived, the lot was vacant. Police researched the caller to discover the complainant was in Massachusetts and the call was likely false. The complainant would not speak to police after he learned his legal name was known by officers. * * * A person called police and said a woman driving a black Infiniti SUV waved a gun at her during a road rage incident on Bonny Oaks Drive. The caller requested police check the area for the suspects vehicle. Police searched the area but were unsuccessful in finding the suspect. * * * A man said he was standing outside of Dollar Tree at 480 Greenway View Dr. with his bike when a black male approached him asking if he could go in the store and buy him some chips. The man left his bike outside and, when he returned, the bike was gone. The man said he had just painted the bike that morning and it was a Huffy 18-speed bike. The man had not seen the other man before but believes he lives in a homeless camp in the area. * * * A woman told police that after being in the Hixson area, she returned home and later noticed the driver side rear quarter panel of her vehicle was broken. She didnt know when, where, or exactly how the damage occurred. * * * A man on Peeples Street told police someone broke two of his TVs that were in his tent. He said when he left that morning around 8 a.m. the TVs were fine, and when he arrived back to his tent around 10:30 p.m. they were broken. The man said he had no idea who may have done it. The innocent victim in a case in which a barrage of shots was fired at the City View Apartments on June 12 was lying on his bed playing solitaire, police said during a preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court. Charges of criminal homicide, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm during a felony were bound to the Grand Jury against 22-year-old Jamaal White. Judge Larry Ables set the total bond at $230,000. According to proof, White saw someone breaking into his car, went inside to get his gun, then came back out and began firing at a blue Nissan Sentra. Det. Steve Buckley said 17 spent 9mm spent shells were found over an extended area of the apartment complex. He said it appeared that White first fired at the front of the vehicle as it started down a hill, then continued shooting as it passed. There were eight bullet holes in the Nissan and one tire was flattened. Det. Buckley said the apartment of 72-year-old Cecil Scoffield, 72, was directly in line with where the bullets were being fired. The girlfriend of White said around 10:30 p.m. they saw someone burglarizing their car. She said White went back in the apartment, got his gun, then went back outside. She said she saw White fire a warning shot, then she saw the Nissan trying to run him over and then saw him shoot at the car. Det. Buckley said the girlfriend had not mentioned before that the car aimed at White. She said after the shooting incident that they went to his uncle to retrieve their dog, then returned to the apartment. White was arrested in Gwinnett County, Ga., a month and a half later. The female driver of the car was shot in the back. The passenger - her boyfriend - was not injured. Cecil Scoffield "was known by many as a quiet, gentle giant." He was a 1970 graduate of Howard High School and had been employed at Scholze Tannery and the Chattanooga Housing Authority. Family said, "If he wasnt working the daily New York Times crossword puzzle (without a dictionary) he would engage anyone who was brave enough to go head-to-head with him regarding his beloved team, the Tennessee Titans. "Cecil had no children but was a father figure to many. One would have no doubt realizing his love for his nieces and nephews, as it was evident in the love and care shown in his interaction with them. Each one was special to him in their own way." The Soddy Daisy Commission at the first meeting in October imposed a moratorium on the acceptance of short-term rental applications for non-owner-occupied rental properties that are not the primary residence of the applicant. The moratorium became effective when it was approved by the commissioners and it will be in effect through March 15, 2023. The matter came to the forefront when Commissioner Gene Shipley learned that seven or eight non-owner-occupied houses in Sale Creek are being used for short term rentals, and he said there are many reasons that is not a good thing for the area and for nearby permanent residents. At the last commission meeting Commissioner Shipley asked City Attorney Sam Elliott to look into what could be done to protect homeowners who live near these vacation rentals. Attorney Elliott said that putting the VRBOs on hold will give the city the chance to look at what can be done. The vote to impose the moratorium passed unanimously. The commission also adopted and enacted a codification and revision of all the city ordinances. The attorney said that occasionally the city updates individual codes and others have been passed since the last update. The amendments and additional ordinances have been put into the new city codes ordinance. The new city ordinance with all the changes, was passed. It became effective when it was approved. This entire process has been worked on since 2018, said City Manager Burt Johnson. Mr. Johnson announced that Dusty Morgan has been named as Soddy Daisys new fire chief. He was initially hired in 2013 when the city hired paid firefighters for the department. He was named deputy fire chief in 2014 and then as interim fire chief before becoming chief of the department. The city manager received approval for an agreement to pay architects $20,000 for the preliminary design and preliminary services related to Soddy Daisys new city hall. At this time, the cost of the building is expected to be about $2 million. Approval was also given to replace a police vehicle which was wrecked. The price of a new Dodge Durango has increased to $39,500. The city received a check for $31,495 from the insurer for the wrecked vehicle that will be put toward the new Durango. Commissioner Steve Everett told the commissioners that he has heard suggestions from many people in the community, for letting people work off court fines. They could do this by helping the public works department pick up trash. He said that there are always a lot of unpaid court fines and this could help them while helping the city. City Manager Johnson said that meetings have already been held to consider it. Commissioner Jim Coleman said he has been asked about allowing retirees to operate flea markets once a month as a way to supplement their income. Someone in the citys government will need to oversee it so it would not get out of hand with just anybody showing up said City Manager Johnson, who will come up with some restrictions. The first concert held at the lake was last weekend and drew a good crowd said Commissioner Shipley. He also urged the city officials and residents to back the proposed Parkridge Hospital emergency room that would be built in Soddy Daisy. It would service all of that end of the county, which really needs it. He said the facility is not being built as just a way for the hospital to get business, because once a patient is stabilized, they are given a choice of which hospital to be taken to. Community volunteer Jim Stewart gave an updated report on activities of group Keep Soddy Daisy Beautiful. He said about 40 volunteers showed up to clean up the Big Soddy Gulf Park last weekend. The mural that will be painted on the side of Wimpys Restaurant has been started. And the Fall Festival being organized by volunteers with help from the city, now has 110 vendors. It will be on October 15, and three races are scheduled for that day. There will be a 5K run or walk, a one-mile walk and a Kiddies Trick or Trot. There are now 260 people that have singed up to participate in the various races. Basic safety at the event will be covered by the citys fire and police departments, however volunteers are needed as a supplement to assist with the operations and security details. The group had been planning for members of the Tennessee National Guard to fill these spots, but after Hurricane Ian hit last week, most of the National Guard members have been sent to Florida, said Mr. Stewart. The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday reversed a decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals that granted relief to a defendant on an unpreserved and unpresented issue. Lynn Frank Bristol was convicted on two counts of aggravated sexual battery in Coffee County and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Bristol was not entitled to relief on any of the issues he raised on appeal. But the court ultimately reversed Bristols convictions based on perceived discrepancies between the written jury instructions and the trial courts oral jury charge. Bristol had not preserved that issue in the trial court or presented it on appeal, and the Court of Criminal Appeals did not give the parties notice it was considering the issue or an opportunity to address it during briefing or oral argument. The State filed a petition to rehear, explaining that the written jury instructions in the appellate record apparently omitted sixteen consecutive pages. The State attached to its petition a complete copy of the written jury instructions, which contained no material differences from the trial courts oral jury charge. The Court of Criminal Appeals directed the trial court to prepare a supplemental record containing a complete copy of the written jury instructions. The trial court clerk certified and submitted a supplemental record, which contained the same written jury instructions that were attached to the States rehearing petition. The Court of Criminal Appeals nevertheless denied the petition because the trial court clerknot the trial courthad certified the supplemental record. And the trial court did not explain the discrepancy between the written jury instructions in the original and supplemental records. The Supreme Court granted the States application for permission to appeal and asked the trial court to clarify which version of the written jury instructions were provided to the jury at trial. The trial court explained that the written jury instructions transmitted with the original appellate record were incorrect due to a copying error and that the instructions contained in the supplemental record accurately reflected the written instructions provided to the jury. The Supreme Court held that the Court of Criminal Appeals abused its discretion by granting relief on an unpresented and unpreserved issue without giving the parties fair notice and an opportunity to be heard on the matter. The Court explained that, while appellate courts have limited discretionary authority to review unpresented and unpreserved issues, they must give parties fair notice and an opportunity to be heard before deciding such an issue. This requirement promotes fairness, mitigates the risk of error and prejudice, and facilitates the truthfinding process. The Court further held that Bristol was not entitled to relief under the plain-error doctrine because there were no material differences between the written jury instructions in the supplemental record and the trial courts oral jury charge. The Court therefore reversed the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and reinstated the defendants convictions. To read the Courts unanimous opinion in State of Tennessee v. Bristol, authored by Justice Sarah K. Campbell, visit the opinions section of TNCourts.gov. The Greater Chattanooga Realtors Political Action Committee announced its support on Friday for Tennessee State Rep. Greg Martin for the Tennessee State House District 26 race. Candidates participating in the RPAC interviews offer insight to RPAC trustees about their plans to represent Hamilton County in the Tennessee General Assembly. It is an honor to receive support from the Greater Chattanooga Realtors Association, an organization that reflects my own beliefs in bringing the American Dream of homeownership closer to the hardworking residents of Hamilton County while protecting private property rights, said Rep. Martin. For a fish that can live more than 150 years and take more than three decades to reach reproductive maturity, patience among Lake Sturgeon isnt so much a virtue as a necessity. The same can be said for members of the Lake Sturgeon Working Group, a cadre of conservation scientists and government agencies which has spent 22 years attempting to restore this long-absent river giant to the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. Despite raising and releasing more than 330,000 sturgeon since 2000, only the first wave of individuals reintroduced by the working group have reached an age when they could begin reproducing on their own. Knowing what a late-bloomer species the Lake Sturgeon is, scientists understood going into the restoration effort that being successful would require taking a long view and a good deal of endurance, says Dr. Anna George, vice president of conservation science and education at the Tennessee Aquarium, one of the Lake Sturgeon Working Groups founding members. Because of Lake Sturgeons life history, we knew this would be a long-term project, Dr. George says. It wasnt ever realistic to think we could release sturgeon for a couple of years and see the population recover. But all of the partners knew that, if we committed to this project for a long time, we could be part of restoring this really incredible species back to Tennessee. Part of the effort to bring about the Lake Sturgeons return involves forging a connection between the community and these armor-clad fish, which had disappeared from the river by the 1970s due to damming, overfishing and poor water quality. To that end, many fish releases by the Aquarium and other working group members are open to the public. During releases, participants of all ages can lay fingers on these dinosaur-like fish and have a hand in their reintroduction. Today marked the reintroduction of the most recent class of juvenile sturgeon near downtown Chattanooga. Gathering on the shores of the Tennessee River next to Coolidge Park, 30 students from Ivy Academy gently slipped finger-length Lake Sturgeon in dip nets, one by one, into the river. For these 9-12 graders, taking part in the release offered a chance to see conservation science in action, which dovetails perfectly with the schools emphasis on environmental stewardship, says Ivy Academy Biology and Environmental Science Instructor Catherine Voegel. By learning more about stewardship organizations and projects in our area, the students can better explore their interests and increase their activism in conservation, Ms. Voegel says. They become more excited when there is a real-world connection and they can see a relevant outcome of a project in person. And in a sense, Dr. George says, working alongside the visitors from Ivy Academy served to further highlight and emphasize the amount of time that has already been devoted to the restoration program. These are high school students, who havent been alive as long as weve been releasing sturgeon, she said. That really puts the scope of this effort into perspective. As of 2021, almost a third of a million sturgeon (332,500) raised by the Tennessee Aquarium, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency have been reintroduced to the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. Thanks to the timespan of the restoration effort and the voracious appetite of these baby fish the offspring of wild adults spawning in Wisconsins Wolf River the expenses necessary to bring the Lake Sturgeon back to its native range have been immense. The cost to feed and care for the various species raised at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institutes headquarters on the campus of Baylor School run in excess of $16,000 annually. About three-quarters of this amount is spent on the juvenile Lake Sturgeon. While growing large and robust enough to survive in the river, the juvenile sturgeon dine thrice daily on increasingly large quantities of frozen bloodworms and specialized food pellets. Prior to todays release, the latest class of Lake Sturgeon were eating more than 200 pounds of bloodworms a week (about 30 pounds a day). There is no short-term or quick fix in conservation, Dr. George said. But whats really amazing about nature is that if we all work together and commit to a project for the long term, we can make a difference and reverse environmental problems. It may take a while to see the result of our actions, but we know well be even more proud of the difference we made because of that long-term commitment and our patience to seeing it through. To learn more about joining companies and individuals who support these vital programs of the Tennessee Aquarium and the Tennessee Conservation Institute, visit tnaqua.org/donate. An English sign stands in front of Hwigeomjae in Bukchon Hanok Village in Jongno District, Seoul, publicizing the Seoul Beauty Travel Week event that ended earlier this week. The Korean name for the event, written at the bottom, is simply the phonetic pronunciation of the English name. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government By Ko Dong-hwan The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to cut down on the use of English names for policies promoted by the city government, in order to promote the use of the Korean language. The use of English by the city government and its sub-institutions has drawn criticism for allegedly neglecting the Korean language and vocabulary. Starting this month, the city government, with the help of a group of Korean language experts, began searching for existing cases. The search, continuing until the end of this year, will look for problems in the names and titles of policies and events promoted by the city government, its sub-institutions, partner businesses and investors. The city government said Friday it will start surveying the problems regularly each year with the help of a committee under the city that is made up of 10 Korean language experts. Apart from the survey, all organizations under the city government must have the titles and names of their policies or events checked by the committee before introducing them to the public. So far, such checks by outside experts were not mandatory but optional. With the help of Korean language experts, the city government from surveyed from May to September 46 promotional leaflets and posters published by the authority to find any signs of excessive uses of English. They spotted, for example, "green network," "local food" and "busking" phonetically written in Korean and used in place of actual Korean words. The committee has also discovered almost 560 cases of incorrect uses of the Korean language by employees of the city government. "We admit that news outlets have from time to time criticized our government's inadvertent use of a foreign language in our policy names," said Choi Won-suk from the Public Communication Bureau under the city government. "With Hangeul Day (which marks the invention and proclamation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet) on Monday, we will trace back to find any cases of misused foreign language in our administrative works and replace them with Korean words instead." As part of the reconstruction of Apison Pike from Ooltewah-Ringgold Road to east of Layton Lane, Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will shift a portion of existing Apison Pike to new alignment to construct the remaining proposed portions of Apison Pike beginning Saturday. Drivers heading East on Apison Pike: Turn left at the existing four-way stop intersecting Apison Pike and University Drive Continue straight across the new bridge to the new signalized intersection of Apison Pike and University Drive Turn right and continue the new alignment of Apison Pike Drivers heading West on Apison Pike: Follow the newly paved portion of SR-317 by Eastview Terrace to the new signalized intersection of Apison Pike and University Drive Turn left and continue to the existing four-way stop intersecting Apison Pike and University Drive Turn right onto existing Apison Pike A detour will also be in place for College Drive at Apison Pike. Drivers looking to access College Drive from Apison Pike will continue SR-317 to University Drive and then on to College Drive. Drivers looking to access Apison Pike from College Drive will travel College Drive to University Drive and continue to SR-317. During this traffic shift, the south end of Tucker Road will be reopened on its new alignment at the new alignment of Apison Pike. Drivers heading West on Apison Pike from Tucker Road: Turn left onto the new alignment of Apison Pike Turn right at the new intersection of Apison Pike and University Drive Drive across the new bridge to the existing intersection of Apison Pike Turn right onto existing Apison Pike Spalding Drive will also be realigned to intersect with new Apison Pike directly across from Tucker Road. Drivers will then follow directions given above. From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live-streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or Chattanooga area alerts @Chattanooga511 or any of TDOTs other Twitter pages. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced in the White House Press Release that he intends to pardon federal convictions for simple possession. The President then asked for the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law and urged states and local leaders to do the same regarding offenses. While this move signals a glimmer of hope, the local statistics concerning simple possession arrests prove alarming. According to the ChattaData Police Dashboard concerning racial equity, African Americans make up 56 percent of all simple possession arrests , while only 29 percent of Chattanooga's current population. What does that mean in straight talk? Even though black and white community members use marijuana at nearly an equal rate, we are statistically more likely to be arrested than our counterparts. The promise of equity begins when Mayor Tim Kelly makes good on his campaign promise to reimagine public safety What does that mean in straight talk? Even though black and white community members use marijuana at nearly an equal rate, we are statistically more likely to be arrested than our counterparts. The promise of equity begins when Mayor Tim Kelly makes good on his campaign promise to reimagine public safety . I, along with over 2,500 Chattanoogans , are urging the Mayor and City Council to work together to draft legislation that brings an end to simple possession arrests. It's incumbent upon all of us to look for ways to dismantle policies and procedures steeped in racial inequality. The impact of simple possession extends far beyond the criminal legal system, as people face an array of punishments in employment, housing, education, immigration, child welfare, and public benefits - all of which can trap people in an airtight cage of poverty. Now is the time to act, and I hope public officials respond to the people's will. We are ready for a new Chattanooga. Marie R. Mott * * * I agree with Marie Mott about the decriminalization of marijuana, not much else. Just like William Barr tried to tell Lester Holt a month or so back during an interview, and I am paraphrasing The police distribute their resources to where the most crimes occur. If that is a black community, then just by virtue of more interaction between members of that community and police there will be more arrests. Simple math. Sam Lewallen, Jr. * * * Hello Ms. Mott, Respectfully, not everything you wish to change is about race. I believe you are correct about the absurdity of governments handling of simple possession of marijuana, but not for the color of skin reasons you cite. I wish to discuss your widely shared views about race, as well. You as a highly intelligent woman blessed with an extraordinary talent in public speaking, very articulate. The first time I heard you speak at a City Council meeting, I wanted to stand up and applaud you. Your delivery is fantastic. God gave you these gifts for purpose, and you choose to use these gifts to perpetuate division, rather than uniting and leading. Your own racism against people of no color is disappointing. I see talent that is being destroyed by self-imposed racism. I say no color, because white is the absence of color; it is a lack of pigment that I cannot change. I did not choose this color of skin. Therefore, it is illogical to judge people on skin color. I wonder how you feel about our wonderful Hispanic and Asian neighbors. Do you believe the successful Hispanics have privilege that is not available to you? I have Hispanic first-generation American immigrant friends that literally had nothing but their clothes when they came to the United States to work agriculture as children. My Hispanic friends are successful business owners these days. That is the beauty of the greatest nation on this planet, called the United States of America. Everyone has opportunity to succeed. Your theories of race fail miserably on many fronts and defy Christianity. The Black Lives Matter hatred ideology you have embraced has over time become entrenched in young people of color. It is more than wrong to teach hatred of others to young minds. The young man at East Ridge High School in the video was spewing racist BLM ideology towards great educators. Teaching hate and division against others to young people is abusive, as hate will prevent them from excelling in the world where races of all types mix. Teaching hate against people of no color to young people will damage their world view and lower their quality of life. BLM should be rejected as harmful to children. As for the subject matter of simple possession of marijuana, hemp legalization has convoluted the process of charging citizens with possession of marijuana. Hemp and marijuana both have detectable THC. Is lab testing of each government seizure of a small amount of marijuana a good use of taxpayer resources? I think not, as there are monumental problems with illicit, criminally manufactured fentanyl. Our government endorses two of the greatest gateway drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Due to ease of access and availability, these government endorsed substances are the greatest of gateway drugs for youth. The government endorsed gateway drugs are deemed legal, and taxed to fund government operations. Cigarettes kill an estimated 500,000 a year in our country, according to the CDC. Smoking ranks number one as the most preventable death cause. Alcohol abuse kills an estimated 140,000 a year in our country and ranks number three as preventable death, or self-imposed harm. The hypocrisy of governments endorsing alcohol and cigarette gateway drugs and incarcerating citizens over marijuana possession is apparent. Government has never, ever with emphasis, won a war on drugs. The first rule of business is supply and demand. Government works to incarcerate their way out of an illicit drug crisis through a supply chain view, rather than demand view. Illicit drug programs that worked to reduce demand of drugs, such as DARE, were discontinued. The government keeps repeating their failing method of incarceration for the supply chain, instead of addressing demand. Ms. Mott you are correct about possession of marijuana, but not for the race reasons. Everything is not about race. The aforementioned represents opinion, meaning it is simply one view. Have a blessed day yall. April Eidson * * * Miss Mott has great insight and is more on time with her observation than even she might realize. Police have the tools at their disposal to lay the foundation and set the perfect storm where crime can happen. When a person of such authority tells you they can arrange to have your home broken into, it says a lot. If someone has that kind of power over criminals then isn't it also just as well they can also control the ebb and flow of crime in targeted areas? Poor, minority poor areas just make easier, soft targets. All laws, real, imagined, made up, manufactured are more aggressively enforced in poor, minority poor areas. An alleged rolling stop to a stop sign becomes an excuse to justify a traffic stop. Once that stop is made cops will look for other things to pile on, and usually everything goes downhill from there for their target. Before the term "prescription drug addiction" became a household phrase, I witnessed it while working as a companion to a client in a highly upscaled community. All my client did was pop pain pills day in/day out and wash them down with diet soda. The client was in charge of their own medicine. Giving the client meds was not a part of my job description (praise the ancestors!) so I didn't have any part or say in how the client took their meds. I warned the client if they didn't eat I'd have to quit, because, although I wasn't in charge of any medication they were taking, I feared the individual might die and I could still possibly be held responsible. I finally got the client to partially nibble on some poached egg and toast, but that was about it. I also learned the pain pills weren't the only drugs the individual and their friends were using. After a couple of weeks on the job, frustrated, I quit for my own safety. This wasn't in some poor, minority poor community, but an area where one could find people living in mansions. The situation for poor, minority poor communities and crime is more complex than 'simple math'. There a multiple variations taking place at any given time, even exploitation for those looking to boost their careers at the expense of others. To say or believe otherwise is misleading, naive and to be honest...ignorant. Brenda Washington In the midst of numerous new series on streaming services, ABC is debuting its own show called Alaska Daily, which stars Hilary Swank in the lead role. The series will premiere soon on the network, and we have everything you need to know about Alaska Daily, including where its filmed. Hilary Swank | ABC/Sergei Bachlakov Hilary Swank stars in Alaska Daily on ABC Tom McCarthy created Alaska Daily, which stars Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, a New York journalist. Other cast members include Jeff Perry as Stanley Cornik (Eileens boss), Matt Malloy as Bob Young, Meredith Holzman as Claire Muncy, Grace Dove as Rosalind Roz Friendly, Pablo Castelblanco as Gabriel Martin, Ami Park as Jieun Park, and Craig Frank as Austin Greene. The pilots synopsis reads, After a fall from grace, fiercely talented and award-winning investigative journalist Eileen Fitzgerald leaves her high-profile New York life behind to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage. Her journey to find both personal and professional redemption begins. Eileens fall from grace refers to a controversial story she published about the new Secretary of State, leading to her losing her job and her reputation. So she accepts a job from her former boss in Alaska, where he assigns her a story about the disappearance and suspected murder of an indigenous woman that was ignored years ago. Does the show film in Alaska? Although the show takes place in Alaska, Alaska Daily is not filmed there. According to the Directors Guild of Canada, Alaska Daily films in Burnaby, British Columbia. They began shooting the series on Aug. 8, 2022, and filming will finish on January 13, 2023. Alaska Daily will consist of 10 hour-long episodes. This is a riveting mystery you wont want to miss. Two-Time Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank stars in #AlaskaDaily, premiering TONIGHT on ABC and Stream on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/FzTmKzyIvT Alaska Daily (@AlaskaDailyABC) October 6, 2022 Hilary Swank reveals why she agreed to be a part of the series During an interview with Newsweek, Hilary Swank discussed Alaska Daily and why she signed up to be a part of the show. And it all circles back to the real-world issue of ignored missing and murdered indigenous women. Absolutely, that is 100 percent [why]. Its the reason why I stepped onto the show, Swank explained. Tom McCarthy, Im a huge fan of, and Ive been a fan of [his film] Spotlight, actually since The Station Agent. And when he said that this was based on a story called Lawless, I read the article. I knew about the missing, murdered indigenous women. I knew about that. But the story was just [shocking]. She continued, To me, I knew about that. And yet so many people dont know about it, and its happening right now, right this second. And no ones doing anything about it. It is horrific, and something needs to be done. So, yes, that was a big part of me being in the show. And then theres other things that the article tackles that I had no idea about. And it just blew my mind. As Swank mentioned, Alaska Daily is a show inspired by a series of articles titled Lawless by the Anchorage Daily News. These articles highlight the increasing rate of sexual violence in Alaska. Alaska Daily premieres on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. RELATED: This Is Us Producers Wanted a Vague Season 6 Timeline Hilary Swank is seeking out the truth as an investigative reporter in her new mystery-drama, Alaska Daily. The show digs deep into multiple cold cases involving the deaths of indigenous women in Alaska. Additionally, it offers an eye-opening glimpse of the journalists inside a newsroom. But how much of Alaska Daily is a true story? Heres what to know as the show premieres on ABC. Hilary Swank and Grace Dove in Alaska Daily | Sergei Bachlakov/ABC What is Alaska Daily about? Alaska Daily stars Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, a no-nonsense investigative journalist from New York. Eileen is publicly disgraced when one of her stories takes a wrong turn. Hoping to start over, she accepts a job at a local newspaper in Anchorage, Alaska. Shes tasked with investigating the murder of an indigenous woman and how her death connects to several other cold cases in the area. Alaska has a funny way of revealing things to you, a man says in the trailer. Outsiders come to disappear or to reinvent themselves. Which is it? Alaska Daily also stars Grace Dove as Roz, a fellow reporter working with Eileen on the story. She tells Eileen in the trailer that neither cops nor politicians will do anything about these cold cases, so its up to them to find the truth. Other stars in Alaska Daily include Jeff Perry, Matt Malloy, Craig Frank, Pablo Castelblanco, Meredith Holzman, and Ami Park. The show was created by 13 Reasons Why director Tom McCarthy. Is Alaska Daily based on a true story? The characters and story within Alaska Daily are entirely fictional, but the show is loosely inspired by a true newsroom investigation. Two journalists Kyle Hopkins and Ryan Binkley from the Anchorage Daily News, which inspired The Daily Alaskan newsroom, serve as executive producers. The publication recently shared the story of how Alaska Daily came to be. According to Anchorage Daily News, the sexual assault and murder of 10-year-old Ashley Johnson-Barr in Kotzebue in 2018 led numerous survivors to come forward with their stories. However, they all had a similar pattern: The police did not thoroughly investigate their cases. So, ADN called for locals to help with reporting on sexual violence in Alaska. The pattern continued. ADN then partnered with ProPublica to produce a series of articles called Lawless. The series focused on sexual violence, systemic failures, and why the problems hadnt gotten better. Lawless led the U.S. Department of Justice to declare a law enforcement emergency in Alaska and earned ADN a Pulitzer Prize. Tom McCarthy wanted to explore the personal lives of journalists in Alaska Daily When McCarthy expressed interest in directing Alaska Daily, he had already directed a journalism-focused film called Spotlight, centered on the Boston Globes investigation into sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy. With Alaska Daily, he wanted to further explore the personal lives of journalists. I thought, wouldnt it be interesting to really get to know who are these journalists, specifically involved in local journalism, McCarthy said at PaleyFest Fall TV Previews 2022. Can I humanize journalists? Can I get a sense of who they are and what makes them tick and why they do the work they do? McCarthy combined this idea with the investigations conducted by ADN, modeling the shows newsroom after Anchorages local paper. Still, the characters of Alaska Daily are not based directly on anyone at ADN. The journalists portrayed on the show are also amalgams or archetypes rather than being based on Daily News employees, ADNs report reads. Same with other Alaskans. Hilary Swank hopes Alaska Daily will ignite change Meet the team thats ready to uncover the truth. Catch the #AlaskaDaily series premiere TONIGHT on ABC at 10/9c and Stream on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/qs972k4yZv Alaska Daily (@AlaskaDailyABC) October 6, 2022 In a recent interview with Newsweek, Swank said she joined Alaska Daily to bring awareness to the investigation conducted by Anchorage Daily News. I knew about the missing, murdered indigenous women, I knew about that. But the story was just [shocking], she said. To me, I knew about that, and yet so many people dont know about it and its happening right now, right this second, and no ones doing anything about it, it is horrific and something needs to be done. At the end of the day, Swank hopes the series ultimately encourages change. Being a storyteller, we get the opportunity to shine a bright light on these stories that matter and, in doing so, help give voice to them and start a conversation, and hopefully ignite change, she added. Alaska Daily premieres tonight, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. RELATED: Hilary Swank Confessed She Regrets Her Decision to Drop Out of School The Cocktails Prince William and Kate Middleton Made in Northern Ireland Were Reportedly a Nod to Their Location TL;DR: Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Northern Ireland on Oct. 6. They each prepared cocktails with mixologists while visiting a Belfast market. Royal journalist Rebecca English tweeted the cocktails were a nod to the Lagan river, which runs through Belfast. On a previous trip to the country, Prince William and Kate Middleton took turns as bartenders. Royal cocktails. Prince William and Kate Middleton got behind the bar and made cocktails during a visit to Northern Ireland. Ahead, see how the couple fared in a cocktail-making competition mixing up drinks that were reportedly a nod to their location. William and Kate made a surprise visit to Northern Ireland on Oct. 6 Royal engagements continue for the new Prince and Princess of Wales in the wake of Queen Elizabeth IIs Sept. 19 funeral. On Oct. 6, the parents of three made a surprise one-day trip to Northern Ireland. It marked their first time in the country since the queens death on Sept. 8. There William and Kate visited various community organizations. PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland, or PIPS Charity, kicked off their time in Belfast. They spoke with volunteer counselors while lending a hand assembling care packages, or Little Boxes of Hope, for children. William and Kate also spoke with charity staff, counselors, and a client who shared how PIPs helped them. The pair then made a stop the Belfasts outdoor street food and market called Trademarket. There they competed to see who could mix up a cocktail the fastest. After, they talked with vendors and locals. William and Kates trip to Ireland then took them to Carrickfergus, where they spoke with people from the Carrick Connect charity. Finally, they took a walk by the sea to greet well-wishers that had gathered. Previously, William and Kate went to Wales in late September 2022. In the days immediately preceding their trip to Northern Ireland, they also embarked on a number of solo appearances. William made a speech at the United for Wildlife Summit. Meanwhile, Kate cradled a newborn at a hospital. Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly made Up the Lagan in a Bubble cocktails as a nod to the river running through Belfast Who did it better? pic.twitter.com/t24ifPmrI9 The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 6, 2022 Who did it better? William and Kate asked in the caption of their cocktail competition post on social media. They each served up drinks at Trademarket with mixologists standing by. But what were the couple actually mixing up in those lowball glasses? Royal reporter Rebecca English tweeted that the Prince and Princess of Wales used gin, sherry, and more to create a cocktail with a nod to Belfast. I spoke to the lovely Will Neill from Trademarket who told me this was a Up the Lagan in a Bubble a reference to the famous river that flows through Belfast and local slang for I wasnt born yesterday,' English wrote. It was based on ingredients from one of the collectives vendors, Brew & Yaki, and included gin, fruit tea cordial, sherry, a Japanese plum-liqueur called umeshu and lime and passionfruit bobas tapioca starch pearls found in Taiwanese bubble tea, she explained. Prince William and Kate Middleton poured beer during a 2019 visit to Northern Ireland ? Getting the party started at @BelfastEmpire, where The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are celebrating young people who are making a real difference in Northern Ireland #RoyalVisitNI pic.twitter.com/JFnIPdy9do The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2019 The cocktail-making competition wasnt the first time the Prince and Princess of Wales stepped behind the bar while in Northern Ireland. In 2019 the pair took turns as bartenders while visiting Belfast Music Hall. Vanity Fair wrote at the time that they engaged in some light-hearted banter over who would pull a pint of Harp Lager first. Kate gave it a try before pretending to distract William during his turn. RELATED: Body Language Expert Says Prince William and Kate Middletons Royal Smiles Were Nowhere to Be Seen in Wales George Harrison and John Lennon had a heated argument about Yoko Ono performing at Georges 1971 benefit concert, the Concert for Bangladesh. John was on Georges list of friends and fellow musicians he wanted to perform. Yoko wasnt. However, John couldnt leave his wife behind. Or could he? George Harrison | Icon and Image/Getty Images George Harrison said John Lennon gave him the courage to organize the Concert for Bangladesh In 1971, Georges musical guru, Ravi Shankar, told him of a humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh. George immediately felt compelled to organize a benefit concert to raise money for the refugees. He could raise a lot of money if he got his famous friends and fellow musicians to perform. However, if it werent for John, George wouldnt have been brave enough to organize anything. In 1997, George told John Fugelsang at VH1 (per George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters) that John gave him the confidence to do the Concert for Bangladesh. I think that was one of the things that I developed, just by being in the Beatles, was being bold, George said. And I think John had a lot to do with that, you know, cause John Lennon, you know, if he felt something strongly, he just did it. And you know, I picked up a lot of that by being a friend of Johns. Just that attitude of, Well, well just go for it, just do it.' John also influenced Georges decision to capitalize on every aspect he could. When Ravi said to me you know, he wanted me and Peter Sellers to come and introduce the show, and he could make $25,000, George continued. Straightaway I thought of the John Lennon aspect of it, which was: film it, and make a record of it, and, you know, lets make a million dollars And I think that boldness was by having that fame, by learning through the Beatles, that you get a bit more clout if youre well known. However, John couldnt give much more than those inspirations to the benefit concert. RELATED: George Harrison Once Misled a Man Who Recognized Him on the Street: Were Not These Bodies George Harrison and John Lennon had a heated argument about Yoko Ono performing at the Concert for Bangladesh When George quickly started organizing the Concert for Bangladesh, he knew who he wanted to perform. He asked Leon Rusell, Klaus Voormann, Billy Preston, Badfinger, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan (who was a no-show until the last minute). The Beatles hadnt long split up, but he extended the invitation to his former bandmates as well. Ringo Starr agreed in a heartbeat and even halted filming of Blindman to attend. Paul McCartney didnt think itd be appropriate considering the bands legal problems with each other at the time. George hoped John would agree, especially since he gave George the courage to do the benefit concert and lived in New York City. However, his hopes were futile. The person who some guessed tore The Beatles apart had once again come between them. In Here Comes The Sun: The Spiritual And Musical Journey Of George Harrison, Joshua M. Greene wrote that when George asked John to perform, John stipulated that Yoko would also have to perform. Greene continued, That was not acceptable to George, who had handpicked world-class musicians for the concert, and heated words were exchanged. However, John agreed to attend. RELATED: The First Time George Harrison Went to His Local Nursery, He Bought Almost Every Tree They Had John initially agreed to perform without Yoko, but he didnt show up John initially agreed to perform at the Concert for Bangladesh without Yoko. However, why he never actually showed up is under dispute. Allegedly, Yoko found out about John and Georges agreement (per Far Out). As a result, John and Yoko fought about him going to the benefit concert without her. The couple then fled New York City two days before the Concert for Bangladesh. So, John never got to take the stage with his former bandmates. According to The Beatles Diary Vol. 2: After the Break-Up 1970-2001 by Barry Miles and Keith Badman, John said there wasnt any fight between him and his wife. He said Allen Klein, The Beatles business manager, had started the rumor. However, the reason John gave for missing the Concert for Bangladesh wasnt any better. I just didnt feel like it, Miles and Badman claim John said. We were in the Virgin Islands and I certainly wasnt going to be rehearsing in New York, then going back to the Virgin Islands, then coming back up to New York and singing. Whatever reason John had for not being there for his former bandmate, the Concert for Bangladesh was a great success. George and Ringo had enough star power to rake in millions for the refugees. Johns no-show didnt tarnish his relationship with George either. George maintained that hed be bandmates again with John in a heartbeat. RELATED: Why Ringo Starr Couldnt Teach George Harrisons Son, Dhani, How to Play the Drums 1 of Queen Elizabeths Final Gifts May Have Been Her Most Symbolic Queen Elizabeth II spent her final months celebrating 70 years on the throne via the Platinum Jubilee. The nearly year-long festivities included exhibitions, competitions, and events that the queen and other senior royals attended. Her Majesty also received her final piece of gifted jewelry that may have been her most symbolic. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 | Jonathan Brady WPA Pool/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth IIs final jewelry gift was one of her most symbolic brooches At the lighting of the Jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle during the queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, the monarch wore a brooch commissioned by the Goldsmiths company. Its believed to be the last piece of jewelry the queen was gifted, and it was possibly the most symbolic brooch she ever owned. The wreath-like brooch paid homage to the four nations of the United Kingdom England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images According to the fine jewelry experts at UK retailer Steven Stone, those four nations are represented by four diamond swirls and their national flowers the rose, the thistle, the daffodil, and the shamrock. Theres also a special addition to the brooch, the queens favorite plant Lily of the Valley. The piece is estimated to be worth $44,000 (40,000). Jeweler Zack Stone noted that the brooch appears to be 18-carat white gold. However, considering the occasion, the intricate piece could possibly be made of platinum. Its worth noting that its incredibly difficult to make this kind of piece with platinum, though not impossible, Stone said. Set with princess cut and round brilliant diamonds, its one of the late monarchs most symbolic brooches. The monarchs newest brooches were on display at a Platinum Jubilee exhibition Following the queens death, the brooch was placed on public display at the Goldsmiths Fair in London. But its not the only brooch in her collection that represented the UKs four nations. And, its not the only brooch that got a public display in 2022. An exhibition for the Platinum Jubilee titled The Queens Coronation at Windsor Castle that ran through the end of September had four of Her Majestys newest brooches on display that were presented to the queen in 2012 by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman for her Diamond Jubilee. This brooch isnt the first that the Queen wore to pay tribute to the four nations of the UK. The Sultan Quaboos Bin Said of Oman gifted her four diamond brooches that represent the national emblems of the UK for her diamond jubilee in 2012 boasting delicately beautiful craftsmanship and fine detail, they have a combined value of $202,000 (187,000), Stone revealed. Queen Elizabeth II wore the pieces in the countries they represented The queen wore the four brooches the Rose of England, the Thistle of Scotland, the Shamrock of Ireland, and the Welsh Daffodil Brooch on numerous occasions. Often, she would wear a specific brooch in the country that was represented by the emblem. The Ireland brooch included three diamond shamrocks, with each leaf containing one round diamond set in white gold. The shamrocks are secured by an emerald ribbon. The Scottish brooch incorporated white and yellow gold and a combination of diamond baguettes and round diamonds. The Rose of England brooch is an intricate piece that features a pair of wild roses rendered in warm-toned gold and entirely made of fancy diamonds. Each of the roses appears to have a red diamond as its center stone, which is the rarest variety of colored diamonds, says jeweler Maxwell Stone. The most valuable brooch in the collection was the Welsh Daffodil Brooch. With an estimated worth of 80,000, it featured three daffodils made up of yellow fancy diamonds, set in yellow gold. Plus a stem encrusted in white diamonds. RELATED: Kate Middleton and Princess Anne Subtly Pay Tribute to Queen Elizabeth With a Tradition That Dates Back to Queen Victoria RHOBH Star Sutton Strackes Ex-Husband Filing for Divorce on Her Birthday Was Only the Beginning of Her Difficult Separation To be a housewife on any Real Housewives show, you must be an actual wife, right? Not so, according to Andy Cohen, who said, in 2014, that housewife is an old-fashioned, outdated term. When you watch Bravos successful franchise, youll see that its a show about modern women. Even though The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke went through a rough divorce from 2017-21, she can still be on the show. But her personal life may have limitations that could change things. Did you know #RHOBH star Sutton Stracke was married for 17 years before splitting from her ex, Thibeault Christian Stracke? https://t.co/YW5YXwD9m8 pic.twitter.com/3fVjsxTwKt Decider (@decider) August 6, 2020 How Sutton Stracke met her now-ex-husband Bustle reports that Stracke and her now-ex-husband Christian Stracke knew each other since they were 13. They dated while both attending Davidson Fine Arts High School in Augusta, Georgia. After graduating, Christian earned a degree from the University of Chicago and volunteered for the Peace Corps from 1992-94. He spent time in Mauritania planting trees near the Sahara Desert. When they married in 2000, Christian worked in Deutsche Banks New York office as a Latin American currency expert. Clearly, he was in a high-power position with money. The couple has three children: a daughter, Porter, and sons Philip and James. All are in their late teens or early 20s now. Christian Stracke, PIMCOs global head of credit research, is participating in a panel on Whats Next in the Hunt for Yield in Credit? on Monday, 4/30, at #MIGlobal. https://t.co/cTmdz8pZFG pic.twitter.com/sIJ4Eor5Va PIMCO (@PIMCO) April 30, 2018 Christian Stracke filed for divorce on his wifes birthday in 2017 Sutton was having a great time at her birthday party in 2017, which Christian attended. He even brought cake. One day later, he told his wife that she needed to get an attorney; hed filed for divorce before attending her party. Sutton never expected things to happen this way as she explained on RHOBH. Even stranger, despite her lavish lifestyle, she claimed to the rest of the housewives she didnt know how much money she was worth. Then, the divorce papers came, and legal documents showed exactly how much money Sutton would receive and from what sources. Sutton Stracke is incredibly wealthy, but it comes at a cost Christian Stracke has been a managing director and global head of the credit research group at PIMCO, an investment management firm in Newport Beach, California, since 2008. Suffice it to say, hes got a bit of wealth. In the settlement, Sutton received more than $2 million in cash, multiple homes, vehicles, artwork, and investment properties, just to name a few. She also receives $300,000 a month (thats $3.6 million a year) in alimony. Her ex-husband also pays child support for their three kids. Her yearly stipend might come at a cost, though. If she remarries, she loses the alimony. Another cost of her divorce: She could not keep her housewife status on RHOBH and was downgraded to friend of the show because she needed to spend more time with her kids, according to Bravo. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke | Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage She might be back when her kids grow up (she recently sent her son Philip off to The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina) and she completely remodeled one of her homes. Financially, shes doing fine. RELATED: RHOBHs Sutton Stracke Is so Rich, She Insisted on Flying Her Piano to Her New Home Searching for the right chemical compounds is going to be as easy as Googling. Thats the reason behind the Dresden-based start-up PharmAI and the Ukrainian company Chemspace now signing a collaboration agreement. While the Kyiv-based company is the provider of the world's most comprehensive online catalog of small molecules and biologics, PharmAI provides a proprietary AI-powered software platform for processing small molecule and protein data. Together, they will ensure that Chemspaces customers can find the right compounds for their projects easily and efficiently. "With this joint effort, we are accelerating the search for suitable substances for Chemspace's customers," formulates PharmAI CEO Joachim Haupt. The Dresden-based company specializes in AI-supported software for the analysis of 3D protein structures. Their Focused Library service will make searching Chemspace's catalog even easier. The Kyiv-based company aggregates chemical substances as well as biologics from various manufacturers in order to make the compounds available to their end customers in a bundled form. Chemspaces platform is used by large pharmaceutical enterprises as well as small biotech companies and university research groups. "Through our technology, we can better guide our customers to the compounds they would need for their research and development even before they place an order with Chemspace." To accomplish this, all the software needs to know is the objective of the project. Easier, faster, cheaper The proposed workflow is significantly faster and more precise than conventional approaches since the number of substances to be tested in vitro can be heavily reduced before they are purchased. "In a metaphorical sense, our catalog becomes much more accessible to our customers thanks to the PharmAI technology," explains Chemspace CEO Yurii Moroz. It will immensely simplify the selection and thus the decision-making process, while at the same time accelerating as well as improving the quality. "Ultimately, our customers save money because everything runs more effectively and more swiftly than before with improved results." In the coming months, the parties will be working together to finalize the release of this new tool, which is planned to be launched in early 2023. The first contact between the companies dates back to 2019 when the PharmAI team met the Chemspace team in Kyiv. Already then, the first ideas for integrating their software into the existing catalog emerged. "We are delighted that we are now working together to develop a service that will be unique in this form worldwide," added Haupt. He is confident that there will be more projects with Chemspace in the future. "The collaboration is very rewarding for both parties and the team at Chemspace is very innovative when it comes to finding new discovery solutions." Yurii Moroz adds, "The usability of our online catalog is gaining from PharmAI's technology. It will definitely not be the last joint project!" Members of a judicial policing body under the Seoul Metropolitan Government search a site suspected of animal abuse. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government By Ko Dong-hwan A new unit of law enforcers was launched in Seoul earlier this month to find and stop animal abusers as the frequency of incidents and brutality have been on the rise. The judicial policing body under the Seoul Metropolitan Government consists of 12 members. They include veterinarians and inspectors with at least five years of field investigation experience. They have also received training from police officers who are experienced in investigating crimes involving animal abuse as well as dealing and working with animal protection groups. The city government introduced the new police unit after the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided last September to assign the issue of animal protection as a new mission objective to the judicial policing body in addition to crimes regarding food and the environment. The new unit was launched as violations of the country's Animal Protection Act have increased more than threefold from 303 in 2016 to over 1,000 in 2021, according to National Police Agency's latest data. The authority added that the abuse carried out on animals has been increasingly brutal. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Friday visited the judicial police officers' office on Mount Nam and encouraged them to fulfill their duties to the best of their abilities. Animal abuse includes offenses like intentionally killing or physically injuring animals, selling lost animals that were previously owned, exposing to the public photos or videos of animals being abused, as well as operating businesses that sell or produce animals without a license. The Animal Protection Law states that abusers who kill an animal can get imprisoned for up to three years or fined up to 30 million won ($21,000). Those who intentionally injure an animal can also get imprisoned for up to two years or fined up to 20 million won. "An increasing number of people are raising pets and more people are gaining newfound respect for animal rights and animals' lives. Unfortunately, there has also been a significant increase in the cases of animal abuse and how cold-blooded these criminals have become," said Kim Myeong-joo, the chief of the animal abuse police. Shown are four Cherokee Phoenix homecoming T-shirts from 2019-22. The Cherokee Phoenix is accepting design ideas from Cherokee artists for its 2023 T-shirt until midnight CST on Jan. 1, 2013. NAIROBI, Kenya, October 7, 2022 (Morning Star News) Two evangelists on Sept. 24 sustained deep knife wounds after leading several Muslims to Christ at debates on Islam and Christianity in eastern Uganda, sources said. Andrew Dikusooka, 35, and 26-year-old Ronald Musasizi had debated Islamic scholars in several areas around Iganga District, and some attacked them after a Sept. 20-24 series of such debates in the districts predominantly Muslim Nampirika village, said a leader of their ministry, unnamed for security reasons. The two evangelists are nursing terrible wounds on their sick beds in Iganga town after being attacked and beaten by radical Muslims, the leader told Morning Star News. Dikusooka said that after the last day of the debate, well-known Muslims were among those who put their faith in Christ. Many people gave their lives to Christ, including Muslims, witchdoctors and street vendors, Dikusooka told Morning Star News. The conversion of these people angered Muslims who began shouting to disrupt the occasion. When the meeting ended, we took the new converts aside and had a few minutes explaining the meaning of the new life in Christ and the commitment to follow Jesus Christ. They were halfway home at about 7:30 p.m. when a group of Muslims blocked them near a railroad crossing shouting, They are the ones beat them, beat them, he said. They then started beating us with blunt objects, and one named Shafiki Mugendawala from Nasuuti, in Iganga, hit me with a sharp knife right on my head, Dikusooka told Morning Star News. Another named Musiitwa Manisuuli from Kigulu Iganga, struck my friend in the belly and hands. He knew the assailants because they had debated them on several occasions, he said. Both of us fell down as a bright light flashed from a coming vehicle that appeared from the opposite direction, he said. From that time onwards, we did not know what happened. We only found ourselves in the hospital in Iganga town with deep wounds. The driver of the vehicle was the one who rescued them and drove them to the hospital, they later learned. At this writing the two evangelists were still recovering in the hospital. Since we know the attackers, after our release from the hospital we shall by all means file a case against them, Dikusooka said. Please pray for us for quick healing. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Giggle When Job Gonzalez was 21, he felt Gods calling to dedicate his life to worship ministry. Raised in a Spanish-speaking family and church in Texas, he thought he would always sing the praises of the Lord in Spanish. Since 1980, more Christians have spoken Spanish than any other language. Thanks to the growth of the church in Latin America, over 413 million believers have Spanish as their mother tongue today, compared to 250 million with English, according to the World Christian Database. But Hispanics born in America have continued to prefer English over Spanish for worship. To Gonzalezs surprise, he ended up serving at a Hispanic Baptist church that had all its services in English. In his hometown in Texass Rio Grande Valley, Baptist Temple McAllen is a Hispanic church where the vast majority are Hispanic people who, over the generations, stopped using Spanish, said Gonzalez. When the Lord called me to serve there it was pretty scary, because I had never led worship in English before. In Southern states with established Hispanic populations, spanning four or more generations of descendants born in the US, its more common to see Hispanic churches like the one in McAllen hold services in English only. Among newer arrivals, congregations stick to Spanish. Other churches offer a spectrum of bilingual, multilingual, and multiethnic worship, either with simultaneous translation or separate English and Spanish services. Hispanic church leaders differ on whether the church has a role to play in preserving Spanish worship as a distinctive of their culture. Some believe worshiping in Spanish is central to their faith and services, while others believe its a secondary factor that should never cause division. Spanish is our mother language, and its at the core of our roots. Spanish is the second [spoken] language in this country, said pastor Jorge Ramos. The truth is that in the foreseeable future there will continue to be immigration of people who only speak Spanish, and if we want to reach them, we have to be here for them. Ramos, a native of Cuba, leads a small church in Hickory, North Carolina, that serves mainly first-generation Hispanics. He sees Spanish-only services as part of the mission of Hispanic churches. Many Spanish-speaking pastors, along with their church members, identify with this calling. We have parents at the church that approach us saying, We have children that have to continue to practice Spanish, so please have them take their Bible lessons in Spanish, said Sergio Villanueva, campus pastor at an urban megachurch in Chicago. Villanueva was raised in Torreon, Mexico. After visiting Chicago in the early 1990s, he spent a summer serving at a Hispanic Pentecostal church in the city, where he was offered the opportunity to move to Chicago and take a full-time position in the worship team. But Spanish worship in the States hadnt taken off at the timewhile it was going through a revival in Latin Americaso Villanueva didnt want to stay. The Lord had breathed new life on it with all that he did with Marcos Witt and Jesus Adrian Romero in Mexico, Danilo Montero in Costa Rica, Jaime Murrel in Panama, Marcos Vidal in Spain, and many others. It was huge, he said. When I came to Chicago, I found out that Spanish worship in America had not experienced that yet. When Villanueva went back to Chicago in 1998, he began to imagine bringing that spirit of worship to Hispanic churchgoers there. I observed the Hispanic youth in the churches. I observed how they didnt feel either American or Hispanic; they felt stuck in between, almost in an identity crisis, said Villanueva. I also saw how they had not experienced that praise revival we had gone through in Latin America. I dreamed of bringing all that passion to them. The Lord gave me great love and compassion for them. Article continues below Originally founded in 1929, Villanuevas congregation, Wheaton Bible Church, started offering services in Spanish in 1990, and in 2008 it opened its Spanish-only campus, Iglesia del Pueblo. Villanueva has seen how Spanish worship has deepened his faith and blessed the church, but he doesnt believe churches should make it their goal to preserve language or cultural practices. After living in America for a while, I was able to observe that the Hispanic church had barricaded itself, on the one side thinking that work was the top priority of their lives, and on the other trying to live in a bubble in order to preserve their language and their culture, he said. But that is not the calling of the church; it is not to preserve any language or any culture, but to find ways to impact the culture that surrounds us with the gospel. Historically, migrants in general and those who cross the southern border coming from different Central and Latin American countries have been an important mission field within the United States. Second-generation Hispanics, like the church members at Villanuevas congregation in Chicago, can struggle to find their own identity while being surrounded by a Hispanic community even though they are American by birth and attend English-speaking schools. But with each generation, Hispanics become less likely to speak Spanish and less likely to see the language as an important part of their Hispanic identity. Many parents of Hispanic origin prefer that their children focus on learning Englisheven those who don't speak English or dont speak it that wellbecause they want their children to be absorbed by the American culture, said Gonzalez. Parents care so much about their children's future that they are willing to assume the sacrifice of not being able to communicate with their children in their own language. Ever since 2012, Gonzalez has been leading worship services in English and in Spanish, and he believes the church has to be flexible when it comes to the language. The church where he serves now, Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, offers youth services in English and in Spanish. We let them choose, he said. The truth is that only they know what language connects better with them, and the best we can do as a church is offer them the opportunity to make that choice. From 2012 to 2018, Gonzalez was the Spanish worship leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, serving for a time in partnership with Coalo Zamorano. He began serving there shortly before Marcos Witt stepped down as pastor of the Hispanic portion. Like many megachurches with multiple leaders and services, Lakewood has a clear division between English and Spanish services. The language in which a service is led is secondary, its not doctrinal. The church has to be flexible and open in this matter, because people can only praise the Lord in the language of their hearts, Gonzalez said. Villanueva believes that, as with other causes of division, it all boils down to going back to the churchs main calling. Both striving to be absorbed by American culture and striving to promote the heritage of the Hispanic culture can quickly become idolatry, he said. Christians must understand that our culture and our true identity is in Christ, regardless of language and culture. Before being Latino, I am a son of God. Article continues below I believe that passing the Spanish language to the next generations is very valuable, and it is a beautiful thing. But this is a decision that has to be taken at home. It is the parents choice and responsibility, not the calling of the church. Villanueva cautions parents and church leaders about placing children in Spanish Bible classes and services with the sole purpose of preserving the language. The Hispanic church has to be aware that its growth comes mainly from second-generation Hispanics, and for most of them Spanish is not their preferred language, he said. If you are in a church where your heart is not being fed spiritually in your own language, youre never going to grow. Even if its clear that churches shouldnt make the preservation of a language their main goal, as long as Hispanics are immigrating to the United States, the need for Spanish church services in America will not fade. The Scriptures are filled with migrants. Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah. Even Jesus grew up in Egypt and then moved back to Israel, Villanueva said. Hispanics in America need to hear that their dual identity and even the struggle with two languages is not a problem, but rather something God is going to use for his glory. [ This article is also available in espanol. ] 5th Circuit upholds courtroom prayer tradition, overturns lower court ruling A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Texas judge sued for allowing religious leaders to begin court sessions with invocations. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion Thursday overturning a lower court ruling against Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack of Montgomery County, Texas. The court concluded that Mack could continue allowing his court sessions to begin with invocations because he tells attendees in advance that they are not required to attend the invocations and that their decision not to attend won't impact their cases. "The plaintiffs cry coercion because Texas Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack opens his court with a ceremony that includes a prayer. But Mack also takes great pains to convince attendees that they need not watch the ceremony and that doing so will not affect their cases," the opinion authored by Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, reads. "Some attendees say they feel subjective pressure anyway. Yet the plaintiffs have no evidence suggesting that 'coercion is a real and substantial likelihood.'" Mack's court has a message inscribed on the door and television screen reading: "It is the tradition of this court to have a brief opening ceremony that includes a brief invocation by one of our volunteer chaplains. You are not required to be present or participate." The opinion states that Mack's Justice Court Chaplaincy Program enables faith leaders to "be 'on call' to respond to sudden tragedies" involving "only members of his own faith who ask for help." "Mack permits JCC Program chaplains to pray in his court's opening ceremony," the opinion states. "But he says his objective is to ensure that when local families request help with sudden tragedies, the JCC Program has a representative from 'every mosque, every temple, every synagogue, every church you can imagine' to respond." Mack contends that his program includes clergy and lay people representing "Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam." The court concluded that "to maintain a lawful prayer ceremony, Mack must ensure that (1) he has a policy of denominational nondiscrimination and that (2) anyone may choose not to participate and suffer no consequences." "Mack has shown that the plaintiffs fail to materially dispute those elements," the opinion adds. In a statement shared by his legal team at First Liberty Institute, Mack thanked the judges for upholding a "historical practice." "I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Montgomery County," Mack stated. Jeremy Dys, a senior counsel for First Liberty Institute, described the multifaith invocations authorized by Mack as part of a "rich tradition of opening public meetings including judicial proceedings with an invocation." "Welcoming a volunteer chaplain to lead an invocation according to the tradition of his or her faith reflects the very best of our nation's values," Dys said. Thursday's ruling is the latest development in a yearslong legal battle that began in 2015 when the secular legal group Freedom From Religion Foundation complained to the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct that Mack's prayer invocations violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The commission dismissed the complaint while writing a letter to Mack "strongly [cautioning him] against continuing with the Justice Court Chaplaincy Program and [his] current courtroom prayer service." In 2017, FFRF filed a lawsuit against Mack in federal court. The other plaintiff in the case is a "religiously unaffiliated" lawyer who frequently appeared in Mack's court and "objects to a government official telling him when or how to pray." FFRF collected testimony from a lawyer and criminal defendant who appeared in Mack's court and alleged that the judge retaliated against them for declining to enthusiastically participate in the courtroom prayers. The lawyer characterized Mack as "unprofessional and hostile" and suggested that Mack awarded him only "the bare minimum relief to which [he] was entitled." The affiant who appeared in Mack's court as a criminal defendant testified that she had "very little doubt" that the judge tried to increase a fine levied against her in a plea agreement because of her "apathy" surrounding the prayer. Mack insists that he "had no prior knowledge of [her] participation or lack thereof in the opening ceremonies." Four years after FFRF first filed the lawsuit, a federal judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, concluding that the "defendant's practice of opening regular court proceedings with religious prayers is unconstitutional." A three-judge panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay in July 2021, which allowed the chaplain-led invocations to resume while litigation continued. "The Fifth Circuit rightly concluded that Judge Mack's brief ceremony respects a rich historical tradition of opening judicial proceedings with an invocation," stated Bradley Hubbard, an attorney who argued the case before the court in April. "As the court explained, the 'history, character, and context' of Judge Mack's ceremony 'show that it is no establishment at all.'" As highlighted on his campaign website, Mack became justice of the peace for Precinct 1 in Montgomery County, located near Houston, in 2014. His territory covers the northern portion of the county. He won a full term unopposed in 2014 and was re-elected without major party opposition in 2018. Primary election results from this past spring show that Mack faces no major party opposition as he runs for a third term this fall. An open letter to young men and women in ministry (part 2) As I reflect on 80 years of life at least 50 of them spent in some form of church ministry I am blessed to think about the great people God used to teach me vital principles. As I thought about them, I happened across a thought by William Butler Yeats: Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. The people I am citing in this three-part series (see here for part 1) truly lit my fire and have been used by God across the decades to keep it hot. Their light continues to shine and give me illumination. I start this installment with Lula B. Connell, the secretary at my childhood home church and briefly my boss. I started high school in 1956 when our family budget was tight. My mother fretted over how we would get the 50 cents a day for my lunch. Pastor Emmett Williams created a job for me working all day every Saturday as Miss Connells assistant. I discovered she could speak portions of nine languages and believed that turpentine would heal any disease. She was fierce in her focus, while in my mind I rode into countless sunsets with Roy Rogers until Miss Connell would lasso me and get me back on her trail. A major task there was printing and hand-folding 1,400 Sunday bulletins on an ink-splattering mimeograph machine. Despite its inkiness, Miss Connell would not tolerate even the slightest smudges. As a teenaged boy, I wanted to get my work done and get out into the quick-fading Saturday. However, week by week, she kept me working until midnight and sometimes beyond. On one occasion she found one of those inky streaks, which was about the length of a strand of DNA, and she ordered me to take a pencil eraser and rub off the offending blotch from all 1,400 bulletins. I literally shook in anger and frustration. Then one day I discovered that because I worked on an hourly rate basis, Miss Connell was intentionally finding things wrong to extend my hours and hence my pay. Miss Connell taught me the principles of being sensitive to the hidden needs of others and helping them meet those needs through their own work. She also conveyed to me the importance of getting rid of all the ink blotches that seemed so small, but together could smear an entire project. Dr. Emmett Williams, pastor of that church, didnt like to be called doctor because his degree was honorary, and he felt he had done nothing to deserve it. However, if anyone deserved to be so honored, it was Emmett Williams. After all, he looked like Moses up there in the pulpit as he preached a carefully studied exposition of Scripture Sunday mornings and nights. I learned in Sunday School that I should read my Bible daily, and usually, I did. Sometimes I would run into questions about the Scriptures, but that was no problem because Dr. Williams lived around the corner from my house. I was about 9 when I discovered this amazing fact. I still remember a day when I ran head-on into one of those difficult passages, took my Bible, leaped onto my bike, and knocked on Pastor Williams front door. He and Ms. Williams graciously invited me in. Years later when I became a senior pastor, I thought about the principle I learned: Be like Jesus and His servant Emmett Williams and dont turn the little ones away (or the big ones either). Dr. Williams was my pastor in my youngest years, but H. Edwin Young became my pastor in later years. I joined his staff at Second Baptist Church, Houston, in 2002, and served under him for almost 20 years. I quickly discovered that Ed Young treasured whole-person health in spirit, soul, and body and set the pace for all his staff and congregation. When Second Baptists pastor search committee reached out to him in 1978, the congregation had shrunk to an attendance of 300-500, while the church he was already serving had thousands of members and attendees. Nevertheless, Dr. Young listened to the Holy Spirit, and spent an exploratory week in Houston getting a vision, not just for one neighborhood, but the whole of Americas fourth largest metropolis. Ultimately, Second Baptist would grow under his leadership to a membership of more than 80,000 on six campuses. Edwin would say frequently that his greatest thrill was not preaching to thousands but witnessing to and winning individuals to Christ. Remarkably, in his 80s he has continued to go every summer to beach retreat with thousands of teens, speaking to them nightly with the zest of a much younger man and baptizing multitudes. Edwin inspired in me the importance of never writing off anyone either individually, generationally, racially, economically, or by any other category. When 40,000 evacuees descended on Houston after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Edwin committed Second Baptist to help house and feed them all. The principle that emerged was this: Everything stops when people are homeless, hungry, and dying. I learned through Ed Young that bigness without passion for evangelism, disciple-making, servanthood, and missions is nothing more than cold institutionalism. Though I am old in years the fire lit in me by people like these still burns. Where I have done well, it is through their examples and teaching. Where I have missed the mark, I have no one to blame but myself. So, young man and woman, focus on those who are lighting your fire for ministry now. They are the men and women whose memory will still be inspiring and informing you when you are 80. Arizona's new school choice law expected to survive petition drive Opponents of Arizona's school voucher law have reportedly failed to file enough valid signatures to overturn the recently passed measure deemed to be one of the most robust school choice policies in the United States. Beth Lewis, executive director of public school advocacy group Save Our Schools Arizona, which opposes school choice policies, announced Friday that she and her group had filed a petition against Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program. The program ensures all K-12 students are eligible for scholarship funds and receive help toward educational expenses through the state. Families can receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, micro schools, tutoring or other educational services. The school choice law, said to be the most robust in the nation, faced opposition from teachers' unions. The petition's goal was to temporarily halt the program and put the measure on the ballot for voters to decide in 2024. It was initially reported that Lewis' group collected more than 140,000 signatures, more than the 118,823 signatures required. However, an organization supporting the school choice policy reported Monday that based on petition sheets released by the Secretary of State's office, only 88,866 signatures were submitted. "The tremendous shortfall in signatures is apparent based on the petition sheets made available by the Secretary of State's office, which is due to make a final determination on the effort," a statement from the libertarian think tank Goldwater Institute reads. Lewis told The Associated Press that she is "incredibly disappointed with the numbers" but is waiting on "accurate numbers" from the Secretary of State's office. Goldwater Institute CEO Victor Riches says the preliminary result suggests that "Arizona families have rejected special interests' attempts to take away their ability to choose the education that best meets their child's unique needs." "Families deserve the right to choose the best education option for their children, regardless of zip code, and now, they'll once again be able to exercise that right by applying for ESAs," Riches said. In an interview with Salon, Lewis claimed that groups like American Federation for Children and the conservative Goldwater Institute have signaled "massive legal battles" over the petition and validating signatures. Petitions are often challenged to check for issues such as incomplete addresses and duplicate signatures. The Save Our Schools group ran a similar referendum campaign against a universal voucher law in 2018, in which it gathered around 118,000 signatures, more than the 76,000 required. Lewis claimed that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's recent expansion of the state Supreme Court and new restrictions requiring petitioners gather a certain percentage of signatures from each county required them to collect more than in 2018. After it was reported that Save Our Schools gathered enough signatures, Jason Bedrick, a research fellow at the national conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, argued in a Friday Twitter thread that Lewis and her group celebrated too early. Citing Ballotpedia, Bedrick noted that the group obtained around 140,000 signatures when the average validity rate is around 70%, meaning they would have had to have obtained around 150,000 signatures. The research fellow claimed that Save Our Schools would need an 84% validity rate. Bedrick believes the "greatest hurdle" to the petitions is that most parents in the state favor school choice, pointing to a recent Morning Consult poll. According to the survey, 66% of Arizonians and 75% of parents with school-age children said they support ESA. The survey contained a sample size of 621 people, and 295 were parents with school children. Arizona adopted the ESA program in July, ensuring all K-12 students are eligible for scholarship funds. The legislation was sponsored by Arizona House Majority Leader Ben Toma, a Republican, and signed by Gov. Ducey earlier this summer. "This is a monumental moment for all of Arizona's students. Our kids will no longer be locked in underperforming schools. Today, we're unlocking a whole new world of opportunity for them and their parents," Gov. Ducey said. "With this legislation, Arizona cements itself as the top state for school choice and as the first state in the nation to offer all families the option to choose the school setting that works best for them," he continued. "Every family in Arizona should have access to a high-quality education with dedicated teachers." In August, the nonpartisan research group Education Next reported that around 2 million fewer students are enrolled in public schools nationwide since the spring of 2020 when in-person learning ceased during the pandemic. From 2020-2022, public school enrollment declined from 81% to 76.5%, while charter school enrollment increased from 5% to 7.2%. In addition, private school enrollment increased from 8% to 9.7%, and homeschooling rose from 6% to 6.6%. Beth and Alex Malarkey of the 'Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' book evicted from their home by ex-husband An Ohio mother is asking the public to pray for her family after she and her quadriplegic son who's best known for fabricating a story about going to Heaven were evicted from their home by her ex-husband. Beth Malarkey and her 24-year-old son, Alex, were ordered to leave their home in Huntsville, Ohio, located roughly 40 miles northwest of Columbus, following a hearing on Oct. 1. Alex was left a quadriplegic following a 2004 car accident, which was made famous in the 2010 bestseller The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven. In 2015, Malarkey admitted the tale was a total fabrication made up by his father, Kevin Malarkey, who has since divorced Beth and continues to receive 100% of the royalties from the book. He also maintains that Alex's story was true. Following the scandal, Alex sent a letter to LifeWay Christian Stores and other faith-based booksellers, explaining why he initially went along with his father's fabrications. "I said I went to Heaven because I thought it would get me attention, Malarkey wrote. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible." Now, after Kevin Malarkey filed an eviction notice against his ex-wife and son, Beth and Alex have moved into a home in nearby Bellefontaine with some help from the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Kristina Bright to help Beth and Alex move into a more functional home for Alex has raised over $108,000 as of Tuesday. Bright said while the Malarkeys' new home isnt permanent, it will do for now. This new home is showing them what will and will not work when they get their permanent home, Bright wrote. We do not know how long this part of the journey will be, we need to see what the father decides to do and when. Beth told the Bellefontaine Examiner her local attorney, Thomas Novack, was set to appeal their eviction earlier last month before he died unexpectedly. Now, Beth is asking for prayers as she and her son face an uncertain future. If you could please continue to pray for wisdom for all involved as well as peaceful resolutions and willingness to work toward those, she told the Examiner. This life is but a mist as the Bible says. We continue to seek to honor God in navigating this world while we are here. It can be very painful and challenging. Nothing happens without a purpose behind it. Trusting God, thankful for the sacrifice of His Son, and as I continue to say But God. While its not clear what the Malarkeys timeline is going forward, Bright asked their supporters to please continue to pray that the father sells the home, release Beth from the mortgage, and then leaves them alone. He has hurt them enough, she added. Former People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks to the press as he leaves the Seoul Southern District Court after attending a questioning session, in this file photo taken Sept. 28. Yonhap The ruling People Power Party (PPP) suspended the membership of former leader Lee Jun-seok for another year Friday in addition to a six-month suspension imposed earlier, effectively thwarting his run in the 2024 general elections. The PPP's ethics committee made the decision, holding Lee accountable for criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol and the party with excessive expressions and filing a series of injunction suits against the party's decision to form an emergency leadership committee. With Friday's decision, Lee's membership will be suspended for a total of 1 1/2 years. In July, the ethics panel imposed a six-month suspension on Lee over allegations he received sexual services as a bribe and attempted to cover it up. "Lee Jun-seok engaged in harmful acts against the party, breached the party's regulations he should have kept as a party member and drove out the public's support," committee chief Lee Yang-hee told a press briefing following a five-hour meeting. Lee has openly gone up against President Yoon Suk-yeol and his core associates, after the PPP suspended his party membership in July and launched an emergency leadership committee that automatically removed him from office. He has since filed a string of injunctions against the party's new leadership and stepped up criticism of Yoon and party leaders, even likening Yoon to "shingunbu," a term that refers to military officers led by former President Chun Doo-hwan, who came to power through a coup and suppressed democracy movements. The ethics committee launched a second round of a disciplinary procedure against Lee last month, saying he used "insulting, reprehensible" expressions against party members and lawmakers "without objective grounds," and undermined unity and the party's prestige. But Lee is unlikely to comply. The former chair did not comply with the committee's request for him to attend the meeting and has claimed that he will file a sixth injunction against the party regardless of the decision. The committee's decision came hours after the Seoul Southern District Court recognized the effectiveness of a PPP emergency leadership committee, dismissing three separate injunctions filed by Lee against the PPP's new emergency leadership committee. The committee chief Lee said the court ruling did not affect the ethics committee decision in any way. (Yonhap) Biden blasts 15-week abortion ban: My church doesnt even make that argument President Biden criticized Sen. Lindsey Grahams proposed bill that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of gestation nationwide, saying, My church doesnt even make that argument now. Biden blasted Republicans at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in New York last week over Graham's bill, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this month. It's the first pro-life legislation introduced at the federal level since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973. The Dobbs decision does not ban abortion nationwide but gives state and federal lawmakers the authority to set limits on abortion or increase gestational ages for abortion. Several states have moved to ban abortion in the weeks following the Dobbs decision, while abortion remains legal up to the moment of birth in other states. Biden said at a DNC fundraising dinner at a private residence in New York Thursday: You have Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and others talking about how theyre gonna, you know, make sure that Roe is forever gone and Dobbs becomes a national law. He added, "My generic point and I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic my church doesnt even make that argument now. And so were in a situation where things have changed a lot. But theyve [Republicans] gotten more extreme in their positions." The Catholic Church, of course, never justifies the killing of an innocent person by abortion, Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said in response to Bidens claim. In response to the Dobbs decision, congressional Democrats have restarted their earlier efforts to pass the so-called Womens Health Protection Act, which would codify abortion into federal law and limit the ability of states to pass pro-life laws. Biden claimed that the bill provides for no exceptions rape, incest, no exceptions. The bill includes exceptions in cases of rape, incest and physical dangers to the life of the mother, The Hill noted. Biden then said, I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic, my church doesnt even make that argument, adding, Im going to veto the bill. A few months before Bidens speech at the DNC fundraiser, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's archbishop said the Democratic leader wouldn't be allowed to receive communion due to her staunch support and advocacy for abortion. In May, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone sent a letter to Pelosi, D-Calif., a practicing Catholic, informing her that she had been warned to either repudiate your advocacy for abortion rights or refrain from referring to your Catholic faith in public and receiving Holy Communion. Bidens presidency has intensified the debate among American Catholic leaders over whether Catholic public officeholders who advocate for abortion should be denied communion, a practice done in some dioceses. As Biden campaigned for president ahead of the 2020 presidential election, a priest in South Carolina refused to serve him communion due to his abortion advocacy. Supporters of withholding communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians, both inside and outside the Church hierarchy, point to the Churchs Code of Canon Law as the justification for their position. The Code of Canon Law states that those who are obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion. However, last November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a document on communion that didnt overtly call for a ban on pro-choice politicians receiving the sacrament despite. At a general meeting at the time, bishops overwhelmingly approved a document from the USCCBs Committee on Doctrine known as The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church. Eight bishops voted against the document, while 222 bishops voted in favor. Three abstained. However, the document stated that Catholic laity who exercise some form of public authority have a special responsibility to form their consciences in accord with the Churchs faith and the moral law, and to serve the human family by upholding human life and dignity. It read, As Christians, we bear the responsibility to promote the life and dignity of the human person, and to love and to protect the most vulnerable in our midst: the unborn, migrants and refugees, victims of racial injustice, the sick and the elderly. California law creating 'sanctuary' for child gender surgeries raises parental rights concerns California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law that critics say would effectively make California a sanctuary state for trans-identified minors seeking life-altering surgeries and hormones. A prominent legal group contends the new law creates serious parental rights concerns. Newsom signed into law SB 107 Thursday, which contains several provisions related to "gender-affirming healthcare." The measure passed the California State Assembly in a 60-19 vote on Aug. 29, followed by a 30-9 vote in the California Senate on Aug. 31. In both cases, the vote fell along party lines, with all support coming from Democrats and all opposition coming from Republicans. The legislation amends the Sunshine State's family code to grant a state court "temporary emergency jurisdiction" if a child "is subjected to, or threatened with, mistreatment or abuse, or because the child has been unable to obtain gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care." Opponents of the law, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, believe the language opens the door for a state court to take a child away from a parent or guardian who refuses to allow their trans-identified children to undergo puberty suppression, cross-sex hormone regimens or body-mutilating gender transition surgeries. The law's proponents contend that the new law doesn't give the state courts any additional authority than they already have. The bill also bars healthcare providers, insurers and contractors from "releasing medical information related to a person or entity allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care" when requested by other state law enforcement agencies bringing criminal action against "a person or entity that allows a child to receive gender-affirming health care." Additionally, the measure prohibits healthcare providers from releasing medical information if "the information is being requested pursuant to another state's law that authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person or entity who allows a child to receive gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care." The Alliance Defending Freedom, a national legal nonprofit that has won cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, is one of several organizations that have expressed concerns about the implications of the new law. In an Aug. 2 letter to the California Assembly Committee on Appropriations, ADF Senior Counsel Matt Sharp warned that "SB 107 violates parental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution by giving California courts the ability to strip parents who reside in another state of their parental rights if their child travels to California to obtain gender transition procedures." "This bill would lead to significant harm to families throughout the country," Sharp predicted. Sharp outlined several scenarios that, he believes, could result following the legislation's passage, such as "an unfit parent about to lose custody could travel to California with the child, give the child puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, and in doing so win custody under SB 107, even if the home-state court has already entered judgment on the case." In addition, Sharp claims that "parents whose child visits a relative in California could lose custody of their child forever if the relative persuades the child to identify as a different gender during the visit." Another potential consequence of the bill, Sharp claims, involves the deprivation of jurisdiction from courts in other states if "the case involved gender identity and the child travels to California, even if all of the evidence and parties involved in the case are located in the home state." "Parents of children who never travel to California could be denied medical information about their child if the child obtains puberty blockers from a doctor in California via telemedicine," Sharp added, calling the bill California's attempt to "undermine parental rights [and] pit children against their parents." A spokesperson for Sen. Scott Wiener, who sponsored the bill, told Reuters that the legislation "doesn't give courts (new) authority to take custody from parents of minors seeking gender-affirming care." "All the bill does is provide guidance to courts about hearing cases where they already are allowed to do so under California law," the spokesperson said. However, the bill does give jurisdiction to state courts for children who travel to California for "gender-affirming healthcare" they can't receive elsewhere under a category of "emergencies" because the child has been "unable to obtain gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care." "State courts around the country have the authority to consider whether to retain jurisdiction over a custody matter involving a child who recently came into the state," Asaf Orr, an attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, told Reuters. "This typically occurs in instances of domestic violence or other crisis situations. This law simply clarifies that courts should retain jurisdiction in situations where a parent brings their child to California so that they can obtain medical treatment for gender dysphoria from a state that has banned or restricted access to that care." Emilie Kao, the senior counsel and vice president of advocacy strategy at Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement that the new law is an "astonishing disregard for the Constitution and the laws of other states." "California will now be able to take away custody of children from their own parents no matter what state they're from and deny families the right to access their child's medical information," she said. "Parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and care of their children, which includes making the best decisions regarding their children's mental, emotional, and physical health." Kao warned the new law is the "latest in an onslaught of attacks against parental rights and a demonstration of just how far some governments are willing to go to replace parents as the ultimate decision makers of what's best for children." Other states have passed laws prohibiting children from receiving gender transition surgeries, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas have implemented laws banning children from obtaining such procedures. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the state's Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton have classified them as a form of child abuse. The American College of Pediatricians has maintained that "there is not a single long-term study to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for transgender-believing youth." The group, which describes itself as a "national organization of pediatricians and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children," lists "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility" as possible side effects of puberty blockers. ACP reports that the use of cross-sex hormones is accompanied by "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers." Parental rights have developed into a major hot-button issue in American politics. Some school districts in the U.S., including Leon County Public Schools in Florida and Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, have been sued for policies requiring teachers to affirm trans-identified children's preferred gender identities without their parental consent. A bill signed into law by Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year instructs school districts not to enact policies that keep parents in the dark about any changes to their children's mental health. Florida forbids the adoption of "procedures or student support forms that prohibit school district personnel from notifying a parent about his or her student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being" that "encourage or have the effect of encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such information." Evangelicals and Trump: Did Christians trade reputation for a seat at the political table? To say the last few years of American politics have been volatile and chaotic would be quite an understatement. With midterm elections just around the corner, and the presidential election cycle looming just beyond that, it seems voters are determined to move beyond the machinations and maneuverings of the last few years. But before that can happen, we must find answers to some tough questions. For example: Was the relationship between Evangelical Christians and Donald Trump a match made in Heaven or a marriage made in Hell? Did Christian conservatives trade their reputation for a seat at the political table? And how did Donald Trump go from unlikely presidential candidate to superhero and political savior in the eyes of his supporters? Apologist and radio host Michael Brown believes that in the last election, millions of sincere Christians seemed to wrap the Gospel in the American flag so tightly that politics became a rallying point of their faith. In his latest book, The Political Seduction of the Church, he rejects the idea that the Church is called to take over society and lays out a strategy for healthy political and cultural engagement. Listen to Brown explain: Brown joins us on the "Crossmap Podcast" to share his thoughts on whether Christians should even be involved in politics and why, as a body of believers, we must do better. Listen as he shares why he thinks false prophecies were given during President Trump's re-election campaign in 2020 and how to recognize some surefire ways that you have been politically seduced. Justice Dept. indicts 11 pro-life activists for blocking abortion clinic entrance The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the arrest of 11 pro-life activists for violating federal law by blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic in Tennessee. The DOJ released a statement on Wednesday saying that an unsealed federal indictment charged 11 people with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The charges follow an indictment from a grand jury sitting in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee on Monday. The DOJ identified those charged with FACE Act violations as Chester Gallagher, 73, of Lebanon, Tennessee; Heather Idoni, 58, Calvin Zastrow, 57; and Caroline Davis, 24; all from Michigan; Coleman Boyd, 51, of Bolton, Mississippi; Dennis Green, 56, of Cumberland, Virginia; Paul Vaughn, 55, of Centerville, Tennessee; Eva Edl, 87, of Aiken, South Carolina; Eva Zastro, 24, of Dover, Arkansas; James Zastro, 25, of Eldon Missouri; and Paul Place, 24, of Centerville, Tennessee. "The indictment alleges that, beginning in February 2021, Chester Gallagher utilized social media to promote a series of anti-abortion events scheduled for March 4-7, 2021, in the Nashville area," the DOJ's statement reads. "On March 4, 2021, Coleman Boyd and Chester [Gallagher] advertised the blockade of the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, which was planned for the following day." Noting that Gallagher characterized the blockade as a "rescue" on his social media account, the DOJ contends that the "coconspirators and others blocked the clinic's entry doors and prevented a patient and an employee from entering." The DOJ statement asserts that the 11 people "used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, and interfere with employees of the clinic and a patient seeking reproductive health services." Seven of the 11 defendants face conspiracy charges under the FACE Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. The remaining defendants, charged with misdemeanors, could face up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine. Passed in 1994, the FACE Act subjects anyone who attempts "to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from, obtaining or providing reproductive health services" to federal charges. Randall Terry, the founder of the pro-life activist organization Operation Rescue, told The Christian Post in an earlier interview that the FACE Act "effectively broke the back of our movement." Terry said before the act was enacted, pro-life protesters who blocked the entrances to abortion clinics would only face local trespassing charges instead of federal charges. In a statement Thursday, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national pro-life grassroots advocacy organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, condemned the 11 indictments as the latest example of "the Biden administration's egregious abuse of the Justice Department." "Pro-abortion Democrats will stop at nothing to protect the abortion industry that spends millions to elect them, while demonizing pro-life advocates working to save lives and turning a blind eye to violence against them," stated Dannenfelser. Dannenfelser believes the federal government has adopted a double standard in enforcing the law, arguing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has done little to investigate the rise of vandalism and violence targeting pro-life pregnancy care centers nationwide this year. The Christian Post has compiled lists of vandalism incidents that have occurred following the leaking of the U.S. Supreme Court's draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization determining that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion and additional vandalism that has taken place after the Dobbs decision was formally announced in June. "Pregnancy centers have been firebombed, an elderly canvasser peacefully exercising her First Amendment rights was shot in the back, and the pro-life movement's calls for equal justice under the law have been ignored," Dannenfelser added. "Still, the FBI refuses to conduct a transparent investigation and state whether any arrests have been made in scores of attacks since the leak of the Dobbs decision." The latest indictments under the FACE Act come less than two weeks after the DOJ and FBI faced criticism for the early-morning arrest at pro-life activist Mark Houck's home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The DOJ announced Houck's indictment on Sept. 23, accusing him of twice assaulting a man who served as "a volunteer reproductive health care clinic escort" outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia. A fundraiser for Houck's family insisted that he peacefully prayed outside the Philadelphia clinic when the escort began to harass his son. "When one of the escorts began harassing Mark's son they walked down the street away from the entrance to the building. The escort followed them, and when he continued yelling at Mark's son, Mark pushed him away," an entry on the fundraiser page states. Under the terms of his release on $10,000 bail, Houck must surrender his passport and firearms in addition to refraining from traveling outside the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the legal proceedings against him are unfolding. Houck also cannot engage in prayer or sidewalk counseling at the Planned Parenthood clinic where the altercation occurred. As Houck faces the possibility of fines up to $350,000, the fundraiser for his family has raised over $368,000 as of Friday afternoon. How support from a church, pro-life group convinced a single mom not to abort her baby Nearly seven years ago, Maddie Martinez was working a full-time job that she really loved and sought to move up in the company. These aspirations, she said, led her to strongly consider having an abortion after she became pregnant. However, an encounter with a Love Box from the pro-life organization Embrace Grace convinced her to choose a different path. Now in her early 30s, Martinez works as the group coordinator for the Hurst, Texas-based pro-life ministry Embrace Grace which creates Love Boxes for women facing unplanned pregnancies. Inside each box is a personal invitation to a support group, stories shared by other mothers, a letter to give the young woman hope, a journal, a baby onesie that says Best Gift ever and A Bump in Life book featuring testimonies to offer hope to single moms, the website states. Embrace Grace distributes Love Boxes to pregnancy centers located near churches that partner with the pro-life organization that offer support groups for women facing unplanned pregnancies. Embrace Graces 2021 Impact Report revealed the existence of 663 support groups across 48 states and seven countries. The organization is one of several pro-life groups that have gained renewed national attention following the United States Supreme Courts June 24 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. In Dobbs, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Following the Dobbs decision, several states have banned or added regulations on abortion. Pro-life activists like Live Action founder Lila Rose continue to stress the importance of providing for mothers facing unplanned pregnancies, no matter where they live. While the legality of abortion in the U.S. has changed in certain states, the mission of Embrace Grace remains the same: to inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. In an interview with The Christian Post, Martinez extolled the work of Embrace Grace that gave her the strength to ditch her plan to have an abortion and refocus her life. Maybe I could do this I was 24 when I got pregnant, Martinez recalled. I had graduated college, had a really great job and was pretty self-sufficient, but I wanted to keep moving up in that company that I was with. And so, thats why I really wanted to have the abortion. Martinez told CP that she wasnt married at the time and knew that if I was going to be a mom, that I was going to do it alone, adding, I knew that nobody else was going to parent with me. Having made up her mind that she was going to have an abortion, Martinez needed somebody to take me to my appointment and pick me up from the appointment and it couldnt be Uber because it had to be the same person signing off that they were going to take care of me. Martinez sought help from her sister, who is three years younger and already had experience with Embrace Grace. She really tried to talk me out of it, but I was pretty adamant, Martinez said, referring to the abortion that had already been scheduled. Seeing that Martinez was determined to abort her baby, her sister sought help from Embrace Graces group leader Amy Ford, who co-founded the organization. Ford advised Martinezs sister to speak words of life over her. You encourage her, and you tell her she could be a good mom, Ford advised. When Martinezs sister explained that she already did that and thats not working, Ford agreed to meet and present her with a box like those going to pregnancy centers to help moms make a life-affirming decision for their [babies]. Since Martinez lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where Embrace Grace is located, Ford was able to meet and present her with a gift bag and offer her support. The Love Box Martinez received, which was called the Love Bag at the time, contained all the items included in a typical package delivered to a pregnancy resource center except the addition of a onesie. She let me open it as if it was a gift and read the handwritten letter that was in there. She read it out loud to me, and just told me that I was a really great aunt, and I could be a really amazing mom, too, and I just needed to trust that God had a plan for me, Martinez said. I abandoned the appointment. I never went. While nobody put pressure on Martinez to have an abortion, the few people in her life she talked to about the pregnancy said they would support her no matter what decision she made. Her sister was the exception, however, pleading for her babys life: Dont have an abortion. Martinez responded to her sisters persistence by giving her an ultimatum: Either youre going to help me or youre not. Her sister ultimately assured her that shed be supportive regardless of her ultimate decision. But she continued to call things out in me and really helped me see that this wasnt about an abortion, this was about me stepping into a greater calling, she added. Along with her sisters insistence that she change her mind about abortion, Martinez said the book she received as part of the Love Box, titled A Bump in Life, also inspired her to cancel the abortion clinic appointment. The evening before she was scheduled to have the first abortion clinic appointment, Martinez stayed up all night reading the book because she couldnt sleep. The book contained stories of mothers who chose life after facing unplanned pregnancies. Maybe it wasnt the healthiest thing to do, but I really was comparing my situation with the ones in the stories, and I just kept thinking, Wow, if she could do that, then I could do that, she said. Some of them were homeless; some of them conceived out of rape; some of them were pastors kids and there was a lot of pressure on them. For me ... that wasnt the case. Martinez realized that, unlike the women in the book, I did have a job, I did have a home, I did have a family who I knew would be supportive. When it got time for me to head over to the abortion clinic, I couldnt do it and I didnt want to do it. She attributed her hesitancy about having the abortion to the book, which helped plant seeds of hope in me that I could be a good mom, that I could do this. That book was in the bag that was gifted to me from my sister and so, I just picked it up and read it. I think I could have read any other book, but I just happened to pick up that one and I really started to think maybe I could have a baby, maybe I could be a good mom; maybe I could do this. And then my alarm went off for me to get ready for the day and that was the day I was going to have the abortion. And I think in some ways, that book stuck with me throughout the day. Martinez told CP she was grateful to have her sister beside her at this point in her life. She knew that once I said I cant do it, she wasnt going to let me change my mind again. What the church is supposed to look like After deciding to continue her pregnancy, Martinez developed a relationship with Embrace Grace. She credits the ministry with helping her to deepen her faith. Before really understanding who God was, I just went to church on Sunday and I knew that I felt like I was breaking all of the rules that had been set for me, like the Ten Commandments and the things that are said in the Bible that youre not supposed to do, and I was doing them all, Martinez shared. And then I would go to church on Sunday and ask for forgiveness and then start all over again. And so, it was just this vicious cycle but I didnt have a relationship with the Lord. I knew how to go to church, I knew how to pray, but that was it. Hannah Morris, donor relations manager for Embrace Grace, described her organizations 12-week program for single mothers facing unplanned pregnancies as a source of emotional support, spiritual support [and] practical support. Embrace Grace enabled Martinez to discover that God already had this plan and that by getting pregnant He wasnt disappointed in me, and He wasnt angry with me. From there, Martinez started to see God in a different way and trust Him in a lot of areas. I surrendered my life to God for the last time and Im not exaggerating, she declared. Ive probably done it several hundred times and tried and tried and tried and it was like this rock bottom point for me that I was pregnant, and I knew that my baby wasnt conceived in a way that I could be proud of, but I could still be someone He could be proud of. As part of the Embrace Grace program, support group members throw a baby shower for the expectant mother, which Martinez fondly remembered as overwhelming. Martinez had begun attending a nearby church that partnered with Embrace Grace but did not officially join the faith community. Leading up to the baby shower, two women at the church adopted Martinez and her then-unborn baby for a baby shower and bought numerous baby items and wrapped the gifts in celebration of her and her unborn child. At Martinezs baby shower, members of the support group stacked the presents really, really high on this table to the point where you couldnt see the other side of the room because the stack of gifts was so high. While she didnt know these women, Martinez discovered that they were so excited to meet me and they just said, I want to know everything about you. They also shared their enthusiasm for her and her new life: We could not wait to buy gifts for you and your baby. Martinezs father, who helped her take the numerous gifts to her apartment, asked, You mean to tell me that people that you dont know from a church that you dont regularly go to bought you all these gifts? When she answered in the affirmative, her father replied, Thats what the church is supposed to look like. Thats what its supposed to be, he added as tears filled his eyes. I could not agree with him more that thats what it was supposed to look like. Its just helping and loving people where theyre at, without the expectation of what you think they should be doing or who you think they should be. To this day, Martinez stays in contact with the church ladies who threw her a baby shower. They put their names and numbers in a card for me, and I remember for birthdays after that, I would send them pictures and just tell them how thankful I was for them. Being a mom isnt the end of the world Martinezs pregnancy marked the beginning of her relationship with Embrace Grace. Deciding that she had to help other moms see that abortion isnt a solution even though it feels like one, Martinez began volunteering there all the time. I would take days off work to volunteer and build those Love Boxes and write those letters and talk to anybody who was there, anybody who would listen," she told CP. I would tell them about what I experienced, how I abandoned my abortion appointment and how my life really changed after I got to understand who God was and the relationship He wanted with me through Embrace Grace and how pro-lifers arent angry people and they didnt only care about my baby. I just knew that if I could help just one mom understand that being a mom isnt the end of the world, then I did something right and I did something to help somebody the way that I was helped, Martinez proclaimed. For her part, Martinez discovered this soon after giving birth to her son, Mateo, on Aug. 1, 2016. Once I had my baby, everything shifted, she explained. Perspectives shifted and I really just became a lot more thankful and grateful for my parents and for their support in so many aspects and really being able to see what Embrace Grace was doing for moms. Martinez eventually transitioned from volunteering at Embrace Grace on the side to working for the ministry full time after employees there asked if she had a job and encouraged her to send them her resume. After a couple of interviews, they hired me and Ive been there for five years now and hopefully for a lot more because this is my dream job. I love it. In addition to transitioning to full-time work at Embrace Grace, Martinez started Embrace Life, a ministry for single parents, at her church. She attended a church with an Embrace Grace group during her pregnancy and later learned there was another campus of the same church much closer to her home: I knew that I wanted to start an Embrace Grace group at some point. I think I just wanted to get single motherhood under my belt first. Martinez described the other members of the Embrace Life group at her church as like family, adding, My son loves them all. As Morris highlighted, Embrace Life is a yearlong program that focuses on practical needs in addition to helping participants discover their identity in Christ. They talk about budgeting, they talk about parenting, they talk about dating while youre a single mom, she said. We also have a group for dads called Embrace Legacy. With Mateo recently celebrating his sixth birthday, Martinez has come to fully embrace motherhood. My son is 6 years old and hes my only one, she said. Its just me and him. Hes literally the love of my life. He really is. I thought he would ruin my life and hes done so much to just enrich it, to just make it this beautiful life. I always say that the Love Box saved my baby. And in a lot of ways, my son saved me, Martinez added. He really helped me to step into being brave. The proud mother described her son as this combination of silly and goofy and sweet and tender. She expressed gratitude that hes not afraid to stand up for people, stressing that he is absolutely fearless and amazing. Martinez declared that she cant imagine doing life without God, whom she credited for helping develop positive character traits in her son: He stood in the gaps for me and my son in so many ways every single day. I dont think that I could have taught him that on my own. I definitely needed God in those areas to show him his full potential really. Front row seats to miracles In her role as group coordinator for Embrace Grace, Martinez has sat in several front row seats to miracles. She has worked there full-time for five years after spending a year volunteering. Working at Embrace Grace, I get to see so many miracles that are happening all over the nation and in different parts of the world. She identified some of her favorite moments on the job as phone calls from group leaders discussing how this girls in a really hard situation and I dont know what to do, I dont know how to help her. Martinez said she stresses to concerned group leaders that we can do only one piece of the puzzle, and we get to trust God to do the rest. Martinez expressed gratitude for all the times when they call back and they say, Youre not going to believe that God has come through for this mom. Embrace Grace group leaders regularly pray that God will come through for women facing unplanned pregnancies, she added. My favorite part is when leaders are sharing stories about how moms come in and theyre shy and reserved and theyre not trusting and when they leave, theyre on fire for God and they cant wait to get more. Although Embrace Grace primarily distributes Love Boxes in bulk to pro-life pregnancy centers, sometimes the organization receives calls from people around the country who are saying, I know somebody whos pregnant and she has an abortion appointment. Embrace Grace's founder heard a similar plea from Martinezs sister in January 2016. In those cases, Martinez said Embrace Grace staff members always offer to talk to that mom. If shes open to talking with us, wed love to talk with her and then we can always try and send her a Love Box. We try to overnight a Love Box to her so that she can get one if theres not one available at the pregnancy center near her. Or [if] she doesnt want to go to the pregnancy center, well overnight a Love Box to her. While Embrace Grace is located in the Dallas area, Martinez said the organization works to reach more churches across the U.S. and around the world by going to conferences and using social media. We have a team thats dedicated to reaching out to anybody and everybody whos reaching out to us about starting a group. And they talk with them. They answer their questions, they help their pastors capture the vision of Embrace Grace as well. God is amazing, and He just keeps opening these doors and these opportunities for people to continue to share about us, she declared. We have many denominations who host Embrace Grace groups. Martinez encouraged prospective partner churches to preview Embrace Grace, see what its about and see if its a fit for their church. Those hoping to start an Embrace Group at their church can find more information on the organizations website. Speaking about the impact the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision had on Embrace Grace, Martinez said she has personally seen more [support] groups come about. I think people now understand that these moms need help. Were starting to see an uptick in groups. Were starting to see an uptick in people trying to gather more resources to share with moms. The big thing for moms who are abortion-minded or who just dont want to be pregnant, they dont know what resources are out there. And so, people are trying to gather resources to give to these moms to say, Hey, heres everybody you can reach out to to help you, and one of those is Embrace Grace. Morris also expressed gratitude for the across the board uptick in donations Embrace Grace had received since the Dobbs decision, specifically pointing to an increase in churches stepping up to start groups as well as monetary gifts. Its been amazing, she said. The amount of Love Boxes that were sending out has increased. More girls are going to pregnancy centers and more love boxes are being handed out. Martinez concluded the interview with CP by crediting Embrace Grace with helping to show pro-life people in a new light. The organization, she reiterated, makes them more real, more human and shows moms that pro-life people arent angry. Her favorite part of Embrace Grace is that they like to take care of moms by ensuring that the babys going to be taken care of. They really care about mom, and they really want her to be the best, healthiest version of herself so she can be the best, healthiest version for her baby. Relational and transformational Highlighting the work the organization does and the relationships it cultivates with pregnancy centers and churches, Morris said Embrace Grace works with over 500 pregnancy centers in the U.S., and said support groups have increased to more than 800 following the Dobbs decision. We provide Love Boxes to a pregnancy center if theres a group within 30 miles of that pregnancy center. We dont want to give Love Boxes out to a girl if theres not a group for her to go to. And so, as new groups start, we connect with pregnancy centers surrounding that area where that group is. Morris added, We have someone on staff who builds relationships with those pregnancy centers, makes sure that they have Love Boxes to give out and have a full understanding of what we do and what the Love Box does. Embrace Graces headquarters has a volunteer station where volunteers work to assemble the Love Boxes, which the group sends to pregnancy centers based on the need for them. Churches also have the option to purchase Love Boxes. A church can do an outreach where they purchase Love Boxes and then they assemble the Love Boxes as a group. And then they take the Love Boxes to their local pregnancy center so that also is kind of a bridge from the church to pregnancy centers to get them connected and a relationship going on, she added. The work culture at Embrace Grace is relational and transformational as opposed to transactional, Morris said. Thats how we treat our group leaders and our pastors that have groups. Our focus and mission really is to teach and train the church to walk alongside these moms, she said. So, our hope is that they are in a deep relationship with these moms to get them really plugged in and connected to their church, to the local church. Although it has now been several years since Martinez went through the Embrace Grace program, she still benefits from the generosity of the organizations donors. Earlier this year, an anonymous donor gifted a car to the pro-life ministry, which Embrace Grace then traded in for two less expensive cars. The organization gave the two cars away to single mothers, one of whom was Martinez. At the time of the car donation earlier this year, Martinez had a car that was consistently breaking down while the other single mom who received a vehicle did not have a car at all. We had a donor who reached out and she said, Hey, I have a car and I really feel like were supposed to give it to a single mom. And so, some of us on staff really prayed about who the car was supposed to [go to]. Morris expressed hope that sharing the story about the car donation would compel other people and encourage them that if they have the means to do something like that, thats another way that they can meet the needs of a single mom. Hispanic Evangelicals much less likely to vote for candidates who support late-term abortions: poll Hispanic Evangelicals are much less likely to vote for a candidate who supports late-term abortion, according to a new poll released ahead of the midterm elections. In conjunction with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, My Faith Votes released the results of a national survey of 1,002 Evangelical Christians and 503 Hispanic Evangelical registered voters Thursday. The poll, commissioned by Heart & Mind Strategies from Aug. 23 to Sept. 6, asked respondents for their thoughts on abortion policy and other political issues facing the United States. The survey presented participants with six statements reflecting a position on the legality of abortion and asked them to identify which statement most closely aligned with their beliefs on the hot-button issue. Just 15% of Evangelical voters said they believe abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants during her entire pregnancy. That number slips to 12% among Hispanic Evangelical voters. Some 5% of Hispanic Evangelicals believe that abortion should only be legal during the first six months of a pregnancy and 18% want to see abortions limited to the first trimester. The remaining 66% expressed support for near-total bans on abortion. Thirty-eight percent of Hispanic Evangelical voters think abortion should only be allowed in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother, while 13% support legal abortion only in cases where the mother is facing a medical emergency. Fifteen percent indicated support for a total ban on abortion. Among the sample of Evangelical voters, 14% believe that abortion should be illegal in all cases; 16% think abortion should only be legal to save the life of the mother; 37% support abortion bans except in cases of rape and incest or to save the life of the mother; 13% want to limit legal abortion to the first three months of pregnancy; 4% support allowing abortions for the first six months of pregnancy, and 15% told pollsters that abortion should remain legal throughout pregnancy. The survey also asked respondents whether they would be more likely or less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supports third-trimester abortions. Only 8% of Hispanic Evangelical voters characterized themselves as much more likely to vote for a candidate who supports third-trimester abortions, while an additional 9% identified themselves as somewhat more likely to do so. While a substantial portion of that demographic group (28%) maintained that support for third-trimester abortion would make them neither more nor less likely to cast their ballot for a particular candidate, a plurality of Hispanic Evangelical voters (39%) cited support for late-term abortions as a factor that would make them much less likely to vote for a candidate. The remaining 16% were somewhat less likely to support a candidate in favor of third-trimester abortions. Among Evangelical voters as a whole, a majority (52%) are less likely to vote for candidates who support late-term abortion, followed by 22% who are neither more nor less likely to do so, 12% who are somewhat less likely to support such candidates, 7% who classified themselves as much more likely to embrace such candidates, and 6% who are somewhat more likely to. The results of the poll are clear: a Democratic Party which supports late-term abortion at any time under any circumstance is a Democratic Party choosing white, elite liberals over Latinos, said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, NHCLC President. It is the equivalent of putting a sign on the partys door that says no Latinos allowed. In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Rodriguez predicted that the Democrats position on abortion would cause Latinos to shift away from the party. To some extent, the shift Rodriguez forecasted has already played out in recent elections. Less than one month after the interview, Republican Mayra Flores won a special election in Texas heavily Hispanic 34th Congressional District. Data compiled by the progressive blog The Daily Kos shows that in the 2016 presidential election, the South Texas-based district supported Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 22 points. By the 2020 presidential election, the Democratic margin of victory decreased to just 4 points. In the 2020 presidential election, exit polling from CNN found that Latinos supported Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump by 33 points. The most recent generic ballot poll conducted by the Economist/YouGov, which asks voters which party they would like to have control of Congress, finds Hispanics favoring the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate by 17 points. Polls conducted earlier in the year and listed by Rodriguez as evidence that Latinos are abandoning the Democratic Party in droves showed Hispanics favoring Republican candidates by 13 points and 9 points. While the views of Hispanic Evangelical voters and Evangelical voters as a whole on the issue of abortion are nearly identical, Hispanic Evangelicals are less likely than their non-Hispanic counterparts to disapprove of President Bidens job performance on issues other than abortion. Specifically, while 75% of Evangelical voters disapprove of Bidens handling of the unauthorized entry of non-U.S. citizens at the Southern border with Mexico," disapproval of the administrations handling of the issue dropped to 62% among Hispanic Evangelicals. Majorities of Evangelical voters (72%) and Hispanic Evangelical voters (66%) disapproved of Bidens handling of the economy. The survey measured disapproval of the presidents handling of foreign relations with China at 58% among Hispanic Evangelical voters and 70% among Evangelical Voters. A similar gap exists in the approval ratings of Bidens handling of foreign policy, in general, between Hispanic Evangelicals (56%) and Evangelical voters (67%). Similarly, a higher share of Evangelical voters (71%) disapprove of a catch and release policy for illegal immigrants than Hispanic Evangelical voters (56%). Seventy-one percent of Evangelical voters disapprove of Bidens handling of foreign relations with Iran, with a slightly smaller share of Hispanic Evangelical voters (64%) also expressing disapproval. Overall, majorities of Hispanic Evangelical voters (57%) and Evangelical voters (66%) expressed disapproval of the presidents job performance. The survey comes after abortion has emerged as a major issue in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization finding that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion. While polling shows the American public as a whole supporting abortion at some point during a pregnancy, most surveys also illustrate opposition to late-term abortion. Congressional Democrats have repeatedly sought to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which would codify a right to abortion into federal law and limit the ability of states to enact abortion restrictions. Critics of the legislation have slammed it as a method of enshrining late-term abortion into federal law. One cheer for Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, ruling from 1985-1991. Since his death a few days ago, we have seen many articles praising Gorbachev for his role, along with President Ronald Reagan, in ending the Cold War. Let it be stated clearly they did not end the Cold War. America, under Reagans leadership, won the Cold War, and Gorbachev realized this and acquiesced to the inevitable. Reagan was the first American president to come to office who understood that the Soviet Union was not only an evil empire, but that the Soviet Union was not the emerging future and was destined for the ash heap of history. All the previous presidents (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter) to varying degrees were dedicated to coexisting with the Soviet Union and containing its malign influence in the world. Reagan came to office believing that the Soviet Union was a spent force, a decaying empire hollowing out from the inside. For example, Reagan understood that the Soviet Union was expending a staggering amount of money on its military (perhaps half of its entire economy), whereas the U.S. was spending about 6% of its federal budget on defense. Reagan understood that America and the Soviet Union were in an arms race and we were jogging while the Soviets were sprinting. President Reagan reasoned that if we increased the pace, even slightly, the Soviets would soon completely wreck their economy trying to keep up. The Star Wars initiative really upped the stakes. Gorbachev understood that Star Wars would make their missiles obsolete before they could steal the technology and duplicate it the way they had with the atomic bomb. Shortly after Gorbachevs ascension, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher went to Moscow on a diplomatic mission. She returned and told Reagan, This is a man we can deal with. She recognized in Gorbachev an understanding of the wider world that had seemed to allude previous Soviet leaders. Gorbachev had also looked at the U.S.S.R.s financial books and knew the Soviet Union was bankrupting itself. Gorbachev tried to open Soviet society at least partially, with his glasnost (the fact of being public or wider dissemination of information) and perestroika (restructuring). While this greatly encouraged the Soviet population, the Communist ruling class detested and feared the reforms. Gorbachev was desperate to reduce defense expenditures in order to reform a stagnant, moribund economy. Reagan sensed an opening and the two ended up meeting at a historic summit in Iceland in October 1986. While the talks ultimately collapsed, the remarkable progress that had been made led to the breakthrough represented in the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the U.S.S.R. This treaty signified the beginning of the end for the Cold War and the Soviet Union. Make no mistake what happened was not inevitable. Reagans aggressive and assertive policies, economically, politically and militarily, gave the Soviet Union a good hard shove onto that ash heap of history. Perhaps Mikhail Gorbachev summed it up best himself when he later explained that Reagan genially led him to the edge of the abyss, then calmly asked him to take one step forward.1 Derek Leebaerts book is an exhaustive history of the Cold War by one of the first historians to have access to the Kremlins declassified archives. Without Reagans multifaceted offensive, the Soviet Union could have tottered on for another decade or so, denying basic human rights to its own citizens and exercising a pernicious influence in the world. The Soviet Unions sudden collapse was shocking and the fact that it was as peaceful as it was is virtually unprecedented. I had the privilege of having the marvelous Dr. James Billington as a professor when I was a Princeton freshman. Dr. Billingtons specialty was Russian history (he lectured in Russia on the subject before he was 30). He was a great teacher whose lectures remained with you. I saw Dr. Billington many years later while he was serving as head of the Library of Congress. I reminded Dr. Billington that he had predicted (in 1966 no less) that the Soviet Union would inevitably implode. He thanked me for remembering and seemed pleased that I had kept the notes from his course (and I still refer to them). He answered, Yes, but I never thought it would happen this quickly, and I am stunned that it happened so bloodlessly. Therein lies the reason for one cheer for Gorbachev. In the end, he was not willing to use brutal and extremely repressive measures to maintain the Communist Partys grip on power. There was an abortive coup to remove Gorbachev from power and to perpetrate this totalitarian regime (they had ordered 500,000 pairs of handcuffs to use on those to be arrested). Gorbachev should receive full credit for his unwillingness to cause great harm and suffering to his own people to perpetuate a failed empire. For that alone, we should give him one well-deserved cheer. The three cheers, Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah should be reserved for the true hero of the Cold Wars ending: Ronald Reagan. 1.Leebaert, Derek. The Fifty-Year Wound: How America's Cold War Victory Has Shaped Our World. Back Bay Books, 2002. Functional atheism: Popular pastor delivers gut-check on what worry really reveals Worry is a normal part of the human experience, though the level to which humans allow it to pervade our minds often exposes unfortunate truths about the state of our hearts. Pastor Daniel Fusco of Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, Washington, believes overt fretting is evidence of a deeper spiritual condition. The problem with worry is worry is functional atheism, he said on his latest episode of the Youre Gonna Make It podcast. When we worry, we act like God isnt in control, [like] Hes not the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. READ ALSO: Just Do the Right Thing: Man Sparks Thousands of Reactions After He Finds Wallet in the Middle of Street, Teaches Daughter Powerful Lesson Fusco continued, We [act like we] dont believe that all things will work together for good. The preacher is also out with a powerful, new book, Youre Gonna Make It: Unlocking Resilience When Life Is a Mess, in which he discusses this dynamic. When we choose to trust God, were also abandoning worry, he said. Fusco knows times have been tough in recent years, highlighting the multitude of challenges stemming from the pandemic and other related crises. Mixed with civil and social unrest, navigating life and culture has perpetuated worries and fear for many. Thats why Fusco is working to help people steer through times of uncertainty, recognizing God knows we are prone to worry but that we can find peace in Him. God knows that were apt to worry, Fusco said. God knows that were worry warts. Listen to him discuss these issues (and subscribe to his podcast): He said worrying takes a profound amount of energy and that the Lord wants people to instead expend and invest that energy differently. I can worry about a million things, Fusco said. Whenever I catch myself worrying, I say, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief I want to turn that worry into worship. I want to invest that energy differently. Watch Fusco discuss these issues on CBNs Faith vs. Culture: Fuscos invocation is a profound one, as it comes from Mark 9, where the Bible recounts the story of a demon-possessed boy whose father is desperate for Jesus to heal his son. Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech, the man tells Jesus in Mark 9:17 (NIV), continuing in verse 18: Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. That description alone is enough to instill worry and fear in the calmest of persons. And its clear the despairing father had fear but also hoped Jesus followers and Christ could heal his boy. But, like many humans, this man seemed to have doubt and worry about whether it would be possible. READ ALSO: Dire Projections For Christianity in America Over the Next 50 Years Could Have Far-Reaching Consequences For Politics, Family Life, and Civil Society If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us, the father told Jesus, to which Christ, recognizing this lack of full faith, responded, If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes. Thats when the grieving dad immediately responded, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! (Mark 9:24, NIV). Jesus then healed the boy. The lesson, of course, is that we can fully trust the Lord and also ask for Him to relieve us of any of the unbelief holding us back. Find out more about Fuscos new book, Youre Gonna Make It: Unlocking Resilience When Life Is a Mess and subscribe to the podcast. This story originally appeared on Faithwire.com. Queen Elizabeth II, rest in peace In my life experience, I can only remember one British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She reigned as Queen from 1952-2022, having celebrated her Platinum Jubilee (70 years as Queen) earlier this year. I was five years old when she ascended to the throne in 1952. During her reign, she had 15 prime ministers, her first being Sir. Winston Churchill. When she became Queen, Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union (which doesnt even exist anymore) and Harry Truman was President of the United States. When Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne, Great Britain was in the doldrums economically, having emerged as a victorious nation in World War II, but basically bankrupt financially, exacerbated by having elected a Socialist Labour Government in 1945. At the time of her ascension to the throne, few would have predicted the comparatively prosperous nation Britain became during her 70-year reign. Winston Churchill, prime minister at the beginning of her reign, speculated that she might birth a second Elizabethan Age, referring to Elizabeth I or Elizabeth the Great, the Tudor monarch who presided over Britains rise to being a great power. Queen Elizabeth IIs life was one of duty and service to her country. Even before her father's death, she had promised Britain and the Commonwealth that my whole life, be it long or short, will be devoted to your service. That is a promise she kept faithfully and well. The Queen was a serious and dedicated Christian and her faith guided her life. Her life became an inspiring example of a life lived in service to her countrymen and the British Commonwealth. Great Britain was indeed fortunate to have Elizabeth II as its monarch for these past seven decades. She had an excellent example to follow in the service of her father, King George VI (1936-1952), and her mother, Queen Elizabeth, in contrast to the puerile selfishness of her uncle, the abdicated King Edward VIII (January 1936-December 1936). During the height of the Blitz when London was being bombed nightly by German bombers and Buckingham Palace itself had been hit, Queen Elizabeth IIs mother was asked if Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were going to be evacuated to a safer location. She famously replied, the Princesses will not leave without me, and I wont leave without the king, and the king will never leave! Winston Churchill said that statement alone was worth five divisions of infantry in what it did for British morale at a critical time in World War II. Elizabeth II was very close to her parents, and she learned her extraordinary sense of duty and service from them. As a father of daughters, I was particularly touched by a letter her father, King George VI, wrote to his daughter upon her marriage to Prince Philip: I was so proud and thrilled at having you so close to me on our long walk in Westminster Abbey. But when I handed your hand to the Archbishop, I felt I had lost something very precious.I have watched you grow up all these years with pride under the skillful direction of Mummy, who, as you know, is the most marvelous person in the world in my eyes, and I can, I know, always count on you, and now Philip, to help us in our workI can see that you are sublimely happy with Philip, which is right, but dont forget us, is the wish of your ever-loving and devotedPapa. I lived in Oxford, England, for three years (1972-1975) and that experience gave me a new appreciation for how the British people felt about their Queen. I pastored a small British Baptist church during my tenure at Oxford University, and the membership of the church consisted literally of butchers and bakers and candlestick makers. These salt-of-the-earth common folk loved their Queen as you would love a favorite aunt or grandmother. As head of state, but not the head of government (which belonged to the prime minister), she was above politics and was seen as the symbol of the country for all her subjects. This is a strength of the monarchy system. The unsolvable problem, with hereditary monarchies, even constitutional ones, is that if you get a bad monarch, the system fails badly. A really bad monarch (George III) is what impelled our forefathers to declare their independence from the British Crown, issuing a lengthy Bill of Indictment explaining: The History of the present King of Great Britain is a History of repeated injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. The British people and freedom-loving people around the world were indeed fortunate to have had such a dedicated and beneficent monarch as Queen Elizabeth II for these past 70 years. Seldom has a nation been better or more self-sacrificially served than they were by the second Elizabeth the Great. As the new British Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss puts it, the Queen was the rock upon which modern Britain was built. Amen to that! The royal family and the squandering of greatness Stories and articles about Queen Elizabeth (including this one) continue to gush weeks after her death. One reason is because her leadership style and personal character form an example we should keep before our eyes. Another, however, is the tragic way in which greatness has sometimes been squandered by members of the Queens larger family. The present squabbles are petty and adolescent. However, King Charles III displayed maturity and grace when he spoke via a televised speech his love to Harry and Meghan, and wished them well in the U.S. There is a great lesson in all this: Just because a person is born into greatness doesnt necessarily mean he or she is actually great. Birth is an event but becoming great is a process. Though expectations are high on royals, they have free will like all the rest of us. One cannot choose the type, character, and position of the family into which they are born, but he or she can choose the quality of life that will characterize them and their work, whether in the lofty spaces of a throne room or the suffocating innards of a back office. Thus, Elizabeth was born into greatness and also made a definite choice to be a great person and queen. This is probably why she and Winston Churchill were friends. Later in life she would pen a note to the old bulldog, where she wrote: I shall always count myself fortunate that you were my prime minister at the beginning of my reign, and that I was able to receive the wise counsel and friendship which I know my father (King George VI) valued so much as well. In that note she shows the importance of another character trait that makes for authentic greatness in a person: teachability. Not only was she willing to learn the arts of high leadership from Churchill, but she was also willing to learn spiritual truth from a North Carolina country boy Billy Graham, as well as other ministers. Churchill had been born into a family that seemed crowned with greatness. He was a descendant of the high-born line of the Dukes of Marlboro. Churchill was even birthed in the ancestral home of the Marlboros Blenheim Palace. Winston Churchills father had been born into that same heritage but squandered his opportunity to be great when he chose a life of dissipation and neglect of his family. Young Winston suffered much grief from that father whose coldness and negative put-downs were constant. I co-authored a book, God and Churchill, with Winstons s great grandson, the late Jonathan Sandys. Jonathan had sweeping knowledge of the family into which Winston had been born, and its internal affairs. I was fascinated as Jonathan told me story after story of the Churchill family in Winstons growing-up years. I was stunned at the handicaps young Winston had to endure. His route to being great was through his determination to view the obstacles as opportunities to learn and advance. He did not disengage with life and its challenges but stayed in the battle with intensity sometimes literally. Churchill was elevated to leadership of the entire British Navy and was blamed for a staggering First World War defeat at Gallipoli. Rather than withdrawal from public service, Churchill went to the front trenches of Europe for the rest of the horror of World War One. And so young Princess Elizabeth, though heir to the throne, volunteered for military service in the Second World War, and worked in the maintenance of military vehicles. The woman who had the hefty crown placed on her head also knew how to change oil, repair a broken fanbelt, and get the dirt from under her fingernails. Elizabeth II is celebrated today around the world because she manifested the attributes of a truly great person: honor, integrity, dignity, courage, commonsense, and wisdom, to name a few. These were the choices she made. Does the UK still need royalty? Thats for her people to decide. But the British Commonwealth and all nations need leaders who are genuinely great whether they were born into greatness or not. After all, there was that other example in the line of British royalty that of Edward VIII who abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. Britain was facing the most dangerous threats in its history, and Edward VIII walked away. He had been born into greatness, but he chose not to become great himself. Elizabeth made the choice and showed many attributes of actual greatness: honor, integrity, dignity, courage, wisdom, and exemplary character. And Elizabeth showed us truly great humility as she gave the credit over and again to the One Who transcends her and outranks her, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, the carpenter of Nazareth of Whom she spoke elegantly and passionately. She herself chose the Bible passages that would be read at her funeral and committal, and the verses rang through the great cathedrals glorifying Christ. And the world heard them. The most important choice humans can make is that of what or who we worship because we all become in our character like that to which we bow the knee. Queen Elizabeth was great because of the choice of Whom she worshipped. Long live the Queen. President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday defended his plan to abolish the gender ministry, saying it is aimed at better protecting women and other vulnerable groups. Yoon had pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family during the presidential campaign, sparking fierce opposition from politicians and activists who feared it would undermine women's rights. The government finalized the abolition plan Thursday, under which most of the ministry's responsibilities will be transferred to the health ministry. The plan is still subject to approval by the National Assembly where the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which is against the abolition, holds a majority. "Abolishing the gender ministry is about strengthening the protection of women, families, children and the socially weak," Yoon told reporters as he arrived for work. "In terms of the so-called sexual offenses caused by abuse of power, it's about completely doing away with the perspective that uses the term 'alleged victim.'" Yoon was apparently referring to accusations that the gender ministry failed to respond when several female lawmakers of the DPK described the victim of sexual abuse by former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon as an "alleged victim." (Yonhap) The rubble world and the Church They called it the rubble world. Allied forces that walked down the once-elegant boulevards of European cities demolished by hurricanes of bombs during the Second World War were stunned at the devastation. All that was left of once-stately sections of London, vast swaths of Dresden, almost the whole of Berlin, were mountains of brick, twisted steel, broken girders, choking dust and ragged empty-eyed people. Rubble rubble everywhere. And so now: when we look at the spiritual, moral, institutional, and intellectual rubble of our once-favored civilization after decades of culture carpet-bombing by forces intent on destroying a society built on the Judeo-Christian worldview, we see rubble everywhere in households, churches, schools, media, court rooms, legislative chambers, and even in the very agencies that should be guided by high principles for the protection and well-being of society. And thats only part of the institutional and personal devastation. The wreckage includes our young people who have been targeted by the bombers sweeping over their culture. There are the mountains of grief and hopelessness for those who have been so wounded in the culture shaped by Apollyon the destroyer and those who have rejected the Christ and become the representatives of the powers of darkness in this present world. In the midst of all this there are those who rightly warn the Church about the minefields in this rubble world. Some now are stressing that the Church must not be politicized, but in an age when issues are so starkly centered on spiritual, ethical, moral, and worldview issues, and when one set of candidates stands against anti-biblical policies while another set promotes them and the churches are silent or risk being judged as too-political how can that be enough? I agree with those who urge us not to be suckered institutionally into godless political worldviews on the right as well as the left, but to simply urge us not to be political leaves us hiding in bomb shelters that once were churches daring to take stands on issues that are destroying us. Yet I also concur that we should not be retriever dogs for candidates who want to run as Christians but whose public speech and actions are often unchristian. If, for example, Donald Trump wants the vote of Christians he should clean up his public speech and behaviors that are not conformed to the character of the Kingdom of God. In this hour, the rubble world desperately needs the real, living, dynamic, sound and steady church. We must know who we are amid all this or the warnings of those who are concerned we will be a religious form of a particular party will be realized. The real Church is the bride of Christ, living in intimacy with Him midst an adulterous culture. The authentic church is the body of Christ, the organic entity through Whom He walks and ministers in the world today. The New Testament Church that is Jesus-centered-Spirit energized, Word anchored, Kingdom-envisioning, and servant-hearted is the remnant community. She should not go to bed with candidates and parties. She must not forget how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who preach good news and keep her feet clean (Isaiah 52:7). In this hour when the rubble world needs the authentic Church so much, and we are seeking to understand what role we should play in this hellish landscape, it is good to review St. Pauls statement in 2 Corinthians 5:14 that we are ambassadors for Christ. That is, the authentic Church today is the outpost of the Kingdom the embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven in the rubble world. An incident on September 22, 1939, shows what that looks like. Polands ambassador was summoned to meet with Soviet envoy Andre Vishinski to receive an order regarding the future of Poland. Vishinski handed the Polish ambassador a note. First, the Polish leader wanted to know what was in it. It is a proclamation of the Soviet government that, in view of recent events that the Republic of Poland has ceased to exist. Three weeks earlier Hitlers armies, then allied with the Soviet Union, had blitzed into Poland. Russia had stood by like a vulture, ready to pick clean the Polish corpse. But the Polish ambassador knew his country, and fired back. Poland will never cease to exist! the ambassador said, as he refused to take the note. In the political blitzes of our chaos-heaving age, the real Church must know who she is as the remnant people of Christ. The Polish ambassador knew whom he represented the leaders and people of free Poland. So, the Church now must know Whom she represents Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. As the remnant community the Church is a nation within nations. Her citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). That should make her a better citizen of her earthly abode, but not an institutional lapdog to hop at every command of the candidates and officials. Like the Polish ambassador she must have the conviction to say No when candidates and parties want to tell her what to do or make her a formal partisan of their causes and campaigns. Further, since we are ambassadors for Christ the New Testament Church is the embassy of Christs Kingdom in the fallen world. Among other things, an ambassador speaks as the voice of the kingdom of which he or she is the representative. The greatest mission of the remnant Church is to speak into this world, not some rhetorical masterpiece we have contrived, but what the Master has given us in the Bible. So, yes, let us not be a mere extension of a particular political party and its candidates, but neither should we withdraw from the political process. The rubble world needs the beautiful feet on its hills of trash and devastation. So dont sell out and dont pull out. Tony Perkins slams NY courts polygamy ruling: Conservatives were right about slippery slope Family Research Council President Tony Perkins has denounced a New York judge's ruling that nonmonogamous relationships should be treated equally to marriage under the eyes of the law. Last month, Judge Karen May Bacdayan of the New York City Civil Court ruled in the case of West 49th St., LLC v O'Neill that the time has arrived for non-monogamous relationships to be given legal recognition. Bacdayan argued that the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage while revolutionary, nevertheless still adhered to the majoritarian, societal view that only two people can have a family-like relationship. Why then, except for the very real possibility of implicit majoritarian animus, is the limitation of two persons inserted into the definition of a family-like relationship for the purposes of receiving the same protections from eviction accorded to legally formalized or blood relationships? Bacdayan wrote in her decision. In a commentary published by The Washington Stand on Tuesday, Perkins said the decision showed that conservatives' claims about a same-sex marriage slippery slope were correct. The media laughed off the conservative movements concerns about the slippery slope when Democrats pushed to sexualize the military 20 years ago, Perkins wrote. Now, almost two decades later, with American parents in the fight of their lives over transgenderism and judges paving the way for plural marriage, it unfortunately proves we were right. Perkins also pointed to a recent Gallup poll that found 23% of respondents believed polygamy was morally acceptable, well above what it was a generation ago. And why not? If love and consent are all that define a relationship, then proponents of incest, pedophilia, and group marriage can follow the LGBT playbook all the way to validity, Perkins added. The Left has been quick to say that polygamy isnt the next gay marriage. But who could possibly take them seriously? During the debate over same-sex marriage legalization, conservative politicians and activists argued that if same-sex marriage was legalized, polygamy would follow soon after. In his dissent in the 2015 ruling Obergefell v. Hodges, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the reasoning behind the majority opinion legalizing gay marriage could be argued in favor of a fundamental right to plural marriage. If a same-sex couple has the constitutional right to marry because their children would otherwise suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser why wouldnt the same reasoning apply to a family of three or more persons raising children? Roberts wrote. In 2014, U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups finalized a ruling in which he struck down part of Utahs ban on polygamy, though he stopped short of declaring polygamy a constitutional right. At issue was whether Kody Brown, star of the reality TV series "Sister Wives," could be married to four women at once. Brown argued that the state ban violated his religious freedom. Brown and his family belonged to a small Mormon denomination that, unlike the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, still practices plural marriage. Waddoups ruled that Brown could marry a fourth time while cohabitating with his three wives, but those other marriages would not receive official legal recognition. Travel: Postcard from Spokane Spokane should be atop your list of places to visit. The second-largest city in Washington state has something for everyone to see and do. There is also a noticeable feeling that its a world removed from Seattle, thanks to a mayor who actually wants to crack down on the kind of problems that plague better-known cities in the Pacific Northwest. After flying into Spokanes spaceship-looking airport, a classic example of 1960s architecture, and picking up a rental car, I made my way downtown to check-in at the Historic Davenport Hotel. Saved from demolition the kind of so-called urban renewal projects that destroyed historic buildings in countless downtowns across the country it is flagged under Marriotts upscale Autograph Collection brand. The landmark hotel with its Old World-inspired lobby stands in stark contrast to Parkade Plaza, which at first glance may seem like any other massive concrete parking garage but is actually a landmark in its own right and serves as a big draw for midcentury modern enthusiasts. While very much an underrated destination, the city has actually been on the map since hosting Expo 74. By hosting the direct successor to the more famous worlds fairs and international expositions of earlier eras, Spokane was the smallest city to ever hold such an event. And just as worlds fairs in 1899 and 1900 gave Paris the Eiffel Tower and other iconic landmarks, Spokane, too, has its own iconic leftover: the one-time U.S. Pavilion that today anchors Riverfront Park. The once-neglected park, which occupies land formerly blighted by industry and railroads, straddles both sides of the Spokane River around the unoriginally named Spokane Falls. Here, a gondola, the Numerica SkyRide, takes passengers on a 15-minute scenic ride above the falls. The twin spires of St. Aloysius Church (Roman Catholic) on the campus of Gonzaga University are visible from anywhere along the river. While the church is worth visiting, Spokanes most notable church is the Episcopal cathedral a few minutes from downtown. The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, which serves as the seat of the Episcopal bishop, is one of the finest examples of Gothic church architecture anywhere in the United States. I consider it Gothic and not Gothic revival because it was constructed entirely of masonry in the same manner as true medieval Gothic (Pugin would approve). The pointed arches arent merely decorative or stylistic details, which is pretty impressive considering the fact that traditional church architecture was well out of fashion by the time of its construction between 1925 and 1961. No visit to Spokane would be complete without an adventure on its namesake river. A couple of different outfitters offer excursions ranging from stand-up paddleboards to whitewater rafting and casual floats. I went with the approximately two-hour float from Wiley E. Waters that can easily be done by anyone, including those with zero rafting experience. For me, it was the perfect relief from temperatures that soared above 100 degrees during my visit in mid-August. Other must-visits include the 98-acre Manito Park and Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. If you go Eat dinner at Gander & Ryegrass (reservations are a must) and Anthonys at Spokane Falls, the latter of which has a spectacular view of the falls and iconic pavilion the Eiffel Tower of Spokane. If I had to do it over again, I wouldnt have rented a car. You can get almost everywhere by walking or through one of the popular ride-sharing services. The only thing that really requires a rental car is getting to Mount Spokane State Park and the summit of Quartz Mountain at 5,129 feet in elevation. For those arriving by car, the drive to Spokane is about four hours from the airport in Seattle. If you choose to fly, American, Delta and United are among the airlines flying into Spokane with nonstop flights from major hubs. Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post. Dept. of Veterans Affairs performs first abortion under new Biden admin. rule The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical system performed its first abortion a few weeks after the Biden administration announced it would provide abortions for eligible veterans and beneficiaries in light of the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in June. During his testimony before the Veterans Affairs Committee last week, VA Secretary Denis McDonough confirmed that one of the department's medical centers carried out an abortion. McDonough provided the answer in response to a question from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., regarding how many abortions have occurred at VA facilities. As NBC News reported, a spokesperson for the department did not disclose the name of the woman who underwent the abortion or where it was performed, citing privacy reasons. The VA did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment on the matter. The VA secretary testified before the committee about a new rule allowing the VA to offer abortions in cases of rape, incest or if the woman's life is in danger, with the VA currently serving about 300,000 women of childbearing age. According to McDonough, the Department of Justice reviewed the new rule and found it to be a "lawful exercise of VA's authority." McDonough cited a supremacy clause in the Constitution, claiming it prevents state officials from penalizing VA workers for "performing their federal functions." "The principle that led us to take this step is our veteran patient safety," McDonough said. "We take that very, very seriously, and every decision we make flows from that principle." Earlier this month, the department announced the submission of an interim final rule to the Federal Register to authorize the VA to commit abortions in some cases. McDonough asserted that the move is a "patient safety decision." "Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most," he said. "That's what our nation owes them, and that's what we at VA will deliver." The document justified the policy based on the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The decision returned the issue to the states, restoring their authority to determine abortion laws. Several states have enacted restrictions on abortion. According to the proposed rule: "VA is acting to help ensure that, irrespective of what laws or policies States may impose, veterans who receive the care set forth in the medical benefits package will be able to obtain abortions, if determined needed by a health care professional, when the life or the health of the pregnant veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest." The VA's Undersecretary of Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said that the department came to this decision after listening to VA healthcare providers and veterans who "sounded the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency for those we serve." Prior to the announcement, two dozen congressional Democrats urged McDonough to amend the agency's regulations to permit VA hospitals to provide abortions. The lawmakers wrote in a July letter that the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 established the VA's authority to provide care to veterans. According to the lawmakers, the statute requires the agency to "furnish hospital care and medical services which the Secretary determines to be needed" for a particular group of veterans. Republicans and pro-life advocates, such as Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have argued that the proposed rule violates federal law. In an Aug. 26 letter to McDonough, Lankford cited Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which prohibits the VA from providing abortions, among other services. "Abortion is not and will never be healthcare," Lankford wrote. "Healthcare protects life. Abortion takes life. Instead of promoting the taking of human life, I would challenge you, and others within the VA, to respect the dignity of our veterans and all of their family members, including unborn children, by ensuring services provided and funded by the VA are focused on true healthcare consistent with federal law." Texas megachurch repents for not involving women in decision-making after abuse of 14 girls by ex-pastor The 15-member, all-male elder board of Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas, has admitted that they failed to prevent the sexual abuse of at least 14 girls by a former youth pastor, didn't involve women leaders when evaluating abuse allegations and failed to provide adequate care for the victims. "Our church culture lacked involvement of women in decision-making processes related to the abuse of these girls. Further, in almost all meetings with the victims, no women were present, which was inappropriate," said board chair Curtis Elder and Senior Pastor Tommy Nelson in a May letter to the congregation first published by Fox 4 on Tuesday. Robert Shiflet, 51, the former Denton Bible youth pastor, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison in June 2021 for child sex trafficking charges, The Denton Record-Chronicle reported. He is set to be released in 2023 but is expected to remain under federal supervision for the rest of his life. The May letter included the findings of an independent investigation conducted by Scott Fredericks, a third-party investigator and lawyer with the law firm Cantey Hanger LLP. Fredericks was hired by the church in 2019 after it became aware of a federal investigation into Shiflet. Shiflet was arrested and indicted in June 2020. The investigation revealed how the church failed to act appropriately even when Shiflet was reported to be acting inappropriately with young girls supposed to be under his pastoral care. "In total, the investigators found credible accounts that at least 14 girls were victims of Shiflet's abuse: 11 at Denton Bible and 3 at Fellowship Bible. The misconduct described in these accounts was characterized by everything from grooming behavior and sexual harassment to criminal sexual abuse, abuse of power, and spiritual abuse," the elders said. "Equally troubling, was the consistent accounts that Denton Bible did not shepherd and care for the victims after they showed great courage coming forward." The investigation concluded that Denton Bible Church leaders failed to protect the victims from Shiflet and failed to provide a victim-centered response to his abuse. Additionally, the church leaders' failures were exacerbated by not involving women in decision-making. Shiflet began volunteering in youth ministry at the megachurch in 1993 and was hired to work with middle school students from 1996 to 2001. During that time, the church paid for Shiflet to attend seminary school. According to the investigation, the married youth pastor was observed "regularly spending time alone with girls in his ministry, including before and after school, in his office, in his vehicle, in his home, and in a hotel room." "On at least one known occasion two youth workers confronted Shiflet about his being alone with girls, which he dismissed. They also raised concern with church leadership, including Pastor Nelson, about Shiflet's being one-on-one with girls. Shiflet's supervisor was told by Pastor Nelson that Shiflet should not be meeting alone with girls," reads the letter. However, "there was no evidence that any other corrective or disciplinary action was taken." Shiflet was also witnessed "wrestling with a girl, counseling a girl sitting on his lap, pulling girls over his body while caving in a small tunnel, and otherwise interacting with middle school girls in ways that made the observers feel uncomfortable." Still, according to the investigator, Shiflet was able to cultivate such a high degree of trust with parents, church leaders and other gatekeepers that he got permission from parents to "spend time alone with their daughters." In 1999, a college intern also reported Shiflet's inappropriate behavior, and church leadership told him to write the intern a letter of apology, which was reportedly never delivered. No further disciplinary action was reportedly taken against him. When Shiflet sought a promotion at the church in 2001 to become the high school pastor, the church said he was not given the position "because of his pattern of being alone with girls and not focusing enough on ministering to the boys in his youth group." In the summer of that year, Shiflet left Denton Bible Church to become the youth pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. He quickly got himself in trouble. "On at least three occasions in Arkansas, Shiflet was seen alone with girls, reportedly touched one girl's thigh, and kissed another. When the last incident was reported to the church in 2003, Shiflet was fired," the elders wrote. "However, it was in Little Rock that the second crime for which Shiflet pled guilty occurred. Specifically, Shiflet admitted that he sexually assaulted, by sexual touch and intercourse, a 16-year-old girl in his youth group on multiple occasions over several years, including during a church trip to Florida." After he was fired in Arkansas, Shiflet went back to Denton and was invited to speak at the church. Once the church leaders learned that Shiflet was fired from Fellowship Bible Church "for violating policies pertaining to being alone with girls, Denton Bible no longer allowed Shiflet to volunteer or teach in any capacity at the church." The investigation showed credible accounts that Shiflet continued the sexual abuse of at least one girl from Arkansas while he was in Denton. By 2005, the church reported that a 19-year-old girl who had been in Shiflet's youth group at Denton Bible Church disclosed to a church counselor that Shiflet started grooming her when she was 13 to 14 years old. "The girl connected the counselor with another girl who had been in Shiflet's youth group in Arkansas. That girl disclosed the sexual abuse Shiflet had committed against her over the course of years. The friend to whom the counselor was introduced was afraid and embarrassed and expressed her desire that the information she shared in that meeting not be discussed with anyone," the elders reported. Since Texas law did not yet mandate the reporting of abuse by clergy, the elders stated that no official report was made to authorities at that time. However, church leaders confronted Shiflet, who admitted his sexual abuse of the girls. The Denton elders responded by revoking his ordination in September 2005. "In the months and years following, Denton Bible leaders alerted several other organizations of Shiflet's known actions including the area church his family was attending and the school where Shiflet had begun working. However, Denton Bible made no effort to shepherd or care for the girls after they came forward," the elders admitted. In 2015, another of Shiflet's former middle school students at Denton Bible reported to the church and police that he sexually abused her. The church responded by confronting Shiflet but offered no care to the victim. It wasn't until the parents of the first victim who came forward in 2005 approached Denton Bible leadership in 2019 and asked for help caring for their daughter, who was then in her 30s, that the church decided to reach out to the police. "Recognizing the change in the law and finding no record that a report to authorities had been made, church leaders reported what they knew to authorities and hired the independent investigators. However, Denton Bible did not consistently follow-up with the family or offer care to the victim. As a result the family left Denton Bible," the elder report states. Denton Bible Church leaders reported they later discovered that several of Shiflet's victims reported him to federal authorities in Arkansas earlier in 2019. They claimed that when they learned about Shiflet's abuse, they were not prepared to recognize abuse and were "ill-equipped" to investigate. "Twenty years ago, we were not prepared to recognize the warning signs of grooming behavior. Even though reports were made of inappropriate behavior by Shiflet, we did not understand the way predators groom their victims and gatekeepers," the elders wrote. "While Shiflet created his own ministry policies for his team and department, including a prohibition against being alone with children, he did not personally follow those protocols himself, nor was he held accountable for violating them. Furthermore, we did not have a system in place to appropriately investigate allegations into Shiflet's misconduct when victims came forward," they explained. "While we attempted to internally examine what happened years later, our Elder Board and counseling department were ill-equipped to lead an investigation into any sexual misconduct allegations during Shiflet's time at Denton Bible." The elders also admitted to prioritizing "grace and forgiveness toward Shiflet over care for his victims and failed to call out his crimes of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of power and spiritual abuse." Investigators also found that even among church members, there was a culture that seemed to protect the institution from criticism. "The investigators talked to many who described an 'us vs. them' mentality toward those outside of our active church membership. This mindset caused us not to really see or provide care for victims and families that were no longer part of our church community," the elders noted. "The investigators also found that people within our church were afraid to raise concerns or even participate in the investigation, because of a feeling that it would be seen and treated as disloyalty." Elders contend they were left broken by the report and are doing everything possible to change the culture that allowed the abuse. "We were and continue to be overwhelmed with grief for the harm our church allowed to happen to young women entrusted to our care. We were taken aback by our failures to not only prevent the harm but to also assist victims in the healing process," the letter reads. "While no amount of words can bring true healing to the victims, we feel a responsibility before the Lord to say to them and their families, 'We are exceedingly sorry.' These things should not have happened. And even after we were made aware of the abuse, we did not respond in the victim-centered manner befitting a church led by Jesus. For that, we lament." Appeals court rules DACA unlawful, allows Dreamers to renew their protected status A federal appeals court has ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides deportation protection and specific benefits to immigrants who entered the country illegally as children, is unlawful. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled Wednesday to uphold a lower court decision blocking the Biden administration from granting new applications for DACA. The ruling allows current DACA recipients the ability to renew their two-year protected status. The appeals court panel remanded the case to a district court in Houston to consider a new Biden administration policy enacted in August in hopes of protecting the program. Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Priscilla Richman authored the panel opinion, writing that the lower court is right when to conclude that DACA violated the Administrative Procedure Act. "DACA created a detailed, streamlined process for granting enormously significant, predefined benefits to over 800,000 people. This constitutes a substantive rule," Richman, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, wrote in the majority opinion. "Because DACA did not undergo notice and comment, it violates the procedural requirements of the APA." Richman concluded that DACA "contravenes comprehensive statutory schemes for removal, allocation of lawful presence, and allocation of work authorization." "Declining to prosecute does not transform presence deemed unlawful by Congress into lawful presence and confer eligibility for otherwise unavailable benefits based on that change," the opinion added, quoting an earlier ruling against the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. Created during the Obama administration in 2012, DACA provided people who were minors when they illegally entered the U.S. with benefits, including protection from being deported, the ability to apply for a driver's license, a social security number and a permit to work. Other conditions to be eligible for DACA relief included having no criminal record, being a student or honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces, being under the age of 30 when the memorandum was released and having lived in the U.S. for at least five years from when the program was initiated. The policy protected over 800,000 immigrants known as Dreamers but didn't grant them a pathway to citizenship or official legal status. Richman acknowledged that "DACA has had profound significance to recipients and many others in the ten years since its adoption." "Given the 'uncertainty of the final disposition' and the 'inevitable disruption that would arise from a lack of continuity and stability,' we preserve the stay as to existing recipients," the opinion states. President Donald Trump's efforts to rescind DACA were thwarted by litigation, with the U.S. Supreme Court stopping the Trump administration from ending the program in a 5-4 decision in 2020. In July 2021, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen issued an order halting the Biden administration from granting new applications for DACA, concluding in part that the Obama-era DHS violated the APA with the creation and continued operation of DACA. "The DACA Memorandum and the DACA program that it created are hereby vacated and remanded to DHS for further consideration," wrote Hanen last year. World Relief, an Evangelical humanitarian organization that has helped to file more than 4,300 DACA applications, released a statement denouncing the district court's order as "devastating" to Dreamers. "This new decision is devastating for these resilient young people, and for their families, churches, communities and employers," stated World Relief President Scott Arbeiter at the time. "Congress should not wait for further court decisions: they must act immediately to finally pass legislation that the significant majority of Americans. Including the majority of evangelical Christians, say they support." Immigration advocates have been calling on the U.S. Congress for years to pass immigration reform legislation. Those calls will be heightened in the aftermath of Wednesday's ruling. 15,000 rainbow fentanyl pills found in Lego box, largest seizure of deadly drug in NYC history A New Jersey woman was arrested after New York authorities discovered she had 15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills inside a lego box, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency calling it the largest fentanyl seizure to date in New York City. According to a Tuesday DEA news release, the 48-year-old suspect, Latesha Bush, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday. A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges Bush with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Bushs bail is set at $25,000 and $150,000 insurance company bond, and a $100,000 partially secured surety bond, the DEA said. New York police officers investigating suspected narcotics trafficking reportedly observed the middle-aged woman enter a vehicle in Manhattan with a large black tote bag. The officers stopped the vehicle and found two black tote bags and a Lego container in the back seat with several brick-shaped packages inside. One of the packages was partially opened, revealing the rainbow-colored fentanyl pills, with the other packages containing the same. Preliminary testing revealed that approximately 15,000 pills, imprinted with M and 30 to resemble Oxycodone pills, contained fentanyl. Disguising fentanyl as candy and concealing it in childrens toys will never hide the fact that fentanyl is a deadly poison that harms our communities, our families, and our city, Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said in the news release. The criminal complaint unsealed today is another example of the NYPDs relentless commitment to never stop working to rid New York City of illegal drugs and I want to thank the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the city of New York, the DEA New York Division, the New York State Police, and everyone else involved in this case for their exceptional work. A subsequent investigation uncovered that Bush had traveled from New Jersey to Manhattan in a rental car and that the pills originated from Mexico. Investigators have noticed a connection between the case and tactics used by two Mexican drug cartels. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel are reportedly coloring fentanyl to disguise it as candy or other prescription drugs and to brand their products, the DEA added. Last week, the DEA announced the results of its One Pill Can Kill initiative, which led to the seizure of more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder from May 23 through Sept. 8. Out of the 390 cases investigated, 51 were linked to overdose poisonings, and 35 were connected to one or both of the Mexican cartels. New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan called efforts to disguise fentanyl to make it appear fun and harmless a new low, even for Mexican cartels. The prosecutor noted that fentanyl is responsible for more than 80% of overdose deaths in the city. If you take any drug sold on the street or through the internet, regardless of its medicinal markings or festive appearance, you risk your life, Brennan said. My office and our partners are committed to intercepting lethal fentanyl and ensuring that these rainbow-colored pills dont lead more people down a sad path of substance use and overdose death." Last month, the DEA issued a warning about rainbow fentanyl, alerting parents that drug traffickers have started coloring it to resemble candy to appeal to children. The agency stated that drug cartels are using this method to sell the highly addictive drug to young people. "Rainbow fentanyl fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults," DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said. "The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States." A study published in April by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and analyzed by Science Daily found the rate of overdose deaths among U.S. teenagers doubled in 2020 and rose another 20% in the first half of 2021. World Relief urges Congress to act on immigration reform after judge blocks DACA, declaring it illegal A Christian humanitarian organization has denounced a recent ruling by a Texas federal judge that prohibits new applications from being filed for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, that protects some people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children from being deported. The ruling only applies to future DACA applicants and doesn't affect anyone who has already applied for the program. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen issued an order on Friday ordering the Biden administration to halt granting new applications for the DACA program. World Relief, a Christian humanitarian group that has helped file over 4,300 DACA applications, released a statement on the same day calling the decision devastating to Dreamers. This new decision is devastating for these resilient young people, and for their families, churches, communities and employers, stated World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. Congress should not wait for further court decisions: they must act immediately to finally pass legislation that the significant majority of Americans. Including the majority of evangelical Christians, say they support, he added. In 2012, then-President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order allowing those who were children at the time they were illegally brought into the country to apply for a temporary two-year status that authorizes them to work. The protection lasts for two years at a time and is renewable. At the time it was enacted, Obama stressed: "this is not amnesty ... this is not a path to citizenship, it's not a permanent fix ..." DACA was initially intended to apply to some 700,000 people who were children when they were brought to the U.S. illegally and had to be younger than age 31 by June 15, 2012. The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, released a statement on Saturday expressing his desire that Congress pass a law to rectify the issue. "Americas endless string of broken promises to our Dreamers lays entirely at the feet of one branch of the United States government: Congress," Rodriguez stressed. "It isnt for our presidents, judges or justices to make our laws. Congress must do that. Inaction in a Democrat-controlled Congress is equally reprehensible as inaction by a Republican-controlled Congress. Both lead to gross injustice." World Relief Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy Jenny Yang called the decision heartbreaking, but hoped it would create the pressure to finally persuade Congress that they need to act. The House of Representatives has already passed a bipartisan bill that would resolve this situation once and for all, and I pray that the Senate will quickly debate and pass legislation in the coming days that can ultimately be sent to the presidents desk to be signed into law, stated Yang. President Joe Biden, who served as vice president when the Obama administration created DACA in 2012, released a statement on Saturday calling the decision deeply disappointing. While the courts order does not now affect current DACA recipients, this decision nonetheless relegates hundreds of thousands of young immigrants to an uncertain future, said the president. The Department of Justice intends to appeal this decision in order to preserve and fortify DACA. And, as the court recognized, the Department of Homeland Security plans to issue a proposed rule concerning DACA in the near future. Echoing World Relief and Rodriguez, Biden called on Congress to ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers that will provide the certainty and stability that these young people need and deserve. I have repeatedly called on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act, and I now renew that call with the greatest urgency, he added. In 2017, the Trump administration announced that it intended to end the DACA program. Then-President Donald Trump said at the time he planned to do away with the program to push Congress to come up with a legislative fix, but Congress did not act. Then U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions argued that there were valid legal concerns about the DACA program. This policy was implemented unilaterally to great controversy and legal concern after Congress rejected legislative proposals to extend similar benefits on numerous occasions to this same group of illegal aliens, said Sessions at a press briefing at the time. Such an open-ended circumvention of immigration laws was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the Executive Branch. Multiple lawsuits were filed against the Trump administration over the attempted removal of DACA, with U.S. District Judge William Alsup blocking the effort in January 2018. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Trump administration cannot end the temporary DACA program, as it had planned. The majority concluding that the administration failed to follow the proper procedural requirements when doing so. Trumps plan to rescind DACA drew the ire of those on the political left and some evangelical Christian leaders. They argued that immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, most of whom know no other home since they grew up in the U.S., should not be punished for the actions of their parents. In 2018, the Trump administration released a proposal to provide a pathway for citizenship to up to 1.8 million young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, including DACA recipients, in exchange for $25 million toward the border wall and other changes to the immigration system. That plan, however, was opposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. I had one hand on the door: Couple credit pro-life activist Mark Houck with saving their baby's life A Philadelphia couple is crediting a pro-life advocate with helping to prevent them from aborting their child as the man faces potential prison time. The Justice Department and the FBI have faced immense pushback over the raid on pro-life activist Mark Houcks home two weeks ago. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced on Sept. 23 that it had arrested Houck on charges of allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which imposes federal charges on anyone who intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person aiding or performing abortions. The U.S. Attorneys Office claims that Houck, who resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, twice assaulted a man" who's an abortion clinic escort at a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic, resulting in injuries that required the escort to seek medical attention. However, a fundraiser set up for Houcks family insists that the incident stems from the escort harassing, Houck's son, who was 12 at the time, as they prayed at the abortion clinic in October 2021. When they walked down the street away from the entrance to the building, the escort followed them and continued yelling at Marks son, whereupon the pro-life activist pushed him away, the fundraiser explained. As Houck faces the possibility of 11 years in prison, the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia published a YouTube video telling the story of a family whose lives were forever changed by Houcks pro-life activism. When I first found out that I was pregnant, I just felt shame and guilt, the woman in the video, identified as Jadda, recalled. Feeling that she wasnt ready to have a baby, Jadda scheduled an abortion. She remembered feeling sad, confused, overwhelmed and scared, shameful and disgusted with herself. Before she entered the abortion clinic, Jadda encountered Houck: I had one hand on the door about to go into Planned Parenthood and then Mark stopped us and he was like, You guys dont have to do this. Jaddas partner, Markeem, praised the way Houck reached out to them, saying he really got through to us like literally before we walked into the doors. "He was really trying to get to know us on a deeper level than us just getting an abortion," Jada said while holding their baby named Nevaeh, which is Heaven spelled backward. "And thats another reason why [we were] real easy and quick to open up to him, because it wasnt like a judgmental thing at all. He was really like digging deep. Markeem agreed, Anybody can be a crutch but cant nobody fix yours, and thats what he did. He told us and made us feel like We got this. He was right, Markeem added. He opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. Jadda said her daughter, who was born two months early, was heaven sent, a gift straight from God Himself. Shes been through a lot. Shes been a warrior since she came out of the womb two months early, 1 pound, 7 ounces strong. So, theres definitely nothing but God in her. Markeem expressed gratitude that Houck came into their lives as that extra push, lamenting that she wouldnt be here, [and] we probably wouldnt be together otherwise. Jadda contended that without Houcks influence, We would have went through with it and I would have been living with regret. Maintaining that pro-lifers definitely were there for us every step of the way, they praised anti-abortion advocates as the first support system that they had. The couple concluded the video by delivering a message to supporters of the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia: We dont even know where we would be without you guys. From day one, youve been there beyond the support system, you guys are definitely like family. As for Houck, the fundraiser set up following his arrest has raised more than $367,000 as of Thursday afternoon, nearly two weeks after federal agents reportedly entered Houcks home with guns drawn and shields up in the faces of Mark, his wife, and their seven young children, as characterized by the fundraiser. The pro-life activist was released from jail on $10,000 bond and must surrender his passport and firearms. Houck is also prohibited from traveling outside the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the legal proceedings against him are unfolding, and is prohibited from engaging in sidewalk counseling or prayer outside the Planned Parenthood clinic where the altercation with the clinic escort took place. These photos show Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, talking with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over the phone at the presidential office in Seoul and Kishida answering reporters' questions at his residence in Tokyo right after phone talks with Yoon, Oct. 6. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed on the benefit of improving bilateral relations for the two countries' economies. Speaking to reporters as he arrived for work, Yoon said he discussed North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches with Kishida during their Thursday phone call and the two agreed to firmly respond to the North's nuclear and missile provocations through close trilateral cooperation between their countries and the United States. He also said he agreed with Kishida's remarks in parliament that South Korea is a partner with which various global issues can be tackled. "We shared the understanding that if relations between South Korea and Japan return to the good times of the past at an early date and exchanges between businesses and between our people become smooth, it will be of great help to the two countries' economies," he said. Yoon and Kishida spoke for 25 minutes in the wake of a series of North Korean missile launches, including one that flew over Japan earlier this week. The call came weeks after the two held their first summit on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, which raised hopes of improving bilateral relations badly frayed over wartime forced labor and other issues related to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. During their call, Yoon and Kishida strongly condemned the North's missile launches as "serious and grave provocative acts," and agreed their countries should work together to respond strictly while also agreeing on the need to warn the regime that its provocations come with consequences, the presidential office said. (Yonhap) Supreme Court blocks Trump from rescinding DACA; DHS sec. calls ruling a 'double standard' The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration cannot proceed with its plans to end a temporary program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. In a 5-4 ruling in which Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices, the nations high court blocked the Trump administration from carrying out a plan it first announced in 2017 to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The DACA program was enacted in 2012 by the Obama administration to allow young immigrants brought to the country as children to apply for a temporary status that protects them from deportation and authorizes them to work in the country. The program gave the Department of Homeland Security the ability to exercise prosecutorial discretion to defer deportation for immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally while they were 18 or younger and have lived in the U.S. since 2007. The program has allowed over 700,000 people to remain in the country but does not give them lawful status. Rescinding the DACA program was a promise that Trump made during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, the court ruled that how the administration went about rescinding the program was arbitrary and capricious as well as a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. In the majority opinion, Roberts wrote that the ruling does not decide whether DACA or its rescission are sound policies. Rather, the decision is rooted in whether the DHS complied with the procedural requirement that it provide a reasoned explanation for its action. Here the agency failed to consider the conspicuous issues of whether to retain forbearance and what if anything to do about the hardship to DACA recipients, the opinion reads. That dual failure raises doubts about whether the agency appreciated the scope of its discretion or exercised that discretion in a reasonable manner. The appropriate recourse is therefore to remand to DHS so that it may consider the problem anew. The administration argued that the DACA program went above and beyond the authority of the president because it enacted unilaterally. Two memorandums were issued by successive DHS secretaries in 2017 and 2018. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the explanations offered were insufficient under the APAs arbitrary-and-capricious standard. In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the DHS under the Obama administration was required to observe the procedures set out in the APA if it wanted to promulgate a legislative rule, and it is undisputed that the DHS did not do so. It provided no opportunity for interested parties to submit comments regarding the effect that the programs dramatic and very significant change in immigration law would have on various aspects of society, Thomas wrote. It provided no discussion of economic considerations or national security interests. Nor did it provide any substantial policy justifications for treating young people brought to this country differently from other classes of aliens who have lived in the country without incident for many years. And, it did not invoke any law authorizing DHS to create such a program beyond its inexplicable assertion that DACA was consistent with existing law. Because DHS failed to engage in the statutorily mandated process, DACA never gained status as a legally binding regulation that could impose duties or obligations on third parties. In his dissent, Justice Samuel Alito contends that the high court did not actually resolve the question of DACAs rescission. Instead, it tells the Department of Homeland Security to go back and try again, Alito wrote. What this means is that the Federal Judiciary, without holding that DACA cannot be rescinded, has prevented that from occurring during an entire Presidential term. Our constitutional system is not supposed to work that way. Trump took to Twitter Thursday morning to voice his displeasure with the ruling. The ruling comes just days after the Supreme Court dealt the administration another blow by ruling that federal civil rights law protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination. These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives, Trump wrote. We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd. Amendment & everything else. Vote Trump 2020! Acting Secretary of the Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli called the decision a double standard and outrageous. Supreme Court says all any President needs is a pen and a phone? Cuccinelli wrote in a tweet. Does anyone think theyd let @realDonaldTrump just make up laws on sticky notes like @BarackObama??? Trumps plan to rescind DACA drew the ire of not only those on the political left but also some evangelical Christian leaders, including those within the National Association of Evangelicals and the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. They argue that immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, most of whom know no other home since they grew up in the U.S., should not be punished for the actions of their parents. Todays Supreme Court decision gives a much-needed reprieve to the many DACA recipients in our churches and communities who have been stuck in legal limbo waiting for our nation to recognize that America is their rightful home, Rodriguez, who prayed at Trumps inauguration in 2017, said in a statement responding to the ruling. I celebrate this victory with these young men and women and their families. They are a blessing, not a curse, to our nation. As evangelical leaders have called for restitution-based immigration reform that provides a pathway for immigrants residing in the United States to be granted legal permanent residency, Rodriguez stressed that the country cant lose sight of whats really not working here. [T]his was the job of Congress, not the executive or judicial branch, he said. Its time for Congress to do their job and to fix our broken immigration system. Congress must stop passing that responsibility to the other branches of government. Congress could have achieved this on at least three occasions over the last three years and on each occasion they opted for political expediency over justice. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, responded to the ruling in a statement explaining that "Dreamers are not an abstraction." "They are people created in the image of God, who were brought here as children by their parents. Their entire lives are at stake right now," Moore stressed. "This Supreme Court decision might address an immediate question of administrative law, but it does not, ultimately, protect our vulnerable neighbors." "There is no sending these people back in many cases they have no memory at all of the land of their parents' origin," he added. "Those who have lived as good neighbors, contributed so greatly to our country, should be protected from the constant threat of having their lives upended." Moore and other evangelical leaders affiliated with the Evangelical Immigration Table signed onto a letter sent to Congressional leaders Thursday following the ruling urging them to permanently resolve the situation for Dreamers. On Twitter, former President Barack Obama praised the courts decision. Eight years ago this week, we protected young people who were raised as part of our American family from deportation, he wrote, before urging followers to vote for his vice president, Joe Biden, for president this November. Today, I'm happy for them, their families, and all of us. Islamic extremists disguised as military separated Christians from crowed, slit their throats: bishop Suspected Islamic extremists disguised in military uniform gathered a crowd of people in Mozambiques Nampula province, then separated the Christians from the group and tied their hands before slitting their throats, a Catholic bishop said. Bishop Alberto Vera Arejula of Nacala told the Catholic group Aid to the Church in Need this week about the killings that occurred last month as was told to him by one of the Christian survivors who managed to flee. The survivor told the bishop that the terrorists were dressed in military uniform and they gathered people saying they were there to save them. When they were all gathered, they started asking who is Muslim and who is Christian. Those who identified as Christian, they started tying their hands behind their back and they cut their throats, the bishop was quoted as saying. The bishop said the killings took place on the night of Sept. 6 and the following day, and that 11 people were murdered in total and they left a trail of destruction and a lot of fear. On Sept. 6, an 83-year-old Italian nun, Sister Maria de Coppi, was killed in Chipene city when gunmen stormed a Catholic mission compound and set fire to buildings, including the church and hospital, according to reports. The attack lasted five hours as the militants ransacked and burned the Diocese of Nacalas mission church, school, health center, dwellings, library and vehicles, Aid to the Church in Need reported earlier. Arejula said he knew the nun, and she was the image of a mother, she was really helping everyone with simple love and humility. Sister Maria de Coppi was a nurse who would help malnourished children in a little room where there was milk and flour, and they destroyed that room as well. According to reports, the gunmen were likely running away from security forces from Mozambique, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community. At least 24 countries have sent troops to support the fight against insurgents in Mozambique, whose army has been accused of being corrupt and having 7,000 ghost soldiers, according to the BBC. Islamic State-affiliated insurgents in northern Mozambique, a Christian-majority country, have internally displaced more than three-quarters of a million people, according to the United Nations. In the coastal province of Cabo Delgado, Islamic extremists have been exploiting the crisis after a civil war started in 2017. The area is rich with gas, rubies, graphite, gold and other natural resources. Protesters demonstrated at the time against what they say is profits going to an elite in the ruling Frelimo Party, with few jobs for local residents. In 2017, jihadist insurgents began in the Cabo-Delgado province, winning over some locals due to the fact that they gave back resources to villagers from the government and killed no one, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported earlier. This did not last, however, as IS started setting fire to Christian villages, and killing those who lived there. Cabo Delgado is a mostly Muslim region where at least 300 Christians have been killed for their faith, according to ICC. There have also been over 100 attacks on churches in the area. In March 2021, the United States labeled Islamic State-Mozambique as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. ISIS-Mozambique is also known as Ansar al-Sunna and known locally as al-Shabaab. The group reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State as early as April 2018 and has killed hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians. In November 2020, Islamic State-linked militants beheaded over 50 people, including women and children, and abducted others in weekend raids in the Miudumbe and Macomia districts of the Cabo Delgado province. Last December, Human Rights Watch revealed that insurgents had enslaved more than 600 women and girls, many of which had been abused and sold as sex slaves for as low as $600. Not without sadness: Tia Mowry files for divorce after 14 years of marriage Actress Tia Mowry, who, alongside her twin sister, Tamera, gained fame on the '90s TV series "Sister, Sister," filed for divorce from her husband, Cory Hardrict, after 14 years of marriage. The couple once connected over their Christian values and were married in 2008, but Mowrey said they are now divorcing over "irreconcilable differences," according to People magazine. The court filing requested joint custody of the couples 11-year-old son, Cree, and 4-year-old daughter, Cairo, according to People. Mowry also shared the news of her pending divorce with her Instagram followers Tuesday in a post that included a photo of her and Hardrict. I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different. I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways, she wrote. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness." I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives. Mowry said they will maintain a friendship as they co-parent their two children. The Family Reunion star also shared a quote on her Instagram story that said, Letting go can be painful. But, it wont hurt as much as holding on to an illusion. In a past interview, Mowry, who is a practicing Christian, said it was Hardricts faith that connected the two of them. Cory is a man of faith and a man of God, the actress shared on her social media series, Tia Mowrys Quick Fix in 2017. Hell put something on the board and hell say, Tia, I know that thats going to come to pass. And Im like, this dude is crazy, Mowry joked. Then it comes to pass and not only that he taught me how to believe in myself more than I believe in myself. He is like my biggest supporter and biggest fan. I knew Tia was the one for me when she was in my corner when I moved to L.A., to Inglewood, and I had like two pair of drawls to my name. I was dirt poor. I didnt have anything, and she appreciated everything for what it was and she loved me for me, said Hardrict, who is also an actor. I knew once I could get in a financially better situation, Im going to buy her a ring and thats going to be my wife. And here we are, so thats when I knew she was the one for me because it was real love. Its not perfect, now but thats love. Mowry and Hardrict had a prenuptial agreement prior to their marriage in 2008. According to reports, Mowry is requesting to terminate spousal support. City must pay $60K after atheist group sues to stop Lord's Prayer at council meetings A city in West Virginia has been ordered to pay $60,000 in legal fees after being sued by a national secular legal organization that objected to the practice of opening city council meetings with the Lord's Prayer. In an announcement Thursday, the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation said that a federal court had ordered the town of Parkersburg to pay $60,000 to cover attorney fees and other costs associated with the lawsuit filed on behalf of two nonreligious residents in 2018. The lawsuit sought to get the Parkersburg City Council to stop a longstanding practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer, also called the "Our Father," before meetings. U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr., an appointee of President Gerald Ford, ordered the city on Thursday to pay $58,031.40 in attorney fees and $971.28 in costs to FFRF and its two co-plaintiffs. Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president, said in a statement she was "pleased" with the ruling, believing that "Parkersburg citizens who are not Christian or religious will no longer be treated like second-class citizens." Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce told The Christian Post on Friday that he is "disappointed but not surprised" by the awarding of costs, noting that the fees "will be covered by the city's insurance carrier." "I remain disappointed that a longstanding tradition was upended after a liberal minority filed a lawsuit over what has been a common practice in many cities and governing bodies for multiple generations," said Joyce, a Republican. "As mayor, I respect the court's decision and city council has elected to not pursue the matter any further, a decision I also respect. Prayer remains a daily part of my life and a vital component of how I live my life and discharge my duties as a son, brother, friend and mayor." The lawsuit against the city argued that the council's recitation of the Lord's Prayer "has the primary effect of both advancing religion and expressing Defendant's preference for Christianity above all other religions and nonreligion." "The City Council members have coerced participation in religion by leading meeting attendees in the Lord's Prayer and intimidating nonparticipants," the litigation states. The plaintiffs attended multiple council meetings and said they felt unwelcome due to the prayer and the alleged expectation that they participate. In May, Copenhaver ruled in favor of the two residents, permanently blocking city officials from continuing the practice. "By continually reciting, over a number of years, the same prayer clearly identifiable with a particular faith, without the opportunity for other faiths to be heard, the City Council impermissibly identified itself with a preferred religion," ruled Copenhaver. "[T]he City Council wrapped itself in a single faith. That is exemplified by the unduly heightened risk of coercion by the state by virtue of the governmental identity of the prayer-givers acting in unison, the invariable nature of the sectarian prayer that is associated with and endorses Christianity, and the implicit and sometimes express invitation." Copenhaver contrasted the Parkersburg prayer practice with that declared constitutional in the U.S. Supreme Court case Town of Greece v. Galloway, as the practices by the Town of Greece involved having clergy of different backgrounds give an invocation on behalf of officials rather than the same specific Christian prayer being offered every meeting. Last month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Texas judge who allowed chaplains of different faith backgrounds to begin court sessions with invocations. The panel ruled that the judge could continue the practice because he tells attendees in advance they are not required to participate in the invocations and that not doing so wouldn't impact their cases. Additionally, the court found that prayer tradition upholds "denominational nondiscrimination." Reporter Fired For Pro-Life Petition, Scooby-Doo Film Turns Velma Lesbian, NY's Pro-Polygamy Ruling link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:32 07:32 A pro-life group is calling for the impeachment of United States Attorney General Merrick Garland following a raid on a pro-life activist's home. A North Texas megachurch has revealed that one of its former youth pastors sexually abused at least 14 girls from two different churches. Popular children's cartoon series "Scooby-Doo" has joined the list of children's content that overtly features LGBT characters by turning one of the show's five main protagonists, Velma, into a lesbian. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins has denounced a New York judge's ruling that nonmonogamous relationships should be treated equally to marriage under the eyes of the law. Subscribe to this Podcast Planned Parenthood's RV abortion clinic at Illinois border raises safety concerns, pro-lifers say Pro-life activists say Planned Parenthood's plans to deploy a mobile abortion clinic at the Illinois border to serve women from neighboring states where abortion is banned or restricted raises safety and ethics concerns. As The Associated Press reported Monday, the nation's largest abortion provider announced its intention to establish a mobile abortion clinic that will operate in Illinois and travel near the state's borders with Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. All three states have implemented near-total bans on abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which found that the U.S. Constitution doesn't contain a right to abortion. The Dobbs decision gave states the authority to regulate abortion, reversing the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Illinois, unlike many of its neighboring states, is one of the 16 states that has codified the right to abortion into state law. The RV that will serve as the mobile clinic is 37 feet long and will include two exam rooms, a lab and a waiting room. The mobile clinic plans to offer chemical abortions up to 11 weeks gestation and begin conducting surgical abortions after the first few months. Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, told the AP that the RV is expected to arrive by the end of the month and be operational by the end of the year. According to Rodriguez, wait times at her abortion facility along the Missouri-Illinois border have gone from an average of four days to two and a half weeks since the court's ruling. The clinic, located in Fairview Heights, Illinois, has reportedly seen a 30% increase in abortion patients, with the number of women from outside Missouri and Illinois increasing by more than 340%. Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood's St. Louis office, described the mobile abortion clinic as "a way to reduce travel times and distances in order to meet patients at the Illinois border." Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. In their interview with AP, McNicholas and Rodriguez declined to discuss safety and security measures for the mobile clinics, which some pro-lifers find revealing. "If they don't feel confident in expressing the safety and reliability of this option, then why should women feel comfortable going to them for such intimate medical help?" asked Emma Waters, a research associate in the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family at the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. In an interview with CP, Waters questioned what these mobile clinics will do if a woman experiences complications after taking the abortion pill, but the RV has moved to another location by the time the woman realizes something is wrong. "So you're giving something to women in a state where it's legal, technically, but then you're sending them back to a place where they're not going to know the adequate resources they need should something go wrong, and there's a high likelihood that something can go wrong," Waters said. The research associate voiced concerns about whether the mobile abortion clinics can screen women for ectopic pregnancies or other pregnancy complications before administering the abortion pill. "Chemical abortions are four times more dangerous than surgical abortions," she asserted, likely referring to a 2015 study titled "Incidence of Emergency Room Department Visits and Complications After Abortion." The study used data from 2009 and 2010 to assess the abortion complication rate for California women who had abortions through Medicaid and those treated at the emergency room instead of the clinic. Researchers found that the complication rate was 5.2% for women who took the abortion pill compared to 1.3% for women who had a first-trimester surgical abortion. The major complication rate for the abortion pill was .31% in contrast to .16% for first-trimester surgical abortions. "So not only are these chop shops on wheels traveling close to state lines and trying to intercept vulnerable and scared women, but they're also administering a form of abortion that is far more dangerous than the traditional form," Waters said. She contends that Planned Parenthood is "taking abortion on demand to a whole new level." "This is dehumanizing for women and for the preborn children whose lives they're taking," she stated. "It's a complete disrespect for the laws and the convictions of other states who have voted to protect life in the womb." Waters says there seems to be a double standard when it comes to abortion, suggesting that no parent would condone their daughter undergoing a dental procedure or an ovarian cyst removal in an RV. "It doesn't seem like a legitimate medical option to practice something so intimate and so vulnerable as an abortion in an RV," Waters said. "There's something unsettling about such a transient, largely low-tech option that just feels very sleazy and wrong." Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications and marketing for Heartbeat International, one of the largest networks of pregnancy resource centers worldwide, expressed similar concerns. In a Tuesday statement to CP, she accused the abortion organization of putting profit over women's safety. "In essence, Planned Parenthood's mobile unit can now enter a community, provide chemical and surgical abortions, and simply drive away, leaving patients alone to deal with the recovery and any complications that may arise," she wrote. "How is that 'care'?" "Every woman deserves compassion when facing an unexpected pregnancy," Trudden proclaimed. "Women do not need abortion to lead a fulfilling life." Trudden stressed that crisis pregnancy organizations like hers "provide real care and support as women navigate a very difficult time." Earlier this month, Planned Parenthood released its 2020-2021 annual report, showing that the organization's affiliates conducted 383,460 abortions in the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2021. The figure is an 8% increase from the 354,871 abortions documented in its 2019-2020 report. In addition, Planned Parenthood reported receiving over $633 million in "Government Health Services Reimbursements & Grants" that same year. This figure constitutes more than a third of Planned Parenthood's total revenue. News anchor fired after gathering petition signatures for pro-life initiative A Nebraska news station says it fired a news director who collected signatures for a pro-life ballot initiative because her actions violated the company's policy of journalistic impartiality and raised questions about her ability to cover the abortion issue without bias. Melanie Standiford, the former news director and co-anchor at KNOP-TV in North Platte, worked for the company for five years before her termination last week. She gathered signatures for an initiative seeking to outlaw abortion in her hometown. The news station terminated Standiford on the same day The Flatwater Free Press reported on her efforts to gather signatures in Curtis. The petition calls for a vote in November to determine if the city will become a sanctuary for the unborn. KNOP confirmed in a statement to The Christian Post that Standiford's employment concluded on Friday, remarking that the company wishes her well in her future endeavors. "Separately, KNOP can confirm that our long-standing company policy encourages civic involvement among our employees, so long as such activities do not give the appearance of interfering with journalistic impartiality," the statement reads. "In furtherance of that qualification, KNOP's news personnel are not permitted, at any time and regardless of beliefs, to actively engage in any political activity for any candidate, party, or ballot initiative." As The North Platte Bulletin reported on Monday, a news director for the company, speaking on behalf of the general manager, informed Standiford that her involvement with the petition makes it difficult for her to operate as a neutral source on the issue. Standiford said in a Wednesday statement to CP that the news station was not clear that the company's policy extended to gathering signatures from "like-minded Christians." She also claimed that she did not do any reporting on her attempt to gather signatures for the ballot initiative. "This was my church and with the people in my community that I know personally and on my own time," Standiford wrote. The former news director shared the petition with her church in early August, collecting a total of 47 combined signatures from the congregation and another church based in Curtis, according to Bulletin. Before The Free Press report, Standiford says the company never found fault with her reporting on the abortion issue. She is consulting with an attorney, arguing that she has the right to uphold her values outside the workplace. On Monday, a group of people protested across the street from KNOP's office, holding signs bearing slogans such as "#I Stand with Standiford." Curtis is among six other towns expected to vote this year on whether to outlaw abortion within city limits: Arnold, Brady, Curtis, Hershey, Paxon and Wallace. The sanctuary city ordinance defines abortion as "the act of using or prescribing an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant." The penalty for violating the ordinance is a $500 fine. However, the ordinance clarifies that it would not forbid medical treatment to preserve the mother's life or remove a dead fetus, as these actions are not considered abortions. With the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June again giving states the authority to determine abortion laws, the ability to enforce the ordinance will likely be a matter of state law, according to The Free Press. Anthony Schutz, a law professor at the University of Nebraska College of Law, believes there could be a conflict with the state's abortion law even if local governments have some authority to enforce the ordinances. Planned Parenthood's former research arm, the Guttmacher Institute, reports that Nebraska allows abortions up to 20 weeks gestation, allowing for later abortions in life-of-the-mother cases. "The one thing I think is relatively clear is that cities have no authority to regulate this sort of thing under Nebraska law," Schutz said in a statement to The Free Press. The Nebraska legislature will have to authorize cities to enforce the ordinance before they have the power to regulate abortion. Last year, Lubbock, Texas, became the most populous sanctuary city for the unborn in the U.S. after residents voted to outlaw abortion within the city limits. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the city in May 2021, two weeks after 62.5% of the city's 250,000 residents voted in favor of the referendum. Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Surgical Health Services filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the city. The motion to dismiss came several months after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division, upheld the ban. What if you are wrong about God? When was the last time you were wrong about something that really mattered? You had been convinced you were right, only to find out later that you were dead wrong. If you could go back in time, what changes would you make? Would you do it the same way and believe the same things, even though your firm belief turned out to be false, and your behavior created havoc in your life? I suspect you would do things differently and believe things differently, based on what you now know to be true. After all, hindsight is 20/20, right? If only These words are felt intensely by multitudes of people. You are not the only person to have regrets. And you are not the only one to have beliefs that you found credible when you were younger, before you knew any better. If only I had done it differently. If only I had believed then what I now know to be true. I wish there was a way I could convince you my friend that your soul is immortal. Perhaps you already know it. Every single person who has lived and died has come to know for a fact that their soul is immortal. They know it from experience. They know it because they are living in it at this very moment. I wish there was a way I could convince you of this fact before it is too late. It becomes too late when people can only look back on their life and wish they had believed things differently and done things differently. If only I had accepted Gods offer when I was invited to place my faith in the goodness, grace and love of my Creator. I wish there was a way I could help you see into the future, and realize that death is only the beginning. I wish there was a way we could rescue people in Hell today and help them escape their eternal sentence. I know that God wanted them to repent of their sins and trust him and follow him during their few brief years on Earth. But for whatever reason, they lived according to their misguided assumptions without any awareness of what they lacked. I wish they could go back in time and place their faith in the Messiah. Sadly, there is no going back. But here is something we can do. We can reach out to our family members and friends and neighbors today with the love of Christ. We can invite them to place their faith in Jesus while there is still time to be saved. The day is coming when each one of them will take that journey from this world into the next realm. Your soul leaves your body at death and is instantly transported either to Hades (Hell) or to Heaven. There is no layover in Cleveland or Shanghai or any other location on planet Earth. And the false notion of purgatory is only mythical. In reality, there are no second chances after death. If there was a webcam in Heaven and a webcam in Hades that you could access online today, you would know exactly why believers are so concerned for the souls of unbelievers. And you would suddenly realize why God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins, and God wants you to know it because God wants you in Heaven forever. (John 3:16) How often do you get things wrong? Is it possible that you are wrong about Christ and about eternity? Or are you the only one who never gets things wrong? And are you the only one who will never regret your decision to reject Jesus and His offer of everlasting life in Heaven? Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. And then he asked Martha, Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26) The same question is being presented to you today. Do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus can raise your body from the grave and bring you to Heaven? Will you trust Christ to do it, or will you leave this world one day in unbelief? Eternity is a long time to be wrong, whether you currently realize it or not. I wish there was a way I could convince you to trust Christ as your Savior. But I suppose only God can pull off that miracle. (John 3:1-21) There are only two trains that bring souls into eternity. Jesus said so in Matthew 7:13-14, as well as many other places. Will you look into your future to see where the train you are on is heading? And if it is not heading to Heaven, then it is heading to Hell. God wants to keep you out of that horrible place. And he wants you to spend eternity with him and all of his children in the beauty and ecstasy of Heaven. Have you ever been wrong about anything? What if you are wrong about the Lord and about the immortality of your soul? If you have been wrong about Jesus up until now, what do you plan to do about it while there is still time to embrace Gods love for you in Christ? Will you renounce your sins as you confess them to Jesus and are saved, or refuse to believe in the Messiah and remain lost in your sins? The clock is ticking. Your decision is needed. And to delay your decision on such a critical matter is to nevertheless make a decision. You can be wrong about many things my friend and still recover. But this isnt one of them. There are no do-overs after you die. You see my friend, death truly is just the beginning. Why not call on the Lord today with these words: Wash me, Jesus, with your precious blood. Save my immortal soul, and turn me into one of your followers. Amen." Muslim mob attempt to kill Christian woman on trial for sharing WhatsApp message ABUJA, Nigeria A Christian woman in northeast Nigeria is on trial after being held incommunicado for more than four months on blasphemy charges for forwarding a WhatsApp message, sources said. Rhoda Yau Jatau, 45, was arrested in Bauchi state in May after receiving a WhatsApp message from Ghana condemning the gruesome killing of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a university student in Sokoto state also falsely accused of blaspheming Islam. Jatau shared the message condemning Yakubus May 12 death with colleagues in Warji County, and Muslims who saw it accused her of blaphemy and sought to kill her. Security agents from the Department of State Services, Nigerias secret police, arrested her on May 20, and she was incarcerated when Muslim mobs stormed her house seeking to kill her, sources said. Ever since her arrest, Mrs. Jatau has been detained in prison over false accusations of blasphemy, charged with inciting public disturbance, exciting contempt of religious creed and cyber-stalking, said her attorney, Joshua Nasara, in a press statement. Efforts to secure bail for Jatau, a health worker with the Warji Local Government Area, have been frustrated and denied by government authorities and leaders of Islamic groups in the state, Nasara said. The charges accuse Jatau, of Tudun Alheri, of posting a video that disparages Allah, Muhammad (the prophet of Islam), his parents and the entire Muslim community to a WhatApp group of the Primary Healthcare Authority of Warji Local Government Area, allegedly with the intent to cause religious crisis, he said. The charges allege that she thus violated Sections 114,210 of the Penal Code Law and Section 24 subsection 1b(i) of Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015. Jatau was held for two weeks before she was charged, and since then she has been held incommunicado in prison as authorities and Muslim leaders in the state delayed her trial, Nasara said. An application for bail was filed on July 20, after she was held the legal maximum of two months without trial, but it was not assigned to a judge until July 26, and by then judges had gone on vacation, Nasara said. It was in August that the application was reassigned to a vacation judge who heard it for the first time on Aug. 11, he said. The Rev. Ishaku Dano of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Warji County said the blasphemy charges are false. Jatau shared the WhatsApp message only as a word of caution against further violence in northern Nigeria, where Muslim mobs were wreaking havoc, he said. Information we obtained from Mrs. Jatau shows that the WhatsApp message she received and shared in her group was for caution against violence and against the use of derogatory language in addressing other peoples faith, but that was not the interpretation by the Muslims, Pastor Dano said. And since the occurrence of the incident in May 2022, there have been campaigns by Muslims for Mrs. Jatau to be killed for blasphemy against Muhammad. Pastor attacked In the Birshi area of the city of Bauchi, gunmen on Sept. 16 broke into the home of Pastor Zakka Luka Magaji and shot a relative staying with him, sources said. Seven terrorists invaded my house and attacked me and my family, Pastor Magaji said. I was their target even though I dont know their motives. The injured relation staying with me who was shot during the attack is getting better now. The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State Chapter, said the attack on Pastor Magaji typifies the challenges facing Christians in northern Nigeria. The government must do everything possible to protect Nigerians from such attacks by terrorists, as life is sacred and must be protected at all costs, said the Rev. Abraham Damina Dimeus. Ahmed Wakil, spokesman for the Bauchi State Police Command, confirmed that seven armed terrorists attacked the pastors home, that he was unhurt and that the relative was wounded. A 32-year-old man who is a member of Christian Life Church living with Pastor Zakka was injured in the process, Wakil said. The police personnel who were there on a rescue mission immediately took the injured victim and rushed him to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for treatment of gunshot wounds. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021,) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report. Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report. In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year. Members of Chinas Early Rain house church threatened with eviction Several Christians belonging to Chinas Early Rain Covenant Church, which has faced substantial persecution over the last few years, have received eviction notices with no stated reason from their landlords who appear to be under pressure from the communist government. Shu Qiong and her husband are among the families from the Chengdu-based ERCC who received eviction notices, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. When the Christian couple received a phone call from the landlord about their eviction, they asked if he was being threatened by the government to force them out but he denied it, offering to refund their breach penalty and rent. Shu told the landlord that she understood that he was also under pressure. I only ask God to remember your grievances. I can understand the pressure you are under, she was quoted as telling the landlord, in part. She added, But I am a Christian, and although I am poor, so poor that I need to rent a house and be driven around, I still know that it is not pleasing to God to covet unjust money in this way. Shu and her husband refused to move out until the lease was up, as they had not broken any laws. She added that she and her husband are prepared to face the legal consequences of their decision if they must. Chinas ongoing crackdown against ERCC is the prime example of how Beijing continues to disregard religious freedom for its people even if the Constitution guarantees this right, Gina Goh, ICCs regional manager for Southeast Asia, previously said. Since the incarceration of ERCC Pastor Wang Yi and elder Qing Derfu in 2018, the government has not ceased its harassment and persecution of the house church. The governments goal is to see all house churches go extinct so they can fully control Christianity in China. Meanwhile, Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old longtime critic of Chinas communist regime who was arrested in Hong Kong in May for his role in a now-defunct humanitarian relief organization that helped people who participated in the large-scale 2019 pro-democracy protests, stood trial last month. During the trial, Hong Kong police testified against Zen and the judge ruled that his case could move forward, ICC said, adding that his next court appearance has been scheduled for Oct. 26. If convicted, he faces a fine. However, Zen is also under investigation for colluding with foreign forces, for which he could face a life sentence. Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, fled Shanghai for Hong Kong about seven decades ago after the communists took over China. The Vatican, as well as many international organizations, had condemned his arrest in May. In 1997, China had agreed to a one country, two systems arrangement to allow certain freedoms for Hong Kong when it received the city back from British control. Critics contend the security law imposed by China recently undercuts the promised autonomy. Open Doors USA, which monitors the persecution of Christians in over 60 countries, estimates that China has more than 97 million Christians, many of whom worship in unregistered or illegal underground churches. The five state-sanctioned religious groups in China are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Even the organizations affiliated with the five authorized religions can be subject to surveillance and limitations. ICC documented more than 100 incidents of Christian persecution in China between July 2020 and June 2021 as the countrys communist regime sought to forcefully convert independent religious groups into mechanisms of the Chinese Communist Party. President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday he would not comment in advance on the possibility of scrapping an inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement in the event North Korea goes ahead with another nuclear test. Some members of the ruling party have argued the Sept. 19 agreement, signed after a 2018 summit between then President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, should be scrapped amid the North's increased missile testing in recent weeks. The agreement calls for halting all hostile military activity between the Koreas and includes plans to turn the Demilitarized Zone into a peace zone, devise military guarantees for the activation of cross-border exchanges and establish military confidence-building measures. "The three countries that are responding to North Korea's nuclear threat are coming up with response plans step by step through their foreign ministries, national security offices and various channels," Yoon told reporters, referring to South Korea, the United States and Japan. "It's a bit difficult to tell you in advance," he said when asked if he is considering annulling the deal in the event North Korea conducts what would be its seventh nuclear test. Officials have said North Korea could stage a nuclear test late this month after a key Chinese Communist Party meeting and before the U.S. midterm elections in November, though the regime has been ready since May. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told a parliamentary meeting this week that he will review the effectiveness of the Sept. 19 agreement depending on the intensity of North Korea's provocations, saying it "isn't desirable" for South Korea to abide by the terms when the North is not. (Yonhap) On the rise in 2022: five female figurative artists you need to know about With sold-out solo shows, institutions snapping up their works and auction prices smashing high estimates, these are the figurative artists to keep an eye on right now all of them featuring in our upcoming Post-War & Contemporary Art sales Danielle Orchard (b. 1985) Paintings by the American artist Danielle Orchard are currently some of the art markets hottest property. It was only last year that she signed a representation deal with powerhouse gallery Perrotin, but she has already opened solo exhibitions at its spaces in Seoul and Paris. With these shows completely sold out, another is currently in the works for Perrotins outpost in New York, due to open in spring 2023. Theres a wait list for her work and its growing by the day, the gallerys director Ariel Kliegerman recently told Artnet. Weve already made a few promises to collectors and museums who werent able to get access this time, she added, referencing the artists rare string of back-to-back shows. The demand for Orchards work has caused her prices at auction to skyrocket. In November 2021, the artist donated a work called Two Bathers to Christies, which was sold to benefit the Public Art Fund. It achieved a staggering $287,500 nearly 60 times its low estimate. Since then, no fewer than 12 of Orchards works have appeared in salerooms around the world, nearly all of them exceeding their high estimates. The price achieved by Two Bathers, however, remains her current auction record. Orchard was born in Indiana and now lives and works in New York. Her portraits draw on Renaissance poses and Cubist styles, and she has cited Caravaggio and Matisse as influences. After finishing her MFA in painting at Hunter College in New York in 2013, she began steadily building her reputation through group shows at galleries including V1 in Copenhagen and Blum & Poe in Los Angeles. There is much excitement around Orchard and her future, and museum exhibitions are reportedly being planned in Asia and South America for 2023, potentially bolstering her reputation still further. Stacey Gillian Abe (b. 1990) In 2018, Forbes Africa named the contemporary Ugandan artist Stacey Gillian Abe one of its 30 Under 30 Creatives to watch. At the time, Abes work consisted primarily of performances and installations that investigated identity, gender and class from her perspective as a young, black, African woman. That same year her work Enya Sa featuring sculpted clay vaginas painted red to address the objectification of women became a highlight of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and was covered in The New York Times. Since 2020, however, Abe has been concentrating on painting. In the past two years, her portraits of black sitters with indigo-coloured skin wrapped in swags of bright fabrics have been included in various group shows in London and New York, as well as the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence. In 2021, Abes work was included in an exhibition of contemporary African portraitists curated by Kehinde Wiley at Jeffrey Deitch gallery in Los Angeles. The upcoming sale of Sleeping Girl 2 marks Abes first appearance at a major auction house. Painted in 2020, and measuring over a metre wide, the canvas was acquired from the group show Playing to the Gallery, held at Afriart Gallery in Kampala. Collectors will no doubt be watching keenly. Cristina BanBan (b. 1987) Depicting voluptuous women in loose strokes of fleshy tones and blocks of bright colour, Cristina BanBans work mixes elements of modern European figuration with gestural abstraction. BanBan graduated in 2010 from the University of Barcelona and now lives and works in New York. Her breakout year was 2017, when she participated in no fewer than five group shows in London, including Inside Out, curated by the artist Gavin Turk, and the Royal Academys Summer Exhibition. At the latter she was awarded the institutions annual Arts Club Award. Fast-forward to 2021 and BanBan had begun to attract institutional attention, participating in group shows at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio and the Kunstraum Potsdam in Germany. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami also acquired one of her paintings for its permanent collection. In May 2022, Skarstedt took a new work by BanBan to TEFAF New York. It sold for a five-figure sum. Two weeks later, Perrotin exhibited another of the artists new works at Frieze New York. Not long after, the two galleries announced that BanBan had signed a joint representation contract with them, and that, in an unusual move, they would both be taking her work to Art Basel in Switzerland that summer. Cristina isnt afraid to paint monumentally and with muscle, Emmanuel Perrotin told Artnet when discussing the deal. As a result of this flurry of attention, BanBans auction prices have been rising rapidly. In March 2022, a triple portrait shattered its low estimate of 15,000 to realise 138,600. Three months later, a double portrait sold for 144,900, establishing the artists current saleroom record. Her works on paper are also proving popular. Back in March, her drawing About to Glow achieved 8,190, and the pastel work Dos Modelos sold for 20,000 in July 2021. In September 2021, Slappey opened her second solo show at Sargents Daughters in New York, not long after having signed a representation contract with the gallery. Artnet declared Slappey a rising star, while Artforum described the show as a must see. In March 2022, Slappey made her debut at a major auction house. Her work an oil on canvas roughly a metre square that had been acquired from the artists show at Crush Curatorial sailed past its low estimate of $8,000 to achieve an impressive $100,800. The first work by Slappey to have appeared at auction since then is Yellow Bow Study. Acquired from Sargents Daughters, it is a work on paper in gouache, coloured pencil and black pen, and carries an appealing low estimate of 2,000. Koak (b. 1981) The artist Anna Koak, known to the art world by her surname alone, paints linear female forms characterised by elegant strokes and swirls. My work stems from a desire to examine human interactions and connections, the artist told Galerie magazine in a 2020 article that described her as the next big thing. Originally from Michigan, and now living and working in San Francisco, Koak graduated with an MFA in comics from the California College of the Arts in 2016. A year later, she held her first solo show at Alter Space Gallery in San Francisco, which she had run with her partner since 2011. Over the following three years, Koak opened solo shows at Francois Ghebaly in Los Angeles, Altman Siegel in San Francisco and Union Pacific in London. More recently, in 2022, she had an exhibition at Perrotin in Hong Kong, which received international acclaim. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p. Prosecutors questioned former Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Friday as part of an investigation into allegations that while in office, he forced the head of a ministry-affiliated foundation to resign during the previous administration. Cho is suspected of forcing Sohn kwang-ju, a former chief of the Korea Hana Foundation, to step down in 2017, even though about a year was left in his term. The foundation was formerly known as the North Korean Refugees Foundation. The questioning came as an investigation expanded into what is dubbed the "blacklist scandal" that centers on allegations that the Moon Jae-in administration forced the resignation of heads of several state agencies who were appointed under the preceding Park Geun-hye government. Earlier, prosecutors also investigated former Industry Minister Paik Un-gyu over allegations that he forced the heads of 13 energy-related state firms to step down. Paik was the Moon administration's first minister of trade, industry and energy. The then main opposition Liberty Korea Party, a predecessor of the now ruling People Power Party, lodged a criminal complaint against former ranking officials and several former ministers. (Yonhap) Well-conceived tactics needed to tackle repeated provocations South Korea and the United States resumed joint drills with a U.S. aircraft carrier on Friday in response to North Korea's repeated military provocations. The North flew 12 fighter jets and bombers on Thursday, prompting the South to deploy 30 fighters around the heavily fortified border area. Hours earlier, the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. The North's military maneuvers came in defiance of the redeployment of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group near the peninsula and the convening of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the North Korea issue. Military tensions have been escalating on the Korean Peninsula amid intensifying military postures by South Korea and the U.S., inciting North Korea to take countermeasures. North Korea's foreign ministry lambasted the U.S. for repositioning the nuclear-armed U.S. aircraft carrier, stoking anxiety it would seriously undermine security on the peninsula. It also criticized the U.S. for convening the UNSC meeting over the missile launches, describing them as a "just countermeasure" against the joint drills between the U.S. and South Korea. The North cried foul over the U.S. move as an excuse for its military provocations in an apparent bid to prod the Joe Biden administration to offer compromises. Yet such an approach by the North is unlikely to win the support of the Biden government. North Korea should squarely face reality and stop its tactics of repeating military provocations. The Yoon Suk-yeol government held a meeting of the National Security Council, warning that the North would be met with stronger countermeasures. Yoon had a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, agreeing on the need to strengthen bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation including the U.S. It is natural for the allies to take proactive steps against the North's provocations. Yet, on the other hand, it is also necessary to seek ways to promote peace on the peninsula instead of the current hectic buildup of military confrontation. South Korea also needs to adopt a cautious approach in dealing with the Japan issue despite the need to improve bilateral relations. Only focusing on the military issue would possibly weaken Seoul's diplomatic leverage in handling pending issues with Japan, such as its forced labor of Korean workers during World War II. The Yoon administration should refrain from taking hasty measures only to make progress in relations with Japan. A rigid military posture could possibly trigger accidental military clashes. Growing confrontation will also impose further security burdens for South Korea. Despite the need to maintain a proper defense posture against North Korea's provocations, the allies should adopt wiser and more comprehensive approaches while respecting their different national interests. This also prompts the need for the Yoon administration to adopt more well-conceived strategies. As expected, the UNSC meeting ended without tangible results due to opposition from China and Russia. This is disappointing as it will only heighten tensions on the peninsula. This also proves the two nations' influence on Pyongyang, requiring the Yoon government to step up diplomatic efforts toward them. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a new temporary measure aimed at alleviating Canada's historic labour shortages. Fraser says this will allow over 500,000 international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours. Canada to allow international students to work off-campus over 20 hours per week Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a new temporary measure aimed at alleviating Canada's historic labour shortages. Fraser says this will allow over 500,000 international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours. Canada to allow international students to work off-campus over 20 hours per week Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a new temporary measure aimed at alleviating Canada's historic labour shortages. Fraser says this will allow over 500,000 international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours. Canada to allow international students to work off-campus over 20 hours per week Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a new temporary measure aimed at alleviating Canada's historic labour shortages. Fraser says this will allow over 500,000 international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A From November 15, 2022 until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will be allowed to work over 20 hours per week off-campus while class is in session. This temporary measure will also apply to foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application as of today. They will also be able to benefit from this policy if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada approves their application. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced this major reform this morning in Canadas capital city, Ottawa. Fraser explained this measure aims to alleviate the labour shortages that are being experienced across Canada. Canada is grappling with historic labour shortages and an unemployment rate which is low by historical standards. Earlier this morning, Statistics Canada reported that Canadas unemployment rate fell to 5.2 per cent in September, down from 5.4 per cent in August. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Assessment At present, international students who apply to study in an eligible Canadian educational program may get authorized to work off-campus during their studies for up to 20 hours per week. This limit is lifted during scheduled breaks such as the summer and winter holidays. This policy allows international students to support themselves financially while also seeking to ensure that they remain focused on completing their studies rather than be focused on working in Canada. Facing nearly one million job vacancies, however, has resulted in the Canadian government easing this rule for the time being. Fraser noted this measure will allow over 500,000 eligible international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours. Canada is among the worlds leading destinations of international students. In 2021, it hosted over 620,000 international students, a figure which has tripled over the past two decades. Canada issued nearly 450,000 new study permits last year alone. Demand to study in Canada remains strong due to various factors, such as the quality of the countrys educational institutions, multiculturalism, affordability of the Canadian dollar, and the work and permanent residence opportunities that the country offers. Fraser also pointed out in todays announcement that Canada has already processed more than 452,000 study permit applications between January and August of 2022, a 23 per cent increase compared to the 367,000 processed over the same period in 2021. As such, Canada has already broken the record it set last year for study permits processed in a calendar year. The majority of international students report they are interested in remaining in Canada as permanent residents upon completing their studies, according to research by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). Statistics Canada research shows that international students who go on to gain permanent residence tend to integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market due to factors such as their Canadian work and study experience, as well as English and/or French language proficiency. This explains why Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers a host of measures aimed at helping international graduates work in Canada and remain here. IRCC offers the popular Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP enables eligible international students to get an open work permit that has a validity period that corresponds with the length of their educational program in Canada. Open work permits allow foreign nationals to work for any employer of their choice in Canada. The maximum PGWP validity period is three years. PGWP holders can then gain the professional Canadian work experience they often need to become eligible for an economic class immigration program. The most prominent immigration pathways offered by IRCC fall under the Express Entry system, with PGWP holders commonly pursuing permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. Provinces and territories across Canada also reward international graduates with domestic work experience. Quebec and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams across the country offer permanent residence pathways to international graduates as a means of encouraging them to remain in the province or territory and continuing to contribute to the labour market as immigrants. Canada has increasingly looked to international students as a key source of permanent residents in recent years, especially during the pandemic. For instance, IRCC relied significantly on international graduates to achieve its target of landing over 405,000 new immigrants in 2021, breaking Canadas record for new landed immigrants in a year. IRCC did this by inviting and landing large numbers of Canadian Experience Class candidates. In addition, it introduced a time-limited Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR2PR) program in 2021 that enabled some 90,000 temporary residents to apply for immigration. Minister Fraser also has a mandate from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to identify additional ways for international students and temporary foreign workers to gain permanent residence via Express Entry. In addition, Fraser tabled a strategy in September outlining how the government aims to help more temporary residents gain permanent residence. The strategy contains five pillars, such as modernizing the immigration system to improve application processing times. We will gain greater insights on the Canadian governments newcomer strategy when they table their new Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 by November 1st. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Assessment CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. 36026 Israel's booming tech sector is growing and won't slow down. Investors and industry experts hope for a strong year ahead with stable growth. FREMONT, CA: The booming Israeli tech industry continues its rapid expansion into 2022 with lofty predictions and high confidence. Industry experts and tech investors are optimistic that the upcoming year will be prosperous and stable due to the nation's entrepreneurial spirit. There has been a record-breaking amount of funding, the transformation of crises into opportunities, international recognition for groundbreaking inventions, increased valuations of Israeli technology companies, significant acquisitions, and the maturation of Israel as a scale-up nation in the past year. Israeli innovation impacts multiple technological sectors simultaneously. In 2021, local technology companies maintained leadership in numerous fields, including cybersecurity, agriculture, finance, mobility, data, and digital privacy. Where will Israel leave its mark in 2022 and beyond? With so many thriving sectors within the high-tech industry, the decision is difficult. If the experts are correct, Israel will have an impact on the following seven technological trends in 2022 and beyond: E-commerce The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed significantly to the explosion of e-commerce throughout 2021 and 2022. According to market research, 66 percent of consumers base their purchasing decisions on convenience. It is, therefore, not surprising that e-commerce is a thriving industry. Israeli businesses search for solutions in various areas, including rapid shipping and online returns. Many investors are "looking at the online returns market and considering how startups can help mitigate online returns" to improve the overall online shopping experience. A robust e-commerce platform for online sellers is not only necessary to change consumer shopping habits but also to change how they shop online. It is more expensive to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. SaaS-based companies benefit from this marketing principle by making customer satisfaction a marketing metric and indicator prominent. Quantum Computing Computer chips are limited in their speed by technology. So how is Israel accelerating them? The solution lies in quantum computing. Quantum Computing is a form of computing that exploits the properties of quantum states to perform computations. Computers can only compute data as quickly as the laws of physics permit the particles to move. Using quantum properties, however, information can move much faster than at present. The Israeli government is exerting significant effort to advance Israel in its field. For instance, in 2019, the Knesset allocated approximately $400 million to a five-year National Quantum Initiative, of which $60 million to develop a quantum computer. In October, Physics Today reported that the number of quantum-based companies in Israel increased from five to thirty over the past two years. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Kurly CEO Sophie Kim speaks at Government Complex Seoul in this November 2020 file photo. Newsis By Park Jae-hyuk Kurly, the operator of fresh food delivery platform Market Kurly, issued a statement, Friday, refuting a news report that the company had decided to retract its planned initial public offering (IPO) amid worsening investor sentiment. "We have never talked with the Korea Exchange (KRX), underwriters and investors about withdrawing the IPO," Kurly said. "Since we received preliminary approval on Aug. 22 for our plan to go public, we have kept a close watch on the market conditions so as to complete the IPO before the deadline." Once a company gets preliminary approval for its IPO, it should be listed on the stock market within six months. The online grocer is therefore supposed to go public by February next year. Most industry officials, however, do not expect Kurly to be evaluated at over 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion), unlike the expectation of its investors, including Anchor Equity Partners. Market insiders estimate the company's value stands at around 1 trillion won as of this moment. Kurly had once sought to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but it decided in July to pursue a local listing on the benchmark KOSPI, as its lower-than-expected corporate valuation forced it to scrap the ambitious plan. "The decision was based on our judgment that it is important to share the fruits of corporate growth with our customers and suppliers here," the company said at that time. "The KRX's easing of regulations for Korean unicorn firms to encourage domestic IPOs was the reason for our latest decision." In addition, the retailer is under prosecutorial investigation for allegations that it blacklisted some temporary workers at its logistics centers in order to fire them. Some lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to summon Kurly CEO Sophie Kim to the National Assembly audit this month over this issue. Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Termen extins de aplicare pentru pozitia de manager de oficiu la Institutul de Instruire in Dezvoltare "MilleniuM" By Baek Byung-yeul Hyundai Mobis is close to launching its wholly owned subsidiaries, which will be responsible for manufacturing vehicle parts and vehicle modules, respectively, as the auto parts affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group announced the names of the two companies on Friday. The company said its auto parts manufacturing subsidiary will be named Unitus while the module maker will be named Motras. Hyundai Mobis went on to say that Unitus is a combination of the word unit and the French word "tous," which means "all" in English. Unitus will produce various chassis parts, electric parts, airbags and lamps. Motras is a combination of the words "module" and "transform," which best represents its brand value of constantly seeking change through technological innovations. The company will be in charge of producing vehicle modules, which are a combination of large-sized vehicle components. Until now Hyundai Mobis has produced auto parts and modules through in-house subcontracting after signing contracts with small-sized companies. However, the company's practices in procuring parts and modules has raised potential labor risks as the Supreme Court recently ruled that workers of POSCO's subcontractors should be recognized as POSCO employees. To minimize the labor risk, Hyundai Mobis announced its plan to establish the two subsidiaries in August. On Oct. 5, the company decided to invest a total of 70 billion won ($49.7 million) in cash in these affiliates at a board meeting. Through the investments, Hyundai Mobis will wholly own the two subsidiaries. Hyundai Mobis plans to apply for corporate registration of the two companies next week and the subsidiaries will be launched in November. The company expects the two subsidiaries to generate revenue of between 500 billion won and 600 billion won in 2023, respectively. Government officials and academic figures celebrate the launch of Digital Twin Society initiative at Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport building in Sejong, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shakes hands with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 6. AP-Yonhap The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog described the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station as Ukrainian on Thursday, challenging President Vladimir Putin's assertion that the plant is now part of Russia. Putin ordered his government on Wednesday to take control of the plant, which was seized by Russian forces in March, but the head of Ukraine's state nuclear energy company said the same day that he was taking charge of it. "This is a matter that has to do with international law," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi told a news conference during a visit to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. "We want the war to stop immediately, and of course the position of the IAEA is that this facility is a Ukrainian facility." Russia has occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), Europe's largest, since shortly after its invasion of Ukraine, but Ukrainian staff have continued to operate it. The ZNPP is located in a part of southern Ukraine that Putin has formally incorporated into Russia after holding what Moscow called referendums, in a move condemned by Kyiv and its Western partners as an illegal land grab. The situation at the plant is a source of international concern because of fears that repeated shelling of the plant's territory - for which Kyiv and Moscow blame each other - could lead to a nuclear accident. Grossi, who also plans to hold talks in Moscow this week, said he had held "constructive" talks with Zelenskiy about Russia's annexation moves. "At the same time, we made progress in the consideration of my proposal... to establish a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant," Grossi said, without giving details. Asked if he would boycott any talks about the plant if Russia forced the station's staff to sign contracts with Russia's state nuclear company, Rosatom, Grossi said: "I can neither boycott nor play along." International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi speaks to the media during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 6. EPA-Yonhap President Joe Biden speaks at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Oct. 6. AP-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday the world is facing nuclear "Armageddon", warning that Vladimir Putin may use his atomic arsenal as Russian troops struggle against a Ukrainian counteroffensive. After Russia's invasion eight months ago, Putin has made thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons if he feels he has run out of options in his bid to seize swaths of Ukrainian territory in the face of stiff resistance by Western-back Kyiv. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis" in 1962, Biden said Thursday in New York, adding that "we're trying to figure out what is Putin's off-ramp". While experts say any nuclear attacks would likely be relatively small, Biden warned that even a tactical strike in a limited area would still risk triggering a wider conflagration. Putin is "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming," he said. Ukraine's proclaimed wins in the southern region of Kherson are the latest in a series of Russian defeats undermining the Kremlin's claim to have annexed around 20 percent of Ukraine. "More than (500 square kilometers) have been liberated from Russian occupiers in the Kherson region alone" since the start of October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced late Thursday in his nightly address. The recaptured territory was home to dozens of towns and villages that had been occupied by Russian forces for months, southern army command spokeswoman Natalia Gumeniuk said. Kherson, a region with an estimated pre-war population of around one million people, was captured early and easily by Moscow's troops after their invasion launched on February 24. Russian-installed officials have renewed a call for residents to remain calm, with deputy pro-Moscow leader Kirill Stremousov saying Kremlin forces were holding back the advance. But the Kremlin has pushed on Russian missiles struck the central industrial city of Zaporizhzhia early on Thursday, killing several civilians. Rescue workers clawed through the rubble with their bare hands searching for survivors, AFP journalists saw. Addressing a meeting in Prague of European heads of state, Zelenskyy called on Western capitals to supply his army with more weapons "to punish the aggressor". Ukraine must fend off Moscow's invasion "so that Russian tanks do not advance on Warsaw or again on Prague", he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting on economic issues via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Oct. 6. AP-Yonhap 'Pure hatred' The EU imposed its latest round of sanctions on Russia, expanding bans on trade and individuals over Moscow's formal annexation last Friday of four Ukrainian regions. The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned the French ambassador to Moscow, pointing to the "threats posed" by the increased military support Paris offered to Kyiv. On Thursday, just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the artillery battles of the southern front, seven Russian missiles struck downtown Zaporizhzhia. "The deaths of seven residents... have been confirmed and at least five more people are considered missing," said Oleksandr Starukh, Zaporizhzhia's regional governor. "Currently the dismantling of the rubble continues." A woman, whose body was carefully removed from the rubble by rescuers, looked as though she had been asleep in bed when the building around her was destroyed. "For the first time in my life, I feel pure hatred," said Igor Osolodko, a 25-year-old musician, one of the dozens of volunteer rescuers. Ukraine's military has also said it is reclaiming territory in the eastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions, which have been partially controlled by Kremlin proxies since 2014. Ukrainian forces have made gains on the west bank of the river Dniepr that cuts through Kherson, but the Russian military in a Thursday briefing said its forces rebuffed "repeated attempts to break through our defenses" in the area. Further west, on Ukraine's contact line with Russian forces from the Mykolaiv region where Kyiv's forces had been hunched in foxholes for months and pounded by Russian artillery the mood was shifting along with frontlines. Ukrainian firefighters carry the body of a civilian killed after a strike in Zaporizhzhia on Oct. 6, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP-Yonhap Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski (also transliterated as Alex Belyatsky), leader of Viasna, a human rights group based in Minsk, waves as he waits in a trial cage inside a courtroom prior to a court session in Minsk, Belarus, Nov. 24, 2011. EPA-Yonhap This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties, a strong rebuke to Russia's President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel wanted to honor ''three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.'' ''Through their consistent efforts in favor of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this year's laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobel's vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today,'' she told reporters in Oslo. Bialiatski was one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid 1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties in the authoritarian country. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna and won the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the ''Alternative Nobel,'' in 2020. Bialiatski was detained following protests that year against the re-election of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin. He remains in jail without trial. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus,'' Reiss-Andersen said, adding that the Nobel panel was calling on Belarusian authorities to release him. She said the Nobel Committee was aware of the possibility that by awarding him the prize Bialiatski might face additional scrutiny from authorities in Belarus. ''But we also have the point of view that the individuals behind these organizations, they have chosen to take a risk and pay a high price and show courage to fight for what they believe in,'' she said. ''We do pray that this price will not affect him negatively, but we hope it might boost his morale. Belarus exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visiting Paris, told the Associated Press that the award would further increase the spotlight on Belarusian political prisoners and said she felt ''honored and delighted'' that Bialiatski was among the laureates, calling him a ''famous human rights defender in Belarus and in the world'' and a ''wonderful person.'' ''For sure, it will attract more attention to (the) humanitarian situation in our country,'' she said of the award. In this file photo taken on Oct. 03, 2011 Russian human rights activist, the founder of the "Memorial" organization Svetlana Gannushkina poses for a photographer at her apartment in Moscow. AFP-Yonhap Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband is also imprisoned, said Bialiatski ''is suffering a lot in punishment cells'' in prison in Belarus. ''But there are thousands of other people who are detained because of their political views, and I hope that it will raise awareness about our country and practical steps will have been done in order to release those people who sacrificed with their freedom,'' she told the AP. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses in Russia and tracked the fate of political prisoners in the country. ''The organization has also been standing at the forefront of efforts to combat militarism and promote human rights and government based on the rule of law,'' said Reiss-Andersen. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally sending a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 70 on Friday, Reiss-Andersen said that ''we always give a prize for something and to somebody and not against anyone.'' ''This prize is not addressing President Putin, not for his birthday or in any other sense, except that his government, as the government in Belarus, is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists,'' she said. ''The attention that Mr. Putin has drawn on himself that is relevant in this context is the way a civil society and human rights advocates are being suppressed,'' she added. ''And that is what we would like to address with this prize.'' The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. The logo of Ukraine's Centre for Civil Liberties is displayed at their office, after it was announced they had won the Nobel Peace Prize, amid Russia?s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Oct. 7. Reuters-Yonhap Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. The state-run Colorado.gov portal homepage went back online Thursday evening after the state said a cyberattack shut it down. The homepage resumed operations around 6 p.m. Thursday, just over 24 hours after the State Emergency Operations Center said an anonymous suspected foreign actor forced it offline. State officials said the attacker also targeted multiple other state government services and websites across the U.S. Colorado officials have not released any additional information about who was responsible for the cyberattack, which states were affected or what data was potentially exposed. This cybersecurity incident is part of an ongoing investigation in collaboration with state and federal partners, the State Emergency Operations Center said in a statement. No further details are available at this time due to the sensitivity and nature of the cyber event. CNN reported that the pro-Russia hacking group Killnet took credit for the cyberattack, also claiming to have knocked state government websites offline in Kentucky, Mississippi and other states. NBC said the hacking group simply overwhelmed the states' websites with web traffic to take them down, and there is no indication that any of the states' internal systems were accessed. Only Colorado's portal homepage was affected by the cyberattack, all other Colorado.gov websites and state government services were unaffected. The State Emergency Operations Center, Governors Office of Information Technology and Statewide Internet Portal Authority are actively monitoring state websites and systems. This latest assault occurred after a cyberattack in August hit most county departments in Fremont County, limiting county services for several weeks. Most but not all government services were back up and running as of Monday, Fremont County Commissioner Dwayne Mcfall said. The Governor's Office of Information Technology determined the Fremont County cyberattack was executed by BlackCat ransomware, also known as ALPHV. Actors affiliated with BlackCat often request multi-million-dollar ransom payments of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Monero, to recover encrypted digital files, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cities and states across America have come under cyberattacks with increasing severity and regularity in the last few years. Comparitech, a company that reviews cybersecurity tools, said America faced nearly 2,000 ransomware attacks since 2018, with the average ransom demand at nearly $2 million. These attacks, the company said, have so far cost healthcare organizations $20.8 billion, schools and colleges $3.56 billion, governments $18.9 billion, and businesses $20.9 billion. The National Conference of State Legislatures said at least 40 states, plus Puerto Rico, introduced or considered about 250 bills or resolutions that deal with cybersecurity just this year. The death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini was caused by illness rather than blows or beatings, said an official medical report published Friday, three weeks after she died in custody. Iran's Forensic Organization said "Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body", in its report published on state television. Her death was related to "surgery for a brain tumour at the age of eight", the same source said, adding that the report included CT scans of the brain and lungs, an autopsy and pathological tests. Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. The street violence that ensued has led to dozens of deaths mostly of protesters but also members of the security forces and hundreds of arrests. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday accused arch-foes the United States and Israel of fomenting the wave of nationwide unrest. "The death of the young woman broke our hearts," said the 83-year-old Khamenei. "But what is not normal is that some people, without proof or an investigation, have made the streets dangerous, burned the Koran, removed hijabs from veiled women and set fire to mosques and cars." The 83-year-old leader stressed, however, that police must "stand up to criminals" and added that "whoever attacks the police leaves the people defenseless against criminals, thugs, thieves". (AFP) The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Kanjana Buakumchan, mother of a victim, holds her child's milk bottle and blanket as she reacts while standing outside the nursery in Na Klang in Thailand's northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Oct. 7, the day after a former police officer killed at least 37 people in a mass shooting at the site. AFP-Yonhap Relatives wailed and some collapsed as they grieved Friday over the small coffins carrying children slain by a fired police officer who stormed a day care center in rural Thailand during naptime. Thailand's deadliest mass killing left virtually no one untouched in the small community nestled among rice paddies in one of the nation's poorest regions. Grief also gripped the rest of the country, where flags were lowered to half-staff and schoolchildren said prayers to honor the dead. At least 24 of the 36 people killed in Thursday's grisly gun and knife attack were children, mostly preschoolers. ''I cried until I had no more tears coming out of my eyes. They are running through my heart,'' said Seksan Sriraj, 28, whose pregnant wife was due to give birth this month and who worked at the Young Children's Development Center in Uthai Sawan. ''My wife and my child have gone to a peaceful place. I am alive and will have to live. If I can't go on, my wife and my child will be worried about me, and they won't be reborn in the next life,'' he said. A stream of people, including Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, other government representatives and relatives themselves, have left flowers at the day care center. By afternoon, bouquets of white roses and carnations lined the wall outside, along with five tiny juice boxes, bags of corn chips and a stuffed animal. A man overcome with grief is cared for after seeing the body of a relative inside Wat Rat Samkee temple in the rural town of Uthai Sawan, north eastern Thailand, Oct. 7. AP-Yonhap Later, relatives received the bodies at the local Buddhist temple. As the small, white coffins were opened, some screamed, while others fainted. Paramedics revived them with smelling salts. For a time, the grounds outside the temple were crowded with people overcome by grief. ''It was just too much. I can't accept this,'' said Oy Yodkhao, 51, sitting on a bamboo mat in the oppressive heat as relatives gave her water and gently mopped her brow. Her 4-year-old grandson Tawatchai Sriphu was killed, and she said she worried for the child's siblings. The family of rice farmers is close, with three generations living under one roof. Som-Mai Pitfai collapsed when she saw the body of her 3-year-old niece. ''When I looked, I saw she had been slashed in the face with a knife,'' the 58-year-old said, holding back tears. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were expected later in the day to go to hospitals, where seven of the 10 people wounded remain. A vigil was planned in a central park in Bangkok, the nation's capital. Police identified the attacker as Panya Kamrap, 34, a former police sergeant fired earlier this year because of a drug charge involving methamphetamine. He had been due to appear in court Friday. An employee told a Thai TV station that Panya's son had attended the day care but hadn't been there for about a month. Seksan Sriraj, 28, lays flowers during a ceremony for those killed in the attack on the Young Children's Development Center in the rural town of Uthai Sawan, north eastern Thailand, Oct. 7. Seksan lost his pregnant wife who was a teacher at the day care c Witnesses said the attacker shot a man and child in front of the center before walking toward it. Teachers locked the glass front door, but the gunman shot and kicked his way through it. The children, mainly preschoolers, had been taking an afternoon nap, and photos taken by first responders showed their tiny bodies still lying on blankets. In some images, slashes to the victims' faces and gunshots to their heads could be seen. Panya took his own life after killing his wife and child at home. In an interview with Amarin TV, Satita Boonsom, who worked at the day care center, said staff locked the door to the building after seeing the assailant shoot a child and his father out front. But the attacker broke the glass and went on to attack the children and workers with his knife and firearm. Satita said she and three other teachers climbed the center's fence to escape and call police and seek help. By the time she returned, the children were dead. She said one child who was covered by a blanket survived the attack, apparently because the assailant assumed he was dead. She said the center usually has around 70 to 80 children, but there were fewer at the time of the attack because the semester had ended for older children and rain prevented a school bus from operating. ''They wouldn't have survived,'' she said. Satita added that the attacker's son hadn't been to the day care center recently because he was sick. One of the youngest survivors is a 3-year-old boy who was riding a tricycle close to his mother and grandmother when the assailant began slashing them with the knife. The mother died from her wounds, and the boy and grandmother were being treated at hospitals, according to local media. Mass shootings are rare but not unheard of in Thailand, which has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Asia, with 15.1 weapons per 100 people compared to only 0.3 in Singapore and 0.25 in Japan. That's still far lower than the U.S. rate of 120.5 per 100 people, according to a 2017 survey by Australia's GunPolicy.org nonprofit organization. Support and condolences poured in from around the world. ''All Australians send their love and condolences,'' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the violence ''senseless and heartbreaking.'' Relatives pray during a ceremony for those killed in the attack on the Young Children's Development Center in the rural town of Uthai Sawan, north eastern Thailand, Oct. 7. AP-Yonhap Pope Francis offered prayers for all those affected by such ''unspeakable violence.'' ''I'm profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare center in Thailand,'' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted. Thailand's previous worst mass killing involved a disgruntled soldier who opened fire in and around a mall in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020, killing 29 people and holding off security forces for some 16 hours before eventually being killed by them. Nearly 60 others were wounded in that attack. Its death toll surpassed that of the previously worst attack on civilians, a 2015 bombing at a shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people. It was allegedly carried out by human traffickers in retaliation for a crackdown on their network. Last month, a clerk shot co-workers at Thailand's Army War College in Bangkok, killing two and wounding another before he was arrested. (AP) An examination of the number of cases under Section 18 UAPA offences reveals that out of total UAPA cases investigated by NIA (357), the cases involving Section 18 charges were 238. Of these 238 cases, the cases where some incident of terrorism occurred were 86 cases (36%), while cases where no specific incident involving weapons or causing physical injury were 152 cases (64%). In other words, the report says, in 64% of cases involving the Section 18 UAPA charge, the mere allegation of the police that a person is a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or some recoveries were made from him of an alleged weapon or explosives or drugs or money is sufficient to arrest the person and be imprisoned for many years. Thus, according to the report, in the years 2018 and 2020, the percentage of people on bail was as low as 16.32% and 16.88%, and the figure for 2019 reflected a higher proportion of 32.08%. However, it underlines, a closer study reveals that in Tamil Nadu in 2019, all 308 persons shown as arrested under UAPA were released on bail, which is highly unusual for UAPA cases. If these cases are kept aside, the bail percentage is seen to be 16.27%. The report continues, if looked at in another way, out of 8,371 persons arrested during 2015-2020 under UAPA, close to 8,136 persons constituting 97.2% of persons arrested, got acquitted at the end of trials in UAPA courts but after spending many years in jail without bail. Such high acquittal rates, only highlights the fact that most of the prosecutions are devoid of merit and did not warrant initiation of prosecution in the first place, much less, under UAPA. The report, seeking wider media to educate people about the dangers of such laws, demands repeal of UAPA and repeal of all other anti-people laws; repeal of the NIA Act and disbanding of NIA; immediate release of all political prisoners, on bail; action against all police officials who have wilfully launched false and fabricated cases against marginalised communities, journalists, academicians, students and others; and reparations for those wrongfully accused and released by courts. --- Click here to access the report The report, which is based on an analysis of the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics -- calling it the only data source, albeit sketchy and available for the period 2015 till 2020 -- shedding light poor conviction rate vis-a-vis the impossibility of bail in UAPA cases, says, there were 5,924 UAPA cases registered throughout India in which 8,371 persons were arrested during 2015-2020.Thus, according to the report, in the years 2018 and 2020, the percentage of people on bail was as low as 16.32% and 16.88%, and the figure for 2019 reflected a higher proportion of 32.08%. However, it underlines, a closer study reveals that in Tamil Nadu in 2019, all 308 persons shown as arrested under UAPA were released on bail, which is highly unusual for UAPA cases. If these cases are kept aside, the bail percentage is seen to be 16.27%.As for the conviction rates, if based on the number of cases, they are 27.57%, but the conviction rates based on number of persons arrested is a mere 2.80%, the report says. It comments, the poor conviction rate of 2.8% based on number of persons arrested in UAPA cases is in line with the conviction rates when the previous anti-terror legislations TADA (P) Act and POTA were in vogue.The report continues, if looked at in another way, out of 8,371 persons arrested during 2015-2020 under UAPA, close to 8,136 persons constituting 97.2% of persons arrested, got acquitted at the end of trials in UAPA courts but after spending many years in jail without bail. Such high acquittal rates, only highlights the fact that most of the prosecutions are devoid of merit and did not warrant initiation of prosecution in the first place, much less, under UAPA.The report, seeking wider media to educate people about the dangers of such laws, demands repeal of UAPA and repeal of all other anti-people laws; repeal of the NIA Act and disbanding of NIA; immediate release of all political prisoners, on bail; action against all police officials who have wilfully launched false and fabricated cases against marginalised communities, journalists, academicians, students and others; and reparations for those wrongfully accused and released by courts.--- A new report, seeking to study how the Indian state has allegedly weaponised the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) "against anyone who dares to challenge the Indian state and assert their fundamental rights to information, association, dissent and democracy", has said that the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indiscriminately using the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as the "lead player in the abuse of UAPA."Published by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and authored by V Suresh, Madhura SB and Lekshmi Sujatha, the report , titled "UAPA: Criminalising Dissent and State Terror: Study of UAPA Abuse in India, 2009 - 2022", released as part of its #RepealUAPA Campaign says that out of a total of 357 UAPA cases handled by NIA between the period 2009-August 2022, about 20% were registered and investigated during the Manmohan Singh led regime, while 80% were registered and investigated during the Modi government.The report says, a study of the NIA website data shows that of the 357 UAPA cases investigated by the NIA, 41 or 12% were registered suo motu, while a whopping 316 or 88% were transferred to NIA from state police.Noting that NIA having suo motu powers to transfer investigations from state police is a "threat to federalism", the report says, the most contentious use of such wide powers was in the manner the Ministry of Home Affairs overnight decided to transfer the Bhima Koregaon case in early 2020 from the Maharashtra state police to NIA only because the Fadnavis-led BJP government fell and a new MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray took charge.According to the report, the validity of these transfers from the state police to the NIA is also suspect since a high number of these transferred cases were not even remotely connected to national security or threat to sovereignty or involved any violence.It adds, an example is a case from Madurai involving a Facebook post on August 15, 2019 in which the accused person remarked as to whether India was truly independent. The case was abruptly transferred from the Tamil Nadu state police to NIA in 2021.Referring to what it calls "abuse of the conspiracy provision", the report says, an analysis of use of Section 18 of UAPA titled Punishment for Conspiracy suggests, an alleged agreement to commit a terrorist crime is enough to prosecute; the object of the agreement need not have occurred. "The definition of conspiracy is so wide and elastic, that anyone can be roped in", it stresses. Business leaders spend most of their time conducting risk/reward analyses of virtually every decision they make. Will expanding the sales staff generate enough profit to more than pay for the added costs? Can our new product launch hit the market before the competitors shift their own strategies? Do we know enough about the geopolitical climate in a new market to justify the added costs and hassles in compliance and governance? Cybersecurity is another critical area where risk must be constantly assessed. The risk of unanticipated service interruptionsnot to mention the many direct and indirect costs of data lossis substantial. Virtually everything an organization does todayfrom billing customers and creating marketing programs to answering police calls and ensuring the cleanliness of waterwaysis digitized. Add in the new reality of entirely new classes of digital endpoints and you can see that hackers have more opportunity than ever to wreak havoc. While the impact of those and other cybersecurity risks is undeniable, too many organizations fail to build their cybersecurity strategies and tactics around the conceptand realitiesof risk. Why? Compliance blurs organizational vision for cybersecurity In recent years, the rapid, often relentless expansion of regulatory compliance for everything from identity protection to data governance has put many organizations back on their heels. As more compliance regulationsand harsher penalties for violationspop up, business leaders and board members have understandably prioritized a simple cybersecurity rallying cry: Follow the rules. And that is necessary, of course. After all, the specter of non-compliance certainly represents a risk no business leader wants to take. While regulations aim to broadly address cyber risk and ease the minds of governments and business stakeholders, they are generally not effective enough to protect companies from todays threat actors. Cyber criminals are actively monitoring regulatory requirements and adjusting their tactics in real time. Leaders who rely on high compliance scores to manage their risk may be overlooking important gaps that are specific to their specific operating environment. Defining cybersecurity risk and putting in place the correct resources, strategies, and guardrails needs a broader and more business-based perspective than defaulting to we need to take this security step because its part of our (fill-in-the-blank) compliance protocol. In many organizations especially large enterprises that deal with a much more significant compliance footprintthe audit function often drives decisions on how, when, and where to spend cybersecurity dollars. Most smaller organizations take a different, risk-centric approach to their cybersecurity strategies and tactics. Perhaps its because they dont have quite as many compliance hoops to jump through; however, its likely due to the fact that they simply dont have the budget or personnel to view every security issue through a compliance lens. In these smaller, leaner organizations the approach to cybersecurity is much more straightforward and, I believe, more appropriate for todays increasingly complex landscape: Focus on where a security compromise can do the most harm to your organization Define the highest-risk areas Make reasoned, fact-based decisions on where to place your resources Defining and measuring organizational risk There is another important reason why many organizations dont consistently use a risk-based methodology for their cybersecurity strategy: They often lack a common definition for risk and a common vocabulary to help everyone in the organization make risk-based cybersecurity decisions. Most business leaders are familiar with the classic definition of risk: What is the likelihood of something happening and how bad would the impact be if it happened? Its a definition that has worked for just about all other business scenarios, including the ones I covered at the beginning of this article. But to truly address risk, leaders must align on how likelihood and impact should be measured, and then agree on the appropriate risk tolerance of the organization so that policies and technologies can be applied to maintain a posture that keeps risk under the threshold. In todays digital-first environment, many business executives identify and measure risk differentlyand there isnt always universal agreement among leadership about how much of a risk appetite the organization has or should have. After all, every business stakeholder has a different risk threshold. If your CRM application is compromised, thats a showstopper for anyone on the revenue side of the house, but it might not be perceived as critically by the team managing warehouse logistics (even though they are obviously related). An important first step is establishing a common understanding around how to measure the impact of cybersecurity risk specifically. Before joining Chevron, I worked at a very small organization; we only had two in-house IT professionals and outsourced everything else. Because our company was growing exponentially, the company agreed that I needed to build a bigger in-house organization. I started out by asking my boss what he worried about most when it came to securing the companys most important data. We struggled to have a productive discussion because he thought of IT solely in terms of uptime for applications and systems critical to operations. I realized that I needed to educate the companys leadership around cybersecurity risk. While this example focused on what happened at a typical small organization, its really not much different at larger ones. In fact, larger companies often substantially underestimate cybersecurity risk because they have no real understanding of where their data is stored or how many of their systems, processes, and things are connected to the internet, either directly or through cloud services. And they may overestimate risk because they are hyper-focused on the cost of operational disruption to their business, with little thought about the mitigating controls that exist to prevent the worst-case scenario. Establishing a logical method for identifying and ranking the top business impacts that could result from a cyber-attack is a good place to start. The next step is to discuss likelihood which is when things get muddy. Discussions about cyber likelihood require a certain level of technical knowledge that is scarce in most companies. I have close friends and colleagues who study cyber-attack techniques, and I am frankly amazed at how easy it is for a patient and determined adversary to find the smallest crack in a technologys security stack and exploit it. In todays environment, business leaders simply must assume that compromise of anything connected to (or through) the internet is a possibility and any protection or detection capabilities that are in place will reduce, but not eliminate, that risk. The question is, once we have determined where our risks are, how much protection is enough? One of the least scientific, yet highly visceral, approaches I like to take in talking to internal colleagues about risk tolerance is asking a simple question: In your mind, when does system downtime or data loss go from inconvenient to painful? Its always interesting to note where business executives draw the line, such as, I may get annoyed if our email system is unavailable for a few hours, but I cant sleep at night if our supply chain management system is down for 10 minutes. And beyond anecdotal inputs, there is also value in leveraging any prior decisions around business insurance, as most business leaders at least have thought about risk tolerance in terms of legal protection or inability to operate due to disaster scenarios. Metrics like lost revenue per day and insurance coverage amounts can help a technology leader understand the companys tolerance for risk in general and then derive the cyber-related risk tolerance from there. Get outside help to assess your cyber risk While Im not necessarily an advocate of outsourcing key IT functions, I am a huge proponent of using experienced and proven outside organizations to evaluate an organizations risk exposure and its impact on the business. For a variety of reasons, organizations often struggle to account for every source of cybersecurity risk in their environment. Maybe they arent collaborative by nature and overlook the input of stakeholders from all corners of the enterprise, or maybe they just havent seen and felt the impact of a cyberattack up close and personal, so they have a hard time accounting for its impact or even its presence. Having the guidance of a qualified third party is gold, when given the time and ability to dive deep enough into the details to fully understand your companys risks. They lend a perspective that few internal organizations can match. The reality is that an outside opinion counts for a lot with C-suite executives and board members. After all, organizations routinely employ outside auditors to give their opinions on the accuracy and completeness of a companys financial statementsit makes sense that this kind of assessment should be handled similarly. Admittedly, Im not going to tell you this kind of risk assessment outsourcing will be enthusiastically embraced by everyone in your organization. Line-of-business leaders often see these exercises as a waste of time, unconvinced that the likelihood of a cyber event is significant enough to warrant the effort. While this may feel like a narrow mindset, their perspectives are valuable to understand the true worst case scenario which may be limited by physical controls or manual overrides that reduce potential impact. Additionally, internal teams that are already familiar with the companys cyber risks may feel that they are untrusted by management or undervalued when one of these external engagements is announced, but their honest input is critical to a successful evaluation and must be captured and amplified for executives so that appropriate funding and priority is applied to address known risks. When framed correctly among all stakeholders, a qualified outside opinion can provide confidence, clarity, and consistency in identifying, assessing, and accounting for cybersecurity risk. Assess risk with the vision of the possible Finally, lets keep in mind the need for something that may seem whimsical, but is essential to cold, hard decision-making: Imagination. Most of us have read about NASAs Apollo 1 tragedy, where three astronauts died in a training exercise. A blue-ribbon commission was assembled to study the cause of the accident and to make recommendations to prevent future occurrences. Frank Borman, at that time one of the senior members of the astronaut corps and a member of the commission, was asked at a Congressional hearing his opinion why this tragedy took place. His succinct answer: A failure of imagination. His point was well taken. Just because this kind of development had never occurred, considering the possibility of something that seemed so remote never entered the collective minds of NASA. Bormans answer served as a rallying cry from that day forwardto not take anything for granted, however remote its chances or unprecedented it may have been. In cybersecurity, being imaginative is a core competency to properly understand risk. I encourage you to push your imagination to its boundaries in identifying, evaluating, measuring, and minimizing risk. Learn more in the four-part series on answering your boards top cybersecurity questions. Sherry Hunyadi is chief security architect at Chevron. Crude Oil, US Dollar, Federal Reserve, USD/JPY, Gold - Talking Points Crude oil is steady through the Asian session after overnight gains Several Fed speakers spelled out their intentions and yields responded If the US Dollar continues higher, will it eventually undermine WTI? Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Get Your Free EUR Forecast Get My Guide Crude oil is up around 17% from the September low as the market digests the OPEC+ announcement on Wednesday of a production cut of 2 million barrels per day starting next month. There is much speculation about what the actual cut to supply will be after accounting for member states that are unable to meet quota targets. US President Joe Biden hasnt ruled out drawing down from the strategic petroleum reserves. The WTI futures contract is above US$ 88 bbl while the Brent contract is over US$ 94 bbl. Wall Street finished their cash session lower after a cavalcade of Fed speakers put forward a united hawkish front. Board members Lisa Cook, Charlie Evans, Neel Kashkari, Loretta Mester and Chris Waller are all singing from the same song sheet. That is, rates are going to be higher for longer as it has become apparent that there are no more doves left at the Fed. APAC equities took their cues and are all lower on the day to varying degrees. The hawkish rhetoric gave Treasury yields a lift across the curve, that in turn underpinned the US Dollar. USD/JPY is once more eyeing a run above 145 and that will be watched closely for intervention from Japanese authorities. In contrast to the Fed, the Bank of Japan is maintaining a loose monetary policy. The Euro and Sterling have struggled to recover from yesterdays losses so far and most other currencies are relatively stable. Gold has continued to leak lower today, trading near US$ 1.710 an ounce going into the European open. The focus for the day ahead will be US non-farm payrolls (NFP) which is anticipated to show the US economy adding 250K jobs in September. Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade Oil Get My Guide Crude Oil (WTI) TECHNICAL ANALYSIS WTI crude oil has rallied over 17% in the last few weeks. In the process, it has crossed above the 10-, 21- and 55-day day simple moving averages (SMA) and that may suggest that short and medium-term bullish momentum could unfold. Resistance might be offered at the prior peaks of 90.39 and 97.66. The latter coincides with the 100-day SMA. Support could be at the recent low of 76.25 or historical break points at 74.76 and 74.96. Chart created in TradingView --- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @DanMcCathyFX on Twitter SHOPPING: Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. It's normal to feel more congested and rundown as the weather changes from summer to fall. But that doesn't mean you have to accept feeling less than your best for weeks or even months. 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And finally, mint facilitates mucus flow, alleviates inflammation, and clears the upper respiratory tract. Do you find bloating or weight gain more of an issue than seasonal colds? The 10 percent discount using the code NOOCI10 also applies to NOOCI's best-selling ReNoo wellness tea. Drink your way to good health with a NOOCI ReNoo tea sachet, which is packed with digestion and metabolism boosting ingredients as well as probiotics With a healthy blend of ingredients like green tea, fermented soybeans, rosemary, and cinnamon, this powerhouse ReNoo tea packs a big health punch. The tea blend begins with green tea powder, an antioxidant-packed addition thats said to rev up metabolism. Studies find it also supports heart and brain health. Ingredients of coix seeds, soybeans, and brown rice in the tea are rich in probiotics which aid digestion and reduce bloating. NOOCI ReNoo Wellness Tea Boasting science-backed formulas rooted in the ancient Chinese tradition, this green tea supports metabolism, reduces stress, and keeps skin healthy. Shop When you shop at NOOCI, you're not just buying supplements but you'll be discovering how to be the healthiest possible version of yourselves. On the website, you'll find a quiz in the top menu bar which will help you learn about your specific body profile and provide personalized lifestyle recommendations. The quiz is completely free to all website visitors, even if you don't buy any products straight away. It takes just three minutes to complete on the NOOCI website and you'll receive nutrition and lifestyle tips to change your energy and help your body feel at its best as we entre the colder months The double murder of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by school caretaker Ian Huntley in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002 remains one of the most shocking crimes of the century. Now a three-part Channel 5 true-crime drama, Maxine, delves into the case, focusing on the role of Huntleys fiancee Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant in Holly and Jessicas class who provided him with an alibi. Its the latest in a spate of true-crime dramas including Des about serial killer Dennis Nilsen, White House Farm about the Bamber family murders and Manhunt about Milly Dowlers killer Levi Bellfield. Maxine attempts to offer an insight into the couples dysfunctional relationship and explain why she would cover up for Huntley, but when images that provoked revulsion 20 years ago are brought up again, many will be inclined to ask whether its right to dramatise yet another horrendous case. A three-part Channel 5 true-crime drama, Maxine, delves into the case, focusing on the role of Huntleys fiancee Maxine Carr, pictured, a teaching assistant in Holly and Jessicas class who provided him with an alibi At the time of the girls disappearance I was a young mother, my daughter was five, and it was a story that was very much etched in my mind, says director Laura Way. So we decided it wouldnt glorify Maxine Carr or Ian Huntley, and that our extensive research would be reflected in the story. The series would not dramatise the victims or their families either. Laura says the more her team researched they talked to 20 people whod been involved with the case as well as poring over police and press interviews and court room transcripts the more they realised there was a story that needed to be told. I learned a huge amount about human nature, the parts you dont want to know, she says. The pain carried by those who lived through this ordeal is tangible and it will never go away. But by the end of the show, I want the audience to know that despite the lies, manipulation and devastation caused by Huntley, and Carr by association, there were teams of outstanding individuals who ensured they were eventually brought to justice. Despite their lies, they were forced to face the truth. Scott Reid as Ian Huntley and Jemma Carlton as Maxine Carr in Channel 5 mini-series Maxine On 4 August 2002, while Maxine was in Grimsby, Holly and Jessica left a family barbecue to buy sweets when Huntley, played in the drama by Scott Reid, lured them into his house. When they were reported missing, Huntley said hed seen them when he was outside cleaning his dog, but they hadnt entered his house; Carr said she was with him, but she didnt see the girls because she was in the bath. As the last person to have seen them, Huntley was interviewed by journalists, yet there was no evidence against him. But the media attention on Huntley and Carr meant the police soon discovered she had been socialising in Grimsby town centre on the night the girls disappeared, and Huntley and Carr were then questioned by police and their house was searched. When the girls burnt bodies were found by a gamekeeper in a ditch ten miles away from Soham 13 days after they disappeared, Huntley was charged with their murders and Carr with attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, with a minimum of 40 years spent in prison, while she got three-and-a-half and was dubbed The Most Hated Woman In Britain. She is now free and living under an assumed name. Well never know exactly why Carr covered up for Huntley, an abusive lover whod been accused of rape before they met. She claimed she believed him to be innocent and didnt want to make the police aware of his past misdemeanours. The drama leaves her motives ambiguous. There are still questions about who Maxine Carr was and how much she knew, says Laura. From our research we learned she was many things: naive, vulnerable, a people pleaser... but she could also be manipulative and arrogant. 'Without speaking to her, the script stays true to this ambiguity. We know she was aware of Huntleys rape charge, so did she choose to ignore his past? He was a predator and she protected him, the question is, Why? Jemma Carlton is cast as Carr, and she says it was challenging to play someone so complex. I watched every documentary about her I could, and read as much as I could, she says. True-crime drama Maxine is on Channel 5 at 9pm on Monday and will focus on Maxine Carr, who gave Huntley an alibi The production team gave me a comprehensive bible full of research. Anything shed said or done, including all the court transcripts, was in there. The detail was incredible. Jemma also had to get Carrs look right. The process starts with hair and make-up, and then we go to the voice and movement. 'Im from the West Midlands and Maxine is from the East Midlands, so getting these details right was important. She moves differently to me, so getting into the right posture was key. The investigation was one of the most wide-ranging in British history, and the series explores how Huntley and Carr became confident enough that theyd got away with it that they started talking to the media before the police finally nailed them. The interview techniques the detectives used were exceptional, particularly with Huntley, says Laura. 'Hes asked a question, and he pauses for a full minute. The detectives didnt interrupt him, and this was the moment they knew he was hiding more than he was admitting, and that he knew where the girls were. Even in the deepest, darkest place, light can still break through. The humanity and determination of all of the outstanding individuals who fought for two innocent victims is what will remain with me. Maxine, Monday, 9pm, Channel 5. The term 'cuffing season' usually refers to dating - when we find a mate to 'cuff' ourselves to during winter months. But economic experts have now said that the trend is happening within the job market too. According to company review site, Glassdoor, October is the key month that people search for a new job. And now an expert has revealed her eight top tips to help Britons secure their dream role this winter - and the things they should be doing in every interview. Jill Cotton, career trends expert at Glassdoor, the worldwide leader on insights into jobs and companies, told FEMAIL job seekers should 'imagine they're already in the job' and 'always follow up'. According to experts from Glassdoor, now is the best time to secure a new role before vacancies dry up until the Spring (stock image) Jill explained that in the UK, there has been a huge spike in job searches, with people trying to secure a role before Christmas. This may be to secure a higher salary or better work-life balance, or simple to see them through the cost of living crisis. Either way, now is the time to nail that job before opportunities tail off in November and don't rebound until Spring. She revealed: 'Job cuffing may sound like a fun term, but the reality is much more serious. 'In fact, our research found that 1 in 4 job hunters are worried about finding a role that will support the increased cost of living. 'And for companies, with job vacancies still at historic highs, there's increasing pressure to find enough people to fill their roles. 'In reality, half of hiring managers say that attracting and retaining staff is now more difficult than it was pre-pandemic.' Here Jill reveals the top tips to help you win at job cuffing this October. Tips to win a job this job-cuffing season include making sure you sell yourself properly, know about the company and follow-up after the interview (stock image) 1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT You won't get far if you take a scattergun approach to job hunting. Instead, take time to focus on what you want from your next role and the skills you will bring to it. And look at a range of job adverts to identify the strengths that will be valuable in your job search. Hiring managers will quickly suss if you don't really understand the position they have on offer or if you aren't clear on what you want from your next role. 2. SUPERCHARGE YOUR CV CV's have been around for 600+ years but are still the first port of call for many hiring managers. 3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK 'What do you know about us?' is a common interview question and should be seen as your opportunity to shine. So before stepping into the interview room, do as much research as possible on the employer. Check out what current and past employees say about working at the company, and scour the website for insights into its values and culture. And don't forget to check out the latest news section on the website too - it's a brilliant resource to understand how the company wants to present itself to the world and discover its recent achievements. Advertisement Avoid any temptation you have to cut and paste your CV and cover letter from one job application to the next. Instead, always customise materials to clearly show how your skills and experience match what the company needs. A generic CV or a cover letter full of mistakes will quickly end up on the rejection pile. And remember, your CV is simply the tool to secure your interview, so dont try to make it overly clever. Simple and impactful is often best. 4. KNOW HOW TO SELL YOURSELF Interviews are a lonely experience; no one is on hand to fill in the blanks if you don't clearly explain why your skills are relevant to the job. The hiring manager needs to understand why they need you, and you alone, for the role. So practice selling yourself and your expertise. Rehearse your answer to the inevitable tell me about yourself question, and draw upon whatever caught your eye about the company and role to explain why you are the perfect candidate. If you are confident in your abilities, the hiring manager will be confident that you can deliver on the role. 5. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEWER'S QUESTIONS You've done your homework, prepped your talking points, and are clear on what you want to say to secure the job of your dreams. But there's no guarantee that the hiring manager will ask the questions you want to hear. Competency and behavioural-based questions are commonplace in interviews to understand how candidates react in real-life work situations. Show you are engaged in the discussion by answering with relevant examples to the interviewer's questions, rather than focusing on points you want to get across. Prepare to be flexible with your responses and make the interview a genuine conversation that the hiring manager will want to continue. 6. DEMONSTRATE YOU ARE RESILIENT TO CHANGE 7. IMAGINE YOU ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED If you can picture yourself in the job you are interviewing for, it will be easier for the hiring manager to see you in the position. To do this, arm yourself with short and long-term actionable ideas that you can roll out should you be hired. Talk about yourself as though you are already in the position by describing how you would move the role forward. And be clear on the value you will bring to the company. When they think of this job, they need to think of you. Advertisement There have been few constants in business over the last two years, and the companies that have thrived are those who have been quick to adapt to the change. Be ready to explain in an interview your resilience and prepare examples of your adaptability to make your skills stand out from the crowd. And demonstrate your enthusiasm to be part of the future vision of the company. 8. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP A surprisingly large number of candidates are silent after interviews and wait for the company to make the first contact. If you want to stand out, take the initiative and send a follow-up email after every interview stage - and ensure it goes to the right person. A small thank you for the hiring manager's time will go a long way. And writing to show appreciation is a good excuse to remind the interviewer why you are suitable for the role. Don't be shy; bullet anything relevant that came up in the interview and express your eagerness to progress to the next round, and ultimately into the position, in a short and sweet way. The mom told Today that she still can't put weight on her broken leg six weeks after the fall and has been relying on a walker to get around A mother who broke her leg after falling into a hole at the beach has revealed that she is facing thousands of dollars in medical bills and still can't walk. Sally Dixon, 58, from Milton, Georgia, issued a warning to beachgoers about the importance of filling in the holes they or their children dug in the sand after she suffered an unexpected accident while on vacation in August. 'I've been to the beach a million times with the understanding that everybody knew it was beach etiquette to fill your holes,' she told Today. 'Ive never stumbled or tripped over a hole this could happen to anyone.' Sally Dixon, 58, from Milton, Georgia, fell into a hole in the sand while walking on the beach with one of her sisters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on the evening of August 21 She fractured her tibia plateau and had to undergo a two-hour surgery that required pins, a plate, four screws, and 17 staples Dixon was enjoying the start of her vacation with her five sisters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on August 21 when her evening stroll turned into a medical nightmare. They had just finished dinner and watching TV when she and one of her sisters decided to go for a walk on the beach. They used their cellphones to guide the way, and after dipping their feet in the water, they turned around. 'I took a couple of steps and I just fell,' she said. 'I didnt really know what had happened to me.' Dixon explained that her leg fell straight into the knee-deep hole in the sand, but her body kept moving, leading her to fracture her tibia plateau the flat top portion of the shinbone. Dixon shared photos of her injury on Facebook while issuing a warning to beachgoers about the importance of filling in any holes that are dug in the sand Dixon wrote that the break was 'probably the most horrific physical pain Ive had in my life' The mom spent four days in the hospital, and when her husband came to pick her up, she had to lie flat in the car during the entire six-hour drive back to Georgia She recalled grabbing her knee and writing in pain as her sister called 911. Dixon had to take short-term disability from her mortgage job as she heals Beach patrol was the first on the scene, and she was put in the back of the truck before being driven offshore. They were met by an ambulance that took her to the emergency room. Dixon wrote in a Facebook post that she spent eight hours in the ER and two hours in surgery. She noted that it was 'probably the most horrific physical pain Ive had in my life.' The broken leg required pins, a plate, four screws, and 17 staples. She spent four days in the hospital, and when her husband came to pick her up, she had to lie flat in the car during the entire six-hour drive back to Georgia. 'I left my vacation never having slept in the beach house we rented with a split tibial plateau fracture,' she wrote in her post, which included photos of the staples in her leg. Dixon's health insurance covered the cost of her treatment, she still expects to owe thousands of dollars in co-pays Dixon told Today that she still can't put weight on her broken leg six weeks later and has been relying on a walker to get around Dixon told Today that she still can't put weight on her broken leg six weeks later and has been relying on a walker to get around. She also had to take short-term disability from her mortgage job as she heals. And while her health insurance covered the cost of her treatment, she still expects to owe thousands of dollars in co-pays. 'Please! Please! The next time you vacation at the beach please remember this post,' she pleaded on Facebook. 'Never, ever walk away from the beach at day's end without filling the holes you (or your kids) made.' Came after a woman told Kate that 'Ireland belongs to the Irish' In one moment caught on camera, one said: 'I'm never washing this hand again!' Prince and Princess of Wales met with a host of excited schoolchildren Prince William and Kate Middleton took part in walkabout during trip to Belfast The adorable moment a schoolboy declared he was 'never washing his hand again' after meeting Prince William and Kate Middleton during a walkabout in Belfast was caught on camera yesterday. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Northern Ireland for a number of engagements, including an impromptu walkabout where they met with schoolchildren and crowds of royal fans. Kate looked perfectly polished in a 295 Winser London silk blouse and matching blue coat, thought to be from Alexander McQueen, teamed with elegant navy trousers, recycled 85 Missoma hoop earrings and a DeMellier London 295 handbag. But it was William who seemingly caused an uproar with the crowd, with one young school boy squealing with joy after shaking hands with the Prince at the event. In the adorable video, which was shared by Royal Editor Rebecca English on Twitter, the royal father-of-three could be seen making his way along a line of school children, saying: 'It's nice to see you!' Meanwhile one of the children could be heard shouting excitedly: 'Go on - I'm never washing this hand again!' The adorable moment a schoolboy declared he was 'never washing his hand again' after meeting Prince William and Kate Middleton during a walkabout in Belfast was caught on camera yesterday In the adorable video, the royal father-of-three could be seen making his way along a line of school children The video emerged as the Prince and Princess paid thanks to Northern Ireland for hosting them following a trip to Belfast - despite Kate being challenged by an Irish nationalist during an impromptu walkabout. Prince William and Kate, both 40, shared a message on their official social media pages, writing: 'Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland!' Meanwhile the couple posted a swish video showing a highlights reel of their trip, including a clip of the royal mother-of-three making a cocktail, and Prince William playing with a pair of dogs. Their message came hours after Kate was confronted by a woman during a walkabout, who told her that 'Ireland belongs to the Irish' during the meet and greet in north Belfast this afternoon. In the clip, a number of children appeared delighted to be meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales However one young schoolboy couldn't contain his excitement, squealing he would 'never wash his hand again' after meeting the royal couple While shaking hands with the princess, the woman said: 'Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country.' The woman, who was wearing an emerald green cardigan, appeared to be videoing the exchange on a mobile phone. A stunned Kate, who managed to keep her composure throughout the exchange, laughed and let go of the woman's hand before continuing to smile and greet other members of the crowd. The clip, which was shared last night by the couple, featured a number of clips from the stay, including the walkabout. The Prince and Princess of Wales paid thanks to Northern Ireland for hosting them following a trip to Belfast yesterday The Princess of Wales was yesterday challenged by an Irish nationalist during an impromptu walkabout in Northern Ireland . Pictured: The woman as she speaks to Kate While shaking hands with the princess, the woman said: 'Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country' However the incident with the woman in the green jumper wasn't included in the video. Instead, Kate was seen greeting school-children and the camera panned across a crowd of waving royal fans. In another clip, Prince William was seen chatting to members of the public. Observers took to social media to praise Kate for 'handling the moment perfectly.' The Prince of and Princess of Wales wave to members of the public during a walkabout in Carrickfergus as part of a visit to Northern Ireland One wrote on Twitter: 'That very disrespectful lady should have stayed at home instead of wasting her time waiting for someone she doesn't like... Catherine handled the moment perfectly though. Earlier yesterday, the prince and princess visited PIPS Charity, which provides support to individuals who are considering, or who have at some point considered, ending their own lives. For their final engagement, the couple visited youth charity Carrick Connect, which offers support services to local young people experiencing social or emotional difficulties, in the town of Carrickfergus in Co Antrim. The Prince and Princess of Wales were given the titles of Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon their marriage in 2011. A nomadic mother - who gave birth to her first child in a converted van - has revealed how she curbs the rising bills and rent prices amid the UK's cost of living crisis. Zoe Foster, 42, and her husband Matt, 42, - who first met when they were 14 - dipped their toe in the nomadic life when they decided to ditch their 300-a-month three-bedroom Northumberland bungalow in 2007 for a 700 converted white van - which they stayed in for the next four years. After a period living in a canal boat, they welcomed a son, now-13, and daughter, now-11 , and began renting a property in Devon to find some 'stability.' However last autumn, with the cost of living crisis looming, they decided to ditch their home and instead moved into an AirBnB over winter. And to avoid looming costs earlier this year, they lived in a tent over summer - before they started house-sitting a cottage in Dartmoor for free. Zoe said she 'is an adventurer at heart', adding: ''Living nomadically is so freeing and I love not having bills constantly falling through the letterbox. 'Right now, everything is so uncertain with rent and the cost of living, so I'd much rather take control of what I can do and I am so grateful for that.' Zoe Foster (pictured), 42, and her husband Matt, 42, avoid looming costs by looking after properties for free in exchange for accommodation Zoe fell pregnant with their second child (pictured) shortly after having her first son, prompting the couple to relocate to a narrowboat Zoe explained she and Matt first developed the itch to break free in their mid-twenties, in 2007, while she worked as an academic publisher in Oxfordshire and he travelled to London as an IT consultant - while both lived in Northumberland. When their tenancy ended in 2008, they decided to embrace a new way of living. 'We thought, "This can't be all life is, just work and commuting?''' she explained. Zoe added: 'I was given the book How To Live Off-Grid by Nick Rosen for Christmas and I had devoured it. Zoe and Matt - who first met when they were 14 - first dipped their toe in the nomadic life when they decided to ditch their 300-a-month three-bedroom Northumberland bungalow in 2007 for a 700 converted white van - which they stayed in for the next four years 'I knew it was crazy but we had nothing to lose, and Matt agreed.' Ditching her work to set up a jewellery business, Zoe and Matt then found a white van for 700 and spent another 1,200 to convert it and paint it green. 'We had a good kitchen area, a compost loo and lots of drawers, a wardrobe and a foldaway desk for me to work at,' she said. Generally staying around the Shropshire area for Matt's work as an IT consultant, the couple revelled in their new freedom. She said: 'We loved that you could park up anywhere you wanted and instantly move on. Everything about it was freeing and exciting.' Zoe went on to give birth to their son in the van in 2009, describing the fuss-free experience as 'comfortable and safe'. Zoe went on to give birth to their son (pictured with Matt in the narrowboat in 2010) in the van in 2009, describing the fuss-free experience as 'comfortable and safe' Zoe (pictured with her children by the Llangollen canal in 2010) explained you 'don't really need all the stuff you think you do', and said the pair had a baby hammock above their bed and 'made it work' with their eldest in the van She said: 'I woke up in the night to go to the toilet and contractions started and he was born just three hours later. 'We had a doula come to join us and the midwife turned up just in time to cut and tie the cord.' She added: 'It was exactly what we wanted. We felt comfortable and safe and that feeling of belonging in our home meant I could fully relax and do what I needed to do.' Zoe explained you 'don't really need all the stuff you think you do', and said the pair had a baby hammock above their bed and 'made it work' with their eldest in the van. 'I breastfed so we didn't need to worry about sterilisation,' she added. The high school sweethearts, who had years ago been keen adventurers, have now taken up their exciting lifestyle again. Matt pictured baking in their narrow boat When their tenancy ended in autumn last year the couple were desperate to return to a more adventurous lifestyle and keen to avoid rapidly increasing costs - spending two-and-a-half months in a tent just outside Exeter (pictured) The couple lived in an Airbnb in Devon for the winter months after moving into a tent. The family pictured during last Christmas Zoe fell pregnant with their second child the following year - prompting the couple to relocate to a narrowboat, where their youngest was born. After another year in a Cornwall cabin, within a small co-housing community, the young family then settling into a rented property with their children - who they do not wish to name. 'We had young children and they were starting to go to nursery and we needed some stability,' she said. 'We always knew we would go back to it because we loved that freedom and the weight lifted from not being tied down to things like bills.' Zoe said over the summer they found 'amazing campsite just outside of Exeter, where they stayed for two-and-a-half months When their tenancy ended in autumn last year the couple were desperate to return to a more adventurous lifestyle and keen to avoid rapidly increasing costs - moving into an Airbnb before spending two-and-a-half months in a tent just outside Exeter. 'We found a beautiful Airbnb in Crediton, Devon, which we stayed in for the winter, and then stayed in a few different properties over the next few months,' Zoe said. 'Then in summer, we found this amazing campsite just outside of Exeter, which we stayed in for two-and-a-half months.' While the campsite fees matched what they would have paid in rent, they avoided other household bills and loved living outdoors as Zoe delighted in being 'out in nature all the time'. 'There were shower blocks but I ended up washing outside most of the time because it was so refreshing,' she added. 'We had fire pits and toasted marshmallows and played games at night.' Currently looking after a cottage in Dartmoor, Zoe (working off-grid in a field this summer) said she is 'an adventurer at heart' While the campsite fees matched what they would have paid in rent, they avoided other household bills and loved living outdoors as Zoe delighted in being 'out in nature all the time' Eventually, they settled on house-sitting properties for free. 'Home is wherever we are - there are so many opportunities beyond the structures that are offered to us,' spiritual artist Zoe said. The mother-of-two explained that she now uses the website House Sitters UK, and is allowed to stay in a property with her family as long as looks after it, and the animals. She gushed: 'Everything is included, so you don't worry about bills - it's amazing.' The pair competed to make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble, an ode to the Northern Ireland city The Princess of Wales duelled her husband in a cocktail-making class while visiting Belfast yesterday Advertisement On their surprise royal trip to Belfast, the Prince and Princess of Wales faced off in a cocktail-making competition as they put their mixology skills to the test. Prince William and Kate, both 40, laughed during the duel to be the quickest to make the potent drink, known as an Up the Lagan in a Bubble, while visiting Trademarket on their second stop of their whirlwind tour. The drink was a reference to the river that flows through Belfast and local slang for I wasnt born yesterday. The Princess's Up the Lagan in a Bubble contains Brew & Yaki, gin, fruit tea cordial, sherry, umeshu (a Japanese plum liqueur), lime and passionfruit 'bobas' and tapioca starch 'pearls' She's a natural! The Princess of Wales, 40, beamed as she measured out ingredients to make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble at a bar in Belfast. The Princess of Wales looked thrilled as she shook up her cocktail in competition with her husband, Prince William, who was making his own version on the other side of the bar Unfortunately for the Princess, her husband was declared the winner - but she certainly looked the part as she measured out ingredients and gave them a mighty shake to create her concoction. Looking perfectly polished in her 295 Winser London silk blouse and matching blue coat, thought to be from Alexander McQueen, teamed with elegant navy trousers, recycled 85 Missoma hoop earrings and a DeMellier London 295 handbag, Her Royal Highness was the coolest bartender in Northern Ireland. But how exactly does one make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble, with an extra dash of regal class? Get your ingredients right The concentration on Kate's face was immeasurable as she poured out exact measures of ingredients, including gin, sherry and Japanese plum liquer to make her cocktail Confidence is key! The Princess of Wales flashed a knowing smile at her opponent, Prince William, as she poured out measurements for her cocktail Don't be afraid to ask for help! Kate appeared to ask a question or two about her cocktail while pouring out her measurements - the best way to ensure you don't make a mistake No cocktail will ever turn out as planned if you are not precise with your ingredients - and this Belfast classic is no exception. To make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble cocktail, you will need: Brew & Yaki Gin Fruit tea cordial Sherry Umeshu (a Japanese plum liqueur) Lime and passionfruit 'bobas' Tapioca starch 'pearls' - commonly found in Taiwanese bubble tea Shake with all your might The Prince and Princess of Wales took up position on the other side of the bar for a spirited cocktail-making race at an outdoor market in Belfast city centre during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland Regal Kate looked elegant in a 295 pussybow blouse from Winser London as she shook up her cocktail - and kept her cool while competing with her husband Somehow, despite shaking with all her might, barely a hair was out of place on Her Royal Highness's head as she shook her Up the Lagan in a Bubble This cocktail, an ode to Belfast, is shaken, not stirred, and requires a little bit of elbow grease to get it going. Once you have measured out your ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, it's time to put in some real effort in order to get the flavour combinations just right. Somehow, there wasn't a hair out of place on Her Royal Highness's head as she shook her cocktail together behind the bar as she got to work mixing up her cocktail. The Princess of Wales kept her cool as she shook her Up the Lagan in a Bubble and didn't let the pressure get to her while her husband William attempted his own version of the cocktail just metres away. Pour over ice and toast your creation Kate looked absolutely chuffed with her creation as she poured her cocktail over ice in a short glass while her proud mentor looked on Garnishing her drink with a leaf and sipping through a straw, Her Royal Highness enjoyed a sneaky taste of her cocktail while no-one was looking The Prince and Princess of Wales faced off as they tasted their freshly-made cocktails - although ultimately Prince William was declared winner Make sure you have a short glass filled with ice ready for your freshly-shaken cocktail. Then place a strainer over the cocktail shaker to make sure only your delicious nectar is being poured out, and garnish the glass with whatever takes your fancy. Don't forget to say cheers and enjoy your drink with your nearest and dearest. The Princess of Wales put competition aside and showed her grace yeesterday as she happily toasted with her husband, Prince William, despite having just lost out to his version of Up the Lagan in a Bubble. She sipped on her cocktail as she chatted to the bar owners with a grin on her face. Don't forget to smile! The Princess couldn't wait to taste her cocktail behind the bar as she faced off with her husband, William, to see whose was better The Princess of Wales looked completely at ease yesterday, despite being a novice in cocktail-making. She beamed as she measured out her ingredients and shook them up, and keenly chatted to the owners of the bar. Knowing her husband was at the other end of the bar competing against her only spurred on Her Royal Highness, who was delighted to take up the challenge. She even smiled as she was declared the losing cocktail-maker, showing her grace and composure The Princess of Wales wore a set of 85 earrings from Meghan Markle's favourite brand Missoma in Belfast city centre on Thursday during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland. The royal, who was joined by her husband the Prince of Wales, visited Trademarket, they took part in a spirited cocktail-making race and greeted the public during their visit. The mother-of-three, looked typically sensational in a 295 Winser London silk blouse and matching blue coat, thought to be from Alexander McQueen which she paired with the drop earrings from London-based jewellery brand Missoma. The brand, which is a favourite of Kate's sister-in-law Meghan Markle's, 40, describes the earrings online as featuring 'a heart-based healing crystal that radiates love, compassion and all-around good vibes' suspended from a 'texture gold vermeil hoop.' The Princess of Wales wore a set of 85 earrings from Missoma Belfast city centre on Thursday during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland The 85 earrings from Missoma are part of the brand's gemstone collection and feature a spiked hoop Kate kept her make up natural for the occasion and wore her hair in a bouncy blow dry, occasionally tucking her hair behind her ear to reveal the stunning set. The earrings, which are for sale online for 85, are part of the company's Gemstone collection and are bejewelled with the rhodochrosite stone. The pyramid hoops are described as 'using the power of precious stones, placing the highest quality hand-cut stones into our specially designed and unique shapes and cuts.' It's not the first time the princess has been spotted wearing the jewels from the popular brand. The mother-of-three paired her stunning ensemble with the drop earrings from London-based jewellery brand Missoma Kate wore the set to chat with Atlantic rower Jasmine Harrison, 22, during a video call to mark International Women's Day last year. She also opted to wear the earrings during a visit to businesses in London, as well as donning the Gold Zenyu Chandelier Hoops during her tour of Pakistan in November 2019. Meanwhile sister-in-law Meghan has long been a fan of the brand and was first spotted wearing jewellery in a resurfaced post from her now inactive Instagram account. As well as Meghan Markle Missoma has countless other famous fans, ranging from model Gigi Hadid to actress Margot Robbie - who wears their coin necklaces. The brand is a favourite of Kate's sister-in-law Meghan Markle, who has worn the jewellery several times over the last few years (pictured, wearing a bracelet from Missoma) The brand was created by Marisa Hordern, who started it from her kitchen table, after sourcing gemstones from Hong Kong, Thailand, India and the US. In 2018, the company was named fourth on the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list. Speaking to Harpars Bazaar in March 2020 she said about her celebrity clientele: 'It is generally good for the brand (when someone famous wears the jewellery) but we dont really see spikes as such. 'It tends to just show how versatile the pieces are in terms of who wears it and how it can be worn. For example, Margot Robbie has been seen wearing it surfing and on the red carpet. 'It's also great to see cross-generational support like recently when Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford both wore it I loved that, it reminded me of how I started the business, with my mother around the kitchen table.' Yesterday, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid thanks to Northern Ireland for hosting them following a trip to Belfast - despite Kate being challenged by an Irish nationalist during an impromptu walkabout. The brand describes the earrings online as featuring 'a heart-based healing crystal that radiates love, compassion and all-around good vibes' suspended from a 'texture gold vermeil hoop' The earrings, which Kate wore beautifully in Belfast are for sale online for 85, are part of the company's Gemstone collection and are bejewelled with the rhodochrosite stone Prince William and Kate, both 40, shared a message on their official social media pages, writing: 'Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland!' Meanwhile the couple posted a swish video showing a highlights reel of their trip, including a clip of the royal mother-of-three making a cocktail, and Prince William playing with a pair of dogs. Their message came hours after Kate was confronted by a woman during a walkabout, who told her that 'Ireland belongs to the Irish' during the meet and greet in north Belfast yesterday. While shaking hands with the princess, the woman said: 'Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country.' The woman, who was wearing an emerald green cardigan, appeared to be videoing the exchange on a mobile phone. A stunned Kate, who managed to keep her composure throughout the exchange, laughed and let go of the woman's hand before continuing to smile and greet other members of the crowd. The Countess of Wessex appeared delighted to pet an excited spaniel as she opened a newly refurbished community hub in Kinshasa while continuing her visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The wife of Prince Edward, 57, stunned in a chic neutral-toned ensemble comprised of white cigarette trousers and a russet orange top. The royal teamed the look with a relaxed cream blazer and chunky platform wedges as she attended the engagement at Amani House, a centre for Embassy staff, at the British High Commissioner's Residence. The Countess of Wessex appeared delighted to pet an excited spaniel as she opened a newly refurbished community hub in Kinshasa while continuing her visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo The wife of Prince Edward, 57, stunned in a chic neutral-toned ensemble comprised of white cigarette trousers and a russet orange top Sophie kept her make-up minimal with dewy skin and dark, accentuated eye, and was snapped at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the engagement. She grinned as she unveiled the hub to those present, and was later pictured mingling with the crowd. Sophie was also pictured with Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Ministers Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, as the pair posed for photos among Amani House chic new interiors. The royal swept her blonde tresses back into a ponytail, styling the front in waves for added volume. It comes after the Countess yesterday looked radiant in a blue maxi shirt dress as she delivered a speech on female empowerment during her tour of the Central African nation. The royal mother-of-two was snapped at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the engagement earlier today Sophie was also pictured with Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Ministers Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, as the pair posed for photos among Amani House chic new interiors The mother-of-two opted for a 136 frock from British brand ME + EM as she braved the 30C heat. She finished off her ensemble with a pair of elegant silver leaf earrings and some tan espadrille wedges. Sophie kicked off the day with a meeting with ministers regarding the urgent need to address conflict related sexual violence - which has been the main focus of the Countess' engagements so far. She then attended a reception at the British High Commissioner's Residence in Kinshasa where she joined campaigners working across the country to uphold and protect women's rights. Her keynote speech follows her meeting with NGOs in Rwanda - who are working tirelessly to working to address gender-based violence in the nation - earlier this week. The royal, pictured chatting to attendees of the engagement, swept her blonde tresses back into a ponytail, styling the front in waves for added volume She grinned as she unveiled the hub to those present, and was later pictured mingling with the crowd The Countess also met with Prof Nshuti Manasseh, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Jeannette Bayisenge, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion - amid other leading figures. Sophie is carrying out an official visit to the African country at the request of the Foreign Office. Sophie's visit is taking place in the run-up to the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference in London next month, which is being hosted by the UK Government and which the countess will attend. She publicly committed herself to supporting the UK's work helping victims of rape, sexual violence and exploitation in war in 2019. Sophie said last year that hearing survivors' stories of sexual violence has taken her to 'some very dark places' during her work to raise awareness. 'Every story I am told is pushing me forward. I feel obligated to tell people this is happening - it is their story to tell and I support them,' she added. Advertisement Allegations that Miss USA 2022 was rigged has rocked the beauty pageant community in recent days - but this certainly isn't the first time that a contest of this kind has faced scandal. From furious feuds that saw one contestant snatching a crown off the winner's head to a sensational on-air blunder in which the host announced the wrong winner on national television, the Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Universe competitions have had a series of controversial moments over the years. In 2017, the Miss America pageant came under ferocious fire after the then-CEO Sam Haskell was accused of calling contestants 'c**ts' and making crude jokes about their looks and size in a series of alleged leaked emails. Years earlier, in 1996, Donald Trump, who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time, received backlash for referring to that year's winner as 'Miss Piggy' after she gained some weight - and these are just some of the many scandals that have plagued the competitions. Beauty pageants have also faced scrutiny for their fiercely strict rules; married women and mothers were not allowed to compete until earlier this year. They have also long been slammed for their lack of inclusivity; a black woman didn't compete in Miss America until 1971 (50 years after it was started) and just last year, the Miss USA 2021 winner begged the organization to showcase 'all body types.' Allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was rigged has rocked the beauty pageant community recently - but this isn't the first time that the competition has faced scandal. Winner Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel is seen at the Miss USA competition Some have wondered if the competition was fixed and if she was pre-chosen as the winner, after they noticed that the beauty queen filmed an advertisement for a plastic surgery spa (pictured) nine weeks before - which is a key part of the prize As speculation surrounding the legitimacy of the competition continues to swirl, FEMAIL has taken a look at the other controversial moments that have plagued the Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss Universe pageants over the years In addition, many of the women who have been crowned over the years have faced their own personal controversies, including drug arrests, nude photo scandals, and racist slurs. One woman was even sent to prison after it was brought to light that she had lied about having cancer - faking a diagnosis in an attempt to get people to donate money to her and scamming thousands of people in the process. The latest scandal to hit the beauty community took place on Monday night, when Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel earning the coveted title as Miss USA 2022, as some have now wondered if the competition was fixed and that she was pre-chosen as the winner. Many viewers have pointed out that the beauty queen filmed an advertisement for a plastic surgery spa nine weeks before the competition took place - which is a key part of the prize. That clinic uploaded the video advert hours after her win, sparking suspicion that they'd known all along she would be crowned, especially since none of the other entrants are known to have visited the resort. She later said in a statement: 'It was not rigged, because I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I would know I would win. I have a lot of integrity.' As speculation surrounding the legitimacy of the competition continues to swirl, FEMAIL has taken a look at the many controversial moments that have plagued the beauty pageants over the years. Sexist CEO: Former Miss America head was forced to step down after allegedly calling contestants 'c**ts' in a series of leaked emails Former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell, 67, came under fierce fire in 2017, after Huffington Post released a series of alleged emails that had been sent by him to other officials, in which he described the women competing in the pageant as 'c**ts' Haskell (seen in 2017) announced he was stepping down days later. In a statement, however, he called Huff Post's article a 'vicious story' that involved 'a series of conveniently edited emails' Former Miss America CEO Haskell, 67, came under fierce fire in 2017, after Huffington Post released a series of alleged emails that had been sent by him to other officials, in which he described the women competing in the pageant with sexist and crude language. In one message, he allegedly called them 'c**ts,' and in another he referred to them as 'snakes.' The emails were reportedly written throughout 2014 and 2015, and also saw Haskell joking about the contestants' looks, weight - and even their intimate sex lives. Haskell, who first joined the board in 2005 and was reportedly earning $500,000 a year at the time, announced he was stepping down days later. In a statement, however, he called Huff Post's article a 'vicious story' that involved 'a series of conveniently edited emails.' Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan, now 33, from Tennessee, told Today at the time that she was not surprised by what was said in Haskell's alleged leaked emails, claiming that she had witnessed inappropriate comments from him in the past. 'For the longest time, I've tried to explain to people around me that this is happening or these things are being said,' she said, adding that seeing the emails 'validated' he feelings. Lack of inclusivity: Miss USA 2021 winner begged the organization to showcase 'all body types' In 1957, Mary Leona Gage (pictured left), from Texas, was crowned as Miss USA - but later had her title revoked after officials found out she was secretly married. She later said the scrutiny she faced resulted in multiple 'suicide attempts' Elle Smith, 24, from Kentucky, who was crowned as Miss USA in 2021, told Insider after her win last year that she wished the competition would be 'more inclusive to all body types' Back in the 1960s, a bunch of women reportedly teamed up and decided to protest beauty pageants - by bringing a bunch of sheep with crowns to the 1968 Miss America competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey. According to Time magazine, 400 women showed up, chanting, 'Ain't she sweet, makin' profit off her meat,' - and they even reportedly threw 'aprons, mops, cosmetics, and bras' into a giant trash bin. Siera Bearchell, 29, who represented Canada at Miss Universe in 2017, said she was 'told she had to lose' a certain amount of weight 'to have potential to win the competition,' which resulted in her 'restricting her eating' leading up to the competition 'It was the nexus of so many issues - beauty standards, money, women's freedom, objectification of women, patriotism,' one of the people who had organized the protest told the outlet. The world of pageantry has long been slammed for its lack of inclusivity, as well as its strict rules for competitors. Until recently, women hoping to take home the title of Miss Universe were not allowed to compete if they were currently or previously married or if they had any children or were pregnant. In 1957, Mary Leona Gage, from Texas, was crowned as Miss USA - but later had her title revoked after officials found out she was secretly married and had two children. According to The Baltimore Sun, Gage got married at age 14 and had entered the competition to 'get away' from her husband and 'escape his oppression.' The outlet also reported that the scrutiny she faced after losing her crown resulted in multiple 'suicide attempts' and 'drug overdoses.' In August, it was announced that starting in 2023, the competition was opening its doors to married women and mothers; and while it's becoming more accepting regarding marital status, some have slammed the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants for still only accepting super skinny women with certain body types. Elle Smith, 24, from Kentucky, who was crowned as Miss USA in 2021, told Insider after her win last year that she wished the competition would be 'more inclusive to all body types.' 'At Miss USA, we have been so inclusive to different ethnicities and different races, but more or less, we all look very similar,' she said. 'I think, if we want to be representative of women as a whole, then we've got to be more inclusive to all body types.' 'I was never happy with what I looked like or what I was being told to do,' she said. 'I was instructed to eat as little as possible ... I couldn't even workout to the level I would because I literally had no fuel for my body' Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, now 45, from Venezuela, was reportedly told by officials that she was going to be replaced if she didn't lose weight. She is seen in 1996 At the time, Donald Trump - who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time - called her 'an eating machine' and 'Miss Piggy' on Howard Stern's radio show. They are pictured in 1997 Siera Bearchell, 29, who represented Canada at Miss Universe in 2017, previously told Elle that she was 'told she had to lose' a certain amount of weight 'to have potential to win the competition,' which resulted in her 'restricting her eating' leading up to the competition. 'I was never happy with what I looked like or what I was being told to do,' she said. 'I was instructed to eat as little as possible ... I couldn't even workout to the level I would because I literally had no fuel for my body. 'Some days I would have a single protein barhalf in the morning and half later on and do hours of workouts. I was told, "If you want to be successful, this is what you have to do."' Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, now 45, from Venezuela, was reportedly told by officials that she was going to be replaced if she didn't lose weight. At the time, Trump - who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time - called her 'an eating machine' and 'Miss Piggy' on Howard Stern's radio show. Trump allegations: Former President was accused of entering Miss Teen USA changing rooms where young girls were getting undressed Trump owned the organization for two decades before he sold it in 2015 - and allegations later emerged that he entered the Miss Teen USA changing rooms where girls as young as 15 were getting undressed. He is seen with Miss Universe 2004 'I remember putting on my dress really quick. I was like, "Oh my God, theres a man in here,"' one Miss Teen contestant told Buzzfeed, while another added, 'Some girls were topless. Others girls were naked.' Trump is seen with Miss Universe 2012 Trump owned the organization for two decades before he sold it in 2015 - and allegations later emerged that he entered the Miss Teen USA changing rooms where girls as young as 15 were getting undressed. 'I remember putting on my dress really quick because I was like, "Oh my God, theres a man in here,"' Mariah Billado, Miss Teen Vermont 1997, told Buzzfeed. 'He just came strolling right in,' Miss Arizona 2001 Tasha Dixon added. 'There was no second to put a robe on or any sort of clothing or anything. 'Some girls were topless. Others girls were naked. Our first introduction to him was when we were at the dress rehearsal and half-naked changing into our bikinis. 'To have the owner come waltzing in, when were naked, or half-naked, in a very physically vulnerable position and then to have the pressure of the people that worked for him telling us to go fawn all over him, go walk up to him, talk to him, get his attention...' she added, trailing off. Controversial winners: From racist slurs to nude photos to drug arrests, Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss Universe winners have had their crowns revoked for scandalous activity Karlie Hay, now 24, from Texas, sparked controversy when old tweets containing racial slurs resurfaced after she took home the Miss Teen USA title in 2016 At the time, the then-18-year-old was accused of using the N-word in a tweet she had posted in 2013. She later apologized, explaining that she only used that language due to her own 'personal struggles' Karlie Hay, now 24, from Texas, sparked controversy when old tweets containing racial slurs resurfaced after she took home the Miss Teen USA title in 2016. At the time, the then-18-year-old was accused of using the N-word in a tweet she had posted in 2013. While it had since been deleted, a screenshot showing her message went viral on the web. In an Instagram post, Karlie spoke out about it, explaining that she only used that language due to her own 'personal struggles' and that it was 'not representative of who she is as a person.' 'Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person,' she wrote. 'I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for. 'Through hard work, education and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person. 'I am honored to hold this title and I will use this platform to promote the values of The Miss Universe Organization, and my own, that recognize the confidence, beauty and perseverance of all women.' The Miss Universe Organization also addressed the tweet, stating that they will not be revoking her title and will 'continue' to support her 'growth.' And she's not the only winner to face scandal. Miss Nevada 2007 Katie Rees (pictured in 2007), now 38, had her crown revoked after partially nude photos of her in a Florida nightclub were released She also faced five felony drug charges in 2015 after she was allegedly caught possessing and selling meth 'The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of the Miss Universe Organization,' the organization said in a statement. Vanessa Williams, now 59, made history when she became the first African-American woman to be named Miss America in 1984. However, after Penthouse magazine publish nude photos of her, she was forced to give up her title - a moment she later called one of the 'lowest points of her life.' She is seen in 1984 And she's not the only winner to face scandal. Miss Nevada 2007 Katie Rees, now 38, had her crown revoked after partially nude photos of her in a Florida nightclub were released. The photos had been taken three years earlier, but made their way around the internet after her win; in the sultry snaps, Rees was allegedly kissing other women and simulating other sexual acts. 'These photographs were from an isolated incident during my teenage years,' she said during a press conference, per Fox News. 'This incident does not reflect who I am, or who I plan to be. I have no intention of further disgracing the state of Nevada, the Miss Universe organization, or Mr. Donald Trump.' She also faced five felony drug charges in 2015 after she was allegedly caught possessing and selling meth. Vanessa Williams, now 59, made history when she became the first African-American woman to be named Miss America in 1984. However, after Penthouse magazine publish nude photos of her, which were taken years prior, she was forced to give up her title - a moment she later called one of the 'lowest points of her life.' She told People magazine that the pictures had been taken when she was working as a photographer's assistant, and she had been assured at the time that they were 'silhouettes' and that she would not be identifiable in them, nor would they ever be made public. Miss America later apologized to Williams, when she stepped on stage as a guest at the 2016 pageant. Then-CEO Haskell said to her, 'You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned. Williams (pictured with Gary Collins after her win) told People that the pictures had been taken when she was working as a photographer's assistant, and she had been assured that they were 'silhouettes' and that she would not be identifiable in them Former Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter-Bearse, now 30, admitted in December 2019 to selling nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old She plead guilty to possessing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct and was sentenced to two years in prison for it Other scandalous winners include Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers (left), who was seen mocking the way her fellow competitors spoke, and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner (right), who was caught using cocaine eight months after her win Arguably one of the pageants most controversial winners was former Miss Pennsylvania Brandi Weaver-Gates - who shaved her head and pretended she had leukemia while scamming people out of thousands of dollars 'Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today's organization, I want to apologize to you. Fundraisers were hosted in her honor, with tons of people across the globe stepping in to raise money for the fake patient. She was sentenced to two to four years in prison for her lies 'I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be.' Former Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter-Bearse, now 30, admitted in December 2019 to selling nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old. She plead guilty to possessing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct and was sentenced to two years in prison for it. Other scandalous winners include Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers, who was seen mocking the way her fellow competitors spoke in an Instagram video, Miss USA 1994 Lu Parker, who was arrested for stealing a fellow passengers headphones at LAX in 2016, and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, who was caught using cocaine eight months after her win. Arguably one of the pageants most controversial winners was former Miss Pennsylvania Brandi Weaver-Gates - who shaved her head and pretended she had leukemia while scamming people out of thousands of dollars. Fundraisers were hosted in her honor, with tons of people across the globe stepping in to raise money for the fake patient. She was sentenced to two to four years in prison for her lies. On air blunder: Steve Harvey accidentally announced the wrong winner on national television during Miss Universe pageant In 2015, Steve Harvey had an awkward mishap while hosting the Miss Universe pageant - when he accidentally announced the wrong winner as thousands watched on He claimed that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left) had earned the title, when in reality, the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right) In 2015, Steve Harvey had an awkward mishap while hosting the Miss Universe pageant - when he accidentally announced the wrong winner as thousands watched on. He claimed that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez had earned the title, when in reality, the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Harvey later called the moment 'painful' for him, stating on the Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast, 'It was a painful f**king night there, dog. Oh God. I didn't know the pain I was in. I didn't know how bad the mistake was' Gutierrez was seen crying as someone came and placed the crown on her head - but then, Harvey came back on stage and told the audience had had made a grave mistake. 'I have to apologize,' he said. 'The first runner-up is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines.' Both women stood frozen on the edge of the stage as they looked around stunned and confused, and the moment quickly became one of the most talked-about incidents in this history of reality TV. Harvey later called the moment 'painful' for him, stating on the Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast, 'It was a painful f**king night there, dog. Oh God. I didn't know the pain I was in. I didn't know how bad the mistake was. 'I took my stupid a** back out there. I should have let them announce it the next day in the newspaper. I wouldn't have caught none of the Hell I caught.' The Family Feud host explained that the blunder came after a last minute change made by the production team. The Family Feud host explained that the blunder came after a last minute change made by the production team. Gutierrez, who thought she had won but actually came in second, is seen above In 2014, another grave mistake was made during the Miss Florida competition, in which Elizabeth Fechtel (seen) was told she was the winner - but officials later announced there had been a scoring error and Victoria Cowen would be moving on instead He added: 'I really didn't make no f**king mistake. I did what they told me in my ear and I read that teleprompter. 'I took the card out there and showed the third name that they handed to me from the stage, but I had my thumb on it, it wasn't no third name. It was the worst week of my life.' In 2014, another grave mistake was made during the Miss Florida competition, in which Elizabeth Fechtel was told she was the winner - but officials later announced there had been a scoring error and Victoria Cowen would be moving on instead. 'Initially, it was completely devastating,' Fletcher told People in a later interview. 'But I still see immense opportunity. I can channel my energy to my platform whether or not I'm Miss Florida.' Defamation lawsuit: Miss Florida USA was stripped of her title after she was accused of cheating - but she sued the pageant afterwards Genesis Davila, now 31, was crowned as Miss Florida in 2017 - but the world was left stunned days later when she was stripped of her title and accused of cheating and using a professional hair and makeup team - which is strictly prohibited Genesis Davila, now 31, was crowned as Miss Florida USA in 2017 - but the world was left stunned days later when she was stripped of her title and accused of cheating. According to Grant Gravitt, the pageant's executive director, Davila, who was 24 at the time, violated the competition's rules by using a professional hair and makeup team. At the time, Gravitt told ABC 10 that they had 'substantial proof' and that pageant organizers had received 'multiple complaints from contestants' from 'eyewitnesses.' 'We have a zero-tolerance policy on rules,' he said. 'Whether its something major or minor, its all about keeping an equal and level playing field. 'Unfortunately, our title holder sought an unfair competitive advantage, and thats just not acceptable in our system. She made a poor life choice. 'When one steps out of line, it's not fair to the other 64, and I couldn't look at the other 64 in the eye knowing that I had substantial proof to say, unfortunately, she sought an unfair advantage.' Davila, however, later called the allegations against her 'false. She then filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Miss Florida USA pageant for $15 million, seeking damages for defamation; the suit was later dismissed Runner-up Linette De Los Santos received the title instead. Davila, however, later called the allegations against her 'false' and told NBC Miami that the professional artist in question was a family friend, and that she did not help her get ready. 'I still feel like Im Miss Florida USA because I was crowned Miss Florida USA that night,' she said. 'Even though all these false accusations and allegations and rumors have been wandering all over social media, I know that I have proof to show the world that none of this is true.' She then filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Miss Florida USA pageant for $15 million, seeking damages for defamation; the suit was later dismissed. Nasty feuds: Contestants and past winners at Miss Sri Lanka and Miss Amazon competitions snatched the crown off another's head Pushpika De Silva, who won Miss Sri Lanka in April 2020, was left 'injured' after past winner Caroline Jurie ripped her crown off her head in a dramatic moment, which left audiences stunned Jurie told viewers that De Silva didn't deserve to win because she had been previously married - but De Silva later denied this De Silva (pictured) said she had suffered from 'injuries to her skull' as a result of the incident, and that she was taking 'legal action' Pushpika De Silva, who won Miss Sri Lanka in April 2020, was left 'injured' after past winner Caroline Jurie ripped her crown off her head in a dramatic moment, which left audiences stunned. Moments after De Silva was crowned as the winner - Jurie, who had won the previous year, stormed over, snatched the tiara from her and gave it to the runner-up. Jurie told viewers that De Silva didn't deserve to win because she had been previously married - but De Silva later denied this. 'I responsibly say that I am not a divorced woman,' she wrote on Facebook afterwards. 'If I am divorced, I challenge them to submit my divorce papers.' She added that she had suffered from 'injuries to her skull' as a result of the incident, and that she was taking 'legal action.' 'So, even though that symbolic crown has been snatched from my head, I would like to inform you that I have already taken the necessary legal action for the injustice and insult that has taken place. 'A real queen is not a woman who snatches another woman's crown, but a woman who secretly sets the other woman's crown.' Chandimal Jayasinghe, the national director of Mrs. Sri Lanka World, told BBC that the crown was returned to De Silva and called Jurie's actions a 'disgrace.' In 2015, a similar situation went down at the Miss Amazon pageant, when contestant Sheislane Hayalla snatched the crown off the head of winner Carol Toledo. Hayalla later told Globo, 'She didn't deserve the title.' Beauty fans are going wild online amid the news global make-up giant Sephora is officially arriving in the UK, following its acquisition of the Feelunique website last year. The brand's iconic black and white stripes will feature on the newly named Sephora.co.uk on October 17 - with a physical store in the works for next year - and makeup junkies can barely contain their excitement. Excited tweets have been piling in since the long-awaited announcement, with make-up enthusiasts gushing that this was the 'good news they needed'. Sephora promises a 'fully immersive website' which will be twinned with its app, and offer brands exclusive to its UK offering, including Tarte Cosmetics, ILIA, Makeup by Mario, ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr, GXVE by Gwen Stefani, Skinfix, Vegamour, and Sephora's own Sephora Collection. Global make-up giant Sephora is officially arriving in the UK, following its acquisition of the Feelunique website last year The brand's iconic black and white stripes will feature on the newly named Sephora.co.uk on October 17 - with a physical store in the works for next year Coveted classics beloved by cosmetics lovers will also be available, featuring the likes of Pat McGrath Labs, Fenty Beauty, Gisou, Rose Inc, JVN and Glow Recipe. The brand's advent calendars and holiday selections will also be available on the site at launch. A London store, set to open next spring, will also allow fans to browse in person. There has been a longstanding demand for Sephora in the UK from beauty and make-up fans. Excited tweets have been piling in since the long-awaited announcement, with make-up enthusiasts gushing that this was the 'good news they needed' Excited shoppers have taken to social media to express their anticipation for the beauty giant's British debut. 'SEPHORA IN THE UK IS HAPPENING !!!!!' one user exclaimed. Another penned: 'OMFG SEPHORA IS COMING TO THE UK!!!' Elsewhere, someone wrote: 'My prayers have been answered y'all Sephora is coming to the UK.' Coveted classics beloved by cosmetics lovers will also be available, featuring the likes of Pat McGrath Labs, Fenty Beauty, Gisou, Rose Inc, JVN and Glow Recipe Sephora promises a 'fully immersive website' which will be twinned with its app, and offer brands exclusive to its UK offering, including Tarte Cosmetics, ILIA, Makeup by Mario, ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr, GXVE by Gwen Stefani, Skinfix, Vegamour, and Sephora's own Sephora Collection 'Sephora is officially coming to the UK,' another added. 'This is NOT a drill.' The company's Chairman and CEO praised the UK's 'dynamic beauty and wellbeing market' following the long awaited announcement. 'We are delighted to bring Sephora to the UK, responding to Britain's strong demand for our unique prestige beauty experience,' Chris de Lapuente said. 'We will offer British consumers a pioneering selection of beauty that is best in class for innovation, diversity and inclusion. Our passionate team cannot wait to serve and inspire UK customers under the Sephora brand.' Sephora is also set to host an event to celebrate its UK arrival, allowing cosmetics fans a sneak peak into what can be expected, which will include a brand fair, masterclasses, beauty talks, surprise guests and more. Tickets will be available from October 11. Advertisement Queen Margrethe and her son Prince Joachim have had peace talks this week to smooth things over, the Royal Household has said - amid reports the Prince had a secret crush on his sister-in-law Princess Mary for years. The palace has confirmed that the Queen and her son want to 'look foward' following a row over the matriarch's decision to remove princely titles from Prince Joachim's children, which he claimed 'hurt' them. As the conflict brewed between the Danish royals, Spanish magazine Vaniatis Elconfidencial reported the real reason for the rift was because Joachim 'was deeply in love with his sister-in-law Mary'. However royal fans will now hope any animosity within the family is coming to an end after the Danish royal household confirmed to a publication that the mother and son are trying to 'find their way through' their differences after holding talks this week. The palace told B.T: 'The Queen and Prince Joachim have spoken together at Fredensborg. Everyone agrees to look forward, and as the Queen herself has expressed, she and Prince Joachim want calm to find their way through this situation.' Queen Margrethe (centre) has had meetings Prince Joachim (right) following animosity after he said his children were 'hurt' by her decision to remove their princely titles (Left: Crown Prince Frederik) The news comes as a Spanish magazine reported the Prince had been 'deeply in love' with his sister-in-law and Crown Prince Frederik's wife, Princess Mary Tensions began to arise last week in the Danish Royal Family after Queen Margrethe, declared Prince Joachim's children, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, were to be counts and countesses as of 1 January 2020 and known as Their Excellencies, rather than their Royal Highnesses (pictured with their parents on the Queen's golden Jubilee in September) Tensions began to arise last week in the Danish Royal Family after Queen Margrethe, 82, declared Prince Joachim's children, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, were to be counts and countesses as of 1 January 2020 and known as Their Excellencies, rather than their Royal Highnesses. Following the anouncement Prince Joachim, speaking outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, told Ekstra Bladet his children had been 'hurt' by the decision and that he had only been given five days to break the news to them before it was publicly announced. Amid the scandal, Joachim, 53, and his second wife Princess Marie, 46, admitted their relationship with his older brother Crown Prince Frederik, 54, and his sister-in-law Crown Princess Mary, 50, is 'complicated'. And now the Spanish magazine has sparked more speculation around the rift, after reporting that Joachim 'was deeply in love with his sister-in-law Mary'. A photograph was even published by Swedish womans weekly magazine 'Svensk Damtidning', allegedly showing Joachim trying to kiss Mary at a gala party of the Royal Guard Regiment. The Spanish magazine recalled: 'With obvious signs of drunkenness, it seems that the youngest son of Queen Margarethe tried to stamp his lips on his sister-in-law's mouth, that she got out of the way as she could and with an unperturbed smile, while Marie witnessed the embarrassing moment.' In 2009, Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik warmly greeted one another with a kiss on each cheek during an outing in Denmark It's been a dramatic week for the Danish Royal Family - after Queen Margarethe II of Denmark announced last week that she would be removing princely titles from four of her grandchildren. Pictured, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Mary and Prince Frederik in 2019 The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023 The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023 Queen Margrethe of Denmark and her eldest son refused to answer questions regarding the fallout of last week's bombshell royal titles as they arrived at the state opening of parliament on Tuesday Queen Margrethe (pictured in blue) made the decision to strip princely titles from Prince Nikolai (left), Prince Felix (second from left), Prince Henrik (right) and Princess Athena (second from right). Also pictured: Prince Joachim and Princess Marie It also suggested that shortly after Frederik and Mary's wedding in 2004, Danish media began to speculate that Joachim 'was deeply in love with his sister-in-law'. 'In fact, it didn't help that in 2007 he announced his engagement to a French girl (Princess Marie) with the same name and a striking physical resemblance,' wrote the magazine. But with such strong rumours about the prince's crush on Mary, the magazine claims Margarethe called 'them to order' and 'started a campaign to show that there were no problems between the two women,' including 'unscheduled outings' together. MailOnline has contacted the Danish Royal Household for comment. On Tuesday, Queen Margrethe and her eldest son refused to answer questions regarding the fallout of last week's bombshell royal titles as they arrived at the state opening of parliament. Margrethe, 82, was joined by Crown Prince Frederick and his wife Princess Mary at the opening of the Folketing, in Copenhagen. The assembled press asked a flurry of questions to all three royals on their arrival but the trio 'chose with big smiles to turn their backs to the press and talk among themselves before they entered Christiansborg', the seat of the Danish parliament, according to local news outlet BT. The royals put on an upbeat display and smiled to each other as they took their seats ahead of the opening. Margrethe opted for a vibrant mint dress and matching hat, while Australian-born Mary looked more sombre in grey. It comes hours after Queen Margrethe issued a public apology for her decision to strip four of her grandchildren - the sons and daughters of her youngest son, Prince Joachim - of their royal titles. She said she was sorry for hurting her family with the 'difficult decision' but insisted it was the right choice. And according to Danish royal commentators, the public statement is 'completely unusual' and shows how serious the conflict within the family has become. They added the Queen likely fears coming across as an 'ice queen', following several emotive public statements from Joachim in which he spoke of how his children had been 'harmed' by their grandmother's decision. A bitter royal row within the household has unfolded in recent days after Queen Margrethe, 82, announced she would be removing princely titles from Joachim's children, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10. Pictured, Marie, Joachim, Mary and Frederik on 11 September 2022 in Denmark As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, it was announced on Wednesday. Pictured, the children with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie on September 11, 2022 Speaking to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet, royal house expert Lars Hovbakke Srensen said: 'It is a completely unusual situation, it is historic, and it shows something about the seriousness that the Queen feels called to make such a personal announcement in a press release. 'It is quite unusual and she has never done this before. It shows that there is a huge conflict.' Mr Srensen added the Queen's statement was a way of 'trying to close this conflict' and draw a line under it, following several days of turbulence between the monarch and her youngest son. Last Thursday Prince Joachim told Ekstra Bladet his children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision to remove their princely titles and make them counts and countesses, adding he had only had a few days to break the news to them before it was announced publicly. However, according to Mr Srensen: 'You cannot have members or former members of the royal house constantly speaking in the press about the Queen's decision and discussing back and forth with each other in full public view.' In a statement released online, the Queen said she had made the decision as 'a mother, grandmother and monarch' and 'no one should doubt' her family are 'her great pride and joy' He added Queen Margrethe 'had to say something' following Prince Joachim's public comments. In a statement, the monarch admitted she had 'underestimated' the impact of her actions but said it was 'a long time coming' and it had been made as 'a Queen, mother and grandmother.' Another royal expert, Jacob Heinel Jensen, agreed the Queen felt 'compelled' to issue a public statement about the reported animosity and told B.T. the Queen's statement reflected the 'crazy situation' the Danish Royal Household finds itself in. He added it is likely she did not want to make a public apology about her decision, but that Prince Joachim's public comments left her with no choice but to address the accusations. Mr Heinel Jensen said: 'Queen Margrethe has felt compelled to [issue a statement], and it is because the Royal House is of course afraid that she will appear like an ice queen, which she has become in the past week. This is of course an attempt to say that she is not, she also feels it and is upset about the situation.' Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark (pictured) have admitted their relationship with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary is 'complicated' - and that they still haven't heard from Margrethe II after she stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles Front: Queen Margrethe, Middle Row (left to right): Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik. Back row (left to right): Princess Benedikte, Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai in a portrait celebrating Queen Margrethe's Golden Jubilee He added he thought the Queen's decision was the right one - although he was unsure if it would calm Prince Joachim's strong feelings about his mother's decision. The Queen's statement read: 'In recent days, there have been strong reactions to my decision on the future use of titles for Prince Joachim's four children. It obviously affects me. 'My decision has been a long time coming. With my 50 years on the throne, it is natural both to look back and to look forward. 'It is my duty and my wish as Queen to ensure that the monarchy continues to shape itself in keeping with the times. 'It sometimes requires difficult decisions to be made, and it will always be difficult to find the right moment. 'Carrying a royal title entails a number of obligations and duties, which will in future be the responsibility of fewer members of the royal family. 'This adaptation, which I see as a necessary safeguard for the future of the monarchy, I want to make in my time.' Prince Joachim of Denmark (pictured) once again hit out at his mother Queen Margrethe II's decision to strip his four children of their royal titles Speaking in Copenhagen (pictured) Crown Princess Mary of Denmark defended her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe's decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, and suggested her own children's positions might not be secure She continued: 'I have made my decision as Queen, mother and grandmother, but as a mother and grandmother I have underestimated how much my youngest son and his family feel affected. It makes a big impression, and I'm sorry for that. 'No one should be in doubt that my children, children-in-law and grandchildren are my great joy and pride. 'I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation ourselves.' She signed off the note; 'MARGRETHE R.' According to Mr Srensen, the incredibly personal statement, which includes the Queen's admission she had 'underestimated' how seriously her grandchildren would be affected by the change, shows how serious the conflict within the family is. Revealed: The Danish Royal Family's VERY glamorous palaces It's perhaps no surprise that a European Royal Family enjoys several castles and palaces - however for the Danish household, many of the properties are owned by the state, and run by the Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties. This includes the main residence of Amalienborg, the family's spring home of Fredensborg Palace, their summer house of Grasten Palace and the hunting lodge Eremitageslottet . The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, Chateau de Caix in France, and the royal hunting lodge in Jutland at Trend. Prince Joachim lives with his second wife in Paris - but when he returns home to Denmark it is sometimes to the Schackenborg Castle in southern Jutland. The estate was the prince's private residence from 1993 to 2014, before he sold the property. But since Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are on the board of the Schackenborg Castle Foundation, they occasionally return to live there for short periods of time. Amalienborg, the Danish household's main residence, pictured The family's spring home of Fredensborg Palace, pictured The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, pictured The Royal Danish family's summer residence of Grasten Slot, pictured Advertisement The statement was released after it emerged Prince Frederik has spent the last week in St Tropez taking part in a sailing competition - while his brother expressed his sadness that his children were to be stripped of their titles. Prince Frederik joined friends to defend the prestigious BMW Trophy, which they also won in 2021. Her&Nu reported the royal arrived in the exclusive St. Tropez last weekend to take part in the Les Voiles Saint Tropez race with the TP52 boat Nanoq. In a photograph from the event which was taken on Friday, the royal can be seen posing on a boat topless in the sunshine. The Crown Prince appeared to recline on the boat as he chatted with friends during his seven day visit to the country last week. The news comes after Frederik's brother Joachim and his second wife Marie admitted their relationship is 'complicated'. Speaking to B.T. they also said Queen Margrethe has 'unfortunately not' tried to speak to them, with Joachim adding: 'It's also family. Or whatever we want to call it.' During the interview, B.T reported that a French woman approached the royal couple and told them their children will 'always be princes and princesses to her', apparently leaving Marie and Joachim in tears. Elsewhere, Marie, the mother of Joachim's two youngest children, told the Danish news outlet that her daughter Athena is being bullied at school after the decision was publicly announced earlier this week. 'They come and say (to Athena): Is it you who is no longer a princess?,' she said, adding that her children were put under the public spotlight and so she feels the need to defend them. Last week, Joachim hit out at his mother Margrethe's decision, saying it 'punished' his children, as well as claiming he had only been told the news five days before it was made public - despite the Royal Household insisting the move 'has been a long time coming'. Meanwhile, Princess Mary came out in public support of her mother-in-law's move while speaking in an interview with Ekstra Bladet in Copenhagen on Friday, saying that while 'change can be extremely difficult and can really hurt... this does not mean that the decision is not the right one'. The oldest son of Australian-born Princess Mary, 50, and Frederik is Prince Christian, 16, who is second-in-line to the throne. Frederick and Mary's four children - Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 11 - remain unaffected by the monarch's decision as they are direct descendants of the future King. However Princess Mary suggested that might not always be the case, saying they will 'also look at [their] children's titles when the time comes'. Speaking about the monarch's intention to slim down the Danish royal family, Joachim said: 'The reality must still be: whether you modernize or slim down, it must be done in a proper way. It's about children. Orderliness and children. It is a very heavy matter.' Commenting on Princess Mary's point that her children may too lose titles in the future, Joachim said: 'I don't know how they feel if they have to think it through. Now is preparation time. We didn't have that.' Last week, commenting on his children's reaction to the move to B.T., Joachim said his children 'don't know which leg to stand on as their identity is removed' - and questioned 'why must they be punished in that way?'. The prince said: 'I can say that my children are sad. My kids don't know which leg to stand on. What they should believe. Why should their identity be removed? Why must they be punished in that way?' 'I don't want to engage in speculation and mudslinging,' said Joachim. 'I am telling the truth... I was given five days notice... I was given five days' notice of this. To tell my children that on New Year's their identity will be taken from them.' He added that in May, he was presented with a plan that his 'children's identity should be taken from them when each of them turned 25', to which he asked 'to be allowed to come back with my proposal'. But he said he was given just five days notice that the decision was to be accelerated, adding: 'I am so sorry for my children. I just demand the truth.' Speaking at a function at the National Museum in Copenhagen on Wednesday night, pictured, Margrethe said: 'It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason' Prince Nikolai said that he is sad, shocked and confused after his royal title was stripped 'quickly'. Pictured modelling during the Dior Pre-Fall 2019 Men's Collection show on November 30, 2018 in Tokyo His ex-wife, Countess Alexandra, the mother of his two eldest children, added in a statement to Danish magazine Se og Hr: 'This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracized. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.' Her spokesperson Helle von Wildenrath Lvgreen told another news organisation that Joachim learned of his children's fate via an aide. Queen Margrethe spoke neither to her sons nor her grandchildren, it is claimed. Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix's mother says she's 'in shock' by move to strip them of their royal titles Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg - Prince Joachim's ex-wife and mother to Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix - said she is 'in shock' over Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's decision to strip her sons of their royal titles. Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 20, along with their younger siblings Prince Henri, 13, and Princess Athen, 10, from their father's second marriage, will all have their titles of prince and princess removed from January 1 2023, the palace announced yesterday. 'We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock,' Alexandra said in a statement from her press advisor Helle von Wildenrath Lvgreen, reported Danish magazine Se og Hr. The statement continued: 'This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracised. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.' Earlier this month, Alexandra attended Queen Margrethe's Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Danish Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. Prince Joachim married his second wife Princess Marie in 2008, and they later welcomed Prince Henrik and Princess Athena Advertisement 'The children have received the message that they are losing their titles, delivered by their father, just as Countess Alexandra was told by Prince Joachim,' the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, speaking about the decision last Wednesday, Queen Margrethe said: 'It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason.' And the Royal Household released another statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' Prince Nikolai, a model, also spoke out last week, telling Ekstra Bladet: 'My whole family and I are of course very sad. We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone. 'I am very confused as to why it has to happen like this,' he told reporters from outside the Copenhagen apartment where he lives with his girlfriend. Countess Alexandra, Prince Joachim's ex-wife and mother to Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, is also 'very sad' and 'shocked' about the decision. 'She can't believe why and why now, because there's no good reason,' Helle von Wildenrath Lvgreen, press secretary to Countess Alexandra told CNN. 'They would lose their titles anyway when they get married one day. Her sons are young men so maybe they might get married in the near future so why shouldn't it wait until that day so that the titles would disappear on a happy day?' Under the agreement, Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena will be known as either His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat from January 1, 2023. However they will maintain their positions in the order of succession. They are currently seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth, but would move down if any of Crown Prince Frederick's children were to have children. Margrethe, who is the world's longest serving queen and celebrates her Golden Jubilee this year, is affectionately known as 'aunt Daisy' by European royals due to her close personal ties with many reigning monarchs. She is a first cousin of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and a second cousin of Norway's King Harald V. She enjoyed a close relationship with the Queen, a distant cousin, and the Duke of Edinburgh, and shared deeply personal tributes following their deaths. She was joined by her son Crown Prince Frederick at the Queen's funeral earlier this month. The Queen seemingly enjoys a close relationship with both sons and all eight of her grandchildren, and makes regular appearances with both families. However there is now said to be an 'ice-cold air' between the Queen and her grandchildren. Countess Alexandra's press secretary questioned why the change could not have waited until their wedding day, when her sons would 'lose their titles anyway'. Pictured, Alexandra Countess Of Frederiksborg The move is said to have driven a wedge between Margrethe and her four grandchildren. Pictured, the Queen (centre) with sons Joachim (left) and Crown Prince Frederick (right). Also pictured: Crown Prince Frederick's wife, Crown Princess Mary (right) and son Prince Christian (in his lap) and Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix (left) who will be affected by the change Prince Nikolai, from left, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim and Prince Felix arrive for the command performance at the Danish Royal Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of Danish Queen Margrethe II's accession to the throne in Copenhagen, Saturday, September 10, 2022 Prince Nikolai of Denmark celebrated his 23rd birthday in August at home with his parents and siblings in Copenhagen. Pictured left with Prince Felxi, 20, Prince Henrick, 13 and Princess Athena, ten Nikolai with his stepmother Princess Marie, siblings, and father Prince Joachim, on the balcony of Amalienborg palace during the Danish Queen's 78th Birthday in April 2018 'There is ice-cold air between Queen Margrethe and her grandchildren after she decided that they will lose their titles as prince and princess from the New Year,' leading Danish publication Ekstra Bladet reported. 'The news, which has crushed both the four children and their parents, was not delivered by the queen herself. 'They have not been called to Amalienborg for a cold coke and an explanation as to why they must henceforth be addressed as counts and countesses. Not even that far.' Out of a title: The four grandchildren who will no longer be TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Advertisement Queen Margrethe has a well-cushioned allowance, with the Danish Civil List granting her 800,813 a month, or 9.6 million for the year to run the royal household - including staff, properties and administration, according to Business Insider. Meanwhile, Celebrity Net Worth lists her net worth at around 37million. Around 183,750 per month is reportedly given to the Queen's children. Crown Prince Frederik receives the largest amount of this money, of which 10 per cent is given to his wife, Princess Mary. Many of the Danish Royal Family's properties are owned by the state, and run by the Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties. This includes the main residence of Amalienborg, their spring home of Fredensborg palace, their summer house of Grasten Palace and the hunting lodge Eremitageslottet . The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, Chateau de Caix in France, and the royal hunting lodge in Jutland at Trend. Prince Joachim lives with his second wife Princess Marie in Paris, where he has been working as a Defense Attache at the Danish Embassy since September 2020 - but when he returns home to Denmark it is sometimes to the Schackenborg Castle in southern Jutland. The estate was the prince's private residence from 1993 to 2014, before he sold the property. But since Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are on the board of the Schackenborg Castle Foundation, they occasionally return to live there for short periods of time. In the summer of 2020, Prince Joachim suffered a stroke while holidaying in France with his family and had to be rushed into hospital for emergency brain surgery. Prince Joachim's eldest sons, Felix and Nikolai, are Margrethe's eldest grandsons and have embraced a life in the public eye. The 20-somethings, who both live in Denmark, both enrolled in the National Military Academy but dropped out before completing their studies. They have enjoyed flourishing careers as models, posing for several advert campaigns and on the cover of magazines. Both of Margrethe's grandsons turned to modelling in their late teens. Pictured with their grandmother in May 2021 Princess Marie with Prince Joachim, Prince Felix, Prince Nikolai, Princess Athena and Prince Henrick with Joachim's first wife's Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg in 2020 Nikolai caught international attention in 2018 when he walked in the Burberry show at London Fashion week, before a front row that included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Michelle Dockery, Naomi Watts, Zendaya, and Idris Elba. He is signed to Scoop Models agency in Denmark and has been multiplying his modelling gigs. He sent royal fans into a frenzy in February when he graced the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. The 23-year-old oozed sophistication when appearing in the magazine and looked effortlessly stylish in a matching pink Dior jacket and trousers as he posed in front of a number of colourful flowers. When he is not modelling, Nikolai is studying Business Administration and Service Management at the In 2019, Prince Nikolai began his B education at Copenhagen Business School. Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Margrethe tested positive for Covid-19 only 24 hours after Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday September 19 Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, attended the 'reception of the century' at Buckingham Palace, which was hosted by King Charles and Camilla before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral Last year he was living in Paris as part of a school exchange, and could see his younger siblings and his dad more easily. At the end of last year, he started training at the Royal Danish Military Academy to become an Army Lieutenant, but in October it was announced that he'd quit after just two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Prince Felix chose to make his modelling debut for jeweller Georg Jensen, appearing in pictures and an advert promoting the new Reflect collection of necklaces, earrings and rings. The royal is further down the line of succession, pursuing his own career path rather than being a 'working royal' was expected choice for Felix even before his grandmother's announcement, and modelling is certainly a popular choice for minor royals across the globe. While they are growing to be their own person, Felix and Nikolai do attend royal events on occasion. They both looked very dapper as they attended the celebrations for their grandmother's golden jubilee with their parents in early September. Expert says the 'charming' Princess refused to be 'intimidated' by the woman Judi James said the heckler wanted to make the Princess feel 'helpless' The woman told Kate that 'Ireland belongs to the Irish' while shaking hands A 'brave' Princess of Wales 'stood her ground' while dealing with 'uncomfortable' heckling from a Northern Ireland protestor, a body language expert has claimed. Kate Middleton, 40, was speaking to members of the public at a walkabout in North Belfast yesterday when she was challenged by an Irish nationalist. While shaking hands with the princess, the woman said: 'Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country.' Determined not to let it rattle her, a stunned Kate laughed and let go of the woman's hand before continuing to smile and greet other members of the crowd. Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James said Kate has proven she will be a 'gutsy' Queen by simply taking the awkward encounter in her stride. A 'brave' Princess of Wales 'stood her ground' while dealing with 'uncomfortable' heckling from a Northern Ireland protestor, a body language expert has claimed (pictured) The Princess of Wales kept her composure and brushed off the comments. Body language expert Judi said Kate refused to be 'intimidated' by the incident She explained: 'This heckling ritual would have felt even more uncomfortable for Kate than just listening to the womans words. 'Kate is greeting a friendly crowd and the woman holds her hand out for a shake. 'Once she has Kates hand she traps it in her own, performing several quite aggressive-looking shakes while holding it tight and even pulling Kate in towards her as she does so.' The body language expert continued: 'We can see Kates hand is held for a shake that goes on longer than usual. Her fingers have been pulled up the womans sleeve and her knuckles looked gripped tight enough to whiten.' Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi said Kate has proven she will be a 'gutsy' Queen by simply taking the awkward encounter in her stride The Princess of Wales was challenged by an Irish nationalist during an impromptu walkabout in Northern Ireland . Pictured: The woman as she speaks to Kate 'It is always a worry for royals and any celebrity when any crowd member keeps hold of their hand for longer than normal but following the Queens death this prolonged clasping was seen quite a lot when the public wanted to offer their sympathy and condolences, especially to Charles and William. 'There is a normal time for a handshake and when it goes on longer it can feel like a power gesture, though.' Although Judi claimed the woman intended the handshake to make the Princess feel 'helpless', the expert said it had the opposite effect. She continued: 'Kate uses eye contact but her smile doesnt miss a beat and, instead of looking away quickly and moving on to ignore the woman dismissively, she handles the moment well by making an oh to suggest what a pity. The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 40, greeted members of the public on an impromptu walkabout in North Belfast yesterday afternoon The Princess of Wales met young royal fans outside a youth charity centre in North Belfast yesterday afternoon 'Then, when her hand is released but the woman is still filming and heckling, keeping to her spot and even looking around for other hands to shake. 'The response of smiling but moving on quickly would be understandable and a typical royal move but standing your ground to show youre not intimidated does look rather brave.' Examining the Princess' verbal response, Judi claims Kate 'heard the heckler perfectly' but kept her composure nonetheless. She added: 'Will Kate turn out to be a gutsy queen? She doesnt even seem to glance around for her security to either alert them or to make herself feel safer by checking they were aware. The Prince and Princess of Wales shared the short video and tweet online last night - choosing to focus on other parts of their visit The woman who confronted Kate was not included in the video shared by the couple - instead, clips showed the Prince and Princess of Wales meeting members of the public (right) and making cocktails (left) While the short clip shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media did feature several moments from their walkabout, the moment with the woman in the green jumper wasn't included Instead, the couple shared clips of the royals meeting schoolchildren (left and right) who held banners welcoming them to the area 'She just sounds very slightly disappointed by the womans comments. 'She responded with charm but her lack of any other response might suggest a confident lack of fear at being challenged.' Following the incident, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid thanks to Northern Ireland for hosting them following a trip to Belfast. Prince William and Kate shared a message on their official social media pages, writing: 'Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland!' Observers took to social media to praise Kate for 'handling the moment perfectly' The Princess of Wales (pictured) has been challenged by an Irish nationalist during an impromptu walkabout in Northern Ireland The Princess of Wales waves to members of the public following a walkabout in Carrickfergus as part of a visit to Northern Ireland Princess Kate brushes back her hair while meeting with royal fans during a visit to Northern Ireland Kate beams as she chats to royal fans alongside Prince William during a visit to Belfast on Thursday Meanwhile the couple posted a swish video showing a highlights reel of their trip, including a clip of the royal mother-of-three making a cocktail, and Prince William playing with a pair of dogs. The clip, which was shared last night by the couple, featured a number of clips from the stay, including the walkabout. However the incident with the woman in the heckler wasn't included in the video. Instead, Kate was seen greeting school-children and the camera panned across a crowd of waving royal fans. In another clip, Prince William was seen chatting to members of the public. Observers took to social media to praise Kate for 'handling the moment perfectly.' One wrote on Twitter: 'That very disrespectful lady should have stayed at home instead of wasting her time waiting for someone she doesn't like... Catherine handled the moment perfectly though. Kate chats to a group of schoolchildren holding Union Jack flags during a visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday MWilliam and Kate during a walkabout outside Carrickfergus Castle in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland 'She and William were welcomed with open arms by everyone else... there's lots of love for them!' The incident happened during Kate and William's visit to Northern Ireland yesterday. Hundreds of people lined the Marine Highway in Carrickfergus, a town to the north of Belfast, as the pair visited the County Antrim town. They exchanged handshakes and fist-bumps with local schoolchildren who had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Earlier they visited a local charity and were then greeted by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Noel Williams. The late Queen gave William and Kate the titles Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus on the morning of their wedding in 2011. Kate shakes hand with excited young girls during a visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will help women in need across the US with a $1million dollar fund in a charity project inspired by Meghan's podcast. Harry and Meghan's charitable Archewell Foundation has teamed up with The VING Project to give grants of $1,000 to women throughout the US who have been nominated by teenagers aged between 14 and 18 for inspiring others. The drive has been inspired by Meghan's podcast, Archetypes, which invites a female guest on each week for a chat. During the discussion, they speak about how they have been stereotyped by their gender, race and background and how they have managed to overcome such stereotypes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in Windsor in September) have announced a $1million fund to help up to 1,000 women in the US who have inspired young people and overcome adversity Harry and Meghan (pictured in Dusseldorf at an Invictus Games event in September) announced their first charity partnership since the Queen passed away The project will be inspired by Meghan's podcast, Archetypes, in which she invites famous women to discuss how they have been held back by stereotypes about their gender, race and background Speaking about the initiative, Meghan said: 'Two things that bring me great joy are supporting women, and the spirit of giving. 'With the return of Archetypes, Archewell Foundation and VING have come together to create the perfect combination of these loves. 'By donating $1million in grants to women in need, our hope is not only to provide support where it may be felt deepest, but also to empower young adults to embrace the gift of giving at an early age. 'I'm very proud of this partnership and the good we hope to see come from it.' The Archewell Foundation will donate the $1million to the VING project so it can carry out its work. Nominees for a $1,000 grant have to be US citizens and cannot be immediate or extended family members of the nominator. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured at the Queen's funeral last month) made their first big announcement since the Queen passed away This drive is the first charity announcement the Duke and Duchess have made since the Queen's state funeral on 19 September. Since stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family in early 2020 and moving to California, the couple have embarked on several charity initiatives through the Archewell Foundation, while Meghan has embarked upon her podcast series. In the most recent episode, the Duchess slammed films like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill and the Austin Powers series for how they present 'caricatures' of Asian women as 'oversexualised or aggressive'. Speaking with her guest Margaret Cho, Meghan talked about the concept of the 'dragon lady'. Cho said: 'Dragon lady comes from this fantasy of Orientalism - similar to the femme fatale, it's kind of evil queen adjacent.' She added: 'But it's also pinned to Asian women being some kind of threat - our mysticism is going to get you, this has really stuck the film industry and to Asian women in general.' The launch of the series saw Meghan chatting to her long-time friend Serena Williams, who said Prince Harry had helped her retire from tennis after the pair had discussed it for around an hour. Harry and Meghan, who had been in The UK when the Queen passed away on 8 September at Balmoral, remained at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor during the mourning period and attended the funeral at Westminster Abbey, followed by the committal service at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Two days after the Queen passed away, royal fans were hearted to see Harry and Meghan step out in Windsor alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales to thank well-wishers for their tributes to Her late Majesty. King Charles also allowed Harry to wear his military uniform, despite no longer being a working royal, to take part in a Vigil of Princes alongside his brother and his cousins at Westminster Hall, where the Queen's coffin was lying in state. Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew back to the US they appear to have settled back into their California life, where they run the Archewell Foundation from home. In an interview with The Cut in August, Harry and Meghan revealed they sit back to back in their home office while working on the foundation. The Duke told the publication it felt 'natural and normal' to work alongside his wife. In the latest episode of Palace Confidential Daily Mails Royal Editor Rebecca English reveals Camilla was 'broken' and 'grief stricken' after the Queen died. A panel of royal commentators and experts discussed King Charles III and the Queen Consort's relationship for the latest episode of Mail+'s popular royal talk show Palace Confidential, while also exploring if the new royal portraits caused a transatlantic clash. Andrew Pierce, consultant editor of the Daily Mail, said that the new fab four looked like a 'good team', while Rebecca admitted King Charles is 'very affectionate' with Camilla. The royal editor said: 'I was with the King and Queen consort on Monday in Edinburgh and it was the first time I saw them since they came back to Buckingham palace after the Queen died. In the latest episode of Palace Confidential Daily Mails Royal Editor Rebecca English reveals Camilla was 'broken' and 'grief stricken' after the queen died Rebecca said: 'I think I said at the time she looked broken like really grief-stricken and obviously not quite sure of the reception she would get.' Andrew went onto say that Camilla for many years was seen as the 'wicked witch' after the breakdown of Princess Diana's and Charles' marriage but she 'stuck at it.' He said: 'Camilla was wicked witch and she knew it, and in private she used to make jokes about being the wicked witch. 'But she stuck at it because she loves him and he loves her and I think it's an extraordinary testament to their love.' King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, waves as they leave Dunfermline Abbey, after a visit to mark its 950th anniversary in Scotland Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and the Princess of Wales, pose at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the reception for Heads of State and Official Overseas Guests Rebecca revealed that Charles is 'a very different person' when he's not around Camilla. She said: 'She knows how to handle him, they have been married 17 years, I think people forget that, she's been with him longer than she hasn't been with him in her whole life. She continued: 'They are good together they are a good team together.' Elsewhere in the show they discussed if the new royal portraits had caused another transatlantic clash. Earlier this week Buckingham Palace released the first official picture of King Charles with his Queen Consort. By their side stands the Prince of Wales, his eldest son and heir clearly a good deal taller than Charles and the newly appointed Princess of Wales, his wife. A panel of royal commentators and experts discussed King Charles III and the Queen Consort's relationship for the latest episode of Mail+'s popular royal talk show Palace Confidential, while also exploring the if the new royal portraits caused another transatlantic clash Andrew Pierce, consultant editor of the Daily Mail, said that the new fab four looked like a 'good team' They stand on the Ministers Stairs at Buckingham Palace, where portraits of past monarchs adorn the walls. Behind them is a portrait of King George III, the longest-reigning King in British history. No sooner had Buckingham Palace released a portrait than another portrait emerged from the Sussex's in California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released an image of the two of them from an event they attended in the UK just before the death of the Queen. Rebecca said the timing of the portrait was puzzling saying: '[It] begs the question, why suddenly release them now? The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released an image of the two of them from an event they attended in the UK just before the death of the Queen (pictured, in November) The Daily Mails consultant editor Andrew believes it was down to a bad case of me, me, me! with the couple not wanting the public to forget them. He said: I actually thought the timing was pitiful. Elsewhere the panel looked at how another European royal family are engaging in a slimming down process as the Queen of Denmark has stripped four of her grandchildren of their titles and they ask is this something King Charles should be doing? The Daily Mails Diary Editor Richard Eden believes that it is saying: 'She has set a good example that I personally hope that King Charles will follow in terms of saying that to the second son, in our case Harry.' In another part of the conversation they took a look at a new book on the new Queen. Angela Levin gave some fascinating insight into how she put together her new book Camilla. Social media users have flooded Rosie's comment section with words of praise for the idea and even noted how 'wholesome' the gesture was She has since recreated 'spritz cookies', a date nut bread and a fudge recipe, all from different cemeteries, and hopes to create a positive mindset around death The librarian's baking journey began one year ago when she was an intern for a congressional cemetery and stumbled upon an article with a recipe from a grave A woman has found a unique source of specialty recipes, eschewing cookbooks in favor of cemeteries, where she tracks down gravestones that have food instructions engraved upon them. Rosie Grant, from Los Angeles, California, is a librarian and TikToker with a passion for baking and history; in recent months, the gravestone enthusiast has found a very quirky way to combine her two passions by recreating recipes that she discovers inscribed on tombstones. Rosie has been committed to finding gravestones that detail delicious dishes as her social media is filled with clips of her hunting down the recipes and recreating them. The TikToker has made multiple dishes - including two favorites: 'spritz cookies' and fudge - and the baker even travels across the country to find recipes, going from state to state to recreate the best cemetery dessert. Rosie Grant, from Los Angeles, California, has gone viral after discovering and recreating recipes written on gravestones The librarian and TikToker has a clear passion for baking and cemeteries and has combined the two in the past year to share her favorite recipes with her followers Rosie's baking journey began one year ago when she was an intern for a congressional cemetery. She began using social media to post about the cemetery and quickly became enthralled by #GraveTok, which is filled with many other gravestone enthusiasts detailing their cemetery finds. Around the same time, Rosie was learning to cook and stumbled upon an article about the spritz cookie recipe left on a gravestone. After reading the article, she became determined to find more gravestone recipes. She then posted a video captioned: 'Going to start making recipes from gravestones.' In the video, Rosie made the spritz cookies based on the ingredients she found in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery. Although there were no instructions on the tombstones, the cookies turned out well and became of Rosie's favorite and most famous recreations. Speaking to Guardian, Rosie noted the recipes weren't that easy to come by and she has found most of them online. The baker has recreated many different recipes including snickerdoodle cookies, peach cobbler, date nut bread and blueberry pie Rosie's baking journey began one year ago when she was an intern for a congressional cemetery and stumbled upon an article with a recipe from a grave While speaking to BuzzFeed, Rosie noted that she has been sharing her dishes to decrease the stigma around mortality after learning about the 'death positive community' She said: 'There are only about 10 so far that I've found, mostly through searching online.' Rosie has used news reports, tweets and a sit called Find a Grave to discover the cemetery dishes. She has made many different dishes including snickerdoodle cookies, glazed blueberry pie, peach cobbler, fudge, spritz cookies and date nut bread. A recipe to die for! The spritz cookie recipe Rosie loves While the gravestone didn't detail exactly what to do, it did list the ingredients needed to make these delicious cookies: One cup of butter 3/4 cup of sugar One teaspoon of vanilla One egg Two and 1/4 cups of flour Half a teaspoon of baking powder 1/8 a teaspoon of salt Advertisement In an interview with BuzzFeed, Rosie said the first three graves she visited detailed the recipes of spritz cookies, date nut bread from a gravestone in Erie County, New York and a fudge recipe she discovered in Logan, Utah, which became one of her favorite's. While speaking to BuzzFeed, Rosie noted that she has been sharing her dishes to decrease the stigma around mortality after learning about the 'death positive community.' '[It's] the idea that society is better if we understand our own mortality and change our mindsets so that [death is] like a celebration of our lives, rather than something to be feared or ignored. So that's kind of where this whole thing came about.' 'I'm personally very afraid of my own mortality. 'So I think an end game for me is just getting some sort of comfort with [death] even just conversations with my own family of like: ''Where do I want to be buried? How do I want to be memorialized?'' 'I feel like the gravestone recipes kind of lend itself to talking about really hard topics in an easier way.' Although she has been working hard to recreate and discover the gravestone dishes, she noted that she has yet to find one on her own. 'I have not organically walked through a cemetery and found a recipe on my own, unfortunately. 'I mean, that would be the dream someday.' Eventually, Rosie's dream is to visit all gravestones across the world that have recipes written on them. Social media users have flooded Rosie's comment section with words of praise for the idea and even noted how 'wholesome' the gesture was. One user said: 'Kinda amazing to envision how happy the recipes brought to each individual, obviously it was their love language and decided to share.' Another user added: 'I had no idea this was a thing and its such a beautiful idea - both that the recipes exist and that youre making them.' 'What a cool way to keep their legacy going,' wrote one user. 'Something about this is just insanely wholesome. even after death they're sharing their love,' commented another user. The Slab is limited-edition and available across Australia until October 31 Foodies are divided over whether they'd try the unusual creation themselves KFC has brought back a fan-favourite secret menu item for a limited time - but foodies are divided over whether it's worth the hype. The Popcorn Chicken Slab features six soft dinner rolls filled with Popcorn Chicken, oozing cheese and BBQ sauce. 'Is it a chicken burger, or is it a chicken sandwich?' asked a KFC super fan on a group dedicated to burgers, adding that the slab is available until October 31. 'KFC have brought this bad boy back out of retirement to fulfil your ultimate hangover cure needs.' KFC has brought back a fan-favourite secret menu item for a limited time - but foodies are divided over whether it's worth the hype Group members were quick to turn on the 1,452 calorie dish, with many labelling it an 'abomination'. Poll Would you try The Slab? Absolutely Not a chance Would you try The Slab? Absolutely 93 votes Not a chance 43 votes Now share your opinion 'Someone needs to get rid of excess frozen chicken balls hence this bizarre creation,' a skeptical foodie wrote. 'That's a f***ing lazy burger. Definitely one of the Colonel's weakest efforts required,' another added. 'I can't even contemplate eating this.' Others rejected the 'slab' as a burger and insisted the dish is just a large sandwich. 'It cannot be a burger,' wrote one man indignantly. 'The definition of a burger is: a dish consisting of a flat, round cake of minced beef, that is fried or grilled and served in a split bun or roll with various condiments and toppings.' Others were simply happy to offer suggestions for those either attempting the dish at home or looking to improve the creation. 'I recommend swapping the BBQ sauce for supercharged sauce and adding bacon,' said one foodie. 'An extra hack is adding potato and gravy to it.' 'Definitely,' agreed another. 'The BBQ sauce does not do it justice.' 'I'd also say you're better off buying the dinner rolls and a $10 bucked of Popcorn Chicken along with a tub of their gravy and making it yourself at home,' advised a third. 'The Popcorn Chicken Slab' is available at all KFC restaurants across Australia until October 31 The Slab originally made its debut in 2020, and was hailed as KFC's most popular menu item. 'After first introducing The Slab in 2020, the response from our fans was huge and we've had lots of people demanding its return,' said Sally Spriggs, Chief Marketing Officer at KFC Australia. 'Like all good things, not even The Slab can last forever, so get in quick because this encore tour won't last forever.' An Australian mum has revealed how her baby boy was forced to fight off cancer twice before his first birthday - after she spotted huge bruises and lumps on his skin. Natasha Lucas, 27, from Sydney, NSW, gave birth to son Ashton on November 17, 2020, however it soon became apparent that something was very wrong. Biopsy results confirmed her baby boy had congenital acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) - a type of rare cancer. Her and husband Nathan Lucas, 28, had their world's shattered instantly. 'I never battle mental demons like I did during this time,' Natasha told NeedToKnow.Online. Natasha Lucas, 27, from Sydney, NSW, gave birth to son Ashton on November 17, 2020, however it soon became apparent that something was very wrong Biopsy results confirmed her baby boy had congenital acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) - a type of rare cancer 'I constantly cried myself to sleep. I was missing my eldest son at home whilst I stayed at the hospital with Ashton. 'My biggest fear was that my baby boy wouldn't make it or that his big brother Levi, who was three at the time, would never be able to meet him. 'I was worried that I would never be able to hold him, that I would lose him before I did. 'I also had this huge fear that the chemo would do more damage than good. I could have been making my boy suffer and I wouldn't have known.' Natasha first noticed something was wrong when she stopped feeling Ashton moving in her stomach while 36 weeks pregnant. Although she was allegedly told that her and the baby were fine, the hospital decided to keep her in overnight, and the next day decided to perform an emergency caesarean 'When Ashton was born, the medical team were quiet. They took him to newborn intensive care straightaway,' she said Although she was allegedly told that her and the baby were fine, the hospital decided to keep her in overnight, and the next day decided to perform an emergency caesarean. 'When Ashton was born, the medical team were quiet. They took him to newborn intensive care straightaway,' she said. 'He needed oxygen assistance and they noticed bruising all over his body and some lumps. He remained in NICU, hooked up to machines and oxygen. 'He hadn't opened his eyes yet and we hadn't even had a chance to cuddle with our baby boy.' Five days later doctors shared the horrific news and told the mum her son would need chemotherapy straight away. AML is a rare type of blood cancer which only affects one in every five million babies, according to the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation. Five days later doctors shared the horrific news and told the mum her son would need chemotherapy straight away The little tot then underwent four gruelling rounds of chemotherapy (pictured with his older brother at birth) The little tot then underwent four gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. 'It was horrifying. It was cruel that this was happening. I wish I could have traded places with him as it was so heartbreaking. 'I felt like it was a never-ending battle with ups and downs. But just two days into chemo when Ashton was seven days old, he looked at me. 'He looked into my eyes - and people will think I'm crazy - but I can swear on anything, he looked me in the eye and [I felt as though he] said, "I've got this mum - I'm going to be OK."' After more than 30 doses of chemotherapy baby Ashton went into remission in April 2020 and was finally able to go home for good. Tragically, just three months later, he relapsed. Natasha found a lump on his head, which at first looked like a blocked hair follicle, however after more began popping up she rushed him to the doctor. After more than 30 doses of chemotherapy baby Ashton went into remission in April 2020 and was finally able to go home for good 'The oncologist advised that they would like to see Nathan and I straight away, that's when I knew,' she said. 'Nathan was at work and I called him in tears, sobbing that it's not confirmed but repeated the conversation. 'I locked myself in the bathroom, curled into a ball on the cold tiles and couldn't help but just cry and loudly ask why.' This time Ashton would need a lifesaving bone marrow transplant, as well as more chemotherapy. 'It was a horrifying time leading up to the transplant. We were emotionally and physically drained and exhausted. We wanted our little boy to be okay, safe and home in our arms as a family,' she said. 'We were always crying leading up to transplant, during the transplant and even still to this day when we think back on it. This time Ashton would need a lifesaving bone marrow transplant, as well as more chemotherapy 'But the happiness and gratitude overtook the daunting emotions knowing that our son had received a lifeline, thanks to his selfless anonymous donor. 'Our son had a fighting chance, we knew he would pull through it and would grow up to live a long and happy life.' On November 23, 2021, Ashton received his miracle bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor in Europe and the surgery was a success. He is now about to celebrate his second birthday and is doing 'really well'. The tot still needs to have regular checks every two months but continues to show no signs of leukaemia cells. The tot still needs to have regular checks every two months but continues to show no signs of leukaemia cells 'Ashton started pre-school last month and it was the first he was around people and socialising with other children, he absolutely loved it,' Natasha said. 'He is the happiest boy you will ever meet considering all that he has gone through.' Natasha now hopes to raise more awareness of the disease and help other families who may be going through something similar. 'Although it is rare, Ashton's story deserves to be heard in order to give hope and show that cancer can end in a positive regardless of how horrible the journey can be. 'We want people to know they are never alone on this journey.' A young Australian woman has shocked millions after comparing what renters can find for $400 a week in each capital city. Sam, 22, was viewed by 1.3million on TikTok after posting a video showing what she found for the modest price in the Australian capitals - however many viewers were sceptical of the results amid the rising cost of living. The house hunter showed a range of units and apartments she found to rent in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Darwin and Adelaide CBDs but was shocked to discover Sydney only offered a parking space for $400 a month. Scroll down for video TikToker Sam (pictured), 22, has gone viral for revealing what she found to rent for $400 per week in each capital city centre According to Domain, the median rent price in each city combined is $499 for houses and $436 for units as of December 2021. In Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, Sam found a 'cute' one-bedroom apartment and in Melbourne a new two-bedroom unit. She discovered a modern one-bedroom apparent that had ocean views in Darwin. She showed a range of apartments in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Darwin and Adelaide CBDs but was shocked to discover Sydney only offered a parking space for $400 a month However, in Sydney she claimed a $400-a-week flat 'doesn't exist' but saw there was a single parking space for rent for the same price per month. Sam's clip has been viewed a whopping 1.8million times and attracted hundreds of comments as many were unconvinced of her findings. Poll Do you pay more than $400 a week in rent? Yes No I own my house Do you pay more than $400 a week in rent? Yes 156 votes No 68 votes I own my house 142 votes Now share your opinion One said it would be 'impossible' to rent a new two-bed apartment in Melbourne for as low as $400 a week. 'Idk where you found that Melbourne apartment because you're not getting anything for under $600 a week,' another agreed. 'The two beds in Melbourne are "two bed" ones. Have tiny little bedroom with sliding doors for walls and fit barely more than a queen bed,' a third pointed out. Sydneysiders were doubtful a parking space was all that is available and shared how much rent she pays for a city apartment. 'My apartment is in the city, one bed for $400 in Sydney, one woman said and another replied: 'My apartment in Sydney is $350 a week'. An Australian woman who couldn't find the iconic Kmart Christmas candle in stock after it went viral online has resorted to making her own - with great success. The Christmas enthusiast from Sydney had been searching for the $10 cookie-scented candle for 'days straight' with no luck when she decided DIY was the answer to her prayers. 'Tonight I walked into Kmart Campbelltown and I saw these normal Christmas cookie candles on a trolley. I grabbed one and thought to myself maybe I could try and make my own version,' she said. So she purchased the $15 Christmas Cookie Fragrant Candle - which is a deep red in colour - along with a paint brush, craft glue, plastic craft sprinkles she purchased off Etsy and Selleys Qwik Grip adhesive contact spray. 'Tonight I walked into Kmart Campbelltown and I saw these normal Christmas cookie candles on a trolley. I grabbed one and thought to myself maybe I could try and make my own version,' she said 'This is the final result,' she said, sharing pictures of the creation to Facebook. 'It may not look as nice as the other one or others may not like the end result but I love it and I'm actually pretty stoked with how it turned out. 'It only took five minutes which was also a bonus. Just thought I would share in case others find this a great alternative if they can't get their hands on the Christmas cookie sprinkle candle.' It didn't take long for fans of the Christmas-themed candle to praise her ingenious work. 'I actually prefer your red version. Very clever and a great little gift too,' one woman said. It didn't take long for fans of the Christmas-themed candle to praise her ingenious work 'Yours looks better than the original one! I have been trying to find the candle too. I've been to five different Kmart stores and it's always sold out,' said another. A third added: 'Your version definitely has more of a Christmas vibe to it, love it'. Last week a Kmart employee shared a video to TikTok with the original $10 cookie candle featured in it. 'Currently feeling this candle in the Christmas section. The most delicious thing I've ever smelled in my life and the sprinkles! It's Christmas cookie flavour. How beautiful is that,' the employee said. Kmart shoppers are going wild for a $10 Christmas cookie candle which is currently available in store Other Kmart fans were quick to hop onto the trend and other videos have been shared about the trending candle, despite it only becoming available in the last few weeks. One TikTok user named @themadsocialco raved about the candle. 'If you know me you know I love my candles. As a social media manager I'm always sitting at my desk so I always have a candle burning. It just helps me work better,' she said. 'Anyway I ran, I didn't walk and I went and got this candle. There was only a couple left. 'It smells like you've just taken a fresh batch of cookies out of the oven. 'I don't think you can purchase it online yet. Go to Kmart, purchase a candle, you won't regret it, I think I'm going to go there now and buy a couple more.' TikTok user @Gloriaambicki said 'run don't walk' to Kmart. 'This Christmas cookie candle is only $10 dollars and it smells so good. 10/10 would recommend.' One TikTok user (@themadsocialco) raved about the candle. 'Anyway I ran, I didn't walk and I went and got this candle. There was only a couple left,' she said Another said it is the 'best candle at Kmart'. The Kmart employees video attracted hundreds of comments. Many users were excited to try out the candle. 'Ok I'm actually going to get one today I'm excited,' one said. 'I buy ten of these each year to get me through to the next Christmas,' another added. TikTok user (@Gloriaambicki) said 'run don't walk' to Kmart. This Christmas Cookie candle is only $10 dollars and it smells so good. 10/10 would recommend' However some feel it's a bit early to be 'obsessed' about Christmas products. 'We haven't even had Halloween yet,' one user said. However the TikToker replied: 'I'm not in control of when Xmas stock comes out, please it's not my decision.' Research shows a surge in car crashes after the clocks fall back in autumn An extra hour in bed could disrupt your body clock and lead to depression An extra hour in bed may leave you feeling fresh. But, if experts are to be believed, there might be darker consequences when clocks go back later this month. Every spring at 1am on the last Sunday in March, an hour of sleep is robbed from us in the name of daylight saving a tradition that began in WW1, all in a bid for longer evenings and to conserve coal. Times revert back, this year anyway, on Sunday, October 30 at 2am. Although only temporary and described as being like jet lag, some sleep scientists fear the effects are much more severe than that. Experts believe the disruption may raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It has also been linked to a surge in car accidents. That's not to mention the obvious bad mood caused by disrupted sleep, one of the most common collateral effects of tinkering with the time. Here, MailOnline explores the science behind changing the clocks and your health. Turning the clocks back can disrupt your body's 24-hour clock and impact your sleep. This could lead a risk of strokes, heart attacks, a chronic lack of sleep and depression as illustrated in the image above What are circadian rhythms? Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles linked to your bodies internal clock. These rhythms are found in many different organisms including flowers to help them open and close. Nocturnal animals also use their circadian rhythm to keep them from leaving their shelter during the day. In people, circadian rhythms coordinate the digestive system, regulate hormones and it controls your sleep-wake cycles. How does it work? All the 24-hour cycles throughout the body are connected to a master clock in your brain and at different times of the day it signals to regulate activity in your body. During the day sunlight causes the brain to send awake signals to keep us alert and active. At night, the master clock in the brain sparks the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, and then keeps transmitting signals that help us stay asleep through the night. When the body's circadian rhythm is disrupted, from jet lag or shift work, the internal clock can struggle to make the body fall asleep, stay asleep and have a lie in. Advertisement Strokes Professor Russell Foster, of the University of Oxford, is one of the world's leading experts on the circadian rhythm, or the body's internal clock. It sets the rhythms of our lives, affecting everything from how clearly we think and when our digestive systems are ready for food, to when our muscles are at their strongest. During the day, sunlight causes the brain to send awake signals that keep us alert and active. At night, the system likened to that of the intricate mechanism inside a grandfather clock sparks the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. The rhythm itself is also central to our metabolism, body temperature and hormone levels. The clocks going back plays havoc with these processes, resulting in disruption to our sleeping pattern. According to Professor Foster, who has penned a best-selling book on the topic, a combination of sleep deprivation and a disruption of the circadian rhythm can, potentially, trigger a stroke. The increased risk is all down to the collateral effect of high blood pressure, in theory. High blood pressure can cause blood clots to form and block blood flow in the arteries leading to the brain. This causes brain cells to start dying, which triggers the tell-tale signs of a stroke, such as slurred speech and weakness down one side of the body. Professor Foster said: 'We have this clock, and it is fine tuning every aspect of our physiology and behaviour to the 24-hour light and dark cycle. 'We see increased blood pressure ranking up. For example, between 6am and 12 noon there is a 50 per cent greater chance of having a stroke anyway. 'If you are being forced to get out of bed even earlier you are putting more stress on the system, which means you are less adapted to cope.' He added: 'For most of us it is fine because we have got a healthy and robust metabolism, but where you are at an increased risk the transition to daylight savings time can essentially put extra stresses on our biology and makes us more prone to illnesses.' Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. For the brain to function properly it needs oxygen and nutrients provided by blood. If the brain does not get this because the blood supply is cut off or restricted due to a blood clot, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to a brain injury and in some cases death Dozens of studies support Professor Foster's warnings. In 2016, researchers investigating the link found an 8 per cent increase in stroke hospital admissions in the two-day window after the clocks went forward or back. Results from the study, which looked at more than 15,000 people, also showed the risk was higher for over-65s. Dr John O'Neil is an expert in circadian rhythms based in Cambridge, he researches the 24-hour cycle in everything from cells, yeast, and algae to humans (left). Professor Russell Foster, of the University of Oxford, is one of the world's leading experts on the circadian rhythm. He has also written a book called 'Life Time', which explores the impacts of changing the clocks (right) Heart attacks Dr John O'Neill is another leading expert in the complicated field of circadian rhythms. Based at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, he studies the 24-hour cycle in everything from cells in a petri dish, to humans. His decades' worth of academia have suggested the stress caused by changing the clocks may increase the risk of heart attacks. But he insists that changing the clocks only impacts your health on a minor scale, in a similar fashion as jet lag. He said: 'If circadian rhythms are disrupted chronically, for example in shift work, we know that is really bad for your health in the long term. 'It is very rare that anyone drops dead from it, but the risk associated with doing shift work is the equivalent to smoking cigarettes.' He added: 'If you fly to the states, you have a few days of jet lag where you are more vulnerable to more adverse health events, but not that much more at risk. 'That is what we see when you shift the clocks by an hour, it is just like getting an hour's jet lag. 'It is really such a modest challenge to your circadian system that the vast majority of people deal with it absolutely fine. 'But because it is happening at the level of the population you can see a slight increase in the frequency of heart attacks.' In the days following the change in clocks there could be 40 more heart attacks than usual, according to Dr O'Neil. He explained that even though the disruption in circadian rhythm causes a stress to the body, only people who are unhealthy or susceptible to heart conditions are at risk. Image shows a man clutching his chest in pain with heart attack symptoms An American study focusing on whether daylight savings increases the risk of heart attacks found that was, indeed, the case. There was a 24 per cent rise in the number of heart attacks observed after the clocks went forward, compared to other Mondays throughout the year. But the figure decreased when the clocks went back an hour, according to the research published in 2013. Although there is a risk of heart problems from changing the clocks back, Dr O'Neill says there is a higher risk in the transition to summertime. He said: 'The main problem with British summer time is that it increases the difference between the solar clock, which is what your biological clock will tend to lock onto, and the physical clock that determines our daily routine.' But only people who are unhealthy or susceptible to heart conditions are at risk, he says. On a population level in the UK, Dr John O'Neill claimed only an extra 30 to 40 heart attacks occur more than usual in the days following the change to BST. The same science behind the slight uptick in strokes explains why there is a slight increase in heart attacks after the clocks change high blood pressure. The condition causes the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly become narrowed from plaque a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances. Blood clots are more likely to form when this plaque build-up and hardens. Plaque and blood clots can disrupt the flow of blood through the heart muscle, starving the muscle of oxygen and nutrients and causing a heart attack. Depression Just as it can impact your physical health, changing the clocks and disrupting your sleeping pattern can knock your mental health, too. Professor Foster highlighted that people who are susceptible to depression are at a higher risk of being struck down when they are sleep deprived. He said: 'There is evidence that depression is intimately linked with sleep deprivation. 'If you are disrupting your sleep and getting less sleep and you are vulnerable, you are more likely to slide into that depressed state. 'If you add a disrupter, such as sleep loss or circadian rhythm disruption, you are going to be more vulnerable to slide into a dangerous state, for example a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar.' He added: 'If you are getting less sleep, the tired brain has a tendency to remember negative experiences but forget the positive ones. 'Your world view with a lack of sleep will be distorted. Your whole view of the world may be a bit more negative.' Changing the clocks both in spring and in the autumn can cause people who are already susceptible to slide into depression. A lack of sleep can have serious impacts on your mental health causing depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and it can exaggerate symptoms of confusion Alzheimer's. Image shows a woman depressed after struggling to sleep How to adjust your routine when the clocks change There are ways to prepare yourself for clocks falling back an hour at the end of October. Gradually going to bed later can help you to shift your body clock. Eating an hour later than you usually would, will also help you adjust your bedtime schedule. Professor Foster said: 'You need to be aware of potential consequences, if you have a danger of high blood pressure and heart issues you need to take it carefully and make sure you are not leaping out of bed and making it worse.' He added: 'You may want to go into work a bit later. If you are going in half an hour later and you change that over the week to 15 minutes, then it is going to be easier on the system.' Dr O'Neil believes it is always important to keep good sleep hygiene and a regular routine. He said: 'The most important signals for your biological clock are the times when you see light verses darkness and the times when you eat verses fasting. 'I always have the same advice for the clocks changing as for any other time of year, that it is good to try and keep a constant routine, so you see light at around about the same time each morning, you have breakfast at about the same time and at night-time you fast and ensure you do not see any bright lights.' Advertisement One 2018 study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found a disrupted body clock was linked with depression, bipolar disorder and other problems. A separate study, released in the Journal of Sleep Research in 2020, also found that a lack of sleep can put us in a bad mood. Researchers showed participants images of laughing or crying children after five nights of normal sleep and after five nights of restricted sleep. They found those who had less sleep were more likely to have negative responses to the images. Alzheimer's The symptoms of Alzheimer's can become worse when the clocks spring forward and fall back, some experts believe. Professor Foster explained the phenomenon in his book 'Life Time', which explores the impacts of changing the clocks. He writes that clinical staff have noticed the 'sundowning' symptoms, which refers to a state of confusion, anxiety, aggression, pacing or wandering which occurs in the evening and early night, are worse when the clocks change. The reasons why sundowning happens is not well understood. But the Alzheimer's Society says it may be down to tiredness, hunger, pain, a lack of sunlight during the day and disturbance to a person's body clock from damage to the brain over time. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) When the clocks fall back an hour, we start to see darker evenings as we enter the colder winter months. Fewer daylight hours in the northern hemisphere can lead to 'winter depression', or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The symptoms are similar to depression and include a persistent low mood and difficulty concentrating. It is thought one of the causes of SAD is disruption to your body's internal clock. Your body uses sunlight to time various important functions, such as when you wake up, so lower light levels during the winter may disrupt this and lead to symptoms of SAD, according to the NHS. Car accidents The extra hour in bed after the clocks fall back has been linked to an increase in car crashes as drivers adapt to the darker evenings. That is according to research by Zurich insurance. It analysed thousands of claims between 2018 and 2020 and found that prior to the autumn clock change, a quarter of car accidents occurred between 4-7pm. This increased to almost a third of all crashes in November after the clocks have changed, leading them to blame the change in clocks. However, the RAC Foundation suggests that the cold, rainy and darker evenings are to blame for this marvel rather than drivers being fatigued. Research has revealed a shocking increase in car crashes after the clocks are turned back an hour in the autumn. Insurance company Zurich analysed thousands of car insurance claims between 2018 and 2020 and found that after the autumn clock change car accident increase by a third. Image shows a man falling asleep at the wheel of his car A Harvard-affiliated children's hospital has sparked outrage after claiming some babies know they are transgender 'from the womb'. In a now-deleted video, the Boston Children's Hospital suggested an even larger number of minors know 'as soon as they can talk'. Critics told DailyMail.com the claim was was not based on science and suggested medics at the clinic are unwilling to question children who are often vulnerable. The hospital, part of the Harvard University medical system, also faces claims it rushed under-18s into life-altering sex change surgery. In the clip posted to the Boston hospital's official YouTube page in August, psychologist Dr Kerry McGregor explains the type of patients she sees. She says: 'So most of the patients we have in the clinic actually know their gender, usually around the age of puberty. 'But a good portion of children do know as early as - seemingly - from the womb. 'And they will usually express their gender identity as very young children, some as soon as they can talk... kids know very, very early.' It comes as several states begin to clamp down on puberty blockers being prescribed to children. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has previously likened it to 'child abuse'. The Boston clinic sees children as young as two and three usually up to the age of nine. New patients come to the clinic and meet with psychologists to discuss their issues with the sex they were born into This map shows the proportion of children aged between 13 and 17 years old that identified as transgender by state. The darker colors indicate a higher proportion of youngsters. In New York and New Mexico, it is as high as three per cent Dr Jay Richards, from the right-wing Heritage Foundation, told the DailyMail.com: 'The claim that children know their gender identity seemingly from the womb is a claim with no basis in science or data. 'Its simply a concept imposed on the actions of kids by gender ideologues.' Dr Richards said it was another sign of a 'social contagion' that is increasingly creeping into medicine. 'I think even 25 years ago, this would have been unthinkable,' he told DailyMail.com. The Boston clinic sees children as young as two and three. New patients are given counseling before exploring pharmaceutical options. The clinic also offers that child 'space and support' to explore their gender. Stella O'Malley, a psychotherapist who specializes in gender issues, told DailyMail.com: 'When distressed and vulnerable young people are offered an option to be somebody different, it's very, very alluring and gender ideology does offer that.' This map shows the proportion of the population identifying as transgender by state. Those with the darkest color have almost one per cent of their population in this category Shown above are the states with a ban on puberty blockers (red), a partial ban (dark orange), a suspended ban due to legal proceedings (orange) and a ban on surgery only (yellow). The above map shows the population of transgender adults and children across America in 2020, according to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. Its estimate for children aged 13 to 17 has doubled since 2017. It shows the highest population is in southern states, followed by those along the east coast How gender dysphoria rates among children have DOUBLED since 2017 - with 300,000 teens now identifying as trans The number of children with gender dysphoria has exploded in recent years, giving rise to the use of powerful puberty-blocking drugs. About 300,000 children aged between 13 and 17 (1.4 per cent) in the US identify as transgender, according to most recent estimates from 2020. That is double the number estimated to be transgender in 2017 in a previous report by the same researchers, though they used different estimates. Connecticut and New York saw the numbers of children identifying as transgender in their states nearly quadruple over the last three years alone. The population only fell in West Virginia, Tennessee and New Jersey. Children aged 13 to 17 are over four times more likely to identify as transgender (1.4 per cent) than adults over 65 (0.3 per cent). Some say the rise is born out of increased awareness of gender dysphoria that is, emotional distress due to a disconnect between gender identity and biological sex and a rise in acceptance in society. However, many believe that the impressionable minds of children are easily swayed by trends and phases among peers and that children are not ready to make irreversible decisions about their gender. While no official, national estimates exist, many more children receiving gender-affirming care at an increasingly younger age. Treatment often involves powerful and life-altering drugs that block puberty and the release of key developmental hormones. So far, four states Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona have brought in bans to restrict access to gender-affirming care including hormonal treatment and surgery. Oklahoma signaled its intent to follow suit Tuesday after threatening to cut a hospital's funding if it prescribes puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Advertisement Dr Richards said: 'Based on a series of events that I think, mostly due to social contagion plus the kind of ideological commitment, many now consider these the proper standard of care for kids with gender dysphoria and Boston Children's Hospital is just one of the first ones to do it.' He added: 'Some kids conform more or less closely to gender stereotypes. 'This tells us nothing about their 'gender identity,' a concept that no child has on his or her own, that no one had until recently, and that doesnt even have a stable definition.' Boston Children's Hospital is also embroiled in scandal over accusations that it permitted minors to to undergo irreversible gender transition surgery. In now-deleted guidance, the hospital had written that in order to be eligible for vaginoplasty, or the surgical construction of female reproductive genitalia on a boy the patient had to be 'between 17 and 35 years of age at the time of surgery.' Hospital staff, meanwhile, have said that hasn't happened because no 17-year-old has met the required legal and other criteria. The hospital has also come under fire for offering young adults hysterectomies and permitting people as young as 15 to under go 'top surgery', an operation that changes the look of a trans person's chest. Within about a week following public uproar in the realm of right-wing social media accounts, the hospital scrubbed that information from its page on gender affirming care, altering it to say, 'To qualify for gender affirmation at Boston Children's Hospital, you must be at least 18 years old for phalloplasty or metoidioplasty and for vaginoplasty.' Boston Children's meanwhile, refuted the allegations as transphobic misinformation. 'Age 18 is used to reflect the standard age of majority for medical decision-making,' the hospital stated. 'Boston Children's does not and will not perform a hysterectomy as part of gender-affirming care on a patient under the age of 18.' Dr Richards said that contagion had resulted in a historic rate of young people coming out as trans or non-binary, an umbrella term that people use to describe genders that don't fall into one of these two categories, male or female. An expansive report from the UCLA Williams Institute, relying on government health surveys spanning from 2017 to 2020, estimated that 1.4 per cent of 13- to 17-year-olds and 1.3 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds are now transgender, compared with about 0.5 per cent of all adults. In the UK, meanwhile, referrals for girls to be treated for gender dysphoria, or the distress that arises from a perceived mismatch between the gender someone identifies with vs the gender they were born into, have shot up more than 4,000 per cent over the past decade. The exponential growth in rates of young people coming out as nonbinary is not surprising to social scientists who have documented incidents of 'social contagion' in the past. Dr O'Malley told DailyMail.com: 'It's very well known that there's a lot of social contagion, for example, with suicide and with eating disorders and self harm.' 'It's particularly common among adolescent girls because they have a tendency to co-ruminate together, to over identify with each other to kind of endlessly talk about their problems in a very sympathetic way to each other, but it can lead a kind of over- identification with each other's problems,' she added. In the wake of scandals at Boston Children's, the hospital has been subject to a harassment campaign and have been inundated with bomb scares and threats. Other children's hospitals where gender-affirming care is offered, such as the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Vanderbilt Medical Center's Clinic for Transgender Health, and Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago have been forced to severely curtail services or shift all appointments to telehealth platforms in response to the hostility. Advertisement Health chiefs have started cranking up their Covid advice as the virus continues its resurgence ahead of the winter. Cases have jumped by nearly 30 per cent in the space of a week, according to the Governments best surveillance data. And the number of virus-infected patients in hospital has hit a two-month high, piling even more pressure on an already-crippled NHS. Experts fear the situation will pick up pace in the coming weeks, and experts have already called on ministers to bring back stricter rules to thwart the spread of the virus. Some hospitals have already reimposed mask requirements for visitors and patients. Others have brought back social distancing guidelines, in scenes reminiscent of the darkest days of the pandemic. Advice from the UK Health Security Agency, tasked with controlling the outbreak, is also starting to ramp up. Guidance communicated towards the end of summer when cases were fizzling out merely encouraged people to meet in well-ventilated spaces, wash their hands regularly and stay away from others if ill. Yet the wording has toughened over the past fortnight, with its most recent update saying it is particularly important that people who are unwell avoid contact with the elderly. Despite Covid fears starting to mount once again, ministers have made no hint that any return of pandemic-era curbs are on the horizon. Office for National Statistics (ONS) statisticians estimate around 1.1million people were infected with the virus on any given day in the week up to September 24. The figure was up 29 per cent on the 857,400 thought to have the virus daily in the week before Covid was most prevalent in the over-70s, of whom 2.5 per cent tested positive for the virus in the most recent week The worst affected region in England was the North East, where 2.5 per cent of people were carrying the virus. It was followed by the South East and South West (both 2.2 per cent) A total of 9,631 people with coronavirus were in hospital as of 8am on October 5, according to NHS England. This is up 37 per cent from 7,024 a week earlier and is the highest figure since August 3. Graph shows: Number of Covid patients in hospital (blue line) compared to number there primarily because of the virus (red line) The number of tests coming back positive was 9.2 per 100,000, a 10 per cent increase compared to the previous week. Graph shows: Number of confirmed cases (blue bars) and test positivity (dotted line) each week up to October 2 Confirmed cases were highest in the most vulnerable over-80 age group. However, confirmed cases rely on people taking tests, with older people living in care homes more likely to have regular swabs. They were lowest in those aged 10 to 19 and five to nine, despite the return to schools last month. Graph shows: Confirmed Covid cases per age group in England each week up to October 2 Graph shows: The number of confirmed Covid cases each week in England in the weeks up to October 2 Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), says people feeling unwell should avoid seeing their relatives and wear face masks Number of Covid patients in English hospitals jumps to highest level for TWO months The number of hospital beds in England occupied by Covid-infected patients has climbed to its highest level for two months, in another sign of the virus's resurgence. NHS England's most up-to-date data shows there were 9,631 infected people needing treatment as of yesterday. This was up 37 per cent from the 7,024 logged just a week earlier and represents the highest figure since August 3. However, experts have argued the jump is mainly being driven by so-called 'incidental' cases, where patients are admitted for another illness such as a broken leg or a heart attack and later test positive. Patient numbers topped 14,000 in mid-July at the peak of the wave of infections caused by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus. They had been falling steadily until mid-September but have since started to creep up again, prompting some to declare it the start of the inevitable winter wave. Advertisement Prime Minister Liz Truss labelled previous restrictions during the pandemic as 'too much' and ruled out ever bringing in another lockdown. Instead of using blanket restrictions to control the virus, the Government has opted to trust society to show personal responsibility. Health advice is still updated, in order to keep the public in the loop about the situation and encourage them to change their behaviours in the event of future waves. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said anyone with a cold-like illness should wear a face covering in public. She added: 'If you are unwell, it is particularly important to avoid contact with elderly people or those who are more likely to have severe disease because of their ongoing health conditions. 'Make sure you have any Covid vaccinations you are eligible for and avoid contact with others if you feel unwell or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.' Today's ONS figures show Covid infections were increasing across all four nations of the UK at the end of last month. Some 113,000 had the virus on any given day in Scotland in the week up to September 24, up 15 per cent on the 98,800 carrying the virus in the previous week. Infections increased 101 per cent in Northern Ireland to 46,100 and 0.8 per cent in Wales to 63,400 in the week up to September 26. Covid was most prevalent in the over-70s, of whom 2.5 per cent tested positive for the virus in the most recent week. The number of infections in the age group jumped 49 per cent over the seven days. Infections fell slightly in secondary school aged children and people aged 24 or younger. The worst affected region in England was the North East, where 2.5 per cent of people were carrying the virus. It was followed by the South East and South West (both 2.2 per cent). Sarah Crofts, deputy director for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: 'Infections have continued to increase in England, reaching levels last seen in Mid-August. 'The rest of the UK is a mixed picture, with uncertain trends in Wales and Scotland and a recent increase in Northern Ireland. 'Amongst the over 70s there has been a marked increase in infections in England this week, a trend which we will closely monitor as the winter months progress.' Meanwhile, NHS England's most up-to-date data shows there were 9,631 infected people needing hospital treatment as of Wednesday. This was up 37 per cent from the 7,024 logged just a week earlier and represents the highest figure since August 3. UKHSA surveillance data also shows cases appear to be highest in over-80s at the moment. However, confirmed cases rely on people taking tests and old people living in care homes are more likely to have regular swabs. Dr Hopkins said: 'This week's data shows concerning further increases in Covid cases and hospitalisation rates, which are now at their highest level in months. Outbreaks in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise. 'If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, wearing a face covering will also help stop infections spreading.' Despite the rise in hospital admissions, just four in 10 of Covid patients were primarily admitted because they were unwell with the virus. The majority are those who tested positive for the virus but are receiving NHS care for another ailment, such as a broken leg. Some experts have dismissed fear-mongering over the recent spike in cases, arguing the current wave was inevitable due to waning immunity among the population, increased indoor mixing in the colder months and a surge in cases among pupils after they returned to classrooms last month. Coronavirus hospital data is currently published once a week on a Thursday. The latest figures show all regions are recording a steady rise in patients, with three regions back to levels last seen in late July. South West England currently has 1,003 patients who have tested positive for Covid, not far below its peak during the BA.4/BA.5 wave of 1,229. South East England has 1,553 patients, compared with its summer peak of 1,985, while eastern England has 1,064, compared with a summer peak of 1,432. All numbers remain well below those reached during the early waves of the pandemic, however. Sites in East Suffolk, Essex and Gloucestershire now require all visitors to wear coverings when in their hospitals. Some are also telling patients to wear masks and reimposing social distancing guidelines, in scenes reminiscent of the earliest days of the pandemic Graph shows: Total number of patients in hospital who have Covid in England each day up to September 26 Graph shows: Total number of Covid patients admitted to hospital in England each day up to September 26 Graph shows: Total number of Covid patients on ventilation beds in hospitals in England each day up to September 26 Although two-thirds of Covid patients in hospital are being treated primarily for something else, they still need to be isolated putting extra pressure on staff already struggling to clear a record backlog of treatment. Experts claimed the high proportion of incidentals is caused by transmission in hospitals and generally increasing Covid cases in the community. Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London and member of Independent Sage, said on Twitter : 'Hospital admissions continuing to go up in England 33 per cent increase over last week. Daily admissions back well over 1,000 a day. 'Rising in all regions but fastest in East of England, North East & South East. South West remains high and London lowest by far. Not sure why. 'Both admissions directly because of Covid and where Covid is secondary issue are rising fast, but incidental admissions more so. 'A sign of fast community spread and high in hospital transmission.' Boris Johnson's Government lifted all remaining pandemic curbs in spring, as the success of vaccine rollouts and high immunity in the population meant the UK could 'learn to live with Covid and end Government regulation'. The former Prime Minister noted that the Government may reimpose measures if a new variant emerged that placed 'unsustainable pressure' on the NHS. However, the UK has remained restriction-free since then, despite two more Covid peaks, and new PM Liz Truss has said she would not bring in a lockdown. She labelled the restrictions brought in under Mr Johnson including three shutdowns, school closures and work from home measures as 'draconian' and said the Government 'did too much'. In previous lockdowns, the threat of unsustainable pressure on the NHS was the key metric used to decide whether the restriction was required. Health chiefs hope the autumn Covid booster campaign targeting 26million over-50s, at-risk groups and health and care staff will blunt the impact of the wave on the already crippled health service. Ebola is thought to kill up to half of people it strikes, according to the WHO At least 9 people in Uganda have died so far from the highly contagious virus UK health officials have issued an alert with the US enacting airport screening NHS workers have been told to keep an eye out for possible Ebola cases in Britain in travellers from Uganda as the African nation's outbreak continues to grow. No cases of the killer virus have been detected in the UK yet. But in a public health alert issued last night, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) urged medics to remain 'vigilant' for potential cases. Trusts have been told to ensure they have enough PPE. The warning came as US authorities introduced airport screening for people arriving from Uganda, restricting their entry to major travel hubs. Ebola can be spread via contaminated bodily fluids or surfaces. Here a medical attendant disinfects the rubber boots of medical staff before they leave the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda Uganda's Ebola outbreak has seen cases recorded in the districts of Mubende and Kassanda, as well as in Kyegegwa, Kagadi, and Bunyangabu to the west WHAT IS EBOLA AND HOW DEADLY IS IT? Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever, killed at least 11,000 across the world after it decimated West Africa and spread rapidly over the space of two years. That epidemic was officially declared over back in January 2016, when Liberia was announced to be Ebola-free by the WHO. The country, rocked by back-to-back civil wars that ended in 2003, was hit the hardest by the fever, with 40 per cent of the deaths having occurred there. Sierra Leone reported the highest number of Ebola cases, with nearly of all those infected having been residents of the nation. WHERE DID IT BEGIN? An analysis, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found the outbreak began in Guinea - which neighbours Liberia and Sierra Leone. A team of international researchers were able to trace the epidemic back to a two-year-old boy in Meliandou - about 400 miles (650km) from the capital, Conakry. Emile Ouamouno, known more commonly as Patient Zero, may have contracted the deadly virus by playing with bats in a hollow tree, a study suggested. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE STRUCK DOWN? WHICH COUNTRIES WERE STRUCK DOWN BY EBOLA DURING THE 2014-16 EPIDEMIC? (CDC figures) COUNTRY CASES DEATHS DEATH RATE (%) GUINEA 3,814 2,544 66.7% SIERRA LEONE 14,124 3,956 28.0% LIBERIA 10,678 4,810 45.0% NIGERIA 20 8 40.0% SENEGAL 1 0 N/A SPAIN 1 0 N/A US 4 1 25.0% MALI 8 6 75.0% UK 1 0 N/A ITALY 1 0 N/A Figures show nearly 29,000 people were infected from Ebola - meaning the virus killed around 40 per cent of those it struck. Cases and deaths were also reported in Nigeria, Mali and the US - but on a much smaller scale, with 15 fatalities between the three nations. Health officials in Guinea reported a mysterious bug in the south-eastern regions of the country before the WHO confirmed it was Ebola. Ebola was first identified by scientists in 1976, but the most recent outbreak dwarfed all other ones recorded in history, figures show. HOW DID HUMANS CONTRACT THE VIRUS? Scientists believe Ebola is most often passed to humans by fruit bats, but antelope, porcupines, gorillas and chimpanzees could also be to blame. It can be transmitted between humans through blood, secretions and other bodily fluids of people - and surfaces - that have been infected. IS THERE A TREATMENT? The WHO warns that there is 'no proven treatment' for Ebola - but dozens of drugs and jabs are being tested in case of a similarly devastating outbreak. Hope exists though, after an experimental vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, protected nearly 6,000 people. The results were published in The Lancet journal. Advertisement Medics should look out for possible symptoms of the highly contagious virus in people returning from Uganda's affected regions, UKHSA bosses said. Tell-tale signs of Ebola, which kills up to half of people who get infected, include a fever, vomiting, bleeding from orifices and diarrhoea. Hospitals and GP practices were also advised to ensure they have adequate infection prevention and control measures for the virus. This includes having adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, such as masks, aprons, and visors. The UKHSA insisted the risk to the public is 'very low', however. The foreign office estimates that around 15,000 travel to Uganda every year. More than 40 cases of Ebola have already been detected in five areas of Uganda, with nine confirmed fatalities and 20 more probable. It is the East African nation's worst Ebola outbreak in two decades. Medics on the frontline feat the situation will only get worse in the coming days. The UK warning comes as the US rams up its precautions towards the virus, imposing airport screening on travellers returning to America who have been in Uganda within the last 21 days. This means people coming from Uganda to the US will need to go through five major US airports to ensure they are examined by health professionals on their arrival. These airports are New York-John F. Kennedy, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, and Washington Dulles. Officials will conduct a temperature screening, ask health questions, and report arrivals to local health departments. While the screening was introduced at these airports yesterday, it is understood the funnelling of travellers to these airports from elsewhere in the US will start in the coming week or so. An estimated 140 people who had recently been in Uganda arrive daily in the US, with 62 per cent currently landing at one of the five airports. The US introduced similar measures for travellers who had been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea in March last year over concerns over an Ebola outbreak at the time. On March 2021, the Centres for Disease Control began funnelling people who had been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea within the prior 21 days to six US airports to address Ebola concerns. Dr Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, said Ebola can be handled safely but health care professionals needed to be aware someone could the virus as soon as possible, 'We can handle Ebola safely in the hospital setting and provide best care to the patient, but you have to be aware that it might even be a possibility,' he said. 'The key message is if you see someone with clinical illness and they had a history of being in Uganda, that's where you want to concentrate your efforts.' In the UKHSA alert Dr Meera Chand, the body's director of clinical and emerging infection, said: 'We are aware of an outbreak of Ebola cases in Uganda and are monitoring the situation closely. 'The risk to the public in the UK is very low.' No airport screening measures for the UK have been announced. Ugandan health officials are desperately trying to contain the killer virus, which began spreading in the East African nation about a fortnight ago. Of the nine confirmed fatalities in the country, at least are known to be in healthcare workers. Since the initial outbreak was discovered in the central district of Mubende, cases have been found in Kassanda, in the east, as well as in Kyegegwa, Kagadi and Bunyangabu, to the west. Ebola is an often-fatal viral haemorrhagic fever named after a river in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it was discovered in 1976. The virus is mainly transmitted through exposure to bodily fluids between people or contaminated surfaces. It naturally resides in fruit bats, monkeys and porcupines living in the rainforest, and can also be transmitted through eating uncooked 'bushmeat'. Ebola outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban environments. People who are infected do not become contagious until symptoms appear, which is after an incubation period of between two and 21 days. The virus began spreading in Uganda in late September when the first fatality, a 24-year-old man, was recorded in the central district of Mubende, located 90 miles (145km) west of the capital, Kampala. The victim tested positive for the Sudan strain of the virus which Uganda hasn't detected since 2012. There are currently no licensed medications to prevent or treat this strain of Ebola. Uganda, which shares a porous border with the DRC, has experienced several Ebola outbreaks, most recently in 2019 when at least five people died. The DRC last week declared an end to an Ebola virus outbreak that emerged in eastern North Kivu province six weeks ago. The worst epidemic in West Africa which occurred between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people. In previous Ebola outbreaks, high-risk individuals have been vaccinated with the Ervebo vaccine. The WHO said ring vaccination when cases and their close contacts receive the jab had been highly effective in controlling Ebola's spread in recent outbreaks. But this jab had only been approved to protect against the Zaire strain, which is not responsible for the recent surge in cases. Another vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson may be effective but has yet to be specifically tested against the Sudan strain. Ebola has never spread between people in the UK. But it was imported by a healthcare worker returning to the UK from Sierra Leone in 2014, amid intense transmission in West Africa. They fully recovered. During an audience with His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the government of Sierra Leone and Mercy Ships extended their existing protocol agreements for their newest hospital ship, the Global Mercy to visit Sierra Leone. Thank you, Mercy Ships, for your continuous humanitarian and medical support towards providing treatment to people with various medical conditions worldwide. This partnership agreement which was signed pre-covid includes a 10-month Global Mercy deployment for free surgical care in partnership with local institutions in Sierra Leone. The hospital ship will serve as a platform for training our healthcare professionals to build capacity. Programs will ensure that the positive impact of Mercy Ships will continue long after the ship leaves the shores of Sierra Leone. This partnership will support our vision to ensure a functional national health system delivering efficient, high-quality healthcare services that are accessible, equitable and affordable for all, stated H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. Mercy Ships CEO Gert van de Weerdhof highlighted the partnership with the government of Sierra Leone. We are excited to confirm that we are planning a future return to Sierra Leone. This will be our sixth field service working alongside this nation. Now we can fully step into an important season of assessing existing needs and identifying how we can best support to deliver hope and healing to those in tremendous need of surgical care. When the Global Mercy docks in the host nations port, crew will provide free surgical care for thousands of people, training for local healthcare workers and more. All services by Mercy Ships are provided free of charge to the participant, thanks to donors around the world and their support of the volunteer professionals onboard their hospital ships. This long-lasting partnership paves the way for Mercy Ships to continue to engage closely with the government of Sierra Leone and to strengthen our joint commitment to improving access to safe surgical care, stated Dr. Sandra Lako, Country Director for Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone. A collaborative approach is the strongest way to strengthen health systems, added Dr Mark Shrime, International Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Ships. Meetings were facilitated by Dame Ann Gloag, Mercy Ships international board member who has also been working with Sierra Leone for many years. Past Freetown, Sierra Leone port visits by a Mercy Ship include: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2011. The Global Mercy is scheduled to visit Dakar Senegal early 2023 for several months prior to Sierra Leone. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Pfizer's Covid vaccine comic was today slammed as 'ethically dubious in the extreme' for trying to appeal to children. The pharmaceutical giant partnered with Marvel to release the 'Everyday Heroes' strip yesterday, in a push to encourage people to get a booster jab. It features the Avengers fighting off the villain Ultron, in a symbolic metaphor of Pfizer's push against Covid with the vaccine. The comic's release comes amid sluggish uptake of the booster vaccine in the US. Pfizer said the comic was attempting to encourage people to 'protect themselves' by 'staying up to date' with their jabs. Pfizer has released a Marvel-themed story to explain how its Covid vaccine works. It features a grandfather and his family who get a Covid vaccine (bottom), the Avengers who represent the Covid vaccines (middle) and Ironman (in red, shown above) who represents the new Covid vaccine, and Ultron (top left) who represents Covid's evolution The grandpa is shown waiting at a clinic for his Covid vaccine with his family when a newsflash comes on warning over Ultron or Omicron Professor David Livermore, a former medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he is 'deeply saddened' by the PR stunt The comic ends with the grandpa smiling after receiving his updated booster vaccine, with the Avengers in the background being cheered by crowds What are the risks of Covid and vaccines to five-year-olds? Covid Most children only experience mild symptoms after being infected with Covid, which has led to intense debates over whether it is worth vaccinating them. Experts estimate as few as 0.001 per cent of all youngsters who get infected will die,. Children as young as five are eligible for two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Britain. Some children at high risk of severe Covid are also eligible for a booster dose if they have already had two. Infants younger than five are not eligible for jabs. Health chiefs deliberated the benefit-risk ratio for months, before eventually deciding that children could get them. The JCVI's previous advice on recommending the boosters to over-12s suggested one dose of the Pfizer vaccine only prevents 131 hospitalisations per million vaccinations in 12- to 15-year-olds. And second doses only prevent nine hospital admissions for every million dished out to the age group. The figures are likely to be less for five- to eleven-year-old who are less vulnerable to the virus. Myocarditis an ultrarare form of heart inflammation is the main side effect of the Pfizer vaccine that concerns experts. Data shows the risk is slightly higher in adolescents than adults, particularly in boys. Studies show children in younger age groups are less at risk than teenagers. Advertisement Britain's autumn Covid booster campaign is targeting 26million over-50s, at-risk groups and health and care staff. But experts warned the comic appears to be more targeted at youngsters, who are less in need of a jab. Professor David Livermore, a former medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he is 'deeply saddened' by the PR stunt. He said children 'are at virtually zero risk of developing severe Covid'. Pfizer is also currently pushing for its new bivalent booster vaccine to be approved for children aged five to 11. Professor Livermore said: 'Propaganda comic strips aimed at children who lack the knowledge of complex immunology and vaccinology needed to make an informed decision are ethically dubious in the extreme. 'They have no place in medicine or public health.' He said most children have already been infected with Covid at least once, leaving them with 'longer-lasting, broader, natural immunity' than that offered by the jab. Professor Livermore said the risk of severe disease is minuscule in healthy children, meaning the vaccines offer little benefit to them. Meanwhile, there is a 'small but tangible risk' of myocarditis a rare form of heart inflammation in children, which is 'not acceptable' for healthy children not at risk of dying from the virus, he said. Children as young as five are eligible for two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Britain. Some children at high risk of severe Covid are also eligible for a booster dose if they have already had two. Infants younger than five are not eligible for jabs. In the US, children as young as six months old are eligible for at least two doses, while children aged five and older can also have a booster. Moderna's Covid vaccine formula for children is also available to all children aged six or over, unlike in the UK. Asked if the comic was deliberately aimed at children, Professor Livermore said: 'Id assume so. 'I can hardly imagine that its principal readership are the vulnerable elderly, who are most likely to benefit from vaccination.' Pfizer said its campaigned was running in the US and is not aimed for UK audiences. Marvel has been approached for comment. The plot of the comic centres around a grandfather waiting for his jab at a clinic that comes under attack by the Avengers villain Ultron. Ultron a robot that evolves and comes back stronger is used to represent Covid, which is constantly mutating into new strains. Over half of New York counties have reported cases of the 'aggressive' virus Flu cases are 'widespread', it said, with almost 600 compared to last year's 150 New Yorkers have been urged to get their flu jab as soon as possible as the state grapples with nearly four times as many cases as last year. The New York Department of Health described the current outbreak as 'early and aggressive', and warned that it showed no signs of slowing. There were 596 confirmed flu cases recorded in the week ending October 1 compared to just 150 this time last year. Both figures are massive underestimates because flu is not routinely tested for in the same way Covid is. Experts fear the early surge in flu - which is also happening in Washington D.C. and several southern states - will cause a 'twindemic' this winter when Covid is expected to rebound. There has been barely any flu for the past few years after the virus was sidelined by the more infectious Covid virus and lockdowns shut it out also. Washington DC joins Texas in the 'high' flu activity level, according to CDC data. Since the map was made, New York State cases have spiked and are now four times what they were last year CDC shows flu cases are on the rise, while experts are anxious a twindemic of both Covid and flu may be on the horizon Flu case rates in New York State for the week ending 25 June 2022. This is the last week the New York State holds data for, but an online seasonal dashboard is due to go live at the end of October Flu prevalence in New York State in 2020-2021, according to the state's flu tracker Flu prevalence in New York State in 2021-2022, showing a huge increase from 2020-2021. Experts are expecting a further increase for the current flu season Where did the flu go the past two years... and is it already back? The flu's spread was massively curbed over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral interference from Covid combined with mitigation measures like masking and restrictions on indoor events led to little spread of the virus. As a result, many did not build up natural immunity to the virus in the past two years and have neglected getting their yearly jab. Experts fear that this year's flu season will be the worst in years after both New Zealand and Australia were slammed by the annual nuisance in the southern hemisphere Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, issued a warning about the rampant spread of the flu in the Southern Hemisphere in August. New York and some southern states like Texas, Georgia and New Mexico are already experiencing surges of the virus in September - before flu season even officially starts in October. Advertisement NY's hotspot areas are the New York City/Metropolitan region, the Capital District and central New York, with 57 per cent of the cases recorded by upstate counties. Flu season typically runs from late October to May, peaking in winter. But September's figures are higher than usual, the Department of Health said, with cases still growing week by week. As of Monday, 44 New York counties were reporting people with flu. Officials consider this widespread as more than half of the states 62 counties have been hit by the virus. New York State health commissioner Dr Mary Bassett said in a statement: I urge all New Yorkers to protect themselves and their family and friends by getting a flu vaccine as soon as possible. With the early and aggressive spread of influenza, the annual flu shot is the most effective protection against serious illness. The Covid booster can also be administered at the same time as the flu shot to further protect your health and those around you. Citizens should get the jabs as soon as possible, earlier than perhaps they typically would, the Department said. New York tracks flu activity on an online seasonal dashboard which is due to go live at the end of October. The latest data shows 45.5 per cent of all American adults and 50.1 per cent of New Yorker adults are vaccinated against flu. It comes amid fears of a twindemic in the US this winter. Both are contagious respiratory infections with overlapping symptoms, making it tricky to tell between them. The flu was largely wiped out over the past two years of the pandemic when lockdowns, working from home and the far more transmissible Coronavirus limited its ability to spread. A lack of exposure to the pathogen over the past two years has left the immune system of many Americans unprepared for the flu, increasing the risk of a more severe infection. There are already early signs the flu is making a comeback with large rises across the US south in recent weeks, with Texas reporting a tripling in cases from September 8 to 29. Dr Luis Ostrosky, chief of infectious diseases with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann, told DailyMail.com that the figures seen in Texas are usually not experienced until the peak of flu season in December. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting moderate flu activity in Georgia and New Mexico as well. Florida also reported an unusual surge of the virus over summer that has since tapered off. Washington D.C. is also experiencing what the agency describes as the worst outbreak in the nation right now. Only a few hundred flu cases were confirmed by health officials nationwide in September, though figures were significantly underreported. As colder weather pushes more Americans indoors, experts fear the virus will begin to rampantly spread among an under-prepared population. If previous winters are anything to go by, Covid cases are also bound to erupt this winter as well with the latter halves of 2020 and 2021 seeing spikes. Officials say poor vaccine uptake just one per cent of eligible Americans have had the new Omicron booster means there is still scope for a deadly Covid outbreak, even with the milder BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) even recommended parents give their children two flu shots this year if they have never received the annual jab before. While House Covid response coordinator Dr Ashish Jha said at the start of the month that: 'I really believe this is why God gave us two arms, one for the flu shot and the other one for the Covid shot.' An environmental group said the findings were 'disturbing' and 'appalling' The chemicals may cause cancer, birth defects and kidney disease if ingested Levels were up 19m ppt in one insecticide - the safe drinking amount is 0.02 ppt Screamingly high levels of extremely hard-to-breakdown toxic chemicals are present in the majority of pesticides used in the US, a study warns. So-called 'forever chemicals' were found in seven out of 10 insecticides included in the sample - but six had very large quantities of a particularly dangerous type. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been aware of the findings for over 18 months, but has not made any moves to step in. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of roughly 12,000 man-made chemicals which repel grease, water, stains and heat. They are used to make thousands of waterproof, stain proof and heat proof products including food packaging, carpets, clothing and cooking pans. But they are believed to also be used in pesticides as a dispersing agent, to ensure they spread at an even rate. They are dubbed forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and can take years to degrade in the body. High levels of PFAS in pesticides can be dangerous if they are used on fields where food is grown. Past research has linked them to severe health problems including cancer, birth defects, liver disease, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions and high cholesterol. Texas researchers found unbelievably high levels of forever chemicals in widely used pesticides Texas Tech University researchers examined 10 common insecticides being used on cotton fields, but can work for food and other crops. They found PFAS in seven of the 10 insecticides, with levels of PFOS which has been storgngly linked to cancer as high as 19m parts per trillion (ppt) in one insecticide. While the EPA has not set limits on the amount of PFAS in pesticides, in June it lowered its recommended limit of PFOS in drinking water from 70 ppt to 0.02 ppt, showing that no amount of exposure to the substance is safe. What ARE 'forever chemicals'? 'Forever chemicals' are a class of common industrial compounds that don't break down when they're released into the environment. Humans are exposed to these chemicals after they've come in contact with food, soil or water reservoirs. These chemicals known more properly as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS are added to cookware, carpets, textiles and other items to make them more water- and stain-repellant. PFAS contamination has been detected in water near manufacturing facilities, as well as at military bases and firefighting training facilities where flame-retardant foam is used. The chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, and damage to the immune system, as well as birth defects, smaller birth weights, and decreased vaccine response in children. Advertisement The researchers gave the names of the insecticides active ingredients as part of their findings, but lead author Steve Lasee said he was never asked for the brand names. This means the EPA will not know which companies are the culprits of the toxic products. The studys lead author Mr Lasee, an environmental toxicologist at Texas Tech University, told the Guardian six pesticides had screamingly high levels of PFOS. The findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters. The non-profit organization Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) said the research was disturbing. It said the findings contradict previous statements by the US EPA that PFAS are not used in registered pesticide products and said that the threat to the food chain justifies the ban of all pesticides containing PFAS. It added: These PFAS are being taken up into the roots and shoots of plants, which means that they are entering our food supply through contaminated soils. Given that PFAS are forever chemicals this contamination will last long after PFAS is removed from pesticides. On September 1, the EPA proposed the removal of 12 PFAS from its approved list of inert ingredients for pesticides but said it was reviewing active ingredients. An inert ingredient is any substance which is intentionally used in a pesticide product, other than an active ingredient. It does not mean the chemical is nontoxic. PEER science policy director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and attorney formerly with EPA, said: If the intent was to spread PFAS contamination across the globe there would be few more effective methods than lacing pesticides with PFAS. These findings point to an appalling regulatory breakdown by EPA. Ms Bennett told The Guardian there is not much people can do to protect themselves, other than eating organic food, which she noted is not always accessible or affordable. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill things such as bacteria, insects, plant disease. Insecticides are a type of pesticide used to specifically kill insects. PFOS is no longer manufactured in the US due to health concerns, but they are still being made internationally and are imported into the US. The medical records of up to 20million Americans may have been leaked in what could turn out to be the biggest medical cyberattack in US history. CommonSpirit Health the fourth largest health system in the country was the target of a major IT ransomware attack this week. It is not clear how many of the 140 hospitals across 21 states are affected, but the hack has already led to cancer appointments being cancelled and ambulances diverted. Among those affected are the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Washington and MercyOne Medical Center in Iowa. One patient was told that she faces a five-day wait for an operation to remove a cancerous tumor because the hospital tech went down. She said it felt like being sent back to the 'stone age'. Pictured above is the MercyOne hospital in Iowa, one of the facilities that has been affected in the ransomware attack. Operations are being cancelled for patients Shown above are the states where CommonSpirit Health operates. It is not clear which units have been affected, but hospitals in Tennessee, Iowa and Washington have all reported issues Pictured above is the HQ for CommonSpirit Health in Chicago, Illinoise. The system serves more than 20 million patients and has 140 hospitals across 21 states A CommonSpirit spokesman admitted that electronic health records and other systems had been taken offline. They added: 'As a result of this issue [the IT attack], we have rescheduled some patient appointments. 'Patients will be contacted directly by their provider and/or care facility if their appointment is impacted.' Biden warns there is 'evolving intelligence' Russia will hit US with cyberattacks The Biden administration is warning about the danger of Russian cyber attacks on U.S. businesses or infrastructure amid the war in Ukraine and warning the U.S. will respond. A White House fact sheet from March highlights the potential for Russia to launch 'malicious cyber activity' in response to sanctions the U.S. imposed on Russia since it invaded Ukraine last month and the administration is revealing it has seen 'preparatory activity.' 'I think the President was very clear. We're not looking for a conflict with Russia. If Russia initiates a cyber attack against the United States, we will respond,' said Senior White House cybersecurity official Anne Neuberger, who briefed reporters at the White House. The White House is not saying such an attack has occurred since the new sanctions, a matter that has surprised some Russia observers. But Moscow may be taking steps to prepare for such an event. 'There is now evolving intelligence that Russia may be exploring options for potential cyberattacks,' according to the fact sheet. Advertisement Among the patients affected are Kathy Kellog, from Washington, who had her operation to remove a cancerous tumor from her tongue delayed by at least five days. Her husband Mark told KING-TV: 'Everything we do today is all on a computer, and without it youre back to the stone age writing on a tablet.' The hospital they were attending Virginia Mason Medical Center is one of several that took systems offline due to the cyberattack. The CHI Memorial Hospital in Tennessee also had to delay operations, and the St Michael Medical Center in Washington delayed critical procedures such as CT scans checking for brain bleeds. It is unclear who the perpetrator is. But earlier this year President Joe Biden warned Russia could escalate its cyberattacks on US businesses because the West sided with Ukraine. Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cybersecurity provider Emsisoft, said if all the health system's hospitals were affected the attack could be the 'most significant on the healthcare sector to date'. The IT expert has helped curb at least 15 ransomware attacks on hospitals in the US this year. Four-fifths of these resulted in data being stolen from hospitals, he said. He warned these often 'represent a risk to the lives of patients' due to disruption to ambulance services and operations. The delays caused, he said, impacts the 'long-term patient outcomes' or chance of recovering from the procedure. Sources in the CommonSpirit health system confirmed the cyberattack was caused by ransomware, NBC News reports. This is a malicious type of software that blocks access to patient systems, saying it will only re-open them after receiving a payment. The biggest ever in US history was in September 2020 when a ransomware attack arrested services at all 250 facilities and 28 hospitals owned by Universal Health Services. But the attack on CommonSpirit which has more than 700 facilities could be the largest yet, depending on how many centers were affected. In 2020, the FBI and other federal agencies warned that they had credible information that cybercriminals could unleash a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts against U.S. hospitals and health care providers. Thats because ransomware criminals are increasingly stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments. Health care is classified by the U.S. government as one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors Health care providers are seen as ripe targets for hackers. If patient data is accessed, health care providers are required by law to notify the Department of Health and Human Services. Triple Cross by James Patterson (Century 20, 432pp) It is 30 years since Dr Alex Cross psychologist, former detective with the Washington DC police and now consultant to the FBI first burst on to the scene. He is Pattersons multi-million-selling most prized creation and the author has nurtured him carefully through the years. Here, Cross confronts an entirely original story. True crime author Thomas Tull has made a fortune with books describing real cases and seems to have extraordinary access to all the details. How does he get them? Does he perhaps insinuate himself into the investigations, or is there more to it than that? Now Tull has come up with a theory about a string of murders in Washington that have been carried out by a killer known as the Family Man, who never leaves any trace at the crime scenes: no fingerprints, no DNA, nothing. This is superb story-telling, linked to a splendidly intricate plot that shows Patterson at his page-turning best. It is 30 years since Dr Alex Cross psychologist, former detective with the Washington DC police and now consultant to the FBI first burst on to the scene Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardottir (Orenda 9.99, 276pp) This is a second outing for Icelandic investigator Arora, who specialises in finding hidden assets, including missing money, and it is even better than its predecessor. She is still striving to find her missing sister, Isafold, with the help of police detective Daniel, when she is called by a wealthy Icelandic businessman named Flosi whose wife has been kidnapped. She will be returned if he pays a 2 million ransom and killed if he calls in the police or refuses to pay. Arora asks Daniel for help. They mount a covert operation to find the wife, while Arora also investigates Flosis business affairs and contacts his Scottish-based accountant to access the ransom money. Again, the Icelandic scenery and weather are beautifully evoked you can almost feel the autumn fog seeping up from the pages but it is the corkscrew twists that make it both chilling and mesmerising. If you havent caught Arora yet, now is the time. A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin (Orion 22, 352pp) Every new John Rebus story is a delight, and this, the 24th in the series, proves the point. Now a former detective inspector in Police Scotland, the iconoclastic, acerbic Rebus finds himself on trial for a crime that could put him behind bars for a long time. The story extends into an elaborate series of flashbacks to explain how he got there. The familiar characters that Rankins millions of readers cherish are ever present: DI Siobhan Clarke, DI Malcolm Fox and, of course, arch criminal Big Ger Cafferty, who is now in a wheelchair. The story rotates around a corrupt police officer who has been violently abusing his wife, but who claims this was only because he was suffering from PTSD caused by his treatment in the force. As ever with Rebus, it is more complicated than that. There are conspiracies afoot, as well as old scores to settle. Elegantly and deftly told with Edinburgh as the backdrop Rankins exceptional talent shines from every page. US satellite champion Viasat may have felt it was home and dry when it persuaded the Business Department to sign off on its 5.6billion bid for British space pioneer Inmarsat. But, as that great American sage Yankees manager Yogi Berra once noted, the 'game ain't over until it's over'. Britain's Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is looking after the interests not just of UK consumers, but global users of in-flight internet connections, by objecting to the deal. Probe: The Competition & Markets Authority is looking after the interests of UK consumers and global users of in-flight internet connections, by objecting to the Inmarsat takeover In-flight internet may only represent 10 per cent of the current turnover of the joint business, but it is the big growth market for satellite communications. Moreover, it was British scientists and technicians at Inmarsat who were pioneers in this technology and could not but fall under the command and control of their Californian masters. As concerning is that Rick Baldridge, the Viasat executive who parked himself in the UK and conducted most of the negotiations with the authorities, no longer appears to be the point person. Viasat CEO and executive chairman Mark Dankberg is leading the response. In its notice, the CMA pulls no punches. It argues that both companies are in expansion mode, sending ever more satellites into space and competing aggressively for new business. In fact, the two firms are seeking many of the same clients in the still nascent market for on-board aviation services. Removing one competitor from the mix would give the combined company more pricing power. Incidentally, many of the same arguments could be deployed in Vodafone's effort to gain control of the UK's mobile network Three. The CMA has given Viasat five days to come up with a response before a full investigation which could take months to complete is undertaken. In the recent past, competition interventions such as when US chip designer Nvidia sought to buy Arm Holdings effectively killed the deal. Viasat argues that there is huge investment going into satellites. Monoliths such as Elon Musk's Starlink and currently the Government-backed OneWeb are launching large networks of low orbit satellites which could become competitors. What is not known is whether these newer, lower orbit satellites will be as capable as Viasat and Inmarsat in developing the on-board aviation technology. Nevertheless, one should never discount the ability of Musk to disrupt as he has done so effectively in the motor industry and currently is planning to do in social media with the acquisition of Twitter. This paper's concerns about the Viasat/Inmarsat takeover have been much broader. For too long UK governments, in their determination to maintain one of the most open economies in the world, have offered a welcome mat to overseas takeovers. Britain's control over technology developed in our universities and backed by UK venture capital has vanished over the horizon. Among the victims have been Arm, aerospace pioneers Cobham and Meggitt, submarine sonar developer Ultra Electronics and many more. Not only has this stunted the UK's ability to develop its own thriving domestic tech sector, it has diminished the role of UK headquarters and seen patents and valuable R&D fall into foreign hands. Kwasi Kwarteng and the Treasury should also note that too often we are exchanging a one-off flow of global capital for a permanent drain on the corporate tax base as profits are diverted to lower tax regimes. That is among the reasons why rolling back the proposed 25 per cent corporation tax break and keeping it at 19 per cent was so important. But this is an argument which has not been heard at all from the blob which chose to demonise lower taxes. It is not just Inmarsat and competition which is endangered by an overseas takeover. OneWeb and French rival Eutelsat have also signed a merger agreement. It may be a perfectly sensible deal given the strength of rivals in the satellite orbit. However, it goes without saying that this too needs careful examination by the Business Department under Jacob Rees-Mogg and the CMA. If Viasat and Inmarsat wanted to satisfy the CMA rapidly, they could perhaps volunteer to dispose of either one of the on-board aviation internet franchises. No such solution is contemplated. That is not surprising. The Inmarsat tech is the crown jewel of the sector, and having come this far, its Californian rival is not willing to make further concessions just yet. The founder of CMC Markets enjoyed some respite as traders took advantage of mounting economic uncertainty. Lord Cruddas, who set up the trading platform in 1989, said the business has been boosted by market volatility and increased client trading. In a trading update, CMC said revenues in the six months to the end of September were 21 per cent higher than a year earlier at around 153million. Shares rose 5.6 per cent, or 12.5p, to 235p. Revenues up: Tory peer Lord Cruddas, who set up trading platform CMC Markets in 1989, said the business has been boosted by market volatility and increased client trading The update will have come as a relief for Cruddas. The Tory peer, 69, is CMCs biggest shareholder with a 58.83 per cent stake while his wife Fiona owns 3.2 per cent. The Cruddass family stake is worth nearly 409million. But, despite todays rally, this is still a far cry from when those shares were worth 936million when the stock peaked at 538p last April. With fears of a recession lingering, the FTSE 100 was down 0.78 per cent, or 55.35 points, to 6997.27 and the FTSE 250 inched up 0.40 per cent, or 70.22 points, to 17,632.64. The mood was not helped by credit ratings agency Fitch which downgraded its outlook for the UK to negative from stable in the wake of the mini-Budget. In Londons top index, Imperial Brands offered a double dose of good news for its investors. The tobacco company, whose brands include Lambert & Butler, John Player, Golden Virginia and Rizla, said it will start a 1billion share buyback programme tomorrow. Trading has remained in line with expectations while revenue and profit for the year is expected to increase by around 1 per cent, Imperial added. Shares rose 2.5 per cent, or 47p, to 1944p. Stock Watch - Victorian Plumbing Shares in Victorian Plumbing surged after its financial year ended strongly. The bathroom retailer said revenues in the second half of the year were 5 per cent higher than the same period in 2021. This beat the 3 per cent figure predicted by City broker Numis. Revenues for the 12 months to the end of September were in line with last year. Shares in the AIM-listed firm, which rose as high as 330p after its float in June last year but fell as low as 34p this week, rose 13.8 per cent, or 4.9p, to 40.5p. Credit scorer Experian has beefed up its board with two new appointments. The group said fintech expert Kathleen DeRose, who sits on the board of the London Stock Exchange Group (down 1.4 per cent, or 108p, to 7682p) and Louise Pentland, a solicitor who has worked at PayPal, will join next month. Shares inched up 0.07 per cent, or 2p, to 2753p. Halma, the safety equipment company, has swooped in on the German designer and manufacturer of electrical testing technology Weetech for around 50million. Shares in Halma rose 0.9 per cent, or 19p, to 2160p. Diageo hailed a good start to its new financial year in a brief update ahead of its annual general meeting. The Guinness owner reiterated it is on-track to meet its medium-term targets for sales and profit growth between 2023 and 2025. Shares slid 1.4 per cent, or 53p, to 3728.5p. A host of blue-chip and mid-cap stocks traded ex-dividend. Centrica fell 4.4 per cent, or 3.18p, to 68.44p, Synthomer dropped 8.3 per cent, or 9.3p, to 103.2p and Vistry Group sank 4 per cent, or 24p, to 579p. Turning back to corporate news, Ferrexpo brought the horrors of Vladimir Putins war to life after the iron ore miner said eight of its workers have died while serving in the Ukrainian armed forces. In an update on the third quarter of the year, the group said iron ore pellet production tumbled 68 per cent compared with last year while sales slumped 65 per cent due to the conflict. Liberum analysts said the group highlighted how this was likely to be its weakest quarter though Ferrexpo boss Jim North hailed his teams for continuing to operate despite the war in Ukraine. Shares plunged 3.9 per cent, or 5.2p, to 126.7p. Investment firm Abrdn may have been hoping for a better assessment from Deutsche Bank. The broker issued a sell rating and trimmed the target price to 125p from 135p ahead of a possible dividend cut when the full year results are unveiled as Abrdn shares fell yesterday 1.1 per cent, or 1.54p, to 135.61p. The value of savings still locked in the doomed Neil Woodford fund has fallen by another 39million in just three months. Millions of pounds is stuck in the Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF), which is being wound up with the remaining assets sold off and the cash returned to investors. But Link the firm which was supposed to be supervising Woodford's management of the fund, before it fired him in 2019 and shuttered WEIF said the remnants were worth just 79.9million. More losses: Link froze the Woodford Equity Income fund after a run of poor performance from Neil Woodford (pictured) caused investors to pull their money out This is down from 118.5million in June. The majority of the fall in value was due to a slump in the share price of Benevolent AI, one of the few companies still owned by WEIF. Since the artificial intelligence company listed on Amsterdam's stock exchange earlier this year, its value has tumbled. Link said it was ready to hand back another 20million of the fund to investors, who have received 2.56billion since it was shut three years ago. Link froze the fund after a run of poor performance caused many investors to pull their money out. The foreign takeover of one of Britains leading satellite firms could be blocked over competition fears. US giant Viasat was hoping to complete the 5.6billion purchase of London-based rival Inmarsat before the end of the year. But the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the tie-up would remove a key competitor from the market. Threat: The Competition and Markets Authority said Viasat's takeover of Inmarsat would remove a key competitor from the market This could lead to airlines facing higher prices and worse quality WiFi on board planes, the watchdog said. That is because Inmarsat is the biggest provider of in-flight WiFi, while Viasat is also a leading operator. The watchdogs intervention set the scene for a full-blown investigation that could see the deal blocked. CMA senior director Colin Raftery said: This is an evolving market, but the merging companies are currently two of the key players and it remains uncertain whether the next generation of satellite operators will be able to compete against them effectively. Ultimately, airlines could be faced with a worse deal because of this merger, which could have knock-on effects for UK consumers as in-flight connectivity becomes more widespread. The CMA gave the firms five days to offer potential solutions to avoid an in-depth phase 2 investigation. But Viasat will likely not come up with a proposal in time and boss Mark Dankberg suggested the investigation will go ahead. Dankberg said he will work closely with the watchdog to spell out why the takeover will benefit consumers. He also hopes Viasat will be able to convince the watchdog that its competition concerns are unfounded, pointing to the strength of rivals, including Elon Musks Starlink. But the probe could either lead to the deal being blocked or with Inmarsat and Viasat having to hive off parts of their business. String of raids in the spotlight The prospect of a full-blown probe into Viasats 5.6billion takeover of Inmarsat is one of a number of investigations into foreign raids on British firms. Authorities are weighing up a series of takeovers spanning the technology, telecoms and defence sectors. A key deal on the desk of Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is Chinese-backed Nexperias takeover of semiconductor firm Newport Wafer Fab, which he has been urged to reverse using the National Security and Investment Act. Rees-Mogg is also examining French conglomerate Schneider Electrics swoop on Aveva, one of Britains leading technology firms. Concerns have been raised over Schneiders joint venture with Chinese conglomerate Delixi Electric. The proposed tie up between telecoms operators Vodafone and Three is also likely to come under scrutiny. Three is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison. It is the latest setback for the controversial takeover, which has faced opposition from MPs as well as technology and defence experts. Critics fear the hollowing out of British industry as overseas predators swoop on assets. As well as the competition probe, the deal faced a lengthy investigation on national security grounds. But Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg last month cleared the deal under the National Security and Investment Act, leaving CMA clearance as its last major UK regulatory hurdle. The deal is also being looked at by the European Unions competition watchdog and authorities where Inmarsat and Viasat operate globally. Inmarsat is Britains leading satellite company and the largest provider of in-flight WiFi for airlines and a major player in internet connections for ships. Customers include the military and, as a result, the company is considered a strategic asset by the Government. Conservative MP and chairman of Parliaments defence select committee Tobias Ellwood said foreign takeovers of strategic British firms appear increasingly unwise. He said national resilience and supply chains are increasingly challenged and warned against allowing overseas takeovers of UK defence firms. Ellwood added that Viasats Inmarsat takeover does not pass the Governments social value test a policy that it must consider the wider benefits of policies including tax contributions, national insurance returns and levelling up. Founded in 1979, Inmarsat began life as a UN agency helping distressed sailors send SOS signals. It employs around 1,800 staff across the world, including 860 in London. Its technology is used in everything from climate change tracking to keeping rural cattle farmers connected to the internet. In March, Viasat and Inmarsat agreed legally binding commitments with the Government including pledges to increase the number of highly skilled jobs, raise R&D spending and keep key operations in Britain. Long delay: Expat ended up waiting 11 months after she tried to claim her deferred state pension A 69-year-old expat who struggled for nearly a year to claim a state pension has received an apology and 4,200 in arrears from the Department for Work and Pensions. Pamela Dooner, a retired teacher who lives in France, postponed taking payments when she first reached state pension age in late 2015. After putting in a claim last November, hoping to start receiving payments in January, she was told it would take 22 weeks to process - a delay she condemns as 'excessive'. In the end she waited far longer than that, and an attempt to chase up her pension with the DWP's international department a few months ago got no response, until she asked This is Money for help. For over a year, we have covered many cases of readers getting into difficulty or even forced into hardship due to state pension delays, although the DWP promised to get on top of problems by last November. Judging by our inbox in recent months, people reaching 66 now are getting their new claims dealt with, but we still receive complaints from expats, people trying to end deferments and those trying to buy voluntary top-ups. >>>Have you experienced state pension delays? Find out what to do below Mrs Dooner, who was trying to get a deferred state pension claim started from overseas, received an email confirmation from the DWP in January that it had been received. After a long wait, she eventually appealed to us, saying: 'To date, I have heard nothing. Is there anything I can do? 'Fortunately my husband has a pension so we are living on his at the moment, but as things are going up it would be useful to have. I have a small French pension.' After we contacted the DWP on her behalf, Mrs Dooner received an email and two phone calls from staff members, promising that arrears and a 'deferral choices' letter would follow (see the box below). What happens when you defer a state pension, or you simply don't claim? If you reached state pension age but decided to defer before 6 April 2016, you get a choice between taking your arrears as a lump sum or receiving increased payments going forwards. Those deferring since then can only get higher payments. However, you can backdate your claim for a year, which gives you a lump sum but you will receive a smaller increase in future payments. Steve Webb explains the pre-2016 deferral system here, and the process for post-2016 state pension deferrals here. The email said: 'I would like to apologise for the delay you have experienced. I can confirm that I am now dealing with your claim and a decision letter will be sent out to you in the next few days. 'All arrears from 1 January 2022 to date will be sent to your bank account at the same time. I hope I have clarified the matter for you. I apologise again for the delay and for any inconvenience and stress caused.' Of her belated phone conversations with staff about her claim, Mrs Dooner says: 'They couldn't give me a reason why it had been delayed. It just got lost.' She says of her 11 month wait: 'I still feel it is excessive. I thought 22 weeks was excessive.' Mrs Dooner has asked the DWP for compensation. Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb says: 'Time and again we see that although most of the delays in new state pension claims have been ironed out, anything more complex such as people deferring taking their state pension can get stuck for months at a time. 'It is totally unacceptable for someone to be left waiting so long for their pension to be put into payment and ending up being owed thousands of pounds in arrears.' Webb, who is now a partner at LCP and This is Money's pensions columnist, adds: 'Staffing and training levels need to increase if all retirees are to get the standard of service they have a right to expect after a lifetime of work.' A DWP spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for the delay processing Mrs Dooner's state pension claim. This has now been finalised and arrears issued.' Mrs Dooner's compensation request is currently being considered. State pension delayed? What should you do The state pension is paid four weeks in arrears when it first begins. Steve Webb advises anyone who has faced an unreasonable wait beyond that to contact their MP, who should take it up with the DWP. Expats can contact the MP representing the last constituency in which they lived before moving abroad. The Government will give an advance on a first state pension payment if you have made a claim and are in 'urgent financial need'. Details of how to apply for a state pension advance are here, but there is no information on what criteria the DWP uses to make decisions. If you are having trouble getting state pension payments started or top-ups processed, write to This is Money and tell us your story at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk. Please put PENSION DELAY in the subject line. We will not be able to respond to everyone, and you may also want to seek help from your MP. The DWP's pension service contact details are here and the number is 0800 731 0469. Le Premier Ministre a mis le Cabinet au courant de son prochain voyage a Rodrigues dans le cadre des 20 ans de laautonomie de lile et les 50 ans des vols dAir Mauritius. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister would effect an official visit to Rodrigues from 09 to 13 October 2022 in the context of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Autonomy of Rodrigues. On that occasion, he would also proceed with the inauguration of the Green Space in Port Mathurin to be named after Late Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, KCMG, QC and also the Commemoration of 50 years of operations of Air Mauritius in Rodrigues. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The Duchess of Sussex said she was grateful for the work as she tried to break through as an actress and 'pay the bills' - but disliked 'how it made me feel, which was not smart' because 'I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks'. Speaking on her new Archetypes podcast with Paris Hilton, called 'Breaking Down the Bimbo', Meghan said that she wants her own daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her brain - rather than her beauty. The Duchess, who appeared in 34 episodes of Deal or No Deal (main picture and left) between 2006 and 2007, said: 'I want our daughter to aspire to be slightly higher. Yeah, I want my Lili to want to be educated and want to be smart and to pride herself on those things'. Meghan appeared on season two of NBC's Deal or No Deal 16 years ago. She first stood beside briefcase number 11 for two episodes, then moved to number 24. She left the show midway through the season. She said: 'I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks. And little substance. And that's how it felt for me at the time being reduced to this specific archetype the word bimbo'. The California-based royal revealed that she and the other women on the show were forced to 'line up' for various beauty treatments including 'padding in your bra', to attach fake eyelashes and 'put in' hair extensions. She said: 'We were even given spray-tan vouchers each week because there was a very cookie cutter idea, of precisely what we should look like. It was solely about our beauty'. She said that a woman 'in charge' of the show would tell Meghan to 'suck it in' before filming began, presumably an order to suck in her stomach on camera. The Democrat-led border city of El Paso, Texas, has sent more migrants on buses to New York City and Chicago than a campaign by Texas' Republican governor, a twist in an ongoing partisan battle over U.S. border security. El Paso, which sits across the border from Juarez, Mexico, has bused roughly 7,000 migrants to New York City since late August and sent more than 1,800 to Chicago, a city-run effort that far exceeds the more ad-hoc transportation of the past. The city's busing effort has received less attention than a separate statewide campaign by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a third term in Nov. 8 midterm elections. Abbott has bused more than 3,000 migrants to New York City and more than 900 to Chicago as part of a high-profile campaign to put a spotlight on the record crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, a Democrat, said the city's program is 'completely different' than the other busing efforts and that they seek to 'treat people with respect.' Venezuelan Frederick Pinango, 28, walks with his three-year-old daughter Freyderlinck and his wife Julianis Contreras, 23, on October 3 to board their bus to New York at the Migrant Welcome Center managed by the city of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management But numbers show that Texas and Arizona combined have also bused over 10,000 migrants to Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis recently flew a group of about 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, but those who boarded the planes have said they were misled. The Republican initiatives to move migrants, including those seeking asylum, away from the border have called attention to the issue with the election just weeks away. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed U.S. voters prefer them over Democrats for addressing immigration issues. The Democratic administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic mayors receiving the migrants have criticized the Republican governors for creating confusion with surprise drop-offs and say the busing campaign strains resources. But El Paso's Democratic leaders say they are coordinating with receiving cities and that migrants take their chartered buses voluntarily. City officials say their buses were needed because up to 2,000 migrants were arriving daily, including impoverished Venezuelans without family in the United States to pay for onward travel. Coordination between sending and receiving cities is crucial, according to Theresa Cardinal Brown, a managing director with the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank. 'If there's not coordination,' she said, 'you're basically dropping penniless people who don't speak the language in an unknown city and saying, 'Fend for yourself.'' Still, El Paso's coordination could be better, said New York City mayoral spokesperson Kate Smart. El Paso informs New York when a bus is traveling to the city, but, she adds, officials from both states should discuss beforehand whether the bus actually needs to go to New York and how many migrants are onboard. Many of those sent to New York are Venezuelans, who have been arrested at the border in higher numbers than ever before. The United States cannot expel them to Mexico under a pandemic-era order as it can other migrants. Asylum-seeking migrants wait in line before boarding buses to New York and Chicago at the Migrant Welcome Center managed by the city of El Paso Asylum-seeking migrants wait in line at the Migrant Welcome Center El Paso's program is not new: last year, the city hired a handful of charter buses to transport migrants to nearby cities, a city official said. But when overwhelmed U.S. border authorities began releasing hundreds of migrants at a time in El Paso in August and September, the city started busing to New York and Chicago. 'COMPLETELY DIFFERENT' The buses now depart from a converted warehouse in northeast El Paso that serves as a migrant processing center. On Monday, several hundred migrants waited for buses to New York City and Chicago, among them Frederick Pinango, 28, and his wife and 3-year-old daughter. The Venezuelan family trekked through the Darien Gap, an often dangerous passage through a jungle separating Colombia and Panama. They worked their way through Central America and Mexico by cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash and begging, according to Pinango. They took a bus to New York because they had no contacts in the United States and it was free. 'I have faith that they will help us with some shelter, so I can start to work,' he said. Edwin Rico, a 28-year-old Venezuelan who boarded a bus to Chicago on Monday, said the food that El Paso officials provided for the trip was not enough, but he rationed it. 'I don't have money, so I'm grateful for the help,' he said. Mayor Leeser said the city's program is 'completely different' than the other busing efforts. Migrants in El Paso walk in a line to board buses to New York and Chicago Migrants wait in line at an intake area of the Migrant Welcome Center New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also a Democrat, has slammed Abbott, the Republican governor, for his refusal to share information about bus arrivals. Adams said in a mid-September press conference that Leeser, unlike Abbott, was willing to meet and 'figure out a humane way to coordinate.' New York City officials traveled to El Paso last month to watch the process firsthand. During the visit, they discussed adding drop-off points in cities on the way to New York, Leeser said. El Paso keeps in contact with the Biden administration and is seeking federal reimbursement for busing costs, Leeser said, and a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed the coordination. 'This is a federal issue,' Leeser said. 'They're not coming to El Paso, they're coming to the United States.' Advertisement Amidst warnings of three-day blackouts and industry shut-downs in Britain if the months ahead turn particularly cold, you might be forgiven for thinking that this is the winter of our discontent. Well, think again. James Rogers, co-founder of the think-tank Council on Geostrategy, has warned MailOnline that next winter actually looks bleaker. He explains that we will have burned through our gas stockpiles by then and won't be able to refill them using cheap Russian imports, because we've sanctioned them. And, despite this country's relatively low reliance on gas directly from Russia, he believes we are likely facing a harder time than Germany - which was hugely dependent on Kremlin fuel before Putin cut the supply - because we depend on gas for more of our total energy use. The solution is to swap away from fossil fuels to renewables and nuclear, he argues, but such a project may take a decade to complete and Europe'e energy supply will remain vulnerable until then. 'In Germany the problem is quite extreme but it is mostly a political problem, because gas provides only around 15% of their power needs,' he explained. That means Germany can make up the shortfall from sources such as nuclear and coal - provided the government can get the militant green lobby on side. Whereas in the UK 'we have become just so dependent on gas,' Mr Rodgers adds. 'We have come to rely on gas for over 40% of our power needs. The problem here is that North Sea supplies have been drying up since the late 1990s, forcing us to buy more from the world market. 'But due to Russia's aggression, Europe is competing with us to buy up gas internationally.' Top: A heat map shows how dependent each country is on gas for its energy, which is also shown in the table bottom left. Bottom right, a second table shows how much of that gas each country gets from Russia While Britain imports almost none of its gas directly from Russia, we do import a lot from Europe - which is running short after Putin turned off the taps. And we rely on gas for a greater share of our energy than almost any other European nation Mr Rogers is of the belief that the energy crisis this year should be manageable under reasonable-case scenarios. But next winter, he argues, will be a different story. That's because most European storage was filled this year using gas bought from Russia, before supplies were placed under sanction and Putin turned the taps off. Come next spring, a lot of that stored gas will have been burned and the continent won't be able to fall back on Russia as a supplier of last resort. The US, where fracking has led to a plentiful supply, will try to make up some of the shortfall by liquefying it and shipping it across the Atlantic in special cargo vessels. Gulf states, the other big exporters of liquid gas, have so-far proved unwilling or unable to increase supplies. But most European countries lack the highly-specialised ports needed to receive the liquid gas, and don't have the pipe networks in place to get it from the few ports they do have to countries where it is needed. He added: 'Due to its storage capacity, the EU is in a situation where it can probably see out this winter, but what about next winter when the storages have run out? 'At the moment there arent enough [liquid gas] facilities in Poland, Germany, or the Baltics to import it. We need to be opening up gas fields in North Sea, improving connectivity between Atlantic Coast and Central Europe and building more processing facilities in the Baltics and southern Europe so gas can come from the US and the Gulf. 'It can be done but it is going to require a strong political and economic effort. 'Countries in Central Europe are all pretty firmly allied, it would be politically difficult for any of them to start buying Russian gas again - with the exception of Hungary. 'It remains to be seen whether countries in Western and Southern Europe will crack, including Germany, particularly if there is a particularly cold winter. If a significant recession bites then it will increase pressure. Europe is criss-crossed by gas pipes running from Russia, but Nord Stream 1 and 2 are out of action after being hit by explosions, Yarmal was turned off after Poland refused to pay Russian in rubles, and Russia is now threatening to shut down the Transgas line that runs through Ukraine 'There is no quick, easy fix. It is politically and economically costly no matter what solution you come to and that cost will keep going up.' And, under the UK's government's current plans, it is households that will bear the cost because it will be paid for out of general taxation. Mr Rogers also predicts that it could be up to a decade for the crisis to be fully resolved if the UK follows EU plans to switch to renewables. And even then, the plan could face problems. That's because renewables aren't reliable. The sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. There has to be some backup built into the system that can be quickly and easily turned on and off to cover shortfalls. Mr Rogers says: 'That's where things like small, modular nuclear reactors come in. In theory, you could have one in every city to make up for the shortfalls. 'Fracking is potentially a short-term solution to the problem's we're facing, but we're a small country with a dense population. It shouldn't be discounted but it can't be seen as a long-term solution.' Whatever the long-term solution is, Europe looks set to pay a high price for decades of over-reliance on Russian energy over the short and medium term. Having missing opportunities to wean ourselves off the supply, we must now face the reality of having to go cold turkey. That legacy is partly an accident. Huge parts of what is now Europe - Poland, the Baltics, and Ukraine - found themselves reliant on Russian energy supplies after the Soviet Union collapsed. But it was also the result of deliberate policy-making, particularly in West German where the theory of Ostpolitik - 'eastern policy' - took hold in the late 1960s and sought rapprochement instead of conflict with the eastern bloc. The theory was that, instead of out-competing the Communists in East Germany and beyond, the best way to win them over was through cooperation and trade that would convince them to change their ways. Vladimir Putin is gambling that cutting off Europe's energy supplies will cause Western unity over the war in Ukraine to buckle, and that he will be able to exploit this to force a favourable peace deal Russia has cut most gas supplies to Europe: The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipes (file) shut down before suffering an attack that has rendered them inoperable. The Yarmal pipe has been closed off, and Moscow is threatening to close another in Ukraine A particularly fruitful avenue for trade was in energy: West Germany needed gas, Russia had it in abundance, so pipelines were built and the supplies started flowing in the early 1980s. That policy continued through the 1990s and deepened even further with the advent of the environmentalist movement, because burning gas emits less carbon that other fossil fuels and was seen as a useful stop-gap between coal-fired power stations and renewables. Britain largely avoided becoming linked into Russian pipeline networks because during this period we were supplying almost all our own energy from gas and oil reserves in the North Sea. But, as the North Sea fields dried up in the 2000s, we steadily became more reliant on imports from Europe - buying from the likes of Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. Until February, when Putin invaded Ukraine using billions of dollars gained from Russia's energy exports to finance his war, European policy was actually geared towards becoming even more dependent on gas from Moscow. The huge Nord Stream 2 pipe connecting Russia with Germany had just been completed and only awaited a sign-off from Berlin to begin pumping, which would have doubled the amount of gas flowing under the Baltic Sea. But Chancellor Scholz ruled out opening the pipe almost as soon as Russian troops crossed the border - and it has since suffered an underwater sabotage attack which German engineers believe may have put it out of action permanently. Nord Stream 1, the other pipe running to Germany, was also blown up. While Russia does still have some pipelines running into Europe - through Poland, Ukraine and Turkey - they have only a fraction of the capacity, and the Polish line was turned off earlier this year after the government refused to pay Putin in rubles. The Kremlin is also threatening to turn off the Ukraine pipe. All of which means there is no easy way back for European governments, even if they wanted to, and they are now having to rush forward with plans that would otherwise have taken decades to play out. While few doubt that the result will be beneficial - greater energy security for Europe from more-sustainable sources that do less damage to the environment - the adjustment is likely to be brutal. The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris's newly appointed top advisor is embroiled in a bribery and corruption scandal that could bankrupt Sin City. Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, 47, was a lawyer for an environmental group when, in 2018, he allegedly entered an 'illicit and corrupt deal' with Nevada's Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak, killing a property developer's plans for a high-density residential development on 2,400 acres near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Under his company, Gypsum Resources, and backed by his creditors, developer Jim Rhodes is now suing the county and its board of commissioners for damages that, he claims, run to more than $1billion. If successful, the settlement could wipe out the $1.5billion budget of the Nevada county which is home to Las Vegas and its world-famous Strip. Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones (left) is the husband of one Vice President Kamala Harris's top advisors Megan Jones. Justin Jones is embroiled in a corruption scandal, DailyMail.com can reveal Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak entered an illicit and corrupt deal with Jones,the court papers allege The deal killed property developer Jim Rhodes's plans for a residential development on 2,400 acres near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. (Rhodes is pictured with wife Glenda) Jones's wife Megan Jones was appointed Special Assistant to the President and Director of Public Engagement at the Office of the Vice President last month, according to her LinkedIn page. She had worked closely alongside former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for more than 20 years before his death in December last year. Among the accusations against Jones is that he deleted emails including many to his wife as he tried to cover his tracks. Rhodes, a well-known developer in Vegas, claims he is the victim of a crime and that Justin Jones and Sisolak's 'shocking and grotesque violations of the law and Gypsum's rights,' have left his land worthless and him bankrupt. In court records obtained by DailyMail.com, Jones is accused of trading his powerful public support for Sisolak, then commission chair and a Democratic candidate for governor, and promising to dismiss an 'uncomfortable lawsuit' being brought by 'Save Red Rock,' the conservationist group of which he was legal counsel. In return Jones demanded Sisolak's commitment to vote 'no' on Gypsum's plans and delay a key vote until Jones himself was in office. At the time Jones was running for a seat on the commission and expected to win. The environmental lawyer had campaigned on the promise that he would nix Rhodes's plans in his first 100 days in office. According to the lawsuit now being brought by Rhodes, Jones and Sisolak's deal amounted to a legal quid pro quo trading a thing of value (Jones's campaign support and the dismissal of the lawsuit) in return for an official action (Sisolak opposing the land-use vote and kicking the vote down the road.) Once instated as commissioner, the suit continues, Jones failed to recuse himself and misled the ethics commission about the extent of his interests in derailing Rhodes's plans so that he could vote against the developer's application. Rhodes is now suing Clark County and the board of commissioners for damages that, he claims, run to more than $1billion According to the suit, 'In addition to openly expressing personal animus against his "arch nemesis Jim the Sprawl Developer" Jones had even more personal interest in seeing Gypsum's Major Project Application come to an end. 'Jones served as counsel for Save Red Rock in litigation concerning the very same applications that Commissioner Jones eventually voted to reject. Indeed, Jones misled the Ethics Commission so he could vote against Gypsum's waivers and applications.' Rhodes's lawyers point out Jones was so personally invested in his opposition to Rhodes that he posted a photo of himself on his Facebook page on October 31, 2018, dressed in his Halloween costume of 'The Red Rock Guy.' In fact, Rhodes's lawyers point out, Jones was so personally invested in his opposition to Rhodes that he posted a photo of himself on his Facebook page on October 31, 2018, dressed in his Halloween costume of 'The Red Rock Guy.' The image attached as an exhibit in their complaint is accompanied by the caption, 'I dressed as an alternative superhero The Red Rock Guy for Halloween! 'My superpower is making compelling arguments for preservation and fending off my arch-nemesis, Jim the Sprawl Developer!' In his taped deposition Jones repeatedly denied under oath ever using the word 'arch nemesis' in relation to Rhodes. Now, lawyers for Rhodes, have accused Jones of destroying evidence in his bid to conceal his 'crime.' DailyMail.com has learned, they have called for the court to impose 'significant financial sanctions' on Jones and the county alleging that the commissioner destroyed incriminating texts and emails. Their move comes after a Federal judge took the extraordinary step of ordering Jones to hand over his iPhone for forensic imaging after the commissioner failed to produce all relevant material for which he had been asked, including any pertinent communications he may have had with his wife, Megan Jones. Megan worked for Harris in Nevada during her 2020 presidential campaign. Megan, a Las Vegas native, has been married to Jones since 1996 and they have two children together. But any texts the 26-years-married couple may have been exchanged regarding Jones's maneuverings have long-since been deleted. Megan worked for Harris in Nevada during her 2020 presidential campaign. The VP recently tapped Megan to bring her into her office as a special government employee ahead of November's midterm elections Jones is accused of trading his powerful public support for Sisolak, then commission chair and a Gubernatorial candidate, and promising to dismiss an 'uncomfortable lawsuit' being brought by 'Save Red Rock,' the conservationist group of which he was legal counsel If Rhodes is successful, the settlement could wipe out the $1.5billion budget of the Nevada county which is home to Vegas and its world-famous Strip The forensic examination of his phone showed that Jones deleted all his texts 'en masse' the day the commission voted on Gypsum's application. According to the motion, reviewed by DailyMail.com, 'Jones and the county have multiplied these proceedings attempting to conceal the knowing destruction of evidence in this case.' It added: 'After months of delays, false representations, motion practice and hearings, the Bankruptcy Court finally ordered imaging of Jones's cellular telephone and iCloud accounts, which has exposed another series of shameful and deceptive acts.' The forensic image revealed that 'Jones destroyed all text messages shortly after the public vote on Gypsum's land use applications.' Jones, the motion states, had a duty to preserve evidence. It states, 'There can be no dispute that Jones had relevant text messages that were not preserved as required. 'But Jones went far beyond that, actively deleting untold information in an effort to hide his unlawful scheme.' Jones's lack of transparency was exposed in the first place because not all the parties had done the same. He had blind copied emails in which he made his illicit offer to Sisolak to Andy Maggi, head of the Nevada Conservation League. Megan, a Las Vegas native, has been married to Jones since 1996 and they have two children together In those emails, obtained by Rhodes's attorneys, 'The offer was as simple as it was brazen: Jones would trade campaign support from the environmental groups and the dismissal [of an 'uncomfortable' lawsuit] for Sisolak's immediate commitment to vote 'no' on Gypsum.' In another communication to Maggi, Jones wrote, 'Well, I'm doing my part. If Sisolak doesn't want to play, then it's going to blow up in his face.' The suit states, 'With this pressurethe deal had been completed, with Sisolak releasing a statement committing to vote against Gypsum's applications.' According to Rhodes' attorney Todd Bice, 'They didn't deny it because of water. They didn't deny it because of traffic. They denied it because of a backroom deal and then got rid of the evidence to try to cover up that backroom deal.' Sisolak, the county and Jones have denied the allegations against them and continue to claim that Rhodes failed to comply with various procedural requirements when it came to his Major Plan Application. That, they assert, and not any 'back-room deals' is what killed his development. The motion to impose sanctions for destruction of evidence will be heard in Federal Court in Nevada on October 20. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, is on trial in Washington DC charged with seditious conspiracy over the January 6 riot Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes told a member of the extremist group before the 2020 election that he had a contact in the Secret Service, a witness testified on Thursday in Rhodes' Capitol riot trial. John Zimmerman, who was part of the North Carolina chapter, told jurors that Rhodes claimed to have a Secret Service agent's number and to have spoken with the agent about the logistics of a September 2020 rally that then-President Donald Trump held in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The claim came on the third day of testimony in the case against Rhodes and four others charged with seditious conspiracy for what authorities have described as a detailed, drawn-out plot to stop the transfer of power from Trump to Joe Biden. Zimmerman could not say for sure that Rhodes was speaking to someone with the Secret Service - only that Rhodes told him he was - and it was not clear what they were discussing. Zimmerman said Rhodes wanted to find out the 'parameters' that the Oath Keepers could operate under during the election-year rally. The significance of the detail in the government's case is unclear. Rhodes is seen in a court sketch from Washington DC on Thursday - the third day of his trial Rhodes is seen at a rally in Washington DC in June 2017 Donald Trump speaks on January 6, shortly before the riot at the Capitol. Rhodes's defense team will argue that their client believed Trump was about to call on them to overturn the election Rhodes, from Granbury, Texas, and and the others are accused of spending weeks plotting to use violence in a desperate campaign to keep Trump in the White House. Trump's potential ties to extremist groups have been a focus of the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Another Oath Keeper expected to testify against Rhodes has claimed that after the riot, Rhodes phoned someone seemingly close to Trump and made a request: tell Trump to call on militia groups to fight to keep him in power. Authorities have not identified that person; Rhodes' lawyer says the call never happened. A Secret Service spokesperson said the agency is aware that 'individuals from the Oath Keepers have contacted us in the past to make inquiries.' The agency said that when creating a security plan for events, it is 'not uncommon for various organizations to contact us concerning security restrictions and activities that are permissible in proximity to our protected sites.' The others are trial are Thomas Caldwell of Berryville, Virginia; Kenneth Harrelson of Titusville, Florida; Jessica Watkins of Woodstock, Ohio; and Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, Florida. Oath Keepers are circled on January 6 as they climb the steps to the Capitol Kenneth Harrelson (left), 41, is charged with organizing the January 6 riot and instructing members from outside the Capitol building. Thomas Caldwell (right), 65, was also charged with seditious conspiracy Jessica Watkins (left) and Kelly Meggs (right) are also on trial alongside Rhodes Jessica Watkins, from Ohio, is seen (right) on January 6, 2021 The trial is expected to last several weeks. Authorities say the Oath Keepers organized paramilitary training and stashed weapons with 'quick reaction force' teams at a Virginia hotel in case they were needed before members stormed the Capitol alongside hundreds of other Trump supporters. Jurors also heard testimony from a man who secretly recorded a November 9, 2020, conference call held by Rhodes in which the leader rallied his followers to prepare for violence and go to Washington. The man, Abdullah Rasheed, said he began recording the call with hundreds of Oath Keepers members because Rhodes' rhetoric made it sound like 'we were going to war with the United States government.' Rasheed said he tried to get in touch with authorities, including the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI, about the call but that no one called him back until 'after it all happened.' An FBI agent has testified that the bureau received a tip about the call in November 2020, and when asked if the FBI ever conducted an interview, he said 'not to my knowledge.' The man contacted the FBI again in March 2021, was interviewed and gave authorities the recording of the call. Members of the Oath Keepers were seen coordinating throughout the Capitol Rioters are seen on January 6, 2021 storming the Capitol Rhodes' lawyers have said the Oath Keepers leader will testify that his actions leading up to January 6 were in preparation for orders he believed were coming from Trump, but never did. Rhodes has said he believed Trump was going to invoke the Insurrection Act and call up a militia to support his bid to hold power. The defense says the Oath Keepers often set up quick reaction forces for events but they were only to be used to protect against violence from Antifa activists or in the event Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. Zimmerman, the former Oath Keeper from North Carolina, described getting a quick reaction force ready for the 'Million MAGA March' in Washington on November 14, 2020, in case Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. Thousands of Trump supporters that day gathered at Freedom Plaza along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to rally behind Trump's false election claims. Zimmerman told jurors that the Oath Keepers stashed at least a dozen rifles and several handguns in his van parked at Arlington National Cemetery to serve as the quick reaction force. He said they never took the guns into Washington. Zimmerman was not in the city on January 6 because he was recovering from the coronavirus and he said that after the November 14 event, the North Carolina Oath Keepers split from Rhodes. Zimmerman said the split came over Rhodes' suggestion that the Oath Keepers wear disguises to entice antifa activists to attack them so the Oath Keepers could give them a 'beat down.' Zimmerman said Rhodes suggested dressing up as older people or mothers pushing strollers and putting weapons in the stroller. 'I told him 'No, that's not what we do,'' Zimmerman said. 'That's entrapment. That's illegal.' In a separate case on Thursday, Jeremy Joseph Bertino of North Carolina became the first member of the Proud Boys extremist group to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy in the January 6 attack. Three Oath Keeper members have also pleaded guilty to the charge. Residents living in flood-risk areas on Australia's east coast have been warned to prepare for the worst with three more massive rain events on the way. New South Wales and Victoria are set to be drenched by another intense low-pressure weather system before the end of next week. Thursday marked the first of the wet weather systems and saw Sydney break the record for the highest ever recorded annual rainfall with more than more than 2,200mm falling since January. The second of four storms began moving eastward over NSW and Victoria on Friday morning bringing heavy rain to the west of both states and Victoria's eastern coast. 'Friday should be the biggest day of the week with widespread rain, severe thunderstorms and flooding all on the forecast,' Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard said. Australia's east coast is set to be battered by another three heavy rain systems in the upcoming week (pictured, forecast three-day rainfall) NSW Transport warned Sydney trains could be delayed on Friday due to ongoing wet conditions and flooding at Central Station (pictured, Sydney commuters in the rain) 'Severe thunderstorms should be widespread in the afternoon, with heavy rainfall, large hail and damaging winds all on the cards through western Qld, NSW and VIC. 'Widespread falls of 10-30mm are expected, but quite a few heavier patches of 60-100mm will come along with storms.' Storms are expected to set over Melbourne from midday while Canberra and Sydney are forecast to be hit in the early afternoon. A large zone encompassing NSW, Victoria and south-west Queensland has been warned it could experience tornado-like conditions including hail and dangerous wind. SES spokesman Jason Simms said teams are ready to assist if conditions worsen. 'The SES have preemptively deployed personnel to various parts of the state within the potentially impacted area,' he told Nine News. Following Thursday's storm, a second heavy rain system began moving across NSW (above) and Victoria on Friday morning Sydney recorded the highest ever annual rainfall total on Thursday with more than 2,200mm falling since January 1 NSW Transport warned Sydney trains could be delayed due to ongoing wet conditions and flooding at Central Station. A rain band is set to form from southwestern Queensland to eastern Victoria on Friday night before moving out to sea. However, the tail end of that front is forecast to stay over southwestern Queensland and central NSW and form the third of the four rain events. The system will redevelop through Saturday morning to form a heavy rain belt over most of Queensland's west and south-east as well as central NSW and the state's coastline. That system will begin to move overnight, forcing the worst of the rain to both states' coastlines by Sunday morning. Large parts of the Bathurst 1000 car park were closed due to thick mud on Thursday (above) with more rain to come over the weekend Rain is expected to largely clear from Sydney by mid afternoon on Sunday while Queensland's central and south coasts continue to see light rain. 'The heaviest rain looks to fall between Newcastle and the South Coast with 30-70mm expected (on Sunday). Luckily, this low will not stick around too long, as it will continue to move out to sea during the day,' Mr Pippard said. The two rain systems to strike over the weekend are expected to bring rainfall totals between 50-100mm to most of central NSW. A fourth system is set to hit South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW next Wednesday and bring heavy rain. Supercars fans attending the Bathurst 1000 this weekend should bring a raincoat with the region set to cop about 100mm of heavy rain in the next three days. Organisers were forced to close priority parking on Thursday as thick mud made the field unsafe to drive in. Sydneysiders can expect to see heavy rain and storms from Friday afternoon (pictured, Sydney pedestrians) While Friday morning stayed mostly clear for the central western town, rain is set to hit Mount Panorama in the early afternoon with the brunt of the storm hitting at about 3pm. The system is expected to ease into a light drizzle overnight heading into early Saturday morning before a separate system moves through. Moderate to heavy rain is forecast to set over the track from the early afternoon and worsen heading into the night. Luckily, race day on Sunday is expected to see better conditions with only light rain and showers. The ongoing rain in several already drenched areas has lead to a high risk of flooding across NSW. The SES said it has stationed rescue teams in communities of concern in case of an emergency. Mr Pippard said residents on Australia's east coast can expect temperatures to drop as the rain moves in. Rain is set to ease in eastern Australia by Monday before another system brings more rain late next week (pictured, a pedestrian in Sydney) 'The next system sweeping across the east is a cold front that will once again tap into the tropical moisture over northern Australia,' he said. 'Overall, widespread falls of 20-50mm with isolated pockets of more than 100mm are expected over the next four days over southern Queensland, NSW, Victoria and northern Tasmania.' South Australia is expected to see light rain over the weekend with a three-day rainfall total of 10mm expected to fall in Adelaide before Monday. Darwin is forecast for possible storms all the way through to mid next week with up to 30mm of rain forecast for the next three days. Hobart will cop the end of the rain in NSW and Victoria on Friday and Saturday before partially clearing to cloudy weather on Sunday. Perth residents can expect the best weather of all the capital cities on Saturday with a sunny day forecast and a maximum temperature of 23C. Lawyers for Kevin Spacey have denied he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy at a party 36 years ago, as the alleged victim's civil lawsuit got underway in a New York courtroom on Thursday. Anthony Rapp, now 51, is suing the House of Cards star, 63, after claiming he pinned him down on a bed and pushed his pelvis against him. Mr Rapp is seeking compensation for mental and emotional suffering, medical expenses and loss of work in a trial expected to last less than two weeks. The opening statements on Thursday saw Spacey glance at jurors as lawyers for Mr Rapp accused him of 'trying to satisfy sexual urges' during the alleged assault back in 1986. Lawyers for Kevin Spacey (pictured outside court on Thursday) have denied he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy at a party 36 years ago, as the alleged victim's civil lawsuit got underway in a New York courtroom on Thursday The opening statements on Thursday saw Spacey glance at jurors as lawyers for Mr Rapp accused him of 'trying to satisfy sexual urges' during the alleged assault back in 1986. (Pictured: Court artist's sketch of Spacey on Thursday) Actor Kevin Spacey leaves a New York court following the day's proceedings in a civil trial on Thursday, October 6, 2022 The alleged incident occurred when Mr Rapp was a child actor performing in a Broadway play while Spacey, then 26, was enjoying a breakout moment on New York's famous theatre strip. Mr Rapp said the older actor - who would go on to win an Oscar - invited him to a party at his Manhattan apartment, before trying to seduce him in a bedroom after the other guests had left. Attorney Jennifer Keller, representing Spacey, said the actor has avoided discussing the case in the media and social media but was looking forward to testifying at trial. 'He wants justice,' she said. 'Once you've heard both sides, you'll be convinced this alleged assault never happened at all.' Dr Nick Coatsworth has demanded a review of the Covid vaccine for children amid concerns they barely benefit from getting the jab, and are more likely to suffer rare side effects. Australia's former deputy chief medical officer said the country should reconsider its stance on giving the dose to children above the age of five. The UK has stopped offering the vaccine to healthy children who turned five after August, while Sweden no longer recommends it to teenagers aged 12 to 17. In Denmark, since July no one under the age of 18 can get vaccinated against Covid, with health officials saying very small numbers of children get severely ill from the disease, and therefore vaccination isn't necessary. It comes after recent studies showed younger people, and particularly adult males between 18 and 25, and are at higher risk of myocarditis - the inflammation of the heart, a rare side effect linked to some mRNA jabs such as Pfizer and Moderna. Dr Coatsworth clarified he was still a strong supporter of the Covid vaccine but admitted parents should take caution when considering vaccinating their child. But he reiterated that there has only been one death from the heart condition linked to the jab in Australia. Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) has demanded a review of the Covid vaccine for children as concerns are raised they are more prone to a potentially dangerous side effect The former deputy chief medical officer said Australia should reconsider its stance on giving the dose to children above the age of five (stock image) 'If you're a healthy child or adolescent, the benefit of the Covid vaccine just isn't there,' Dr Coatsworth told 2GB on Friday. 'Covid itself isn't going to kill you in that age group'. Dr Coatsworth's warning comes after studies from peer-reviewed journal The Lancet found higher than expected rates of myocarditis in younger people. 'Specifically in individuals younger than 35 years, with the highest risk among men aged 1825 years after their second COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose,' the study read. 'The data indicate that this adverse event primarily occurs within 17 days of vaccination.' The Therapeutic Goods Administration released its Covid weekly safety report on Thursday showing teenagers were more likely to experience myocarditis than adults. The rate for boys aged between 12 and 17 was the highest with 13.2 per 100,000 experiencing the side effect after the second dose. The figure was drastically higher than the 18 to 29-year-old age group with 9.2 per 100,000 coming down with myocarditis. The Therapeutic Goods Administration released its Covid vaccine weekly safety report on Thursday showing the rates of myocarditis in the different age groups (stock image) The rate for women aged between 12 and 17 was slightly higher than the 18 to 29-year-old camp with 2.8 per 100,000 compared to 2.7 per 100,000. 'As far I'm aware, only a single death has been associated with myocarditis in Australia, that's after 63 million doses of the vaccine,' Dr Coatsworth said. Dr Coatsworth said it was an 'open question' whether or not Australia followed the UK and Sweden and stopped recommending the vaccine for healthy children. The vaccine is still recommended for at-risk groups in the two overseas countries. In the UK, children who turned five since August are still recommended to get the vaccine, as is everyone over the age of 11. 'Many, many parents have made that decision not to vaccinate their kids and that is a valid decision regardless of the recommendation,' he said. 'That is clearly a valid decision because two countries, you've seen, have made that decision with their professional immunisation body'. Council said reports of its refusal to fly the national flag is a 'misconception' On October 11 Central Coast Council will make a decision on its flag policy Wilson: 'This mob don't want to fly the Australian flag on street banners' A talkback radio host has slammed claims a local council has banned flying the Australian flag - even on Australia Day. Drive show host on Sydney station 2GB, Jim Wilson, blasted the move by NSW's Central Coast Council, calling it 'disgraceful'. 'This is the mob that raked up half a billion dollars in debt and poor ratepayers had to foot the bill for their financial mismanagement,' Wilson claimed. 'Those halfwit councilors were sacked and replaced by an administrator but it seems the disgraceful decision-making continues. It makes my blood boil. But the council has refuted the claim, a Central Coast Council spokesperson telling Daily Mail Australia the ban only applies to the Australian flag on town centre street banners with a final decision to be made at the upcoming council meeting on October 11. The 2GB drive show host Jim Wilson blasted the move by Central Coast Council in NSW, calling it 'disgraceful' 'It is the Australian flag, it is a huge part of our history and yet the Central Coast Council - who should be concentrating on rubbish, on potholes and actually fixing their financial mess - say no, you can't fly our national flag on our national day,' Wilson thundered. 'This mob don't want to fly the Australian flag on street banners. Seriously, councils need to stay in their lanes.' But the council said the recommendation in the policys report relates only to town centre street banners. President of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce on the Central Coast, Matthew Wales, told Mr Wilson on 2GB council he is 'mystified' and 'dumbfounded' by the decision to not fly the Australian flag on council assets. 'We're absolutely mystified. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried,' Mr Wales said. 'We're absolutely at a loss at what to do at this point. The business community is up in arms and our local community is shaking their head.' Jim Wilson (pictured) said the Central Coast Council should be concentrating on rubbish and potholes and insisted they should 'stay in their lane' Central Coast Council, however, said the idea it is refusing to fly the national flag is a 'misconception' and it will continue to fly it on 'all appropriate infrastructure' 'This is a misconception of the purpose and premise of the Street Banner Policy and the Flying of Flags policy,' council papers read under the topic of 'Council refuse to fly the Australian national flag'. 'Council currently does and will continue to fly official and national flags on all appropriate infrastructure, including outside the Wyong Administration Building and within Chambers. 'Council will continue to support appropriate requests to fly national or official flags on open space and community facility assets provided specific flagpole infrastructure is available.' In January the council came under fire after it was suggested they wouldn't hoist the flag on Australia Day as 'it might offend people'. The Australian flag hasn't flown on Umina Beach's main street on Australia Day since 2017, with the business chambers offer to pay for the flags knocked back once more this year. Instead of the Australian flag, the banners flown in 2022 commemorated 100 years of the local Ocean Beach Surf Club. A cat owner has been told her pet 'will disappear' if she doesn't keep it locked up inside by a furious neighbour who left her a very threatening note. The woman from Brisbane shared a photo of the blunt hand-written note to Reddit, asking for advice on how to keep her rescue cat inside. She explained a feud had kicked off with her neighbour after her cat ran into their yard and picked a fight with the feline next door. 'I was mortified and apologetic and immediately removed the cat flap on the back door and replaced the door so she can't get out, but we had a tradie out leave the garage up and she snuck out,' she said. After her cat's second escape, she was then left a note that read: 'Control your animals or they will disappear!'. A cat owner has been told her pet 'will disappear' if she doesn't keep it locked up inside by a furious neighbour who left her a very threatening note The neighbour even went one step further and chose to write the message on the back of a printed out council information page with sections highlighted on 'responsible pet ownership'. The woman said she was frustrated her neighbour had left such an 'abusive' letter without approaching her first. 'The problem is our house has casement windows and young kids and I'm forever on their case about shutting windows and not leaving doors open,' she added, asking for advice if a digital fence would work. She said she kept her cat inside as much as possible but the animal 'busts out'. 'Their cat has also been over to our side of the road so it's a bit pot calling the kettle black,' the owner said. 'The neighbours who complained to ME have giant aggressive dogs that jump up on their fence and go crazy every time someone goes past and we live opposite a kids park. She explained a feud had kicked off with her neighbour after her cat ran into their yard and picked a fight with the feline next door (stock image) 'Oh and my next door neighbours dog barks all night at 3am when she's on shift so it's just a whole load of hypocrisy that I'M getting the threats.' Her post was flooded with comments and sparked fierce division amongst many Aussie pet owners. Many pointed out the fact cats are known to kill native wildlife and said the woman had a responsibility to keep her pet inside. 'Cats kill for the fun of it, they aren't killing to eat, and one cat can decimate the local wildlife. Keeping cats inside has been a thing for a long time for people who know how destructive cats can be,' one person said. 'Take the cat back to be rehomed to a home it can actually stay inside and not run around bothering people and killing wildlife,' another said. 'Take it seriously. My family received a letter and the cat 'went missing'. Try to change whatever it is that the cat is doing,' one wrote. One man said he'd caught five cats in a trap on his property and dropped them each off at the pound in the past six months. Others were more sympathetic with the cat lover's problem. 'People who threaten to, or actually do hurt animals are scum. Literal human garbage. No excuse,' one said. 'I think you're doing the right thing. Sorry you had to deal with this, I would be mortified if I got that letter.' 'You're doing really well and tbh your neighbour should be keeping their cat indoors too? Accidents happen, what matters is the work you are doing,' added another. The Brisbane City Council guidelines state cats must be microchipped and kept in enclosed areas if they're outside. They revealed their marriage in a piece titled 'Our Welfare System Is So Fkd...' The pair filled out marriage forms from their car boot, despite being just friends Two young Aussies have told how they eloped so they could access Centrelink A young Aussie has revealed how they decided to marry their best friend so they could exploit a Centrelink loophole and become full-time climate activists. In an anonymous piece penned for youth website Pedestrian on Thursday, the young author revealed the two friends - who are not in a relationship - have been living out of a car and struggling to get by without government support. The author claimed they were unable to access Centrelink payments as independents because they are both under the age of 22, when people are automatically considered independent. For that reason, the author said, they entered a marriage that was strictly business. 'For us, getting married meant we could be full-time climate activists who can hopefully afford food and continue to live out of our car' the anonymous Aussie wrote. However, according to the Centrelink, youth under the age of 22 can prove their independence through working more than a set amount of hours each week. The piece neglected to mention whether the wedded couple were working, or if they are even able to work full time jobs. A young Australian has revealed how she and her best friend got married while in the boot of their car in order to access Centrelink payments (above, a stock) The pair of youth activists eloped in the back of their car without any ceremony, their platonic marriage was strictly business, not even their parents know (above, a stock) The writer explained that the two friends filled out the marriage forms from their car boot, officially eloping by the light of their laptop. The author revealed the pair will continue their marriage until they both turned 22-years-old and could apply for separate Centrelink payments. 'I didnt want to get married. Hannah didnt either. But we knew we couldnt make ends meet if we didnt,' the anonymous youth wrote. Neither of the two best friends have told their parents about the situation. The piece did not mention why the pair had not informed their families. Nor did it detail why they could not be released as independents by their parents, which would make them eligible for payments under the age of 22. The author didn't mention specifically why she needed to access the Centrelink (above) payments, or why her parents would not sign documents that allowed them to be independents in the eyes of Australian welfare The author said the friends had discovered a 'crack in the system', allowing disadvantaged people to claim independence over their lives. 'As it stands, young, vulnerable people are not able to receive payments they need. Queer people and those coming from domestically violent homes who cant simply ask their parents to sign a form allowing them to be independents have it particularly bad,' the author wrote. 'I was luckier than most. Hannah and I were both in the same situation and of a similar age. We were also both not particularly interested in the idea of marriage as a life goal, so we were happy to use up our proverbial marriage token for as long as needed.' The piece received a mixed reaction on social media. On Twitter, publisher Jim Malo wrote: 'These two are full-time climate activists, and they married each other just so they can get Jobseeker. A huge decision no-one should have to make to access welfare.' Supporters backed the couple, with one saying they didn't exploit Centrelink. 'They got married which is the main qualifying factor and they have to complete the job seeker tasks to keep their payments', the Twitter user wrote. One of the coolest pieces I've had the pleasure of publishing for a contributor -- these two are full-time climate activists, and they married each other just so they can get Jobseeker. A huge decision no-one should have to make to access welfare. https://t.co/m5UdnwCXqf Jim Malo (@thejimmalo) October 5, 2022 Another user wrote: 'My kid & his gf have considered this. Neither wants to get married, but may be the only option. It's crazy that they're not considered independent at 18 as FTB (family tax benefit) & child support for the parents stop at 18...'. 'I don't blame them (to be honest). I think we may see more folks marry platonically to be able to access things that wouldn't be available to them otherwise. Very smart. Folks shouldn't have to jump through hoops for stuff like this but you do what you must to survive,' another posted. However there were critics of the new couple, with one person responding: 'The real loophole here is that they're not jobseekers but dole bludgers. Why don't you write a follow-up on the loophole they find to dodge (Work For the Dole)?' 'How about getting jobs and being part-time activists?' asked another user. Newly single politician Mark Latham has been spotted dining with recently retired escort Samantha X, whose real name is Amanda Goff. The NSW One Nation leader and the woman once described as the country's highest-paid sex worker spent about two-and-a-half hours together at a Sydney restaurant on Thursday night. Latham, 61, and Goff, 48, were photographed eating and drinking through the evening at Toppi Bar and Restaurant in Martin Place before leaving separately after 10pm. Scroll down for video Newly single politician Mark Latham has been spotted dining with recently retired escort Samantha X, whose real name is Amanda Goff. The pair is pictured together The NSW One Nation leader and the woman once described as the country's highest paid sex worker spent about two-and-a-half hours together at a Sydney restaurant on Thursday night Latham, 61, and Goff, 48, were photographed eating and drinking through the evening at Toppi Bar and Restaurant in Martin Place before leaving separately after 10pm The pair was perched for most on the night on stools near the centre of the bar, picking at plates of crab linguine and beetroot salad as they shared two bottles of sparkling water. Goff is a self-described hopeless cook and recovering alcoholic who has not had a drink in four years. Latham is a noted food connoisseur who last month accused a fellow MP of being 'paralytically drunk' in Parliament House. She was wearing a black dress and high heels and carrying a tan handbag at the Italian diner on Thursday night. He was wearing a suit and tie. One witness said the pair could be easily seen from the street and Goff was the only woman in the bar when she arrived. 'If you didn't want to be seen it's not a place you'd go for privacy,' he said. Goff occasionally checked her phone and appeared to show the former federal Labor leader something on the screen at one point. 'He got more animated as the night wore on,' the witness said. The pair was perched for most on the night on stools near the centre of the bar, picking at plates of food as they shared two bottles of sparkling water. Goff was wearing a black dress and high heels and carrying a tan handbag. Latham was wearing a suit and tie One witness said the pair could be easily seen from the street and Goff was the only woman in the bar when she arrived. 'If you didn't want to be seen it's not a place you'd go for privacy,' he said Latham left through the front door and headed up Martin Place to Parliament House. Goff tried to leave through a side exit but returned to the restaurant when she realised there was a photographer outside. The mother-of-two was then escorted to the car park below the premises by a waiter who had been serving her and Latham during the night. Goff told Daily Mail Australia she and Latham had met 'a few days ago' when she appeared on a podcast hosted by former NRL stars Eric Grothe Jr and Bryce Gibbs. Latham, a noted food connoisseur, is pictured perched on a stool alongside Goff as they ate at Toppi on Thursday night. The pair dined on crab linguine and beetroot salad A waiter came to add a touch of pepper to a plate in front of Latham and Goff at Toppi. 'The funny thing is Im a terrible cook and Mark, I didn't realise, has written a cook book,' Goff said. 'So he was very interested in the food' 'Politics is something I'm quite interested in and we went for dinner,' she said. 'That's pretty much it. 'The funny thing is Im a terrible cook and Mark, I didn't realise, has written a cook book. So he was very interested in the food.' The pair ate their pasta and had a good time. 'It was linguine, not love,' Goff said. 'I think we can safely say we're just friends. God, I'm controversial enough. 'First and foremost I'm a journalist. I'm fascinated by people and Mark's one of those people I'm quite fascinated by. It was interesting hearing his side of life and politics.' Latham confirmed: 'It was politics, not passion'. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest otherwise. Latham announced in a social media post on September 18 he had split from his wife of 22 years, magistrate Janine Lacy. Latham digs into his meal as Goff watches on. A witness said she occasionally checked her phone during the night. The pair ate pasta and had a good time. 'It was linguine, not love,' Goff said 'He got more animated as the night wore on,' one witness said of Latham's demeanour on Thursday night. Latham said: 'It was politics, not passion'. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest otherwise Latham (right) Goff (centre) were pictured together earlier this week when she appeared on a podcast hosted by former NRL stars Bryce Gibbs and Eric Grothe Jr (left) The post caused wild speculation after the father-of-three described his marriage as having ended in 'rather unique circumstances'. He later clarified there were 'no third parties' and he had been referring to the pressures of Covid-19 lockdowns. Latham and Goff were pictured together earlier this week when she appeared on Grothe and Gibbs's podcast. 'Me amongst all that testosterone,' Goff wrote on Instagram. '...And lovely to meet fellow guest @marklathamsoutsiders - hard men on the outside, softies in the middle...' 'First and foremost I'm a journalist. I'm fascinated by people and Mark's one of those people I'm quite fascinated by,' Goff said. 'It was interesting hearing his side of life and politics' 'Politics is something I'm quite interested in and we went for dinner,' Goff said. 'That's pretty much it. I think we can safely say we're just friends. God, I'm controversial enough' Goff, who left a successful career as a magazine journalist to spend more than a decade as a high-class call girl, revealed in July she had quit sex work - and her Samantha X identity. She told Stellar magazine she now felt shame over her stint as an escort and had changed her ways after being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. 'Now the fog has started to clear, I am ashamed of some of my choices, especially about going public,' she said. 'I don't recognise the woman who did that and it's mortifying for me.' Latham left through the front door and headed up Martin Place to Parliament House. Goff tried to leave through a side exit but returned to the restaurant when she realised there was a photographer outside Goff, a mother-of-two, was escorted to the car park below the premises by a waiter who had been serving her and Latham during the night Goff told the magazine she had been 'acting' when she created her alter ego Samantha and had reclaimed the 'very traditional and conservative' woman she was at heart. 'I felt invincible as Samantha,' she said. 'At the time, I had no issues with going public despite the shock from friends and family. 'It was like I couldn't understand their concerns. I was closed off to it. I was on some kind of high, which now I understand is mania.' Goff was at one time Australia's most recognisable sex worker, writing two memoirs and creating her own lingerie label and adult toy line, as well as starting her own escort agency. Goff, who left a successful career as a magazine journalist to spend more than a decade as a high-class call girl, revealed in July she had quit sex work - and her Samantha X identity At the height of her fame in 2017 she had a short-lived relationship with Channel Seven reporter Ryan Phelan, during which she hung up her stilettos. Goff now says she has quit the world's oldest profession for good. 'I am not blaming my bipolar or saying it was all down to my bipolar at all,' she told Stellar. 'But would I have made those choices if I was diagnosed and medicated? Most likely I wouldn't have been so public about it.' Last month Latham wrote on Facebook: 'In 2000 I married Janine and I thank her for the happy and loving years we shared together'. 'But now it has ended (in rather unique circumstances). My priority now is my love for and dedication to the best interests of my children.' Latham announced in a social media post on September 18 he had split from his wife of 22 years, magistrate Janine Lacy. He is pictured with Lacy and his mother Lorraine in 2004 Latham's post 9above) caused wild speculation after Latham described his marriage as having ended in 'rather unique circumstances'. He later clarified there were 'no third parties' and he had been referring to the pressures of Covid-19 lockdowns Latham edited that post two days later with a clarification designed to end speculation about what the phrase 'in rather unique circumstances' actually meant. 'Just to clarify: "In rather unique circumstances" was a reference to the challenges of Covid-19 and its Lockdown restrictions,' he wrote. 'There were no third parties. Janine and I remain on good terms, working co-operatively in the best interests of our children.' In his original post Latham wrote that he wanted to move on with his life and to continue in public service, 'particularly the forthcoming NSW election'. He added that he wished Lacy, with whom he has two sons and a daughter, well. Lacy was Latham's second wife. He married his first wife, Gabrielle Gwyther, in 1991. They separated in 1997 and divorced in 1999. The luxury brand The Daily Edited has surprisingly gone into liquidation A luxury fashion brand beloved by Australia's wealthy and fabulous has gone into liquidation. The Daily Edited, which specialised in engraving people's initials onto bags, phone cases and other items, was wound up after a meeting of company members on September 30. The glamorous brand goes into liquidation just over a year after co-founder Alyce Tran quietly sold off her stake. Despite liquidation, the company was still posting videos of its products on its Facebook page as of Thursday. Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Daily Edited for comment. The Daily Edited, which specialised in engraving people's initials onto bags, phone cases and other items, has gone into liquidation The glamorous brand goes into liquidation just over a year after co-founder Alyce Tran quietly sold off her stake Tran and Tania Liu launched The Daily Edited in 2014 after meeting three years earlier while working at a Perth law firm, building it into a $25million fashion powerhouse with stores in Sydney and New York, in addition to their online offering. The former business partners initially started off with a clothing line in 2011 - but after the business failed, they looked into blogging. Eventually, the pair quit their day jobs as lawyers to start the online leather goods business to provide a service that high-end fashion houses have always done, but apply it in an affordable way. Launching with just 50 pieces, the pair listed their leather goods up for sale on Instagram before it was all snapped up within a week. The TDE brand was known for its focus on individuality and personalisation, reflecting its ethos that 'you can make it your own'. Its expansion saw it sell personalised leather goods in-store through a partnership with David Jones, in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane. The company opened stores at Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Pitt Street Mall in Sydney's CBD and on Bleecker Street in New York. It then opened a flagship store in the Queen Victoria Building in Sydneys CBD in 2021. Launching with just 50 pieces, the pair listed their leather goods up for sale on Instagram before it was all snapped up within a week Phoebe Burgess poses for a mirror selfie with a The Daily Edited phone case The Daily Edited specialises in monogrammed leather goods at a more affordable price point than similar services offered by luxury brands The brand has also partnered with department stores in Singapore at Robinsons and Tangs in the past. Several famous faces have worked with the brand in the past. Hailey Baldwin collaborated with The Daily Edited in 2016, promoting a collection labeled as #theHAILEYedited. In 2017 the three daughters of movie star Sylvester Stallone, Sistine, Sophia, and Scarlet, were featured in the #MeetTheStallones campaign promoting a new collection for TDE. However, the beginning of the end came after Liu launched legal action against her business partner in the NSW Supreme Court in December 2019, claiming Tran spent thousands of dollars of the business' money on herself in breach of her duties as a company director. Alyce Tran (right) and Tania Liu (left) launched The Daily Edited in 2014 after meeting three years earlier while working at a Perth law firm Ms Liu launched legal action against her business partner in the NSW Supreme Court in December 2019, claiming Ms Tran spent thousands of dollars of the business' money on herself in breach of her duties as a company director Tran previously said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia she is 'strenuously defending' the claims made against her and has 'filed a cross claim that raises a number of substantial issues against Liu'. Tran said she had made the decision to sell her stake in the business to Liu. 'I have given a lot to this business in terms of my time and life and ideas - with product, I have left no stone unturned in terms of the range,' she said. It is not known how much Tran's stake was sold for - but the sale will signify the end of the pair's court action. Liu confirmed it would mark the conclusion of the litigation actions between the pair, as well as with Tran and The Daily Edited. Since then, Tran has continued building her existing homewares business. Liu said she would continue expanding The Daily Edited both locally and internationally, but has not commented on news of the company's liquidation. A husband has been charged with the murder of his wife in the couple's multi-million dollar beachside home. Business development manager Steven Barker, 74, was arrested on Thursday evening and charged with one count of murder after police were called to a home on Bronte Road, Bronte, in the city's east. Officers found a 74-year-old woman outside their property with critical injuries, which police believe were inflicted in an alleged domestic violence incident. The woman was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital but was unable to be revived. Daily Mail Australia understands police are investigating whether a child may have witnessed the alleged incident. The California bungalow is just 600m from Bronte Beach, where properties sell for up to $25 million. Steven Barker, 74, has been charged with one count of murder, after police were called to a home on Bronte Road, Bronte in the city's east about 6pm on Thursday following a concern for welfare report Police have taped off the home in Bronte, in Sydney's east, after a 74-year-old woman died Police tape surrounded the front of the multimillion dollar home on Friday as officers worked on the crime scene Detectives and police officers are seen at the scene in Bronte on Friday morning No weapons were believed to have been used in the alleged attack. Mr Barker was arrested at the scene and has been refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Friday morning. Images from the scene show the elderly man, with grey hair, a beard and glasses, being led from the house with his hands behind his back. Blood stains were visible on the sleeve of his t-shirt and there appeared to be a bruise under his left eye. Mr Parker worked as a business development manager for telecommunications network installation company Schokman, according to his LinkedIn. Police were called to the Bronte home at about 6pm on Thursday Police arrived at the home on Bronte Road to find a woman critically injured. Pictured: Emergency workers race to save her life The woman was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital but was unable to be saved Cyclists going for their morning rides are seen travelling past the house where a woman was allegedly murdered Police officers are seen taping off the home in Bronte after the incident Police tape surrounded the home on Friday as uniformed police and detectives scoured the home for evidence. Detectives later emerged from the house carrying brown evidence bags before loading them into the back of a police car. Police even confiscated letters delivered by a postman on Friday. Neighbours of the family have been left shocked by the news the 74-year-old woman had died A police officer is seen at the scene of the alleged murder in Bronte One local resident said she was sad to hear it was an alleged case of domestic violence. 'You hear about these things but it's shocking when it's on your doorstep,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's so tragic for her.' Neighbour Jack McIntosh said: 'She (the alleged victim) would always say hi to our family. 'It was really shocking. Especially coming home to see eight to ten police cars.' Mr McIntosh added that the couple 'kept to themselves'. 'I didn't see too much of the man but they looked like a normal family,' he said. A bombshell new book has claimed that Prince Harry was saved from turning into a 'seedy old roue' when he started dating Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex, 38, was 'quite a wild lad' and had a reputation as a party prince following a decade in the military, according to new book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown. It includes the prince allegedly playing air guitar with naked with a pool cue at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas hotel in August 2012. But the book says Harry has now left that life firmly behind and is enjoying life in California with Meghan and their two young children Archie, three, and Lilibet, who was born in June last year. Written by Valentine Low, it also details how Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton was appointed Harry and brother William's private secretary on a part-time basis before they became full-time working royals, The Mirror reports. He had to 'steer a course through life' for the young royals, though this was 'more complex' for Harry. Low says: 'The younger prince was a dashing figure, flying an Apache helicopter, and was heavily committed in the area of childrens health, with charities like Well Child. But he also used to be quite a wild lad. The Duke of Sussex, 38, was also 'quite a wild lad' and had a reputation as a party prince following a decade in the military, the book says But the book says Harry has now left that life firmly behind and is enjoying life in California with Meghan Prince Harry was saved from turning into a 'seedy old roue' when he met the former Suits actress (pictured in a publicity shot for the series) Valentine Low claims Prince Harry was saved from turning into a 'seedy old roue' when he started dating Meghan The claims have been made in the new bombshell royal book Courtiers: the Hidden Power Behind the Crown (pictured: The book's front cover) 'When Harry was young, it was easy to forgive him, his transgressions. But at what point does a wild lad become a seedy old roue? 'At the time, it was nothing to worry about: just something to keep an eye on. 'Eventually, of course, the problem would resolve itself, but not in a way that Lowther-Pinkerton or anyone else imagined. 'The wild lad died the day Harry met Meghan Markle.' Published yesterday, the book's release comes amid allegations that anxious royal staff reported 'feeling sick' before taking part in work with the Sussexes. Mr Low, a Times royal correspondent, made the claims during an appearance on Good Morning Britain promoting the book. The book claims that a 'paranoid' Prince Harry would carry out 'loyalty tests' on Palace staff to check if they were still 'fighting for him'. Mr Low also said the Duke of Sussex would look for signs of what he dubbed 'the Palace syndrome' which showed staff had become 'institutionalised' within the royal household. He claims the Prince identified one 'key symptom' as 'giving in to the media', something he claims the royal had become 'obsessed with' even before meeting Meghan Markle. On Good Morning Britain, Mr Low addressed claims that royal staff who had worked with the Sussexes during their times as frontline royals had formed a group called the 'Sussex Survivors' Club'. The claim was written in his new book, quoting royal sources, who also claimed that staff members labeled Meghan a 'narcissistic sociopath' and repeatedly said they felt like they 'were played.' Asked by Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid whether staff had created a 'group' called the 'Sussex Survivors' Club', he replied: 'Absolutely, yes.' Ms Reid replied: 'What did they survive?'. Mr Low said: 'I think it was a very difficult experience for some of them. 'As I revealed last year, there were allegations that Meghan bullied staff. People talked to me of people being completely destroyed. 'I've heard people at the time, faced with a possible encounter with Meghan, were saying things like 'I feel sick' or 'I'm shaking' - extraordinary things for an employee to say about the prospect of seeing their employer in half-an-hour.' However, Mr Low did say there was a way that the courtiers were in some way responsible for the couple's acrimonious 'Megxit' split from frontline royal duties in January 2020. He said: 'There is a way in which the courtiers are to blame. So the people around them were doing their best, these were people who believed in Harry and Meghan and they wanted to help. 'But there were signs early on, in the first year or so of their marriage, there were signs of how unhappy Harry and Meghan were. 'And no one really did anything about that. No one picked it up, no one flagged it up and there were no big discussions with the most senior courtiers in the institution.' However, he concluded that he did not think it 'would have made any difference'. He added: '(Because) what Harry and Meghan wanted and what the Royal family, what the Queen felt able to to give, I don't think there was ever a meeting point.' Mr Low also spoke to Good Morning Britain about claims that Prince Harry had conducted 'loyalty tests' on staff. Mr Low said: 'This was brewing for a long time - before Meghan. Harry had this obsession with the media. He was so very unhappy.' An excerpt of his book reads: 'He would use this phrase the whole time, 'the palace syndrome', when you won't fight the battles he wants, because you have been institutionalised. 'Giving in to the media was a key symptom of whether you had developed it. 'It was a constant test of loyalty: 'Are you going to protect me? Or have you just become one of them, who won't fight for me?' It was exhausting.' Mr Low has claimed that matters only got worse once he started dating the Duchess. He writes in his new book: 'Harry's obsession with the media; his sense of frustration that he wasn't achieving everything that he could; his mistrust of the courtiers in the other households; the constant loyalty tests of his own staff: all of this was there before Meghan arrived on the scene. 'But after she turned up, it would get significantly worse.' Two Arkansas cops who were filmed pinning down and brutally beating a suspect in a violent arrest have been fired, Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said on Thursday. Damante told Fort Smith television station KHBS that deputies Levi White and Zachary King had been fired but did not elaborate on the decision. He did not immediately return messages. A bystander recorded White, King and Mulberry Police Officer Thell Riddle arresting 27-year-old Randal Worcester outside a convenience store in the small town of Mulberry, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, near the border with Oklahoma. An attorney for the deputies did not immediately respond to messages on Thursday afternoon. Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said Riddle remains on administrative leave. Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante told Fort Smith television station KHBS that deputies Levi White (right) and Zachary King (left) had been fired but did not elaborate on the decision A bystander recorded White, King and Mulberry Police Officer Thell Riddle arresting 27-year-old Randal Worcester outside a convenience store in the small town of Mulberry, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, near the border with Oklahoma The bystander's video of the arrest on August 21 shows one of the deputies repeatedly punching and kneeing Worcester in the head before grabbing his hair and slamming him against the pavement. As that was happening, another officer was holding Worcester down, while a third kneed him over and over again. Damante has said Worcester was being questioned for threatening a clerk at a convenience store in the nearby small town of Alma. Damante said Worcester tackled one of the deputies and punched him in the head before the arrest. The deputy suffered a concussion, Damante said. White has been a deputy with Crawford County since January 10. King has been a Crawford deputy since July 31, 2019. Before that, he worked a year and a half as a civilian jailer for the county. Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said Riddle (pictured) remains on administrative leave Randal Worcester walks out of the Crawford County Justice Center in Van Buren, Arkansas, on August 22 The three officers were suspended after the arrest video was circulated on social media, and state and federal authorities launched investigations. State Police wrapped up their investigation last month and a special prosecutor has not announced whether the three will face charges. Worcester filed a federal lawsuit against the officers as well as local officials saying they violated his constitutional rights. An attorney for Worcester called the firings a 'step in the right direction' 'It's just a single step in a very long journey to have justice for Randal and honestly for Crawford County as a whole,' said attorney Adam Rose. Worcester was treated at a hospital then jailed on charges including second-degree battery and resisting arrest. He was released the following day on a $15,000 bond. Worcester's lawsuit said he has permanent injuries from the arrest that will require continued medical treatment. A Proud Boys member has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in connection with the US Capitol riot, and could now turn state's witness against key leaders of the far-right group. Jeremy Joseph Bertino, 43, entered the guilty plea in federal court for the District of Columbia on Thursday, and as part of the deal agreed to cooperate with the government's ongoing investigation. Bertino's cooperation could ratchet up the pressure on other Proud Boys charged in the January 6, 2021 riot, including the group's former national chairman Henry 'Enrique' Tarrio. Prosecutors say that Bertino, also known as 'Noble Beard' was a member of an elite Proud Boys cell dubbed the 'Ministry of Self Defense' (MOSD), and participated in encrypted group chats discussing plans to disrupt Congress from certifying the 2020 election. Jeremy Joseph Bertino, aka 'Noble Beard' (center) has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in the US Capitol riot, and could now turn state's witness against key Proud Boys leaders Bertino's cooperation could ratchet up the pressure on other Proud Boys charged in the January 6, 2021 riot, including the group's former chairman Henry 'Enrique' Tarrio (above) Although he is the first Proud Boys member to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy - a rarely used Civil War era offense that calls for up to 20 years behind bars - Bertino was not actually present in Washington DC on January 6. Instead, the North Carolina resident was recuperating from stab wounds suffered during a December 12, 2020, brawl with left-wing Antifa members at a rally in DC. However, prosecutors say that even as he recovered from his injuries, Bertino continued to participate in group chats discussing the possibility of storming the Capitol. The DOJ says he posted messages himself to MOSD leaders and members on January 6 to encourage and assist in the operation, such as advising those on the grounds of the Capitol to 'form a spear.' During the riot, Bertino applauded the attack from afar and sent messages encouraging other Proud Boys to keep pushing toward the Capitol. 'DO NOT GO HOME. WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SAVING THE CONSTITUTION,' he wrote on a social media account. That night, he messaged Tarrio, 'You know we made this happen.' Although he is the first Proud Boys member to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy, Bertino was not actually present in Washington DC on January 6 Members of the far-right Proud Boys, including leader Enrique Tarrio (center) and Bertino (center left) are seen at a November 2020 rally in DC As part of the plea, Bertino also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully possessing firearms, a charge stemming from a March 2022 search of his home in Belmont, North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly agreed to release Bertino pending a sentencing hearing, which wasnt immediately scheduled. Justice Department prosecutor Erik Kenerson said sentencing guidelines for Bertino's case recommend a prison sentence ranging from four years and three months to five years and three months. A trial is scheduled to start in December for Tarrio and four other members charged with seditious conspiracy: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president and a member of the group's national 'Elders Council.' Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, is a self-described Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. Pezzola is a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. The charging document for Bertino's case names those five defendants and a sixth Proud Boys member as his co-conspirators. Proud Boys members describe the group as a politically incorrect men's club for 'Western chauvinists'. Organizer Joe Biggs, in green hat, and Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio, holding megaphone, are seen marching in Portland in 2019 Tarrio's case is among the most serious charges in the attack, which sent lawmakers running and left dozens of officers bloodied and bruised. The indictment in Tarrios case alleges that the Proud Boys held meetings and communicated over encrypted messages to plan for the attack in the days leading up to January 6. On the day of the riot, authorities say Proud Boys dismantled metal barricades set up to protect the Capitol and mobilized, directed and led members of the crowd into the building. Video testimony by Bertino was featured in June at the first hearing by the House committee investigating January 6. The committee showed a clip of Bertino saying that the group's membership 'tripled, probably' after Trump's comment at a presidential debate that the Proud Boys should 'stand back and stand by.' Police arrested Tarrio in Washington two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. Tarrio was released from jail on January 14 of this year after serving his five-month sentence for that case. More than three dozen people charged in the Capitol riot have been identified by federal authorities as leaders, members or associates of the Proud Boys. Two - Matthew Greene and Charles Donohoe - pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, the January 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. Proud Boys members describe the group as a politically incorrect men's club for 'Western chauvinists.' They have brawled with Antifa at rallies and protests. Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, who founded the Proud Boys in 2016, sued the Southern Poverty Law Center for labeling it as a hate group. Pauline Hanson is being investigated over a tweet after telling Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to 'p**s off back to Pakistan'. The One Nation leader has been accused of racism after telling Ms Faruqi to return to her native country in the social media post made in September. Ms Faruqi announced on Friday that she has referred the tweet to the Australian Human Rights Commission. The dispute between the two senators kicked off after Ms Hanson replied to Ms Faruqi's post on Twitter criticising the monarchy in the wake of The Queen's death. Pauline Hanson is being investigated over a tweet after telling Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to 'p**s off back to Pakistan' The One Nation leader has been accused of racism after telling Ms Faruqi to return to her native country in the social media post made in September 'I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples,' Ms Faruqi tweeted on September 9. 'We are reminded of the urgency of treaty with First Nations, justice and reparations for British colonies, and becoming a republic.' Ms Hanson then launched her scathing attack on Ms Faruqi. 'Your attitude appalls and disgusts me. When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country,' she wrote. 'You took citizenship, bought multiple homes and a job in parliament. It's clear you're not happy, so pack your bags and p**s off back to Pakistan'. Ms Hanson later doubled down on her attack offering to take Ms Faruqi 'to the airport'. The Greens have branded the comments as 'racist' and 'appalling', with Ms Faruqi claiming she felt insulted and humiliated. Ms Farqui confirmed the Australian Human Rights Commission was investigating. Ms Faruqi announced on Friday she has referred the tweet to the Australian Human Rights Commission Greens leader Adam Bandt said there is no place for racism in society or politics 'I'm glad the Human Rights Commission has accepted my complaint. Racism must be held to account,' she wrote on Facebook on Friday. Australian Humans Rights Commission The Australian Human Rights Commission is responsible for investigating complaints about discrimination. Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 makes it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate a person based on their race. The organisation will first attempt to resolve the complaint by conciliation - which can include financial compensation and anti-discrimination training. If the complaint remains unresolved it can be taken to the Federal Court. Punishments vary between corporations and individuals found guilty of racism - and risks fines and possible time in jail. Advertisement Ms Faruqi called for the One Nation leader to be disciplined for her comments. 'For too long, Senator Hanson has been allowed to perpetrate racism without any consequences,' she told Guardian Australia. 'The Senate couldn't even agree to censure her last week. Enough is enough.' Greens leader Adam Bandt said there is no place for racism in society or politics. 'What Pauline Hanson said was despicable,' he said. 'Members of parliament ... should have the ability to contribute in the public debate without attacks of racism, and to be told to go back to where they come from.' 'When people use the bull pit of parliament to make racist attacks on people, it should be condemned.' The Greens attempted to censure Ms Hanson in the chamber last month but the motion was amended by the government and opposition to instead condemn all forms of racism. Ms Hanson has defended her comments and denied she is racist. She said her comments were a critique of the Greens senator tweeting: 'I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples'. 'Criticism is not racism,' Ms Hanson told the Senate on September 27. '(The Greens) see themselves as the epitome of virtue who can say or do nothing wrong. Their sense of entitlement and privilege is stunning.' The Australian Human Rights Commission declined to comment. The boss of a West Australian hospital has strongly denied sensational claims a patient was placed in a body bag and sent to the morgue while still alive. Kevin Reid, 55, died in Rockingham General Hospital, south of Perth - but whether that was on the night of September 5 this year or the following day on September 6 has been called into question. Nurses treating Mr Reid in palliative care believed he had died but no doctor attended to certify this, which the hospital has blamed on being short-staffed and due to confusion because two patients had died within moments of each other. The doctor attended the other patient's ward but not Mr Reid's and he was transferred to the mortuary. But the following day his treating doctor attended to complete the official death certificate and upon unzipping the body bag formed the opinion he was alive when transferred. Kevin Reid (pictured), 55, died in Rockingham Hospital south of Perth but a funeral director spotted a discrepancy on his death certificate 'I believe the frank blood from a new skin tear, arm position and eye signs were inconsistent with a person who was post-mortem on arrival at the morgue,' the doctor wrote in his report to the coroner, first reported by Business News. South Metropolitan Health Service chief executive Paul Forden on Thursday strongly refuted that claim to reporters saying an experienced nurse had assessed Mr Reid and found no signs of life. Mr Forden also said some five hours passed between the nurse's assessment and the body being transferred and that the man's family were present at his bedside for some of that after being notified and rushing to the hospital. He added an investigation being done by health officials was not looking into when the man died. 'Please let me be really clear the investigation is into the protocols following the death of a patient not into whether that patient was deceased,' he said. The Office of the State Coroner is conducting its own investigation, including into sensational claims the doctor was asked to backdate the death certificate to September 5 when the nurse had done her assessment. Mr Forden said the doctor had been asked whether he would consider this but was in no way pressured. 'The doctor raised some concerns appropriately with the coroner's office. I would not try to suppress anybody in the medical profession raising concerns,' he said. It is understood the doctor has since resigned from the hospital over the incident. A funeral director first brought the discrepancy to light after he asked Mr Reid's family why they went to the hospital to see his body on September 5 when the death certificate listed September 6. It's alleged senior hospital staff at Rockingham General Hospital (pictured) asked the doctor to backdate the man's death certificate - which he refused to do Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said she was seeking answers over the incident. 'I am concerned about these serious allegations and requested an urgent briefing from South Metro Health Service (SMHS), who have advised that an investigation is underway,' she said in a statement. 'SMHS is in contact with the patient's family. For the sake of all staff involved and importantly the family, it is important that we allow the investigation, and any external investigation, to run its course.' Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam said the allegations were deeply disturbing and warranted a thorough and transparent investigation. Daily Mail Australia has contacted South Metropolitan Health Service which runs Rockingham Hospital for comment. A pub landlady who knifed her waitress after wrongly suspecting the teenager of having an affair with her husband has been convicted of attempted murder. Luisa Santos, 47, told her chef husband Pedro that Hannah Pritchett was laughing at her and ordered him to choose between the 18-year-old and his family. The mother-of-three, who alleged he had blurted out Miss Pritchetts name as they made love, said she grabbed a fish knife to frighten her. Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had admitted wounding with intent. She will be sentenced today. Luisa Santos, 47, told her chef husband Pedro that Hannah Pritchett (pictured) was laughing at her and ordered him to choose between the 18-year-old and his family But Mr Santos, who held The Three Horseshoes tenancy, denied uttering Miss Pritchetts name and said the bedroom row had been over restaurant service arrangements. Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said Santos had formed a deluded belief about the nature of the pairs relationship. He told jurors the defendant and her victim had previously had an amiable relationship in which Miss Pritchett discussed her boyfriend, college studies and manicures with Santos. Jurors at Warwick Crown Court deliberated for five hours and 16 minutes before convicting Portuguese Santos by an 11-1 majority. The attack in May took place within minutes of Miss Pritchett arriving for lunchtime service at the inn, and was caught on CCTV. Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had admitted wounding with intent. She will be sentenced today Footage showed Santos approach Miss Pritchard as she sat on a stool polishing cutlery, then twice thrusting the blade into her left side from behind. The teenager suffered stab wounds eight centimetres and 17cm deep and spent three days in hospital. Santos told jurors she felt tormented by the victim allegedly looking at me in a provocative way, like she knew what she was doing - like she was challenging me. She claimed that Miss Pritchett always seemed to make an effort and get close to my husband when she went into the pub kitchen. Miss Pritchett sobbed outside court following yesterdays verdict but declined to comment on the case as she left with relatives. The publisher of the Daily Mail last night unambiguously rejected 'groundless' and 'preposterous smears' after legal claims were lodged by a group including Sir Elton John, Prince Harry and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. Lawyers for the group issued a press release alleging that Associated Newspapers, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, had engaged in phone tapping, bugging cars and other illegal activities. Baroness Lawrence has also recently issued a legal claim against News Group Newspapers Ltd, publisher of The Sun newspaper. Associated Newspapers vowed to contest the 'appalling and utterly groundless' claims with the 'utmost vigour' and said that, in Baroness Lawrence's case, they appeared to be based on the word of Jonathan Rees, a discredited liar convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The publisher said: 'We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears which appear to be nothing more than a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal concerning articles up to 30 years old. 'These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims based on no credible evidence appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere.' The publisher of the Daily Mail last night unambiguously rejected 'groundless' and 'preposterous smears' after legal claims were lodged by a group including Sir Elton John, Prince Harry and Baroness Doreen Lawrence (Pictured: The High Court in London) The group also includes the actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and Sir Elton's husband David Furnish. The Mail successfully campaigned to bring to justice the killers of Stephen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence's son, who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993. Our famous 1997 front page, with the headline 'Murderers' above pictures of five men accused of killing Stephen, was a key moment in British race relations history, kick-starting a campaign which ultimately led to the Macpherson Inquiry. Two of the thugs identified Gary Dobson and David Norris were later convicted of Stephen's murder. Last night Associated Newspapers said: 'In Doreen Lawrence's case, not only are these appalling and utterly groundless smears, they appear to rely on the word of Jonathan Rees, a man jailed for seven years for attempting to pervert the course of justice by conspiring to plant cocaine on an innocent mother in a child custody battle. As such they are, at once, totally untrue and highly defamatory. 'According to a recent article by investigative journalist Michael Gillard, Jonathan Rees was paid an unknown sum of money to make these allegations by private investigator and self-confessed phone hacker Gavin Burrows. 'He was, in turn, being instructed by 'a group of lawyers with a pot of money to buy dirt about the Mail'. 'The Daily Mail has campaigned tirelessly for 25 years to obtain justice for Stephen Lawrence and other victims of injustice. The paper is known throughout Fleet Street for its work exposing corruption and incompetence in the police. 'It is not without significance that the Daily Mail published a three-part major investigative series into Rees's corruption and alleged crimes. 'It is deeply saddening that whoever is cynically and unscrupulously orchestrating these claims appears to have persuaded Baroness Lawrence for whom the Mail has the greatest respect and admiration to endorse the word of someone who is such a manifestly discredited and untrustworthy liar. Associated Newspapers will contest these claims with the utmost vigour.' The two law firms involved, Hamlins and Gunnercooke, have not yet provided details about when the alleged illegal activity supposedly took place. They have started High Court actions, and now have a period of time before being required to submit particulars of the claims setting out their case. Jacob Rees-Mogg has backed plans to make the day King Charles III is crowned a public holiday and played down fears that the long weekend will stunt the economy. It comes despite sources saying that some members of the government were against it because of their growth fears. Although the Queen's coronation was a bank holiday, it is not reportedly guaranteed that King Charles's will be the same, despite tradition. But Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he thinks the day should be a public day of celebration. Rees-Mogg said: 'The coronation is an important symbolic act with constitutional resonance about the stability of our system. 'To have a day off for that is perfectly reasonable, and the effect on growth will not be enormous.' His backing for the day comes as the Telegraph reported that government planning has been affected by the assumption of a potential extra bank holiday. And fears were also previously raised within the government that the day off could cost 1.36 billion. This has since been recalculated by PwC, who think that the extra day will actually cost 831million. Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, has said he thinks the day will be a bank holiday, to celebrate the UK King's coronation Rees-Mogg said: 'The coronation is an important symbolic act with constitutional resonance about the stability of our system'. Pictured: The King The King's coronation is expected to fall in early June next year, with royal and military sources saying that it could occur on June 2. This date was when the Queen was crowned in 1953 and rumours have swirled that it will be the same as hers. Other possibilities have been floated, including moving the May bank holiday in a bid to celebrate his coronation. Despite claims of when it will occur by sources, no confirmed date has been set. But it is expected that the day will be confirmed in the weeks to come so there is time to plan a Spring or Summer event. Also, although the Queen's coronation was a bank holiday, it is not reportedly guaranteed that King Charles's will be the same, despite tradition. Pictured: Buckingham Palace One source said that the current idea is to have the coronation in early June as the warmer weather would be more suitable for a jubilant time of national celebration. Another possibility which was reported by Bloomberg was June 2, but many sources do not think this will be the case. If it were to fall on that day, the coronation would happen in around the same period as Trooping the Colour and the FA Cup final. Because June 3 is a Saturday, there would not need to be a bank holiday. A source in the government said that there is always a discussion about bank holidays and the effects but they have not heard the issue mentioned yet. Deputy director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research Professor Stephen Millard said that the economic effect of a bank holiday is usually small. He added that any negative effects are reversed. But he said that the coronation could also generate a small growth for the economy due to celebrations and items being sold. King Charles's full head of hair on new coins and stamps belies HM's sensitivity about his sparsely populated pate. Ditto the coin marking his 70th birthday in 2018. Is it a royal trait? A coin produced by the Royal Mint to mark William's 40th birthday in June gives him a long-departed wavy fringe. In 2018 he had a 180 buzzcut from Kate's hairdresser Richard Ward, apparently fed-up at the ribbing from brother Harry over his lack of hair. Alas for Harry, he has his own looming baldness, telling a competitor at the Invictus Games this year that his ginger thatch is 'doomed'. King Charles's full head of hair on new coins and stamps belies HM's sensitivity about his sparsely populated pate The future of Charles's properties in Transylvania, bought by the Duchy of Cornwall to help him preserve the traditional lives of the peasantry, remains up in the air. They are now owned by William who inherits the duchy and is less keen on maintaining the rural idyll. Charles is unlikely to find time to indulge his annual week's retreat there. Does that come as a relief to Camilla who has joined him only once in the Land of the Vampires? She remains unimpressed by her husband's boast that, as he is descended from Vlad the Impaler, he has a stake in the country. William raised a few eyebrows at the Science Museum, praising his dad, the Queen and Prince Philip for instilling in him a love of nature. Last year at Glasgow's Cop26 climate summit the Queen waxed lyrical about Philip's green credentials, making no mention of how she watched him shoot a tiger in India in 1961 and witnessed him kill a crocodile, stags, boar, rabbits and many of the estimated 30,000 pheasants he brought down during his shooting career. A neat swerve of royal reinvention, William? Further humiliation for This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, pictured, in the wake of losing his 1million We Buy Any Car promotion. His 20 tome Life's What You Make It is on sale at discount shop The Works for 1. Don't all rush! Is the King in the British Library's bad books for not sending it a copy of his 250 two-volume collected speeches? It's a legal requirement that UK publishers dispatch a copy of every book to the Library and it is now six years since HM's tome appeared. Which might be just as well, given that as Prince of Wales he derided the library as 'a dim collection of sheds groping for some symbolic significance'. South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa will be accompanied by his wife Tshepo Motsepe on his state visit next month, proving easier to handle diplomatically than his predecessor Jacob Zuma who visited in 2010. Zuma had three wives and wanted to bring them all to Buckingham Palace. He finally agreed to bring one and opted for Thobeka, whom he married just two months before the visit. Androgynous warbler Marc Almond seems smitten by his pet jackdaw Dawkins, saying she is 'fascinating, rewarding, entertaining and brilliant', adding: 'She can turn on the television.' Fancy! Ukraine's president has praised Australia for sending him 'heavy weapons' to combat Russian forces in his country. Speaking to the Lowy Institute, Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia's aid in combatting Putin's 'nuclear blackmail'. 'The more weapons and ammunition we receive artillery, drones, anti-aircraft defence, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons the more Russia feels the responsibility for violating international law and last, the aggressor will feel that he has little room for any escalation element,' Zelensky said, via videolink. Mr Zelensky also called on Australia to lobby the international community ahead of a crucial vote at the United Nations. Mr Zelensky praised Australia for sending him 'heavy weapons' to combat Russian forces in his country 'Next week, the UN General Assembly will consider a resolution of non-recognition and condemnation of another attempt to annex territory by Russia,' he said. 'I am asking Australia to use all of its influence to convince as many countries as possible not to remain neutral, and to vote for international law and against a Russian annexation.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong slammed Russia over the 'sham' referendums it held in the regions it's trying to claim. She also announced the government had filed an intervention in the International Court of Justice supporting Ukraine's claims Russia has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Mr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin would use 'nuclear blackmail' to cower nations from standing up to Russia. He said a criminal who didn't receive adequate punishment for his offences would perceive it as 'permission' to reoffend. The Ukrainian president said if not stopped, the Russian president would also 'consume' other nations. However, he also sparked an outcry after he suggested NATO should launch preventative strikes to rule out any Russian use of nuclear weapons. Speaking to the Lowy Institute, Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia's aid in combatting Putin's 'nuclear blackmail' 'What should NATO do? Make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons,' he told the Australian think tank. 'What is important, I once again appeal to the international community ... preventive strikes so that (the Russians) know what will happen to them if they use them (nuclear weapons).' Mr Zelensky did not go into detail about what kind of strikes he meant and made no reference to any need for nuclear strikes. Russia was quick to denounce his comments. 'Such statements are nothing other than an appeal to start yet another world war with unpredictable, monstrous consequences,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. To implement changes, the number of assessments may double in some areas Ministers must delay their social care reforms until at least October 2024 to avoid exacerbating a 'perfect storm' of staff and funding shortages, county councils have warned. Last month, Health Secretary Therese Coffey announced a more generous means-testing system and a lifetime cap of 86,000 on care costs from next autumn, an idea first championed by Boris Johnson. But yesterday the County Councils Network (CCN) said 5,000 more staff would be needed to carry out 197,000 assessments over the next year. CCN spokesman Councillor Martin Tett said: 'The care system is facing a perfect storm of financial and workforce pressures. These reforms could exacerbate this.' Last month, Health Secretary Therese Coffey (pictured) announced a more generous means-testing system and a lifetime cap of 86,000 on care costs from next autumn Last month Miss Coffey said two thirds of the 5.4billion raised from the Health and Social Care levy would be used to expand financial support for social care costs. In order to implement the changes, the number of assessments could almost double in some areas of the country, resulting in longer waiting times for care as staff are stretched. Mr Green, a long-term campaigner for social care reform, told the Daily Mail: 'What this warning tells us is how urgent it is that the government takes significant action. 'The previous administration made some steps but if the practicalities are not in place then it is just another big problem which should be at the top of the agenda. The County Councils Network (CCN) said 5,000 more staff would be needed to carry out 197,000 assessments over the next year. (Stock image) 'If you do not solve social care, you cannot solve the NHS issues. 'I would like to see urgent action taken - the Health Secretary is right to lay social care out as a priority but the situation is still unfeasible and the system will remain at risk until the problems are solved.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Our charging reforms are vital to protect people from unpredictable social care costs, and we are working with local authorities, care providers and other stakeholders - including the Local Government Association - to implement them. 'We are backing the sector with 5.4 billion over the next three years to support our planned reforms, and we've also made 500 million of extra funding available for social care this winter to speed up the safe discharge of patients from hospital and to recruit and retain more care workers.' It has driven locals to distraction for years, keeping them awake at night and making watching TV almost unbearable. But despite extensive tests, the cause of the Holmfield Hum could not be pinpointed by an official investigation, it emerged yesterday. The plight of Homfield a suburb of Halifax was taken up by the Daily Mail in February in a feature headlined Why is this town being driven half mad by a hum? But none of the possible causes of the strange humming noise have been substantiated by the investigation carried out by Calderdale Council. Some residents blamed extractor fans at a local factory, while others suggested it was a shadowy US military programme or aliens. Yesterday one resident, Yvonne Conner, 50, said: Its so frustrating. Despite extensive tests, the cause of the Holmfield Hum could not be pinpointed by an official investigation, it emerged yesterday She added: The sound of the hum keeps me awake, and if it stops, that wakes me up too. Last night I could hear it even though I turned up the volume on the television. We feel disillusioned, disenfranchised and fed up that no-one seems to be able to help us. Adding to the mystery, some locals say they are unable to hear the low-frequency disturbance. After more than 500 people signed a petition, Calderdale council launched an extensive investigation into the cause. The plight of Homfield a suburb of Halifax was taken up by the Daily Mail in February in a feature headlined Why is this town being driven half mad by a hum?' But yesterday it emerged that despite leaving no stone unturned, its experts had been unable to find evidence a statutory noise nuisance. Councillor Jenny Lynn, cabinet member for public services and communities, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: We know this is not the outcome that the complainants were hoping for, but we have exhausted all current lines of inquiry. However she said investigations could be restarted if new evidence came to light. Scientists say similar hums have been reported around the world for decades, with the cause notoriously hard to pin down. Australians have been warned a deadly thunderstorm asthma epidemic could be brewing on the east coast of the country. Professor Janet Davies, who is head of the allergy research group at Queensland University of Technology, told Daily Mail Australia a 'perfect storm' of high pollen counts, humidity and wet weather would form over summer. She said the events would be brought on by La Nina - a wet weather pattern that has returned to the country for the third consecutive time this year. Thunderstorm asthma epidemics can affect people who have no previous diagnosis of asthma (stock image) The last major thunderstorm asthma event happened in Melbourne in 2016. Thousands of people, many who'd never been diagnosed with asthma, were rushed to hospital while 10 died from breathing complications. 'They tend to happen every five to six years,' Professor Davies said. 'We've not had one since the big 2016 Victorian event and we're going into our third La Nina this summer.' The epidemics are caused when rain bursts pollen from temperate grasses into tiny particles, which are then suspended in the air and inhaled by residents. Professor Davies has been studying the phenomenon for years and is the former head of the National Health and Research Council and Auspollen partnership. The alliance established Australia's first national standardised pollen monitoring program. Professor Davies said the consistent wet weather over recent years is causing the grasses, which produce the pollen, to become more widespread and abundant. A scientific paper published by her team this year found that pollen counts in Brisbane between 2017 and 2021 were almost triple those recorded in the 1994 to 1999 period. Professor Davies said the events were particularly focused in south-eastern Australia. 'Across the globe there have been 23 thunderstorms asthma epidemics in the last 20 years and 10 of those were in Australia,' she said. Melbourne (pictured) experienced a thunderstorm asthma event in 2016 and they are associated with La Nina weather patterns 'There was the big event in Melbourne but there have been events across the south east in the temperate region from Victoria through NSW to southern Queensland'. Deakin University AIRwatch director associate professor Cenk Suphioglu said this week for Victoria heading into November, the conditions were prime for another event. Professor Davies said not just people with diagnosed asthma were at risk. 'Those who were affected in Victoria were allergic to temperate grasses, particularly ryegrass pollen, and had a history of hay fever but only about half had a previous diagnosis of asthma and were found later to have latent asymptomatic asthma'. Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis is present in the vast majority of people who are affected. A recent study found clinical tests can determine a risk factor for thunderstorm asthma and concerned people with hay fever should speak with their GP who can prescribe preventative asthma treatments. Text messages between Brittany Higgins and her ex-lover reveal she was furious about being offered 'jack s**t in terms of help' after she was allegedly raped by a former Liberal staffer. In the messages between the alleged rape victim and Ben Dillaway, which were tendered to the Supreme Court in the ACT on Friday, Ms Higgins claimed she was 'literally assaulted' in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office but offered 'no help'. Mr Dillaway called the ex-minister a 'f***ing b***h' in a fiery response, before Ms Higgins said the situation left her 'at the end of my rope'. The 27-year-old alleges Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Ms Reynolds' office after a drunken night out in March 2019. Mr Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty. Ms Higgins was on Friday reduced to tears as she was grilled during cross-examination over the night in question, including over whether she had vomit stains on her dress. She also blew up in court when defence lawyer Steven Whybrow put to her that she had told Mr Dillaway, police, and her former boss Fiona Brown that she was making up doctor's appointments to 'bolster' her story. Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra in n the criminal trial of Bruce Lehrmann In the messages, Ms Higgins claimed she was 'literally assaulted' in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office but was offered 'no help' from the senator. Her former lover Ben Dillaway replied by calling the ex-minister 'that f***ing b****' Salty texts between Brittany Higgins and her ex lover revealed her anger after she was allegedly assaulted During the cross-examination that left Ms Higgins in tears, Mr Whybrow asked why she didn't tell anyone about the alleged assault for a number of days - despite being in constant contact with Mr Dillaway and her father via text messages. In the texts, the Mr Dillaway and Ms Higgins engaged in light banter about tacos, margaritas, and his recent drive from the Gold Coast in Queensland to Orange in NSW. The only inference Ms Higgins made about the alleged attack was when she wrote: 'Haha I just get myself into trouble, need to keep that s**t locked down.' At 6.59pm on March 23, the evening after the alleged assault, Mr Dillaway and Ms Higgins shared the following texts: Mr Dillaway: 'How's the hangover?' Ten minutes later, Ms Higgins replied: 'Pretty rough.' Mr Dillaway said: 'Haha yo must have been in fine form.' Ms Higgins: 'Yeah I need to slow down, it's gotten a little out of hand recently haha.' Mr Dillaway: 'Haha oh dear. I wanna party with you.' Ms Higgins: 'Haha I just get myself into trouble, need to keep that shit locked down.' Mr Dillaway: 'Haha do tell' Ms Higgins: 'Just the standard shenanigans.' Addressing the texts, Ms Higgins told the court: 'I wasn't ready to share, I was playing it off.' Ms Higgins told Mr Dillaway that the next day was spend doing university work, but told the court she was 'responding to his messages on autopilot, like everything was fine'. She also had a message exchange with her father where, as Mr Whybrow told the court, she did not mention any assault. Ms Higgins told the court: 'I was in bed crying - I did nothing. I wasn't doing uni work. I wasn't ready to disclose I'd been raped to my ex-boyfriend and my dad, no.' Brittany Higgins sent texts about the alleged rape to former lover Ben Dillaway (pictured) Earlier in the trial, Ms Higgins admitted to deleting photos from her phone before handing it to police - telling the court she 'wanted to scrub all the horrible parts of my life out'. In court on Friday, Mr Whybrow brought up a moment during Ms Higgins' testimony where she said that she told her former chief of staff, Fiona Brown, that she had to go to a doctors appointment the week after the alleged assault and asked if she could work from home. She admitted to the court that she never went to that doctors appointment, but later told Mr Dilloway and police that she would attend doctors appointments. She also conceded that she did not go to the doctors - she had planned to, but said she couldn't handle the idea of going through the allegations with a professional. Mr Whybrow put to her that she had breakfast with Mr Dilloway on that Friday morning, rather than being 'bed-bound', as she previous suggested. He then suggested she told those parties she would go to the doctor to 'bolster' the story. 'The reason you couldn't go to to the doctor was because you didn't have sex with anyone on Friday night, consensually or otherwise,' Mr Whybrow said in court. 'You asked Ms Brown if you could have a day off to bolster your story.' Ms Higgins responded, loudly: 'What you're saying is deeply insulting.' 'You are so incorrect. 'I don't know if you've ever been through a trauma before ... It's confronting, it is a very hard thing to do. I was bed bound, I was doing my best. I completely reject everything you're saying.' Ms Higgins was also cross-examined about what she told the Australian Federal Police during a meeting in parliament on April 1. 'Do you recall telling police you had gone to a medical centre and had tests done but no results have come back?' Mr Whybrow asked. Ms Higgins replied: 'No. I had intention of going to medical centres, but the moment I left work I was collapsing. 'I'd been raped days before. I was somehow making it to work in the same office I'd been raped in... I was by myself.' Mr Whybrow continued: 'Did you tell cops you had vomit stains all down your dress?' Brittany Higgins is pictured (in white) outside court on Friday as she arrives for day four of her rape trial against her former colleague Ms Higgins (pictured) said the phone conversation she recorded with with then-employment minister Michaelia Cash was the 'weirdest' call she had ever had. 'I don't recall. I was on my hands and knees on the minister's floor and I vomited into the minister's toilet,' Ms Higgins replied. Mr Whybrow asked Ms Higgins if she told police that she 'became aware of the smell of sex?' Ms Higgins replied: 'Broadly accurate. I don't remember the specific conversation, it was traumatising, but I believe those word to that effect.' Mr Whybrow continued: 'Might you have said to police that you had vomit stains all down your dress?' Ms Higgins responded: 'I had fallen over in the previous venue so I had grass stains on my dress and I vomited in the minister's bathroom.' Mr Whybrow then asked Ms Higgins when said she had grass stains on her dress, to which she told the court: 'It has been widely reported I had grass stains on my dress.' Ms Higgins said she could not remember whether she had vomit stains on her dress. When asked whether she told police during April 1 meeting that she did not want to proceed with the allegations and make a statement, Ms Higgins said: 'I was still tossing it up. I didn't want them to action anything yet. I'd just had a very intense conversation with Ms Reynolds and my chief of staff.' Ms Higgins was referencing a meeting she had with former defence minister Senator Linda Reynolds and her chief-of-staff Fiona Brown in the office office where alleges she was raped by Mr Lehrmann. Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra on Friday Brittany Higgins told the court she secretly recorded a conversation with then-employment minister Michaelia Cash (pictured) in 2021 On April 9, 2019 - the day after she told detectives she did not want to make a statement - she sent a text to her former lover Ben Dillaway that said: 'I'm not interested in pursuing it but it's all beyond strange'. Ms Higgins told the court: 'I remember sending it. As much as I trusted and adored Ben, he was sill a senior advisor to a cabinet minister to so I didn't trust that it wouldn't get around. I disclosed some things to him but I didn't trust that all my thoughts and feelings wouldn't' get back to liberal HQ.' Mr Whybrow asked: 'Do you remember deleting that message off your phone before you gave it to police?' Ms Higgins replied: 'Potentially. Any photo of when I was 16 and had alcohol in my hand I cleared off my phone. Just as a point - I never wanted to see Linda's face again so I cleared photos of her. 'I wanted to scrub all the horrible parts of my life out. I don't remember when I did it.' Mr Whybrow put to Ms Higgins that she continually refused to hand her phone over to police despite being asked on several occasions in 2021. He suggested she had an appointment with police to hand her phone over on March 21, 2021, but she did not go to the appointment due to an 'urgent legal matter... a defamation incident with Ms Reynolds,' he told the court. 'Ah yes,' Ms Higgins replied. 'Lying cow. I remember,' she added, referring to reports Senator Reynolds had called her 'a lying cow' in February 2021. Ms Higgins agreed that she did not hand over her phone for a number of weeks, despite being asked to, but broke down on the stand when explaining why. 'I was terrified on the basis that, [on the week of May 21] I found out that the moment I reengaged with police that any politically sensitive matters that are within the remit of police gets reported to the Home Affairs minister,' she told the court Ms Higgins said former home affairs minister Peter Dutton had information about her allegations before she made her official police statement. 'I was very scared,' she told the court. 'I was seeking legal advice to know my rights because I was terrified.' On Thursday, the court heard Ms Higgins secretly recorded a phone conversation with her former boss and then-employment minister Michaelia Cash in 2021, which she described as 'the weirdest call of my life'. Ms Higgins initially worked for Senator Reynolds, but took a job as a junior media advisor with Senator Cash after the 2019 election. Ms Higgins, now 27, told the court under cross-examination that the senator was pretending she didn't know about the alleged rape during the phone call - despite having spoken about it previously. 'It was ridiculous. It was the weirdest phone call I have ever had in my life,' she said. Mr Whybrow put to Ms Higgins on Thursday that she had sent the recording to multiple people, including journalists, to begin backgrounding for the story. But Ms Higgins said it was for her legal protection, so she could corroborate her story. 'I was trying to give [the recording] to as many people as possible to have them just so that they existed,' she said. 'It's my word against a cabinet minister's, and the power disparity between those two is ridiculous.' Ms Higgins also recorded a conversation with Senator Cash's former chief of staff Daniel Try without his knowledge and sent it to journalist Samantha Maiden, but stated it should not be published. During that conversation, Ms Higgins told the court the chief of staff referred to another sexual assault within the Liberals that was never reported. The court also heard Ms Higgins recorded the conversations after a six-hour interview with Lisa Wilkinson for The Project on February 2, 2021. She said Ms Wilkinson and Ms Maiden were 'fighting' over when her story would be released. 'Who got the exclusive drop so that come Walkley's time, who could claim what and so it became not even about me or my story,' she told the court. Ms Maiden won the Gold Walkley in 2021 - Australian journalisms highest honour, while Ms Wilkinson was awarded a Logie this year. Brittany Higgins recorded an interview with Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) for The Project in January 2021 Lisa Wilkinson (left) interviewed Brittany Higgins (right) on The Project in 2019 about her rape allegations Ms Higgins said Ms Wilkinson was 'quite angry' about the timing of their interview on The Project. Mr Whybrow put to her that she did the interview to hurt the Liberal party right before an election, but Ms Higgins said she simply wanted to talk about a 'cultural problem' within Parliament. 'I thought I'd do one print and one TV and then I'd go back to uni and disappear,' she explained. Ms Higgins told the court The Project host was 'quite angry' when the interview was aired on February 15 because it was a Monday, and Ms Wilkinson did not typically work on Mondays. After both stories dropped, Ms Higgins said she was inundated with media requests. The court heard she prepared a timeline of events to give to police and, while she was 'passed out on Valium' due to the stress of the media whirlwind, her partner David Sharaz made the decision to give the timeline to two journalists. However, she claims the timeline ended up in the hands of 'the whole press gallery', and that Mr Sharaz regrets his decision. Mr Whybrow also quizzed her over a series of inconsistencies in her original testimony, including what she did with the white cocktail dress she wore on the night of the alleged assault. Ms Higgins initially told the court she put it in a bag under her bed for six months before she 'symbolically washed it' and wore it once more. However, under cross-examination it was revealed the dress was only under her bed for a matter of weeks. Mr Whybrow presented Ms Higgins with a photo of her in the dress at Ms Reynolds' birthday celebration in Perth in April 2019 - less than two months after the alleged rape. Ms Higgins conceded to the court that she 'was wrong', but maintained the dress was under her bed 'for a period of time'. The trial continues. He was handed a life sentence with non parole extending until he's 95-years-old National Crime Authority bomber Domenic Perre will likely die in jail, a just outcome for an 'evil' man who committed a 'horrific' crime, relatives of his victims say. Perre was sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of the murder of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and the attempted murder of lawyer Peter Wallis in the 1994 Adelaide attack. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Nicholson imposed the mandatory life sentence, and with the 65-year-old already in jail for drug offences, extended his non-parole period by just over 30 years. The minimum jail team means Perre will be in his mid-90s before being eligible for parole and given his serious health issues, including heart problems and diabetes, is likely to die behind bars. National Crime Authority bomber Domenic Perre (pictured) will likely die in jail after being found guilty of the murder of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and the attempted murder of lawyer Peter Wallis in the 1994 Adelaide attack Jane Bowen-Sutton (middle) said the sentence, along with the perseverance and hard work of investigators had 'given justice to our beloved Geoff and Peter Wallis' After watching from the public gallery, Sgt Bowen's widow Jane Bowen-Sutton said the sentence, along with the perseverance and hard work of investigators, had 'given justice to our beloved Geoff and Peter Wallis'. 'Although our loss is immeasurable, this outcome goes towards bringing a quiet acceptability to our tragic loss,' she said. 'We hope that our beloved Geoff can now rest in peace.' Sgt Bowen's brother Simon said whether Perre's non-parole period was appropriate would be discussed over the coming weeks. 'But I'm glad that someone this evil is in prison and this person will remain in prison for what I believe will be the rest of his life,' he said. Genevieve Wallis, the daughter of Mr Wallis, said Perre's jail term could never bring Sgt Bowen back or remove her father's mental and physical scars. 'But it is justice and it is retribution,' she said. 'It's recognition of the suffering endured by the Bowens and the Wallis's since Domenic Perre sent a bomb to the NCA. 'This sentence allows our families to move forward.' SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the verdict and sentence in the Perre case was the result of the unrelenting efforts of investigators over many years. Sgt Bowen (pictured) died from extensive injuries, including the loss of his left arm, when a parcel bomb built and sent by Perre exploded in his office in 1994 He also praised the civilian witnesses who testified at Perre's near year-long trial, describing their evidence as crucial to securing the conviction. 'We all take great comfort in the fact that Domenic Perre will die in jail,' Mr Stevens said. 'It's certainly something that the families are very pleased with. 'From a law enforcement perspective, we think this is a just outcome for the horrific crime he committed back in 1994.' Sgt Bowen died from extensive injuries, including the loss of his left arm, when a parcel bomb built and sent by Perre exploded in his office. Mr Wallis, who was standing nearby, lost an eye and suffered severe burns in the blast. He died in 2018. New video shows the terrifying moment when 10 people were injured - three of them seriously - after a NYPD cruiser plowed into a group of pedestrians at a Bronx intersection. The victims were struck at Hoe Avenue and Westchester Avenue in the Bronx around 3pm Thursday afternoon. Three are reported to have suffered serious injuries. All 10 who were hurt - including two cops - have been taken to Lincoln Hospital and Jacobi Memorial Center for treatment. A child is said to be among the injured, and it's unclear if the two cops rushed for treatment were in the car that crashed. Surveillance video from the scene prior to the crash showed a packed sidewalk in the Bronx on a warm autumn afternoon The victims were struck at Hoe Avenue and Westchester Avenue in the Bronx around 3pm Thursday afternoon All 10 who were hurt - including two cops - have been taken to Lincoln Hospital and Jacobi Memorial Center for treatment An NYPD police cruiser is pictured in the Bronx on Thursday after it struck 10 people at an intersection, leaving three people seriously-injured The force of the impact totaled a traffic light, with a walker also pictured mangled under the wrecked cruiser A bloody sheet was also pictured at the scene, while the cruiser's front fender was also visibly smeared with a dark red substance A harrowing image from the scene showed a shopping cart crumpled on the ground after being mangled by the cruiser. Speaking to the media, Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the NYPD's chief of patrol, said: 'Of course, we dont want to see anybody injured, especially when the officers were trying to do the right thing.' He went on: 'They were trying to prevent a crime in progress, they were trying to apprehend someone who was ready to victimize a good person in the Bronx.' Chief Maddrey added: 'They were trying to prevent that crime, but unfortunately the accident allowed that person to steal the vehicle.' 'We didnt even catch the person we were trying to get,' he also said. 'Once the accident occurred, our officers had to get into life-saving mode and make sure that all our civilians are OK.' One victim shown laid out on her back after the crash Witnesses rushed to help the victims after the impact Speaking to the media, Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the NYPD's chief of patrol, said: 'Of course we dont want to see anybody injured, especially when the officers were trying to do the right thing One of the police officers who emerged from the cruiser after the attack Bystanders shown attempting to help the victims of the crash The crash occurred in front of an assisted living facility in the Bronx Another of the officers who was en route to a call about a car theft in progress When reached for comment by DailyMail.com, an NYPD spokesperson simply said: 'The investigation remains ongoing' The officers' injuries are minor, the New York Daily News reported. They were responding to a call of a car theft in progress when the crash occurred. The cruiser had its sirens blaring and lights flashing. When reached for comment by DailyMail.com, an NYPD spokesperson simply said: 'The investigation remains ongoing.' The two cops in the car were speeding to a call out for a larceny incident when it was cut off in traffic by a gray Acura sedan, and the driver swerved, hitting pedestrians on Hoe Ave and Westchester Ave, NBC New York reported. The curb is close to an assisted living facility. The oldest person injured is 65 years old while the youngest victim is five. There was a two year old child who was in the car that cut off the officers. A witness, Nelson Quinones, 42, told the New York Times that one of the victims was an elderly man who is known in the neighborhood for wearing red clothes. Quinones said that he saw a young girl get struck by the cruiser. He added: 'It was real crazy how the cops did that.' Photos from the scene showed the mangled front of the NYPD vehicle after it was impaled on a pole. Another witness, Chuck Robinson, told the Daily News: 'The cop car was speeding. It hit a lady with a baby on the corner. She was pinned against the wall under the camera.' 'Then it [the police vehicle] hit a lady with a walker and it took down a guy coming out of the building. There was another lady walking on the sidewalk also hit,' he added. Robinson also said: 'The lady with the baby was down and they were doing chest compressions. The old guy was trying to get up, but he was covered in blood.' The newspaper went on to report that during the aftermath of the crash a witness can be heard saying: 'Yo, what are you doing? Whos driving? Who the f--k is driving? Don't move her! Don't move her!' Locals watch as cops investigate the aftermath of the horror crash The officers in the car were speeding to a call out for a larceny incident when it was cut off in traffic, and the driver swerved, hitting pedestrians on Hoe Ave and Westchester Ave His new proposal would see three time zones used in Australia all year round There are currently five time zones in Australia half the year, four the rest He wants Queensland and southeastern states to go by South Australian time An expert in time zones believes he has found a solution to the disruptive division of Australia into five different times every year. Let's Fix The Time founder Graeme Brittenden believes Queenslanders and New South Wales locals should adjust their clocks by only half an hour to create just three time zones. Daylight savings time in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania means Australia has five different time zones for half the year and four the rest. However, Mr Brittenden believes the south-east states and Queensland should align themselves with South Australian time to create one cohesive eastern time zone. Let's Fix The Time founder Graeme Brittenden (above) has proposed a new Australian time zone system that would see just three different time zones operate year-round At present during daylight savings, when the time is 10am in Western Australia, it's 11.30am in the Northern Territory, 12.30pm in South Australia, 12pm in Queensland and 1pm in the south-eastern states. The confusing time zones exist because Australia's state borders are misaligned with the time zones set from Greenwich. Mr Brittenden says Queensland should move their clocks forward half an hour and the south-eastern states such as NSW and Victoria should go back half an hour to match the time zone in South Australia. That would mean only three time zones would exist all-year round in Australia. Australia currently has five time zones for half the year during daylight savings (above) and four the rest of the year Mr Brittenden's proposed time zones would see Queensland move their clocks half an hour forward and south-eastern states such as NSW and Victoria move theirs half an hour back from daylight savings time to align with South Australian time, creating just three time zones (above) Mr Brittenden's big supporters include former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, radio personality Alan Jones, the Australian Industry Group, several former Queensland mayors and the former Bank of Queensland CEO Stuart Grimshaw. 'Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, we've got to convince them as well we'd have to do this with the other states,' Mr Brittenden told the Courier Mail. 'If needed, we could trial it for two years because I want to get it up before the (2032) Olympics. 'I'll do whatever it takes, forums, speaking groups, meetings, anything. People need to know I'm not saying change daylight saving, I'm saying it's time to design a new model.' Mr Brittenden (above) said he will 'do whatever it takes' to get people on board with his proposed time zone plan He claims Queensland has lost $170billion since daylight savings was introduced. It comes just days after Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he will push to introduce daylight savings in Queensland because the state misses out on $4billion of economic activity every year by falling an hour behind. 'This morning, the rest of the eastern seaboard of Australia switched their clocks over to daylight saving time, and sadly, once again, Queensland has missed out on this opportunity,' he told reporters on Sunday. 'It's an opportunity from a lifestyle point of view, and it's an economic opportunity as well.' If Queensland were to join the south-eastern states in daylight savings it would mean Australia would have four time zones for six months of the year, rather than five. However, the introduction of daylight savings remains controversial in the state with divided opinions even among Schrinner's Liberal-National party. In 1992, 54.5 per cent of Queenslanders voted against the introduction of daylight savings. Decadent San Franciscans wanting to treat their pooch to some posh nosh are in luck after a chef opened a gourmet eatery serving nothing but outrageously fancy dog food, even as the city battles rampant homelessness and drug addiction. At Dogue in San Francisco, four-legged friends have their pick of the very best foods available, with a menu designed to please even the most exacting canine palate. During the week, that means an extensive selection of immaculately crafted pastries from the 'pawtisserie' washed down with one of three 'dogguccinos' - creamy creations infused with spirulina or charcoal. On Sundays, Dogue transforms into the Bone Appetit Cafe, where pup patrons can sample a three-course tasting menu for $75. 'The visual look of something is incredibly important,' owner and classically trained chef Rahmi Massarweh said. 'You know, we have the saying: ''You eat with your eyes first, before you even take a bite.'' And in regards specifically to the dog food, it's always been a goal to make it look as if I wanted to eat it.' But the establishment of the fancy doggy diner where a recent survey suggested there are more pets than children has understandably raised eyebrows, with critics declaring it emblematic of the skewed priorities of a city where officials estimate up to 20,000 people will experience homelessness this year. At Dogue in San Francisco, four-legged friends have their pick of the very best foods available, with a menu designed to please even the most exacting canine palate Terrier mix MJ tucks in to a dogguccino made with grass-fed pasture-raised cream infused with coconut charcoal and organic spirulina and topped with a coconut shortcrust cookie During the week, Dogue provides an extensive selection of immaculately crafted pastries from the 'pawtisserie' washed down with one of three 'dogguccinos Offerings from the 'pawtisserie': organic ingredients crafted to look good enough for humans to eat Owner Joey Lake feeds MJ, a terrier mix, a dogguccino made with grass-fed pasture-raised cream infused with coconut charcoal and organic spirulina and topped with a coconut shortcrust cookie, at Dogue Rahmi Massarweh, owner of Dogue, a restaurant for dogs, stands in front of his restaurant in San Francisco, California on October 5, 2022 Commentators piled in on Twitter, quick to point out the dystopian nature of a city in which dogs are served $75 tasting menus while thousands remain homeless and hungry each day. 'San Francisco, where dogs eat in restaurants and humans defecate on the sidewalk,' one person tweeted. 'Meanwhile homeless people starve on the street just outside. Quaint,' another added. Some defended dog owners' right to treat their pets and spend their money however they want - though still couldn't bring themselves to fully support the cafe. 'Although I love dogs and love to see them get spoiled... nearly 90,000 people in San Francisco live in poverty and just over 8,000 are homeless,' one user said. 'People can do what they want with their money - it's their money. That said, the dichotomy of homeless people begging for money/food perhaps feet away from a dog restaurant where customers are paying to have their dogs served 3 course meals would be... striking,' another chipped in. Commentators piled in on Twitter, quick to point out the dystopian nature of a city in which dogs are served $75 tasting menus while thousands remain homeless and hungry each day 'The whole essence of Dogue is fresh whole food for dogs,' the chef said Offerings at the cafe include the petit gateau with shredded chicken and pastured cream, the red rose with wild antelope heart, and the golden paste cake with organic coconut and raw unfiltered honey. Massarweh, a chef who cut his teeth at a top San Francisco restaurant before he began catering to canines, said the showpiece pastries are just a small part of the business. 'The whole essence of Dogue is fresh whole food for dogs,' the chef said, with bespoke menus available for pet parents to take home. The inspiration for the new venture came from Grizzly, a pet English Mastiff that Massarweh and his wife had in 2010 who didn't enjoy store-bought food. Using his culinary know-how, he began crafting small-batch artisanal dishes, using fresh, seasonal food. Rahmi Massarweh, owner of Dogue, offers extenisve consultations to determine exactly what kind of menu a dog would enjoy Most of what Dogue offers is food for eating at home, but delicious-looking doggie pastries are on offer in the San Francisco eatery Classically trained as a French chef, Rahmi Massarweh says it has always been his ambition to make dog food look so good that he wants to eat it Massarweh tests recipes obsessively on Grizzly, as well as other dogs Luna, Achilles and Sir Wellington, and works with an integrative, holistic veterinarian to develop dog-safe food from all kinds of high-end ingredients. The new eatery - 'dogue' is French for 'mastiff' - is 'kind of an homage to my roots in classical French cuisine, and at the same time, a gentle nod and almost a tribute to the dogs, the English Mastiffs that my wife and I have and love so much.' Massarweh says his four-legged clients are impressed and claims he prefers working with dogs because they're honest about what they think. 'Dogs are amazing, because what you see is what you get, right? There's no facade,' he said. 'If they like it, they like it. If they don't, there's nothing you can do. They're not going to eat it.' A secret ice lab hidden inside a suburban home has been torn apart with a staggering $21million worth of drugs seized from the premises and a vehicle. Five people have been arrested after a house in Colebee, in Sydney's west, was raided by police on Tuesday at about 2.20pm. Officers allegedly found equipment and 'chemicals consistent with the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs' - along with more than 6kg of methylamphetamine. A secret ice lab hidden inside a suburban home in Sydney's west has been torn apart by police with a staggering $21million worth of drugs seized Two large eskies were seen with tubes coming out of them after the drug lab was raided by police Footage taken from inside the home shows a room full of buckets, beakers, measuring utensils filled with various chemicals, and scales. Two large eskies are seen with tubes coming out of them, while drugs were also found in various metal trays. Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT crews were called in and the property has since been deemed safe. A 33-year-old man was arrested at the Colebee home and was charged with manufacture prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity, and participate in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity. A 32-year-old man was arrested at an Auburn home, where police seized a black Honda Accord, a number of precursor chemicals, electronic devices, illicit drugs, and cash. Five men have been arrested with four charged with various drug offences A total of $21million worth of drugs have been seized by police with five men arrested He was charged with manufacture of a prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity, participate in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime, and possess a prohibited drug. A Toyota Hilux was then pulled over near Menangle on Thursday afternoon where police found an additional 15kg of ice, $7,000 in cash and electronic devices. All seized items will undergo forensic examination. A man and woman aged 36 and 33 respectively were arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station. The woman was released pending further inquiries while the man was charged with manufacture prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity, supply a prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity, and possess prohibited drug. Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT crews were called in and the property has since been deemed safe Another man, aged 39, was arrested at a home in Guildford West and charged with manufacture prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity and participate in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity. A fifth man, aged 36, was also arrested at Seven Hills on Friday morning. He is yet to be charged. All those charged have been refused bail and are due to face court again between October and December. The total street value of the ice seized in the operation is believed to be $21million. The arrests came as part of an investigation into a syndicate allegedly involved the large-scale manufacture of ice, which began in April. The NSW Police Drug and Firearms Squad's Chemical Operations Team continue to examine and dismantle the ice lab. A Las Vegas elementary school teacher has been identified as one of two people stabbed to death by a madman armed a kitchen knife - who injured six others, including three showgirls, during a rampage on the city's famous strip. Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30, and Brent Allan Hallett, 47, were both killed in the attack that also saw four showgirls slashed in broad daylight. Police have arrested and charged Yoni Barrios, 32, with murder. The horror unfolded around 11.40 am local time on Thursday. The entertainers who were attacked were outside the Wynn Casino greeting tourists when the knifeman launched the attack. Maris's heartbroken brother paid tribute to his sister last night. The 30-year-old previously worked as a teacher at 9th Bridge School in Las Vegas. She graduated with a degree in education from Washington State University, and had worked as a preschool-elementary teacher in both Bahrain and Hong Kong. Her brother Gage DiGiovanni wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we say goodbye and see you later to my amazing little sister. Maris was a victim of the horrific random stabbing of eight people in Las Vegas today. 'Please pray for our family and her husband. We appreciate the space to grieve in the coming days and know she touched your lives as she did ours.' Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30, was stabbed to death in the broad daylight attack which also claimed the life of Brent Allan Hallett, 47, and left Tributes poured in for the woman, who was stabbed to death on the Las Vegas strip Maris pictured with her brother Gage DiGiovanni. He paid tribute to his 'amazing little sister ... she touched your lives as she did ours' The suspect in the fatal stabbing of two Las Vegas residents on the city's famous strip has been named as 32-year-old Yoni Barrios. He is charged with murder One of Maris's friends took to social media to pay tribute to the 'kindest soul.' Emma Leeson wrote about her friend: 'Absolutely shocked, devastated and heart broken. 'The most kindest beautiful soul taken way to young, this is so unfair and should never of happened - I cant wrap my head around any of it. 'Thank you for all the incredibly fun amazing spontaneous memories and adventures we got to share together.' Maris's cousin also remembered the 30-year-old as someone who 'brought a light to everyone's life.' Maris and husband Cole Jordan, pictured on their wedding day Maris (right) graduated with a degree in education from Washington State University, and had worked as a preschool-elementary teacher in both Bahrain and Hong Kong The 30-year-old (pictured) had worked as a teacher at 9th Bridge School in Las Vegas Maris (right) is pictured with her cousin, Ashlei who said the teacher 'brought a light to everyone's life' Ashlei DiGiovanni said: 'I still cant believe youre actually gone. This world can be so evil. You brought a light to everyones life who crossed your path. 'Im so thankful for the moments I got to have with you. From sunset chasing, to dancing in your kitchen, to nights out to talking about absolutely anything under the sun. 'You were one of the most open, lighthearted, and easy going people who wanted to make others days better. You were my cousin and my best friend. My heart is broken knowing I cant snap or call you. I love you.' According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Barrios is thought to have acted alone and investigators believe that it was an isolated incident. The attack has prompted safety fears among the strip's street performers. Barrios, who does not live in Las Vegas, reportedly had a kitchen knife and told the showgirls he was a chef and wanted to take a photo with them. Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves Maris' pals took to social media to pay tribute to the 'kindest soul' Friends and family members have paid tribute to the beloved woman - who was a Las Vegas resident and previously worked as a teacher in the city A victim of the brutal knife attack on Las Vegas strip was rushed away on a stretcher by members of Clark County Fire Department According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Barrios is thought to have acted alone and investigators believe that it was an isolated incident When they refused the stabbings started, recounted a woman who said four of the injured showgirls worked for her. A total of eight were hurt, according to Captain Dori Koren of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The remaining three are in a stable condition. Barrios was arrested 'very quickly', said Koren. Dewaun Turner, 47, who witnessed five of the stabbings, told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he saw two showgirls running and screaming while being chased by the knifeman. One was on the floor after being stabbed, and the other tried to run off. But the knifeman chased and stabbed her too. Then, the man stabbed a man who was walking with a woman. Turner then saw him stab two more women, with one of them seriously injured. Tourists are among the victims, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo later told the media. During that press conference Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief James LaRochelle said that the suspect started stabbing without provocation. He said that authorities are in possession of video showing the suspect leaving the original scene and running down Las Vegas Boulevard heading towards Sands Boulevard. Barrios was held by Sands security guards until the police arrived. Video shown by officials at a press conference hours after the stabbing showed the suspect fleeing the scene Pierre Fandrich told 13 Action News he thought he heard showgirls laughing, but they were in fact screaming Following the stabbing, Geli Woods, the owner of Mystique Showgirls, told KTNV that she always tells her employees to be on their guard while working the strip and arm themselves with pepper spray. Woods said: 'My girls walk down that way all the time. We always go down there. That could have been us.' She added: 'I have had some of my employees who don't want to showgirl anymore, and I really don't blame them because it's a scary situation.' Those sentiments were echoed somewhat by Bobi Jo Milstead, the owner of Stardust Starlets. She told KSNV: 'Honestly, Im very shaken up all of the girls are. Its scary because it can happen to anybody.' Milstead also said: 'Its a hard thing to deal with. I know some girls have pulled out tasers and pepper sprays on people who are just manhandling them. Treating them like their property and theyre not. Yes, theyre out there dressed up, but they dont belong to the world.' The suspect, who is now in custody, reportedly had a kitchen knife and told the showgirls he was a chef that wanted to take a photo with them An area cordoned off outside the Palazzo casino after the stabbing on Las Vegas strip around 11.45am Horrific videos and pictures shows what appears to be one of the showgirls in a pool of blood outside the resort. LaRochelle told the media: 'As you can imagine we have scores of witnesses to continue to get statements from and we have a number of video surveillance we have to get through in the immediate future.' Describing a short video showed at the press conference, LaRochelle said that the suspect stabbed the showgirls and then headed south and stabbed additional victim. He was pursued by witnesses prior to his arrest. Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves. At least one of the victims was transported to University Medical Center, where loved ones were seen going in in tears. LaRochelle said in the press conference: 'We wanted to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the victims themselves.' He added: 'This is clearly a very tragic and hard to understand, hard to comprehend murder investigation that deeply impacts our community.' Maxime Wallace, a tourist from Montreal, said: 'A man just started stabbing and slashing. Everything happened so fast it was hard to see.' Pierre Fandrich told 13 Action News he thought he heard showgirls laughing, but they were in fact screaming. When he saw the blood he assumed one of them had fallen from a nearby bridge. In a separate interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, Fandrich said through a translator: 'There was one showgirl on the ground.' He continued: 'There was another showgirl on top of her, trying to help her friend. She seemed to be stabbed in the back, but she didnt notice because she was helping the other showgirl.' Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief James LaRochelle told the media that the police were called to the scene around 11:40 am local time A victim is tended to by first responders in front of the casino where the stabbing took place 'A man just started stabbing and slashing.' Maxime Wallace, a tourist from Montreal, said 'everything happened so fast it was hard to see Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves At least one of the victims was transported to University Medical Center, where loved ones were seen going in in tears People embrace outside of the University Medical Center trauma department on Thursday Earlier, pictures showed that there were ten officers outside of Wynn casino, potentially looking for a weapon Earlier, pictures showed that there were ten officers outside of Wynn casino, potentially looking for a weapon. Multiple casinos in the area reportedly shut down their entrances in the wake of the attack. Officials were quick to alert the public about the incident but assured the public that there was no ongoing threat. Hotels in the area remained open but many tourists struggled to navigate the vicinity surrounding the strip due to the various closures. NEW VIDEO: First responders help victims of a mass stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip. 8 stabbed, 2 dead. MORE: https://t.co/umFA4mfLVB pic.twitter.com/fZR1RoCP0m KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) October 6, 2022 Brittany Higgins has been grilled in court over a $325,000 book deal arranged for her by Lisa Wilkinson's husband, Peter FitzSimons. It came as the ex-Liberal staffer admitted to a jury that she had planned chapters of a book about her life before she was formally interviewed by police about her rape claims. The 27-year-old alleges her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in Parliament House after a drunken night out in March 2019. Mr Lehrmann is standing trial in the ACT Supreme Court, after pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent. On Friday, defence barrister Steven Whybrow cross-examined Ms Higgins over the moment FitzSimons approached her and suggested she write a book. Mr Whybrow also confronted Ms Higgins over a message she sent to her boyfriend David Sharaz which read: 'I'm clearing out my phone ahead of the police.' Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins and partner David Sharaz arrive at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow questioned her about a book deal and texts she sent to Ms Wilkinson and Mr FitzSimons. In a highly charged moment in court, Mr Whybrow put to Ms Higgins that she 'did not sit down for an interview with police until February 24, 2021. 'It was the case that you already started to set out and outline some chapters for a book you were thinking of writing.' Ms Higgins replied: 'There was no prospect of [the book] really being a tangible product. 'I felt like I needed to document my experience. It was a strange, full-circle moment that came to fruition. When I started writing, there was no prospect.' Ms Higgins told the court she met Ms Wilkinson and her husband Mr FitzSimons at an event in early 2021, at which time he told her: 'You need to write a book'. '[Mr FitzSimons said he] would act as my agent, and I said 'sure' and within a day he came back with offers,' she told the court. Mr Whybrow put to Ms Higgins that she asked Mr FitzSimons about a potential book, to which the alleged victim replied: 'I really didn't ask - he approached me.' 'He said, 'I know people, I'm going to ask them for you'.' Mr Whybrow then put to Ms Higgins that she was offered $325,000 on March 16, 2021, to write a book outlining her experiences. He then cited a text Ms Higgins sent to Ms Wilkinson and FitzSimons that said: 'I am blown away. 'Yes I can absolutely do this ... I've had the chapters outlined for the last month or so.' Ms Higgins agreed with Mr Whybrow that she started outlining the chapters for the book before she made a formal statement to police. Earlier in the day, Mr Whybrow grilled Ms Higgins over whether she deleted messages and audio from her phone prior to handing it to police. He suggested to her in court: 'You sent a number of files to Mr Sharaz and, when asked what they were, you said - old audio, 'I'm clearing out my phone ahead of the police'.' She was also confronted over a message she sent to her boyfriend David Sharaz which read: 'I'm clearing out my phone ahead of the police' Ms Higgins told the court she sent recordings to her partner because 'I was terrified of them not existing. I kept those on a USB stick. 'I handed over my phone and gave the audio on a USB stick.' Mr Whybrow put to Ms Higgins that she continually refused to hand her phone over to police, despite being asked on multiple occasions in 2021. He suggested she had an appointment with police to hand her phone over on March 21, 2021, but she didn't go to the appointment due to an 'urgent legal matter ... a defamation incident with Ms Reynolds,' he told the court. 'Ah yes,' Ms Higgins replied. 'Lying cow. I remember.' Ms Higgins agreed that she did not hand over her phone for a number of weeks, despite being asked to, and became emotional when explaining why. 'I was terrified on the basis that, [on the week of May 21] I found out that the moment I reengaged with police that any politically sensitive matters that are within the remit of police gets reported to the home affairs minister.' She said former home affairs minister Peter Dutton had information about her allegations before she made her official police statement. 'I was very scared,' she told the court. 'I was seeking legal advice to know my rights because I was terrified.' Cross-examination of Ms Higgins continues on Monday. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks. A couple has been charged with the neglect of a child who later died after being rushed to hospital. Western Australia Police have said the six-month-old baby was admitted to Collie Hospital, in the state's south west, on September 26. He then had to be transferred to Perth Children's Hospital due to his condition. Western Australia Police have said a six-month-old baby was admitted to Collie Hospital, in the state's south west, on September 26. He then had to be transferred to Perth Children's Hospital (pictured) due to his condition - but passed away on Wednesday The baby passed away on Wednesday after staff were unable to save him. A man, 30, and woman, 32 from Collie have been charged with one count of failing to protect a child from harm in relation to the infants death, PerthNow reported. They are due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. Magistrate refused his release - he will next appear at court on November 8 Barker faced court on Friday where his lawyer applied for him to be bailed His wife Christine, 74, died after he allegedly inflicted critical injuries A businessman who allegedly murdered his wife in their multimillion dollar beachside home in front of a child was grappling with the breakdown of his relationship, a court has heard. Business development manager Steven Barker, 74, was arrested about 6.15pm on Thursday and charged with one count of murder after police were called to a home on Bronte Road, Bronte, in Sydney's east. Officers found his wife Christine, 74, outside their property with critical injuries. She was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital but was unable to be revived. Police will allege the incident was domestic violence related. Mr Barker was dressed in prison greens when he fronted Waverley Local Court on Friday morning, where his Legal Aid lawyer Matthew Bogunovich applied for bail on his behalf. Steven Barker, 74, has been charged with one count of murder, after police were called to a home on Bronte Road, Bronte in the city's east about 6pm on Thursday following a concern for welfare report Police arrived at the home on Bronte Road to find a woman critically injured. Pictured: Emergency workers race to save her life Sitting in the dock, Mr Barker appeared stony-faced, staring out towards the room as Mr Bogunovich conceded the prosecution's case was 'strong'. 'Mr Barker was found at the scene and we have admissions described in the police fact sheet,' Mr Bogunovich said. 'We have blood on his clothing and his admission to why it was there. 'I concede there is a high likelihood of imprisonment given the nature of the case and charge.' However, Mr Bogunovich argued Mr Barker should be released on bail and that he was not an 'unacceptable risk' to the community as the nature of the alleged offence was due to 'unravelling of the relationship at home'. He said his client has never been previously charged and aside from his 'long marriage' to the alleged victim, he had a lengthy career as a civil engineer. Mr Bogunovich said his client would face hardship in custody, would need medical assistance, and that he was willing to comply with multiple bail conditions. 'He has no experience in prison and is vulnerable,' he said. 'In the circumstances of his case, when he is first in custody, he would be under constant medical supervision and as a possible suicide risk.' Due to the nature of Covid-19 restrictions, Mr Bogunovich said Mr Barker would have to undergo an initial quarantine period which would mean being kept in isolation. Police tape pictured around the front of the home in Bronte, in Sydney's east, on Friday Detectives scoured of the multimillion dollar home on Friday as officers worked on the crime scene Mr Bogunovich also said Mr Barker was by 'no stretch' a flight risk and, despite having the means to travel, had only ventured overseas three times - the last being more than a decade ago to Malaysia, with his passport now expired. Police prosecutor Sergeant Nicole McMahon said the case against Mr Barker was 'overwhelming' and he had made 'full and detailed' admissions to police officers wearing body cameras at the scene. She said there was a witness to the alleged crime and Mr Barker made an admission to a second witness who arrived shortly afterwards. Arguing against bail, Ms McMahon said the court should be concerned by the alleged 'significant violence' that took place. 'The court could not possibly see this person as an unacceptable risk. The court can also take into account it was allegedly committed in front of a young person. This is extremely concerning.' Ms McMahon said the case would only be 'strengthened' by crime scene and forensic evidence. She noted if Mr Barker was convicted he could be facing life imprisonment. 'These needs outlined [by the defence] do not outweigh the needs of detention,' she said. Magistrate Clare Farnan agreed with the prosecution and refused Mr Barker bail, saying the alleged crime was 'the most serious offence known in criminal law'. 'The allegation is clearly exceptionally serious and if convicted it is inevitable he will go to prison,' she said. Magistrate Farnan said the prosecution's case was strong and given the seriousness of the crime there was a concern he may not appear in court if released. Detectives and police officers are seen at the scene in Bronte on Friday morning The multi-million dollar home (pictured) sits 600metres away from popular Bronte Beach While she accepted the Covid pandemic has made the prison system 'onerous' for inmates, she said there was no evidence Mr Barker suffers from a medical condition. She added that the defence had failed to explain what specific hardships he might face behind bars other than those typical for an individual's first incarceration. 'I don't believe either of those [reasons presented by the defence] justify cause,' she said. Bail was refused. Mr Barker is due to next appear in Waverley Local Court via video link on November 8. Outside court, three of Mr Barker's supporters - a woman and two men - appeared downcast as they left the hearing. 'No one will be commenting [about Steven and Christine],' one man said. 'So please leave us alone.' Earlier on Friday, NSW Ambulance spokesperson said the woman had suffered a cardiac arrest. No weapons were believed to have been used in the alleged attack. Mr Barker was arrested at the scene and was remanded in custody until his court appearance on Friday. Some of Mr Barker's supporters (pictured) sat in on his hearing at Waverley Local Court on Friday A man told reporters outside court they would not be commenting on the case Images from the scene show the elderly man, with grey hair, a beard and glasses, being led from the house with his hands behind his back. Blood stains were visible on the sleeve of his t-shirt and there appeared to be a bruise under his left eye. The couple's California bungalow is just 600m from Bronte Beach, where properties sell for up to $25 million. Mr Parker worked as a business development manager for telecommunications network installation company Schokman, according to his LinkedIn. Police tape surrounded the home on Friday as uniformed police and detectives scoured the home for evidence. Detectives later emerged from the house carrying brown evidence bags before loading them into the back of a police car. Police even confiscated letters delivered by a postman on Friday. The trio looked downcast as they sat through the proceedings. They are pictured exiting the court One local resident said she was sad to hear it was an alleged case of domestic violence. 'You hear about these things but it's shocking when it's on your doorstep,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's so tragic for her.' Neighbour Jack McIntosh said: 'She (the alleged victim) would always say hi to our family. 'It was really shocking. Especially coming home to see eight to `10 police cars.' Mr McIntosh added that the couple 'kept to themselves'. 'I didn't see too much of the man but they looked like a normal family,' he said. A man was left shocked after he was charged 35,000 for a 15 minute Uber trip when the driver mixed up a town in Manchester with one in Australia - 10,000 miles away. Oliver Kaplan, 22, was told it would cost just 10 for the four-mile trip from Hyde to Ashton-Under-Lyne on a trip to meet friends for drinks. An Uber picked the trainee chef up from the Buxton Inn, outside Hyde in Greater Manchester. It then took him to the Witchwood, a pub in Ashton-under-Lyne - a journey of roughly four miles. However, he woke up the next morning to find Uber had tried to take 35,427.97 from his bank account. Oliver Kaplan, 22, was told it would cost just 10 for the four-mile trip to Ashton-under-Lyne The Uber driver is thought to have mixed up Ashton-under-Lyne with the town of Ashton near Adelaide in South Australia Oliver said: 'I ordered an Uber like I do most nights on the way home from work and everything seemed normal. 'The driver arrived, I got in the Uber and he took me exactly where I was meant to be going. 'It was a 15-minute journey - tops - and the bill was said to be between 10 and 11, charged to my debit card. 'But when I woke up hungover the next morning, the last thing I expected was a charge of over 35,000!' Oliver, from Hyde, quickly contacted Uber's customer services department through the app to find out about the ludicrous charge. He says they were initially stumped but, after doing a little digging, the worker said they had found the reason. They said the bill was so high was because somehow the drop off location for the trip had been set - to Australia. Uber then adjusted Oliver's fare to the real amount of 10.73 before the money came out of his bank account. 'It said the amount couldn't be taken because I had insufficient funds,' said Oliver. 'If I had have had that sort of money, I would have had to chase them for a refund - it could have landed me in all sorts of financial trouble. 'I'm still wondering how the location was even set to Australia in the first place, seeing as it is the other side of the globe. 'Thankfully they were really good about it, and made it right straight away - but it was a stressful half an hour to say the least.' Uber said: 'As soon as this issue was raised on Oliver's account we immediately corrected the fare. We're very sorry for any inconvenience caused.' The U.S. Air Force and Space Force have released a climate action plan with the goal of reducing its sizable carbon footprint by using 'ultra-efficient' planes and electric cars. In the plan released to the public on Wednesday, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said: 'We are focused on modernization and improving our operational posture relative to our pacing challenge: China. We remain ready to respond and achieve air and space dominance when and where the nation needs us.' But former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the plan, tweeting: 'I can guarantee you that the China's Air Force is not obsessing about green energy. They're focused on defeating America.' The Air Force plans to speed up the development of 'ultra-efficient' equipment in order to increase its aircraft's fuel efficiency and dramatically cut its energy consumption. Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo blasted the plan: 'I can guarantee you that the China's Air Force is not obsessing about green energy. They're focused on defeating America.' The Air Force is working with NASA and defense companies to speed up the prototyping of the designs - including a blended-wing body for a future tanker or mobility aircraft - and hopes to finish by 2027. In the report is pictured an X-48B blended-wing prototype developed by Boeing's Phantom Works, NASA, and the Air Force Research Laboratory in the late 2000s. According to the report, a blended-wing design for a future tanker or cargo aircraft could increase aerodynamic efficiency by at least 30 percent over today's planes. And by burning less fuel, it would make it easier for the Air Force to carry out missions in a contested environment, the report said. In the report is pictured a X-48B blended-wing prototype developed by Boeing's Phantom Works, NASA, and the Air Force Research Laboratory in the late 2000s. Pictured: NASA engineer Gary Cosentino prepares a X-48B for flight in 2010 NASA Glenn's mini nuclear reactor experiment The Air Force is also working to update existing aircraft with drag reduction technologies, adopt better engine sustainment technologies, use more simulation and augmented reality systems for training, and modernize the software used to plan and allocate aircrews and aircraft, the report said. A photo of Lockheed Martins Microvanes on the aft of a C-17 Globemaster was in the plan as an example of drag reduction technologies. Microvanes are intended to reshape the air flow around the aft cargo door of an aircraft so that when that door is opened in-flight it doesnt create as much fuel-guzzling drag, according to Defense News. There are also goals in the report for non-tactical support vehicles to be zero-emission vehicles such as electric vehicles by 2035. 'Our mission remains unchanged, but we recognize that the world is facing ongoing and accelerating climate change and we must be prepared to respond, fight, and win in this constantly changing world,' the report said. The plan outlines three major priorities that ensure the Department of the Air Force maintains the ability to operate under a changing climate, including: 1. Maintain air and space dominance in the face of climate risks: Invest in climate-ready and resilient infrastructure and facilities so our installations are better able to project air and space combat power. 2. Make climate-informed decisions: Develop a climate-informed workforce, integrate security implications of climate change into Department strategy, planning, training, and operations, and incorporate climate considerations into Department requirements, acquisition, logistics, supply chain processes, and wargaming. 3. Optimize energy use and pursue alternative energy sources: Expand operational capability and power projection to support operations globally while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting cost-competitive alternative energy sources. A dread-inspiring weather map has revealed the 400km stretch of Australian coast set to be hammered by a megastorm bringing more flooding hell for NSW locals. The severe weather warning is for a large part of New South Wales, from just south of Newcastle, but including the lower Hunter Valley, south to Ulladulla, and also 200km inland to the Central Tablelands towns of Oberon and Lithgow. The alert for heavy rainfall, possible flash flooding, wind gusts of up to 90km/h and landslides was issued on Friday afternoon and applies from Saturday onwards. The warning comes as Melbourne was hit by a deluge which brought half the city's average monthly rainfall in just one hour. A dread-inspiring weather map has revealed the 400km stretch of Australian coast set to be hammered by a megastorm bringing more flooding hell for NSW locals The weather office issued a warning for flooding in many of NSW river systems in coming days (Pictured two people use a kayak to navigate their driveway at Millers Forest, NSW after flooding in July 2022) Sydney, Gosford, Penrith, Parramatta, Katoomba and Wollongong are all in the path of the storm from Saturday afternoon, as are dozens of smaller towns in heavily populated areas like the Central Coast. Most of them have been forecast with 100 per cent chance of rain for Saturday. The storm will also reach deep into the lower Hunter, hitting towns including Maitland and Singleton, which also both have a 100 per cent chance of rain for Saturday. Canberra will also see a wet weekend but will not see the same amount of rain or the high winds that coastal towns and further north will experience. The bleak weekend weather warnings came after it was revealed Sydney has this week smashed its all-time rainfall record of 2,194mm set in 1950. While much of the state was already copping rain on Friday afternoon, the worst of it is due to come late on Saturday afternoon, lasting until Sunday. While much of the state was already copping rain on Friday afternoon, the worst of it is due to come late on Saturday afternoon, lasting until Sunday The alert was for heavy rainfall, flash flooding, wind gusts of up to 90km an hour and debris on roads was issued on Friday afternoon and applies from Saturday onwards (Pictured, a boulder blocks Wiseman Ferry Road) 'Six-hourly rainfall totals between 30 to 50mm are likely, with isolated falls above 70mm possible,' a statement from the Bureau of Meteorology said. It added that the heavy rain could bring 'landslides and debris across roads' in all affected areas. The BoM also warned rain from Friday onwards could lead to flooding in river systems across a huge part of the state. 'This is likely to cause renewed flooding in the NSW inland rivers and the Hunter, Shoalhaven and Greater Sydney districts,' a BoM flood watch warning issued on Friday said. 'Renewed major flooding is possible for the Gwydir, Namoi, Macquarie, Belubula, Lachlan and Bogan Rivers and Mandagery Creek from Friday into the weekend.' The storm will also see temperatures tumbling to an unseasonable 17C top in Sydney on Sunday, 'A surface trough is drawing humid, tropical air over New South Wales. A low pressure centre is expected to deepen within the trough during Saturday and then cross the coast late Saturday or early Sunday.' The storm is likely to head offshore by late Sunday. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are also forecast to see some rain, but nowhere near the same amount as further south. On Friday in Melbourne half of October's average rainfall fell in one hour as some suburbs received 30 millimetres of rain in as little as 20 minutes on Friday. There were fears a private dam in Craigieburn could collapse, with emergency services and engineers on site and a nearby major road shut down as a precaution. Authorities are bracing for major flooding on Saturday along the Avoca River at Charleton, northwest of Bendigo. A woman shelters from the rain under an umbrella while crossing a street in Sydney on October 6, ahead of another wet weekend The Hunter Valley town of Singleton named in the weather office's severe weather warning for Saturday and Sunday (Pictured, flooding at Singleton in July 2022) A major warning was issued for the Loddon River at Laanecoorie, east of Bendigo. The deluge on Friday followed a night of wild weather, with the SES receiving more than 600 calls for help in 24 hours. The Evoca and Maryborough areas in regional Victoria received 50 to 65mm in an hour - roughly one month's worth of rain. Areas around Frankston, Bayside, Woodend and the Maryborough district were also hard hit. Two cars became submerged in one metre of water in South Melbourne while other vehicles became stranded at Seaford, in the city's south-east. State Response Controller Tim Wiebusch said he was disappointed at least 15 people attempted to drive through flood waters. "We know the single largest death or cause of death in flooding is people attempting to drive through flood waters," he said. "Driving through flood waters could be the last decision you make." More than half of the calls for assistance related to the impacts of flash flooding such as leaking roofs. There were over 120 requests for building damage, with most related to fallen trees. Heavy rainfall was expected to continue in northeast Victoria on Saturday, before conditions ease on Sunday. Former NRL player Curtis Scott has been convicted of assaulting his athlete girlfriend and intimidating her with threats to kill as their relationship broke down in 2018. Scott, 24, pleaded not guilty to a choking charge, two charges of assault occasioning body harm and one charge of intimidation against his partner at the time, long jumper Tay-Leiha Clark. He also denied backup counts of assault. The charges related to alleged altercations in a hotel room at Lake Conjola, Sylvania and a 'break-up' incident before Scott drove a car into a tree. Former NRL player Curtis Scott has been convicted of assaulting his athlete girlfriend Tay-Leiha Clark (pictured) and intimidating her with threats to kill as their relationship broke down The former Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders player had several other related charges against him dismissed at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court in August. In handing down verdicts on Friday, magistrate Daniel Covington said he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt Scott assaulted Clark causing actual bodily harm in the so-called Sylvania incident on October 27, 2018. The magistrate pointed to evidence that Scott put his hand on Clark's neck and 'launched' her over a lounge into a wall, causing her to skin her arm and sustain an egg-sized lump on her head. He noted that while no one saw it happen, Ms Clark's version was consistent with 'persuasive' testimony from others in the house at the time. The magistrate said Scott 'launched' Tay-Leiha Clark over a lounge into a wall, causing her to skin her arm and sustain an egg-sized lump on her head On the Lake Conjola incident, Mr Covington found Scott guilty of common assault, concluding that the ex-NRL player 'charged' at Clark, but said he could not conclude he bit her on the neck. The court heard the assault was sparked when Scott got 'cranky' after Clark's sister became scared one night and wanted to sleep in her bed with her. There was evidence that after the incident Clark said Scott 'was standing over me going 'f***, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry',' the magistrate said. He also convicted Scott of intimidating Ms Clark in a phone call - the break-up incident - accepting Scott said 'f*** you, I'm going to kill you', called her a 'w***e' and 's***', and also threatened to kill himself, before he drove into a tree. The court heard the assault was sparked when Curtis Scott (pictured) got 'cranky' after Clark's sister became scared one night and wanted to sleep in her bed with her The magistrate said there was an abundance of evidence that Scott made the threats and rejected his claims that he only threatened to harm himself. He dismissed charges against Scott over the alleged hotel room assault, describing it as a 'one-one-one' incident with no other witnesses. Mr Covington commended Clark's testimony at trial, describing it as logical and noting that she answered questions without delay. 'She was firm in her evidence and didn't waver in cross-examination, he said. 'Aspects of her evidence were compelling.' Former Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders star Curtis Scott will be sentenced on November 18 On defence claims that her credibility was a 'live issue' and that her evidence was embellished and inconsistent, Mr Covington rejected issues 'infected' the evidence. He adjourned the matter to November 18 for sentence. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 440 tanks and more than 600 armoured vehicles have been seized by Kyiv's men Russia is now Ukraine's largest arms supplier and fully half of its tank fleet was likely captured from Moscow's men, it has been revealed on Putin's 70th birthday. Ukraine's rout of Russia's armies in Kharkiv oblast last month yielded huge amounts of gear, meaning more than 400 tanks, 600 armoured vehicles, and 44 multiple-launch rocket systems have been captured in working or near-working condition. It means that, in terms of pure numbers, Russia is now easily the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine - outpacing all other allies combined. British military intelligence believes that half of Ukraine's tank fleet may now be made up of vehicles that Russia's demoralised troops effectively handed over. Ukrainian troops open fire using a captured Russian 152.4 mm Msta-B howitzer and supplies of Soviet-era artillery taken from Putin's troops Ukrainian tank crews stand on top of a captured Russian tank in Kharkiv oblast, where hundreds of vehicles were left behind in working or near-working condition A Ministry of Defence update this morning said: 'Re-purposed or captured Russian equipment now makes up a lar proportion of Ukraine's military hardware. 'Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian main battle tanks, and around 650 other armoured vehicles since the invasion. 'Over half of Ukraine's currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles. 'The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. 'With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralised troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weponary.' According to analysts at the Wall Street Journal, Ukraine has captured a total of 421 main battle tanks from Russia while all its other allies combine have supplied 320. For armoured vehicles, the statistics are even more stark: 445 captured from Russia, compared to 210 they have been supplied with. Only when it comes to multiple-launch rocket systems - such as HIMARS - does Wester-supplied gear outstrip what has been captured, but only barely: 70 donated compared to 44 captured. Ukraine has also seized huge quantities of Soviet-standard shells which it needs for the Soviet-era weapons that make up the mainstay of its forces Ukrainian troops open fire with an artillery gun captured from Russian forces during their counter-attack in Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers tow a captured Russian armored vehicle (right) to be repaired and sent back to the frontlines in Rudneve village, Kharkiv oblast And, crucially, Ukraine's Kharkiv offensive allowed them to capture huge caches of Soviet-standard artillery shells that it had almost run out of. Soviet era guns, which make up the mainstay of Ukraine's armed forces, fire a different calibre of shell than NATO guns - meaning Ukraine's allies could not supply it, and Russia was obviously not willing to trade. The information was revealed on the same day that Putin turns 70, with fellow despot Kim Jong Un wishing him a happy birthday today. North Korea's main state-owned newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said Kim had sent his counterpart in the Kremlin a letter of congratulations. Chairman Kim told Putin that 'Russia is reliably defending the dignity of the state and its fundamental interests from the challenges and threats by the US and its vassal forces,' according to the newspaper. 'Such reality is unthinkable without your distinguished leadership and strong will,' it added. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is now into its eighth month of fighting, with Putin's forces being pushed back on two fronts. Ukraine's assault in the north, which recaptured almost the whole of the Kharkiv region in just a few days, has now pushed on to neighbouring Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, with towns in both regions being liberated. Vladimir Putin celebrates his 70th birthday today in the knowledge that Russia is now Ukraine's largest supplier of weapons (file image) Meanwhile, in the south, a months-old offensive in the Kherson region finally yielded fruit this week as Russia abandoned its forward defensive lines and beat a retreat. The withdrawal was not as chaotic as in the north, but it still allowed Ukraine's troops to capture dozens of towns and villages in quick succession before reaching Russia's secondary defensive line around 12 miles away. Putin's troops in Kherson are now being squeezed into a smaller and smaller pocket of territory on the west bank of the Dnipro River, and have no easy way to retreat after Ukraine took out the main bridge crossings. There are thought to be around 15,000 of Putin's best troops defending the west bank under strict orders from the Kremlin not to give it up. Should they be defeated, it could mean the destruction or capture of the best part of Russia's remaining army and would call into question their ability to hold on to any of the territory they have taken so far. The losses in Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk are also particularly embarrassing for Putin as he annexed all three of those regions to Russia last week, declaring them to be part of the mainland. It means that only one region he annexed - Zaporizhzhia - has not seen any land fall into Ukraine's hand since Putin's annexation speech, but Russian propagandists are warning that Kyiv is preparing to launch an offensive there as well. Advertisement A forest fire that tore through part of Easter Island has charred some of its fabled monumental carved stone figures, known as moai, authorities said Thursday. 'Nearly 60 hectares (148 acres) were affected, including some moai,' Carolina Perez, cultural heritage undersecretary, said in a Twitter post. On Easter Island, which lies some 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) off the west coast of Chile, 100 hectares have been razed by flames since Monday, Perez said. The area around the Rano Raraku volcano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the most affected. An estimated several hundred moai are in that area, as well as in the quarry where the stone used to carve the sculptures is extracted. Stone statues of the Rapa Nui culture were affected by a fire at the Rapa Nui National Park in Easter Island on October 6, 2022 This handout picture released by the Rapanui Municipality shows Moais devastated by the blaze View of a fire at the Rapa Nui National Park in Easter Island, Chile, on October 6, 2022 Easter Island mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa told local broadcaster Radio Pauta that he believed the fires were "not an accident" Fire burns in the area of Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island after forest fires broke out in the region on October 6, 2022 Where did the moai come from? While there is no consensus on when Easter Island was first inhabited, it is thought Polynesians settled the island around the 12th century. The 887 known statues, measuring up to 32ft (10m) tall, were carved by the Rapa Nui people between 1450 and 1650 AD from local stone. The heads may be the most famous parts, but all the statues also have bodies. 95% of the figures were carved from compressed volcanic ash found on the side of the extinct Rano Raraku volcano. The native islanders carved the statues by hand and moved them around the island by tying ropes around them and rocking them into place. The statues were built to honour chieftain or other important people who had died. They were placed on rectangular tombs for the people they represented. Advertisement 'The damage caused by the fire can't be undone,' Pedro Edmunds, mayor of Easter Island, told local media. There is still no report on the total damage. But the fire comes just three months after the island was reopened to tourism on August 5, after two years of closure due to Covid-19. Before the pandemic, Easter Island - whose main livelihood is tourism - received some 160,000 visitors a year, on two daily flights. The island is also, less commonly, accessible by boat. With the arrival of Covid-19 in Chile, tourist activity was completely suspended. The island was long inhabited by Polynesian people, before Chile annexed it in 1888. The first European visitors arrived on Easter Sunday 1722, giving it its English language name. The island's official Spanish name is Isla de Pascua - literally 'Easter Island'. Local Polynesians call the island 'Rapa Nui', 'Big Rapa', referring to the resemblance to Rapa Island in the Bass Islands. The famous head statues were carved centuries earlier by the Rapa Nui people in honour of fallen leaders and moved by hand around the island by small groups. The island remains one of the world's most isolated inhabited islands, 1,150 miles (1,850 km) from the Juan Fernandez Islands. Easter Island is today home to approximately 7,750 people. In 2020, a Chilean man was arrested after crashing his truck into one of the sacred Easter Island heads, leading to vehicle restrictions on the island. The destruction of one spurred Mayor Pedro Edmund Paoa into action, advocating stricter traffic controls on Easter Island. El Mercurio reported that the mayor had previously called for better controls as the island faces rising population levels and rates of tourism. Easter Island lies approximately 2,175 miles (3,500km) west of Chile and is one of the most remote inhabited islands globally Smoke rises from a fire burning in the area of Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island,itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site Smoke rises from a fire burning in the area of Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island A baker who won a partial Supreme Court victory after refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple on religious grounds is now challenging another ruling that went against him over a refusal to make a gender transition cake. A lawyer for Jack Phillips on Wednesday challenged Colorado's appeals court to overturn a ruling made last year in connection with a case brought against him by a transgender attorney. Autumn Scardina placed an order in 2017 with Phillip's cake shop in Denver for a blue birthday cake with pink filling to signify her gender transition. But Phillips, a Christian, refused to fulfil the request, testifying in court last year that he does not believe that someone can change genders and would not celebrate 'somebody who thinks that they can.' In a June 2021 ruling, Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones said Scardina was denied a cake in violation of the law and fined him $500 - the maximum penalty under Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act. While Phillips said he could not make the cake because of its message, Jones said the case was about a refusal to sell a product, not compelled speech. 'The anti-discrimination laws are intended to ensure that members of our society who have historically been treated unfairly are no longer treated as ''others'',' Jones wrote. But now Jake Warner, an attorney representing Phillips from the conservative Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), is pushing for the court to overturn the ruling on the grounds that forcing Phillips to bake a cake signifying a message in contradiction with his beliefs is tantamount to violating his right to free speech. Phillips famously won a partial victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Colorado baker (pictured) violated the state's anti-discrimination law by refusing to make a birthday cake for a transgender woman, a state judge ruled last year. But now his lawyers are pushing for the decision to be overturned In Tuesday's ruling, Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones said Autumn Scardina (pictured) was denied a cake that was blue on the outside and pink on the inside to celebrate her gender transition on her birthday in violation of the law In a June 2021 ruling, Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones said Scardina was denied a cake in violation of the law and fined Phillips (pictured) $500 - the maximum penalty under Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act After receiving the ruling against him last year, Phillips' legal representation said they would appeal the decision and accused Scardina, an attorney, of being an activist who set out to 'test' the baker. 'In this case, an activist attorney demanded Jack create custom cakes in order to ''test'' Jack and ''correct the errors'' of his thinking, and the activist even threatened to sue Jack again if the case is dismissed for any reason,' ADF general counsel, Kristen Waggoner, said in a statement. 'Radical activists and government officials are targeting artists like Jack because they won't promote messages on marriage and sexuality that violate their core convictions,' the statement added. Ms Waggoner said that the case 'represents a disturbing trend: the weaponization of our justice system to ruin those with whom the activists disagree. 'We will appeal this decision and continue to defend the freedom of all Americans to peacefully live and work according to their deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment,' she said. Scardina, an attorney, attempted to order the cake on the same day in 2017 that the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would hear Phillips' appeal in the wedding cake case, that Phillips ultimately won. Scardina said she wanted to 'challenge the veracity' of Phillips statements that he would serve LGBT customers, but her attempt to get a cake was not a 'set up' intended to file a lawsuit, Jones said. One of Scardina's attorneys, John McHugh, said the case is about how LGBT people are treated, not just what happened to her. 'This is about a business that is open to the public that simply says to an entire class of people in the community that your identity, who you are, is something that is objectional,' he said. 'This case started the day the Supreme Court decided they were going to hear our case. It was a very busy, very crazy day at the shop,' Phillips said of the transgender cake to Fox News in March last year. 'In the middle of all of this chaos, we got a phone call from an attorney in Denver asking us to create a cake pink on the inside with blue icing on the outside.' He said that he was told the cake would be 'two colors, a color scheme, a combination, designed to celebrate a gender transition.' A Bible verse is displayed in baker Jack Phillips' Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado U.S. September 21, 2017. Picture taken September 21, 2017 Colorado lawyer Autumn Scardina poses for photos outside the Ralph Carr Colorado Judicial Center in Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022 Baker Jack Phillips is the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado 'We told the customer, this caller, that this cake was a cake we couldn't create because of the message, the caller turned around and sued us,' Phillips told Fox News. 'This customer came to us intentionally to get us to create a cake or deny creating a cake that went against our religious beliefs. 'This customer had been tracking our case for multiple years. This case was just a request to get us to fall into a trap,' he added at the time. Phillips previously won a case that was heard before the Supreme Court in 2018 after he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's Civil Rights Commission displayed anti-religious bias when it sanctioned Phillips for refusing to make a wedding cake in 2012 for Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, a same-sex couple. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's Civil Rights Commission displayed anti-religious bias when it sanctioned Phillips for refusing to make a wedding cake in 2012 for Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, a same-sex couple (pictured) In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's Civil Rights Commission displayed anti-religious bias when it sanctioned Phillips for refusing to make a wedding cake in 2012 for Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, a same-sex couple Phillips' lawyers argued that his cakes are an art form - a 'temporary sculpture' - and being forced to create one to commemorate a gay wedding would violate his rights under the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech and expression and free exercise of religion. He told the state civil rights commission at the time that he can make no more than two to five custom cakes per week, depending on time constraints and consumer demand for the cakes that he sells in his store that are not for special orders. Mullins and Craig, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, said Phillips was using his Christian faith as pretext for unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ACLU said the baker was advocating for a 'license to discriminate' that could have broad repercussions beyond gay rights. The case became a cultural flashpoint in the United States, underscoring the tensions between gay rights proponents and conservative Christians. The litigation, along with similar cases around the country, is part of a conservative Christian backlash to the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling. Phillips and others like him who believe that gay marriage is not consistent with their Christian beliefs, have said they should not be required to effectively endorse gay marriage, despite it being legal. Jones is on second trial for falsely claiming Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax The judge reprimanded him and said the court will not tolerate any personal attacks on lawyers The lawyer of controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was reprimanded by the judge in the Sandy Hook defamation trial on Thursday as he was making his closing arguments. The Infowars host, 48, is currently on trial for spreading the lie that the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which saw 26 people killed - mostly children - was staged by the government. Jones' attorney Norm Pattis was in the process of reminding the jury to apply the law dispassionately when he told them the plaintiffs' attorney, representing the parents of some of the children slain at the Sandy Hook massacre, Josh Koskoff, would attack him personally during his rebuttal. 'No lawyer in Connecticut or anywhere can walk into this courtroom and expect anything but scorn,' Mr Pattis said. 'And I will be attacked by Mr. Koskoff in his rebuttal to me. It will be 'Mr. Pattis that,' 'Mr. Pattis this,' all in an effort to gin you up, get you angry,' Pattis said. Judge Barbara Bellis quickly interrupted him to reprimand the attorney for singling out Mr Kostoff. 'Please refrain from any further personal attacks or comments about the plaintiffs' lawyers or their law firm. It's highly improper. Let's move on,' she said. Judge Barbara Bellis interrupted attorney Norm Pattis for making 'highly improper' personally attacks against the plaintiffs' attorney Josh Koskoff, representing the parents of some of the children slain at the Sandy Hook massacre Jones' attorney Norm Pattis claimed that Koskoff would attack him personally in his closing remarks in order to 'gin up' the jury and get them mad Jones has already lost this trial by default and the jury is simply deciding how much he will pay out to the families of the victims 'You talk about the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs' case. I don't want to hear it again.' After Pattis concluded his closing arguments, Bellis brought up the incident again as she addressed the jury before they broke for lunch. 'One thing I do feel compelled to say,' she began. 'I do not like to interject myself ... but the court will not tolerate any personal attacks on lawyers.' 'Certainly the evidence can be commented on and arguments can be made but there will no personal attacks on Attorney Koskoff or Attorney Pattis or any lawyer in my courtroom. It's my job to control the proceedings ... and so I will continue to control the proceedings along those lines,' Bellis said. The exchange marked the closing statements for the trial - Jones' second over his false assertions that the school massacre was a hoax - and the jury is now deliberating. Jones has already lost this trial by default and the jury is simply deciding how much he will pay out to the families of the victims. The deliberations come after three weeks of trial in Waterbury, Connecticut, not far from where a gunman killed 20 small children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Jurors were sent home after an hour of deliberations Thursday and will resume them on Friday. It is the second trial in just a few weeks on the same matter, after Jones was ordered by a Texas jury to pay nearly $50million to the parents of one of the children who was killed. For years Jones has faced litigation over his false claims that the massacre was staged by the government as part of a plot to take away Americans' guns. When he arrived at the Waterbury courthouse Wednesday on Sept 21 , he engaged in a full-scale meltdown outside the judicial building, asserting that he's apologized for the comments for years and that they should be protected by the First Amendment. Arriving for court in Connecticut Wednesday, embattled InfoWars host Alex Jones engaged in a full-scale meltdown outside the judicial building, asserting that he's apologized for the comments for years and that they should be protected by the First Amendment 'As an American, I have a right to question something,' Jones told reporters outside the court, growing increasingly red-faced as he made his statement. 'I did say things that were hurtful and not true,' he admitted. 'As an American, I have a right.' The spiel from the radio personality - who ballooned to pseudo-stardom during the 2016 election - also saw him accuse prosecutors of using his trial 'to go after the First Amendment.' The following day, a lawyer for the families of the victims, Chris Mattei, sought in court to double down on the effect his false statements had on those who lost their loved ones. He showed the court a tearful video statement by Robbie Parker taken the night after his daughter, Emilie, was killed in the shooting. 'These are real people, you know that Mr. Jones?' Mattei asked the conspiracy theorist as he sat in the witness box. But Jones seemed unfazed, saying: 'Just like all the Iraqis you liberals killed and loved. 'It's unbelievable,' he added. 'You switch emotions on and off when you want. It's just like ambulance chasing.' At that point, things in the courtroom heated up, with Mattei asking Jones, 'Why won't you show a little respect?' over the objections of the Infowars' host lawyer, Norm Pattis. Still, Mattei continued, saying: 'You have families in here that lost children, sisters, wives moms,' to which Jones asked: 'Is this a struggle session? Are we in China?' He went on to claim that he has apologized '100 times' to the parents, 'and I'm done saying I'm sorry. 'I legitimately thought it might be staged. I stand by that. I won't apologize for that.' In the past, Jones has also said that liberals were using the shooting to try to repeal the Second Amendment. In closing arguments earlier Thursday, lawyers for the families of eight Sandy Hook victims said Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems LLC, cashed in for years on lies about the shooting, which drove traffic to his Infowars website and sales of products there. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones burst out into a rant about 'liberals' who can 'turn their emotions on and off' at his Sandy Hook hoax trial on Thursday A parent walks away from the Sandy Hook Elementary School with her children following a shooting at the school in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, 2012 Veronique De La Rosa, mother of Noah Pozner, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, wipes away tears during a news conference in Trumbull, Connecticut on February 15, 2022 The families, meanwhile, suffered a decade-long campaign of harassment and death threats by Jones' followers, attorney Chris Mattei said. 'Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them,' plaintiffs' attorney Chris Mattei told jurors. Jones' lawyer, Norman Pattis, countered during his closing argument that the plaintiffs had shown scant evidence of quantifiable losses. Pattis urged jurors to ignore the political undercurrents in the case. 'This is not a case about politics, I remind you that,' he said. 'It's about how much to compensate the plaintiffs.' The trial was marked by weeks of anguished testimony from the families, who filled the gallery each day and took turns recounting how Jones' lies about Sandy Hook compounded their grief. An FBI agent who responded to the shooting is also a plaintiff in the case. Jones, who has since acknowledged the shooting occurred, also testified and briefly threw the trial into chaos as he railed against his 'liberal' critics and refused to apologize to the families. In August, another jury found Jones and his company must pay $49.3 million to Sandy Hook parents in a similar case in Austin, Texas, where Infowars is based. Jones' lawyers hope to void most of the payout before it is approved by a judge, calling it excessive under Texas law. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants legislation to make it easier for transgender people to 'self ID' Advertisement JK Rowling has liked a tweet comparing Nicola Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George as the war of words between Scotland's two most influential women reached fever pitch today. The Harry Potter author and the First Minister are at loggerheads over trans-issues and the Scottish Government's legislation to make it quicker and easier for individuals as young as 16 to change sex with no requirement for medical reports or evidence. Yesterday Ms Rowling branded the SNP leader a destroyer of womens rights - wearing a T-shirt with it as a motif - and today Ms Sturgeon ratcheted up the row by suggesting that the author is not a 'real feminist' - and that she is. Ms Rowling, who is opposed to Scottish independence and donated 1million to the campaign to stop it, has yet to respond publicly to the latest barb but she has liked a tweet this afternoon from a supporter who was upset by the First Minister's comments. The message said: 'Her [Sturgeon's] intonation on real feminist was, for me, an ugly reminder of the school playground when the mean girls would circle me and taunt me for being too poor, or too clever, or simply weird. At heart, Sturgeon is one of the mean girls'. A mockup of the poster for Mean Girls (2004) showing JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon's faces superimposed over the characters' faces The term 'mean girls' was popularised by the 2004 movie of the same name. Its protagonist Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams, has been branded the world's most evil high school student . Mean girl behaviour is characterised by gossiping, verbal put-downs of others, bullying, backstabbing, and using others to get ahead. After the Harry Potter author branded the SNP leader a destroyer of womens rights, the First Minister fought fire with fire this morning and declared: 'I've spent my entire life campaigning for women's rights, and I'm a passionate feminist with lots of evidence behind that'. And in a thinly-veiled attack on the feminist credentials of Ms Rowling, and members of For Women Scotland (FWS), she said: 'There are no shortages of attacks on women that feminists, real feminists, as I consider myself to be, should be focusing on right now', and accusing them of trying to 'stigmatise and discriminate' against transgender people. Womens Rights Campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen, who designed the T-Shirt Ms Rowling and other protesters wore yesterday, said of Sturgeons attack: It seems utterly implausible that anyone who cannot define a woman as an adult human female could even begin to call themselves a feminist'. Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: 'Nicola Sturgeon's comments about JK Rowling not being "a real feminist" are absurd. JK Rowling has been a hero and an inspiration for tens of thousands of women across the United Kingdom who have become increasingly concerned about the impact of gender ideology'. The row between the women over gender issues goes back to March, but they have differing views on Scottish independence Nicola Sturgeon today accused JK Rowling and others of discriminating against transgender people and suggested that she was more of a feminist than them JK Rowling (pictured wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights) today threw her weight behind Scottish campaigners who marched on Holyrood in a protest against controversial transgender plans Ms Rowling liked a tweet comparing Nicola Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George, played in the movie of the same name by Rachel McAdams (left) Demonstrators from Women Scotland (FWS) gathered outside the Scottish Parliament for a rally in opposition to the proposals, claiming they are putting women's rights 'in crisis' FWS bosses called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held Yesterday Ms Rowling donned a t-shirt branding Nicola Sturgeon a destroyer of womens rights. She did so as she lent her support to campaigners who gathered outside the Scottish parliament to protest against the devolved governments controversial gender reforms wrapped up in the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. What is the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - and why are JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon rowing about it? The SNP's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill sets out proposals to speed up the time it takes to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The legal update would also lower the age at which trans people can obtain the document from 18 to 16. The Bill would cut the length of time a person has to live in their acquired gender before applying from two years to three months. They would then have to undertake a mandatory three-month 'reflection period', confirming at the end of this if they wish to proceed with their application. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the need for doctors' reports. However even some in the SNP have been critical of the reforms. For Women Scotland says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Advertisement Campaigners have claimed that a move to self-identification and the removal of medical involvement in obtaining a gender recognition certificate will pose a risk to women in single-sex spaces. The First Minister was asked directly about JK Rowling's t-shirt and dismissed her critics on the BBC Radio 4s Today programme, declaring: Abusive men are a risk to women - that is what we should be focusing on. We shouldnt be seeking to further stigmatise and discriminate against a tiny, tiny group in society that are already one of the most stigmatised groups in society. There are many, many real threats to women out there right now, from attacks physical attacks, attacks of sexual violence to the removal of abortion and reproductive rights to what women in countries in Iran are going through. The threat to women in our society today is not from trans women, it is from abusive men, from lawmakers who want to take away our rights and that is what we should be focusing on. Nicola Sturgeon has led the fight to introduce the legislation and a Holyrood committee yesterday endorsed the proposed Bill, insisting it will not change or remove womens rights. But hundreds of women gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to oppose the changes, brandishing banners accusing the First Minister of wanting to erode rights and setting out the definition of a biological woman. Ahead of the demonstration, Miss Rowling, 57, posted a picture of herself on Twitter wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan Nicola Sturgeon - Destroyer of womens rights. Ms Rowling, who has faced death threats from trans activists, wrote: I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID. Dozens of protestors at the rally For Women Scotland (FWS) also wore the t-shirt, which caused a campaigner to be ejected from a parliamentary committee in June while a minister was giving evidence. The plans have faced a backlash in recent months, with a watchdog warning this week that allowing people to self-identify could cause 'confusion' about their status in other parts of the UK. FWS bosses this morning called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held. Posting a picture of herself wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights', Harry Potter author Ms Rowling lent the group her support. She tweeted: 'I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID'. Asked by journalists about the post, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said he had not seen it. FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Speakers at today's rally included former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters. Ms Lamont told demonstrators that upon its establishment, the Scottish Parliament 'was a Parliament where policy, where action, where law was shaped by an understanding of what created division and inequality'. She said: 'The particular role was for the committees, which would breach the wall of the Parliament and allow the people of Scotland to participate in what the world could be. That has not happened. 'It is not their job to decide before the committee meets who they will listen to, who they will speak to, and only listen to those who already agree with them. 'I'm not saying that the committee should agree with everything that we say. But they should listen, they should challenge, they should argue, they should probe. 'They should not dismiss, because in that world of dismissal, you shoot the messenger. You ignore the message, you make bad law and other people live with the consequences. 'So my challenge is to my friends and all of the people in there who have the honour of being elected members. Your job as lawmakers is not just to put into law what you think is right, but understand the laws of unintended consequences.' Ms Lamont said she is 'conscious' of the importance of women's rights. She told the crowd: 'I was told 40 years ago, by young men: 'Now is not the time. There are other campaigns that matter. There are other people that are more vulnerable'. 'I said then, if you don't address women's inequality we will never have true equality, and that is as true now as it was then.' It comes as a majority of MSPs on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee today recommended the general principles of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill should be approved. Committee convener Joe FitzPatrick said: 'We believe these important reforms will improve the lives and experiences of trans people.' Papers lodged alongside the Bill by the Scottish Government estimate the changes could result in the number of people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) increasing from 30 a year to 250-300. Five MSPs on the committee backed the legislation but the two Conservatives - Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton - opposed it. The Bill sets out plans to speed up the time it takes to obtain a GRC, and also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the requirement for doctors' reports. The period of time someone must have lived in their 'acquired gender' before applying would be reduced from two years to three months under the legislation - although a three-month 'reflection period' would be introduced to the process. A previous consultation by the Scottish Government found 60% of respondents backed moving to a system of self-declaration. A majority of MSPs on the committee backed removing the need for any medical evidence or diagnosis 'believing that trans people know their own minds'. However some on the committee were 'concerned that the removal of the requirement for gender dysphoria and the requirement for medical evidence may extend the GRC process to a large and more diverse group of people'. They fear this 'could potentially mean the process is open to abuse from bad faith actors, particularly predatory men'. Concerns have also been raised about the impact the reforms could have on single-sex spaces for women and girls - such as female-only toilets or changing rooms. A rally was held outside the Scottish Parliament this morning by women's rights campaigners First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led the fight to introduce legislation which aims to make it easier for transgender people to be legally recognised as their preferred gender FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion' A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness' The report said most MSPs on the committee agree that while such views are 'sincerely held', they are satisfied the Bill would not change any of the existing protections women have under the Equality Act 2010, 'including the ability to exclude trans people from single-sex services where proportionate and appropriate'. The committee report said: 'The majority is satisfied that the Bill will not change or remove women's rights, make changes to how toilets and changing rooms operate, redefine what a man or a woman is, nor change or expand trans people's rights.' Mr FitzPatrick said MSPs had heard a 'wide range of views' while scrutinising the legislation. It comes after a list of problems with the proposal, including access to services, was sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the UK and Scottish governments. The watchdog said 'practical difficulties or confusion are likely to arise in cross-border situations' if the Equality Act is passed by Holyrood. The letter said people who changed their gender in Scotland but in another part of the UK would face difficulty over their 'legal status and rights.' Officials added issues would arise regardless of whether the UK government accepted GRCs given out in Scotland. Both employers and services would struggle to determine a person's legal gender and may have to take the 'intrusive or offensive' measures of asking to see a birth certificate or GRC, The Telegraph reported. The watchdog urged both governments to 'work constructively together' to sort out the issues it raised before the bill goes ahead. A fisherman's left arm was almost severed off his shoulder in a shark attack at a remote Australian coast. The man in his 30s was savaged while he was spearfishing offshore at Port Hedland in Western Australia on Friday morning. Fisheries officials said the man was attacked after spearing a fish, but the species of the shark was unknown. The man in his 30s was bitten while he was spearfishing offshore at Port Hedland in Western Australia on Friday morning (pictured, a stock image of a shark at Neptune Island, Australia) A Royal Flying Doctor Service spokeswoman said the man had sustained multiple injuries and his left arm had 'nearly been severed' (pictured, emergency services carrying the injured man) A Royal Flying Doctor Service spokeswoman said the man had sustained multiple injuries and his left arm had 'nearly been severed'. Paramedics attended him after he was brought back to shore by boat at 11.30am, where he was then rushed to Hedland Health Campus under priority one conditions. A crew will be dispatched from Meekatharra to collect the man in Port Hedland. He is expected to arrive at the Perth Royal Hospital for treatment on Friday evening. The WA Country Health Service said the man was in a stable condition at the Hedland hospital. WA's fisheries department is working with local authorities and urged people to take additional precautions in the Port Hedland area. Surf Life Saving WA posted a sighting of a shark at 1140am on their social media on Friday. WA's fisheries department is working with local authorities and urged people to take additional precautions in the Port Hedland area (pictured, emergency services at the scene) The British father who left his partner and two children for a Ukrainian refugee before dumping her was reunited with his family today on a judge's orders. Tony Garnett, 30, his former partner Lorna, 28, and the children were able to be legally together for the first time in five months. He had been the subject of a 'non-molestation' order after he left Lorna for Ukrainian refugee Sofiia Karkadym just 10 days after the couple welcomed her to their Bradford home. But a judge has removed the ban on Tony, who celebrated by collecting his daughters from school and taking them to a park. Tony Garnett, 30, his former partner Lorna, 28, and the children were able to be legally together for the first time in five months Garnett's daughters appeared thrilled to be back with their dad as he hit the park with them Garnett and Lorna both watched on and played with the girls, who were excited to be with both parents together for the first time in five months He had been the subject of a 'non-molestation' order after he left Lorna for Ukrainian refugee Sofiia Karkadym just 10 days after the couple welcomed her to their Bradford home Sofiia Karkadym, 22, (left) after her break-up with security guard Tony Garnett (right), boarded a plane home from Manchester Airport on Monday 'I am chuffed beyond words. It's so amazing to be back with my kids. They come before anything,' Tony told MailOnline. The family hearing at Bradford Crown Court heard that there was no acrimony between the couple and that Tony had split with 22-year old Sofiia. She has flown back to the war-torn country and to her family after Tony ended the relationship last week. Lorna said outside court: 'I was always worried about the words 'molestation' in court against Tony. It can send all the wrong messages. 'He is actually a wonderful father who loves his daughters to bits. I know he has missed them a lot. 'But I had to get a court order against him because I was really worried in case his girlfriend, who he left me for, persuaded him to run away to Ukraine with her and our daughters. A judge has removed the ban on Tony, who celebrated by collecting his daughters from school and taking them to a park 'I am chuffed beyond words. It's so amazing to be back with my kids. They come before anything,' Tony told MailOnline Lorna said the girls 'really missed' Tony and 'kept asking where their daddy was' - but she was worried his girlfriend at the time could persuade him to take the girls back to Ukraine 'When I rationalised, I realise that I was being unnecessarily paranoid. He would never do that, but it's been difficult to communicate with him when she was on the scene. 'Until today, we hadn't really talked properly or heard each other's views for months. 'Sofiia being on the scene was poisoning the family. I'm really happy that she has gone. 'Tony and I are not getting back together and I'm now seeing somebody else. He's fine with that. 'But we're gonna put our children first. We hardly ever rowed before anyway, but him leaving me for her definitely put us into a very difficult situation regarding the children. 'They really missed him. They kept asking where their daddy was. I'm glad now that he can see them when he wants. I'm happy about that.' The security guard left the mother of his two children, 28-year-old Lorna Garnett (pictured), for the refugee Ms Karkadym and Mr Garnett hugging goodbye at the Manchester Airport on Monday Mr Garnett (pictured at the airport on Monday) has now said that 'getting involved with Sofiia was a huge mistake' Tony said: 'One of the main reasons I split with Sofiia was because she hated the fact that I had two daughters I would always talk about them. She's not a mother, so she would not understand. 'She used to say things like 'you love the children more than me'. And she was absolutely right. 'Getting involved with Sofiia was a huge mistake. I've explained all the reasons before and I'm glad it's all behind me now. 'I'm going to move on with my life and I've had so many offers from people in TV and magazines who want to put me on the cover, so I'm gonna be busy with all that kind of stuff and spend as much time as I can with our daughters.' Sofiia is back in Ukraine after her romance with Tony faltered and she went back The couple, who had been together for eight years, started talking again after being brought together by MailOnline for an interview at the Bradford home they shared last week. Tony and Sofiia struck up an affair in May after she arrived at the home he shared with Lorna after she fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They admitted that they were attracted to each other and moved out of the family home and in with his parents before finding a place to rent. In the early stages of their fling, the pair were blissfully happy and even talked about marriage and spending the rest of their lives together. But the romance turned cold after a series of arguments which he said were caused by her drinking strong beer and throwing temper tantrums. Tony Garnett, 30, his former partner Lorna, 28, and the children were able to be legally together for the first time in five months Sofiia admitted that she found the fact difficult that he could not have more children (he has had a vasectomy) and that he already had two kids with his ex-partner, who he regularly talked fondly about. But Tony said: 'I am happy to remain friends with her. She's been messaging me from Ukraine she's okay. 'The best thing that has happened is that I'm back with my daughters. They have been 'daddy this daddy there' and that really makes me happy. 'Just to be able to take them to the park and also McDonald's is the simple things that I have missed. 'Although we're not together her mum and me, I'm pleased that I'm back with them.' Officers from 'Britain's FBI' arrested a 30-year-old Albanian suspected of smuggling migrants across the Channel following a dawn raid today in south-west London. The suspected people smuggler was detained in the Tolworth Rise area of Surbiton, with police also seizing cash and a tablet computer. The man is now being questioned by NCA officers on suspicion of being part of an organised crime gang that is sending migrants on the cross-Channel route. The suspected people smuggler was detained in the Tolworth Rise area of Surbiton, with police also seizing cash and a tablet computer The man is now being questioned by NCA officers on suspicion of being part of an organised crime gang that is sending migrants on the cross-Channel route NCA Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said: 'Attempts to reach the UK by small boat are incredibly dangerous, and we know a high percentage are facilitated by organised criminal networks of varying sophistication. 'These networks do not care about the safety or security of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit. The danger they pose means tackling them remains a priority for the NCA. 'We believe today's operation will have disrupted the activity of one such network, and our investigation continues.' The NCA alone has more than 60 ongoing investigations into networks or individuals allegedly involved in organised immigration crime or human trafficking. With much of this criminal activity taking place overseas, the agency is working with police in France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Turkey and beyond. NCA Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said: 'Attempts to reach the UK by small boat are incredibly dangerous, and we know a high percentage are facilitated by organised criminal networks of varying sophistication' Around 33,000 migrants have reached the UK on small boats via the English Channel so far this year, a record number Albanian traffickers are thought to play a major role in facilitating illegal migration across the Channel, while Albanians also feature heavily among the migrants making the journey. It comes as Britain and France vowed to stop all illegal Channel crossings after a record 33,000 migrants made the perilous journey so far this year. The ambitious goal is one of several announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss and President Emmanuel Macron following a bi-lateral meeting in Prague in the Czech Republic yesterday. The two countries revealed they will hold a summit in 2023, dubbed 'La Cooperation', in a bid to 'strengthen cooperation on energy security' while 'tackling illegal migration.' Britain and France have vowed to stop all illegal Channel crossings after a record 33,000 migrants have already made the perilous journey this year. Pictured: Liz Truss and Emmanuel Macron in Prague yesterday At the summit, Ms Truss acknowledged Mr Macron as a 'friend' of Britain - after she previously failed to state whether he was 'friend or foe', sparking backlash. A joint statement by the two countries said their respective leaders had 'agreed to deepen cooperation on illegal migration within the bounds of international law, to tackle criminal groups trafficking people across Europe, ending in dangerous journeys across the Channel.' It implored 'Interior Ministers' to 'conclude an ambitious package of measures this autumn', adding that PM Truss and President Macron had 'agreed to reinforce cooperation with near neighbours, including through an early meeting of the Calais group.' Soutzos is working as a freelance therapist and tells clients to call him 'Dr Theo' A disgraced Harley Street psychiatrist struck off for sleeping with his patients and preying on vulnerable woman has been continuing to make 'ill-advised' home visits, according to a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service report. Dr Theodore Soutzos, 51, was found by the General Medical Council (GMC) to no longer be fit to practice in 2010 after he 'groomed' three mental health patients between 1999 and 2006 at NHS and private health clinics. But the doctor now claims that he has 'developed strict boundaries' both in family life and now as a freelance therapist. He said he tells all of his clients call him 'Dr Theo'. A panel heard at the time that Soutzos, who had been working at Guy's Hospital, south London, had slept with a patient and then warned her not to tell anyone because his mother would 'die' and he would lose his career if anyone found out. The 37-year-old woman then threw herself in the Thames, jumped in front of a police car and took five overdoses in 18 days. Soutzos took his patients on trips to art galleries and even took one on a holiday to Greece. But just last month, the former psychiatrist, from Ealing, west London, attempted - for the fourth time in six years - to be placed back on the GMC's register. Dr Theodore Soutzos, 51, who was struck off in 2010 (pictured appearing before the committee) for having sex with female patients and preying on vulnerable women, has allegedly been making 'ill-advised' home visits to women Soutzos was working at Guy's Hospital, south London, at the time he was struck off back in 2010 Soutzos, who also attempted to be put back on the register in 2016, 2017, and 2018, said that he feels awful about what he had done and that if similar events happened to his close family members, he would be so angry. However, the persistent doctor, who is not affiliated with any professional body as a therapist, was once again rejected. Doctors who are struck off can be put back on the register if they convince a panel they have seen their failings and no longer pose a risk to patients. The disgraced doctor was finally found out after the patient with suicidal tendencies reported the incident to the police in 2005, where it was then referred to the medical council. The two other patients involved were an 18-year-old and a 22-year-old. He took the latter, who suffered with bulimia, on a break to Athens. The tribunal found that Soutzos's behaviour 'constituted a pattern of predatory and reprehensible sexual misconduct towards vulnerable patients'. The disgraced Harley Street doctor, who 'groomed' three patients between 1999 and 2006, is now working as a freelance therapist and says he has 'developed strict boundaries' In each case he was said to 'elicit personal information' from the women and shower them with compliments before arranging to meet at the National Gallery or Tate Gallery in London. Soutzos charged up to 450 a session and also worked at The Priory, in Roehampton. Soutzos was working at Guy's Hospital when a 37-year-old woman referred to as Miss A was admitted to a psychiatric ward in January 1999. The 'talented' former illustrator had nearly been killed by her violent ex-husband, was a heavy drinker and was suicidal, the hearing was told. During their first consultation, the psychiatrist was ' fascinated' by the woman and 'unable to take his eyes off the patient', Miss Plashkes said. Last month, the former psychiatrist, from Ealing, west London, attempted - for the fourth time in six years - to be placed back on the GMC's register Two months later, Soutzos met her at the National Gallery as part of a 'subterfuge' to take 'another small step which breached the doctor-patient boundary'. He met the woman several times before telling her he had ' borderline girlfriends' to 'groom her for a physical relationship'. The hearing was told that he touched her when they went swimming and, after driving her to his flat in St John's Wood, north London, walked around in his underwear. The pair then had sex at his apartment. Afterwards, Soutzos said he had to pick up his mother on the way to driving the patient back to her ward, it was said. Miss Plashkes added: 'When they reached the hospital, [the woman] asked him whether they were in a relationship. 'He replied: "How can we be? I am a doctor and you are my patient." He said that they needed to defuse the sexual tension that had built up... She was numb, traumatised, confused and disorientated.' The following month Soutzos phoned her 'almost hysterical', saying it would 'kill his mother and destroy his career if the details of their relationship came out', the hearing was told. The patient eventually told police in 2005, after her unsuccessful suicide attempts. Four people are to go on trial accused of kidnapping a British former public schoolboy in Italy and holding him chained to a stepladder in a bizarre 6,000 ransom plot. Sam Demilecamps, 26, was found by police last year in a darkened room after police traced his mobile phone to a dingy flat where he had been left over scraps for eight days. Officers were alerted after he texted his family and told them he was being tortured and beaten by the group, who told he would not be free him unless he paid them off. British detectives alerted counterparts in Italy and Mr Demilecamps was found in an apartment at Monte San Giusto near Ancona after they signal from his phone was traced. Sam Demilecamps, now 26, said he was held captive for eight days in Monte San Giusto, central Italy, by a gang who, he claimed, beat and tortured him, and fed him 'leftovers like a dog' Aurora Carpani, here 20, is one of the group of four arrested over the kidnapping of the Briton The three men and a woman were quickly rounded up after the incident last October before being released under house arrest while charges of kidnapping and extortion were investigated. At a preliminary hearing Mr Demilecamps, who was educated at a 36,000 a year Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire, told the court he had been kidnapped 200 miles away in Florence while staying at a hostel. He was bundled into a van and driven to Monte San Giusto, describing his kidnap he said: My captors had seen me spending lavishly. They kicked and punched me, used a taser and pepper spray, then dragged me into a car and gave me tranquilisers. They drove me to Monte San Giusto. I was held underwater in a bath and beaten. He added how he had sent texts to family and friends asking for them to send him money as quickly as possible but instead his divorced parents Patrick Demilcamps and Jalaleh McCall, alerted police and the plot was foiled. But just days days later eyebrows were raised after pictures emerged of him partying with his alleged kidnappers with some claiming it may have all been part of a plot to get money from his unsuspecting family. This was fuelled after it emerged he knew all four kidnappers well after spending much of the summer of 2021 in the company of his alleged kidnappers, Rubens Beliga Gnaga, 19, Ahemd Rajraji, 22, Dona Conte, 23, and his girlfriend Aurora Carpani, 21. Rajraji even had a video of Mr Demilecamps diving off rocks into a river with the group seemingly none the worse for wear. However earlier this week all four appeared in court in Macerata and opted for a fast track trial which was granted by a judge following a closed doors hearing which lasted less than an hour and which Mr Demilecamps did not attend. Vando Scheggia, Rajrajis lawyer, spoke for the four and told MailOnline: As we have always said this was no kidnap plot and my client and the other accused all deny the charges against them. They all knew each other and we have shown how they all knew each other, Mr Demilecamps boasted how wealthy he was but really he didnt have very much. He was in the flat of his own free will and he was not tortured or beaten. He had been lent money by the four and they allowed him to stay in the flat while he arranged to get them the money he owed them thats it, nothing more this isnt some Mafiosi kidnap its very trivial. Clips from his and the alleged kidnappers' social media show the group enjoying sunsets, clubs and waterfalls together shortly before he said he was abducted Mr Scheggia added: Mr Demilecamps was not handcuffed to the step ladder, rather he had the others handcuff him so that when he sent pictures to his family they could see he was in distress and send the money. It is not the first time Mr Demilecamps, who lives in Brighton, who describes himself as an adrenaline junkie has made the headlines in 2016 he broke a vertebra after leaping 180ft into the sea from a cliff at Taormina, Sicily, for a bet. Michele Zuccaro, who is representing Mr Demilecamps, told MailOnline his client was looking for 90,000 Euro (78,000) damages from the gang. He added: 'Sam is still very traumatised by what happened to him and the ordeal he went through at the hands of these people. 'He is having treatment in England for post traumatic stress disorder and it was felt that if he came to the hearing it would cause him further discomfort. 'He was not obliged to attend and as the next trial is a fast track one he is also under no obligation to attend but he wants very much to see justice done to the people who put him through his ordeal. He has made a compensation claim and a figure of 90,000 Euro has been suggested but that will be decided by the judge. Judge Federico Zampaoli ordered the four to stand trial in December and if convicted on kidnap and extortion could be jailed for up to 30 years. Advertisement US and Philippine marines stormed a beach near a disputed rocky outcrop in the South China Sea on Friday as part of joint military drills involving more than 3,500 troops. The KAMANDAG exercises - the Philippines' acronym for 'Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea' - kicked off Monday and will be held across the country's main island of Luzon until October 14. Around 300 troops were involved in Friday's amphibious drills held on an uninhabited beach in Zambales province, about 150 miles east of Scarborough Shoal, which China seized from the Philippines in 2012. Photos of the drills displayed impressive scenes of platoons storming beaches from amphibious landing craft, while US marines were seen instructing Philippine soldiers on the use of specific military equipment and weaponry. A small contingent of South Korean and Japanese soldiers also took part in the drills. It is the first time the annual naval exercises have been held under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has expressed strong support for the decades-old alliance after rocky relations under his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte had threatened to cancel drills and axe a key military deal with the United States as he pivoted towards China. But Marcos told US President Joe Biden during a meeting in New York last month that he appreciated America's role in 'maintaining the peace in our region'. The joint exercises come as a US aircraft carrier simultaneously performs drills with South Korea in a week which has seen tensions soar with North Korea amid a missile launch and a series of bombing drills. US and South Korean marines disembark from a US marine landing ship during a joint amphibious landing exercise with their Philippine counterparts at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province on October 7, 2022 Soldiers are seen sprinting ashore from their landing craft in a series of beach storming exercises A US marine officer (R) gives instructions to Philippine marines wearing mission oriented protective posture (MOPP) gear and using joint chemical agent detectors during their chemical warfare exercise as part of a joint amphibious landing exercise at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province on October 7, 2022 Philippine, U.S., and South Korean navies participate in amphibious landing drills during a joint military exercise at a naval station in Zambales province, Philippines, October 7 Units are seen advancing up the beach in simulated coastal attack and defence drills Philippine Marines amphibious assault vehicles maneouver next to a Philippine BRP Tarlac navy landing platform dock ship during a joint amphibious landing exercise with US marines at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province South Korean marines hold a landing drill in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, 07 October 2022 South Korean marines take positions during a joint amphibious landing exercise A South Korean navy member participates in amphibious landing drills during a joint military exercise with U.S. and Philippine navies at a naval station in Zambales province China's recent war games around Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory, rang alarm bells among nations surrounding the South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of it. China has ignored an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis, and has aggressively asserted its stance. It has built artificial islands as well as deployed hundreds of coast guard and maritime militia vessels to prowl the strategic waters, swarming reefs and harassing fishing and other boats. One of the objectives of the joint US-Philippines drills this week is improving the Philippine military's coastal defence capability amid these threats. 'We are preparing for any threat that will be coming sooner or later,' said Major Emery Torre, spokesman for the Philippine Marine Corps. But Torre said the joint exercises held with the US did not simulate an attack by a particular country and were not related to a specific situation. Marcos has taken a harder line on defending Philippine waters, insisting he would not let China trample on Manila's maritime rights. During aerial surveillance over Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard spotted six Chinese vessels, including four coast guard and two militia boats, in and around the small ring of reefs. 'We are doing the patrol operations to establish a presence at the area and also for the sake of our fishermen,' said coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo. As regional tensions rise, Washington is keen to preserve its security alliance with Manila, which includes a mutual defence treaty and permission for the US military to store defence equipment and supplies on several Philippine bases. It also allows US troops to access certain military bases in the country. Philippine Marines amphibious assault vehicles roll in during a joint amphibious landing exercise with US marines Philippine and US marines disembark from amphibious assault vehicles during a joint amphibious landing exercise South Korean, Philippine and US marines are pictured at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province on October 7, 2022 A US marine sniper aims his rifle during a joint amphibious landing exercise with their Philippine counterparts Philippine and U.S. navies participate in amphibious landing drills during a joint military exercise at a naval station in Zambales province, Philippines, October 7, 2022 South Korean marines gather during a landing drill in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, 07 October 2022 South Korean (foreground) and US marines take part in a joint amphibious landing exercise with their Philippine counterparts at a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province on October 7, 2022 United States and Philippine marines gather on a beach during a landing drill in San Antonio after performing a series of landing drills South Korean marines disembark on a beach during a marine landing drill in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, 07 October 2022 South Korea and the United States began joint maritime exercises with a US aircraft carrier on Friday, South Korea's military said, a day after it scrambled fighter jets in reaction to an apparent North Korean bombing drill. The maritime drills will take place in waters off South Korea's east coast on Oct. 7-8, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The drills come after North Korea launched a pair of ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday, and later flew warplanes near the border with the South. 'We will continue to strengthen our operational capabilities and readiness to respond to any provocations by North Korea through joint drills with... the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group,' South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The US strike group already participated in trilateral missile defence exercises with warships from Japan and South Korea this week, prompted by a test on Tuesday in which North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over part of Japan and prompted evacuations. Senior defence officials from Japan, South Korea and the United States discussed the latest developments in a call on Friday, condemning the North Korean launches and agreeing that recent trilateral maritime drills have improved their ability to respond to North Korea, South Korea's ministry of defence said in a statement. South Korea scrambled 30 fighter jets after Kim Jong-un sent 12 warplanes close to the border in a bombing drill (Pictured: South Korean Air Force F-15Ks and U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launch earlier this week) U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan participates with other U.S. and South Korean navy ships during the joint naval exercises between the United States and South Korea in waters off South Korea's eastern coast In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, South Korean Air Force's F15K fighter jet fires 2 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition ) bombs into an island target in South Korea on Oct. 4, 2022 U.S. soldier checks the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet on the deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Busan, South Korea A handout photo made available by the US Department of Defense shows a South Korea-US-Japan joint naval drill in the East Sea, 06 October 2022 In a meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup, Admiral John Aquilino, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said North Korea's provocations seriously threaten the security of the region. He emphasised that his forces would actively support efforts to deter and respond to the North Korean threat, the ministry said in a separate statement. Lee also held a meeting of senior officials to discuss the latest launches and to evaluate South Korea's 'three-axis' defence system designed to counter North Korea's military threats, including war plans that call for preemptive strikes if necessary. 'He emphasised the need to deliver a clear message that nuclear and missile development will only create a more difficult situation for North Korea,' the defence ministry said in a statement. The rare bombing drill by at least eight North Korean fighter jets and four bombers on Thursday prompted the South to deploy 30 fighters. The warplanes swarmed each side of the heavily fortified border amid rising tensions over a string of missile tests by Pyongyang. On Thursday North Korea condemned the United States for repositioning the aircraft carrier near the peninsula, saying it posed a serious threat to the stability of the situation. In the statement, the North Korean foreign ministry also criticised Washington for calling a United Nations Security Council meeting over the launches, saying they were a 'just countermeasure' to the joint US-South Korea drills. Birdwatchers have been blasted for chasing a rare migratory warbler out of a bush so that 50 of them could take pictures of it. RSPB Scotland said that the animal's welfare should 'always come first' after three people were seen circling a bush housing the small bird. Around 50 people could be seen standing on the side of the road trying to take pictures of the lanceolated warbler as it took flight. Birdwatchers have been blasted for chasing a rare migratory warbler out of a bush so that 50 of them could take pictures of it As the bird took flight, the group turned quickly to snap a picture of it in the air with cameras Jack Baddams, co-host of the nature podcast 'How many geese?', said that there were 'so many ethics at play' after watching the video Where is the migratory lanceolated warbler more commonly seen? The lanceolated warbler is a migratory bird that spends winter months in south east Asia. The warbler is rarely-seen in western Europe, and breeds from Russia across the Palearctic to northern Hokkaido in Japan. Its name is derived from the latin word lanceolata, which means 'spear-shaped' and reference the bird's streaks on its breast which are a brown black colour. The small warbler is best spotted in Fair Isle, in the Shetland Islands, where it may be seen only two times a year. The skulking bird is often found in grassland and thicker shrubby, close to wet clearings or bogs and feeds on insects. Its birdsong is reminiscent of a monotonous mechanical, inset-like noise. This led to its genus name Locustella, linked to locusta, meaning 'grasshopper'. Advertisement 'Seeing nature in the wild is a privilege that we should never take for granted. Such experiences should be accepted on the terms of the species, not people,' RSPB Scotland told The Times. The incident, which is understood to have happened in the Shetland Islands, angered others. One of the best places to catch a glimpse of the rarely seen bird is Fair Isle, in the Shetland Islands. Jack Baddams, co-host of the nature podcast 'How many geese?', said that there were 'no ethics at play' after watching the video. The podcaster said that the group of people were trying to snap an image of the lanceolated warbler after making noise to flush it out. 'Chasing a small bird around that's miles off course, preventing it from feeding and resting... There are no ethics at play here,' Mr Baddams said. He added: 'Some walking into the grass where it was hiding, clapping and making noise to flush it in front of the watching crowd. It was proper grim.' Another social media critic added: 'This is shameful behaviour and doesn't represent anyone who enjoys birdwatching and nature. These people should all be fined for harassing wildlife.' Others called the moment 'distressing', adding that the warbler was 'probably terrified'. Replying to the video, social media user James Shergold said that the bird was being moved after a farmer's request. He said: 'It was done to get the bird out of a field with dangerous livestock at the request of the land owner and away from the road into a field that wouldnt cause issues with either of the mentioned.' He added that it was moved 'maybe 30m' across the road. A disabled woman who claims she had to drag herself to the toilet on the floor has blasted airline AlbaStar after cabin crew suggested she should have worn a nappy. Jennie Berry, a wheelchair user who is paralysed from the waist down, was travelling on an AlbaStar flight from Newcastle to Palma, Spain, last month when she needed to use the toilet but was told there was no aisle chair to assist her. She said she was told by cabin crew that disabled people should wear nappies on board flights, and had to drag herself to the toilet on the aisle floor and be lifted onto the lavatory by her partner. Following the incident, AlbaStar said it had called Ms Berry to 'personally apologise' over the incident after it went viral on TikTok. Jennie Berry (left) spoke about her experience on Good Morning Britain Jennie Berry was on an AlbaStar flight from Newcastle to Palma when she had to drag herself up the aisle on the floor to use the toilet Pictured: Jennie Berry being lifted onto the toilet by her partner. She uploaded her experience on the AlbaStar flight to TikTok, which went viral But Ms Berry has criticised the airline for failing to show any empathy, 'saying how devastated they were as a company, as opposed to how I felt'. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Friday, Ms Berry told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'Apart from saying how devastated they were as a company, as opposed to how I felt. 'I think devastated because of the reaction. 'Their current policy is that my partner should've dragged me from behind with my feet trailing or carried me - nevermind I'm six foot tall, I can't be carried in that narrow gap. 'That would probably be more painful for that to have to happen, take longer, cause more of a scene.' Ben then asked Ms Berry: 'And that would be more dignified? It seems extraordinary that that would be their key points.' AlbaStar released a statement following the incident, defending not having an aisle chair on the flight To which she responded: 'There's a lot to digest there, a lot of key points there where it's just astounding that that's the response we're given here, as opposed to just simply providing access.' Albastar said in a statement: 'Our CEO has called Ms Berry to personally apologise and explain that on our many short haul aircrafts in Europe the proper storage of these aisle chairs is a key safety issue in the event of an emergency. 'Hardly any short haul aircraft in Europe carry these aisle chairs, including some very well-known UK airlines. 'As it is against regulations for cabin crew to lift passengers in flight, the key point here is to ask why her partner did not help her get to the toilet rather than spending his time filming.' Jennie Berry said she felt 'humiliated' following the incident on the AlbaStar plane Jennie Berry (pictured) said she was forced to drag herself to the toilet on the airplane floor after she says cabin crew staff refused to help her However, Ms Berry contested this. She said: 'It's a Boeing 737, which most airlines also use. And most airlines - including low cost, low budget airlines such as TUI, EasyJet, Ryanair - all of these have the aisle chair on board and they make the space for it to be there. But this company is just outright saying no, despite having the exact same plane.' 'I'm a disabeled traveller who travels a lot. 'Everything that I do in life is planned in advance. It's frustrating that they're kind of turning it around as if it's my fault, when in actual fact their policy states, they do not have an aisle chair onboard and they don't have the provisions to have an aisle chair onboard.' During the flight Ms Berry said an air stewardess suggested she should have worn a nappy on board. She said: 'Again, another astounding comment to make, which is just absurd. I don't need to wear a nappy and to just have that kind of response as opposed to - you know, I wasn't asking anyone to carry me, I don't expect to be carried. 'I know that that isn't in their remit to do so. 'I was just expecting a bit of empathy, help clearing the aisle and just problem solving in a scenario where we're in the middle of the air, there's no aisle chair onboard, what do we do know? And there was none of it. 'I think they were infuriated because I was stopping their drinks trolley.' Ben concluded by saying: 'The frustration is that the passengers onboard were showing more concern and care than the staff who were there looking after you.' Ms Berry said she would not travel on Albastar airlines again. She continued: 'Just going off speaking with the CEO - who has that attitude, doesn't have any sort of understanding of disability or how that actually looks to other passengers as well, having to watch that. 'Or if I was to be carried, what if I was dropped on someone else? It's not safe for anyone.' 'If I didn't film it, he wouldn't have believed me.' AlbaStar told MailOnline: 'We operated the flight for our client TUI, who were not made aware that Ms Berry required Special Assistance at the time of the booking, otherwise they would have loaded this reservation on another flight with an aisle chair. 'When she asked to go to the toilet, Cabin Crew advised that no aisle chair was on board the aircraft.' They added: 'We note that in this flight this partner chose to film the event rather than assist this PRM passenger. 'EASA have no regulations requiring or even recommending airlines to carry these aisle chairs.' 'During the flight (the video shows just a short frame), our cabin crew offered Ms. Berry assistance and followed correct protocols as per our airline operating procedures. 'We take this event very seriously as it is our mission to lead the way in assisting passengers with reduced mobility in air travel since Albastar was founded. 'We apologize again for the inconvenience caused to Ms Berry and reaffirm that our number one priority is the safety and comfort of all our passengers on each and every flight we operate.' They also said that 'cabin crew advised that no aisle chair was on board the aircraft and a flight attendant explained that Albastar is one of Europes leading airlines for PRM travel (we have carried over 100,000 PRM passengers without a single request for this aisle chair), because this type of passenger usually wears a special disposable product. 'She explained how we organize group PRM travel to illustrate why we can avoid carrying such aisle chairs and this evidently has not been understood well by Ms Berry, who has taken it as what maybe she should have done personally.' Good Morning Britain weekdays from 6am on ITV & ITV Hub Armed police intervened after a mass brawl broke out in east London in broad daylight between weapon-wielding thugs. Footage shows the shocking incident in Tower Hamlets last week as the men clashed on the street, with some brandishing their weapons as members of the public walked past. The men ran at each other, with some punching rivals repeatedly in the face and others being thrown to the ground before getting back up to continue the fight. One man fought a number of armed men at the same time, managing to push them away without being seriously injured. Another brawler missed his target completely as he swung at him with his fist. The men ran at each other, with some punching rivals repeatedly in the face and torso Footage shows the shocking moment the gangs clashed in the middle of the street Armed police arrived on the scene shortly after the fight and three arrests were made - they were later released without charge The men traded blows and appeared to be carrying weapons as they brawled in broad daylight Some of the weapons used in the fight were sent flying down the street as the men tackled one another. Taking the fight further down the street, the men continued to goad each other and trade blows before the brawl finally broke up. A later clip shows armed police on the scene, with some of the group lying on the floor as police trained their guns on them. Metropolitan Police said three arrests were made but the men were later released with no further action. A force spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 16:28hrs on Thursday, 29 September to Barry Blandford Way E3 to reports of a disturbance involving a group of youths. Some of the men can be seen attacking rivals with blunt weapons during the fight They wrestled each other to the floor during the clash in the middle of an east London street 'Three males were detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. 'A machete was recovered. There were no reports of any injuries. 'They were later released with no further action.' Ukraine has criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee after this year's peace prize was awarded jointly to a Ukrainian human rights organisation, as well as a Belarusian activist and Russian human rights organisation. It was announced on Friday that jailed Belarusian human rights activist Ales Byalyatski, Russian organisation Memorial and Ukrainian organisation Centre for Civil Liberties had won the 2022 prize. The announcement came amid Vladimir Putin's on-going invasion of Ukraine, which was launched on February 24 and has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, and the displacement of millions. In Ukraine, there was some resentment at the Nobel committee for awarding the Ukrainian group alongside activists from Russia and Belarus, whose government allowed Russian forces to attack Ukraine from its territory early in the war. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that the Nobel committee has 'an interesting understanding of the word 'peace' if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive' the prize together. 'Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war,' he added. Olga Roudenko, editor-in-chief of the English news site Kyiv Independent, also criticised the award. Commented on Facebook, she said: 'Very bad idea (...) but very typical for the West. We still have to work a lot so that we are seen as a separate phenomenon and not just part of the region with Russia and Belarus.' Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the judges wanted to honour 'three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.' 'Through their consistent efforts in favour of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this year's laureates have revitalized and honoured Alfred Nobel's vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today,' she told reporters in Oslo. Jailed Belarusian human rights activist Ales Byalyatski (pictured), Russian human rights organisation Memorial and Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties have won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak (pictured September 28) tweeted that the Nobel committee has 'an interesting understanding of the word 'peace' if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive' the prize together She also called on Belarus to release Byalyatski from prison, who is being held for tax evasion. 'Our message is an urge to the authorities in Belarus to release Mr. Bialiatski and we do hope this will happen and that he can come to Oslo and receive the honour bestowed upon him,' Andersen told reporters. Reacting to the news, Belarusian opposition politician Pavel Latushko said Byalyatski's award is one for all political prisoners in Belarus. 'It's not only for him but for all political prisoners which we have now in Belarus,' Latushko said. 'It motivates all of us to struggle and we are sure we will win with the dictatorship of (Alexander) Lukashenko.' Belarus' Foreign Ministry denounced the Nobel Committee for honoring Bialiatski, with the spokesman calling its choices in recent years so 'politicized' that 'Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave.' Olav Njolstad, director of the Nobel Institute, retorted: 'Well, I'm quite sure we understand Alfred Nobel's will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk.' Belarusian security police in July last year raided offices and homes of lawyers and human rights activists, detaining Byalyatski and others in a new crackdown on opponents of Lukashenko. Authorities had moved to shut down non-state media outlets and human right groups after mass protests the previous August against a presidential election the opposition said was rigged. From left, Russia's Oleg Orlov, Lyudmila Alexeyeva and Sergei Kovalyov pose as the Russian activists received the European Union's top human rights award in recognition of the difficult conditions they face at home, December 16, 2009 (file photo) A protester within a group of Centre for Civil Liberties activists and LGBT Community representatives, stands before a police line during their rally in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kiev, Ukraine, June 5, 2020 Since the Russian invasion began, the Kremlin has also cracked down on domestic dissent stronger than before, and has been accused of committing several war crimes in Ukraine - including the indiscriminate bombing of civilian sites. The prize will be seen by many as a condemnation of Putin, who is celebrating his 70th birthday on Friday, and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, making it one of the most politically contentious in decades. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally rebuking Putin, whose 70th birthday is Friday, Reiss-Andersen said the prize was not against anybody but for the democratic values the winners champion. However, she did note that both Russian and Belarusian governments were 'suppressing human rights activists.' It was the second straight year that Putin's repressive government was implicitly rebuked with the prize. It was awarded last year to Dmitry Muratov, editor of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa. They were honoured last year for 'their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.' Berit Reiss-Andersen (pictured speaking on Friday), chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the judges wanted to honour 'three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine' Bialiatski was a leader of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. 'Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr. Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus,' Reiss-Andersen said. Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visiting Paris, told The Associated Press she felt 'honored and delighted' that Bialiatski was among the laureates and believed it would put more international focus on human rights abuse in her homeland. Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband is also imprisoned, said Bialiatski 'is suffering a lot in punishment cells' in Belarus. Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarusian journalist and writer who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature, called Bialiatski 'a legendary figure.' She added that Bialiatski is 'seriously ill' and needs medical treatment, but is 'unlikely to be freed from behind bars.' 'What Viasna, founded by him, has done and is doing in the current circumstances, is in his spirit, in his philosophy,' Alexievich told reporters. Oleg Orlov and Yan Rachinsky, members of Russian human rights organisation Memorial, attend a news conference following the announcement of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Peace, near a city district court in Moscow, Russia October 7, 2022 Bialiatski: veteran rights defender in authoritarian Belarus Ales Bialiatski, the head of Belarus rights group Viasna, has battled against repression for a quarter of a century and spent years in jail for his efforts. He spent his 60th birthday in prison on September 25, as he did his 50th, but won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in the wake of historic demonstrations and a severe crackdown in his ex-Soviet country. The 60-year-old was arrested in July last year on charges of tax evasion, a move that critics of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko saw as a thinly veiled tactic to silence his work. His wife, Natalya Pinchuk, said she was 'overwhelmed with emotions' after the decision was announced. 'He always writes that everything is fine. He doesn't complain about his health - he tries not to upset me,' she said of his letters from prison. ''I'm not lucky with jubilees,'' she said he wrote ahead of his 60th. 'He was also in prison when he turned 50,' Pinchuk added. Bialiatski's organisation, which translates to 'Spring' and was founded in 1996, is Belarus's most prominent rights group, whose work has charted the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of Lukashenko and his security forces. Established during mass pro-democracy protests several years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it sought to help detained protesters and their families. In the years since, Viasna and Bialiatski have gained prominence as Lukashenko's regime has leaned on more brutal ways of retaining its tight grip on power. When massive rallies broke out across the country against Lukashenko's claim to a sixth presidential term in August 2020, Viasna meticulously tracked numbers of people detained at protests and after police raids across Belarus in the months afterwards. In the wake of the vote, Bialiatski described 'real terror' taking hold of regional towns and in the capital Minsk as authorities worked to quash dissent. 'The goal is very simple - to retain power at any cost and instill fear in society so that there are no protests against the falsification of these elections,' he said. Bialiatski was also part of a council of opposition figures - that included previous Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich - tasked with organising new free and fair elections. But in July 2021, Lukashenko's crackdown came to his doorstep with coordinated raids on a wide range of civil society groups, including Viasna's offices and Bialiatski's home, in a sweep that the group called a 'new wave' of repression. Viasna said last year that apart from Bialiatski, six of its members who were arrested following the elections were in jail. 'The brutal crackdown on Viasna is part of the wider 'purge' of civil society declared by President Alexander Lukashenko,' Human Rights Watch said last year. Bialiatski has also authored several books. His activism has been recognised with several awards, mostly from Western institutions, including the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award. He was previously nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times. He was born in 1962 in a region of the Soviet Union near Finland and served in the military before studying philology. Advertisement The Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties has run successful campaigns for political prisoners, tracked enforced disappearances and focused on Russian war crimes, but they did not see a Nobel Peace prize coming. The NGO became the winner of Ukraine's first ever peace prize on Friday, sharing the award with Belarusian and Russian co-winners. The Norwegian Nobel committee announcement sparked surprise and joy at the centre. 'When we found out the news, we were astonished,' CCL's Anna Trushova told AFP. Set up in 2007, the group is led by rights defender Oleksandra Matviychuk, a lawyer who turns 38 on Saturday. 'It is above all a reward for Oleksandra (who) gathers around her incredible people and does immense work in the field of human rights,' CCL board member Alissa Malytska told AFP. Matviychuk, who was on her way from Poland to Ukraine when she heard the news, said in a Facebook message she was 'delighted'. 'We need to create an international tribunal and bring Putin, Lukashenko and other war criminals to justice,' she added, referring to the autocratic presidents of Russia and Belarus. CCL gained prominence after 2014 by mounting awareness campaigns around Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine - including the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the eastern Donbas region - as well as in Russia itself. CCL's best known prisoner campaign was for the filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. He directed 'Rhino', which was screened at the 2021 Venice film festival. Arrested in Crimea after protesting against its annexation, Senstov spent five years in jail in Russia before being released in 2019 during a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. 'It was (Matviychuk's) idea' to launch an international 'SaveSentsov' campaign, Olexander Starodubtsev, deputy head of Ukraine's national anti-corruption agency, told AFP. 'Lessia is very powerful and confident in what she does,' said Starodubtsev, who studied with Matviychuk at the American University of Stanford five years ago. 'Her life is devoted to her mission. When we were studying in the United States, she was also busy at night' with human rights projects, he said. A motto posted on her Facebook page appears to support his words: 'Pessimism is a luxury you cannot afford. When your strength leaves you, your character emerges.' CCL also tracks the enforced disappearances of rights activists, journalists and local council officials. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the center has also worked to identify and document Russian war crimes against the civilian population in Ukraine. Relying on the help of volunteers, the NGO sent groups to suspected crime scenes. It also worked to facilitate the return to Ukraine of 'tens of thousands' of compatriots who were forcibly taken from the war zone to Russia. 'We have already recorded more than 20,000 crimes,' Trushova told AFP. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses and track the fate of political prisoners in Russia. The country's highest court ordered it shut down in December, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Russia's Memorial said Friday that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize has given it 'moral strength' in 'depressing times' and that it was a 'huge honour' to share the award with Ukrainian rights activists. 'This prize gives moral strength,' said the head of rights group Memorial, Yan Rachinsky, adding that this was 'very important' in 'depressing times.' Memorial representative Oleg Orlov said it was a 'huge honour' to share the prestigious award with Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties. The logo of Ukraine's Centre for Civil Liberties is displayed at their office, after it was announced they had won the Nobel Peace Prize, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 7, 2022 The pair spoke outside a Moscow court after a hearing on the seizure of one of Memorial's offices. Rachinsky said the prize came as a surprise and that it would give all Russian rights defenders 'new strength and inspiration.' He praised Russian prisoners - including opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Kremlin critic Ilya Yashin and 'many others.' 'All of those people deserve (this prize) more than we do,' he said. Both Rachinsky and Orlov said that while the Nobel was important recognition, it would not 'protect' them from authorities. 'Will this help reduce the pressure on us? I fear that it will not,' Orlov said. He said 'it did not help' other Russian Nobel Prize winners: Andrei Sakharov - a dissident scientist who helped found Memorial and who was arrested after winning the Nobel Prize - and Dmitry Muratov, whose critical newspaper Novaya Gazeta was shut down after he won the prize 'The prize gives us the possibility to work, but it does not protect.' Tatyana Glushkova, a board member of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said one of the reasons the Kremlin views the group as a threat is because it understands and informs people about the 'parallels between Putin's regime and the Soviet regime.' Glushkova noted the award was handed to the group on the day it once again had to appear in court in Moscow - this time on a case related to its office building in central Moscow. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. Following Russia's invasion in February, the group has worked to document Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. 'The center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes,' Reiss-Andersen said. A researcher at the center, Volodymyr Yavorskyi, said the award was important for the organization because 'for many years we worked in a country that was invisible.' 'Human rights activity is the main weapon against the war,' said Yavorskyi, who is married to a Belarusian and lived in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, until May 2021, when he was expelled along with his 9-year-old son. He is barred from entering Belarus for 10 years and said law enforcement beat him during interrogations. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks to Reuters about the Nobel Peace Prize and the political situation in Belarus, in Paris, France October 7, 2022 The prizes carry a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The money comes from a bequest left by the prize's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, in 1895. A week of Nobel Prize announcements kicked off Monday with Swedish scientist Svante Paabo receiving the award in medicine for unlocking secrets of Neanderthal DNA that provided key insights into our immune system. Three scientists jointly won the prize in physics Tuesday. Frenchman Alain Aspect, American John F. Clauser and Austrian Anton Zeilinger had shown that tiny particles can retain a connection with each other even when separated, a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement, that can be used for specialized computing and to encrypt information. The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to Americans Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, and Danish scientist Morten Meldal for developing a way of 'snapping molecules together' that can be used to explore cells, map DNA and design drugs that can target diseases such as cancer more precisely. French author Annie Ernaux won this year's Nobel Prize in literature Thursday. The panel commended her for blending fiction and autobiography in books that fearlessly mine her experiences as a working-class woman to explore life in France since the 1940s. The 2022 Nobel Prize in economics will be announced on Monday. One Aldi shopper was left completely shocked when he found a very rude-looking pear in his weekly shop. Johnny O'Connell, 43, burst out laughing when he discovered the seven-inch fruit which bears a striking resemblance to male genitalia. The father of two, from Morpeth, Northumberland, said his wife had told him to lose a bit of weight so he bought a 1.49 bag of Conference pears on Wednesday to snack on. He said: 'I'd nipped to buy a few things and brought them home and was unpacking them when I fancied a snack. 'My wife's been on at me about losing a few pounds so I ripped the bag of pears open and out tumbled this willy shaped pear. Johnny O'Connell, 43, burst out laughing when he discovered the seven-inch fruit which bears a striking resemblance to male genitalia Have YOU seen any wonky fruit or veg? Email pictures to isabella.nikolic@mailonline.co.uk OR tips@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement 'My eyes almost popped out my head. My missus just started laughing. 'I told her there's no way I'm eating that. 'As a laugh I posted pictures of it on my social media and my mates thought it was hilarious. 'I've had loads of comments, including some very rude ones, but I like to think I've given people something to smile about. 'I certainly won't be looking at pears in the same way again.' It comes as farmers saw their crops devastated by the extreme heatwaves that tore through Britain back in August. The bad harvest led to major supermarket chains selling stunted and 'wonky' fruit. The father of two, from Morpeth, Northumberland, said his wife had told him to lose a bit of weight so he bought a 1.49 bag of Conference pears on Wednesday to snack on The National Farmers Union (NFU) has led a campaign to get supermarkets to accept more 'wonky' vegetables which they say 'may not look normal, but will taste the same'. Tom Bradshaw, vice-president of the NFU told The Telegraph: 'There isnt anything which is not impacted if its grown in a field that isnt irrigated.' He added: 'Consumers need to have a bit more flexibility because potatoes might be a bit smaller, onions might be a little bit smaller. 'And thats still the case of everyone just needing to pull together a little bit to accept that its not been a perfect time.' The labourer is now keen to find other 'naughty' fruit and veg while shopping. He added: 'It's certaintly brightened up going on the weekly shop. 'As well doing the old squeeze test, I'll be checking if it looks rude and if so, then it's going in the basket. 'I used to be a big fan of That's Life in the 80s when they'd show rude vegetables and I'd like to find as many naughty fruit and veg as I can.' Environmental activists from Just Stop Oil blocked two roads leading to Vauxhall Bridge today as they caused mayhem in London for the seventh day in a row. Some 25 demonstrators in several groups blocked routes to the north and south of the bridge, sitting down with banners and glueing themselves to the roads. It follows protests in the capital every day since Saturday which have seen Just Stop Oil block roads around Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge and Trafalgar Square. The latest sit-down during the week of action in Westminster began at about 10am today as they continue to demand the Government stops new oil and gas projects. The group confirmed today's action 'brings to an end the first week of continuous disruption' - but that 'coming weeks will see the disruption in the capital increase'. Scotland Yard confirmed this afternoon that 23 people were arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway and the road was opened 'after a short while'. TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block Vauxhall Bridge Road in Central London this morning TODAY -- People take pictures and speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge today TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge this morning TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block Vauxhall Bridge Road in Central London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today Scotland Yard has been giving daily totals of Just Stop Oil arrests throughout this week - with 32 yesterday on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway. The Metropolitan Police Events Twitter feed also said there were 28 on Wednesday, 54 on Tuesday and 29 on Sunday - giving a total for the week of 166. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said today: 'Further protests took place in central London today. Demonstrators blocked traffic at two locations, Albert Embankment and Vauxhall Bridge. 'Specialist officers safely removed those who had glued themselves to the road. 23 people were arrested for wilful obstruction of the highway and the road was opened after a short while.' Just Stop Oil announced the latest protest in a press release today which quoted Grace lally, 43, a mother-of-two and childcare worker from Hastings, East Sussex. She said: 'We are not only facing climate collapse - as more parts of the world become uninhabitable through fires, droughts and floods, and more harvests fail, then we are actually facing societal collapse. TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists are removed from a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning 'Once we really confront this reality how are we expected to continue with life as normal? We all know the science and the facts, so our leaders who are doing nothing to transition away from fossil fuels are either fools or psychopaths. 'Either way I'm not prepared to let them lead us over a cliff without putting up a fight. We are nonviolent but we must use every means in our power - protests, strikes, occupations - to try to stop the fossil fuel companies and their political defenders from destroying everything we love.' And Phil Snider, 37, a delivery driver from Southampton, said: 'I'm taking action because I looked at the science, read the quotes from Sir David King and the UN and was horrified. I'm doing this because I believe we all should do what we can. 'I'm in a position where I am able to take action, so I am doing this. It makes me sick to see climate disasters in the paper - people suffering in countries that have not contributed to this catastrophe in the same way that rich countries have. TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil activist near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists are removed from a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists block a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London this morning TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil activists near Vauxhall Bridge in London today TODAY -- Just Stop Oil activists are removed from a road near Vauxhall Bridge in London today 'The Government needs to get a grip and stop all new oil production, tax the wealthy and corporations that have caused this disaster and go full pelt in the direction of green energy.' A Just Stop Oil spokesman said: 'We will continue in civil resistance because it is the right thing to do when faced with a harmful government. 'The coming weeks will see the disruption in the capital increase until the government makes a statement to 'end new oil and gas'. 'Beginning the process of winding down fossil fuel production in this country is not rocket science, it's not brain surgery. The Government is throwing water on the fire that is destroying our only home.' The group has coincided its protests with a new round of licensing for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. YESTERDAY -- Just Stop Oil activists at Trafalgar Square in London as their protests continue WEDNESDAY -- Police speak to Just Stop Oil protesters block a road leading into Westminster TUESDAY -- Climate activists from Just Stop Oil block the roads around Parliament Square MONDAY -- Police attempt to move Just Stop Oil protesters blocking roads in Trafalgar Square SUNDAY -- Police wach as Just Stop Oil of protesters occupy Waterloo Bridge in London SATURDAY -- Activists occupy Parliament Square as Just Stop Oil carry out more protests The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has started the 33rd round of offshore licences. It estimates more than 100 licences may be granted. Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the licensing will boost the UK's economy and energy security. He said: '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine means it is now more important than ever that we make the most of sovereign energy resources, strengthening our energy security now and into the future. 'Ensuring our energy independence means exploiting the full potential of our North Sea assets to boost domestic production - recognising that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than importing from abroad. 'That is why we welcome the launch of the NSTA's new licensing round, which will help support highly skilled jobs across the UK's energy industry, boosting both our energy security and our economy.' A mother of eight and her partner have been charged with neglect after the death of their six-month-old baby boy. Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia, 31, and her partner Jahley Poata, 30, faced Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, two days after their son died. The couple allegedly failed to give the baby the necessary medical, remedial and therapeutic care between June 1 and September 27, the court heard. Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia, 31, and her partner Jahley Poata, 30, both faced the charges at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday (pictured, Ms Hunia with little Jahley) The boy, also named Jahley Poata, (pictured) died at Perth's Children's Hospital on Wednesday The mother of eight and Mr Poata did not apply for bail and only spoke to confirm their names in court on Friday (pictured, Ms Hunia posing on social media) The boy, also named Jahley Poata, died at Perth's Children's Hospital on Wednesday after he was transferred from their local hospital. 'On September 26, the baby was admitted to Collie Hospital and due to his condition was transferred to Perth Children's Hospital,' police alleged, reported The West Australian. Neither parent applied for bail and only spoke to confirm their names in court on Friday. They will front court again on Tuesday. Ms Hunia is a 'glamour model' and has a TikTok following of almost 3,000 and 7,400 on Instagram. She said she is a model for Kiwi clothing brand Marley The Label and for Maneki Meow, a Japanese label and posts pictures of her wearing outfits. Ms Hunia also said she is a skin care consultant for the Monat brand as well as a beauty and hair expert. Ms Hunia (pictured) has a big TikTok following of almost 3,000 and 7,400 on Instagram A British businessman has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly defrauding victims out of over 40 million baht (almost 1 million). The CEO named as Mark Edward Kirkham was seized at Suvarnabhumi Airport after South Bangkok Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in December last year. The Brit chief executive was reportedly wanted for running an unlicensed securities firm through which he allegedly siphoned millions of baht from investors. British businessman Mark Edward Kirkham (pictured) has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly defrauding victims out of over 40 million baht (almost 1 million) The warrant was issued after numerous complainants filed complaints against the 57-year-old CEO of PFS International Consultants Ltd., formerly Barkley Spencer International Co., Ltd. Kirkham allegedly lured his clients into investing in an overseas foreign fund, which he said promised a 7-11 percent return on their investments. The complainants later found that they could not redeem their investment funds because their contracts had expired. After allegedly amassing over 40 million baht in investments, Kirkham closed the company down. Kirkham, from Warrington, was seized at Suvarnabhumi Airport after South Bangkok Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in December last year The businessman, from Warrington, was arrested at the airport after arriving from Singapore and handed over to the Economic Crime Division. Police spokesman Lt. Gen. Jirhabhop Bhuridej said: Mr Kirkham was arrested on an arrest warrant issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court on December 22, 2021, for collusion in running a securities business without permission or registering it, in violation of Section 90 of the Securities and Exchange Act. If found guilty, Kirkham who denies all allegations could face up to five years in jail. Advertisement An historic house owned by the parents of one of the Gunpowder plotters and slept in by Oliver Cromwell is up for sale. The Ducks Nest is one of the oldest properties in the historic market town of Oundle in north Northamptonshire. Sir Thomas Tresham, a prominent Catholic landowner whose eldest son, Francis, was embroiled in the gunpowder plot, owned the property for a time up until 1564. Although part of the conspiracy, Francis Tresham was suspected by the plotters to be the one who wrote the infamous letter tipping off the authorities. He was arrested and put in the Tower of London a week after the plot was discovered but died of natural causes on December 23 1605. Later on when the building became the Anchor Inn, Oliver Cromwell the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland stayed there. The date, etched into the gable of the property reads 1637 but it is believed that other parts of the house are much older. As a property of historic and architectural significance, the quaint stone cottage is a Grade II listed building. The Ducks Nest in Oundle, Northamptonshire, is a Grade II listed building and on sale for 700,000 The house was once slept in by Oliver Cromwell, and was also owned by Sir Thomas Tresham, father to Francis Tresham, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot Dark wooden beams hang from the ceiling of the historic property, giving it a unique shape and interior The house includes a second sitting room which features an old fireplace, as well as a wooden spiral staircase There is also an original stone fireplace in the dining room, which also features a comfy window seat The house is suprisingly spacious for such an historic property, and is the oldest property in the village The kitchen has a this fireplace and plenty of room for dining, as well as another cozy window alcove where the owners can enjoy the history of the place Francis Tresham was sent to the Tower of London after the Gunpowder Plot, but was thought to have sent a letter to the authorities revealing the plan The current dining room was once owned by the Knights Templar, an organisation of devout Christians who were active in the medieval era. The three bedroom house, full of history, is on sale for 700,000. Dark wooden beams hang from the ceilings and a fireplace sits in one of the living rooms surrounded by old stone. Estate agent for Fine & Country Molly Thomas who is working with the house, said: 'The first thing people say when they see the house is that they love the history of the place. 'The vendor has put photos of the house back when it was an old pub on the walls which people love to see and hear about. 'I think that is definitely something that people love about old houses, when there is a story behind it. People are always asking questions about it.' The town itself is also a historic minefield. Ms Thomas said: 'There is so much history in Oundle, it is almost hard to list everything. There's the Talbot Hotel and Oundle School that are spectacular and full of history. The house isn't all historic - modern bathrooms are just one innovation invented since Tresham's time The main bedroom upstairs is spacious with a lovely high ceiling, making for a perfect master room The house is equally picturesque on the outside, with its own private gate and plenty of plants growing on the walls Who was Francis Tresham? Francis Tresham was born around 1567 and died on December 23, 1605. He was the eldest son of Thomas Tresham and Muriel Throckmorton and a staunch Catholic. Tresham joined the Earl of Essex's failed rebellion against the government in 1601, and upon the plot being discovered, he was imprisoned. Only his family's intervention saved him from death. He then joined the Gunpowder Plot in October 1605, but failed to deliver the money he had promised to co-conspirator Robert Catesbury. He was reportedly concerned that if the plot to blow up Parliament and kill King James succeeded, two of his brothers-in-law would be killed. He has long been suspected of writing a letter which found its way to the English Secretary of State and ultimately led to the plot's discovery. He always denied this to his co-conspirators. He was arrested on November 12 and sought to play down his role in the plot in his confession. He died of natural causes in the Tower of London. Advertisement 'I think the historic architecture in Oundle is what people love about it.' The house also has more modern features such as an ensuite, a family bathroom, three good-sized reception rooms and a farmhouse style kitchen. Automatic gates guard the gravelled driveway that has undercover parking and old flagstone steps which lead down to the back entrance and a little paved area for eating outside. The cottage has had a lot of interest since it went on the market last month. Part of this is due to its connection to the plot to assassinate Protestant King James I of England. Owned by Thomas Tresham, Francis' father, it has quite the history. Tresham was first imprisoned for joining a failed rebellion against the government in 1601, and would have been executed without his family's intervention. Despite this he became involved in the Gunpowder Plot in October 1605. A letter written by an anonymous member of the plot found its way to the English Secretary of State and ultimately foiled the plan. Historians have long suspected this was Francis Tresham's work, but this hypothesis remains unproven. Ms Thomas said: 'We've had quite a bit of interest from a mixture of people. 'It appeals to lots of people as it's not a crazy big house that would be hard to maintain and wouldn't be too big for a couple, but it also isn't too small that it won't fit a family.' With its long history it is no surprise that it has had some interesting guests over the years. Now it is looking for a new owner to continue on its legacy. There is more woe for Californian motorists as gas prices have surged to record highs - and the pain is expected to get worse before it gets better. The price of a gallon of gas in Los Angeles has soared to $6.49, with a gigantic increase of $1.15 across the state over last month, blamed on the ongoing war in Ukraine, high taxes, green policies and refinery shutdowns. Across the state, the average price sits at $6.42 on Thursday, with gas most expensive in Mono County on the border with Nevada, where drivers have to fork out $7.29 a gallon - nearly double the national average of $3.87. The horror prices are specific to California and the west coast in part due to shutdowns and maintenance-related stoppages at five oil refineries. They produce a special green-friendly gas aimed at reducing air pollution required by state law, meaning the state cannot bring in gas from its neighbors which does not meet these regulations. 'We're operating now in a ... tight market,' said Shon Hiatt, an associate professor of business at USC focused on the energy industry. 'So if one refinery goes off to do maintenance, the prices are going to jump, because we don't have much slack.' It underscores the fragility of California's energy markets as it makes a bold play to transition to a greener economy, with the goal of phasing out gas vehicles by 2035. A Shell gas station sign displays the price of gas on September 21, 2022 in Los Angeles. Gas prices hit a record high in the city this week, at $6.49 a gallon The west coast is feeling the highest prices in part due to high taxes, refinery shutdowns and green regulations which mean gas stations must sell a specific type of fuel - currently in short supply Figures released on Thursday show the states where a gallon of gasoline will set you back the most, and the astonishing rate at which prices are shooting up Gas prices for 2022 have been significantly above previous years, peaking in June at over $5 a gallon, but coming back down since then - until the last couple of weeks Governor Gavin Newsom called on the state's lawmakers to jump-start the sale of a cheaper winter blend gasoline a month ahead of schedule to help out beleaguered motorists. The winter blend, approved by the California Air Resources Board this week, contains less expensive butane. But analysts warn it could still be weeks before drivers see the effects in their wallets. 'Some West Coast states saw prices rise 35 to 55 cents per gallon in the last week as refinery issues continued to impact gasoline supply, which fell to its lowest level in a decade in the region, causing prices to skyrocket,' said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. 'While I'm hopeful there will eventually be relief, prices could go a bit higher before cooling off.' California also has the second-highest tax rate for gasoline at 53.9 centres per gallon, just behind Pennsylvania at 57.6 cents. Alaska has the lowest tax rate at just 8.9 cents per gallon. 'The regional differences in gas prices are stark at the moment, with prices on the West Coast hitting $6 a gallon and higher, while Texas and Gulf Coast states have prices dipping below $3 in some areas,' said Andrew Gross, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association. Gas prices nationally peaked at $5.02 on June 14 - a record high, but they had been falling continuously until last month, when they started climbing again. At the start of this week it sat at $3.79 nationally. Another factor that has affected gas prices nationwide has been decision by Opec+ to do Vladimir Putin a favor and cut oil output by 2million barrels a day. It is a blow for the Biden administration and stands to be a big boost for Moscow, despite the West's efforts to choke off oil and gas revenues as a source of cashflow to fund Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Opec+ agreed to cut global oil production by two million barrels a day on Wednesday, dealing a blow to Joe Biden's plans to bring gas prices down. Pictured: Biden fist-bumping with Saudi despot Mohammed bin Salman Energy ministers from the OPEC cartel, whose leading member is Saudi Arabia, and allied non-members including Russia met in person at the group's Vienna headquarters for the first time since early 2020. Their announced production cutback on Tuesday is the largest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes after oil barrel prices dropped roughly a quarter in just three months, now around $90, amid fears of a looming global recession. However, some parts of the US have seen prices jump back up again by up to 60 cents per gallon, according to the Washington Post, underscoring the already-precarious environment. President Joe Biden was asked about OPEC+'s decision as he boarded Marine One ahead of a visit to hurricane-ravaged Florida but told reporters he 'needs to see the details.' He said he was 'concerned' and that it was an 'unnecessary' step, according to reports. A joint statement from White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said Biden 'is disappointed by the shortsighted decision.' 'At a time when maintaining a global supply of energy is of paramount importance, this decision will have the most negative impact on lower- and middle-income countries that are already reeling from elevated energy prices,' the statement read. OPEC+'s decision could potentially be a financial boost for Moscow's illegal invasion of Ukraine What is Opec+ Opec is a global cartel of the world's leading oil producers, who collude together to set prices. Founded in 1960, it consists of 13 countries, including some current and one-time foes of the USA, such as Iran, Venezuela and Iraq. US ally Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer and the kingpin in the group, but there are some significant producers who are not in Opec - including the USA itself. In 2016, Opec formed Opec+ to include other oil producers not in the cartel in decision-making in order to more effectively fix the price. This expanded group includes Mexico, Azerbaijan, and most notably Russia, which produces a similar amount of oil as Saudi Arabia. There are several important oil producers who are not in Opec at all - as well as the USA, including China, Canada and Brazil. Advertisement They also suggested that a new legislative effort could be on the table, adding: 'In light of todays action, the Biden Administration will also consult with Congress on additional tools and authorities to reduce OPEC's control over energy prices.' The announcement's effect on the pumps is not yet certain, but the decision has left the Biden administration scrambling to avoid a 'total disaster' according to a CNN report. During a press conference on Tuesday, OPEC+ was asked how much Biden's release of the strategic petroleum reserves 'distorted true price discovery.' 'I wouldn't call it a distortion. It was done at the right time. If it didnt happen, Im sure things might be different than they are today,' they said. OPEC's decision after their Wednesday meeting could force prices at the pump back up after the White House celebrated them falling at a record pace this summer. They have already begun to inch back up in recent weeks. But a sudden spike would be an especially concerning setback with the November midterm elections just over a month away. One official told CNN that the White House is 'having a spasm and panicking' over the potential outcome. John Kirby, the National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, downplayed the cut's effect during an interview on Fox News Wednesday morning. '[T]hey are adjusting back their numbers down a little bit here. OPEC plus has been saying and telling the word they're producing 3.5 million more barrels than they actually are,' Kirby said. 'So, in some ways this announced decrease really just kind of gets them back into more aligned with actual production.' He added that there were no 'dramatic shifts in the price of oil,' noting that Wednesday's prices remain in the low 90s. She was a seductress who was alleged to have used her beauty to snare the secrets of top Allied officers during the First World War. Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari, who was enlisted to spy for France, was executed by firing squad at the age of 41 after MI5 helped to compile evidence that she was acting as a double agent for Germany. She was killed in 1917 after being found guilty of allegedly revealing details about the Allies' new weapon the tank to Germany. Hari is known to have had Allied military officers of different nationalities among her lovers. Her alleged leaks were said to have resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers, although doubt has been cast on the extent of her guilt in recent years. This week, it was revealed that a Ukrainian teenage girl had echoed Hari's exploits by using a dating app to track down Russian troops and expose where they were based. She was so successful that one soldier had told her how he was fighting to try to earn money for a luxury car and sent her images of a boarding school being used as a military base. Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari, who was enlisted to spy for France, was executed by firing squad at the age of 41 after being convicted of also acting as a double agent for Germany. Above: The dancer posing in 1911 Hari was killed in 1917 after being found guilty of revealing details about the Allies' new weapon the tank to Germany. Above: The dancer posing in 1906 Hari was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle to a prosperous Dutch family in 1876. Ukraine's online Mata Hari: Russian troops are being duped by woman, 18, using dating app to lure them into giving away their location in Ukraine by flirting with them By Ian Birrell for the Daily Mail A teenage Ukrainian girl, forced by war to flee her home in Kherson, has revealed she went on a dating app posing as a Russian to track down enemy troops and expose where they were based. She was so successful that one soldier boasted he was fighting to earn money for a luxury car and sent her pictures from a boarding school used as a military base. Another showed a mansion where he was guarding a senior officer. Her exploits echo those of the First World War German spy Mata Hari, whose lovers in the top brass told her of the Allies new secret weapon, the tank. But for Lisa not her real name her inspiration came from a girl on TikTok who had befriended a Russian soldier, asked where he was serving and passed the information to Ukraines army. Advertisement She adopted the name that she would be forever known by when she took on acting and dancing roles after moving to France. Before leaving the Netherlands, she endured a troubled marriage to hard-drinking Dutch army captain Rudolf MacLeod. The couple had two children, a son and daughter. The son, Norman, was killed when he and his sister were poisoned by their nanny. Their daughter, Non, survived. Hari and her husband separated in 1902 and the dancer moved to Paris, but was forced to leave her daughter with her former spouse. Once in France, Hari began by performing in private homes and stories of her seductive moments and nudity soon began passing around Parisian high society. In May 1914, she signed a contract to dance for six months in Berlin. It meant that when war broke out in August that year, she was stuck in Germany. She then charmed a Dutch businessman to pay her train fare to Amsterdam. Hari was approached Karl Kroemer, the German consul, who told her he was recruiting spies and gave her 20,000 francs. Whilst she took the money, she allegedly did not actually spy for him, according to American academic Pat Shipman's 2007 book. She was stopped by MI5 when she was travelling to France via Britain to avoid the front line in the war. She was deemed to be suspicious by the intelligence services, partly because she spoke French, English, Italian, Dutch and probably German. Shipman explained: 'The problem was not what Mata Hari said but who she was. She was a woman travelling alone, obviously wealthy and an excellent linguist - too educated, too foreign. Hari was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle to a prosperous Dutch family in 1876. Above: The dancer is seen wearing a feather hat in 1900 Hari adopted the name that she would be forever known by when she took on acting and dancing roles after moving to France Hari is seen in 1900 posing for a portrait whilst wearing a white dress. The dancer became famous across Europe 'Worse yet, she admitted to having a lover. Women like that were immoral and not to be trusted.' A British intelligence officer in Holland then aired rumours about payments to her from the German embassy. He added: 'One suspects her of having gone to France on an important mission that will profit the Germans.' Once back in Paris, Hari resumed her glamorous life and had dalliances with men in uniform. She was not aware that she was being tailed by two secret policemen. Her letters were steamed open, porters were questioned and waitresses and hairdressers collected evidence on her love life. An undated photo of Dutch dancer and glamorous spy Mata Hari who was executed by France in 1917 Hari is seen posing in a white dress in 1905. She was arrested in 1917 and executed for alleged spying Then, the head of French intelligence Captain Georges Ladoux forced her to promise to enlist as a spy for France, in return for him allowing her to visit her Russian lover in the town of Vittel, which was in an area beset by fighting. But Ladoux and Britain were still convinced she was a German spy. After spending time with her lover in Vittel, she returned to Paris and was sent on a mission to German-occupied Belgium. When Belgium proved impossible to reach, she went to Spain and turned her charms on a German intelligence officer. After he told her secrets about German manoeuvres in North Africa, she passed the information on to Ladoux. But Ladoux used her meetings with Kalle to claim that she was handing over French secrets to the enemy. This week, it was revealed that a Ukrainian teenage girl had echoed Hari's exploits by using a dating app to track down Russian troops and expose where they were based. Above: The men the girl, named Lisa, targeted She was arrested, tried and found guilty of revealing information about the British construction of the then-revolutionary tank. Hari was sentenced to death by firing squad. On the day that she was shot dead, she donned black stockings, high heels and a velvet fur-lined cloak before declaring, 'I'm ready'. She was taken to an old fort on the outskirts of Paris and faced a firing squad made up of 12 French officers. Hari is said to have refused the offer of a blindfold, declaring: 'Must I wear that?' The mother of a woman mauled to death by her own pet dog at home says she warned her daughter 'something bad was going to happen' two weeks before she died. Mother-of-two Joanne Robinson, 43, was killed by her American Bully XL dog, Rocco, after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat' in July. She died at the scene of the attack at home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire while her partner, Jamie Stead, was left with injuries to his hands, stomach and face as he tried to pull the animal off her. Joanne's mother Dot, of Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, revealed Rocco had previously fought with their other dog Lola - and she had warned her daughter to 'get rid of one of them'. Dot has said the family, including Joanne's children Dillon, 24, and Elle, 19, are in 'bits' and 'not coping' after the tragic death. Joanne Robinson, 43, described as 'beautiful inside and out' was mauled to death by her own pet dog in July Joanne was killed by her American Bully XL dog, Rocco, who was on the legal dogs breeds list Dozens of flowers were laid at the scene of the attack which left Joanne's partner with injuries to his hands, stomach and face Third death involving Bully XL dog breed In March this year Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by an XL Bully dog. The toddler had been attacked in her family's home in St Helens, Merseyside, just a week after they bought the animal. Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog Also this year, Joanne Robinson was mauled to death by her pet American Bully XL dog after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat'. The 43-year-old died at the scene of the attack at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Joanne Robinson was mauled to death Last year Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis was also killed in a savage attack by a Bully XL. The 10-year-old boy was playing at a friend's house in Caerphilly in November last year when he was set upon by the dog. Jack Lis, 10, was mauled to death by a killer XL Bully dog Advertisement Speaking to the Mirror, she called for an end 'of these nightmare deaths' as 'too many people are being killed' by dogs. The 67-year-old said something needs to happen - while insisting her daughter would not have blamed Rocco, who was on the legal dog breeds list. 'I've never seen a dog as big as Rocco, he had started fighting with their other dog Lola and I begged her to get rid of one of them,' she told the newspaper. 'I warned her what would happen but she adored that dog and said "I can't give up on him mum".' Dot described her daughter as 'beautiful inside out' and a 'gem' who was adored, adding that Jo always picked up strays. But she wants to see action and thinks the Government needs to crack down on breeders and bring back dog licences for bigger breeds. She said her daughter tried to do everything right but her 18-month-old dog was too big and strong. Dot said Joanne paid 4000 for Rocco from a dog breeder and she 'fell in love' with him even though he was fighting with other pups in a cage when she first met him at a breeder's. She said her daughter's two dogs had fought last August, then again at Christmas. They had to separate them and leave them in separate rooms, Dot told, adding that Joanne had planned to get a dog behaviourist to help. Both dogs have been destroyed, Dot confirmed. The grandmother previously said: 'I don't know why they suddenly snapped. I can only think they turned mad in the extreme heat. It must have set them off.' She has spoken out again after a 'lovely and funny' grandmother was mauled to death by five American bulldogs this week in a separate incident. Ann Dunn, 65, died at a dog breeding property in Liverpool on Monday evening after being mauled by 'multiple' dogs described by Merseyside Police as American Bulldog breed. Five canines were later taken from the property by police and 'humanely destroyed'. Ms Dunn was attacked inside her home on St Brigid's Crescent in Vauxhall around 4.25pm on Monday. People were called to the home after her family realised something was wrong when she did not turn up to collect her grandson from school. The property where Ms Dunn died had been listed online for dog breeding. Pictures on the business' website show numerous dogs being advertised for sale, with quotes available on request. American bulldogs, which were the breed of dog found in the home, are not one of the four breeds currently banned in the UK. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control and has since been conditionally bailed, pending further investigation. Merseyside Police said a post-mortem exam will take place to determine Ms Dunn's cause of death. Avanti West Coast has been placed on a short-term contract renewal by the Government after it provided an 'unacceptable' service to rail users after slashing Manchester-London trains from seven an hour to four. The train company has been given until April 1st next year to improve its services following a reduction of its trains, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said. The operator reduced its timetable from seven trains per hour to a minimum of four per hour on August 14. This involved running just an hourly service in each direction between Manchester and London plus additional services at the busiest times. The route had three trains per hour before the coronavirus pandemic and prior to the timetable change had two services per hour with some extra trains. The Government's announcement comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wrote to the Transport Secretary and urged for the train company to be stripped of its contract unless the axed services were reinstated soon. The Labour mayor's letter was timed as rails strikes continue to hit the country this week, with action impacting Avanti West Coast services today and tomorrow. The rail company took part in Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) strikes on Wednesday. And members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at more than a dozen train companies and Network Rail will strike on Saturday. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wrote to the Transport Secretary and urged for the train company to be stripped of its contract unless the axed services were reinstated soon FirstGroup plc, which co-owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italy's Trenitalia, said it was 'committed' to providing services that meet people's needs. Pictured, an Avanti West Coast train at Stoke-on-Trent Train Station Avanti trains were removed from the timetable in August to cut short-notice cancellations after a sharp decline in the number of drivers voluntarily working on rest days for extra pay. The DfT said that nearly 100 additional drivers will have entered formal service this year between April and December, meaning that more services have started to be added as new drivers become available to work. It added that the company is planning to increase from 180 per day to 264 trains per day on weekdays as more drivers become available as well as continuing to recruit more train staff. Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: 'We need train services which are reliable and resilient to modern day life. 'Services on Avanti have been unacceptable and while the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers. 'We have agreed a six-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect.' FirstGroup plc, which co-owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italy's Trenitalia, said it was 'committed' to providing services that meet people's needs. Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan (pictured) said that Avanti's services have been 'unacceptable' and that it 'must do more to deliver certainty of service' Planned strikes expected to continue Friday and Saturday The TSSA is planning industrial action on Friday and Saturday, while members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at more than a dozen train companies and Network Rail will strike on Saturday. Train companies not involved in the strike will be running as usual, but these are expected to be busy. Services are also likely to be disrupted in the early morning of Thursday as workers return to duties. Avanti West Coast - customers warned to only travel if absolutely necessary c2c - 'significant disruption' expected. Trains to continue to run between 7.30am and 6.30pm Chiltern Railways - customers warned to expect significantly reduced timetable CrossCountry - services will run on 'significantly reduced' timetable East Midlands Railway - services to run only between 7.30am and 6.30pm Great Western Railway - services will run, but they will be limited and start later and finish earlier. Customers are urged to check before travelling Greater Anglia - commuters warned to 'avoid travelling with us'. Services to be severely reduced and disrupted. Most routes are unlikely to have train or bus replacements LNER - customers urged to check relevant website for details of service levels each day until Sunday 9 October Northern - limited services will run, so customers are urged to only travel if absolutely necessary South Western Railway - no decision yet. Customers told there will be updates in the coming days Southeastern - limited services will run, so customers are urged to only travel if absolutely necessary Southern, Great Northern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express - no decision yet. Customers told there will be updates in the coming days TransPennine Express - 'very limited service on some lines'. Customers urged to travel only for essential journeys West Midlands Railway - 'significant disruption' expected. Trains to continue to run between 7.30am and 6.30pm Advertisement Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup chief executive officer, said: 'We are committed to working closely with Government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway that serves the needs of our customers and communities. 'Today's agreement allows our team at Avanti West Coast to sustain their focus on delivering their robust plan to restore services to the levels that passengers rightly expect.' Train drivers' union Aslef has described the Government's decision to award a short-term contract extension to rail operator Avanti as 'a slap in the face to passengers and staff'. The union added that industrial relations with Avanti were at an 'all-time low' and the company should not have been allowed to continue to run its franchise, which includes the London to Glasgow rail route. Aslef organiser, Kevin Lindsay said: 'Amongst the train-operating companies, Avanti are amongst the worst, failing their employees and the public alike. To reward their consistent failure by extending their contract for the London to Glasgow service is nothing more than a slap in the face to passengers and staff. 'This was an opportunity to return a vital transport service to public hands and to be run in the public interest. The decision to award this extension must be called in and reversed urgently.' 'Avanti's extension is as baffling as their claims about recruitment, they have repeated misled passengers and politicians with claims of 100 new drivers when in fact the number is around half that! 'Industrial Relations with Avanti are at an all-time low, their sent bully-boy management style has led to the present pay dispute but Aslef has a number of industrial issues with the company.' Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh also described the extension of the contract as a 'slap in the face for passengers'. Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham, meanwhile, praised the Government for taking action but warned he is 'hugely concerned' about its 'failing service' lasting a further six months. He said: 'Putting Avanti West Coast on notice marks a significant shift in tone under the new secretary of state. 'At last, there is a clear recognition of the crisis engulfing the country's most important railway line and the management failure that has led to that. 'However, the lack of an acceptable rescue plan from the company - and clear conditions from the Government - means very few people in Greater Manchester will support this extension.' Mr Burnham added: 'The damage that Avanti's failing service is inflicting on our economy, and the huge disruption to passengers, is completely unacceptable. 'The company has shown itself to be unable to stabilise their service and fix problems with ticketing and the on-board experience for passengers. 'The thought of another six months of what we're currently experiencing is a huge concern.' He added that he is calling for the Government to undertake day-to-day monitoring and for week-to-week public reporting on performance to be introduced, as well as a review to be undertaken in mid-December with mayors and leaders in places where Avanti West Coast operates. Yesterday Mr Burnham wrote to Ms Trevelyan and urged for the train company to be stripped of its contract unless the axed services were reinstated soon. In his letter, Mr Burnham wrote: 'This would mean two more months of chaos on the West Coast Main Line in the interim with resulting damage to our city-region's economy. 'If December 11 is to be acceptable, Avanti must also commit to providing a consistent two trains per hour service between Manchester and London by the end of this month as a staging post to full restoration of the timetable. 'Unless this happens and is clearly communicated, train travel between our most important economic regions will continue to be chaotic, forcing people into their cars or into abandoning plans to travel entirely. 'Without this commitment I will be unable to support a new contract for Avanti.' Mr Burnham told Ms Trevelyan that Avanti West Coast still has 'very poor levels of reliability' with trains 'regularly delayed or cancelled'. His letter mentioned 'other challenges' including tickets only being released a few days in advance, seats being double booked and broken toilets. 'These dreadful conditions would be unacceptable at any time but are particularly so now given the wholesale collapse of the timetable, something no other train company is experiencing at anything like this scale,' Mr Burnham wrote. Responding, Avanti West Coast said in a statement: 'We are already delivering on our commitment to increase the number of services we are running between Manchester and London, with three or four trains an hour departing Manchester Piccadilly at the key times of the day. 'We remain focused on providing a reliable train service for our customers and restoring a full timetable of three trains an hour all day between London and Manchester in December. 'Our revised timetable, with no reliance on overtime, is also proving more reliable - in the last week we have run 300 trains between London and Manchester with approximately one in 30 of them cancelled mainly because of short-notice sickness. 'That compares with one out of 13 trains cancelled back in mid-July. 'Nevertheless, we know that at the moment we're not delivering the service our customers rightly expect and we apologise for the enormous frustration and inconvenience this is causing. 'We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding.' Last month, the company published a plan to reinstate some services on certain days from September 27. Timetables on other days were due to be boosted 'as soon as possible' ahead of another increase on December 11. Avanti West Coast's contract was originally due to expire on October 16. Sir Ernest Shackleton's lost ship could be raised from under the sea in Antarctica, the expedition crew who found it has said. Endurance became stuck in ice and sank in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica in 1915 and had been lost until it was located by a mission vessel which was launched in February, a month after the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest's death this year. The Endurance22 Expedition director of exploration Mensun Bound has revealed he is planning to look more closely at the wreck, which lies 10,000 feet beneath the surface of the ocean. Raising the ship has also been considered, amid concerns it could eventually decay despite being preserved in the ice and cold water for so long. Sir Ernest and his crew set out to achieve the first land crossing of Antarctica but Endurance did not reach land and became trapped in dense pack ice, forcing the 28 men on board to eventually abandon ship. They were stuck in the ice for around 10 months, before escaping in lifeboats and on foot. Sir Ernest Shackleton's lost ship could be raised from under the sea, the expedition crew who found it has said Sir Ernest (pictured in 1909) and his crew set out to achieve the first land crossing of Antarctica but Endurance did not reach land and became trapped in dense pack ice ENDURANCE STATS Type: Three-masted schooner barque Former name: Polaris* Builder: Framns shipyards, Norway Launched: December 17, 1912 Crew complement: 28 Length: 144 feet (44 metres) Beam: 25 feet (7.6 metres) Tonnage: 348 register tons Propulsion: Steam and sail Max. speed: 10.2 knots (11.7 mph) Sank: Weddell Sea, November 21, 1915 Notable features: Strengthened hull and denser framework custom-designed for operation in polar waters Advertisement Asked at an event in central London if the ship will be raised, maritime archaeologist Mr Bound said: 'There are a lot of contrasting views about that - we have a range of ideas on that one. 'And we have to remember the Shackleton family, who very likely own the ship, they have fairly strong views of their own. 'Bringing it up - we've got to think about conserving it and the process of that, which museum is going to take that, which could take forever and a day. 'But if we leave it there, it's organic, it's going to decay some time beyond our lifetime.' In March, the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust said Endurance was found at a depth of 3,008 metres and approximately four miles south of the position originally recorded by the ship's captain Frank Worsley. For the mission, the expedition team worked from the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II. Underwater search vehicles were used to locate, survey and film the wreck. Mr Bound said Endurance is 'by far the finest wooden shipwreck' he had seen. Talking about other future plans, he went on: 'She's the ultimate sealed box mystery, it's an Aladdin's cave. 'It's like the film Citizen Kane with all the antiques, everything is there in that box. 'The technology's there, we can have a look through some of the gaps. '[We're] anxious in time to conduct a proper marine biological survey because she is this incredible oasis in a vast plain.' Sir Ernest and his men were stuck in the ice for around 10 months, before escaping in lifeboats and on foot. Above: The ship is seen stuck in ice Endurance became stuck in ice in the Weddell Sea on the west coast of Antarctica on January 18, 1915 A pair of boots and a flare gun were among the items seen on the ship. Television historian Dan Snow, who founded Netflix-style streaming platform History Hit, said the expedition, which he was a part of, was 'lucky' as they were able to navigate through the sea ice with 'relative ease'. He went on: 'We had a brilliant search box that Mensun Bound worked out, looking at all the data from 1915, looking at where the ship probably sunk. 'They were still doing readings with the sun to fix their position, latitude and longitude, and they made daily weather observations, things like that. 'The plan was if we couldn't near the box, to use helicopters to lift - which was a crazy plan - all the equipment required, build a camp on the ice, drill a massive hole in the ice and drop the drones like VHS tapes through the ice. Photo issued by Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust of the stern of the wreck of Endurance Endurance was one of two ships used by the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 19141917, which hoped to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic. Pictured: a photograph of the vessel stuck in pack ice taken in the October of 1915, a few weeks before she sank Anglo-Irish sailor and explorer Frank Wild assessing the wreckage of the Endurance, after it was crushed by tightening pack ice The ship was found approximately four miles south of the position originally recorded by Captain Worsley. Pictured is the the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II 'Bonkers idea, because the ice is ever-shifting, it's moving erratically.' The team instead deployed a drone off the back of the ship to move around the area. Endurance was found to be leaning on its right with ice coming 'up and over' it which 'bulldozed' parts of the deck and accommodation area, although Sir Ernest's cabin is still intact. The ropes and mast have fallen down but are still attached and perhaps acted like a 'parachute' as the ship sank. If the Endurance is raised, the operation would echo the lifting of the Tudor warship the Mary Rose in 1982. Henry VIII's flagship was raised from the Solent in an operation that was watched by an estimated 60million people on television. More than 500 volunteer divers and many others on shore helped with the work. The ship sank while on its way to battle against the French in 1545. Henry VIII was watching when the vessel met its fate. It is believed she tipped over after being overburdened with men and equipment. Around 500 men lost their lives. The mother of the teenager behind the wheel of a ute that crashed killing his five friends has told a court she heard prison officers openly discussing whether her son might kill himself. Tyrell Edwards, 18, was released on a strict conditional bail this week, a month after the horror crash that took the lives of his five young friends, aged between 14 and 16 at Buxton, southwest of Sydney. Ten days after the accident, his mother Renee Edwards feared for his life and in an affidavit dated September 16, worried he 'might not make it through the day'. Tyrell Edwards, 18, was released on a strict conditional bail this week, a month after the horror crash that took the lives of five children of his mates aged between 14 and 16 at Buxton, southwest of Sydney The mother of the teenager, Tyrell Edwards, who was behind the wheel of a ute that crashed killing his five friends has told a court she heard prison officers openly discussing whether her son might kill himself Her son was charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and placed on suicide watch and was 'obviously distressed'. Ms Edwards told the NSW Supreme Court she was outraged by a conversation she claimed to have overheard between prison guards after speaking to Tyrell Edwards, The Daily Telegraph reported. She couldn't understand much of what her son said in the call because he was 'so upset'. Ms Edwards told the court she heard two 'correctional officers' conversing about the the likelihood of her boy taking his life. The exchange took place after Ms Edwards' son handed the phone back to prison guards after the difficult call. A large crowd of supporters attended Tyrell Edwards' first court appearance in Picton, in Sydney's south-west, last month She claimed to have heard a female voice say 'Do you think he will do it? He is responsible for five deaths.' A male voice answered 'kill himself?' Ms Edwards was outraged and made an official complaint to Justice Health over the interaction and was told it would be investigated. She was also told her son has been showing signs of 'suicidal ideation' but was in a 'safe cell' and was being constantly monitored by video. Ms Edwards told the court that contact with her son was inconsistent and when they spoke he was 'quiet and flat'. The court also heard he was experiencing post-traumatic stress. Edwards was the sole survivor of the crash while passengers Lily van de Putte, 15, Antonio Desisto, 15, Summer Williams, 14, Tyrese Bechard, 16, and Gabby McLennan, 14. Edwards was granted bail, on a $100,000 surety, in part so he can receive psychological treatment for his worsening mental health. Justice Robert Beech-Jones said Edwards 'feared for his life' and was badly affected by the fatal accident. Tyrell Edwards feared for his life after the horror crash that killed his five friends 'The psychologist described the applicant as being affected by a combination of prominent distress, complex grief, anxiety, survivor guilt and shame, self condemnation and realisation of the stigma he will likely face both in the prison environment and the community,' he said. Soon after being transferred to Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre it was reported Edwards was struggling and has 'nothing to live for'. NSW Corrective Services said in a statement the 'safety and welfare' of prisoners was its 'primary concern'. The statement added that it reviewed management of inmates including 'vulnerable' people and those at risk because of their mental health. Mahsa Amini, whose death in police custody sparked nationwide protests, did not die as a result of violent blows but from multiple organ failure caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, the Iranian coroner has claimed. The country's authorities also deny reports that security forces killed two girls during protests over Amini's death, saying they both died of suicide by falling from roofs. Social media reports and the human rights group Amnesty International refute the Iranian authority's claim and say Sarina Esmaeilzadeh, 16, and Nika Shakarami, 17, were both killed when participating in protests over the recent death of Amini in police custody. The death of the 22-year-old while in the custody of Iran's morality police last month has ignited weeks of nationwide protests. Protests have swept Iran since Amini's death in police custody Amini went into a coma after being arrested in Tehran and died while she was in police custody in hospital. Her father has said she had bruises on her legs, and holds police responsible for her death. At Amini's funeral in Saqez, her hometown in Kurdistan, security forces fired tear gas at protesters who had gathered. The demonstrators chanted 'death to the dictator' as they removed their headscarves. Women and young school girls have been pictured waving and burning headscarves in protest over the regime. 150 people have been killed and hundreds injured during the regimes crack down on protests So far, around 150 people have been killed, hundreds have been injured and thousands arrested in a crackdown on nationwide protests marking the biggest challenge against Iran's clerical leadership in years. Sarina Esmaeilzadeh and Nika Shakarami, who the Iranian authorities claim both died after falling from roofs, were demonstrating over the death of Mahsa Amini when they were killed by Iranian security forces. They were struck over the head with batons, social media reports and Amnesty International said. The chief justice of Alborz province where Esmaeilzadeh died said a preliminary investigation showed her death was caused by suicide from a fall from the roof of a five-story building, the ISNA news agency said. Chief justice Hossein Fazeli Herikandi said claims in opposition media about her death were 'lies'. He also claimed that Esmaeilzadeh had a history of suicide attempts'. Iranian women burned hijabs in protest over the death of Mahsa Amini People are pictured burning the Iranian flag in after the death of the 22-year-old Amini Amnesty International, rejected the Iranian authority's account of her death. The human rights groups said she was one of at least 52 people killed by security forces between September 19 and 25, saying Esmaeilzadeh 'died after being severely beaten in the head with batons'. A video showing Esmaeilzadeh smiling and listening to music has been viewed around 147,000 times on the widely-followed 1500tasvir Twitter account. State media said that a judicial case had been opened into Shakarami's death, citing officials claiming it had nothing to do with the unrest, and that she had fallen off a roof and her body contained no bullet wounds. Activists have said she was killed in Tehran while demonstrating. Alex Ryder author Anthony Horowitz has claimed that he has been forced to 'shut up' by cancel culture because he fears the 'punitive response' he will get. The multi-million selling author, 67, has instead decided to write stories that don't upset anyone so that his books don't end up 'damaged'. Asked on the Loose Ends podcast whether as a writer he should seek to challenge his readers, he said: 'I fear the truth is that at the moment it's really not worth challenging people because of the punitive response you might get.' He said back in May that a 'culture of fear' is limiting literary expression, according to The Times. The multi-million selling author, 67, has instead decided to write stories that don't upset anyone so that his books don't end up 'damaged' Horowitz made the remarks while discussing his latest novel, The Twist of a Knife, which features the author himself as a character Speaking at the Hay Festival, he said: 'I'm very, very scared by what you're calling cancel culture. 'I think what is happening to writers is extremely dangerous, where certain words are hidden, where certain thoughts are not allowed anymore, where certain activities [are not allowed], obviously to do with gender or to with ethnicity or to do with trying to share the experiences of others.' Anthony Horowitz: Who is the author and what books has he written? Anthony Horowitz is an English screenwriter and novelist for adult and younger audiences, specialising in mystery and suspense. He has written over 40 books in his career. The 67-year-old, from Middlesex, is perhaps best known for writing James Bond novels after the estate of late creator of the British spy, Ian Fleming, chose Horowitz to write Bond novels utilizing unpublished material. The subsequent works included Trigger Mortis in 2015, followed by Forever and a Day in 2018. A third novel entitled With a Mind to Kill was released this month. His other work includes Mindgame, The House of Silk, Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders and two Sherlock Holmes novels. His work for young adults includes the Diamond Brothers series, the Alex Rider series and the Power of Five series. He has also contributed to TV series, having created and written ITV's Foyle's War, Collision, Injustice and BBC series New Blood. Advertisement On the podcast he added: 'I don't want to upset people to the extent that my books are damaged. 'At the end of the day I'm not alone. My publishers depend on me. Independent booksellers and the major chains, everybody. I'm part of an industry. 'And I feel that when I start talking politics or start getting into these areas of difficulty that actually I should just shut up and get on with the story because that's what I'm being paid to do. ' Horowitz made the remarks while discussing his latest novel, The Twist of a Knife, which features the author himself as a character. In the book a Native American character confronts the fictional Horowitz about being included in the story. He said: 'Woke and cancel culture and all that is a very, very big issue for writers and what I'm trying to do (in the book) is have discussions about things that matter. 'And of course that does matter at the moment and it's something that I've been thinking a lot about. And having a discussion with one of my characters who gets offended that I put him in the book because he happened to be a Native American. 'I say at the end of the book 'Would you like to be a Korean? I can change it if you want' but he doesn't buy that completely. That's probably not politically very correct either as an attitude to have.' Vladimir Putin has been confronted by one of his inner circle about his handling of the failing war in Ukraine, US intelligence has said. The insider complained to Putin about 'mismanagement of the war effort' and 'mistakes' being made by those executing the campaign, it is alleged. It is the clearest indication yet of rebellion among Russia's elite over the war and the first evidence that Putin has been directly confronted about it. Meanwhile Russian business executives linked to Moscow's political class described the situation inside the Kremlin as being at 'breaking point', and said in-fighting will break out soon if the tide of war keeps flowing in Ukraine's direction. The news emerged after Ukraine scored a series of battlefield victories over Russia, forcing Putin to announce a deeply-unpopular mobilisation to shore up the front line, annex occupied territories, and threaten anyone who intervenes with nukes. Vladimir Putin has been directly confronted over 'mismanagement and mistakes' being made in Ukraine by one of his inner circle, a US intelligence report says A Russian tank explodes after being hit by mortar fire somewhere in Ukraine, as Putin's forces are pushed back in the north and south of the country The information was included in a security brief sent to President Joe Biden and shared with other senior officials, before being leaked to the Washington Post. While the Post does not report the name of the person who confronted Putin, it adds that the name was included in the brief that Biden and others were shown. The Post separately spoke to members of the Russian business elite to get their impressions and was told that - while officials are not yet in open rebellion - discontent has almost reached boiling point. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, was asked about reports that an official had confronted Putin and flat-out denied any kind of challenge had taken place. He did acknowledge there were disagreements taking place at the highest level, but sought to play them off as 'working arguments'. 'Some think we should act differently, but this is all part of the usual working process,' he said. Putin is now into the eighth month of his war in Ukraine, having achieved none of the goals he set for himself at the outset. An ambitious shock-and-awe assault on Kyiv turned into a spectacular failure when Russian forces met stiff resistance, got bogged down and were picked off. A Ukrainian soldier inspects a destryoed convoy of vehicles that are thought to have been used by Russian forces attempting to flee the city of Izyum, which Kyiv has since captured A Ukrainian flag flies above a destroyed house near Izyum, after it was liberated by Kyiv's men Having suffered heavy casualties in some of their most-elite units, Putin's generals ordered a retreat and announced their true goal was capturing the Donbas - Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland. Over the summer, Russian troops managed to conquer Luhansk oblast but have only partially captured Donetsk - with together make up the Donbas. As the offensive there slowed to a crawl, Ukraine launched two counter-offensives: One in the south towards the city of Kherson, and another in the north near Kharkiv. Both have paid dividends. In Kharkiv, Ukraine managed to rout Russian troops who fled in chaos - taking heavy casualties and leaving behind large amount of equipment and ammunition. According to recent estimates, Russia is now the largest supplier of arms to Ukraine thanks largely to that offensive, eclipsing all other allies combined. In Kherson, the advances have been slower and more costly, but this week achieved a breakthrough of Russian lines that saw troops fall back some 12 miles. Unlike the shambolic retreat from Kharkiv, this withdrawal was more orderly and came with fewer losses - both in men and equipment - but still represents a much-needed victory for Ukraine. Putin claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions that his forces at least partially occupy, but they are currently being pushed back in three of them Kyiv's men have also pushed on from Kharkiv into neighbouring Donetsk and Luhansk, capturing a handful of towns in the former and threatening a key highway in the latter. In response, Putin has annexed four regions that his troops currently occupy, declaring that any attack on them is an attack on Russia itself. Such an attack, he has heavily hinted, may prompt retaliation with Russia's nuclear arsenal. Putin also made a barely-veiled nuclear threat to the West. He has also ordered 300,000 men to be conscripted into the armed forces, drawing on Russia's military reserves - though there is evidence the net has been cast much wider than that. The move has proved deeply unpopular, sparking protests across the country and prompting upwards of 370,000 men to seek refuge in neighbouring countries such as Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. ZANU PF stalwarts and ex-ministers in the current administration and late former President Robert Mugabes government are plotting a political comeback after they were cleared by the politburo to contest in the partys central committee elections set for today and tomorrow, NewsDay Weekender has learnt. Some current ministers, who also did not meet the partys selection criteria, were also plotting to make some inroads into key party organs. This followed a decision to waiver restrictions, which could have relegated them into the political dustbin ahead of the Zanu PF congress later this month. The central committee is Zanu PFs highest decision-making body in-between congresses. However, the party also disqualified many others from contesting the central committee polls, accusing them of being double agents, although the party refused to name them. Party political commissar Mike Bimha told journalists yesterday that a number of Zanu PF cadres who had wanted to contest were left hanging in the balance because they did not meet the set criteria of serving the party for 15 consecutive years. You might find that we had a number of ministers current ministers (and) former ministers who had applied, but who did not meet the requirements in terms of the 15 years, five years, but who now had to seek waivers. Mthuli (Ncube) is an example, he has now been afforded the waiver, he will be standing for election in the Bulawayo province. You had Sekai Nzenza, who has also been allowed to stand in Mashonaland East. You also have former Minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo, who is also going to stand in Harare, Bimha said. He added that the party had disqualified some candidates because information showed that some were double agents. You also have those who have been disqualified because there (was) additional information to the point that probably they are not in good standing in terms of their activities some who might not really (be) moving with us, who might probably be Zanu PF during day time and opposition during the night, Bimha said. In Midlands, former Minister of Special Affairs for Lands and Resettlement Flora Buka, a former close Mugabe ally, was cleared to contest in elections today after a politburo meeting which ran deep into the night on Thursday. Ex-ministers Francis Nhema (Environment) and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs) will battle it out with national consultative assembly member Breakfast Ncube and ex-Allied Timbers chairperson Emmanuel Fundira. Zimbabwes ambassador to Mozambique Victor Matemadanda reportedly told party faithful in Gokwe in a WhatsApp group that he would wait on Mnangagwa to appoint him back into the central committee if he sees fit. In Mashonaland West, former ministers Priscah Mupfumira (Environment) and Webster Shamu (Policy Implementation) will battle it out for a slot into Zanu PF mainstream politics. Ex-ministers Christopher Mushohwe (Information), Supa Mandiwanzira (ICT) and Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence) all former close Mugabe allies are also eyeing central committee positions. Mandiwanzira is expected to square off with former Nyanga South legislator Paul Kadzima and current central committee member Moses Gutu in Nyanga South. Mushohwe will battle it out with Zanu PF Manicaland chairperson and Transport deputy minister Mike Madiro and former youth boss Admire Mahachi. Some of the contestants include Christopher Chingosho (ex-Local Government deputy minister), Shadreck Chipanga an ex-Home Affairs deputy minister and former Central Intelligence Organisation director-general in the 1990s. Chingosho and Chipanga are among 12 candidates that have successfully applied to contest in Makoni district, Manicaland province. They will face Information and Communication Technology minister Jenfan Muswere and former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa in the elections. Chingosho has declared victory claiming he was more popular than Chinamasa. Only two candidates from Makoni district are expected to be elected into the central committee. In Mashonaland Central, James Makamba, Chenhamo Chimutengwende, Nicholas Goche (former State Security minister), Alice Chimbudzi, Sam Parirenyatwa, Angeline Tongogara, Paul Mazikana, Fortune Chasi (former Energy minister) Lazarus Dokora (ex-Education minister) and Douglas Karoro, among others, are contesting. Karoro, who was expelled as Agriculture deputy minister, is out on bail facing charges of stealing 700 bags of fertiliser, US$18 000 worth of maize seed and 5 000 vegetable seed kits from presidential inputs schemes and selling them. Former Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu yesterday said he had completely cut ties with Zanu PF and was not eyeing a comeback. Former ministers Bright Matonga (Information), Terrence Mukupe (Finance deputy) and Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna are not contesting after their candidatures were turned down. Party sources also told NewsDay Weekender that Information deputy minister Kindness Paradza and Marian Chombo (Local Government deputy minister) both have Mnangagwa to thank after their previous flirtations with opposition parties was not considered. Party members in Mashonaland West province said they were shocked after Mnangagwa gave the nod to controversial Mike Chimombe to participate in the elections. Chimombe was recently arrested for allegedly defrauding a Harare man of US$16 500 in a botched residential stand deal. He is out on bail. The polls will be fiercely contested amid vote-buying allegations, rigging and intimidation. In Matabeleland, a total of 40 candidates, including Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, are contesting. Mpofus wife Sikhanyisiwe (Umguza) is unopposed alongside Small to Medium Enterprises minister Sithembiso Nyoni (Nkayi) and Siphiwe Mafuwe (Hwange). Mudenda is facing off with eight other candidates in Hwange, while Mpofu is contesting against two challengers in Umguza. In Lupane West, sitting legislator Martin Khumalo is not contesting. There are five candidates in Lupane. In Binga, there are nine candidates. Minister of State in Vice-President Constantino Chiwengas office, Sibangumuzi Khumalo, is contesting in Tsholotsho against seven other candidates, including Minister Without Portfolio Cain Mathema. In Bulawayo, Tshinga Dube, Joshua Malinga and Mlungisi Moyo are also contesting. Addressing a provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Marondera on Thursday, Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Daniel Garwe warned party members against vote-buying. We now have a few days towards elections, and we are aware of the vote-buying antics by candidates. We are warning all those doing that to stop because they can be disqualified even on the eve of the election, he said. Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa told NewsDay Weekender that the candidates curricula vitae (CVs) were vigorously checked. The CVs were vigorously checked and (went through) numerous security checks. President Emmerson Mnangagwa also verified the CVs, Mutsvangwa said. On the issue of vote-buying, if people have evidence, they can come forward to us to deal with the matter. Some party officials yesterday claimed that five other notables in Mashonaland, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo, and Mashonaland Central provinces had been cleared to contest for central committee posts while others were barred. However, NewsDay Weekender could not verify all the names by the time of going to print. Mugabe was removed from power during an urgent central committee meeting held in November 2017, which is now subject of court proceedings by party faithful Sybeth Musengezi. Newsday Advertisement Snow is on the way next week as Britain faces heavy rain, blustery winds and and 'changeable' wet and windy weather with flood warnings in some parts, as weather experts predict cold winter ahead. The Met Office has reported that some sleet and snow could fall in Scotland, focusing on mountaintops where the coolest temperatures will hit. Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth told MailOnline that while there may be some snow and sleet next week this is not expected to be 'significant' and would be focused at high altitudes. 'With temperatures fluctuating, any snow that fell would melt fairly quickly,' she added. The warning comes as the country sees 'heavy rain' and 'blustery winds' today and Sunday, with tomorrow offering a brief respite for many, with sunnier spells. The incoming rain builds on changeable weather this week, where heavy downfall led to flooding in places, as cars were pictured stuck in floodwater in Glasgow on Friday morning. Britain is facing heavy rain, blustery winds and and 'changeable' wet and windy weather with flood warnings in some parts. Pictured, a car is submerged by water on Bisland Drive, Glasgow, today after torrential rain hit the city last night A band of rain is moving across the UK today (left), before clearer conditions arrive for most areas on Saturday (right) 'A cold winter ahead will lead to high energy demand' says forecaster Forecaster Nick Finnis, who analysed the ECMWF long-range forecast on his Netweather blog, said incoming cold weather would lead to high energy demand across the UK. He said that cold 'polar air' could hit Britain between November and January as the jet stream may drop further south. 'This would lead to high energy demand during late autumn and through much of the winter for Europe,' he said. 'Early indications are for a cooler or colder late autumn and early winter leading to a greater demand for energy in northern Europe including the UK, while the signal for higher than normal pressure close to or over northern Europe could also mean less wind power generation and thus greater demand for gas to produce electricity.' This, Mr Finnis said, could cause a problem for the UK due to 'the threat of Russia shutting off its supplies and increasing demand across Europe for heating and producing electricity'. Advertisement Any snowfall coming for the country next week will be focused in the highest altitudes, which will experience the lowest temperatures, possibly below zero, in a month largely characterised by above average temperatures. '[It] will fall in the Cairngorms, in the Highlands and in non-populated areas from the middle of next week,' a Met Office spokesperson told The Sun. Longer range forecasts for next weekend by independent forecasting group WXCharts suggest wintery showers will hit the Scottish Highlands. They predict a cold blast beginning on the afternoon of Saturday, October 15, and lasting into the early hours of Sunday. And forecasters told The Sun that temperatures could drop below zero on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, following a weekend of blustery winds and rain in the north. However for many, there will be more 'changeable conditions', with rain hitting parts of the country as flood alerts are put in place in Cumbria and Derbyshire. Longer range predictions looking at November and December predict 'snow and ice' arriving this winter. Professor Paul Davies, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: 'November and December look more settled with high pressure likely to dominate our weather. 'Exact weather conditions will be dictated by where the high pressure settles over the Atlantic and the UK, but we are likely to see a higher incidence of northerly airflows, preventing mild, moist air flowing to the UK from the Atlantic Ocean and increasing the potential for cold snaps with some threat of snow and ice, mainly in northern areas.' The warning of a cold winter ahead has also come from forecaster Nick Finnis, who analysed the ECMWF long-range forecast on his Netweather blog. He said that cold 'polar air' could hit Britain between November and January as the jet stream may drop further south. There will be 'changeable conditions' across the country with rain hitting some areas as flood alerts are put in place in Cumbria and Derbyshire. Pictured, a car makes its way through floodwater in Glasgow on Friday morning Vehicles travel along the M4 motorway in Swansea as heavy rain and strong winds cause dangerous driving conditions for commuters on Wednesday The northwest of the country will see colder temperatures today as frequent showers hit, some of them bringing hail and thunder. Pictured, floodwater in Swansea on Wednesday 'This would lead to high energy demand during late autumn and through much of the winter for Europe,' he said. 'The signal for cooler weather later this year is consistent with how La Nina conditions, expected to last into early next year, typically imprint on global weather patterns,' he added. 'Early indications are for a cooler or colder late autumn and early winter leading to a greater demand for energy in northern Europe including the UK, while the signal for higher than normal pressure close to or over northern Europe could also mean less wind power generation and thus greater demand for gas to produce electricity.' This, Mr Finnis said, could cause a problem for the UK due to 'the threat of Russia shutting off its supplies and increasing demand across Europe for heating and producing electricity'. Met Office Fellow Mr Davies added that October weather patterns are 'likely to bring Atlantic weather systems across the UK. This, he said, will result in 'periods of wet, and potentially windy weather, a greater proportion of which will affect the north and west'. However the month will see temperatures remaining above average. Next week is expected to continue bringing 'changeable' conditions, following a wet and windy weekend in places. 'What we look to be left with through next week is a similar pattern to what we've got now, with low pressure systems mostly to the north and areas of high pressure to the south and a reasonably active jet stream pushing everything along,' explained Alex Deakin in the Met Office 10 Day Trend. It follows a band of wind and rain which is moving across the country today bringing some heavy showers and gusty winds as it reaches the southeast this evening. The northwest of the country will see colder temperatures today as frequent showers hit, some of them bringing hail and thunder. Despite the wind and rain, October will see temperatures remaining above average. Pictured, A farmer ploughs a field during the morning sunshine in Ashford, Kent, on Thursday Met office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said that there would be a spell of 'strong winds and heavy rain' for many Brits today. He said that as the cold front moves across the country today, it will be bringing the 'lively weather' with it. Mr McGivern said: 'It's moving into the midlands, parts of South Wales and south west England by the end of the afternoon.' He added that there would be 'sunny spells' for East Anglia and the south east of England, with a 'fairly mild breeze' before the front arrives. Temperatures there are expected to peak at 19C in London and Norwich, 16C in Cardiff, with mid-teen temperatures of 15C and 14C in Hull and Aberdeen. It will cool off to 11C and 12C in other parts of Scotland. Mr McGivern explained that the moving cold front will then cause temperatures to drop in 'Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales', cooling off further in the evening. This will bring showers and 'blustery winds' as it moves across the country. Later today the 'strong winds' will push into East Anglia and the south east before clearing up around midnight. The forecaster added that for many, there will be clearer skies and lighter winds tonight after the front passes. Met office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth told MailOnline that Saturday will remain 'fine and dry in most areas of the UK'. Pictured, People out walking The Thames Path in Hurley, Berkshire, on Thursday On Saturday, temperatures will reach 17C in Plymouth, 17C in Cardiff, with 15C and 13C in Liverpool and Aberdeen respectively. Pictured, sunshine on the River Thames on Thursday Met office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth told MailOnline that Saturday will remain 'fine and dry in most areas of the UK', but bringing a 'chilly start', with temperatures 'in the low single figures in rural areas'. There may also be patches of mist and fog first thing. Western Scotland will see a few showers, with light and breezy winds across the country, with temperatures reaching 17C in Plymouth, 17C in Cardiff, with 15C and 13C in Liverpool and Aberdeen respectively. Weather will take a turn on Sunday, with Brits in the north of the country facing wet and windy conditions again, Ms Shuttleworth added. There will be 'heavy rain throughout the day' in Scotland and northern England, while Wales and central, southern England remain 'largely dry'. Ms Shuttleworth said that while there may be some snow and sleet next week this is not expected to be 'significant' and would be focused on mountaintops. 'With temperatures fluctuating, any snow that fell would melt fairly quickly,' she added. Advertisement Vegan activists today poured out milk over two high-end London department stores in a protest against dairy products before claiming one was the victim of assault when a hero shopper tried to help security kick them out. Animal Rebellion - an offshoot of the Extinction Rebellion group named the duo as Sofia Fernandes Pontes from Madeira and Steve Bone from Essex, and released videos of their protests at Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges. The animal rights group also claimed one of the activists was 'assaulted by a member of the public' during the Selfridges protest, which appeared to be when a man put his arm in front of Ms Fernandes Pontes's neck. The onlooker could be seen during the video trying to block Ms Fernandes Pontes as she walked away, catching her neck with his outstretched arm. The activists were then escorted to the exit by security staff. The protest at Selfridges infuriated onlookers, with one person off-camera asking an employee: 'Do you guys not intervene?' The member of staff replied: 'We're not allowed to.' Another onlooker said: 'F***ing ashamed of yourselves.' As the activists finally started to leave the store, the man said: 'Yeah, t*ss off, now. B***er off.' But the Metropolitan Police later confirmed it had made no arrests involving either incident after officers were called to both stores following reports of criminal damage. Detectives did however say inquiries were continuing. It is the latest incident where a fed-up member of the public has intervened in an eco protest, after a series of road-based demonstrations by Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain over the past year caused fury among motorists. Following today's protest, the National Farmers' Union led criticism of the activists' actions, with its dairy board chair Michael Oakes telling MailOnline this afternoon: 'British dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, are staples of people's diets up and down the country, providing essential nutrition at an affordable price. 'During a cost of living crisis, when many families are facing difficult choices between heating and eating, farmers have been shocked to see supply chains blocked, disruption and food purposely wasted in this way. Animal rights group Animal Rebellion claimed one of its activists was 'assaulted by a member of the public' during a protest at Selfridges in London this afternoon, which appeared to be when a man put his arm in front of Sofia Fernandes Pontes's neck The activists from Animal Rebellion pour milk over the red carpet at Fortnum & Mason today The bearded man and a woman wearing a white dress held the protest in Fortnum & Mason The duo held the milk-based protest in Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly at 11.45am this morning The activists took milk bottles from the shelves at Fortnum & Mason before pouring them out The duo eventually left Fortnum & Mason after their protest involving the milk bottles today 'For those thinking about sustainable food, British dairy farming is already world leading, with our cows grazing outside turning inedible grass into high-quality dairy products, and an ambition to reach net zero by 2040.' He continued: 'Our high animal welfare and production standards are recognised around the world and are hugely valued by the public, who recognise choosing British means eating climate friendly food.' The protests today began when a bearded man and a woman wearing a white dress later identified by Animal Rebellion as Mr Bone and Ms Fernandes Pontes - first entered Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly at 11.45am. They took milk bottles from the shelves and then emptied them over the store's red carpet before walking out. Soon after at 12.30pm they were filmed brazenly pouring milk over a cheese stand at Selfridges on Oxford Street before being frogmarched out by security guards following the intervention by a member of the public. Ms Fernandes Pontes, a student and mother from the Portuguese island of Madeira, said: 'I don't want to see my children grow up in a world surrounded by drought, destruction of nature, and food shortages. 'I want them to see a world full of wildlife and beauty. Transitioning to a plant-based future is simply essential if we want to see a better world for everyone. Supporting farmers to move into profitable and sustainable plant-based production is a no-brainer for (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and (Environment Secretary) Ranil Jayawardena.' Ms Fernandes Pontes is an Islington-based BA psychology student at London Metropolitan University where she has been studying since last year, and is also president of the Climate Justice Society at the students' union. She is also an instructor of Zumbini, which is a music and movement programme for young children, and founded Parezy, an app described as a 'virtual one-stop service provider for families with children in the early years sector'. The protesters also then carried out a demonstration at Selfridges on Oxford Street today The Animal Rebellion activists pour milk over a cheese stand at Selfridges this afternoon The protesters are eventually escorted out by security guards after the Selfridges protest The bearded man speaks to a security guard before the duo are led out of Selfridges today The security guard removes the Animal Rebellion protesters from the Selfridges store today Mr Bone, a father and photographer from Thorpe-Le-Soken in Essex, said: 'I took action throughout September to push for a plant-based future, and I am taking action again today because Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena are still refusing to listen. 'My little girl's future is on the line and the Government's response is to ignore advice from Oxford and Harvard and, instead, opt to drive us all further into the climate, ecological, and cost-of-living crises.' The group cited a report from the University of Oxford in 2018 which it said showed that '76 per cent of the land currently used for food production would be freed-up by a global transition to plant-based production'. It also referred to a 2019 Harvard University study on UK farmland and food production which it said concluded 'that the UK would be carbon-negative if it completely transitioned to a plant-based food system'. Later today, while Fortnum & Mason showed no signs of any disruption taking place, the cheese display onto which the activists had poured milk had been removed. As of 2.30pm this afternoon, Fortnum & Mason was busy, with no sign of any milk having been poured on the floor of the high-end department store. Shoppers bustled about the shop, seemingly unaware of what had taken place just a few hours before. As of 3pm, the cheese display in front of the cheese counter at Selfridges had been removed. This is where the activists poured milk out. Otherwise, there was little evidence of any disruption, as the store was busy and shoppers went about their business. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers were today, Friday October 7, called at approximately 12.35pm and attended reports of criminal damage at a business premises on Oxford Street, W1A. No one was arrested. Inquiries continue. 'Separately officers attended a business premises in Piccadilly, W1A just before 12pm on Friday October 7 to reports of criminal damage. No one was arrested. Enquiries continue.' Sofia Fernandes Pontes, one of the protesters, is an Islington-based psychology student at London Metropolitan University where she has been studying since last year, and is also president of the Climate Justice Society at the students' union Protester Sofia Fernandes Pontes is also an instructor of Zumbini, a music and movement programme for young children, and founded Parezy, an app described as a 'virtual one-stop service provider for families with children in the early years sector' Animal Rebellion has carried out a series of protests in recent months aimed at disrupting the dairy industry and pressuring the Government on its demands. Its first demand is that the Government 'supports farmers and fishing communities to move away from animal farming and fishing as part of an urgent and immediate transition to a plant-based food system'. Its second demand is that the Government 'commits to rewild the freed-up land and ocean as part of a broader programme of wildlife restoration and carbon drawdown'. Last month the group tried to disrupt the delivery of dairy, with one protest seeing them glue themselves to the entrance of a busy dairy facility in Droitwich, Worcestershire, to cut supply off at the source. Members of the group were also arrested last month for spraying 'fake milk' white paint at Big Ben ahead of Liz Truss 's first Prime Minister's Questions. Today's protest comes after it emerged an eco zealot who defaced Captain Sir Tom Moore 's memorial was arrested three times in less than a week and named in a High Court injunction after scaling an oil storage tank earlier this year. Madeleine Budd, 21, was arrested for a pitch invasion of the Arsenal vs Liverpool match where she tried to glue her hands to the goalposts on March 16. It is understood she was handed a six-month conditional discharge by a judge, meaning no further action would be taken unless they commit a further offence within that time period. But it emerged this week that Budd, a former medical student from Manchester, was arrested by police three times in April for her part in fuel protests staged by Just Stop Oil in Thurrock, Essex. No charges were brought against Budd for the April arrests, which meant the 'End UK Private Jets' supporter was free to pour human excrement over Captain Sir Tom Moore's memorial in Hatton, Derbyshire last Friday. A gang of quad-bike riding thieves stole more than 100 sheep from a farmer in September as criminals seek to 'weaponise' the cost of living crisis. Ed Lovejoy, 40, works on his farm in Woodchurch, Kent, and was horrified when rounding up his ewes last month to find that 116 had vanished. Initially fearing they had escaped, Mr Lovejoy went looking in the area around his farm, but to no avail. A witness then informed him they had seen a quad bike herding some of the sheep into a corner of the field, at which point he realised they had been stolen in a malicious theft costing Mr Lovejoy 17,000. The thieves are thought to have since slaughtered and sold the meat on the market, either by slaughtering them themselves or finding an abattoir that wouldn't ask too many questions. It comes amid warnings that Britain could see a 'crime crisis' as gangs criminalise the cost of living crisis and recruit struggling people into their operations. Mr Lovejoy says that rearing and caring for his sheep is a job which takes years Mr Lovejoy is worried that the thieves could come back and steal more of his precious animals More than 100 sheep were stolen in the quad-bike raid, and police have so far been unable to track down the culprits Mr Lovejoy estimates the livestock stolen were worth 17,000 Mr Lovejoy told Sky News the theft of his Romney sheep, a Kent breed, would have a knock-on effect on his business for two to three years. 'There is years and years of breeding that goes into these sheep and you care for them all year round,' Mr Lovejoy said. 'For someone to just take them and steal them, it makes you feel pretty sick. 'I think they would have probably slaughtered them and put them into the food chain somehow.' Mr Lovejoy reported the theft to police, but so far the culprits have not been found. He told Sky News he was worried the thieves could be back to take more, and that he fears it is 'not possible' to secure all 700 acres of land against the crime. Insurance company NFU Mutual has warned of an increase in rustling, the practice of stealing livestock, and says that animals worth 2.4m were stolen last year, and animals worth another 1.4m were taken in the first eight months of this year. It advises farmers:'Your animals are your income and even if intruders aren't planning on robbery then they can still spook them and create issues you need to deal with. 'Keep surrounding fences, gates, and hedges in a good state. Make sure gates, barns and sheds are locked. Tag all livestock. 'Take photographs of all, or your most valuable, animals making sure their ear tags or branding is visible. 'All your livestock records should be up to date, once again making recovery more likely in the event of theft.' Dr Robert Hesketh of Liverpool John Moores University is warning the UK is facing a much more widespread wave of crime this winter. He told Sky News: 'As the cost of living crisis starts to peak, I think there will be an increase (in crime) - I think it's a no-brainer. 'In areas like mine - marginalised areas, areas of social exclusion - it's going to shoot up, particularly with young people. Ed Lovejoy, 40, has owned his 700-acre farm in Kent for years, but was left 'feeling sick' by the callous theft Livestock thefts rose last year and are expected to do so again this year amid the cost of living crisis 'You'll get people within organised crime groups monopolise on this, because they know people are going to need money.' Dr Simon Harding, director of the National Centre for Gang Research, told the i that he also expects established crime families to make the most of rising costs and people's deteriorating finances. 'People are struggling and these families and gangs have got money,' he said. 'They will get into money lending, loan sharking, pressuring businesses. It's old-fashioned stuff but that's what happens.' Just days ago new data revealed that shoplifting rates in Scotland have risen by 40 per cent up to June this year compared to the previous 12 months. This is a stark rise as the number of crimes had been falling since 2018. The Telegraph also reported this week that the number of elderly and vulnerable people passing fraudulent money through their bank accounts was up by almost 30 per cent according to the latest data. There has been a surge in older adults taking up offers to earn cash by either receiving or transferring money through their account, or giving up control of the account entirely to criminals. Sometimes those caught out by the criminals have no idea that they are involved in criminal activity - and those allowing use of their bank accounts could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison for being so-called 'money mules'. There are also fears more young people will become involved in county lines drug gangs in a bid to earn desperately-needed cash. As well as recruiting others into criminal activity, there is also a rising trend in scams, especially those related to energy bills in recent months. Criminals are scamming the public by sending emails purporting to be from energy regulator Ofgem, telling customers they are owed an energy bill rebate. Detective Chief Inspector Hayley King, of the City of London Police, said: 'It is shameful that in a time of financial hardship, criminals are targeting members of the public by claiming they are entitled to receiving rebates and refunds.' 'If an email is genuine, the company will never push you into handing over your details. Always take a moment to consider if the request you have received is genuine.' The government has also shown concerns that fraudsters will criminalise the crisis for their own gain. The Department of Work and Pensions had to issue a warning earlier this year amid the energy bill support scheme, telling the public they do not need to do anything to get the cash. Scammers had been reportedly messaging individuals pretending to be from the government, telling them to apply or claim the money now. A senior official at the Department of Justice told former President Donald Trump's legal team that the government does not believe he returned all the documents he took from the White House. The New York Times on Thursday identified Jay Bratt, the chief of the Department of Justice's counterintelligence and export-control section, as the individual who gave Trump's lawyers the heads up, citing sources familiar with the matter. The conversation happened in the last few weeks and is the latest indication that investigators are still skeptical Trump gave up all his White House documents. A senior official at the Department of Justice told former President Donald Trump's legal team that the government does not believe he returned all the documents he took from the White House Authorities stand outside Mar-a-Lago, the residence and private club belonging to former President Donald Trump, in the aftermath of the FBI's August 8 search An image attached in a Department of Justice court filing showing some of the government documents discovered at Mar-a-Lago Last month, staff from the National Archives and Records Administration alerted the House Oversight Committee that they were 'not certain' Trump surrendered all the presidential records he removed from the White House - even after the Mar-a-Lago raid. The FBI seized roughly 11,000 documents from Trump during the August 8 search of Mar-a-Lago, the ex-president's Florida home and resort. The raid came after Trump and his team refused to hand over all the documents during several less brazen attempts at retrieval earlier this year. The government found more than 300 classified documents during the search, including some with markings indicating the highest level of sensitivity. During the raid, investigators also found dozens of empty folders that could indicate more documents could be in the ex-president's possession. Part of the Justice Department's confusion comes from Trump's request to have a 'special master' independently review the documents that were seized. In a September court filing, the DOJ argued that by not having access to the documents they were unable to determine if anything else was missing. The decision was later partially reversed by a federal appeals court. The ex-president has since asked the Supreme Court to intervene. Emails released Monday show the National Archives was trying to get documents back from Trump for more than a year. In one email between Gary Stern at the National Archives and Trump's deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin, former Trump Organization attorney Alex Cannon and Trump campaign lawyer Justin Clark from May 2021, Stern points out that NARA was missing the original letters between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Another missing document, Stern said, was the letter former President Barack Obama wrote to Trump on his first day in office. 'It is also our understanding that roughly two dozen boxes of original Presidential records were kept in the Residence of the White House over the course of President Trumps last year in office and have not been transferred to NARA, despite a determination by Pat Cipollone in the final days of the Administration that they need to be,' wrote Stern, the Archives' general counsel. 'We know things were very chaotic, as they always are in the course of a one-term transition,' Stern added. 'But it is absolutely necessary that we obtain and account for all original Presidential records.' During a public appearance Wednesday in Miami, Trump continued to rail against the Mar-a-Lago raid. 'You probably read and heard about the document hoax. Has anyone heard about the document hoax?' Trump said addressing the America First Works Hispanic Leadership Conference. 'Helicopters flying over Mar-a-Lago.' 'Well they've given us about $5 billion in free publicity,' he continued. Trump denied doing anything wrong. 'They are targeting me because they want to silence me, silence you and silence our amazing Make America Great Again movement,' he said. The man suspected of kidnapping and killing a California Sikh family, including their eight-month-old baby, worked for the family's trucking business and had a long-running feud with them that culminated in an act of 'pure evil,' said the Merced County sheriff. The bodies of the family, including eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri; her mother Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were found late Wednesday by a farm worker in an almond orchard in the San Joaquin Valley. Investigators are preparing a case against the convicted felon suspected of the crime and are currently seeking a person of interest they believe to be his accomplice. The suspect, 48-year-old Jesus Salgado, attempted to kill himself the day after the kidnappings. Additionally, Salgado's brother - Alberto Salgado - was arrested Friday for criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence in the deadly crime. Sheriff Verne Warnke of Merced, California said he did not believe Jesus Salgado worked alone. Warnke added Friday that Jesus Salgado had a feud with the Singh brothers that dated back a year and got 'pretty nasty' according to text messages and emails. The precise nature of the dispute between the parties remains unclear. Salgado was released from the hospital and booked into the county jail Thursday night on suspicion of kidnapping and murder. Law enforcement officers previously said that Salgado grew violent each time he regained consciousness. The sheriff's office said it was unclear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Warnke has called for the prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Salgado. Jasleen Kaur (pictured left), 27, her husband Jasdeep Singh (pictured center) and their eight-month-old daughter Aroohi Dheri (pictured right) have all been found dead Alberto Salgado, brother to Jesus, was arrested by law enforcement for his suspected involvement in the kidnapping and murders Jesus Salgado, 48, was arrested Tuesday in Merced, California. He reportedly had a longstanding feud with the family he is suspected of killing He called it one of the worst crimes he'd ever seen in his 43 years in law enforcement. 'There's some things you'll take to the grave. This to me was pure evil.' 'Right now, Ive got hundreds of people in a community that are grieving the loss of two families, and this is worldwide. These families are across different continents,' Werne told the Associated Press. 'Weve got to show them that we can give them justice.' Salgado was previously convicted of first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm in Merced County, where the family's trucking business is located. He was also convicted of attempted false imprisonment and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness. He was sentenced to 11 years in state prison for those charges and was released in 2015. He also has a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Surveillance video showed the suspect leading the brothers, whose hands were zip-tied, into the back seat of Amandeep Singh's pickup truck. Salgado then drove the brothers away and returned for Jasleen and her baby, who he led into the truck and drove away before 9.30am. Several hours later, Singh's truck was found on fire 10 miles away in the town of Winton. By the time law enforcement arrived at Amandeep Singh's home, where a family member tried to contact him and the couple, they were likely already dead. 'I fully believe that there was one other person involved. We don't have any evidence to support that. It's just the circumstances surrounding this,' said Warnke. Before the heartbreaking discovery of the bodies, relatives of the victims asked anyone who owns a convenience store or gas station in the area to check their surveillance cameras for images of the suspect or the family. 'Please help us out, come forward, so my family comes home safe,' Sukhdeep Singh, a brother of the victims, said, his voice breaking. The four family members were taken from their business in Merced, a city of 86,000 people about 125 miles southeast of San Francisco in the San Joaquin Valley, California's agricultural heartland. Family members told KXTV-TV that the office for Unison Trucking Inc., the family's business, had only opened about a week earlier. Merced County sheriff has called for the death penalty for Salgado, who is suspected of kidnapping and murdering four people, including an eight-month-old Salgado attempted to kill himself before police arrived at his house to arrest him. Law enforcement officers say he becomes violent each time he regains consciousness Before Bodies: Sukhdep Singh, a relative of the family kidnapped recently, spoke with the media in Merced before the bodies of his family were found Wednesday A map shows key locations in the kidnapping and murder case in Merced County, California Salgado was previously arrested in December of 2005, according to a Merced County Sheriff's Office report. On the night of December 12th, Salgado robbed a family for whom he formerly worked at gun point. He had been fired. The man, who owned a central valley trucking company, said Salgado had worked for him for two years. 'I went to shut the front door when he pulled out a gun and held it to the back of my head,' the man said. Salgado then duct taped the man's hands together, as well as his wife, his 16-year-old daughter and his daughter's friends. He then proceeded to steal 'all the money we had, rings, that kind of stuff,' the man said. The man said Salgado even took the ring off his wife's finger, before making the family jump into the pool - telling them he would kill them if they called the police. Despite the threat, the man said his family did call the police - and Salgado was arrested the next morning, court records seen by KSEE24 show. He was jailed for 11 years in 2007. He spent eight years in prison and a further three on probation. He was on active probation at the time of the robbery. The city of Merced will hold evening vigils for the memory of the deceased Thursday through Sunday. A former Australian cop is suing the police force accusing it of causing him to have a 'meltdown' after his 'throuple' with his wife and their pole-dancing lover was outed. David Kowal, 38, is taking legal action against NSW Police, alleging discrimination, bullying and emotional distress over his polygamous relationship. He married chiropractor Loren Kowal in February 2017 before the couple became a 'throuple' with the romantic addition of pole-dancing boxer Alana Dean in 2019. A former Australian cop is suing the police force accusing it of causing him to have a 'meltdown' after his 'throuple' with his wife and their pole-dancing lover was outed Ms Kowal (left) is pictured with her pole-dancing girlfriend Alana Dean, whom Ms Kowal says is the third part to their 'throuple' While the Kowals remain married, Dean is said to be girlfriend to them both. But when NSW Police found out Mr Kowal was in a relationship with two women everything at work changed, he claims. He says he was taken off the cases he'd been working on - which he claimed were sex-related crimes on public transport - with no explanation. He also alleged he was subjected to 'a fair amount of harassment' in the NSW police force, reports The Oz. Mr Kowal admitted to then having 'a meltdown' at work and wasn't able to go back. He was eventually medically discharged. Ms Kowal claimed her husband was so traumatised by the issues with his employer he is unable to have sex and is currently not able to have children. She said the 'harassment' he faced at work reduced his ability 'do regular everyday' activities, including sex. 'The terrible timing of all David's mental health stuff put a massive strain on this sexual part of our relationship,' she said. Ms Kowal said unfortunately her husband is unable to have sex after the harassment he's faced. 'I wouldn't be here today' without Loren and Alana, he said (Pictured, Loren and David Kowal) Mr Kowal claimed 'I wouldn't be here today' if its wasn't for the two women in his life. 'It's been quite a struggle to get about and be normal,' he said. Mr Kowal's case will be heard in the District Court from February 4. He will be represented by Firth's The Compensation Lawyers. NSW Police declined to comment. But the London Mayor told the Standard that the survey was 'not a referendum' Sadiq Khan has signalled that he could drive forward his controversial plans to expand London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), despite two-thirds of residents opposing the scheme in his own survey. The Mayor of London today suggested he could ignore the results of the consultation because his plan is 'not a numbers game' and the survey is 'not a referendum'. He also claimed the consultation by Transport for London (TfL), of which he is Chair as part of his role as Mayor, had been 'hijacked' - including by people from outside of London. It comes after the Labour politician was left red-faced following the leak of a survey on his plan to expand his ULEZ scheme to all of Greater London. According to The Daily Telegraph, the consultation showed that 67 per cent of Londoners oppose his plans to combat air pollution in the outer boroughs of the capital. Of those, 60 per cent opposed the expansion complete, while the 7 per cent said the plan should be delayed. But speaking to The Evening Standard, the Mayor hinted that he could still go ahead with the expansion anyway, because 'the idea of parking things or kicking the can down the road is not an option'. He told the paper: 'The easy option is to dither and delay. I think it is important to take action. I have not made up my mind. What I'm clear about is: it is not a numbers game. The London Mayor looks set to ignore the results of the consultation, conducted by Transport for London (TfL), because he says the survey is 'not a referendum' London Mayor Sadiq Khan has plotted for the Ultra Low Emission Zone to grow more than four times its current size, stretching from Heathrow airport to Upminster and Enfield to Biggin Hill, from the end of 2023 It comes after the Labour politician was left red-faced following the leak of the survey on his plan to expand his ULEZ scheme to all of Greater London. Pictured: Library image of an ULEZ sign 'This is not a referendum. If there is a crude majority of people for it, that doesn't take me over the line, or a crude number of people against it. 'This is not a referendum [like] Brexit. It's not about saying if there is a percentage against I won't do it or a percentage in favour I will do it.' Mr Khan also claimed the consultation had been 'hijacked' by people who had 'their own self-interest' Is your car CAZ, LEZ, ULEZ and ZEZ compliant? Knowing your car's Euro emissions rating is more important than ever, given the increasing number of levies and fines being introduced for older cars, especially diesels. Most Clean Air, Low Emission and Ultra Low Emission Zones being - or already - implemented impact pre-Euro 4 emissions petrol and pre-Euro 6 emission diesel cars. It's worth using the ULEZ checker online (or via your car's V5/V5C logbook at the bottom of Page 2 in the section entitled 'Exhaust Emissions') to see which category your models falls into, though it roughly will be designated by when it was first registered, as listed below: Euro 1 - from 31 December 1992 Euro 2 - from 1 January 1997 Euro 3 - from 1 January 2001 Euro 4 - from 1 January 2006 (common minimum standard for petrol cars) Euro 5 - from 1 January 2011 Euro 6 - from 1 September 2015 (common minimum standard for diesel cars Advertisement He added: 'My interest is addressing the issue of climate change, congestion and air pollution.' In May, Mr Khan announced plans for an expansion of the Ulez zone to the outskirts of the capital - in a move that will bring in 3.5million more residents of Greater London. The mayor is proposing to extend the scheme's boundary from the North and South Circular Roads to the whole of Greater London from August 29, 2023. Drivers of vehicles which do not comply with minimum emissions standards are charged a daily fee of 12.50 for entering the Ulez. The mayor's office estimate that the expansion would mean an additional 135,000 vehicles would be affected. This would rake in almost 1.7million extra per day in charges. However the plans have been met with opposition, including by motoring groups. A Freedom of Information (FOI) report from the AA earlier this year found that the proposed scheme could see a third of drivers priced off the road due to its daily charges. While the TfL admits that 18 per cent of vehicles will be hit by the charges, information released by the transport networks points to a 34 per cent impact on London car owners in some areas. The motor breakdown and insurance firm blasted the mayor's proposals for hitting poorest families the hardest, at a time when they will 'hopefully' be seeing the end of the cost-of-living crisis. It comes after results of TfL's ULEZ expansion survey showed just 32 per cent of respondents supported Mr Khan's plan. The results of the consultation, which have not yet been made public but were leaked to the Telegraph earlier this month, showed a total of 67 per cent opposed the plans. Around 60 per cent said they opposed the expansion completely, while seven per cent said they believed the expansion should be delayed. The remaining votes were for 'Don't know'. At the launch of the consultation earlier this year, Mr Khan's office warned that the capital is suffering a 'toxic air crisis', with around 4,000 premature deaths in 2019 attributed to filthy air. The boroughs of Barnet, Bromley, Croydon and Havering had the most deaths, demonstrating that poor air quality 'is not just a central London problem', according to Mr Khan's office. Whether or not a vehicle is liable for the Ulez charge depends on how much nitrogen dioxide (NO2) it emits. NO2 damages lungs and can exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma and lung and heart disease. For diesel cars to avoid the charge they must generally have been registered after September 2015, while most petrol models registered from 2005 are exempt. Jack Cousens, the AA's head of roads policy, speaking earlier this year following the announcement of the plans, said: 'The original ULEZ impacted on 300,000 car-owning London residents, the vast majority coming from low-income backgrounds without the ability to afford a replacement vehicle. 'This expansion of the zone will price hundreds of thousands more off the road.' He added: 'These drivers and their families will, hopefully, be starting to recover from the cost of living crisis in August of next year. The London Mayor wants to hit them with a charge or a car-replacement cost that they will never be able to afford. 'The AA believes that far more can be done in lowering London's emissions by an expansion of Park & Ride and Park & Cycle facilities on the city's outskirts. 'That benefit would remove the emissions from huge numbers of cars (Cambridge converts 3.6 million inner-city car journeys into bus trips this way each year) long after the ULEZ becomes defunct. 'With pump prices so high, it calculates that there is little difference in cost to driving from outside into inner London than taking public transport. By train or underground, the journey time is halved, which makes Park and Ride a no-brainer.' Mr Khan previously ruled out introducing a Clean Air Charge, which would have affected drivers of all but the cleanest vehicles. Drivers of vehicles which do not comply with minimum emissions standards are charged a daily fee of 12.50 for entering the Ulez He also decided not to go ahead with a proposal to charge drivers of vehicles registered outside London for entering the capital. Announcing his plans in March, Mr Khan said: 'Exposure to toxic air pollution shouldn't be a postcode lottery. 'Every Londoner, including those living in outer London, should be able to breathe clean air. That's why I've announced a proposal to expand the ULEZ London-wide in 2023.' Mr Khan said in an official statement in March: 'The triple challenges of tackling toxic air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion mean we need to further reduce emissions from vehicles in London. We simply don't have time to waste. 'The climate emergency means we only have a small window of opportunity left to reduce carbon emissions to help save the planet.' He added: 'This is also a matter of social justice with air pollution hitting the poorest communities the hardest. 'Nearly half of Londoners don't own a car, but they are dis-proportionally feeling the damaging consequences polluting vehicles are causing. 'If no additional action is taken to reduce air pollution beyond the existing polices, around 550,000 Londoners would develop diseases attributable to air pollution over the next 30 years and the cumulative cost to the NHS and the social care system is estimated to be 10.4 billion.' Anyone driving into London in a diesel car that doesn't meet Euro 6 emission standards - generally motors registered after September 2015 - have to pay a daily 12.50 levy to enter the zone. For petrol car drivers, only vehicles that fail to meet Euro 4 standards - registered after 2005 - are charged under the scheme's existing rules. Drivers who fail to pay receive a 160 fine, which is cut to 80 if paid within a fortnight of receiving a penalty notice. Mr Khan said the expansion covering all 33 boroughs including the City of London would be supported by the 'biggest scrappage scheme feasible to help Londoners on low incomes, disabled Londoners and businesses'. Scotland Yard's first black police officer who wrote about the horrific racial abuse he suffered during his time in the force in the 1960s has said recent scandals in the Met make him question whether anything has been learnt. Retired detective sergeant Norwell Roberts, 76, signed up in 1967 and was repeatedly abused while working at Bow Street police station. The station was amalgamated into Charing Cross, where officers were recently caught exchanging vile WhatsApp messages. He said the process of written a new book, I am Nowell Roberts, had 'brought back stuff I'd rather not remember'. Retired detective sergeant Norwell Roberts, 76, signed up in 1967 and was repeatedly abused while working at Bow Street police station Speaking to the Standard, he added: Im writing about 1967 and its the same stuff in 2022, what have we learnt?' Mr Roberts is demanding a zero-tolerance approach towards officers who are racist, sexist, homophobic or corrupt. New Met commissioner Mark Rowley has vowed to be 'ruthless' in tackling misconduct, admitting the force had been too 'weak' in the past. Mr Roberts said: He has to mean what he says - if youre going to root something out like racism, just do it. 'Be strong. Youve got to be bold to gain the respect of your men and women. It was hard at the time for me and I think I handled it just about right. New Met commissioner Mark Rowley has vowed to be 'ruthless' in tackling misconduct, admitting the force had been too 'weak' in the past 'I couldnt talk to the sergeants or inspectors - no one would listen to me.' Mr Roberts recalled one incident when his sergeant called him a 'n*****' and vowed to stop him from ever finishing his probation. It comes as appalling memes shared on a WhatsApp group containing serving and retired Met policemen emerged online yesterday. Mr Roberts said the process of written a new book, I am Nowell Roberts, had 'brought back stuff I'd rather not remember' Images seen by MailOnline make discriminatory jokes about black Londoners, the shooting of a BLM activist, the murder of George Floyd, the plight of domestic violence victims and Shamima Begum joining Scotland Yard as Commissioner in a burka-uniform. Former Met Police officer Rob Lewis has been suspended from his UK Border Force job over 'abhorrent' texts by him and others, with some alleged to include the repeated use of the word 'P*ki'. Members of the chat group he is alleged to have set up include policemen who served in the same unit as PC Wayne Couzens. Serving police officers were part of the group until recently - many, but not all, left following the murder of Sarah Everard, it is said. The chat, running for the past 12 years, contains 'vile and deplorable' messages and memes about Harry and Meghan, the Government's policy to deport migrants to Rwanda for processing, slurs about black MPs and at least one joke about the recent devastating flooding in Pakistan, where 1,700 have died and millions were displaced. Sir Mark was chosen for the 293,000-a-year job after Dame Cressida Dick was ousted in February following scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by an officer and the jailing of two officers who photographed dead bodies. The force was recently put into special measures. President Joe Biden has drained the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its lowest level in 40 years as he tries to combat rising gas prices and shortages in crude oil tied to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. Biden has released 160 million barrels of crude since March, bringing the reserves to its lowest levels in four decades. He made the move in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and after he rallied Western allies to end or cut back their purchases of Russian oil, thereby cutting off one of Putin's main sources of funding. The nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve had 416.4 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 30 the lowest level since 1984, according to Department of Energy data President Joe Biden has drained the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its lowest level in 40 years A contractor works on a crude oil pipeline infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy's Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas But even as oil prices have started to drop, Biden kept extending releases from the reserve. Refills have not started, a move some analysts have deemed 'risky,' particularly was winter approaches. The Biden administration said earlier this year it would replenish the oil reserve with a call for bids to repurchase 60 million barrels of oil roughly one-third of the emergency supply released by the president. The bid calls are to start taking place this fall. Gasoline prices dropped from a national average of just over $5 for a gallon of regular in June to $3.68 at the end of the September. They are back on the rise, as much as 20 cents per gallon. On Friday the national average was $3.89, according to AAA. And, on Wednesday, Biden announced additional releases after OPEC announced it was making its biggest cuts in production in more than two years. Biden will release another 10 million barrels and he will 'continue to direct SPR releases as appropriate to protect American consumers and promote energy security,' White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and economic adviser Brian Deese said in a joint statement. In the statement, the administration also called on oil companies to 'keep bringing pump prices down by closing the historically large gap between wholesale and retail gas prices.' The administration continued to renew its call to decrease the country's dependance on fossil fuels and warned it will work with Congress on ways 'to reduce OPEC's control over energy prices.' The White House slammed Wednesday's decision by OPEC Plus, which controls 40% of the world's crude production, to cut back its output by two million barrels a day, which represents about 2% of global oil production. 'Look, it's clear that OPEC plus is aligning with with Russia with today's announcement,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday. Energy ministers from the OPEC cartel, whose leading member is Saudi Arabia, and allied non-members, including Russia, met in person at the group's Vienna headquarters for the first time since early 2020. A pro-life Utah Republican lawmaker up for re-election stunned his Democratic opponent during a Thursday night debate when he discussed abortion bans across the country most being decided by men. 'I get it, if you're a woman, it stinks,' said GOP Rep. John Curtis. 'That most of these legislatures are men, most of these decisions are made by men.' Curtis, onstage alongside Democratic opponent Glenn Wright, was talking about how the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, pushed decisions about the legalization of abortions to the states. 'I wish it where other than that,' Curtis continued. 'I wish as a man I didn't have to make this decision. I wish women could make this decision.' The 74-year-old Wright noticeably raised his eyebrows and shook his head as Curtis, a three-term congressman representing Utah's 3rd district, said he wished women could make their own reproductive decisions - the point of Democrats often labeling their abortion position 'pro-choice.' 'I was thinking that he was making my point for me. Thank you, Representative Curtis for making my point,' Wright told DailyMail.com Friday. 'I didn't even know the camera was on me ... that was completely serendipitous,' he added when asked if he expected the exchange - including his colorful reaction - to go viral. Democrats hope that abortion remains a potent issue in the lead-up to the midterms as both of their Congressional majorities are in jeopardy. GOP Rep. John Curtis stunned his Democratic rival during a Thursday night debate when he admitted abortion decisions made by mostly-male legislatures are unfair to women. 'I wish women could make this decision,' Curtis said GOP Rep. John Curtis' (left) rival, Democrat Glenn Wright (right) visibly raised his eyebrows and shook his head when the Republican lawmaker expressed that he wished women could make their own reproductive decisions Wright, like other Democratic candidates across the nation, has pledged to vote to codify Roe v. Wade if he makes it to Washington, D.C. He highlighted the exchange on his Twitter account Friday, sharing a tweet from the Utah Democrats Communications Director Ben Anderson who called out Curtis for a 'shocking lack of self awareness.' Curtis' comments come after South Carolina state Rep. Neal Collins, also a Republican, expressed remorse in August for voting in favor of a strict 'fetal heartbeat' law, which bans pregnancy termination for some women as early as six weeks. Collins said he was called by a doctor who said he had a 19-year-old patient experiencing a miscarriage and was unable to give her care thanks to the law - putting her at risk for sepsis and death. Abortion is restricted or outright banned in 16 red states, largely concentrated in the southern United States 'The doctor told me she's going to pass this fetus in the toilet. She's going to have to deal with that on her own,' Collins said, as the bill banned doctors from operating on the woman to remove the dying fetus since a 'heartbeat' was still detected. 'There's a greater than 50 percent chance that she's going to lose her uterus. There's a 10 percent chance that she will develop sepsis and herself die,' the South Carolina state lawmaker said, holding back tears. 'What we do matters,' he told his fellow state lawmakers. A number of pregnancy horror stories have come out since the conservative majority of the Supreme Court overturned Roe in June. For instance, a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to travel from her home state of Ohio to Indiana to get the procedure done. As Utah is a deep red state, none of the House races look particularly competitive. The 3rd Congressional district is also the most conservative of the four. The last time Curtis was on the ballot against a Democrat, Devin Thorpe, he walloped him by 42 points. Wright said he believed he could improve upon that performance. 'I definitely think I can,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I think that the Dobbs decision has made a lot of races including mine potentially competitive.' Eco-warrior and TV presenter Chris Packham today joined wildlife groups protesting against the UK Government's 'unprecedented attack' on laws designed to protect nature. The demonstration, organised jointly by the RSPB, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, was held at Bassetts Mead country park, in Hook, Hampshire - part of the Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena's constituency. Autumnwatch host Packham said the protest was aimed at highlighting what these bodies claim is the Government's failure to ensure sufficient wildlife protections are in place. Conservationist Chris Packham gives a speech to wildlife supporters during a conversation about nature at Bassetts Mead country park Conservationist Chris Packham (fourth from left), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust chief executive, Debbie Tann (centre), and RSPB Executive Director, Emma Marsh (fourth from right) He said: 'Millions of wildlife lovers up and down the country are outraged, scared and worried about this apparent attack on nature, and the message we are hearing very clearly is that "we will not stand for this". 'This has really touched a nerve with people. Not only have we seen well-respected conservation organisations rising up against these plans, and encouraging their members to do the same, but now we are clearly also seeing the strength of feeling in the wider public about this. 'We should all follow their lead and stand up for our local nature.' TV host Chris Packham said 'We should all follow [the lead of wildlife organisations] and stand up for our local nature'. Pictured here with Wildlife Trust chief executive Debbie Tann Wildlife activists delivered artwork depicting nature with and without laws to protect it to the constituency office of Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena in Hampshire RSPB executive director Emma Marsh said: 'People across the country have demonstrated their dismay at this apparent concerted attack on the mechanisms to deliver on the big ambitions to recover nature by 2030. 'Despite numerous opportunities, the new UK Government have yet to provide the reassurances we and others have sought. In fact, the little information made available has made us even more alarmed that the UK Government's plans do not take nature into account.' During the event, the protesters produced two pieces of artwork to be presented to Mr Jayawardena, the MP for North East Hampshire - one showing a depiction of nature with laws to protect it, and the other without. Autumnwatch host Packham said the protest was aimed at highlighting what wildlife groups claim is the Government's failure to ensure sufficient wildlife protections are in place Conservation group bosses and environmentalist Chris Packham at Bassetts Mead country park, near Hook in Hampshire Debbie Tann, chief executive of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: 'What we are seeing today is an unprecedented wave of public concern for nature with people speaking up like never before. 'The Government's "growth, growth, growth" agenda has painted environmental rules as "burdens" and key nature protection laws are due to be "consigned to history" by the end of next year. 'Valuable nature sites like here at Bassetts Mead which offer a home for wildlife as well as a space for quiet recreation have only been made possible by the very laws the Government now seeks to remove. 'Local people here in the Environment Secretary's constituency are saying that it is wrong to pit the economy against nature. MP Ranil Jayawardena , Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pictured in June. The protest took place in his local constituency 'Growth at all costs without a thought for the natural environment which supports us all is a worrying prospect indeed.' An RSPB spokeswoman said that the Government had announced plans to amend or scrap environmental laws including Habitat Regulations which protect vulnerable wildlife and green places across the UK. She added the protest was also against plans to create at least 38 'Investment Zones' in England which could allow them to override planning rules and could impact wildlife. The spokeswoman added that conservationists were also concerned about possible plans to support farmers which could affect their ability to protect wildlife. Protestors outside the Environment Secretary's constituency office in Hampshire. 'Local people here in the Environment Secretary's constituency are saying that it is wrong to pit the economy against nature' On top of this, rumours circulated that the Government is also set to scrap a vital scheme in England that would have supported farmers and landowners to enhance nature, create space for rare species and habitats, and use their land to absorb carbon and work towards net zero. A Government spokesman said: 'Claims we intend to go back on our commitment to the environment are simply not right. We are committed to halting the decline of nature by 2030 and will not undermine our obligations to the environment in pursuit of growth. 'A strong environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision. 'We want every corner of our country to prosper, too. Bureaucratic processes in the planning system do not necessarily protect the environment so, by making sure we have the right regulations for our nation, we can make this happen.' The head of the Russian Orthodox church today called for all to pray for the health of Vladimir Putin, who today turned 70. Rumours the tyrant is suffering from a terminal illness have emerged in recent months, supported by political and intelligence analysts, but nothing has been confirmed. Patriarch Kirill said that Putin's reign over Russia had been mandated by God, and prayed for his vitality. 'God put you in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted in your care,' he said. Kirill, who has been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, wished Putin 'unrelenting strength and God's abundant assistance.' The Russian President has historically refused to answer questions surrounding his faith. Patriarch Kirill said that Vladimir Putin's reign over Russia had been mandated by God Vladimir Putin (R), Russian Patriarch Kirill (L) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (Rear L) President Putin (C), and former Patriarch Alexy II (R) with then Russian Orthodox priest Kirill (L) The church leader praised Putin for 'transforming the image of Russia, strengthening its sovereignty and its defence capability, protecting its national interests.' Kirill wished 'health and a long life' to the Russian leader who has been in power for more than 20 years. He also called on worshippers across the country to say two days of special prayers so that God grants Putin 'health and longevity'. Earlier today, The Mirror reported that Putin was suffering from 'aching back problems' and was turning 70 'in pain'. Kirill said at the event: 'We pray to you, our Lord God, for the head of the Russian State, Vladimir Vladimirovich, and ask you to give him your rich mercy and generosity, grant him health and longevity, and deliver him from all the resistances of visible and invisible enemies, confirm him in wisdom and spiritual strength, for all, Lord hear and have mercy.' The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, Kirill has been a vocal supporter of the military operation in Ukraine and of President Putin's government. In March, the Patriarch said Putin's rule was a 'miracle of God' and dubbed Russian soldiers defenders of the fatherland. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the church has divided followers over its stance. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church was only granted independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in 2019, though this was never formally recognised by the Russian state. Tensions with the church mounted after Ukraine became independent from Russia in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union. Kirill's message that Putin was sent by God is likely to deepen the schism between the two churches. Putin received a flurry of birthday messages, including from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov who wished 'good health, long life and successes' to the Russian president in a video statement mixed with archive footage and emotional music. 'Putin has changed the position of Russia in the world and made it a nation to be reckoned with!' Kadyrov said. The speaker of Russian parliament Vyacheslav Volodin said on Telegram: 'if there is Putin, there is Russia.' Putin was also praised by officials installed by Moscow in the Ukrainian regions it partially controls and claims to have annexed. Kremlin-backed leader of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky said on Telegram that 'thanks to Vladimir Vladimirovich and the people of Russia, the Zaporizhzhia region became part of the great country, reunited with its family.' His counterpart in the Donetsk region Denis Pushilin said 'for the residents of Donbas, the name of the leader of our country is forever associated with the most important event in recent history - the return home.' Unveiling the country's first national memorial to victims of Soviet-era political repressions Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L), Vladimir Putin (C) and Kirill (R) Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Patriarch of Russia Kirill in Moscow, November 2017 More than seven months into the invasion, Russia has suffered huge losses in men and equipment and been beaten back on several fronts within the past month as Putin's army has lurched from one humiliation to the next. Putin has resorted to proclaiming the annexation of territories only partly under Russian control - and whose borders the Kremlin has said are yet to be defined - and threatening to defend them with nuclear weapons. Reflecting on Putin's birthday, former Kremlin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov said: 'On an anniversary, it's customary to sum up results, but the results are so deplorable that it would be better not to draw too much attention to the anniversary.' Putin maintains a full schedule of meetings and public events and invariably appears in control of his brief, holding forth at length in video conferences on topics ranging from energy to education. The Kremlin has denied recurrent speculation about alleged health problems. A murder suspect who has been charged with killing a two-year-old girl wiped away his tears as he appeared in court today. Michael Daymond, 26, has been accused of murdering Maya Louise Chappell on September 28. She was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after being found in critical condition. She died in hospital last Friday evening. Daymond, who was wearing a grey jumper, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. Michael Daymond, 26, has been accused of murdering Maya Louise Chappell on September 28 Two-year-old Maya Louise Chappell was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle in a critical condition last week where she later died James Chappell, Maya's father, posted on Facebook: 'I love you so much Maya Louise Chappell, you are my life, my earth and my idol and I'll always look up to you and love you with all my heart. RIP baby girl' Michael Daymond, 26, has been accused of murdering Maya Louise Chappell on September 28 when she was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after being found in critical condition The alleged murderer, of Milton Grove, Shotton Colliery, County Durham, appeared visibly upset and wiped tears away with a tissue during the hearing. Both counsel, Heather Willis for prosecution and Daniel Smith for defence, told the court that the case will be sent directly to Teesside Crown Court. Chair of the Bench Alastair White said: 'You will not have bail. You will be remanded in custody until Monday 10th October where you will appear at Teesside Crown Court.' Durham Constabulary also confirmed that a 23-year-old woman who was arrested in connection with the investigation has since been released under investigation. Hours after the incident, a sea of toys, tributes and balloons can be seen outside the home where she was found as people pay their respects Police forensic teams have been investigating the scene in County Durham where the incident occurred Daymond was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, October 10. Messages of condolence have been left by people who did not know Maya, but have been touched by the tragedy. Last Friday, Maya's father James said on Facebook: 'It breaks my heart to be writing this but sadly my beautiful brave little girl has gained her wings she was too good for this world and as a reward she's going to play in the stars. 'I love you so much Maya Louise Chappell, you are my life, my earth and my idol and I'll always look up to you and love you with all my heart. RIP baby girl. 'Anyone who would like to pay their respects via social media are more than welcome.' The testimony came on day two of Spacey's trial in New York Rapp called the incident 'incredibly frightening and very alarming' and recalled how he felt 'pinned' down Spacey stared down Rapp as he sat in the witness box and testified that he felt 'frozen' when Spacey laid on top of him Kevin Spacey, 63, is being sued by actor Anthony Rapp over accusations that he sexually assaulted Rapp in 1986 when he was 14 Kevin Spacey stared down his accuser Anthony Rapp as he gave evidence in a New York courtroom Friday. Spacey, 63, looked intently at actor Rapp, 51, as he sat in the witness box in front of the jury and testified that he felt 'frozen' when Spacey laid on top of him in a motion that felt 'really wrong' when he was just 14 years old. Rapp called the incident 'incredibly frightening and very alarming' and recalled how he felt 'pinned' down as Spacey had the 'full weight' of his chest on top of him. The testimony came on day two of the New York trial of Spacey who is accused of sexual assault by Rapp in 1986. Rapp is seeking $40million for mental and emotional suffering and loss of work. Kevin Spacey is being sued by actor Anthony Rapp over accusations that he sexually assaulted Rapp in 1986 when he was 14 Spacey stared down Rapp as he sat in the witness box and testified that he felt 'frozen' when Spacey laid on top of him Rapp told the court how he was raised by a single mother who worked as a nurse in the suburbs of Chicago where he performed in musicals in high school. Rapp called himself a 'weirdo nerd' as a child and said that his father divorced his mother when was young. Rapp, an actor who appears in the TV series Star Trek: Discovery and was in the original cast of hit Broadway musical Rent, is seeking $40million from Spacey in damages in the civil case He said he met Spacey backstage at the Broadway show 'Long Day's Journey Into Night', where Spacey was performing. The two, along with actor John Barrowman - who was staying with Rapp in New York - went to dinner and to popular Manhattan club Limelight. Spacey invited Rapp to a party at his apartment a few days later and he told the jury he felt 'honored' to go. But Rapp said that when he arrived he noticed the lights were 'dim' and he didn't know anyone apart from Spacey. Feeling 'awkward and shy' he went into a bedroom to watch TV and a while later Spacey came to the door after all the other guests seemed to have gone. Rapp told the jury: 'I noticed that he was unsteady on his feet. He seemed to be glassy eyedI took it to mean he was intoxicated.' Asked by his lawyer Peter Saghir if Spacey said anything, Rapp said: 'Nothing.' Rapp told the court: 'As I was looking at him he approached me. He reached down and picked me up,' reaching his hands up in the air to show the jury. Rapp said that Spacey picked him up 'like a groom takes a bride over the threshold.' He said: 'I was confused. I was thinking I didn't know what was happening. 'It was very sudden. He never asked to pick me up. He turned back to the bed and laid me on the bed with my head facing the wall and my feet facing the foot of the bed. He climbed on top of me and he put his full weight onto my chest. He had his arms underneath my back and was holding one of my shoulders and pressing into my chest. 'He wasn't parallel, he was pressing his groin into the side of my hip.' In the public gallery of the court sat Rapp's husband Ken, who was seen arriving with him to court Spacey listens as Andy Holtzman, who has accused actor Spacey of a sexual assault, is questioned by Rapp's attorney Peter Saghir, while Rapp looks on Motioning with his hands to the jury, Rapp said that Spacey's hands were 'up my back, coming over the top of my shoulders.' Spacey's chest was 'pressed firmly into my chest,' Rapp said, leaving him feeling 'pinned' to the bed. Rapp said at that moment: 'I knew something was really wrongI had to get out of there. I was feeling very frozen. I felt like a deer in headlights. I didn't know what to do. 'I managed to wriggle out from underneath him,' moving his body to show the jury the motion. Rapp said that he went to the bathroom for a minute because he thought it was a 'safe space' and composed himself. He noticed there was a photo of Spacey with another man and Rapp concluded that Spacey was gay and so 'that explains why he was climbing on top of me.' Rapp left the bathroom and went to the front door but Spacey followed him and was 'leaning in the doorway.' According to Rapp, Spacey said: 'Are you sure you want to leave?' Rapp said he responded: 'No thank you, goodnight.' Asked how he felt at that time, Rapp closed his eyes and said: 'I felt I did not want to stay. I was thinking very much I wanted to leave.' The court was shown a photo of Rapp aged 14 with the cast of Precious Sons, the Broadway play which he starred in and had just finished its run. Saghir asked Rapp: 'A lot of people may say: 'That's all that happened?' What's the big deal?' 'How do you respond to that?' Rapp said: 'I was a 14-year-old child and I never agreed to have any kind of experience like that. It was incredibly frightening and very alarming and totally antithetical to anything I had ever experienced around the (Broadway) community and people that I loved being a part of. 'I do feel fortunate that a 14-year-old boy had the wherewithal to get away; he never should have got there in the first place.' In the public gallery of the court sat Rapp's husband Ken who stared at him during his testimony and was seen hugging him during breaks. Earlier in the day Andrew Holtzman said that the actor grabbed him by his groin and lifted him up in his office during the 1981 incident. Holtzman said Spacey kept his erection there for a few moments before he 'relented' then stormed out in a rage. Holtzman, 68, said he was 27 at the time of his encounter with Spacey and was working at the New York Public Theatre where the actor was appearing in a production of Henry IV Part I. Andrew Holtzman (seen in court sketch) said that the actor grabbed him by his groin and lifted him up in his office during the 1981 incident Holtzman's testimony came on day two of Spacey's trial in New York One day in the summer of 1981 Holtzman was on the phone when Spacey came in and made a 'beeline' for the other desk in the office. Holtzman told the jury that Spacey took off his windbreaker jacket and his shoulder bag but didn't look at him or say anything. He said: 'As the call ended he was standing up and was finally looking at me. 'I noticed that he was wearing very tight blue jeans and through the blue jeans was a very clear, large erection'. Spacey allegedly began to come towards Holtzman, a retired events marketer. He said: 'I began to stand up and he was kind of on top of me. Holtzman, 68, said he was 27 at the time of his encounter with Spacey 'I began to walk around to the side of my desk and that's where he encountered me. 'He lifted me up by my crotch and pushed me back on my desk.' Asked where Spacey's hands were, Holtzman said: 'My groin, for leverage I guess. I know I screamed things, like what are you doing? Get off of me. I could feel his erection on my body.' Asked to say where specifically he could feel it, Holtzman said: 'Near my groin. There was a few moments more before he relented and got up and got off of me. 'It was the first time he looked at me. He was very angry and I was scared. He turned, he grabbed his windbreaker and bag and stormed out of the office and slammed the door.' Holtzman said Spacey had a 'look in his eyes and his face' that made him seem angry and 'as if I'd done something wrong, this was not the way it should have gone.' Asked by Rapp's lawyer Peter Saghir if he ever asked Spacey to 'grind his erection on you', Holtzman said: 'Never.' Afterwards Holtzman said he was 'completely in shock' and started to 'blame myself'. He spoke out to the media about the incident in 2017 because of the MeToo movement, he told the jury. The jury heard from Christopher Denny, a friend of Rapps who said that he recounted the incident to him in the mid 1990s. Denny said that Rapp told him Spacey picked him up and put him on the bed and proceed to get into the bed on top of him, scaring him and making him uncomfortable and alarmed. Rapp told Denny that he fled to a bathroom and then wanted to leave but the doorway was blocked by Mr Spacey.' Denny said that Rapp managed to convince him (Spacey) to let him go. Another of Rapps friends, Sean Snow, said that Rapp told him about the mid 1990s too. Snow said he thought that Spacey starring in the film The Usual Suspects could have been the trigger for their conversation. Snow said that Rapp told him Spacey picked him up like a bride by a groom and that there was something about kissing as he recalled. Under cross examination Snow said that the part about kissing could have been an assumption on his part as Rapp didnt specifically mention it. The opening statements on Thursday saw Spacey glance at jurors as lawyers for Rapp accused him of 'trying to satisfy sexual urges' during the alleged assault back in 1986. (Pictured: Court artist's sketch of Spacey on Thursday) Rapp, an actor who appears in the TV series Star Trek: Discovery and was in the original cast of hit Broadway musical Rent, is seeking $40million from Spacey in damages in the civil case. The trial is the first time a jury will decide on allegations against Spacey which were first made in the media by Rapp in 2017. As a result Spacey was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards and his legacy as the Oscar-winning star of films like American Beauty and The Usual Suspects has been stained. Spacey was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards as a result of the allegations Rapp originally sued Spacey in September 2020 for battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and sexual assault. The sexual assault claim was dismissed in June because it was beyond the statute of limitations. In a statement on Twitter after Rapp first made his claims, he said that if the incident did happen then 'I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.' The case was brought through the law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on sex crimes that allowed Virginia Roberts to bring a now-settled case against Britain's Prince Andrew earlier this year. Another individual, identified only as CD, had also sued Spacey and also claimed he was sexually assaulted by the actor in the early in 1980s when he was 14. CD claimed he first met Spacey when he was 12 when he was teaching a course in Westchester County outside of New York and CD was his student. Spacey invited CD to his apartment where he 'engaged in sexual acts including performing anal intercourse on (Spacey) and oral sex,' a complaint stated. CD's case was thrown out in June last year after he refused to use his real name during court proceedings. Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that 'the threat of significant media attention however exacerbated by the modern era alone does not entitle a plaintiff to the exceptional remedy of anonymity' The case is far from the only claims against Spacey. He due to face a criminal trial next year in London on five charges of sexual assault against three men, dating back 17 years, while he was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. Once that is concluded he faces a separate UK trial at the High Court in a lawsuit brought by one accuser seeking hundreds of thousands of pounds for 'psychiatric damage'. Born in New Jersey in 1959, Spacey studied at New York's prestigious Juilliard School and made his professional stage debut in 1981. Spacey won an Oscar for his role as Roger 'Verbal' Kint in 1995's The Usual Suspects but now his legacy has been stained He won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in 1995's The Usual Suspects and best actor for American beauty in 2000. In 2015 he received an honorary knighthood and a special Olivier award for his contributions to British theatre. He was accused of groping an 18-year-old at a bar in Massachusetts in 2016 but the case was dropped when the accuser refused to testify about a missing phone. In August a judge in the US ruled he must pay $31million to MRC, the producers of House of Cards, for his firing in 2017. Among the roles taken away from Spacey was oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World which was reshot using Christopher Plummer. A Netflix biopic of Gore Vidal starring Spacey has been permanently shelved. Among those who are expected to be called as a witness in the New York case is John Barrowman, who went to a nightclub with Rapp and Spacey a few days before the alleged incident took place. The trial comes on the fifth anniversary of the MeToo movement at a time when its momentum appears to be stalling after Johnny Depp's defeat of Amber Heard in their defamation case earlier this year. Harvey Weinstein is due to go on trial in Los Angeles later this month for rape and sexual assault allegations. He was jailed for 23 years in 2020 for similar crimes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants legislation to make it easier for transgender people to 'self ID' Advertisement JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon's public war-of-words over trans-rights goes back to March but the animus is likely to have started in 2014 when the author donated 1million to help bankroll the campaign against Scottish independence. The foes have never been photographed together despite being arguably the two most influential women in Scotland - and have been on opposite sides on major issues since Indyref 1 eight years ago. The Harry Potter author and the First Minister are currently at loggerheads over trans-issues and the Scottish Government's legislation to make it quicker and easier for individuals as young as 16 to change sex with no requirement for medical reports or evidence. The row escalated yesterday when Edinburgh-resident Ms Rowling branded the SNP leader a 'destroyer of women's rights' - wearing a T-shirt with it as a motif - and today Glasgow MSP Ms Sturgeon ratcheted up the row by suggesting that the author is not a 'real feminist' - and that she is. Could the row between Rowling and Sturgeon actually date back to 2014? 2014 - Harry Potter author JK Rowling launched a passionate defence of the Union after revealing she donated 1million to the fight independence 2015 - Nicola Sturgeon tells SNP trolls to stop attacking Rowling on social media because it will damage the cause 2020 - JK Rowling uses a novel to accuse nationalists of selling unicorns to win the referendum 2022 March - Their public war of words begins over the SNP's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Ms Rowling said: 'The law Nicola Sturgeon is trying to pass in Scotland will harm the most vulnerable women in society'. October 6 - JK Rowling donned a t-shirt branding Nicola Sturgeon a 'destroyer of women's rights'. October 7 - The First Minister suggests that the author is not a 'real feminist' - and that she is. Advertisement JK Rowling has since liked a tweet comparing Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George - a movie character. The women have been on opposite sides of the independence debate ever since 2014 when JK Rowling donated 1million to the campaign against Scottish independence after warning that it could be a 'historically bad mistake' to leave the UK. Rowling said she believes Scotland is an 'exceptional' country but is convinced that independence would carry serious economic risks. Her 1million donation was made 100 days before the referendum. It was the the biggest donation made to the pro-UK Better Together campaign, run by her friend and former neighbour, Alistair Darling, who would win 55% to 45%. Ms Sturgeon was the SNP's deputy leader and the result led to her boss Alex Salmond leaving his job and his protege taking over. Ever since Ms Rowling's donation sparked a torrent of vile abuse from nationalist cyber bullies - or 'cybernats'. At one point the abuse became so vile Ms Sturgeon stepped in and urged them to stop because it could harm their cause. As well as the 1million donation Ms Rowling, historically a Labour supporter, even used one of her recent books to slam Sturgeon's Yes campaign. One main character in her 2020 book Troubled Blood, Ms Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, said of the Yes campaign: 'The leaders are promising rainbows and unicorns if only they cut themselves free of London. Anyone pointing out pitfalls or difficulties is scaremongering. Experts don't know anything. Facts lie'. Their public feud began in March when Ms Sturgeon introduced her Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The controversial new laws would set up a quicker and 'less medicalised' system for trans people to change their gender - and from a younger age. After the First Minister stood up in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Rowling made her first direct attack, tweeting: 'The law Nicola Sturgeon is trying to pass in Scotland will harm the most vulnerable women in society'. The SNP leader came out and told the BBC she did not hold the same view as JK Rowling: 'I fundamentally disagree. The rules haven't yet changed'. And yesterday the author pulled the pin after protests about the new Bill outside Holywood - calling Ms Sturgeon a 'destroyer of women's rights'. The row between the women over gender issues goes back to March, but they have differing views on Scottish independence Nicola Sturgeon today accused JK Rowling and others of discriminating against transgender people and suggested that she was more of a feminist than them JK Rowling (pictured wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights) today threw her weight behind Scottish campaigners who marched on Holyrood in a protest against controversial transgender plans Ms Rowling liked a tweet comparing Nicola Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George, played in the movie of the same name by Rachel McAdams (left) Demonstrators from Women Scotland (FWS) gathered outside the Scottish Parliament for a rally in opposition to the proposals, claiming they are putting women's rights 'in crisis' FWS bosses called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held The First Minister was asked directly about JK Rowling's t-shirt and dismissed her critics on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, declaring: 'Abusive men are a risk to women - that is what we should be focusing on. We shouldn't be seeking to further stigmatise and discriminate against a tiny, tiny group in society that are already one of the most stigmatised groups in society. What is the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - and why are JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon rowing about it? The SNP's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill sets out proposals to speed up the time it takes to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The legal update would also lower the age at which trans people can obtain the document from 18 to 16. The Bill would cut the length of time a person has to live in their acquired gender before applying from two years to three months. They would then have to undertake a mandatory three-month 'reflection period', confirming at the end of this if they wish to proceed with their application. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the need for doctors' reports. However even some in the SNP have been critical of the reforms. For Women Scotland says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Advertisement 'There are many, many real threats to women out there right now, from attacks physical attacks, attacks of sexual violence to the removal of abortion and reproductive rights to what women in countries in Iran are going through. 'The threat to women in our society today is not from trans women, it is from abusive men, from lawmakers who want to take away our rights and that is what we should be focusing on.' 'I've always thought, on this issue, where people have very strong views, we should all try to treat each other with respect, and that's what I will continue to do.' And in a thinly-veiled attack on the feminist credentials of Ms Rowling, and members of For Women Scotland (FWS), she said: 'There are no shortages of attacks on women that feminists, real feminists, as I consider myself to be, should be focusing on right now', and accusing them of trying to 'stigmatise and discriminate' against transgender people. Women's Rights Campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen, who designed the T-Shirt Ms Rowling and other protesters wore yesterday, said of Sturgeon's attack: 'It seems utterly implausible that anyone who cannot define a woman as an adult human female could even begin to call themselves a feminist'. Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: 'Nicola Sturgeon's comments about JK Rowling not being 'a real feminist' are absurd. JK Rowling has been a hero and an inspiration for tens of thousands of women across the United Kingdom who have become increasingly concerned about the impact of gender ideology'. Hundreds of women gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to oppose the changes, brandishing banners accusing the First Minister of wanting to erode rights and setting out the definition of a biological woman. Ahead of the demonstration, Miss Rowling, 57, posted a picture of herself on Twitter wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan 'Nicola Sturgeon - Destroyer of women's rights'. Ms Rowling, who has faced death threats from trans activists, wrote: 'I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID'. Dozens of protestors at the rally For Women Scotland (FWS) also wore the t-shirt, which caused a campaigner to be ejected from a parliamentary committee in June while a minister was giving evidence. The plans have faced a backlash in recent months, with a watchdog warning this week that allowing people to self-identify could cause 'confusion' about their status in other parts of the UK. FWS bosses called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held. Posting a picture of herself wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights', Harry Potter author Ms Rowling lent the group her support. She tweeted: 'I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID'. Asked by journalists about the post, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said he had not seen it. FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Speakers at today's rally included former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters. Ms Lamont told demonstrators that upon its establishment, the Scottish Parliament 'was a Parliament where policy, where action, where law was shaped by an understanding of what created division and inequality'. She said: 'The particular role was for the committees, which would breach the wall of the Parliament and allow the people of Scotland to participate in what the world could be. That has not happened. 'It is not their job to decide before the committee meets who they will listen to, who they will speak to, and only listen to those who already agree with them. 'I'm not saying that the committee should agree with everything that we say. But they should listen, they should challenge, they should argue, they should probe. 'They should not dismiss, because in that world of dismissal, you shoot the messenger. You ignore the message, you make bad law and other people live with the consequences. 'So my challenge is to my friends and all of the people in there who have the honour of being elected members. Your job as lawmakers is not just to put into law what you think is right, but understand the laws of unintended consequences.' Ms Lamont said she is 'conscious' of the importance of women's rights. She told the crowd: 'I was told 40 years ago, by young men: 'Now is not the time. There are other campaigns that matter. There are other people that are more vulnerable'. 'I said then, if you don't address women's inequality we will never have true equality, and that is as true now as it was then.' It comes as a majority of MSPs on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee today recommended the general principles of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill should be approved. Committee convener Joe FitzPatrick said: 'We believe these important reforms will improve the lives and experiences of trans people.' Papers lodged alongside the Bill by the Scottish Government estimate the changes could result in the number of people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) increasing from 30 a year to 250-300. Five MSPs on the committee backed the legislation but the two Conservatives - Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton - opposed it. The Bill sets out plans to speed up the time it takes to obtain a GRC, and also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the requirement for doctors' reports. The period of time someone must have lived in their 'acquired gender' before applying would be reduced from two years to three months under the legislation - although a three-month 'reflection period' would be introduced to the process. A previous consultation by the Scottish Government found 60% of respondents backed moving to a system of self-declaration. A majority of MSPs on the committee backed removing the need for any medical evidence or diagnosis 'believing that trans people know their own minds'. However some on the committee were 'concerned that the removal of the requirement for gender dysphoria and the requirement for medical evidence may extend the GRC process to a large and more diverse group of people'. They fear this 'could potentially mean the process is open to abuse from bad faith actors, particularly predatory men'. Concerns have also been raised about the impact the reforms could have on single-sex spaces for women and girls - such as female-only toilets or changing rooms. A rally was held outside the Scottish Parliament by women's rights campaigners FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion' A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness' The report said most MSPs on the committee agree that while such views are 'sincerely held', they are satisfied the Bill would not change any of the existing protections women have under the Equality Act 2010, 'including the ability to exclude trans people from single-sex services where proportionate and appropriate'. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led the fight to introduce legislation which aims to make it easier for transgender people to be legally recognised as their preferred gender The committee report said: 'The majority is satisfied that the Bill will not change or remove women's rights, make changes to how toilets and changing rooms operate, redefine what a man or a woman is, nor change or expand trans people's rights.' Mr FitzPatrick said MSPs had heard a 'wide range of views' while scrutinising the legislation. It comes after a list of problems with the proposal, including access to services, was sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the UK and Scottish governments. The watchdog said 'practical difficulties or confusion are likely to arise in cross-border situations' if the Equality Act is passed by Holyrood. The letter said people who changed their gender in Scotland but in another part of the UK would face difficulty over their 'legal status and rights.' Officials added issues would arise regardless of whether the UK government accepted GRCs given out in Scotland. Both employers and services would struggle to determine a person's legal gender and may have to take the 'intrusive or offensive' measures of asking to see a birth certificate or GRC, The Telegraph reported. The watchdog urged both governments to 'work constructively together' to sort out the issues it raised before the bill goes ahead. Indian car makers have proposed a dramatic cut to the tax rate on imported cars, an unprecedented move that comes as Liz Truss scrambles to hammer out a much-anticipated post-Brexit trade agreement with the nation. It is the first time Indian manufacturers have backed such cuts, caving to pressure from a government that wants them to lower entry barriers and ease access to one of the world's most protected automotive markets. Current import taxes from 60 per cent to 100 per cent in the world's fourth-largest car market rank among the highest globally, drawing criticism from companies such as Tesla, which shelved entry plans because of the high tariffs. But the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has written to the government backing phased cuts to 30 per cent over five years, following a grace period of five years with none, three sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear if India had presented the offer to Britain in trade talks, but such an offer would come as a major boost for Prime Minister Truss, who remains locked in negotiations with India as the deadline to sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) looms. Former PM Boris Johnson, who met Indian leader Narendra Modi in April, set an ambitious target to sign the FTA agreement by Diwali and presented the partnership as a key cornerstone of the UK's post-Brexit trading plans. Yet both sides have indicated that work remains to be done, even as the deadline fast approaches. A major tax cut on foreign car imports could represent a major boost for British Prime Minister Liz Truss who is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with India (Truss pictured in March 2022 in New Dehli while working as foreign secretary) Prime Minister Liz Truss is pictured during a visit to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull as part of her leadership campaign on August 23, 2022 in Solihull, England India's push comes in an effort to boost trade ties globally, that saw deals recently signed with Australia and the United Arab Emirates among other nations (Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi is pictured) Truss is continuing talks started by former PM Boris Johnson (left), who in April of this year met Modi and set an ambitious target to sign an FTA agreement by Diwali For years, Indian car makers have resisted tax cuts so as to protect their turf, while arguing that such a move would dry up investment in domestic manufacturing by making imports cheaper and easier for global automakers. While Britain has few car factories run by the likes of Nissan, BMW and Tata's Jaguar Land Rover, companies fear the move could set a precedent in negotiating deals with others like the European Union (EU), Japan or South Korea, the sources said. The shift in stance comes weeks after commerce minister Piyush Goyal firmly told senior executives of companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra that India needed to make some kind of offer to Britain on autos. 'The message from Goyal was clear - if companies don't come up with a proposal on lowering taxes, the government will do it for them,' said one person who attended an August meeting between the minister and company executives. India's push comes in an effort to boost trade ties globally, that saw deals recently signed with Australia and the United Arab Emirates, so as to attract investment from companies seeking to diversify beyond China. Britain is in the offing to become a major trade partner with India, and a major tax cut to imported cars will likely be well received by negotiators in the course of hashing out a hotly-anticipated FTA. But UK government spokesperson said earlier today that Britain said it will only sign a trade deal with India when there is one that 'meets the UK's interests,' in response to comments from Delhi that talks needed to be a win-win for both sides. 'We remain clear that we won't sacrifice quality for speed and will only sign when we have a deal that meets the UK's interests,' a spokesperson said. Meanwhile, one Indian government source said the plan to cut tax rates to 30 per cent over 10 years 'is not enough'. One of the sources said: 'One view is to ease access for luxury cars sooner than other categories. The industry has no issues opening it up and lowering rates earlier.' Embattled PM Liz Truss is aiming to complete a free trade agreement with India before the end of October as part of a post-Brexit trade plan Employees work on a Jaguar XJ automobile in the body shop on the production line at Tata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar assembly plant in Castle Bromwich, UK. Indian car makers have for years protected their domination of the fourth-largest automotive market in the world, pushing to maintain sky-high tax rates on foreign imports SIAM, which groups car makers including India's top-seller Maruti Suzuki (Suzuki car pictured) is believed to have written to India's government proposing a dramatic cut on tax rates for foreign vehicles High tax on imported cars was one of the major dealbreakers in previous EU trade talks that ended in 2013, with Indian marques concerned that European manufacturers would swoop in and devastate their market share. A few EU nations, particularly Germany and France, are home to huge car firms such as Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz and Renault that count India as a major growth market, and pose a far greater threat than British manufacturers to Indian automotive companies. Some companies also worry that with large investments going into clean mobility, easy import of electric vehicles runs the risk of hurting local players, they added. 'Everyone is acting on a lot of apprehension and few data points on what impact a duty cut can have,' one of the sources said. SIAM, which groups car makers from India's top-seller Maruti Suzuki, to major companies such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters. The commerce ministry, which is leading the trade talks, also did not respond. Eleven pro-life activists have been indicted for physically blockading a Tennessee abortion clinic and using force to intimidate the staff and patients, according to the DOJ. They have been charged with violating the FACE Act when they entered Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet on March 5 last year and prevented employees of the clinic and at least one prospective patient from entering the building. The FACE Act is a 1994 law signed by Bill Clinton that prohibits protestors from blocking abortion clinics. Seven of the protesters have been charged with a civil rights conspiracy for organizing the events. Among those indicted are ringleader Chester Gallagher, 73; and Coleman Boyd, 50, a pro-life physician who has been known to go to abortion clinics and read scripture and convince women to change their mind. Those charged with conspiracy face up to 11 years in prison if convicted and a $350,000 fine, while the others could spend a year behind bars and be fined $10,000. Gallagher, left, is alleged to have organized the protest with the intention of violating the FACE Act, while Boyd, right, livestreamed the protest to his followers on Facebook The eleven activists have been charged with violating the FACE Act when they entered Carafem Health Center Clinic (pictured) in Mount Juliet on March 5 last year and prevented employees of the clinic and at least one prospective patient from entering the building Protesters entered Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet on March 5 and blockaded it by sitting in hallways They were arrested and removed peacefully, but now 18 months on they face federal charges for violating the FACE Act 'The 11 individuals, aided and abetted by one another, used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with employees of the clinic and a patient who was seeking reproductive health services,' the DOJ allege. Chester Gallagher is alleged to have conspired to organize a series of FACE Act-defying anti-abortion events in the Nashville area on Facebook for early March. Gallagher described the blockade as a 'rescue' in the post, which was scheduled for the following day. Boyd livestreamed the protest as the group loitered in the corridors of the clinic, blocking the doors and stopping people from coming and going. The protest had began initially as a 'peaceful assembly' outside the clinic, but it got uglier after the demonstrators went inside and refused to leave, according to Mt Juliet police, who were called about 8am. 'We wanted to make sure they don't feel welcome to kill babies in this city,' said protestor David Zastrow to NewsChannel5, who stayed outside and did not enter the clinic. 'We understand there were some mothers who wanted to kill their babies inside the abortion clinic on the second floor, so a group of Christians decided they were able to stop that from happening.' An unidentified man who went inside said he did it to put 'ourselves between an abortion provider and women seeking abortion.' The protest was peaceful and no one resisted arrest, Mt. Juliet Police Captain Tyler Chandler said at the time. 'There wasn't any force used, we didn't have to forcefully remove anyone,' Chandler said. 'And then they began to pass out papers saying they were already arrested, so it appears this group showed up today with the intent on being arrested by our department.' Eight adults and four teenagers were hit with trespassing and juvenile citations, while four the adults were also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. But, 18 months on, they have now been slapped with federal charges. The DOJ charged seven of the protesters with 'conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act,' including Chester Gallagher, 73; Paul Vaughn, 55; Heather Idoni, 58; Calvin Zastrow, 57; Caroline Davis, 24; Coleman Boyd, 51; and Dennis Green, 56. The indictment also charged four others with committing FACE Act violations: Eva Edl, 87; Eva Zastrow, 24; James Zastrow, 25; and Paul Place, 24. Texas Senator Ted Cruz came to the defense of the protesters and hit out against the 'outrageous partisan abuse' of the Biden DOJ on Twitter. The Carafem clinic put out a statement saying that 'blocking the entrance into or out of any business is unconscionable it is harassment, it is illegal and it will not be tolerated. 'No one should be blocked from getting health care or be intimidated when they seek to enter a small business of any kind. No one should experience intrusion or harassment. 'The tactics used by the anti-abortion extremists right here in Nashville and across the country are intended to shame, frighten, and prevent people from obtaining the legal goods and services that they want and need. The Carafem clinic had become accustomed to protesters on the streets outside the complex and even received harassment from the city of Mount Juliet when commissioners passed a zoning ordinance that had the effect of banning surgical abortions anywhere within city limits. Carafem sued the city in a federal court in Nashville in 2020 and won back their right to perform abortions, plus $225,000 in legal fees 'City commissioners in Mt. Juliet have now wasted taxpayers' money and months in court, in a futile attempt to ban access to abortion,' Andrew Beck, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project said in a press release. However, Tennessee introduced an abortion ban in the state of following the Supreme Court's strike down of Roe v Wade in June this year. The clinic was finally forced to stop providing abortions, and complied with the ban on August 25. 'Due to Tennessee's abortion ban, carafem's Mt. Juliet health center will no longer provide procedural abortion or abortion pills effective August 25, 2022,' they wrote in a statement on their website. New analysis shows that 66 clinics across 15 states have stopped offering abortion services in the one hundred days since the Supreme Court struck down the Rode v Wade ruling that constitutionally guaranteed abortions These fifteen states are home to 22million women of child-bearing age (from 15 - 49), which accounts for 30 per cent of the country's women of that age. Pictured: Pro-choice demonstrators protest outside the Susan B. Anthony Pro-life Gala on Sept 13 'Carafem's doors will remain open and in compliance with state law offering a wide range of services including affordable birth control options, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and ultrasound for pregnancy dating.' Carafem is one of 66 clinics across 15 states which has stopped providing abortions following the June 24 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision that removed the constitutional right to an abortion. The clinics are located in the 13 states that have enacted near-total abortion bans since the Dobbs ruling, plus Georgia and Wisconsin. These fifteen states are home to 22million women of child-bearing age (from 15 - 49), which accounts for 30 per cent of the country's women of that age. The research means that nearly a third of the female population of the USA have to travel to neighboring states to access abortion services, often crossing multiple state lines in journeys that can be costly, arduous and distressing. In Wisconsin, clinics have suspended abortions over uncertainty about the enforceability of an 1849 ban, which physicians say is vague, leaving them fearful of future prosecution if they carry out an abortion. Before the Dobbs ruling, these 15 states were home to 79 clinics offering abortion services, leaving only 13 that continue to do so - but in restricted form. The 13 clinics are all located in Georgia, where abortion is still legal. However, legislation brought in on July 20 means that only until the sixth week of pregnancy. Phil Paxson, 47, was driving home from his daughter's 9th birthday party on a rainy night when the accident occurred - his family is now searching for answers Advertisement A North Carolina father of two died after his daughter's ninth birthday party, when his GPS put him on the path of a bridge that was washed away in 2013. On September 30, Phil Paxson was driving home at night in the rain following his daughter's birthday party in Hickory, North Carolina. His now-widow, Alicia Paxson, had departed the party earlier with the couples' daughters, while Phil stayed behind to help clean up. 'How is it nine years that this did not happen, and why did it have to be him?' wondered Alicia Paxson. 'Like, why do my kids have to have no dad now, you know?' 'Who's responsible? Somebody is responsible,' she said. After celebrating the newly nine-year-old's birthday at a family friend's house, 'we packed up all the decorations, he packed up the van, and he loaded the girls into the van,' said Alicia. 'He was following his GPS which led him down a concrete road to a bridge that dropped off into a river,' wrote Paxson's mother-in-law, Linda McPhoee Koenig, on Facebook. 'The bridge had been destroyed 9 years ago and never repaired,' continued his mother-in-law. Furthermore, the entry point to the former bridge did not have any 'barriers or warnings signs to prevent the death of a 47-year-old father of two daughters.' 'It was a totally preventable accident,' wrote Koenig. The bridge was initially destroyed in a storm in July of 2013. 'He took a left, and I took a right, and that was his mistake. One wrong turn, and now hes gone.' Phil Paxson, 47, was a husband and father to two young girls who died in late September after his car plunged into a ravine where a bridge used to be Phil's recently acquired Jeep (pictured here) flipped off the edge of no-longer-standing bridge and plummeted into the ravine Phil's recently acquired Jeep (pictured here) flipped off the edge of no-longer-standing bridge and plummeted into the ravine State troopers said barricades that were put up to warn drivers of the collapsed bridge were apparently removed, leading to the crash Neighbors in the area have complained for years about the bridge, but it is unclear whose responsibility it was to restore it after a storm in July 2013. That issue will likely now become a legal discussion Phil, 47, is being remember as a father, husband, and friend to many. Tributes to the father of two young girls praise his humor and good nature The North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a vehicle in a creek at around 10.00am on Saturday October 1. When troopers arrived at the scene, they discovered Paxson's 2020 Jeep Gladiator upside down and partially submerged in the water. Paxson had just purchased the Jeep three days prior. Troopers said barricades that were put up to warn drivers of the collapsed bridge were apparently removed, leading to the crash. Paxson was found dead inside the vehicle. North Carolina State Patrol said the bridge was not controlled by local or state officials. The area may have been the responsibility of the original developer, but the website of the North Carolina Secretary of State indicates that the developing company dissolved years ago. A local property management company has said its preceding owner was the original developed. They are meeting with attorneys Friday to determine who is responsible for the road to the ravine. Eric Andrews, the president of the Realtors Land Institute Carolinas chapter, told WCNC that the muddled question of who is responsible for the road is a relatively common problem. Original owners 'might go bankrupt,' he said. 'They might die, the company might not exist anymore. So you can't have this expectation of some kind of developed or entity being responsible for that road in perpetuity.' But getting the state to intervene is an uphill battle as well. 'In North Carolina, counties do not maintain roads. In general, owners of private roads associated with subdivisions could be the subdivision developers, a homeowners association, or the property owners in the subdivision,' Catawba County officials told WCNC Charlotte. US Representative Patrick McHenry (R), whose congressional district includes parts of Catawba County, also tried to get federal resources to rebuild the bridge back in 2013 during a FEMA disaster declaration. But that plan didn't work and subsequent efforts to secure funding to replace the bridge were also thwarted by the feds. Widow in mourning: Alicia Paxson wondered 'How is it nine years that this did not happen, and why did it have to be him?' 'Like, why do my kids have to have no dad now, you know?' said heartbroken Alicia Phil's family is calling his passing an unnecessary death and completely avoidable accident that was ultimately years in the making due to complacency about getting the bridge restored A memorial has sprouted up at the site of the crash that includes flowers and other tributes to Phil's memory Phil and his now-widow Alicia Paxson. Phil died Friday September 30 after driving his new Jeep onto a bridge that no longer existed. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator Phil acquired just days before his fatal crash. It is suspected that his GPS guided him into the ravine where a bridge used to stand Phil's family has established a GoFundMe to cover his funeral expenses, which has raised close to half of its $50,000 goal. Phil leaves behind his wife Alicia, their two daughters, as well as his parents, two sisters, a sister-in-law, and a large handful of nieces and nephews. 'Phil put his family first and his friends, almost equal, second. He was larger than life, always ready for an adventure, with a permanent smile on his face, he would give you the shirt off his back or talk you out of the one on yours,' read one part of his obituary. A memorial has sprouted up at the site of Phil's crash that includes flowers and other tributes to his memory. Conservative MP Jamie Wallis was left 'in shock' after a man spat on him for refusing to give him a cigarette, a court has heard. Kenny Defelice, 44, was handed a 12-month community order at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday after admitting assaulting the Bridgend MP, 38, at London Paddington station on the morning of September 24 last year. Prosecutor David Roberts said the Tory politician was left 'in shock' when the spit landed on his chest and chin, but he did not want to make a victim impact statement. Mr Wallis said the situation escalated into 'an interaction that became heated' and that his attacker 'became angry' when the MP refused to give him a cigarette while he was on the phone to his daughter. Conservative MP Jamie Wallis was left 'in shock' after a man spat on him for refusing to give him a cigarette, a court has heard. Pictured, the MP in November 2021 The court heard that after spitting on the MP, Defelice was held by police officers, who he tried to headbutt, while claiming he had Covid-19. He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest. Sentencing him, District Judge Louisa Cieciora said Mr Wallis' 'status' as an MP played no part in the attack. 'This was an absolutely appalling offence. You spat on somebody because they wouldn't give you a cigarette in what you considered to be a timely manner,' she said. Kenny Defelice (pictured), 44, was handed a 12-month community order at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday after admitting assaulting the Bridgend MP 'You did spit at him, that is the nature of the assault. I find you did that because it is one of the most disgusting things people can do and you knew that. 'You did it to try to denigrate him, possibly humiliate him.' Defelice, from Harlesden, north-west London, was given a 12-month community order, including a 20-day rehabilitation requirement, during which he cannot enter Paddington station, and must pay Mr Wallis 200 in compensation. Charles Austin-Groome, defending, said his client, an alcoholic and drug addict, had just been released from hospital at the time of the assault, which he described as 'a fairly brief incident, albeit a disgraceful one, one that Mr Defelice bitterly regrets'. Advertisement The former swimwear model who shot dead her British millionaire ex-boyfriend in his luxury Costa del Sol home has been freed from prison just eight years after she gunned him down. Mayka Kukucova who was aged 26 when she murdered wealthy jeweller Andy Bush, 48, has been brazenly posting social media pictures of herself as she enjoys her freedom in the Spanish sunshine. She lay in wait for Mr Bush in his villa and shot him twice in the head and once in the shoulder with a .38 revolver in a jealous rage after he arrived with his glamorous new Russian lover in April 2014. Kukucova fled to her family home in Slovakia after the cold-blooded killing, but she was extradited back to Spain where she was convicted of his murder and jailed for 15 and a half years in May 2016. She had her sentence reduced a year later to 13 years and nine months but she has been released early from jail after persuading Spanish authorities that she did not pose a danger to anyone else. Kukucova has been quick to celebrate her new-found freedom by posting Instagram pictures of her topping up her tan on a Spanish beach in a skimpy black and gold bikini, and enjoying meals out with friends. An image which will infuriate the family of Mr Bush showed her posing provocatively in a tight white dress while leaning against a palm tree while another featured her cooling off under an outside shower. Kukucova also reportedly joined her Slovakian parents Danka and Lubomir on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca, where she posted a picture two weeks ago of the three of them enjoying a meal in a restaurant in a shopping mall. Mayka Kukucova, 32, is lapping up sunshine in luxury in Spain after being freed from jail eight years in her murder sentence Kukucova, 32, has posed up for a number of glamorous shots posted to social media celebrating her freedom early from jail Her victim millionaire businessman Andrew Bush, 48, pictured in happier times with girlfriend student Maria Korotaeva The villa in Spain where Andy Bush was shot by Mayka Kukucova after she lay in wait to confront him over his new girlfriend Mayka Kukucova in court in Malaga, Spain, where she was accused of killing her former love British millionaire Andrew Bush But she since seems to have returned to the Spanish mainland with her most recent selfie on Facebook, showing her posing in bright pink lipstick at a clifftop balcony beauty spot overlooking cliffs and a beach at Nerja near Malaga. Other pictures on her Instagram account which has since been deleted featured her in a car with a friend and posing next to an airport departures information board. Several images showed her with a scarf around her wrist, leading to speculation that she might have been fitted with an electronic tag to monitor her movements after her prison release. Kukucova, now 32, is thought to have served the bulk of her prison sentence in a Spanish jail which was described by Slovakian media as being more like a resort than a jail. She reportedly learned new languages, taught English to other prisoners and even had a chance to go swimming while behind bars, according to one of her relatives. Kukucova refused to comment about her new found freedom when contacted by Slovakian magazine Plus Seven DNI. She reportedly said: Thank you for the offer, but it is not current at the moment, and I need to consider offers from other media as well. Her father added in Slovakia: We don't want to comment. We have already had enough. One of her pictures shows her posing provocatively in a tight white dress while leaning against a palm tree in Spain Pictures on her Instagram account which has since been deleted featured her in a car with a friend and posing next to an airport departures information board Kukucova had joined her Slovakian parents Danka and Lubomir on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca for a sunny break Before the murder she had been a heavy social media user, a trait she has returned to after being released from prison Kukucova started dating former body builder Mr Bush known to his customers as the King of Bling - after he gave her a job at one of his chain of Gold Trader shops in Bristol. The couple enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle splitting their time between Mr Bushs a five bedroom home surrounded by seven foot high walls near Chepstow racecourse in rural Monmouthshire, and his Spanish villa in Cancelada outside Estepona. But their relationship became turbulent as Kukocova flew into frequent tantrums, and jealous rages, and constantly checked his computer and mobile phone. Mr Bush who had a fleet of luxury cars including a red Ferrari convertible, a grey Lamborghini and a top of the range Hummer 4 x 4 which he kept in Spain, finally dumped her in November 2013 after a two and a half year relationship. He then started a relationship with Russian student Maria Korotaeva, 28, after meeting her at a Costa Coffee in Bristol. Kukucova is said to have hidden for two days in Mr Bushs villa without his consent before he and his new lover arrived there on April 5, 2014, after flying out for a romantic break. Gold dealer Mr Bush who is said to have proposed to Miss Korotaeva just hours earlier over dinner found his former girlfriend in his bed, but she refused to leave. He told Miss Korotaeva to wait in his car while he talked to his ex-lover, but she then shot him three times inside the villa. It is believed that she may have a tag on her wrist as part of the terms of her release, which she hides with a scarf in pictures There have been no shortage of outfit changes for the killer as she happily documented her freedom on social media sites Prison seems a world away for Kukucova as she looks glamorous in a bikini on the Spanish sands after being freed from jail She fled after placing the gun in Mr Bushs hand to make out that he had shot himself. Kukucova ordered terrified Miss Korotaeva out of her ex-lovers 60,000 gold-plated Hummer, saying that he had given her permission to drive it to the airport. She abandoned the car nearby, and called a former boyfriend in Slovakia for help. He flew over to Madrid to meet her and they drove back across Europe to her home town of Nova Bosaca where she gave herself up to police. She was extradited back to Spain and is said to have got into a fight with a suspected Mexican drug dealer after accusing her of stealing her mini skirt in a high security Spanish jail in January 2015. Kukucova claimed during her four day trial in Malaga in May 2016 that she acted out of self-defence and insurmountable fear. She said that she had never intended to harm Mr Bush and that she had shot him after he attacked her and threatened her with the gun. But the jury dismissed her story and convicted her of murder. Mr Bushs ex-wife Sam Mason, the mother of his daughter Ellie, now 27, blasted Kukucova after the verdict, and called for her to jailed for 20 years. She tweeted: Twenty years for the murderous cow. Hope she rots. At no stage has she apologised to my girl. Blaming Andy, low life scum.' Judge Ernesto Carlos Manzano could have jailed Kukucova for up to 22 years, but ruled it was essentially a crime of passion, and that she had acted in a passionate state of mind. He gave her a 15 year sentence with an additional six months for breaking into the villa after taking into account that she had no previous convictions and had made a heartfelt apology. The judge also ordered Kukucova to pay 122,000 compensation to his daughter Ellie and 30,500 to Mr Bushs sister. Her overall sentence was later reduced on appeal by 18 months after judges ruled that her confession to the crime had lacked total veracity, and that more account should have been taken of her giving herself up while on the run. Mr Bushs sister Rachel told in an interview last August how she could never forgive Kukucova and wanted to see her executed. She told The Sun: 'I've lost my brother, who was my best friend. She didn't just destroy her own life and her family's life, she's changed our lives forever. 'It's a shame it wasn't in America in a state where if you take a life then your life gets taken, because that's what would make me feel that's proper justice. 'In my eyes, she doesn't ?deserve to live.' Rachel added: I could never forgive her. For my own soul and spirit, that's what you should do, but I don't know how anybody could forgive that. So she can still live her life. Where is Ellie's dad and her relationship with her dad gone? Ellie always says, "I'll never have my Dad to walk me down the aisle". Rachel said Kukucova had been obsessed with her brother's fortune. She said: I could tell their relationship was a bit rocky. I said to him, If you are splitting up, you need to watch your back, because she is not right. And I'll never forget I said that to him. She's a pretty girl, but to me she's ugly, couldn't get no uglier, because she's got the ugliest personality on this earth. All she was interested in was money. Miss Korotaeva told in a book last year that she believed Kukucova was actually instructed to carry out the killing over her his plans to establish a jewellery business in London. She claims he received death threats in the weeks before his murder, but that they did not report them as they did not take them seriously. Miss Korotaeva told how Mr Bush had proposed to her over dinner just hours before he was murdered. Speaking of Kukucova, she said: 'Im now worried she may come find me when she gets out. God knows what she is thinking. What is in her head?' The mayor warned that the city's shelters were already at capacity, and that construction of new migrant camps will be expedited in the Big Apple New York City Mayor Eric Adams called on the Biden administration to crackdown on the border crisis as he declares a state of emergency in the Big Apple. Adams condemned the busing programs spearheaded by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, which has brought about 17,000 migrants to the Big Apple. The mayor said about five to six busses are arriving every day since September, with nine buses arriving yesterday and eight on Friday. Since April, New York has set up 42 emergency shelters, enrolled 5,500 children in public school and tried to help the asylum seekers connect with family and resources. But Adams warned that the city could ultimately see 100,000 new migrants arrive by the end of the year, which will take its toll on New York's budget. 'We expect to spend at least $1billion by the end of the fiscal year on this crisis, all because we have a functional, a compassionate system,' Adams said. It comes as the mayor scrapped plans to house migrants inside a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship in State Island because it was too expensive and the city is seeking a 'cheaper option.' The mayor called on the federal government to tighten border control, provide funds to cities overburdened by the influx of migrants, and to get other cities to accept the immigrants. 'We need a realistic decompression strategy at the border that will slow the outflow of asylum seekers. Adams said. 'We need a coordinated effort to move asylum seekers to other cities in this country to ensure everyone is doing their part.' NYC Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency as he expects the city to spend $1billion on migrants being bused from the US-Mexico border He issued emergency orders to expedite the building of 'tent cities' to house the 17,000 arriving migrants like the newest one built in Randalls Island (pictured) Five to six buses full of migrants have arrived daily since September (above), with eight buses arriving on Thursday and nine on Friday Adams ultimately urged for the Biden administration to crack down on the border crisis, and take control of the busing programs to deliver migrants to other cities The mayor noted that the city's shelters were already near 100 percent capacity, with about 61,000 people in the system, 20,000 of which are children. 'Although our compassion is limitless, our resources are not,' Adams said. 'This is unsustainable.' Adams appealed to hotels and nonprofits for temporary housing of the new migrants, and urged the private sector for donations to help the strained city. Despite the city's latest construction of a 'tent city' in Randalls Island to house the influx of migrants, the mayor used emergency powers to call on the city's departments to expedite construction of additional 'Humanitarian Relief Centers.' 'Unless we take immediate action that [Randalls Island] center will be full in days,' the Adams warned. 'And we will have to open another, and another, and another, even as winter arrives.' Previously, Adams and his team were close to closing a deal with Norwegian Cruise Lines to dock one of their ships off Staten Island, but it fell through because NCL was charging too much, The New York Post reported. 'They're probably least likely because we got better deals,' City Hall chief of staff Frank Carone told the Post. Carone noted that deals were still being discussed with Carnival Cruise Line and the Estonian company Tallink & Silja, which has ships in the Ukraine housing refugees. Adams also claimed that if officials in Texas and Arizona, where the majority of migrants are being bussed from, had first reached out to New York to coordinate a plan, then the city would've been able to allocate a budget to help the migrants. 'But we didn't get the support and information we asked for, and now, New York City is being forced to bare far more than its share of this national crisis.' 'Our right to shelter laws, our social services, and our values are being exploited by others for political gain,' the mayor added, criticizing the current busing program. Adam's speech served as a condemnation of the border crisis across-party lines, as it was revealed that Democrat-led El Paso was sending more than twice as many migrants as Abbott. Venezuelan Frederick Pinango, 28, walks with his three-year-old daughter Freyderlinck and his wife Julianis Contreras, 23, on October 3 to board their bus to New York at the Migrant Welcome Center managed by the city of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management Roughly 7,000 asylum-seeking migrants were sent from El Paso to New York since late August. Pictured: Migrants waiting in line at El Paso's Migrant Welcome Center El Paso, which sits across the border from Juarez, Mexico, has bused roughly 7,000 migrants to New York City since late August and sent more than 1,800 to Chicago, a city-run effort that far exceeds the more ad-hoc transportation of the past. Abbott has bused more than 3,000 migrants to New York City and more than 900 to Chicago as part of a high-profile campaign to put a spotlight on the record crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas and Arizona combined have also bused over 10,000 migrants to Washington, D.C. However, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, a Democrat, said the city's program is 'completely different' than the other busing efforts and that they seek to 'treat people with respect.' The city's busing effort has received less attention than Abbott's program, who is seeking a third term in Nov. 8 midterm elections. But unlike previous speeches where Adams went directly after Abbott, the Democrat mayor did not mention political parties on Friday, instead referring to the border states as a whole. New York City mayoral spokesperson Kate Smart previously said that while El Paso does coordinate with the city to some degree, New York is not told how many migrants are on board. El Paso's busing policy is not wholly popular among its own officials. DailyMail.com visited El Paso to see the immigration crisis first hand. The helps more than 500 migrants every day board buses to New York and Chicago and assists with travel plans elsewhere across the U.S. Migrants await their free bus rides north at El Paso's 'welcome center'. Many of the new arrivals have fled flawed leftist regimes in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua Victor Manjarrez, a former CBP chief for the region who now heads a department at The University of Texas at El Paso, says Democrats and Republicans were playing a game of 'political theater'. By busing migrants north, El Paso officials were 'doing the same thing' as governors Abbott and Ducey, only 'it's just not getting the same type of attention,' Manjarrez told DailyMail.com. Others say the migrant surge has overstretched a city of nearly 700,000 and that while FEMA has reimbursed some of the costs, there is no guarantee the agency will continue to pay. City officials warn that services could be cut. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus also condemned the busing policies by Democrats and Republicans alike. The border chief told the Los Angeles Times that the widely publicized busing programs have now become a beacon for more migrants to flood the border seeking to be bused to other parts of the country. 'It's safe to say what's going on is a pull factor, which is somewhat ironic given the criticism from some of these same governors involved in this about various pull factors that they claim already exist,' Magnus said about Abbott, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. U.S. border guards are grappling with a surge of migrants crossing from Mexico. Authorities stopped migrants 2.15 million times from October through August, the first time the figure was above 2 million during the government's fiscal year. August is the latest month for which data are available At least 84 migrants were 'rescued' after a shocked resident spotted the group stepping out of tractor trailer in Texas near the border with Mexico. The group was being unloaded from the 18-wheeler Thursday in front of a home in Olivarez, a community north of Weslaco. Deputies from the Hidalgo Sheriff's Office and U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived at the home, located approximately eight miles north of the United States borderline with Mexico. Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra told CNN that all of the migrants are from Central America and did not require medical assistance. U.S. Border Patrol agents and deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office encountered Thursday 84 migrants after a resident saw them being unloaded from a tractor trailer in Olivarez, a Texas community located eight miles north of the United States border with Mexico It's unknown if the migrants who were seen coming out of the tractor trailer where smuggled directly in it from Mexico or if they were in another Texas town before they were found in front of a resident in the small town of Olivarez He added that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) had taken over the investigation. A spokesperson for the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com that the migrants were taken in by the U.S. Border Patrol for processing. It's unknown if the group had been smuggled from Mexico directly on the truck or if they were being transported from another location. 'We continue to address the serious public safety threat posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of those smuggled,' HSI said in a statement to DailyMail.com. According to CBP data, U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 2.1 million encounters with migrants who illegally crossed the southwestern border in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2022, spanned from October 1, 2021 to September 20, 2022. The agency's Rio Grande Valley Sector, which covers more than 34,000 square miles of southeast Texas, accounted for a little over 440,000 of the interdictions. U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 2.1 million encounters with migrants who illegally crossed the southwestern border in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2022 The 18-wheeler that was used to smuggle 84 migrants who were seen getting out of it in front of a home in Olivarez, Texas, on Thursday. The group is from Central American and was taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol for processing The driver who abandoned the tractor trailer in the sweltering Texas heat that left 53 migrants dead, was 'very high on meth' when police arrested him Homero Zamorano Jr., 45, drove the tractor trailer that was crammed with Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Honduran migrants before he abandoned it near San Antonio. A total of 53 people died in the smuggling incident The finding comes three months after 53 migrants died when they were left trapped inside a tractor trailer on a remote road near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. According to Homeland Security Investigations, 48 individuals at the scene were found dead June 27. The driver, Homero Zamorano Jr., and three other people were arrested in connection to the botched smuggling incident. The 45-year-old, who faces one count of alien smuggling resulting in death, attempted to disguised himself as a migrant and was 'very high on meth' when he was apprehended as he hid in the brush. Christian Martinez, 28, was arrested June 28 and charged with conspiring to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. Authorities said he had been in regular contact with Zamorano Jr. about the smuggling incident. San Antonio Police chief William McManus told CNN at the time that the incident 'was a crime against humanity.' 'The floor of the trailer, it was completely covered in bodies. Completely covered in bodies,' he added. 'There were at least 10-plus bodies outside the trailer, because when we arrived, when EMS arrived, we were trying to find people who were still alive. So, we had to move bodies out of the trailer onto the ground.' Advertisement A woman who survived the Brussels airport terror attack has died after choosing to be euthanised due to severe depression and PTSD she suffered following the incident. Shanti De Corte, 23, was walking through the departures lounge of the Belgian airport in Zaventem on March 22, 2016 with her school classmates ahead of a trip to Italy when Islamic State terrorists detonated a bomb. The then 17-year-old escaped the explosion, which together with two other detonations claimed 32 lives and injured more than 300, without suffering any physical wounds. But the psychological effects of the ordeal left her wracked by constant panic attacks and bouts of dark depression from which she never managed to emerge. Despite attending a psychiatric hospital in her home town of Antwerp for rehabilitation and taking a range of anti-depressant medications, Shanti was unable to shake the spectre of depression and attempted take her own life on two different occasions in 2018 and 2020. Earlier this year, the troubled young woman opted to be euthanised - a procedure which is legal in Belgium, and died on May 7, 2022 after two psychiatrists approved her request. Shanti's tragic story was brought to light earlier this week when her mother Marielle told Belgian outlet VRT of her daughter's pain. 'That day really cracked her, she never felt safe after that,' Marielle said. 'She didn't want to go anywhere where other people were, out of fear. She also had frequent panic attacks and she never got rid of it.' Shanti De Corte, 23, never recovered from the psychological trauma after she narrowly escaped the March 22, 2016 terror attacks in Belgium Shanti De Corte (left) is pictured with a friend in this image shared to a tribute page Shanti's tragic story was brought to light earlier this week when her mother Marielle (pictured) told Belgian outlet VRT of her daughter's pain In her final tragic yet touching post on social media, Shanti wrote: 'I was laughing and crying. Until the last day. I loved and was allowed to feel what true love is. 'Now I will go away in peace. Know that I miss you already' Timeline of terror: How three bomb blasts rocked Brussels in 2016 8am: Two explosions rock Zaventem Airport killing 14 people near the check-in desks. Terrified passengers stream out of the terminal in Brussels 9.19am: A third bomb blast rips through Maalbeek Metro station killing 20 more people 9.23am: Eurostar services in and out of Brussels are suspended 11am: Belgian prosecutors Fredere Van Leeuw confirmed that the three explosions were terror attacks 11am: Two suspects arrested one mile away from Metro Station blast 12pm: A Kalashnikov and unexploded suicide bomb vest are found in the rubble at the airport Advertisement Shanti frequently recalled her experiences following the bombing on social media and spoke of her struggles dealing with her declining mental health. In one post she wrote: 'I get a few medications for breakfast. And up to 11 antidepressants a day. I couldn't live without it. 'With all the medications I take, I feel like a ghost that can't feel anything anymore. Maybe there were other solutions than medications.' The 23-year-old had been suffering from severe depression before she opted to end her life, according to her school psychologist. She told RTBF: 'There are some students who react worse than others to traumatic events. And having interviewed her twice, I can tell you that Shanti De Corte was one of those fragile students.' The psychologist referred Shanti to a psychiatric hospital in Antwerp, which the young woman regularly attended. But in 2018, she tried to take her own life after a sudden decline in her mental state following an altercation with another patient who sexually assaulted her. In 2020 she made another unsuccessful attempt, after which she reached out to an organisation that defends the right to 'death in dignity'. According to RTBF she asked them to perform euthanasia for 'unbearable psychiatric suffering'. Pictured: Policemen and soldiers check Brussels airport at its entrance after the attacks on the capital in March 2016 Pauline Graystone, another survivor of the bombing, was at the American Airlines check-in desk with her husband and daughter when the first explosion shook the departures hall and was filmed clinging to her husband Pictured: Passengers were evacuated from the airport after the terrorist attack in March 2016 Pictured: People inside Zaventem Airport after a blast in March 2016 This file photo taken on March 22, 2016, shows damage on the Brussels Airport in Zaventem following twin blasts A plume of smoke rises over Brussels airport after the explosion of a third device in Zaventem Bruxelles International Airport amid a terrorist attack on March 22, 2016 in Brussels, Belgium Euthanasia, defined as the practice of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve pain and suffering, is legal in Belgium for an individual who is in 'a medically futile condition of constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated, resulting from a serious and incurable disorder caused by illness or accident'. Shanti's formal request to be euthanised was approved earlier this year by two psychiatrists, according to RTBF. 'The woman was euthanised on May 7, 2022, surrounded by her family,' the report said. In one final touching post on social media the day she was euthanised, Shanti wrote: 'I was laughing and crying. Until the last day. I loved and was allowed to feel what true love is. 'Now I will go away in peace. Know that I miss you already.' The case may not yet be closed, however, as Antwerp prosecutors began an investigation after receiving complaints from a neurologist at the UZC Brugman academic clinical hospital in Brussels who said the decision to euthanise Shanti 'was made prematurely.' The Federal Commission for the Control and Evaluation of Euthanasia in Belgium had no concerns over the case, but neurologist Paul Deltenre argued that there were still different modalities of care and treatment available to Shanti that were not tried, according to RTBF. Advertisement Local businesses and fans who travelled from all over the country to visit Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm restaurant have defended it today, after it was handed an enforcement notice to close by the council. The 'popular' farm cafe and restaurant has come under attack after it was ordered to shut by the council who claimed his business breached planning laws - but Clarkson is appealing. One local business said they were in favour of the farm, which brought people from across the world to visit after seeing it on the Amazon Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm. And today it was heaving with people who had come from across the UK to sip pints and tuck into burgers at the restaurant. However not everyone is happy and some angry locals have claimed the area has changed for the worse - with more traffic and tourists pouring into the Cotswold village - since it opened in July. Jeremy Clarkson is appealing an order to close his Diddly Squat cafe and restaurant after council bosses claimed the business breached planning laws Today Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm restaurant was heaving with people who had travelled from all over the country to visit it John and Beverley Roebuck had travelled with their children John and Bethany, and her partner Matthew Johnson to the Diddly Squat Farm restaurant in Chadlington today Steve Tomlinson, who manages the next-door Chipping Norton Camping and Caravanning Club, told MailOnline that 'literally hundreds if not thousands' of people chose to stay there because of Diddly Squat Farm. 'Over a season, literally hundreds of people, if not thousands, come to the campsite especially for that. They come from all over Europe and even America, just for that,' he said. 'We have 30 units a week and most of them say, "I've come here because of Diddly Squat". 95 per cent of the people on the campsite go to the farm. 'We had a guy come here in the summer, he was doing an around-the-world trip on his motorbike, and he had come from Michigan. Diddly Squat Farm was the only place in the whole of the UK he visited.' He continued: 'It brings in thousands of pounds worth of business every week for the area. The campsite, shops and pubs in the area, petrol stations, the market. 'I can't speak for the town but it's very popular amongst most of the businesses I've spoken to.' 'There's no objections to the farm shop from us at all, we welcome it here. 'I think the council are being petty. For the amount of business it brings to the area, it's petty. If he was farmer Joe Bloggs it wouldn't be a problem.' The Chipping Norton Camping and Caravan Club is next-door to Diddly Squat Farm and they say people come from all over the world and stay at the campsite just to visit the farm Meanwhile, the restaurant was heaving with hundreds of fans who had travelled from all parts of the country to eat burgers and swill lager in a wind-swept lambing shed. And as they gazed out at a view of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, most expressed incomprehension at the rules which make it impossible for local planners to give approve it. By midday, the car park, which can manage 30 cars, was full and a greater number were parked on the Chipping Norton Road which leads off an A-road down to the village of Chadlington. Locals have objected strongly to the development ever since Clarksons Farm became a sensational hit on Amazon Prime last year and brought thousands of fans to the outskirts of their tranquil village. And the local planning committee of West Oxfordshire District Council, who rejected his application to open the restaurant earlier this year, have served him with an enforcement notice - which he is appealing. They say he could open the business on the other side of the road which is not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and accuse him of courting controversy for the sake of ratings. But the overwhelming majority of punters enjoying 10 burgers and pints for 5.60 were not local and could not understand the fuss. They came from all over the country and represented all generations, unable to resist the combination of celebrity and gorgeous views. They sat at wicket wooden tables and gripped their plastic cups to prevent the wind from blowing them away. The council has described an 'unlawful' use of the farm and said its 'nature, scale and siting is unsustainable and incompatible with its countryside location within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' Owen James, 23, and friend Ben Brown, 29, both floor layer directors, were on a day-trip from Canterbury in Kent. They had bought a litre of milk for 1.20 and were tucking into burgers. There is a Ford Mustang specialist around the corner, said Owen, so my car is being fixed and we have come in to look at the Farm and have a bite to eat. I dont see what the problem is. He is employing plenty of people and trying to make a living. Ive always been a fan. Ben added: I have learnt lots about farming from the programme and I think he is doing good, bringing business to the local area. The Roebuck family from Saddleworth, West Yorkshire, were down for a weekend to mark John and Beverleys 40th wedding anniversary. Daughter Bethany, 33, an architect, said: We have all watched the programme and had good reports from people so decided to come and see it for ourselves. Her partner, Matthew Johnson, 32, himself a farmer, added: Farmers do not make any money so it is important they can do stuff like this. It is bringing business to the area. Son Elliot, 28, who lives in London, said: I am sure the locals do not want all the tourists but without this we would not be here enjoying this great view. Dad John, a clinical dental technician, said: They dont like anyone who is successful. I cant see how this place is doing any harm. Personal trainers Joel Reddington, 23 and girlfriend Megan Brown, 22, were spending three nights in the Cotswolds from their home in Norfolk. Both had watched Clarksons Farm. Joel said: Its a really nice atmosphere and its not just a few Jeremy Clarkson products. This is a big draw for people so I dont really get what the objections are. I have friends who are farmers and they say Clarkson has done more for farmers than the National Farmers Union ever did. Megan said: I know there are rules and regulations but I just cant see any harm in it. The farm programme is just such a good family watch. I am not surprised there are a lot of people who want to see it for themselves. Owen James and Ben Brown from Kent tucking into burgers at the Diddly Squat Farm restaurant in Chadlington today Nathan and Gemma Walker, both 27, had come from Suffolk to Diddly Squat Farm restaurant on Friday with their dog Opel Nathan and Gemma Walker, both 27, had come from Suffolk with their dog Opel. Nathan, an engineer, said: We have had a week away in the Cotswolds and have come in here on our way home. We had heard all about it and wanted to see it as we both love the show. I think it is really good. The only thing that could be improved is the parking as we had to park on the side of the road. Gemma, who works in IT, added: I dont think he is doing any harm. I think if they sorted the parking out then the locals would have nothing to worry about. Kaya Cengiz, 20, and Holly Eccles, 23, were marking her birthday with a day-trip to Clarksons farm from Reading. Kaya, a mechanic, said: It seems a bit pathetic to me that anyone would object to this place. It is just a barn in the middle of nowhere with a lot of people having a good time. Maybe the locals want a nice quiet village but this place is not in the middle of the village. It is totally isolated. Holly, a social media manager, said: The locals could come here themselves. I would if I lived in the area. The food is all local and tastes good. I dont know why they are kicking up a fuss. In the lambing shed, a stall offered various Clarkson-related products socks, gin, candles said to smell of bollocks , mango and chilli relish and books penned by the man himself. A woman operating the stall who did not want to be named said that the business had provided work, especially for young people, and that Clarkson allowed her to take bread that would otherwise be fed to pigs to the homeless charity where she also works. Megan Brown and Joel Reddington from Norfolk enjoyed a pint at the Diddly Squat Farm restauarant in Chadlington They have been really supportive, she said. It is all really encouraging. Marketing managers Mark Lewis, 52 and Anne Jensen, 34, had come in for lunch after being on a spa break from their home in Henley on the other side of Oxfordshire. Mark said: There has to be a way to make this work. It is not harming anyone, it is very low impact and it is clearly much loved by a lot of people. Anne said: I do understand there are local objections but it is such a beautiful spot and we both get that this is a really good idea. I hope it can survive. However, not everyone is a fan of the farm with some locals saying it has changed the area for the worse. Mary Anderson, 51, said: 'He's turned this small road into a main road. I don't know if things will be better now; the shop caused enough problems from people trying to sightsee. 'Just getting into Chipping Norton has become just mental. People stand around in the road and drivers go unnecessarily fast. 'Okay, if the infrastructure had been put in place to accommodate it - like parking and wider roads, that would not be so bad. But it's just become such a tourist attraction. 'Having worked on a farm for many years a long time ago, it kind of doesn't sit very well that he's playing a farmer and, in my opinion, taking the mickey out of the farming community. 'Jeremy does what Jeremy wants. He makes money wherever he can, and he just seems to fly by the seat of his pants. Anne Jensen and Mark Lewis, from Oxfordshire, visited the farm for lunch today after being on a spa break 'People tell him no, but he just finds his own way to do things. He might live in Chadlington, but he doesn't really live here.' One local objector, who did not want to be named, said: 'He invited 40 of us from the village and served us seven courses cooked by an award winning chef. 'It was all filmed for his Amazon programme and the restaurant itself lasted barely a week. It was simply for the benefit of the cameras. 'He is just constantly pushing the rules. He is not allowed to sell anything in his shop that is not made locally but he wants to sell his merchandise so he charges 20 for a potato and gives them a t-shirt for free. 'He put it out that he was closing as a mark of respect for the Queen's funeral but he never opened on Monday anyway. That's how he chases publicity.' Jo Hooley, 60, an estate agent who lives in the nearby village of Chadlington, said: 'The cars that arrive for his shop and restaurant make life very difficult for us. People park on the sides of the road leading to the village and buses can't get passed. 'What I really find sad is how he has divided the village. Half the people are with him, half against him and it is all people talk about.' Another villager, a woman aged 46 who asked not to be named, said: 'His supporters can make life quite unpleasant. 'I don't think the rules should be changed for him. There are plenty of places where he could put a restaurant if that's what he wants to do. I think all he really wants is to stir things up and keep his name out there.' The Diddly Squat Farm shop and restaurant was forced to close by the council who said it was pursuing an enforcement notice Agents working on behalf of Mr Clarkson and the farm have denied any breach of planning laws and are appealing the order, describing the council's demands as 'excessive' in documents sent last month. The council hit back Thursday with a strongly-worded statement, slamming the presenter for not following its orders. A spokesperson said: 'West Oxfordshire District Council served an enforcement notice on the owners of Diddly Squat Farm in respect of planning breaches on the site on August 12, 2022. 'Council officers have worked with the owner and planning agents of the business, over many months, to investigate breaches in planning control, advising on how the business can be operated in a lawful way and trying to reach a solution. 'The business continues to operate outside the planning permissions granted and advice has been ignored. The activity has also had a significant impact on the local community. 'The council is pursuing enforcement action to ensure that planning laws are followed on the site in the same way as they would be for any other business operating across the district and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 'It is the responsibility of the council to ensure that planning laws and processes are followed correctly. Over recent years the business has had several planning applications approved, where they are in line with national and local planning policy, and also some refused where they are not. 'We work constructively and successfully with many businesses across West Oxfordshire, including farms, to help them operate within the national and local planning laws and policies that exist to protect the countryside and local communities. 'The enforcement notice instructs the owners of the business to stop activity in breach of planning control. 'The council has recently become aware that the owners of Diddly Squat Farm have appealed the enforcement notice, which is common practice in planning enforcement cases.' It added an inspector will decide the appeal and the council will explain why it 'considers the notice should be upheld and the appeal dismissed'. The John Phillips Planning Consultancy wrote in their September 9 appeal against the enforcement notice that existing planning permission gives them the right to use the farm as a restaurant, and there has been no 'material change' to the land. Bosses added that the map of the site produced by the council was incorrect and claimed the notice period provided wasn't long enough to carry out the work required. The appeal reads: 'The suggested six week period is too short and would have serious and detrimental impacts on the business and livelihoods of those employed at the site. Six months is a more reasonable timeframe.' An enforcement notice by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), published on August 11, told the 62-year-old Top Gear star he had six weeks to make a number of changes to the Chadlington site, which features in his hit Amazon Prime series, Clarkson's Farm The agents concluded that the order 'should be quashed in its entirety as a result'. Papers served by the Planning Inspectorate show it has accepted Mr Clarkson's appeal as valid and that representations must be made in coming weeks. It is believed Mr Clarkson thought he was able to operate the restaurant after making changes to a barn on his land using a clause which allowed the use of farm structures to be tweaked from their original purpose without council-approved planning permission. But WODC said in August it was investigating the restaurant after councillors rejected its initial planning application in January. One council source, who refused to comment on the local authority's ongoing investigation, told MailOnline at the time: 'The council's view is that the same planning rules should apply to everybody. Clarkson was told to cease use of any part of the land as a restaurant or cafe, and the general 'sale or provision of food or drinks to members of the public for consumption on the land' 'We will treat Jeremy Clarkson in the exact same way as any other resident of West Oxfordshire.' On Clarkson's Farm, the star works on his 1,000 acre plot of land, located between Chipping Norton and Chadlington in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside in Oxfordshire. The former petrol-head appears to have settled for a serene farming lifestyle as part of his new hit Amazon Prime series. But the show's roaring success - and the opening of the popular farm shop - created chaos for villagers who complained of visitors clogging up the country roads. Mr Clarkson's representatives have been approached for further comment. A suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence will be freed from prison in weeks despite failing to pay back any of the 90,000 he made from a 3 million drugs plot. Jamie Acourt, 46, who spent more than two years on the run in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, will be released on November 3 after serving half his nine-year sentence. He told a judge he has been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors, run by his 'friend and builder' Matthew Chapman, and will be supported on the outside by his partner Terri Dean. Acourt, who has two children aged 23 and 19, was one of five men arrested over the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993. Jamie Acourt, 46, who spent more than two years on the run in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, will be released on November 3 after serving half his nine-year sentence He told a judge he has been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors, run by his 'friend and builder' Matthew Chapman, and will be supported on the outside by his partner Terri Dean Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1993 by a group of racists in Eltham, south east London Two of the five, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were prosecuted and handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder. Norris was referred to the police for investigation last week after allegedly taking selfies in his HMP Dartmoor prison cell and sending them to friends. Acourt was last January ordered to pay back 90,000 in ill-gotten gains or face having another year added to his jail sentence by a judge at Kingston Crown Court. His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrence's murder, was jailed for over six years over the same drugs plot, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of around 3 million, moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear. Jamie Acourt appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court on Friday by video link from Stocken prison in Rutland, where police asked District Judge Neeta Minhas to impose the default sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order. Pc David Bracken said: 'Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything. 'Obviously, he's going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part.' Acourt told the judge he will have served four and a half years of his sentence next month and will spend the rest of the term on licence. 'I'm more than willing to pay but obviously with the cost of living and everything else, I can only earn what I can earn and I can only pay what I can pay,' he said. Acourt said his family have not paid any of the money 'because they don't have the funds' and, when asked how much he intends to pay a month, said: 'Whatever I can pay. 'Once I'm out and worked out what I can pay 50 a month, 100 a month, whatever I have got left after all the outgoings.' The judge agreed Acourt should be released from prison but ordered him to pay back 500 a month or face the reactivation of his jail sentence, saying the sums he suggested would not even cover the interest of 20 a day. 'I am not going to activate the default sentence,' she said. 'I can see before me you have a job offer supported by an email from the managing director of that company. 'You will be earning a decent salary. It is not minimum wage. 'You have a partner who has confirmed she will contribute towards the amount which is outstanding, which is a significant amount. 'I am going to give you the opportunity to come out into the community and pay that. 'If you do not pay, the consequences are you will be serving that term. 'If you choose to leave the country and not pay, a warrant will be issued for your arrest and you will serve that sentence when you come back to the country.' She said Acourt has until January 1 next year to make the first payment. The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrence's murder, Luke Knight, has remained free. More than a quarter of younger people now identify as LGBT, according to a new survey by Stonewall. The LGBTQ+ charity claims 71 per cent of Gen Z respondents - those aged 16 to 26 - identify as straight. The figure is a contrast to the Baby Boomer generation - those aged 56 to 75 - in which 91 per cent described themselves as straight. Of the next generation, Gen X, described as being those aged 43 to 56, Stonewall said 87 per cent described themselves as straight. The figure was 82 per cent for Millennials - those aged 27-42 - according to Stonewall. In its report, which uses data from polling company Ipsos UK, Stonewall said the results show Britain is becoming a 'rainbow nation'. It said: 'For decades now, we have seen a steady increase in social acceptance of lesbian, gay and bi relationships, and steady increase in the percentage of the population who identify as lesbian, gay or bi. More than a quarter of younger people now identify as LGBT, according to a new survey by Stonewall. The LGBTQ+ charity claims 71 per cent of Gen Z respondents - those aged 16 to 26 - identify as straight. Pictured: People watch a Pride Parade in Birmingham in September In its report, which uses data from polling company Ipsos UK, Stonewall said the results show Britain is becoming a 'rainbow nation'. Pictured: Team MOBILISE take part in the Pride Parade in Birmingham in September 'Measuring the trans population and attitudes to trans people through social surveys is a newer phenomenon, so we don't have the same longitudinal data. 'This groundbreaking report using data from Ipsos UK paints a picture of a Britain that is becoming a Rainbow Nation.' According to Stonewall, the data comes from three surveys carried out by Ipsos in June and August. In each of the surveys, around 2,150 people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were surveyed. The charity says that for Gen Z respondents only 71 per cent identify as straight. Of those who did not identify as straight, 14 per cent identified as bisexual or pansexual - those who are attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender. Five per cent described themselves as asexual - someone who has a lack of sexual attraction or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity - two per cent as gay and three per cent as lesbian. Four per cent described themselves as 'other', one per cent described themselves as 'don't know' and three per cent said they would 'prefer not to say'. By contrast, none of the Baby Boomer respondents identified as asexual, pan, lesbian or other. Three per cent described themselves as gay, while two per cent identified as bi. The charity says that for Gen Z respondents only 71 per cent identify as straight. Of those who did not identify as straight, 14 per cent identified as bisexual or pansexual - those who are attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender According to Stonewall, the data comes from three surveys carried out by Ipsos in June and August. In each of the surveys, around 2,150 people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were surveyed The charity said in its report: 'This report comes after we have witnessed a steady increase in social acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ people in recent decades. 'This new era of openness in Britain has led to an environment where more people are free to be themselves and are more confident in their sexual and gender identity.' The Stonewall figures come following the latest official UK statistics for the year 2020 on sexuality. The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics, found that the proportion of the UK population aged 16 years and over who identified as heterosexual or straight was 93.6 per cent in 2020. The report also found that people aged 16 to 24 years were most likely of all groups to identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual in 2020, at eight per cent. Netflix's gruesome retelling of the Jeffrey Dahmer murders continues to hit streaming records on the platform. The 10-episode series, 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,' has surpassed 'Squid Game' and 'Bridgerton' as the most-watched show on Netflix in its first week, as it has surpassed a half-billion views. Created by Ryan Murphy, the show which centers on one of America's most famous serial killers - who notoriously ate his victims - has become the platform's ninth most popular English-language TV series of all time. 'Monster' debuted September 21 to an audience of 196.2 million. The show chronicles the shocking murders of 17 young men and boys at the hands of the Milwaukee killer between 1978 and 1991. It retells the story of Dahmer from the perspective of his victims and explores major mistakes Wisconsin police made in handling the probe of the notorious mass murderer, who made national headlines for acts of cannibalism and necrophilia. The record was previously held by another violent show, 'Squid Game.' The fictional South Korean series depicts hundreds of contestants bid for a massive sum of money through horrifying versions of playground games. 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' became Netflix's most-watch series in one-week of airing The 10-episode series beat out 'Squid Game' (pictured) after it amassed over a half-billion views Pictured: The Netflix series 'Bridgerton.' 'Monster' is now the platform's ninth most popular English-language TV series of all time The show, starring Evan Peters, 35, features at least 10 incidents in which authorities almost took Dahmer into custody, extending his crime spree. Peters said that he was 'scared' to take on the role due to Dahmer's horrific past, adding that he had to go to 'dark places' during filming to get into the mindset of the killer. Richard Rushfield, a columnist for The Ankler, told Good Morning America that the show's success is derived from its violent nature. 'True crime has become a huge phenomenon across the medium,' he said. 'I think that, in tumultuous times where people feel uneasy and a lot of anxiety about their world, watching true crime helps them sort of acclimate themselves to the worst things on earth and they become accustomed to it. 'It makes the world a little less scary.' The show, starring Evan Peters, 35, features at least 10 incidents in which authorities almost took Dahmer into custody, extending his crime spree Peters said that he was 'scared' to take on the role due to Dahmer's horrific past, adding that he had to go to 'dark places' during filming to get into the mindset of the killer Pictured: Jeffret Dahmer's 1982 mugshot. Dahmer claimed 17 victims over the course of his killing spree Despite the series' record-breaking numbers, others have been critical of the show depicting the trauma that surviving victims are now having to relive. The sister of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, Rita Isbell, speaking with Insider Sunday, said that Netflix never reached out to her about the series, calling it harsh and careless. 'I feel like Netflix shouldve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it,' she said. 'They didnt ask me anything. They just did it. But Im not money hungry, and thats what this show is about, Netflix trying to get paid.' 'For people who are traumatized, what happens is you're hearing everyone talk about it,' said Alyssa Mairanz, owner and psychologist with Empower Your Mind Therapy. 'It's being advertised all over social media and TV, and so its interface can bring back a lot of dark emotions.' Pictured: The sister of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, Rita Isbell. 'I feel like Netflix shouldve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it,' she said The show depicts Isbell directing comments toward Dahmer in an emotional scene Who is Jeffrey Dahmer? Dahmer was convicted of 16 murders in 1992, and sentenced to 16 life sentences in prison. He was bludgeoned to death with a metal bar in November of 1994 by Christopher Scarver, another inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin. The gruesome story of Dahmer has past been chronicled in the 2002 movie Dahmer, in which Jeremy Renner played the titular role; as well as 2017's My Friend Dahmer, in which Ross Lynch played a teen version of the nascent serial killer. Advertisement The Akron, Ohio, home where Dahmer claimed his first victim is now valued at $372,000. Dahmer and his family moved into the residence in 1968. Its living room was host to the 1978 murder of Dahmer's first victim, Steven Hicks. The then 18-year-old bludgeoned Hicks with a 10-pound dumbbell and then strangled him to death. Musician Chris Butler bought the home for $244,500 in 2005. 'The house has a great vibe, I mean, after all, the house didnt kill anybody, and I dont believe in ghosts, and theres absolutely no reason to think theres anything untoward here,' the rocker told the Observer at the time. The single-family home features a dual-parking garage, stainless steel appliances and a fireplace on the just-under two-acre property. The residence has been renovated numerous times since it was first built and most recently by Butler in 2007. The former Dahmer family home, built in 1952 The home was last purchased by musician Chris Butler in 2005 for $244,500 An estranged wealthy couple with links to former prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie are waiting for a High Court's ruling after becoming embroiled in a tussle over how long they were married. Angela Jilina, 49, and estranged journalist husband Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, who had homes in London and Ascot, Berkshire, and Switzerland, have asked Mr Justice Mostyn to make decisions related to when their marriage broke down. Mr Justice Mostyn on Friday finished considering arguments, at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, and is expected to deliver a ruling later this year. Lawyers told Mr Justice Mostyn that his ruling would affect how much Ms Jilina, who comes from Russia, walks away with - and indicated that hundreds of thousands of pounds were at stake. The judge heard that Ms Jilina and Mr Abu-Zalaf had run up lawyers' bills of more than 400,000 between them. Ms Jilina told the judge how she had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and how she and Mr Abu-Zalaf had attended the wedding of the Blairs' daughter Kathryn three years ago. The judge also heard Mr Blair and Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US president Donald Trump, had once been among dinner guests at their London home. Ms Jilina says the 2013 decree nisi is 'now antiquated and stale', should be rescinded, and wants to issue a fresh divorce petition Angela Jilina, 49, (right) and estranged journalist husband Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, (left) who had homes in London and Ascot, Berkshire, and Switzerland, want a judge to make decisions related to when their marriage broke down The ruling, expected later in the year, will impact the amount of money Ms Jilina (pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice today) walks away with Mr Justice Mostyn was told how Ms Jilina and Mr Abu-Zalaf, editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, had married in 2012. A family court judge had granted a decree nisi in 2013, a decree which signals the end of a marriage, after an application by Ms Jilina. But he was told the decree nisi had never been made absolute, a move which legally ends a marriage. Ms Jilina says there was reconciliation in 2014 and the marriage finally broke down in 2020. She says the 2013 decree nisi is 'now antiquated and stale', should be rescinded, and wants to issue a fresh divorce petition. Mr Abu-Zalaf told the judge 'we never reconciled' and said they were only 'technically married'. He wants the 2013 decree nisi to be made absolute. Mr Justice Mostyn had considered the case, after the decree nisi was granted in 2013, and been given detail about planned financial provision for Ms Jilina. He had explained then, in a written ruling, how he had been told then that Mr Abu-Zalaf had 'net property assets' of about 13 million plus a share in a family business. Mr Abu-Zalaf had agreed to make financial provision for Ms Jilina as part of a prenuptial agreement. That provision depended on the length of the marriage. The judge said for the 'less than two years category' there was a 'housing provision' of 2 million and said annual spousal payment was to be 96,000. A barrister indicated at the hearing that Ms Jilina could benefit by an amount approaching 1 million if she won. In court yesterday the estranged couple were asked about the nature of their relationship between 2014 and 2020, including questions about how often they had sex. 'My husband called me his wife,' Ms Jilina told the judge. 'We had a sexual relationship. Everywhere we went socially as I known as his wife.' Mr Abu-Zalaf said the relationship had been 'convenient'. He said they were 'technically married' but not married 'in reality'. 'We never reconciled,' he said. 'We were treating each other like single people.' He told the judge: 'It was convenient for me always to go out with someone.' Mr Justice Mostyn is expected to deliver a ruling later in the year. An Ohio man fell to his death while attempting a handstand from a hotel balcony during Hurricane Ian - but his family says there's more to the story. Markell Hope, 34, was staying at the Patricia Grand Hotel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when he plunged off the 15th floor balcony on September 30 at around 3pm. Horry County Coroner's Office originally claimed Hope fell while performing a handstand on the elevated platform. His family, however, were not satisfied with that explanation and have taken to Facebook in search of a woman they believe was present at the time and is now 'hiding.' 'Where's the proof,' Jerry Tennant, who knew Hope, wrote on Facebook. 'Who else was there? 'Once I saw the pictures of the balcony, I knew this story was bs. Markell wouldn't go there. I know in my heart that there is so much more to this story.' Hope's sister Cella Hope said the family is still waiting to see footage from the hotel. 'They have been delaying us from seeing the footage. Call the Myrtle beach police station and demand them to release the footage of Markell Hope,' she wrote. The coroner told The Daily Mail the family's questions have prompted the investigation to continue. The police department has yet to announce any official changes to their previous conclusions. 'There was a disagreement with the family,' a spokesperson with the coroner's office said. 'They disagree with the finding. It's still under investigation.' Markell Hope, 34, was staying at the Patricia Grand Hotel when he plunged off the balcony on September 30. The Horry County Coroner's Office originally claimed he died while performing a handstand but are now walking back on that claim Police are reinvestigating the death of Hope after they originally said he fell to his death from the 15th floor of a hotel room at Myrtle Beach Horry County Coroner's Office told DailyMail.com that they are walking back on the assumption that he fell during a handstand after his family disagreed with how he died Family members are seeking answers to how Hope died amid the ongoing investigation of his death. They have taken to Facebook in search of a woman they believe was present at the time Hope was visiting South Carolina amid the Category 4 hurricane that shook Florida last week. The search for survivors continues as the death toll exceeds 100 in the Sunshine State with another four deaths in North Carolina as of Monday. Some people had entire homes destroyed, especially in the 40 square mile block of Pine Island in Lee County Florida, which is home to 8,420 people, according to Census Reporter. Lee County has suffered from the most deaths with 54 reported to date. Some islanders have returned to the ruins of the island to recover some of their belongings in what they can gather in plastic bags. Some valuables were deemed unrecoverable after being covered in mold. 'Goodbye home,' entrepreneur Alexandra Fasulo wrote on Instagram along with multiple videos of her Pine Island community that was seen mostly under water with the outlines of homes exposed. 'My home is totaled, most of my stuff is totaled, and my home community is washed out to sea. I was able to salvage 3 garbage bags of clothes. Had to leave the rest behind as mold has reclaimed the entire house. Materials can be replaced, sure, but the time I spent collecting books, antiques, and clothing items Ive had for 10 years cant. Its the time lost that hurts.' She continued while reflecting upon life before Ian: 'I wish you could have seen the town only a week ago. Fresh catch from local fishermen, people from around the world casting their lines off the bridge, tourists pouring into Leomas famous art gallery, glasses clinking at Berts Bar, and the bright lime green paint that covered my little Gulf cottage. It was a beautiful sight.' Meanwhile, Fort Myers Beach residents, also in Florida, were warned they might not be able to return to their waterlogged homes for months because of the devastation blighting the coastal community. Residents mourn their loses as some people have lost their entire living, especially in the 40 square mile block of Pine Island in Lee County which is home to 8,420 people Some islanders have returned to the ruins of the island to recover some of their belongings in what they can gather in plastic bags The colorful Pine Island before the devastating hurricane that brought the island to ruins Many residents in Florida are left without power with Pine Island and Sanibel Island being among the last jurisdictions to get electricity restored, according to NPR. More than 117,000 residents are left without electricity in Florida as of Friday morning. Some homes in Florida, including in Lee and DeSoto county can only be reached by boats as the flooding persists. Residents in DeSoto County have been stranded in their homes for days as the National Guard continues to deliver food and water, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, some communities were left unharmed, including Babcook Ranch in Charlotte County, Florida. Mr Abu Marhia had been receiving death threats because of his sexual identity Palestinian police have arrested a suspect related to the killing of a man who was found decapitated in the occupied West Bank. It is understood that Ahmad Abu Marhia, 25, had been receiving death threats because of his sexual identity. A horrific video of the murder scene was spread widely on social media with many speculating about the motive. Police said nothing is confirmed. His body was discovered on Wednesday (October 5) in Hebron. Ahmad Abu Marhia, 25, was found decapitated in the occupied West Bank LGBT groups in Israel said Ahmad Abu Marhia had spent the last two years living in Israel where he was waiting on an asylum claim to live abroad in Canada. The same groups also said he was continuing to receive death threats from within the community where he was living. It is currently unclear how he ended up in Hebron, a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank. Israeli media have quoted Mr Abu Marhia's friends who said he had been kidnapped. However, his family said he regularly visited Hebron to visit them and to work. They also said the claims about the motive of his murder was rumour. Homosexuality is rejected within many fundamentalist parts of Palestinian and Israeli societies. Around 90 Palestinians seeking asylum in Israel because they identify as LGBT. Natali Farah, and LGBT activist, told Israel's Haaretz newspaper that Mr Abu Marhia was well known and liked within the LGBTQ community. She said: 'He was intelligent and quiet. Many people knew him. The whole community is crying now.' 'Everyone is scared,' she added. Shocked and horrified by the murder and beheading of Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh in Hebron. Violence against LGBTQI+ human beings is unacceptable. Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) October 7, 2022 The US Ambasador to Israel Thomas Nides condemned the murder. He tweeted that he was 'shocked and horrified by the murder and beheading of Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh in Hebron. Violence against LGBTQI+ human beings is unacceptable.' Overall the number of restaurants with at least one star is up to 73 from 68 last year The five NYC restaurants that have three Michelin stars were all able to retain them and no restaurant with two gained a third On average restaurants that gained their first Michelin star were almost twice as vegetarian-friendly than those that lost their only star Altamarea Group manages two restaurants - Marea and Ai Fiori - that lost their only stars Carbone, Peter Luger Steakhouse and Marea are three of eight NYC restaurants that lost their only Michelin star Three of New York City's most frequented and trendy restaurants have been stripped of their only Michelin stars as part of an uncharacteristically aggressive annual redistribution of stars. Michelin's 2022 star rankings for New York were announced on Thursday evening at an event in Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Carbone, Peter Luger Steakhouse and Marea are three New York restaurants that have experienced a falling from grace and been left without recognition from the French tire manufacturer and publisher of influential restaurant guides. Another restaurant that lost its star included ZZ's Clam Bar, with no vegetarian options. In contrast Dirt Candy was a vegetarian restaurant that acquired its first Michelin star. The 17 restaurants that were granted a first star have almost double the number of vegetarian main dishes than the nine eateries that lost theirs. On average the number of vegetarian mains offered in the restaurants that lost their only star was 1.4 while in those that gained a first star it was 2.3. South Indian restaurant Semma also gained a star. Unlike any restaurant to have lost its star, Semma offers a wide range of vegetarian dishes. One of its owners Roni Mazumdar told Bloomberg he believes the gesture will support the next-generation of chefs to express themselves through food more connected to their heritage. Overall the number of restaurants with at least one star is up to 73 from 68 last year. The Michelin Guide's 2022 New York awards this year were hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris at the Park Restaurant in Hudson Yards Food critic Pete Wells of the New York Times said of Carbone in a review in August that 'most people whove been there since it [re]opened in May have eaten at wobbly patio tables outdoors' Seafood restaurant Marea had two Michelin stars just three years ago, now its back down to zero The Michelin Guide's New York awards this year were hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris at the Park Restaurant. 'New Yorks culinary landscape is definitely back on its feet, growing bigger and bigger,' said Michelin Guides director Gwendal Poullennec during the event. Carbone is a hangout in Greenwich Village that has been favored by celebrities and high-status individuals since it opened in 2013. It was awarded its first Michelin star the same year it opened. Five restaurants in NYC retained their three Michelin stars The five restaurants in NYC that had three stars in 2021 have all retained them in 2022. They are: 1. Masa 2. Le Bernardin 3. Per Se 4. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare 5. Eleven Madison Park Advertisement The restaurant was founded by chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi and is famous for its spicy rigatoni and interior decor that might have resembled the set of Goodfellas. Many restaurants in NYC were forced to re-configure during the pandemic. That could be what played into the demise of Carbone. Food critic Pete Wells of the New York Times said in a review in August that 'most people whove been there since it [re]opened in May have eaten at wobbly patio tables outdoors.' Marea, another restaurant to have lost its star, is a seafood restaurant just south of Central Park. It is run by the Altamarea Group which is owned by former Wall Street executive Ahmass Fakahany, who describes the restaurant as being for people who 'dont chase luxury but live it'. Fakahany's Altamarea Group lost another star at its restaurant Ai Fiori. Marea has suffered a fairly consistent loss of prestige in the past couple of years. Although the restaurant was awarded a second Michelin star in 2010, it lost that a decade later in 2020. Now its down to zero. Before the losses, in 2017 Anthony Bourdain told the Daily Beast that Marea was one of his favorite places to eat in the city. Seafood restaurant Marea on Central Park South lost its Michelin star during an event on Thursday Actresses Natalie Dormer and Jennifer Lawrence are seen arriving at Marea on Central Park South on two separate occasions Peter Luger is a famous Brooklyn steakhouse that sits beneath the Williamsburg Bridge and has been around since 1987. The restaurant which is known for its porterhouse steak, creamed spinach, German potatoes famously does not accept credit cards. The restaurant is best-known for its porterhouse steak but in 2019 critic Wells described it as being unevenly cooked and far from the best cut of meat in New York City Awards line the walls in Peter Luger Steakhouse in Brookyln Peter Luger steakhouse, shown from the exit of the Williamsburg Bridge, received a scathing, zero star review in The New York Times in 2019 In the last decades it has come under criticism for its rude waiters and inhospitable attitude towards guests. The steak has been criticized too. The restaurant was famously eviscerated a few years ago in a seething zero-star review from the New York Times. In a brutal attack on the establishment the Times' food critic Pete Wells said: 'The Department of Motor Vehicles is a block party compared with the line at Peter Luger.' New Yorkers rejoiced in his criticism, taking to Twitter in droves to say they had long felt the same way about the restaurant. Explanations for its downfall vary but some say it was worsened by the departure of Wolfgang Zweiner, the long-serving head waiter who left in 2004. During the Michelin star reshuffle another eight restaurants also lost their one star. They include: Wallse, Meadowsweet, LAppart and the Clocktower, ZZs Clam Bar and Altamareas Ai Fiori. On the other hand 17 restaurants gained their first star. The history of the Brooklyn restaurant known for 'New York's best steak' Luger was opened in 1887 by Peter Luger, a German immigrant. It was originally Carl Lugers Cafe, Billiards and Bowling Alley and, according to the restaurant's website, was a favorite among the predominantly German neighborhood. Peter Luger was the owner but his nephew, Carl, ran the kitchen and that is where it got its name. While popular, the restaurant soared thanks to the help of the Forman family, a who ran a manufacturing company across the street. 'Forman Family made everything from silverware to trays to stamped-metal giftware. The manufacturing site, at 185 Broadway, served as a headquarters for sales, and what better place for Sol Forman to take prospective clients than the famed restaurant just across the street? Sol was known to eat two steaks a day three when the trade shows came through,' the restaurant's website boasts. The restaurant was opened in the 1880s then was revamped in 1920 by the Forman family When Peter Luger died, the restaurant ran into disrepair. Sol Forman took over the restaurant after the death of Peter Luger Forman was the only person who showed up to buy it at auction, winning it for the price of the land alone. He revived it and when the Williamsburg bridge opened in the 1903, its success multiplied with wealthier Manhattanites coming over the East River in search of a good steak. The restaurant claims to have boasted the title of New York's best steakhouse since the 1980s. It has one Michelin star and a steady stream of tourists and new residents lining up outside on most nights for a table. It is known for its rude service - trying to make a reservation online was impossible until recently and even getting an answer on the phone is seldom. Cash is the only form of payment accepted (other than the house's Peter Luger credit card). While it's known for is porterhouse steak and burger at lunchtime, the restaurant is notorious for its overpriced sides like a $16.95 plate of tomato and onion and bacon at $6.95 a slice. Peter Luger's famous side of bacon which costs $6.95 per slice Advertisement 63 Clinton, Dirt Candy, Frevo, Icca, Joomak Banjum, LAbeille, Le Pavillon, Mari, Noz 17, Oiji Mi, One White Street, Red Paper Clip, Semma, Shion 69 Leonard Street, Torien and Yoshino Former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles was arrested last month in connection with the murder - he appeared in court this week Las Vegas journalist Jeff German, who was stabbed to death last month, likely died quickly due to stab wounds in his neck and torso, according to a medical review of his autopsy. German died with four sharp force injuries in his neck, including one in his carotid artery. Dr. Dale Carrison, who reviewed a portion of the coroner's report for the Las Vegas Journal-Review, said an injury to the carotid artery results in a fast death. 'That would be a fatal injury. He would be dead within several minutes,' Carrison, who used to reach emergency medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno and is a former FBI agent, said. Carrison added that the investigator's report on German's killing said, 'rigor mortis was passing,' meaning the journalist would have been dead for at least 24 hours before being found, because that is the minimum time it takes for a body to finish the rigor mortis stage. 'It's usually present for 24 hours, and then it does go away,' he said. 'He definitely would have had to have been lying out there for a significant period of time.' Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers found journalist Jeff German, 69, dead with stab wounds around 10:30am Saturday, September 3 after authorities received a 911 call Former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles, who was arrested in connection with German's murder, appears at a recent criminal hearing in Las Vegas The suspect in the grizzly murder of Las Vegas journalist Jeff German is pictured wearing a bright orange jacket, straw hat and sneakers - the hat and sneakers were found in the home of former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles. Nike sneakers worn by the suspect were discovered in Telles' Peccole Ranch home A torn up straw hat that matched the murder suspect's was also found in Telles' garage Telles' Peccole ranch home, where the sneakers and hat worn by the suspect were found Telles was arrested in connection with the murder Jeff German, 69, was found dead with seven stab wounds in his neck and torso at about 10.30am on September 3 outside his home near near North Tenaya Way in Las Vegas. He was pronounced dead at 12:55pm on September 3 after a neighbor discovered him lying behind the shrubs in his side yard. Former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles was arrested in connection with the death after police discovered that DNA on Telles' clothing matched DNA evidence under German's fingernails. Detectives have since matched a straw hat and sneakers worn by the suspect to a torn up hat and shoes found in Telles' Peccole Ranch home. The shoes were found behind a couch in the living room, and the torn up hat in the garage. Las Vegas police officers and prosecutors said Telles was 'lying in wait' when he attacked German outside his suburban residence. German had previously written stories critical of Telles' handling of his public office. In September, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said that video of the stabbing had been recovered, but the tape needed to be clarified because it was 'distorted.' It was sent to the FBI with hopes that it could be enhanced and Lombardo said they were planning to release its content, though, of Friday, it was not clear when. Telles is currently under protective custody inside the Clark County Detention Center due to the high-profile nature of the crime he was arrested in connection with. The Vegas police has not yet located a murder weapon for the grizzly stabbing. Metro Captain Dori Koren and Sheriff Lombardo told the Review-Journal, for which German worked until the time of his murder, that they are not investigating any other suspects at the time. German (left) and Telles (right) speak in Telles' Vegas office on May 11, 2022 German was found with stab wounds outside his home, which is near North Tenaya Way in Las Vegas German was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival, during which 60 people were killed and 400 were wounded. He held a master's degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune. Cathy Scott, a former colleague, recalled that she and German broke the story of the killing of Las Vegas mafia associate Herbert 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein in 1997. German specialized in stories about organized crime. He hosted a season of the Review-Journal's true crime podcast, 'Mobbed Up: The Fight for Vegas.' The podcast was described as a sketched of the secret power mafia crime families weld over more than a third of the Strip's casinos, and the enormous job federal and state agents have in pushing them out. He also broke stories about government corruption and campaign finance violations in Nevada. . The newsman was ordered to take a personal leave after he suffered a serious fall in Amsterdam Long time CNN news anchor Jim Sciutto will be 'off the air for weeks,' the network has revealed CNN mainstay Jim Sciutto will be off air 'for a few weeks' after network bosses ordered him to address a 'personal situation.' The leave follows a 'serious fall' Sciutto suffered while in Amsterdam earlier this year as he returned from reporting in Ukraine. CNN reporter Oliver Darcy said Sciutto's 'conspicuous absence' comes after an internal HR investigation over conduct that occurred earlier in the year. Sciutto, 52, last presented the Newsroom on the struggling network alongside Poppy Harlow on Monday. He did not appear on the show after that appearance. A media source has told DailyMail.com that Sciutto is now on 'personal leave'. CNN has not responded to requests for comment. The Daily Beast's Confider reported earlier this week that Sciutto underwent the internal investigation at CNN earlier in 2022. The website says that the investigation was prompted when Sciutto suffered a 'serious fall' while in Amsterdam. CNN anchor Jim Sciutto pictured in Ukraine during one of this trips reporting from the war-torn nation earlier in 2022 Jim Sciutto and his wife Gloria Riviera attend the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 28, 2018 in Washington Sciutto, who worked in the Obama administration as chief of staff and senior advisor to US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, was in the Dutch capital with a so far unidentified producer. Sciutto was returning from a spell reporting in Ukraine when the incident occurred. Oliver Darcy, a senior reporter with the network, revealed Sciutto would be out for weeks in his Reliable Sources newsletter on Friday. The Confider report notes that CNN has been flying their people directly out of the embattled nation via Poland, so it's not clear why Sciutto decided to stop off in the Netherlands. The article goes on to says: 'We hear Sciutto has since recovered from the incident.' The report links his current absence to the Amsterdam trip. Sciutto typically anchors CNN Newsroom Monday through Friday alongside Harlow. He regularly writes articles for the network's website and weighs in on other show's with regard to national security issues. On October 3, Sciutto published an article on CNN.com titled: 'US considering responses to possible Russian escalation in Ukraine, including its potential use of tactical nuclear weapons.' The Emmy Award winning Sciutto has been married to his wife, former ABC News correspondent Gloria Riviera since 2006. The couple have three children together. Sciutto has made three trips to Ukraine in 20220 in his role as CNN's chief national security reporter. The first was in February, the second in March and the third and most recent was in at the end of April. On May 1, Sciutto posted a photo in Poland on Twitter, where CNN has been flying their people out of Ukraine from. The following day, he was back in CNN studios presenting his show. According to a March 10 tweet, Sciutto's celebrated his birthday while reporting in Ukraine. This latest blow to CNN's scheduled programming comes weeks after CNN announced a 'reimagined' morning show featuring famously progressive anchor Don Lemon - despite new CEO Chris Licht's repeated pledges to move the network away from left-leaning commentary. Sciutto, 52, presented the Newsroom on the struggling network alongside Poppy Harlow on Monday Sciutto did not appear on the show on Tuesday or Wednesday Sciutto typically anchors CNN Newsroom Monday through Friday alongside Poppy Harlow Licht, who replaced ousted boss Jeff Zucker last February, added that other changes include anchor Alisyn Camerota and legal analyst Laura Coates sharing the 10pm through 12am time slot - a post that will be left abandoned by Lemon. 'By adding the insights, experience and strong voices of Alisyn and Laura, we will advance and expand on that coverage, creating something complimentary and compelling in primetime,' Licht said of Camerota and Coates. Since taking the helm, Licht, has demonstrated a desire to move away from opinionated reporting that became especially prevalent during Donald Trump's election campaign and subsequent presidency. Insiders have since said that the longtime televisions exec - headed Stephen Colbert's Late Show for six years until it was announced he was replacing Zucker - wants to return to the station's roots as a hard-hitting news source. So far, Licht's tenure has seen a marked decrease in partisan panels featuring outspoken anchors such as former Trump aide Alyssa Farah. However, the recent shakeup with Lemon - who has long criticized conservatives such as Donald Trump and has touted woke ideals on the air - seems to contradict this effort. CNN announced the change last week, revealing that Lemon will officially sign off from his 10 p.m.-midnight block on October 7. At that point, the network will launch its new morning program, which will be headed by Lemon, as well as co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. So far, Jim Sciutto appears to have been unaffected by the shake-ups at CNN. A veterinary nurse dubbed 'every passenger's worst nightmare' after she downed a bottle of vodka and caused chaos on a flight from Manchester to Turkey has been allowed to keep her job following a disciplinary hearing. Katherine Heyes, from Wigan, was 'screaming and swearing at everyone' - including her own three-year-old child - during the Thomas Cook flight to the Turkish resort city of Antalya. In July 2020 the then 29-year-old was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work after admitting entering an aircraft when drunk. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons disciplinary committee has now ruled that despite Ms Heyes' 'disgraceful conduct' she should not be struck off or suspended. The committee heard that Ms Heyes was described by a fellow passenger as 'bordering on manic' and had to be restrained by her friends. Ms Heyes had also been travelling with a three-year-old child who she shouted and swore at 'aggressively,' causing the child to become upset and cry. The captain considered diverting the flight because of the safety risk Ms Heyes posed. At the time of her sentencing at Minshull Street Crown Court in 2020, Judge John Edwards described her as 'every passenger's worst nightmare.' Veterinary nurse Katherine Heyes (pictured) will not lose her job despite her 'disgraceful conduct' on a flight from Manchester to Turkey in 2019 The hearing was told she had only 'one pint of lager' before boarding the flight for the all-girls trip in May 2019. Ms Heyes said that while on the flight to Antalya she drank some vodka that had been poured into a cup for her by a friend. The panel heard a transcript from the sentencing hearing which described how during the flight, Ms Heyes and one of her friends were seen going to the toilet with a large beach bag, which cabin crew suspected contained alcohol. Later on in the flight, cabin crew found Ms Heyes was slurring her words to the extent that the senior cabin manager was unable to understand what she was saying, the panel heard. The crew also found a 'full size' empty bottle of vodka near the veterinary nurse's feet. Another passenger became particularly concerned about the way Ms Heyes was behaving towards the child who was with her on the flight and alerted the cabin crew, the hearing was told. The cabin crew then decided to take the child to the back of the aeroplane, and Ms Heyes' behaviour 'deteriorated,' the committee heard. A fellow passenger said: 'One minute she had her head in her hands and was crying; the next minute she was flailing her arms around and was laughing. This went on for some time.' In July 2020, Ms Heyes was handed a 12-month community order after she admitted to being drunk on an aircraft A 'completely out of it' Ms Heyes started saying she wanted to get off the aircraft and that she wanted the child to come back and sit with her, the hearing was told. It was added that she was 'fixated' on the senior manager and had to be physically restrained by her friends. A 'chaotic' atmosphere ensued with passengers shouting that they wanted the plane to be diverted so Ms Heyes could be removed from the flight, the committee heard. The captain decided against diverting the flight because they were only 40 minutes from their destination. Turkish police met the flight when it arrived but Ms Heyes was not detained. A fellow passenger described how her nine-year-old child had been traumatised for a lot of the holiday by what happened, worrying about whether the same people would be on the return flight. Ms Heyes was interviewed by police on her return to the UK and told them she had become angry at the suggestion she had not been fit to look after the child. During the Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to Turkey, Ms Heyes and one of her friends were seen going to the toilet with a large beach bag, which cabin crew suspected contained alcohol. (Stock image) She told the committee she was 'ashamed and remorseful' about the events which had led to her conviction. She added that the cabin crew member had been aggressive and had taken away the child, which caused her to shout, which would have happened whether or not she had been drinking. The committee concluded that despite Ms Heyes' 'reckless' behaviour and 'disgraceful conduct', a formal warning was sufficient punishment, rather than removing the veterinary nurse from its register. The panel said that Ms Heyes' behaviour had 'brought the profession into disrepute.' The panel concluded: 'Whilst the charge was not so serious as to require suspension or removal from the register, the Committee decided it is necessary to issue a formal warning to Ms Heyes as to her future conduct.' A mother and father have appeared in court after being charged with murdering their 11-week-old daughter who died after suffering a brain bleed, fractures to her skull and 'bite marks'. Labourer Krunal Prajapati, 26, and Rinkalben Prajapati, 23, of Barnet, north-west London, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with murdering their daughter Hazel Prajapati. An investigation was launched on September 16 after Hazel was admitted in an unresponsive condition to Northwick Park Hospital in north London with bleeding in her brain, fractures to her skull and bruising over her body. Her parents, who are Indian nationals, had taken her there in a taxi from the home in Colindale. Hazel was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital where she died on September 20. Labourer Krunal Prajapati, 26, and Rinkalben Prajapati, 23, of Barnet, north-west London, appeared at the Old Bailey (pictured) on Friday charged with murdering their daughter Hazel Prajapati A special post-mortem examination took place on September 26 and found bone fractures and bite marks on her left arm and thigh. They gave the provisional cause of death as a head injury. The couple were charged with Hazels murder and the alternative offence of allowing or causing the death of a child. On Friday, they appeared at the Old Bailey before Judge Mark Lucraft KC for a preliminary hearing. The father wiped away tears in the dock while his wife was on video link from Bronzefield jail. Neither of them spoke except to confirm their names and date of births, assisted by a Gujarati interpreter. Prosecutor Joel Smith said: The defendants face charges of murder and in the alternative causing or allowing the death of a child. The deceased is their daughter Hazel. She was only 11-weeks-old at the time of her death. The defendants have lived together in a single room with ensuite bathroom in Colindale since June of this year. On 1 July, Hazel was born at Northwick Park Hospital. Mother and baby were released home on 3 July. There were no medical concerns. An investigation was launched on September 16 after Hazel was admitted in an unresponsive condition to Northwick Park Hospital in north London But there were various visits by health workers and visits to the GP. Mr Smith said no concerns were noted. He continued: On 16 September of this year Hazel was fatally assaulted at the family home. Mr Prajapati, a labourer, returned home from work that evening to his wife, baby and their flatmate, the court heard. It is claimed that the couple were cooking in the kitchen just after 8pm when Hazel began to cry. Mr Smith said the parents took her to Northwick Park Hospital in a taxi a short while later. They arrived at the hospital shortly before 10 oclock and told staff that Hazel had been breathing irregularly and fitting. At that stage she was showing no signs of life. Body mapping...showed 10 areas of bruising and swelling to head, arms, abdomen, leg. There was also bleeding on the brain. Hazel was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital where a CT scan showed bleeding and swelling to the brain, fractures to the skull and retinal haemorrhages. Her life was pronounced extinct on 20 September. A subsequent post-mortem examination has given the provisional cause of death as head injury. The examination revealed significant bruising and a large skull fracture extending from the mid line across the top of the head. There was also haemorrhages covering the brain, around the spinal cord, fractures to the rib cage, leg bones and forearm bones. Two circular marks to the left arm and left thigh believed to be bite marks. The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, remanded the parents in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on 24 March next year. A trial, under a High Court Judge, has been provisionally fixed for 4 September next year. The defendants were remanded into custody. Irish police confirm three fatalities recorded after searching through rubble Major incident declared after blast at a petrol station in County Donegal at 3pm The search for survivors was continuing into the early hours of the morning after a horror petrol station explosion killed three people in a quiet Irish village. The Irish Garda last night confirmed here were three fatalities in an explosion at an Applegreen service station in Co Donegal, as the rescue operation continued more than 12 hours after the initial blast. Cranes and sniffer dogs were called up, and fire and rescue services from nearby Northern Ireland were drafted in to help deal with the tragedy. The mayor of Derry said that the incident, which occurred at around 3pm on Friday, was a gas explosion. The impact caused adjacent apartment buildings to collapse, sparking a search and rescue operation with nervous locals watching on. Nearby Letterkenny University Hospital moved to major emergency standby and appealed to the public not to attend its emergency department unless it is urgent. Local hotels also announced late on Friday evening that they were no longer taking bookings as they offered their rooms out to emergency services working throughout the night. Some people were being treated in hospital yesterday evening while others remain 'trapped' at the scene, according to Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty. Irish Premier Micheal Martin last night said his 'thoughts and prayers' were with the community and those who lost their lives in the tragic blast. Three people have died with police still searching through rubble after a horror petrol station explosion ripped through a quiet Irish village on Friday Police confirmed there were three fatalities in an explosion at an Applegreen service station in Co Donegal, as the emergency search operation continues more than seven hours after the initial blast. Pictured: A crane assists in the search and rescue operation late on Friday A major incident has been declared after a gas explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal, north-western Ireland Horror images taken by passersby showed the damage at the Applegreen filling station in Creeslough Dramatic pictures last night showed homes above the Ulster petrol station and convenience store left almost entirely hollowed out by the blast. In a statement the Irish police force, An Garda Siochana, said: 'An Garda Siochana continue to assist other emergency services at the scene of a serious ongoing incident that occurred at approximately 3:20pm on Friday, 7th October, 2022, at a premises on the N56 at Creeslough, County Donegal. 'This emergency response has been led by the Donegal County Council Fire Service with assistance by An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service, Irish Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Rescue 118 Helicopter, Irish Air Corps Medivac 112, Northern Ireland Ambulance HEMS, Irish Community Air Ambulance (Ground Crew), Northern Ireland Urban Search and Rescue, Meavagh Fire Service, Donegal Mountain Rescue, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HART team (Hazardous Area Response Team) and the Donegal County Council Civil Defence. 'At this time, An Garda Siochana can confirm there has been three fatalities as a result of this serious incident. 'This continues to be an ongoing operation and An Garda Siochana are not in a position to provide further information on casualties at this time. 'An Garda Siochana continue to request that any road users intending to travel to the Creeslough area for any reason consider alternative routes as emergency services continue to deal with this ongoing incident.' Multiple emergency service vehicles attended and a Coastguard helicopter also provided support. The NI Fire Service, Air Ambulance and paramedics from Northern Ireland dashed over the border to assist emergency services. The Shandon Hotel in nearby Marblehill also announced it had stopped taking bookings for the night as it is making free rooms available for members of the emergency services. Local Gardai police and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) urged locals to avoid the area. Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said his thoughts were with those affected by the 'tragic events'. The Tanaiste tweeted: 'Terrible news from Donegal tonight. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events and with the emergency services responding.' Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister last night said he was thinking and praying for the community of Creeslough and across Donegal. Simon Coveney tweeted: 'Thinking of and praying for the community of Cresslough and across Donegal tonight. 'Such a shocking and tragic day, continuing into tonight. 'Thank you to all emergency teams working together through the night.' TD Pearse Doherty told RTE News that it was after 3pm when the 'devastating' explosion took place that has left 'a very very dark cloud' over the community. 'It ripped right through this building, and this was a very busy location at that point in time,' he said, explaining that the site holds the petrol station, deli counter, post office, shop and hairdressers for the area. He said: 'There's just quiet, it's surreal. People are just holding on for hope, holding on to hear news, positive news coming from the emergency services.' Homes above the Ulster petrol station and convenience store were pictured hollowed out by the blast Rubble covered the ground as members of the public searched the scene for injured people Local councillor Donal Mandy Kelly said the news was 'devastating'. He added: 'My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.' Independent Donegal councillor John O'Donnell said he was praying there were no fatalities. 'What we're hearing is there's just absolute carnage in Creeslough at the moment, there's a massive gas explosion,' he told BBC Radio Ulster. 'The feedback I'm getting from family and friends who are unfortunately down at the scene and in the area is just that the whole place is chaos at the minute, everybody's very, very taken back and devastated of what's happening.' Multiple emergency service vehicles are in attendance and a Coastguard helicopter was also providing support Local Gardai police and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) urged locals to avoid the area Fianna Fail councillor Anthony Molloy said it is 'beyond words' as he knows the family who own the service station. 'My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved,' Mr Molloy said. 'It looks horrific from what I can see from photographs. It looks terrible. It's just terrible. 'I know the family. It's beyond words.' An Garda Siochana asked motorists travelling towards Creeslough to consider alternative routes. An Garda Siochana asked motorists travelling towards Creeslough to consider alternative routes Some people remain 'trapped' in the rubble, according to Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty The NAS wrote: 'A number of ambulances are attending the scene of a serious incident at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal. 'Please avoid this area at the moment if possible.' The Irish Coast Guard added at around 5pm: 'The Irish Coast Guard is assisting emergency services at the scene of a major incident in Creeslough Co. Donegal. 'The Sligo based Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation.' The White House dodged questions on Friday about a bombshell report suggesting the president's son could be charged with tax crimes and lying about buying a gun. Hunter Biden has been under investigation for years and now sources say investigators have enough evidence to bring charges. Details of the probe were leaked on Thursday. But White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sidestepped questions from DailyMail.com about whether President Joe Biden was worried about the leaks or the possibility that his son could be charged. 'This is an ongoing investigation being handled independently by the Department of Justice, so I would refer you to the Department of Justice,' she told reporters traveling with Biden on Air Force One. It is the same form of words she has used with all questions about the investigation and whether Hunter tried to profit out of his famous name. A day earlier a report revealed that federal agents now think they have enough evidence to bring charges. The Washington Post claims the investigation into the president's son that began in 2018 is now in the hands of U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was nominated by Donald Trump and would oversee any charging decision. 'This is an ongoing investigation being handled independently by the Department of Justice, so I would refer you to the Department of Justice,' said Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday The president was joined by his son Hunter during a trip in August, when they flew to South Carolina for a week-long vacation on Kiawah Island The investigation was sparked by Hunter Biden's business deals with foreign countries while father Joe was vice president, and the charges could include failure to pay income tax, money laundering and violations of U.S. tax laws. A series of deals Hunter has made with business tycoons in China, Ukraine and Kazakhstan have been under intense scrutiny - and the president has insisted he knows nothing about them. DailyMail.com however obtained a voicemail in 2018 establishing that Joe had knowledge by saying 'I think you're in the clear' following a New York Times article detailing a connection between Hunter and a Chinese oil tycoon. Investigators have also zeroed in on whether he lied on paperwork to buy a gun in 2018 that his late brother's wife Hallie later threw in the trash near a Delaware high school. Hunter's lawyers reacted to the Washington Post's Thursday story with fury by suggesting leaking such information is a federal crime. Hunter paid an outstanding tax liability back in 2020 and acknowledged a probe into what he called his 'tax affairs.' The case is being overseen by a Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware, who was confirmed in 2018 and asked to stay on during the Biden administraiton. Biden and AG Merrick Garland have repeatedly said they would leave the case to career prosecutors. The paper cited anonymous people familiar with the case. The gun purchase matter relates to standard paperwork for purchasing a weapon. On the form Hunter denied using unlawful drugs or being addicted to drugs statements undermined by his own conduct. He has disclosed in his own memoir that he was addicted to crack cocaine and has struggled with drug and alcohol use. Images found on his infamous laptop, which emerged weeks before Election Day 2020 and which contained data that experts who analyzed it have authenticated for DailyMail.com, appear to to show crack cocaine use. Hunter Biden has been under investigation for years on tax and other matters. In 2020 he acknowledged a government probe and settled a back payment Emails traced to the laptop also point to an array of business activities in China and other locations. He also secured a lucrative board position with a Ukrainian energy firm, and did business in Kazakhstan and other far-flung locales. The gun matter is of the type that prosecutors sometimes charge and sometimes overlook. But according to DOJ figures cited by the Post, there were 478 referrals for lying on firearms forms the year of Hunter Biden's purchase, with charges filed in 298 cases. Rebecca Roiphe, Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School, told DailyMail.com that prosecutions for lying on a federal form are rare, but if guilty the crime carries a fine $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison. 'Prosecutors have broad discretion whether to bring charges in a case even if they have sufficient evidence to prove that an individual violated federal criminal law,' she said. 'Some of the factors a prosecutor might weigh include: the extent of harm caused by the offense, the background or characteristics of the offender and whether he has made any efforts at restitution or shown any signs of rehabilitation, how like cases have been treated in the past, and generally, whether this expenditure of resources would be in the interest of the public. 'I believe that prosecutions for lying on gun purchase forms are relatively rare but I do not know precise numbers. I imagine generally it would be quite hard to prove that an individual lied on the form. With tax crimes, prosecutors tend to consider whether the individual has made efforts to pay back taxes and whether it would be sufficient to pursue civil remedies. 'Federal prosecutors consider this because in some cases, they may be able to obtain a reasonable resolution and deter others from committing tax crimes without expending resources in a criminal prosecution. 'In terms of sentences, the penalty for the tax crimes would vary depending on the particular crime charged. The sentence for lying on the federal form could be up to ten years in prison.' White House chief of staff Ron Klain vouched for the president's son in a TV interview in April. The White House said 'no one' at the White House was involved in the allegations regarding the president's son, which Chief of Staff Ron Klain called a 'private matter' Acting U.S. Attorney David Weiss is overseeing the probe. AG Merrick Garland has said he would defer to the Trump-appointed prosecutor Information from Hunter Biden's infamous laptop provide information on his foreign business dealings Hunter Biden has spoken openly of his battles with drug addiction. His admissions could work against him if prosecutors decide to charge him with lying about drug use on a document when purchasing a firearm in 2018 'Of course the president's confident that his son didn't break the law,' Klain said. 'But most importantly, as I said, that's a matter that's to be decided by the Justice Department, by the legal process. It's something that no one at the White House has involvement in.' A 2018 voicemail from Hunter's iPhone, revealed by DailyMail.com, appears to show Joe Biden reaching out to his son to discuss a New York Times article about his work with CEFC, notwithstanding the president's denials that he ever talked with Hunter about his overseas business dealings. 'Hey pal, it's Dad. It's 8:15 on Wednesday night. If you get a chance just give me a call. Nothing urgent. I just wanted to talk to you,' Biden said on the voicemail. 'I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear. And anyway if you get a chance give me a call, I love you.' Hunter's lawyer, Chris Clark, teed off on 'leakers' in his own slashing response to the story. 'It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one,' he said in a statement to the Post. 'Any agent you cite as a source in your article apparently has committed such a felony. We expect the Department of Justice will diligently investigate and prosecute such bad actors. ' 'As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense. That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticized for doing their job.' With information in the public realm that investigators working the case believe there is sufficient evidence to charge, it could put pressure on the prosecutor overseeing the case to bring charges. Hunter's business practices have come under increased scrutiny as media organizations continue to probe the contents of material derived from Hunter's laptop. He and Biden's brother James were reportedly paid an estimated $5million by Chinese energy giant CEFC. He even recounted once being presented with a 2.8 carat diamond by CEFC Energy China tycoon Ye Jianming. Klain also told ABC's George Stephanopoulos: 'I want to just be really clear, these are actions by Hunter and his brother. They're private matters. They don't involve the president. And they certainly are something that no one at the White House is involved in.' The trove of emails uncovered on Hunter's laptop, which a Wilmington repair shop owner says someone resembling Hunter dropped off at his repair shop and never picked up, include emails making reference to an apparently dysfunctional tax situation. 'You need to get 2017 filed so we can try to work out a payment schedule,' his accountant Bill Morgan wrote him, in messages CNN said it authenticated. At the time, the IRS was still pinging him to make due on his 2015 return. 'They want $158,000,' Morgan wrote. 'IRS has notified the State Department and they will not renew your passport until this is resolved.' The gun matter had its origins in a 2018 incident where Beau Biden's widow, Hallie Biden, who was having an affair with Hunter, took Hunter's gun and threw it in a trash bin. Amid a search for the weapon, Secret Service agents approached a gun store owner seeking paperwork on the purchase, Politico reported last year. The gun shop owner subsequently turned the paperwork over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The tax probe began all the way back in the Obama administration, the New York Times reported, then expanded in 2018 to include potential criminal tax violations. A Russian woman nicknamed Al Capone when she terrorised neighbours on the south coast was back before the courts today charged with assaulting an off-duty police officer. Olga Woolnough, 47, became known as a neighbour from hell when she lived in Worthing after she threatened locals, held all-night parties and staggered around constantly drunk. She also painted her seafront home bright pink. Woolnough was given an ASBO in 2015, which banned her from being drunk or having any alcohol in public. Sussex police accused her of waging a reign of terror against her neighbours. Woolnough was thought to have returned to Russia - but she appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via video link from HMP Bronzefield accused of attaching Adrian Bodenham. Olga Woolnough, 47, is accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer Adrita Ahmed, prosecuting, said: On 28 September, the police were called to The Garrick Arms pub on Charing Cross Road. They had been informed that an off-duty police officer had been assaulted. The defendant had gone into The Garrick Arms pub. She had been drinking other peoples drinks. She was confronted by the off-duty police officer. She threw a single punch, which caused swelling of the police officers lip. Woolnough, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody after she denied assault by beating. In October 2020, she was sentenced for groping a 15-year-old boy at Brighton Magistrates Court. Prosecuting, Martina Sherlock said then: The boy felt uncomfortable due to her shouting, "Im Russian!" And it was clear that she was drunk. Without any warning, he says the woman came up behind him, grabbed him by the back of the neck and tried to bend him over. He was then grabbed again by the woman on the back of his head and this time she reached around his waist and, over his clothing, grabbed his genitals. He moved away and his friends started shouting at her. He says he was very upset and he was crying. Woolnough appeared today at Westminster Magistrates Court Woolnough was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay the boy 150 compensation. The court heard Woolnough has 32 convictions for 67 offences but claims she has links to Russian royalty, as she shares her first two names with Russian Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, a sister of Tsar Nicholas II, who died in exile in 1960. She has also claimed to have liver condition so serious she will die if she has another drink. Antonia Gray, defending, told the court She is a Russian national. This is a very vulnerable individual. She was a very successful businesswoman, but she suffered a mental breakdown in 2016. Woolnoughs trial is fixed for 18 November at the City of London Magistrates Court. A pub landlady who stabbed a barmaid in front of customers after wrongly accusing her of having an affair with her husband has been jailed for ten years. Luisa Santos, 47, was convicted of trying to murder Hannah Pritchett, 18, after claiming her husband had called out her name in bed. A court heard she grabbed a fish knife before stabbing Miss Pritchett in the back and hip at the Three Horseshoes pub in Princethorpe, Warwickshire. Luisa Santos, 47, was convicted of trying to murder Hannah Pritchett, 18, has been jailed for ten years Luisa Santos, 47, told her chef husband Pedro that Hannah Pritchett (pictured) was 'laughing' at her and ordered him to choose between the 18-year-old and his family Mr Santos, who held The Three Horseshoes' tenancy, denied uttering Miss Pritchett's name and said the bedroom row had been over restaurant service arrangements. Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said Santos had formed a 'deluded belief' about the nature of the pair's relationship. He told jurors the defendant and her victim had previously had an amiable relationship in which Miss Pritchett discussed her boyfriend, college studies and manicures with Santos. Jurors at Warwick Crown Court deliberated for five hours and 16 minutes before convicting Portuguese Santos by an 11-1 majority. The attack in May took place within minutes of Miss Pritchett arriving for lunchtime service at the inn, and was caught on CCTV. Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had admitted wounding with intent Footage showed Santos approach Miss Pritchard as she sat on a stool polishing cutlery, then twice thrusting the blade into her left side from behind. The teenager suffered stab wounds eight centimetres and 17cm deep and spent three days in hospital. Santos told jurors she felt 'tormented' by the victim allegedly 'looking at me in a provocative way, like she knew what she was doing - like she was challenging me.' She claimed that Miss Pritchett 'always seemed to make an effort and get close to my husband' when she went into the pub kitchen. Police were called to the scene on the afternoon of May 21 to find the attack had spilled over into the car park and arrested Santos on suspicion of assault. Miss Pritchett was taken to hospital where she underwent surgery to ensure there were no further internal injuries. Santos, of Princethorpe, was later charged with attempted murder and was found guilty of the charge following a trial at Warwick Crown Court this week. Today she was jailed for ten years and and ordered to serve a minimum two thirds of the sentence. Detective Constable Gareth Morgan, of Warwickshire Police, said: 'This attack was entirely unprovoked, and the victim was fortunate not to suffer more serious injuries. 'It was witnessed my numerous people in the pub at the time and could have ultimately resulted in the loss of a life. 'Although this was an isolated incident, great teamwork meant we were able to quickly arrest Santos and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the investigation for their dedication and commitment throughout. 'Using a knife is never acceptable and I am glad Santos is now behind bars where I hope she will be able to reflect on her actions.' A marshmallow firm has pulled victory out of the fire after it successfully argued that the treats are ingredients not sweets and so are not liable to a 470,000 VAT bill. American sweets wholesaler Innovative Bites distributes Mega Marshmallows, which were deemed to not be confectionery at the tribunal. The company were told that they owed 472,928 in VAT from between June 2015 and 2019 for the sales of the marshmallows by HM Revenue and Customs. According to the Times, products which are used for cooking can be zero-rated whereas confectionery would incur a VAT charge. The wholesaler argued that the Mega Marshmallows were made for roasting over a campfire for s'mores. S'mores are comprised of marshmallows and chocolate between digestive biscuits. Innovate Bites argued that their Mega Marshmallows were not confectionery as they would only be consumed after being roasted but HMRC said they could be eaten from the bag as a snack. Innovate Bites argued that their Mega Marshmallows were not confectionery as they would only be consumed after being roasted but HMRC said they could be eaten from the bag as a snack (stock image) The tax tribunal were shown in evidence the size of the marshmallows, which came in at around 5cm in height and 3.5-4.5cm diameter. They were compared to regular ones which came in at 2cm in height with a diameter of 2.5cm. And a packet of the product was shown in evidence, which showed on the packaging how to heat the Mega Marshmallows and make them into s'mores. But the HMRC disagreed with the idea that the marshmallows were primarily for roasting. And they said that they could be eaten on their own or after they had been roasted and cooled down. HMRC said that due to other large products which have appeared on the market, Mega Marshmallows could be the same. They also said that s'mores could be made with regular marshmallows too. Innovative Bites disagreed and said that Mega Marshmallows were easier to roast on a skewer. Concluding, Judge Jonathan Cannan said that the product does not fall to be described as confectionery and must be zero rated. He said that if a consumer wanted to eat marshmallows as a snack they would be more likely to eat regular ones (stock image) Mega Marshmallows are usually put in 'world foods' aisles and not with confectionery, according to the court. They are sold in Iceland, Morrisons, Asda and other supermarkets. Concluding, Judge Jonathan Cannan said that the product does not fall to be described as confectionery and must be zero rated. He said that if a consumer wanted to eat marshmallows as a snack they would be more likely to eat regular ones. And he added that the court infers that those buying Mega Marshmallows are more likely to do so to roast them rather than eat them as a snack. A HMRC spokesperson said: 'HMRC is carefully considering the judgment by the First-tier Tribunal'. A man stabbed himself on board a train in front of shocked passengers at a railway station in central London this morning. Officers were called to Euston station just before 12pm today to reports of a man with serious injuries on board a train. Parts of the north London station have been cordoned off as the emergency services examine the scene, reportedly between platform 14 and 15. Paramedics rushed to the station at around 11.45am and the man has been taken to hospital for treatment. Officers were called to Euston station just before 12pm today to reports of a man with serious injuries on board a train (file photo of an Avanti West Coast train at Euston station) Police said officers believe the man's injuries were self-inflicted. A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'Officers were called to Euston station at 11.48am this morning (October 7) following reports of a man seriously injured onboard a train. 'Paramedics also attended and he has been taken to hospital for treatment. 'At this stage, it is believed he has sustained self-inflicted injuries. Parts of the north London station have been cordoned off as the emergency services examine the scene, reportedly between platform 14 and 15 (file photo) 'Officers remain at the scene conducting enquiries into the full circumstances of what happened, and a cordon is currently in place on platforms fourteen and fifteen.' A witness told The Standard said he saw paramedic bags and 4-5 Avanti West Coast staff talking by screens, as the front 2 first-class carriages were cordoned off. Anyone who witnessed what happened can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 234 of 07/10/22. Shocking surveillance video has shown the moment taunts and then shoots her cheating boyfriend in a jealous rage at their condo in Brazil. Diana da Silva, 36, is on the run from cops after seriously wounding her 46-year-old boyfriend, whose name has not been released, in Sao Paulo on Thursday. In the surveillance footage, the man is seen walking toward his apartment when da Silva storms out and shoots him in the back. The impact of the shot sends him crashing backwards into a glass table before he fell to the floor. In the video, da Silva can be seen taunting her boyfriend repeatedly as he lies bloodied on the floor and begs her not to shoot him again. The woman then steps back and presses the trigger, but the gun appears to jam. Diana da Silva, 36, aims a gun at her 42-year-old boyfriend moments before she shot him in the back at his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday. The Civil Police learned from a hospital witness that the man had said he was shot because she had discovered he had cheated on her Diana da Silva argues with her 42-year-old boyfriend after she had shot him in the hall next to his southeast Brazil condo Thursday. The 36-year-old woman fled before police arrived. The businessman remained hospitalized as of Friday and was in stable condition The wounded man then attempts to get up from the blood-soaked floor as his girlfriend walks back into the apartment. She then grabs a knife from the couch and screams at her boyfriend while he is lying on the ground. The man was taken to Santa Marcelina Hospital. He was transferred to Sao Cristovao hospital and was in stable condition as of Friday. The 42-year-old businessman presses the elevator button while his girlfriend remains inside his apartment before she shot him because he had cheated Diana da Silva holds a knife while shouting at her boyfriend moments after she had shot him Civil Police investigators learned from a witness at the hospital that the man said his girlfriend flew into a jealous rage because she had discovered that he had been with another woman, according to Brazilian news outlet G1. A neighbor told UOL Noticias that the couple were constantly arguing and cursing at each other. 'They had no limits. It could be daytime, it could be dawn,' the resident said. 'Nobody had much contact with them because of that.' Authorities searched the apartment, which is owned by the boyfriend, and recovered the knife and the gun. The firearm was not registered to him or his girlfriend. But Sturgeon has doubled down, telling an interviewer 'abusive men are the risk to women, not trans women' First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants legislation to make it easier for transgender people to 'self ID' Advertisement Nicola Sturgeon has doubled down in her row with JK Rowling over trans rights, telling an interview that 'abusive men are the risk to women, not trans women'. JK Rowling liked a tweet comparing Nicola Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George as the war of words between Scotland's two most influential women reached fever pitch today. The Harry Potter author and the First Minister are at loggerheads over trans-issues and the Scottish Government's legislation to make it quicker and easier for individuals as young as 16 to change sex with no requirement for medical reports or evidence. Today, Sturgeon said: 'In my experience, most men who want to abuse women don't feel the need to change their gender to do it. and abusive men are what we should be focusing on. They are the risk to women, not trans women. 'I am a lifelong feminist, I've spent much of my life and I've spent a long time in public office doing things to improve the rights of women.' Yesterday Ms Rowling branded the SNP leader a destroyer of womens rights - wearing a T-shirt with it as a motif - and today Ms Sturgeon ratcheted up the row by suggesting that the author is not a 'real feminist' - and that she is. Ms Rowling, who is opposed to Scottish independence and donated 1million to the campaign to stop it, has yet to respond publicly to the latest barb but she has liked a tweet this afternoon from a supporter who was upset by the First Minister's comments. The message said: 'Her [Sturgeon's] intonation on real feminist was, for me, an ugly reminder of the school playground when the mean girls would circle me and taunt me for being too poor, or too clever, or simply weird. At heart, Sturgeon is one of the mean girls'. The term 'mean girls' was popularised by the 2004 movie of the same name. Its protagonist Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams, has been branded the world's most evil high school student . Mean girl behaviour is characterised by gossiping, verbal put-downs of others, bullying, backstabbing, and using others to get ahead. After the Harry Potter author branded the SNP leader a destroyer of womens rights, the First Minister fought fire with fire this morning and declared: 'I've spent my entire life campaigning for women's rights, and I'm a passionate feminist with lots of evidence behind that'. And in a thinly-veiled attack on the feminist credentials of Ms Rowling, and members of For Women Scotland (FWS), she said: 'There are no shortages of attacks on women that feminists, real feminists, as I consider myself to be, should be focusing on right now', and accusing them of trying to 'stigmatise and discriminate' against transgender people. Womens Rights Campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen, who designed the T-Shirt Ms Rowling and other protesters wore yesterday, said of Sturgeons attack: It seems utterly implausible that anyone who cannot define a woman as an adult human female could even begin to call themselves a feminist'. Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: 'Nicola Sturgeon's comments about JK Rowling not being "a real feminist" are absurd. JK Rowling has been a hero and an inspiration for tens of thousands of women across the United Kingdom who have become increasingly concerned about the impact of gender ideology'. The row between the women over gender issues goes back to March, but they have differing views on Scottish independence Nicola Sturgeon today accused JK Rowling and others of discriminating against transgender people and suggested that she was more of a feminist than them JK Rowling (pictured wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights) today threw her weight behind Scottish campaigners who marched on Holyrood in a protest against controversial transgender plans Ms Rowling liked a tweet comparing Nicola Sturgeon to 'Mean Girl' school bully Regina George, played in the movie of the same name by Rachel McAdams (left) Demonstrators from Women Scotland (FWS) gathered outside the Scottish Parliament for a rally in opposition to the proposals, claiming they are putting women's rights 'in crisis' FWS bosses called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held Yesterday Ms Rowling donned a t-shirt branding Nicola Sturgeon a destroyer of womens rights. She did so as she lent her support to campaigners who gathered outside the Scottish parliament to protest against the devolved governments controversial gender reforms wrapped up in the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. What is the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - and why are JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon rowing about it? The SNP's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill sets out proposals to speed up the time it takes to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The legal update would also lower the age at which trans people can obtain the document from 18 to 16. The Bill would cut the length of time a person has to live in their acquired gender before applying from two years to three months. They would then have to undertake a mandatory three-month 'reflection period', confirming at the end of this if they wish to proceed with their application. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the need for doctors' reports. However even some in the SNP have been critical of the reforms. For Women Scotland says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Advertisement Campaigners have claimed that a move to self-identification and the removal of medical involvement in obtaining a gender recognition certificate will pose a risk to women in single-sex spaces. The First Minister was asked directly about JK Rowling's t-shirt and dismissed her critics on the BBC Radio 4s Today programme, declaring: Abusive men are a risk to women - that is what we should be focusing on. We shouldnt be seeking to further stigmatise and discriminate against a tiny, tiny group in society that are already one of the most stigmatised groups in society. There are many, many real threats to women out there right now, from attacks physical attacks, attacks of sexual violence to the removal of abortion and reproductive rights to what women in countries in Iran are going through. The threat to women in our society today is not from trans women, it is from abusive men, from lawmakers who want to take away our rights and that is what we should be focusing on. Nicola Sturgeon has led the fight to introduce the legislation and a Holyrood committee yesterday endorsed the proposed Bill, insisting it will not change or remove womens rights. But hundreds of women gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to oppose the changes, brandishing banners accusing the First Minister of wanting to erode rights and setting out the definition of a biological woman. Ahead of the demonstration, Miss Rowling, 57, posted a picture of herself on Twitter wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan Nicola Sturgeon - Destroyer of womens rights. Ms Rowling, who has faced death threats from trans activists, wrote: I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID. Dozens of protestors at the rally For Women Scotland (FWS) also wore the t-shirt, which caused a campaigner to be ejected from a parliamentary committee in June while a minister was giving evidence. The plans have faced a backlash in recent months, with a watchdog warning this week that allowing people to self-identify could cause 'confusion' about their status in other parts of the UK. FWS bosses this morning called on activists to 'come, lend your voice and send a message that women matter', as a committee meeting on the issue was held. Posting a picture of herself wearing a t-shirt with the message 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights', Harry Potter author Ms Rowling lent the group her support. She tweeted: 'I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID'. Asked by journalists about the post, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said he had not seen it. FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion'. A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.' Speakers at today's rally included former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters. Ms Lamont told demonstrators that upon its establishment, the Scottish Parliament 'was a Parliament where policy, where action, where law was shaped by an understanding of what created division and inequality'. She said: 'The particular role was for the committees, which would breach the wall of the Parliament and allow the people of Scotland to participate in what the world could be. That has not happened. 'It is not their job to decide before the committee meets who they will listen to, who they will speak to, and only listen to those who already agree with them. 'I'm not saying that the committee should agree with everything that we say. But they should listen, they should challenge, they should argue, they should probe. 'They should not dismiss, because in that world of dismissal, you shoot the messenger. You ignore the message, you make bad law and other people live with the consequences. 'So my challenge is to my friends and all of the people in there who have the honour of being elected members. Your job as lawmakers is not just to put into law what you think is right, but understand the laws of unintended consequences.' Ms Lamont said she is 'conscious' of the importance of women's rights. She told the crowd: 'I was told 40 years ago, by young men: 'Now is not the time. There are other campaigns that matter. There are other people that are more vulnerable'. 'I said then, if you don't address women's inequality we will never have true equality, and that is as true now as it was then.' It comes as a majority of MSPs on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee today recommended the general principles of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill should be approved. Committee convener Joe FitzPatrick said: 'We believe these important reforms will improve the lives and experiences of trans people.' Papers lodged alongside the Bill by the Scottish Government estimate the changes could result in the number of people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) increasing from 30 a year to 250-300. Five MSPs on the committee backed the legislation but the two Conservatives - Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton - opposed it. The Bill sets out plans to speed up the time it takes to obtain a GRC, and also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16. A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the requirement for doctors' reports. The period of time someone must have lived in their 'acquired gender' before applying would be reduced from two years to three months under the legislation - although a three-month 'reflection period' would be introduced to the process. A previous consultation by the Scottish Government found 60% of respondents backed moving to a system of self-declaration. A majority of MSPs on the committee backed removing the need for any medical evidence or diagnosis 'believing that trans people know their own minds'. However some on the committee were 'concerned that the removal of the requirement for gender dysphoria and the requirement for medical evidence may extend the GRC process to a large and more diverse group of people'. They fear this 'could potentially mean the process is open to abuse from bad faith actors, particularly predatory men'. Concerns have also been raised about the impact the reforms could have on single-sex spaces for women and girls - such as female-only toilets or changing rooms. A rally was held outside the Scottish Parliament this morning by women's rights campaigners First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led the fight to introduce legislation which aims to make it easier for transgender people to be legally recognised as their preferred gender FWS says it campaigns to protect and strengthen women and children's rights, and aims to 'protect 'sex' in law and policy', 'help people speak up' and 'promote evidence-based discussion' A statement on its website adds: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness' The report said most MSPs on the committee agree that while such views are 'sincerely held', they are satisfied the Bill would not change any of the existing protections women have under the Equality Act 2010, 'including the ability to exclude trans people from single-sex services where proportionate and appropriate'. The committee report said: 'The majority is satisfied that the Bill will not change or remove women's rights, make changes to how toilets and changing rooms operate, redefine what a man or a woman is, nor change or expand trans people's rights.' Mr FitzPatrick said MSPs had heard a 'wide range of views' while scrutinising the legislation. It comes after a list of problems with the proposal, including access to services, was sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the UK and Scottish governments. The watchdog said 'practical difficulties or confusion are likely to arise in cross-border situations' if the Equality Act is passed by Holyrood. The letter said people who changed their gender in Scotland but in another part of the UK would face difficulty over their 'legal status and rights.' Officials added issues would arise regardless of whether the UK government accepted GRCs given out in Scotland. Both employers and services would struggle to determine a person's legal gender and may have to take the 'intrusive or offensive' measures of asking to see a birth certificate or GRC, The Telegraph reported. The watchdog urged both governments to 'work constructively together' to sort out the issues it raised before the bill goes ahead. Nuclear armageddon is the most terrifying scenario that mankind has ever faced. It means 'The End Time,' mass hysteria and bedlam. It's the plot of dystopian science fiction movies. It means life as we know it ceases to exist. Well, then. Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to a news alert informing me that President Joe Biden has raised the prospect of nuclear Armageddon. Just an ordinary Thursday night, Joe? He was speaking to a closed-door fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the home of of all people Kathryn and James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch of the News Corporation media empire. The President reportedly said that the risk of global destruction through nuclear war was at its highest since 'Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis.' You've got my attention! That's because, according to Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin ('a guy' he knows 'fairly well') was 'not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.' Putin has rattled his nuclear saber before. But in recent days and weeks, as Russian forces in Ukraine have suffered more military setbacks and there are more indications of public dissent inside Russia, the Kremlin strongman has upped the rhetoric. Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to a news alert informing me that President Joe Biden has raised the prospect of nuclear Armageddon. The talk of 'tactical nuclear weapons' almost makes the prospect more realistic and alarming. One can envision how even a crazed maniac like Putin may be hesitant to destroy an entire city with a Hiroshima-sized A-bomb. But if the nuclear detonation could be more controlled and 'tactical' would Putin consider it? Of course, that's unthinkable to most and Biden said that would surely lead to catastrophe. 'I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily [use] a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon,' he said. Apparently, Biden believes that a cornered Putin is a more dangerous Putin because the ex-KGB killer won't take losing lightly. 'We are trying to figure out: What is Putin's off ramp?' Biden blathered on in a remarkable moment of revealing what-must-be highly sensitive national security deliberations in a public setting. 'Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself where he does not only lose face but significant power?' That's a good question. I hope the White House has an answer to this. Or are you guys just winging it? 'We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,' he added. Oh good. So, what the heck are ordinary Americans supposed to do?! Obviously, I am not of the generation that grew up under threat of nuclear war but we've all seen the pictures: children doing emergency drills huddled under desks at school and bomb shelters built in the suburban backyard. Are we headed back to that? I am six months pregnant and have a two-year-old child. According to Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin ('a guy' he knows 'fairly well') was 'not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.' One of the first things I thought of this morning was a scene from the HBO show Chernobyl in which a man who had been exposed to radiation and touches his pregnant wife's stomach. Ultimately, the baby dies because of radiation exposure. Granted, this may be a dramatic reaction on my part but excuse me if the threat of potential nuclear holocaust causes me fear and anxiety. I'm angry too. How could he be so caviler? In Kyiv, the government is giving out potassium iodine pills to evacuation centers in preparation for a possible Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine's capital. Potassium iodine pills help block the absorption of radiation by the thyroid gland if taken just before or immediately after exposure to nuclear fallout. Sorry, if that doesn't make me feel any better. Does the President suggest that we fill our medicine cabinets in America as well? Reportedly, some Americans are already panic buying, with one manufacturer selling out of $14 packets of pills as identical products sell on EBay for $149. The White House better have some answers and quick because the President is scaring people. Though, it could be that Biden is speaking nonsense again. That's always a possibility with him. It's not like Putin hasn't tried to terrify the world before. After all, he is trained Russian agent, specializing in psychological warfare. So, why is President Biden raising the specter of world-wide nuclear annihilation now? Was he feeling loose in a more casual setting with billionaire supporters? Was he more inclined to warn his elite friends of the world's impending doom than everyone else? Or was our commander-in-chief, who is known for his hubristic language and exaggeration overstating, the threat? It's hard to know with Joe. It may not surprise you that Biden's remarks signal a departure from the official messaging coming from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Apparently, Biden believes that a cornered Putin is a more dangerous Putin because the ex-KGB killer won't take losing lightly. 'We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indication that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons,' she said Tuesday. So, what has changed in two days exactly? Exactly nothing. At a short briefing with reporters on Friday, Jean-Pierre said there is no information that Russia is preparing to 'imminently' use nuclear weapons. Biden is known for his gaffes and bizarre off-the-cuff remarks, but this one may really take the cake. This is a prime example of why it is so dangerous and unsettling to have a president whose words you can't trust (And yes, that includes President Donald Trump). Biden's loose lips only make this nuclear anxiety worse. On Friday, Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin was asked about a potential 'off ramp' for Russia to end the war in Ukraine and her simple answer was, 'The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine.' Then she calmly walked away from the press. Perhaps Biden could take a note from her playbook before going straight to 'the end is near, prepare your fallout shelters.' Biden is either intentionally and unnecessarily scaring America and the world or he is doing it unintentionally. No matter what, both scenarios are petrifying. A group of House Democrats have introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene after her posts comparing President Joe Biden to Hitler amid his attacks on MAGA Republicans. She also tweeted a video that gave Biden a Hitler mustache and placed images of swastikas in the background. The controversial lawmaker already had her committee assignments stripped by the Democratic majority over past conspiratorial comments and other matters. She visited the Holocaust museum and apologized after other remarks that colleagues slammed as anti-Semitic and disrespectful. The Georgia lawmaker compared Biden to Adolph Hitler during his speech where he called MAGA a threat to democracy. She also called out the deep red lighting for the event, which drew some ridicule from conservatives online. She also tweeted a hashtag that called him a Nazi. When a House member is subject to censure, they must stand before their colleagues in the well of the House while the House Speaker reads out the text of a resolution rebuking them. A group of House Democrats have drafted a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over her posts comparing President Joe Biden to Hitler Had she made such comments on the floor of the House, a colleague could have demanded her words be 'taken down.' 'They chose this imagery. Its unreal. Joe Biden is Hitler. #NaziJoe has to go,' she wrote. The lawmaker was retweeting her own earlier comment, where she wrote: 'Joe Biden just declared us enemies of the state. Biden is a danger to us all. Joe Biden MUST BE IMPEACHED!' She also tweeted a 'deepfake' video Sept. 1 of Biden that made it appear he had a Hitler mustache, and subbed the sound with historic audio of one of Hitler's rants. Green Tweeted that 'Joe Biden is Hitler' following his speech going after MAGA She retweeted a deep fake video that gave Biden a Hitler mustache and superimposed swastikas Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) said he drafted the resolution after an earlier imbroglio, but dropped it after Greene visited the Holocaust Museum Majority Democrats already voted to strip Greene's committee assignments 'What we all saw tonight from Biden,' she wrote. 'I guess when President Butterbeans is frail, weak, and dementia ridden, the Hitler imagery was their attempt to make him look tough while he declares war on half of America as enemies of the state.' 'Or its real..' she added. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Il..) drafted the resolution after earlier creating one over the summer over her statements comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. Greene sought to put the matter behind her, issuing an apology and visiting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Schneider ripped Greene in a statement to The Washington Post, which reported the effort, saying her comments 'demonstrate that clearly, she has not learned, or worse perhaps, she doesnt care.' The House is out of session until the elections, meaning the resolution likely wouldn't come up until a 'lame duck' session after control of the chamber has been determined. 'Rep. Greene demonstrated that her apology in June 2021 was insincere and that she remains devoted to sullying the reputation of the House of Representatives,' Schneider said. He is joined on the resolution by Reps. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-Mich.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Kathy E. Manning (D-N.C.). A 2021 resolution authored by Williams called for Green's censure for a long list of statements. On Oct. 5, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, an Orthodox Republican, wrote an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post calling on GOP leaders to condemn her remarks, saying he was 'appalled at its tolerance of those like Marjorie Taylor Greene.' In May as the earlier controversy boiled, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took the unusual step of condemning Greene's comments comparing comparing mask mandates to the stars of David that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany. 'Marjorie is wrong, and her intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling,' McCarthy wrote. Censure resolutions are privileged motions that bring a resolution of disapproval to the floor of the House for a vote. This comes as Iran claimed Mahsa Amini died from illness, not police violence Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has warned the world 'cannot turn a blind eye to Iran' as she urged Liz Truss's Government to act over Tehran's human rights abuses that prompted the recent hijab protests. The British Iranian national, who was imprisoned in Iran for six years before her release earlier this year, said the recent events have brought back memories of her own imprisonment at the hands of the Iranian regime. It comes as the groundswell of opposition to the regime continues in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody last month after being detained by Iranian morality police last month for not wearing a hijab in accordance with government standards. An Iranian coroner also claimed Amini had died from illness, not police violence, and insisted two girls killed during anti-hijab protests 'fell off roofs' despite claims security forces beat the teenagers to death. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has warned the world 'cannot turn a blind eye to Iran' as Ishe urged Liz Truss's Government to act over Tehran's human rights abuses that prompted recent hijab protests Speaking to Sky News' Beth Rigby on Friday, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said she wants to see more action from the UK government over the current human rights abuses in Iran. 'I want them to observe what is happening not to turn a blind eye,' she said. 'I want them to protect us. 'We cannot be indifferent about what is happening in Iran and if we talk about protecting rights of our citizens, we have to do something about it and I think we have to hold Iran accountable. 'The world has to make it very, very expensive for Iran to violate human rights so easily. It should be costly,' she said, adding that this should include sanctions. Regarding Liz Truss, who settled debts resulting in Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release earlier this year, she said: 'She knows what is happening in Iran, she has just secured the release of me and Anoosheh so she is very much aware of what is happening in the country. 'Condemning what is happening in the country of Iran and issuing a statement is not enough but its a good gesture.' It comes as the groundswell of opposition to the regime continues in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody last month after being detained by Iranian morality police last month for not wearing a hijab in accordance with government standards Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on to speak about cutting her hair as a gesture of solidarity with the women protesting in Iran. She described it as a 'symbol of women getting more power about their body' that resonates throughout the world. 'It is a way of symbolising how women would want to have the right to cover their hair or not ... because for women of course it's not just about the Middle East, it's about an international issue that women are constantly managed,' she said. Speaking about the women protesting in Iran, she said: 'There is a new wave of school girls rising up, standing up for their rights to take off their scarf to protest and this is a new generational shift. 'I think it has reached the point that they feel they don't have a choice,' she said, adding that it is not about the hijab anymore but 'not being happy about the way they live.' Asked what will happen in Iran now, she said: 'What I do believe is... Iran will never be the same. 'Whatever happens in the future, it will never go back to where it was before September.' An Iranian coroner claimed Amini did not die as a result of violent blows but from multiple organ failure caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Speaking about the women protesting in Iran, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: 'There is a new wave of school girls rising up, standing up for their rights to take off their scarf to protest and this is a new generational shift The country's authorities also deny reports that security forces killed two girls during protests over Amini's death, saying they both died of suicide by falling from roofs. Social media reports and the human rights group Amnesty International refute the Iranian authority's claim and say Sarina Esmaeilzadeh, 16, and Nika Shakarami, 17, were both killed when participating in the protests. Amini went into a coma after being arrested in Tehran and died while she was in police custody in hospital. Her father has said she had bruises on her legs, and holds police responsible for her death. At Amini's funeral in Saqez, her hometown in Kurdistan, security forces fired tear gas at protesters who had gathered. The demonstrators chanted 'death to the dictator' as they removed their headscarves. Women and young school girls have been pictured waving and burning headscarves in protest over the regime. So far, around 150 people have been killed, hundreds have been injured and thousands arrested in a crackdown on nationwide protests marking the biggest challenge against Iran's clerical leadership in years. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged western allies to 'kick' back against Putin's alleged plans to use nuclear weapons in the country. Zelensky slammed Russia's nuclear saber-rattling, saying it posed 'a risk for the whole planet'. In a new interview with the BBC, Zelensky also said Kremlin officials are working to 'prepare their citizens' for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He added: 'That's very dangerous. They are not ready to do it, to use it. But they begin to communicate. They don't know whether they'll use or not use it. I think it's dangerous to even speak about it.' Zelensky called on Nato members to use more 'preventive kicks' against Russia in a new bid to halt the war. He said: 'The world can stop urgently the actions of Russian occupiers. Zelensky tonight told the BBC that Russia is 'preparing its citizens' for nuclear warfare He told John Simpson (left) that the west must use more 'preventive kicks' against Moscow It comes as increasingly desperate Putin continues to suffer losses in south and east Ukraine Putin has previously hinted at the use of nuclear weapons, saying on September 21: 'When its territorial integrity is threatened, Russia will use everything it can, this is not a bluff' 'The world can implement the sanction package in such cases and do everything to make them leave the [Zaporizhzhia] nuclear power plant.' The Kyiv leader yesterday found himself in hot water after urging Nato 'strikes' on Russia - but insisted he was simply talking about a more rigid sanctions regime. Zelensky controversially called for 'pre-emptive strikes so that (Russia) knows what will happen to them if they use them (nuclear weapons), and not the other way around.' 'Don't wait for Russia's nuclear strikes and then say: ''Oh, since you did this, take that from us!''' The Kremlin warned of potentially 'monstrous consequences' after Zelensky's tough talk Russia said Zelensky's comments to an Aussie think tank risked starting 'yet another world war' The Kremlin pounced at the opportunity to condemn Zelensky's words as having 'monstrous' implications. But the Kyiv leader insisted he had been mistranslated and was only referring to a heightened sanctions regime. Zelensky spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said the leader was referring to preventive sanctions that he had wanted applied before Russia's full-scale invasion, adding that Ukraine 'would never call for the use of nuclear weapons.' Meanwhile Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President's Office, said Zelensky was reminding listeners of Russia's nuclear blackmail and was asking allies to preemptively outline the consequences for Russia and 'intensify strikes against Russia, including sanctions and military aid'. Ukraine has advanced 12 miles in just 48 hours in northern Kherson, the UK MoD has said It comes as Ukraine has pushed Russia back by 12 miles in the south as dramatic footage yesterday revealed the blistering pace of attacks that have sent Putin's men fleeing for their lives. Videos taken in Kherson in recent days show Ukrainian forces storming Russian defences in American-made Humvees under artillery fire, and soldiers advancing en masse across fields in the face of the retreating enemy. Ukraine's offensive in Kherson - which has been grinding on for more than two months - entered a 'new phase' on October 2 with Kyiv's men advancing 12 miles down the Inhulets and Dnipro rivers, Britain's MoD said yesterday. Other footage shows Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the city of Lyman, in the north of the country, which fell to Kyiv's men at the weekend - exposing other Russian positions in the Donbas to further attacks. Since the station's opened in April 2021, the Chinese government has said it 'persuaded' 230,000 Chinese nationals to return home Many stations around the world are disguised, often running inside Chinese restaurants or convenience stores A human rights watchdog reported the existence of these stations around the world to observe and hunt down dissidents China has set up dozens of secret police stations around the world, including one in New York City, to hunt down and retrieve dissidents. A new report from Safeguard Defenders, a human rights watchdog, revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has at least 54 'overseas police service stations' in 30 different countries, including the US. New York's station, located on East Broadway between Chinatown and the Lower East Side, was open on February 15, according to the Chinese-language news site FJSEN. The DailyMail.com visited the office which is on top a ramen shop and next to an acupuncturist where a receptionist was surprised to hear it was a secret police station. It was closed and locals said it seldom opened. Like many of police stations around the world, the New York site is promoted as a place to assist Chinese nationals through bureaucracy. Since the program's launch in April 2021, China reported that it had 'persuaded' 230,000 Chinese nationals to return home. Although the CCP claims the stations are meant to keep an eye on 'fraud and telecom fraud' committed by citizens living aboard, the human rights group condemned the stations. Laura Harth, the Safeguard Defenders' campaign manager, said it was shocking to learn that China was carrying out police operations in foreign countries. 'I think it shows how brazen the CCP is getting and how little regard they have for other governments,' she told Fox News. 'It's in violation of international law, it's in violation of territorial sovereign.' New York's secret police station is above a ramen shop located on East Broadway between Chinatown and the Lower East Side and was opened on February 15 Pictured: Chinese officials operating inside their police station in New York City. It is one of at least 54 active around the world, and the only known to be operating in the US Many of the stations are open in Western Europe, with only four in North America Since the station's opened in April 2021, the Chinese government has said it persuaded 230,000 Chinese nationals to return home Not much is known about the station in New York, which appears to be hidden in plain sight in the city's busy Chinatown. Other stations around the world are disguised, often running inside Chinese restaurants or convenience stores. One of the two stations in London is registered as a real estate agency, with one in Glasgow based in a Chinese restaurant, the Telegraph reports. Harth alleged that China has been using the program to track down dissidents and intimate them to return to their native country. The nonprofit detailed cases where the family have wanted citizens used to ask their loved one to come back to China. Safeguard Defenders said it served as a threat from the CCP that if the citizen didn't return, something would be done to their family. 'Nothing seems to be too impressive or too harsh,' Harth said. 'That's a clear message to anyone seeking to leave China, or already left China: that you're not safe anywhere.' Safeguard Defenders, a human rights watchdog, reported that the police stations have been used to intimated Chinese nationals to return home The report warned that China was likely expanding its program around the world. Along with the list of police stations, Safeguard Defenders also noted that China has designated nine Asian countries as 'forbidden' and issued calls for all nations to return from their immediately. The countries include Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. According to the report, one Chinese restaurant owner based in Cambodia was pushed to return to China after police warned her that her mother's power would be cut off if she didn't. Safeguard Defenders said there have been many reports of police going around 'fraud' suspects' homes and spray-paint 'shameful fraud' on them. Thirty-six such stations operate d in 16 European countries. Some have been found to help Chinese police conduct 'persuasion sessions' remotely, the non-profit said. A station in Madrid tracked down a man wanted in China for environmental pollution. He was forced to sit down for a video call with public security agents and a Chinese prosecutor - while a family member was asked to sit next to the authorities in China during the call. Other examples of blackmail are authorities threatening to cut electricity to the homes of families or restricting access to schools for relatives. Following years of debate, the US Defense Department will rename nine US military bases named after Confederate generals The US Department of Defense has announced it will rename the nine US military bases that bear named of officers of the Confederacy. The effort will cost the American taxpayers $62.5 million and likely begin early next year. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave the official nod of approval to put into action the final recommendations made by the renaming commission, which included recommendations to alter upward of 1,000 installations and facilities, including the nine major Army bases, that were originally named after leaders of the Confederacy. Forts named after Confederate Generals Fort Benning, Georgia - established in 1909, the fort was named for Confederate Brigadier General Henry Lewis Benning, who was born on a plantation owned by his parents and took an active role in pushing for the secession of Georgia from the union Fort Gordon, Georgia - established in 1941, the fort was named for Confederate Major General John Brown Gordon, who, after the fall of the Confederacy, became a US Senator and Governor of Georgia Fort Bragg, North Carolina - established in 1918, the fort is named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg, whose many losses are cited as highly consequential to the ultimate defeat of the Confederacy Fort Hood, Texas - established in 1942, the fort was named for Confederate General John Bell Hood. It was originally built to test and train soldiers to use World War II tank destroyers Fort Rucker, Alabama - established in 1942, the fort is named for Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The fort is primarily used for flight training for US Army Aviators Fort Polk, Louisiana - established in 1941, the fort was named for Confederate General Leonidas Polk, who was also the first Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana and subsequently the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia - established in 1941, the fort was named for Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill, a native Virginian who fought in the Mexican-American war and the Seminole Wars before he joined the confederacy Fort Pickett, Virginia - established in 1941, fort was named for Confederate General George Pickett, who is best know for leading the futile battle offensive on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg Fort Lee, Virginia - established as Camp Lee in 1917, the fort was named for famed Confederate General Robert E. Lee and is located on the historic grounds where Captain John Smith established some of the first plantations along the James River in the 17th century Advertisement The nine Army bases that will soon bear new names are Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett, and Fort Lee in Virginia. The Naming Commission released a list of potential new names for the bases back in May, names that included Fort Eisenhower for Fort Gordon and Fort Liberty for Fort Bragg, among others. The renaming will likely begin in December or the new year, following a congressionally-mandated 90-day waiting period. Former President Donald Trump previously took a strong stance against the idea of renaming Confederate bases, going so far as to threaten to veto the Defense Spending bill in order to prevent the move from happening. In 2020, he pushed Congressional Republicans to refrain from voting for an amendment introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to strip the bases of their Confederate monikers. Republicans in Congress, as well as some who worked for Trump in the White House disagreed with his position and came out in favor of renaming the bases and other US installations named after leaders of the Confederacy. 'The installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets. They are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live,' said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. 'The names of these installations and facilities should inspire all those who call them home, fully reflect the history and the values of the United States, and commemorate the best of the republic that we are all sworn to protect,' he added. The plan to rename the forts and other vestiges of Confederate military fighters will 'will give proud new names that are rooted in their local communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the United States military,' he wrote. A large handful of army bases were named to honor Confederate generals as US troops trained to enter both world wars, specifically because of a policy that allowed regional commanders to oversee the naming process of the forts. According to the final of three reports from the renaming commission, the process will cost DoD $62.5 million and will be comprised of renaming more than 1,000 installations and facilities bearing the name of rebel officers. The committee initially offered a number of recommendations for names to be given to the bases as replacements. They included World War Two hero Audie Murphy, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and ex-President Dwight Eisenhower, among others. Murphy, a former US Army soldier, became the most-decorated serviceman of World War Two. Powell was the first black person to serve as Secretary of State, between 2001 and 2005, and died last year. Eisenhower was a hero World War Two commander who later served as president between 1953 and 1961. He is credited with a series of public works programs - including the Interstate system - that helped transform America into the world's only hyper-economy. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said 'the names of these installations and facilities should inspire all those who call them home' and 'fully reflect the history and the values of the United States Texas' Fort Hood - named after General John Bell Hood - will be given a new name Fort Polk, the only military base in Louisiana named after a Confederate official, is one of the nine installations to be renamed Audie Murph (left), Colin Powell (center) and Dwight Eisenhower, right, are all in the frame as potential options to rename military bases currently titled in honor of Confederate figures In the committee's first report, which was released in early August, the body appeared to have narrowed down the candidates for each fort to one name. Fort Benning in Georgia, they suggest renaming after Lieutenant General Hal Moore and Julia Moore - heroes of the Korean War who are buried at the fort. Fort Bragg in North Carolina, they suggest naming 'in commemoration of the American value of Liberty.' Fort Gordon in Georgia, they suggest renaming for General of the Army and 34th president of the United States Dwight Eisenhower. Fort AP Hill in Virginia, they suggest renaming after Dr. Mary Edwards Walker - an abolitionist, prisoner of war and surgeon. Fort Hood in Texas, they suggest naming after General Richard Cavazos - US Army's first Hispanic four-star general, who served in the Vietnam War. Fort Lee, in Virginia, they suggest renaming in commemoration of Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg and Lieutenant Commander Charity Adams - respectively, one of the army's foremost logistics leaders with a nearly four-decade military history, and the first African-American woman to be an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Corps. Fort Pickett, in Virginia, the committee has recommended naming after officer Van Thomas Barfoot - a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in World War II. Fort Polk, in Louisiana, they suggest be renamed to commemorate Sergeant William Henry Johnson - a US Army soldier who became part of the first African American unit in the Army to engage in combat during World War I. And Fort Rucker, the committee has suggested be renamed after Michael J. Novosel Jr., a medal of honor recipient who flew the B-29 Superfortress bomber in World War II. A new poll shows Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for New York governor, just two points behind incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in what should be a blow-out race in the deep-blue state. A Trafalgar Group survey released Thursday showed Hochul, who took over for disgraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo last August, with 44.5 percent support. Zeldin, a Republican member of Congress and an ally of former President Donald Trump, received 42.6 percent support in the survey. About 10 percent of the electorate remains undecided, while Libertarian Larry Sharpe hovered around 3 percent. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) is just two points ahead of her Republican challenger Lee Zeldin (right), currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, in a new Trafalgar Group poll Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin is within 2 points of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Empire State's Gubernatorial race, a new Trafalgar Group survey showed. Almost 10 percent of the electorate remains undecided The survey is of New York likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent. The poll was conducted September 30 through October 3. Hochul's campaign has tried to portray Zeldin as too Trumpy, while Zeldin has used a playbook similar to other Republicans on the fall ballot and played up high crime rates. In September, however, Zeldin's campaign admitted that one of the GOP candidate's ads included footage of crimes being committed in California - not New York - and some of the New York footage predated Hochul's tenure, according to NY1. Hochul, however, had served as Cuomo's lieutenant governor before he resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. Another Zeldin ad portrayed Hochul as 'even more corrupt than Cuomo' pointing to claims that Hochul gave no-bid contracts to campaign donors. Early voting in the race begins October 29. Despite the close poll, Zeldin's shot at the governor's mansion remains long. Other recent polls showed Hochul with a comfortable, double-digit lead. And the last time New York elected a Republican governor was 20 years ago, when the state elected Gov. George Pataki for a third term. Since then, the state has had four Democratic governors, with two of them - Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo - resigning in scandal. FiveThirtyEight gave Zeldin a less than 1 percent chance of winning as of Friday. Rep. Nancy Mace said 'I want to give credit where credit is due' Other members of the GOP however credited Biden for the marijuana pardon He also asked governors across the country to do the same at a state level President Joe Biden pardoning Americans with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession is an abuse of his power and a cynical ploy before the midterms, Ohio's Republican Attorney General said. Dave Yost said Biden's announcement on Thursday showed an 'astonishing level of cynicism' - given it was 34 days before the election and he could have done it at any time. Biden urged state governors to follow his example when he issued the blanket pardon that will wipe the convictions for roughly 6,500 Americans and ordered a review into whether marijuana should still be considered a Schedule I drug. 'I called for the reclassification of marijuana in 2015,' Yost tweeted. 'This move maybe makes sense in individual casesbut Bidens blanket pardon 34 days before an election is the most political, cynical abuse of the pardon power in history. 'To be very clear, the statute gives a president power [to] reclassify marijuana administratively. 'President Obama or President Biden could have done this literally at any point. To abuse the pardon power like this on the doorstep of an election is an astonishing level of cynicism.' President Joe Biden pardoning Americans with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession is an abuse of his power and a cynical ploy before the midterms, Ohio's Republican Attorney General has said Dave Yost said Biden's announcement on Thursday showed an 'astonishing level of cynicism' - given it was 34 days before the election and he could have done it at any time. Biden urged state governors to follow his example when he issued the blanket pardon that will wipe the convictions for roughly 6,500 Americans and ordered a review into whether marijuana should still be considered a Schedule I drug Missouri's Republican Governor Mike Parson said he would not be expunging low-level marijuana convictions in his state. A spokesman told the Springfield News-Leader: 'In Missouri, those with criminal records can apply for expungement under state law. 'Gov. Parson has used his state constitutional authority to grant pardons to individuals who demonstrate a changed life-style, commitment to rehabilitation, contrition, and contribution to their communities rather than as a blanket approach to undermine existing law.' Some Republicans however agreed with Biden. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace told Fox Business: 'I want to give credit where credit is due. I dont always agree with the Biden administration, Ive been very vocal about that, but this is a step in the right direction'. Matt Gaetz tweeted: 'The @WhiteHouse is finally taking my advice. I called out Sleepy Joe months ago! Now it's time to do what you said you would do and DECRIMINALIZE!' 'Simple' marijuana possession is considered a Class A Misdemeanor that carries a $1,000 and up to a year in prison for a first-time offender. White House officials also made clear that no one could be prosecuted with this crime at the federal level after Thursday. Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug - alongside heroin and ecstasy, and above fentanyl and cocaine - despite it being legal for medicinal and recreational use in many states. 'As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,' Biden said in a statement. The president pointed out the racial disparities, noting how white, black and brown people use the drug at similar rates, black and brown people are more likely to be arrested and charged. 'Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It's time that we right these wrongs,' the president added. The DOJ will be tasked with getting individuals a certificate acknowledging their pardon. Officials also said that no one is currently in prison solely on an marijuana possession charge. Under federal law marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug and a simple marijuana possession carries a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison for first-time offenders The policy change comes a month and two days before the midterm elections. 'Members of Congress have been working on this issue, but that effort has stalled, and we're almost at the end of the Congress. So the president has been considering his options and he's now taking executive action to address the country's failed approach to marijuana,' a senior administration official answered when asked about the timing. It could make a difference in some key races where Democrats need to point to progress to win. For instance, Democratic Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman called on Biden to deschedule marijuana, with the aim of decriminalizing nationally, before he appeared alongside the president over Labor Day weekend. 'This is a BFD and a massive step towards justice,' Fetterman said in a statement Thursday. Fetterman - engaged in one of the tightest Senate races - was given a heads up by the White House about the plan, Politico reported. In the past, Biden has expressed reservations about making marijuana fully legal. Additionally, on November 8 voters in five states - Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota - will decide whether to legalize pot for people over 21 years old. They would join 19 states that have already legalized recreational pot. Democrats are more pro-pot legalization than their Republican counterparts, recent polling found. In a Morning Consult/Politico survey release earlier this week, 60 percent of respondents said they were for marijuana being legalized nationally. Another 27 percent said they were not. When political parties were accounted for, 71 percent of Democrats said they were pro-nationwide legalization, compared to 47 percent of Republicans. A New York City scam artist was arrested this week for using stolen identities to rent out luxury apartments for gang members, but was released on a $250,000 bond and was out on the town the evening of her arrest. LaToya Williams, 35, covered her face with a hoodie as she was photographed by DailyMail.com emerging from the luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side. A one bedroom home in the building costs $9,800. She was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of identity theft and fraud. LaToya Williams, 35, covered her face with a hoodie as she was photographed by DailyMail.com emerging from the luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side Williams and her entourage on Wednesday. It remains unclear when she is due back in court But by Wednesday night, sources say was all dressed up and out on the town. When police raided her apartment according to a source close to the investigation. Police allege that she used other people's names and social security numbers to rent out multiple, expensive apartments across New York City. She had an apartment in Bushwick, one in Williamsburg and another in Yonkers, according to a criminal complaint. Williams rented out the properties not for herself - but for the Wood City street gang. Police discovered her scheme after one of its members was murdered by Law and Order Actor Isaiah Strokes. Williams lives in this luxury building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. A one-bedroom apartment inside costs nearly $10,000 When they searched the victim's phone, they found LaToya saved as 'Toya Apartments'. A search of her phone number then let them to the other apartments she had rented, but using others' names. When police searched the properties they found them mostly vacant. Some were used to store contraband - including one in Brooklyn where police found five firearms. She had failed to pay the rent on many of the properties, which resulted in debt collectors contacting the people whose identities she had stolen. She was arrested on Wednesday but has since posted bond. It's unclear when she will return to court. A Florida judge has officially dismissed divorce proceedings between Sylvester Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin as they salvaged their 25-year marriage. The couple filed a voluntary notice for dismissal in Palm Beach County, Florida and are 'together and very happy', Page Six reports. It comes as Stallone and Flavin were seen arm-in-arm in Manhattan on Friday as both had their gold wedding bands back on. The action hero, 76, looked fit in a pair of jeans and a navy blue T-shirt, with a navy sweater tied over his shoulders as his spouse tried to give him a kiss. Rekindle: Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin continued to rekindle their relationship in New York Friday putting on a loved-up display on Friday; the same day it was reported they have dissolved their divorce The Rocky star's salt-and-pepper hair was bushed back and his mustache and goatee were cut close to his face. Sly looked handsome wearing dark aviator style sunglasses as he prepared to step into a waiting limousine. Jennifer, 54, looked chic in a grey collared sweater and white jeans as she held on to a Fendi purse. Kiss: Jennifer tried to plant a kiss on her husband's cheek as they got into the limo The model's blonde hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck with a hair clip and she wore dark sunglasses atop her head. The Serious Skin Care founder wore natural minimal makeup with a natural pink lip as she tried to plant a kiss on her husband's cheek as they got into the limo. The day before they were arm in arm as they shopped and in the evening she wore a sexy black dress for a date night with her husband. Her wedding ring was back on as well. It appears the trip to the Big Apple has a dual purpose. Official: The couple, who had filed for divorce, decided to reconcile two weeks ago, have officially filed a motion of voluntary dismissal in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to Page Six Sly is reportedly there to promote the upcoming series, Tulsa King, in which he stars as a mobster recently released from prison. His character, Dwight 'The General' Manfredi, is ordered by the crime family he works for to establish territory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the two have finally put the brakes on their divorce. The couple, who decided to reconcile two weeks ago, have officially filed a motion of voluntary dismissal in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to Page Six. Date night! Stallone and Flavin leave The Polo Bar on Thursday evening in New York City; here she is seen with her wedding ring back on The day before: They were seen arm-in-arm in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon as they shopped and hit an art gallery; both had their rings on in this image Earlier last week, it was reported that the movie star and his wife of 25 years 'decided to meet up at home, where they talked and were able to work out their differences. They are both extremely happy,' his rep told Page Six. Their reconciliation comes one month after Jennifer filed for divorce from Sylvester. People also confirmed the duo are back together. Days prior to their reconciliation, a court filing revealed at a Palm Beach Country, Florida court revealed that the duo agreed 'that it is in the best interests of each of them individually, and more importantly collectively as a family, to resolve all issues attendant to the dissolution of their marriage in a dignified, amicable and private manner out-of-court.' Fans speculated they reconciled earlier this week after he shared two throwback photos on his social media showing he and Jennifer holding hands. Throwback: The movie star and his wife of 25 years are pictured during Friars Club Honours in New York, 1997 'Wonderful...' Sly wrote as the caption for the post. The Philadelphia native shared two throwback images. One of he and wife Jennifer smiling with their three daughters who were grade school aged at the time. In the other snap, Stallone was seen from behind walking hand-in-hand with Flavin. The stars are parents to three children together: daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20; Sylvester also has a son named Seargeoh, 43, with ex Sasha Crack. He also had a son named Sage with Sasha as well, but he died in 2012 at age 36. Sylvester and Jennifer wed in May 1997. 'Wonderful..' Fans speculated they reconciled earlier three weeks ago after he shared two throwback photos on his social media showing he and Jennifer holding hands On August 19, Jennifer filed for divorce from him, alleging that he 'engaged in the intentional dissipation, depletion and/or waste of marital assets, which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estates.' The actor denied her allegations at the time. Following the filing, Jennifer told People: 'I'm sad to announce that after 25 years of marriage I have filed for divorce from my husband Sylvester Stallone. While we will no longer be married, I will always cherish the more than 30-year relationship that we shared, and I know we are both committed to our beautiful daughters. I ask for privacy for our family as we amicably move forward.' Sylvester addressed the split at the time via a statement: 'I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues.' Days before the divorce filing, DailyMail.com revealed that the actor had a giant tattoo of Flavin on his right bicep covered up with a picture of Butkus, Rocky's bull mastiff from the hit movies. Happier times: The Philadelphia native shared an throwback image of he and wife Jennifer smiling with their three daughters who were grade school aged at the time Family first: The stars are parents to three children together: daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20 There were claims that their Rottweiler Dwight was the immediate cause of the break-up. Stallone dotes on Dwight the name of his character in a new TV drama series, Tulsa King and has posted gushing videos and photos of the pet on social media. Family insiders told website TMZ that the actor wanted the dog to help protect the family at their homes in Los Angeles and Palm Beach, Florida. But while they already own other dogs Flavin didn't want a huge Rottweiler in the house and strenuously objected. Their disagreement over Dwight allegedly caused a huge row that brought up other issues between the couple, culminating in her decision to press the nuclear button. Graham Smith went missing in Bali last week Authorities in Bali are set to call off the search for a British grandfather who went missing while snorkeling last week. Graham Smith, 67, from Kent, was on a retirement trip with partner Dianne when he disappeared in the Blue Lagoon area of the Asian holiday island on September 28. Dianna, who had lost sight of Graham as the light started to fade, called locals for help who swam around the area where the grandfather-of-three was last seen. Officials have been searching by boat for Graham ever since but without success. They are now due to end the search. Three of Graham's four sons have flown to the popular island to try and hire a private search team to continue scouring the area. Graham Smith (second from right) poses for a photo with loved ones including Dianne (right) Rescue teams are pictured searching for the 67-year-old Kent family man in recent days Devastated son Simon said: 'As you can imagine the last week has been agony. Despite an intensive search effort my dad is still missing. 'We have been told that the search effort is to end on Friday. A number of my family are in Bali and we desperately want them to bring dad home. Son Adam added: 'Our Dad is an active and adventurous man, who loves to travel and to explore, he is a regular at snorkeling and whilst he is not a very strong swimmer, he knows his limits and doesn't take unnecessary risks. 'He entered the sea at around 5pm whilst his partner sat nearby. At 5:20pm, Dianne watched as he explored the bay waters, as he snorkelled further from the shoreline and with the sun fading she lost sight of him. 'In her distress, she alerted the locals immediately with someone swimming out into the clear waters but unfortunately he could not be seen.' He also told The Sun: 'There's a hell of a lot of land here, some really populated and very touristy and then there's a lot of jungle and coast. 'So if he got swept out for a few hours I'm sure he could have gone very far. So that's obviously that's our hope. That's a potential situation.' Adam added that Graham was planning on teaching his three grandchildren woodworking when he returned home from the holiday. Authorities are now set to call off the search He added: 'Our beloved dad has centred his entire life around his family, a selfless man with a heart of gold who puts humour and care at the forefront of every day. 'This stage of his life is only just beginning, with, promises still to uphold and a life to live. He is a resourceful man who has been an electrical engineer, a lumber jack and handy man who devotes his life to helping his family. 'This is our moment to try and help him come home.' Gusti Ngurah Eka Widnyana, the coordinator of the Karangasem Search and Rescue Team, said a rescue operation for Graham began at 10.25pm a few hours after he went missing. Gede Darmada, the head of the Bali Basarnas government office, said today that Graham had still not been found. President Joe Biden forgot to fact-check the first line of his speech at a Maryland manufacturing facility Friday. 'Let me start off with two words: made in America,' Biden intoned at an event at the Volvo Group Powertrain facility in Hagerstown. All he forgot to do was count the number of words in the mantra. 'Made in America. It's not hyperbole. I'm not joking about that, as you know,' Biden continued. It was the latest unfortunate gaffe for the president, whose had to apologize for one unfortunate stumble last week. The president, 79, also cheered workers and American workers, as well as investments in high-tech manufacturing, as well as a new monthly report showing the U.S. economy created 263,000 new jobs last month. 'Let me start off with two words: made in America,' President Joe Biden said, with an inauspicious start to his speech in Maryland Then, Biden brought up a CNN report based on a records request, that found a raft of letters Republican lawmakers sent to Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg seeking funding for projects in their district despite blasting the Infrastructure legislation that created the pot of money. 'CNN says Republicans called Biden infrastructure program socialism and then they asked for the money. And it goes through all of Republicans the most conservative Republicans wh0 call it socialism, and now they're asking,' he said. He brought up GOP Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and a host of other Republicans. 'He's written three separate letters to the administration asking for projects in his district. He says it enhanced the quality of life and ease congestion. Boosts the economy. Voted against it says it's all socialism.' Biden went after Republicans including Rand Paul (Ky.) who sought funds under an infrastructure law they voted against The GOP lawmakers wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pitching local projects Biden mockingly said he didn't know there was so much 'socialism' in the Republican Party Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs the GOP House campaign arm, said a road improvement was also a 'social justice measure' Others who Biden name-checked included Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul and Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr, who called the bill a 'big government socialist agenda.' 'Three different projects he wants, citing the importance of safety and growth in his district.' 'Rand Paul,' he continued 'I can go down the list. Look it up. Socialism. I didn't know there were that many socialist Republicans,' he said mockingly. 'Folks, look, you can't make this stuff up,' he said. The CNN report, which came Friday morning, came after a records request, although it also had participation from the administration. 'Its hard not to chuckle,' Buttigieg told the network. Emmer issued a statement explaining his support for the highway program in his Minnesota district. 'Well always answer the call to advocate for real infrastructure improvements in the Sixth District as a part of smart spending practices,' he said. Paul had pitched 10 projects despite slamming the infrastructure bill, which got some Republican support, for wasteful spending. 'Opposition to a spending bill does not always mean opposition to the goal of that spending; opposition to a spending bill can mean opposition to spending that adds to the deficit and is not offset with spending cuts elsewhere,' his spokesman told the network. The Nato flagship broke down off the Isle of Wight in August days after its launch The 3 billion warship is understood to have suffered another technical problem Repairs for Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales are delayed yet again The departure of beleaguered Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to head for repairs has been delayed again after the 3 billion warship suffered a further technical problem. The Nato flagship broke down off the Isle of Wight in August after sailing from Portsmouth Naval Base to take part in flight trials and diplomatic visits in the US. Inspections by divers and engineers found that the 33-ton starboard propeller, the same weight as 30 Ford Fiesta cars, had malfunctioned with a coupling holding it in place breaking. The carrier was taken back to Portsmouth for further examination by engineers from Babcock before the decision was taken for it to travel to Rosyth, Fife, where it was built, to undergo repairs in dry dock. Britain's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales pictured at Portsmouth Naval Base on Friday after its long-scheduled repairs were delayed again Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales returns to Portsmouth Naval Base after breaking down off the Isle of Wight Britain's crown jewel faced embarrassment on the world stage last week after the 3billion warship ground to a halt off the Isle of Wight because a starboard propeller shaft failed The departure of the 65,000-tonne ship had already been delayed from the previous day because of a technical problem but a decision was taken to sail anyway The Royal Navy flagship carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured above in Penzance in June) will stand in for its beleaguered sister ship for its landmark US diplomatic mission after the HMS Prince of Wales humiliatingly broke down just hours after launching last week It had been expected to sail on Monday but work was not completed in time to remove the giant propeller and the sailing was delayed until 11am on Friday. It is understood that an unconnected technical problem has now occurred onboard, meaning the departure has been put back again until at least 11pm. The sailing is dependent on the issue being resolved as well as high tides to enable the giant warship to leave Portsmouth Harbour. The Navy has not commented on how long the repairs at Rosyth are expected to take and how long HMS Prince of Wales will be absent from its role as Nato flagship, but it is understood it will be months rather than weeks. Its sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth changed its autumn plans to travel to the US to take over some of the planned engagements including hosting the Atlantic Future Forum in New York - a defence conference aimed at strengthening UK and US bonds. HMS Prince of Wales being moved to Stokes Bay near Gosport in Hampshire after breaking down near the Isle of Wight Crew HMS Queen Elizabeth were warned they could set sail for the United States in its place, although MailOnline understands a final decision is yet to be made. HMS Prince of Wales left Stokes Bay on Saturday afternoon accompanied by three tugs and returned to Portsmouth Naval Base under the power of a single propeller. Navy divers who inspected HMS Prince of Wales found that a coupling on the propeller shaft had failed. The shaft is a combination of steel poles joined together with a shaft coupling, one of which has failed. It is understood this was caused by a mechanical failure, not because of a failure to keep the coupling greased. Lord West added: 'You'd think when they were doing trials they might have spotted it. If it's not an inherent design fault, it can be repaired quickly - and if it is, then someone needs their wrist slapped.' It is thought that a period in dry dock - likely in Rosyth, Scotland - will be required to have a proper look at the area and carry out repairs. However, a better understanding of the problem is not expected before the end of the week. Engineers inspect aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as it sits off the coast of Gosport, Hampshire Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse, director of Force Generation, who is responsible for making sure Royal Navy ships are ready to deploy, previously explained the fault suffered by HMS Prince of Wales. He said: "Royal Navy divers have inspected the starboard shaft of the ship and the adjacent areas and they have confirmed there is significant damage to the shaft on the propeller and some superficial damage to the rudder but no damage to the rest of the ship. "Our initial assessment has shown that coupling that joins the final two sections of the shaft has failed. "This is an extremely unusual fault and we continue to pursue all repair options." A Royal Navy spokesman said: "HMS Prince of Wales is preparing to sail to Rosyth to undergo repairs to her right propeller shaft. "The full extent of the repairs will be known once the ship has entered dry dock. "We are committed to getting HMS Prince of Wales back on operations, protecting the nation and our allies, as soon as possible." He turned over copies of checks on Friday that he claims are proof he paid his ex-wife, Judith Giuliani Giuliani missed a court date last month and told the judge he wrote the wrong date down Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was threatened with jail time by a Manhattan judge after he missed alimony payments and court dates Advertisement Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was scolded by a judge on Friday and threatened with jail time for missing court dates and delaying divorce payments to his ex-wife as she sued him for $262,000 in missing alimony money. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz seemingly ran out of patience with Giuliani and threatened him with jail time, saying 'a sheriff is on notice to come at a moments notice today. 'This is a very serious matter,' said Katz to an apologetic Giuliani, who missed a hearing last month. Giuliani claimed he wrote down the wrong date for the hearing and called the absence 'very stupid' as he appeared with his ex-wife, Judith Giuliani. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared in court on Friday and was threatened with jail time by judge Michael Katz for missing court dates and delaying alimony payments Giuliani claimed he wrote down the wrong date for the hearing and called the absence 'very stupid' Judith Giuliani, pictured here, in a suit filed in the New York Supreme Court, claims Rudy has been 'inconsistent and sporadic' with the payments he was required to give her But Katz pushed back on the excuse and said 'you repeated the date to me, so you knew about it.' 'I said everyone needed to be here on the 23rd and you repeated it to me. I dont understand your excuse,' he scolded. Giuliani maintained he 'put it down the wrong way when I left the courthouse.' The embattled Donald Trump ally also turned over copies of the checks he said he paid to his ex-wife for the alimony payments. Judith, in a suit filed in the New York Supreme Court, claims Rudy has been 'inconsistent and sporadic' with the payments he was required to give her per their divorce agreement. While Giuliani now claims the checks he produced in court prove he paid his ex-wife, Katz pressed him again on the process taking so long. 'I dont understand why it takes two months to get checks from Citibank,' said the judge. 'I can get my bank records by entering a passcode on the computer. I dont understand why there is such a delay,' he added. 'Im in a dramatically different position than I was before,' Giuliani responded . 'Those amounts of money are catastrophic but they are also completely false.' Judith's lawyer said they had just received the evidence and would need some time to verify the checks to calculate how much more is owed. She is demanding Rudy pay up the $262,000 he allegedly owes her with interest, but says he has been inconsistent with payments, and even claimed a check he paid her for $10,000 in July bounced. Judith and her lawyer also continued to to request Giuliani be held in contempt of court, but Katz said he would see how much Giuliani still needs to pay before deciding. 'I have no desire to remand someone into custody until Im sure he truly has not fulfilled his obligation,' said Katz. Outside the courthouse, Giuliani told reporters the hearing 'went very well,' and even said he may have overpaid his ex-wife. 'The judge lifted the mistaken [contempt] order which was based on false statements by her,' Giuliani said. 'As you can see, it is not true that I owed $200,000 or $300,000. At the very most, its probably closer to $20,000 if it is that,' he added. Judith and her lawyer also continued to to request Giuliani be held in contempt of court, but Katz said he needed more proof that Giuliani had not fulfilled his obligation The embattled Donald Trump ally also turned over copies of the checks he said he paid to his ex-wife, Judith Giuliani, for the alimony payments Outside the courthouse, Giuliani told reporters the hearing 'went very well,' and even said he may have overpaid his ex-wife The suit also noted that their divorce agreement requires both of them to front their own country club fees and Rudy has allegedly 'failed to pay his half of the annual club membership dues.' 'I had no choice but to pay his share of the dues,' Judith said of the $70,000 she allegedly paid on Rudy's behalf. 'In order to remain in good standing with the clubs.' The legal battle comes as Rudy was ordered to testify before a Georgia special grand jury probing the former President Donald Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Rudy's law license was suspended in both New York and Washington DC as he faces ethics charges over his false election claims. He was also sued by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.3 billion after claiming their voting machines were rigged. Despite his recent legal troubles, Judith is 'confident' that Rudy can afford to pay her the requested. 'He owns multiple properties in New York City and Palm Beach [and it seems] he has significant earnings from his media-related contracts and deals,' he has claimed. The pair had a contentious divorce in April 2018 after 15 years of marriage. They sparred over their combined fortune which was an estimated $30 million. During the divorce, Judith's lawyers accused Rudy of working as trump's lawyer free of charge in an effort to lower his income and decrease his then $42,000 monthly alimony payments. Judith also accused Rudy of stealing her heirloom Christmas decoration collections. He accused her of swiping the TV remotes and cable box so he couldn't watch television. Their divorce was finalized in December 2019, but details of the agreement were not made public. Judith was awarded the couple's Hamptons house which she later sold for $5 million. Meanwhile, Rudy has been called to testify in front of a grand jury that is probing Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. 'It is hereby ordered that Rudolph William Louis Giuliani appear and testify' before the grand jury in the state Superior Court of Georgia in Fulton County beginning on Aug. 9, the order filed on July 20 said after Rudy, who tried to block the subpoena, failed to appear at a hearing in New York. The special grand jury in Georgia issued subpoenas to Sen. Lindsey Graham and members of Trump's former legal team, including Rudy. The probe was launched after Trump was recorded in a January 2, 2021, phone call pressuring Georgia's secretary of state to overturn the state's election results based on unfounded claims of voter fraud. Rudy spearheaded legal efforts by Trump to overturn the electoral results in multiple swing states, including Georgia, that were won by President Joe Biden. In the call, Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, to 'find' enough votes to overturn his Georgia loss to Democrat Biden. The transcript quotes Trump telling Raffensperger: 'I just want to find 11,780 votes' - the number Trump needed to win Georgia. Trump has denied wrongdoing in the phone call. Advertisement A rookie San Antonio police officer has been fired after he shot and injured a 17-year-old multiple times when the boy fled in his car after being startled by the cop in a McDonald's parking lot. Shocking video shows the moment that Erik Cantu was wounded multiple times while eating a cheeseburger inside his car after being confronted by Officer James Brennand on Sunday night around 10:30 p.m. An unharmed female passenger was seated next to the victim. She has not been identified. Cantu was hospitalized at nearby University Hospital. He was listed as being in critical but stable condition. Following the shooting, Brennand administered CPR while he waited for paramedics. On Wednesday, the San Antonio Police Department acted swiftly in firing Brennand. At the time of his termination, he was still in his probationary period -- which means he's not entitled to an appeal -- and had been on the job for just seven months. Law enforcement initially laid charges against the teenager for evading arrest and assault on a police officer, but those have since been dropped. Under Texas law, due to the fact that the teen had charges pending against him, his family was only permitted to be by his bedside for limited periods of time. Prior to the release of the video, Brennand maintained he only opened fire on Cantu after the teenager hit him with his car. The new video shows otherwise. Brennand was called to the McDonald's after a reported disturbance unrelated to Cantu. When the officer arrived at the scene, he apparently mistook the teens' car for a vehicle that evaded him the previous night. That car had sped away from Brennand when he attempted to pull it over as its license plates did not match the car. Brennand approached Cantu's maroon car and called for cover, but quickly tried to take matters into his own hands and opened the car door. Police have not confirmed whether Cantu's car was stolen. The video shows the moment Brennand surprised Cantu and demanded the teen get out of the car. As Cantu questioned the officer's orders, he attempted to put the car in reverse and the door catches Brennand. Brennand quickly opened fire and shot into the driver's side of the vehicle as Cantu reversed, and the bodycam footage caught the cop shouting 'shots fired!' into his radio. Cantu pulled out of the parking spot and tried to drive away, but Brennand continued shooting into the back of the vehicle. The teens were then found outside the vehicle a block away from the shooting. Under this Facebook post from June 2022, Cantu's grandmother wrote: 'My boy, I'm very excited for you, I just ask you one thing, drive safely and take care of yourself, love you lots, God is good' Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales confirmed that upon reviewing the video, his office instructed the police department to drop the charges against Cantu. Gonzales also updated the public on Cantu's condition saying: 'This young man is in critical but stable condition in the hospital. There was some issue with his parents being able to have extended contact with him. I understand its a touch-and-go situation.' He added: 'Exercising my discretion, what I decided to do for now is dismiss this case so that his family can be by his side.' With regards to possible charges against Officer Brennand, Gonzales said: 'That case is pending. We will have to wait until SAPD files the entire case in our office. We will then review it.' He went on: 'My concern right now is with the health of this young man, with his parents ability to be by his side, and so thats why we have done what we have done. Itll take some time for SAPD to file the complete case with us and then well make the decision.' 'I commend the San Antonio Police Department for taking the action that they did for terminating this individual because, clearly, there was concern on their part. It is commendable that members of that department saw fit to terminate this individual,' the district attorney added. There is a possibility that Brennand could face criminal charges. Earlier this week, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said of Brennand: 'There's nothing that I can say that could defend what he did, his actions that night.' Eric Cantu pictured on his Facebook page in September 2022 According to Cantu's Facebook page, he works at The Wash Tub, a San Antonio-based car service business. His former supervisor, Christopher Montalvo, told KSAT that Cantu worked at the business for three months earlier this year. Montalvo said he last saw Cantu two weeks ago when he came in for a car wash. He said: 'Good laughs, just normal human being stuff. Nothing really serious. I never got a bad vibe from (Cantu). He was always a really good guy to me, and he always respected me. Every time I told him to do something, he always did it, and he worked hard.' The supervisor was not aware that Cantu had been shot. When he was shown the video by a KSAT reporter, Montalvo said: 'Thats hard to watch. Thats scary. Im speechless, honestly. (Cantu) looks scared. He looks terrified. He doesnt know whats going on. He was just in his car eating. That right there, that personally didnt look right to me.' Posts on Cantu's Facebook page show a keen interest in cars, there are multiple pictures showing him in front of a Dodge Charger, which comments indicate he had just purchased in May. Under that picture, his grandmother wrote: 'My boy, I'm very excited for you, I just ask you one thing, drive safely and take care of yourself, love you lots, God is good.' He replied: 'I appreciate it Liz. You have always been like a mother to me. You always treated me like if I was your son. Cant wait to show it to you!' In February, he posted a photo showing him behind the wheel of a Ford Bronco. While in March he posted a video showing him in the passenger side of a Ferrari. On the Intro section of his page, Cantu wrote: 'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. KJV Proverbs 3:5.' He found a terrified Cantu inside the car along with a female passenger and ordered him to 'get out of the car,' but the frightened teen attempted to reverse the car When Cantu reversed, the door of the vehicle reportedly hit Brennand, and the cop then draws his gun and immediately starts firing on the teen couple Brennand shoots the drivers side window repeatedly and shouts 'shots fired' into his radio, and Cantu attempts to drive away Even as Cantu drove away, Brennand keeps shooting into the vehicle The police report stated Brennand performed CPR on Cantu when he caught up, and the female passenger in the car was uninjured. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said the investigation could take up to a year, and 'the DA's Office will also review all evidence related to the charges against Erik Cantu once we have received it.' Brennand is no stranger to shooting - he placed fourth in the 'firearms' category in his police cadet class in 2021, according to a Facebook post. Ministers have ordered an urgent survey of undersea power and internet cables amid fears Russia may have already targeted them with mines. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sent warships to the North Sea this week to deter Kremlin attacks after explosions on key gas pipelines in the Baltic. Now ministers have also asked the Navy to carry out a survey of critical pipelines and cables in case Russia has already deployed remote mines. Danish authorities are investigating blasts on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines last month, which have intensified Europes energy crisis. Moscow has denied responsibility for the sabotage, pointing out that it owns the pipelines involved. But Western officials believe the Kremlin is likely to have ordered the attacks as Vladimir Putin tries to weaponise energy supplies in retaliation for sanctions imposed after his invasion of Ukraine. Ministers have ordered an urgent survey of undersea power and internet cables amid fears Russia may have already targeted them with mines A government source said: Everyone is watching the Danish investigation very closely. Obviously there is the question of attribution will they find the evidence to formally point the finger at Russia? But there is also the question of how it was done. Was it a direct attack? Or were mines pre-placed some time in the past and detonated remotely? 'If it is the latter then it raises questions about where else mines might have been placed. Consider peace talks, Macron tells Ukraine Emmanuel Macron last night urged Volodymyr Zelensky not to rule out peace talks with Vladimir Putin. The French president said his Ukrainian counterpart should not wait for regime change in Moscow before coming to the negotiating table. Mr Zelensky has indicated he is willing to talk to the Russian nation but not to its leader. But at the European nations summit in Prague, Mr Macron said: I do not like this approach that consists of saying that it is up to one leader, so to speak, to change the leadership in another country. We need to [make peace] with the leaders that we have in the context that we have. His remarks came just hours after Mr Zelensky begged EU leaders by video link not to be duped by Moscows manipulation of the topic of peace talks. Russia just wants to save time. Wants to regroup forces... To strike again. We have to stop it from doing that, he said. Advertisement They added: We know there has been suspicious Russian submarine activity around our undersea infrastructure for years. So we need to go and have a look. It is a worry because we know that Putin does not obey any conventional norms. Mr Wallace told this weeks Conservative Party conference that the mysterious damage inflicted on the Nord Stream pipelines should serve as a reminder of how fragile UK infrastructure and the economy were given the threat of hybrid attacks. He added: The Nordic states and ourselves are deeply vulnerable to people doing things on our cables and our pipelines. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate with underwater tracking capabilities, was deployed to the North Sea this week as a deterrent to any Russian attack. Survey vessel HMS Enterprise has also been despatched to the area. There is particular concern about the Langeled pipeline, which carries natural gas from Norway to the UK. Mr Wallace also confirmed plans to purchase two multi-role ocean surveillance ships, one of which will be fast-tracked to come into operation next year. He is said to have told officials that he needs the new capability now to deal with the threat of sea-bed warfare from Russia. The new vessel will be equipped with underwater drones capable of working in deep seas. The vulnerability of Britains undersea infrastructure has been a concern for years. A 2017 report by the Policy Exchange think-tank found 97 per cent of global communications are transmitted via underwater cables and warned that an attack on them would be an existential threat to the UK. It noted that Russia is attracted to hybrid warfare like this because it offers the scope for plausible deniability, involves limited loss of human life, and exploits the grey areas in self-defence pacts such as Nato. Russia has invested heavily in sea-bed warfare technology and owns ships and submarines capable of operating mini-subs and robots to work at great depth. Europe previously relied on Russia for about 40 per cent of its gas and now faces a fuel crisis following the Ukraine invasion, which has drastically cut supplies. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sent warships to the North Sea this week to deter Kremlin attacks after explosions on key gas pipelines in the Baltic Scandinavian authorities are investigating four leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines, which link Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea. A Swedish crime scene investigation has found evidence of detonations and prosecutors suspect sabotage. Yesterday it emerged that Russias prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, had sent a letter to the Swedish government asking for Moscow to be given a role in the investigation. A spokesman for Russias foreign ministry said it would insist on a comprehensive and open investigation that includes Russian officials and state-controlled gas giant Gazprom. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said his office has not yet decided whether or not they will pursue the death penalty A man accused of stabbing to death two people - including a Las Vegas showgirl and a 47-year-old man - as well as injuring several others, is an illegal immigrant with a criminal record, it has been claimed. The harrowing mass stabbing on the Las Vegas strip was laid bare in a police arrest report released on Friday. Yoni Christian Barrios, 32, who is charged with murdering two and attempting to kill six more on Thursday, told detectives that he is a Guatemalan immigrant and that he stabbed eight people so he could 'let the anger out.' Fox News says Barrios was in the US illegally at the time, and that he had a criminal record in California for unknown offenses. He was not known to ICE prior to the stabbing, the outlet added. Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30, and Brent Allan Hallett, 47, both died after being stabbed in the attack that happened in broad daylight. On Friday, a co-worker of showgirl Digiovanni also revealed that she bled out in a co-worker's arms after being fatally-knifed. Yoni Christian Barrios, 32, who is charged with murdering two and attempting to kill six more on Thursday, told detectives that he is a Guatemalan immigrant and that he stabbed eight people so he could 'let the anger out' A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrest report first obtained by Channel 8 News said Barrios came from California to Vegas two days earlier and planned to move in with a friend, but when he arrived the friend backed out. Barrios told detectives he took a bus to the strip, where other passengers made fun of him and he wasnt treated like a human being. According to the report, Barrios asked a janitor at the Wynn Hotel and Casino about job opportunities, then asked the janitor to contact ICE for him so he could return home to Guatemala. Barrios then asked a security guard at the hotel about selling his knives to pay for his trip home, officers wrote. The guard told Barrios to jump in front of a train. Barrios exited the hotel and it was then that he approached his first victims. The police report says he told a group of four showgirls that he was a chef. As one woman backed away from him, he allegedly charged at her. Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30, was stabbed to death in the broad daylight attack which also claimed the life of Brent Allan Hallett, 47 A fellow showgirl, who was also stabbed in the brutal attack, held Maris in her arms as she died, the woman's boss said Detectives, who appear to have interviewed the surviving woman, wrote that she felt pressure to her back and fell to the ground then saw Barrios charging towards one of his murder victims Maris Digiovanni. The survivor ran into the Wynn and only then realized she had been stabbed in the back, the report said. Barrios allegedly told cops he started running towards groups of people so he could let the anger out. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson confirmed in a press conference this afternoon following a minute-long court hearing that he does not think Barrios is a citizen - though he said that will not affect how he will prosecute the case. Wolfson said his office has not yet decided whether they will pursue the death penalty. Yoni Barrios, 32, has been charged with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. He appeared in court on Friday afternoon A victim of the brutal knife attack on Las Vegas strip was rushed away on a stretcher by members of Clark County Fire Department Six other people, including four showgirls, were injured in the attack. Barrios, 32, has been charged with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. He appeared in court on Friday afternoon and is being held without bail. An arrest report stated that Barrios believed that the showgirls were 'laughing' at him and making fun of his clothes when he launched his frenzied attack to 'let the anger out'. The Guatemalan man had only arrived in Las Vegas from California - where he is believed to have a wife and children - two days earlier to stay with a male friend. He has a criminal history of domestic violence and driving under the influence. In Thursday's attack, Maris died in the arms of her friend who was trying to administer first aid. 'It just happened so fast, he stabbed Maris in the heart,' Cheryl Lowthorp told The New York Post. Maris pictured with her brother Gage DiGiovanni. He paid tribute to his 'amazing little sister ... she touched your lives as she did ours' Lowthorp, who runs Best Showgirls, added that Barrios was 'smiling and friendly' moments before he launched the attack that left two dead. During the attack, Barrios told a victim 'sorry man' as he stabbed him, according to the police report. It added that he did not know any of his victims, and attacked at random, hoping police would shoot him. Maris's heartbroken brother paid tribute to his sister last night. The 30-year-old previously worked as a teacher at 9th Bridge School in Las Vegas. She graduated with a degree in education from Washington State University, and had worked as a preschool-elementary teacher in both Bahrain and Hong Kong. Lowthorp said she was an 'exceptional young woman'. Her brother Gage DiGiovanni wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we say goodbye and see you later to my amazing little sister. Maris was a victim of the horrific random stabbing of eight people in Las Vegas today. 'Please pray for our family and her husband. We appreciate the space to grieve in the coming days and know she touched your lives as she did ours.' One of Maris' friends took to social media to pay tribute to the 'kindest soul.' Emma Leeson wrote about her friend: 'Absolutely shocked, devastated and heart broken. 'The most kindest beautiful soul taken way to young, this is so unfair and should never of happened - I cant wrap my head around any of it. 'Thank you for all the incredibly fun amazing spontaneous memories and adventures we got to share together.' Maris's cousin also remembered the 30-year-old as someone who 'brought a light to everyone's life.' Maris and husband Cole Jordan, pictured on their wedding day Maris (right) graduated with a degree in education from Washington State University, and had worked as a preschool-elementary teacher in both Bahrain and Hong Kong The 30-year-old (pictured) had worked as a teacher at 9th Bridge School in Las Vegas Maris (right) is pictured with her cousin, Ashlei who said she 'brought a light to everyone's life' Ashlei DiGiovanni said: 'I still cant believe youre actually gone. This world can be so evil. You brought a light to everyones life who crossed your path. 'Im so thankful for the moments I got to have with you. From sunset chasing, to dancing in your kitchen, to nights out to talking about absolutely anything under the sun. 'You were one of the most open, lighthearted, and easy going people who wanted to make others days better. You were my cousin and my best friend. My heart is broken knowing I cant snap or call you. I love you.' According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Barrios is thought to have acted alone and investigators believe that it was an isolated incident. The attack has prompted safety fears among the strip's street performers. Barrios, who does not live in Las Vegas, reportedly had a kitchen knife and told the showgirls he was a chef and wanted to take a photo with them. Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves Friends and family members have paid tribute to the beloved woman - who was a Las Vegas resident and previously worked as a teacher in the city According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Barrios is thought to have acted alone and investigators believe that it was an isolated incident When they refused the stabbings started, recounted a woman who said four of the injured showgirls worked for her. A total of eight were hurt, according to Captain Dori Koren of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The remaining three are in a stable condition. Barrios was arrested 'very quickly', said Koren. Dewaun Turner, 47, who witnessed five of the stabbings, told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he saw two showgirls running and screaming while being chased by the knifeman. One was on the floor after being stabbed, and the other tried to run off. But the knifeman chased and stabbed her too. Then, the man stabbed a man who was walking with a woman. Turner then saw him stab two more women, with one of them seriously injured. Tourists are among the victims, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo later told the media. During that press conference Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief James LaRochelle said that the suspect started stabbing without provocation. He said that authorities are in possession of video showing the suspect leaving the original scene and running down Las Vegas Boulevard heading towards Sands Boulevard. Barrios was held by Sands security guards until the police arrived. Video shown by officials at a press conference hours after the stabbing showed the suspect fleeing the scene Pierre Fandrich told 13 Action News he thought he heard showgirls laughing, but they were in fact screaming Following the stabbing, Geli Woods, the owner of Mystique Showgirls, told KTNV that she always tells her employees to be on their guard while working the strip and arm themselves with pepper spray. Woods said: 'My girls walk down that way all the time. We always go down there. That could have been us.' She added: 'I have had some of my employees who don't want to showgirl anymore, and I really don't blame them because it's a scary situation.' Those sentiments were echoed somewhat by Bobi Jo Milstead, the owner of Stardust Starlets. She told KSNV: 'Honestly, Im very shaken up all of the girls are. Its scary because it can happen to anybody.' Milstead also said: 'Its a hard thing to deal with. I know some girls have pulled out tasers and pepper sprays on people who are just manhandling them. Treating them like their property and theyre not. Yes, theyre out there dressed up, but they dont belong to the world.' The suspect, who is now in custody, reportedly had a kitchen knife and told the showgirls he was a chef that wanted to take a photo with them An area cordoned off outside the Palazzo casino after the stabbing on Las Vegas strip around 11.45am Horrific videos and pictures shows what appears to be one of the showgirls in a pool of blood outside the resort. LaRochelle told the media: 'As you can imagine we have scores of witnesses to continue to get statements from and we have a number of video surveillance we have to get through in the immediate future.' Describing a short video showed at the press conference, LaRochelle said that the suspect stabbed the showgirls and then headed south and stabbed additional victim. He was pursued by witnesses prior to his arrest. Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves. At least one of the victims was transported to University Medical Center, where loved ones were seen going in in tears. LaRochelle said in the press conference: 'We wanted to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the victims themselves.' He added: 'This is clearly a very tragic and hard to understand, hard to comprehend murder investigation that deeply impacts our community.' Maxime Wallace, a tourist from Montreal, said: 'A man just started stabbing and slashing. Everything happened so fast it was hard to see.' Pierre Fandrich told 13 Action News he thought he heard showgirls laughing, but they were in fact screaming. When he saw the blood he assumed one of them had fallen from a nearby bridge. In a separate interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, Fandrich said through a translator: 'There was one showgirl on the ground.' He continued: 'There was another showgirl on top of her, trying to help her friend. She seemed to be stabbed in the back, but she didnt notice because she was helping the other showgirl.' Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief James LaRochelle told the media that the police were called to the scene around 11:40 am local time A victim is tended to by first responders in front of the casino where the stabbing took place 'A man just started stabbing and slashing.' Maxime Wallace, a tourist from Montreal, said 'everything happened so fast it was hard to see Cops swooped on the Venetian resort and the crazed knifeman was arrested with blood coated all over his sleeves At least one of the victims was transported to University Medical Center, where loved ones were seen going in in tears People embrace outside of the University Medical Center trauma department on Thursday Earlier, pictures showed that there were ten officers outside of Wynn casino, potentially looking for a weapon Earlier, pictures showed that there were ten officers outside of Wynn casino, potentially looking for a weapon. Multiple casinos in the area reportedly shut down their entrances in the wake of the attack. Officials were quick to alert the public about the incident but assured the public that there was no ongoing threat. Hotels in the area remained open but many tourists struggled to navigate the vicinity surrounding the strip due to the various closures. NEW VIDEO: First responders help victims of a mass stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip. 8 stabbed, 2 dead. MORE: https://t.co/umFA4mfLVB pic.twitter.com/fZR1RoCP0m KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) October 6, 2022 Lord Geidt's dramatic fall from grace left such a hole in the Palace machinery that it paved the way for Megxit, multiple sources have told the Mail New book Courtiers claims that William was incensed by the 'unkind' treatment Sir Christopher Geidt forced to quit in 2017 after falling out with King Charles Prince William gave one of the Queen's most senior officials 'a piece of his mind' after a Palace coup led to the ousting of the one courtier insiders believe could have prevented 'Megxit'. The man at the centre of the row was Sir Christopher Geidt, a former military intelligence officer, who loyally served the Queen for 15 years as her private secretary. He was sensationally forced to quit in 2017 after falling out with both King Charles and Prince Andrew. A new book claims the 'unkind' way in which Sir Christopher, now Lord Geidt, was treated incensed William so much that he spoke to the head of the monarch's household the then Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel and made his feelings plain. Lord Geidt's fall from grace left such a hole in the Palace machinery particularly in dealings between the Queen's office and other family members that it paved the way for Harry and Meghan's acrimonious departure from the Royal Family, multiple sources have told the Mail. The crisis is revisited in the fascinating new book Courtiers by journalist Valentine Low, detailing the inside story of the people who work for the Royal Family and the power they wield. The fall from grace of Sir Christopher Geidt (pictured with the Duchess of Sussex) left such a hole in the Palace machinery that it paved the way for Megxit, multiple sources have told the Mail The Queen's private secretary was forced to quit in 2017 after falling out with both King Charles and Prince Andrew. But a new book claims that Prince William was incensed by the 'unkind' way Sir Christopher, now Lord Geidt, was treated Imposing former Army officer Lord Geidt is described by Low as having 'something of the Bond villain about his appearance'. He joined Buckingham Palace in 2002 and swiftly rose through the ranks to become the monarch's right-hand man and conduit with the Government. He was seen as enormously successful at his job and made a point of stalking the corridors of the palace, speaking to as many members of the household as possible in order to be the eyes and ears of the monarchy in all matters personal and professional. 'When you were having a conversation with Christopher, you pretty much knew he did not have to go and check. Either he knew that that was what the Queen thought, or it is what she would want anyway, because he was just so entwined in her thinking,' the book quotes a source as saying. A source told the Daily Mail yesterday: 'Christopher's effective sacking came as a great shock and many hold the view that had he still been around, the Megxit debacle would not have happened. Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during an interview with Oprah Winfrey Lord Geidt (pictured) joined Buckingham Palace in 2002 and swiftly rose through the ranks to become the monarch's right-hand man and conduit with the Government. It says that although he once enjoyed a good relationship with King Charles, the two men fell out over a number of issues. He also developed a thorny relationship with Charles's own private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton. One point of contention was his failure to back the then Prince of Wales' plan to form a consortium to buy Dumfries House, an 18th-century estate in south-west Scotland, as an HQ for his charity. Lord Geidt thought this move would leave the heir to the throne financially exposed. It has been suggested that Meghan and Harry might not have stepped back as senior members of the Royal Family if not for Lord Geidt's departure. Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's announcement on Instagram The new book Courtiers by journalist Valentine Low claims that Prince William (pictured with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Queen's funeral last month) made his feelings about Sir Christopher's departure clear to the head of the monarch's household the then Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel He was also believed to have over-reached his remit when, in 2017, he called a meeting of all the royal households in the palace ballroom to announce the retirement of the Duke of Edinburgh from official duties, a story scooped by the Daily Mail. He also took the opportunity to address his audience about the family's future, placing emphasis on how the three households Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace would need to start pulling together in the future, which did not go down well internally. He lost his job three months later. Prince of Wales? Not in my county, says council A Welsh council is refusing to accept William as the new Prince of Wales after voting to abolish the title. Councillors in Gwynedd the local authority that includes Caernarfon, where William's father King Charles had his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 described the monarchy as an 'archaic oppressive tradition'. Members of the council, which is led by the Welsh nationalists Plaid Cymru, voted 46 to four in favour of abolishing the Prince of Wales title and to keeping any future investiture of William 'off Welsh soil'. Four councillors abstained from the vote. Prince William and his wife Kate were named the Prince and Princess of Wales by the King in his first address to the nation after the death of the Queen last month. The couple received a warm welcome from the public when they visited Anglesey, north Wales, for the first time since taking on the roles ten days ago. Plaid Cymru councillor Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn tabled the motion to oppose the 'continuation' of the title and said the monarchy was a 'blight on our nation'. Royal sources have previously said that William is not planning to have a large investiture like his father's and may not have one at all. Sam Rowlands, a Tory member of the Senedd, said the move by Gwynedd was 'out of touch'. Councillors in Gwynedd the local authority that includes Caernarfon, where William's father King Charles had his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 (pictured) described the monarchy as an 'archaic oppressive tradition' Advertisement Prince Andrew, meanwhile, had long held a grudge against his mother's closest aide for sidelining him from family duties. He was furious at Lord Geidt's instrumental role in helping the former Prince of Wales emphasise his plan for a slimmed-down monarchy by ensuring he was not on the palace balcony at the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Before the celebrations, the books claims, Andrew was very 'worked up' about being excluded from the traditional flypast and told an aide: 'You've got to speak to Christopher Geidt. I want to be on that balcony. We've worked really hard all year supporting the Queen. It's outrageous.' In the end, however, just the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry appeared to watch the RAF flypast. But in 2017, Lord Geidt's enemies finally moved against him. Surprisingly, given the late Queen's reliance on her private secretary, she acquiesced. At the time, a number of sources suggested the then 91-year-old sovereign simply wanted 'a quiet life' and to avoid a dispute with her sons. But William, with whom Lord Geidt had always enjoyed a good relationship, was furious and went to see the Lord Chamberlain to 'give him a piece of his mind'. The book quotes a source saying: 'William was furious. He spoke to his grandmother and father. He felt Christopher had worked to modernise the institution and bring it closer together. He was concerned about the way it had been handled, and how Christopher had been treated. 'He was really angry about it, not necessarily because it was the wrong decision. He just thought it was handled very unkindly for a man who was a pillar of the institution of the monarchy, but had also played an incredibly important role when the coalition government had been formed. 'It just seemed like the wrong thing to do to unceremoniously chuck somebody out for a reason that had nothing to do with what was the core part of Christopher's job, which he was still doing really, really well. '[Prince William] told Willy [Lord] Peel how he felt about it, and particularly how he felt about the way in which it had been conducted, which he thought was very unkind.' A source told the Daily Mail yesterday: 'Christopher's effective sacking came as a great shock and many hold the view that had he still been around, the Megxit debacle would not have happened. 'He had his finger on the pulse and people believe he would have found a way to pre-empt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure, or at least found a way to make things work more amicably.' Lord Geidt entered the Lords after leaving his role with the royal household, becoming Baron Geidt of Crobeg. He went on to become Boris Johnson's ethics adviser, a post from which he resigned in June this year. Prisoners are being driven 200 yards from a high-security jail to court because they refuse to use a secure tunnel linking the two, it has been claimed. The Ministry of Justice has spent millions of pounds of taxpayers money over the past six years on prisoner escort vans to complete the two-minute journey. Inmates at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London are understood to have complained the tunnel is too cold in winter. Others have objected to having to carry their possessions on the short walk to Woolwich Crown Court. The MoJ disputed the claims last night and insisted the tunnel was in constant use. Prisoners are being driven 200 yards from a high-security jail to court because they refuse to use a secure tunnel linking the two, it has been claimed. The underground route was constructed to transport high-security prisoners between the prison and the court complex next door. Details obtained from the MoJ under Freedom of Information laws show transport company Serco has been paid for 20,499 secure van journeys between the court and the prison since the start of 2016. While the MoJ refused to disclose the fees paid on commercial grounds, Serco receives a fixed price for each van journey, it is understood. Experts estimate each journey is likely to cost more than 100, meaning the cost over the past six and a-half years is likely to be well over 2 million. Loading and unloading prisoners on to secure vans also requires a series of lengthy checks, taking hours of staff time. The main gate at Belmarsh is just 180 yards from the secure entrance of the court. The tunnel, which takes a direct route, is considerably shorter. The underground route was constructed to transport high-security prisoners between the prison and the court complex next door. Pictured: Woolwich Crown Court Belmarsh houses some of the UKs most dangerous terrorists, including Michael Adebolajo, who murdered fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013; Khairi Saadallah, the Libyan refugee who murdered three people in a Reading park in 2020; and Ali Harbi Ali, the killer of MP Sir David Amess. Most high-security terrorism trials take place at Woolwich, which opened in 1993, because it is considered more secure than the Old Bailey, built in 1902. One senior court source said inmates had complained about the temperature in the tunnel, and the MoJ statistics reveal that van journeys are 30 per cent higher in winter months than they are in the summer. Figures peaked in 2017, when 4,325 van journeys took place. An MoJ spokesman said: These claims are entirely false and the tunnel is in constant use. Some journeys were taken by newly sentenced prisoners who had to travel by van because they were carrying their possessions, it is understood. The MoJ was unable to provide a breakdown. Police have launched a probe after an elderly man and woman died while walking after being hit by a driver in his eighties. They died while they were on Park Lane at the junction of Mayfair in Reading at 10.50am yesterday morning and were hit by the car. A silver Mercedes A170 was involved in the crash, with the driver remaining in hospital with serious injuries. They died while they were on Park Lane at the junction of Mayfair in Reading, pictured, at 10.50am yesterday morning and were hit by the car The family of the pensioners who died have been informed, according to Thames Valley Police. They are being supported by specially trained officers. Police have urged anyone with information to come forward. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Nigel Doyle, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: 'We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed what happened to please come forward. 'We'd also ask anyone with dash-cams who was in the area around the time of the collision to check any footage in case it may have captured something that could assist with the investigation. 'Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference 43220448543.' They complained that 'everybody is obsessed with genitals' when defining sex An NHS paediatrician and trustee of trans children's charity Mermaids has said biological sex is a 'concept' and 'not as simple as it's made out to be'. Dr Katie McDowell, who works at King's College Hospital in south London, complained that 'everybody is obsessed with genitals' when defining sex. The medic also accused the UK's 'very active gender critical movement' those who maintain biological sex cannot be changed of being 'very, very anti-trans and spearheading this horrendous attack on trans human rights'. Last night campaigners hit back, saying 'biological sex is not a "concept" but a fact of nature' and that 'understanding biology is not "transphobic"'. The row comes as Mermaids faces severe criticism for claims it gave chest-flattening devices to girls against their parents' wishes and after another trustee quit over revelations that he spoke at an 'academic' conference hosted by an organisation that promotes services to paedophiles. The World Health Organisation says sex has biologically defined characteristics whereas gender is based on socially constructed features. But interviewed for the podcast The Queer Non-Binary Doctor who will Trans-form how you Understand Gender, Dr McDowell appeared to question whether sex is a 'very simple and immutable thing'. NHS paediatrician and trustee of trans children's charity Mermaids Dr Katie McDowell (pictured) has said biological sex is a 'concept' and 'not as simple as it's made out to be' The medic said: 'Even biological sex as a concept is not as simple as it's made out to be, right? 'Because what do you mean by that? Do you mean chromosomes? Do you mean hormone levels? Do you mean genitals? Everybody is obsessed with genitals. 'Does it mean what you look like? Because you know obviously you can have tall women, you can have very short men. 'So I think even biological sex, which is what the gender critical people are obsessed with, is not as simple as it's made out to be.' The doctor, who uses the pronouns they/them, added that the issues surrounding biological sex was additional to what is described in medicine as 'disorders of sexual differentiation or intersex', rare conditions where people are born with atypical physical sex characteristics or a combination of male and female biological traits. Dr McDowell, who used to be a primary school governor, added: 'Even if you think that sex is a very simple and immutable thing, to say that should then determine exactly how you behave in society and what roles you should play, I mean God, it's not the 1930s is it? It's really problematic.' Speaking generally about their medical work, Dr McDowell described preferring working in a post-natal ward treating newborn children to looking after adults, who could sometimes make 'bad decisions'. Last month the Charity Commission began an investigation after Mermaids staff were accused of offering to send a breast binder to a girl they believed was 14 after being told she was banned from using one by her mother. The row comes as Mermaids faces severe criticism for claims it gave chest-flattening devices to girls against their parents' wishes and after another trustee, Dr Jacob Breslow (pictured), quit over revelations that he spoke at an 'academic' conference hosted by an organisation that promotes services to paedophiles After the story broke, Dr McDowell tweeted praise for a 'fab article', which described Mermaids advice on breast binding as a 'beacon of light'. Separately, Mermaids trustee Dr Jacob Breslow stepped down from the charity after it emerged that he presented research at an event in Baltimore in the US in 2011, which appeared to criticise society's understanding of paedophiles. Stephanie Davies-Arai, director of campaign group Transgender Trend, said: 'Biological sex is not a "concept" but a fact of nature. 'Every human being is either male or female, including people born with differences of sexual development, commonly known as intersex. Understanding biology is not "transphobic" and people have a right to disagree with an ideology.' Responding to claims about chest binders, Mermaids said it was the victim of a 'targeted, cynical attack' and smear campaign and insisted it had 'robust security and moderation processes' in place to ensure its forums were safe for young people. It said Dr Breslow should never have been appointed a trustee, adding that it was only told this month about his attendance at the 2011 conference and it immediately began investigating. Mermaids declined to comment on Dr McDowell's comments. 'They were perfect, they were beautiful, they worshiped each other,' she said of five-month-old Hollace and 2-year-old Lilly Canfield added she visited Bennard, who was awake and aware of what happened 'Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead,' she said Kelsey Canfield, Bennard's best friend, said the dogs had never shown any signs of violence and Bennard wouldn't have let them around the kids if they were Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington, spent 'over 10 minutes' trying to save her children when the family's dogs began viciously attacking them The dogs who mauled a five-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl to death and gravely injured their mother had never shown aggression before, according to the victim's best friend. Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington, spent 'over 10 minutes' trying to save her children when the family's dogs began viciously attacking them on Wednesday afternoon. It is unknown why the pets suddenly became aggressive. The children, Hollace Dean Bennard, five months, and Lilly Jane Bennard, two, were pronounced dead at the scene after being attacked by the dogs - named Cheech and Mia - in Shelby County, Tennessee. Kelsey Canfield, Bennard's best friend, told Fox News that the dogs had never shown any signs of violence and if they had, 'she would have never had those dogs near her kids.' 'Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead,' she said. The dogs who mauled a five-month-old boy and the two-year-old girl to death and gravely injured their mother had never shown aggression before, according to the victim's best friend Hollace Dean Bennard, five months, and Lilly Jane Bennard, two, were pronounced dead at the scene after being attacked by the family's pit bulls in Shelby County, Tennessee Canfield added that she visited Bennard, along with the victim's sister, and said she was awake and aware of what happened. 'They were perfect, they were beautiful, they worshiped each other,' she said of the children. Jeff Gibson, the uncle to Bennard's husband, Colby, revealed the mother-of-two has an 'uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face' and that both her 'arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely.' Gibson said Bennard's injuries won't cause 'any permanent damage, other than a heart that will never heal.' She's still in hospital in 'critical condition,' family friend, Debbie Harvey, told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'Kristie is a f**king hero!' he wrote on Facebook. 'She never gave up trying to save these babies.' A family friend told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the respiratory therapist is 'hanging in there,' but declined to speak further. The youngsters were their parents' only children. Funeral details have not yet been released, but there will be a candle vigil soon, according to Harvey. Colby, who manages a Harley-Davidson dealership in Memphis, was unharmed. Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington, (right) spent 'over 10 minutes' trying to save her children when the family's dogs began viciously attacking them on Wednesday afternoon. It is unclear if the dog pictured was involved in the attack. Bennard (left) was injured in the attack and has an 'uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face' The funeral plans for the two children (pictured: Lilly with her parents) have not been released It is unknown why they became aggressive on Wednesday. Colby shared this picture in 2016, but it unclear if it is the same dogs The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. inside the family's $360,000 Sylvan Road home (pictured) in Millington, Tennessee - near Memphis Her in-law called her a 'f**king hero' and said she 'never gave up trying to save these babies' Further details of how the tragedy unfolded have yet to emerge. The animals have been taken away by the local animal control department, although it's unclear if they have been put down. DailyMail.com has attempted to reach Colby for comment. His father, Michael, declined to talk about the incident when reached by phone. A family friend started a GoFundMe page for the family to help them 'get back on their feet.' It has raised $7,500 out of its $10,000 goal within two hours of it going live. Eight years ago, Colby shared a picture of two pit bulls on Facebook and referred to the animals as 'house lions' while chatting with Kirstie. It is unclear if those are the same dogs behind Wednesday's attack. The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, inside the family's $360,000, five-bedroom Sylvan Road home in Millington, Tennessee - near Memphis. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office confirmed to DailyMail.com on Thursday that the pit bulls are currently in possession of animal control. Little Lilly looks at her baby brother in a recent pictures the family shared. The children's mother tried heroically to save her kids, but was also attacked by the family dogs Lilly wears a unicorn outfit while her grandfather Michael holds hers in an old photo The family has posted pictures of the animals (pictured in 2016 and 2017) on their social media, showing the dogs around their home The investigation into the attack is ongoing, and the Sheriff's Office declined to comment further. It is unclear if any criminal charges will follow. Bennard's friend, Kelsey Gallini, posted on Facebook, asking for 'prayers,' saying 'everyone in her circle could really use that.' 'I love you, I love you, I love you,' she wrote in a separate post. Gallini also revealed in a comment to a WREG Facebook post about the tragedy that she was furious news outlets were covering the attack, questioning why 'something so traumatic and unimaginable [had] to be so publicized.' Friend Lacie Snider replied to the social media post, writing: 'I feel like the phone call I had with Caitlin [Killebrew] wasn't real.' Killebrew is another friend of the family. Her friends took to Facebook to offer their prayers and send her their love Killebrew wrote, alongside a photo of the two at her wedding: 'My sweet friend - I love you.' Another wrote: 'Praying so hard! Shock is an understatement!' Many others said they were 'heartbroken,' 'dumbfounded,' and sending 'big prayers.' Pit bulls are known for having one of the strongest bites, alongside Mastiffs and Rottweilers, according to the Canine Journal. The breed is also on the journal's list of dogs that bite the most, alongside Chihuahuas, German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office confirmed to DailyMail.com on Thursday that the pit bulls belonged to the family and are currently in possession of Animal Control On hearing the news this week of her imminent release from Orange County Correctional Facility in New York state, an excited Anna Sorokin wasted no time making plans. Having spent more than three years behind bars after conning her way through New York high society by posing as a wealthy German-born heiress, the 31-year-old has finally been given permission to leave her prison cell and live on bail under house arrest while U.S. authorities decide whether to deport her. But first there is the matter of finding a place to live. Not for Sorokin some down-at-heel New Jersey bail hostel. The Mail has learnt she has put her once Louboutin-clad foot firmly down and told her new management team that her home must preferably be in Manhattan and should have at least three bedrooms. Its an outrageous demand for a woman who, earlier this year, was granted poor persons relief by the U.S. judicial system on the basis that she was penniless and couldnt afford her legal bills. Not only that, but far from facing life as an outcast, we can reveal that Sorokin has an army of cheerleaders ready to come to her aid. On hearing the news this week of her imminent release from Orange County Correctional Facility in New York state, an excited Anna Sorokin wasted no time making plans But such hubris will come as no surprise to the dozens of victims she defrauded not to mention the millions of TV viewers who watched her mind-blowing life of deceit unfold on screen in the hit Netflix series Inventing Anna. And with her regulation prison jumpsuit not yet consigned to the dustbin, there are worrying signs that the sociopathic conwoman is plotting a huge comeback. This week, the Mail spoke exclusively to several members of her inner circle, all of whom paint a picture of a young woman who is determined to reinvent herself. Its frustrating when people still see her only as a scam artist because shes more than that, says Chris Martine, Sorokins art dealer. More, later, of Sorokins artwork a collection of somewhat childish-looking pencil drawings the originals of which are about to go on sale for up to 18,000 a pop. Martine adds: She acknowledges that some things she did were wrong, but now she wants to continue to pursue her vision in the world of art and fashion. I think if you give her six months to a year, then you will see that shell prove all the haters wrong. There is no sign of Sorokin wanting to start afresh somewhere quietly. Investigations by the Mail reveal that Sorokin has taken on the 27,000-a-month top crisis management publicist who represents disgraced Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein. A member of Weinsteins legal team, former prosecutor Duncan Levin, is also representing Sorokin who, calling herself Anna Delvey, pretended to be an oligarchs daughter before defrauding her elite victims out of 245,000. Having spent more than three years behind bars after conning her way through New York high society by posing as a wealthy German-born heiress, the 31-year-old has finally been given permission to leave her prison cell and live on bail under house arrest while U.S. authorities decide whether to deport her Some people, having been in jail for so long, would be chastened and want to keep a low profile, but thats not the way Annas mind works, says another who has worked with her. She remains completely delusional and thinks shes a superstar. Perhaps one of the toughest conditions of Sorokins release is that she is forbidden from posting on social media, something she used prolifically for self-promotion. While in prison, she has used a New Jersey DJ to post to her 1 million Instagram followers, but, according to her bail conditions, she cant ask third parties to do that while on bail. According to another former associate: Its like a drug to her. Shes utterly addicted to social media. Its the oxygen that brings Anna Delvey to life. Nevertheless, her publicist Juda Engelmayer told the Mail that Sorokin is excited and anxious about her impending release. Her client had spent three years in jail for larceny and theft before being released early for good behaviour in February 2021. She was re-arrested in March 2021 and has been in U.S. Immigration custody ever since, after refusing to accept that she overstayed her visa and must return to Germany. She grew up there with her parents Vadim, who runs an underfloor heating company, and Svetlana, and a younger brother. Shes excited because shes been fighting for this, but shes also anxious because she still has to fight deportation, says Engelmayer. Shes been in detention for 17 months, but she isnt a threat, nor is she a flight risk and she deserves the chance to rebuild her life here. Not everyone will agree. Sorokin spent three years dressing in expensive designer clothes, dining at fine restaurants and helping herself to what she wanted. In her wake, she left a trail of unpaid rent, hotel and credit card bills, bounced cheques and empty promises to the friends whod loaned her money, believing the super-wealthy Anna Delvey, who often claimed her credit card wasnt working, could repay them. She was arrested in October 2017 after Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams went to the police claiming shed been swindled out of 55,000, and assisted with their sting operation. Sorokin, she said later, had an enigmatic otherness that was strangely captivating and steel blue eyes that fixed like a snake on anything she wanted. It was a demeanour that snared many. Pictured: Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin in the Netflix show Inventing Anna The Mail has learnt she has put her once Louboutin-clad foot firmly down and told her new management team that her home must preferably be in Manhattan and should have at least three bedrooms As recently as March this year, California-based artist Julia Morrison says she put down around 7,000 of her own money to help stage a Free Anna art show in New York and still has not been paid back. The show featured sketches Anna drew in her cell that were adapted to large-format pieces by artist Alfredo Martinez. (Martinez was jailed for 21 months in 2002 for making and selling forgeries of works by the late U.S. artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.) Morrison tells the Mail: When the organisers failed to pay me back, I got in contact with Anna in prison and asked her to intervene, but she showed no empathy whatsoever. Eventually she ghosted me and now, with interest, my credit card debt is around 9,000. I wanted to help her, but I dont think she cares about anyone except herself. A spokesperson for Sorokin stressed she had not made any agreement with Morrison, and stopped communicating with her because there was nothing she could do to assist. Martinez has said she will get paid in due course. Sorokins chequered past is also causing problems for those attempting to help her find somewhere suitable to stay a strict condition of her bail. A German TV company is said to have put down a deposit on a place and offered to pay her rent likely to be around 8,000 a month in Manhattan. But the owner, having discovered the identity of the prospective tenant, swiftly backed out of the deal. Once her accommodation woes are sorted, Sorokin will be out fitted with an electronic tag. Then she will have the biggest fight of all; for she is desperate to avoid being deported to Germany, where her family moved from Moscow when she was 16. So desperate that until now she has preferred to fight deportation from a U.S. prison cell rather than return to Europe, where she would be free. Born in 1991, the same year the Soviet Union collapsed, she is, in many ways, the product of the ruthless and chaotic scramble for wealth and riches which followed as communism collapsed. Sorokins 59-year-old father, Vadim, told the Mail last year that he moved his family to Germany for a better life but encountered a culture of mass consumption. His daughter got the best of everything: private dancing lessons, French and English lessons and, as she grew older, expensive clothes. She always wanted to make herself beautiful, he said. She attached a lot of value to clothes. It was only a matter of time before Anna outgrew the small town of Eschweiler near Cologne. Sorokins chequered past is also causing problems for those attempting to help her find somewhere suitable to stay a strict condition of her bail (Pictured: Julia Garner) Perhaps one of the toughest conditions of Sorokins release is that she is forbidden from posting on social media, something she used prolifically for self-promotion First, she set her sights on Berlin, where she was taken on as an intern for a fashion PR agency in 2012. Last year, her former boss Janine Fischer described how Anna quickly became captivated by the fashion world. She soaked it all up. I think she tasted blood and realised that this was what she wanted to go into. From Berlin she went to Paris, where she interned for a fashion and art magazine. Then, in 2013, Sorokin travelled to the U.S. on a three-month visa to attend New York Fashion Week and never left. Her father told the Mail that if his daughter is deported, there is a place for her back at the family home. She can come here, he said. I just dont know what she will do exactly. Returning to Germany is the last thing Sorokin wants. She has in the past claimed asylum in the U.S., insisting her life would be at risk in Germany following death threats. Yet given her criminal record, it is hard to see how Sorokin will win her appeal against deportation. She has shown little remorse for her crimes. The day after her fraud conviction, she told the New York Times: The thing is, Im not sorry. Id be lying if I said I was sorry for anything. On another occasion, she bragged: Crime pays, in a way. In an interview given to the Mail while she was on release last year, she boasted: Kim Kardashian got famous for a sex tape and I got famous for being smart and doing something. But in the same conversation she also admitted: Im not proud of what I did. I thought I was so smart and everyone else was so stupid. And she claims she used the 300,000 paid to her by Netflix for her life story to repay some of her victims. Arguing against her deportation, her previous lawyers have gone so far as to say she is truly a force of change that Americans can believe in and a source of inspiration for those who have fallen to believe they can get back up again. On deportation matters, Sorokin is being represented by Washington-based lawyer John Sandweg, himself a former director of Immigration and Customs enforcement. His eye-watering fees, believed to be around 900-an-hour, raise further questions about who is bankrolling Sorokin and why? For given how keen those around her appear to be when it comes to putting their hands in their pockets to save her, they clearly believe she has a future and a lucrative one at that. Shell have to work, but shes not going to be a barista at Starbucks or work in a supermarket, says Sorokins former associate. There is no doubt shes retained her ability to beguile and its unlikely her ambition will be dimmed. Art dealer Chris Martine describes her as a warrior and an inspiration. He says the 21 original artworks Sorokin created in prison are going on sale for between 13,000 and 18,000. While in prison, she has used a New Jersey DJ to post to her 1 million Instagram followers, but, according to her bail conditions, she cant ask third parties to do that while on bail Prints of sketches with titles such as No Regrets, Not Guilty, Delusions of Grandeur and Youre Not Who You Pretend To Be Either are being sold in print runs of 500 for 250 each. Martine insists that many of her admirers have already bought prints. Weve sold thousands, he claims. Shes very talented, but these artworks were created in prison where she only had water-colour paper and pencils. When shes out, shell have better opportunities at making more art. He said that he had spoken to Anna on the phone shortly after she heard she was to be released. I could hear the relief in her voice. She said words to the effect that things were finally going her way but that she wouldnt believe it until she was out. Sorokins lawyer Duncan Levin says that his client is extremely gratified by the courts decision to release her this week and praised the judge for recognising that she was not a danger to the community. But as with everything to do with Sorokin, the future for those who put their faith in her is a gamble. On the one hand, the high drama of recent months has provided ample fodder for another Netflix series. On the other, as one of her former associates told the Mail: Shes burned a lot of bridges in New York. It will be interesting to see how the art world and the social circuit regard her now. I think most of them will run a mile. Yet it would be unwise to underestimate Sorokin. When asked last year if she intended to make more money legally than she had fraudulently, she insisted: Id be stupid not to. As she observed of her business acumen: I still have the same skill-set. I just didnt apply it the right way. A 10-year-old child buried in Kent in the 7th century was of West African descent suggesting England was more diverse than previously thought in the Middle Ages. 'Updown Girl' so-called because she was laid to rest at Updown, near Eastry in Kent was buried with a pot, a bone comb, a knife and a spoon. Findings reveal 33 per cent of Updown Girl's DNA points to West African ancestry, most closely resembling Esan or Yoruba groups. Her African heritage came from her father's side, possibly her grandad or great grandad, although she was likely part of an affluent family that lived in England. The excavator's drawing of Updown Girl, Eastry Kent. She was accompanied by very typical grave goods - a pot, a bone comb, a knife, and a spoon WHO WAS UPDOWN GIRL? Updown Girl is one of 460 skeletons across 37 archaeological sites in Europe from which researchers have extracted ancient DNA. She was dubbed Updown Girl because her remains were found near Updown farm in the village of Eastry, Kent. Analysis suggests she was aged 10 or 11 when she died and was buried with typical grave goods a pot, a bone comb, a knife and a spoon. Findings reveal 33 per cent of Updown Girl's DNA points to West African ancestry, most closely resembling Esan or Yoruba groups. Her African heritage came from her father's side, possibly her grandad or great grandad, researchers said. Advertisement The findings, published in a series of articles in Current Archaeology, come from one of the largest ancient DNA projects in Europe, involving 460 people who were buried in graves between 200AD and 1300AD, 278 of whom were from England. 'Aged 10 or 11 when she died, this girl was buried in much the same way as the other early medieval individuals who were laid to rest at Updown, near Eastry,' said Current Archaeology Editor Carly Hilts. 'She was accompanied by very typical grave goods a pot, a bone comb, a knife, and a spoon and there was nothing to suggest that she had been treated differently, at least in death, even though the new genetic research highlights that her ancestry was very different to that of many of the people buried around her.' Updown Girl is buried near two women who, according to the experts, are likely to be her great aunts with Northern European ancestry. Both women were buried with several objects including belt hanging sets, beads, knives, combs and spoons, all suggesting they were part of an affluent family from the period. The fact that both the women and the girl were buried in the same way indicates that despite her different ancestry, the girl was treated equally as her other family members, according to Professor Duncan Sayer, project leader and archaeologist from the University of Central Lancashire. Slide film of the Updown Girl's grave. Unfortunately she was found a long time before digital photography, and her importance was not recognised until experts did the DNA work Of Updown Girl, Professor Sayer said: 'We found the granddaughter of a migrant who is part of a family that is biologically Northern European. 'She is buried in exactly the same way as everybody else this story really highlights that if we are looking at ethnicity, did not matter to these people.' Other notable findings include the remains of a teenage boy found at West Heslerton, an early medieval cemetery in Yorkshire. A gold bracteate and beads from a burial in Buckland near Dover, Kent The boy had 100 per cent Northern European ancestry and was buried with an armed brooch, an object with origins in Scandinavia. Researchers also found a gold bracteate a type of medal and beads from a burial in Buckland near Dover, Kent. Elsewhere in East Anglia, at a cemetery site near to RAF Lakenheath, there is a double grave which included two adolescents, thought to be siblings. The brother, estimated to be around 15 years old, is accompanied by a knife and buckle, and was buried next to is sister, aged around 12 years. Nearby is a third burial, an older man found with a spear, knife and pottery sherd. DNA analysis indicates the older male was the adolescents' father. The researchers believe that given the man's age, it is likely he was present at their burial. The DNA study, which was published in Nature last month, challenges our understanding of the first ever English people, according to the researchers. Sketches of an equal armed brooch found with skeleton in West Heslerton, a village in North Yorkshire Elsewhere in East Anglia, at a cemetery site near to RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, there is a double grave which included two adolescents, a boy of around 15 years accompanied by a knife and buckle, buried next to a girl aged around 12 years. Pictured, the two young siblings' remains They say there was a large-scale stream of migration from the Continental North Sea region into Eastern England during the Anglo-Saxon period, starting around 1,500 years ago. In all, 76 per cent of the Early Medieval population in Eastern England was comprised of migrants whose ancestors originated from Continental regions bordering the North Sea. New arrivals interbred with the existing population of Britain, but this integration varied enormously from region to region. The findings come from one of the largest ancient DNA projects in Europe, involving 460 people who were buried in graves between 200AD and 1300AD, 278 of whom were from England. Pictured, the distribution of sites analysed in the study Key for the distribution of sites analysed in this study, as marked on the map above. DK, Denmark; ENG, England; GER, Germany, IE, Ireland; NED, Netherlands Pictured, grave goods from inhumation grave 3532 at Issendorf cemetery in Lower-Saxony, Germany For example, at West Heslerton, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in North Yorkshire excavated over several decades, most ancestry was from the Continent. But at the contemporary post-Roman site of Worth Matravers in Dorset, there was almost no ancestry was from the Continent. However, most of the Anglo-Saxon sites in eastern and southern England fell somewhere in between. 'Our work shows that this migration cannot be understood as one single event; rather, it's made up of many different threads of individual people and families adapting to new circumstances across the regions of Britain,' Professor Sayer said. 'It is amazing being able to weave those threads together to create the fabric of their stories and in doing so, the rich and complex tapestry of our own past.' Mutant black frogs are spawning near the Chernobyl power plant, 36 years after its catastrophic meltdown unleashed one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. Eastern tree frogs are meant to have bright green skin but scientists working near Chernobyl have found many with darker or black pigmentation. In 1986, the site in northern Ukraine then under Soviet rule witnessed the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history. Now scientists think the mutated frogs' darker skin may have helped them survive in the exclusion zone, which today restricts access to 1,0000 sq miles around ground zero. Eastern tree frogs are meant to have bright green skin but scientists working near Chernobyl have found many with darker or black pigmentation In 1986, the site in northern Ukraine then under Soviet rule witnessed the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history Crops growing 30 miles outside of Chernobyl are still contaminated with dangerous levels of strontium Crops grown near Chernobyl are still contaminated, more than three decades after the worst nuclear disaster in history. Almost half the grain analyzed by scientists in Ivankiv, about 30 miles from the power plant, showed levels of strontium 90 far above recommended levels. It was also present at unsafe levels in firewood and wood ash used to fertilize crops. The Ukrainian government stopped testing goods for strontium 90 in 2013. A radioactive isotope, it collects in the teeth, bones and marrow like calcium, and can cause numerous kinds of cancer. Advertisement German Orizaola, a researcher at Spain's University of Oviedo, who co-authored the new study, said: 'We become aware of these frogs the very first night we worked in Chernobyl. 'We were looking for this species near the damaged power plant and we detected many frogs that were just black. 'We know that melanin is responsible for dark or black colouration in many organisms, including frogs. 'At the same time, we know that melanin protects from the damage caused by different types of radiation, from UV to ionizing radiation the kind at Chernobyl.' For their study, Dr Orizaola and his co-author, Pablo Burraco, collected more than 200 male frogs from 12 different breeding ponds with different levels of radiation. They found that frogs within the exclusion zone were much darker than those from outside it. And though there was no correlation between the darkest frogs and the most irradiated places today, there was a correlation with the worst-affected places from the time of the accident. In other words, the darker frogs had stood a better chance of survival when disaster struck in 1986, making them more numerous today. Dr Orizaola said: 'With this species it's possible to find, under normal circumstances, a small percentage of frogs with unusual colouration. For their study, Dr Orizaola and his co-author, Pablo Burraco, collected more than 200 male frogs from 12 different breeding ponds with different levels of radiation On April 26, 1986 a power station on the outskirts of Pripyat suffered a massive accident in which one of the reactors caught fire and exploded, spreading radioactive material into the surroundings 'This small percentage would have benefitted from the protection of melanin, especially at the time of the accident, when radiation levels where much higher, and the diversity of radioisotopes wider. 'Under this scenario, they should have survived better and reproduced better than the normal green frogs. 'Over time 10 to 12 generations of frogs have passed since the accident this would have resulted in these black frogs being predominant within the exclusion zone.' However, with radiation levels much lower today, the jury's out on whether the black frogs will remain dominant. Wwith radiation levels much lower today, the jury's out on whether the black frogs will remain dominant Dr Orizaola said: 'Since the protective role of melanin is not that crucial right now, with much lower levels of radiation, they may fade away. 'However, our study also shows that the maintenance of this black colouration seems not to incur a high cost there's no increase in oxidative stress levels, for example. 'So it may persist.' On April 26, 1986 a power station on the outskirts of Pripyat suffered a massive accident in which one of the reactors caught fire and exploded, spreading radioactive material into the surroundings. More than 160,000 residents of the town and surrounding areas had to be evacuated and have been unable to return, leaving the former Soviet site as a radioactive ghost town. Pepsi will use the all-electric Semi for deliveries to reduce its carbon emissions Elon Musk has confirmed that Teslas first Semi trucks will be delivered to Pepsi in December, five years after the vehicle was first announced. Tesla Semi, a semi-autonomous lorry, was first announced back in November 2017 at an event in Los Angeles, but five years later it's still yet to hit the market. Pepsi ordered 100 of the vehicles that same year and the soft drinks giant will finally receive its order this December. Pepsi will use Tesla's all-electric Semi in place of petrol trucks in an effort to cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions. Elon Musk has confirmed that Teslas first Semi trucks will be delivered to Pepsi in December, five years after it was first announced According to the specs on the Tesla website, Semi has an impressive acceleration, going from 0-60 mph in 20 seconds The Tesla CEO said that the massive battery-powered truck, said to be 20-feet long, is 'super fun to drive' TESLA SEMI SPECS Range: Up to 500 miles Acceleration: 0-60mph in 20 seconds Energy consumption: Less than 2 kWh per mile Charging: Up to 70 per cent in 30 minutes Length: 20 feet (estimated) Cost: $150,000/$180,000 Advertisement 'Excited to announce start of production of Tesla Semi Truck with deliveries to @Pepsi on Dec 1st!' Musk said in a tweet on Friday. The Tesla CEO added that the massive battery-powered truck, said to be 20-feet long, is 'super fun to drive'. Semi can reach 60 miles per hour with an 80,000-pound load and is intended for highway drivers covering long distances. According to the specs on the Tesla website, it has an impressive acceleration, going from 0-60 mph in 20 seconds. Semi has Tesla's semi-autonomous driving system, designed to keep a vehicle in its lane without drifting, and can transition from one freeway to another with no human intervention. The basic version of Semi will cost about $150,000 (132,000) and be able to travel up to 300 miles in a charge, while a 500-mile range model will go for $180,000 (158,000). Musk said that it will be the 500-mile range Semi that will start shipping, suggesting buyers of the less expensive 300-mile version will have to wait even longer. The Tesla Semi is on display at the Tesla Giga Texas manufacturing facility during the 'Cyber Rodeo' grand opening party on April 7, 2022 in Austin, Texas Pepsi will use Tesla's all-electric Semi in place of petrol trucks (pictured) in an effort to cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions (file photo) It's not clear how many Semi vehicles Tesla will produce in all, or if any other Semi purchasers will get their order in December too. Back in 2017, Pepsi reserved 100 of Tesla's semi electric trucks as it sought to reduce the fuel costs and fleet emissions associated with petrol vehicles. In an interview with CNBC last year, Pepsi boss Ramon Laguarta had said transportation accounted for 10 per cent of the company's gas emissions. Pepsi also previously said it aims to use the trucks to ship snack foods and beverages between manufacturing and distribution centers as well as to retailers. Tesla Semi is already in use by Elon Musk's company in June, it was filmed assisting with the installation of vehicle chargers in California. It's also been on display at Tesla's 2,500 acre manufacturing facility in Texas during the Cyber Rodeo event in April. Semi is one of several Tesla products that the company has announced but is yet to deliver, along with the Roadster and the Optimus robot. But possibly the most hotly-anticipated Tesla vehicle is the Cybertruck, a futuristic pick-up truck with an angular body in gun metal grey. Dogs may react out of fear if stress indicators, like growling, are not recognised Vets are warning against a new TikTok trend that sees dog owners barking back at their pooches and filming their reaction. This is known as the #barkatyourdog challenge, and videos listed under that hashtag currently have nearly 160 million views. Some of the pups taking part respond by staring at their owner in shock, but others can be seen giving a ferocious growl, warning them to back off. Veterinary Nurse Shauna Spooner, from the charity PDSA, has slammed the trend, saying it could have 'dangerous consequences'. Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'There are always new crazes and trends that become popular and that many people want to copy, but when pets are involved it's important to stop and think before taking part. 'The latest TikTok trend "Bark at your dog" could easily upset your dog, making them feel confused, scared, and/or shocked.' Vets are warning against a new TikTok trend that sees dog owners barking back at their pooches, and filming their reaction. This is known as the #barkatyourdog challenge, and videos listed under that hashtag currnetly have nearly 160 million views HOW DOGS SHOW STRESS - 'LADDER OF COMMUNICATION' How a dog reacts to something they find stressful can be thought of as a series of steps on a ladder. Each step covers different signals dogs show through their body language to communicate with people and other animals theyre feeling uncomfortable or stressed. As a dog gets more upset, their body language may change according to the steps on the ladder. Yawning, blinking, nose licking Looking away Turning body away, sitting, pawing Walking away Creeping away, ears back, whites of eyes shown Standing crouched, tail tucked under Lying down, exposed belly Stiffening up, staring Growl Snap Bite Source: PDSA Advertisement She added: 'A dog will receive no benefits or positive feelings from this challenge; instead, they may become worried and experience feelings of mistrust, which can affect the bond between you. 'In a worst-case scenario, it could have dangerous consequences for the pet owner. 'Some dogs are very tolerant, and may seem unaffected. 'But if you familiarise yourself with your pets' body language you may start to see that they're not comfortable and may be showing signs of distress. 'Dogs that are less tolerant, due to having had warning signs ignored, may understandably react out of fear, which is a completely natural reaction for a dog when they feel scared.' The trend appears to have begun in 2021, with the most popular video, with nearly 25 million likes, showing a pup headbutting his owner in response. Other similar trends have involved users playing a series of 'triggering' sounds to their pooches, like squeaky toys and high pitched whistles, to get a reaction. Ms Spooner adds that it is crucial to understand and respond to your dog's body language, to avoid pushing them to their limits. She told MailOnline: 'Many of these videos show dogs in a state of stress yawning, licking their lips, holding their ears back, tense body, or showing the whites of their eyes these are all ways a dog tells us they are uncomfortable with a situation. 'When their body language signs aren't recognised or acknowledged, that is when we can see the escalation to growling, snarling, snapping, and even biting to protect themselves. 'This challenge involves being in very close contact with your dog, and having prolonged eye contact. 'Invading your dogs' space can make them feel uncomfortable and worried, while direct eye contact can make them feel threatened, a dangerous combination, which could trigger a serious reaction from your pet. 'Surprising your dog by barking in their face will be shocking, they won't expect this behaviour from an owner they trust and usually feel safe with. 'The shock and unease that this challenge may cause a dog has the potential to have lasting impact where a dog might react to any future incidents where they are face-to-face with someone for example.' Veterinary Nurse Shauna Spooner, from the charity PDSA, has slammed the trend, saying it could have 'dangerous consequences'. She said: 'There are always new crazes and trends that become popular and that many people want to copy, but when pets are involved it's important to stop and think before taking part. The latest TikTok trend 'Bark at your dog' could easily upset your dog, making them feel confused, scared, and/or shocked' (stock image) Ms Spooner adds that it is crucial to understand and respond to your dog's body language, to avoid pushing them to their limits. She said: 'Many of these videos show dogs in a state of stress yawning, licking their lips, holding their ears back, tense body, or showing the whites of their eyes these are all ways a dog tells us they are uncomfortable with a situation. When their body language signs aren't recognised or acknowledged, that is when we can see the escalation to growling, snarling, snapping, and even biting to protect themselves' This is not the first time animal experts have been forced to speak out against an online challenge involving pets. Last year, a disturbing trend began circulating on TikTok where people fed hot sauce to their dogs 'to see their reaction'. In one video, a dog was clearly in discomfort but continued to chew on the sauce-covered chicken leg due to its innate love for meat. The Blue Cross, one of the UK's leading animal welfare charities, said it was 'horrified' to see the social media trend. Chilli in hot sauce can cause pancreatitis inflammation in the pancreas in dogs, while other ingredients like onion and garlic are also toxic for canines. 'While the intent is providing your pet with what they perceive as a tasty treat, this could cause them serious pain and discomfort,' Alison Thomas, head of veterinary Services at the Blue Cross, told MailOnline. 'Spicy foods should never be fed to our pets as they can cause severe indigestion, vomiting and diarrhoea. 'Some of the ingredients in sauces like this, onions and garlic for example, can also cause harm and should also never be fed to pets.' This TikTok user posted two videos to the site to show how much their pet 'doesn't care about hot sauce!'. Her poor dog is clearly in discomfort but continues to chew on the sauce-covered chicken leg due to its innate love for meat In 2020, another trend arose on TikTok where users were holding their pets to their ear - often upside down or in an awkward position - as if they were a phone. They would then reenact a phone conversation from 2001 film The Princess Diaries, before flinging the animal down. Jessica May, UK lead veterinarian at the video vet service FirstVet, told MailOnline that she was concerned the pets are often held 'inappropriately' and that the rough handling of the animals could lead to damage to the 'back, skull or spine'. Meanwhile Canine Behaviour and Training Manager, Janine Pemberthy, of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said handling pets in such a way is 'distressing' to the animal and puts them 'at risk of being injured'. @k0uvr I couldnt hold it together when he fell off the counter btw this is one of my favorite movies original sound - maddieyoungman The craze, which has been taken up by users in the US and the UK, sees the owner lift the pet to their ear, often upside down or in an awkward position, while reenacting a phone conversation from 2001 film The Princess Diaries. Pictured, two US users try out the trend on TikTok During her visit to Georgia, the US Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Bonnie Davis Jenkins, expressed her support for the US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan.Jenkins came to Georgia to attend the conference of the Biosafety Association in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.Jenkins said she will meet with government officials to discuss various issues and voice his support for Kelly Degnan and her team."During my visit, I will also meet with Georgian leaders to discuss various areas and directions of our cooperation and strategic interests, such as border security, and customs defense, and during all these meetings I expect to convey a message of strong support from Washington for the enormous and important work that Ambassador Kelly Degnan and her embassy team are committed to supporting and advancing Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and to the Government of Georgia for their willingness to work with us on these issues," Jenkins said.In addition, Jenkins emphasized that the 'attacks' on Kelly Degnan are part of a larger disinformation scheme."The effort has not been easy, especially in recent times when we have been concerned about personal attacks on Ambassador Degnan and the embassy. Let's be clear, this is part of a larger scheme of disinformation to cover up the truth and the reality of the current crisis in Europe created by one man." said the US Deputy Secretary of State.Chairman of "Georgian Dream", Irakli Kobakhidze, in response to the statement of the US Deputy Secretary of State, said that only Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia attacked the US ambassador, while the deputies who left "Georgian Dream" and formed "People's Power" party, were asking questions, which is within the scope of freedom of expression.According to Kobakhidze, if he believed that the members of "People's Power" were attacking the ambassador and damaging relations with the states, he would have separated from them."I only remember two cases of the attack on the US ambassador, one from Gvaramia and the other from Melia. As for certain critical statements, any politician has the right to do so, including politicians in the majority. We are proud of freedom of expression, one of the constitutional, basic rights.Asking a question when it is considered an attack, or then interpreting a non-answer as an attack, is itself an attack on freedom of expression. When a person asks questions, cannot get answers, then tries to explain this situation, this is a component of freedom of expression", said Kobakhidze.According to Irakli Kobakhidze, there is a lot of information of interest to the public, which they do not intend to make public because they are careful about relations with the United States.When asked whether such information can be made public by the members of "People's Power", Kobakhidze said that he does not know "what they will bring out and what they will not"."I can tell you that what they are talking about is not 100%, not even 50% of the information at their disposal. They know much more and I don't know what they will say and what they won't say," Kobakhidze said. An electronic stethoscope on a smartphone could pave the way for doctors to monitor patients' hearts remotely. The traditional doctor's stethoscope was invented in 1816, but almost 200 years later it is possible to place a smartphone on your chest and record a heartbeat. An app developed by a team including King's College London records not only the basic 'lub-dub' of a beating heart but the sounds in between of its valves opening and closing. Its main use in the future could be to reveal if someone has a heart murmur, which causes an abnormal 'swishing' sound between heartbeats, and indicates someone has a heart valve condition. It could also provide extra information to detect atrial fibrillation, which affects more than a million people in the UK. An electronic stethoscope on a smartphone could pave the way for doctors to monitor patients' hearts remotely The traditional doctor's stethoscope was invented in 1816, but almost 200 years later it is possible to place a smartphone on your chest and record a heartbeat How does it work? Users simply hold their phone against their chest in one of four recommended areas, hit record, then save the audio file. Once someone has saved a recording of their heart on the Echoes app, which launched last May, it is added to a database for researchers to analyse for sound quality and medical implications. Users receive no diagnoses or recommendations to contact a doctor, but the app could provide this in the future. Advertisement Atrial fibrillation, better known as an irregular heartbeat, is best picked up by an echocardiogram, which can be incorporated in a smart watch, but the app could provide more information in the future. New research on the Echoes app, due to be presented at the New Scientist Live event in London this weekend, shows more than 80 per cent of people are able to accurately create a good-quality recording of their heart by placing their phone on their chest. Analysis of 1,148 users showed people could detect their own heartbeat regardless of their sex or weight, although over-60s took a little longer to get used to the technology. The app is also used by people to keep mementos of dying loved ones, by recording their heartbeat. Pablo Lamata, professor of biomedical engineering at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, who helped to develop the app, said: 'This research proves that mobile technologies are a viable way of recording heart sounds and that, in the future, cardiac patients and doctors could use at-home recordings to check for existence or progression of heart conditions.' The app was developed in partnership with Maastricht University and a private company called Cellule Design Studio, with input from consultants and patients at the British Heart Foundation and Evelina Children's Heart Organisation (ECHO). A study published in European Heart Journal - Digital Health collected more than 7,500 heart sound recordings from international users last year. It found 75 per cent were good quality, and most of these were achieved within three attempts using a smartphone's inbuilt microphone. Users simply hold their phone against their chest in one of four recommended areas, hit record, then save the audio file. Once someone has saved a recording of their heart on the Echoes app, which launched last May, it is added to a database for researchers to analyse for sound quality and medical implications Once someone has saved a recording of their heart on the Echoes app, which launched last May, it is added to a database for researchers to analyse for sound quality and medical implications. Users receive no diagnoses or recommendations to contact a doctor, but the app could provide this in the future. Professor James Leiper, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which also helped to fund the research (SUBS - pls keep), said (SUBS - pls keep): 'Further research is needed to test how the app can be used in tandem with existing heart monitoring techniques. 'However, if successful, this development could mark an important step towards having heart monitoring tools at your fingertips.' Samantha Johnson, chief executive of ECHO, said: 'For children living with heart conditions hearing their own heartbeat and comparing it to family or friends has been fun and opened conversations about their heart conditions.' The woman's femur was also analyzed, showing she was just four feet tall DNA shows it resembles African samples and features of the cranium resemble Negritos of the Philippines and South Africa The ancient Taiwanese legend of 'short, dark skinned' people who lived in remote mountains and suddenly disappeared has been confirmed to be true following the discovery of a 'Negriot' woman's remains in a cave that dates back 6,000 years. The nation's indigenous tribes have long shared stories about small stature hunter-gatherers who were already settled when they arrived 4,800 years ago - but a lack of evidence has shrouded this group in mystery for several hundred years. A DNA analysis on the skull shows it is close to African samples and features of the cranium resemble Negritos of the Philippines and South Africa, who all are well known for their short stature and small body size. Archaeologists also uncovered femur bones from the female, which suggest she stood about four feet, six inches tall. It is still not known what happened to this ancient group, but researchers involved with the study suggest the arrival of the Austronesian peoples could have led to the decline and disappearance of the Negritos in Taiwan. A DNA analysis of the skull shows it is closer to African samples and features of the cranium resemble Negritos of the Philippines and South Africa, who all are well known for their short stature and small body size 'The term 'Negrito', little black person, is a Spanish diminutive of negro, first used by the 16th-century Spanish missionaries to describe the hunter-gatherers in the Philippines,' reads the study published in World Archeology. 'As the Negrito groups are characterized by their short stature, dark skin, and frizzy hair, all groups of a similar phenotype in the neighboring region, including the Mani (Maniq) in southern Thailand, the Semang groups in Peninsular Malaysia, and the Andamanese in the Andaman Islands are often labeled together as the Negritos.' There are 16 recognized Austronesian groups in Taiwan and all but one have similar legends about the Negrito people. The legends about the apparent 'Negritos' of Taiwan were collected during three major cultural periods: the Chinese Qing Dynasty of 1683 to 1895, the Japanese Rule period of 1895 to 1945, and then the post-1945 era. The woman's remains were found inside a cave and are believed to be at least 6,000 years old Several documents from the Quin Dynasty have mentioned the existence of 'small-statured and dark-skinned people' on the island, noting they spoke a different language and only intermarried among themselves. During the Japanese period, scholars collected and interpreted the tales about Negrito people through field research among the Austronesian tribes - a total of 25 of these legends in Taiwan were collected. After 1945, this topic had attracted more attention, and the number of collected stories increased to 258 through linguistic and ethnological field research. The Austronesian groups, however, varied on opinions about Negritos. Some of the indigenous tribes viewed them as their ancestors, while others saw them as 'aliens and enemies,' the study describes. One tribe, the Saisiyat, claim they learned medicine, singing, dancing and other rituals from the who they called, Ta'ai. More than 1,000 years ago, the Saisiyat killed what they believe to be the last village of Negritos in a battle over women - and the tribe still feels the guilt of their ancestors' actions. The Saisiyat forced a battle, cornering so many people on a bridge that the entire tribe drowned when warriors tipped it into a fast-flowing mountain river Chu Fung-lu, master of ceremonies for the memorial held in Wufeng Village deep in the mountains of central Taiwan, told Reuters. The ancient Taiwanese legend of short, dark skinned people who lived in remote mountains. Pictured is a group of Negritos in Singapore One of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, the Saisiyat, claim they learned medicine, singing, dancing and other rituals from the who they called, Ta'ai. Here they are performing a dance said to have come from the Negrito group The woman's remains were found buried inside one of the largest Xiaoma caves that sits on the eastern coastline of the island The woman's remains were found buried inside one of the largest Xiaoma caves that sits on the eastern coastline of the island. Also in the layers of dirt were deposits of Neolithic pottery-bearing and Iron Age findings that date back between 2,000 and 6,200 years ago. The position of the woman's remains suggest she was laid to rest in a squatting position, which matches other methods of hunter-gatherer graves in southern China and Southeast Asia from late Paleolithic (50,000 to 12,000 years ago) through Mesolithic (10,000 to 20,000 years ago) and Preceramic, which began 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists determined the sex through the skull, as the pelvis was not available to analyze. 'The individual was ascertained to be female because of the gracile cranium, small mastoid processes, smooth occipital muscle attachment area, perpendicular and elevated frontal bone, and the smooth contour of the mandibular base,' according to the study. The Negrito population is believed to be tied to the 'first layer' of anatomically modern humans who show a closer resemblance to Africans than present-day Eurasians who represent the 'second-layer.' Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has urged his side to 'defend the s*** out of everybody' when they face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. The Reds will be hoping to get back to winning ways, following their 3-3 draw with Brighton last week, when they face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates. And the German has sent out a rallying cry in his pre-match press conference, as he insisted his team must have all hands on deck to keep out the rampant hosts. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has urged his side to be 'unpredictable' when they face Arsenal Mikel Arteta's side are top of the league after a blistering start to the Premier League season The Reds have been uncharacteristically poor in conceding plenty of goals Speaking on Friday, Klopp said: 'We need consistency. For consistency, we have to defend the... rubbish, out of everybody. Let me say it like this. I'm not interested in this short-term diagnosis, 'that was good, that was bad'. No, we have to be good until we are outstanding.' When pressed on using the word 'rubbish', Klopp responded: 'I wanted to say: 'We have to defend the s*** out of everybody we face', so that's why I used the word 'rubbish'. So, that's what we have to do and that's what we try.' In recent weeks, Liverpool have come under criticism for their leaky back-line - having conceded first in a lot of their recent games. The German boss has encouraged his side to remain 'unpredictable' when they face Arsenal Trent Alexander-Arnold has come under scrutiny for his defending this term Disappointing performances against Napoli and Brighton caused the Liverpool boss to change their system and formation for their Champions League clash with Rangers. Klopp continued: 'It's much more important that we become unpredictable again and we need different systems. 'We don't want to make it more complicated but there are different systems. We have to choose which one is best with the next opponent. The Reds will travel to the Emirates to face Arteta's Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League grudge match. She says that the city, which has an 'intriguing multicultural past', is 'well worth' a detour from Budapest Advertisement The imposing city of Budapest has such a powerful presence that no other Hungarian city seems to get much of a look in. But drive south for a couple of hours or travel by train for around three and youll be rewarded with one of the most beautiful little cities in the country. The fifth largest city in Hungary, Pecs (pronounced Paitch) has a population of just 147,000, and an intriguing multicultural past which is still reflected today. Historic: Jo Knowsley wandered through colourful Szechenyi Square, pictured, on a tour of Pecs, the fifth largest city in Hungary With the oldest university in the country, its a captivating town brimming with life, creativity and energy. Indeed, it feels like a rare bastion of liberalism in a country where the government has a stranglehold on many freedoms. It was an odd time to be in Hungary. It was not long after Putin had invaded Ukraine; I was told those in the north-east of the country could see and hear gunfire across the border. The atmosphere in Budapest had been a little anxious. On my tour there were some Serbian visitors (Serbia has historic links with Russia) who created their own tensions: drunkenly bellowing out Russian songs at a wine bar. The accordionist, struggling to keep every nationality happy, played Roll Out The Barrel for we Brits. It didnt have quite the same impact particularly as it was sung in Hungarian. But in Pecs, with its cobbled streets, lavish buildings, mosques (from the Ottoman occupation), museums and lush nearby award-winning vineyards, it was peaceful. A little city happy in its own skin. Wandering along the main cobblestone street, Kiraly, bordered by large, leafy trees, you glimpse a tiny section of the old city walls, together with an ancient stone coat of arms, at the start of the promenade. Old wooden shop fronts jostle with grand 19th-century buildings. The Dubai Kebab restaurant nudges the Ciao Bella Italian. The Caflisch confectionery shop, with its pastries and cream treats, opened in 1789, and is the oldest shop of its kind in the country. 'With the oldest university in the country, its a captivating town brimming with life, creativity and energy,' Jo says of Pecs The city has an intriguing multicultural past which is still reflected today, Jo reveals. During her visit, she spied kebab restaurants and Italian eateries as well as traditional Hungarian bakeries This used to be an important town, explained Pytor, a young man I met in the grand Szechenyi Square nearby. You can see it in all the buildings. You know in Pecs we like knowing about other cultures; there are many different people studying here at the university. It makes it perhaps a bit more mixed than other Hungarian cities. We like choice and we enjoy mixing with other cultures. Pecs was first inhabited by the Celts, then settled by the Romans, who called it Sopianae, in the 4th century, and their mausoleums remain preserved under the city streets. Clamber down into the atmospheric Cella Septichora Visitor Centre, now a single Unesco World Heritage Site, and youll find ancient tombs containing vivid frescoes of the Virgin Mary and Adam and Eve. It is the imposing Szechenyi Square, however, that delivers the wow factor in the centre. Pictured is the Pasha Qasim Mosque-turned church - atop its lofty dome sit both the Islamic crescent moon and a Christian cross TRAVEL FACTS Jo Knowsley travelled to Hungary as a guest of the Visit Hungary (visithungary.com). BA flies to Budapest from 80 return (ba.com). Train tickets from Budapest to Pecs cost 18. Advertisement Refurbished for the citys stint as European Capital of Culture in 2010, the borders of the plaza contain some of Pecss biggest landmarks, the 18th-century city and council halls, the Nador Hotel and the dome of the Pasha Qasim Mosque-turned church. Atop its lofty dome sit both the Islamic crescent moon and a Christian cross; a duality further reflected inside. There, Turkish lamps light a room dominated by an altar, behind Islamic arches, but with the walls featuring religious paintings. There remain some inscriptions from the Koran on the walls. Late at night, the city tempts you with different pleasures. At the Partisan bar a modern, atmospheric place of exposed brick and wooden beams a tall, bearded waiter brought us wine, made in the nearby vineyards, while young people gathered in the dimly-lit Szechenyi Square. It was approaching midnight and they were just getting started. In some ways, Pecs is a postcard of a picture-perfect past. But its also vibrant and lively; well worth a two or three-day detour from the spas, bars and restaurants in the capital. EMMERDALE Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside! A conversation with Aaron gives Faith an idea and she decides upon a family day out yes, at the seaside. Cains not happy (lets be honest, family outings are usually about as much fun as chicken pox) as hes struggling with Faiths demands; but when her health takes a turn for the worse, the family hatch a new plan theyll bring the seaside to Emmerdale. Knowing this villages luck, an ice cream van will run them all over, but no, for once its a perfect day as Faith watches the family enjoy the fun; when Cain asks her to dance, shes brimming with happiness. Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside! A conversation with Aaron gives Faith (pictured with Cain) an idea and she decides upon a family day out yes, at the seaside SO LONG, SALLY Sally Dexter always knew her character Faith was coming back to die. What will she miss? The laughter, fabulous Yorkshire countryside and the skill, talent and dedication of the team. Advertisement Little do they know shes planning to end her life, and after saying her goodbyes she prepares to carry out the deed alone. When Cain arrives he realises what shes done and is with her as she takes her last breath; hes heartbroken. They are great performances from Sally Dexter and Jeff Hordley, in their characters complex relationship thats veered from sheer hatred and rejection on his part, to a tender, understanding love. Beautiful. Chas has missed the lot because shes busy canoodling with Al at a hotel. When Al switches her phone to silent, she misses Paddys many calls urging her to come home, so its clear that shes not going to get back in time. Serves her right. Shes never happy is she, unless shes with a bloke in a cellar or hotel room? Little did Faith know when she named her Chastity just how far she would go to play down her name. Theres more lurking going on when Kim goes looking for Will at the scrapyard and listens in as Harriet fights for his love. Honestly, Kim, tell her she can have him; you can do a lot better and have. As for Harriet, give the woman some bromide; is there nothing she wont do to try to land a man even if it is someone elses? What will Kim do with the information? Be afraid, Harriet; be very afraid. CORONATION STREET A real-life troll nightmare... Just when she thought the abuse had died down, Corries Maria finds herself on the receiving end of another online troll. Actor Samia Longchambon has been a victim in real life, too, and says, Its horrible. I dont think anyone can say it doesnt affect them, because youre human; it does affect you. I just wish they had more of a conscience before they said those things. Samia hopes the storyline will prove helpful. If it stops just one person from being nasty to someone, its worth it. Advertisement Tracy has never forgiven Wendys affair with Ken, and that relationship looks unlikely to thaw when Wendy gives Ken tickets to a book launch at the Bistro for his birthday. A book launch? You dont need two hands to count the people who can read in Weatherfield. Despite agreeing to discuss the play with Mary, Ken leaves when he gets a message from Wendy, and when Tracy hears Marys been ditched, she sees red at the launch. Revenge is sweet, though, and when Tracy (right) apologises for making a scene, she offers to cook lunch for Wendy to welcome her to the family. Whats on the menu? Arsenic stew? Cobra curry? Far worse, and Ken is livid when Tracy serves up Deirdres speciality stuffed marrow. Oh, the memories. No one could deliver a line with such straight-faced genius as our dearly departed Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre, extolling the virtues of her stuffed marrow. Such a regular it was in her kitchen, she could have written many books Marrow Stuffing For Dummies, 1,000 Ways To Stuff Your Marrow, Keep Your Husband Happy With Stuffed Marrow; it was a tireless joke. Poor Maria is receiving death threats once again and David has his suspicions that Max is behind it. No surprise there; he usually is. But why are the police coming round after an inspection of Maxs laptop? Pictured: Tracy McDonald, as played by Kate Ford, and Amy Barlow, as played by Elle Mulvaney EASTENDERS Eve doesnt just have a heart of gold, she has a veritable gold mine nesting in her chest. Why else would she keep giving Suki chance after chance, when all the woman does is reject her? Suki could turn milk sour just by looking at it; actually, she could ferment a whole dairy with just a blink. And yet, here we are again. Despite Eve being on a blind date finally, shes found Londons gay scene (it was hardly hiding its light under a bushel) shes unnerved to bump into Suki at The Albert. When she sees a clearly distressed Suki rushing off, Eve follows her. Lo and behold, later at number 31, they passionately kiss. With Harpreet arranging for Suki to fly to Mumbai to get her out of the way, the women finally give in to their feelings. How long will it last this time? When she sees a clearly distressed Suki rushing off, Eve follows her. Lo and behold, later at number 31, they passionately kiss (pictured) My guess would be less time than a taxi fare to Heathrow. Honestly, Eve, talk about being a sucker for punishment; there are inmates on Death Row facing less purgatory than this woman puts you through. Alfie is still intent on pursuing Kat, but his cause is not helped when a young woman arrives at the pub to remind him that hes getting married. Tomorrow. Inevitably, theres more to it, of course. But thats another fine mess youve got me into, Alfie. Fitness guru Sam Wood has shared his advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The Bachelor star and founder of workout program 28 By Sam Wood said it's fine to exercise at your own pace, but it's important to be consistent. The 42-year-old father of four also advised that results won't be immediate, but that doesn't mean you should give up. Fitness guru Sam Wood has shared his advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle 'It's about being patient and starting out with baby steps. Don't try to undo 10 years of bad health habits in two weeks,' he said on the Today show on Thursday. Wood also said there is an ideal time of day to exercise that means you won't get distracted: first thing in the morning. 'I'm a big fan of working out in the morning, because life is crazy. Book your workout in as a calendar appointment,' he explained. Wood concluding by saying it's important to eat 'real food' - by which he presumably means avoiding processed foods - but that doesn't mean you should deny yourself the occasional treat. The founder of workout program 28 By Sam Wood said it's fine to exercise at your own pace, but it's important to be consistent. He also said there is an ideal time of day to exercise that means you won't get distracted: first thing in the morning 'Fill yourself up with wholefoods [but] don't try to be perfect. If you want to have fish and chips on a Friday night, fine,' he said. Earlier this year, the entrepreneur sold his fitness program 28 by Sam Wood for $71million to myDNA, a company that provides customers with personalised fitness and health plans based on an analysis of their DNA results. Under the deal, Wood has become an investor in myDNA, holding a five per cent stake. Wood said it's important to eat 'real food' - by which he presumably means avoiding processed foods - but that doesn't mean you should deny yourself the occasional treat Since its launch in 2016, 28 by Sam Wood has attracted more than 400,000 individual users and partnered with the likes of Woolworths and Blackmores vitamins. Sam and his wife Snezana Markoski share daughters Willow, five, Charlie, three, and five-month-old Harper. He is also stepfather to 17-year-old Eve. The couple have been together since meeting on The Bachelor Australia in 2015. They tied the knot in Byron Bay, NSW, in 2018. Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde are reportedly 'set to live together in the UK' as she dropped huge hint she wants to relocate full-time. The actress, 38, visited a school in North London, suggesting she is looking for somewhere to enrol her children Otis and Daisy. Olivia and her kids currently live in Los Angeles alongside her former fiance Jason Sudeikis, however the director has more frequently been jetting to the UK to visit her boyfriend Harry, 28. Couple: Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde are reportedly 'set to live together in the UK' as she dropped huge hint she wants to relocate full-time (pictured together last month in Venice) A source told The Sun: 'Harry and Olivia are completely committed to each other and want to spend as much time together as possible.' Olivia and Harry have both been very busy focusing on their successful careers but frequently fly out to see each other. The insider continued: 'But the kids are always her first priority, so basing them in the UK is a viable option for their future, given she sees that with Harry, who wants to stay in London. 'She has spoken to Jason about it because his say is important too as the kids's dad.' Relocate: The actress, 38, visited a school in North London, suggesting she is looking for somewhere to enrol her and ex fiance Jason Sudeikis' children Otis and Daisy (Jason pictured on Tuesday) Jason often spends time in London as he films hit comedy series Ted Lasso in the capital. The source continued: 'It sounds like they have agreed London is the best place. Nothing has been signed and sealed yet but they are strongly considering the move.' Olivia's representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Jason is currently involved in a very public custody battle with ex-fiance Olivia over their children together, son Otis and daughter Daisy, five. Actress Olivia is currently in a relationship with Harry Styles, although there is some confusion over when their romance began and exactly when she split from her ex-fiance. Olivia and Harry went public with their romance in January 2021, just three months after meeting when the director cast the former boybander in her movie. Romance: Olivia is currently in a relationship with Harry although there is some confusion over when their romance began and exactly when she split from her ex-fiance According to reports at the time, Jason and Olivia's nine year relationship ended in November 2020 - with rumors beginning to circulate that there was a crossover between the two relationship timelines. But while appearing on the latest cover of Vanity Fair, Olivia shut down any cheating claims - assuring the romance between her and Jason was over 'long before' she and Harry became romantic. Olivia and ex Jason were in a relationship for nearly a decade from 2011 to 2020. Tension: Jason is currently involved in a very public custody battle with ex-fiance Olivia Wilde, 46, over their children together, son Otis and daughter Daisy, five (pictured in 2020) Jason had filed the suit against his ex in New York City Family Court over their two children in October 2021. He had wanted his two children to live with him in Brooklyn. Olivia, however, wanted them to stay with her in Los Angeles, and possibly relocate to London, where her boyfriend Harry Styles lives. Four months ago, Olivia was on stage at the ComicCon event in Las Vegas to promote her upcoming film Don't Worry Darling when she was ambushed with a petition from Jason - who wanted their children to live with him in New York City. A source close to the former couple told DailyMail.com exclusively in April that Jason had 'no idea' the papers were being served to her in that way. Meanwhile, Olivia recently received a legal win when a judge ruled California was the home state of their kids and last week an insider told People that she 'wants to focus on what's best for the kids' and opened up about their custody issues. Olivia filed a petition to 'determine parental relationship in Superior Court of California, in LA' on May, the filing noted. Her legal team moved to legally dismiss Sudekis' custody case on May 18. The custody battle will now have to be tried in California, so the 'whole thing will start over' in court there, legal experts allege. 'She and Jason don't speak to each other, so they have help communicating about the custody schedule,' the source said. While Olivia is 'upset about the custody drama', she still wants their children to see their father 'as much as possible.' 'She hopes they can figure out the best living situation for everyone,' the insider said of the actress. Laura Byrne has revealed an ex-boyfriend was fixated with having sex with her knee. The 38-year-old revealed on the I've Got News for You podcast that her former flame was obsessed with the idea of being intimate with 'all' of her. This included pleasuring himself in the fleshy crook of her leg. Laura Byrne has revealed an ex-boyfriend was fixated with having sex with her knee 'I used to think it was flattering; now I realise how weird it is,' she said. Laura went into graphic detail about the act, revealing how her ex would ask her to bend her knee in a certain way so he could insert himself into the joint. The radio and podcast host said her former partner would attempt outercourse 'anywhere he could make a crease'. The 38-year-old revealed her former flame was obsessed with the idea of being intimate with 'all' of her. This included pleasuring himself in the fleshy crook of her leg Brittany Hockley, who co-hosts the Life Uncut podcast with Laura, was familiar with the story and said 'there was a lot of leg sex' during the couple's relationship. Laura rose to fame on Matty Johnson's season of The Bachelor in 2017. The couple are now parents to two children and engaged to be married. She did not reveal the identity of her ex-boyfriend who enjoyed knee sex. Brittany Hockley (right), who co-hosts the Life Uncut podcast with Laura, was familiar with the story and said 'there was a lot of leg sex' during the couple's relationship Her and Brittany's podcast won the Listeners' Choice Awards for two years in a row at The Australian Podcast Awards. Life Uncut has also been picked up KIIS FM and turned into a national radio show, and Brittany and Laura will soon release their first book. The self-help book, titled We Love Love: An Unfiltered A to Z of Modern Romance, will cover various dating topics, such as ghosting and long-distance relationships. Johnny Depp was greeted by enthusiastic fans as he stepped out in Boston Thursday. The 59-year-old sported an eclectic look that included a blue cotton jacket, a striped button down shirt and gray pants. The actor added some splashes of color with green sneakers, and an aubergine belt. Eclectic: Johnny Depp, 59, sported an eclectic look that included a blue cotton jacket, a striped button down shirt and gray pants as he stepped out in Boston Thursday where he was set to play a show with rocker Jeff Beck, 78 The Pirates of the Caribbean star placed a blue page boy cap over his long dark hair. His graying beard was cropped close to his face. The star has joined rocker Jeff Beck, 78, on tour. The duo were scheduled to play in Boston Thursday and are set to play across the US through November 12. Splashes of color: The actor added some splashes of color with green sneakers, and an aubergine belt. The Pirates of the Caribbean star placed a blue page boy cap over his long dark hair Many of the fans who waited for a glimpse of the actor held signs for inviting him to come speak with them. The Black Mass star obliged and signed autographs. The actor has recently wrapped work on the film, Jeanne du Barry, in which he plays King Louis XV of France. Autographs: Many of the fans who waited for a glimpse of the actor held signs for inviting him to come speak with them. The Black Mass star obliged and signed autographs The film is being directed by Maiwenn, who also stars as the title character. The French actress plays a young courtesan who went on to become the king's official mistress. The film is supposed to be his comeback vehicle after many the gory details of his marriage to former wife Amber Heard were aired during his defamation lawsuit against his former spouse. The big budget period piece has no release date yet, but is expected to make to the big screen sometime in 2023. SNL alum Kristen Wiig and the legendary Carol Burnett did their best early seventies glam as they filmed a boat scene for Apple TV+ comedy Mrs. American Pie on Thursday. The 49-year-old Oscar-nominated screenwriter is executive producing and starring as Maxine Simmons, a woman trying to join Palm Beach high society. Kristen wore a pink floral babydoll dress with a blonde bouffant wig coiffed by hairstylist Karen Bartek, and her make-up was applied by Tricia Sawyer. Carol's first on-set sighting! SNL alum Kristen Wiig and the legendary Carol Burnett did their best early seventies glam as they filmed a boat scene for Apple TV+ comedy Mrs. American Pie on Thursday The 89-year-old comedian - who's only an Oscar away from EGOT status - wore a lavender embellished dress with matching turban as Palm Beach high society's grand dame Norma. Also spotted on the set Thursday was God's Favorite Idiot star Leslie Bibb, who portrays the lovely but vulnerable Dinah, another member of Palm Beach high society. That same day, Wiig shot a barefoot beach scene with two-time Grammy winner Ricky Martin - who plays Robert - against a black backdrop. The Puerto Rican 50-year-old held a trumpet while wearing a brown tiki top with brown slacks while the New York funnywoman wore a white sun hat with a yellow maxi-dress. Pushing her wheelchair: The 49-year-old Oscar-nominated screenwriter (R) is executive producing and starring as Maxine Simmons, a woman trying to join Palm Beach high society Only an Oscar away from EGOT status! The 89-year-old comedian wore a lavender embellished dress with matching turban as Palm Beach high society's grand dame Norma Out of costume: Also spotted on the set Thursday was God's Favorite Idiot star Leslie Bibb, who portrays the lovely but vulnerable Dinah, another member of Palm Beach high society Ricky's first on-set sighting! That same day, Kristen shot a barefoot beach scene with two-time Grammy winner Ricky Martin - who plays Robert - against a black backdrop Action! The Puerto Rican 50-year-old held a trumpet while wearing a brown tiki top with brown slacks while Wiig wore a white sun hat with a yellow maxi-dress Having a whale of a time! Ricky (born Enrique Morales) and Kristen then filmed a scene next to a massive blue whale covered with orange motion-capture markings Ricky (born Enrique Morales) and Kristen then filmed a scene next to a massive blue whale covered with orange motion-capture markings. On Monday, Wiig rocked a tropical bubble dress with a towering turban while shooting a scene at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA with her onscreen husband, Long Slow Exhale star Josh Lucas. Abe Sylvia's 10-episode series will also feature Mindy Cohn, Allison Janney, Claudia Ferri, Julia Duffy, Amber Chardae Robinson, Kaia Gerber, Laura Dern, and her father Bruce Dern. Mrs. American Pie - based on Juliet McDaniel's 2018 novel - asks the 'same questions that baffle us today: Who gets a seat at the table, how do you get a seat at the table, and what will you sacrifice to get there?' Fancy! On Monday, the New York funnywoman (2-L) rocked a tropical bubble dress with a towering turban while shooting a scene at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA with her onscreen husband, Long Slow Exhale star Josh Lucas (2-R) On-set snap: Abe Sylvia's 10-episode series will also feature Mindy Cohn (L, pictured June 21), Allison Janney (2-L), Claudia Ferri (2-R), Julia Duffy (R), Amber Chardae Robinson, Kaia Gerber, Laura Dern, and her father Bruce Dern Bonnie Langford is set to reprise her 1980s role of Melanie Bush in the new series of Doctor Who. The actress, 58, will make a cameo appearance in episodes planned for 2024 alongside new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa. Bonnie starred as companion Mel from 1986-87 alongside actors Lord Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor. Return: Bonnie Langford is set to reprise her 1980s role of Melanie Bush in the new series of Doctor Who (pictured in 2021) She previously reprised the role on TV once in 1993 for Dimensions In Time, a Doctor Who / EastEnders mash up for Children In Need. The star said she had two conditions for accepting the role once again. During a podcast interview seen by The Mirror, the star said: 'No screaming, and please can we build her character a bit? 'I was constantly seeking a more substantial role. Melanie just said, "But Doctor", and screamed.' Back in the day: Bonnie starred as companion Mel from 1986-87 alongside actors Lord Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor (pictured with Sylvester McCoy) Showrunner Russell T Davies is a fan of Bonnie's and personally contacted her to see if she'd be interested in reprising her role. She said: 'I don't know what it's like or what it's about but he's emailed me and said, 'Would you do it?' I said, 'Yes, absolutely'. It's just so fascinating.' Current Doctor Jodie Whittaker has said previously that she is leaving the coveted role this year because she feels it needs 'new energy'. And she will be passing the Time Lord baton to Sex Education actor Ncuti, and explained that she was 'delighted' with the 'beautiful dialogue' within her final scenes. Goodbye: Jodie Whittaker has portrayed the eponymous Time Lord on-screen for four years, and is set to bow out of the sci-fi series in her last episode this October During the finale, the star will allegedly pay tribute to past Time Lords by wearing their iconic outfits throughout the feature-length episode - which will be titled The Power of the Doctor. With plenty of surprises in store, Jodie dubbed the episode 'a real treat' for fans - as it will lead into the next phase of Doctor Who, with Russell T Davies returning as showrunner and Ncuti starting his run. Earlier this year, showrunner Davies teased: 'It's a 90-minute epic, it's fantastic. So, that is gorgeous with lots of surprises,' during an appearance on The One Show. While chatting previously to Empire Magazine, Jodie explained: 'It's got all the iconic things you associate with Doctor Who, It's massive.' Ncuti is set to be the first black doctor in the show's history, once again marking a milestone for the long running BBC series. She enjoys a lavish life with her billionaire pub baron boyfriend Justin Hemmes. And Madeline Holtznagel certainly looked a million bucks as she attended the Sydney Everest Carnival Fashion Lunch party on Thursday. The 26-year-old model was adorned with diamonds while posing alongside her sister Simone on the red carpet. Madeline Holtznagel looked a million bucks as she attended the Sydney Everest Carnival Fashion Lunch party on Thursday. The 26-year-old was adorned with diamonds while posing alongside her sister Simone on the red carpet. Madeline sparkled in jewels from House of K'dor, including a diamond lariat necklace which was draped around her neck and trickled down her toned back. She also wore several rings, featuring a combination of round brilliant cut and tear drop diamonds. It is estimated the diamonds are worth close to around $100,000. The brunette beauty turned heads in a baby pink Aje bubble mini dress that showed off her long legs. She teamed her outfit and jewels with a pretty pearl headband and a black Chanel handbag, and opted for a perfectly styled messy ponytail. Madeline sparkled in jewels from House of K'dor, including a diamond lariat necklace that was draped around her neck and trickled down her toned back Madeline recently wished her publican boyfriend a happy 50th birthday, telling the businessman she 'adores him' in a series of sweet photos. She shared a selection of nine images to Instagram showing the couple's exotic adventures across the world, which included days at the beach, sleeping on a private jet and camping in the woods. 'Happy birthday my love, I adore you,' she captioned the post. Madeline Holtznagel, 26, has wished her billionaire publican boyfriend Justin Hemmes a happy 50th birthday, telling the businessman she 'adores him'. Both pictured Showing off their expensive taste, the photo dump began with a snap of Madeline sweetly kissing her husband on the cheek while showing off a Chanel handbag. Another showed the pair on the beach, with Madeline flaunting her incredible figure in a tiny bikini. The Aussie couple also posed on the edge of an infinity pool, while in another they snuggled together on a private jet. The Aussie model shared a selection of nine images to Instagram showing the couple's exotic adventures across the world, which included days at the beach, sleeping on a private jet and camping in the woods 'Happy birthday my love, I adore you,' she captioned the post Showing off a truly lavish lifestyle, one image showed Justin relaxing in a hammock Showing off a truly lavish lifestyle, one snap showed Justin relaxing in a hammock. Justin made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million. Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia. Justin made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million. Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in October 2020, the model said they'd actually met two years before reports emerged of their relationship While it's not known exactly how long they've been dating, they have been publicly together for about two years. However, Madeline previously hinted they'd known each other for much longer. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in October 2020, she said they'd actually met two years before reports emerged of their relationship. It was also reported that Madeline was living in a penthouse apartment owned by Justin in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee 'We have known each other for two years and met when I was modelling in Singapore,' she said at the time. It was also reported that Madeline was living in a penthouse apartment owned by Justin in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee. She added that while the majority of her family was yet to meet her boyfriend, her older sister Simone was a fan. Simone, 28, was a finalist on the 2011 season of Australia's Next Top Model. Amelia Gray looks nervous before shaving off her freshly-bleached eyebrows in a new video, shared with her more than 1.3 million social media followers on Thursday. In the footage, uploaded to her Instagram Story, the model, 21, can be seen trying to reassure herself that she was making the right decision by repeatedly chanting 'okay, okay, okay, okay.' A woman could ultimately be seen removing her thick, heavy brows with a razor as the daughter of Lisa Rinna underwent a dramatic makeover for Interview Magazine. Dramatic makeover: Amelia Gray looks nervous before shaving off her freshly-bleached eyebrows in a new video, shared with her more than 1.3 million social media followers on Thursday The ex-girlfriend of Scott Disick showed off her flawless complexion as she went bare-faced, apart from the Gillette's shaving cream over both eyebrows. 'Only 4 u @melzy917 [Interview Magazine Editor-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg] & fashion of course,' she captioned the recording. This comes just days after rocking an assortment of faux silver facial piercings and bleached eyebrows for the Balenciaga runway show amid Paris Fashion Week. Nervous: The ex-girlfriend of Scott Disick showed off her flawless complexion as she went bare-faced, apart from the Gillette's shaving cream over both eyebrows 'Only 4 u @melzy917 [Interview Magazine Editor-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg] & fashion of course,' she captioned the recording The star-studded event, which was labeled The Mud Show, comprised of an apocalyptic setting where models walked on a muddy runway. The Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2023 runway event was called, The Mud Show, and contained a muddy runway along with a thick mud on the walls, according to Hypebeast. Demna Gvasalia, the current creative director for luxury brand, explained that the fashion show was, 'a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth,' reported Harper's Bazaar. Edgy look: This comes just days after rocking an assortment of faux silver facial piercings and bleached eyebrows for the Balenciaga runway show amid Paris Fashion Week Theme: The Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2023 runway show was called, The Mud Show, and had a number of stars in attendance, such as Kylie Jenner 'I've decided to no longer explain my collections and verbalize my designs, but to express a state of mind,' and also stated, 'I hate boxes and I hate labels... Individualism in fashion is downgraded to pseudotrends dictated by a post in stories of some celebrity of the moment.' Following the show, Amelia posted numerous behind-the-scenes photos, before admitting to balling her 'eyes out' from joy over the opportunity to walk the runway. 'IM SO CONFUSED. IM SO GRATEFUL. IM SO IN SHOCK. I DONT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. BUT ALL I KNOW IS I AM FUCKING OBSESSED WITH YOU @demna @balenciaga,' she captioned the slideshow. The Great British Bake Off has been branded culturally insensitive by some viewers after their Mexican Week on Tuesday. The remaining contestants had to create a series of dishes from the Latin American country while other scenes saw presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding wearing sombreros, making puns about Mexico and playing the maracas. The episode in question which aired this week included a joke in which Noel said: 'I don't feel like we should make Mexican jokes, because people will get upset.' Not happy: The Great British Bake Off has been branded culturally insensitive by some viewers after their Mexican Week Matt then responded by saying: 'Not even Juan?' Viewers have had their say online, with one writing in response to the episode: 'I love Bake Off, but Mexican week was a mistake. Tacky jokes about Mexican stereotypes and no attempt to properly pronounce the language (from Noel/Matt). Hopefully it's a one-off.' 'Attention USA #GreatBritishBakeOff fans: Mexican week really is THAT bad,' wrote another. Reaction: The remaining contestants had to create a series of dishes from the Latin American country while other scenes saw presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding wearing sombreros, making puns about the country and playing the maracas 'Is Mexico a real place?' is a joke that The Great British Bake Off thought would be cute during 'Mexican week',' someone else commented. 'You could have honoured an amazing culture instead of stupid racist jokes and tropes,' another wrote. Meanwhile Professor Ignacio M. Sanchez Prado, a professor of Mexican cultural studies at Washington University, told NPR after the episode aired: 'The fundamental issue is that the episode and its campaign follow a script on Mexican culture that us Mexicans, from either side of the US-Mexico border, see very frequently. Pun: The episode in question which aired on Tuesday included a joke in which Noel said: 'I don't feel like we should make Mexican jokes, because people will get upset'. Matt then responded by saying: 'Not even Juan?' 'The use of cartoonish sarapes and sombreros as props and disguises, the misidentification of Mexican food with the stuff sold in Taco Bell, the borrowing of beloved dishes like tres leches to make versions that have little recognisability to Mexicans, this is something that we see every Cinco de Mayo and every Hispanic Heritage Month.' The episode featured contestants trying their hand at cooking Mexican staples, including pan dulce and tacos. MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for comment as well as representatives for Matt and Noel. The GBBO saw a devastated Rebs and James sent home in a rare double elimination as Maxy was crowned star baker for the second time in Tuesday's episode. Viewers: Many who watched have had their say online, with one writing in response to the episode: 'I love Bake Off, but Mexican week was a mistake' Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith decided to send home two bakers on Mexican Week after there were no eliminations in last week's episode. But Rebs became emotional and broke down in floods of tears after it was revealed she was leaving the tent, with her fellow bakers flocking around to comfort her. The Northern Irish student, 23, was consoled by Sandro, Maxy and James - who was also eliminated - as she was seen sobbing following the news. 'I'm honestly devastated,' she said. 'This means the world to me. Bake Off has been a fabulous experience, it's just I didn't want it to be cut this short.' Food: The episode featured contestants trying their hand at cooking Mexican staples, including pan dulce, tres leches cakes (pictured) and tacos Paul told Rebs: 'Sorry Rebs, it's hard in this tent.' Prue was then seen giving a tearful Rebs a huge hug, saying: 'It's only cake.' James was also sent home in the rare double elimination, after he struggled with the challenges of Mexican week. 'I'm always sad to see any bakers go but particularly James,' Prue admitted. 'James had a rotten week, and his showstopper was a real disappointment.' Speaking about leaving the tent, James said: 'If I was to use a fun metaphor, I think I was a plant that roots were outgrowing its pot.' The double elimination came after all contestants remained safe last week because two bakers missed bread week due to illness. Rebs, 23, and Abdul Rehman Sharif, 29, were absent from the infamous tent - but judge Prue had warned that this meant a double elimination was ahead. Farewell: The GBBO saw a devastated Rebs and James sent home in a rare double elimination as Maxy was crowned star baker for the second time in Tuesday's episode As two more contestants left the tent, Maxy, 29, was crowned as star baker for a second time, after first getting the accolade during biscuit week. Speaking about her success, Paul said: 'I think Maxy winning star baker for the second time was well deserved, she was the most consistent over the three challenges.' While a thrilled Maxy gushed: 'I'm dancing right now! This has really given me confidence, I never thought I'd come to the tent and get two star bakers, it's crazy!' Tony-winning thespian Jane Krakowski glammed up to attend the opening of Broadway musical revival 1776 at the American Airlines Theatre in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday. The New Jersey native - who turns 54 next Tuesday - looked leggy in hot pink short-sleeved mini-dress and nude heels. Jane wore her signature blonde locks side-parted and she brought out her blue eyes with lots of liner to watch directing duo Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus' two-hour and 45-minute play. Still fierce after 50! Tony-winning thespian Jane Krakowski glammed up to attend the opening of Broadway musical revival 1776 at the American Airlines Theatre in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday Missing from Krakowski's (born Krajkowski) side was her 11-year-old son Bennett from her four-year engagement to Psycho Bunny founder Robert Godley, which ended in 2013. The Name That Tune host next resumes her role as Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom in the second season of critically-acclaimed Apple TV+ musical comedy Schmigadoon! Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio's sixties/seventies-set season officially wrapped production in Vancouver on July 31. The Schmigadoon! ensemble also features Ariana DeBose, Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Jaime Camil, Dove Cameron, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Martin Short, and Tituss Burgess. Turning 54 next Tuesday! The New Jersey native looked leggy in hot pink short-sleeved mini-dress and nude heels. Glam: Jane wore her signature blonde locks side-parted and she brought out her blue eyes with lots of liner to watch directing duo Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus' two-hour and 45-minute play Previews for the Roundabout Theatre Company production - starring only actors who identify as female, transgender, and nonbinary - began on September 16 and it runs through January 8. The original 1969 Broadway production of 1776 - based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence - won three Tony Awards including best musical. Also attending the Broadway opening was Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson. The 70-year-old Irishman looked dapper in a blue chambray three-piece suit with oxblood boots. '#prouddad': Missing from Krakowski's side was her 11-year-old son Bennett from her four-year engagement to Psycho Bunny founder Robert Godley, which ended in 2013 (pictured June 2) More to come! The Name That Tune host next resumes her role as Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom in the second season of critically-acclaimed Apple TV+ musical comedy Schmigadoon! (pictured with onscreen fiancee Jaime Camil) 'The greatest cast ever assembled!' Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio's sixties/seventies-set season officially wrapped production in Vancouver on July 31 Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham showed off the suspenders beneath his grey Richard James Mayfair suit and baby-blue necktie. Tony winner Jesse Tyler Ferguson - whose own Broadway show Take Me Out returns October 27 - appeared a tad sunburned in a dark rinse chambray shirt and grey slacks. Two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy - who stars in HBO's The Gilded Age - rocked sunglasses at night with a black sheer dress emblazoned with 'protect our rights.' Goodnight Mommy actress Crystal Lucas-Perry - who makes her Broadway debut as John Adams - proudly posed beside her 1776 director Diane Paulus and co-director/choreographer Jeffrey L. Page. Hamilton-esque: Previews for the Roundabout Theatre Company production - starring only actors who identify as female, transgender, and nonbinary - began on September 16 and it runs through January 8 Here we go again! The original 1969 Broadway production of 1776 - based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence - won three Tony Awards including best musical Action star: Also attending the Broadway opening was Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson Swagger: The 70-year-old Irishman looked dapper in a blue chambray three-piece suit with oxblood boots Amadeus alum: Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham showed off the suspenders beneath his grey Richard James Mayfair suit and baby-blue necktie Modern Family alum: Tony winner Jesse Tyler Ferguson - whose own Broadway show Take Me Out returns October 27 - appeared a tad sunburned in a dark rinse chambray shirt and grey slacks Non-binary transmasc theatre maker Sav Souza - who plays Dr. Josiah Bartlett - rocked a custom 'Trans People Have Always Existed' jacket by Gubbins NYC designer Evie Schuckman. Gisela Adisa, Liz Mikel, and Sushma Saha take on the respective roles of Robert Livingston, John Hancock, and James Wilson. Other members of the 1776 cast glamming up on the red carpet included Brooke Simpson, Salome B. Smith, Oneika Phillips, Sara Porkalob, and Shelby Acosta. Making a statement! Two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy - who stars in HBO's The Gilded Age - rocked sunglasses at night with a black sheer dress emblazoned with 'protect our rights' Maestros and their muse: Goodnight Mommy actress Crystal Lucas-Perry - who makes her Broadway debut as John Adams - proudly posed beside her 1776 director Diane Paulus and co-director/choreographer Jeffrey L. Page 'Trans People Have Always Existed': Non-binary transmasc theatre maker Sav Souza - who plays Dr. Josiah Bartlett - rocked a custom jacket by Gubbins NYC designer Evie Schuckman Diversity: (from L-R) Gisela Adisa, Liz Mikel, and Sushma Saha take on the respective roles of Robert Livingston, John Hancock, and James Wilson Kathy Hilton and Lisa Rinna were at each other's throats in Thursday's dramatic new trailer for the upcoming three-part Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills reunion special. The 63-year-old socialite got particularly personal when she accused the 59-year-old actress-turned-reality star of being the 'biggest bully in Hollywood' during a shocking exchange. The reunion, which airs its first episode on Bravo on October 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, appeared to climax with Kathy's half-sister Kyle Richards, 53, being so overwhelmed with emotion that she asked host Andy Cohen through her sobs if she could leave early. Going at it: Kathy Hilton and Lisa Rinna were at each other's throats in Thursday's dramatic new trailer for the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills reunion special. The 63-year-old socialite got particularly person when she accused the 59-year-old actress-turned-reality star of being the 'biggest bully in Hollywood' during a shocking exchange Can't handle it: The reunion, which airs its first episode on Bravo on October 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, appeared to climax with Kathy's half-sister Kyle Richards, 53, being so overwhelmed with emotion that she asked host Andy Cohen through her sobs if she could leave early The trailer featured an interesting Memento-like in which it skipped backward in time, starting with Kyle's tear-streaked moment, which apparently occurred at around 9:47 p.m., the 'end of reunion taping.' 'I'm really not OK now,' Kyle croaked through her tears while turning to Andy. 'I don't want to sit her for a toast. Can I leave?' Andy looks at her before turning to look directly into the camera in shock. 'Doug, what do you want to do here?' he asks, seemingly speaking to one of the show's producers off camera. 'Kyle's a wreck.' Backward: The trailer featured an interesting Memento-like in which it skipped backward in time, starting with Kyle's tear-streaked moment, which apparently occurred at around 9:47 p.m., the 'end of reunion taping' Needs a break: 'I'm really not OK now,' Kyle croaked through her tears while turning to Andy. 'I don't want to sit her for a toast. Can I leave?' Flustered: Andy looks at her before turning to look directly into the camera in shock. 'Doug, what do you want to do here?' he asks, seemingly speaking to one of the show's producers off camera. 'Kyle's a wreck' Then the trailer uses an old tape effect to rewind to '23 mins earlier.' Kyle is style crying, though not quite as overcome with emotion as she would be by the end of the taping. 'I need to end up in a better place here with her than when she came,' she says, seemingly referring to her half-sister Kathy, who is seated next to her and looking on stone faced. Rewind: Then the trailer uses an old tape effect to rewind to '23 mins earlier.' Overwhelmed: Kyle is style crying, though not quite as overcome with emotion as she would be by the end of the taping Working through things: 'I need to end up in a better place here with her than when she came,' she says, seemingly referring to her half-sister Kathy, who is seated next to her and looking on stone faced The tape then rewinds to '1 hour earlier' as Garcelle Beauvais steps in to seemingly call out Lisa Rinna. 'You're gonna hurt her, and she's the one that's your friend,' she says. The camera cuts to Lisa, who shows off a blank smile, seemingly the target of Garcelle's plea. Then, it cuts back to Kyle, who is presumably the person she is sticking up for. More drama: The tape then rewinds to '1 hour earlier' as Garcelle Beauvais steps in to seemingly call out Lisa Rinna Warning: 'You're gonna hurt her, and she's the one that's your friend,' she says. The camera cuts to Lisa, who shows off a blank smile, seemingly the target of Garcelle's plea As the tape rewinds to '2 hours earlier,' Kathy and Lisa start to go at it. 'I don't need any drama,' Lisa tries to say as Kathy leans forward on the sofa and starts to talk over her. 'You fight with everybody! What you did to my sister, and you drove Lisa Vanderpump off the show. I mean, the list can go on and on,' she says emphatically. The trailer cut them off and skipped back hours to 10:53 a.m., when the Housewives made a glamorous entrance to the studio, with Kyle saying they were at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Playing it cool: As the tape rewinds to '2 hours earlier,' Kathy and Lisa start to go at it. 'I don't need any drama,' Lisa tries to say as Kathy leans forward on the sofa and starts to talk over her Calling her out: 'You fight with everybody ! What you did to my sister, and you drove Lisa Vanderpump off the show. I mean, the list can go on and on,' she says emphatically Arrival: The trailer cut them off and skipped back hours to 10:53 a.m., when the Housewives made a glamorous entrance to the studio Fancy: Kyle says they were at the Beverly Hills Hotel The reunion instantly took on a lighter tone, as Andy recounted rumors that Dorit Kemsley had had an affair with Kyle's husband. 'And then I heard we were swapping,' recounted the Halloween actress, which elicited an 'Ugh' from of Dorit. Erika Jayne had her first comment of the trailer when she seemed to claim that Dorit's husband Paul had asked her and a friend, 'You two chicks in porn? F***in' Paul Kemsley.' 'I don't think I even know that,' said a surprised Dorit. Then Andy asked Erika if she had a 'friends with benefits' since filing to divorce her husband Tom Girardi. 'Well, you have to have a roster. It's like a team,' she replied nonchalantly, before the camera cut to a shocked Dorit. Having fun: The reunion instantly took on a lighter tone, as Andy recounted rumors that Dorit Kemsley had had an affair with Kyle's husband. 'And then I heard we were swapping,' recounted the Halloween actress, which elicited an 'Ugh' from of Dorit Ouch: Erika Jayne had her first comment of the trailer when she seemed to claim that Dorit's husband Paul had asked her and a friend, 'You two chicks in porn? F***in' Paul Kemsley.' 'I don't think I even know that,' said a surprised Dorit Playing the field: Then Andy asked Erika if she had a 'friends with benefits' since filing to divorce her husband Tom Girardi. 'Well, you have to have a roster. It's like a team,' she replied nonchalantly, before the camera cut to a shocked Dorit In a rapid-fire blast, Andy said Lisa's social media was 'disastrous,' before asking if Erika is 'her own worst enemy.' 'You are out of control,' Kyle appears to reply to her. 'No, I was not out of control. I was angry,' Erika shoots back. Then Garcelle appeared to call out Erika for telling you teenage son Jax to 'get the f*** out' at his mother's birthday party. 'He was 14!' Garcelle shouted. Andy also brought up Erika's ongoing legal troubles and noted that she had to give up an expensive pair of earrings given to her by her estranged husband, though she said she was appealing the decision for 'legal reasons.' Getting to business: In a rapid-fire blast, Andy said Lisa's social media was 'disastrous,' before asking if Erika is 'her own worst enemy.' 'You are out of control,' Kyle appears to reply to her. 'No, I was not out of control. I was angry,' Erika shoots back Hurt: Then Garcelle appeared to call out Erika for telling you teenage son Jax to 'get the f*** out' at his mother's birthday party. 'He was 14!' Garcelle shouted In hot water: Andy also brought up Erika's ongoing legal troubles and noted that she had to give up an expensive pair of earrings given to her by her estranged husband, though she said she was appealing the decision for 'legal reasons' In a more humorous moment, Andy wondered if Lisa had turned Sutton Stracke into her 'punching bag,' and Sutton added, ''I was a dead horse. I turned into glue.' 'I didn't really understand the analogy of the glue,' Dorit interrupted, before they explained to her that horses can be killed to make glue. At the end of the trailer, Andy stirred up drama between Kathy and Lisa. 'I was being abused by Kathy Hilton,' Lisa says after Andy recited some of the mean things she had claimed that Kathy said about her costars. 'Baby, you wanted it on camera because your contract was coming up,' Kathy replied in a patronizing tone. After there was a reprise of Kyle's tears, Kathy shouted at Lisa, 'You are the biggest bully in Hollywood, and everyone knows it!' Brand new The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is now streaming on Hayu in Australia, plus relive every iconic moment with every episode ever - only on Hayu. Folksy: In a more humorous moment, Andy wondered if Lisa had turned Sutton Stracke into her 'punching bag,' and Sutton added, ''I was a dead horse. I turned into glue.' Having a laugh: 'I didn't really understand the analogy of the glue,' Dorit interrupted, before they explained to her that horses can be killed to make glue Going at it: 'I was being abused by Kathy Hilton,' Lisa says after Andy recited some of the mean things she had claimed that Kathy said about her costars. 'Baby, you wanted it on camera because your contract was coming up,' Kathy replied in a patronizing tone Not holding back: After there was a reprise of Kyle's tears, Kathy shouted at Lisa, 'You are the biggest bully in Hollywood, and everyone knows it!' Sylvester Stallone and wife Jennifer Flavin were seen arm-in-arm in Manhattan on Thursday amid their recently reconciled relationship. Stallone, 76, was dressed in a dark ensemble on the fall evening, as he wore a dark navy blue sweater with matching pants and black shoes. Flavin, 54, wore a beige long-sleeved turtleneck with white pants and carrying a blush designer bag. Her light brown blocks were parted and she accessorized with earrings. The latest: Sylvester Stallone, 76, and wife Jennifer Flavin, 54, were seen arm-in-arm in Manhattan on Thursday amid their recently reconciled relationship The Hollywood couple's appearance comes more than a week after they put on a united front following their U-turn on a divorce. The Rocky star and his 54-year-old former model wife were seen looking happy together again, as they went out grocery shopping in Calabasas, California, last Thursday. Showing no signs of animosity, at one point Sylvester put his hand on his wife's thigh and appeared to be showing something to her on his phone as they both smiled and looked relaxed together. Earlier last week, it was reported that the movie star and his wife of 25 years 'decided to meet up at home, where they talked and were able to work out their differences. They are both extremely happy,' his rep told Page Six. Stallone was dressed in a dark ensemble on the fall evening, as he wore a dark navy blue sweater with matching pants and black shoes Flavin wore a beige long-sleeved turtleneck with white pants and carrying a blush designer bag with rose heels The couple wore their wedding rings on the outing after their recent reconciliation They looked to be having a pleasant conversation on the idyllic fall night in the city Their reconciliation comes one month after Jennifer filed for divorce from Sylvester. People also confirmed the duo are back together. Days prior to their reconciliation, a court filing revealed at a Palm Beach Country, Florida court revealed that the duo agreed 'that it is in the best interests of each of them individually, and more importantly collectively as a family, to resolve all issues attendant to the dissolution of their marriage in a dignified, amicable and private manner out-of-court.' Fans speculated they reconciled earlier this week after he shared two throwback photos on his social media showing he and Jennifer holding hands. 'Wonderful...' Sly wrote as the caption for the post. Flavin was beaming as she walked alongside her husband of 25 years The silver screen icon was seen wearing shades as he exited a vehicle The couple look to be in a much better place than they were a month ago, when a split seemed imminent The Philadelphia native shared two throwback images. One of he and wife Jennifer smiling with their three daughters who were grade school aged at the time. In the other snap, Stallone was seen from behind walking hand-in-hand with Flavin. The stars are parents to three children together: daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20; Sylvester also has a son named Seargeoh, 43, with ex Sasha Crack. He also had a son named Sage with Sasha as well, but he died in 2012 at age 36. Sylvester and Jennifer wed in May 1997. Throwback: The movie star and his wife of 25 years are pictured during Friars Club Honours in New York, 1997 'Wonderful..' Fans speculated they reconciled earlier three weeks ago after he shared two throwback photos on his social media showing he and Jennifer holding hands On August 19, Jennifer filed for divorce from him, alleging that he 'engaged in the intentional dissipation, depletion and/or waste of marital assets, which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estates.' The actor denied her allegations at the time. Following the filing, Jennifer told People: 'I'm sad to announce that after 25 years of marriage I have filed for divorce from my husband Sylvester Stallone. While we will no longer be married, I will always cherish the more than 30-year relationship that we shared, and I know we are both committed to our beautiful daughters. I ask for privacy for our family as we amicably move forward.' Sylvester addressed the split at the time via a statement: 'I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues.' Days before the divorce filing, DailyMail.com revealed that the actor had a giant tattoo of Flavin on his right bicep covered up with a picture of Butkus, Rocky's bull mastiff from the hit movies. Happier times: The Philadelphia native shared an throwback image of he and wife Jennifer smiling with their three daughters who were grade school aged at the time Family first: The stars are parents to three children together: daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20 There were claims that their Rottweiler Dwight was the immediate cause of the break-up. Stallone dotes on Dwight the name of his character in a new TV drama series, Tulsa King and has posted gushing videos and photos of the pet on social media. Family insiders told website TMZ that the actor wanted the dog to help protect the family at their homes in Los Angeles and Palm Beach, Florida. But while they already own other dogs Flavin didn't want a huge Rottweiler in the house and strenuously objected. Their disagreement over Dwight allegedly caused a huge row that brought up other issues between the couple, culminating in her decision to press the nuclear button. The comedy world is in mourning with the passing of eclectic comedienne Judy Tenuta, who passed away on Thursday. The performer - who was nicknamed both The Love Goddess and Aphrodite of the Accordion - passed at her Studio City, California home at 72 years of age, via THR. Tenuta had been battling Stage 4 ovarian cancer before her passing, it was confirmed by her publicist Harlan Boll. Passing: The comedy world is in mourning with the passing of eclectic comedienne Judy Tenuta, who passed away on Thursday Aphrodite: The performer - who was nicknamed both The Love Goddess and Aphrodite of the Accordion - passed at her Studio City, California home at 72 years of age, via THR She was born in Oak Park, Illinois on November 7, 1949, to a Polish mother, Joann, and an Italian father, Caesar. Tenuta grew up in an Irish-Catholic neighborhood and attended the University of Illinois - Chicago, where she majored in theatre. Her first foray into the comedy realm came at Chicago's famed Second City, and her first ever live performance helped shape the comedienne she would become. Early life: She was born in Oak Park, Illinois on November 7, 1949, to a Polish mother, Joann, and an Italian father, Caesar Comedy: Her first foray into the comedy realm came at Chicago's famed Second City, and her first ever live performance helped shape the comedienne she would become She shocked audiences by dressing up as the Virgin Mary in her first show, and after incorporating her accordion into the act, she started developing her 'Love Goddess' character. Love Goddess was just one character in her comedic arsenal, with others such as 'The Petite Flower,' 'Fashion-Plate Saint,' 'Queen of Candy-Pants,' 'Princess of Panty Shields,' 'Empress of Elvis Impersonators' and the 'Buffer of Foreheads.' She ultimately left Chicago for New York City, where she hosted an HBO comedy special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner and Paula Poundstone. Character: She shocked audiences by dressing up as the Virgin Mary in her first show, and after incorporating her accordion into the act, she started developing her 'Love Goddess' character Left: She ultimately left Chicago for New York City, where she hosted an HBO comedy special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner and Paula Poundstone She also starred in movies such as Love Bites and played Lorena Bobbitt in Weird Al Yankovic's Headline News music video. The actress also played Madame Judy on The Weird Al Show and voiced roles on Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Johnny Bravo. Her last two roles were in the movies There's No Such Thing As Vampires and In the Position, released in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Starred: She also starred in movies such as Love Bites and played Lorena Bobbitt in Weird Al Yankovic's Headline News music video Last roles: Her last two roles were in the movies There's No Such Thing As Vampires and In the Position, released in 2020 and 2021 respectively She received Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album for Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust. The actress is survived by her life partner Vern Pang; brothers Daniel, John, Steven, Thomas and James; sister Barbara; and two nephews, four nieces and a grand-niece. She will be interred at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, and donations in her memory can be made to the Make A Wish Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or City of Hope. Grammy: She received Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album for Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust The FBI investigated but did not file charges due to insufficient evidence She also claimed he slammed her against a wall while grabbing her by her hair Jolie has accused Pitt in court of choking one of their children on a private jet She added the actor would not 'own anything he didn't do' His attorney Anne Kiley said he was a victim of personal attack[s] and misrepresentation' Pitt plans to keep his responses to his ex in court, rather than in public Brad Pitt will 'respond in court' to allegations made by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie that he was abusive towards her and their children. The actors lawyer, Anne Kiley, said Pitt had been on the receiving end of 'every type of personal attack and misrepresentation' but would not 'own anything he didnt do.' It comes following a recent US legal filing by Jolie in which she claimed Pitt was verbally and physically abusive towards his family on a plane in September 2016. Fighting back: Brad Pitt's lawyer, Anne Kiley, said the actor had been on the receiving end of 'every type of personal attack and misrepresentation' but would not 'own anything he didnt do'; seen Tuesday in LA Sources close to Pitt have claimed that Jolie's accusations have destroyed his relationship with their children; she is seen with daughter Vivienne on Wednesday The documents, obtained by the PA news agency, alleged that among other things, the actor had 'poured beer and wine' over the heads of their children and 'choked' one of them. He was also accused of hitting one of the children in the face and slamming Jolie against a wall while pulling at her hair. In a statement shared with US outlets on Thursday, Ms Kiley said: 'Brad has owned everything hes responsible for from day one unlike the other side but hes not going to own anything he didnt do. 'He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation. 'Thankfully, the various public authorities the other side has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions. 'Brad will continue to respond in court as he has consistently done,' she added. Frightening: Pitt was accused by Jolie of choking one of their children while drinking on a private jet. She also claimed he slammed her against a wall while grabbing her hair; the family seen in 2008 A representative for Pitt previously complained to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday that Jolie 'continues to rehash, revise and reimagine her description of an event that happened 6 years ago by adding completely untrue information each time she fails to get what she wants. Her story is constantly evolving.' That same day, a report in TMZ alleged that the Tomb Raider actress had launched a smear campaign against her ex-husband. Sources close to Pitt claimed that her actions and assertions had taken an 'extreme toll' on the couples children and severely damaged their relationship with their father. A source close to Pitt claimed the children have a 'limited and strained relationship, because of her campaign of alienation.' The FBI previously investigated Jolie's claims about Pitt's allegedly violent behavior on the plane, but it decided not to charge him due to insufficient evidence. Following the alleged incident in 2016, Jolie filed for divorce five days later. She later tried to prevent Pitt from having any custody over their children, though a judge overseeing the case disagreed and gave the former couple 50/50 custody. The ongoing dispute between the couple centers around the sale of their stakes in Chateau Miraval SA, a French company comprising a home and vineyard in the south of France, which they purchased in 2008. Pitt has previously accused Jolie of orchestrating a 'hostile' takeover of the wine business that he had 'carefully built' and forced him into partnership with 'a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions' Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. The Miraval estate is located in the village of Correns in south-eastern France, and was bought by the couple for around 25 million euros (20,875,500). According to the legal documents obtained by PA, Pitt contributed 60 percent to the purchase price, with Jolie paying the remaining 40 percent. Advertisement Rosaline executive producer-star Kaitlyn Dever reunited with her co-star Minnie Driver for the premiere of Hulu's Romeo & Juliet spin-off at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday. The 52-year-old Oscar nominee plays Nurse to the 25-year-old Emmy nominee's titular character, who's the cousin of Juliet and the former flame of Romeo in Karen Maine's PG-13 rom-com streaming October 14. Though never seen in William Shakespeare's 1597 tragedy, Rosaline's rejection of Romeo (due to her being sworn to chastity) is what causes his depression and brings him to Juliet. Talented twosome: Rosaline executive producer-star Kaitlyn Dever (L) reunited with her co-star Minnie Driver (R) for the premiere of Hulu's Romeo & Juliet spin-off at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday Kaitlyn won the titular role after previously attached actresses Keira Knightley, Deborah Ann Woll, Allison Williams, and Felicity Jones dropped out of the long-in-the-works project. Dever flashed the white leotard beneath her pearl-embellished long-sleeved gown and matching stilettos for the green carpet festivities. The Dopesick actress let her natural beauty shine through with only a bit of red lipstick with her defined brows, black eyeliner, and glowing alabaster complexion. Kaitlyn styled her natural brunette locks into a middle-parted updo. Streaming October 14! The 52-year-old Oscar nominee (R) plays Nurse to the 25-year-old Emmy nominee's (L) titular character, who's the cousin of Juliet and the former flame of Romeo in Karen Maine's PG-13 rom-com See-through frock: Kaitlyn flashed the white leotard beneath her pearl-embellished long-sleeved gown and matching stilettos for the green carpet festivities Ready for her close-up! Dever let her natural beauty shine through with only a bit of red lipstick with her defined brows, black eyeliner, and glowing alabaster complexion Woman of the hour! Kaitlyn styled her natural brunette locks into a middle-parted updo Meanwhile, Minnie (born Amelia) looked elegant in a $1,367 black Roksanda 'Kamaria' dress, Rene Caovilla stilettos, and Reza jewelry selected by stylist Katie Bofshever. Hairstylist Jon Lieckfelt fastened Driver's faux-nytail. Make-up artist Gregory Arlt applied the London-born, Malibu-based beauty's bright red pout, defined brows, and shimmering eye shadow. Dever made sure to pose with the 37-year-old director as well as her castmate Isabela Merced, who plays Juliet in the adaptation of Rebecca Serle's 2010 YA novel When You Were Mine. Strike a pose! Meanwhile, Minnie (born Amelia) looked elegant in a $1,367 black Roksanda 'Kamaria' dress, Rene Caovilla stilettos, and Reza jewelry selected by stylist Katie Bofshever Side view: Hairstylist Jon Lieckfelt fastened Driver's faux-nytail Bronzed: Make-up artist Gregory Arlt applied the London-born, Malibu-based beauty's bright red pout, defined brows, and shimmering eye shadow The 21-year-old former child star styled her hair in a twisted ponytail, wore a black strapless dress, Pasquale Bruni jewelry, and peep-toe platform Louboutins selected by stylist Jason Bolden. Emmy nominee Christopher McDonald - who plays Lord Capulet - paired his blue blazer and white-collared shirt with dark rinse jeans. Suited and booted were Sean Teale in brown and Spencer Stevenson in black, who play Dario and Paris, respectively. But Nico Hiraga - who plays Steve the Courier - took a far more casual approach to the film festivities in a white tank top, matching sneakers, and grey corduroy pants. It takes a village! The entire cast and crew posed together for a group shot At the helm! Dever made sure to pose with the 37-year-old director (M) as well as her castmate Isabela Merced (L), who plays Juliet in the adaptation of Rebecca Serle's 2010 YA novel When You Were Mine Dora the Explorer alum: The 21-year-old former child star styled her hair in a twisted ponytail, wore a black strapless dress, Pasquale Bruni jewelry, and peep-toe platform Louboutins selected by stylist Jason Bolden Shooter McGavin! Emmy nominee Christopher McDonald - who plays Lord Capulet - paired his blue blazer and white-collared shirt with dark rinse jeans Gents: Suited and booted were Sean Teale in brown and Spencer Stevenson in black, who play Dario and Paris, respectively Malignant star Mercedes Colon - who plays Lady Capulet - certainly brought the gun show to the Rosaline premiere in her plunging green-sequin mini-dress and black peep-toe heels. Rebecca Serle wrote the 2010 YA novel When You Were Mine, which Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber adapted into the Rosaline screenplay. Editor Jennifer Lee stood out in a hot pink shirt-dress, which she paired with bulky black boots. Composer Ian Hultquist paired a slightly wrinkly black linen shirt with navy-blue pants and classic Dr. Martens boots. Yikes! But Nico Hiraga - who plays Steve the Courier - took a far more casual approach to the film festivities in a white tank top, matching sneakers, and grey corduroy pants Muscular arms! Malignant star Mercedes Colon - who plays Lady Capulet - certainly brought the gun show to the Rosaline premiere in her plunging green-sequin mini-dress and black peep-toe heels Writers: Rebecca Serle (L) wrote the 2010 YA novel When You Were Mine, which Scott Neustadter (2-R) and Michael H. Weber (R) adapted into the Rosaline screenplay Chic: Editor Jennifer Lee stood out in a hot pink shirt-dress, which she paired with bulky black boots Enjoying the sneak-peek screening was Sex and the City alum Jason Lewis wearing a blue bomber jacket over a black T-shirt and cuffed blue jeans. Good Trouble co-stars Maia Mitchell and Cierra Ramirez flashed plenty of cleavage while holding hands on the green carpet. Rap S*** actress Victoria Richards, TikToker Jillian Nicole Smith, and Chicken Girls star Amelie Anstett all opted for leggy looks. Crushed actor Dylan Nalbandian and Haus Labs model Matthew Maxfield rocked similar lush curly locks for the Rosaline event. Music man: Composer Ian Hultquist paired a slightly wrinkly black linen shirt with navy-blue pants and classic Dr. Martens boots Piercing blue eyes: Enjoying the sneak-peek screening was Sex and the City alum Jason Lewis wearing a blue bomber jacket over a black T-shirt and cuffed blue jeans Girls just wanna have fun! Good Trouble co-stars Maia Mitchell (L) and Cierra Ramirez (R) flashed plenty of cleavage while holding hands on the green carpet Lovely ladies: (from L-R) Rap S*** actress Victoria Richards, TikToker Jillian Nicole Smith, and Chicken Girls star Amelie Anstett all opted for leggy looks Advertisement After the shocking eruption of Mount Doom that seemingly ravished the Southlands, the fierce warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) found a way to survive in the penultimate episode of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power... which reveals that The Sounthlands are in fact now the dark area known as Mordor. The seventh episode's title - The Eye - teased the eye of Sauron, though the powerful enemy has still not been fully revealed yet, though the episode did offer a glimpse at the powerful yet unnamed character played by Bridie Sisson. The episode also reveals the diminutive Harfoot's reaching their destination with the mysterious (and massive) Stranger (Daniel Weyman) while tension rises between Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Durin (Owain Arthur) over the mining of mithril. Survived: After the shocking eruption of Mount Doom that seemingly ravished the Southlands, the fierce warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) found a way to survive in the penultimate episode of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Hartfoot: The episode also reveals the diminutive Harfoot's reaching their destination with the mysterious (and massive) Stranger (Daniel Weyman) while tension rises between Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Durin (Owain Arthur) The episode begins exactly where last week left off - with the destruction of the Southlands by the eruption of Mount Doom. The final shot of last week's episode showed Galadriel standing tall in the face of this destruction, though the episode left her fate unknown. The very first shot of The Eye shows Galadriel opening her own eye, her body covered in ash but somehow still alive as she slowly makes her way to her feet. Galadriel lives: The very first shot of The Eye shows Galadriel opening her own eye, her body covered in ash but somehow still alive as she slowly makes her way to her feet Small fires are seen burning all around her as she's startled by a horse galloping through... its entire back on fire - as Galadriel gets out of its way. She sees the bodies strewn across the ashen landscape, as some are heard calling for help while Galadriel calls for Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) and Elendil (Lloyd Owen). Instead she hears Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) calling for his mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) as Galadriel goes to him, asking if he's hurt. Horse: Small fires are seen burning all around her as she's startled by a horse galloping through... its entire back on fire - as Galadriel gets out of its way Calling: She sees the bodies strewn across the ashen landscape, as some are heard calling for help while Galadriel calls for Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) and Elendil (Lloyd Owen) Hurt: Instead she hears Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) calling for his mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) as Galadriel goes to him, asking if he's hurt He's clearly dazed by her presence but he says he isn't hurt as they walk off together as we see more of the fiery destruction. Isildur (Maxim Baldry) is seen trying to pull a pinned Valandil (Alex Tarant) out from under a collapsed roof, as he asks where Ontamo (Anthony Crum) is. Queen Regent Miriel (Cynthia Addai Robinson) emerges and helps Isildur lift the roof and allow Valandil to get free... but then they find the unresponsive Ontamo beneath him. Walk: He's clearly dazed by her presence but he says he isn't hurt as they walk off together as we see more of the fiery destruction Isildur: Isildur (Maxim Baldry) is seen trying to pull a pinned Valandil (Alex Tarant) out from under a collapsed roof, as he asks where Ontamo (Anthony Crum) is Ontamo: Queen Regent Miriel (Cynthia Addai Robinson) emerges and helps Isildur lift the roof and allow Valandil to get free... but then they find the unresponsive Ontamo beneath him Both Isildur and Valandil watch for any movement but Miriel tells them he's gone and lead them to help others who are trapped. They remove the door of a home while the roof is on fire, trying to get them out before the roof collapses on top of them. Isildur tries to brace the roof with another beam as Miriel leads the others to safety, and while they get out, Miriel goes back for Isildur when the fiery roof collapses... though Valandil pulled her out as he calls for Isildur, who was still inside during the collapse. Help: Both Isildur and Valandil watch for any movement but Miriel tells them he's gone and lead them to help others who are trapped Collapse: They remove the door of a home while the roof is on fire, trying to get them out before the roof collapses on top of them The episode cuts back to the beloved Harfoot's, as Poppy (Megan Richards) sings another song as they continue forth. Largo (Dylan Smith) notices 'The Grove up ahead,' adding, 'I think this is it!' though Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) mentions, 'You said that three days ago.' Nori (Markella Kavenagh) insists that her father Largo is right, adding, 'Do you smell that? Wood smoke! The others must've started baking!' Grove: Largo (Dylan Smith) notices 'The Grove up ahead,' adding, 'I think this is it!' though Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) mentions, 'You said that three days ago. A giddy Nori helps Poppy pull the cart up a hill... though they're stunned when they see the smoke is from a torched tree, as Sadoc (Lenny Henry) inspects the damage - clearly from the eruption of Mount Doom. Poppy asks Sadoc what happened and he tells them, 'My great-grand used to speak of mountains to the south that could spit fire-rock.' 'He said they go to sleep. Sometimes for hundreds of years. Only to wake again when a new evil is rising,' a worried Sadoc tells them. Sing: A giddy Nori helps Poppy pull the cart up a hill... though they're stunned when they see the smoke is from a torched tree, as Sadoc (Lenny Henry) inspects the damage - clearly from the eruption of Mount Doom Fire: Poppy asks Sadoc what happened and he tells them, 'My great-grand used to speak of mountains to the south that could spit fire-rock' New evil: 'He said they go to sleep. Sometimes for hundreds of years. Only to wake again when a new evil is rising,' a worried Sadoc tells them The Stranger arrives with his cart, looking around, as the Harfoots start picking the charred fruit remains from the trees. Sadoc approaches Nori and asks her about The Stranger a.k.a. 'the big fella' asking if maybe he could 'fix' the charred tree. Other Harfoots chime in and try to get Nori to ask, when Poppy chimes in adding, 'He's done so much for us. It's a might rude of us to ask more of him.' Stranger: The Stranger arrives with his cart, looking around, as the Harfoots start picking the charred fruit remains from the trees A frustrated Sadoc says he will ask The Stranger himself and storms off while we see The Stranger examining one of the remaining trees, speaking in another language. The Harfoot's wonder what he's saying, while Sadoc surmises he's speaking in 'little words' so the trees can understand but others suggest that trees can't talk. Suddenly thunder rumbles and the tree starts shaking as Largo proclaims, 'Great-goats. It's working.' Words: The Harfoot's wonder what he's saying, while Sadoc surmises he's speaking in 'little words' so the trees can understand but others suggest that trees can't talk Working: Rumble: Suddenly thunder rumbles and the tree starts shaking as Largo proclaims, 'Great-goats. It's working The bark of the tree starts crackling while an awestruck Dilly Brandyfoot (Beau Cassidy) steps forward and says, 'He's fixing it. Just like Sadoc said he would.' The Stranger screams and one of the huge branches of the tree breaks off as Nori shields her younger sister Dilly as the huge branch falls on both of them. The rest of the Harfoots rush over but both Nori and Dilly are fine, but when The Stranger realizes what he's done, the rest of the Harfoots are now clearly afraid of him and what he's capable of. Dilly: The bark of the tree starts crackling while an awestruck Dilly Brandyfoot (Beau Cassidy) steps forward and says, 'He's fixing it. Just like Sadoc said he would' Branch: The Stranger screams and one of the huge branches of the tree breaks off as Nori shields her younger sister Dilly as the huge branch falls on both of them Afraid: The rest of the Harfoots rush over but both Nori and Dilly are fine, but when The Stranger realizes what he's done, the rest of the Harfoots are now clearly afraid of him and what he's capable of The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum, where Elrond is with both his friend Durin and King Durin III (Peter Mullan). 'We ask for something sacred from this mountain. And so we offer something sacred in return,' Elrond begins. 'In exchange for access to your mithril mines, the Elves are prepared to furnish this city with game, grain and timber from the elder forests of Eriador for the next five centuries,' Elrond explains. Elrond: The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum, where Elrond is with both his friend Durin and King Durin III (Peter Mullan) Sacred: 'We ask for something sacred from this mountain. And so we offer something sacred in return,' Elrond begins Two of the dwarf guards mutter in Khuzdul, 'Quite a promise, if they can keep it,' as Elrond turns to them and says in English, 'I never made a promise I didn't.' King Durin says, 'I see you've learned a few words of stone tongue. Impressive,' before adding, 'Tell me, why should we trust any Elf?' 'You should not. But you can trust me. For I am no common Elf, but Elrond Half-elven. And I see in Elves that which they cannot see in themselves,' Elrond says. Impressive: King Durin says, 'I see you've learned a few words of stone tongue. Impressive,' before adding, 'Tell me, why should we trust any Elf? 'That is why I stand before you now alone,' He adds, before kneeling to King Durin, adding he's, 'pleading to save my people. Please, noble King. Help us.' King Durin looks to his son the Prince, who offers a slight smile, as the King says he will speak to his son now, as Elrond is escorted out. Prince Durin asks, 'What is to be your answer, Father?' as King Durin holds a leaf, stating, 'It is said that when Aule created out people, he crafted us of two elements: Fire and Rock.' Kneel: 'That is why I stand before you now alone,' He adds, before kneeling to King Durin, adding he's, 'pleading to save my people. Please, noble King. Help us' Smile: King Durin looks to his son the Prince, who offers a slight smile, as the King says he will speak to his son now, as Elrond is escorted out Answer: Prince Durin asks, 'What is to be your answer, Father?' as King Durin holds a leaf, stating, 'It is said that when Aule created out people, he crafted us of two elements: Fire and Rock' 'The rock that lives within us hungers for the eternal, resisting the pull of time. But the fire embraces truth. That all things must one day be consumed and fade away to ash,' King Durin says, as his son shakes his head. 'We do not dig in earth that cannot support it. Delving into depths beyond the darkness. Tempting shadow, rock and mine, to bury us all beneath the mountain. I will not risk Dwarven lives to help the Elves cheat death,' King Durin says, which infuriates Prince Durin. 'Cheat death?! Father... my friend is drowning, reaching for me to pull him ashore. You expect me to swat his hand away because you're afraid of a bloody rock fall?' Prince Durin says. Consumed: 'The rock that lives within us hungers for the eternal, resisting the pull of time. But the fire embraces truth. That all things must one day be consumed and fade away to ash,' King Durin says, as his son shakes his head Tempting: 'We do not dig in earth that cannot support it. Delving into depths beyond the darkness. Tempting shadow, rock and mine, to bury us all beneath the mountain. I will not risk Dwarven lives to help the Elves cheat death,' King Durin says, which infuriates Prince Durin 'The fate of the Elves was decided many ages ago. By minds much wiser, much farther-seeing than our own. Defy their will, and this entire kingdom may fall, perhaps the entire Middle-earth,' King Durin adds. 'I am sorry, my son, but their time has come,' King Durin says, as the episode cuts immediately to Prince Durin's home and his wife Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete). 'Lice-bearded, uncaring, old fool!' Disa exclaims while forging a new weapon, though Durin softly adds, 'What if he's right?' Fate: 'The fate of the Elves was decided many ages ago. By minds much wiser, much farther-seeing than our own. Defy their will, and this entire kingdom may fall, perhaps the entire Middle-earth,' King Durin adds 'You're not thinking of lettin' this happen!' Disa adds, but Durin says, 'What choice to we have?' 'You said the other Dwarf-lords were open to the proposal. If we re-open the mine ourselves, prove to them there's a safe way to gather mithril, perhaps they'd make him listen,' Disa passionately adds. 'Perhaps we could force your father's hand,' Disa says, but Durin says he's not just his father, but their king. Disa: 'You're not thinking of lettin' this happen!' Disa adds, but Durin says, 'What choice to we have? Re-open: 'You said the other Dwarf-lords were open to the proposal. If we re-open the mine ourselves, prove to them there's a safe way to gather mithril, perhaps they'd make him listen,' Disa passionately adds King: 'Perhaps we could force your father's hand,' Disa says, but Durin says he's not just his father, but their king 'What kind of father would I be if I teach our children the will of a king should be counted as dross to be cast to the wind?' Durin asks. Disa sighs and drops the scalding hot weapon into a vat of water, adding, 'All right, fine. I shouldn't have said he had lice in his beard, or called him a fool.' She adds that she hates it when he, 'heaps slag on my mother,' though Durin adds, 'In your mother's case she actually does have lice in... I'm joking, I'm joking.' Teach: 'What kind of father would I be if I teach our children the will of a king should be counted as dross to be cast to the wind?' Durin asks Hates: She adds that she hates it when he, 'heaps slag on my mother,' though Durin adds, 'In your mother's case she actually does have lice in... I'm joking, I'm joking' The door opens and Elrond enters, as Durin gives him a sigh and he knows immediately that King Durin turned down his proposal. 'Don't supposed I can elbow you into staying for dinner?' Durin asks, though Elrond says, 'Gil-galad must be informed.' 'And soon, he will no longer be a king, for there will no longer be a Lindon,' Elrond says, as Durin adds, 'So this is goodbye then?' He knows: The door opens and Elrond enters, as Durin gives him a sigh and he knows immediately that King Durin turned down his proposal King: 'And soon, he will no longer be a king, for there will no longer be a Lindon,' Elrond says, as Durin adds, 'So this is goodbye then?' 'We do not say goodbye,' Elrond says, approaching a teary-eyed Durin adding, 'We say Namarie,' which Elrond explains, 'It means more than simply farewell. It means, "Go towards goodness."' Elrond gives Durin the small piece of mithril back before leaving his home. A sad Durin sits down and slides the piece of mithril across the table... landing next to the gold leaf with black rot all over it... but in the presence of the mithrill... the black rot starts to dissipate, which Durin immediately notices. Back: Elrond gives Durin the small piece of mithril back before leaving his home A stunned Disa joins her husband as they see, within moments, the gold leaf is fully restored, as Durin shouts for Elrond. The episode cuts back to the ravaged Southlands, as we see the fiery Mount Doom still erupting in the background as we see Theo and Galadriel keeping watch together. Theo asks why the Orcs did this and Galadriel says, 'To make this their home. Their Shadow Land.' Home: Theo asks why the Orcs did this and Galadriel says, 'To make this their home. Their Shadow Land. Theo suggests they take their land back and drive them off, but Galadriel says they have, 'neither position nor reinforcement. These lands are dead. We must rally to the living.' Theo suggests, 'Or put steel down their throats' as he tries to run off but Galadriel quickly stops him saying it is over, but Theo insists, 'It isn't for me!' Galadriel says, 'We must' and he starts to calm down before asking why she's so 'bothered' adding, 'it isn't your fault.' 'Yes it is,' Galadriel insists. Elendil is seen helping move the downtrodden survivors along, though he's looking for something. He smiles when he sees a young man walking a horse, calling out, 'Isildur' though it isn't his son, though someone shouts that the Queen is alive and Elendil hops on his horse and rushes over. He gets off his horse and finds Queen Regent Miriel walking with Valandil, as Elendil offers them his horse, but both Miriel and Valandil are stricken with grief. Elendil asks where his son is, but they don't answer, as the episode cuts back to Theo with Galadriel, with Theo asking if everyone is dead, including his mother Bronwyn and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova). 'What cannot be known hollows the mind. Fill it not with guesswork,' Galadriel tells him, as Theo asks where they're going. 'Numenor set their camp upon that ridgeline, beyond that far peak. That is where they shall hie to, along with any survivors, your mother included' she tells Theo. She tells him to 'be wary' because now the Orcs will, 'move in daylight now' as Theo says he has killed Orcs before. She says there were no such thing as Orcs when she was a child and he asks how many she has killed and she says, 'Many.' Theo: 'Numenor set their camp upon that ridgeline, beyond that far peak. That is where they shall hie to, along with any survivors, your mother included' she tells Theo Theo says that is, 'good' but she tells him not to say that because it, 'darkens the heart to call dark deeds good. It gives evil a place to thrive inside us.' 'Every war is fought both without and within. Of that, every soldier must be mindful. Even I. Even you,' Galadriel tells him as they keep walking... as we see something watching them. He asks if he's a soldier then as Galadriel stops and turns to Theo, handing him her sword, adding, 'Perhaps we can make one of you yet.' Perhaps: He asks if he's a soldier then as Galadriel stops and turns to Theo, handing him her sword, adding, 'Perhaps we can make one of you yet' He takes the sword, glancing at it, before continuing to follow her, as the episode cuts to Miriel on horseback with Elendil and Valandil flanking her on foot, with others seen with them. Miriel asks how much further it is to the encampment and Elendil says it is, 'just beyond this rise. She asks how far until they're clear of the smoke... before rephrasing... 'How long have we been clear of it?' Smoke: She asks how far until they're clear of the smoke... before rephrasing... 'How long have we been clear of it? 'Nearly a mile,' Elendil answers as she says, 'I see,' when Elendil puts his hand on hers, adding, 'Do you?' 'Only grey,' Miriel says, adding, 'Guide my horse. No one need notice' before begging him to keep walking, which he ultimately does. They keep climbing to the top of the rise as the episode cuts back to the Harfoots, as Sadoc says, 'They called it Greenwood the Great. Keep your head down and your eye on that line of cliffs. You'll find the big folk settlements on the far side,' as it's seen he's talking to The Stranger. Notice: 'Only grey,' Miriel says, adding, 'Guide my horse. No one need notice' before begging him to keep walking, which he ultimately does Sadoc hands The Stranger a map, adding, 'With any luck, the people there can help you find your stars,' as The Stranger unfolds the rudimentary map. 'Cause all I can tell you is, Harfoot folk haven't seen 'em since the days our ancestors lived in parts unknown over a thousand years ago. And that's a long time to wander. Even for a fellow with big legs,' Sadoc says, as The Stranger nods and stands up. He gives Sadoc a slight smile and walks down the hill as Sadoc heads back to the rest of his clan... but while he does we see a small sprout growing within the knothole of the tree they were sitting by. Luck: Sadoc hands The Stranger a map, adding, 'With any luck, the people there can help you find your stars,' as The Stranger unfolds the rudimentary map The Stranger finds the Brandyfoot clan - except Nori - who all smirk at him with indifference, when Nori approaches, extending an apple towards him. He slowly reaches out and takes it, as they share a look before he walks away. Nori is back in a hut with her mother Marigold, telling her she should have, 'stayed on path' and when she saw that star falling, 'I should've just let it alone.' Apple: The Stranger finds the Brandyfoot clan - except Nori - who all smirk at him with indifference, when Nori approaches, extending an apple towards him Takes: He slowly reaches out and takes it, as they share a look before he walks away 'You tried to tell me, Mother, but I couldn't understand. I'm just a Harfoot. That's all I'll ever be,' Nori says, as her mother asks her to go to bed, she can tend to the rest in the morning, but she stays put as Marigold leaves. The episode cuts back to Galadriel and Theo taking a rest in the forest as night has fallen, as Theo asks if she's lost anyone close to the Orcs. 'My brother, Finrod,' she says, while twirling his dagger and sheathing it. 'And my husband. Celeborn, was his name. We met in a glade of flowers. I was dancing and he saw me there.' Lost: The episode cuts back to Galadriel and Theo taking a rest in the forest as night has fallen, as Theo asks if she's lost anyone close to the Orcs Theo turns to her, surprised, adding, 'You? Were dancing?' She responds, 'The war seemed so very far away then.' 'When he went to it, I chided him. His armor didn't fit properly. I called him a silver clam. I never saw him again after that,' Galadriel says with sorrow in her voice. Theo adds, 'My lady, what you said before, you're wrong. It isn't your fault. It's mine.' Dancing: Theo turns to her, surprised, adding, 'You? Were dancing?' She responds, 'The war seemed so very far away then' Fault: Theo adds, 'My lady, what you said before, you're wrong. It isn't your fault. It's mine' 'You did not intend for this to happen,' she tells him, but he adds, 'I gave power to the enemy. So that makes me responsible.' 'Some say that is the way of things. But I believe the wise also look upon what is in our hearts. And this was not in yours,' Galadriel says. 'Do not take the burden of this day upon your shoulders, Theo. You may find it difficult to put it down again,' she tells him. Hearts: 'Some say that is the way of things. But I believe the wise also look upon what is in our hearts. And this was not in yours,' Galadriel says He asks how he can let it go and she says, 'There are powers beyond darkness at work in this world. Perhaps on days such as this, we have little choice but to trust their designs, and surrender our own.' 'My home is gone. Where's the design in that?' Theo asks, as Galadriel says, 'I cannot yet see it,' when they hear the unmistakable grunting of Orcs. They get lower in the trench and see an Orc battalion walking past, when Theo starts to unsheathe his sword, but Galadriel stops him. Powers: He asks how he can let it go and she says, 'There are powers beyond darkness at work in this world. Perhaps on days such as this, we have little choice but to trust their designs, and surrender our own' They stop, hearing the sword, as two Orcs start walking below for a closer look, just above Galadriel and Theo... one of them starting to sniff the air. Another asks what he smells and he says, 'Ashes. Nothing but ashes' and they go back to the formation and leave. Galadriel tells him, 'Rest while you can. We leave at first light,' though Theo responds, 'What light?' Sniff: They stop, hearing the sword, as two Orcs start walking below for a closer look, just above Galadriel and Theo... one of them starting to sniff the air What light: Galadriel tells him, 'Rest while you can. We leave at first light,' though Theo responds, 'What light? The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum, deep in the mines, as Prince Durin pounds away at the rocks with Elrond behind him. The mines rumble as Durin says it was, 'Another tremor,' and Elrond says they need to give, 'the rocks time to resettle' as they take a break and Elrond hands Durin a canteen, but he refuses it. 'Self-discipline, master Elf,' Durin says, as Elrond asks if he thinks that will 'bring him success.' Rocks: The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum, deep in the mines, as Prince Durin pounds away at the rocks with Elrond behind him 'It did in our contest,' Durin says, referring to their endurance contest when Elrond first came to Khazad-dum. 'Did it?' a somewhat smug Elrond says, sitting down across from Durin, as he realizes, 'You lost on purpose?' 'My aim was never to defeat you, but to gain your ear awhile longer,' Elrond says with a smile, as Durin says, 'Elf lies' before Elrond admits, 'I was... winded.' Lost: 'Did it?' a somewhat smug Elrond says, sitting down across from Durin, as he realizes, 'You lost on purpose? Durin lets out a sigh and says, 'Blast it,' and Elrond hands him the canteen as he takes a drink adding he always thought he was, 'Dwavish for an Elf,' and Elrond says Durin is, 'Elvish for a Dwarf.' Elrond jokes that he is the 'Son of Durin and grandson of...' as Durin says, 'Scoff if you like. The mightiest thing a Dwarf can do is to be worthy of the name of his father,' as Elrond seemingly pines for his lost father. Durin says they do have their, 'secret names for use only amongst ourselves' adding they 'reveal them only to family - wives, fathers, sisters...brothers.' Names: Durin says they do have their, 'secret names for use only amongst ourselves' adding they 'reveal them only to family - wives, fathers, sisters...brothers. Durin is about to say something and Elrond tells him to, 'save it... for the far side,' as Durin agrees and gets back to work. The caves rumble again as Durin strikes his axe... which breaks through to the other side, as Elrond takes a look, seeing loads of mithril leading to the bottoms of the tree roots.. but when Elrond turns back...he sees King Durin waiting. Prince Durin says, 'It's more than we ever imagined,' as Elrond tries to speak but the King, flanked by guards, shouts, 'Enough!' Waiting: The caves rumble again as Durin strikes his axe... which breaks through to the other side, as Elrond takes a look, seeing loads of mithril leading to the bottoms of the tree roots.. but when Elrond turns back...he sees King Durin waiting Prince Durin pleads his father to, 'just look at it,' but the King tells his guards to, 'seize the Elf.' They shove Elrond out of Khazad-dum as he sits on a rock, revealing he's holding a small piece of mithril in his hand. Prince Durin is speaking with his father, who tells him that when his mother birthed him, 'something inside you was ill-formed.' 'Your breathing was ragged and dry. A tiny, pitiful sound, like scraping chalkstones. Folks said you'd never see your first winter. And every night, after your mother's weeping eyes had found refuge in sleep, I held you to the firelight, kept your chin up all night long. Seemed to ease the burden a little. And one night, I gazed down on your tiny, naked face, and I saw upon it the great grey beard of an old Dwarven-king,' King Durin says. 'Mighty and terrible as an army with banners. And when your mother woke, I told her she need cry no more. Our son would live and he would move mountains!' King Durin adds. Mighty: 'Mighty and terrible as an army with banners. And when your mother woke, I told her she need cry no more. Our son would live and he would move mountains!' King Durin adds Prince Durin turns to his father and says, 'How do you expect me to move mountains when you fall to pieces when I dig a single hole?' 'You speak of greatness in me but you suffocate in me any ambition, any desire, any thought that does not originate in you,' Prince Durin says. 'The Iron that must bear the most heavy of burdens must also endure the most rigorous tempreing!' King Durin adds. Suffocate: 'You speak of greatness in me but you suffocate in me any ambition, any desire, any thought that does not originate in you,' Prince Durin says Prince Durin adds, 'Consigning your allies to death is not tempering! Elrond is as much a brother to me as if he'd been fired in my own mother's womb.' King Durin solemnly says, 'How dare you. How dare you invoke your mother's memory to defend your decision to betray your own kind?' Prince Durin angrily stands up and says, 'No it is you who betrayed our kind! Squandering our future so you can cling to the past! You profane the crown you wear!' How dare: King Durin solemnly says, 'How dare you. How dare you invoke your mother's memory to defend your decision to betray your own kind? The King approaches his son the Prince and removes his gold neckplate and tosses it aside before walking away from his son. Prince Durin picks it up but King Durin stops and says, 'Leave it. It's not yours anymore' before walking away. The episode cuts back to the Harfoots, as Poppy is singing away as Nori wakes up and chides her for eating an apple, saying they have to save them. 'Why don't you take a look outside, then we'll talk,' Poppy says with a smile, as Nori gets out of the cart and finds all of the trees now fully in bloom with plenty of fruit for everyone, and then some. Sadoc says,' We'll go to market with that crop, won't we?' as Nori says, 'I don't understand. How?' 'How do you think? He fixed it,' Poppy says, as Largo finds Nori and says, 'Can you believe it Nori? There's enough bounty here to feast tonight and still have enough left over to last to Frozen Fish.' Poppy adds that Malva is going to make something called applesauce as we see several Harfoot hands picking apples from the many trees and filling their baskets. Poppy is down by a stream, singing away as usual as she fills up her bucket with water, when something stops her in her tracks. She bends down to take a closer look and finds a rather large footprint, which causes her to run off and leave her bucket in the stream. The stream current carries the bucket... as the mysterious character played by Bridie Sisson (whose name has not yet been revealed) finds it and and examines it, while flanked by two others (Edith Poor and Kali Kopae). Later that night, Poppy brings Nori back to the stream, as they watch those three mysterious characters gather near a tree. Watch: Later that night, Poppy brings Nori back to the stream, as they watch those three mysterious characters gather near a tree Bridie's character puts her hands on the tree, plucking the small flower than has grown from it while another character points a finger straight ahead. They all start walking away from the tree as Nori runs after them and says, 'Wait! You're going the wrong way!' All three stop as Nori points the opposite direction and says, 'He went that way!' But when she turns back, all three have vanished without a trace. Three: Bridie's character puts her hands on the tree, plucking the small flower than has grown from it while another character points a finger straight ahead Dylan rushes up and shouts for Nori when the three mystery characters pluck something from her hair as she turns around to find them towering over her. Largo and Marigold and Sadoc rush up with torches telling them to, 'Leave her alone,' but the trio are unfazed. Largo says, 'You harm a hair on her foot and I'll brain the lot of ya' while brandishing a torch... but the main bald character simply puts her hand on the torch and extinguishes the flame in an instant. Towering: Dylan rushes up and shouts for Nori when the three mystery characters pluck something from her hair as she turns around to find them towering over her Harm: Largo says, 'You harm a hair on her foot and I'll brain the lot of ya' while brandishing a torch... but the main bald character simply puts her hand on the torch and extinguishes the flame in an instant She blows the embers from her hand as fires ignite within the makeshift Harfoot village behind them while Poppy embraces her mother. The Harfoots can do nothing but watch everything they have burn. The episode cuts to the Southlands, where Elendil has made it back to the Numenor camp, as a soldier fails to control Isildur's beloved horse Berek. Ember: She blows the embers from her hand as fires ignite within the makeshift Harfoot village behind them while Poppy embraces her mother Burn: The Harfoots can do nothing but watch everything they have burn Elendil: The episode cuts to the Southlands, where Elendil has made it back to the Numenor camp, as a soldier fails to control Isildur's beloved horse Berek Elendil calms the beast down immediately, telling the horse it's going home... but the horse stands its ground. Elendil pleads with the horse but Valandil says, 'He won't listen to you. He won't listen to any of us,' as Elendil pets the horse's mane. Suddenly Berek takes off running into the woods as Elendil reflects on his choices, adding, 'I should have never pulled the Elf on board. I should've left her in the sea where I found her.' Plead: Elendil pleads with the horse but Valandil says, 'He won't listen to you. He won't listen to any of us,' as Elendil pets the horse's mane Listen: Elendil pleads with the horse but Valandil says, 'He won't listen to you. He won't listen to any of us,' as Elendil pets the horse's mane Galadriel and Theo approach the camp from the hillside, as Theo rushes down but Galadriel seems to be in no hurry. Theo walks through the camp, entering a tent where the wounded are being treated... some with minor injuries some with quite severe injuries. He finds a woman with a pony tail but it's not hiss mother and sees another dark-haired woman under a bloody blanket. Theo: Theo walks through the camp, entering a tent where the wounded are being treated... some with minor injuries some with quite severe injuries 'Theo?' Bronwyn says from behind her as the mother and son embrace, as Theo also sees Arondir and gives him a big hug. Galadriel enters the tent and Arondir bows to her, as Galadriel asks if the Queen Regent is there. We see Miriel sitting high up in the mountains... a crimson blindfold covering her eyes, as Elendil arrives and tells her that preparations are complete and they can leave within the hour. Embrace: 'Theo?' Bronwyn says from behind her as the mother and son embrace, as Theo also sees Arondir and gives him a big hug Mountains: We see Miriel sitting high up in the mountains... a crimson blindfold covering her eyes, as Elendil arrives and tells her that preparations are complete and they can leave within the hour 'What of the Southlanders?' Miriel asks, as Elendil says, 'One garrison will remain behind to escort them to a safe settlement... and search for our missing.' Galadriel approaches, as Elendil finds it hard to hide his contempt. Galadriel approaches and wells up when she sees the Queen is blinded. Galadriel drops to one knee as Miriel reminds her, 'No one kneels in Numenor,' though Galadriel reminds the Queen, 'You are not in Numenor. Neither of you are. A fault that is mine alone,' though Elendil interrupts and says, 'Our ships are waiting, my Queen.' Approach: Galadriel approaches, as Elendil finds it hard to hide his contempt. Galadriel approaches and wells up when she sees the Queen is blinded Garrison: 'What of the Southlanders?' Miriel asks, as Elendil says, 'One garrison will remain behind to escort them to a safe settlement... and search for our missing' Elendil shoots Galadriel a dirty look and says, 'Let us put this land behind our sails,' though Miriel reaches out and puts her hand on Galadriel's face. 'Do not spend your pity on me, Elf. Save it for our enemies, for they do not know what they have begun,' Miriel says with conviction. Miriel puts her hand in Galadriel's and she helps the Queen Regent up, who adds, 'For I, Miriel, daughter of Ar-Inziladun, vow this. Numenor will return,' which clearly upsets Elendil. Behind: Elendil shoots Galadriel a dirty look and says, 'Let us put this land behind our sails,' though Miriel reaches out and puts her hand on Galadriel's face No pity: 'Do not spend your pity on me, Elf. Save it for our enemies, for they do not know what they have begun,' Miriel says with conviction Return: Miriel puts her hand in Galadriel's and she helps the Queen Regent up, who adds, 'For I, Miriel, daughter of Ar-Inziladun, vow this. Numenor will return,' which clearly upsets Elendil Galadriel tells Miriel, 'Then the Elves will be ready,' while Miriel tells Elendil, 'Captain, we sail with the tide,' though no one answers. Elendil is seen fighting back tears as the episode cuts back to the Harfoots, cleaning up what's left of their village. Largo finds Nori just sitting down and commands her to get on her feet and help gather what she can. Ready: Galadriel tells Miriel, 'Then the Elves will be ready,' while Miriel tells Elendil, 'Captain, we sail with the tide,' though no one answers Tears: Elendil is seen fighting back tears as the episode cuts back to the Harfoots, cleaning up what's left of their village Help: Largo finds Nori just sitting down and commands her to get on her feet and help gather what she can. When she doesn't respond, he says, 'Nori, now. Don't let this splinter your spirit, it will be all right.' Marigold tells her husband not to lie to Nori, adding, 'She's too old for that now,' but he insists, 'I wasn't lyin'. It will be all right.' Sadoc approaches and tells Largo to, 'give us a moment to weep,' though Largo says, 'Weeping? Is that all you think we have left in us?' Weep: Sadoc approaches and tells Largo to, 'give us a moment to weep,' though Largo says, 'Weeping? Is that all you think we have left in us?' 'We're Harfoots! Look, we don't slay dragons. Not much for diggin' jewels, but there's one thing we can do, I warrant, better than any creature in all Middle-earth. We stay true to each other. No matter how the path winds, or how steep it gets, we face it, with our hearts, even bigger than our feet. And we just keep walkin',' Largo says, as Nori gives her father a nod. They all go back to gathering what they can as Nor gets up and grabs a satchel and puts it over her shoulder, as Marigold asks where she's going. 'To help my friend. Warn him what's comin'. He deserves at least that,' Nori says as Sadoc says, 'Going off-trail? Now? Alone?' Help: 'To help my friend. Warn him what's comin'. He deserves at least that,' Nori says as Sadoc says, 'Going off-trail? Now? Alone?' 'She won't be alone,' Poppy says, grabbing a satchel herself and joining Nori, adding, 'We've left enough folk behind. We're not leaving him.' Marigold speaks up and says, 'You girls aren't going anywhere... not without me,' as Largo asks if she's sure about this. Vilma (Maxine Cunliffe) says if they go into those woods they may not come out alive, while Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera) adds, 'They might, if a trail-finder were to go with them. Brandyfoot girl was right to help him. Was right all along. And if you think that Malva Meadowgrass is too proud to admit it, well what's the good of livin', Saodc, if we aren't livin' good?' Not alone: 'She won't be alone,' Poppy says, grabbing a satchel herself and joining Nori, adding, 'We've left enough folk behind. We're not leaving him' Vilma and Malva: Vilma (Maxine Cunliffe) says if they go into those woods they may not come out alive, while Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera) adds, 'They might, if a trail-finder were to go with them. Brandyfoot girl was right to help him. Was right all along. And if you think that Malva Meadowgrass is too proud to admit it, well what's the good of livin', Saodc, if we aren't livin' good?' Sadoc looks at Malva and says, 'You know Malva, once it would be grand if you weren't right all the time,' as Malva gives him a smile. Sadoc looks at the girls and says he will fetch his provisions and a stick and he's coming with them. Sadoc leads the way with Nori, Poppy and Marigold following, as Nori asks if they're going to find him as Sadoc says, 'He's a bloody giant. How could we miss him?' Giant: Sadoc leads the way with Nori, Poppy and Marigold following, as Nori asks if they're going to find him as Sadoc says, 'He's a bloody giant. How could we miss him?' The episode cuts back to the sea as Miriel is seen sailing away, while we watch Galadriel and Arondir watching her leave. Arondir asks if Miriel will keep her promise and Galadriel says she is 'certain of it. Bronwyn arrives and says all of the 'bones have been set' and the 'wounds bound,' adding they can travel now. Watch: The episode cuts back to the sea as Miriel is seen sailing away, while we watch Galadriel and Arondir watching her leave Certain: Arondir asks if Miriel will keep her promise and Galadriel says she is 'certain of it Bronwyn: Bronwyn arrives and says all of the 'bones have been set' and the 'wounds bound,' adding they can travel now Galadriel asks where they will go, as Bronwyn says, 'An old Numenorean colony by the mouth of the Anduin. Pelargir, they called it. They say there's fresh land, fresh water,' as Arondir adds, 'A fresh start.' Galadriel says she will, 'report to our High King, to face whatever awaits me,' as Bronwyn says, 'But what of our King?' 'Your King?' Galadriel asks, as Bronwyn asks, 'Has no one informed you?' as Galadriel is taken to see Halbrand, telling him she thought he had died. Halbrand: 'Your King?' Galadriel asks, as Bronwyn asks, 'Has no one informed you?' as Galadriel is taken to see Halbrand, telling him she thought he had died 'Better for me if I had done,' he says, as he has a massive bloody wound in his belly, as Arondir says Southlanders found him on the road like that. Bronwyn adds the wounds have, 'soured overnight,' as Galadriel says the wound needs, 'Elvish medicine' as Bronwyn says she will gather what provisions she can for Halbrand to ride as Bronwyn and Arondir leave the tent. Galadriel turns to Halbrand and says, 'Well my friend. It seems fate has in store for us one more raft.' Soured: Bronwyn adds the wounds have, 'soured overnight,' as Galadriel says the wound needs, 'Elvish medicine' as Bronwyn says she will gather what provisions she can for Halbrand to ride as Bronwyn and Arondir leave the tent Halbrand says, 'This is not over. I will not abandon these lands and condemn them to burn. Nor will you.' Galadriel leaves the tent with Halbrand, as everyone bows as he walks past, while Bronwyn says, 'Strength to the King!' as others repeat it while Galadriel and Halbrand mount their steeds. Theo approaches Galadriel and holds up the sword she gave him earlier in the episode, and she smiles and tells him, 'Keep it, soldier.' Bow: Galadriel leaves the tent with Halbrand, as everyone bows as he walks past, while Bronwyn says, 'Strength to the King!' as others repeat it while Galadriel and Halbrand mount their steeds Keep: Theo approaches Galadriel and holds up the sword she gave him earlier in the episode, and she smiles and tells him, 'Keep it, soldier' Galadriel and Halbrand start to ride off when Theo yells, 'Strength to the Southlands!' as others begin chanting. The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum as Prince Durin and Disa are drowning their sorrows in ale, with Durin saying he failed Elrond and it's, 'all my fault.' 'No. No it isn't,' Disa says, adding it's his father's fault, adding he's grown to 'old' and 'suspicious. Ride off: Galadriel and Halbrand start to ride off when Theo yells, 'Strength to the Southlands!' as others begin chanting Sorrows: The episode cuts back to Khazad-dum as Prince Durin and Disa are drowning their sorrows in ale, with Durin saying he failed Elrond and it's, 'all my fault' 'His mind too feeble, his eyes too dim to see that now matter how many crests he hurls to the floor, one day this will be your kingdom,' Disa says. 'Not your brother's. Not some other Dwarf-lords. Yours and mine. And together we will rule this mountain and all others before our time is done. That mithril belongs to us. To you and me. And one day together, we are going to dig,' Disa says as they embrace and kiss. Meanwhile, King Durin notices the gold leaf has been completely healed, but throws it in the hole that Prince Durin made. Mind: 'His mind too feeble, his eyes too dim to see that now matter how many crests he hurls to the floor, one day this will be your kingdom,' Disa says Together: 'Not your brother's. Not some other Dwarf-lords. Yours and mine. And together we will rule this mountain and all others before our time is done. That mithril belongs to us. To you and me. And one day together, we are going to dig,' Disa says as they embrace and kiss Leaf: Meanwhile, King Durin notices the gold leaf has been completely healed, but throws it in the hole that Prince Durin made 'Seal it up,' King Durin says, as the gold leaf tumbles through the depths of the chasm... before landing on black soil and immediately bursting into flames... which awakens the demon of fire known as the balrog. The episode cuts back to the now-fiery Southlands as Adar (Joseph Mawle) is walking through the ashes, telling his Orcs to, 'cast off your sun-cloaks and your helms. You are no longer to be burdened by the day. This is our land now. It is our home.' Balrog: 'Seal it up,' King Durin says, as the gold leaf tumbles through the depths of the chasm... before landing on black soil and immediately bursting into flames... which awakens the demon of fire known as the balrog Adar: The episode cuts back to the now-fiery Southlands as Adar (Joseph Mawle) is walking through the ashes, telling his Orcs to, 'cast off your sun-cloaks and your helms. You are no longer to be burdened by the day. This is our land now. It is our home' Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) says, "Hail Adar, Lord of the Southlands,' which the Orcs repeat, while Adar sits down and says, 'No.' 'That is the name of a place that no longer exists,' Adar says, as Waldreg asks what they should call it instead. While he doesn't answer, Adar looks at the fiery ruins of Mount Doom... as a graphic that reads The Southlands changes to a name Tolkien fans will recognize: Mordor - the dark lands the hobbits journeyed through in The Lord of the Rings trilogy... as the episode comes to an end. Not exist: 'That is the name of a place that no longer exists,' Adar says, as Waldreg asks what they should call it instead Change: While he doesn't answer, Adar looks at the fiery ruins of Mount Doom... as a graphic that reads The Southlands changes to a name Tolkien fans will recognize: Mordor... as the episode comes to an end. The preview for next week's Season 1 finale goes back to Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), who tells Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) that, 'The Great Tree is all but bleeding leaves.' There are also shots of Galadriel saying she did not cross the great ocean only to drown now while we see a number of other cryptic shots of the final episode. The finale of the eight-episode season arriving Thursday, October 13 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Expensive: The show made history long before the first two episodes debuted on Thursday evening, since it's considered the most expensive series ever Production: With an estimated production commitment of between $100 million and $150 million per season, Amazon is expected to shell out $1 billion for the production costs and the rights, when all is said and done Expand: They wanted to expand this into roughly 50 hours of television, which would include the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of the dark lord Sauron, the fall of the island kingdom Numenor and the final alliance between men and elves No confirm: Executive producer Lindsey Weber would neither confirm nor deny Sisson's character, she did offer a hint as to his origins to Time Kanye West took aim at Josh Kushner seemingly over his firm, Thrive Capital, and its investments in Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand, Skims. 'F**K JOSH KUSHNER,' West began in an Instagram post on Thursday, which sounded as if he interpreted Kushner's investments in SKIMS as an attack on his since-failed marriage to Kardashian. The hip hop superstar would go on to compare the situation to him investing in the underwear line created by Kushner's supermodel wife Karlie Kloss, without the billionaire investor's knowledge. Despite all the tough talk, Kloss didn't seem too bothered from the looks of her big beaming smile when she stepped out for a walk in her adopted home town of New York City. Footloose and carefree: Karlie Kloss, 30, didn't seem bothered by all the tough talk from Kanye West about her husband when she stepped out for a casual walk in New York City on Thursday The statuesque top model showed off her fashion sense dressed in faded blue jeans and green cropped blazer over a white turtle neck top. She also wore a pair of orange heel leather boots, along with cool black sunglasses. Rounding out her overall look, the Project Runway host had her red-tinted locks styled long, straight and flowing past the middle of her back. Stylin': The top model showed off her fashion sense in faded blue jeans, a cropped green blazer over a white turtleneck top and orange boots Kushners Thrive Capital invested in Skims during multiple fundraising rounds starting in 2020, prior to Kardashian and West's nasty break-up, according to VigourTimes. That seemed to really bother West, and prompt him to ask Kushner to imagine if he invested in his wife's underwear line. 'WHAT IF I HAD 10% OF KARLIE KLOSS UNDERWEAR LINE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING,' West wrote in capital letters on Instagram, adding. 'AND YOU ONLY HAD 5%.' A spokesperson for Thrive Capital declined to comment, but it is known that firm has also invested in other companies like Instagram, Robinhood and Slack Ranting: Kanye West, 45, took aim at Josh Kushner seemingly over his firm, Thrive Capital, and its investments in Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand, Skims, in an Instagram post Tough talk: 'F**K JOSH KUSHNER,' West began in an Instagram post on Thursday, which sounded as if he interpreted Kushner's investments in SKIMS as an attack on his since-failed marriage to Kim Kardashian; the rapper compared the situation to him investing in the underwear line created by Kushner's supermodel wife Karlie Kloss, without his knowledge Comparison: 'WHAT IF I HAD 10% OF KARLIE KLOSS UNDERWEAR LINE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING,' West wrote seemingly to Kushner, 37, adding. 'AND YOU ONLY HAD 5%' The Blame Game rapper would also direct his rant at his brother, Jared Kushner, who's the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. 'JARED WAS HOLDING TRUMP BACK, West wrote, in a reference to Jered Kushner's job as senior advisor for the Trump administration. West also appeared to comment on Jared Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump, writing: 'IVANKA IS FIRE.' At this point, it's not known what led to the falling out between West and Jared Kushner, considering they were spotted dining in a restaurant together as recently as this past January. Advertisement Kate Hudson drew all the attention to herself on Thursday evening when she walked the red carpet for a screening of her new murder mystery Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The 43-year-old actress looked effortlessly elegant in a gorgeous linen floral dress as she made a splash at the Mill Valley Film Festival in Mill Valley, California. Also joining the blond beauty were some of her costars in the Daniel Craigled film, including Kathryn Hahn and Leslie Odom Jr. Stunner: Kate Hudson drew all the attention to herself on Thursday evening when she walked the red carpet for a screening of her new murder mystery Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The 43-year-old actress looked effortlessly elegant in a gorgeous linen floral dress as she made a splash at the Mill Valley Film Festival in Mill Valley, California Kate looked classically glamorous in her dress, which was made of an earthy beige linen. It was enlivened by embroidered branches with lustrous green leaves and delicate lavender flower designs. The look included a high slit to showcase the 5ft6in siren's long legs. She also elevated her stature with a set of pale lavender heels with pointed toes and cutouts over her heels. The Almost Famous actress' dress had had a low-cut top, with green satin cups and thick straps reaching out. Earth tones: Kate looked classically glamorous in her dress, which was made of an earthy beige linen. It was enlivened by embroidered branches with lustrous green leaves and delicate lavender flower designs Revealing: The look included a high slight to showcased the 5ft6in siren's long legs The outfit highlighted her toned arms, and she complemented the dress with a cream-colored ribbon tying her long blond hair back. She completed the ensemble with long, dangling beaded earrings, and she sported a modest winged eyeliner look. Kate's outfit looked particularly on point as she strolled to the festival screening along a walkway carved through lush trees and bushes. Towering: She also elevated her stature with a set of pale lavender heels with pointed toes and cutouts over her heels Blond beauty: The outfit highlighted her toned arms, and she complemented the dress with a cream-colored ribbon tying her long blond hair back In nature: Kate's outfit looked particularly on point as she strolled to the festival screening along a walkway carved through lush trees and bushes Fits the part: Kate stars in the film as Birdie Jay, a ex-supermodel who has reinvented herself as a fashion designer Kate stars in the film as Birdie Jay, a ex-supermodel who has reinvented herself as a fashion designer. Joining her on the red carpet was her costar Kathryn Hahn, who plays Claire Debella, the fictional governor of Connecticut who is now running for a Senate seat. She contrasted the floral look with a glamorous black sequined dress. The outfit included baggy, medium-length sleeves that were loosely draped on her arms, and the dress included an ultra-high slit on the side. Costar: Joining her on the red carpet was her costar Kathryn Hahn, who plays Claire Debella, the fictional governor of Connecticut who is now running for a Senate seat. Back in black: She contrasted the floral look with a glamorous black sequined dress. The outfit included baggy, medium-length sleeves that were loosely draped on her arms, and the dress included an ultra-high slit on the side The WandaVision star complemented her dress with pointy-toed black heels that strapped around her ankles and had glittering jeweled clasps over the toes. She wore her brunette locks with a slightly off-center part and let them rest over her shoulders in gentle waves. She matched her dress with playful black nail polish, and she accessorized with a boxy black handbag. On point: The WandaVision star complemented her dress with pointy-toed black heels that strapped around her ankles and had glittering jeweled clasps over the toes Delicate: She wore her brunette locks with a slightly off-center part and let them rest over her shoulders in gentle waves. She matched her dress with playful black nail polish, and she accessorized with a boxy black handbag Leslie Odom Jr. plays Lionel Toussaint, a scientist in the employ of a tech billionaire played in Glass Onion by Edward Norton. He looked chic in a gray pinstriped suit with peaked lapels and an unusual black bolo tie. The film's writer, director and producer Rian Johnson contrasted him in a dapper burgundy suit, which he dressed down by skipping a tie. Ram Bergman, who coproduced the film with Johnson, wore a low-key gray down jacket with jeans. As the film had already had its official premiere, several of the main cast weren't present, including star Daniel Craig, Norton, Dave Bautista, Ethan Hawke and several others. Craig stars as Detective Benoit Blanc, a private detective with a cartoonish Southern accent who is put on the case after someone turns up dead at a gathering of Norton's friends. Glass Onion will play in major theater chains for one week only, from November 2329, before premiering on Netflix on December 23. Supporting cast: Leslie Odom Jr., who plays a scientist in the employ of a tech billionaire played by Edward Norton, looked chic in a gray pinstriped suit and a bolo tie. The film's writer, director and producer Rian Johnson contrasted him in a dapper burgundy suit, which he dressed down by skipping a tie The whole gang: Ram Bergman (R), who coproduced the film with Johnson, wore a low-key gray down jacket with jeans MIA: As the film had already had its official premiere, several of the main cast weren't present, including star Daniel Craig, Norton, Dave Bautista, Ethan Hawke and several others Australian actress Katherine Langford has landed a new role. The 26-year-old actress has been cast in the lead role in a psychological thriller, The Venery of Samantha Bird, that has received an eight-episode order by Starz, according to Deadline. The series will follow Langford as Samantha Bird, a woman visiting her family in New England, who reconnects with her childhood love and falls into a complicated relationship with him, according to the site. Leading role: Katherine Langford has landed a lead role in a psychological thriller titled The Venery of Samantha Bird, set to premiere on Starz; Pictured 2022 'The Venery of Samantha Bird is the perfect complement to our slate of provocative, immersive storytelling that leans into the female gaze,' said Kathryn Busby, president original programming at Starz. Adding, 'Katherine is an incredible talent who will bring this modern romance of addictive love to life.' The young star recently attended the Le Defile LOreal Paris Show and revealed how the show helped empower her as a young woman. Complicated: The series will follow Langford, 26, as Samantha Bird, a woman visiting her family in New England, who reconnects with her childhood love; Pictured 2021 'For this year's Walk Your Worth, I personally feel very inspired. I feel like it's a really empowering day, so I just hope that people can take away the celebration of sisterhood and just enjoy the day, enjoy the event, and feel really empowered in themselves,' she said. Adding, 'I think it's important just to have that reassurance, and know that whatever you wanna do and whatever you wanna be you can do it. You can be it and it's okay,' Katherine is perhaps most famous for her portrayal of high school student Hannah Baker on 13 Reasons Why in 2017 Inspiring her generation: The young star recently attended the Le Defile LOreal Paris Show in France on October 2 The actress, who had no prior acting experience, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her role in the controversial teen drama. The show sees her portray an American high school student who died by suicide after battling with mental illness and struggling to fit in. In addition to her role on 13 Reasons Why, Langford has also appeared in Netflixs one-and-done Cursed and the recently premiered Aussie drama Savage River. Colin Fassnidge revealed on Friday that Michelin Star chef Raymond Blanc is the most difficult cook he has ever worked with, due to a confronting policy he had in his kitchen. The My Kitchen Rules judge, 48, said he used to work with the acclaimed chef some years ago at a hotel in England. He told Nova's Fitzy and Wippa that he worked the late shift and would come to work sporting a five-o'clock shadow at times, which had to be shaved immediately for hygiene. Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge (pictured) said that French chef Raymond Blanc is the most difficult cook he has worked with due to a confronting policy he had in his kitchen Colin said he was forced to trim his beard using the same razor kitchen staff used to prepare their ready-to-cook frozen pigs. 'They would shave them with a rusty old Bic razor. They would make me stand in the kitchen and shave with this razor,' Colin said. 'It would take lumps off your chin,' he added. Colin said he used to worked with the Michelin Star chef (pictured) at a hotel kitchen in London and was taken aback by a policy they had saying staff's facial hair had to be shaved Wippa then asked Colin if he ever felt like he was one of the frozen pigs himself, and a grim Colin confirmed he did. It comes after the MKR star shared his thoughts on his former co-star Pete Evans. Evans, who previously appeared on My Kitchen Rules alongside Fassnidge, was ousted from the show in 2020 following multiple scandals. Fassnidge said he worked the late shift and would come to work with a five-o'clock shadow which had to be shaved immediately. He had to trim using the same razor staff used to prepare their ready-to-cook pigs The Dublin-born culinary whiz said while he has not stayed in touch with Evans, 49, he does have empathy for him. 'I haven't heard from him for quite a bit. I think he has to keep his head down because it's not nice [what he's faced],' Colin told Stellar magazine. He added while the pair don't always see eye-to-eye, he doesn't enjoy seeing Evans face scrutiny. 'I get on with Pete, I don't agree with everything he says... well, most of it,' he said. Sharna Burgess is officially a citizen of the United States of America after calling the US her home for the last 12 years. In an emotional Instagram post, the 37-year-old Dancing With the Stars pro announced the exciting news. Sharna shared a video of herself holding up her citizenship certificate while doing her pledge of allegiance as Whitney Houston's rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner national anthem played in the background. Sharna Burgess is officially a citizen of the United States of America after calling the country her home for the last 12 years 'Today something really amazing happened,' she began in her caption. 'I had no idea that this would feel emotional for me. This has been my home for nearly 12 years now. My son was born here, my life and love and career.. all here. And yet this last step of becoming a citizen and finally having the same rights as all Americans felt so important.' 'Maybe its because Ive lived outside of Australia since I was 18, so much of that was out of a suitcase and from one country to another,' she continued. 'At one point my belongings were just in garbage bags since it was easier to move. 'Ive never even had to vote anywhere before. I think I always felt a bit like a Gypsy searching for belonging. Afraid of staying in one place and also craving the security of it. 'But then, America slowly became my permanent home. Eventually I found my tribe here, I bought a home here, I fell in love here, I birthed my son here. Her caption concluded, 'Now this final step is the period at the end I never knew I was needing so much. This very long chapter of finding belonging has finally come to a close. I Sharna Burgess, am a citizen of The United States of America, and I belong here.' Sharna shared a video of herself holding up her citizenship certificate while doing her pledge of allegiance as Whitney Houston's rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner national anthem played in the background Sharna's partner Brian Austin Green also attended the important event. The couple share a son, Zane, who they welcomed in June this year. Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian was first linked with Sharna in 2020 after the two were set up by a mutual business friend. The actor opened up to People about their first meeting. 'On our first date, we just completely lost track of time and the same thing happened the next time. It became something noticeably different from anything I'd ever experienced before,' he revealed. In 2021, the couple competed together on Dancing With The Stars and were eliminated after one month on the show. After welcoming Zane earlier this year, Sharna announced on Instagram that she will be taking a break from professionally dancing on the competition show full time to focus on raising her new son. Sharna's partner, actor Brian Austin Green, also attended the important event. The couple share a son, Zane, who they welcomed in June this year Brian shares a son Kassius with his fellow Beverly Hills, 90210 cast member, Vanessa Marcil. The couple were engaged to be married, but ended their relationship in 2003. One year later, he began to date actress Megan Fox after the two met on set of Hope & Faith. The two stars became engaged in 2006, but chose to end their engagement in 2009. However in 2010 the actors reconciled and said, 'I do,' that same year. After separating in 2020, their divorce was finalised in 2021. They share and currently co-parent their three sons, Noah, Bodhi, and Journey. Brian was first linked with Sharna in 2020 after the two were set up by a mutual business friend During an interview on The Viall Files podcast, Sharna expressed how well both Brian and Megan put their children first, despite their divorce. 'Something I respect so much about Brian and Megan is the way these kids are No. 1 at all times. 'Their communication, they're making priority and time for them. They're making sure they are loved and they have as much consistency as they can,' the dancer added. 'It keeps them so balanced and these kids have handled the last few years so amazingly because of that. It's really, really beautiful to see and it's a huge credit to them.' Shanina Shaik showed off her unreal post-baby body on Thursday as she headed to an exclusive fashion event in Los Angeles. The Aussie model, 31, looked every inch the fashionista in a bold beige top with a striking orange collar. She complemented it with form fitting tan leggings and red lace high heels. Australian model Shanina Shaik (pictured) showed off her unreal post-baby body on Thursday as she headed to an exclusive event in Los Angeles Her stylish outfit highlighted her best angles and clearly showed why she is one of Australia's most in-demand models. The new mother's raven-coloured locks were tied in a bun and she added a touch of sophistication to her get-up with statement gold jewellery. She could not wipe the smile off her face as she approached the exclusive Lacoste clothing event. The Aussie model looked every inch the fashionista in a bold beige coloured top with a striking orange collar Shanina and her partner Matthew Adesuyan, 32, welcomed their son, whose name has not been publicly disclosed, on September 16. The couple went public with their relationship on Valentine's Day 2021, with the pair announcing it on Instagram. In a heartfelt post, she wrote: 'To the new love of my life. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mum. She complemented her top with form fitting tan leggings and red lace high heels 'I have always wanted you for as long as I can remember, and at times my patience was tested.' She continued: 'The timing had to be right, and I can say with confidence that I am ready to be your guide, your protector and your best friend.' Shanina was previously married to Aussie DJ Gregory Andrews, whose stage name is DJ Ruckus, in 2018, before splitting 15 months later. Kanye West dragged his 'good friend' Lizzo's name into an explosive new interview where he slammed 'bots' and the 'media' for promoting the idea that being 'overweight is the new goal'. 'It's a genocide of the Black race,' he declared in a wide-ranging conversation on Fox News Channel's Tucker Carlson Tonight on Thursday. The interview comes after the actor wore a 'White Lives Matter' shirt at his Yeezy show during Paris Fashion Week, which has garnered a lot backlash and criticism, including from Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. West infamously criticized Karefa-Johnson after she expressed her concerns over his 'White Lives Matter' apparel, posting derisive comments about the editor's appearance that have since been deleted from his account. Kanye West dragged his 'good friend' Lizzo's name into an explosive new interview where he slammed the 'media' for encouraging the idea that being 'overweight is the new goal' He referenced Lizzo and said: 'The media wants to put out a perception that being overweight is the new goal when it's actually unhealthy' 'They had the idea that Ye was bullying a 'body goals' Black woman,' he shared, in reference to Karefa-Johnson who has the distinction of being the first Black woman to style a Vogue cover. 'Now lets talk about Gabbie [Karefa-Johnson] and my good friend Lizzo,' the Blame Game rapper began. 'Lizzo works with my trainer, a friend of mine,' he said. 'When Lizzo loses ten pounds and announces it, the bots that's a term for telemarketers on the internet the bots they attack her because the media wants to put out a perception that being overweight is the new goal, when it's actually unhealthy.' 'Let's get aside from the fact whether it's fashion and Vogue, which it's not, or if someone thinks it's attractive, to each his own,' he continued, adding, 'It's actually clinically unhealthy. And for people to promote that, it's demonic.' Controversial: West has been critical of Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson since she expressed her concerns about his decision to wear a 'White Lives Matter' shirt at his Yeezy show during Paris Fashion Week' she is seen in September 2022 It's at this point that Carlson jumped into the conversation to ask why he thinks they [the media] would want to promote unhealthiness on the population. 'It's a genocide of the Black race,' West. 45, quickly shot back. 'They want to kill us in any way they can.' Elsewhere in the interview, he took aim at the fashion industry by saying he thinks 'fashion' wants Kim Kardashian to 'put her a** out'. The 'Stronger' rapper was critical of his ex-wife's recent Interview magazine photoshoot and slammed 'influencers' such as Corey Gamble - the boyfriend of Kim's mom Kris Jenner - and Karefa-Johnson for putting ideas 'in [her] head'. Kanye said: 'Kim is a Christian, but she has people who want her to go to Interview magazine and put her ass out while she's a 40-something-year-old multi-billionaire with four black children and this is how fashion, how they want to present her... 'There's so many things that are put in Kim's head. They bring influencers, like no one ever knew where Corey Gamble came from, no one in the fashion world knows where [Gabriella Karefa-Johnson] came from. 'These people were practically made in a laboratory in my opinion. And one of the things they're really good at doing is being nice and being likable. And what they do is for people who have some form of influencewhether it's an educated Black woman like my mother that became the head of the English department at Chicago State University, or whether it's the most influential white woman on the planet, being my ex-wife - they have people that are around them at all times telling them what to be afraid of. 'Not what to do or say, specifically, it's what to be afraid of. And if you have a person that isn't afraid of them like a Russell Brand or Candace Owens, it's not that we have to agree with this, but they're not afraid to state what their opinion is.' The 45-year-old rapper branded Kim's shapewear line SKIMS 'overly sexualised' and admitted he was uncomfortable with the - the mother of his children North, nine, Saint six, Chicago, four, and three-year-old Psalm - modelling their products during their marriage. He said: 'I had a lot of issues with the imagery of SKIMS. I felt like there's a lot of imagery that was overly-sexualized and things I wouldn't want to see my wife and definitely not my daughters doing in the future in order to sell product. But it reaches another level when it's like, 'OK, well this is what my wife is doing. This is what she is doing for our children.'' Paris Jackson showed off her multiple tattoos in a sheer bra top on Thursday while leaving a Lacoste event in West Hollywood, California. The 24-year-old entertainer wore a red bralette along with a matching short skirt. She also covered up with a long copper jacket that she let drop off her shoulders. Multiple tattoos: Paris Jackson showed off her multiple tattoos in a sheer bra top on Thursday while leaving a Lacoste event in West Hollywood, California Paris completed her look with chunky red boots and matching socks. The daughter of late pop superstar Michael Jackson had her blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail and accentuated her natural beauty with geometric eye lining by makeup artist Pauly Blanch. Paris accessorized with dangling earrings, necklace and multiple bracelets and rings. She also carried a brown leather purse while leaving the party at Sunset Towers. Sheer delight: The 24-year-old entertainer wore a red bralette along with a matching short skirt High ponytail: The daughter of late pop superstar Michael Jackson had her blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail Red boots: Paris completed her look with chunky red boots and matching socks The event also drew Australian model Shanina Shaik, 31, who looked lovely in a mustard top with orange trim and olive compression shorts. Shanina finished her outfit with open-toed brown heels and had her dark hair pulled back into a tight bun. She flashed her cute smile while waiting with some friends for her ride. Australian model: The event also drew Australian model Shanina Shaik, 31, who looked lovely in a mustard top with orange trim and olive compression shorts Brown heels: Shanina finished her outfit with open-toed brown heels Hair back: Shanina had her dark hair pulled back into a tight bun Riverdale star KJ Apa, 25, also was spotted leaving the event with his French model girlfriend Clara Berry. KJ kept it casual in a black Thrasher hoodie and loose white sweatpants. Cara wore a blue crop top along with silky green sweatsuit and bright orange trainers. Cute couple: Riverdale star KJ Apa, 25, also was spotted leaving the event with his French model girlfriend Clara Berry Loving look: The couple looked lovingly at each other while dressed casually Natalia Bryant, 19, looked sporty in a white knit sweater, tan skirt and white-and-green low-cut Nike sneakers. She had her dark hair straight down around her shoulders and accessorized with sparkling earrings. Natalia also carried a brown leather purse and beamed as she left the event. Stylish: Venus Williams was also in attendance, looking ultra cool in an electric blue boiler suit Stunner: The beauty added a burgundy bandeau top underneath, with her locks left to fall freely Smiles: She added a pair of white trainers, appearing in high spirits as she took to the fashion bash Sporty look: Natalia Bryant, 19, looked sporty in a white knit sweater, tan skirt and white-and-green low-cut Nike sneakers Jenny Powell looked nothing short of sensational as she stepped out in Stockport on Thursday. The TV presenter, 54, was hot to trot in a bright fuchsia minidress which accentuated her trim pins. Jenny, who recently returned from an idyllic trip to Mexico, attended a business awards evening in the Manchester area. Legs eleven! Jenny Powell, 54, showed off her trim pins in a fuchsia minidress and glittering heels as she stepped out in Stockport on Thursday Jenny's minidress was a blazer dress in style, that featured a V-neckline, long sleeves and double-breasted buttons. She teamed the look with a chic pair of pointed glittering heels that highlighted her long legs. The age-defying beauty teamed the look with a stunning pink jewelled necklace, and wore her dark locks out and over her shoulders. Hot to trot: Jenny's minidress was a blazer dress in style, that featured a V-neckline, long sleeves and double-breasted buttons She wore makeup including dewy foundation and showed off a deep tan, presumably which she topped up in Mexico on her recent trip. The former Wheel of Fortune host shared a throwback video of herself in a bikini at the beach in Mexico on Wednesday. Jenny looked incredible in a tiny string bikini, flashing her toned tummy and putting her ample assets on display. So hot she needs to cool down! The former Wheel of Fortune host shared a throwback video of herself in a bikini at the beach in Mexico on Wednesday Alongside the clip, she penned: 'Just looking back at the trips of 2022! Mexico, I think I love you! Gimme more...' The presenter recently revealed that menopause has made it 'harder' for her to stay in shape and quipped she's developed a 'meni-belly' since turning 50. Jenny, who enjoys keeping fit with yoga, admitted that reaching her fifth decade didn't affect her physically but mentally and emotionally instead. Struggles: The presenter recently revealed that menopause has made it 'harder' for her to stay in shape and quipped she's developed a 'meni-belly' since turning 50 Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jenny opened up about how her body has changed despite the scales staying the same. She said: 'The menopause doesn't help. You get a meni-belly around your midriff. It just happens. It's harder to stay in shape once you hit your fifties. 'The problem is it doesn't just hit you physically, but it's psychologically, mentally and emotionally as well, because you don't feel great at all. 'I think most menopausal women don't have much confidence. You completely lose your mojo - it's difficult and again, you've to work on all of that.' Jenny regularly showcases her sensational physique in bikini snaps on her Instagram account in the hope to 'inspire other women to do the same'. Advertisement Nazanin Boniadi was elegantly chic as she attended SAF-AFTRA Foundation's Lord Of The Rings Q&A event in New York City earlier on Thursday. The talented beauty, 42, donned a form-fitting black dress that clung to her fit physique as she joined the special panel discussion. A few of her fellow co-stars also stopped by the Robin Williams Center to take part in the event, such as Cynthia Addai Robinson and Benjamin Walker. Stunning: Nazanin Boniadi, 42, showed off her fabulous figure in a black, ruched dress as she attended the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Lord Of The Rings Q&A session in New York City The General Hospital alum opted for long, black dress consisting of ruched material. The off-the-shoulder gown fell down towards her ankles and showed off her fit physique. The actress slipped into a pair of black, open-toed platform heels that were secured with straps. Nazanin kept her accessories minimalistic, and donned a pair of silver, dangly chained earrings. Her hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail, allowing her locks to fall behind her in light waves. Big smile: The actress portrays the character of Bronwyn in the hit Amazon series, Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Excited: The beauty was all smiles as she attended the event and appeared to be in high spirits to take part of the special Q&A session with attendees During an interview on the Collider Ladies Night podcast, the How I Met Your Mother star explained the process of getting her role of Bronwyn. 'It was a very long process. It was months and months,' she explained, adding she only had three weeks to move to New Zealand for filming once she was informed she had officially been cast. 'And, of course, I was beyond happy to and excited and felt so blessed.' The event which was put together by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation comprised of a screening of the sixth episode of the first season, followed by a special Q&A session with a few of the cast members of the Amazon series. Along with Nazanin, other co-stars that stopped by were Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Sara Zwangobani. Portrayal: Nazanin pictured portraying her character of Bronwyn on set of The Rings Of Power Talented: Nazanin has worked on numerous projects in the past, such as Iron Man, General Hospital, and Iron Man Opening up: The stunning actress answered numerous questions from attendees about the Amazon series, The Rings Of Power Cynthia, who plays the role of Queen Miriel in the show, opted for color and wore a vibrant blue suit comprising of slacks and a blazer. Her hair was parted to the side, and flowed down past her shoulders in natural waves. She slipped into a pair of open-toed, white heels to complete her overall look for the day. Sara was also spotted at the Q&A session on Thursday, and turned heads in a pink and black ensemble. She donned high-waisted, baby pink slacks and a long-sleeved blouse of the same color. The star slipped into a pair of close-toed, black heels with thin straps secured at the ankles. Her brunette hair was parted to the side, allowing her locks to gently fall past her shoulders in stylish curls. Beautiful: Cynthia Addai-Robinson donned a vibrant pink blazer and matching slacks as she attended the special event on Thursday Wow! Cynthia is seen in a dramatic scene as she portrays the character of Queen Miriel in the series Stylish: Sara Zwangobani, who plays the character of Marigold Brandyfoot, opted for business chic in pink slacks and blouse Fashionable trio: Cynthia, Nazanin, and Sara sent big smiles towards the camera as they took a quick photo together Leon Wadham, who portrays Kemen, Daniel Weyman who plays The Stranger, and Benjamin Walker, who is known as the character of Gil-galad, also were in attendance. Leon wore tan pants along with a collared jacket of the same color. Underneath, he added a patterned dress shirt which was partially covered. Daniel also wore tan pants which he paired with a plain white T-shirt and a vibrant blue jacket on top. Benjamin chose a stylish ensemble, and wore a tan suit with a white dress shirt underneath. Amazon Prime Video's The Rings Of Power premiered its first season last month on September 1. Other cast attendees: Leon Wadham, Daniel Weyman, and Benjamin Walker also attended the special event in New York City Fabulous group photo: The talented cast members of The Rings Of Power paused for a photo together The premise of the series occurs thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings takes place and the characters 'confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth,' according to IMDB. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the second season for The Rings Of Power began production and filming in the U.K. earlier this month. The publication reported that one of the choices to not film in New Zealand like the previous first season was due to 'economical' reasons. During the show's debut week, a grand total of 1.3 billion minutes were streamed, prompting more of the story to be told to devoted fans. In character: Benjamin Walker is seen playing the role of Gil-galad in a scene of The Rings Of Power Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma got in touch with their inner children as they shared a fun day out at Disneyland on Friday. The lovebirds stayed at the popular theme park well into the night as they ate delicious side show food and hopped on exhilarating rides. They documented the eventful day on their Instagram accounts with Ramona, 38, sharing several snaps captioned: 'Back to the happiest place on Earth.' Rebel Wilson, 42, (right) and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma, 38, (left) got in touch with their inner children as they shared a fun day out at Disneyland on Friday Rebel, 42, on the other hand, posted a series of videos to her Instagram Stories throughout the day. The Pitch Perfect star and her sweetheart started out on a tour bus going down the main street with Disneyland's Mrs Canada as Rebel cheered the beauty on. She then turned to an older couple next to them and asked how their first time in the theme park has been. The lovebirds stayed at the popular theme park well into the night as they ate delicious side show food and hopped on exhilarating rides They documented the eventful day on their Instagrams with Ramona sharing several snaps captioned: 'Back to the happiest place on Earth' The older lady, who appeared overjoyed, laughed and revealed it had been her lifelong dream to visit the place. Rebel's next video showed her and Ramona at night time near a body of water in the park wearing Mickey Mouse hats as they said: 'Happy Halloween.' Her final videos of the night were of the couple on a Little Mermaid ride with glow-in-the-dark memorabilia. Rebel on the other hand, posted a series of videos to her Instagram Stories throughout the day. The Pitch Perfect star and her sweetheart started out on a tour bus going down the main street with Disneyland's Mrs Canada as Rebel cheered the beauty on They shared a sweet kiss on the ride to finish off the night. The couple have been seen out and about over the last two-and-a-half months, including traveling to Europe together with several of their friends. Rebel - who has impressively transformed her figure by losing 35kg (77 pounds) over the past two years - confirmed she was dating Ramona on June 9 after The Sydney Morning Herald threatened to out her without her consent. Rebel's next video showed her and Ramona at night time near a body of water in the park wearing Mickey Mouse hats as they said: 'Happy Halloween' 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove,' the Sydney native gushed in the caption of the Instagram post where she confirmed their romance. Following backlash and criticism, the Sydney Morning Herald claimed to have exercised 'an abundance of caution and respect by e-mailing Wilson's team and giving her 'two days to comment on her new relationship' with Agruma before running a story on the couple, according to the Los Angeles Times. This is the Pitch Perfect star's first relationship with a woman and her first public romance since ending her engagement to Napp's Dairy Free Ice Cream founder Jacob Busch in January 2021. The stars came out for four-time Emmy winner Chris Rock's stand-up comedy show at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday. Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio masked up for the occasion alongside his father, retired performance artist and underground comix distributor George DiCaprio. The 79-year-old documentary producer followed in his 47-year-old son's footsteps and made his acting debut as water bed salesman Mr. Jack in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film Licorice Pizza. Man of the hour emerges! The stars came out for four-time Emmy winner Chris Rock's stand-up comedy show at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday Leonardo was just a baby when George divorced his German wife Irmelin Indenbirken in 1975 following nine years of marriage. DiCaprio also got to reunite with his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood castmate Timothy Olyphant, who was wearing a jaunty red scarf with a black pea coat. The 54-year-old Emmy nominee also happens to co-star with the 57-year-old comedian in David O. Russell's 1930s-set who-done-it Amsterdam, which hits US/UK theaters this Friday. Father-son outing: Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio masked up for the occasion alongside his father, retired performance artist and underground comix distributor George DiCaprio Screen debut: The 79-year-old documentary producer followed in his 47-year-old son's footsteps and had his first acting gig as water bed salesman Mr. Jack in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film Licorice Pizza Child of divorce: Leonardo was just a baby when George divorced his German wife Irmelin Indenbirken in 1975 following nine years of marriage Chris' show served as date night for Oscar-winning screenwriter Matt Damon and his Argentinean wife of 16 years, Luciana Bozan Barroso. The Boston native - turning 52 this Saturday - co-starred with Rock in Kevin Smith's 1999 fantasy comedy Dogma and his 2001 satirical comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. The SNL alum has two more shows at Radio City Music Hall scheduled for this Friday and Saturday before he brings his 49-date Ego Death World Tour to Illinois' Chicago Theatre next Thursday. Hey man! DiCaprio also got to reunite with his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood castmate Timothy Olyphant, who was wearing a jaunty red scarf with a black pea coat Hitting US/UK theaters this Friday! The 54-year-old Emmy nominee (L) also happens to co-star with the 57-year-old comedian (R) in David O. Russell's 1930s-set who-done-it Amsterdam Chris had just flown to New York City from Cabo San Lucas where he was vacationing with his girlfriend Lake Bell and pals Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Kiedis, and Flea. Meanwhile, Leonardo is rumored to be dating IMG Model Gigi Hadid two months after ending his four-year May-December romance with Valley Girl actress Camila Morrone. The habitual modelizer has also famously loved and left stunners like Nina Agdal, Kelly Rohrbach, Blake Lively, Rihanna, Gisele Bundchen, and Bar Refaeli. Still going strong! Chris' show served as date night for Oscar-winning screenwriter Matt Damon and his Argentinean wife of 16 years, Luciana Bozan Barroso Turning 52 this Saturday! The Boston native co-starred with Rock in Kevin Smith's 1999 fantasy comedy Dogma and his 2001 satirical comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back DiCaprio will next produce and star as scheming rancher Ernest Burkhart in Martin Scorsese's $200M-budget, 1917-set drama Killers of the Flower Moon, which is expected to premiere at Cannes Film Festival in May. The Paramount Pictures/Apple TV+ flick - based on David Grann's 2017 non-fiction book - also features Robert De Niro, John Lithgow, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and Lily Gladstone. Killers of the Flower Moon marks Leonardo's sixth film with the 79-year-old filmmaker after The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Shutter Island (2010), The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004), and Gangs of New York (2002). Life after 'the slap': The SNL alum has two more shows at Radio City Music Hall scheduled for this Friday and Saturday before he brings his 49-date Ego Death World Tour to Illinois' Chicago Theatre next Thursday It comes weeks after Ioan also filed a restraining order obtained against Alice, which bans her from mentioning him on social media for three years In July, the Liar actor filed for joint custody of his two daughters Elsie, 8, and Ella, 12, and asked for custody and visitation rights It comes after court documents revealed that Ioan and estranged wife failed to reach a custody agreement in family court, despite the help of a mediator Bianca Wallace shared a heartfelt message to boyfriend Ioan Gruffudd as she marked his 49th birthday on Thursday. The actress, 30, took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of his partner as she claimed the world is a 'better place because of you and your kind, gentle heart. Her kind words come amid what is no doubt a frustrating time for Ioan, who last week failed to come to an agreement amid his bitter custody battle with estranged wife Alice Evans over their daughters Elsie, eight, and Ella, 12. 'We have been through more than most together': Bianca Wallace shared a heartfelt message to Ioan Gruffudd on Thursday as she marked his 49th birthday Bianca - who suffers with multiple sclerosis - made no reference to the recent drama but said that the pair had 'been through more than most in such a short time together' in her post. Alongside a picture of Ioan standing on a diving board in Cannes, she penned: 'To the most precious man on the planet on my new favourite date! Happy birthday to you, my love. 'The world is, and always will be, a much better place because of you and your kind, gentle heart. 'We have been through more than most in such a short time together, but I wouldnt change anything because of what it created for us. I love you! 'Ps. This photo makes me so happy! One year ago today I gave a very shocked Yo his birthday gift - Staying at the glorious Eden-roc! Such beautiful memories.' Cute: Alongside a picture of Ioan standing on a diving board in Cannes, she penned: 'To the most precious man on the planet on my new favourite date! Happy birthday to you, my love' Bianca said: 'We have been through more than most in such a short time together, but I wouldnt change anything because of what it created for us. I love you! ' (pictured in June) Ioan went Instagram official with new girlfriend Bianca last October with a post saying: 'Thank you for making me smile again.' Their relationship was met with fury by estranged wife Alice, who wrote at the time: 'So it turns out my husband, after two years of telling me I'm a bad person and I'm not exciting and he no longer wants to have sex with me . . . has been in a relationship for three years behind my back.' Neither Bianca or Ioan addressed the cheating allegations publicly but a wardrobe assistant who worked with the pair on the Australian series Harrow denied claims of an affair, claiming that the couple had given her permission to speak out. It was revealed on Sunday that Ioan and ex Alice, 54, have seemingly failed to come to an agreement amid their bitter custody battle. In July, the Liar actor filed for joint custody of his two daughters and asked for custody and visitation rights to see them amid his acrimonious split with his estranged wife. However, according to court documents, the former couple have failed to settle their differences in family court, despite the help of a mediator. The drama continues: It was revealed on Sunday that Ioan and ex Alice Evans, 54, have seemingly failed to come to an agreement amid their bitter custody battle (pictured in 2018) It comes weeks after Ioan also filed a restraining order obtained against Alice, which bans her from mentioning him on social media for three years following her bitter online rants against him and girlfriend Bianca Wallace. The publicly available documents show that Ioan and Alice's meeting was set for Wednesday 31 August and states that mediation had taken place but that 'no agreement' had been reached. It also states that the former couple have another appointment set for Tuesday 11 October at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles as they continue to try to come to an arrangement over their children. The document goes on to confirm that that both Ioan and Alice have completed the mandatory Our Children First program. War: In July, the Liar actor, 48, filed for joint custody of his two daughters Elsie, 8, and Ella, 12, and asked for custody and visitation rights to see them amid his acrimonious split with his estranged wife, 54 (Ioan, Alice and their and daughters pictured ) The Superior Court of Los Angeles states of the program that: 'Parents are required by law to attend a mediation orientation/parent education program and a mediation session prior to appearing at an Order to Show Cause or Trial regarding the custody and/or visitation of their children.' MailOnline have contacted representatives of Ioan and Alice for comment. Fantastic Four star Ioan initially has filed for joint custody of his two daughters, months after his estranged wife Alice filed for sole custody amid their bitter divorce. As well as requesting visitation rights, he claimed in the filing that Evans had been purposely trying to cut communication between Gruffudd and the children. Tension: However, according to court documents, the former couple have failed to settle their differences in family court, despite the help of a mediator He also petitioned that the girls attend in-person therapy and reunification therapy via zoom with him pending court-ordered mediation about custody. In the filing, Gruffudd reiterated allegations that Evans had been verbally abusing during their 14-year marriage, and 'undermin[ing him] in front of the girls throughout their lives.' 'Alice made fun of my appearance often, making hair-loss comments and telling me I had "saggy-vagina eyes,"' court papers filed on Friday read. He went on to claim that Evans 'has inflicted serious emotional harm on Ella and Elsie by her statements and by interfering in my relationship with them.' In a video before the former couple's separation in January 2021, which Gruffudd presented as evidence in the filing, Evans allegedly told Ella she would be 'getting a new daddy.' Family: The document goes on to confirm that that both Ioan and Alice have completed the mandatory Our Children First program (Alice and her girls in 2018) 'In a FaceTime I had with the girls on March 3, Ella said Alice falsely told her that I wanted Alice to commit suicide, and that Ella probably would not have a mummy anymore,' Gruffudd wrote in the petition. 'Ella told me, "Daddy, this is making me very sad," and, "if I don't agree with her, apparently I am a bad daughter." Evans was married to Gruffudd for 14 years before their messy split last year and they are involved in a lengthy court case in which he accused her of domestic abuse. Ioan has also recently taken out a restraining order against Alice in which he hoped the new restrictions would end the public falling out between the pair, whose acrimonious split in March 2021 and consequent slanging matches threatened to overshadow their respective careers. Father: Fantastic Four actor Gruffudd filed for joint custody of his two daughters Elsie, eight, and Ella, 12, after his estranged wife, Evans filed for sole custody However, last month Alice risked violating her restraining order after once again taking to social media to post about their separation. Taking to Instagram, she wrote: 'Im working out to try to calm myself down because I am being GASLIT. Freaking GASLIT. 'With my kids, with the places I usually go to. Everything. I cant leave the house without being photographed and told that I am fat and horrible whereas B is so slim. She signed off: ' I cannot deal for much longer.' Taking action: It comes weeks after Ioan also filed a restraining order obtained against Alice, which bans her from mentioning him on social media for three years following her bitter online rants against him and girlfriend Bianca A source said of the recent restrictions: 'Ioan had no choice but to up his legal fight over Alice. 'She had become increasingly volatile and seemingly intent on destroying his career with her character assassination. He hopes this will put an end to it.' Ioan was in attendance inside the LA court to witness the Domestic Violence Restraining Order granted, but Alice did not appear. In new court documents, Ioan claimed Alice continued to cause him issues and wanted additional provisions added to the existing restraining order. Risk: However, last month Alice risked violating her restraining order after once again taking to social media to post about their separation He demanded Alice should not make any posts on any social media account, 'including but not limited to Instagram and Twitter accounts, disparaging or harassing [Ioan] or the other protected person.' The other person is listed as Ioans new girlfriend, Bianca, who he is said to have started dating shortly after their split. Plus, he requested Alice not to post his text messages or any other communications to the parties children, or the childrens text messages or any other communications to Ioan, on any social media account. He also asked for the judge to order Alice not to contact his employer or make disparaging statements about him to his employers. Further in court documents, Ioan said since the restraining order was put in place, Alice 'has used her social media accounts to continue to harass, threaten, and disturb the peace of both me and my girlfriend, Bianca Wallace.' Amanda Holden was in a celebratory mood on Friday morning after successfully completing the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge live on her Heart Breakfast radio show. The presenter, 51, popped champagne at the top of the UK's highest mountain Ben Nevis after having summited three peaks in total within 24 hours in a bid to to raise funds for Globals Make Some Noise. Speaking after the difficult feat - which saw her climb the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland - an exhausted Amanda revealed that it was 'the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life!' She did it! Amanda Holden was in a celebratory mood on Friday morning after successfully completing the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge live on her Heart Breakfast radio show The star told how she and her team made it 'by the skin of their teeth' having faced a number of elements during the climbs including 60mph winds, rain and snow, while also facing severe weather warnings. Amanda scaled the three peaks on 'no sleep', two of which were in the pitch black. The challenge finally came to an end at 8:15am, 24 hours after she first set off, with Amanda toasting the triumph with a glass of fizz at 4,411 feet. Detailing her experience to co-host Jamie Theakston, she said: 'We made it by the skin of our teeth, it was horrific. Cheers: The presenter, 51, popped champagne at the top of the UK's highest mountain Ben Nevis after having summited three peaks in total within 24 hours in a bid to to raise funds for Globals Make Some Noise 'You know, I never understand when I see people give up at the end, but for the first time in my life I thought, Im not going to do it, Im not going to make it, Im going to give up, but we kept going. It was just incredible! We did it!' Amanda took on the iconic Three Peaks Challenge which saw her scale the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland (Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis). The star climbed 10,476 feet in just 24 hours alongside a team of 'Mandy's Mountaineers', made up of incredible people from many of the charities that Global's Make Some Noise supports. Tough: Speaking after the difficult feat - which saw her climb the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland - an exhausted Amanda revealed that it was 'the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life!' Success: The challenge finally came to an end at 8:15am, 24 hours after she first set off, with Amanda toasting the triumph with a glass of fizz at 4,411 feet Challenging: Detailing her experience to co-host Jamie Theakston, she said: 'We made it by the skin of our teeth, it was horrific The team raised money to support small charities that work hard in our communities to help those who need it most. It comes after Amanda packed all the essentials ahead of her climb the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland. The TV and radio star celebrated the start of the challenge on Thursday, which will raise money for Heart's charity Global's Make Some Noise, with some glam snaps . Reflection: 'I never understand when I see people give up at the end, but for the first time in my life I thought, Im not going to do it, Im not going to make it, Im going to give up, but we kept going' Incredible: Amanda took on the iconic Three Peaks Challenge which saw her scale the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland (Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis) Wow: The star climbed 10,476 feet in just 24 hours alongside a team of 'Mandy's Mountaineers', made up of incredible people from many of the charities that Global's Make Some Noise supports Amanda joked she had packed her 'lip gloss, stilettos and lashes' as she posed at the base of Snowdon in Wales where her first climb was getting underway. Sharing a video of herself setting off, Amanda looked raring to go in her bright red red coat and hat, before the footage revealed she had cheekily attached a hot pink pair of stilettos to her rucksack. She also shared a glam selfie from the climb, showing off the mountainous peaks of Snowdon in the background. The TV star revealed on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that she planned on 'strapping' her high heels to her rucksack so she can wear them at the top of the UK's highest peaks. Glamour all the way: It comes after Amanda posted a very glam selfie on Instagram on Thursday after packing her 'lip gloss and stilettos' for the Three Peaks Challenge She told ITV viewers: 'I might strap my heels to my rucksack and wear them at the very top'. Despite the funny fashion option, Amanda admitted she is 'nervous' due to the upcoming weather forecast. She explained: 'I'm really nervous for it primarily for the weather, we've just been told there is 90mph winds at Ben Nevis and 100% chance of rain across all three peaks right when I'll be doing it. Off she goes! Amanda joked she had packed her 'lip gloss, stilettos and lashes' as she posed at the base of Snowdon in Wales where her first climb was getting underway Essential: Sharing a video of herself setting off, Amanda looked glam in her bright red red coat and hat, before the footage revealed she had cheekily attached a hot pink pair of stilettos to her rucksack 'So that's making me nervous but I'm excited to do it and its for an amazing cause.' She added: 'They need all the help we can give them so its down to me. 'I promised the charities volunteers who are coming to keep me company that we'd hold hands and have a big chat all the way up.' Support small charities across the UK by donating to Globals Make Some Noise here Amazing cause: The TV and radio star celebrated the start of the challenge, which will raise money for Heart's charity Global's Make Some Noise, with some glam snaps on Instagram She recently squashed rumours of tensions with her famous in-laws, David and Victoria Beckham. And Nicola Peltz, 27, took to Instagram on Thursday to joke about her brand new look after bleaching her eyebrows for Paris Fashion Week. The socialite, who is married to Brooklyn Beckham, 23, shared snaps without make-up and claimed she resembled a hardboiled egg. Joker: Nicola Peltz, 27, took to Instagram on Tuesday to joke about her brand new look after bleaching her eyebrows In the images the stunner posed against a plain back drop staring straight into the camera. Nicola donned a casual white vest and wore her dark tresses high in a bun as she showcased her natural beauty. She wrote: 'No make up no brows giving hard boiled egg'. Gorgeous: She embraced the trend (left) as she attended Paris Fashion week last week (right, pictured earlier this year) Nicola first unveiled her bleached brows at the Givenchy show last week where she posed up a storm alongside her husband. Other stars to embrace the trend include Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams and supermodel Kendall Jenner. The photos come after Nicola squashed feud rumours with her beau's family after attending her mother-in-laws Paris Fashion Week runway show last week. Saying it how it is: She wrote: 'No make up no brows giving hard boiled egg' The couple had finally put to bed speculation that they had fallen out with the Spice Girl as they put on a united front. Nicola and Brooklyn accepted Victoria's fashion week invite to attend her show on Friday - the invite was seen as an 'olive branch.' They arrived half an hour early to show their support, with 'lots of hugs' going on when they were all reunited for the first time since this summer, said a source in the room. A lot of look: Nicola first unveiled her trendy eyebrows at the Givenchy show last week where she posed up a storm alongside her husband (pictured) On trend: Other stars to embrace the trend include Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams and supermodel Kendall Jenner (pictured) And video footage taken outside the event showed Victoria laughing with her son Brooklyn, while Nicola socialised with Cruz's girlfriend Tana Holding and Harper Seven. Nicola and Brooklyn accepted Victoria's fashion week invite to attend her show - the invite was seen as an 'olive branch.' During their avid chat, a woman approached Victoria but she pointed at her son and instead continues their conversation, with the woman then walking away. Wow: The photos come after Nicola squashed feud rumours with her beau's family after attending her mother-in-laws Paris Fashion Week runway show last week The mother and son then edge towards Nicola, who is facing the other way as she chats to Brooklyn's sister Harper, 11, and Cruz's model girlfriend Tana. Brooklyn was seen placing his hand on his wife's back and holding the waistband of her jeans as he continues speaking to his mother, while Nicola carried on her chat with Tana. Reports of a feud between Victoria and Nicola have been rife for weeks, after the pair noticeably stopped 'liking' each other's Instagram content. The feud is said to have stemmed over the circumstances surrounding Nicola's wedding dress. She had planned to wear a Victoria Beckham design but ended up in Valentino - the circumstances surrounding this decision have ended up stemming in fierce debate. Married At First Sight's Matt Murray and Whitney Hughes came under fire by their co-stars during Thursday evening's episode, as the couple revealed to the experts they had fallen in love. Despite only being together for one week, after leaving their respective spouses and choosing one another, the pair revealed that they 'couldn't not' drop the L bomb. But the news didn't go down too well among their fellow participants in the show, with Zoe Clifton quipping: 'It's not the f*****g Notebook' after hearing the news. 'It's not the f*****g Notebook': Married At First Sight UK's Matt Murray, 32, and Whitney Hughes, 31, were slammed by their gobsmacked co-stars after revealing they're 'in love' after just one week together During Wednesday's episode, Matt and Whitney were seen telling their co-stars that they'd fallen in love during respective Boys and Girls Nights. The group were lost for words after Matt's revelation, as Adrian Sanderson admitted that he didn't believe a word of it, telling the camera afterwards: 'Do I believe that Matt is in love with Whitney? No. 'Do I believe that Whitney loves Matt? Definately f*****g not,' said Adrian. And echoing his views, Zoe blasted: 'Matt is telling Whitney he loves her? They've known each other 16 minutes and now he's throwing out "I love you's", what is going on? It's not the f*****g Notebook.' Whitney's reveal recieved a similar response, with Chanita Stephenson laughing as she questioned: 'You've only been together like a week?' Drama: But the news didn't go down too well among their fellow participants in the show, with Zoe Clifton quipping: 'It's not the f*****g Notebook' after hearing the news United: The pair declared their love for one another in front of experts Paul Brunson and Charlene Douglas during the final commitement ceremony And taking to the final commitment ceremony during Thursday's episode, Matt and Whitney put on a united front as they showed the comments weren't fazing them. Sitting in front of experts Paul Brunson and Charlene Douglas, Matt revealed: 'I have 100% fallen in love with this woman, 100%' While Charlene questioned: 'You said you've fallen in love Matt. And Whitney, is it reciprocal?' 'Absolutely, absolutely it is,' replied Whitney - before the pair exchanged a very lingering gaze. But going in for another round, Zoe chimed in: 'I just feel like it discredits our relationships. If they had a romantic connection then it should have been explored on the outside world.' Matt revealed: 'I have 100% fallen in love with this woman, 100%' Disbelief: But as their co-stars watched on, they couldn't believe their ears - with the couple only having known each other for one week Injustice: 'I just don't think it's fair when we've come from a bad place and have had to move mountains to get to where we are, but for somebody else to just choose each other isn't really fair,' said Adrian 'If I was feeling secure in my relationship, I wouldn't be concerned about what other people are doing,' replied Whitney as things became heated. While Adrian added that he didn't think it was 'fair', explaining: ' I just don't think it's fair when we've come from a bad place and have had to move mountains to get to where we are, but for somebody else to just choose each other isn't really fair.' 'For somebody to say that they're moving mountains in their relationship, with no disrespect, your relationship is a complete fabrication,' slammed Matt as he spoke back to Adrian. And despite the experts being happy for Matt and Whitney, viewers also took to Twitter to show their shock as the 'love' revelation. One penned: 'Matt and Whitney in love after a fortnight? Turn it in, Ive had a carton of milk in my fridge longer than that #MAFSUK' 'I'm all up for love and couples who are in love but this just feels different and forced,' wrote another. Matt was originally matched with wife Gemma Rose, while Whitney attempted to make things work with husband Duka Cavioli - before they all decided to leave the experiment after failing to make a connection. But finding one with each other, Matt and Whitney were allowed to re-enter the show as a dating couple - as they near the final week. Married At First Sight continues on E4, 9pm on Monday. She was branded the worst BAFTA host in history after a series of toe-curling gags during the ceremony back in March. And it turns out Rebel Wilson's humour was not appreciated by her fellow celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch's wife Sophie Hunter. The comedian, 42, performed an elaborate joke about her supposed 'crush' on BAFTA nominee Benedict, as she wheeled out a large cake shaped like his face. Oops: Rebel Wilson's humour at the BAFTA's was not appreciated by her fellow celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch's wife Sophie Hunter (Rebel pictured at the awards) Speaking to the audience during the event Rebel unveiled a bizarre cake of Benedict's face, which she sliced and handed out as the Sherlock Holmes star looked perplexed. She said: 'Guys this is just a cake of Benedict Cumberbatch because, I like, really love him and that was supposed to be for me, for later, for reasons we won't go into.' 'Does anyone have a lighter? No? Ok? I just then thought that someone could blow Benedict... out!' Not amused: The comedian performed an elaborate joke about her supposed 'crush' on BAFTA nominee Benedict, as she wheeled out a large cake shaped like his face (Benedict and Sophie pictured at the 2022 BAFTA's) Rebel then invited hungry members of the audience to come up for 'a cheekbone' and went on to award Benedict with 'Best Actor In The Room Who Has Just Reminded Me He Is Married' as he sat next to his wife Sophie. The comedian said that Sophie did come up to her after the show, but not for cake, adding that Sophie said: '"You know he's married, right?" or whatever. And some people thought maybe I was trying to steal him or something.' She continued: 'And I go: "Look, I'm not! If you knew my personal life, you'd know I'm not trying to.'" Disaster: Speaking to the audience during the event Rebel unveiled a bizarre cake of Benedict's face, which she sliced and handed out as the star looked perplexed Distain: The comedian said that Sophie did come up to her after the show, adding that Sophie said: '"You know he's married, right?" or whatever' Rebel explained that when speaking at events like the BAFTA's, she often teases the 'very successful and good-looking' stars in the audience, adding: 'I feel like they could have taken it.' In June this year, Wilson shared that she is dating sportswear executive Ramona Agruma. She wrote on Instagram: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince . . . but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.' The BBC later issued an apology over Rebel's 'offensive' BAFTA jokes which sparked a flurry of complaints from viewers. Taken: In June this year, Wilson shared that she is dating sportswear executive Ramona Agruma (pictured together this month) The Australian actress raised eyebrows with her outlandish comments and X-rated gags - some of which was cut from broadcast. The broadcaster issued a statement remarking that 'It's never our intention to offend viewers' after fans complained about Rebel's jokes, with her quips taking aim at the likes of Harry and Meghan, Daniel Craig and Benedict. A statement on the BBC complaints website read: 'Comedy is one of the most subjective areas of programming and views will always differ on what's acceptable, and what's appropriate at different times of the day. 'It's never our intention to offend viewers and we always think very carefully about what we broadcast to ensure that it isn't outside of the expectations of the majority of the audience. 'We acknowledge that not everyone will agree with the decisions we take but this is something we do take seriously.' Just a few weeks after assuring fans she's 'not racist' during an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Sharon Osbourne is being accused of just that by demanding her $900,000 donation to Black Lives Matter be returned. The British television personality is catching flack for seemingly defending Kanye West's 'white lives matter' drama by telling TMZ on Wednesday: 'I don't understand why white lives don't matter?' Sharon, 69, also appeared to back Ye's assertion that the Black Lives Matter movement was a 'scam'. Her comments come as the star is emerging from her own public cancellation over a racism scandal on The Talk. Speaking out: Sharon Osbourne is catching flack for seemingly defending Kanye West's 'white lives matter' drama by telling TMZ on Wednesday: 'I don't understand why white lives don't matter?' Osbourne was approached by TMZ while shopping in Beverly Hills this week and asked about the Kanye West mess taking over the news this week. Ye is embroiled in controversy, once again, for wearing a 'white lives matter' shirt to his Yeezy fashion show in Paris (and putting his models in the tops as well). He also railed against the Black Lives Matter movement and called it a scam. The mogul's stance, which is reminiscent of the time in 2018 when called slavery a choice, has prompted feuds with everyone from Gigi Hadid to the Kardashians to a prominent Vogue editor. 'I don't understand why white lives don't matter? I don't understand it,' Sharon told TMZ when she was asked about Kanye. 'Everybody matter's don't they?' 'I don't understand why white lives don't matter? I don't understand it,' Sharon told TMZ when she was asked about Kanye. 'Everybody matter's don't they?' Osbourne admittedly didn't know the ins and outs of the current scandal but knew enough to pipe up when she was asked about West's allegation that BLM was a scam. 'We gave $900,000 dollars to that and I'd like my money back,' Sharon quipped in response, adding with a laugh that she wished she had talked to Kanye before making the donation. Sharon - who is staunchly anti cancellation - unsurprisingly added that she does not think Kanye should be canceled over his statements. Osbourne herself is in the midst of moving past her own cancellation over accusations of racism. She was asked about West's allegation that BLM was a scam: 'We gave $900,000 dollars to that and I'd like my money back' 'I learned a lot through [getting canceled] but you are who you are. I am not a racist never said one racist thing,' Sharon exclusively told DailyMail.com in September. 'People are woke, it's a whole different world out there. People conduct themselves differently now.' As a refresher, Sharon's fall from grace was precipitated by a heated discussion with The Talk co-host Sheryl Underwood over comments Piers Morgan had made about Meghan Markle. At the time, back in March of 2021, Morgan was being accused of being racist because of his harsh public critique of the Duchess. Sharon went ahead and defended Piers, a good friend, during an episode of her talk show and her defense did not sit well with Sheryl Underwood - nor did it with the public and CBS executives. 'I learned a lot through [getting canceled] but you are who you are. I am not a racist never said one racist thing,' Sharon previously told DailyMail.com in September. 'People are woke, it's a whole different world out there. People conduct themselves differently now.' 'There are three things I never want to talk about, religion, politics and minority groups because you can never win,' Osbourne she told DailyMail.com at the time. 'There will be 50 percent that agree with you and 50 that think you're an a**hole.' She added that the 50 percent who don't agree become 'judge, jury and executioner.' Sharon may have heeded her own advice before speaking on Kanye West's latest drama as it has landed her back in the center of the hot-button cancellation conversation. As for Ye, his feuds seem to be heating up over his 'white lives matter' publicity stunt. On Thursday, West lashed out Gigi Hadid in another impassioned rant as he branded her a 'privileged Karen' and a 'zombie'. Problems: Ye is embroiled in controversy, once again, for wearing a 'white lives matter' shirt to his Yeezy fashion show in Paris (and putting his models in the tops as well). He also railed against the Black Lives Matter movement and called it a scam. The rapper, 45, and the supermodel, 25, have been caught up in a war of words this week after she leapt to the defense of Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who West had been accused of 'bullying' online. In the latest exchange West lashed out as he shared a screenshot of a comment made by Gigi on Instagram in which she claimed the rapper did not treat 'V' like a friend. While no further context was provided it appeared she was referencing late designer Virgil Abloh after West had been criticized for referencing the designer in his rants. Gigi penned: 'Finally.... Thank u! Even people who knew him for a percentage of the time knew kanye did not treat V like a friend ++ V LOVED GKJ.... He's watching. [sic]' In response Kanye shared in all caps: 'Im not finna get ran over by Hollywood again. Gigi you a privileged Karen. 'You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Youre a zombie. You speak up here but didnt speak up when my child was kidnapped on her birthday. [sic]' West has made repeated claims that his estranged wife Kim Kardashian 'kidnapped' their daughter Chicago when she threw the youngster a secret birthday party in January this year and refused to tell him where it was. Kardashian - who co-parents North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three with the rapper - has denied this claim. West later shared an image of text that read: 'Nobody say nothing to me in private that they wouldn't say in public. I'm not yall's personal hard drive [sic]', captioning the post: 'Jesus is king.' MailOnline has contacted Hadid's representatives for comment. Ioan Gruffudd put on a loved-up display with his girlfriend Bianca Wallace as they celebrated his 49th birthday at Crossroads Cafe in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. The actor cut a dapper figure in a navy blazer which he teamed up with a white T-shirt and stone trousers as well as white trainers, while linking arms with the actress. Meanwhile, Bianca, 30, put on a leggy display in a black minidress which she accesorised with a brown belt while toting around a charcoal handbag. Last week, he failed to come to an agreement amid his bitter custody battle with estranged wife Alice Evans over their daughters Elsie, eight, and Ella, 12. Emerging: Ioan Gruffudd put on a loved-up display with his girlfriend Bianca Wallace as they celebrated his 49th birthday at Crossroads Cafe in Los Angeles on Thursday evening Earlier on Friday, Bianca shared a heartfelt message to her boyfriend via Instagram as she claimed the world is a 'better place because of you and your kind, gentle heart'. Bianca - who suffers with multiple sclerosis - made no reference to the recent drama but said that the pair had 'been through more than most in such a short time together' in her post. Alongside a picture of Ioan standing on a diving board in Cannes, she penned: 'To the most precious man on the planet on my new favourite date! Happy birthday to you, my love. Suave: The actor cut a dapper figure in a navy blazer which he teamed up with a white T-shirt and stone trousers, as well as white trainers, while linking arms with the actress Gorgeous: Meanwhile, Bianca, 30, put on a leggy display in a black minidress which she accesorised with a brown belt while toting around a charcoal handbag Happy: Hours earlier, she shared a heartfelt message to her boyfriend via Instagram as she claimed the world is a 'better place because of you and your kind, gentle heart' 'The world is, and always will be, a much better place because of you and your kind, gentle heart. 'We have been through more than most in such a short time together, but I wouldnt change anything because of what it created for us. I love you! 'Ps. This photo makes me so happy! One year ago today I gave a very shocked Yo his birthday gift - Staying at the glorious Eden-roc! Such beautiful memories.' Ioan went Instagram official with new girlfriend Bianca last October with a post saying: 'Thank you for making me smile again.' Careful: Bianca made no reference to the recent drama but said that the pair had 'been through more than most in such a short time together' in her post In their element: The loved-up couple couldn't have looked happier if they tried Dazzling: Bianca shot a sparkling smile as she and Ioan looked behind at photographers Their relationship was met with fury by estranged wife Alice, who wrote at the time: 'So it turns out my husband, after two years of telling me I'm a bad person and I'm not exciting and he no longer wants to have sex with me . . . has been in a relationship for three years behind my back.' Neither Bianca or Ioan addressed the cheating allegations publicly but a wardrobe assistant who worked with the pair on the Australian series Harrow denied claims of an affair, claiming that the couple had given her permission to speak out. It was revealed on Sunday that Ioan and ex Alice, 54, have seemingly failed to come to an agreement amid their bitter custody battle. Strolling: They appeared to be in high spirits during the outing Delighted: They grinned for the jovial evening out Adorable: Bianca kept her arm firmly linked with Ioan's In July, the Liar actor filed for joint custody of his two daughters and asked for custody and visitation rights to see them amid his acrimonious split with his estranged wife. However, according to court documents, the former couple have failed to settle their differences in family court, despite the help of a mediator. It comes weeks after Ioan also filed a restraining order obtained against Alice, which bans her from mentioning him on social media for three years following her bitter online rants against him and girlfriend Bianca. Cute: Alongside a picture of Ioan standing on a diving board in Cannes, she penned: 'To the most precious man on the planet on my new favourite date! Happy birthday to you, my love' The publicly available documents show that Ioan and Alice's meeting was set for Wednesday 31 August and states that mediation had taken place but that 'no agreement' had been reached. It also states that the former couple have another appointment set for Tuesday 11 October at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles as they continue to try to come to an arrangement over their children. The document goes on to confirm that that both Ioan and Alice have completed the mandatory Our Children First program. The drama continues: It was revealed on Sunday that Ioan and ex Alice Evans, 54, have seemingly failed to come to an agreement amid their bitter custody battle (pictured in 2018) The Superior Court of Los Angeles states of the program that: 'Parents are required by law to attend a mediation orientation/parent education program and a mediation session prior to appearing at an Order to Show Cause or Trial regarding the custody and/or visitation of their children.' MailOnline contacted representatives of Ioan and Alice for comment at the time. Fantastic Four star Ioan initially has filed for joint custody of his two daughters, months after his estranged wife Alice filed for sole custody amid their bitter divorce. War: In July, the Liar actor, 48, filed for joint custody of his two daughters Elsie, 8, and Ella, 12, and asked for custody and visitation rights to see them amid his acrimonious split with his estranged wife, 54 (Ioan, Alice and their and daughters pictured ) As well as requesting visitation rights, he claimed in the filing that Evans had been purposely trying to cut communication between Gruffudd and the children. He also petitioned that the girls attend in-person therapy and reunification therapy via zoom with him pending court-ordered mediation about custody. In the filing, Gruffudd reiterated allegations that Evans had been verbally abusing during their 14-year marriage, and 'undermin[ing him] in front of the girls throughout their lives.' Tension: However, according to court documents, the former couple have failed to settle their differences in family court, despite the help of a mediator 'Alice made fun of my appearance often, making hair-loss comments and telling me I had "saggy-vagina eyes,"' court papers filed on Friday read. He went on to claim that Evans 'has inflicted serious emotional harm on Ella and Elsie by her statements and by interfering in my relationship with them.' In a video before the former couple's separation in January 2021, which Gruffudd presented as evidence in the filing, Evans allegedly told Ella she would be 'getting a new daddy.' Family: The document goes on to confirm that that both Ioan and Alice have completed the mandatory Our Children First program (Alice and her girls in 2018) 'In a FaceTime I had with the girls on March 3, Ella said Alice falsely told her that I wanted Alice to commit suicide, and that Ella probably would not have a mummy anymore,' Gruffudd wrote in the petition. 'Ella told me, "Daddy, this is making me very sad," and, "if I don't agree with her, apparently I am a bad daughter." Evans was married to Gruffudd for 14 years before their messy split last year and they are involved in a lengthy court case in which he accused her of domestic abuse. Ioan has also recently taken out a restraining order against Alice in which he hoped the new restrictions would end the public falling out between the pair, whose acrimonious split in March 2021 and consequent slanging matches threatened to overshadow their respective careers. Father: Fantastic Four actor Gruffudd filed for joint custody of his two daughters Elsie, eight, and Ella, 12, after his estranged wife, Evans filed for sole custody However, last month Alice risked violating her restraining order after once again taking to social media to post about their separation. Taking to Instagram, she wrote: 'Im working out to try to calm myself down because I am being GASLIT. Freaking GASLIT. 'With my kids, with the places I usually go to. Everything. I cant leave the house without being photographed and told that I am fat and horrible whereas B is so slim. She signed off: ' I cannot deal for much longer.' Taking action: It comes weeks after Ioan also filed a restraining order obtained against Alice, which bans her from mentioning him on social media for three years following her bitter online rants against him and girlfriend Bianca A source said of the recent restrictions: 'Ioan had no choice but to up his legal fight over Alice. 'She had become increasingly volatile and seemingly intent on destroying his career with her character assassination. He hopes this will put an end to it.' Ioan was in attendance inside the LA court to witness the Domestic Violence Restraining Order granted, but Alice did not appear. In new court documents, Ioan claimed Alice continued to cause him issues and wanted additional provisions added to the existing restraining order. Risk: However, last month Alice risked violating her restraining order after once again taking to social media to post about their separation He demanded Alice should not make any posts on any social media account, 'including but not limited to Instagram and Twitter accounts, disparaging or harassing [Ioan] or the other protected person.' The other person is listed as Ioans new girlfriend, Bianca, who he is said to have started dating shortly after their split. Plus, he requested Alice not to post his text messages or any other communications to the parties children, or the childrens text messages or any other communications to Ioan, on any social media account. He also asked for the judge to order Alice not to contact his employer or make disparaging statements about him to his employers. Further in court documents, Ioan said since the restraining order was put in place, Alice 'has used her social media accounts to continue to harass, threaten, and disturb the peace of both me and my girlfriend, Bianca Wallace.' Rege-Jean Page has accepted the role of Butch Cassidy in Amazon's major new TV drama, Butch and Sundance - which will take a new spin on the classic '60s film. The Bridgerton actor, 34, will portray the role across from Sundance Kid actor Glen Powell, who recently starred in Top Gun: Maverick. And it seems the star could be headed for Hollywood, with the role meaning he will need to be based in Los Angeles for much of the next 12 months. From Bridgerton to Butch! Rege-Jean Page, 34, is taking to Hollywood as he's set to star in new Butch and Sundance Amazon series The yet untitled series, which will be a big budget offering from Amazon, will be executively produced by The Russo brothers, who previously worked with Rege on The Gray Man. The lives of outlaws Butch and Cassidy were most famously brought to the screen in the iconic 1969 film - which starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford. According to Variety, both Rege and Glen will act as executive producers on the new series in addition to starring in it. Original: The lives of outlaws Butch and Cassidy were most famously brought to the screen in the iconic 1969 film - which starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford Co-stars: Rege will portray the role across from Sundance Kid actor Glen Powell, who recently starred in Top Gun: Maverick While sources tell the publication that 'deals for the series are not yet closed and discussions are ongoing'. After appearing on soap Waterloo Road and acting professionally since his teen years, Rege rose to fame in his breakout role on Netflix's Bridgerton - which he starred in alongside Phoebe Dynevor. More recently, he took to the big screen for The Gray Man and is the leading role in the forthcoming Dungeons & Dragons film, Honor Among Thieves, which was made in Belfast. Outsanding role: Rege rose to fame in his breakout role on Netflix's Bridgerton - which he starred in alongside Phoebe Dynevor (pictured in the show) Busy: More recently, he took to the big screen for The Gray Man and is the leading role in the forthcoming Dungeons & Dragons film, Honor Among Thieves, which was made in Belfast The dashing actor has also been tipped as a potential next James Bond, putting him in the 007 running alongside stars such as Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill. But chatting on the role, Rege told The Mirror: 'Ah, the B word. I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.' However despite being the bookies favourite, the Bridgerton star said he was bemused by the idea of making any plans at 'this moment in history' and has 'given up' doing so. Licence to kill? The dashing actor has also been tipped as a potential next James Bond, putting him in the 007 running alongside stars such as Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill Advertisement Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's supermodel daughter Amelia Hamlin made a big change to her look on Friday in the name of fashion. The 21-year-old Tropic Of C model posed seductively in a bathtub wearing only her birthday suit. The beauty - who used to date Kourtney Kardashian's ex Scott Disick - was also showing off her newly shaven eyebrows. All that was left was a little stubble. 'I wish I had a rubber duckie,' the runway veteran stared in her caption as she looked straight into the camera for the sexy shots. Fashion: Amelia Hamlin, 21, posed seductively in a bathtub wearing only her birthday suit and showing off her newly shaven eyebrows Friday posting, 'I wish I had a rubber duckie' on social media The brunette bombshell has a history of altering her eyebrows. Earlier this year the sister of Delilah Hamlin, who also works as a model, dyed her eyebrows a light blonde color which quickly started a trend. And in a recent ad for Roberta Einer, she had razor thin light brown eyebrows. On Wednesday the star shared a video where she was using heavy white shaving cream before a razor was taken to her brows. In the new images Amelia appeared to wear minimal makeup. Her dark hair was wet and combed back and she held it back with one hand. Minimal: Amelia appeared to wear minimal makeup. Her dark hair was wet and combed back and she held it back with one hand. Shaved eyebrows: The runway veteran apparently shaved her eyebrows at the request of Interview Magazine editor-in-chief Mel Ottenberg Fashion month: The busy model has just wrapped up Fashion Month, where she walked for various designers in London, Milan and Paris showing their Spring/Summer 2023 collections The runway veteran apparently made the transformation at the request of Interview Magazine editor-in-chief Mel Ottenberg, whom she tagged in a video, writing, 'Only 4 u @melzy917 & fashion of course.' She seemed nervous as the makeup artist prepared to move the razor across her face, exclaiming, 'Okay, okay, okay,' to psyche herself up. The busy model has just wrapped up Fashion Month, where she walked for various designers in London, Milan and Paris showing their Spring/Summer 2023 collections. Moment of truth: Amelia tagged Interview editor Mel Ottenberg, in a video of the eyebrow shaving, writing, 'Only 4 u @melzy917 & fashion of course' The rising star famously closed out the Balenciaga Paris show as a futuristic bride with what looked like various facial piercings instead of a veil. Amelia was born in the spotlight. She is the daughter of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna, 59, and actor Harry Hamlin, 70. Her older sister, Delilah Belle, 24, also works as a model. Both young women have made frequent appearance's with their mother on the reality show. Canadian actor Keanu Reeves revealed he would 'absolutely' consider becoming an American citizen, 37 years after first moving to Hollywood at just 20-years-old. During Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the John Wick star, 58, who was born in Lebanon, recalled growing up in Toronto and wanting to be an actor since he was 15. 'I came to Hollywood when I was 20, drove in my car' he told the host, 54. 'I've been living here since 1985.' Surprising: Canadian actor Keanu Reeves revealed he would 'absolutely' consider becoming a American citizen, 37 years after first moving to Hollywood at just 20-years-old Kimmel interjected: 'And, yet technically, you're not a U.S. citizen.' In response, Reeves admitted he was 'still a Canadian,' which spurred applause from the audience. When asked if he thought about going through naturalization, Reeves responded: 'Yes, absolutely, yeah man, why not.' Canadian: During Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the John Wick star, 58, who was born in Lebanon, recalled growing up in Toronto and wanting to be an actor since he was 15 'I came to Hollywood when I was 20, drove in my car' he told the host, 54. 'I've been living here since 1985' Pointing out the facts: Kimmel interjected: 'And, yet technically, you're not a U.S. citizen' Kimmel then pulled out citizenship paperwork from under his desk, and joked he would be willing to marry Reeves to speed up the process. 'But youre married,' The Matrix actor questioned. Kimmel responded: 'I know, but I told her that we might have to make some amendments to our constitution.' In no rush to become American: In response, Reeves admitted he was 'still a Canadian,' which spurred applause from the audience When asked if he thought about going through naturalization, Reeves responded: 'Yes, absolutely, yeah man, why not' Kimmel's sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, who is Mexican-American, assured Reeves that becoming American would be the right decision. The late-night talk show host said he would even host a party on the show to celebrate him if he goes through with the process. Reeves, who made his comic book writing debut this week with BRZRKR, maintained he would be most interested in obtaining dual citizenship. Chris Moyles has reportedly signed up for the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. The radio DJ, 48, is said to be one of the stars heading to Australia this autumn - 10 years after hosts Ant and Dec first said they would love to have him on the show. Other stars reported to have signed up for the adventure next month include 1980s pop icon Boy George, comedian Seann Walsh and former Love Islander Olivia Attwood. Lineup: Chris Moyles has reportedly signed up for the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here A source told The Sun: 'Chris is a huge signing for I'm A Celebrity and they have been trying to sign him for years. 'Previously he's turned them down for a number of reasons but this year feels like the right time. 'Chris has signed up and is preparing himself mentally and physically to go Down Under. This a huge moment for him and he cannot wait to get stuck in. 'Fans of the show are in for a real treat and Chris has no doubt there will be some people who will be ringing to vote for him to do some of the gruelling trials.' Here we go! The radio DJ, 48, is said to be one of the stars heading to Australia this autumn - 10 years after hosts Ant and Dec first said they would love to have him on the show A representative for Chris has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly said they wanted to see Moyles as a campmate back in 2012. Geordie Dec explained: 'He would be really funny, he'd probably win. 'And he's lost so much weight, even the lack of food wouldn't bother him.' Ant added: 'The thing is eventually they all say yes. We just wear them down.' Fame: A source told The Sun: 'Chris is a huge signing for I'm A Celebrity and they have been trying to sign him for years' Yay! Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly said they wanted to see Moyles as a campmate back in 2012 (Chris pictured in 2004) Last year Chris admitted he would struggle on the show because of his crippling fear of heights. He said he had no idea he was so scared until he took his girlfriend Tiffany Austin's niece to Go Ape. Speaking on Radio X with Vernon Kay, Chris said: 'I just wouldn't be good on I'm a Celeb because we had Tiff's niece last week and we took her to Go Ape, you know the treetop adventure place? 'I papped myself and I realised I'm more scared of heights than I actually genuinely thought I was, and I knew I was scared of heights.' He added: 'This guy was behind me with his daughter, he was talking me across all the bridges: 'You'll be fine, you've got this, don't worry about it'. 'Meanwhile his daughter's like hanging off stuff with one arm.' Earlier this week it was reported that former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh has signed up for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Famous faces: Other stars reported to have signed up for the jungle next month include 1980s pop icon Boy George, comedian Seann Walsh (pictured) and former Love Islander Olivia Attwood The comedian, 36, is thought to be heading Down Under for the new series - the first back in Australia since the coronavirus pandemic. According to The Sun, ITV bosses are hoping Seann will discuss his infamous 2018 snog with his Strictly pro partner Katya Jones, who was married to fellow dancer Neil Jones at the time. The brief fling resulted in the end of Katya's marriage to Neil the following year and Seann splitting with his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries. Also this week it was reported that Olivia Attwood is reportedly set to become the first ever Love Island star to appear in I'm a Celebrity later this year. TV star: Also this week it was reported that Olivia Attwood is reportedly set to become the first ever Love Island star to appear in I'm a Celebrity later this year According to reports, Seann and Olivia will be joining the likes of Babatunde Aleshe and Boy George in the jungle. Ant and Dec are set to welcome 12 new famous faces into the Australian camp in November. In a statement, ITV said: 'Autumn also brings I'm A Celebrity which makes a welcome return to ITV from the Australian jungle.' The 2021 series saw Danny Miller crowned as King of the Castle, while Giovanna Fletcher was the first person to win the Welsh version of the show the year before. Advertisement Florence Pugh stood out from the crowd on Friday as she led the stars at The Wonder premiere during the London Film Festival. The actress, 26, looked incredible as she made a bold entrance on the red carpet in an eye-catching mesh pink feather trim gown by Valentino. The Don't Worry Darling star elevated her height in a pair of gold strappy heels and carried a small quirky handbag at the star-studded event. Wow! Florence Pugh stood out from the crowd on Friday as she lead the stars at The Wonder premiere during the London Film Festival Stunning: The actress, 26, looked incredible as she made a bold entrance on the red carpet in an eye-catching mesh pink feather trim gown Florence accessorised with dainty gold David Morris jewellery, including chandelier diamond earrings, paired with a diamond ring and bracelet as she showcased her stunning ensemble by holding each side of her dress up. The star sported a glam makeup look with a swipe of nude lipstick, while her blonde locks were slicked back straight. Florence appeared to be in great spirits as she posed for a slew of sweet snaps with her grandmother on the red carpet. The beauty will next take on the role of a nurse in the historical drama The Wonder, hitting Netflix on November 16. The role will be the actress' first following the ongoing controversy surrounding her previous project, Don't Worry Darling. Stylish: She elevated her height in a pair of gold strappy heels and carried a small quirky handbag at the star-studded event Gorgeous: Florence accessorised with dainty gold jewellery and showcased her stunning ensemble by holding each side of her dress up Beauty: Florence accessorised with dainty gold jewellery and showcased her stunning ensemble by holding each side of her dress up Family: Florence appeared to be in great spirits as she as she posed for a slew of sweet snaps with her grandmother on the red carpet Special moment: The actress gave her grandmother a sweet kiss on the cheek Star: The role will be the actress' first following the ongoing controversy surrounding her previous project, Don't Worry Darling The movie follows her character, English nurse Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to care for a girl who has miraculously survived without food for months. The official synopsis reads: 'The Irish Midlands, 1862 - a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell'. 'Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saint 'surviving on manna from heaven' or are there more ominous motives at work?'. The psychological thriller adapted from the novel by Emma Donoghue, is inspired by the 19th century phenomenon of the 'fasting girls'. Looking good: Emma Donoghue looked effortlessly chic in a red shift dress, teamed with a pair of sheer black tights and heels Stunning: Elaine Cassidy put on a glamorous display in a white floral maxi dress, teamed with a pair of gold heels Incredible: Niamh Algar looked sensational in a dazzling silver gown, accessorising with jewellery by Jessica McCormack Glam: Florence and Niamh looked incredible as the pals beamed for a snap together Also starring Tom Burke, Toby Jones, Kila Lord Cassidy and Niamh Algar the movie is directed by Oscar winner Sebastian Lelio. It comes amid the recent 'Miss Flo' drama during her last film DWD, where her director Olivia Wilde referred to her as such during a leaked phone conversation with her then co-star Shia LaBeouf. A report from Page Six in late July claimed that Florence was upset with Olivia because she was hooking up with leading man Harry Styles during the production while still engaged to Jason Sudeikis before they split in November. Beaming: Elaine was all smiles as she posed with her daughter Kila Lord on the red carpet Happy: Kila Lord Cassidy, who is set to star in the Netflix drama, donned a bright blue dress, tights and quirky eye boots Story: The psychological thriller adapted from the novel by Emma Donoghue, is inspired by the 19th century phenomenon of the 'fasting girls' Looking good: Hayley Palmer put on a dazzling display in a sparkly thigh-split dress 'I can tell you for a fact that Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,' the source said. Others have noticed that Florence sparsely posted about the film on her social media accounts, which has also fuelled rumours of friction on the set. The actress missed the photocall for the movie during the Venice Film Festival earlier this month and kept her distance from the director on the red carpet. In character: Florence will next take on the role of a nurse in the historical drama The Wonder, hitting Netflix November 16 Florence was asked by an Italian journalist at the event about what she found 'inspiring' in the film and appeared to make a sly dig at Olivia. She responded: 'I think it's very very inspiring to see a woman push back and say 'no', and question everything. It's very exciting to see a woman do that on and off camera.' Asked when she 'says 'no' off camera, Pugh jokingly responded: 'When do I say 'no'? When someone says I can't have cake.' New: The movie follows her character, English nurse Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to care for a girl who has miraculously survived without food for months Release date: THE WONDER will launch on Netflix November 16 The rumours of tensions intensified after Olivia suggested Florence should have a 'wake-up call' in a leaked video this month. The video was leaked after Shia refuted Olivia's claim that he had been fired from the project, and in the footage Wilde can be heard encouraging LaBeouf to stay signed on to the film, rather than leave it, while also hinting at some apparent tension with Florence. Olivia gave an interview to Variety where she said Shia LaBeouf's process was 'not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions' after the role was ultimately recast with her now-boyfriend Harry. Wow! Florence was spotted earlier in the day leaving her lavish hotel in London and heading to the event In response, Shia supplied alleged evidence to refute Wilde's claims, including an email he sent to the director and a video that she allegedly sent to him, proving he walked away from the film rather than being fired. Shia claims he 'quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time' on August 17th in 2020, and forwarded Variety two emails that he claims he recently sent to Wilde. Some studio sources have claimed to the publication that Shia had been fired, while another said his departure was down to a 'collective recognition that LaBeouf's style of acting wasn't a good fit for Wilde's approach as a director.' THE WONDER will launch on Netflix November 16 Victoria Beckham has shared a glimpse at her private celebrations with her loved ones after her debut Paris Fashion Week show. The designer, 48, staged a runway show in the French capital last week and took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to the team which helped put it together. Former Spice Girl Victoria could be seen posing with husband David, 47, and her good friend, actress Eva Longoria, 47, while other snaps showed her children looking jubilant at a dinner after the show. Support: Victoria Beckham, 48, has shared a glimpse at her private celebrations with her loved ones after her debut Paris Fashion Week show (pictured with husband David, 47, and her good friend, actress Eva Longoria, 47) Heartfelt: The designer staged a runway show in the French capital last week and took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to the team which helped put it together The businesswoman captioned her post: 'What an incredible week!! Im so, so proud of my team!! Team VB we did it!!! Time to celebrate with friends, family and @DonJulioTequila.' Victoria could be seen raising a glass as she gave a speech at the afterparty, wearing a stylish green dress from her range. The chic piece had a plunging angular neckline, with the garment featuring a ruched front. Friends in high places: Victoria was seen posing alongside British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, 50 Celebration: Victoria could be seen raising a glass as she gave a speech at the afterparty, wearing a stylish green dress from her range The piece featured an asymmetrical hem which reached down to her ankle at its lowest point, and she wore a pair of bright red high-heeled boots with open toes. Victoria was seen posing alongside British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, 50, as well as her parents Anthony and Jackie Adams, with the trio posing in front of the famous Eiffel Tower in their photo. She was joined by her children at the celebration - sons Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, Cruz, 17, and Harper, 11. Family affair: She was joined by her children at the celebration - sons Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, Cruz, 17, and Harper, 11 (Anticlockwise from right: Victoria's husband David, son Brooklyn and daughter Harper) Stand-out style: Harper wore a chic yellow and black dress to the event which she teamed with a pair of matching trainers Glitterati: Victoria was seen with her parents Anthony and Jackie Adams, with the trio posing in front of the famous Eiffel Tower in their photo Victoria couldn't hold back her tears last Friday as she broke down while taking to the runway of her Paris Fashion Week debut show - reaching out to hug her husband David during the appearance. Sat in the front row was Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, 27, who turned up at the show half an hour early to show their support - despite ongoing rumours of a family feud. The married couple arrived before the show started so they could wish Victoria luck - with lots of hugs going on when they were all reunited for the first time since this summer, said a source in the room. Supermodel: Victoria was seen hugging model Gigi Hadid, 27, who walked in the former pop star's show Fashion set: Victoria had a range of models showcase her pieces in her debut Paris Fashion Week show Delighted: Victoria couldn't hold back her tears last Friday as she broke down while taking to the runway of her Paris Fashion Week debut show Afterwards, the family got together to celebrate with cocktails, as a source said: There were a lot of smiles and a lot of love in the room, it was a lovely family atmosphere. Reports of a feud between Victoria and Nicola had been rife for weeks, with Brooklyn's wife adding fuel to the fire by claiming her mother-in-law 'blanked' her 'for days' during the design process of her wedding dress in a Grazia interview. It was claimed the show was a chance to patch things up for the family, with reports that she and David have reached out to sort things. A source said: 'Frankly, the most interesting thing about Nicola is that she married into the Beckham clan. David and Victoria have both reached out to her to try and make peace, and find a way to get along. 'David and Victoria would love to spend more time with their son and his wife, and be given the opportunity to welcome her into the fold, especially given that Brooklyn practically lives with his parents-in-law.' The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be held in Liverpool, it has been announced. Eurovision Graham Norton, 59, appeared on The One Show on Friday to reveal where in the UK the event would take place after Liverpool and Glasgow were named the final two cities in the running last month. Comedian Graham said: 'The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool.' A big announcement! Graham Norton announced The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 would be held in Liverpool during an appearance on The One Show on Friday Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the annual event, decided the show cannot be safely held in the country following Russia's invasion. The group said in a statement: 'We are very pleased that next year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool. Though we haven't had the privilege of visiting yet, the musical heritage of the city is known all over the world. 'Playing in the same place that The Beatles started out will be a moment we'll never forget! 'Although we are sad that next year's competition cannot take place in our homeland, we know that the people of Liverpool will be warm hosts and the organisers will be able to add a real Ukrainian flavour to Eurovision 2023 in this city.' Winners: Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra (pictured) triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the EBU decided the show cannot be safely held in the country following Russia's invasion Host city news: Graham made the announcement alongside The One Show hosts Alex Jones, 45, and Roman Kemp, 29 All stars: Graham (second right) posed with singer Olly Murs (centre), who performed on The One Show, as well as presenters Alex Jones (right) and Roman Kemp (left) and Tom Fletcher (second left) Famous friends: The group posed outside the BBC in central London after Graham announced Liverpool as the hosts city of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Man of many words: Graham is heard giving commentary to the Eurovision Song Contest for UK television audiences each year After the announcement, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 'While we came up against stiff competition from Glasgow, who deserve more than the nil points they have received on this occasion, nowhere is more experienced or qualified, and nowhere throws a party quite like we do. 'We want to put on a show that Ukraine would be proud of, and we have been working closely with Liverpool's sister city of Odesa to ensure that this is their event as much as our own. 'Now the hard work begins. Putting on a show that will give millions a night they will never forget in one of the most turbulent and trying years for our continent is no mean feat. 'If anywhere is capable of it, it is the Liverpool City Region, with a little help from our friends in Ukraine.' Host city: Liverpool is famous for its music heritage, with the town known as the birthplace of The Beatles (The Beatles statue pictured in the city) Sights: The Liver Building in Liverpool is pictured as BBC's The One Show has announced that Liverpool will be the host of 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Attention: Thousands of people will descend on Liverpool to attend the contest with millions more watching on television and online after 161million tuned in this year (Liverpool marina pictured) Director-general of the competition's UK broadcaster, the BBC, Tim Davie, said of Liverpool's win: 'Congratulations to Liverpool. 'We've had some incredible bids to be host city of the Eurovision Song Contest and I'm thrilled that Liverpool, the undisputed capital of pop music, and full of its energy and enthusiasm is going to host the event in 2023. 'Of course, it should be the Ukrainians hosting, but I'm sure we'll do justice to them, the wonders of Ukrainian culture, and in partnership, we'll create something that's truly special. Well done: Director-general of the competition's UK broadcaster, the BBC, Tim Davie, said of Liverpool's win: 'Congratulations to Liverpool. We've had some incredible bids' 'So, many, many congratulations. It's been a tough competition but you've deserved the win and we're all thrilled. 'I look forward to the preparations and a very special event in 2023.' Sam Ryder, 33, who represented the UK in the competition and placed second overall after Ukraine this year is set to appear on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One at 10.40pm on Friday where the pair will discuss the host city announcement. 'Myself and Sam, on Friday night, we will be discussing where Eurovision is going to be on the telly because we'll know by then,' Graham said. 'I hope this is ok to say. But yes I am. Unless I'm not supposed to say this, and in which case someone else Sam Ryder will be there opening an envelope,' he joked. Congratulations: Comedian Graham said: 'The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool' (UK 2022 entry Sam Ryder pictured during competition) Last month, the BBC announced that Liverpool and Glasgow were the two cities in contention to host next year's Eurovision. The UK was given the chance to host the event for the ninth time - more than any other country - after Sam Ryder came second in the competition. In August, a list narrowed down from 20 UK cities who initially submitted an 'expression of interest' was released by the BBC, with applicants across all four regions demonstrating how they would reflect Ukrainian culture, music and communities. Battling it out: Last month, the BBC announced that Liverpool and Glasgow were the two cities in contention to host next year's Eurovision. Liverpool is pictured Of the seven cities named in August, six were in England, one in Scotland, with Belfast failing to make the cut for Northern Ireland. Requirements included 'a suitable venue and sufficient space to deliver the requirements of the Song Contest', necessary commitment to the contest including a financial contribution, and 'alignment with the BBC's strategic priorities as a public service broadcaster'. Liverpool, which has been a UNESCO City of Music since 2015, is synonymous with The Beatles and has a rich music heritage. The Eurovision song contest will take place in May next year. Ulrika Jonsson has slammed Molly-Mae Hague for being 'melodramatic' after the influencer admitted she has 'cried five times a day' during her pregnancym Molly-Mae, 23, recently announced she was expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend Tommy Fury in a gender reveal video. And TV presenter Ulrika, 55, has criticised the PrettyLittleThing Creative Director's 'ghastly, tacky video' while calling her 'dramatic'. Harsh: Ulrika Jonsson has slammed Molly-Mae Hague for being 'melodramatic' after the influencer admitted she has 'cried five times a day' during her pregnancy Ulrika wrote in her column for The Sun: 'A 23-year-old unskilled and naive influencer has got a bun in the oven. 'And shes having a girl, we now know, because she posted one of those ghastly, tacky, gender reveal videos. 'Not only has this been the emotionally hardest period of her life, poor lamb, but hapless Molly-Mae has cried FIVE times a day and her whole body has been consumed by the shock of it all.' While Ulrika, who has four children, admitted being pregnant can come with a 'rollercoaster of emotions', she said: 'To be talking about it as if shes enduring some form of PTSD is drama of the highest order.' Dig: TV presenter Ulrika, 55, has criticised the PrettyLittleThing Creative Director's 'ghastly, tacky gender reveal video' while calling her 'dramatic' Family: Ulrika has four children - Cameron, 27, Bo, 21, Martha, 17 and Malcolm, 13 Ulrika has four children - Cameron, 27, Bo, 21, Martha, 17 and Malcolm, 13. 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. 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. Congratulations! Molly-Mae, 23, recently announced she was expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend Tommy Fury in a gender reveal video It comes after Molly-Mae admitted she has 'cried five times a day' during her early pregnancy she updated her fans on Monday. The influencer said she has found the experience 'emotionally hard' so far, after revealing she is now six months pregnant in her most recent YouTube video. Speaking in her Vlog, she recalled the 'shock' of the news and admitted it has not been a 'magical experience' as she and boyfriend Tommy Fury, overcame obstacles. Tough: It comes after Molly-Mae admitted she has 'cried five times a day' during her early pregnancy she updated her fans on Monday Molly explained: 'We were going through a really tricky time with Tommy and his work and fights happening, then not happening, and situations being completely out of our control. 'I was in the most emotionally hardest period of my life, whilst trying to also support Tommy, and it was just a very crazy few months.' Tommy was forced to cancel a fight with Jake Paul in August after her was banned from travelling to America for their press conference. Molly continued: 'I literally just cant explain how the shock literally overtook my body for the first month, 100%. I just felt like every single day I was living an outer body experience, my emotions were something Id never experienced before.' 'I cried maybe five times a day for no reason. Just in tears over everything. 'Every time we talk about it, it feels like were talking about a situation thats not our own because it was a complete shock, I cant lie.' Going quickly: Speaking in her Vlog, she recalled the 'shock' of the news and admitted it has not been a 'magical experience' as she and boyfriend Tommy Fury, overcame obstacles Elsewhere, Molly hinted at her due date as she revealed that she is now six months pregnant, with three months to go. Documenting her 20-week scan in the video, Molly-Mae explained: 'I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant at the moment, I can't believe it. I can't believe that it's been a month since our last scan. 'These months and weeks go so quickly and I'm announcing so soon, at the start of this video I was like "Oh I wonder if I'll be able to get to five months" and now I'm heading on six months.' Exciting: Documenting her 20-week scan in the video, Molly-Mae explained: 'I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant at the moment, I can't believe it' The Love Island winner, who announced the pregnancy news last week, explained in the pre-recorded vlog that when she announces the news she will have three months left. And according to the vlog's timeline, this would suggest Molly-Mae and Tommy will be welcoming their new arrival at the end of December/beginning of January. Explaining that fans will be able to work out roughly when she's expecting the baby via her videos and posts, the beauty continued that she was not planning on revealing the exact date. 'It's just not something I'm going to share. From around my videos you guys are definitely going to work out around the time my baby is due. I feel like sharing dates and stuff, anything can happen.' Katie Price has dodged 254,000 of bills by handing over just 21,000 to her creditors. The former glamour model, 44, owed 234,000 in tax and 20,000 to business creditors of her Jordan Trading Company. But now accountants have now finished liquidating the failed firm and this week revealed that they have handed over 8p for every pound she owed to HMRC and the other creditors. Finances: Katie Price has dodged 254,000 of bills by handing over just 21,000 to her creditors That's despite the star just undergoing another bout of plastic surgery and jetting off to Thailand and a string of other holidays this year. The firm did receive a 25,000 payment from the failed clothing firm Jigsaw group. Katie who in total owes around 3million received a bill for 234,470 from HMRC for her failed firm Jordan Trading Ltd - that took in cash from her failed perfume and cosmetics empire Difficult: The former glamour model, 44, owed 234,000 in tax and 20,000 to business creditors of her Jordan Trading Company The firm went belly up in 2017. Accountants liquidating Jordan Trading said they had given up trying to claw back any cash from her against a loan she took out from the firm. They said a 154,423 loan taken from the firm's coffers by director Katie was unlikely to be paid back to help clear claims by creditors to Jordan Trading totalling 267,769. A liquidator for London firm Moorfields said in a report filed to Companies House: 'I have been in correspondence with the Director's Trustee in Bankruptcy to establish whether there maybe any future dividends paid to the Director's creditors. Experts: But now accountants have now finished liquidating the failed firm and this week revealed that they have handed over 8p for every pound she owed to HMRC and the other creditors (pictured at her Mucky Mansion) 'The Director has failed on multiple occasions to attend on the Trustee and the Director has subsequently had their discharge suspended due to non-cooperation. 'We have been advised that creditors in the bankruptcy estate now total approximately 3.265million. 'As such, the company's claim in the bankruptcy amounts to approximately 4.73% of the total creditors. 'Given that any realisation from the Director's estate will likely be watered down with protracted legal issues the Trustee is facing dealing with the Director's non-compliance, it is likely the overdrawn director's loan account may no longer be economically viable to pursue.' Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin was seen for the first time on Friday after his reported split from his long-term girlfriend Nicole Wirt. The professional dancer, 24, arrived at Elstree Studios for rehearsals for the BBC ballroom dance competition after he was said to have parted ways with his partner who has now moved out of the flat they shared together. Nikita cut a casual figure during his outing, wearing a sky blue top over a white vest which he teamed with a pair of loose-fitting trousers in a darker shade of blue. Stepping out: Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin, 24, was seen for the first time on Friday after his reported split from his long-term girlfriend Nicole Wirt He donned a long navy blue coat and shielded his eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses. Nikita's trademark floppy blonde hair was left unstyled and he wore a pair of white trainers for the day. It comes after Nikita, who is partnered with Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds on this year's series, reportedly decided it was 'for the best' girlfriend Nicole Wirt went their separate ways. End of the road: The professional dancer arrived at Elstree Studios for rehearsals for the BBC ballroom dance competition after he was said to have parted ways with his girlfriend (pictured) A source said: 'Nikita wanted to totally focus on this series of Strictly and decided a while back he wanted to end his relationship with Nicole. 'They had been together for five years and it ended up being a mutual decision. Nicole is mainly based in Germany and she is getting busier with work. 'Nicole used to stay in London to visit Nikita but it was becoming more difficult with their schedules.' Keeping it casual: Nikita cut a casual figure during his outing, wearing a sky blue top over a white vest which he teamed with a pair of loose-fitting trousers in a darker shade of blue Strike a pose: The star was happy to stop for a picture with a fan who was waiting outside the television studios Casual style: He donned a long navy blue coat and shielded his eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses The insider added the exes only want the best for each other and Nikita now wants to focus all his energy on Strictly. MailOnline contacted representatives of Nikita Kuzmin for comment. The Ukranian dancer was partnered with Tilly Ramsay on last year's series, when they finished in sixth place. Split: It comes after Nikita reportedly decided it was 'for the best' girlfriend Nicole Wirt went their separate ways Speaking out: A source said: 'Nikita wanted to totally focus on this series of Strictly and decided a while back he wanted to end his relationship with Nicole' Insider: 'They had been together for five years and it ended up being a mutual decision. Nicole is mainly based in Germany and she is getting busier with work,' the said Lack of time: They added: 'Nicole used to stay in London to visit Nikita but it was becoming more difficult with their schedules' The pair had to fight off romance rumours during their run on the show, particularly after the pro dancer was pictured heading to her London flat. Nicole added fuel to the fire after deleting a gushing supportive comment to the pair after the first live show. Sharing a snap of their Waltz on Instagram, Nicole had added love heart emojis and wrote 'cheering on my favs' and their performance was 'mesmerising' in the now-deleted post. Moving on: The insider added the exes only want the best for each other and Nikita now wants to focus all his energy on Strictly Ready to rehears: Nikita was seen heading through the security gate at the studios ahead of his rehearsals All smiles: The star appeared in good spirits as he arrived for the day, smiling as he walked down the road Show: Nikita, who is partnered with paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds on this year's series, reportedly decided it was 'for the best' the couple went their separate ways Nikita and Ellie have impressed the judges with their performances so far, receiving a score of 26 out of 40 in week one and 30 out of 40 in week two. Ellie previously told how she hopes her taking part in Strictly will inspire others, saying: 'People have reached out to me, it's been so touching. If I can do it, people watching will be like, 'We can do it too.' 'If I had this as a child, watching someone with dwarfism on a dancing show, it would have been amazing. I never thought I'd get the opportunity. I swam in front of millions of people but dancing is different.' The first teaser for ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 has dropped, debuting during Emmerdale on Friday. Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are set to welcome 12 new famous faces into the Australian camp in November. And a new video teasing the highly-anticipated programme shows a helicopter flying across the cloudy skies above Australia, as Dec can be heard saying: 'Where's the luggage going?' Exciting: The first teaser for ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 has dropped, debuting during Emmerdale on Friday Ant then shouted: 'It's meeting us there!' The iconic show's theme tune then kicks in as a suitcase is dropped out of the helicopter and into the Australian jungle. The reality show is returning to the Australian jungle for the first time in three years after it was held in Gwrych Castle in North Wales due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. In a statement, ITV confirmed the show's return: 'Autumn also brings I'm A Celebrity which makes a welcome return to ITV from the Australian jungle.' Return: Ant and Dec are set to welcome 12 new famous faces into the Australian camp in November The 2021 series saw Danny Miller crowned as King of the Castle, while Giovanna Fletcher was the first person to win the Welsh version of the show the year before. Several stars have signed up for the adventure next month including 1980s pop icon Boy George, comedian Seann Walsh, radio DJ Chris Moyles and former Love Islander Olivia Attwood. Celebrities who end up in the legendary jungle camp will find themselves cut off from the outside world and their fate will be in the hands of viewers who could decide to send them into a dreaded Bushtucker Trial. Funny: The clip shows a helicopter flying across the cloudy skies above Australia, as Dec can be heard saying: 'Where's the luggage going?' It comes after a host of former show stars returned from South Africa this week after reportedly filming for the I'm A Celebrity All Stars Spin-Off series. Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan, Paul Burrell and Fatima Whitbread were all spotted arriving back at Heathrow airport on Wednesday. Georgia Toffolo and Myleene Klass are all also tipped to be among the famous faces making an appearance on the show. They will reportedly be joined by Joe Swash, Gillian McKeith, Phil Tufnell, Amir Khan, Jordan Banjo, Andrew Whyment, Dean Gaffney and Shaun Ryder with Janice Dickinson completing the line-up. The new spin-off series is set to hit TV screens in 2023 and will see fan favourites battle it out in the jungle once more. Their romance is going strong after first stepping out together in February. And Sienna Miller, 40, headed out with her beau Oli Green, 25, in New York on Friday for a romantic stroll. The actress flashed her abs in a green crop top and black high-waisted jeans for the low-key outing as she put her arms around her handsome boyfriend. Love: Sienna Miller, 40, stepped out with her beau Oli Green, 25, in New York on Friday for a romantic stroll The blonde beauty completed her look with olive green suede boots and a large black leather bag while donning shades for the sunny day. She wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features. Meanwhile Oli dressed down in a pair of light blue denim jeans, a faded shirt and white T-shirt as he spent quality time with his girlfriend. Style: The actress flashed her abs in a green crop top and black high-waisted jeans for the low-key outing as she put her arms around her handsome boyfriend Sienna - who is 15 years Oli's senior - first stepped out with the Burberry model back in February at a New York Knicks game, confirming their romance. Rising star Oli was the face of a Burberry 2018 campaign and has also modelled for high street retailer GAP. While he is also an actor, and is from one of the British art worlds most prestigious families - as his grandfather Richard Green owns two galleries in Mayfair. Outfit: The blonde beauty completed her look with olive green suede boots and a large black leather bag while donning shades for the sunny day The pair enjoyed an extended sunny French getaway this summer, appearing loved up as they take the time to kick back. The outing comes after Sienna and Sam Worthington announced they have teamed up with Kevin Costner for his new project, Horizon. The Oscar winner, 67, co-wrote the script for the epic historical drama, which will begin production in Utah on August 29. In addition to starring in the film, he will also direct, produce and finance the wide-ranging story, which takes place over a 15-year period of expansion pre and post Civil War, according to Deadline. The upcoming Western will mark the Yellowstone star's first time stepping behind the camera since 2003's Open Range. Sienna expressed her delight with the casting, saying, 'I am so excited to go on this epic journey with such a legendary actor and director at the helm. 'The story is riveting. I am very honored to be a part of it.' Advertisement Amber Heard was pictured on a rare outing following her high-profile defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp in June while vacationing in Palma de Mallorca, Spain with a bikini-clad female pal this week. As she hit the beach in a black bikini and semi-sheer white skirt, the 36-year-old Aquaman star beamed with her hands on her hips as she visited a public beach, nestled between tall, rocky cliffs. On her relaxing outing, the blonde beauty flashed her tattooed left side, which featured a Spanish quote, which translates to: 'I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.' Fun in the sun: Amber Heard was pictured on a rare outing following her high-profile defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp in June while vacationing in Palma de Mallorca, Spain with a bikini-clad female pal this week The mother-of-one kept a pair of black shades perched on top of her head and wore minimal makeup that accentuated her natural beauty. One day earlier, the actress enjoyed a trip to the park with her one-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige and even took some time to chat with a local sitting on a bench. As she doted on her tot, who looked adorable in a green floral dress and pink sneakers, the Rum Diary star showed off her incredibly toned physique in a cropped black top, which displayed her abs, and a pair of white sweatpants. Beach babe: As she hit the beach in a black bikini and semi-sheer white skirt, the 36-year-old Aquaman star beamed with her hands on her hips as she visited a public beach Cool ink: On her relaxing outing, the blonde beauty flashed her tattooed left side, which featured a Spanish quote, which translates to: 'I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul' In addition to rocking an Apple Watch and her blonde hair in a messy top knot, Heard toted a blue baby carrier on her shoulder and appeared in high spirits as she walked through the medieval streets of the stunning resort city immersed in history and culture. Her latest sighting comes amid her seemingly never-ending battle with Depp. Just this week, Amber changed lawyers yet again in her attempt to force two insurance firms to pick up the multimillion dollar bill for her libel payout. Despite the massive amount of money she was ordered to pay Depp in damages, Amber seemed to be able to have a relaxing vacation. Cool girl: The mother-of-one kept a pair of black shades perched on top of her head and wore minimal makeup that accentuated her natural beauty Heard is currently vacationing with a small group, who joined her for an outing in the picturesque town. Despite her personal and professional life being in upheaval after two highly publicized trials over her alleged abuse at the hands of Johnny Depp, one in the UK and the other in the US, Amber managed to slap on a movie star smile as she enjoyed some much-needed time off. Heard was ordered to pay her ex-husband more than $10 million in damages at the end of an explosive defamation trial in June. She is currently represented by David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown in her appeal of that verdict. Doting mom: One day earlier, Heard was pictured holding her one-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige Vacation mode: While enjoying some quality time with her baby girl at a park, the performer looked relaxed as she carried her little one in her arms and made silly faces before stopping to chat to a few locals during her trip Looking good! As she doted on her tot, who looked adorable in a green floral dress and pink sneakers, the Rum Diary star showed off her incredibly toned physique in a cropped black top, which displayed her abs, and a pair of white sweatpants Smiling: Despite the massive amount of money she was ordered to pay Depp in damages, Amber seemed to be able to have a relaxing vacation The actress has also recently hired Kirk Pasich on her legal team in an attempt to get multiple insurance companies to cover her legal bills, which may surpass $15million, according to Puck News. Puck claims that Heard's expenses soared over $8million before the Virginia trial even began. Heard's team appears to want homeowner's insurance to cover those bills. The battle concerns Travelers Commercial Insurance Company and New York Marine General Insurance Company. Travelers initially sued New York Marine in July 2021 to gain reimbursement for half of what it spent on defending a client that turned out to be Heard. Time off: Heard is currently vacationing with a small group, who joined her for an outing in the picturesque town Despite her personal and professional life being in upheaval after two highly publicized trials over her alleged abuse at the hands of Johnny Depp, one in the UK and the other in the US, Amber managed to slap on a movie star smile as she enjoyed some much-needed time off Heard's homeowners policy with Travelers covered 'libel' to the point of about $500,000, while New York Marine had issued her a general liability policy for $1million. The crux of the suit was Travelers believing Heard had the right to pick her own lawyers, while New York Marine disagreed, believing the case was 'fairly straight forward'. A judge agreed with New York Marine's desire to use local, cheaper attorneys. Travelers had doubts about New York Marine's appointed lawyers Timothy McEvoy and Sean Patrick Roche, arguing they 'piggy-backed' on the work of Heard attorneys Roberta Kaplan and Elaine Charlson Bredehoft. New York Marine, for their part, claimed their attorneys were frozen out by Kaplan and Bredehoft. They now want $621,693 paid back in exchange for their contribution to Heard's defense fund because their lawyers were kept out of various legal proceedings. The insurers are currently suing Heard to avoid contributing to the libel settlement that has the Aquaman star set to pay Depp about $10.35million using a California law preventing insurers from covering 'willful acts'. Pasich is representing Heard to try and deal with this situation on her behalf. Appeal: She is currently represented by David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown in her appeal of that verdict Legal drama: The actress has also recently hired Kirk Pasich on her legal team in an attempt to get multiple insurance companies to cover her legal bills, which may surpass $15million, according to Puck News Puck claims that Heard's expenses soared over $8million before the Virginia trial even began. Heard's team appears to want homeowner's insurance to cover those bills Heard may be responsible for the entire judgement if it survives her appeal, as Travelers will try to avoid paying it if Depp could prove she made false statements. At the end of the defamation trial, Depp, 59, was awarded $10million to $15million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages. The judge later capped the damages at the state's maximum of $350,000 leaving Depp with a total of $8.35million. Meanwhile, Heard won one of her three countersuit claims related to statements made by Depp's lawyer suggesting the actress and her friends had trashed their apartment before calling the police. The actress was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages out of the $100 million she sought. She has a jam-packed schedule for the BFI London Film Festival this week. And Greta Gerwig looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out for the star-studded The Wonder premiere on Friday night. The actress, 39, showed off her sophisticated sense of style in a floaty red dress that featured billowing sleeves and a v-neck design. Lovely: Greta Gerwig looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out for the star-studded The Wonder premiere on Friday night The blonde beauty boosted her height with strappy black heels and accessorised her look with a large white leather clutch bag and gold rings. She wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for natural makeup to show off her pretty features. Also at the premiere was Florence Pugh who looked elegant in a billowing peach gown as she posed up a storm. Beauty: The actress, 39, showed off her sophisticated sense of style in a floaty red dress that featured billowing sleeves and a v-neck design The beauty will next take on the role of a nurse in the historical drama The Wonder, hitting Netflix on November 16. The role will be the actress' first following the ongoing controversy surrounding her previous project, Don't Worry Darling. The movie follows her character, English nurse Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to care for a girl who has miraculously survived without food for months. The look: The blonde beauty boosted her height with strappy black heels and accessorised her look with a large white leather clutch bag and gold rings Radiant: She wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for natural makeup to show off her pretty features Pals: Later Nicola Coughlan and Greta Gerwig attended a special screening of White Noise hosted by Wes Anderson at The Soho Hotel The official synopsis reads: 'The Irish Midlands, 1862 - a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell'. 'Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saint 'surviving on manna from heaven' or are there more ominous motives at work?'. The psychological thriller adapted from the novel by Emma Donoghue, is inspired by the 19th century phenomenon of the 'fasting girls'. Also starring Tom Burke, Toby Jones, Kila Lord Cassidy and Niamh Algar the movie is directed by Oscar winner Sebastian Lelio. Strutting her stuff: She put on a confident display as she strolled along the pavement to head to the premiere Stunning: Also at the premiere was Florence Pugh who looked elegant in a billowing peach gown as she posed up a storm Glam: Wes Anderson, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach posed together Smart: Noah wore a dapper black suit jacket Model Kaia Gerber showed off her supermodel figure while exiting a building in Beverly Hills on Friday. The 21-year-old daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber put on a leggy display in very short electric blue spandex bike shorts that accentuated her long legs. The highly sought after model wore her gorgeous brunette locks clipped behind head held as she walked with her cellphone to her ear in dark sunglasses. Model genes: Model Kaia Gerber showed off her supermodel figure in electric blue Jeanne the Label bike shorts while exiting a medical building in Beverly Hills on Friday The model-turned-actress finished off the look with short-tan UGG Classic Mini Boots, a dark blue fleece top, and green socks to match her green purse. On Tuesday, the beauty took to Instagram to announce the release of her capsule collection of wardrobe staples with Zara. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude, she shared with her 8.5 million followers. KAIAXZARA is available now i hope you all love it as much as i do. Her collection: On Tuesday, the beauty took to Instagram to announce the release of her capsule collection of wardrobe staples with Zara Speaking to Vogue, the American Horror Story star dished, 'Ive always loved Zara and how they bring accessibility to fashion, which isnt always the most accessible industry.' This past week she has been on-set in Los Angeles working on the star-studded comedy Mrs. American Pie. The plot follows a woman who aspires to achieve a place in Palm Beach's high society, and also stars Kristen Wiig, who will portray Maxine Simmons. Taking her role seriously: She recently admitted she is feeling 'immense pressure' while filming her comedic role in Mrs. American Pie. 'I don't think I'm funny, but somehow I'm doing comedy' Kaia will have a recurring role in the Apple TV+ miniseries playing a manicurist named Mitzi. She recently admitted she is feeling 'immense pressure' while filming her comedic role in Mrs. American Pie. 'I don't think I'm funny, but somehow I'm doing comedy,' she said while posing for a Flaunt cover story. On screen: The daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber was announced to have joined the cast of Mrs. American Pie this past June (centre-top) 'And I'm just waiting - maybe people will figure out one day I'm not funny, but I'm riding it as long as I can.' Last Friday, Kaia looked casual as she enjoyed drinks with a male friend at La Poubelle in Hollywood. The cover model was seen laughing and smiling with an unidentified man at the hot spot. After a year-long relationship with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, Gerber began dating Elvis actor Austin Butler. in December 2021. Dynamic duo: Gerber and Butler attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating In America: An Anthology of Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City He previously dated actress Vanessa Hudgens from 2011 to 2020. The fashion model has spent time in Los Angeles with Butler after living in NYC for a few years. The two stars enjoy each others company and find time in their busy schedules to be together as often as possible. The two attended the 2022 MET Gala in New York City and the Elvis premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival earlier in May, where they kissed passionately on the red carpet to flashing cameras. He motored to the top of Hollywoods A-list the last time he played a hero fighting evil in Rome. Now Russell Crowe is aiming to scoot back to top billing after riding a moped around the Eternal City for his latest role as a Vatican exorcist. Bearded Crowe, 58, who is known for his hellraising past, wore a cassock but no helmet as he whizzed around the streets of the Italian capital. Russell Crowe is aiming to scoot back to top billing after riding a moped around the Eternal City for his latest role as a Vatican exorcist The actor found fame as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 hit Gladiator In his new movie, The Popes Exorcist, he plays Father Gabriele Amorth who is said to have cast out devils by performing more than 100,000 exorcisms The actor found fame as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 hit Gladiator. In his new movie, The Popes Exorcist, he plays Father Gabriele Amorth who is said to have cast out devils by performing more than 100,000 exorcisms. New Zealand-born Crowe rode around the Colosseum on a white and red Lambretta scooter with a Ferrari logo in aviator sunglasses and trainers. After filming, he was joined by his US girlfriend Britney Theriot, 31, as they explored Rome on electric scooters. Father-of-two Crowe, who divorced wife Danielle in 2018, has been dating former actress Miss Theriot since 2020. They are said to have met while making movie Broken City in 2013. Last week he was joined on the set in Rome by his friend and English rugby league hero Sam Burgess who watched as Crowe got into character. Crew members and make-up artists regularly came to his assistance, making sure his outfit looked right as well as brushing his hair and trimming his grey beard. His portly look as the exorcist was a far cry from his Oscar- winning turn as muscular hero Maximus a feared Roman general who becomes a slave and then a gladiator fighting in the Colosseum His portly look as the exorcist was a far cry from his Oscar- winning turn as muscular hero Maximus a feared Roman general who becomes a slave and then a gladiator fighting in the Colosseum. The Popes Exorcist is said to draw on Father Amorths two autobiographies. The priest who died in 2016 at the age of 91, was ordained in 1951. In 1986 he was asked to assist the chief exorcist in Rome, and was named as his successor in 1992. It is claimed many thousands of his exorcisms were successful in banishing evil spirits. The Popes Exorcist, which stars Franco Nero as the Pope and is directed by Australian Julius Avery, is due to be released next year. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - The United Nations is proposing a "humanitarian corridor" in Haiti's capital to help people get gasoline and aid amid a mounting crisis as gangs keep blockading roads and access to some areas, including to one key fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince. The U.N. office in Haiti said in a press release that the blockades, in particular the one accessing the Varreux fuel terminal, undermine efforts to resolve problems in the Caribbean country, in particular the resurgence of cholera after three years without reported cases. The U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Office in Haiti made the proposal on Wednesday. Late Wednesday, Prime Minister Ariel Henry also called for help from the international community to address his country's crisis, worsened last month when he announced that fuel subsidies would be eliminated, causing prices to double and people, including gang members, to protest in the streets. Haitis most powerful gang even decided to block access to the largest fuel terminal, warning its members will stay there until Henry resigns and prices for fuel are reduced. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, violence has soared in Haiti as gangs battle over territory, and the government has struggled to crack down. A protester carries a piece of wood simulating a weapon during a protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in the Petion-Ville area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) The U.N. said that the blockade on the fuel terminal "has led to the closure of health centers over the last weeks now, and caused the interruption of water treatment services," posing a problem to prevent cholera. "The crisis that Haiti is going through affects the population throughout the territory and the most vulnerable people are the first to suffer from the blockage," it added on its press release. The fuel depot blocked by gangs has been inoperable since Sept. 12, cutting off about 10 million gallons of diesel and gasoline and more than 800,000 gallons of kerosene stored on site. Many gas stations are closed, and others are quickly running out of supplies. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe October is Domestic Violence Awareness and LGBT History Month. To continue raising awareness of such impactful issues, Dayton Metro Library will host several events. DML Programs Raise Awareness October is Domestic Violence Awareness and LGBT History Month. To continue raising awareness of such impactful issues, Dayton Metro Library will host several events. In support of Domestic Violence Month: Community Conversations: Centering Survivors Main Library, Eichelberger Forum Thursday, October 20, 6-7 pm A panel discussion hosted by the YWCA and DML that will focus on survivors and highlight community resources. (For All Ages) In support of LBGT History: Black Beauty: Viewing and Discussion Main Library, Eichelberger Forum Saturday, October 8, 2:30-4 pm Black Beauty is a visual diary that traces Elle Moxely (director) as she recalls her experience as a Black trans woman in the Midwest. A small panel discussion will follow. (For Adults) Social Justice Speaker Series: Michael Thomas Ford Main Library, Eichelberger Forum Saturday, October 22, 2:30-3:30 pm Ford, an Ohio author, will discuss his books. Fords books, for both young readers and adults, often focus on the experience of being part of the LGBTQ community. (For Adults and Teens) The Main Library is located at 215 East Third Street, Dayton. Registration is not required for these programs. For a detailed description of each program, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs or call the Librarys Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665. The City of Dayton has announced the newest investments of Dayton Recovery Plan funds, following approval of contracts by the City Commission. Investments of $500,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and $300,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton will support new or improved facilities crucial to the non-profits missions. Funding for both awards will be provided through the Dayton Recovery Plans $7.3 million Aiding Community and Small Business Recovery component. This section of the plan focuses on supporting community health and wellness, assisting small businesses and organizations, and providing educational opportunities. The Dayton Recovery Plan is a $138 million framework for community COVID relief and investment for the future, made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These two organizations have a demonstrated history of making a difference in the lives of families and children, and the City of Dayton is pleased to support them through the Dayton Recovery Plan, said City Manager Shelley Dickstein. Their renewed commitment to their missions through facility improvements will have a positive impact in Dayton neighborhoods as well. Earlier this year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton announced plans to raise $25 million to build a new 42-room facility on Valley Street. Housing is a critical component of the continuum of care, but the current 14-room facility across from Dayton Childrens Hospitals main campus is unable to meet the growing need for services. Dayton has become a destination city for pediatric health care as a result of advancements in outpatient and specialty services and Shriners Childrens Ohios move to the city from Cincinnati in 2021. Last year Ronald McDonald House had to turn away 63% of the families that came to us for housing. Expanding our capacity is significant to the strategic growth of our regions healthcare sector and necessary to support the hundreds of families who travel to Dayton each year for their childs medical care, said Rita Cyr, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton. The Ronald McDonald House funding will support architecture and design fees as well as engineering fees (groundbreaking, foundation pouring, construction). In accordance with the City's emphasis on the use of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), there is a 15% aspirational MBE goal assigned to this contract. The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton/West Dayton Community Recreation & Space Sharing Project will use the Dayton Recovery Plan funds for construction/renovation services at its West Stewart Street facility, including electrical, plumbing, and other trades services, as well as needed equipment upgrades. In accordance with the City's focus on the use of MBE, there is a 25% aspirational MBE goal assigned to the contract. Club members are children ranging from kindergarten to high school age, and 96% are African American. We know there are hundreds more young people in West Dayton who would benefit from our programs, but the condition of the facility is a barrier to recruitment and retention of families who can take advantage of our education and enrichment programs," said Mica Goosby, Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Club. "West Dayton is a vibrant community with a rich cultural heritage and community assets, and the City of Dayton's investment in the Boys & Girls Club will allow us to continue to help families and children succeed. We are grateful for the City's leadership and their support of our mission to build a bright future for our youth." The super speciality hospital of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), constructed in Adilabad at a cost of 150 crore, has since January this year remained a showpiece without functioning properly (Twitter) ADILABAD: The super speciality hospital of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), constructed in Adilabad at a cost of 150 crore, has since January this year remained a showpiece without functioning properly or rendering services to people. Though called a super specialty hospital, RIMS has no specialised doctors. It had been formally inaugurated by health minister T. Harish Rao on March 4. Four specialised doctors had been appointed at this hospital. But they resigned from their posts due to various reasons. Many doctors are not available at the hospital on all days of the week. This is because many of them have their own hospitals or private practice in other places like Nizamabad and Hyderabad. People of erstwhile Adilabad district had pinned a lot of hopes on the super specialty services at RIMS. But they are a disappointed lot. Many patients from bordering areas of Maharashtra too arrive at this hospital with a lot of expectations. But they are unhappy about the treatment. Many patients, who need specialised services for their ailments, are instead going to Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar or Yawathmal in Maharashtra. Every now and then, Congress, BJP and Left party leaders and activists stage dharnas in front of the massive building demanding recruitment of specialised doctors, so that super specialty services could be made available to patients. RIMS director Dr. Jai Singh Rathod confessed that right now, they are not rendering super specialty services to patients, as there are no specialist doctors. He underlined that government has offered 1.25 lakh as salary for specialised doctors. He maintained that he has no idea why specialists are not coming to work at RIMS, Adilabad. World-class equipment had been purchased for the super specialty hospital. But they are all lying in cold storage. VARANASI: A court here asked the Gyanvapi mosque management on Friday to file its reply to a petitioners' plea for carbon-dating of a structure, claimed to be a "Shivling", inside the complex on the next date of hearing on October 11. The petitioners contended that the "Shivling" found in the "wazookhana" reservoir of the mosque during survey work on May 16 was part of the case property. The petitioners in the case involving the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri dispute put forward their arguments in favour of carbon-dating of the structure, according to district government advocate Mahendra Pandey. The petitioners' lawyer, Vishnu Shankar Jain, told reporters that the court wanted to know if the "Shivling" was a part of the case property and whether it could appoint a commission for the purpose of carbon-dating and a scientific investigation of the structure. "We had raised two points. Firstly we had demanded the right to worship 'pratyaksh' (visible) and 'apratyaksh' (invisible) god. The Shivling, which was under the water in the wazookhana, became 'pratyaksh devta' from 'apratyaksh devta' after the water was removed. Hence, that is a part of the suit. "Secondly, we sought the attention of the court towards Order 26 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) under which the court can appoint a commission for scientific investigation," he said. The petitioners also told the court that the mosque management has said on an affidavit that the structure is a fountain and it wants it to be ascertained whether it is a fountain or a "Shivling", Jain said. "The best method is that it should be examined by the Archaeological Survey of India, for which the court can appoint a commission," he added. The court fixed October 11 as the next date of hearing in the matter and asked the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee to file its reply. Another lawyer representing the petitioners, Hari Shankar Jain, said some people are trying to spread rumours that carbon-dating will damage the "Shivling". "On this, we told the court that a scientific examination should be carried out at places where carbon-dating cannot be done," he said. Joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, Mohammad Yasin, said, "We were hopeful that the court would give its judgment on carbon-dating on Friday. But it has fixed October 11 as the next date of hearing." The Gyanvapi mosque is located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the case in the Varanasi court has revived claims that the mosque was built on a portion of the Hindu structure demolished on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. PTI COR/NAV RC 10071754 NNNN HYDERABAD: Former DGP M.V. Krishna Rao and political economist Parakala Prabhakar, on Thursday discussed the need for reforms in the police and the challenges in implementing the changes. They were taking part in the Deccan Dialogues series. Prabhakar said while IPS officers came across as knowledgeable, the people saw lower and mid-level police officers as being unfriendly, oppressive and corrupt. Krishna Rao said over the past 75 years, the police were being controlled by ruling parties, and the police were expected to convert themselves into the partys domestic servants. Krishna Rao, however, added that there had been considerable improvement in manpower and infrastructure since the time he had joined the service in 1974, but attitudinal changes were still warranted. Speaking about the police in Uttar Pradesh, Krishna Rao said there was a high degree of non-conformity with the law in UP. They have their own selective interpretation of the law, and the speed with which they bulldoze houses and bump off unsocial elements is high. They make claims of doing what the public wants. But these actions are against Article 21 of the Constitution, said the DGP. Prabhakar questioned Rao on whether or not officers were equipped during training to take a stand against such practices. Krishna Rao replied that such practices would come by the value system rather than by training. Fifty IPS officers in Telangana are without any posts. Their salaries are paid at taxpayers cost but they are not assigned any duties even though some of them are brilliant. That is how they are able to break the will of determined cops, Krishna Rao said. Vijayawada: BJP state president Somu Veerraju slammed the endowments authorities for increasing the ticket cost of Abhishekam to the lord at Swayambhu Varasiddhi Vinayaka Devasthanam at Kanipakam of Chittoor district, by seven-fold and demanded for its withdrawal. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the BJP state president asked the temple authorities as to who had given them the authority to increase the cost of ticket to Rs 5,000 from the existing Rs 700. He turned critical on the YSRC government for taking a decision to allow the increase of the ticket cost of Abhishekam to the lord at the temple on the festival day and blamed it for showing hatred towards the Hindus. He warned that if the state government failed to withdraw its decision to raise the cost of the ticket of Abhishekam, they would adopt a legal course. He flayed the authorities at the Dwaraka Tirumala temple for serving only pulihora to the devotees and wondered as to why no specials like Chakkara Pongali and others were not being offered even during the festive days at the temple. He alleged that the endowments authorities were behaving indifferently by denying certain privileges to the devotees especially during the festive days. BENGALURU: In a major decision ahead of the Assembly polls a few months away, the BJP government in Karnataka on Friday decided to increase the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/STs) quota in the state, by seeking a Constitutional amendment. The decision has been taken by the government on the basis of the report of Justice H N Nagamohan Das Commission, which has recommended hiking the quota for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai made an announcement to this effect after chairing an all-party meeting that was attended by Congress and JD(S) leaders. Noting that it was a long-standing and just demand from the communities that the reservation should be based on population, he said, The Nagamohan Das Commission's recommendations were discussed at the all party meeting today and has been approved. Before that it was discussed within our party (BJP) where it was decided to keep up our commitment for the welfare of SC/STs. The Cabinet meeting will be convened on Saturday itself, where a formal decision will be taken in this connection, he added. The Bommai government was under tremendous pressure from SC/ST lawmakers to implement the commission's report. Also, the 'Valmiki Gurupeetha' seer Prasannananda Swami has been on a hunger strike demanding the ST quota hike. The opposition parties, especially the Congress had been attacking the government for the delay in implementation. The commission had given its recommendations to the government in July 2020. However, following a couple of judgements from the Supreme court regarding reservation, the government had constituted a committee under Justice Subhash B Adi on implementation of the recommendations as per law and Constitution, which too submitted its report subsequently. After studying both the reports, the government wanted to take everyone into confidence before arriving at any decision on a matter relating to law and Constitution, hence the all party meeting was called today, Bommai said. At present, Karnataka provides 32 per cent reservation for OBCs, 15 per cent for SCs and 3 per cent for STs, totalling to 50 per cent, and the only way before Karnataka to hike the SC/ST quota is via the Schedule 9 route. Noting that if the reservation exceeds 50 per cent, then courts will take exception, Law Minister J C Madhuswamy said there is a SC decision saying reservation in the states should not exceed 50 per cent, but some states have exceeded the ceiling and there is a provision to do it under special circumstances. We will introduce it under Schedule 9, because it has judicial immunity. Tamil Nadu did it under Schedule 9 to increase reservation to 69 per cent. We will recommend to the Union government to amend the Constitution, he added. Responding to a question, the Minister said hiking the SC/ST quota and exceeding 50 per cent would eat into the general category space to some extent. Reservation in Karnataka is already on the borderline and it will be difficult to rejig quotas within the 50 per cent, he said. If we have to do it, we will have to reduce the OBC quota by six percentage points, which nobody will tolerate. So, to exceed 50 per cent, it must be done via Schedule 9. Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Siddaramaiah, also another former CM and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy attended the all party meet. The decision is also being seen by some with a political prism with Assembly elections due in about six months. Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to promulgate an ordinance to give effect to the quota hike for SC/STs following the state's recommendation, if it truly cares for these communities. Pointing to the increase in the aspirations of all communities and religions, the Chief Minister said there is a feeling that within the SCs/STs that justice has not been done to many, and in the wake of this, it has been decided to study the reports of all the commissions to make a good decision. In the coming days, decisions regarding internal reservation among the SCs/STs will be taken in due consultation with experts and leaders of all parties, to ensure no injustice is done to the society. The government will also take a suitable decision on reservation demands for backward classes on the basis of reports and do justice for those people too, he said. Bommai said with today's decision to increase SC/ST quota, the quantum of reservation for any community that exists now, will not be reduced. There is a total 50 per cent reservation in the State for various communities, and the decision taken today is above that 50 per cent quota, which has been recommended by Justice Nagamohan Das Committee. Very many institutions in Britain have engaged in research to find and expiate connections with and profit in the past from slavery. (AFP File Photo) Clouds dont cry The rain is not their tears O Bachchoo, you and I Indulge metaphoric fears Heavens dont weep They have no heart to break And no eternal sleep Theyll forever be awake! From The Frolics of Dancing Man Singh, by Bachchoo This week the University of Cambridge published a report by a body it had set up three years ago called The Advisory Group on the Legacies of Enslavement. The report was commissioned to research the universitys contribution to, connection with or profit from the historical injustices of the British slave trade. It found secondary connections of donations from families involved in the trade to some colleges, but didnt discover any ownership of slaves or plantations by the university. Very many institutions in Britain, including the National Trust, which preserves and exhibits historical buildings and estates, have engaged in research to find and expiate such connections with and profit in the past from slavery. It is undertaken as a necessary correction or addition to history and an attempt at a national confession. These institutions other universities, schools, boards of education and museums are in various ways examining their curricula and contents. The statue-toppling tendency is of course part of this historical renaissance, the attempt to blame the blame-worthy. And within this movement to correct history, the issue of reparations is constantly mooted. Its a difficult question. Who is to pay reparations and to whom? How is a figure to be placed on the cost of a lifetime of suffering? To whom is the demand which arises specifically from the enslavement of African people to America and the Caribbean to be addressed? It was British, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese traders and traffickers who either bought their human cargo from other Africans, from Arab slavers operating in north-west Africa or themselves captured African people in their thousands and transported them as chattel. Who then should pay the reparations? The descendants of the tribes who took other tribes as prisoner to sell them? The descendants, if they can be traced, of the Arab slave marketeers? The present British, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese governments? Will the reparations be in cash? To whom? In America, it is assumed that reparations should be paid by the United States government there seems to be no demand on the enslaving tribes, Arab traders or governments of nations who carried on the trade. The logic is perhaps that the plantation owners, though originally from European nations, were through subsequent history citizens of the southern Confederate states, and though the north fought to end the slave trade and liberate the plantation slaves, the US government is the succeeding authority to those Confederate states which sanctioned slavery. My only encounter, an ironic one, with this demand was when I was chairing a talk in London by late Trinidadian philosopher C.L.R. James. James lecture to a large, packed audience at the Riverside Studios, a theatrical venue, was about three black women writers Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Ntozake Shange. This was early in their careers, before any of these three had won literary prizes and gained the reputation they subsequently did. Amongst the audience was a lady who called herself Queen Mother Moore, her small entourage and her consort, a tall black American gentleman in an African dashiki, a large necklace and a striking headband. James concluded his lecture and as chair I asked for audience questions. This gentleman stood up and, without any allusion to the literary evaluation he had just heard, asked if C.L.R. was in favour of claiming the three acres and a donkey which the then government had promised the freed slaves as reparation. I was inclined to rule the question as irrelevant, but C.L.R. said that hed answer. He did, saying: Good luck with that, and if you win, I shall be happy share the land with you, but please keep the donkey. The gentleman and no doubt Queen Mother Moore and her entourage were not amused. The audience were. The Moorists left before the next question. There are consistent calls now from the ex-colonial nations to demand that the loot stolen from their lands be returned and of course demands for reparation for the cruelties to which their peoples were subjected. I have no hesitation, gentle reader, in joining my friend Shashi Tharoor in demanding that the Kohinoor diamond be returned to India. If it is, I advise Narendraji to be cautious and not to claim it, while thanking Liz Truss or whoever, as it carries a curse which ensures pain and death for any male who owns or displays it. Caveat emptor! As for demanding reparations for the cruelties and exploitations of the Raj, which Shashi has eloquently done, my late friend Charles Allen, the historian, was of the opinion that the high caste from which Shashi descends is guilty of much more cruelty and exploitation of the lower castes of Kerala than anything the Raj perpetrated. Who am I, gentle reader, to judge? History is full of injustices, transgressions and genocide. Are the descendants of the victims of those injustices entitled to reparations. If they are, I want, as a Parsi Zoroastrian descendant of the Persian empire which was plundered along with mass slaughter by the Macedonian vandal Alexander the Damned, claim the euros which are my due from Greece. Russias Vladimir Putin is on his nuclear brinkmanship trip again after annexing four regions of Ukraine and in the process exposing his true intentions of territory grabbing when he embarked on a war 222 days ago. Having boxed himself into a corner in exchanges that have not gone according to his Army generals plans, Mr Putin is increasingly short of options on how to end the misadventure except to take a bit of territory and rattle the nuclear sabre. Egging Mr Putin on to use at least battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine are hardliners like former president Dmitri A. Medvedev and Russias Chechen allies who believe Nato cannot risk retaliation. And the world is feeling a chill not experienced since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. Mr Putins offer of talks after the referendums and the announcement of annexation by which those living in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson have been declared as citizens of Russia comes when Ukraine can hardly agree to sit across the table and discuss a ceasefire since its territorial sovereignty has been breached. Russias hold on Ukrainian territories, which it declares it has annexed after holding fake referendums last week when people were forced to vote at gunpoint, is tenuous. Ukraine, after recapturing Kharkiv, has also retaken Lyman, a crucial logistical railhead in the Donetsk region, and is cranking up its counteroffensive to try and retake more towns in the Donbas region. The situation seems loaded with existential threats far beyond Ukraine. So much so, even the no limits ties with China and friendship with India reflected as recently as in abstentions from the UNSC vote may be stretched soon as the vote against Russia may move to the UN General Assembly where there is no veto. Notwithstanding the minor gains for China and India, which are accessing gas and oil at discounted prices from Russia, the interconnected world of today is ill at ease as the war rages on and everyone suffers the after-effects of super high prices even as recovery from the Covid pandemic has hardly begun. Mr Putins speech on Friday, in which he named the US and the West as Satanic and even dragged in Harry S. Trumans nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 77 years ago as a precedent, may have come from a man under stress waging what seems an unwinnable war. That prompted even more promises of weapons aid to Ukraine worth billions of dollars from just the US. While that would please the military-industrial complex, it does little for a world aghast at the brazenness with which one of the bigger powers could invade a country, ignoring territorial sovereignty that is the very basis of a law-based international order, and annex land and threaten nuclear war. So far gone are the forces engaged in the war over Ukraine that Prime Minister Narendra Modis well-meaning advice to Mr Putin This is not the era for war seems too mild a rebuke to impose any change of mind in the aggressor Russia and its leaders romanticised revanchist dream of rebuilding a Soviet Union that broke up in the 1990s, signalling the end of the Cold War. The talk of using a few of about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons may be a way to extract concessions after battlefield losses and an unpopular mobilisation plan that has seen more Russians leave home than are involved in the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, the world breathes uneasily, praying for a miracle to end a war that has spawned the madness underlying the incantation of nuclear threats. Mahsa Amini, who was detained after Iran's so-called morality police found fault with her headscarf. (Photo: Twitter) TEHRAN: The death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini was caused by illness rather than blows or beatings, said an official medical report published Friday, three weeks after she died in custody. Iran's Forensic Organization said "Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body", in its report published on state television. Her death was related to "surgery for a brain tumour at the age of eight", the same source said, adding that the report included CT scans of the brain and lungs, an autopsy and pathological tests. Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. The street violence that ensued has led to dozens of deaths -- mostly of protesters but also members of the security forces -- and hundreds of arrests. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday accused arch-foes the United States and Israel of fomenting the wave of nationwide unrest. "The death of the young woman broke our hearts," said the 83-year-old Khamenei. "But what is not normal is that some people, without proof or an investigation, have made the streets dangerous, burned the Koran, removed hijabs from veiled women and set fire to mosques and cars." The 83-year-old leader stressed, however, that police must "stand up to criminals" and added that "whoever attacks the police leaves the people defenceless against criminals, thugs, thieves". The draft resolution on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka' was adopted at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva (AFP File Photo) GENEVA: India on Thursday abstained on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka which was adopted. While abstaining, India stressed that it will work with Sri Lanka and the international community to attain the related objectives of legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka and prosperity for all Sri Lankans. The draft resolution on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka' was adopted at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva, with 20 nations voting in favour in the 47-member Council, seven against, including China and Pakistan, and 20 abstentions, including by India, Japan, Nepal and Qatar. The 20 countries that voted in favour of the resolution included, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea and Ukraine. In a statement during the adoption of the resolution, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India to UN & other International Organizations, said that while India has taken note of the commitments by the government of Sri Lanka on issues of implementation of the commitments in the spirit of the 13th Constitutional Amendment, meaningful devolution and the early conduct of provincial elections, we believe that the progress towards the same remains inadequate. India urged Sri Lanka to work meaningfully towards early implementation of these commitments. "Achieving prosperity for all Sri Lankans and realising the legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka for prosperity, dignity and peace are two sides of the same coin, Pandey said. He stressed that as an immediate neighbour, India has substantially contributed to the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction process in Sri Lanka after 2009. More recently since January this year, India has stepped up and provided unprecedented assistance to the people of Sri Lanka to face the challenges of the recent economic crisis. "In finding a lasting and effective solution for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, India has always been guided by the two fundamental principles of support to the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, dignity and peace and unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka, he said. The resolutions on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka were previously moved in Geneva in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, and in 2021. Sri Lanka had expressed opposition to the resolution as a violation of its sovereignty other than in 2015 when they co sponsored the resolution. Disclaimer: Deccan Herald does not vouch, endorse, or guarantee any of the above content, nor it is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy for inclusive development of the world, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday. India has always supported a rules-based international order. It is in this spirit that India has called for supporting multilateralism for global peace and stability so that we can unite to address the challenges facing the world and find solutions in accordance with the aspirations of the people, Birla said, addressing presiding officers of the G-20 parliaments during a conclave on the theme of Effective Parliament, Vibrant Democracy. The conclave was held during the 8th summit of Speakers of the G-20 Parliaments (P20) held in Jakarta. As India is now going to chair the G-20, it reiterates her commitment to greater solidarity and cooperation among the G-20 countries. Earlier, intervening in the debate on the theme "Emerging Issues Food and Energy Security, and Economic Challenges", the LS Speaker said that global instability caused by Covid-19 had created a food and energy security crisis across the world. This has significantly increased concerns regarding food and energy security for developing countries and weaker sections of society. Global problems should be suitably addressed through collective efforts at the global level and our commitment should be to ensure availability of food and energy resources sustainably at reasonable rates, he said. Birla further said that the Russia-Ukraine crisis had also adversely affected food and energy security in the world. He reiterated that India firmly believed that for inclusive development of the world, such conflicts should be resolved through mutual dialogue and diplomacy. He said that in the changing context, the engagement of the people with democratic institutions had enhanced further through technology. Indias goal is to connect the youth with Parliament and accordingly various programmes are being organized by the Parliament of India for their active participation, he said, stressing that during the glorious journey of 75 years of democracy, Indias democracy has become more empowered and vibrant and our Parliament is making continuous and consistent efforts to pave the way for the inclusive social and economic development of the people. Birla held bilateral meetings with Puan Maharani, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, and Milton Dick, Speaker, the House of Representatives, Australia and discussed issues of mutual interest. Banya Baruah had fallen in love with her classmate Anirban Choudhury in Dhaka when her father, Golap Baruah, one of the founders of the banned insurgent group, United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), was lodged in Bangladesh jail. Both studied in the Mastermind International School in Dhaka. Ulfa insurgency in Assam was at its peak then. On September 30, Banya and Anirban tied the nuptial knot at Jeraigaon, her father's native village situated at about 40 km from eastern Assam's Dibrugarh town. The marriage happened seven years (2015) after her father was deported from Bangladesh to enable him to take part in the peace talks between Ulfa and the Centre. "I was not aware of their relationship since I was in jail then. But we have love and regard for people in Bangladesh for the kind of help they provided to us in our revolution. So we did not have any objection to the marriage," Golap Baruah, alias Anup Chetia, the general secretary of Ulfa, told DH on Thursday. In 1979, Chetia and a few other Assamese youths had decided to take up arms and formed Ulfa with an aim to solve Assam's problem of "illegal migration" from neighbouring Bangladesh. Ulfa said the identity of Assam's indigenous people was at stake due to illegal migration of the Bangladeshis through the porous borders. The Ulfa leaders including Chetia had fled to Bangladesh following army operations in Assam. Ulfa had set up camps in Bangladesh and carried out insurgency activities from there. Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and was lodged in jail till he was deported in 2015. Chetia is in talks with the Centre and is likely to sign an agreement with the government. "There should be more marriages between boys and girls in Assam and Bangladesh in order to improve people-to-people relations," Chetia said. Chetia belongs to the Motok community, one of the indigenous communities in Assam. Their marriage was performed as per traditions of the Motok community. Their official marriage, however, would be performed on November 15 at a temple in Melbourne in Australia, where Anirban works now. The couple would live in Melbourne after the marriage, Chetia said. The marriage, however, led many to ask questions on social media about what would now be Chetia's stand regarding the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh and the CAA. "Since the boy is a Bangladeshi Hindu, will Chetia still oppose the CAA? Because the CAA seeks to offer Indian citizenship to the Hindus from Bangladesh too," one posted on Facebook. A friend of Chetia, however, defended saying that Anirban's family is a resident of Dhanmondi area in Dhaka and they can't be compared with the illegal migrants from Bangladesh. During the second fortnight of September, since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of Irans morality police over her inappropriate hijab, protests over her death have spread across 46 Iranian cities, towns and villages. Many people have been killed in the protests amid clashes with security forces. Crowds in the capital city of Tehran shouted death to the dictator, calling for the end of the over three-decade rule of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Irans streets are wracked by fierce demonstrations of intense rage, resistance and anger, led mostly by women fighting for their rights, seen burning their headscarves and chopping off their locks, joined by men singing the Persian rendition of the Italian resistance song Bela Ciao, evoking memories of resistance in the past, the more recent being the 2019 agitations sparked by a rise in fuel prices. The recent outrage followed a rather predictable crackdown that is the hallmark of every repressive regime. This time, too, the regime run by President Ebrahim Raisi, who took office last year, has made it clear that it would not shy away from using crushing force (decisive action without leniency, according to Irans Judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei) against the rioters (traitors, according to the Revolutionary Guard Corps), who in our parlance today would be anti-nationals. Irans morality police, also known as guidance patrol, fashion patrol, etc., is that countrys official arrangement of what we in India would recognise as vigilante groups that keep a sharp eye on citizens transgressions such as love jihad, partaking of wrong meat, or dressing improperly. Established in 2005 to ensure compliance with dress codes, its officers are deployed in public spaces like shopping centres, subway stations, city squares, etc., and are always on the prowl to re-educate deviants such as Mahsa Amini, Ghazale Chelavi, Hanane Kia, Mahsa Mogoi, who all paid with their lives. Particularly shocking was the death of Hadis Najafi, a 20-year-old woman, who was getting ready to join the protest against the death of Mahsa Amini. She was shot six times by Iranian security forces in the chest, face and neck. The ongoing anti-hijab protests must be seen as yet another instance of Iran swinging between progress and regress, torn as it is between the impact of Western views on the hijab in the 19th century on the one hand, and a range of seminarian thinking, on the other. Iran is divided on the issue of the hijab. While representative thinkers such as Murtaza Mutahhari uphold veiling to be compulsory, or Ahmad Qabil argues for the desirability of the hijab, Muhsin Kadivar considers it neither necessary nor desirable. The younger generation of scholars have offered divergent judgements about the hijab. While Iranian women had been spared from wearing the hijab in 1936 by order of Reza Shah, the first Pahlavi monarch, who eased the ban on hijab imposed by his father, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 ended the establishment of the monarchy in Iran and replaced it with an Islamic republic reimposing hijab. From the middle of the 19th century, Iran had been through a process of social churning that shook the foundations of both political and religious despotism. The 1906 Constitutional Revolution was the fruit of this movement for change, which saw the active participation of intellectuals, minorities, clerics, ordinary people, and enlightened women. Right before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, women were active in all areas of life in Iran as the number of girls attending schools, even universities, increased manifold. In every field except the clergy, Iranian women were visible as scholars, judges, engineers, police officers, pilots, etc. What did the Iranian Revolution imply on the ground? The Islamic regime repealed the Family Protection Law which, since 1967, had helped women work outside the home and provided them with substantial rights in their marriage, and had it replaced by the traditional Islamic law, the Sharia. It made polygamy and temporary marriages legal, whereby one man could marry as many women as he desired by contract, renting them for any period from five minutes to 99 years, changed the age of marital consent for girls from 18 to nine years, and made adultery and prostitution punishable by stoning. All such actions were justified by Ayatollah Khomeini on the pretext of, as Azar Nafisi writes (My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes: Uncensored Iranian Voices, edited by Lila Azam Zanganeh), restoring womens dignity and rescuing them from the degrading and diabolical ideas that had been thrust upon them by Western imperialists and their agents, who had conspired for decades to destroy Iranian culture and traditions. Khomeinis imposition of the veil made women take to the streets, with protests spiralling across the country similar to the current welter in Iran, and finally led to an eight-point manifesto, urging notably why the decision over womens clothing, which is determined by custom and the exigencies of geographical location, (should best) be left to women. If things in Iran now look desperate, one can recall how on February 21, 1994, a gesticulating woman in full view of the crowd in a public square in Tehran, removed her government-mandated veil and full coat, poured gasoline on her body and lit herself on fire. To the horrified crowd watching her, she committed a slow, painful suicide, while screaming, Death to tyranny! Long live freedom! in a last, desperate attempt to make the world aware of the slave-like conditions of women in Iran. Eruptions of large-scale protests despite violent repression particularly in 2009, 2019, and now in 2022 show that Iran will continue to be torn between orthodoxy and reformism. Iran saw at least two reformist Presidents for two terms Mohammad Khatami in 1997 and Hassan Rouhani in 2013 who could not pull the political system, mired as it is by the bogs of political Islam in a sea of massive national oil revenues and soaring social inequalities from the clerical stranglehold. But the sobering thing is the emergence of a younger generation who are at the forefront of the protests, with younger women taking on the countrys ruling elite to defend their bodily rights. Both in the case of Iran and India (where the apex court has reserved judgement on petitions to uphold the right of female students in Karnataka to wear hijab in school), the common lesson that one can draw is that the right to either wear or abandon, or to champion the veil, should rest with women and not with the State. (The writer is a Kolkata-based commentator on geopolitical affairs, development and cultural issues) Released: October 7, 2022 Delaware County Elections has begun the process of releasing the initial batch of vote-by-mail ballots (including both no-excuse mail-in ballots and traditional absentee ballots) to those Delaware County voters who submitted a vote-by-mail application for the Nov. 8 General Election prior to Sept. 25, 2022. In all, more than 42,000 vote-by-mail ballots processed and approved by the Delaware County Bureau of Elections will be mailed October 7 and 8. Vote-by-Mail ballots requested on or after Sept. 27 will be mailed in subsequent mailings. The deadline to apply to Vote by Mail is Nov. 1, and applications may be submitted on the Votes PA website at delcopa.gov/vbm-app. Delaware County voters have the option of returning their completed vote-by-mail ballot through the United States Postal Service or through any one of the more than three dozen ballot drop boxes located in municipalities across the county. Postage is NOT required. Most ballot drop boxes will be open and accepting Delaware County vote-by-mail ballots on Mon., Oct. 24. Voters who wish to use a drop box before Oct. 24 may use the ballot drop box located in the lobby of Government Center Building in Media. This drop box, easily accessible to voters from the Orange Street entrance to the complex, is the only drop box open now. The complete list of Delaware County ballot drop boxes can be found on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/dropbox. Ballot drop box locations have remain largely unchanged over the past few elections, with a two recent exceptions: the Upper Chichester drop box has been discontinued at the request of the municipality, and the Media Borough drop box has been discontinued by the Bureau of Elections due to its close proximity to several other easily accessible drop boxes. Delaware County voters who intend to cast a mail-in or absentee ballot. Voters are reminded that the return of a ballot by anyone other than the voter is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter. Such assistance requires a declaration signed by the voter and by the person rendering assistance. The declaration form is accessible on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm. To assure smooth processing of your ballot, voters should complete the declaration on the return envelope and avoid returning a so-called naked ballot. Each voter should place the voted mail-in/absentee ballot in the secrecy ballot provided, seal it, and then place that secrecy envelope in the larger return envelope. Once the return envelope is sealed, the voter should be sure to sign and date the declaration on the outside of the return envelope. Delaware County voters may check the status of their Vote-by-Mail ballot application with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Election Ballot Status tool, accessible through the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm. Similarly, voters unsure of their registration status can check online at delcopa.gov/regstatus. The Voter Service Center in Media is open Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Voter Service Center will be open on the holiday on Mon., Oct. 10. Then, starting Oct. 12, the Voter Service Center will have expanded Wednesday evening hours (through 8 pm) and starting Oct. 15, Saturday morning hours (9 am-noon). The Voter Service Center processes applications and provides help to voters who do not receive, lose, damage or need replacement mail-in materials. Additional Resources: The Election Hotline, Voter Service Center and the Delco Votes! website Delaware County voters have several resources available to help simplify the voting process. The Delaware County Election Hotline (610-891-VOTE) is available Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Delaware Countys election website Delco Votes! provides news, information, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meeting at delcopa.gov/vote. Pope Francis has appointed a County Derry woman to the Catholic Church's Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Teresa Devlin, from Magherafelt, will help advise the Pope on child protection issues in her new role within the Commission. Ms Devlin is the chief executive of the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland. Congratulating the south Derry woman on her recent appointment, Archbishop Eamon Martin said: I am aware that Pope Francis seeks to appoint those people from around the world to this Commission, who have demonstrated a deep commitment to safeguarding and to developing wide expertise and best practice. I congratulate Teresa on her appointment. Teresa has worked with the National Board since 2009 and took up the post as CEO in January 2015. Teresas appointment is therefore also an international recognition of the work of the National Board and the significant contribution it has made to assist the Church in Ireland to put in place robust child safeguarding measures. "Working with the National Board Teresa has adopted a professional and supportive, but challenging approach, always insistent that we in the Church continually monitor, evaluate and review our policy and practice in this area. He continued: Teresas appointment also gives me the opportunity to thank the many hundreds of women and men who work at parish and diocesan level throughout Ireland ensuring that all activity in the Church is carried out with the utmost attention given to safeguarding best practice for children and vulnerable persons. I have worked with Teresa over the last twelve years and am familiar with her determination to support the Church in ensuring that the pastoral environment is always safe for children; that all allegations are immediately reported to the relevant statutory authorities and are processed fully in accordance with civil and canon law; and, that those who have been harmed as a result of abuse are responded to with care and compassion. The Archbishop added: I am confident that Teresa will work positively with the Commission and bring her extensive experience of working with the Catholic Church in Ireland to the sharing and development of safeguarding best practice initiatives across the global Church. "It is also my hope that Teresas presence on such an important international body will help bring back to Ireland fresh insights for the benefit of safeguarding in this country. Arts organisations, businesses and individuals were celebrated at this years Arts & Business NI Awards 2022 with winners announced across 11 categories. The ceremony brought together the cultural and private sectors, to celebrate the best in creative partnerships and also recognise the achievements of outstanding individuals. Several Derry businesses and arts organisations were announced as category winners, including the Commitment to Diversity Award which went to Millennium Forum Theatre Company and Specsavers. Lisa Heaney, Access Manager at the Millennium Forum, is delighted with the news, We have been working hard to put access at the centre of everything we do and to make our services and activities as accessible as possible," Ms Heaney said. "Some of the many award-winning activities that we are currently running include the Dementia Friendly Tea Dances, Moves and Melodies, Energy of Light Discos and Energy Train (a training course for young people living with disabilities). "Throughout the years, we have been making big strides not just in providing accessible events but also in the accessible facilities, training of our staff and collaborating closely with user groups to bring the best services to our customers. "To have Specsavers support this journey as Access Partner is testament to how the arts and local business can work together to be innovative, creative and overcome certain challenges. Cara McCartney, Lisa Heaney and Karen Sullivan from the Millennium Forum at the award ceremony Sean McCauley, Director of Specsavers Ferryquay Street and Crescent Link, added: We couldnt be more proud that our partnership with Millennium Forum has been recognised by the Arts & Business NI Awards. "What began as an advertising partnership 6 years ago has grown as we became more involved with the amazing work done by the team, sharing their commitment to ensuring the arts are accessible for all. "As a locally owned business, we are particularly proud to be supporting those in our local community through this partnership, providing opportunities for those living with disabilities to express their creativity and be immersed in the arts. "We have plans to further expand upon our partnership with the Millennium Forum and look forward to more success in our shared goals of providing access for all. The awards also celebrated outstanding individuals such as Bernie Shiels, Chair of Stage Beyond, who received the Inspirational Trustee Award at the ceremony. The Inspirational Trustee Award is awarded to an individual who, in a voluntary capacity, has added outstanding benefit to an arts organisation in a governance role. Commenting after being announced as the winner, Bernie Shiels said: I was totally shocked when my name was announced, and I was called to the stage to receive this award. "It was such a proud moment for me personally and for Stage Beyond which has been such a central part of my life since I joined the theatre company 21 years ago. I would like to thank the staff, Board and members of Stage Beyond for everything that they do and being so supportive. "I was really chuffed to be nominated for this category and to be shortlisted alongside individuals from the other brilliant arts organisations. It just feels amazing to actually win the Award and my family are so proud also. Bernie was appointed Chair of Stage Beyond last year and became the first member of the local theatre company for adults with learning disabilities to hold the position. Congratulating Bernie on her success following the awards announcement in Belfast on Thursday evening, Dee Conaghan, Artistic Director of Stage Beyond, said she was absolutely delighted to receive the news. Bernie Shiels has been a stalwart at Stage Beyond since its formation and she is fully deserving of this award for her inspirational recent new role as Chair of the Board of Trustees which makes important decisions on the future direction of the company," Ms Conaghan said. Arts & Business NI, CEO Mary Nagele said: Our award winners are shining examples of the amazing benefits of collaboration between the Arts and businesses. "We have a cultural sector to be proud of, and at a time when all sectors continue to face unprecedented challenges, it is hugely important we showcase the value of working together and the amazing things that can happen when we do. Each winner took home a specially commissioned piece of artwork created by Sasha McVey Ceramics, which was sponsored by Bank of Ireland. Lee Cutler, Forestside Centre Manager and Principal Sponsor commented: We were delighted to sponsor the Arts & Business NI Awards for the second year running. "The awards are a chance to shine a light on the past years successful creative partnerships which have helped to make Northern Ireland a more vibrant place, in which to live and do business. The Arts & Business NI Awards have been celebrating and inspiring connections between the cultural and commercial sectors in Northern Ireland for over 20 Years. To read the full list of Award winners go to https://www.artsandbusinessni. org.uk/news/2022/september/ winners-announced-for-abni- awards-2022-in-partnership- with-forestside Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Sandra Duffy has led the tributes to Phil Coulter at a ceremony to confer him with the Freedom of the City and District at the Guildhall. The world renowned musician, songwriter and record producer joins names such John Hume, Winston Churchill and former Catholic and Church of Ireland Bishops Edward Daly and James Mehaffey in receiving the Councils highest accolade. Mayor Duffy said the title was a fitting recognition of his career in the music business. Phil Coulter has enjoyed a quite remarkable career that has seen him compose, produce and record music of international acclaim for over six decades, she said. He has a worldwide reputation in the music business and composed some of the best known songs of all time but he has never forgotten his home city and remains very much a son of the town we all love so well. He is Derrys own hit maker and I am delighted that we as a Council have had the opportunity to honour and thank him for the joy he has given so many people through his music. The decision to confer the Freedom of the City and District on Phil Coulter was made at a Council meeting in March of this year. The motion was unanimously agreed that he receive the honour in recognition of his internationally acclaimed career in music. The Freedom of the City and District is a way of recognising and expressing gratitude for outstanding service and contribution to life in our local area. Phil Coulter was born in Derry in 1942 and went on to study at St Columbs College and Queens University Belfast. He has won five Ivor Novello awards and 23 platinum, 39 gold and 52 silver discs. The world renowned musician, songwriter and record producer Phil Coulter Phil Coulter who was conferred with the Freedom of the City and District at the Guildhall, pictured with Mayor Sandra Duffy. (Photos - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics) His song The Town I Loved So Well is widely considered to be the unofficial anthem of the city. On Saturday he will be joined by up to 2,000 singers who are attending the 10th City of Derry International Choir Festival for a special rendition of the song in Ebrington Square. Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister has said the countrys deputy premier was stating a fact when he conceded that the Northern Ireland Protocol was a little too strict. Simon Coveney said Leo Varadkar was right that the protocol is working without being fully operational and the EU is willing to be more flexible. Mr Varadkar said on Thursday that the protocol was working despite not being fully implemented, demonstrating there was room for further flexibility for some changes. Speaking on Irish broadcaster RTE, Mr Coveney said: It is clear because of the compromises that have come from the EU in recent months that they are willing to look at more flexibility and support a lot more flexibility in terms of how the protocol is implemented than was the position at the start. So, Leo is right on that. He added: Maros Sefcovic, whos the key negotiator on the EU side, has already published a number of papers to show that the EU is willing to be a lot more flexible. So, Leo was just stating a fact. The Foreign Affairs Minister made the comments after meeting UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at the Irish embassy in London on Thursday night. It was the first bilateral meeting between the UK and Ireland since Liz Truss became UK Prime Minister. A formal meeting will take place later at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on Friday. It will be co-chaired by Mr Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as part of the Withdrawal Agreement and sought to avoid a hard border with Ireland post-Brexit. However, the arrangements have created trade barriers on goods being shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. My pleasure to host UK Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly at the Irish Embassy London for a working dinner. James & I discussed Brexit, the protocol, the war in Ukraine as well as our shared work at the UN Security Council. We agreed to work closely together on all. pic.twitter.com/To01YdO6nW Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) October 6, 2022 The protocol is vehemently opposed by many unionists in Northern Ireland and the DUP is currently blocking the formation of a power-sharing executive in Belfast in protest. Mr Coveney said relationships were changing and there were efforts on both sides to improve trust in Dublin and London. There is certainly a new era of positivity and I think that has created a flicker of optimism, he said. But he warned that nobody should get carried away with the warm language at the moment. I certainly think we should recognise that there is a genuine effort coming from this new team in the British Government to try to reach out to Dublin, and indeed to Brussels, and sending the signal that theyre up for a serious discussion to try to resolve these issues, he added. But time will tell whether the compromises necessary to get a deal are possible. Asked about the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill going through the UK parliament, Mr Coveney said negotiators should ignore the bill. I dont think we should focus on it right now, he said. This is a bill thats not going to become law any time soon. He added: We expect it to be stuck in the system for quite some time. That gives us a window of opportunity to negotiate an outcome that doesnt involve unilateral action or unilateral legislation, which as Ive said many times would cause an awful lot more problems than it will solve. I think the focus to be fair on all sides, the British government, the Irish government, and the European Commission, is to effectively ignore that legislation for now and to focus on honest, real dialogue, which we havent had, by the way, since February, to try to make a breakthrough here. Mr Coveney added that if a breakthrough is not made by October 28 the Northern Ireland Secretary will be obliged to set a new date for elections in the region, which he warned would take us backwards. Speaking in Prague, Irelands premier Micheal Martin said he would not understate the difficulties in attempting to find a resolution to the impasse. He reiterated that space needs to be created for negotiators to work and that he would not provide daily commentary on the matter. I do think space needs to be created, the Taoiseach said. I think I would not understate the difficulties that are there. The European Union and the UK Government are beginning the process. I think we should allow space to see what emerges from that. Asked about the warm reception UK Prime Minister Liz Truss received at the European summit in Prague on Thursday, Mr Martin said: The UK Government is determined to make sure that theres a constructive relationship with the European Union, and with key member states, not least because of the very big geopolitical issues facing us. Evidence against a military veteran accused of two murders on Bloody Sunday is set to be heard in court in January. The committal hearing before a district judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence against Soldier F to proceed to a Crown Court trial. The proceedings are due to last a number of weeks across January and February, but will not sit on the anniversary of the killings in Derry on January 30. The former paratrooper is accused of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney in 1972 when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Derry. The Public Prosecution Service previously called a halt to the prosecution citing concerns that the case could collapse if it proceeded to trial. The prosecution was still in the magistrates court system at that point, with lawyers preparing for the committal hearing to determine whether it would proceed to Crown Court. The decision to halt proceedings was challenged by the family of Mr McKinney, and earlier this year the Divisional Court of the High Court in Belfast overturned the PPS move. Last month, the court rejected the PPS bid to have an appeal referred to the UK Supreme Court. After reviewing its position, the PPS decided to resume the prosecution. The case was mentioned briefly at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday morning. A prosecution barrister outlined a number of dates in January suitable to all parties, adding the earlier, the better. District Judge Peter Magill said he did not want to hear the case on the anniversary of the shootings on January 30. We want to proceed with expedition but also there are incredible sensitivities involved, and also I believe that it would be particularly difficult for those who no doubt will wish to commemorate the day or attend commemorations or simply use the day for reflection, but at the same time would want to be present for any court appearances, he said. We will reconvene to start hearing evidence on January 16. I intend to hit the ground running on January 16 so I want all disclosure issues to have been fully addressed, and if there is any difficulty, get it before me. The judge said he had intended to take annual leave in January, but will change that, adding: This case takes precedence. The case is to be mentioned again at Belfast Magistrates Court on November 11. Bloody Sunday was one of the darkest days in the history of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Thirteen people were killed on the day, and another man shot by paratroopers died four months later. Many consider him the 14th victim of Bloody Sunday, but his death was formally attributed to an inoperable brain tumour. Musician Phil Coulter has spoken of his love of Derry as the freedom of the city was conferred on him. At a special ceremony in the Guildhall the honour was bestowed upon the songwriter and composer after being unanimously approved by members of Derry and Strabane council. Mr Coulter is one of Derrys most famous sons having co-written Sandie Shaws 1967 Eurovision Song Contest winner Puppet On A String as well as Congratulations for Cliff Richard, which was runner-up the following year. He also co-wrote a number of hit singles for the Bay City Rollers. One of his most famous songs, The Town I Loved So Well, pays tribute to his native city. At the official ceremony, he said he was thrilled and flattered to be told that the vote among councillors had been unanimous. He said: At my stage in life I have lived through many configurations of this august body, going right back to the Londonderry Corporation, and for a long time it seemed that councillors could agree on nothing. Whatever else I am, an Irishman, a northerner or an Ulsterman, I am primarily a Derry man. That has always been to the forefront of my thinking. I owe a great debt to Derry and I have often said that my first smart move was being born in Derry. Derry made me what I am as a person, as a man and as a musician. The benefit of growing up in this city has meant a lot to me. I have kept close ties with the city and I always look forward to coming back. The musician recalled a civic reception which had been organised for him in Derry after his song won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967. My fondest recollection of that Eurovision period was not Sandie Shaw, not winning Eurovision or being number one in the chart. It was when the mayors chauffeured car pulled up in Abercorn Terrace to collect the family. He added: This honour is something I will treasure. This is very different from gold and silver albums. This is very special, from my own people and my own place. This is something which means a lot to me. Deep in my heart I will cherish this. The Mayor of Derry and Strabane Sandra Duffy, described it as a special occasion for the city. She said: In what as been a truly illustrious musical career spanning 55 years, Phil has gathered numerous accolades including two Grand Prix Eurovision awards, five Ivor Novello awards, three American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awards, a Grammy nomination and a meteor award amongst others. He has collaborated with some of the worlds finest musicians, moving seamlessly between musical genres, building a repertoire across folk, traditional, pop and classical. His astounding ability as a composer and a songwriter has seen him amass 23 platinum discs, 39 gold discs and 52 silver discs. Mr Coulter, you have been busy. For all of your success internationally you always found time to give to those closer to home. You may have gone far but you have never left us. As part of the City of Derry International Choir Festival members of the public are being invited to join Mr Coulter for a special performance of The Town I Loved So Well on Saturday. It takes place at Ebrington Square at 2pm. The event is also a celebration of the musicians 80th birthday year. Joint Communique of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference Statement A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Lancaster House, London, on 7 October 2022. The Government of Ireland was represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney TD, and the Minister for Justice, Ms Helen McEntee TD. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was represented by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Chris Heaton Harris MP, and the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Mr Steve Baker MP. The Conference was established under Strand Three of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of the UK and Irish Governments. The Conference discussed the following: British-Irish Cooperation The Irish and UK Governments agreed on the importance of strong British-Irish relations to address present day global challenges and unlock the significant economic potential of both countries. The Conference discussed the ongoing work to enhance relations between the UK and Irish Governments. Attendees identified a range of high-value areas for deeper cooperation, with particular focus on cyber, energy, research and innovation. Political Stability The UK and Irish Governments reaffirmed their commitment to doing everything possible to facilitate the re-establishment of the Executive by 28 October and the full functioning of all of the political institutions established by the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement including the North South Ministerial Council. They agreed on the importance of respecting the Agreement in totality. They agreed this is what people in Northern Ireland expect and deserve. The Conference noted the ongoing discussions to address issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol and to find an agreed way forward. The Conference noted that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland would come under a legal duty to call further elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly if the Executive is not restored by 28 October. The Conference agreed to continue close co-operation in accordance with the three stranded approach established in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement. Security Co-operation The Conference examined the current security situation in both jurisdictions. Both the UK Government and the Irish Government noted the importance of the ongoing high level of co-operation in tackling terrorism, paramilitarism and associated criminality. It considered the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission and its recommendations. The UK and Irish Governments expressed their thanks to the Commission for their ongoing work. Rights and Citizenship Matters The Conference discussed the Common Travel Area protections in the context of policy and legislative developments. The UK and Irish Governments reaffirmed their commitment to the reciprocal rights and privileges provided to UK and Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area. The Conference also discussed recent developments and legislation relevant to the implementation of the rights and citizenship provisions of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement. An update was also provided on the implementation of the Nationality and Borders Act. Legacy The Conference discussed the approach to the legacy of Northern Irelands past and the value of further engagement on this crucial issue, in particular the Irish Governments concerns with the UK Governments proposed legislation and how those concerns might be addressed. The UK and Irish Governments also discussed issues of concern in respect to a number of individual legacy cases. 25th Anniversary of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement The Conference noted the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement next year and agreed on the importance of collectively marking this historic moment. Future Meetings It was agreed that the Conference should meet again in January 2023. END Press Office 7 October 2022 Previous Item | Next Item On October 6, 2022, a coalition of general-purpose robotics companies signed an open letter titled General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponised. The alliance includes known names from the robotics industry, including Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics, Unitree Robotics, and the developer of the viral robotics dog that took the internet by surprise in 2020, Boston Dynamics. These companies have led the world by inventing new-age sophisticated mobile robots in the last couple of years. In the open letter, they express their concern about the possibility of misuse, including the weaponisation of their technology. What does the open letter signed by these companies say? The open letter signed by the companies is available as a press release via Business Wire. As mentioned in the letter, the companies have a consensus that adding weapons to consumer-grade robots that are operated autonomously and are capable of navigating to remote locations raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues. Further, the letter reads, weaponised applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring. Hence, all the companies whose names are mentioned in the beginning have pledged that they wont weaponise their advanced general-purpose robots or the software that makes their robots come to life. However, the pledge alone will not be sufficient to mitigate the possibility of widely available robots like Spot. Policymakers and law enforcement authorities will have to work together to promote the safe use of these robots and to prohibit their misuse. Reading between the lines, it looks like the companies are trying to defend themselves against the possibility of misuse, but well leave that to the readers to decide. These companies are making advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, and they are doing it not only for enterprises but for individuals. It has never been easier to get yourself a fully functioning humanoid. How does robot weaponisation concern us? Weve already seen robots working as programmable arms in assembly lines, transporters, and portable dispensing machines; robotics is finding more use cases in several industries, including hospitality and retail. At the same time, there have been several cases of weaponising. In 2021, a company called Ghost Robotics strapped a gun on top of Spot, the robotic dog, making it a lethal war machine with night vision, a range of 1.2km and an optical zoom of up to 30x. Given that Spots source code is open, this can also be replicated without supervision. Samsung launches its flagship premium tablet series every year. Early this year, Samsung released the S8 series - the Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and theGalaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Reports confirmed that the world's second-largest tablet company delayed the development of the next-gen S9 series, and concluded that the launch of the tablet has also been postponed. The development scheduled to start in December 2022 will now begin early next year. As per the report, Samsung has decided to delay its flagship next-gen Tab, the Galaxy S9 series. The pandemic has almost ended, resulting in declining demand for IT products, and it has hindered the company's plan of producing 33.6 million units of tablets in 2022. A new plan for Samsung's flagship next-gen Tab The global economic instability has disrupted the overall tablet market. DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants) predicts a fall in the tablet market by 8% this year. However, the market can expect a 22% rise in the OLED and Mini LED premium tablet categories. After the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series will also include three models, the reports confirmed. The Vanilla model will sport an LCD screen, while the Plus version and the Ultra variant will feature an OLED panel. Samsung has kept the launch dates under wrap, but users can expect the release of the latest Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series in the second half of 2023. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in. Subscriber content preview VANCOUVER (AP) The city council in Vancouver, Washington, has approved a permanent ban on new fossil fuel developments after years of temporary moratoriums. While new facilities that distribute, extract, refine or process fossil fuels have been temporarily prohibited by the Vancouver City Council since 2020, the council this week unanimously made the ban permanent, The Columbian reported. . . . Subscriber content preview KING COUNTY An apartment building at 12401 Renton Ave. S. recently sold for a bit over $4 million, according to King County records. The seller was a family trust that acquired the property in 2016 for about $1.7 million. . . . The name of a store which sold a winning Lotto ticket worth almost 9m has been revealed. Seamus Lowthe's Londis in Duleek village in Co Meath are celebrating after their shop was named as the selling location for last Wednesday's 8.9million jackpot win. The ticket was reportedly sold on Saturday October 1 and the winner has yet to come forward. Speaking about the news, store owner Mr Lowthe said, "The first thing I did was check my own ticket as I did the Lotto on Wednesday night for the first time in a while. I was in complete shock when the local rep called me the following day to let me know wed sold the winning ticket. Were a local family run store, open thirty-eight years and selling the Lotto thirty years and this is our first ever big win. Its complete magic for us. "Its going to create some buzz and atmosphere around the village over the next couple of days. Everyone will be wondering who won. I hope its someone local, it would be great. Its a class amount, life-changing. Im absolutely delighted for the winner and Im delighted for us. We wish them all the very best." The Meath player is the eighth Lotto jackpot winner of 2022 following wins by players in Wexford, Mayo, Meath, Dublin (2), Kilkenny and Galway. The winner is also the 30th National Lottery millionaire of 2022. Multiple injuries have been reported with people feared trapped in debris hours after a devastating explosion at a service station in Ireland. The Applegreen service station located in the village of Creeslough, Co Donegal, sustained extensive damage in the blast. The buildings surrounding what is the villages main shop were also badly damaged. Fears were mounting in Creeslough on Friday night that lives have been lost in the explosion. Among those gathered at the scene cordon were relatives of people believed to have been in the buildings at the time. Sniffer dogs were being used amid the rubble at the explosion site late on Friday night as emergency services continued their search efforts. A crowd of around 30 local people gathered behind a Garda cordon and watched on in hushed silence. ITaoiseach Micheal Martin said his thoughts and prayers were with the entire community of Creeslough. Thinking too of all the emergency services, from across the north-west and NI working in very traumatic situation, he tweeted. Local priest John Joe Duffy said the community was numb and devastated. Its very much looking at the unknown at this time, and were just broken-hearted, everyone is broken-hearted, were lost for words, Fr Duffy said. What Im appealing for is for the prayers of the people across this county and across the country, to pray for us, to help us and to give us strength to get through these difficult hours and difficult days that may lay ahead. Donegal TD Joe McHugh said friends and families were going through a very difficult waiting period. Were just waiting here, my sympathies and thoughts are with a lot of families here and their friends and loved ones, there is a very difficult waiting period now, he continued. People have pulled together and emergency services are there and doing their work, working carefully through this very, very difficult time. People are stunned, its very surreal, very difficult to put it into words. Just thinking of this very closely knit community that are still clinging on to hope, but they know that its going to be a difficult time ahead. Fellow TD Pearse Doherty said that people were still trapped in the building on Friday evening as the emergency services worked to remove the rubble from the area. Irelands Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he was thinking of all those affected by the awful incident. The Donegal TD said: My deepest thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the awful incident in Creeslough this afternoon. Hushed silence in Creeslough, Co Donegal tonight where a major search operation is continuing following an explosion in a service station @PA pic.twitter.com/9W6h5eGhDL Jonny McCambridge (@McCambridgeJ) October 7, 2022 Thinking of the emergency services personnel involved this evening too. Multiple emergency service vehicles remained at the scene on Friday night while a Coastguard helicopter airlifted some of those who were injured in the blast from Letterkenny University Hospital to Dublin. The Letterkenny hospital appealed to the public not to attend its emergency department unless it was urgent. Applegreen said in a statement that it is aware of a serious incident at its dealer-operated location at Creeslough. The thoughts and prayers of everyone here at Applegreen are with all of those who have been affected. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar described the incident as tragic. In a post on Twitter, he wrote: Terrible news from Donegal tonight. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events and with the emergency services responding. Nina Gabel, 35, described distressing scenes at the cordon. There was one woman who didnt know where her daughter was and she was very upset, she said. There are emergency services everywhere, there were so many gardai and fire engines. What looked like local farmers tractors were helping to dig out the rubble. Ambulances and fire crews from across the border in Northern Ireland have deployed to the area to assist with the emergency response. A local hotel stopped taking bookings from members of the public to ensure all spare rooms were held for first responders. Mr Doherty said it was after 3pm when the devastating and massive explosion took place that could be heard from miles around. This is something thats your worst nightmare. This is a quiet village, a very close-knit village, this is the only shop in the town, he told RTE news. It ripped right through this building, and this was a very busy location at that point in time. Three oclock, its just after school, people were going to collect their pensions. This is a very, very, very busy locality here at this shop, this petrol station, this deli, the post office at this time. Mr Doherty said it had left a very, very dark cloud over the community. He said: There are silent prayers being said, there are people still trapped within the building and the emergency services are doing everything that they can to remove the rubble, and people are being airlifted away to our hospitals in the region. Theres just quiet, its surreal. People are just holding on for hope, holding on to hear news, positive news coming from the emergency services. Fianna Fail councillor Anthony Molloy said it is beyond words as he knows the family which owns the service station. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved, Mr Molloy said. It looks horrific from what I can see from photographs. It looks terrible. Its just terrible. I know the family. Its beyond words. Local councillor Donal Mandy Kelly told PA the news was devastating. He said: My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. Independent Donegal councillor John ODonnell said he was praying there were no fatalities. What were hearing is theres just absolute carnage in Creeslough at the moment, theres a massive gas explosion, he told BBC Radio Ulster. The feedback Im getting from family and friends who are unfortunately down at the scene and in the area is just that the whole place is chaos at the minute, everybodys very, very taken aback and devastated at whats happening. Michael Gaynor and Paddy Malone of the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce met with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe last week after Budget 2023. At the meeting in Drogheda, Dundalk Chamber welcomed the Budget in general, but did voice concerns on several matters. Mr Gaynor raised the matter of cross border shopping with reference to the fall of sterling while also seeing the VAT rate on hospitality revert to 13.5% from the existing 9% next February. The Minister was very direct in stating that the change had been temporary due to Covid and the Government would not change their mind on this. Mr Malone raised the issue of the Living City initiative not being extended to the growth towns specified in the National Development Plan and pointed out that the National Plan and taxation should align. The Chamber did welcome the increase in the Shop Local amount in which employers can give from 500 -1,000 in either one or two lots to their employees. "As Dundalk Chambers Shop Local has had sales of over 1,000,000 for the last number of years, we are looking forward to a good Christmas retail trade. "The Minister thanked us for our comments and confirmed that he would listen to the concerns of the SME." Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Iran is in the third week of protests sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for violating the countrys strict dress code. Her offence: the way she wore her headscarf showed strands of hair. Women in cities across Iran have reacted with fury, taking of their hijabs and throwing them into bonfires. Despite the peaceful nature of the hijab-burning womens rallies, the government reacted by waging a bloody crackdown. One advocacy group reported that 133 individuals had died as a result of the crackdowns by the beginning of October. The hijab protests, according to Iran analysts, were the biggest demonstrations since the Green Revolution, which angered millions of Iranians over what they claimed was flagrant fraud in the elections that returned the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency. The hijab demonstrations were spontaneous and leaderless, with anger spurred by social media postings. You need to be extremely optimistic to think that the rigid dress code imposed on Iranian women since the downfall of the Shah in 1979 has a chance of returning to the skirts that were not uncommon in Tehran in the 1960s and 70s. How effective are mass demonstrations that lack organization and come together thanks to the powers of digital technology Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram etc. Early in the millennium, this way of trying to achieve change was often dubbed People Power. It had some influential critics. In an essay in the Atlantic magazine headlined Why Street Protests Dont Work, Moises Naim said aerial photos of anti-government marches show an intimidating sea of people demanding change. After decades of being a significant force for the spread of democracy, People Power has weakened. By the early 2000s, two in three protest movements demanding changes in policy succeeded. But by the end of the 2010s, the success rate has halved to one in three. It has declined again from the beginning of the present decade. Zeynep Tufekci, a sociologist and professor at the University of North Carolina, wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. She singled out the lack of a mechanism for translating people power into policy change. The quickly sprung large movements often floundered for direction once the inevitable pushback came, she said. In the past, she says, a large demonstration was an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence, but now it is a sentence that begins with a question mark. Khomeinis Irans Ayatollah would probably make a similar comment to George W. Bush about the size of the anti-war demonstrations in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, if he were alive today. Size of protest its like deciding, well, Im deciding policy based on a focus group, he said. One estimate says 36 million people across the globe took part in about 3,000 protests against the impending attack. A man in his 30's is to appear in court in Kerry this morning in relation to a fatal assault that occurred in Tralee, Co Kerry on Wednesday, October 5. Thomas Dooley, 43, was fatally wounded at a funeral in Rathass Cemetery in Tralee on Wednesday. Mr Dooley was from Killarney and his wife Siobhan Dooley was also injured in the incident. A major investigation was launched and yesterday two men were arrested separately in Cork city and brought to Tralee Garda Station. A man in his 30s was arrested in the city in the early hours of Thursday morning followed by the arrest of a man in his 40s in the afternoon. "The man (30s) who was arrested in connection with a fatal assault which occurred in Tralee, Co.Kerry on Wednesday, 5th October 2022, has been charged," a garda spokesperson said this morning. He will appear before Kenmare District Court this morning. CORK Corporation discussed prices for house building on the Wycherley site, the Echo reported 100 years ago today, on Saturday, October 7, 1922. In light of the government conference that the Housing Committee attended in Dublin, a set of cost reductions had to be agreed with the contractors. Construction of the larger houses had been priced at 750 each but was now 633. Smaller houses were 725 and were now 608. This made for a reduction of 117 per unit on the proposed total of 68 houses. The principal changes were: 1. Exterior sloping ground not to be raised, levelled and walled. 2. Red cemented floors to be provided rather than tiles. 3. Gravel paths in front of houses rather than concrete. 4. Linen presses to be omitted. 5. Bath and hot water service to be omitted. Total amount of the new reduced contract: 42,194. The Government to provide 28,062 of this and Cork Corporation the balance of 14,132. Much discussion on the issue ensued. John Horgan said no- one wanted to see reductions and omissions, particularly the hot water and bath. But the Local Government Board went through the specifications and marked off what it believed could be reasonably eliminated. Sir John Scott said: The Corporation has its hand it the lions mouth. It can accept the scheme as it stands, or the government will clear out of it altogether. This is no time for shilly-shallying. The houses will only be built if the Corporation do the only thing left to do, and that is to accept the scheme as it stands. I am not here to swallow any pill brought down from Dublin under duress. The houses should have concrete paths. Alderman Lucey said, the children can have a game of gobs (laughter). John Horgan said: We would put marble entrances to them if we had the money. The new terms were accepted. Work to begin ten days after signing. Local labour to be used. The Muddy Season The mud season is once again upon us, and the citys citizens can expect to garner a heavy crop of it. The Corporation has, naturally, already discussed the issue - a custom rendered historic by repetition and inaction. Letters of complaint will shortly appear in the press but then folk will settle down to endure the worst for another year. What we need for real change is the appointment of a Mud Controller. Such an appointment would confer the greatest boon on the citizenry. His task would indeed be stupendous, but the thanks received for faithful performance would be boundless! Sweet ladies, faultless clad and daintily shod, would adore him. Young, good-looking men with canary socks and walking canes would deluge him with wine and weed. Chauffeurs would gladly assign him part of their wages for labour saved, and shopkeepers would guarantee a portion of his salary in return for splashless windows. Should the Corporation decide to appoint such an official, I think the examination for the position should be confined to those whose remarkable performances at The Lough recently gives them qualification in Mud-ology. Daytime Robbery Another case of daylight robbery occurred at 2pm today when the tailoring department of Grant & Co. was entered by armed men. They proceeded to take large quantities of wearables which were transferred to a horse and van, which then proceeded in a southerly direction. The shop was full of customers who were surprised and agitated to witness a scene all long to see the last of. In a similar robbery on Grafton Street in Dublin yesterday, six armed men entered Roberts Drapery and took goods to the value of 200. These included 40 waterproof and trench coats, underclothing, socks, shirts, leather jerkins and leggings. They rolled the goods up in lorry covers and took them away. Raids for clothing these days are not infrequent. Also yesterday, a postman was held up by armed men while on his rounds near Carrignavar. Some letters were taken from him, opened and then returned. Last Night in the City There was a good deal of firing in the city during the night. The heaviest outbreaks were in the western side, but it was general throughout and lasted into the early morning. There was considerable sniping following the attack on the gaol. Two explosions were heard around 2am but no explanation is to hand. The attack on the County Gaol took place around 8pm and featured vigorous sniping from both sides. There was a great din along Gaol Walk and a good deal of alarm generally. People went quickly indoors and many on their way to evening devotions at St Finbarrs West (The Lough) returned home. Its understood there were no casualties. Around the same time, a small party of National Troops were fired upon near the entrance to Fitzgeralds Park. News from Bantry In fighting that took place to the north and east of Bantry, National Troops were forced to retreat owing to the superiority of position and numbers of the Irregulars. They did, however, effect some arrests and discovered parts of a machine gun and other equipment in a house. During the firing in the Gortroe district, a bullet entered the kitchen window of Mrs Barry and struck her daughter (20) in the chest. It is since reported she has succumbed to her injuries. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. The energy crisis has some companies and politicians calling for an increase in fossil fuel exploration, but new data shows that this solution is unnecessary as well as detrimental to avoiding the worst impacts of the climate crisis. All of the increased electricity demand during the first half of 2022 was met by renewable energy, data released Wednesday from the energy think tank Ember has shown. Wind and solar are proving themselves during the energy crisis, Ember Senior Electricity Analyst Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka wrote in the report. The first step to ending the grip of expensive and polluting fossil fuels is to build enough clean power to meet the worlds growing appetite for electricity. NEW | Global Electricity Insights from the first half of 2022 Global electricity demand rose 3% Renewables entirely met the rise in demand, so No increase in coal and gas worldwidehttps://t.co/YEVo1cIDaD pic.twitter.com/Jlj5Y6M1dM Ember (@EmberClimate) October 5, 2022 The findings came as part of Embers Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights for 2022. During the first six months of the year, electricity demand increased by 389 terawatt hours, or three percent compared to the first six months of 2021. This coincided with Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, which helped precipitate a global energy crisis. However, during this same time period, renewable energy generation increased by 416 terawatt hours. This means renewable sources actually met 107 percent of demand, The Independent reported. Seventy-seven percent of the increased demand was met by new wind and solar, with hydropower filling in the gap, according to the report. This isnt just a good sign for the future. It meant that fossil fuels werent being burned instead. The growth in wind and solar in the first half of 2022 prevented a 4% increase in fossil generation, Wiatros-Motyka wrote in the report. This avoided $40 billion USD in fuel costs and 230 Mt CO2 in emissions. Worldwide, the growth in wind and solar in the first half of 2022 prevented a possible 4% increase in fossil generation. This avoided $40 billion USD in fuel costs and 230 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.https://t.co/YEVo1cIDaD pic.twitter.com/tRh1dbPzjg Ember (@EmberClimate) October 6, 2022 On a country-by-country basis, new wind and solar met 92 percent of electricity demand in China, 81 percent in the U.S. and 23 percent in India. The analysis was based on data from 75 nations that account for 90 percent of electricity demand worldwide. In the US, in the first half of 2022, the growth in wind and solar generation met 81% of its electricity demand rise. As a result, overall fossil fuels only rose by 1% but while coal fell (-7%), gas increased (+6%)https://t.co/YEVo1cIDaD pic.twitter.com/4LDzub2qse Ember (@EmberClimate) October 6, 2022 So does this mean that we are finally approaching peak fossil-fuel demand? Renewable sources met electricity demand in 2015 and 2019, but these were both years of less than average growth in electricity demand, while the first six months of 2022 saw average growth. We are closer to the tipping point where renewables are able to meet that increase in global electricity demand as the world moves towards being more electrified, Ember global program lead Dave Jones told AFP. However, were not there yet, as evidenced by the fact that coal and gas use both increased in July and August when a drought and heat wave in China caused a hydropower shortfall there, the report said. Because of this, 2022 could once again be a record-breaking year for fossil-fuel generation and carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector despite its promising start. Global power sector emissions are still pushing all-time highs when they need to be falling very quickly, Wiatros-Motyka said in the report. And the same fossil fuels pushing us into a climate crisis are also causing the global energy crisis. We have a solution: wind and solar are homegrown and cheap, and are already cutting both bills and emissions fast. Kenya, FAO launch training for veterinary officers The movement of livestock in search of pastures and water due to the ongoing drought in Kenya has seen an increase in transboundary diseases mainly in the country's ASAL counties. To address this, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Kenya's Department of Veterinary Services have rolled out training to equip veterinary officers with skills to control some of the diseases. FAO country team leader Fasina Folorunsa said enhancing the capacity of veterinary officers in epidemio-surveillance was key to managing the emerging zoonotic diseases. Folorunsa said the FAO had trained and equipped 75 veterinary officers drawn from 17 counties on applied veterinary epidemiology. "The training will strengthen the officer's skills in prevention and control of transboundary, zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases that are on the rise due to the drought," he said. Folorunso said the UN organisation was working closely with the Kenyan government in addressing the drought situation. "FAO has various programmes like cash transfer and delivery of livestock feed to affected parts of the country to prevent any livestock deaths," he said in Naivasha. Dr. Harry Oyas, deputy director at the Directorate of Veterinary Services, said that emergence of disease outbreaks in animals posed a great threat to livestock productivity, food security and market access and trade. He added that a number of reported diseases are zoonotic which posed a major public health risk, adding that adequate and swift control and preventive measures are needed. Oyas said the trainees will be deployed as frontline animal health workers to help with epidemiological surveillance, field and outbreak investigations, disease reporting and prevention and control. "Effective surveillance of animal health events, data management and research provide for evidence-based actions and policy development," Oyas said. He also noted that the ongoing drought situation in the country posed a major impact on animal immunity and any disease outbreak exposes great danger to animals. He called for more funding, increased awareness and deployment of adequate personnel to enable them to manage emerging animal diseases and imminent spillover to humans. According to Willis Wago from Farmers Choice, the skills learned would enable him to address emerging diseases in pigs such as pneumonia outbreaks which posed a public health risk if not arrested on time. - The Star Description Over the last years, the European Investment Bank Group has shown that fighting COVID-19, financing the recovery, and investing in climate action and environmental sustainability are mutually supportive goals. Innovation, development and green finance are the cornerstones of our approach to creating a more sustainable economy. In 2021, the coronavirus pandemic continued to disrupt lives and businesses around the globe. At the same time, it became clear that the climate and environment crises had reached emergency levels. Urgent action is required if we are to meet the Paris Agreements commitments and avoid biodiversity loss. The European investment Bank Group is ready to tackle these challenges, the biggest of our time. This report shows how we delivered a record 94.9 billion in financing in 2021, supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe and beyond. The Sustainability report should be read in conjunction with its two annexes, the GRI and SASB disclosures, as well as with the Groups 2021 TCFD report. In 2020, Apple was hit with a record 1.1 billion fine ($1.2 billion at the time) in France over antitrust practices with two wholesalers. Now, the Paris court of appeals has reduced the penalty by two thirds to just 371.6 million ($364.6 million today), Reuters has reported. The court ruled that the original fine was "disproportionate," and reduced it to an amount "sufficient to guarantee that the penalties are repressive and dissuasive." According to the original complaint, Apple and its distribution partners Ingram Micro and Tech Data agreed not to compete with one another, "thereby sterilizing the wholesale market for Apple products." This forced other premium distributors to keep prices high to match those of integrated distributors. Apple immediately announced plans to appeal the decision, calling it "disheartening" and saying it discarded 30 years of legal precedent in France. Apple still isn't satisfied, telling Bloomberg it plans to file another appeal at France's top court to eliminate the fine altogether. France's antitrust agency (l'Autorite de la concurrence) is also considering an appeal. "We would like to reaffirm our desire to guarantee the dissuasive nature of our penalties, especially when it concerns market players of the caliber of [big tech companies]," said l'Autorite communications director Virginie Guin. Turn on browser notifications to receive breaking news alerts from Engadget You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. Not now Turned on Turn on The reduction is part of an ongoing battle between France and the EU and Silicon Valley tech firms. Last year, Google was fined 500 million over its news dominance in France, and recently lost an appeal in a 4.34 billion EU antitrust case over its Android system dominance, though the fine was reduced to 4.12 billion ($4.04 billion). Months after reaching a deal, the White House has taken official steps to protect data transfers between the US and European Union. President Biden has signed an executive order directing the government's efforts to implement the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The approach mainly requires that intelligence agencies "take into consideration" privacy and civil liberties before seeking data, and only conduct surveillance when there's a clearly defined need to address national security concerns. Intelligence gatherers will also need to update their policies on elements like data handling, with reviews keeping them in line. There will also be a "multi-layer" review process for EU residents' privacy violation complaints. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) will investigate possible lawbreaking through its civil liberties officer, while the Attorney General will use a new Data Protection Review Court to review the results of those investigations and make binding rulings. The Data Privacy Framework is a response to the EU Court of Justice striking down the Privacy Shield agreement in 2020. The court found that the pact gave the US too much leeway to surveil EU data, and wasn't consistent with privacy requirements effectively equal to European law. The US balked at this rejection, arguing that it cast doubt on companies' ability to legally transfer data. Turn on browser notifications to receive breaking news alerts from Engadget You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. Not now Turned on Turn on The European Commission will still need to examine the framework to determine if it offers enough protection. Between this and law enforcement-oriented agreements with countries like Australia and the UK, though, the US is quickly firming up its approach to international data sharing albeit with concerns that spies might still have too much power. Meta has sued companies doing business as "HeyMods," "Highlight Mobi" and "HeyWhatsApp" for stealing over a million accounts using unofficial WhatsApp Android apps, Bleeping Computer has reported. The malware-infested apps were available on several APK sites and even the Google Play Store, according to the complaint. "After victims installed the Malicious Applications, they were prompted to enter their WhatsApp user credentials," according to the suit filed in the US District Court in San Francisco. "The Defendants programmed the Malicious Applications to communicate the user's credentials to WhatsApp's computers and obtain the users' account keys and authentication information." Well of course continue our efforts to detect and block these kinds of apps going forward. We're also taking enforcement action against HeyMods to stop future harm, and will further explore legal options to hold HeyMods and others like them accountable. Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) July 11, 2022 The apps in question are called "Theme Store for Zap" and "AppUpdater for WhatsPlus 2021 GB Yo FM HeyMods" among others. The latter app was installed more than a million times for the Google Play Store, according to Bleeping Computer. WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart warned users not to download the fake apps, saying they "were just a scam to steal personal information stored on people's phones." He added that Meta's findings were shared with Google, and in July, Google Play Protect was updated to detect and disable the fake apps. "We're also taking enforcement action against HeyMods... and will explore legal options to hold HeyMods and others like them accountable," he said. Meta said the developers effectively breached their agreements, though jurisdiction isn't clear as the complaint indicates that the companies are organized under the laws of three different regions (Hong Kong, Beijing and Taiwan). In any case, Cathcart gave some advice that applies universally to any app: "If you see friends or family using a different form of WhatsApp please encourage them to only use WhatsApp from a trusted app store or our official website directly at http://WhatsApp.com/dl." VALLETTA, Malta, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trannel International Ltd (Trannel), will continue to passively accept customers residing in Norway. Trannel maintains its position that it is fully legal for Norwegian residents to access and use gambling services licensed in the EU/EEA area, something which was also stated by the Norwegian Minister of Culture in a letter to the Parliament in 2021. Kindred Group plc (Kindred), through its wholly owned Maltese subsidiary Trannel, has taken note of the Norwegian Gambling Authority's (NGA) press release sent out 7 October. Kindred disagrees with the NGA's statement and wishes to clarify that the Group maintains its legal position provided for in the ongoing appeal of the order referred to in the press release. Kindred will continue to passively accept customers residing in Norway. Kindred strongly believes that a locally licensed gambling market where responsible operators can operate under the supervision of competent authorities is the best solution for local societies, for players, and for operators. Similar to what Kindred previously did in the Netherlands, Kindred has, as a sign of good faith, pro-actively decided to make changes to its international offer. Kindred are doing these changes as the company seek a constructive and transparent dialogue with Norwegian authorities and Norwegian policy stakeholders. Kindred has over the years filed several applications for local licenses in Norway. Kindred would be ready to, similar to Sweden and Denmark, work within a Norwegian licensing system compliant with EU/EEA law. Kindred believes that licenses must be awarded in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. For more information:Maria Angell Dupont, External Communications Manager, Kindred Group press@kindredgroup.com+46 72 165 15 17 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/r/trannel-passively-accepts-norwegian-customers,c3644624 The following files are available for download: View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/trannel-passively-accepts-norwegian-customers-kindred-group-301643532.html Police say a baby girl, her parents and uncle have been found dead in a central California orchard two days after they were kidnapped at gunpoint from their business. NEWS FLASH Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is increasing services to both Belgrade and Sarajevo this coming winter season. The budget carrier will initially run three weekly flights to both cities, increasing to four per week from mid-December. It will add an additional service for five weekly rotations from mid-January, which will be maintained until the start of the 2023 summer season in late March. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi maintains operations with its 239-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft. Mountain States Policy Center President and CEO Chris Cargill speaks at the center's launch event in Boise on the steps of the Idaho Capitol on Wednesday morning. (Courtesy of Madilynne Clark of the Mountain States Policy Center) The directors of a new policy center that will research topics related to the free market, individual liberty and limited government held an official launch party Wednesday morning on the steps of the Idaho Capitol alongside three Idaho legislators. The Mountain States Policy Center calls itself a free market think tank and plans to issue research and analysis, policy papers and informational videos about issues related to tax policy, education, agriculture, health care and other economic issues. Chris Cargill is the centers president and CEO, after spending 12 years as the director of the eastern Washington region of the Washington Policy Center. Prior to that, he spent nearly 10 years in broadcast news in Spokane. As part of its mission, Cargill said he wants the organization to have a relationship with the media. On its website, the center states it does not seek to rival or compete with the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes conservative and libertarian ideas and has a stated policy of not talking to members of the media. The media helps communicate the message, Cargill said at the event. We really feel like we should be out there talking with the media, talking with citizens all across our great state and telling them about free market policies. Cargill said the nonprofit has already raised more than $600,000 from donors, and said tens of thousands of people have already engaged with the policy centers content on social media. While the center will be headquartered in Coeur dAlene, close to Cargills home just across the border in Washington, he said they will have a significant presence in Boise as well. The board of directors for the Mountain States Policy Center includes Chairman Ken Dey, the director of government and public affairs at the J.R. Simplot Company, and Vice Chair Rebecca Funk, a consultant who recently managed Coeur dAlene Sen. Mary Souzas campaign for secretary of state in the Republican primary. John Otter, son of former Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, is the board treasurer. Cargill said the policy center will primarily focus on Idaho but will take a regional perspective with occasional research on issues in Washington, Montana and Wyoming. Republican Sens. Jim Rice and Patti Anne Lodge of Caldwell and Jim Patrick of Twin Falls were also at the event, and Rice said hes glad to see a new organization that will serve as an independent voice for the free market and tax policy. Weve got a lot of voices out there, and some of them are pretty interesting because theyre trying to grab attention, Rice said. We need people that are not politicians that are also explaining the whys and the hows of sound free market policy and why it works so well. Dey, who was also a business reporter for the Idaho Press and the Idaho Statesman for seven years and media manager for St. Lukes Health System for six years, said the policy center will aim to continue and improve upon the policies that have made Idaho businesses successful. We have a great opportunity to have some adult debates about the policies and ideas and bring them forward, and ultimately do whats best for Idaho, Dey said. The center will also hold a North Idaho launch party at 11 a.m. Thursday in Coeur dAlene at Independence Point. The post New free market-focused Idaho policy center wants to have adult debates appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun. MONTANA - Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and 18 other attorneys general sent President Joe Biden a letter recently, calling on the president to label fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. His office says this type of action would require the Department Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration to work together with other agencies, instead of the federal government treating the substance as a narcotices control problem. The acting assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction testified before a senate committee and was asked about classifying fentanyl as what they call for short, a W.M.D. AG Knudsen says anti-drug taskforces are on pace to triple last year's fentanyl seizures. According to a graph from the Montana Department of Justice, which only shows through June 30, 2022, there have been over 111,000 doses taken off the streets so far. Wake Up Montana spoke with AG Knudsen about fentanyl crisis, and we asked were the substance is coming from. Morgan Ashley: "At least from research, this is something that is coming from Mexico, but the ingredients are coming from China. Waht are you hearing on your end?" Austin Knudsen: "Yeah, you've got it exactly right. The Mexican drug cartels are mass manufacturing fentanyl south of the border. It's the same thing with methamphetamine in Montana. We know where this is coming from. That's not a political statement, that's not my opinion, we've got specific intel." The DEA put out an unclassified report in 2020 on fentanyl tracking where it comes from and where it's going. Most of the drug starts in China but makes its way to Mexico and even labs in India. In fact, they said at the time, India was becoming an emerging threat in how things would evolve over the years. It's getting to America through smugglers at the border and through international mail. Arla is set to introduce a sustainability incentive for farmers to help fund and motivate actions required to hit the co-op's 2030 emission reduction target. From next year, the milk price that farmers will receive from the co-operative will depend on their activities related to environmental sustainability. This marks a fundamental change in Arlas milk price model, which previously paid farmers based on the fat, protein, and quality of the milk. The dairy co-op has earmarked up to 3 eurocent per kilo of milk for sustainability activities in addition to the existing 1 eurocent for submitting Climate Check data. Based on the cooperatives current milk volume, Arla says this corresponds to a total of up to 500m euros (438m) annually. The model is a point-based system, in which the farmers can collect points based on their activities on the models 19 different levers. These include feed, protein and fertiliser efficiency, manure delivery to biogas, biodiversity, carbon farming and use of renewable electricity and deforestation free soy. Eighty points will be available from the start in 2023 and further 20 points for new levers are expected to be built into the model within a few years, leading to a total of 100 points. For each point that farmers are able to achieve, they will receive 0.03 eurocent per kilo of milk. Activities with bigger improvement potential will lead to the most points and therefore also the biggest financial incentive. Arlas chairman, Jan Toft Nrgaard said the Sustainability Incentive model was a 'historical milestone' in Arlas transition to more sustainable dairy. "We are introducing an advanced and ambitious sustainability incentive, which is a fundamental change to our milk price model," he said. "Going forward, the milk price Arla farmers will receive for their milk will not only depend on fat, protein and quality, it will also depend on their activities on sustainability. "The support from our members, even in a time of great uncertainty, is a testament to our commitment to be at the forefront of progressive dairy farming and set the standard for how to push our whole sector forward." In the first full year, Arla says at least 270m euros (236m) is expected to be distributed through the monthly milk price based on what the farmers are doing on the 19 levers. For an average farmer with an annual milk production of 1.2 million kg, it means that around 26,000 euro (23,000) of the milk price is achieved based on their activities related to environmental sustainability. However, the average pay-out might increase even for the first year, Arla explains, as some farmers are expected to go for as many points as possible from the start, like shifting to renewable electricity during 2023. The first incentive payment will be paid out as part of the monthly milk price in August 2023, based on milk delivered in July. Jeremy Clarkson has been told by the council to shut down his farm cafe and restaurant following a long-running planning dispute. West Oxfordshire District Council served an enforcement notice for the presenter's 1000-acre Diddly Squat Farm, which he has appealed against. According to the council, his cafe and restaurant, the latter opening in July - six months after the application was rejected - have breached planning laws. The farm is featured on the popular TV series Clarkson's Farm, which first aired in 2021 on Amazon Prime. A second series is in the pipeline. Council officials said the cafe and restaurant by reason of its nature, scale and siting is unsustainable and incompatible with its open countryside location. A statement said: "Council officers have worked with the owner and planning agents of the business, over many months, to investigate breaches in planning control, advising on how the business can be operated in a lawful way and trying to reach a solution. "The business continues to operate outside the planning permissions granted and advice has been ignored. The activity has also had a significant impact on the local community." Agents for Clarkson responded by saying the authority's decision is "excessive" and that the farm's developments are not in breach of planning laws. It comes after Clarkson spearheaded calls for the government to halve the volume of regulation affecting rural businesses before the next general election. In a letter to the prime minister, Clarkson, along with other celebrities, said rural businesses were being hit with a 'bureaucratic bulldozer'. The letter - which accused the government of seeking to 'micromanage every acre' - was also been signed by nearly 5,000 other people living in the countryside, including 2,000 farmers. Changes that will relax Northern Ireland's cross-compliance penalty regime will come into effect later this month, the Department of Agriculture (DAERA) has confirmed. The move aims to ensure fairness is applied and that more appropriate financial penalties are given in the event of repeated negligent breaches. Under the exiting arrangements, certain repeated negligent breaches can be considered intentional, attracting very high financial penalties. But the new regime means that these repeated negligent penalties will be capped at 15%. Northern Ireland's farming minister, Edwin Poots said this was a "much fairer approach to our hard-working farmers". "This is only possible because we have left the European Union and can now make decisions to suit local needs," he added. President of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), David Brown welcomed the changes, adding that the union 'never agreed' with the existing regime. "This approach was totally unfair as many farmers get caught up in the busyness of running the farm business, bringing with it significant pressure, and did not understand the consequences of doing something the wrong way. "The regime as it was, was totally rigid and the information and standards that were expected of farmers was not communicated clearly by DAERA." Mr Brown said the UFU 'fully agrees' that repeat and intentional serious offences must be punished, but too many farmers were being treated unfairly. "They were being handed heavy penalties for breaches that were committed innocently as they went about their day-to-day work with no awareness of the implications," he said. The new legislation will come into effect from 24 October 2022, DAERA confirmed. The number of farmers planning to cut back or cease altogether has risen to 28% from 20% last year, according to NFU Mutual, putting succession planning back in the spotlight. An increasing proportion of farmers believe theyll cut back or cease farming altogether, the insurer's research says, coinciding with evidence the average age of farmers continues to climb. More than half of the farmers surveyed (57%) were over 65, while just 5.4% were under 45, reflecting the demographic of UK farmers. As a result, succession planning is becoming increasingly important. Nearly half of farmers now have a plan in place and a further 18% recognise its importance. Only 35% of farmers think it is not relevant to them. The rural insurers annual Voice of the Farmer study spoke extensively to a representative sample of 1,654 farmers across the UK. Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual, said the research suggested more farmers were now thinking of reducing their involvement and passing responsibility to the younger generation. Planning how and when to hand down the farm can be daunting, especially when there is uncertainty around input prices and the future of agricultural policy," he said. Handing down the farm doesnt necessarily mean giving all the assets away on day one. It can be helpful to think about the management and ownership of the farm as separate issues, giving the younger generation more of the day-to-day management but retaining ownership of the assets until a later date. Only by talking about these issues and thinking ahead as much as possible can you start securing the financial future of your farm and your family. Mr McCann said pensions provided an independent source of income for the older generation, giving them the freedom to take less from the farm. This can be particularly important when two, and sometimes three, generations are relying on the farm for their livelihood," he explained. Because of the range of options when it comes to taking money from pensions, its important to take advice to ensure you dont pay more tax than you need to. A third of the farmers polled said they had diversified and were running commercial activities on their land. Income from diversified activities increased by nearly 10% in 2022, bouncing back from a reduction during the Covid pandemic. Mr McCann added that diversified businesses could add complexities to succession plans, especially when it came to inheritance tax planning. Its important to speak to an adviser about Agricultural and Business Property Relief in order to make sure that you make the most of the tax breaks available when handing assets down to the next generation. The degree to which farmers have planned their handovers varies according to farm size. NFU Mutuals 2022 survey showed that 58% of farmers with less than 21 hectares didnt have a plan or didnt see this as relevant to them. What can I do? One of the reasons farmers may put off planning is the difficulty of talking about the future of the farm, NFU Mutual explains. The insurer says a good way to ensure a smooth transition is by agreeing a plan and taking advantage of the advice available, putting that plan into action and reviewing it regularly. Questions to discuss include: 1. What is the longer-term direction of your farming business? 2. What role would each family member like to play now and in the future? 3. What development, skills or experience do the younger generation need to acquire? 4. How are the assets to be owned in the short, medium and long-term? 5. What provision will be made for those who are not involved in the business? 6. What level of income does each member of the family want or need from the business? 7. Where will each member of the family live? The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support The requested page was not found on this server. Please, go to the homepage, you might find what you were searching for! We are sorry for inconvenience! Go to the homepage ... Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Rizwan Rahman recently met Turkish trade minister Mehmut Mus in Ankara and requested him to relax tariffs on readymade garment (RMG) items to boost Bangladesh's exports. As the $900-million bilateral trade between both sides is not satisfactory, Turkish investors should invest in Bangladesh, Rahman told Mus. Turkey imposes an extra 17 per cent tariff for RMG products from Bangladesh. Progress in public-private and business-to-business partnership between the two countries remains low as well, he said. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rizwan Rahman recently met Turkish trade minister Mehmut Mus in Ankara and requested him to relax tariffs on readymade garment (RMG) items to boost Bangladesh's exports. As the $900-million bilateral trade between both sides is not satisfactory, Turkish investors should invest in Bangladesh, Rahman told Mus. The bilateral trade can be enhanced to over $2 billion through better trade diversification, Rahman said. Turkish investors can consider Bangladesh's 100 economic zones and 28 high-tech parks as their preferred investment destination, he said. He also requested the minister to extend the current duty-free and quota-free tariff line facility to Bangladesh which is now 79.9 percent for trade growth. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) critic's rating: 3.0/5 Trailer : Goodbye Goodbye starts off with Tara Bhalla (Rashmika Mandanna) celebrating her first victory as a lawyer in Mumbai. She ignores the calls and messages put up by her mother and father. Her father Harish Bhalla (Amitabh Bachchan) was calling to break the news that her mother, Gayatri Bhalla (Neena Gupta), had died suddenly of a heart attack. Tara instantly flies off to Chandigarh to be with her father. The duo have never seen eye-to-eye as shes too independent and hes too old fashioned. She hates rituals of any kind and fumes about how her father is blindly following the advice of a family friend PP (Ashish Vidyarthi), when it comes to last rites. Her elder brother Karan (Pavail Gulati) flies down from the US with his American wife Daisy (Elli AvrRam). Karan is a workaholic who has ear pods on even while acting as a pallbearer. Another brother Angad (Sahil Mehta), who is the mothers favourite, is flying from Dubai. Hes a bit of a foodie and his father overhears him ordering butter chicken and garlic naan while theyre conversing on the phone and guilt trips him into ordering khichdi instead.She has another brother called Nakul (Abhishekh Khan), who is on a climbing holiday at the Himalayas and only learns of his mothers passing very late in the film. The dysfunctional family connects with each other during the 13 day mourning rituals. They realise the importance of being there for each other despite their differences. Tara doesnt believe in rituals but a chance encounter with a pandit (Sunil Grover), makes her see them in a new light. He explains that rituals have a story behind them and in a way remind us that we leave nothing but stories behind when we depart. She gets closer to her father as they share Gayatris memories. Shes always been the bond that held the family together and her death further strengthens it.The film can best be described as a tearjerker with elements of black comedy thrown in. For instance, while being gathered to offer their condolences at the Bhallas bungalow, the neighbourhood aunties keep eyeing the chairs as they dont want to sit on the lawn. They are busy clicking selfies and decide to form a Whatsapp group in the memory of their departed friend. Gone Gayatri Gone, Lonely Harish ji, Harish ji needs us are some of names they come up with and ultimately settle on Chandigarh Bubblies. When Harish objects to Karan having sex the night of the funeral, he counters saying he was only doing his duty as a son, as her mothers last wish was to be a grandmother. Daisy casually picks up an apple to eat while the havan is on and so on.Juxtaposed to them are moments created to coax you into using your handkerchief. Harishs encounter with his wifes father, his monologue at the ghat, or even the simple memory of the family eating gol gappe together pack an emotional punch. The interactions between family members are woven with care into the narrative and infused with warmth and humour. Kudos to the actors for making it seem all real and relatable and for keeping the melodrama to the minimum.Given the chemistry and camaraderie that Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta have shared in the film, its a mystery why no one ever thought of pairing them before. They give off vibes of a happily married couple who have over the years have accepted each other, warts and all. Their scenes together are the best thing about the film. They deserve another movie together, where their portions are bigger. Neena Gupta departs the film too soon and wed definitely have liked to see more of her. Amitabh Bachchan plays a grouchy patriarch with a heart of gold yet another time in a film and yet manages to bring a novelty to his performance. Hes always made acting look easy and his professionalism seems to have rubbed off on his co-stars as well, as everyone seems to be at their best sharing screen space with him.National crush Rashmika Mandana has made her Bollywood debut with this film and fits right in into her role of a rebellious daughter. Her scenes with Bachchan, and with Pavail Gulati, the sibling she's closest to, are as natural as can be. She manages to leave an impact even in this non-glamorous debut. Pavail Gulati shines as the elder son who learns he has to take up more responsibilities and Sunil Grover too makes a mark in his short but important role. Elli AvrRam, whos made a name for herself as a dancer, has proved here that she can act as well.Last year, we saw films like Pagglait and Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi which dealt with families trying to cope up the loss of a loved one and Goodbye is another addition to the same tradition. While it isnt saying anything shockingly original, the film does manage to be a feel-good dramedy about dealing with death and loss. Watch it for the inspired acting by the entire cast and dont forget to take your hanky along TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 6, 2022 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSXV:PNPN)(OTCQB:CMETF)(Frankfurt:IVVI) announces that, as a result of a review by the staff of the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC"), the Company is issuing the following news release to clarify disclosures regarding its Technical Report on the Nisk Project previously filed on SEDAR on August 30, 2022. The Company's technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nisk Project, Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec" (the "Technical Report") does not comply with certain technical requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Products ("NI 43-101"). The Company's mineral resource estimates provided in the Technical Report do not comply with NI 43-101 and such mineral resource estimates, as disclosed in the Technical Report and Power Nickel's related news releases since July 19, 2022, may not be relied upon, until they are supported with a compliant report. The Company is working to prepare an amended technical report (the "Amended Technical Report"). In addition to conducting the metallurgical analysis and the requirement for a new site visit to the Nisk Project by an author of the Amended Technical Report, the report will also include the results of the Company's current drill program that is underway now and expected to be completed by mid-December 2022. The Company does not yet know the definitive time frame to complete the Amended Technical Report but believes a Q1 delivery date is probable. Kenneth Williamson, P.Geo., M.Sc., consultant to the Company, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release. For further information on Power Nickel Inc., please contact: Mr. Terry Lynch, CEO 647-448-8044 terry@powernickel.com For further information, readers are encouraged to contact: Power Nickel Inc. The Canadian Venture Building 82 Richmond St East, Suite 202 Toronto, ON Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its planned activities at the NISK Property and for general working capital purposes; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, including preparing the Amended Technical Report; maintaining its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: Power Nickel Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/719441/Power-Nickel-To-Amend-Technical-Report SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NodeReal, the world's leading blockchain infrastructure and services provider, has held its very first birthday celebration event in Singapore with 400 leading Web3 project builders participating in the event. During the event, NodeReal announced the latest product roadmap update to summarise the recent progress and success of its products, partnerships, and community. On the heels of NodeReal's 1st year anniversary, the Web3 infrastructure company continues to experience rapid growth in the mission to provide the fastest, most scalable, and reliable blockchain solutions to empower everyone's decentralised journey, and "Make Your Web3 Real". NodeReal Year 1 (1.0) The company started the journey with its leading blockchain API product MegaNode. With zero downtime and solid performance capability, MegaNode has supported many large-scale Web3 projects and served more than 10K registered users with over 1K weekly active users to date. It is one of the fastest-growing blockchain products in 2022. Over the past 12 months, NodeReal has partnered with many top-tier projects, companies, and institutions in the Web3 world, ranging from DeFi, NFT, GameFi, Wallet, Data Analytics, and more. The most recent collaboration includes NetMarble, CertiK, Litentry, Gnosis Safe, Galxe, The Graph, ApeSwap, etc. As the core contributor for the BNB chain, NodeReal further sets its high-performance benchmark on Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, etc, to support more projects' infrastructure needs. The most recent partnership with Aptos is expected to start a new era in the Web3 world as "the fastest meets the fastest". NodeReal x BNB Chain We're happy to announce that NodeReal has been chosen as one of the August 2022 BNB Chain project stars . This award proves that NodeReal is the best of the best when it comes to fostering innovation within the BNB Chain ecosystem! NodeReal provides 70% of public and private RPC Services for BNB Chain, the real hero behind the scenes. The support sets a strong foundation for the ecosystem, also establishing its thought leader position for the BNB Chain. Moving into Q4, NodeReal is even more determined to become a one-stop technology partner to BNB Chain. NodeReal x Aptos The fastest Network meets the fastest Node Infrastructure. NodeReal always seeks to collaborate with projects that have the same mission and vision in all of its business relationships. In the case of the partnership with Aptos , this couldn't be more true. NodeReal supercharges the Aptos infrastructure, including but not limited to the full node, Explorer, Enhanced API, and many more to come in Q4. NodeReal Coming Year (2.0) As NodeReal moves into Quarter 4 of this year through unprecedented times in the Web3 industry, to say the least, let's walk through what NodeReal has planned. Hardcore One-stop Platform NodeReal will be continuing the effort to alleviate the technical burden for developers who want to build high-end dApps, by taking over all of the blockchain heavy-lifting with its high-performance, scalable, and user-friendly one-stop blockchain solutions. The one-stop solutions will come with more innovation and services in the upcoming 2.0 version. The 2.0 version is designed to support more variety with a strengthened solution capability. From Blockchain-as-a-Service (Baas) provider to blockchain access layer and Web3 application toolings, the one-stop solution roadmap is getting more complete, as below: NodeReal API Marketplace Another exciting product to share is the open and community-driven API Marketplace built by NodeReal. The product went LIVE in September to support the fastest enhanced APIs through everything NodeReal does. Their mission to empower developers by "Making Your Web3 Real" is something that was particularly looked after as NodeReal announced the support of more powerful Enhanced APIs, NFTs, Fungible Tokens and new Debug APIs with more in the making. The open API marketplace allows partners and developers to join forces and co-build. NodeReal opens an avenue for the community to build for the community. NodeReal will continue to work towards its goal to "Make Your Web3 Real" by allowing users to potentially develop APIs on the Marketplace, enabling developers to take better advantage of a larger variety of APIs. Lastly, NodeReal, whose name is literally derived from the term "Know the Real", is expecting to work closely with more partners to respond to the real user requirements effectively and boost Web3 mass adoption. The company is currently running a special MegaNode promotion in celebration of its first anniversary. This promotion is valid till the end of October 2022. About NodeReal NodeReal is a one-stop infrastructure and solution provider that embraces the high-speed blockchain era. We provide scalable, reliable, and efficient blockchain solutions for everyone, aiming to support the adoption, growth, and long-term success of the Web3 ecosystem. Join Our Community Join our community to learn more about NodeReal and stay up to date! Discord | Twitter | Youtube | LinkedIn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915312/image_5025507_28692021.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nodereal-unveils-future-product-roadmap-in-making-web3-real-301643318.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77i) ("Boosh" or the "Company") a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, is pleased to announce that it has filed its audited annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 ("Fiscal 2022") as well as its unaudited interim financial statements for the first quarter ended June, 30, 2022 ("Q1 2023"). All amounts expressed are in Canadian dollars. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Detailed information regarding the Company's financial results as well as management's discussion and analysis can be found at https://sedar.com/. Please note the next financial release date in accordance with the continuous disclosure schedule set out by the British Columbia Securities Commission: Q2/2022: November 29, 2022 Q3/2022: March 1, 2023 Q4/YE 2023: July 31, 2023 Connie Marples Founder/President connie@booshfood.com Telephone: 778 840 1700 www.Booshfood.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com) offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, (www.beanfields.com) the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139818 Internationally, the signing of licensing or distribution partnerships with major players in nutrition and healthcare. In France, Valbiotis has chosen to internalize its commercial operations for direct distribution, in order to generate rapid turnover and to ensure an independent and value-creating source of income. Continued structuring and R&D efforts on natural and scientifically validated active substances in the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases. Regulatory News: Valbiotis (FR0013254851 ALVAL, PEA SME eligible), a Research and Development company committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, is accelerating its marketing strategy. Sebastien PELTIER, Chairman of the Valbiotis Board of Directors, states: "Today, we are embarking on a complementary development cycle to commercialize our innovative active substances, with the aim of providing breakthrough solutions for reducing the risk factors of cardio-metabolic diseases. Our new strategy aims to accelerate the growth of Valbiotis and to boost its capacity for innovation using two main levers: firstly, the signing of international partnerships (global or regional) with major players in the nutrition and healthcare sectors, supported by the specialist firm AEC Partners1, and secondly, the company's own marketing of its products on the French market. This dual strategy, creating value, will enable Valbiotis to rapidly target the global food supplement market, estimated at 250 billion euros in 2025, with annual growth of 9.6%, including 3.2 billion euros for France, with annual growth of 7.3%2. The exponential demand for natural, non-drug preventive products, market studies3 conducted with healthcare professionals and patients/consumers, combined with our recent positive Phase II clinical results for TOTUM070, have led us to adapt our marketing strategy." Committed to preventing and fighting metabolic and cardiovascular diseases through the development of unique combinations of plant-based molecules since 2014, Valbiotis now has a portfolio of four active substances in late-stage development with TOTUM63 in prediabetes, TOTUM070 in LDL hypercholesterolemia ("bad cholesterol"), TOTUM854 in the reduction of blood pressure, and TOTUM448 in the management of metabolic liver disease (NAFL and NASH). This solid pipeline of four products with proven efficacy based on preclinical and clinical data is the result of eight years of sustained R&D activities. Today, Valbiotis is entering a new phase of its development focused on revenue generation and structuring the Company to give this product portfolio every chance of success on a global scale. Organization around three strategic priorities for Valbiotis First, the search for international licensing or distribution agreements for TOTUM070, TOTUM448 and TOTUM854 with major nutrition and health players, in addition to the global strategic partnership already signed for TOTUM63 in February 2020 with Nestle Health Science. This key activity is supported by AEC Partners, the firm that has already worked on the partnership with Nestle Health Science on behalf of Valbiotis, and by the creation of an internal business development and co-leadership team. Second, the direct marketing in France of TOTUM070, TOTUM448 and TOTUM854 will ensure that Valbiotis can rapidly and independently develop its turnover and maximize its profitability in the medium term. Third, Valbiotis will continue its structuring to secure the supply chain for future commercializations, and will maintain its research efforts to prepare tomorrow's pipeline and complete clinical processes to obtain proprietary health claims for the majority of them. Marketing of the TOTUM active substances prior to obtaining these proprietary health claims will allow to address significant needs, currently not appropriately met, in the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases as soon as possible. In the United States and Europe alone (TOP 54), 174 million adults are affected by moderate hypercholesterolemia, 124 million by moderate elevated blood pressure and 130 million by metabolic liver disease5. In these target populations, the demand for both effective preventive products and plant-based substances is driven by powerful underlying trends. Internationally, the signing of licensing or distribution agreements With its portfolio of four TOTUM active substances that have demonstrated their efficacy in these widely occurring pathologies, Valbiotis is confident in its ability to enter into licensing or distribution agreements with major nutrition and healthcare players in the near future, with a view to marketing them internationally. The consulting firm AEC Partners is supporting Valbiotis in this search for new large-scale partnerships, following the one signed in February 2020 with Nestle Health Science worldwide for TOTUM63, now in the final phase of clinical studies (Phase II/III). The new licensing or distribution partnerships will be global (except for France) or regional. Valbiotis' ambition is to finalize the signature of international licensing or distribution agreements for TOTUM070 by the second half of 2023. In France, the deployment of a direct marketing model In France, apart from TOTUM63 which benefits from a 100% worldwide partnership with Nestle Health Science, the other three active substances will be marketed directly by Valbiotis. The marketing strategy will be based on in-house medical promotion officers (APMs) who will focus on key prescribers such as general practitioners, certain specialists and pharmacists. The latter will recommend the TOTUM active substances based on the cardiometabolic profile of their patients. At the same time, consumers/patients will be targeted directly through an adapted digital marketing strategy. The distribution channels envisaged will be pharmacies, drugstores and online sales. TOTUM070, whose Phase II clinical study was highly successful, will be the first product marketed by Valbiotis in France. It is scheduled to be launched in the first half of 2024, followed by TOTUM448 and TOTUM854 in 2024-2025. Continued structuring and research efforts The third strategic priority is to continue structuring the company with the aim of optimizing the value chain for the supply of TOTUM63, as provided for in the contract with Nestle Health Science, but also to develop capabilities for the other products in the portfolio. At the same time, innovation efforts will continue. Valbiotis' proprietary R&D platform, specifically designed for plant research, will remain at the heart of the company's DNA, in order to feed the pipeline of the coming years, including the exploration of micro-algae produced in New Caledonia, through an exclusive agreement with ADECAL-Technopole and IFREMER (press release of September 24, 2021). The execution of the strategy will be financed by Valbiotis' cash flow and the expected revenues from the partnership with Nestle Health Science (which has already generated 8 million euros in cash since its signature). It is also conditional on obtaining additional financing, the terms of which are currently being studied. About Valbiotis Valbiotis is a Research Development company committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in response to unmet medical needs. Valbiotis has adopted an innovative approach, aiming to revolutionize healthcare by developing a new class of health nutrition products designed to reduce the risk of major metabolic diseases, relying on a multi-target strategy enabled by the use of plant-based terrestrial and marine resources. Its products are intended to be licensed to players in the health sector. Created at the beginning of 2014 in La Rochelle, the Company has forged numerous partnerships with leading academic centers. The Company has established three sites in France Perigny, La Rochelle (17) and Riom (63) and a subsidiary in Quebec City (Canada). Valbiotis is a member of the "BPI Excellence" network and has been recognized as an "Innovative Company" by the BPI label. Valbiotis has also been awarded "Young Innovative Company" status and has received major financial support from the European Union for its research programs via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Valbiotis is a PEA-SME eligible company. For more information about Valbiotis, please visit: www.valbiotis.com Name: Valbiotis ISIN code: FR0013254851 Ticker symbol: ALVAL EnterNext PEA-PME 150 This press release contains forward-looking statements about Valbiotis' objectives. Valbiotis considers that these projections are based on rational hypotheses and the information available to Valbiotis at the present time. However, in no way does this constitute a guarantee of future performance, and these projections may be affected by changes in economic conditions and financial markets, as well as certain risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Valbiotis Universal Registration Document filed to the French Financial Markets Regulator (AMF) on May 19, 2022. This document is available on the Company's website (www.valbiotis.com). This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe to Valbiotis' shares or financial securities in any country. _____________________________ 1 AEC Partners: a life sciences firm specializing in market access, licensing and strategy consulting. 2 Panorama of the food supplements market 2020-2021, Nutrikeo. 3 Medical-marketing studies conducted in 2022 by IFOP and A+A at the request of Valbiotis, in France, Germany and the United States. 4 France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom 5 Elevated LDL, pre-HTA and NAFL preliminary market estimation, AEC Partners, 2020 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221006005955/en/ Contacts: Corporate communication Valbiotis Carole ROCHER Communication and Public Affairs Director Marc DELAUNAY Communication Manager +33 5 46 28 62 58 media@valbiotis.com Media relations PrPa Damien MAILLARD Operational Director +33 6 80 28 47 70 damien.maillard@prpa.fr Financial communication Actifin Stephane RUIZ Associate Director +33 1 56 88 11 14 sruiz@actifin.fr Loris DAOUGABEL Media relations +33 1 56 88 11 16 ldaougabel@actifin.fr KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zetrix, the layer-1 blockchain structure based in Malaysia, signed on October 6, 2022, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd (MTSSB) to develop and operate the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI). MBI will act as Malaysia's national blockchain infrastructure for all levels of government and commercial sectors. Zetrix, which launched its Mainnet on April 15, 2022, was founded and operated by Malaysia's largest digital service provider, MY E.G. Services Berhad (MYEG). In partnership with MTSSB, the two parties will spearhead the development of Malaysia's national blockchain roadmap to bring Web-3 based services to the public and private sectors. In a prestigious event in the presence of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, and EPU Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, MYEG and MTSSB signed the MOU for jointly working towards furthering the national blockchain roadmap launched on August 9, 2022. Faisal Ahmad, CEO of MTSSB, commented, "This collaboration will accelerate the development, deployment and take-up of blockchain related applications and services in both the public and private sectors. As a trading nation, Malaysia, and Malaysian companies, can greatly benefit from use of blockchain applications and services." Zetrix also acts as the international supernode to Xinghuo BIF, the national blockchain infrastructure of China, to facilitate trade between China and international parties through blockchain. Together, Zetrix and Xinghuo BIF provide users with BID services that allow users to verify on-chain identity through verifiable credentials, removing the need to verify the identity of users on each transaction. Zetrix's ties with Xinghuo BIF and their steps to develop the MBI initiative make Zetrix a national blockchain. The Xinghuo BIF partnership and the initiative with MBI make Zetrix a blockchain that is now involved in the development and growth of two national-level blockchain ecosystems. With exciting DApps as part of their ecosystem, such as their NFT marketplace called NFTPangolin, their blockchain-based identification service known as Zidentity, and their staking platform known as ZeFi Club, Zetrix is taking everything a step further to introduce their blockchain-based supply chain financing solution known as Zetrix TradeFi. The new DApp will help facilitate trade and alleviate supply chain issues that have plagued the RCEP region since the COVID pandemic. Mr. Wong Thean Soon, co-founder of Zetrix commented: "We are honoured to be able to contribute to Malaysia's national blockchain roadmap and firmly believe that the blockchain enablement of trade will unlock greater opportunities and use cases to establish this as a true technological revolution, departing away from speculative tokenomics. The next generation of the economy is digital and the distributed ledger will be the ubiquitous single source of truth for all commerce." About MY E.G. Services Bhd ("MYEG") MYEG is Malaysia's premier digital services company. Having commenced operations in 2000 as the flagship e-government services provider, MYEG continues to play a leading role in driving technological change in Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, bringing a diverse and complete range of innovations spanning the online delivery of major government services to a variety of commercial offerings in the areas of immigration, automotive, healthcare and financial services, among others. Committed to staying firmly at the forefront of the region's digital revolution, MYEG has embraced the potential of blockchain technology to enhance all aspects of life and is actively pioneering its adoption across its main markets. Beyond Malaysia, MYEG has operations in other key regional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia. About Zetrix Zetrix is a layer-1 public blockchain that facilitates smart contracts and delivers privacy, security and scalability. Zetrix's cryptographic infrastructure can be introduced to multiple industries to connect governments, businesses and their citizens to a global blockchain-based economy. Developed by My E.G. Services Bhd, the cross-border and cross-chain integration with Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility (BIF) enables Zetrix to serve as a blockchain gateway that facilitates global trade by deploying critical building blocks for Web3 services such as Blockchain-based Identifiers (BID) and Verifiable Credentials (VC). For more information, log on to www.zetrix.com . MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd. MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd. (MTSSB) is a commercial arm of MIMOS Berhad, which provides Solution Integration, Application Development, Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) and Technology Consultancy services in ICT industry for both Public and Private market sectors. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915962/Dr__Iskandar_Samad__CEO_of_MIMOS_Global__front__left___and_Mr__Wong_Thean_Soon__Group_Managing_Direc.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zetrix-and-mimos-to-jointly-create-the-national-public-blockchain-infrastructure-for-malaysia-301643453.html ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Credit Suisse Group (CS), a financial services provider, on Friday announced offers by its arm Credit Suisse International to repurchase certain OpCo senior debt securities for cash up to around CHF 3 billion. The Group also announced that it is making a cash tender offer in relation to eight euro or pound sterling denominated senior debt securities for an aggregate consideration of up to 1 billion euros. Concurrently, the financial firm has also announced a separate cash tender offer in relation to $12 denominated senior debt securities for a total consideration of up to $2 billion. The two offers will expire on November 3 and November 10, respectively. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved 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. Finastra solution expands functionality of Kotak's new unified corporate portal to support multiple corporate banking segments SINGAPORE and MUMBAI, India, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra has today announced that it has partnered with Kotak Mahindra Bank to support its new integrated corporate banking portal, Kotak FYN, using Finastra's Unified Corporate Portal solution. Kotak Bank and Finastra have been working together since October 2021 to expand the Kotak FYN portal for business and corporate customers. The bank's customers can use the new enterprise portal to carry out all trade services. By the last quarter of 2022, the Kotak FYN portal will include many other services, including account services, payments and collections, thus eliminating the need for multiple logins and disparate user interfaces. "Working together with Finastra, the Unified Corporate Portal will allow us to make the Kotak FYN portal even more revolutionary," said Shekhar Bhandari, President, Global Transaction Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank. "We can provide intuitive, easy-to-use access to many products and user journeys through a single platform, reducing complexity and friction for our customers and providing a truly differentiated user experience." Unified Corporate Portal harnesses the power of Finastra's Corporate Channels framework, enabling banks to build a seamless experience for their corporate clients spanning account services, payments, trade, supply chain finance and lending. Banks can unify data across multiple, product-specific portals and back-office systems to create a single view of transactions, positions and balances, enabling self-service and driving operational efficiency. The data is presented via persona-based dashboards, with insightful widgets and the ability for users to tailor their experience. "The user journey for corporate banking customers can be inefficient and complex, with customers often having to access different portals for different banking products, even within the same bank," said Manish Joshi, Managing Director, MAAP, Finastra. "Through collaboration and co-innovation with Kotak, we have built a unique offering that will help it gain a competitive edge in the corporate banking segment and we look forward to helping the bank to grow further in the future." "Finastra has a long history of providing sophisticated and scalable corporate digital banking solutions to banks," said Patricia Hines, Head of Corporate Banking, Celent. "Finastra was one of the few providers in Celent's Corporate Digital Platforms evaluation that supports the breadth and depth of critical transaction banking capabilities demanded by commercial customers. We look forward to hearing more about how Finastra is enabling banks to provide differentiated user experiences." Meet us at Sibos in Amsterdam this year: Finastra booth E57. About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kotak-mahindra-bank-partners-with-finastra-for-kotak-fyn-301643491.html News Summary: Waters Corporation commits multi-year investment with support from IDA Ireland to help accelerate life sciences industry growth in the South-East. Research and Development center expansion will create new scientific jobs focused on solutions for broader clinical diagnostic applications. Waters celebrates 25th anniversary in Ireland at Wexford facility with Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced a combined investment of up to 6 million with support from IDA Ireland to expand its operations in Drinagh, Wexford to fund research and development (R&D) of new clinical diagnostics products. The operational expansion at the Wexford facility will create new scientific jobs through 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005094/en/ Waters Corp. is expanding its R&D operations for Clinical Diagnostics at its Wexford, Ireland facility where it employs more than 400 people responsible for manufacturing, assembly and distribution of products that include technologies used in health screening for millions of newborn babies. (Photo: Business Wire) Waters' Wexford facility is the company's primary site for manufacturing and delivery of its portfolio of in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) systems, reagent kits, and software used by thousands of hospitals and laboratories worldwide for applications that include health screening for millions of newborn babies. Waters is formally making the announcement at its Wexford campus this afternoon with government and business leaders to mark 25 years of doing business in Ireland. "This is a fantastic investment in Wexford by Waters Corporation which will bolster the thriving life sciences cluster in the region," said Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. "The Government is committed to job creation in all corners of our country, and we are creating the right environment for investment in the South-East with improved road, port and broadband infrastructure as well as the new Technological University. Ireland has become recognized globally for our workforce talent, including the scientific research which is making big advances in medical technologies and diagnostics software. "This 6 million R&D investment will further improve Waters' mass spectrometry offerings for clinical diagnostics," he continued. "These developments have real-life impacts, improving the outcome for many conditions, including early disease detection. Waters Corporation is a global leader and a significant employer in Wexford where it has operated for 25 years. I wish the team every continued success." The multi-year investment is part of Waters' strategic mission announced in 2021 to evaluate the potential of its mass spectrometry technologies for broader diagnostic solutions in areas of early disease detection such as cancer screening. "This expansion in Wexford is a tremendous step forward for the Waters Clinical Diagnostics business and we're delighted with the support from IDA Ireland who are enabling growth of the life sciences industry in the South-East," said Liam Hore, Waters Corporation, Wexford General Manager. "With the creation of new jobs and opening of new lab space in Wexford, our R&D Center will make it possible for Waters' mass spectrometry technology to play an even greater role in clinical diagnostics, raising the standard of accuracy in the diagnosis of many clinical conditions where the performance of existing tests is lacking." "This announcement by Waters to expand its site in Wexford is very welcome news," said Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland. "The investment will significantly enhance the capability of the facility. IDA Ireland remains committed to winning jobs and investment for regional locations. I wish Waters every success with this project." Tanaiste, Wexford Mayor Maura Bell, IDA Ireland Executive Director Mary Buckley, and Waters Senior Vice President of Global Operations Chris Ross gathered with employees and leaders from national and local government and industry at an event held at Waters' Wexford site to formally announce the investment in partnership with IDA Ireland (event photos available through PR contacts below The Wexford facility is one of Waters' key global sites, incorporating a variety of manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory and office spaces. Waters has been a significant employer in Wexford since its establishment in 1997, with over 400 employed at the site today. It is a global production and distribution center for a range of consumables ('columns') for the company's High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) instruments. Waters employees at the Wexford facility also assemble and test mass spectrometry instruments and replicate instrument software. Additional Resources Visit the Waters Careers page for Waters job openings in Wexford Take a video tour of our Waters facility in Wexford Learn more about the Waters Clinical Diagnostics portfolio Follow and connect with Waters via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook About Waters Corporation (www.waters.com Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered innovations in chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis serving the life, materials, and food sciences for over 60 years. With more than 7,800 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 14 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005094/en/ Contacts: Press: Kevin Kempskie Senior Director, Public Relations Waters Corporation kevin_kempskie@waters.com Ellen Lynch Press PR Manager IDA Ireland 087 4112084 ellen.lynch@ida.ie Global events in November 2022 highlight fundamental changes in how enterprises work LONDON, SINGAPORE, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, SHENZHEN, China, and SAO PAULO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Laiye, the global leader of Intelligent Automation, today announced its global conference series, to take place in November 2022. The Work Better Summit will explore and detail how work and operating environments have irrevocably changed, and how companies' work execution needs to urgently adjust and respond. The "Future of Work Is Already Here", and it needs actionable solutions to dramatically increase Enterprise labour productivity whilst at the same time improving employee engagement and connection. There are still far too many manual and repetitive processes that block innovative strategies and lower competitiveness in this new world of work. Laiye will take its summit attendees and customers on a practical, actionable journey that shows the benefits to all parties, from employers to employees to customers, by enabling automation, innovation, and new insights across the organization. This holistic Intelligent Automation capability empowers workers to undertake higher-value tasks and delivers greater job satisfaction as they grow their careers. Laiye will also demonstrate and prove how businesses can outperform their competitors even in uncertain times through the implementation of the very first fully-integrated Intelligent Automation platform. Dates announced so far are: 1st November 2022 - London, England - 3rd November 2022 - Singapore , Republic of Singapore - , Republic of 4th November 2022 - Beijing, China - 8th November - Shanghai, China 17th November 2022 - Shenzhen, China - 17th November 2022 - Sao Paulo "This event will lay out what we see as the next step in the Future of Work," said Guanchun Wang, Chairman and CEO of Laiye. "Organizations to stay competitive in these turbulent times must understand how to deploy 'Work Execution System' which opens the door to greater efficiency, productivity, and ultimately the digital transformation of their workforce." Highlights of the tour will include: Findings of our global research, pointing to the urgent need for changing the way we work Launching Laiye's "Work Automation Platform", a native AI platform that Integrates knowledge work with any system or data source by empowering any worker or developer The first Intelligent Automation "Open" Ecosystem that includes all IA Software companies Customer success stories and practical tips Evolving Laiye's industry-first business results-guarantee model which can truly transform the relationship between people and technology. Register for the Work Better Summit here . Follow Laiye's event on LinkedIn and Twitter . About Laiye Laiye is a visionary leader in Intelligent Automation with an international presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. We provide organizations of all shapes and sizes with the most advanced, complete, unified, and transformative AI-powered Intelligent Automation platform and product set, including AI-powered RPA, Intelligent Document Processing, and Chatbot solutions. We help our clients operate at new levels of productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency. And achieve new levels of success. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/laiye-announces-make-work-better-summit-world-tour-301643251.html Waleed AlHalla, the head of business development for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at JinkoSolar, recently spoke to pv magazine about the prospects for the regional energy storage market. He said that storage systems have already penetrated markets with weak grids, such as Yemen and Lebanon.Storage systems are now being considered in several MENA markets. How would you describe market penetration at this point? We have seen a great appetite for these systems especially in countries with difficulties in the grid such as Lebanon, Yemen and many parts of North Africa. We believe the [energy ... 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. Aegir Insights, a technology start-up in offshore wind and power-to-x investment intelligence, has secured a strategic investment from renowned energy sector leader Jon Erik Reinhardsen alongside two other investors. The investment and board support will accelerate Aegir Insights on its growth journey as a premium intelligence and software provider to project developers, governments and sector investors. Further to this strategic investment, management and technology consultancy BearingPoint has been appointed as Aegir Insights' advisor, supporting on the pathway to future funding rounds and business growth "We are incredibly proud of the hard work our team has put behind establishing Aegir Insights as a leading voice in offshore wind markets, and we are humbled by the support of our customers and partners", commented Rikke Nrgaard, Co-Founder and CCO of Aegir Insights. Scott Urquhart, Co-Founder and CEO of Aegir Insights added "We are excited for this next phase of our journey. This investment brings leading experience to our board from the energy analytics space, and capital to accelerate the build-out of our solutions through close cooperation with our clients." Jon Erik Reinhardsen, commented: "I have been impressed following Aegir Insights' journey, rapidly positioning themselves as a premium, tech-enabled analytics business. Aegir's advanced data and software are helping deploy more renewables, faster." Thomas Bagley, Partner at BearingPoint commented: "We are excited to support the growth of a company that is accelerating deployment of renewable energy through a scalable business model which has been proven in other energy segments. We have been impressed by Aegir's sector leading technology, combined with the team's deep experience and relationships. Aegir Insights: Smarter, faster, greener. Aegir Insights provides premium commercial analytics and models to help inform investment strategy and capital allocation for leading players in the offshore wind and power-to-x (PtX) sectors. Aegir Insights' differentiated strategy includes its technology-led approach in cooperation with clients and academia, and its senior team having deep industry experience from leading developers including Orsted, Vattenfall and Vestas. Aegir Insights also serves as a trusted government advisor in development of offshore wind and PtX markets. Learn more about Aegir Insights here: www.aegirinsights.com Jon Erik Reinhardsen: Jon Erik Reinhardsen is a Norwegian business executive currently holding positions including Chairman of the Board of Equinor ASA, board member of Telenor ASA, and other senior appointments. Reinhardsen was the Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) from 2008 to 2017, providing geophysical and reservoir services and data. In the period 2005 2008 Reinhardsen was President Growth, Primary Products in the international aluminium company Alcoa Inc. with headquarters in the US, and he was in this period based in New York. From 1983 to 2005, Reinhardsen held various positions in the Aker Kvrner group, including Group Executive Vice President of Aker Kvrner ASA, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Aker Kvrner Oil Gas AS in Houston and Executive Vice President in Aker Maritime ASA. BearingPoint Capital: BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach. The company operates in three business units: Consulting, Products, and Capital. Consulting covers the advisory business with a clear focus on selected business areas. Products provides IP-driven digital assets and managed services for business-critical processes. Capital delivers M&A and transaction services. BearingPoint's clients include many of the world's leading companies and organizations. The firm has a global consulting network with more than 13,000 people and supports clients in over 70 countries, engaging with them to achieve measurable and sustainable success. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005210/en/ Contacts: For media enquiries regarding Aegir Insights: Signe Soerensen Communication Manager +45 8190 8153 signe.soerensen@aegirinsights.com The UAE Country of Honor at Thessaloniki International Fair TIF 86 ABU DHABI, UAE , Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will participate - with a high-ranking delegation headed by the UAE Minister of Economy, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri - in the Thessaloniki International Fair TIF 86, which will be held in Greece from 10 to 18 September 2022. The UAE will serve as the Country of Honor at the 86th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in Greece, participating with a prominent delegation that comprises 60 government and private-sector entities. The delegation will showcase the country's important economic developments, the latest UAE technology-related products, and the nation's new economic sectors. The UAE's participation in TIF 86 comes in the context of the nation's pursuit of attracting USD 150 billion in inward foreign iinvestnvestment over the next 9 years to become one of the top 10 global investment destinations - particularly in the New Economy sectors - by 2030. The UAE's participation in TIF 86 aims to boost cooperation with the business communities in Greece, the Balkans, and European markets to give momentum to economic development & mutual investments in the UAE and these countries. The UAE's participation is set to make a lasting impression due to the strength of its delegation The UAE aims to create a successful knowledge-based economy and to create a world-class healthcare system. UAE is investing heavily in creating a world-leading regulatory framework for IT / AI ventures, providing infrastructure to build the best possible tech-investment ecosystem The UAE's pharmaceutical market presents significant growth opportunities for multinational drug makers. The UAE Government is focused on more than doubling the contribution of industrial manufacturing to the UAE's GDP to 25 percent. Media Contact: Rana Elshorbagy rana.elshorbagy@strategic.ae View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/minister-of-economy-heads-uaes-delegation-to-greece-with-extensive-government--private-sector-participation-301643529.html 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. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - ScottHall.co, a search engine consultant and enterprise software expert has launched a new guide to 'Google Guaranteed' - the latest addition to its series of guides for local businesses. ScottHall.co has launched a new guide to 'Google Guaranteed' - a new Adwords service designed to help neighborhood businesses providing residential services. The new guide explores the features of Google's most recent attempt to verify neighborhood service companies and halt the rise of fraudulent reviews. More details can be found at https://scotthall.co/google-guarantee-best-practices Google Screening Protocol Guide For Local Businesses Launched By ScottHall.co To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/137553_ccd0494ec4da5b84_001full.jpg ScottHall.co's recently published guide details how local enterprises and customers alike stand to capitalize on Google Guaranteed. The program uses instantly recognizable green and white check marks so consumers can see at a glance which companies have been vetted and verified. Readers can access the guide on the ScottHall.co website. According to the newest guide, Google initiated the program to combat disreputable businesses posting bogus ratings purporting to be from genuinely satisfied customers. Previously, there was no way for Google to confirm if these reviews were genuine, leaving consumers vulnerable and liable to book sub-standard contractors. Businesses must now undergo a comprehensive screening process to be awarded the Guaranteed certification. ScottHall. co's guide explains that the new, improved screening protocol incorporates background checks and confirmation of official licensing and general liability insurance. The Guaranteed program is still in its active beta-testing phase and is currently only available in some parts of Canada and the US. The recent piece also lists the sectors which are set to qualify for the program. These include appliance repair, financial planning, lawn care, HVAC, water damage restoration, pet grooming, window repair, and tree services. The new guide also provides information for users on how to sign up for Google Guaranteed when it becomes available in their area. Businesses must be registered with Google Service Ads in the first instance and, once accepted, must also maintain their status by keeping all relevant licenses and insurance up to date. "This program was created to help small businesses and stop bogus services," explains company owner and CEO Scott Hall. "Businesses that complete Google's screening and qualification process are awarded the Google Guaranteed badge - and customers feel more secure and confident when making service reservations because of the green and white check mark." With the launch of his latest report, Scott Hall continues to empower business enterprises with expert analysis and insights. For more information, and to read the report, in full, go to https://scotthall.co/google-guarantee-best-practices Contact Info: Name: Scott Hall Email: scott@scotthall.co Organization: ScottHall.co Address: 60 West 23rd St. Suite 638, New York, NY 10010, United States Website: https://scotthall.co To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/137553 Acquisition Strengthens TricorBraun's Position as a Leading Packaging Provider in Europe ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire German glass packaging distributor Glaser & Flaschen GmbH. The acquisition extends TricorBraun's European presence and strengthens its position as a leading packaging provider in Europe. "Glaser & Flaschen has built a strong business known for its quality, innovation, and technical expertise," said Declan McCarthy, president, TricorBraun Europe. "We are pleased to partner with the outstanding Glaser & Flaschen team to offer more supply chain options to customers, while investing in their continued growth and expansion. We welcome Glaser & Flaschen to the TricorBraun family." Serving customers for nearly 20 years, Glaser & Flaschen is a leading provider of high-quality glass packaging for the growing preserved food market. The company operates from a state-of-the-art distribution and operations center in Wustermark (Brandenburg, Germany). "We have such an intense passion for our business, our talented team, our customers and suppliers, and our strong community in the preserved food world-we knew we needed an exceptional partner as we begin our next phase of growth," said Stefanie Burmeister, managing director, Glaser & Flaschen. "TricorBraun's world-class reputation, paired with its focus on team members, service for customers, and emphasis on growth makes it our ideal home." All Glaser & Flaschen team members will remain with TricorBraun and continue to work out of the company's existing location. Effective upon closing of the transaction, Glaser & Flaschen will operate as Glaser & Flaschen, a TricorBraun company. Since its founding, TricorBraun has partnered with management teams to successfully acquire and further accelerate growth for 37 packaging companies globally. The transaction is expected to close in November. Proventis Partners, a member of Mergers Alliance, acted as financial advisor to TricorBraun. About Glaser & Flaschen Serving customers since 2003, Glaser & Flaschen is one of the leading distributors of mason jars, bottles, and cooking accessories, as well as glass packaging for food and other ingredients. We supply commercial and private customers at home and abroad with a large selection of high-quality glass and accessories. About TricorBraun Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader and North America's largest distributor of primary packaging. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. We leverage our global supply chain expertise, expansive and sustainable footprint, and unmatched purchasing power to identify the best sourcing partners and cost-effective solutions for our customers. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/343926/tricorbraun_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tricorbraun-to-acquire-german-glass-packaging-distributor-glaser--flaschen-301643319.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 7, 2022 / Freedom Battery Metals Inc. (CSE:FBAT) ("Freedom" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has changed its name to "Reflex Advanced Materials Corp." and will change its stock trading symbol from "FBAT" to "RFLX". The purpose of the name change was to emphasize that both lithium and graphite are used in more applications than batteries alone. "Advanced Materials" captures that concept well. The Company expects its common shares to begin trading under the new name and symbol on or about October 14, 2022. No action will be required to be taken by shareholders with respect to the name or symbol change. The new CUSIP number will be 75865D107 and the new ISIN will be CA75865D1078. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Gorman as the Company's CEO. Mr. Gorman has replaced David Bowen in this role, allowing Mr. Bowen to focus on other ventures while continuing to serve as a director of the Company. Mr. Gorman has significant experience with strategic initiatives, finance and governance, having previously served in senior executive roles for several TSXV-listed strategic metals companies. The Company looks forward to drawing on this expertise as it moves to the next stage of growth and advances its mineral properties. About Freedom Battery Metals Freedom Battery Metals (CSE:FBAT) is a mineral exploration company based in British Columbia. Its objective is to locate and, if warranted, develop economic mineral properties in the strategic metals and advanced materials space. The Company is working to advance its Ruby Graphite Project, located in Beaverhead County, Montana, and ZigZag Lake Lithium Property, located in Thunder Bay Mining Division, Crescent Lake Area, Ontario. For more information, please review the Company's filings available at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Paul Gorman CEO and Director 416-768-6101 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 respecting the anticipated timing for the Company's shares to begin trading under the new name and symbol and the Company drawing on Mr. Gorman's expertise as it moves to the next stage of growth and advances its mineral 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 Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Freedom Battery Metals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/719444/Freedom-Battery-Metals-Announces-Name-and-Symbol-Change-and-Management-Change Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) ("Maple Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a third drill rig has been secured to commence a 5,000 metre ("m") Phase III drill program at its 100%-controlled Eagle Mine Property ("Eagle"). The third rig is expected to arrive at site by mid-October, keeping the Company on track to complete approximately 30,000 m across its district-scale 400 km2 property package in Quebec, Canada by year-end. Further to the Company's news release on August 3, 2022, two (2) rigs are now turning on deep drill holes beneath and adjacent to the historical underground mine workings in the Telbel mine area ("Telbel") at the Joutel Project ("Joutel"), which is held by a 50/50 joint venture ("JV") between Maple Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. In addition, the Company expects to secure a fourth drill rig in November to commence deep drilling at the JV's Douay Project ("Douay"). The Company is also pleased to announce that it has resolved the electrical issues at site that affected its core saws, effectively removing its core cutting backlog and enabling several large batches of samples from previously completed drilling to be sent to the assay labs. "We are excited to commence Phase III drilling at Eagle that will follow up on the best results of the first two drilling phases and test additional targets while we are also ramping up the pace of our supplemental C$4.8M deep drilling program at Douay and Joutel," stated Matthew Hornor, President and CEO of Maple Gold. "With normal site operations now restored, our backlog of core splitting and sample shipments has been effectively eliminated and we anticipate additional assay results throughout Q4 2022. The Company expects to be continuously drilling more aggressive step-out and deep drill holes at Douay, Joutel and Eagle with at least three rigs from mid-October through the end of Q1 2023." Deep Drilling Progress Deep drilling at Telbel is progressing steadily with two (2) drill rigs actively testing the down-plunge continuity of gold mineralization in this area. Drill hole TB-22-001 (drilled from south to north) is approaching 1,500 m downhole and has encountered a broad near-surface zone of felsic-pyroclastic-hosted pyrite mineralization enroute to a planned total downhole depth of 2,000 m (see Figure 1 for all drill hole locations). Initial samples from TB-22-001 have already been shipped to the assay lab. Drill hole TB-22-002 (drilled from north to south) is collared 2.4 km to the east of TB-22-001 and is currently nearing 900 m downhole. In addition, the Company anticipates commencing a ~10,000 m deep drilling program at Douay with a fourth drill rig in November. The JV has approved a combined ~16,000 m of deep drilling at Douay and Telbel under the previously announced C$4.8M increase to its Year Two exploration budget (see news from May 18, 2022). New Exploration Drillhole Completed at Douay The Company has also recently completed a new 534 m exploration drill hole at Douay (DO-22-330) collared approximately four (4) km south of the 531 Zone along the regional Casa Berardi South Fault, locally known as the Joutel Deformation Zone ("JDZ") (see Figure 1). The JDZ has seen very limited drilling to-date in this area, with only a single historical drill hole over a nine (9) km segment of this structural corridor. The Company's recently completed airborne magnetic and electromagnetic ("Mag-EM") survey identified several conductive targets along trend to the southwest on the Joutel property (see news from July 19, 2022) providing further support for the JDZ as a favourable structural corridor for hosting gold mineralization. Initial drill core observations from DO-22-330 highlight the potential for Casa-Berardi style gold mineralization associated with brecciated and pyritic quartz veins in graphitic fault zones. Figure 1: Douay and Telbel drill collars on geologic base map. Note close association of broad gold targets with Casa Berardi North Fault in the Douay resource area; gold targets in the Eagle-Telbel area are similarly associated with the Joutel and Harricana Deformation Zones. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3077/139814_fae1e3fa647dcb27_001full.jpg Qualified Person The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration of Maple Gold. Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work. About Maple Gold Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource at Douay (SLR 2022) that holds significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Eagle, Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property. The district-scale property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD. "Matthew Hornor" B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Mr. Joness Lang Executive Vice-President Cell: 778.686.6836 Email: jlang@maplegoldmines.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139814 PURCHASE (dpa-AFX) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the luxury electric vehicle maker has started the production of Tesla Semi electric trucks, and the first delivery will be to food and beverages giant Pepsico Inc. starting December 1. In a tweet, Musk said, 'Excited to announce start of production of Tesla Semi Truck with deliveries to @Pepsi on Dec 1st!' Musk added that the vehicle has a range of 500 miles on a single charge. Tesla's all-electric class 8 truck, Tesla Semi, was unveiled in 2017, with a plan to start production as soon as 2019. However, the plans got delayed for years. In 2020, Musk had said that Tesla's own battery cells, which were under development, would not reach high-volume production until 2022, and would eventually affect the Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster programs. In April this year, the company said it plans to release the Tesla Semi EV in 2023, along with its long-awaited electric pickup Cybertruck. However, in August, Musk tweeted that Tesla 500 mile range Semi Truck will start shipping this year, while Cybertruck will start shipping next year. Following the Semi launch in 2017, PepsiCo had placed orders for 100 Tesla Semi electric trucks to add to its fleet. The company was expecting to take deliveries of 15 Tesla Semi trucks initially, reportedly for a project to turn its Frito-Lay Modesto, California, site into a zero-emission facility. Last year, Tesla had installed a Megacharger station for the trucks at Pepsi's Modesto facility. Tesla says Semi, being more powerful, more efficient and fully electric, is the future of trucking. In its website, the company notes that charging with electricity is around 2.5 times cheaper per mile than refueling with diesel. Operators can see estimated fuel savings of up to $200,000 within their first three years of ownership. CNBC reported that the truck is expected to cost $180,000, and that it would qualify for a tax break of up to $40,000 under a U.S. subsidy program. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX TESLA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Smart Manufacturing Market Size, Share, Revenue, Growth Strategy, Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis - by End User and Components," the global smart manufacturing market size is projected to grow from $258.72 Billion in 2022 to $365.22 Billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2022 to 2028. Download Sample PDF Brochure of Smart Manufacturing Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000174/ Global Smart Manufacturing Market Report Scope, Segmentations, Regional & Country Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 258.72 Billion in 2022 Market Size Value by US$ 365.22 Billion by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 6.0% from 2022 to 2028 Forecast Period 2022-2028 Base Year 2022 No. of Pages 258 No. of Tables 164 No. of Charts & Figures 99 Historical data available Yes Segments covered End User and Components Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Companies Covered Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc, Honeywell International Inc., 3D Systems, Inc, Daifuku Co., Ltd, GENERAL ELECTRIC, IBM Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Siemens AG, Schneider Electric SE Key Research Capabilities Global Market Assessment, Business Development Strategies, Competitive Landscape, Opportunity Analysis, Regional and Country Level Market Analysis, Market Entry Strategies, Market Dynamics, Risk and Return Assessments, Pricing Analysis, Market Size and Forecasting, Company Profiling, Value Chain Analysis, Expansion Strategies, SWOT Analysis, New Product Development Global Smart Manufacturing Market Forecast to 2028 - Latest COVID-19 Analysis https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPTE100000174/ Browse key market insights spread across 258 pages with 164 list of tables & 99 list of figures from the report, "Smart Manufacturing Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By End User (Discrete Industry and Process Industry) and Component (Hardware and Software)" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/smart-manufacturing-market Global Smart Manufacturing Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments 3D Systems, Inc.; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Daifuku Co., Ltd.; General Electric Company; Honeywell International Inc.; Oracle Corporation; Schneider Electric SE; Siemens AG; Yokogawa Electric Corporation are among the leading players profiled in the smart manufacturing market report. Several other essential market players were analyzed for a holistic view of the market and its ecosystem. The report provides detailed market insights, which help the key players strategize their growth. A few developments are mentioned below: In 2020, Siemens, IBM (NYSE: IBM), and Red Hat launched a new partnership that will employ a hybrid cloud to provide manufacturers and plant operators with an open, adaptable, and secure solution for extracting real-time value from operational data. In 2021, Schneider Electric unveiled several Industries of the Future innovations and called for stronger cross-industry collaboration at the all-digital Hannover Messe 2021. Schneider Electric believes that through universal automation, digital energy, and innovation, industrial enterprises with achievable sustainability goals will lead the global economic recovery while safeguarding the environment. Inquiry Before Purchase: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000174/ In 2022, The OpreXTM Environmental Monitoring System for the pharmaceutical & medical device industries was released globally by Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841). The new product is a data gathering and recording system that gathers and manages environmental data in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, testing, and storage areas, such as temperature, humidity, and room differential pressure. The North America smart manufacturing market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The market growth in this region is attributed to the rising demand for automation to achieve efficiency and quality; government support for digitization; and the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Manufacturers in these regions are opting for technology-driven approaches that utilize Internet-connected machinery for monitoring the production process. Rising opportunities for automating operations and the growing use of data analytics to improve manufacturing performance are bolstering the smart manufacturing market growth in the region. OEMs across all industries in North America are scaling up automation to compete with global manufacturing hubs such as China and Japan. This has led to rapid developments in robotics and automation technologies. Public-private partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are enhancing business confidence in the region, redirecting the focus of US firms to increase their geographic presence and strengthen their product portfolios. Investments from governments of various North American countries and foreign countries are enabling regional manufacturers to expand their production capacities and resources. For instance, in October 2019, FANUC America opened a new 461,000-square-foot robotics and automation facility in Michigan with several departments, including engineering, product development, manufacturing, and warehousing. Such initiatives are significantly boosting the smart manufacturing market growth in the region. Speak to Research Expert: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPTE100000174 Europe is one of the most important smart manufacturing markets. Horizon 2020 is one of the key initiatives in the region that involves the implementation of digitization and cybersecurity in the rail sector. Modern trains consist of sophisticated technologies that need an active internet connection to operate and receive signals to and from the control station. Further, hackers can easily hack the system if they discover a vulnerability and ca disrupt the production process of a smart railway manufacturing unit. For instance, in 2022, a cyberattack targeted Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane (FS), Italy's national railway company. The freight transport by rail was suspended temporarily due to cyberattacks. Further, in 2021, new self-service ticket machines of Northern Rail, one of the UK's local railway systems covering the north of England, were targeted by a suspected ransomware cyberattack. Such incidents signify that rail infrastructure requires reliable and robust railway communications network security with new technologies and process measures. Cybersecurity will make the framework simple and versatile in the railway industry. It can give information assurance, application security, and framework administration. Thus, all these factors are likely to boost the Europe smart manufacturing market growth during the forecast period. Smart Manufacturing Market: Industry Overview The smart manufacturing market is bifurcated on the basis of end-user and component. Based on end-users, the smart manufacturing market is divided into discrete industry and process industry. The discrete industry segment held a larger market share in 2020. Due to the rising production of medical devices, defense equipment, semiconductors, cars, and machines, advanced technologies are being adopted by these industries. Based on component, the smart manufacturing market is bifurcated into hardware and software. The hardware segment holds a larger share of the market. The segment growth is due to the growing integration & implementation of RTL, robots, and sensors are expanding in manufacturing plants. Based on geography, the smart manufacturing market is segmented into North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Austria, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Baltic states and Rest of Europe), and Asia Pacific (Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Rest of APAC). Quickly Purchase Premium Copy of Smart Manufacturing Market Growth Report (2022-2028) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPTE100000174/ Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: Smart Parking Systems Market - The global smart parking systems market size was valued at US$ 398.6 million in 2016 and is projected to reach US$ 1,462.3 million by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% during 2017-2025. Smart Lighting Market - The global Smart Lighting market size accounted for US$ 10.55 Bn in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.1% during the forecast period 2016 - 2025, to account for US$ 51.05 Bn in 2025. Smart Cities Market - The global smart cities market size expected to grow from US$ 902.91 billion in 2017 to US$ 3651.49 billion by 2025; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.08% from 2017 to 2025. Smart Parking Market - The global smart parking market size is expected to grow from US$ 398.6 million in 2016 to US$ 1,462.3 million by 2025 at a CAGR of 15.7% between 2017 and 2025. Smart Agriculture Market - The global smart agriculture market size is anticipated to account to US$ 11.3 Bn in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% during the forecast period 2016 - 2025, to account to US$ 30.01 Bn by 2025. Smart Water Meter Market - The global smart water meter market size was valued at US$ 1,506.2 million in 2017 and is projected to reach US$ 3,832 million by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% during 2018-2025. Smart Glass Market - The global smart glass market size was valued at US$ 2.85 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach US$ 11.73 billion by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% during 2019-2027. Smart Inhalers Market - The global Smart Inhalers market size was valued at US$ 1,094.26million in 2018 and it is projected to reach US$ 8,033.21million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.5% from 2019 to 2027. Smart Syringes Market - The global smart syringes market size was valued at US$ 5,911.82 million in 2018 and it is projected to reach US$ 14,341.33 million in 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2019 to 2027. Smart Coatings Market - The global smart coatings market size was valued US$ 5.5 billion in 2021, it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.2% between 2022 and 2028. Smart Bike Market - The global smart bike market size is valued US$ 1,431.77 million in 2022, it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.7% during 2022-2028. Smart Animal Trap Market - The global smart animal trap market size is expected to grow from US$ 334.36 million in 2022 to US$ 507.56 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2022 to 2028. Smart Airport Market - The global smart airport market size is expected to grow from US$ 26,073.62 million in 2022 to US$ 66,763.46 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.0% from 2022 to 2028. Smart Display Market - The global smart display market size was valued at US$ 1,443.74 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$ 11,547.23 million by 2028; it is estimated to register a CAGR of 36.0% from 2022 to 2028. About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/smart-manufacturing-market Industry Research: https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1586348/The_Insight_Partners_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/365-billion-smart-manufacturing-market-to-grow-at-6-cagr-globally-by-2028-driven-by-surging-adoption-of-rtls-increasing-trend-of-industry-4-0--3d-robotics-ai-iot-technologies--the-insight-partners-301643493.html Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE/ASX: JHG) will announce its third quarter 2022 results on Thursday 27 October 2022 at 4am EDT, 9am BST, 7pm AEDT. A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held at 8am EDT, 1pm BST, 11pm AEDT. Those wishing to participate in the conference call should call the applicable number below and reference the Janus Henderson Results Briefing (Conference ID: 416605): From: United Kingdom 0808 189 6484 (toll free) United States 844 200 6205 (toll free) Australia 02 7908 3093 (this is not toll free) All other countries +1 929 526 1599 (this is not toll free) To eliminate wait times, conference call participants may pre-register at https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login'show=c954d897&confId=41982. After registering, a confirmation with access details will be sent via email. Access to the live webcast and accompanying slides will be available via the investor relations section of Janus Henderson's website (ir.janushenderson.com); a webcast replay will be available following the call. About Janus Henderson Janus Henderson Group is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping investors achieve long-term financial goals through a broad range of investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative asset class strategies. At 30 June 2022, Janus Henderson had approximately US$300 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 23 cities worldwide. Headquartered in London, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005066/en/ Contacts: Investor enquiries: Jim Kurtz Head of Investor Relations +1 (303) 336 4529 jim.kurtz@janushenderson.com Press enquiries: Stephen Sobey Head of Media Relations +44 (0) 20 7818 2523 stephen.sobey@janushenderson.com THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 7, 2022 / Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR) announces that the Company has arranged to issue 2,468,750 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.40 per Share in settlement of outstanding accounts payable and accrued liabilities to various parties totaling approximately C$987,000 (the "Debt Settlement"). A private company controlled by Hernan Dorado, a director and an officer of GSilver, will receive 656,250 Shares in settlement of C$262,500 due as of October 10, 2022 pursuant to GSilver's agreement to purchase certain underlying royalties over the Company's Pinguico Mine as more particularly described in GSilver's news release dated August 20, 2020 - VanGold Options Back Royalties to Streamline El Pinguico Ownership Structure). Additionally, MGA Contratista Minera S.A. de C.V., the Company's primary mine contractor at the El Cubo Mine ("MGA"), will receive 1,712,500 Shares in settlement of outstanding payables of approximately US$500,000 (C$685,000). See GSilver's news release dated August 6, 2021- GSilver Begins Stockpiling Vein Material at El Cubo for details of the Company's mining contract with MGA. Also, the Company has agreed to issue a total of 37,500 Shares to Ramon Davila, the President and a director of the Company, in partial settlement of certain monies owing to Mr. Davila under this employment agreement with the Company. James Anderson, Chairman and CEO said, "The settlement of these outstanding payments for Shares is very helpful for GSilver's working capital position as we move to bring all our mining assets back to full production. Furthermore, this debt settlement demonstrates a major vote of confidence on the part of these key members of management and our main mine contractor, who clearly see value in being shareholders of the Company." The issuance of Shares to Ramon Davila and indirectly to Hernan Dorado, the President and COO of the Company, respectively (collectively, the "Related Parties"), will be considered "related party transactions" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Policy") and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") adopted in the Policy. The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of such Related Parties' participation in the Debt Settlement as neither the fair market value of the Debt Settlement of, nor the fair market value of the Shares to be issued thereunder, insofar as it involves Related Parties, is expected to exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization (all as determined under MI 61-101). It is anticipated that the material change report of GSilver to be filed in connection with this announcement of the Debt Settlement will be filed less than 21 days in advance of the closing of the Debt Settlement, which GSilver considers reasonable within the context of current market conditions and the desire of all parties to complete the Debt Settlement as expeditiously as possible. The Debt Settlement is subject to acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange and all Shares issued thereunder will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. About Guanajuato Silver GSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico, which has an established 480-year mining history. With five mines and three processing facilities, the Company is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "James Anderson" Chairman and CEO For further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact: JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433 E: jjj@GSilver.com Gsilver.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the total accounts payable and accrued liabilities to be settled for Shares, the aggregate number and deemed issue price of the Shares to be issued in settlement thereof, and the rate of growth of GSilver as a silver producer in Mexico. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements and information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results, performance or achievements of GSilver to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of capital, operational performance, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and other risks. There are no assurances that the Debt Settlement will be completed on the terms presently contemplated or at all. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com including the Company's interim financial statements and accompanying MD&A for the three month period ended June 30, 2022. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law. This new release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE: Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/719438/Guanajuato-Silver-Arranges-Shares-for-Debt MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties. Announcing the award Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, 'The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. They have for many years promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy'. Ales Bialiatski was one of the initiators of the democracy movement that emerged in Belarus in the mid-1980s. He has devoted his life to promoting democracy and peaceful development in his home country. Among other things, he founded the organisation Viasna (Spring) in 1996 in response to the controversial constitutional amendments that gave the president dictatorial powers and that triggered widespread demonstrations. Viasna provided support for the jailed demonstrators and their families. In the years that followed, Viasna evolved into a broad-based human rights organisation that documented and protested against the authorities' use of torture against political prisoners. Government authorities have repeatedly sought to silence Ales Bialiatski. He was imprisoned from 2011 to 2014. Following large-scale demonstrations against the regime in 2020, he was again arrested. He is still detained without trial. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Bialiatski has not yielded an inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus. The human rights organisation Memorial was established in 1987 by human rights activists in the former Soviet Union. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov and human rights advocate Svetlana Gannushkina were among the founders. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Memorial grew to become the largest human rights organisation in Russia. In addition to establishing a centre of documentation on victims of the Stalinist era, Memorial compiled and systematised information on political oppression and human rights violations in Russia. Memorial became the most authoritative source of information on political prisoners in Russian detention facilities. The organisation has also been standing at the forefront of efforts to combat militarism and promote human rights and government based on rule of law. In December 2021, Russian authorities decided to forcibly liquidate Memorial and close the documentation centre. The closures became effective in the following months, but the people behind Memorial refuse to be shut down. In a comment on the forced dissolution, chairman Yan Rachinsky stated, 'Nobody plans to give up.' The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in Kyiv in 2007 for the purpose of advancing human rights and democracy in Ukraine. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Center for Civil Liberties has engaged in efforts to identify and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population. In collaboration with international partners, the center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Ales Bialiatski, Memorial and the Center for Civil Liberties, it wishes to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Friday, October 7, 2022 Dear Shareholders and Investors, In our press release of June 7, 2022, we informed you about the date of the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nordic American Tankers Limited (NAT). The date has been set to November 17, 2022. Please be informed that the record date is September 26, 2022, for the determination of the NAT shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the AGM or any adjournment thereof. The Notice of the Meeting and Proxy Statement will be available with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a form 6-K today, October 7, 2022. The AGM will take place in Monaco. For contacts, please see at the end of this communication. Best regards, Herbjorn Hansson Founder, Chairman & CEO Nordic American Tankers Ltd. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the prospectus and related prospectus supplement, our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and our reports on Form 6-K. Contacts: Bjrn Giver, CFO Nordic American Tankers Ltd Tel: +1 888 755 8391 Alexander Kihle, Finance Manager Nordic American Tankers Ltd Tel: +47 91 72 41 71 www.nat.bm The first renewable energy community in Portugal was inaugurated in August 2021 in Miranda do Douro, a rural village in the north. One year on, pv magazine spoke with the company behind the project to assess its status. With a production capacity of 73.3 kWp, solar has saved the community 31,500 ($30,850) on electricity bills.Portugal's first renewable energy community (REC) was inaugurated in August 2021 in Miranda do Douro, a northern small rural village close to the border with Spain. The project was implemented by Cleanwatts, a climate tech company offering clean energy services based in ... 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. LYON, France and PARIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --France's 21st Insurance Awards* ceremony took place on 6th October in Paris, spotlighting the market's leading innovations. Eric Maumy, President - CEO of the APRIL Group, was singled out to receive the 2022 Personality of the Year award, granted to business leaders since 2011 in recognition of their careers and contribution to the sector. Eric Maumy takes over as Personality of the Year from Adrien Couret, Managing Director of the Aema Group. This distinction comes just a few weeks after the implementation of the Lemoine Act in France, designed to free up competition in the loan insurance market and help the 7 million French people to whom it applies save tens of thousands of euros over the course of their loans. This is the culmination of a 15-year battle for the APRIL Group, which was behind the creation of APCADE** in 2021, alongside other operators offering an alternative to banks. It has played a vital role in this regulatory battle and has shown what this industry is capable of doing to open up new opportunities for policyholders and for the profession. This award also pays tribute to the APRIL Group's transformation, which has seen it reconnect with its early years of rapid growth, innovation and a drive to conquer new markets for the benefit of its partner brokers and policyholders. APRIL's 2,300 staff members and their senior managers share the same ambition to continue this adventure and position APRIL as a world-class, digital, omni-channel operator, a champion of customer experience and the leader in its markets. Eric Maumy was keen to share this professional recognition with all the APRIL Group's teams: "I am extremely touched and honoured by this distinction, which has been awarded to people whose career paths and entrepreneurial ventures demand respect and have enabled our industry to shine. It recognises APRIL's return to a leading role working for the benefit of our partner brokers and more broadly our policyholders. It also highlights our Group's journey as it reinvents itself, with the teams and management fully on-board with this project. My thoughts go to them, to whom I would like to dedicate this award." *The Insurance Awards are organised every year in association with La Tribune deI'l l'assurance. The Personality of the Year is chosen following a broad consultation of insurance operators and selected by a panel of experts. **French association to promote competition in the loan insurance market About APRIL APRIL is the leading wholesale broker in France with a network of 15,000 partner brokers. APRIL's 2,300 staff members aim to offer their customers and partners - individuals, professionals and businesses - an outstanding experience combining the best of humans and technology, in health and personal protection for individuals, professionals and VSEs, loan insurance, international health insurance (iPMI), property and casualty niche insurance and asset management. By 2023, APRIL aspires to become a digital, omnichannel and agile operator, a champion of customer experience and leader in its markets, while committing to the societal responsibility issues set forth in its Oxygen approach. The APRIL Group operates in 16 countries and recorded a turnover of 544 million in 2021. Press contacts: APRIL Melanie Sutter | melanie.sutter@april.com Monet+Associes Agency for the APRIL Group Laureen Arnol & Alice Perrin april@monet-rp.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916033/APRIL_Group.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916032/APRIL_Group.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eric-maumy-president---ceo-of-the-april-group-named-the-french-insurance-sectors-2022-personality-of-the-year-301643524.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - Flying Nickel Mining Corp. (TSXV: FLYN) (OTCQB: FLYNF) ("Flying Nickel") and Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. (formerly 1324825 B.C. Ltd.) ("Nevada Vanadium") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated October 6, 2022 (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Flying Nickel will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Nevada Vanadium (the "Nevada Vanadium Shares") by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Transaction"). Under the terms of the Transaction, Nevada Vanadium shareholders are expected to receive one (1) (the "Exchange Ratio") Flying Nickel common share (a "Flying Nickel Share") for each Nevada Vanadium Share held immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction, representing the equivalent of $0.195 per Nevada Vanadium Share, based on the closing price of Flying Nickel Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on October 6, 2022. The convertible securities of Nevada Vanadium are expected to remain outstanding following completion of the Transaction, however, upon exercise, are expected to entitle the holder thereof to obtain Flying Nickel Shares subject to the terms of such convertible securities of Nevada Vanadium. Currently, Flying Nickel has approximately 62 million shares outstanding, and Nevada Vanadium has approximately 53 million shares outstanding. Upon completion of the Transaction, the combined company (the "Resulting Issuer") will be owned approximately 54% by Flying Nickel shareholders and 46% by Nevada Vanadium shareholders. The Resulting Issuer is expected to continue to be listed on the TSXV as a mining issuer. Flying Nickel has received conditional approval from the TSXV in respect of the Transaction. The implied equity value for Nevada Vanadium as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement based on the Exchange Ratio is approximately $7,847,907 based on the 20-day volume-weighted-average-price of Flying Nickel Shares on the TSXV as of close on October 6, 2022. Nevada Vanadium is a reporting issuer in each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Quebec and the Nevada Vanadium Shares are not listed for trading on any stock exchange. The Transaction is expected to close in December 2022 and is subject to customary deal protections with a mutual break fee of $2,000,000, payable under certain circumstances. Full details of the Transaction will be included in the meeting materials to be prepare in respect of the Flying Nickel Meeting and Nevada Vanadium Meeting, which are expected to be mailed to the respective shareholders of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium by November 2022. Nickel and vanadium are both key ingredients in batteries and classified as critical metals* by U.S. Geological Survey. Flying Nickel's Minago project and Nevada Vanadium's Gibellini project are both entering into the final environmental permitting stages and are located in mining friendly districts in North America. The combined company will have one-of-a-kind mineral resource base and a dominant presence in the battery metals mining space. * https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/24/2022-04027/2022-final-list-of-critical-minerals Board of Directors' Recommendations The Board of Directors of each of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium has determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of its respective company and shareholders. Flying Nickel's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Transaction and will recommend that its shareholders vote in favour of approving the Transaction. Nevada Vanadium's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Transaction and will recommend that its shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction. Mr. John Lee noted his conflicts as a director of both Flying Nickel, Nevada Vanadium and abstained from participating in the Transaction process and from voting in connection with the approval of the Transaction by the Board of Directors of each company. Related Party Transaction / Business Combination Pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), the Transaction constitutes a "related party transaction" for Flying Nickel and the Transaction constitutes a "business combination" for Nevada Vanadium due to the shareholding of Oracle Commodity Holding Corp. ("Oracle") (formerly Battery Metals Royalties Corp.). As of the date of the Arrangement Agreement, Oracle owned 22,953,991 common shares of Flying Nickel, representing approximately 35.1% of the outstanding Flying Nickel Shares, and 31,730,110 common shares of Nevada Vanadium, representing approximately 45.9% of the outstanding Nevada Vanadium Shares. As a result of these shareholdings, the Transaction will need to be approved on a "minority approval" basis in accordance with MI 61-101 by the shareholders of each of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium, whereby any securities beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised by Oracle shall be excluded from voting. To this end, Flying Nickel will schedule a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the Transaction (the "Flying Nickel Meeting") and Nevada Vanadium will schedule a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the Transaction (the "Nevada Vanadium Meeting"). The approval required under MI 61-101 in respect of the Transaction is a simple majority of votes of shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the respective meetings after excluding the votes of any shares securities beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised by Oracle (in each case, "Majority of Minority Approval"). Majority of Minority Approval on the part of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium is in addition to any other required shareholders approvals, as more particularly set forth below. Each of Nevada Vanadium and Flying Nickel is exempt from the formal valuation requirement pursuant to section 4.4(1)(a) and 5.5(b) respectively of MI 61-101 as an issuer not listed on specified markets. Additional Information The Transaction is also subject to approval at a special meeting of Flying Nickel shareholders (the "Flying Nickel Meeting") by at least a majority of the votes cast on the resolution to approve the Transaction by the minority Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Flying Nickel Meeting. The minority shareholders are defined by securities legislation and, among others, will exclude the shares of Flying Nickel held by Oracle Commodity Holding Corp. (formerly Battery Metals Royalties Corp.). The Transaction is subject to approval at the Nevada Vanadium Meeting: (i) pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), by at least 662/3% of the votes cast on the resolution to approve the Transaction by Nevada Vanadium shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Nevada Vanadium Meeting; and (ii) pursuant to MI 61-101, on a Majority of the Minority Basis, as set out above. To the extent permitted, each of the directors and senior officers of Flying Nickel, holding an aggregate of approximately 2,210,345 Flying Nickel Shares representing approximately 3.6% of the outstanding Flying Nickel Shares, have agreed pursuant to voting agreements to vote their Flying Nickel Shares in favour of the Transaction at the Flying Nickel Meeting, and each of the directors and senior officers of Nevada Vanadium, holding an aggregate of approximately 998,449 Nevada Vanadium Shares representing approximately 1.9% of the outstanding Nevada Vanadium Shares, have agreed to vote their shares in favour of the Transaction at the Nevada Vanadium Meeting. In addition, Oracle has agreed pursuant to a voting agreement to vote its shares of Nevada Vanadium in favour of the Transaction at the Nevada Vanadium Meeting. In addition to the above noted shareholder approvals, the Transaction is also subject to approval of the British Columbia Supreme Court, as well as final acceptance of the TSXV. About Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. is a Canadian reporting issuer, holding a 100% interest in the Gibellini Vanadium project in Nevada, United States. About Flying Nickel Mining Corp. Flying Nickel Mining Corp. is a premier nickel sulphide mining and exploration company. Flying Nickel is advancing its 100% owned Minago Nickel project in the Thompson nickel belt in Manitoba, Canada. For further information, please contact: Flying Nickel Mining Corp. John Lee Chief Executive Officer and Director Flying Nickel Mining Corp. www.flynickel.com info@flynickel.com 1.877.664.2535 / 1.877.6NICKEL Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Ron Espell Chief Executive Officer Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. www.nevadavanadium.com info@nevadavanadium.com Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Disclaimers References to $ herein refer to the lawful currency of Canada and references to US$ herein refer to the lawful currency of the United States. This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder and court approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder and court approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of each of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium (collectively, the "Corporations"). Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimated production and mine life of the Corporations' projects; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of battery metals such as Nickel and Vanadium; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; strategic plans; future operations; future work programs and objectives; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Corporations, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur, including, without limitation, that all conditions precedent to the transaction will be met and the realization of the anticipated benefits derived therefrom for shareholders of the Corporations and the view on (i) the quality and the potential of the Corporations' assets, (ii) the consideration offered to Nevada Vanadium's shareholders, and (iii) the potential of the Resulting Issuer. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of each of the Corporations at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Corporations, there is no assurance they will prove to be correct and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward -looking statements include variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, battery metals such as Nickel and Vanadium; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. These factors are discussed in greater detail in Flying Nickel's most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements, and in Nevada Vanadium's most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. The Corporations' caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Corporations believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Although the Corporations have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Corporations undertake 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 applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Further, the Corporations may make changes to their respective business plans that could affect results. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139839 Latin America Traditional Wound Management Market is set to grow with a CAGR of 2.9% over the forecast period. China is one of the leading manufacturers of traditional wound management. China holds a market share of 6.0%, globally. The region of MEA is set to expand at a 3.2% CAGR over the forecast period NEWARK, Del., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global traditional wound management market is anticipated to create lucrative opportunities over the assessment period ranging from 2022 to 2032, by enjoying a valuation of US$ 5.1 Bn by the end of the year 2022 and exceedingly around US$ 6.9 Bn by the year 2032. As per the recent study by Future Market Insights, the gauze segment by product is leading the market with a share of about 39.7% in the year 2021, within the global market. The global wound care market is predicted to be valued at US$ 18.4 Bn out of which traditional wound management consists of a share of 26.6%, in 2021. During the traditional period from 2014 to 2021, the market for traditional wound management expanded at a CAGR of 2.9%. Traditional wound management is expected to experience a shift in dynamics owing to the changes in demographics of the geriatric population and the growing incidence of wounds, owing to the rising problem of infection acquired during surgical procedures globally. Furthermore, the surgical list falls under the care of chronic wounds. The surge of trauma and chronic diseases such as diabetes and ulcers are the leading cause of the rising demand for the traditional wound management market. Get a Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-857 Key Takeaways The market is expected to showcase an optimistic outlook, owing to the cost-effectiveness and clear reimbursement policies. The drastic inclination towards wound healing and care dynamics along with the adoption of traditional wound management products presents a significant revenue opportunity for the traditional wound management sector. The surging number of chronic wound patients has encouraged the development and implementation of therapies that help in the promotion of faster and more efficient wound healing. Early healing is predicted to assist the lower and average length of hospital stays. A chronic wound is a chronic health problem because it frequently spreads to the surrounding tissues, resulting in infection and amputation. Several infections were caused owing to the rise of serious health issues and therefore resulted in the addition of overall system costs. Therefore, traditional methods of wound care and cleansing are re-evaluated and as a result, traditional wound care products are incorporated into the patient and wound care system for the reduction of infection-related costs. Irrespective of the availability of advanced wound care and healing products, major healthcare professionals and facilities choose traditional wound management products due to their cost-effectiveness and long-term training and research experience. The surge in various surgical procedures, the aging population, and the surge in the adoption of technically advanced products, are some of the factors driving the market. The hurdles faced are due to a lack of skilled professionals, general awareness about wound care, and rising medical waste. Before Buying, Visit for Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-857 Competitive Landscape With numerous competitors in the traditional wound management market landscape, the overall industry is fragmented. In order to meet consumer demand and expand their customer base, these companies are implementing methods such as expanding their production capabilities by constructing new factories and manufacturing facilities also indulging in partnerships and collaborations and availing new product launches with technological advancements. Key Companies Profiled Smith & Nephew plc. B. Braun Melsungen AG Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. Medtronic Plc. Cardinal Health, Derma Sciences Inc. Paul Hartman AG Molnlycke Health Care Medline Industries, Inc. DUKAL Corporation BSN Medical More Insights into the Traditional Wound Management Market The U.S. is expected to dominate the global traditional wound management market as it accounted for around 26.4% in 2021 and is expected to continue to experience the same growth throughout the forecast period. China is the second largest manufacturer of traditional wound management. According to the estimations, China is expected to account for 6.0% of globally. The market is expected to surge at a robust pace over the forecast period due to rising healthcare facilities in the region along with the presence of prominent manufacturers. Key Market Segments Covered in Traditional Wound Management Industry Research By Product: Bandages Adhesive Bandages Non-adhesive Bandages Compression Bandages Gauzes Woven Gauzes Non-woven Gauzes Gauze Sponge Woven Gauze Sponges Non-woven Gauze Sponges Sponges Woven Sponges Non-woven Sponges By Application: Skin and Diabetic Ulcers Burns Surgeries Trauma Others (skin cuts, primary dressings, etc.) By End User: Hospitals Clinics Diagnostic Centers Homecare Settings Ambulatory Surgical Centers Preview Analysis@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/traditional-wound-management-market Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand Side Trends 1.3. Supply Side Trends 1.4. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations 2.3. Inclusions and Exclusions 3. Key Market Trends 3.1. Key Trends Impacting the Market 3.2. Product Innovation / Development Trends 4. Key Success Factors 4.1. Product Adoption / Usage Analysis 4.2. Reimbursement Scenario 4.3. Value Chain Analysis 4.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.5. Porter's Analysis 4.6. Key Marketing & Promotional Strategies Adopted by Companies Contact Sales for Further Assistance in Buying this Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/857 Explore FMI's Extensive Ongoing Coverage onHealthcare Domain?? Advanced Wound Management Market Size: Advanced Wound Management Market is projected to grow at a steady pace, exceeding a market valuation of US$ 6.5 Bn between 2021 and 2031. Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market Value: The global market for digital wound measurement devices is estimated at US$ 2.16 Bn in 2022, and is projected to reach US$ 2.48 Bn by 2025 expanding at 4.7% CAGR over the same period. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market Share: The global negative pressure wound therapy market size was valued at US$ 5.9 Bn in 2021 and is expected to touch a valuation of US$ 6.2 Bn in 2022. Hemostats For Wound Closure Market Overview: The Hemostats For Wound Closure Market expected to register a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period, up from US$ 2.4 Bn in 2021 to reach a valuation of US$ 3.5 Bn by 2026. Blood Warmer Devices Market Analysis: Global demand for blood warmer devices is forecast to enjoy a valuation of US$ 451.2 Million in the year 2022, and further expand at a CAGR rate of 7.6% to reach a valuation of ~US$ 937.5 Million by the year 2032. About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us Future Market Insights Inc.????????? Christiana Corporate,????????? 200 Continental Drive,????????? Suite 401, Newark,????????? Delaware - 19713, USA????????? T: +1-845-579-5705????????? For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com????????????? Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/FMI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/traditional-wound-management-market-to-surpass-us-6-9-bn-by-the-year-2032-attributing-to-cost-effectiveness-and-clear-reimbursement-policies--future-market-insights-inc-301643547.html Regulatory News: ESI Group (FR0004110310 ESI) (Paris:ESI), leader and pioneer in Virtual Prototyping solutions, hereby releases the total number of shares making up the company's capital and the total number of voting rights in September 30, 2022, in accordance with articles 223-16 and 221-3 of the General Regulations of the "Autorite des Marches Financiers". Number of shares Number of theoretical voting rights * Number of voting rights ** 6,068,554 8,079,591 7,740,365 * The number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on all shares eligible for voting right (single or double), including shares temporarily deprived of voting rights (treasury shares). ** All Group shares have equal right to vote, except treasury shares, which are deprived of the right to vote, and registered shares held for more than four years that are eligible for double voting rights. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005197/en/ Contacts: ESI Group Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF Autorite des Marches Financiers) Regulatory News: MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a French clinical-stage biotech and a pioneer in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to improving survival outcomes for patients with cancer, today published the number of shares comprising the share capital and the total number of voting rights (Article L. 233-8 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce) and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF)) on September 30, 2022. Listing place: Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0012634822 Website: www.maatpharma.com Date Total number of shares comprising the share capital Total number of theoretical voting rights (1) Total number of effective voting rights (2) 09/30/2022 9,894,313 9,894,313 9,894,313 (1) In accordance with Article 223-11 of the AMF General Regulation, this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights are attached, including shares whose voting rights have been suspended. (2) Effective voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that may be used at a General Meeting. The total number of effective voting rights is calculated without taking into account the shares with suspended voting rights. About MaaT Pharma MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has launched, in March 2022, a Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with acute GvHD, following the achievement of its proof of concept in a Phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, supports the development and expansion of its pipeline by determining novel disease targets, evaluating drug candidates, and identifying biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company's Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT). Forward-looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005204/en/ Contacts: MaaT Pharma Investor Relations Herve AFFAGARD Co-Founder and CEO Sian Crouzet, COO/ CFO +33 4 28 29 14 00 invest@maat-pharma.com MaaT Pharma Media Relations Pauline RICHAUD Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager +33 6 07 55 25 36 prichaud@maat-pharma.com Trophic Communications Corporate and Medical Communications Jacob VERGHESE or Gretchen SCHWEITZER +49 89 2070 89831 maat@trophic.eu Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 7 October 2022 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 28,017 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 806.00 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 February 2022. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 9,618,754; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 215,372,549. The figure of 215,372,549 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 Paris, October 7th, 2022 AgroGeneration, a Ukraine based grain and oilseed producer, is starting a restructuring process within the Group aimed to carve out those assets and infrastructure of the Group, which became "toxic", as their value strongly decreased, on the back of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Background and Rationale for the Toxic Assets Liquidation At the date of this release, around 25k hectares of the Group's farmlands with fixed assets and related production infrastructure on mentioned farmlands are considered by Management to be "toxic", as there value strongly decreased, being (i) destroyed or damaged on the back of military activities, (ii) located near the frontlines with no access to them and inability to use such assets (including extensive mining), (iii) assets, for which the Company incurs expenses or increases liabilities but is unable to use such assets. "Toxic" assets include agricultural equipment, fixed assets and real estate, inventory and land assets. Four production farms out of six comprising the Group currently have such "toxic" assets with different amounts of asset loss Donets farm's lands (7.5k hectares), even though liberated from occupation in early September 2022, remain in the category of "toxic" farmlands, as the production bases and almost all fixed assets of this farm were completely destroyed over the course of war. Almost 40% of the production bases and equipment of Barvinkivska (9.1k hectares) and Podolivska (5.4k hectares) farms were also destroyed or damaged already at the beginning of war. In total, over 22k hectares of farmlands, incl. Podolivska, Barvinkivska, and Donets farmlands, were at the epicenter of hostilities for over 6 months and were brought to a state completely unsuitable for processing during the next 2-3 years. These lands are saturated with minefields and just randomly scattered unexploded shells and mines and require de-mining, which will take several years and significant cash injections. These fields were subject to explosions, the movement of military equipment, and the construction of a huge number of trenches and defensive buildings. Thus, they require re-cultivation, which is also a time consuming and expensive process. In addition, reduction of natural fertility of these lands on the back of damages to the black soil layer and toxic pollution by explosions are expected, which cannot be accurately estimated in monetary terms at the moment. Burlutske farm's lands (3.3k hectares), being liberated in early September 2022, also remains in the category of "toxic" farmlands as it was located near the frontline. According to the available information (the area is currently closed by the Ukrainian military authorities, with none permitted on the territory), the farm's production bases were looted, and almost all equipment was stolen. The Russian troops built a lot of engineering structures (trenches, checkpoints, artillery positions, etc.) in this area. In addition, the invaders were actively mining roads and fields in these zones in order to impede the advance of the Ukrainian army. The Group is unlikely to be able to cultivate this farm's lands until the hostilities between Ukraine and the Russian Federation are completely over, as the Burlutske farm is located in the border zone (20-25 km from the border of the Russian Federation), thus with high certainty that it will be subject to daily rocket and artillery fire from the territory of the Russian Federation, as it happens in liberated Sumy or Chernihiv regions currently. All in all, the described "toxic" assets are currently not operated by the Group and are not prepared to be operated during the coming production seasons. Still, the Company is required to continue accruing "toxic" farmlands lease cost, paying it or creating financial reserves for these obligations on annual basis (over $2M per year, or over $6M for the next three years). In addition, such farmlands require substantial expenses for their restoration, including cost of de-mining and re-cultivation, and capital expenditures into machinery and production infrastructure renewal. Following the de-occupation in the Kharkiv region in September 2022, the Management has been able to assess more accurately the total costs for maintenance (incl. land lease cost) and restoration of the "toxic" assets compared to the previous estimation made in June 2022 (please refer to the Group's press release from June 16th, 2022): at over $50M. Besides, existence of such "toxic" assets on the Group's balance sheet creates a number of other issues, apart from huge expenses, including challenges in auditing these assets, resulting in serious difficulties in completing full company audit. Following on the discussion that the Management had with the Ukrainian legal and financial advisors, the restructuration set forth below seems to be the sole option that the Group has at the moment, beside a massive injection of cash. The other option would be to wait on possible states' subsidies at the end of war, not under discussion yet. Restructuring Plan Execution In order to separate the Group's clean business from the "toxic" assets, the "toxic" assets that were initially recognized on the balance sheets of the Podolivska and Barvinkivska farms were transferred to newly created Barvinkivska Agro and Podolivska Agro companies together with all related obligations and responsibilities according to distribution balances in August-September 2022. A tender for the selection of a liquidator company was conducted in September 2022. In early October 2022, the contract with the chosen liquidator company was signed with the following key terms and conditions agreed: The list of entities that are the subject to further liquidation includes Donets farm, Burlutske farm, newly created Barvinkivska Agro and Podolivska Agro companies. The purpose of the restructuring is to completely write off from the balance sheet of AgroGeneration and its affiliated companies assets, property, property rights and obligations, etc., which were damaged, lost or otherwise negatively affected after February 24, 2022 during the martial law as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Expected term of liquidation procedure execution: 9 months (October 2022 - June 2023). From the moment of corporate rights alienation (the date of contract signing) to the liquidator company, AgroGeneration doesn't bear legal and financial responsibility for any obligations of the entities that are the subject to restructuring (including receivables and payables, contractual obligations and other obligations) regardless of the moment of their occurrence. Liabilities and costs: $1.1M to be paid to the liquidator company (in monthly installments) in equal amounts for the liquidation execution. Price for those "toxic" lands: $0 as the companies will be liquidated. Impact of Toxic Assets Liquidation on Group's Future Performance Such a management step, launched restructuring of the Group, is primarily a matter of the Company's survival in the current military business environment. As a general outcome of the above-described operational restructuring, the Group will put its performance back on sound footing by getting rid of "toxic" assets and all related obligations to them, thus avoiding significant involuntary spending on non-performing assets (first of all land lease cost, which the Group has to bear even in case of non-operating of the farmlands). From an operational standpoint, the business will be reduced to around 30,000 hectares of cultivated farmlands, with similar reduction in related assets and infrastructure. The head office of the Group will be also optimized in accordance with the new scope business. From a financial standpoint, the Group expects deterioration of its results in 2022 affected by losses already occurred in the first half of the year on the back of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as was already noted in earlier releases, with gradual improvement in the Group's performance to be seen not earlier than by the end of 2023. This expectation depends on the progress of war, which is still ongoing, and the company may need to adjust these forecast results. The group will keep the market informed on further significant changes in its activity. The next release is expected in late November with the disclosure of interim results of the Company accompanied with the latest update on current operations. About AGROGENERATION Founded in 2007, AgroGeneration is a large-scale producer of grain and oilseed. The company's core business is grains and oil commodity crop farming, operating near 60,000 hectares of high quality agricultural lands in the East of Ukraine. All information on AgroGeneration's website: www.AgroGeneration.com Receive all AgroGeneration's financial information by e-mail for free by registering at: www.actusnews.com AgroGeneration +33 1 55 27 38 40 investisseurs@AgroGeneration.com www.AgroGeneration.com Actus Finance Anne-Pauline Petureaux, Investor Relations +33 (0)1 53 67 36 72 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lWidaMlukm3Gym+fZJlol2NmaZdpx2aYZWjKx5dwY5+ZaptnyW5jZp2aZnBnm2dm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-76620-pr_agg_operational-restructuring-procedure-opened_vdef.pdf 7 October 2022 Rightmove plc Share buy-back programme Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares Rightmove plc ('Rightmove') announces that today it purchased 150,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 471.374p. The highest price paid per share was 477.400p and the lowest price paid per share was 465.800p. Rightmove purchased these shares through Numis Securities Limited. The number of shares purchased represented 0.0181% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled. Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 476,467,471 ordinary shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 830,211,557. Rightmove holds 12,375,052 shares in treasury. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. Contact: Michelle Palmer, Deputy Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions Founded in 2000, DOLFINES is an independent specialist in engineering and services in the renewable and conventional energy industry. Faced with the challenges of decarbonizing the energy sector and capitalizing on its strong expertise, DOLFINES wants to play a key role in this energy transition by designing and providing innovative services and solutions for the exploitation of renewable energy sources onshore and offshore, above and below sea level. Respecting the highest standards of quality and safety, DOLFINES is labelled an innovative company certified ISO 9001 for its technical assistance, auditing, inspection and engineering activities. 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. Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - Strathmore Plus Uranium Corporation (TSXV: SUU) (OTC: SUUFF) ("Strathmore Plus" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the initiation of a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $600,000, comprising 1,818,181 units (each a "Unit"), at $0.33 per Unit (the "Offering"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one whole common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of 24 months following the date of issuance. The Company may pay finder's fees in connection with the Offering in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue of the units. The Offering remains subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. Strathmore Plus is a uranium exploration company, focused on in-situ recoverable uranium deposits in the State of Wyoming. Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. Contact Information: Investor Relations Telephone: 1 888 882 8177 Email: info@strathmoreplus.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Dev Randhawa" Dev Randhawa, CEO Cautionary Statement: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the securities offered under the Private Placement and the use of proceeds from the Private Placement,. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will use the net proceeds of the Private Placement as intended. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. 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. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139892 EQS Voting Rights Announcement: QIAGEN N.V. QIAGEN N.V.: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 07.10.2022 / 22:04 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by EQS - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The AFM (the Netherlands Authority For the Financial Markets has informed us on October 4, 2022 that a notification related to our institution has been released by the AFM. The following notification has been disclosed in the relevant register on the AFM website: Date of transaction: 28 sep 2022 Person obliged to notify: Amundi Asset Management Issuing institution: Qiagen N.V. Registration Chamber of Commerce: 12036979 Place of residence: VENLO Distribution in numbers Type of share Number of shares Number of voting rights Capital interest Voting rights Manner of disposal Settlement Ordinary share 1.785.458,00 1.785.440,15 Real Real Directly Ordinary share 3.146.129,00 3.146.097,54 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Asset Management Ordinary share 11.784,00 11.783,88 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Austria GmbH Ordinary share 14.537,00 14.536,85 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Deutschland GmbH Ordinary share 12.850,00 12.849,87 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Hong-Kong Ltd Ordinary share 1.884,00 1.883,98 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Iberia SGIIC, SA Ordinary share 104.532,00 104.530,95 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Japan Ltd Ordinary share 49.448,00 49.447,51 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi SGR SpA Ordinary share 35.160,00 35.159,65 Real Real Indirectly - Amundi Singapore Ltd Ordinary share 14.000,00 13.999,86 Real Real Indirectly - BFT Investment Managers Ordinary share 1.679.672,00 1.679.655,20 Real Real Indirectly - CPR AM Ordinary share 151.553,00 151.551,48 Real Real Indirectly - Etoile Gestion Ordinary share 2.776,00 2.775,97 Real Real Indirectly - NH-Amundi Asset Management Co. Ltd Ordinary share 1.933,00 1.932,98 Real Real Indirectly - Societe Generale Gestion Distribution in percentages Type Total holding Directly real Directly potential Indirectly real Indirectly potential Capital interest 3,04 % 0,77% 0,00% 2,26% 0,00% Voting rights 3,04 % 0,77% 0,00% 2,26% 0,00% QIAGEN N.V. is not responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the notification above. The content has been taken from the relevant register of the AFM: https://www.afm.nl/en/professionals/registers/meldingenregisters/substantiele-deelnemingen/details?id=130413 07.10.2022 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com EQS Voting Rights Announcement: QIAGEN N.V. QIAGEN N.V.: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 07.10.2022 / 22:04 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by EQS - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The AFM (the Netherlands Authority For the Financial Markets has informed us on October 6, 2022 that a notification related to our institution has been released by the AFM. The following notification has been disclosed in the relevant register on the AFM website: Date of transaction: 03 oct 2022 Person obliged to notify: UBS Group AG Issuing institution: Qiagen N.V. Registration Chamber of Commerce: 12036979 Place of residence: VENLO Distribution in numbers Type of share Number of shares Number of voting rights Capital interest Voting rights Manner of disposal Settlement Ordinary share 3.203.302,00 3.203.269,97 Real Real Indirectly - UBS AG,UBS Asset Management (Americas Inc.,UBS Asset Management (Australia Ltd.,UBS Asset Management (Deutschland GmbH,UBS Asset Management (Singapore Ltd.,UBS Asset Management (UK Limited, UBS Asset Management Life Limited, UBS Fund Management (Luxe Physical Delivery Ordinary share 1.229.405,00 1.229.392,71 Potential Potential Indirectly - UBS AG, UBS Financial Services Inc., UBS Switzerland AG Physical Delivery Convertible note 604.111,00 604.111,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - UBS AG, UBS Fund Management (Luxembourg S.A., UBS Fund Management( Switzerland AG Physical Delivery Call-option 120.000,00 120.000,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - UBS AG Physical Delivery Swap 2.244.681,00 2.244.681,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - UBS AG In cash Distribution in percentages Type Total holding Directly real Directly potential Indirectly real Indirectly potential Capital interest 3,21 % 0,00 % 0,00 % 1,39 % 1,82 % Voting rights 3,21 % 0,00 % 0,00 % 1,39 % 1,82 % QIAGEN N.V. is not responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the notification above. The content has been taken from the relevant register of the AFM: https://www.afm.nl/en/professionals/registers/meldingenregisters/substantiele-deelnemingen/details?id=131592 07.10.2022 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com FLORENCE, Italy, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rupert Everett, Minnie Mills, Doina Ciobanu, Sophia Li, and Itziar Ituno gathered at Palazzo Portinari Salviati together with Livia Firth and Innkeeper Nelson Chang, to pay tribute to the outstanding young social and environmental innovators building a world that is socially just, economically inclusive, environmentally friendly and technologically balanced. The Renaissance Awards were established in 2021 by Eco-Age, in recognition of the urgent need to support, amplify and accelerate the work of young leaders at the forefront of a paradigm shift in environmental and social justice and inclusion. "We hope that the restoration of Palazzo Portinari Salviati will give back to Florence, not just a beautiful palace or luxury hotel, but also a place that enlightens our spirits and minds as it has once been in the Renaissance era. Hosting the Renaissance Awards and its possibilists at Palazzo Portinari Salviati, connects history with the most meaningful future for mankind. We hope that looking back a hundred years from now, this Palazzo, this movement, and this alliance will be "our place in History," says Nelson Chang, Inkeeper and CEO of LDC Hotels and Resorts Group, part of Palazzo Portinari Salviati. "To choose Florence, the cradle of the early Renaissance, is of course heavy with symbolism. What our awards do is hand the microphone to young activists in a substantive and real way. This is the age of the purposeful, expert, global influencer. They are our 'Possibilists' and the driving force behind empowerment," said Livia Firth, awards co-founder and creative director of Eco-Age. Among the honourees are youth organisers, inventors, educators, leaders in environmental restoration, and innovators in law, justice, materials science and disability rights. "If societies were to invest fully into the people who are going to be driving this planet and to accelerate the scaling up of the mechanisms, products and policies that they have developed, we would begin hitting global SDGs and net zero targets rather than just talking about them" says Livia Firth, "this is why the theme is 'possibilists' - they don't just talk, they do. Our awards exist to make sure they encounter opportunities not barriers". As in the inaugural Renaissance Awards, the 'award' itself will be an NFT award donated to the winners by strategic partner method, a leading household brand that has been a pioneer in the home cleaning and personal care with its future-friendly products, and who is on a mission to make positive change joyful and irresistible. The NFTs will feature Renaissance artwork from the Palazzo Portinari Salviati, including a painting of Marco Curzio and the four seasons. In addition, method will debut a new award called the method Renaissance Changemaker Award which honors an individual that is driving change through sustainable design. This year the awards run concurrently with The Possibilists Summit, hosted by Cassa Risparmio di Firenze Foundation and moderated by globally renowned NGO ChangemakerXchange, during which all the young leaders, together for the first time, will bring solutions to some of the world's most critical issues. Nick McGirl, Co-Founder of ChangemakerXchange says, "Young changemakers are creating positive change everywhere you look and are tackling the most pressing issues of our time, but they need more support! "We are honoured to be a part of this year's Renaissance Awards to connect and build the capacity of the awardees. The Renaissance Awards are an exciting addition to the global ecosystem of support for young leaders, shining a much-needed spotlight on their work and impact." "We are very pleased to be able to welcome young leaders to Florence, in our Innovation Center" says the President of Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze Foundation Luigi Salvadori. "They came together today to reflect on the most urgent issues of the moment. Our Foundation and the City of Florence are particularly sensitive to sustainability issues, so much so that this city, the capital of Tuscany, is among the nine Italian cities selected by the European Commission to develop projects on climate neutrality. I very much appreciate what Ms Firth is doing to raise awareness among young people on these issues which have accelerated dramatically with the pandemic and which have become even more urgent following the even more dramatic effects of climate change this Summer. We must team up and act quickly, our Foundation wants to be the protagonist of every initiative that moves conscience on these issues.' Livia Firth says, "The Renaissance Awards and the Summit show the power and unstoppable force of young leaders when they are supported. This is how we will realise the birth of a better system, regenerative, just, inclusive and balanced. Welcome to the new definition of the Renaissance." Press images to download here NOTES: The 2022 Renaissance Awards honourees are: Lino Marrero ( USA ) Created a shoe insert that harnesses energy to charge cell phones - Technologically Balanced Lavinya Stennett (UK) Founder of the Black Curriculum to create better representation of Black History in the school curriculum - Socially Just Juan Francisco Baron ( Argentina ) Founder of NODO, which supports independent artists in the digital age - Socially Just Sophia Kianni ( USA / Iran ) Founder of Climate Cardinals, which translates climate information into over 100 languages - Socially Just Nina Gualinga ( Ecuador ) Kichwa Indigenous Leader who leads in environmental activism - Environmentally Restorative (Represented by Alexis and Abigail Guilinga Nina Gualinga) Mary Lempres ( USA ) Artist, designer and researcher who has created solutions and products using discarded waste - method's Renaissance Changemaker Vee Kativhu ( Zimbabwe /UK) - Education activist and founder of Empowered by Vee, a youth empowerment organisation Dion Hazel Muchaka (UK) - Care support worker who provide support to people with learning disabilities Matteo Ward ( Italy ) - Entrepreneur and sustainability activist Together they join the following activists for the Possibilists Summit: Activists Sophia Li ( China / USA ) - Multimedia journalist, film director, and environmental advocate Brett Staniland (UK) - Sustainable Fashion Creator, advocate and model Scott Staniland (UK) - Model, sustainable fashion contributor and ambassador Sennait Ghebreab ( Italy /UK) - Lecturer at Istituto Marangoni London and Sustainability Mentor Fionn Ferreira ( Ireland ) - Scientist, anti-plastic pollution innovator and 2021 honouree, Technologically Balanced The honourees of the Renaissance Awards 2021 are already taking their place at the forefront of systems change. Previous honourees have secured platforms as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, inspired a huge global audience (90% of last year's audience said they took more purposeful action in their own lives) and accessed new partnership and funding opportunities. Previous recipients of the Renaissance Awards are clear that the process has been transformative. 'Today, despite the increasing visibility of independent Latin American artists, it's still very rare to be granted an opportunity of telling our own stories without having to make concessions,' says Igor Furtado, an 'economically inclusive' honouree of 2021, 'having my work recognised [in this way] has been a transformative experience' NOTES TO EDITOR: ABOUT THE RA The Renaissance Awards celebrate the young leaders initiating the rebirth of a better system. A system that is regenerative, just, inclusive and balanced. In the heart of Florence, a city that is alive with the spirit of rebirth, we will honour and amplify the work of these emerging leaders, advancing their wisdom to the forefront of change. ABOUT ECO AGE Eco-Age is a specialist sustainability and communications agency. We are a leading and trusted voice, expert in bringing positive, sustainable change to key audiences.Our evidence-led sustainability narratives and programmes of change resonate with both consumers and industry insiders. Over the last decade we have honed specific expertise in supply-chains, textiles, impact measurement, internal and external communications, PR and event-planning. The programmes that we develop are aligned with international best practice and feed into global targets. This means the change that we help to activate is real and substantive.Our sole purpose is to distil our know-how, expertise, enthusiasm and talent into client campaigns, strategies and programmes that bring real and substantive change. Not only does this help to shift the dial on sustainable change, but it gives a new generation of conscious consumers fresh and compelling reasons to invest -emotionally and financially -in the brands of our partners.Our current partners include luxury fashion and jewellery brands, fashion retailers (including online), real estate companies, celebrity opinion-formers, film and TV academies, music academies, and fashion councils around the world. ABOUT METHOD method (methodproducts.com) is the pioneer of design-driven home, fabric, and personal care products. From its inception, method has actively championed for diversity and sustainability, as well as applying design and creativity as powerful tools for change. In 2021, method launched "method for change", a campaign inviting every single person into their mission of building a better, more fulfilled world by bridging intention and impact and putting change within reach of everyone. ABOUT NELSON CHANG AND PALAZZO PORTINARI SALVIATI Nelson Chang, CEO and Innkeeper of LDC Hotels and Resorts Group, which is part of Palazzo Portinari Salviati, the chairman of TCC Taiwan Cement Company, and the chairman of the Italian energy storage company NHOA (formerly Engie EPS), was awarded the title of Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy) last October by the Presidency of the Republic on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death for his commitment to Italy. A scholar, lover of Italian history and passionate about Florence, which he considers the cradle of the Renaissance from which the Modern Age developed, Chang is Taiwan's leading investor in Italy, with diversified interests in the tourism, property, energy and agricultural sectors and is also particularly active in promoting relations between Taiwan and Italy. The entrepreneur is also chairman of the board of directors of the Italian energy storage company NHOA (formerly Engie EPS). The company's mission statement states that, as an energy company, it has the task of improving the environment and addressing the challenge of climate change. "Your Place in History" is an invitation to stay in an iconic palace that is part and parcel of Florentine history and tradition: Palazzo Portinari Salviati, an exclusive historical house in Florence with luxury hotel services . Following meticulous restoration, the prestigious 15th century Renaissance home of Beatrice Portinari, Dante's muse, and the first residence of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, is back in all its splendour. Today the Palazzo houses elegant suites with frescoes from the 1700's and luxurious apartments overlooking the heart of the city with breathtaking views of the Duomo and its majestic Brunelleschi dome. ABOUT FONDAZIONE CASSA RISPARMIO DI FIRENZE Fondazione CR Firenze is a non-profit foundation of banking origin established in 1992 to further the interests of society. To achieve this, it has developed a programme of investments and projects in the areas it serves, namely Florence and the Metropolitan City along with the provinces of Grosseto and Arezzo.Picking up the baton from the original Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, the Fondazione operates by using the revenue from its vast assets to promote and fund programmes and initiatives of various kinds with the aim of furthering the economic development and prosperity of the community as a whole. The types of disbursement tools it uses include direct projects, themed calls for tender, funding for instrumental entities and it suppors numerous quality institutions.The five areas in which it operates are: culture and art, together with the conservation and optimisation of cultural assets; protection of the landscape, the environment and farming; scientific research and technological innovation, including in the medical and health sectors; youth training and growth; and volunteer work and solidarity. ABOUT CHANGEMAKERSXCHANGE Through the ChangemakerXchange Community we support, connect and empower 1000 young changemakers across 130 countries globally. New members join via our flagship summits, a unique experience of connecting, co-learning and collaboration with other social innovators from around the world. This is followed by ongoing, and life-long, community engagement, capacity building and support for their work.Through our Facilitators for Change program, building on our learnings from working with hundreds of social innovators we also trained over 150 civil society leaders in the facilitation skills needed to create spaces for collective impact.Through The Possibilists we work towards aligning the support ecosystem around a shared understanding of the needs and challenges of young changemakers and to create the best possible conditions for them to thrive and to deepen or scale their impact. Members of the alliance include Ashoka, ChangemakerXChange, One Young World, The Diana Award, We Are Family Foundation and Yunus & Youth. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916476/Rupert_Everett_and_Livia_Firth.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-renaissance-awards-in-florence-issue-a-rallying-cry-to-back-young-leaders-from-all-over-the-world-enacting-global-change-301644035.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - The BC Bud Corporation (CSE: BCBC) (OTCQB: BCBCF) ("The BC Bud Co" or the "Company"), a house of high-quality cannabis brands based out of British Columbia, Canada, announces the appointment of MNP LLP ("MNP") as its auditor. This follows the Company's prior announcement on August 9, 2022 of the resignation of Smythe LLP (the "Former Auditor") as its auditor. The Board and audit committee of the Company approved the appointment of MNP effective September 23, 2022. The Board and audit committee of the Company each approved the resignation of the Former Auditor and the appointment of MNP in place of the Former Auditor. There were no reservations or modified opinions in the Former Auditor's audit reports for the two most recently completed fiscal years of the Company, and there are no "reportable events" (as defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102")) between the Company and the Former Auditor. The Notice of Change of Auditor was approved by the Board. In accordance with NI 51-102, the Notice of Change of Auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and Board and have been filed on SEDAR. The Company is also pleased to announce, in conjunction with its upgrade to the OTCQB, as announced on October 4, 2022, that its symbol on the OTCQB has been changed to "BCBCF" at the Company's request to reflect its current branding. About The BC Bud Co The BC Bud Co is a house of brands created by industry professionals who are passionate about the user experience and the ever-changing consumer experience. Founder-led and based in British Columbia; we take the heritage of BC Bud seriously. Contact: Brayden Sutton, CEO brayden@thebcbc.com Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, including the effects of COVID-19. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139888 Jikos CEO and Co-Founder, Stephane Lintner, pictured above. (Source: Jiko) Jiko, an Oakland, CA-based financial network to store and move money, raised $40m in Series B funding. The round was led by Red River West, with support from Airbus Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, Owen Van Natta, Temaris & Associates, La Maison Partners, BPI France, Anthem Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Radicle Impact. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Led by CEO Stephane Lintner, Jiko new financial network, enabling companies from multinational corporations to startups to both store and move money, starting with the power of T-bills, made spendable. The company also announced today the public launch of its money storage solution, enabling companies of all tiers from multinational corporates to startups to store money in spendable T-bills. Jiko Money Storage provides companies of all sizes and across industries with low-cost access to T-bills thereby presenting a flexible alternative and complement to other money storage options. The platform also enables companies to conduct banking and financial activities in a secure manner. Cash is stored at leading custody bank BNY Mellon, put directly into T-bills with on-demand liquidity and will soon be made moveable 24/7 on the Jiko network. Lintner co-founded the company after nearly a decade at Goldman Sachs leading strategies across multiple asset classes and brings a rich scientific sensibility to his pioneering work, with a PhD in applied and computational mathematics from Caltech. A trained physicist, he previously spent time leading a company pursuing nuclear fusion-based propulsion in space. With Jiko, hes built an impressive leadership team with deep experience at organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Acorns, and Snap, Inc. FinSMEs 07/10/2022 Lightdash, a London, UK-based provider of an open source business intelligence platform, raised $8.4M in Seed funding. The round was led by Accel, with participation from Guy Podjarny, Ashley Kramer, Tristan Handy, Lars Bjork, Y Combinator and Moonfire. The company intends to use the funds to beta release Lightdash Cloud, hire new people and development new features. Cofounded in 2021 by CEO Hamzah Chaudharyand CTO Oliver Laslett, Lightdash is an open source BI platform built for analysts on top of the modern data tools they already use. It brings visual layer together with data modelling and transformation layer, creating a single system for data metrics for teams. It integrates with data tools such as dbt, Snowflake, Airbyte and Fivetran. FinSMEs 07/10/2022 On September 29, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. Xi Jinping pointed out that 50 years ago today, the elder generation of leaders of China and Japan, with foresight and vision and firm grasp of the situation, made the major political decision to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Over the past 50 years, with the joint efforts of the two governments and peoples, the two sides have successively reached four political documents and a series of important common understandings, and steadily deepened exchanges and cooperation in various fields, bringing important benefits to the two countries and peoples, and contributing to peace and development in the region and beyond. Xi Jinping underscored the importance he attaches to the development of China-Japan relations,noting that he would like to work with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations to steer the two sides toward building a China-Japan relationship that answers the call of the new era in line with the trends of the times. Fumio Kishida said 50 years ago, with strategic perspectives and political courage, the elder generation of leaders of Japan and China opened up a new historical journey for Japan-China relations. Over the past 50 years, Japan and China have made remarkable progress in cooperation in a wide range of fields, including economy, culture and personnel exchanges. It is of great significance for the two sides to join hands to open up a new future for Japan-China relations. Japan is ready to work with China to build a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship in the next 50 years, and jointly promote peace and prosperity in the two countries, the region and the world at large. On the same day, Premier Li Keqiang and Fumio Kishida exchanged congratulatory messages. Li Keqiang said China and Japan enjoy geographical proximity and cultural affinity, and are both important countries in the region and the international community. China is ready to work with Japan to maintain peaceful and friendly coexistence, safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, properly manage problems and disagreements, and promote sustained and sound progress of China-Japan relations with the 50th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations as a new starting point. On June 3, 2022 local time, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby. Marape warmly welcomed Wang Yi's visit and recalled with pleasure his visit to China in February this year to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on behalf of Pacific Island Countries and his fruitful and friendly exchanges with Chinese leaders. PNG admires the remarkable achievements China has made in its development and appreciates that China has accomplished its goal of poverty alleviation as scheduled and enabled its people to live a better life. PNG highly recognizes that developing countries have the same legitimate right to development. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has brought extensive benefits to developing countries including PNG. He thanked China for its great support to PNG in accelerating development, especially in infrastructure construction. Marape said, the important consensus reached by the two sides is becoming a reality, and the two countries have established strong political relations and close economic and trade ties. PNG firmly pursues the one-China principle and its friendship with China has become the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties. PNG has learned from China's development experience to set up special economic zones and yielded positive results. PNG will continue to dedicate itself to deepening practical cooperation between the two countries, accelerating the negotiation and conclusion of the free trade agreement and facilitating Chinese enterprises to invest in PNG. Wang Yi said, PNG is a bellwether of regional development and the "locomotive" of cooperation between China and South Pacific Island Countries. Bilateral relations have stood the test of the international landscape, and the two countries have built solid mutual trust. China appreciates PNG's full understanding of and firm support for China's efforts to safeguard its core interests. China also unhesitatingly stands with PNG, speaks up for PNG on the international and multilateral stage and supports PNG in actively exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. As PNG moves towards revitalization and prosperity, China will always be a good friend and good partner that PNG can trust. Wang Yi said, bilateral cooperation between China and PNG has shown vitality of multi-dimensional, multi-level and all-round development. China is ready to further synergize development strategies with PNG to explore new areas and open up new prospects for bilateral cooperation. The Chinese side supports PNG in establishing special economic zones, vigorously developing processing industries, increasing the added value of goods, speeding up industrialization, enhancing its capacity for self-driven development and translating its strengths in resources into advantages in development. China is ready to share development opportunities with PNG and welcomes PNG to expand its export of quality products to China. The two sides agreed to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity. Marape said, China is a member of the Pacific family, and the Pacific connects the PNG people and the Chinese people. PNG will remain firmly committed to its friendship with China. Wang Yi expressed his hope that people of the two countries will become good friends with mutual understanding and close exchanges, and more young people will join the cause of friendship between the two countries so that the friendship will be handed down from generation to generation. On the same day, Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of PNG Soroi Eoe, attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and jointly met the press. Ziebart Expands International Growth Across 7 New Countries Leading Automotive Franchise to Enter The Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kuwait, Ivory Coast, Nigeria & Greece October 07, 2022 // Franchising.com // TROY, Mich. - Keeping vehicles looking new, extending their life and ensuring the highest resale value are three of the many reasons Ziebart products and services continue to be in high demand around the world. Now, with over 400 locations and 1,200 service centers in 36 countries, Ziebart International Corporation announced it has signed Master Franchise agreements in seven new countries, including The Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kuwait, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Greece. The first Ziebart location in The Netherlands had a soft opening in late August with an official opening planned for late September. A franchise agreement for a new location in Azerbaijan was recently signed, along with a location in Kuwait, both set to open in mid-October. In addition, there will be a new location in Iraq that will open in November. The Ivory Coast location is planning to open in early December, and both Nigeria and Greece locations are planning to open their doors in early 2023. "We continue to see heightened demand for vehicle protection services domestically and overseas," said Thomas A. Wolfe, President and CEO of Ziebart International Corporation. "As more consumers understand the value of investing in their current vehicles to keep them protected and looking like new, we foresee ongoing interest from Master Franchisees looking to bring Ziebart to their respective countries." A Global Automotive Aftermarket Report projects the growth of $542 billion by 2026 up from $438 billion in 2020. With that growth in mind, Ziebart is expected to experience consistent growth in markets across the globe, breaking ground in even more countries in the near future. In addition, the franchise also opened three new locations last year - Ontario, NY and Irmo, SC as well as the highly anticipated Australia location. These new franchise locations are owned and operated by existing multi-unit operators, as well as new franchise owners. "The concept of extending the life of your vehicle is something that will always cross cultural borders," said Naji Younes, Vice President of International Business Development. "Wanting to protect your car from the elements and looking and feeling new is universal." Backed by more than 60 years of experience in automotive aftermarket franchising, Ziebart is actively seeking qualified franchise prospects to join its growing global network. About Ziebart Founded in 1959, Ziebart International Corporation is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services that extend the life of vehicles. Ziebart operates over 400 locations, with 1,200 service centers, in 36 countries. Ziebart continues to grow and offers domestic and international franchising opportunities, a best-in-class investment for qualified prospects. For more information about Ziebart including franchise opportunities, please visit www.ziebart.com. SOURCE Ziebart ### Media Contact: Taylor Nortman Fishman Public Relations P: 847.945.1300 ext. 237 tnortman@fishmanpr.com Add to Request List Added Request Information Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madison Metals Inc. (Madison or the Company) (CSE: GREN) (OTC: MMTLF) is pleased to provide an update to the binding letter of intent ("LOI") with Otjiwa Mining and Prospecting CC (Otjiwa) pursuant to which Madison would acquire an 85% interest in Exclusive Prospecting Licences 8531 (EPL-8531) and 8115 (EPL-8115) (the Transaction). EPL-8531 and EPL-8115 are located in the renowned Erongo Uranium Province of Namibia, Africa, where Madison already holds rights to Exclusive Prospecting License 7011 (EPL-7011) and has an agreement to acquire a 24% direct interest in Mining Licence 121 (ML121) (Figure 1). Through the Transaction, Madison is looking to consolidate ownership of land holdings in the uranium province with the goal to build upon minable uranium resources by expanding currently known uranium zones and making new discoveries. Namibia is the worlds second-highest uranium-producing country and holds the fifth-largest total uranium resources in the world. Otjiwa currently holds an intention to grant letter from Namibias Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) for EPL-8531 and EPL-8115. The approval and granting of the licences are subject to an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC). The Environmental Impact Assessment scoping study and Environmental Management Plan Report to obtain an ECC have already been submitted to the relevant authorities and is expecting a response shortly. Figure 1: Location of Madison North (EPL-7011 and EPL-8531), Madison West (EPL-8115 and ML121), and uranium-producing mines in Namibias Erongo Uranium Province. The Company is also pleased to announce that it is consolidating its various land holdings as a result of the continued expansion in the uranium province combined with the high likelihood of common infrastructure. Madison has designated that EPL-7011 and EPL-8531 (previously Rossing North) will be consolidated under the property name Madison North. Additionally, EPL-8115 and ML121 (previously Rossing West) will be consolidated under the property name Madison West. EPL-8531 EPL-8531 is located 50 km northeast of the city of Swakopmund and surrounds the Arandis townlands. The Rossing Mine lies approximately 50 km east of the property. The geology is made up of Damaran Super Group lithologies wrapped around units of the older Abbabis Metamorphic Complex. The overall lithological trend is north-northeast, as is common within the Welwitschia magnetic lineament deformation corridor. Structurally, the area is characterized by numerous faults, synforms and antiforms (Figure 2). Figure 2: Geological and structural setting of EPL-8531. Previous operators identified eleven prospective targets for further exploration, five of which fall within EPL-8531 (Figure 3). In 2015, drilling over two of the targets totalled 3,720 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling from 50 drill holes. Based on this drilling, SRK Consulting (UK) Limited (SRK) prepared an initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the intersected uranium mineralization, in accordance with the disclosure standards of JORC. The estimate, dated November 2015, was entitled MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE, EPLS3524 AND 3624, NAMIBIA. SRK derived an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 15.6 Mt grading at 260 ppm U 3 O 8 for a contained metal total of 9.0 Mlbs U 3 O 8 . Madisons attributable ownership of the resource will amount to 7.65 million pounds (Mlbs) U 3 O 8 . The SRK estimate is considered to be a historical estimate under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). It is not considered by the Company to be current and the Company is not treating it as such. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources. Madison would need to review and verify the previous drill-hole data and conduct an exploration program to verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Figure 3: Airborne radiometric signature and targets (blue outline) over EPL-8531. The white dots represent drillholes over the two different targets. EPL-8115 EPL-8115 is located 42 km east of the city of Swakopmund and spans an area of approximately 61 km2. The property is located 18 km southwest of the Rossing Uranium Mine the worlds longest-running open-pit uranium mine and 12 km west of the Husab Mine (Figure 1). Other properties in the vicinity that have NI 43-101-compliant resources include the Etango project to the southwest and Ida Dome to the southeast. EPL-8115 is underexplored and Madison plans to capitalize on the potential of this area. Geologically, the project area is comprised of units of the Abbabis Metamorphic Complex, intruded by leucogranites. Airborne radiometric data acquired from MME shows anomalous radiometric signatures on the northern portions of the licence area (Figure 4). Madison considers EPL-8115 to be highly prospective for leucogranite-hosted uranium mineralization. Figure 4: Airborne radiometric signature and targets (blue outline) over EPL-8115. Qualified Person Mary Barton, a Professional Natural Scientist (SACNASP) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for EPL-8115 and EPL-8531, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Madison Metals Inc. Madison Metals Inc (CSE: GREN) (OTC: MMTLF) is a Canadian green energy resource company with experienced management having particular expertise in the uranium mining industry. Madisons corporate objective is to build value by advancing Rossing-type uranium deposits identified in Kenora, Ontario, Canada and Namibia, Africa by utilizing cutting-edge technology and modern strategies. Additional information about Madison Metals Inc. can be found at madisonmetals.ca and on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. For further information, please contact: Duane Parnham Executive Chairman & CEO Madison Metals Inc. +1 (416) 489-0092 ir@madisonmetals.ca Media inquiries: Adam Bello Manager, Media & Analyst Relations Primoris Group Inc. +1 (416) 489-0092 media@primorisgroup.com Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as proposed, will, subject to, near future, in the event, would, expect, prepared to and other similar words or expressions. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that sufficient capital and other resources will be available to the Company to carry out its operations as currently planned. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; there being no assurances that the proposed exploration program will yield favourable results; the state of capital markets; the risk that the Company will not receive all necessary approvals required in order to conduct its operations as currently anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry; other unforeseen events and developments; factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities that are available on the Companys SEDAR profile page at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/53106ee9-8025-4363-b990-5010e0476620 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8874b9cf-216b-4f4e-b4fe-9552fb30e109 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db3bd2e4-0822-4ae1-aae4-67a7fa8ffb61 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb7ca87e-16df-4202-a5f0-a638085d4391 YERINGTON, Nev., Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) (OTC: NEVDF) (FSE: ZYTA) (Nevada Copper or the Company) refers to its news releases dated August 25, 2022 and September 26, 2022 with respect to the proposed financing package expected to provide up to $93 million of liquidity to the Company in order to support the restart and ramp-up of its Pumpkin Hollow underground copper mine (the Underground Mine) (the Restart Financing Package). As announced in the Companys news release dated September 26, 2022, the closing of the Restart Financing Package was expected to occur on or about October 5, 2022. Since the Companys news release of September 26, 2022: the Company has made positive progress with the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) to advance its previously announced financial hardship application with respect to the Restart Financing Package; the Companys largest shareholder, Pala Investments Limited (Pala), has offered additional financial support in the form of a US$25 million backstop commitment to supplement the Restart Financing Package (on top of Palas US$20 million equity investment under the Restart Financing Package), thereby increasing the liquidity available to the Company under the Restart Financing Package from up to US$93 million to up to US$118 million, which is expected to provide sufficient funding of the restart plan through to positive cashflow; and the Company has been discussing a non-binding term sheet proposal received from a third-party strategic investor for a separate investment that would be implemented following the Restart Financing Package. This transaction, if implemented, would provide additional funding and result in a change of control of the Company (the Change of Control Proposal). In connection with consideration of the Change of Control Proposal, the Company is in discussions with its various financing parties to complete the Restart Financing Package as soon as possible. This will allow the Company additional time to evaluate, negotiate and, if appropriate, finalize the Change of Control Proposal together with the implementation of the Restart Financing Package. If agreement can be reached on the Change of Control Proposal, such a transaction together with the Restart Financing Package is expected to provide the Company with new financing resources sufficient to complete the restart plan through to positive cashflow. There can be no assurance that the Change of Control Proposal will be agreed upon by the parties, the terms and conditions thereof or that any required approvals of the Companys stakeholders and applicable regulators will be obtained. Operations Update The Company has continued to make significant progress with its previously announced restart plan which is intended to de risk the restart process, including: Completion of the Dike Crossing: In a major milestone, the Company has substantially completed the second and most critical dike crossing and is continuing lateral development beyond the dike feature in order to access the larger stopes in the higher-grade East North Zone. In a major milestone, the Company has substantially completed the second and most critical dike crossing and is continuing lateral development beyond the dike feature in order to access the larger stopes in the higher-grade East North Zone. Contractor Tender Process Advanced: The tender has been issued for a new mining contractor for underground mine development. Confirmations of interest have been received from a number of highly qualified contractors that have reviewed the tender documentation and plan to visit the site with a bid walk to take place next week. The contract is expected to be awarded in December. The tender has been issued for a new mining contractor for underground mine development. Confirmations of interest have been received from a number of highly qualified contractors that have reviewed the tender documentation and plan to visit the site with a bid walk to take place next week. The contract is expected to be awarded in December. Restart Execution Plan: The Company has completed a detailed Project Execution Plan (the PEP) to accompany the third-party independently reviewed mine plan which was completed in Q3 2022. The PEP details how the phased approach to restart will be achieved, the recruitment plan, how capital projects will be managed, and how key risks will be mitigated, including key learnings from the previous operations. Both the mine plan and PEP have been reviewed in detail and approved by all of the Companys financing parties in their due diligence processes. Additional Financing Support from Pala From April 2022 to the date hereof, Pala has provided an aggregate of US$48.5 million of financing support to the Company, including to bridge to the closing of the Restart Financing Package. Pala has informed the Company that, in light of ongoing consideration of the Change of Control Proposal, it is willing to provide additional financing support to allow additional time for the evaluation and negotiation of the Change of Control Proposal and the corresponding delay in the closing of the Restart Financing Package. In this respect, Pala has agreed to provide additional funding of up to US$5 million (as pre-funding of its US$20 million equity investment under the Restart Financing Package) pursuant to a promissory note. Draws by the Company are subject to agreed use of proceeds and the Company reaching satisfactory arrangements with certain creditors and vendors. The promissory note has a maturity date of October 31, 2022 and bears interest at 12% per annum on amounts drawn. The promissory note is subject to approval by the TSX. The board of directors of the Company has formed a special committee (the Special Committee) consisting of independent directors to consider and oversee the negotiation of the Restart Financing Package, the Change of Control Proposal and the backstop commitment and promissory note to be provided by Pala. The Special Committee has met continuously throughout the evaluation and negotiation of all of such transactions and has approved the promissory note. Nevada Copper reminds shareholders that the terms of the Restart Financing Package are currently non-binding and closing is subject to, among other things, finalization of the specific terms thereof, negotiation and execution of definitive documentation and the satisfaction of various regulatory requirements including approval of the TSX. There can be no assurance that binding agreements will be entered into or completed (or that the regulatory and third-party approvals will be obtained) with respect to Restart Financing Package, the Change of Control Proposal, the backstop commitment or the promissory note on terms satisfactory to the Company and within the required timeframe, or at all. If the Restart Financing Package is not completed, absent other financing, the Company will not be able to continue carrying on business in the ordinary course and may need to pursue proceedings for creditor protection. The Companys creditors may also seek to commence enforcement action, including realizing on their security over the Companys assets. Qualified Person The technical information and data in this news release has been reviewed by Steven Newman, Registered Member SME, Vice President, Technical Services for Nevada Copper, who is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. About Nevada Copper Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) is a copper producer and owner of the Pumpkin Hollow copper project. Located in Nevada, USA, Pumpkin Hollow has substantial reserves and resources including copper, gold and silver. Its two fully permitted projects include the high-grade Underground Mine and processing facility, which is now in the production stage, and a large-scale open pit project, which is advancing towards feasibility status. Randy Buffington President & CEO For additional information, please see the Companys website at www.nevadacopper.com, or contact: Tracey Thom | Vice President, IR and Community Relations tthom@nevadacopper.com +1 775 391 9029 Cautionary Language on Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of the funding package described above, including the terms and timing thereof, the plans and requirement for supplementary financing and the expected amounts thereof, regulatory requirements, the Companys financial hardship exemption application, the use of proceeds from the Restart Financing Package, creditor protection proceedings, mine planning, the execution of the mine restart plan and expected development schedule, and the expected costs of the restart and ramp-up process, expectations regarding the Companys restart and mine plans, the agreement of Pala to provide additional funding and the terms thereof, and statements that relate to the Change of Control Proposal. There can be no assurance that transactions relating to the Restart Financing Package, the Change of Control Proposal, the backstop commitment or the promissory note will be completed or that the cost estimates for the Restart Package will be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, potential, is expected, anticipated, is targeted, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future performance and results. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and events to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those relating to: requirements for additional capital and no assurance can be given regarding the availability thereof; the outcome of discussions with creditors and vendors; potential creditor protection proceedings; the ability of the Company to complete the ramp-up of the Underground Mine within the expected cost estimates and timeframe; the impact of COVID-19 on the business and operations of the Company; the state of financial markets; history of losses; dilution; adverse events relating to milling operations, construction, development and ramp-up, including the ability of the Company to address underground development and process plant issues; ground conditions; cost overruns relating to development, construction and ramp-up of the Underground Mine; loss of material properties; interest rate increases; global economy; limited history of production; future metals price fluctuations; speculative nature of exploration activities; periodic interruptions to exploration, development and mining activities; environmental hazards and liability; industrial accidents; failure of processing and mining equipment to perform as expected; labour disputes; supply problems; uncertainty of production and cost estimates; the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore reserves, grade of mineralization or recovery rates from managements expectations and the difference may be material; legal and regulatory proceedings and community actions; accidents; title matters; regulatory approvals and restrictions; increased costs and physical risks relating to climate change, including extreme weather events, and new or revised regulations relating to climate change; permitting and licensing; dependence on management information systems and cyber security risks; volatility of the market price of the Companys securities; insurance; competition; hedging activities; currency fluctuations; loss of key employees; other risks of the mining industry as well as those risks discussed in the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis in respect of the year ended December 31, 2021 and the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2022. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: no adverse developments in respect of the property or operations at the project; no material changes to applicable laws; the ramp-up of operations at the Underground Mine in accordance with managements plans and expectations; no worsening of the current COVID-19 related work restrictions; reduced impacts of COVID-19 going forward; the Company will be able to obtain sufficient additional funding to complete the ramp-up, no material adverse change to the price of copper from current levels; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information and statements are stated as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information and statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Specific reference is made to Risk Factors in the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis in respect of the year ended December 31, 2021 and the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2022, for a discussion of factors that may affect forward-looking statements and information. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, should other risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and events may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements and information. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Companys filings that are available at www.sedar.com. The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. English French Toronto, ON, Canada, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Carbon Inc. (TSX-V:CCB) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Irondequoit Carbon Co., LLC (Irondequoit) providing for a potential future joint venture and the sale of a minimum of 25% of the graphite produced from the Companys Miller deposit located in Grenville-Sur-La-Rouge, Quebec (the Subject Graphite). Under the terms of the MOU, Irondequoit will have the exclusive right for a period of three years (subject to extension) to conclude binding offtake agreements with certain entities engaged in the aerospace, high performance lithium battery energy storage, and other high margin verticals. Additionally, Irondequoit will assist the Company with its efforts to raise the capital necessary to build a primary processing operation for graphite on the site of its Miller deposit. Finally, the MOU contemplates the formation of a joint venture arrangement with the following primary objectives: Commitment of a minimum of 25% of the Subject Graphite from Miller; Development of a value-added processing operation in the United States (likely in New York State); An economic construct whereby the Company and Irondequoit will share net profits from the joint venture on a 50/50 basis. Ellerton Castor, Chief Executive Officer of the Company comments: Canada Carbon is very excited to work with Irondequoit on what is a major step toward the commercialization of the Companys Miller Graphite Deposit. This MOU lays the groundwork for a pathway which could expedite achievement of the Companys longstanding objectives in the safe, responsible, and profitable development of the Miller deposit. Irondequoit is an excellent partner, who brings a very complimentary set of capabilities to the contemplated venture. We really look forward to working together in the coming months. Stefan Hawrylak, spokesperson for Irondequoit comments: Irondequoit is pleased to work with Canada Carbon to solidify sustainable long-term government as well as defense and aerospace industry customers as part of the commercialization of Canada Carbons Miller Graphite Deposit. Developing this secure Canadian deposit of ultra-high-purity nuclear graphite, having achieved 99.9998% Ct purity utilizing commercially available nuclear graphite thermal upgrading, is integral to the long-term national security of Canada and the United States. Irondequoit will endeavor to work with the various defense and aerospace industry stakeholders to bring this critical source of natural graphite to market. We look forward to collaborating with Mr. Castor and the team at Canada Carbon. CANADA CARBON INC. Ellerton Castor Chief Executive Officer and Director Contact Information E-mail inquiries: info@canadacarbon.com P: (905) 407-1212 IRONDEQUOIT CARBON CO., LLC. Stefan Hawrylak Spokesperson Contact Information E-mail inquiries: info@irondequoitcarbon.com P: (302) 313-6821 FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (forward-looking information) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this press release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this press release includes statements regarding the development of the Companys Miller deposit and financing thereof, the entering of the joint venture with Irondequoit Offering, future production from the Companys Miller deposit, sales agreements and other matters related thereto. In disclosing the forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. 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 information. Such factors include but are not limited to: compliance with extensive government regulations; financial abilities; the ability to develop the Miller deposit; domestic and foreign laws and regulations adversely affecting the Companys business and results of operations; the impact of COVID-19; and general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise. 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. Potential acquisition of a hotel company in Sicily by AS Pro Kapital Grupp AS Pro Kapital Grupp (Pro Kapital) has signed on April, 26 2022 a preliminary agreement with an intention to buy 100% of the shares of P.K. Sicily S.P.A. (registered office in Milan, Italy), which owns and operates hotel Domina Zagarella Sicily. With this agreement Pro Kapital, as a promissory buyer, reserved its rights to buy the shares for the price of 12 million euros and initiates legal and financial due diligence. Pro Kapital had time until September, 30 2022 to decide whether to proceed with the transaction or decline. As the legal and financial due diligence has taken longer than expected, the parties have agreed that Pro Kapital has until January, 31 2023 to decide whether to proceed with the transaction or decline. Domina Zagarella with its 340 hotel rooms and various facilities is located in Santa Flavia, on the seaside, just a few kilometres from Palermo. Edoardo Axel Preatoni Member of the Management Board Phone: +372 614 4920 Email: prokapital@prokapital.ee Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medium Voltage Cables Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global medium voltage cables market size reached US$ 51.74 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 72.78 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.85% during 2021-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Medium voltage cables are power cables comprising three layers, such as conductor and insulation screen, and insulation material. They are highly flexible and durable and offer protection against abrasion, tearing and wearing, and environmental impacts. They are safer and cost-effective as medium voltage cables are laid underground with less operation and maintenance costs. In addition, they provide a reliable power source during unpredictable power outage situations by efficiently distributing power to isolated areas. Apart from this, they are easy to install, offer a long shelf-life, and improve resistance to pulling, twisting, and tension. As a result, they find extensive applications in oil and gas, mining, chemical, and electrical industries across the globe. Medium Voltage Cables Market Trends: Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, there is a rise in the demand for efficient power generation, transmission, and distribution across the globe. This, along with various innovations in the design of medium voltage cables, represents one of the key factors driving the market. Besides this, key market players are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to introduce high-performance insulating system technology (HPTE) for replacing medium voltage cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables. They are also focusing on various marketing strategies to expand their customer base, which is contributing to the growth of the market. In addition, the growing demand for renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution is positively influencing the market. Moreover, the increasing demand for underground cables on account of the lesser number of annual faults compared to overhead cables is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Apart from this, the rising utilization of medium voltage cables in the mining industry to supply power to drills, shovels, and haulers is bolstering the growth of the market. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being ABB Ltd, Brugg Cables (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eland Cables, Hellenic Cables S.A., LS Cable & System (LS Group), Nexans S.A., NKT A/S, Prysmian S.p.A., Riyadh Cables, Southwire Company LLC, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Synergy Cables and TPC Wire & Cable. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global medium voltage cables market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global medium voltage cables market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the voltage? What is the breakup of the market based on the product? What is the breakup of the market based on the installation? What is the breakup of the market based on the end user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global medium voltage cables market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Medium Voltage Cables Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Voltage 6.1 Up to 25kV 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 26kV-50kV 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 51kV-75kV 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 76kV-100kV 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Product 7.1 Termination Cables 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Joints 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 XLPE Cables 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 7.4 Others 7.4.1 Market Trends 7.4.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Installation 8.1 Underground 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Submarine 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Overhead 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by End User 9.1 Industrial 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Commercial 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Utility 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players 15.3.1 ABB Ltd 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2 Brugg Cables (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.3 Eland Cables 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4 Hellenic Cables S.A. 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5 LS Cable & System (LS Group) 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6 Nexans S.A. 15.3.6.1 Company Overview 15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6.3 Financials 15.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.7 NKT A/S 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.7.3 Financials 15.3.8 Prysmian S.p.A. 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8.3 Financials 15.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.9 Riyadh Cables 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.10 Southwire Company LLC 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.10.3 SWOT Analysis 15.3.11 Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. 15.3.11.1 Company Overview 15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11.3 Financials 15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.12 Synergy Cables 15.3.12.1 Company Overview 15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.13 TPC Wire & Cable 15.3.13.1 Company Overview 15.3.13.2 Product Portfolio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/two91 Attachment Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Microwave Oven Market By Structure, By Production, By Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global microwave oven market was valued at $8,547.20 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $15,587.10 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2022 to 2031. Today, microwave ovens form an integral part of kitchen appliances. Microwave oven functions on thermal energy by heating the polar molecules in food, a process also known as dialectic heating. The microwave radiations emitted from microwave ovens are of shorter wavelength, but possess enormous amount of energy which facilitate faster cooking. Microwave ovens, depending on their power output, can alternatively use for roasting, baking and grilling. Microwave ovens are manufactured with varied features, include, touch display panels, heating chamber, vents and a glass turntable. North America is a major revenue contributing region to the global microwave oven market. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness an impressive growth in the microwave oven market. A significant increase in disposable income and growing working class segment would foster the growth of the Asia-Pacific microwave oven market. Increasing propensity of consumers to spend on appliances which assist them in kitchen chores has generated an increasing demand for microwave ovens. In addition, changing lifestyle has encouraged the individuals for opting stylish and convenient appliances which complement their living standards. However, prominent use of traditional cooking equipment in developing regions limits the growth of microwave oven market. Moreover, need of energy efficient kitchen appliances and growing demand for smart appliances are factors that would drive the growth of the microwave oven market. However, in many regions, people still use traditional cooking equipment for cooking purposes. In many developing economies, majority of the population live in the rural areas, where use of traditional cooking equipment is still prevalent. For people in these areas traditional cooking equipment are more convenient than microwave oven due to tow key factors - lack of education/awareness and shortage of power/electricity, thus restricting the growth of the market. In addition, increased disposable income has changed the consumption patterns of consumers and has influenced them to spend more on premium products. Market players are continuously launching energy efficient appliances at affordable prices, thus; increasing the popularity of these products among the consumers. Rising cost of electricity has also enforced consumers to opt for energy-efficient appliances. Top players are adopting various strategies in the market in order to acquire a bigger market share in the microwave oven market. Their key development strategies include product launch and acquisition & expansion. In addition, the major key players included in the microwave oven market analysis are LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Alto-Shaam Inc., AB Electrolux, Sharp Corporation, Hoover Limited, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Galanz Enterprise Group, Whirlpool Corporation and Panasonic Corporation. The global microwave oven market is segmented on the basis of type, production, structure and region. Three types of microwave oven are covered in this report such as convection, grill and solo. The convection microwave oven accounts for the largest market share within the global microwave oven market. Owing to its high functionality feature, convection microwave oven is witnessing a rapid growth. The report is also analyzed from the perspective of application of microwave oven. Household application of microwave oven accounts for a higher share than the commercial application. The product structure segment comprises built-in and counter top. Built-in microwave oven is expensive and involves installation charges, whereas counter top microwave ovens do not have any installation cost and can be placed conveniently in the kitchen. The report covers an in-depth analysis of the microwave oven market across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and LAMEA. Key Benefits: A thorough analysis of current and future trends in Global Microwave Oven market elucidates the imminent investment pockets in this region. The report provides information regarding key drivers, restraints and opportunities with impact analysis- Porter's five forces model and a SWOT analysis of the industry illustrates the potency of the buyers & suppliers participating in the market Quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2020-2031 are provided to showcase the financial appetency of the market The report provides detailed analysis of Global Microwave Oven market with respect to type of microwave oven, types of application, product structure and region to enable stakeholders take precise investment decisions Value chain analysis in the report provides a clear understanding on the roles of stakeholders involved in the value chain Key Topics Covered: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW 3.1. Market definition and scope 3.2. Key findings 3.2.1. Top investment pockets 3.3. Porter's five forces analysis 3.4. Top player positioning 3.5. Market dynamics 3.5.1. Drivers 3.5.2. Restraints 3.5.3. Opportunities 3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the market 3.7. Market Share Analysis CHAPTER 4: MICROWAVE OVEN MARKET, BY STRUCTURE 4.1 Overview 4.1.1 Market size and forecast 4.2 Built In 4.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.2.3 Market analysis by country 4.3 Counter Top 4.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.3.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 5: MICROWAVE OVEN MARKET, BY PRODUCTION 5.1 Overview 5.1.1 Market size and forecast 5.2 Commercial 5.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 5.2.3 Market analysis by country 5.3 Household 5.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 5.3.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 6: MICROWAVE OVEN MARKET, BY TYPE 6.1 Overview 6.1.1 Market size and forecast 6.2 Convection 6.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.2.3 Market analysis by country 6.3 Grill 6.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.3.3 Market analysis by country 6.4 Solo 6.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.4.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 7: MICROWAVE OVEN MARKET, BY REGION CHAPTER 8: COMPANY LANDSCAPE 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Top winning strategies 8.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player 8.4. Competitive Dashboard 8.5. Competitive Heatmap 8.6. Key developments CHAPTER 9: COMPANY PROFILES 9.1 Hoover Limited 9.1.1 Company overview 9.1.2 Company snapshot 9.1.3 Operating business segments 9.1.4 Product portfolio 9.1.5 Business performance 9.1.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.2 Alto-Shaam Inc. 9.2.1 Company overview 9.2.2 Company snapshot 9.2.3 Operating business segments 9.2.4 Product portfolio 9.2.5 Business performance 9.2.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.3 Illinois Tool Works Inc. 9.3.1 Company overview 9.3.2 Company snapshot 9.3.3 Operating business segments 9.3.4 Product portfolio 9.3.5 Business performance 9.3.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.4 LG Electronics 9.4.1 Company overview 9.4.2 Company snapshot 9.4.3 Operating business segments 9.4.4 Product portfolio 9.4.5 Business performance 9.4.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.5 Samsung Electronics 9.5.1 Company overview 9.5.2 Company snapshot 9.5.3 Operating business segments 9.5.4 Product portfolio 9.5.5 Business performance 9.5.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.6 Galanz Enterprise Group 9.6.1 Company overview 9.6.2 Company snapshot 9.6.3 Operating business segments 9.6.4 Product portfolio 9.6.5 Business performance 9.6.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.7 AB Electrolux 9.7.1 Company overview 9.7.2 Company snapshot 9.7.3 Operating business segments 9.7.4 Product portfolio 9.7.5 Business performance 9.7.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.8 Sharp Corporation 9.8.1 Company overview 9.8.2 Company snapshot 9.8.3 Operating business segments 9.8.4 Product portfolio 9.8.5 Business performance 9.8.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.9 Whirlpool Corporation 9.9.1 Company overview 9.9.2 Company snapshot 9.9.3 Operating business segments 9.9.4 Product portfolio 9.9.5 Business performance 9.9.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.10 Panasonic Corporation 9.10.1 Company overview 9.10.2 Company snapshot 9.10.3 Operating business segments 9.10.4 Product portfolio 9.10.5 Business performance 9.10.6 Key strategic moves and developments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dnundt Attachment Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Zero Trust Security Market by Solution Type (Data Security, Endpoint Security, API Security, Security Analytics and Security Policy Management), Deployment Mode, Authentication Type, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Zero trust security market size is expected to grow from an estimated value of USD 27.4 Billion in 2022 to USD 60.7 Billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.3% from 2022 to 2027. Some of the factors that are driving the market growth includes an increase in the frequency of target-based cyber-attacks. However, design and implementation challenges to deploying zero trust security solutions is expected to hinder the market growth. By deployment mode, cloud-based zero trust security solutions to account for a higher market share during the forecast period cloud-based zero trust security solutions provide a cost-effective approach for enterprises across verticals to enhance security. Pricing is a major differentiating factor encouraging the adoption of cloud-based security solutions over on-premises security solutions. The growing virtualization across industries and increasing adoption of cloud computing solutions are the major factors leading to the rise in demand for cloud-based zero trust security solutions in various countries. Moreover, the cloud-based deployment of zero trust security solutions can help organizations reduce the costs associated with expensive hardware equipment required for storage, power, and cooling. Apart from operational benefits, cloud-based security solutions offer technical expertise, eliminating the cost incurred for IT maintenance by any organization. Cloud deployments are suitable for SMEs that usually have a limited budget for securing critical assets from cyberattacks. Furthermore, deploying security solutions in the cloud can help businesses focus on their core operational functionalities rather than increasingly investing in capital infrastructure for IT security. Cloud-based zero trust security solutions help secure access control management (ACM) in a physical and virtualized cloud data center environment. Enterprises that have completely migrated their IT capabilities to the cloud are increasingly deploying cloud-based zero-trust security solutions, driving market growth. By vertical, healthcare and social assistance to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The healthcare vertical is becoming a prime target for cybercriminals. Healthcare enterprises have a large repository of patient information, such as names, phone numbers, social security numbers, insurance details, biometric data, email addresses, and medical records. Furthermore, healthcare firms also store the payment data of customers, which also becomes a target for hackers to exploit. According to the Protected Health Information Data Breach Report (PHIDBR) conducted by Verizon in 2018, the prime focus of data breaches in the healthcare vertical was healthcare medical records comprising patient identities and medical history. PHIDBR also revealed that 70% of the incidents were ransomware attacks with malicious code, and 58% of the security incidents involved insiders leaving sensitive data open for misuse. Moreover, these types of security breaches and unauthorized access to the personal information of patients result in various fraudulent attacks. Healthcare firms are shifting toward digitally driven processes and rapidly adopting zero trust security solutions for the digital security of internal and external endpoints. Market Dynamics Drivers Increase in the Frequency of Target-Based Cyberattacks Growth in Regulations for Data Protection and Information Security Greater Need to Reduce Business and Organizational Risks Restraints Budgetary Constraints Among Small and Emerging Startups in Developing Countries Need for Continuous Administration to Ensure Enduring Protection Opportunities High Demand for Improved Visibility due to the Rise in IoT Traffic Among Enterprises Increase in Need for Cloud-Based Zero Trust Security Solutions Among Smes Challenges Design and Implementation Challenges to Deploying Zero Trust Security Solutions Lack of Cybersecurity Professionals to Handle the Critical Infrastructure Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview and Industry Trends 6 Zero Trust Security Market, by Solution Type 7 Zero Trust Security Market, by Deployment Mode 8 Zero Trust Security Market, by Authentication Type 9 Zero Trust Security Market, by Organization Size 10 Zero Trust Security Market, by Vertical 11 Zero Trust Security Market, by Region 12 Competitive Landscape 13 Company Profiles 14 Adjacent Markets 15 Appendix Companies Mentioned Akamai Broadcom Centrify Check Point Cisco Cloudflare Cyxtera Technologies Forcepoint Fortinet Google Ibm Illumio Microsoft Okta On2It Palo Alto Networks Pulse Secure Qnext Corporation Rsa Sonicwall Sophos Trellix Trend Micro Varonis Vmware Zscaler For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/40lg1f Attachment The Company is providing support for employees impacted by Hurricane Ian and is facilitating a donation to a Florida Relief Fund to aid recovery efforts In 2022, Verano has opened 20 new MUV locations in Florida, underscoring the Companys continued retail expansion across the state Veranos active operations span 13 states, comprised of 119 dispensaries and 14 cultivation and processing facilities with more than 1 million square feet of cultivation capacity CHICAGO, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (Verano or the Company), a leading multi-state cannabis company, today announced the Company will host grand openings for two new MUV retail locations in Florida on October 7: MUV Panama City Beach, located at 7915 Panama City Beach Parkway, and MUV Port Orange, located at 3880 S. Nova Road. MUV dispensaries are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To support the Companys Florida team members and hurricane recovery efforts across the state, Verano will provide assistance to employees who incurred damage to their homes or property as a result of the storm. The Company will also make a donation to a Florida Relief Fund to support communities across the state directly impacted by Hurricane Ian. We are incredibly grateful for our team who faced unique challenges in the wake of Hurricane Ian, and did everything possible to maintain access to medicine for our patients while also prioritizing their own health and safety, said John Tipton, President of Verano. As the healing and recovery process continues across Florida, we are grateful to open dispensaries in Volusia County, and our first MUV dispensary in Panama City Beach, to provide patients with additional convenient locations to access their needed medicine. We remain committed to providing support to our valued team members and communities as disaster relief and recovery efforts continue, and are grateful for all first responders and volunteers who are aiding countless Floridians across the state during this time of need. As a demonstration of Veranos commitment to provide a convenient and reliable experience for Florida patients, MUV dispensaries feature online menus for effortless browsing of their extensive, award-winning product selection, including the Companys signature Verano Reserve flower, Encore edibles, and Savvy flower and extracts. The Company also offers one-on-one virtual and in-store consultations at no cost to the patient and provides patient-centric concierge services via phone, email, web chat and text to address patient questions and inquiries. For additional convenience and accessibility, patients can choose to order ahead at muvfl.com or through the MUV mobile application available in the Google Play and Apple App stores for express in-store pickup. MUVs comprehensive product selection includes edibles, chocolates and lozenges, flower, pre-rolls, an array of vaporizer pens, concentrates, metered-dose inhalers, topicals and oral sprays; along with patented encapsulation formulations in its EnCaps capsules, tinctures, 72-hour transdermal patches and transdermal gels. For more information about MUV medical cannabis dispensaries, visit muvfl.com. About Verano Verano is a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands, including Verano, Avexia, Encore, Savvy and MUV. Veranos portfolio encompasses 14 U.S. states, with active operations in 13, including 14 production facilities comprising over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation capacity. Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands including Zen Leaf and MUV, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at www.verano.com. Contacts: Media Verano Grace Bondy Manager, Communications Grace.Bondy@verano.com Investors Verano Julianna Paterra, CFA Director, Investor Relations Julianna.Paterra@verano.com Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Companys beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. Generally, such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, future, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, projects intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein, including, without limitation, the risk factors described in the Companys registration statement on Form 10, as amended, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except as may be required in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice regarding forward-looking information and statements. ### Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global MS Polymer Adhesives Market by Type (Adhesives, Sealants), End-use Industry (Building & Construction, Automotive & Transportation, Industrial Assembly) and Region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, Middle East & Africa) - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global MS polymer adhesives market is expected to grow from USD 5.2 billion in 2021 to USD 7.5 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. The global adhesives market is witnessing a shift from the consumption of conventional resin adhesives to that of MS polymer adhesives. Hybrid adhesives and sealants are mainly silylated urethane and silylated polyether (MS polymer)-based products. They have been developed to extend the property range of conventional polyurethane adhesives & sealants. Silylated polyether-based hybrids provide low viscosity, low glass transition temperature, flexibility over a wide temperature range, and low odor. Use in automobiles and aerospace applications to drive the market The MS polymer adhesives market for the aerospace end-use industry is entirely dependent on developing new aircraft and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO). The commercial aerospace market has witnessed high demand in the past few years owing to the rise in demand for advanced aircraft, which is largely influenced by the entry of new airlines and the expansion of existing airlines. An increase in air traffic, demand for fuel-efficient aircraft, replacement of obsolete aircraft, and economic growth in the emerging markets are likely to drive the demand for MS polymer adhesives in this end-use industry segment during the forecast period. The growing middle-class population and their rising income in emerging countries are contributing to the demand for air travel, thereby driving the demand for new commercial aircraft. Such developments will play an important role in fueling the growth of the MS polymer adhesives market. Europe projected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period The demand for MS polymer adhesives in Europe is mainly driven by Western European countries, such as Germany, UK, and France. The automotive industry is one of the biggest in Europe, and many global automotive manufacturing leaders are established in the region. According to ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Europeens d'Automobiles), vehicle manufacturing is a strategic industry in Europe, where 19.2 million cars, vans, trucks, and buses are manufactured annually. Automobile manufacturers operate 309 vehicle assembly and production plants in 27 countries across Europe. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Significant Opportunities in MS Polymer Adhesives Market 4.2 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by End-use Industry 4.3 Asia-Pacific: MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by End-use Industry and Country, 2021 4.4 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, Developed vs. Emerging Countries 4.5 MS Polymer Adhesives Market: Growing Demand from Asia-Pacific 4.6 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by Key Countries 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Overview of Expanded Polystyrene Market 5.2.1 Expanded Polystyrene Foam Adoption in Product Markets 5.4 Value Chain Overview 5.4.1 Value Chain Analysis 5.5 Market Dynamics 5.3.1 Drivers 5.3.1.1 Growing Demand for Hybrid Resins in Manufacturing 5.3.1.2 Unavailability of New Polymeric Materials 5.3.1.3 Environmental Regulations in North America and Europe 5.3.2 Restraints 5.3.2.1 Lack of Acceptance from End-users 5.3.3 Opportunities 5.3.3.1 Growing Demand for Non-Hazardous, Green, and Sustainable Adhesives and Sealants 5.3.4 Challenges 5.3.4.1 Limited Market Opportunities in Developed Countries 5.6 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.6.1 Threat of New Entrants 5.6.2 Threat of Substitutes 5.6.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 5.6.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers 5.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5.7 Key Stakeholders & Buying Criteria 5.7.1 Key Stakeholders in Buying Process 5.7.2 Buying Criteria 5.8 Macroeconomic Indicators 5.8.1 Introduction 5.8.2 GDP Trends and Forecast 5.9 Technology Overview 5.10 Case Studies 5.11 Average Selling Price Trend 5.12 Export-Import Trade Statistics 5.13 Supply Chain Crises Since Pandemic 5.14 Global Scenarios 5.14.1 China 5.14.1.1 Debt Issues 5.14.1.2 Australia-China Trade War 5.14.1.3 Environmental Commitments 5.14.2 Europe 5.14.2.1 Political Instability in Germany 5.14.2.2 Energy Crisis in Europe 5.15 Ecosystem Map 5.16 Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customer Businesses 5.17 Global Regulatory Framework and Impact on MS Polymer Adhesives Market 5.17.1 Regulatory Bodies, Government Agencies, and Other Organizations 5.17.2 Tariffs and Regulations 5.18 Patent Analysis 5.18.1 Methodology 5.18.2 Publication Trends 5.18.3 Insights 5.18.4 Jurisdiction Analysis 5.18.5 Top Applicants 5.19 COVID-19 Impact Analysis 5.19.1 COVID-19 Economic Assessment 5.19.2 Economic Impact of COVID-19: Scenario Assessment 5.2 Key Conferences and Events in 2022-2023 6 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Adhesives 6.3 Sealants 7 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by End-use Industry 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Building & Construction 7.2.1 Use in Bonding, Renovation, and Maintenance & Repair of Buildings 7.3 Automotive & Transportation 7.3.1 Use in Automobiles and Aerospace 7.3 Industrial Assembly 7.3.1 Increasing Need for Marine and Wind Energy 7.4 Others 8 MS Polymer Adhesives Market, by Region 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Asia-Pacific 8.2.1 China 8.2.1.1 Development of New Manufacturing Facilities 8.2.2 South Korea 8.2.2.1 Growth in Automotive Industry 8.2.3 India 8.2.3.1 Government Initiatives to Help Growth of End-use Industries 8.2.4 Japan 8.2.4.1 Dominance in Automotive Industry Challenged by Emerging Countries 8.2.5 Thailand 8.2.5.1 Growing Aviation Industry 8.2.6 Indonesia 8.2.6.1 Availability of Cheap Labor and Raw Materials 8.2.7 Malaysia 8.2.7.1 Auto Manufacturing Hub 8.2.8 Rest of Asia-Pacific 8.4 North America 8.4.1 US 8.4.1.1 Largest Market Share in Region 8.4.2 Canada 8.4.2.1 Growing End-use Industries 8.4.3 Mexico 8.4.3.1 Low-Cost Manufacturing 8.3 Europe 8.3.1 Germany 8.3.1.1 Largest Producer in Europe 8.3.3 Russia 8.3.3.1 Currency Devaluation 8.3.4 Italy 8.3.4.1 Increasing Automobile Production and Exports 8.3.5 Turkey 8.3.5.1 Infrastructure Investment by Government 8.3.6 France 8.3.6.1 Moderate Growth in End-use Industries 8.3.7 Spain 8.3.7.1 Automotive Sector to Positively Influence Market Growth 8.3.9 UK 8.3.9.1 Severely Impacted by COVID-19 8.3.10 Rest of Europe 8.6 South America 8.6.1 Brazil 8.6.1.1 Emerging Economy and Automotive Industry 8.6.2 Argentina 8.6.2.1 Increasing Population and Improved Economic Conditions 8.6.4 Rest of South America 8.5 Middle East & Africa 8.5.2 Africa 8.5.2.1 Higher Share of Automotive Industry 8.5.4 UAE 8.5.4.1 Growing Aircraft Manufacturing Activities 8.5.5 Rest of Middle East 9 Competitive Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Market Share Analysis 9.2.1 Market Ranking Analysis 9.3 Key Player Strategies/Right to Win 9.4 Company Revenue Analysis 9.5 Competitive Leadership Mapping, 2021 9.5.1 Stars 9.5.2 Emerging Leaders 9.5.3 Pervasive Players 9.5.4 Participants 9.6 SME Matrix, 2021 9.6.1 Progressive Companies 9.6.2 Dynamic Companies 9.6.3 Starting Blocks 9.6.4 Responsive Companies 9.7 Strength of Product Portfolio 9.8 Business Strategy Excellence 9.9 Competitive Benchmarking 9.10 Competitive Scenario 9.10.1 Market Evaluation Framework 9.10.2 Market Evaluation Matrix 9.11 Strategic Developments 9.11.1 New Product Developments 10 Company Profiles 10.1 Henkel AG 10.1.1 Business Overview 10.1.2 Products Offered 10.1.3 Analyst's View 10.2 Sika AG 10.2.1 Business Overview 10.2.2 Products Offered 10.2.3 Recent Developments 10.2.4 Analyst's View 10.3 Arkema (Bostik) 10.3.1 Business Overview 10.3.2 Products Offered 10.3.3 Recent Developments 10.3.4 Analyst's View 10.4 3M Company 10.4.1 Business Overview 10.4.2 Products Offered 10.4.3 Recent Developments 10.4.4 Analyst's View 10.5 Wacker Chemie AG 10.5.1 Business Overview 10.5.2 Products Offered 10.5.3 Analyst's View 10.6 H.B. Fuller 10.6.1 Business Overview 10.6.2 Products Offered 10.6.3 Analyst's View 10.7 Tremco Illbruck GmbH & Co. KG 10.7.1 Business Overview 10.7.2 Products Offered 10.7.3 Recent Developments 10.7.4 Analyst's View 10.8 Hermann Otto GmbH 10.8.1 Business Overview 10.8.2 Products Offered 10.9 Soudal Group 10.9.1 Business Overview 10.9.2 Products Offered 10.10 Mapei S.p.A. 10.10.1 Business Overview 10.10.2 Products Offered 10.11 Novachem Corporation Ltd. 10.11.1 Business Overview 10.11.2 Products Offered 10.12 Permabond LLC 10.12.1 Business Overview 10.12.2 Products Offered 10.13 Kisling AG 10.13.1 Business Overview 10.13.2 Products Offered 10.14 Weicon GmbH & Co. KG 10.14.1 Business Overview 10.14.2 Products Offered 10.14.3 Recent Developments 10.15 Merz+Benteli AG 10.15.1 Business Overview 10.15.2 Products Offered 10.15.3 Recent Developments 10.16 American Sealants, Inc. 10.16.1 Business Overview 10.16.2 Products Offered 10.17 Forgeway Limited 10.17.1 Business Overview 10.17.2 Products Offered 10.18 Weiss Chemie + Technik GmbH & Co. KG 10.18.1 Business Overview 10.18.2 Products Offered 10.19 DL Chemicals 10.19.1 Business Overview 10.19.2 Products Offered 10.20 Tech-Masters 10.20.1 Business Overview 10.20.2 Products Offered 11 Adjacent/Related Markets 12 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7guvrh Attachment Pune, India, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The US Genetic Testing Market size is expected to achievement momentum by reaching USD 10.29 billion by 2027 while exhibiting an impressive CAGR of 13.0% between 2020 and 2027. This data is published by Fortune Business Insights in its latest report. The report further indicates that the market stood at USD 4.11 billion in 2019. Factors such as rising prevalence of chronic disorders and the increasing awareness regarding the efficacy of genetic testing in the U.S. will share to the growth of the market during the forecast period. The key drivers of the US genetic testing market are increasing awareness about the benefits of genetic testing, increasing availability of genetic testing services, and increasing number of people who are seeking genetic testing services. Increasing awareness about the benefits of genetic testing is being driven by increasing number of reports and studies that have revealed the importance of genetic testing in predicting health risks and identifying potential medical conditions. Availability of US genetic testing services is being driven by the increasing number of genetic testing laboratories that are opening up across the US. The number of genetic testing laboratories has surged from just 10 in 2009 to over 200 by 2016. The increase in the number of genetic testing laboratories is also being driven by the increasing popularity of genetic testing among individuals and families. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/u-s-genetic-testing-market-105034 KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS: April 2021 Invitae Corporation announced that their sponsored genetic testing is available for patients at risk of developing some common adult neurodegenerative conditions in the region of U.S., Canada, Australia and Brazil. This availability of this program will be free of cost and will help at-risk individuals having difficult to diagnose conditions April 2021 Invitae Corporation announced that they will join the eMERGE network, a national effort organized and funded by National Genome Research Institute. As a part of this partnership Invitae will provide genetic testing for all the 25,000 patients. March 2021 GI OnDEMAND announced a partnership with Ambry Genetics to integrate the online genetic counseling and testing services into their nationwide gastroenterology practices. The partnership was made to identify hereditary GI cancer syndromes to guide through potentially life altering healthcare decisions. Report Scope Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 CAGR 13.0% 2027 Value Projection USD 10.29 billion Base Year 2019 Market Size in 2020 USD 4.38 billion Historical Data for 2016 to 2018 No. of Pages 117 Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/u-s-genetic-testing-market-105034 Regional Insights- North America to Lead Global Market Due to Presence of Key Players and New Product Launches North America is expected to dominate the global market backed by the adoption of new technologies. The launch of innovative diagnostic procedures has raised the demand in this region. North America has major players, new product launches, rising demand for cancer diagnostics which are major causes of North Americas maximum share. Rise in demand for effective treatment and growing awareness among patients to help Europe in taking up the second-highest position in the global market. Government supporting reimbursement schemes to boost the growth of the market. The rising presence of the latest equipment in research centres to make Asia-Pacific account for steady growth. The Latin America region is expected to show growth in the forecast period. The Middle East & Africa region shows a slow growth rate due to low penetration of advanced diagnostics. Partnership between Major Companies to Amplify Their Market Positions The market is fragmented by the presence of major companies such as Myriad Genetics and Quest Diagnostics trying to maintain a stronghold by partnering other companies to expand their product portfolio. Moreover, the other companies such as Ambry Genetics, Invitae Corporation, and BioReference Laboratories are adopting strategies such as merger and acquisition to maintain their presence and gain a competitive edge over their rivals in the forthcoming years. Competitive Landscape- Key Competitors are Striving to Gain Mergers and Acquisitions to Expand Market Key competitors are striving to gain a competitive edge by launching new products and adopting advanced technologies. For instance, the acquisition of the Finnish genetic testing company Blueprint genetics was announced by Quest Diagnostics. Key competitors are focused on gaining market acquisition and mergers. Major players are focusing on the prevention of key diseases. Major market players of genetic testing services are striving hard to gain a competitive edge. Quick Buy - US Genetic Testing Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/105034 Drivers & Restraints- Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Among Population to Surge Market Growth Genetic tests are medical devices used to test genetic diseases in the human body. This medical device detects DNA which determines the change in chromosomes, proteins, and genes. The general population is getting aware of the availability of multiple testing procedures. The inclination towards evaluating the quality of breeding stock in the agricultural sector is surging market growth. Rising awareness of chronic disease and its preventions are expected to boost the adoption of genetic testing services. However, the high installation cost of equipment may set limits in the growth of market. Additionally, shortage of skilled manpower in analyzing reports as a cause of very few training institutes may hinder market growth. Segmentation- On the basis of type, the market is split into predictive testing, carrier testing, prenatal testing, newborn screening, and others. Based on disease, the market is segregated into cancer disease, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and others. Depending on the end-user, the market is segmented into diagnostic laboratories, hospitals & clinics, academic institutes & research centers, and others. Geographically, the global market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Market Segmentation By Technique PCR DNA Sequencing Microarrays Others By Application Cardiology Oncology Pharmacogenomics Cognitive Dysfunction Pathogenomics Others By End-User Hospitals Independent Laboratories List of the Companies Profiled in the Market: Invitae Corporation (San Francisco, U.S.) Ambry Genetics (Aliso Viejo, U.S.) BioReference Laboratories, Inc. (Elmwood Park, U.S.) Progenity, Inc. (San Diego, U.S.) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (Secaucus, U.S.) Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Salt Lake City, U.S.) Fulgent Genetics (Temple City, U.S.) Burning Rock Biotech Limited (Guangzhou, China) Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/u-s-genetic-testing-market-105034 Some major points from 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 Regulatory Overview Overview: Funding Raised by Genetic Testing focused Start-up Companies Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnership Porters Five Forces Analysis SWOT Analysis Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the US Genetic Testing Market Analysis of Transactions in the Molecular Diagnostic Clinical Laboratory Market Overview: Personalized Medicine Market Size (USD billion), U.S., 2019 Reimbursement Scenario U.S. Genetic Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Technique PCR DNA Sequencing Microarrays Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Cardiology Oncology Pharmacogenomics Cognitive Dysfunction Pathogenomics Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Payer Public Health Insurance Private Health Insurance Out-of-Pocket Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End User Hospitals Independent Laboratories Competitive Analysis U.S. Market Share Analysis (2019) Company Profiles (Overview, Products & Services, SWOT Analysis, Recent Developments, Strategies, Financials (Based On Availability)) Invitae Corporation Ambry Genetics BioReference Laboratories, Inc. Progenity, Inc. PathemaGX Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Myriad Genetics, Inc. Fulgent Genetics Burning Rock Biotech Limited Continued... Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/u-s-genetic-testing-market-105034 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Icanic Brands Company, Inc. (CSE: ICAN, OTCQB: ICNAF) (Icanic Brands or the Company), an operator of premium cannabis brands in California, recognizes the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, on issuing an executive order pardoning all Americans that have been federally convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a step in the direction of fulfilling his campaign pledge to erase prior federal marijuana possession convictions and beginning the process of federal cannabis reform. Icanic Brands owns and operates one of the most sophisticated manufacturing companies in California with the ability to process 1.2 million pounds of cannabis a year, powering over 80 of the top brands in the state. Coupled to their manufacturing capabilities, Icanic also owns one of the largest permitted cultivation sites in the state of California with the potential ability to produce up to two million pounds of cannabis per year. This has put the company in a key position to capitalize on federal legalization with the ability to scale efficiently in a swift manner. President Joe Biden stated, First, I am announcing a pardon of all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. I have directed the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals. There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions. In addition to this, the President is urging all Governors to do the same with regard to state offenses. Biden concluded his three-step plan by asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. I am very encouraged by the measures taken today by the Biden Administration, stated Micah Anderson, CEO of Icanic Brands. By pardoning those with Federal offenses of simple possession, the President has acknowledged that the prohibition of cannabis should end and these convictions should not continue to adversely affect the lives of so many Americans that have had their lives so severely impacted. I remain extremely hopeful that the Presidents direction to review the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I substance is the first meaningful step towards cannabis reform. About Icanic Brands Company Inc. ICANIC is a leading California based extraction and manufacturing cannabis company. By coupling the best California legacy operators with the experience of the traditional world, ICANIC has built a foundation to become one of North Americas premiere Cannabis companies. Our focus on creating a true platform that includes our integrated supply chain, robust manufacturing capabilities, industry leading brands and consolidated internal sales team supports future growth both organically and through M&A. Icanic Brands Company Inc. is based in California, the largest cannabis market in the world. The companys mission is to build a great cannabis company with great people and great results. For more information, please visit the companys website at: www.icaninc.com. ICANIC BRANDS COMPANY INC. Per: Micah Anderson Chief Executive Officer For further information about Icanic Brands, please contact the Company at: Email: ir@icaninc.com Phone: (778) 999-4226 Email: Micah@Leefca.com Phone: 619-241-5933 The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. Non-IFRS Measures This press release includes reference to EBITDA which is a non-International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) financial measures. Non-IFRS measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization and removal of non-reoccurring expenses. EBITDA has no direct, comparable IFRS financial measure. The Company has used or included EBITDA solely to provide investors with added insight into the Companys potential financial performance. Readers are cautioned that such non- IFRS measures may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Pleasanton, CA, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maddies Fund is honored to present the 2022 Avanzino Leadership Award to James Evans for his outstanding leadership and purposeful dedication to the human-animal bond. This award recognizes significant achievement and courage to look beyond the status quo and make bold decisions to improve the lives of pets and their people. James is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Companion Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE). CARE works in the interest of human and animal well-being, prioritizes and amplifies Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and other marginalized voices using narratives, research, and community-centered investments. The award was presented to James Evans at the inaugural convening of The Gathering Conference in Philadelphia, PA on October 6, 2022 and comes with a $25,000 grant to CARE. This award is named after Rich Avanzino, the father of the no-kill movement and Maddies Fund President from 1998 2015. James has profoundly transformed our field through racial equity, diversity and inclusion, said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team, Maddies Fund. He is creating a space for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the animal well-being sector; and recasting animal well-being within the community, outside the shelter walls. CARE is a collection of passionate activists and deep thinkers focused on better outcomes for people and pets. The organization is unique in that they are not attempting to do the work best done by those directly impacted by inequities. They are, however, creating tools and opportunities for marginalized people to rebuild their own communities. In service to its mission, CARE, under James leadership, has partnered with Harvard Project Implicit to develop an Implicit Bias Association Test specifically for the animal well-being field. C.A.R.E. has created the Racial Equity Diversity Inclusion (REDI) course, initiated and administered the Jodie G. Blackwell Scholarship for veterinary students of color at four Universities, and developed and amplified the recognition of 15 CARE Centers in Atlanta and Macon, GA; Brooklyn NY; Philadelphia, PA; Red Lake, Mille Lacs and Minneapolis, MN; and Miami FL. By asking difficult and critical questions and by uplifting the work of those who have long been overlooked, James has spearheaded a new and necessary landscape in a field that is in great need of community-driven solutions, said Akisha Townsend Eaton, CARE Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice Division. Without this effort, effective, long-term, and sustainable progress in the field of human and animal well-being would simply not be possible. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with James and his team each day in making the world a better place for people and animals, alike. James is also a multi-awarding winning creative strategist and leader with 25+ years of experience developing relationships between organizations and their constituents. Prior to creating CARE, James, founded Illume Communications. His marketing and communications expertise has been utilized across a diverse group of brands, both not-for-profit, and for-profit. Back in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, Illume was hired to assist in a two-state, Louisiana and Mississippi, Spay and Neuter campaign for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Illumes market research helped demonstrate what James already knew that underserved communities of color love their animals just the same as everyone else, but they werent given the same access to resources. James photographed every moment and depicted the love, not the class, of the human. The campaign was so successful that HSUS licensed the campaign to more than 24 other cities across the U.S. This led to the development of Pets for Life, which helped reshape animal well-being, while simultaneously advocating for more diversity and inclusion throughout the field. He has also played an integral part in many animal well-being organizations projects, including HSUS Adopters Welcome, Outdoor Cats Research, Stop Puppy Mills and Spayathon, as well as Best Friends Animal Societys Outreach Action Team, and SPCA of Texas Lets Fix This Campaign. In addition to his work with people and companion animals, James is an accomplished photographer specializing in wildlife. He has a great fondness and appreciation for Osprey and the Bald Eagle. About Maddie's Fund Maddie's Fund is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy for over ten years and continues to inspire them today. The Foundation has awarded over $265 million in grants toward increased community collaborations and live outcomes, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S. Maddies Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winshear Gold Corp. (TSX-V: WINS), (Winshear or the Company) is pleased to report that it has received its environmental permit, the Declaracion de lmpacto Ambiental (DIA), from the Ministry of Mines in Peru. The DIA allows for helicopter-supported drill testing of the Coritiri gold anomaly at the Gaban Gold Project, Puno Orogenic Gold Belt, southeastern Peru. Gaban is being investigated as a possible hard rock source of the extensive alluvial goldfields being mined downstream at Madre de Dios which now cover over 1,900 square kilometers. Richard Williams, Winshear CEO, commented, Receipt of the DIA is a key milestone for Winshear and the continued development of the Coritiri Gold Target at Gaban. We now can apply for the provincial authorization to start activities in a process that typically takes one to three months. Subject to availability of funding, we plan to commence a heli-borne drill program after the coming rainy season ends in April 2023. Meanwhile, the Companys arbitration case against the government of Tanzania, seeking damages now in excess of CDN$130M, is set for a final hearing in mid-February, 2023, after which a decision is expected within six months. The Company plans to wait for the arbitration judgement before raising any further funding to support drilling. GEOLOGY OF THE GABAN GOLD PROJECT The Gaban Gold Project is located in the Puno Orogenic Gold Belt (POGB) on the east side of the Andes. The geology of the area comprises fine-grained sedimentary rocks, locally carbonaceous, which show evidence of low-grade regional metamorphism. Gold-bearing shear zones are commonly located near granitic intrusions found throughout the belt. The Coritiri Target was originally identified through the discovery of gold in stream sediment anomalies along the Yanamayo river basin which were coincident with a large magnetic anomaly. Follow-up field work led to the discovery of outcropping shear zones containing gold-bearing quartz veins in areas with evidence of historic hard-rock mining activity and current artisanal placer gold mining. To date, Winshear has defined a 1 Km by 2.2 Km area containing numerous outcrops of shear zone hosted gold mineralization which have never been drill tested (see Figure 1). Channel sampling across the quartz-veined shear zones has returned up to 32.35 grams per tonne gold over 1m. The target delineated at Coritiri has never been drill tested. About Winshear Gold Corp. Winshear holds 100% ownership in the Gaban Gold, Yang Gold and Ica I.O.C.G. projects in Peru. At Gaban, Winshear has received its DIA in order to carry out an inaugural drill program in the Coritiri zone in 2023. Winshear, formerly Helio Resource Corp., also secured up to US$ 3.3M in litigation funding from Delta Capital Management LLC (Delta) to pursue arbitration proceedings against the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) for the expropriation of its SMP gold project in Tanzania. Winshears claim against Tanzania now exceeds CDN $130 million with accrued interest. Any settlement or judgement paid to Winshear from the Tanzanian government is subject to a formula whereby a portion of any proceeds are paid to Winshears funders and legal counsel. Arbitration proceedings are set to conclude with a hearing in mid-February of 2023, with a decision issued by the Tribunal expected within six months. For more information please contact: Irene Dorsman +1 (604) 200-7874 or irene@winshear.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard D. Williams Richard D. Williams, P.Geo 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. Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements and information that may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including, if any, those related to the likelihood of commercial mining or the ability to fund future mine development are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: Company plans at the Gaban, Yang or Ica projects, the Companys ability to fund either of those projects, and any Company plans in relation to any interest it has or may have in the SMP project in Tanzania. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they 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 the risks normally involved in the exploration, development and mining business or as may be otherwise set out in the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies. 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 to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities law. Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Artificial Intelligence in Oncology Market: Distribution by Type of Cancer, Type of End-Users and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2022-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Cancer is the one of the leading cause of deaths, globally, as per the World Health Organization (WHO). Annual statistics reported by the American Cancer Society (ACR) indicate that, in 2022, around 1.9 million individuals are likely to be diagnosed with various types of cancer in the US. During the same year, around 0.6 million cancer-related deaths are anticipated to be reported in the aforementioned region. In this context, it is important to highlight that, according to the International Agency for Cancer Research, by 2030, the number of cancer-related deaths is likely to rise by 72%. This, in turn, is expected to result in an increase of 70% in the global cancer burden, over the next two decades. Amidst the ever growing cancer burden, a number of strategies are being tested by researchers and industry players to help provide relief to the affected individuals. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key enabler in improving the accuracy and speed of cancer diagnosis. Specifically, AI based cancer screening has resulted in reduced mortality rates of some prevalent malignancies. One of the most successful examples includes the detection of precancerous lesions, where timely treatment was demonstrated to considerably reduce the risk of malignant tumors. Consequently, several players engaged in the healthcare sector have incorporated AI powered technologies into their regular workflow to enable the identification of affected patients, thereby, ensuring timely treatment. Given the various advantages offered by AI technology, players engaged in the pharmaceutical domain have developed AI in oncology-based software solutions for the treatment of a myriad of oncological indications. These solutions help in interpretation and integration of huge volumes of complex data. Further, an AI system lowers the diagnostic and treatment related errors that are likely to occur in human clinical practice, thereby, resulting in reduced testing costs. Experts believe that there has been a significant rise in the revenue generation potential within this domain. This is further supported by the significant investments being made in this market. In fact, over the past five years, close to USD 6 billion has been invested in companies engaged in the development of AI in oncology-based software solutions. Further, the global spending on AI is forecasted to grow to more than USD 110 billion by 2024. Considering the rising popularity of such solutions in the healthcare industry and the ongoing efforts of software providers to further improve / expand their respective offerings, we believe that the AI in oncology market is likely to evolve at a steady pace, till 2030. Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 4. MARKET OVERVIEW 5. COMPANY PROFILES 6. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 7. PATENT ANALYSIS 8. PARTNERSHIPS 9. FUNDING AND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 10. BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY: A STRATEGIC GUIDE FOR START-UPS TO ENTER INTO HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET 11. MARKET SIZING AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS 12. CONCLUSION 13. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS 14. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA 15. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS Companies Mentioned 6 Dimensions Capital 83North 8VC Affidea Aidence Aidoc AIRA Matrix Alexandria Venture Investments AllianceBernstein Ally Bridge Group Ambra Health AmCad BioMed aMoon Fund Amplify Partners Ankur Capital Apollo Hospital Arterys ARUP Laboratories Asset Management Ventures AstraZeneca Athensmed Atomico Accelerating Technology Purposefully AXA Venture Partners Axilor Ventures Baheya Foundation Bain Capital Life Sciences BankInvest BEENEXT Benslie Investment Group BERG BioAdvance Biotheranostics Blackford Blue Pool Capital Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund Borski Fund b-rayZ Breyer Capital BrightEdge Bristol-Myers Squibb British Business Bank BVF Partners C.L. David Foundation Cambridge Capital Group CancerCenter.ai Canon Medical Systems Capitol Health Casdin Capital Catalio Capital Management Charles River Ventures China Merchant Securities International Colorectal Cancer Alliance ConcertAI Connect Ventures Cormorant Asset Management Cosmo Pharmaceuticals Coutts CPP Investments Cornerstone Total Return Fund CureMatch CureMetrix D.E. Shaw Research D1 Capital Partners Dana Farber Cancer Institute Danhua Capital Data Collective Venture Capital Debiopharm Innovation Fund Declaration Partners Deep Bio DeepHealth DeepMind Delin Ventures Dell Technologies Capital Densitas DilenyTech DocPanel GenWorks Health Global Ventures Goldman Sachs Google GRAIL Greycroft Grove Ventures Guardant Health Guerbet Hanfor Capital Management Harmonix Health Innovations HealthCare Konnect HealthQuest Capital henQ Hera-MI HERAN Partners Hillhouse Capital Group Hina Group Holland Capital Hologic Korea Health Industry Development Institute Kinship Trust KT Investment Laerdal LDPath Legend Capital Leica Biosystems LEO Pharma Lightpoint Medical Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Lucida Medical Luminous Ventures LungLife AI Lunit M Capital Mamotest Marubeni Corporation MassMutual Ventures Maverick Ventures Median Technologies Medical EarlySign Medicover MediPath Medtronic Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Merck Polaris Partners Prodeko Ventures Prognica Labs Proscia PSP Investments Qingsong Fund Qlarity Imaging Quantib For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6n3sjc Dublin, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Industrial Vending Machine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Type (Carousel, Coil), by Product (MRO Tools, PPE), by End-use (Manufacturing), by Region, and Segment Forecast, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global industrial vending machine market size is expected to reach USD 5.8 billion by 2030, according to this report. expanding at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2022 to 2030. Technological advancements in vending machines have enabled companies to improve inventory management efficiency and monitor inventory consumption with real-time data analysis, thereby driving the market growth. The adoption of industrial vending machines is expected to increase during the coming years due to cost efficiency, which would enable businesses to generate higher revenues. Moreover, a growing emphasis on employee safety drives the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), subsequently resulting in increased adoption of industrial vending machines for PPE. Key industry sectors such as automotive, construction, aviation, manufacturing, and oil and gas are the prominent end-use industries that are highly dependent on the use of MRO tools, personal protective equipment, and other consumables and durables. The increasing expansion of these industries due to rising industrialization and globalization is expected to drive the demand for industrial vending machines. The ongoing technological revolution in the vending industry is expected to have a positive impact on market growth. The implementation of RFID and cloud infrastructure in vending systems have enabled the tracking and monitoring of inventory for the prevention of fraudulent activities such as misuse and theft, which is expected to drive market expansion. Industrial vending machines help save costs by saving employee job hours. Efficient inventory management enables employees to work productively within fixed hours, thereby preventing the wastage of employee work hours. Moreover, industrial vending machines enable the lowering of freight costs and stock outages, which is anticipated to drive demand for these machines and subsequently aid market growth. Manufacturers of the product adopt several strategies, including acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures to enhance their market penetration. For instance, in April 2020, Fastenal Company bought a stake in Apex Industrial Technologies. It is expected to boost the company's reach and build a stronger portfolio over the coming years. Industrial Vending Machine Market Report Highlights The coil vending machine segment accounted for 37.9% of the global revenue share in 2021, owing to its higher penetration across various end-use industries such as construction, manufacturing, and oil & gas The PPE segment accounted for the largest share of 41.4% in 2021 owing to factors such as increased use of protective items, including hard hats, safety goggles, and safety gloves across various industries The manufacturing industry is expected to witness growth at a rate of 9.8% during the forecast period. This is credited to the strong growth in the manufacturing sector worldwide, especially in emerging economies North America region accounted for the largest share of 35.0% in 2021, owing to the strong presence of the key players and distributors, along with high awareness about these machines across various industries Key players are opting for various strategies, including product development, expansion to new geographic locations, and joint ventures, in order to increase sales and improve market share Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope Chapter 2. Executive Summary Chapter 3. Market Variables, Trends, and Scope Chapter 4. Industrial Vending Machine Market: Type Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 5. Industrial Vending Machine Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 6. Industrial Vending Machine Market: End-use Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 7. Industrial Vending Machine Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 8. Competitive Landscape Chapter 9. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned Apex Industrial Technologies, LLC AutoCrib, Inc. Brammer IMC Group SecuraStock CribMaster Fastenal Company Airgas Inc. IVM Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/54yamd Attachment NEW YORK, United States, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Facts and Factors has published a new research report titled Polyacrylamide Market Size , Share, Growth Analysis Report By Product (Anionic, Cationic, Non-ionic), By Application (Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, Paper Making), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2022 2028 in its research database. Polyacrylamide Market Overview: Polyacrylamide is a versatile, moisture-resistant polymer with multiple commercial applications. Recently, the demand for this polymer has increased due to its potential in various fields such as sustainability, energy conservation, air & water purification, and textiles. Below are some of the ways in which polyacrylamide is being increasingly used: In the automotive industry, it is being used in light weighting and insulation materials. It is also used as a coating on metal screens to enlarge their area and prevent dust from entering the factories. In the medical field, it can be employed in wound dressing materials, artificial joints, and surgical meshes. And lastly, it can be used as a surface treatment for glass and ceramics. Click Here To Access Free Sample Report of the Global Polyacrylamide Market @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/polyacrylamide-market (A free sample of this report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.) Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2022 updated report. Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on Request Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2022 Includes Tables and figures have been updated The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Facts and Factors research methodology Market Growth Drivers Growing applications in industrial and consumer sectors to drive market growth One factor driving the demand for the global polyacrylamide market is its increased use in medical applications. Polyacrylamide is used in the production of surgical tools, catheters, and other medical equipment. The increased demand for these products has led to an increase in the demand for polyacrylamide. Another factor contributing to the demand for polyacrylamide is the trend toward environmental sustainability. Polyacrylamide is a highly sustainable material due to its recyclable nature. This makes it a desirable material for industries that are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Overall, the increasing demand for polyacrylamide is attributable to its versatility and low price. The growing use of polyacrylamide in medical applications and its environmentally friendly properties are major factors driving the global polyacrylamide market demand. Today, polyacrylamide is one of the most common synthetic polymers. The material is used in a wide range of applications including as a water-resistant coating for various materials and as an adhesive in shoes &other footwear. Despite its widespread use, the demand for the product has been sluggish in recent years. Several reasons for this are on the surface: higher raw material costs, changing consumer preferences, and stricter environmental regulations. Restraints Impact on environment likely to limit the market expansion On the other hand, escalating price pressures, increasing environmental regulations, and constraints on raw material availability are likely to hamper market growth. In addition, barriers to entry and competition from low-cost alternatives are posing key challenges in the global polyacrylamide market. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/buynow/su/polyacrylamide-market Polyacrylamide Market: Segmentation Analysis The global polyacrylamide market is segmented based on type, application, and region. By type, the market is categorized into anionic and cationic polyacrylamide. The anionic polyacrylamide is holding over 70% of the global polyacrylamide market. In the past, anionic polyacrylamide flocculants have been used primarily in water treatment applications. However, due to increasing demand for these products in other industries, such as pulp and paper production, there is now growing interest in using this flocculant in these applications too. One reason why anionic polyacrylamide flocculants are gaining popularity is that they are relatively easy to use. Unlike some other flocculants, such as alginates, which require high concentrations to achieve effective results, anionic polyacrylamide flocculants can be diluted easily. This makes them suitable for use in a wide range of applications.By application, the global market is divided into water treatment, oil & gas, and paper-making. The global Polyacrylamide market is segmented as follows: By Product Non-ionic (NPAM) Cationic (CPAM) Anionic (APAM) Others By Application Water treatment Petroleum Paper-making Others Competitive Landscape The report also provides an in-depth analysis of the market's main competitors, as well as information on their competitiveness. The research also identifies and analyses important business strategies used by these main market players, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), affiliations, collaborations, and contracts. The study examines, among other things, each company's global presence, competitors, service offers, and standards. Some of the main competitors dominating the global Polyacrylamide market include - Shandong Polymer Bio-chemicals Co. Ltd. Ashland Inc. SNF Group BASF SE Anhui Jucheng Fine Chemical Co. Ltd. Kemira Black Rose Industries Ltd. Browse the full Polyacrylamide Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report By Product (Anionic, Cationic, Non-ionic), By Application (Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, Paper Making), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2022 2028 Report at https://www.fnfresearch.com/polyacrylamide-market Key Insights from Primary Research: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global polyacrylamide market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 6.7% over the forecast period (2022-2028). In terms of revenue, the global polyacrylamide market size was valued at around USD 5.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 8.5 billion, by 2028. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. Based on type segmentation, anionic segment held maximum market share in the year 2021. Based on application segmentation, water treatment was the leading revenue-generating grade in 2021. Based on region, North America was the leading revenue generator in 2021. Regional Dominance: North America is dominating the global polyacrylamide market, but much of the demand is being driven by Asia Pacific, specifically China, which represents nearly 12% of global PA production. India is also an important player in the global PA market, as it has developed some of the world's most modern laboratories for the synthesis and characterization of PA materials. One potential challenge for companies seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for PA is competition from other alternative materials such as graphene and boron nitride. Polyacrylamide (PAM), used in water treatment and paper mills, is growing in demand in Asia Pacific and Europe. The Asia Pacific polyacrylamide market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8% over the next decade. Polyacrylamide is strong and non-toxic, making it a versatile material for various applications. In Asia Pacific, water treatment plants are increasingly using more polyacrylamide to treat water with increased bacterial counts. It has replaced alum in these plants because it is less corrosive and does not produce a yellowish tinge to the water as alum does. Paper mills are also using more PA in increasing quantities to make paper with higher strength and less weight. Japan is the largest consumer of PA with a consumption of over 45,000 metric tons per year. The increased demand for PAM is due to rising environmental concerns and stringent regulations on pollution levels. By Region North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe France UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/polyacrylamide-market (We tailor your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customising your report.) Recent Developments In February 2022, Kamira started the production of bio-based polyacrylamide. In August 2019, SNF announced to invest $1.2 Billion to increase the production of polyacrylamide. Report Scope Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2021 USD 5.4 Billion Projected Market Size in 2028 USD 8.5 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 6.7% CAGR Base Year 2021 Forecast Years 2022-2028 Key Market Players Shandong Polymer Bio-chemicals Co. Ltd., Ashland Inc., SNF Group, BASF SE, Anhui Jucheng Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., Kemira, Black Rose Industries Ltd, and others. Key Segment By Product, Application, and Region Major Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Purchase Options Request customized purchase options to meet your research needs. 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The reports and services offered by Facts and Factors are used by prestigious academic institutions, start-ups, and companies globally to measure and understand the changing international and regional business backgrounds. Our clients/customers conviction on our solutions and services has pushed us in delivering always the best. Our advanced research solutions have helped them in appropriate decision-making and guidance for strategies to expand their business. Contact Us: Facts & Factors USA: +1 347 690-0211 | UK: +44 2032 894158 | Japan: +81 50 5806 9039 | India: +91 73877 19999 Email: sales@fnfresearch.com | Web: https://www.fnfresearch.com Follow Us on - LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Blog: MIAMI, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ugami, America's number one debit card for gamers, is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with its Spanish-language website and app launch. "We are happy to have an international team, and as Hispanics, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is important to us," said Ugami's CEO, Hector Hulian. "Ugami's initial growth has been impressive, and we are excited to be able to bring fun and benefits to all Ugami users with each new app update." Ugami is a start-up that fuses the energy and competitiveness of gamer nature with the passion, dedication, and good dose of the fun of Latin culture. Thanks to this, the Spanish-speaking gamer community will now have language options within the application, where they can select Spanish. The idea is that they can fully enjoy all the power and magic that Ugami has to offer. By accessing a flexible and secure debit card for gamers like the Ugami Card, Latino gamers living in the United States will have the opportunity to manage their finances and unlock rewards designed exclusively for them. This is not all; soon, there will be more surprises for the Hispanic community in the United States from Ugami. Currently, users can download the app from the apps stores for free, and its features include: Boost and Score: Boost debit account to earn 4X Ugipoints on everyday purchases. Boost debit account to earn 4X Ugipoints on everyday purchases. Shop the Store: Redeem Ugipoints for gaming systems, software, gift cards, GPUs, gaming experiences, and much more. Redeem Ugipoints for gaming systems, software, gift cards, GPUs, gaming experiences, and much more. Level Up: The more Ugipoints earned, the higher the level and status! The more Ugipoints earned, the higher the level and status! Complete Streaks: Earn more rewards by completing daily, weekly and monthly streaks. Earn more rewards by completing daily, weekly and monthly streaks. Collect Cool Badges: Unlock new badges with each achievement completed. Unlock new badges with each achievement completed. Daily Spin: Feeling Lucky? Log in every day to spin the wheel for more Ugipoints. Feeling Lucky? Log in every day to spin the wheel for more Ugipoints. ATM Finder: Find cash fast by using the Ugami ATM finder to locate one of the 55K machines within the network. To learn more about Ugami or download the app, please visit https://ugami.com, or follow Ugami on Discord. More information about Ugami's products and plans will be announced in the coming months. ##### About Ugami Ugami, Inc. is a financial technology company that aims to change how gamers experience debit card and credit card rewards programs. The Ugami team is formed by passionate technology entrepreneurs, finance professionals, and gamers who are committed to building an innovative and robust financial solution. Lead investors include Harlem Capital Partners and ULU Ventures, with participation from FJ Labs, Origins Fund, and Top Corner Capital. Banking Services are provided by Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. To learn more about Ugami, visit https://www.ugami.com. Contact Information: Aileen Zaera Public Relations press@ugami.com 8777084264 Related Images Image 1: Ugami - Debit Card for Gamers Ugami Debit Card and APp This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Small Drone Market by Platform, Type, Application, Mode of Operation, Power Source & Region Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665911/?utm_source=GNW The success of any air, naval, or military operation hugely depends on ISR capabilities. Thus, there are regular developments and advancements happening in the ISR field.For instance, the Fifth Generation C4ISR is a joint battle management system that can gather data, understand it, and communicate freely with all its components. C4ISR powered by AI uses machine learning to identify and classify tanks and other vehicles, improves the image feeds, and also provides driving assistance by giving early warning on obstacles and changing ground conditions.Hence, governments are also quickly adopting these technologies to improve their defense arsenal. Some common examples of small military drones are RQ-11, RQ-20 Puma, and RQ-21 Blackjack, among others. The use of small drones in military operations not only save lives but also enable operations to continue for a longer period due to the high endurance of small drones. Moreover, increasing use of small drones in life-threatening military missions is the primary factor fueling the demand for small drones in military applications. Small drones are used in military missions that can be life-threatening for pilots. These missions, generally referred to as three-Ds (Dull, Dirty, and Dangerous), may result in putting the lives of pilots at risk. These types of missions are best carried out using small drones that can be operated remotely or autonomously. Improvements in range and altitude capabilities of small drones have enhanced their reliability, enabling them to carry out military operations with the same precision as manned aircraft but with considerably lower risk. In addition, the rising use of small drones by defense forces as loitering munition is the second factor that fuels the procurement of small drones. There are certain remotely piloted small drones designed to operate as loitering munition for defense forces. Based on type, the rotary wing segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on type, the market has been classified into fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid.The fixed-wing segment has been further divided into conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), while the rotary-wing segment has been classified into single rotor and multirotor. Among these, the rotary wing segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period.Rotary-wing drones, due to their VTOL capability, can function in a broader range of environments than fixed-wing drones, as they eliminate the requirement of any additional setup or space to facilitate their take-off and landing. Moreover, the ability of these drones to hover over places makes them ideal for filmmaking, surveillance, and imaging applications.Rotary-wing drones are of two types, namely, single rotor or multirotor. The multirotor drones are further classified into bicopters, tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters. Generally, small multicopter drones use batteries as power sources.This increases their adoption in industrial and recreational activities. DJI (China), AeroVironment (US), and Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel) are prominent players developing multirotor small drones. Based on mode of operation, fully autonomous segment witness strong growth in market during the forecast period Based on mode of operation, the small drone market has been classified into fully autonomous, remotely piloted, and optionally piloted.The fully autonomous segment is projected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the cost-effective usage of autonomous small drones in several applications, ranging from defense operations to surveys.Autonomous small drones are programmable robots that can perform tasks at high altitudes with high-power capacity. These drones can operate in inaccessible areas and provide high-quality results and data as they are equipped with technologically advanced systems.Currently, the market for autonomous drones is smaller than the market for optionally piloted drones. Autonomous drones are widely used in various military applications. The US is the largest market for these drones; the growth of the market in this country can be attributed to the increased spending of the US Army on the R&D of drones. Autonomous drones are programmed to launch ammunition and attack targets without receiving data signals from the operator. The Kargu-2 Quadcopter drone developed by STM (Turkey) is an autonomous drone capable of carrying out an autonomous attack. According to the United Nations (UN), a fully autonomous drone, such as STM Kargu-2 or a drone of some classified nature, was used in a military conflict in Libya in 2020. The autonomous drone, labeled as lethal autonomous weapon system (LAWS), uses machine learning and real-time image processing. As per the UN, the LAWS is programmed to launch warheads without requiring data connectivity from the operator and has fire, forget, and find capability, which implies the munition can guide itself to the target independently. The Asia Pacific regions are projected to be high growth potential markets for the small drone during the forecast period. The small drone market in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness strong growth during the forecast period. The retail and e-commerce sectors are dominant in Asia Pacific, followed by the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. China and Japan are key markets for drones used in commercial applications. The prevailing trends of automation in India, Australia, and China and the ongoing globalization are also fueling the growth of the small drone market in Asia Pacific. Small drones are being increasingly used in the real estate, pollution monitoring, and agriculture sectors to carry out inspections in China and Japan. The break-up of the profiles of primary participants in the small drone market is as follows: By Company Type: Tier 132%; Tier 240%; and Tier 328% By Designation: C Level Executives35%; Directors25%; and Others40% By Region: North America39.19%; Europe21.06%; Asia Pacific28.25%; Middle East10%; Latin America6.0%; and Africa6.9% Major players in the small drone market are DJI (China), Parrot Drone SAS (France), Israel Aerospace Industry Ltd. (Israel), AeroVironment, Inc. (US), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (US). These companies have strong distribution networks in the logistics business across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and other regions in turn driving the demand for last mile deliveries and drone package deliveries. Research Coverage This research report categorizes the small drone market based on platform the market is divided into civil & commercial and defense & government.On the basis of application, the market is fragmented into military, commercial, government & law, and consumer. By type, the market is classified into fixed, wing, rotary wing, and hybrid.Based on mode of operation the small drone market is divided into remotely piloted, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous. The market is segmented into Fuel Powered and Battery Powered based on power source. The small drone market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the small drone market.A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overviews; solutions and services; key strategies; contracts, joint ventures, partnerships & agreements, acquisitions, and new product launches associated with the small drone market. Competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the small drone market ecosystem is covered in this report. Reasons to Buy this Report This report is expected to help market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall small drone market and its segments.This study is also expected to provide region wise information about the end-use industrial sectors, wherein small drone is used. This report aims at helping the stakeholders understand the competitive landscape of the market, gain insights to improve the position of their businesses, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. This report is also expected to help them understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities influencing the growth of the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on small drone offered by the top players in the market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the small drone market Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets the report analyzes the small drone market across varied regions Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the small drone market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the small drone market Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665911/?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. __________________________ GUELPH, Ontario, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following is an open letter from Experior Financial Group: Experior Financial would like to address a recent report conducted primarily by Ontario regulator, FSRAO. Experior's mission statement is "Building financial foundations for families to empower them today and leave a legacy for tomorrow." A statement Experior believes embodies the idea of Fair Treatment of Consumers. See also Experior's core values. Of the 1,600+ licensed agents in Canada, fewer than 20% of them have less than two years' experience, with the average tenure of an agent in Canada being eight years. Experior has never been reported and only one agent from Experior has had a complaint lodged against them. Experior has never had a claim with an Errors and Omissions Insurer. When an agent makes a sale they upload all relevant documents. Experior staff review the application/illustration, the reason why letter, and the advisor disclosure form. Agents are required to attest that they have done a financial needs assessment. This needs analysis is attached to the client information so when reviewed, managers can ensure the correct product was sold to the client in keeping with the FTC. Product training occurs weekly with two product partners providing live training on Thursdays. In a year an agent could expect to earn up to 80 CE Credits if they attend the live sessions. Issues like compliance, training, and field concerns are addressed at bi-weekly meetings held by the CEO. Annual reviews are completed which is a version of the surveys of business practice and attested to by their Executive Director. Anti-Money Laundering attestations are completed by all. Experior is actively seeking another qualified compliance officer candidate. More monitoring of agents and implementing mandatory training will be a key focus for Experior as it moves forward. Experior takes pride in the tri-brid model created to take the best from three types of industry models: Independent, Recruiting, and Career. Experior is a uniquely built company that compares to no other MGA (Managing General Agency) in the industry. Experior endeavors to always support quality training of ethical agents of good character. To read Experior Financial Group's full statement click here. Contact Information: Joanna St Jacques Marketing Director marketing@experiorheadoffice.ca 519-826-0770 Related Images Image 1: Experior Financial Group Inc (FSRAO report) This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Englewood, Colorado, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Englewood, CO based Blingle Premier Lighting is reminding their community to get in touch immediately if they wish to have seasonal lighting put up in time for upcoming events like Halloween, Christmas and so on. Since Halloween is right around the corner, the company says there is little time left for customers to decide on the configuration they want. However, the Blingle team is accustomed to working under tight deadlines, and they will do their utmost to ensure a beautiful lighting solution is implemented in time for October 31st. With Halloween so close, the company says, you may be planning something else for your outdoor decor. However, if youve simply been busy and forgot to take a look at your options, dont hesitate to reach out at once. Our team can help you come to a quick decision regarding its design, and then you can leave the installation in their capable hands. However, Halloween is by no means the only event left this year, and this is likely the right time for you to get a head start on the planning process. The more time you have to consider the possibilities, the more satisfied you will be. Take our advice, and get started today. Blingle is standing by to talk to customers, and their lines are always open to anyone who has a legitimate inquiry. Blingle Premier Lighting is known for their ability to design and install custom lighting in outdoor spaces. Anyone interested in learning more about the company can look up examples of their work on their website and social media spaces, but Blingle recommends that they get in touch to schedule a free consultation with the team. These consultations carry no further obligation, and the customer is free to decline if they so wish, but the company is confident that their pitch will prove more than attractive to many. There are many reasons why the companys landscape and patio lighting solutions are considered among the best in the industry, and it all begins with their approach to customer service. However, Blingle has a reputation for peerless excellence as well. In addition to working closely alongside customers to ensure the final implementation is exactly in line with their vision, the company utilizes the most advanced products and tools available to ensure their solutions are able to withstand the elements for as long as necessary. This is true whether a solution is intended to last a single night, as would be the case for an event, or for several months, as might be the case for more permanent options. On this note, Blingle adds that their services are available for anyone who is planning an outdoor event in the near future. Along with the holidays and festivities come countless parties and so on that need lighting at night, though the company clarifies that their team is also available for regular events as well (such as fundraisers, corporate meetings, celebrations and so on). Blingle points out that their team has worked on weddings, for instance, and their lighting solutions have resulted in dazzling displays that served as the perfect backdrop for customers and their families to celebrate their love or other personal milestones. Our primary objective is to help you bring your vision to life, Blingle explains. Many of our customers come to us with a fairly vague idea of what they want, but some also take the precaution of creating detailed sketches or resources of what their custom solution needs to look like. Whichever kind of customer you happen to be, and wherever you fall on that spectrum, our team is more than capable of working with you to bring your ideas into the real world. In fact, this is exactly what we specialize in. Notably, part of Blingles design process includes the creation of digital mockups and previews that can be superimposed over the property or venue in question, giving the customer a detailed idea of what to expect prior to installation. This, the company says, also gives them an opportunity to request more specific changes ahead of time when they might otherwise have to settle for a less pleasing outcome. https://youtu.be/E_WEColRifQ The Southeast Denver outdoor lighting company is on hand to discuss future projects with new customers. Anyone interested in requesting a free consultation may do so via the company's official website or by contacting their office directly. ### For more information about Blingle! of Southeast Denver, contact the company here: Blingle! of Southeast Denver Kim Fenolio 303-854-6269 kfenolio@blingle.com 12656 E Jamison Pl #4 Englewood, CO, 80112 Scottsdale, AZ, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MCAP MEDIA WIRE LLC ( www.McapMediaWire.com ) ("MCAP")is pleased to announce it has appointed Jeff Palumbo as CEO of the Company, succeeding founder Mark B. Newbauer who will remain as an Officer and Chairman of the Board. Palumbo will lead MCAP along its assertive growth initiatives and advanced client acquisition strategies. Palumbo is an accomplished executive, having served as Chief Technology Officer for several public companies since 2008. He is a marketing and technology expert who has advised thousands of companies around on nearly every aspect of a business while cultivating scalable growth initiatives resulting in achievements in revenue, expansion, innovation, and overall growth. "It is a privilege to join MCAP and to help build on what Mark and his team have started," said Palumbo. "I am excited to take on the role as CEO. I will continue to serve our clients while disrupting the newswire industry with radical new advancements in value-added client solutions, distribution, and technology. Palumbos appointment as CEO includes equity ownership alongside growth benchmarks, and he will be working directly with Founder Newbauer and COO Thomas Wolff. The team is focused on expanding the Companys current client base, which includes over 200 publicly traded companies, launching innovative client tools, new subscription packages, and expanding the Companys services to privately held companies and small businesses. Newbauer states: We are thrilled to have attracted someone with the experience and expertise that Jeff has, to join the Company as CEO. MCAP has experienced year-over-year growth since 2017 by providing exceptional service, product, and pricing to our clients while building the business through bootstrapping and grass roots marketing. We are now positioned for explosive growth in client acquisition, technology advancements, and revenues, and I am confident Jeffs addition as CEO will enable us to become a market leader in our sector in the near future. About Mcap MediaWire Mcap MediaWire strives to provide the best press release, digital media, and financial disclosure solutions at highly competitive rates. We earn our clients for the long term through exemplary service and quality of work. Our press releases include unlimited words, logo, hyperlinks, social media, industry trade circuits, and more through the most impactful websites, news agencies, brokerage firms, trading platforms, and more. Our services give your company exposure to an audience of millions, including journalists, investors, day traders, fund managers, and social media/messaging platforms. Now your press releases, earnings statements, branded articles, shareholder updates, and corporate achievements can reach a vast and diverse audience around the world that your Company and shareholders deserve! Mcap MediaWire Premier Press Release and Financial Disclosure Services Contact: New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global UV Toothbrush Sanitizer Market - Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325891/?utm_source=GNW The global UV toothbrush sanitizer market is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR in the forecast period, 2023-2027.A toothbrush sterilizer, also referred as a toothbrush sanitizer, is an appliance that utilizes short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) radiation to kill or inactivate germs on a toothbrush. UV sterilizers successfully destroy bacteria and microorganisms, as per the studies published in dentistry publications.Toothbrush sanitizers typically work in one of three ways to destroy dangerous bacteria: steam and dry heat, ultraviolet light, or UV and heat. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has resulted into an inclination towards heath consciousness and the usage of health-related products which are safe and avoids frequent visits to doctors.This further created an environment of awareness among consumers related to the usage of oral hygiene products. The COVID-19 pandemic is projected to stimulate to the increasing demand for health-conscious products, which fuels the growth for toothbrush sanitizers during the forecast period. Rise in Risk of Harmful Oral Bacteria is Projected to Accelerate the Product Demand The increasing awareness regarding the oral hygiene and harmful oral bacteria which causes numerous dental health hazards including gingivitis, periodontal disease, oral herpes, canker sores, and others are some of the primary factors propelling the growth of the market.Furthermore, toothbrush sanitizer prevents harmful bacteria from wreaking havoc in the oral cavity, resulting in an escalating demand for the product. Also, easy product availability and expanding e-commerce penetration are few other driving factors for the growth of the UV toothbrush sanitizer market. Technological Advancements to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic Supports the Market Growth The escalating demand for UV sterilization in toothbrush due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic is driving the growth of the market.Various manufacturers are promoting toothbrush sanitizers through several innovative marketing techniques. Recruitment of well-certified dentists for branding, extensive distribution network for enhanced product availability, partnership with sales staff and distributors, digital, print, and visual media through advertising campaigns in radio, television, channels, billboards, magazines, newspapers, hoardings, and competitive pricing strategies are significant innovative marketing methods followed by the key market players owing to the strong competition. This has further increased the product visibility and is expected to escalate he demand for the product in the forthcoming years. Market Segmentation The global UV toothbrush sanitizer market is segmented based on type, product type, price range, distribution channel, company, and regional distribution.Based on the type, the market is divided into with toothbrush and without toothbrush. Based on product type, the market is bifurcated into wall mounted and portable.Based on the price range, the market is segmented into low, medium, and high. Based on distribution channel, the market is bifurcated into offline and online. The market analysis also studies the regional segmentation, divided among North American region, Asia-Pacific region, European region, South American region, and Middle East & African region. Market Players Koninklijke Philips N.V., Dastmalchi, Conair, Ningbo Seago Electric Co., Ltd, Wellness Oral Care, Tao Clean, Puretta, Wonderchef, UVNIA, Pursonic, Dazzlepro are the leading market players contributing the growth of the global UV toothbrush sanitizer market. Report Scope: In this report, global UV toothbrush sanitizer market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, By Type: o With Toothbrush o Without Toothbrush UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, By Product Type: o Mountable o Portable UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, By Price Range: o Low o Medium o High UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, By Distribution Channel: o Offline o Online UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, By Region: o North America United States Canada Mexico o Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Singapore Malaysia o Europe Germany United Kingdom France Italy Spain Poland Denmark o South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Peru Chile o Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa UAE Iraq Turkey Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global UV toothbrush sanitizer market. Available Customizations: With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: Company Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five). Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325891/?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. __________________________ MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To help address the national rental housing shortage and affordability crisis, Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) Multifamily today announced it is ramping up financing that supports newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated multifamily housing. The company will leverage new flexibilities granted by FHFA that allow for more use of forward commitments, which are agreements to purchase loans at a later date with certain financing terms locked in today. The agreements provide greater certainty to construction lenders and housing developers by limiting risks they face when executing complex multifamily deals in volatile markets. Freddie Mac proposed greater use of forward commitments in its Equitable Housing Finance Plan. One of the most complicated factors in determining how, where and when to build or rehabilitate a multifamily property is market uncertainty, and thats particularly true right now, said Steve Johnson, vice president of Production & Sales at Freddie Mac Multifamily. Our forward commitment program can take some of those concerns off the table, allowing construction lenders, developers, nonprofits, municipalities and others working to support affordable housing to get the math right and move forward. This move will help us add or preserve thousands of affordable multifamily housing units every year. FHFA previously subjected forward commitments to Freddie Macs annual production cap ($78 billion for 2022) but will now exempt a certain amount ($3 billion for 2022) of forward commitments from the cap. Separately, FHFA is lifting its $500 million cap on forward commitments for properties that do not benefit from a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (non-LIHTC forwards). The companys non-LIHTC forward business will instead be subject to the annual exemption on forwards, along with LIHTC forwards. Overall, the changes grant Freddie Mac additional space and flexibility to execute forwards for affordable and workforce housing. Freddie Mac has long used forwards to finance some of the nations most complex but important affordable housing developments: Historic Investment in Tulsa In 2017, Freddie Mac provided a $13.7 million in 9% LIHTC forward commitment to River West in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The property now provides 222 housing units across a community of walk-up buildings and townhouses. More than three-quarters of these units are restricted to 50-60% area median income (AMI). The 21 unrestricted units will have asking rents in line with 60% AMI rent levels. LIHTC units will benefit from project-based Section 8 vouchers that limit rents to 30% of a tenants annual income. There will be six phases of housing development. Freddie Mac has invested $40 million of LIHTC equity in the first four phases through its syndicator RBC Community Investments LLC. Read more. Hope for the Homeless in the City of Angels In 2021, Freddie Mac provided a $50 million in Tax-Exempt Loan forward commitments to finance Hope on Avalon, as well as two sister projects, Hope on Broadway and Hope on Hyde Park. When completed, the properties will provide permanent supportive housing and transitional units, with three on-site managers, for 294 formerly homeless residents. The properties will be in South/Central Los Angeles, about 11 miles south of the central business district. Read more. In June, Freddie Mac announced its first Equitable Housing Finance Plan designed to promote equity and increase sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities. The Plan is an important component of Freddie Macs expansive, mission-driven work to responsibly provide liquidity, stability and affordability in all communities and across all market cycles. The Multifamily provisions of the plan include efforts to expand access to capital for diverse multifamily developers that benefits traditionally underserved owners and operators; measures to preserve and encourage the construction of multifamily affordable housing; and an expansion of existing initiatives to incentivize reduced rents and standardize tenant protections. More information about the plan is available at Freddie Macs website. Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we've made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance system for homebuyers, renters, lenders and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com, Twitter @FreddieMac and Freddie Mac's blog FreddieMac.com/blog. MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Morosi (703) 918-5851 Michael_Morosi@FreddieMac.com Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - Africa has the highest suicide rate in the world and to reverse that worrying statistic, the UN World, Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday launched a social media campaign to raise awareness around mental health illness, which is believed to account for up to 11 per cent of the risk factors that are associated with suicide Beverly Hills, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beverly Hills, California - CEO of Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Timepieces, philanthropist Craig Shah, literally wears his heart on his wrist. Craig realizes that time is a precious gift, especially regarding the health and legacy of the children of Shriners Hospitals. Therefore, Shah launched the LEGACY Swiss Watch to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shriners Hospitals for Children. Reserve a watch today and attend Evoke's Event, Friday, October 7th, 2022, at TAO, Las Vegas, from 8-11 PM. Shriners Hospitals for Children is the sponsor and benefactor of the Shriners Children Open. This international pediatric healthcare system has 22 North American locations and national and international outreach programs. Additionally, the system has an extensive telehealth network that extends the system's expertise in care to rural communities and other locations. Proceeds from the tournament support the healthcare system and its mission to improve the lives of children. Therefore, support Shriners Hospitals for Children by attending a collaborative event sponsored by the organizations Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Timepieces, Evoke NFT Awards, and Elevate Mastermind, all subsidiaries of Craig Shah. Attendees may enjoy the EVOKE Las Vegas TAO NFT Awards Package valued at $495.00 at its finest as Shah's guests by clicking here. Extra bonuses for attending the TAO Awards Celebration include a beautiful LEGACY Swiss Watch with NFT (valued at $495), limited to the first 50 attendees. Additionally, attendees receive a night of NFT Awards and VIP hospitality with an elite group of high-net-worth Individuals, incredible speakers, and thought leaders. Of course, attendees enjoy a VIP dinner and open bar with VIP access to TAO Night Club, DJ INFVNTE & the NFT Awards on Friday, October 7th, 2022, at TAO, Las Vegas, from 8-11 PM. *TAO VIP & Bottle Service up-charge. Tickets to attend the event supporting the Shriners Hospitals may be secured here. About Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Time Pieces: Luxury For People Committed to Unmatched Value And Positive Social Change What is worn becomes part of who a person is and who they become, changing the world for better or worse. Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Time Pieces is about expressing self and simultaneously making the world a better, safer place. They offer the best value and craftsmanship in Swiss timepieces, from a lifetime warranty to scratch-proof sapphire crystals. Giving back through uncompromising quality Craig Shelly is about bringing affordable luxury that plays a more significant part in a mission to be believed and supported. That's why some sales are forwarded to charitable organizations like the Shriners Hospitals for Children. About Craig and Shelly Shah A passion for watches started in Craig's childhood, as seeing a watch's face shine on a wrist would set a young mind running wild with imagination. After meeting his high school sweetheart, now wife, Shelly, the childlike fascination became the vision that became Craig Shelly. Travel allows the experiences of energy, beauty, and diversity to destinations worldwide. This reality is a massive part of what drives daily business. It keeps life new and wonderful, and that passion was built into the spirit of Craig Shelly. Time stops walking into a place like the Taj Mahal or Sistine Chapel. The epic scale and beauty of the architecture stop time like a thunderbolt. The mind focuses inward as the absorption of history and art changes the inner subconscious to a mental expansion of consciousness. Desiring to share that experience, Craig and his wife, Shelly, transformed the vision into Craig Shelly Beverly Hill Timepieces. Additional Sponsors for Evoke NFT Awards: Scarlet Books: https://www.scarlettbooks.com/ Automated A.I. Accounting Software made easy. Legion: Legion seeks to merge the worlds of luxury e-commerce, live events, and digital communities in a way that's never been done before. Further, their goal is to help drive society's transition from Web2 to Web3 by getting everyday people to see how NFTs can have massive real-world utility. www.wearelegion.xyz. PlugXR: https://Plugxr.com A cloud-based Augmented Reality platform for everyone. Hello Woofy: https://hellowoofy.com/ Get more leads, sales, and followers in less time. Manage all digital marketing in 15 minutes or less. Handl Health: https://www.handlhealth.com/ Find care at the right price. Find a service. Handl Healths free cost estimator gives access to prices of hospital services in the local area. Media Sponsor: Dr. Andrea Adams-Miller, TheREDCarpetConnection.com Publicity, Publishing, Sponsorship Acquisition, and Event Planning Talent Agency. One-stop shop to give a RED Carpet Experience with every RED Carpet Connection. ### For more information about Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Timepieces, contact the company here: Craig Shelly Beverly Hills Timepieces Craig Shah 1 562-472-1111 cs@craigshelly.com Beverly Hills CA 90210 New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Agrigenomics Market, By Purpose, By Sequencer Type, By Application, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325868/?utm_source=GNW The global agrigenomics market is anticipated to observe impressive growth during the forecast period, 2023-2027.The major factors include increasing number of DNA/RNA sequencing project grants, and technological developments in the field of genomics and agriculture. The rapid advancements in genomic sector such as the use of massively parallel sequencing technologies and the growth of protocols to efficiently analyze cellular behavior at the molecular level are driving the market globally. The other factors supporting the markets growth are rising investments on research and developments activities by government, preference for organic food products, increasing cultivation of hybrid crops and more spending on food & beverages businesses upsurge the agrigenomics industry demand in the upcoming years. Demand for Organic Food Products The rise for organic food products among masses across the globe acts as one of the key factors propelling the growth of agrigenomics market. The high demand for bioengineered crop because of great properties such as enhanced nutritional values, prolonged shelf life, ability to sustain against climate change and use for medicinal objectives such as development of vaccines and drugs are propelling the growth of the market. Rising demand for DNA Sequencing in Livestock and Crops Rise in demand for genome sequencing in livestock has enable the study of parent lineage and for the better understanding the characteristics of infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria.The advancement in DNA sequencing technology is helping the researchers to study the mutations in infectious agents over a duration, which helps to know the transmission patterns. Moreover, outbreak of diseases can be controlled among livestock through these studies and the productivity is enhanced. Tools and Techniques for Advanced Genome Analysis Rapid developments in the functional genomics sector, such as the implementation of massively parallel sequencing technology and the advancement in methodologies to effectively analyze cellular behavior at the molecular level are driving the growth of the agrigenomics market, globally.When genomics is applied for crop selection speed, scope, and efficiency, molecular marker-assisted crop breeding is preferred over conventional breeding methods. Enhanced genome characterization tools have discovered that crops can have higher yield and quality while using less herbicides, water, pests, and fertilizers. For instance, in 2020, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity in the U.S. awarded a grant of USD 23 million to the Harvard University, DNA Script, and Broad Institute. In terms of livestock, the novel technologies are known to significantly improvise the desirable traits, such as meat quality, reproductive life, and milk yield. Market Segmentation The global agrigenomics market is segmented into purpose, sequencer type, application, and company.Based on purpose, the market is divided into DNA extraction & purification, DNA/RNA sequencing, genotyping, gene expression profiling, GMO/trait purity testing, and others. Based on sequencer type, the market is divided into sanger sequencing, pacbio sequencers, solid sequencers, illumina HI SEQ family, and others.Based on application, the market is divided into livestock and crops. In terms of country, the United States is expected to be a lucrative market in the forecast period due to rising demand of DNA/RNA sequencing and increasing advancements of tool and techniques in the country. Market Players Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Eurofins Scientific SE, LGC Limited, Tecan Genomics, Inc., Neogen Corporation, Galseq Srl Via Italia, Biogenetic Services Inc., and Daicel Arbor Biosciences are some of the leading companies operating in the market. Report Scope: In this report, global agrigenomics market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: Agrigenomics Market, By Purpose: o DNA Extraction & Purification o DNA/RNA Sequencing o Genotyping o Gene Expression Profiling o GMO/Trait Purity Testing o Others Agrigenomics Market, By Sequencer Type: o GMO/Trait Purity Testing o Sanger Sequencing o Pacbio Sequencers o Solid Sequencers o Illumina HI SEQ Family o Others Agrigenomics Market, By Application: o Livestock o Crops Agrigenomics Market, By Region: o North America United States Canada Mexico o Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea o Europe & CIS Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy o South America Brazil Argentina Colombia o Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Agrigenomics Market Available Customizations: With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: Company Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five). Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325868/?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. __________________________ New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coils Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325423/?utm_source=GNW The global magnetic resonance imaging coils market is expected to grow from $9.83 billion in 2021 to $10.70 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%. The magnetic resonance imaging coils market is expected to reach $14.00 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 6.9%. The magnetic resonance imaging coil market consists of sales of MRI coils by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are used as hardware components to increase the performance of magnetic resonance imaging systems for imaging various medical conditions or injuries.MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive imaging technology that uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed anatomical images of the human body. A coil is an essential component of an MRI machine and allows to capture of high-end images of specific body parts. MRI consists of multiple coils which serve different purposes, such as, they act as transmitters to develop a rotating magnetic field and also as receivers to detect radio-frequency signs. The main types of magnetic resonance imaging coils are radiofrequency coil and gradient coil.The radiofrequency coils are used to excite the aligned magnetic spins and receive an RF signal back from the sample. The radiofrequency coil is an essential hardware component of an MRI system.These coils are antennas for the MRI system, which serve two purposes, to distribute power to the magnetization (Tx-Coil) and to receive the signal generated by the excited spins (Rx-Coil). The various applications of magnetic resonance imaging coils include neurology, cardiovascular, spine and musculoskeletal, pediatric, breast, abdominal, and other applications that are suitable for hospitals, diagnostic imaging centers, and other end-users. North America was the largest region in the magnetic resonance imaging coils market in 2020.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the magnetic resonance imaging coils market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The magnetic resonance imaging coils market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides Magnetic resonance imaging coils market statistics, including magnetic resonance imaging coils industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a magnetic resonance imaging coils market share, detailed magnetic resonance imaging coils market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the magnetic resonance imaging coils industry. This magnetic resonance imaging coils market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to propel the growth of the magnetic resonance imaging coil market.Chronic diseases are those conditions that last for 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention and restrict activities of daily living. Diseases such as heart disease, and cancer are leading chronic diseases where MRI plays an important role in diagnoses of a disease and also monitoring the bodys response to treatment.MRI coil receives the radio frequency signal coming from the patients body and transmits the data to a computer that generates images. For instance, according to World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are estimated for 32% of all deaths worldwide and chronic disease prevalence is expected to rise by 57% in the year 2020.As a result, increasing chronic diseases will be monitored by MRI machines more frequently. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to boost the demand for magnetic resonance imaging coils during the forecast period. Technological advancements are the key trend gaining popularity in the magnetic resonance imaging market.Major companies operating in the market are introducing technological innovations such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) coil in the magnetic resonance imaging machines to ensure high-resolution image quality and image reconstruction to sustain their position in the market. For Instance, in November 2021, Koninklijke Philips N.V, a Netherland-based multinational medical equipment, and home appliance company, launched AI-enabled innovations in MR imaging that includes Philips MR 5300 and 7700 system to boost MR exam speed, streamline workflows, improve diagnostic quality, and ensure radiology operations are efficient and sustainable. In December 2021, GE Healthcare, a US-based company that offers diagnostics, therapeutics, and monitoring through intelligent devices acquired BK Medical for an undisclosed amount.With this acquisition, GE Healthcare expands its pre-and post-operative Ultrasound capabilities to include the fast-growing and relatively new field of real-time surgical visualization, creating an end-to-end offering across the full continuum of carefrom diagnosis to therapy and beyond. BK Medical will be able to reach new customers and markets around the world thanks to significant synergies and the benefit of GEs technology and commercial scale. BK Medical, a US-based company combines the best visualization and guidance software available into a single system that displays MRI and real-time ultrasound simultaneously. The countries covered in the magnetic resonance imaging coils market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325423/?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. __________________________ NEW YORK, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KoreConX announces its new edition of the KoreSummit - Empowering Growth, from Oct. 24 to 28. In daily one-hour pocket sessions, the cannabis vertical will be the spotlight. Cannabis is rapidly gaining social acceptance. Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced that all federal convictions for simple marijuana possession were to be pardoned. This act will directly affect the record of thousands of Americans. "It's legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities," said the President in a video release. The pardons will remove many of these barriers. The cannabis sector has already been growing steadily in the past few years. According to Grand View Research Institute, market size was valued at USD 13.2 billion in 2021 and USD 16.7 billion in 2022, with a revenue forecast of USD 102.2 billion for 2030, which would represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5% from 2022 to 2030. "This sector can absolutely raise money as there is plenty of private capital available", says Oscar Jofre, CEO and co-founder at KoreConX. This new vertical has potential to turn this market into a mature ecosystem with KorePartners involved. "With partners like SecureTranz, we allow companies to accept credit cards for their RegA+ and RegCF offerings, providing options to complement wire transfer, ACH and crypto payments", explains Oscar. The event Structured in pocket sessions distributed along the week, the event was thought of as a journey. From the starting point, offering promotions and attracting investors, which regulation is best tailored to a company, trades in the secondary market and the word from experts in the business. The sessions will go live daily, from 2 PM to 3 PM EDT, from Oct. 24 to 28. Check the full event schedule, the sessions, the participants and subscribe here. Other guests and speakers will be added as they are confirmed. About KoreConX Founded in 2016, KoreConX provides the first secure online infrastructure for private companies to conveniently and compliantly manage every aspect of their capital market activities, from issuing securities to shareholder relations. Investors, broker-dealers, law firms, accountants and investor acquisition firms, all leverage our ecosystem solution. KoreConX also maintains a large online library of educational content to help companies navigate their capital-raising journey. Contact Information: Rafael Goncalves Communications Manager rafael@koreconx.com Related Images Image 1: KORESUMMIT IN OCTOBER PRESENTS A NEW FORMAT TO DISCUSS THE CANNABIS ECOSYSTEM This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Automotive Tinting Film Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325414/?utm_source=GNW , Akzo Nobel N.V, Kay Premium Marking Films Ltd, Tintfit Windows Films Ltd., Toray Plastic, Armolan Window Films, and Huper Optik. The global automotive tinting film market is expected to grow from $3.37 billion in 2021 to $3.61 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The automotive tinting film market is expected to reach $4.39 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.0%. The automotive tinting film consists of sales of automotive tinting films by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that refers to thin laminate films applied to vehicles to reduce the heat and radiation from the sun that enters the vehicles interior, which helps in controlling the temperature inside the vehicle. These tinting films can differ from one location to another due to a specific regions climate or heat level. The main types of automotive tinting film are window film, paint protection film, wrap film and other types.The window film refers to a unique film or coating applied to windows on an automobile to prevent a specific spectrum or amount of sunlight from passing through the glass. Window tint can also reduce sun glare and keep harmful UV rays away from reaching the car occupant. The various types of materials used in automotive tinting film include dyed, metalized, ceramic, and other materials that are suitable for passenger cars, LCV, and HCV. North America was the largest region in the automotive tinting film market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the automotive tinting film market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The automotive tinting film market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides automotive tinting film market statistics, including automotive tinting film industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an automotive tinting film market share, detailed automotive tinting film market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the automotive tinting film industry. This automotive tinting film market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. The soaring atmospheric temperature is driving the growth of the automotive tinting film market.Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere, thus contributing to global warming. Due to such an increase in global warming and temperature across the globe, customers are increasing spending on automotive tint films as protection layers to the vehicle that block harmful UV rays, avoid paints from getting fade, and offer a significantly more relaxed and comfortable journey. For instance, In October 2021, according to World Meteorological Organization, The State of the Global Climate 2021 report states that in 2021, the global surface temperature (GMST) was 1.11 0.13 C higher than the pre-industrial baseline period (1850-1900), when fossil-fuel burning had yet to change the climate. Therefore, the increasing atmospheric temperature is expected to boost demand for automotive tinting films during the forecast period. Technological advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the automotive tinting film market.Major companies operating in the automotive tinting film market are focused on providing technologically-advanced solutions to strengthen their market position. These companies are implementing enhanced automotive tinting film technologies into their products, such as nano tinting technology, electro-chromatic technology, liquid-crystal technologies, multilayered sputtering, photovoltaic (PV) technology, and others, to block harmful UV rays and make vehicles significantly more relaxed and more comfortable from the inside.For Instance, In June 2019, Eastman Chemical Company, a USA-based company primarily operating in the chemical industry launched a premium LLumar IRX series infrared-rejecting ceramic tint for the automotive tint portfolio. This LLumar IRX series of ceramic films provide concentrated infrared-blocking nanoceramic technology for exceptional heat rejection. In October 2021, Eastman Chemical Company, a USA-based company primaryly operating in chemical industry acquired PremiumShield for an undisclosed amount.With the acquisition, Eastmans will step ahead as the leading innovator and service partner for paint protection and window film professional installers. PremiumShield is a US-based automotive paint protection film company. The countries covered in the automotive tinting film market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325414/?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. __________________________ Houston, TX, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BitAngels, an investor network for accelerating the Blockchain ecosystem, is launching a BitAngels Houston and Gulf Coast chapter on October 13, 2022 at The Cannon West Houston. Cryptopreneur Advisor, Sheldon Weisfeld, is BitAngelss newest city leader leading the Houston and Gulf Coast chapter. Weisfeld is the Founder of COINVAULT ATM, a pioneer in creating the first Bitcoin-regulated licensed Crypto Bidirectional ATM network in the USA as an MSB. He is also a crypto enthusiast supporting the growth and educational efforts of the industry as a founder of many of the grassroots initiatives in the Houston and Texas areas. As BitAngels Houston City Leader, Weisfeld will host monthly or bi-monthly events focused on market trends, blockchain startup presentations, and networking with an audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and developers, as well as cryptocurrency funds and exchanges. BitAngels, a division of Layer1 Events and co-founded by blockchain pioneer Michael Terpin, supports an open and thriving community of skilled blockchain professionals, companies, developers, and enthusiasts by organizing local events in key cities to create growth and connectivity in the blockchain space with online communication and collaboration. Houston and the Gulf Coast Region is quickly becoming a new hub for blockchain development and were excited to foster that growth by launching the Houston and Gulf Coast chapter,'' said Sheldon Weisfeld, BitAngels Houston City Leader. This new chapter allows us to connect with local changemakers, in the crypto and blockchain space and grow our network of investors and developers that will help build the next generation of blockchain-based companies. To apply to present or register for the event, visit the BitAngels event and use the complimentary code LAUNCH. The BitAngels Houston and Gulf Coast launch is Thursday, October 13th, 6:00-8:30 PM at The Cannon West Houston, 1334 Brittmoore Rd #1327, Houston, TX 77043. President of Layer1 Events, Sarah Weisfeld, will present a welcome highlighting the BitAngels expansion, followed by Sheldon Weisfelds welcome to the Houston community with start-up presentations and q&a from several local companies, and networking. Sponsors and supporters for the event include CryptoEQ, EH Capital, CPUCoin, CoDEX Financial Network, Oxydrate Water, The Cannon, The MarMo Plaza, and The Ion. BitAngels aims to accelerate blockchain adoption globally by connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and the community through exclusive networking events. Founders are invited to pitch their projects to investors, and investors get an inside look at some of the most exciting up-and-coming blockchain ventures. The event fosters communication, connection, and collaboration between members globally via its web platform, email communications, and chat applications, so members can share insights, opportunities, skills, and deal flow from different markets. For more information, please contact: Sheldon Weisfeld, BitAngels Houston City Leader Htxbitangels@gmail.com About BitAngels BitAngels (https://www.bitangels.network/) is an investor network for the blockchain industry. BitAngels launched in 2013 as the worlds first angel network for digital currency startups. Each BitAngels event features networking and short pitches by startup founders to an audience of investors, business leaders, and the local blockchain community. These events provide investors with the unique chance to learn about new cryptocurrency and blockchain investment opportunities in person. Belleville, Illinois, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allsup Employment Services, which provides return to work services through the Social Security Administrations (SSA) Ticket to Work program, will join with United Spinal Association to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October 2022. United Spinal is hosting a series of events to recognize the contributions of Americas workers with disabilities past and present, and showcase supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. This includes their Career and Benefit Panel Discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. ET featuring Diane Winiarski, director of Allsup Employment Services, and three additional panelists: Joshua Basile: United Spinal Association board secretary and trial attorney. United Spinal Association board secretary and trial attorney. Jose Hernandez: Community organizer for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State (CDPAANYS) and president of United Spinals New York City chapter. Duane Rohr: Senior manager, Workforce Initiatives at CVS Health. The webinar will address pursuing rewarding careers after spinal cord injuries, as well as how to return to work through Social Securitys Ticket to Work program. Allsup Employment Services understands how beneficial it is for people with disabilities to return to work if they are medically able to do so. By joining United Spinal and these other outstanding panelists, we will address key issues related to careers for people with disabilities and demystify Social Securitys Ticket to Work program, Winiarski explained. Ticket to Work can offer a path forward without losing access to Social Security disability benefits or Medicare coverage that provide important financial stability. Lesly St.Louis, Director of Employment and DEI Programs for United Spinal, said the panel discussion will offer a valuable range of perspectives, adding Diane brings more than 30 years of experience in medical management, vocational rehabilitation and placement services and will be an exceptional addition to this important discussion. United Spinal also sees NDEAM as a vital opportunity to raise visibility for available programs, such as Ticket to Work, Lesly St.Louis said. This panel is one of many events we will be hosting during October to empower people with disabilities and foster a diverse and inclusive workforce where people from all backgrounds are accepted, celebrated and respected. Register in advance for this free webinar scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. ET. ABOUT UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION Formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans, United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to empowering people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, to live successful and fulfilling lives. Membership is free and open to all individuals with SCI/D, with over 60,000 members across 49 chapters, close to 200 support groups and more than 100 rehabilitation facilities and hospital partners nationwide. Known for its revolutionary advocacy efforts, United Spinal played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, and was instrumental in attaining sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation in New York City, which created the standard accessibility model used in many United States cities. ABOUT ALLSUP Allsup and its subsidiaries provide nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, return to work, and healthcare benefits services for individuals, their employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Learn more at Allsup.com and @Allsup or download a free PDF of Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance: Getting It Right The First Time. Attachment New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Chemical As A Service Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325410/?utm_source=GNW The global chemical as a service market is expected to grow from $6.99 billion in 2021 to $7.90 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9%. The chemical as a service market is expected to grow to $11.49 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The chemicals as a service (CaaS) market consists of sales of chemicals as a service by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that refer to the transition in chemical organizations business models from selling a product (paid in weight or volume) to selling a service (paid in proportion of a certain service level). Customers benefit from the cheaper initial investment, predictable costs, and less fuss with product maintenance, while suppliers benefit from increased margins through additional sales of value-added services in the service package (such as insurance or maintenance), scale effects, and customer lock-in. The main types of chemical as a service are chemical management services, and chemical leasing.Chemical management services refer to a business model in which a consumer buys chemical services instead of chemicals. CMS assists manufacturers in prioritising chemical management tasks so that they can be completed more efficiently. The end-users of chemicals as a service include agriculture and fertilizer, water treatment and purification, metal parts cleaning, paint and coatings, industrial cleaning, industrial gases, and other end-users. North America was the largest region in the chemical as a service market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the chemical as a service market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The chemical as a service market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides chemical as a service market statistics, including chemical as a service industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a chemical as a service market share, detailed chemical as a service market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the chemical as a service industry. This chemical as a service market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. A reduction in chemical consumption is contributing to the growth of the chemicals as a service market.A chemical is consumed when it is converted into another chemical through a chemical process. Lack of collaboration between chemical suppliers and consumers leads to unnecessarily high chemical consumption and the development of hazardous waste.Chemical leasing, which is part of the chemicals as a service paradigm, attempts to increase chemical efficiency while lowering chemical hazards and safeguarding human health. For instance, in May 2019, according to The Sustainable Development Goals Policy Briefs by UN, it reported that after the introduction of Chemical Leasing for bottle washing and conveyor lubrication, chemical consumption was reduced by 40 and 48%, respectively, and the water and energy demand decreased significantly by a Ugandan beverage company Crown Beverages Limited (CBL). A reduction in chemical consumption is expected to propel the growth of the chemicals as a service market. Strategic partnerships are a key trend gaining popularity in the chemical as a service market.Major companies operating in chemicals as a service are undergoing partnerships to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in May 2022, Sphera, Chicago-based?a leading global provider of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data, and consulting services, partnered with BASF Germany-based chemical company.The collaboration makes BASFs methodology and digital solution for automated product carbon footprint (PCF) calculation available in Spheras Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software solutions. LCAs assist businesses in better analyzing the effects of their supply chain on their overall carbon footprint and making informed decisions on their path to net zero. In December 2020, Quaker Chemical Corporation, a US-based chemical company acquired Coral Chemical Company for an amount of $53 million.With this acquisition, Quaker Chemical benefitted with additional net sales. Coral Chemicals is a US-based chemical manufacturing company that provides specialty pre-treatment chemicals, lubricants, and environmental solutions. The countries covered in the chemical as a service market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325410/?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. __________________________ PASCAGOULA, Miss., Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division completed acceptance trials for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123). Completing a successful sea trial is always a significant accomplishment for our combined Ingalls and Navy team, and DDG 123 performed well, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. We are committed to this partnership and look forward to our next opportunity to demonstrate it during our next trial events for our first Flight III destroyer. DDG 123 is the second destroyer to be named in honor of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, the first woman to receive the Navy Cross. Higbee joined the Navy in October 1908 as part of the newly established Navy Nurse Corps, a group of women who would become known as The Sacred Twenty, and became the second superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps in January 1911. Ingalls has built 33 destroyers for the U.S. Navy, with five currently under construction including DDG 123, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) and George M. Neal (DDG 131). DDG 123 will be the final Flight IIA destroyer Ingalls will deliver as the Navy transitions to Flight III destroyers. Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/ingalls-shipbuilding-acceptance-trials-lenah-sutcliffe-higbee-ddg-123. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships that can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy. Guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. These ships contain a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense partner, building and delivering the worlds most powerful, survivable naval ships and technologies that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. As Americas largest shipbuilder and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our mission in service of the heroes who protect our freedom. HIIs diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business professionals. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/ HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII Contact: Kimberly Aguillard Kimberly.K.Aguillard@hii-co.com (228) 935-6821 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb1b6924-325c-4b0e-8082-fc53f1c75b3d New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Microgreens Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325402/?utm_source=GNW Ltd, Shenzhen Sunlight Lighting Co., Ltd., Cherry Lane Farm, and Florida Microgreens. The global microgreens market is expected to grow from $1.49 billion in 2021 to $1.70 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%. The microgreens market is expected to reach $2.61 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 11.3%. The microgreens market consists of sales of microgreens by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that refer to small plants between sprouts and baby greens in height, standing 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) tall. Microgreens can be grown from various seeds and are particularly convenient to grow because they can be grown anywhere, including outside, in greenhouses, and even on your windowsill. They come in various colors and textures, fragrant flavor, and contain concentrated nutrients. Compared to their more developed counterparts, they frequently have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The stems and leaves of microgreens are the only edible parts, making them more comparable to baby greens. Microgreens are used in various cold and warm recipes and are consumed raw, juiced, or blended. The main types of crops of microgreens are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, peas, basil, radish, cress, and other types.Broccoli refers to baby broccoli plants that are 1-2 inches tall at the time of harvest and are easy to grow. They are rich in nutrients including vitamin A, B, C, E, and K, macro elements such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, and micro-elements that include iron, copper, and zinc.The main categories of microgreens include organic and conventional and they are grown in different platforms including indoor vertical farming, commercial greenhouse, and other farming methods. The end-users of microgreens include retail, food service, and others. North America was the largest region in the microgreens market in 2021. The regions covered in the microgreens market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The microgreens market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides Microgreens market statistics, including microgreens industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a microgreens market share, detailed microgreens market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the microgreens industry. This microgreens market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Increasing indoor and vertical farming adoption is expected to drive the microgreens market.Vertical farming indoors is the process of growing foods stacked one above the other in a controlled, enclosed environment. Compared to conventional farming techniques, vertically installed growing shelves considerably minimize the quantity of land needed to cultivate plants.Due to its capacity to flourish in constrained spaces, this cultivation style is frequently connected with cities and urban farming. The benefits of indoor vertical farming range from sustainable urban growth to crop production maximization, with lower labor expenses.Microgreens are widely grown using vertical farming indoors because they do not consume much space. For instance, in 2021, according to Bayer, a multinational company with primary expertise in the life science industries of agriculture and healthcare, globally, there are 204,387 sq m (or 2.2 million sq ft) indoor farms in operation in 2022. In the following five years, that figure is anticipated to be nearly tenfold to 2 million sq m (or 22 million sq feet). Therefore, the Increase in indoor and vertical farming adoption would propel the microgreens markets growth. Technological advancement is a key trend in the microgreens market.Artificial intelligence is used in microgreens production to improve the quality of production. Microgreens in capsules are grown properly under the supervision of artificial intelligence-powered systems.It keeps track of their development through a chip within the growing cabinet, alerts in case of any problems, and advises when its best to harvest the herbs. In February 2021, GOhydro, an Attiki-based smart-sensing ICT platform that keeps track of the nutrient content and health of hydroponically grown microgreens, developed a smart-sensing, AI-driven hydroponic platform for home settings.The platforms development depended on an analysis of the variables influencing the growth and nutritional value of micro-greens like basil, coriander, and parsley, as well as their relationships to environmental and cultivational requirements. These elements will guide the process of choosing a collection of different sensors. Future applications of these techniques include large-scale traditional agriculture and other growing environments. In September 2021, Green Life Farms, a US-based sustainable farming company that combines technology with agricultural best practices, acquired Finn Farms for an undisclosed amount.Through this acquisition, Green Life Farms has acquired 100% shares of Finn Farms, its equipment and site assets, and intellectual property and licensing rights. This deal enables Green Life Farms to expand its product portfolio and provide consumers with the freshest, tastiest leafy greens. Finn Farms is a US-based producer of hydroponic foods, including herbs and microgreens. The countries covered in the microgreens market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325402/?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. __________________________ New York, US (PANA) - The UN Security Council has added its voice to the condemnation of the attack perpetrated on 3 October against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Interactive Whiteboard Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325400/?utm_source=GNW Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation, BenQ Corp., Sharp Corp., Horizon Display Inc., Julong Educational Technology Co. Ltd, Ketab Technologies, NetDragon Websoft, and PolyVision Corp. The global interactive whiteboard market is expected to grow from $4.37 billion in 2021 to $4.69 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The interactive whiteboard market is expected to reach $5.83 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.6%. The interactive whiteboard market consists of sales of interactive whiteboard by entities (organizations, sole proprietors, partnerships) that refer to an interactive display in the shape of a whiteboard that responds to human input either directly or through other devices.The interactive whiteboard enables users to project files and interact with them on a boards surface. Interactive whiteboards can digitise tasks and operations to convey messages, show information, and participate in group brainstorming. The main forms of interactive whiteboards are fixed and portable.The fixed interactive whiteboard refers to an interactive whiteboard mounted on the wall and functions as an independent touchscreen computer, allowing to perform a variety of activities. The fixed interactive whiteboard is fixed in a designated place for its use by the users.The various screen sizes are IWBS with a screen size up to 69, IWBS with a screen size ranging from 7090, and IWBS with a screen size above 90 that uses several technologies such as resistive whiteboard, capacitive whiteboard, electromagnetic whiteboard, optical whiteboard, and others. The applications of interactive whiteboards include education, healthcare, retail, corporate, and other sectors. North America was the largest region in the interactive whiteboards market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the interactive whiteboards market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The interactive whiteboards market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides Interactive whiteboards market statistics, including interactive whiteboards industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an interactive whiteboards market share, detailed interactive whiteboards market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the interactive whiteboards industry. These interactive whiteboards market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. The government initiatives for digital education are driving the interactive whiteboard market.Digital education is a creative application of current technologies and digital tools to aid in the advancement of teaching and learning. Digital education is the future of obtaining education via the use of technology and digital gadgets.During COVID 19 pandemic, digital education played an important role in imparting knowledge. Digital education has grown in popularity dramatically in recent years.Due to technological advancements, people of all ages may now study at a distance and through various mediums, ranging from video tutorials to infographics and slideshows. Interactive whiteboards aid digital education by creating a classroom environment anytime and anywhere. Governments in different countries are taking initiatives to promote digital education so that the people can learn and grow as and when they need it. For instance, in 2021, the Indian government launched the National Digital Educational Architecture (NDEAR) in the Union Budget 2021-22 to develop digital infrastructure and assist educational planning efforts. The NDEAR aspires to provide distinct education ecosystem architecture to expand digital infrastructure in the country while ensuring stakeholders autonomy, particularly states and union territories. Therefore, increasing government initiatives for digital education is expected to boost demand for interactive whiteboard during the forecast period. The use of portable interactive whiteboard (IWB) in the education and corporate sector has become a key trend gaining popularity in the interactive whiteboard market.Interactive whiteboards are helping teachers, students, and businesses to promote collaboration and active participation by enhancing creativity and expanding the learning space using technology. A portable interactive whiteboard can connect to any computer using USB or other ports and captures IR pen movement on the projected screen through its inbuilt IR sensors.The portability makes the learning process smooth and continuous. In July 2021, RICOH, a Japanese electronics company, launched the worlds thinnest and lightest portable digital whiteboard that can be used in medical, construction, and office settings.The RICOH eWhiteboard 4200 is intended to link remote locations with central offices and each other in order to foster smarter workplaces by digitizing conventional analog pen-based processes. With its ability to be utilized in many orientationsdisplayed on an easel, flat on a table, or hanging on the wallthe ultra-portable device is beneficial in locations where a power source is not conveniently accessible. In February 2021, Kahoot!, a Norway-based company that offers game-based educational learning services, acquired Whiteboard.fi for $6 million. Through this acquisition, Kahoot! intends to develop its platform and deliver more effective learning and engagement features for the 7.5 million instructors who use Kahoot! platform, making it simple for them to make learning wonderful. Whiteboard.fi is a Finland-based developer of online whiteboard tool for teachers and classrooms. The countries covered in the interactive whiteboards market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325400/?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. __________________________ New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Car Air Purifier Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325394/?utm_source=GNW , Ltd., ADA Electrotech (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., Kent Ro Systems Ltd., Livpure Private Limited, Airbus Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, BlueAir, Denso Corporation, and Agcen Air Purifier. The global car air purifier market is expected to grow from $1.23 billion in 2021 to $1.47 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.6%. The car air purifier market is expected to reach $2.81 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 17.5%. The car air purifier market consists of sales of car air purifier products and related services by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are used to filter the air inside the car, ensure pure air flow and protect passengers from contaminants in the air they breathe.A car air purifier refers to a small unit that is made up of multifibre cotton and engineered or paper-based material. The car air purifier is used to attain pure air flow and remove bad odor. The main types of technologies of car air purifiers are HEPA, activated carbon, and ionic filter.HEPA refers to a high-efficiency particulate air filter that is a type of pleated air filter. This type of filter is used to reduce the airborne particles entering a car. The companies in the car air purifier products sell their products through OEM and aftermarket that supports economical, medium-priced, luxury segments of cars. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the car air purifier market in 2021, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the car air purifier market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The car air purifier market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides Car air purifier market statistics, including Car air purifier industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a Car air purifier market share, detailed Car air purifier market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the Car air purifier industry. This Car air purifier market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. The significant pollution levels in the atmosphere are expected to propel the growth of the car air purifier market going forward.Pollution level refers to air quality index which is an index used to report the air quality on a daily basis. Car air purifier protects passengers from contaminants in the air they breathe, as they help in the purification of polluted air to clean air.For Instance, in June 2022, according to The Economic Times, an Indian daily newspaper, Indians may lose 5 years of life expectancy due to air pollution. South Asia has accounted for 52% almost half of the expected lost life years globally due to the high pollution levels.Since 2013, around 44% of the worlds pollution is coming from India. Therefore, the significant pollution levels in the atmosphere is expected to boost demand for car air purifiers during the forecast period. Technological advancements are the key trend gaining popularity in the car air purifier market.Major companies operating in the market are introducing new products with innovative technologies such as dual technology to meet end customer demands and sustain their position in the market. For Instance, in January 2019, Sharp Corporation, a Japan-based manufacturer of electronic products launched an innovative car air purifier with dual technology HEPA and Carbon filters to remove PM2.5 particles and gaseous substances to remove harmful components and provide clean air to customers inside the car. In December 2021, CCI (Competition Commission of India) has approved Lunolux Limited, a UK-based company that operates as an investment hub for Asia incorporated by AI Global Investments to acquire Forbes Enviro Solutions for an undisclosed amount.This acquisition broadens the portfolio of Lunolux Limited in the car air-purifier sector. Forbes Enviro Solutions is a subsidiary of Eureka Forbes Limited, an India-based company that manufactures water purification, air filtration systems, and vacuum cleaners. The countries covered in the car air purifier market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325394/?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. __________________________ NEW YORK, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Olo Inc. (NYSE: OLO) between August 11, 2021 and August 11, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 28, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Olo securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Olo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8131 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 28, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Subway was ending its contract with Olo; (2) Olos key business metric active locations could not continue to grow as defendants touted due to the loss of Subways business; and (3) as a result of the above, defendants statements about Olos business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Olo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8131 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lupaka Gold Corp. ("Lupaka" or the Company") (TSX-V: LPK, FRA: LQP) issues a revised update which corrects certain inaccuracies in its original news release of September 29, 2022 entitled Update on Arbitration Claim Sept 2022. The corrected version regarding its ongoing Arbitration Claim proceedings (the Claim) with the Republic of Peru (Peru) is as follows. If readers wish to see the specific changes, please refer to the Companys website. As previously reported, in October 2020, Lupaka filed a request for arbitration in accordance with Article 36 of the International Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and Article 824 of the CPFTA against Peru for breaches of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Peru which entered into force on August 1, 2009 (the FTA). Lupaka filed its Memorial on the Merits with the ICSID on October 1, 2021, requesting full compensation for the loss of its investments in the Invicta Gold Project, which Lupaka alleges resulted from Perus breaches of its obligations under the FTA. On March 24, 2022, Peru submitted its Memorial on Jurisdiction and Counter-Memorial on the Merits. The Company subsequently filed its Reply Memorial on September 23, 2022. Peru is required to respond during January 2023 followed by the formal arbitration hearing, which is due to take place between late March and early April 2023. Any final award will be announced by the Arbitral Tribunal some time after the arbitration hearing. The Company has a very strong case here, stated Gordon Ellis, C.E.O. He further commented that I have reviewed the Memorial documents submitted by Lupaka on September 23, 2022 and met with LALIVE, our legal counsel, earlier this week. With the very capable support of the Companys current and previous employees, our combined legal counsel has completed extensive and thorough investigation and research of all aspects of the Claim. In addition, independent, third-party reports have been prepared by the Companys quantum evaluators and mining engineers in support of the Companys Claim. For ongoing updates and more detail with respect to the arbitration, please refer to the Companys website (www.lupakagold.com/projects/arbitration). For background on the basis for the Claim, please refer to the Companys previous news releases, also available on the Companys website (www.lupakagold.com/news/#2020). Lupaka is represented in the arbitration proceedings by the international law firm LALIVE (www.lalive.law) ) and Boies Schiller Flexner (www.bsfllp.com), and has the financial backing of Bench Walk Advisors (www.benchwalk.com). Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. About Lupaka Gold Lupaka is an active Canadian-based company focused on creating shareholder value through identification and development of mining assets. About Bench Walk Advisors Bench Walk Advisors is a global litigation financier with over USD 250m of capital deployed across in excess of 100 commercial cases. Bench Walk and its principals have consistently been ranked as leading lawyers and litigation funders in various global directories. About LALIVE LALIVE is an international law firm with offices in Geneva, Zurich and London, that specializes in international dispute resolution. The firm has extensive experience in international investment arbitration in the mining sector, amongst others, and is currently representing investors and States as counsel worldwide. About Boies Schiller Flexner Boies Schiller Flexner is a firm of internationally recognized trial lawyers, crises managers, and strategic advisers known for creative, aggressive, and efficient pursuit of successful outcomes for their clients. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Gordon Ellis, C.E.O. gellis@lupakagold.com Tel: (604) 985-3147 or visit the Companys profile at www.sedar.com or its website at www.lupakagold.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultra Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: ULT OTCQB: ULTXF) (Ultra Lithium or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement issuing 2,156,278 Units at a price of C$0.15 per Unit (at premium of 50% over current market) for gross proceeds of C$323,442. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a Unit Share) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) for a period of 24 months. Each Warrant will be exercisable for $0.25 for the first 12 months following the closing date of the Private Placement and at $0.35 thereafter. The net proceeds from the sale of Units will be used for general working capital purposes. In connection with the Private Placement the Company will pay Finders fees of C$8,849 cash and 58,995 finders warrants comprised of C$3,424 cash and 22,828 finders warrants to Red Cloud Securities Inc., C$2,625 cash and 17,500 finders warrants to Cormel Capital Sarl and C$2,800 cash and 18,667 finders warrants to Jemini1 Finance Inc. Each finders warrant will be exercisable for a period of 24 months, at $0.25 for the first 12 months following the closing date of the private placement and at $0.35 thereafter. The closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange. The Unit Shares, Warrant Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from any finders warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws. About Ultra Lithium Inc. Ultra Lithium Inc. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the acquisition and development of lithium, gold, and copper assets. The Company holds a brine lithium property in Argentina, hard rock spodumene type lithium properties at the Georgia Lake / Forgan Lake area in northwestern Ontario, Canada, and a brine lithium property in the Big Smoky Valley, Nevada, USA. The Company also holds other gold and base metals properties in Argentina. For further information, please contact the Company at: Attention: Kiki Smith Telephone: 778 968-1176 Email: kiki@ultralithium.com Website: www.ultralithium.com or view the Companys filings at www.SEDAR.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, intends, is expected, potential, suggests or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Companys control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. RADNOR, Pa., Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against MINISO Group Holding Limited (MINISO ) (NYSE: MNSO). The action charges MINISO with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys business, operations, and prospects. As a result of MINISOs materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, MINISO investors have suffered significant losses. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MINISO LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://ktmc.com/new-cases/miniso-group-holding-limited?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=miniso&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: OCTOBER 17, 2022 CLASS PERIOD: OCTOBER 15, 2020 THROUGH AUGUST 17, 2022 CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS: Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the worlds foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent. MINISOS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT Headquartered in the People's Republic of China, MINISO purports to be a fast-growing global value retailer which serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores. On October 15, 2020, MINISO conducted its IPO, issuing approximately 30.4 million American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to the investing public at $20.00 per ADS. On July 26, 2022, market researcher Blue Orca Capital published a report on MINISO which alleged several alarming issues with MINISO, including that: 1) many MINISO stores are secretly owned by MINISO executives or insiders closely connected to the chairman; 2) MINISO misleads the market about its core business; and 3) based on Blue Orcas analysis, MINISOs Chinese corporate filings indicate that the chairman siphoned hundreds of millions from the public company through opaque Caribbean jurisdictions as the middleman in a crooked headquarters deal. As of July 27, 2022, MINISO ADSs closed at $5.66 per ADS, representing more than a 70% decline from the $20.00 IPO price. WHAT CAN I DO? MINISO investors may, no later than October 17, 2022, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages MINISO investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF? A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 info@ktmc.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f6b7a7df-d0cb-4c5f-befd-4f3e7b48f16a Miami, FL, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According toFacts and Factors has published a new research report titled Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Market Size , Share, Growth Analysis Report By Product (Endoscopes, Endotherapy Devices, Visualization Systems, Energy Devices, and Others), By Application (Biliary Sphincterotomy, Biliary Stenting, Biliary Dilatation, Pancreatic Sphincterotomy, Pancreatic Duct Stenting, and Pancreatic Duct Dilatation), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Others), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2022 2028 in its research database. The report analyzes the global Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) markets drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market. Market Overview: An endoscope is inserted into the second part of the duodenum during the combination fluoroscopic and endoscopic operation known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This allows other tools to be inserted into the biliary and pancreatic ducts through the crucial duodenal papilla. To detect and treat pancreaticobiliary diseases, ERCP devices combine luminal endoscopy and fluoroscopic imaging. These tools are inserted via the esophagus and the stomach into the stomach portion of the duodenum using a side-view duodenoscopy. Devices for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are primarily used to treat blocked bile or pancreatic ducts or to extract samples of cells and tissues. Click Here To Access Free Sample Report of the Global Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Market @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography-ercp-market (A free sample of this report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.) Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2022 updated report. Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on Request Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2022 Includes Tables and figures have been updated The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Facts and Factors research methodology Market Growth Drivers Growing application of ERCP to drive the market growth during the forecast period The high prevalence of chronic disorders like Crohn's disease, Barrett's disease, and pancreatic cancer around the world, together with government measures to raise patient knowledge of better and more cutting-edge therapies, are driving the global endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market's expansion. Restraints The high cost of ERCP devices is projected to hamper the market growth The strict government regulations imposed by regulatory organizations in many countries for the introduction of new technologies are limiting the market's expansion. The market is benefiting from the rising disposable income, particularly in developing nations where consumers are becoming more aware of cutting-edge technology. The high expense of the treatment could be a barrier to the market's expansion. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/buynow/su/endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography-ercp-market Segmentation Analysis The global endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market is segmented based on product, application, end-user, and region. The global market is divided into endoscopes, endotherapy devices, visualization systems, energy devices, and others based on the product. The market's largest contributor, the endoscopes segment, is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.9% during the projected period. The market for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography devices for endoscopes is anticipated to grow significantly over the next few years as a result of an increase in gastrointestinal and chronic biliary problems. The World Health Organization estimates that gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses are responsible for about 8 million deaths each year. As a result, it is projected that there would be a rise in conditions linked to pancreatic cancer and the bile duct liver. Additionally, it opens up a huge window of opportunity for producers of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography devices to grow their brands internationally. In the upcoming years, it is also projected that rising health care costs and advantageous administrative rules will spur market expansion. The global market is bifurcated into biliary sphincterotomy, biliary stenting, biliary dilatation, pancreatic sphincterotomy, pancreatic duct stenting, and pancreatic duct dilatation based on application. The market's largest contributor, biliary sphincterotomy, expanded at a CAGR of 8.1% over the projection period. After selective cannulation with a specialized tool called a sphincterotome introduced into the papilla, the biliary sphincter and the intraduodenal portion of the common bile duct are severed using a high-frequency current. Biliary sphincterotomy or biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy are the names of this surgery (EST). Based on the end user, the global market is divided into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and others. The market's largest contributor, the hospitals and clinics sector, is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.8% during the projected period. Ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs, are specialized medical facilities that give patients the choice to have surgeries and other treatments performed outside of a conventional hospital setting. Due to the high prevalence of pancreatic cancer, bile duct, and pancreatic duct illnesses, the segment for ambulatory surgical centers is anticipated to experience the highest growth during the projection period. These aspects are anticipated to encourage the ERCP market. The global Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market is segmented as follows: By Product Endoscopes Endotherapy Devices Visualization Systems Energy Devices Others By Application Biliary Sphincterotomy Biliary Stenting Biliary Dilatation Pancreatic Sphincterotomy Pancreatic Duct Stenting Pancreatic Duct Dilatation By End User Hospitals & Clinics Ambulatory Surgery Centers Others Browse the full Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2022 2028 Report at https://www.fnfresearch.com/endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography-ercp-market Competitive Landscape The report also provides an in-depth analysis of the market's main competitors, as well as information on their competitiveness. The research also identifies and analyses important business strategies used by these main market players, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), affiliations, collaborations, and contracts. The study examines, among other things, each company's global presence, competitors, service offers, and standards. Some of the main competitors dominating the global Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market include - Olympus Corporation CONMED Corporation HOYA Corporation Fujifilm Holdings Corporation KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG Ambu A/S Johnson & Johnson Boston Scientific Corporation Medtronic PLC Cook Medical B. Braun Melsungen AG. Key Insights from Primary Research: According to the analysis shared by our research forecaster, the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)market is likely to expand at a CAGR of around 8.5% during the forecast period (2022-2028). In terms of revenue, the global Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) market size was valued at around USD 1.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 2.5 billion, by 2028. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. Based on the product, the endoscopes segment held the largest market share in 2021. Based on end users, the hospitals & Clinics segment accounted for the major market share in 2021 and is expected to show its dominance during the forecast period. Based on region, North America is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography-ercp-market (We tailor your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customising your report.) Regional Analysis: In 2021, the global endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography market in North America held the highest share, accounting for 35% of the global market. This region is expanding as a result of intensive diagnostic imaging research and the rapid introduction of technologically advanced ERCP tools like sphincterotomes. The expansion of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography market in the North American area is further fueled by the increase in government funding for healthcare and the presence of major players like Hobbs Medical Inc. Furthermore, it is predicted that over the projected period, the Asia-Pacific region will experience the fastest CAGR rate. The healthcare industry's development is a contributing factor to this rise. The development of the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Market in the Asia-Pacific region is further fueled by the rising awareness regarding the treatment of pancreatic and liver disorders involving sphincterotomy. By Region North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe France UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Recent Developments In January 2022, Cook Medical launched an endoscopic clipping device, namely Instinct Plus, which is compatible with a duodenoscope and has applications for defect closure, anchoring procedures, and prophylactic clipping in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Report Scope Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2021 USD 1.4 Billion Projected Market Size in 2028 USD 2.5 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 8.5% CAGR Base Year 2021 Forecast Years 2022-2028 Key Market Players Olympus Corporation, CONMED Corporation, HOYA Corporation, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG, Ambu A/S, Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, PLC, Cook Medical, B. Braun Melsungen AG, and others. Key Segment By Product, Application, End User, and Region Major Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Purchase Options Request customized purchase options to meet your research needs. Browse Other Related Research Reports from Facts & Factors: Medical Device Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/medical-device-market Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/global-orthopedic-trauma-devices-market-by-product-type-1220 Cardiac POC Testing Devices Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/cardiac-poc-testing-devices-market Catheter Stabilization Device Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/catheter-stabilization-device-market Ophthalmic Ultrasound Device Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/ophthalmic-ultrasound-device-market-by-type-a-scan Global UV Infection Control Device Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/uv-infection-control-device-market About Facts & Factors: Facts & Factors is a leading market research organization offering industry expertise and scrupulous consulting services to clients for their business development. 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Our correction policy can be found here Honda has provided the first look at the exterior and interior styling of the all-new Honda Prologue battery-electric SUV that will come to market in North America in 2024. The Prologue design features clean and simple "Neo-Rugged" exterior and interior styling and ample interior space. Prologues generous dimensions and roomy interior position the SUV alongside the Passport in Hondas light truck lineup. Prologue will have a wheelbase of 121.8-inches, and is about 8-inches longer and 5-inches wider than the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V. The Prologue will have a generous interior, which will provide ample space for passengers and cargo. Showcasing a tech-rich cabin, the Prologue will have a standard fully digital 11-inch driver display panel and an 11.3-inch audio/connectivity display. This Year of the Honda SUV includes HR-V, CR-V, and Pilot, models that play key roles in preparing for volume Honda EV sales that will begin with Prologue in 2024. Prologue, which will be available with all-wheel drive, will target active customers who want the versatility of an SUV with the zero emissions benefit of a BEV. We are not going to wait until 2024 to attract EV buyers, because we see a natural progression for a CR-V customer to Prologue with its slightly larger size, larger interior and capable handling. We will support that transition now by putting smart strategies in place with the CR-V hybrid, that will enable our customers to transition to an EV. Gary Robinson, vice president, automobile planning and strategy at American Honda Hondas research shows that hybrid-electric customers are among the first to move into full-electric products. Honda plans to increase the model mix of the 2023 CR-V to 50% hybrid sales and will offer customers of the CR-V hybrid a shorter term, two-year lease in ZEV states when that model comes to market in fall 2022. This will enable a customer in targeted markets to easily transition into a Prologue when the new EV launches in 2024. In this way, the companys increasing hybrid sales volume will help grow a future EV customer base. Honda will introduce 30 new EVs globally by 2030, with a global sales volume of 2 million units. In North America, Honda has laid out a timeline of EV introductions based on three initial phases leading to 2030 and ultimately to 100% zero-emission automobile sales by 2040: 2024: Begin sales of the Honda Prologue, co-developed with GM 2026: Begin sales of Honda models based on Honda e:Architecture to be produced by Honda in North America. 2027: Begin sales of a new series of affordable EVs co-developed with GM, also produced by Honda in North America. Honda also recently announced an agreement to establish a joint venture to produce lithium-ion batteries in the US to power Honda and Acura EV models for the North American market. Prologue Dimensions With absentee voting for this years general election having begun on September 23, 2022, the City of Green River is sharing information to help residents understand the proposals within the Specific Purpose Tax initiative that will be included on the ballot this November. Along with the City of Rock Springs, towns of Granger, Superior, Wamsutter, Bairoil, and Sweetwater County, the City of Green River has put forth a list of basic infrastructure projects to be funded through an optional one percent sales and use tax, commonly called the Sixth Penny. To complete these specific projects, the City of Green River would receive $22,027,627 out of a total of $83,511,570 that would be raised if the initiative is approved. The communities across Sweetwater County have worked diligently to consider citizen input while deciding which projects to put forth to the voters. There have been numerous stakeholder meetings, public meetings, and a county-wide survey conducted. The input received showed that the voters are interested in seeing this initiative focused on basic infrastructure projects, said City Administrator Reed Clevenger. He continued, Green Rivers projects are exclusively street repairs, street maintenance, and replacing water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure under those streets where needed. The Specific Purpose Tax is one of the primary funding options available to local governments to fund core infrastructure projects. State law allows counties, in cooperation with cities and towns, to fund specific projects through a voluntary sales tax. Counties, cities, and towns pass resolutions that include proposed projects and amounts needed to complete those projects. Voters are then asked to decide if they would like to see the projects that were identified funded through the passing of the optional tax. If passed, one penny for each dollar spent in Sweetwater County will be collected from citizens, travelers, and businesses making purchases, until the specific projects are funded. Additionally, like other sales tax, this tax will not apply to the purchase of many items including groceries, prescription medication, and professional services. It is estimated that the projects included in the ballot initiative this November will be fully collected in five years or less. On average, homeowners can expect to pay approximately $250 per year, or a little over $20 a month. Since the Specific Purpose Tax was first placed before the voters in Sweetwater County in 2001, these funds have been the primary source of revenue for street projects in the City of Green River, with portions of 48 streets having been repaved and many others receiving pavement preservation treatments. The last time voters approved a sixth penny in Sweetwater County was 2012. In the 70s the City of Green River saw significant expansion with many miles of roads being built. Many of these are now at the end of their life, and, along with the infrastructure under the roadways, are in serious need of replacement, said Public Works Director Mark Westenskow. Green Rivers 2019 Pavement Management Study found 20.9% of the citys streets fell into the poor, very poor, serious, or failed category. Green River projects included in this initiative for the City of Green River consist of paving, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and some projects will have rehabilitation of water, sewer and storm sewer infrastructure. Projects will include work on Westbound Riverview Drive (from Hackberry Street to Locust Street), eastbound Riverview Drive (from Locust Street to Fir Street), Bridger Drive (from East Teton Boulevard to West Teton Boulevard), Faith Drive Evans Drive (from Faith Drive to Faith Drive), Easy Street (from Hutton Street through Easy Circle), Wilkes Drive (from Hutton Street to Evans Drive), and Indian Hills Drive (from Shoshone Avenue to Uinta Drive), as well as funding to cape seal selected streets to preserve the integrity of the asphalt surface. Citizens wanting to learn more about the proposed Sixth Penny initiative and the projects included in it are encouraged to visit the Specific Purpose Tax page on the Countys website at http://www.sweetwatercountywy.gov. The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 8. CASPER Gov. Mark Gordons office wants to put $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward affordable housing. The office is preparing to submit a funding proposal to the State Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee, policy advisor Ivy Castleberry said Friday at a state conference for Habitat for Humanity affiliates. According to Castleberry, the office wants to set up a grant program for shovel-ready housing projects around the state. Were looking at a project-based application at this point, she said at the conference. Gordons office on Monday declined to offer more details about the measure. This is a preliminary proposal, so were not going to comment further on it at this time, Michael Pearlman, Gordons director of communications, said in a text. The money would come from the roughly $1 billion Wyoming is expected to receive through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In addition to setting the regular two-year state and education department budgets, lawmakers in February had to set a third budget allocating the ARPA funds. As of March, about $72.1 million of that money remained unallocated, according to the Wyoming Legislatures website. Castleberry said that initially, the governors office staff considered bringing a proposal to use ARPA money as seed funding for a housing trust fund. Housing trust funds are standing pots of money used to address housing needs. The estimates on that were nearly $500 million to really make a meaningful impact in a time frame that would be reasonable, Castleberry said at the conference. In the housing world, $25 million isnt much money especially right now. Costs for new construction rose about 22% from August 2021 to August 2022, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its not where we want to be, Castleberry said of the $25 million, but we think that we can use it as a primer to bear witness to additional money. The grant would likely only serve housing projects that are well past the planning and development stages, she added. Thats because there are looming deadlines attached to the ARPA money. The funds have to be obligated (set aside for a specific purpose) by 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. If the Appropriations Committee gives the proposal its blessing, it would still have to survive both chambers of the Legislature during next years legislative session where it could be subject to significant revisions, or be struck down altogether. It would be the first of the $1 billion Wyoming received from the federal package to go toward addressing housing problems. The governors office attempted to earmark a similar amount of money for housing efforts ahead of the 2022 session. Originally, the Wyoming Community Development Authority asked Gordon for $100 million in federal relief money, executive director Scott Hoversland said at a legislative committee meeting in June. The agency is best known for lending low-interest mortgages to first-time home buyers. The Wyoming Community Development Authority wanted to use the money for affordable housing projects, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported in February. Gordons budget proposal cut that down to $22.6 million, Pearlman said in an email. The Joint Appropriations Committee rejected that proposal, leaving housing out of the budget altogether. The JAC meets again on Oct. 10 to discuss matters related to education funding, according to an agenda on the Legislative State Offices website. The committee reconvenes Oct. 26-27 and Dec. 12-16, but specifics about those meetings havent been announced yet. If the proposal passes, Wyoming would follow in the footsteps of Idaho, which earlier this year set aside $50 million of its APRA funding for affordable housing programs a first for the state. Nevada and Colorado, by comparison, are on track to funnel $500 million and $528 million of their ARPA money toward housing, respectively. Green River Mayor Pete Rust reads a proclamation recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness month during the "Paint the Town Pink" kickoff event Tuesday at the clocktower. October is a month set aside for raising awareness for a variety of causes, many of which were recognized this week through events and public proclamations. The Green River City Council meeting Tuesday night included four proclamations to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Fire Prevention Week. Breast Cancer Awareness Breast Cancer Awareness Month was also recognized in a kick-off event Tuesday afternoon at the clocktower in downtown Green River. Anyone could stop by to tie a ribbon on a display in honor of those they know with cancer, with different colored ribbons representing different types of cancer. "Even though it is breast cancer awareness, we do allow everybody to tie [a ribbon] for any type of cancer because oftentimes it's multiple types of cancer in a family," Lena Warren, the Community Outreach Director for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, explained about the event. The event was the first part of "Paint the Town Pink," a campaign Sweetwater Memorial hosts each year to raise awareness. "Paint the Town Pink" is funded by a grant from the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative. This year funding from the grant will be put towards gas cards and lodging vouchers for patients who have to travel to get treatments, Tasha Harris, the Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center Director, explained. One of the focuses of "Paint the Town Pink" is encouraging women over 40 to get their yearly mammogram screening. "Ultimately it's just about getting screened and getting in and taking care of yourself," Warren explained. "The sooner the better with cancers." The hospital's 3D mammography machine provides a more comfortable experience than a traditional screening, according to Tracie Soller, Sweetwater Memorial's Medical Imaging Director. It also enables radiologists to better observe breast tissue and detect breast cancer more effectively, Dawn Heikes, a mammography technician, explained. "So we're catching cancer sooner," Soller said. "Catching it when it's small, when it's treatable or easier to treat, that's the whole purpose of screening." Screenings like mammograms are usually covered through insurance because they're considered preventative care, Warren explained, and for those who don't have insurance, the hospital can point them to programs through Wyoming Cancer Resource Services to help them get screened. Having a month set aside to raise awareness is important because people often have to hear something multiple times for it to sink in or will wait until something affects them before they realize how serious it is, Warren said. And while October is a good month to raise awareness, any month is a good month to get a mammogram, according to Soller. Mayor Pete Rust was also present at the ribbon tying event to read the proclamation recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which he read again during the city council meeting. Domestic Violence Awareness Domestic Violence Awareness Month was recognized with proclamations at both the city council meeting and the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning. This month "provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to learn more about preventing domestic violence and to show support for the organizations and individuals who provide critical advocacy, services and assistance to victims," according to the proclamation. "We desire for the community to know that domestic violence does happen in our community," Chelsea Cortez, the YWCA of Sweetwater County Shelter Manager, said during the city council meeting. "More importantly, we want to reach out to those who may be experiencing domestic violence and let them know services are available." The YWCA of Sweetwater County serves hundreds of domestic violence victims each year, according to Cortez. In 2021, the YWCA Center for Families and Children assisted 427 clients, and YWCA provided 2,549 shelter nights and assisted with 205 protection orders, Cortez explained. The YWCA of Sweetwater County will host the annual Silent Witness Memorial Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at Western Wyoming Community College. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month exists to remember and honor the lives of "children taken far too soon" and to support "grieving parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members whose lives are forever altered by the heartbreak of losing a child," according to the proclamation, and to promote awareness of the challenges experienced by these families and enable people to help meet their needs. Courtney Swanson presented about pregnancy and infant loss awareness at the city council meeting, explaining the month was originally designated for raising awareness by President Regan in 1988 after he and his wife lost two of their babies. "It's important for us as a community to validate these tiny lives by helping families feel they're not alone in their grief journey," Swanson said. Swanson pointed out Inside Connection, a local pregnancy resource center, is now opening support groups for both miscarriage and post-abortion, which is "the first time that this kind of support is being offered in our community." Swanson also handed out flowers to those at the meeting who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, including some council members. Fire Prevention Awareness Star photo by Hannah Romero Tasha Harris, the Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center Director, speaks next to the "Paint the Town Pink" ribbon display Tuesday evening. Fire Prevention Week is observed from Oct. 9 to 15. This year's theme is "Fire won't wait, plan your escape." Citizens are encouraged to plan and practice a home fire escape and to support the Green River Fire Department and Emergency Services. Assistant Fire Chief Larry Erdmann was present at the council meeting to discuss fire prevention and safety. "Fire Prevention week is put together in memory of the Great Chicago Fire, which started October 8 and ended October 10 of 1871," Erdmann explained. Studies were done that found modern homes burn faster than old homes, according to Erdmann, which makes it even more important to have an escape plan to get to safety before the fire department can get there. Erdmann also pointed out the importance of checking the batteries in fire alarms and making sure they're working, since they can also make a big difference in safety. All four full proclamations can be read on the city's website under the City Council agenda. Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office K9 teams include, from left to right, Sergeant Derek Morrell and K9 Lieutenant Jara, Deputy Scott Morris and K9 Sergeant Arry, and Deputy Aaron Sprecher and K9 Sergeant Deena. The sheriff's office is sharing a message of gratitude to its community sponsors after recently hosting its third annual K9 certification and training event. Sheriff's office spokesperson, Deputy Jason Mower, said, "This year, we welcomed law enforcement K9 teams from Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana, and it's my understanding that this event is growing every year with teams from several other surrounding states already slated to attend next year's event." Mower went on to say that each of its three sheriff's office K9 teams are required not only to complete certification training every year, but also that they participate in a variety of continued training throughout the year. "These animals have become very important partners to us in effectively and safely accomplishing a number of different missions that we're tasked with every day as law enforcement officers," Mower said. Sheriff's office K9 team leader and training coordinator, Sergeant Derek Morrell, explained, "Our annual certification training is a comprehensive week-long, 60-hour event that includes classroom training, written exams, field exercises, and scenario-based activities." Morrell said this year's curriculum included agency standards, policy and best practices, a review of pertinent case law from across the country related to the use of force and the use of law enforcement K9 teams, and a number of different field exercises and scenario training focused on human tracking and recovery, article location, fugitive apprehension, free-air sniffs, traffic stops, and narcotics investigations. "For the last three years, we've been very fortunate and grateful to host K9 Working Dogs International, LLC, which is actually headquartered out of Sullivan, Ohio, to put on this event right here in Sweetwater County," Morrell added. Mower added that hosting the event actually saves the county money, as opposed to sending their K9 teams to Kansas or Ohio for their required annual certification training. Both Mower and Morrell expressed that this event wouldn't be possible without support from the community. Morrell said, "In addition to K9 Working Dogs, we also want to thank the Holiday Inn of Rock Springs and the Baymont by Wyndham of Rock Springs for providing K9-friendly hotel rooms, and Western Wyoming Beverages, Sweetwater County Parks and Recreation, the Sweetwater County Events Complex, High Country Realty, Blaine Tate with Brokerage Southwest, and 307 Auto, each for providing property, buildings, vehicles, and supplies to make this unique event and professional-quality training possible." "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" in Bunning Park in Rock Springs bears the names of the Sweetwater County servicemen who died in World War I. A Rock Springs soldier was among the Americans killed in Russia in a little-known chapter in U.S. military history. World War I began in August of 1914, with the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia on one side, and the Central Powers of German and Austria-Hungary on the other. Three and a half bloody years later, on April 6, 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of the Entente. By that time, Russia was in chaos. First, the Romanov dynasty that had ruled Russia for 300 years came crashing down, and only nine months later, the Provisional Government that replaced it was itself overthrown by the November (Communist) Revolution. The new regime, led by Vladimir Lenin, made peace with the Central Powers and took Russia out of the war. What followed next was six years of horrific anarchy and civil war in Russia, principally between the "Whites," (anti-Communist forces led primarily by Admiral Alexander Kolchak), and the "Reds," comprised of the Bolshevik (Communist) forces that had usurped the Provisional Government. At least six million combatants and civilians died; many historians put the death count as high as nearly twice that. Encouraged by the other Allied leaders, President Woodrow Wilson sent military expeditions to northern Russia and eastern Siberia to secure the Trans-Siberian Railroad and huge Allied supply caches (there were about 725,000 tons of such goods and equipment in Vladivostok alone), and to aid the 40,000 soldiers of the Czech Legion - Czech and Slovak volunteers who fought on the side of Russia against the Central Powers. The Legion was stranded in Russia when Lenin pulled out of the war, and strove to travel by train the 9,700 miles to Vladivostok, there to take ship for transport to the Western Front to resume their fight against Germany and Austria. It was also hoped that, in some manner, alternatives to Communist rule could be created. Inevitably, that would lead to clashes with Red troops. Ultimately, nearly 8,000 American troops served in Siberia from 1918 to 1920, including elements of the 31st Infantry Regiment. Private Gus Johnson of Rock Springs, born in Sweden in 1886, was among them, a member of "A" Company. Courtesy photo U.S. troops march in Siberia during the military intervention there, officially titled the American Expeditionary Force, Siberia. As described in The American Legion, 100 Years, 1919-2019, a very special project of the High Desert Chapter of the National Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, "On 25 June 1919 his [Johnson's] platoon of 75 soldiers was attacked at Romanovka near Vladivostok at sunrise while sleeping in tents by a 400-man Red Russian unit. Twenty-five men in his unit were killed, 25 were wounded, and 25 withstood and repelled the attack with reinforcements, the greatest single loss of American lives in Siberia." Johnson was among those killed. On September 1, 1919, he was interred at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. While the Czech Legion was successfully extracted from Russia, by every other measure the American intervention was far less successful. The supplies stockpiled in Russian ports were lost, and no progressive, non-Communist government was established. The last American troops in Siberia were withdrawn on April 1, 1920. In total, 189 soldiers died there, from all causes. In Bunning Park in Rock Springs stands a century-old statue: The Spirit of the American Doughboy. It is a monument that honors the veterans and casualties of World War I and bears the names of the servicemen of Sweetwater County who died in that conflict. Among them is Private Gus Johnson, A Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, the only Sweetwater County man to die during the 1918-1920 American military intervention in Siberia. Local directors are set to showcase their work at the Guam International Film Festivals Made in the Marianas and Island Spotlight program, which highlights regional films and local talent. First Date, The Run, Steps on the Shore and Bittersweet are all up for the coveted Best Made in the Marianas award. I didnt really know film was an avenue I could take here, said Kyra Perez, director of First Date. Perez, a University of Guam junior, launched her first foray into filmmaking during an independent narrative filmmaking class taught by Raymond Anderson. Im just so happy that Im doing this because its something I always dreamed of, but never thought would be a reality. Anyone out there I would say go for it. We have resources here that are amazing. Its a pretty tight-knit community that Im just getting started in but everyones really supportive of each other. I know theres so many stories that Guam can create, she said. First Date Perez, a self-professed lover of rom-coms, said about her film, This is a classic teenage rom-com and the special thing about it is that it looks like home. First Date was filmed against the backdrop of Perezs haunts, including UOG hallways and a scene that takes place in a home that she said captures a classic ranch feel. My hope is that people enjoy my film. I know Im going to enjoy all the other films that are there. There are amazing filmmakers. Im a little anxious because this is my very first film, and some people that I know have made multiple films. Im just so humbled to be on the same stage as them, Perez said. The Run Kin Guerrero, director of The Run, also crafted his film in Andersons UOG class. Its about a broken family and a horrific incident that the character has to come to terms with, Guerrero said. Bittersweet GIFF alum James Davis, director of Bittersweet, is returning after winning Best Made in the Marianas for his film You Deserve Tomorrow in 2017. With Bittersweet, Davis touches on challenging themes and toxic relationships. For the audience, I know theres gonna be a lot of questions, Davis said. He hopes that the film can help community members to be more careful in relationships and look out for red flags and prioritize communication. For the film, Davis researched toxic and abusive relationships on island. I wanted to show it on the big screen, although its a bad thing. But its good to show the audience that this exists, Davis said. The film has already received buzz and accolades in international venues winning Best Thriller Short at the Mumbai International Cult Film Festival, and earning a spot as a finalist at the Asian Cinematography Awards. Beauty Queen Myra Aquino, raised on Guam and in the Philippines, seeks to honor ancestors with her film, Beauty Queen. The film, which will be screened at GIFF in the Island Spotlight program, charts the story of Remedios Gomez-Paraiso, a beauty queen who runs into the mountains with her brother to join the Hukbalahap resistance when the Philippines is invaded during World War II. It was very serendipitous, because my sister-in-law is actually the great grandniece of Remedios. So I was talking to her one day about stories, this is before I was making my film, and she mentioned that she had this relative who would put on lipstick, do her makeup, do her hair and put on a dress before she went into battle. I thought it was like something out of a crazy fantasy novel. I actually looked her up, and it was all true. She just seemed like this larger than life person, I was increasingly fascinated by her and I had never heard of her. When I talked to my other Filipino friends, theyd never heard of her. I thought it was such a shame that we didnt know about her history. I felt like if I can make a short film about her, it would sort of bring her legacy back to life, Aquino said. Aquino made Beauty Queen as her thesis film at UCLA, where she studied directing. Prior to Beauty Queen, Aquino had only experienced filming on campus. I went to the Philippines and was there for one and a half to two months doing pre-production, like location scouting, meeting with costume designers, production designers, because thats super important for a historical period film. It was pretty challenging. While I was trying to mount this production, I was also learning what its like to shoot in the Philippines, she said. Aquino plans to make more films in the region in the future. Beauty Queen is sweeping film festivals, and has won awards including Best Short Film at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in 2021, and the Jack Larson Southern California Filmmaker Award at the KCET Fine Cut Festival of Films in 2022. Aquino hopes that the film will resonate with Guam audiences, who might easily draw connections between World War II experiences in the Philippines and Guam. I also hope that it sparks peoples curiosity about what their grandparents and relatives went through during World War II and causes them to ask their relatives what happened during that time. I know Liberation Day in Guam is particularly a time to remember that. But I think theres something about bringing something to life and really seeing something in a person and trying to imagine what that might have been like for somebody else, she said. The film can also help to encourage conversations about stories that arent commonly represented in film, Aquino said. I encourage creatives. You dont even have to be a filmmaker, even if youre a writer, just be curious about your past and if you want to be able to express it express it in whatever way you feel is fulfilling for you, she said. For foodies looking for an adventure, groups wanting to start their night out with a hearty meal and intriguing drink selections, or families hoping to celebrate a birthday or graduation, Seoul Jung is an elegant yet accessible choice in the heart of the Tumon. With Seoul Jung, youre getting high quality Korean food thats very anchored in our traditions. When you come in here, theres art from famous Korean artists on the wall. We have vases made by really great ceramic makers in Korea. All of the art thats here is made by Korean artists and our food reflects that, said Jae Cho, director of marketing at JMSH LLC, the parent company of Holiday Resort. Seoul Jung, located on the Mezzanine floor of the hotel, offers sweeping views of the surrounding greenery. Seoul Jungs architect is Taeho Park, known for designing the Louis Vuitton store in Seoul. The restaurant is an exciting cross between honoring traditional Korean fare and celebrating fresh and inventive fusion takes. Obviously, cheese isnt a Korean food item, but everyone in Korea now eats cheese. They put it on their beef intestines, they put it on their kimchi, on pork belly fried rice. This is something that even though its not traditional, its now very Korean to have. What we want to do is spread authentic Korean culture, whether its traditional or modern, Cho said. Star dish One of Seoul Jungs star dishes is Jjussam Bokkeumbab, or pork belly kimchi fried rice with octopus. The standout main dish is big enough to serve two people for $27. To prepare the dish, guests cook the small octopus with pork belly with a specially marinated kimchi, along with bean sprouts and radish. The dish also features a surprise second act. You cook it and eat whatever you want out of it, and whatever the leftovers are, you put in with rice. And you put butter with dried seaweed and green onion, and you make it into fried rice, she explained. Guests can then choose to add cheese to the pork belly kimchi fried rice for added flare. Its kind of a really popular dish in Korea that you dont really see here in Guam or even in the states. But in Korea, you cant go a few blocks without going into one restaurant thats gonna do this for you, she said. Other treats Foodies can then cleanse their palate with another unique offering: Seoul Jungs peanut magkeoli, or rice wine. Cho describes it as Koreas version of Japanese sake. The peanut magkeoli is sweet and smooth, with some sparkling notes that linger. Seoul Jung is also proud of their gamjajeon, a potato pancake thats offered for $12. For the dish, chef Shen Zhenghao sought to capture the flavors of his childhood. I wanted to figure out how to do this super crispy yet chewy gamjajeon that I used to eat when I was a kid. No one makes gamjajeon the way I remember it anymore; mostly, its served quite thick and floury. But I wanted ours to have these special textures of crispiness and chewiness that is so rare nowadays. This is why we didnt offer gamjajeon for a long time we wanted it to be made exactly to our standard. After months of testing, we finally nailed down one that were confident is unique and delicious, Zhenghao said. So many of the dishes at Seoul Jung would be great for sharing. Guests have a variety of options for their dining experience, and can opt to sit in standard Western style seating or enjoy Korean-style seating. Guests can also request a private room for groups at no additional charge. Even standard Korean classics, like the seafood pancake, are treated with attention to detail and shouldnt be looked over. But guests will especially get a kick out of fusion favorites like Seoul Jungs rose tteokbokki, which Cho describes as a kind of twist on fettuccine Alfredo featuring cylinder-shaped rice cakes. Its creamy and just slightly spicy. With the elevated atmosphere and dreamy dishes, Seoul Jung stands out and offers a unique experience for guests from the moment they enter the restaurant, to the experience of grilling their food at the table. We really want to make the most high quality Korean food that feels very authentic for our guests, and on top of that we have modernized our menu to make it more trendy for young people, Cho said. A court order handed down Thursday affirms District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewoods decision to dismiss a lawsuit that sought to halt the practice of the open detonation of ordnance along Tarague Beach. Tydingco-Gatewood sided with the Department of the Air Force and the Department of Defense last week during arguments for a lawsuit filed by law firm Earthjustice on behalf of local activist group Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian. The plaintiffs wanted a permit for open detonation and open burn units at Tarague on Andersen Air Force Base denied and the practice halted while alternative ordnance disposal methods were assessed. No harm The order handed down by Gatewood found that Prutehi Litekyans members arent harmed by the Air Force reapplying for a Guam Environmental Protection Agency permit to operate the detonation and burn units, which have existed since 1980. Earthjustice argued the permit application allows the Air Force to continue detonations at Tarague, thus harming Prutehi Litekyan members who fish along the beach, endangered sea turtles and ancestral land owners who hope to have nearby land returned some day. Detonations are allowed to continue as Guam EPA reviews the permit. Review of the issue also is premature, the order states, as Guam EPA has yet to make a decision on the application for the detonation and burn unit. No analysis needed Tydingco-Gatewood also rejected arguments from Earthjustice that the Air Force was required to, and failed to perform, an environmental impact survey under the National Environmental Policy Act. Previous decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals from the Eleventh Circuit and others find that the National Environmental Policy Act does not apply when a government agency is going through an environmental permitting process such as the one being handled by Guam EPA. Representatives from Earthjustice and Prutehi Litekyan told the PDN this week that they disagree with Tydingco-Gatewoods decision. They may seek an appeal in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court or take action against Guam EPA, though no decision has yet been made. Protest planned In the meantime, the local group is seeking to pressure Guam EPA to deny the permit. A peaceful protest of the Air Forces detonation and burn permit is planned at Chief Kepuha Park for 4 p.m. Oct. 13, according to a flyer provided by Prutehi Litekyan member Monaeka Flores. Guam EPA in a previous statement said the agency is seeking federal guidance on the permit application, following stricter guidance handed down by U.S. EPA on open burn and open detonation practices in June. The agencys final decision will require, at a minimum, analysis of alternative technologies to manage hazardous waste produced by Andersen. Joint Region Marianas Spokesperson Katherine Koenig has said open detonation remains the safest and cleanest way to dispose of munitions on Guam left over from previous wars. According to Koenig, the majority of detonations at Andersen are emergency disposals and military explosive ordnance disposal specialists have continually responded to incidents that threaten the local community. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero still has $282 million, or 49%, in federal American Rescue Plan funds for pandemic emergency and economic recovery efforts, but two senators pointed to a continued lack of reporting details such as spending by purpose, project description, and contracts issued. The governor used $9 million in September, bringing the total spending to $296 million, or 51% of total ARP funding of $578.7 million. Unlike prior federal pandemic funding that needed to be spent immediately, ARP funds can be allocated up to 2024 and spent as late as 2026. Lester Carlson Jr., director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, on Friday said the administration has been very prudent in its handling of the ARP funds and flexible enough in deploying them when unexpected events come up. Were not out of the woods yet. I wish people could appreciate that we have resources to address emergencies. After the delta variant, we didnt expect that omicron would also happen. The ARP money helped us address these emergencies, Carlson said. Guam remains under a public health state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, some 31 months after the initial declaration in March 2020. In the dark Sen. Telo Taitague, whos seeking reelection, said millions more in ARP money was spent yet the people of Guam remain in the dark on how exactly these funds were used, especially in the midst of an election. The governor is also seeking reelection. Sen. Jim Moylan, whos running for delegate, said the latest report still doesnt have details and the community will never know how these funds have specifically been spent, other than that government agencies received lump sums. What was procured with these monies? What contracts were issued? Who benefited? This is not transparency, Moylan said. The latest BBMR data shows that theres still a balance of $282.653 million in ARP funds as of Sept. 30. Thats down from $291.913 million available as of Aug. 31. Carlson said the unspent money has already been allocated. About 57%, or $160 million of the still available ARP funds, have been set aside for a new Guam Memorial Hospital. $10M on credit card fees Total spending on credit card fees reached $10.1 million as of Sept. 30, exceeding the $6.4 million allocation. Prugraman Salappe spending totaled nearly $20 million, almost double the prior allocation of $11.7 million allocation. The third round of Prugraman Salappe offered a $500 cash aid to cushion the impact of soaring gas prices. Total Prugraman Salappe spending hit nearly $20 million, almost double the prior allocation of $11.7 million allocation. Carlson said the additional amounts spent for credit card fees and Prugraman Salappe will be transferred from other programs. However, the September ARP funding report does not show where that money will be taken from, since BBMR is still in the process of reconciling the numbers. But I want to reassure everybody that whoever needed to be paid under Prugraman Salappe 3 had been paid, and the same thing goes to the credit card fees. Those fees have been paid, Carlson said. The government of Guam has been absorbing the cost of fees on the use of credit cards to help residents cope with the impacts of the pandemic. Fixing leaking roofs Taitague asked whether any of the ARP money went toward fixing the leaks and other major facility issues at Guam Memorial Hospital, or to address public health violations at Oceanview Middle School, which will close in December. The senator also asked whether ARP funds were used to hire more police officers or invest in camera systems to help fight crime, or to help more families cope with high costs of goods and services or find a home. We dont know because the ARPA monthly reports give us close to nothing on how Adelup is spending more than $500 million in federal taxpayer funds, Taitague said. We dont know because Adelup refuses to be honest with the people of Guam. And we thought we were all in this together. Moylan, for his part, believes that ARP funds should not be spent on political ads we keep seeing popping up. It is a terrible abuse of relief funds which instead should be provided to assist many in the community. We even introduced legislation to prevent this arrogant misuse of taxpayer dollars, which sadly is not moving in the legislature, he said. Taitagues amendment to the fiscal 2023 budget successfully added a provision requiring details on the governors allocation of both ARPA funds and federal infrastructure funds, as well as the total expenditure by purpose and project description. Adelup had an opportunity to be proactive and transparent by itemizing expenditures such as personnel, equipment, supplies, and contracts that are paid using ARPA funds beginning with the September 2022 report, but it chose not to, Taitague said. Public aid Of the total ARP funding, nearly $167 million went to public assistance programs that included direct cash aid to residents and businesses such as the All-RISE Act, Prugraman Salappe and the Local Employers Assistance Program. Heres where the nearly $167 million in public assistance program funding was spent: $37.194 million, All-RISE Act $36.398 million, GEDAs LEAP $20.937 million, COVID-19 quarantine hotels $19.956 million, Prugraman Salappe $16.787 million, GEDAs business economic support $15 million, GPA power rate offset $10.1 million, credit card fees $3.446 million, COVID-19 isolation hotels $2.5 million, Tier 2 clinics $1.95 million, COVID-19 bereavement grants $1.666 million, GEDAs rent relief program $913,000, GEDAs economic diversification initiatives The $12 million that the administration set aside for upfront capital costs in rolling out universal trash collection to address Guams garbage problems has remained unspent. Theres also $12.4 million for water rate offsetting that has not been spent. Department of Public Health and Social Services inspectors, who last month found significant structural and electrical problems at Oceanview Middle School, inspected the school again recently and gave it a D rating in connection with other problems, including overgrown vegetation and dirty classrooms. The government in 2019 adopted new health and safety requirements for school buildings, revising requirements that had been in place since 1984. In addition to setting minimum standards for the way schools and specific facilities in schools are designed, cleaned and maintained, the revised requirements set minimum standards for room air temperature and humidity, as well as the number of toilets and handwashing facilities. According to Public Health, existing schools, such as Oceanview Middle, have until 2024 to fully comply with requirements. Although Oceanview technically has two more years to address all of the problems found by Public Health during its Sept. 28 sanitation inspection, the Guam Department of Education weeks ago announced plans to close the campus and relocate the students to a wing at Southern High School. Acting Education Superintendent Francis Santos announced the move after a Sept. 14 Public Health school building inspection found evidence of structural damage, mold, termites, rodents and electrical problems. The shift to Southern High is scheduled to happen after Christmas break. Oceanview students in the meantime were moved to other rooms at the Oceanview campus. Problems The Sept. 14 inspection revealed the following problems: compromised structure of walls and ceilings in all rooms in the D wing because of water and termite damage; missing or unsecured covers for light fixtures; active leaks in air conditioners and ceilings in several rooms; all electrical outlets in D wing classrooms werent working; humidity in three rooms and a storage room was greater than 60%; evident smell of mold in all rooms; evidence of leaks near classroom electrical boxes. The Sept. 28 Public Health sanitation inspection at Oceanview noted the following problems, which resulted in 56 demerits and a D rating: dirty classrooms; unsecured janitorial rooms; dirty floors made of the wrong material; incorrectly installed and maintained restroom doors; broken, unscreened and obstructed windows; dirty classroom equipment in disrepair; excessively high air temperature and humidity; lights that dont meet minimum requirements; an unapproved sewage disposal system; dirty and non-maintained handwashing facilities; showers that arent maintained; dirty restrooms lacking toilet paper; and improperly stored garbage, trash and food. The American Red Cross Guam Chapter is asking the island community for financial donations to help those affected by Hurricane Ian. Itll go toward the disaster response thats happening in Florida, or whatever they need there, for the victims, said Chief Executive Officer Chita Blaise. Following Hurricane Ian, 2 million people are still without power and life-threatening flooding is widespread in impacted areas, according to a Red Cross news release. People who have been heavily impacted by the hurricane are struggling to cope and recover from the sheer magnitude of devastation it left behind. The Guam Chapter has already deployed volunteer George Mesa, an EMT with the Guam Fire Department, to assist the disaster response. I hear its really bad. A friend from Florida called me this morning. She said she finally got power. She has some damage but not as bad as other places, said Ambrosio Constantino, Red Cross Guam Chapter disaster program coordinator. Constantino will be sent to Florida as planner, as he is trained in areas such as damage assessment, shelter, and logistics. He is set to be deployed on Saturday, Guam time, where he will join Mesa and John Hirsh, executive director for Red Cross CNMI Chapter. This is what the American Red Cross is all about. We just dont respond to disasters here, but also, wherever it is, wherever we are needed, are always there, said Blaise. Residents can donate by calling 671-472-6217/9 or 671-688-0280. Checks can be made payable to the American Red Cross with the designation Hurricane Ian. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Haiti - Politic : The OAS asks Member States for support to restore security in Haiti Thursday, October 6, 2022, the Organization of American States (OAS) sought the support of Member States to help restore security and democracy in Haiti through a consensus statement approved in Lima during the first plenary session of the 52nd Assembly. general of the organization. In the statement, the OAS said it was "concerned" by the insecurity experienced by Haiti, characterized in particular by kidnappings for ransom, the proliferation of gang armed forces and the increase in cases of human rights violations and considers the need to strengthen the judicial system and civil society in Haiti, to fight against impunity and corruption and to clarify the various crimes committed in Haiti. The agency asks its Secretariat, Member States and permanent observers who are in a position to do so, "to urgently offer direct support to the Government of Haiti to improve the training of port security agents in the fight against firearms trafficking." As well as helping "to strengthen the capacities and means of the Haitian National Police (PNH) in order to restore security in Port-au-Prince and the metropolitan area and stop the spread of armed gangs that terrorize the population. It also calls on Member States, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2645, to "prohibit the transfer of small arms and light weapons and ammunition to non-State entities", it encourages them to collaborate with the country to strengthen its judicial system "in order to fight against corruption and impunity, and to elucidate the various crimes committed, in particular crimes against the civilian population and the assassination of President Jovenel Moise." And she calls in conclusion for the holding of general elections, as soon as the conditions are met, so that the democratic institutions of the country are functional again. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Ministry of Defence's denial The Communication Office of the Ministry of Defense formally denies the false allegations disseminated by certain digital media "[...] Attached to the principles of ethics of republican values, the Ministry of Defense has never, nor never intends made a pact with outlaw individuals and groups who, through terrorist acts, paralyze the proper functioning of the country." Volley Norceca Cup : Haiti swept away by Mexico Thursday, October 6, as part of the Norceca Pan-American Cup taking place in Havana (Cuba), the selection of Haiti Volleyball U-21, after qualifying for the 1/4 finals https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37820-icihaiti-norceca-pan-american-cup-volleyball-victory-against-nicaragua-our-grenadiers-qualified-in-the-1-4-finals.html bowed to Mexico by 3 sets to zero [24-26, 18-25 and 17-25] Les Cayes : UNICEF warehouse looted Thursday, October 6, 2022, members of the population of Simon (7km from Les Cayes) ransacked and looted a depot belonging to UNICEF in which school and medical kits were stored. Building materials from the Nira Variete store were also stored in the same hangar. The police managed to recover some of the building materials from the hands of the looters. Primature's denial The Office of Communication of the Primature formally and categorically denies the information conveyed on social networks, according to which the Prime Minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, has resigned. These are purely and simply strategies of fabrications, intoxication, orchestrated by ill-intentioned individuals, aimed at sowing trouble and confusion. OAS : Resolving the Security Crisis in Haiti Thursday, October 6 Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) during a meeting on Haiti with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly (Canada), Jean Victor Geneus (Haiti) and the Secretary of State American Antony Blinken declared that Haiti must seek urgent assistance from the international community to help resolve the security crisis and determine the characteristics of the international security forces. FIFA World : Haiti moves up one place... In the latest FIFA world ranking published Thursday, October 6, 2022, Haiti advances by a small place, going from 88th to 87th place with 1,269.07. Regionally, Haiti remains in 10th position. Next FIFA World Ranking December 22, 2022. HL/ HaitiLibre Send Network Unveils New Values, Leadership Team, Spanish Website NEWS PROVDED BY North American Mission Board Oct. 6, 2022 ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 6, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- At a national meeting of more than 275 field staff at the North American Mission Board's (NAMB) headquarters Thursday, Oct. 6, Send Network President Vance Pitman unveiled a slate of new leaders, a Spanish-language website and all-new values guiding North America's largest church planting network. "As a family of churches planting churches everywhere for everyone, we want to be clear about the values that drive our decisions," Pitman said. "These values impact everything we do." Seek first the kingdom God is at work locally and globally. Deepen devotion Without prayer and the Word, we are powerless. Stick together We are a family united by a mission. Think multiplication God's global mission demands disciples and churches that multiply. Engage your city The gospel changes lives, families and communities. The roll-out of changes comes just days after it was announced that funding for Send Network the church planting arm of the NAMB with some 1,050 currently endorsed church planting missionaries hit an all-time high this year of $68.9 million given by Southern Baptists through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Pitman also introduced a new executive leadership team: Felix Cabrera as vice president of Send Network Espanol, Matt Carter as vice president of mobilization, Michael Crawford as vice president of strategies and development, Bryan Loritts as vice president of regions, and Travis Ogle as executive vice president. Loritts and Crawford are continuing in their current roles as teaching pastor at The Summit Church, and executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, respectively serving covocationally with Send Network while the others are full-time staff of the organization. Pitman also introduced the network's first-ever Lead Team of Planters visionary, seasoned practitioners who have a proven track record of planting churches: Adam Bailie, Christ Church, Phoenix, Ariz. Brian Bloye, West Ridge Church, Dallas, Ga. Matt Carter, Sagemont Church, Houston, Texas Michael Crawford, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware Dean Fulks, Lifepoint Church, Columbus, Ohio Dean Inserra, City Church, Tallahassee, Fla. Jon Kelly, Chicago West Bible Church, Chicago, Ill. Mark Lee, VantagePoint Church, Eastvale, Calif. Bryan Loritts, The Summit Church, Durham, N.C. Troy Nesbitt, Cornerstone Church, Ames, Iowa Vance Pitman, Hope Church, Las Vegas James Roberson, The Bridge Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. Sean Sears, Grace Church, Boston, Mass. Brian White, Harvest Church, Carmel, Indiana Keith Wieser, Resonate Church, Pullman, Wash. Ron Zappia, Highpoint Church, Naperville, Ill. Their collective planting and pastoral experience totals more than 260 years, Pitman said, with ministries responsible for 882 church plants in North America, and churches that have baptized more than 22,000 new believers and have a current weekend attendance of more than 45,000 people. Pitman described the Lead Team of Planters as carrying the responsibility of being the face of Send Network, the voice for Send Network and the heart shaping Send Network. "A lot of planters and their sending churches join Send Network for the unparalleled resources and support we offer," Pitman said. "But if the money and systems all went away tomorrow, we would still be a family of churches planting churches, led by this godly group of torchbearers and so many pastors and planters like them." During the meeting, Cabrera commissioned champions of Hispanic church planting, charged to connect and equip churches as those churches send planters to start new Spanish-language and Hispanic-majority churches across North America, including: Jorge Altieri U.S. Ohio Valley Julio Crespo Southern U.S. Jose D. Fasolino Canada David Godoy Western U.S. Leonardo Lopez U.S. Mountain West Alejandro Molero Northeastern U.S. Jorge Rodriguez Midwestern U.S. Xavier Torrado Puerto Rico "The opportunity to make new disciples and start churches among the Hispanic community is growing rapidly in North America," Cabrera said, noting the more than 1,360 Hispanic SBC churches that were already planted from 2011 to 2021. "We are not talking only about Spanish-speaking, first-generation Hispanics, but also second- and third-generation Hispanics. This is an amazing opportunity." Cabrera also unveiled an all-new, Spanish-language website serving Hispanic planters and churches with contextualized resources and information, at SendNetworkEspanol.com. "We have an amazing group of missionaries who are all about taking the gospel to hard-to-reach places in North America," NAMB President Kevin Ezell said, as he announced the record-breaking funding to the organization's board of trustees earlier this week at a separate meeting in Chicago. "I'm grateful for each one of them and the sacrifices they and their families have made to follow God's calling. These gifts are already making a difference." About NAMB The North American Mission Board engages and equips Southern Baptist churches to make an impact in their own communities, across the continent and around the world. Through compassion ministry, church planting, chaplaincy and disaster relief, the North American Mission Board helps congregations serve the spiritual and physical needs of the hurting. Whether it's removing storm debris, establishing new churches or providing counsel to prison inmates, the North American Mission Board connects people in need with people who care. SOURCE North American Mission Board CONTACT: Scott Knuteson, 770-317-0499 Published on 2022/10/07 | Source Korean drama starting today 2022/10/07 in Korea: "Glitch" (2022) Advertisement Directed by Roh Deok Written by Jin Han-sae Network: Netflix With Jeon Yeo-been, Nana, Lee Dong-hwi, Ryu Kyung-soo, Jeon Bae-soo, Ko Chang-seok,... 10 episodes - Fri Synopsis "Glitch" tells a story of Hong Ji-hyo, who tries to track down her missing boyfriend with the help of members of a UFO club. Writer Jin Han-sae, who enthralled audiences and critics with the much lauded Netflix series "Extracurricular", reunites with its production team at Studio 329 for "Glitch". Jin Han-sae's bold writing style and keen insight kept viewers surprised in his debut series. Now in "Glitch", he unravels an intriguing and intense story about members of a UFO club who pursue those who have disappeared in a mysterious beam of light. Their special quest, which seems preposterous to society at large, is told within the framework of a suspenseful comic thriller. Korean Movie | 2022 Drama Directed by Ka Sung-moon () 112min | Release date in South Korea: 2022/Second half Started filming: 2021/08/16 Synopsis Hye-jeong, lost her husband in an industrial accident, moves with her son to a new town apartment named 'Dream Palace', she purchased with the accident settlement fee. However, a constructional defect occurs in the apartment and to earn the cost for the repairment, she promotes the discount sale of the apartment following the suggestion of Yong-min, who introduced her the apartment. In the meantime, she reunites with Su-in, her colleague during the protest, and recommends her purchasing the apartment. (Hier finden Sie die deutsche Version des Beitrags) In Germany and Europe, there is concern about a blackout in the face of ongoing discussions about energy shortages as a result of Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine. Depending on how one looks at it, the energy transition in Germany is considered to have been delayed or even to have failed. In many places, horror scenarios are being sketched out. We decided to look ahead and take a closer look at what is considered one of the big factors for the success of the energy transition: offshore wind power. To get a closer look at what is actually happening, installed and maintained offshore, we visited WindMW GmbH, which operates on Helgoland as well as in Bremerhaven and Zossen. This series of articles comprises several parts, which we publish from Tuesday to Friday this week. Published so far: The training profession "offshore service technician" does not yet exist. As a rule, the employees of WindMW Service GmbH have therefore gained previous experience in other professions or have completed classical training in other areas and have then come to wind power. Tomasz "Tomek" Sroka, for example, is actually a qualified mechatronics technician and, after training in the automotive sector, worked for onshore wind turbines for quite a while. He is currently undergoing three months of IHK-recognised further training to become an electrical engineering specialist for wind turbines, which is paid for and supported by WindMW. Other employees used to work on onshore platforms for fossil fuel production and now work in the transformer station or the turbines. Service technician Tomek literally took us by the hand during the first hours at the WindMW station and showed us the offices, common rooms, changing rooms and also the WindMW warehouse. Meanwhile, he told us a lot about his employer. Permit to entry not denied Around 50 people work for WindMW Service GmbH on Helgoland. Many industrial electricians are employed by WindMW, but warehousemen and logisticians are also needed, because it is not possible to simply work at sea. For safety reasons, a "permit to enter" is issued for everything, and warehousing and precise loading of the service ships, which are also limited in space, also play an important role. The company's own warehouse on Helgoland contains the most important and most common spare parts, greases and oils, but everything that is needed on Helgoland always has to pass through customs. Accordingly, the warehouse staff and other employees try to estimate very precisely what might soon be needed again on site. Spare parts in stock. (Bild: heise online/Kristina Beer) The higher management level takes care of the safe processes in the daily work of the employees and the safety of the technical facilities. At the head office and among the administrative employees, it is precisely noted which service technician has which skills - for which work he or she is quasi cleared. For the organisation, as it is simplified locally, a kind of "SAP" is used for offshore companies. From the control centre, the software can be used to see exactly where which technician is currently on duty. And the control room in Bremerhaven also receives this data in 24/7 service to know what is happening at sea - for example, to coordinate emergency operations. Ships always report to the control room when they are in the 500-metre zone around the wind farm. Ships longer than 24 metres are not allowed to enter the park (except for authority ships). The in-house IT department takes care of the remote monitoring (Scada) and also the Tetra radio. Work at sea is usually done in teams of three, as this is also an external safety recommendation. The colleagues must be able to rely on each other, stand by each other during shifts and should not have any problems providing first aid in an emergency. If there are more serious injuries, the victims have to be flown out to the mainland by helicopter. The helicopter must be at the site within 30 minutes and should also return to the mainland within 30 minutes. Due to the special situation, all technicians have extended first aid training. Rescue from confined spaces is also specially trained in advance. And tele-medicine is also available for emergencies. Off to the park Before they leave for the parks early in the morning, tools and spare parts have already been packed the day before by warehouse staff on the basis of the to-do lists prepared beforehand. And the technicians also pack their food and their own equipment into a personal bag, which is picked up by the warehouse staff. These things are then loaded onto one of the company's ships and later taken to the actual site of operation at the turbines via the lifting cranes on the transition pieces. For safety reasons, the technicians do not simply stand on the ship, grab two or three tools and then climb up the wind turbine. That would be too dangerous, because even stepping over to the wind turbine poses some dangers. Bild 1 von 17 With offshore service technicians at sea (17 Bilder) It takes the "Seewind I" three quarters of an hour to cover the 25 kilometres to the Meerwind Sud | Ost wind farm northeast of Helgoland. Johannes Bornsen was on board and reports on his experiences. (Bild: heise-online/ Johannes Bornsen) So the respective captain of the ships tries to dock carefully to the lower steel tube of the windmill. With soft rubber lugs, the ship then bumps against a ladder secured with protruding struts on the transition piece. The technicians wait on deck for a signal from the crew and then climb up the ladder from deck - while the ship is sometimes more or less moving up and down. If suddenly a big wave comes that lifts the ship more, the climbers have to pull themselves close to the ladder before they can climb further. At the same time, they already secure themselves - as in a climbing park - on holding ropes attached to the turbine. The own securing on holding constructions continues again and again on the layout. As Johannes was able to observe live, however, even crossing over to a transition piece is a small adventure. Because we embarked on the Nato project together with our closer partner Sweden, well travel this road together. We have no alternative plans. Well seek to get over the finish line together, as was our original intention, he underscored on YLE Aamu on Thursday. MINISTER of Defence Antti Kaikkonen (Centre) on Thursday said Finland and Sweden will proceed to move in step toward membership in Nato. Kaikkonen viewed that the two countries joining the military alliance simultaneously is important particularly from the national defence perspective. Both membership bids have already been ratified by 28 of the 30 members of Nato, with Slovakia joining the group in late September. The applications still require a ratification from Hungary and Turkey. Turkey has continued to voice its reservations about the possible memberships of Finland and, especially, Sweden. Mika Aaltola, the director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, stated to Ilta-Sanomat on Tuesday that Finland should start mulling over its response to a situation where Turkey ratifies its application but not that of Sweden. He estimated, though, that both membership bids will likely be ratified at the turn of the year. I think it could happen before spring, meaning at the turn of the year, but its definitely not set in stone, said Aaltola. Kaikkonen told YLE on Thursday that the defence administration is presently examining various possible forms of Nato presence in Finland, weighing up what would be justified from the viewpoint of both the military alliance and security of Finland. Joining the alliance, he reminded, does not oblige the country to host nuclear weapons, permanent military bases or troops. Whats most important is that it should be something that also bolsters Finnish security. The time for these decisions comes later. The most important thing right now is to finalise the membership, he said. He pointed out that the alliance has not established permanent bases or re-situated nuclear weapons in its member states in the 2000s. Finland, he added, will as a member have to accept that nuclear weapons are part of the alliances defence and deterrence policy. He considers it unlikely that nuclear weapons will be situated in Finland. Aleksi Teivainen HT file photo The Central government has asked the Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit to name his successor. The Central government has asked the Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit to name his successor. In a tweet, the Ministry of Law and Justice said: "As per the MoP on appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court judges, today the Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for appointment of his successor." Justice Lalit will retire on November 8 and as per convention Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is to be recommended to the post in order of seniority. He is likely to be named as the next CJI by Justice Lalit. As per the convention, the government writes to the outgoing CJI and the CJI, in turn, recommends the name of the most senior judge as the successor, a month before retirement. After the name of the senior most judge is recommended, the incumbent CJI usually does not take decision on the recommendation for the appointment of new judges. The incumbent CJI usually leaves it for the new CJI. Also, Chief Justice Lalit-led collegium may not be able to recommend any name to the Centre for filling up four vacant Supreme Court judges' posts, as the deadlock over the proposal to recommend new judges continues. According to sources, two of the five-member apex court collegium have opposed the proposal to recommend four new judges, which includes an apex court lawyer, to the top court through a written note instead of a formal meeting. The Chief Justice of India, who heads the collegium, had written to its four members -- Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, S.K. Kaul, S. Abdul Nazeer, and K.M. Joseph -- earlier this month seeking their consent for the elevation of Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha; Patna High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Karol; Manipur High Court Chief Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar; and senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan. The apex court will reopen after Dussehra holidays on October 10. So far, the collegium headed by the CJI has recommended for the elevation of Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta as judge of the apex court. Helsinki Police Department on Thursday stated that around 150200 demonstrators walked onto the street at 5pm outside the Parliament House, defying an earlier notice from the police that the location is not a suitable site for the demonstration. A DEMONSTRATION by Extinction Rebellion Finland halted traffic on Mannerheimintie, the main thoroughfare of Helsinki, on Thursday. The demonstrators stopped traffic in both directions for around three hours, according to Helsingin Sanomat. Police ordered them to disperse at around 7pm and began removing them physically from the site 10 minutes later. Traffic on Mannerheimintie was restored to normal at 8pm. Helsinki Police Department said 46 people were brought into custody for failing to comply with the order to disperse, on suspicion of contumacy to police. Extinction Rebellion Finland is urging the Finnish government to protect 30 per cent of the countrys land area, including all forests that remain in their natural state. The government, it states, should also enact laws to reduce logging in order to support the growth of carbon sinks and storages. Aleksi Teivainen HT The four rounds of applications under the Low-carbon Built Environment Programme have provided EUR 13.6 million in funding for projects that promote climate work related to the built environment. At least two more application rounds will be organised, and the next one will begin at the Ministry of the Environment on 17 October 2022. The third application round of Business Finland will be open until the end of October. "The built environment produces about one third of greenhouse gas emissions in Finland. On the other hand, the green transition offers great business opportunities for the construction sector as well, including the fact that the demand for solutions to improve energy and material efficiency and halt biodiversity loss will continue to grow. There is a lot of demand for Finnish innovations around the world, and those who lead the way will have much to gain," says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo. Business Finland supports export-oriented projects third call for applications open until 31 October Business Finland has already granted a total of EUR 11.5 million in funding for 17 projects that are targeted to export operations. Four of the projects are co-innovation projects run jointly by companies and research institutes, which are composed of projects of six research institutes and 14 companies. The total number of individual projects under way is 13. The latest call for applications of Business Finland will end on 31 October 2022. Projects assisted by Business Finland explore e.g. how emissions from concrete can be halved and how a data model can be used to automatically steer a low-emission construction machine fleet. In many of the projects data-based methods and tools are developed that support the systemic transition towards a low-carbon construction sector. These include methods that organisations can use to manage carbon dioxide data in their supply chains and identify where the potential for reducing environmental impacts is the greatest. The projects also study operating models and indicators that can be used to control the carbon footprint of regional and construction projects. Digital tools, such as the so-called digital twin, can contribute to using materials and energy more efficiently and support the development of the sector towards industrial construction. Ministry of the Environment also assists projects of actors operating only in Finland - third call for applications opens on 17 October 2022 So far, the Ministry of the Environment has provided a total of about EUR 2.1 million in funding to 29 projects. These projects are being implemented by companies, local governments, educational institutions and NGOs. The next application rounds of the Ministry of the Environment will be open from 17 October 2022 to 11 November 2022 and from 6 February 2023 to 3 March 2023. The projects assisted by the Ministry of the Environment are concerned e.g. with developing methods and tools that enable regions and municipalities to take climate change preparedness and adaptation better into account in their operations and leadership. The projects also study low-carbon construction materials such as clay and the lifecycle of wood material, improve the efficiency of energy systems for buildings and develop tools for calculating the lifecycle emissions of construction. The projects will make it possible for designers and builders to take the emission impacts of construction products even better into account. In one of the projects a calculator is developed by which housing companies can find out their own carbon footprint and the positive "carbon handprint" of their actions and increase information on the climate impacts of housing. Projects that promote the circular economy in construction are also included. Projects that have been funded can be followed in programme's 'situation room' You can read more about the projects funded under the programme in the 'situation room' on the website of the Low-Carbon Built Environment Programme. There you will find information on the objectives and timetables of the projects and on their potential to reduce emissions from the built environment. Project cards are added to the service on an ongoing basis. Projects were also be presented at a seminar held on 4 October. A recording of the event is available online. HT Source: Ministry of the Environment and Business Finland YLE on Thursday revealed that only 10.3 per cent of respondents to its latest opinion poll expressed their support for the conservative agrarian party, representing a decline of 1.4 percentage points from the previous poll. The reading marks a new low in the polling data collected by Taloustutkimus. The Finnish market research firm has conducted opinion polls for the public broadcaster since 1994, with the support hitting its previous low of 10.5 per cent in 2020. You could say that were at the low point of modern polling history, Tuomo Turja, the research director at Taloustutkimus, stated to YLE. The Centre is presently losing its own supporters to the Finns Party. The Finns Party, as a result, saw its popularity increase by 0.9 points to 17.1 per cent, possibly in part because it was recently able to criticise the government for inaction regarding the issuance of tourist visas to Russians. Support for the National Coalition stayed unchanged at 24.0 per cent. The Social Democrats saw its popularity dip by 0.1 points to 19.3 per cent but remains comfortably the second most well supported party in Finland. The Green League fell from 9.6 to 9.4 per cent, whereas the Left Alliance climbed from 8.1 to 8.4 per cent and the Swedish Peoples Party from 4.1 to 4.2 per cent. The ruling five-party coalition thereby has the support of 51.6 per cent of the population, according to the poll. No significant changes were detected in the approval ratings of the smallest parties. The Christian Democrats saw its popularity rise by 0.3 points to 3.3 per cent and Movement Now by 0.2 points to 1.7 per cent. Turja told YLE that the political landscape is unusually stable. A possible explanation, he added, is that the public is not following domestic party politics as closely as usual given the focus demanded by security policy and the energy crisis associated with it. In Finland, theres a very large consensus on security policy and no party can make too much free gains using it, he said. Taloustutkimus interviewed 2,714 people for the poll between 8 September and 4 October. Aleksi Teivainen HT Santa Claus is coming to town after dark Hendersonville's downtown Christmas parade is moving from a daytime event to an evening procession this year. Leaders of the Hendersonville Merchants Association, which organizes the Fourth of July and Christmas parades downtown, said merchants had encouraged the change for the event, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. "We feel like this is going to help the merchants on Main Street," Sandra Walker of the Merchants Association told the City Council. "We've had a lot of positive feedback. They're looking forward to having the parade at night." The city's Downtown Advisory and its Special Events Committee both voted unanimously to recommend approval of the change. The City Council on Thursday night voted unanimously to approve the change. The parade route will remain the same, with the parade beginning at 6 p.m., as will the staging area along Oakland Street at Asheville Highway. Parade floats and participants are also able to use the new Hendersonville High School parking lot on on North Church Street. Main Street will close at 4 p.m. and reopen some time after the parade ends and the crowds have dispersed, Downtown Events Coordinator Jamie Carpenter said. Sheriff's office corrects earlier report of shots fired at deputies The Henderson County Sheriffs Office on Friday amended an earlier news release that said a man fired at deputies before they returned fire, wounding him. In the new statement, the sheriff's office said it had erroneously reported that the suspect, Jeromy Swaringen, fired on deputies during their response to the call in the Clear Creek community. "However, upon the arrival of deputies, Swaringen was in possession of a weapon," the department said Friday. "Swaringen refused to obey commands to drop the weapon and, upon pointing the weapon in their direction, Swaringen was shot by the deputies. Swaringen sustained non-life-threatening injuries." The SBI is continuing its investigation, the results of which will be turned over to District Attorney Andrew Murray for review. The district attorney may release additional information when the review is complete, the sheriff's office said. "We always attempt to reveal information concerning major events to the public as soon as possible," Friday's news release said. "However, the Henderson County Sheriffs Office wants to apologize for the incorrect information that was first reported and thank the public for their continued patience while the case is investigated." A MAN from Watlington has set the British record for the heaviest pumpkin grown by an amateur. Gerald Shorts fruit will be harvested today (Friday) and officially weighed at the Pumpkin Time festival near Southampton tomorrow. However, it is estimated to weigh 1,600lb, making it the largest pumpkin grown on an allotment. Mr Short, 56, started growing giant vegetables about six years ago. He said: My father-in-law was into it and I took my children to see the Southampton show. I thought that these people were nuts and that it was crazy but decided to give it a go and see what happened. It has become a hobby now. I am a bit of a nerd I like science and growing things. It is good I have set the record but it doesnt bother me. It is more about beating my personal best. I want to make my pumpkin a bit bigger every year. I have honed my technique over the years. The first giant pumpkin seed I bought grew to 30lb. Then they reached 400lb and 800lb they have got bigger each time. There is a lot of work involved but the best thing is learning and getting better. You can see your efforts rewarded year on year. Growing bigger pumpkins shows that youre improving that is my main aim. Ideally, I would like to win a world record but I also want to learn from my mistakes and get bigger and better each year. Mr Short, who owns Jazzman Records in Henley, buys the seed at specialist auctions or online. There are growers across Europe and in America who cross-pollinate pumpkins to create larger ones. The seeds cost a few hundred dollars and the pumpkins can grow to more than 2,000lb. Mr Short rents a plot at the Watlington Parish Council allotments at Pyrton Field, behind Love Lane, but also bought some land on the outskirts of the town to grow only pumpkins. He plants his seeds in mid-April and by the end of July, the pumpkin can cover 40 sq m. The vines grow about 9in a day and the fruit can put on as much as 25kg in a day. Mr Short said: The pumpkin takes up the whole allotment. The plot wont allow for a bigger polytunnel to cover it, so I bought some land specifically for growing pumpkins. I am determined to go as far as I can. A polytunnel is important as it stops the weather from damaging the pumpkin. The leaves are fragile and can be blown away or destroyed by wind and hail. It also helps to balance the temperature and keep the pumpkin warm. Lots of little details go into creating a good environment for the pumpkin to grow good soil, the right fertiliser, a lot of pruning and watering it correctly. If you water it too much, the roots rot, but if you water it too little, the pumpkin wont fulfil its potential. You must get the pH of the water right as well. There is a lot of information online but you also learn each year what works. You have to be on the ball and tend to it every day. A couple of years ago, I had a pumpkin which burst. I dont think about much else. It is hard work and takes up a lot of mind space but it is not stressful in a bad way or I would not be doing it. It is fun. Mr Short says his partner, photographer and film-maker Nicola Schafer, 48, and children Oliver, 15, and Eleanor 13, who attend Icknield Community College in Watlington, are very supportive. He said: They do suffer for it but I couldnt do it without their support. Oliver has been very helpful over the years and used to do it with me until his GCSEs started. He will come to Southampton with me. He has a better memory than me so is able to reel off weights and records of vegetables. The pumpkin will be transported to the show on a tractor borrowed from John Mearns, of Red Lion Farm in Britwell Salome. Mr Short said: There will be 10 or 20 other competitors and I predict I will come second. The winners are professionals with a proper set-up but in terms of amateurs, I am the best. After the show, he will gift the pumpkin to Mr Mearns to feed his cattle. He said: I am already thinking about next year. Mr Short also grew a cabbage weighing about 49lb to win a friendly competition with his father-in-law to see who could grow the biggest one. He won. He says cabbages are much easier to grow than pumpkins and are amazing to see. They look beautiful, said Mr Short. I dont know why normal food suppliers dont grow giant cabbages you get so much more food for the same amount of effort. The family are now working their way through the cabbage at meal times. Rua Biosciences cultivation partnership with Australian-based Cann Group is making significant headway; the two companies achieving key milestones this week. Rua Bioscience has exported its first seeds to Australia, in what is understood to be New Zealands first legal export of cannabis genetics under the medicinal cannabis scheme. The seeds will be grown by Cann Group and will be assessed for their commercial potential. A similar trial will be run at Ruas cultivation R&D facility in Ruatorea. Managing Director, Anna Stove, says This an exciting moment for the company. This seed export demonstrates the value of our relationship with Cann Group as we further establish an end-to-end cultivation and supply chain solution at scale. Its taking time, but we believe weaving the intergenerational plant knowledge of our team with the global cultivation scale of Cann Group will give us a significant competitive advantage. This small step demonstrates the potential of exporting unique East Coast genetics from Ruatorea to the world. Before their export, the seeds were blessed by Co-founder Panapa Ehau. Rua has been a careful kaitiaki of these seeds for some time. We have now transferred the responsibility for the care of some of that material to the team at Cann Group, who we know will also take that responsibility seriously, he says. Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Cann Group has announced that the GMP manufacturing licence for the Companys flagship Mildura facility, which was issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 30 June 2022, has been extended to cover the manufacture and release of finished dried flower products for patient use. This extends the facilitys previous capabilities beyond the manufacture of dried flower as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and hard capsule manufacturing. Canns new AUD $120m cultivation and processing facility at Mildura is considered one of the largest and most advanced in Australasia. It is currently capable of producing 12,500 kilograms of dried cannabis flower per year. When complete, the capacity at the 13.5-hectare facility will grow up to 70,000 kilograms. In a capital-light strategy, Rua is leveraging this scale to deliver a range of medicinal cannabis products to multiple export markets. Ends. Significant Headway Made with Trans-Tasman Medicinal Cannabis Partnership Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SCT - Scott Announces FY22 Results Manawa Energy Q2 Operating Report & Market Guidance Update IKE 1H FY23 Performance Update GSH - Annual Meeting and Director Nominations PGW Trading Guidance Update October 18th Morning Report Fonterra announces new Sustainable Finance Framework Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer EVO - Resignation of Director Tower updates full year guidance Page Content On Tuesday, His Excellency Governor drs. Eugene B. Holiday met with the Council of Ministers (COM) in his last quarterly meeting with COM at the Government Administration Building. The agenda discussion points consisted of reflections where the Governor provided an overview of his 12-years in the position, and his recommendations on a number of things that COM should follow-up on. Thereafter, each Minister made a presentation on accomplishments, current and on-going national matters. The final agenda point covered the working relationship between the Governor and COM where those present reflected upon and shared words of appreciation. After the meeting, civil servants were invited to bid farewell. His Excellency Governor Holiday was pleasantly surprised when he stepped outside the building and received a hearty applause after personally bidding a goodbye to the different Secretary Generals of the seven ministries and representatives of the High Councils of State. There was an unveiling of a plaque with five quotes based on former speeches delivered by Governor Holiday. The public is invited to a final Meet & Greet with the Governor at the Emilio Wilson Park on Saturday, October 8 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The public will be able to witness the Governor in a relaxed atmosphere playing dominos. Page Content As we once again observe this special day set aside to acknowledge our teachers, I would like to commend our teachers on St. Maarten for their hard work and for the many sacrifices they make daily. Teachers are arguably among the most important people in our society; they educate our young and mold these young minds for a better tomorrow. I want to personally acknowledge the hardships that some of our teachers have to endure; they have suffered with austerity measures that could not be helped, we have some schools that are still in need of repair, and yet our teachers have the human capacity to understand and continue doing their work to the best of their abilities. As you continue to set our children up for success as citizens of the world and inspire them to do well, our ministry will continue to work to provide you with the tools you need to do your jobs. Teachers are that critical point that makes a child ready for their future, some of the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow and without teachers, they could not fulfill this destiny. For better or worst, children carry what they are taught at a young age into adulthood; for the rest of their lives, they will use what they have learned and influence society. Our teachers shape these minds at their most impressionable, and for that, I express my gratitude for your hard work. Someone with the power to impact the children of our society has the power to change our society. Sometimes teachers also act as a support system that is lacking in other parts of the child's life and can be an inspiration to them to dream big as they hold them accountable for their successes and failures. This motivates the students to work harder and aim higher. A good teacher will not let a talented student get away without helping them unleash their potential, and in St. Maarten, we have many good teachers. Again I thank all of our teachers for their continued patience as some are still displaced. As Minister of Education of Public schools, special thanks and appreciation goes to our education family. Teachers, staff, and Management of all public schools. Thank you, all teachers of all schools, for bringing a sense of normalcy to our classrooms post covid, and above all, I thank you for the tremendous job you do daily to shape all our futures. Although there is only one day set aside a year to honor you, I want you to know that we honor you daily. Page Content St. Maartens First Anti-Counterfeiting and Intellectual Property conference hosted by the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson at the Simpson Bay Resort on September 29th and 30th, has been dubbed a success. Minister Richardson invited corporate brand representatives, international experts, legal minds, business representatives, local distributors and government officials to activate awareness of the manufacturing and trade of counterfeit products in St. Maarten. The conference forms part of the Ministry's efforts in creating a resilient anti-counterfeiting strategy for St. Maarten. Minister Richardson stated, For far too long there have been many brands that have not been established on St. Maarten due to the vast number of counterfeit products being sold locally. This conference was the start of the Ministrys efforts to shift the paradigm and attract authentic to high-end brands while offering an excellent opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration. The Ministry highlighted anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property protection during the entire week beginning on September 26th and 27th, with the staff of Customs Department undergoing advanced training on the detection of illicit trade and counterfeiting. The sessions were facilitated by SGS France and carried out by French Customs Officer and world-renown specialist Mr. Christophe Zimmermann who has been involved in the fight against illicit trade with extensive operational and field experience. Controllers of the Ministries of VSA and TEATT were also invited to participate in the advanced training as the detection of counterfeit goods plays a critical role in carrying out their daily tasks. During the advanced training, the latest techniques for targeting and profiling illicit trade were covered extensively. The participants gained profound knowledge in interpreting the Airway Bill, the Manifest, the Bill of Lading, the detection of counterfeit goods, and new concealment methods. The participants also had the opportunity to practice with real-world examples of the documents mentioned and samples of counterfeited goods, and authentic goods that have been tampered with, with a special focus on the wines and spirits industry. After the training, the participants indicated that they found great value in the training and that they are now more confident and better equipped to perform their duties. The participants from the different Ministries indicated that they would work together to be more effective in combatting illicit trade. Minister Richardson closed the advanced training sessions by thanking the presenters and the participants and indicated that activating awareness of the crime of counterfeiting and the illicit trade is a high-priority item for the Ministry of Justice. During the highly-anticipated conference held later in the week, the program was kicked off with opening speeches by the Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria E. Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of VSA and Acting Minister of TEATT Omar Ottley, as well as the host of the conference, Minister Richardson. A panel discussion followed with a panel of experts consisting of Chief Inspector Food Safety, Ms. Maria van Heyningen, Customs Department Interim Head, Mr. Franklin Bernadina, Moet Hennessy Brand Protection Manager North America, Caribbean and Brazil, Ms. Flavie Jost, PUMA General Counsel and Senior Global Head of Intellectual Property, Mr. Neil Narriman, and the Director of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Intellectual Property Rights Unit, Mr. Victor Barret. The selected experts led a discussion with invited guests who had the opportunity to ask questions in relation to anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property rights, as well as best practices used to tackle these issues. Prime Minister Jacobs stated, The government would like to commend this initiative by the Minister of Justice to bring professionals in the field of anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property together to raise the standard on St. Maarten. This allows us to be a place where authenticity can be highlighted, whereby we can attract and maintain high-level brands. While there are laws that already exist in this capacity, more enforcement needs to take place. It was interesting to hear what professionals, as well as businesspersons faced with the reality of rising costs, have to say. It was a great first step in the right direction of what is needed to ensure we are doing the right things for the right reason while bringing awareness to all. We do not want to make as much effort as we do to develop St. Maarten only to be blacklisted as a country that is thriving on counterfeit items, thereby blocking our economic growth potential. So, we must focus on quality over quantity. In an invited comment, Minister Ottley stated, This is an important step for us as a country. We should develop a partnership, rather than just view it as a branding opportunity. I encourage the investors to commit to us in time of disasters and help us to rebuild and rebrand stronger and better. Moet Hennessy Brand Protection Manager, Ms. Jost stated the following in an invited comment, I was very honored to participate as a speaker at the conference. It was a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of the potential risks implied by the illicit trade of alcohol, not only for Moet Hennessy but for all the industries that required special attention in terms of consumer protection. In addition, my main input is to bet on education and awareness: prevention is better than cure. It is one of the solutions to empower all the stakeholders and invite them to play their part. Furthermore, the diversity of attendees was a great choice, I never experienced this before. I think it was interesting to also hear about the traders of St. Maarten and sensitize them on some important topics related to the safety of the goods that they probably trade without knowing the risks. It was wise to gather all the stakeholders around the table, it is the only way to switch the paradigm. Minister Richardson stated, Id like to thank all the brand representatives, international experts, government officials, international stakeholders and DISOSA Brand Protection Services for taking the time to fly to St. Maarten from their various countries to attend this international platform. The information shared was vital in the Ministrys efforts to bring awareness of counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement practices in St. Maarten. With this first step in the right direction, we must now ensure that quality and authenticity are part of our community of St. Maarten. The conference was concluded with a networking session where invited guests and stakeholders were able to network, during a cocktail party courtesy of Moet Hennessy. Following the conference, a sophisticated strategy will now be outlined on how St. Maarten can be redirected away from being listed as a black-market territory and restore its position as an attractive jurisdiction for brands to establish their business. The Ministry of Justice will continue to implement measures that contribute to realizing a safe and attractive St. Maarten for residents, business owners, brands and tourists. Page Content Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which includes enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors. Minister Ottley immediately met with the stakeholders on Wednesday for their approval. The stakeholders of the Market Place were very impressed with the architectural renderings and gave the Minister their approval. The Market vendors told the Minister that they hope this time, these renderings can come to fruition because it was promised to them many years ago. The Minister explained that while there were architectural renderings submitted in 2019, the Ministry of Vromi deemed the plan "not feasible" and "not in line" with the regulations. Members of the Parliament of Sint Maarten made the necessary budget amendments to reserve funds in the 2022 budget for this specific project. Ottley said that before requesting the architectural renderings, a full overview was given by the department of Vromi, to expedite the process and ensure approval. Once the approval is granted, the intention is to obtain a bill of quantity for the Market Place project. The Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) has also pledged their commitment to assisting the government of Sint Maarten with the said project. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass us by, the cruise line has shown extreme interest in the project. There is a workgroup between RCG, VROMI and TEATT, not only for this project but for other projects in the pipeline and onwards. The workgroup meets on a bi-monthly basis for updates and to ensure progress is being made on the various projects that will enhance our country and the tourist industry, Said Ottley. Minister Ottley would like to thank Royal Caribbean Group for their commitment to the enhancement of the marketplace and the Minister and Ministry of Vromi for their assistance. The Minister concluded that even though he is scheduled to be replaced by the incoming Minister of TEATT, he hopes that this project would be taken up as priority and he will ensure that it is done within the next year. On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution. Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has continued its expansion in China with the opening of the highly anticipated Dusit Thani Tianmu Mountain, Hangzhou - the 11th Luxury Dusit-branded property in China. Located at Tianmu Mountain, an area of natural beauty in Hangzhou city's Lin'an District, the resort is only 60 minutes by car from the city centre of Hangzhou and a 90-minute drive from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. The high-speed rail station, which links with Shanghai, is 60-minute drive from the property. Offering a welcome escape from city life for business and leisure travellers alike and delivering Dusit's unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, the resort comprises 160 spacious villas and guest rooms on the outskirts of the Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its ancient towering trees, verdant valleys and mountain peaks, pleasant weather year-round, and the chance to spot rare and protected species, such as clouded leopards and black muntjac. Guests enjoy impressive views of the amazing mountain scenery from the comfort of their well-appointed rooms. Alongside a Chinese restaurant and an all-day dining restaurant serving Asian and international delicacies - plus a special wellness menu featuring a wide range of healthy dishes - Dusit Thani Tianmu Mountain, Hangzhou boasts an exclusive wellness centre, Dusit Wellness, featuring hot aromatherapy pools, an outdoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, and the deluxe Sino-Thai-inspired Namm Spa. A range of spa journeys, signature therapies, and wide array of skincare treatments are available for those seeking to relax and rejuvenate in utmost comfort, all conducted by expert therapists in elegantly appointed treatment rooms. The resort also offers ample space for conference activities, weddings, and business and social functions, with one ballroom and two adjoining function rooms available for large- and small-scale events. Guests will find ample opportunities to immerse themselves in nature with guided hikes of Tianmu Mountain. They also have the unique opportunity to learn about local culture and environmental sustainability by joining exclusive arts and crafts workshops at the Tianmu Mountain Nature Centre. Tianmu Mountain's rich history as the source of the finest ceramic glazed teacups, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, is also celebrated at the resort, with a showcase of handcrafted pottery from local kilns for guests to enjoy. Hotel website Madrid's iconic Rosewood Villa Magna has appointed Friedrich von Schonburg as the Managing Director of the newly remodeled luxury hotel. In this role, von Schonburg will oversee all aspects of the property - including daily operations, guest experiences, continued growth strategies across the hotel, and the acclaimed food and beverage program as well as the property's Sense, A Rosewood Spa. With nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, von Schonburg returns to the Rosewood Hotel & Resorts family after the opening of Rosewood London in 2016, the brand's first European property. Most recently, von Schonburg worked as the General Manager of Spain's El Palace Barcelona, where he was responsible for leading a successful repositioning strategy for the hotel. Prior, von Schonburg spent a successful 10 years working on some of the top hotels in London, including the COMO Metropolitan London and the highly anticipated reopening of The Savoy before joining Rosewood London as the Director of Guest Relations. Following this role, he went on to lead the Rooms Division for iconic hotels such as The Connaught and Claridge's, before heading to Spain to work at El Palace Barcelona. von Schonburg has a Bachelor of Science from the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland and co-launched an international events and communications company following his graduation in 2008. Following a comprehensive refurbishment and redesign, Rosewood Villa Magna, one of Madrid's most iconic and venerable properties, officially debuted in October 2021 under the ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts flag. Located on Madrid's most coveted boulevard, Paseo de la Castellana, the historic property has been a beloved local landmark since it originally opened in 1972, inducing a convivial spirit and charm that captivated visitors from both near and far. Newly infused with a dynamic design scheme that honors the original hotel and the vibrant city in which it sits while simultaneously incorporating contemporary style and comforts, as well as elevated amenities, world-class gastronomic experiences, and an unmatched standard of service, the revived Rosewood Villa Magna has been carefully conceived to usher in this new phase of ultra-luxury hospitality to the city of Madrid and Spain at large. The Meyer and Jabara families have been in business together for more than 45 years. That partnership, which spans three generations, is thriving today through Meyer Jabara Hotels, a privately-owned hotel ownership and management company. Justin Jabara, president of Meyer Jabara Hotels, says that the company has a meaningful ownership stake in approximately two-thirds of its portfolio while it manages the other third on behalf of family office, private equity, developers, or other asset classes coming into the hotel space. LODGING checked in with Jabara during this years Lodging Conference to discuss the family business, the trends hes seeing, and his outlook for the year ahead. How have your properties been performing this year? I took over as president of the company in January 2020. Whether COVID is behind us or not (I like to think it is), we weathered that storm, and were a stronger company for it. A lot of hard work and perseverance during COVID positioned us quite well. Our portfolio is located across the United States, and its everything from large, 500-key, full-service Marriott hotels to our smallest hotel (a 16-key boutique with an extremely high ADR). About a third of our portfolio is at 2019 levels, a third is beating 2019, and of the last third, half of the properties are new. There are still a couple of properties and markets that are slower to come back and are more business travel driven. On the management side, how has your company worked to stand out or innovate? During COVID, we invested heavily within our platformnot because it was broken, but because within our culture, were focused on being the best and industry-leading. To just revenue manage in todays world is not industry-leadingyou need access to systems and data, and the skillset is totally different than it was in 2019. Its gotten more complicated, and COVID sped that up. We operate under a commercial strategy; we have regional sales, on-property sales, revenue management, digital marketing, and eCommerce, and all that supports the property to pull all those levers to really get the best outcome. We see that in our hotel performance that consistently, market on market, we can outperform our competitors. We also have a team that is focused on business intelligence and data analytics; our feeling is if you can get the right data and interpret it, you can make better and quicker decisions, and by doing that, you become more competitive. Read the full article at Lodging Magazine Glion Institute of Higher Education, a specialist hospitality and luxury management school with campuses in Switzerland and London, has announced significant Faculty appointments as the 2022-23 academic year gets underway. Mariam Megally is the new Program Director for Glions Masters in Hospitality, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Based in Switzerland, Mariam brings a breadth of international business experience to the Masters degree focused on entrepreneurship skills. She began her career as a consultant with McKinsey & Co before entering the corporate food and beverage sector at Starbucks and Nestle, a career path which culminated in her taking the role of Starbucks Global Strategic Innovation Director for Nestle. Since 2012, Mariam has served as Strategy Professor for the Executive MBA at Solvay Brussels School in Vietnam. She is also a judge and mentor for the global start-up accelerator Mass Challenge where she provides mentoring for start-ups in food and sustainability. Dr. Eleonora Cattaneo has also joined the Glion team as of October 1st as the Director for the Master's in Luxury Management and Guest Experience. She has been previously a professor for the Building Brand Equity class within the Master. Dr. Cattaneo has obtained a PhD in Marketing from the University of Pavia in Italy, an MBA from SDA Bocconi, and BA from the University of Bristol and has extensive industry experience in the field of marketing as a consultant and senior advisor for global brands and leading luxury hospitality groups. Her research focuses on rebranding, heritage branding and sustainable buying behaviour in the field of luxury. Prior to her position at Glion, she was Director of executive education at Swiss Education Group. She was also head of programme for the MA Luxury Brand Management at Regents University and before that she was a faculty member at SDA Bocconi in Milan where she designed and led executive education and MBA programmes. Meanwhile, Debra Adams, who has been a Consultant Lecturer at Glion since 2017, is now Program Director of the Masters in Real Estate, Finance and Development based at Glions London campus. She has previously held positions at a number of hotel schools in the UK and Switzerland and is a specialist in hospitality finance training for finance professionals and operational heads of department in hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities. Debra is also a Trustee and Member of the National Supervisory Board at the Institute of Hospitality. Nicholas Northam has also joined Glion London where he will teach Global Real Estates Markets on the Masters in Real Estate, Finance and Development. During his wide and varied career spanning over 40 years within the hospitality business, Nicholas has been General Manager of a number of Marriott Hotels and was Operations Director for Marriott in the UK. He additionally spent over a decade in asset management, most recently as the Executive Vice President for Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Europes largest third-party management company and the international arm of Aimbridge Hospitality. "Each of these appointments are strategically significant for Glion as we begin the new academic year," stated Dr. Michel Philippart, Managing Director of Glion Institute of Higher Education. "I am delighted to welcome them in support to the rising interest for our Master degrees not just in hospitality but also in adjacent fields such as real estate, luxury guest experience, and entrepreneurship, which are now constituting for almost half of the career pathways pursued by our students." About Glion Institute of Higher Education Founded in 1962, Glion Institute of Higher Education is a Swiss institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality, luxury and finance to an international student body across three campuses in Switzerland and London, UK. Glion is ranked among the world's top five higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management, and in the top three number for employer reputation since its entry in the ranking in 2018. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022). Part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education, Glion is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). For more information, visit glion.edu Anouck Weiss Chief Communication Officer Glion View source Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Chicago, IL (60637) Today Cloudy with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 47F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 34F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Our Venue in Nashville InspireHR 2023 will take place at Music City Center, less than a 5-minute drive from downtown Nashville. The capital of country music will welcome you with open arms and a friendly, authentic charm. In addition to the fun at the conference, plenty of local restaurants, live music spots and activities are ready for you to enjoy. For updates on accommodation options, view discounted hotel rates here. Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: South Africa: Traditional leaders urged to use culture to boost tourism Deputy President David Mabuza has encouraged traditional leaders to use their rich culture and heritage to boost tourism. It is essential that during Tourism Month, we promote our cultural history, encourage visitors to visit heritage sites and cultural artefacts, and attend to events and activities that narrate our folklore and represent our past, the present and where we are heading into the future, he said. In South Africa, Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September to highlight the country's diverse tourism offerings and the sectors significant contribution to the economy. Our heritage is our wealth, and we need to harness this wealth by preserving and trading in what is sacred to us, he told the attendees, speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team established to respond to matters raised by traditional and Khoi-San leaders. The countrys second in charge on Friday engaged traditional leaders at Mayville Conference Centre in Durban. This comes after he paid a courtesy call on Isilo Samabandla, His Majesty King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini on Thursday. According to the Deputy President, the ancient San artworks at the Rock Art Centre, the Zulu reed dance, KwaZulu Cultural Museum near Ulundi, which exhibits famous icons of Zulu culture, form part of the tapestry of heritage. He believes that these attractions hold the potential for the KwaZulu-Natal economy to develop by displaying its glorious history to the world. As leaders, it is our responsibility to identify, unlock the potential and nurture all those sectors that hold a promise to create opportunities for the people to earn a livelihood whilst preserving their rich heritage including tourism. He also encouraged tourism investment, which will result in a more equitable and sustainable development of traditional communities. Your leadership as traditional and Khoi-San leaders has been, and will continue to be critical to the development of a cohesive, unified, and prosperous society that is democratic in nature, and does not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation and political affiliation. Community development The Deputy President told the leaders that government alone cannot bring about the much-needed development in communities. Similarly, we cannot achieve our development aspirations and plans, if we work in isolation and detached from the institution of traditional leadership. Therefore, he called on the institution located in rural areas, to collaborate with government to identify obstacles that hamper community development. Every community and every South African deserve to enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy, irrespective of location. Killings Meanwhile, he urged the leaders to deal with the callous murders of traditional leaders, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. We must ask ourselves tough questions about what is happening in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. He strongly condemned the killings of traditional leaders and chiefs. We must be able to equally commit ourselves to root out the elements within our society that are responsible for such brutal acts, no matter how difficult this can be. In addition, he also said that government is prepared to deploy the necessary resources to confront this challenge. We urge amakhosi and izinduna to work with us in this regard, he stressed. He also spoke of the ongoing interactions between the government and Traditional Leaders in efforts to address obstacles that limit development in rural communities. We are making some headway in this area, and you will learn more about it today when a report on the government's coordinated response to concerns raised by traditional and Khoi-San leaders is presented, he added. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Baku and Sofia have discussed the idea of opening an office of Azerbaijans State Oil Company (SOCAR) in Bulgaria, Azernews reports. The discussion took place during a meeting between Bulgarian Energy Minister Rosen Hristov and Murad Heydarov, SOCAR representatives Executive Director for the Balkans. During the meeting, the parties also discussed various opportunities for cooperation and touched upon issues of common interest to both sides in the field of natural gas and electricity. SOCARs representatives expressed interest in cooperation with Bulgaria in a wide range of areas. The meeting was attended by managers and experts from the Bulgarian state energy companies, BEH, EAD, NEK, ESO, Bulgargaz, and Bulgartransgaz. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 5, 1992. Over 70 agreements were signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. With the commercial launch of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, Azerbaijan will export about 600 million cubic meters of gas to Bulgaria by the end of 2022. Bulgarian Energy Minister Rosen Hristov earlier said that negotiations are underway to increase gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria, at least for the heating season, for another 200-300 million cubic meters. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $72.6 million in 2021. The Retired Investor: Local News Is Dying. What's the Plan? Local newspapers are dying. Try as they might, changes in American society, aided and abetted by the internet, have forced many of these institutions to the brink of insolvency. Their demise could impact you in ways that you might never have imagined. The newspaper industry, as most readers are aware, has been in a steady decline for years. A loss of readership and advertising, both traditional sources of revenue for centuries, have migrated to other media, such as the digital arena. The pandemic and the resulting economic impact on the U.S. economy only worsened what was already a bad situation, at least from an economic viewpoint. Penelope Muse Abernathy and Tim Franklin at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communication recently released a study called The State of Local News 2022. Here is what they found: Since 2005, more than 2,500 newspapers have closed around the nation, on average, 100 newspapers per year or two a week have shut their doors. As a result, the number of newspaper employees have declined by 60 percent and on-staff photographers fell by 80 percent. Today, there are only 7,000-plus newspapers still publishing in the U.S. More than 80 percent are weeklies located in small and rural areas of a nation with a circulation under 15,000. Of the 3,143 counties in the U.S., 200 of them no longer have a newspaper. That may seem small, but the loss impacts 3.2 million people and counting. Two thousand counties no longer have a daily newspaper, and 1,630 counties get by with only one newspaper, usually published weekly. All together that amounts to 70 million people. As a result, "news deserts have cropped up throughout the country. These are blind spots among local communities, according to research by the University of North Carolina, that no longer have access (or diminished access) to news and information that many consider necessary to the survival of a grassroots democracy. To make matters worse, thanks to mergers and acquisitions, the 25 largest publishers now control about one-third of all newspapers, including two-thirds of all daily newspapers. Today, the 10 largest newspaper owners control half the daily newspapers in the county. The main loser within this trend has been local communities as the focus of these competing media sources concentrates on international and national news. The resources devoted to covering community news and events have shrunk dramatically. This gives rise to a growing number of ghost newspapers. Ghost newspapers is a term used to describe the disappearance of important local coverage that was provided to the community in the past. Since community news has historically been the driver of newspaper readership, less coverage translates into less readership, which generates less revenues and a further decline in local news coverage. This is what one calls a vicious circle. In 2005, newspaper revenues were more than $50 billion, according to The State of Local News 2022 study. Since then, revenues have declined to $20 billion. I wish I could say this circle has been broken but it is getting worse. The decline in local spending in newspapers is predicted to continue to decline. BIA Advisory Services, a firm that tracks ad spending in local media, predicts by 2025, newspaper print ad sales will decline to $5 billion, a massive decline from revenues today. Historically, local newspapers have been the prime, and sometimes only, source of credible and comprehensive news and vital information. It is why the First Amendment was included in the U.S. Constitution. The facts are that newspapers have affected the quality of life in thousands of small and mid-sized communities around the country for centuries. Newspapers have been in the thick of public policy debates in every state, city, town and village in America. The stories, the extended coverage of issues, and their editorials have not only shaped, but have made history time and time again. Today, they are still doing that. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, if you are like me, the critical information I needed to safeguard and protect my family and friends was supplied by my local newspaper on a daily basis. It was a lifeline that no national news source could hope to furnish. I believe climate change is a mounting danger that communities throughout the country will need to face. Frequent information on local weather conditions, road emergencies, hospitals, shelters and other critical alerts will become increasingly important. We need local newspapers today, now more than ever. Just look at what is happening in Florida today, or eastern Kentucky, or communities that depend on the Colorado River for survival to see where we are heading. Local communities have a choice. The way I see it, unless something is done to save this industry, we are all in trouble. We need to figure out a way to preserve and resuscitate the local newspapers or face an increasingly unknown future without them. The burning question is how? In my next column, I will examine what communities and local newspapers are doing today to not only stem the tide but reverse the direction of the newspaper industry and enhance their communities at the same time. Mount Greylock Hikers Advised to Bring Extra Water ADAMS, Mass. Hikers and those planning to make the summit on Monday's annual Greylock Ramble should bring extra water with them. Effective Thursday, hikers will not be able to refill water bottles at the summit of Mount Greylock because of water quality issues with the potable water tap. This is according to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Potable water is available to visitors at the Mount Greylock State Reservation campground and visitor center, and bottled water is available for sale at Bascom Lodge at the summit of Mount Greylock. Hikers are advised to bring extra water for their hikes up and down the mountain, and to fill their water bottles at the visitors center if necessary. Important to note, Bascom Lodge will close for the season on Sunday, Oct. 23. Additionally, the road to the summit will close, and amenities and other services at the summit will conclude at the end of the season on Sunday, Oct. 30; however, the visitor's center remains open year round. One of the works in augmented reality for 'Climate Change Migration Stories' by John Craig Freeman. 'Augmented Reality' Works Debut at This Week's First Friday NORTH ADAMS, Mass. This month's First Friday event will offer a different way to engage with art: through augmented reality. The Public Arts Commission on Monday approved the installation of signage with QR codes that will give viewers the ability to see artwork overlays by John Craig Freeman and Michael Lewy on local venues. The works will go live Friday night during the Night Market on Eagle Street. "The art is augmented reality art. It exists in the virtual world, you cannot see it," said Anna Farrington, owner of Installation Space on Eagle Street that is hosting the exhibit. "The signs will communicate to viewers the QR codes that help you access the art and if you do not already have the QR app on your phone to look at the art, it will prompt you to download the Hoverlay app." Farrington, chair of the commission, stepped away from her position on Monday to make the presentation. She said she had already spoken with Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Building Inspector William Meranti, who approved the project. All that was left was an endorsement from the commission for placing the signs on public property. The wayfinding signs will be similar to political signs corrugated plastic on a wire H-frame. The signs will be placed in Colegrove Park, the Eagle Street Pocket Park, by the Veterans Memorial and near the visitors center in the Windsor Mill. Freeman's work is part of his "Climate Change Migration Stories," which looks at the consequences of climate, globalization and local communities. He has produced large-scale public works over his 20-year career and has used augmented reality to create walking tours of virtual scenes. One work in this exhibit shows two people up to their chests in water at Colegrove Park. "If you look at the map of North Adams, there's an overlay map on the Tijuana border wall, there's some interfacing with locations," Farrington said. "So as you go from location to location in North Adams, you're accessing this virtual experience." Lewy's work is inspired by the 1966 French dystopian science fiction movie "Alphaville," and called "Beta 64." "The different access points represent different artworks created in association with this movie, including some monsters and creatures like those that will appear," Farrington said, showing the commission some examples. "Both artists' work was designed and developed specifically to be viewed in public parks. So it's really meant to be in public for public consumption." "This is a new opening for us," said Commissioner Emily Johnson. "There's a pathway is for us to bring in more types of artists like that into our parks." Farrington said the presentation was on a tight timeline to be ready to go live at Friday's event. "It's a temporary invisible art exhibit. I'm hoping that I can get permission to put it up," she said. "I think it'd be fun to have people in North Adams connect over virtual art." The commission also discussed for applying for grants and the potential for commissioning or supporting artists in creating public art. The possibility of doing sidewalk or street art was raised but Farrington said there had been no real response from the City Council outside not endorsing painting crosswalks. "There was a lot of discussion, but I think some of the councilors were like, 'hey, we're done with this,'" said Commissioner Bryan Sapienza, also a city councilor. "Though we were very receptive to other venues instead of the crosswalks." A billboard is up on State Road in North Adams advertising open positions in the school system. It's part of a marketing campaign that also includes social media. North Adams Public Schools Marketing Open Positions NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The public schools are hoping to fill open positions throughout the district through a marketing campaign. School system currently has about 30 open full-time, part-time and stipend jobs open. The district will also be working on morale building following a staff survey that found many teachers don't feel valued for their work. "One thing that we recently did is installed a billboard on Route 2 near Stop & Shop," said Emily Schiavoni, community outreach coordinator. "We also worked on our website in hopes that people would be able to easily find our job openings listed on our website. And we also purchased some social media marketing to advertise them." She said, in response to questions, that the billboard probably cost less than $1,000 for the month. Committee member David Sookey said he was glad to the social media advertisements. "I've seen the ads out there and I've seen people sharing it in groups and places like that," he said. "It's a great networking tool. I'm happy that we're jumping on that because there's more and more people looking that way when they're looking for another job." Superintendent Barbara Malkas said the district would be tracking traffic to the website and social media metrics to determine if the campaign is working. Schiavoni said applicants are also asked where they heard about the jobs. "If this strategy works, we may consider doing that again as we go look at the next hiring cycle for the next school year at a much earlier time," Malkas said. The superintendent said "there's a lot of buzz" about what the district pays for certain positions and making sure potential candidates are aware of the benefits and insurance plans. Malkas said she had tried college fairs but the remote events weren't very effective. She had only one candidate out of 100 after spending four hours in her office answering questions. "They have to also really want to live in Western Massachusetts. That's a major component of it," she said. Committee Vice Chair Richard Alcombright said he'd like to campaign build on the district's No. 1 bullet point about making a difference in children's lives. "Find ways to fund billboards that not only promote our employment opportunities, but our educational opportunities Let's sell the district," he said. "This is the first thing we need. But let's find ways to really continue the marketing efforts through finding ways to sell the district to parents, students." In regards to the survey, the teacher's union partnered with the district on the survey developed by EAB, an education consulting company. Schiavoni, who was implementation lead, said the survey had an 80 percent participation rate and an overall score of 3.28 out of a possible 5. The results were based on disagree and strongly disagree to each question: 46 percent felt they are not recognized for their efforts, 38 percent felt they weren't valued for their work as a teachers, 36 percent that their daily workload was not manageable and 31 percent that they had the resources and materials they needed. The process also included a number of meetings and focus groups, which informed the data used to develop strategies. "So teachers feel supported by their colleagues, the families that they work with students and specifically the district literacy coordinator," said Schiavoni. "Teachers feel as though they lack personal check-ins from administrators. Teachers are overwhelmed and ... feel that their thoughts are not valued when it comes to professional development offerings. And that district leadership makes the decisions ahead of time without the input." Proposed strategies were for purposeful and consistent communication and recognition kits; and a social media campaign to highlight faculty and staff. The third strategy would be more in-depth and include reviewing teacher time requirements and reducing duplicative trainings and finding ways to give time back to teachers, as well as rethinking opening days to provide more preparation time. This strategy was voted as a priority by the teachers. "We also heard loud and clear through this data that teachers want district administrators in the building more which makes sense given the past two years where it's been COVID," Schiavoni said. "So that is definitely a goal for this coming year." A subcommittee will take on these strategies, set benchmarks and do followup surveys. Malkas said the data made her reflect on the impact on adults during the pandemic, which forced schools and classes to remote participation for long stretches during the past two years. "I think that it's very healing for our school community to have the opportunity to see each other again," she said. Results of Teacher Morale S... by iBerkshires.com iciHaiti - politic : The European Parliament adopts 3 resolutions on Haiti Parliament strongly condemns the acts of violence perpetrated by approximately 200 gangs in Haiti. Some would maintain links with State actors, politicians and business leaders, whose power has increased considerably since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html . Parliament demands an immediate end to gang violence and crime and the bringing to justice of those responsible in fair trials, as well as improved control of illegal weapons and the establishment of social programs, health and education in the country. The deputies want all stakeholders in Haiti to find a lasting, consensual and time-bound solution to allow the holding of fair legislative and presidential elections. Haitian authorities must ensure better governance at all levels of State and society. Finally, Parliament encourages the EU and international financial institutions to increase their contributions to financial aid for Haiti. The resolution was adopted by a show of hands. IH/ iciHaiti EQS-Ad-hoc: Global Fashion Group S.A. / Key word(s): Disposal Global Fashion Group S.A.: GFG AGREES TO SELL CIS BUSINESS LAMODA 07-Oct-2022 / 07:03 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Global Fashion Group S.A. (the Company or GFG) Luxembourg, 7 October 2022: GFG agrees to sell CIS business Lamoda Global Fashion Group (GFG) announces that it has agreed today to sell its Lamoda business with operations in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to fashion retail investor, Iakov Panchenko. The agreement remains subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approval, with closing expected to occur in the coming months. GFG expects proceeds of approximately one hundred million Euros in addition to the value of the cash held in the Lamoda business as at 30 September 2022. --Ends-- Name of person making the announcement: Andin Fonyonga, Group Head of Legal & Compliance Investor Relations : Jo Britten Investor Relations Director investors@global-fashion-group.com Media Contact : Jovana Lakcevic Head of PR & Communications press@global-fashion-group.com 07-Oct-2022 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com IFJ in the news Every week the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is compiling a list of the top news articles from across the world in which it is mentioned. Check all the international media coverage of IFJ, divided by language, in the period from October 1st to October, 7th 2022. ENGLISH: Elimination of fake news, implementation of media laws inevitable: speakers - Daily Times Iran cracks down on journalists over hijab protests - RTV Govt urged to do away with fake news phenomenon - Dawn Omani Journalists Association calls for creation of international charter to protect journalists - Times of Oman The Paris appeal for Julian Assange - French Daily News Filipino journalist Percival Mabasa shot dead in brazen attack - Al Jazeera Clear violation of press freedom in Korea over Yoon hot-mic dispute: IFJ - The Korea Herald Journalists federation denounces MBC accusations as violation of press freedom - The Hankyoreh IFJ urges journalists unions to call for Julian Assanges release - The Wire Ministry of Information calls for international protection for Palestinain journalists - Palestinian News and Information Agency-WAFA Philippines: Journalist Percival Mabasa shot dead; murder sparks public outrage - WION The human chain protest voices the growing call to free Assange - Morning Star International Press freedom groups condemn Turkey disinformation bill placed before Parliament - European Centre for Press and Media Freedom Ministry of Information calls for international protection for Palestinian journalists - menafm Free Assange Human Chain to rock London on Saturday - teleSUR English Turkey: press freedom groups condemns disinformation bill - ARTICLE 19 FRENCH: Comme ailleurs dans le monde, rassemblons-nous a Paris le samedi 8 octobre pour la liberation de Julian Assange - Acrimed Lappel de Paris pour Julian Assange - IDJ Le sort dHussam Hammoud, journaliste syrien menace par Daech, entre les mains du juge - Ouest-France Twitter: Elon Musk fait marche arriere et veut a nouveau racheter le reseau social - Ozap SPANISH Entrevista a Mohamed Zware y Abeer Al-Khatib: Palestina, una juventud en lucha - Viento Sur Convocan una cadena humana por la libertad de Assange en Reino Unido - TeleSurTV The 16th of October will mark five years since the brutal assassination of Maltas best-known investigative journalist and anti-corruption campaigner, Daphne Caruana Galizia. To honour her memory and to continue calling for justice, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) organise a vigil in Brussels on 14 October 2022. We invite you to join us to send a clear message that we want to know who killed Daphne and why. We want truth and justice. What : A vigil to pay tribute to the courage of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and to call for justice : A vigil to pay tribute to the courage of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and to call for justice Where : Outside the Residence Palace, 155 rue de la loi, 1040 Brussels : Outside the Residence Palace, 155 rue de la loi, 1040 Brussels When: Friday 14 October at 1pm (30 min) Further information On 16 October 2017, as Daphne Caruana Galizia drove away from her family home in Bidnija, a bomb placed under the seat of her was detonated. She was 53 years old. The last words she wrote were there are crooks everywhere. The situation is desperate. Five years since her brutal murder, the Maltese authorities have yet to prosecute all those involved in planning and carrying out the attack. At the same time, the Maltese authorities have yet to follow up with the anti-corruption recommendations by the Board of the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The recent publication by the Maltese government of its legislative proposals concerning the media sector and certain restrictions on the use of SLAPPs is a step in the right direction. However, Council of Europe commissioner for human rights Dunja Mijatovic urged the Maltese authorities to secure public consultation. We support this call to include civil society when deciding and implementing media sector reform. Its been two years since the pandemic catapulted organizations to embrace digitalization, pushing companies to further invest in improving their technological capabilities. With this shift, regional demands in data centers are growing exponentially, particularly with the rise of smart city trends, e-commerce, cashless transactions, the adoption of cloud technology, and the need for faster internet. In a recent commentary, Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research expects a significant investment into digital infrastructure and data center development in the entire SEA, as digitalization keeps pace amid the pandemic. Meanwhile, Research and Markets noted that the APAC data center market will witness at least USD 94 billion worth of investments by 2027, growing at a 6.30 percent compound growth rate (CAGR) from 2022 to 2027. This trend is also seen in the Philippines. Since organizations are forced to maximize the use of the digital platform, it accelerated the growth of the countrys data center market now second overall among SEA countries in terms of development, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The countrys capital, Manila, has a CAGR of 14.2 percent, next to Vietnams Hanoi with 14.5 percent. APACs Next Hyperscaler Hub Several companies have already announced their data center investments in the Philippines. For instance, a telco giant gears to set up a telco agnostic hyperscaler data center installation in the country. Meanwhile, a cloud computing firm recently expressed its intention to establish its first data center in Manila to expand its footprint in Asia. A Singapore-based firm also recently announced its plan to put up the countrys largest hyperscale data center located in Cainta, Rizal. Several factors drive this trend. First, cloud spending among enterprises in the Philippines is expected to grow from $1.8 billion to $2.6 billion in 2024, according to data analytics and consulting firm Global Data. Organizations planning to put up their data centers can also take advantage of the countrys talent pool and its ready infrastructure support, such as telecommunications, connectivity, and presence of data centers for colocation, and the countrys renewable energy readiness, according to DTI. With these plans set to start this year and as the countrys digital and economic profile grows, the Philippines is poised to be the next strategic hyperscalers hub in APAC. These hyperscale data centers refer to massive business-critical facilities designed to efficiently support robust, scalable applications. The government identifies these organizations as one of the key sectors to promote under its investment promotions campaign, making it easier for hyperscalers to expand their businesses in the country by setting up their cloud and network infrastructure. Evolving Data Center Landscape As these trends arise, Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, said that organizations planning to build their facilities in the country need to become aware of the changing data center environment. Organizations must be quick to catch on the rapidly changing data center landscape, particularly amid the never normal. This will help them ensure their success now and in the future, said Jason Lim, country manager of Vertiv Philippines. Vertiv has long been helping organizations across the country, including tech hubs such as Davao and Cebu, to ensure their business continuity. Formerly known as Emerson Network Power, Vertiv brings cutting-edge solutions to ensure uninterrupted operations, optimal performance, and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities. It offers Liebert power and thermal management solutions that help organizations continuously access vital applications, protect their IT environment, and grow and adapt to changing requirements. To help organizations assess, Vertiv listed some of the trends that will shape the data center industry this 2022: Climate-friendly and sustainable data centers Over the past year, Filipino consumers have been shifting to more sustainable products and services. A recent Kantar report revealed that 75 percent of Filipino consumers patronize brands that offer ways to alleviate environmental impacts, urging companies to embrace sustainable practices. This trend is also seen in the data center industry. While the data center industry started to embrace climate-friendly practices in the past years, 2022 will be the time operators will purposefully join the climate effort. According to Vertiv experts, some organizations will adopt sustainable energy strategies for their operations, where they will utilize a digital solution that matches data centers energy use with 100% renewable energy. It will also function on 24/7 sustainable energy. These Hybrid Distributed Energy systems will provide alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power to data centers, improving their efficiencies and enabling them to operate carbon-free. Meanwhile, zero-water thermal systems and refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) will be in-demand. Accelerated adoption of AI As todays networks get more complex and distributed and the augmented and virtual reality demands of the metaverse even become prominent, the need for real-time computing and decision-making is critical. And with an increasingly common hybrid model of work, public and private clouds, colocation, and edge, full-time manual management will be challenging. To optimize the performance of these networks, Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be vital. In the Philippines, DTI previously noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption can increase the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) by 12 percent or equivalent to USD92 billion by 2030. The rise of post-pandemic data centers Nowadays, remote work, e-commerce, telehealth, and video streaming are becoming the norm. As a result, more activities will be focused at the edge. A recent VMware research revealed that workload distribution to a data center would increase from the current 5% to 30% over the next five years. A report by Cushman & Wakefield, on the other hand, revealed that data center construction of some 2.9 gigawatts would be underway worldwide from 1.6 gigawatts in 2020 to meet the needs of the post-COVID world. Integration of larger systems For years, various data center equipment providers have used integrated systems that allow modular capacity additions. However, in 2022, data centers will work with providers to better integrate larger systems, which will enable seamless interoperability. Reduced construction, minimized deployment costs, and flexible capacity management will benefit this integration. Make building and maintaining data centers possible With the rise of data centers in the Philippines, and as its landscape continues to evolve, organizations need a partner that can deliver service solutions to support the changes in the infrastructure and enable critical solutions to work smoothlythis is where Vertiv comes in. Vertiv makes expanding core data center and critical facility capacity accessible by using modular integration techniques to design and build data centers anywhere in the world effectively. The company tailors the solution for its application, pre-engineering, pre-configuring, pre-testing, and pre-validating against its specific needs and expectations. These solutions are supported by a global manufacturing and supply chain footprint, built on decades of leadership in data center and telecommunications applications. To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of todays vital business, visit Vertiv.com. In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we provide readers with an overview of Indias healthcare ecosyste... The Customs Department has seized seven luxury watches worth around Rs 28 crore that were being smuggled by an Indian passenger at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to an official statement. One of the watches, made by American jeweller and watchmaker Jacob & Co., is an extraordinarily exorbitant, customised billionaire piece made of gold and studded with diamonds, customs officials said. This watch is alone reported to be worth Rs 27 crore. The seizure was made on Tuesday after the passenger on a flight from Dubai. He has been arrested. In commercial or luxury goods, it is the biggest seizure in value terms at the IGI Airport in one go. In value terms, it is equivalent to seizing around 60 kg of gold in one instance, Commissioner Airport Delhi Customs Zubair Riaz Kamili said. In a statement, Delhi Customs informed that a case of smuggling of seven highly precious wristwatches out of which one is an extraordinarily exorbitant, customised billionaire piece made of gold and studded with diamonds, a diamond studded gold bracelet and one i-phone 14 Pro was filed against one Indian national passenger who arrived IGI Airport, New Delhi from Dubai. The detailed examination of the baggage and personal search of the passenger resulted in the recovery of seven wristwatches: Jacob and Co (model: BL115.30a), Piaget Limelight Stella, four Rolex Oyster perpetual dates, one diamond studded gold bracelet and one i-Phone 14 Pro 256 GB having a total value of Rs. 28,17,97,864, according to the official statement. There is been a marked improvement in the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir as the security forces and local police have achieved major successes this year in their fight against terrorism in the Union Territory. According to official data discussed during Home Minister Amit Shahs review meeting held in Srinagar on Wednesday as many as 47 foreign terrorists sent through the border by Pakistans ISI have been gunned down this year reducing their number to double digit figures. With 73 local terrorists also being eliminated during the first nine months of this year (till Sept 30) their number is currently hovering at its lowest ever of around 60 or so. The number of youths recruited in terrorists ranks has also come down sharply. According to sources the closer coordination between the law enforcement and central intelligence agencies has resulted in more actionable intelligence based on which operations have been carried out against terrorists with greater precision. With the security agencies and local police gaining an upper hand the number of terror related incidents has come down from 417 in 2018 to 110 up to September 30, 2022. The number of terrorist strikes in 2019, the year in which the Narendra Modi government abrogated article 370, was put at 255. The decline in the terror related incidents is due to activated counter-insurgency grid and efficient action by the J&K police , Security Forces and the Special CT forces of the Indian Army, a senior official said. Figures show that the number of terror modules busted by the security forces has gone up to 111 till September 30, 2022, as compared to 82 during the same period last year. The success against the war on terror is also leading to more development projects getting underway in J&K and more tourists visiting the Valley which is creating more job opportunities for the youths in the state. As indicated in my earlier assessment , Army Chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwas informal comment during an interactive luncheon at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington (Oct 05, 2022) that he would not be interested in any further extensions, sets at rest speculation on this count at a moment when disgruntled former Prime Minister, Imran Khan had pegged his entire agitational narrative on making this issue controversial. Observers at a three hour long `breakfast interaction with Think tanks in Washington, on Oct 06, 2022, found Bajwa quite relaxed and candid. Though too many details in this context are yet to emerge and are bound by Chatham House rules, Bajwa projected to the US audience that he favoured open regional relationships, and deeper Pak- US ties, unconnected with US India relations. This has been his fairly consistent position for a while now. Contrary to speculation in the Pakistani electronic media about important senior Generals like the Chief of General Staff (CGS) and the Director General, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) being part of his delegation to the United States, no senior officers were accompanying him. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif indicated at a press conference (Islamabad) on Oct 05, 2022 that the appointment procedure for the new Army Chief (COAS) would commence by the end of this month or latest, in early November. A panel of five names would be processed and sent up to the Prime Minister (PM), who is constitutionally empowered to select the COAS [Art 243 {3}]. After the 18th Amendment of 2010, the President as appointing authority is bound to accept the PMs advice. Interestingly, due perhaps to Bajwas current US sojourn and the absence, immediately prior, of Defence Minister Asif in UK, details about the Three Star Lieutenant Generals retirements due on September 30, 2022 and connected reshuffles/ promotions have not emerged in public domain. This would seem to be a routine delay. Going by existing data, after these retirements, the seniority list of Lieutenant Generals which may figure in the preparation of the panel for the Chiefs selection could include Syed Asim Munir Shah, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Azhar Abbas, Nauman Mehmood, Faiz Hameed and Mohd. Aamer. Lt. Gen Asim Munir is slated to retire on November 27, two days before Bajwas term ends. This leaves a question mark on whether his name would be included in the panel. Presently Quartermaster General at GHQ, Asim Munir belongs to the Frontier Force regiment, otherwise famously known for its valour in Anglo- Afghan wars as the Pfiffers. He has been a favorite of Bajwa, having served as General Officer Commanding, Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), when Bajwa was Corps Commander, Rawalpindi. As Army Chief, Bajwa brought him in as Director General, Military Intelligence (DGMI) and later, on promotion, as DG, ISI (Oct. 2018). However, he was shifted as Corps Commander, Gujranwala after only a short stint in ISI, (June, 2019), after he acted as internal whistle-blower about corruption indulged in, allegedly by the First Lady, Bushra Sheikh @ Pinky Pir, wife of then PM Imran Khan. Now Imran Khan and his cohorts in Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf (PTI) are fearful that the Armys vengeance would befall Imran if Munir makes it as COAS. Former Minister, Sheikh Rasheed implied as much on a Pakistani TV channel yesterday ( Oct 05), suggesting that both Maryam Nawaz (who left for UK on Oct 06) and her father, former PM Nawaz Sharif were batting for Munir. However, he belongs to a previous Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul (PMA) long course, others from which cohort would have retired earlier. Ironically, if he did become Chief, he would be the first ever `Sword of Honour (topper) from PMA, Kakul to have made it to this prestigious and powerful post. It is more probable, therefore that the two seniors most eligible in the panel would be Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, followed by Lt. Gen Azhar Abbas. Two Four Star posts would fall vacant at the same time as Gen Nadeem Raza, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) also retires at the same time. The collegiate leadership of Senior Generals which has stood behind Gen Bajwa recently, may be satisfied with a consensus choice, which sees one of the above two elevated as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the other as COAS. Of course, the former post would be more ceremonial, except for overseeing the Pakistani nuclear hierarchy. Real power would lie with whoever is elevated as the Army Chief. Though hailing from heartland recruiting ground of Potohar (Chakwal), Sahir Shamshad Mirza belongs to the Sindh Regiment. Professionally, he has had an excellent career, holding assignments as Director General, Military Operations (DGMO), CGS and currently, Corps Commander, X Corps, Rawalpindi. He has remained very low profile during the last few months, when Imran Khan was desperately trying to spread divisions within higher echelons of serving and retired Generals. 1) Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza The senior-most general Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza is currently serving as Corps Commander Rawalpindi. Previously, he was chief of general staff in the General Headquarters of the Pakistan army.++ pic.twitter.com/lldTbcb37F Majid Nizami (@majidsnizami) January 20, 2022 Azhar Abbas belongs to the Baloch Regiment (Bajwas own). He too has had an excellent professional profile, having served as Staff Officer to former Army Chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, Corps Commander, Rawalpindi and currently, as CGS. There have been some unconfirmed reports of his being a Shia, which could lessen his prospects but if incorrect, it may not matter as Abbas has the reputation of being very suave, unflappable during crises and an expert on Indo-Pak issues. Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas is the current Chief of General Staff (CGS), commanding intelligence and operations in the #PakistanArmy. He has completed almost thirty-seven years in service and might be the successor to Gen. #QamarJ Bajwa as #COAS pic.twitter.com/TmUaCr0uml Pakistan_times_usa (@Pakistantimesua) October 4, 2022 If dark horses were to figure, given the penchant of the Sharif family to dig deeper in past selections, Nauman Mehmood could also figure. Nauman is from the Baloch Regiment too. He served in ISI and as Corps Commander, Peshawar, before holding his current position in the National Defence University. He is believed to be a hard-core hardliner on India, if such a distinction can at all be made for Pakistani Generals reaching the helm! Lt. General Sahir Shamshad Lt. General Azhar Abbas Lt. General Nauman Mehmood Lt. General Muhammad Aamer#JointChief #COAS #November2022 pic.twitter.com/dISRV3oVjB Mir Sohrab Khan Marri (@MirSohrab) October 22, 2021 Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed, recently shifted from Peshawar as Corps Commander, XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur is next on the seniority list. A Baloch Regiment Officer, he too was close to Bajwa and served as his staff officer earlier. However, his stint in ISI and close association with former PM, Imran Khan has made him rather controversial. Institutionally, Army Generals have never liked their peers to kowtow to civilian politicians. Mohd. Aamer, an Artillery officer currently Corps Commander, Gujranwala could also be on the panel. He is from the next cohort of Generals. His selection could leave too many disgruntled seniors on Shahbaz Sharifs plate, which he can ill afford at present. Whoever is finally chosen as Army Chief will have his hands full dealing with domestic dissension created in recent months by an ousted former Prime Minister, who has challenged the credibility of most conventionally powerful institutions of the Establishment and yet continued to receive almost benign condescension from Pakistans higher judiciary, which seems to have only encouraged him to continue treading on his megalomaniac and fascist ways. For India, it would be unrealistic to expect any dramatic shifts in policy or mindsets of the senior Army leadership in using its known tactical gambit of enhancing trouble, especially in Jammu & Kashmir through use of the asymmetric option of non-state elements, belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM). Also Read: Will Pak Army Chief Bajwa or his successor reconcile ties with India? (Rana Banerji was Special Secretary (retd.) in the Cabinet Secretariat. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative) As it changes its immigration settings to attract high-skilled migrants, New Zealand is eyeing those Indians through the green list who fit well in the roles of dairy farm managers or are experts in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Opportunities for expanding the relationship and cooperating on new areas such as climate change and sustainable agriculture were discussed in detail during S Jaishankars visit to the Pacific country the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) since 2001. New Zealand believes that reopening its borders after the long Covid closure has provided a timely opportunity to re-engage with India and attract talented migrants with a clear pathway to residency for globally hard-to-fill roles. The Indian community accounts for about five per cent of our population, or almost 240,000 people. In our largest city, Auckland, that figure stands at 10 per cent. Its no surprise that Hindi is our fifth most spoken language, said New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta as she welcomed Jaishankar with a mihi whakatau ceremony at Auckland War Memorial Museum on Thursday. The island nation values migrant dairy farm workers and there are almost as many dairy cows in New Zealand as there are people. It is a big business and also the countrys top export earner with many Indians playing an active role in the industry. On a visit to New Delhi last month, New Zealands Minister of Trade and Export and Agriculture Damien OConnor held talks with Parshottam Rupala, Indias Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Minister, as the two sides exchanged information and expertise to build knowledge and capability of each others animal husbandry sector. Delighted to participate at the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Awards 2022 and the New Zealand launch of [email protected]: Dreams Meet Delivery. Value the presence of PM @jacindaardern , her cabinet colleagues and MPs at the event. pic.twitter.com/9gGCwq5Bna Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 6, 2022 In Auckland on Thursday, Jaishankar acknowledged that there are perhaps demands in New Zealand that could be met out of India. India is also New Zealands second-largest source of international students, with over 17,000 Indian students studying in New Zealand. We spoke a bit about the need for better air connectivity. I also raised with the Minister, concerns which some of our students have faced, students who had to leave New Zealand during the Covid period and who didnt have the opportunity to get their visas renewed, said Jaishankar. The minister stated that there was also a very open discussion on how India and New Zealand together will shape the larger Indo-Pacific region. There was a discussion on some current, some pressing issues like the security situation in the Indo-Pacific, the consequences of the Ukraine conflict and naturally we spent some time on the major global issues, most of all climate action, climate justice, the EAM mentioned. While India has shown interest in joining the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, which promotes international cooperation and research to find ways to grow more food without growing greenhouse gas emissions, New Zealand continues to make progress towards joining the International Solar Alliance established by India and France in 2015. It promotes solar energy through research, development and innovation and mobilises investment for affordable solar energy around the world, including the Pacific, said Mahuta. Also Read: India sends indelible ink to Fiji to help anchor democracy in Pacific With Aarya, Sushmita Sen made her OTT debut, and the show caught viewers' attention right away. Even the audience and critics praised the series as the actress' comeback. Screengrab Aarya is adapted from the Dutch television programme Penoza. The main character of the story is a lady who must join a mafia organisation in order to exact revenge on her husband's killer. The third season of Sushmita Sen's digital debut series Aarya was earlier confirmed to be under development, as per the filmmaker Ram Madhvani. Ram Madhvani and Sushmita discussed their teamwork and what it's like to work together. The show even received an Emmy nomination for its debut season. Aarya/screengrab As reported by IANS, Sushmita Sen discussed her upcoming season, "It is a new dawn for Aarya Sareen, and she is fierce. In Season 3, she is going places and starting her own story free from the obstacles of her past. She further added, "Reprising the role of Aarya is like slipping into old jeans but for a brand-new journey. It feels great to be back with Ram Madhvani and cant wait to return the love and appreciation viewers have showered on Aarya. Sushmita Sen's Aarya Season 3 Gets Cancelled? According to a reputable source and as stated by Bollywood Hungama, there are rumours that there would be no third season of the Aarya series. However, representatives from Disney+Hotstar, the streaming service that airs the show, got in touch with Indiatimes and confirmed that the show is pretty much on despite all the rumours. On the work front, Sushmita Sen will be portraying a transgender role in the upcoming Marathi film directed by Ravi Jadhav that is based on transgender activist Gauri Sawant. Instagram/SushmitaSen Prior to this, Ravi directed the extremely controversial Marathi film Nude on Nude Art, which caused much controversy due to its blatant images. Sushmita Sen's casting does score more credit for creativity. However, that being said, the Internet is divided on whether a transgender person should assume the part, while others are waiting for the project to see Sushmita playing her part. (With Inputs From IANS) (To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE) Delhi Police has arrested two terror suspects connected to the RPG attack on the Mohali headquarters of the Punjab Police on May 9. Among the two arrested is a juvenile. Salman Khan, an actor, was also intended to be "eliminated," as stated by the police. In addition to the juvenile, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested Arshdeep Singh in connection with the August 4 IED recovery in Haryana, according to the police. The juvenile, together with Deepak Surakpur (now at large) and Monu Dagar (currently jailed), was given the task of "eliminating" actor Salman Khan by the Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, the police said. AFP On May 9, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the Punjab Police's intelligence headquarters in Mohali. During the investigation, it was established that the attack was a conspiracy of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and local gangsters, a senior police officer said. The police identified the attackers -- the juvenile, a resident of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, and Deepak, a resident of Surakhpur, Haryana, officials said. "It was also established that gangster-turned-ISI stooge Harvinder Singh alias Rinda orchestrated the attack. "Another fugitive -- Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa -- had joined hands with Rinda in sharing manpower, logistics, and resources," the officer said. Rinda's name had already cropped up in the grenade attack at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) office in Nawanshahr after the arrest of four suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists in Haryana's Karnal earlier this year, they said. The juvenile was also wanted in the murder of builder Sanjay Biyani on April 5 in Maharashtra's Nanded and the killing of gangster Rana Kandowalia outside a private hospital in Amritsar on August 4 last year, the officer said, adding that Kandowalia was the primary shooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Arshdeep Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab, was wanted in the IED recovery case in Kurukshetra and a similar issue at Tarn Taran, along with matters related to the supply of narcotics and arms, police said. Police collected details of a local network of gangsters that provided logistic support to the attackers. During the investigation, the police apprehended Singh and the juvenile from Jamnagar in Gujarat, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal said. With the apprehension of the juvenile and the arrest of Singh, the nexus between Rinda and Landa has been exposed. While Rinda was handling the child, Arshdeep was being handled by Landa, police said. The juvenile disclosed that Lawrence Bishnoi gave him, Surakhpur, and Dagar the task regarding the elimination of Salman Khan. TOI However, later Kandowalia was made their primary target instead of Khan. Other incidents that the duo has disclosed are being verified, police said. Since the RPG incident, Rinda has sent them money through different channels. They received nine lakh for killing Sanjay Byani, police said. (With PTI inputs) (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment) 1. Known For His Roles In '3 Idiots', 'Kedarnath' & Many Other Films, Actor Arun Bali Is No More Twitter Bali who has also featured in movies like Khalnayak, Satya, Aankhen and Oh My God was suffering from a rare neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis. He was admitted to Hirnandani Hospital in Mumbai earlier this year. 2. Amitabh Bachchan Breaks Into Tears After He Gets A Heartwarming Surprise On The Sets Of KBC Twitter Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary star who has a massive fan following not just in India but across the globe, is turning 80 tomorrow. The man for whom the entire nation prayed, performed Hawans and Poojas, when he was sick and hospitalised, got a heartwarming surprise from the team of Kaun Banega Crorepati 14. 3. Saloni Chopra Questions Why People Only Want To Talk About Her Allegations Against Sajid Khan Twitter "Reminder: I wrote a whole book of 90,000 words about Feminism and Womens Rights. I Acted, Directed AND Produced a fucking whole Feature Film. I talk about Mental Health, Women's bodies, Alopecia and Equality. And yet you want to talk about him". 4. 'Drunk Tweet?', Javed Akhtar Trolled As He Appeals Michelle Obama To Go Back To White House Twitter He wrote this in response to Michelle Obama's tweet about her The Light We Carry tour--during which she will share her personal stories. The tour will cover Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and will be moderated in different states by celebrity hosts like Gayle King, Ellen Degeneres, Elizabeth Alexander and Conan OBrien among others. 5. 'A Demon Could Look Like This,' Adipurush Director Om Raut Defends Raavan's Look In The Film Twitter "I am a big follower of Lord Ram. I have done nothing wrong in this film. We have not tampered with history, and I would call this history, our proud history. We kept the purity of this history while working on this. When I saw Ramanand Sagars Ramayan on Doordarshan, it had a huge impact on me," he said as quoted by Aaj Tak. (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) Michelle Obama is busy promoting her upcoming book tour for The Light We Carry. The book claims that it includes tales and insightful observations. Before the book hit the stands, Michelle Obama took to her Twitter account and wrote, "Im so excited to go on #TheLightWeCarry Tour with these wonderful people! Ill share some personal stories and lessons that have helped me along my path, and I cant wait to tell you more. I hope youll join us!" During the tour, she will be joined by well-known personalities like Ellen Degeneres, Gayle King, Elizabeth Alexander, Conan O'Brien, and others. Javed Akhtar, the lyricist, chose to introduce himself to the former US First Lady after being moved by the 58-year-old's outlook towards life. AFP He started his reply by emphasizing that he was a well-known Indian writer and poet in his seventies, not some young (crazy) fan. "Hopefully, any Indian would know my name," he wrote. In his tweet, he appealed to Obama to return to the White House. Reacting to Michelle's tweet, Javed replied, Dear Ms Michelle Obama , I am not some young crazy fan but a 77 years old writer/ poet from India .hopefully any Indian would know my name . Madame please take my words seriously , not only US but the world needs you in White House . You shouldnt shrug off this responsibility . Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) October 6, 2022 "Dear Ms. Michelle Obama, I am not some young crazy fan but a 77 years old writer/poet from India. Hopefully, any Indian would know my name. Madame, please take my words seriously; not only the US but the world needs you in the White House; you shouldn't shrug off this responsibility." Javed's tweet did not go down too well with many people. I am more amused by him using "madame" in the tweet https://t.co/XG1EVGquhP Menongitis (@menongitis) October 6, 2022 it's me guys i hacked his phone https://t.co/8sXKqcAc8m pintu2 (@pintutoo) October 6, 2022 can't believe this guy wrote Jashn-e-bahara and so many other iconic bollywood songs https://t.co/OuQIsUxXYS Emergency Yadav (@Mr__Milk__Man) October 6, 2022 75 really should be the appropriate age to delete ones Twitter a/c https://t.co/5TpcLO27Z0 PratPanc (@PratPanc) October 6, 2022 The confidence I need in my life https://t.co/pNe7U3ksAO Abhishek Singh (@Abhishe84958246) October 6, 2022 Bro just slide into her dms at this point this is embarrassing https://t.co/OAtNtuf4Ei Tutto (@deeezguts) October 6, 2022 Almost like a desi parent, Javed ji makes us do unnecessary analysis. Addressing: Dear Ms Michelle Self praising Intro: Age underlined. Hidden taana: Any Indian Serious stuff: Dear Ms -> Madame Extra claim: Not only US but UN, world. Dad's diktat: Be responsible. Just do it. https://t.co/MNrsKcGiWu Manish Joseph (@itsmjhere) October 6, 2022 me after a few drinks https://t.co/3qDhCTxeOY Liberal Realist (@LiteralLiberalY) October 6, 2022 I can smell the "saar, please saar" through my screen https://t.co/VoJz4HbkMh Satyaneshi (@WpillEnjoyer) October 6, 2022 WHY YOU GOTTA EMBARRASS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY LIKE THIS SIR? https://t.co/8Tq2IQEbmj prags. (@OyyeHoyyeBasket) October 6, 2022 Dear @MichelleObama, we Indians are not responsible for the embarrassment he caused. We have nothing to do with this man!! https://t.co/fqSumuzXpc Snehal (@Saffron_Sn) October 6, 2022 In 2017, Michelle and her husband, former US president Barack Obama, left the White House. This transpired following his second term in office. Michelle became the first African-American woman to serve as the First Lady of the United States, while Obama made history as the country's first black president. Michelle will visit cities like Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to promote the book before its release on November 15. (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment) Elon Musk's vision of Twitter is going to be starkly different from what Twitter is now, his texts suggest. The SpaceX and Tesla founder was locked in a back-and-forth tussle with Twitter over ownership, but now it appears that the deal is going forward - for better or for worse. The $44 billion deal to buy Twitter will see Elon Musk making considerable changes at Twitter, one of the most used social media platforms in the world. Recently released text message exchanges between Elon Musk and fellow billionaires, family members, investors, Twitter executives, and others offer a peek into the post-Musk world of Twitter. The messages were introduced by Musk's legal team after a lawsuit filed by Twitter against Musk for failing to fulfil his end of the deal when it was first initiated in April of this year. Reuters What Elon Musk's text messages reveal When Musk pulled out of the deal, he claimed that Twitter had considerably undermined the number of bot accounts on its platform. The text messages are no different and echo Musk's concerns about bots. Elon Musk also suggested the implementation of a pay-to-tweet fee to deal with Twitter's bot problem. Also read: How Elon Musk's U-Turn To Go Ahead With Twitter Deal Could Make Lawyers Lose Millions In addition, as Musk has stated publicly, he intends to relax Twitter's moderation rules and even allow back Donald Trump on the platform. "Would be great to unwind permanent bans, except for spam accounts and those that explicitly advocate violence," a text by Musk said, as reported by Yahoo! Finance. Reuters On March 24, 2022, it appears that Musk sent a message to his ex-wife, Talulah Riley, saying Maybe buy it [Twitter] and change it to properly support free speech." On the same day, Musk liked a text from Joe Lonsdale that suggested Twitter's algorithm be open-sourced. "Please do something to fight woke-ism," Lonsdale wrote. In response, Musk said, "absolutely." On April 6, 2022, Elon Musk sent a text to broadcast journalist Gayle King, saying that "Twitter should move more to the center, but [CEO] Parag [Agrawal] already thought that should be the case before I came along." Also read: Twitter Wants Access To Elon Musk's Text Messages As $44 Billion Lawsuit Intensifies A text from April 28, 2022 shows what Musk thinks of criticisms about his favourable perception of right wing politics. "Twitter is obviously not going to be turned into some right-wing nuthouse. Aiming to be as broadly inclusive as possible. Do the right thing for vast majority of Americans," Musk wrote. Reuters Musk is also concerned about crypto scams on Twitter. On March 24, 2022, he wrote the following text - "Crypto spam on Twitter really needs to get crushed. Its a major blight on the user experience and they scam so many innocent people." Interested in reading all of his texts? You may read them here. What do you think about Elon Musk's plans for Twitter. Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. The journey of battling cancer can be emotionally overwhelming and physically draining. However, this tremendous task could get more manageable with the right kind of people by your side. Instagram However, a couple found a common inspiring factor: not letting the cancer journey break their spirit. Recently, when Hannah was diagnosed with cancer, Hannah and Charlie, a couple on Instagram, faced a similar predicament. Mr. Charlie promised his fiancee, Ms. Hannah, that he would take her to see the balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey after she finished her chemotherapy. Instagram The couple documented their journey to the location in a video uploaded on the official Instagram page a few days ago. "I promised my fiance that after she finished chemotherapy, I would take her to Cappadocia to see the balloons," reads the text super in the video. While the caption reads, "Overwhelming beauty, after four canceled trips due to COVID and cancer, we are finally here, ticking off another place on our bucket list! What a place." The viral footage shows Ms. Hannah receiving medical care and medication. After undergoing her final round of chemotherapy, the couple flew to Turkey to take in the spectacular sight of hot air balloons. Instagram According to her Instagram profile, Ms. Hannah has cancer in stage four. Since being shared, the video has garnered over 14,000 likes and around 2.3 lakh views. After watching the video, the internet shed a collective tear of joy for the couple. Internet is in awe of the couple's spirit to bounce back. Congratulating the couple, here's how the internet reacted. Screenshot "You guys are warriors. This is so beautiful," wrote one user. Praising the couple's courage and strength, a second user said, "So happy for you guys. With you, lots of health and happiness! For the latest trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Meta is allegedly rolling out "quiet layoffs" at Facebook that could result in losing thousands of jobs, at least 12,000, or roughly 15% of its workforce. Senior executives are allegedly carrying out "quiet layoffs" of underperforming employees, according to a report in Insider. According to several employees who spoke to Insider, up to 15% of the workforce may be laid off in the coming weeks. This implies that 12,000 workers may soon lose their jobs. foxbusiness/getty "It might look like they are moving on, but the reality is they are being forced out," the employee told Insider. Facebook employees have been bracing for layoffs since the social networking giant announced a hiring freeze. At its peak, Meta's stock price approached $380 per share. But last year, the company's share price nosedived 60 percent. Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has clarified that the social network is freezing hiring across the board, warning that more layoffs are in the pipeline. inc/getty During the last Meta earnings call, Zuckerberg mentioned, "We plan to reduce headcount growth over the next year steadily. Many teams will shrink so that we can shift energy to other areas." In May, Zuckerberg announced a hiring freeze affecting specific segments of Meta. However, he has now expanded the hiring freeze across departments and verticals. Reuters Facebook's parent company, Meta, is currently reducing staff to cut costs amid the economic downturn, putting some on traditional 30 to 60 days "lists" to find a new role within the company or leave. Meta has a "long practice" where employees whose roles are eliminated are subject to termination if they can't find a new job internally within a month. Zuckerberg stated in July that the company's strategy is to gradually reduce headcount growth over the coming year as big tech companies lay off employees and freeze fresh hiring. Admitting that the social network has entered an economic downturn that will broadly impact the digital advertising business, Zuckerberg said that many "teams are going to shrink so we can shift energy to other areas inside the company"." (With IANS inputs) For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. A 17-year-old girl who vigorously joined the anti-hijab protests in Iran went mysteriously missing. A week later, her body, with multiple wounds on her face and head, was handed over to her family. Both Nika Shakarami's nose and her skull were broken. The 17-year-old is among the numerous people who have died due to the police crackdown on protests organized by women across the Islamic Republic. Nika Shakarami, 17, was one of the many protesters who took to the streets across Iran to voice their opposition to the murder of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was held by the moral police at the time for allegedly inappropriately donning her hijab. She disappeared as a protest was going on. This 17-year-old #Iranian girl Nika Shakarami, was killed by the Mullah regime, for protesting in support of #Mahsa_Amini. Her body was delivered dead to her parents from Kharizak jail on Sep 30, then authorities stole body to block the funeral.pic.twitter.com/rDb9PI6PZc Zahack Tanvir - (@zahacktanvir) October 5, 2022 Her body was returned a week later with blows to her nose and broken bones in her skull. Nika Shakarami reportedly told a friend during her last phone call that she was fleeing security forces, according to a report in The Telegraph. Nika Shakarami/Twitter Media sources claim that when the Shakarami family went to identify the body, they were not permitted to see her head. She had broken her nose. A big thing, presumably a baton, had repeatedly hammered into Nika's skull. Her suspicious wound's cause is now unclear. Nika Shakarami/Twitter Internet is heartbroken with yet another loss of life An abrupt end to yet another life. #NikaShakarami,an Iranian 17-year-old girl who went to the street to protest the killing of #Mahsa_Amini,was kidnapped by the Islamic Republic and was sexually assaulted and tortured to death,and her internal organs were stolen.#_#OpIran#_#_ pic.twitter.com/2BOq5YHFGn Merry (@Merry_NR) October 6, 2022 I support all of the women and girls who are standing up & raising their voices after the death of Mahsa Amini. Brave young women like Nika Shakarami, who was killed for protesting. #MashaAmini #NikaShakarami May their names not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/MKvYsXrNCg Into The Forest Dark (@ElliottBlackwe3) October 6, 2022 Nika Shakarami was a 16-year-old Iranian protester who was abducted by IRGC agents during protests for #MahsaAmini. She got tortured, raped, and finally mutilated. The Islamic Republic regime attempted to prevent her family from exposing the truth. #NikaShakarami #_ pic.twitter.com/V5F9SSikSx Shayan X (@RealShayanX) October 6, 2022 The family of Iranian teenager #NikaShakarami has accused security forces of stealing her body and burying her without their knowledge.#_ pic.twitter.com/Q2oZ4fCYE9 ila (@ila0009) October 6, 2022 During the recent protests in Iran our brave sister #NikaShakarami, who was a fellow Iranian ARMY, has been assaulted and murdered brutally only days before her 17th birthday. We'd appreciate it if you all take a minute to pray for her soul to rest in eternal peace.#_ pic.twitter.com/h84gC44GqA | (@iamhwix) October 6, 2022 Sixteen-years-old #NikaShakarami who went missing in protests, found dead at a detention center. the security forces delivered her dead body with her nose fully smashed also her family noticed a cut from her chest to her stomach. She was an army One of us#_ pic.twitter.com/emjTo5mg88 Moochi (@kimia_z2002) October 6, 2022 My heart stopped for second, Broke louder than the bombs. #NikaShakarami rest in peace prettiest girl. We lost prettiest soul. She gave a new meaning to braveness and faith :( For human rights be her voice ARMY. Surely she got heaven pic.twitter.com/x6qWKTpj2z Joonie | Jimin's Day is Coming (@namjoonie_26823) October 6, 2022 It is by no means a small pocket industry, said Jocelyn Scherer, VP, senior account exec energy at NFP Canada. The energy sector contributes to Canadas national success, and those of us that are in the industry or support the industry are really proud of it. Despite being such a core contributor to the Canadian economy, the energy sector gets a lot of negative press. With pressures around climate change, sustainability, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues intensifying worldwide, the energy sector has been publicly tarnished as a dirty industry but people are failing to take in the big picture. For too long, the energy sector has let other people tell its story, and that has hurt the industry, said Scherer. But I think, for good reason, theres been a bit of a wake-up call and more acknowledgement that we need to start telling our own story. Canada is a net exporter of most energy commodities and is a significant producer of natural gas, hydroelectricity, crude oil, and other liquids. Most of Canadas energy exports are destined for the United States, but its international exports (primarily oil via the US Gulf Coast) have seen strong growth in recent years. Oil exports in Canada reached an all-time high of $13.85 billion in the month of June 2022, according to Trading Economics, rounding out a total of more than $72.46 billion in the first six months of the year. Furthermore, Canadian oil sands operations pay hundreds of billions in provincial and federal taxes every decade, contributing greatly to the domestic economy. Those are the type of statistics that the industry has failed to use to its advantage. Read next: Energy industry has an undeserved bad reputation NFP expert Then there are the ESG pressures. In recent years, the energy sector has been heavily scrutinized through the ESG agenda, with particular focus on the environmental portion and all things related to carbon emissions. I dont think youll find anyone even deep in the energy sector in Alberta who doesnt think the environmental portion of ESG is important, Scherer told Insurance Business. Theres general acknowledgement that reducing carbon emissions is important. Canada is transitioning away from carbon, but we as a country desperately need to support the energy sector and their role in that transition because theyre the ones that are funding the research and development and the technology advancements for where were going. If we dont support this sector that is supporting our energy transition into the future, I think weve really lost the plot. According to the Oil & Gas Journal, Canada had 168 billion barrels of proved oil reserves as of January 2022, ranking fourth in the world, behind Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. This means Canada has the ability to contribute to the future energy demands of the world, if the sector receives the support it needs. Importantly, Canada is also a world leader in ESG. The RobecoSAM Country Sustainability Ranking (summer 2021) ranked Canada in the top 13 countries worldwide, with an ESG score of 8.0 or higher, placing this energy-heavy economy close to sustainability leaders in the Nordics, like Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. The global population is expected to rise to around nine billion by 2040, and the global energy demand is expected to grow by 30% over that same period, with oil expected to continue as the largest contributor to meeting that demand, at around 27%, said Scherer. In short, this industry is not going away, and of the countries that have oil reserves, Canadas strength from an ESG perspective is very attractive. Energy companies not only have to change their narrative to the world at large; they also need to convince the insurance markets. Scherer said insurers are under a ton of pressure from their boards, from investors, from activists, and from colleagues and friends to Say no! to oil. As such, shes seen a billion dollars of capacity leave the energy insurance market since 2018. There is still capacity to be had, but I think everyone has realized that were all collectively and independently searching for solutions for if that [capacity exodus] continues, she said. A wonderful silver lining is the opportunity for clients and brokers to really partner with the insurance markets that are still around, and to leverage those partnerships to develop long-term, sustainable, and differentiated risk solutions. Read more: Canadas oil and gas industry "leading the way" in reducing carbon emissions Brokers can also play a key role in helping clients tell their stories. For energy clients that are advanced in their ESG strategies, brokers can provide them with the means and the opportunity to tell their stories, and can support them in doing that, particularly in the insurance market. Thats how I see our role and boy, do some of these companies have good stories to tell, said Scherer. Some clients are just exceptional. For example, we work with a large oil and gas company in northern Alberta, who has put more financial and social support into the local Indigenous communities than the federal and provincial governments combined. Its those stories that arent told, and we need to give clients an opportunity to tell them. For the clients that maybe havent found their way yet, the nice part about being a broker is we can help them to understand ESG best practices and what the insurance community is looking for in order to unlock capacity that they otherwise wouldnt have access to. We can help them down that path. It doesnt matter where people are on the scale; whats important is that everyone is making progress. As a Canadian citizen and an energy insurance broker, Scherer said she is excited and proud to tell the good news story of Canadas energy sector and its ability to help meet global energy demands. Theres a lot of people in the world that would love to live how we live in North America, and they need energy to do that, she said. Where is that energy going to come from? And what quality is that energy source going to be? For me, Im proud of this sector, Im excited about it, and as a broker, theres always a new and exciting challenge. The organization also revealed that hit-and-run fatalities have been increasing by an average of 7.2% since 2009, something that executive director David Yang described as trending in the wrong direction. We cant forget that cars can be deadly when they come into contact with pedestrians, cyclists, or other cars, he said. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to stay alert, be aware of our surroundings, and always stay on the scene if involved in a crash. Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA Foundation, added that every motorist has the legal and moral responsibility to take necessary precautions to avoid hitting a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another vehicle. While no one likes being involved in a crash, leaving the scene will significantly increase the penalties for drivers whether they caused the crash or not, she warned. Read more: Which US states have the best and worst drivers? What should you do if you were a victim of a hit-and-run accident? Even with minor damage, getting involved in a hit-and-run crash can be a harrowing experience. Experts remind motorists, however, that there are certain steps that they can take to make the situation less stressful. 1. Assess the situation. After a crash, the first thing a victim needs to do is to make sure that you and any passengers in your car are okay, according to car comparison website GetJerry, adding that your safety is the most important thing. The website also advised motorists against chasing the vehicle that hit them, no matter how angry they were. Chasing after another driver can lead to even more dangerous situations, and you can drive recklessly and create further insurance claims, the firm explained. Instead, stay at the scene of the crash and gather as much information as you can. 2. Seek medical attention. If there are injuries to the driver or any of their passengers, then the obvious next step is to get immediate medical treatment. After a hit-and-run, as with any accident, you should immediately evaluate your need for medical attention, consumer financial services firm Bankrate noted. If you feel that you are hurt, calling for medical attention or going to an emergency room should be your first priority. 3. Notify law enforcement. Once it is certain that everyone is safe, hit-and-run victims should notify the police about the incident as soon as possible. The same goes for damages incurred while a vehicle is parked. Ideally, an accident report should be filed within 24 hours of the incident or discovery of the damage. This can help the claims process go smoothly and help the authorities get to the bottom of the hit-and-run, the insurance giant Progressive said. Tell the police about any identifying details you can remember, such as the other car's license plate, make, or model. The police may be able to track down the at-fault driver. Read more: Personal injury protection insurance a state-by-state guide 4. Get as much evidence as possible. Insurance marketplace Insurance.com advised motorists to gather as much evidence as they can. Even though you won't have the name of the driver who caused the wreck, you should collect whatever information is available, the firm noted. You also should try to remember whatever details you can. Among the steps that motorists can take, according to the marketplace, are: Trying to record a description of the other vehicle and its driver Writing down the details of what occurred, taking note of which direction the other vehicle headed after causing the wreck Getting the names and contact information of any witnesses Gathering the names and badge numbers of the police officers who responded Taking photos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved, as well as any other property damage Contacting the business or organization nearest the accident scene and inquiring about any available surveillance camera footage 5. Contact your car insurance provider. If the hit-and-run victims decide to file a claim, they will need to contact their auto insurer as soon as possible. Calling to file a claim as soon as possible after an accident can be beneficial, Bankrate explained. Some insurance companies and states have regulations surrounding how long after an accident you can file a claim. Read more: Revealed - the most and least expensive states for car insurance in 2022 Does my car insurance cover hit-and-run crashes? While there is no such thing as hit-and-run insurance in the US, some policies under a car insurance plan may provide coverage. These include: 1. Collision coverage As the name suggests, this pays for the cost to repair damages to a vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object, regardless of who is at fault. This type of coverage, however, is optional although lenders make it a condition for a car loan and comes with a deductible. In a hit-and-run accident, collision coverage can help cover vehicle repair or replacement expenses. If the at-fault motorist is later identified and carries insurance, policyholders may be able to recover their deductible from that drivers policy. 2. Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) UMBI covers injuries sustained in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. Some states consider drivers who leave an accident scene as uninsured. In these locations, this type of coverage can help pay for medical expenses incurred due to hit-and-run crashes. Other states require proof that the other motorist is uninsured before providing protection. UMBI typically does not have a deductible. Read more: Revealed US states that require uninsured motorist coverage 3. Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) This works similar to uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage but instead pays out the cost to repair the damage that a vehicle sustains. This type of coverage is mandated in some states and may cover hit-and-run accidents. Unlike UMBI, however, UMPD comes with a deductible. 4. Medical payments coverage This covers medical expenses the driver and their passengers incur after an accident, which can include hit-and-run collisions, regardless of who is at fault. Coverage typically does not come with a deductible but is also not available in all states. 5. Personal injury protection (PIP) PIP coverage is not available in all states but in no-fault states, this type of policy is mandatory. It works the same as medical payments coverage, paying for medical bills for both the driver and the passengers, no matter who caused the accident. PIP may also cover lost wages or childcare expenses incurred due to the injuries sustained. A deductible may apply, depending on state laws. Read more: America's top car insurers in 2022 a region-by-region breakdown Will a hit-and-run claim raise my insurance premiums? Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents can drive up car insurance premiums, even for the victims who were not at-fault, according to Bankrate. While you shouldnt be surcharged for a not-at-fault accident, you could lose an accident-free discount, for example, or your rating classification could change, the firm explained. If you cause a hit-and-run and are found, you may choose to file a claim with your insurance, so that you dont have to pay the damages out of pocket. In that case, youll likely see a large increase in your rates, on top of any moving violations and legal fees you are charged for fleeing the scene. Additionally, you run the risk of facing potential criminal charges. Progressive, meanwhile, noted that rate increases are often dependent on the auto insurance provider and the state. In some cases, your premium may not increase if you weren't at fault, according to the insurer. In other cases, any accident can result in a rate increase even for hit-and-run accidents where the other driver was clearly at fault. If you make a hit-and-run claim on your auto insurance policy, that claim would go on your insurance record, insurance giant Allstate wrote on its website. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, claim frequency may affect what you pay for car insurance. Based on spot volume, GEICO was radios 13th largest advertiser for the six months of 2022. According to Media Monitors, the insurer aired 546,753 spots on AM/FM radio during the period. As reported by Ad Age, GEICOs staff cuts come after a series of challenges the insurer recently announced that it will raise rates in Illinois by 6% and shut 38 of its offices in California, halting sales of insurance in the state. The decision to lay off marketing staff also comes days after other employees announced their intent to unionize. Read more: GEICO unveils huge office closures, hundreds laid off It was also highlighted that GEICO had just named Damon Burrell as its chief marketing officer in April earlier this year. Burrell joined GEICO from Estee Lauder, where he also served as CMO of the cosmetics companys North America business. Ad Age reached out to GEICO for comment, and the insurer gave clarification that it would offer associates positions in other departments when possible, and that it would be offering severance benefits and outplacement services. "Like most large companies, we continue to review and adjust our staffing to respond to changing customer and business priorities, the insurer said in a statement, adding that it has "not ended relationships with any of our media or marketing partner agencies." eMarketers Insider Intelligence reports that insurers have long relied upon traditional advertising channels such as cable TV spots and radio ads, but that could soon change. The market research group has forecasted that about 33.1% of the US population will cut their paid TV cord this year, which could signal a significant shift from linear to digital video. But Insider Intelligence also noted that the insurance industrys digital ad spending is slowing down in 2022, compared to last year, though spending this year still hit an impressive $12.15 billion. Lemonade, which was founded in the US in 2015, is entering the UK market through a long-term strategic partnership with UK insurer Aviva. It also operates in France, Germany and the Netherlands. We believe millions of local renters will appreciate what Lemonade has to offer, Daniel Schrieber, Lemonades co-CEO and co-founder, said in prepared remarks about the UK expansion. The pitch is that customers can get a quote, purchase insurance, file a claim and get paid within seconds. This can be done on any device. Lemonades other pitch point is its Giveback program, through which it donates leftover premiums to non-profit organizations chosen by its customers, supporting causes such as equality, climate and poverty. Majesco Majesco, a provider of cloud insurance software products and services, acquired Global IQX, an SaaS-based insurtech that helps insurers streamline, automate and transform their business processes in the L&AH space. Neither side disclosed financial terms. For Majesco, the deal gives it 16 additional customers and new technology for a variety of insurance business processes. The New Jersey-based company added that the acquisition furthers its customer-centric growth strategy and helps make insurance processes both faster and easier. Adam Elster, Majescos CEO, said combining Global IQXs technology with its own would help provide the L&AH insurance market with better and more innovative technology. We are excited to have the talented Global IQX team bring their extensive knowledge and market experience providing critical depth and expertise to our rapidly growing customer base, Elster said in prepared remarks. Joyn Insurance Joyn Insurance, an insurtech MGA, has expanded into Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma for property, general liability and excess coverage. Overall, the New York-based insurtech now accepts submissions in 38 states and Washington, D.C. The startup formed initially in late 2020 and launched officially in summer 2021, focused on commercial insurance for small and middle market customers. Joyn leverages data and technology to provide a better experience for brokers and clients, using cloud-based and data-centric technology, with machine learning-augmented underwriting for each customer until a human takes over. The companys founders and many initial employees were part of Blackboard Insurance, American International Groups commercial insurance technology platform experiment that shut down in early 2020. CoverTree Insurtech MGA CoverTree is partnering with insurance software company Socotra to launch affordable insurance for the manufactured home market. The insurance product will target owners, renters and landlords of manufacturing homes. Socotras software will help CoverTree automate 92% of its applications with straight-through processing, letting their customers purchase a policy online in less than three minutes. The partnership is also designed to help customers save up to 40% in premiums. CoverTree, based in Detroit, focuses on bringing digital distribution, automated underwriting and data-driven pricing to specialty lines of personal insurance. The companys manufactured home product is available in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee. Socotras core platform helps insurers and insurtech MGAs accelerate product development, reduce maintenance costs and improve customer experiences. Breeze Breeze, an online disability insurance MGA, launched new paid parental leave insurance for employers. The coverage is designed to support employees who need to take time away from work to care for their families. It enhances Breezes turnkey online platform, which already includes short-term disability insurance, two types of long-term disability insurance and critical illness insurance. Breeze, which is based in Omaha, calls the product Leave by Breeze. Consumers, employees, agents and brokers are the target customers for Breezes platform. Cover Whale Cover Whale Insurance Solutions is partnering with Appalachian Underwriters to expand their respective agent and customer networks, capacity, and industry impact. Cover Whale is an insurtech MGA focused on the commercial trucking industry, and Appalachian is a full-service MGA and wholesale insurance brokerage. The new partnership is designed to help Cover Whale distribute its offerings more widely and also boost its capacity to serve more US truckdrivers. In tandem with this, AUI will launch a product that helps its retail agent partners better serve existing clients and win new business. Cover Whales coverage is informed by technology, underwriting and data, and it bills its process for consumers as offering the industrys most agent-friendly online quoting experience. This post is part of a series sponsored by IAT Insurance Group. For the last two-and-a-half years the entire nation has been tracking California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), which changed the definition of who is considered an independent contractor (IC) across many industries. Recently the injunction to keep AB 5 out of the trucking sector was lifted. This decision is impacting the approximately 70,000 ICs in California already faced with a myriad of challenges, including increased regulation, rising fuel costs and other supply chain demands.[1] Up until the 2019 California court decision that changed the definition of who is an IC across industries, the Borello test was used to determine the common law relationship between a business owner and an IC. With the new decision, workers are now presumed employees unless the business-to-business exemption is met, or the trucking company can prove all three prongs of the ABC test are satisfied: The worker is free from the employers control or direction when performing work. The work takes place outside the usual course of the business. The worker is engaged in an independent trade, occupation, profession or business.[2] The ABC test is positioned to provide a more predictable and simpler approach to determine IC status,[3] yet the problematic piece for the trucking industry is B. IC drivers perform work inside the normal course of business for the motor carrier. Why AB 5 hit a nerve in the trucking industry Initially, AB 5 had far-reaching impacts on ICs from all industries. Freelance writers, newspaper delivery persons, business consultants, real estate and insurance agents and Uber drivers, for example, were affected. However, since the original ruling, a lot of these industries received exemptions, including trucking. The trucking injunction was lifted on August 29, and AB 5 as it stands is the law of the land in California. Once the Supreme Court refused to hear the case, several ICs at California ports went on strike putting a strain on the coastal supply chain as many drivers ceased to function.[4] Who does AB 5 affect? Motor carriers domiciled in California are impacted by AB 5. Drivers living out of state can maintain an IC status as of right now but its wise to seek professional legal counsel to determine whether you are subject to AB 5 when hauling to and from California. Some companies are encouraging drivers to move out of state, but not everyone can take such aggressive action. In an industry thats short 80,000 drivers[5], the combination of AB 5 and the impending California emissions deadline is rapidly chipping away at hauling capacity. As of now, motor carriers have two options: Stay with the IC model. If you opt to continue hiring ICs, obtain legal advice on how to structure your business model to meet the compliance criteria. Make all ICs employees. Currently the safest option, bringing all ICs into the fold as employees can eliminate confusion. But bringing on employees is a huge undertaking. From purchasing or leasing vehicles to adding wages and benefits, having employees is a whole new business model for many motor carriers. Unfortunately, many small companies dont have the upfront resources they need to convert ICs to employees. Finding workarounds While impending appeals are expected since the injunction was lifted[6], a possible workaround currently exists; a provision in AB 5 allows for a business-to-business exemption. ICs would need to establish a business entity and contract with a third-party logistics company. This exemption is very narrow for those in the trucking industry, and B2B approval means meeting multiple exemption provisions, ranging from criteria surrounding business location and clientele restrictions to supplying services directly to contracting businesses, rather than supporting customers of the contracting business. While the conversation surrounding AB 5 is far from over, your insurance broker can help you find the solutions necessary to change existing business models such as obtaining larger Workers Compensation policies, restructuring your business and putting you in contact with the correct legal representation to restructure as a B2B IC group. Contact IAT Insurance to learn more about how AB 5 can impact commercial transportation coverage. By Scott Miller [1] Freight Waves California Trucking Prepares for Shake-up During Independent Contractor Law AB 5, July 2022. [2] Justia Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 2018. [3] State of California Department of Industrial Relations Independent contractor versus employee, January 2022. [4] Wall Street Journal Protesting Truckers Pledge Extend Blockade of Port of Oakland, July 2022. [5] American Trucking Associations ATA Chief Economist Pegs Driver Shortage at Historic High,August 2022. [6] Trucking Info AB% Injunction Lifted but CTA Plans to Renew Challenge, August 2022. Topics Carriers Contractors Trucking The South Carolina Hospital Association plans to use data to address the growing issue of workplace violence, an effort that could ultimately affect workers compensation claim frequency and severity. The association announced it has hired South Carolina-based Antum Risk, a workers compensation insurer and data firm, to monitor incidents of violence at health facilities in the state. This will provide South Carolinas hospitals and health systems with actionable data to implement strategies to advance workplace safety and prevent acts of violence, the association said in a news release this week. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workplace violence has climbed significantly in recent years, particularly against health care workers. In 2018, health workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries that came from violent acts, the association noted. Some 44% of nurses have experienced violence, the group said. The Antum program will include a self-assessment that allows health care facilities to evaluate incidents and benchmark their data against other hospitals to better understand trends and best practices to reduce violence. Weve known for a long time that workplace violence is a serious problem for our members, but as an industry we have often been unable to zero in on where we can make the greatest impact, said Lara Hewitt, vice president of workforce and member engagement at SCHA. Antum said it was founded in 1977 by South Carolina health care executives as a workers comp self-insurance pool and is now one of the larger providers of comp coverage to the states healthcare industry. Topics Carriers South Carolina Here is a selection of people starting new roles with TEKenable, Fuzion Communications, Adare Manor, Principal Connections, CarTrawler and ByrneWallace. Ken Lynch has been appointed as business development manager with TEKenable, developing new business in manufacturing, agriculture, energy and retail. He will also lead researching, planning and implementing new target market initiatives and building long-standing relationships with key clients. Ken previously ran his own family shoe business in Dublin for over 25 years where he won state contracts with Trinity College, National Gallery and Department of Transport. He oversaw the growth of the business and secured a prime D2 retail location with footfall of more than four million people per annum. He has also worked with Spyglass International and Mercantile Exchange in Chicago. Chloe Sullivan has been appointed as an account manager with communications and creative agency Fuzion Communications. A seasoned communications professional, Chloe joins with a background in corporate affairs and government relations having previously worked with national and international brands in technology, energy and transport. She advises clients on their corporate affairs objectives and manages bespoke campaigns to achieve defined policy or legislative outcomes. She holds a BA in Politics and International Relations with German from UCD. I am looking forward to delivering great results for such a diverse range of clients and supporting them in fulfilling their corporate and public affairs objectives, said Chloe. Micheal OCinneide has been appointed as director of finance with Adare Manor, Co Limerick. He will lead the five-star castle hotels finance, stores and purchasing departments. He succeeds Colin Kearney who takes on a senior role in the group. Micheal joins after 12 years as CEO of Dingle Credit Union. A qualified chartered accountant with over 20 years experience, Micheal has held senior finance roles across a variety of industries, including with Oyster Group, Beamish & Crawford and Deloitte. He holds a BComm from UCD and a Masters in Accounting from Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD, as well as graduating as a chartered accountant. Eilish Devine has been appointed as a practice leader with executive search firm Principal Connections, part of Agilium Worldwide LLC. Working in human capital management since 2006, she will focus on board, CEO and senior executive appointments, partnering with private and public companies as well as government bodies and not-for-profit entities. She was previously a partner with a leading executive search firm in Australia for 10 years, and has also worked in other executive search and HR roles across education, government/public-sector and mining. She has a particular interest in increasing the general diversity and specifically gender balance at decision-making levels in organisations. She is a graduate of UCD. Peter ODonovan has been appointed as CEO of CarTrawler, B2B provider of tech solutions for the travel industry. He succeeds Cormac Barry, who is leaving for personal reasons. Peter is with CarTrawler for six years, notably as chief operations officer for the last four years. He led CarTrawler in creating a revenue management function and platform and developed deep partnerships with leading travel brands and car rental companies. He worked for 14 years in online roles at Paddy Power (now Flutter plc), including as MD of online and chief product officer. Peter holds a BA in Management Science and Information System and an MSc in Digital Multimedia from TCD. Ross Little has joined ByrneWallace as a partner in the law firms corporate team. He has more than 20 years experience advising Irish and international clients on a range of corporate matters, and over that period advised on many high profile M&A, public markets and other equity transactions across a wide range of sectors. His extensive experience includes advising on fundraisings (from both a company and investor perspective), joint ventures and shareholder structuring matters, restructurings, venture capital/debt and general corporate matters. This is proving to be another significant year for M&A activity in Ireland. ByrneWallace LLP has long been recognised for their expertise in life sciences, energy and TMT which are particularly buoyant from a transactional perspective, said Ross. The Ukrainian prime minister has told the Taoiseach that people who fled the war to Ireland have praised the reception and treatment they have received. During a bilateral meeting with Micheal Martin in Prague, Denys Shmyhal thanked Ireland for the humanitarian support provided to more than 54,000 people who have fled the war. A ban on evictions this winter, coupled with corresponding tax measures to support landlords, is now being examined by the Government. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has confirmed that Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has consulted with the attorney general about a ban on evictions which would be introduced for a limited period. However, he said any such move would have to be balanced by ensuring there is supply in the market as the Government is "concerned" about the numbers of landlords who are selling up. While Fianna Fail is supportive of the measure to protect renters from eviction, Fine Gael is less open to such a move, with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar suggesting it would simply store up problems. It comes after a group of Fianna Fail TDs called in recent days for an eviction ban to prevent more people being forced into homelessness this winter. A senior Government source said that if an eviction ban is cleared by the AG there will be a "strong desire" to introduce a "corresponding measure, something else for landlords". Among the key considerations now being examined by the AG are any issues that may arise relating to property rights. However, one source suggested that if a ban was time-limited, which would echo the temporary nature of the pandemic eviction moratorium, then this might overcome any constitutional issues. Sources add that tax measures for landlords would be introduced as part of the Finance Bill before Christmas and cited a Department of Finance 2017 paper which examined a number of changes that could be introduced for those involved in the rental market. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the energy crisis provides a 'context' for an eviction ban but Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said a winter ban would 'store up the problem' for spring. Picture: PA Asked about the reintroduction of an eviction ban, Mr Martin said there was a legal framework that underpinned an eviction ban during the pandemic because of restrictions in terms of mobility. We brought in an eviction ban on that occasion because there are legal issues that have to be resolved to facilitate any such eviction ban," he said. "The minister for housing has had discussions on that and keeps this under ongoing review with the attorney general. Certainly, we are going through a very significant energy crisis at the moment. Prices are very, very high and that does provide a context, so we'll see how things evolve on that front. However, Fine Gael sources have said an incentive is required for landlords to stay in the market if an eviction ban is introduced as they fear the measure may impact supply. In the Dail, Mr Varadkar said a winter eviction ban would just store up the problem for spring. It doesnt necessarily solve the problem. It just defers and makes it worse a little bit later," he said. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said there was an air of positivity and a flicker of optimism during his informal talks with Britain's foreign secretary James Cleverly. Mr Coveney spoke with his British counterpart at the Irish Embassy in London on Thursday night, against the backdrop of the resumption of technical talks over the Northern Ireland Protocol between the EU and the UK. Speaking on Friday, Mr Coveney said it is important that there be "trust between Dublin and London" as regards their willingness to resolve the outstanding issues over the Protocol. He said that, ultimately, any major agreement on the matter needed to be between London and Brussels, and that Ireland was part of the EU team. Later today, Mr Coveney will meet with Britain's minister of state for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker. Theres a lot of warm language at the moment. I dont think we should get carried away with that. But I certainly think we should recognise that there is a genuine effort coming from this new team in the British Government to try to reach out to Dublin and indeed to Brussels and sending the signal that theyre up for a serious discussion to try to resolve these issues," he told RTE's Morning Ireland. But time will tell whether theyre whether the compromises necessary to get a deal are possible. Later today, Mr Coveney will meet with the UK's minister of state for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker. File Picture: PA Mr Coveney added that the EU remained flexible on how the Northern Ireland Protocol would be implemented, but the focus on all sides now needed to be on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill currently making its way through the British parliament. He said EU negotiators had made it very clear that if the Bill becomes law it would mean the end of the Protocol. However, he said the time it would take before the bill passed through Britain's House of Lords gave both sides a window of opportunity. Mr Coveney also emphasised the urgency of reaching agreement before October 28, when new elections could be called if the current Northern Ireland Executive is not up and running, which, he said, could "take us backwards and make the agreement more difficult. Burma Child Victims of Myanmar Junta Air Strikes Recall Their Deadly Ordeal -- Whenever 10-year-old Aye Chan Moe sees a helicopter flying above her village of Let Yat Kone in Sagaing Region, she is gripped by terror, fearful that she will be killed like her friends. Until recently, the Grade 3 student was thrilled by the spectacle of helicopters in the sky. Like other kids living in remote villages who rarely see aircraft, she would gleefully run out of her house and watch helicopters flying above. But now, just the sound of a helicopter is enough to leave her badly frightened. She was among the lucky young survivors of the juntas recent air strikes on her school. As a child exposed to battlefield atrocities, she has suffered immeasurable trauma. The air strikes on Sept. 16 left 13 people dead, including seven children. Witnessing death up close On that sunny day, Aye Chan Moe and her friends were playing in the compound of a monastic school attended by more than 200 students in Let Yat Kone, a couple of kilometers from Depayin town in Sagaing Region. Suddenly, two Russian-made Mi-35 military helicopters swept down and opened fire on the school and its compound. The military choppers fired machine guns and other heavy weapons at the school while the children were playing and studying. Many kids, including Aye Chan Moe, ran to hide behind a giant tamarind tree near their classrooms. Amid the loud explosions, she saw Win Win Khaing, an 11-year-old girl from Grade 4, get hit in the back and fall face down. Win Win Khaing was shot while she was running. I heard her shouting, Sayama [teacher], help me! Aye Chan Moe recalled. But no one could help Win Win Khaing as the helicopters above their heads kept raining gunfire down on them. Minutes later, she died just where she fell. While Aye Chan Moe and other children were hiding around the tamarind tree, Chaw Chaw, 12, ran to Aye Chan Moe, limping badly. Aye Chan Moe saw one of Chaw Chaws feet had been badly injured by an explosive that landed in her classroom. Her foot was shatteredalmost nothing, no more bones, Aye Chan Moe told The Irrawaddy. Chaw Chaw was crying in pain. One of her eyes was also hit. Aye Chan Moe saw pieces of flesh from the other children stuck to her head. She said to me, I dont know who will cure me. Help me! Aye Chan Moe recalled. I tried to calm her by saying, After the planes leave, our teacher will help cure your injuries. Stay strong, Ma Ma [sister]. After almost an hour of air strikes, infantry soldiers entered the school compound and shouted at them to come out from hiding, or they would kill them all. Aye Chan Moe helped the injured Chaw Chaw to walk with her, and other kids also emerged from their hiding places. When they gathered in the staircase of the adjacent monastery that houses their classrooms, Aye Chan Moe saw many injured students from Grade 6 and Grade 7. One of them was 7-year-old Phone Tay Za, a Grade 1 student, who was lying in a pool of blood, his lower torso badly injured. I am very sorry for them. I feel so sad, Aye Chan Moe said in a low voice. A boy loses his life trying to retrieve his bag Phone Tay Za was one of the children brutally killed by the regimes Mi-35 military helicopters. His orange school bag and bloodstained books were found near the entrance of the classroom. His cousin Lin Lin, 8, also in Grade 1, said Phone Tay Za told Lin Lin he wanted to retrieve his bag and suddenly ran to his classroom from their hiding place at the foot of the tamarind tree while the helicopters continued to fire with heavy weapons. The 7-year-old reached the bag, but as he was running back from the classroom, an explosive landed near him. His cousin Lin Lin saw every detail of the gruesome scene. He called me from where he was lying in a pool of blood: Ko Ko [brother], come and take me, Im hurt! Lin Lin said, his voice cracked and trembling. I was crying when I saw my young cousin lying in a pool blood. I had warned him not to retrieve the bag, Lin Lin recalled, weeping. Phone Tay Za was killed on the spot in the air strike. Like him, 7-year-old Su Yati Hlaing was brutally struck down. Lin Lin saw a piece of a projectile strike the forehead of one of his friends, before another caused terrible, fatal injuries to Su Yati Hlaing. Su Yati Hlaings hands and feet were cut off by the weapons. And her chest became a big hole, Lin Lin said. I saw other students with their guts coming out and their chests were smashed. Phone Tay Za, Su Yati Hlaing, Win Win Khaing, 11, Zin Nwe Phyo, 9, and three other children were killed in the aerial attack, which the regime said targeted Peoples Defense Force and Kachin Independence Army fighters it claimed were deployed in the school. After the air strikes, at least 21 people, including injured children and teachers, were taken hostage and they have yet to be released. Except for two with serious injuries, the children havent been allowed to return home yet. Hundreds of children fall victim to junta attacks, air strikes Over the past 20 months since military chief Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, the junta has been brutally crushing all anti-regime opponents and resistance forces without sparing the lives of innocent children across the country. Sagaing, where the Let Yat Kone school is located, is one of the regions in central Myanmar targeted by the juntas fighter jets and military helicopters. Similarly, the junta has been using excessive force in the form of military aircraft and infantry troops to crush resistance forces in Magwe in central Myanmar, Chin in the west, Tanintharyi in the southwest, Karen in the south and southeast, Kayah in the east and Kachin in the north. The juntas forces have been indiscriminately attacking not only resistance areas but also residential towns and villages, schools and religious buildings. There have been 173 aerial attacks in Kayah State since the coup, according to the Progressive Karenni People Force based in Kayah State. It said that more than 300 civilians, including many children, were killed by regime forces in the area. At least 234 children have been killed since the coup in junta raids and air strikes across the country, according to the parallel National Unity Governments Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs. I will create a catapult to shoot the fighter jets when I grow up. Among more than 1 million people who have been forced to leave their homes as internally displaced persons since the coup, a large number of children have been suffering from regime air strikes and raids with their families. Saw Doh Doh, an 11-year-old ethnic Karen, is missing his two dogs, which were left in his village when he and his family fled junta raids in Karen State. Although he lives in a refugee camp in Lay Kay Kaw Township on the Myanmar-Thai border, he still needs to run and hide whenever the juntas fighter jets fly over. The airplane is coming! Run! Run! some people shouted, Saw Doh Doh recalled. I heard the sounds of airplanes when I was having lunch. My younger sister and I ran without washing our hands. Our rice plates also fell over. As we cannot live in our village, we fled into the forest, Saw Doh Doh told The Irrawaddy. Like Saw Doh Doh, 12-year-old Karen girl Naw Khu Lar was among many children who were forced to flee with their families due to junta raids in her village. She, too, heard the sounds of airplanes while they were passing through fields on the way to a makeshift camp in a forest. When they arrived in the forest, the military fighter jets were flying overhead. She saw a jet clearly and prayed that she wouldnt be shot. We were hiding under the bushes when the plane was overhead. There were a lot of leeches. I am really afraid of and disgusted by them but I didnt dare move. If the plane saw us, they would shoot at us, Naw Khu Lar said, recalling her experience of hiding from air strikes. Like other children, she hasnt been able to go to school for a long time because of the junta raids on their villages. In the 20 months from February 2021 to August 2022, 131 civilians were killed and 294 injured in a total of 117 airstrikes by the juntas jet fighters and helicopters, according to the Karen National Union (KNU). The ethnic armed group said those figures only counted air strikes and casualties within their controlled territory. Saw Min Lwin is another victim of the junta troops, who shot and wounded the 9-year-old in the leg. Even though he was hurt, he had to run when military jets flew over their camp. I ran and hid myself whenever I heard the sounds of airplanes and gunshots. Now my injured leg is back to normal. I want to go home, said Saw Min Lwin. Childrens wishes As the fortunate survivors and eyewitnesses to the horrific massacre of their friends in Let Yat Kone, many kids, including 10-year-old Aye Chan Moe and 8-year-old Lin Lin, have been left with a permanent fear of aircraft. I was lucky enough to be spared this time [from the air strikes]. However I may not be spared next time. I am afraid to die, Aye Chan Moe told The Irrawaddy. Lin Lin had nightmares for five days after the tragedy. In his dreams, he was in the school and saw the students dying. At the end of the interview with The Irrawaddy, Lin Lin had a request. Please arrest those sit-khwe [military dogs, referring to the military soldiers and junta] quickly. I want to go to school. I want to study. The children from Karen State also expressed their wish to go home as soon as possible. I want to tell the soldiers not to come to our place. I am not happy here [in the camp]. I miss my home, said Saw Min Lwin. Naw Khu Lar, 12, always prays that planes wont shoot at them and prays to be able to go home. I want to go to school. I want to have enough food to eat. And, I no longer want to hear the sounds of gunshots and heavy weapons. Saw Doh Doh, a brave boy in Lay Kay Kaw, wants to rendezvous with his two dogs, Pa Lar and Meggi. Before they fled their village, Saw Doh Doh was looking for his dogs but couldnt find them. He worries that they are hungry. On the other hand, the 11-year-old boy also plans to fight back against the junta airstrikes when he grows up. I will create a catapult to shoot the fighter jets when I grow up. Editors note: Some names in this story have been changed for security reasons. Burma Defectors Condemn Officer Who Returned to Myanmar Junta Major Myo Min Tun Five groups representing military defectors in Myanmar have denounced a military defector who has returned to the junta as a traitor to the people. Peoples Embrace, Peoples Goal, Pyithu Thar Kaung, Peoples Soldiers Defense Force and Break Brain Washing said in a joint statement that they will be more careful when accepting defectors to the civil disobedience movement (CDM) Major Myo Min Tun from Light Infantry Battalion 351 defected in December 2021 and fled to the Thai border town of Mae Sot. In early October he returned to Myanmar and became the first military officer to return to the regime. The regime has used his surrender as a propaganda victory against the CDM to warn military personnel against defection. On October 6, the junta media released an interview where he warned civil servants not to join the CDM. He said he joined the CDM hoping for political asylum abroad but he was treated like a stateless person by anti-regime groups in Mae Sot. The former major said he had come back to the legal framework of the State Administration Council, which is how the junta refers to itself. But the groups of military defectors said no one asked him to join the movement and he had contacted CDM representatives. The incident has raised questions about the possibility of junta loyalists within the CDM. The groups said he is a traitor who will not affect the CDM. It wont affect the CDM at all. He just goes back under military control because he had no revolutionary creed. Those who are committed will keep moving forward, said Captain Aung Myo Htet, who left the military for the CDM. Burma Two Die in Myanmar Junta Crackdown Following Mandalay Resistance Ambushes Junta soldiers seen in Mandalay in February 2021. / The Irrawaddy Two of about 40 residents detained by the regime in the town of Paleik, in Mandalay Regions Singaing Township, died in custody earlier this week, according to locals. Junta forces seized residents from their homes in the area between September 30 and October 3 following resistance attacks on two regime vehicles, a Paleik resident told The Irrawaddy. One vehicle was transporting prisoners from Kyaukse police station while the other was carrying staff from the juntas Electricity Ministry. Junta personnel were attacked twice in our town, which prompted midnight raids on local houses. As many as 40 people were detained, including strikers from electricity offices. They were reportedly sent to an interrogation camp in Singaing, said the resident. One of the two victims was a striker from the electricity office in Paleik town. The regime cremated the bodies without returning them to their families, said another resident. Striker Ko Min Min and one other person were killed on October 3, the same day they were arrested. The following day, families were shown the bodies before the regime cremated them, he said. On September 29, resistance fighters including members of Truth Keeping Force-Amarapura ambushed a vehicle carrying eight political prisoners near Myitnge Bridge in Amarapura Township. Two policemen were killed in the ambush, while two political prisoners were rescued. On October 3, fighters from the Truth Keeping Force-Amarapura, MN-PDF, and Zarmani Guerilla resistance groups ambushed a vehicle carrying junta troops and electricity office staff on Singaing-Kyaukse road. The vehicle was transporting bill payments to a state-owned bank after Paleik electricity office staff and junta soldiers threatened to cut locals electricity supply unless they paid up, according to Bo Paung Dine (pseudonym) from MN-PDF. We received a tip that they were transporting electricity bill money to the bank in Singaing. We ambushed the private vehicle driven by the manager of Paleik electricity office. There was an exchange of fire for around three minutes. According to sources, two died and two others on board were injured, he said. The two men killed were Paliek police station chief Zaw Win and Major Zaw Zaw Naing from the local air defence unit, while Paleik electricity officer manager Zwe Nyi Nyi Win and a junta soldier were injured, it added. In response, large numbers of junta troops raided nearby villages in Myitnge, SIngaing and Paleik, detaining villagers. They also temporarily blocked Singaing-Kyaukse road, beating and detaining passers-by. War Against the Junta Judge Among 30-Plus Myanmar Junta Casualties in Two Days of Resistance Attacks -- More than 30 regime forces including a junta-appointed judge were reportedly killed or injured in the last two days as Peoples Defense Force (PDF) groups and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets in Karen, Chin and Shan states and Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions. The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks by PDFs and EAOs: Fierce clashes continue in Karen State Intense clashes continued to occur in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Thursday when Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied resistance forces attacked junta forces of three military battalions attempting to raid the Lukhoe area, in territory of KNLA Brigade 6. The combined resistance forces conducted artillery shelling and drone strikes to help their ground fighters, said Cobra Column, which joined the attack. A junta soldier was injured seriously while a resistance fighter suffered minor injuries. On the same day, another junta soldier was confirmed killed when snipers of the KNLA ambushed regime forces of Light Infantry Battalion 104, which has been attempting to raid the area of Taung Ni Village in the township for weeks. Junta soldiers killed in artillery strike in Karen A regime soldier was killed and four others injured on Wednesday when forces of the KNLA and allied resistance group Red Dragon Column attacked the Myanmar militarys Infantry Battalion 284 in Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State with 79-mm mortar shells, the resistance group said on Thursday. KIA, PDFs clash with junta forces in Sagaing A series of intense firefightswhich have prompted the junta to call in air strikeshave been going on between regime forces and combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied PDF groups in Banmauk Township, Sagaing Region since Tuesday, said Banmauk Revolution (BR), the media wing of township PDF groups. On Thursday morning, clashes continued to erupt in the township and the junta used three fighter jets to bomb resistance forces at 12:30 p.m. On that afternoon, two other fighter jets also bombed the clash areas, the BR said. Regime forces burned houses in Kyaukai Village in the township on Wednesday after a clash with the KIA and PDFs. On Tuesday morning, a clash broke out near Kyauk Mae Taung Village and the junta used fighter jets to attack resistance fighters. On that night, the KIA and PDF fighters raided the township police station in the town of Banmauk, reportedly injuring 14 junta police officers. Military transport vehicles mined in Sagaing Chaung-U Revolution Army (CRA) claimed to have used land mines to ambush container vehicles that were reportedly transporting regime forces of military Division 33 from Sagaing Township to Monywa, Sagaing Region on Thursday afternoon while they were passing through Chaung-U Township. In the ambush, two vehicles were hit by the blasts, the group said. Following the mine ambushes, a shootout broke out between the resistance fighters and the regime ambush patrols. Resistance fighters escaped from the clash without any casualties. However, the militarys casualties are unknown. Judge of township court assassinated in northern Shan State U Yarzar Min Soe, the junta-appointed judge of Muse Townships court in northern Shan State, was killed by unknown gunmen in the town of Muse on Thursday as he was returning home from the court in a vehicle. A video shows the victim in a vehicle being shot by a gunman at close range while he was stopped at a place in the town. Nine junta soldiers killed in PDF ambush in Magwe Resistance fighters of the MG 6 Guerrilla group attacking military motorboats on the Irrawaddy River in Yesagyo Township on Wednesday. / Video: MG 6 Guerrilla Nine junta soldiers were killed and two others injured on Wednesday when a resistance group, MG-6 Guerrilla from Myingyan Township Mandalay Region, ambushed military motorboats transporting food for the regime forces stationed in an island village on the Irrawaddy River in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region, the PDF group said on Thursday. Video shows resistance fighters including snipers attacking the motorboats. After the ambush, regime forces responded with heavy explosives, but all PDF fighters escaped from the area, the guerrilla group said. Military checkpoint bombed by PDF drone in Magwe Two Pyu Saw Htee pro-regime militia members were injured on the border of Myaing and Pakokku townships in Magwe Region on Wednesday when Myaing-PDF drones dropped three rifle grenades targeting a military checkpoint between two villages. PDF aerial video shows regime forces fleeing after being bombed by a drone. Junta battalion raided in Chin State Many junta soldiers were believed killed when ethnic Chin resistance fighters of Chin Defense Force-Mindat attacked an infantry battalion from close range in Mindat Township, Chin State on Wednesday morning, the group claimed. After the attack, regime forces arbitrarily bombarded villages nearby using more than 20 artillery shells. A house was destroyed in the shelling. Military regime pavilion bombed in Dawei As a warning attack, the resistance group Guerrilla Dawei claimed that on Wednesday evening it bombed a pavilion built by the military regime on a strand in the town of Dawei in Tanintharyi Region for the Thidingyut Festival, using a remote-controlled bomb. The resistance group said the military regime is using civilians as human shields to hold fake festivals. In order to avoid harming civilians, the group bombed the juntas pavilion before the festival days, it said. It appealed to civilians to avoid regime forces, and regime-controlled government departments and festivities, due to potential attacks. Guest Column UN Mission in Myanmar is Lending Legitimacy to Genocidal Military Regime A young victim of an airstrike on a school in Let Yet Kone village, Sagaing region, is prepared for the funeral on Sept. 17, 2022, a day after an attack on the village by a Myanmar military helicopter. The traditional approach to humanitarian aid embraces principles like impartiality, neutrality, independence, and humanity. United Nations agencies and international non-profits cherish these ideals, and yet they also empower the legitimacy of a genocidal military regime. The failure to criticize military atrocities and name the junta as perpetrator tells us they fear the regime more than bereaved mothers, fathers and loved ones across the country who courageously speak out. It is Min Aung Hlaing and his generals who caused the suffering before opening the door just enough so that aid would flow through the military and give it legitimacy. In fact, some of the neediest citizens are in Sagaing and Magway, where resistance is fierce and the junta is losing territory. Analysis by Special Advisory Council for Myanmar finds that the junta has stable control of only 17% of the country. The junta terrorists will lose more territory in the future, but the destruction will only get worse: the path ahead is towards even more suffering. Yet, relying on behind-the-scenes pressure and engagement will not work now. It has never worked in the past. UN agencies and international non-profits must engage in principled criticism to remind the military junta that the world is still watching. This was most recently demonstrated on September 16. At least 12 people, including seven children, were killed in a military junta airstrike and ground assault at a monastic school in Depayin Township, northwestern Myanmar. We know it was the military that committed this crime, with first-hand testimonies and cross-referenced local sources in media and civil society reports confirming it within days. The UN Secretary Generals spokesperson even said so. Yet UN agencies in Myanmar and international aid groups refused to name the perpetrators. The UNs Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released a statement on September 27, saying the atrocity may be a war crime and that the school came under attack by Tatmadaw forces. Graphic images of heads blown off, bone fragments, and distraught mothers outside the monastery school in Depayin circulated online. These recent victims join a total 32 civilians murdered in junta airstrikes since the coup, and this remains a conservative figure, verified by our documentation and research department. Images and statistics like these are all too familiar to Myanmar netizens since the coup, but it doesnt make them any less traumatizing. Language matters: letters of concern and vague statements will be used by the military and its international pariah allies to blame both sides. The same can be said for choosing to cite or not cite AAPP data, which the military made a political act punishable by severe action when it labeled us an illegal organization in April 2021. Independent media and civil society documenters need support through direct criticism of the military junta. Journalists are being targeted with arrests, torture, rape, and murder. A terror campaign that extends beyond airstrikes is impacting the documentation of the other human rights violations ravaging Sagaing Region. AAPP has observed the junta increasingly use property seizures to collectively punish the pro-democracy movement. The AAPP team has interviewed several victims who have had their homes built after years of saving, or passed down the generations raided and seized by junta militia. Across the country, some 30,000 buildings including schools, churches, and other religious buildings have been burned to the ground. It is the junta that is looting and targeting these buildings. Other reports have implied both sides are perpetrating similar violations, but these reports are neither neutral nor impartial, and therefore useless. Children as young as one year old are being taken into secret detention to threaten and punish pro-democracy supporters on the run. According to the AAPP database, 47 children have been taken hostage since the coup, and 40 remain in detention. The junta is using hostage-taking as a weapon, demonstrating a brutal worldview where anyone who resists them is an enemy of the state and a legitimate target. The internet is cut across huge swaths of the country, informers and junta officials hold night-time inspections; 74 captured pro-democracy forces have been brutally tortured to death in interrogation. In rural areas they are burnt alive, with 80 of these victims documented since the coup. When student protestors resist with peaceful flash strikes, junta soldiers dont think twice about ramming them with a speeding car. Seven civilians have been killed like this since the military takeover on February 1, 2021. Combine this daily terror with a collapsing economy and it is no wonder that the mental health of people is under incredible strain. We know humanitarian needs, including the need for psychosocial care, are immense. But time and time again, we tell donors that this cannot be delivered through the junta. There are practical alternative channels, who are not responsible for the countrys suffering. These include the National Unity Government (NUG) and its interim-Peoples Administrations, local-aid and cross-border providers, and Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs) who have been doing this work for decades. Attempts by the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Center) to deliver humanitarian aid to the people are doomed to fail if the military junta, which is directly causing the crisis, is in control of distribution. Ultimately, aid organizations decision to ignore the culprit of crimes like the September 16 atrocity makes sense if they have signed memoranda of understanding with the junta and want to avoid antagonizing a very-antagonizable Min Aung Hlaing. In the past it was the same: UN agencies were pressured by the military not to hire former political prisoners and others with a pro-democracy background. They rented their office buildings and residences from military leaders and relatives. We did not get transparency then, and we are not getting transparency now. The UN ought to uphold transparency in their interactions with the military, guided by the same principles they work by. It is time for principled criticism of the rights abuses by the military. All data quoted is as of October 3, 2022, and available at https://airtable.com/shr9w3z7dyIoqdUv4 & https://airtable.com/shrYUbzQe1hKXQ68x/tblswChRJGSzJWr7k Bo Kyi is a former political prisoner and current joint secretary of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners Burma. Hurricane Ian formed while approaching the southern Caribbean Sea and Tropical Storm Julia, which formed Friday morning, is following a similar path to Ians early stages of formation. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami says Julia is located 110 miles west of the Guajira Peninsula, Colombia, with 40 mph winds and higher gusts, while moving west at 18 mph. The NHC says it expects Julia to turn into a Hurricane Saturday while it moves over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. The NHC says Julia should make landfall as a hurricane in Nicaragua Hurricane Warnings are now in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands, Colombia and a Hurricane Watch is now in effect from Bluefields to the Nicaragua/Honduras border and a Tropical Storm Watch from the Nicaragua/Honduras border westward to Punta Patuca. For the 11 a.m. advisory from the NHC, click here. A chip start-up known as Pengxinwei IC Manufacturing based in Shenzhen is allegedly aiming to help Huawei Technologies get around American sanctions that have crippled its smartphone business, the Bloomberg news agency claims. The start-up is run by a former Huawei employee, Bloomberg said on Thursday, adding that the firm was receiving support from Huawei to order chipmaking gear which it hopes to obtain by the first half of 2023. However, as Bloomberg admitted, Pengxinwei had not yet got off the ground, making a great deal of its extremely lengthy report speculative. In May 2019, the US placed Huawei on its Entity List; American firms cannot sell products made in the US with more than 25% of American content to companies placed on this list, without obtaining a licence. But Huawei was able to easily get around this restriction by getting products it needed supplied by branches of American firms located outside the US. However, being on the Entity List entry meant Huawei was unable to continue using the proprietary version of Google's Android mobile operating system; this includes apps like Gmail, Maps, Drive, YouTube, the PlayStore and Photos. Huawei had to confine itself to using the open-source version of Android, which has none of these apps. Google applied for an exemption to continue supplying Huawei, but did not get one. Microsoft was more successful, obtaining a waiver from the Department of Commerce to continue supplying the Shenzhen firm with its Windows operating system that Huawei uses on its laptops. The US came back in May 2020 with further restrictions aimed at cutting off Huawei's supply of advanced semiconductors which it was getting mostly from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. The additional restrictions were imposed via the Foreign Direct Product Rule that makes it necessary for any company American or foreign that sells American products or those made using American technology to require a permit before selling to Huawei. In November 2020, Huawei sold its low-cost Honor smartphone business to a conglomerate of firms. Once the top smartphone vendor in China, Huawei has now fallen well behind the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo and vivo. Bloomberg said the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security was aware of Pengxinwei and the allegations of its connections to Huawei. The BIS is in charge of overseeing trade restrictions imposed by Washington. Pengxinwei told the news agency that is had signed deals with suppliers and was looking to start production in 2025, adding that it would start working on 28nm technology next year. The most advanced semiconductors used at the moment are 5nm and the top manufacturers, like TMSC and Samsung, are expected to start producing 3nm chips soon. Supporters of jailed WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange will be staging protests on Saturday to call for his release. A human chain will start on Princes Bridge, Southbank, in Melbourne at 11am on Saturday and those who gather will be addressed by Assange's brother and father, Gabriel Shipton and John Shipton, respectively at 12.30pm. The protesters will then march to Government House. In London, there will be a human chain around Parliament starting at 1pm UK time; a total of 3600 people have registered to take part. Assange is being held in the maximum security Belmarsh Prison in the UK, pending a decision on his request to appeal to the UK High Court against his extradition to the US which was approved by then British Home Minister Priti Patel on 17 June. His brotheriTWire in September that no decision was expected this year as the US had sought 12 weeks, four more than is normally given, to respond to Assange's arguments seeking permission for a High Court appeal. In Washington DC, people supporting Assange will gather at the Department of Justice. Among the speakers will be former CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, journalist Chris Hedges and Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Cohen said in a statement: "This case is about the freedom of the press. Can you imagine if the Justice Department tried to lock up reporters from the New York Times or CNN? "Julian Assange shared truthful information he received from a source. That information revealed criminal behaviour, war crimes, and heartbreaking civilian casualties. There will be gatherings in a number of other locations as can be seen from the embedded tweet. Australia has been re-elected to the governing council of the International Telecommunication Union, a statement says. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Senator Karen Grogan, chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, said in a joint statement 180 countries had voted in the election which took place in Bucharest at the ITU's Plenipotentiary Conference, a major quadrennial conference. The ITU is the specialised UN agency that works with governments and industry to decide on standardisation of the global communications networks. The council members elected for period 2023-26 are: Region A: The Americas (9 seats) Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; Bahamas; Canada; Cuba; United States; Paraguay; El Salvador. Region B: Western Europe (8 seats) Italy; United Kingdom; Sweden; Switzerland; Spain; France; Germany; Turkiye. Region C: Eastern Europe & Northern Asia (5 seats) Romania; Azerbaijan; Poland; Bulgaria; Czech Republic. Region D: Africa (13 seats) Kenya; Ghana; Egypt; Tanzania; Algeria; Morocco; Senegal; Nigeria; Tunisia; Mauritius; Rwanda; Uganda; South Africa. Region E: Asia & Australasia (13 seats) United Arab Emirates; India; Indonesia; Thailand; Malaysia; Japan; Kuwait; Philippines; Saudi Arabia; Australia; South Korea; Bahrain; China. Rowland and Senator Grogan said Australia had been an ITU Council member since 1959, after joining the Union in 1878, the same year the first commercial telephone service was commissioned in Melbourne. They said in the next four-year term, Australia would seek to: prioritise efforts to connect the unconnected with accessible, affordable and resilient connectivity continue to promote an inclusive, open and accountable ITU work collaboratively with all ITU members, to ensure the Union can meet the challenges arising from rapid changes in the global telecommunications landscape, particularly as nations work together to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Rowland commented: "This is a great outcome for Australia. Having a seat at the table allows us to shape outcomes that benefit our region and neighbours and ensure key telecommunications decisions protect stability and prosperity in our region. Australias re-election will provide the ITU Council a strong perspective on global and regional connectivity issues. We look forward to collaborating with fellow Asia-Pacific member-states to ensure all views and needs are considered by the Union, and we are committed to delivering a strong global telecommunications environment. Senator Grogan added: Australia is proud of its longstanding involvement and heritage with the ITU, working in partnership to deliver practical digital capacity-building and development projects, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. "We are honoured to have been re-elected to this vital international organisation. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), an international community of more than 550 technology companies committed to open standards for the Internet of Things, has announced the release of the Matter 1.0 specification and the opening of the Matter certification program. The Connectivity Standards Alliance Board of Directors is comprised of executives from Amazon, Apple, Assa Abloy, Comcast, Google, Huawei, IKEA, Infineon Technologies AG, The Kroger Co., Latch Systems, Leedarson, Legrand, LG Electronics, Lutron Electronics, Midea, Nordic Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, Oppo, Resideo, Schneider Electric, Signify, Silicon Labs, SmartThings, Somfy, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Tuya, and Wulian. According to CSA, member companies who make up all facets of the IoT now have a complete program for bringing the next generation of interoperable products that work across brands and platforms to market with greater privacy, security, and simplicity for consumers. As part of the Matter 1.0 release, authorised test labs are open for product certification, the test harnesses and tools are available, and the open-source reference design software development kit (SDK) is complete in order to bring new, innovative products to market. Alliance members with devices already deployed and with plans to update their products to support Matter can now do so, once their products are certified. What started as a mission to unravel the complexities of connectivity has resulted in Matter, a single, global IP-based protocol that will fundamentally change the IoT, said Tobin Richardson, president and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance. This release is the first step on a journey our community and the industry are taking to make the IoT more simple, secure, and valuable no matter who you are or where you live. "With global support from companies large and small, todays Matter 1.0 release is more than a milestone for our organisation and our members; it is a celebration of what is possible. According to CSA, over 280 member companies including Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, Signify and SmartThings contributed to the development of the Matter specification. We would not be where we are today without the strength and dedication of the Alliance members who have provided thousands of engineers, intellectual property, software accelerators, security protocols, and the financial resources to accomplish what no single company could ever do on their own, said Bruno Vulcano, chair of the Alliance Board and R&D Manager for Legrand Digital Infrastructure. With members equally distributed throughout the world, Matter is the realisation of a truly global effort that will benefit manufacturers, customers and consumers alike, not just in a single region or continent. The Matter 1.0 standard launches with test cases and comprehensive test tools for Alliance members and a global certification program including eight authorised test labs who are primed to test not only Matter, but also Matters underlying network technologies, Wi-Fi and Thread, the CSA says. Wi-Fi enables Matter devices to interact over a high-bandwidth local network and allows smart home devices to communicate with the cloud. Thread, an IPv6-based, low-power mesh networking technology for IoT products, provides an energy efficient and highly reliable mesh network within the home. Both the Wi-Fi Alliance and Thread Group partnered with the Connectivity Standards Alliance to help realise the complete vision of Matter. Matter and Thread resolve interoperability and connectivity issues in smart homes so manufacturers can focus on other value-adding innovations, Thread Group president Vividh Siddha said. Thread creates a self-healing mesh network which grows more responsive and reliable with each added device, and its ultra-lower power architecture extends battery life. Combined, Thread with Matter is a powerful choice for product companies and a great value for consumers. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 6 October 2022. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans Finance Minister Samir Sharifov held a meeting with the World Bank (WB) mission and the delegations of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) as part of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Capacity Building project jointly implemented by WB and SECO, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the participants discussed the implementation of MTEF and transition reforms to the result-based budget mechanism, strengthening of the medium-term macro-fiscal framework, methodology for preparing the budget calendar, base forecasts, budget classification, and improvement of the main activity and result indicators in the pilot sectors, where the MTEF and the result-based budget are applied issues related to the continuation of support. Samir Sharifov appreciated Azerbaijans cooperation with the WB group, noting that joint projects in various directions were successfully implemented during the past period. The minister noted that the implementation of the MTEF is of great importance in ensuring the targeting, efficiency, and effectiveness of budget expenditures. He spoke about the reforms carried out in the field of public finance management in Azerbaijan and emphasized the important role of these measures in increasing transparency in the economy and the efficiency of state regulation. For her turn, World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan Sarah Michael noted the effective cooperation of the bank with Azerbaijan, saying that the economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan are also supported by many international financial institutions. Moreover, World Bank mission Head Ian Halvdan Ross Hawkesworth briefed about the work done so far and the next steps to be taken within the framework of the mentioned project. He stated that the bank is ready to continue supporting Azerbaijan in the direction of continuing reforms. Speaking at the meeting, SECOs delegation Head Alberto Hernandez emphasized that the socio-economic development strategy of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026 will make important contributions to the reforms carried out under the MTEF. Website Design SEO Company in Chicago is an Illinois-based company dedicated to helping its customers significantly increase their online presence. The company does their job so well that Google has ranked the agency #1 in Chicagoland for SEO keywords for the past 15 years. In order for the company to maintain its exalted status among the Chicago area SEO firms, they are constantly inventing new ways to help their clients make important website-related decisions. A good example of this is that the company just did a review of the popular WPX WordPress web hosting service. It contains information that can be of great use to companies that currently use or are considering using WPX WordPress to host their websites. Jack Lombardi, the CEO of Chicago Website Design SEO Company, spoke about the pros and cons of a company using WPX WordPress hosting services. He started by noting that one of the most impressive features of WPX hosting services is its speed. Lombardi says, A fast website is critical to your online success, so the last thing your business needs is a slow-speed website. This will definitely have a negative impact on your online success. So we were very pleased when we took a close look at websites hosted on WPX and the consistently fast loading speeds these websites exhibited. He went on to say that whatever content a company has on its website, a business will benefit greatly from a fast loading website as it encourages a better user experience. Slow websites usually not only result in a large percentage of users becoming discouraged and leaving the site, but many of these disgruntled users also tell someone about their negative experience with a companys website. The companys CEO acknowledged that WPX WordPress was partly designed by an SEO expert, so its not surprising that speed is one of its attributes. Other WPX Web The EU heads of state and government are struggling to find a common response to the energy crisis A meeting of EU leaders on Friday in Prague sought to bridge disagreements over how to deal with soaring energy prices as they grapple with the aftermath of Russias war with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dialed in from Kyiv as the bloc seeks to maintain its economic and military support for Ukraine and take a hard line against Moscow. EU leaders also discussed how to better protect their critical infrastructure following leaks in the Russia-Europe Nord Stream gas pipelines, which were accused of sabotage. But it was sharp disagreements over how to tackle the energy crisis that took center stage as the 27 nations debated over the best plan to cut prices. Europe faces an energy crisis as electricity generation prices soar due to a massive spike in gas prices caused by Russia turning off the taps. Governments across the bloc are scrambling to bring down costs for their consumers, but rely on different sources of energy and disagree on the solutions. EU executive Ursula von der Leyen is proposing a roadmap of measures to ease the burden including possible measures to cap the price of gas. However, there is no consensus on how caps could work and leaders are unlikely to make a firm decision until a summit in Brussels later this month. Now is the time to discuss how we can limit energy price spikes and energy price manipulation by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, von der Leyen told reporters. This will be the discussion of price caps, where and how to place them. Common denominator More than half of the bloc have been pushing for the EU to put a price cap on how much it would pay for gas delivered by pipelines or ships when winter hits the northern hemisphere. But Germany has stood in the way so far over fears the move could divert valuable supplies away from Europe. A gas price cap, if that could be achieved, would be great, with the proviso that we cannot jeopardize security of supply, said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. We cannot set the price in such a way that nobody sells gas to Europe. Berlin has come under fire from other EU members for getting stuck on the issue while announcing a 200 billion ($199 billion) fund to subsidize domestic gas purchases. My message to Germany is: be united with everyone else, because in difficult times everyone has to agree on a common denominator, said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The difficulty of containing energy utility prices was highlighted on Wednesday by the OPEC+ cartels agreement to cut oil production despite Western efforts to drain revenue from Moscow. That decision appeared to undermine a G7 push for a cap on Russias oil price, backed by the EU in its latest sanctions package agreed this week. Despite some dissatisfaction from Hungary, the bloc has managed to remain largely united in its opposition to the Kremlin as Putin escalated the conflict by claiming four occupied regions. A broader summit of 44 nations from across Europe, held in Prague on Thursday, has highlighted Moscows isolation. The EU is trying to maintain its support for Kyiv while Zelenskyys troops push back Russian forces on multiple fronts seven months into the war. Ukraine is urging the EU to speed up much-needed economic support after Brussels on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to provide five billion euros. On the military front, the bloc plans to launch a training mission for Ukrainian forces later this month. It has also envisioned a possible new arms financing tranche for Ukraine that would bring its total arms spending to 3 billion. From Im Siwan to IU, these stars were hailed as winners at the 2022 Buil Film Awards. Curious who received new titles in the recent ceremony? Then read on! 2022 Buil Film Awards Winners Following the APAN Star Awards, old and new faces were present at this year's Buil Film Awards. The prestigious event happens annually to honor some of the best films and personalities who made outstanding performances every year. The 31st annual Buil Film Award happened on October 6 in Busan. The famous newspaper Busan Ilbo hosted the event, and it has been said that the festival will run for 10 days starting October 5. Before the ceremony began, Kim Nam Gil and Girls' Generation member Choi Sooyoung welcomed everyone as they were assigned as MC for the night. The idol-actress looked stunning, clad in an all-white gown and exhibited her new short hair. Kim Nam Gil, on the other hand, looked superior in his black suit. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Cha Eun Woo's New Drama 'Island' Confirmed To Release in THIS Month Moving on to the winners, the movie "Decision to Leave" successfully took home five trophies. "Hansan: Rising Dragon" scored three awards, and newly-debuted director Lee Jung Jae, who helmed "Hunt," bagged the Best New Director award. IU once again proved her talent and secured a new trophy. Im Siwan, on the other hand, showed another great of his acting chops as he played the role of a villain in the film "Emergency Declaration," which gained him the Best Supporting Award this year. 2022 Buil Film Awards Full List of Winners Best Film: "Decision to Leave" (Director Park Chan Wook) Best Director: Kim Han Min ("Hansan: Rising Dragon) Best New Director: Lee Jung Jae ("Hunt") Best Actor: Park Hae Il ("Decision to Leave") Best Actress: Tang Wei "Decision to Leave") Best Supporting Actor: Im Siwan ("Emergency Declaration") Best Supporting Actress: Lee Soo Kyung ("Miracle: Letters to the President") Best New Actor: Lee Hyo Je ("Good Person") Best New Actress: Choi Sung Eun ("Ten Months) Best Screenplay: Jung Wook ("Good Person") Best Cinematography: Kim Ji Yong ("Decision to Leave") Best Music: Jo Young Wook ("Decision to Leave") Best Art Direction: Jung Sung Jin, Jung Chul Min ("Hansan: Rising Dragon") Yu Hyun Mok Film Award: Director Lee Ran Hee ("A Leave") Popular Star Awards (Male): Byun Yo Han ("Hansan: Rising Dragon") Popular Star Award (Female: Lee Ji Eun / IU ("Broker") Congratulations to all the winners! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Joong Ki Wins Daesang for 'Vincenzo' at 2022 APAN Star Awards + Full List of Winners For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, follow and subscribe to KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Marijuana plants for the adult recreational market are seen hanging in a drying room at a farm in Suffolk County, N.Y., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden says he intends to offer criminal pardons to anyone convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mary Altaffer Hackathon sponsors provide opportunities for Kennesaw State students KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 7, 2022 At Kennesaw State Universitys Fall 2022 Hackathon, students were given a challenge: Helping people thrive in a connected world. The prompt was provided by presenting sponsor, Assurant, and inspired by its company purpose. It was up to the students to use information technology skills and creativity to brainstorm a solution. The prompt was intentionally left open-ended so students from a variety of different majors could get involved, said Director of Hackathon Dawn Tatum, who also serves as Director of the College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) Partnerships and Engagements. While the event is open to all students, Hackathon is CCSEs annual, premier event to showcase student talent and connect students to industry partners. Despite its name, the event does not include hacking any computers. Hackathon is an opportunity for students to solve challenges and experience what its like to use their degree in the real world, Tatum said. Representatives from Assurant were on campus to mentor students and provide feedback on their projects. Kennesaw State students have consistently impressed us with their innovative ideas, said Joe Spalla, Assurant VP Information Technology. Hackathon is a great way for us to help the next generation get hands-on experience, but also provides us the opportunity to meet some of KSUs best and brightest students. Students also had the unique opportunity to attend a networking session with employees from other businesses like Google, State Farm and SiteOne. I really enjoy the networking aspect of Hackathon because its introduced me to possible employers and has given me more information about what types of jobs are available to me after I graduate, computer science sophomore Stephen Sulimani said. Sulimani participated with Luke Zeches last year, and this year Devin Beck joined their team. I heard Hackathon was a prime opportunity to get hands-on experience, so I was excited to get involved this year, said Beck. Teams of students worked together over a three-day period to come up with a solution to the challenge, and on the final day, they presented their ideas to a panel of judges. Some of this years projects included a tool that diagnoses a patients heart failure risk using algorithms and data sets, a phone application that allows users to prepay at gas stations to improve efficiency, and a smart refrigerator that collects images of items inside to check for quality and quantity and generates a grocery list based on need. I really enjoy the brainstorming and pitching aspect of Hackathon, Zeches said. Its really fun and inspiring to work as a team for a common goal. The following teams of students were recognized for their work: 1st place Ngoc Nguyen, Sana Rashid, Megan Vo 2nd place Keyshawn Billups, Trevor Fouce 3rd place Jui Mhatre, Aishwarya Turlapati, Surya Praveen Adivi Abbey OBrien Barrows Photos by Judy Pishnery and Darnell Wilburn Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. A Kenosha County panel has unanimously approved a policy that would allow county employees to bring their weapons to work if they are concealed carry licensed gun owners. The policy would be for employees other than sworn law enforcement officers. The Finance and Administration Committee Thursday night voted 7-0 to approve the change to the countys weapons in the workplace policy. Currently, only sworn Sheriffs Department personnel, who are employees of the county, are allowed to carry weapons. The new policy would change that and allow an employee who has the appropriate permit for a gun or an electronic weapon (Taser), to possess them at work. The employee policy is the last piece of a larger policy change already approved by the full County Board. On July 5, the board voted 14-7 to reverse a more than decades old ban on weapons in all county buildings, with exceptions. The ban continues to cover the Kenosha County Courthouse, the public safety building, which houses both the Sheriffs Department and Kenosha Police Department operations, the jail and pretrial building and the Molinaro Building, all west of Sheridan Road between 55th and 56th Streets, along with the Detention Center on Highway H. Permitted gun owners, including county employees and the general public, still will be prohibited to bring weapons into county buildings until the policy changes are incorporated into the employee handbook. According to the resolution approved by the board in July, the ban would lift within six months of the repeal. Policy provisions According to the new policy, the: weapon and ammunition must be concealed at all times, unless it is lawfully being used; firearms cannot be kept unattended employee is solely responsible for maintaining control of the weapon at all time employee may not carry a concealed weapon in locales subject to state law; locally, they are prohibited from doing so in county buildings covered by the ban employee may not carry a weapon in any area, building or vehicle whether public or private, where doing so is posted as prohibited or done over the objection of the owner weapon, if stored in a county vehicle, must be secured with a suitable trigger lock, barrel lock or enclosed in a locked case and kept from plain view. If stored in the employees vehicle in a parking lot owned or maintained by the county, the same restrictions apply. In each instance, the vehicle must be locked. The new policy contains language that is not to be construed to support or permit intimidating, threatening or violent behavior related to possessing a concealed weapon. Examples of such behavior include actions of intentionally displaying the concealed weapon or implying use of the weapon to threaten another person, among others. Jokes regarding threatening behavior will be taken seriously and are subject to discipline, according to the policy. However, the employees mere lawful carrying of a concealed weapon would not constitute an intimidating, threatening or violent act. Restriction removed During deliberations, some supervisors objected to restrictions that applied to employees using their own vehicles and having weapons. The committee reviewed and later removed the restriction that pertained to employees with permitted concealed carry weapons and who transport non-employees in the employees personal vehicles. That provision had also required trigger locking, barrel locking or keeping the weapon in a case and from plain view. Supervisor Brian Bashaw said the employees vehicle is their personal space. They own that. And, to be restricted from carrying within their own vehicle is tantamount to saying we are completely restricting carry, he said. You no longer have the ability to carry even in your own vehicle because you may have an employee or other person with you. He called the restrictions overly encumbering and the intended to prevent concealed carry. Supervisor Erin Decker asked for a scenario in which a non-employee would be transported by a county employee with a concealed carry permitted weapon. Particularly social workers may transport children or other clients in their vehicles, said Clara Tappa, the countys human resources director. We do have employees that have occasion to utilize their own personal vehicles and transport clients in those vehicles in the course of their employment. Decker wondered why the concealed carry situation with the non-employee in the vehicle would be handled with more restrictions than if that person were sitting next to the employee at work. I would anticipate that in an enclosed space like a vehicle where theyre transporting a client, its a different environment than if youre sitting at a desk out in the work place with people around, Tappa said. So, its a safety measure. She said the policy is modeled after a Wisconsin Department of Justice policy for its workers. Social workers may be transporting clients, including juveniles to an institution, a home or an appointment. They can have those clients in their vehicle, which could be an emotional situation, she said. Additional training suggested Bashaw wondered whether there was opportunity to provide social workers with additional training, similar to that of police officers, who must deal with similar instances. He suggested they might benefit from training the Sheriffs Department could provide to enhance social workers skills without stripping away concealed-carry rights. I would certainly talk with those managers of the social workers about pursuing some type of training, Tappa said. Bashaw asked whether she was aware of any social workers who do conceal carry or anticipate having weapons under the new policy. Tappa shook her head. Then its a scenario that may not even exist, she said. Supervisor William Grady said he understood the intent of the provision if employees didnt have the weapon on them. I think the intent is to say, it cant be left around the vehicle in a rather uncontrolled environment, he said. A vehicle is different than being in an office. In an office, youve got more control of the situation. Theres other people aroundif its one on one in a car its not a very controlled environment. Corporation Counsel Joseph Cardamone said that key to the discussion is storing the weapon, rather than the weapon being on their person. Decker said the provision needs some tweaking so the policy clarifies that employees, who are transporting clients, and have weapons must store and lock them up. Further clarification Further clarification was also needed on whether having a weapon in a purse amounted to storing it unattended or was in compliance with state statutes for concealed carry for the purposes of accessibility, an issue Tappa said she would research. The committee voted 5-2 to remove the provision, but unanimously agreed to bring back revisions after further study for discussion at the next meeting. Supervisor Tim Stocker proposed that most of the already-stated provisions of the concealed carry law in the policy be removed as employees should do their own research. According to Cardamone, however, in striking the majority of the provisions, anyone with concealed carry privileges would be able to bring a weapon into the Molinaro Building, where the district attorneys offices are housed. Cardamone said that the building was not among those covered by statutory exemptions and had to be added and approved by resolution. Stockers motion failed 6-1. Editors note: Debbie Ford, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, authored this piece as a special send-off to Bryan Albrecht, who is retiring as president and CEO of Gateway Technical College. Most of the time a congratulations on your retirement letter starts out with congratulations on your retirement. Im not ready to go there just yet. When I came to southeast Wisconsin and UW-Parkside 13 years ago, I was unsure just how I would be received by colleagues in higher education. What I remember is quickly realizing and appreciating that you and I share a passion for transforming lives. I may not have expressed it at the time, but that meant a great deal. You were generous with your time and very willing to help me meet business leaders, elected officials and influential community members. Time goes by far too quickly. More than a decade later, I believe our institutions have made a difference by creating more opportunities for students to earn the academic credentials that will pave their way toward sustainable success. You and I have attended a lot of community events together. Each served an important purpose. What stands out in my mind is that we attended as higher-education partners rather than higher-education competitors. Weve served together on various community and business leadership boards The Mahone Fund, KABA, RAMAC, Higher Expectations of Racine County, and Building our Future, to name a few. Hearing community feedback provided an opportunity for us to share and develop ideas on how Gateway and UW-Parkside could work better together and increase academic pathways for students to meet their individual needs. I know you will remember a day at UW-Parkside where we announced new articulation agreements, spanning a variety of academic disciplines again, more opportunities for student success. We shared the stage that day with Rudy the Red Hawk and Ranger Bear. Theres an old Hollywood saying: Dont work with kids or animals. They should add mascots to that list. What a fun morning. Being a part of the Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA), an innovative group of college and university leaders from throughout southeast Wisconsin including Greater Milwaukee, was especially rewarding. Your vision and passion to align institutional programs helped form a valuable foundation upon which HERA continues its mission to bridge equity gaps, transform lives, and expand the regions talent pool. It was an honor last spring to join Carthage President John Swallow and Tim Mahone, chair of the Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund Board of Directors, at the Reaching for Rainbows scholarship event. We proudly announced the renaming of the Reaching for Rainbows Living Legend Community Award in your honor. The Dr. Bryan Albrecht Living Legend Award is a fitting tribute to your dedication as a Mahone Fund board member and board president. Recently, I felt a sense of coming full circle back to our initial meetings and the realization of a shared passion for transforming lives. Our efforts to develop associate of arts and associate of science liberal arts degrees for Gateway students, leading to a UW-Parkside bachelors degree in more than 25 academic disciplines will have a transforming impact for decades to come. Your career has been purposeful and for the betterment of all. On behalf of the UW-Parkside learning community, thank you for making southeast Wisconsin a better place to live, learn, and grow. I guess its time: Congratulations, Bryan, and best wishes on your retirement! There are so many paths to financial freedom [PODCAST] Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! More than anything, I want to help our physician colleagues build financial freedom. We work with so many talented and passionate individuals. I know each one of you has dreams and passions that drive you. You may find your pa within medicine; some of you will search elsewhere. But I guarantee that financial freedom helps all of us live happier and healthier lives. It will even make us better physicians as well. Cobin Soelberg is an anesthesiologist and financial planner. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, There are so many paths to financial freedom. This episode is sponsored by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With so many demands on their time, physicians today report record levels of burnout. Burnout is caused by many factors, one of which is clinical documentation. Studies indicate physicians spend two hours documenting care for every hour spent with patients. At Nuance, we are committed to helping physicians do what you love care for patients and spend less time on clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is an AI-powered, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RATE AND REVIEW https://www.kevinmd.com/rate FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/kevinphomd FOLLOW ON TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinphomd GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/q4yDtT Powered by CMEfy a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info On the canal walk in the city, a busy morning was had putting Kilkenny's newest statue into place ahead of a big unveiling this Sunday for Kilkenny Day. Kilkenny City will be the home for a very special sculpture featuring Adam Kings legendary Virtual Hug. Adams original design was created in 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak, to help people connect during difficult times. The then six year old's drawing of a giant heart, symbolising a huge virtual hug was a moment of hope during the dark days of the pandemic. Adam, and his family and friends will be present to witness the unveiling and to enjoy a memorable day that will see his inspiring art brought to life . The sculpture is the work of CDS Engineering based in Ballyfoyle and owner Martin Stapleton says that they are proud to be a part of it. The company specialises in quality metalwork for the construction industry and in recent years has expanded into creative projects such as the Thomas Woodgate war memorial at Kilkenny Courthouse. To create the artwork, Adams original heart drawing was scanned into a Computer Aided Design system and then replicated in corten steel (a type of steel that can weather successfully outside). The scale of the piece will be an impressive eight feet tall so it literally will be a giant hug for everyone who views it. As Martin observes the heart is exactly up to scale and they have not changed a thing in Adams design. The sculpture has been created in terms of scale and size for its location at the site of the old bandstand overlooking Kilkenny canal. As part of the installation a pair of benches and an information panel will also feature beside the giant heart so that people can sit and reflect in peace, on the pandemic and its impact. Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick, said that the council is delighted that Adam and his parents have agreed to this unique gesture and thanked them for the use of Adams artwork in this installation. "The piece, inspired by Adams original artwork and created by CDS Engineering in North Kilkenny is truly unique and will stand as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many in our community in the past two years since Covid-19 came as an unwelcome visitor amongst us," he said. "Situated on the canal walk by the banks of the river Nore, it will offer a tranquil place to reflect and connect for the local community. "Adams simple but hugely effective gesture on RTEs Late Late Toy Show captured the spirit of positivity and community at a vital time for our nation and inspired us all. He summed up the way that our communities rallied to support the most vulnerable amongst us and that spirit will hopefully be the resounding legacy of these times." Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, Sean McKeown, said the sculpture reflects Kilkennys passion for the arts and its indefatigable spirit. Whether in sport or in the world of creativity, Kilkenny always strives for the best we can achieve," he said. "That spirit was also to the fore as our frontline professional and voluntary workers did so much to bring us through the past two years. "We are delighted that this fitting piece of art will stand as a lasting tribute to those people, including a number of local health workers who paid the ultimate price for their service. "Just as Adam lifted our spirits two years ago, we know his image will continue to inspire us in the future." Adams parents, who are deeply moved by the honour and said it's 'hard to believe that such a tiny gesture created by Adam has touched the lives of so many people all over Ireland and the world'. "We are so grateful to everyone who took Adams virtual hug as their symbol to connect during difficult times," they said. "Now, thanks to everyone involved in this amazing project, Adams art will continue as an enduring symbol and reminder of a challenging time in our history, the importance of caring for those you love, and the spirit of warmth and connection which is a defining quality of Adam, of the people of Kilkenny and of all Irish people. "To everyone who has made this happen thank you. Adams original message will endure, and his words will be engraved on a plaque as part of the installation: "Always remember to hug the ones you love the most, and if you can't give them a real hug - give them a virtual hug!" There has been a 40% increase in the number of Ukrainian arrivals into County Kilkenny in recent weeks, the latest CSO data shows. Between August 7 and September 25, the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving to the county grew from 731 to 1,027. The Kilkenny City Municipal District is now home to the majority of Ukrainian refugees - 730. There were also 129 refugees recorded in the Callan-Thomastown Municipal District, 119 in the Castlecomer Municipal District and 49 in the Piltown Municipal District. Women aged 20 and over account for 46% of all national arrivals (54,771) to date, while individuals aged 0-19 (both male and female) make up for 35% of arrivals. The highest percentage of those arriving (35% or 19,121 individuals) were categorised as 'one parent with children' under the broad relationship classification headings used. Note that spouses/partners may have stayed in Ukraine. As of 25 September 2022, 67% of the arrivals attended employment support events arranged by Intreo Public Employment Services. English language proficiency was noted as being a challenge in securing employment. Of the 19,589 arrivals who attended an Intreo event, 14,209 had recorded previous occupations, with Professionals being the largest group at 32%. Of the 13,878 persons where the highest level of education was recorded, 67% had achieved an NFQ level equivalent to 7 or higher. MBABANE Three trade unions collectively organised under the umbrella of Public Service International (PSI) yesterday delivered a petition calling upon the removal of the PEU Act on parastatals. These unions were the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) and the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI). The petition was delivered yesterday to the Ministry of Public Service. They were joined by their counterpart, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), which is not affiliated to PSI. SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati said the reason they supported the petition delivery exercise yesterday was because they too were affected by the issues which appeared as union bashing by the government. Interfered When delivering the petition, the trade unions stated that the PEU Act interfered with the bargaining unit of the workers in parastatals. They also called upon the government to stop the removal of the member of public sector unions (PSUs) from the unions but allow them to operate using their own constitutions. The unions also demanded government to stop recognising splinter unions even if they did not meet the threshold provided by law. The unions, also called upon government to remove all parts of the laws that enabled employers to use discretion to recognise unions but use the numerical strength. Prior to listing their demands, they stated that they had observed the perpetual and deliberate effort by the employer and government to undermine fundamental international trade union rights. This has been displayed in different ways that range from draconian laws to unlawful interference, to internal operations of unions, reads the petition. Reading the petition was SWADNU Secretary General (SG) Mayibongwe Masangane, who stated that government was a signatory to many fundamental international conventions, for example, Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining and convention 87 on the freedom of association and protection of the right to organise. He said both conventions frowned upon what government was currently doing to unions in the country. He reminded government that as the largest employer, it must lead by example so that all the other employers should copy good practice from it. Masangane stated that good practice would improve good labour relations, which would in turn improve production and subsequently improve the economy of the country. Workers are drivers of the economy in any country, so when workers are happy, the economy prospers. Trade union bashing is a bad practice that has no place in the workplace, said Masangane. When addressing the participants and the representatives of the ministry, SWADNU President Welcome Mdluli urged government to desist from interfering in unions affairs as by so doing, the government was provoking them in their homes. Unions are our home, said Mdluli. Oscar Nkambule, President of NAPSAWU, said the attempt of government to destroy unions would not succeed. He said the present government that was attempting to destroy the unions, found unions already existing and they would leave them existing. Director of Management Services Division Bathandwa Hlatshwayo received the petition on behalf of the Principal Secretary, Sipho Tsabedze. By Trend JOCAP, the Joint Operating company of the Absheron field on behalf of Contractor Parties SOCAR Absheron and TOTAL E&P Absheron BV, has completed the offshore installation of Absheron EPS modules, the company told Trend. Reportedly, the three modules of the future Absheron platform were constructed onshore at the BOS Shelf yard; from where they were lifted onto the transportation barges by the DBA (Azerbaijan crane vessel). The three modules were successfully installed offshore on September 17 onto the jacket where they will need to be connected the existing Azneft PU facilities at the Oil Rocks, said the company. JOCAP Managing Director Lionel Thomas said that the completion of the modules fabrication onshore and their installation offshore are significant steps in the overall Absheron EPS project development. I would like to thank all personnel who contributed to the success of this stage. From now on, JOCAP will focus its efforts on the major offshore operations to safely deliver the first gas from Absheron field within schedule, he added. JOCAP (Joint Operating Company of Absheron Petroleum B.V.) is a non-profit Joint Operating Company established and equally owned by partners SOCAR Absheron 50 percent and TotalEnergies EP Absheron B.V. 50 percent for the development and production of the Absheron offshore block. The Absheron block is located offshore Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, about 100km south east of Baku, 25km north east of Shah Deniz field and 33km south of Oil Rocks production and processing facilities, at the water depth of 500m. The Absheron EPS project, operated by JOCAP, consists of a single well (ABD-001) connected to SOCAR operated Oil Rocks facilities. PIGGS PEAK In the past, teachers were more dedicated to their work than they are today. This was an observation made by Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini during his speech at a teachers farewell function. He was speaking during a farewell event for three teachers; namely Bettina Mavuso, Phindile Phatho and Sarah Magagula, who retired at Bhalekane Nazarene Primary School, which is situated at Madlangempisi. He was accompanied by Cabinet ministers including Jabulani Buy Cash Mabuza (Minister of Agriculture), Lady Mabuza (Minister of Education and Training), also present was Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli. The areas Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso Nxumalo was also among the guests. Also present was Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini. Commended The PM commended the teachers for their long service. He said in the past, school was not as easy as it appeared today. He said during his days, teachers were very dedicated such that even when they did not have the tools to work with, this did not influence their commitment. In our days, learning was not easy and you had to persevere to get through, he said. Furthermore, he said there were no buses during his time and that pupils would walk a distance of over 10 kilometres a day. Much to the laughter of the guests, the PM said this was not the case with teachers nowadays. He said in the past, teachers did not toyi-toyi. He said unlike today, the teachers used every platform to speak about salaries even when it was not the right place. He said they did this even during funerals. Education The PM also revealed that he was once a pupil at the primary school where he spent six years. He said Bhalekane was the only place of education where he had ever spent the longest time. He said even at institutions of higher learning, there was no place where he had spent more than six years. The PM praised the school, saying that it was positioned at the centre of the road linking other regions. He said many people who had eventually become successful had attended the school. He said he learnt during a time when there were only a few blocks such that different grades were put in one class facing different directions. The premier also said during this time, it was easy to see what they were learning in other grades. Meanwhile, the PM also revealed that in the past, the school was a multi-racial one and that there were also foreigners there learning together with emaSwati. The premier also revealed that the school was built in 1930. This in a way opened our minds in our approach to life, he said. Upon arrival at the school, The PM and his entourage was taken on a tour by the Head teacher, Nhlanhla Shongwe. Top image: The Viking Mississippi cruise ship docks in Dubuque, Iowa, on September 6, 2022, when the river was still passable for the ship. (Dave Kettering/Telegraph Herald via AP) Former People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks to reporters as he leaves the Seoul Southern District Court after attending a questioning session, in this Sept. 28 file photo. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo Former ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok received an additional suspension for a year from party affairs, which makes it difficult for him to run in the 2024 general election. The ethics committee of the PPP suspended Lee's party membership for a year on Friday, in addition to the previously imposed six months. Lee's membership will be suspended until January 2024, which makes it practically impossible for him to receive a nomination for the next general election, slated for April 2024. Lee will also be unable to return to his party chairpersonship, which was supposed to end on August 2023. The committee decided on additional disciplinary measures against Lee during hours of deliberation on Thursday evening and unanimously decided to suspend his membership for another year. Lee Yang-hee, chairperson of the PPP's ethics committee, said that it decided to impose additional measures as "Lee filed injunctions against the party's emergency leadership and revision of the party constitution, countering the party's stance." "The PPP held a general meeting and agreed to convert to emergency leadership, but Lee filed injunctions against it," Lee Yang-hee said, adding that his insulting remarks against the party members were also taken into consideration in deciding on the disciplinary measures. In addition to the party's disciplinary actions, the Seoul Southern District Court dismissed injunctions filed by Lee against the PPP's emergency leadership, Thursday. Lee did not attend the disciplinary meeting, claiming that he was not given enough time for vindicate himself. Chung Jin-suk, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks to the press at the National Assembly, Friday, after a court dismissed the party's former chairperson's injunctions against the party's emergency leadership. Yonhap As Lee is suspended from any involvement in the party until early 2024, the PPP will maintain the emergency leadership of Chung Jin-suk until the party conference. "We are free from the burden of the injunction," Chung said after the court's decision and ethics committee meeting, Friday. "I will do my best to have the ruling party to have a stable leadership and support the Yoon Suk-yeol administration." Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk-yeol declined to comment on the additional punishment Lee received. Speaking to reporters on his way to work on Friday morning, Yoon said, "I have never answered about party issues... Ask me other questions." The ethics committee also issued a warning against former floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong for holding a drinking party at the party's workshop in August. The committee said the prohibition of drinking is limited to official workshop, so Kweon's drinking does not violate the ban. "However, considering the situations both within and outside the party at the moment, his action could seem inappropriate for the party members as well as the public. The ethics committee urged caution to prevent similar incidents," Lee said. Garrett, IN (46738) Today Occasional light rain. Snow may mix in. Temps nearly steady in the upper 30s. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Snow may mix in. Low 37F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Angola, IN (46703) Today Periods of rain. Snow may mix in. Temps nearly steady in the upper 30s. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. Snow may mix in. Low 37F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. MANZINI Pupils collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital after one of their own burnt a substance that emitted toxic fumes in an act of vengeance. This happened at Mshengu High School at Mashobeni, Nhlangano in the Shiselweni Region, last Friday and further resulted in the indefinite closure of the school. It has been gathered that the substance that had toxic fumes permeating the air was burnt by a pupil who was seeking vengeance against a certain teacher who later received death threats. However, the learners vengeance affected not only the teacher, but his schoolmates and asthmatic pupils, who in turn had to be rushed to the Nhlangano Health Centre. This is one of a sequence of events that resulted in the indefinite closure of the school. Fight According to a source close to the matter, it all started last Thursday after one of the teachers at the school was allegedly involved in a fist fight with a pupil. After the physical altercation, the source alleged that the pupil and some of his schoolmates supposedly felt that the educator was offside and wanted vengeance. He claimed that it was during the lunch-break last Thursday when one of the new teachers at the school supposedly requested one of the pupils to dish food for him. However, it was alleged that a group of male pupils jokingly poked fun at the pupil for the request. Thereafter, the source claimed that the teacher reported the matter to his equals and asked them to discipline the boys on his behalf. He purported that the teachers called the pupils and questioned them about their conduct, however, one of the pupils allegedly resisted and one of the educators drew closer to him. They exchanged words and started fighting, the source said. After that, he said the implicated pupil went home and came back with his parent. The source, whose identity remains withheld for fear of victimisation, said the matter was deliberated upon in the head teachers office and the pupil went back to class the following day; Friday. He claimed that some of his schoolmates said if he was expelled from the school, they would protest. Later on the day (Friday), the source said a cloud of toxic fumes came from the rubbish pit and it affected a number of pupils, mainly from Form I class and some of the teachers. He said the situation was bad as some pupils, especially those who were asthmatic, collapsed as the smoke suffocated them. It made breathing difficult, he said. According to the source, some of the educators and learners suspected that the fumes were tear gas, based on the effects, as it made them cry and experience difficulties in breathing. As a result, he said a number of the pupils were rushed to Mashobeni Clinic and due to the seriousness of the effects of the toxic fumes; some were taken to Nhlangano Health Centre, where they were treated and discharged later on the day. Disturbed On Monday, the following week, operations were not disturbed at the school even though there was a bit of tension among the pupils. However, the source said on Tuesday, a teacher discovered that the chalkboard in a Form I class had death threats inscribed with the name of the teacher who was allegedly involved in a fist fight with the pupil. On the chalkboard, it was written; Rest in peace (surname of the teacher), the source said. Following this discovery, he said teaching and learning did not take place as teachers went to a meeting with the schools administrators. After that, he said the administration informed them that the school had been closed until further notice. He said the administration was told the reason for the closure of the school was unruly behaviour by some of the pupils. He added that they also told them to invite their parents to a teachers/parents meeting, which would be held today. Meanwhile, Mshengu High School Head teacher Kenneth Simelane, confirmed that there were incidents which took place at the school, which led to its indefinite closure on Tuesday. He said last Friday, while he was on his way to the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA), he received a call from his deputy, who informed him that there was a situation at the school. He said the deputy head teacher told him that there were fumes which were coming from the rubbish pit and it was affecting pupils and teachers. I called the police from Mashobeni Police Post and reported the matter, the head teacher said. Simelane said on Monday, he had a meeting with his deputy and he narrated what happened. He said while investigating the pupils, one of them alleged that he intentionally burnt a bag full of chilli pepper. Thereafter, he said the pupil was summoned to Mashobeni Police Post and asked to bring with him his parent. He said information he got from the police was that the pupil also told them that he burnt a bag with chilli pepper. However, when we investigated the matter within the school, the teachers were of the view that the fumes were not of chilli pepper. So, we are still not sure what the pupils used and investigations are still ongoing, said the source. Shocking The head teacher, Simelane, said one of the teachers made a shocking discovery - death threats to one of the educators, which were written on the chalkboard in a Form I class. He said the matter was reported to his office and the teachers asked for a meeting, where they raised their concerns about the behaviour of some of the pupils. They said they cannot go to class as the pupils had become unruly and they were calling them names, the head teacher said. He added that when they investigated the matter, a pupil confessed to have written the death threats and stated that he had a gripe with the teacher as at one point, he gave him low marks which did not belong to him. Again, the head teacher said the matter was still being investigated and that they would have a teachers/parents meeting today. He said the reopening of the school would be deliberated during the meeting. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Rain. Snow may mix in. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Snow may mix in. Low 38F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. These celebrities, who currently star in the high-rating drama "Little Women," confessed that they are fans of the idol group EXO! What an impressive taste! Wi Ha Joon Surprises EXO-Ls With Dance Performance of 'Growl' Some celebrities often confess their love to BTS and BLACKPINK, these Korean actors showed their loyalty to K-pop icon EXO by consistently showing their love for them! Lately, Netflix's Korean drama, "Little Women," has been gaining attention from viewers for its impressive storyline, cast and performance. Among them, hunk actor Wi Ha Joon garners praises for his incredible acting skills and natural chemistry with Kim Go Eun. The, on October 5, his popularity expanded to the K-pop community, but for a different reason. K-pop fans swooned over him, as it turned out that he's not just a great actor but can dance, too! wi hajoon dancing to exos growl! pic.twitter.com/Uz1zO9nHh1 (@milkteus) October 2, 2022 EXO-Ls was sent into a frenzy after a clip of the actor dancing to EXO's representative song "Growl" circulated. While some actors or actresses often dance to idol choreography, Wi Ha Joon gained admiration for perfectly digesting the dance move of one of Eris' K-pop anthems! Some even joked that Wi Ha Joon could be the missing 10th member of EXO! Upon EXO-Ls' digging, more information about revealed that this is not his first time dancing to EXO's song. When he rose to popularity following the success of "Squid Game," he also performed the same dance in October last year, leading him to perform it again during an interview. And with all this? It just means that hot people stan EXO! Park Ji Hu is Solid EXO-L Here's Her Ultimate Bias Aside from Wi Ha Joon, his co-star in "Little Women" Park Ji Hu is also a certified EXO-L! In an interview with Netflix's "The Swoon," the cast was asked where they would spend 70 billion won if they would inherit it from a late friend, similar to the plot of the thriller drama. The young actress then replied that she would use it to buy the concert ticket for her favorite group! Although she didn't reply when asked which K-pop group, her co-Eris were convinced that it was EXO! In the past, Park Ji Hu confessed her love for the nonet many times, especially to her ultimate bias D.O. Interestingly, during the interview, she initially felt shy admitting who her bias is as D.O. worked with her co-star Nam Ji Hyun ("100 Days My Prince") in the past, but she admitted it anyway. In an interview following her hit drama, "All Of Us Are Dead," in February, Ji Hu described EXO as a "family" to her. She also avowed that she doesn't need a romantic relationship in her life but EXO. In 2019, she was also spotted attending the concert of the group. In the same year, she confessed that her bias is D.O. and she would love to act with him in the future. For more K-pop updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. Rumors that IVE member Jang Wonyoung was snubbed and unfairly treated during the Miu Miu show for Paris Fashion Week have surfaced. This is due to the difference in treatment she received in comparison to Girls' Generation's Yoona. IVE Jang Wonyoung Allegedly Snubbed at Miu Miu Show On October 5, South Korean YouTuber Sojang uploaded a video titled, "Jang Won-young who broke into the luxury Miu Miu fashion show. I'm so embarrassed." In the video, he points out how differently Jang Wonyoung was treated compared to Yoona at the Miu Miu show. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: IVE Jang Wonyoung & Girls' Generation Yoona Turn Heads in Miu Miu Show To start, it was pointed out that Jang Wonyoung was not among the artists to sit front row. It was also noted that while most stars invited to fashion shows wear outfits that will be featured on the runway, the clothes the IVE member was wearing were not part of the latest collection. It was also pointed out that despite being in IVE, publications at the event still called her a member of IZ*ONE. Footage of Jang Wonyoung meeting with Miu Miu's CEO was also shared online. In the video, she is seen handing a gift to the CEO. The secretary by her side seemed shocked by the gesture, though the CEO took it from the idol. Jang Wonyoung was also seen attempting to shake Miu Miu CEO's hand but was ignored. As she did not know what to do with her hands, Jang Wonyoung was seen clasping them together. While Jang Wonyoung was treated in such a way, people noted how Yoona was treated like royalty in the event. Girls' Generation Yoona Treated Better Than Jang Wonyoung in Miu Miu Show Unlike Jang Wonyoung, Yoona was among the artists to sit in the front row at the Miu Miu show. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Girls' Generation Yoona Reveals Why She Doesn't Gain Weight Despite Eating A Lot The outfit she wore was also featured in the fashion show. In fact, it was the second outfit featured on the runway. However, unlike Jang Wonyoung, Yoona was given the honor of wearing clothes in the latest season's collection. Footage of Yoona meeting Miu Miu's CEO was also shared. While the CEO did not shake Jang Wonyoung's hand, she is seen holding on to Yoona's hand and shaking it profusely, with a large smile. Due to the 180-degree difference in the two idols' treatments, many believe Jang Wonyoung was snubbed at the event. Check out Sojang's video here: What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! For more K-pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Alexa Lewis Unlock your potential at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, where we transform lives and shape the future Find your course Find your course Filter Undergraduate courses Taught masters courses Postgraduate research area Education transforms lives. 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For press release related inquiries, please contact our Communications and Marketing Office Sri Lanka categorically rejected resolution A/HRC/51/L.1 (Rev.1) titled "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka" tabled by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United States, which was adopted by a vote at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, today (06 October 2022). Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry delivered the statement on behalf of Sri Lanka as the country concerned and called on the Members of the Council to reject the resolution by voting against it. In support of Sri Lankas position opposing the resolution, the delegation of Pakistan called for a vote. Over half of the members of the Council did not support the resolution with 07 countries (Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela) voting against the resolution and 20 countries abstaining on the vote. 20 countries voted in favour of the resolution. Representatives of Pakistan, Brazil, China, Venezuela, Japan and Republic of Korea made statements in support of Sri Lanka prior to the vote. Pakistan said that they share the concerns of Sri Lanka and other Member States that the resolution is intrusive and this level of scrutiny would not be even acceptable to any sovereign state including the Core Group. They further observed that the resolution fails to recognize the horrendous acts of terrorism committed by the LTTE and its sponsors, lacks balance, proportionality and consistency. At a critical time when the people of Sri Lanka expect demonstrations of global solidarity and support to face its economic challenges which are not entirely of Sri Lankas own making, the Core Group chose a path that has the potential to exacerbate the problem instead of improving the situation. Brazil noted the need to avoid politicization of the work of the Council and reiterated their position that cooperation of the country concerned is key to the success of this Councils initiatives. Brazil highlighted the responsibility of the international community to support the country in its recovery including through international cooperation and assistance. China appreciated the Government of Sri Lankas commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, advancing sustainable socio-economic development, improving living standards, protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups, facilitating national reconciliation and combatting terrorism. China regretted that the resolution is tabled without the consent of country concerned, is a product of politicization, and will by no means play any positive role in the promotion of human rights in Sri Lanka. China highlighted that the work of Council should be guided by its founding principles and that all parties should promote genuine dialogue and cooperation and refrain from adopting double standards. China rejected the practice of using human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs and undermine the sovereignty of other countries to the detriment of international cooperation. Venezuela expressed their deep concern at initiatives that do not have the support of the country concerned and that the Core Group is insisting on imposing hostile initiative, monitoring and oversight mechanism without the consent of Sri Lanka, ignoring the progress made by the Government. Venezuela highlighted that the mechanism financially bleed out over 6 million dollars that could have been better used to support the least developed countries and further that the practice of wasting money seems all too common in the Council. Japan recognized the progress made by Sri Lanka and said that the Governments own initiatives, efforts and commitments are indispensable to achieving real change on the ground. Republic of Korea noted with appreciation the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to promote national reconciliation, reconstruction and prosperity. Sri Lanka is grateful to the countries which withstood pressure by the sponsors and demonstrated their support to Sri Lanka by voting against or abstaining on the vote as well as by speaking in support of Sri Lanka. While delivering the Sri Lanka statement as the country concerned, the Foreign Minister regretted that a draft resolution on Sri Lanka is tabled once again despite the progress made domestically on reconciliation and human rights and Sri Lankas continued constructive engagement with the Council. He outlined Sri Lankas intention to move forward domestically with replacing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with a comprehensive national security legislation, and the introduction of Constitutional amendments and a legal framework to strengthen democratic governance, participation and the rule of law as well as independent institutional oversight. On reconciliation and human rights, Sri Lanka is awaiting the final report of the Presidential Commission and the establishment of a domestic truth-seeking mechanism is under advanced discussion. He also referred to Sri Lankas upcoming engagement with the UPR process. Minister Sabry highlighted that while the resolution may meet the objective of advancing the political considerations of the sponsors, it is manifestly unhelpful to Sri Lanka. The Minister strongly opposed the resolution, particularly the proposal in Operative Paragraph (OP) 8 that seeks to extend and reinforce the so-called external evidence gathering mechanism created by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The mechanism is outside the mandate envisaged for the Council. No sovereign state can accept the superimposition of an external mechanism that runs contrary to its Constitution and which pre-judges the commitment of its domestic legal processes. The Minister also noted that many countries have already raised serious concerns on the budgetary implications of this resolution given its ever-expanding mandate. He further noted that this is an unhelpful and misdirected drain on the resources of all Member States, including the donors in the midst of ongoing global crises. In sharp contrast, he said that we are faced with the dire financial needs of developing countries to prevent hunger and child malnutrition. Foreign Minister Sabry objected to the references in the resolution to matters which are outside the framework of the Council such as domestic economic and financial policy. He further observed that solutions to economic and financial crises faced today by many countries will not be found in the mandate, the instruments or the expertise of the Council. The result of the vote demonstrates that the resolution is another example of the North-South polarization and politicization of the Council, contrary to its founding principles. This vote also demonstrated solidarity among the countries of the South which continued to support the basic founding principles of the Human Rights Council of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity leading to constructive international dialogue and cooperation. The Human Rights Council is comprised of 47 Members, including 13 African states, 13 Asia- Pacific states, 8 Latin American & Caribbean States, 7 Western Europe and Other States, and 6 Eastern European States. Read Full Sri Lanka statement as the country concerned View Media Release PDF Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo 6 October, 2022 New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) A 13-year-old boy from Punjab bunked his classes and cycled all the way to Delhi, covering around 300 km, to meet his favourite YouTuber Nischay Malhan, officials said. Three days later on Friday, police in Delhi traced him to a park in Pitam Pura, where Malhan's house is located, and reunited him with his family in Patiala, they said. Also Read | Jharkhand Man, Found Dead on September 24 in Bengaluru, Was Lynched, Say Police; Arrest Six Accused. The boy's parents had filed a complaint after he went "missing" on October 4. "The case was reported in Patiala. Officials at the Maurya Enclave police station here received information about the boy and also that the YouTuber lives in Pitam Pura," a senior police officer said. Also Read | Amritsar: Gold Worth Rs 17.77 Lakh Seized at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport. Police circulated information about the boy on WhatsApp groups of all Resident Welfare Associations in the area. "Eventually, we came across a CCTV footage which showed him on a bicycle near Malhan's house. A police team followed the route he had taken and found him at the district park in Pitam Pura. He was reunited with his family at around 5 pm today," the officer said. Police said Malhan was in Dubai to attend a family function during the time of the incident. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex ayurveda institute under the Ayush ministry, has signed an MoU with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan to enable both countries to promote research collaboration and build capacities in the field of the Indian ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. The AIST is a reputed and one of the largest public research organisations in Japan, focusing on technologies and "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialisation. Also Read | Punjab Shocker: Man Rapes Minor Neighbour on Finding Her Alone at Home in Ludhiana, Held. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Professor Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, and Dr Tamura Tomohiro, Director General, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, AIST, who was present online, according to a statement issued by the Ayush ministry on Friday. With the signing of the MoU, the AIIA aims to promote its research activities nationally as well as internationally. Also Read | DPSUs Indigenize 72 Items Before Their Original Timelines; Check Details Here. "The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and build capacities in the field of the Indian ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed in support of the Ministry of Ayush," the statement said. The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research in the field of ayurveda, including studies in design and execution, with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, the statement said. The AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany, the Western Sydney University, Australia, the Graz Medical University, Austria, the College of Medical, UK, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey approached the Delhi High Court on Friday, seeking to vacate its earlier order staying the proceedings initiated by the Lokpal against Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren on the basis of his "corruption" complaint. Justice Yashwant Varma asked Soren (75) to file a reply to Dubey's application and listed the case for further hearing on November 10. Also Read | Vande Bharat Express Train Suffers Damage Yet Again Near Ahmedabad, Undergoes 'Nose-Job' After Hitting Cattle on Consecutive Day; Watch Video. Soren had moved the court earlier this year, assailing Dubey's complaint and the Lokpal proceedings against him. On September 12, the court had stayed the Lokpal proceedings against the former Jharkhand chief minister, while opining that the matter required consideration. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: 26-Year-Old Son Arrested for Killing Father Over Property Dispute in Gurugram. "The petitioner (Soren) is granted two weeks' time to respond to the application, which seeks vacation of the interim stay order granted by the court. List it in November," the judge said. Appearing for Dubey, senior advocate A N S Nadkarni said he was seeking vacation of the ex-parte stay order on behalf of the "original complainant". In the complaint made in August 2020, Dubey had claimed that "Soren and his family members acquired huge wealth and properties by misusing the public exchequer and have grossly indulged in corruption". Nadkarni argued that the interim order was passed on the basis of "completely incorrect statements", including that a notice with respect to the filing of the petition was served to him by the petitioner. In his application, Dubey said the proceedings before the Lokpal were at a "very nascent stage" and a stay would lead to the final relief to the petitioner and "erode the public faith in the system". "Respondent no. 1 (Lokpal), during the course of the proceedings, would definitely examine the source, name and method by which the disproportionate assets were acquired.... Admittedly, there is enough evidence and material to show that the petitioner has amassed huge wealth and disproportionate assets beyond his known source of income and therefore, the Hon'ble court should not have come to the rescue of the petitioner at this stage when the respondent no. 1 was in the process of examining and analysing the material available before it," the application filed through advocate Rishi K Awasthi said. In the petition filed through lawyers Pallavi Langar and Vaibhav Tomar, the petitioner said the corruption complaint was "motivated by political vendetta" and in view of the provisions of the Lokpal Act, the authority cannot act on allegations made seven years after the alleged offence was committed. "The complaint is motivated by political vendetta and extraneous considerations, malafide, and designed to malign and harass the petitioner and his family members, who are members of the political party currently in power in the state of Jharkhand, and de-stabilise the state government in this process," the plea said. "The respondent no. 1, under the precincts of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, could not have taken cognizance of the complaint as the complaint itself records that save and except certain properties which admittedly belong to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (a registered political party), none of the properties was acquired within seven years of the date of the complaint. The allegations made against the petitioner in the complaint are ex-facie malicious, false, baseless and frivolous," it claimed. The petition added that these "illegalities and anomalies" vitiate the entire proceedings before the Lokpal and their continuance would be in gross abuse of the process of law and violate the fundamental rights guaranteed and protected under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. "Even as per the preliminary inquiry report submitted by the CBI, enclosing a list of 82 properties, none of the properties attributed to be owned by the petitioner or any of the other individuals mentioned in the report has been acquired within the seven-year period preceding the filing of the complaint," it has asserted. "The petitioner specifically objected to the jurisdiction of the respondent no.1 to inquire or proceed with the matter in his letter dated 01.04.2022 submitted to the respondent no.1. However, by way of the impugned order, the respondent no.1 has directed initiation of proceedings under section 20(3) of the Lokpal Act, and called upon the petitioner for a hearing without dealing with the preliminary objection on the issue of jurisdiction," the plea has said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Asansol (West Bengal) [India], October 7 (ANI): A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday reached Asansol jail to interrogate Saigal Hussain arrested in a cattle smuggling case. Hussain is the personal security guard of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, who has been sent to 14-day judicial custody by the CBI Special Court after he was arrested on August 11 from his residence in Birbhum's Bolpur. Also Read | Ahmedabad: Boy Injures His Private Parts After Falling on Tractor Sidebar While Clicking Selfie. Mondal is a close associate of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Recently on September 16, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided and arrested Mondal's daughter, Sukanya Mondal. Also Read | Kerala Contractor Threatens To Jump From Coconut Tree if Not Paid for His Work, Watch Video. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 21, 2020, arrested a former Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant, in connection with an illegal cattle smuggling case across the Indo-Bangladesh border. Anubrata Mondal's name came under the CBI scanner during the investigation of the case, the agency had said. The main office of the JHM Group in West Bengal's Bentinck street, which belonged to the nephews of Enamul Haque namely Humayun Kabir, Jahangir Alam, and Mehedi Hasan, was also raided in connection with the cattle smuggling case, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) informed. Enamul Haque was arrested by the ED on February 18 and is currently in judicial custody. The total attachment in this case has reached Rs 11.67 crore. Proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 418 crore till now were identified by the ED. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida, Oct 7 (PTI) A criminal wanted in several cases was arrested on Friday after an encounter with police in Noida Filmcity, officials said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Ashutosh Dwivedi said Danish (27) alias Sayar alias Cheeta had over 20 FIRs lodged against him for loot at various police stations in Delhi NCR. Also Read | Apple iPhone 14 Plus Now Available for Sale in India, Check Offers Here. Danish, a shooter of the Chhenu gang, was also wanted in two cases in Noida's Sector 20 police station. "A police check was set up near Brahmaputra Market here on Friday morning and Danish was intercepted. However, he fled the spot. Nearby police posts were alerted about the development," Dwivedi said. Also Read | Ghost in UP College: 63 Girl Inmates Leave Hostel in Jhansi After Seeing Shadows, Experiencing Shaking of Windows and Fluctuating Electricity. "Teams from Brahmaputra Market police post, Atta and Sector 18 posts chased him, leading them to Filmcity in Sector 16A where a gunfight ensued near the power house." Danish opened fire on the police teams in order to escape but he was injured in retaliatory firing, Dwivedi added. A pistol and some ammunition were seized from Danish, who has been taken to a hospital for treatment after he was hit in the leg by a bullet, he said. "The police have also launched a combing operation to track his associate who was with him this morning but escaped. He will also be held soon," the officer said. Further legal proceedings are underway, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Oct 7 (PTI) The Democratic Azad Party on Friday hit out at senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for his swipe at its chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad. Defending Azad's exit from the Congress after a long association of more than five decades, DAP leader Salman Nizami asked what has Ramesh ever done. Also Read | Jharkhand Man, Found Dead on September 24 in Bengaluru, Was Lynched, Say Police; Arrest Six Accused. "Mr Azad laid the building blocks of Cong, faced terror attacks & won elections, ensured party's victory in states like Punjab, AP, Karnataka, J&K. And you parachuted in parliament without winning a sarpanch election. You know why is everyone leaving Cong? Becoz of this attitude (sic)," Nizami tweeted, responding to a Twitter post by Congress general secretary Ramesh. The response came after Ramesh took to the micro-blogging site to say, "He (Azad) is the beneficiary of the Congress Party which over 50 years gave him much more than he deserved and much more beyond his capability." Also Read | Amritsar: Gold Worth Rs 17.77 Lakh Seized at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport. Ramesh's attack on Azad came over a remark by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In an interview to the Daily Excelsior, Shah said, "Everyone has the right to contest, elections are to be fair and free, but one thing is there, Ghulam Nabi Azad is not among the three families." In another tweet, Nizami said, "Mr Azad fought terrorism in Punjab in late 80s & led Congress to victory during Sonia Gandhi's tenure in Karnataka, TN, Pondicherry, Kerala, Uttarakhand, J&K & undivided Andhra Pradesh (as Gen Sec). What has Jairam Ramesh ever done...?" (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea moved by Popular Front of India (PFI) associates who were recently arrested, for not providing an FIR copy to them. The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta on Friday posted the matter for October 10 on the plea of a PFI member arrested during the NIA's raids on September 22, seeking direction to provide a copy of the FIR. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Two Army Personnel Killed in Field Firing Exercise in Babina. The petition has been moved by one Muhammad Yusuf, who was also arrested by NIA during the multiple raids conducted on September 22. Appearing for the Petitioner, Advocate Adit Pujari informed the court that the agency has not provided an FIR copy to the accused despite repeated requests. Recently in a major crackdown against PFI, over 106 PFI members were arrested in multiple raids carried out by a joint team of NIA, ED and state police across 11 states. Also Read | Uttarkashi Avalanche: 10 More Bodies Recovered, Toll Rises to 26. NIA in a press statement issued in regard to searches and arrests across India on Popular Front of India (PFI) stated that the searches were jointly conducted by the ED, NIA and the State Police forces across India. NIA carried out searches in 93 locations of 15 states of India viz Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur. These searches were conducted at the houses and offices of the top PFI leaders and members in connection with five cases registered by NIA following continued inputs and evidence that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations. NIA also said that a large number of criminal cases had been registered by different states over the last few years against the PFI and its leaders and members for their involvement in many violent acts. Criminal violent acts carried out by PFI such as chopping off the hand of a college professor, cold-blooded killings of persons associated with organisations espousing other faiths, collection of explosives to target prominent people and places, support to Islamic State and destruction of public property have had a demonstrative effect of striking terror in the minds of the citizens. Over 106 PFI cadres were arrested on Thursday in a joint operation conducted by the National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and state police forces across 11 states in the country's multiple locations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, the Special Cell of Delhi Police claimed to have cracked the Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali, Punjab and Kurukshetra IED recovery cases. Two persons including a juvenile were apprehended, Delhi Police said on Friday. Both the accused, Arshdeep and a juvenile, were held from Jamnagar in Gujarat. Varanasi, October 7: The Varanasi court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Friday in connection with the plea filed by the Hindu side seeking carbon dating of the structure they claimed to be a 'Shivling' found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque. The court had reserved the order in the Gyanvapi Mosque-Shringar Gauri case on September 29 after hearing both sides' arguments. The bench of Varanasi District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesh will deliver the order. The Hindu side had claimed that a 'Shivling' was found in the premises near the 'wazukhana' during the videography survey of the mosque premises, which was ordered by the court. However, the Muslim side said that the structure found was a 'fountain'. The Hindu side had then submitted an application on September 22 that sought a carbon dating of the object they claimed to be 'Shivling'. Gyanvapi Mosque Case: BJP Worker Receives Beheading Threat in Alwar Over Social Media Post. Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. Besides this case, two more cases which could not be heard on Thursday due to the holiday will be heard today. First, pertaining to the demand from the court to worship the Shivling found in Gyanvapi, a case filed on behalf of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda. The second in connection with the case demanding to hand over the 'Shivling' site found in Gyanvapi to the Hindus. Hearing on both applications is to be held in the court of Senior Civil Judge Kumudlata Tripathi today. Earlier on September 29, the Hindu side demanded a scientific investigation of the 'Shivling' by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the carbon dating of 'Argha' and the area around it. Advocate Vishnu Jain representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid matter said, "The Hindu side demanded that the ASI conduct a scientific investigation of the 'Shivling'. We have also demanded a carbon dating of Argha and the area around it". "Muslim side too presented its side before the Court, they said that carbon dating shouldn't be done. They said that it's a fountain & not a Shivling and it can't be ascertained", added Vishnu Jain. The advocate further added that there is no break-up on the Hindu side, rather all the Hindus demand just one thing that the Shivalinga found should be scientifically investigated without causing any damage to it. Earlier, an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Allahabad High Court which had dismissed a PIL that sought the appointment of a committee/commission under a judge to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque, Varanasi. The appeal filed by seven devotees sought direction from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain the nature of the structure found on the Gyanvapi campus. The Allahabad High Court had on July 19 dismissed their plea seeking the appointment of a committee/commission headed by a judge of the High Court or supreme court (sitting/retired) to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque. Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri Case: Muslim Side Objects to Plea Seeking Carbon Dating of Shivling Found Inside Mosque Premises. The PIL moved before the High Court seeks direction from a committee to ascertain whether a Shivalinga, as claimed by the Hindus, had been found inside the mosque or if it is a fountain as claimed by Muslims. The appeal in the top court stated that the Allahabad High Court had erred in dismissing the plea. On May 20, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case related to worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the District Judge, Varanasi. Earlier on September 12, the Varanasi Court had dismissed a plea of Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi mosque compound. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 7 (ANI): YS Sharmila, YSR Telangana Party president and sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday alleged corruption in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project in Telangana and described it as India's biggest scam. Sharmila alleged that a major part of the money invested in the Rs 80,500-crore project was embezzled. Also Read | West Bengal Shocker: Child Starts E-Rikshaw, Rams It Into Wall While Family Was Busy in Durga Puja Rituals; Dies. Addressing a press conference, Sharmila said, "I am here to highlight the biggest scam in India. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project scam is bigger as it is not just virtual money but also physical money that has cost the exchequer. The tune of money involved is Rs 1.2 Lakh crore." She further claimed that the irrigation project was originally the idea of her father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, but has now been mangled. Also Read | Delhi Police Arrest Two Members of International Terror Module Including Juvenile Tasked To Kill Salman Khan. "Kaleshwaram Project was the brainchild of my father but it has been distorted in every form. Of the Rs 1.2 lakh crore invested in this, around Rs 1 lakh crore came from central financial institutions. We met CBI Director and he assigned a DIG rank officer to look into the corruption: added Sharmila. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in June 2019 inaugurated the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project in Bhupalpally district, billed as the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme. The Project was mired in controversies since its inception. In August 2019, Congress MP from Bhongir, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging a scam of "thousands of crores of rupees" in executing the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Reddy had demanded a detailed inquiry and urged Prime Minister Modi to stop the work immediately and prevent the misuse of the huge amount pertaining to the Government exchequer. He also requested to order for calling tenders for executing the works with transparency. In October 2020, the National Green Tribunal held that the environmental clearances granted to the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project in Telangana were in violation of the law and directed to constitute an expert committee to assess the extent of damage and identify the restoration measures necessary. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation (KLIP) Project was constructed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL). B Srinivas Reddy, Director, MEIL had told ANI that Project was engineered to cater irrigation water to 37.08 lakh acres of land; another 18.82 lakh acres of command area was be stabilized with it. The project requires 7,152 MW of electricity to pump 3 TMCs of water daily. With an estimated cost of Rs 80,500 crore, the KLIP is the costliest irrigation project taken up by a state. It is designed to benefit farmers in the district of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Oct 7 (PTI) The body of a 21-year-old man, who went missing on Bijaya Dashami evening after he left his home in Kolkata, was found in Magrahat in South 24 Parganas district, officials said on Friday. The recovery of the body of Ayan Mondal led to protests by his neighbours outside the Haridevpur police station in the southwestern part of the city, alleging inaction by the police. Also Read | Vande Bharat Express Train Suffers Damage Yet Again Near Ahmedabad, Undergoes 'Nose-Job' After Hitting Cattle on Consecutive Day; Watch Video. Mondal had allegedly left his house on Wednesday to meet a female friend and went missing thereafter. A missing complaint was filed with the police station on Thursday after he did not return home, Mondal's relatives claimed. Also Read | ED Attaches Rs 1.54 Crore Worth Assets in Money Laundering Case Against Amnesty India. The family members were on Friday taken to Magrahat, where the body was identified as that of him, officials said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], October 7 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the northeast, on Friday said that the region was only considered a "tourist destination" before Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. Shah noted that the "real development" of the northeast began only after Modi took over the office of the Prime Minister in 2014. Also Read | Court Asked Us to Clarify on Two Points Whether the Structure Found Inside #GyanvapiCase Latest Tweet by ANI UP/Uttarakhand. The remarks of the Home Minister came at a Cooperative Dairy Conclave- 2022 of Eastern and North-eastern regions. "In 75 years of independence, before Narendra Modi became the PM, the northeast was considered only a tourist destination. After he became the PM, the real development of the northeast began," Shah said. Also Read | Adampur Assembly By-Election 2022: AAP Fields Satender Singh for Bypoll Next Month. The Home Minister said that PM Modi-led government has decided to set up 65,000 active Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). "Narendra Modi govt has decided to set up around 65,000 active PACS. We've decided that within five years every panchayat will have one PACS and a dairy each," he said. Earlier today, reached Sikkim's Gangtok on Friday to inaugurate the Eastern and North-Eastern Zones Dairy Cooperative Conclave 2022. People were seen on both sides of the road to welcome the Home Minister with the national flag in hand. Sharing a video of the same, Shah tweeted, "Grateful to the people of Sikkim for such a warm reception in Gangtok. I am overwhelmed." He inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok. State Governor Ganga Prasad was also present on the occasion. Earlier today, he tweeted, "Leaving for the Northeast on my 3-day visit to Sikkim and Assam. Today will inaugurate the "Eastern and North-Eastern Zones Dairy Cooperative Conclave 2022" at Gangtok followed by a series of programs in Assam." Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda will also arrive in the Northeast today to inaugurate the party's biggest office in the region. According to Assam State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, the top leaders of the party will inaugurate the newly constructed Assam state BJP office at the Basistha area of Guwahati on Saturday, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state party leaders. Nadda and Shah will also attend the party workers' meeting at the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara in Guwahati. Official sources said Shah will attend a series of official meetings on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The Union Home Minister will attend the Conference of the Superintendent of Police at the Police Training College at Dergaon on Sunday and will then depart from the state on Sunday following several official engagements. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, Oct 7 (PTI) With formulation of an Annual Work Plan (AWP) worth Rs 85.85 crore for continuing anti-terrorism operations in the state during 2022-23, the Odisha government has decided to increase the amount of ex-gratia for next of the kin of both civilians and security personnel killed in LWE violence. The amount of ex-gratia grant for civilians and security personnel on duty has been enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh respectively, a senior official said after attending the State Level Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra on Friday. Also Read | Punjab Shocker: Man Rapes Minor Neighbour on Finding Her Alone at Home in Ludhiana, Held. The fund provision of Rs 85.85 crore for AWP-2022-23 was about 50 per cent more than that of the AWP-2021-22, the official said. The AWP-2021-22 was rolled out with budget outlay of around Rs 50.56 crore. The funds for AWP 2022-23 would be shared by both the Central and state governments on 60:40 sharing basis, he said. In the meeting the chief secretary asked the Home department to provide adequate logistic support to armed forces engaged in anti-terrorist operations. Also Read | DPSUs Indigenize 72 Items Before Their Original Timelines; Check Details Here. As per the provision, the main activities under AWP-2022-23 include procurement of modern ammunition, adequate logistic support to armed forces, training for state police force, community policing, additional fortification of the police posts, and rehabilitation of LWE cadres. Besides, the affected civilians and security personnel would be extended ex-gratia grant and property damage grant as per the specified guidelines, he said. Meanwhile, the meeting discussed the significant improvement in curtailing of left wing extremism (LWE) activities in the state. The chief secretary also directed the concerned authorities to intensify community mobilisation and confidence building activities in the suspected left wing infected pockets. He specifically directed to stay connected with the people and community, know their concerns and raise their confidence level. Mohapatra also directed to support better alternative livelihood activities, and children education in the communities. He said, "People's confidence and participation would go a long way in rooting out of LWE activities from the suspected pockets". The meeting observed that there has been significant improvement in the LWE situation in Swabhiman Anchal, formerly known as Odisha's Maoist den in Malkangiri district. The situation could change due to both developmental activities and the deployment of security forces in the area, he said. "Well planned intelligence based actions were being taken to counter them as and where their ugly hands appear," a senior official engaged in anti-Maoist operation said. Director General of Police Sunil Kumar Bansal, Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjeev Chopra, IGP Operations Amitabh Thakur and other officials attended the meeting. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 7 (ANI): Police recovered the body of a woman who was allegedly killed on suspicion of an illicit relationship, six months ago, Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, said the police on Thursday. The police recovered the woman's body from the courtyard behind the accused's house. Also Read | Delhi: Girl Among 5 Teenagers Apprehended in Separate Murder Cases. "We were informed by a man that his elder brother, along with a few other family members, had killed his wife six months ago on suspicion of an illicit relationship. Police reached the spot and recovered the woman's body from the courtyard behind the accused's house," Sambhal Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra told ANI. "The body has been sent for a DNA test and further probe. The husband of the deceased and another family member were arrested. Further investigation is underway," he added. (ANI) Also Read | Agra Fire: Over 650 Coolers Destroyed As Blaze Engulfs Factory in Nangla Kaale; No Casualties Reported. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun, Oct 7 (PTI) YouTuber Bobby Kataria was on Friday granted bail after he surrendered in a local court here in a public drinking case, having been on the run for nearly two months. A video of Kataria consuming liquor in the middle of a road in Uttarakhand had gone viral on social media. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: One Dead, Several Hospitalised Due to Suspected Food Poisoning at Baby Shower Ceremony in Tiruvarur. The court of ACJM II Sanjay Kumar granted bail to Kataria after he furnished a personal bond of Rs 25,000. Kataria, who lives in Gurugram, came to court with a battery of lawyers from Delhi. A video of Kataria in which he was seen sitting in a small chair in the middle of a road and drinking liquor in full public view while a song played in the background had gone viral in August. Also Read | Uttarkashi Avalanche: 26 Bodies Recovered So Far, Three Still Missing. He was booked under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 336 (act which endangers human life or the personal safety of others), 290 (public nuisance) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the IT Act after the video evoked strong reactions on social media. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, October 7 (PTI) The Delhi University has added a new tab on its admission website to provide real-time instantaneous data and information of the programmes and college preferences that the candidates are opting for. The new tab College-program wise preference count' will help candidates see how many aspirants have opted for a particular programme in a college. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Two Congress MLAs Booked for Harassing Woman on Rewanchal Express Train. The tab also displays that the data is updated every two hours. The university in a statement said the new feature is available on the dashboard of the candidates as well as on the admission website and it will help the candidates seeking admission to the varsity. Also Read | Retail Jobs in India De-Grows 12 Percent Amid Record Festive Sales: Report. The varsity officials have also raised concerns over candidates not adequately optimising the provisions of available preferences offered to them by the university "While providing their preferences, the candidates are opting for far less number of choices despite being eligible for many such choices. For example, if a candidate has been provided with 1469 programme plus college preferences by the university, he/she must select all the combinations to benefit maximally from the allocation rounds," the statement said. On September 26, the university commenced the second phase of the admission process for undergraduate programmes to allow candidates to choose their programme and college combination preferences. Phase I, which started on September 12, and Phase II will remain open till October 10. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores will also be required in both phases. "It must be noted that the Phase I and Phase II of Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) will auto-lock the preferences saved by the candidate on October 10, 2022 at 04:59 p.m," the university mentioned. The university launched an online platform for seeking admission through CSAS-2022 last month. The admission process, which began on September 12, is being conducted in three phases: The first phase is to apply to the university, the second phase is preference filling and the third phase is seat allotment-cum-admission. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Days after four members of an Indian-origin Sikh family were found dead in California, India on Friday described it as "shocking" and said its mission in San Francisco is following up on the matter with local authorities. "We are aware of the incident. Local police authorities are actively probing the matter. Our mission in San Francisco is following up on it," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Also Read | Vande Bharat Express Train Suffers Damage Yet Again Near Ahmedabad, Undergoes 'Nose-Job' After Hitting Cattle on Consecutive Day; Watch Video. "It is in touch with the family. We will provide whatever assistance we can extend..It is a shocking incident," he added. Bagchi made the remarks at a media briefing when asked about the incident. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: 26-Year-Old Son Arrested for Killing Father Over Property Dispute in Gurugram. The four members of the family were kidnapped by an armed man in California earlier this week and they have been found dead in a rural orchard, local authorities said. The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped from their newly-opened trucking business in Merced County, California, on Monday. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) India on Friday said the situation in eastern Ladakh has not returned to the stage of full normalcy as some steps are yet to be taken for it. The comments of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came days after Chinese envoy Sun Weidong claimed that the situation in eastern Ladakh is "overall stable" as the two sides have moved from the "emergency response" that followed the Galwan valley clashes in June 2020 to "normalised" management. Also Read | DPSUs Indigenize 72 Items Before Their Original Timelines; Check Details Here. "Some steps are required for full normalcy, we have not reached there," Bagchi said when asked about the Chinese ambassador's remarks. The MEA spokesperson said India has been maintaining that it expects disengagement followed by de-escalation for the return of normalcy on the border, which could pave the way for normal ties between the two neighbouring countries. Also Read | EC Asks Uddhav Thackeray to Response Eknath Shinde Group's Claim on Poll Symbol. "We have not reached there.... I would not like to say that the situation is normal. There have been some positive steps, but some steps are yet to be taken," he said. Bagchi also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks last month that the disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in eastern Ladakh was "one problem less" on the border. Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Tuesday said the benchmark for the situation to become normal in eastern Ladakh would be to return to status quo ante prior to the standoff and a complete withdrawal of troops from all friction points. Though the two sides have disengaged from Patrolling Point 15 (PP-15), there has been no progress yet on resolving the standoff in the Demchok and Depsang regions. Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, India has been consistently maintaining that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is key for the overall development of its ties with China and the state of the border will determine the state of the bilateral relationship. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. The disengagement in the Pangong lake area took place in February last year, while the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Patrolling Point 17(A) in Gogra took place in August last year. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Six Indian prisoners have died in Pakistani custody in the last nine months, Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday describing the situation "alarming". Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that all the six prisoners had completed their sentences in Pakistani jails but they were illegally kept in detention by Pakistan. The MEA also requested the Pakistan government to release and repatriate all Indian prisoners immediately. "This is an ongoing problem but what we understand is that there have been an increasing number of deaths of fishermen in recent times. Six Indian prisoners, I think five of them were fishermen, have died in Pakistani custody in the last 9 months. All six, interestingly, had completed their sentences but they were illegally detained by Pakistan inspite of multiple demands from the Indian side of release and repatriation," said MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. "This increasing incidents of death of Indian prisoners is alarming and raises the question of their safety and security in Pakistani jails. The matter has been raised by our High Commission in Islamabad as well as with the Pakistani High Commission here," Bagchi added. Reiterating the Indian demand to release of Indian prisoners, the MEA spokesperson said that Pakistan is duty-bound to ensure the safety and security of all Indian prisoners in its custody. "We request the Pakistan government to once again release and repatriate all Indian prisoners immediately," he said. On July 1 this year, Pakistan shared a list of 682 Indian prisoners, including fishermen, lodged in various jails of Pakistan, while India also shared a similar list of 461 Pakistani prisoners in Indian custody which also includes terrorists. This was done as part of a routine practice between the two countries under the provisions of a 2008 agreement. UNI ASU SHK1854 Chennai, Oct 7 (PTI) DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin is all set to be elected unanimously again as party chief, while he filed his nomination papers on Friday to contest organisational election for the top position. Also Read | Punjab Shocker: Man Rapes Minor Neighbour on Finding Her Alone at Home in Ludhiana, Held. Stalin, who visited Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters here, submitted his papers for the key position. He would be elected unopposed at the party's general council meeting here on October 9, party sources said. Also Read | DPSUs Indigenize 72 Items Before Their Original Timelines; Check Details Here. Senior leaders including party's general secretary and State Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, treasurer T R Baalu were present when Stalin submitted his papers. As part of the DMK's 15th organisational polls, party president, general secretary, treasurer and 4 members to the party's audit panel are set to elected at the party's newly constituted general council, following elections to party posts, at various levels, across the state. The 69-year old Chief Minister was elected unanimously as party president in 2018 following the demise of party patriarch, M Karunanidhi. Stalin is the second president of the DMK. Karunanidhi became the first president of the DMK in 1969 and it was for the first time the post of president was created in the party. C N Annadurai, the DMK founder was the party general secretary, the top post till his demise in 1969. Stalin, the younger son of Karunanidhi, has held several party posts, including that of DMK treasurer and youth wing secretary. The Chief Minister paid floral tributes at the memorials of DMK icons, Annadurai and Karunanidhi before arriving at the party office to file his nomination papers. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Diphu (Assam), Oct 7 (PTI) Security forces arrested two women from Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Friday for allegedly carrying drugs worth Rs 50 lakh, police said. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the district police, CRPF and railway police personnel seized the drugs from two women who were waiting at the Bokajan railway station to board the Mariani Express, the police said. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: 26-Year-Old Son Arrested for Killing Father Over Property Dispute in Gurugram. The security forces seized 246.95 gm of heroin hidden in 20 soap boxes from their possession. The arrested women hailed from Merapani in Assam's Golaghat district and Dimapur in Nagaland, the police added. Also Read | Odisha: 22-Year-Old Man Drowns During Durga Puja Idol Immersion in Salandi River in Bhadrak. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jalna, Oct 7 (PTI) The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) was keen on forging an alliance with the Congress and the Shiv Sena for the upcoming local bodies elections in Maharashtra, but both parties have not responded to the offer, party chief Prakash Ambedkar said on Friday. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: 14 Arrested for Thrashing Three 'Sadhus' on Suspicion of Being Child Abductors in Durg. Speaking to reporters here, Ambedkar said the VBA does not want to have a tie-up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and will fight the elections alone. Also Read | Vande Bharat Express Train Suffers Damage Yet Again Near Ahmedabad, Undergoes 'Nose-Job' After Hitting Cattle on Consecutive Day; Watch Video. "We sent a proposal to the Sena and Congress, but both the parties have not responded, which means they don't want to forge an alliance with the VBA," the party chief said. Ambedkar accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) of having an agenda to replace the country's Constitution. Though we have some differences with the Shiv Sena on some issues, the party does not talk about replacing the Constitution," he claimed. Earlier, Ambedkar addressed the VBA's meet and reviewed the party's preparation for the local bodies polls. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed to allow conversion of regular vehicle registrations into Bharat Series (BH) numbers as part of measures to widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem. At present, only new vehicles can opt for BH series mark. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: One Dead, Several Hospitalised Due to Suspected Food Poisoning at Baby Shower Ceremony in Tiruvarur. In a draft notification, the MoRTH informed about the proposed amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark which was launched for people who are in transferable jobs. Among other changes, the transfer of vehicles with BH series registration mark to other persons, who are eligible or ineligible for BH series, has been facilitated, according to the notification. Also Read | Uttarkashi Avalanche: 26 Bodies Recovered So Far, Three Still Missing. "Vehicles currently having regular registration mark can also be converted to BH series registration mark subject to payment of requisite tax, to facilitate persons who subsequently become eligible for BH series registration mark," it said. The ministry has also proposed the amendment in rule 48 to provide flexibility to submit application for BH series either at the place of residence or place of work with a view to providing further ease of life to citizen. It also said that the Working Certificate to be submitted by private sector employees has been further strengthened to prevent misuse. To ensure seamless transfer of personal vehicles across states, last year in September, the road transport ministry had come up with a new registration mark for new vehicles - Bharat Series (BH series). In this regard, the government had notified a new vehicle registration regime that will free vehicle owners from re-registration process when they shift from one state/union territory to another. "This vehicle registration facility under 'Bharat series (BH series)' will be available on voluntary basis to defense personnel, employees of central government/ state government/ central/ state public sector undertakings and private sector companies/organisations, which have their offices in four or more states/union territories," MoRTH had said in a statement. So far, 24 states and UTs have rolled out the new Bharat Series (BH-series) for vehicle registration and so far over 20,000 vehicles have been registered across the states. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chittanahalli (Karnataka), Oct 7 (PTI) "Why can't a 75-year-old 'young man' have fun," quipped senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday as he danced to the beats of drums during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra here. Singh walked over 20 kilometres during the day as he and other Congress members passed through Mandya district in rural Karnataka. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Practicing Witchcraft Sacrifices 7-Year-Old Son in Banka; Arrested. His short jig with local artistes came a day after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi sprinted a short distance with veteran leader Siddaramaiah during the yatra on Thursday. "Why can't a 75 year old young man have fun!! Yesterday you saw 75 year Siddaramaiah running with Rahul ji!! For Men, you are as old as you feel and if we feel we are young why not," Singh tweeted along with his dance video. Also Read | Delhi High Court Agrees To Allow Sikh Candidates Wear Kara, Kirpan for Government Exams. Singh has been a part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from the first day in Kanyakumari and has been walking since then, except when he went to Delhi for the nomination process of the Congress presidential election. The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister had expressed his desire to contest the election but later became a proposer for Mallikarjun Kharge. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Oct 7 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday invited Tata group to participate in the Global Investors Summit slated for February next year while highlighting the environment created by the state for attracting investment. According to an official release, the chairman of industrial group Tata Sons, N. Chandrasekaran made a courtesy call on the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at his official residence here during which discussions were held regarding future investment plans of Tata Sons in various areas of the state. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Practicing Witchcraft Sacrifices 7-Year-Old Son in Banka; Arrested. Referring to state government plans to organize the Global Investors Summit in February 2023, the CM invited Tata Sons to participate in it. In the last five years, the state government has created a better environment for investment and entrepreneurship in the state by undertaking extensive reforms in various sectors, the CM stressed. Also Read | Delhi High Court Agrees To Allow Sikh Candidates Wear Kara, Kirpan for Government Exams. Appreciating the efforts for holistic development of Uttar Pradesh N. Chandrasekaran said that a favorable environment has been created for industrial investment in the state. The Global Investors Summit is a good opportunity and the Tata Group will ensure its participation. The Tata Group has a significant presence in diverse sectors including Hospitality, IT & Electronics, Automobiles, Software, Medical, Aviation and is keen to participate in the development of the country's largest state, Uttar Pradesh, Chandrasekaran was quoted as saying in the release. Appreciating the better infrastructure in the state, he also appreciated the policies of the state government in terms of ease of doing business, the release added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover on Friday reported a 4.9 per cent decline in retail sales at 88,121 units in the second quarter ended on September 30, 2020. The company had posted retail sales of 92,710 units in the same quarter previous fiscal. Also Read | DPSUs Indigenize 72 Items Before Their Original Timelines; Check Details Here. Sales of the Jaguar brand were at 17,340 units in the second quarter as against 19,248 units in the year-ago period, down 9.9 per cent. Similarly, sales of Land Rover brand were down 3.65 per cent at 70,781 units as compared to 73,462 units in the same quarter a year ago. Also Read | Google Pixel Tablet With Tensor G2 Chipset To Arrive in 2023. While there was improvement in sales in the second quarter, it remained constrained by semiconductor shortages, the company said in a statement. "The company continues to see strong demand for its products, with global retail orders again setting new records in the quarter," it said adding, as on September 30, 2022, the total order book has grown to 2.05 lakh units, up around 5,000 orders from June 30, 2022. Demand for the new Range Rover, new Range Rover Sport and Defender remained strong, accounting for over 1.45 lakh of the 2.05 lakh orders, it added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) San Francisco, October 7: A 74-year-old Indian-American man has been arrested in the US state of California, for fatally shooting his daughter-in-law at a parking lot possibly out of anger over her plans to divorce his son, according to a media report. Sital Singh Dosanjh killed his daughter-in-law Gurpreet Kaur Dosanjh last week in the South San Jose parking lot of the Walmart where she worked, the East Bay Times reported. A police investigation that led to the arrest of Sital revealed that the victim was on the phone on Friday telling her uncle about her fear that Sital was looking for her, it said. She also reportedly told her uncle that she saw Sital driving in the lot, indicating that he travelled 150 miles (IN KMS) to find her, the report added. Indian-American Man Shoots Dead Daughter-in-Law at Walmart Parking Lot in San Jose, Arrested. The uncle told police that her niece sounded frightened and that Sital was approaching her car, where she was taking a break from work. That was the last thing the uncle said he heard before the phone call disconnected. Five hours later, a Walmart co-worker discovered Gurpreet's body in the same lot, in the same car, suffering from at least two gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the report added. According to the police summary, Gurpreet's uncle told investigators that his niece was in the process of divorcing (the) suspect's son, and that the husband and his father lived in Fresno. Gurpreet lived in San Jose, according to the investigation. As homicide detectives and other officers were investigating the shooting, the victim's uncle, who was the last person to hear his niece alive, drove from the Central Valley and arrived at the crime scene. Police said he helped investigators formally identify Sital Dosanjh as the likely suspect. Indian-Origin Family Murdered in US: Suspect in Killing of Sikh Family in California Once Worked for Them, Says Relative. The next morning, Sital was arrested at his home in Fresno. During a search of the residence, police seized a .22-caliber Beretta pistol, according to a police investigative summary accompanying a murder charge filed Wednesday by Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. Sital was transported to the Main Jail in San Jose, where he has been held without bail. During his arraignment in a San Jose courtroom Wednesday, he was clad in a red jumpsuit reserved for high-security inmates, had a blue surgical mask over his face and did not speak. He did not enter a plea and was ordered to return to court on November 14. Detectives found that surveillance video showed that Sital's black Silverado pickup truck was seen entering the parking lot, driving up near his daughter-in-law's car, and then leaving the lot. The detectives also determined that license plate reading cameras in Gilroy, surveillance cameras on Pacheco Pass, and Sital Dosanjh's cell phone records charted his drive back to Fresno over the next few hours. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) San Francisco, Oct 7 (PTI) At least 14 Hindu women in the US state of California have been attacked by a man who also ripped their jewellery in a spate of hate crimes, authorities said. According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, 37-year-old Lathan Johnson reportedly targeted older Hindu women and tore necklaces off their necks during a two-month crime spree that began in June. Also Read | Indian-Origin Sikh Family Murder Case: Suspect Jesus Manuel Salgado Arrested by Police. Johnson, a Palo Alto resident, stole necklaces from his victims before making off in a getaway vehicle. He also hurt the women in the process, particularly those between 50 and 73, reported ABC7 News. He was accused of forcefully removing jewellery from the necks of the women. In one such instance, he reportedly pushed a woman to the ground before punching her husband in the face, ripping off her necklace, and jumping inside a getaway car. In another such case, a woman's wrist was broken during the attack, the report added. Also Read | US Shocker: 74-Year-Old Indian-American Man Kills Daughter-in-Law in California Over Divorce Plan With His Son; Arrested. Johnson was apprehended by the Santa Clara Police Department and the US Marshal's Office, although the Milpitas Police Department was the first to link him to the crimes. He was connected to a getaway car by them. If convicted, Johnson will face a maximum jail term of 63 years. The next hearing in the case will take place on November 4. All of the stolen necklaces are estimated to be worth roughly USD 35,000. The District Attorney's office stated that almost all the victims were wearing a saree, bindi, or other types of ethnic attire when they were attacked. The majority of the incidents, which began in June, occurred in San Jose, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. Jeff Rosen, the district attorney for Santa Clara County, said he is committed to seeking punishment for anyone who attacked others because of their nationality or ethnicity. Rosen said, I say to our South Asian community that anyone who targets and attacks you will be arrested and dealt with the utmost severity under our law. Rosen also stated that the treasured diversity of Santa Clara County is not a criminal opportunity but rather a strength and superpower. We are facing an uptick in hate crimes and online Hinduphobia. Seeing that we're making progress in prosecuting to the fullest, sends a strong message, said Samir Kalra, a member of the Hindu American Foundation. The Santa Clara District Attorney's Office had earlier filed robbery and hate crime charges against a group of men in late 2021 after they allegedly preyed on Asian women while on a rampage of purse snatching. Those proceedings are still pending. (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], October 7 (ANI): Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday (local time) held a meeting with the leadership of World Bank's International Finance Corporation in Washington DC. "Pleasure to join Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing and Urban Affairs @HardeepSPuri's meeting with leadership of @WorldBank Group @IFC_org on climate resilient infrastructure & opportunities in urban dev & energy sectors," Indian Ambassador to US TS Sandhu said in a tweet. Also Read | Greece: 17 Dead As Migrant Boat Sinks off Coasts of Lesvos Island in Aegean Sea; Watch Video. Puri arrived in Washington DC on Thursday morning. He is expected to have a few closed-door meetings for the day and also expected to be present at a reception in India House. Top officials from the Biden administration are also likely to attend the reception. The Union Minister is in the United States to attend ministerial dialogue of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP). Also Read | India Believes in Mutual Dialogue and Diplomacy To Solve Food, Energy Security Crisis, Says Om Birla. A ministerial dialogue of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP) will be held on Friday in the United States, he said on Wednesday. The dialogue is part of an official and business delegation visit to Washington DC and Houston, USA, from October 6-11 being led by Puri. In Washington DC, the Minister will co-chair the USISCEP on October 7 with Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, USA. The revamped USISCEP was launched in accordance with US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden at the Leaders' Summit on Climate held in April 2021. The partnership continues to advance energy security and innovation; scaling up emerging clean energy technologies; and deploying technical solutions through five pillars-- Responsible Oil and Gas Pillar, Power and Energy Efficiency Pillar, Renewable Energy Pillar, Sustainable Growth Pillar, and Emerging Fuels and technologies. The Minister will interact with World Bank Officials on Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure. He will also participate in two executive roundtables with USA India Business Council in Washington D.C. and with USA India Strategic Partnership Forum in Houston. The Minister will also hold discussions with CEOs of US-based energy companies. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Record Number to Participate in Wyoming Latina Youth Conference Oct. 14-15 at UW Latinos are the fastest-growing population in Wyoming, and education is important to that portion of the Cowboy States community, especially female students. That is why University of Wyoming Professor Cecilia CC Aragon knows the impact the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference (WLYConference) has had on the states pre-teen and high school-age Latina students. It is well known that women are the change makers in our culture, Aragon says. Latinos have had the most demographic gains of any other group measured, reaching nearly a consistent 10 percent or more of Wyomings population share over the last three decades, especially in areas such as Jackson Hole, Rawlins, Green River, Rock Springs, Laramie, Cheyenne and Casper. A record 325 Latina students -- representing 22 schools in nearly a dozen Wyoming communities -- will attend this falls WLYConference Oct. 14-15 on the UW campus. The annual conference features a welcome dinner banquet; cultural performances; educational workshops focused on arts, humanities, financial literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields; and informational presentations on mental and physical well-being. The theme of this years conference is Exploring the 5Cs of Leadership in the 21st Century: Connections, Community, Conservation, Creativity and Compassion. The keynote speaker is Guillermina Gina Nunez-Mchiri, an applied anthropologist who promotes service learning and engaged scholarship efforts on the U.S.-Mexico border. She is a new dean at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley and is author of the book Community Engagement and High Impact Practices in Higher Education. Now in its 22nd year, the WLYConference is open to all Wyoming fifth through 12th grade students who are Latinx, Hispanic, Indigenous, Afro-Latinx and mixed-blooded female identifying. In 2016, the WLYConference was instituted and transferred from the governors office to UW as an educational pipeline program. In 2022, it officially became the Wyoming Latina Youth Center (WLYCenter), with many programs offered, including those focused on college leadership, outdoor education, translation, community engagement and service learning in the state. The annual conference is housed within the new WLYCenter -- a nonprofit organization focused on empowering young Latinas through mentorship, leadership and academic success. Funding for the center on the UW campus is provided through a significant grant from the Rockefeller Foundation awarded to Aragon. The grant provides funding for undergraduate and graduate work-study students and interns, and it supports travel for UW students for professional development, graduate school applications and professional conferences. A faculty associate director, social media/digital marketing specialist and an outdoor coordinator have been hired through the Rockefeller Foundation award. Since 2016, the WLYCenter has helped between 15-25 young Latinas enroll each fall semester as UW freshmen. The center has helped an additional 15-25 Latinx transfer students adjust to UW campus life. We are following their progress at UW. They become our WLYConference college leaders/mentors throughout their four years of college, Aragon says. Their education rates are enormous. We are proud to say that 98 percent of our students who participate in the center and in the conference graduate from UW. The center seeks to address critical issues related to the Latina education pipeline and to provide resources and recommendations to improve educational access and opportunities for Wyoming Latina students, says Aragon, who is a professor of theater and dance and Latina/o studies, and faculty affiliate in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the College of Education. She adds that Latino schooling in the U.S. and in Wyoming has long been characterized by high dropout rates and low college completion rates, noting that this attainment gap is due to lack of resources and financial support. The cultural aspect is that women change the mindset in the culture, and they are now placing a higher value on education as part of the cultural wealth and cultural aspirations -- to finish high school and get a degree in higher education, Aragon says. Overall, in Wyoming, Latinos say that a college education is important for getting ahead in life. Latina girls are one of the fastest-growing groups in the country and, specifically, in Wyoming. She adds that the annual conference strives to successfully move through the critical transitions between middle school, high school, college and graduate school. Each year, the program provides information to high school juniors and seniors on how to fill out a college application, including availability of scholarships and how to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Since the conference was founded in 2000, Aragon says it has produced a significant number of UW graduates who have completed masters degrees and doctoral programs -- several who have completed law school and medical programs. For more information, email Aragon at ccaragon@uwyo.edu. Jakarta [Indonesia], October 7 (ANI): Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh met his South Korean counterpart, Kim Young Joo, in Indonesia's Parliament while attending the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta. As per the statement of Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha's office, during the meeting, the Deputy Speaker of Korea emphasized the importance of the overall relationship between India and the Republic of Korea. Also Read | Indian-American Man Shoots Dead Daughter-in-Law at Walmart Parking Lot in San Jose, Arrested. Deputy Chairman Harivansh spoke about the 'special strategic partnership' between the two countries. He also underlined the need to not only maintain but further enhance the frequency and level of contact between the legislatures of the two countries. Harivansh reminded his counterpart of the long history of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Also Read | US President Joe Biden Warns of Vladimir Putin's Nuclear Threat, Says Biggest Risk of Armageddon Since Cuban Missile Crisis. He recounted the princess of Ayodhya marrying Kim Suro of Gaya confederacy in 48 A.D. He also spoke of the positive role of India in Korea's independence, holding free and fair elections in the Republic of Korea and resolving the humanitarian issues arising out of conflict. Harivansh took the opportunity to assure Kim Young Joo of all possible assistance for his proposed visit to India in the near future. Earlier, on Thursday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the Presiding Officers of G-20 Parliaments on the theme "Effective Parliament, Vibrant Democracy," where he said that the Russia-Ukraine crisis has adversely affected food and energy security in the world and India firmly believes that such conflicts should be resolved through mutual dialogue and diplomacy. "It is in this spirit that India has called for supporting multilateralism for global peace and stability so that we can unite to address the challenges facing the world and find solutions in accordance with the aspirations of the people," Birla added. Birla said that the global instability caused by COVID-19 had created a food and energy security crisis worldwide. "This has significantly increased concerns regarding food and energy security for developing countries and weaker sections of society," he added. Om Birla and Harivansh reached Jakarta on Wednesday and were welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Manoj Bharti. Speaker Birla and the Indian parliamentary party welcomed the P-20 summit being held in Indonesia. The organization of the parliaments of G-20 countries is P-20. It represents 80 per cent of the world's GDP and 75 per cent of trade. It also represents two-thirds of the world's population. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New York [US], October 7 (ANI): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed condolences over the mass shooting massacre that took place at a child care centre in Thailand and said that he is "profoundly saddened" by the "heinous" incident. "I'm profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare centre in Thailand. Learning centres should be spaces where children feel safe, never targeted. My condolences to the victims' loved ones & the people of Thailand," Guterres tweeted. Also Read | Greece: 17 Dead As Migrant Boat Sinks off Coasts of Lesvos Island in Aegean Sea; Watch Video. A mass shooting took place on October 6 at the Child Development Center in Uthaisawan Na Klang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province. Earlier, The United States condemned the massacre that took place at a child care centre in Thailand. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement said that the US was "horrified" by the tragic shooting at the day care in Thailand. Also Read | India Believes in Mutual Dialogue and Diplomacy To Solve Food, Energy Security Crisis, Says Om Birla. Extending support, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that America is ready to assist its ally Thailand in the wake of the present tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, where a gunman took the lives of at least 38 people, including 24 children. This violence is both senseless and heartbreaking. We stand with the people of Thailand and extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones today. The United States is ready to assist our Thai allies in the wake of this tragedy," he said in the statement. The fatalities in a massacre rose to 38, including 24 children. The attacker was identified as Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former policeman who killed himself immediately after the attack. A statement from the Prime Minister's office as reported by CNN said: "The (Thailand) prime minister has expressed his condolences on the shooting incident." Earlier, the prime minister's office had urged all the securities officials to catch the culprit.Gun ownership in Thailand is relatively high compared with other countries in Southeast Asia. Mass shootings in the country are rare but in 2020 also, an incident saw a soldier killing 29 people in a shooting spree that began at a military site and then sent shoppers hunting for cover after the gunman entered a mall, reported CNN. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Durg, October 7: At least 14 persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on three men dressed as sadhus on suspicion of being child abductors in Chhattisgarh's Durg district earlier this week, police said on Friday. The accused were apprehended based on videos of the incident that took place in Charoda town under Bhilai police station limits on Wednesday, Durg Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said. Haryana Shocker: 26-Year-Old Son Arrested for Killing Father Over Property Dispute in Gurugram. At least 30 to 35 persons, who were seen thrashing the men dressed as sadhus (religious ascetics) in the videos, have been identified and more arrests will be made in the case soon, he said. The victims, Rajbir Singh (28), Shyam Singh (23) and Aman Singh (28), were seen speaking to some children at a Dussehra fair, which raised suspicion in local residents, the official said. Suspecting them to be members of a gang that abducts children, a mob gathered there and thrashed the trio. The police soon reached the spot, rescued the three men and brought the situation under control, he said. The trio was shifted to a local hospital and discharged after preliminary treatment, the official said. The victims were natives of Rajasthan, but did not carry any identification documents, Pallava said, adding they were allowed to leave after questioning. Bihar Shocker: Three of Family Injured in Acid Attack in Rohtas. An FIR (first information report) under sections 294 (obscene acts), 506 (criminal intimidation ), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 147 (rioting) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and 30 people were detained for questioning, the official said. The Durg police have appealed to people not to react to rumours about child lifting with violence and take law into their own hands. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, October 7: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea by sacked Mumbai top cop Sachin Waze challenging a sanction order to prosecute him under UAPA in relation to the Antilia bomb scare case and said it has no territorial jurisdiction. The Division Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Anish Dayal on Friday dismissed the plea of Waze. He had approached the Delhi High Court for quashing the prosecution sanction granted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against him. Delhi High Court Dismissed a Plea Moved by Mumbai's Former Cop Sachin Waze Challenging. The bench while passing the order said the plea is rejected for lack of territorial jurisdiction. Earlier, Senior Advocate, Puneet Bali appeared for the petitioner and argued that the Delhi High Court has the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the said Petition in view of Article 226(2) of the Constitution of India as impugned Order granting Sanction to prosecute the Petitioner was passed by an authority in New Delhi, hence, substantial cause of action has arisen within the jurisdiction of this Court. Senior Advocate Puneet Bali further submitted that the petitioner has also further challenged the vires of Section 15(1) of the UAPA. Upon a question of the Bench regarding whether an issue of Sanction can be challenged at this stage or will be a matter of trial, Bali argued that due to the issuance of Sanction to prosecute the Petitioner under UAPA prejudice has been immediately caused to the Petitioner in as much as, with the invocation of UAPA the twin limitation on grant of bail as well as the right to be released on statutory bail under Section 167(2) CrPC is taken away. Bomb Threat: Caller Threatens To Blow Up Antilia, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Kill Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani & Anant Ambani; Case Registered. It was also argued by the petitioner's lawyer that as the prejudice is immediate and affects the fundamental rights under Article 21, the petitioner has rightly challenged the sanction at this stage. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had given the sanction for Waze's prosecution in September 2020 for his alleged role and involvement in the Antilla bomb scare case. The case is being probed by the National Investigation Agency. A car carrying unassembled explosive materials was found abandoned at Carmichael Road in South Mumbai on February 25 2021, near the house of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. The owner of the vehicle was later found dead in a creek in the Thane district. Maharashtra ATS is investigating the case. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bidar, October 7: Karnataka police on Friday arrested four persons in connection with the incident of Hindu activists barging inside the historical Mahmud Gawan madrasa in Bidar city and performing puja. The Muslim organisations, which had earlier called for a protest after Friday prayers condemning police inaction, have called off the protest following the arrests. Of the nine accused named in the FIR, Munna, Naresh, Yallalinga and Prakash have been arrested. However, the Karnataka police is on a high alert in Bidar district and security around the Mahmud Gawan madrasa and Masjid has been tightened. Photos and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media. According to police, a group of Hindu activists who participated in the Dussehra procession in Bidar, barged inside the premises of the historical Mahmud Gawan madrasa on Wednesday night. Karnataka: Hindus Perform Puja at Mahmud Gawan Madrassa in Bidar, Police on High Alert As Muslim Organisations Warn of Protest. Considered as a heritage building, the madrasa is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was built in AD 1460 and features among the important monuments in India. While breaking inside the protected monument by breaking open locks, the activists raised "Jai Sri Ram" and "Jai Hindu Rashtra" slogans and conducted worship according to Hindu rituals at one of the corners of the building, police said. The photos and video show a big group standing on the steps of the monument. The police have lodged nine cases in connection with the incident. Protesting against the incidents, the Muslim organisations demanded action against the accused and had warned of a huge protest after Friday prayers. Karnataka Government Asks Education Department To Submit Report on Madrasas Activities, Say Sources. Condemning the incident, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that extremists broke the gate lock and attempted to desecrate historic Mahmud Gawan masjid and mosque. Addressing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Bidar police, he asked, "How can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims," he alleged. A manhunt has been launched for the other accused. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2022 02:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Oct 7: Two Indian Army personnel were killed and another sustained injuries during a field firing exercise involving a tank in Uttar Pradesh's Babina, officials said on Friday. The two Army personnel were hit when the barrel of the T-90 tank burst, they said. Karnataka Madrasa Incident: 4 Arrested For Performing Puja in Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in Bidar, Muslims Call Off Protest. "During the annual firing at Babina Field Firing Ranges on October 6, a tank barrel burst took place. The tank was manned by a crew of three personnel. The crew was provided immediate medical aid and evacuated to military hospital in Babina," said an official. Antilia Bomb Scare Case: Setback For Sachin Waze As Delhi High Court Dismisses His Plea Challenging Prosecution Under UAPA. "The commander and the gunner unfortunately succumbed to burn injuries. The driver is out of danger and under treatment," the official said. The Army has ordered an investigation into the incident. Lucknow, October 7: Drug inspectors in Uttar Pradesh will carry out surprise checks from Friday to seize any pack of the four cough syrups for which the WHO has sounded an alert. A.K. Jain, drug controller of Uttar Pradesh, said, "Those four syrups are manufactured only for export. We are asking our drug inspectors to seize any pack found at wholesale or retail medical stores even though they are not supposed to be sold in the country." Meanwhile, deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the heath portfolio, tweeted that he had asked the director general, medical and health, to probe the matter and take strict action against the concerned companies. He has sought an interim report within 24 hours and a detailed report within three days. India-Made Cough Syrups Under CDSCO Probe After WHO Issues Alert Following Deaths of 66 Children in Gambia. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in Gambia that have been "potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children". The preliminary investigations showed that the four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India. WHO Issues Alert For Four Contaminated Cough and Cold Syrups Made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India After 66 Children Die in Gambia. On Thursday, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) sent the samples of the same batch of the four Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd-manufactured medicines, on which the WHO issued an alert, for testing. Further course of action would be decided after the results are received, the Union Health Ministry has said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2022 02:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Chandigarh, October 7: AAP has decided to field Satender Singh as party's nominee for the Adampur assembly segment bypoll next month, senior leader Sushil Gupta said on Friday. Satender Singh, who was earlier with the BJP, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party in Hisar in presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. After joining the AAP, Singh had said he is influenced by the party's ideology and that he will work for the development of Adampur. AAP is the first among the major parties to announce a candidate for the bypoll, necessitated by the resignation of Kuldeep Bishnoi as the Congress MLA. Bishnoi had joined the BJP on August 4. BJD Faces Candidate Selection Challenge Before Dhamnagar By-poll. The bypoll is going to be a litmus test for Bishnoi, the younger son of former Haryana chief minister late Bhajan Lal, as the seat has been a family stronghold for the past five decades. While BJP is yet to announce its candidate, Bishnoi had on Thursday said that the people of Adampur assembly segment want his son Bhavya to contest and he has conveyed the sentiment to the party. Satender Singh, originally from village Nayoli Khurd (Hisar), had unsuccessfully contested from Adampur seat in 2014 on a Congress ticket. He had later joined the BJP. In 2014, Bishnoi was a leader of Haryana Janhit Congress, which he had merged with Congress in 2016 as he returned to the party fold, before leaving it again two months ago. "Now, the contest will be between Adampur's son (Satender) who lives here and is available when people need him, and BJP's Kuldeep Bishnoi, who comes to Adampur only for a picnic and is rarely seen among the people of his constituency," Gupta, who is AAP's Haryana affairs in-charge, told reporters in Hisar. Good governance, solving people's problems, good education and health facilities, these are among the poll issues which the party will take to people in the bypoll, he said. AAP senior leaders Anurag Dhanda and Ashok Tanwar were also present Gupta he spoke to reporters. During his visit to Hisar last month, AAP national convener Kejriwal had said: The people of Adampur want to get rid of a family here. The people of Adampur also want development in the area. The bypoll will be held on November 3 and the results will be declared on November 6. Chief Minister Bommai stated that people have not forgotten the misrule of the earlier Congress government. There was no social harmony, there was a collapse of law and order, BJP workers were killed, scandals rolled out one after the other. INS Tarkash visited Port Walvis Bay at Namibia from Oct 3-6, as part of her ongoing extended-range operational deployment. This also marks the third visit of the ship to Namibia, the previous being in 2017 & 2019. (Source: Indian Navy ) pic.twitter.com/D7vXFJ7dw2 ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022 (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.) Talking about mental health can be hard within Latino families. Here's how to start Union Home Affairs & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Eastern and North-Eastern Zones Dairy Cooperative Conclave at Gangtok in Sikkim today BJP Chief JP Nadda & Union Home Min Amit Shah will arrive in Assam's Guwahati later in the evening today. (file pics) pic.twitter.com/ymvMMzCdal ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022 (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.) Seoul: South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly delaying the launch of the next-generation Galaxy Tab S9 series due to the recent global economic uncertainty. Earlier this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S8 series one and a half years after the Galaxy Tab S7 family, citing The Elec GizmoChina reported. Samsung Sells Over 1.2 Million Galaxy Devices in India Worth Rs 1,000 Crore in Past 24 Hours. The upcoming premium tablets from the company were initially planned to release in December. But now, it seems that they will be introduced next year, the report said. As per the report, Samsung's decision is due to the recent global economic uncertainty. As the Covid-19 global pandemic has almost ended, the demand for IT products has started dropping worldwide, the report said. Samsung planned to produce 33.6 million units of tablets in 2022. But due to poor demand, the company may not be able to fulfil its plan. Samsung Buy Now, Pay Later Option Introduced in India for Galaxy S22 Series, Galaxy Z Flip 3 & More. DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants) predicts that the overall tablet market will decrease by 8 per cent this year. However, the premium tablet category (OLED and Mini LED) is expected to grow by 22 percent. Hence, Samsung is said to have a new plan for its next-gen flagship tablets. The Galaxy Tab S9 series will reportedly have three models, just like the Galaxy Tab S8 series. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2022 10:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). London, October 7: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reunited with his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif in London three years after authorities returned her passport following a court order. Maryam, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president, who arrived in London on Thursday, was received by her brother Hassan Nawaz Sharif and son Junaid Safdar at the Heathrow Airport. Maryam had in 2019 surrendered her passport to the Lahore High Court to get bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. Her passport was returned just days after the Islamabad High Court set aside her conviction in the Avenfield properties case. Soon after arriving in London, a picture on social media showed Maryam hugging her brother. Her visit to London marks the first time since she met her brothers Hussain and Hassan three years after the passing of their mother Kulsoom Nawaz in 2019 in London. The PML-N vice president is here for a month and is scheduled to return to Pakistan on November 6. Pakistan Road Accident: 11 Killed, 13 Injured As Bus Rams Into Truck in Sindh. Maryam will reportedly undergo a medical procedure during her visit and speculations are high that she and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan together. Nawaz Sharif, 72, who was convicted in the Avenfield properties case and sentenced to ten years in prison, has been in London since November 2019 after arriving here for a medical emergency. PML-N supporters on Thursday waited for the 48-year-old Maryam at Heathrow Airport's arrival area but were met by arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters who had gathered there to chant slogans against her. The PML-N vice president, however, left the airport via a different exit. Hundreds of PML-N supporters lined up outside the Avenfield House awaiting their leader's arrival. Some played dhol while others danced and chanted Teri awaz, meri awaz (your voice, my voice) Maryam Nawaz and welcome, welcome. One worker distributed sweets, saying we are celebrating [the arrival of] our leader. The scene was dotted by Met police officers in high-visibility jackets as the locality has often been the site of face-offs between the PTI and PML-N supporters. The leader, who was embraced at the entrance of the building by her brother Hussain, thanked her supporters and went inside to meet her father and other family members. Pakistan: Victory Shines Over Sharifs As Islamabad Court Overturns Maryam Nawaz, Husbands Conviction in Corruption Case. Hussain Nawaz on Wednesday told the media that he last met his sister when "she left with Mian sb for Pakistan, where upon arrival at Lahore airport she was arrested". He said that his family and Maryam have since then "borne the devastating losses of our mother, our grandmother, and endured those tragedies apart from each other". It was heart-wrenching to see her [Ms. Sharif] go to jail because of Imran Khan and his government. It is painful for any brother to see his sister go through that. When she arrives, we will talk to each other and share our grief, he said of the PTI chief who was in April this year ousted following a dramatic no-confidence motion that he blamed on US conspiracy. Kulsoom Nawaz passed away in London in September 2018 when the former premier and Maryam were incarcerated at Adiala Jail. They were allowed to attend Kulsoom Nawaz's final rites in Lahore on parole. Prior to her departure for London, Maryam at the Lahore airport told the media: I can't wait for the moment that my plane lands and I meet my father. A heart-warming photograph of Maryam being received by her father has gone viral on social media where the father-daughter duo could be seen in an emotional mood as they embraced each other after three years. The PML-N and Maryam shared photos on their respective Twitter handles. The last time the PML-N leader was in London was when her mother Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was hospitalised. The Tesla CEO said he will push through with the Elon Musk Twitter deal and honor his initial offer to acquire the social media platform at $54.20 a share. But it does not look good, according to a "Shark Tank" investor. Kevin O'Leary urged Musk to start over with the company if he wanted to make money from his $44 billion purchase of the social media giant, Business Insider reported. READ NEXT: Elon Musk-Twitter Deal Gets Shocking Twist: Tesla CEO Will Push Through Sale on One Condition Twitter Is a Horrible Company, Says Kevin O'Leary "It is full of bots. It's a poorly run company ... If he's going to take it over, maybe he can get back his $44 billion. I don't think it's worth $10 billion," Kevin O'Leary told CNBC in an interview. According to Yahoo Finance, O'Leary also stated that the social media platform needs new management as it is a horrible company and Musk needs to clean it and start from scratch if he is going to own it. The Shark Tank investor figured that Twitter shares would be worth between $12 and $15 each without the Elon Musk Twitter deal hype. Kevin O'Leary said that he sold all his Twitter stock in August because he thought Musk would agree to a new price of $35 per share before going through with the acquisition. "Musk would be able to thread the needle through litigation and do the deal for much less. And I don't know why he didn't do that. He didn't have to pay this ridiculous price," O'Leary said. Elon Musk Should Negotiate for a Lower Price, Says Accelerate CEO Julian Klymochko Julian Klymochko, CEO of Accelerate, said it surprised him that Elon Miusk did not try to negotiate a lower price to settle the case. "I believed that a negotiated settlement at approximately $50 per share would be the most likely outcome," he said, adding that Musk could not back out of the deal. Over the past 15 years, Klymochko has invested in/researched more than 2,500 mergers. He continued that it is very challenging and has only ever happened once in history to end a merger agreement based on an MAE (Acorn v. Fresenius) when the target's firm utterly collapsed after this successful MAE-based merger termination. He also said that Twitter's financial performance had not taken a big hit since the announcement of the Elon Musk Twitter deal. According to the Accelerate CEO, since the trial outcome will be hard to predict for both sides, the most likely thing to happen is that Musk will buy Twitter at a discounted price, Benzinga noted. READ MOER: Tim Ryan Rakes Over $17M in Campaign Donations, Some Come From Drug Companies in Opioid Crisis This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover Watch: I would bet on Elon Musk over Twitter deal, says Kevin O'Leary - From CNBC Television The Nicaraguan government under President Daniel Ortega continues its repression of dissidents, the media, the Church, and the opposition as it has started to also go after exiled opponents' relatives. The Associated Press reported that the wife, daughter, and son-in-law of exiled Nicaraguan economist Javier Alvarez had been imprisoned around three weeks ago. They have reportedly been charged with "serious crimes" back in Nicaragua. Jeannine Horvilleur, 63, and Ana Carolina Alvarez Horvilleur, 43, both of whom are Nicaraguan-French dual citizens, as well as Ana Carolina's husband, Felix Roiz, have all been detained and are facing serious prison time. According to Alvarez, this was all to apply pressure on him as he spends his time in exile in Costa Rica. Alvarez stated that when he found out about their arrests upon arrival in Costa Rica, he said that the judicial system in Nicaragua had already changed. He added, "The world fell in on me." He called their imprisonment "extremely cruel," lamenting that while he is free in another country, his family had to stay in Nicaragua's cruelest and most infamous prison, El Chipote. He said that his imprisoned family members are not involved in politics, with his daughter and son-in-law only running a small business. Alvarez then said that he hopes they would be freed soon, according to ABC News. Alvarez stated he is now living in anguish and had already filed reports with the French government, humanitarian organizations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Office. He stated that the Ortega administration has left him without family. READ MORE: CNN en Espanol Taken Off Air in Nicaragua as Government Intensifies Crackdowns Nicaragua's Government Accused of Kidnapping Exiled Political Opponents' Relatives It was not just the economist's family that was taken, as human rights organizations have accused the Ortega administration of making relatives "hostages." Many of these relatives are related to the tens of thousands of Nicaraguans who have fled the government crackdowns on various groups. The Nicaragua Center for Human Rights revealed that there is a "new pattern of extortion kidnapping" by the government." They use imprisoned relatives as leverage and force the surrender of exiled opposition members hiding in other countries like Costa Rica and the United States. "They took them like hostages," the organization said. Another case involves the brother of opposition figure Dulce Maria Porras, who had also gone into exile in Costa Rica. Her brother, Freddy Martin Porras, was also arrested in Nicaragua as she fled into exile in Costa Rica. Her brother was charged with "spreading fake news and conspiring to damage national integrity." His sister stated that they are kidnapping their relatives because the government cannot capture them. Argentina Judge Investigating Abuses by Daniel Ortega and First Lady, Vice President Rosario Maria Murillo Over in Argentina, two lawyers filed a criminal complaint against Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Maria Murillo for possible crimes against humanity. Federal Judge Ariel Lijo launched the investigation last Wednesday and sent a request to the Nicaraguan judiciary. They demanded on any open cases on alleged illegal detentions and the disappearance of people. Argentina often investigates allegations of human rights abuses in other countries by using the principle of universal jurisdiction. They have previously investigated allegations of human rights abuses during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), as well as claims of human rights violations against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Ortega and his wife were specifically targeted for the investigation, as the Nicaraguan government under their leadership has continued to repress not only the opposition, but the free independent press, as well as the Roman Catholic Church. READ MORE: Daniel Ortega Net Worth: The Life, Wealth, and Crime of Nicaragua's Dictator This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: "No legal basis" for expulsion of Missionaries of Charity from Nicaragua - ROME REPORTS in English U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that he is pardoning thousands of people convicted of "simple possession" of marijuana. He is also calling on state governments to do the same. In his video address, Biden noted the racial disparities for people who suffer the consequences of simple possession of marijuana charges. "While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates," said the president. According to PBS, this executive action will benefit 6,500 people with federal convictions from 1992 to 2021, as well as thousands of others who were charged under the District of Columbia's criminal code. In the past years, some states have started relaxing marijuana laws, like Colorado and California, which legalized its use for casual consumption. Joe Biden Fulfilling Campaign Promise for Marijuana Reform and Pardon Prior Convictions During the 2020 election campaign, Biden promised that he will decriminalize cannabis use and expunge prior convictions. With this announcement of pardoning those convicted or charged with simple possession, Biden is fulfilling part of that promise. According to CNBC, the president has now instructed Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to begin a review of how the drug will be classified under federal drug laws. READ MORE: Jamaica: What Is the Rastafari Movement? Under federal drug sentencing guidelines, marijuana is currently a Schedule 1 substance. This means it is under the same classification as heroin and LSD and treated more seriously than the highly-addictive fentanyl. Biden noted this fact and said, "It makes no sense." A Department of Justice (DOJ) spokeswoman stated that the Office of the Pardon Attorney will take the lead on administering these pardons. A formal process will be implemented in the coming days, and individuals will be given a certificate of pardon. This also means that those imprisoned with simple possession of marijuana will have all the political and civil rights that were denied to them as felons restored. Federal Legalization of Marijuana Faces Tough Battle and Needs Republican Support Senate Democrats have already released a marijuana legalization proposal earlier this year. It seeks to lift the federal prohibition and allow states to determine how best to regulate marijuana. However, ABC News noted that the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, as it would need at least 10 Republican votes to pass, granting all Senate Democrats would vote for it. While there have been known Republican supporters of Marijuana legalization, there is mainly a big pushback from the GOP, with Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson claiming that the pardons were done to score political points. "We commend this important and necessary step to begin the process of repairing the harms of prohibition and look forward to working with Congress and the administration to develop policies that would ultimately solve the underlying problems in our outdated cannabis policies," said National Cannabis Industry Association CEO Aaron Smith. Another group, the Drug Policy Alliance, also welcomed the decision and said it was "incredibly long overdue." READ NEXT: Puerto Rico Police Bust Island's Biggest Marijuana Greenhouse This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Biden pardons thousands of people with federal convictions for marijuana possession - CBS News Federal prosecutors leading the investigation on Hunter Biden's case believe that they have enough evidence to charge U.S. President Joe Biden's son with tax crimes, including a false statement in relation to gun purchase, according to people familiar with the matter. Business Insider reported that the U.S. attorney in Delaware will now decide whether to push the case against Hunter with a criminal case. Hunter addressed the matter in a statement in 2020, saying that he takes the matter of investigation on his tax affairs "very seriously." The president's son said he is confident that a "professional and objective review" of the issues against him will show that he handled it in a legal and appropriate manner. A lawyer representing Hunter, Chris Clark, did not comment on the reports of enough evidence to file a charge against his client. Clark then accused federal investigators of leaking details, adding that it is a "federal felony for a federal agent" to release information about a Grand Jury investigation. He claimed that any agent cited in the report has "committed such a felony," noting that they expect the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute such "bad actors." READ NEXT: Jill Biden Says Husband Joe Biden Sidetracked by Roe v Wade, Ukrainian War to Bring Progress in White House Hunter Biden Case Now Have Enough Evidence The Washington Post report noted that agents determined months ago that they had constructed a viable case against Hunter. However, it is ultimately up to prosecutors at the Justice Department, not agents, to decide whether to file charges. Attorney General Merrick Garland promised that there will be no political or improper interference in Hunter's case. U.S. Attorney in Delaware, David C. Weiss, is supervising the case. He was nominated by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017. A Weiss spokeswoman declined to comment, as well as representatives from the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service. During the height of the election campaign, Trump and his allies revealed that a Delaware computer ship owner had turned over to the FBI a laptop that was believed to belong to Hunter. Hunter Biden Laptop The owner of the Delaware computer repair shop was identified as John Paul Mac Isaac. He claimed that Hunter left a damaged Apple computer at his shop in April 2019 and asked to recover any data, according to The New York Times report. Isaac said Hunter came to his shop twice but never returned to retrieve the computer or the external hard drive containing the data. Isaac then determined to examine the material and called it "alarming" and "embarrassing." He added that he made a copy of the computer's contents. Isaac said he eventually decided to contact the FBI after he knew what was on the laptop. After giving the contents to the FBI, he did not hear from the investigators. There was no concrete evidence from the laptop that contained Russian disinformation. READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden's Wives: Who Are Nelia Hunter Biden and Jill Jacobs Biden? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: FBI believes it has evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax, gun-related crimes - from CBS News Electric vehicles in Florida have been catching on fire after becoming waterlogged during Hurricane Ian, which brought massive rain and flooding to the state. Florida's top financial officer and fire marshal Jimmy Patronis on Thursday said firefighters had encountered a number of fires caused by electric vehicle (EV) batteries waterlogged from the hurricane, Fox News reported. Patronis noted that fires start "as those batteries corrode." "There's a ton of EVs disabled from Ian... That's a new challenge that our firefighters haven't faced before. At least on this kind of scale," he tweeted. Patronis continued to say that it takes special training and an understanding of EVs to ensure that the fires are put out quickly and safely. He then thanked the North Collier Fire Rescue for their hard work. Patronis published a video of firefighters in Naples, Florida, fighting a fire that started from a Tesla EV's battery. A bystander can be heard on the video saying that the crew had used hundreds of gallons of water in an effort to put out the fire. READ NEXT: Florida Hotels Offer' Distress Rates' as Hurricane Ian Nears the State and Strengthens to Category 3 Storm Electric Vehicles Catching Fire in Florida Footage of the same vehicle fire posted on Facebook by the North Collier Fire Rescue District shows firemen drenching the car's top and underbelly with water to eliminate any sparks. New York Post reported that the rescue district said firefighters received the call while Jimmy Patronis and state Rep. Bob Rommel visited the area. The state officials were there to witness the difficulty of extinguishing EV fires and how firefighters took hours to ensure that the fire was put out. The district wrote on Facebook that the vehicles have been submerged in salt water, adding that they have "extensive damage and can potentially be serious fire hazards." The Florida Department of Agriculture earlier issued a report that posed a warning for electric vehicles in the state. The report found that major hurricanes with widespread power outages could leave EV drivers "stranded without transportation for days." The report prompted the state's Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to quickly build up rapid charging stations, with investments in portable charging stations, according to WLRN News. Hurricane Ian in Florida Hurricane Ian reportedly killed at least 109 people in the United States, and 105 were recorded in Florida. CNN reported that around 400,573 customers in Florida were without electricity based on PowerOutage.us data. More than 2,300 rescues have been made, and over 1,000 urban search rescue personnel have checked structures. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the national media wanted Hurricane Ian to hit Tampa Bay. According to Axios, DeSantis noted that the media did not care "about the people of this state," and wanted to use storms to "advance their agenda." He further claimed that the coverage of the deadly storm was motivated by a "political agenda." READ MORE: Tropical Storm Ian Path: Strength, Current Location, and When It Will Hit Florida, Revealed This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Florida Residents Recovering From the Damage Left by Hurricane Ian - From CBS Mornings Despite mental health concerns, the man responsible for killing six people and wounding dozens in a Christmas parade in Wisconsin last year represented himself in his homicide trial Thursday. Darrell Brooks, 40, was the driver of a red SUV who plowed into a crowd of Christmas parade attendees in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on November 21, 2021, which turned the happy celebration into a massacre. According to CNN, Brooks, 40, was charged with six counts of intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, six counts of fatal hit and run, 61 counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of felony bail jumping, and two counts of battery. READ NEXT: At Least One Dead, Several Injured After an SUV Plows on Christmas Parade in Wisconsin Wisconsin Man Darrell Brooks Fires His Public Defenders Darrell Brooks has been representing himself for the Christmas Parade attack case since last week when he demanded Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow fire his public defenders. Jury selection for the case began Monday, with Brooks repeatedly interrupting Dorow before prospective jurors arrived. Because of this, the judge sent Brooks to another courtroom where he can still watch the proceedings via video but can only talk when the judge allowed him to. Monday was the first day of the Waukesha Parade suspect's trial, and Thursday was the first day of testimony. His courtroom interruptions continued on Thursday, with Brooks interrupting Dorow at least 12 times before the jury arrived. Dorow again ordered the Wisconsin man removed from the courtroom to a separate room. When he got to another courtroom, Brooks took off his prison shirt, sat behind the defense table, and started making hand gestures and poking the table. The court gave him a sign to hold up the camera to signal objections but taped it to the front of his pants. Brooks had also asked for medical attention for a cut on his finger, but Dorow told him that the wound had no blood and would have to wait until lunch break. After that break, Dorow allowed Brooks to return to the main courtroom, and he seemed to have a bandage on his right pinky. At one point, the Wisconsin man pleaded not guilty due to a mental illness but withdrew it without giving an explanation and pleaded not guilty instead. Before the trial, psychological assessments found him competent, according to the Associated Press. Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack Suspect Darrell Brooks Is Just Delaying the Trial, Says District Attorney Susan Opper, the district attorney, told Jennifer Dorow that she believed Darrell Brooks was merely attempting to delay the trial. Opper noted that audio recordings of Brooks' phone calls from prison reveal that he talks about his case daily with various persons. "These actions are deliberate and intentional, and they have escalated... He's attempting to derail these proceedings and delay the inevitable," Opper said. Dorow shared the same sentiment, noting that four psychologists had evaluated Brooks. "It's very clear to this court that everything that he has done as outlined by the state and made evident on the record of these proceedings that it is the sole intent of Mr. Brooks to make a mockery of this process," Dorow said. "I believe this trial needs to continue and should continue." According to CBS News, Brooks took his objection sign out of his pants and stood behind the table with his eyes shut as Dorow called the jurors into the courtroom. Dorow then started reading each accusation. After the lunch break, when the suspect returned to the main courtroom, Brooks claimed he had no idea what was happening. Dorow asserted that she believed he understood what she was saying and that he should not interrupt. As Dorow presented the allegations to the jury, Brooks remained still for almost an hour. Later, Brooks told the judge he had free speech rights under the Constitution. Dorow said court decorum and legal procedure limited his free speech rights. Brooks then asked if the judge was making a judicial determination to deprive him of his constitutional rights. Dorow responded by saying that he has a right to present a defense, but his rights are not unfettered. Brooks, who chose not to make an opening statement, said he would make one after prosecutors finish their case and when it is his turn to present evidence. The trial is expected to call witnesses who will recount the chaos of the day of the attack. READ MORE: Indiana: Purdue University Student Killed by Roommate Who Stabbed Him to Death Inside Campus Dorm This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Judge Boots Darrell Brooks From Courtroom After Multiple Outbursts - From Law&Crime Network President Joe Biden has warned that Russia's President Vladimir Putin's threat of using nuclear weapons was real, which could lead to "Armageddon." According to Associated Press, Biden was speaking at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in New York on Thursday when he said that Putin was "not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons." As he claimed he knew Putin "fairly well," Biden noted that the threat from Putin was real because Putin's military "is significantly underperforming." The president added that the risk of nuclear "Armageddon" was at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis," he noted. Biden also warned that using a lower-yield tactical weapon could immediately spiral out of control into global devastation. He said he "don't think there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon." The president also said he was still figuring out Putin's "off-ramp" in Ukraine. "Where does he [Putin] find a way out?" Biden asked as he spoke to Democratic donors. "Where does he find himself where he does not only lose face but significant power?" Biden's remarks were the starkest warnings yet issued by the U.S. government about the nuclear war. Putin had repeatedly hinted at using Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, including last month when he warned the West that he'd be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend his country. In a televised national address, Putin said Russia will certainly use all the means "at our disposal to protect Russia and our people," adding that it was not a "bluff." He also announced a partial mobilization of reservists that could raise available troops by up to 300,000 to bolster his forces in Ukraine. U.S. officials recently said they had not seen any changes to Russia's nuclear forces, which would require a change in the alert posture of the nuclear forces of the U.S. READ NEXT: Ukraine Aid: Joe Biden Announces U.S. Allotting Additional $1 Billion for Ukraine Russia's President Vladimir Putin's Nuclear Weapons According to BBC, analysts suggest that Vladimir Putin's warnings and actions should not be interpreted as signaling a desire to use nuclear weapons but for other countries not to escalate their involvement in Ukraine. Figures from the Federation of American Scientists showed that Russia has 5,977 warheads, while the U.S. has 5,428. Based on the latest publicly declared data, Russia has 1,458 strategic nuclear warheads deployed or ready to fire, and the U.S. has 1,389 deployed. These warheads are on intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missiles on submarines, and strategic bombers. Al Jazeera reported that Russia has 10 times more numbers when it comes to tactical nuclear weapons as compared to the U.S. Nearly half of the 200 U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are reportedly deployed in Europe bases. Last week, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington has been "clear" to Russia about the "catastrophic consequences" if it used nuclear weapons. He added that they still do not see signs of the imminent use of nuclear arms. He said they continue to monitor the situation closely and consult with allies and partners. Russia's Vladimir Putin Deployed Nuclear Submarine NATO warned last week that Vladimir Putin had deployed the world's biggest submarine, which can be armed with nuclear "apocalypse drone" torpedos. With its underwater drone torpedo, Poseidon, U.S. Sun reported that the K-329 Belgorod nuclear submarine could cause radioactive tsunamis and wipe out enemy coastlines. NATO has warned its member nations about the location of the 14,700-ton war machine. The Belgorod is believed to be currently submerged in Arctic waters, and it is feared that Putin will use the Ukraine invasion to test the weapon for the first time. The nuclear submarine was earlier described as a "game changer" for Putin's navy after suffering a series of humiliations amid its war with Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, it could reportedly carry up to eight Poseidons, each 79 feet long, which could unleash Armageddon. H.I. Sutton, a defense expert, told La Repubblica that the nuclear submarine was a "completely new type of weapon that will force Western navies" to alter their planning and develop measures to counter it. The Poseidon has reportedly been in development since before the fall of the Soviet Union. Nuclear weapons can cause huge loss of life and lasting consequences. There is a massive fireball after a blinding flash and then a blast wave, which could destroy buildings and structures for several kilometers. A small number of people is expected to survive in the immediate impact area of a nuclear explosion. READ MORE: Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky Says if Pres. Joe Biden Acted Sooner 'There Would Be No War' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: President Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin on Threat of Nuclear War - From 60 Minutes By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova ADA University, Azerbaijan's National Commission for UNESCO, and the Institute for Development and Diplomacy have jointly organized an event within the Training Program for General Secretaries and Representatives of National Commissions for UNESCO in African countries, Azernews reports, citing the Carpet Museum. Director of the National Carpet Museum Shirin Malikova gave a speech on "Intercultural dialogue: Colorful Azerbaijan". She informed the meeting participants about Karabakh's historical and cultural monuments, including the city of Shusha. Shirin Malikova touched upon the destruction of monuments in Azerbaijan's territories that were occupied by Armenia for almost thirty years. The museum director drew attention to the restoration works carried out in Azerbaijan's territories liberated from the Armenian occupation. After the event, the guests got acquainted with the museum exposition. Shirin Malikova provided detailed information about Azerbaijani carpet art, the museum's history, activities, and rich collections. In the end, the participants of the training program were presented with the catalog of the National Carpet Museum. Recall that the training program, which started in Azerbaijan on September 24, is intended for the general secretaries and representatives of the National Commissions for UNESCO of 14 African countries. Gabriela Marin, a public official in Mexico's state of Morelos, was assassinated by armed men on a motorcycle on Wednesday afternoon. Marin was a local deputy in the Congress of Morelos. According to Borderland Beat, she was shot to death by two armed men on a motorcycle in the city of Cuernavaca. State governor Cuauhtemoc Blanco and state prosecutor Uriel Carmona reportedly confirmed the lawmaker's death. Carmona said Marin was in the parking lot of a pharmacy in the Estrada Cajigal neighborhood when two gunmen on a motorcycle arrived at the scene and repeatedly shot her. El Financiero reported that Marin's body was left lying on the side of her white BMW SUV. One of her escorts was reportedly wounded in the attack. Carmona said they are now investigating whether the attack was an act of political revenge, as Marin recently participated in a protest as a member of the LV legislature. The state police, National Guard, military personnel, and agents of the state Attorney General's Office arrived at the crime scene and cordoned off the area. They found several 9mm caliber shell casings at the scene. Blanco condemned Gabriela Marin's killing and said a security operation had already been launched to find the gunmen. He also expressed solidarity with the late legislator's family and friends in mourning her death. READ NEXT: Jalisco New Generation Cartel Members Burn Streets and Block Off Roads in 2 Mexican States After Leader's Arrest More Politicians in Mexico Being Killed by Gunmen Gabriela Marin's assassination happened on the same day that a mayor and at least 19 others in the neighboring state of Guerrero were killed by armed members of the Los Tequileros gang. According to local reports, the gunmen entered the San Miguel Totolapan town hall at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday and started shooting. The building was riddled with bullet holes after the attack, as seen in photos that circulated on social media. Aside from San Miguel Totolapan Mayor Conrado Mendoza Almeda, several police officers and council workers were also killed after the armed men opened fire. Their bloodied bodies lying on the ground were also seen in images that circulated online. Mendoza Almeda's father, former mayor of San Miguel Totolapan Juan Mendoza Acosta, was reportedly killed in his home before the attack moved to the town hall. The state attorney general's office initially said that 18 victims were killed in the attacks. However, a second official later said a total of 20 people were found dead. The Los Tequileros gang claimed responsibility for the attack in a video shared on social media. In the video released by alleged members of Los Tequileros, the group announced its return to the region, where they had been fighting a rival drug ring. Homicides Down in Mexico, but AMLO's Term Could Still Be One of the Bloodiest in Decades Data presented by the federal security minister showed that attacks have become more frequent in Mexico during the term of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Violence has reportedly been steadily rising in many states as Mexican drug cartels and smaller drug gangs battle for control of territory and drug shipment routes. According to Mexico News Daily, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez reported last July that homicides have declined by 9.1% in the first six months of the year. She said there were 15,400 murders between January and June, which is 1,548 fewer than in the same period last year. She noted that Guanajuato, Michoacan, Baja California, Mexico state, Jalisco, and Chihuahua remained to be the six most violent states in the country. While there is a decline for the first half, AMLO's six-year term in office may be one of the bloodiest in Mexico in recent years. Based on the presented data, Enrique Pena Nieto's 2012-18 presidency was the most violent six-year term of government in recent decades so far, with more than 157,000 homicides. However, that figure will exceed during AMLO's term unless murders decline significantly in the next two years. READ MORE: Mexico: Street Shooting Leaves 5 Students, Woman Dead in Guanajuato State Plagued by Mexican Drug Cartels This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Violence in Mexico: President Under Fire for Security Strategy - From Al Jazeera English Prince Harry's mom, Princess Diana, would not have been a fan of his wife, Meghan Markle, if she was alive, according to a royal photographer. Royal photographer John Swannell told The Daily Mail that he believes Princess Diana would think that Markle has "stolen" Prince Harry and turned him into a "puppet." Princess Diana personally commissioned Swannell to take what became classic portraits of the princess with her sons. The 75-year-old royal photographer claimed that the Duchess of Sussex had her own "agenda" when she joined the royal family. Swannell said Markle was a "little-known actress," so when an opportunity came up, "she took it like anybody would." The photographer added that Markle is a "very smart woman," but she is "an operator." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018. They decided to step away from their royal duties in 2020 in an effort to avoid media scrutiny and pressures connected to being working royals. READ NEXT: King Charles III Net Worth: A Peak to Wealth and Inheritance of the New Monarch After Queen Elizabeth's Death Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Odds With Netflix Ever since they stepped away from their royal duties, the Sussex couple had released several contents, including a podcast and a documentary. However, according to MARCA, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are at odds with Netflix over their production deal as they wanted to cut some of the filmed material from their docuseries. Netflix executives are reportedly pushing to keep the content after their filmmakers' return. Citing a Netflix source, PageSix reported that the couple is having second thoughts "on their own story, on their own project." Harry and Markle reportedly wanted the show to be released in 2023. However, Netflix wanted to launch it after "The Crown" premieres its fifth season on November 9. Netflix has paid the couple millions of dollars in a multi-annual production agreement. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle requested to edit some parts of the show they themselves provided after Queen Elizabeth II's death last month. Many believe it includes several truth bombs around the royal family. Even though Netflix is standing by the filmmakers, the final decision to edit the docuseries reportedly rests on Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Netflix executives. Sussex Couple and King Charles III The rift between the Sussex couple and the royal family is far from being healed. Glimpses of the two parties' interactions are fully recorded in books and reports released about them. Royal expert Katie Nicholl's new book revealed how King Charles III saw Meghan Markle when she and Prince Harry were engaged. Nicholl wrote in the book that the new monarch reportedly nicknamed Markle "Tungsten" due to her "toughness and resilience." A source once revealed that Charles admires Markle for her strength and the backbone "she gives Harry," Elle reported. Markle reportedly helped repair Charles and Harry's relationship, and the king had very positive impressions of Markle. Charles also reportedly told friends that Markle was "so intelligent" and "so nice," adding that she makes his son happy. However, it is unclear if Charles still sees Markle so warmly today after she and Harry decided to step back from their royal roles and move to California. The couple told Oprah during their March 2021 interview that Charles stopped taking his son's calls after Harry told him about their intention to step back. READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Opt Not to Hold Daughter Lilibet's Christening in the U.K. As It's Likely Be in California: Royal Sources This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Potential Move to Hope Ranch Has Neighbors Nervous - From TMZ TV Laurel, MS (39440) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 59F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Scattered frost possible. Low 32F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Emergency services rushed to the scene of an explosion in Creeslough on Friday afternoon. Several people have been injured, some of them seriously. Letterkenny University Hospital has moved to Major Emergency Standby as it deals with this incident and has appealed to the public not to attend the Emergency Department unless it is an emergency Letterkenny University Hospital is dealing with a serious incident, with multiple injured people requiring immediate attention, a statement from the Saolta University Health Care Group said. "We are appealing to the public not to come to the Emergency Department unless it is an emergency. Please contact your GP or NowDoc service in the first instance. NowDoc has increased staffing this evening to help deal with any additional demands. The scene in Creeslough. (North West Newspix) The public have been asked to refrain from ringing LUH this evening except in relation to matters of critical importance. Due to the serious incident earlier this evening in Creeslough, staff at the hospital are receiving a very high volume of calls, a spokesperson said. Fire services and ambulance personnel, as well as Gardai, responded to reports of an explosion at the Applegreen filling station in the town. The explosion occurred shortly after 3pm and has resulted in major damage to the building, which contains a shop and apartments. Emergency services responded from all across the county while a helicopter was also assisting the operation. The explosion could be heard several kilometres away. Falling debris caused damage to cars which were on the forecourt and shocked onlookers watched in horror. The N56 road was sealed off and diversions are in place. A fleet of emergency services at the scene. (North West Newspix) Motorists are advised to avoid the area. "Gardai are currently assisting other Emergency Services at the scene of a serious incident at Creeslough, County Donegal," a spokesperson for the Garda Press Office told Donegal Live. "An Garda Siochana are asking any road users intending to travel to Creeslough to consider alternative routes." October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Castletown parkrun, Celbridge will turn pink on Saturday, October 15 to support this worthy cause. Breast Cancer Ireland research indicates 3,700 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually. 1 in 9 women in Ireland are affected by Breast Cancer in their lifetime and locally in Kildare both male and female cancer incidences are higher than the national average. Services across Kildare have come together to turn parkrun pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness month and promote the importance of breast check. This event is organised by Castletown parkrun, in collaboration with parkrun Ireland, Healthy Kildare, Health Services Executive (HSE) Dublin South, Kildare, West Wicklow (DSKWW) Health Promotion and Improvement Team and Breast Cancer Ireland. Parkrun is a free weekly 5km community event, which takes place every Saturday at 9.30am led by volunteers. Everyone is welcome to parkrun, whether you roll, walk, jog, spectate or volunteer there is no time limit. Registration is simple, log onto www.parkrun.ie/register, print out the barcode and bring it along on Saturday morning. Castletown parkrun, Celbridge, takes place a few hundred metres from the front of the main house in Castletown. Arrive early, particularly for first timers as a run brief takes place before the event starts. All those who attend the event will be entered into a raffle for a prize of a Garmin Watch kindly sponsored by the HSE, DSKWW Health Promotion and Improvement Team. Events such as Turn parkrun Pink is a great opportunity to use a local community resource, get conversations started and promote the importance of screening and breast checks. On the day Anne Mynes from Breast Cancer Ireland will be on site to provide information and advice in relation to Breast Cancer supports and free pink t-shirts will be given out along with other goodies. Castletown parkrun event director Joan Ryan and her team said, The mission of parkrun is to create a healthier and happier planet. We would love you to join our friendly crew in the beautiful surroundings of Castletown parkland to walk, run or volunteer on the 15th October. We are delighted to help promote breast cancer awareness this October and look forward to turning our parkrun pink. Come and join us, we cant wait to welcome you! Laura Kelly, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, Kildare County Council added parkrun is a great way to get out, meet new people and be active in local communities. I look forward our Breast Cancer Awareness event, and for me I also look forward to seeing those pink t-shirts return to parkrun week after week. There is a place for everyone in parkrun. Healthy Kildare value having a volunteer led event locally to the support promotion of Breast Cancer Awareness and help to improve peoples overall health and wellbeing. A driver who reversed into a garda patrol car, causing injuries to two gardai, has been handed a prison sentence of four and a half years. Paul Darcy (26) pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage on September 7, 2018 at Stockhole Lane, Santry. Darcy with addresses at St John's Lane West, Thomas Street, Dublin and Calry Court, Stephen Street, Co. Sligo also pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary on September 2, 2018, in various locations in the Glasnevin area. He also pleaded guilty to the unauthorised taking of a car from a housing estate in Palmerstown on the night of October 11, 2018, and making off without paying for fuel at Applegreen Service Station, Palmerstown on October 13, 2018. Garda Ross Briary gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that two of his colleagues were on patrol when they spotted a white Ford Mondeo vehicle with three occupants acting suspiciously. Darcy was later identified as the driver of this vehicle. The patrol car followed the vehicle and indicated for it to stop. The vehicle began to speed up, and gardai continued to follow. The vehicle travelled across an M50 overpass bridge at around 100km/h. Gardai continued to pursue the vehicle, which then turned and breaked at full force. Gda Briary told Michael Hourigan BL, prosecuting, that gardai believe this was an unsuccessful attempt to cause the patrol car to collide with the vehicle. Gardai then noticed the vehicle's reversing lights were on and it later began to reverse at speed towards the patrol car. The vehicle smashed into the patrol car with force, causing the front airbags to deploy. The gardai attempted to call for assistance, but the patrol car's electronics had been damaged. The two gardai were injured and were trapped in the patrol car. They were treated in hospital and medical reports were submitted to the court. Gardai noticed movement in the back of the other vehicle, which had become embedded in the front of the patrol car. When other garda units arrived, all three occupants were sitting in the back seat and initially attempted to evade arrest. The three made no admissions when interviewed and denied being the driver of the vehicle. Over 5,000 worth of damage was caused to the patrol car. Victim impact statements were handed into the court but were not read out. Darcy had been on bail in relation to three burglary charges at the time of this incident. Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Darcy is a father of two young children and had left Dublin to live in Co. Sligo. His client is from a large family and had been under the bad influence of a family member at the time of the offence. Darcy also had undiagnosed mental health difficulties but is now receiving intensive treatment for psychosis. Mr Spencer said his client is also drug-free and has turned his life around Mr Spencer said Darcy apologised to the victims of his crimes. His client had a skewed view of the gardai at that time but has come to appreciate their role. Mr Spencer asked Judge Nolan to consider an adjournment to allow Darcy to spend time with his mother, who is in extremely poor health. He also applied for an adjournment to allow Darcy to make a gesture of compensation for the damage caused to the patrol car. Refusing both applications, Judge Nolan acknowledged the expressions of remorse and the positive steps Darcy has taken but said these were serious crimes. He said Darcy had intentionally reversed a vehicle into an occupied car and this reflects badly on him. He imposed a two-year sentence on the first burglary count, a four-year sentence in relation to the endangerment count to run consecutively, and 18 months for the unauthorised taking of the vehicle to run concurrently, with all other counts taken into consideration. Judge Nolan imposed a six year sentence in total with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, taking the mitigation into account. He also disqualified Darcy from driving for six years. A list of previous convictions was handed to the court, but not read out. Additional evidence of other offending On September 2, 2018, two men and a girl were noticed outside a house in the Griffin Avenue area. While the three said they knew the property's owners, neighbours became suspicious when movement was spotted inside the house and contacted gardai. A man was also seen coming out of the side of the house, carrying a basket. He attempted to run, and items, including jewellery, fell from the basket. The three individuals got into the car, which was driven by Darcy. At 6.30 pm, two men were spotted jumping the rails at Scoil Ciaran CBS in Glasnevin. The witness heard a loud bang and saw a man run to a car. They took photos of the car as it left and the vehicle was registered to Darcy. The other accused entered the school and damage was caused to the principal's office, a safe and a cash box, though no property was taken. Later that evening, an alarm went off at St Aidan's CBS, Whitehall. Damage was caused to the principal's office, but nothing was taken. Gardai arrived at the scene and found Darcy in his car. Darcy told gardai that he was waiting for his girlfriend. He was wearing a cast on his arm which matched CCTV footage from the earlier incident. The second accused was later arrested. Darcy made no admissions when interviewed by gardai. No victim impact statements were made in relation to the burglaries. Mr Spencer said that that while damage was caused to the schools, no property had been taken. Garda Sarah Smith gave evidence that a taxi was stolen from its driver outside his home in Palmerstown on the night of October 11, 2018. The driver had locked the car after finishing work when he was approached by two men, who took the vehicle's keys. Two days later on October 13, 2018, the stolen taxi with two occupants pulled into the forecourt at the Applegreen Service Station in Palmerstown at 4.30 am. The occupants made off without paying for 90.10 of fuel. The taxi was later found burnt out. Darcy was identified as the driver by gardai using CCTV footage. He was arrested in May 2019, but made no admissions and denied that it was him in the footage. No victim impact statements were made, though Gda Smith told Katherine McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that the owner of the taxi was left out of pocket. A 16-year-old girl from Leitrim has won a prestigious international prize thanks to her innovative work to find a sustainable solution to create wind turbine blades. Sara OBeirne, a pupil in Mohill Community College, was awarded 10,000 funding by the Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT), Bright Future Prize 2022, which attracted entries from all over the world. Now in its second year, The Bright Future Prize aims to empower young people aged 13-19 to become the next generation of community leaders by funding their bright ideas that will make a difference to their chosen cause. This year, 40,000 was awarded to winners over four categories, each connected to a different way young people can help spark a positive change in the world around them. Saras bright idea, which won the Your Planet category, started as a desire to find a more environmentally friendly way to generate wind power. Traditional fibre glass wind turbine blades are expensive and cant be recycled in fact, a massive 43 million tons of fibre glass will enter landfill by 2050. To tackle this, Sara designed an eco-turbine blade made from wood, which shes been testing and refining for over a year. Saras design is ready to move from the 3-D modelling software to the machine, and she plans to purchase a computerised manufacturing machine to begin producing her blades to create self-build kits. Initially Sara will sell her blades locally, but ultimately, she wants to take them across the world, particularly to countries in Africa where affordable, renewable and reliable energy is so important to establish. Sara said: When I found out I was a winner, I couldnt believe it at first. I was absolutely blown away. It has been so helpful to have the love and support from my family, friends and my school, as well as the Ardonagh Community Trust. This project would simply not happen otherwise. As a good friend of mine once said, If you want to go fast, go on your own. If you want to go far, go as a team. I honestly thought my wind turbine project would never get off the ground, but this incredible prize has given my ideas wings. I cannot wait to continue with my wind turbine project. I really want to thank the Ardonagh Community Trust for seeing the potential in my project. ACT Trustee and former Irish and British Lions Rugby Captain, Rory Best said: Its been a huge honour to select the winners of this years Bright Future Prize. All of the finalists had incredible ideas and I was impressed by their drive to use their own experiences and passion to give back to others and make a difference. Im sure all our finalists will inspire many more young people to get involved in the communities that matter to them. Myself, and the rest of ACTs Trustees cant wait to see how our winners use the funding to make their ideas happen! Far-right Proud Boys member Jeremy Joseph Bertino, second from left, joins other supporters of President Donald Trump who are wearing attire associated with the Proud Boys as they attend a rally at Freedom Plaza, December 12, 2020, in Washington. LUIS M. ALVAREZ / AP A North Carolina man pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 6, to plotting with other members of the far-right Proud Boys to violently stop the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election, making him the first member of the extremist group to plead guilty to a seditious conspiracy charge. Jeremy Joseph Bertino, 43, has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Departments investigation of the role that Proud Boys leaders played in the mobs attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, a federal prosecutor said. Mr. Bertinos cooperation could ratchet up the pressure on other Proud Boys charged in the siege, including former national chairman Henry "Enrique" Tarrio. The guilty plea comes as the founder of another extremist group, the Oath Keepers, and four associates charged separately in the January 6 attack stand trial on seditious conspiracy a rarely used Civil War-era offense that calls for up to 20 years behind bars. Mr. Bertino traveled to Washington with other Proud Boys in December 2020 and was stabbed during a fight, according to court documents. He was not in Washington for the January 6 riot because he was still recovering from his injuries, court papers say. Mr. Bertino participated in planning sessions in the days leading up to January 6 and received encrypted messages as early as January 4 indicating that Proud Boys were discussing possibly storming the Capitol, according to authorities. A statement of offense filed in court says that Jeremy Bertino understood the Proud Boys goal in traveling to Washington was to stop the certification of Joe Bidens victory and that the group was prepared to use force and violence if necessary to do so. On January 6, Mr. Bertino applauded the insurrection from afar and sent messages encouraging other Proud Boys to keep pushing toward the Capitol. "DO NOT GO HOME. WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SAVING THE CONSTITUTION," he wrote on a social media account. That night, he messaged Mr. Tarrio, "You know we made this happen." Mr. Bertino also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully possessing firearms in March 2022 in Belmont, North Carolina. US District Judge Timothy Kelly agreed to release him pending a sentencing hearing, which wasnt immediately scheduled. Four to five years in prison Justice Department prosecutor Erik Kenerson said sentencing guidelines for Mr. Bertinos case recommend a prison sentence ranging from four years and three months to five years and three months. A trial is scheduled to start in December for Mr. Tarrio and four other members charged with seditious conspiracy: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. The charging document for Mr. Bertinos case names those five defendants and a sixth Proud Boys member as his co-conspirators. Mr. Tarrios case is among the most serious charges in the attack, which sent lawmakers running and left dozens of officers bloodied and bruised. The indictment in Mr. Tarrios case alleges that the Proud Boys held meetings and communicated over encrypted messages to plan for the attack in the days leading up to January 6. On the day of the riot, authorities say Proud Boys dismantled metal barricades set up to protect the Capitol and mobilized, directed and led members of the crowd into the building. Read more Subscribers only January 6 hearings: Committee hears of 'crazy' Oval Office meeting hours before Trump's infamous tweet Video testimony by Mr. Bertino was featured in June at the first hearing by the House committee investigating January 6. The committee showed a clip of Mr. Bertino saying that the groups membership "tripled, probably" after Trumps comment at a presidential debate that the Proud Boys should "stand back and stand by." We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Mr. Tarrio wasnt in Washington on January 6, but authorities say he helped put into motion the violence that day. Police arrested him in Washington two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. Mr. Tarrio was released from jail on January 14 of this year after serving his five-month sentence for that case. More than three dozen people charged in the Capitol riot have been identified by federal authorities as leaders, members or associates of the Proud Boys. Two Matthew Greene and Charles Donohoe pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, the January 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. Le Monde with AP Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Simone Tebet during a televised debate organized before the first round of the presidential election in Rio de Janeiro on September 29, 2022. MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP It will be a head-to-head battle. As Brazil's presidential campaign resumes after a closer-than-expected first round between left-wing candidate, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (48.4%, known as Lula), and the far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro (43.2%), a major shift has begun. In an evenly divided Brazil, and with the focus shifted to the second round on October 30, Brazilian politicians are being asked to choose their camp. In an expected show of support, on Wednesday, October 5. Senator Simone Tebet, who came third in the first round with 4.2% of the vote, officially endorsed Lula. "It's not possible to remain neutral," she said. The two personalities appreciate and respect each other. Ms. Tebet "will not be returning to Mato Grosso do Sul (her constituency)," Lula said, suggesting the moderate centrist could be a leading minister if he wins. Read more Subscribers only Brazil election: Poll failure to predict outcome caused by government-organized 'sabotage' Elected from a large soybean-producing state in the center-west of the country and close to the agribusiness sector, Ms. Tebet's unequivocal support is particularly valuable for the left-wing leader. "Simone Tebet can help Lula win back the conservative rural electorate, which is still very hostile to the Workers' Party (PT)," said political scientist Isabela Kalil, an anthropologist specializing in the Brazilian right. Two choices Ciro Gomes, the fourth runner in the presidential election, received a disappointing first-round score (3%). He resolved to rally for the former metalworker, albeit reluctantly. "It's the only solution between two unsatisfactory options," the leader of the Democratic Labor Party admitted in a short video. His party had unanimously chosen to support Lula, against whom Mr. Gomes led an acrimonious campaign for months. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Representing more than 7% of the vote, or 8.4 million voters, between them, Ms. Tebet and Mr. Gomes should at first glance ensure an easy victory for Lula. He came within a hair's breadth (1.8 million votes) of winning the first round. But the run-off will not be so easy: several parties across Brazil are divided. Ms. Tebet's Brazilian Democratic Movement has not given any voting instructions to its supporters. Founded in the 1960s as the only legal opposition to the military dictatorship, over the years the centrist party has become the symbol of an opportunistic and often corrupt establishment. Some of its most prominent members such as former president Michel Temer (2016-2018), who toppled Dilma Rousseff, and deputy Sergio Souza, who heads the influential agribusiness lobby in the Chamber of Deputies have announced their support for Jair Bolsonaro. You have 62.42% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. President Joe Biden speaks at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, New York, on October 6, 2022. ANDREW HARNIK / AP US President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of marijuana possession on Thursday, October 6, in a major new step toward destigmatizing the drug and fulfilling a promise to his supporters a month before midterm elections. "I am announcing a pardon of all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana," Mr. Biden said. Mr. Biden did not call for fully decriminalizing cannabis, saying that "limitations on trafficking, marketing and under-age sales should stay in place." Instead, he homed in individual possession of a substance that the government health authorities estimate was used by at least 18% of the population in 2019 and which is already permitted by multiple state governments for recreational or medical purposes. In addition to the pardons, Mr. Biden instructed the departments of justice and health to determine whether cannabis should be reclassified as a less dangerous substance. Officials told reporters that about 6,500 people are directly affected by convictions under federal marijuana statutes. Clemency will extend to thousands more convicted under laws in the federal capital, Washington. However, Mr. Biden's gesture aims to take the shift much further, putting pressure on state authorities everywhere to follow suit. "I am urging all governors to do the same with regard to state offenses. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either," Mr. Biden said. Political Impact The move was announced abruptly by video and in a written statement, with no previous build-up by the White House. However, the impact is expected to be significant, both legally and politically, allowing Mr. Biden to seize the narrative on a trend toward decriminalization that swaths of the country have already embraced. Read more Subscribers only 40 days before US midterm elections, nerves on both sides Ahead of the November 8 midterms, where his Democrats are struggling to hold onto even partial control of Congress, Mr. Biden has now satisfied a key demand from racial justice activists angered at the way enforcement of cannabis laws often targets ethnic minorities. "As I often said during my campaign for president, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit," Mr. Biden said. He noted that non-White people are disproportionately affected by marijuana possession convictions, which in addition to sometimes including jail time can unleash years of legal fallout, creating difficulties in getting work and education. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback The third measure announced was an instruction for federal health and justice officials to "review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law." Currently, federal law lumps marijuana alongside what are widely accepted to be far more dangerous narcotics such as heroin and LSD. It is in a group higher than the relatively modern and hugely addictive drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine. Senate leader Chuck Schumer, a key Mr. Biden ally who is fighting to try and keep the chamber under Democratic control in November, said the president's move recognized that the so-called "war on drugs" has been "a war on people and particularly people of color." Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, a leading civil rights organization, said on Twitter: "We applaud President Biden. Correcting unequal treatment including marijuana reform has been a priority issue for the NAACP for decades." Le Monde with AFP The United Nations logo in the General Assembly hall in New York City (US) on September 21, 2021. EDUARDO MUNOZ / REUTERS It marks the first-ever resolution focused on violations inside Russia. On Friday, October 7, the UN Human Rights Council agreed to monitor the situation of human rights in Russia. The 47-member top UN rights body accepted the draft text presented by all European Union countries with the exception of Hungary, with 17 nations voting in favor of appointing a so-called special rapporteur to monitor Russia. Twenty-four countries abstained, while six voted 'no', including China, Cuba and Venezuela. The vote comes a few months after Russia was kicked off the council over its war in Ukraine, and marks the first time the rights body has decided to delve into the situation inside the country. It also came less than two hours after this year's Nobel Peace Prize was symbolically awarded to rights champions from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, three nations at the center of President Vladimir Putin's war. Ahead of the vote, Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov slammed the move, saying it was just another example of "the way in which Western countries are using the council to attain their political goals." The vote to pass the resolution, hotly contested by Russia, was watched closely by Western countries after they suffered a crushing defeat at the council on Thursday when a first-ever attempted resolution on China was narrowly rejected. That one, which called for only a debate about a UN report warning of serious violations and possible crimes against humanity in China's Xinjiang region, failed after intense lobbying by Beijiing. 'Draconian laws' Adopted on Putin's 70th birthday, the resolution calls for the appointment of a special rapporteur to monitor "the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation for a period of one year." The rapporteur would "collect, examine and assess relevant information from all relevant stakeholders, including Russian civil society both inside and outside of the country," and present a report in a year's time, and another to the UN General Assembly in New York. Luxembourg's ambassador Marc Bichler, who presented the resolution on behalf of 26 EU countries, pointed to the years-long "deterioration as regards the human rights situation" in Russia, warning that it had "been exacerbated over recent months." "Recent draconian laws seeking to stifle independent media as well as undesirable organizations, severe sanctions for anyone calling into question the government, with a huge number of people who've been arrested at demonstrations, are just a few recent examples of the systematic repressive policies that have been documented by numerous independent sources," he said. While the decision was the first-ever targeting the situation inside Russia, the council has recently adopted other resolutions condemning Moscow's war in Ukraine, and ordering a high-level probe of violations by Russian troops there. The vote came on the 16th anniversary of the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, which several diplomats pointed to. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback German ambassador Katharina Stasch was also among a number of diplomats to highlight Friday's Nobel win, pointing out that the laureate organization Memorial was "one of those organizations having been oppressed and even shut down by Russia for speaking up." French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont agreed, telling the council that the award "clearly shows the growing attention and concern about the dangerous downward slide" of rights in Russia. Le Monde with AFP LIMERICK hurling manager John Kiely has helped launch a new fund-raising drive in which a local GAA club and charity have joined forces for a New Years Eve draw. A new Ford Focus 2023 ST Line is being raffled with all proceeds being split 50-50 between Clionas Foundation and Garryspillane GAA club. So many of these families experienced, and continue to experience, the significant non-medical costs of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. With the cost of living crippling families who are already devastated by their childs illness," said co-Founder and voluntary CEO of Clionas Brendan Ring. "We must do all we can to help them. It has never been more urgent to work even harder for the forgotten families Clionas work with. Simply by supporting our raffle, you are helping families who are in a real crisis," stressed Ring. The idea for a joint fund-raiser arose from a friendship and business partnership between Brendan Ring and former Limerick and Garryspillane hurling hero TJ Ryan. Both men wanted to work together on a fundraiser which would mutually benefit their dedication to both Clionas and Garryspillane GAA. The funds raised will go towards Garryspillanes Astroturf project and the families Clionas work with who are currently disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Organisers have explained how Clionas has seen a significant increase in the number of applications received in the first six months of this year compared to 2021 and we expect this to continue when these families begin to feel the real impact of the increase in everyday costs, particularly travel and accommodation and fuel, heating in winter, electricity etc. Indeed Clionas has increased the level of support provided to these families to alleviate the additional pressures brought about by the cost-of-living increases. This has seen a doubling of the total amount distributed to these families compared to last year. Clionas Foundation expects at least 200 families will apply for financial assistance this year and will need to raise a minimum of 500,000 to meet these applications. Tickets for the car raffle are available to purchase for 20 online from www.clionas.ie The endorsement by WCO Members of the strategic WCO Charter of Data Quantity and Quality Enhancements in the CEN in June 2021 has been a catalyst for a series of initiatives involving data and technology. Improving the way Customs data is collected globally is the WCOs response to the Charters call for action. This has already led to the development of new features in the WCOs flagship Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) applications, and more particularly in its CEN communication platform (CENcomm). For many years, CENcomm has been the most used and useful tool in the WCOs CEN suite, annually hosting an average of 100 closed user groups (CUGs) linked to various enforcement operations and projects. The release of a new and upgraded CENcomm platform in 2019 created the possibility for the WCO to continue tailoring the application from a technical perspective to meet users needs when conducting international Customs operational activities. Previously developed in English, French, Russian and Spanish, the new version of CENcomm is now available in Arabic and Portuguese as well thanks to support from the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for the Middle East and the COLIBRI Project. Accessibility has always been the key attribute of CENcomm, and its expansion to these additional language versions will ensure that a greater number of WCO Members can now use CENcomm more actively in their own working language. As part of its commitments under the above-mentioned Charter, the WCO released a simplified data entry form for CEN and the National Customs Enforcement Network (nCEN) earlier this year, allowing Members to record minimal data for statistical purposes. This functionality has now also been extended to CENcomm, with each CUG having the option of collecting data using this new simplified format. In addition, improvements have been made to the conveyance section of the CENcomm standard long form in relation to express couriers. These changes take account of the growing importance of ecommerce in the international trade arena, allowing for more effective data collection with a view to defining an appropriate approach to e-commerce from an enforcement perspective. The goals of increasing the amount of data collected by Customs and enhancing the quality of this data for analytical purposes are fully in line with the WCO theme for 2022, namely Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem. In this respect, the latest version of the CENcomm has also seen some minor improvements including the introduction of airport and seaport codes allowing for better offence location tracking, as well as the reconfiguration of the seizure form and the addition of automated data entry control measures related to the movement of goods for a more consistent analysis. There is still work ahead in terms of further encouraging all WCO Members to contribute more data to the CEN, using the various technological solutions in place for this purpose. PRE-tax profits at the main Irish unit of biotechnology giant, Regeneron increased more than 12-fold last yeatr to $3.7bn (3.71bn). Accounts filed by Regeneron Ireland DAC show the company, which is based in Raheen, recorded the sharp increase in profits as revenues more than doubled from $4.685bn to $9.69bn. The revenues recorded by the Irish-based company account for 60% of Regenerons global revenues of $16bn in 2021. In a post balance sheet event, the directors confirm that Regeneron Ireland DAC paid out a dividend of $2.9bn, this year, to parent, Regeneron Atlantic Holdings (RAH). The Regeneron operation in Limerick has gone from strength to strength since it established its Irish HQ at the former Dell site in Limerick. Since 2013, when Regeneron first announced plans to invest in operations in Ireland, the company has consistently exceeded job and investment projections for its Irish operations. The directors for Regeneron Ireland DAC state the increase in revenues in 2021 was primarily due to higher revenues in connection with the product supply of eye treatment medicine, EYLEA to Regeneron Pharmaceutical Inc. The record year enjoyed by Regeneron Ireland DAC also provided a significant contribution to the States corporation tax take. The company recorded after tax profits of $3.24bn after corporation tax of $458.6m was paid and this was made up of Irish corporation tax of $264.1m and deferred tax of $194.5m brought about by origination and reversal of timing differences. In 2021, the numbers employed by Regeneron Ireland DAC increased by 469 from 1,149 to 1,618 with 1,532 engaged in production, 54 in administration and 32 in research and development. Staff costs last year increased by 32pc to $224m that includes $158.57m in wages and $32.7m in non-cash compensation. The company recorded an operating profit of $4.17bn in 2021 and finance costs of $480.19m contributed to the pre-tax profits of $3.7bn. The companys Research and Development (R&D) costs last year totalled $640.89m. The profit takes account of $661.69m in non-cash amortisation costs. The companys costs also include a royalty payment of $2.5bn to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc - more than double the $1.2 billion paid out in royalties in 2020. Pay to directors totalled $1.4m for the year while the aggregate amount of the gains by the directors on the exercise of share options previously granted by RPI was $9m for 2021. FIGURES have been made available that underline the serious economic impetus provided by Limericks flagship dairy sector. ICMSA has published data estimating that the countys dairy farmer income will comfortably reach 339 million this year. ICMSA president Pat McCormack (pictured) noted that this milk revenue is multiplied by a standard 1.6 as it goes into the wider local economy and that, effectively, Limericks dairy farmer income is worth well over half a billion to the local economy. Mr McCormack said the latest figures show what everyone should have realised by now: Milk is the fuel of Limericks biggest indigenous economic activity. Farmers milk incomes go straight into their local economies through fertiliser, feed, various contractors, fuel, and services and retail of every type. Politicians had to realise that the kind of slow strangulation of our dairy sector thats being presented as a transition to lower emissions is going to have the most profound negative consequences for regions like Limerick and its hinterland. The kind of cuts that the Government is forcing through will have the same negative multiplier on Limericks economy as rising milk production and prices have had in positive terms. Limericks milk sector is the fundamental economic basis for the local rural economy; its the platform that everything else is constructed on, said Mr McCormack. Separately, Minister of State Patrick ODonovan said last weeks Budget will help individuals, families, businesses and farms. Next year the Government will spend almost 90billion, an increase of 11billion from this year to respond to the difficult circumstances that people are faced with, said Mr ODonovan. MANAGEMENT of Ireland's two major airlines are to be invited to address Limerick councillors to discuss future air destinations from Shannon - and how local councils can help. Labour councillor Joe Leddin saw a motion passed at a meeting of the local authority calling on them to issue an invite to the chief executives of both Ryanair and Aer Lingus to the next meeting. He feels the intervention of the region's local authorities could tip the balance between one of the airlines basing a plane in one of Ireland's other regional airports or locating in Shannon. The motion was passed before this week's announcement by Ryanair that it is to locate an additional plane at Shannon Airport from next summer. "Politicians are often accused of being reactive rather than proactive. The airline industry was in carnage for the two years during Covid-19, but it has rebounded as we've seen. Yet I'm concerned some of the routes from Shannon have not come back, whether they were to sun destinations or other destinations, they went elsewhere in Europe or to the USA. Rather than waiting until the spring announcement, I'd like to see if we can get in management from the two airlines to talk to us about their plans for Shannon, and also what we can do as a region," he said. Cllr Leddin met with Shannon Airport chief executive Mary Considine to ask her what needs to be done to secure more services from Shannon. "She said airlines place the planes where they can get their maximum load factor. I understand that. We need to ensure as a region we are putting our best foot forward in terms of attracting airlines out of Shannon," he concluded. FROM his native Broadford to The Big Apple to the military bases in Gaza, you could find Pulitzer Prize - winning journalist Malachy Browne anywhere. Today, he's in the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live offices. And he's brought some sweet treats. The Emmy Award winner is back in Limerick for Joining the Dots: New frontiers of investigative journalism, a seminar, part of a media series organised by the Journalism Department of the University of Limerick and funded by UL 50. That took place in front of a full house and the following morning he walks in the doors of the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live with a very American brown paper bag containing Cadbury Dairy Milk Fingers. Despite working at one of the most prestigious news organisation, The New York Times, Malachy still gets nervous when talking to an audience but no one would ever guess. It was a little nerve wracking at the start because you're in front of your home crowd. But it was wonderful to meet the journalism students. Its a trip down memory lane because it's been 15 years since I left. After completing his education in St Munchins College, Malachy studied engineering in UCD before completing a masters in international relations in UL. He found his way in journalism after living with his uncle and journalist, Vincent Browne, who is currently wrapping up his latest book. Although, for him, things clicked after seeing an interview with Mary Robinson. I was deciding whether I would go back and do a masters. I remember her in an interview saying, try to find something you think is worthwhile to spend your time doing, he remembers. Even though Malachy now lives in the States, he comes back to Limerick every summer with his wife and their three children to see his parents Mary and David, sister Susan and her family. My wife Siobhan is from County Limerick as well, so we come back to Limerick every summer for about two months and I work from here. Five years ago, Malachy started working as a senior story producer on the Visual Investigations team at The New York Times. Combining traditional reporting with digital sleuthing and forensic analysis, the reporter deconstructs important news events. Does this type of reporting help restore the publics trust in media? I think it very much helps to have clear, concrete evidence supporting your conclusions about any particular event. What we try to do in our video documentaries is to explain why we're using certain evidence to explain the context around it. But also to kind of walk people through the evidence and how we're arriving at our conclusions, how it answers fundamental journalistic questions, he says. What was the most challenging investigation to work on? One that was quite difficult was the shooting of Rouzan al-Najjar by the Israeli military in Gaza. She was a volunteer medic, whom all her life wanted to be a doctor. She was on the protest fields attending to wounded people when she was shot. In that story, we didn't witness it ourselves, but we were able to go to Gaza, meet people and collect around 1,300 photographs and videos from the phones of witnesses who were there. Does he ever fear for his safety? We've got a fairly robust security presence, I don't feel that there's any sort of threat to me. The worst thing that happened to me was soldiers firing tear gas at us in Gaza. As the reporters on his team often have to watch graphic content, he says they are provided with professional support, at all time. Were acutely conscious of it on our team because they're watching traumatic material and war crimes. So, weve brought in psychiatrists to talk about how to look out for signs of secondary trauma and methods that can minimize that. I think the important part of that for me was understanding what's a natural response to this, and when does it become a problem? When does it become trauma? Would he ever consider moving back home? We miss home and definitely we would like to come back here at some stage in the future. I don't know how my career would continue here. It depends on what options are available to me and where we end up, he says. I think in Ireland, we haven't really shifted to understand that journalism costs money and that we need to pay for it. I think that we might be trailing behind some other countries in terms of having sustainable financial models and being able to resource in investigative journalism, he concludes. As the conversation comes to an end, Browne answers who would be sitting at his table, if he could have dinner with anyone dead or alive. I'd love to meet my mother's father, who died before I was born. His name was George O'Mahony. He lived in Abbeyfeale, in County Limerick. He was by all accounts a larger than life character. THE FAMILY of a profoundly disabled man have criticised hospital bosses saying he was left curled up in his wheelchair for hours in the emergency department. And they have added that medical staff at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) treated him as just a body despite him being in severe pain. Darragh Ryan, who lives at North Circular Road was admitted to hospital after his father Sean and elder sister Emer became concerned at a potential flare-up. The 25-year-old suffers from the inflammatory Crohn's disease, and Cerebal Palsy, which affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. As he is non-verbal, it means whenever he becomes visibly agitated, Sean and Emer are on high alert. But after the pair attended the emergency department (ED) with Darragh following a referral from their doctor, they described the treatment of him and other patients as distressing. The pair left the hospitals ED in disgust after almost 12 hours without being seen, and have instead been forced to book a private appointment to help Darragh. They claim it came after nurses failed to take blood from Darragh on two occasions. Sean Ryan said he advised nursing staff it is impossible to take blood from him without sedating him due to his complex medical needs. In a strongly-worded letter, Emer wrote: "Privacy is non-existent. I witnessed a lot of things and heard a lot of patient information I shouldnt have to hear as its none of my business. Nobody once came over to check on Darragh or anything. It didnt matter he is disabled he was viewed as just another body, Emer added, claiming that she was constantly told by nurses that her brothers medical issue was not an emergency. Just because something cant be viewed physically doesnt mean theres not further damage going on inside a persons body. Time is of the essence and the longer someone is kept waiting, the more damage can occur in someones body, she added. Emer and Sean were concerned at potentially internal bleeding or issues with Darraghs stomach lining. Emer outlined a number of other things she says she witnessed in the ED including toilets being used for people to get dressed and undressed, PPE being used to block out the light, and an elderly man having to use behind his bed to store his personal belongings. I witnessed a drunk man wandering down along the aisles tormenting young girls, with an older man having to notify nurses of his behaviour. Theres no such thing as patient confidentiality. I heard a nurse giving out to a patients parent saying he needed to be signed into 5B [the hospitals psychiatric ward]. Its none of my business to know these private things. They should be disclosed in a room with the patient, not announced to everyone waiting. The comments come in a week where the hospital chief executive Colette Cowan faced Oireachtas members following the release of a Hiqa report which was heavily critical of conditions in the ED. She issued an apology for the distress and lack of dignity experienced by some patients. A spokesperson for the University of Limerick Hospitals Group also expressed his apologies to the family, but was unable to go into other specifics. This, the spokesperson said, is due to our ethical and legal obligations to protect the privacy of all patients who attend our hospitals and our staff." Over the past 18 months, UHL has been managing sustained and significantly high numbers of very sick people attending the ED with complex conditions. "In these circumstances, our ED medical teams must prioritise the patients who require treatment most urgently, added the spokesperson. A WOMAN has been charged this Friday with the murder of a four-year-old boy in Limerick. Tegan McGhee, of no fixed abode, who is aged in her 20s, was charged with the murder of Mason O'Connell by Detective Garda Shane O'Neill at Limerick District Court this Friday morning. The child sustained serious injuries at an address in Rathbane, Limerick on March 13, 2021 and passed away on March 16 at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin. Det Garda O'Neill gave evidence of arresting Ms McGhee at an address in Newcastle West on Thursday evening at 8pm. The detective garda outlined to the court that the defendant was later charged with the murder of Mason O'Connell and one count of child cruelty under the Children's Act. "She made no reply to the charges after caution," said Det Garda O'Neill. Ms McGhee, who was wearing a black jacket, grey hoodie and black tracksuit bottoms, did not speak during the short procedural hearing. Sergeant Sean Murray, who represented the State, said the DPP's directions were for prosecution on indictment in the Central Criminal Court. Ms McGhee, who was represented by solicitor Darach McCarthy, was remanded in custody by Judge Patricia Harney. The case was adjourned until October 11 for service of the book of evidence. Ms McGhee's partner at the time of the death of Mason - John Paul O'Connell, with an address at Murroe, Co Limerick - was also before the court. Mr O'Connell, 33, who is the father of Mason, was arrested at an address in Murroe on Thursday evening. Det Garda Niall Fitzgerald said he charged Mr O'Connell with four offences - assisting an offender, two child cruelty offences and one of reckless endangerment. "He made no reply to the charges after caution," said Det Garda Fitzgerald. Sgt Murray said there was no objection to bail subject to a number of conditions. Mr O'Connell, who was dressed in a black jacket, grey hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, did not speak during the hearing. Sgt Murray said the DPP's directions were for prosecution on indictment in the Central Criminal Court. Mr O'Connell, who was represented by solicitor Sarah Ryan, was remanded on bail to appear on a date in November for service of the book of evidence. There were a number of outbursts in Limerick District Court during the court hearing. A Delaware judge halted Twitter Inc's lawsuit against Elon Musk, giving the billionaire time to finance his $44 billion takeover of the social media platform. Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, head of the Delaware Chancery Court in her order said, if Musk fails to close deal by 28 October EDT deadline, then she would schedule a trial for November. This order comes after Musk had asked to halt the upcoming Delaware court trial, where the Tesla billionaire was expected to fare poorly against Twitter's lawsuit to force him to complete his April merger agreement. Musk revived the takeover offer on Monday but said he needed time to get the financing in order. We look forward to closing the transaction at $54.20 by Oct. 28th," Twitter said in a statement. In an earlier court filing, the company urged the judge to reject the proposal, calling Musk's plan "an invitation to further mischief and delay." Musk, chief executive of electric carmaker Tesla Inc , was scheduled to go to trial on October 17 and his Thursday deposition was postponed by mutual agreement. Twitter disputed Musks claim that the company is refusing to accept his renewed bid. Musk told Twitter earlier this week hes ready to buy the company once again after trying to back out of the deal over the summer, accusing it of refusing to give him information about spam bot" accounts on the service. Twitter described Musks move to delay the trial as an invitation to further mischief and delay" after his arguments for terminating the agreement haven't had merit. Twitter shares, which ended the day down 3.7% at $49.39, rose 1 percent after hours as investors appeared reassured after days of confusion. This week, Musk said he would purchase Twitter at the $54.20 per share price he agreed in April, on the condition the deal could secure debt financing. That marked a reversal for Musk, who spent months in litigation with Twitter as he tried to get out of the deal. He claimed Twitter misrepresented the number of real users on its platform, among other claims. Musk said in a Thursday court filing banks are working cooperatively to fund the deal but he needed more time. He argued that a brief delay was preferable to the months it would take for a trial and appeal. Twitter had said Musk should have to close next week and it said a corporate representative for a lending bank testified on Thursday that Musk has yet to send them a borrowing notice and has not communicated that he intends to close. Major banks that committed to fund $12.5 billion, or about 28% of the deal, could be facing hefty losses as the swift pace of interest rate hikes has ratcheted up market volatility and dampened appetite for leveraged financing. "There's still some uncertainty based on whether or not Elon can find the actual financing to do the deal," said Randy Frederick, managing director of trading and derivatives for the Schwab Center. Musk has raised $15.4 billion by selling Tesla shares this year and is leaning on large investors for a chunk of the financing, leading to speculation over whether he will sell more of the electric-vehicle maker's stock to fund the deal. "Financing will eventually end up going through one way or another. It is just a point of negotiating terms at this stage," said Robert Gilliland, managing director at Concenture Wealth Management. (With inputs from agencies) The Biden administration announced new restrictions on Chinas access to US semiconductor technology, adding measures aimed at stopping Beijings push to develop its own chip industry and advance the countrys military capabilities. The Commerce Department added more names to a list of companies that it regards as unverified," meaning it doesnt know where their products end up being used. The 31 additions are all Chinese. That means US suppliers will face new hurdles in selling technologies to those entities. The move is the next step in trying to break the link between Chinese companies and their countrys military and security apparatus. That conduit is seen as a possible backdoor allowing China to update its military and surveillance capabilities using US technology. Anyone receiving the unverified designation has to submit to checks on where their products go and, while that process is ongoing, anyone who supplies them with US technology will be required to go through extra certification steps related to the use of the products. Successfully proving theyre not breaking rules allows the companies to be removed from the list. Not doing so -- or failing to cooperate -- risks putting them on the so-called entity list, meaning that all exports to them of US technology are subject to prior approval by the Commerce Department. Bloomberg reported this week that the administration was readying new restrictions, part of a broader strategy that also includes bolstering domestic chip production. Earlier this year, Biden signed a bill that promises to infuse about $52 billion into the US semiconductor industry. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. On 3 October 2022, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, launched the second edition of the WCO/WTO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies. The first edition was published in 2019 and earlier this year both organizations also partnered for the publication of a joint publication titled, The role of advanced technologies in cross-border trade: A Customs perspective. Around 900 participants from around the world, including Customs, the private sector, academia, government agencies, and international organizations registered for this event. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mikuriya highlighted that the two organizations decided to jointly assist their respective Members digital transformation journeys in a complementary and inclusive manner by bringing all relevant partners at the same table. He added that the Report reflects a high level of Customs interest and activity in the testing and implementation of three groups of technologies, in particular, blockchain, internet of things, and data analytics / artificial intelligence. The Secretary General also pointed out that the Study Report aims at helping Customs implement international rules and standards in ensuring connectivity at borders, such as the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed her appreciation that the WTO had an opportunity to work with the WCO in drafting the updated Study Report. She stressed the importance of the Study Report for developing and least developed countries (LDCs) in implementing the WTO TFA, and emphasized the role of technologies in this process. In addition, the WTO Director-General underlined that the benefits from the deployment of the latest technologies for Customs could be undermined if other agencies continue to rely on old-fashioned working methods. The WCO and the WTO Secretariats jointly presented the key findings of the Study Report. The first part of the report focuses on seven technologies, namely: blockchain and distributed ledger technology; Internet of Things, big data, data analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; biometrics; drones; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; and, 3D printing. The second part includes forty two case studies from Customs administrations, the private sector, international organizations and other stakeholders. The Study Report also provides recommendations and lessons learnt, as well as WCO and WTO initiatives in this area. Argentina, Korea, the Netherlands and Niger Customs Administrations presented different examples of how Customs leverages disruptive technologies to improve its processes and impact on cross-border trade processes and supply chain operations. The Study Report will remain a living document and will be updated on a regular basis to reflect further advancements and trends in the application of disruptive technologies by Customs. The publication can be found here. The recording of the webinar is available here. Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is maintaining his cash lead in Georgia over Republican challenger Herschel Walker. Meanwhile, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp sharply accelerated his fundraising over the summer in his race against Democrat Stacey Abrams. Walker says his campaign raised more than $12 million in the third quarter. Warnock reports raising $26.3 million in the same period. Walker says he has about $7 million in cash, while Warnock says he has nearly twice as much. Kemp says he took in $28.7 million from July through September. That's more than the $22.4 million the Republican raised in his entire run against Abrams in 2018. No numbers have yet been reported for Abrams. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Stephen Silver, who is accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, told gardai that the deceased attacked him and added: "With all that's going on with the police in this world, I shot him," a barrister told the Central Criminal Court on Friday afternoon. Opening Mr Silver's trial, prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC said the accused man then said something about Black Lives Matter, which the barrister suggested may have been a reference to the killing of George Floyd in America some months previously. Mr Delaney also told the jury of seven men and five women that the accused later told gardai in interview that there was pushing between Gda Horkan and himself before the garda went for his holster, got his gun out and "must have shot himself". He said he was, "angry about it because a garda tried to kill me." Mr Delaney said an issue which the jury may have to decide is whether Mr Silver was "ill-disposed towards gardai" at the time and whether that "manifested itself in his actions during the day and, more importantly, in the course of the encounter with Garda Horkan." Mr Silver (46), a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Gda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Siochana acting in accordance with his duty. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Mr Delaney told the jury that Det Gda Horkan was 49 years old and had spent nearly 25 years as a garda when he was shot dead shortly before midnight on 17 June, 2020 at Castlerea, Co Roscommon. He was a single man who lived with his father in Charlestown. The accused man, he said, grew up on the outskirts of Castlerea, left school after his junior certificate exams and had worked in construction and as a fitness instructor before setting up his own business as a motorcycle mechanic at a garage outside Foxford in Co Mayo where he lived. He was married but had been separated three months prior to the death of Det Gda Horkan. Mr Silver has a history of mental health difficulties which Mr Delaney said the jury will hear about during the trial. In the days prior to the shooting, Mr Silver was in the company of an Australian woman who was visiting Ireland for the first time. They stayed together at a hotel near the airport in Dublin on June 15 and 16 and she flew out on the 17th. The accused left Dublin that morning and arrived in Castlerea in the early afternoon where he met a friend. The friend showed him a video that had been posted to Facebook some weeks earlier showing a garda raid on the home of an old friend of Mr Silver's, James Coyne. The accused had not met Mr Coyne for some years but became "quite exercised" and went to Mr Coyne's home in nearby Knockroe. He spoke to Mr Coyne and they travelled together into Castlerea and stopped at the garda station where Mr Silver told gardai he wanted to make a complaint "of an elderly person being abused by gardai". Mr Delaney said the accused man told gardai he had evidence on his phone and was "going to take it further". The two men went to Mr Silver's garage and Mr Coyne tried out a motorcycle belonging to the accused. They then returned to Knockroe where they took it in turns to drive the motorbike without lights or helmets around a green area in the estate. Neighbours called gardai and counsel said one neighbour will say that he heard someone matching the description of the accused saying: "I dare the armed squad come down here now." The bike was put away, counsel said, shortly before midnight and Mr Coyne and Mr Silver went towards the centre of Castlerea to get some food. At 2pm that day, Det Gda Horkan had taken up duty at Castlerea Station and took possession of a standard issue firearm and an unmarked Hyundai garda patrol car. At about 11.47pm he drove to Knockroe but Mr Silver and Mr Coyne had already left on foot. Garda Horkan drove along Patrick Street where he came upon the two men, pulled up alongside them and wound down his passenger side window. Mr Delaney said different witnesses saw different parts of what followed but there was "some form of exchange" after which Gda Horkan got out of the car, approached the accused and told him he was going to arrest him. There was a physical struggle, counsel said, which "evolved into a struggle for the firearm and a shot was discharged and Garda Horkan was wounded." Counsel added: "At that point the accused man rolled away with the gun and proceeded to repeatedly shoot Garda Horkan." Following the shooting, 15 cartridges were found at the scene, indicating that all the bullets in the gun had been discharged, Mr Delaney said. Another garda car passed and saw the two men grappling but did not recognise Gda Horkan. They continued on but when they heard shots they turned around and used their car to block the street. Garda Helen Gillen approached and saw the accused man throw away the gun. Mr Delaney said she will give evidence that she told Mr Silver to lie down, which he did, but he then got on his knees and said: "That man tried to attack me and with all that's going on with the police in this world, I shot him." He added something about Black Lives Matter which counsel said may have been a reference to the killing of George Floyd by American police some months earlier. Silver was arrested while other gardai attempted to resuscitate Gda Horkan. It quickly became apparent that he had sustained fatal injuries, counsel said, and had died at the scene. A post mortem carried out by Dr Linda Mulligan the following day would show that he had suffered eleven gunshot wounds from multiple angles. There was a cluster of wounds to the neck and shoulder, another wound to the right upper abdomen and three bullet entry wounds to the back. One of the wounds was described as a "close contact wound" which Mr Delaney said means it was fired from a distance of one metre or less. The majority were from a distance of greater than one metre and another from a longer distance. Mr Delaney said there also was a suggestion that Gda Horkan was shot while he was on the ground. He suffered massive internal bleeding and multiple fractures and Dr Mulligan concluded that his "catastrophic injuries" would not have been survivable even with immediate medical intervention. There was further evidence of blunt force trauma to the left eye and temple which may have been caused by a blow from the butt of the gun, Mr Delaney said. During five garda interviews over two days, Mr Delaney said the accused gave an account of what had happened. In his first interview, the accused said: "Then this big blue car pulled up and this lad said, "who are you", and I said, "I'm Stephen Silver" and he said, "I'm a garda" and I seen a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, I didn't know who he was." Counsel said the accused man described being pushed by Gda Horkan and said: "He was in my face." Mr Silver continued: "I pushed him. I felt him going for something. He had a holster, next thing he had it out, then bang, bang, bang, bang. He must have shot himself." Mr Silver said he got the gun off Gda Horkan and added: "I must have shot him without my glasses." He said he threw the gun away and saw that Gda Horkan "wasn't in a good way". He also said: "I'm angry about it because a garda tried to kill me, is that a garda car?" Mr Delaney said: "That is a flavour of the account provided by the accused man." Counsel told the jury that to prove the charge against Mr Silver, the prosecution must prove the ordinary ingredients for murder and that Mr Silver knew Gda Horkan was a garda acting in accordance with his duty or that he was reckless in that regard. Mr Delaney said the prosecution would show that it was "obvious" to Mr Silver that he was dealing with a garda and that this is borne out by what Mr Silver said in the immediate aftermath and by what witnesses heard Gda Horkan say to him. He said the defence is arguing for a manslaughter verdict based on diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder and the jury will hear from a psychiatrist for the prosecution and the defence. Mr Delaney added: "They [the defence] will say he was suffering from a relapse of his mental health difficulties such that his responsibility for the death is substantially diminished. The prosecution disagree and say he had a significantly functioning mental capacity, but ultimately the issue will be for you to decide." Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the trial until Monday after telling the jury not to speak to anyone about the case or to look at media coverage. He added: "The only thing you are concerned with is the evidence you hear in this courtroom, uncontaminated by anything else." Local News By Chris Boyle Published: October 07 2022 11 Park Drive Apartments is the Fourth State-Funded Affordable Housing Development to Open at Wyandanch Village. Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of a $40.4 million affordable housing development in the Suffolk County hamlet of Wyandanch. Known as 11 Park Drive Apartments, the newly-constructed building features 94 apartments for seniors and is the fourth phase of development at Wyandanch Village, a 40-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Wyandanch Long Island Railroad station and now home to 395 apartments. "Increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing is a priority across New York, particularly in communities on Long Island," Governor Hochul said. "We remain focused on creating more housing opportunities like Wyandanch Village that help ensure our senior population is able to remain in the communities they call home while enjoying improved access to transit and the services needed to live independently." The completion of 11 Park Drive Apartments complements Governor Hochul's plan to make housing across New York State more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the FY 2023 State Budget, the Governor introduced and successfully secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. 11 Park Drive Apartments consists of a single five-story building with 94 apartments reserved for seniors aged 62 and older. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 70 percent of the Area Median Income. The building is designed to accommodate people with mobility issues and those who have trouble with steps or who rely on wheelchairs or walkers. Seven apartments are fully adapted to accommodate tenants with physical disabilities and three additional apartments will be fully adapted for residents who are visually or hearing impaired. Amenities include a laundry facility, multi-purpose community room, computer room, fitness room, resident social services office, and green space. The project's development team is a joint venture between the Albanese Development Corporation and Selfhelp Realty Group. Selfhelp will operate their Active Services for Aging model within the building, which offers social services intake and assessments, assistance with benefits and entitlements, mental and physical wellness programs, and social events. The program also provides residents with volunteer opportunities and referrals to community-based resources like home-delivered meals, home care, mental health services and transportation. 11 Park Drive Apartments is the fourth residential building to be completed at Wyandanch Village. The 40-acre parcel was acquired by the town of Babylon for residential redevelopment with support from Empire State Development, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, the Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Wyandanch Village is part of a larger revitalization effort called Wyandanch Rising, a comprehensive transit-oriented downtown revitalization plan, and was named a priority project of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. The Albanese Development Corporation was selected by the town as the Master Developer for the residential buildings. In addition to 11 Park Drive Apartments, two mixed-use, mixed-income buildings with 177 apartments were completed in 2015 and a third building with 124 mixed-income apartments opened in late 2019. All four projects received financing from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. State financing for 11 Park Drive Apartments included $7.9 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Tax Credits that generated $15 million in equity and $14.9 million in subsidy from HCR. New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Wyandanch Village now offers nearly 400 apartments for a range of household incomes in a convenient, transit-oriented location. This type of planned development will serve as a model across New York State for how to build smart, sustainable, and mixed-use communities. 11 Park Drive Apartments adds 94 affordable homes for seniors so that residents can safely age in place in a thriving and active neighborhood with access to on-site services from Selfhelp. We thank our local partners and the Albanese Development Corporation for making Wyandanch Village a reality." Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said, "Making sure our seniors have a safe place to call home right here in Suffolk County remains a top priority and the completion of this affordable housing development does just that. I would like to thank New York State for its continued partnership and ensuring those in need are able to keep a roof over their heads." Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said, "This new development is an exciting part of Wyandanch Rising. Providing housing for our seniors that allows them to maintain vital independence is an unmet need in the region. On behalf of the entire Town Board, we thank our partners at Selfhelp and all of the state agencies involved in making this development a reality." President of Albanese Organization Christopher Albanese said, "We are proud of our latest achievement in Wyandanch Village with the completion and lease up of 11 Park Drive, a 100% affordable rental building built for our most vulnerable, local seniors. This undertaking would not have been possible without all our partners including Selfhelp Community Services, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Suffolk County, the Town of Babylon and the Town of Babylon's Industrial Development Authority, as well as our low-income housing tax credit syndicator, Hudson Housing Capital, and our lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank. 11 Park Drive marks the addition of this fifth building, which continues to both contribute to and build upon the public-private collaboration known as 'Wyandanch Rising', which is an effort to bring new, safe, and affordable housing to the Wyandanch community, as well as new opportunities for economic growth." Local News, Community, Charity & Cause By Long Island Published: October 06 2022 Chief Skrynecki began his 43-year law enforcement career with the Nassau County Police Department on July 12, 1974 as a recruit and steadily rose through the ranks. It is with sorrow and deep regret that County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman and Commissioner of Police Patrick J. Ryder announce the untimely death of retired Nassau County Police Department, Four Star Chief of Department, Steven E. Skrynecki. Chief Skrynecki began his 43-year law enforcement career with the Nassau County Police Department on July 12, 1974 as a recruit and steadily rose through the ranks of Police Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Detective Lieutenant, Captain, Detective Captain, Deputy Inspector, Inspector, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Chief of Detectives and our highest-ranking uniformed officer, Chief of Department. The Chief was also appointed to many specialized units and designations due to his experience, expertise, and dedication, which consisted of Chief Hostage Negotiator, Commanding Officer of the Narcotics Vice Bureau, Internal Affairs, Robbery Squad, and numerous Precinct Squads. He was also a decorated officer that was awarded numerous medals with the highest being the Medal of Distinguished Service for bravery. He was also a member of many other fraternal and Law Enforcement organizations within and outside of the police department. His most beloved organization was the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, which he was the founder and lead drummer for the past 48 years. He was also a supporter of the Holy Name Society, Municipal Chiefs Association, and was a past graduate of the prestigious FBI Academy. The Chief was always known for his tireless 24/7 work ethic and his ability to balance the many demands of the job and taking care of his family. Often the Chief would be the first at work and the last to leave. Chief Skrynecki will always be known for his many leadership qualities, which contributed to his various promotions. The Chief retired from the Nassau County Police Department in 2017, after he was offered the job as Chief of the Southampton Police Department. What quickly became Nassaus loss was Southamptons gain, due to the Chiefs expertise in police management, his ability to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, and the trust he gained with communities and residents along the way. Our hearts, prayers and condolences go out to the entire Skrynecki family and their friends, the Nassau County Police Department and the Southampton Police Department during our shared time of grief. Patrick J. Ryder Police Commissioner Bruce A. Blakeman County Executive From Nassau County Executive County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman: Steve Skrynecki was the consummate law enforcement professional who served Nassau County with great distinction, culminating in his leadership as Chief of Department in the Nassau County Police Department, the highest uniformed position. The region has lost a great leader and I have lost a dear friend. From Nassau Commissioner of Police Patrick J. Ryder: I have known Steve Skrynecki for over 35 years and can say that he was the best of the best in law enforcement. When I started as a cop I worked with Steve as he was a Detective in the 3rd Squad. When Steve made Sergeant, I worked for him and when he was again promoted to Detective Sergeant, I had the pleasure of working cases with him while I was in the Bureau of Special Operations. When I was promoted to Deputy Commissioner I took over Steves office as he had just been appointed to the Chief in Southampton Town. We go back a long way and had many conversations about how proud Steve was of his son Scott, who is a Detective Sergeant on our job and his daughter Kathryn. Steve loved playing drums in the Pipe Band and it was so special that he and his son Scott were able to play in the band together as Scott was also a drummer. This man will be sorely missed for his dedication to law enforcement and even more missed by many others, as he was so dedicated to his family and friends. My condolences go out to all. From Nassau County Police Department Detective Sergeant Scott Skrynecki: My father dedicated his life to law enforcement and serving the public at a very young age. I am overwhelmed with pride to follow the example he has set. But the center of his life and his greatest gift to us was his dedication to his family and beloved friends. We will miss him dearly. From Town of Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman: Health & Wellness By Long Island News & PR Published: October 07 2022 Sandra Lindsay, RN was previously director of nursing critical care at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park. She was the first American to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Now, the Presidential Medal of Freedom winner is getting a promotion. On December 14, 2020, Sandra Lindsay, RN volunteered to become the first American vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. According to a statement from Northwell Health, as a woman of color and proud Jamaican immigrant, Lindsays message also struck an authentic tone with communities of color and Caribbean peoples alike. Her ID badge and scrubs reside at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History. And for her community health efforts, President Joe Biden awarded Lindsay with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony in July. After 29 years in nursing, most recently serving as director of nursing critical care at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Lindsay was made vice president of public health advocacy by Northwell Health. Im grateful for Sandras willingness to serve as an example for her own team members as the first person at Northwell to get vaccinated and then to continue to advocate for vaccines and vaccine equity at every turn, including at the United Nations and the White House, said Michael Dowling, president and CEO at Northwell. Its clear Sandra is destined to serve as a public health advocate and excited to elevate her to this role. Lindsay emigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1986, graduated from Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1993 as valedictorian of her nursing program and joined Lenox Hill Hospital one year later as an oncology nurse. While continuing her education, she served as a critical care nurse manager at Lenox Hill before transitioning to LIJ. When the pandemic struck New York State in March 2020, Queens quickly became the epicenter and according to Northwell, no hospital treated more cases than LIJ. She oversaw expansion of the hospitals intensive care unit capacity by 212 percent to care for critically ill Covid-19 patients. Lindsay saw the opportunity to get vaccinated nine months later as a game-changer, so she volunteered to be the first at Northwell. But, by a quirk of timing, Lindsay was acknowledged as the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pfizer vaccine an internationally-celebrated turning point in the deadly pandemic. Her latest appointment is a continuation of her evolution from frontline clinician to spokesperson and health advocate. I plan to work collaboratively with my colleagues to positively influence social and health issues that are priorities for our communities in New York, throughout the U.S. and globally, said Lindsay. I chose a career in health care because I believe in raising the health of everyone. I plan to advance the mission at Northwell Health of compassionate and equitable care. More about Sandra Lindsay, RN: Nature & Weather By Chris Boyle Published: October 07 2022 These upgrades will enhance resiliency by improving critical facilities and street infrastructure. The Governors Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) today announced the completion of resiliency projects that will improve the Fire Island communitys response during emergencies. The projects, totaling a $3 million investment, fortified a vital emergency route and installed backup power generators. Upgrades included: The western section of Burma Road, a vital access route for emergency vehicles thats located in a 100-year flood plain, was reconstructed to withstand future flooding and erosion. Traffic safety conditions were improved and ditches were cleared along Burma Road. An emergency power generator was installed on elevated platforms in the Fair Harbor Fire Department, which is in an extreme flood risk area. The generator will be able to provide continuous power during an emergency. An emergency power generator was installed on elevated platforms in the Village of Saltaire Water Treatment Facility, which is also in an extreme flood risk area. The generator will be able to provide continuous power during an emergency. These upgrades will enhance resiliency by improving critical facilities and street infrastructure. They will help facilitate evacuation in the event of an emergency, ensure first responders can operate safely and efficiently during emergencies, and guarantee a clean water supply even during storms. GOSR Executive Director Katie Brennan said, First responders are a critical lifeline for Fire Island and these projects will ensure that their essential infrastructure is more resilient during flooding and major storms. We will continue to support projects that strengthen resiliency and help communities adapt to climate change along the Great South Bay and across New York. Communities along Long Islands Great South Bay regularly deal with flooding and storm surge. During Superstorm Sandy, waves as high as 9.6 meters and winds as fast as 90 mph caused two major breaches on Fire Island which cut the island in two. Beaches and dunes lost over half of their volume, leaving the area more vulnerable to future storms. Not only did it impact access for first responders, but the storm also flooded walkways and caused power outages. It caused damage to 1,600 homes as well as to critical infrastructure including fire houses, water treatment facilities, and vital access roads. Burma Road was flooded and the Fair Harbor and Saltaire facilities lost power. These street and power infrastructure upgrades will improve the communitys recovery efforts during future storms. Senator Phil Boyle said, As both a state senator and first responder that saw the devastation that Superstorm Sandy wrought on our area, I know very well how truly vital this funding has been. There is no doubt that these resiliency projects will help protect lives and properties not only on Fire Island but also in our South Shore communities. "With extreme weather incidents becoming more and more common, it is more important than ever to ensure that we strengthen our shorelines and protect vital infrastructure, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. The completion of this project does that, while also ensuring that our first responders are able to act as quickly and safely as possible during any future emergencies. Hugh O'Brien, Mayor of the Village of Saltaire, said "The state's provision of an emergency generator to the Village of Saltaire, and the reconstruction of the Burma Road, not only enhance the safety of Fire Island's residents, they further confirm the critical role the island plays in the protection of the south shore of Long Island." Alexcy Romero, Superintendent of the National Parks Services Fire Island National Seashore, said, This project is great example of how the Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, Governors Office of Storm Recovery, Suffolk County and the neighboring communities worked together to achieve this much-needed project. It took collaboration to complete this road improvement project at Fire Island National Seashore! The Burma Road Improvement Project truly has had a positive effect on emergency response to and from Fire Island Pines. We are able to better offer our neighbors to the west a quicker response during all emergencies and we are able to receive mutual aid to Fire Island Pines from our neighbors more efficiently. Thank you to GOSR for a job well done, said Fire Island Pines Fire Department Chief Joe Geiman. The Fair Harbor Fire District is grateful for the infrastructure improvements made on the western portion of Fire Island by the Governors Office of Storm Recovery. The installation of generators at the Fair Harbor and Saltaire Firehouses as well as the reconstruction of the Burma Road will greatly improve our emergency response capabilities in the event of future natural disasters, said Kathleen Chinkel of the Fair Harbor Fire District. About GOSR Established in June 2013, GOSR coordinates statewide recovery efforts for Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. More recently, GOSR is also coordinating recovery and resiliency efforts for Hurricane Ida. Through its NY Rising Housing Recovery, Small Business, Community Reconstruction, Infrastructure, and Rebuild by Design programs, GOSR invests $4.5 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to better prepare New York for extreme weather events. The agency is also leveraging Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds to implement resiliency initiatives More information about GOSR and its programs is available at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/. Through the NY Rising Community Reconstruction (NYRCR) and Infrastructure Programs, the State takes on a variety of initiatives developed during its bottom-up community planning process to improve resiliency, protect critical infrastructure, mitigate the risks of loss and damage associated with future disasters, and reduce hardship. Now in the implementation stage, GOSR works with a variety of municipal, county, and non-profit partners to bring hundreds of locally devised proposals to fruition. The inaugural symposium of the WCO Symposia series, Visualising a Greener HS to support environmentally sustainable trade, supported by the European Union, was held on 5 October 2022. This symposium looked at the role of Harmonized System (HS) classification in identifying goods of importance in environmental policies at the border and was the first event focused on the theme "Expanding food horizons - recognizing agricultural diversity for sustainable global food security. Opened by the Secretary General of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya and with a keynote address from the Director General of Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission (TAXUD), Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, the symposium brought together representatives from the FAO, the private sector and the Customs sector to discuss both needs and ideas in this sector. This was the first of a series of five symposia whose objective is to seek concrete ideas for the 2027 edition and subsequent editions of the HS to be increasingly green. This is a way of providing real-world support, through the Harmonized System (HS), to the Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations General Assembly, which recognizes the importance of international trade in ensuring greater environmental sustainability. Following on from the "Green Customs Global Conference", organized by the WCO on 27 and 28 June 2022, these symposia are part of the overall work of the WCO for Green Customs. Over 200 participants from Customs administrations, international governmental organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), academia and the private sector joined this first symposium. In his opening speech, the Secretary General of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya noted that "the Harmonized System being a tool for the clearance of goods at customs borders, the main source of statistics on the global trade in goods and an important tool for the implementation of border policy measures, must also become the language of support for sustainable international trade. He added that these symposia on "Greening the HS aim to bring a more global dimension to the discussions, with new perspectives, in order to help WCO members to focus on the changes needed today and better identify feasible ideas to make the 2027 edition and subsequent editions of the HS even greener. In his opening speech, the Director General of Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission (TAXUD), Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, thanked the WCO for the various initiatives in the field of the environment. He noted the EU initiatives in this area and underscored the importance for Customs community to adapt to environmental challenges. Mr. Paulo De Lima, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomed the cooperation between the two organizations within the framework of the HS. While acknowledging the progress made in recent HS review cycles, he indicated that a lot was still possible in order to have a green HS. He also recognized that by making the HS even greener, the WCO and its Members would contribute to food security. Moderating the panel discussion, the Deputy Director of the WCOTariff and Trade Affairs directorate, Ms. Gael Grooby, set the context for the discussions. She noted that the panel presentations would be followed by an open discussion and encouraged both big ideas and practical suggestions, noting it would deepen and expand the discussion within the HS Review cycle. The first speaker, Mr. Marcio Castro de Souza, Senior Fishery Officer, Secretary of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade and Coordinator of the GLOBEFISH Project, discussed recent major changes and trends in international fish trade, fishery and aquaculture products. He also looked at some of the specific product areas where sub-headings could be created for helping sustainability focused country policy on fishery and aquaculture products. The second speaker, Mr. Par Larshans, Ragn-Sells Group Sustainability Director and Co-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Working Group on Circular Economy, gave practical examples of how innovate processing of wastes could move nutrients and components back into the agricultural cycle. This could have multiple benefits to both the circular economy and environment, such as the potential for greatly reducing the need for the mining of finite resources such as phosphorus, and was part of a circular transition to provide the world with the food people need. However, he noted that such innovation would be greatly impeded if there was not agile updating of legislation and removal of trade barriers in relation to high quality and highly purified raw materials that were sourced from what was now considered waste. The third speaker, Mr. David Kozik, Policy Officer - Customs Classification at the Directorate General for Taxation and Customs of the European Commission, explored how to broaden food horizons through agricultural diversity for sustainable global food security. Some examples of amendments were presented in the context of the diversity of food products, particularly with regard to organic foods, and alternatives to products of animal origin, among others. Participants raised practical questions which will also add to future discussion in the HS Review cycle. Ms. Grooby noted that the conversations that started at this first symposium would be the inputs and insights to HS experts in Customs administrations around the world, enriching the pool of ideas on HS changes and helping propel the Green HS conversation. The WCO would report on the outcomes so that Members could consider this within the framework of the current review cycle or future review cycles. The Director of WCO Tariff and Trade Affairs directorate, Mr. Konstantinos Kaiopoulos, in his closing remarks, urged HS users to continue discussions so that the role of HS as the language of international trade be expanded to also become the language of support for sustainable international trade. In doing so, he said, they will help raise awareness of how the HS can be a positive tool to address the challenges we face and help achieve the goal of greening the HS. Health & Wellness By Chris Boyle Published: October 07 2022 NYU Langone recently welcomed five locations from MyHealth Long Island, offering wellness services and preventive care. As part of its mission to enhance access to quality healthcare where people live and work, NYU Langone Health continues to grow its outpatient network in Suffolk County on Long Island with new locations and specialty services. Our new locations ensure patients have convenient access to care as we continue to grow our services throughout Suffolk County, including on the East End, says Andrew Rubin, senior vice president for clinical affairs and ambulatory care at NYU Langone. Building on this momentum, were also recruiting more primary and specialty care providers to add to our sites so we can care for even more patients in the community. New Locations for Wellness and Preventive Care NYU Langone recently welcomed five locations from MyHealth Long Island, offering wellness services and preventive care. The providers at specialize in primary care, family medicine, rheumatology, and colorectal surgery. Our transition to NYU Langone has been great for both providers and patients, says Keriake Semertzides, DO, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine. The information available in Epic, NYU Langones electronic health record, provides a more complete picture of who my patients are and their needs, and has also enhanced health screening management, which enables physicians to provide the highest-quality care. Patients can make appointments at our newest Suffolk County locations: Expanding World-Class Gastroenterology Care Expanding its gastroenterology (GI) network on Long Island, NYU Langone recently welcomed Steve Georgopoulos, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, who sees patients at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead and NYU Langone Medical AssociatesBridgehampton. Dr. Georgopoulos treats GI conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diverticular disease, and performs endoscopies and colonoscopies at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead. Before joining NYU Langone, Dr. Georgopoulos was the former chief of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. NYU Langone also added GI services at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesPatchogue, 100 Hospital Road, welcoming Chris E. Lascarides, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine and clinical director for ambulatory gastroenterology in Suffolk County. Dr. Lascarides, who completed his entire education and training at NYU, including undergraduate studies, medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship training, returns to NYU Langone as a gastroenterologist with 20 years of experience. Dr. Lascarides treats general GI conditions and performs endoscopies, colonoscopies, and capsule endoscopies. New Pulmonology Location in Patchogue The multilingual care team at NYU Langone Pulmonary AssociatesEast Patchogue, formerly Suffolk Chest Physicians, offers comprehensive diagnostic testing and care for pulmonary conditions. In addition to routine care, they also provide specialized treatment for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema, as well as sleep medicine and critical care medicine services. We welcome all of our new locations and providers to our world-class medical team and look forward to more growth to come, says Rubin. Top ranked for quality and patient safety, NYU Langones rapidly expanding care network offers more than 320+ convenient locations and 3,300 physicians across the New York Metro region, throughout Long Island, and in Palm Beach County, Florida. As part of its mission to enhance access to quality healthcare where people live and work, NYU Langone Health continues to grow its outpatient network in Suffolk County on Long Island with new locations and specialty services. Our new locations ensure patients have convenient access to care as we continue to grow our services throughout Suffolk County, including on the East End, says Andrew Rubin, senior vice president for clinical affairs and ambulatory care at NYU Langone. Building on this momentum, were also recruiting more primary and specialty care providers to add to our sites so we can care for even more patients in the community. New Locations for Wellness and Preventive Care NYU Langone recently welcomed five locations from MyHealth Long Island, offering wellness services and preventive care. The providers at specialize in primary care, family medicine, rheumatology, and colorectal surgery. Our transition to NYU Langone has been great for both providers and patients, says Keriake Semertzides, DO, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine. The information available in Epic, NYU Langones electronic health record, provides a more complete picture of who my patients are and their needs, and has also enhanced health screening management, which enables physicians to provide the highest-quality care. Patients can make appointments at our newest Suffolk County locations: Expanding World-Class Gastroenterology Care Expanding its gastroenterology (GI) network on Long Island, NYU Langone recently welcomed Steve Georgopoulos, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, who sees patients at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead and NYU Langone Medical AssociatesBridgehampton. Dr. Georgopoulos treats GI conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diverticular disease, and performs endoscopies and colonoscopies at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead. Before joining NYU Langone, Dr. Georgopoulos was the former chief of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. NYU Langone also added GI services at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesPatchogue, 100 Hospital Road, welcoming Chris E. Lascarides, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine and clinical director for ambulatory gastroenterology in Suffolk County. Dr. Lascarides, who completed his entire education and training at NYU, including undergraduate studies, medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship training, returns to NYU Langone as a gastroenterologist with 20 years of experience. Dr. Lascarides treats general GI conditions and performs endoscopies, colonoscopies, and capsule endoscopies. New Pulmonology Location in Patchogue The multilingual care team at NYU Langone Pulmonary AssociatesEast Patchogue, formerly Suffolk Chest Physicians, offers comprehensive diagnostic testing and care for pulmonary conditions. In addition to routine care, they also provide specialized treatment for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema, as well as sleep medicine and critical care medicine services. We welcome all of our new locations and providers to our world-class medical team and look forward to more growth to come, says Rubin. Top ranked for quality and patient safety, NYU Langones rapidly expanding care network offers more than 320+ convenient locations and 3,300 physicians across the New York Metro region, throughout Long Island, and in Palm Beach County, Florida. (Alliance News) Abingdon Health PLC on Friday said it expects a judgement by the UK's Technology & Construction Court in relation to the judicial review against the UK's Department of Health & Social Care at 1500 BST on Friday. Rapid test manufacturer Abingdon is an interested party in the case regarding Covid-related contracts. Abingdon shares surged 40% to 9.08 pence each in London on Friday mid-morning. The case name is "Good Law Project Ltd & another v The Secretary of State For Health & Social Care". Abingdon in July received a GBP6.3 million cash payment from the DHSC as part of a settlement agreement. In June, the York-based company reached a settlement with the DHSC on the outstanding invoices due from DHSC to Abingdon. In February 2021, a High Court ruled that the UK government unlawfully failed to publish details of billions of pounds' worth of coronavirus-related contracts, as reported by PA's Alison Kershaw. The Good Law Project took legal action against the DHSC for its "wholesale failure" to disclose details of contracts agreed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is required by law to publish a "contract award notice" within 30 days of the award of any contracts for public goods or services worth more than GBP120,000. By Tom Budszus; tombudszus@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Cadence Minerals PLC on Friday said it has laid the basis for pre-feasibility studies at the Amapa iron ore project in Brazil with the completion of a new mineral resource estimate through Dev Mineracao SA. Cadence is a London-based early stage investment and development company focused on the mineral resource sector. Dev holds the mining rights to the Amapa project, an integrated mine, beneficiation plant, railway and port in the northeast of Brazil, while Cadence, via a joint venture company, owns 27% of Dev. The estimate was carried out in compliance with JORC Code 2012, which is the Australian code for the reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves. Results showed a "substantial" increase in mineral resources to 276.2 million tonnes. They also showed new measured resources of 55.3 million tonnes. Measured and indicated resources increased to 229.5 million tonnes. The inferred mineral resources increased to 46.8 million tonnes. Cadence said the higher degree of certainty in the mineral resource estimate provides more funding options for the Amapa project. The new measured resource and the overall increase in the mineral resource would provide "a sound basis for an initial 14-year mine life", it added. Chief Executive Officer Kiran Morzaria commented: "The main aim of our new mineral resource statement was to provide a sound basis for pre-feasibility studies. In particular, to convert a significant portion of the indicated mineral resource into the measured category. The results reported today have achieved this goal and more." Cadence shares were trading 1.6% higher at 9.60 pence each in London on Friday afternoon. By Holly Beveridge; hollybeveridge@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Rockwood Strategic PLC - London-based investor in smaller UK public companies formerly known as Rockwood Realisation PLC - Reports half-year net asset value total return of negative 10% compared to FTSE small cap of negative 20% and FTSE AIM all share of negative 23%. Net asset value at September 30% falls 4.4% to 1446.7 pence per share from 1,512.8p at June 30. Says at period end it traded at a discount of 2.2% to NAV. Adds that net cash amounts to GBP2.4 million at September 30. In August, Rockwood said it was planning to apply to move to Premium Segment of Main Market and cancel AIM listing. Move is part of plan to "improve the tax efficiency of the company as expediently as possible". Declares no interim dividend for the half-year ended September 30. Looking ahead, firm says: "We are anticipating a number of second half investee dividends alongside an announced return of capital from Smoove PLC". Smoove provides online services for conveyancing and financial intermediary markets and is best known for its conveyancer comparison platform eConveyancer. Current stock price: 1,400.00 pence 12-month change: down 18% By Xindi Wei; xindiwei@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Ince Group PLC on Friday announced that it has agreed a direct subscription with corporate investor, Beckington Ltd, for a total of 19.0 million new ordinary shares. The London-based group, which provides legal, accounting, financial, consulting and pensions advice services, said they had been agreed at an issue price of 5 pence per share. Ince shares were trading 8.3% higher at 4.82p each in London on Friday morning. Ince said the subscription was driven by investor demand, further to the subscription made on September 1 from Beckington Ltd for 3.4 million shares at the issue price. Beckington is a subsidiary of Knox D'Arcy Investments Ltd. It was not possible to make a larger investment at that time, as Ince had reached the limit of its allotment authorities, which were subsequently renewed at its annual general meeting on September 30. The issue price is equal to the price at which the recent placing and open offer, announced on July 28, were undertaken. The net proceeds from the subscription will also be applied in the same way as the net proceeds of the July placing. Ince said it will make an application for the 19.0 million new shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, and expects this to take place on or around October 13. Upon admission, Beckington will have a total shareholding in the company of 26.2 million ordinary shares, approximately 9.9% of Ince's issued share capital. By Holly Beveridge; hollybeveridge@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Power Metal Resources PLC on Wednesday said it has added to its property portfolio with the purchase via claim staking of the Badger Lake uranium property in Canada's Athabasca Basin. Badger Lake covers an area of 16.7 square kilometres. The London-based metals exploration and development company's Athabasca uranium portfolio is now twelve properties strong, with a combined total area of 829.6 square kilometres. Power Metal also announced the successful completion of exploration programmes at its Thibault Lake, Clearwater and Tait Hill properties, and historical data compilation at recently acquired Reindeer Lake, Old Woman Rapids and Porter Lake in Canada. In other news, it noted that its investee, First Class Metals PLC, was mulling the acquisition of the Sunbeam project in Ontario, which hosts several gold mining sites. First Class also announced on Wednesday that it has discovered up to 1.62 grammes of total precious metals per tonne at its West Pickle Lake site. Power Metal hold 18.5 million shares in First Class, representing 28% of issued share capital. In Botswana, Power Metal is still targeting a major nickel discovery. Drilling of large-scale conductors at the Molopo Farms Complex project continues, following the discovery of a 'jelly-bean' shaped, geophysical conductor at target area T1-3, reported on September 28. It has been given the same high-priority ranking as the T1-6 conductor, where drilling is ongoing. Chief Executive Officer Paul Johnson described the company's drilling project in southwestern Botswana as "important and potentially transformational work". "Shareholders can expect more developments from Power Metal's current and potential future uranium interests over the balance of 2022 and into 2023," he said. Power Metal shares were trading 2.7% lower at 1.46 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon. By Holly Beveridge; hollybeveridge@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Rural Broadband Solutions PLC - provider of high-speed broadband to rural areas of the UK - Announces proposed investment from Tiger Infrastructure Partners Fund III LP into its two operating subsidiaries. Tiger Infrastructure will invest up to GBP75 million in Rural Broadband Solutions Holdings Ltd, a newly formed company, owning 85%. RBBS will transfer the shares it owns in Secure Web Services Ltd and Cadence Networks Ltd to RBSHL and receive GBP825,000 in cash over three years in return as well as 15% of RBSHL. Firm notes its ownership of RBSHL is not subject to dilution unless Tiger reaches its GBP75 million contribution to RBSHL. Transaction subject to approval by 50.1% of RBBS shareholders at EGM. Separately, firm amends warrants attached to shares subscribed for at the time of its initial public offering. Extends warrant exercise period to April 21, 2024, and decreases price to 3 pence per share. ---------- Allied Minds PLC - Boston, Massachusetts-based intellectual property commercialization company - Will consult with shareholders regarding a possible delisting of the company. Publishes a circular relating to this proposed cancellation of Allied Minds' listing on the Official List and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Firm says: "the costs of maintaining a premium listing on the Official List and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange are prohibitive for a company of Allied Minds' current size and maintaining a public listing is no longer in best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole." Estimates it would achieve savings of USD2.2 million in the financial year following delisting. If delisting is approved at its general meeting, the delisting is expected to complete on November 30. ---------- Vaalco Energy Inc - Houston, Texas-based hydrocarbon explorer - Says shareholders of TransGlobe Energy Corp have approved the proposed business combination with Vaalco at a special meeting. Vaalco Chief Executive George Maxwell says: "We are excited for this business combination and appreciate the strong support we received from both sets of stockholders. The combination of these two companies should build a business of scale, a stronger balance sheet and a more material and diversified baseline of production that will underpin the combined Company's opportunities for success at a rate that would not be achievable alone." ---------- Dunedin Enterprise Investment Trust PLC - invests in UK lower mid-market management buyouts - Granted regulatory approval for the realisation of RED, a provider of SAP contract and permanent staff. Investment in RED, held via DENT's interest in Dunedin Buyout Fund II LP, is valued at GBP23.7 million at June 30. Proceeds received from transaction total GBP24.1 million. ---------- Tertiary Minerals PLC - mineral exploration and development company focused on energy transition metals - Closes sale of its royalty interest in the the Kaaresselka and Kiekeromaa properties in Finland to Aurion Resources Ltd. Definitive sale agreement have been signed. Total consideration is CAD200,000 in cash, around GBP131,609, as well as the issues of 83,333 shares in Aurion to Tertiary. ---------- Oxford BioDynamics PLC - biotechnology company developing clinical diagnostic tests for immune health - Conditionally raises GBP9.1 million through a placing of 45.1 million shares at a price of 20 pence per placing share. Subscribers also subscribe for 195,000 shares at the same price. In addition, firm proposes open offer to subscribe for 14.7 million shares at 20 pence each. Fundraise will provide working capital to accelerate the commercialisation of its EpiSwitch product line, it explains. Price represents a premium of 33% to the closing mid-market price on Thursday. ---------- RPS Group PLC - Abingdon, Oxfordshire-based professional services firm - Receives "significant" minority vote against the approval of its remuneration policy at its annual general meeting. Decides that the review of the remuneration policy should be postponed pending the outcome of current corporate activity due to the recommended acquisition of RPS. ---------- By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued last Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Xtract Resources PLC - Australia, Mozambique and Zambia-focused gold producer, exploration and development company - Total mining contractor gold production for the quarter to June 30 amounts to 54.15 kilogrammes, equivalent to roughly 1,344 ounces. Achieves gold sales of 465 ounces in the period and records revenue of USD642,115. The results for the June quarter are fairly consistent with previous quarters with Guy Fawkes slowly opening up areas for production. Fair Bride is now in production and teething problems of the plant and the mine are being reduced and eliminated. "We anticipate gold production will increase significantly in the final quarter of this year," Executive Chair Colin Bird comments. ---------- H&T Group PLC - Surrey, England-based pawnbroker - Raises gross proceeds of GBP16.9 million through a placing and retail offer. Says it placed 3.9 million shares at 425 pence and that retail investors have subscribed for a total of 61,357 new shares at the same price. Shore Capital acted as sole broker and bookrunner for the placing. The placing shares and retail shares represent roughly 10% of its issued share capital. ---------- Deltic Energy PLC - AIM-listed natural resources investing company - Raises GBP960,000 in an open offer. Says it received valid acceptances from qualifying shareholders for 27.4 million open offer shares. Raises a total of GBP16.0 million via a placing, subscription and open offer. ---------- Steppe Cement Ltd - Kazakhstan-focused construction materials firm - Registers third quarter revenue of KZT13.1 million, or GBP24,996, 9% higher than revenue of KZT12.0 million the previous year. For the 9 months ended 30 September 2022, it records revenue of KZT32.7 million versus KZT28.8 million year-on-year. Explains that 2% higher sales volume of 546,357 tonnes were achieved during the quarter. ---------- Beowulf Mining PLC - natural resource developer and explorer focused on the Nordic region - Identifies 13 highly conductive electromagnetic zones at its Raapysjarvi flake graphite prospect. Says isolated zones are extending for up to 850 metres strike length and 250 meters width. Says six holes drilled in the 1980s have also been resampled and reassayed. "The encouraging exploration data set indicates significant potential for natural flake graphite mineralisation suitable for graphite anodes across Raapysjarvi," the company states. ---------- Netcall PLC - Bedford-based customer engagement software provider - Issues an early redemption notice to redeem the final GBP2.9 million of its original GBP7.0 million loan note held by BGF Nominees Ltd. The final redemption payment of GBP2.9 million will be paid on October 14. The Company will be debt-free from that date. ---------- Starcrest Education Ltd - developer and operator of education services in Europe - Appoints Nick Petford to the board as executive director and chief academic officer from October 1. He is managing director of APSC-Ltd, a consultancy that provides advice to the UK and overseas university sector. Until July 31, he was vice-chancellor and chief executive officer at the University of Northampton. ---------- Voyager Life PLC - Perth, Scotland-based supplier of cannabidiol and hemp seed oil products - Notes press speculation about a potential acquisition under board consideration. Says that it has been examining potential consolidation and partnership opportunities. Adds that it has received "several enquiries" but also is exploring other opportunities "of which it is aware." Requests that its shares are temporarily suspended on the AQSE Growth Market, pending finalisation of its acquisition discussions and says trading will now be restored. ---------- SuperSeed Capital Ltd - venture capital for early-stage business-to-business technology companies in UK - Says its primary holding, SuperSeed Fund II, has led a GBP1.3million Seed funding round into Finteum Ltd, a London fintech start-up. The funds raised will enable Finteum to expand functionality and bring many more banking clients on board the platform. ---------- Inland Homes PLC - Buckinghamshire, England-based housing plot developer - Gets a waiver from its lender for its revolving credit facility on the interest cover ratio covenant for the year, which ended June 30. Agrees to an extension to its facility to October 2023 from March 2023. Completes two land sales to "major housebuilders." The net sale proceeds from the land disposals amount to GBP9.0 million. ---------- Xeros Technology Group PLC - Rotherham, England-based environmental technology firm - Raises gross proceeds of approximately GBP6.0 million, through the placing of 120,000,000 shares at the issue price of 5 pence per ordinary share. Intends to provide all qualifying shareholders with the opportunity to subscribe for a total of 20.4 million open offer shares at the same price. ---------- Gelion PLC - Sydney-based battery cell developer - Establishes a pilot manufacturing plant at the lead-acid factory of its commercial partner Battery Energy Power Solutions Pty Ltd in Western Sydney, Australia. Says the plant was completed ahead of schedule with a 2-megawatt hours annual capacity. The first battery production run will be exported to Acciona Energia in Spain. Believes it is now strongly positioned to deliver on its commercialisation strategy. ---------- Capital Metals PLC - London-based mineral sands explorer - Non-Executive Director James Leahy says during the annual general meeting that the company has received its first two industrial mining licences. Says it is in ongoing discussions with off-takers, debt providers and other strategic funding parties. Confirms parties include large pigment producers out of Asia. Plans to focus on finalsing these discussions. ---------- British Honey Co PLC - Buckinghamshire, England-based producer of spirits, honey and jams - Announces a further delay to the publication of its final results and annual report for 2021. Anticipates that the audit opinion will be complete by mid-October 2022 and that its final results will be announced shortly thereafter. Its shares will remain suspended in the meantime. ---------- Uru Metals Ltd - Toronto-based investor and mine project developer - Completes the disposal of its Zebediela nickel project located in Limpopo, South Africa to Zeb Nickel Corp. Says the project remains its primary focus, through its 75% interest in Zeb Nickel. Notes Zeb Nickel started drilling. Holds cash and cash equivalents of GBP360,000 as at September 30. ---------- By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. On Monday 3 October 2022, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya welcomed the eleven participants of the 83rd WCO Fellowship Programme at the WCO HQ in Brussels. They came to participate in a face-to-face workshop, which follows a first part of the programme delivered online in January and February 2021. The workshop is dedicated to modern leadership and management and aims at giving the participants the necessary knowledge and skills in order to actively contribute to the development and modernization processes of their respective administrations. The approach focuses on people-centered personnel management, while remaining highly demanding in terms of achievements and results. Through a series of interactive and self-reflective exercises, it is expected to lead participants to better understand themselves and interact with others. The workshop also provides an ideal forum for fellows to share experiences, not only among themselves, but also with experts from the WCO Secretariat, thus enhancing their knowledge while building a strong professional network. The programme will conclude with a field study trip to observe operational practices within a partner Customs administration. This edition of the WCO Fellowship Programme has been made possible thanks to the financial support of France, South Korea and Japan. Customs administrations from Brazil, Senegal, Burundi, Cape Verde, Madagascar, Moldova, Republic of Congo, Algeria, Comoros, Mali and Togo participated in the 83rd Fellowship Programme. (Alliance News) - The UK and Ireland have insisted they will work closely to try and resolve the impasse over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney in London on Thursday, with the pair expressing warm words and a desire for close cooperation on issues including the protocol. The first bilateral meeting between the UK and Ireland since Liz Truss became UK Prime Minister will be followed on Friday by the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. It will be co-chaired by Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. While agreement on changes linked to the protocol remain to be negotiated, the UK, Ireland and the EU have made a noticeable effort in recent days to express a desire for action. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as part of the Withdrawal Agreement and sought to avoid a hard border with Ireland post-Brexit. But the arrangements have created trade barriers on goods being shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The protocol is vehemently opposed by many unionists in Northern Ireland and the DUP is currently blocking the formation of a power sharing executive in Belfast in protest. Stormont collapsed earlier this year amid a row over the protocol and has not returned despite elections in May Coveney, writing on Twitter, said: "My pleasure to host UK Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly at the Irish Embassy London for a working dinner. "James & I discussed Brexit, the protocol, the war in Ukraine as well as our shared work at the UN Security Council. We agreed to work closely together on all." Cleverly wrote: "As our closest neighbour, I am committed to working with Ireland on important issues including energy security and fixing the problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol." Negotiations between UK and EU officials restarted on Thursday afternoon. Ireland's premier Micheal Martin warned "difficulties" exist in reaching an agreement on the protocol but he said there is a "genuine desire" from all sides to do so. He said space is now needed to allow the UK and the EU to reach a resolution. Ireland's deputy premier Leo Varadkar also conceded the protocol is a "little too strict". He said the protocol is working despite not being fully implemented, demonstrating there is room for "further flexibility for some changes". Legislation to enable the UK government to effectively tear up parts of the protocol is to return to Westminster on October 11. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has already cleared the House of Commons and will be debated at second reading by the House of Lords, which is expected to consider it at length, next week. By Richard Wheeler, PA Parliamentary Editor source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The relationship between Khloe Kardashian and Kanye West has been heating up with a war of words now in full swing. Both have participated in a strong exchange of messages on social media. The rapper and Kim Kardashian are in the middle of a divorce process and also in a dispute over their children. That's why Kim's sister came to her defense and held nothing back. Kanye started the arguemnt with a controversial post on Instagram. Ye pointed to a narrative he's tried before, claiming that Kim held a "secret" birthday party for their daughter, Chicago, nearly a year after she filed for divorce. The rapper was blunt with the Kardashians. Then it was Khloe who responded, in a more 'polite' way, claiming she was reluctant to get dragged into all this. "Ye, I love you. I don't want to do this on social media but YOU keep bringing it here," wrote Khloe. "You are the father of my nieces and nephews and I'm trying to be respectful but please STOP tearing Kimberly down and using our family when you want to deflect. "Again with the birthday narrative. Enough already. We all know the truth and in my opinion, everyone's tired of it." Khloe followed up her comment by asking Kanye to come to his senses and let Kim and her family take care of the kids. "Like you have pointed out yourself, she is the one taking care of your kids 80% of the time. "Please Leave her and the family out of it so that the kids can be raised peacefully. "I come from a place of love and I am happy to continue this conversation privately if you wish," wrote Khloe. But rather than calming the rapper down, what she did was provoke an even more violent response, where he accused Kim of "kidnapping" Chicago on her birthday. "You are lying and are liars. Y'all basically kidnapped Chicago on her birthday so she could remember her father not being there," raged Kanye in all-caps. This 'war' seems far from over. Of course Kanye West likes Donald Trump because he has millions of dollars and a lot of property. For the longest time, the rappers has always responded better to the times in which he gets praised for all the wealth he generates. His explanation about Donald Trump's wealth is the same reason millions of Americans voted for him. The former president of the United States appeals tothe part of the population that reveres people with power who can do what ever they like. But Kanye West's response was a little more nuanced than just Trump having his own buildings. In fact, there is an odd admiration Kanye has on Trump for using him for political gain when the two met at the White House. But the biggest soundbyte about Trump was the one in the video below, the rest was also pretty interesting. This is what West told Tucker Carlson: "Even Trump, a person we'd consider to be a friend of mine isn't immune to racialized using. One of the things he said to me is 'Kanye, you're my friend. When you came to the White House, my Black approval rating went up 40%'. "For politicians, all Black people are worth is an approval rating. The Democrats feel that they don't owe us anything. And Republicans feel that they don't owe us anything. Blacks have never demanded something for our vote. Why do I like Trump? All the values, the conservative values, just line up. Come on man, Trump's the shit. He has his own buildings." Tucker: "Why did you like [Trump], by the way? You said you liked him early." Kanye: "All the values, the conservative values, just line up. Come on man, Trumps the shit. He has his own buildings." pic.twitter.com/V4Wa4nZOYM ? Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 7, 2022 Is Kanye West a conservative? Kanye West fans who don't share conservative political ideas thought the rapper was just supporting politicians like Trump for attention. However, they are slowly starting to realize this is who Kanye West truly is. He is a Christian conservative who shares all those values with the majority of the Republican party. That's the reality, all of Kanye's fans need to come to terms with it. Who doesn't love a cocktail, or two? Prince William and Kate Middleton certainly do. The pair spent a day in Northern Ireland and made a surprise appearance at a cocktail making competition in Belfast. The couple, who were officially there to take a look at the city's new trendy street-food market, were all smiles as they endeavored to make delicious cocktails in one of the new bars. It looked like the couple made the same cocktail, and the end product looked like it could have been some kind of pink cocktail made with pink gin or lemonade. They seemed to be delighted with the results, and made a toast before taking a sip of their fresh iced cocktails. Will and Kate also took time to visit several charitable organizations in the area, and made a special visit to suicide prevention charity, PIPS. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit By Azernews By Lama Ismayilova The Russian State Museum of Oriental Arts has showcased works by Azerbaijani sculptors, restored with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azernews reports, citing Azertac. The sculptures were shown as part of the exhibition "Remembering Socialist Realism. Azerbaijan. Easel Sculpture of the 1940s-1950s" organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The exposition included works by People's Artists of Azerbaijan Jalal Garyagdi, Fuad Abdurahmanov, Pinhos Sabsay, a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR, Eljan Shamilov, and Huseyn Ahmadov. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, the head of the Humanitarian Programs Department at Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Tamilla Ahmadova, noted that the long-standing and fruitful cooperation between the Russian State Museum of Oriental Arts and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation contributes to the rapprochement between Azerbaijan and Russia. "It is rightly said that art is soft power in world politics. Thanks to art, people come closer, understand each other, and learn the national and cultural code. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, realizing all the creative power of art, led by its leader, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, is carrying out colossal, titanic work to preserve the national heritage not only of Azerbaijan but also of other countries," said Tamilla Ahmadova. She recalled the foundation's projects implemented in Italy, Germany, and France. "A lot of initiatives come from the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. They affect almost the entire humanitarian sphere. Today we are present at a unique exhibition, and this once again confirms the careful attitude of the Foundation to art," she said. Tamilla Ahmadova also spoke about Azerbaijani sculptors, who brought national flavor to socialist realism. According to Tamilla Ahmadova, their works have become classics. "I think that this is not our last project in a series of joint initiatives. Such events are part of our development of friendly, good neighborly relations between Russia and Azerbaijan," she added. Director of the Russian State Museum of Oriental Arts Alexander Sedov said that this exhibition can be considered a continuation of the exhibition "Echo of Soviet Azerbaijan. Carpet. Embroidery. Posters", held jointly with the Azerbaijani Carpet Museum. "We found in our storerooms the wonderful works of famous Azerbaijani sculptors, which entered the museum's collection in 1950-1960. Art is eternal, and including the art of socialist realism is also interesting," he said. The director of the museum spoke about close cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and thanked it for participating in the restoration of classical art objects of easel sculpture in Azerbaijan. Counselor of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia Zaur Pashayev congratulated those present for the opening of the exhibition and conveyed greetings from Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu. Head of the Scientific Restoration Department at the Russian State Museum of Oriental Arts Olga Myagkova highlighted the process of restoration of exhibits. The exhibition will last until October 30, after which it will be shown in the Azerbaijan pavilion at VDNKh, known as All-Russia Exhibition Center. The Army's top enlisted leader says he is steadfast in his commitment to his promise of crafting a more inclusive environment for women as the service has been rocked over a watchdog investigation that reportedly criticizes a senior officer for rebuking attacks on servicewomen. On Wednesday, Task & Purpose was first to disclose the details of an Inspector General investigation on Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe, an armor officer, that reportedly found his use of Twitter to be inappropriate when he blasted a segment from Fox News' Tucker Carlson attacking the Army for allowing pregnant women to serve, and proceeded to disagree with various commentators on social media. Donahoe intended to retire in July but has been assigned as a special assistant to the Army's Training and Doctrine Command. "Intentionally or not, this whole thing showed women that we are not worth defending," one noncommissioned officer told Military.com. "If he can get slapped for this, why would anyone defend women in public?" Read Next: It's Hard to Figure Out Which Employers Are Actually Supportive of Part-Time Troops. This List Might Help. Army officials haven't decided Donahoe's fate, which could include a reduction in rank. But the launch of the investigation in and of itself was seen as a gut punch to those who have advocated supporting female soldiers. To some, scrutinizing Donahoe's defense of women online is being seen as the service bending the knee to right-wing media. "Why would any women want to serve now?" an Army general said to Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "The Army gave a hunting permit to radical partisans. The Army has gone full MAGA," the general said, referencing former President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. It was in response to that uproar that Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston delivered a message on Twitter on Thursday seemingly subtweeting the swirling controversy. "Let me be absolutely clear: I stand with our women in uniform," he wrote. "Your Leaders and I will continue to defend our People vigorously and thank you all for choosing to serve in a time where many do not. You are our greatest strength and most strategic advantage." News of the investigation comes as some of the challenges that have long faced female troops are getting attention and as women, including Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, increasingly take leadership roles. That includes a series of new efforts designed to boost the quality of life for female soldiers, including a total revamp of parenthood policies, such as making it easier for women to pump breast milk on duty, and relaxing grooming standards to allow them to have ponytails and braids. Those efforts were largely led by mid-ranking women in the service, a signal that top leaders are listening to their concerns. The controversy for Donahoe originated in March 2021 when Carlson blasted the Defense Department for efforts to make service more appealing and accommodating to women, such as developing maternity uniforms. That segment served as a flashpoint for right-wing attacks on the military, labeling the armed services as "woke," or so fixated on diversity and inclusion that they had abandoned their warfighting priorities. It's an accusation, without evidence, that has often surfaced since President Joe Biden took office. "While China's military becomes more masculine as it assembles the world's largest Navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine -- whatever feminine means anymore, since men and women no longer exist," Carlson said in the March 2021 segment. Carlson was likely referencing an International Women's Day speech by Biden that same month in which he referenced key female leaders in the military, including Gen. Laura Richardson, who had been recently nominated to head U.S. Southern Command, although the president did not suggest that the military needed to be more "feminine," nor did he use the word during the address. In response, Donahoe shared a video on Twitter of him conducting a reenlistment ceremony on a tank for a female noncommissioned officer, saying "just as a reminder that Tucker Carlson couldn't be more wrong." Other Army leaders backed the sentiment, including Grinston, who said on Twitter, "Women lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate any future battlefield we're called to fight on. Tucker Carlson's words are divisive, don't reflect our values." Grinston is seemingly not under any investigation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. He is set to retire in roughly a year. But those tweets, especially from Donahoe, captured the ire of partisan show hosts on Fox News, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Army investigators said Donahoe's behavior on Twitter "exhibited poor judgment," according to Task & Purpose's reporting. Donahoe was an avid user of social media at a time when most military leaders were wary of some of the risks of being active in the military community online. At an Army conference in 2019, he argued the risks were overblown and that being communicative is critical to building relationships with soldiers, journalists and other stakeholders. "The richness of the discussion outweighs the risks," Donahoe said. "The nature of politics is they're always looking for someone to go [after]." Donahoe's clash with Fox News, and the ensuing investigation, might make it even more difficult for leaders in the service to communicate online in the future, but in the short term, the controversy is creating confusion, according to Katherine Kuzminski, senior fellow and director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. "There is unclear policy and guidance on social media use," she said. "Among the general officer corps, there tend to be different expectations." -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Michael Grinston's Quiet War to Help Make the Army More Lethal, Wokeness Hysterics Be Damned A female employee at an Alabama military base was granted nearly $154,000 in damages for sexual harassment, physical assault and retaliation she suffered at the hands of civilians and officers. Rebecca O'Brien, a lead plans specialist at Fort Rucker, was subject to unwanted sexual text messages from her civilian supervisor, who yanked her hair back while they were on a stairwell before calling her a "b----," according to her complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The incidents took place in 2018 and 2019. O'Brien also claimed her civilian supervisor, Sean Sparks, handed her a screw and said "this will make you feel better. I can help you with this," and inappropriately touched her calf during a meeting. The harassment was not just limited to civilians, according to O'Brien's complaint filed by her attorney, Kevin Owen of Gilbert Employment Law. A major at the Alabama base stared at her chest while he called her into his office and asked her to stand up and turn around for him, according to the complaint. O'Brien faced retaliation after she made formal complaints about the behavior, including being declared AWOL the day after she made the first complaint. She was also declared AWOL after reporting the sexual text messages in September 2018, even though she had a doctor's note excusing her absences. In January 2019, Maj. Carl Warren, the major that stared at her chest, reprimanded O'Brien for tardiness on the same day he was testifying in the case. In 2015, O'Brien, then Fort Rucker's drug and alcohol prevention coordinator, spoke at a workshop for the base's soldiers on how alcohol and drug abuse can fuel sexual abuse, according to an Army story on the event. Last week, an administrative judge overseeing the case awarded O'Brien $153,723 in damages and about $247,000 in attorneys fees. EEOC Administrative Judge Ross Parker's ruling also ordered the Army to provide eight hours of "reprisal, sex-based discrimination, and sexual harassment" training for supervisors and managers at Fort Rucker and to "consider" disciplinary charges against Sean Sparks, O'Brien's civilian supervisor. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An advocacy group for part-time troops launched a new tool Friday aiming to measure what it means to be a military-friendly employer as companies like to tout their support of service members with few metrics to back up those claims. Guardsmen and reserve troops often have to balance full-time civilian jobs with having to take time off work to perform their military duties. The National Guard especially has been tasked frequently in recent years with both overseas obligations and serving on state missions. That state service has become a go-to for governors who have faced labor shortages since the beginning of the pandemic. Friendly Forces, an advocacy group, aims to give part-timers a tool to gauge which employers might be more supportive of their service and offer companies an opportunity to show off their backing for the rank and file. Read Next: Austin Orders Renaming of Bases that Honor Confederate Rebels The most important benefit employers can offer? Paid military leave. "I need actionable things that [help] me as a serving reservist," Eric Evans, an Army Reserve captain and CEO of Friendly Forces, told Military.com. "Just saying you love veterans and troops doesn't really help me if you don't have a policy that supports them getting called up for a domestic emergency or deployment or anything like that, because you can talk all day about loving veterans, but it really comes down to, are your policies truly supporting them or not?" The Guard played a huge role in the post-9/11 wars, serving as one of the key components of U.S. combat power overseas at any given time. Roughly 14% of troops killed in combat since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were Guardsmen or troops from reserve components, according to data from the Congressional Research Service. There is a seemingly endless roster of employers that want to be viewed as friendly for veterans and service members. But it can be difficult to objectively define how military friendly a company really is. Some undefined lists of supposedly friendly companies are found on blogs with anecdotes about how many veterans a business hires. Others are built by states. Ohio, for example, has a list of 7,409 so-called "military friendly" employers. Anyone doing business in the state can self-select themselves as military friendly, according to the site. The law does not require employers to pay service members when they're on duty. Generally, employers simply cannot terminate someone for leaving for military duty or otherwise disadvantage them, according to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Civilian bosses also cannot force service members to use regular paid time off while serving, though troops sometimes elect to do so. But those laws protect only troops on federal orders. For reserve troops across all the services, this is not an issue. But Guardsmen are often deployed on state duty for natural disaster responses or riots, among other missions. Until the president declares a national emergency federalizing the Guard, such as during the response to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, they aren't covered by federal law. Some states have their own laws against discriminating against Guardsmen, but it's far from ubiquitous and proving discrimination in court can be challenging. Friendly Forces crafted a list of nearly 200 employers and plans to keep adding more, ranking them largely based on their military leave policies. USAA, an insurance company for service members and their families, has a generous policy of 12 months of full paid military leave, while Southwest Airlines has no clear policy on the matter, according to the data. But the most common policies grant troops roughly two weeks of paid leave, about the average length of an annual training event, or differential pay, in which employers make up the difference between the military paycheck and what the service member makes at their civilian job. For major corporations that might not feel the paid military leave on their bottom line, it can be an easy win to be perceived as supporting the troops. "It's good PR and sends a message to other employees that they are taking care of service members," John Goheen, director of communications for the National Guard Association, told Military.com. Part-time troops often take pay cuts during their service. In most cases, they are expected to serve one weekend a month -- though in many cases that weekend duty can stretch into the weekdays -- and also an annual two-to-three-week training period, often in the summer. Some argue that the bang for buck is in the employers' favor, given troops come to the job with unique skills and in some cases can be cheaper employees since they may already have health care through the military. "The Guard and reserves cannot function, unless we are supported at home by our employers, and our military cannot function without the Guard and Reserve," Evans said. "So it's a national security issue." -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: The National Guard Is Having a Nightmarish Time Keeping Soldiers and Recruiting New Ones This week in the military, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin officially ordered the renaming of many U.S. military bases that once held the names of Confederate rebels; the U.S. Army cut womens uniform allowances while marginally raising the allowance for men in the service; and the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver program has seen many shake-ups in the last year -- the latest marked a win for potential caregivers, allowing approved guardians to bring VA-supported care to pre-2001 veterans. TORA! TORA! TORA! performs at the Red River Thunder airshow at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. The demonstration is meant to show what bombings and aerial maneuvers at Pearl Harbor looked like. (Senior Airman Kayla Christenson/U.S. Air Force) Related: Altus Air Force Base Guide Marines hold on for a bumpy ride on a combat rubber raiding craft during a training exercise off the coast of the Philippines. (Sgt. Danny Gonzalez/U.S. Marine Corps) Related: Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat Retired U.S. Army Col. Gregory Gadson participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. Gadson spoke at the ceremony as part of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery) Related: Supreme Court Weighs Exception to Vets Disability Deadlines Members of Japans Self-Defense Force fire a missile during a joint-U.S. training exercise at Hokkaido, Japan. (Cpl. Diana Jimenez/U.S. Marine Corps) Related: North Korean Missile Soars Over Japan The U.S. Coast Guard assists residents of Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jamie Mealor) Related: Relief and Rescue Continue After Hurricane Ian -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. Kidi, Ghanaian musician 06.10.2022 LISTEN Dennis Nana Dwamena, better known as KiDi, a Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeats musician, has explained how his old tweets resurfaced. He claimed that the tweets were shared first by an NDC supporter who was trying to see whether he (Kidi) used to criticise the former Mahama-led NDC government. Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Angel FMs Ohemaa Woyeje on her show, "Yadwumanie," the reigning VGMA artist of the year explained that the goal of his attackers was to get him to criticise the current government if he once criticised the Mahama government. Later, when we investigated, we realised that it came from an NDC account... "These NDC boys on Twitter just went back and started searching for people who have said something about Mahama in order to give them pressure to say something about Nana Akufo-Addo as well, because when Mahama came you spoke about him, but with Akufo-Addo you are silent. To put it bluntly, it was all political," he disclosed. "Everyone was saying KiDi too has said some silly things previously, so lets go dig them out," he added. The award-winning musician admitted that the incident had a strong emotional impact on him and hoped that no one else would face a similar experience. "It has been hard... I wont exaggerate... This is difficult, and I wish no one else had to go through it. " He stated, adding that the worst thing is that people mistook the tweets for being current, but to him, "I don't blame anybody. The people who took the screenshots for Facebook cropped out the time stamp, and it gives the impression that it was something recent. " He further apologised to the affected people. "Honestly, I hope people forgive me... This is something I said ten years ago... Im not even the same person I was a year ago... "I've grown, Ive learnt to be different, to be kind, to show basic human courtesy," he said, conceding that, "even though I did it ten years ago, it is still wrong. People are affected, so I'm sorry. Tweets indicating how KiDi used to take on famous people regardless of their age, achievement, or status resurfaced on social media. Many on social media heavily blasted him for his past mistakes, but he has apologised severally. Captain Ibrahim Traore was appointed as president of Burkina Faso on Wednesday, according to an official statement, after the West African country's second coup in less than nine months. Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba seized power in January, only to be toppled last weekend by newly emerged rival Traore, at the head of a faction of disgruntled junior officers. Military and popular dissatisfaction with the campaign to resist an islamist insurgency is cited as the main contributor to instability in the impoverished Sahel nation. Burkina has been struggling for the past seven years against a jihadist campaign that has claimed thousands of lives, forced nearly two million people to flee their homes, and left more than a third of the country outside government control. Wednesday's military communique said that Traore would now be the "guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity ... and continuity of the State." Damiba fled to Togo following a two-day standoff over last weekend. What is Russia doing in Burkina Faso? Delegates from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) wrapped up a fact-finding mission to Burkina on Tuesday and held meetings with religious and traditional leaders and Traore. Speculation has risen that Burkina's new leader may follow other fragile regimes in French-speaking Africa and forge close ties with Moscow at the expense of France, the region's former colonial power and traditional ally. Last weekend's takeover was marked by violent anti-French protests and the sudden emergence of Russian flags among demonstrators. On the streets, demonstrators' slogans included "France get out", "No to Ecowas interference", and "Long live Russia-Burkina cooperation". The United States has warned the junta of the risks of allying with Russia, saying they condemned "any attempt to exacerbate the current situation in Burkina Faso. "We strongly encourage the new transitional government to adhere to the agreed-upon timeline for a return to a democratically elected, civilian-led government," a State Department spokesman said earlier this week. Ibrahim Traore has promised to stand by a pledge given by Damiba to restore civilian rule by July 2024. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, former Deputy Information Minister under the Mahama-led administration believes President Akufo-Addos fight against the galamsey menace is a gimmick. He claims that, despite his promise to put his presidency on the line, the President has never shown any commitment to ending the activities of illegal miners. In a Facebook post, spotted by Modernghana News, the former Minister intimated that galamsey is still on the rise due to the involvement of his appointees and party gurus. The galamsey fight has failed because of only ONE reason and it is President Akufo-Addo - he was never committed to any fight against the menace. His words on the subject constituted mere bluster designed for political effect and nothing more, portion of his post reads. He added, for as long as his party folks profit from the destruction of our environment, he is okay with it and will not take any meaningful action except occasional gimmickry for more political effect. If he wanted it stopped, it would have stopped a long time ago as he has sufficient resources to do so, he stressed. Recently, the debate about the activities of illegal mining known popularly galamsey has heightened. This comes on the heels of the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang, and the recent release of a documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted the president to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the threat of galamsey to human existence on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the President reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, thereby urging Ghanaians to support his vision. He also warned the MMDCEs not to engage in it, indicating that the laws will deal with any one caught. 07.10.2022 LISTEN G2 Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) has applauded the Ghana Police Service for their swift response to arrest the man seen in a viral video severely beating up a child of about two years of age. The G2 Foundation, which focuses on the socioeconomic welfare of vulnerable women, children, orphans, widows and persons with disabilities, says the Police must take all the necessary steps to quickly process the man at the centre of this inhumane treatment meted out to the innocent child for court to serve as a deterrent to others. Speaking to the media in Sunyani, Ms Gifty Nyarko, the CEO of G2 Foundation and also the Physical Development Planning Director at the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, expressed utter shock over the incident. In fact, I am a bit relieved after hearing from the Police on Wednesday, I really appreciate their urgent response to get the man arrested," she stated. Ms Nyarko appealed to Ghanaians to assist the Ghana Police Service with relevant information that could lead to the arrest of such persons to face the full rigorous of the law. "I say ayekooooooo" to the Ghana Police Service, Child Right International, the Children Department under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and other bodies for the quick responses to this child abuse video seen on social media last Tuesday," Ms Nyarko said. She condemned the act, saying this cruel scene must be a thing of the past because under no circumstances should a child be punished in such an abusive manner. Viral video The horrifying viral video on social media was sighted early this week, in which a male adult was subjecting a toddler to severe beatings under a tree. He angrily whipped the poor child with a plant with multiple strips over 21 times while the person recording is heard saying in an Akan language that wo be pra no oo, which translates; he (the child) will be injured. Both the person recording the act and those around did not make any effort to save the child but only looked on for the man to perpetrate the crime. Undeterred by the boys pitchy cries, the suspect lifts the boy up and continues the beating. He whips the boy at least 21 times in the 1:18 minute video. Ghc2,000 reward Shortly after the video hit various social media platforms, the Ghana Police Service announced a Ghc 2,000.00 reward for anyone who could provide credible information leading to the arrest of the man in the said video. According to the Police, every effort would be made to track down the man to face the full rigours of the law. The Police appealed to the general public for information to help arrest the man for prosecution. Former Deputy Information Minister in the Mahama-led NDC administration, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has blamed the country's economic failures on Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. His comment follows the recent report that Ghana's debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will hit 104.6% by the end of 2022. This was contained in World Bank's October 2022 Africa Pulse Report. Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said it's shameful that Bawumia who used to criticise his predecessors for economic incompetence would record such pitiful economic dwindling figures. Our debt to GDP ratio will be 104% by the close of this year according to the World Bank. That means we will owe more as a country than our entire GDP. It was 56% in 2016. Do not accept any excuses from Bawumia who has bankrupted our nation this way after his arrogant posturing as some economic wizard, he said in a Facebook post on October 6. He stressed, Throw him out in 2024. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has for years been blamed for the challenges facing the country. Experts and civil society organisations have said certain provisions in the constitution are outmoded. They have proposed that the 1992 constitution be amended or if possible changed for the betterment of the country's budding democracy and socioeconomic development. Joining the conversation recently on Twitter, the founder and CEO of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has described the 1992 constitution as Ghana's biggest problem. Ghanas biggest problem is our Constitution, he wrote in a tweet spotted by Modernghana News. In January this year, Mr Senyo K. Hosi, an Economic Policy Analyst, has recommended amendments to Ghanas 1992 Constitution to deepen democracy. He made the recommendations in a presentation at the Constitutional Day Public Lecture organised by the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) Law School on the topic Avoiding the Impending Death of the 1992 Constitution. Mr Hosi recommended the deepening of the separation of powers of the three arms of government and the depoliticisation of governance and democratic institutions and security services. He also called for the depoliticisation of accountability institutions, all state agencies, including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), regulatory bodies and agencies, democratisation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and the public funding of political parties. First, we need to ensure true separation of the Legislature and the Executive. We must enforce full separation of powers and expunge any requirement or option for the executive to appoint any member of the legislature as a minister or member of a board of the enterprises and agencies of the State, he stated. The legislature cannot be a player and referee at the same time. Recently sharing the same thought is legendary highlife musician, Kwabena Kwabena, who believes the country's socioeconomic problems can partly be blamed on the 1992 Constitution. The musician revealed that until the constitution is changed or amended, even Jesus can't solve the countrys problems. Our 1992 constitution, which was drafted and used for 30 years, will compel political parties not to be truthful to Ghanaians. If you look at the beneficiaries, salaries, incentives and other things like meeting allowances, this is not service. It is not service to the nation but rather the nation serving you. We have to sit down as Ghanaians and look into that. The 1992 constitution needs serious amendment. Thats my opinion, he said. He continued If we can amend the 1992 constitution, we would get truthful people who will truly serve our nation. Because with this constitution, even if Jesus Christ becomes our president, he wont get ministers to support him. Recently, the debate about the activities of illegal mining known popularly in Ghana as galamsey has heightened. This comes on the heels of the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang and the recent documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted President Akufo-Addo to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the galamsey threat on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the President reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, urging the chiefs to support his vision. He also warned the MMDCEs not to engage in it, indicating that the laws will deal with them when caught. But, according to Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President of IMANI Africa, the meeting was a ruse to deceive the public about their alleged hatred for galamsey when everything points to the fact that they are not. The policy advisor described the President, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, his Deputy, Mr. George Mmireku Duker, MMDCEs, and the National House of Chiefs, as godfathers of galamsey who will continue to support and benefit from it. Galamsey just got another bad name today. The godfathers assembled to disown their child but will continue benefitting from its existence, he said in a tweet on Wednesday, October 5. The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Mr. Sulemana Braimah has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of being part of the mess caused by the activities of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey. He alleged that Mr. Mahama instead of helping to end the menace capitalised on the galamsey fight to amass votes in the 2020 elections. In a tweet on October 6 spotted by Modernghana News, Mr. Braimah intimated that the fight against galamsey should be collective devoid of partisanship. Ahead of the 2020 election, former President Mahama and his NDC party exploited the Galamsey issue for votes. That was not patriotism, it was partisanship. The Galamsey fight needs the commitment of all, his tweet reads. The former President is seen in a short video during the 2020 elections saying that his next government will release persons arrested by the ruling NPP for engaging in illegal mining. Recently, the debate about the activities of illegal mining has heightened. This comes on the heels of the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang and the recent documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted President Akufo-Addo to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the galamsey threat on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the President reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, urging the chiefs to support his vision. He also warned MMDCEs engaging in the act to desist from it or face the consequences when caught. 07.10.2022 LISTEN In as much as many have taken in hand to set the narrative outlining the repercussions associated with Illegal mining thus Galamsey , I , having had a nearly perfect understanding of the above mentioned, desire to put into writing a relevant narrative discussing the adverse effects Galamsey activities on the Ghanaian community. The concept of Illegal mining encapsulates all attempts that seek to recover the mineral ore from the subsurface onto the land by individuals who have not been licensed by the appropriate authority under the auspices of the Minerals Commission. This article seeks not only to address issues regarding the repercussions associated with Illegal mining but as well, render thorough education on mining activities. The proof of the existence of substantive enactments as per the constitution on the legislation and regulation of mining procedures serves as an attestation to the need for licensing as one wishes to engage in mining. An attempt as described earlier to engage in mining activities without authorization from the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources renders the act Illegal and subject to prosecution. It is an undeniable fact that individuals who engage in these illegal mining activities conduct them with low level of technology, inadequate funds and employ the service of unskilled labour. The reason being that, these illegal miners in their desperate bid to make sums of money by sale of these minerals engage in whatsoever means available in recovering the mineral ore. The procedures undertaken by these unskilled men viz-a-viz the low level of Technology involved serve as threats to the vegetative cover and existing water bodies within the communities of interest. Paramount of all, the methods employed in the determination of the mineral ores under the specified communities are of no guarantee of success but rather embody a spree of try and error procedures which in several attempts lead to zero results yet, leaving irreversible disadvantages to these communities. The activities involve the digging of very deep holes which require that the vegetative cover are initially removed and these dead ends are continually drilled subsurface. Removal of the vegetative cover grants agricultural losses to the areas of interest yielding ripple effects in the sector of the National Economy. In the event of the undiscovered desired minerals, these huge dug pits are left unattended claiming the lives of individuals who mistakenly fall into these pits. Periods of rainfall which consequently fill up these dug pits convert them into breeding sites for mosquitoes which in turn, increase the rate of malaria in the nearby communities. The struggle to end Galamsey is one which reduces deforestation, grants salvation to malaria-prone mining communities and consequently an end to the accidents as persons may fall into these pits. Furthermore, the illegal act requires the use of harmful chemicals in the recovery of some minute mineral like Gold. These harmful chemicals like mercury are responsible for the formation of the Gold amalgam as the Gold is mixed with the soil. The mercury is later vaporized as the Gold is recovered. The usage of this mercury by these unskilled men pose health threats to the immediate engagers. The vaporized mercury is absorbed by the blood stream and circulated throughout the body affecting greatly, the Central Nervous System and the kidney. The associated risks being life threatening, serve as enough reason to completely detest involvements in these illegal acts. The remains of the Mercury used is unsafely disposed of in adjoining water bodies accumulating with water sediments and entering the food chain thereby affecting innocent persons who consume food from these water bodies. The formation of methylmercury makes it possible to enter the human body which consequently affects the brain and kidney as stated earlier. The health hazards posed by the usage of Mercury in the act of Galamsey are alarming and worthy of note. Furthermore, the active manpower employed in the Galamsey activity captures a considerable range of juveniles of school going age who are robbed of quality time as they trade their education for monies earned via Galamsey. The need for education for the ordinary Ghanaian on several occasions has been extensively addressed notwithstanding active campaigns organized by ministries and other Nongovernmental Organizations advocating that all children should be educated for the development of the human resource. This goal is constantly defeated as long as acts of Galamsey are allowed within the Country. These young individuals in excitement of paltry payments by the constructors continually see the classroom as a waste of precious time and hence should be unvisited. The county stands the chance of losing the precious future of these young ones to the unsuccessful illegal acts and is assured of a downward intellectual spiral in few years to come. As these mining activities come to an end, the quest for a continuous cash inflow by the juveniles exposes them to social vices which include robbery and terrorism claiming lives and affecting national security. With regard to the effects carefully discussed above, the acts of Galamsey are condemnable not only by reason of their inability to meet constitutional demands but as well, the huge risks they place on the health ad lives of indigenes. The disadvantages of the illegal act further injures the safety and future of the nation owing to the methodology employed in carrying out the activities. It is by reason of these that the act of Galamsey is largely condemned and would do the country great good should the events relating to the activity be brought to an end. This campaign by involvement of all citizenry would lead to the positive untimely truncation of the lifespan of the illegal act. Signed THEOPHILUS BERCHIE (GRADUATE FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-KNUST ) 07.10.2022 LISTEN The Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional Council Nana Kwame Baffoe IV has promised to bear all the costs to renovate the Municipal Police Headquarters and Bangalores in Nkoranza South to welcome the police back to the town. In May this year, the youth in the town marched to the Police station in protest of Albert Donkor who had been confirmed dead following an intelligence-led operation by the security agency to bring to book some robbery suspects. The clash between the Police and the youth of Nkoranza on Tuesday saw eight people wounded. One of the people, unfortunately, lost his life. Properties such as computers, chairs, and tables at the police headquarters were destroyed by the angry youth. The Police administration subsequently withdrew all its officers from Nkoranza for safety. Months on, the Omanhene of the area noted that they were excited to hear that the police are returning to their post. "The police are our friends, and we must accept them as friends. I really know the work the police are doing for my territory, and I really appreciate it a lot. They are here to protect the lives of the citizens here and work hand to hand with them so, there is not need to fight or have unnecessary arguments with them. "I have talked to my people and we are ready to welcome them home as one big family. In fact, we cant wait to see them working again," he stated. He commended the Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for fulfilling their promise when he and his elders came pleading to them to bring back their officers to provide security in the area. Vivo Energy Ghana on Thursday, October 6, successfully launched the 2022 edition of the Stop, Think & Drive' road safety campaign geared towards the prevention of road accidents. Every year in Ghana, a significant number of people are killed by accidents involving vehicles with many injured. Provisional statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Police MTTD indicate that over 2,924 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2021. Recent developments have equally been portraying a worrying trend of frequent accidents claiming many lives and according to the NRSA, between January and August this year, over 1,600 people have died. It is on the back of these worrisome numbers that Vivo Energy Ghana, the exclusive marketer, and distributor of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants has decided to partner with the National Road Safety Authority again this year to campaign for road safety. The 2022 edition of the Stop, Think & Drive road safety campaign will be carried out with support from relevant stakeholder institutions including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Police MTTD, and the various Transport Unions. At the launch of the campaign on Thursday, Mr. Kader Maiga, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana stressed that his outfit is committed to supporting the government and its agencies to curb road accident menace on our roads through the STOP, THINK & DRIVE annual Road Safety Programme. Mr. Kader Maiga He explained that this years campaign is expected to reach over 1,000 high-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono East, Northern, Central, and Western Regions of Ghana with refresher training in defensive driving and free eye screening services for drivers. Following the training, drivers will be monitored and evaluated to assess the impact made over a period with the help of station masters and driver unions. I urge all drivers and motorcyclists to make the most out of these refresher training to better equip them in discharging their daily activities and contribute towards making our roads safer. Improving safety on our roads is a collective responsibility, lets get involved, Mr. Kader Maiga said in his concluding remarks. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Kwame Koduah Atuahene, the Head of Regulation, Inspection, and Compliance at NRSA was full of praise for Vivo Energy Ghana and applauded the company for consistently supporting the National Road Safety Authority. We have to commend Vivo Energy for being a good corporate citizen. They also give back to road safety and that is very commendable, Mr. Kwame Koduah Atuahene shared. He further called on the various transport unions and commercial drivers to embrace the Stop, Think & Drive road safety to make Ghanaian roads safer for all. You [commercial drivers] have the responsibility of passengers and you need to make their safety your priority. We want drivers to help us reduce road accidents in the country, Mr. Kwame Koduah Atuahene appealed. On her part, Madam Catherine Hamilton, the NRSA Greater Accra Regional Director urged commercial drivers to patronize products of Vivo Energy Ghana to sustain their investment in training for commercial drivers, a venture she intimated that is the sure way of promoting responsible driving to curb accidents. Vivo energy has been helping us a lot. They have always been helping us to train our drivers and we cannot thank them enough. We are starting this years training in Accra. Drivers will be given a certificate after the training in addition to free eye screening. Shell is a very good product so I will urge you the drivers to purchase from Shell so that they will continue helping us, Madam Catherine Hamilton shared. Thursdays launch of the Stop, Think & Drive road safety campaign at the Neoplan Station at Circle was attended by officials of Vivo Energy Ghana, distinguished Transporters; S.O Frimpong, J.K. Horgle & J. K. Ahiadome, as well as representatives of MTTD, DVLA, GPRTU, and the leadership of the Neoplan Bus Terminal. Professor Nana Oppong [seated left] and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu 07.10.2022 LISTEN Professor Nana Oppong, President of the Distinguished Scholars of Africa, together with the National Chief Imam, His Eminence Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has unveiled the Quranic key to better economic development. These strategies entailed in the book titled "The Quranic Formula for World Economic Development", according to Prof. Oppong, if adopted by all people, will provide well-structured and functioning personal and national economic growth. At a programme themed "the Quranic economic dialogue" held at the main hall of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Accra on Thursday, October 6, in the gracious presence of the National Chief Imam and other Islamic leaders, the new book was launched. Speaking about the essence of the book, the celebrated scholar explained that the almighty Allah revealed to Muslims the effective and credible ways to attain good living in life, which can be adopted by people from all walks of life for collective success and a chaos-free economy. Speaking further, he revealed that the Quran is very particular about education, not just any form of education but one that inculcates in the individual the ability to know good, do good, and, in the end, enjoy the good he/she extended to society as the way to proper economic growth. According to the author, "It is also to address the problems of the Muslim community, the country, as well as the African continent at large. "This book has all the solutions to such problems and will educate citizens to appreciate the fact that economic growth is never supposed to be left to the government alone but to be achieved individually before it extends to the national borders." According to Nana Oppong, practical education will be the best way to achieve the desired economic success, as he claims among the two types of logic (abstract logic, which is just theory-based and do logic, which is putting proposed policies into action), leaders and every citizen need to work closely using the ability to think and be able to put it into action to benefit society and their own personal growth. On the fifth page of the book, the author highlighted seven pillars to build a foundation for a good economy devoid of the economic challenges the world is facing now. The strategies termed the "7 Cs of economic building" are: creativity, cooperation, competition, control, compensation, consumption, and continuity. With reference to the sixth page, which throws light on the principles, the author explains in summary that "the economic person must be creative and competitive to produce useful or new good things. He must work with others and produce goods or services that previously did not exist, either in a certain quality or quantity. The economic man must also be a consumer and his products must be consumed by others for human needs to be fulfilled. " Also speaking on behalf of the National Chief, the Deputy National Imam, Sheikh Awal, intimated that Islamic children must be thought in the original language of the Qur'an, which has no translations for them to acquire the real language of Allah as enshrined in the untranslated Arabic Quran. Throwing light on the Imams assertion, the official attorney for the National Chief Imam, lawyer Seidu Nasigri, explained that as much as it is of utmost importance to learn the real language of the Qur'an, he believes aspiring Islamic scholars should be the target for such initiatives. The guests were made to share their opinions and ask questions about the goals of the program, which they affirmed and subscribed to the idea of adopting a practical-based education to build the economy. Concluding on the deliberations of the book, Prof. Oppong suggested that Ghanas educational system be changed to one that will not only produce policy composers but implementers as well, to help relieve the country of its economic challenges. Also gracing the occasion were Sheik Aremeyaw Shaibu, Aide to the Chief Imam; Sheik Latif Abdulsalam, head of protocol to the National Chief Imam; Lawyer Seidu Nasigri, official attorney to the national chief Imam; the deputy national Imam; Sheikh Awal, some Islamic students; other distinguished personalities as well as media men. 07.10.2022 LISTEN Former President John Mahama has told the world that Ghana is an island of religious calmness in a sea of turbulence as almost all our surrounding neighbours have, in recent times, experienced some major form of insurgency, coup detat or other conflicts, including religious conflicts. In all these acts, one thing is clear, leadership at all levels including the family, the school, the church, and the government all have the responsibility to educate and inform the impress young members of our society about the imminent threats and dangers out there, the former Ghanaian leader said when he spoke as a special guest of honour at the 2022 Convocation at Liberty University in Michigan of the United States on Thursday, 6 October 2022. To avert the recruitment of young people into terrorist organisations, however, Mr Mahama said there was a need for the government to create enough jobs to absorb the unemployed. The government owes it as a responsibility to do all they can to secure the peace and safety of the nation, but above all to, reduce youth unemployment, Mr Mahama pointed out, adding: This is necessary to ensure that the young people do not become easily recruitable to fill the ranks of the insurgence due to frustration and lack of opportunity. Read full statement here: Regional security situation The Security Council Report says in January, Burkina Faso became the regions most recent country to experience a coup detat. Amid rising public anger over insecurity caused by Al-Qaida and Islamic State-affiliated groups, soldiers from the previously unknown Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) deposed Burkinabe President Roch Marc Christian Kabore on 24 January. On 8 February, Security Council members held closed consultations on the situation with Annadif. In a 9 February press statement , Council members expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional change of government in Burkina Faso and their support for regional mediation efforts. The coup leader, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, was sworn in as transition president on 16 February. On 1 March, Damiba signed a charter outlining a 36-month transition. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rejected a three-year transition period, demanding that Burkina Faso develop an acceptable transition timetable, and on 25 March threatened to impose sanctions. At an ECOWAS summit in Accra on 4 June, ECOWAS appointed the former president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, as ECOWAS mediator for Burkina Faso. Violence has intensified in Burkina Faso, despite the militarys ouster of Kabore. On 11 June, Burkina Faso suffered one of its worst massacres during the seven-year jihadist insurgency when militants killed at least 79 people in the northern town of Seytenga. Previously, on 25 May, about 50 people were killed in Madjoari, eastern Burkina Faso, reportedly by extremist groups. ECOWAS also continues to lead international efforts to promote the restoration of constitutional order in Mali since the coups detat in August 2020 and May 2021 and in Guinea after a coup detat in September 2021. ECOWAS has maintained the economic and financial sanctions it imposed on Mali on 9 January after the transitional authorities failed to comply with the initial 18-month calendar for organising elections that they had agreed with ECOWAS. On 25 March, ECOWAS rejected Malis proposal for a two-year extension of the transition, but transitional president Assimi Goita signed a decree on 6 June extending the transition by this period, with effect from 26 March. While expressing regret over this decision, ECOWAS said its mediator would engage with the Malian authorities to find a mutually agreed timeline. Tensions between Malis transitional authorities and France, partly over the authorities alleged partnership with the Wagner Group, the Russian private security company, came to a head in February when France and other European countries decided that over the following six months they would withdraw their counter-terrorism operations in Mali, Operation Barkhane and Takuba Task Force. In a 17 February joint statement on the planned departure, France, Canada and 23 other European and African countries said that they would continue their joint action against terrorism in the Sahel region, focusing on Niger and West African coastal countries, and that they had begun consultations to determine the form of this cooperation. On 15 May, Mali announced it was ending its participation in the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S) that Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger (G5 Sahel) formed in 2017 to combat terrorist groups in the region. According to transition authorities, Mali was withdrawing from the FC-G5S because, since February, some G5 countries had blocked its assumption of the rotating presidency of the G5 Sahel. Council members negotiated the mandate renewal of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The military junta in Guinea, whose members have been subject to ECOWAS financial and travel ban sanctions since last year, said it would not enforce the new ECOWAS sanctions on Mali. Guineas National Transitional Council, established on 22 January as an interim legislative body, approved a 36-month transition period on 11 May. At its 4 June summit, ECOWAS expressed serious concern about tensions between the military junta on the one hand and civil society and the political opposition on the other over the management of the transition. It also said it was concerned about the three-year transition period and demanded the finalisation of an acceptable timetable. Nigeria is facing multiple security crises. Around 2.2 million Nigerians are internally displaced because of the protracted conflict in the Lake Chad basin with the terrorist group Boko Haram and a splinter group, the Islamic State, in the West Africa Province. Banditry and intercommunal violence have driven an emerging food crisis in northwest Nigeria. There has also been heightened concern about terrorist groups increasing their presence and recruitment in northwest Nigeria amid this insecurity. Concerns continue to grow about the increasing threat that Sahel-based terrorist groups pose to coastal West African states. In an 11 May attack, the Al-Qaida-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims killed eight Togolese soldiers and wounded 13 in an attack on an army post in the town of Kpekankandi in Togo near the border with Burkina Faso. It was the first deadly attack by jihadist groups in Togo. Overall, violence and rising global food prices are driving a deteriorating humanitarian situation in much of the region. As of 20 May, up to 18 million people in the Sahel are expected to face severe food insecurity over the next three months, according to OCHA , which warned of alarming levels of food insecurity in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger, during the lean season between June and August. The UN, the AU, ECOWAS, and the G5 Sahel have launched a joint strategic assessment of security and governance in the Sahel. Former President Issoufou of Niger is leading the assessment team, which held its inaugural meeting in Niamey on 21 June. On 31 May, the Council adopted resolution 2634 on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, which Council members had been negotiating since January. The resolution requests a Secretary-Generals report on Gulf of Guinea piracy within five months, including an analysis on any possible and potential linkages with terrorism in West and Central Africa and the Sahel. Voters in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho will cast their ballots in parliamentary elections Friday, but hopes are low that the outcome will end the country's long-running political gridlock. Lesotho has been governed for the past decade by a string of coalition governments that have proved fractious and frail, and no premier has served out a full five-year term. "It is very likely that there will be a coalition again," said Liesl Louw-Vaudran, a researcher at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies (ISS), in Pretoria. Surrounded entirely by South Africa, which heavily depends on it for water, Lesotho is a mountain kingdom of two million people nicknamed the "Kingdom in the Sky." It has been buffeted by coups and attempted coups since independence from Britain in 1966, and nearly a third of its population live on less than $1.90 a day. The capital Maseru was quiet on Thursday evening, lulled by taxis humming in the streets and vendors chatting under large umbrellas set on the sides of the main road. About 1.5 million people are registered to vote, with ballots opening at 07:00 am (0500 GMT) and closing at 05:00 pm. Only 47 percent of registered voters bothered to cast their ballot at the last elections in 2017. "I have never voted, and I am not willing to vote," said Dineo Moketsie, a 32-year-old teacher angry at politicians who he said have done nothing to better living conditions in the country. "I just feel that it's a waste of time". The process can also be cumbersome and queues outside polling stations can sometimes last hours. The outgoing government is led by the All Basotho Convention (ABC). But current Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro is not seeking another term, after being ousted as party head earlier this year. His predecessor Thomas Thabane was forced to step down in 2020, after being accused of ordering the murder of his estranged wife. Charges against him were dropped in July. The ABC's new leader, former health minister Nkaku Kabi, will square off against an array of contenders. More than 50 parties are in the running. "People still believe in our movement and we're going to win," said Kabi, 49. Millionaire challenger His main challengers include Mathibeli Mokhothu, who heads the Democratic Congress -- Lesotho's second largest party -- and Sam Matekane, a millionaire believed to be the country's richest man who could be a dark horse, according to analysts. "Our country is sinking. So, we have to try and save (it)," Matekane told AFP in an interview. His party, "Revolution for Prosperity", dwarfs most of the others in terms of resources, said Rataibane Ramainoane, a political adviser to the government. "Its presence is being felt across the country," he said. Still, no one is expected to win outright, darkening prospects of much-needed reform, said Seroala Tsoeu-Ntokoane, a political analyst at the National University of Lesotho. "Coalitions are a source of instability because they're formed with political parties with not much to hold them together, no mutual policy platform, no mutual respect," she said. The outgoing parliament failed to pass a law aimed at strengthening political stability, by banning lawmakers from switching party allegiance within the first three years of their tenure. The 120-seat parliament is chosen by a mixed electoral system -- 80 lawmakers are voted in by constituents, while another 40 seats are distributed proportionally. International observers will monitor the vote. Results are expected next week. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cast doubts over President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos resolve to deal ruthlessly with government officials said to be engaging in illegal small-scale mining also known galamsey. The NDC maintains government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have not shown enough commitment in dealing with party bigwigs behind the illegality. President Akufo-Addo while speaking to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi as part of a meeting to find a lasting solution to the galamesy menace, expressed readiness not to shield any government official found complicit in galamsey activities. But the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi who addressed a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 6, 2022, said the President is not backing his efforts with action. President Akufo-Addo's comment on this matter shows clearly that he hasn't repented from shielding his officials who are engaged in illegal mining and proves what a walking contradiction he is, as he continues to skirt around this very important issue. For Sammy Gyamfi, the Ghanaian people are simply tired of the President's cocktail of empty and useless rhetoric on this subject of galamsey. We are saying to him today, that it is either we begin to see action on his part or he should simply spare us his empty talk, he stressed. The NDC also believes the Akufo-Addo government has failed woefully in the galamsey fight. The party describes the measures and strategies put in place by government to win the war against the illegality as a clear deception, alleging that some members of the NPP and government are behind galamsey in the country. The so-called fight against galamsey by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government is a scam and has been a lost battle from day one. This is because, there has never been any genuine commitment or political will on the part of the President to combat the menace. President Akufo-Addo has proven to be a leader who has specialized in talk without backing same with deeds. Today, our beloved country stands at a cross-road of unprecedented economic mess and unprecedented environmental degradation under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia, he said. Sammy Gyamfi at the press conference further slammed the president and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, Samuel Abu Jinapor over the galamsey menace and accused them of shifting the blame to the chieftaincy institution. ---citinewsroom The sluice gates open at the Owen Falls Dam across the White Nile in Uganda on 14 October 1962. - Source: 07.10.2022 LISTEN Uganda's Owen Falls hydropower plant has a rich history that predates the country's independence in 1962. The plant is located across the White Nile and sits between the towns of Jinja and Njeru on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is about 85 kilometres east of Kampala. Uganda was a protectorate of the British empire from 1894 to 1962. In 1947, English engineer Charles Redvers Westlake recommended the construction of a hydroelectric dam at Owen Falls that was supposed to be East Africa's largest power project. The governor of the Protectorate of Uganda, Sir Andrew Cohen, wrote at the time that the Owen Falls Dam would open new horizons of opportunity and prosperity for Uganda and all who lived there. Cohen went on to note: Despite its technical complexity and the fact that we have had to draw upon skill and experience from many parts of the world, it belongs to Uganda and to Uganda's people. The power which the dam will provide and the industries it will make possible will bring solid benefit to everybody in the shape of increased wealth; above all, it will bring new opportunities to Africans. At its completion in 1954, the dam immediately expanded Uganda's electricity supply capacity from 1MW to 150MW. But the expected boom in electricity consumption didn't happen. One textile mill and a copper smelter were the only industrial establishments to crop up. The Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) which was established on 15 January 1948 resorted to selling between one third and one half of the electricity generated to Kenya. The institutional arrangements for constructing the dam left a damaging legacy that is still felt today. The British established governance arrangements for Nile waters that effectively granted Egypt veto power over all construction projects on the Nile. This legal regime continues to cause conflict between Nile riparian states to this day. Owen Falls' construction has to be seen as part of a racist colonial project, the sole objective of which was the exploitation of peoples and their resources to maximise British interests. Empire's twisted logic At the end of World War II there were protests throughout the British empire as demands for independence began picking up pace. In Uganda, the country's new colonial governor, Sir John Hathorn Hall , was forced to take action. Some of the steps he took were informed by the need for the colonial government to show restless and poverty-stricken Ugandans that it was interested in promoting economic growth, industrialisation and development. The dam was supposed to help Ugandans utilise their own natural resource the water in Lake Victoria to provide themselves with a significant level of energy independence. But, in the twisted logic of the empire, achieving this goal was constrained by London trying to achieve interests elsewhere. In this case, British agricultural interests in Egypt. In 1929, Egypt and Britain had signed the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty , which was designed to harness the waters of the Nile River and its tributaries to produce raw materials, notably cotton, for British industries. The treaty, which created what are today known as historically acquired rights, was concluded without input from Uganda or other Nile riparian states . These rights allocate virtually all Nile waters to Egypt and Sudan. They also grant Egypt veto power over all construction projects on the Nile River and its tributaries. As Ugandans would later find out, the British had, without their permission, placed Egyptian officials in a position to veto development projects in Uganda and other upstream Nile Basin states. The Nile Basin states Despite the fact that the Owen Falls Dam was to be constructed on the White Nile in Uganda, Uganda was forced to obtain permission for its construction from Egypt . Source of tension and conflict The 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and the 1959 Nile Treaty which was a bilateral agreement between Egypt and Sudan continue to fuel conflict between the downstream and upstream states in the Nile Basin. In fact, Ethiopia's refusal to abide by and be bounded by these colonial anachronisms has forced officials in Cairo to threaten to go to war to maintain Egypt's acquired rights. In accordance with the spirit of the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, colonial Uganda was forced to submit the documents for constructing the Owen Falls Dam to Cairo for approval. The construction of the dam would be the responsibility of the UEB, which was also to administer and maintain the project. However, the interests of Egypt were to be represented at the construction site by an Egyptian resident engineer, who would instruct the UEB on the discharges to be passed through the dam. Read more: Nile basin at a turning point as Ethiopian dam starts operations It is no wonder that when Ethiopia announced its intention in 2011 to construct a dam on the Blue Nile , Egypt sought similar concessions. Just as it had demanded of colonial Uganda, Egypt sought to maintain technical staff at the site of Ethiopia's dam to monitor its operations. Racism on site The racist foundations of colonialism were quite evident at the Owen Falls Dam site. For example, after estimating that the job would require a labour force of 2,000, the UEB built labour quarters for Europeans and Asians, complete with a club, community centre and swimming pool, at the Amberly Estate north of Jinja. But it chose to house all African staff in quarters located across the bridge in Njeru. These discriminatory economic and social policies would spill into the post-independence period and be exploited by dictator Idi Amin for his personal interests. When she died on 8 September 2022 , some Ugandans remembered Queen Elizabeth II as the young monarch who, in 1954, inaugurated the Owen Falls Dam as a symbol of energy independence and ushered in a new era of industrialisation and economic development in Uganda. But others remember her as the person who, over 70 years, presided over a country that reminds them of brutal exploitation, including the theft of their resources. John Mukum Mbaku is affiliated with Weber State University (Ogden, Utah, USA) and The Brookings Institution (Washington, D.C.) By John Mukum Mbaku, Professor, Weber State University I have tried very hard to restrain myself from voicing out on issues relating to the Ga Traditional Council and the Greater Accra Council of Zongo Chiefs involvement in the heated and pending blood bath over who is the legitimate Greater Accra Zabarma Chief. Many are those who are asking whether the Ga Traditional Council has the capacity to determine who the legitimate Greater Accra Zabarma Chief is. The incessant vituperations and pending chaos surrounding the Accra Zabarma chieftaincy matters have gotten to a point that it has become imperative for both the Ga Traditional Council and the Council of Zongo Chiefs to set the records straight on the misrepresentations that are being put out in the public domain before it gets out of control. With all due respect to the Ga Traditional Council, can they explain to the Muslim and the Zabarma community why the Council issued a document to one of the disputed Zabarma Chiefs without verifying from the Zongo Chieftaincy body, (Greater Accra of Zongo Chiefs) whether the Chief they are issuing the documents to is indeed a Chief. To the Council of Zongo Chiefs, I will like to know whether or not they as an Accra Zongo Chieftaincy body have any working relationship with the Ga Traditional Council to promote peace, unity and development in the Greater Accra Region. It will be recalled that the leadership of the Greater Accra Council of Zongo Chiefs in a letter dated on September 26, 2022 jointly signed by the Acting Chairman Chief Alhaji Siddick Jimala and the General Secretary Chief Is-Hak Suleiman Naaba Sigiri and addressed to the President of the Ga Traditional Council indicated that Chief Alhaji Musah Yahaya Yendu was installed as a Chlef of Zabarma Community in Greater Accra after the demise of his father on the 12th of March, 2000 and was inducted into the Council on the 4th April, 2000 with the Code No: GACZC / 016 after having gone through the necessary requirements of the Council. According to the Council there are reports that, one Alhaji Abubakar Tanko who is the Zabarma Chief of Accra Central is claiming and doubting the Chieftaincy title of Chief Alhaji Musah Yahaya Yandu as the Zabarma Chief of Greater Accra Region. Setting the record straight, the Greater Accra Council of Zongo Chiefs stated in the letter that Chief Abubakar Tanko was installed as Zabama Chief of Accra Central in the year 2020 by Chief Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru English the Hausa Chief of Greater Accra on the authorization and approval of Chief Alhaji Musah Yahaya Yandu (II), who happens to be the Chief of Zabarma Community in the Greater Accra Region. But the Sarki Abubakar Tanko in his response to the letter on social media challenged the capacity of the Greater Accra Council of Zongo Chiefs saying he is the legitimate Chief of Zabarma community in Accra adding that he has documents from the Ga Traditional Council and a certificate from the Greater Accra Hausa Chief. The documents was displayed on his social media wall which compelled many to question whether or the Ga Traditional Council has the capacity to determine a Chief for the Zabarma community in the Greater Accra Region. Watch Out For The Next Edition Source: Muhammed Faisel Mustapha 07.10.2022 LISTEN The Ashanti Regional Minister Hon Simon Osei Mensah has disclosed that the region has 51 factories under government's flagship One District One Factory Policy. He noted that 21 out of the 51 factories have been completed and operationalized while 30 are at the various stages of completion. Hon Simon Osei Mensah said this on Thursday October 6, 2022 while delivering a speech at the 23rd Regional Annual General Meeting of the Association of Ghana Industries for Bono, Ahafo, Bono East and Ashanti Regions. The Minister during his speech said government was determined to change the nature of the Ghanaian economy from one that is dependent on imports and export of raw materials to one focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods. "The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led NPP Government, since 2017, has invested heavily in developing and promoting the manufacturing and service delivery sectors through several policy initiatives. "Notable among them is the One District One Factory (1D1F) flagship programme, through which a total of 125 factories (existing and struggling and new ones) have been supported with funds and are in operation at the moment," he stated. He noted, "The Ashanti Region is home to 21 of these factories." The regional minister continued, "A few of the completed and operational companies under the programme include Boris B Farms and Vet Supplies Ghana Ltd. at Bantama; dealers in poultry and poultry feed; Aspee Pharmaceuticals Ltd. at Ejisu, manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, Darko Farms Groups at Akropong which is into processing of poultry and Anok Gyes Farms Ltd. at Agona-Wiamoase, producer of pig feed. "Thirty (30) more companies are under construction in the Ashanti Region and would soon be completed for commissioning, while a few more are on the drawing board awaiting consideration for approval." He again assured AGI of governments commitment to reviving Ghana's ailing economy through the implementation of some pragmatic policies including the Ghana Cares Obatanpa program aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small scale businesses. "Government has also through the GH100 billion Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support programme dubbed GhanaCARES Obaatan Pa, which was formally launched almost two (2) years ago, supported many manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries to strongly survive the COVID-19 impact. "One of the objectives of the GhanaCARES Obaatan Pa programme is to support the private sector particularly in agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and digitalization. The programme, built on the initiatives and achievements of government, prior to COVID-19, is made of two parts; (i) immediate measures taken in 2020 to stabilize the economy; and (ii) a revitalization part comprising measures to be implemented from 2021 to 2023 to ensure quick economic recovery and pursue Ghana Beyond Aid economic transformation agenda". In tandem with President Nana Akufo-Addo administration's key principle to run a retail government that upholds a close bond between leaders and the led, His Excellency the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia kickstarted a tour in the Northern-half of the country- the sixth time since the assumption of the reigns of government. Akin to the tours of the Vice President that has gone past, this tour is designed to felicitate with the people and their traditional leaders, inspect the progress of government commissioned projects and to essentially interact with the rank and file of the party-this is one exercise that rekindles hopes, renews spirits and hones enthusiasm in the ranks of the party. He is staying true to the dictates of his job definition; that is to assist the President to achieve the deliverables of government and by extension nurture the party in the cradle. At such engagements of the Vice President with partisans both at the Yendi Senior High School in Yendi and at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale where I was an active participant with keen interest present in listening, His Excellency sought to douse despondency and encourage them to keep faith with government. He emphasised that his preoccupation at this material moment is how to support his principal to lift the country out of the quicksand. At no point did he make an allusion or insinuation of any flagbearer ambition because for him this is the pristine time to bolster hope in government. The spin-masters would have none of that. In their overheated imagination and unholy orchestrations, they fabricate puerile propaganda in an unyielding effort to soil the brand-equity of Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia. If a good lie must be cooked up, then it must be done with some finesse and with the ingredient of believability. This subterfuge is too obvious to see through it. A toddler will not buy into such horrendous falsities. You cannot be miserable at building a sound message and be miserable again at concocting a 'beautiful lie'. That's a double-whammy of incompetence. A Vice President who played and enjoyed his arrowhead role in formalising our economy, fostering digitisation and digitalization in the dispensation of government services, Introduction of Zipline drone technology, Network Interoperability and the mega sinohydro barter trade deal that has impacted greatly on our infrastructure; cannot be accused to have described his job as a dirty job. A Vice President who toiled so hard in the trenches in three successive elections to attain the office of the Vice President cannot be alleged to have described his position as dirty. A Vice President who ticks all the boxes of a performing deputy president and enjoys his role to the hilt cannot be misjudged to have written off his position as dirty. No elementary practitioner in the political space will stoop to the lowest ebb and voice out that let alone attribute it to a Vice President who in a shortest time has seen it all. The lie is simply a cheap one and you need no rocket-science to unravel what it is choreographed to achieve- a mischievous purpose. From the onset, it could simply be decoded that some wannabe flagbearer has run short of breath way before the start of the race proper and seemingly seeking to release the last weapon from his arsenal, that is religious bigotry and ethnic jingoism. Let the bird whisper to them that this tradition has been nurtured and sustained on the back of progress, unity and diversity. The heterogeneity that existed amongst our forebearers-J.B Danquah, B.K Adama, Jato Kaleo, R.R Amponsah, Victor Owusu, K.A Busia, Yakubu Tali, J.A Braima, Abayifa Karbo, Joe Appiah, B.F Kusi etc- is what has survived this tradition in the face of toxic opposition for almost a century. Any exponent of the tradition who, for the purposes of parochialism undermines this rich history of our diversity must be called out as a thorn in the flesh of the party and the central spirit of the tradition that has kept us moving. You cannot run behind ethnicity and religion to cover up the deficiencies of your choice. Without the intent to sound repeatedly ad nauseam; the overwhelming support for Dr.Bawumia is not organised on the back of ethno-religious sentiments. There is NO NORTHERN AGENDA whatsoever. There's only GHANA & NPP AGENDA. We believe it must be DMB because we must sustain our great party and stimulate the growing foothold of the NPP amongst every Ghanaian patch. The fundamental rationalisation of our choice for Dr.Bawumia is not about his religious suasion, origin and/or ethnic background but strictly because of the content of his character, political flair, the winning formula and grit- the neccesary ingredients required to secure a third consecutive term for our great tradition. That must be placed on record! We adhere to the doctrine that Ghana will be safer in the hands of DMB. Simpliciter! Abdallah Matin Yendi Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on Wednesday morning addressed the 5th edition of the Ghana Green Building Summit at the Cal Bank Auditorium in Accra. Speaking at the event Dr. Prempeh said the subject matter of Green Building and the current energy transition conversation are all geared towards achieving climate change goals, pursuant to the Paris agreement. He said even before Ghana became a signatory to the Paris Accord, the energy sector had already taken steps to reduce carbon emissions on the environment. These he said include the Zero Gas Flaring Policy, The development of a Gas Master Plan, the conversion of all thermal power generators from liquid fuel-based generation to natural gas, and the Passage of the Renewable Energy Law, among other important interventions. Dr. Prempeh said these are clear indications of the energy sectors commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions and hence cannot disagree with the activities of the Green Building space. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh Ladies and Gentlemen with technical and financial support from GIZ, an Energy Performance Certification Scheme is being developed for public buildings using their specific energy consumption (KWh/m2). A tool for assessment and certification in this respect is being developed. Measures are also being put in place to train the needed professionals for the assessment," he said He continued seventeen (17) new energy efficiency standards and labelling regulations for appliances including those commonly used in buildings such as electric kettles, Television sets/Monitors, Clothes Washing Machines, and Rice Cookers. These regulations will be ready soon for enforcement. The existing regulations for lighting bulbs, Air conditioners, and refrigerators have been revised to increase their energy efficiency levels." The Minister further assured that the energy sector remains committed to the climate change goals, cognisant of the peculiar circumstances of the African continent. The Sales Executive at Dophil Roofing System, Bernard Mensah Adelashie has urged the government of Ghana to support locally manufactured building materials to thrive. According to him, lack of support from the government and access to finance has been the biggest challenge the industry is confronted with. "We are really grateful to be part of this year's summit, dophil roofing system is one the best roofing system in Ghana. Coming to participate in this year's green summit, we want all Ghanaians in Ghana and aboard to have a feel of what we do here in Ghana. Most of our products are fully Ghanaian-made and eco-friendly. Our roof tiles which are made from plastic and sand are durable for all buildings. "We want to ensure that the plastic waste in the system is been transformed innovatively into something good for the average Ghanaian. Access to finance has been our biggest challenge in this industry and lack of government support. We are happy that platforms like this are organised to bring industry players and government officials together to create awareness," he explained. Residents of Nanedo and Honi Adamora communities in the Domebre-Obom constituency within the Ga South Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana are all praising King James Foundation for assisting them with a mechanised borehole. As part of their humanitarian gestures, the foundation Development Project committee with the support of the Assemblyman selected Nanedo and Honi Adamora as beneficiary communities for this mechanized borehole. The foundation revealed that it has constructed 30 mechanized boreholes so far in the Greater Accra Region. According to the leader of the King James Foundation, Apostle James Solomon Mensah, they are fulfilled to have made portable water accessible to about 30,000 inhabitants in communities including Nanedo and Honi Adamora communities. We are here, commissioning new water well for the communities. This is courtesy of the King James Foundation and our partners (Ghana West Africa medical mission Incorporation, Florida, U.S.A.). After these commissioning, we are looking forward to providing 20 new water systems, which consist of mechanised and hand pump boreholes for 20 new communities before this year ends," he said. Mr. Isaac Awuku Yibor, opinion leader of the Nanedo community was at the commissioning of the mechanised borehole at Nanedo and Honi Adamora communities. He expressed his gratitude King James Foundation and its partners. The water system has eliminated the trouble school and the surrounding community would have gone through in traveling long distances for unclean water, freeing up time for more productive activities like learning. Surveys have shown that the primary challenge in getting water in the locality is that the ground has many dry fractures. Madam Comfort, a resident of the Honi Adamora community said "we are happy that we will not drink ground water that we share with cattle. We do fall sick when we drink this water but now we too can boost to having potable water in our community; thank you King James Foundation. What we need now is a toilet facility which we will plead with you to come to our aid." The Ranking Member on the Local Government and Rural Development Select Committee of Parliament Nii Lante Vanderpuije has expressed indignations at the calls by President Nana Akufo-Addo for a new initiative to be adopted in the fight against galamsey in the country. President Nana Addo Dankwaa Akufo-Addo at the meeting with Chiefs and some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to find new ways to deal with the galamsey menace at the Manhyia Palace in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, said: We have tried many initiatives in the fight against galamsey, still we have not won the fight against galamsey in the country. According to the Ranking Member, considering the plundering that has occurred, I dont think there is something the President can do in the next two years to salvage the galamsey menace. The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ododododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region expressed these doubts speaking on the 505 evening news analysis programme on Class 91.3 FM hosted by Korku Lumor. He noted on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, interview that there are so many laws like the mining regulations and mining acts to deal with the galamsey situation. He said the President with his cohorts designed many of these initiatives to cause these devastations to the country's forest cover and water bodies. He argued that the Presidents warning that he was not going to shield anybody in the renewed fight against galamsey was a charade because he had already shielded enough in the fight. Hasnt the President shielded the former Minister for Science and Technology, Prof Frimpong Boateng, under whose watchful eyes some five hundred excavators flew into thin air? he questioned. He again asserted that the likes of Charles Bissiw, the former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), and John Boadu are still walking free despite their roles in the galamsey menace. He maintained that there is a tall list of party people who have been shielded in the fight against galamsey. According to him, it is too late for the President to turn things around because of the levels of devastation caused by the illegal miners. He said the failure of the President to sustain the fight against galamsey was a situation of sheer incompetence, complicity, unwillingness and dishonesty. This government cannot do anything to compensate for the loss because of galamsey, he said. Source: Classfmonline.com The Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Kamaldeen Abdulai has condemned the National Democracy (NDC) for what he says is their unfounded downplaying of President Akufo-Addos committed fight against illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey. The opposition party at a press conference in Accra on Thursday accused the President of being unwilling to tackle galamsey contrary to what he has been telling Ghanaians. National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi who addressed the media alleged that the claims by the government that it is committed to fighting galamsey are just a scam and nothing else. But speaking to Starr News, Kamaldeen Abdulai has urged Ghanaians to ignore the claims by the NDC. He insists that President AKufo-Addo is committed to the fight against galamsey while calling for a hands-on-deck approach to help government win the fight and stop the damage illegal mining is causing. First of all who brought to prominence this call for a fight against galamsey? it is the New Patriotic Party and the President. He thought it wise in 2017 to have said our environment is suffering, and our people are destroying the water bodies in the name of illegal mining. Theres a need for all of us to come on board to fight this canker, the NPP Deputy Communications Officer said. Kamaldeen Abdulai added, The fact that you have even intended as the President of the Republic of Ghana to fight that nefarious activity head-on, that alone deserves commendation. At the just-ended meeting in Kumasi, he mentioned that and that he has shown his commitment to it. On Wednesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo held meetings with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs in Kumasi. During the meetings to discuss the galamsey menace, he called for support to fight galamsey. 07.10.2022 LISTEN Former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper has charged Akufo-Addo's government to focus on things it can control in its efforts to address the economic challenges facing the country. According to him, it will be suicidal for the government and Finance Minister to sit and wait for a miracle to happen. He proposes that the Ministry of Finance should work hard and come up with competent home-grown policies to tackle the economic challenges facing the country. The situation we are in now we have to go back to the early 80s or 70s and I gave you where we were with respect to our debts. To the extent that our budget is dependent on the Central Bank. By the way, if there were things done off budget is likely to also include the Bank of Ghana financing which should be a loan to the government. So the miracle is where we are, it has to do with the future and its about real hard work, Seth Terkper told Starr FM in an interview. The former Finance Minister added, It is when we have mastered this that we can win ourselves off the IMF. Which you must do cautiously because you will face a crisis and the rest. So what you have to do is have your own homegrown policy and reserve the right to go to the IMF when you have a genuine crisis. Amid the economic challenges, the World Bank has classified Ghana as a high debt distress country. While the government admits times are hard, it has assured that the necessary steps are being taken to address the problems. The government is also looking forward to reaching a deal for a support programme with the International Monetary Fund by the close of the year. The Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Abdulai Abanga has urged professionals in the construction sector to adhere to green building regulations to help fight climate change. He made this call during the 15th Ghana Green Building Summit in Accra on Wednesday. By building green, we reduce the impact our buildings have on contributing to climate change while also building the resilience of our homes and communities, he added. Mr Abanga noted that the recently launched Ghana Building Code sets out the requirements and recommendations for energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings. The requirements, he indicated, are to mitigate the effect of climate change - population displacement, devastating floods, food insecurities and water scarcity. The Deputy Minister announced that the Ministry had concluded the review of the Building Regulations LI 1630 (1996) to ensure the effective operationalisation of the Building Code. He said the revised Building Regulation, which contains portions dedicated to Green Building Regulations, would ensure building designs conform to environmental sustainability and create the needed ecosystem for human health and comfort. He reiterated the government's readiness to implement measures to ensure the countrys building architecture meets green building standards. A green building is a building that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Green buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life. Burkina Faso's new rulers say they seized power to better fight jihadists, but history in the Sahel suggests the coup will merely stoke turbulence and division, benefitting the insurgents, analysts say. The poor, arid region has been wracked by jihadist insecurity since 2012. It began in northern Mali then in 2015 spread to its centre and neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, claiming thousands of lives and prompting more than two million people to flee their homes. A new junta led by 34-year-old Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso last week, in the second such power grab since January blamed on failures to quell jihadist attacks. It followed two similar coups in Mali in 2020 and 2021. The latest takeover comes during a struggle for influence between France and Russia in the former French colonies, whose leaders appear to be increasingly turning to Moscow to help battle the jihadists. But analyst Yvan Guichaoua said the coup would only serve the interests of the jihadists -- the Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the local branch of the Islamic State group. "The big winners are not the Russians or the French, but GSIM and IS," said Guichaou, an expert at the Brussels School of International Studies. "What a disaster." Organisers of coups in the Sahel typically promise improved security, but these pledges are misleading, analysts say. A putsch typically "destabilises the army structure and divides members of the military into supporters and opponents of the coup," said Djallil Lounnas at Morocco's Al-Akhawayn University. "It means instability, division and purges." Coups only compound problems in countries where the armed forces are already accused of inefficiency and mismanagement, and security forces are often under-equipped, he and others said. Army problems Alain Antil, a Sahel expert at the French Institute of International Relations, gave the example of more than 50 Burkinabe gendarmes killed by jihadists in November last year. Two weeks earlier, they had warned headquarters they were running short of supplies. "They were hunting gazelles in the scrubland to eat," he said, and were in no position to take on the insurgents. "You can't go and fight such determined adversaries with this kind of logistics problem." Traore has been appointed president and 'supreme head of the armed forces'. By - (AFP/File) Disgruntled junior officers led by Traore forced out junta leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, whom they accused of failing his country. Traore was declared president on Wednesday, three days after Damiba fled to neighbouring Togo following a prolonged standoff at the weekend. But, said Antil, nothing indicates Traore will be any more successful. "The myth of the enlightened military man able to fix problems... very rarely holds up," he said. Soldiers are "often less well-equipped than the civilians they replace to understand" non-security aspects of a crisis. GSIM this week mocked Burkina's latest change of leader. "Let the tyrants know that the repeated coups will not avail them," it said in a statement. Mauritanian journalist Lemine Ould Salem, who has written a book on jihadism, said political turmoil gives credibility to extremist talk that "delegitimises state institutions." "They say, 'look, there is no democracy, no state, no constitution'," he said. Regional impact Military coups in the Sahel have also weakened regional cooperation in the fight against the jihadists. Regional forces in the Sahel after France's Barkhane anti-jihadist mission quit Mali. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP) Since its takeover, Mali had a bustup with France, the country's strongest foreign ally, which withdrew its last troops from the country in August. The junta has brought in Russian operatives it describes as military trainers, but which western countries say are mercenaries from the Wagner group. Mali has also quit a regional anti-jihadist force dubbed the G5 Sahel and antagonised its southern neighbour, Ivory Coast, by detaining 46 Ivorian soldiers in July. Bamako "risks ruining all cooperation, including for security," Antil said. The Soufan Center think tank in a note this week said France had "served as somewhat of a 'bogeyman', or an excuse to account for the growing strength of jihadists in Burkina Faso and the Sahel more broadly". Michael Shurkin, a US historian specialised in the French army, said there were also "many who believe in conspiracy theories according to which the French arm the jihadists". They "simplify a complex reality and enable people to avoid having to understand their own responsibility and find their own solutions," he said. Prof. Kofi Agyekum 07.10.2022 LISTEN Professor Kofi Agyekum, head of linguistics at the University of Ghana is asking government to use Rambo style to combat illegal miners in the country. He said, that was the "safest and simplest" way illegal mining can be eliminated. According to the renowned scholar, the only way to stop illegal mining once and for all is for government to pay heed to calls to shoot perpetrators on the spot. Speaking to Kwame Sefa Kayi on Accra-based Peace FMs 'Kokrokoo' morning show, Prof. Agyekum explained that following the vast destruction of the land, water bodies and forest reserves, illegal miners don't deserve mercy. ...Kwame, I now agree with you that we enforce that when we meet you there we must shoot you... where we have reached, we have to make up our mind that if you have decided to destroy the nation, the nation must also get rid of you, he said. This follows the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang and the recent documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted President Akufo-Addo to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the galamsey threat on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the President reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, urging the chiefs to support his vision. He also warned MMDCEs engaging in the act to desist from it or face the consequences when caught. If your explanation is not sound, meaningful or reasonable enough, the appropriate sanctions would be applied without any favour. The constant allegations of MMDCEs being the conveyers of the illegal mining is not the best, the President lamented. He stressed that there will be a severe punishment to anyone irrespective of your status. Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has questioned the whereabouts of the man he calls the chief perpetrator of the wrongful demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in 2017. In a statement responding to a leak of the full report on the controversial demolition, Mr. Ablakwa suggested that the government was trying to cover up the role of the man, Jojo Hagan, in the demolition. Government has consciously refused to inform the Ghanaian public that the chief perpetrator of the illegal demolition as identified by the Sole Inquirer, one Mr. Albert Jojo Hagan has been on the run and could not be located by the Sole Inquirer. Jojo Hagan did not appear before the sole inquirer and was unable to be located, according to the document Mr. Ablakwa shared as the full report. The report noted that Jojo Hagan should be sanctioned for not following due process in the demolition of the building and should be made to compensate the Bulgarian Embassy. In light of the concerns, Mr. Ablakwa questioned why the government is not declaring Mr. Jojo Hagan wanted and mounting a massive manhunt for his arrest? Mr. Ablakwa is also concerned that the taxpayers are going to foot the bill of compensation. The Bulgarian Honorary Consul to Ghana, Nicolas van Staalduinen, earlier indicated that the government of Ghana is working towards financial compensation for the demolition. Mr. Ablakwa further called for more transparency, saying the government stands terribly exposed on this matter. So far, due to government's seeming complicity in the mysterious Jojo Hagan disappearance narrative and their lack of interest in finding him, government has failed in keeping its pledge to the Bulgarians to secure compensation for the illegal demolition of their embassy, and their patience appears to be running out. Background The Bulgarian Embassy, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra, was partly demolished by a private developer in 2017. The Bulgarian Ambassador to Ghana and Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov, then accused the Ghanaian government of breaching the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and warned of far-reaching implications on diplomatic relationships with Ghana. The government commissioned an inquiry into the matter, which recommended sanctions against the supposed private developer who caused the destruction of the Embassy's building. The developer has also been directed to pay compensation to affected persons. The private developer, Jojo Hagan, is said to have taken over as the Executor of the Will of one Mr. Leighton and vested the property in the named beneficiaries of the Will while pursuing the cases at the Court. He also obtained judgment for the eviction of the occupants whom he described as trespassers, and an order to demolish the property which he described as unfit for human habitation, at the Circuit Court, Accra. The inquiry found that the eviction and demolition did not follow due process. ---citinewsroom The National House of Chiefs has asked the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to arrest and prosecute all persons indulging in illegal mining in the country. According to the chiefs, illegal mining, popularly known as 'galamsey', is destroying river bodies and causing extensive damage to the environment. In the face of this frightening threat which is starring the citizenry in the face, the chiefs also called on the security agencies to help fight against illegal mining. The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, who was speaking on behalf of the House yesterday, said Apply the appropriate sanctions to illegal miners irrespective of their status in society. He also suggested that political affiliation and all other considerations should be disregarded when illegal miners are caught and being dealt with by security agencies and other major stakeholders. He made the appeal Wednesday in Kumasi when President Akufo-Addo addressed the members of the National House of Chiefs. According to the President of the National House of Chiefs, some traditional leaders in the country were not comfortable with the rate at which illegal mining activities were causing massive destruction to the environment. Ogyeahoho Gyebi observed that illegal mining was virtually affecting everything in the country now, including the human resource base, therefore, the strongest need for a bold action to be taken about galamsey. Aside adversely affecting the rivers, water bodies and the environment in general, illegal mining is also the leading cause of school dropouts, especially in the mining areas in the country, he told the President. The National House of Chiefs president reiterated that the security agencies should attach seriousness in the fight against illegal mining and also make sure that all offenders were dealt with by the laws of the land. According to him, the traditional leaders in the country, especially members of the National House of Chiefs were strongly in support of the president to once-and-for-all deal with the illegal mining menace. IMF Deal Ogyeahoho also urged the President and his officials to negotiate effectively with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials so that the country would be given a better deal, which would revive the economy. Negotiate well and get a good deal for us during your negotiations with the IMF, to boost investors' confidence in the country once again, he said, urging government to also settle outstanding allowances of members of the National House of Chiefs. Accompanying the President to the House were Yaw Osafo Maafo, Senior Minister; Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor among others. ---DGN online The Chief Executive Officer of Petrosol Ghana Ltd, Michael Bozumbil, has commended Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), for the bold steps he has taken to sanitise the downstream petroleum industry by enforcing the industry regulations for a level playing field. He has, therefore, encouraged him to continue on that path and pledged the support of the leadership of Petrosol. Mr. Bozumbil said this when he recently led some members of the senior leadership team of Petrosol to pay a courtesy call on Dr. Abdul-Hamid at his office in Accra. He said the visit was to commend him for the major steps he has taken and the measures he is putting in place to sanitise the industry. He informed Dr. Abdul-Hamid that Petrosol places a high priority on regulatory compliance and the accurate payment of taxes and levies to the state. On regulatory compliance, Mr. Bozumbil indicated that not only does Petrosol comply with NPAs regulations but has also gone a step further to subject its operations to international audit, leading to the company receiving triple-International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certifications for quality, occupational health and safety and environment. Regarding the payment of tax obligations, Mr Bozumbil informed Dr. Abdul-Hamid that Petrosol dutifully pays its taxes, indicating that the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority recently wrote to Petrosol to congratulate them for their tax compliance. On his part, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was full of praise for PETROSOL for being a compliant company and urged them to maintain that record. He expressed his appreciation for the visit and the show of support for the measures he and his team are putting in place to ensure a level playing field. He said he would continue to enforce the rules fairly and hoped operators in the industry would comply. Petrosol is a leading privately owned Ghanaian oil marketing company operating several fuel stations across the country. Voters in Lesotho were casting ballots in parliamentary elections on Friday, but observers doubted that the outcome would end long-running political gridlock. The southern African kingdom has been governed for the past decade by frail and fractious coalitions, and no premier has served out a full five-year term. "It is very likely that there will be a coalition again," said Liesl Louw-Vaudran at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies (ISS), in Pretoria. Surrounded entirely by South Africa, Lesotho is a mountain nation of two million people nicknamed the "Kingdom in the Sky." It has been buffeted by coups and attempted coups since independence from Britain in 1966, and nearly a third of its population live on less than $1.90 a day. In Koro-Koro, about an hour's drive from the capital Maseru, men wrapped in traditional blankets started queueing outside a voting station from the early morning. "I hope that my vote will count," said Paul, 32, who said he had walked for kilometres (miles) to cast his ballot. Many voters queued for hours. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP) Like many, he used to work in South Africa, but the Covid-19 pandemic upended that and today he is unemployed. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and were due to close at 5:00 pm. About 1.5 million people are registered to vote. In Maseru's suburb of Matala, marquees on the grass served as polling stations. Before opening shop, election officials showed the empty ballot boxes to those queueing outside, to allay fears of rigging. International observers watched. "I have never voted, and I am not willing to vote," Dineo Moketsie, a 32-year-old teacher told AFP earlier in the week, angry at politicians who he said had done nothing to better living conditions in the country. "I just feel that it's a waste of time". The outgoing government is led by the All Basotho Convention (ABC). But current Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro is not seeking another term, after being ousted as party head earlier this year. His predecessor Thomas Thabane was forced to step down in 2020 after being accused of ordering the murder of his estranged wife. Charges against him were dropped in July. The ABC's new leader, former health minister Nkaku Kabi, is squaring off against an array of contenders. More than 50 parties are in the running. Millionaire challenger Kabi's main challengers include Mathibeli Mokhothu, who heads the Democratic Congress -- Lesotho's second largest party -- and Sam Matekane, a millionaire believed to be the country's richest man who could be a dark horse, according to analysts. His party, "Revolution for Prosperity", dwarfs most of the others in terms of resources, said Rataibane Ramainoane, a political adviser to the government. "Its presence is being felt across the country," he said. Still, no one is expected to win outright, darkening prospects of much-needed reform, said Seroala Tsoeu-Ntokoane, a political analyst at the National University of Lesotho. "Coalitions are a source of instability because they're formed with political parties with not much to hold them together, no mutual policy platform, no mutual respect," she said. The outgoing parliament failed to pass a law aimed at strengthening political stability, by banning lawmakers from switching party allegiance within the first three years of their tenure. Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro, seen here arriving to cast his vote in Maseru, is not seeking another term -- he was ousted this year as head of the dominant ABC party. By MOLISE MOLISE (AFP) "We want infrastructures, roads and running businesses, it's all about bringing back hope in the country," said Mekhotak Setsebi, 30, a blanket tied around his shoulders. He is the head of a small logistics company but business is bad, he said before casting his ballot in Matala. The 120-seat parliament is chosen by a mixed electoral system -- 80 lawmakers are voted in by constituents, while another 40 seats are distributed proportionally. Results are expected next week. It's been a week since author Yeayi Kobina released his book the Usurper's Dream. He describes the book as an adaptation of Ashanti history but a deeper digging reveals a creation of an epic tale good enough for a game of thrones adaptation. The author granted an interview at his office, dressed in a hoodie and faded jeans, it is impossible to believe this is the new face of African writers. He smiles when asked how the first week has been since the release of the book. Phenomenal is how he describes it. The writing project he says was a three year endeavor involving research, writing and re-writing. Yeayi Kobinas motivation for writing the book was to project a new narrative where Africans were subjects in their own stories instead of objects in the histories of others. The book, the first in a series of five describes the beginnings of the Ashanti Empire focusing on the two founders Osei Tutu and Okomfo Anokye. From my limited childhood purview, I remember the tales of Okomfo Anokye prowess seeming unbelievable but what the Usurper's Dream does is weave characters that are so likeable-their supernatural abilities is just another extension of themselves. The cover of the book itself is a testament to the richness of the Ashanti culture. The face of a boy, wearing a golden crown is all that frames the plot of the book. This book is a topical take and re-capture of the African history in a time when there's been a backlash of Hollywood rip-off of African history and glamorizing it for Hollywood. The writing is fast-paced, creating a world and rich characters one can't help but to root for. The writing grabs you from the beginning until leaving you on a cliffhanger that makes you wonder when the next instalment in the book series will arrive. The Usurper's Dream can be purchased on Amazon or at the Vidya bookstore. The former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr Charles Bissue, has said the Anas Aremeyaw Anas expose in which he was captured on video taking what was perceived as a bribe, was a frame-up by a former staff he sacked. According to him, the envelope of cash he was captured on tape receiving, which was branded as a bribe in the expose, was a donation from the governing New Patriotic Partys Ashanti regional chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) to the former Western Regional Organiser of the party, Mr Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed. In a long statement responding to the maligning of his person by the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi, at a press conference held on Thursday, 6 October 2022, through which the biggest opposition party reacted to a recent meeting held by President Nana Akufo-Addo with some chiefs and local authorities on the galamsey menace at the Manhyia Palace, Mr Bissue said: The public has been misled to accept and believe the narrative put by Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the money I was seen taking in the video. As I have said countless times, that money was not a bribe, and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM, he repeated. The money in question was a donation from the NPP Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to the then-NPP Western Regional Organiser, Abdul Ganiyu for a party event organsied in the Western Region, he said. He said: For the malice and character assassination that Anas and his sponsors had in mind, the public was denied the audio recordings and full disclosure of the purpose of that money handed to me. It was uncovered that a former employee of the IMCIM, Francis Owusu Akyaw, who I fired for unsatisfactory conduct sponsored the video recording of the documentary, he added. According to him, Francis Owusu Akyaw admitted to the police of having commissioned that recording, noting: His nomination for the parliamentary candidate in the Juaben Constituency was subsequently declined as a result of this. This same Francis Owusu Akyaw is a named beneficiary of a mining firm [DML, as named in the leaked will] co-owned by the late Sir John of the Forestry Commission. Read Mr Charles Bissues full statement below: CHARLES BISSUE Plot 3 Bronyikrom, Sekondi, Western Region Email: [email protected] 6 October 2022 GALAMSEY FIGHT AND NDCS RENEWED ATTACK ON GOVT AND MY PERSON My attention has been drawn to the scathing attack on my person by the National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi in his press conference that responded to President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addos renewed assurance in the fight against illegal mining. In that press conference aired on various media platforms on Thursday 6 October 2022, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi malign and traduce me by referencing a rather doctored and propaganda-induced documentary authored by Tiger Eye P.Is Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Sammy Gyamfi stated the documentary provides evidence of me demanding and collecting bundles of money, bribes and abusing his office to facilitate illegal mining activity. He continued to speak certain untruths about the works of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) where I served as a Secretary. Ordinarily, I wouldnt have responded to this matter given the fact I have long been exonerated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service on this fraud allegation levelled against me. I am glad the President in his address at Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, charged that we, as Ghanaians, and all other stakeholders, tackle this galamsey menace without any partisanship and other political favours. I, therefore, will proceed in all candidness and truth about my work at the IMCIM and other matters including the infamous missing excavators saga which is being bandied around to defame the government of President Akufo-Addo and the NPP. As put by Sammy Gyamfi, the impression following the Anas documentary, indicated that I compromised the governments effort in fighting galamsey. My silence on these matters had reached its peak. I speak the truth as a Ghanaian and sworn on my reputation to avert the minds of the good people of this country to the facts of these matters so that we can finally put an end to this political game-play. We are in a digital age, and the internet never forgets hence the need to clear every iota of untruth about these matters. Posterity will always be the judge. Allegations of Fraud 1. The public has been misled to accept and believe the narrative put by Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the money I was seen taking in the video. 2. As I have said countless times, that money was not a bribe, and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM. 3. The money in question was a donation from the NPP Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to the then NPP Western Regional Organiser, Abdul Ganiyu for a party event organsied in the Western Region. 4. For the malice and character assassination that Anas and his sponsors had in mind, the public was denied the audio recordings and full disclosure of the purpose of that money handed to me. 5. It was uncovered that a former employee of the IMCIM, Francis Owusu Akyaw, whom I fired for unsatisfactory conduct sponsored the video recording of the documentary. 6. Francis Owusu Akyaw admitted to the Police of having commissioned that recording. 7. His nomination for the parliamentary candidate in the Juaben Constituency was subsequently declined as a result of this. 8. This same Francis Owusu Akyaw is a named beneficiary of a mining firm [DML, as named in the leaked will] co-owned by the late Sir John of the Forestry Commission. 9. On 18 July 2021, I petitioned the National Executive Committee of the NPP about the activities of some party people that are comprising the effort in the galamsey fight. The President and his Vice, the Chief of Staff, the General Secretary of the party, and the Chair of the National Council of Elders were all copied in this letter. 10. The CID conducted a thorough investigation into this matter by inviting all actors captured in the video including the author, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. 11. The Special Prosecutor then, Martin Amidu also advanced his investigations, where I, the person sponsored by Owusu Akyaw to take the secrete recording, Anas and his lawyer, Kissi Adjabeng [now the Special Prosecutor] were duly interrogated. 12. All evidence, as suggested by Anas and his team made no proof of me taking a bribe nor circumventing the process in the issuance of licenses and permits to miners, as in the case of ORR Resources. 13. I believe Mr. Martin Amidu concluded his investigations into the matter, and duly captured his report and findings in his handing over notes to his successor, Mr. Kissi Agyabeng. 14. It will be recalled that Mr. Amidu indicated in his report on the corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Deal that there was an issue of identity in the corruption allegation against me. Missing Excavators and Prof Frimpong-Boatengs Dealings 1. Until January 2019, all confiscated earth-moving equipment was in the custody of Operation Vanguard. All confiscated equipment was parked at the various premises of the District Assemblies. 2. Reports filed by Operation Vanguard indicated they confiscated 258 excavators throughout their operations at the time. 3. In addition to this, Operation Vanguard removed 211 control boards of excavators which they were unable to evacuate from the mining sites. 4. It is not true, that 500 excavators were seized during the 2-year ban, as earlier reported by the Chairman of the IMCIM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng. The misinformation on the part of the Chairman, and his reluctance to correct the misinformation smacks of a deliberate agenda to discredit persons assigned to this task. 5. As Chair of the IMCIM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng was privy to every report about the confiscated equipment, and as such wasnt expected to have committed such a blunder. 6. On the 6th of February 2020 following this blunder, I addressed a letter to Prof Frimpong-Boateng suggesting measures in dealing with the misinformation and the resulting political mess. The President, Chief of Staff, and all members (Cabinet Ministers) of the IMCIM were duly copied in this letter. 7. Prof Frimpong-Boateng must clarify matters regarding administrative decisions and directives he gave Ekow Ewusie in the handling of the excavators. 8. It is equally important that he is made to answer all other allegations in this matter, and the dealings of Symphony Mining Limited, and River Restoration Limited during the days of the IMCIM. Involvement of MMDCEs in Galamsey 1. Sammy Gyamfi avers the then Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hadjia Alima Mahama stated she had knowledge and evidence of MMDCEs who were complicit in the illegal mining activities. 2. It is rather unfortunate such misinformation has been allowed in our media space. I was present at the retreat for MMDCEs where the Honourable Minister is reported to have made that statement. 3. In nowhere did she suggest there was evidence to reports [speculations/rumours] of the involvement of MMDCEs in illegal mining. 4. The Minister briefed on the happenings on the ground, cautioned the MMDCEs not to act in a manner that will thwart the effort of the government, and did add that any person complicit in this illegal business shall be uncovered soon and made to face the full rigours of the law. The Successes of the IMCIM The IMCIM which was commissioned by the President in 2017, is one of the most responsive and innovative measures ever taken to address the menace of illegal mining in Ghana. The IMCIM was composed of 10 cabinet Ministers; with representation from the Lands and Natural Resources, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Water and Sanitation, Local Government and Rural Development, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Regional Re-organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Interior, Defense, and Information. 1. The committee offered practical solutions for regularising and sanitising Ghanas small-scale mining industry. 2. The roadmap which was produced and commissioned by the President offered curative measures to restore water resources and degraded lands, deepening transparency in the mining licensing regime and permits. 3. It developed the blueprints for the Community Mining Programme, and the Alternative Livelihood Programme. 4. Instituted an enhanced surveillance mechanism via the Galamstop to provide real-time data on compliance of mining firms or groups across the country. 5. As part of the IMCIMs surveillance strategy, a total of 655 earth-moving equipment were tracked. The government knowing all these cannot allow the NDC to continue to mislead and court negative emotions of the people against it, in this galamsey fight. The NPP government under President Akufo Addo has demonstrated commitment to dealing with the crisis, however, there have been some shortcomings resulting from the negligence and self-centeredness of persons entrusted with the duty of sustaining the effort in eradicating illegal mining. Its about time we revisit the recommendations of the IMCIM, and operationalize all infrastructure that has been left dormant. We can win this fight! Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue Former Secretary-IMCIM Source: ClassFMonline.com Defunct UT Bank founder Prince Kofi Amoabeng has said President Akufo-Addo is solely to blame for the persistence of the galamsey menace across the country. In his view, stopping small-scale illegal mining is so easy to do as a President, since he wields so much power under the 1992 Constitution to do so. However, Mr Amoabeng said he suspects Mr Akufo-Addo is trying to use galamsey to please his party financiers, thus, festering the illegality across the country. Stopping galamsey is not a difficult thing, Mr Amoabeng told Nana Otu Darko on CTVs morning show Dwabre Mu on Tuesday, 4 October 2022. He noted that the president has the armed forces, police, Ghana Revenue Authority and every power needed to fix the country and also stop galamsey. Weve given him all the power as the commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and everything, he stressed, adding: Blame Akufo-Addo for its prevalence. Use the law to fix the land. Use even the military. This is not difficult. I dont see how stopping galamsey is difficult. Just declare a two-week curfew in all galamsey areas, let the army use helicopters to mount surveillance on those areas and then put in the necessary measures to ensure galamsey is stopped, the retired army officer suggested. When it suggested to him that the illegality is festering because of the involvement of top guns, Mr Amoabeng retorted: Which power supersedes the Presidents to the extent that he cant stop galamsey even if there are big shots involved? The president has all the powers to stop galamsey and, so, if it doesnt stop, dont ask anybody; ask the president. Period! Apart from being the commander-in-chief, he appoints almost everybody and let the people you appoint be accountable and responsible, he asserted. He continued: So, galamsey can be stopped so I dont see any problem in stopping it. I dont know [but] who is higher than the president? Mr Amoabeng thinks Mr Akufo-Addo is trying to please some people by letting galamsey fester. You see, one thing about Ghanaian politicians is that they are always thinking about votes and they are trying to, maybe, empower some special people who will make money and use the money to gain votes for them; I dont get it because Im not a politician but what I know is that, as the president, if you say, Ill stop galamsey, he has everything to stop it. Why he hasnt stopped it, I still dont understand, a bewildered Amoabeng said. A few days ago, President Akufo-Addo said he is not against mining Ghanas mineral resources but will not accept the prevailing situation whereby it is done recklessly by illegal small-scale miners through which the environment is being decimated. At a meeting with the national house of chiefs on the subject on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, Mr Akufo-Addo said: We are not against mining, but we cannot accept mining in a manner that risks destroying our country. Our nation has always been a mining nation. Indeed, in the 15th century, when the first Europeans, the Portuguese, came to our shores, they called the first European-influenced town, El Mina, meaning the mine in Portuguese, because, from their ships, as they approached our shores, that is the activity they saw our people engaged in. it is not surprising that, in colonial times, we were called the Gold Coast. He, thus, asked all Ghanaians to join hands with him in the fight against illegal mining, in order to bring an end to the devastation of the Ghanaian landscape and the pollution of our water bodies. We have to win that fight to keep our environment clean, and protect our heritage for our descendants, as you did in the past, he added. According to President Akufo-Addo, it is obvious that, if we are to win the fight, you and I [chiefs] have to take the lead to collaborate closely to do so. That is why I am here today. He noted 80% of the lands Ghana continue to be under the custody of chiefs while the president, per the 1992 Constitution, holds the remainder in trust for the people of Ghana. What this means, he said, is that, ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is the joint responsibility of chiefs and the President, although, by statute, the minerals in the soil belong to the President in trust for the people. Historically, we discharged that responsibility well. Even though, for centuries, we have been a mining nation, mining did not pose a threat to the health of our environment and water bodies. The rules that you put in place for mining ensured that the sanctity of our lands remained intact, and our water bodies remained unpolluted. Tragically, in the modern era, that is no longer the case. And that is why I have come to you today to talk about how, together, we can repair this dramatic situation, he said. President Akufo-Addo indicated that, since he took office on the 7th of January 2017, he has made it a central feature of his presidency to lead in the efforts to rid the country of the menace of galamsey, with a firm commitment made in his inaugural speech on the matter. It has not been easy, it has not been popular, and we have not got the immediate results that I was looking for. Indeed, in the last elections of 2020, my stance on the issue cost my party and me significant losses in the mining communities. It turned out that my statement that I was putting my presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey was neither bombast nor recklessness. It was the simple truth, he said. The President continued, We have tried many initiatives, including that of the Community Mining Scheme, and the establishment of a new legal regime for dealing with the perpetrators of this phenomenon, which has imposed severe sanctions on those, Ghanaians and foreigners, convicted of illegal mining. Still, we have not won the fight. In seeking further assistance from the chiefs in addressing the galamsey menace, he noted that taking partisan political interests out of the fight against galamsey is one way forward. It can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election. The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all Fellow Ghanaians, pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future, he added. GALAMSEY BROUHAHA: Blame Prez Akufo Addo for Ghana's Galamsey Menace, No One Else Shares The Blame - Prince Kofi Amoabeng #CTV Posted by C TV on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 Source: ClassFMonline.com 07.10.2022 LISTEN Madam Claudia Turbay Quintero, the outgoing Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, has paid a farewell call on Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and expressed gratitude to the Government and People of Ghana for the support she received during her tenure. Madam Quintero, who was also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, said the immense support she received helped to deepen the bilateral relations between Ghana and Colombia. She said her topmost desire was to see the two heads of state forging closer ties to further deepen the already warm and cordial bilateral relations. She encouraged Ghana to explore the opportunities offered by the markets of the Pacific Alliance, comprising four Caribbean countries; Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile. Madam Botchwey congratulated the Ambassador on the successful completion of her tour of duty to Ghana, as well as the successful celebration of the 212th Independence Anniversary by the Government and People of Colombia on 20th July, 2022. She expressed the hope that succeeding anniversaries would further enhance the bonds of goodwill and cooperation between the two countries. The Minister also recognised the sterling leadership of Madam Quintero as Dean of the diplomatic corps in Ghana and commended the diplomatic community for its valuable contribution towards Ghana's national development. She indicated Ghana's readiness to strengthen its relations with the Pacific Alliance and wished Madam Quintero well in her future endeavours. GNA Former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue has hit back at members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling for his prosecution. Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi said the government should prosecute Chairman Wontumi, Charles Bissue, and other persons allegedly involved in illegal mining (galamsey). Ghanaians are tired of your flowery speeches and useless rhetoric. The so-called fight against galamsey has been a spectacular failure and the only way to salvage it is for you to man up and finally begin to crack the whip on your errant appointees and NPP functionaries who are neck-deep in the galamsey business. We demand the immediate prosecution of all NPP functionaries and NPP officials who have engaged in illegal mining such as Charles Bissue, Chairman Wontumi, the evidence is clear, Andy Owusu, Ekow Ewusi, Prof. Frimpong Boateng among others, Sammy Gyamfi told the media. Reacting to that presser, Charles Bissue has issued a press release, insisting that he has already been exonerated of any involvement in illegal mining activities after an investigation by the CID. Expressing unhappiness over his name being continually mentioned in illegal mining conversations, he is urging the government to take action. The government knowing all these cannot allow the NDC to continue to mislead and court negative emotions of the people against it, in this galamsey fight, Charles Bissue notes in his press release. He further proposes that to effectively fight galamsey menace in the country, the recommendations in the IMCIM should be operationalised. The NPP government under President Akufo Addo has demonstrated commitment to dealing with the crisis, however, there have been some shortcomings resulting from the negligence and self-centeredness of persons entrusted with the duty of sustaining the effort in eradicating illegal mining. Its about time we revisit the recommendations of the IMCIM, and operationalize all infrastructure that has been left dormant. We can win this fight, Charles Bissue concludes in his statement. EU leaders meet for a second day in Prague and looked to bridge divisions on how to tackle soaring energy prices as they grapple with the fallout from Russia's war on Ukraine. Forty-four European leaders first met on Thursday to form a new, continent-wide "European Political Community," an idea that originated during France's EU presidency earlier this year. On the second day of the Prague meeting, the EU 27 leaders met exclusively and discussed how to better protect their critical infrastructure in the wake of leaks from the Russia-Europe Nord Stream gas pipelines that have been blamed on "sabotage". But it was the sharp disagreements over how to tackle the energy crisis that were the major focus of attention as the 27 nations wrangled over the best plan to try to bring down prices. Europe is facing an energy crunch as the price of electricity generation skyrockets because of a massive surge in gas prices caused by Russia turning off the taps. Governments across the bloc are scrambling to lower the costs for their consumers, but they rely on different sources for their energy and are split over the solutions. EU executive head Ursula von der Leyen is proposing a "roadmap" of measures to help ease the burden -- including potential moves to cap the price of gas. However, there is no consensus on how any caps could work and leaders are not set to take a firm decision until a summit in Brussels later this month. "Now, it is time to discuss how we can limit the peaks in the energy prices and the manipulation of energy prices by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," von der Leyen told journalists. "This will be the discussion about price caps, the question where to put them and how to put them." More than half of the bloc have pushed for the EU to impose a price ceiling on how much it would pay for gas piped or shipped in, as the northern hemisphere winter sets in. But Germany has so far stood in the way over fears that the move could divert precious supplies away from Europe. Political community On Thursday, the first gathering of the "European Political Community" at the grand Prague Castle complex brought together a disparate grouping of 44 nations from the Caucasus in the southeast to Iceland in the north-west. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was not invited, loomed over the meeting as discussions focused on the economic and security turmoil sparked by his invasion of Ukraine. "We displayed the unity of 44 European countries which as 44 very clearly expressed their condemnation of Russia's war and their support for Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron said. The experimental format, a brainchild of Macron, was billed as a "new platform for political coordination", but there were few concrete outcomes beyond a photo of the assembled leaders. "If you just look at the attendance here, you see the importance," said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. "The whole European continent is here, except two countries, Belarus and Russia. So it shows how isolated those two countries are." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, overseeing a counter-offensive against Moscow's forces, urged Europe to punish Moscow through increased arms supplies and security guarantees in a video link address. "Here and now, I urge you to make a basic decision. A decision about (the) purpose for this community of ours. For this format of ours," Zelensky said. "We, the leaders of Europe, can become the leaders of peace. Our European political community can become a European community of peace." (with wires) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has paid a courtesy call on Ghanas Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in Accra. Mr Kuleba, who is on a 10-day African tour, visited the Ghanaian minister on Thursday, 6 October 2022. Both ministers discussed issues of common interest aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between their two countries, including education, oil and gas, trade, petrochemicals and security among others. There was a business forum between the Ghanaian business community and the Ukrainian business community who were part of the delegation travelling with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister. Also, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister delivered a special message to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy The Northern Regional Campaign Coordinator of the Alan for President team, Alhaji Ibrahim Karim, has drawn the attention of the National Executives Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the activities of the Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, in the north. According to the Alan for President Campaign Coordinator, Dr Bawumia, in the name of an official working visit, is campaigning to replace his boss, who is exiting after serving his two conservative terms. He said Dr Bawumia, during his purported official tour up north, held a series of meetings with some delegates and sought their support to make his dream of becoming the first Muslim President in the Fourth Republic. He said at the meeting, the delegates' phones were taken and an amount of GHS100 was given as transport after the meeting. As a party, we cannot enact a law for the law to be hard on others and soft on some particular people, he warned. Alhaji Karim drew the attention of the NEC to the purported campaign of Dr Bawumia speaking when he spoke on Accra100.5FMs morning show Ghana Yensom hosted by Emmanuel Quarshie (The Hitman) on Friday, October 7 2022. He said the Vice President must be called to order for breaking the code of conduct spelt out by the party for governing the campaign for the flagbearership race. He added that when the Vice President came to the north, he was accompanied by some Deputy Ministers and Chief Executive Officers of some state organisations. I have been suspended from the communications team of the party for just going on the radio to heap praise on the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, for doing a great job. Yet, these people came to the north, mounted the radio stations and did all manner of things in the name of the Vice President and these people are still walking free, he bemoaned. He warned that if the party fails to deal with the Vice President and his supporters for flouting the code of conduct in the run-up to the presidential primaries, supporters of Mr Kyerematen will be compelled to defy the code of conduct and openly campaign, too Source: Classfmonline.com Former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue has shared his thoughts on why the governments fight against illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey has not yet achieved its purpose. According to him, persons put in key institutions and given vital roles in the fight against galamsey have failed due to their negligence and self-centeredness. The NPP government under President Akufo Addo has demonstrated commitment to dealing with the crisis, however, there have been some shortcomings resulting from the negligence and self-centeredness of persons entrusted with the duty of sustaining the effort in eradicating illegal mining, Charles Bissue has shared in a press release titled; galamsey fight and NDCs renewed attack on govt and my person. The release has been issued after Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC called for the prosecution of Charles Bissue and other NPP officials for their alleged involvement in galamsey. Ghanaians are tired of your flowery speeches and useless rhetoric. The so-called fight against galamsey has been a spectacular failure and the only way to salvage it is for you to man up and finally begin to crack the whip on your errant appointees and NPP functionaries who are neck-deep in the galamsey business. We demand the immediate prosecution of all NPP functionaries and NPP officials who have engaged in illegal mining such as Charles Bissue, Chairman Wontumi, the evidence is clear, Andy Owusu, Ekow Ewusi, Prof. Frimpong Boateng among others, Sammy Gyamfi told the media at an NDC press conference on Thursday. Expressing unhappiness over his name continually being mentioned in illegal mining conversations, Charles Bissue is urging the government to take action. The government knowing all these cannot allow the NDC to continue to mislead and court negative emotions of the people against it, in this galamsey fight, he notes in his press release. He further proposes that to effectively fight galamsey menace in the country, the recommendations in the IMCIM should be operationalised. The NPP government under President Akufo Addo has demonstrated commitment to dealing with the crisis, however, there have been some shortcomings resulting from the negligence and self-centeredness of persons entrusted with the duty of sustaining the effort in eradicating illegal mining. Its about time we revisit the recommendations of the IMCIM, and operationalize all infrastructure that has been left dormant. We can win this fight, Charles Bissue concludes in his statement. Read the full press release issued by Charles Bissue below: CHARLES BISSUE Plot 3 Bronyikrom, Sekondi, Western Region Email: [email protected] 6 October 2022 GALAMSEY FIGHT AND NDCS RENEWED ATTACK ON GOVT AND MY PERSON My attention has been drawn to the scathing attack on my person by the National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi in his press conference that responded to President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addos renewed assurance in the fight against illegal mining. In that press conference aired on various media platforms on Thursday 6 October 2022, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi malign and traduce me by referencing a rather doctored and propaganda-induced documentary authored by Tiger Eye P.Is Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Sammy Gyamfi stated the documentary provides evidence of me demanding and collecting bundles of money, bribes and abusing his office to facilitate illegal mining activity. He continued to speak certain untruths about the works of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) where I served as a Secretary. Ordinarily, I wouldnt have responded to this matter given the fact I have long been exonerated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service on this fraud allegation levelled against me. I am glad the President in his address at Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, charged that we, as Ghanaians, and all other stakeholders, tackle this galamsey menace without any partisanship and other political favours. I, therefore, will proceed in all candidness and truth about my work at the IMCIM and other matters including the infamous missing excavators saga which is being bandied around to defame the government of President Akufo-Addo and the NPP. As put by Sammy Gyamfi, the impression following the Anas documentary, indicated that I compromised the governments effort in fighting galamsey. My silence on these matters had reached its peak. I speak the truth as a Ghanaian and sworn on my reputation to avert the minds of the good people of this country to the facts of these matters so that we can finally put an end to this political game-play. We are in a digital age, and the internet never forgets hence the need to clear every iota of untruth about these matters. Posterity will always be the judge. Allegations of Fraud 1. The public has been misled to accept and believe the narrative put by Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the money I was seen taking in the video. 2. As I have said countless times, that money was not a bribe, and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM. 3. The money in question was a donation from the NPP Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to the then NPP Western Regional Organiser, Abdul Ganiyu for a party event organsied in the Western Region. 4. For the malice and character assassination that Anas and his sponsors had in mind, the public was denied the audio recordings and full disclosure of the purpose of that money handed to me. 5. It was uncovered that a former employee of the IMCIM, Francis Owusu Akyaw, whom I fired for unsatisfactory conduct sponsored the video recording of the documentary. 6. Francis Owusu Akyaw admitted to the Police of having commissioned that recording. 7. His nomination for the parliamentary candidate in the Juaben Constituency was subsequently declined as a result of this. 8. This same Francis Owusu Akyaw is a named beneficiary of a mining firm [DML, as named in the leaked will] co-owned by the late Sir John of the Forestry Commission. 9. On 18 July 2021, I petitioned the National Executive Committee of the NPP about the activities of some party people that are comprising the effort in the galamsey fight. The President and his Vice, the Chief of Staff, the General Secretary of the party, and the Chair of the National Council of Elders were all copied in this letter. 10. The CID conducted a thorough investigation into this matter by inviting all actors captured in the video including the author, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. 11. The Special Prosecutor then, Martin Amidu also advanced his investigations, where I, the person sponsored by Owusu Akyaw to take the secrete recording, Anas and his lawyer, Kissi Adjabeng [now the Special Prosecutor] were duly interrogated. 12. All evidence, as suggested by Anas and his team made no proof of me taking a bribe nor circumventing the process in the issuance of licenses and permits to miners, as in the case of ORR Resources. 13. I believe Mr. Martin Amidu concluded his investigations into the matter, and duly captured his report and findings in his handing over notes to his successor, Mr. Kissi Agyabeng. 14. It will be recalled that Mr. Amidu indicated in his report on the corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Deal that there was an issue of identity in the corruption allegation against me. Missing Excavators and Prof Frimpong-Boatengs Dealings 1. Until January 2019, all confiscated earth-moving equipment was in the custody of Operation Vanguard. All confiscated equipment was parked at the various premises of the District Assemblies. 2. Reports filed by Operation Vanguard indicated they confiscated 258 excavators throughout their operations at the time. 3. In addition to this, Operation Vanguard removed 211 control boards of excavators which they were unable to evacuate from the mining sites. 4. It is not true, that 500 excavators were seized during the 2-year ban, as earlier reported by the Chairman of the IMCIM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng. The misinformation on the part of the Chairman, and his reluctance to correct the misinformation smacks of a deliberate agenda to discredit persons assigned to this task. 5. As Chair of the IMCIM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng was privy to every report about the confiscated equipment, and as such wasnt expected to have committed such a blunder. 6. On the 6th of February 2020 following this blunder, I addressed a letter to Prof Frimpong-Boateng suggesting measures in dealing with the misinformation and the resulting political mess. The President, Chief of Staff, and all members (Cabinet Ministers) of the IMCIM were duly copied in this letter. 7. Prof Frimpong-Boateng must clarify matters regarding administrative decisions and directives he gave Ekow Ewusie in the handling of the excavators. 8. It is equally important that he is made to answer all other allegations in this matter, and the dealings of Symphony Mining Limited, and River Restoration Limited during the days of the IMCIM. Involvement of MMDCEs in Galamsey 1. Sammy Gyamfi avers the then Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hadjia Alima Mahama stated she had knowledge and evidence of MMDCEs who were complicit in the illegal mining activities. 2. It is rather unfortunate such misinformation has been allowed in our media space. I was present at the retreat for MMDCEs where the Honourable Minister is reported to have made that statement. 3. In nowhere did she suggest there was evidence to reports [speculations/rumours] of the involvement of MMDCEs in illegal mining. 4. The Minister briefed on the happenings on the ground, cautioned the MMDCEs not to act in a manner that will thwart the effort of the government, and did add that any person complicit in this illegal business shall be uncovered soon and made to face the full rigours of the law. The Successes of the IMCIM The IMCIM which was commissioned by the President in 2017, is one of the most responsive and innovative measures ever taken to address the menace of illegal mining in Ghana. The IMCIM was composed of 10 cabinet Ministers; with representation from the Lands and Natural Resources, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Water and Sanitation, Local Government and Rural Development, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Regional Re-organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Interior, Defense, and Information. 1. The committee offered practical solutions for regularising and sanitising Ghanas small-scale mining industry. 2. The roadmap which was produced and commissioned by the President offered curative measures to restore water resources and degraded lands, deepening transparency in the mining licensing regime and permits. 3. It developed the blueprints for the Community Mining Programme, and the Alternative Livelihood Programme. 4. Instituted an enhanced surveillance mechanism via the Galamstop to provide real-time data on compliance of mining firms or groups across the country. 5. As part of the IMCIMs surveillance strategy, a total of 655 earth-moving equipment were tracked. The government knowing all these cannot allow the NDC to continue to mislead and court negative emotions of the people against it, in this galamsey fight. The NPP government under President Akufo Addo has demonstrated commitment to dealing with the crisis, however, there have been some shortcomings resulting from the negligence and self-centeredness of persons entrusted with the duty of sustaining the effort in eradicating illegal mining. Its about time we revisit the recommendations of the IMCIM, and operationalize all infrastructure that has been left dormant. We can win this fight! Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue Former Secretary-IMCIM 07.10.2022 LISTEN The Peoples National Convention (PNC) has cautioned media houses across the country to verify all statements from the party with its General Secretary Madam Asana Nabla before publication. The party also warned that it will take legal action against any media house which refuses to adhere to its directive, in a statement issued on Friday, 7 October 2022. The PNC also appealed to the general public to disregard a statement ill-written to describe the increment of producer price of cocoa as an insult to farmers. This statement is not from the PNC and the party is working with those who published it to unveil the faceless persons behind the statement." According to the PNC, it is of the conviction an increment in cocoa producer prices by 21 per cent is commendable in this COVID 19 and Russia-Ukraine war induced hardship all over the world. An economy that is negotiating with IMF to improve its debt management should be commended for stepping up to increase the producer prices of cocoa. It therefore urged Ghanaians to appreciate the economic difficulties we are in and to redirect our taste from the consumption of foreign goods to that of local ones to help in boosting the Ghanaian economy and to bear with the government in its policy implementation. Source: classfmonline.com Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has doubted President Akufo-Addo's reassurance to fight galamsey. He said the President cannot be trusted since all his appointees who have been accused of engaging in galamsey are still in office. You are the President. All of Ghana's gold is entrusted to you. You appointed all the people in charge of lands, minerals, forests, regions, districts etc. Everything is being destroyed yet all your appointees are intact. You want us to believe you're fighting Galamsey? No," he wrote in a tweet on Thursday, October 6. The debate about the activities of illegal mining known popularly as galamsey has heightened. This follows the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang and the recent release of a documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted President Akufo-Addo to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the galamsey threat on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the president reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, thereby urging Ghanaians to support his vision. He also warned the MMDCEs not to engage in the illegal act. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Friday celebrated his 59th birthday with cured lepers from the Weija Leprosarium at his Cantonments residence in Accra. The guests were served food and drinks, joined the Vice President to cut the birthday cake, danced to good music and fraternised. Present at the celebration were ministers of state, members of Parliament, the clergy, family members and loved ones. Mr Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister of Works and Housing, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Ussif Mustapha, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Mr Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, were among the guests present. The Vice President is the Patron of the Lepers Aid Ghana and has supported them over the years with food items and facilitated the construction of a multi-purpose hostel for them. In brief remarks, Vice President Bawumia thanked God for His continuous protection, grace and mercies over the years. Im overwhelmed by your presence and the love shown mea year older, a year wiser, Dr Bawumia added. He urged the public to always show compassion to the cured lepers and should not be afraid to touch them, adding; Show them kindness and love. Mr Henry Quartey, the Regional Minister, on behalf of the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, pledged to support the Vice President in his political ambition of transforming the nation and improving standards of living. Reverend Michael Boadu Nyamekye, the Head Pastor of the Makers Chapel International, in a word of exhortation, said: A man should not be judged by his religion but his capabilities to transform lives and better the lots of the people. He prayed for Gods favour, wisdom and understanding for the Vice President to fulfill his destiny. Mr John Ampao, a representative of the Weija Leprosarium, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his compassion towards lepers and showing immense concern for their welfare and asked for Gods continuous protection and guidance over him in the ensuing years. Vice President Bawumia was born on October 7, 1963, in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, a former Chairman of the Council of State, and Hajia Mariama Bawumia. GNA Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, a staunch member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has reiterated the party's determination to fight galamsey and its scourge. He believes that future generations will never forgive Akufo-Addo and his NPP government if their fight appears to be empty rhetoric. In a tweet seen by Modernghana News on Thursday, in response to his previous tweet in 2017, the lawyer stated that he and his NPP party remain committed to eliminating galamsey and preserving the environment for future generations. I remember this tweet very well, referring to "posterity shall not forgive Akufo-Addo and our generation if we don't win the war against galamsey" tweet. He continued, and the import of my post remains valid today as it was yesterday and for our President, our leaders and our society. Posterity will surely judge as meanly and legitimately so if we do not protect for future generations what was bequeathed to us. This follows the re-arrest of Chinese Galamsey Kingpin, Aisha Huang and the recent documentary titled "Destruction for Gold" by Multimedia Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor which revealed the alarming rate of polluted river bodies caused by illegal mining. This prompted President Akufo-Addo to convene a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs on the galamsey threat on Wednesday, October 5 in Kumasi. During the meeting, the President reaffirmed his willingness to combat illegal mining, urging the chiefs to support his vision. He also warned MMDCEs engaging in the act to desist from it or face the consequences when caught. If your explanation is not sound, meaningful or reasonable enough, the appropriate sanctions would be applied without any favour. The constant allegations of MMDCEs being the conveyers of the illegal mining is not the best, the President lamented. He stressed that there will be a severe punishment to anyone irrespective of your status. The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has convicted a mason on his own plea for stealing several bags of cement. Cephas Apoyagra, age 24, admitted entering Mr Peter Osei, the complainants premise to steal 21 bags of cement and was convicted accordingly. Meanwhile, the Court presided over by Mr Mark Tair-ima Diboro deferred the sentence to October 20, 2022. Giving the account, Police Chief Inspector Christian Amartey said Mr Osei is constructing his building at Akwaduo New Site, where Apoyagra resided. He said on October 02, 2022 after complainant and his co-workers had closed from work, they packed the rest of the 21 bags of cement for safe keeping in one of the rooms of the uncompleted building in which they were working. Chief Inspector Amartey said after complainant and his co-workers left the place the convict, Apoyagra hired a tricycle to the place, where he loaded the 21 bags of cement into the tricycle and sent them to his uncles residence. The next day, at about 0700 hours the complainant and his co-workers reported for work and detected that the bags of cement had been stolen. Prosecution said the Complainant made enquires and was told by a witness in the case that he saw Apoyagra conveying the bags of cement from the uncompleted building. Complainant then lodged formal complaint with the police, the Court heard. Chief Inspector Amartey said on October 4, 2022 complainant arrested the suspect from his hide out and handed him over to the police. He said the convict admitted the crime in his caution statement. He then led police to retrieve the stolen items. Chief Inspector Amartey said after investigation he was arraigned. GNA A 31-year-old farmer, who assaulted a mobile money Vendor and snatched his handbag containing money has been sentenced to12 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Enchi District Magistrate court. Bernard Forson pleaded guilty to assault and stealing and the court convicted him on his own plea. The Prosecutor, Police Detective Inspector Joseph Kwadwo Agyare, told the court, presided over by Mr Eric Baah Boateng, that the complainant and the convict lived at Adjoum in the Aowin Municipality. He said on September 10, 2022, at about 1723 hours, Forson called the complainant on the phone and invited him to his house to transfer money to someone. Inspector Agyare said when the complainant arrived, the convict directed him to send a cash amount of GHS3,000.00 to one Faustina Mamudu through the number 0555306931. Prosecution said the complainant refused to carry out the transaction and instead left to attend to another customer because he knew the convict did not have that kind of money. Inspector Agyare said the same day the convict called the complainant while at his backyard and gave him GHS80.00 to transfer it to the same person. The complainant again failed to carry out that transaction because he felt Forson had called some fraudsters and therefore attempted to leave, but he attacked him and, in the process, bit his cheek and snatched his handbag containing money. The complainant shouted for help and the convict sensing danger took to his heels but was arrested by the neighborhood watch dog committee at Adjoum and handed over to the police in Enchi. A police medical form was issued to the complainant to seek medical attention, the prosecutor added. He said the convict was subsequently re-arrested and was charged with the offence after investigations. GNA 07.10.2022 LISTEN The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) says it has detected a viral disease that affects mostly okra, cucumber, and tomato crops in the Lawra Municipality. The disease is not peculiar to only Lawra, but also detected in other adjoining districts such as Lambussie. A report has been sent to our regional office for proper investigation to be conducted to come up with an effective solution, Mr Yer Simon, the Lawra Municipal Director of Agriculture, has disclosed. He said farmers in the affected districts had been advised to uproot and bury the affected plants to help stop their spread in the communities. Mr Simon made this known when he gave an overview of the agricultural activities at a farmer's forum held in Lawra to usher in the Kobine Festival of the Chiefs and people of the Lawra Traditional Area. The forum was on the theme: Crop cultivation in the era of climate change. Mr Simon, who spoke on Sustaining our agricultural productivity in post COVID-19 challenges and opportunities, said the department over the years worked effectively with women in the Agricultural Platform (WAP) to improve their agricultural activities in the municipality. He announced that through the Modernisation of the Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) programme, one of the women groups had secured a rice milling destoner machine, to be used to improve the quality of locally milled rice. He said 24 simple hand sewing machines were supplied on subsidised bases to some women and other farmer groups by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to help improve agricultural mechanisation and reduce drudgery in agricultural activities. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Ghana Rice Interoperability also gave 10 slashers to some groups for weeding and harvesting of rice in the municipality. On the food crops situation, the Agricultural Director said farmers who planted early at the commencement of the rains had to re-sow due to poor germination of seeds in some parts of the municipality. Mr Simon said input prices also recorded a marginal increase, and farmers who could not afford inorganic fertilizers for maize cultivation went into the growing of other crops such as soya beans, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts. He said under the Planting for Food and Jobs, 400 bags of NPK fertilizer were brought to the municipality and farmers could not buy fertilizers from the open market due to higher prices of the product. He said, the Fall Army Worm cases were recorded, and the situation was severe during the dry spell periods but that the department was able to secure some chemicals from the regional office and distributed to farmers free of charge to curtail the problem. Outlining some of the challenges facing the department, Mr Simon mentioned that inadequate extension officers and coordination support were hindering the smooth extension delivery in the municipality. Naa Dery Aatona , Chief of Zambo, who chaired the forum, urged farmers to diversify their farming activities especially in the areas of animal husbandry and livestock production in the wake of the climate change. He appealed to the government to continue with the provision of small-scale dams in the communities to help farmers to undertake all-year-round farming activities. GNA Kenya's former president Uhuru Kenyatta, one of the key players in African Union-led efforts to bring peace to Ethiopia, said Friday he would not be attending negotiations expected to begin this weekend, raising doubts over whether the talks would go ahead. The bid to resolve the near two-year conflict comes as fierce fighting grips northern Ethiopia after a resurgence in combat in August shattered a five-month truce and halted aid into war-torn Tigray. The AU has invited the warring sides to talks in South Africa that were scheduled to start on Saturday, mediated by the bloc's Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa's former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Kenyatta. AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement on Thursday he had "full confidence in... the distinguished panel members to ensure constructive engagements and dialogue between the parties towards a sustainable, inclusive negotiated settlement to the conflict." But in a sign of the challenges confronting the process, Kenyatta said in a letter to Faki he would not be attending "due to conflicts in my schedule". "However, in the interim and as you consider the possibility for another date for the peace talks, I would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks, including but not limited to the rules of engagement for all the interlocuters invited," he wrote. Both the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which have been at war since November 2020, said on Wednesday they were ready to take part in the AU-led negotiations. But Tigray's regional authorities said they wanted to know what other parties would be involved, what role the international community would play and logistics such as air travel and security for their negotiating team. "Considering we were not consulted prior to the issuance of this invitation, we need clarification to some of the following issues to establish an auspicious start for the peace talks," said a statement signed by TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael. Representatives of the AU, the Ethiopian government and the TPLF did not respond to AFP's requests for comment following Kenyatta's announcement. Following the National Communications Director of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi's press conference in which he mentioned Charles Bissue as a galamsey kingpin captured on tape in an investigative report by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye P. Is team published in February 2019. In an attempt to clear his name, former Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining Secretary Charles Bissue accused the Anas and his team of spreading lies about him. He stated in a statement available to Modernghana News today, October 7, that the team (Tiger Eye P. I) only misled Ghanaians about his alleged involvement in galamsey bribery in their 2019 investigative report. The public has been misled to accept and believe the narrative put by Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the money I was seen taking in the video. As I have said countless times, that money was not a bribe, and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM, the statement stated. He explained, The money in question was a donation from the NPP Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to the then NPP Western Regional Organiser, Abdul Ganiyu for a party event organised in the Western Region. For the malice and character assassination that Anas and his sponsors had in mind, the public was denied the audio recordings and full disclosure of the purpose of that money handed to me, the statement added. In reaction, a statement sighted on Tiger Eye P. Is Facebook page today, October 7 noted that the earlier statement by Mr. Bissue is baseless and an attempt to cover his excesses by all means. Tiger Eye P. I has taken note of a series of lies and calumnies put out by the embattled secretary to the then Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr Charles Bissue, in his desperate attempt to defend his misconduct as captured in the documentary dubbed 'Galamsey Fraud Part 1' that was published in February 2019. The latest of his lies which have animated responses from Tiger Eye are contained in his press release dated 6 October 2022, a portion reads. According to the statement, Tiger Eye's position, conduct and approach to all investigations are based on truth, facts and audio-visual evidence. Tiger Eye affirms and maintains its investigations and conclusions in the Galamsey Fraud documentary about Mr. Charles Bissue and other staff at the dissolved IMCIM. Any claims or allegations to the contrary are false and without merit. Mr. Charles Bissue engaged in bribery and corruption and Tiger Eye uncovered this in the form of audio-visual evidence when undercover journalists posed as owners of an abandoned mining company. ASX pot stocks soared on Friday, with Creso Pharma [ASX:CPH] rising more than 25% after news of a marijuana legislative overhaul in the US flagged by President Biden. Overnight, US President Biden took executive action to change the USs marijuana policy, pardoning all prior federal offences of simple marijuana possession. US-listed pot stocks like Tilray Brands and Canopy Growth Corp rose more than 20% on the news. ASX pot stocks were similarly bid up: Creso Pharma [ASX:CPH] was up more than 25% in late Friday trade. Althea Group Holdings [ASX:AGH] was up 17%. Incannex Healthcare [ASX:IHL] was up 10%. Cann Group [ASX:CAN] was up 11%. Little Green Pharma [ASX:LGP], who recently signed a new agreement with a large German medicinal cannabis company, was up 9%. Source: Trading View Pot stock revival? Yesterday was a big day for US marijuana cultivators and merchants. President Joe Biden surprised many with his move to overhaul the USs marijuana enforcement policies. Biden declared all prior federal offences of marijuana possession would be pardoned henceforth. That is, all prior simple marijuana possession would be pardoned. Unsurprisingly, pot stocks in the US have been surging. Tilray Brands, a popular US-listed stock, leapt 31% while rival Canopy Growth jumped 22%. Today represents action from the Administration that we have been waiting for an acknowledgement that cannabis prohibition has failed and that too many lives have been significantly impacted as a result, stated Canopys Vice President of Government Relations, David Culver. Biden expressed his belief that no one should be put in jail just for using or possessing marijuana, pointing out its already legal in several US states. The US president spoke of a three-step approach to breaking down marijuana-related societal barriers. First, with the pardon, second; for all states to remove marijuana-possession offences, and third; to remove marijuana from the listing of Schedule 1 Substance (the same tier as heroin and LSD and higher than fentanyl and methamphetamine). Having said that, the US president maintains certain laws such as limitations surrounding trafficking, marketing, and underage sales must remain in place: Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. Its time that we right these wrongs Pot stocks: are they set to boom? In 2018, Canada became the second country in the world (after Uruguay) to legalise recreational cannabis. As a result, marijuana-related company stocks exploded, backed by huge support from retail investors. As legal market openings began to wind down, so did the interest of investors. Could we be glimpsing the beginnings of another boom in the cannabis industry? Does this mean new opportunities are on their way? And what will Australias next regulatory move be regarding cannabis? It may be worth keeping a watchful eye on the cannabis industry. Hyper-bitcoinisation and the march to US$1 million Do you think bitcoin can be worth US$1 million by 2030? It might sound ludicrous, especially as Bitcoin [BTC] is currently hovering around US$20,000 and is down 60% over the past 12 months. But our crypto expert and Money Morning editor Ryan Dinse thinks the claim isnt as farfetched as it might initially seem. Hes preparing for the next crypto bull market right now. In this exclusive presentation, he lays down his arguments for how bitcoin can hit US$1 million by 2030. Regards, Kiryll Prakapenka, For Money Morning October 07, 2022 Biden's Fearmongers About A Russian Nuclear Threat That No One Has Made The Biden administration is spewing ridiculous fear mongering propaganda: Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins - 0:35 UTC Oct 7, 2022 Wow. Biden at a Dem fundraiser tonight: We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis. He says Putin is not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical, nuclear or biological weapons because his military is underperforming. Biden continued with the blunt warnings: I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon. (These quotes from pooler @tparti) Biden going MUCH further than his officials have, from the National Security Council to the Pentagon. They have said they take Russia's threats seriously, but haven't seen any changes in its nuclear posture. Biden invokes Armageddon and says Putin should be taken seriously. A copy of the pool report can be seen here. It quotes Biden as saying: "[Putin] is not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is you might say is significantly underperforming." Fact is that Putin has not talked about the "potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons." Not. At. All. On September 21 Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists. In his TV speech he mentioned nuclear weapons only with regards to 'Western' threats of using them: They have even resorted to the nuclear blackmail. I am referring not only to the Western-encouraged shelling of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which poses a threat of a nuclear disaster, but also to the statements made by some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO countries on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction nuclear weapons against Russia. I would like to remind those who make such statements regarding Russia that our country has different types of weapons as well, and some of them are more modern than the weapons NATO countries have. In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff. The citizens of Russia can rest assured that the territorial integrity of our Motherland, our independence and freedom will be defended I repeat by all the systems available to us. Those who are using nuclear blackmail against us should know that the wind rose can turn around. Note that Putin does not mention Russia's nuclear weapons. He instead empathizes that Russia has new 'different' weapons that are 'more modern' than those of the 'West'. He means hypersonic missiles which can avoid 'western' air defenses and hit decision centers in Brussels, London and Washington even without nuclear warheads. Also for the record: Russia has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons Convention which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological weapons. Russia has also signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. In November 2017 it destroyed its last (Soviet) chemical weapons as mandated by the convention. It is the U.S. that still has not destroyed its chemicial weapons. After Putin's speech some war mongering noise that distorted Putin's speech was made by the White House. A few days later the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Dimitry Medevedev, set the record straight. There are only two distinct conditions under which Russia would ever use nuclear weapons: "Let's imagine that Russia is forced to use the most fearsome weapon against the Ukrainian regime which had committed a large-scale act of aggression that is dangerous for the very existence of our state," Medvedev said in a post on Telegram. Medvedev's remarks quoted the exact terminology of one of the conditions of Russia's nuclear strike doctrine: "aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened". ... "I have to remind you again - for those deaf ears who hear only themselves. Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary," Medvedev said, adding that it would do so "in predetermined cases" and in strict compliance with state policy. Scott Ritter, who knows a bit about nuclear deterrence, has explained Russia's nuclear doctrine: NATO and Ukraine both believe that the Russian forces, even after receiving the 300,000 mobilized troops, will not be able to defeat Ukraine. This inability to achieve the desired objectives, they believe, will compel Russia to resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian targets in order to break the will to resist on the part of the Zelensky government. The reality, however, is that Russian nuclear doctrine does not allow for such a scenario. Indeed, there are only two conditions where Russian nuclear doctrine permits the employment of nuclear weapons. No 1. [I]n response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, the 2020 Russian Nuclear Posture document states, or No 2. in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy. U.S. nuclear posture, however, does allow it. All the war mongering talk and reports about Russia's alleged threat of nuclear weapon use in Ukraine is totally unfounded. That 'western' media suddenly engage in it shows that it is part of a well directed propaganda campaign. Meanwhile the Ukrainian comedian has called for 'preemptive' nuclear strikes on Russia: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that "NATO should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons." "Preemptive strikes are needed so that they know what awaits them if they use nuclear weapons. Not the other way around, waiting for Russia's nuclear strikes and then saying, 'oh, you've done that, then get this,'" he said on Thursday, speaking via video link at Australia's think tank, the Lowy Institute. 'Western' media know that such a call is a big faux pas and lie about Zelenski's request: Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski - 3:21 AM Oct 7, 2022 Hill publishes fake translation of #Zelenskyy speech: "Zelensky calls for preventive action to deter Russian nuclear strikes." In fact, he referred in Ukrainian to "preventive strikes" and not "preventive action." The Hill: Zelensky calls for preventive action to deter Russian nuclear strikes One must ask what this propaganda campaign about a non existing threat is really about. Could it be in preparation of a false flag incident in which a U.S or British nuclear device is used in Ukraine to then blame it on Russia as the pretext of an all out military engagement in Ukraine? Setting off a tactical nuclear weapon as a pretext for a direct US and Polish military incursion into Western Ukraine - perhaps to preserve a Ukrainian rump state there, in the event that Kiev looks likely to fall somewhere down the line in the conflict. False flags and/or WMDs are after all the indisputable standard US MO and playbook for pretexts for military action from the Spanish American War, to Vietnam, to Iraq, to Syria. The Pentagon has been openly and proudly developing and deploying what they call more usable battlefield nuclear weapons, specifically for use against Russia and China. And the US is the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons in war on another state, on entire Japanese cities full of people, actually. Or possibly could this be dog whistle signaling to the Zelenskiy regime or NeoNazi forces in Ukraine about just how to generate the extremis conditions to allow the US to jump directly into the conflict, much like how the US did the same with jihadist forces and chemical weapons red lines in Syria. With Zelenski becoming increasingly unhinged the 'west' should be careful what it wishes for. Posted by b on October 7, 2022 at 11:43 UTC | Permalink Comments next page The Board of Trustees for Michigan Technological University has voted unanimously to adopt a new campus master plan to guide the University in its growth to 2035 and beyond. After two years of community input and discussion, the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees voted to adopt the Universitys campus master plan at its meeting Friday, Oct. 7. According to the resolution presented to the Board, the plan represents a collection of ideas that establishes a flexible, realistic, and multiple-decade framework for coordinating facility improvements across the institution. While adjustments to the plan are anticipated as a natural facet of long-range planning, and while initiation of specific projects will remain individually subject to Board approval, the campus plan will serve as a beacon to guide Tech as it continues its steady rise as Michigans flagship technological university. Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek said the campus master plan is a necessary vision document for the University, which is on track to meet its goals for measured growth, including increases in student enrollment, faculty recruitment and research expenditures, along with a $300 million endowment. The campus master plan presents a collective vision from our students, staff and faculty about the future of Michigan Tech and the facilities we will put in place to support that vision, said Koubek. We are grateful to the Board of Trustees for their support and confidence as we implement this plan for Michigan Tech. The news comes just weeks after Michigan Tech welcomed its second-largest incoming class of first-year students since 1984, who boast the highest academic credentials in school history. Likewise, Tech recorded its second-highest fundraising total ever last year, along with the highest number of research expenditures in University history, projected to be up 16% from last years record. Also, since its official groundbreaking in April, construction is well underway on the new H-STEM Complex, which will house state-of-the-art teaching and research labs for health-related STEM studies and will, like the Great Lakes Research Center before it, serve as a model for future transdisciplinary educational centers constructed on campus. The collaborative two-year process included multiple campus visits from representatives of SmithGroup, a five-decade partner of Michigan Tech since authoring the Universitys initial campus master plan in 1966. The inclusive design process facilitated by SmithGroup involved 25 stakeholder listening sessions, a student life survey that garnered 919 responses, a campuswide survey that garnered 2,281 responses, a virtual town hall with over 275 participants, an online forum and many meetings of the MTU steering and advisory committees. Among the opportunities identified in the plan development was the desire among stakeholders to align the Universitys facilities with its sterling reputation and create spaces for collaboration that put technology on display. To make the most of these opportunities, the plan encourages efficient use of limited land. The outcome will be a sustainable, innovative Michigan Tech campus with state-of-the-art facilities designed to celebrate outdoor space, create a public realm and engage the waterfront. A view of the west gateway into campus in Michigan Techs new campus master plan. The campus master plan will be implemented in phases, beginning with extensive renovations of existing classrooms and laboratories. During the planning process, we heard from our community that upgrading the educational and instructional environment for our students and faculty was of primary importance, said Dave Reed, Michigan Techs vice president for research. We listened, and we worked with SmithGroup to get renovations of classrooms and classroom labs to the top of the priority list. Reed said the renovation program for classrooms and classroom laboratories will be the first phase, and will be financed by a University bond issue. Advancement is also working with a number of individuals and organizations to support various components of the campus plan implementation as well, added Reed. One highlight in the plan is the Center for Convergence and Innovation, which will house the College of Computing and the College of Business. By co-locating computing and business in the same building, the Center for Convergence and Innovation will serve as the cornerstone of Michigan Techs efforts to meet the workforce demands and entrepreneurial innovations in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Dennis Livesay, dean of the College of Computing. As the worlds markets and economies continue to respond to digitalization, there will be an increasing need for digitally savvy and agile workers who are able to design and implement solutions to emerging problems. The Center for Convergence and Innovation helps position Michigan Tech as a national leader in the training of computing and business professionals who seamlessly integrate both domains. To address the additional housing needs of a growing university, the campus plan calls for a new residence hall to be constructed. Our plan calls for smart, measured enrollment growth that responds to both the increasing number of students wanting to enroll and the enthusiasm from employers who hire our graduates, said John Lehman, vice president for university relations and enrollment. This plan includes considerations to expand on-campus housing in the same smart, measured manner. The campus master plan is one of four key initiatives Michigan Tech will launch this year, including a national student recruitment campaign, a hiring initiative for faculty and staff, and the initiation of a capital campaign. The plan will be presented in various forums across campus this fall. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigans flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. Muhlenberg Hosts First Debate for Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional Seat The debate between candidates Lisa Scheller and Susan Wild will be broadcast on WFMZ-TV. By: Kristine Todaro Friday, October 7, 2022 08:22 AM From Left: Tony Iannelli, host of Business Matters, moderated the debate between candidates Lisa Scheller and Susan Wild. Photos by Kristi Morris. The race for Pennsylvanias 7th District is expected to be very close this fall and could determine party control of the House of Representatives. On October 6, the candidates for that seat, Republican Lisa Scheller and Democrat Susan Wild, met for their first debate on the Seegers Union Event Space stage on Muhlenberg's campus. The program will be broadcast in two parts on CH69 WFMZ-TV, with the first half shown at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10, and the second half at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 17. Muhlenberg President Kathleen Harring (above) welcomed the nearly 300 audience members, including students, faculty and staff, to the program which was moderated by Tony Iannelli, chief executive officer of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and host of Business Matters. Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties and parts of Monroe County and has been represented by Wild, an attorney, since 2018. Scheller is the chief executive officer of Silberline Manufacturing Co., in Schuylkill County. Roundtable discussions under the motto Peace and Security on the European continent have been held on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Prague. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event. Speaking at the round-table, President Ilham Aliyev said that a new situation had shaped up in the region after the second Karabakh war. Despite the 30-year occupation by Armenia, the large-scale destruction and atrocities committed during the occupation, Azerbaijan has put forward the proposal to sign a peace treaty with Armenia. The head of state said that this peace agreement was based on the five principles proposed by Azerbaijan mutual recognition of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognized borders and political independence of each other; mutual confirmation of the absence of territorial claims against each other and acceptance of legally binding obligations not to raise such a claim in future; obligation to refrain in their inter-State relations from undermining the security of each other, from threat or use of force both against political independence and territorial integrity, and in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the UN Charter; delimitation and demarcation of the state border, and establishment of the diplomatic relations; unblocking of the transportation and other communications, building other communications as appropriate, and establishment of cooperation in other fields of mutual interest. In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of the meetings held with the participation and on initiative of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and formation of the Brussels peace agenda. The head of state recalled that on 2 October, the foreign ministers of the two countries held a meeting on this issue. Negotiations on the peace treaty should not last long but should rather be completed in the shortest possible time. President Ilham Aliyev also noted that Azerbaijan was in favor of the process of normalization of relations between Turkiye and Armenia. The President emphasized that the normalization processes between Azerbaijan and Armenia and between Turkiye and Armenia were mutually complementary processes serving to establish peace and tranquility in the region as a whole. The head of state also noted the importance of creating a single discussion platform in the trilateral format of Azerbaijan-Georgia-Armenia in terms of ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The President of Azerbaijan noted that energy, communication and other issues of mutual interest could be discussed there. In conclusion, President Ilham Aliyev reiterated the role of the principles of international law in interstate relations and drew special attention to the principle of territorial integrity. The President emphasized the importance of the same approach to this principle and the predominance of this principle in interstate relations. President Ilham Aliyev also noted the importance of setting aside any selective approaches in relation to this principle. KYIV A Ukrainian official says the bodies of 530 people have been discovered in recaptured areas of Kharkiv region since Sept. 7. Ukraines First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yevhen Yenin said Friday the bodies included those 225 women, 257 men and 19 children, while 29 bodies havent been identified. Some 447 of the bodies were found in the mass grave in Izium. Yenin said forensics experts have found indications of violent death in a considerable number of bodies including signs of torture. According to Yenin some bodies had a rope around their neck, hands tied behind their back, bullet wounds to their knees, and broken ribs. Overall 1,350 civilians were killed in the Kharkiv region since the start of the war. Serhiy Bolvinov head of the Kharkiv regions State Police Investigative Department, said 22 torture sites were found in recently liberated areas. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: Biden: Nuclear Armageddon risk highest since 62 crisis Putins path: from pledges of stability to nuclear threats Nobel Peace Prize to activists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine EU leaders struggle to bridge gas price cap divide UN rights body agrees to appoint expert to scrutinize Russia Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sided Friday with another country coping with Russian territorial claims by signing a decree supporting Japans sovereignty over the Kuril islands. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that he had signed a decree, following up on action taken by Ukraines parliament, confirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Japan, including the disputed islands. Russia has no right to these territories, Zelenskyy said, echoing language he has used about Russias invasion of Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Ukrainian land. In March, Russia discontinued peace treaty talks with Japan over the Kuril islands and decided to withdraw from joint economic projects in retaliation for Tokyos sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The two countries never signed a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities because of their dispute over the Russian-held islands north of Hokkaido, which Moscow took at the end of the war. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Two burial sites were found in the recently recaptured Ukrainian city of Lyman and one of them is a mass grave, authorities said Friday. The burial site with around 200 individual graves is civilians buried there, says Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. In the mass grave, he said it could contain the bodies of civilians and soldiers and the exact number of people buried there is yet to be determined. The city was recaptured from Russian forces who had occupied it for months. About 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Lyman, in the recently liberated city of Sviatohirsk, 21 bodies of civilians were reburied. While the battles for Sviatohirsk and the occupation continued, the killed people were buried in the streets and yards, Kyrylenko wrote on his Telegram site. ___ PRAGUE, Czech Republic French President Emmanuel Macron says EU leaders have agreed on setting up special fund to allow Ukraine to directly buy military equipment it needs. The initial amount is only 100 million euros, only a fraction of the 2.5 billion euros the EU has already spent in support of Ukraines war effort. Macron didnt offer details on the fund as the Ukrainian military presses ahead with its counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces. The French president said at an EU leaders summit Friday that the 27 member country bloc remains committed to providing military training to Ukrainian forces. He also said France is close to a deal with Denmark on sending an additional six Caesar self-propelled howitzers cannons to Ukraine. ____ KYIV Officials say the death toll from a Russian missile attack on an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has risen to 12. The Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration said Friday 21 people were rescued from the rubble of residential buildings that were hit with modified S-300 missiles. A dozen people remain hospitalized, including two childrent. Regional Governor Oleksandr Staruch posted on his Telegram channel that this was not random, but a deliberate strike on multi-story buildings. Starukh said Russian forces on Friday deployed for the first time Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones that damaged two infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzha. ____ ST. PETERSBURG, Russia Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a tractor as a gift for his 70th birthday while electronic billboards congratulating Putin appeared in Serbias capital Belgrade. Lukashenko presented Putin with a gift certificate for the vehicle as the leaders of several ex-Soviet nations met at the Czarist-era Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg on Friday. It wasnt clear how the Russian leader responded to the gift, which Lukashenkos office announced. The billboards in Belgrade feature Putins photo and read: Happy birthday to President Vladimir Putin from the Serb brethren! The posters are signed by a Pro-Russian right-wing group. Putin remains popular in Serbia despite the attack on Ukraine and many in the Balkan country believe that the Russian president was provoked by the West into launching the invasion. ____ NICOSIA, Cyprus Ukraines environmental protection minister says an accident at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could release 10 times the amount of potentially lethal radioactivity than the worlds worst atomic accident did in Chernobyl 36 years ago. Ruslan Strilets who is in Cyprus for a U.N. environmental conference, told the Associated Press in an interview Friday that a release of radioactivity of that magnitude could expand to as much as 2 million sq. km (772,200 sq. miles), three times larger than Ukraines total area or an area half the size of the European Union. An accident could also spark a wave of environmental refugees fleeing to other areas of Ukraine or abroad. According to Strilets, about 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of forest have been damaged or burned since the Feb. 24 launch of the Russian invasion. Forest fires in combination with Russian attacks on oil depots and industrial facilities have spewed more than 67 million tons of pollutants into the air. Currently, 812 nature-protected areas have either been damaged or remain under threat. He added that a preliminary assessment on environmental damage the war has caused in the last seven months puts the cost at over 36 billion euros ($35.25 billion). ____ THE HAGUE, Netherlands Dutch financial crime prosecutors say they have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of breaching sanctions by selling computer chips to companies in Russia that could have military uses. The tax services prosecution office, known by its Dutch acronym FIOD, said Friday that the man was arrested Sept. 27 in the eastern Netherlands and remains in custody. His identity was not released, in line with Dutch privacy regulations. FIOD said in a statement that the chips he delivered to Russia can also be used for producing weapons. It added that the Russian weapon industry currently has a serious shortage of these microchips. FIOD says the man allegedly deliberately tried to evade sanctions by pretending the chips had destinations other than Russia. ____ OSLO, Norway This years Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said Friday the judges wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Reiss-Andersen told reporters in Oslo the laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today through their consistent efforts in favor of human values, anti-militarism and principles of law. The award follows a tradition of highlighting groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts, alleviate hardship and protect human rights. ____ KYIV A spokesman for Ukraines president says Volodymyr Zelenskyy would never ask NATO to launch a nuclear first strike to prevent Russia from unleashing its own nuclear arsenal. Zelenskyys press officer Serhiy Nikiforov said Friday the Ukrainian presidents remark during a discussion at Australias Lowy Institute didnt imply that NATO should launch a preemptive nuclear attack, but instead to act proactively with additional sanctions as it should have done prior to Russias Feb. 24 invasion. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak posted on Twitter that Zelenskyys reference to strikes meant that the West should step up sanctions as well as military aid to Ukraine. In response to a question about what NATO should do to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons, Zelenksyy told the Lowy Institute the alliance should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons through preemptive strikes, so they know what will happen to them if they do. ____ KYIV Britains Defense Ministry says Ukraines ability to capture and put back into service Russian tanks and other equipment continues to be an important factor in its drive to repel the invasion. The Ministry said Friday Ukrainian forces have captured at least 440 tanks and about 650 armored vehicles since the start of the war. It also said the failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. ____ KYIV The Ukrainian military says its forces have shot down more than 20 Russian drones over the last 24 hours. Most of the drones were the Iranian-made Shahed-136 that are packed with explosives and are designed to crash into targets. The military also said that 500 former criminals have been mobilized to reinforce Russian ranks in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory. The new units are commanded by officers drawn from law enforcement. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War says Russia has increasingly deployed the cheaper an less sophisticated Iranian-made drones in recent weeks, but the weapons are unlikely to significantly affect the course of the war. ____ KYIV A Ukrainian military official says Russian troops have shelled the southern city of Nikopol overnight, damaging multi-story buildings, houses, farm buildings and public infrastructure including gas pipelines and electricity systems. Valentyn Reznichenko, the head of the local military administration, said Friday no injuries reported. Nikopol is situation along the Dnieper River, opposite Russian-held territory. Russian forces are trying to blunt recent Ukrainian advances along the southern front. ____ PRAGUE European Union leaders are meeting in Prague to try to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russias war on Ukraine fuels the energy crisis. Its hoped that a price cap will contain a crisis that is driving up prices for consumers and business. It could lead to rolling blackouts, shuttered factories and a deep recession over the winter. As Europeans bolster their support for Ukraine in the form of weapons, money and aid, Russia has reduced or cut off natural gas to 13 member nations. Standing in the way of an agreement at Fridays summit is the simple fact that each member country depends on different energy sources and suppliers. ____ NEW YORK U.S. President Joe Biden says the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Bidens remarks came as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a fundraiser Thursday for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons. Biden added that we have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. ____ UNITED NATIONS Russia is calling for a secret ballot next week in the U.N. General Assembly on a Western-backed resolution that would condemn Moscow for its attempted illegal annexation of part of four Ukrainian regions and demand an immediate reversal. Russia apparently hopes it would get more support from the 193 nations if their votes are not made public. The General Assembly has announced that its emergency special session on Ukraine will resume Monday when the draft resolution will be presented. Diplomats say they expect the vote on the resolution likely on Wednesday. Votes on resolutions in the world body are traditionally public and illuminated with different colored lights on a large board which has the name of every country. By The Associated Press Europe praises, Belarus scorns Nobel for rights defenders View Photo BERLIN (AP) Officials in Europe and the U.S. praised the awarding of this years Nobel Peace Prize to activists standing up for human rights and democracy in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine while authorities in Belarus scorned the move. Russias invasion of Ukraine this year has pushed Moscows relationship with its Western neighbors to a new low. Even before that, ties had been fraught over President Vladimir Putins backing for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, his support for authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian leader Bashar Assad, and his repression of political opponents, such as dissident Alexei Navalny at home. I hope the Russian authorities read the justification for the peace prize and take it to heart, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said after the Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian rights group Memorial and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, which is focusing on documenting war crimes. It sends a signal that keeping civil society down is protecting ones own power. It is seen from the outside and it is criticized, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the world leaders who quickly hailed the laureates, tweeting that their prize pays homage to unwavering defenders of human rights in Europe. Artisans of peace, they know they can count on Frances support, the French leader said. U.S. President Joe Biden said the winners remind us that, even in dark days of war, in the face of intimidation and oppression, the common human desire for rights and dignity cannot be extinguished. The brave souls who do this work have pursued the truth and documented for the world the political repression of their fellow citizens speaking out, standing up, and staying the course while being threatened by those who seek their silence, Biden said in a statement. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg congratulated the winners, tweeting that the right to speak truth to power is fundamental to free and open societies. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said the award needs to be seen against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. There is war in Europe. Your work for peace and human rights is therefore more important than ever before, he said to the winners. Thank you for that. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the three groups fully deserved the awards. The bravery, passion and clarity with which (they) are fighting for freedom and justice deserves the highest respect, he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union leaders in Prague. In Paris, exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press that the award was recognition of all the people who are sacrificing their freedom and lives for the sake of (Belarus). Over the last two years, the government of Belarus has waged a violent crackdown on journalists and protesters who say that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, beating thousands, detaining tens of thousands and charging rights defenders with cases that the opposition calls politically motivated. Many have fled the country for their own safety. Physically, you know, this prize will not influence their situation but I am sure it (will) influence the moods and intentions of other countries to help those people who are behind bars, Tsikhanouskaya said. Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarusian journalist and writer who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature, called Bialiatski a legendary figure. What Viasna, founded by him, has done and is doing in the current circumstances, is in his spirit, in his philosophy, Alexievich told reporters Friday. She added that Bialiatski is seriously ill and needs medical treatment, but is unlikely to be freed from behind bars. Belarus Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, denounced the Nobel committees decision to award the prize to Bialiatski as politicized. Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said in recent years, a number of important decisions and were talking about the peace prize of the Nobel committee have been so politicized, that, Im sorry, Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave. Olav Njlstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, dismissed the criticism. Im quite sure we understand Alfred Nobels will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk, he said. Meanwhile, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also took issue with the award, saying the Nobel Committee has an interesting understanding of (the) word peace if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive (the prize) together. Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war, Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. This years Nobel is awesome.' But Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian lawyer who heads the Center for Civil Liberties, said the award was for the groups, not the countries they were based in. In an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel, she said her co-laureates had spoken out clearly against Russias hostility toward Ukraine since 2014. They always called things by their name, she said. Thats why Ales Bialiatski is in prison now and Memorial is banned. Its not about the countries, but about the people who are jointly standing up to evil, she said. ___ Follow all AP stories about the Nobel Prizes at https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press A United Nations organization on Friday committed to sharply cut carbon emissions from air travel by 2050 in response to growing pressure for airlines to reduce their pollution. Several major environmental groups praised the move, saying it could encourage the production of more sustainable aviation fuel. But they cautioned that it will be difficult to push countries to follow up with policies that actually reduce emissions. Aviation is a relatively small contributor to overall climate-changing emissions, but its share is expected to grow. More people are expected to travel on planes in the coming years, and aviation lacks cleaner alternatives such as electric power that are rapidly becoming widely available for cars and trucks. On Friday in Montreal, representatives of nearly 200 nations in the U.N.s International Civil Aviation Organization adopted what the agency called an aspirational goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The decision capped nearly a decade of negotiations and occurred as aviation comes under more pressure to fall in line with conditions of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate, which aims to cap the rise in global temperature. Crucially, the U.N. agencys resolution does not set targets for individual countries or airlines. Mark Brownstein, a senior official at the Environmental Defense Fund, said the resolution raised hope that travel will be more sustainable. But the work isnt over, he said. Now is the time for countries to act by establishing policies that support achievement of a 2050 net-zero goal for aviation with measurable progress in the interim. Dan Rutherford, who tracks the issue for the International Council on Clean Transportation, said that to hit the net-zero target, aviation emissions will need to peak and start decreasing as soon as 2025, with richer countries taking the lead. Airlines and governments expect to greatly reduce emissions by gradually switching from kerosene-based jet fuel to fuels made from fats, grease, plants or renewables. The European Union has proposed higher taxes on fossil fuels including jet fuel. But reaching net zero could require tougher measures including limits on flights at least until large electric- or hydrogen-powered planes are feasible decades from now. Airlines for America said it applauded the U.N. groups resolution, which could avoid a patchwork of policies by individual countries. The industry trade group called the 2050 milestone ambitious, but said airlines are already working with the U.S. government to make 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel available by 2030. By The Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) Five migrants were killed and seven others injured Thursday in a highway accident in Mexicos Gulf coast state of Veracruz. Immigration authorities said all of the injured migrants were Nicaraguans. The dead might be as well, but the National Immigration Institute said it was still working to identify them. Local media reported that the SUV carrying the migrants flipped, apparently throwing some from the vehicle. Central Americans seeking to reach the U.S. border are often packed unsafely into vehicles by migrant traffickers. In December, a truck carrying migrants overturned on a highway in the southern state of Chiapas, killing at least 56 people. Shock, questions after gruesome killing of gay Palestinian View Photo JERUSALEM (AP) The severed head and decapitated torso of a 25-year-old Palestinian were discovered on the side of a road in the occupied West Bank, police said Friday, confirming gruesome details of a killing that shocked Palestinian society. But accounts that the victim, Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, was a gay man who feared persecution for his sexuality and had sought asylum in Israel two years ago turned the terrible crime into a socially and politically explosive case. It was unclear how Abu Murkhiyeh wound up in Hebron, the conservative West Bank city that he had reportedly fled. Palestinian police officials told The Associated Press on Friday that Abu Murkhiyehs head and torso were found near his familys house. Col. Loay Irzekat, a police spokesman, said authorities arrested a Palestinian acquaintance of Abu Murkhiyeh as a suspect in the killing, but declined to ascribe a motive or elaborate on their relationship pending the investigation. Palestinian social media was gripped by the grisly killing, but silent on the question of Abu Murkhiyehs sexuality. Homosexuality remains deeply taboo in the Palestinian territories, where traditional norms play a prominent role in social and political life. Still there was plenty of outrage across the West Bank. Graphic footage taken by Palestinian youths who happened upon Abu Murkhiyehs dismembered body on a hillside rippled through WhatsApp groups, provoking shock and horror, before being taken down. This is a very ugly crime, an older relative, also named Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, told the Palestinian radio station Al Karama. Such a thing should not be discussed. Abu Murkhiyehs family released a statement of mourning, offering blessings and asking for privacy after this heinous, unprecedented crime that shook the homeland. The family claimed that Abu Murkhiyeh lived and worked between Hebron and neighboring Jordan, where his late father was from. As news of Abu Murkhiyehs death spread, a starkly different version of events emerged from Israel. LGBTQ organizations and emergency shelters helping gay asylum seekers said they knew he was gay and desperate to escape the Palestinian territories, where he was a target. Rita Petrenko, founder of Al Bait Al Mokhtalef, an Israeli gay rights organization catering to the Arab community, said Abu Murkhiyehs fear was distinct when they met in 2020. He told me people not only in his family but in the village wanted to kill him, she said, adding that he fled to Israel as word of his sexual orientation spread through Hebron two years ago. He was scared of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins. Abu Murkhiyeh bounced around from shelter to shelter and scraped by on occasional restaurant jobs in Tel Aviv, Petrenko said, while she helped him apply for resettlement to Canada. He had no prospects in Israel. On temporary status, he was barred from working until last July, when Israel started granting work permits to Palestinians who have sought refuge due to violence and persecution for their sexual orientation, Petrenko said. The situation was horrible for all of them, said Ibtisam Maraana-Menuhin, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset who petitioned the Supreme Court to grant gay Palestinian asylum seekers work visas. Israel frequently promotes its tolerance on issues of sexual orientation, despite the rejection of homosexuality in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. But Tel Aviv is proud of its reputation as a top destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Critics accuse Israel of pink-washing, saying it uses such tolerance as a way to divert attention from its open-ended occupation of the West Bank, now in its 56th year, and its harsh policies toward the Palestinians. Just hours before Abu Murkhiyeh was killed on Wednesday, he spoke to volunteers at his shelter in Tel Aviv for a regular check-in, Petrenko said. Nothing was amiss. The next day, the story of his beheading dominated the media. From Tel Aviv, there was an outpouring of anguish. We are heartbroken will always remember you, Isu, said Elem, a group that helped Abu Murkhiyeh, addressing him by a nickname. We will never stop fighting so that others like you can live freely like any other human being. At the shelter where he most recently stayed, staff lit a candle for Abu Murkhiyeh during a solemn vigil Friday. Petrenko said she had no idea how he turned up in Hebron. He never felt safe, she said. Gay Palestinians tend to be careful for fear of drawing unwanted attention from their socially conservative community and backlash from authorities. Palestinian Authority police in 2019 barred gay and transgender rights group from holding events in the West Bank and threatened to arrest participants. Gay people within Israels Arab minority have also faced violence and ostracism in their communities. West Bank Palestinians like Abu Murkhiyeh have long have crossed into Israel to live openly. There are nearly 100 such Palestinians living under asylum, said Maraana-Menuhin, the lawmaker, but the number is likely far higher. Its not that these people even come out of the closet. Theyre found and theyre hunted, said Hila Peer from Aguda, an Israeli LGBTQ rights organization. Ahmads case is just another example of how bad the situation is and how seriously dangerous it is. ___ Associated Press writers Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem and Eleanor Reich in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. By ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press Libyan group: At least 15 dead after migrant shipwreck View Photo BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) A spokesman for Libyas Red Crescent said Friday that at least 15 bodies were recovered after a migrant shipwreck off the countrys western coast. Tawfik Al Shukri said local authorities had informed the aid group of bodies on the shore. He said they were retrieved and transported to a hospital, where the remains would be examined to determine the cause of death. Migrants regularly try to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in a desperate attempt to reach European shores. In a video circulated online, the burned hull of the wrecked boat is seen lodged on coastal rocks with bodies strewn on it and nearby. The cause of the deaths was not immediately clear, nor was it apparent when the fire was startedl. The shipwreck took place off the western Libyan city of Sabratha, a major launching point for the mainly African migrants making the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in war-torn Libya, smuggling in migrants across the desert countrys lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are then typically packed into ill-equipped rubber boats and set off on risky sea voyages. There were reports the boat had been the scene of a mass shooting. A local Libyan NGO, which focuses on migrant issues and calls itself the International Organization for Cooperation and Emergency Aid, said in a statement that the 15 dead had been killed by human smugglers who shot them and then set fire to the vessel. The International Organization for Migration said in June that at least 150 migrants departing from Libya died in the first sixth months of 2022. An additional 565 were missing. Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East amid internal strife. Torn by civil war since 2011, the oil-rich country is divided between rival governments, each backed by international patrons and multiple armed militias on the ground. Many of those who have been intercepted and returned to Libya including women and children are held in government-run detention centers where they suffer from abuse, including torture, rape and extortion, according to rights groups. By RAMI MUSA Associated Press Ex-grad student held in Arizona professors fatal shooting View Photo TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) A former University of Arizona graduate student arrested in the fatal shooting of a hydrology professor was being held without bond Friday after a judge ruled there was enough evidence to try him on charges of first degree murder and aggravated assault. An interim complaint in the case released Friday says Thomas Meixner, who headed the schools Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was shot four times on Wednesday afternoon. The shooting happened inside the Harshbarger Building, which houses the hydrology department. Meixner was pronounced dead at a hospital. According to the complaint, a second person, whose name was blacked out, was treated at the scene after being struck by a bullet fragment. The complaint signed by a judge late Thursday at Pima County Justice Court said there was reasonable cause to proceed in the case against 46-year-old Murad Dervish. In Arizona, charges are not filed until a preliminary hearing takes place, and there was no word on when that would happen. The Pima County Public Defenders Office confirmed it received the case but has not yet assigned an attorney who can speak on Dervishs behalf. Campus police said the shooting occurred after a female called 911 around 2 p.m. Wednesday asking for police to escort a former student from the Harshbarger Building. Officers were on their way when they received reports that a man had shot someone then fled. Campus alerts instructed people to avoid the area, which was under lockdown. Classes, activities and other campus events were canceled for the rest of the day. State troopers arrested Dervish a few hours later about 120 miles (190 kilometers) northwest of the Tucson campus. The complaint said officials found a 9mm handgun in the vehicle, along with ammunition consistent with the 11 casings found at the shooting scene. The relationship between Dervish and Meixner remains unclear, but the interim complaint said a flyer with a photograph of Dervish, a former graduate student, had been circulated to university staff in February with instructions to call 911 if he ever entered the building. It also said he was expelled and barred from being on University of Arizona property. Dervish has been the subject of several reports of harassment and threats to staff members working at Harshbarger, the complaint said. The university announced a candlelight vigil would be held in Meixners honor at 8 p.m. Friday on the Old Main veranda. University President Robert C. Robbins was among those scheduled to talk. Meixner was an expert on desert water issues. Faculty and former students described as a kind and brilliant colleague. This incident is a deep shock to our community, and it is a tragedy, Robbins said in a statement late Wednesday. Meixner earned a doctorate in hydrology and water resources from the university in 1999 and joined the faculty in 2005 before becoming the department head in 2019. Twenty years ago this month, a disgruntled University of Arizona nursing student shot and killed three nursing professors before taking his own life. Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war both real fog and stage fog in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders. Yves P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies: Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please dont do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them. * * * Fat Bear Week 2022: The voting has started CNN The risks from derivatives have morphed FT Bond Market Sees Once Easy Yield-Curve Bets Upended by Fed Path Bloomberg Climate Micro molten salt reactor can fit on a truck, power 1k homes. When its built The Register Water Wall Street Is Behind Jacksons Water Crisis Lever News #COVID19 CDC, WHO, Uganda to host regional meeting as Ebola spreads AP. Handy chart: The #Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which was only declared 2 weeks ago, is already the 12th largest on record. There've been more than 20 other outbreaks with case counts in the single digits or 2-3 dozen case range. Worrisome situation, this. (chart mine, from @CDCgov data) pic.twitter.com/vIJDYhjCIT Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) October 4, 2022 China? Why the Emerging-Markets Dog Didnt Bite Yet John Authers. Bloomberg The Koreas Dear Old Blighty European Disunion New Not-So-Cold War Nobel Peace Prize Jointly Awarded to Belarus Rights Activist, Russian and Ukrainian Groups Bloomberg Biden Administration Healthcare Police State Watch The maddening irrelevance of Charlie Vaughns innocence Radley Balko The Court of Mass Incarceration (PDF) Rachel E. Barkow, CATO Institute. One out of every 52 people in the United States is under some form of criminal justice supervision (such as probation or parole). In some states and communities, the rates are even higher. In Georgia, for example, one out of every 18 people is on probation or parole. We are now living in a country where one out of every three adults in America has a criminal record. The Right Stuff users claim they were contacted by FBI after using the conservative dating app Independent Supply Chain Moodys revises outlook for global shipping industry to negative Hellenic Shipping News Class Warfare McDonalds Workers Are Begging People To Stop Ordering Adult Happy Meals Kotaku Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidotes from AC: Gray and Pearl wearing their orange coats during hunting season, and the same dogs in the winter. Pearl really liked that coat: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. One of the leading stories tonight is how furious the Biden Administration is over the OPEC+ agreement to cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day. Team Biden is taking it personally, depicting it as a surprise, maliciously timed so as to hurt Democratic party prospects in the midterms, and proof that the Saudis, one of Americas long-standing allies in the Mideast, is working in concert with Russia. What is striking about this temper tantrum is that it comes off as yet another demonstration of US geopolitical immaturity. First, Mr. Market was not surprised and oil prices moved little on the news, raising questions as to how the Biden crew missed what investors saw as obvious. Undue confidence in the power of the hegemon? However, the tepid market response appears also due to the cut not being fully met. From the Financial Times: The actual fall in output from the Opec+ groups lowered target is likely to be closer to 1mn b/d, rather than the headline of 2mn b/d, as many of its weaker members have struggled to hit production targets in recent months. Yet Biden officials claimed that the Saudis didnt warn them that this might be coming. From Bloomberg: Top Biden energy adviser Amos Hochstein said Thursday on Bloomberg Television that after a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman less than two weeks ago, he did not have the impression that OPEC+ was poised for its most dramatic cut since the beginning of the pandemic. That may be accurate, but why should the Saudis have to spell out what the Biden Administration has made clear it not want to hear, that the Saudis are not going to refrain from lowering production just to save Bidens bacon? As as the heavyweight in an oil cartel, they are going to manage production as they see fit to manage prices. Remember that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salam refused to take a call from Biden last March to discuss the oil price crisis triggered by US sanctions on Russia. That is a very strong signal that MbS does not see Riyadh as taking marching orders from Washington. Also remember, that despite the Administration whinging that this production cut is a dastardly Russian plot (everything bad that cant be attributed to Trump must be due to Putin), as Alexander Mercouris pointed out in his video on Thursday, the Kremlin was opposed to the modest production cut last month. In keeping, the Saudi energy minister dressed down a Reuters reporter yesterday over the new agencys claims of Saudi-Russian collusion and said it had not happened in the recent claimed instances or now: NOW Saudi Energy energy minister refuses to answer questions from #Reuters at OPEC+ press conference. pic.twitter.com/Kyi5a5bWur Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 5, 2022 Scott Ritter gave a good recap of the reasonableness of the US position in June, before Biden was set to meet with MbS, at 1:29:15: A second sign of geopolitical immaturity is making threats on threats on which you cannot deliver, which is what this fulminating amounts to. Again from Bloomberg: Furious congressional Democrats urged retaliation against Riyadh, a government seen as an increasingly unreliable ally. Many aired suspicions that the timing of the announcement was intended by the crown prince, whose country Biden once vowed to make a pariah, to have maximum impact on the election. Yet Biden and his team have no good options to respond to the OPEC+ move and would see little benefit from an extended dispute highlighting the presidents inability to influence the cartel. Third, Team Biden appears not to be bright enough to work out that the G7 oil price cap scheme that it sponsored and still apparently plans to implement despite lack of buy-in outside the collective West sphere, is tantamount to trying to break OPEC. So it is possible that the timing was deliberate and retaliatory, and not merely a response to prices lower than we like for too long. Fourth, some of the Biden Administration statements confirm the US-as-colonialist attitude that Putin described pointedly in his speech last week. Notice this section from a Wall Street Journal story: In Washington, lawmakers focused their attention on Saudi Arabia, saying the country has aligned with Russia despite its attack on Ukraine, making the kingdom unfit for U.S. support. They are pitching bills that would potentially seize the assets that OPEC member countries own in the U.S., or mandate the removal of U.S. armed forces from Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. The royal Saudi family has never been a trustworthy ally of our nation, Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, tweeted Thursday. Its time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without their alliance. As Lambert would put it, this is wonderfully clarifying. The US thinks its reasonable to steal from countries that wont bend to its will. By Tsvetana Paraskova, a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews. Originally published at OilPrice Secretary Blinken has described the decision by OPEC+ to cut production by 2 million bpd as both disappointing and short-sighted. The Secretary of State said that the U.S. is reviewing its response options and consulting closely with Congress. President Biden has directed another 10-million-barrel release from the SPR in November and will continue to direct releases as appropriate. The United States is considering response options in its relations with OPEC+ members and its de facto leader Saudi Arabia after the group announced a large 2 million bpd nominal cut in its collective oil production target earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. As to the relationship going forward, were reviewing a number of response options. Were consulting closely with Congress, Secretary Blinken said at a press conference in Peru late on Thursday. We will not do anything that would infringe on our interests thats first and foremost what will guide us and we will keep all of those interests in mind and consult closely with all of the relevant stakeholders as we decide on any steps going forward, Secretary Blinken added. Asked to comment on the OPEC+ production cut, he said, We see the decision as both disappointing and short-sighted, especially as we have a global economy that is dealing with the implications of recovering from COVID, as well as the aggression from Russia in Ukraine, the consequences thats having. Weve said all along that supply needs to meet demand, and weve been clear about that and weve been working on that, Secretary Blinken said. Following the OPEC+ decision, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council (NEC) Director Brian Deese said in a statement, The President is disappointed by the shortsighted decision by OPEC+ to cut production quotas while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Putins invasion of Ukraine. In light of todays action, the Biden Administration will also consult with Congress on additional tools and authorities to reduce OPECs control over energy prices, Sullivan and Deese added. President Joe Biden has directed the Department of Energy to deliver another 10 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to the market next month, they added. The President will continue to direct SPR releases as appropriate to protect American consumers and promote energy security, and he is directing the Secretary of Energy to explore any additional responsible actions to continue increasing domestic production in the immediate term. (Natural News) A self-confessed anarchist middle school teacher revealed his desire to burn down the entire system to an undercover journalist. Activist group Project Veritas published on Oct. 3 undercover footage showing Tyler Wrynn, who admitted to indoctrinating children against their parents will. He justified his indoctrination as necessary to achieve his end goal of overthrowing the American system of government. Wrynn teaches English to eight grade students at Will Rogers College Middle and High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the purview of Tulsa Public Schools. The self-described anarchist educator also admitted to taking issue with parents who get involved in their childrens education. So, I have a rather large TikTok following; Im an authority figure, he said. So, I [publish] a Christmas message of: Hey, if your parents dont love and support you for who you are this Christmas, f**k them. Im your parent now. I love you. Drink some water. Im proud of you.' Wrynn also expounded on his issues with religion. Eventually, you want to remove Christianity or religion [as a whole] from progressive thought, because religion is inherently hierarchical, he said. However, the teacher remarked that he fears losing his job under Oklahomas House Bill (HB) 1775. The only thing thats a problem here is that HB 1775 or something. I can get my [teaching] license revoked for it, he told the undercover journalist. Trust me, I want to burn down the entire system. (Related: Grooming leftist revolutionaries: NYC middle school teacher encourages students to throw bricks at opponents, engage in political violence.) The bill mandates the Oklahoma State Board of Education (SBE) to prohibit discrimination, and one section of the bill grants parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in the Sooner State the right to inspect curriculum, instructional materials, classroom assignments and lesson plans. Project Veritas founder James OKeefe pressed Wrynn about the footage, to which the educator responded: If I speak about religion in the classroom, I can get [my teaching license] revoked, yes. But I dont. Wrynn previously busted by Libs of TikTok Prior to the Oct. 3 expose by Project Veritas, Wrynn had been flagged by the Libs of TikTok Twitter account over a video he posted. That video where he insulted the parents of his students over their refusal to conform to transgender ideology was also the Christmas message Wrynn talked about with the undercover journalist. Back in April 2022, Libs of TikTok reposted the Christmas message on its Twitter account. Word of Wrynns social media post went viral, eventually reaching officials at Owasso Public Schools (OPS). The anarchist teacher had been working with the school district at that time. According to the Twitter account known for exposing grooming and indoctrination in American public schools, Wrynn was fired following complaints of grooming, including the Christmas message post and other posts containing questionable content being brought to authorities attention. OPS Communications Director Jordan Korphage confirmed that Tyler Wrynn is no longer in the classroom, and the SBE accepted his resignation on April 11 at its regular monthly meeting. He added: As this is a personnel issue, we are unable to provide further comment. The anarchist educator himself shared details about his termination on the Advocating for Owasso LGBTQIA+ Youth Facebook group. Unfortunately, the district is letting me go. Ill be on administrative leave for the rest of the year, so at least they are going to pay out the rest of my contract. Again, thank you for your support. I guess I was a little too vocal about supporting our LGBTQIA+ kids. However, the fact that Wrynn managed to resume his teaching duties at Tulsa Public Schools means that he may have found other left-leaning allies at the school district. This would enable him to start indoctrinating his students to overthrow the existing system anew. Watch Tyler Wrynn divulge his plans to burn down the system in the undercover footage below. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Teacher tells student she doesnt have the right to an opinion because shes White and blonde. LGBT teacher defends gender education for children, insists that they are mature enough for it. Biology teacher says its more inclusive to say that eggs come from ovaries rather than women. California teacher threatens to kick 16-year-old out of virtual class over Trump 2020 flag. Illinois school district teaching gender and sexuality starting with PRESCHOOL age kids. Sources include: CreativeDestructionMedia.com OCPAThink.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) More than half a million Austrians signed a petition calling for a referendum on the governments decision to enshrine their right to unlimited cash payments. Austria, a country of 8.9 million, showed massive support for the right to pay with cash, demonstrating the growing movement against digital currencies that have been promoted by central banks and institutions such as the World Economic Forum (WEF). The deadline for the submission of petitions regarding proposals for seven national referendums was Monday. The right to cash payments received the most support of seven petitions, with 530,938 signatories. In Austria, only petitions that receive 100,000 signatures or more can force a debate in parliament on the topic. Given the overwhelming support behind the right to cash petition, there could be strong pressure to move forward with securing cash payments in the country. While many other countries in Europe succumbed to the trend toward a cashless society, Austria still conducts most of its transactions in cash, far above the European average of 30 percent. Germans are also against using digital currency, with only 9 percent saying they would use mobile payments. During the pandemic, many Austrians have started shopping online, which means that they are willing to try new things. However, the increasing levels of cybercrime and fraud are driving people towards the security offered by having cash on hand. This effort to enshrine the right to cash payments in the countrys constitution has already been a topic for several years as the Austrian Peoples Party suggested making a constitutional change to protect cash transactions back in 2019. Austrians may be especially sensitive to the enormous state power that would come with a cashless society academic author and specialist in economic psychology Erich Kirchler said that World War II still influenced the thinking of Germans and Austrians with regard to giving too much power to the state, believing that the efficiency of state institutions can become dangerous. Moreover, German-speaking countries place an especially high value on privacy as cash payments leave a minimal trace, it remains the most secure and private means for transactions. Other countries like Sweden have laws to ensure that society continues to have access and the ability to make payments in cash. If Austria moves forward to enshrine the right to cash payments in its constitution, it will mark the most dramatic step in Europe with regard to securing cash payments in the future. Privacy, civil liberties at stake Privacy and civil rights organizations continue to advocate the right to use cash, arguing that privacy, civil liberties and financial security are at stake. Abolishing cash would force people to conduct all their transactions digitally, using online payments, credit cards or digital currencies, which are vulnerable to hack attacks and even natural disasters for instance, if the power grid were to be knocked out. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, which is part of the Ministry of Justice, also warned in a report that a totally cashless society would make the country extremely vulnerable if it were attacked or exposed to natural disasters. Estimates also suggest that cash is often used as a safe haven asset in both normal times and in times of crisis, both inside and outside the euro area. Thus, the behavior of many citizens indicates that cash provides them with added value compared with other means of payment or other savings options, which would be negatively affected by the reduced access to cash. Countries that are concerned about privacy, such as Germany and Austria, find that they do not want to give law enforcement and government authorities a direct window to all their transactions. Some are also concerned that digital money could be linked to political and social behavior in Western countries in a social credit system that is similar to China. (Related: Global reset fully underway as 90% of central banks push for digital currency that governments can control.) It can also be tyrannical. For instance, during the Freedom Convoy trucker protests against COVID-19 policies in Canada, Justin Trudeaus left-wing government took the unprecedented step of freezing the bank accounts of protesters, which resulted in more protests from civil liberty groups, saying that the authoritarian action was a flagrant abuse of power. Many critics also worry that the action could serve as a template deal with protesters and dissent in the future. If dissidents and government critics cannot keep their money outside their digital space, then there would be no way to hide their finances in case governments, such as what Trudeau did in Canada, take action against them. Watch the video below for more information about the nightmares connected with smart money and cashless transactions. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: War on Cash: Israel strictly regulates cash payments to curb financial crimes. Digital tyranny: Beware of the governments push for a digital currency. World Government Summit: A centralized, digital currency is coming, and there will be no individual privacy or autonomy. Sources include: RMX.news CashMatters.org ECB.Europa.eu Brighteon.com (Natural News) The brainiacs running the Biden regime appear to believe that the Ukrainian people have time to spare in the countrys war against an invading Russian army. According to reports this week, the regime has agreed to provide an additional $1.1 billion worth of military aid to Kyiv including sophisticated rocket artillery to the Ukrainian military known as HIMARS, but its going to take Lockheed Martin at least two years and maybe longer to build the systems. The US announced it would send 18 High Mobility Artillery Systems, made by Lockheed Martin Corp., as part of the new assistance package. Unlike the 16 HIMARS already sent from existing Pentagon stocks, the new ones will have to be built under contract through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, according to the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, Bloomberg News reported. The latest security assistance package is meant to be the beginning of a contracting process for Ukraines mid-to-long-term defense, the US defense official said. Other equipment will take six to 24 months to get to Ukraine as well, the official added, the report added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the rocket systems, claiming they have helped turn the tide of the war against Russia and leading President Vladimir Putin to call up 300,000 reservists and institute a wider draft. The U.S.-made systems allow Ukrainian forces to target Russian logistics hubs and ammo dumps as well as cutting off routes of escape by targeting critical roads and bridges. Last week, he tweeted a note of gratitude to President Joe Biden for a very timely decision showing that Russian blackmail doesnt work. Today ?? @DeptofDefense announced a new $1.1 billion security support package for ??. Well get 18 more HIMARS, other critical equipment thatll bring ?? victory closer. A very timely decision showing that Russian blackmail does not work. Gratitude to @POTUS & all our ?? friends! ????????? ?????????? (@ZelenskyyUa) September 28, 2022 The report added: The US is also planning to send 150 Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, better-known as Humvees,; 150 tactical vehicles to tow weapons; and 40 trucks and 80 trailers to transport heavy equipment. Ukraine is slated to receive two radars to detect drones as well as systems to combat the pilotless aircraft, secure communications and surveillance systems, explosive ordinance disposal equipment and body armor. Regarding the length of time for delivery of the HIMARS and other weapons and equipment, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys chief of staff, said in an interview that he believes the war in his country will be over in a matter of months, not years, Bloomberg News reported separately. The outlet also added that Ukraines forces have managed to make substantial gains around the town of Lyman in the northern Kherson region this week, according to an assessment from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War. Russian units that were beaten back in those areas had previously been considered to be among Putins top conventional forces. Then, overnight, Russian forces launched a massive missile attack on the city of Kharkiv killing one woman, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. Meanwhile, Joe Biden has been ordering U.S. weapons stocks sent to Ukraine at alarmingly high numbers, putting American forces at a distinct disadvantage, as Natural News has reported. Analysts from the Bank of America are now warning that the support the United States is providing Ukraine is pushing the countrys military stockpiles to dangerously low levels not seen in decades. Presidential drawdowns have pushed U.S. weapons stockpiles to dangerously low levels that have not been seen for decades, wrote the analysts. On several ground systems, DOD officials have indicated that ammunition stocks have dwindled to levels that would be considered problematic during wartime. It should be noted that if it will take years to build new systems for Ukraine, its going to take years to replenish U.S. war stocks amid an ongoing labor shortage, by the way. Sources include: NaturalNews.com BloombergNews.com (Natural News) Just one day after the New York Times attempted to downplay suspicions around the election software company Konnech, the companys CEO, Eugene Yu, has been taken into custody under suspicion of sending data on American poll workers to Communist China. (Article by Lucas Nolan republished from Breitbart.com) On October 3, the New York Times published an article by reporter Stuart Thompson titled How a Tiny Elections Company Became a Conspiracy Theory Target, in which he claimed that election deniers were targeting Konnech, a Michigan election software firm with just 21 U.S. employees, and had developed a theory with threadbare evidence that the company had ties to the Chinese Communist Party and had given the Chinese government backdoor access to the personal data of around two million poll workers in the United States. Thompson suggested that such beliefs were ridiculous and anyone suggesting there was validity to these claims was simply an election denier, spinning conspiracy theories. WOW WOW WOWWWWWWWWWWWW. I have never seen anything age this poorly, this quickly. By NYTs @stuartathompson Also, could adults stop using the Democrat propaganda term election denial to describe people with legitimate challenges to election administration? Its so puerile. pic.twitter.com/YEcevYjhdI Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 5, 2022 On October 4, just one day later, the NYT published another article from Thompson titled Election Software Executive Arrested on Suspicion of Theft, in which he reported that Eugene Yu, the CEO of Konnech, had been arrested under suspicion of theft after U.S. user data was found stored in China exactly what the election deniers that Thompson had derided claimed. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, commented on the situation saying: Data breaches are an ongoing threat to our digital way of life. When we entrust a company to hold our confidential data, they must be willing and able to protect our personal identifying information from theft. Otherwise, we are all victims. In a statement, a spokesperson for Konnech said that the company was attempting to learn the details of what we believe to be Mr. Yus wrongful detention, and that it stood by recent statements it made in a lawsuit defending its handling of user data. Any L.A. County poll worker data that Konnech may have possessed was provided to it by L.A. County and therefore could not have been stolen as suggested, the spokesman said. In a statement, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said that it had cause to believe that the personal information on election workers was criminally mishandled and was seeking to extradite Yu from Michigan to Los Angeles. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) Seemingly innocent and fun direct-to-consumer DNA tests have been widely used on the world wide web. Little did the public know that law enforcement has been using the information in their investigative genetic genealogy without the owners consent. There are an estimated 100 million people worldwide sharing their genetic information with companies like AncestryDNA, 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA, according to the New York Post. Users upload their genetic profiles to websites, where thousands of users have freely shared their DNA information to find out more about their ancestry. Using these, detectives can freely map out a criminals entire family tree and zero in on their identity. Meanwhile, a Pew Research study from June 2020, indicated that Americans are mostly in favor of this new crime-solving tool, 48 percent said it is fine for DNA companies to share customers genetic data with police and just a third object to the privacy-encroaching idea. There is no uniformity across state lines regarding how long DNA and related data can be kept, Sonia Suter, a George Washington University Law School professor, said. She added some states require active efforts on the part of the person proven innocent in order to expunge the records and destroy the DNA. Because DNA investigations have been so successful and there is so little regulation, police are increasingly using and keeping DNA information from people who have not been convicted of, or even arrested for, a crime, said Suter. If we care about limiting government surveillance, we should be very concerned about this. CeCe Moore, the chief genetic genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs in Reston, Virginia, has helped solve more than 230 violent crimes. But 10 years ago, when she began approaching commercial DNA companies about sharing their data with police, she had doubts whether it was the right thing to do. Everyone should have the right to decide how they wish their own personal DNA to be used, she said. FBI has your DNA in a convenient database for whatever purpose it may serve Mainstream media and the government have listed a number of success stories that have emerged from this surveillance tactic. One of the most famous is that of Joseph James DeAngelo, the so-called Golden State Killer. He was a serial killer and rapist who terrorized California during the late 70s and early 80s and was finally caught in 2018 when crime scene DNA was partially matched to the killers great-great-great-grandparents with the online genealogy database GEDmatch. Recently, these public databases helped solve the 60-year-old murder of a Girl Scout in Colorado, a 1975 stabbing in Lancaster and uncovered the identities of both a killer and his victim from 1988. Right now, DNA is being used to catch old killers and stuff and thats great. But how long before cops get too carried away with it? low=budget filmmaker Michael Usry pointed out. (Related: Mass genetic surveillance: Police now seeking access to newborn blood samples to build DNA database for future criminal investigations.) Usry learned he was a suspect in the 1996 murder of 18-year-old Angie Dodge. On December 2014, he had no idea why a pair of Louisiana State police officers showed up at his New Orleans home and invited him to the precinct for questioning. An FBI agent also asked to swab his cheek for DNA. He was the suspect in the said killing because hed visited Idaho Falls, where the victim was killed, during the same time frame of the murder. He also directed a 2010 film called Murderabilia. The search warrant indicated that the movie dealt with some sort of homicide or killings. But most notably, when the genetic evidence from the crime scene didnt match anything in the national law-enforcement database, the police ran a familial DNA search on Ancestry.com and found a close match between semen found at the murder scene and the DNA of Usrys dad. The father donated his saliva to Ancestry as part of a genealogy project with his church and since the elder Usry seemed too old to be a suspect, the detectives zeroed in on the younger Usry and this was enough for a judge to issue a warrant. He was eventually cleared after his DNA was tested and his name cleared weeks later. But since then he has become uneasy. I know that my personal genetic information is still in the FBI criminal database, he said. Theyre not going to just throw it away because of their mistake. But what are they doing with it? Visit PrivacyWatch.news for more news related to law enforcement efforts to monitor personal data without informed consent. Watch the below video that talks about the DOJ suing police departments for using DNA databases. This video is from the Zoon Politikon channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New Jersey State Police accused of warrant-less search and seizure of newborns blood and DNA. China is HARVESTING the DNA of Tibetans to create a genetic database and control the population. Evil Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor defends NYCs covid jab mandate, forcing workers to undergo DNA reprogramming. Sources include: NYPost.com PEWTrusts.org LATimes.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The German government recently ordered 100 million doses of BA.1 and BA.4/5 bivalent vaccines, costing them 2.5 billion euros ($2.47 billion). But nobody seems to want them. In Furth in Middle Franconia, only 85 showed up to get their booster. The district has 120,000 residents. Weve tried to make it as easy as possible for people, said Michael Hubmann, a pediatrician who is coordinating the vaccination campaign. He explained that the vaccinations were offered simultaneously in two shopping centers, a bus, a home for the elderly and a former shop in the pedestrian zone, but hardly anyone wanted to have the fourth dose. Markus Beier, chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, said: Unfortunately, the interest in the fourth dose had been low. He insisted it is important that people over 60 and those comorbidities protect themselves by getting their second booster. There is uncertainty among the population as to what further vaccinations will achieve. But they still strengthen protection against severe outcome, he said. Meanwhile, large quantities of the vaccines are expiring. At the end of August, 3.9 million doses of Moderna and another 700,000 doses of Novavax had to be thrown away. Mandates lead to inequities and decreased uptake of vaccines When measles vaccine mandates came into effect in Germany in March 2020, schools required proof of immunization for children attending school and staff in different facilities. If implemented with care and in a context-sensitive manner, mandates can be successful. However, it can also lead to inequities and decreased uptake of other vaccines. A study investigated the acceptance and unintended consequences of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates in Germany. The study can provide valuable insights for policymakers in their discussions on making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory. (Related: German resistance: Unvaccinated Germans stand by their decision not to receive COVID-19 vaccines.) For instance, the researchers found that half a year after the introduction of the mandate, parents with low socioeconomic status knew less about the mandate and the measles vaccine compared to parents with medium to high socio-economic status. The same is true for both education and income as domains for socio-economic status. Citizens should be equally well-informed about the vaccine mandate and the vaccine itself because those who do not follow the law will be given sanctions. In September, general practitioners in Germany were supplied with booster vaccines directed at the omicron BA.1 version and the original virus detected in Wuhan, China. However, according to the association of general practitioners, the demand for booster vaccinations remains low as some patients wait for a booster designed to combat the currently circulating BA.4/5 subvariants. We havent seen a big jump in demand in the few days weve been vaccinating BA.1, Jens Lassen, chairman of the Schleswig-Holstein Association, told reporters. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the COVID-19 booster, which was designed to combat the Omicron BA.4/5 subvariants, just days after endorsing a pair of boosters tailored to target the older BA.1 Omicron variant. No matter the vaccine, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said people should take whatever booster is available to them in the coming months, although the chairperson of the German association of general practitioners, Ulrich Weigeldt, believes that it is confusing for citizens to choose their vaccine with three different booster shots made available for them. Global Research, however, believes the disinterest in vaccines is not about the number of options to choose from. Rather, it is the peoples experience post-vaccination. Demand for the vaccine, the publication said, was at its highest in the beginning, before anybody had any direct experience with its adverse effects. When fewer people decided to get their shots in the fall, the government tied the vaccination to specific social privileges. However, as more and more people got vaccinated, the interest in the vaccines and the booster shots all but evaporated making it the ultimate vindication for those who had been saying that the vaccines are overhyped pharmaceuticals with bad side effects. A safe and effective product would only gain momentum with the population. It took less than two years for these to wear out their welcome the publication said. Visit Vaccines.news for more news about the new COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Watch the video below to learn more about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: German government admits COVID vaccines cause severe side effects. German lawmakers push for MANDATORY shot, blame unvaccinated for continued COVID-19 restrictions. German parliament REJECTS proposed COVID vaccine mandate after months of debate. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca BMCPublicHealth.BioMedCentral.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) World government wants massive profits for the wind and solar sector. They want to take away a lot of our freedoms. Scientist Tom Harris (Article by Miranda Sellick republished from RairFoundation.com) Nothing is what it appears to be. That heatwave that hit Europe this past summer? Twenty years ago, it was just a heatwave. Now, youd be led to believe that its all part of the climate emergency that mankind has brought upon itself. A recent World Climate Declaration, signed by 1,100 scientists, has made the rounds on social media, claiming that there is no climate emergency. But a 2019 Cornell University study found that 99.9 percent of studies agree that humans have caused climate change. However, more and more scientists are speaking out to declare that the whole climate change narrative is based upon faulty science and incorrect modeling. Tom Harris, the executive director of the International Climate Science Coalition, based in Ottawa, is one of them. He describes himself as changing from a climate alarmist to a climate realist. He recently gave a wide-ranging interview to RAIR Foundation USA. As a good starting point, Harris recommends the non-governmental International Panel on Climate Change publication that focuses on physical science. Its nearly 1,000 pages long and has 1000s of peer-reviewed papers. This one specifically shows that theres no climate emergency. This is the kind of information that is actually being censored by government and by media, says Harris. I met with Catherine McKenna, who, of course, was the previous environment minister, and I gave her a copy of this and other documents, and her main comment was that it was heavy to carry back to her car. And within a week, she was attacking us as climate change deniers. Harris asserts that the 1.2-degree temperature rise and the change in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels worldwide since 1880 are minor and do not represent a threat to the planet. But the City of Ottawa used these measures to declare a climate emergency. All but two council members have voted to do away with Ottawas existing energy structure and replace it with wind and solar power. Its the climate change master plan and energy evolution. What most people in Ottawa dont realize is that according to the city itself, and their estimates are probably lowball, they say its going to cost $57.4 billion. Thats almost $60,000 for every man, woman, and child in Ottawa, says Harris. To do this, theyre going to actually start charging us, for example, to drive into the downtown core, anybody who drives into the core will have to pay a $20 fee, youll have yearly fees, youll have massive increases in property tax, and of course, electricity prices will go through the roof because they want to replace our natural gas, which is a very clean burning effective fuel. They want to replace it with wind and solar power. The plan indicates an intention to build 710 industrial wind turbines taller than the Peace Tower and install 36 square kilometers of solar photovoltaics. Thats bigger than the Experimental Farm in Ottawa. Batteries will provide backup power when solar power is weak, such as the many months of limited sunlight in winter and when snow covers the panels. And they want to do this supposedly, to save the planet? says Harris. The trouble is, not only is this going to cost an absolute fortune, but these batteries are highly destructive to the environment. These batteries use cobalt. And cobalt is mined by Chinese companies employing child labor in the Congo, breathing in radioactive dust in horrible working conditions. And then the cobalt is shipped to China, where again, with terrible environmental controls, the batteries are manufactured for Western green virtue signalers. You have to ask, well, what would this sacrifice actually accomplish in the real world? The answer is not much. Wind turbines kill birds and bats in huge numbers. With Ontarios growth and wind turbines, some bat species will be entirely driven to extinction. In California, thousands of golden eagles have been killed at one wind farm alone. And theyre not very reliable, producing power only about 30 percent of the time. But the net result? You have to ask, how much of humanitys greenhouse gas emissions does Ottawa produce? It turns out; its point 0.014 percent. Thats around 100th of one percent. The actual change in temperature if Ottawa were to maintain this incredibly expensive plan all the way to the year 2100 would be one, one-thousandth of a degree Celsius for $60 billion, according to Harris. Its way less than wed ever be able to detect. Its going to cost $60,000 for every man, woman, and child in the city; its going to make us very vulnerable to extreme weather, and well have a very fragile energy system dependent on intermittent wind and solar power. Why would Ottawa do that? Apparently, the City of Ottawa aspires to set an example to lead the world. If the world followed Ottawas lead, what would it cost? If you do just simple math, that would be $600 trillion, for one degree, says Harris, but the environmental activists want to avoid five degrees of warming. So, the actual number is 3000 trillion dollars. And I dont know if theres enough money in the whole world. We have to hope that countries do not follow Ottawas lead. China, which produces twice as much emissions as the U.S., continues to build coal-fired power stations. Their overall priority is poverty alleviation and development. The cheapest way to achieve these goals is by using coal power. In 2030, China will use this as a get-out clause to the Paris Treaty. And so, we in the West will be handicapping ourselves, crippling ourselves, making our energy infrastructure weak, our economic system weak for nothing, says Harris. Because even if you believe the science of the U.N., the situation is like were puncturing this life raft with a pin. And Chinas using a chainsaw. And were just ignoring the chainsaw and criticizing people in Ottawa for the pin. With this City of Ottawa plan, backup power provided by natural gas would be essential. But like a car engine that produces less emissions if it runs at a consistent speed, neither breaking nor accelerating, the on-again, off-again nature of gas or coal backup power would, in fact, produce more greenhouse emissions, according to Harris. Should we even be concerned about reducing greenhouse gases? Climate alarmists are talking about carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. How much climate change do these gases cause? According to Harris, at very low concentrations, they cause quite a lot of warming. But by the time you get to the kind of levels that were at now, these gases cause minimal additional warming. Its a little bit like painting a barn red, explains Harris. The first coat of paint pretty well covers the barn; when you put more coats on, theres almost no change in the actual color of your barn because most of it has already been covered with paint. It just doesnt do much. Presently the level is 420 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is 0.042 percent. Nitrogen is 60 percent of the atmosphere. Harris and his team interviewed Professor William Happer, a leading physicist from Princeton University who studies the radiation effects of increasing carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. What he shows is that at todays level of those three gases, the additional warming that would occur due to a doubling, for example, of carbon dioxide is negligible, less than one degree Celsius. In other words, if we went from 420 parts per million to 840, climate activists will tell you that this will be a disaster. But Professor Happer says, No. Its kind of obvious, says Harris, because since 1880, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 50%, and the temperature has gone up by 1.2 degrees. Thats a rise so small that if you didnt have meteorologists and climatologists to tell you about it, you wouldnt even know it happened. A look back through geologic history reveals times when carbon dioxide was 840 parts per million, or much higher. We are presently at one of the lowest levels of carbon dioxide in Earths history, says Harris. Weve seen times in the past when carbon dioxide was 13 times todays levels. And its interesting because at that time, 440 million years ago, the Earth was in its coldest period in the last half billion years. So the fact that theres been a recent increase in temperature and a recent increase in CO2 is only a recent phenomenon. But there is no correlation that shows that CO2 drives warming. According to Harris and many of his colleagues, carbon dioxide is not driving dangerous climate change but a massive increase in crop productivity. Forests are getting denser, and we are seeing a greening of the earth. Even NASA many of them are climate alarmists says that our use of fossil fuels is greening the earth. It is also driving productivity and helping to feed the world. The more carbon dioxide pumped into a greenhouse, the taller and faster plants grow, consuming less water. Nitrous oxide is the next bone of contention. Countries like Holland have recently brought in all kinds of rigid regulations on nitrous oxide reduction, which effectively means a 30 percent reduction in fertilizer use. Similar rules will be coming to Canada soon. Experts say this will cause about a third of all Dutch farms to close. Because if youre doing this double whammy, reducing aerial fertilizer, which is carbon dioxide, and youre reducing fertilizer, youre going to have a massive reduction in crop yield. This is a really big problem. Both of these actions are being driven by the climate scare, says Harris. Harris encourages anyone interested in the subject of climate change to visit a website called climatechangereconsidered.org . There, you will find information that supports the idea that fossil fuels have, in fact, been a good thing for society. Not only have they massively increased our standards of living there can be no denying this from any side of the argument but they have also aided our protection of the environment by preventing the complete destruction of Britains forests, for example, once coal became the energy source for the country. He also recommends that readers watch documentary maker Michael Moores film Planet of the Humans. People were quite shocked when he actually revealed the incredible damage thats being caused by wind and solar power. According to Harris, we should focus on reducing energy where its scarce; we should focus on reducing pollution where its a problem, and carbon dioxide is not this. We learned in elementary school that this is plant food. So the whole idea that its carbon pollution, I always say to them, whats this carbon youre talking about? On the subject of electric cars, Harris has plenty to say. If you feel that it is important to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, then stay with your gas-powered car. Ron Stein, a California engineer and the author of Clean Energy Exploitations, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2022, has performed a lifecycle analysis to show how much greenhouse gas is produced when you mine the cobalt and the various materials that are needed in electric vehicles, then ship them to China, then charge your car, then dispose of these highly toxic materials at the end of their life. He found that the lifecycle analysis shows clearly that it increases greenhouse gases if you move over to electric vehicles. This is just one of the many scams that are out there. Theyre saying theyre saving the planet, while actually, theyre causing far more environmental damage, says Harris. From the Texas power failure in February 2021 that killed 700 people to the rolling power outages that a cold city like Ottawa can expect if the green plan is implemented, life will shortly become infinitely less comfortable. Catherine McKenney, whos a councillor right now and is the promoter of the fossil fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, endorsed energy evolution and the other plans. Ottawa at minus 30, youre going to see thousands of people die if we have a major power failure like they did. Were going to get a preview of it in Europe this winter because Europe has done two things, which are really going to make a lot of people very cold and hungry. Europe closed many of its most dependable power sources, nuclear, coal, oil. Harris endorses nuclear energy as clean and safe. You have to realize that in the overall scheme of things, when you compare nuclear with coal or natural gas, there are actually far less accidents and far less people that are killed from anything to do with nuclear power. Nuclear power is probably the safest energy source on the planet. All of this doom and gloom, we hear from the city, theres a climate emergency; where is it? Not here now? Do you know what its based on? Its based on computer models. Thats all its based on. Climate scientists use computer models to forecast what they think the climate will be in 50 or 100 years. The climate scare is not based on whats happening in the real world. So, what is it thats driving the climate scare? There are a lot of vested interests, says Harris. World government, they want to have massive profits for the wind and solar sector. They want to take away a lot of our freedoms. How good are the models at forecasting climate if we use what we already know? Pretty poor is the answer. If we go 30 years into the past, and we plug in the conditions that we know existed, temperature, density, pressure, all that sort of thing, and we run computer models to the present, do we get todays conditions? Not so much. They call it hindcasting, in contrast to forecasting. Hindcasting shows the temperature rise in the last 30 years should be three times higher than it actually is. Theyre off by 200 percent, says Harris. And yet, those are the models that are being used by the UN, by the climate activists by the governments, by the City of Ottawa, theyre relying on these models that have massively failed. According to Harris, not one of the scientists ideas about climate change is right. Which begs the question where are all the scientists who disagree with this? Theyre all over the place; at Ottawa University, we have Ian Clark, and at Carleton University, my mentor Tim Patterson and Fred Michael. These people are local, but theyre not covered by the media. Were not government funded, so were allowed to deal with the truth. From global warming to alternative energy sources, its all one big hoax, says Harris. If you really want to kill this, you know, you must go after the science. Because if you dont, its death by 1000 cuts. Read more at: RairFoundation.com (Natural News) Former firefighter Chad Caton got fired up over allegations by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) that Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters were responsible for the deaths, injuries and police attacks during the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. The only [one] that killed anybody [was] the government, [which] killed Ashli Babbitt. Thats been proven, thats been put out, he remarked during the Sept. 29 episode of his Brighteon.TV program Im Fired Up. Caton proceeded to refute Johnsons remarks about MAGA supporters. Earlier in September, the Georgia congressman accused them of killing and hurting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 siege. Jan. 6, 2021 will never be forgotten an infamous day in American history, he said during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that time. MAGA Republicans descended upon the Capitol [and] engaged in an insurrection. People at the local level at affected school board meetings wont forget the MAGA Republicans descending on their school board meetings after Jan. 6, Johnson added, accusing the rioters of being fueled by the same dark-moneyed interests. The congressman also compared the Jan. 6 attendees to the parents who stood up against radical changes in school curriculums and pandemic-related school shutdowns. Youre grooming the children, Caton remarked, taking shots at Johnson. These parents came to say this is a public school and this should not happen, and youre calling them MAGA extremists? The Im Fired Up host also played a video of Johnson repeatedly questioning an admiral during a Congressional hearing. The lawmaker for the Peach State was pressing the admiral about the exact dimensions of the island of Guam, as he was worried that the island would eventually capsize due to overpopulation. My fear it that the whole island will become so overly populated, that it will tip over and capsize, said Johnson. Caton commented that the big meathead was taking up everybodys time by worrying about capsizing an island. He continued: Even the admiral was having such a problem with it. I give the admiral all the credit in the world for not laughing. White House spokeswoman Jean-Pierre: Biden looking for a dead lawmaker perfectly normal Elsewhere in the show, Caton played footage of a press conference with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answering queries from reporters. According to her, she did not find it confusing that President Joe Biden mistakenly looked for a deceased lawmaker from the crowd. Biden looked out into the crowd during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, seemingly looking for Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN). The congresswoman died in a car crash with two of her staffers in August 2022. Jackie, are you here? Wheres Jackie? I didnt think she was she was going to be here, Biden said, bringing shock to those present in the event. Jean-Pierre denied that Biden was looking for her out in the crowd and claimed he was speaking of the late congresswoman because she was on his mind. When asked again, she insisted: I think the American people who watch the briefing from time to time, maybe at this moment will understand when someone is at top of mind. CBS News White House correspondent Steven Portnoy asked her to elaborate on Bidens mistake, asking: Can you explain where the mistake was made? Did the President was the president confused? Was something written in the teleprompter that he didnt recognize? Can you just help us understand whats happening? The secretary then accused Portnoy of jumping to conclusions. Members of the press bashed her on social media for her lame excuse and clear avoidance of the topic. She cant even say that the president made a mistake because hes ancient and probably hes got Alzheimers. Wheres the humility of telling the truth? How are we supposed to believe anything that comes out of this White House? Caton pointed out. You could even tell she wasnt happy. Visit CancelDemocrats.news for more updates on the left wings hilarious public acts. Watch the full September 29 episode of Im Fired Up with Chad Caton below. Catch new episodes of the program every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Jan. 6 committee releases alleged violent walkie-talkie recording from J-6 protests BUT THEY LIED AND GOT CAUGHT The people on the call WERE NOT EVEN AT CAPITOL. Trump-critic John Bolton admits planning coups in foreign nations during interview about January 6. Biden-appointed US attorney who dropped charges on Colberts crew is also prosecutor investigating January 6. Democrat leaders increasingly demonize Republican voters not just politicians. Sources include: Brighteon.com NationalReview.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) Rap mogul and billionaire fashion entrepreneur Kanye West has declared that Black Lives Matter was always just a scam, saying that the movement is now over. (Article by David Ng republished from Breitbart.com) On Tuesday, Kanye West posted a haiku-like obituary for the BLM movement to his Instagram stories, taking at least partial credit for its demise. Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam Now its over Youre welcome Wests terse declaration comes as BLM is currently under fire for allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars in fundraising. As Breitbart News reported, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (GNF) executive Shalomyah Bowers has been accused of siphoning off more than $10 million from donors, allegedly funneling the money to his consulting firm after he joined the board of the foundation. Earlier this year, BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors admitted to using the groups $6 million property to host private parties after she had previously resigned from the organization. Cullors previously came under fire for purchasing a $1.4 million compound in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Topanga. The new documentary Uncle Tom II exposes BLM as one in a long line of socio-political movements orchestrated by white Marxists who are intent on manipulating black Americans to foment racial strife, with the ultimate goal of undermining American institutions. This week, Kanye West was spotted wearing a White Lives Matter sweatshirt while promoting his fashion line in Paris, France. Rolling Stone: Kanye West (@kanyewest) Sparks Controversy As He Wears White Lives Matter T-ShirtRight-wing Pundit Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) Matched Shirts with the Rapper https://t.co/hlEEMwYCEp#AllLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/3HXX95jc8M Larry Elder (@larryelder) October 4, 2022 Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) The German news outlet Welt says that increasingly more mainstream scientists are questioning the alleged safety and effectiveness of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. Because jab manufacturers are still refusing to allow any independent verification of the data, it is impossible to say what these injections are truly doing to people, an article from Welt explains. (Related: We do know that mRNA spike proteins are being found inside the brains and hearts of deceased jab recipients.) In scientific circles, doubts arise as to whether the information provided by the manufacturers about the mRNA vaccine is correct, the article reads. BioNtech / Pfizer and Moderna have so far refused to independently verify the data. It goes on to state that unlikely bedfellows virologists, epidemiologists, and pharmacologists are coming together out of frustration to demand that all internal data about the injections be released for proper study. The studies are published, the article further reads. However, the primary data, scientifically the decisive documents, are missing. All vaccine evaluations of the registration studies are based on them. Until now, the documents have been kept under lock and key by the manufacturers, and they are refusing requests to see them. Wheres the science, Big Pharma? The gist of the piece is that the science is not settled on the shots because nobody has ever been able to see said science assuming it even exists as claimed. Chances are that Big Pharma slopped together a hodgepodge of nonsense under the cover of darkness and presented it to the corrupt U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as evidence, an voila: instant authorization followed by approval. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also complicit, having worked alongside the FDA to rush the jabs to market at warp speed, just like Donald Trump wanted. What was published in Welt about this issue would never appear in any mainstream media outlet here in the United States. That is because our media is completely bought-off when it comes to all things pharmaceutical and vaccine. It looks like choosing to remain in the control group was a good move, wrote a commenter about how he feels more secure than ever after having rejected the shots. Each and every day I am happier with my choice to remain jab-free, added another. Thank God that my wife and kids remained jab-free as well. Another wondered if the reason why the fully vaccinated are angry at the unvaccinated is because they know deep down inside that they made a monumental mistake that cannot be undone. I think much of the hate that came from the vaxxed toward the unvaxxed was motivated by an inner realization that they (the vaxxed) had made a mistake, and they demanded that others join them in their mistake, this person wrote. Like misery, fear and uncertainty love company. So-called purebloods, wrote another, have something special in that their pure blood is valuable and life-giving, as opposed to the impure blood of the fully jabbed. Pureblood here: I realize some dont like that term but they can buzz off, said someone else. Another person emphasized that it is utter foolishness to trust any company, pharmaceutical or otherwise, that refuses to be held liable for their own products. Big Pharma is the biggest offender when it comes to maintaining zero liability for anything it does. And never trust any government that gives release of liability to any drug company, added someone else. If the product is safe, experimental or not, for massive use, they should not be shielded. The level of wrongdoing here was epic. More of the latest news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at Vaccines.news. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Scottish government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to probe deeper into the reason why newborn deaths were higher than expected twice in six months in September 2021 and March this year. The review will cover all reported deaths across Scotland between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 to find out if there is anything that may have contributed to the increase. Anything identified will feed into recommendations and actions to improve the quality of care for mother and babies, the governments official news release stated. According to Gateway Pundit, deaths among infants younger than four weeks old increased to at least 18 in March, which is 4.6 per 1,000 births and as many as 21 in September 2021, which is 4.9 per 1,000 births. The average mortality rate among newborns is just over two per thousand births. Every death is a tragedy for the families involved, that is why earlier this year I committed to this review to find out if there is a reason for the increase, Public Health Minister Maree Todd said. I appreciate how difficult this time is for anyone affected and I would encourage them to access support if they wish to do so. There is information about organizations and help available on the National Bereavement Care Pathways Scotland as well as the Scottish government website. The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is the primary suspect in the cause of infant deaths. However, local health experts could not directly link the troubling figures to the virus. (Related: Why are babies in Scotland suddenly dying at a rate thats 300% higher than normal?) What we do know it is not neonatal COVID the rates of COVID-19 infection in babies are very low and deaths from COVID are thankfully very, very small, so this isnt the virus affecting babies, Dr. Sarah Stock, an expert in maternal and fetal medicine at the University of Edinburgh, told a national newspaper earlier in the year. The COVID-19 vaccines could also be the culprit. Fully vaxxed moms newborn suffered stroke in the womb In 2021, a newborn from Hull, East Yorkshire survived blood clots in his brain and was delivered via emergency cesarean with a bruised and blistered left arm. At 10 days old, the limb was amputated. An MRI scan revealed that the baby named Zack Reilly had also suffered a stroke in the womb before he was born, causing brain damage that could affect his mobility, muscle control and speech as he develops. The boy is now a year old and has adapted brilliantly to the delight of his parents Libby Francis, 29, a fully vaccinated Royal Navy assistant career advisor and telecoms engineer Owen Reilly, 28. The boys mother accepted the COVID-19 jab while she was pregnant because it was required by the U.K. naval warfare force. After the surgery last year, the doctors met with the parents to break the bad news. They said he had damage to his brain due to a suspected clot and while we wont know exactly how he has been affected until he is older, there is a good chance he might not be able to use some muscles and might not walk and talk, Francis recalled. During the first few months after they were sent home, the kid was smiling and starting to reach for toys with his good arm and started lifting his head. But the heartbroken mother added that at five months, he stopped smiling and started having seizures. The baby was also diagnosed with a rare type of epilepsy called infantile spasms, which is associated with a very abnormal brainwave pattern. He experienced about five episodes of seizures every day over the course of four days. He also initially failed his hearing test, but doctors later confirmed he only had mild hearing loss. It sounds weird, but we were so happy, as mild hearing loss meant he could still hear us, Francis said. Visit VaccineDeaths.com for more news related to the mortality rates of the COVID-19 vaccinated population. Watch the below video that talks about a vaccinated womans newborn son dying suddenly. This video is from the OnlyTruth4Me channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Newborn babys arm AMPUTATED after mom took covid vaccines and baby suffered blood clots in the womb. Doctor reveals COVID-19 vaccines lead to more deaths in both children and adults. Excess deaths among children in Europe soar following vaccine rollout for younger age groups. The vaccine fatalities are kicking in: PHS database shows newborn baby deaths surpass critical levels for second time in seven months. Sources include: NewsPunch.com 1 Gov.scot TheGatewayPundit.com NewsPunch.com 2 HullDailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) To replace working-class, black, and Hispanic voters, Democrats are embracing permanent child mutilation and morbid obesity. (Article by John Nolte republished from Breitbart.com) Its no secret that Democrats were once the party of the working class. Those days are long over. Democrats have not only lost working-class voters, but Democrats also express open contempt for working-class voters. Democrats are also losing more and more Hispanic voters with every election cycle. And now black voters are peeling away. Black voters are a core Democrat constituency. A loss of just ten percent of black voters, like the one shaping up in next months midterms, could be devastating. We can only hope. The reasons for these losses are obvious. As Democrats seek to appeal more and more to women, most especially shrill, unhappy, bossy single women, they are turning off everyday Americans, including those who happen to be black and Hispanic. To appeal to left-leaning women, Democrats have to hate what left-leaning women hate: God, tradition, masculinity, the innocence of children, fun, America, jokes, and the nuclear family. Unfortunately for Democrats, a whole lot of black and Hispanic Americans believe in those things. Whats more, a whole lot of Hispanics live in the border states Joe Biden is flooding with the illegal aliens he hopes will replace Americans. Hispanic Americans dont like open borders any more than anyone else. And so, Democrats are now the party of the elites, smugs, the wealthy, big business, the privileged, the NPR crowd, the fascist gay and green lobby, and all the smug supremacists who watch Morning Joe and need ten minutes to explain their coffee. Above all, the Democrat Party is the party of identity politics. This means that when Democrats lose coalitions, they have to manufacture new ones, new identity groups. And this is why the left is embracing the permanent mutilation of children and morbid obesity to create new identity groups. Lets start with morbid obesity Think about it In a country with an obesity problem, if you can convince enough stupid people that obesity is an identity, you got yourself a pretty large coalition (pun intended). By pretending obesity is beautiful and healthy and your truth, Democrats create an immediate identity group, as well as an us-against-them narrative. Us being fat girls destined to become miserable, sick, and die young. Them being those of us who tell the truth about how obesity ensures misery, sickness, and premature death. Turning Lizzo into a role model for her musical chops is one thing. Turning Lizzo into a role model for her disgusting and disgustingly unhealthy fat rolls is morally criminal. But Democrats dont care who gets hurt. Democrats dont care that they are sentencing countless women to a miserable life and early grave. All Democrats care about is power. For the same reasons, Democrats are embracing permanent child mutilation through gender-affirming surgeries. Puberty blockers, breast removal, and chemical castration are not reversible. Democrats see this as a plus. Theres no way out of our coalition now! No way to turn back! Most teens are uncomfortable in their bodies. Most teens grow out of this. You did. I did. But rather than giving these kids the support and, when necessary, the compassionate mental health care needed to ease them into healthy adulthood, Democrats sucker them into their transsexual identity group. This is done by pretending trans is not a mental illness but cool and trendy. Want to be cool and trendy? Want to belong to a marginalized interest group that offers all kinds of special privileges and unearned moral authority? Tired of being judged as a white person? Lop off your breasts! Have your penis turned inside out! Take these puberty blockers! Its monstrous, but its all about Democrats increasing their coalitions. They dont care how many lives are ruined. Democrats dont care how many children they twist into neurotic, unhappy, suicidal freaks. Democrats would mutilate every child in the country if it meant just one more vote. Democrats are no better than the Nazis experimenting on and damaging people to shape society into something that ensures their Thousand-year Reich. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) The Tavistock Center in London, notorious for its transgender clinic for children, now faces another legal battle after a White Christian nurse sued it for discrimination on religious and racial grounds. The center, operated by the Tavistock and Portman National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, incidentally promotes Critical Race Theory (CRT). However, mental health nurse Amy Gallagher expressed objection to the theory during a 2020 seminar she was forced to sit through. Now in the final stages of a two-year course in forensic psychology at the center, Gallagher said she has been the victim of discrimination based on race, religion and philosophical belief. She accused the trust of forcing her to submit to racist anti-White training. Gallagher also alleged that the trust suspended her from her final year of the course to become a psychotherapist, which had already cost her more than 20,000 ($22,678). The seminar she was forced to attend lambasted whiteness, White fragility, White ignorance and White privilege concepts she disagreed with. The lecturer also spoke negatively about Christianity while no other religions were mentioned. (Related: Critical race theory is just anti-white racism.) Gallagher brought up her concerns during a meeting with her course leader, reiterating that she did not consider herself racist. She added that she always took a color-blind approach, meaning she did not judge people based on their skin color. However, Gallagher was informed that such an approach is now outdated. They are forcing CRT onto people, she claimed. Youre not allowed to disagree with it, or they will bully you for two years. Im bringing this legal case to protect my career, but its also the first test of woke ideology in the courts. The NHS is forcing someone to adopt a racist ideology, which needs to be stopped. Gallaghers case a precedent for lack of belief suits Gallagher filed a formal complaint against the trust in January 2021. She said she believes her case will be the first one centering on lack of belief, which argues that a White Christian woman cannot believe in CRT. Things escalated in March 2021 after an external speaker complained to the United Kingdoms Nursing and Midwifery Council that Gallagher had inflicted race-based harm. This meant that she could not work with diverse populations, according to the speaker. The nurse was able to raise 27,518 ($31,202.66) on GoFundMe for her legal fees. She plans to use the funds to help pay for the initial class action lawsuit, alongside an application for a judicial review. Gallagher is supported by the Bad Law Project (BLP), an initiative of anti-woke actor Laurence Fox. Dr. Anna Loutfi, BLPs head of legal, said Gallaghers suit will argue that her lack of belief in CRT is protected under equality law in the same manner as positive beliefs. Something that people are not talking about in the free speech world in the West, which I think is covered by the Equality Act under lack of belief, is [that] you have the right not to be forced to sign up [with] a set of values or [an] ideology with which you do not agree, she said. On the basis of my experience there, what they describe as anti-racism is racism. What they describe as tolerance is an intolerance of anyone who thinks differently from them, Gallagher said. Left unchallenged, such institutional bullying will only be emboldened. I hope my case will prove that teaching these discriminatory ideas as though they are factual and true within the NHS or within academia is wrong. Visit AntiWhite.news for information regarding racism against Whites. Watch this video to learn more about anti-White racism. This video is from the Puretrauma367 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Its always OPPOSITE DAY for the LEFTISTS in America: Liberal means intolerant, anti-fascist means fascist, and equality means hate white people. Lawfare with Tom Renz: Courtney Flynn says woke makeup giant Sephora pushing RACISM under the guise of diversity and inclusion Brighteon.TV. Woke public schools increasingly dumping tests and teaching children to hate Whites in the name of pursuing diversity and equity. Sources include: Breitbart.com DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and prosecute any entity, either corporate or individual, that dares to expose the transgender mutilation practices of woke hospitals across America. In a joint letter penned and signed by the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Childrens Hospital Association (CHA), the AMA begged Attorney General Merrick Garland to take aim at anyone who says mean things about hospitals that perform LGBT surgical procedures, particularly against children. Representing over 270,000 physicians and 220 childrens hospitals across the country, the AMA, AAP and CHA claim that those opposed to the transgender mutilation of children are engaged in an intentional campaign of disinformation that is causing some health care providers to be targeted and threatened. These coordinated attacks threaten federally protected rights to health care for patients and their families, the letter states. (Related: Remember when the AMA was pushing for transgenders to be sent to the front lines of war?) The attacks are rooted in an intentional campaign of disinformation, where a few high-profile users on social media share false and misleading information targeting individual physicians and hospitals, resulting in a rapid escalation of threats, harassment, and disruption of care across multiple jurisdictions. Chopping up childrens body parts is a big money maker, according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center The trio of medical organizations wants Big Tech especially (i.e., Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok) to go after people and organizations that blow the lid on gender affirming care and what it means for childrens bodies. The goal is to censor and de-platform, followed by investigate and prosecute. Our organizations have called on technology companies to do more to prevent this practice on digital platforms, and we now urge your office to take swift action to investigate and prosecute all organizations, individuals, and entities responsible, the letter further reads. Christopher F. Rufo, a Manhattan Institute fellow and City Journal writer, is one such person who is being targeted by the witch hunt. He told Fox News Laura Ingraham that no matter what the AMA and the others throw at him, he will not back down in reporting the truth. I have a message for Attorney General Merrick Garland: you can threaten us; you can mobilize the FBI against us; you can drag us out of our homes in a pre-dawn raid. But we are not going to stop reporting on radical gender surgeries on minors, Rufo said and tweeted. The AMA says it has no plans to back down in pursuing people like Rufo who challenge its dedicate[ion] to the health and well-being of children and adolescents, which includes supporting and providing gender affirming care. Neither the AMA nor any of the entities it is defending care one iota about the health and well-being of children and adolescents, it turns out. As revealed by a physician from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, horrific gender surgeries on children such as hysterectomies, mastectomies and vaginoplasties are a big money maker, particularly because they require a lot of follow-ups. Many transgenders with regret would argue against the health and well-being line as well. Their bodies are now permanently destroyed because they bought the lie that mutilating their genitals and destroying their endocrine systems is the way to embrace ones true self. Im just really concerned for younger girls and boys being led down this path, and being hurt by it, stated Helena Kerschner, a transgender with regret who is now attempting to de-transition, to Fox News Tucker Carlson during a recent segment. Will the DOJ capitulate to the AMAs demands? There is a very real possibility that the AMA will get its way, if any of the DOJs recent actions under Joe Biden are any indication. The DOJ steamrolled the Constitution by persecuting the January 6 insurrectionists, for one. The federal agency is also now targeting parents who speak up against critical race theory (CRT). Pro-life activists are also finding themselves in the crosshairs of the DOJ, which seems willing to go after anyone who defies the agenda of the current regime. Too bad they couldnt censor the fact that Garland is a spineless wimp, hiding behind his bureau and getting rich ala Fauci, wrote one commenter about the matter, blasting Garland as the loser he is. Congress needs to investigate the AMA with appropriate sanctions on the table, wrote another. Stop giving them the respect they no longer deserve. Another reiterated the fact that this is all about the money as transgender mutilation is a high-profit endeavor. Back in the day, they would all have been thrown in prison, this person added about those trying to defend and push the transgender mutilation of children. The latest news about the transgender mafia can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: Infowars.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) With the sabotage and destruction of the Nord Stream Gas Pipelines moving the world closer to World War 3 this week as the globalists seemingly seek out nuclear annihilation for the planet, no other way in their minds to hit Deagels 2025 global depopulation numbers for America with people now rejecting their deadly vaxxes en masse, weve got to take a look back before we look forward in order to get a better look at just WHO is the most likely suspect in this sabotage that could lead to nuclear war. (Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) While the big question of the week as pointed out in this Daily Mail story was Who DID blow up the Nord Stream gas pipelines Russia or America?, as the top-voted comment on the story pointed out, Everyone knows the USA did this. Other leaders went along with it. I wish they would stop thinking we are all so stupid while another top-voted comment pointed out the obvious, WHY WOULD Vladimir Putin BLOW UP a PIPELINE that they ALREADY OWNED the OFF SWITCH to? Russia already OWNED the OFF switch, and did not NEED to destroy their OWN pipeline! FFS. President Biden earlier said he would END Nord Stream, if Putin Attacked Ukraine. This looks like Joe Biden told the truth, for once. With the mainstream media and politicians here in the USA even suggesting that Putin blew up his own pipeline that he could have much more easily have just TURNED OFF the absolute EPITOME of how DUMBED DOWN they think that Americans are, (and the fact that so many Americans actually believe their lies showing how many ARE so dumbed down!), even the Washington Post reported back in February of 2022 that Biden vowed to STOP a Nord Stream 2 Pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine, and we all know now how thats turned out. So before we continue this story with a deeper look at the globalists march towards global nuclear annihilation, lets take a listen to Joe Biden in the video directly below from February of this year in which he told the world of what was to come to the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine. On Friday morning, Steve Quayle linked on his website to this story from March 9th of 2021 at the website Online Columnist titled simply NORD STREAM 2 SABOTAGE COULD LEAD TO WAR which warned within it that any disruption of the then-94% completed pipeline would be taken as an act of war by Vladimir Putin and Russia, with Steve leaving an SQnote while linking to that story.: WE ARE NOW AT A FLASHPOINT FOR NUCLEAR WAR, WHICH IS IN PLAY. Arguably the closest the world has been to a full-scale nuclear war in our lifetimes, as Michael Snyder warns in this new story over at the Economic Collapse Blog, this seemingly endless cycle of retaliation now going on between the US/NATO and Russia will ultimately lead to nuclear war.: The United States and Russia both keep raising the stakes, and if we keep repeating this cycle it will end with a nuclear war that could ultimately result in billions of deaths. Unfortunately, leaders on both sides do not seem interested in peace at this point. The votes that Russia just conducted in four disputed territories were inevitably going to raise tensions even higher. Of course the western powers have been greatly escalating matters themselves. Over the past couple of months, NATO has gotten far more deeply involved in the conflict in Ukraine, and now the war is starting to spread beyond Ukrainian borders. With the destruction of the Nord Stream Pipelines clearly a part of that war Snyder speaks of and that sabotage happening at a time when Vladimir Putin is increasingly talking of using nukes in Ukraine while the Biden cabal warns Putin of unimaginable consequences for doing so, this dance of madness were now witnessing on both sides of the aisle will only have quite imaginable consequences for billions of people as in nuclear war, there will be no winners when it comes to humanity. Yet as Zero Hedge points out in this new story titled Globalists Are Marching Us Relentlessly Toward Nuclear Armageddon Warns Former Senator, according to a retired US Marine Colonel who was also a Virginia state Senator, two huge new developments are moving us closer to nuclear war. From that story.: Fears of nuclear war are increasing across the West as Russia mobilizes hundreds of thousands of troops and declares annexation of parts of Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is applying for membership in NATO. These two developments could be the most significant escalation since the wars start. Todays developments are a sobering reminder that nuclear war threats are mounting. Retired Virginia State Senator and retired Marine Col. Richard Black addressed members of the US Congress in an open letter on Tuesday about globalists are marching us relentlessly toward this nuclear Armageddon. Black pointed out: There would have been no war had we not overthrown the democratically-elected government of Ukraine by violently ousting President Yanukovych in 2014. We promoted war by flooding Ukraine with massive arms shipments afterwards. The former senator said, the US could have achieved peace by simply pressing Ukraine to implement the 2014 Minsk Peace Agreements which it had signed, establishing a clear framework for settling outstanding issues peacefully. Ukraine promised to implement the Minsk agreements, but chose instead to make war on the Donbass for the next seven years. He said NATO couldve sought peace but chose war instead. NATO had ample opportunity for peace but deliberately chose war. The US realized that, with Russias back to the wall, it would have no choice to but to attack. In 2007, US Ambassador to Russia William Burns pointedly warned that movement toward absorbing Ukraine into NATO might well trigger war between Ukraine and Russia. Nonetheless, the Obama administration overthrew the Ukrainian president and flooded in weapons, knowing that doing so would trigger war. Black said billionaire elites who have an interest in the region are making war profits even if it means gambling the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the globe. Should we annihilate the worlds population to intervene in a border war where the US has no vital national interest? the former senator asked. Black called for an immediate end to this war by making Ukraine a neutral, non-aligned state, just as we did during the Cold War with Austria in 1955. But it appears the former senators plea to avoid further conflict went unheard after Zelenskys declared intent to apply for expedited NATO membership as President Putin proclaimed the annexation of 15% of Ukraine. Based on Article 5, any acceptance of Ukraine into NATO would automatically trigger a Russia-West world war (WWIII). Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) If history is any indicator, the recent destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany was an act of sabotage by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Just a few days prior to the incident, the CIA essentially threatened Berlin under the guise of a warning, which some believe is indicative that this was a Deep State operation. It certainly would not be the first time the CIA has sabotaged crucial energy infrastructure in foreign lands. In fact, the CIA sabotaged another then-Soviet pipeline in Siberia back in 1982. Software created in the United States triggered the explosion, which was so large that it could be seen in space. Similarly, the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines was accompanied by a seismic reading that looked like a 2.3 magnitude earthquake, the suggestion being that it was detonated in some manner using a bomb or other explosives like undersea mines. At the time, the American government did not want Europe purchasing gas from the Soviet Union. Is that the same reason why the U.S. also destroyed, potentially, the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022? When the CIA doesnt get what it wants, it blows things up In 2004, the Washington Post published a piece written by David Hoffman about the 1982 incident. Then-President Ronald Reagan reportedly approved the destruction of the Siberian pipeline using covert transfers of technology that contained hidden malfunctions, including software that later triggered a huge explosion in a Siberian natural gas pipeline. That was according to a memoir written by Thomas C. Reed, a former Air Force secretary who was serving in the National Security Council at the time. It is titled At the Abyss: An Insiders History of the Cold War. The sabotaging of the Soviet pipeline in 1982 was just one example, Reed emphasized, of the U.S. Deep States cold-eyed economic warfare against the Soviet Union. William J. Casey was director of the CIA during the final years of the Cold War, and he is credited with orchestrating the sabotage that Reagan authorized. Reed explained it like this: In order to disrupt the Soviet gas supply, its hard currency earnings from the West, and the internal Russian economy, the pipeline software that was to run the pumps, turbines, and valves was programmed to go haywire, after a decent interval, to reset pump speeds and valve settings to produce pressures far beyond those acceptable to pipeline joints and welds. The end result, Reed claimed, was the most monumental non-nuclear explosion and fire ever seen from space, which was so big that it was picked up by satellites. This website contains some of the photos of the explosion site if you are interested in seeing the fallout. I trust nothing out of Washington, DC, wrote a commenter about the revelation. Always start off with the presumption that DC is lying, wrote another. All they do is lie and line their own pockets with taxpayer dollars, re-funneling money back to their own coffers. Someone else wrote that similar sabotage incidents are happening here in the U.S., including to farms, food factories and other key infrastructure that the world in its current form relies upon for sustenance. Joe Biden and his band of gender-confused idiots screwed up here, wrote another about how Gazprom, Russias state energy giant, only owns 51 percent of Nord Stream, while the other 49 percent is owned by pipeline operators in Switzerland and elsewhere. Notice neither Sweden nor Denmark wants any help from the U.S. for the investigation on this one. More related news stories can be found at Conspiracy.news. Sources for this article include: TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalNews.com DigitalPicturesIMG.Blogspot.com (Natural News) Though the agency did not come right out and say it, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released data showing that many fully vaccinated Americans are developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or some other similar immune-wasting disease. According to The Expose, the United States has seen a 338-times increase in reports of vaccine-induced AIDS (VAIDS) ever since Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines were unleashed through Operation Warp Speed. Data out of the United Kingdom similarly shows that ever since the Fauci Flu shot rollout, injected people are sicker than ever and wasting away, you might say, at warp speed. Keep in mind that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not the only virus believed to cause AIDS. Other causes of AIDS include radiation or chemotherapy, leukemia, and even malnutrition as well as drugs or medications. For months on end, official data coming out of both the UK and Canada has strongly insinuated that the vaccinated population are developing a new form of AIDS, The Expose explains. This is because the Covid-19 injections are proving to have a real-world negative effectiveness, implying that they are causing damage to the natural immune system. Triple-vaccinated most likely to develop AIDS When looking at the data, it becomes clear that the more injections a person receives, the greater his or her chances of suffering AIDS or an AIDS-like condition. The triple-jabbed, in fact, suffer the highest rates of immune wasting compared to any other demographic. Another thing worth pointing out is that even myocarditis and pericarditis, two forms of heart inflammation that are prevalent among the fully vaccinated, are autoimmune disorders that are similar to AIDS. In other words, the buffet of illnesses being reported post-injection all seem to have a common link: immune wasting, just like AIDS. People think they are boosting their immune systems with these shots, but the reality is that they are destroying them. Even some cancers are considered to be AIDS-defining. And these, too, are being reported as covid jab adverse events. Prior to Operation Warp Speed, the prevalence of AIDS-defining cancers was relatively low, but progressively increasing over time. Then in 2021, the numbers skyrocketed before dropping some in 2022. Interestingly, the number of AIDS-defining cancers reported in conjunction with other vaccines not for covid also skyrocketed in 2021 and 2022. Either this was misreported and those should be attributed to covid injections, or something happened since the start of the scamdemic to trigger a meteoric rise in AIDS-defining cancers. The average number of common cancers associated with AIDS being reported as adverse reactions to any vaccine between the years 2000 and 2020 equates to 21.3, reports explain. The total number of common cancers associated with AIDS reported as adverse reactions in 2021 was 430. This represents a 1919 percent increase. Keep in mind that very few jab-related adverse events ever even get reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The vast majority, upwards of 99 percent, never get logged and are thus not included in the official government data. Similarly, prior to the plandemic, the number of AIDS disorders reported to VAERS was modest, deviating very little from year to year. Then in 2021, they skyrocketed before dropping somewhat in 2022 to a level still far, far higher than what was reported in 2020 and prior. The average number of acquired immune disorders being reported as adverse reactions to any vaccine between the years 2000 and 2020 equates to 31, reports explain. The total number of acquired immune disorders reported as adverse reactions in 2021 was 386. This represents an 1145 percent increase. Want to learn more about the dangers and ineffectiveness of Fauci Flu shots? Check out ChemicalViolence.com. Sources include: Expose-News.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) It is a chilling thought to think of just how many people in the coming months and years are going to die because of getting vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). According to Dr. David Martin, as many as 700 million people worldwide will succumb to an early grave because of the shots, which we know flood a persons body with deadly, clot-forming spike proteins (Related: Fauci Flu shots are also causing people to go bald). Martin came up with this number after poring through data from the World Health Organizations (WHO) Decade of Vaccines vision, which was put together in collaboration with billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates, who lives to vaccinate. It was in 2011 when the WHO announced the Decade of Vaccines plan, which aims to depopulate the world by about 15 percent. That figure amounts to about 700 million people. Back in August 2021, Dr. Robert Young estimated that 500 million people worldwide had already at that time been injured by the jabs, with possibly 35 million deaths. This past August, Steve Kirsch threw out a more conservative ballpark figure of 12 million deaths from covid jabbing, based on an estimate of one death per 1,000 doses. We are killing nearly close to 10,000 people every single day, Kirsch wrote. Its going to get much worse, Martin warns That same month, Peter Halligan pieced together data suggesting that as many as 20 million people have thus far died from the shots, while a whopping 2.2 billion have suffered at least one injury. All of this suggests that things are only just getting started in terms of the fallout from these mystery injections. Assuming only 20 million people have died, we are only about three percent of the way there to the full death count. To think that hundreds of millions of people are now the walking dead meaning they could drop dead at any moment once the clots fully form in just the right spot is nothing short of disturbing. Its going to get much worse, warned Martin during an hourlong interview with USA Watchdog back in June, referring to the injections as bioweapons. It is not a coronavirus vaccine. It is a spike protein instruction manual to make the human body produce a toxin. The fact of the matter is the injections are an act of biomicroweapons and bioterrorism. They are not a public health measure. The facts are very simple. This was premeditated This was a campaign of domestic terror to get the public to accept the universal vaccine platform using a known biological weapon. That is their own words and not my interpretation. In the United States, Martin expects up to one-third of the entire population to be dead by the time this is all said and done. Anywhere from 75 million to 100 million people who took the jabs will have passed away by the time these injections run their course around 2028. There are a lot of reasons why they hope it will be between now and 2028 because there is this tiny little glitch of the illiquidity of the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs, Martin says. So, the fewer recipients of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the better. Not surprisingly, the recommendation was people over the age of 65 were the first ones to get injected. Martin also spoke about all the pilots who are suffering microvascular and clotting problems due to all their time up in the air. This is, of course, dangerous for both passengers and folks on the ground who could end up becoming the unlucky ones with an airplane through their roof. The latest news about Chinese Virus shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources include: Expose-News.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A young girl from New York is at risk of being turned into a boy, thanks to the transgender desires of her mother and the states medical industry. The girls father is trying to fight for her to remain her natural gender, but everyone else seems to want the child to have her female body parts severed or altered, as well as her female hormones obliterated, all so she can be transitioned into a male. The father of the middle-schooler, whose name is being kept private to protect the family, said he has been instructed by the court system to refer to his daughter using her new chosen male name, along with a new set of preferred pronouns. The girls mother wants her to be placed on puberty blockers immediately, which the girls father worries could stunt her development and lead to sterility. (Related: Another father has come forward with claims that the family pediatrician is now asking him if he wants to be referred to as a boy or a girl.) Childrens body parts and hormones are being destroyed based on the very same gender stereotypes that LGBTs want to eliminate From now on, the court has decided that neither parent is allowed to talk to the child about anything gender related, even though they are the childs parents. The court, in other words, has taken ownership of the child. That order has been in effect since April, which is around the time the mother started demanding full custody of the child. The courts rejected that request, however, and the couple is now seeking a divorce, this being the primary disagreement between them. The childs father has since launched a fundraiser to ask for help to keep [his] daughter a girl and stop the child from becoming surgically and chemically mutilated for life. The man said he is fully committed to fighting as hard as he can to protect his daughter from gender mutilation, while his wife indicated that she will die on this hill. When the child was much younger, her dream was to be in a pageant, the couple indicated. By the time she reached eight years old, however, the child said that girly clothes and dresses were no longer her style. I have no problem with that, the father said. Tomboys actually do still exist. The mother feels differently, though. Like many trans activists, she is of the belief that if her daughter is no longer interested in beauty pageants, then she must be a boy trapped inside a girls body. The only solution, she apparently believes, is to remove the childs breasts and transition her vagina into a fake penis. Then she will be her true self and be able to wear less-girly clothes and no more dresses. The mother apparently indoctrinated the child for more than a year, unbeknownst to the father. The mother scared her about growing breasts and bleeding from the vagina, which persuaded the pre-teen to agree to become a boy instead. So my child, scared out of her mind at 8-years-old, says I dont want that to happen. I will cut off my breasts and I want to be a boy,' the father explained about what happened. Starting in fourth grade, the child started to socially transition into a boy. She was then referred to the gender clinic at Golisano Childrens Hospital while the couple met with Daran Shipman, a marriage and family therapist who consulted them virtually. The latest news about trans insanity can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) An animal tranquilizer typically used for horses is killing thousands in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities. Xylazine, a drug known on the streets as tranq, can be lethal when mixed with heroin or fentanyl and can cause severe wounds and sores that can result in amputations. City health officials said some people are injecting the drug unwittingly, but others seek out the sedative to lengthen the high that they experience through traditional opioids. It poses a major public threat. Aside from being potentially lethal, the drug can also cause necrosis that can lead to loss of fingers, toes and limbs. If an overdose does not kill the user, it can cause their breathing to stop long enough to cause brain damage or other irreparable harm. Xylazine is sold under the brand names Rompun, Sedazine and AnaSed and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for veterinary medicine only. It is used as a sedative, analgesic and muscle relaxant for horses and cattle. In people, the drug is so powerful, it can knock out users for six to eight hours, which is far longer than most opioids. This could also put users at risk for sexual assault, robbery and other crimes. Advocates say that open sores and wounds can also delay people from getting addiction treatment because many rehab facilities do not accept those with untreated lesions. Moreover, overdose reversal drugs such as naloxone wont stop their effects Adam Al-Assad of Savage Sisters, which has been out at McPherson Park treating wounds at pop-up clinics, said they had been trying to get the attention for tranq use for a year, but there are very few who cared to listen. Tranq use has increased massively in recent years Xylazine was first detected on the streets about a year ago, but it went dormant for years before it came back. When it was first detected, it was seen in fewer than two percent of fatal overdoses from 2010 to 2015. However, a report from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health researchers showed the number rose to 31 percent in 2019. Most recently, it is showing up in 93 percent of the 625 samples tested since November 2020. Kensington, which is the epicenter of the opioid crisis in the city, is also considered the hub of the xylazine boom. In 10 jurisdictions across the U.S., its presence increased from 0.36 percent of overdose deaths in 2015 to 6.7 percent in 2020. The problem is not specifically only in Philadelphia, either. Xylazine-involved deaths were up nearly 87 percent between 2019 and 2020 in Michigan. It was involved in 19 percent of all drug overdoses in Maryland in 2021 and 10 percent in all drug overdoses in Connecticut the year before. There is a growing concern that drugs on the street especially fentanyl may now be laced with xylazine. Over 107,000 people died from drug overdoses last year, including 3,040 in Michigan. The presence of xylazine in uncontrolled substances alone can cause people to overdose and die. Xylazine was used by local drug traffickers as a cutting agent to extend their supplies of heroin and fentanyl. And because it is not a controlled substance, it can be legally purchased online which means police and drug enforcers arent making large seizures of them either. (Related: Heroin epidemic leaving a trail of dirty needles in rivers, beaches, and playgrounds.) Jamill Taylor of the Philadelphia police narcotics unit explained that the xylazine is eating people alive. It causes them to rot from the inside out. The combination of xylazine and fentanyl can put a person to sleep for hours, making it harder to determine whether or not someone is experiencing an overdose, said Shawn Westfahl, an overdose prevention coordinator with the citys only needle exchange, Prevention Point. Westfahl said he observed people becoming dependent on the xylazine-fentanyl combination as they seek out tranq dope during withdrawal, and the Kensington-based nonprofits wound clinic is now predominantly treating wounds caused by tranq in the opioid supply, where he said users are getting wounds in places where they never even injected in the first place. Visit Opioids.news for more information about dangerous drugs and their effects. Watch this video showing Kensington Ave at night. It is the epicenter of the opioid crisis in Philadelphia. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Philadelphia turns into heroin wasteland: 500,000 used syringes and piles of trash depict heroin hellscape. Major U.S. cities are becoming fentanyl-infested cesspools as millions plunge into hopelessness and despair. All the Health Rangers warnings about Big Pharma are now coming true thanks to the opioid epidemic and journalists are finally sounding the alarm. Sources include: Axios.com AddictionCenter.com FreeP.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Members of Congress are demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) explain its over-the-top arrest of Mark Houck. The Catholic pro-life leader was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in front of his wife and children at his home in Pennsylvania. Houck was charged with two counts of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which bans violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate or interfere with the right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services. He entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment in Philadelphia. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) described the FBIs arrest and treatment of Houck as chilling in a press release. His letter sought an explanation for the excessive level of force involved in Houcks arrest, and why federal law enforcement dipped its hands in a matter involving only the state and local government. The American people deserve answers, he wrote. Instead of allowing for a local resolution of the dispute, the FBI nationalized the matter by using excessive force with an early morning raid at gunpoint in front of young children. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), meanwhile, condemned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for overseeing an increasingly politicized FBI that seems to be hell-bent on making examples of average American citizens whose politics do not align with that of the Biden administration. While the Texas congressman reiterated that little is known about Houcks case, it is very well known that his home was raided by about 25 to 30 FBI agents whose guns were drawn on a father of seven. According to the DOJ, Houck allegedly shoved a man in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on Oct. 13, 2021. The pro-life activist, however, insisted that he was only defending his 12-year-old son from the mans encroachment. The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed the incident, but said no charges were filed and that Houck was not arrested. The Philadelphia district attorney also declined to press charges. However, the case caught the DOJs attention in May 2022 with the department informing Houck that he was being investigated by a grand jury for violating the FACE Act. Attorneys put in their two cents on Houcks arrest by the FBI Attorney Liz Yore weighed in on the FBIs arrest of Houck during the Sept. 30 episode of Faith and Reason on LifeSiteNews. She remarked that the raid served as payback for the Supreme Courts overturn of Roe v. Wade. Given that Houck was a pro-life counselor and devout Catholic, the FBIs raid sought to intimidate and harass the entire pro-life community. In my mind, I cannot believe that there wasnt a number of young fathers among those FBI agents who should be ashamed at what they did to those children. Unnecessarily traumatizing them, a trauma that theyre going to carry with them for the rest of their lives into adulthood, Yore said. (Related: Journalist calls FBI raid on pro-life activist act of terrorism as politicized Justice Dept. unleashed to target conservatives.) Thomas More Society (TMS) senior counsel Peter Breen, who represents Houck, condemned the arrest. He described it as an abuse of power from the Biden administration that sought to intimidate pro-life Americans. This was not a federal crime, he said. We have controlling case law on that, strong defenses, but instead, theyve taken an innocent man and made an example out of him, presumably to send a message to pro-life people and people of faith across this country. Breen also said the TMS has retained some of the best legal talents to assist in Houcks case, adding that if they can push back against the DOJ, it will help stop them from doing the same stunt to someone else. Fascism.news has more stories about the Biden administrations oppression of pro-life activists. Watch the video below for more information about Houcks arrest. This video is from the LifeSiteNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FBI raids pro-life activists home and terrorizes his kids. Leftists are angry that pregnancies might now turn into children they demand to KILL, KILL, KILL! Mazie Hirono, a Democrat senator for Hawaii, apparently wants Democrats to SHOOT pro-life advocates. Sources include: Brighteon.com NCRegister.com LifeSiteNews.com NYPost.com (Natural News) New research out of Sweden shows that people who get vaccinated with messenger RNA (mRNA) Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines end up with a severely degraded immune system in the months that follow. Not only are the fully vaccinated more prone to catching the so-called omicron (aka moronic) variant of the Chinese Virus, the study found that they also suffer an increased risk of hospitalization or death roughly a year after their second dose. This means that getting jabbed for COVID leaves a person more likely to get sick or die, not less likely like Joe Biden, Tony Fauci and others in government insist. (Related: Spike proteins from mRNA injections accumulate in the heart and brain.) After about five months post-injection, an mRNA-injected person starts to show serious signs of immune degradation. By nine months, immune capacity plunges to extreme lows, followed by negative efficacy at the one-year mark and beyond. This data provides real-world evidence of possible vaccine-caused antibody dependent enhancement,' wrote Alex Berenson on his Substack. In ADE, vaccines cause our immune systems to produce antibodies that help a virus or other pathogen to attack us. British data confirms that COVID injections have negative efficacy Berenson noted that the number of actual deaths assessed in the study during the later time periods are admittedly small, which means the findings should not be viewed as definitive. The confidence intervals, he added, widen hugely after 40 weeks. On the other hand, the findings corroborate those put together by Expose News, which has been reporting on the negative efficacy of COVID injections for quite some time now using data out of England. By all appearances, COVID injections do little, if anything, to provide protection against any kind of infection. They actually seem to damage the immune system, leaving it more prone to disease. According to Dr. Yiyi Xi, the papers lead author, more data is needed to determine with pinpoint accuracy the true risk severity of post-injection hospitalization and/or death at the one-year mark and beyond. There is also the matter of which statistical method is best for such calculations. A different one from the one used in the study, described as standard polynomial regression, found the jabs to be moderately effective against hospitalization and death, which skews the results. With standard (a.k.a. single polynomial) regression you can fit any data, if you give it enough freedom, Berenson explained, quoting an independent expert. The price for that, is that the better it fits the data you give it, the worse it will be at explaining new data, and especially so at the edges. Splines, due to the way they are built, avoid this problem and produce more sensical (hence more useful) predictive models. Another independent expert who happen[s] to believe strongly that these vaccines will have negative efficacy said that as a statistician, it would be remiss to make that claim with confidence off the back of a spline like this. So, all that to say, the Swedish study may or may not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Fauci Flu shots degrade immunity and leave a person worse off than if he had simply left his immune system alone. It does, however, add to a growing body of evidence that suggests that very thing. Sadly, I suspect for many of the deeply hypnotized, this information (assuming they ever are allowed, or allow themselves, to see it), even though I suspect it overstates any protection offered, will probably just reinforce their conviction that getting a booster every three months or so makes sense, and is the way to go, wrote one of Berensons readers. The latest news about injuries and deaths caused by Chinese Virus shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: AlexBerenson.Substack.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A television reporter and news director for KNOP-TV, an NBC affiliate station in North Platte, Nebraska, lost he job for being pro-life. In multiple interviews following her dismissal, the reporter said she has no regrets and is actually happy that she doesnt have to be silent about her beliefs any longer. Melanie Standiford, who has over 20 years of experience in the media industry, was fired on Sept. 30 for allegedly violating company policy. (Related: Journalist calls FBI raid on pro-life activist act of terrorism as politicized Justice Debt. unleashed to target conservatives.) Standiford, 50 and a mother of nine, was fired after she was quoted in a Flatwater Free Press story about her involvement in a ballot initiative to ban abortions in Curtis, Nebraska, a town of around 800 people. Curtis is one of six towns where voters will determine the fates of local abortion bans. Standiford helped collect 47 signatures for the ballot initiative at her church by manning a booth with the petition. She told Flatwater Free Press that everyone in Curtis knows about her religious affiliation and her pro-life beliefs. In her mind, the Curtis ordinance was not controversial and will be widely supported. KNOP Vice President and General Manager Shannon Booth noted that company policy encourages civic involvement among our employees, so long as such activities do not give the appearance of interfering with journalistic impartiality. In furtherance of that qualification, KNOPs news personnel are not permitted, at any time and regardless of beliefs, to actively engage in any political activity for any candidate, party or ballot initiative. Standiford doesnt regret being pro-life Standiford argued that she didnt do anything wrong. Being pro-life, she said, was never one of her soapbox issues, and her involvement in the ballot initiative consisted of sitting at a table at my church with the petition. This wasnt me saying vote this way,' she said. This wasnt me trying to influence anybody. I wasnt a journalist that day. I should at least be able to feel safe in my church and with my community without being thought of as Melanie Standiford, News 2. Regardless of how her involvement was perceived, Standiford said she doesnt regret being open about her beliefs. I have zero regrets, she said. Im sad about the situation. Im sad about my [co-workers] at KNOP. I hope everybody is nice to them. This [decision] wasnt them. Im sad that we live in a world where I cant have a personal life without it being questioned. In an interview with Jim Hale of LifeSiteNews, Standiford talked about how she has kept her political involvement silent because of her desire to uphold journalistic integrity and remain impartial. I have been silent. I have done things in the background, she said. I marched. I dont think my employers know I marched in Chicago, I marched in Washington, D.C. this year, that was never known. I am able to keep that separate. But I dont have to do that anymore. I get to stand up for whats right. I get to do what God wants us to. Standiford said she has been contacted by lawyers and is considering what to do next. She refused to sign any company paperwork acknowledging her termination, which cost her a $4,000 severance payment, but also freed her from a possible nondisclosure agreement. Ive had a lot of lawyers reach out to me and Ive had a lot of people tell me that what happened was not fair. I dont know what I am doing [legally]. I dont know. Learn more about abortion issues at Abortions.news. Watch Melanie Standifords interview with Jim Hale of LifeSiteNews as she discusses how she was fired for being pro-life. This video is from the LifeSiteNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Mazie Hirono, a Democrat senator for Hawaii, apparently wants Democrats to SHOOT pro-life advocates. Planned Parenthood banking on $50M budget to rally pro-abortion voters. Catholic priest and pro-life activists thrown in jail for three months for counseling women inside abortion clinic. Pro-life activist sued for calling abortion murder takes case to Texas Supreme Court. Op-ed: Abortion activists reveal their EVIL nature through threats and vandalism. Sources include: Brighteon.com NebraskaPublicMedia.org NPTelegraph.com (Natural News) Thats goddamn right, the man said in response to Joes comment. (Article by Kelen McBreen republished from Infowars.com) NOW Biden says no one f***s with a Biden.pic.twitter.com/U3nygCDQQ5 Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 5, 2022 While there is little context regarding the remark, it is not new for Joe to act as if he were a macho man. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson noted Biden sounded like a Mafia member. HOT MIC: No one f*cks with a Biden He sounds like hes straight out of the Mafia. How fitting for the Biden crime family. pic.twitter.com/B00yybqCJS Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 5, 2022 Biden likely sees himself as some sort of Mafia-linked badass because of his familys history with the Italian Mob. On more than one occasion, Joe has said he married Dominique Gioccappas daughter, in reference to Jill Biden. #USA Joe Biden:I may be Irish but Im not stupid. I married Dominic Giacoppos daughter(referencing the Sicilian name of Jill Bidens father,Donald Jacobs) pic.twitter.com/ol74COl5ki NiCoLeEliSei (@NiCoLeEliSei1) March 17, 2022 It appears as if Jills grandfather changed his name upon illegally entering the United States from Sicily, Italy in order to not cause suspicion as some of the Giacoppas were involved in the Mafia back in the old country. Jills mob links could even be tied to the tragic death of Joes first wife who died in a car wreck amid Jill and Joe engaging in an affair. In August, The New Yorker ran a massive piece titled, The Untold History of the Biden Family, that revealed more mob connections. According to the article, Joe Bidens father was not the working class Joe, no pun intended, that the media has portrayed. In fact, the paper reported Joe Biden Sr.s close business partner Arthur Briscoe was mobbed up, which may be why Joe grew up living in a mansion during his younger days. Frank Sheeran, known as The Irishman from the eponymous film, was a labor union boss and enforcer for Jimmy Hoffa who allegedly helped get Joe Biden elected during his first run for Senate in the 70s. According to the book, I Heard You Paint Houses, the Mafia-connected Sheeran helped Biden get elected because he was more pro-union than his GOP competitor at the time. When a local newspaper was set to publish negative press about Biden, Sheeran had his union boys form a picket line so the paper wouldnt be delivered and even went as far as setting off a bomb in a railroad car that had material that was going to be used in the printing of the newspaper. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a person who knows a great deal about the Italian Mafia, has previously compared the shady business deals of the Bidens to mob crime syndicates. I started the RICO prosecutions. Im not talking from lack of knowledge. I prosecuted, who knows, 200 Mafia members in the United States, about 800 in Italy. I prosecuted the top people on Wall Street, United States Congressmen, turned around New York City. I prosecuted the commissioners in New York City before I was the mayor of New York City, so Im not talking off the top of my hat, Giuliani told the KDKA Radio Morning Show in 2020. This is a 30 year long criminal enterprise in which Biden uses his relatives to shake people down for money. They hold the money and then they pay for Joes expenses and they give him extra money, he added. Giuliani explained this was how Joe could afford these very, very elaborate mansion-type houses on the limited salary of a senator and teacher. No ones ever known that. Well, now we know the answer to it. Sleepy Joe has been connected to Americas criminal underbelly since birth and even at the ripe old age of 79, he cant stop himself from coming off as a faux wise guy. Then again, perhaps Biden was just channeling his inner Jesus Quintana from The Big Lebowski. Read more at: Infowars.com (Natural News) As major Western powers are cutting ties with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, Saudi Arabia appears to be doing the opposite by strengthening relations with Russia. According to the Guardian, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prince Mohammed bin Salman the Saudi prime minister have a lot in common. It mentioned that both nations started wars in neighboring countries and hold significant sway over energy markets. Proof of the deepening bond between Russia and Saudi Arabia was seen last month when Saudi diplomats secured the release of international prisoners captured during the Russia-Ukraine war. Five Britons were among the captives released from Russian custody. One British official familiar with the political dynamics between Moscow and Riyadh described the move as a gift from Putin to bin Salman. Putin wanted it to happen, and he wanted it to seem as though the Saudis had achieved this through diplomacy, the official said. The publication recounted that back in 2016, bin Salman summoned British diplomats, including senior MI6 officers, to the Saudi capital for a meeting. The Saudi royal sought the United Kingdoms advice on how to deal with the Russian leader. He was fascinated by him. He seemed to admire him. He liked what he did, one of the Britons invited to the meeting told the Observer years later. Since that meeting, the prince has come to emulate Putin through his crackdown on dissent and establishment of a police state built on Arab nationalist foundations. This state was established and secured by controlling dissenters, co-opting oligarchs and consolidating a power base. Bin Salmans close ties with Putin followed four years of global fallout from his security aides assassination of journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. Now in the midst of a global comeback, the prime minister is attempting to position the oil-rich kingdom as a regional power and global mover. Putin, bin Salman share mutual dislike of Joe Biden The leaders of Russia and Saudi Arabia also appeared to share a mutual dislike of U.S. President Joe Biden. The American leader previously called other nations to ostracize the two countries Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis murder, and Russia over its attack on Ukraine. The energy-related ties between Riyadh and Moscow were further bolstered during an Oct. 5 OPEC+ meeting in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Both countries appear likely to slash global supply by one million to two million barrels per day, resulting in a hike in oil prices. The decision to slash oil production is definitely bad news for Biden, who has been trying to convince the kingdom to increase petroleum output and lower prices. During a visit to the city of Jeddah last summer, he tried to request bin Salman to increase oil production to no avail. Biden finds himself staring down a partner in the Middle East as the extent of the supply crisis becomes apparent, the Guardian pointed out. Biden walked away empty-handed and, as a result, faces the uncomfortable prospect of taking high Bowser prices to midterm elections. Perhaps more importantly for the U.S. president, a rise in oil prices could be seen as helping fund Putins war effort. (Related: Alex Jones: Bidens policies are the direct cause of oil price hikes.) The British official familiar with the prisoners release commented on the Moscow-Riyadh connection. Putin sees this as New World Order stuff, and thinks he can bring [bin Salman] along with him. [Bin Salman] knows the optics of being seen to help out Putin, but he doesnt care. Neither are progressive liberals; they see leadership through the same lens, the British official said. The Saudis sit on a very powerful asset in oil, which still has a strategic role to play. Watch this video about Saudi Arabia and Russia joining forces against U.S. President Joe Biden. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: OPEC+ cuts oil production by 100K barrels per day amid dropping oil prices, stoking fears of global recession. China bank collapse under way; Saudi Arabia distances from the petro dollar to join BRICS monetary order. Saudi Arabia, China initiating plan to create petroyuan and bring an end to the petrodollar. Russia and Iran are cementing an alliance amid global sanctions. Saudi Arabia may increase oil prices amid Russia-Ukraine war. Sources include: TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Scientists have found new evidence indicating there could be liquid water on Mars, which is a major breakthrough in the search for life there. The University of Cambridge-led study provided the first independent evidence that uses data aside from radar that there is liquid water beneath the south polar ice cap of the Red Planet. This study gives the best indication yet that there is liquid water on Mars today because it means that two of the key pieces of evidence we would look for when searching for subglacial lakes on Earth have now been found on Mars, said Dr. Frances Butcher, second author of the study from the University of Sheffield. Liquid water is an essential ingredient for life, although it does not necessarily mean that life exists on Mars. In order to be liquid at such cold temperatures, the water beneath the south pole might need to be really salty, which would make it difficult for any microbial life to inhabit it. However, it does give hope that there were more habitable environments in the past when the climate was less unforgiving, Butcher added. The international research team, which also involved scientists from the University of Nantes and University College Dublin, used spacecraft laser-altimeter measurements of the shape of the upper surface of the ice cap to identify subtle patterns in its height. The researchers then showed that these patterns match computer model predictions for how a body of water below the ice cap would affect the surface. Mars, just like Earth, has deep water ice caps at both of its poles, which are almost equal in combined volume to the Greenland ice sheet. But unlike Earths ice sheets, which have huge subglacial lakes and water channels beneath them, Mars polar ice caps Mars polar ice caps are likely frozen solid all the way to their bedrock because of frigid climate. Temperatures on Mars is about -81 degrees Fahrenheit on average and can drop as low as -220 degrees Fahrenheit in winter at the poles. Study findings support radar measurements suggesting presence of water beneath the ice on Mars The researchers findings, published on September 29 in the journal Nature Astronomy, agree with previous ice-penetrating radar measurements suggesting a potential area of liquid water beneath the ice. The combination of the new topographic evidence, our computer model results and the radar data make it much more likely that at least one area of subglacial liquid water exists on Mars today, and that Mars must still be geothermally active in order to keep the water beneath the ice cap liquid, said research head Neil Arnold of Cambridges Scott Polar Research Institute. The team used a broad range of techniques to analyze data from the Mars Global Surveyor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The satellite focuses on the surface terrain of Mars south polar ice cap where the radar signal was detected. The study showed 10- to 15-kilometer-long surface undulations comprising a depression and a corresponding raised area, both of which deviate from the surrounding ice surface by several meters. This is similar in scale to undulations over subglacial lakes on Earth. Scientists then tested if the undulations on the ices surface could be explained by liquid water at the bed. They then ran computer simulations of ice flow that were adapted to the specific conditions of Mars. Next, they inserted a patch of reduced bed friction in the simulated ice sheet bed where water, if present, would allow the ice to slide and speed up. Their experiments generated undulations on the simulated ice surface that are similar in size and shape to those the team observed on the real ice cap surface. The similarity between the undulations produced by computer model and the actual spacecraft observations suggest that theres an accumulation of liquid water underneath Mars south polar ice cap. The quality of data coming back from Mars, from orbital satellites as well as from the landers, is such that we can use it to answer really difficult questions about conditions on and even under the planets surface, using the same techniques we also use on Earth. Its exciting to use these techniques to find out things about planets other than our own, said Arnold. Follow Space.news for more stories like this. Watch this video about the water discovery that proves there is life on Mars. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Study shows gullies on Mars southern hemisphere. Glaciers on Mars could help astronauts survive on the planet. Astronomers may have discovered multiple underground lakes on Mars. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Nature.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Equality Minister Irene Montero of Spain recently claimed that children can consent to sex, justifying it as part of their recognized rights. Montero made the remarks during a Sept. 21 hearing of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Spains parliament. The hearing touched on provisions in a proposed abortion law that deal with sex education programs, including material about consent, according to the Associated Press (AP). Every boy, girl [and] trans child in this country has the right to know their own body [and] to know that no adult can touch their body if they dont want to, she said. If they do, then that is a form of violence. They have the right to know that they can love and have sexual relations with anyone that they want, based on mutual consent. These are recognized rights. Many took to social media to express concerns about Monteros remarks. Spanish writer Juan Manuel Prada noted how the equality ministers beliefs lead to a slippery slope that normalizes pedophilia. (Related: LGBT education pack features six-year-old engaging in sexual activity, as pedophilia becomes normalized.) He posted this question: If she decides that small children can choose their own sexual identity and decide about mutilation of their body through a sex change, then why shouldnt they have the right to decide with who they want to have sexual intercourse? Italian priest Fr. Fortunato di Noto, meanwhile, noted that Montero is echoing the talking points of pedophiles and their advocates. These child abusers have rebranded themselves as minor-attracted persons (MAPs) in recent years. Montero now on the defensive after her comments went viral The Spanish equality minister then issued clarifications about her Sept. 21 remarks after they went viral on social media. Monteros comments make clear that she said unwanted sexual contact between children and adults amounts to violence. She did not say that sexual contact between those groups should be allowed, or would be considered a right, the AP said in a fact-check piece. Manel Ros, spokesman for Montero, decried claims of the minister advocating for sex between children and adults as totally false in a Spanish WhatsApp message. Spanish State Secretary for Equality Angela Rodriguez defended Monteros remarks during a Sept. 27 appearance before the countrys parliament. She dismissed critics of the equality minister as against improving sex education programs and advancing womens rights. It is not a new tool of the extreme right to use the framework of pedophilia to exercise political violence against women who defend feminism, said Rodriguez. The equality ministers remarks were similar to statements made by Allyn Walker, a former assistant professor at Old Dominion University (ODU) in the U.S. state of Virginia. Walker, a female-to-male (FTM) transgender, wrote in his book A Long Dark Shadow: Minor Attracted People and their Pursuit of Dignity that the behavior of MAPs can be moral. Walker explained the books main idea during a livestream, saying: Non-offending MAPs, by definition, do not abuse children so their behaviors are more. But theyre still being subjected to this same idea that theyre bad people. A lot of people, when they hear the term pedophile, they automatically assume it means a sex offender. Thats not true, and it leads to a lot of misconceptions about attractions toward minors. The former ODU faculty member remarked that stigma against MAPs is a problem because it makes MAPs think that theyre monsters. Shane Trejo, writing for Big League Politics, had a different view of what is happening. It will not be long before pedophilia is legalized on the current trajectory, he wrote. Drastic changes are needed with swift and public justice applied to the sodomites for society to be redeemed. Watch this video to know more about Spanish Equality Minister Irene Monteros Sept. 21 remarks. This video is from the channel Cynthias Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Transgender HHS nominee Rachel Levine wants babies to get sex changes without parental consent. Indoctrinating children with leftist transgender dogma is child abuse and sexual assault against minors. Sexual predators use same grooming tactics on victims as those now being taught to children at public schools. Yale is grooming children as young as THREE promoting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, gender reassignment. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com APNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In case you missed it, crisis pregnancy centers all across America are being firebombed by pro-abortion terrorists who are livid over the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade. And the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is refusing to investigate or press charges. Even in cases where the suspects are clearly identified, the FBI is not going after them. At the same time, the FBI continues to aggressively persecute those involved in the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol building back in 2021. Not only is the FBI refusing to prosecute radical pro-abortion terrorists, but it is also vilifying their targets. I know it sounds dystopian, but thats exactly whats happening, explained Rev. James Harden, president and CEO of CompassCare Pregnancy Services in Buffalo, N.Y., one of the crisis pregnancy centers targeted in recent months, to Fox News Tucker Carlson. Were facing, essentially, a moral hurricane in our country. The FBI has gone from abdicating their duty to provide equal justice under the law to pro-life people like us, to downright attacking us. (Related: Check out the interactive map tool that abortion fanatics used to target crisis pregnancy centers all across the country.) Is the FBI responsible for committing terrorist attacks against crisis pregnancy centers? As of this writing, there have been more than 70 attacks on crisis pregnancy centers post-reversal of Roe v. Wade. That is a lot of clinics that experienced interrupted or halted service, leaving pregnant women looking for pro-life answers with fewer resources. So far, not a single terrorist attacker has been arrested by the FBI, which Harden finds deplorable. I mean, look, its naive to think that the largest law enforcement agency on the globe, with the best forensic technology known to man, doesnt know any, not a single person who is engaging in these attacks, he said. If its not the FBI doing it, they certainly know who it is and theyre choosing not to make arrests. Notice that Harden left open the possibility that the FBI itself is behind this spate of attacks, which makes perfect sense since the agency does not want to touch any of the terrorism cases. Janes Revenge is the abortion terrorist group, a pro-abortion terrorist group thats taken responsibility for these attacks and theyre getting a pass, Harden added about another group that we know was involved based on self-admission. A pass. According to Harden, Janes Revenge is basically the Democratic Partys new KKK, except instead of targeting black people it is targeting women who want their unborn babies to live as opposed to being shredded and ripped apart to feed Planned Parenthoods profit streams. The new cross in their front yard is burning down pregnancy centers, Harden said. But instead of denigrating the personhood of black people, theyre denigrating the personhood of preborn boys and girls and anybody who seeks to stand up for them. CompassCare reportedly filed a lawsuit against the local police department in Amherst, N.Y., for refusing to hand over video footage of the attackers. What are they trying to hide, we wonder? The excuse provided for why the footage was not released was, get this: it could inspire right-wing terrorism. In other words, showing the public who is responsible for this flagrant act of left-wing terrorism cannot be allowed because it might cause the right wing to retaliate. The town attorney representing the police department went so far as to say, to characterize pro-life people supporting us as AK-47 gun-toting people going around bombing and killing people, Harden added. Theyre vilifying us. If abortion-related news content interests you, more of it is available at Abortions.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com EOS Data Analytics and Greenpeace organized the webinar about practical applications of satellite imagery analytics for environmental monitoring, social initiatives, and sustainable agriculture. EOS Data Analytics, a global provider of AI-powered satellite imagery analytics, jointly with Greenpeace Global Mapping Hub, held a webinar on leveraging satellite-based technology and advanced imagery analytics in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and social and environmental projects worldwide. The event took place on October 4, 2022. As the use cases could be united around the ideas of improved resource management, resource availability to communities for meeting their needs, and ecological integrity, the speakers considered them in the sustainability context. The presenters from EOSDA briefly discussed the company's operations, sustainability commitment, Academic Outreach Program, recent social projects, and product portfolio. The Greenpeace Global Mapping Hub specialist explained how their team uses EOSDA LandViewer to monitor forest land use changes in Argentina. The presentation ended with an overview of the EOS SAT agri-focused satellite constellation, whose first satellite will get into orbit in 2022. (Webinar recording: Satellite tech use cases in environmental monitoring, social initiatives, and the agricultural sector. Video: EOS Data Analytics) "The interest for precision farming among the industry players is driven by their intention to withstand competition amid increasing risks of crop failure caused by climate change-related weather extremes and ever-growing food demand. Since precision farming also focuses on improving resource use and minimizing the harmful impact of agriculture on the environment, we see how the industry is transforming via the adoption of related technologies," says Rim Elijah, VP of Sales at EOS Data Analytics. EOSDA, the expert in satellite-based remote sensing and advanced data analysis, develops software and services to help customers automate and streamline operations and answer critical questions, which can eventually lead to an improved bottom line and reduced environmental footprint. The company's activities (product development, provided services, and non-commercial projects) align with nine out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals introduced by the United Nations. For example, life on land, climate action, responsible production and consumption, sustainable cities and communities, or ending hunger. One of the first non-commercial initiatives was a participatory mapping project in Chad for indigenous communities who have been suffering the consequences of climate change - shrinking water and land - for decades. "Regular people can't reverse major environmental changes but can negotiate and find a compromise co-sharing natural resources. That's the idea of the project to which we contributed. Our GIS specialists made a satellite-image-based map of areas with disputed resources, and the community members annotated it with natural and artificial objects crucial for everyday life. The map supplemented the agreement on who, when, and how can use land and water resources. Leaders of 116 communities from 23 villages joined the project," said Vera Petryk, Chief Marketing Officer at EOS Data Analytics. Vera Petryk also told the attendees about the EOSDA Academic Outreach Program. It entails providing access to EOSDA LandViewer and EOSDA Crop Monitoring tools to students, scientists, and researchers working on environment-related issues. The Campaign Researcher for Greenpeace, Andino Sergio Domingo described how their team uses EOSDA LandViewer to monitor land use changes in Argentina's Chaco Forest, stretching along three provinces. EOSDA LandViewer is an online GIS assistant for searching and processing satellite images. "A National Forest Law prohibits lumbering in these areas adopted at the end of 2007. Despite legal protection, these lands account for nearly 80% of total deforestation in the country. Our task is to monitor monthly changes in land use, go to places to expose violations, document them in reports and maps, and share the information to the public via press and social media. Thanks to EOSDA LandViewer, we can respond very rapidly to spotted violations," says Sergio Domingo. EOSDA's Strategic Partnerships Lead Brijesh Thoppil introduced EOS SAT - the world's first agri-focused satellite constellation among companies utilizing remote sensing technologies. The seven-satellite swarm will fly in Low Earth orbit generating imagery of farmlands and forestlands for further processing and extracting valuable information about their state. EOS SAT technology will help customers shift to sustainable agriculture practices without financial losses: optimize energy, water, and fuel use and introduce a variable application of inputs to maintain soil health while increasing yields. A naturalist from Costa Rica who was exploring the new shrill calls he heard discovered a new species of tree frog. The tiny, mostly green tapir valley tree frog, or Tlalocohyla celeste, has red spots and blue armpits. The frog was first described in a recent paper published in the journal Zootaxa. Unique Shrill Call Donald Varela Soto, the co-owner of Tapir Valley Nature Reserve, became curious when he first heard the weird shrill calls that came from a frog. Soto, the lead author of the study, said that Country boys are familiar with sounds, and because he was raised in the country, he spent his childhood exploring the forests and learning to recognize different tree, bird, and frog species. He listened to this tiny frog, but it was so well hidden that he had a hard time finding it. Soto was overjoyed when he discovered it because, for six months after first hearing the strange shrill call, he had been searching for the frog making it. About four years ago, while he was working near a pond following the first significant rainfall of the year, he heard the frog for the very first time. He had to discover the source of the noise because it was so distinct. Valeria Espinall, a biologist who helped spot the frog, said that In the wetland at night, there are about 16 different frog species that all have distinctive calls, so Soto started listening and observing them. A particular shrill call seemed to be present in great quantities. When Donald turned around to look, he saw the same tiny green frog. Tapir Valley Tree Frog (Tlalocohyla celeste) celeste New Tiny Green Frog Is First Spotted in Costa Rica https://t.co/wZW886UL0D ehehe_he (@ehehe__he) October 6, 2022 The frog, which only measured two centimeters long, was virtually invisible because it was so well concealed in the tall grasses. Its main color was green, and its features included red spots, blue armpits, and a yellow line that partially ran down its sides. Read also: Some Female Frogs Have Noise-Erasing Lungs to Restrain Calls Of Other Species Stalking Frogs at 4 AM Tadpoles, which help identify the genus, were sought after by researchers to determine how distinct the species was from other related frogs. They can describe the entire life cycle and learn what habitat the frog needs to survive by finding tadpoles. They were unsure which species belonged to the new frog since there were so many others in the wetland. Finding frogs in the amplexus, or the position where they are mating, and then following the female until she lays her eggs, is the best way to be certain. Months of nighttime searching failed to turn up the frogs in their mating embrace. They decided to search for them early the next morning. Juan Abarca, a herpetologist, said that one day, instead of leaving at dusk, as usual, they left as early as 4 AM to see if they were lucky. Just as dawn was breaking, they found the first amplexus ever recorded for that species, and, to their great luck, they were just about to lay their eggs. They were overjoyed by their discovery because it allowed them to confirm the process of egg-laying. Hiding in Plain Sight The frog was discovered in a former cattle ranch that had suffered from extensive cattle activity and deforestation. It was converted into a nature reserve by Soto and his fellow owners. According to Espinall, Soto intended to remove all the cows and restore the original landscape to create a popular destination for ecotourism without realizing a new species was present nearby, Treehugger reported. Related article: Experts Discovered New Species Aptly Named 'Chocolate' Tree Frog Recent weather forecasts revealed that potential tropical cyclone 13 could cause heavy rainfall and tropical storm conditions in parts of Central America. Affected communities and residents are advised to prepare for the storm's impact, especially in coastal areas. Based on the current weather update Advisory 2 on October 6, 2022 (5:00 p.m AST, Thursday), the National Hurricane Center reported that heavy rains, mudslides, and possible flash flooding should be expected in Central Central America this weekend. Parts of Nicaragua and Honduras must look into the program of the tropical system, noting the need for additional warnings of watches on Friday. Weather advisory 5pm AST Thursday, Oct. 6 Key Messages for Potential Tropical Cyclone 13 (#PTC13). A Hurricane Watch is in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. Interests in Nicaragua & Honduras should also monitor closely. Latest Advisory: https://t.co/UIMP4fruyi pic.twitter.com/zcC2xr1RL4 National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 6, 2022 Furthermore, the advisory said the heavy rainfall could result in life-threatening flooding in the next day or two in areas of Curacao, Bonaire, the island chain of Aruba, northern Venezuela, and the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia. The report added that the system would strengthen as it reached the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Forecasts noted that the brewing tropical system could likely reach a Hurricane level. Hurricane Watch announcements are in Santa Catalina Islands, San Andres, and Providencia. Moreover, a recent tweet from the National Hurricane Center posted that tropical storm conditions were set over the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia this morning, with tropical storm conditions present, and Tropical Storm Warning was issued. At the same time, parts of ABC Islands and Northern South America should expect heavy rains today and through Friday. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center said the remnants of tropical depression 12 dissipated, located 700 miles ( over west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands). Also Read: Pine Island Started Cleanup and Clearing for Hurricane Ian's Aftermath On the other hand, reports of gusts to tropical force could unleash early Friday over Bonaire, Aruba, Venezuela, and Curacao. Furthermore, the recent weather update from AccuWeather on October 7, 2022 (11:15 a.m PHT), the report said that the tropical storm was forecasted in the south-central of the Caribbean Sea with a potential to strengthen into a hurricane before hitting Central America. AccuWeather explained that with the steering breezes in the high-pressure area of the north, the tropical system would move westward or northwestward into Central America, noting that places in Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, and southeastern Mexico must prepare for the impact of the weather. Hurricane preparations Hurricane warnings are in effect in affected areas. The question of how rapidly the tropical system would strengthen is a question for meteorologists; however, reports revealed that it would intensify in the coming week with potentially life-threatening flooding, flash floods, mudslides, and heavy rainfall. Preparations are essential to prevent possible damages or injuries. Here are some reminders before the storm hits your area. Track the development or progress of the storm by staying updated with the current weather and news announcements. Be on high alert if you live near the coastal areas. Reinforce your home by repairing the damage that could worsen when the storm lands. Fully charge mobile devices because hurricanes and storms can damage power lines resulting in power interruptions or outages. Immediately evacuate when the sea water rises due to heavy rainfall or as per the advice of your local authorities. Avoid outdoor activities as the eye of the storm makes landfall. Related Article:Forecasts Monitor Tropical Disturbance in the Caribbean With Potential of Heavy Rainfall For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. According to the weather forecast, Western United States would feel cooler air starting Monday, with a potential of snow in some areas. Warmth to challenging nearly-high record temperatures persisted in some parts of the United States. In California, the hot weather to the extreme heat wave affected the power distribution to residents, which encouraged them to conserve electrical power. The coming cooler air would help residents in the Western U.S., which could extend up to the east to alleviate the warm-to-hot temperature. In the recent weather update from AccuWeather on October 7, Storm Warning Meteorologist Matthew Massey explained that a strong area of low pressure would help feel a taste of fall to the Northwest. The report noted that it would be windy conditions and lower temperatures. Snow could be possible for higher elevations. The weather website report also added the following: Western Montana, in higher elevations, would see snowflakes fall on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, part of western Colorado in the highest part would feel snowflakes. The possibility of snow would move southward on Tuesday night. Yellowstone National Park would see light snow accumulation on snow levels from 7,000 feet to 8,500 feet. While parts of the western U.S. would have cold air temperatures, Pacific Northwest would feel the unseasonable warmth, and the warm to hot temperature would feel like summer even if it is now in October. AccuWeather reported that the warm stretch would reach near-record highs, reduce air quality and be mainly dry. Meanwhile, an update to the current developments in Florida showed that a bridge was also constructed in Pine Islands to help reconnect and deliver basic supplies to affected communities. Residents slowly return to their homes. Disaster relief supports have been continuing to help people affected by Hurricane Ian. Also Read: Pine Island Started Cleanup and Clearing for Hurricane Ian's Aftermath Warm to hot temperature Although the weather would feel snowy in the western U.S and give them a taste of fall, people living in areas with recorded warm to hot temperatures must be wary of the effects on health. Record-challenging heat could threaten health, causing heat fatigue, exhaustion, or stroke. Look for cooling places or go to areas with cool weather. Avoid outdoor activities during the height of the heat. Turn on the air conditioning, but makes sure to conserve electricity. Very important to drink plenty of water. Report or go to the nearest hospital for heat-related health risks. Brewing tropical system in Central America Forecasts said that parts of Central America would feel the impact of Tropical System 13 which has the potential to become a hurricane. According to the recent advisory of the National Hurricane Center, parts of Providencia, San Andres, and Santa Catalina Islands have Hurricane Watches in effect, resulting in potential heavy rainfall and flooding this weekend. Moreover, parts of Bonaire, Venezuela, Aruba, and Curacao would experience the gusts of tropical storm force in the said areas. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect Guajira Peninsula of Colombia. The report also added that the storm's impact would not impact the United States. Also Read: Forecasts Monitor Tropical Disturbance in the Caribbean With Potential of Heavy Rainfall For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued 57 flood warnings across New South Wales this morning, extending from the far north to the Victoria border, as well as warnings about possible tornadoes. Three states bracing for wild conditions It comes after Sydney officially had its wettest year on record yesterday, with 91mm of rain pouring over the city beginning at 9 a.m, as per 9News. Today, three states are in the crosshairs of the big wet, with southeast Queensland and Victoria bracing for storms and probable flooding as well. More heavy rain is expected to fall in NSW starting late today, according to SES spokesman Jason Simms, who also confirmed the service is on alert for potential tornadoes. It comes on the heels of a marine wind warning. "The SES has preemptively sent workers to various sections of the state inside the possible damaged area," Simms told 9News. Today, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a strong wind warning for the Macquarie, Hunter, and Sydney coasts, as well as the Illawarra, Batemans, and Eden coasts. Tomorrow, the Sydney Enclosed Waters, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Batemans Coast, and Eden Coast will be included. A trough and a cold front are across the state, generating a low-pressure system. NSW Minister for Emergency Services Steph Cooke has warned that Saturday will be a "danger day" for Sydney and its environs. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued dozens of flood warnings for rivers around the state, and residents in impacted regions are encouraged to prepare immediately - before the rain increases. The SES has issued 14 watches and act notices across the state, with the central and northwestern regions bearing the brunt of the flood risk. The Darling River in Bourke is expected to reach a moderate flood level (11.40 meters) on October 12 to 14 according to the SES. The river level might reach 12.00 meters by late October, with further surges possible. The outback town saw its wettest October day in 67 years, with 45.4mm falling. According to Weatherzone, the unpredictable weather is coming to an end. Also Read: Australia Weather Update: BoM Forecasts Continuance of Cold Front Into the Weekend More wet weather for soaked east coast Over the last two weeks, major flooding has been occurring on numerous inland rivers, and the current rain has added to the already overflowing situation, as per ABC News. There are still warnings in effect for locations like the Namoi, the Macquarie, the Bogan, the Lachlan, and down to the Murray River, according to Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How. The rivers have already begun to rise, and more rain is predicted in the Sydney area over the next several days. "We are now anticipating mild to moderate flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean regions," Mr. How said. River levels are predicted to be lower than they were during the disastrous storms earlier this year. Over the east, the atmosphere remains wet. Moisture has been rushing down the nation from both sides, forming a massive pool over eastern Australia. This moisture is caused by the negative Indian Ocean Dipole, which encourages warm seas in the northwest, and the third La Nia in a row, which brings warm waters to the northeast. One of the key things driving this rain is the moisture that has been lying over the east of the country for quite some time, according to Mr. How. Meanwhile, in the north, preparations are ongoing, with areas of the Cape and the Top End now suffering mild to severe heatwave conditions. With all of the overcast, temperatures in the south and east are forecast to be two to five degrees below average, with some regions beneath denser cover dropping to as low as 14 degrees below the October average. Unfortunately, the cold is anticipated to last throughout next week. Make the most of the sun on Monday and Tuesday, since Mr. How has warned that another bout of rain is due mid-week. Related article: Cold Weather to Bring Blast of Snowfall, Damaging Winds, and Freezing Temperatures in Tasmania This Weekend Unborn newborns' lungs and brains have been shown to contain toxic air pollution particles. Particles that women breathe into their developing fetuses can have long-lasting effects on them. Extremely Alarming Before a baby takes its first breath, toxic air pollution particles have been discovered in the lungs, livers, and brains of unborn children. Since the fetal stage of development is the most susceptible, researchers said their "groundbreaking" finding was "extremely alarming." Each cubic millimeter of tissue contained thousands of black carbon particles, inhaled by the mother during pregnancy and transferred to the fetus via the placenta and circulation. It was already well recognized that there was a direct link between dirty air and a rise in miscarriages, preterm births, low birth weights, and problems with brain development. However, the current study offers concrete proof of how such injury may occur. According to scientists, pollution may have long-term impacts on one's health. Also Read: Exposure to Pollutant May Alter There Gut Microorganisms and Make Infants More Prone to Diseases and Hinder Brain Development Harmful Particles The particles carry hazardous compounds and induce inflammation in the body since they are formed of soot from burning fossil fuels in companies, residences, and automobiles. In Scotland and Belgium, two countries with low levels of air pollution, the study was done with moms who did not smoke. According to Professor Paul Fowler of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, "We have demonstrated for the first time that black carbon nanoparticles not only enter into the first and second trimester placenta but also make their way into the organs of the growing fetus." Even more concerning, according to him, is that these particles enter the growing human brain. This indicated that these nanoparticles may directly interact with regulatory mechanisms in the organs and cells of the human fetus. "Air quality control should notice this [air pollution] transfer during gestation and intervene to preserve the most sensitive periods of human development," said Prof. Tim Nawrot of Hasselt University in Belgium, who co-led the study. He claimed that governments are in charge of reducing air pollution, but citizens should stay away from congested highways wherever feasible. 2018 saw the first time air pollution particles were found in placentas, thanks to Professor Jonathan Grigg and his team at Queen Mary University of London. The latest study, he added, "is extremely impressive; they have firmly demonstrated that the particles then enter the fetuses. Possible Long-Term Effects According to Grigg, particles entering the brains of fetuses raise the stakes since they may have long-term effects on the kid. It's concerning, but we don't yet understand what occurs when the particles settle in different places and gradually release their compounds, necessitating more study. According to a thorough worldwide analysis published in 2019, practically every organ and cell in the human body may be harmed by air pollution. Young city residents' hearts were found to contain billions of tiny particles that have been found to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Over 90% of people on earth reside in regions with air pollution levels that exceed WHO recommendations, which results in millions of preventable deaths each year. Unfortunate Findings Air pollution particles were discovered in every sample of lung, liver, and brain tissue that was analyzed, as well as in umbilical cord blood and placentas, according to the latest study published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health. Compared to the other participants in the research, the mother's particle concentration was greater when she resided in an area with higher levels of air pollution. The 36 fetuses investigated in the Scottish portion of the research were born into typically developing pregnancies terminated voluntarily at seven to 20 weeks gestation. The scientists stated that the results are particularly troubling because the development of organs depends on this exposure window. After 60 healthy newborns, cord blood samples were collected in Belgium. Related Article: Air Pollution Reportedly Causes Heart Attacks to Non-Smokers For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! As Canada's drought dries up the river, thousands of dead fish are discovered, with around 65,000 dead fish washing up on the creek due to a lack of rain on the western beaches. New Victim of the Dreaded Drought This is Neekas, Heiltsuk Territory. All of these salmon went into the creek, the creek dried up b/c of no rain so far this fall, and just died, and this is just one reach! Global warming is killing everything. This is such a sad scene. Video credit, Sarah Mund pic.twitter.com/vYhEKwD5mN William Housty (@WilliamHousty) October 4, 2022 The newest victim of the drought gripped British Columbia for more than a month and left communities preparing for further destruction are tens of thousands of dead wild fish littered along a stream bed, according to The Guardian. Pink and chum salmon corpses are seen stacked up nearby Bella Bella in a video footage shared on social media. To witness this happen is really tragic. Not just in the Heiltsuk area but worldwide, river levels are currently low. William Housty, conservation manager for the Heiltsuk Nation, told The Guardian that the current drought affects the whole coast. Pre-spawn mortality is something they observe every year, however, never to this extent. Also Read: Thousands of Dead Fish Creates Rancid Mess in Oakland Dire Footage The footage was captured last week by German researcher Sarah Mund, who accompanied a team on a stream walk to assess the size and health of returning salmon populations. Wild salmon often wait for rainfall as their cue to go up creeks and rivers since it means that the water levels will rise and make it easier to access natal streams. Housty claimed that 10 days ago, a light afternoon shower and a high tide gave the salmon a false signal to start. The creek dried up when there was no more rain, leaving the fish stranded. Little to No Rain In more than a month, there has only been one afternoon of rain, he claimed. "I believe many of those fish would have been holding and waiting in the ocean if it weren't for the rain and tide. They haven't had enough time to get used to the drought's realities." More than 70% of the dead fish on the stream bed, according to one biologist's estimate, did not spawn. Wild Pacific salmon must always perish after ascending rocky rivers and streams because of their life cycle. But the forest gains important nutrients when scavenger bears, wolves, and birds devour and disseminate their remnants. According to Housty, the fatalities occurred when the neighborhood felt upbeat about the revival of the pink and chum populations. Healthy chum populations have traditionally resided in the Heiltsuk coaster waters, but recent years have seen a drop in those populations as part of a larger decline in wild salmon. "It breaks my heart to witness this," according to Housty. "It truly seemed like we were turning the corner in their recovery." Worsening Situation Since there hasn't been any rain on British Columbia's western shores in the last five weeks, there are numerous areas at stage four of the drought, which the province believes will likely impact society and the environment. "It's something we need to watch closely," Housty remarked. He is hoping this is an uncommon occurrence. But to prevent something similar from happening again, they must be ready to assist the salmon whenever they can. Related Article: Megadrought in the American Southwest May Just Be One of the Worst Climate Disasters in 1,200 Years Related Article: New Pandemic in Slow Motion: UN Reports Severe Drought Might be the Next Global Crisis For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! The 138-year-old lighthouse made it through Hurricane Ian, but not without damage. The historic structure is still intact despite the devastation caused by the Category 4 hurricane, which destroyed hundreds of buildings throughout Sanibel Island. Hurricane Ian vs Sanibel Island Lighthouse The ancient Sanibel Island Lighthouse has survived several hurricanes, but Hurricane Ian tested the skeletal lighthouse's strength, according to AccuWeather. On September 28, a powerful Category 4 storm slammed across the region, destroying innumerable structures and shutting off the island from the mainland by bringing down the causeway. The home where the lighthouse keepers lived until 1949 at the island's easternmost tip was nowhere to be found in pictures taken after the storm. But the 98-foot lighthouse was still standing. Also Read: "Like a War Zone," Survivors Described Situation After Hurricane Ian Ravaged Areas in Florida Surviving Countless Disasters The Sanibel Island Lighthouse was established on August 20, 1884, and it was designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, along with its habitations. On the Gulf Coast and north of the Florida Keys, it was one of the first iron lighthouses to keep watch. As for hurricanes, the lighthouse has endured them all, including Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. According to the city, since 1873, at least 20 hurricanes have passed within 75 miles of Sanibel Island, posing a serious threat to life and property on the island. Ian was the most recent storm to hit the island and put the lighthouse in danger. However, it doesn't mean the lighthouse escaped the hurricane undamaged. Ian's fierce winds and huge storm surge tore free one of the 138-year-old building's legs. How is the Historic Lighthouse? On Friday, images from the Lighthouse Digest Magazine were released on Facebook, exhibiting the lighthouse before and after pictures. Trees framed the lighthouse, and the keepers' home is on each side in the picture from before Ian. The sand coast neatly empties into the ocean. But without Ian, the lighthouse stands by itself. Due to erosion brought on by Ian, even the trees that formerly surrounded it were torn away, and the coastline has retreated toward the base. The magazine said there is also some minor damage to the tower over Facebook, adding that the building may be in danger of collapsing. "Look closely, and you will notice that the bottom of one of the support legs is gone, and erosion under the other legs puts the lighthouse in a precarious position," the magazine said. Just How Strong was Hurricane Ian? Hurricane Ian impacted the West Florida coast in Fort Myers, resulting in extensive damage, flooding, and power outages. Ian was a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale when it made landfall near the outlying island of Cayo Costa, with winds reaching 150 mph. On September 28, when a maximum of two million people were without power in the state, a storm surge in the area peaked at 12 feet. The hurricane was still moving over the state on September 29 in the morning, although it had been reduced the night before to a category 1 storm and was now only a tropical storm as of five in the morning, September 29, local time. Not long after, Ian dissipated. Related Article: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems For more climate and weather updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Damage from scallop dredging on Scotland's "protected" bottom is seen on video. Campaigners claim that the marine protected area created to safeguard the UK's sole fan mussels is nothing more than a "paper park." Uncovering Footage According to a new underwater film captured by Scottish environmental activists, in "marine protected areas (MPAs)," scallop dredgers have caused catastrophic harm to marine life and ecosystems. To protect Britain's sole colony of endangered fan mussels and other characteristics, the Scottish government declared the seabed surrounding the islands of Canna and Rum on Scotland's west coast as the Small Isles MPA in 2014. A sizable breeding colony of black guillemots may be found on the islands. Also Read: Australia Announced Ambitious Plan to Combat Possible Extinction of At Least 110 Species Marine Protected Areas Although rows of furrowed tracks can be seen over the "protected" seabed in video footage taken from an underwater remotely controlled vehicle that Greenpeace and the Scottish organization Open Seas deployed. The pink maerl, a delicate, slowly developing coralline algae that supply fish with a breeding and nursery environment, has been damaged, as seen by the scallop dredger's traces. Open Seas compared the devastation to a film they took in the same location in 2020, which showed healthy maerl. The scallop dredgers are legally allowed to fish inside the MPA, which employs a damaging fishing technique that involves dragging heavy metal-toothed rakes down the seafloor. This is possibly the worst example of a "paper park"-one that is just present in name-in Scotland and the rest of the UK, according to Phil Taylor, head of policy and operations at Open Seas. "Despite being referred to as an MPA for more than eight years and unambiguous evidence from the government's scientists that this has to stop, The Small Isles has remained unprotected from the most harmful fishing practices. He noted the Scottish administration's "serious abdication of responsibility" in allowing this harm to happen. Safeguarding Maritime Ecosystems To safeguard maritime ecosystems and stop biodiversity loss by enabling fisheries to recover, Taylor urged the Scottish government to impose restrictions on scallop dredging inside MPAs. The footage was taken earlier this year as part of Operation Ocean Witness, a collaborative effort to record the state of Scotland's coastal seas. Although the Scottish government has stated that it is committed to increasing protection, using highly protected marine areas to ban destructive fishing and similar activities, in 10% of Scotland's waters by 2026, less than 5% of Scotland's coastal seabed be protected from bottom-trawling and scallop dredging. "It makes no sense to call something a protected area if you're going to sit by and let fishing boats damage the bottom," said Will McCallum of Greenpeace UK. Many MPAs are little more than lines on maps that offer no protection from harmful fishing practices like bottom trawling and scallop dredging. Sternly Committed A representative for the Scottish government stated that the administration was committed to preserving the oceans' favorable natural conditions. "As part of that, we have agreed to implement, where necessary, fisheries management measures for our broad MPA network by March 2024. The Small Isles MPA will be included in this. Related Article: Despite Efforts, Countries Failed to Reach Agreement on a UN Treaty Aimed to Protect Marine Life For more Environmental News, don't forget to follow Nature World News! A powerful autumn storm is heading towards northern Alaska, bringing potentially-devastating wind gusts and rainfall. This comes after the state received a destructive blow from another storm in September, which led to widespread coastal flooding. Powerful Autumn Storm The new storm is forecasted to impact the Far North region and West-Central coasts of Alaska in the next few days, bringing beach erosion, coastal flooding, high winds, and high surf, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Alaska's next west coast storm is set to arrive as some communities are still recovering from the September storm, causing flooding and impacting nearly 1,000 miles of coastline. NWS Meteorologist Ryan Metzger said the impacted communities from the previous storm are now vulnerable than ever than they were last month. The project areas to receive the storm's wrath are from Shishmaref to Kotzebue and from the coast to Utqiagvik, the Alaska Public Media reported. The NWS also issued warnings for high winds, flooding or both for the mentioned areas, as well as for the community of Gambell in St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. Also Read: Storm Alert: Former Typhoon Merbok Violently Hits Alaska with Powerful, Damaging Winds Alaska's Strongest Storm In September, a powerful storm from the remnants of Typhoon Merbok struck Alaska with unprecedented hurricane force winds, coastal flooding, high seas, and heavy rain, becoming Alaska's strongest storm in a decade. The storm's strong winds pushed water inland, causing coastal erosion. US weather authorities, including the NWS, also issued multiple weather warnings and alerts during that time. A flood warning was issued for Alaska, and the storm affected multiple areas across the state, including Anchorage, Golovin, and Nome, as well as battering coastal communities with colossal storm surges. Flooding was also reported in the small city of Shaktoolik along the Bering Sea coast. Last month's storm caused flight cancellations for Alaska Airlines and prompted Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to issue a disaster declaration for affected areas. The storm was a low pressure front over the Bering Strait where it spins as wide and strong as a winter storm. Instead of bringing cold weather, the system was fed by the volatile air from Merbok, according to weather forecasters, as cited by NBC News. Potential Threat and Disruption Three weeks after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok struck coastal communities in Western Alaska, a similar scenario may likely take place in the coming hours and days when the looming coastal storm arrives. Weather hazards, like heavy rain, strong winds, storm surges, and widespread flooding are possible, causing infrastructural damage and travel disruption. Speaking to reported on Wednesday, October 5, Gov. Dunleavy, along with cabinet members and meteorology experts, issued an advice for residents in communities along the Bering and Chukchi seas to prepare for the so-called "unusual storm system" that is gathering strength in a region above eastern Russia and heading toward Northwest Alaska. The approaching storm is unique since it is continuing to get stronger as it moves toward the northwest Chukchi Sea, according to David Kramer with the NWS, as cited by Anchorage Daily News. Related Article: Powerful Storm Hits Western Alaska Causing Widespread Flooding and Evacuations At Euronaval 2022, the International Naval Defense Exhibition that will take place in Paris, France, from 18 to 21 October 2022, the Swedish-based Defense Company SAAB will present its full range of defense systems and solutions designed and tailored to the new needs of modern naval forces. Visit SAAB at Euronaval 2022 Hall 2B Booth H55. The fast, all-aluminium CB90 Next Generation Combat Boat can effortlessly carry multiple troops and cargo, in shallow or open waters, whilst maintaining incredible speeds and manoeuvrability. (Picture source: Navy Recognition) Visit SAAB at Euronaval 2022 to discover how SAAB thinking edge drives innovation above and below the surface. On display will be one of our submarine models, the CB90 NG, the RBS15 anti-ship missile and the MuMNS the latest addition to the Double Eagle family of mine neutralisation systems. Our other products on display include TactiCall ICS, the AUV62-AT training platform, and the Sea Giraffe 1X naval radar. CB90 NG: With more than 250 boats operating worldwide, CB 90 has been a success story since the first boat was commissioned. A new model of the proven concept has been launched: CB90 Next Generation. The fast, all-aluminium CB90 Next Generation Combat Boat can effortlessly carry multiple troops and cargo, in shallow or open waters, whilst maintaining incredible speeds and manoeuvrability. The interior combined with a strong bow ramp ensures swift deployment onto unprepared beaches. The craft offers supreme CBRN and ballistic protection. A robust weapons platform can include stabilised turntables, smaller missile systems and remotely operated weapon stations such as Saab Trackfire. RBS15 anti-ship missile: The RBS15 can travel over 300 kilometers before engaging the enemy. The missile flies as close as possible to the surface of the sea all the way to the target. At Saab we call this sea skimming and the RBS15 is typically less than five meters above the waves. Once it arrives at the target area, it will search, find and destroy the designated target. Even the fastest of ships cant escape the missile. The RBS15 is smart and autonomous, able to find its target and penetrate its defences even in adverse weather conditions. The system is designed to deliver operational effectiveness in highly contested and complex environments with sophisticated adversaries. MuMNS : Saab's MuMNS (Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation System) offers a new generation of mine neutralisation and immunisation in a powerful, modular system based on proven Saab technology and mine countermeasures (MCM) solutions. MuMNS offers unprecedented operational capability with greater flexibility, significantly increasing the speed of deployment and reducing the cost of MCM operations and the risk to personnel. MuMNS is launched remotely from its escort vessel and steered automatically or manually to a designated waypoint at speeds of up to 4 knots. The target is located using onboard sonar and cameras. The pilot manually controls the final approach to the target. Sea Giraffe 1X naval radar: The Sea Giraffe 1X is based on over 60 years of radar development by Saab and is the perfect choice for navies, amphibious forces and coastguards looking for a system with higher performance and an extremely small logistical footprint. Find here the latest news about Sea Giraffe 1X. AUV62-AT training platform: The AUV62-AT is operated by a growing number of navies worldwide who see the operational and cost benefits of an advanced at-sea ASW training system. The system can be used as a target for training surface, air and sub-surface ASW assets in any combination and can be programmed to deliver all levels of training from basic to advanced. The complexity of training is set by the trainer thereby allowing the trainer to manage training development of the ASW teams. Exercise scenarios can be constructed using the mission planning system and tailored to meet the specific requirements of the teams under training. Missions are downloaded to the vehicle prior to exercise start. The target uses a transducer tail to mimic the acoustic profile of a submarine, these profiles can be varied in complexity and submarine type again tailoring the training to meet the training requirement. The target delivers both active and passive signatures delivering end to end ASW training from initial detection, through tracking to engagement and allows ASW torpedo firings to be conducted. Possibly the most valuable feature of the system is the post exercise analysis that it performs on completion of the training. This is able to determine how the exercise was conducted and can be used to debrief the ASW teams receiving the training. According to a tweet published by the French Navy on October 7, 2022, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle successfully fired Aster 15 surface-to-air missile. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle firing an Aster 15 missile. (Picture source: French Navy) Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of the French Navy. The ship, commissioned in 2001, is the tenth French aircraft carrier, and the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel. The ship carries a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, AS365F Dauphin Pedro, EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar helicopters for combat search and rescue, as well as modern electronics and Aster missiles. She is a CATOBAR-type carrier that uses two 75 m C133 steam catapults of a shorter version of the catapult system installed on the US Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, one catapult at the bow and one across the front of the landing area. About the Aster 15 missile The Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles. The name "Aster" stands for "Aerospatiale Terminale" (French company Aerospatiale having been the project's lead contractor before its missile activities were merged into MBDA). The missiles as well as the related weapon systems are manufactured by Eurosam, a consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy (both with a combined 66% share), and Thales (holding 33%). There are currently two versions of the Aster missile family, the short-medium range version, Aster 15, and the long-range version, Aster 30. The missile bodies are identical; their difference in range and intercept speed is because Aster 30 uses a much larger booster. Total weights of the Aster 15 and Aster 30 are 310 kg (680 lb) and 450 kg (990 lb) respectively. Aster 15 has a length of 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in), rising to just under 5 m (16 ft 5 in) for Aster 30. Aster 15 has a diameter of 180 mm (7.1 in). Given the larger dimensions of the Aster 30, a naval-based system requires the longer tubes of the Sylver A50 or A70 vertical launching system (VLS). Additionally, the American Mark 41 Vertical Launching System can accommodate Aster 30. According to a PR published General Dynamics Electric Boat on October 6, 2022, the business unit of General Dynamics, announced it was awarded a U.S. Navy contract modification for lead-yard support, development studies and design efforts related to Virginia-class attack submarines. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Artist rendering of the Virginia class submarine (Picture source: General Electrics) The contract modification has a value of $532.9 million. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by October 2023. About the Virginia class submarines The Virginia class, also known as the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarines, in service in the United States Navy. Designed by General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Virginia class is the United States Navy's latest submarine model, which incorporates the latest in stealth, intelligence gathering, and weapons systems technology. Virginia-class submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. They are scheduled to replace older Los Angeles-class submarines, many of which have already been decommissioned. Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to remain into the 2070s. The Virginia-class submarine has a length of 114.8 m, a beam of 10.36 m, and a displacement of approximately 7,800 tons. The submarine can reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour (45 km/h). She has a crew of 132 people including 15 officers and 117 enlisted. In contrast to a traditional bladed propeller, the Virginia class uses pump-jet propulsors by BAE Systems, originally developed for the Royal Navy's Swiftsure-class submarines. The propulsor significantly reduces the risks of cavitation, and allows quieter operation. Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday, police said, a UI student walking on the sidewalk near Fifth and Green was confronted by a man who pushed him, demanded money and made a threat of physical harm. Reporter 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). Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). On October 6, another meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with the President of France, the President of the Council of the European Union and the Prime Minister of Armenia took place in Prague. This story contains original reporting by News-Gazette staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one, because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to The News-Gazette plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community. Introduction Coding Within Healthcare What is Diagnostic Coding? Diagnostic Coding Types The Power of Data Support of early diagnosis Concluding Thoughts References Further Reading The main feature of civilization is the production, consumption, and accumulation of information in all branches of human activity. All human life, in one way or another, relates to the receipt, accumulation and processing of information. Medical diagnostics. Image Credit: Natali _ Mis/Shutterstock.com Any living organism, including humans, is a carrier of genetic information that is inherited. Genetic information is stored in all cells of the body in DNA molecules. The human DNA molecule includes about three billion base pairs, and it encodes all the information about the human body: its appearance, health or predisposition to disease, and physical ability. People intake information about the world through their senses. To correctly navigate the world, people store information that they then use to make decisions and communicate with other people. For any operation on information (even such a simple one as saving), it must be somehow represented (recorded, fixed). In the context of healthcare, this process has a special name diagnostic coding. Coding within healthcare Diagnostic coding is successfully used in the healthcare sector. They help to significantly reduce the time for patient identification, eliminate possible errors in identification, and automate the process of personalized accounting of medicines. What is diagnostic coding? We are familiar with the transformation of medical records into a format used in healthcare, such as diagnostic coding. It also helps convert often time-consuming medical reports into concise, data-friendly codes. Medical coders are the people responsible for converting doctors' reports into usable medical codes. Diagnostic coding types There are three code sets that you will use daily as a medical coder and what they do. 1. International classification of diseases (ICD) These are diagnostic codes that provide a standardized way of describing the causes of injury, illness, and death. This code was established in the 1940s and comes from the World Health Organization (WHO). In the 60 years since it was first published, it has changed several times. 2. Terminology of the current procedure (CPT) Most medical surgeries are performed in a doctor's office using codes. They published the American Medical Association (AMA) code. These codes are annually compiled by the American Medical Association (AMA). CPT codes are five-digit numerical numbers divided into three groups. The first type is the most common and is divided into six categories. 3. Generic Health Procedures Coding System (HPCCS) The term "dive" refers to a group of codes based on CPT codes. HCPCS codes developed by CMS (the same organization that developed the CPT) and maintained by the AMA primarily correspond to services, procedures, and equipment not covered by the CPT codes. Also included are durable medical equipment, prosthetics, ambulances, and certain drugs and medications. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Medical data. Image Credit: PopTika/Shutterstock.com The power of data Data and computers play a crucial role in the medical field. Computers are needed for efficient data storage, quick access & exchange of information, and for conducting medical tests and simulating complex surgical procedures. In medical practice, computer software is used: to translate documents in and outside hospitals into electronic form to process medical research data (doctor's examination data, X-ray, ultrasound, etc.) to provide access to medical history via the Internet for the patient and the doctor to inform about the results of research via SMS or email to remotely communicate with patients for the systematization of research data These technological developments increase the level of medical quality of services provided. A single centralized system will avoid problems with obtaining information, and it will be possible for any doctor, even from another city, to obtain a patient's medical history, regardless of where they are registered. Support of early diagnosis It is impossible not to mention the various Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), which have their own AI. Across several studies, the online version of CDSS Isabel (Isabel), when analyzing data from 50 patients, made the correct diagnosis in 96% of cases. This result surpassed human efforts since people correctly diagnosed pathologies in an average of 95% of outpatients. Medical data in the form of images, which are used in the diagnosis of various diseases, lend themselves especially well to AI analysis. In one of the works, experts taught artificial intelligence to recognize diabetic retinopathy. As a result, in a mixed analysis of normal and pathological images, AI showed several errors comparable to that of a human. An algorithm developed at the University of Malaya (Malaysia) found pathologies with 100% accuracy when studying 340 brain MRI images. Interesting data was obtained from the analysis of patients' handwriting by artificial intelligence. Studying the handwritten text, the computer vision algorithm with an accuracy of 79% divided 55 patients into healthy and having signs of Parkinsons disease. The above examples of AI are designed to help doctors, not to work on their own. However, the results obtained are of great importance, since diagnostics using artificial intelligence systems will be better, faster, and cheaper soon. Over time, AI will be able to replace humans in many visual medical fields radiology, ophthalmology, and, of course, dermatoscopy. Concluding thoughts Diagnostic coding has a wide range of applications. It is necessary that people (not only professional programmers but also ordinary users) understand diagnostic coding information and the possible ways to encode different types of information. Through this process, the next frontier of medical practice and diagnostic coding can be penetrated. References Steindel, S (20 May 2010). "International classification of diseases, 10th edition, clinical modification and procedure coding system: descriptive overview of the next generation HIPAA code sets". Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Cheng, Ping; Gilchrist, Annette; Robinson, Kevin M; Paul, Lindsay (March 2009). "The Risk and Consequences of Clinical Miscoding Due to Inadequate Medical Documentation: A Case Study of the Impact on Health Services Funding". Health Information Management Journal. Hazelwood, A (2005). ICD-9-CM Diagnostic Coding and Reimbursement for Physician Services 2006 Edition (PDF). United States of America: American Health Information Management Association. Retrieved 17.09.2022 Bramley, M; Reid, B. (2007). "Evaluation standards for clinical coder training programs" (PDF). Health Information Management Journal. Medical Coding Training Program & Classes | Midwest Technical Institute". Midwest Technical Institute. Retrieved 17.09.2022 Further Reading Kessler Foundation received a $2.24 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to fund the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System (NNJTBIS). The NNJTBIS is part of the national Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, the largest long-term study of people who have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI). This marks the fifth, five-year TBI Model System grant that Kessler has received from NIDILRR, covering a span of 25 years. NIDILRR awards TBI Model System grants to institutions that are national leaders in medical research and patient care, providing the highest level of comprehensive specialty services from the point of injury through eventual re-entry into full community life. The NNJTBIS is a longstanding collaboration involving Kessler Foundation, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and four trauma hospitals: University Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, and Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center. Together, their scope of services provides a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care, including emergency, acute, and post-acute services for individuals in northern New Jersey. We are honored to be among the 16 regional model system grantees of the 2022-2027 grant cycle. This grant allows us to continue to improve rehabilitation treatment and outcomes for individuals with TBI, their families, and caregivers, as well as to educate health care professionals and the general public about the medical, psychological, social, and emotional effects of TBI." Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Project Director of the NNJTBIS and Director, Centers for Neuropsychology, Neuroscience and Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation Learning and memory impairment is a common and devastating manifestation of TBI associated with substantial life burdens. Persons with moderate-to-severe TBI have shown improvement in learning and memory for prose material (e.g., story) as well as beneficial changes in brain activation during list-learning following treatment with Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique (KF-mSMT). "Benefits, however, were moderate and did not yield downstream improvements in daily life," said Dr. Chiaravalloti, adding, "consequently it is critical to examine other approaches to complement KF-mSMT for better managing learning and memory impairment in TBI." The NNJTBIS site-specific study will be the first to include aerobic exercise training as a highly promising complement to KF-mSMT for robustly managing new learning and memory impairment, examining impact on learning and memory, its neural correlates, and daily life in persons with moderate-to-severe TBI. "A combination approach mirrors standard clinical practice, wherein multiple rehabilitative approaches are used concurrently to improve outcomes," explained Dr. Chiaravalloti. Each regional model system contributes data to the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center (TBINDSC). "These data guide our research aimed at improving rehabilitation interventions for people living with the effects of TBI," Dr. Chiaravalloti said. "Contributing to the national database fosters collaboration among regional model systems and advances our understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and caregivers, providing the impetus for finding effective ways to improve their quality of life," she concluded. With this new grant, Kessler joins the ranks of ten centers in the nation with the distinction of having dual model systems of care for TBI and spinal cord injury (Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Model System). More than 1500 adults and children from the United Kingdom are being recruited for an international study aiming to discover the genes that cause stammering. The largest study of its kind hopes to provide greater insight into why some people are more likely to develop a stammer, also known as stuttering, in a bid to develop new treatments that target the cause rather than just the symptoms. As well as experts from the UK, research teams from New Zealand, Australia, the US and the Netherlands are also seeking people aged five and older who stammer or have a history of stammering for the Genetics of Stuttering Study. Stammering, which causes frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech, affects one in 100 adults. WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Griffith University and the University of Melbourne are co-ordinating the global project. University College London (UCL) will oversee the UK arm of the study. UCL Associate Professor Frederique Liegeois said study participants would contribute to a global effort to better understand the genetics behind stammering. Learning more about the genetic basis will help us identify who may be more likely to develop stammering." Frederique Liegeois, UCL Associate Professor WEHI and the University of Melbourne Professor Melanie Bahlo said stammering typically emerged in children between two and four years of age after they had begun to speak. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "About 4 per cent of children experience a phase during which they prolong words or get stuck trying to talk," she said. Studies show that 8 per cent of three-year-olds and 11 per cent of four-year-olds stammer." Murdoch Children's and University of Melbourne Professor Angela Morgan said although the exact cause of stammering was unknown, genetics had been found to play a role and researchers had identified four genes that may be linked to the condition. "Globally, 1 per cent of adults stammer and nearly 70 per cent of those who do report a family history of stammering," she said. But even for people where the disorder doesn't run in the family, genetics can still be playing a role. "Gender is one of the strongest predisposing factors for stammering. Boys are two to five times more likely to stutter than girls and are also less likely to stop stammering without therapy. "Many stammering treatments focus on symptoms only, without targeting the underlying causes. We hope this research will develop new therapies for those who want to access treatment to help better manage their stammer and learn to speak more easily." To take part in the trial, volunteers need to complete a 10-minute online survey. Those who meet the study criteria will be asked to provide a saliva sample for DNA analysis. People who stammer, both with and without a family history, are encouraged to take part. Participants will be kept informed with fortnightly updates via the study website and can follow the Facebook page or Twitter account for updates. The brain is a complex organ, and no one imaging mode can catch everything that's going on inside it. Over the years, multiple "brain maps" have emerged, each focusing on different brain processes, from metabolism to cognitive function. While these maps are important, using them in isolation limits the discoveries researchers can make from them. Now a team from The Neuro has brought together more than forty existing brain maps in one place. The database, called neuromaps, will help scientists find correlations between patterns across different brain regions, spatial scales, modalities and brain functions. It provides a standardized space to view each map in comparison to each other, and assesses the statistical significance of these comparisons, to help researchers distinguish a meaningful correlation from a random pattern. The neuromaps database also helps standardize the code across maps, to improve reproducibility of results. The team published their results in the journal Nature Methods on Oct. 6, 2022 and has made their data open access on github. Ultimately, we hope that neuromaps will add a spark to the analysis of human brain maps and increase accessibility of data and software tools to people with diverse research interests. As the rate at which new brain maps are generated in the field continues to grow, we hope that neuromaps will provide researchers with a set of standardized workflows for better understanding what these data can tell us about the human brain." Justine Hansen, Paper's Co-First Author As part of its mission to enhance access to quality healthcare where people live and work, NYU Langone Health continues to grow its outpatient network in Suffolk County on Long Island with new locations and specialty services. Our new locations ensure patients have convenient access to care as we continue to grow our services throughout Suffolk County, including on the East End. Building on this momentum, we're also recruiting more primary and specialty care providers to add to our sites so we can care for even more patients in the community." Andrew Rubin, Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Ambulatory Care, NYU Langone New locations for wellness and preventive care NYU Langone recently welcomed five locations from MyHealth Long Island, offering wellness services and preventive care. The providers specialize in primary care, family medicine, rheumatology, and colorectal surgery. "Our transition to NYU Langone has been great for both providers and patients," says Keriake Semertzides, DO, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine. "The information available in Epic, NYU Langone's electronic health record, provides a more complete picture of who my patients are and their needs, and has also enhanced health screening management, which enables physicians to provide the highest-quality care." Patients can make appointments at our newest Suffolk County locations: NYU Langone Medical AssociatesBellport NYU Langone Medical AssociatesOakdale NYU Langone Medical AssociatesPatchogue, 100 Hospital Road NYU Langone Medical AssociatesPatchogue, New Village NYU Langone Colorectal Surgery AssociatesPatchogue Expanding world-class gastroenterology care Expanding its gastroenterology network on Long Island, NYU Langone recently welcomed Steve Georgopoulos, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, who sees patients at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead and NYU Langone Medical AssociatesBridgehampton. Dr. Georgopoulos treats gastrointestinal conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diverticular disease, and performs endoscopies and colonoscopies at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesRiverhead. Before joining NYU Langone, Dr. Georgopoulos was the chief of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. NYU Langone also added gastroenterology services at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesPatchogue, 100 Hospital Road, welcoming Chris E. Lascarides, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine and clinical director for ambulatory gastroenterology in Suffolk County. Dr. Lascarides, who completed his entire education and training at NYU, including undergraduate studies, medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship training, returns to NYU Langone as a gastroenterologist with 20 years of experience. Dr. Lascarides treats general gastrointestinal conditions and performs endoscopies, colonoscopies, and capsule endoscopies. New pulmonology location in Patchogue The multilingual care team at NYU Langone Pulmonary AssociatesEast Patchogue, formerly Suffolk Chest Physicians, offers comprehensive diagnostic testing and care for pulmonary conditions. In addition to routine care, they also provide specialized treatment for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema, as well as sleep medicine and critical care medicine services. "We welcome all of our new locations and providers to our world-class medical team and look forward to more growth to come," says Rubin. Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have designed a new bandage treatment, known as a scaffold, to treat diabetic foot ulcers, which is cost-effective while improving patient outcomes. Produced by 3D bioprinting, the scaffolds slowly release antibiotics over a four-week period to effectively treat the wound. Diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high, is among the top ten causes of deaths worldwide. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is a serious complication of diabetes, affecting approximately 25% of diabetic patients. When identified, over 50% are already infected and over 70% of cases result in lower limb amputation. The treatment strategy required for the effective healing of DFU is a complex process that requires several combined therapeutic approaches. As a result, there is a significant clinical and economic burden associated in treating DFU. These treatments are often unsuccessful, which leads to lower-limb amputation. This new research demonstrates outcomes with significant implications for patient quality of life, as well as decreasing the costs and clinical burden in treating DFU. Recent research has focused on drug-loaded scaffolds to treat DFU. The scaffold structure is a novel carrier for cell and drug delivery that enhances wound healing. The research, published in Springer Link, will be presented by Professor Lamprou at the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Workshop Italy (7 - 9 October). Professor Dimitrios Lamprou, a Professor of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing at Queen's School of Pharmacy and corresponding author, explains: "These scaffolds are like windows that enable doctors to monitor the healing constantly. This avoids needing to remove them constantly, which can provoke infection and delay the healing process. "The 'frame' has an antibiotic that helps to 'kill' the bacteria infection, and the 'glass' that can be prepared by collagen/sodium alginate can contain a growth factor to encourage cell growth. The scaffold has two molecular layers that both play an important role in healing the wound." Using bioprinting technology, we have developed a scaffold with suitable mechanical properties to treat the wound, which can be easily modified to the size of the wound. This provides a low-cost alternative to current DFU treatments, which could revolutionize DFU treatment, improving patient outcomes while reducing the economic burden caused by rapidly increasing patient demand as the number of people with diabetes continues to increase every year." Ms Katie Glover, Lead Author, Queen's School of Pharmacy Scientists from Universita Cattolica in Rome, together with colleagues from the IIGM Foundation (part of Candiolo Institute at Turin), have discovered a new drug-resistance mechanism in breast cancer that leads to the formation of cancer stem cells, (the cells that feed the tumor and cause relapse and metastasis). They have also devised an experimental therapy to bypass or prevent the emergence of drug-resistance. The results are published in Nature Immunology. The research was coordinated by Antonella Sistigu and Martina Musella, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, section of General Pathology and Clinical Pathology directed by Professor Ruggero De Maria and Ilio Vitale of the IIGM Foundation - Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (part of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation), at Candiolo Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo (Turin). The project was funded by the AIRC Foundation and the Italian Ministry of Health." Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Italian scientists discovered how the tumor evolves during treatment and develops resistance to therapies. "More specifically," Sistigu and Musella explain, "we have demonstrated that some tumor cells, while dying as result of chemotherapy, release in the tumor microenvironment a group of factors called "alarmins," which, normally alert and activate the immune system. However, paradoxically, some of these alarmins, such as type I interferons, can reprogram residual cancer cells and transform them into cancer stem cells, the deadly reservoir of the tumor. These stem cells are responsible, for example, for disease recurrence and metastasis. Cancer stem cells escape the control of the immune system and have high invasive and aggressive potential. Italian scientists have discovered that this mechanism of drug resistance depends on activation of a protein called "KDM1B". KDM1B controls and regulates gene expression. After the discovery in animal models, Ilio Vitale explains, "we studied 5 different cohorts of patients and confirmed that this mechanism is valid also in patients." Finally in laboratory experiments the scientists saw that inhibition of KDM1B prevented cancer stem cells formation and increased the effectiveness of therapy. "Based on these results we propose a combination therapy (some specific chemotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics, together with the experimental drug that inhibits KDM1B, to prevent formation and possibly effectively target this subpopulation of stem cells otherwise resistant to any treatment", the researchers emphasize. The next step of this research will be to evaluate the combination therapy in trial clinic on patients, Sistigu concludes. The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected millions worldwide and claimed multiple lives. The elderly-;aged above 60 years-;remain the most vulnerable group. They have been more susceptible in contracting the virus and many have succumbed to the infection. Long-term care facilities (LTCF) and day-care centers for the elderly have become potential sources of virus transmission; unfortunately, a large proportion of the global elderly population is dependent on these establishments. The recently developed vaccines and boosters have emerged as a shield against COVID-19. They activate the body's immune system and induce the production of antibodies to neutralize the virus. Carefully planned booster doses of the vaccine act as reinforcements to help keep up the body's defense against the virus. The extent of this defense, i.e., vaccine-induced immune activation, can be estimated by measuring the titer or concentration of antibodies circulating in the vaccinated person's body. It has been suggested that vulnerable groups may have reduced defense despite being vaccinated and receiving boosters. To understand the risk in the vaccinated elderly population, a group of researchers led by Prof. Masanori Nakayama, from the Organization for Research Strategy and Development, Okayama University, and Dr. Hideharu Hagiya, from Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, set out to assess the body's immune response in elderly Japanese who had received their third vaccine dose. Explaining the motivation behind their study, Prof. Nakayama says, "Despite vaccinations, several elderly patients in Japan are becoming ill during cluster outbreaks, some being critical. Therefore, we felt the need to investigate the antibody titers post-mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine in the elderly." The team analyzed antibody titers against the COVID-19-causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, after the third booster vaccine had been administered. The study included 1,046 elderly people from 23 different care facilities. Each participant had received two doses of either Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine at least six months prior to the start of the study. A comparison between the antibody titers between the elderly and the young was also drawn for better clarity. Most often, blood is drawn from the veins for titer analysis, which could be difficult and discomforting for the elderly. To address this problem, the researchers developed a unique solution; they estimated the antibody titers from blood drawn simply from the fingertips. They used the "Mokobio SARS-CoV-2 IgM & IgG Quantum Dot immunoassay" for the point-of-care fingertip whole blood assay and found that the antibody titers were widely distributed in each age group assessed. The results revealed that the number and proportion of non-responders, i.e., those with antibody titers below 1000 U/mL at any test time after vaccination, increased with age. Nearly 10% of the participants had negligible antibody production despite receiving additional vaccine dose. Also, among the COVID-19 survivors in the assessed clusters, the antibody titers measured after a month were significantly higher when compared with those receiving the third booster dose. Further analysis showed that the proportion of responders (those with antibody titers above 1000 U/mL) decreased as the age of individuals increased from 70 to 90 years. The researchers speculated the reason for this trend to be the immunological aging of a naturally aging human body. Apparently, people lose their ability to respond to foreign bodies as they age, becoming slow or non-responsive to vaccines. This explains why the elderly are more susceptible to infectious diseases. These fascinating findings have been made available online on July 11, 2022 and published as a letter to the editor in the Journal of Infection. As life strives to regain normalcy alongside COVID-19, newer strategies continue to be drawn aiming to keep the world safe from the virus. This study proposes such a strategy keeping the long-term safety of the elderly in mind. Elderly people in the LTCF show a lower response to mRNA booster vaccines and may be apparent non-responders. Thus, it is critical to develop elderly-oriented serological testing protocols after vaccination for better disease management. Talking about the future implications of their study, Prof. Nakayama explains, "For social normalization, it is important to reduce the number of elderly people passed away by Covid19 infection. Our findings could help establish a triage system for vaccination in the long-term care facilities for the elderly."t the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research Laboratory for Cell Polarity and Organogenesis. He is also associated with the Office of Innovative Medicine, Organization for Research Strategy and Development, Okayama University, Japan. He has many research publications in reputed journals to his credit. Three babies have been born after receiving the world's first spina bifida treatment combining surgery with stem cells. This was made possible by a landmark clinical trial at UC Davis Health. The one-of-a-kind treatment, delivered while a fetus is still developing in the mother's womb, could improve outcomes for children with this birth defect. Launched in the spring of 2021, the clinical trial is known formally as the "CuRe Trial: Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele." Thirty-five patients will be treated in total. The three babies from the trial that have been born so far will be monitored by the research team until 30 months of age to fully assess the procedure's safety and effectiveness. The first phase of the trial is funded by a $9 million state grant from the state's stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). "This clinical trial could enhance the quality of life for so many patients to come," said Emily, the first clinical trial participant who traveled from Austin, Tex. to participate. Her daughter Robbie was born last October. "We didn't know about spina bifida until the diagnosis. We are so thankful that we got to be a part of this. We are giving our daughter the very best chance at a bright future." Spina bifida, also known as myelomeningocele, occurs when spinal tissue fails to fuse properly during the early stages of pregnancy. The birth defect can lead to a range of lifelong cognitive, mobility, urinary and bowel disabilities. It affects 1,500 to 2,000 children in the U.S. every year. It is often diagnosed through ultrasound. While surgery performed after birth can help reduce some of the effects, surgery before birth can prevent or lessen the severity of the fetus's spinal damage, which worsens over the course of pregnancy. "I've been working toward this day for almost 25 years now," said Diana Farmer, the world's first woman fetal surgeon, professor and chair of surgery at UC Davis Health and principal investigator on the study. The path to a future cure As a leader of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) clinical trial in the early 2000s, Farmer had previously helped to prove that fetal surgery reduced neurological deficits from spina bifida. Many children in that study showed improvement but still required wheelchairs or leg braces. Farmer recruited bioengineer Aijun Wang specifically to help take that work to the next level. Together, they launched the UC Davis Health Surgical Bioengineering Laboratory to find ways to use stem cells and bioengineering to advance surgical effectiveness and improve outcomes. Farmer also launched the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center with fetal surgeon Shinjiro Hirose and the UC Davis Children's Surgery Center several years ago. Farmer, Wang and their research team have been working on their novel approach using stem cells in fetal surgery for more than 10 years. Over that time, animal modeling has shown it is capable of preventing the paralysis associated with spina bifida. It's believed that the stem cells work to repair and restore damaged spinal tissue, beyond what surgery can accomplish alone. Preliminary work by Farmer and Wang proved that prenatal surgery combined with human placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells, held in place with a biomaterial scaffold to form a "patch," helped lambs with spina bifida walk without noticeable disability. When the baby sheep who received stem cells were born, they were able to stand at birth and they were able to run around almost normally. It was amazing." Aijun Wang, Bioengineer When the team refined their surgery and stem cells technique for canines, the treatment also improved the mobility of dogs with naturally occurring spina bifida. A pair of English bulldogs named Darla and Spanky were the world's first dogs to be successfully treated with surgery and stem cells. Spina bifida, a common birth defect in this breed, frequently leaves them with little function in their hindquarters. By their post-surgery re-check at 4 months old, Darla and Spanky were able to walk, run and play. The world's first human trial When Emily and her husband Harry learned that they would be first-time parents, they never expected any pregnancy complications. But the day that Emily learned that her developing child had spina bifida was also the day she first heard about the CuRe trial. For Emily, it was a lifeline that they couldn't refuse. Participating in the trial would mean that she would need to temporarily move to Sacramento for the fetal surgery and then for weekly follow-up visits during her pregnancy. After screenings, MRI scans and interviews, Emily received the life-changing news that she was accepted into the trial. Her fetal surgery was scheduled for July 12, 2021, at 25 weeks and five days gestation. Farmer and Wang's team manufactures clinical grade stem cells -- mesenchymal stem cells -- from placental tissue in the UC Davis Health's CIRM-funded Institute for Regenerative Cures. The cells are known to be among the most promising type of cells in regenerative medicine. The lab is a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Laboratory for safe use in humans. It is here that they made the stem cell patch for Emily's fetal surgery. "It's a four-day process to make the stem cell patch," said Priya Kumar, the scientist at the Center for Surgical Bioengineering in the Department of Surgery, who leads the team that creates the stem cell patches and delivers them to the operating room. "The time we pull out the cells, the time we seed on the scaffold, and the time we deliver, is all critical." A first in medical history During Emily's historic procedure, a 40-person operating and cell preparation team did the careful dance that they had been long preparing for. After Emily was placed under general anesthetic, a small opening was made in her uterus and they floated the fetus up to that incision point so they could expose its spine and the spina bifida defect. The surgeons used a microscope to carefully begin the repair. Then the moment of truth: The stem cell patch was placed directly over the exposed spinal cord of the fetus. The fetal surgeons then closed the incision to allow the tissue to regenerate. "The placement of the stem cell patch went off without a hitch. Mother and fetus did great!" Farmer said. The team declared the first-of-its-kind surgery a success. Delivery day On Sept. 20, 2021, at 35 weeks and five days gestation, Robbie was born at 5 pounds, 10 ounces, 19 inches long via C-section. "One of my first fears was that I wouldn't be able to see her, but they brought her over to me. I got to see her toes wiggle for the first time. It was so reassuring and a little bit out of this world," Emily said. For Farmer, this day is what she had long hoped for, and it came with surprises. If Robbie had remained untreated, she was expected to be born with leg paralysis. "It was very clear the minute she was born that she was kicking her legs and I remember very clearly saying, 'Oh my God, I think she's wiggling her toes!'" said Farmer, who noted that the observation was not an official confirmation, but it was promising. "It was amazing. We kept saying, 'Am I seeing that? Is that real?'" Both mom and baby are at home and in good health. Robbie just celebrated her first birthday. The CuRe team is cautious about drawing conclusions and says a lot is still to be learned during this safety phase of the trial. The team will continue to monitor Robbie and the other babies in the trial until they are 6 years old, with a key checkup happening at 30 months to see if they are walking and potty training. "This experience has been larger than life and has exceeded every expectation. I hope this trial will enhance the quality of life for so many patients to come," Emily said. "We are honored to be part of history in the making." A team of researchers at Northwestern University has devised a new platform for gene editing that could inform the future application of a near-limitless library of CRISPR-based therapeutics. Using chemical design and synthesis, the team brought together the Nobel-prize winning technology with therapeutic technology born in their own lab to overcome a critical limitation of CRISPR. Specifically, the groundbreaking work provides a system to deliver the cargo required for generating the gene editing machine known as CRISPR-Cas9. The team developed a way to transform the Cas-9 protein into a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) and load it with critical components as required to access a broad range of tissue and cell types, as well as the intracellular compartments required for gene editing. The research, published today in a paper titled, "CRISPR Spherical Nucleic Acids," in the publication Journal of the American Chemical Society, and shows how CRISPR SNAs can be delivered across the cell membrane and into the nucleus while also retaining bioactivity and gene editing capabilities. The work builds on a 25-year effort steered by nanotechnology pioneer Chad A. Mirkin, who led the study, to uncover the properties of SNAs and the factors that distinguish them from their well-known linear cousin, the blueprint of life. Mirkin is famed for his invention of SNAs, structures typically comprised of spherical nanoparticles densely covered with DNA or RNA, giving them chemical and physical properties radically different from those forms of nucleic acids found in nature. Mirkin is the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern and director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology. Mirkin also is a professor of chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering and a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Many classes of SNAs exist, with cores and shells of different chemical compositions and sizes, and SNAs are now being evaluated as potent therapeutics in six human clinical trials, including ones for debilitating diseases like glioblastoma multiforme (brain cancer) and a variety of skin cancers. These novel nanostructures provide a path for researchers to broaden the scope of CRISPR utility by dramatically expanding the types of cells and tissues that the CRISPR machinery can be delivered to. We already know SNAs provide privileged access to the skin, the brain, the eyes, the immune system, the GI track, heart and lungs. When this type of access is coupled to one of the most important innovations in biomedical science in the last quarter-century, good things will follow." Chad A. Mirkin, the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today In this current research, Mirkin's team used Cas9, a protein needed for gene editing, as the core of the structure, and attached DNA strands to its surface to make a new type of SNA. In addition, these SNAs were preloaded with RNA capable of performing gene editing and fused with peptides to control their ability to navigate compartmental barriers of the cell, thereby maximizing efficiency. These SNAs, like other classes of them, effectively enter cells without the use of transfection agents (which are often needed to deliver genetic materials into cells) and exhibit high gene editing efficiency between 32% and 47% across several human and mouse cell lines. The research team included graduate student researchers Chi Huang, Zhenyu (Henry) Han and Michael Evangelopoulos. Their research was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc., Dr. John N. Nicholson Fellowship, and the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. Researchers at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, located at the University of South Florida, successfully tested a protein that has the potential to aid in the development of a protein-based therapy for patients with ALS, a progressive nervous system disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Published in eNeuro, the study examines the effects of apolipoprotein A1, a "good cholesterol" on endothelial cells, the lining in blood vessels that provides a barrier between the brain, spinal cord tissues and blood circulation. In a petri dish under an environmental condition reminiscent of ALS, the team found that the protein activates a unique pathway inside cells that increases survival and protects endothelial cells from toxic substances in the blood. This pathway can enhance the survival of cells and prevent further vascular damage by ALS. With a functional barrier, the hope is that the environment in the central nervous system will become less toxic and disease progression can be slowed." Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Professor at the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair and Lead Investigator While the protein has proven to protect endothelial cells in diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, the effects on ALS-damaged endothelial cells were previously unknown. To test the impact on ALS, the team examined how the protein affects endothelial cell signals. Garbuzova-Davis and co-investigators USF Professor Alison Willing and USF Distinguished University Professor Cesario Borlongan discovered that the injured cells absorb the protein, significantly reducing endothelial cell damage. "It's a little early to predict what the ultimate effect is for patients," Willing said. "In this study, we used a cell culture model where we can control all aspects of what the cells are exposed to. It is not possible to have the same degree of control in people." Garbuzova-Davis says this study laid the groundwork for additional research with animal models of ALS to fully determine the therapeutic effects of the protein. Upon successful results, apolipoprotein A1 may be considered for clinical trials, where it would be evaluated for safety and efficacy in ALS patients. In the near future, apolipoprotein A1 may be considered a potential novel therapeutic for endothelial cell repair, restoring the central nervous system barrier in ALS patients. It may also help alleviate ALS symptoms, such as imbalanced antioxidant levels and inflammation. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday granted the Maldives a partner status of the fastest regional multi-modal logistics hub -the Bahrain Global Sea-to-Air logistics hub, during a meeting of the His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the Maldives President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, at Al Gudaibiya Palace. The meeting also witnessed Bahrain and Maldives signing several Memorandum of Understanding for political consultation, sports, battling climate change and training diplomats. HM King Hamad and the Maldivian President praised the signing of the MoUs, noting that they will contribute to enhancing cooperation between the two friendly countries. I hope the visit will strengthen close ties and develop them to broader horizons to achieve mutual interests, HM King told Solih as King Hamad shook hands with delegates accompanying Solih at Al Gudaibiya Palace. His Majesty affirmed Bahrains keenness to extend bridges of cooperation to achieve the aspirations of both countries and friendly people. His Majesty also discussed with Solhi the latest regional and international development of mutual interest. The meeting mulled ways to boost investment and cooperation in economic, commercial, tourism and cultural sectors. The partner status allows national companies of the Maldives to become authorised trusted shippers at the hub that offers a 2-hour turnaround time for all containers at 40% of the cost. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, handed over the certificate declaring the Maldives as a partner of a service centre of the Cargo Services Centre in Bahrain. Bahrain also granted the Maldives a certificate allowing sovereignty over the information of its subscribers in the cloud computing centres in Bahrain. Later, HM King hosted a luncheon in honour of the President of the Republic of the Maldives and the accompanying delegates. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain will back Maldives candidacy for membership to the UNs top human rights body, said Foreign Minister, rejecting claims that Bahrain withdrew its candidacy. We have not withdrawn from the candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council, but rather we have postponed Bahrains candidacy, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani said. He said, We will support the Maldives to run for a three-year seat at the Geneva-based body in an election later this month. Elections are to take place later this month at the UN General Assembly in New York. Bahrain had earlier said that the deferral of the candidacy results from ongoing consultation with its geographical group, describing that as a standard practice. Bahrain remains fully supportive of the Human Rights Council, to which it has been elected three times, and will continue to work with other UN member states to promote global human rights best practices, the spokesperson had added. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Accusations that a teacher attacked a student with a metal object turned fake in an investigation by the Public Prosecution. The student and his father claimed that the student suffered injuries from the attack, which a forensic doctor of the Family and Child prosecution proved baseless. The decision came following an investigation into allegations that a teacher attacked a student in a classroom. Prosecutors said they took statements of teachers and several students and questioned the accused teacher, who denied attacking the student. Following this, prosecutors assigned a forensic doctor to examine the student and the nature of his injuries. The forensic report said that the student had no injuries on his body, as claimed by the student and his parent. Prosecutors said they are dropping all charges against the teacher. The Chief Prosecutor also said they are investigating a students guardian for raising false allegations against a teacher through social media channels. Prosecutors are also investigating two reports by the Ministry - one against publishing video insulting them and teachers and another against a woman for publishing videos on social media with false claims that a teacher assaulted a student. The womans claims that a teacher attacked her son and another student were proved fake by the public prosecution and were referred to trial. Prosecutors charged them with misusing social media and spreading false and misleading information. VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSXV: LIT) (FSE: OAY3) (OTC: PNXLF), ("Argentina Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce two new option agreements at lithium salars in Argentina. The Company has entered into an option agreement with a local vendor to earn a 100% interest in four contiguous mine concessions totalling 791.3 hectares at the Salar de Rincon (the "Paso de Sico option"). The Company has also entered into a second option agreement with a second local vendor to earn a 100% interest in a single mine concession measuring 843.5 hectares at the Salar de Antofalla (the "Volcan option"). Nikolaos Cacos, President and CEO, stated "The Rincon and Antofalla salars have been our focus for property acquisitions, for their potential for high-grade lithium resources and their favorable locations. Each of these new properties border landmark projects operated by major producers, where large resources have already been defined. Our new properties represent significant increases to the resource potential for our Rincon West and Antofalla North projects. The exploration team will now incorporate the new areas into our ongoing and near-term exploration programs." Argentina Lithium's Rincon West project, located in Salta province, includes both 100% held and optioned properties (see News Release dated July 21, 2022). The project now totals 3742.8 hectares with the Paso de Sico acquisition. Argentina Lithium's Antofalla North project, located within Salta and Catamarca provinces, includes both 100% held and optioned properties (see News Release dated April 11, 2022). With the Volcan acquisition, the Company controls 15,830.5 hectares at Antofalla for exploration and development. Map 1 shows the Paso de Sico option properties in relation to Argentina Lithium's Rincon West project, where exploration drilling is currently underway. International Highway 51 passes the northern edge of the Paso de Sico property. Map 2 shows the Volcan option property in relation to Argentina Lithium's Antofalla North project. The northern tip of the Company's Incahuasi brine project is shown in the lower-right portion of the map. Option Agreement Details Terms of the Paso de Sico option include cash payments totalling US$1,500,000 paid over two years, including obligatory payment commitments totalling US$300,000 in the first six months. The option grants a 3% NSR to the Vendor, which can be purchased by the Company for an additional US$1.5MM. The Paso de Sico option agreement also includes a total of US$2.3MM of exploration and development expenditures over a three-year period. Terms of the Volcan option include cash payments totalling US$590,000 paid over three years, including the obligatory payment of US$40,000 at the time of signing. The option grants a 1% NSR to the Vendor, which can be purchased by the Company for an additional US$1.3MM. Qualified Person David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo. is the Company's Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Terry. About Argentina Lithium Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp is focused on acquiring high quality lithium projects in Argentina and advancing them towards production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector. The management group has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina and has assembled a first-rate team of experts to acquire and advance the best lithium properties in the "Lithium Triangle". The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Nikolaos Cacos" Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director 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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements. 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: the impact of COVID-19; risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. SOURCE Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. For further information: Corporate Communications, Tel: 1-604-687-1828, Toll-Free: 1-800-901-0058, Email: [email protected] Funding supports Kids Help Phone project to scale and adapt community-based programs TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - While many people in Canada struggle with mental health challenges, some young people are at a greater risk of developing a mental illness due to racism, discrimination, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, their living conditions and overall lack of access to quality support and services. The Government of Canada is committed to addressing these disparities and promoting mental health for everyone, particularly those who face social and health inequities. Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $3 million in funding to Kids Help Phone to support the mental wellness of young people from Indigenous, Black, newcomer and underserved communities across Canada, including those in rural and remote regions. To reach these communities, Kids Help Phone will expand two programs. The first program, Weaving Threads, currently reaches Ontario Indigenous communities. It will be scaled up to reach Indigenous communities nationally, and will also be adapted for national delivery to Black and newcomer communities. Kids Help Phone will also expand its Counsellor in the Classroom program, which aims to demystify and de-stigmatize help-seeking behaviour by giving elementary students a glimpse into how Kids Help Phone counsellors can support them with their mental health. The program will be delivered nationally to Grade 4 and 5 students in both official languages through digital, virtual and in-person formats. This announcement is part of a $100 million investment provided in Budget 2021 to support projects that promote mental health and prevent mental illness in populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Quotes "Increasing resources and removing barriers to mental health care for children and youth in Canada, especially those in underserved communities, is a priority for our government. Today's funding to Kids Help Phone will help more young people from coast to coast to coast access the tools they need to support themselves and their peers, and will help to spread the message that it's ok to not feel ok and that they are not alone." The Honourable Carolyn Bennett Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health "Today's announcement of a $3M investment to help us support the mental health of young people from Indigenous, Black, and equity-deserving communities across Canada, shows the Government of Canada's commitment to mental health for all. These much-needed community based, e-mental health programs will expand Kids Help Phone's reach and provide support to young people who need it. We are a safe space for young people - providing bilingual support, 24/7, in every province and territory, for any problem they are facing, big or small." Katherine Hay, President and CEO Kids Help Phone Quick Facts One in three Canadians indicated their mental health got worse due to the pandemic. Community-based projects focused on mental health promotion have the potential to improve health outcomes over the life course. Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention are complement mental health care services and can help reduce demands on the health care system. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the mental health of people in Canada through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. If you or a loved one is struggling, the Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada . Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online "chat" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both telephone and online chat services are available in English and French. Telephone support is also available upon request in Cree, Ojibway, (Anishinaabemowin), and Inuktitut. is committed to supporting the mental health of people in through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. If you or a loved one is struggling, the Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across . Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online "chat" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both telephone and online chat services are available in English and French. Telephone support is also available upon request in Cree, Ojibway, (Anishinaabemowin), and Inuktitut. Kids Help Phone saw the demand for their services grow by over 137% in 2020 compared to the year prior, demonstrating a strong need to support youth and their mental health within Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids Help Phone is available 24/7 with e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French. You can also access the Wellness Together Canada portal, or call 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to 741741 (adults) or 686868 (youth). The Wellness Together Canada portal provides free access to educational content, self-guided therapy, moderated peer-to-peer support, and one-to-one counselling with qualified health professionals. Associated Links SOURCE Health Canada For further information: Maja Staka, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Carolyn Bennett, 343-552-5568; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]c-sc.gc.ca; Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709; COVID-19 public enquiries: 1-833-784-4397 GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Persons with disabilities face physical, financial, attitudinal and other barriers to participating in society. Many of these barriers are systemic and long-standing. The Government of Canada is working with the disability community to remove those barriers, and to consciously create a more inclusive country. The work required to achieve this is extensive, and it requires meaningful and sustained action. That is why today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, released Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Action Plan consists of current and future actions, including programs, policies and investments that aim to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Canada. It is a blueprint for change that will challenge the Government of Canada to be more inclusive of persons with disabilities, and to create a more inclusive country for everyone. The Action Plan has four initial pillars, which were identified by the disability community as key priorities: Pillar 1 - Financial Security: actions to improve the immediate and long-term financial security of persons with disabilities, such as through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit. Pillar 2 - Employment: actions to address long-standing barriers that persons with disabilities face in the labour market and workplace, including by providing supports to both persons with disabilities and employers. Pillar 3 - Accessible and Inclusive Communities: actions to address the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in their communities and the economy. Pillar 4 - A Modern Approach to Disability: actions to address the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits, as well as ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are reflected in government policies and programs. In the spirit of "Nothing Without Us," the Government is working in close partnership with the disability community on the Action Plan. The lived experiences of persons with disabilities have informed every part of it. The Government will continue to work with the disability community to implement and adapt the Action Plan, to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities. Quote "Everyone has a right to participate fully in their society. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan is a roadmap for our country to remove barriers that persons with disabilities face, and to build a more inclusive Canada. This is a plan with concrete actions that will challenge the Government of Canada to consider the needs of persons with disabilities in everything we do. It will challenge us to do better, and to be better as a country." Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough "Employment for people with disabilities in Canada needs a strategy that is robust, supportive and encompassing. CCRW is proud to endorse the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, including the Employment Strategy for people with disabilities. We, along with many of our clients and colleagues are excited to see how the four pillars will work together to ensure real life changes and opportunities for people with disabilities living in Canada." President & CEO of Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), Maureen Haan "The ability to be active, thriving and included members of our communities and country is the right of us all. Unfortunately, due to systemic barriers such as poverty, overly restrictive and complex systems, discriminatory attitudes, etc., for many Indigenous people with disabilities, 'inclusion' is just a word and not their reality. Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) has the ability to change that reality and, in doing so, lay the foundation for a better, more inclusive country. IDC/BCANDS congratulates the Government of Canada on the development of the DIAP and looks forward to our continued work together to ensure that the needs and directions of our members and communities are addressed through the plan's four pillars of Financial Security, Employment, Accessible /Inclusive Communities and, A Modern Approach to Disability." CEO of Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), Neil Belanger "Independent Living Canada and Muscular Dystrophy Canada have been pleased to work with our many partners to provide input and feedback from marginalized and hard-to-reach people with disabilities. As we continue to consult and engage, we are pleased to see the creation of the first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. As our work continues with our partners, we look forward to seeing our collective input reflected in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan as it is implemented and adapted to meet the responsive needs of persons with disabilities." CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Stacey Lintern and & National Executive Director of Independent Living Canada, Anne MacRae "Canadians with intellectual and developmental disabilities face many barriers in our society. They often live in poverty. Many do not have jobs. Many are not included in social life. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan will help all Canadians with disabilities. It will help them get out of poverty. It will help them get jobs. And it will help them to be more included in their communities." President of People First of Canada, Dewlyn Lobo Quick Facts According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, one in five Canadians aged 15 years and over 22% of the population or about 6.2 million people had one or more disabilities. The same survey found that employment rates of persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities 59 per cent versus 80 per cent. The Government's 2020 Speech from the Throne included a commitment to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The DIAP would include a new Canada Disability Benefit, a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities, and a better process to determine eligibility for federal disability programs and benefits. On June 2, 2022 , the Government reintroduced the Canada Disability Benefit Act as Bill C-22 in the House of Commons. , the Government reintroduced the Canada Disability Benefit Act as Bill C-22 in the House of Commons. The DIAP is supported by earlier investments announced in Budgets 2021 and 2022 - In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada committed to providing: committed to providing: $11.9 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to undertake consultations to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits, helping to maximize their reach and improve the lives of Canadians living with disabilities. This work would feed directly into the design of a new Canada Disability Benefit. over three years, starting in 2021-22, to undertake consultations to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits, helping to maximize their reach and improve the lives of Canadians living with disabilities. This work would feed directly into the design of a new Canada Disability Benefit. $100 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to triple funding for the EAF to support small and mid-sized projects with not-for-profit organizations, women's shelters, childcare centres, small municipalities, Indigenous organizations, territorial governments, small businesses, and businesses of all sizes. This funding would help offset the cost of renovations, retrofits and accessible technologies in workplaces. over two years, starting in 2021-22, to triple funding for the EAF to support small and mid-sized projects with not-for-profit organizations, women's shelters, childcare centres, small municipalities, Indigenous organizations, territorial governments, small businesses, and businesses of all sizes. This funding would help offset the cost of renovations, retrofits and accessible technologies in workplaces. $29.2 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to the EAF to support childcare centres as they improve their physical accessibility. This funding, which could benefit over 400 childcare centres, would support improvements such as the construction of ramps and accessible doors, washrooms, and play structures. over two years, starting in 2021-22, to the EAF to support childcare centres as they improve their physical accessibility. This funding, which could benefit over 400 childcare centres, would support improvements such as the construction of ramps and accessible doors, washrooms, and play structures. In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada committed to providing: committed to providing: $272.6 million over five years to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund. over five years to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund. $25 million over five years to improve access to reading and published works for persons with print disabilities. Related products Associated Links Backgrounder: Disability Inclusion Action Plan From: Employment and Social Development Canada Backgrounder The Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities. It is based on the understanding that disability inclusion benefits everyone. Persons with disabilities contribute to every aspect of our society. They contribute to the economy, culture and the core of the nation. The Government of Canada is taking action, in partnership with persons with disabilities, to promote inclusion and diversity in these spheres. In today's society, persons with disabilities still face many challenges and barriers, ranging from negative perceptions about what a person with a disability is able to do; to workplaces, buildings and work tools that are not accessible; to more systematic barriers, such as rules and practices that exclude and discriminate. The DIAP aims to remove barriers and address these challenges. It adopts a human rights framework, based on the principles of equality, anti-discrimination, participation and inclusion, including in the development of the Government's programs and policies. The DIAP focuses on actions that lead the Government toward achieving the goal of having disability considered in the development, implementation and operations of all programs and services. Specific actions are organized under four, mutually reinforcing, pillars: Pillar 1 Financial Security: improving the immediate and long-term financial security of persons with disabilities, such as through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit. Its goal is to reduce poverty among persons with disabilities through the development of various measures that reduce financial exclusion and systemic inequities. Pillar 2 Employment: emphasizes that employment is central to poverty eradication, reduction of inequalities, and social and civic engagement. The Employment Pillar takes a broad view of employment by exploring federal policy, program and service solutions. This pillar includes the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities, which has three goals: 1. more persons with disabilities find and keep good quality jobs, advance in their careers, or become entrepreneurs 2. employers make workplaces more inclusive and accessible, and 3. increase the capacity of individuals and organizations that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility Pillar 3 Accessible and Inclusive Communities: addressing the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in their communities and the economy. These include barriers in community buildings, public spaces and workplaces. Pillar 4 A Modern Approach to Disability: addressing the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits, as well as ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are reflected in government policies and programs. The DIAP will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement with persons with disabilities and will reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world. Learn more about the Disability Action Plan and its key pillars, visit https://canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability-inclusion-action-plan-2.html Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Tara Beauport, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] Investment Community Teleconference Set for November 11, 2022 at 8 a.m. ET TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Hydro One Limited (TSX: H), the largest electric transmission and distribution utility in Ontario, plans to release its third quarter financial results the morning of November 11, 2022 before North American financial markets open. A summary of the results will be distributed by newswire and the complete MD&A and financial statements will be posted at www.hydroone.com/investors and www.sedar.com. Hydro One's management will host a teleconference with the investment community at 8 a.m. ET that same morning to discuss the results and outlook. Those wishing to listen to the teleconference should access the live webcast on the Investor Relations Events and Presentations section of Hydro One's website at www.hydroone.com/investors. A rebroadcast of the teleconference will be available following the call at the same link. Those members of the North American financial community wanting to ask questions during the call should go to this link (https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe604796c0d2d4fcc9562e8e557ea7097), and you will be provided with personalized dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. Other interested parties and media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis. Hydro One Limited (TSX: H) Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion. Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. SOURCE Hydro One Limited For further information: Omar Javed, Vice President, Investor Relations, 416.345.5943, [email protected] OTTAWA, TRADITIONAL UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Hurricane Fiona brought high winds and heavy rainfall, affecting First Nations communities in the Atlantic region, resulting in flooding, downed trees, damages to infrastructure, and extended power outages. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working closely with affected First Nations to provide immediate relief, assess damages, and support recovery efforts. Officials have met regularly with First Nations leadership, emergency management organizations in each Atlantic province, Public Safety Canada, and other agencies to ensure the right supports are in place and that additional requests are handled as quickly as possible. ISC has also helped facilitate the delivery of fuel and generators where needed throughout the region. Through ISC, $4 million has been made immediately available through the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) to address recovery efforts and various needs and expenses identified by First Nations communities. More funding will be made available as damage and recovery assessments are completed. This funding can support measures such as: Tree clearing and storm clean-up Electric generators and fuel Community food security needs, including food spoilage and water supplies Additional emergency supplies to support long periods without power Short-term building and critical infrastructure repairs Through EMAP, ISC is also offering direct financial assistance of $295 per on-reserve household to help cover the costs of food loss and to help with food security. As of October 6, 2022, ISC has already provided over $920,000 to those that have experienced extended power outages. As recovery needs evolve, ISC remains ready to adapt to ensure they can be met. Funding through EMAP is designed to be responsive to community needs as it has been through COVID and other emergency situations. Should there be unmet financial needs that cannot be fulfilled through EMAP, the new $300 million in relief funding as announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week is intended to fill those gaps and ensure no community is left behind. As communities transition from emergency response to recovery, ISC will be there to meet the needs of First Nations in their rebuilding efforts. Quotes "First Nations chiefs and leaders in the Atlantic region have worked incredibly hard to keep community members safe from Hurricane Fiona. As the damages are assessed, and the focus turns to the planning for rebuilding, Indigenous Services Canada will be there every step of the way to help First Nations in the recovery of their communities." The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services "Hurricane Fiona was an unprecedented storm that has devastated Atlantic Canadians including First Nations communities. It's important that we support all those affected by this storm. Ensuring Indigenous households on reserve are included in these supports will continue to be an important part of the work being undertaken by our federal government." The Honourable Jaime Battiste Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and MP for Sydney-Victoria "The damage felt in First Nations communities in our region from Hurricane Fiona will take significant investments to repair. The funding announced today will help ensure that Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada have the support they need to rebuild and be strengthened for the long term." The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and MP for Central Nova Quick facts First Nations governments are playing a lead role in assessing the immediate needs of citizens in the affected areas and determining the appropriate course of action, which may include evacuation, on-ground support and transportation. Responsibility for costs for emergency events on reserves falls under ISC's Emergency Management Assistance Program. This single window provides First Nations, provinces and territories with access to emergency funding when needed. Associated links Stay connected Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Twitter: @GCIndigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenous Instagram: @gcindigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS. SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada For further information: Alison Murphy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected] TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Invesque Inc. (the "Company") (TSX: IVQ.U) (TSX: IVQ) will release its third quarter 2022 results on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, after markets close. Management of the Company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, to review the financial results. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS: DATE: Wednesday, November 9 TIME: 10:00 a.m. ET DIAL IN NUMBER: Toronto: 647-794-4605 North American Toll Free: 1-888-204-4368 CONFERENCE ID: 7563760 WEBCAST: Available at http://www.invesque.com/company-presentations/. Please connect at least 10 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to join the webcast. The webcast will be archived on the Company's website following the call date. TAPED REPLAY: Toronto: 416-764-8677 North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541 Replay Entry Code: 578410# Expiration of Replay: November 16, 2022 ABOUT INVESQUE: Invesque is a North American health care real estate company with an investment thesis focused on the premise that an aging demographic in North America will continue to utilize health care services in growing proportion to the overall economy. Invesque currently capitalizes on this opportunity by investing in a portfolio of income generating properties across the health care spectrum. Invesque's portfolio includes investments in independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, transitional care and medical office properties, which are operated under long-term leases and joint venture arrangements with industry leading operating partners. Invesque's portfolio also includes investments in owner-occupied seniors housing properties in which Invesque owns the real estate and provides management services through its subsidiary management company, Commonwealth Senior Living. For more information, please visit www.invesque.com. SOURCE Invesque Inc. For further information: [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to welcome the returning volumes of travellers crossing the border. The Agency is working with industry partners to improve the traveller experience and manage volumes; this includes the International-to-Domestic and the International-to-International programs that significantly decrease connection times, as well as the Primary Inspection Kiosks , and Advance CBSA Declaration. Travellers can also prepare for a smoother trip. Here are some tips for those who plan to cross the border during this upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend and for the US Columbus Day long weekend: For more information, visit the CBSA Web site or call us at 1-800-461-9999. Associated links SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency For further information: Or to schedule an interview with a CBSA representative, please contact: Media Relations Canada Border Services Agency, [email protected], 1-877-761-5945 Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on online publishers to join the fight agains... Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on online publishers to join the fight against the spread of fake news in the country. Yakubu spoke at the 6th annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos on Thursday. The INEC chairman said the fight against fake news has become imperative as the 2023 general election closes in. Yakubu, who spoke on the topic 2023 Elections: Managing the process for credible outcome, said the election is a multi-stakeholder activity. Fake news is a threat to national security and all hands must be on deck to check it. Managing this process requires in part, concerted efforts, he said. We have noticed that your members have so far steered clear of fake news. We urge you to do more. GOCOP should come out strongly in the battle against fake news which is clearly a challenge to the electoral process going forward. We are happy to note that you have your peer review mechanism using your leaders to regularly remind every member of the need for credible journalism. This is highly commendable. We urge you to extend this beyond GOCOP to serve as a bulwark against the menace of fake news. The INEC chair commended GOCOPs effort to ensure a credible election in 2023 and enjoined other stakeholders to support the commission. As the commission is doing its best to ensure a credible process, we also appeal to the media for continuous partnership, he added. Managing the electoral process for a credible outcome is the responsibility of all of us. As campaign activities get underway, the media will continue to play an important role. A lot of the activities will take place in the media of which the new media is a critical player. We must continue to work together against the spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation that seek to create or exacerbate tension or de-legitimise processes and outcomes. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, has berated those claiming that the partys presidential candidate, B... A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, has berated those claiming that the partys presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu was ill or dead. Fani-Kayode said those claiming Tinubu was ill or dead would be put to shame. In a series of tweets, the former Aviation Minister insisted that Tinubu was alive, well, and fit for the presidential battle. He wrote: Those that say BAT is either ill or dead shall be put to shame. Not only is he alive and well but he is also fit and ready to lead us into battle. Those that rejoice in such evil reports shall fall into the pit they dug for Jagaban. To their evil thoughts we say: BACK TO SENDER! To all the BATmen and BATwomen out there: fear not the noisesome pestilence, vile words and evil thoughts of the ATIKUvibrators and OBIdients. Let them continue to insult us, misrepresent us and vent their spleen because their time is short and that is all they have. Whilst they are insulting, we are preparing. Whilst they are scheming, we are working. Whilst they are howling, we are planning. Whilst they are barking, we are plotting. When we kick off our campaign water will find its level. [sic]. This is coming amid speculations that the former Lagos Governor is receiving medical attention in the United Kingdom. Recall that following Tinubus absence from several political functions in the country recently, he was rumoured to be sick and hospitalized in London. However, the 2023 presidential hopeful had in an effort to debunk the speculation, released a video of himself via his official Twitter handle to prove that he is alive and well. President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the national assembly to present the 2023 appropriation bill. The president is expected to... President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the national assembly to present the 2023 appropriation bill. The president is expected to present the appropriation bill of N19.76 trillion to the joint session of the national assembly at the temporary chamber of the house of representatives. The national assembly had approved the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) parameters on which the 2023 budget will be framed. More to follow A court of appeal in Jersey has refused an application by Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general of the Nigerian Army, to gain acces... A court of appeal in Jersey has refused an application by Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general of the Nigerian Army, to gain access to funds held in seized bank accounts in Jersey. In May, the court had ordered the forfeiture of the funds totalling 1.9 million. Useni was said to have transferred the money into the Standard Chartered Bank accounts in Jersey between the 1980s and 1990s, when he was in Nigerias military service. The accounts in euro, pound sterling, and US dollar were reportedly opened under the false name of Tim Shani. Through his Jersey-based lawyer, Useni reportedly said he used non-existent Tim Shani to open the accounts for security reasons due to the instability in Nigeria, and that he derived his wealth and funds from gifts and multiple businesses, including real estate, farming, hospitality, and personal savings. In June, the retired general had asked the royal court for access to the funds, saying he had no other way to pay his Jersey lawyers, as he had limited income and cannot make international transfers. But the application was denied, and consequently, he filed an appeal. However, his appeal was dismissed in a written judgment by the court of appeal, according to the Jersey Evening Post . Mark Temple, the states attorney-general, said the tainted money could be seized under Jerseys Forfeiture of Assets Law 2018 without the need for a conviction. The decision of the Jersey court of appeal, in this case, reconfirms that the forfeiture law is an effective means of depriving persons of property that is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, he said. The money is expected to be returned to the Nigerian government. Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, attended Jumaat prayer at the JIBWIS national mosque... Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, attended Jumaat prayer at the JIBWIS national mosque in Abuja. The development comes hours after he arrived the country following a 12-day stay in the United Kingdom. Also present at the mosque were Kashim Shettima, APC vice-presidential candidate; Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano; Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives; Uba Sani, Kaduna APC governorship candidate; and Nuhu Ribadu, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). After the prayer, Tinubu visited the APC presidential campaign secretariat in Abuja to inspect the facilities. See photos below. Zamfara State commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Sani Tukur Jangebe has urged the 18 registered political parties and their candidat... Zamfara State commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Sani Tukur Jangebe has urged the 18 registered political parties and their candidates to obey the stipulated rules in order to promote peace as campaigns kick-off. The commissioner, who also doubles as the Chief Imam of Muslim Foundation Jummuat mosque in Gusau, the State capital, charged the aspirants to avoid derogatory and inflammatory remarks capable of causing trouble and creating tension. Sheikh Jangebe pointed out that politics should not be a do or die affair, advising that politicians should always ensure that public interests are prioritized to override their personal interest and desires. He stated this in his recent Congregational sermon, saying politics should be an interesting game since voters remain the decisive gurus in every election. Playing free, fair and rancour-free politics during the electioneering campaigns will encourage the electorates to exercise their civil right of electing eligible leaders of their choice. Politics of bitterness, oppression and intimidation had led to voter apathy in the democratic system, he said. He said that he and other clerics would continue to preach and pray for peaceful co-existence in every part of Nigeria. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. High 49F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. A man receives his COVID-19 vaccine at a free distribution of rapid test kits to people receiving their vaccines or boosters at Union Station in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 7, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images/TNS) Locally reported news and sports Stay Current with What's Happening Get the most of NNY360, register today! By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com Want to write a screenplay? This Metairie library event may help you Leaders of Louisianas commercial fishing industry say legal action may be the last and best tool they have to fight a $2 billion restoration project that will dramatically alter a large section of the coast. Its going to be litigation, said Mitch Jurisich, an Empire oysterman and chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force. Its the only way to stop this. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is the flagship project of an ambitious state-led plan to fight coastal land loss. The diversion would funnel mud-laden Mississippi River water through a section of levee on the west bank of Plaquemines Parish and send it spilling into Barataria Bay, potentially rebuilding 28 square miles of marsh with river sediment. The project would mimic the natural riverine processes that created south Louisiana in the first place, diverting about 7 million tons of sediment into the Barataria Basin each year. Louisianas land-loss crisis owes in large part to the levees that keep the Mississippi on its current path and protect the communities surrounding it from flooding. But that protection also means river sediment cant rebuild vast sections of the coast that have been lost to rising seas, subsidence, erosion from oil and gas canals and other factors. While many state leaders and environmental groups back the project, its clear the diversion will have wide-reaching effects on the Barataria regions fishing communities. According to a recent environmental assessment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the added sediment and freshwater would likely have major, adverse impacts on the basins oysters and brown shrimp. It would also harm populations of speckled trout and flounder, according to the Corps. Last month, the Corps released its final environmental impact statement on the project. The nearly 13,000-page report paved the way for final approval in December and the start of construction early next year. At a joint meeting of the states shrimp, crab and oyster task forces this week, several commercial fishers and business leaders predicted dire and wide-reaching consequences. The meeting, held at an auditorium in Belle Chasse, drew about 35 people. Its going to wipe us out, said John Tesvich, owner of a Plaquemines oyster processing company. Once the oyster harvesters and shrimpers are gone, many other industries will suffer, Jurisich said. Its going to impact the stores, the restaurants, the processing plants, he said. And tourism? Tourism is going to be done. To cushion the fishing industry, the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority increased the project's share of mitigation money reserved for fisheries from $33 million last year to $54 million. The CPRA also expanded eligibility for assistance to businesses that buy catches from fishers, and the docks the fishers own. For oyster growers, the state will expand alternative oyster-growing projects and pay for new and improved public seed grounds, private oyster ground improvements and new breeding reefs. Shrimpers will be provided support for boat and gear improvements and money for larger boats. The crabbing industry will have access to money for gear upgrades. All three industries have been promised a boost in product marketing. But its not nearly enough, fishers said. While the Corps is accepting public comment on the diversion, many meeting attendees said theyre done writing letters and turning out at government-led meetings. Ten years Ive been fighting this, said George Ricks, a charter boat captain and president of the Save Louisiana Coalition, a group that opposes the diversion. Weve dotted our is and crossed our ts. Weve done everything were supposed to. But it didnt work. He joined the chorus calling for legal action. The only thing left to try is a lawsuit, Ricks said. Its unclear what legal strategy theyll take. Jurisic and others said theyll be discussing next steps in the coming days. The 30-day public comment period on the Corps impact statement ends Oct. 24. Corps officials are expected to release an official record of decision on three permits the project needs on Dec. 23. +31 The Last Days of Isle de Jean Charles: A Louisiana tribes struggle to escape the rising sea ISLE DE JEAN CHARLES - When she was a girl, Theresa Betty Billiot would open the back door to a view of cattle grazing in pastures, cotton f A closing plenary session over a working dinner on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit has been held in Prague. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event. Lake Countys economic future will be discussed over plates of golden lake perch later this month at a Lake County Advancement Committee luncheon. The Lake County Advancement Committee will host a panel discussion on Strategies for Strengthening the Regional Workforce at noon on Friday, October 14, at Teibels Restaurant at U.S. 41 and US 30 in Schererville. Check-in starts at 11:40 a.m. Lake County Economic Alliance President and CEO Karen Lauerman will moderate the panel discussion. Center of Workforce Innovations President and CEO Lisa Daughterty, Community Liason for Employment Services Michelle Novak and CTE Director/Principal Area Career Center Lauren Dado will share insights on how to ensure the Region has a qualified workforce and employers a pipeline of skilled job candidates. Its part of the Lake County Advancement Committees mission to identify major social, economic, and policy issues impacting the citizens of Lake County, Indiana, to educate our members and the public about these important issues, and to propose possible solutions that arise from our dialogue. The workforce needs are incredibly important to bring economic development opportunities to Lake County and all of Northwest Indiana, Lauerman said. This panel hopes to share some new fresh ideas and also new opportunities to engage different levels of workforce from all walks of life. The luncheon costs $25 for perch or $20 for a chefs salad. The nonprofit accepts cash or check only. If interested in attending, register in advance by Oct. 12 by contacting Linda Gajewski by emailing lgajewski@ccsj.edu or 219-473-4217. Lakeshore PBS, Northwest Indianas only local television station, is planning to air two new locally produced documentaries highlighting Northern Indiana history. Filmmakers Pat Wisniewski and Tom Desch produced both films. From Sundown to Sunrise follows Robert Cotton and his family as they sought to integrate into the then-all-white city of Valparaiso in 1968. The city was then a sundown town in which African-Americans were prevented from staying in town after sunset. I came across this story when I met members of the Cotton and Reiner families in my hometown of Valparaiso. After hearing about their incredible courage and humanity I knew I wanted to help them tell this story, director Pat Wisniewski said. Cotton, now a city councilman, hopes the documentary will help bridge racial divides. My hope in sharing momentous events Ive experienced, on the fault lines of our black-white racial divide, will somehow provide a fresh perspective for how to heal via taking the road less traveled, Cotton said. From Sundown to Sunrise airs on Lakeshore PBS at 8 p.m. Sunday at 8 a.m. and at 11 a.m Tuesday. A screening also is planned at Valparaiso University in early November. Selling Happiness tracks the Hofweber-Hammes family as it runs an automotive business near South Bend for three generations. The business navigated many changes to the automotive industry throughout the years. In working on this film, I was amazed to learn how much of an impact the local car dealer had in transforming our world, especially one that was so close to my hometown in Kankakee County, Illinois, Desch said. Wisniewski said its a story of adaptation and innovation. Its an incredible entrepreneurial story. I was inspired by how three generations of car dealers were able to adapt to changing times and rise to the top of their field, Wisniewski said. It will air on Lakeshore PBS at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, 8 a.m. Oct. 16 and 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Merrillville-based Lakeshore PBS broadcasts on Channel 56 over the public airwaves as well as on DirecTV, Dish Network and AT&T U-verse. Its on Channel 17 or 21 for Comcast Xfinity viewers and Channel 44 on RCN. For more information, visit LakeshorePBS.org. Wicked has been mesmerizing audiences for nearly two decades. Now its back in the Windy City to entertain fans for the next two months. The hit show has landed in Chicago for performances at The James M. Nederlander Theatre through Dec. 4. Wicked relays the story of the Land of Oz before Dorothy arrives. In the musical audiences meet witches Elphaba and Glinda before they encounter Dorothy. Theatergoers learn the behind the scenes of their lives and why they turned out the way they did. Fans of The Wizard of Oz story, whether the film, book or various theatrical productions of it, will be fascinated by this clever rendition of the tale. The show, which has garnered Tony Awards and been honored by The Grammys, originally came to the stage in 2003. Wicked, with book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is a winner in all categories. The cast for this touring production remains enthusiastic and strong throughout the show. Jennafer Newberry as Glinda and Lissa deGuzman as Elphaba are perfect in their roles as the good and the wicked one. Both deGuzman and Newberry showcase dynamic vocals. Other cast members livening up the stage with their talents are Kimberly Immanuel, Michael Genet, John Bolton, Jordan Litz and Jake Pedersen. Helping the musical soar are memorable songs. Among score highlights are performances of For Good, Wonderful, Defying Gravity, Im Not That Girl, Popular and As Long As Youre Mine. Audiences will easily get lost in this theatrical production with its captivating sets and costumes. Its a wonderful show to see while heading into the holidays. FYI: Wicked runs to Dec. 4 at The James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Tickets are $59 to $194. Visit BroadwayInChicago.com or WickedTheMusical.com. VALPARAISO William Jewell lived a quiet, unassuming life. Hes about to change thousands of lives for the better. Jewell, who died in July 2021, just two months shy of his 100th birthday, left a staggering $12.5 million bequest to the Porter County Community Foundation, the largest gift in that nonprofits 27-year history. He instructed the money invested by the community foundation be split three ways for the Salvation Army of Porter County, United Way of Porter County and the Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington. That latter gift was overly generous more than Jewell and his attorney, Morris Sunkel, realized. Jewell designated $4 million for Porter County students to receive needs-based scholarships to the IU business school on the universitys main campus. Jewell, a CPA, graduated from there. The scholarships are for tuition and books only. There arent enough IU business students from Porter County to spend all that money each year. Sharing the wealth Community Foundation President and CEO Bill Higbie came up with an idea that Jewell would have liked, and it was approved by the Indiana Attorney Generals office and a Porter County magistrate. Because Jewells aim was to boost education for Porter County students, the foundation will use the balance of the bequest earmarked for to establish 529 college savings accounts for every child born in Porter County, beginning in 2022. Last year, Porter County saw 1,581 births. If Bill Jewell were standing here, I think he would say, Theres a heck of an idea, Sunkel said. The Salvation Army, which will receive $200,000 a year in perpetuity, is considering an addition to its existing building in South Haven. Space is so cramped there that archery lessons take place in the chapel. Its believed to be the largest single gift for that organization, too. United Way of Northwest Indianas $4 million share also will generate $200,000 a year. The United Way board agreed with President and CEO Adam ODohertys plan to expand the Level Up program that aims to lift people out of financial dire straits. With the $200,000 a year the agency will receive, United Way will be able to double or triple the number of paid navigators used to help clients improve their education, life skills and job skills so they can earn more money and live a sustainable lifestyle. ODoherty announced the bequest at the end of a lengthy board retreat to focus on a strategic plan to be announced in October. Its clearly a case of saving the best news for last. They were floored, Chief Impact Officer Anicia Kosky said. When Higbie called Auxiliary Capt. Jim Prichard of the Salvation Armys Porter County unit a few weeks ago to let him know of the bequest, Prichard was astonished. I think I fell off my chair. I think I cried, he said. That $200,000 a year is damned near what The Salvation Armys entire fund drive would be, Sunkel said. But thats just a drop in the bucket compared to the need, Prichard said. With this gift, the fund drive will remain essential. The Salvation Army isnt sure yet how the money will be spent, but the plan is to expand services, likely by expanding its facilities. ODoherty was similarly astonished when Higbie told him a few weeks ago about the big gift. Like Prichard, ODoherty didnt want other donors to believe their gifts were no longer needed. Jewell was simply leading by example, giving in his very generous, outsized way. Mr. Jewells generosity is making what was once impossible possible, Higbie said. Jewells life Jewell was born in Chicago in 1921 but moved to Hammond when he was a few years old and then to Valparaiso in 1962, Higbie said. He was a very organized, very fastidious man. He had a very tremendous amount of wealth, his friend Jim Hutton, a colleague at the former George S. Olive & Co. accounting firm, said, but it wasnt obvious from his lifestyle. He enjoyed eating at Round the Clock and the Big Wheel, two defunct Valparaiso restaurants that offered plenty of good food at low prices. The last 10 years of his life, Jewell didnt even have a television. His car was 15 years old. He hadnt bought new clothes in 30 to 40 years, having retired in the 1986 because of a mandatory retirement age. Jewell prized friendships more than material possessions, Hutton said. As Hutton went through Jewells closet at the apartment where he lived, Hutton found something astonishing. Tagged onto the suit was a note that said, Plan to use in the event of my wake, Hutton said. Hutton shared a photo of Jewell as well as a typed Jewell owned neither a computer nor a cellphone account of Jewells life, in his own words. Jewell had sent it to his funeral director on Nov. 24, 2009, along with some additional notes about five years later. Bill was one of the most meticulous people I ever met, Sunkel said. Jewell had no siblings. His family was important to him. At Jewells direction, the funds established in his will are named for family members, not himself the Ruth B. Jewell Fund for the United Way, honoring his mother; the William H. Jewell Fund for the Salvation Army, honoring his father; and the Harriett Baxter Scholarship Fund for IU and the college savings accounts, Sunkel said. I wish that he were here so he could get the congratulations, Sunkel said. VALPARAISO Attorney Bryan Truitt, who spent his legal career standing alongside both public defender clients and disgraced politicians in some of the Regions most high profile public corruption cases, has died, according to family and friends. He was a great legal writer and frankly one of the greatest legal minds of his generation, Porter County Chief Public Defender Ken Elwood said. He was more importantly a wonderful husband and father. A social media post on his account announced, Bryan has passed away in hospice. He fought the good fight until the end. To those of you Bryan called friend, you were fortunate, the Thursday post reads. He loved and valued you dearly. To his clients, he fought hard for you and worked tirelessly to defend you. To his coworkers, Bryan held you in the highest regard, and found purpose in the mutual calling you felt. News of the 53-year-old Truitts death came as a surprise to many in the local legal community. My condolences to Bryan Truitts family on his passing, Elwood said. Bryan worked for me as a public defender since I got the chiefs job in 2010, Elwood said. He handled all of our appeals. Truitt, who was son of late former Porter County Superior Court Judge Robert Truitt, joined the Porter County public defenders office shortly after graduating from law school and served for more than 25 years, Elwood said. He was also part of a private law firm in Valparaiso. Among the high profile cases he defended was the public corruption case against former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, who was found guilty by a federal jury in 2017 on all six counts of wire fraud, honest services wire fraud and bribery. Truitt said at the time that he didnt agree with the verdict and planned an appeal. A federal appeals court in late 2021 denied an appeal for freedom by then-75-year-old Buncich, who was scheduled to remain at a federal prison in Springfield, Missouri, until Oct. 4, 2028. Truitt had earlier vowed in 2010 to challenge the fraud convictions of another of his clients, former North Township Supervisor Robert Cantrell, who was found guilty by a federal jury in 2008 on 11 counts of fraud and fraud-related charges. Cantrell went on to serve five years and two months in a federal prison and about 13 months of a three-year term of supervised release. Truitt, who argued a new trial was in order, said at the time, I feel bad for Bob, Barbara and the children because I firmly believe this is unjust. These are too good of people with too many good works on their behalf to have this result. Truitt had also represented former East Chicago Controller Edwardo Maldonado, who in 2004 was found guilty in a sidewalks-for-votes scandal involving nearly $24 million that was misspent by the city to influence voters in the 1999 primary election. A Celebration of Life gathering is planned at a later date for Truitt, according to his family, when we will be able to laugh and share stories and memories the way Bryan would want for us all. GARY One man is dead after fire ripped through a 10-unit apartment building along Ridge Road on Thursday night, according to the city fire department. The fire was reported around 9:15 p.m. at 631 Ridge Road, Fire Chief Sean G. ODonnell said. Firefighters said they rescued residents from the second-floor balcony of the building but found the deceased man during a search of the apartments. The building has a business on its lower level, firefighters said. "The fire is currently under investigation with the Gary Fire Department office of fire investigation and Indiana State Fire Marshalls office," O'Donnell said. "Red Cross is assisting temporarily displaced residents." No one was immediately available Friday morning at the Lake County coroner's office to release the identity of the fire victim. CROWN POINT A Merrillville woman pleaded guilty to one count of felony neglect Thursday in connection with the homicide of her wifes 10-year-old brother following several months of abuse in 2020. Rachel R. Wright, 28, admitted in a plea agreement that she and her wife, April L. Wright, 28, dislocated two of 10-year-old Leviticus Kuchtas cervical vertebrae and his mandible, killing him. Police found Leviticus dead after Rachel Wright called 911 on Oct. 12, 2021, and medics responded to their home in the 7100 block of Fillmore Court in Merrillville. The boy had apparent and significant injuries of different ages all over his body, the plea agreement states. Rachel Wright admitted she personally observed April Wright knowingly and intentionally injury Leviticus between July 1, 2020, and Oct. 12, 2020, and voluntarily participated in injuring the boy with April Wright. Rachel Wright observed Leviticus injuries, including facial cuts and puncture wounds, a lacerated and swollen upper lip, bruised eyes, ulcers to the base of his penis, cuts to his hands, swollen and bruised hands, numerous cuts all over his back, swollen ankles, infected toes, and lacerations and puncture wounds to the back of both ears, court records state. Despite knowing April Wright had caused the boys injuries and could kill him, Rachel Wright continued to allow Leviticus to remain in April Wrights care and failed to stop or prevent the abuse, the plea agreement says. After the boy died, Rachel and April Wright falsely reported his injuries were caused by a dirt bike accident, records state. Rachel Wright initially told police April Wright never hit Leviticus, not even as a form of punishment. Neither of the women ever sought medical care for Leviticus, the plea agreement states. Rachel Wrights attorney, John Cantrell, asked Judge Gina Jones to vacate a jury trial scheduled to begin Monday. This is a case of discipline that went way too far, Cantrell said after the hearing. My client regrets her participation in the death of this child. Rachel Wright could face a sentence of 20 to 25 years in prison, if Jones accepts her plea agreement. Cantrell and Lake County Deputy Prosecutors Maureen Koonce and Jessica Arnold were expected to argue the length of Rachel Wrights sentencing. Rachel Wright agreed to testify against April Wright and agreed she will not be sentenced until her wifes case is resolved. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss several other counts against Rachel Wright, including murder. Had she gone to trial next week and been convicted of murder, she could have faced a sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison. April Wright, who has pleaded not guilty, appeared in court Sept. 22 alongside attorney Patrick Young. He asked for a continuance to Nov. 3 for a possible change-of-plea hearing. Leviticus homicide wasnt the first time April Wright, who previously was known as April Kuchta, was at the center of a case involving a child victim. She was convicted in 2011 of luring a 17-year-old boy to her Valparaiso home, placing him in handcuffs at knifepoint and sexually assaulting him in February 2011, court records state. The defendant was 16 at the time. At the time of her arrest in Leviticus homicide, April Wright was on probation for pepper-spraying an ex-girlfriend in the face during an attack in January 2019 at a Hobart motel room, court records show. According to charging documents in April Wrights murder case, Leviticus was in the legal custody of his grandmother. His mother, Tina Kuchta, 52, was incarcerated at the time for a 2018 conviction for dealing in a controlled substance in Porter County, records show. A relative told police Leviticus Kuchtas grandfather died in August 2020, and April Wright volunteered to watch Leviticus for their grandmother. The relative claimed she had witnessed April and Rachel Wright hit Leviticus and April Wrights 3-year-old son, records allege. April Wrights son was removed from her home by Child Protective Services after Leviticus death, court records state. Hoosier Democrats are applauding President Joe Biden for taking steps Thursday to decriminalize marijuana and pardon Americans previously convicted in federal courts for simple marijuana possession. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who famously smoked marijuana in a campaign ad filmed in Illinois, said he believes Biden's actions "are the right thing to do." "Hoosier seniors and veterans are especially on my mind when it comes to the reclassification of cannabis," McDermott said. "Indiana leaders like Sen. Todd Young have abandoned them on this issue and they deserve access to the health benefits marijuana provides, as well as the economic benefits that would come to the Hoosier State." Young, a Republican, declined to comment on the marijuana policy changes announced by the Democratic president. Likewise, a spokeswoman for Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said the Republican was on an economic development trip to Switzerland and unable to comment on Biden's actions. Holcomb previously said he will not consider any measure to legalize marijuana in Indiana, for either medicinal or recreational use, so long as marijuana remains classified as a controlled substance by the federal government. Biden directed the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the nation's attorney general to immediately review that classification to more accurately reflect the comparatively minimal risk of adult marijuana use relative to other controlled substances, such as heroin. State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, said he hopes if the federal government reschedules marijuana it finally will spur the Republican-controlled General Assembly to legalize it in the Hoosier State. "Governor Holcomb has repeatedly said that hes waiting for federal action before our state can act on marijuana legalization," Melton said. "That federal action is happening now, and I echo President Bidens call for Governor Holcomb to pardon simple marijuana possession in our state. The vast majority of convictions happen at the state level, and its imperative that our Legislature join the federal government in taking action to comprehensively move forward on marijuana reform." Marijuana use for medicinal purposes already is permitted in 37 states, and 19 of those states also allow adults to use marijuana for recreational purposes, including neighboring Illinois and Michigan. State Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, chairwoman of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, said it's long past time for Indiana to join that list and stop punishing marijuana users. "In 2020 alone, there were 4,436 people in Indiana arrested for possession of marijuana. When black Hoosiers are arrested nearly four times as often as white Hoosiers for marijuana possession, it is clear that the 'war on drugs' is less about getting dangerous drugs off the street and more about over-policing black communities and communities of color," Shackleford said. "Currently, a stint in prison creates barriers for someone seeking employment, housing or education. No one should be denied a quality of life or freedom from life behind bars simply because they were caught with marijuana. This is the just and humane thing to do, and I urge Governor Eric Holcomb to follow President Biden's example by pardoning all Hoosiers in local jails and state prisons for marijuana possession," she added. The General Assembly is due to convene its four-month regular session in early January after all 100 members of the Indiana House and 25 of 50 state senators stand for election by Hoosier voters on Nov. 8. CHICAGO Learn more about the Region and its nature this weekend. A documentary about Wolf Lake will debut at the History of the Calumet in the Anthropocene Epoch event on the far South Side on Saturday. The film screening and afternoon of lectures will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Calumet Environmental Center at Big Marsh Park at 11555 S. Stony Island Ave. in Chicago. David McGowan, of Ravenswood Media, will premier his documentary "Wolf Lake Abides" about the lake straddling the border of Indiana and Illinois just south of Lake Michigan. He is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker based in Chicago who has focused on environmental and conversation films. He recently returned from Rwanda where he gave the country its first wildlife filmmaking training course to benefit rangers, trackers and guides. He's previously worked in the Calumet Region's steel mills, and his family has worked in the steel industry locally and in Pittsburgh. His film explores the transformation of the Calumet Region during the Anthropocene, the current geological epoch during which human activity has had the biggest impact on Earth. It's a 10-minute film he shot for the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative, or AWLI, a nonprofit land trust in the bi-state Wolf Lake watershed in Hammond and Chicago. "The sooner that we get our heads around the concept of the Anthropocene, the sooner we can begin building our only home planet that is safe and sustainable for all of life," he said. Other guest speakers at the event include John McNeill, co-author of "The Great Acceleration"; Theodore Karamanski, author of "Mastering the Inland Seas"; and Philip Willink, a fish biologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey and president of the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative. Willink researches aquatic species in the Calumet Region. McNeill and Karamanski are environmental historians who take interest in the Anthropocene. Philip Scarpino, another environmental historian with Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis, will emcee the event. The speakers will address subjects like the history of the Calumet and Calumet biodiversity. After the lectures, people also can explore the park and its woods and wetlands until it closes at dusk. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/3dOm3K3. LOWELL Indiana American Water lifted a boil advisory that has been in place since Thursday and affected approximately 4,000 customers, according to a news release. The advisory followed a loss of pressure in the system due to a broken 8-inch water main Thursday morning near East Commercial Avenue and North Fremont Street. Water sample tests confirm there is no contamination in the water system, the release said. Services were restored Thursday afternoon, but residents were advised to boil water for at least three minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. The main break caused cancellation of classes for the Tri-Creek School Corp. on Thursday. Students were dismissed from Lake Prairie, Oak Hill and Three Creeks Elementary Schools, Lowell Middle School and Lowell High School. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management mandates boil advisories to ensure high-quality water in the event water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch in a water distribution system. GARY Victoria Travis' investigation into the issue of tax-delinquent land in Lake County began with a stack of "thousands and thousands" of paper deeds. Several months of digitization and analysis later, she and a team of fellow researchers are close to answering one crucial question how can land parcels that have been tax-delinquent for years be used for something economically and socially productive? "It all starts with the data," Travis, a graduate student at Indiana University Northwest's School of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the crowd during a Wednesday morning panel hosted by IUN. Last summer IUN struck up a partnership with Lake County government to take and in-depth look at tax-delinquent land that continues to sit empty with no interested buyers. After enlisting IUN's Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) and about four students, the team began to look specifically at churners, properties that are tax-delinquent and have appeared at both the Tax Certificate Sale and the Lake County Commissioner's Tax Sale multiple times with no bids. Lake County Commissioner Mike Repay, D-Hammond, said county officials have always been aware of churners, but without a clear data set it was hard to truly illustrate the problem. The team of researchers decided to release a series of eight reports; looking at how many churners Lake County has, where churners are located, characteristics of the churner properties and how to get the parcels back on the tax role. "Up until one year ago, there was no comprehensive data set that could be used to answer any of these questions about the tax delinquent parcels," said Ellen Szarleta, the director of CURE. The first report, released in January, showed there are 9,231 churners in Lake County. Though churners are scattered throughout the county, the vast majority are in the northeast portion specifically in Gary which contains about 73%. Data shows the vast majority of the parcels, 90.63%, are residential. "How did we get to the point where we have to take a look at these churners?" Szarleta asked the audience of local leaders. Though a number of factors contributed to the large number of no-bid parcels, the crux of the issue has to do with how the county was developed. "Lake County grew up in a couple of different centers and a heck of a lot of railroads and interspersed municipalities," Repay said. "All that stuff leads us to some of the strangeness we have to face in our tax-sale issues." The automization and globalization of the steel industry also lead to population decline, Szarleta said. According to IUN's fourth report at their height, the Region's steel mills employed almost 70,000 people. That number has steadily dropped to less than 1,500. Racial tensions and white flight also played a role. According to the report, white residents moved to the southern and middle portions of the county; between 1970 and 2020 the population in Hobart, Lake Station and Merrillville increased by 68.1% while the population in Gary and New Chicago decreased by 60%. Because Gary, Hobart, Lake Station and New Chicago were all established early in the 20th century, many of the municipalities' structures are aged and in need of repairs. This combination of factors has left communities with thousands of vacant and blighted properties. Some of the parcels are mere slivers, making them even harder to develop. Prospectors sometimes buy up the parcels and do not pay property taxes "with the hopes that there's going to be a warehouse going in next to the properties that they own and 'boom' they get an opportunity to cash in," said Matt Fech, attorney for the Lake County Board of Commissioners. The tax-delinquent parcels that continue to sit unsold are more than just an eyesore for the surrounding community. Nearly 90% of the owed tax proceeds that are recovered when a parcel is sold, go back to the municipality where the land is located, meaning local governments are missing out on important tax dollars. "At the end of the day, the end use is most important," Repay said. "The end use should be something that is meaningful to the community." In July, IUN released the third report; a series of potential solutions brainstormed by about 10 local experts. Though the ideas varied in scope and complexity, all focused on making it easier to turn the properties into "financial gains for local communities," Fech said. The research team has proposed amending Indiana's current serial tax delinquency legislation to include properties that have gone through a tax sale two or more times with no bids. The ultimate goal is to turn the property over to the municipality. The researchers have met with leaders in each municipality to discuss how the parcels fit into the communities' master plans. "This project and its findings and recommendations have wide-spread applicability to address similar issues across the Region and even the state," IUN Chancellor Ken Iwama said. If the proposed legislation moves forward, counties across the state will be able to opt in by passing an ordinance. The first four reports can be accessed at iun.edu/cure/economic-impact, IUN hopes to release the final four by the end of December. Several times a week, Claudia Berroa simmers purple Peruvian corn with pineapple skins to make chicha morada for her restaurant, Claudys Kitchen, in Riverdale in the Bronx. As the cobs rise in the bubbling liquid, she thinks of her mother, who used to boil the beverage over a wood fire in Lima. I wanted to make it like my mom used to make it, she said. In Peru, chicha morada is as popular as sweet iced tea is in the American South, and as Peruvian chefs have opened restaurants here in New York, its a must on the menus. Chefs often dedicate more than two hours a day to simmer the corn with pineapple, apples, lime, sugar and spices like cinnamon and clove, and use the chicha morada in cocktails, savory dishes and desserts. It has those warming Christmas spices, but its so refreshing, said Erik Ramirez, the chef and partner at Llama Inn in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who likens the drink to Christmas on the beach. Mr. Ramirez simmers the drink for 45 minutes, lets the ingredients sit in the beverage as it cools overnight, and later adds sugar, then fresh squeezed lime to order. The restaurants most popular cocktail, the Llama Del Rey, has a chicha morada base. While several of these were from producers that are among the greatest in the world, I will confess that I was particularly looking forward to the Petrus, a Pomerol that today is among the most coveted and expensive wines in the world. Pomerol, and Petrus, were little known back then, however, except among a small circle who recognized the quality of the producer and the region despite their lack of renown. It was the Petrus that had been the impetus for the dinner. In early 2020, Philippe Newlin, a wine industry veteran who is director of Bordeaux and fine wine at Wine.com, an online retailer, was browsing internet auction sites looking for older bottles he could serve to the wine classes he teaches at Columbia Business School and the Yale School of Management. He was surprised to see a bottle of 1943 Petrus available for under $3,000, not at all cheap but far less than current vintages, which sell for around $5,000 a bottle. He rounded up a couple of collector friends to join him in buying the bottle. It was something of a risk. Wine fraud is an ongoing problem, and Petrus is among the bottles most subject to counterfeiting. This particular bottle had been listed by an owner who said he bought it on his honeymoon in Paris in 1973 and held onto it since then. As best as Mr. Newlin could tell, the label looked to be correct. Whats more, wine counterfeiters tend to focus on the best vintages, which fetch the highest prices. The 43 vintage is not in that category. While you cant rule out fraud, it seemed to the buyers a reasonable gamble. With the bottle in hand, they wondered whether they could build a World War II-era dinner around it. They spoke with a few other collectors and the dinner, after two pandemic years, began to take shape. In the end, it would include Mr. Newlin, five wine-lovers who, as Mr. Newlin put it, collect wine to drink, not flip for profit, one other guest and me. How to Consume an Ancient Bottle Opening 80-year-old bottles is fraught with anxiety. Corks crumble over time, and, if you were not the original buyer, you have no idea of how the wines had been stored. Almost all these wines were intended for aging over long periods, maybe 30 or 40 years. But 80 years? It is too long to assume any bottle is still good, even if they were stored carefully and had been from the best vintages. From 1939 through 1944, only 43 was considered better than mediocre. When I was a teenager, my grandfather Agustin Flores Castruita would call me every Saturday morning to let me know exactly which church festivals he would be hitting up that day. These festivals, in East Austin, Texas, where he lived, were like circuit parties for the neighborhoods older Mexicans and Mexican Americans. There were concerts, dancing, ice-cold beer, tacos and his favorite gorditas de chicharron. I knew exactly where to find him when Id arrive: next to the mariachis, with a can of Lone Star in one hand and a gordita in the other, belting out El Rey by Vicente Fernandez. The song would end, and hed raise his beer and shout with a loving but almost sad yearning, Mi Mexico! Agustin was born in Torreon, a city in the northern state of Coahuila. Five years later, in 1910, his father sold the familys dairy farm and bought a small farm just south of Austin, moving everyone across the border. Even though my grandfather spent only the first five years of his life in Mexico, he held onto his love of the country. Hed tell of driving his Ford Model A over the dirt roads between Austin and the Mexican border during Prohibition. Sitting back and smiling, hed recall the dances he went to, the food he ate and the affordable tequila hed buy openly at the cantinas unlike the ridiculously expensive moonshine served in secret at the speakeasies in Austin. That means a Musk-owned Twitter is, at the very least, a distinct possibility. I understand why this is, for many on the left, deeply chilling. Musks politics are shaped by a fondness for trolling and a hatred of wokeness, and hes likely to make the site a more congenial place for racist demagogues and conspiracy theorists. Among other things, hes promised to reinstate Donald Trump, whose account was suspended after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Other far-right figures may not be far behind, along with Russian propagandists, Covid deniers and the like. Given Twitters outsize influence on media and politics, this will probably make American public life even more fractious and deranged. I have a shred of hope, however, that if Musk makes Twitter awful enough, users will flee, and it will become less relevant. Im usually wary of arguments that declining conditions are a catalyst to progress contrary to the formulation often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, the worse, the better, worse is usually just worse. Im going to make an exception for Twitter, though. The best thing it could do for society would be to implode. An obvious question one my kids ask me all the time is why I use Twitter if I detest it so much. The easy part of the answer is that its useful for my job. Its a font of breaking news, a way to quickly survey what lots of different people are saying, a tool for promoting my writing, and sometimes a vehicle for contacting sources. It was on Twitter that I learned that Musk had finally agreed, again, to buy Twitter. As soon as this column is published, Ill post it there. But more than professional utility ties me to the site. Twitter hooks people in much the same way slot machines do, with what experts call an intermittent reinforcement schedule. Most of the time, its repetitive and uninteresting, but occasionally, at random intervals, some compelling nugget will appear. Unpredictable rewards, as the behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner found with his research on rats and pigeons, are particularly good at generating compulsive behavior. I dont know that Twitter engineers ever sat around and said, We are creating a Skinner box, said Natasha Dow Schull, a cultural anthropologist at New York University and author of a book about gambling machine design. But that, she said, is essentially what theyve built. Its one reason people who should know better regularly self-destruct on the site they cant stay away. Modern countries, by this thinking, should try to tamp down nationalist passions and embrace the universal brotherhood of all humankind. As John Lennon famously sang, Imagine theres no countries/ It isnt hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion too. Those people are not all wrong. Nationalism has a lot of blood on its hands. But it has become clear that there are two kinds of nationalism: the illiberal nationalism of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and the liberal nationalism of Zelensky. The former nationalism is backward-looking, xenophobic and authoritarian. The latter nationalism is forward-looking, inclusive and builds a society around the rule of law, not the personal power of the maximum leader. Its become clear that if it is to survive, liberalism needs to rest on a bed of this kind of nationalism. Nationalism provides people with a fervent sense of belonging. Countries dont hold together because citizens make a cold assessment that its in their self-interest to do so. Countries are held together by shared loves for a particular way of life, a particular culture, a particular land. These loves have to be stirred in the heart before they can be analyzed by the brain. Nationalism provides people with a sense of meaning. Nationalists tell stories that stretch from a glorious, if broken, past forward to a golden future. Individuals live and die, but the nation goes on. People feel their life has significance because they contribute these eternal stories. Freedom is hollow outside of a meaning-providing system, Yael Tamir writes in her book Why Nationalism. Democracies need nationalism if they are to defend themselves against their foes. Democracies also need this kind of nationalism if they are to hold together. In his book The Great Experiment, Yascha Mounk celebrates the growing diversity enjoyed by many Western nations. But he argues they also need the centripetal force of cultural patriotism, to balance the centrifugal forces that this diversity ignites. For the TikTok star Victoria Pariss 1.5 million followers, her girlfriend is often a background feature in her videos, ever-present but never fully revealed. By intentionally choosing to conceal her, either by covering her face with objects, filming the back of her head, or posting only her hands, Ms. Paris has kept their relationship in the so-called soft launch stage on social media. The relationship term, brought to life with the help of the actor and comedian Rachel Sennotts viral Tweet, is exactly as it sounds: making it known that youre dating without sharing details. Ms. Paris considers it keeping your relationship private but not a secret. Soft launching is everything but the persons face and handle to me, limiting the exposure and liability of having to answer for a relationship, Ms. Paris, 23, said. I didnt want to keep my partner a secret, but I wanted to be able to share in a more conservative way and learn from my past mistakes. Ms. Paris, who has experienced past relationships falling apart under the pressure and microscope of social media, said soft launching takes the pressure off the relationship and prevents the insecurities, complications and arguments that arise from social media. An unusually public dispute between a playwright and a production team has broken out into the open over a Broadway-bound play starring Sean Hayes. The actor is planning to star next spring in a new play, Good Night, Oscar, about the witty pianist Oscar Levant, who became well known for his appearances on radio, television and film. The play was written by Doug Wright, who won both the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for I Am My Own Wife. But another playwright, David Adjmi, has taken to social media to express his unhappiness with this state of affairs, saying that he had written an earlier version of a Levant play for Hayes and is not pleased with the way his version was treated. Hayes and the production team have defended their conduct, saying that they had parted ways over different creative visions. It is not unusual for theater and film projects to change members of their creative team, or even their casts, along the way. It is unusual, at least on Broadway, for disputes over such changes to break out into the open. WASHINGTON Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, plans to leave the Senate by the end of the year to become president of the University of Florida, after a presidential search committee for the states flagship university announced on Thursday that he was the sole finalist for the post. Mr. Sasse, who voted with six other Republican senators to convict President Donald J. Trump on impeachment charges following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and has harshly criticized his own party for backing Mr. Trump, was re-elected to his second term in 2020 and was not set to be on the ballot again until 2026. But his academic background evidently was a draw for the group seeking a replacement for Kent Fuchs, the current University of Florida president, who is returning to teaching as the campus has been roiled by disputes over academic freedom. This is right for the University of Florida, right for the state of Florida and right for the Sasse family, said Rahul Patel, the chairman of the Presidential Search Committee. Ben brings intellectual curiosity, a belief in the power and potential of American universities, and an unmatched track record of leadership spanning higher education, government and the private sector. Follow our live coverage of the verdict in the trial of Alex Jones. WATERBURY, Conn. Jury deliberations began late Thursday in the damages trial of the Infowars fabulist Alex Jones, who defamed the families of eight victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and unleashed years of abuse and threats against them from people who believed Mr. Joness lies on his online and radio broadcast that the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting was a hoax. Growing emotional at times, Chris Mattei, a lawyer on the families legal team, walked the jurors through a litany of the abuse inflicted by Mr. Jones and his followers, who believed the families were complicit in the plot. You saw hes going on 10 years of defaming these families, and its not stopping, Mr. Mattei told the jury during his closing remarks. This is their one chance, and your one chance your one chance to render a verdict on just how much devastation Alex Jones has caused. Mr. Mattei did not ask the jury to consider a specific dollar amount. Rather, he asked them to assign a dollar amount to each lie Mr. Jones had told about the shooting, then multiply it by the more than 500 million times those lies drew readers from social media to Infowars website. There are 15 plaintiffs in the case, including parents, siblings and spouses of the victims, as well as a former F.B.I. agent who was singled out by the conspiracy theorists and labeled an actor. In one of the more unusual television advertisements of this years midterm election campaigns, Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, accuses Democrats of wanting to defund police departments. Violent crime is surging in Louisiana, he says in the ad. Woke leaders blame the police. That wasnt the unusual part. In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other states, Republicans have painted Democrats as hostile to the police and as cheerleaders for rioting and mayhem. And even though the data on crime is mixed, the tactic seems to be working for the G.O.P. in many races. What was unusual was that Kennedy was bothering to advertise at all in his deep-red state, and the line that came next: Look, the Louisiana senator continues, if you hate cops just because theyre cops, the next time you get in trouble, call a crackhead. Kennedys re-election bid is far from competitive. His Democratic opponent, a community activist from Baton Rouge named Gary Chambers, is polling in the teens. And, in this instance, the Democrat in question really has endorsed the idea of cutting police budgets. The injunction, the department said in the filing, appears to bar the FBI and DOJ from further reviewing the records to discern any patterns in the types of records that were retained, which could lead to identification of other records still missing. The department added that the injunction would prohibit the government from using any aspect of the seized records contents to support the use of compulsory process to locate any additional records. Among the potential crimes that the department cited in seeking the search warrant for Mar-a-Lago was obstruction. Justice Department officials and representatives of Mr. Trump have held a number of discussions in recent weeks. After the call from Mr. Bratt, who has led the Justice Departments investigation into Mr. Trumps handling of the documents, Mr. Trump initially agreed to go along with the advice of one of his lawyers, Christopher M. Kise, who suggested hiring a forensic firm to search for additional documents, according to the people briefed on the matter. But other lawyers in Mr. Trumps circle who have argued for taking a more adversarial posture in dealing with the Justice Department disagreed with Mr. Kises approach. They talked Mr. Trump out of the idea and have encouraged him to maintain an aggressive stance toward the authorities, according to a person familiar with the matter. It is unclear at which property Mr. Kise wanted a voluntary search by an outside group to be conducted. Along with his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Trump frequently spends time at his club in Bedminster, N.J., and an office in Manhattan. A major hack targeting Mexicos Defense Ministry has shed light on the countrys most secretive and powerful institution, documenting its expanding influence over the civilian government, attempts to evade cooperation on a landmark human rights investigation and spying on journalists using the spyware known as Pegasus. Detailed in the data breach are the militarys own internal probes and suspicions that powerful government officials, like state governors and the current interior minister, are linked to organized crime networks, including drug cartels. As journalists in Mexico search through the enormous hack, the information revealed in news articles so far has illuminated the militarys growing hold over civilian institutions and its close relationship with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The Mexican military has a history of human rights abuses and massacres of civilians, and has long resisted oversight and accountability. The leaked emails show in military officials own words how the institution maneuvers to sidestep the government, empower itself and protect its own members, however junior. The commissioner said that investigators had still not determined whether some, or all, of the victims had been targeted, and she added that Myless motive might never be known. The police had charged both brothers with first-degree attempted murder and breaking and entering in the attack that unfolded on Sept. 4 on the reserve and in the village of Weldon. In total, 29 people were attacked. Eighteen of them were injured, and some remain hospitalized. The reassessment by the police fits the belief of many members of the James Smith Cree Nation, where most of the victims lived and died. (One man was killed in Weldon.) Many community members say they believe that Damien was killed while attempting to stop his brothers rampage. Damiens body was found in a grassy area near a house being investigated as part of the attacks on the James Smith reserve. Commissioner Blackmore declined to say if he had been slain before the other killings started. The police have yet to construct a full timeline of the killings, and the commanding officer said that such information was unlikely to be released until a coroners inquest next year. President Biden delivered a striking warning on Thursday night that recent threats from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could devolve into a nuclear conflict, telling supporters at a fund-raiser in New York City that the risk of atomic war had not been so high since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Mr. Biden told a crowd at the second of two fund-raisers he attended on Thursday evening. We are trying to figure out: What is Putins off ramp? Mr. Biden said, adding: Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself where he does not only lose face but significant power? Mr. Bidens references to Armageddon were highly unusual for any American president. Since the Cuban Missile Crisis, 60 years ago this month, occupants of the Oval Office have rarely spoken in such grim tones about the possible use of nuclear weapons, much less talked openly about off ramps. Deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainians far behind the front lines and new concerns about the safety of an endangered nuclear power plant highlighted questions about how Vladimir V. Putins government, with its troops retreating and dissension escalating at home on Thursday, might lash out if its battlefield losses continue. As Ukraine claimed to retake more towns and villages in the south and east, missiles hit a residential area in the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least seven people, with five others missing the latest in a series of attacks on civilian targets far from the fighting. Absolute meanness, absolute evil, President Volodymyr Zelensky said of Thursdays strikes, speaking by video to a gathering of European leaders. Ukrainian and Western analysts say Russian attacks on civilian targets have grown more indiscriminate, serving little military purpose but reminding people that no part of the country is safe. Less than a week ago, a rocket blast killed at least 30 civilians in Zaporizhzhia at a checkpoint and a bus stop, officials said. Liverpool will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, organizers of the musical competition announced on Friday, choosing the birthplace of the Beatles for one of Europes premier cultural events. The M&S Bank Arena, an 11,000-capacity arena, will stage the competition on May 13, 2023, organizers said. The announcement capped an unusual selection process, in which Ukraine, which earned the right to host next years event after winning this years contest, was ruled out by Eurovision organizers, who said the war-torn country could not provide the necessary security and operational guarantees. Instead, Britain, the runner-up in 2022, was named host. Liverpool was selected from a shortlist of seven cities that also included Glasgow, the runner-up, along with Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Green New Deal President Joe Biden pardoned people convicted of marijuana possession under federal law on Thursday. Ladies and gentlemen, that is a hell of a green New Deal, Stephen Colbert said. Season 1, Episode 7: The Eye The title of this weeks The Rings of Power episode seems a lot like a wink toward even the most casual of Tolkien fans. Its called The Eye, a name that could refer to the Eye of Sauron: the imposing symbol of the Dark Lords all-seeing, all-knowing power in The Lord of the Rings books and movies. After six episodes of merely teasing connections by hinting that Adar may be Sauron, or that the Stranger may be a wizard, or that the Southlands may be Mordor the shows writers may be ready to start definitively answering some questions. But are they? This episode opens with an image of an actual eye. Its Galadriels, as she wakes up covered in ash after the volcanic explosion triggered by Adars minions. Later, we learn that the Queen-Regent Miriel was blinded while trying to save as many as possible in the wake of the eruption. There seems to be a motif here. Does the title of The Eye literally refer to eyes, and not to Sauron? As it happens, very little of this weeks action involves Adar, the orcs or Sauron (whomever or wherever he may be). Instead, we see the Numenoreans and the Southlanders regroup after last weeks disastrous events; and we catch up with the dwarves and the Harfoots. The episode does end with the orcs settling into their new homeland, where the sun has been blotted out by the volcanos smoke and ash. And there, the Rings writers do clarify something viewers have been wondering, as the word Southlands is erased from the screen and replaced with the regions new name: Mordor. This ancient version of Middle-earth is starting to look a little more like the one we know. Here are five takeaways and observations from this seasons penultimate episode: Galadriel and her little buddy After her enormous setback in the previous episode, Galadriel is a much humbler elf although humble is a relative term for an immortal who still believes, more often than not, that her choices are absolutely right. Still, there are some (so to speak) humanizing moments for Galadriel this week, as she helps Theo find his way out of his ravaged village and to the spot near the shore where the Numenoreans and the Southlanders are resting. As the two ride, they talk. She shares some personal stories that make her seem less forbidding, including describing dancing with her late husband, a soldier whom she says resembled a silver clam when he rode off to battle because his armor didnt fit properly. For the past three decades, art historians have questioned the authenticity of two paintings by Vermeer held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. They were the only paintings among his authenticated works that were completed on wooden panels. So while the museum was closed during the coronavirus pandemic, its curators, conservators and scientists used powerful new technology to look beneath the paintings and try to figure out exactly whose hand was responsible. On Saturday, the group will present its findings and officially change the attribution for Girl With a Flute. It is a Vermeer no more. Microscopic pigment analysis and advanced imaging technology revealed an unusual approach to layering pigments within the painting. Whoever was imitating the 17th-century Dutch artist had botched his process, leaving the image with a coarse finish unlike the smooth surfaces that have distinguished Vermeer as one of historys finest painters. Some crime novels I adore or loathe instantly; others provoke more tepid reactions. Few, however, cause me to turn each page in a state of utter bewilderment, wondering why I should keep going, but also made me incapable of stopping. This was the precise reaction that THE MAZE (Scribner, 415 pp., $30), Nelson DeMilles eighth novel featuring the ex-N.Y.P.D. detective (and more recently, ex-federal agent) John Corey. Were in Coreys head the whole time, and its an exhausting place to be. As an ex-lover (he refers to her as a former fornicator) tells him, You buck authority, and you dont like rules and regulations. No kidding. When he meets a young woman for the first time, he thinks she needs a good spanking. Hes also wont to make politically incorrect jokes about the world of Islam. When Corey actually investigates the crime at the heart of the book one clearly inspired by the Gilgo Beach killings of several sex workers, replete with corruption at every level of law enforcement the set pieces are genuinely thrilling. But to get there requires sitting with a man whos so repellent that I constructed an alternate narrative universe where the women are fully fleshed-out humans, objectifying Corey to the extreme. For the next few months, were sharing some of our favorite conversations from the podcasts archives. This weeks segments first appeared in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In 1965, James Baldwin, by then internationally famous, faced off against William F. Buckley Jr., one of the leading voices of American conservatism, in a debate hosted by the Cambridge Union in England (and currently being dramatized as a stage show at the Public Theater in New York). The debate proposition before the house was: The American dream is at the expense of the American Negro. Nicholas Buccolas 2019 book The Fire Is Upon Us tells the story of that intellectual prizefight as well as the larger story of Buckleys and Baldwins lives. Although the union had existed for 150 years prior to this night, Buccola said on the podcast in 2019, Im pretty sure that there was never a speech quite like the speech that Baldwin delivered that night, because a lot of formal debate is this combination of intellectual exercise and performance art you know, a lot of humor injected and that sort of thing. But Baldwin arrives that night and he delivers a sermon; he delivers a jeremiad. He is there to say things that people dont want to hear. The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries, said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the committee chair. They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power. Memorial is one of Russias most respected rights groups, co-founded in the 1980s by Andrei Sakharov, also a Nobel Peace laureate, to document crimes of the Soviet era. The Kremlin outlawed the group last year. As the prize was announced, staff members were in a Moscow courtroom fighting a government order to seize the groups assets. As expected, the judge ruled against them. The Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine was cited for its pioneering role in efforts to document Russian war crimes since the invasion began. The Center was founded in 2007 to promote democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine, but its focus has shifted during the war to seek justice and accountability for crimes committed by Russian troops. Bialiatski, who helped found and lead the rights group Viasna in Belarus, was arrested last July as part of a brutal crackdown on dissent that unfolded after huge street protests erupted in 2020, demanding an end to President Aleksandr Lukashenkos rule. The threat environment is always changing, and we are updating our policies today to make sure were addressing the challenges posed by the P.R.C. while we continue our outreach and coordination with allies and partners, he said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China. Technology experts said the rules appeared to impose the broadest export controls issued in a decade. While similar to the Trump administrations crackdown on the telecom giant Huawei, the new rules are far wider in scope, affecting dozens of Chinese firms. And unlike the Trump administrations approach which was viewed as aggressive but scattershot the rules appear to establish a more comprehensive policy that will stop cutting-edge exports to a range of Chinese technology companies and cut off Chinas nascent ability to produce advanced chips itself. It is an aggressive approach by the U.S. government to start to really impair the capability of China to indigenously develop certain of these critical technologies, said Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at Center for a New American Security, a think tank. Companies will no longer be allowed to supply advanced computing chips, chip-making equipment and other products to China unless they receive a special license. Most of those licenses will be denied, though certain shipments to facilities operated by U.S. companies or allied countries will be evaluated case by case, a senior administration official said in a briefing Thursday. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese government will take action in response. Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at Yale Law School who studies technology policy in China, said the new rules could push Beijing to impose restrictions on American companies or firms from other countries that comply with U.S. rules but still want to maintain operations in China. Al Primo, a television station executive who transformed local newscasts into fast-paced Eyewitness News programs by putting rarely-seen reporters on the air as witnesses to the events they covered and having anchors banter about the days events, died on Sept. 29 at his home in Greenwich, Conn. He was 87. His daughter Valerie Primo Lack said the cause was lung cancer. In a format that he developed in Philadelphia, brought to New York City and then helped spread nationwide, Mr. Primo strove to make his news teams seem like on-air families that viewers could relate to at 6 and 11 oclock. He did away with the staid, usually white anchorman delivering the news and switched to two anchors, often a man and a woman. He sent reporters into the field (after learning that he did not have to pay them extra if they left their newsroom desks) and assigned them to beats, as newspapers do. After completing their on-site reports, the reporters went into the studio and engaged in on-air discussions about their stories with the anchors. Those conversations and the chitchat between the anchors, intended to highlight their personalities, drew criticism as happy talk. David Beckwith, who scored a scoop for Time magazine in 1973 when he reported the Supreme Courts landmark Roe v. Wade abortion-rights ruling hours before it was officially announced, a feat that gained new attention this year after a draft of the courts opinion overturning Roe was leaked in advance, died on Sunday at his home in Austin, Texas. He was 79. His wife, Susan Beckwith, said the cause was lung cancer. In May, about two months before the Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the news outlet Politico published Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.s draft opinion in the case. The leak was widely described as an unprecedented violation of the courts rules. But as several news organizations noted, Mr. Beckwith had achieved a similar result 49 years earlier with a Time article headlined Abortion on Demand, breaking the news about Roe. Although the timing of Mr. Beckwiths scoop was largely accidental, its substance was unassailable, a product of rock-solid reporting by a relative newcomer to Times Washington bureau. A slew of for-profit digital outlets and nonprofit media organizations have popped up or expanded in recent years to help fill the void. States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit news outlets, now has a presence in 29 states, with plans to expand to South Dakota, Kentucky and Alabama. Spotlight PA, a partnership of news organizations, covers state politics in Pennsylvania. CalMatters, another nonprofit, focuses on California politics and policy. Some national outlets, like Politico and Bloomberg, have also introduced state-specific offerings to try to address the dearth of coverage. Axios has started Axios Local newsletters in cities across the country, with content sometimes focusing on statehouses. An Axios spokeswoman, Yolanda Brignoni, said the company would end the year with newsletters in 30 cities and planned to be in 50 by the end of 2023. Mr. Wilson said he hoped his new site would stand out not by focusing on any one state capitol but by covering broader policy currents coursing from one state to another. Pluribus News is starting with a newsroom of six employees, four of them reporters who will cover economic, infrastructure, health care, and energy and environmental policy across all 50 states. Mr. Wilson, who serves as the editor in chief, said he envisioned expanding into education and housing coverage. The business will rely on selling advertisements that will run with its free daily newsletter and digital subscriptions; the company also plans to introduce a paywall in January, Mr. Wilson said. And he expects to tap into lobbying spending, which has soared in states. Its clear to me that the business interests that advertise around D.C.-based publications are increasingly turning to the states because they see the opportunity to influence policy there before it comes here to D.C., he said. In its four months, the monsoon provides most of Indias water. So any changes in how and when the rains do and dont come can have huge effects. For cities, heavier downpours create further problems for flood-control infrastructure that is chronically insufficient. Bengalaru, formerly known as Bangalore, with a metro-area population of 13 million, found that out the hard way this summer, experiencing major floods. For farmers like Gagre, too much water too quickly can mean that much of it is lost, flowing into rivers and streams and thus unavailable as groundwater later in the year. Much of my time in his village and others was spent seeing and talking about efforts to conserve water, undertaken with the help of a nonprofit group, the Watershed Organization Trust. Those efforts include altering landscapes by digging trenches on slopes and planting more trees to slow runoff so that more water percolates into the ground. But they also include educational efforts like teaching villagers how to develop a water budget for the year, how to monitor groundwater and how to change crops and planting methods to use less water. All of these steps are crucial in villages like Gagres, which in the past would run out of water in January or February, several months before the rains would return. For me, it was fascinating to see and learn about. I wouldnt even have minded getting drenched. Read the full article here. Join our livestreamed event on fashion Coming up next Thursday: Vanessa Friedman, chief fashion critic at The New York Times, explores the environmental impact of Fashion Week. Can it ever be truly sustainable? You can register to watch for free. When Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, proposed a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the bill sparked controversy across the political spectrum. But few spoke of its potential impact on the growing number of women who are having children in their 30s. The proposed ban would allow exceptions to save a womans life and for some pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, but it notably lacks exceptions for fetal abnormalities. As such, it would sharply restrict options for the growing numbers of older women with pregnancies that are long-delayed and much wanted but also come with a greater risk of conditions like Down syndrome. The median childbearing age in the United States has increased in recent decades, reaching 30 in 2019, up from 27 in 1990. But older mothers are more likely to conceive fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities, and the test most commonly used to detect those disorders can only be performed after a pregnancy is 15 weeks along, beyond Mr. Grahams proposed window for abortion. Some anatomical anomalies, too, cannot be diagnosed until later in pregnancy. Older mothers are also more likely to enter pregnancy with health conditions that can worsen as gestation progresses and can require termination to save the womans life or prevent disability. The New York Times is looking into nonprofit hospitals, which receive billions of dollars in tax breaks every year, to see whether they are fulfilling their charitable missions. Were investigating how people who are uninsured or on Medicaid are treated compared with wealthier patients. Do well-connected or rich patients get different kinds of treatment? Are poorer patients ever moved to other hospitals, or encouraged to seek care elsewhere? We need your help. If you are a doctor, nurse or technician at a nonprofit hospital in New York City, wed love to hear from you. We are also eager to hear from medical students and medical residents in New York City and from emergency service workers who help transport patients to hospitals. VIENNA The 19th-century Empress Elisabeth of Austria is everywhere in Vienna: on chocolate boxes, on bottles of rose, on posters around the city. The Greek antiques she collected are at Hermesvilla, on the city outskirts; her hearse is at Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Hapsburg royal family; and her cocaine syringe and gym equipment are on display at the Hofburg, which was the monarchys central Vienna home. These traces paint an enticing, but incomplete, picture of an empress who receded from public life not long after entering it, and spent most of her time traveling the world to avoid her own court. She had a tattoo on her shoulder; drank wine with breakfast; and exercised two to three times a day on wall bars and rings in her rooms. These eccentricities, combined with her refusal to have her picture taken after her early 30s, fueled an air of mystery around her. Now, nearly 125 years after Elisabeths assassination, at age 60, two new productions a new Netflix series called The Empress and a film called Corsage that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May and will hit American theaters on Dec. 23 offer their own ideas. Growing up in Austria, she was the main tourist magnet, aside from Mozart, said Marie Kreutzer, who wrote and directed Corsage. Nevertheless, she added, Elisabeth, who was married to Emperor Franz Josef I, is largely a mystery. Her image is one you can reimagine and reinterpret and fill with your own imagination, because we have a lot of stories about her, but you dont know if theyre true, Kreutzer said. The settlement is scratching the surface, said Anthony T. DiPietro, who represented the victims. I represent nearly a dozen additional women who Columbia has refused to address, he said in a call Friday evening. On Saturday morning, a spokesman for Columbia University Irving Medical Center said the hospitals knew of only two unresolved claims brought by former patients who have been identified and are represented by Mr. DiPietro. The investigation began in 2012 after a patient told the police that then-Dr. Hadden touched her sexually during an examination. Six women came forward with similar allegations, court records showed. In 2014, he was indicted on charges that included five counts of a criminal sexual act, two counts of forcible touching and two counts of sexual abuse. But in a deal with the Manhattan district attorneys office, Mr. Hadden pleaded guilty to a single felony count of criminal sexual act in the third degree, and a misdemeanor count of forcible touching. The prosecutors office agreed to not seek prison time and promised not to pursue new sexual abuse allegations against him. His sex-offender status was reduced so that it would end after 20 years and his name would not be on an online list of offenders. That deal received scrutiny amid questions about how Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the former Manhattan district attorney, handled sex crimes including the revelation that in 2011, his office had asked for the lowest sex-offender status to be given to Jeffrey Epstein. Then there was the groups name, which was an immediate flash point: a white financial services guy using the Panther name to take action against a Black man. At the groups first and only meeting, the scattering of potential volunteers was met by a group of four people, all white, who showed up to disrupt the proceedings. As described in the news site Hell Gate and the newsletter Common Sense, things went awry almost from the start. A man calling himself Snow told the group, We are super not into you guys having your meeting, or doing anything in the park, according to Hell Gate. The opposite of what we need right now is more cops in this park and more people who want to be helping the cops in this park, when people are already being, like, chased down by the cops. To the delight of people who enjoy making fun of Park Slope liberals, one of the disrupters, a woman calling herself Sky, said, Crime is an abstract term that means nothing in a lot of ways, according to Common Sense. A few days after the meeting, someone spray-painted the sidewalk outside Mr. Nammacks apartment: Dont Be a Cop, Kris. It rattled him. Even being gay, I dont know that Ive ever been the target of hate, he said. I felt that I was the target of hate. He decided he did not have the time or energy to continue the group. On Nextdoor, people seemed to be dug into their positions. Many bundled the lack of an arrest with the rise of other crimes in the neighborhood. Serious crimes in the 78th Precinct, which includes Park Slope, are up 50 percent from two years ago, though well below the highs of the early 1990s. A spokesperson for the Police Department said they were conducting canvasses of the park but would not comment on why there had been no arrest. At a virtual town meeting, Capt. Frantz Souffrant noted that numerous people in the area wear dreadlocks and carry staves. Ms. Rowland the woman who witnessed the assault went on at least three rides with officers to confirm a sighting. Each time the person was gone, or it was the wrong man. Both Ms. Chrustic and Mr. Nammack separately appealed to their representative on the City Council, Shahana Hanif, for help, but they came away feeling her staff members were more concerned with the safety of the man whom they presumed to be homeless and mentally ill than with the threat he might pose to others. Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency on Friday as the number of people in New York Citys overwhelmed homeless shelters headed for a record amid the influx of thousands of migrants from Latin America. He called for state and federal funding to help pay for housing and services, and urged the federal government to allow newly arrived asylum seekers to work legally and to slow the northward flow of migrants from the border. He spoke as the population of the citys main shelter system, which stood at 61,379 on Thursday, was set to break the record of 61,415 set in 2019. At least nine more migrant buses arrived on Friday. Mr. Adams said that the migrants were on pace to send the shelter population soaring above 100,000 and that the influx could cost the city $1 billion in the current fiscal year alone. We need help, and we need it now, Mr. Adams said in a speech. The mayors declaration allows the city to open emergency relief centers more quickly by exempting them from the normal land-use and community-review process that often slows the opening of shelters. Some described current events in Iran as a movement. Others called it a revolution. However the protests are described, whats happening in the streets of Iran where every day, citizens are risking their lives to demand change does not seem to be going away anytime soon. In response, the Iranian diaspora in New York has been mobilizing to support the efforts. A Slack channel for Iranian New Yorkers helps them organize and disseminate information about events, like a gathering at Masquerade, an Iranian-owned Brooklyn bar and restaurant, as well as another march scheduled for this Saturday in Foley Square, in Lower Manhattan. One of the important roles that we as Iranians can play here outside Iran is trying to uplift the voices of people who are living there, who are risking their lives by going in the street, doing demonstrations and also experiencing the harsh suppression from the security forces and from the police, said Forouzan Farahani, 31, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at City College, and one of the main organizers of events in the city. Recently, Ms. Farahani shaved her head to show solidarity with the women of Iran who have cut their hair. As people who are from Iran, who have had the opportunity to come here and who are able to communicate with a wider audience, it brings about a responsibility of sharing whats happening, said Arya Ghavamian, a founder of the performance and party project Disco Tehran. In the past few weeks, he has used the organizations social media platform to share videos of the protests and the crackdowns, as well as a history of the womens resistance in Iran. Recently he posted a newspaper clipping from 1979, the year of the Iranian Revolution, which had an image of women protesting the newly announced Islamic dress code. For us, its very important that people know about the history of this movement and how this isnt something that has just happened overnight, said Mr. Ghavamian, who sought political asylum after Irans publicly contested 2009 elections, which incited several months of demonstrations called the Green Movement. Its really been a very long process of suffering that has led to this moment, he said. Some tech-savvy New Yorkers are providing virtual private networks, or VPNs, to those on the ground in Iran, as the government continues to tighten restrictions on the internet. And consider this: In the 2020 presidential election, a clear majority of Americans voted against Trump in the highest turnout election of the 21st century so far. But with a few tens of thousands of additional votes in a few states, Trump would have won a second term under the Constitution. A mechanism for selecting a chief executive among propertied elites in the late eighteenth century persists into the twenty-first, Purdy writes, now as a key choke point in a mass democracy. The Constitution subverts democracy in a second, more subtle way. As Purdy notes, the countermajoritarian structure of the American system inhibits lawmaking and slows down politics, making meaningful initiatives hard to undertake. One result is that political campaigns have shifted into a symbolic and defensive mode where the move is not to promise a better world, but to impress on voters the urgency of keeping the other candidate and party out of power. If enough people believe it is their responsibility to resist and disable any government they did not help to elect, self-rule can become impossible, Purdy writes. Donald Trumps presidency, he continues, arose from all of these dysfunctions. Even if you keep MAGA Republicans out of office (including Trump himself), youre still left with a system the basic structure of which fuels dysfunction and undermines American democracy, from how it enables minority rule to how it helps inculcate a certain kind of political chauvinism best captured in the hard-right mantra that the United States is a republic, not a democracy among some of the voters who benefit from lopsided representation in the Senate and the Electoral College. What makes this all the worse is that it has become virtually impossible to amend the Constitution and revise the basics of the American political system. The preamble to the Constitution may begin with We the People, but as Purdy writes, A constitution like the American one deserves democratic authority only if it is realistically open to amendment. It is only then that we can know that what has not changed in the old text still commands consent. Silence can have meaning, he points out, but only when it is the silence of those free to speak. There is much more to say about the ways that our political system has inhibited democratic life and even enabled forms of tyranny. For now, it suffices to say that a constitution that subverts majority rule, fuels authoritarian movements and renders popular sovereignty inert is not a constitution that can be said to protect, secure or even enable American democracy. In a speech in Philadelphia last month, Biden did speak publicly on the threats to American democracy. He focused, as almost any president would, on the Constitution. This is a nation that honors our Constitution. We do not reject it. This is a nation that believes in the rule of law. We do not repudiate it. This is a nation that respects free and fair elections. We honor the will of the people. We do not deny it. To the Editor: Re Biden and DeSantis Put Politics Aside to Aid Stricken Florida (news article, Oct. 6): I was pleased to see my governor and my president come together to help the state of Florida. Our state is suffering, and areas where one wouldnt have expected to see such damage are now uninhabitable, such as neighborhoods here in Central Florida. We need plans and shelters to help people who will soon be forced to evacuate because of flooding and mold. Plenty of neighborhoods are still flooded, with no end in sight. This is unacceptable. And its not even close to being the worst hit area of Florida. I cannot imagine the pain of those living in southwest Florida right now, but I pray for them often. We need our leaders to come together and help our residents regardless of politics. And I really hope our leaders, both local and federal, can help pull us out of this desperate hole. We cannot do this alone. Audrey Dellas Orlando, Fla. To the Editor: Re Former C.I.A. Director Worries for the Sanibel He Helped Shape (On Washington column, Oct. 5): Porter Gosss efforts at Sanibel Island represent one experiment that tried to balance environmental protection with economic viability. It may not have been to everyones taste but it produced an outcome that contrasts with the overbuilt state of most Florida shorefront communities. It would be unfair to fault Mr. Goss for not anticipating the degree to which climate change and sea level rise would jeopardize even eco-friendly development projects. But one lesson that emerges from the Sanibel experience is that what was visionary in the past may not be acceptable in the future. Post-Ian redevelopment needs to take account of social justice considerations, including the responsibilities of the privileged elite toward others who are less fortunate. Such matters did not loom large in public decision-making when Mr. Goss began his work. J. Kenneth Mitchell South Brunswick, N.J. The writer is emeritus professor of geography at Rutgers University. Today, however, the context is different. Certainly, students from wealthy, white families are still overrepresented at elite colleges and universities, but they are no longer the only constituency. Meanwhile, as the U.S. economy has become more unequal and uncertain, college degrees have essentially become prerequisites for the kinds of jobs that buffer against economic precarity. Which has increased competition among students and raised the bar for admission to elite schools. In this context, in which the bar for admissions is set so high, privilege is far from constant, the pressures on students are greater than ever and many students are undertaking a lifetime of debt in pursuit of their degrees, weed-out courses do not distinguish students on merit alone. Imagine, for example, a student whose high school offered no advanced chemistry classes, who is the first in her family to go to college and who in addition to her studies has to work 20 hours a week to pay bills. Imagine, also, that this student doesnt have a reliable laptop or Wi-Fi at her apartment, so she has to do her work in a computer lab or on her phone. Now compare her to the kid who took multiple A.P. science classes, who has no financial obligations and who has all the learning tools he needs. They may sit right next to each other in that orgo class, but their backgrounds place them miles apart. Yet elite universities dont do much to acknowledge those realities and instead rely on outdated models that presume the only relevant differences among students are how smart they are and how hard they work. Unfortunately, if not surprisingly, abundant evidence shows that universities are more responsive to requests from their highest-paying customers. With tuitions rising ever higher and government subsidies only a fraction of what they once were, universities are dependent on money from affluent families. That model pushes schools to cater to the demands of privileged students and their families, even though doing so increases inequalities between those students and the less privileged peers whose tuitions the wealthy families essentially subsidize. And the more that schools cater to privileged families, the more entitled those families may feel to make demands. Fixing these kinds of inequities would take a huge shift in the way the country supports families and funds both public K-12 schools and higher education. Even in the absence of that kind of shift, though, universities can do more to help students succeed in their classes, regardless of the level of privilege they bring with them or the types of majors they pursue. That means investing more in faculty hiring, to allow for smaller class sizes, and in academic advisers and other student support staff members, who are often deeply underpaid. Mao is widely regarded today in the West as, at best, a flawed patriot and, at worst, a brutal dictator. The Great Leap Forward of 1958 to 1962, his misguided attempt at rapid industrialization, contributed to a famine that killed tens of millions of Chinese. So intent were ordinary Chinese on raising steel production that they melted down hoes, plows and other iron implements in crude backyard furnaces, leaving them nothing to work the fields. Less than a decade later, Mao instigated the Cultural Revolution: Students turned in their teachers for sedition, Maos rivals were shot to death, and a whole generation of Chinas best and brightest were exiled to the countryside for re-education (including Xi himself). Communism and isolationism kept China desperately poor under Mao. Xi, however, sees Mao as very much worthy of emulation. Marquis, a professor at the Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge, gave me examples, saying: He uses Maos slogans frequently. He dresses like him, gestures like him. At the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China which was last year he wore a very specific type of suit, a special kind of Mao suit that only Mao wore on very specific occasions. And he gave his speech from Tiananmen Square, just like Mao did when he proclaimed the founding of the P.R.C. If play acting were the extent of Xis emulation of Mao, no one outside of historians would much care. Its more than that. Xi, like Mao, asserts the primacy of the Communist Party. Hes bearing down on or squeezing out private enterprises and foreign-owned businesses. He relies heavily on propaganda and cuts off his peoples access to foreign sources of information. He harbors bitterness toward nations such as Japan, Britain and the United States that he believes humiliated China in the past and aim to prevent its rise to greatness today. And he is intent on completing Maos civil war with the Nationalist army of Chiang Kai-shek by absorbing Taiwan, where the Nationalists fled in defeat in 1949. One big difference is that under Mao, ordinary Chinese ate bitterness, as a Chinese expression goes, but they have tasted sweetness under Xi, under whose rule Chinas economic miracle has continued. Thats an enormous advantage for Xi. The implicit bargain in modern China is that its leaders will deliver prosperity and, in exchange, the people will deliver their unwavering support. But Xis policies jeopardize that bargain by threatening Chinas prosperity. Though the Board of Educations bylaws were amended to abolish the colored schools by 1884, Gov. Grover Cleveland signed a superseding state law that year that permitted just two of the Black schools to retain their Black teachers and continue to function largely as de facto Black schools, even as their doors were opened to students of all races. One was Colored School No. 4, which was renamed Grammar School No. 81. By 1888, enrollment had dipped notably at the West 17th Street school while at least a salting of white students had joined the Black ones. This was formerly known as an exclusively colored school and our pupils came from all parts of the city, Garnet told The New York Herald. But now they have left in order to attend schools nearer their homes. The school closed in 1894. Two years later, the city rented the building as a clubhouse for Civil War veterans of the 73rd Regiment. By the 1930s, the former schoolhouse had been turned over to the Sanitation Department. Because its owned by the city, it should be easier to convert it to public use rather than have it sold to the highest bidder for upscale development, said Thomas Lunke, an urban planner and 30-year Chelsea resident who has helped Mr. Washington understand the intricacies of city government. Mr. Washington said that he would like to see the old schoolhouse become some kind of lyceum, with public programming that echoes its past as an educational institution full of life and learning, perhaps with performances and book signings. When you walk by the building, its not going to stop you in your tracks because of its ornateness, Mr. Washington said. The ornateness comes from the souls that inhabited the place. For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Jeffrey Allen White had always sworn that he wouldnt date someone he went to school with. Then he met Chu En Wu. Both he and Ms. Wu, who is known as Joanne, were in other relationships in the fall of 2016 when she walked through a central gathering spot at the University of North Carolinas law school, where both were students. She saw a friend talking with Mr. White and stopped to say hello. Ms. Wu, who was a first-year student, mentioned that she wasnt enjoying her criminal law class. Mr. White, who was in his second year, had the same professor for the same class the previous year, and offered to share his course notes. I thought he was attractive, said Ms. Wu, who was also thrilled at the prospect of obtaining what essentially amounted to a cheat sheet to the course. She found him later on Facebook and sent him a message asking him to send over those notes whenever he found the time. Micah spent 60 hours per week loading and delivering packages. He saved his weekends for me, showing up to nearly every date with flowers. A Bible college graduate, he often asked how things were between me and Jesus, how he could pray for me. He dreamed of paying off his student loans and building a home of his own. That was his favorite word: home. I wanted to give him that. I decorated his cinder block basement apartment at Christmas, constructing a faux fireplace out of painted cardboard and string lights. The following year, I spent nine months hand-sewing a quilt for him. But whenever we tried to date, I was seized by a growing panic, a gut-level certainty that this wasnt the life I wanted. The only way to shake it off was to take a break. During these intervals, I would first feel peace and relief, followed by loneliness, remorse and a fear that God had sent me my one chance at happiness and I had turned him away. Wed get back together, try again. The cycle would repeat. The night he finally told me no, enough is enough, he presented me with a brand-new MacBook Pro laptop. He said he believed in me and wanted to invest in my dreams, even if we couldnt have a life together. A consolation laptop. My mother said it was the weirdest breakup shed ever heard of. President Biden on Friday signed an executive order giving Europeans the ability to protest when they believe their personal information has been caught in Americas online surveillance dragnet, a key step toward reaching a broader agreement over the flow of digital data. The order puts new restrictions on electronic surveillance by American intelligence agencies. In addition, Europeans will be able to complain to an official in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence if they believe their information was collected in a way that violated the standards or U.S. law. They could ultimately plead their case before a new independent review body, the Data Protection Review Court. The announcement brings the United States and the European Union closer to a deal to let companies transfer digital data like the information that powers Facebooks service and informs Google about which sites people visit across the Atlantic without running afoul of Europes privacy laws. American companies say a deal is needed to allow their operations in Europe to continue and fuel economic activity. Privacy activists successfully sued to strike down two previous agreements, arguing they had failed to adequately protect Europeans from overreach by American intelligence agencies. Officials in Washington and Brussels have been intent on reaching a new deal since then. A popular vacation spot for U.S. travelers, Costa Rica signed its new digital nomad visa into law this August and has already received 27 applications. We estimate that each remote worker who stays in Costa Rica to work will generate $46,400 per annum for the country, which will contribute to tourism industry revenues, and mean more jobs for Costa Ricans, said Carolina Trejos, director of marketing for the Costa Rica tourism board. Thailands new 10-year long-term visa, which launched in early September, seeks to supplement an aging work force by attracting a fresh pool of foreign talent that will drive economic activity, explained Janthapat Saichumin, the deputy director of Thailands board of investment. The visa is available for remote workers, highly skilled professionals, pensioners and wealthy global citizens who receive a range of benefits, including tax exemption for overseas income, permission to work locally and fast-track service at international airports throughout Thailand. Those who love island life can set up a toes-in-the-sand office and work remotely from a handful of Caribbean countries or head to far-flung shores of Bali, Mauritius and Dubai. Companies get in on the act As part of its new Live and Work Anywhere program, Airbnb is partnering with 20 destinations around the world to create custom digital hubs featuring information like visa requirements, tax policies and a comprehensive list of the best long-term-stay accommodations. Buenos Aires; the Austrian Alpine region of Salzkammergut; Tampa Bay, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; and the Caribbean have already launched, with more to follow later this year, including Thailand, Cape Town and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy. Remote work is where the world is going, said Brian Chesky, the co-founder and chief executive of Airbnb, in an email to employees. The right solution should combine the best of the digital world and the best of the physical world. Airbnb employees can now live and work in more than 170 countries for up to 90 days a year in each location. As of the second quarter of 2022, Airbnb said it has seen long-term stays (28 days or more) increase nearly 25 percent from 2021 and by nearly 90 percent from 2019. Sojrn, a new travel brand that started last year, offers monthlong experiential learning programs for remote workers around the world (from $3,199 for four weeks). Its like work from home meets study abroad for adults, said the founder, Tara Cappel. We scout great places to stay, Wi-Fi-enabled work spaces and immersive experiences centered around an educational theme, which adds an element of purpose to the trip. Top sellers include Spanish in Medellin and Wine in Tuscany. A 57-year-old woman in the Sarasota area developed hypothermia and died after her roof caved in and she became stuck in floodwaters. A 96-year-old man drowned after getting trapped under a parked car in Charlotte County. In Fort Myers Beach, the body of an 85-year-old woman was found in a tree several days after the storm. After Hurricane Ian punched Florida last week, shredding beachfront towns and flooding large swaths of the state, the storm was blamed by state and county officials for at least 119 deaths, more than any other hurricane had caused in Florida since 1935. Officials in North Carolina linked four deaths there to the storm as well. Though the circumstances of many of those deaths remained unclear, information released this week by state and local governments provided a distressing portrait of a hurricane that at times overwhelmed both residents and emergency responders. At least 54 of the victims died by drowning, records showed. Nearly two-thirds of the dead were in two counties on Floridas southwest coast, Charlotte and Lee, that faced monstrous storm surge and winds exceeding 150 miles an hour. And many of those who died were older. Of the 87 people for whom an age or approximate age has been released so far, 61 were at least 60 years old. Eighteen of them were in their 80s, and five were in their 90s. Two brothers have been charged in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an 8-month-old baby, her parents and her uncle, who were found in a rural orchard in Californias Central Valley on Wednesday, two days after they were abducted from a family-owned business, the authorities said. The man accused of kidnapping and killing the family members, Jesus Manuel Salgado, has been booked into the Merced County Jail on four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping, the Merced County Sheriffs Office said. Mr. Salgados brother, Alberto Salgado, was booked into the jail on charges of criminal conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence, the office said on Friday. It was not immediately clear if the brothers had lawyers. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that, according to the Merced County sheriff, Vernon H. Warnke, Jesus Salgado had driven a truck for the family, which ran a trucking business, and had been fired. At the core of the case was a video of a conversation between Mr. Santillan and his wife that she had passed on to members of the biker club last year, accompanied by a text message in which she told them that her husband had been a confidential government informant. In other words, Ms. Santillan wrote in the text, he is a rat. In the video, played several times during the hearings, Ms. Santillan is talking to her husband on speakerphone when he informs her that Mr. Ciccone will be retiring. He cant protect me, he told me, so we have to have an exit strategy, he told me, Mr. Santillan, who sounded drunk and sounded distraught, said to her. The video was recorded in June of last year, when, Ms. Santillan said, she felt scorned because her husband had been unfaithful and after she had obtained a restraining order against him for what she claimed was physical abuse. In court testimony and in an earlier interview, Ms. Santillan said she had shared the video and the text with the Mongols in an attempt to destroy her husband but had since regretted it; she said she was not being truthful when she claimed he had been an informant. One of the clubs defense lawyers during the original trial, Stephen Stubbs, testified that Mr. Santillan had told him during the trial that he was regularly meeting with Mr. Ciccone as the proceedings were going on, even as he was overseeing the clubs defense team. David told me that they had been meeting every day at Starbucks before trial until Judge Carter told them not to because a juror saw them together, Mr. Stubbs testified in August. Only Iraq and Syria where U.S. troops and partners are fighting the remnants of the Islamic State are currently deemed to be conventional war zones where the new rules will not apply and commanders in the field will retain greater latitude to order counterterrorism airstrikes or raids without seeking White House approval, the official said. That means the rules will limit any such operations in several other countries where the United States has carried out drone strikes in recent years, including Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen, as well as the tribal region of Pakistan. The number of counterterrorism raids and drone strikes in several of the affected countries had been decreasing in recent years. The last U.S. drone strike in Pakistan was apparently in 2018, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Long War Journal, and the last one in Yemen was apparently in 2020. This summer, a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan killed Al Qaedas leader, Ayman al-Zawahri. The policy requires near certainty that a target is a member of a terrorist group approved for so-called direct action and near certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured before pulling the trigger, the official said. The policy is said to declare that capturing is preferable to killing, requiring the military and the C.I.A. to evaluate the feasibility of a capture operation. It also requires them to obtain the consent of the State Departments chief of mission in a country before carrying out an operation there, the official said. By limiting targeting approval to specific, named people, the policy does not authorize a tactic that may increase the risk of mistakes that kill civilians: so-called signature strikes, attacking people without knowing their identities based on patterns that raised suspicions. Still, the rules permit seeking Mr. Bidens permission for other types of strikes in extraordinary circumstances, and do not require White House approval for strikes carried out in self-defense, such as the so-called collective self-defense of partner forces. Many Native Americans depend on ballot collection because they have limited access to mail and transportation. Groups like Western Native Voice a nonprofit that promotes Native American political participation often pay workers to collect completed absentee ballots from eligible voters. Others vote in person but may rely on same-day registration because they cannot afford to travel twice. A voter in Heart Butte, on the Blackfeet reservation, must drive more than 50 miles one-way to get to their county seat. A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes living in Dixon, on the Flathead Reservation, has to drive nearly 60 miles to their county seat. In a nearly 200-page opinion, Judge Michael G. Moses of Montanas 13th Judicial District Court found that the ballot collection ban violated Native American voters rights, the ID law violated young voters rights, and the same-day registration ban violated both groups rights. In addition to Western Native Voice, other advocacy groups were plaintiffs in the lawsuit along with the Montana Democratic Party, four tribes and a disabled voter who anticipated relying on ballot collection. (The tribes and Western Native Voice, which is nonpartisan, sued separately from the Democrats. But because they challenged the same laws on similar bases, the cases were consolidated, along with a lawsuit on behalf of young voters.) The state had argued that the laws were needed to protect election security and voter confidence, which Judge Moses rejected, writing that it had not provided any evidence of voter fraud in Montana. He found not only that the laws had a discriminatory effect but that, in the case of the same-day registration ban, the discrimination appeared intentional. For much of the 2022 campaign, the race between Cheri Beasley, a Democratic former chief justice of the State Supreme Court, and Representative Ted Budd, a three-term Republican congressman, has been a sleepy one. The two contenders are polished and low key. They dont tend to use incendiary rhetoric. But with the polls showing them in a dead heat, Mr. Budd and Ms. Beasley on Friday turned up the volume in their first (and likely only) debate: Mr. Budd tried to make the race a referendum on President Biden, while Ms. Beasley sought to cast it as chance to vote against election denialism and extremism. The race has flown below the radar nationally compared to other electoral contests considered key to control of the Senate, likely because Democrats have not won a statewide federal contest in North Carolina since 2008. But in an evenly divided state, where the numbers of young and Latino voters have been growing and retirees have been flocking to the coasts, both candidates have strong paths to victory. Ms. Beasley and Mr. Budd did not appear to cover new ground that could potentially sway new voters to their side, but they were quick with talking points and jabs. They also seemed to effectively convey the messages they needed to turn out their own partys voters, though, there were no obvious needle-moving moments. WASHINGTON The Biden administration announced on Friday that it was imposing sanctions on several businessmen and companies in Asia that officials said help support the development of North Koreas weapons and its military. The action by the U.S. government comes during heightened tensions with North Korea, which has conducted missile tests 24 times this year, some with multiple projectiles. On Monday, Pyongyang fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan; that missile flew 2,800 miles, the longest distance ever traveled by a North Korean weapon. The United States and South Korea fired missiles in a drill on Wednesday, and the Pentagon moved an aircraft carrier to an area east of North Korea. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues its unprecedented pace, scale and scope of ballistic missile launches this year, Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, said in a statement, using the formal name of North Korea. This year alone, it has launched 41 ballistic missiles. Six of these were intercontinental ballistic missiles. Mr. Rhodes and his co-defendants Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell are also facing two other conspiracy counts. One accuses them of plotting to obstruct the certification of Mr. Bidens victory during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. The other charges them with working together to prevent federal officers from discharging their duties that day. Over the past several days, prosecutors have introduced a trove of evidence encrypted text messages, a recording of an Oath Keepers video meeting and testimony from former members of the group. They deployed the evidence to depict Mr. Rhodes as in thrall to fears that the Chinese government had helped rig the election against Mr. Trump and that leftist antifa activists were abetting the plot with violence on the ground whenever Trump supporters gathered in protest. The jury has seen evidence that Mr. Rhodes and other Oath Keepers marshaled weapons including assault-style rifles and cut-off pool cues while preparing to attend two pro-Trump rallies in Washington before Jan. 6: one called the Million MAGA March, on Nov. 14, 2020, and a subsequent gathering known as the Jericho March, on Dec. 12. At both events, lawyers for the group and witnesses have said, the Oath Keepers used their military and law-enforcement training to set up channels of communication and to conduct reconnaissance. They also staged armed quick reaction forces outside Washington that were ready to rush to the aid of their associates in the city if things got out of hand. The defense has argued that even though the Oath Keepers used military-style tactics to prepare for the events, they were not involved in violence in November or December. Lawyers for the group have also said that none of the thousands of text messages seized by government contain any evidence that Mr. Rhodes or his members planned for violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Instead, the lawyers have said, the Oath Keepers had prepared for defensive maneuvers against antifa, believing that leftist counterprotesters would attack Trump supporters that day. The group was also waiting, the lawyers have said, for Mr. Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act a move, they claim, that would have given them standing as a militia to employ force of arms in support of Mr. Trump. It is no secret that Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has presidential ambitions. This year he has traveled to New Hampshire, used his billions to finance fellow Democratic candidates in critical states and made himself a national figure in the fight for abortion rights and gun control. So when Mr. Pritzkers Republican opponent, State Senator Darren Bailey, pulled from his suit jacket pocket a pledge to serve all four years of the term on the ballot in November, Mr. Pritzker responded with what was a not-quite-air-tight assertion. I intend to serve four years more if re-elected, Mr. Pritzker said. I intend to support the president, hes running for re-election. President Biden has not formally made that declaration himself, but all indications are that he intends to run, just as Mr. Pritzker intends to serve out a second term. But neither man has made his pledge official. The suspension of the Police Department which consisted of five officers, including Lieutenant Hernandez, and a security guard also followed revelations by CNN that the school district over the summer hired a former Texas Department of Public Safety officer who had been among those first at the scene at Robb Elementary but did not move to confront the gunman. In police body camera footage released by the City of Uvalde, the officer, Crimson Elizondo, can be seen with her gun drawn just outside the school. Other footage, which appeared to be from her own body camera and was published by CNN, captured Officer Elizondo suggesting that she might not have stayed outside the school if her own child were inside. If my son had been in there, I would not have been outside, she said. I promise you that. Some parents recognized her from the footage as one of several new officers who had been hired by the Uvalde school district having left her job with the state to provide additional security on school campuses. The district fired Ms. Elizondo shortly after the new video footage surfaced on Thursday, and faced new questions about how much it had known about the nature of her role in the May 24 response. According to emails and other paperwork provided by the Department of Public Safety, the Uvalde school police supervisor who had been directly involved in hiring her, Lieutenant Hernandez, had been informed that Ms. Elizondo was one of several officers who were under investigation by the state police into actions inconsistent with training and department requirements. Sidima Ganjana, 23, who is from a township in the winelands, also grew up thinking the only thing the wine industry offered Black people like him was hard labor. But then he discovered an academy that trains disadvantaged youth in the wine sector, and he read an article about Mr. Siguqa. He wanted to learn how a Black man was able to buy a patch of earth that seemed to be the preserve of white people, so he went to the vineyard and asked to intern there. I dont feel to him like its a business, Mr. Ganjana said. It seems like its something bigger. As Mr. Siguqa strolled his farm, he pointed to the plot where he planned to build a production facility to make his wines (currently, he rents out other wineries facilities) and to where a 20-room hotel would go. Then he pointed over the wire fence at the back of his property, toward a cluster of tightly packed tin shacks near the foot of a grand mountain. It was Langrug, an informal settlement for Black workers who tend the vineyards. Someone once suggested planting trees along his property line to block the view of the settlement, but Mr. Siguqa said he couldnt do that. Because that divide between the largely white wine estates and Black labor is his history, and still the present for many. Its a reminder of inequality, he said. Its a constant reminder of how far we must still go as a country. Some of the ancient monolithic statues in Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island have been damaged beyond repair in a wildfire, the authorities said. The fire has burned more than 247 acres of the island, officials said in a statement on Wednesday. Ariki Tepano, the director of the Indigenous Mau Henua community, which manages Rapa Nui National Park, described the damage as irreparable and with consequences beyond what your eyes can see. The statues, he added, are totally burned. Photos from Easter Island were posted on social media showing the charred statues and smoke dotting the landscape. To the south, Venezuela, under an authoritarian government, has become a broken country, fueling a massive exodus of people seeking to feed their families. More than 6.8 million Venezuelans have left since 2015, according to the United Nations, mostly for other South American nations. Yet amid the pandemic and growing economic instability exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, many people have not found the financial footing they had sought in countries like Colombia and Ecuador. So many Venezuelans are on the move again, this time toward the United States. To the north, the surge presents a growing political challenge for President Biden, who is trapped between calls to aid desperate people and growing pressure from Republicans to limit a wave of migrants from Venezuela and elsewhere ahead of the November midterm elections. In recent months, apprehensions at the U.S. southern border have hit record levels, with Venezuelans among the fastest growing groups. But Venezuelans cannot be easily sent back. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with the government of President Nicolas Maduro and closed its embassy in 2019, after accusing the authoritarian leader of electoral fraud. In most cases, U.S. officials allow Venezuelans who turn themselves in to enter the country, where they can begin the process of applying for asylum. This has put them at the center of the political fight over migration: A large number of the people being flown or bused by Republican governors to Democratic-led enclaves are Venezuelan, including those who arrived recently on Marthas Vineyard, the upscale island off the Massachusetts coast. In Chinas far west region of Xinjiang, officials imposed a near-total lockdown and made a rare admission of failure in their handling of a Covid outbreak. In Inner Mongolia in the north, the authorities vowed all-out efforts to cut the spread of the virus. And in a popular travel destination in Yunnan, in Chinas south, the government canceled flights, trapping crowds of angry tourists at an airport. China is facing its largest flare-up of Covid cases in a month, complicating its preparations for an all-important Communist Party meeting where Xi Jinping is expected to expand his authority and claim another term in power. Provincial and local officials have vowed to stop the spread of the coronavirus from spilling over to Beijing, the capital, where the meeting will be held. Daily Covid counts have more than doubled in the past week, to around 1,400 cases on Friday, in the country of 1.4 billion people a tally that remains tiny by global standards. But Chinese authorities are under immense pressure to ensure that nothing disrupts the party congress, which starts Oct. 16. They have responded by ramping up restrictions that many already deem excessive. They are locking down regions and cities and mandating mass testing and quarantines, disrupting life for millions of people and drawing public complaints. Ms. Higgins sometimes struggled to recall specific details from 2019. She was upfront about the fact that didnt remember certain aspects of the night in question, when, she said, she had been extremely drunk. The harsh scrutiny complainants can be put under in sexual assault cases was also something Mr. Whybrow, the defense lawyer, acknowledged in his opening statement, when he said, Complainants allegations should be treated seriously and they should be provided mechanism and procedures to give evidence in a safe environment. But, he added, if we elevate that too highly and assume because someone has made an allegation that it must be right, then we no longer have the presumption of innocence. So when it was time for cross-examination, he pulled no punches, grilling Ms. Higgins about inconsistencies in accounts she has given to the police, the media and in court. But her lawyer argued that small inconsistencies, like differing accounts of the color of a car, should not make or break the case. Some discrepancies are not just cosmetic, but instead fundamental and essential to the case, Mr. Whybrow said in his opening statement, giving the example of whether Ms. Higgins had her dress scrunched up around her waist, like she says, or was naked, as a security guard says. They carry different inferences, Mr. Whybrow said. He hasnt gotten to that issue yet during cross-examination. But so far, he has canvassed inconsistencies including: that Ms. Higgins testified to keeping the dress she wore under her bed for six months, when photos revealed that she had actually worn it less than two months later; that she told journalists that Linda Reynoldss chief of staff had seen the CCTV footage from the night in question, when in fact she may have just made reference to that CCTV footage existing; and that she told journalists she had to wait two months to get a psychologist appointment using Parliaments employee assistance program, but was actually give an appointment within a month. By the end of the first week of the trial, two pictures had been painted. The one put forward by Ms. Higgins was of a young woman struggling to cope in the aftermath of a significant trauma, whose actions reflect that she was scared and took a significant amount of time to come to terms with what had happened to her, and whose memories have blurred because of how overwhelming everything was. Its researchers unearthed atrocities and memorialized the victims of the Stalin era. They documented abductions and killings in the war-battered republic of Chechnya. Its members held the increasingly authoritarian government of President Vladimir V. Putin to account. On Friday, the Russian organization Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work to shine a spotlight on Soviet and Russian state repression, efforts that have taken on added resonance at a time when Russias war in Ukraine has helped spur one of the Kremlins toughest clampdowns on freedom of expression in decades. The prize was shared with rights advocates in neighboring Ukraine and Belarus. Memorial has played a pivotal role in forcing Russia to come to terms with its totalitarian past and, in the process, illuminated the crimes of the present. The organizations reaction to winning the Peace Prize was posted to Instagram: For now, we have no words. The Peace Prize is the second in a row for a Russian entity an unusual streak that underlines the high stakes and long odds in the struggle over Russias future. Last year, one of the two Peace Prize laureates was Dmitri A. Muratov, the editor of the Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta six of whose journalists have been murdered. The newspaper ceased operating in Russia this year, under a new law that essentially criminalizes independent reporting on the war in Ukraine. DUBLIN For tens of thousands of people who were adopted in Ireland or gave up children for adoption there, often under heavy pressure knowledge that for decades was shrouded in secrecy and shame may now be a mouse-click away. The Irish government introduced an online service this week that for the first time promises adopted people born in Ireland, wherever they now live, the right to see any information the state holds about them including the names of their birth mothers. It also offers a free tracing service for anyone, including birth mothers, trying to find relatives lost to them through Irelands adoption system. The authorities are permitted up to 30 days to respond to requests, and adoption rights activists are waiting to see how well the service works. But they say it has the potential to be a significant step in reckoning with a painful national legacy of mistreatment of unmarried mothers and their children. Over decades, ending as recently as 1998, thousands of pregnant and unmarried women and girls in Ireland were confined to church-run mother and baby homes, where they were expected and often pressured to give up their babies after birth. An official inquiry published last year acknowledged poor conditions, high death rates and abuses at the institutions. WARSAW She has not seen her husband, the new Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, since a few days before his arrest in July 2021, and still has not been told when and for what he will be put on trial. Their letters to each other sometimes get delivered but sometimes, for long periods, dont arrive. I dare not say what that this award might mean, Natalia Pinchuk, Mr. Bialiatskis wife, said in a telephone interview from Minsk, the Belarusian capital, after he was announced as one of the prizes 2022 recipients on Friday. Of course, I have hopes, but Im afraid to express them. There is always this fear. Though not widely known in the West, Mr. Bialiatski, 60, has been a pillar of the human rights movement in Eastern Europe since the late 1980s, when Belarus was still part of the Soviet Union but, inspired by the reforms of Mikhail S. Gorbachev in Moscow, was slowly shaking off decades of paralyzing fear. He was active in Tutajshyja, or The Locals, a dissident cultural organization that helped lay the groundwork in the late Soviet period for a movement calling for the independence of Belarus. By Azernews By Fuad Muxtar-Aqbabali Throughout the years of occupation that spanned nearly 30 years, the vile enemy has left downhearted traces in the formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijans once flourishing and developing districts and villages were brutally destroyed and razed to the ground. As the de-occupied territories are being cleared of landmines, planted willy-nilly across a swathe of land, the scale of damages done to Azerbaijans nature, the destruction of residential houses, historical religious and cultural monuments laid bare Armenias vandalism. Totally destroyed, Aghdam, often referred to as the Hiroshima of the Caucasus, is now being rebuilt and will welcome its first residents in 2025. Before the occupation, Aghdam was considered the commercial center of the entire region, where 143,000 people lived in the city with 124 villages. Some 145 historical and cultural monuments were registered in Aghdam and none of them survived the total destruction. All aspects of Armenian vandalism can be seen in the example of Aghdam - once considered the pearl of lowland and mountainous Karabakh. As far as the eye can see, only the remains of the Juma Mosque can be seen in the vast area among ruined houses and bushes. The enemy kept the remains of the mosque for adjusting artillery fire. Armenians, who are referred to as our neighbors, with whom we shared our bread, who established their own state on the land we were forced to grant to them, committed such destruction in our territories. Rough estimates indicate that the occupation of the district caused damage to the district in the amount of nearly 14bn dollars. Addressing the October 5 National Urban Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda as engines of post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation in Aghdam, President Ilham Aliyev said. Aghdam was, as I said, already destroyed during the years of occupation. It was not destroyed during the first Karabakh war. It was destroyed after almost 30 years, stone by stone. All the buildings have been ruined and dismantled. Stones have been stolen and sold out. You may see the only half-destroyed building was a building of Juma Mosque, but the reason why it was not destroyed along with other mosques which Armenians destroyed in the formerly occupied territories was that they were using the minarets for observation to see the potential movement of Azerbaijani armed forces. But we have video and photo shreds of evidence of desecration of Aghdam Mosque, where Armenians kept pigs and cows in the mosque. Foreign journalists who visited the former city of Aghdam and the area left from it call it the Hiroshima of the Caucasus, the Azerbaijani president said, adding that I think it's worse than Hiroshima as Hiroshima was a nuclear tragedy, an atomic attack. However, a group of vandals and barbarians did not pass there. As far as we are concerned, the city of Aghdam was destroyed after the occupation. Like the city of Fuzuli, it was deliberately and purposefully destroyed. When the victorious Azerbaijani army entered the city, not a single building was found to raise the nations flag. This is a war crime. Not only cities but entire villages were destroyed. This is a situation that the world has not seen in recent centuries," the president added. However, rebuilding Aghdam is a matter of honor to prove to the ill-wishers that not a single town or village, destroyed by the enemy, will be kept in ruins. This determination is outright and obvious with each frequent trip of the president to Karabakh to inaugurate or lay the foundation of another magnificent project. As the president told a group of Aghdam residents on November 20, 2020, the restoration of the district will occupy a special place in the future restoration plans. "We will also restore the city of Aghdam. Of course, for this, we have to do all the work in a reasonable way. A master plan will be prepared, specialists will be involved, infrastructure projects will be implemented in a planned manner, and administrative buildings, social facilities, roads, and other necessary works will be done. Citizens will be assisted by the state to return there. Therefore, the restoration of Aghdam District will occupy a special place in our future plans. Because it is a large district in terms of territory, and at the same time, as I said, it is the largest district in terms of population," the president said. Life is coming back to Aghdam, as in other areas freed from occupation as a result of the glorious victory. After liberation, this city is witnessing great construction, repair and restoration work. President Ilham Aliyev, like in other areas, keeps restoration and reconstruction works in Aghdam under his personal control. The president visited Aghdam four times during the post-war period. On May 28, 2021 - Independence Day, celebrated as a national holiday in Azerbaijan, Aghdam witnessed historical moments. So, on that historic day, Aghdams General Plan was presented to President Ilham Aliyev. The Master Plan was worked on for some time with the participation of experts. While preparing the document, the historical face of the city and modern challenges were taken into account. Of course, another time could have been chosen for the presentation of the Agdam City Master Plan to the president. However, holding such a significant event on our state holiday, Independence Day has a great symbolic meaning. Referring to the General Plan presented to the president, we can say that in the near future, a city with modern infrastructure, recreation areas, tourist accommodation facilities, and comfortable residential houses will be built in place of the current ruins and destructions left by Armenians. The president of Belarus gave him a tractor. Tajikistans leader presented him with a pile of watermelons. And Ukrainians bestowed a birthday wish on Vladimir V. Putin of Russia: that it would be his last. Mr. Putin, whose private life is shrouded in secrecy, spent his 70th birthday with little public celebration, meeting with leaders from Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in St. Petersburg, where Mr. Putin was born, for an informal summit of post-Soviet countries. He received calls from a noticeably short list of world leaders including from Cuba, Turkey, South Africa, Kyrgyyzstan and Kazakhstan. In Ukraine, his birthday was broadly met with condemnation of him. The Nobel Peace Prize committee, in a pointed message to Mr. Putin, gave its award to human rights activists from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Countless memes denounced the Russian president. Some Ukrainian activists urged supporters to make a donation to provide weapons to the Ukrainian military. And politicians and local leaders lashed out at the Russian leader on social media. The two Russians braved miles of open sea, traveling on a vessel from Russia to a small isolated island in Alaska with the apparent aim of avoiding being ensnared in President Vladimir V. Putins mandatory conscription to fight in Ukraine, two U.S. senators said on Thursday. The two escapees appeared to have accomplished their goal, landing on a beach on the northwest tip of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea this week and requesting asylum in the United States, according to a statement from Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Republicans of Alaska. Mr. Sullivan said he had contacted the secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas, after being informed about the duo, whose escape, he said, underlined the desperation of Russians seeking to flee Mr. Putins war. This incident makes two things clear, Mr. Sullivan said in the statement. First, the Russian people dont want to fight Putins war of aggression against Ukraine. Second, given Alaskas proximity to Russia, our state has a vital role to play in securing Americas national security. KYIV, Ukraine While Russias invasion of Ukraine added greater urgency to their work, the Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, has been monitoring and documenting rights violations and potential war crimes in Ukraine for years. One of Ukraines leading rights organizations, the Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 with the goal of pressuring the authorities to make Ukraine a full-fledged democracy and ensure that it was governed by rule of law. When a conflict with Russian-backed forces erupted in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the group began documenting rights abuses and the disappearances of Kremlin critics, journalists and activists. And since Russias full-scale invasion of the country this year, it has worked alongside national and international partners to document potential Russian crimes against Ukrainian civilians in an effort to bring accountability. KYIV, Ukraine While many of Ukraines human rights activists, civil society leaders and politicians applauded the Nobel committees recognition of the countrys Center for Civil Liberties on Friday, there was also a near immediate backlash from some corners. Some saw the decision to group a Ukrainian civil society organization with human rights defenders from Russia and Belarus two of the countrys aggressors as an affront to those who have been working to protect Ukrainians since Russia invaded the country in February. When President Vladimir V. Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops rolled into the country from both its own territory and from Belarus. The leader of Belarus, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, is one of Mr. Putins closest allies. Valeriia Voshchevska, a Ukrainian human rights activist, praised the award for the Center for Civil Liberties, which she said had been working tirelessly to promote human rights values. STAVKY, Ukraine Racing down a road with his men in pursuit of retreating Russian soldiers, a battalion commander came across an abandoned Russian armored vehicle, its engine still running. Inside there was a sniper rifle, rocket propelled grenades, helmets and belongings. The men were gone. They dropped everything: personal care, helmets, said the commander, who uses the code name Swat. I think it was a special unit, but they were panicking. It was raining very hard, the road was bad and they drop everything and move. After months of static fighting and holding the line under withering Russian artillery barrages, Ukrainian soldiers are exulting over their smashing of Russian lines in the northeast three weeks ago, and their recapturing of swaths of territory seized by Russian troops earlier this year. They have almost retaken the whole of Kharkiv Province, as well as territory in each of the four regions that President Vladimir V. Putin claims to have annexed for Russia. There has been little time for reflection for the Ukrainians as they press their counterattack, focused on keeping the pressure on the retreating Russian army to prevent it from regrouping. Yet after months in the trenches never seeing the faces of the enemy, Ukrainian soldiers and commanders have now engaged the Russians up close and gotten a chance to size up their opponent. With the Senate knotted at 50-50 for each party, Republican control is only one seat away. But this election season has been full of surprises. For much of the campaign season, Democrats have appeared ready to grab a Republican seat in Pennsylvania, meaning Republicans would need to flip two Democratic seats to earn a majority. But recent fumbles by Republican candidates in New Hampshire, Georgia and Arizona have made finding those two winnable races more difficult. Here are the seats where each party is vulnerable, according to the Cook Political Report Race Ratings. Cook Political Report Race Ratings for Current Senate Seats Republicans Currently hold 50 seats, need 51 for majority Democrats Currently hold majority with 50 seats (vice president casts tie-breaking vote) Republicans not up for re-election Solid R Likely R Lean R Tossup Democrats not up for re-election Solid D Lean D Tossup PA WI FL NC OH UT AK AL AR IA ID IN KS KY LA MO ND OK OK SC SD AK AL AR FL IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MS MT NC ND NE NE SC SD TN TN TX TX UT WV WY WY GA NV AZ CO NH CA CT HI IL MD NY OR VT WA AZ CA CO CT DE DE GA HI IL MA MA MD ME MI MI MN MN MT NH NJ NJ NM NM NV NY OH OR PA RI RI VA VA VT WA WI WV Republicans not up for re-election Democrats not up for re-election Earlier this year, Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat in Georgia , had been considered one of the Senates most vulnerable Democrats as he took on Herschel Walker, a scandal-prone Republican backed by former President Donald J. Trump. Then came the accusation that Mr. Walker, a staunch opponent of abortion, paid for an ex-girlfriend's abortion, and the race turned upside-down. Cook Political Report still rates the contest a tossup, but the new allegations have given Mr. Warnock an edge and put Mr. Walker on the defensive. A Democratic seat in Arizona may have at one point been vulnerable. But the enduring popularity of the incumbent, Mark Kelly, and the faltering campaign of his challenger, Blake Masters, may put it out of Republican reach. The race in Nevada might be the Republicans best chance to take a seat from the Democrats. Catherine Cortez Masto, the incumbent, is not well established in a state known for its transient population and fickle voters, especially in midterm elections. But her Republican challenger, Adam Laxalt, the states former attorney general, lost his run for governor in 2018 and has yet to open a clear lead. The Democrats best chance to pick up a Republican seat is in Pennsylvania , where Senator Patrick J. Toomey is retiring. The celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz won the Republican nomination, helped by Mr. Trumps endorsement, but he did not have the love of the Republican base. His opponent, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, had a life-threatening stroke that gave Dr. Oz an opening. The evident effects of the stroke, and the Republicans attacks on Mr. Fetterman as a criminal-coddling liberal, have narrowed the race. Democrats had high hopes of unseating the Republican senator from Wisconsin , Ron Johnson, six years ago and were stunned by his relatively easy re-election. Since then, Mr. Johnson has become the Senates leading peddler of conspiracy theories and Covid-19 misinformation, yet he is hanging tough against Wisconsins lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes, who comes from the Democrats liberal wing and has proven vulnerable to attack, especially on crime. A sleeper race for the Senate is also the sleepiest. Representative Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican backed by Mr. Trump, has tried to lie low and ride the national current to the seat of Richard M. Burr, a Republican who is retiring. Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, is running as a judge above the political fray. North Carolina is a state that has broken Democrats hearts, and it could well do so again. But Mr. Budd and Ms. Beasley are consistently polling at a tie. Despite the challenges ahead, Republicans still have plenty of ways to win Senate control. They could beat Senator Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada and push Senator Raphael Warnock to a runoff in Georgia. They could overwhelm the Georgia race with cash to rescue Mr. Warnock's opponent, Herschel Walker. They could also pull off a come-from-behind win in Pennsylvania. But Democrats have options as well. If they can seal a victory in Pennsylvania and defeat Senator Ron Johnson in Wisconsin, its hard to see a way for Republicans to take three Democratic seats to compensate. Geoffrey Weill Associates is named agency of record for the Tourism Council of Bhutan and Sheen Falls Lodge. The agency will be covering all PR activities for both clients, including media outreach, press releases, media visits and events. On September 23, Bhutan reopened its borders to tourists after more than two years. As part of the drive to welcome back tourists, the country is launching a new brand identity and has increased the Sustainable Development Fee paid by visitors to support the countrys social, environmental and cultural development. The 77-room Sheen Falls Lodge is set on a 300-acre estate in southwestern Ireland. Trevelino/Keller signs on to represent Conductix-Wampfler, a manufacturer of mobile electrification and data transfer systems for industrial machinery. The agency will work with the company to implement thought leadership and awareness strategies aimed at Conductix-Wampflers key audiences. Conductix-Wampfler serves customers in such markets as cranes, ports, container handling, intralogistics and bulk material handling. As we ramp up our efforts in intralogistics, robotics, EV, and data-over-power spaces, we know our partnership with Trevelino/Keller will be critical in positioning us strongly in the North American market, said Conductix-Wampfler director of product management and marketing Andrew Dierks. LDPR signs on to represent The Inn at Little Washington, a 23-room Relais & Chateaux property located in the foothills of Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains. The agency will be handling a media relations program for the property, including press release development, creative pitch strategy, broadcast, leadership profiles and a curated media visit program. The only three-star Michelin restaurant in the Washington DC metro area, The Inn at Little Washington expanded in November 2021 with the all-day cafe, Patty Os Cafe and Bakery. The Museum of Public Relations is putting a spotlight on the contributions made to the PR industry by Native Americans and Indigenous People at a virtual event on November 3 at 6 pm. Hosted by Candace Hamana, who founded the Indigenous People's Public Relations Association in 2021, The Growing Role of Native Americans in Public Relations will look at how aspects of the field from storytelling to artistic heritage have been impacted by Native American and indigenous communicators. Speakers are set to include Tinhorn Consulting CEO April Tinhorn, augmented reality storyteller Jon Canyon and Happy Accidents! Media Production chief executive member Kelsey Lee. Event sponsors include the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Georgia, Amazon, Page, the Diversity Action Alliance and Muck Rack. The Institute for Public Relations is sponsoring an Oct. 18 webinar on that will look at the issues facing communications pros who address ESG matters. The State of ESG + Communications will be led by APCO Worldwide senior director and global lead, climate and sustainability Heather McGeory, who has more than 20 years of experience working on climate change issues with business, governments, foundations, non-profits and multilateral institutions, and has also created projects and partnerships focused on social innovation and social justice. The American Marketing Association San Diego Chapter is presenting an October 21 conference that will feature speakers from brands including Walt Disney Parks, Snap Inc. and Qualcomm discussing the industrys future. "The Art of Marketing: The Future is WOW Conference" will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knauss Center of Business Education building and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice building on the University of San Diego campus. It will also be livestreamed to accommodate virtual attendees from across the country. Tickets also include entry to the opening conference reception the night before at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Attendees can choose conference sessions from four accelerated marketing education tracks: The Future is Now; Amplifying DEI; Like, Tweet, Snap, Tik Whats Next?; and The Future is WOW. Mexico is working with the DC-based Global Action on Gun Violence to push for impactful gun violence prevention strategies in the US. The primary focus is to curb the flow of American-made guns to Mexico. Mexico has the worlds fifth-largest number of unregistered guns in civilian hands, according to a September report from the Arms Control Association. Gun violence is endemic in Mexico and impacts its agricultural, tourism, transportation and investment sectors. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reports that 70 percent of firearms seized at Mexico crime scenes came from the US. Mexicos Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates more than $250M in guns were trafficked from the US in 2021. GAGV is to handle outreach to federal, state, and/or local government officials, participate in forums, and publish reports, fact sheets, and other public-facing communications regarding gun violence prevention. A federal court in Boston last month threw out Mexicos $10B suit against American gunmakers that charged them with reckless business practices that enabled the flow of guns to Mexico, leading to thousands of deaths. Mexico has promised to appeal the decision. Another solar farm has been granted planning permission in Offaly. Summit Solar has been granted planning permission for a construct a Solar PV Development at Broughal and Drinagh comprising of 55,000 photovoltaic panels, ten power hubs, a communications building, a sub station building, an equipment storage building and CCTV cameras. Offaly County Council granted permission for the development with 18 conditions attached. Among the conditions is a Development Contribution of 300,000 to be paid to Offaly County Council prior to commencement of development. According to a search on the Offaly County Council website, it is the eighth solar farm given the green light in the county in the last two years with more in the planning system and other applications set to be lodged in the near future. One of the largest solar farms granted permission by Offaly County Council is to be located at Greenhills and Wood in Rhode. Initially covering 132 hectares, permission was subsequently granted to extend the solar farm by close to another 23 hectares bringing the total size of the solar farm to almost 400 acres. This development will nett Offaly County Council over 1.2 million in development contributions. A search of eplanning.ie shows that in the same two year period, there have been no solar farms granted permission in Laois with one smaller scale development granted permission in each of Longford and Westmeath People are still trapped inside the Applegreen building in Creeslough following a major explosion this afternoon, according to Deputy Pearse Doherty. Doherty was speaking to RTE Six-One from the scene, where there is a service station that includes a shop and apartments, admitting it was a dark day. This is something that is your worst nightmare, Doherty said. At 3:15pm, a massive explosion that could be heard for miles around ripped right through this building. Its very sombre. There are silent prayers being said as theres people still trapped in the building. The emergency services are doing everything they can to remove the rubble. They were here very quickly and locals were at the scene also, trying to assist earlier on. Everyone is just holding on, hoping that they can make contact with loved ones. The building has been cordoned off and its up to Gardai, the emergency services, the fire department and our national ambulance services. There are a number of helicopters here in the scene as well, all in an effort so that people are given the treatment they need and to enable a rescue as quickly as possible. People are being airlifted away to hospitals in the region. The story emerging from Creeslough is a terrible one. Its a really dark story." Doherty added that the Applegreen complex in Creeslough wouldve been particularly busy at that time and all people could do was wait and hope with the emergency services doing all they can. A quiet, close-knit village, this is the only shop in the town, he said. Its the shop, its the petrol station, its the deli, it's the post office, its where the hairdresser is. Just after 3pm, just after the schools [finish], people are going to collect their pensions. Its a very bust locality, this shop, at this time. When these scenes unfolded, everyone was in shock. Its surreal. People are holding on for hope or any positive news. Everyone is hoping for the best. But this is a devastating explosion that has happened here in Creeslough. Theres a dark cloud over this community. Nothing has been confirmed as yet and we will leave that up to the emergency services and the Gardai. This is a dark, dark day, where there is a dark cloud over the entire community of Creeslough and further afield as the scene unfolds before us. AS someone who is so pro-European Union it can be embarrassing sometimes and I hope appropriate measures are taken to mark Irelands 50 years as a member next January it pains me to see how silly it/we can occasionally be in a worldwide context. Two news stories last week highlight, starkly, what I am on about. The headline on one read: EU gives Ireland two months to halt peat-cutting in conservation areas or face court, with the sub headline European Commission says dialogue with Ireland on bog issue has been long, having started in 2011. This is on top of demands, and agreement by our Government, that farmers in Ireland must reduce agricultural emissions by 25% as part of the 51% emissions cut overall by 2030 in the Climate Act passed by the Oireachtas. The second, and related story which jumped out at me last week concerned the sabotaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines which has been pumping methane into the Baltic Sea/atmosphere at a record rate. The four leaks involved have led to what is being described as likely the biggest single release of climate-damaging methane ever recorded, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. It is highly concentrated methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent but shorter-lived than carbon dioxide, with a leak rate of 22,920 kg per hour, equivalent to burning about 630,000 pounds of coal per hour. The environmental protection agency Greenpeace estimated the leaks could have the effect of releasing almost 30 million tonnes of Co2 into the atmosphere, more than two-thirds of Denmarks emissions every year. Last December a major leak that occurred at offshore oil and gas fields in Mexican waters off the Gulf of Mexico spilled around 100 metric tonnes of methane per hour into the air. It released around 40,000 metric tonnes of methane over the 17 days, the equivalent of burning 1.1 billion pounds of coal, before it was stopped. Now, admittedly, neither the Nord Stream or Mexican pipeline emissions could have been foreseen by even the most zealous climate change activist but it does highlight a fundamental problem with how the world is addressing the climate crisis. It remains an extraordinarily one-sided affair, and wherein Irelands emissions amount to less than a hill of beans. I say this as someone who accepts completely the reality of climate change as established by science and agree totally that emissions worldwide must be reduced, and reduced fast. But there is no point in this island flagellating itself as in the bad old days of then fashionable even popular self-mortification while so much of the rest of the world remains 'as was' where emissions are concerned. And that includes neither the Nord Stream 'sabotage' or Mexican accident. What does it matter how well-behaved we in Ireland are at cutting emissions, or even we in Europe, if mass-emitters such as China, India, and south-east Asia, in particular, continue to spew methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they do, also the US and South America, though that (American) continent is making at least an effort. Here in Europe we must continue with our reduction measures but perhaps over a lengthier period because, really, it will make only a slight difference until the big beasts get seriously involved. Punishing our beef and dairy farmers, not to mention the turf cutters, will make feck all difference until the likes of China, India, and the US are fully on board, but it will cause a lot of unnecessary personal, social and political stress and anxiety here in Ireland. When it comes to cutting back on our emissions we should, perhaps, hasten more slowly. Next month the international COP 27 (Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC) takes place in Egypt to address again the issue of climate change worldwide and what can be done. The first COP was in 1995 and took place in Berlin. Since then COPs has taken place in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. A key task for the COP is to review the national communication and emission inventories submitted by the participating parties/countries. Based on that information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by the parties/countries involved in reducing greenhouse gases in their economies. COP 27 takes place at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt from November 6 to 18 next and in the continent (Africa) which is responsible for just 4% of global emissions this year. By comparison, in 2022 China is expected to be responsible for 32.4% of worldwide emissions and the US for 12.6%. The richer G20 countries are responsible for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions this year which are now back to pre-pandemic levels. The G20 countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Unsurprisingly Ireland is not there, though the EU is represented at meetings of the G20 even as it also includes member countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. It is frequently argued that, though the major emitters of greenhouse gases have been and are the developed countries rather than any in, for instance, Africa then it is those developed countries which must take the harshest measures towards reduction. But that is to ignore another reality: the greatest emitters of greenhouse gases today are developing economies like India and China, Russia too. They, naturally, would like to have the lifestyles achieved in the developed world of North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea. And who would blame them? But the cost to the planet could prove irreversible. COP 26 took place in Glasgow last year and it encouraged the US and the developed world generally those primarily responsible for emitting most greenhouse gases - to increase funding for countries among hardest hit by climate change such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Rich countries are expected to contribute $40 billion annually before 2025 to help poorer countries adapt to floods, droughts, forest fires, glaciers melting, rising sea levels and more frequent hurricanes. We will see what happens. Just a fraction of the $100 billion promised by 2020 to help these poorer, more affected countries was in fact delivered. With the average temperature of the world at 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level, it is hardly a surprise that this year so far we have experienced forest fires in Australia, Siberia, California, Alaska, and the Amazon. There have also been floods caused by heavy rain in Pakistan, disrupting the lives of 33 million people there. Last week in Florida Hurricane Ian had taken the lives of at least 47 people at the time of writing due to one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit that part of the US and which was believed directly related to warming seas. So, yes Houston, there is a problem. But we need to address it more equitably and more sensibly. Ireland never had an industrial revolution so our historic contribution to green house gas emissions is much lower than is the case with neighbouring countries. Cutting the turf in those rapidly disappearing parts of Ireland where it still is cut, or focusing on elderly farmers raising a few beef cattle on small holdings in the West and along the border is hardly likely to lessen the likes of Hurricane Ian in the US or floods in Pakistan. In both instances they might look closer to home for more likely causes. The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis of 1962, the Caribbean Crisis, or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, which escalated into an international crisis when American deployments of missiles in Italy and Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of similar ballistic missiles in Cuba. Despite the short time frame, the Cuban Missile Crisis remains a defining moment in US national security and nuclear war preparation. The confrontation is often considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. YouTube videos uploaded to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's YouTube channel included a tag associated with a misogynist men's rights movement and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on him to apologize. Russians have been streaming out of the country since President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilisation of 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine last week. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Speaking at a fundraiser in New York, Joe Biden said the world is facing its biggest nuclear threat since the Cuban missile crisis. Liz Truss has faced widespread criticism over her communication failures as markets have crashed in the wake of her mini-budget. However, the PR industrys trade body has said FTSE 100 companies are also falling short on communications, in warning the UKs top firms lack comms expertise at senior levels. Research by the Chartered Institute of [...] Lori Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, have both been charged with the murders of her two of her children. President Biden put the nation on red alert Thursday, announcing nuclear "Armageddon" is a real possibility given Russia's recent setbacks in its 8-month war in Ukraine. At a Democratic fundraiser hosted by James Murdoch, Biden characterized Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's date night comes on the heels of their trip to the U.K. to mourn Queen Elizabeth II, who died last month. The risk of Armageddon is the highest it has been since the early 1960s, President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser in New York, as.. Eurasia Review 07 Oct 2022 Nigerias independence was ushered in with fanfare, pomp and ceremony on October 1, 1960. The Union Jack was lowered, and.. Eurasia Review 08 Oct 2022 Refugee advocates appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada Thursday argued that the Safe Third Country Agreement governing asylum claims between Canada and the United States violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. French president says he hopes for a "new phase" in relations after talks with UK prime minister. The aim of the single is to show that patients "are more than their diagnosis". Grief-stricken parents laid white roses on the steps of a Thai nursery where an ex-police officer began his shooting rampage. The majority of the 36 victims were children, who were slain while taking afternoon naps. Distraught families in Thailand have been mourning the deaths of 36 people - including dozens of nursery school children - murdered by a sacked police officer in the country's worst-ever mass killing. New Zealand Herald 08 Oct 2022 Victims of a quick series of stabbings on the Las Vegas Strip described the shock and horror of the unexpected attack on a group of.. Daily Record 07 Oct 2022 The 12-year-old was on his way to his grandmother's house when he became the third victim of Moors murderers Myra Hindley and Ian.. Opponents of Minsk strongman Alexander Lukashenko say they hope the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to activist Ales Bialiatski might help precipitate his release from prison. This week, Iranian suicide drones are said to have been used to attack the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Tehran denies supplying Moscow. What do we know about drone imports? Glasgow loses out as the UK prepares to stage the song contest next May on behalf of Ukraine. President Joe Biden slams Republican members of Congress, who voted against his infrastructure bill for being "socialist," as hypocrites for now asking his administration for funding. (Oct. 7) Kyiv's ambassador to Germany described the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian rights campaigners among the winners as "truly devastating". Democracy advocates from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine were jointly awarded the worlds most prestigious peace prize, an implicit condemnation of the Kremlins war in Ukraine and repression at home. Rumble 13 Oct 2022 Former leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi has been given more prison time bringing her total to 26 years in prison after a court.. President Joe Biden said the world hasn't been as close to "Armageddon" as it is now since John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Washington (AFP) Oct 6, 2022 A SpaceX capsule carrying a Russian crew member docked Thursday with the International Space Station on a NASA mission that carries significant symbolism amid the war in Ukraine. The Crew Dragon spaceship "Endurance" blasted off Wednesday from Florida and rendezvoused with the orbiting research outpost some 30 hours later, docking at 5:01 pm Eastern Time (2301 GMT). "Crew-5 is happy to Washington (AFP) Oct 6, 2022 The World Bank has pumped $14.8 billion into fossil fuel projects globally in the period following the landmark Paris climate accord, a report said Thursday. Though the multilateral lender pledged in 2018 to end financing for upstream oil and gas, and direct funding had declined, the move failed to include indirect financing, according to the report compiled by an NGO coalition called The Bi Australia's most used search engine has revealed the travel queries and secret desires asked travellers across the Tasman, and Kiwis might not like the answers. Google has released Australia's most searched travel destinations after... A pilot has created the worlds largest portrait of Queen Elizabeth II using an aircraft to raise money for charity. Belfast Telegraph 07 Oct 2022 Politicians may need to surprise people to resolve the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, Irelands Foreign Affairs minister has said, amid fresh hopes that a compromise can be reached. NPR 08 Oct 2022 The contest will be staged next May in the birthplace of The Beatles after Britain was asked to hold the event in place of war-torn.. The second-term senator, one of seven Republicans to vote to convict former President Donald J. Trump, is in line to become president of the University of Florida. Here's the latest for Friday October 7th: Biden says world is closer to nuclear 'Armageddon' than any time since 1962; Hurricane Ian death toll tops 100; Senate debate in Arizona; Biden pardons thousands for simple marijuana possession under federal law. The school district at the centre of the mass shooting at a primary school in Uvalde, Texas, has suspended its entire police force. A Ukrainian official said Thursday Russian shelling struck residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least two people. Oleksandr Starukh, the governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, posted on Telegram that five other people were trapped in rubble following the attack. Ukraine controls the city, but the Zaporizhzhia... The European Union is giving Ukraine a new military aid package that includes howitzer weapons to support the country's ongoing war against Russia. Hu Xijin, China's top propagandist, said Musk had "released his personality too much" and will be "taught a lesson." Chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre has ordered an immediate halt to all non-essential activities in favour of boosting military recruitment and retention, as the Canadian Armed Forces faces an unprecedented personnel crisis. Uvalde's school district on Friday pulled its embattled campus police force off the job following a wave of new outrage over the hiring of a former state trooper who was part of the hesitant law enforcement response during the May... The risk of Armageddon is the highest it has been since the early 1960s, President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser in New York, as Russian losses in Ukraine prompt Russian officials to discuss the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. I dont think theres any such thing as the ability to easily [use] a tactical... According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies for a battle during the end times, which is variously interpreted as either a literal or a symbolic location. The term is also used in a generic sense to refer to any end of the world scenario. In Islamic theology, Armageddon is also mentioned in Hadith as the Greatest Armageddon or Al-Malhama Al-Kubra. This is an edited version of a feature on Australias first ever Nerello Mascalese vines that appeared in a print publication back in 2020. As I wrote about here, Im reposting a pack of print features given that Im still unpaid for them, and the publication in question is looking less viable by the day (this week, they deleted their social media accounts!). One thing dominates the skyline as you fly into Catania on Sicilys western shores. Etna. While Mount Etna is more famous for the occasional fiery eruption, this Italian monolith is not just another active volcano. Instead, Etna is the vanguard of Italian wine. The mountains lower slopes are home to some of Italys most enchanting wines all crafted by the countrys most fashionable, boundary-shifting vignerons. Beyond the hype, the sheer volume of impossible-to-replicate elements makes the finest Etna vino so unique. Think ancient and exclusively dry-grown vineyards planted to obscure indigenous varieties. Of vineyards, backdropped by the distant, steaming crater, perched high up on slopes over 1000m in altitude, and planted in fertile soils from all-too-recent lava flows. You can almost see the drama in the vineyards. And now, one pioneering wine family is seeking to bring some of that Etna DNA to our shores, with Australias first-ever DNA-certified cuttings of Etnas charismatic red hero variety, Nerello Mascalese, now (finally) sitting in a secure quarantine facility in Melbourne. However, the process to get to this point spans decades and traces the history of many Italian varieties in Australia. Enter the Chalmers The winners of the 2014 Viticulturist of the Year, the Chalmers family is singularly responsible for bringing Italian varieties like Sagrantino, Aglianico and Vermentino to Australia. But it wasnt always that way. In the 1990s, Bruce and Jenni Chalmers were large-scale grapegrowers with one of Australias most extensive vine nurseries, if primarily focused on conventional varieties. However, the involvement of the late Dr Rod Bonfiglioli steered the family in an Italian direction. Bonfiglioli was an Adelaide University-based researcher looking for a tree change. Once he landed in Euston, he convinced Bruce and Jenni to look towards Italy for varieties better suited to the Murray Valley climate. Thanks to Bonfigliolis Italian connections, the Chalmers lined up access to Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (VCR) the largest grape nursery in the world and Matura as potential sources of new grapevine material. But the plan hit a speed bump. Due to Australias strict quarantine laws, the Italian nurseries couldnt send vines directly. So instead, the Chalmers family shifted again and became their Australian agents, an agreement that still stands today. What came next remains a pivotal moment for Italian red grapes in Australian history. In 1998, Bruce and Jenni worked with VCR, Matura and a host of producers in Italy to select a long list of over 70 different clones across multiple varieties to bring into the country. While some of the most eclectic vineyard selections didnt make it through quarantine (notably several Tuscan varieties obtained by legendary winemaker Alberto Antonini), those that did include key varieties that we now take for granted, think Australias first Nero dAvola and Vermentino grapes which, as second-generation Chalmers visionary Kim Chalmers explains, are now shaping viticulture in Australia. Intriguingly, when Bruce Chalmers approached the big wine companies of the early 2000s like Orlando & Southcorp to pitch these new Italian varieties, he thought it would be an instant winner. The future of wine, with grapes much better suited to Australian conditions. But the big companies just werent interested. So instead, the theory was if it aint broke, dont fix it with Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon much more straightforward propositions. Rather than be disheartened, the Chalmers decided in 2004 to change tack again and make wines for themselves. Primarily intended as an advertising tool to showcase the potential of grapes like Sagrantino and Negroamaro, the success of those early 2000s wines (made by Sandro Mosele at Kooyong) served as billboards for what these varieties can deliver. The second wave Inspired by this early success, the Chalmers then made a second lot of selections in 2011, as Kim Chalmers explains: The first time around, we picked out what was popular at the time. It was 80% red varieties and lots of Sangiovese and Nebbiolo clones which the family knew would be popular, with a few random things like Schioppettino. Then, in 2011, we were able to see what was working and what was making sense from a viticultural standpoint. On this second list were varieties like Pecorino, Ribolla Gialla and Falanghina grapes chosen with a secondary purpose to change the notion of what our inland wine regions can achieve. The perception is that the Riverland and Mildura cant get any better. It makes commodity wine and a wine for the people but never going to be fine said Kim. But we dont believe in that. Thats rubbish. Using clever viticulture is the answer. Find the variety that will do the best in a place. The marketers on the other end just have to sell this stuff. Kim undertook a research trip in 2012 to Italy focused on the hot climate grapes championed in southern Italy including Aglianico, Nero dAvola and indeed Nerello Mascalese that reinforced just how promising such varieties are for our warmer wine regions. These grapes thrive in hot summers, are adapted to low rainfall and conditioned to heatwaves, all while making world-class wines a combination that lines up perfectly for the Murray-Darling and is especially important given the prospects of climate change. Nerello Mascalese The hero of Etna was on the 2011 want to have list too. Heres a grape that promises the vivacity of Pinot Noir and makes famously beautiful wines in a dry and hot climate welcomingly similar to northern Victoria. It couldnt be any more promising. But finding DNA-certified, healthy Nerello Mascalese proved to be a tough ask. The Chalmers family tried everything contacting Palermo University (which didnt work out), tasking a local Mildura viti consultant (no luck) and reaching out to all and sundry. Given that original experience we had of some of those vineyard selections destroyed due to viruses and other issues, we wanted to be sure that even before the cuttings left Italy that it was the right thing Kim said. Especially after the Albarino scandal and now Gros Manseng, we always want to make sure what we bring in is officially classified and virus-free. Enter Italian viticulturist Stefano Dini. One of Dinis colleagues helped with the original importation of Italian clones from Matura in 1998, and Dini himself was seconded to Australia. He lived with the Chalmers for several years and became a de facto family member, with Kim calling him our Italian brother. The bond is so strong that Jenni Chalmers walked Dini whose parents have passed down the aisle. Dini offered to help as he knew first-hand the problems with Nerello Mascalese. Unlike the other Italian varieties, little research has been done on Nerello Mascalese for finding clones which would give the optimum results in any region he said. The most important nurseries in the world, universities and research institutes have always faced many difficulties in finding healthy vegetative material. This was the reason why many Sicilian companies have started doing their own selection infamous massal selections, calling them by the name of the contrada or linking them to a specific producer. Such selections are deeply problematic from a DNA perspective. For example, one study cited in Jancis Robinsons authoritative Wine Grapes book explains that from a sample of 111 vines from commercial vineyards, there was a mix of true Nerello Mascalese and five other distinct but undetermined varieties. Fortunately, there are still some very old vineyards on Mount Etna, so finding (genuine) Nerello Mascalese plants there which do not show any viruses is possible Dini explains. The pursuit for genuine Nerello Mascalese led to Giuseppe Russo of Girolamo Russo. Russo is one of Etnas most revered producers, with his small patch of old Nerello Mascale vines on Etnas northern slopes delivering simply stunning Etna Rosso. Helpfully, Dini consults to Russo and pitched the notion of spreading the Mascalese love worldwide. Again, Russo was keen, and finally, a selection of healthy, DNA-certified cuttings was made and shipped to Australia in March this year. As Kim explains, the welcoming attitude of producers like Russo isnt necessarily the norm. There are two schools of thought about how Italians view others working with Italian grape varieties she notes. Theres the Prosecco approach, which is to ban everyone else using them because theyre ours. Then there is the collaborative approach from people like Giuseppe, who says, this is great. I cant wait to see what Nerello Mascalese can taste like in Australia. Indeed Chalmers has experienced both sides here. The family were once threatened by the Montefalco Consorzio, with a legal letter sent to a bottle shop in London stocking Chalmers Sagrantino claiming false advertising, the implication that the grape that could only come from Italy. Thankfully the Wine Australia diplomatic route sorted it out, with surprising results. A few years later, I was invited by the Consorzio via Marco Caprai to come and present our wines at the Enologica festival. I spoke on a panel, and they inducted us into the Confraternita del Sagrantino. We were the first non-Italian producers to be inducted she said. By contrast, Dini sees only an upside for spreading the Nerello Mascalese footprint. We are convinced that the more we talk about it in the world, the more people will become curious and the more they will go in search of the origins of this variety which nobody can replicate he said. Kim agrees. If you go thinking that were going to be able to make Etna Rosso in Australia, I dont think we can she said. But I think we can make beautiful light wines that are going to be really elegant and expressive. In our vineyard at Heathcote, I can see it looking like Nebbiolo. Nerello Mascalese is more than just an it variety. In the Etna DOC, the wines have an ethereal quality too. As Jancis Robinson notes, the reds can be dense and haunting, with Nerello Mascalese itself showing very obvious nobility and lovely gentle tannins. There is no shortage of enthusiasm for the grapes amongst local vignerons. Late ripening, with high vigour and drought tolerance, it is perfect for so many Australian wine regions. If I had a dollar for every phone call Ive had asking if we had Nerello Mascalese, Id have retired by now Kim explains. Weve got a waitlist that goes years and years back. The wait is now over. While the baby Nerello Mascale vines are in quarantine, Kim has found a way to at least get photos after explaining how invested they are in the project and the long lead times. Indeed, its taken nearly ten years to get to this point. And Kim might not want to retire just yet, with the first plant not out of quarantine until early 2022. Then, it will take another season for more cuttings to be established before the first crop circa 2025. Even then, it could be circa 2030 before enough vines are planted commercially to make an impact. I look now at Nero dAvola, which first arrived in 2000. Its taken twenty years to go from that first plant to then a variety that is starting to take off Kim said. The process is a long-term labour of love, and an expensive one, with the cost approaching $5,000 a plant to get it here and through quarantine. Finally, the lingering question is why the Chalmers family are motivated to keep bringing varieties like Nerello Mascalese into Australia. We look at the success of Nero now like proud grandparents and realise it is all worth it Kim explains. More broadly, Chalmers believes varietal diversity is the future for Australian wine. I think its awesome to have all these wines you can find and drink now Kim notes. As a consumer, its much more interesting to drink different things all the time. But as producers, different varieties can be a way for you to find your groove. More options to get it right is a better thing for the wine industry full stop. (Featured image is a baby Nerello Mascalese vine, now out of quarantine in Australia. Source Chalmers Instagram). HELP KEEP THIS SITE FREE Rather than using a paywall or bombarding you with ads I simply ask for a small contribution via the Paypal link below. Any amount welcome, it all helps keep this site free. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Reddit Print Photo: (Photo : David Mark) A pregnant Florida woman faced strong winds and dangerous flooding to get to a hospital after she went into labor during Hurricane Ian. Hanna-Kay Williams, from Melbourne, began to experience contractions late Tuesday evening. The area that she resides in was already experiencing indications of the hurricane to come with fierce wind gusts and rain pouring down, Good Morning America (GMA) reported. The 22-year-old mom knew she would go into labor soon, so her fiance and her mother drove her through the dangerous conditions to Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center. The three decided to go to the hospital at around 2 a.m. when the contractions began. Williams was going in and out as the car was swaying due to the strong wind and heavy rain, adding that she was thankful her fiance was a great driver, so she felt secure she was in great hands. However, the obstacles didn't end when they arrived at the hospital early on Wednesday morning, as the mom's delivery would not come quickly. Williams was in labor for more than 20 hours as Hurricane Ian unleashed heavy and intense rain and strong winds of more than 40 mph in the central part of the state. Read Also: AAP: Having Lice Is Not a Sign of Poor Hygiene Williams needed an emergency C-section As the mom was still in labor since they arrived, the doctors decided to give Williams an emergency section as she was not completely dilated. Signs of fetal distress can also be seen when a fetus encounters changes in heart rate or displays signs of oxygen deprivation before or during labor. She told the news outlet that it was clear that her cervix was not totally dilated and they would not have a smooth sail with natural birth. She expressed her disappointment during the interview due to all the hard physical work put in, but concluded that she wanted what was best for her, especially for the baby; thus, she gave her complete trust to the health care providers. She thanked the medical care as she had a healthy baby girl named Wajiha at 10:11 p.m. ET, weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 20 inches after the emergency C-section. The mother explained the meaning of her daughter's name, which is "beautiful woman" and "glorious." She credited her fiance, who thought of such a beautiful name. The two have decided on the name as they believe it applies to what they experienced during Hurricane Ian. Florida has experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which caused numerous destructions of establishments and houses, per NPR. "We need to do this right now" Another mom from Florida gave birth during Hurricane Ian. Amanda and Matthew Mahr were thrilled about the arrival of their first baby, but unfortunately, Ian radically changed the course of their birthing experience. The couple was informed four days before their first baby's due date that Amanda would need a C-section due to an ultrasound that showed low fluid levels. The doctor asked the couple to go to the Cape Coral Hospital through the emergency room for admission that night for close monitoring. When Hurricane Ian was already on its path to destruction, the two quickly left their home and drove through gusty winds and heavy rain. When they arrived at the hospital, the expectant father understood his wife would likely have a C-section after the Hurricane passed. Hence, when the storm shifted paths early Wednesday morning, their doctor informed her that the place was getting a direct hit, to which Mahr responded, "we need to do this right now." The first time mom admitted that it was terrifying, but at 8:49 a.m., a baby named George Bentley Mahr was born, weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces, with a full head of dark hair, per People. Related Article: Texas Couple Became Instant Heroes After Rescuing Infant Abandoned in Shed Photo: (Photo : Pexel/ Mikhail Nilov) A parenting columnist and author argued in an op-ed that adults should not high-five children because a kid is not an adult's equal; thus, it can lead to disrespect and disobedience in the long run. John Rosemond, a family psychologist, husband, father to two successful adults, and grandfather to seven children, wrote a recent opinion article for Omaha World-Herald and stated, "The child who is allowed to high-five an adult has tacit permission to talk to said adult as if they are peers. Do not wonder why, if you high-five your child, he often talks to you as if you are his equal." Rosemond argued that learning respect for adults is crucial in every child's character development and that a high-five is not, in any way, "compatible with respect." Never deny a child something as basic as a high-five The said op-ed has gone viral, mainly in the Twitterverse, since it was published. Many parents raised their eyebrows and completely disagreed with what Rosemond wrote. Forty-year-old mom of two, Christen van Haastert of Oregon, shared that her initial reaction wasn't anger towards the author but sadness towards his grandson, who was declined a simple high-five. The feeling of rejection could have been painful. She also felt frustrated that the way Rosemond sees children leaves them with few opportunities and voices to be seen and heard in their families. She described how, when she high-fives her kids, their eyes light up because they see that their mother is proud of them, and they are encouraged to try harder and better in the things challenging them. Touch can "solidify" feelings parents or adults hope to convey to kids. Dr. Lisa Lindquist, a mom and psychiatrist, settling in Alaska, expressed that praise is one crucial and complex social tool to encourage a child's effort. She told Today that she disagrees that "gestures of respect" are exclusive and reserved for one a person perceives their equal and that respect can only be earned by showing one's superiority. The author's idea teaches obedience at best and yet contempt at worst. Forty-one-year-old mom, school psychologist, and who has a doctorate in psychology living in Washington state, Nicole Kern, declared that Rosemond might be lacking some knowledge in how kids function. When a child seeks connection, denying them access to contact with adults, whether physical or emotional, is painful and unhelpful. She further proclaimed that she would never deny children "something as basic as a high-five." Read Also: Permissive Parenting Vs. Authoritative Parenting: What Is Your Parenting Style? Authoritarian parenting vs. authoritative Melinda Wenner Moyer, science and parenting journalist, wrote her piece, sharing her thoughts about Rosemond's article. She stated that the real problem is that the author misconstrued the science of parenting style. Based on what he said, Moyer concluded that he is a fan of authoritarian parenting, which has the primary goal of producing obedient children, where they are expected to be seen but not heard. She went on to say that his parenting of choice is understandable since that was the parenting culture during his time. However, this approach is no longer suitable for kids. She disagreed with Rosemond when he said that the only alternative to authoritarian parenting is parents losing all their control over their kids. Instead, Moyer introduces authoritative parenting, the parenting style that all parents and caregivers should aim for. In this approach, parents are still in charge, but children are treated with respect. Research even shows that kids who grow up under this parenting style perform better in school, are more honest with their parents, are kind and compassionate, and have fewer behavioral problems than children who grew up under authoritarian parenting. Today asked Rosemond for a reaction to his now-viral article, and the author said that he stands by his position about high-five despite all the negative comments thrown at him. He further expressed that the majority miserably failed to counter his opinion with intelligent opinions of their own. He is willing to engage in intelligent discussion about the subject, but he has yet to find any. Related Article: Authoritarian Parenting Style May Lead to Depression in Latino Kids Photo: (Photo : David Mark) The mom of one of the victims of the "Green Gobling Gang got furious and called the fiends animals after randomly attacking her daughter on her birthday, New York Post reported. A newly released video clip captured the group of female robbers wearing full-body neon green leotards as they harassed, punched, and tossed two 19-year-old women on a Times Square subway train around 2 a.m. Sunday. According to the authorities, the two women were robbed of a cell phone and handbag. The mother of one of the victims, who was not named, told the news outlet that her daughter told her that she was attacked by aliens, which she didn't understand at first. The distraught mom said it was her daughter's birthday. The mother and the two victims remained anonymous out of fear of retaliation. The raging mom expressed her anger stating that it is how her daughter spent her 19th birthday and hopes that they get what they deserve as what they did was disgusting. The video was posted on social media and went viral. It showed six females dressed in green tossing around one of the victims and punching the other repeatedly in the face. Some attackers wore hoods with face masks. Read Also: Christine Brown Announces Her Spiritual Marriage to Kody Is Finally Over A traumatic experience for the two women The mom told the outlet that her daughter and a friend were on their way home when the incident happened. The two were waiting to get on the train when suddenly, grown women came down the stairs while being loud. They went to get on the train, and one of them bumped into her daughter and her friend. At first, they didn't bother as it was already late, but six women suddenly attacked her daughter. The video showed a woman with red curly hair trying to help the teen and a man who took his sweatshirt off to assist the two girls. Her daughter had five women on her at once, and both young ladies were punched in the face. What made the mom even more raged was that other passengers just stood by watching and recording the attack. The video showed men sitting while taking videos. She noted that none of them helped the two victims while they were getting beaten by ten women. However, Christopher Herrmann, a former crime statistics analyst for the New York police department who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal women Justice, told The Guardian that New York subways are statistically safe and the chances of being a victim have remained one in a million. Man severely beats woman in the NYC subway Another woman was attacked by a man, Waheed Foster, who approached her and tried to start a conversation. The man eventually followed her into the mezzanine, but the woman seemed uninterested. When the man noticed that the 33-year-old woman was not responding and just ignoring him, he dragged her across the mezzanine floor and slammed her into the wall. According to the authorities, he repeatedly pounded the woman with his fists and kicked her in the body and face. One passerby attempted to intervene but retreated onto the platform when the man went in his direction. The attacker didn't stop and continued to kick and punch Elizabeth Gomes several more times before fleeing. Police immediately responded and arrested the suspect, per ABC7 Chicago. Related Article: Ohio Couple Allegedly Murders 8-Year-Old Adopted Son and Abuses Four Other Children Photo: (Photo : JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty Images)) A mom from Aurora and several first responders were recognized on Tuesday, October 4, for their quick thinking that saved the life of a young boy who was experiencing cardiac arrest back in August, Sentinel Colorado reported. According to a city press release, Sharon Thompson was at home on the afternoon of August 11 when she found her young son, Alexander, who was 15 months old at the time, unconscious and not breathing. Thompson immediately called 911, and she was connected with emergency communications specialist Julie McKay. McKay talked the worried mom through the process of administering mouth-to-mouth ventilation and chest compressions to revive her toddler son. She also dispatched paramedics to the house to help Thompson revive her son. First responders recognized after reviving baby Alexander Soon after, Aurora Fire Rescue battalion chief Joe Hill and Aurora police officer Daniel Kennicutt arrived at Thompson's home. They were able to restart the heart of young Alexander through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to CBS News. Tee Than and Kenneth Mackey from ambulance service Falck Rocky Mountain and Patrick Taylor, Michael Wu, Dave Hamam, and Bryant Snow from Aurora Fire Rescue continued to provide medical care for the little boy, who was transported to the hospital. Thanks to the swift intervention of Alex's mom and the first responders, the tot made a complete recovery and is neurologically intact, according to the city release. The group was honored on Tuesday with the city's Phoenix Award. The award is given to individuals who successfully resuscitate a person in cardiac arrest and go on to recover fully. Thompson said during the ceremony that was attended by members of their family that she was celebrating Alexander's life. She added that she thought her baby was gone, but he came back to them to have this wonderful moment. Read Also: Tampa Teen Who Drove Stolen Maserati Reached 123 mph Before Fatal Crash Thompson pays tribute to first responders for saving her son She thanked the first responders who helped resuscitate her son, saying they were heroes. Thompson noted that without each of the first responders' great work, experience, and skill, her son would not be here today. She said she was celebrating them, adding they might think they are normal people, but they are heroes. Mom Sharon was also recognized for her heroic actions that day. She received an award for being calm under extreme duress and performing life-saving measures on her son Alexander before the first responders arrived. This is not the first time the city has given McKay this honor. She has been recognized twice this year with the Phoenix Award, with McKay taking the honor back in March after helping save the life of a woman who also went into cardiac arrest, according to Colorado Public Radio. Related Article: State Stimulus Checks Arriving to Americans in October 2022: Which States Are Sending Payments? Photo: (Photo : Octavio Jones/Getty Images) A family of five, including a pregnant mom and her three kids, was shot at early on Wednesday morning while they were sleeping in a vehicle at a park in Tampa, Florida, police announced. The shooting occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the 2200 block of N Oregon Ave in a parking lot located across the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, according to Fox News. Cops said the father, an adult male in his 30s, saw headlights that pulled in front of their car. He then heard gunshots and yelled for his wife, an adult female in her 20s, and their kids to get down. In a press release, police stated that more than a dozen shots were fired at the family's car before the suspect sped off, going southbound on N Oregon Ave. Pregnant mom grazed by a bullet in the head, avoids serious injury Luckily for the family, no one was killed in the shooting. The pregnant mom was grazed in the head by a bullet and brought to St. Joseph's Hospital for care. According to the police, the wife's injuries were non-life-threatening. Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor told WFLA that the husband realized his wife was shot after the suspect fled. The couple's kids, a nine- and three-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, were all uninjured in the shooting. The family told the police that they had recently moved back to the city of Tampa after living out of the state of Florida for several months. Police said that a relative of the family in Tampa did not have an additional room to house them, so they had been living in a rental car. Tampa Police officers bought McDonald's breakfast sandwiches for the children after the shooting, and the department worked with Choice Hotels to secure some temporary housing for the family of five. Read Also: Indiana Teen Becomes Only Student in the World To Achieve Perfect Score in AP Calculus Exam Tampa Police still searching for the gunman O'Connor issued a statement later on Wednesday, October 5, saying that the evidence indicates the shooting was a random act by the gunman and the family did not appear to be specifically targeted by the suspect. Cops said the vehicle from which the bullets were fired was a dark-colored 2-door sedan. The said car is possibly a 2006-2012 model. Tampa Police is encouraging anyone with information about this shooting incident to call them at 813-231-6130. They can share a tip via Tip411, which is accessible via the TampaPD app. According to Tampa.gov, for people who wish to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward for the tip that they will share, they can visit www.CrimeStoppersTB.com, use the free Crime Stoppers mobile app and select "Tampa," or contact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay by calling 1-800-873-TIPS (8477). Related Article: Single Mom Credits Maternity Home for Saving Her Life During Pregnancy Crisis Apple Original Films and A24 have unveiled the trailer for the new drama starring and produced by Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence, Causeway. An intimate portrait of a soldier struggling to adjust to her life after returning home to New Orleans, "Causeway will premiere in select theaters and globally on Apple TV+ on November 4, 2022. In Causeway, the new drama directed by Lila Neugebauer, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence plays Lynsey, a military engineer who has returned to the States from Afghanistan with a debilitating brain injury after an IED explosion. It's a painful and slow recovery as she relearns to walk and retrains her memory, aided by a chatty but tender caretaker (Jayne Houdyshell). But when she returns home to New Orleans she has to face memories even more aching and formative than those she had in service a reckoning with her childhood. Staying with her mother (Linda Emond), with whom she shares a tense relationship, all Lynsey wants to do is return to her work as an engineer. Her doctor (Stephen McKinley Henderson) is wary, and so in the meantime, she gets a job cleaning pools. When her truck breaks down she meets James Aucoin (Brian Tyree Henry), who works at the auto repair shop and offers her a ride home. Slowly they start to rely on each other for company and solace. James, it turns out, is also suppressing his own past trauma. These two damaged souls' budding friendship forms the center and the heart of Neugebauer's debut feature a quiet but devastating, and ultimately uplifting, story about coming to terms and moving forward. Apple TV+ debuts trailer for the third season of Emmy Award-winning series Ghostwriter Yesterday Apple TV+ revealed the trailer for the third season of the Emmy Award-winning kids and family series, "Ghostwriter, a reimagining of the hit early nineties series from Sesame Workshop. Premiering globally Friday, October 21, the all-new season of the modern-day Ghostwriter will feature an entirely new cast and epic literary adventure. When a ghost haunts a bookstore and releases fictional characters into the real world, a group of friends works to solve an exciting mystery surrounding the ghosts unfinished business. While tackling the big mystery, the young heroes embark on six curious adventures. Archive: Apple TV News At yesterday's Google Event they introduced their first Google Watch and updated their Pixel Phones. Their Pro model camera now offers killer levels of zoom that's well ahead of zoom levels available on the iPhone 14 Pro. With their clear lead in camera-zoom technology over the iPhone 14 Pro, Brian Rakowski, Google's vice president of product management, deciding to play that up along with taking a number of indirect cracks at Apple by stating that "Pixel has always been a leader in smartphone innovation. We take it as a compliment when others in the industry follow our lead, like the always-on display and At a Glance, putting useful information right on your Lock Screen." Rakowski added that "We introduced Car Crash Detection three years ago along with other important ways to keep you safe, like safety check and emergency sharing. It's an amazing track record of pioneering features that were first on Pixel." Yet Rakowski thought that the "Pixel Feature Drops" with 5 years of updates was something to brag about, when Apple has been delivering iOS updates to older iPhones forever. For Google Watch, they claimed that "Fall Detection" was in development, another feature that Apple has had for years. Face ID on the iPhone still can't be matched by Google's Pixel phones. It was reported in Reuters yesterday: "The feature on the new Pixel 7 is not as good Apple Inc's Face ID unlocking mechanism, as it can struggle in low light and is more vulnerable to being spoofed. In addition, Google has said it is not secure enough to enable signing into apps or making payments." Rakowski obviously felt that his Pixel Phone team needed a confidence boost and wanted Pixel fans something to crow about because Pixel phone switchers to the iPhone continue at neck breaking speed. Their hypocritical stance on privacy is a big issue. Yesterday, Jen Fitzpatrick, Google's SVP for Core Systems and Experiences, highlighted Google's new Security features and commitment to privacy. Yet at the same time in the news, Google was fined $85 million by Arizona for illegally collecting user data. Other States such as Texas, Washington D.C. and Indiana have filed similar suits. How do you take their privacy stance seriously with news like that published on the same day as the Google Event? Apple has been the clear-cut champ on the issue of privacy, leaving Google in the dust. Today, Counterpoint posted a report wherein they illustrated Google Pixel Phone User Switch Patterns in U.S. in Q2 2022. The Counterpoint report states that with the new Pixel 7, "Google wants to stop or at least stem the slow but steady stream of Android to iOS migration. But even as it attracts some iOS users to try out the device, more shift to Apple as shown in our USA Activations Tracker below. This pattern has many Android-OEMs concerned." So Rakowski's puffing up the Pixel's innovation was also to appease Android OEMs. (Click on image to Enlarge) During Apple's last financial conference call in July, Cook stated: "We set a June quarter record for both revenue and switchers to iPhone. With its advanced performance, capability and ease of use, customers continue to find that iPhone remains the gold standard for smartphones." Switcher statistics is the best testimonial Apple can use against their competitors and it's driving those like Rakowski crazy. Until Google can stop their Pixel smartphone fans from switching to the iPhone, taking cheap swipes at Apple isn't doing much for their image. Adding winning features like their new camera zoom is the way to begin stopping the hemorrhaging and they should stick to that script. Cover Image: Gizmodo Australia The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stepped up efforts to increase tax compliance and generate more revenue for the state. Among other things, it has introduced an electronic (e) invoicing system that eliminates the various abuses used by taxpayers to deny the state huge revenue. The authority rolled out the e-invoicing system for value added tax (VAT) from October 1 in a phased process that would cover 600 large taxpayers in the first phase. The 600 firms being targeted under the phase include listed companies and they altogether generate more than 90 per cent of VAT revenue and 80 per cent of domestic revenue. The e-invoicing exercise is expected to cover medium-sized taxpayers by 2023 before being extended to all businesses in 2024. Unlike the manual system, the e-invoicing system allows the GRA to monitor live transactions in companies where it has been deployed, thereby making it impossible for taxpayers to either under invoice or dodge the payment of VAT. GRA estimates show that the country's VAT contributions to tax revenue could be increased to 30 per cent from the current 18 per cent if the various abuses that the manual invoicing system is prone to are decisively dealt with. The system was rolled out simultaneously with an electronic tax clearance certificate (TCC) system that also seeks to remove the abuses the current system is prone to. The Head of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) at GRA, Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, told journalists on Friday that he two programmes formed part of a tax digitalization agenda being championed by the authority. He said the authority was optimistic that the e-invoicing and the e-TCC would help increase revenue generations by removings the malpractices that thr manual systems have beensubjected to. Last month, GRA swoops and mystery purchases in various companies that led to the discovery of non-compliant institutions and the temporary closure of heir operations. Me Gyamerah aaid together with the e-invoicing, the GRA was hoping to raise VAT contribution to total revenue from he current 18 per cent to 30 per cent by 2024. He said while VAT collections in Ghana's peer nations amounted to 30 per cent per annum, that of Ghana was aroubd 18 per cent. This, he said meant that VAT more revenue was being lost through the abuses that thr manual system was subjected to. To help deal with this, the Head of DTRD said authority and government amended Section 42 of the VAT Act, (2013) Act 870 as amended to make e-invoicing compulsory and the only medium for issuing VAT invoices. "Throuhh this, we will be able to improve upon compliance, we will have audit trail and that will allow us to know the volume of transactions every minute for us to assess the taxes appropriately" he said. Speaking on the node of implementation, Mr Gyamerah said the system would be deployed using two different routes. He said for businesses that have their own platform for issuing VAT, GRA connect its software for generating the e-VAT invoices into theirs to allow for take off. But for businesses that do not have their own systems, he said the authority would give its software to them at no cost. On the e-TCC, he said businesses only needed to enter their details into the e-TCC portal crwates by GRA for the certificates to be generated automatically. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has said that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and chiefs on the fight against illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) will have no impact. According to him, the meeting will have no effect because the president has all the powers needed to fight the menace but has chosen not to use same. Speaking in a Joy News Interview monitored by GhanaWeb on Wednesday (October 5), Kofi Bentil added that the president organised the meeting just to show that he is doing something in the fight against galamsey. It (the meeting) will not make any difference. It is the president that has all the power. So, when you have the power to do what you need to do and you go round suggesting that you are seeking the assistance of other people, who do not have any power or dont have any real power to deal with the matters, it is just window dressing. I think he wants to show some activity. Activity is not necessarily progress. Unfortunately, I dont think it is going to yield anything, he said. Kofi Bentil further stated that chiefs and MMDCEs whom the president met might be involved in galamsey and they will not be putting in the needed efforts or help with the needed information to stop it. He added that the president needs to call for a state of emergency if he truly wants to stop galamsey. That is why again I go to the call of Occupy Ghana to impose a state of emergency. The president can actually impose a state of emergency and go to Parliament even after the fact or can go to Parliament and request that it should be imposed now. If he doesnt do it then he doesnt want to do it because he can do it, he said. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo, during his meeting with chiefs and MMDCEs in Kumasi, urged chiefs across the country to get themselves involved in the fight against illegal small-scale mining since they are the custodians of lands in the country. 80 percent of the lands in this country continue to be under your custody, much of it having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of your ancestors. The remainder of 20 percent which I hold in trust of the people of Ghana, derived from state acquisition from you. What this means is that ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is our joint responsibility, although by statute the minerals in the soil belong to the president in trust for the people, he noted. Source: ghanaweb.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. Featured Video Ghana has been classified as a high debt distressed country, according to the World Bank. The Banks October 2022 Africa Pulse Report, Ghanas rising debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is now projected to reach 104 percent by the end of this year. This would represent an increase from 76.6 percent a year earlier with the report attributing the development to the depreciation of the cedi, widening government deficit and rising debt service costs. It further attributed Ghana losing its access to international capital markets as another contributing factor. Debt is expected to jump in Ghana to 104.6% of GDP, from 76.6% a year earlier amid a widened government deficit, massive weakening of the cedi, and rising debt service costs," the report noted. The countrys debt is expected to remain elevated at 99.7% and 101.8% of GDP in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Tightening of financial conditions globally along with the fall of the domestic currency widened the sovereign spread by 233 basis points since December 2021, it added. The forecast by the World Bank comes within a period where Ghana has commenced negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for an economic support programme. Ahead of the possible programme, officials from the Fund are conducting a Debt Sustainability Analysis for Ghana which is a key requisite exercise for the country which is facing a heavy debt burden. But the World Bank said despite Ghana's target of accessing $3 billion from the Fund to restore macroeconomic stability and shore up public finances, investors remain nervous about the countrys debt sustainability. It however highlighted these concerns on the back of recent economic downgrades by international credit rating agencies such as Fitch, Moodys, Standards and Poors into deeper junk status. The agencies on their part cited recent macroeconomic deterioration, further heightening of the governments liquidity and debt sustainability difficulties as well as increasing risk of default as reasons. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has opined that godfathers of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) met yesterday October 5 to feign a fight against the menace. His comment comes on the back of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos meeting with the National House of Chiefs at Manhyia to discuss matters concerning the galamsey menace. In a Facebook post on October 5, Franklin Cudjoe said the stakeholders who met only disowned their child but will continuously benefit from it. He wrote: Galamsey just got another bad name today. The godfathers assembled to disown their own child but will continue benefitting from its existence. Akufo-Addo courts House of Chiefs support anti-galamsey fight President Akufo-Addo in an address to the National House of Chiefs expressed concerns over galamsey activities which he admits has been a lost battle over the years. He said even though he put his presidency on the line to combat the menace in 2017, it results has not been what he expected. The president said he paid an electoral price for his fight as he lost votes and, in some cases, NPP MPs in the 7th Parliament lost their reelection bid in mining communities. He stated that the fight against illegal mining can only be won with the support of chiefs as well as stamping out politics from it. It can only succeed if it is a truly national battle that no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election. The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all Fellow Ghanaians, pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future, President Akufo-Addo said. Ghana has been waging war on the activities of illegal miners however it is widely believed that the fight has not yielded the desired results. The discolored nature of water bodies as well as general environmental degradation has been used as a testament to the failed fight. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Second lady, Samira Bawumia, has extended a birthday message to her husband and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. In a Facebook post on October 7, she thanked Allah for the protection and guidance granted to Dr. Bawumia. Samira Bawumia added that she and their children were proud of Dr. Bawumia for his commitment to the family and Ghana as a whole. She wrote: Happy 59th birthday, sweetheart @mbawumia. We're grateful to Allah for protecting and guiding you throughout the years. The kids and I are proud of your commitment to our family and the entire nation. Profile of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Dr. Bawumia was born on October 7, 1963, in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, former Chairman of the Council of State (19922000), and Hajia Mariama Bawumia. Born into a large family, Mahamudu Bawumia was the twelfth of his fathers 18 children and the second of his mothers five. Mahamudu Bawumia attended the Sakasaka Primary school in Tamale and gained admission to Tamale Secondary School in 1975. He was President of the Ghana United Nations Students Association (GUNSA) in 1981. After graduating from Tamale Secondary School, he went to the United Kingdom where he studied banking and obtained the Chartered Institute of Bankers Diploma (ACIB). He took a First Class Honours Degree in Economics at Buckingham University in 1987. He then obtained a master's degree in Economics at Lincoln College, Oxford, and obtained a Ph.D. in Economics at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1995. His areas of specialization include Macroeconomics, International Economics, Development Economics, and Monetary Policy. He has numerous publications. He became an economist and banker by training and went on to serve as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana between 2006 and 2009. Dr. Bawumia was running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 and 2012 elections which they lost. He became Vice President on his third attempt with Nana Akufo-Addo after winning the 2016 and 2020 elections. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lauded the Ghanaian Muslim community for its decision to come together and advance the cause of the members and society in general. The development, he said, was worth emulating by the other religious bodies, especially the resolve of the various sects (Al-Sunna, Tijaniyya, Shia, Ahmadiyya and the Ghana Muslim Mission) to bury their differences and establish a common front to spearhead the welfare of the people. It will make for unity, harmony and the peace of our country, President Nana Akufo-Addo noted, when the leadership of the National Muslim Conference paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House, Accra. The delegation was led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, who chairs the Conference. The conferences terms of reference include providing a common platform for the Muslim community to deliberate on issues of common interests, particularly in the area of education, health, finance and the general wellbeing of the people. It is mandated to serve as a mouthpiece to engage the government and other bodies on matters relating to the communitys advancement and represent Muslims in the process of formulating and implementing national policies. The Conference is expected to work towards the establishment of the Ghana Islamic Education Service, Ghana Islamic Health Service and Ghana Islamic Financial Service all intended to cater for the needs of the people. President Nana Akufo-Addo welcomed the unity of purpose existing among Muslims, saying the government acknowledged the critical role they played in achieving the nations development aspirations. On the issue of the state giving formal recognition to the conference, the President assured: The demand for recognition will be positive, The recognition, courtesies and protocols that are extended to the other religious bodies will also be extended to the National Muslim Conference, he stated. President Nana Akufo-Addo singled out for praise, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, for his exemplary leadership and commitment to the cause of humanity. He has been a pillar of harmony of peace and reconciliation of our country, he observed, citing the significant role the National Chief Imam had played over the years in uniting the Muslim community. The nation, he said, was blessed to have such a man who continued to demonstrate a high sense of selflessness and patriotism in the development aspirations of the nation. President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that his Administration valued the contributions of Muslims to societys progress, therefore, the authorities were determined to sustain the existing relationship between the government and that community for the benefit of the people. The setting up of the Zongo Development Fund and other human-centred programmes, he said, were all geared towards making life comfortable for the Muslim community. Alhaji Inusah Mohammed, Acting General-Secretary of the conference, said the body had representatives of all the various Muslim sects in the country. According to him, their focus was to present a common front in deliberating on national policies and legislations that affected the peoples welfare. Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, the Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission and Member of the Conferences Governing Board, said the coming into being of the Conference was timely given the fact that Muslims had since the pre-colonial era been instrumental in changing the society for the better. Source: ghanaweb.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. Featured Video The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, has dared Ghanaians to make available evidence that proves that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, is involved in illegal mining, also known as galamsey. In his view, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo can only act when there's sufficient evidence that his appointees are involved in illegal mining activities. On September 30, 2022, the Minerals Commission issued a statement asking Akonta Mining, a company owned by Chairman Wontumi, to stop mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, describing the activities of the company as illegal. But critics have said that the chiefs in the area should have rather asked President Nana Akufo-Addo to punish Chairman Wontumi over his involvement in the galamsey activities. Reacting to the claims, the President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, argued that traditional authorities do not operate on rumours. He however stated that persons with concrete evidence to back the claims should make it available for the necessary actions to be taken on them. "I have heard that Wontumi is doing galamsey. Whether it is true or not, I don't know and I don't have any evidence, so how do I tell the president about Wontumi in such a forum or expect me to speak about an issue on national television when I don't have any facts or direct evidence on Wontumi's activities? So, if you have the evidence or anyone has evidence that Wontumi is into galamsey, make it available to the president and he will act on it," he told Morning Show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson. Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II also cautioned chiefs against engaging in illegal mining. He insisted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has their full support in arresting and prosecuting persons involved in the act in spite of their status in the society. "The chiefs have been warned against the practice because we have asked the President to deal with anyone who is involved, whether a chief, a politician or whoever must be arrested to curb the menace," he added. Source: ghanaweb.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. Featured Video The CEO of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, has dismissed the long-held perception that a major referral facility is a place of death for critically ill patients. This bad publicity, he explained, is borne out of the fact that people and private hospitals have used Korle-Bu as a dumpsite for already dying patients. In his view, Korle Bu has the expertise to offer treatment to all patients and save lives to the extent that people in developed countries travel to Ghana to have their surgeries and treatments done at the facility. Speaking on the Class Morning Show on Class91.3FM today, Thursday, 6 October 2022, Dr Ampomah noted that no matter how critical a patients condition may be, when transferred to Korle-Bu, they do their best to save the person. He told show host Kofi Oppong Asamoah that there is a reverse flow happening now where there are people who are in developed countries, who travel to Ghana to come and have their procedures, surgeries done". He, however, made it clear that Korle Bus brand has suffered a certain damage" and "thats why some people think Korle Bu is a bad place but some of the things weve suffered in silence are that if you go to any of the private hospitals now, many of them are very good at keeping you, but then when they realise that this guy, things are not going on well, hes about to die, they quickly send you off to Korle-Bu and, of course, we cannot send anybody away, so, they come to Korle Bu and if you look at our data, the deaths that happen within the first 24 hours are quite high, so, it means that the person came in a very critical condition and, of course, we will do our best to save the situation but when the person succumbs, in the obituary, they say he died at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, so, everybody thinks Korle Bu is a place where people die. He added, But I dont blame our colleagues in private hospitals, the way the environment is, they also want to maintain a certain kind of brand. The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is Africa's third-biggest referral centre. The facility can boast 2,000 beds, 21 clinical and diagnostic departments and three Centres of Excellence. It also has an average outpatient attendance of 1,500 with about 250 inpatient admissions. The clinical and diagnostic departments include Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Child Health, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesia, Family Medicine/Polyclinic, Accident & Emergency, Psychiatry, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre and Accident & Orthopaedics. Others are Pharmacy, Pathology, Laboratory and Radiology. The Hospital also provides sophisticated scientific treatment procedures in various subspecialties such as Neurosurgery, Paediatric surgery, Dental/Oral maxillofacial, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Renal, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Dermatology, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine. Source: class fm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Deputy Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Ms. Ama Pomaa Boateng, has said Ghana has contributed significantly to the global fight against cybercrime. She said over 5,000 cybercrime incidents that could have caused victims losses were prevented and several amounts of money were saved, owing to the Cybercrime/Cyber security Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC) launched in October 2019. The PoC, according to the Minister, has provided citizens with multiple avenues and channels to report cyber-related incidents and to receive assistance and guidance from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA). Ms. Boateng said this at the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) launch on Monday in Accra. "This year alone, as of the end of the third quarter, a total of 9,769 contacts have been received through the various points of contact of which 431 were recorded as actual Cyber security incidents and 5,389 as direct advisories, she added. She said the Ministry's development of the Computer Emergency Response Ecosystem has brought improvement in incident reporting and response, specifically in the financial and telecommunications sectors. To mitigate the occurrence of cybercrime, Ms Boateng noted that the government has collaborated with the World Bank and the Council of Europe to organize capacity-building programmes for judges, prosecutors, and other important stakeholders in cybercrime prevention and electronic evidence gathering. This move seeks to facilitate an effective prosecution of cybercrimes and computer-aided offences, Ms. Boateng said. According to her, these developments established the critical pillars of Ghanas national Cyber security development. Consequently, the 2020 ITU Global Cyber security Index (GCI) report scored Ghana's Cyber security development at 86.69%, a major improvement from our earlier rating in 2017 which was 32.6%. she hinted. the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) aimed at promoting capacity building and awareness creation to ultimately improve cyber security as well as strengthen the countrys national cyber resilience. In July 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the then Ministry of Communications to oversee Cyber security development in Ghana. Under that effect, the National Cyber Security Secretariat was established to coordinate Ghanas Cyber security efforts by implementing strategic initiatives for a secure and resilient digital Ghana. The Secretariat transitioned into the National Cyber Security Centre and is now, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), following the passage of the Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038) in December 2020. The period leading to the Act's passage witnessed several critical interventions, as the government anticipated the need for robust Cyber security to support the countrys digital transformation agenda. Again, the Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention, and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security & Personal Data Protection also known as the Malabo Convention were adopted and ratified by Parliament. Subsequently, the annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) was also institutionalized, making October a month for cyber security awareness creation each year. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Life returned to normal in Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region yesterday after the swelling River Tordze overflowed its banks and filled about 45 houses for two days. Heavy rains in neighbouring communities in Togo caused the river to expand far beyond its banks to claim farmlands and flow into homes in the district capital last Monday. The rivers source is in Hanyigbatodzi in Togo. The inundation displaced 105 people, including 85 children during its two-day spell. Some farmlands near the river were also submerged in the floods. The nearby Kpetoe River also overflowed its banks as a result of the rains. No casualty The District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Brown Dzikpe, said there was no casualty. He said the flood victims, who fled their homes to put up with their friends and relatives in the town, were returning home. Mr Dzikpe said NADMO was unable to provide the victims with relief items, because, for now, we do not have any in stock. He renewed his caution to residents to refrain from building houses along the banks of the river. Kpetoe Bridge The river had reached a level inches beneath the Kpetoe Bridge, which is on the Ho-Denu road, as of Tuesday, prompting fears of travel disruptions on the route. When the Daily Graphic visited the town yesterday the floods had largely receded. Schools were in session while economic activities, which were put on hold by the floods for two days had resumed. Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Director of Agriculture, William Dzamefe, gave an assurance that despite the destruction of some crops by the floods, food security in the area was not threatened. 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. Featured Video The time for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to extend a hand of cooperation to stakeholders across the spectrum to rescue the economy from further decline is now, the Minority in Parliament has stated. In the view of the caucus, Ghana has the requisite personnel to turn the economic situation around if the government opened up for alternative views. Their call comes on the heels of a World Bank report which pegged Ghanas Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 104.6 per cent, further impairing the economy. At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Minority said if the government had listened to the opposition parliamentary wing when it was cautioned against the excessive borrowing the regime engaged in. If they had listened to the Minority from 2017, certainly, we wouldnt have been where we are today. Today, Ghana has become a laughing stock in the world. This mismanagement and incompetence is legendary and must be stopped and I think that the president must call on all of us to come onboard as citizens of this country to secure our future. We have the people who can do it. There are excellent people in academia and in civil society and in the other political parties. There is the need for us to come together to rescue our country because it is very clear that this government cannot steer us out of this economic meltdown, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance said. The caucus, Dr Forson, MP for Ejumako/Enyan/Essiam said was vindicated by its long-held view that government is guilty of subterfuge in relation to Ghanas debt. The Minority in the past has maintained that the US$2 billion sinohydro deal was a loan contrary to governments position that it was a barter trade between the Chinese company for them to extract bauxite worth the amount. This position which the government denied, Dr Forson said has come to light. They have hidden ESLA, they have hidden Sinohydro, they have hidden Daakye, and in fact, they have added debt through Road Fund and they are all public debt. Since 2017, we have been raising this concern that [the sinohydro and other loans calculated below the line] are public debts but this government thought they are wiser than all of us. Today, their master, the IMF, is in town. All the above debts, Dr Forson said, have eventually been added to the public debt which has pushed the countrys debt to over 100 per cent of GDP. Over the years, they have been deceiving stakeholders, you and I, creating the impression that our debt is sustainable. Today it is obvious that due to this governments reckless management of the economy and the way they have piled the fiscals in an unsustainable manner, our debt is 104 per cent of our GDP, Dr Forson said. Source: Ghanaiantimes.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Sam Pyne, has appealed to all Ghanaians to commit to the fight against the galamsey menace. Joining Thursday's panel on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, the KMA Boss urged the citizenry to assist the President in achieving his vision of eradicating the menace. The President, on Wendnesday, October 5, 2022, held a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs at Manhyia in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. President Nana Addo urged the Chiefs, MMDCEs and the entire nation to collaborate on stopping the menace. "We have tried many initiatives, including that of the Community Mining Scheme, and the establishment of a new legal regime for dealing with the perpetrators of this phenomenon, which has imposed severe sanctions on those, Ghanaians and foreigners, convicted of illegal mining. Still, we have not won the fight. "It is obvious that, if we are to win the fight, it would require a collaborative effort to do so. The fight against Galamsey can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election. The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all Fellow Ghanaians, pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future", he said. Reiterating the stance of government, President Akufo-Addo noted that we are not against mining, but we cannot accept mining in a manner that risks destroying our country. Our nation has always been a mining nation. Indeed, in the 15th century, when the first Europeans, the Portuguese, came to our shores, they called the first European-influenced town, Elmina, meaning the mine in Portuguese, because, from their ships as they approached our shores, that is the activity they saw our people engaged in. it is not surprising that, in colonial times, we were called the Gold Coast. He, thus, asked all Ghanaians to join hands with him in the fight against illegal mining asserting we have to win that fight to keep our environment clean, and protect our heritage for our descendants, as you did in the past. Sam Pyne also pleads with Ghanaians to heed the President's call saying, "it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure the right thing is done". "The soldiers that we are deploying to do the job should be truthful to the nation . . . Let's charge those we have placed in charge of the job to be sincere, true and nationalistic ensuring a better future for the country," he added. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah says he is utterly disgusted by the letter written by Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to Akonta Mining Ltd for encroaching on the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality in the Western Region. It could be recalled that personnel from the Forestry Commission were recently chased out of the forest reserve by some muscular men when they went to stop workers of the company from mining. Following the incident, Akonta Mining Ltd, a mining company owned by the ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi, has been stopped by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources from mining in the forest reserve. According to the Ministry, even though Akonta Mining Limited has a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. Our records show that Akonta Mining Ltd, on August 25, 2022, applied for a Mining Lease to undertake mining operations in the said Forest Reserve. By a Ministerial Directive, all reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploratory activities in Forest Reserves in the country are suspended, except in exceptional circumstances. Although this directive does not affect mining in Forest Reserves, Akonta Mining Limiteds application has not been determined. Accordingly, any alleged activity being undertaken by the company in the Forest Reserve is illegal, the statement further disclosed. The statement also said the Minister has directed the Forestry Ministry to forthwith, ensure that the company does not carry out any operation in the Forest and to take the necessary action against any person found culpable in this matter. But Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah is unconvinced by the instructions from the sector Minister to the company to halt their mining operations in the specified forest reserve. "I feel so disgusted with the letter that Jinapor wrote. Why are we giving someone warning to take his machines away? Have we given Ghana for work and pay?", he questioned. Establishing his argument, he said; "We are in this country and some people doing galamsey had their machines burned. Why is someone else doing something that is said to be illegal rather getting a warning to remove his machines from the forest?" To him, the directive to Akonta Mining not to carry out its operation in the forest without any accompanying punishment sounds discriminatory. "Are we being discriminatory? Are we being true to ourselves? What is this?", he exclaimed. "If we keep doing this, then we are heading towards nowhere" with the fight against galamsey, he added. Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah made these submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former Ashanti regional Minister in the erstwhile late Jerry John Rawlings administration and former Ghanas Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Ohene Agyekum, has described as frivolous claims that the current Ashanti regional Chairman of the opposition NDC, Andrew Augustus Nana Akwasi squandered party funds or took money from the ruling NPP during the 2020 general elections. Commenting on the leaked Fact-finding Committee report on a local radio station, Ambassador Agyekum said, "nowhere in the report affirmed or concluded that, indeed the regional Chairman of our party sold our votes or squandered monies allocated for the general elections." None of the accusers was able to provide concrete evidence. There were 17 witnesses who appeared before the committee, and I tell you no one was able to prove that he (Nana Akwasi) took money from the NPP or squandered party money during the elections, he said. The NDC secured over 600,000 votes in the Ashanti region in the 2020 general elections, bettering the 2016 performance of 400,000 votes. Source: Onuaonline.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. Featured Video By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Substantial steps are being taken under Azerbaijan's chairmanship to ensure the advancement of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said. She made the remarks during her speech at the 8th summit of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers in Jakarta. According to Gafarova, those steps are the inception of the NAM Youth Organization on the basis of the Youth Network and the installment of a NAM support office in NYC. She also noted the special session of the UN General Assembly devoted to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was convened at the instance of the Azerbaijani president in December 2020. "That as well as the adopted resolutions about ensuring equitable, affordable, timely, and universal access to the COVID-19 vaccines and the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to form a UN High-Level Panel to generate recommendations concerning post-pandemic global recovery is our countrys contribution to international co-operation," she said. During her speech, Gafarova stressed that poverty, the humanitarian crisis and conflicts, social inequality, climatic changes, and other modern challenges are impossible to overcome alone. One of the most useful lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic taught the whole world was that global challenges require global solutions, and those collective efforts and joint activities are essential. Parliamentarians as representatives of their peoples ought to take part in the discussions held to find the best solutions for the problems of universal concern. The legislatures cooperation platforms prove the undertaking and resolve to pursue joint endeavors for a better world, she noted. The speaker emphasized that the P20 summit is very important in this sense as it is an event capable of defining what roles the parliaments could play and of determining what contributions they can make to addressing present-day problems. She added that the summit also matters as a muster point for parliamentarians and as a venue where various aspects of the parliament-government cooperation can be discussed in an overarching manner. Talking about the newly founded Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, Gafarova provided detailed information about this entity, the emergence of which is the result of the initiative that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had put forth as the incumbent NAM Chair. Gafarova expressed confidence that the Network was going to become a serious platform upon which to promote multilateralism, dialogue, and inter-parliamentary cooperation. She added that the Network was also prepared to make an input in achieving common goals through active interaction with the other parliamentary institutions. "If we want to eliminate international-scale problems to come to fruition, we should strengthen the international institutions, enforce adopted documents and put an end to double standards and selective approaches," Gafarova said. Here, the speaker brought up the nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, in particular the occupation of 20 percent of the territory, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. She also mentioned the ethnic cleansing by Armenia in those lands, which led to more than a million Azerbaijanis becoming refugees and displaced persons. "About 4,000 citizens of Azerbaijan, civilians and servicemen alike, are still missing consequent to that conflict. Armenia, meanwhile, had demolished all of our towns and villages in the captured provinces and had vandalized all the historical and cultural artifacts and sites of Azerbaijan during the years of occupation. The four resolutions that the UN Security Council passed in 1993 as well as the resolutions and decisions of the UN General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and of other international establishments demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenias armed forces from the Azerbaijani territories. But Armenia had ignored them all. In the end, Azerbaijan resorted to its own resources to enforce the resolutions of the UN Security Council as well as the international laws standards and principles whilst also restoring historical justice and liberating its lands," she said. Further, Gafarova informed the audience of the ongoing post-war efforts of Azerbaijan to establish lasting peace and stability in the region. She highlighted that Azerbaijan had offered a normalization of relations with Armenia and signed a peace treaty based upon five principles of international law. The speaker noted that mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, delimitation, and demarcation of the borders will lead to peace and stability in the region. "But Armenia demonstrates a destructive attitude to the conversations going on through international efforts. Armenia is obstructing the opening of communications and transport routes in the region. This process is equally hindered by the latest Armenian military provocations of September 13, 2022. The most important thing to do right now is to avoid making any move likely to harm the normalization of relations because it is the only path to long-term peace in the region," Gafarova said. Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has blamed the Chief Executive Officers of the Forestry, Lands and Minerals Commissions for the difficulties that the Government of Ghana is having in ending the galamsey menace. Charles Owusu, speaking to Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", noted that there is no way illegal mining activities would keep going on should these Chief Executives execute their mandates effeciently. " . . the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources cannot be everywhere. That is why we have a department called Forestry Commission that is under the Ministry. What work are they doing? When you take the Minerals Commission, there is a Mineral Officer in every district . . . What is their job? What is their core mandate? Are they there to just sit down? . . . What have they done?," he questioned. He cited the case of Akonta Mining Ltd, a mining company belonging to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi; encroaching on the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality in the Western Region. He couldn't fathom how Akonta Mining gained access to the forest reserve without the notice of the authorities. "So, the Forestry Commission didn't see that Akonta Mining has entered the forest. Now that they have to take steps but when someone commits crime, do we take steps? If indeed they have crossed the line and entered an unauthorized place, is it steps we take? What questions are we asking the Regional Minister who is responsible for the forest? The District Manager who is in charge of the day-to-day management and supervision of the forest, what was he doing that he says he didn't see what was happening in the forest?" He called on the President to crack the whip on the MMDCEs and Chief Executives of the various State institutions whose negligence have led to these illegalities in the forest and mining communities. "I think that the people who are responsible for day-to-day work to prevent the [illegal] galamsey, they are not doing it . . . Indeed, the galamseyers voted against President Akufo-Addo and his party . . . Because all the mining areas, almost, the NPP lost the mining areas but when they lost, those people who were supposed to do their job but shirked the duties; the same people are still there. "They are doing nothing and we will be insulting the Chiefs. I want to ask who goes for a lease from the palace? . . . The civil servants, the Chief Executives of these various State institutions responsible for the management of the day-to-day of those institutions, where are they? Why are they not talking?", he fumed. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian musician Kuami Eugene has been honored at the 2022 BMI London Awards alongside CKay and JoeBoy. The songwriters, including Kuami Eugene, and publishers of the global hit song Love Nwantiti were awarded at the ceremony held at Londons Savoy Hotel on 3rd October, 2022. Love Nwantiti was among songs that were awarded under the Most-Performed Songs of the Year section. This category of honors is dedicated to songs with the most performances on terrestrial radio, satellite radio, and digital streaming services over the past year. Other big winners on the night included Ed Sheraan & Johnny McDaid for Bad Habits (Song of the Year), Tems (Impact Award) and Wizkid for Essence (Most Performed Songs) BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), the global leader in music rights management has for several decades honored immensely talented songwriters and publishers whose music captivated the world. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A warmer-than-usual August and September created ideal breeding conditions for Western conifer seed bugs, sometimes called stink bugs, that are now showing up in great numbers around homes and buildings in the Okanagan. A rural Ontario hospital is closing its emergency department until December due to a shortage of nurses.South Bruce Grey Health Centre says the Chelsey hospital emergency is closing today with a scheduled reopening date of Dec. 2. An emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is shown on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul PN Podcast: Poker Masters Wraps, HCL Drama & Guest ClubGG Ambassador Kyna England October 07, 2022 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. In the latest edition of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen chat about the Hustler Casino Live (HCL) cheating allegations and drama, recap winners from the Poker Masters and WSOP.com Online Bracelet events, breakdown a sick hand played between Daniel Negreanu and Bryn Kenney in the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl (SHRB), and updates on the PokerStars ONCOOP and WPT Global $1 for $1 Million. Finally, Connor Richards chatted with Kyna England, who had a breakout year in 2021 and was recently named the first-ever ClubGG Ambassador! Find out what she had to say about the exciting new opportunity. Don't forget to call the PokerNews Bad Beat Hotline at (+1 702-625-0166) to share your bad beats, which may be featured on a future episode of the show. Listen to those stories and more in the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Time Stamps Call the PokerNews Bad Beat Hotline today! Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Sarah Herring, Chad Holloway, and Jesse Fullen on Twitter. Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Sharelines PokerNews Podcast: Kyna England (@Kyna_CooL) talks about becoming the first @ClubGG_Poker Ambassador. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters has been condemned by 75 of his classmates, teachers, and alumni. AZ Mirror reported: A group of Blake Masters former classmates at Green Fields Country Day School in Tucson have condemned him in no uncertain terms in an open letter saying that he would lead Arizona down a dark, dystopian path. . He peddles extremist ideology attacking veterans, calling abortion demonic, being endorsed by Neo-Nazis, blaming gun violence on Black people, frankly, and thats just the tip of the iceberg, Masters former classmates said in the letter. He also belittles those who dont share his views, and its clear Blake will lead Arizona down a dark, dystopian path. He is a man who gave up everything his friends, his community, his values, and his integrity all in pursuit of power, position, and prestige. Whether it is Herschel Walker being denounced by his own son, Dr. Oz being denounced as dangerous by the medical community, or Blake Masters being denounced by the people that he went to school with a clear trend has developed where Trumps hand-picked Senate candidates are being called dangerous by those who know them best. Each of these candidates is currently losing in their elections, but without vigilance, they could each find themselves in the United States Senate helping Republicans implement an extremist agenda. Blake Masters is currently losing to Sen. Mark Kelly and Republicans have sent signals that they are giving up on the race, but voters must finish the job on election day and make sure that each of these dangerous extremists is\ denied a seat in the Senate. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Biden made history by announcing a pardon for every American federally convicted of simple marijuana possession. Biden Pardons All US Citizens Federally Convicted Of Simple Marijuana Possession President Biden issued the pardons through proclamation: Acting pursuant to the grant of authority in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the United States, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to (1) all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, as currently codified at 21 U.S.C. 844 and as previously codified elsewhere in the United States Code, or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1), on or before the date of this proclamation, regardless of whether they have been charged with or prosecuted for this offense on or before the date of this proclamation; and (2) all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, as currently codified at 21 U.S.C. 844 and as previously codified elsewhere in the United States Code, or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1); which pardon shall restore to them full political, civil, and other rights. My intent by this proclamation is to pardon only the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of Federal law or in violation of D.C. Code 48904.01(d)(1), and not any other offenses related to marijuana or other controlled substances. No language herein shall be construed to pardon any person for any other offense, including possession of other controlled substances, whether committed prior, subsequent, or contemporaneous to the pardoned offense of simple possession of marijuana. This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense. Democrats Praise Biden For Marijuana Reform Speaker Pelosi said, Today is a day of hope and healing, as President Biden takes historic steps to reform Americas approach to marijuana. These transformative actions are the latest manifestation of Democrats unyielding commitment to justice, especially for those unfairly harmed by cannabis criminalization. Majority Leader Schumer, who has been advocating marijuana reform said, For far too long, the federal prohibition on cannabis and the War on Drugs has been a war on people, and particularly people of color. President Bidens action to pardon people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law is a huge step forward to correct decades of over-criminalization. Pennsylvania US Senate candidate John Fetterman took on the predictable Republican hysteria, I dont want to hear any bullshit from Dr. Oz or any Republican conflating decriminalizing marijuana with seriously harmful crime. As mayor of Braddock, I worked to combat serious crime. I know what it looks like. And I know that marijuana just doesnt fit the bill. More than 350,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana related offenses in 2020. The resources to make those arrests should be going towards combating serious crime and now they will. This decision will make Americans safer. Biden Is Making America Safer With Common Sense People should not be in federal prison for simple marijuana possession. Law enforcement and criminal justice resources should be used to go after violent criminals, not someone who had some pot on them. Biden is making America safe with common sense. Donald Trump talked about criminal justice reform, but President Joe Biden is doing it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Biden turned the tables on Republicans as he called them socialists for voting against the infrastructure bill and then asking for money. Video: President Biden said: CNN that says Republicans call Biden infrastructure program socialism. And then they ask for the money. It goes through all the Republicans with the most conservative Republicans call socialism, and how they are asking. There is a guy named Paul Gosar. Hes written three separate letters to the administration asking for projects in his district. He says it enhanced the quality of life, boost the economy. says its all socialism. Down the list, Kentucky representative Andy Barr, the biggest socialist agenda. Three different projects, he wants. Citing the importance of safety and growth in his district. Rand Paul, I go down the list. Look it up. Socialism. I didnt know there were that many socialist Republicans. Think about it. Im serious. Lets get serious about taking care of ordinary people. Folks, look, you cant make this stuff up. Youve got to say, I gotta say, I was surprised to see so many socialists in the Republican caucus. Folks, here is the bottom line. Republicans take control of the congress, the victories we just one for the American people. They will be taken away. The Republicans are socialists. By their own definition, Republicans want to give government resources to the wealthy and corporations and make workers and the poor pay for it through higher taxes. Republicans believe in socialism, by their definition, not the true definition of socialism. The difference is that they want socialism for the rich. President Biden and the Democrats are using the GOPs attacks against them. It turns out that Republicans like government money in their districts to build new roads, bridges, and schools. Biden will make sure that voters know who the real socialists are, as the Republican attack is backfiring. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print From the outside, the first impeachment of Donald Trump looked to be a smooth-running machine within the GOP, minus some dissent from Romney, who eventually voted guilty, and Collins, who voted to hear evidence. Other than the meaningless two, the Republicans aligned perfectly with Trump, and we didnt hear a word of dissent. Now, though, a serious book by serious reporters unveils the serious fury and fights within the GOP Senate, even among stalwarts like Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, in defending a man they all knew was guilty. In Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congresss Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump, due out Oct. 18, Politicos Rachael Bade and The Washington Posts Karoun Demirjian uncover a behind-the-scenes look at both impeachments, but the focus in this post is the shocking level of anger (at Trump) and infighting that went on during the First Impeachment. It is safe to say that every single Republican Senator knew the Ukraine call was an impeachable act, and the goal was to come out the other side with Trump still in power and more importantly, without losing the senate majority in 2020. From Huffpos review: Out of one hundred senators, you have zero who believe you that there was no quid pro quo. None. Theres not a single one, Cruz reportedly said at one point, contradicting what Republicans were saying publicly about the charges at the time. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also fumed at Trumps legal team after they fumbled responding to a senators question about calling new witnesses. Trumps attorneys said that it was simply too late to do so, a line Graham worried would lose Republican votes. We are FCKED. We are FCKED! Graham, a top Trump ally, reportedly said afterward as he walked into the GOP cloakroom, a private chamber adjacent to the Senate floor. Respecting the bounds of Fair Use, well note that Trumps defense attorney Allan Dershowitz argued that if Trump believed that his reelection was in the public interest, then it was perfectly okay to offer the quid pro quo. Senator Roy Blunt and Senator Ted Cruz were so offended by the defense that they demanded that Trump fire his defense team on the spot. McConnell remained above it all by saying it wasnt about Trump. It was about maintaining a majority in 2020. Ironically, it is partly because the Republicans aligned so strongly in such a ridiculous position that Trump lost, and McConnell lost his leadership post. Sen. Murkowski from Alaska was so upset with McConnell when McConnell publicly said that the Republican Senates position is exactly aligned with Trumps defense, that there was no room between the two, that Murkowski told reporters that she was disturbed by McConnells comment (As she should be, the assertion went entirely against the impeachment process as a juror). McConnell fired off an angry email at Murkowski. The book itself notes, of Murkowski: To Murkowski, the party had transformed into a mindless herd of Arctic musk ox: eight-hundred-pound beasts that form a protective circle around their young, with their horns turned outward and their rears tucked inside. Republican leaders, much to her frustration, were constantly telling their rank and file: You gotta circle. You gotta circle together to protect one another here which meant, of course, circling to protect Trump. Just like musk ox, Murkowski thought. From the outside, it all looked perfect, even when Romney told the caucus that if they were trying to persuade him not to hear evidence, they were only pushing him further away. It looked unified, but for the ultra-moderate former GOP presidential nominee. But it just goes to show that the Republicans are really good at putting on a show to the outside world while gnashing their teeth over the difficulty of full subservience to Trump and even McConnell. Ted Cruz, Not a single senator believes this wasnt a quid pro quo, and Trump, Impeachment Hoax One. Thats the modern MAGA party in a nutshell. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Dr. Oz was at a fundraiser in California, where he was photographed with a car once owned by Adolph Hitler. It is impossible to believe that a candidate and a party would make this kind of mistake, but here it is: Nothing to see here, just Pennsylvanias Republican US Senate candidate being photographed with Hitlers car prominently on display. Since this is the haplessly run National Republican Senatorial Committee, under the leadership of Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), it isnt much of a surprise that they set up one of their candidates to be seen with Hitlers car. It wouldnt be difficult to set up the speaking area to not display Hitlers car. Dr. Oz was already in the news this week for murdering hundreds of dogs and puppies. Herschel Walker gave Oz a brief break from the negative spotlight by nuking his entire Senate campaign, but not to be outdone, Dr. Oz has played the Hitler card, and nothing beats Hitler for negative campaign coverage. Both Dr. Oz and Herschel Walker were Trumps endorsed choices for the US Senate, and both of them are the main reason why Democrats are looking good to keep the Senate majority. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Biden warned last night, First time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat of the use nuclear weapon if in fact things continue down the path they are goingI didnt realize how much serious damage the previous administration did to our foreign policy. So yes, what Donald Trump has done with these TOP SECRET files including foreign nations nuclear capabilities seized at Trumps Mar-a-Lago is rather essential. Let us not forget, Some of the seized documents detail top-secret U.S. operations so closely guarded that many senior national security officials are kept in the dark about them. And now, we learn today that there is a strong suggestion that the classified documents Donald Trump stole were handled *post* his presidency. Ryan Goodman, who is co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, highlighted a nugget today that appears to indicate Trump handling of boxes/materials post presidency. To begin, Goodman was keeping an eye out for whether any of Trumps personal records that commingled with the classified documents Trump stole postdated 1/20/2021 the date the nation finally watched Donald Trump and his posse of mob-styled enablers depart the White House. He thinks he spies at least three documents that post date Trumps exit. This suggests that the documents were handled AFTER he left the office. (I think we all suspect and would bet that Trump handled the documents after he left the office, but that has not been established yet. It matters.) Ive been keeping an eye out for this. Whether any of Trumps personal records, commingled with classified docs, postdate 1/20/2021. These 3 in Privilege Review Team inventory appears to make the case. Legal significance: Indicates handling of boxes/materials post presidency pic.twitter.com/VtMsOtwOo6 Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) October 7, 2022 Goodman cites a confidential agreement with the PGA, documents related to his suit against his niece Mary L. Trump, and a folder marked news article that contained an event and commenting services agreement. He notes two articles pertaining to the inventory log, one of which is a Washington Post analysis of what the FBI took from Mar-a-Lago. Goodman addresses The boxes recovered by the National Archives in January 2022 also included post presidential records. But it wasnt clear if that was how they were stored at MAL or instead how they were packed up in returning materials to the Archives. Now that we have established that it definitely appears that the classified documents Trump stole have been handled post presidency, what next? Yesterday we learned that the Department of Justice reportedly told Trumps lawyers that they believe he has not returned all the documents he took when he left the White House. Furthermore, investigators remain skeptical that Mr. Trump has been fully cooperative in their efforts to recover documents the former president was supposed to have turned over to the National Archives at the end of his term. It is not clear what steps the Justice Department might take to retrieve any material it thinks Mr. Trump still holds. The problem is, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) negotiates with someone who has already lied to them through his lawyers, an enormously terrifying threat to the United States national security looms. This is no small problem as we are currently on President Joe Biden has pushed to rebuild NATO and hold it together (Trump did a lot of damage there and then Russias invasion of Ukraine). This should raise a lot of alarms, and it begs the question, why hasnt Trump been charged yet? Its been 18 months of negotiating with Trump to comply with the law. He has yet to do so voluntarily. Trump has yet to even tell us why he took these documents and what he did with them. They were not his to take, he was aware of that, and the has been asked to return them numerous times and even lied about doing so following a subpoena. Every effort to work with him has been made and then some. There are suggestions from pundits and hardcore supporters that no one should criticize the DOJ because they are doing things behind the scenes, etc. But experts see possible problems with the way this case appears to be being handled and the key here is appears, because no one but those directly involved actually know what the DOJ is doing. No one. But Andrew Weissman spent 20 years at the Department of Justice. He wrote the best-seller Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation. If anyone can take an educated guess about whats going on, its Weissman. Hours before this revelation, Weissman was noting a problem with the DOJ staffing on the Trump classified document case appearing to be the lead attorney is trained to think of DOJs role as negotiating compliance with the law after the person is discovered to be in violation vs indicting the person to promote compliance with the law. The problem with the DOJ staffing on the MAL case (at least what is visible) is the lead attorney is trained to think of DOJs role as negotiating compliance with the law after the person is discovered to be in violation vs indicting the person to promote compliance with the law. Andrew Weissmann (@AWeissmann_) October 7, 2022 We do not know what the DOJ is doing. It maddeningly appears they are grossly obsequious in their kid glove treatment of Trump, but to be fair to them, Trump is a former president and this is uncharted territory. They are also dealing with a man who managed to politicize a birth certificate, mainstream white supremacy and neo-Nazis, and turn a violent domestic terrorist attack on our country into something the media is loath to call exactly that. There is also a troubling narrative of Trump indulging in frivolous lawsuits and using lawyers to intimidate and silence witnesses. Id wager the Department of Justice has never faced a more daunting or important task in its history. Keep an eye on what happens next, and be careful about taking to heart people who claim the DOJ has got this handled and everyone is going to jail, as well as those who claim the DOJ is doing nothing. The DOJ is doing something, a lot of something the questions are: is it effective, is it responding with the appropriate appreciation of the fact that time is of the essence, and do they have the will to charge a former president if the evidence compels it? Nothing has seemed a more fitting description of Trumps presidency than the legal documents reading: Donald J.Trump Versus The United States of America. Initial construction work on the Savannah River Site plutonium pit production facility could begin by the end of the year. James Toler, executive vice president of the National Nuclear Security Administration capital project for site manager and operator Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, said Thursday that the company was in the process of awarding the first construction contracts for the project and that the contracts called for field activity to begin by the end of year. Toler said the first contracts are for the initial opening and internal refurbishment of the failed Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility which is also known as Building 226-F. The MOX facility was developed by the Department of Energy to meet the obligations of a nuclear non-proliferation treaty signed with the Russian Federation in 2000 that called for both countries to dispose of excess plutonium. Construction of the facility began in 2007 but was quickly beset with financial problems and ultimately canceled by the Department of Energy in 2016 and the plan to develop the facility was ended in 2018. Prior to the cancelation, the Department of Energy shipped several tons of plutonium to the Savannah River Site for disposal . But the cancellation of the MOX facility meant the plutonium wasn't disposed of or removed from the state, leading to the federal government's $600 million settlement with the state. In 2018, the Nuclear Weapons Council endorsed a National Nuclear Security Administration plan to repurpose the MOX facility into a facility for the production of replacement plutonium pits for the nation's nuclear stockpile. Nuclear weapons contain a shell of plutonium called a pit and several other elements into which a neutron is injected to start an uncontrolled nuclear fission reaction. Over time, the plutonium in the pits can begin to decay into other elements, necessitating their periodic replacement. The National Nuclear Security Administration plan called for the construction of 50 pits per year at the Savannah River Site and 30 pits per year at Los Alamos National Laboratory by 2030. But the timeline to produce pits at the Savannah River Site has been pushed back. Several other buildings will also be constructed to serve the main pit production facility. Toler's update about the facility came at an event to celebrate the signing of an agreement between Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and the Augusta Building and Construction Trades Council, a consortium of 19 local trade unions, for skilled workers during the construction phase of the facility. "One of the key things the PLA [the agreement with the unions] does for us is it allows us to tap into a talented set of craft and union workers that we desperately will need to be able to successfully deliver this project," Toler said. Will Salters, president of the union consortium, said Thursday was an exciting day, one that the unions have been looking forward to for months. When completed the pit production facility, to be called the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility, is expected to employ 1,800 people. Construction will peak with around 2,500 workers. "This project in and of itself is a significant project not only for the site but also the region for the resources and the workforce its bringing in," Toler said. Salters wondered how many restaurants and hotels will be developed because of the facility. "So its really, really good for the community," Salters said. Brian Schepens, deputy director for the National Nuclear Security Administration's property management and acquisitions office, and Jason Armstrong, National Nuclear Security Administration field office manager, also spoke at the ceremony. The owner of the undeveloped Magnolia tract on Charleston's upper peninsula plans to give several small parcels to the city for the development of affordable housing. Houston-based Highland Resources is donating 1.1 acres on Heriot Street between Rutledge Avenue and Petty Street near Interstate 26. The property is across the street from the entrance to the private-membership Charleston Rifle Club. The city's Real Estate Committee will consider amendments to the development agreement on Oct. 10 for the 189-acre, former contaminated industrial site to allow the property transfer to take place. The changes omit the acreage from being included in the Magnolia Property Owners Association and the approval process of the site's architectural review panel, according to project spokesman Jonathan Scott. "The two items ... make the donation possible," he said. Clark Davis, CEO and president of Highland Resources, called the company's land contribution a catalyst for the start of providing low-cost housing in an area of the city that is undergoing a rapid transformation. In recent years, new apartment developments, restaurants and commercial businesses have moved into upper King Street and Meeting Street Road not far from the Magnolia tract. "Were particularly proud of this donation because it will allow the city to immediately build affordable units, without having to wait for the full development at Magnolia to unfold in the near future," Davis said. With the scarcity of available land on the peninsula, the donated property helps the city keep housing costs down, according to Geona Shaw Johnson, director of housing and community development. "It ensures long-term affordability," she said of the land contribution. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! The city is looking to develop 26 two-story, attached townhomes on the property. It hasn't been decided if they will be for-sale or rental affordable housing residences. Both will be based on area median income for individuals or families. Johnson is optimistic the city can break ground by the end of 2023 or early 2024. The property transfer gives Magnolia credit for 48 workforce housing units under its development agreement. Scott pointed out the donation doesn't mean the developer won't include lower-income housing options in the Magnolia tract when the long-stalled construction project gets underway. "Both affordable and workforce housing will be incorporated into the master plan for Magnolia," Scott said. The Magnolia site, with much of it marsh, features 81 developable acres. Earlier this year, Highland Resources struck a deal with Atlanta-based developer Portman Holdings to redevelop the property between I-26 and the Ashley River into a mixed-use neighborhood of homes, offices, hotels and retail space over the next 15-20 years. The first phase, projected to cost between $500 million and $700 million, will include a hotel and some residences near the river, with offices and other residential units toward the interior and shops and restaurants interspersed. The first buildings are expected to begin taking shape within the next two years. The site on Charlestons upper peninsula has been approved for 4,080 housing units, 1.05 million square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail space and 1,040 hotel rooms. GEORGETOWN A Georgetown County Sheriffs Office program designed to help inmates successfully reenter society has a new leader. North Carolina native Jonathan Branch takes over as coordinator of the Sheriffs Reentry Program from Debbie Barr, who along with the late Sheriff Lane Cribb and current Sheriff Carter Weaver helped shape it over the years from its humble beginnings in a double-wide trailer to a state-of-the-art education center. Started in 2018, the programs mission is to give inmates occupational, academic and life skills to become productive members of society after leaving the detention center. Program participants take classes in art therapy, auto body, barber shop, carpentry, custodial, equipment operation, HVAC, landscaping, life skills, painting, plumbing and roofing. The program is registered as part of the National Apprenticeship Program through the Department of Labor and the Apprenticeship Carolina S.C. Technical College System. Participants can earn journeyman certification and are provided hands-on field training through Georgetown County Public Works. Each occupation offered must meet all requirements and standards of apprenticeship. Branch will be tasked with making sure the program remains successful as its more than 300 graduates have a reincarceration rate of less than 1 percent, but Weaver said he was convinced he made the right hire in a news release. We are all excited to have Jonathan on our team and look forward to seeing him excel at changing lives, Weaver said. Branch said when applying for the job, it seemed like the right fit, and something about Georgetown stood out to him as it reminds him of a small town near the Outer Banks where he grew up. He recently met with Barr and they talked for three hours. Branch also said he is getting acquainted with members of Amazing Journey, a non-profit organization that does fundraising and community education for the program and its facilities. Branch said that he wants to key in on the programs that traditionally have the most interest including HVAC, electrical and plumbing. I want to get as much as I can up and running, he said. With the 33rd annual Wooden Boat Show scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16, Branch said they will soon get back to woodworking and plan to sell some items at the event on Front Street in downtown Georgetown. I need to introduce myself to folks in the community who want to volunteer and find organizations that want to help, Branch said. Making those connections will be important. Everyone Ive met so far has been really friendly and excited about getting this thing up and running again. The main thing is to give people a chance to step into a better circumstance and give them the resources to be successful, he added. GEORGETOWN Area bicyclists will take to the road Oct. 29 when the 4th Annual Tour de Plantersville returns to Georgetown County. The Tour runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and begins at Plantersville Elementary School, 1668 Exodus Drive, in Georgetown. Presented by South Carolinas Hammock Coast, the Tour offers 12-, 25- or 62-mile bicycle excursions down the Plantersville scenic Byway, capturing its rich rice farming history and explores various Colonial-era landmarks. This year, White House Farms, a heirloom rice producer in Georgetown County, is sponsoring the event along with The Village Group. We are very excited and proud to be able to share with our community and visitors what White House Farms is doing right here in Plantersville and what it will bring to our future. Having rice grown, cultivated and processed in our community is a huge benefit to everyone. To be able to offer the youth of the area the opportunity to be part of this enterprise could bring so much to Plantersville, Ray Funnye, executive director of The Village Group, stated in a press release from the event organizers. The Tour will include new routes and stops this year, and there are rest stops along the route and each historical site visited will have volunteer guides to introduce riders to the history of the property, according to the release. Riders will have the opportunity to have special access to a select historical plantation along the Pee Dee River. The Tour de Plantersville includes a Cultural Festival, sponsored by Andys Charleston Gold Rice. The Festival includes a Vendor Village which opens at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. Admission to the festival is free. The Vendor Village features local artisans, traditional Gullah products and local farm items for purchase. Visitors should bring a lawn chair to enjoy the Reggae music of Mystic Vibrations at noon. Aunnys Country Kitchen and the Charleston Caribbean Creole Food Truck will have tasty food available for purchase. Bicycles may be rented from Cyclopedia for the 12-mile ride. They will bring the bike and helmet to the Tour and then take it back after the ride. Riders must call and reserve a bike only advanced pre-paid reservations are taken. The Cultural Festival, is open to everyone from 10 2 pm. Free admission with plenty of parking! Children's activities will be provided at the Kiwanis Kids Korner. "Our Kiwanis family is glad to team up to support The Village Group. Our mission of serving the community fits perfectly with the Cultural Festival," said Raphael Carr, president of Kiwanis Club of Georgetown. For additional information and to Register go to www.tourdeplantersville.com. GREENVILLE For the past two years, a Greenville developer has been working to rezone a piece of property on the periphery of the city's downtown to make way for an upscale mixed-use development that would include affordable units. The effort has struggled to gain momentum from the outset as it contended with the earliest stages of the pandemic and faced opposition from neighbors in the surrounding West End neighborhood. In July of last year, the project, which would be called The Mosaic, faced a major setback when City Council voted to table a rezoning request amid resident protests. It was a pitfall that forced developer Saint Capital to amend its vision for the site and engage in more conversations with West End residents. The project has recently suffered two more major blows. In August, the planning commission voted to recommend denial of Saint Capital's new request to zone a portion of the property C4, the designation for downtown. Then last week, it was pulled from City Council's agenda when it became clear it didn't have the votes it needed. Mayor Knox White said he is still hopeful the project will move forward and include an affordable component, but that he and the rest of council weren't comfortable designating the property as part of downtown. "While we have expanded the C4 footprint, it's been things like down to the arena, for example," he said. "This struck most of us as an inappropriate expansion of that footprint. It's just not downtown. It doesn't mean that it shouldn't have something to allow a little more density along Academy Street, but C4, no. I think we all felt like that was going nowhere." The 4.5-acre property sits on Academy Street, just down the road from the Kroc Center and the recently opened Unity Park. The most recent plans Saint Capital submitted to the city included commercial space and more than 100 residential units, split between apartments and townhomes, of which 25 percent would be affordable. The Greenville Housing Fund owns about an acre of the site and has been a partner in the development. The project would offer units within reach to people making between 60 and 80 percent of the area median income and would accept housing vouchers. The most-recent rezoning requests targeted a 2.6-acre section of the land. While part of the property is already zoned to allow the residential development Saint Capital is planning to build, the zoning where the developer intends to build the commercial portion of the project would have to change to make that possible. During the Aug. 18 planning commission, Saint Capital Vice President of Development Bryan De Bruin said that the retail component would be a necessary source of revenue to accommodate the affordable units that his company hoped to include. But at the same meeting, six residents spoke against the rezoning, with seven more sending their protests via email. They expressed concerns including how the development would fit with the character of the neighborhood, how traffic generated by the new homes will impact established residents and loss of tree canopy. The commission voted 6-1 against the rezoning. City Council could have still approved it with a super-majority vote in favor of the change, but it was removed from the agenda when it became clear it didn't have the support it needed to pass. De Bruin declined to comment on what this would mean for the future of the project as the developer works to determine its next steps. In a statement of support to the planning commission ahead of the Aug. 18 meeting, Greenville Housing Fund Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager Tina Belge said the addition of the affordable units near downtown would be a major win for the city. "We are supportive of this rezoning," she wrote. "It will not only help provide further review for the commercial uses but also create more density on Academy where it is appropriate and help make even more affordable homes on the site." In the wake of the defeat of Saint Capital's rezoning request, Belge said she still supports adding the affordable units but is uncertain what the next phase of the process will look like. GREENVILLE A campaign to raise funds for four nonprofits serving children, young adults and families will end Oct. 8 in a celebration at the Hartness Estate hosted by IT firm TD Synnex. The organizers hope the 12th annual Share the Magic campaign ends with more than $2 million in donations. Last year, the final celebration was smaller due to coronavirus precautions, and it was virtual in 2020. Without the fundraiser, Pendleton Place would be a very different agency with limited resources, executive director Annie Maertens said. The nonprofit provides foster care services, homeless prevention and housing assistance to young adults in Greenville. Also served by the fundraiser, A Childs Haven focuses on therapeutic services for children with developmental delays and their families. The two other nonprofits who are beneficiaries provide resources to families who have children with serious illnesses. Clements Kindness provides assistance to families whose children have cancer or serious blood disorders, while Make-A-Wish is the state chapter of the global charity that grants wishes for children with serious illnesses. For Pendleton Place, Maertens said they have seen more demand at the resource center for young adults experiencing homelessness. During fiscal year 2022, the resource center served 121 people ages 17-24, up from 69 served the prior fiscal year. Maertens said that about half of adults who experience chronic homelessness were homeless during that age period. Until we can end youth homelessness, and therefore make chronic homelessness brief and rare, we are grateful for the investment from TD Synnex (Share the Magic), Maertens said. Each year, the fundraiser contributes to about 10 percent of the respective budgets for Pendleton Place and A Childs Haven, which cares for about 75 kids daily in its therapeutic child care center. Executive director Tanya Camunas said they help children expelled from child care centers. Black and Brown children are disproportionately expelled from child care centers, Camunas said, often due to language barriers for Spanish-speaking families and discrimination. A Childs Haven will use the support from Share the Magic to help create satellite centers in Greenville County and across the Upstate. Camunas said TD Synnex sees the value that children bring to the future. Every county needs to have people like that (TD Synnex), Camunas said. The federal case against former Palmetto State Bank executive Russell Laffitte took an unusual twist Oct. 6 as a judge met with attorneys in an unannounced hearing to discuss a newly surfaced recording. Many in the late afternoon hearing had not heard the audio recording that Laffittes attorneys contend could bolster his case. The audio captured a closed-door meeting of Palmetto State Banks board discussing a transaction related to disgraced attorney Alex Murdaughs law firm, Laffitte attorney Bart Daniel said. Few details of the recordings contents were disclosed at the hearing, but Daniel said it could be important because the banker is accused, in part, of sending bank money to the law firm without board permission. Daniel suggested the recording could shed light on what the board knew. That charge misapplication of bank funds is one of six federal counts Laffitte faces. The others include bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. His trial is scheduled next month. But the audio recording poses tricky legal issues because in the same recording, the banks attorney is heard giving the board advice on an unrelated civil lawsuit. That could mean the recording is protected by attorney-client privilege. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse told the court that after receiving the tape from Laffittes attorneys and hearing the banks attorney on it, she turned off the audio and contacted him. The banks lawyer, Trenholm Walker, then sent an email to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel asking to be heard. That prompted the 5 p.m. gathering on Oct. 6, at which Walker received a copy of the tape for the first time. The hearing was not listed on the public court docket, and Walkers email wasnt published. Instead, word of the proceeding emerged on Fitsnews.com, which cited anonymous sources to report on plans for an emergency hearing to discuss the recording. At the hearing, Gergel said he intentionally did not mention the proceeding in the public record because it dealt with sensitive privilege matters. He said he planned to put the back-and-forth over the audio into the public record after settling what portions are not privileged. Later, the court record was updated to note that a conference had taken place Oct. 6. As Daniel described the contents of the recording, Walker interjected, asking that it not be discussed in open court. Our concern at the moment is that theres a reporter in the room, Walker said. The matter likely will not be settled until next week, because the attorneys first need to listen to the recording to decide which portions could impact the trial and which parts should be restricted. The judge and most of the attorneys in the room had not heard it before the issue came to a hearing. Were kind of flying blind, Gergel said. The judge said he would schedule another hearing if the parties are unable to reach an agreement among themselves. Laffitte is the only defendant so far in the federal investigation into the Murdaugh affair. If the trial begins as scheduled on Nov. 8, his will be the first case in the saga to be heard by a jury. Federal prosecutors have cast Laffitte, the former CEO of his familys Hampton-based community bank, as an important enabler in Murdaughs scheme to siphon money from clients. Laffitte was appointed on multiple occasions to serve as a custodian of Murdaughs clients funds, and prosecutors say he regularly lent that money to Murdaugh and to himself. They have also accused Laffitte of using bank funds to cover Murdaughs balances when the loans came due. Laffitte's alleged actions came under scrutiny after Murdaugh's life began to unravel in the wake of a fatal shooting that claimed his wife, Maggie, and son Paul at the family's Colleton County hunting lodge on June 7, 2021. Murdaugh, 54, is charged with their murders. He also has been indicted in state court on a string of financial crimes and accused of siphoning more than $8.7 million from his former law firm and clients. Since October, Murdaugh has been held in the Richland County Detention Center, unable to post a $7 million bail. With the trial approaching, prosecutors recently took a new, buttoned-up version of Laffittes indictment before a federal grand jury. The latest version of the indictment, which the grand jury handed up Sept. 20, was largely intended to correct inaccuracies in the previous one, like the age of a client when Laffitte became her conservator. Laffittes attorneys attacked the changes, saying they were too extensive so close to the trial. They asked Gergel to throw out the charges. Prosecutors retorted that the errors resulted from bad information on sworn court papers that Laffitte signed. Gergel has not ruled on the motion. Laffitte also faces 21 counts of financial crimes in state court. NORTH CHARLESTON Sixty-four people, including 25 children, were displaced by a fire that sparked overnight and engulfed two stories of an apartment building, the North Charleston Fire Department said. No residents were injured in the Oct. 7 fire, which was reported shortly after midnight at Cedar Grove Apartments off Evangeline Drive south of Dorchester Road, Assistant Chief Christan Rainey said. Firefighters arriving on the scene found the second and third floors of the three-story building engulfed in flames. Crews put out the fire by 2 a.m., Rainey said. Two responders were transported to a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening. Authorities have not yet determined the source of the fire, he added. The North Charleston blaze comes about a week after flames tore through an apartment complex in Summerville, killing a mother and her 15-year-old son and injuring four other residents. Approximately 70 residents were displaced by that fire, which took 50 firefighters three hours to put out. Capt. Jeremiah Lee of the Summerville Fire and Rescue Department said Oct. 7 that the blaze is still under investigation. The Red Cross of South Carolina is providing shelter, food and clothing to the affected North Charleston families as well as any desired mental health assistance. "As our teams work with the families impacted, we are certainly thinking about them and want to provide all the support we can," said Brint Patrick, executive director of the Lowcountry's Red Cross chapter. Residents and families should test their smoke alarms and have a plan in place for what to do if a fire starts in their home, he said. "If you have a message you want to send to hell, give it to me; I'll carry it." Those are the now infamous last words of the first alleged female serial killer in the U.S. just before a ranting and unrepentant Lavinia Fisher was hanged in Charleston along with her husband, John, in February 1820, nearly 200 years ago. But the criminal duo weren't strung up for murder. The charge against them was highway robbery, a capital offense at the time. The story goes that backcountry travelers bound for Charleston to sell hides, cotton, tobacco and other produce could stop at any of a series of boarding houses set up at different mile-named intervals up the peninsula along what is known as Meeting Street Road. Flush with cash, traders leaving the city would take the same route. At Six Mile House, located where the old Navy hospital now stands in North Charleston, Lavinia lured in guests with her seductive wiles, fed them a home-cooked meal and sedated her victims with a warm tea, poisoned with oleander. Her husband then robbed them while they slept, murdered them, butchered them and disposed of their bodies in the cellar. There are even stories that a trap door would open and the victims would fall through the floor. Multiplied misdeeds Over time the story of the Fishers' purportedly garish undertakings has become legend, growing more colorful as storytellers multiplied their misdeeds. One account, published 10 years after the hanging, says "a great number of skeletons were found." At one point, it had grown to between 20 and 30 victims found in different states of decomposition. Actually, only two bodies were unearthed at Six Mile House a few days after the Fishers and others had been arrested Feb. 18, 1819, according to author and former Charleston-area homicide detective Bruce Orr in his book "Six Miles to Charleston: The True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher." It was published in 2010 and dispels much of the myth about the tempting Lavinia and her "butchering" husband. One body of a white male was found in a freshly dug grave in the woods near the Six Mile House. The victim had been shot around the time the sheriff and a lynch mob raided the Six Mile House. He was buried next to the remains of a young African American woman, whose body was placed in an unmarked grave there two years earlier. Hers is the only skeleton ever found near the house. It is not known if the man buried there was a gang member shot during the raid or a victim of robbery. "There are no accounts of trap doors, poisoned tea or a cellar full of skeletons," Orr said. If all those bodies were there, the media would have reported it or someone would have smelled the decaying flesh, he maintained. "That never happened, and the reason it never happened is because the story of a cellar full of corpses, just like the oleander poisoned tea, is fabrication and fiction," Orr wrote. No murders were ever attributed to the Fishers, and the two bodies that were found and never tied to the Fishers are not enough to fit the FBI's serial killer definition of three or more people murdered over a period of more than 30 days, according to Orr's book. Dressed to die Some accounts say Fisher was wearing her wedding dress when she met the hangman, but Charleston historian Nic Butler says it most likely was a white shift or smock-type garment that prisoners wore at the old City Jail where the pair were housed for nearly a year. Butler said he had not delved into the Fisher story because so much of the tale has been distorted over time. Orr maintains the likelihood of Lavinia wearing nuptial attire can be cast aside since the local citizenry, fed up with what they had heard about people being roughed up and robbed or even worse by backwoods ruffians at the boarding houses, formed a mob and burned the Six Mile House to the ground, along with all of the Fishers' possessions, after they were arrested. The Five Mile House also was burned, but the Four Mile House, often confused with the Six Mile House, remained standing until 1969 when the abandoned and rundown building was demolished near where Charleston meets North Charleston close to the Neck Area. A gas station sits on the property south of Pittsburg Avenue. Other accounts say Lavinia Fisher, who proclaimed her innocence to the end, eschewed repentance and blurted out profanities on the gallows, haunts the old jail but didn't die there and she was buried in a potter's field with her husband, where the Medical University of South Carolina now cares for the living. Her ghost, if there is one, could be at the old jail because the Fishers, him 29 and her 28, endured a harsh last full year of their lives in what was most likely unbearable conditions by today's prison standards. Jail time The jail, built in 1802 over a potter's field of slaves, vagrants and derelicts to hold 130 people, often housed 300 or more. The barred windows did not keep out the cold, heat, insects and rodents. Whippings, beatings and physical and sexual assaults were common. A debtors' section often built coffins, since so many people reportedly died there. It had no running water, and wood chips on the floor often served as bedding and the toilet. Filth was common. The Fishers were indicted for assault with intent to murder and common assault for the attacks on two men at Six Mile House on the same day. The charge was later changed to highway robbery. Others were involved and arrested, but the Fishers paid the ultimate price for the attacks along with William Heyward, who was tried separately and hanged later. The couple was convicted of the charges in May 1819, when their attorney motioned for a rehearing. That didn't happen until January 1820, so the Fishers went back to jail to endure the long, hot summer in a single isolation cell on the lower level, separate from the general population. On Lavinia's pleadings, they were later moved to a less secure section on an upper level. The escape It was here that John Fisher and another prisoner created a hole under a window on Sept. 13, 1819, and began lowering themselves down the prison wall with knotted-together blankets. The first man made it out, but as Fisher, who went second, made his way down the wall, the makeshift rope slipped loose and Fisher fell to the ground. Lavinia could not escape, and the two men fled into the darkness. Devoted to his wife, John Fisher didn't want to leave her behind, so the two escapees stayed around trying to devise a plan to free her. They were found hiding under an overturned boat on the wharf the day after their escape and rejoined Lavinia behind bars. In January 1820, a new trial was denied, and the Fishers were convicted of highway robbery and condemned to hang the next month. The charges were inexplicably changed from the attack on one man to the circumstances surrounding the attack on a trader who had stopped at Six Mile House to water his horse. The outcome was no less the same. The original date for the sentence to be carried out was Feb. 4, but it was pushed back to Feb. 18 by the governor over the insistence of some of the townspeople that the couple be given time to make peace with God. Hanging day Nearly one year to the day after their arrest, Lavinia and John Fisher were transported from the jail in a carriage to the gallows on the city's edge near where Line and Meeting streets are today. Reconciling himself to his fate, John climbed the scaffold, but Lavinia, believing she would not be hanged because she was a woman and a governor's pardon would be delivered at the last minute, resisted. Constables dragged her to the stand, where she professed her innocence, begged pity from the crowd, cursed repeatedly, stomped her feet and damned the governor. Her husband pleaded with her to make peace with her maker, but she remained defiant. Some accounts say Lavinia cheated the hangman by jumping off the platform before the floor fell beneath her, but that didn't happen, based on eyewitness accounts. The "jumping off the platform" story is probably related to the fact that Lavinia noticed the sheriff examine a written document and she believed it was the pardon she was going to receive. In her excitement, she was about to leap from the platform for her expected freedom, but the sheriff quickly assured Lavinia no pardon would be coming and she would be put to death. In her final moments, Lavinia calmed down and made her peace. The caps were placed over the couple's faces. The sheriff gave a private signal to the hangman, and the platform gave way. Lavinia died without a groan, but it took her husband a bit longer as he struggled on the noose, according to a newspaper account the next day. Orr goes on to say their deaths may have been part of a government conspiracy to seize the lands for a naval base then-Gov. John Geddes wanted in Charleston at a time when President James Monroe visited the city while on a Southern tour of port cities. The president was looking for a site for a new Navy base. An unimpressed Monroe left the city, and the Navy base didn't materialize for another 80 years. Charleston police officers arrested a therapist accused of stealing pills belonging to one of her student clients. Heather Ann Focone was charged Oct. 3 with one count of theft of a controlled substance. The 32-year-old Charleston resident was working part time at Compass Collegiate Academy for a third-party contractor. The public charter school, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades, employs an outside company to provide therapy services, according to Focones arrest affidavit. Police officers were called to the campus at 34 Race St. the afternoon of Sept. 16. The schools nurse noticed a students medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was missing from a locked drawer. The nurse had counted the number of pills earlier that day after suspecting someone was stealing them, according to an incident report. She confronted Focone, who was a therapist responsible for the unidentified child and had access to the medical cabinet. Focone confessed to taking the pills, the report states. Officers spoke with Focone at the scene, who told them shed been going through a hard time and was strapped for money, according to the report. Focone, who said she has severe ADHD, sold her entire Adderall prescription in order to have a place to live, the affidavit states. She still needed medication to treat her disorder and began taking the childs prescription Sept. 12, according to the report. School officials told authorities they wanted Focone removed from school grounds but didnt wish to press charges. Focone has been placed on trespass from 34 Race St., the report states. She was immediately and permanently banned from the campus, said Elizabeth Simpson, the schools executive director. The Academy prioritizes student safety by conducting extensive background checks on all its employees and contractors prior to them interacting with children, Simpson said. She declined to comment further on the unfortunate incident, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Authorities also contacted the childs mother about the situation, who did want Focone charged, said Sgt. Craig DuBose. A warrant for her arrest was issued Sept. 26. Focone was booked Oct. 3 into the Charleston County jail. She was released later that day after a magistrate judge granted her a $10,000 personal-recognizance bond, records show. Focone faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the felony. Efforts to contact her were unsuccessful. Lately, an effort has been made by scholars, journalists and veterans of the civil rights movement to draw attention to South Carolinas often underappreciated contributions to the advancement of freedom and democracy in the United States. The protests of the 1960s generally invoke references to the Alabama cities of Birmingham and Montgomery, or to the 1964 effort to register Black Mississippians to vote. The civil rights movement, in the popular imagination, was about an Atlanta-raised preacher named Martin Luther King Jr. who led marches and gave compelling speeches about nonviolence and Americas two-tiered society. Some maybe conjure ideas about Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panthers a more militant strain of the movement that gained traction in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s. But for Bobby Donaldson, director of the University of South Carolinas Center for Civil Rights History and Research, all that is but the tip of a very large iceberg. For Donaldson, the civil rights movement really began with the first slave revolt, and it continues today in the form of the Black Lives Matter movement, and confrontations with forms of white supremacy. South Carolina, he points out, is no bit player. It has played a leading role. The National Park Service agrees, and to bolster Donaldsons efforts it has pledged $3.4 million over five years to expand the centers research and programming. The money will help pay for exhibits and education at a variety of historic sites throughout the state, sites that are part of the National Park Services expanding African American Civil Rights Network. The grant also will fund oral history projects and archival work, teacher training and staffing. The partnership between the center and the National Park Service will result in easier public access to digitized documents in the collection, Donaldson said. The point of the funding, and the partnership, is to establish the center as the Southeastern regional hub of the Civil Rights Network, he said. And it will serve as a model the National Park Service can use as it expands its efforts nationwide. The collaboration is meant to foster other collaborations. They (NPS) wanted to work with an academic institution to assist other members of the Civil Rights Network historic sites, museums, archives, Donaldson said. Were asked to help with training, outreach, exhibits and tours. Nearly $1 million of the new funding is earmarked for digitization of civil rights collections at the University of South Carolina, various historically Black colleges and universities, and museums in the state. All of this work will strengthen existing alliances, such as those with the College of Charlestons Avery Research Center and the International African American Museum, and it will help the center forge new ones, Donaldson said. The Center for Civil Rights History and Research has benefited from previous NPS support. The federal agency, beginning in 2017, awarded the center $100,000 for a summer teacher training institute, $40,000 to create the traveling exhibit Justice for All, and $500,000 on three occasions to restore Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia. Justice for All opened in January in Sumter, came to Columbia during the summer and now is on display in Orangeburg. The NPS-funded phase of the high schools renovations included window restoration, fire sprinkler upgrades and the addition of a community meeting room. Previously, work was done on the exterior brick, entrance, stairwell, elevator and HVAC system. The African American Civil Rights Network was created by Congress in 2017. It includes historic sites, museums, libraries and special programs meant to highlight Black history. Donaldsons center will collaborate with NPS to identify and prepare additional sites that will join the national network. Im so pleased to join with the Center for Civil Rights History and Research in advancing much-needed scholarship to deepen our understanding of pivotal moments and people in the American civil rights movement, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. Together (we) will work to preserve and promote the often overlooked contributions to American civil rights here in South Carolina and serve as a national model for interdisciplinary work in civil rights history, research and education. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, who donated his personal papers to the center in 2015, said his support is motivated by the need to draw attention to the fight for social and economic justice in South Carolina. I authored the language to create this partnership between the National Park Service and the University of South Carolinas civil rights center so that this important story could be documented and shared, Clyburn said in a statement. I ... look forward to this collaboration leading to a better understanding and appreciation of our states contributions to racial equity and justice in this country. Donaldson called the new NPS funding a catalyst that will strengthen the centers ability to achieve its mission. It significantly expands what were doing, he said. Its also an affirmation. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Fueled largely by women, South Carolina has added more than 165,000 new registered voters this year a trend that could preview the political power of female voters in the upcoming Nov. 8 midterm elections. According to data from the S.C. Election Commission, some 89,440 women have signed up to vote in the Palmetto State this year compared to 76,354 men as of Oct. 3. Those numbers could grow. The deadline to register to vote in person at county registration offices is Oct. 7. Residents also have until Oct. 9 if they want to register online, by fax or by emailing a completed application to their county voter registration office. (To register or update voter registration, visit scvotes.gov for more information.) The last chance South Carolina residents have to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election is by mailing a registration application to their county voter registration office. It must be postmarked by Oct. 11. With the election about a month away, one feature of South Carolina's electorate has held true: Women continue to make up about 55 percent of all registered voters in the state. The role that women could play in the upcoming elections has become a central question this cycle after the recent Supreme Court ruling on abortion sent control to the states, with Democrats seeing it as an opportunity to mobilize their base on an issue that had traditionally acted as a bigger motivator for Republicans. Whether that is the case in South Carolina is difficult to determine, since voters here do not register by political party. But in the first few months of this year, data shows that 30 more women in South Carolina, on average, were registering to vote each day when compared to their male counterparts. That changed after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. An analysis of the state's new voter registration data shows that 117 more women, on average, were registering to vote each day, from June 24 through Aug. 12. There also is more nuance to the numbers than initially meets the eye. During the spring and summer months, the high-water mark for new voter registrations among women in the state was June 29 about five days after the Supreme Court ruling. On that day, some 1,945 women registered to vote in South Carolina. But the same held true for men. That day, new voter registration similarly surged among men. By the end of the day, 1,567 male voters had newly registered to vote. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! When plotted on a line graph, the two spikes run nearly parallel to one another. "From an elections standpoint, we're not aware of anything that would cause more people to register on that day than other days," said John Michael Catalano, director of outreach and voter education for the S.C. State Election Commission. Catalano said he was unaware of any major voter-registration drives that day that would have contributed to the sudden uptick. Two days before the spike, on June 27, state Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the state law banning abortions once an ultrasound detects the sound of a heartbeat, as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, was in effect. In August, the state Supreme Court temporarily blocked the law after Planned Parenthood South Atlantic sued under the state constitutions privacy protections. The same data also reveals that women have generally outpaced men in new daily voter registrations all year, with 418 women registering to vote, on average, each day compared to 358 men. Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said the numbers suggest something is motivating women in South Carolina, even if it's unclear if the driving issue is singularly abortion rights. But she also cautioned that, nationally, women have historically voted and participated in elections in greater numbers than men since around 1980. The same also holds true in South Carolina. In the last midterm elections, records show 954,075 women in the Palmetto State cast ballots in the 2018 general election compared to 756,809 men. In the 2020 presidential election, the number soared but women continued to be the electoral powerhouse, with women casting 1.4 million ballots to men's 1.1 million. "We have to remember that for those individuals who have been excluded from the vote, there is often more valuation of that power once you win it," Dittmar said. "And we also have to remember that women continue to be even more directly affected, often by governmental decision-making." Dittmar said that research further suggests that women, more so than men, tend to be more dependent on government services and support a dynamic that she said can raise the stakes for women when they go to the polls. But registering to vote and voting, she stressed, are two very different things. The impact of women at the ballot box and whether the issue of abortion was a motivating issue will only become clear after the Nov. 8 elections. Gov. Henry McMaster is trying to make his political rival eat his own words by reminding voters of the time Democrat Joe Cunningham praised the Republican for his leadership on the issue of offshore drilling. Cunningham's comments, made at a Lowcountry seafood restaurant in 2019, are now featured prominently in a new 30-second TV ad called "Thank You." But what the ad leaves out, is that McMaster also praised Cunningham that day when the governor thanked Cunningham for his work in Congress on a bill to ban the search for oil and gas off the nation's coasts. Now, as the pair find themselves running against each other, McMaster's campaign is characterizing Cunningham's three-year-old remarks in another light and without context. "You are about to see rare footage of Joe Cunningham telling the truth," a woman says in the spot, as someone picks up a remote and turns on a television. Suddenly, footage from a Sept. 13, 2019 press conference at Bowens Island Restaurant comes into focus, with Cunningham at the center and McMaster standing alongside him. Then, Cunningham turns back to look at him. "Governor McMaster, I want to thank you for being a leader on this issue from the get go," Cunningham says as yellow text appears on-screen and quotes the portion about McMaster being a leader. "You know," Cunningham continues, "You said 'To hell with politics. Im going to do whats right for my state.' And I think that's something that should be truly commended because it takes a true leader and statesman to do that." As Cunningham thanks McMaster, the frame moves tighter toward McMaster who appears surprised by Cunningham's remarks as the color drains from the footage and goes black-and-white. The new ad, which is airing statewide, illustrates how the race is intensifying with just one month to go until Election Day. Cunningham responded to the ad by thanking McMaster in the spirit of cooperation. "I want to thank the governor for reminding voters of my long record of bipartisan work and his support for my efforts in Congress," he said. "I was proud to be ranked one of the most independent and effective members of Congress because of my willingness and ability to work across the aisle to get big things done." Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Asked about the new TV message, the McMaster campaign said the ad shows Cunningham giving a candid assessment of McMaster's leadership abilities in the Palmetto State. "We thought it would be refreshing for voters to hear what Joe really thinks about the governors leadership in his own words and are particularly pleased to have the resources on hand to make sure they hear from Joe himself in a rare moment of candor," said Mark Knoop, the governors campaign manager. The ad is McMaster's fourth in the general election and comes a day after a pair of dueling messages broke out in the race from different corners of the state. Both accusations were about transparency. While holding a live chicken outside his campaign office in North Charleston, Cunningham accused McMaster of being too afraid to participate in more than one debate and challenged him to do more, as well as two town halls. In Columbia, outside the Statehouse, the leader of the South Carolina Republican Party called the former Charleston congressman's income questionable. The new TV spot is also a subtle attempt to rewrite recent political history. At the time of the 2019 press conference, the gathering was an extremely rare show of bipartisan support. After Cunningham thanked the governor for his work on offshore drilling and seismic testing, McMaster offered similar albeit more restrained praise for the Democratic congressman. "One thing Im confident of, those of us here dont want offshore drilling or seismic testing or any other kind of testing off the shores of South Carolina, McMaster said. He added, "I want to thank Joe Cunningham and the others in Congress for raising that question in the United States Congress." In an interview after the event, McMaster acknowledged how rare the moment was politically and said one of the last times he had stood with a Democrat in support of rival party legislation was when he was the state's attorney general, an office he held until 2011. The general election is set for Nov. 8. SPARTANBURG A Spartanburg-based arts and charitable organization strives to look at homelessness with a different lens through the use of disposable cameras. Since 2016, Through Our Eyes has gone to various cities to give those experiencing homelessness a voice. Participants are given disposable cameras and asked to take photos of their day-to-day lives. It helps teach our community that these are people with names and faces, and it's not just a problem that is on the side of the road or in a certain neighborhood, said Jason Williamson, creator of Through Our Eyes Project. Williamson refers to people who document their lives as photographers. Photos from the returned cameras are developed and a group of judges pick the top photos to display at exhibitions. On Nov. 3, the organization will display the top 20 photos from its third Spartanburg homelessness project within the Artists Guild of Spartanburgs gallery at the Chapman Cultural Center. The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. The event is free and the exhibition will be up during normal business hours through Nov. 28. Photos are displayed on canvases that range in size. Within a hallway outside of the gallery, the organization is planning to show 30 photos from an international project in Kampala, Uganda. Each photo is tilted and has a caption written by the photographer. Underneath each photo, there will be a lockbox so that people can donate and vote on their favorite photos. People can also scan a QR code and donate online. Through Our Eyes handed out cameras at the Spartanburg Opportunity Center, Miracle Hill Rescue Mission and the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen. For the photographers that took the top three photos that generated the most money, we've got some special things that we will do for those photographers as an appreciation and thank you to them, Williamson said. The first homelessness project began in Spartanburg in 2016 and another Spartanburg project was completed in 2017. Williamson said his organization recently completed its 15th homelessness project. All of the money from the photos will go toward organizations in Spartanburg that address issues surrounding homelessness. Yes, at the GEC voting center at the Westin. Yes, at one of the satellite voting centers open on Saturdays. No; I'm voting on Nov. 8. No; I'm not voting in the general election. Vote View Results Joe Bidens dementia took center stage in world diplomatic circles when he went off-script at a fundraiser last night. He was quoted as saying: We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since [President JFK] Kennedy and the [1962] Cuban missile crisis. I dont think theres any such thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon. *** Mr Biden said he knew Putin fairly well, and the Russian leader was not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons, or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming. The US president added: We are trying to figure out, what is Putins off-ramp? Where does he find a way out? The Associated Press treated Biden gently: The presidents grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. security officials continue to say they have no evidence that Vladimir Putin has imminent plans for a nuclear strike. But European leaders were appalled: In response, the French president said: We must speak with prudence when commenting on such matters. Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who evidently has survived Partygate, was unimpressed: Sanna Marin, Finlands Prime Minister, later appeared to rebuke Mr Biden over his off-ramp comments. Asked about the remarks, Ms Marin said: The way out of this conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict. The Telegraph explains to its readers: His comments were made spontaneously rather than read from a piece of paper or teleprompter. Which rarely goes well. For his part, Slow Joe is unconcerned. After all, no one f*cks with a Biden. It is dangerous to have a president who is not in command of normal mental faculties. We can only hope to survive to the end of Bidens term in office, however that comes about. Yesterday President Biden issued a blanket pardon of all those convicted of marijuana possession under federal law. The White House has posted the text of Bidens proclamation of pardon is here.The White House has posted Bidens video statement on the pardon on Twitter (below). Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. Hear from @POTUS on the three steps he is taking to right these wrongs. pic.twitter.com/IqOxHxjgue The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 6, 2022 The news reports on the pardon fail to make an important point. The New York Times reports that no one will be freed from federal prison on account of Bidens pardon because no one is serving time in federal prisons solely for marijuana possession. By its terms the pardon does not extend to perpetrators convicted of selling or distributing marijuana, but that has to be the effect on many of those to whom the pardon applies. Bidens statement utterly obscures the point that at least some of those convicted in federal proceedings for marijuana possession would have pleaded guilty as part of a deal to avoid sale or distribution charges. Biden also recites the obligatory racial disparities shibboleth. The Times extracts two quotes from the video: Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives for conduct that is legal in many states. Thats before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs. And: While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted and convicted at disproportionately higher rates. I dont think the quotes say what they are supposed to say, but you know what hes trying to say. My point about drug distribution applies here as well. I know of no evidence suggesting that illegal drug distribution is committed at equal rates between and among perpetrators categorized by race. Racial disparities permeate rates of arrest, prosecution, conviction, and incarceration because racial disparities permeate offending rates. Bidens pardon is a step toward the legalization of marijuana for all purposes. That seems to me an issue properly put to Congress rather than the executive branch. Bidens statement makes no case itself for the virtues of legalization. Indeed, Biden concedes that the federal government still needs important limitations on trafficking, marketing and underage sales of marijuana. Again, Bidens pardon nevertheless benefits all those who pleaded guilty to possession charges as part of a deal on more serious charges. In the Age of Obama I addressed the racial disparities shibboleth at length in a series of posts I called Deep secrets of racial profiling. Michelle Alexanders best-selling The New Jim Crow gave celebrated voice to the mindless nonsense Biden spouts in the video. I wrote about Alexanders book in part 4 of the series. The Washington Post is out this afternoon with news that federal agents have sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and making false statements related to a gun purchase. There are some telltale oddities to the story. It describes the source or sources as people familiar with the situation. People? What kind of people? The story does not specify whether these familiar people are with the FBI, IRS, ATF, or other federal agency. It merely says investigators with multiple agencies. . . who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing case. Looks as though the Post reporters dont want to risk a specific agency source becoming the target of a leak investigation. Or that the leaking source demanded this vague identification. Given the practice of the Justice Department never to bring charges on politically sensitive cases within 90 days of an election so as to avoid allegations of partisanship, it is doubtful we will see any official announcement as a result of this story. So why did someone want to leak this out now? Perhaps someone in the FBI or Justice Department is concerned with the plummeting public respect for these agencies, and thinks it would be useful to show that they arent partisan. Or it is also possible that someone in the FBI or Justice doesnt want the Hunter Biden investigation swept under the rug, even though the investigation is being supervised (supposedly) by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware, David C. Weiss, who is a holdover Trump appointee. But is Weiss a Trumpster? He was recommended for the job in 2017 by Delawares two Democratic Senators, Tom Carper and Chris Coons. And the Biden Justice Department asked Weiss to stay on after Biden became president. How likely is it that hes wholly detached from the tiny Biden-dominated political network in Delaware? Im not going to hold my breath waiting for an indictment even after the election. Meanwhile, President Biden today indicated that he intends to pardon all federal inmates convicted of marijuana possession charges. Looks like a prelude for a pardon of Hunter down the road. As Steve noted earlier, federal law enforcement officials have leaked to the Washington Post that they think they have enough evidence to indict Hunter Biden. This is The Hills version of the story: Federal investigators believe they have compiled enough evidence to charge President Bidens son Hunter Biden with tax crimes and on allegations related to falsifying paperwork having to do with a gun purchase in 2018, according to a report by The Washington Post on Thursday that cited people familiar with the case. Hunter Biden has reportedly been under federal investigation by prosecutors seeking more information about his business dealings abroad, particularly income he received from a Ukrainian natural gas company as well as his business dealings in China and Kazakhstan. The investigation became central to former President Trumps 2020 campaign. This is rich: Chris Clark, an attorney for Hunter Biden, suggested in a statement to The Hill that if a federal agent leaked information about the investigation, they had committed a federal felony. Now there is a law I would like to see enforced! It would be deeply ironic if we finally saw a crackdown on Justice Department leaks in Hunter Bidens case. In any event, forgive me if I fail to celebrate whatever indictment of Hunter may be forthcoming. The real story here is that Joe Biden is a corrupt politician who sold his influence as vice president to foreign powers. The fact that Hunter failed to pay taxes on his share of the swag is an almost irrelevant detail. It would be much like prosecuting Al Capone for tax evasiononly not Al, but rather his son. Moreover, prosecuting Hunter would give Merrick Garlands Department of Justice an undeserved veneer of nonpartisanship. With the real crimes not charged, let alone proved, it will come off as a political prosecution that likely will engender sympathy for both Bidens. I have been complaining for a long time that the conventional focus on Hunters venality misses the point. I will say it one more time: no one has ever bribed Hunter Biden. Prosecuting Hunter would put a capstone on a misguided failure to tell the real story. So if and when an indictment comes down, I wont be cheering it. The Minnesota State College and University System (MnSCU) includes 37 colleges and universities around the state, and trains a large majority of Minnesotas law enforcement officers. Only you cant call them law enforcement anymore: One of Minnesotas public university systems has ordered its schools to remove any and all references to law enforcement. *** One of the changes is that law enforcement has to be taken out of everything, the [MnSCU] email reads. Meaning the website, business cards, sign out front, directional signs to the building and so on. What is going on here? It is part of the institutional attack on the police that we have seen in recent years: These changes stem from recommendations made in February 2021 by Minnesota States Taskforce on Law Enforcement Education Reform, which was convened in August 2020 after the death of George Floyd. Minnesota State says it educates 86% of Minnesotas law enforcement officers in various programs across its 54 campuses. These programs are being completely revamped, according to a report issued by the task force. The report identifies creating anti-racist law enforcement education programs as one of the top objectives. Rename Minnesota State Law Enforcement Programs to Peace Officer Training Programs, one of the recommendations in the report says. The report also calls for removing paramilitary language from all law enforcement education programs, courses and training. Further changes include incorporating cultural competency into the curriculum and requiring anti-racist education courses [to be] a part of the core set of course requirements for law enforcement programming. Alpha News asked Hennepin Technical College, which trains police officers, for an explanation: In an email to Alpha News, a Hennepin Tech spokesperson said the changes are designed to focus on a holistic approach to community service and provide future peace officers the needed knowledge and skills to be successful in the field. But why does law enforcement need to be abandoned? Isnt that what police officers do? Another source with insider knowledge of the situation told Alpha News that law enforcement course instructors were told the phrase law enforcement is triggering to certain people. To criminals, I suppose. In the modern world of anti-racist policing, we cant have that. Not surprisingly, the anti-law enforcement attitude, of which these changes are among many manifestations, has not been conducive to recruiting new officers. Who would want to go into law enforcement when the institutions that would train you wont say law enforcement for fear of triggering someone? Very few, naturally. The linked article says that enrollment is down by 80% in some programs. The 2022 Felabration kicked off earlier in the week with three activities; an artwork competition, an Afrobeat dance competition, and a fashion show competition. Yeni Kuti conceived the idea of Felabration, the month-long music and lifestyle festival in honour of the legacies of her late father and Afrobeat progenitor, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in 1998. The three competitions had participants submitting entries that followed the years theme, Fear Not 4 Man. The first competition that heralded the 2022 Felabration was the artwork competition held on 29 September 29, 2022. In its sixth year, a young Nigerian artist, Anigioro Omolade Babatunde, emerged winner and was rewarded with N550,000. The judges announced the young artist as the winner after 55 different artworks competed fiercely for the winning prize at the competition that heralded The judges, Sarah Boulos, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, and Mufu Onifade, carefully rated the works of various artists from around the world who competed to win the coveted prize money, fame, and honour. Uzoma Vincents sculpture entitled Freedom emerged as the runner-up with a token of N250,000, while Akinola Oluwatomi Kazeems Despite all odds came third and was rewarded with the sum of N150,000. After the judging process, the judges expressed delight in the competition while commending the increased turnout of submissions. On Friday, the Felabration Afrobics dance competition was held at the New Afrikan Shrine. Winners went home with a total sum of over N3 million as a reward for their dedication. Reward The judges, Funke Kuti, Segun Adefila, and Bunmi Olunloyo, carefully took out time to rate the dancers before arriving at the top five dancers. One of the judges, Mr Adefila, said the dancers, who competed to win the coveted prize money, fame, and honour, were judged for the use of space, time, adherence to theme, costume, and presence, amongst other considerations. The Chrysolite crew won the first prize and went home with N1 million, while Lagos Family came second and had a reward of N750,000. The third prize, N500,000, was given to Danjex, a group of four dancers. Similarly, Sandra Oyewole, Head collaboration business support committee, rewarded the 4th and 5th winners with a consolation prize of N50,000 each. Attendees were also allowed to participate in a random dance competition, with three people winning the sum of N10,000 each. On Sunday, 2 October, youthful fashion designer Olanrewaju Sipe emerged as the first winner of the maiden edition of the Dress Like Fela Fashion competition. Sipe, the Chief Executive Officer of Sipsonlevon designs, came out tops at the fashion competition and was rewarded with the sum of N1 million. The fashion competition drew its theme from the theme for the 2022 Felabration, Fear not four men. However, the judges, Frank Osodi and Lanre DaSilva, carefully took the time to rate the designers before arriving at the top three winners. Other winners are Ogunyemi Oluwasegun Michaels of Olu Michaels designs, who came second, and 21-year-old Aladesanmi Precious of Specific Designs, who came third. During the show, famous actress Carol King did a rendition of Felas hit song, Teacher dont teach me nonsense, while another attendee, Ifeoma Meze, did a rendition of Felas Authority Stealing. The three events have had Yeni Kuti, Made Kuti, Funke Kuti, Kachi Nwanyi, Kunle Bucknor, and Sandra Oyewole in attendance. The activities, Kuti said, were sponsored by 7up Nigeria. Ibrahim Ibrahim, 40, was bleeding profusely from deep cuts on his head, thigh and ankle inflicted by some cattle herders who invaded his melon farm. He had been rushed to Okpatta Primary Health Care Centre in Agbashi Ward of Doma Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, after the attack on 30 June. Community health workers on duty stopped the bleeding, stitched and dressed the wounds, and administered analgesics before referring the patient to another primary health care facility at Arumangye. It was the melon season and a time for harvesting in Doma, a community outside Lafia, the state capital. Farmers relocate to their farms for between two weeks and two months to harvest and process their melon, known locally as Egusi. Mr Ibrahim and his family were doing this when, around 11 p.m., the herders attacked them. While his children and wife fled to call for help, he stayed to defend his farm. But he was overpowered by the attackers and might have bled to death, but for the timely attention he received at the nearby primary healthcare centre. Im sure I would have died before my family could take me to another place if nobody was at that hospital. They were able to stabilise me, stitch the wounds and give me painkillers, Mr Ibrahim said of the quality of service he received at the public facility. Reaching grassroots with BHCPF Mr Ibrahims story is part of the successes of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in providing emergency medical response services to rural communities and the vulnerable in Nigeria. Just like Mr Ibrahim, 60-year-old Habu Sanusi, a resident of Aramangye, is impressed with services at the primary health care centre in the community. For him, the PHC is t his family hospital. The clinic is doing okay. They do their best whenever a case of sickness is reported to them, and if it is above them, they normally refer patients to the general hospital in Doma. My family has been using it for a long time for childbirth, malaria and other minor illnesses, Mr Sanusi said to this reporter. The Federal Government established the BHCPF, in 2014, under Section 11 of the National Health Act; to provide funding to improve access to primary health care. The Fund provides a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) aimed at increasing the fiscal space for health, strengthening the national health system, particularly at the primary health care (PHC) level and ensuring access to healthcare for all. However, the actual implementation of the law, including the release of funds, did not commence until 2018. The BHCPF seeks to achieve at least one fully functional public primary health care facility in each political ward. Nasarawa State, in north-central Nigeria, has 769 PHCs, with 147 captured in the BHCPF since 2021. This represents one PHC per ward in the state. According to the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Stephen Sasetu, the facilities have received funding for four quarters. Nasarawa State came on board last year. As a result, we were able to fulfil the criteria to start receiving funds, Mr Sasetu said in an interview. The facilities have received funding for four quarters. Two quarters last year and two quarters this year. For Nasarawa State, 147 primary health care centres, one PHC per ward, are currently benefiting from the BHCPF. It is not much. It is just about N100,000 for each PHC every month, Mr Sasetu said. In a quarter, it is N300,000. He explained further that there is a guide on how to spend the fund, which specifies that 35 per cent goes into supporting payment of human resources and 25 per cent for drugs. The federal government has paid N500 million to the Fund in Nasarawa State through the Federal Ministry of Health. At the same time, the state has also started contributing 0.5 per cent of its consolidated revenue to the fund. Mr Sasetu confirmed this but noted that its contribution is below the prescribed one per cent. For Nasarawa State, there have been some contributions, but it is not matching yet. By matching, I mean you know from the federal allocation, it is one per cent of consolidated revenue. So the state should also do at least one per cent, but that is not the case in many states, if not all, he said. Funds still insufficient In the state, the BHCPF is meeting the federal governments target of strengthening primary healthcare facilities for effective service delivery. But the efforts look like a drop in the ocean. Aishetu Adeka, the officer in charge (OIC) of the Arumangye PHC, confirmed that the facility receives the funds regularly. She, however, said the funds are insufficient because of the increasing cost of drugs and facility maintenance. According to her, patients are to be treated with N570 based on the provision of BHCPF. However, she said this is not always enough to attend to cases reported by patients. Contrary to the claim by state authorities that each primary health care receives N100,000 every month, Ms Adeka told our reporter that Arumangye PHC in Doma Ward received N67,830 per month. She said N52,000 (75 per cent of the amount) goes to procuring drugs while the remaining N12,000 goes into the facilitys management. For me, it is insufficient because drugs are costly these days. And then you say when I have a patient with malaria, I should treat them with N570, which cannot solve that problem, and talk less of having typhoid fever, Ms Adeka lamented. So before you know, one client uses up to N3,000. When we complained to them, they said these 119 patients are not coming in the same month, so we should not talk about it. Ishaku Rabi, who heads Alarama PHC, told this reporter her facility receives the same amount but also argued that it is insufficient to run the system. Yes, we receive the money. It is N67,830. There is also equity of N57,750. But while reacting to the amount each facility receives, Mr Sasetu clarified that the BHCPF has two gateways, and they receive 100k (N100,000) from our gateway and a variable amount from the NHIS gateway depending on the number of enrollees. Our gateway caters for human resources and infrastructure while the NHIS gateway caters for indigent patients, he added. Peoples verdicts Though Nigeria may be far from achieving universal health coverage, which is the target of the BHCPF, it is making progress as primary healthcare facilities benefiting from the scheme continue to render quality services to communities. This reporter met Abu Amina at Tunga PHC in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. She had just got a drug prescription for an undisclosed ailment. Their service is good. The workers always attend to me when I come around, she said Ms Abu is not alone in praising the schemes impact. Hauwa Sani, who rushed her daughter to Angwan Waje PHC, Keffi LGA, at about 11:20 a.m. with a fever, was all smiles after the community health workers at the centre treated the baby. This reporter observed how the health workers promptly controlled the babys temperature and told the mother her baby would be alright. The story is not different at Tudun Kofar PHC in Keffi Local Government Area. A resident, Musa Bashir, described the services at the health centre as great. They give us drugs for free; they do some tests for free. Like this place you see, that looks small, and it is tremendous because if they bring drugs, their drug finishes before other facilities, Mr Bashir said. If they dont give malaria drugs or conduct other tests, then the drugs or kit has finished, but once it is available, it is given. Mr Bashir, whose wife delivered their son at the facility earlier in the year, said he only paid N1,500 during delivery. My wife and son use it. My son was delivered there. You know the tests done during antenatal are many, so some are free, and some are not. David Christy, who recently had her third child at Wamba Road PHC, said she has not had to pay for anything since she started using the clinic. Since I started my clinic there, I havent paid for anything. I am happy. I like the hospital very much, she said. This reporter observed that PHCs across five LGAs in Nasarawa State were experiencing a facelift, but the extent varied from one to the other. Mr Sasetu said this is because each PHC decides which of its needs is a priority or needs funding. Under the BHCPF, especially in Nasarawa State, facilities are autonomous. What it means is that they get their funds directly, and then they can determine their needs. What an agency like ours does is regulatory. So before they can utilise the money, they will do a work plan and send it for approval. The work plan will detail what infrastructure touches they want to do, and what drugs they want to procure, and it will be backed up by certain evidence. Healthcare services in Nasarawa State, based on this reporters findings, have improved from what they used to be. These findings tally with the One Campaign report on the state of primary healthcare delivery in the state (2019-2021). In the report, Nasarawa State was listed among the top 10 states out of the 36 states in Nigeria to get quality healthcare. Not yet Uhuru Despite these cheery testimonies of satisfactory services, some PHCs still face challenges. One of the issues is structure. Although some PHCs like Baure in Awe LGA, Aloshi in Kaena LGA, Angwan Nupawa in Doma LGA and others in Keffi and Akwanga LGAs are experiencing a facelift, others still have leaking roofs, wards with bad windows and insufficient rooms, among others. In Tabu PHC, Akwanga LGA, Lamie Mobutu, the officer in charge, was seated at the facility entrance carrying out some paperwork because she does not have an office. We need structure because there are so many units that we dont have. Even the officer in charge does not have an office, a staffer of the clinic who would not reveal her name said. At Iwagu PHC, Kaena LGA, the wards had broken windows without nets, which is not healthy for the health workers and patients as the wards are prone to mosquito attacks. While there are water tanks in all the PHCs visited, most were not functional, forcing workers to buy water for their use. The only issue we have is water problem. The tank is bad, so we buy from vendors, a worker of Kafin Moyin PHC, Awe LGA, whispered. It was the same water issue at Aloshi PHC, Kaena and Alagye PHC in Doma. Gift Akuki, the deputy officer in charge, said the overhead water tank has been bad for some time. We told the man that came to renovate the place but he only painted it and left, saying that was what he came to do. The source of power is also another issue. While some communities have a public power supply, others rely on solar panels or generators. In Iwagu PHC, Kaena LGA, the water supply is limited because the solar panel is faulty. Our solar panel has issues. Before, we could pump to fill the tank, but now it is bad, and we can only get half the tank sometimes if we are lucky, Ramatu Sule, one of the Community Health Extention Workers (CHEWs), said. In Gwanje PHC, Akwanga LGA, the facility depends on generators because there is no light and the solar panel is faulty. We dont have light. We depend on generators, but we need light for 24 hours, and the solar we have sometimes does not work, Moses Andrew, a junior CHEW, disclosed. The situation is not different at Tabu PHC, which relies solely on a generator to pump water. No light completely. Before, we were using solar, but it had a fault, and we have not fixed it, so we are using a generator for now, Lamie Mobutu said. There is also no means of transportation for patients when the need arises. These facilities rely on community members who have cars or motorcycles to help bring patients during an emergency. We convey our patients with cars from volunteers. We dont have an ambulance here, so we talk to people to help us convey the patient from here to that hospital, Rislanu Suleiman, a CHEW at Kafin Moyin PHC, narrated. The lack of means of transportation or an ambulance is a significant challenge at Alagye PHC, Doma LGA, where Gift Akuki, the deputy OIC said, we arrange with those people who have cars. They are the ones that help all our women. In Tunga PHC, the officer in charge, Deborah Joseph, explained that they use motorcycles to convey patients to Awe general hospital, which is about a 30-minute motorcycle ride away. But Mr Sasetu explained that these arrangements have proven to be more sustainable in developing countries with a scarcity of resources. For the case of ambulances, it is being followed through a Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA intervention. However, because this is a capital-intensive project, the PHCs rely on arrangements by spirited individuals or the transport union as part of their community efforts to move patients requiring emergency attention, he said. Another issue observed was negligence. For example, there were no personnel at some PHCs during this report. At Ampana PHC, Awe LGA, we found the facility empty with just one patient lying on the bed with no idea where the health workers went. About 20 minutes later, no one had returned to the facility, leaving it open to anyone. The situation was not different at Agaza PHC, which had no evidence of life except for one woman sitting at the facilitys gate during our visit. The deputy OIC, who came in several minutes later, had to be called on the phone. Meanwhile, the state agency overseeing BHCPF is aware of some of these challenges. Mr Sasetu told this reporter that the challenges could only be tackled one at a time. We are aware of these challenges, and we are tackling them as we get the necessary resources. But with almost 800 facilities, I am sure you would agree that we cannot address them all at once, he said. For a complete revitalisation of each PHC, you will need between N80 to N100 million to bring them to the minimum standard. That is why we need all stakeholders. What NPHCDA is currently championing is for corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to adopt one or more PHCs. He said a revitalisation programme that addresses the problems of infrastructure facing some of the facilities was ongoing. This is a part of the PHC revitalisation programme, which is a collaborative effort by relevant stakeholders to make at least one PHC fully functional in each ward of the state, that is 147 PHCs in the first instance, Mr Sasetu said. On the issue of negligence, the director said necessary sanctions would be imposed if confirmed. Once we get a report and verify the report, we will sanction accordingly. Kindly provide us with the names of the PHCs if you remember. This report is supported by the International Budget Partnership and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). The Rivers House of Assembly has voted unanimously to derecognise Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state. Besides the derecognition, the House also withdrew the title of His Excellency and directed Mr Omehia to refund over N696 million monetary entitlements within a week. The House arrived at the decision after the Leader, Martin Ameawnule, moved the motion for the derecognition and seconded by Evans Bipi during plenary on Thursday according to a report by Channels television. All the 21 members present at the plenary reportedly voted in support of the motion. The Speaker, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, said the lawmakers were right in taking the decision because no law is absolute. The current lawmakers 9th Assembly with the decision, has reversed the 30 June 2015 resolution passed by their predecessors 8th Assembly- which mandated the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to recognise Mr Omehia as a former governor and be accorded all entitlements, privileges and benefits. Mr Omehia became the governor of Rivers State in May 2007 after former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the said election, was denied the ticket by the then leadership of the party. The Supreme Court in October 2007 sacked Mr Omehia and directed that Mr Amaechi be sworn in as State Governor, stating that Mr Amaechis name was wrongly substituted with Mr Omehia. Mr Omehia, who hails from the same Ikwere Local Government Area as Mr Amaechi, was not recognised as a former governor until June 2015 after Mr Wike, who is of the same Ikwere ethnic nationality, became the governor. The lawmakers in their submission at the plenary on Thursday said the continued recognition of Mr Omehia was a breach of the Supreme Court judgement. According to Channels Television, the lawmakers submitted a copy of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report that contains the landmark judgement which removed Mr Omehia from office as governor. Messrs Wike and Omehia were political allies but fell apart when the latter decided to support Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 elections against the wishes of Mr Wike. Messrs Wike and Atiku have been engaged in a political battle after the PDP presidential primary which the former vice president won. Mr Wike is leading a group of some party chieftains who are calling for the removal of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu. Mr Omehia belongs to a faction of the party in the state, which includes a former national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, loyal to Mr Ayu and Atiku. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach Mr Omehia for comment as of the time of filing this report. All is set for President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2023 budget to the National Assembly today. It would be his last budget presentation to the lawmakers as his administration leaves office in May next year. The presentation will be done before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In a letter to both Chambers on Tuesday, Mr Buhari informed the lawmakers of his intention to appear before them to present the Appropriation Bill. The president is expected to arrive at the legislative complex at about 10 a.m for the session that may likely last for an hour. Both the Senate and the House, within the week, passed the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), in preparation for the presentation. The MTEF/FSP is a document that contains parameters upon which the annual budget is prepared. According to the document approved by the lawmakers, the estimated expenditure for the 2023 fiscal year is N19.7 trillion with Total Recurrent (Non-debt) of N8.53 trillion; Personnel Costs (MDAs) of N827.8 billion; and Capital expenditure (exclusive of Transfers) N3.96 trillion. The benchmark for the price of crude oil is put at $73 per barrel for 2023, the exchange rate at N437.57 and daily oil production of 1.69mbpd, 1.83mbpd, and 1.83mbpd for 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively. Mr Buhari is expected to address, in his speech, the federal governments plan for fuel subsidy in the coming year as well as preparations for the general election. The National Assembly complex has been undergoing renovation for over two months and lawmakers have used hearing rooms for plenary since they resumed from their recess. It is in one of these rooms at the House wing that the budget presentation will hold. Security has been beefed up at the complex ahead of the presidents arrival and access to visitors has been restricted. Both chambers will carry on with their plenary sessions from 9:00 a.m. until about 10:00 a.m. and thereafter converge at the lower chamber to await the presidents arrival. PREMIUM TIMES will bring you live updates on the budget presentation. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES BELOW; 2023 BUDGET SPEECH Budget of Fiscal Consolidation and Transition Delivered By: His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria At the Joint Session of the National Assembly, Abuja Friday, 7TH October , 2022 PROTOCOLS: I am very pleased to be here today to present the 2023 Budget Proposals at this Joint Session of the National Assembly. This is the last time I will be laying the budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria before the National Assembly. 2. Mr. President; Mr. Speaker: As I address this Joint Session on the Budget for the last time, let me highlight some of the progress that we have made in last seven and half years, in just two important areas of Critical Infrastructure and Good Governance. 3. We have made transformational investments in Infrastructure, notably: a. Establishing the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), in 2021, seed capital of N1 trillion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); b. Leveraging finance through the NSIA into the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) to facilitate the accelerated completion of the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Abuja-Kano Road; c. Through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme pursuant to Executive Order #7 of 2019, incentivised responsible companies to invest billions of Naira in constructing over 1,500km critical roads in key economic corridors. Under this Scheme, the Dangote Group has substantially completed the Reconstruction of 34km Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway and the 43km Obajana-Kabba Road. Similarly, Nigeria LNG Limited is on track to complete the 38km Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridges Project by the end of 2023; d. Under our Sukuk Bonds scheme, since 2017, over N600 billion has been raised and invested in 941km for over 40 critical road projects nationwide, complement the Ministry of Works and Housings Highway Development and Management Initiative and other interventions; e. Investing significantly to restore our national railways, completing and commissioning the 156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail (and its 8.72km extension to Lagos Port); the 186km Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Rail; and 327km Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge Rail. These completed projects complement our ongoing investments in Light Rail, Narrow and Standard Gauge Rail, Ancillary Facilities Yards, Wagon Assembly Plants, E-Ticketing infrastructure as well as the training and development of our rail engineers and other workers; f. We have completed New Airport Terminals at Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, and reconstructed the Abuja Airport Runway in its first overhaul since its construction in the early 1980s. g. Other investments in airports safety facilities, aeronautical meteorological services delivery complement ongoing development of seaports and ancillary infrastructure at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Bonny Deep Sea Port, Onitsha River Port, as well as the Kaduna, Kano and Katsina Inland Dry Ports to create a truly multimodal transport system; h. We have transformed Nigerias challenging power sector, through bespoke interventions such as the Siemens Power Program, with the German government under which over 2 billion US Dollars will be invested in the Transmission Grid. i. We have leveraged over billions of US dollars in concessional and other funds from our partners at the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, JICA as well as through the Central Bank of Nigeria, working with the Finance Ministry, to support the power sector reforms. j. The Central Bank has also been impactful in its interventions to roll out over a million meters to on-grid consumers, creating much needed jobs in assembly and installation. Our financing interventions have recently been complemented with the takeover of four electricity distribution companies and the constitution of the Board of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company. k. On the generation side, we have made significant investments in and incremental 4,000MW of power generating assets, including Zungeru Hydro, Kashimbila Hydro, Afam III Fast Power, Kudenda Kaduna Power Plant, the Okpai Phase 2 Plant, the Dangote Refinery Power Plant, and others. l. Our generation efforts are making the transition from a reliance on oil and diesel, to gas as a transitional fuel, as well as environmentally friendly solar and hydro sources. Under the Energising Education Programme, we have commissioned solar and gas power solutions at Federal Universities and Teaching Hospitals at Kano, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Delta States. Similarly, our Energising Economies Programme have taken clean, sustainable power solutions to the Sabon-Gari Market in Kano, Ariaria Market in Aba, and Sura Shopping Complex in Lagos. 4. In terms of Good Governance, one significant challenge this Administration met at our inception was the inability of successive Governments to institutionalise reforms to ensure their sustainability. We inherited an archaic set of corporate, banking and capital markets laws; draft but unenacted Bills to reform the critical petroleum sector; an unimplemented Oronsaye White Paper to reform our civil service, amongst others. 5. I was therefore committed, at the onset of this Administrations Good Governance and Fighting Corruption Reforms, to focus on the much-neglected area of law reform, to bequeath a better legacy to the succeeding Administration, than the one we met. Our innovative, encompassing and historically significant legislative interventions include: a. Critical corporate and financial laws to enhance our countries global competitiveness, including the repeal and re-enactment of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 the first comprehensive reform since 1990; enacting the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Bill, the first legislation in Nigerias history focused on curbing anti-competition practices; establishing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; re-pealing and re-enacting the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020; enacting the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON (Amendment) Acts of 2019 and 2021; enacting the Credit Reporting Act (CRA) 2017 and Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act (STMAA) 2017, to mention our major legislative interventions; b. Fundamental anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and financial intelligence laws, such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (being the first comprehensive reform of Police legislation since the Police Act of 1943); the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2017 (which resolved the longstanding impediments to Nigerias full participation in the global efforts to combat illicit financing of terrorism and crime under the auspices of the global Egmont Group); the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022; Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2019; Nigerian Correctional Services Act, 2019; Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act, 2019; amongst others. c. Historic reforms to our Constitutional and other public laws, including the first ever amendments to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to support the engagement of young persons in our politics by passing Not Too Young to Run legislation, as well as to improve the funding and independence of States Legislatures and Judiciaries; enacting overdue reforms through the Electoral Act, 2022; d. Finally enacting into law the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 after close to two decades of drafting, debates and delays leading to the commercialization of NNPC Limited, and other much needed reforms to our energy sector. This important law also complements other landmark legislations such as the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, 1993 (Amendment) Act, 2019, to increase oil and gas revenues accruing to the Federation; e. Enacting annual Finance Acts of 2019, 2020 and 2021 to support our annual Budgets and respond to emerging tax, fiscal and economic issues, including: I. reducing headline corporate tax rates for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; II. reforming archaic tax legislation in line with global best practices to combat Base Erosion and Transfer Pricing; III. reforming the taxation of securities lending and real estate investment trusts to spur increased investments on our capital markets; IV. empowering the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service to optimize their use of technology to more efficiently collect taxes and levies; and V. increasing VAT revenues predominantly to support our States and Local Governments precious finances during and after the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the economy; f. Furthermore, we have issued eleven Presidential Executive Orders on a range of important issues, including the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment, 2017; I. Promoting Local Procurement by Government Agencies, 2017; II. the Submission of Annual Budgetary Estimates by all Statutory and non-Statutory Agencies, including Incorporated Companies wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, 2017; III. the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, 2017; IV. Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology, 2018; V. the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularization Scheme (VOARS), 2018; VI. Open Defecation and enhanced sanitation, 2019; VII. the innovative Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, 2019; and VIII. the National Public Buildings Maintenance, 2022. 6. We could not have made these historical achievements without the exceptional partnership this Administration has had with the Leadership, and Members of the National Assembly. So may I pause here, to once again, thank the Senate and the House of Representatives for your engagement, support and contribution to these successes, which history will remember us all favourably for. RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 7. The 2023 Budget was prepared amidst a very challenging world economy that is weakened by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, high crude oil prices resulting in huge cost of PMS Subsidy and negative spill over effects of the Russia-Ukraine war. 8. Many economies around the world are currently contending with fiscal instability, slow growth, food crisis, and high interest rates. Like many other countries, our economy faces headwinds from low revenues, high inflation, exchange rate depreciation and insecurity. 9. However, Nigerias real Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.54 percent in the second quarter of 2022, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth. Our interventionist and reflationary measures have been very effective and impactful. We must however continue to work towards achieving much higher levels of growth, especially given our high population growth rate, so that the average Nigerian can truly feel the impact of planned economic growth. 10. Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, despite continuing efforts, unemployment, underemployment, and poverty rates remain high. We are currently implementing several skills development programmes and work opportunity programmes to enhance the employability of our youths and tackle the troubling level of youth unemployment. 11. While it is evident that our economy still faces significant challenges, what could have happened without the implementation of some of the measure we introduced, would have been much worse for the country. REVIEW OF 2022 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION 12. Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, the implementation of the 2022 Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability commenced on the first day of the year. It was, however, necessary to forward an amended budget proposal to address some exigent issues, especially the significant increase in fuel subsidy. 13. The amended 2022 Budget was based on a benchmark oil price of 73 US Dollars per barrel, oil production of 1.60 million barrels per day, and exchange rate of 410.15 Naira to US Dollar. 14. As at 31st July 2022, Federal Governments retained revenues was 3.66 trillion Naira, excluding the revenue of Government-Owned Enterprises. Thus, revenue collection was only 63 percent of our target, largely due to the underperformance of oil and gas revenue sources. 15. Despite higher oil prices in 2022, oil revenue was below target due to significant oil production shortfalls and high petrol subsidy cost resulting from the significant rise in Crude prices which ultimately increased PMS prices worldwide. 16. Oil output stood at an average of 1.30 million barrels per day as at June 2022, while the sum of 1.59 trillion Naira was spent on fuel subsidy between January and June 2022. The NNPC, working in collaboration with security and other relevant agencies, is putting in place additional measures to curb the incidence of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in order to meet our crude oil production quota. 17. On the expenditure side, the sum of 8.29 trillion Naira had been spent by July 31 2022 out of the total appropriation of N17.32 trillion. Despite our revenue challenges, we have consistently met our debt service commitments. Staff salaries and statutory transfers have also been paid as and when due. 18. Total non-debt recurrent expenditure in January to July 2002 was 3.24 trillion Naira, of which 2.87 trillion Naira was for Salaries, Pensions and Overheads. A total of 3.09 trillion Naira was spent on debt service obligations during the period. 19. Furthermore, about 1.48 trillion Naira had been released to MDAs for capital expenditure as at the end of July 2022. I am pleased to inform you that we expect to fund MDAs capital budget fully by the end of the fiscal year 2022. 20. To further address structural problems in the economy and drive growth, capital releases thus far have been prioritised in favour of critical ongoing projects in the power, roads, rail, agriculture, as well as health and education sectors. 21. As at the end of July 2022, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated budget deficit of 4.63 trillion Naira. This represents 63 percent of the estimated deficit for the full year. This is largely attributable to revenue shortfalls and higher debt service obligations resulting from rising debt levels and interest rates. 22. The deficit was mainly financed through domestic borrowing amounting to N4.12 trillion. Hence, total public debt stock increased from 39.6 trillion Naira as at the end of December 2021 to 42.8 trillion Naira as at the end of June, 2022. 23. However, our debt position remains within cautious and acceptable limits compared to peer countries. As at the end of June 2022, total public debt is within our self-imposed limit of 40 percent of GDP, which is significantly below the 55 percent international threshold for comparator countries, and a global average of 99 percent post-COVID-19. 24. Nonetheless, our debt-service-to-revenue ratio needs close attention. The current low revenue performance of government, as reflected in the lowly revenue-to-GDP ratio of just about 8 percent. Our medium-term objective remains to raise this ratio to 15 percent, at which the debt service to revenue ratio will cease to be a concern. 25. Mr. Senate President and Rt. Honourable Speaker, revenue shortfalls remain the greatest threat to Nigerias fiscal viability. We have therefore accelerated efforts towards ensuring that all taxable Nigerians declare income from all sources and pay taxes due to the appropriate authorities. We are also monitoring the internally generated revenues of MDAs to ensure they are appropriately accounted for and remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. 26. The 50 percent cost-to-income ratio in the Finance Act 2020 has significantly improved operating surplus remittances by Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs). I therefore solicit the continuing cooperation of the National Assembly in enforcing the legal provision and other prudential guidelines imposed on the GOEs during the consideration of the budget proposals of the GOEs. 27. I am happy to report that the revenue collection and expenditure management reforms we are implementing are yielding positive results, with recent significant improvements in non-oil revenue performance. However, while we continue to implement revenue administration reforms and improve our collection efficiency, we urgently need to find new ways of generating revenue. 28. As we seek to grow our government revenues, we must also focus on the efficiency of utilization of our limited resources. Critical steps we are taking include immediate implementation of additional measures towards reducing the cost of governance and the discontinuation of fuel subsidy in 2023 as announced earlier. We are however mindful of the fact that reducing government spending too drastically can be socially destabilizing, and so will continue to implement programmes to support the more vulnerable segments of society. 29. Petrol subsidy has been a recurring and controversial public policy issue in our country since the early eighties. However, its current fiscal impact has clearly shown that the policy is unsustainable. As a country, we must now confront this issue taking cognizance of the need to provide safety nets to cushion the attendant effects on some segments of society. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS 30. Over the last year, this Administration has implemented several priority projects. Our focus has been on the completion of key road and rail projects; the effective implementation of power sector projects; the provision of clean water; construction of irrigation infrastructure and dams across the country; and critical health projects such as upgrading Primary Health Care Centres across the six geopolitical zones. 31. We have also gone further on the implementation of several power generation, transmission, and distribution projects, as well as off-grid solutions, all aimed towards achieving the national goal of optimizing power supply by 2025. 32. In the determination to ramp up grid electricity supply to at least 7,000 megawatts by 2024, we have procured purpose-built critical power equipment under the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens as we promised. These projects will have multiplier effects on the economy. 33. Under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, we are undertaking the construction and rehabilitation of about two thousand kilometres of roads and bridges, nationwide, to be financed by the grant of tax credits to investing private companies. 34. As I mentioned earlier, we have made appreciable progress in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of key road networks like the Lagos Ibadan expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway and East-West Road in Niger Delta. Work has also reached completion stage on the Apapa Oworonsoki expressway, Loko-Oweto Bridge and the Second Niger Bridge. We hope to commission these projects before the end of our tenure in 2023. 35. Furthermore, we have awarded several contracts to rehabilitate, reconstruct and construct major arterial roads to reduce the hardship to commuters and increase economic activity. 36. Regarding personnel costs, we have extended the coverage of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to all MDAs to automate personnel records and the process by which salaries are paid and eliminate the incidence of ghost workers. The system is currently being reviewed to enhance its functionality and applicability to MDAs in the different sectors. 37. Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, although we have recorded more achievements over the last year, I will now proceed with an overview of the 2023 Budget proposal. THEME AND PRIORITIES OF THE 2023 BUDGET 38. The 2023 Budget proposal is the eighth and final budget of this Administration. It reflects the serious challenges currently facing our country, key reforms necessary to address them, and imperatives to achieve higher, more inclusive, diversified and sustainable growth. 39. The expenditure policy of Government in 2023 is designed to achieve the strategic objectives of the National Development Plan 2021 to 2025, including macroeconomic stability; human development; food security; improved business environment; energy sufficiency; improving transport infrastructure; and promoting industrialization focusing on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. 40. Against the backdrop of the challenging global and domestic economic environment, it is imperative that we strengthen our macroeconomic environment and address subsisting challenges as a country. The 2023 Appropriation therefore is a Budget of Fiscal Sustainability and Transition. Our principal objective in 2023 is to maintain fiscal viability and ensure smooth transition to the incoming Administration. 2023 BUDGET PARAMETERS AND FISCAL ASSUMPTIONS 41. Distinguished Members of the National Assembly, the 2023 to 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper sets out the parameters for the 2023 Budget as follows: a. Oil price benchmark of 70 US Dollars per barrel; b. Daily oil production estimate of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of Condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day); c. Exchange rate of 435.57 Naira per US Dollar; and d. Projected GDP growth rate of 3.75 percent and 17.16 percent inflation rate. 2023 REVENUE ESTIMATES 42. Based on these fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue is estimated at 16.87 trillion Naira in 2023. 43. Total federally distributable revenue is estimated at 11.09 trillion Naira in 2023, while total revenue available to fund the 2023 Federal Budget is estimated at 9.73 trillion Naira. This includes the revenues of 63 Government-Owned Enterprises. 44. Oil revenue is projected at 1.92 trillion Naira, Non-oil taxes are estimated at 2.43 trillion Naira, FGN Independent revenues are projected to be 2.21 trillion Naira. Other revenues total 762 billion Naira, while the retained revenues of the GOEs amount to N2.42 trillion Naira. 45. The 2023 Appropriation Bill aims to maintain the focus of MDAs on the revenue side of the budget and greater attention to internal revenue generation. Sustenance of revenue diversification strategy would further increase the non-oil revenue share of total revenues. PLANNED 2023 EXPENDITURE 46. A total expenditure of 20.51 trillion Naira is proposed for the Federal Government in 2023. This includes 2.42 trillion Naira spending by Government-Owned Enterprises. The proposed 20.51 trillion Naira 2023 expenditure comprises: a. Statutory Transfers of N744.11 billion; b. Non-debt Recurrent Costs of N8.27 trillion; c. Personnel Costs of N4.99 trillion; d. Pensions, Gratuities and Retirees Benefits of N854.8 billion; e. Overheads of N1.11 trillion; f. Capital Expenditure of N5.35 trillion, including the capital component of Statutory Transfers; g. Debt Service of N6.31 trillion; and h. Sinking Fund of N247.73 billion to retire certain maturing bonds. FISCAL BALANCE 47. We expect total fiscal operations of the Federal Government to result in a deficit of 10.78 trillion Naira. This represents 4.78 percent of estimated GDP, above the 3 percent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. 48. As envisaged by the law, we need to exceed this threshold considering the need to continue to tackle the existential security challenges facing the country. 49. We plan to finance the deficit mainly by new borrowings totalling 8.80 trillion Naira, 206.18 billion Naira from Privatization Proceeds and 1.77 trillion Naira drawdowns on bilateral/multilateral loans secured for specific development projects/programmes. 50. Over time, we have resorted to borrowing to finance our fiscal gaps. We have been using loans to finance critical development projects and programmes aimed at further improving our economic environment and enhance the delivery of public services to our people. 51. As you are aware, we have witnessed two economic recessions within the period of this Administration. A direct result of this is the significant decline in our revenue generating capacity. 52. In both cases, we had to spend our way out of recession, resulting in higher public debt and debt service. It is unlikely that our recovery from each of the two recessions would have been as fast without the sustained government expenditure funded by debt. FINANCE BILL 2022 53. In line with our plan to accompany annual budgets with Finance Bills, partly to support the realization of fiscal projections, current tax and fiscal laws/regulations are being reviewed to produce a draft Finance Bill 2022. 54. It is our intention that once ongoing consultations are completed, the Finance Bill 2022 would be submitted to the National Assembly to be considered alongside the 2023 Appropriation Bill. ENSURING FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY 55. To ensure fiscal sustainability, we will further improve our business-enabling environment, accelerate current revenue-based fiscal consolidation efforts and strengthen our expenditure and debt management. BUDGET OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED ENTERPRISES 56. Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, you may recall that we earlier integrated the budget of Government-Owned Enterprises into the FGNs 2019 budget submission. This has helped to enhance the comprehensiveness and transparency of the FGN budget. It has however come to my attention that Government-Owned Enterprises liaise directly with relevant NASS committees to have their budget passed and issued to them directly. 57. I would like to implore the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the budget I lay here today, which includes those of the GOEs, be returned to the Presidency when passed. The current practice where some committees of the National Assembly purport to pass budgets for GOEs, which are at variance with the budgets sanctioned by me, and communicate such directly to the MDAs is against the rules and needs to stop. FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE GAP 58. Nigeria requires a huge outlay of resources to close current infrastructure gaps and boost its economic performance. Government will develop projects that are good candidates for Public Private Partnership (PPP) by their nature for private sector participation. BUDGET PROCESS BILL 2022 59. Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, ladies and gentlemen. Over the course of this Administration, we have embarked on a number of reforms in the Public Finance Management space. These reforms are bearing fruits and we have seen some of the benefits of the return to a predictable January to December fiscal year for the FGN budget. 60. Earlier this year, I was briefed of the impressive performance of Nigeria in the Open Budget Survey, as the third best or most improved country in the world, matching the global average score in budget transparency and exceeding the global average in public participation. 61. I commend the Budget Office of the Federation and the Supervising Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning, the National Assembly Leadership, the relevant Appropriation and Finance Committees as well as non-state actors who have worked tirelessly in pushing for greater transparency and accountability in our budget process. 62. We need to sustain and institutionalize the gains of these reforms. To this end, I have directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to immediately work on mainstreaming these reforms and work with the National Assembly on passing an Organic Budget Law, which I hope to assent to before the end of this Administration. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT 63. The Government notes with dismay the crisis that has paralysed activities in the public universities in the country. We expect the staff of these institutions to show a better appreciation of the current state of affairs in the country. In the determined effort to resolve the issue, we have provided a total of 470.0 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for revitalization and salary enhancements in the tertiary institutions. 64. Distinguished Senators and Honourable members, it is instructive to note that today Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education. 65. In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education. 66. The Government remains committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources. This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement. Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector. 67. Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels. Recently, we implemented various incentives aimed at motivating and enhancing teachers development in our schools. 68. In the health sector, the Government intends to focus attention on equipping existing hospitals and rehabilitating infrastructure. Emphasis will also be on local production of basic medicines/vaccines. 69. As human capital is the most critical resource for national development, our overall policy thrust is to expand our investment in education, health and social protection. WOMENS EMPOWERMENT 70. To harness the potentials of all Nigerian women and enable them to productively contribute to the economy, we will continue to prioritise womens empowerment programmes across various MDAs in 2023. FOOD PRICES 71. Government is very concerned about the high food prices in the country. Various measures are being implemented to address structural factors underlying the issue. We will also step-up current efforts aimed at boosting food production and distribution in the country. You will recall our efforts in improving production of fertilizer, rice, maize cassava among other earlier initiatives. BOOSTING MANUFACTURING PERFORMANCE 72. Government is not unaware of the challenges confronting the manufacturing sector. We will ensure effective implementation of policy measures aimed at positioning the manufacturing sector to generate more foreign exchange in the near future. We are also committed to improving the business environment to stimulate local and foreign investment. SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE 73. We ratified the Safe Schools Declaration in 2019. We remain committed to the effective implementation of our Safe Schools Policy. A total of 15.2 billion Naira has been specifically provided in the 2023 Budget to scale up current measures to provide safer and conducive learning environment in our schools. DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY 74. The Government remains firmly committed to the security of life, property and investment across the country. Accordingly, defence and internal security continue to be accorded top priority in 2023. Current efforts to properly equip and motivate our valiant personnel in the armed forces, police and paramilitary units will be sustained. 75. I assure you, insecurity, especially banditry and kidnapping, will be significantly curtailed before the end of this Administration. We will redouble our efforts to ensure we leave a legacy of a peaceful, prosperous and secured nation. 76. Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, let me conclude my address today by again expressing my deep appreciation for your enormous support, patriotic zeal, and cooperation in our efforts to accelerate the socio-economic development of our country and improve the lives of our people. 77. I appreciate the efforts and commitment of the leadership and staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, especially the Budget Office of the Federation, who have worked hard to achieve early submission of the 2023 Appropriation Bill. 78. The 2023 budget proposal is a product of inter-agency collaboration, extensive stakeholder consultations and productive engagements. I would therefore like to acknowledge the efforts of the media, the organized private sector, civil society organizations and our development partners for their contributions in the process of preparing the Budget. 79. Considering the challenging situation in our country presently, we must continue to cooperate and collaborate to ensure fiscal sustainability, macroeconomic stability and smooth transition to the incoming Administration. 80. This Administration remains resolutely committed to our goals of improving the living standard of our people and effective delivery of public services. 81. Distinguished and honourable members of the National Assembly, although no single government can solve all the problems of a country during its own tenure, I have no doubt that you share our aspiration that the 2023 transition budget is designed to address critical issues and lay a solid foundation for the incoming Administration. 82. It is with great pleasure therefore, that I lay before this distinguished Joint Session of the National Assembly, the 2023 Budget Proposals of the Federal Government of Nigeria. I thank you most sincerely for your attention. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 11:35 a.m. National Anthem is taken to mark the end of the event. The president and other executive officials exit the chamber. 11:25 a.m. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, gives the vote of thanks. He said he hopes that the budget has accommodated expectations of lawkamers. The budget reflects priorities national security, education, healthcare and human capital development, he added. He said those engaged in oil theft are agents of economic sabotage and Nigerians no longer want to hear about oil theft. Mr Gbajabiamila said the National Assembly is urging a swift and systemic overhaul in place. He said the National Assembly will build on the executive arms efforts to plan and implement the budget. 11.24 am Considering the challenging environment, the president said we must ensure smooth transition to another government. He added, No single government can solve all the problems within an administration. This budget is about laying foundation for the incoming government. 11.21 am He said the government is not unaware of the challenges confronting the manufacturing sector, stating, We are committed to improving the sector. He said N15 billion has been allocated for scaling up of measures to provide safe learning environment for schools. Mr Buhari said bandits and insecurity will be contained before the end of this administration. 11.19 am Mr Buhari said the government noticed with dismay the issues that have paralysed the nations universities. He stated that lecturers should appreciate the efforts of the government. He stated that the government has allocated N400.17 billion in the budget to the revitalisation of schools and salary enhancement. He said government alone cannot provided needed funding for tertiary education. 11.14 am We have been using loans to finance several projects, adding that We have to spend our way out of recessions, Mr Buhari stated. There is a significant decline in revenue of our country. He further said, We will improve our business environment to ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria The president said government-owned enterprises are going to meet committees to pass their budgets directly. He urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that GOE are to present their budgets to entire National Assembly. 11.08 am Mr Buhari said the 2023 budget is fiscal sustainability and transition budget. According to him, N9 trillion is expected to fund the budget, comprising oil proceeds and funds from 63 government owned enterprises. 11.01 am Our focus is on completion of several projects, the president said. To achieve stable power supply by 2025, he noted the Siemens project will help in this regard. He said, We will commission the Second Niger Bridge before leaving office. 10.58 am Mr Buhari said the nations debt position remains within acceptable limit. Adding that debt is within limit compared to other countries He stated that the revenue and debt ratio need close monitoring. He noted that revenue short fall remains the biggest risk. He stated that the government is monitoring IGR of MDAs and urged payment of taxes by individual and corporate entities. Reducing government spending drastically could have effect on the people, he stated. 10.52 am Mr Buharistated that the underperformance of the oil sector affected revenue drive of the country in 2022. He said as of July N8.2 trillion spent out of the N17.69trillion budget. He added that despite the challenges Nigeria met its debt obligations. 10.49am We have issued 11 presidential executive orders, Mr Buhari disclosed. He noted that the executive orders have ensured improvement in budget process, local content development and ensure public sanitation. Mr President said the achievements have only been possible because of the collaboration of the National Assembly. He said the 2023 budget was prepared amid challenging environment due to the global instability. He highlighted the 3.5 % GDP growth in the last quarter. Adding that the fiscal policy of the government helped to address inflation. Mr Buhari acknowledged the high unemployment, noting that ongoing interventions will help youth with skill. 10.41 am He listed the passage of the FCCPC, NFIU BOFIA and other Acts as part of efforts to ensure sustainable public sector. Mr Buhari also highlighted the PIA as one of the landmark legislations of his administration. 10.39 a.m. The president also spoke about clean and sustainable power interventions in schools and markets. He noted that in terms of good governance, successive governments failed to drive reforms. He stated that the government is working to bequeath reforms of public sector on incoming government. 10:38 a.m. President Buhari begins the budget presentation, says This is the last time I will be laying the budget. As I address this session for the last time, let me highlight the progress made so far. We have made transformation adjustment in infrastructure development. We have facilitated the completion of Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and Abuja-Kaduna Kano road. We have used tax credit to facilitate several roads. The Central Bank has been very impactful in financing interventions. 10.36 a.m. The economic is still challenged, Mr Lawan says. He decries the daily loss of oil which is Nigerias major source of income. He says the situation has worsened with oil loss going up to 1 million barrels per day a monumental loss, he says. He says oil thieves are the worst enemies of Nigeria and have declared war on the country and the government. It is time to take drastic and desperate measures against the thieves, he said. We can reduce deficit by stopping the thieves. He suggests that agencies like the NCC, NIMASA, NPA be given power to generate their own revenues. He urges the president to ensure that the 2023 budget is geared towards completion of ongoing projects. He commends the security agencies for recording great successes in thier fight against insecurity. He also calls on the government to help tackle natural disasters like floods that have been raised by climate change. 10:17 a.m. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, reads his opening address. He welcomes the president to the fourth joint session of the ninth National Assembly. He praises the executive arm for its cooperation in returning the budget cycle to January-December. The ninth assembly, he said, has been consistent in considering and passing the budget on time. 10:15 a.m. Uyim Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) leads the Christian prayer. 10:13 a.m. Senator Sahabi Yau leads the Islamic opening prayer. 10:07 a.m. Buhari arrives the chamber for the presentation of the 2023 budget to a joint session of the legislature. 10:09 a.m. Presentation begins with the National Anthem. 9:32 a.m. Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir moves that the Senate adjourns to sit in a joint session with the House of Representatives to receive the president on the 2023 Appropriation Bill. Minority Leader, Philips Aduda seconds. A pensioner collapsed Thursday while protesting the failure of the Kano State government to pay N36.9b accumulated pension arrears and retirement benefits. The pensioner was participating in a peaceful rally organised by the Kano State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Kano. Starting their march from the Emirs palace to the Government House, the pensioners carried placards with several inscriptions indicating Pay us our pension arrears, Resume compliance to pension laws, Monthly pension deductions must be stopped and monthly pension is non-taxable by law, why deduct from it? Speaking shortly after submitting the pensioners demand to the Head of Service, Usman Bala, the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kabiru Minijibir, who was there in solidarity with the protesting pensioners, said the state owes 32,600 pensioners accumulated N36.9 billion unpaid arrears. He said that as of June 2022, 18,111 pensioners have not been paid their entitlements. This, he said, has resulted in the deaths of many while others have taken ill with no money to settle their hospital bills. Mr Minjibir claimed government agencies and parastatals have not been paying the statutory 17 per cent deductions from workers salaries and the value of the deduction has reached over N60 billion. The NLC chairman appealed that government should henceforth stop the illegal deductions of pensioners money, which he noted contravenes the 2016 Pension Law, which prohibits deductions of pensioners funds and has mandated agencies and parastatals to pay as at when due. We also hope that Government would set aside special funds to commence the immediate payment of the unsettled N36.9 billion funds, and also ensure that the unwarranted cut in their money, immediately stops. Failure to do this might result in the pensioners taking the last option, which is a legal action, but we know and believe that Governor Ganduje has his people in his heart as can be seen in the monthly payment of pension allowances and salaries. The states Head of Service, Usman Bala, who addressed the protesting pensioners, said the pension arrears were inherited from the last two governments in the state. But despite all these negative tendencies, our government now is paying monthly Pension allowances and also tried in paying some gratuity, but one should know that the nation is facing a serious cash crunch and Kano is not exempted, he said. The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its strike. The court gave the order after dismissing the unions application for a stay of execution of an earlier ruling of the National Industrial Court directing the university lecturers to resume work. The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Hamma Barka granted the union permission to appeal the ruling of the industrial court but ruled that it must first resume work to be allowed to file the appeal. It said should ASUU fail to re-open the universities, the permission it gave the union to appeal against the interlocutory injunction of the National Industrial Court will be automatically vacated. It gave the university lecturers union seven days within which to file its notice of appeal against the order of the National Industrial Court. I am inclined to granting the application to appeal the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. But the order of the lower court shall be immediately obeyed, the court held in its unanimous ruling. The National Industrial Court had on 21 September ordered ASUU to call off the strike. The court granted the motion on notice filed by the federal government, directing the lecturers to return to classrooms. Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, the trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit filed against ASUU by the federal government. Miffed by the ruling, the union headed to the appeal court to appeal the ruling. It also filed a stay of execution of the ruling of the industrial court. READ ALSO: Court orders ASUU to suspend strike Court strikes out ASUUs application for stay of execution The Court of Appeal ordered the striking lecturers to immediately call off the eight months strike, having struck out ASUUs application for a stay of execution of the lower courts order. It said it was within ASUUs right to appeal the decision of the industrial court. Agreeing with the federal governments argument that ASUU cannot approach the appellate court with dirty hands, the panel held, should the applicant (ASUU) fail to obey the order (of the lower court), the leave granted shall be automatically vacated. Background For eight months, public universities in Nigeria have been closed due to the ASUU strike. ASUU accused the federal government of refusing to implement a 2009 agreement on matters bordering on increased funding of universities and increasing lecturers salaries. The matter got to a head when the union embarked on an initial four weeks strike on 14 February, asking the government to honour the agreements it had entered with the union in 2009. On 19 July, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, took over negotiations promising to get all striking university workers back to work in the shortest possible time While Mr Adamus persuasion worked on other unions, it fell flat with ASUU with the No Work, No Pay rule introduced by the government. ASUU, in reaction, extended its strike indefinitely on 29 August. Following its inability to resolve the dispute with ASUU through negotiations, the federal government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, referred the matter to the industrial court for resolution. The government asked the court to determine the legality or otherwise of the strike. It also wants the court to determine whether ASUU members are entitled to emoluments for the period they have been on strike. The Nigerian government added that it wants the court to adjudicate on the propriety or otherwise of the strike. The government also requested an order of the Court for ASUU members to resume work in their various universities while the issues in dispute are being addressed by the NICN in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (I) (b) of the TDA Cap T8. LFN 2004. The federal government has proposed N470 billion for the revitalisation and salary enhancements in tertiary institutions. President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this on Friday while presenting the 2023 budget estimates to the joint session of the National Assembly. Mr Buhari, who is presenting his last budget to the lawmakers, said his government is dismayed by the crisis that has led to the shutdown of public universities in the country. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since 14 February, over the governments failure to implement the 2009 agreement and dispute over the IPPIS. Mr Buhari, in his speech, said lecturers show a better appreciation of the current state of affairs in the country. He stated that to resolve the problem, the government has provided a total of N470.0 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for revitalization and salary enhancements in the tertiary institutions. Mr Buhari stressed that government alone cannot finance tertiary education. He stated that in other countries, tertiary education is financed by the government and the people. It is instructive to note that today Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education. In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative, therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education, he said. Mr Buhari added that the government is committed to implementing the agreement with ASUU and other bodies within available resources. He stressed that his government will not sign any agreement it is not committed to implementing. The Government remains committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources. This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement. Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector, he said. READ ALSO: Mr Buhari also disclosed that the government is committed to other levels of education. He said N15 billion has been allocated to the Safe School Declaration. We ratified the Safe Schools Declaration in 2019. We remain committed to the effective implementation of our Safe Schools Policy. A total of 15.2 billion Naira has been specifically provided in the 2023 Budget to scale up current measures to provide safer and conducive learning environment in our schools, he said. Bar any last-minute change, for the first time since its establishment 60 years ago, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, is set to appoint a female substantive vice-chancellor. According to those familiar with the matter, the selection board of the governing council of the university is set to appoint Folasade Ogunsola, the first and only female provost of the universitys College of Medicine, as the new VC of the institution. Though the university has not made an official announcement on the appointment, some governing council members confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES Friday evening that Mrs Ogunsola topped the list of contenders. The governing council chairman is set to announce the winner anytime soon. When confirmed, the new appointee, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, who was the 13th provost of the medical college when appointed, will also be the universitys 13th vice-chancellor. The new VC will take over from the outgoing 12th vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who was appointed in 2017 on 12 November. Speaking in an exclusive interview with this newspaper on Friday shortly after her interview by the selection board, Mrs Ogunsola thanked God and the people for believing in her capacity to run one of Africas biggest academic institutions. She said if appointed, she would run an all-inclusive administration and that everyone would count in decision-making processes. Earlier on Monday, the governing council chairman hinted that the new VC would be appointed on Friday. Speaking at an event to mark the institutions 60th anniversary, the governing council chair said whoever would emerge as the vice-chancellor would be chosen by God. He said he would provide a level-playing field for all the interested parties. PREMIUM TIMES had also reported that six other professors alongside Mrs Ogunsola were shortlisted for the final interview which was held on Friday. They are Abayomi Akinyeye of the Department of History, Faculty of Arts; Mathew Ilori and Adeyinka Adekunle both of the Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Sciences; Imran Smith, Faculty of Law; Timothy Nubi, Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, and Ayo Olowe of the Department of Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences. UNILAGll be future-ready- Ogunsola Mrs Ogunsola said the fourth industrial revolution is here upon the world but that Nigeria has been lagging. She, therefore, said if appointed, her administration would be focused on rejigging how students are trained so that they can be problem solvers and future-ready entrepreneurs. Mrs Ogunsola, who promised to run an open-door policy, said not just the students would be made future-ready but their lecturers and non-academic staff too. She said: We must now be ready to produce graduates with nimble minds who would be ready for the fourth industrial revolution that is already here with us. And to achieve this, we must invest in the faculty. Since funding is key, we will ensure that apart from growing the people, we will also grow our finances while technology will be deployed to compete globally. She also thanked God for making her break the ceiling after 60 years of the universitys existence, saying her feat is a piece of evidence that Nigerian women are ready for the new About Mrs Ogunsola Folasade Ogunsola is a Professor of Medical Microbiology and a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Infection Control at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Born in 1958, Mrs Ogunsola holds a PhD in Medical Microbiology (University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff), an MSc in Medical Microbiology with Distinction (University of Lagos), a Diploma in Biomedical Techniques (University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff), and an MB.ChB (University of Ife). She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists United Kingdom, a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College in Pathology, a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and Foundation Fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Medicine and the Academy of Medicine Specialties. Mrs Ogunsola has served as the acting Vice Chancellor, (Aug-Nov 2020), and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, at the University of Lagos. Before that, she had served as the Provost of the College of Medicine, the University of Lagos for four years making her the first female ever to occupy that position. She is the Chairman of the Board, Tetfund South West Academic Publishing Centre and the only one of seven that has been able to start operations to date. In areas of research, she has collaborated with the Harvard Chan School of Public Health and the North-western University in Chicago in the area of HIV, Ebola and capacity building, particularly through the Building Research and Innovation in Nigerias Science (BRAINS) grant. She is also a reviewer for several scientific academic journals and an external examiner to many universities, including Kuwait University. She has been a consultant to the World Health Organisation since 2009 where she chairs various committees. She was in Congo during the Ebola outbreak and was the team lead for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) during the 2014 Ebola disease outbreak in Nigeria. More recently, she was recently on the Lagos State Task Force set up during the recent COVID crisis and is a consultant to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Africa Centre for Disease Control for Infection Prevention and Control. She is also the Chair of the WHO Guidelines Committee for Ebola as well as Chair of the Infection Control African Network based in Cape Town, South Africa. Mrs Ogunsola is a recipient of various prestigious awards from both local and international bodies and has one hundred and forty-two publications in reputable academic journals and has co-authored four books. She has supervised or co-supervised eight doctoral students and 61 masters students. PLAN International, an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation with tentacles in Nigeria, on Tuesday, said it is planning a summit to focus on challenges facing the girl child in Nigeria. The summit which will coincide with the International Day of the Girl Child, held globally on 11 October every year, will also initiate PLANs project of reaching 20 million girls in the next five years. The project was revealed by Usie Emmamuzou, the outfits Country Director, when he had a media parley with some journalists in Abuja. The official, who highlighted several projects the organisation had undertaken in Nigeria over the years since it berthed in 2014, said the summit will attract girls from over 18 nations and top officials of the organisation. Mr Emmamuzou, at the meeting, said the global aspiration of the organisation is to reach 200 million girls with life-enhancing initiatives in the next five years, adding that Nigeria is expected to reach 10 per cent of that population since it is a large regional hub for the organisation. Some of the initiatives of the organisation globally, according to the official, include empowering girls and adolescents to be active drivers of change; helping girls to have increased access to and completion of pre-primary, primary and secondary education; assisting girls and adolescents to enjoy quality sexual and reproductive health and rights and giving these groups access to age and gender services to prevent/respond to disaster risks, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. The official said the organisation, with the support of the media and other outfits, hopes to build a movement for girls in Nigeria which will further empower this vulnerable group. No nation can develop without carrying her young girls along on the path of development, Mr Emmamuzou said. Our mandate in Nigeria is thus to reach 20 million girls in the next five years with our initiatives. The agenda of the girl child must be paramount in all we do. PLAN says it advances childrens rights and equality for girls globally. It supports childrens rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enables children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. It says it believes in the power and potential of every child but knows this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. Since 2014, Plan International has been working in Nigeria to support vulnerable populations including adolescent girls, boys, children and women through education, nutrition, health, and livelihood, among other projects. It is active in more than 75 countries across the world Its structure includes the Global Hub which is located in the United Kingdom, over 50 Country Offices and their Programme Units, 4 Regional Hubs and 4 Liaison Offices. It has 20 member National Organisations that are separate legal entities. The Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti (EKSU) on Thursday formally opened for academic activities with the matriculation of 4,000 students. But the Academic Staff Union of Universities, EKSU branch, has distanced itself from the opening of the school, saying the strike remained total and the strike coordinating committee has been re-energised. The union at its Congress on Thursday noted that the management of the school had made a written request for its members to return to classes for academic activities on the grounds of ESLKSUs peculiarities. It said the university was owing its workforce about a billion in arrears of salaries, gratuities, unremitted deductions to cooperative societies, unremitted tax deductions and arrears of annual increments. It said although the university administration had consistently been appealing to its teeming workforce for special consideration during the strike, there had been a failure by the administration to appreciate the efforts. While arguing that the special considerations being pleaded by the management was not tenable, the union said even if the university reopens for activities today, it would still not be able to survive the financial onslaught already dished out on it by the epileptic financial support from the state government. The union, therefore, resolved after its deliberations to turn down the request by management. The resolution signed by its Chairman, Kayode Arogundade and Secretary, O.D. Ogunwale noted that EKSU was not the only university being faced with pressing peculiarities and unless government wakes up to its fundamental responsibility of funding tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the end to the local branch struggles is not in aight, even after the ongoing national struggle. The union also noted that EKSU had benefited from ASUU struggles in the past, asserting that but for such struggles, EKSU would have been a glorified secondary school. Going by the above analysis and quality of governance enjoyed at both state and federal levels in Nigeria(with reference to funding of university education in Nigeria), it is out of place for a university like EKSU, that had benefited immensely and continuously from the national struggles of ASUU to thinker with breaking the national struggle for whatsoever reasons, the union held. To this end, ASUU-EKSU Congress distances itself from the (unfortunate and unwarranted) request of the universitys administration and any other adjoining publication to that effect by encouraging all our members to remain resolute in the quest for the survival of university education in Nigeria. The ongoing strike is total and comprehensive. The strike coordinating committee is hereby re-energised and empowered to report any act of compromise by any of our members in due course. At a ceremony earlier in the day, the schools management gave an indication that EKSU had broken away from the nationwide strike called by the national union since February this year. This is the second time the EKSU management was moving to reopen the school amidst the strike but had met with resistance from the local branch of the union. Several meetings to resolve the issues between the union and the federal government had failed to yield results, even as the nation gears up for the 2023 elections. Meanwhile, at the matriculation ceremony held at the school campus, the Vice Chancellor, Edward Olanipekun, rejoiced with the fresh students for making the right choice by coming to EKSU. He stated that EKSU, in the recently released ranking of universities, was ranked as the second-best State University, 14th overall best in Nigeria and the 18th best in terms of employability of Nigerian University graduates. The vice chancellor encouraged them to be proud of the opportunity to be students in an institution that now occupies such an enviable position in the comity of Nigerian Universities. Mr Olanipekun charged the new students to follow the laid down guidelines for the payment of approved fees through the University portal. I also charge you to live up to the matriculation oath, which they had taken and asserted that EKSU, under his leadership, had zero tolerance to any form of anti-social behaviour, he said. Let me add that any breach of the rules and regulations of the university would attract appropriate sanctions. The women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, has said those mocking the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, will be shocked by what he will achieve for Nigeria if he emerges the countrys president in 2023. Mrs Okoya-Thomas, a former member of the House of Representatives, spoke on Arise TVs The Morning Show on Wednesday. She said Mr Tinubu has been tagged Old and rickety by his critics and political opponents, but maintained that the former governor of Lagos State would make Nigeria a stronger nation, with stronger currency. The APC chieftain said US President, Joe Biden, was given similar tags by his critics but he was able to make his country and its currency stronger. Just like in the US. They put a man on that seat (Joe) Biden. They called him old, rickety, and all the rest. You know what, theres something in his brain. That thing in his brain is what is giving them stronger currency and a stronger nation. And that is what Asiwaju (Tinubu) will give us in Nigeria, Mrs Okoya-Thomas said. On Tinubus UK trip The women leader defended Mr Tinubus controversial UK trip saying she would jet out of the country to receive medical treatment whenever she feels sick. Even my own self, when Im not well. I will quickly run out to take a rest, she said, apparently implying that Mr Tinubu left the country for medical treatment. READ ALSO: Reuben Abati, one of the programme anchors, quickly asked if she was confirming speculations that Mr Tinubu was sick, the women leader replied, I am not saying hes not well. I said, my little self here, when I need to rest, I quickly go out. We all go out to rest. Mr Tinubus health has been a subject of debate, particularly on social media lately, while he was away on a trip to the UK. Reports later surfaced online alleging that the APC candidate was seriously ill and mulling withdrawal from the presidential race. Mr Tinubu was quick to respond by releasing a video of him working out, apparently to douse the speculations over his health. The APC candidate returned to Nigeria on Thursday. Asked when the APC candidate would return to Nigeria, Mrs Okoya-Thomas responded, Im a women leader. He (Tinubu) will show up very soon, within the next 48 hours. I know Asiwaju. He has never spent more than two weeks outside. Go and Google it. Peter Obi supporters carrying out campaign of calumny The former federal lawmaker accused supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of embarking on a campaign of calumny against political opponents. One thing I like about Atiku (Abubakar) is that he does not embark on this campaign of calumny like Obidients, she said. The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has inaugurated committees that would position the institution at the top of research and development in the country. The universitys Central Office of Research (COR) unveiled six committees at a ceremony chaired by Adebayo Bamire, the vice-chancellor, and attended by the schools principal officers, some university council members, members of staff (administrative/academic), and students on 27 September. Akanni Akinyemi, the Executive Director of the Universitys Central Office of Research, noted that the event was a result of the vice-chancellors desire to solve local challenges through problem-solving and cutting edge research. He stated that the aim of the university is to promote the currency of Research for Development. He mentioned that the committees being inaugurated are to drive the Research for Development frontier for the university. O.O Akinlo, the Chairperson of the Universitys TETFund office, praised the vice-chancellor and the COR for the initiative to inaugurate Committees that will drive research and development for the university. She noted that the initiative is a much-needed new approach for the university to reclaim and retain its relevance in the educational sector in Nigeria and globally. READ ALSO: Mrs Akinlo stressed that it is important for all staff and students to work together if the university will make both local and global impacts through research that leads to tangible development. Mr Bamire, the vice-chancellor, noted that his strategy is to drive an all-inclusive working system among all the members of the university estate. The university system can only grow through the selfless efforts of men and women of like minds, shared drive, and passion for institutional development, he said The vice-chancellor encouraged members of the university community to make suggestions on how best to drive the university forward through the COR. The six committees that were inaugurated were the Editorial Board for OAU Research Bulletin led by Morenike Ukpong; University Academic Research Seminar/Workshop Committee led by Charles Ukeje; and University Template Harmonization Committee led by E.T. Ijisakin. The rest were the University Committee on Capacity Building for Early Career Researchers led by Joshua Aransiola; Internship and Students Engagement Committee led by Temitope Ajayi; and and Committee on Harnessing Indigenous Resources to Address Infrastructural Challenges in the University led by A. O. Shittu. The committees included representatives from academic and non-academic staff as well as students. They will build on the achievements of the previous administrations of the COR Directorate, and leverage on existing resources within the university to drive the new plan of improving the Universitys Research for Development Agenda. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, destroyed 3.851 acres of cannabis sativa farmland located at Oluwo village, Ido local government area of the state in the third quarter of 2022. Mutiat Okuwobi, the NDLEA spokesperson in the state, said in the agencys quarterly report that they arrested 72 suspects for various drug related offences within the period. The arrested suspects comprise 52 males and 20 females within the age range of 17 and 60 years. Ms Okuwobi said the suspects were caught allegedly dealing in Cannabis sativa, Cocaine, Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol, Colorado and Codeine. According to her, the suspects were also dealing on amphetamine, skoochies and cake mixed with cannabis within July and September She added that the command under the leadership of the Commander of Narcotics, Abdullah Saeed, seized a total of 502.076kg of cannabis sativa, other narcotic and psychotropic substances during the period under review. Ms Okuwobi said the command recovered non-drug exhibits which included one locally fabricated pistol with one cartridge and four rounds of 9mm live ammunition during the period. Equally, within the same period 17 suspects were charged to court and 13 were convicted for various drug offences with jail terms ranging from six months to four years imprisonment. The command also gave brief intervention in terms of counselling to 38 People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) made up of 30 males and 8 females. READ ALSO: Presently, we have six clients undergoing residential rehabilitation. They will be reintegrated into the society after successful completion of their rehabilitation, Ms Okuwobi said. She said the commands sensitisation programmes had been extended to over 206 schools, some private organisations and they also held some weekly radio and television programmes during this period. We urge schools and other organisations to give our officers some platform through which the enlightenment of their students and workers within the state can be done. The State Commander, Abdullahi Saeed, has advised the public to complement the efforts of NDLEA as it cannot afford to sit by and pretend that all is well when our youths are being hooked to drugs and their future being destroyed. It is our collective responsibility to make our land free of drugs. Join us in making Oyo State drug-free, she said. (NAN) The non-academic unions in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the institutions management for the payment of their salaries. The unions include the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). They met on Thursday and resolved that the management should expedite action on the payment of, at least, one month salary for the several months owed them to help cushion the hardship they are going through. Although members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are currently on strike, the non-academic unions are not. The universities have maintained the no-work-no -pay rule for ASUU members, but EKSU has also not been able to pay other categories of workers who are not on strike. Recently pensioners of the university cried out that they were not on strike, but on retirement, wondering why the management would withhold their pensions because of the ASUU strike. Explanations from the university had been that salaries of workers and pensioners were processed together and since there was a hold on payment of ASUU, it was having effect on the payments of the pensioners. However, the non academic unions said they discussed extensively on the non-payment of salaries to members of the unions despite their regularity at work and dedication to duties. ALSO READ: Ekiti University ASUU turns down request to resume as school matriculates new students In a communique signed by T.A. Aguda (SSANU Chairman); O.M. Adeosun (NAAT Chairman) and S. K. Olajutemu, (NASU Chairman) issued at the end of the meeting and which was obtained by our correspondent, the unions observed that their members could no longer bear the untold hardship caused by the non-payment of salaries. Sequel to the above, the Joint Action Committee enjoined the management for the interest of the system, to put all machinery in place to alleviate the avoidable pains being experienced by members of the three unions by the payment of, at least, a month (gross) salary from previous salaries owed members of the unions before the close of work on Friday, 7th October 2022, the communique partly read. This is for the information and immediate action of the Vice Chancellor as we may not, henceforth, be able to guarantee continuous industrial harmony in the university. It was gathered that EKSU owes its employees about N11 billion in arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, tax deductions, unremitted deductions for cooperatives and annual salary increments. The management had urged ASUU-EKSU branch to break off from the ongoing strike and resume work in the face its financial peculiarities, but the union had refused, saying such would not positively affect the fortunes of the university. Meanwhile, EKSUs Head of Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun, said the matter was a family affair that will be resolved. All I can say is that there is no cause for alarm, he added. A civic group focused on public accountability has released the statement below announcing the presentation of the results of a contest. This has been a most enlightening and exciting competition, in which over 50 entries were received as interesting policy proposals, and 15 remarkable ones qualified for the grand finale, during which those selected will make pitches on what they will do to stamp out corruption if they find themselves in positions of public responsibility and power, the Akin Fadeyi Foundation said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Read the full statement below. Following the competition on gender inclusive leadership, What Can Women Do, which it launched on 19th July 2022, Nigerias foremost public accountability platform, the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), is set on presenting the results of this contest in a grand finale on 11th October 2022. This has been a most enlightening and exciting competition, in which over 50 entries were received as interesting policy proposals, and 15 remarkable ones qualified for the grand finale, during which those selected will make pitches on what they will do to stamp out corruption if they find themselves in positions of public responsibility and power. The What Women Can Do project, as championed by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, offers a platform for the voices and perspectives of women to come through in a unique dimension to social re-engineering and accountability. This aligns with the GESI approach of the MacArthur Foundation which is the sponsor of this AFF programme in its BET-ON Nigeria project against corruption across various sectors in the country. Among those expected to participate at this online event as critical stakeholders, besides a host of civil society and social actors include the On-Nigeria Director for the MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima; the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen; President, US-Nigeria Trade Council, Titus Olowokere and Ifeoma Malo, Nigerian lawyer working in the International Development space on clean energy technologies and climate Change. Others include Ramatu Umar-Bako, an Equality and Inclusion Champion and Capacity Building Adviser; Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough; Richard Akinnola, Executive Director, Media Law Centre. According to the Head of Programmes, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Oluwatomi Okeowo, The struggle for gender equality and gender inclusive governance has become one of the great issues of our time. Evidence of how poorly run society and its institutions have been in many parts of the world and certainly in Nigeria abound, no doubt as essential to a patriarchal ethos in the past several decades. Hence, enabling a platform for female voices and perspectives on governance and public policy to come through is not only about promoting the representation of vital demography on social issues and processes but a matter of human survival. Society is no doubt overdue for reform, and a gender-inclusive leadership outlook is vital to this, Okeowo added. If the social ethos that has prevailed for so long has led to massive challenges including global and national fiscal crises, climate change, wars and the threats of war, coupled with huge accountability deficits, it is surely time for a paradigm change and re-engineering. Social re-engineering is crucial to the mandate and mission of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, which is a communications for change centre engaged in fostering citizens action against corruption, alongside questions of human rights and societal injustice. AFF discharges its remit through an approach that emphasises institutional collaboration and the attainment of behavioural change. What Women Can Do as a flank of AFFs programming seeks to highlight the potential of women as very significant social actors in Nigeria, and this involves a focus on their capabilities for the design and articulation of public policy. The event on the 11th of October will take on their pitches on what they will do when in power towards social reformation on the levels of agriculture, education, healthcare, power generation, science and innovation, etc. It will showcase their competencies and capacities as change agents. Signed: Oluwatomi Okeowo Head of Programmes Akin Fadeyi Founda A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has nullified the election of the All Progressives Congress candidates for Yewa South/Ipokia federal constituency and Remo North constituency in the state. Abiodun Akinlade and Biyi Adeleye are the candidates for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal constituency and Remo North state constituency respectively. Mr Akinlade had occupied the position for 12 years, between 2003 2015. He was later appointed commissioner of the Federal Character Commission. Ahead of the 2023 elections, Mr Akinlade obtained a nomination form to contest for the Ogun West senatorial ticket of the APC. But PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the party leadership in Ogun State prevailed on him to settle for the House of Representatives ticket, asking him to step down for the Lagos West Senator, Olamilekan Adeola. But Mr Akinlade did not buy the House of Representatives form, apparently assuming that the party would sort that out. But displeased by the development, a contestant, Michael Adeleke, who procured the House of Representatives form from the party, dragged the APC, Mr Akinlade, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court. Similarly, Mr Adeleye who until the primaries was a special adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, on political affairs, had earlier shown interest in contesting the House of Representatives ticket before he later dropped the ambition. But on the primary election day, the governors aide was declared winner having taken part in the primary. In her judgment on Thursday, Justice Oluwatoyin Oguntoyinbo, declared the nomination of Mr Akinlade as irregular, null and void. The judge held that Mr Akinlade never paid for an expression of interest form, nor was he screened by the APC within the time prescribed by the party in respect of the National Assembly primary election. Therefore, the judge ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary election within 40 days to select and nominate another candidate for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency ahead of the 2023 polls. The court also ordered that Mr Akinlade must not partake in the new primary election. In a separate judgement, the same judge also ruled against Mr Adeleye adding that the plaintiff, Solomon Osho, was winner of the election having procured and filled the nomination and expression of interest form. Speaking to journalists shortly after the judgment, the plaintiff counsel, Ajibola Kaka described the judgment as victory for democracy. He said, Its a case between Solomon Osho and Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye the court has delivered the judgement in favour of our client which is Hon. Solomon Osho. The court has asked INEC to recognize him as the candidate of APC that the defendant did not obtain form for the primary and he was not screened among the Aspirants and as a result Hon. Adebiyi was disqualified. On his part, Mr Osho expressed gladness, saying this victory can only be achieved by God himself. The police in Lagos have summoned six officers to its headquarters in Ikeja over an alleged extortion of N100,000 from a man. The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday. Six policemen are involved in the matter. They have been summoned to the headquarters in Ikeja for interrogation. The money involved has been collected back for the owner, he said. NAN reports that on Thursday, a member of the public, simply identified as Oluwagbadura, on his verified Twitter handle, alleged that some police officers extorted him. He claimed that that around 2:45 p.m., some police officers stopped him at Soliki, Aguda, Lagos and conducted the usual search on him. Oluwagbadura alleged that at about 3:44 p.m., the officers escorted him to a POS and withdrew N100,000 of his hard earned money. After the search and not finding anything on me, they proceeded to seize my phone and company laptop and tagged me a yahoo boy. My crime, they said, is that I do not have an ID card as a freelancer. They searched my phone. They called me a criminal for chatting with my friends on WhatsApp. They threatened to shoot and lock me up! Next, they took me to their station, just few meters away, then forced me to admit to being a criminal, he said. Oluwagbadura further said that he refused to admit committing any crime, stressing that the officers then asked him to write a statement and thereafter, signed papers to bail himself. I transferred N100,000 to the POS vendor, and then paid N2,000 for charges (which was screenshot.). He said that there were six officers and one of them threatened to deal with him in cell and nothing would happen. According to him, some of them were in mufti, including the one who acted as their lead. All of these things happened at the Police divisional headquarters, Soliki Aguda. I need Justice and my money back, please, he tweeted. NAN observed that the complaint was tweeted at about 7.46 p.m., and it garnered a lot of reactions. At 10.36 p.m., Oluwagbadura tweeted again to thank all that helped to broadcast his complaints. Update: First, thanks to everyone who contributed a tweet. I got my money back completely. Special thanks to @SavvyRinu, @BenHundeyin (the spokesman for police in Lagos), @segalink and the DPO, who was pretty nice, he said. (NAN) Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday faulted the processes involved in repatriating stolen assets to Africa. the hold-up in repatriating stolen assets held in the west will make it difficult to finance new projects that help to alleviate poverty, he said. Mr Buhari noted that although Nigeria has been one of the most successful in securing the return of stolen assets and artefacts, it is only a fraction of what remains in the west. Nigeria has secured the return of over 1,000 stolen artefacts including the Benin bronzes and the cockerel, amongst other returns. Nigeria has also secured the return of billions of dollars stolen by its former rulers, particularly the late Sani Abacha. Governments of countries from where these returns are secured have always expressed concern that returned assets could be re-looted by officials. Accusing them of complicity, Mr Buhari said, we should not forget that it was through western jurisdictions that the money was laundered in the first place. READ ALSO: He added that given the levels of corruption across Africa, there will be concerns as to whether funds returned will be used appropriately, however, not trusting Africans to spend their own money properly echoes the argument that we cannot be trusted to look after our own cultural heritage. According to Mr Buhari, while western museums and authorities largely agree that the loot should, in principle, be handed back to the countries where they were taken from, the technicalities of repatriation leave plenty of room for maintaining the status quo. Museums say that treasures should be returned if it can be proved that they were looted. Of course, they argue, it is a different matter if artefacts were acquired through purchases and other legitimate means. But it is the same museums that are responsible for assessing the provenance of artefacts. They have a vested interest in keeping them, encouraging a lackadaisical approach and murky criteria, he said. It is in light of this that Nigeria, earlier in the year, was forced to take legal action against the UK National Crime Agency, after repeated delays in returning funds taken out of the country in the 1990s by former dictator Sani Abacha. The court case reveals the scale of challenge before us. Abacha is thought to have siphoned off up to $5 billion to the west. This case concerned just 150 million, he added. Nigeria has received over $300 million of funds looted by Mr Abacha and hidden in western countries. By 2025, the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City, Edo State, will open for showcase. The Nigerian leader argues that Nigeria may struggle to fill up the museum if more artefacts are not returned. With stolen assets, the precise means by which institutions return such funds, whether they deliver them to the state, a government, an ad hoc fund or some other body, elicit endless discussion rather than action. We know corruption persists across Africa, as it does across the world. But we cannot afford to wait for unspecified progress to be achieved before this money is released, Mr Buhari said. Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. The Government of Ethiopia has announced the suspension of visas on arrival for non-resident foreigners at all points of entry into the country, over security concerns and the current political situation in the country. The new temporary visa restriction measure came into effect on 29th September 2022. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday made the announcement while advising Nigerians bearing standard passports intending to travel to Ethiopia to obtain appropriate entry visas at the Ethiopian Embassy or an electronic visa (e-visa) through the countrys Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) portal at www.evisa.gov.et. The suspension applies to nationals of all countries bearing Standard Passports, who seek entry into Ethiopia and not specifically targeted at Nigerians, as reported in some quarters, the ministry clarified. According to the ministry, the Ethiopian authorities have explained that the measure is aimed at better border control of the movement of persons into Ethiopia in view of the ongoing armed conflict in the Northern part of the country. The measure is said to be temporary, pending improvement in the security situation in the country and not a replacement of Ethiopias open visa policy. Additionally, those transiting through Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to other destinations or intend to briefly stop over would require a valid entry visa to enable them access hotel facilities in the city or else would be obligated to remain in the airport pending their connecting flight. The ministry also advised Nigerians against tarnishing the image of the country by engaging in actions that violate visa rules in Ethiopia. READ ALSO: the Nigerian Government has noted the concern expressed by the Ethiopian authorities over the abuse of the countrys visa policy by some Nigerians who enter the country on tourist visas and remain even after the expiration of their visas, engaging in unwholesome activities. It encouraged guilty persons to turn a new leaf and take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Ethiopian National Security Agencies to participate in the ongoing registration of undocumented migrants to avoid unpleasant situations. Crisis in Ethiopia For two years, the government of Ethiopia and forces in its northern Tigray region have been at loggerheads, throwing the country into political and economic instability Eritrean soldiers are also fighting in Tigray for the Ethiopian government. All sides have been accused of atrocities. Several factors are said to be contributing to the seemingly unending crisis. According to the UN Refugees agency (UNHCR), Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, home to over 924,000 refugees and asylum seekersmainly from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. The ongoing conflict killed thousands and internally displaced millions of Ethiopians. An estimated 59,000 people fled Ethiopia to find refuge in eastern Sudan. Millions of Ethiopians are still in desperate need of humanitarian aid and protection. An estimated 9 million people across Ethiopias conflict-stricken regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara lack access to adequate food. In Tigray, nearly 40 per cent of the population is suffering from an extreme lack of food. In addition to severe food insecurity, gender-based violence has increased significantly but women and children lack access to proper healthcare, social welfare and justice services, the UN has said. As the conflict continues in the Tigray region, international NGOs and aid groups face difficulties in delivering critical humanitarian aid and vital services. A shortage of fuel, supplies and cash has forced several aid groups to reduce or cancel distributions of food, water and medicine. However, there are new hopes that the crisis may soon come to an end as both sides have agreed to an African Union-mediated dialogue in South Africa this weekend, Voice of Africa reported. The talks would come after a series of airstrikes in Tigray, including one on Tuesday that killed more than 50 people when it hit a school sheltering war-displaced people, aid workers said. According to the AU Commission, the talks will be led by AU special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, who will be supported by former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Tigray authorities, according to VOA, have criticised Mr Obasanjos role as a mediator, on grounds of a perceived close relationship with the Ethiopian prime minister. They have insisted that international officials participate in cease-fire discussions as observers and guarantors. Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. The police in Kano re-arrested a suspected Kuje prison escapee at Rangaza community in Ungogo Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, in a statement, identified the suspect as Abubakar Muhammad-Sadiq, 25, a resident of Badarawa quarters in Kaduna North Local Government Area. PREMIUM TIMES reported how terrorists in July used explosives to breach the correctional facility in Kuje in Abuja, leading to the escape of over 800 of the 994 inmates. Several of the escapees were reportedly re-arrested. Also, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and four inmates were killed during the attack. Mr Kiyawa said the escapee was re-arrested following a directive from the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman, and the police commissioner in Kano, Abubakar Lawal, to the police to rejig its intelligence gathering strategy and community policing engagements. The police said the escapee, who was arrested on 23 September, has been handed over to the Nigeria Correctional Service in Kano. The Commissioner of Police appreciates the good people of Kano State for their continuous support, encouragement and cooperation. He urged residents to continue to pray for the state, and the Nation and report incidents to the nearest police station and not take laws into their hands. READ ALSO: Raids of criminal hideouts and black spots will continue throughout the state as the command will sustain the tempo in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in Kano State. In case of emergencies, the command can be contacted via; 08032419754, 08123821575. or through the NPF Rescue Me Application available on the Play Store, the spokesperson said. Taking drastic and desperate measures against crude oil thieves across the country is one way to reduce the nations deficit, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said. He said oil thieves are Nigerias worst enemies who have declared war on the country and the government and stopping the theft will drastically reduce the nations deficit. He made these comments during his opening remarks at the 2023 budget presentation on Friday. The 2023 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, proposes N20.5 trillion as total expenditure for the year. Already, fiscal operations of the federal government are expected to result in a deficit of N10.7 trillion. This represents 4.78% of estimated GDP, above the 3% threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Debt Service for the coming year is also put at N6.31 trillion. The federal government plans to finance the deficit mainly by new borrowings totalling N8.8 trillion, N206.1 billion from privatisation proceeds and N1.7 trillion drawdowns on bilateral/multilateral loans secured for specific development projects/programmes. The Senate Presidents comment comes barely two days after the NNPCLs Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, disclosed that the company and security agencies have discovered and deactivated 395 illegal refineries in the last six weeks. READ ALSO: Mr Kyari said 274 reservoirs have been destroyed, 1,561 metal tanks destroyed, 49 trucks seized and a 4-kilometers illegal oil connection line from Forcados Terminal into the sea which had been in operation undetected for nine years detected. Mr Lawan said the large-scale and massive stealing of Nigerias oil is concerning, as it reduces the revenues available to the government. I strongly feel that if we do not take the necessary measures to stop the thieves immediately, our economy will be devastated, as efforts to provide infrastructure and diversification of the economy would both be thwarted, he said. It is time to take drastic and desperate measures against the thieves. Your Excellency, we can reduce the deficit by stopping the theft. We can also consider other options to source more revenues for the government.. Revenue cost collection To also reduce the deficit, Mr Lawan said it is imperative to review the waivers and concessions the government gives. He also asked the government to consider taking off some of the major revenue generating agencies from direct funding by placing them on cost of collection of revenues, as it did for Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service. In this regard, agencies like Nigeria Ports Authority, (NPA), Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), etc can be given an encouraging cost of collections of revenues. The National Assembly Committees on Finance and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning were asked to jointly look into the matter immediately. Some key parameters in the 2023 budget proposal included oil price benchmark of $70 per barrel; daily oil production of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of Condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day); and exchange rate of N435.57/day. The Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), has advised road users passing through flooded roads in Kogi State to take alternative routes. Some parts of the state are facing record flooding. Vehicles, houses and farmlands have been submerged. In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the flooding has led to disruptions of free flow traffic on the Lokoja Abuja Expressway for the last three days. The corps advised travellers going to the South-west region of the country to divert and follow the Sule Bida Mokwa road. READ ALSO: Motorists travelling to the South-west region of the country through Lokoja are kindly advised to take the Suleja-Bida-Mokwa road, while those travelling to the South-south/South-east regions through the same town are also advised to go through Nasarawa-Oweto Bridge-Adoka-Otupka axis. This is due to the fact that the water level may take another two or more days to subside, Mr Kazeem said. On 17 September, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, said more than 200 communities in 10 local governments were submerged. Mr Bello, who spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting, said he briefed the president on the situation and the happenings in the state. He commended the federal government for its interventions but expressed regret that the magnitude of the disaster required the government to supply more relief materials for the victims. As usual I came to brief Mr President on the situation reports and the happenings in my state periodically. I am sure you are all aware of the flood problem that is happening all over the country and Kogi is worst hit being the confluence state, confluence of the two rivers, he said. President Muhammadu Buhari has asked lawmakers to stop approving budgets for Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) without his knowledge or approval. He gave the warning on Friday when he appeared before a joint session of the National Assembly to present the 2023 budget proposal. The president asked lawmakers to make sure budgets for GOEs in the 2023 budget be returned to the Executive after due approval by the legislatures relevant committees. I would like to implore the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the budget I lay here today, which includes those of the GOEs, be returned to the Presidency when passed, he said. The current practice where some committees of the National Assembly purport to pass budgets for GOEs, which are at variance with the budgets sanctioned by me, and communicate such directly to the MDAs is against the rules and needs to stop. The presidents warning is similar to directives he gave in 2018 when he said annual budgets of GOEs shall be presented to the Budget Office for review, further to which they will be submitted to the National Assembly by the president along with the national budget. GOEs shall no longer send their budgets directly to the National Assembly, he had warned. Consideration and passage of budgets of GOEs shall, going forward, be scheduled alongside the main budget of the federal government; and agencies with capacities to be self-funding shall be categorised and removed from the National Budget, the president said at the time. The latest warning is one of the few times the president would query lawmakers regarding budgeting. Before he signed the 2022 Appropriation bill, he queried the National Assembly for reducing the provisions made for about 10,733 projects and introducing about 6,576 new projects in the budget. He complained about how the new projects inserted into the budget summed up to about N36.59 billion. Total expenditure for the 2023 budget is put at N20.5 trillion. This includes N8.27 trillion for (non-debt) recurrent costs, N5.35 trillion for capital expenditure and N1.1 trillion for overhead costs. About N744.11 billion was earmarked for statutory transfers. The president said to address structural problems in the economy and drive growth, capital releases thus far have been prioritised in favour of critical ongoing projects in the power, roads, rail, agriculture, as well as health and education sectors. Suspected armed robbers threw fear into the inhabitants of the Onibueja community in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State after they wrote to the people informing them about their planned visit to their homes. The robbers informed the inhabitants of their intention through notices pasted on the walls in some strategic places within the community. The notices, written in Yoruba language, informed residents of the community to expect visitation to their homes before the end of October. This is to inform you of our planned visitation to your community and to expect our arrival. We are armed robbers, keep our money. We are aware that you have a strong person that can arrest thieves, tell the person to expect our arrival. 05/10/2022. We will rob your homes before the end of this month. Be expecting our visitation before the end of October, the notice reads. Be prepared for our visitation before the end of the month. 05/10/2022. We will visit you before the end of this month. We have identified the strongest person in this community. We are armed robbers, we are coming, expect our visitation, the notice added. A resident of the area, who requested not to be named, said there is panic in the community. The resident said some of them have started moving out of their homes. The letter is true. We are all afraid because nobody knows whether they are serious or not. Some people have started leaving for another place. Najeemdeen Alabi, the community leader, confirmed they saw the notice. It is true the message was sent by some people and we are yet to identify them. We have reported the matter to the police and we are taking necessary steps, Mr Alabi said. He called on security agencies in the state to deploy officers to their community to secure their lives and properties. Yemisi Opalola, police spokesperson in the state, did not respond to calls and messages sent to her phone. Last year, suspected robbers wrote to a community in Ogun State informing them of their planned invasion. There is enough blame to go around but this is not the time to address responsibilities. The time for a temporary resolution has arrived and we need to define the pathway. ASUU is ready to end the strike and reassess the situation but needs a small win to calm angry members. The minister of education is overwhelmed by the depth of the crisis and has abdicated his responsibility. The minister of labour has discovered he is a warrior with responsibility to destroy ASUU forever, but he can only fail. The ASUU strike is now on its 236th day. That is seven months and 24 days. Yet another full academic session has been lost to strike by academics in public universities in Nigeria. The most important victims are over two million students in public universities who have been denied access to their places of learning. University lecturers are also angry, unpaid and hungry. They are above all clueless as to why the strike tactics they have used for forty-five years is still not working. The mediators traditional and religious rulers, legislators, university council chairs are talking to both sides and confronting the same reality of a stubborn attitude of victory to us or death to the institution. The ministers in charge of education and labour are excited at the way the strike has given them the opportunity to wrestle each other into oblivion and are succeeding in their hearts desire. Meanwhile, the president of the country has finally discovered the problem the academy is corrupt. He forgot that he had been telling Nigerians for decades that all institutions are corrupt. How sad. There is enough blame to go around but this is not the time to address responsibilities. The time for a temporary resolution has arrived and we need to define the pathway. ASUU is ready to end the strike and reassess the situation but needs a small win to calm angry members. The minister of education is overwhelmed by the depth of the crisis and has abdicated his responsibility. The minister of labour has discovered he is a warrior with responsibility to destroy ASUU forever, but he can only fail. President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the decision that his government is no longer ready to cave in to ASUU demands; it has no capacity, desire or will to satisfy these demands and wants a reality check. ASUU should accept this, study what the tea leaves are telling us about the current conjuncture of the insolvency of the Nigerian state and review its tactics. Government should therefore take decisions of what its realistic new policy direction for tertiary education is but again the problem of conjuncture emerges; the president is enroute to Daura for retirement and only the next government can begin to address the problem. The minister of labour must be restrained in his crazy belief that he can kill ASUU by registering new unions that would compromise the struggle of academics. Intelligence agencies should send him a brief explaining that throughout its history, ASUU has consulted its base consistently and broadly represents their interests. In addition, as I have said many times in this column, ASUU demands are legitimate and should be addressed if Nigeria wants to give itself the quality education it deserves and needs. It is futile to think ASUU can be marginalised in the university. Deregistering it would be insane as that would mean there would be no voice for the system. The consequence of a forced reopening of the university is that academics would refuse to resume teaching or at best be so half-hearted in their resumption that there would be an even more drastic decline in quality. Students would get agitated and join the fray at a delicate time of election campaigns, general insecurity and political tension in the country. The consequences can be grave for the country. The minister of education should reclaim his mandate, calm down, take the insults on the chin and fight for a compromise. He has said many times in the past that ASUU is the conscience of the nation; if he believes this, he should act on his belief and work on getting the president to understand that trying to kill ASUU is futile and the pathway to destruction. Minister Adamu Adamu, you are brave, you can do it, ACT! The consequence of a forced reopening of the university is that academics would refuse to resume teaching or at best be so half-hearted in their resumption that there would be an even more drastic decline in quality. Students would get agitated and join the fray at a delicate time of election campaigns, general insecurity and political tension in the country. The consequences can be grave for the country. The government must step back from its new-found warrior posture. The way forward. Government should make an improved offer to academics who are grossly underpaid and overworked. ASUU should accept the offer as an interim measure, while they review their position and strategy in preparation for the new government that will emerge next year. We need to open a broad policy debate on education as a public good that the state has an obligation to provide to citizens in an equitable manner. Accordingly, Article 18 of the Constitution: (1) Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels. (2) Government shall promote science and technology (3) Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as and when practicable provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education; (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme. Currently, over 15 million Nigerians of school going age have no access to primary education. Millions of others who are from poor families have no access to quality education and the result is that we are today in a class warfare as the precariat procure weapons and engage in violence, insurgency, mass kidnapping and separatist warfare against the Nigerian state and people. ASUU is not the problem. Government has not been doing these. The consequence is that citizens have taken their children out of public primary and secondary education and are paying for varying qualities of private education. The university is now confronting that choice. How can the poor who cannot afford current costs in private universities ensure their children get degrees? We are at the stage where all presidential candidates currently on campaign should set up task forces to develop their policy frameworks for addressing the crisis of education in Nigeria. In so doing, they should review the revered Article 18 of the Constitution on the right of all citizens to have free access to quality education. It is desirable but what is feasible today? What is a realistic projection of access and funding for tertiary education, given the reality of what has already happened to primary and secondary education? The principle of universal access to quality education at all levels is the recipe for a progressive Nigeria. Currently, over 15 million Nigerians of school going age have no access to primary education. Millions of others who are from poor families have no access to quality education and the result is that we are today in a class warfare as the precariat procure weapons and engage in violence, insurgency, mass kidnapping and separatist warfare against the Nigerian state and people. ASUU is not the problem. We have a collective guilt of refusal to provide for the children of the masses and they are now coming after us. End the strike, broaden the debate and think of inclusive solutions. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. The rate of military interventions in politics and the boldness of the military to strike for the second time in eight months since January, shows how little they fear the AU. The declining fearsomeness of Nigeria within the ECOWAS has limited its deterrence capability in West Africa. Thus, the region may experience more military coups if the AU and international community are not more rigid in their opposition to the unlawful use of instruments of coercion by the military. As the African Union (AU) continues to celebrate its 20-year anniversary, the resurgence of coups detat in the Sahel has called to question its seriousness in combating unconstitutional changes of government. On 30 September, another reverberating news of a coup detat filtered through from Burkina Faso to the uttermost parts of the world. Sporadic shots were heard at the heart of the countrys three million people populated capital city, Ouagadougou. The news of a coup is gradually becoming a familiar narrative in the Sahel. In Burkina Faso alone, the military has struck nine times since its independence in 1960. Prior to the announcement of this military takeover by a section of the military, things had fallen apart within the military leadership, and the sacking of the Interim President, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba did not really come as a rude shock. Damiba had ascended power in a coup detat on 31 January this year, ousting the civilian administration of President Roch Kabore. Captain Ibrahim Traore has now taken over as interim leader of the military insurgent group until a new leadership arrangement will be negotiated. The inability to combat terrorism and restore order to the country was given as the reason for the military putsch. Ironically, Damiba had given the same reason for the sacking of Ibrahim Traore earlier this year. Stakeholders in Africas governance, peace and security need to be very worried about the character and erratic nature of the Burkinabe military. As usual, the international community, including the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union (AU), has condemned the military takeover. While a military coup remains an aberration and condemnable, it is also an aberration for a state to control only 60% of its territory, losing the other 40% to armed groups. Since the 2015 outbreak of terrorism in the country, ten of thousands of people have lost their lives, and millions have been internally displaced. Just in August, an Islamist fundamentalist group killed four soldiers and nine civilian army volunteers at an ambush in northern Burkina Faso, while the army also claimed to have killed 34 militants during the attack. Both the states security and the insurgent groups have killed innocent civilians during several gun battles. Burkina Faso has become the most insecure country in the Sahel. The depth of terror has increased at an alarming rate since 2020, with the use of IEDs and small-arms, and light weapons. Across the country, the targets of the attacks have changed from state security to volunteer defense forces and the civilian population. In the first week of April 2019, more than 60 people died during an attack by terrorists and an outbreak of intercommunal violence in Arbinda, northern Burkina Faso. Just in August, an Islamist fundamentalist group killed four soldiers and nine civilian army volunteers at an ambush in northern Burkina Faso, while the army also claimed to have killed 34 militants during the attack. Both the states security and the insurgent groups have killed innocent civilians during several gun battles. Burkina Faso has become the most insecure country in the Sahel. Apart from terrorism, the country also harbour crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, money laundering, and terrorism bankrolling. Based on reports by the US Department of State, terrorist organisations operating in the country fund their reign of terror through the trafficking of illicit goods in collaboration with existing organised criminal networks, including armed robbery, and kidnapping. They have also targeted the resource community during gold mining operations. Despite the exploration of resources in the country, more than 42% of the population is living in poverty. Ironically, Burkina Faso is the fourth largest producer of gold in Africa. Unregulated exploration has also come with its own threats. Indeed, the country remains at risk of different climate variations, which is evident in the loss of agricultural productivity and land degradation, including restricted access to water resources. To gain a deeper understanding of the root and immediate causes of military interventions in politics and attempt to proffer sustainable policy frameworks to deter coups in Africa, the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation, CODESRIA, and TrustAfricas forthcoming AU@20 symposium The AU has responded to the waves of coups with intensified efforts at repackaging its stance on military takeovers. One of such was the convening of the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa in May. The rate of military interventions in politics and the boldness of the military to strike for the second time in eight months since January, shows how little they fear the AU. The declining fearsomeness of Nigeria within the ECOWAS has limited its deterrence capability in West Africa. Thus, the region may experience more military coups if the AU and international community are not more rigid in their opposition to the unlawful use of instruments of coercion by the military. To gain a deeper understanding of the root and immediate causes of military interventions in politics and attempt to proffer sustainable policy frameworks to deter coups in Africa, the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation, CODESRIA, and TrustAfricas forthcoming AU@20 symposium between 2-4 November have become more important. A conversation like this is an essential corollary for the peace and security of Africa. Adeoye O. Akinola is a Head of Research and Teaching at the University of Johannesburgs Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation, South Africa. Pictures of Ms Amini widely circulating on social media two days following the arrest showed an unconscious young woman, lying on a hospital bed with tubes in her mouth and nose, blood oozing from her ear. Many Iranian physicians said through their Twitter handles that even though they had no access to her medical file, bleeding from the ear smacks of concussion injuries to the head, the type seen in those that suffered trauma. A few weeks ago, I met a young woman of Iranian descent who had come for an elective hospital subspecialty rotation in our department. As with Mahsa and others that came before her, this has become more or less, a right of passage for most medical residents, in fulfillment of their pre-graduation academic requirements. I have always struggled to pronounce Iranian names correctly. As a medical resident in New York a couple of years ago, Pedram, a Persian who was both a friend as well as a classmate, would have a good laugh each time I sounded out the name of his countrys president. Irans president at the time, happened to be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In Mahsas case, I was smart enough to quickly tie her name to another easier to remember name; Mansa (as in Mansa Musa of the famous Mali Empire) but without an n, as a way to commit it to memory. But for sure, Persian, known to its native Iranian speakers as Farsi and spoken in modern day Iran, parts of Afghanistan and central Asian republic of Tajikistan, is not for the faint-hearted. Mahsa is an American citizen born of Iranian parents who fled the country in the wake of the Islamic revolution of 1979. Following the fall of the US-backed autocrat and Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in February of that year, many ecstatic Iranians danced in the streets as Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the godfather of the revolution, returned from exile in Paris. An Islamic republic, a theocracy built on ideological choices inspired by the Grand Ayatollah, was born. New rules were put in place with strict adherence to the Islamic sharia laws. The whole idea was to forbid anything that might lead one astray and prevent one from making heaven. And that means total segregation of the sexes in public places; compulsory head scarves for women; bans on alcohol and musical instruments on television. Under such rules, women are forbidden from riding bicycles. Irans mandatory hijab law went into effect in 1981. These rules were brutally enforced by the morality police and the paramilitary Basij forces. As time went on, restrictions and trampling on individual rights got worse. It was under those circumstances that Mahsas father fled Iran and settled in a new country in North America the United States. The circumstances surrounding her death, like most things in the Islamic Republic, is shrouded in secrecy. In a statement issued by Irans security forces, they made a claim that Ms Amini went into a cardiac arrest while at the detention centre, receiving educational training on hijab rules, a claim that her family seriously disputed. His brother who had camped out at the centre waiting for her sister to be released stated that a witness told him how security forces had killed a young woman inside. In one of those moments after hospital rounds, I had asked Mahsa what her thoughts were about Iran, her ancestral homeland. She told me that she hadnt visited the country and had no intention of doing so whatsoever. On the issue of religion, she self-identifies as agnostic. She finds it distasteful the way the country is being run by the Mullahs who, according to her, show no regard for individual freedom and treat women more or less like a piece of property. Little did I know that her concern would play out in the fate of another Mahsa, just a few weeks after. If you have been following the news lately, you may have heard of Mahsa Amini, the 22 year-old beautiful Iranian lady whose death in the hands of the Islamic nations morality police is threatening the very foundation of one of the worlds most enduring theocracies. Last Tuesday, Mahsa, who also went by the name Jina, was visiting the nations capital of Tehran with her family from the city of Saqiz in the Kurdistan province. According to a source, as she exited the subway with her brother, she was arrested by the police and later detained for allegedly violating dress rules and thereby running afoul of Irans strict Hijab law. The circumstances surrounding her death, like most things in the Islamic Republic, is shrouded in secrecy. In a statement issued by Irans security forces, they made a claim that Ms Amini went into a cardiac arrest while at the detention centre, receiving educational training on hijab rules, a claim that her family seriously disputed. His brother who had camped out at the centre waiting for her sister to be released stated that a witness told him how security forces had killed a young woman inside. Next thing you know, an ambulance pulled up and took the young lady to the hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after. The regime tried hard to convince Iranians that a healthy 22-years old girl with no past medical history, suddenly suffered a heart attack and died. But no one is buying that. Pictures of Ms Amini widely circulating on social media two days following the arrest showed an unconscious young woman, lying on a hospital bed with tubes in her mouth and nose, blood oozing from her ear. Many Iranian physicians said through their Twitter handles that even though they had no access to her medical file, bleeding from the ear smacks of concussion injuries to the head, the type seen in those that suffered trauma. This was what sparked off a large-scale protest that is now threatening the old order with many chanting death to the dictator and death to Khamenei, referring to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There is just something fundamental about choice that appeals to humankind universally. Take that way and the rebellious nature of man will manifest fully in its unpleasantness. Adults (and even children to a certain extent) hate being told what to do. Even when they are likely to go one direction, they still find it comforting to know that other options exist in the unlikely event that they need to be considered. Many have not only condemned the apparent violence against Mahsa Amini but are demanding a total dismantling of the Iranian theocracy. The nationwide massive protest following her death is seen as a sign of defiance against the iron grip of one of the worlds most oppressive regimes. Her death is being likened to the case of Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian fruit and vegetable seller whose self-immolation became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against autocratic regimes. In protesting the death of Ms Amini, thousands of Iranian women poured into the streets with their Hijab yanked off in a one-of-a-kind defiance to the authorities. Its a known fact that most women in Iran grew up wearing Hijab and so this is the only way they know how to dress up. These women are likely to cover up even without prompting as a choice but hate the idea of an executive order being shoved down their throat, especially by those who feel no obligation to cover theirs. There is just something fundamental about choice that appeals to humankind universally. Take that way and the rebellious nature of man will manifest fully in its unpleasantness. Adults (and even children to a certain extent) hate being told what to do. Even when they are likely to go one direction, they still find it comforting to know that other options exist in the unlikely event that they need to be considered. Whether its the Hisbah police in Kano enforcing alcohol ban or the morality police in Iran mandating women to wear Hijab, for so many, its either Give me liberty or give me death. So was Tunisia. Here goes Iran. Where is next stop? Osmund Agbo, a public affairs analyst is the coordinator of African Center for Transparency and Convener of Save Nigeria Project. Email: Eagleosmund@yahoo.com I advocated that appointed and elected elites must be ready to walk the talk on federal character principles and similar affirmations in all they do, particularly in ensuring inclusiveness, diversity, and representativeness in appointing even their personal aides. I also called for a policy that incentivise those who have acted to promote social cohesion, and punishment for those who have promoted divisiveness. Earlier yesterday up till early evening, about two hundred Nigerians, listened raptly to Professor Kingsley Moghalu, lawyer, ex-Central Bank deputy governor, scholar, public intellectual and former presidential candidate in the 2019 Nigerian elections, as he delivered the keynote speech at the public presentation of the 2022 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey Report conducted by the Bell Ihua-managed Africa Polling Institute (API). The lead paper presentation was followed by a panel discussion that I took part in as head, Media Relations, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alongside Saudatu Mahdi, secretary general, Womens Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Aisha Yesufu, president, Citizens Hub; and Yemi Adamolekun, executive director, Enough is Enough (EiE). The session was moderated by Uju Nwachukwu, head of station, KISS FM, Abuja. The panel took a broad, informed, and patriotic look at the issue of social cohesion in Nigeria, not really bemoaning the Nigerian social reality as it has become characteristic of our ever lively, controversial national discourse, but essentially proffering solutions aptly in the context of the frightening findings of the API survey. Last year, the Vice President of the Republic, Oluyemi Osinbajo, a professor of law (SAN, GCON), was the keynote speaker at the annual API event. Nigerias mark in social cohesion was 44.2% in 2021, a 6% shortage for Nigeria to hit the average global threshold. This year (2022), the Nigeria Social Cohesion Index (NSCI) is 39.6%, a 4.6% decline from 2021, which was already a short fall from the 50% average. A socially cohesive society fights exclusion, creates a transparent sense of belonging, ensures social justice, is marked by a considerable sense of trust, and signposted by a reasonable degree of participation, alongside a sense of relationship, bonding, trust, worth and acceptance. Moghalu submitted with all the strength his chubby frame could muster, and the panel that discussed his paper and the findings of the 2022 Survey also agreed, including everyone in the auditorium of the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja, which was the venue of the event. Sadly, Nigeria falls short of the indices and organising principles of social cohesion. Dr Ifeanyi Onwuzuruigbo of the University of Ibadan, and Professor Hauwa Yusuf of Kaduna State University, who were intimately involved in the survey, said the study focused on 13 indicators and sub-indices, and is a product of world best practices in methodological design, whose reliability or internal consistency was tested with Cronbachs Alpha Value that equals 0.510, because values less than that are usually not acceptable. The 13 indicators computed using primary data from both quantitative and qualitative approaches are identity, trust, social justice, participation and patriotism, worth, future, gender equity (not equality), natural resources governance, impunity, corruption, peacebuilding, polarisation, and coping strategies. Findings revealed that 81% of Nigerians are comfortable with their dual individuality. While 36% are fine in being both Nigerian and members of ethnic groupings, 35% identify more with their ethnic groups, and only 10% feel more Nigerian than ethnic. 50% feel disappointed in Nigeria and 66% feel Nigeria is more divided today than it was in 2018. Major causes of conflict were political party affiliations, ethnic and tribal differences, religious differences, access to land, and differences in social status. On trust, religious leaders were rated more favourably (50%), then traditional leaders (43%). Trust for President Buharis government, National Assembly and the Judiciary have declined to 17%, 16% and 22% respectively. 61% of Nigerians said the Federal Government is not making enough effort to promote a sense of inclusion for all ethnic groups, only 12% assess government positively on social justice. A substantial 67% said the law does not apply equally to citizens. On participation and patriotism, 71% Nigerians are willing to cooperate with fellow citizens to make Nigeria more socially cohesive, whereas 42% expressed willingness to join the military to defend the Nigerian state. Herein lies a major promise to savour in the report and a great hope for remaking Nigeria. Natural resource governance is perceived very poorly, as 65% Nigerians feel government is mismanaging revenues from natural resources. Expectedly, a significant proportion (77%) of those who feel the natural resource governance policy is unfair and insufficient are based in the South-South region. 53% of Nigerians rated the Buhari administrations action on gender equity as poor, and 80% of Nigerians feel boys and girls should have equal access to education, and 71% believe boys and girls should be assessed based on their qualifications, competence and track records. On impunity, 96% of Nigerians consider human rights abuses and violations a problem in the country53% of citizens believe that impunity thrives in the current administration; 83% believe impunity amongst government officials is increasing; 63% believe that state agents such as the police and military are often perpetrators of human rights abuses. Study findings on corruption governance is devastating as 75% believe the level of corruption has increased in the past one year, 76% of citizens perceive governments effort at halting corruption as poor, and 87% are of the view that the path to justice is paved with corruption. A huge figure (67%) rate the government poorly on the level of peacebuilding and 58% believe peacebuilding can be achieved better through local efforts. Whereas government is rated as inactive in peacebuilding, however churches and mosques, as well as civil society organisations, are rated highly in helping citizens to cope with the challenges of poor social cohesiveness. Indeed, 53% of Nigerians said they do not rely on government for support with the challenges of poverty and insecurity in Nigeria. Nigerians are so polarised in the context of faith, ethnicity, and religion, and the survey states that Nigeria is more polarised in 2022 than it was under previous administrations. The causes of polarisation are ethnicity (62%), political affiliation (60%), and religion (57%). On self-worth, 63% of Nigerians say they feel extremely or somewhat dissatisfied about their lives as Nigerians, and top destinations for those with a tendency to emigrate are the United States (28%), United Kingdom (15%), Canada (14%), Saudi Arabia (9%), and Dubai (8%). Gratifyingly, 60% citizens believe that the future of the country would be better than it is presently but 27% are pessimistic, while 6% of the citizens do not see possibility of any change for a better society. The participants agreed with the keynote speaker that there must be some sort of restructuring of the polity, not to divide Nigeria but to make it better and flourish for the prosperity of all citizens. The reason, as Moghalu argued, is the evident failure of governance arising fundamentally from the departure from federalism, which is the foundation for Nigerias independence, as advocated by Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Moghalu reminded the audience that it was Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who was reluctant about embracing federalism but Bello and Awolowo and others had to convince Azikiwe to let the young nation adopt federalism. In his paper titled, Bridging the Faultlines In the Quest for Social Cohesion, Moghalu submitted persuasively, that there is the progressive absence of state capacity in terms of ability to defend the territorial integrity, effective collection and administration of taxes (which has worsened Nigerias fiscal crisis), and painfully, the Nigerian states lack of capacity to efficiently and effectively manage health, education, water and sanitation, as well as every index of social cohesion and development. Insisting that social cohesion is the real basis for development, Moghalu submitted to the unequivocal approval of participants that, to bridge the faultlines, Nigeria must prioritise competence in the management of her resources and in governance, offer incentives and immediately institutionalise direct state policies that focus on job creation managed through stakeholder collaboration, because the state cannot act effectively in this regard owing to incapacitation. Moghalu stated that investment in education is irreducible but should focus on Brain Capital, a skill-oriented education of young people, aligned with the embrace and utilisation of technology and not just any kind of certification. The former Deputy Governor of Central Bank and Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at Tufts University in Boston, USA, appealed to all of us to seek consensus because people must be willing and consent to be Nigerians and we need sophisticated and egalitarian leadership to achieve this by first returning to the Nationality Question. This consensus must be driven by the spirit of honest conversation with the objective of stabilising the polity and migrating the people of Nigeria to prosperity, rather than pivot discourses on national development on a perpetual mantra of indivisibility. The quartet of Mahdi, Adamolekun, Yesufu, and I also offered solutions for remaking Nigeria. While Mahdi called on women to be ready to re-enact their natural role as first teachers for the children and young people, and be willing to help refocus strategically and constructively the energy of the youth, Adamolekun and Yesufu insisted that those who wish to lead the nation must do so with the most scrupulous conscientiousness of honour. And that they must submit themselves to tests and pass very well via public scrutiny, and the duo equally urged Nigerians to be ready to turn out massively in the forthcoming elections to elect leaders who are responsible and accountable. Importantly, they urged Nigerians to be willing and ready to ask questions and take the leaders to task even after elections, because eternal vigilance is central to harvesting derivable benefits of democracy. I advocated that appointed and elected elites must be ready to walk the talk on federal character principles and similar affirmations in all they do, particularly in ensuring inclusiveness, diversity, and representativeness in appointing even their personal aides. I also called for a policy that incentivise those who have acted to promote social cohesion, and punishment for those who have promoted divisiveness. Citizens need to equally rally actions focused on making constitutional provisions that empower the media to hold government accountable to being justiciable. Furthermore, more investigative and interpretive reportage is necessary as such perspectives give better context and meaning to the medias role as agents of social cohesiveness. More so, I appealed to citizens to support the media enterprise because good journalism holds a big promise for promoting democracy, accountability, transparency, and by that fact, social cohesion and development. Omoniyi Ibietan is the Head of Media Relations Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has denied asking members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to work against the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections. Mr Soludo, a member of the APGA, met his party members last week. After the meeting, a report emerged alleging that the governor charged the party members to work against Mr Obi in the forthcoming presidential election. But in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, the governor described the report as fallacious, distasteful and mischievous. Mr Soludo said he only had a private meeting with party members, pointing out that it was a routine gathering where issues concerning APGA are discussed. At no time during the meeting was Mr Peter Obi, a point of discourse, he said. READ ALSO: The governor said the clarification was necessary to correct the misinformation caused by the report. We, therefore, urge Ndi Anambra and members of the general public to completely ignore and disregard the publication in all its entirety, Mr Soludo added. Since he emerged the LP candidate, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State has been garnering support from Nigerians across the country and from Nigerians in the Diaspora. Mr Obi served as the governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 under the platform of APGA. In October 2014, seven months after handing over to Willie Obiano, the former governor defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Obi, who was Mr Abubakars running mate in the PDP in the 2019 presidential election, was among the PDP presidential aspirants this year. He announced his resignation from the PDP a few days to the party presidential primary, saying there were practices in the party that were inconsistent with his belief and persona. He defected to the LP where he later emerged the partys 2023 presidential candidate. APGA, his former party, is fielding a presidential candidate for the 2023 general election. The APGA candidate, Peter Umeadi, hails from the same Anambra State as Mr Obi. Mr Soludo has repeatedly said, as a party man, he would support the APGA candidate for the 2023 election, despite the fact that he wishes Mr Obi well in his presidential ambition. The Nigerian Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, says it has impounded 23 trailers conveying bags of foreign parboiled rice during its operations in the third quarter of the year. The seized trailers included two trucks, with the Dangote logo inscribed on them, loaded with the foreign rice hidden within bags of cement. The seizure comes barely two months after some trucks bearing the Dangote logo were impounded for smuggling contrabands. Bamidele Makinde, the Customs area controller, told journalists at a press briefing in Idiroko, Ogun State, on Friday that findings showed that the Dangote-inscribed trucks used for the smuggling are not owned by the company. He added that they are operated by individuals who transport cement on franchise agreement with the company. These people you see smuggling with trucks with Dangote imprinted on them are not real Dangote trucks. They are not owned by the company, but they operate on under a franchise agreement. The customs boss listed the commands seizures for the quarter as 11,358 bags of smuggled foreign rice of 50kg each, which is about 38 Trailer loads; three trucks loaded 513 bags of smuggled rice intercepted during anti-smuggling operations along Obada axis and Ibese/Itori road, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, respectively. In addition to the above, the Command recorded seizures of 1,550 pieces of used tyres and 180 bales of used clothings in a warehouse situated along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State. Details of other seizures and their DPVs are 227 seizures, comprising of 16 units of vehicles used as means of conveyance; two units of used vehicles (Tokunbo); 2,706 kegs (67,650 Litres) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), eight units of motorcycles (means of conveyance), Mr Makinde said. He listed other impounded items to include; 80 kegs of vegetable oil (25 liters each); 201 bales and 76 sacks of second-hand clothing; 89 bales of textile (wrapper) among others. Mr Makinde further disclosed that the import duties and other revenues generated from the auction sales of petrol is N38.5 million. By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman An epic Saturday of racing across North American includes a pair of Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers at Keeneland and Santa Anita. What are we waiting for? Let's dive in and explore the entries: Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland There are so many directions to go in handicapping this 1 1/16-mile "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). One could favor Forte, who had no trouble beating future Champagne S. (G1) 1-3 finishers Blazing Sevens and Gulfport in Saratoga's Hopeful S. (G1). Or we could favor Lost Ark, the undefeated runaway winner of the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park. Or we could try the stretch-running Iroquois S. (G3) runner-up Honed. But in the end, Loggins and Newgate are the two I'm most eager to support. And of the pair, I'm leaning toward Loggins, an exciting Brad Cox trainee purchased for $460,000 as a yearling. Loggins ran like a beast in his debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs against maiden special weight company at Churchill Downs. After casually tracking and pressing fractions of :22.91 and :45.80, Loggins seized command and drew clear to dominate by 8 1/2 lengths. Loggins was full of run down the homestretch, running the third quarter-mile in a about :23.85 and the final sixteenth in :06.20 to record a sharp final time of 1:15.87. That translated to lofty speed figures of 90 (Beyer) and 99 (Brisnet), which rank among the best figures in the Breeders' Futurity field. According to Brisnet statistics, Cox wins at a lofty 30% rate with horses running long for the first time, so Loggins is eligible to improve while stretching out in distance for the Breeders' Futurity. Certainly his pedigree (by Ghostzapper out of a Blame mare) is geared toward stamina. I expect Loggins to produce another big run on Saturday and vie for victory under hot jockey Florent Geroux. As for Newgate, he was a sharp debut winner sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar, pressing a quick pace before taking command to win under a hand ride by 3 1/2 lengths. He subsequently stepped up in class for the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) and couldn't quite keep pace with blistering fractions of :21.56 and :43.65, weakening from a tracking position to finish fourth in a nine-horse field. Newgate should encounter a significantly slower tempo in the Breeders' Futurity, so I envision the son of Into Mischief bouncing out of the gate and securing a comfortable position near the front of the pack. From there, Newgate can stretch his speed more effectively under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and outrun his 20-1 morning line odds. American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita It's too early to crown a division leader, but Cave Rock looks ready to romp in the American Pharoah, a 1 1/16-mile steppingstone to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. If the son of champion Arrogate runs to expectations at Santa Anita, he'll have a head start on earning the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old male. Cave Rock has been sensational in two starts for hot trainer Bob Baffert, who has gone 4-for-9 (44%) to start the Santa Anita meet. In a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar, Cave Rock led all the way to dominate by six lengths with strong speed figures of 101 (Beyer) and 104 (Brisnet). He was even more impressive in the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1), again leading all the way to prevail by 5 1/4 lengths with figures of 98 (Beyer) and 105 (Brisnet). By every metric, Cave Rock ran out of his skin in the Del Mar Futurity. He set crazy pace fractions (:21.56 and :43.65) that would have exhausted many horses, yet he still drew off down the homestretch to defeat Best Pal S. (G2) winner Havnameltdown by a daylight margin. Arrogate thrived racing around two turns, and Brisnet stats reveal Baffert wins at a 31% rate with horses running long for the first time, so there's no reason to think Cave Rock won't shine over 1 1/16 miles in the American Pharoah. The pace figures to be much easier than in the Del Mar Futurity, so the stage is set for Cave Rock to pick up a second consecutive Grade 1 win. For second place, we'll give Hejazi a try. The $3.55 million auction acquisition is 0-for-2 so far, but he posted lofty speed figures of 100 (Beyer) and 101 (Brisnet) when finishing second in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar last month. The form of that race was flattered when the victorious Speed Boat Beach returned to win the Speakeasy S., earning a berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Hejazi is bred top and bottom to thrive running long, so I'm optimistic he'll appreciate stretching out over 1 1/16 miles and stay on down the homestretch to secure a strong finish behind Cave Rock. Now it's your turn! Who do you like in this week's Kentucky Derby qualifiers? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov The underwater offense (SAT) and underwater defense (SAS) units of the Azerbaijan Navy and the special forces of the Turkish Navy are conducting joint drills in Marmaris, Turkiye, Azernews reports, per the ministry. The drills are being conducted at the Aksaz naval base under the approved training plan for 2022. The military personnel of the two nations is carrying out tasks on the development of land and sea tactics, the search for unexploded ammunition and sea mines, as well as their destruction. Individual and group tactical shoots in the day and night mode, combined marches, ambushes, and raids in mixed groups, and long-distance underwater swimming exercises at sea using special underwater breathing equipment are planned for training participants. The training will last until October 14, the ministry said. In the meantime, the Azerbaijan Naval Forces Commander, Rear Admiral Subhan Bakirov is paying an official visit to Italy to attend the 13th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Admiral Enrico Credendino, the ministry said in a separate report. The major goal of the event, which is being held with the participation of Naval Forces Commanders from 44 nations and officials from 18 maritime organizations, is to have discussions on guaranteeing marine transit safety. The International Symposium will continue until October 7. BERLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Top Philippine rum producer Tanduay has now entered the German market after signing a partnership with Kreyenhop & Kluge, a leading distributor of international products in Germany. Tanduay President and COO Lucio Tan III said that Tanduay has been looking forward to expand to Germany, which is known for being one of the top beer producers and consumers in the world. Tanduay's award-winning rums are now available in Germany. (From left) These premium rums include Especia, Tanduay Double Rum, Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, and Tanduay Asian Rum Silver. In Europe, Tanduay rums are also available in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. "We are excited to be a part of the German market and bring our Philippine-made products there, particularly our Asian Rum Gold and Silver. They are two of our best rums and have won in international wines and spirits competitions," Tan shared. Tanduay's rums will complete Kreyenhop & Kluge's portfolio, according to Daniel Gartner, Category Manager, Beverages, Kreyenhop & Kluge GmbH & Co. KG. "Next to our strong and high quality beverage brands like Singha beer, Choya, Kweichow Moutai or our range of Japanese whiskeys and gins, Tanduay will complete our portfolio, as a super premium rum was still missing," he said. Bringing the Flavors of the Islands to Germany Aged for seven years in bourbon barrels, Tanduay Asian Rum Gold is made from heritage sugarcane from the islands of the Philippine's sugar region. Its taste is a good balance of alcohol leaves and sweetness, with expressive flavors of vanilla and woody notes and a body that is mellow, smooth, and dry. Tanduay Asian Rum Gold is the recipient of awards from the International Review of Spirits, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Monde Selection, and the Madrid International Rum Conference, among others. Tanduay Asian Rum Silver, meanwhile, is aged for five years in bourbon barrels. Its taste is a harmony of cream soda with flavors of citrus fruits, and has crisp, fruity and light body. Like the Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, it is made from quality heritage sugarcane and has received several awards, including those from International Taste and Quality Institute, San Diego Spirits Festival International Spirits Competition, and the USA Spirits Ratings competition, to mention a few. Gartner shared that Kreyenhop & Kluge is "very proud to distribute Tanduay in Germany." "As the world's number one selling rum, we see high potential to establish Tanduay in Germany. Kreyenhop & Kluge is always looking for authentic and big Asian brands to bring to Germany," he said. Tanduay's Global Expansion Kyle Tan, Tanduay Executive Vice President and head of the company's international expansion, shared that Tanduay is also proud to be part of the Kreyenhop & Kluge portfolio. "Tanduay has been in the rum business for more than 100 years and continues to be one of the world's leading rum brands because of the hard work that we put in -- from choosing quality ingredients to superior distilling and aging processes, from marketing to research and innovation. There's always a sense of pride when bring all these to other countries," he said. For four consecutive years, Tanduay was also recognized as the World's Number 1 Rum in terms of sales by Drinks International Magazine. In 2017, Tanduay embarked on an aggressive expansion plan that continues to this day. It is now being sold in several countries. In Europe, apart from Germany, Tanduay rums are also available in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Contact Person: Daniel Gartner Category Manager Beverages Kreyenhop & Kluge GmbH & Co.KG Food & Non-Food Import Industriestrae 40-42 28876 Oyten Deutschland / Germany T +49 4207 604-189 F +49 4207 29 604-189 M +49 160 90 31 60 30 gaertner@kreyenhop.de Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915945/Germany_Press_Release__1.jpg SOURCE Tanduay WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO Christopher Barnett, J.D., met with Temple University leaders on Thursday, October 6, to donate a $1 million gift to the College of Public Health towards the funding of a new autism lab in the name of ABA Centers of America. Symbolically signed at ABA Centers of America's Wellesley Hills, MA, client care center, the agreement announced the upcoming ABA Centers of America Autism Laboratory in partnership with Temple University. The lab will be used to conduct autism research, offer diagnostic services, and train students. Dr. Phil McCallion of Temple and ABA Centers of America CEO Christopher Barnett celebrate new strategic partnership with Temple University ABA Centers of America CEO Christopher Barnett, J.D., presents $1 million-dollar check for new autism lab to Temple University Director of the School for Social Work Dr. Philip McCallion Dr. Philip McCallion, Director of the School of Social Work, and Gregory Schmidt, Assistant Vice President of Development for Sciences, attended the signing on behalf of Temple University. Mr. Barnett, a Temple alumnus and board member of the College of Public Health, founded ABA Centers of America in 2020 after discovering how difficult it can be for families to receive ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy services for their children with autism. "The reason we started ABA Centers of America actually comes from my personal family experience," said Mr. Barnett. "Both of my nieces are on the autism spectrum, and they languished for years waiting to even get a diagnosis. And once they got a diagnosis, they were on another waiting list for ABA therapy. I thought there had to be a better way, a way to disrupt this space and fundamentally change the way ABA services are made available to communities. "ABA Centers of America exists to give hope to the kiddos all over the country that are languishing on waiting lists. But we have to do more, to reach out and make connections, to work with the entire autism community if we're going to make a difference. So, we are donating $1,000,000 to Temple University today toward funding an autism laboratory. Through the ABA Centers of America Autism Laboratory, they will provide diagnoses to families that would otherwise sit and wait." Conveying Temple's gratitude for the generous gift, Dr. McCallion said, "One of the reasons I like being at Temple is that we're not an ivory tower. We live day-to-day in Philadelphia as part of the community. This is the ideal partnership for Temple. And we believe strongly in the value of partnership and the value of the research we will do to make a difference in people's lives every day. The Temple faculty, students, and researchers who will become part of this initiative are committed to expanding services, increasing availability, and testing new programming options for people with autism. "The lab will also help us build workforces that are so needed for the autism field. Real change becomes possible with partnerships between providers like ABA Centers of America, universities, and the autism community. And that's what we're building." "The rate of children diagnosed with autism has almost tripled in the past 20 years," said Mr. Barnett, "but therapy providers have been unable to keep pace. We aim to change that not only by opening new ABA centers but through actions like funding the ABA Centers of America Autism Laboratory at Temple and creating our own training center, the ABA Academy of Excellence." ABA Centers of America services 11 metro areas and has four locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with plans to open more clinics in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2023. About ABA Centers of America ABA Centers of America provides ABA therapy services for anyone with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We help clients in their homes, our centers, schools, or anywhere in the community. ABA Centers of America is the Northeast's fastest-growing ABA provider, with multiple locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, upcoming centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and more east coast facilities planned for a total of 20 locations by year-end 2023. For more information about ABA Centers of America, visit www.abacenters.com, call 855-962-1555, or email [email protected]. About ABA Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is widely considered to be the gold standard for autism care. ABA therapy for autism has been studied for decades and possesses the largest body of research supporting any autism therapy. ABA focuses on communication, academics, social skills, and social functioning simultaneously and is carried out by certified professionals. SOURCE ABA Centers of America ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Altitude Trampoline Park is rallying its teams and local Florida communities to come together to help the victims of Hurricane Ian. Starting Friday, October 7, 2022, Altitude will collect monetary donations to support the Florida chapter of the American Red Cross and non-perishable items to support local chapters of the Salvation Army. Altitude will also offer Free Jump Passes for those impacted by the recent storm. Participating Altitude locations include Jacksonville Beach, Kissimmee, Sanford and Tallahassee. "Hurricane Ian was such a devastating storm, and we understand that a number of communities will have to rebuild from the ground up," said Amy Phillips, President of Altitude Trampoline Park. "Our hearts go out to these families, and we want to show our support through our relief efforts. Collecting monetary donations is certainly part of it, but most importantly we want to see kids and families take a short break from it all and jump it out with us. It's important in these times to focus on the things we can control and having some active family fun is one of them. Collectively, we can make a difference." The Altitude Support Center will be collecting monetary donations through a dedicated website starting October 7 through October 31. The Support Center will also be matching all donations (up to $10,000). Donations may be made at https://www.altitudehub.com/jump-in-help-out/. All proceeds will support the Florida chapter of the American Red Cross. For those who would like to help with non-perishable items, participating Altitude locations will be collecting items at their parks. All donated items will be directed to the local chapters of the Salvation Army. The following items may be dropped off at participating parks during normal operating hours. Diapers Wipes Toilet Paper Paper Towels Baby food Dried Fruits Canned Fruits & Vegetables Boxed Pasta Nuts & Seeds To help hurricane victims relieve some stress, Altitude is hosting Jump It Out sessions. Those impacted by the recent storm may download a Free Jump Pass and enjoy one hour of free jumps anytime between Monday through Friday from open to close. The Free Jump Pass must be printed or presented at time of entry. Offer is valid through October 31, 2022, and good for one free hour per guest per day. To learn more about how you can help with the Altitude Hurricane Ian relief efforts, visit https://www.altitudehub.com/jump-in-help-out/. About Altitude Trampoline Park Altitude Trampoline Park is a premier indoor adventure attraction that offers exciting activities, games, programs, and events for all ages. Altitude also offers various package options for birthday parties and other special occasions. To learn more, including park locations, visit www.altitudetrampolinepark.com. MEDIA CONTACT : Kim Miller [email protected] 305.970.9234 SOURCE Altitude Trampoline Park AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditional chemotherapies continue to demonstrate limited efficacy in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant solid tumors. InnovoTEX Inc. (InnovoTEX), an Austin-based pharmaceutical company, is developing next generation anti-cancer agents that localize to solid tumors and overcome resistance mechanisms with minimal side effects. InnovoTEX has acquired an exclusive and perpetual license, facilitated by the Discovery to Impact group at the University of Texas at Austin, to an innovative discovery platform and corresponding patent portfolio to identify and design therapeutic candidates for a range of solid tumor indications. InnovoTEX is developing its proprietary TEX Core platform, which utilizes the tumor-localizing and well-tolerated small molecule, texaphyrin, as the basis for a series of conjugates designed to target and treat both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant solid tumors. The first clinical candidate to be commercialized from the platform is OxaliTEX, a novel chemical entity (WO2015/191797) in a pro-drug form. Patent applications covering both composition and methods of treatment claims for OxaliTEX have been filed in 15 global jurisdictions. Currently, OxaliTEX patents covering the core compositions have been issued in the United States, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Mexico and Singapore. Pre-clinical research conducted at the University of Texas at Austin and MD Anderson Cancer Center has demonstrated oncolytic activity in multiple indications. OxaliTEX was found to completely inhibit the tumor growth in platinum-resistant patient derived xenografts and result in extended survival of ovarian and colon cancer models. Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is the planned lead indication for OxaliTEX. "From the preclinical data generated, OxaliTEX has displayed greater efficacy and tolerability against advanced human cancer models compared to traditional chemotherapies. We are optimistic that OxaliTEX's therapeutic benefits will translate well to the clinic with further development," InnovoTEX CEO, Dr. Jonathan Arambula said. Professor Jonathan Sessler, R.P. Doherty, Jr. Welch Regents Chair in Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, partnered with Dr. Arambula and Dr. Zahid Siddik at MD Anderson Cancer Center, in developing technologies that led to OxaliTEX. "I am excited to see this technology moving to the next level of development and advancing to the clinic for the treatment of a disease for which our current therapeutic options are still unsatisfactory," Professor Sessler said. Research was generously funded by multiple institutions, including the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the National Institutes of Health and the Robert A. Welch Foundation. SOURCE InnovoTEX Inc. BlocPower celebrates the milestone with an awards ceremony, impact report and the launch of dedicated training hubs in Brooklyn and the Bronx. NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BlocPower , a national climate tech company focused on decarbonizing aging urban buildings, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Civilian Climate Corps a $37 million precision employment initiative funded by Mayor Eric Adams Office of Criminal Justice. The green construction workforce development project launched last fall and offers career pathways in the rapidly growing fields of clean energy technology and building modernization. Under the mandate of Mayor Adams, the program aims to help keep New Yorkers safe by providing long term economic opportunity for communities and individuals most vulnerable to gun violence. Through the Civilian Climate Corps, New York City is expanding and diversifying its clean energy workforce while delivering environmental justice and improved public safety. To mark the program's first year, BlocPower hosted an awards ceremony for members of the Civilian Climate Corps and key stakeholders in addition to releasing a Year One Impact Report detailing program success stories and performance metrics. Highlights of the report include: 1700+ members trained since fall of 2021, 81% of which were previously under or unemployed 400+ job placements in heat pump and solar installation, building energy auditing & related fields and solar installation, building energy auditing & related fields 28% combined reduction in incidents of gun violence year to date as of September 2022 , for the 40th and 42nd precincts in the Bronx and the 67th precinct in Brooklyn , where the Civilian Climate Corps hosts cohorts This fall, BlocPower will unveil new dedicated green workforce training hubs in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and Morrisania in the South Bronx. The hubs will enable the Civilian Climate Corps to scale its operations and strengthen its programming in two important neighborhoods. "Our Civilian Climate Corps is at the heart of BlocPower's mission to make buildings smarter, greener and healthierwhile ensuring the benefits of the clean energy economy are accessible to low income Americans," says co-founder and General Manager of BlocPower, Keith Kinch. "When we launched a year ago, we knew we had a historic opportunity to build a more equitable green workforce in New York City and make our communities safer. The Civilian Climate Corps has not only done that, but also begun to deliver the highly skilled construction workers our nation needs to rebuild our infrastructure and fight the climate crisis." BlocPower founder and CEO Donnel Baird shared, "BlocPower is thrilled to support Mayor Eric Adams vision to address the climate crisis and public safety. We think that the Civilian Climate Corps offers a model for confronting the major challenges facing cities across America. We are continually inspired by what we learn every day from program participants and workers about how to thrive in the face of significant adversity, in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families. That is the American Dream, and we are seeing it unfold right here in NYwith clean energy jobs FOR ALL. Climate justice for all is not a secondary or tertiary priority. The only path to massive reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in America runs right through inspiring and engaging urban communities to LEAD the climate fight". Graduate of the Civilian Climate Corps, Jevon Rock, was one of three Members of the Year award recipients. "BlocPower is the only company that gave me an opportunity in the past few years, and that's including before the pandemic started," said Rock, who now conducts building energy audits. "I tried my hand at other trade schools but even with financial aid, they were still out of reach for me. Being paid to learn a trade has helped me elevate and now I'm at the best point in my life that I've ever been." Additional Members of the Year included Que Cunningham, Wesley Booker and Andy Balkaran. William Diaz Jr. of ESC Cabling earned Instructor of the Year for his work providing Wi-Fi installation training. Additional awards went to CB Emmanuel for Employer of the Year; Vanessa Johnson of ARA Emotional Wellness, Karlasia Grant of ICYFS Case Management and Yolanda Phillips of Elite Learners for Case Managers of the Year; Abby Lovett Uddin and Sony Pierre for Staffers of the Year. About BlocPower BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology company rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed energy projects in 1,200+ buildings and delivers results ahead of schedule and under budget. BlocPower utilizes its proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of urban clean energy projects and its customers are saving 20-40% on their energy bills each year. The company is backed by the world's top investors, including Goldman Sachs, Kapor Capital, Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Andreessen Horowitz and American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. In 2022, Fast Company named BlocPower the #4 Most Innovative Company in the World. For more information, please visit https://blocpower.io. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE BlocPower Nonprofit health plan contends that the State of California has not produced key records and questions credentials of appeals hearing officer OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California has filed legal documents with the State Superior Court seeking a judge to compel the California Department of Health Care Services to comply with the state public records act and release documents related to the state's initial decision on the award of Medi-Cal contracts for 2024. The Department of Health Care Services recently announced its intent to award contracts to national, for-profit companies beholden to Wall Street. Earlier this year, the state also gave Kaiser Permanente a separate no-bid Medi-Cal contract. As part of the appeals process, Blue Shield submitted a public records act request to the state seeking crucial information about their scoring process, methodology, and their communications about the bid. Blue Shield also requested that the state-appointed hearing officer provide more time for the appeals process so that each party to the appeal has the opportunity to review all documents related to the request for proposals. However, the Department of Health Care Services has not provided the requested documents and the hearing officer denied the request for additional time. "We have waited in good faith and the Department of Health Care Services is refusing to provide the public information we are requesting or to provide a reasonable amount of time for the appeal process," said Kristen Cerf, President and CEO, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. In addition, the state assigned an employee from its Information Management Division as the hearing officer in this matter; this means an IT professional is responsible for reviewing all appeal materials and making the final decision as to which health plans will be available to millions of Medi-Cal beneficiaries. "On behalf of the Medi-Cal beneficiaries we serve today whose health care is directly impacted by this decision, and of every Californian, we are turning to the court to insist on a full, fair, and robust Medi-Cal procurement appeals process," Cerf said. "We believe that the Department of Health Care Services has a duty to get this right and not just rubber stamp its original decision." About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax-paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 4.7 million members, 7,800 employees, and $22.9 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid, and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed $120 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. CONTACT: Erika Conner (510)-607-2359 Blue Shield of California [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California Brookdale's Size and Scale Helped Successfully Support Evacuated Communities NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Ian approached landfall in the state of Florida, nine Brookdale Senior Living communities successfully evacuated close to 750 senior residents. Brookdale team members continuously monitored weather conditions and acted swiftly to help protect the well-being of its residents and associates. "As always, our primary goal is the ongoing health and well-being of our residents and associates," said Brookdale Senior Living President and CEO Lucinda ("Cindy") Baier. "I am so grateful to our many dedicated associates who have once again courageously stepped up to try and help ensure our residents face as few disruptions as possible and to find creative and meaningful ways to continue to enrich their lives." As Hurricane Ian started forming, Brookdale team members sprang into action by establishing a command center to provide support for more than 3,500 associates who provide care and services to residents in the state of Florida. Brookdale communities are seasoned at dealing with natural disasters and well-equipped to respond. Each community has detailed plans tailored to their unique locale, residents and issues they are facing. Brookdale's size and scale, particularly in the state of Florida, allowed the company to support communities and find accommodations for those requiring temporary relocation. "With such a strong network throughout the state of Florida, we were able to welcome many residents into other Brookdale communities, with our local leaders even throwing welcome parties for them," said Page Ensor, Brookdale's Vice President of Regional Operations. "Even with the disruption in our operations in many areas, our residents and associates have shown such resiliency and compassion for one another. Our caregivers and local leaders have truly demonstrated the heart of Brookdale's mission." At this time, Brookdale is still assessing the extent of property damage at its communities. The vast majority of Brookdale's Florida communities are open and actively serving seniors and families to help them manage the challenges of aging. Of the nine communities evacuated, Brookdale Tarpon Springs returned home last week. Once the rest of Brookdale's buildings are fully assessed and deemed safe for return, a plan will be implemented for the rest of the evacuated residents to return to their home communities. Brookdale residents and their families are encouraged to visit news.brookdale.com for the latest information. About Brookdale Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the nation's premier operator of senior living communities. The Company is committed to its mission of enriching the lives of the people it serves with compassion, respect, excellence, and integrity. The Company operates independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. Through its comprehensive network, Brookdale helps to provide seniors with care and services in an environment that feels like home. The Company's expertise in healthcare, hospitality, and real estate provides residents with opportunities to improve wellness, pursue passions and stay connected with friends and loved ones. Brookdale operates and manages 674 communities in 41 states as of June 30, 2022, with the ability to serve more than 60,000 residents. For more Brookdale news, go to brookdalenews.com Contact: Brookdale Media Relations, (615) 564-8622, [email protected] SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living Increase in the prevalence of dental disorders such as dental caries and development of new dental restorative materials by the key players drive the growth of the global dental restoration market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dental Restoration Market by Material (Dental Amalgams, Resin Based Composites, Glass Ionomers, Dental Ceramics, Others), by End User (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global dental restoration industry was estimated at $1.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit $2.5 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2031. Download Sample Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2804 Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Increase in the prevalence of dental disorders such as dental caries and development of new dental restorative materials by the key players drive the growth of the global dental restoration market. At the same time, rise in disposable income among people has supplemented the market growth even more. Furthermore, surge in number of product approvals has paved the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. Covid-19 scenario- Most of the non-emergency and minor procedures were canceled or postponed throughout the pandemic. As per a number of research studies, dental surgeons were more vulnerable to contracting and transmitting the coronavirus during dental procedures. These factors impacted the dental restoration market negatively, especially in the initial period. However, as the global situation got back to normalcy, the market for dental restoration also started restoring at a quick pace. The dental amalgams segment to retain the lion's share- Based on material, the dental amalgams segment generated more than two-fifths of the global dental restoration market revenue in 2021, and is expected to lead the trail by 2031. Increase in R&D activities related to dental restoration and rise in demand for dental amalgam to treat dental disorders fuel the segment growth. The resin-based composites segment would also manifest the fastest CAGR of 7.3% from 2022 to 2031. Surge in demand for resin-based composites for the treatment of pediatrics propels the segment growth. The dental clinics segment to dominate by 2031- Based on end-user, the dental clinics segment held more than half of the global dental restoration market revenue in 2021, owing to rise in demand for personalized treatment offered by standalone dental clinics. Simultaneously, the others segment would garner the fastest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for dental restorative materials among dental academic institutes and research centers drives segment growth. For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2804 North America held the major share in 2021- Based on region, North America held the major share in 2021, generating nearly two-fifths of the global dental restoration market. This is attributed to the factors such as rise in the prevalence of dental caries, well-developed healthcare sector, adequate reimbursement policies, and the presence of skilled dental professionals in the region. The Asia-Pacific region, on the other hand, would garner the fastest CAGR of 7.2% by 2031. This is due to surge in medical tourism and the presence of a large base of population suffering from dental disorders. Key players in the industry- Coltene Holding DMG Chemish-Pharmaceutische Fabrik GmbH GC India Dental VOCO GmbH Dentsply Sirona Danaher Corporation Kuraray Co., Ltd 3M SHOFU Dental GmbH GmbH Den-Mat Holding The report analyzes these key players in the global dental restoration market. These players have incorporated various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in assessing the operating segments, their business performance & product portfolio, and so on. 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Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. 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. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The " Disposable Medical Supplies Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 " report has been added to Technavio's offering. According to the report, the market will observe an incremental growth of USD 48.12 billion and accelerate at a CAGR of 7.81% during the forecast period. The report identifies North America as the major market for disposable medical supplies. The high prevalence of chronic diseases and lifestyle-related illnesses are creating significant opportunities for vendors operating in the market. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Disposable Medical Supplies Market 2022-2026 The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Our in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- & post-COVID-19 analysis. Download PDF Sample Report Technavio categorizes the global disposable medical supplies market as a part of the global healthcare equipment market. The parent, global healthcare equipment market covers products and companies engaged in research and development (R&D) of a variety of product categories, including instruments, implants, accessories, and consumables that are used for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various diseases. The parent market will be driven by the growth in the global healthcare equipment market. The market in focus will be driven by the growing need for disposable medical suppliers. However, environmental concerns associated with improper disposal of disposable medical supplies might hamper the market growth. Market vendors also have to leverage the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The market is fragmented due to the presence of several large, medium, and small-sized manufacturers. Most large and established players have extensive sales and distribution networks globally, whereas most small players are concentrated in regional markets. Vendors compete based on parameters such as price, quality, technology, brand identity, and distribution. Key vendors hold significant shares in the global market. They are adopting several strategies, such as M&A, joint ventures, product launches, and online and brick-and-mortar sales of products, to expand their product portfolios and geographical reach. The report identifies 3M Co., Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun SE, Baxter International Inc., Bayer AG, Becton Dickinson and Co., BLACK MAMBA GLOVES, Boston Scientific Corp., Cardinal Health Inc, ConvaTec Group Plc, Fresenius Medical Care, Johnson and Johnson, Medline Industries LP, Medtronic Plc, Smith and Nephew plc, Terumo Corp., and Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. as some of the major market participants. Request Sample Report Here Disposable Medical Supplies Market 2022-2026: Segmentation The global disposable medical supplies market is segmented as below: End-user Hospital and Clinics ASCs Others The hospitals and clinics segment will have the largest share of the market. The segment is driven by the increasing number of emergency room (ER) visits in hospitals. Also, the increasing prominence of hygiene and safety in hospitals and clinics is contributing to the growth of the segment. Geography North America Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) North America will dominate the market growth, occupying 41% of the global market share. Factors such as the rising incidences and prevalence of infectious diseases, the rise in surgical and diagnostic procedures, the increasing awareness among healthcare professionals to prevent infections, supportive government initiatives, and the presence of well-known vendors are driving the growth of the regional market. Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The disposable medical supplies market report covers the following areas: Disposable Medical Supplies Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist disposable medical supplies market growth during the next five years Estimation of the disposable medical supplies market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the disposable medical supplies market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of disposable medical supplies market vendors Related Reports: Disposable Medical Supplies Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.81% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 48.12 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.45 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun SE, Baxter International Inc., Bayer AG, Becton Dickinson and Co., BLACK MAMBA GLOVES, Boston Scientific Corp., Cardinal Health Inc, ConvaTec Group Plc, Fresenius Medical Care, Johnson and Johnson, Medline Industries LP, Medtronic Plc, Smith and Nephew plc, Terumo Corp., and Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by End-user 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 Hospital and clinics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Hospital and clinics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Hospital and clinics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 30: Chart on Hospital and clinics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Hospital and clinics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 ASCs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on ASCs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 33: Data Table on ASCs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 34: Chart on ASCs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on ASCs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 38: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 56: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 60: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 71: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 72: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 80: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 87: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 3M Co. Co. Exhibit 89: 3M Co. - Overview Co. - Overview Exhibit 90: 3M Co. - Business segments Co. - Business segments Exhibit 91: 3M Co. - Key news Co. - Key news Exhibit 92: 3M Co. - Key offerings Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 93: 3M Co. - Segment focus 10.4 Abbott Laboratories Exhibit 94: Abbott Laboratories - Overview Exhibit 95: Abbott Laboratories - Business segments Exhibit 96: Abbott Laboratories - Key news Exhibit 97: Abbott Laboratories - Key offerings Exhibit 98: Abbott Laboratories - Segment focus 10.5 B . Braun SE . Braun SE Exhibit 99: B. Braun SE - Overview Exhibit 100: B. Braun SE - Business segments Exhibit 101: B. Braun SE - Key news Exhibit 102: B. Braun SE - Key offerings Exhibit 103: B. Braun SE - Segment focus 10.6 Bayer AG Exhibit 104: Bayer AG - Overview Exhibit 105: Bayer AG - Business segments Exhibit 106: Bayer AG - Key offerings Exhibit 107: Bayer AG - Segment focus 10.7 Becton Dickinson and Co. and Co. Exhibit 108: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Overview and Co. - Overview Exhibit 109: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Business segments and Co. - Business segments Exhibit 110: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Key news and Co. - Key news Exhibit 111: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Key offerings and Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Segment focus 10.8 Cardinal Health Inc Exhibit 113: Cardinal Health Inc - Overview Exhibit 114: Cardinal Health Inc - Business segments Exhibit 115: Cardinal Health Inc - Key news Exhibit 116: Cardinal Health Inc - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Cardinal Health Inc - Segment focus 10.9 Johnson and Johnson Exhibit 118: Johnson and Johnson - Overview Exhibit 119: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments Exhibit 120: Johnson and Johnson - Key news Exhibit 121: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings Exhibit 122: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus 10.10 Medline Industries LP Exhibit 123: Medline Industries LP - Overview Exhibit 124: Medline Industries LP - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Medline Industries LP - Key offerings 10.11 Smith and Nephew plc Exhibit 126: Smith and Nephew plc - Overview Exhibit 127: Smith and Nephew plc - Business segments Exhibit 128: Smith and Nephew plc - Key news Exhibit 129: Smith and Nephew plc - Key offerings Exhibit 130: Smith and Nephew plc - Segment focus 10.12 Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. Exhibit 131: Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 132: Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 133: Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Technology Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 134: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 135: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 136: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 137: Research methodology Exhibit 138: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 139: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 140: List of abbreviations 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 The 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act required the FAA to promulgate minimum seat standards by October 5, 2019, but the FAA has not begun the rulemaking process WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FlyersRights.org, the largest airline passenger organization, filed a rulemaking petition with the FAA on October 5th, the 3rd anniversary of the ignored Congressional deadline for the FAA to set minimum seat standards. FlyersRights.org's rulemaking petition proposes seat dimensions that accommodate 90% to 92% of the population. The rulemaking petition covers the four major reasons for rulemaking (1) emergency evacuations, (2) often fatal deep vein thrombosis DVT, (3) the brace position in crash landings, and (4) personal space intrusion. As each year passes, seat sizes shrink while passenger size increases. The FAA has not begun the rulemaking process, only requesting comments from the public on one safety aspect, emergency evacuations. The 26 page rulemaking petition contains nearly 200 footnotes to ergonomic, demographic, medical, safety studies, reports and statistics. It exhaustively proves that half of adults can no longer reasonably fit in most airline seats. It proposes a moratorium on further shrinkage and minimum seat width of 20.1 inches (vs current 19 to 16 inches) and seat pitch (leg room) of 32.1 inches (vs current 31 to 27 inches). Forty years ago, when passengers were 30 pounds lighter and 1.5 inches shorter, seat pitch was 35 to 31 inches and seat width 21 to 19 inches. As a formal rulemaking petition, there is an expected 60 day public comment period. The FAA will have six months to rule on the petition, after which time a court appeal is possible. Paul Hudson, FlyersRights.org president, member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee and the Emergency Evacuation Rulemaking Advisory Committee commented, "The FAA and DOT can no longer deny, delay, and delegate away its responsibility to ensure airline seat safety. It has now been seven years since FlyersRights.org's first seat rulemaking petition. Meanwhile, seats have continued to shrink and passengers have become larger and older. Tens of thousands of public comments have been filed in support. But the FAA, airlines, and Boeing continue to oppose any safe seat rule." "This continuing opposition seat regulation has now crossed a new line, veiled contempt for the bipartisan 2018 Congressional mandate signed into law by President Trump. The FAA claims in court that the seat law requiring minimum seat dimensions is "optional" if it continues to believe it is unnecessary. It is now clearly time for Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg and President Biden to act: Order FAA to end its endless delay and opposition. Stop airline seat shrinkage now!" The FAA, in Flyers Rights Education Fund v. FAA in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, argues that the 2018 law requiring it to set minimum seat standards is ambiguous and optional. Section 577 of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act states that the FAA "shall issue regulations that establish minimum dimensions for passenger seatsincluding minimums for seat pitch, width, and length, and that are necessary for the safety of passengers." Flyers Rights filed a mandamus petition in January 2022, requesting the court to set a deadline for the FAA's minimum seat size rulemaking. The case went to oral arguments in September 2022. The FAA denied 2015 FlyersRights.org's rulemaking petition twice, in 2016 and 2018, denying any relationship between seat size and emergency evacuation times. The D.C. Circuit faulted the FAA's first denial for relying on secret data to reach its conclusion that seat size does not and would not matter for emergency evacuations. In 2021, the DOT Inspector General found that the FAA had falsely claimed that the secret evacuation tests conducted by airplane manufacturers had tested for shrunken seats, when in fact, only one test was conducted at 28 inches or lower. ' The petition can be viewed at: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/2b7ac7a8-3914-4be3-a69a-dbd59cb43a84/downloads/Minimum%20Seat%20Size%20Standards%20Rulemaking%20Petitio.pdf?ver=1664991510160 FlyersRights.org maintains up to date passenger rights information at www.flyersrights.org/know-your-rights/ and also provides passengers with legal information and appropriate contacts by phone, 877-FLYERS-6 and by email, [email protected]. FlyersRights.org, established in 2007, is the largest airline passenger organization. It publishes a bi-weekly newsletter, operates a free hotline for airline passengers 877- FLYERS6, advocates for passenger rights and interests, represents passengers on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee dealing with air safety and maintains a staffed office in Washington, D.C. See: FlyersRights.org or https://twitter.com/FlyersRights. Media line 800- 662-1859. FlyersRights.org, 4411 Bee Ridge Road, 274, Sarasota, FL 34233 SOURCE FlyersRights.org SHANGHAI, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hesai has officially announced its monthly delivery of the AT128 lidar exceeded 10,000 units, making Hesai the world's first automotive lidar company to reach this milestone. "10,000" is an important milestone for both Hesai and the industry, marking the beginning of automotive lidar's mass production and delivery in the global market. Hesai also maintains the highest market share in the global L4 autonomous driving market. Hesai Delivers Over 10,000 AT128 Lidar Units in September 2022 Hesai's Total Revenue Ranks 1st for Automotive Lidar Globally Hesai Ranks 1st in L4 Autonomous Driving Lidar Market Share Hesai Ranks 1st on ADAS Design Wins Globally According to the "Lidar for Automotive and Industrial Applications 2022 Market and Technology Report " released by Yole Intelligence in August, with the strong emergence of China's intelligent driving industry, Chinese manufacturers such as Hesai have become important players in the global lidar market. Among the lidar manufacturers, Hesai ranks first in ADAS design wins, L4 autonomous driving lidar market share, and total revenue for automotive lidar. Proprietary technology behind high-demand lidar Hesai's first mass-produced ADAS long-range main lidar, AT128 is not the first hybrid solid-state lidar to enter the market. However, it immediately won multiple contracts from leading automakers after its release, including Li Auto, JiDU, HiPhi, and Lotus. "AT128 has excellent comprehensive performance among currently mass-produced, automotive-grade lidars," said Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto. Hesai's exceptional R&D capability played a key role in achieving such high lidar performance. Unlike other manufacturers who try to reduce costs by cutting the number of lasers and complicating the scanning module, Hesai took a unique but harder path: keeping the 128 channels, and integrating hundreds of components to form optimized lidar architecture through proprietary technology. Hesai's proprietary technology has three significant technical advantages: The first is higher performance. A "genuine 128-channel" lidar can conduct ultra-high precision scanning of the environment, forming uniform and unstitched point cloud that help vehicles "see" the 3D world clearly in real-time. The second is higher reliability. Reducing the number of individual components in a lidar improves mass production reliability. 128 laser channels also provide higher safety redundancy. Even if one laser channel fails, the rest will continue to operate to ensure normal function of the lidar. The third is higher production consistency. By enhancing components integration, it minimizes manual assembly to avoid human errors, which significantly increases production efficiency and consistency. Highly automated production line with 60-second cycle time In addition to the proprietary technology, another strategic adavantage for Hesai is its in-house manufacturing. Hesai believes that rapid iteration and quality control are crucial for automotive lidar. Self-built factory enables a higher degree of control during each manufacturing step, allowing timely optimizations to ensure large-scale, high-quality mass production and delivery. Hesai's factory adopts the most advanced manufacturing technology and intelligent cloud service. It deploys a large number of intelligent industrial robots to automate over 100 production processes, achieving a 90% automation rate of the entire production line. It also has a 60-second cycle time, which means that on average, a qualified lidar unit rolls off the production line every 60 seconds. To achieve strong mass-production and delivery capability that satisfies global OEMs' requirements, Hesai also invested nearly 200 million US dollars in its "Maxwell" intelligent factory. It has a planned annual production capacity of over one million units. The factory is expected to enter operation by 2023. SOURCE Hesai Technology ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has announced that actor, author, columnist, commentator, and sought-after speaker Joseph C. Phillips has joined the University as a professor in Theatre and Communication Studies. "Joseph brings a wealth of awe-inspiring talent, meaningful engagement in the community, and a portfolio of informed, decisive commentary to the University," said President Dr. George T. French Jr. "We anticipate that he will inspire independent thinking, civic responsibility, and a passion for interdisciplinary learning in our studentswhich aligns perfectly with our mantra to "lift our community by lifting our voices." Joseph C. Phillips Joins Clark Atlanta University's Faculty Tweet this Phillips received the BFA in acting in 1983 from the acting conservatory at New York University after transferring from the University of the Pacific as a communications major. He has served as a fellow at the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian College; the Abraham Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute; and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, where he designed, wrote the curriculum, and taught a seven-week course titled "Black Conservatism in America." A prolific actor perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Martin Kendall (the husband of Lisa Bonet's character) on the hit series "The Cosby Show," Phillips played Col. Greg Davis in four seasons of the Netflix award-winning series "13 Reasons Why," which concluded in 2020. He is a three-time NAACP Image Award nominee for his portrayal of Attorney Justus Ward on "General Hospital" and has had guest starring roles on several television dramas, including "How to Get Away with Murder," "NCIS" and "Good Trouble." His feature film credits include starring roles in "Strictly Business," "Let's Talk About Sex," and "Midnight Blue." Among his theatrical credits are starring roles in the Broadway production of "Six Degrees of Separation" and the Kennedy Center and American Playhouse productions of "A Raisin in the Sun." He created the title role in "Dreaming Emmett," Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's only theatrical play. Phillips is the author of "He Talk Like a White Boy" and for eight years, wrote a widely syndicated weekly column titled "The Way I See It" that promoted conservative views such as traditional family, limited government, and a return to America's founding principles. He was also a regular commentator for NPR and American Urban Radio Network. For ten years, he served as a director on the State Board of the California African American Museum, where he chaired the accessions committee, which was responsible for approving all art or artifacts for the museum's collection. On Phillips's extensive roster of civic engagements are his work as a motivational speaker with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's "VIDA" program designed to redirect the lives of at-risk youth; the Special Olympics, and The Green Chimneys Foundation, of which he was an advisory board member; The Red Cross; Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles; the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America; the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission; and Project Alpha, a partnership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the March of Dimes designed to address teenage pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, and sexually transmitted disease. About Clark Atlanta University Established by the historic consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University was established in 1988, now continuing a nearly 160-year legacy rooted in African American tradition and focused on the future. Through global innovation, transformative educational experiences, and high-value engagement. CAU cultivates lifted lives that transform the world. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson; American civil rights activist, poet, and songwriter (Lift Every Voice and Sing "The Black National Anthem"), Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist; Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for NASCAR; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Recording Academy. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu. SOURCE Clark Atlanta University www.spendedge.com/sample-report/office-supplies-procurement-market-intelligence-report Key Office Supplies Sourcing and Procurement Report Highlights: Market growth 2022-2026: USD 32.08 Billion Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.21% Top Global Suppliers: The ODP Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp., and Tesco PLC Key consumer countries: North America , Europe , and APAC Supplier Selection Scope: One-stop solution, Warranty terms offered by the suppliers, Order process offered by the supplier, and Transparency in pricing. Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Office Supplies market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Office Supplies pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as Fixed pricing model and Volume-based pricing model, and best practices to fulfill their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/sample-report/office-supplies-procurement-market-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants have resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. Identify favorable opportunities in Office Supplies TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Smart Procurement Starts Here SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access the latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy-to-use platform. STARTER PACK Get 6 Full Reports, View 800+ report samples, Pre-order upcoming reports, and Pre-order upcoming reports. Subscribe Now for FREE Want to know about various other Subscription packs? Click here Get the Details That You Are Looking for: Buy our detailed market analysis report to uncover: Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2026. Analyze the market's competitive and vendor landscape. How much marketing budget to set aside for geographical market expansion? Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge BANGALORE, India, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Password Management Market is Segmented by Type (Cloud Based Password Management, Web Based Password Management), by Application (Large Enterprises, SMEs): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Computer Security Category. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Password Management market size is estimated to be worth USD 1405.7 Million in 2021 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1405.7 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 18.6% during the review period. Major factors driving the growth of the Password Management market are: The need for complicated passwords and secure ways to store them has led to the creation of password managers as more and more financial and personal information is saved online. Additionally, firms' increasingly complicated compliance, regulatory, and risk management environments stimulate the adoption of these solutions across a variety of global industries. Get Your Sample Today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-39L11069/Global_Password_Management Inquire for Chapter Cost: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-39L11069/Global_Password_Management TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF PASSWORD MANAGEMENT MARKET: One of the main factors driving the Password Management market growth is the growing usage of password management solutions by small and medium-sized businesses. Hackers have a chance every time a user logs into a new program. Because users only log in once a day and use a single set of credentials, single sign-on decreases the attack surface. Enterprise security is increased by limiting the login to a single set of credentials. When workers are required to use unique passwords for every program, they typically don't. A hacker is therefore likely to be able to access other corporate systems if they gain access through one inadequately protected website. Single sign-on also aids with regulatory compliance. IT controls must be documented and firms must demonstrate that sufficient measures are in place to secure data in order to comply with regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley. Single sign-on (SSO) is a means to satisfy data access and antivirus needs. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Password Management market. Password management software employs security measures to thwart attempts by internal and external threats to get master passwords, credentials, secrets, tokens, and keys in order to access private systems and data. On-premises or in the cloud are both options for these centralized password management systems. Cloud-based password managers are safer than browser-based ones since they include more features that increase security. The majority of cloud-based password managers include a backup for vault as a start. Company can restore a recent version of the database in the event that the server is damaged. Additionally, cloud-based password managers let users save protected notes and credit card information in addition to passwords. Users may safeguard all important information in this way. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the Password Management market. Browse The Table Of Contents And List Of Figures At: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-39L11069/global-password-management-sales PASSWORD MANAGEMENT MARKET SHARE: LogMeIn, Trend Micro, Hitachi ID Systems, Okta, Sailpoint Technologies, and others are major participants in the worldwide password management market. The top 5 businesses in 2019 held a combined market share of over 39%, with Trend Micro holding the dominant position with almost 12% of the global market. Based on region, Asia Pacific is expected to be the most lucrative. Increased digitization initiatives, a rise in fraud and identity theft over the past ten years, and cutting-edge digital identity use cases across sectors are the main market drivers for password management in the Asia Pacific region. The use of new technologies like AI, ML, and automation in verification solutions, as well as government and corporate initiatives, focused on digitalization, would also offer the lucrative potential for password management companies. Get Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-39L11069/Global_Password_Management Key Companies: LogMeIn Trend Micro Hitachi ID Systems Okta Sailpoint Technologies Dashlane Business Keeper Security 1Password IBM Micro Focus (NetIQ) HelpSystems (Core Security) Rippling Avatier FastPassCorp Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode= QYRE-Auto-39L11069&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS: - Global Password Management Software Market Insights and Forecast to 2028 - Global Password Management Platform Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - Global Password Management Tools Market Insights and Forecast to 2028 - Global Enterprise Password Management Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - Global Privileged User Password Management Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - The global Cyber Security market size is projected to reach USD 215950 Million by 2027, from USD 115690 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 9.3% during 2021-2027. - The global Identity and Access Management market size is projected to reach USD 43190 million by 2027, from USD 15960 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.3% during 2021-2027. - The global cloud identity and access management market was valued at USD 3109.15 million in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 20728.92 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 21.1% from 2021 to 2030. - The global artificial intelligence market size was valued at USD 65.48 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 1,581.70 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 38.0% from 2021 to 2030. - The global Industrial Cyber Security market size is projected to reach USD 19220 Million by 2028, from USD 12000 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 6.9% during 2022-2028. - The global Data-Centric Security market size is projected to reach USD 11490 Million by 2028, from USD 3665 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 17.4% during 2022-2028. - The global Digital Rights Management market size is projected to reach USD 2633.3 million by 2028, from USD 1526.9 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 8.0% during 2022-2028. - The global Data Protection market size is projected to reach USD 113390 Million by 2027, from USD 61330 million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.1% during the forecast period 2021-2027. - The global Data Classification market size is projected to reach USD 1550.5 Million by 2028, from USD 642.3 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 12.9% during 2022-2028. - The global Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) market size is projected to reach USD 26390 million by 2028, from USD 5442.5 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 25.0% during 2022-2028. 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CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports LinkedIn - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports SAN DIEGO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, has been awarded three 2022 w3 Awards, most notably placing Gold for its Summer Checklist Landing Page, a digital resource for small business owners in California. Only 10% of the 3,000 submissions are selected as Gold winners by The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. Preferred Employers Insurance also received two Silver distinctions, both for B2C Branded Content, specifically honoring the company's customer digital communications. Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, wins three 2022 w3 Awards for Digital Marketing Excellence. The w3 Awards honor and recognize outstanding Websites, Marketing, Video, Mobile, Social, and Podcasts created by some of the best digital content creators across the globe. David Silva, Senior Creative Marketing Director at Preferred Employers Insurance says, "We believe this recognition further validates our collective teamwork towards putting our customers first." The full list of 2022 w3 Award winners can be found here: https://www.w3award.com/winners/list/ About Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, was founded in San Diego, CA in 1998. "Preferred" is known for serving its customers with the best combination of price, workplace risk management, and medical provider services available in California's workers' compensation insurance industry. Preferred Employers Insurance Company, a Berkley company is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, the global rating agency of insurer financial strength. Please contact your insurance broker to access the workers' compensation insurance products and services of Preferred Employers Insurance in California. Learn more about the company at https://www.peiwc.com. Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. About the W3 Awards The w3 Awards illuminates creative excellence on the Web, and recognizes the creative and marketing professionals behind award winning Websites, Video, Marketing, Mobile, Social and Podcasts. It is a leading digital competition that recognizes excellence from companies both big and small. The w3 Awards is sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation- only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms. Please visit www.aiva.org for a full member list and additional information. For more information about the w3 Awards, please visit www.w3award.com, email the w3 Awards at [email protected] or call 212-675-3555. SOURCE Preferred Employers Insurance Rock Tech is pleased to announce the final results from its completed 2021 2022 Drill Program. The Drill Program was designed to support the Company's ongoing pre-feasibility study in respect of the Georgia Lake Project, which the Company expects to publish in the fourth quarter of 2022. The final drill results are from exploration drilling completed during the winter and spring of 2022. Commenting on the Drill Program, Robert MacDonald, General Manager of the Georgia Lake Project, said, "Rock Tech is pleased to conclude this phase of our Drill Program, and with that, we are looking forward to the completion of our pre-feasibility study later this year while continuing to progress permitting work in respect of the Georgia Lake Project." The objective of the Drill Program was to increase the confidence in the current mineral resource estimate in respect of the Georgia Lake Project and to upgrade the resource classification from predominantly inferred resources to predominantly indicated resources, as well as test potential extensions of the mineral resource down dip and along strike of the deposits. Assay results from the initial 70 holes drilled during the 2021 2022 Drill Program were announced by the Company on January 12, 2022 and June 30, 2022 , respectively. In addition to the Drill Program, Rock Tech is also pleased to announce that it executed a successful mapping and prospecting program commenced in summer 2022 at the Georgia Lake Project in areas both proximal to known spodumene-bearing pegmatite deposits and in under-explored areas within its 6,728 hectares property. The Georgia Lake Project, located between Nipigon and Beardmore, Ontario is comprised of 1,042 hectares of mineral leases and 5,686 hectares of mineral claims. Since the start of the Drill Program in 2021, the Company has completed a total of 23,200 metres of diamond drilling that focused on five spodumene pegmatite deposits known as the Main Zone North ("MZN"), Conway, Main Zone Southwest ("MZSW"), Harricana and Line 60. KEY EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS Fourty-six (46) NQ 1 diamond drill holes totaling 13,829 metres were completed at the MZN deposit. diamond drill holes totaling 13,829 metres were completed at the MZN deposit. Thirty-five (35) NQ diamond drill holes totaling 5,943 metres were completed at Conway . . Sixteen (16) NQ diamond drill holes totaling 3,437 metres were completed at MZSW, Harricana and Line 60. Significant assay results from remaining 27 holes Rock Tech have been waiting for lab results include: MZSW Deposit MZSW-21-02 9.1m (true width) at 0.96% Li 2 O starting from 178m O starting from MZN Deposit NC-22-16 2.2m (true width) at 1.12% Li 2 O starting from 344.26m O starting from NC-22-20 5.85m (true width) at 1.06% Li 2 O starting from 145.23m O starting from NC-22-21 2.58m (true width) at 1.07% Li 2 O starting from 312.1m O starting from Conway Deposit CON-21-04 2.48m (true width) at 0.56% Li 2 O starting from 148.1m (true width) at 0.56% Li O starting from CON-22-27 3.52m (true width) at 1.39% Li 2 O starting from 75m (true width) at 1.39% Li O starting from CON-22-32 3.44m (true width) at 1.14% Li 2 O starting from 97m (true width) at 1.14% Li O starting from As previously announced ( June 30, 2022 ), the Drill Program has extended mineralization beyond the limits of previous drilling at MZN and Conway (see details below), and also identified a new mineralized zone south of the MZN deposit. Significant assay intersections from the new zone include: ), the Drill Program has extended mineralization beyond the limits of previous drilling at MZN and (see details below), and also identified a new mineralized zone south of the MZN deposit. Significant assay intersections from the new zone include: NC-22-17 3.25m (true width) at 0.92% Li 2 O starting from 117.27m O starting from NC-22-26 2.97m (true width) at 1.67% Li 2 O starting from 67.1m O starting from NC-22-30 2.32m (true width) at 1.05% Li 2 O starting from 239m ______________________________________ 1 Note : Represents core samples of 47.6mm in diameter. DETAILS ABOUT THE MAIN ZONE NORTH DRILLING The MZN deposit contains multiple stacked pegmatite dikes that are grouped into the "Northern" and "Southern" pegmatite systems at MZN. Spodumene mineralization at MZN strikes at 235 degrees for over 1 km and dips 60 degrees to the northwest. At MZN, the Drill Program extended spodumene mineralization for 50 100 metres down dip of known pegmatites for about 300 metres along strike on the eastern side of the deposit (See Table 1 and Figures 1 to 3 in the Appendix to this press release). A new mineralized zone was also discovered 150 300 metres south of the "MZN" deposit where historic drill holes and mapping showed sporadic spodumene mineralization (See Figure 1 and assay results for drill holes NC-22-17 to -19, NC-22-26, and NC-22-28 to -31 in Table 1, respectively, in the Appendix to this press release). DETAILS ABOUT THE CONWAY DRILLING The Conway deposit hosts one main pegmatite dike with spodumene mineralization striking at 210 degrees for 800 metres and dips 70 degrees to the northwest. The 2021 2022 drilling at Conway extended spodumene mineralization for 100 metres along strike to the south, to the 75 metres level (See Table 2 and Figures 4 and 5 in the Appendix to this press release). DETAILS ABOUT DRILLING AT MAIN ZONE SOUTHWEST The MZSW deposit, located 1 km to southwest of MZN deposit, hosts three parallel sub-parallel spodumene pegmatites that strike at 235 degrees for 300 metres, dipping 70 degrees to the northwest. See Table 2 in the Appendix to this press release for assay results in drill hole MZSW-21-02. SAMPLING AND QAQC PROCEDURE Samples were taken across every spodumene-bearing pegmatite and 1 metre into the barren host rock on either side of the dykes. Sample lengths were around 1 metre, though individual sample length was determined based on internal zoning of the dykes and the locations of their contacts. Core to be sampled was cut in half with one half being sent for analysis and the other half remaining in the box for reference. All core is stored at Rock Tech's core facility in Beardmore, Ontario. Each sample was put into its own plastic sample bag with a sample tag and closed with zip ties. About 13% of the samples submitted to Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") for analysis were QAQC samples that were inserted into the sample stream and consist of a high- and low-grade lithium standards, blank material, and duplicates. Samples were sent to Actlabs' preparation laboratories in Geraldton and Thunder Bay, Ontario for crushing and pulverizing, and were subsequently sent to Actlabs' geochemistry laboratory in Ancaster, Ontario for analysis of 41 elements using fusion plus ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Analysis for lithium was completed using a sodium peroxide fusion plus ICP-OES. Actlabs is independent of the Company. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE The scientific and technical disclosure included in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Amanuel Bein, P.Geo., Chief Exploration Geologist of the Georgia Lake Project, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects. Exploration data was collected and verified following the guidelines outlined in CIM Mineral Exploration Best Practice Guidelines. ABOUT ROCK TECH LITHIUM INC. Rock Tech is a cleantech company on a mission to produce lithium chemicals for EV batteries. The Company aims to serve automotive customers with high-quality lithium hydroxide. Rock Tech plans to build high-tech lithium converters at the door-step of the European and North American automotive industries, to provide customers with supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict ESG standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its own mineral project in Canada as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw materials from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information The following cautionary statements are in addition to all other cautionary statements and disclaimers contained elsewhere in, or referenced by, this press release. Certain information set forth in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which information is based on Rock Tech's current expectations, estimates, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking information. Often, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and all other indications of future tense. All forward-looking information set forth in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements referred to in this section. In particular, forward-looking information contained in this press release includes: statements regarding the Drill Program and the ongoing pre-feasibility study, including their objectives, results and the benefits thereof; the timing of completion of the pre-feasibility study; the Company's expectations regarding its planned and prospective projects, including the Georgia Lake Project and the proposed lithium projects, the Company's intentions with respect to the development and timing thereof and statements regarding future plans, activities, and schedules relating to such projects and related development; statements and expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. This forward-looking information was derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: that the results of the Drill Program will be indicative of future results; that the pre-feasibility study will continue as currently planned; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech's ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include: the Company's ability to access funding required to invest in available opportunities and projects (including the Georgia Lake Project) and on satisfactory terms; the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical hostilities; the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due; changes in commodity and other prices; Rock Tech's ability to attract and retain skilled staff and to secure feedstock from third party suppliers; unanticipated events and other difficulties related to the construction, development and operation of the Georgia Lake Project and/or the Company's proposed lithium converters; the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; title defects; competition from existing and new competitors; changes in currency and/or exchange rates and the market prices of Rock Tech's securities; Rock Tech's history of losses; adverse impacts of climate change; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Rock Tech's public disclosure documents available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com , including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, respectively. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information. Rock Tech Lithium Inc. APPENDIX Figure 1. Map showing location of 2021 2022 holes drilled at the MZN (A) and Conway (B) deposits. Figure 2. Long-section showing Lithium grade based on previous and current (2021-2022) drill hole composites at the Southern Pegmatite System of the MZN deposit. Figure 3. Long-section showing Lithium grade based on previous and current (2021-2022) drill hole composites at the Northern Pegmatite System of the MZN deposit. Figure 4A. Spodumene bearing Lithium Pegmatite intersection in drill hole MZSW-21-02 (Core Interval from 172 to 189 m) Figure 4B. Spodumene bearing Lithium Pegmatite intersections in drill hole NC-22-16 (Core Interval from 331.4 to 348.9 m) Figure 4C. Spodumene bearing Lithium Pegmatite intersections in drill hole CON-22-27 (Core Interval from 71 to 88 m) Figure 4D. Spodumene bearing Lithium Pegmatite intersections in drill hole NC-22-17 (Core Interval from 106 to 123.5 m) Figure 5. Long-section showing Lithium grade based on previous and current (2021-2022) drill hole composites at Conway. Table 1. Summary of Assay Results for Drill Holes Completed at the MZN Deposit in 2021 - 2022. GPS Locations are in UTM NAD83 Zone 16N. Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (M) Hole Length (M) Azimuth Dip From (M) To (M) Length (M) True Width (M) Li 2 O % NC-22-05 424418 5477728 368 395.3 140 -65 No Significant Assay Results NC-22-10 425279 5478063 365 326.7 135 -50 121.4 123.74 2.34 2.2 1.09 126.68 127.15 0.47 0.4 1.16 NC-22-11 425149 5477793 371 163.7 135 -50 30.1 31 0.9 0.8 0.65 NC-22-12 425218 5477815 372 143 135 -50 122.75 124.4 1.65 1.6 1.15 NC-22-13 425225 5477702 367 163.7 136 -50 62.9 63.8 0.9 0.8 1.12 NC-22-14 425263 5477845 368 167 135 -50 97 99 2 1.9 1.38 NC-22-16 424716 5477951 369 386 135 -60 344.26 346.74 2.48 2.2 1.12 NC-22-17 424737 5477431 376 203 135 -50 117.27 121.31 4 3.3 0.92 NC-22-18 424657 5477374 375 200 135 -50 187.4 189.47 2.07 1.7 0.65 NC-22-19 424762 5477319 375 200 135 -50 182.63 182.63 1 0.8 1.32 NC-22-20 425165 5477981 366 281 138 -48 128.69 131 2.31 2.2 1.74 145.23 151.4 6.17 5.9 1.06 167.25 167.68 0.43 0.4 1.24 173.07 173.7 0.63 0.6 1.19 NC -22-21 424803 5477939 371 350 135 -60 312.1 315.1 3 2.6 1.07 320.15 321.5 1.35 1.2 0.82 NC-22-22 425344 5477759 369 99 136 -50 41.37 43.24 1.87 1.8 1.29 NC-22-23 425284 5477727 370 134 135 -50 No Significant Assay Results NC-22-24 424942 5478062 374 407 136 -60 No Significant Assay Results NC-22-26 424852 5477530 372 200 135 -50 67.1 70.6 3.5 3 1.67 NC-22-27 425394 5477956 371 199 138 -50 No Significant Assay Results NC-22-28 424666 5477244 369 200 135 -50 No Significant Assay Results NC-22-29 424918 5477430 371 137 135 -50 69.29 70 0.71 0.6 0.71 86 87 1 0.9 1.35 NC-22-30 424547 5477293 368 251 135 -50 239 242 3 2.3 1.05 NC-22-31 424885 5477579 372 251 135 -50 48.22 49.33 1.11 0.9 0.99 Table 2. Summary of Assay Results for Drill Holes Completed at Conway and MZSW Deposits in 2021 - 2022. GPS Locations are in UTM NAD83 Zone 16N. Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Hole Length (M) Azimuth Dip From (M) To (M) Length (M) True Width (M) Li 2 O % CON-21-04 427236 5478240 386 206 120 -53 148.1 151.1 3 2.5 0.56 CON-22-27 427230 5478051 380 110 100 -45 75 79 4 2.5 1.39 84.2 86 1.8 1.6 0.99 CON-22-28 427219 5477834 391 87 120 -45 51 53 2 1.7 1.08 CON-22-30 427167 5477783 381 131 120 -48 No Significant Assay Results CON-22-32 427313 5478258 393 131 118 -51 97 101 4 3.4 1.14 MZSW-21-02 424224 5477100 370 270.4 137 -61 178 190 12 9.1 0.96 SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc. Potential rescheduling under federal law has significant benefits for the legal cannabis industry(1) SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - StateHouse Holdings Inc. ("StateHouse" or the "Company") (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQX: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today applauded President Joe Biden for announcing substantial reforms to cannabis enforcement in the United States. On Thursday, the President announced a proposed blanket pardon for people convicted of federal marijuana possession offences, and asked state governors to do the same. In addition, he said that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Attorney General have been asked to "expeditiously" review how cannabis is scheduled under federal law. "These are common-sense and long-overdue measures," said Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer of StateHouse. "We are, first of all, delighted that the President is pardoning the many thousands of people whose lives have been horribly impacted by minor possession offenses. Secondly, we believe that re-scheduling, or outright de-scheduling, of cannabis would be a very positive catalyst for the legal industry(1)." Cannabis is currently classified in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. As the White House noted, this is the same schedule as dangerous drugs such as heroin and LSD. This illogical classification has remained in place even as states have rapidly legalized and/or decriminalized medical and recreational cannabis over the last decade. The Schedule I status has severely limited institutional investment, reduced access to banking services, resulted in punitive federal taxation under the IRS 280E Tax Code, and prevented listings on major stock exchanges, among other challenges. As a result, the growth of the legal cannabis industry relative to the illicit market has been inhibited. "The potential benefits to StateHouse from the removal of the Schedule I classification are substantial(1)," said Mr. Schmults. "It could open us up to vast amounts of potential new investment, reduce our future tax obligations, and eliminate a source of uncertainty that impacts the entire industry. This announcement is one that the legal cannabis industry has awaited for years. We congratulate President Biden on initiating this reform and believe that it could drive significant value for our investors." Notes (1) This is forward-looking information and based on a number of assumptions. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" below. About StateHouse StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 14 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, distribution facilities in San Jose and Los Angeles, California and integrated cultivation/production facilities in Salinas and Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the potential re-scheduling or de-scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, and the potential benefits of this change to StateHouse. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com . Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE StateHouse Holdings Inc. Exemplifying Taiwan's emergence as a innovative powerhouse - transforming how the world lives, works, and plays WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DMV-area residents will have a chance to experience the not-so-distant future of tech, when the Taiwan Excellence Immersive pavilion opens its doors on October 12. This is the first-ever immersive and interactive exhibition in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and showcases the nation's best next-gen technology and innovations. Immersive Future, the Future is Now - The very first 'Taiwan Excellence Immersion Pavilion in Washington DC The expo comes at a time when US-Taiwan relations are taking center stage, and Taiwan continues to cement its role as a global leader in tech innovation and an emerging force in healthy living. Open to the public for free from October 12-14, the Taiwan Excellence Immersive pavilion at the Taiwan Expo will give visitors an opportunity to test-drive products that will shape life in the coming decade from fitness and work-from-home to sporting and gaming tech that will revolutionize important aspects of everyday life. Immersive Future, the Future is Now The very first Taiwan Excellence Immersive Pavilion is an exclusive fully interactive multimedia storytelling experience for the US. The public will be able to jump on a rowing machine with their very own avatar while surrounded by large-scale screens projecting a halcyon infinity river in the metaverse. Only steps away, they can ride through downtown Taipei or its gorgeous mountainous terrain in a VR-equipped spin bike. Get a sneak peek of many of the world's upcoming technology trends in health and lifestyle, outdoor sports, smart fitness, e-sports, and high tech. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the best of the top brands from Taiwan that are shaping modern life and setting new standards in work. The pavilion will feature 70 Taiwan Excellence award winning products from 23 world-renowned brands, like ASUS , Xplova, GIGABYTE, MSI, imSTONE, MSI, D-Link, VAGO, InWin, Pacific Cycles, WIIM, LifeSpan , and SOLE Fitness . Innovations for Modern Life Taiwan is internationally recognized as a hub for innovative technology. In recent years many Taiwanese brands and products have become synonymous with modern life across the world. The numerous Taiwan Excellence award winning global brands are a testament to the Taiwanese focus on quality and design. There will be a chance to take home some of the tech featured in the pavilion including a LifeSpan rowing machine! Attendees will also have access to a celebrity trainer who will assist as they try on different fitness equipment, as well as the opportunity to join in on a fun dance party hosted by local dance studio, DivaDance . The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion will also be providing attendees with a taste of the iconic Taiwanese drink, boba. For those unable to attend the event in person, a virtual pavilion will also be available online . Follow Taiwan Excellence on social media Facebook , Instagram @twexcellence_en to stay up to date and discover how Taiwan Excellence brings everyday excellence. About Taiwan Excellence The Taiwan Excellence Awards celebrate the ingenuity and innovation of Taiwanese businesses that display outstanding R&D, design, and quality in product development. The annual event is committed to elevating the creativity of Taiwanese businesses internationally. Please visit www.taiwanexcellence.org for more information. Media Contact Sucy Lin Tiger Party New York Tel: +1 646.441.8000 | [email protected] Monica Peng Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Tel: +886-2-2725-5200 ext. 1318 | [email protected] SOURCE Taiwan Excellence TOKYO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- T.E.S.T Co., Ltd. and a professional photographer Tomooh Nozawa from Hi cheese Co., Ltd. have developed "NOZON," a magnetic hanger designed for use in the fashion industry as a photographing support tool. Its sales starts on the NOZON website ( https://nozon.shop/en ) from October 7, 2022. Images: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202209297442?p=images - Anyone Can Easily Photograph Clothing for Online Stores The problem with conventional shooting methods is that it takes time, technique, cost, and space to convey the detail and feel of clothing materials to customers. By placing NOZON inside the clothing and hanging it from the wall with magnets, gravity creates natural wrinkles and drapes, allowing users to take pictures that bring out the nuances of clothes. - Time Saving and High Quality When developing NOZON from the prototype to the final product, many aspects including accessories and product specs were considered thoroughly. NOZON comes in three sizes, S, M and L, to support various types of garments. To attach steel plates to walls, pushpins or double-sided tape can be used depending on the material. Once the steel plates are attached, use NOZON to fix garments to the wall and get ready for the photo shoot. Natural wrinkles and draping occur with gravity, making it possible to shoot photos of the garments with its styles intact. Subtle adjustments to the positioning of the garments are easily performed with magnets. - Not Just for Photo Shoot Since garments do not have to be hanged, walls in stores or event booths can be utilized to save space. Also, garments can be displayed without using torso or full body mannequins. - How to Use NOZON YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RTdrZc67UU - Sales starts on the NOZON website on October 7. URL: https://nozon.shop/en Price: USD250 NOZON promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N3wM0lliWU Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nozon_official/ - How NOZON Started With the expansion of EC sales and social media usage in the fashion industry, the importance of photo shoot -- not only of models wearing products, but also product photography presenting the product on the internet in an easy-to-understand format -- is also increasing. Pro photographer Nozawa got an inspiration to develop NOZON as inquiries increased from his clients and colleagues if there was any way to take product photos more easily with better results. - Problem Solving for Photography When photographing clothes using hangers, mannequins, or flatly laid images, the problem was taking time, technique, cost and space. There was clearly a limit in showing the detail and feel of the material in the best state possible to customers with conventional photography. - Solution from Trial and Error To solve this problem, Nozawa applied the shooting technique using magnets that he practiced during his studio days and created prototypes by attaching magnets to frames made of wood. Using the prototypes, Nozawa tried shooting against the background of paper pasted on a steel plate, and the photos turned out to be something close to what he envisioned. And after a few more years of trial and error, the current shape has been achieved. SOURCE T.E.S.T Co., Ltd. PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Union Forge, the Pennsylvania-made vodka from Charles Jacquin et Cie., Inc., has earned a Double Gold Medal for "Best Domestic Vodka" from The Fifty Best, an unbiased guide to wines and spirits that achieves the highest standards of spirits evaluations through rigorous tasting methodology. A panel of judges determined the winner through a blind tasting of American-made, unflavored vodkas that they scored using a five-point system. Making Pennsylvania-made spirits is not new for the team at Jacquin's. The family-owned company has been around since 1884 and known internationally for their innovative liqueurs. The recent release of The Union Forge Vodka is the first major innovation for Jacquin's since third-generation owner John Cooper assumed the role of CEO in 2020. "The Union Forge represents the same spirit and resilience of Jacquin's and Pennsylvania," says Manali Tijoriwala, head of product development at Jacquin's. "Receiving a Double Gold Medal for "Best Domestic Vodka" is an honor and tribute to the team's hard work." A Product with Deep Local Roots The Union Forge is Pennsylvania's Vodka, it's handcrafted by Union Local 500 at the oldest continually run distillery in state; made with Pennsylvania Rye sourced from McKean Country and pure spring water from the Allegheny National Mountains. The award-winning vodka has delicious, creamy-vanilla notes but it's the Pennsylvania Rye that gives it a clean, crisp, and spicy finish. Since its launch in March 2022, The Union Forge has made community engagement a priority. In the most recent of its many community giveback initiatives, The Union Forge partnered with several bars around the state over Labor Day weekend to raise money for local food banks. This is only the beginning for The Union Forge, which has several forthcoming community investments, including a donation to Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE as part of their Neighborhood Bar Program). "As a native Pennsylvanian, it's exciting to be affiliated with a brand that not only delivers quality but has a strong commitment to supporting our local communities," says Stephanie Ridgway, brand ambassador for The Union Forge. "Bars and restaurants across the state who share our ethos have embraced the brand and joined us to help raise money in support of both local and national charities." The Union Forge Vodka is available for $19.99 in 750ml at major spirits retailers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, California, Delaware, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. IMAGES HERE UnionForgeVodka.com | @UnionForge SOURCE Charles Jacquin et Cie., Inc. LONDON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiger Infrastructure Partners ("Tiger Infrastructure") announced today a control investment of 75 million in Rural Broadband Solutions Holdings Limited ("RBBS"), a fast-growing provider of broadband services to residential and business customers in rural areas of the UK. RBBS initially provided broadband through Fixed Wireless Access Technology in Shropshire, and has started deploying full fibre broadband since the establishment of the UK government's Project Gigabit scheme, which subsidises broadband roll-out in rural areas. We look forward to partnering with RBBS to deliver best-in-class infrastructure and broadband service to rural communities Tweet this Emil W. Henry, Jr., CEO of Tiger Infrastructure, commented: "RBBS, with its track record of operating a high-quality Fixed Wireless Access network and deploying full fibre in challenging areas, represents an ideal partner for Tiger Infrastructure to enter a sector experiencing strong tailwinds. We have the opportunity to invest alongside the UK government to meet the needs of rural households and small businesses that, despite strong growth in data consumption, remain served by significantly slower and less reliable copper lines or Fibre-to-the-Cabinet. Having followed the UK fibre sector for many years, we were impressed by the quality and investment discipline of RBBS' management team, and look forward to partnering with them to deliver best-in-class infrastructure and service to rural communities." RBBS' vision is to create a high-quality, contiguous network initially covering approximately 100,000 remote premises in small towns in Shropshire and Wales where full fibre connectivity is currently unavailable. RBBS' target deployment areas are some of the least densely populated in the UK and sit entirely in Ofcom's Area 3, which includes rural locations where the first provider to connect each premise is eligible for subsidies. Many of these areas represent an attractive investment opportunity that has been left out of the deployment plans of full fibre operators focused on larger urban areas. Full fibre broadband is recognised by the UK government as critical to "level up" the country, particularly due to the growth in data consumption and the rise of remote working following the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher New, CEO of RBBS, added: "We were seeking a financial partner who shared our vision to deploy full fibre to our communities. We believe Tiger Infrastructure is a like-minded investor whose expertise and capital will assist us in making RBBS a leader in our niche. With Tiger Infrastructure's investment, RBBS is well-positioned to help communities in Shropshire and Wales solve the immediate and growing requirement for reliable, gigabit-capable connectivity." About Tiger Infrastructure Partners Tiger Infrastructure Partners is a leading middle market investor focused on providing transformational growth capital to enable the infrastructure of tomorrow. Tiger targets superior risk-adjusted returns for its investors by employing the firm's value-add approach to growth investments across the Digital Infrastructure, Energy Transition and Transportation sectors in North America and Europe, where significant tailwinds are driving demand for new infrastructure. For more information, visit www.tigerinfrastructure.com. About RBBS RBBS provides Fixed Wireless Access and full fibre broadband to communities in Shropshire, through the Internet Service Provider brand SWS. RBBS intends to provide services also on a wholesale basis to other Internet Service Providers. RBBS is currently owned by Rural Broadband Solutions Plc, which will remain invested as a minority shareholder following a corporate reorganisation. For more information, visit www.ruralbroadbandsolutions.com. SOURCE Tiger Infrastructure Partners ZUG, Switzerland, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exarta, a U.K based metaverse recently featured in the Business Leader Magazine's Global Top 32 Metaverse Companies, is coming to Concordium. Using Concordium's ID layer to build safe and authentic environments while balancing privacy and accountability, Exarta plan to go multi-chain, bridging serious gamers and brands from existing blockchains. Exarta says a Fortune 200 company is expected to join Exarta in October, along with other organizations that are building on the virtual world which will be announced later this year. Enabling users to pay with both fiat and crypto, Exarta can onboard brands at speed and offer faster time to market, at a fraction of the cost it currently takes to build on current metaverses. In a metaverse first, Exarta have built their own proprietary A.I/ Machine Learning systems, and designed their virtual world built on Unreal Engine, including an in-house developed custom avatar creator module, and car configurator. Exarta will also incorporate retail, gaming, medical, and educational applications to give brands a complete metaverse platform to create new experiences with their customers. "Without question, the metaverse vision is a big opportunity for the blockchain industry. Therefore, at Concordium, it is very important for us to partner up with ambitious projects in this space. We want to support the metaverses themselves, but can also bring clients to them as an increasing number of use cases are requesting metaverse infrastructure for their own projects. So we see a great synergy between the metaverse, our other projects and use cases and the safe environment Concordium provides for both brands and users. We are excited to have identified Exarta as an aspiring and commercially orientated metaverse. Together, we will bring corporations and brands into these new virtual distribution and marketing channels that we believe will constitute an ever increasing part of business and everyday life in coming years. Both for social and commercial purposes, the future looks bright for the metaverse, and Exarta is well positioned to be among the front runners in the industry,'' says Lars Seier Christensen, Concordium Founder and Chairman. "We are excited to be working with Concordium and believe that the ID layer will be a critical component for large brand adoption within the web3 space now and in the future. Exarta has been building non-stop for some of the largest brands in the world. Our rapid expansion also includes building teams across our offices in Asia, UK, Dubai, USA, and a headquarters in the Isle of Man," Says Rashid Ali, Exarta Co-founder and CEO. He continues by saying, "Our proprietary A.I artificial intelligence coupled with the Concordium blockchain will revolutionize the Metaverse as we know it today. We will bring brands on at scale and give users a safe, secure and private platform to work in, explore, buy/ trade and play." Contact Maria Amalia Rojas Marketing Director [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/concordium/r/top-metaverse--exarta--is-coming-to-concordium,c3644731 SOURCE Concordium Acepodia team is proud to congratulate Professor Carolyn Bertozzi who won the 2022 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, along with Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless, for their work pioneering the development of biorthogonal chemistry. ALAMEDA, Calif. and TAIPEI, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acepodia, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) platform technology to address gaps in cancer care, today joins the academic community in congratulating laureates of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Acepodia's core technology, ACC, is inherited from Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi's pioneering work in the development of biorthogonal chemistry which moves click chemistry into living organisms. The creation of Acepodia's technology platform and its intellectual properties were one of the few companies spun from Bertozzi's lab when our CEO, Sonny Hsiao, Ph.D., worked at Professor Bertozzi's lab when she was a faculty member at UC Berkeley. "We are honored to see Dr. Bertozzi being recognized for her work by the Nobel Prize selection committee, and we are extremely grateful for her scientific contribution which has led to the creation of Acepodia's technology platform. Acepodia has used "click'' chemistry to click things onto live cells. "I am honored to have been a part of Team Bertozzi and I'm excited to help expand the use of click chemistry into the field of cell therapy at Acepodia," said Sonny Hsiao, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Acepodia. Currently, Acepodia is advancing its robust pipeline of antibodyconjugated effector (ACE) cell therapies with the potential to bring innovative, effective, and affordable cell therapies to a broad population of patients across a variety of solid tumors and hematologic cancers that impact millions of worldwide. Acepodia's two leading candidates, ACE1702 and ACE1831, are in Phase 1 clinical trials where their safety is being assessed for as next-generation off-the-shelf allogenic cell therapies. These therapies are being developed with Acepodia's antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) platform. ACE1702 conjugates natural killer cells with anti-HER2 antibody and ACE1831 conjugates gamma delta T cells with antiCD20 antibody using complementary DNA aptamer linkers. About Acepodia Acepodia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) platform technology to address gaps in cancer care. Leveraging its ACC technology, the company links tumor-targeting antibodies to its proprietary immune cells, such as natural killer and gamma delta T cells to create novel ACE therapies, which have increased binding strength against tumors that express low levels of tumor antigens. Acepodia is made up of seasoned leaders and scientific experts dedicated to advancing its robust pipeline of ACE therapies with the potential to bring innovative, effective, and affordable cell therapies to a broad population of patients across a variety of solid tumors and hematologic cancers. For more information, visit https://www.acepodia.com and follow Acepodia on Twitter and LinkedIn SOURCE Acepodia, Inc. DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV), will release its third quarter 2022 financial results on November 3, and will hold an investor call the same day at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The call will be hosted by Aptiv's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Clark, and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Business Operations, Joseph Massaro. A link to the live webcast and presentation materials will be available on the Aptiv Investor Relations website at ir.aptiv.com. A replay will be available two hours following the conference call. To participate by telephone, please dial 800-239-9838 (U.S.) or +1 323-701-0225 (international) 15 minutes prior to the start of the call and ask to be connected to the Aptiv PLC conference call. The conference ID number is 7786988. About Aptiv Aptiv is a global technology company that develops safer, greener and more connected solutions enabling a more sustainable future of mobility. Visit aptiv.com. SOURCE Aptiv PLC WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballentine Partners, a leading independent wealth management firm headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, welcomed Genevieve George, CPA, CFP, CFE, CDFA, as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Genevieve joined Ballentine Partners' High Net Worth Practice, which works with clients who have investable assets between $3.5 - $25 million. She will help clients by delivering comprehensive financial advice with the highest level of personal service and professional integrity. Genevieve George joins Ballentine Partners as Senior Wealth Advisor. "We are really excited that Genevieve has joined our team," commented Jennifer Christian Murtie, Head of the High Net Worth Practice. "In addition to her strong advising, financial planning, and accounting background, Genevieve's experience on philanthropic boards and deep ties to the Palm Beach community will be a great addition to our growing firm." "I am excited to join Ballentine Partners and their well-respected team. I love working with clients and understanding their financial goals and I am thrilled to be a part of the High Net Worth team. I am looking forward to growing professionally with this dynamic group of advisors," shares Genevieve. Genevieve George, CPA, CFP, CFE, CDFA joined Ballentine Partners in October as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Genevieve worked as a Senior Financial Advisor at HBKS Wealth Advisors. She also has a deep philanthropic background; she was the previous Chair of Impact100 Martin, Inc. and is currently on the Board of Impact the Palm Beaches as Membership Committee Vice Chair. Genevieve is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFE). About Ballentine Partners Ballentine Partners is a client-centric investment and wealth management firm dedicated to integrity and independence. We manage over $9.1 billion of assets (as of 6/30/2022) for private clients who rely on us to be their most trusted advisor for all aspects of their complex financial lives. With clients ranging from entrepreneurs with $3.5 million of liquid assets to multi-generational families with over $1 billion, we customize our solutions to our clients' needs and design our strategies with only our clients' interests in mind. We help our clients make smart decisions about their wealth, giving them the freedom to focus on the lives they want to lead. SOURCE Ballentine Partners, LLC CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, Bank of America will report its third-quarter 2022 financial results on Monday, October 17. The results will be released at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET, followed by an investor presentation at 8:30 a.m. ET. The news release, supplemental filing and investor presentation can be accessed at Bank of America's Investor Relations website at https://investor.bankofamerica.com/quarterly-earnings. Investor Conference Call Information For a listen-only connection to the investor presentation, dial 1.877.200.4456 (U.S.) or 1.785.424.1732 (international). The conference ID is 79795. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Investors can also listen to live audio of the conference call and view the presentation slides by visiting the "Events & Presentations" section of the company's Investor Relations website. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,000 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 55 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for email news alerts. www.bankofamerica.com Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected] Jonathan Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Bill Halldin, Bank of America Phone: 1.916.724.0093 [email protected] Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.386.6794 [email protected] SOURCE Bank of America Corporation More than 100 students to compete for career opportunities and prizes with technology partners during the in-person event on Oct. 69. NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BLACK ENTERPRISE's 7th Annual BE Smart Hackathon, hosted by American Airlines, will hold its first in-person tech competition since 2019. This year's hack, with the theme "Homecoming 2022: All Code, No Switch!" brings teams of over 100 students from 19 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to compete for prizes from American Airlines and other leading technology partners supporting the event. The BE Smart Hackathon provides HBCU students with valuable opportunities to network, build relationships, gain mentorship, engage in career preparation, and add meaningful experiences to their resumes to pursue employment in a tech industry seeking to recruit more diverse talent. Students will also benefit from virtual workshops on the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, and natural language processing, from Microsoft, IBM, HP, and many others tech companies. "For decades, technology companies have lamented their ineffectiveness at finding and recruiting African American talent," says BLACK ENTERPRISE President and CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. "HBCUs have been the source of top-notch talent in practically every industry. Our annual BE Smart Hackathon, in partnership with American Airlines, not only identifies and showcases promising Black talent but provides platforms for those companies to recruit them for internships and jobs." In addition to the competition, BLACK ENTERPRISE and American Airlines will host a special town hall session"Developing Top Tech Talent At HBCUs"focusing on how HBCUs can build corporate partnerships, overcome barriers, and identify new opportunities to develop and advance students and graduates who can participate in the evolving IT space across tech, aviation/transportation, hospitality, finance, and other sectors. Each year, BE Smart Hackathon participants are recruited for internships and full-time job opportunities at American Airlines and its technology partners. American Airlines will connect its technical staff to mentor each team during the 24-hour hackathon. The mentor will help remove any roadblocks and advise the team on preparing and giving their presentation to the judges. BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source to build Wealth for Life, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. A multimedia company, BE also produces video programming, business and lifestyle events, web content, and digital media. Visit www.blackenterprise.com for more information. SOURCE: BLACK ENTERPRISE Related Links www.blackenterprise.com SOURCE BLACK ENTERPRISE Research highlights value of IMTAC platform to identify drug targets for cancer treatments SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BridGene Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company using a proprietary chemoproteomics technology to discover and develop small molecules for high value, traditionally undruggable targets, today announced that two abstracts featuring the application of the company's proprietary chemoproteomic platform IMTAC and the company's leading program TEAD inhibitors, have been accepted for poster presentation and discussion sessions at the 34th (ENA 2022) European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Symposium, which is being held October 26-28, 2022, in Barcelona. ENA 2022 will feature experts in cancer drug development and translational research who facilitate in-depth scientific discussions on the latest developments in targets and drugs from pre-clinical and phase I settings. BridGene's IMTAC enables the screening of small molecules against the whole proteome or selected targets in live cells to discover drug candidates for traditionally undruggable targets that are responsible for destructive diseases, including multiple types of cancer. "We are delighted to announce that two abstracts have been accepted for presentation at ENA 2022. The abstracts feature research highlighting the capabilities of our IMTAC platform to identify novel therapeutic targets and novel compounds to drug 'hard to drug' targets," commented Ping Cao, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciences. "This symposium is internationally renowned for the quality of ground-breaking data presented. Our research being featured twice reflects the outstanding value of BridGene's unique technology in drug discovery and development." The titles of the abstracts follow: Title: Identification of novel therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer Author(s): Elizabeth Christie, Cindy Huang, Vivian Zhang, Karla Cowley, Kaylene Simpson, Guoqing Wang, Wolf R. Wiedemeyer, and Ping Cao Title: Covalent pan-TEAD inhibitors for the treatment of cancers with Hippo pathway alterations Author(s): Shirley Guo, Cindy Huang, Shashank Shrishrimal, Jason Cui, Vivian Zhang, Ning Deng, Iris Dong, Guoqing Wang, Glenn C. Begley, Steve Luo, Ping Cao, and Wolf. R. Wiedemeyer About BridGene Biosciences BridGene is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative small molecules that drug traditionally undruggable targets, providing new paths to treat diseases. By using its proprietary chemoproteomics platform, IMTAC, BridGene can screen small molecules against proteins in live cells to discover drug candidates for high value and traditionally undruggable targets. For this purpose, BridGene takes advantage of its proprietary, diverse library of tagged, drug-like small molecules. The ultimate goal is to enable breakthrough small molecule drug discovery with expanded mechanisms to treat diseases with targets previously inaccessible to small molecules. The uniqueness of BridGene's technology allows it to perform IMTAC screening for both covalent and non-covalent molecules, target different amino acids and discover new targets for disease treatments by deconvoluting phenotypic screening hits. The company is advancing a diversified pipeline of first-in-class drugs for targets in multiple disease areas. For more information, visit https://www.bridgenebio.com. Contacts Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Investors Jonathan Nugent +1-205-566-3026 [email protected] Media Bill Borden +1-732-910-1620 [email protected] Dave Schemelia +1-609-468-9325 [email protected] SOURCE BridGene Biosciences New sleepwear product line takes hibernating to new level of fun and cozy for the entire family even furry friends ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) today announced the launch of a new branded matching family sleepwear line as part of its new Pajama Shop. Build-A-Bear's expansion into the sleepwear category is a natural next step for the brand, as teddy bears and pajamas are a recognizable part of bedtime routines for many. This new pajama line nestles perfectly within a brand that has provided millions of guests a furry friend as a source of comfort while sleeping for the past 25 years. "We know so many of our guests have been tucked in and fallen asleep snuggling a furry friend from Build-A-Bear, and we absolutely love to be part of so many bedtime routines. Now we are thrilled to add another bedtime essential with our new pajama line, allowing the entire family to get cozy wearing matching jammies," said Jenn Kretchmar, Chief Digital and Merchandising Officer. "The launch is perfectly timed with the start of the holiday season, as wearing matching pajamas has grown to be a favorite tradition for many families, and our festive designs, inspired by our brand, continue to make Build-A-Bear a seasonal favorite." Bedtime is not complete without a favorite plush bear nearby. This new line will offer bear-sized pajamas in the same designs offering a completely coordinated bedtime look. In addition, the Pajama Shop will feature the adorable Sweet Dreams Bear, a cuddly soft brown bear with a smiley face, as the signature bear of the new product line. The new Pajama Shop features a sleepwear line that provides stylish, comfy, and themed pajamas in a wide assortment of sizes, with the option to mix and match. Guests can select toddler, youth, and unisex adult sizes, or build their own set by choosing from various tops and pants. In addition to pajamas, the line will also offer bear-themed accessories with complimenting slippers, hats and robes giving guests the added fun of dressing up like a favorite cuddly teddy bear. The initial launch will offer a total of five themed patterns for fall, winter, holiday, and all-year wear. Each pattern comes with numerous mix-and-match opportunities such as Autumn Leaves, Festive Buffalo Check, and a Christmas-themed Holiday Hugs. Build-A-Bear expects to release more options to celebrate various occasions and continued family fun. About Build-A-Bear Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life" appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own "furry friends" to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar retail locations operated through a variety of formats provide guests of all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. The company also offers engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on buildabear.com including its online "Bear-Builder", the animated "Bear Builder 3D Workshop" and its age-gated adult-focused "Bear Cave". In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that fulfills the company's mission, while the company also offers products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. posted total revenue of $411.5 million in fiscal 2021. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop Explore the Magic Doors at Disney Encanto x CAMP starting October 8th in NYC Exclusive Disney Encanto x CAMP Capsule Collection Available Nationwide NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CAMP, The Family Experience Company, invites you to join La Familia Madrigal, from Walt Disney Animation Studios' Academy Award-winning Encanto, in their newest experience: Disney Encanto x CAMP, opening in New York City on October 8th. Tickets are available today and can be purchased here . This 6,000 square foot experience, inspired by the film and created in collaboration with Disney, will transport families into the beloved world of Disney Animation's Encanto. Behind CAMP's signature Magic Door families will enjoy: La Placita at the Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at CAMP 5th Avenue. The Courtyard at the Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at CAMP 5th Avenue. An enchanting and exciting hour-long visit to the Madrigals' Casita , filled with candlelight, cumbia and magic , filled with candlelight, cumbia and magic Climbing up and around Antonio's rainforest, spinning through Isabela's flower-filled room, sliding down into the Courtyard and more. We aren't going to talk about Bruno's room, but guests surely will! Interactive scenes inspired by the film and uniquely created for this experience including: Luisa's and Pepa's never-before-seen rooms and cousin Dolores' Soundscape Door The voices of Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel), Maria Cecilia Botero (Abuela Alma) welcoming you to the Encanto x CAMP experience, joined by the voices John Leguizamo (Bruno) and Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Antonio) throughout the show, bringing the magic of the film to life. (Mirabel), Maria (Abuela Alma) welcoming you to the Encanto x CAMP experience, joined by the voices (Bruno) and (Antonio) throughout the show, bringing the magic of the film to life. Shopping in the Encanto town square ( La Placita ) for exclusive, bespoke, and customizable character-based clothing, books and colorful felt jewelry all displayed in a series of beautiful merchant carts ) for exclusive, bespoke, and customizable character-based clothing, books and colorful felt jewelry all displayed in a series of beautiful merchant carts Live Counselor-led singalongs to the film's favorite tunes like "We Don't Talk About Bruno" and "Surface Pressure" throughout the show A family photo that captures their magical gifts as a keepsake of their visit to the Encanto The Disney Encanto x CAMP Experience will open on Saturday October 8th, 2022 at CAMP's Flagship Store located at 110 5th Avenue, New York. Limited tickets are available today at camp.com/disneyencanto for its October debut, families are encouraged to plan ahead. "This first of its kind show will transport families into the beautiful world of Encanto, bringing to life the magic shared between CAMP and Disney," said Ben Kaufman CAMP's Co-Founder and CEO. "In 2018, we opened our first store right here at 110 5th Avenue and have since built an incredible community across the country. It is a privilege to have created a show with such a strong sense of family and identity, behind our very own Magic Door. NYC Families will feel a part of the rich community so integral to the film right here at CAMP!" Inspired by the vibrancy of the film, the Disney Encanto x CAMP Exclusive Capsule Collection is also available for purchase today at camp.com/disney-encanto-shop nationwide and will be available at CAMP's Flagship store on October 8th. The must-have pieces include Isabela and Mirabel inspired Twirl Skirts and matching embellished sweatshirts, character-based tees, hats, and bags that can be customized with detailed chain stitching, colorful felt patches, whimsical rickrack trimmings and more. Make your very own here . "Bringing together Disney's extraordinary storytelling and immersive retail experiences allows us to dream bigger and create special offerings for families," said Hubert Liu, SVP Business Planning and Franchise Development, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. "Our continued collaboration with CAMP is an exciting example of our commitment to engaging with our fans in new ways. We're thrilled to deliver this beautifully immersive experience that celebrates the award-winning magic of Disney's Encanto." Disney Encanto x CAMP will be in New York for a limited time before moving to another CAMP location near you. CAMP was a participant in the 2021 Disney Accelerator, a business development program designed to accelerate the growth of innovative companies from around the world. For more information, visit camp.com and follow @campstores and hashtags: #DisneyEncantoxCAMP. Link to digital assets can be found here . About CAMP CAMP is a Family Experience Company that helps answer the question, "What should we do today?" through a unique combination of retail, media and entertainment. Launched in 2018, CAMP operated nine retail locations in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Texas and serves families everywhere via its digital platforms. SOURCE CAMP ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, CareVet deployed CareVet Rescue, an emergency, volunteer-based response providing veterinary care to local communities in the aftermath of a major disaster. CareVet Rescue's fully equipped mobile veterinary unit entered the Fort Myers, Florida, community to provide relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Last week, CareVet's fully equipped veterinary mobile unit staffed by four CareVet Team Members traveled 1,700 miles from Connecticut to Fort Myers, Florida. The team arrived in Fort Myers faster than FEMA and Florida Fish & Wildlife. They sprang into action, donating more than 1,000 pounds of dry pet food and 200 cases of wet food to those in need and the Red Cross. They set up base in the Fort Myers area and were equipped to provide pet care services and vital first aid to those affected free of charge. Microchip scanners were available to assist in lost pet searches, a common consequence of natural disasters. Fort Myers, a barrier island on the southwestern coast of Florida, sustained extensive damage when Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday, September 28. Upon arriving in the area, CareVet Rescue volunteers were met with flooded roads and destroyed buildings. After navigating into the area, the CareVet Rescue team visited many veterinary clinics in the area to assess the damage and were on standby to assist them as needed. Partnerships with local animal hospitals and shelters, industry suppliers and manufacturing partners helped provide additional goods and services to further aid in support. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Patterson Veterinary Supply, Zoetis Animal Health, Royal Canin, Merck, Datamars Pet ID and Virox Technologies donated to the cause by shipping supplies overnight to the site. More than 120 Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians and other CareVet Team Members across the network volunteered to aid in the relief efforts. CareVet supports its volunteers by paying for travel, lodging and the Team Member's regular pay rate while on the CareVet Rescue Team. "After the devastation that the Fort Myers community experienced last week, this was the least we could do," says Russ Camilleri, a CareVet Rescue volunteer Team Member. "CareVet's mission is centered around helping pets and people. We got to do just a little of that in the Fort Myers community this week and hope that we made this week easier for those impacted." To learn about CareVet's CareVet Rescue initiative, visit carevethealth.com/carevetrescue. About CareVet: CareVet is a leading operator of independent veterinary hospitals operating in 35+ states with more than 2,500 Team Members. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Kent Thornberry, a DVM who built and grew two of his own veterinary hospitals before selling them to two separate veterinary practice management groups and Greg Siwak, a highly regarded entrepreneur. Together, they felt there was a better operating model for hospitals anchored in a deep commitment and investment in the teams that serve their clients and pets. CareVet is privately held and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and can be visited at CareVetHealth.com and followed on LinkedIn at @CareVet-Health and Facebook at @CareVetHealth. CONTACT: Allie Schweitzer, Digital Marketing Lead [email protected] (314) 954-0141 SOURCE CareVet Famous New York Cheesecake, bite-sized and covered in chocolate, now in Acme, Albertsons, Balducci's, Central Market, Jewel-Osco, Kings Food Markets, Pavilions, Shaw's, Star, Vons and Wegmans Find your Nearest Retailer NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New York's iconic delicatessen, Carnegie Deli , debuts their brand new Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites in more than 1,000 retail stores including Acme, Albertsons, Balducci's, Central Market, Jewel-Osco, Kings Food Markets, Pavilions, Shaw's, Star, Vons and Wegmans. Carnegie Deli packed all the deliciousness of their famous New York cheesecake into one decadent bite and then covered it in the finest 65% Republica del Cacao chocolate. Carnegie Deli won't be sharing their secret family recipe anytime soon, but they can tell you they use the best ingredients to create the creamiest, dreamiest, perfectly poppable cheesecake bites. "When we launched Carnegie Deli's retail line, our mission was to share the iconic New York experience with customers across the country," shares CEO of Carnegie Deli, Sarri Harper. "It's a dream to bring Carnegie Deli to more households than ever before and to be able to spread happiness one cheesecake bite at a time." Whether it's a holiday party or a Tuesday night on the couch, Carnegie Deli's craveable new treats make snacking, sharing, and entertaining easier than ever. No leftovers, no mess it's a cheesecake lover's dream. Find the Cheesecake Bites in any of these local grocer's frozen dessert aisles. Carnegie Deli's Cheesecake Bites are also available on carnegiedeli.com and Amazon.com. About Carnegie Deli Carnegie Deli, founded in 1937, and located just offstage from Manhattan's theater district, quickly became the iconic spot for entertainers, celebrities, and comics to eat sandwiches the size of their heads. Fast forwarding to today, Carnegie Deli has become the quintessential New York deli and is known for its gargantuan sandwiches, smoked and cured meats, potato knishes, and creamy cheesecakes. Media Contact - Morgan Blanner, [email protected], 702-408-0855 SOURCE Carnegie Deli NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the civil engineering market, operating under the industrial industry. The report registers an incremental growth of USD 2658.03 billion, at a CAGR of 3.97% during the forecast period. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Civil Engineering Market 2022-2026 The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Competitors have to focus on differentiating their product offerings with unique value propositions to strengthen their foothold in the market. Market vendors also have to leverage the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. AECOM, Balfour Beatty Plc, Fluor Corp., Galfar Engineering and Contracting SAOG, Hyundai Motor Group, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., John Wood Group Plc, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., Stantec Inc., and Tetra Tech Inc. are among some of the major market participants. The rise in construction activities in developing countries has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the decline in civil engineering might hamper the market growth. Request Free Sample Report. Civil Engineering Market Segmentation Based on geographic segmentation, 37% of the market's originated from APAC during the forecast period. In addition, the Real Estate category led the growth under the application segment This report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the superfood powders market size. Application Real Estate Infrastructure Industrial Geographic APAC North America Europe MEA South America APAC will account for 37% of market growth. The two major civil engineering markets in APAC are China and India. The research provides a current review of the market's geographic distribution. Due to its rapid growth, APAC is anticipated to present a number of chances for market suppliers throughout the forecast period. Over the projection period, an increase in building renovation activities would support market expansion in APAC for civil engineering. Buy Sample Report. Civil Engineering Market Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The civil engineering market report covers the following areas: Civil Engineering Market Size Civil Engineering Market Trends Civil Engineering Market Industry Analysis This study identifies the rise in construction activities in developing countries as one of the prime reasons driving the Civil Engineering Market growth during the next few years. Download Free Sample Report. Civil Engineering Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist civil engineering market growth during the next five years Estimation of the civil engineering market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the civil engineering market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of civil engineering market, vendors Related Reports Safety Headgear Market by Application, Product, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Engineering Services Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Civil Engineering Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.97% Market growth 2022-2026 $2658.03 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.88 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 37% Key consumer countries China, US, India, Germany, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AECOM, Balfour Beatty Plc, Fluor Corp., Galfar Engineering and Contracting SAOG, Hyundai Motor Group, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., John Wood Group Plc, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., Stantec Inc., and Tetra Tech 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, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2021 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments Comparison by Application Real estate - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Industrial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Market opportunity by Application Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 MEA - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors AECOM Balfour Beatty Plc Fluor Corp. Galfar Engineering and Contracting SAOG Hyundai Motor Group Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. John Wood Group Plc SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Stantec Inc. Tetra Tech Inc. Appendix Scope of the report Research methodology List of abbreviations 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 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT (SEE "OFFER AND DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS" BELOW) NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit Suisse International (the Offeror*) announced today invitations to holders of the outstanding securities described in the table below to tender such securities for purchase by the Offeror for cash for aggregate consideration of up to U.S.$ 2,000,000,000, subject to increase as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum, (each such invitation an Offer and together, the Offers). This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Offers which are contained in the tender offer memorandum dated 7 October 2022 (the Tender Offer Memorandum) prepared by the Offeror, and are subject to the offer restrictions set out below and as more fully described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Holders of the securities (together the Securities and each series of the Securities a Series) described in the table below are advised to read carefully the Tender Offer Memorandum, copies of which are (subject to distribution restrictions) available from the Dealer Manager and the Information and Tender Agent as set out below. Capitalised terms used in this announcement but not defined have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum. * Together with the issuer of the Securities, as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Details of the Offers Title of Securities Issuer ISIN / CUSIP Number Outstanding Principal Amount (in millions)(1) Tender Offer Consideration (2)(3) Early Tender Payment(2) Total Consideration(2) Fixed Spread Reference Treasury Security Bloomberg Reference Page Acceptance Priority Level 1.00 per cent. Notes due May 2023 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2D25/ 22550L2D2 U.S. $2,000 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 305 basis points 4.250 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2024 PX1 1 Floating Rate Notes due August 2023 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550UAD37/ 22550UAD3 U.S. $600 U.S. $941.25 U.S. $30.00 U.S. $971.25 Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 2 0.52 per cent. Notes due August 2023 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2F72/ 22550L2F7 U.S. $1,400 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 310 basis points 4.250 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2024 PX1 3 1.25 per cent. Notes due August 2026 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York branch US22550L2G55/ 22550L2G5 U.S. $1,750 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 355 basis points 4.125 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2027 PX1 4 5.00 per cent. Notes due July 2027 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2K67/ 22550L2K6 U.S. $1,250 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 375 basis points 4.125 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2027 PX1 5 3.70 per cent. Notes due February 2025 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2H39/ 22550L2H3 U.S. $2,100 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 360 basis points 3.500 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 15 September 2025 PX1 6 Floating Rate Notes due February 2025 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550UAF84/ 22550UAF8 U.S. $400 U.S. $920.00 U.S. $30.00 U.S. $950.00 Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 7 Floating Rate Notes due February 2024 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550UAB70/ 22550UAB7 U.S. $1,000 U.S. $923.75 U.S. $30.00 U.S. $953.75 Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 8 4.75 per cent. Notes due August 2024 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2J94/ 22550L2J9 U.S. $1,250 To be determined as described herein U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 370 basis points 4.250 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2024 PX1 9 0.495 per cent. Notes due February 2024 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2E08/ 22550L2E0 U.S. $1,000 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 350 basis points 4.250 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2024 PX1 10 3.625 per cent. Notes due September 2024 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22546QAP28/ 22546QAP2 U.S. $3,000 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 370 basis points 4.250 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 September 2024 PX1 11 2.95 per cent. Notes due April 2025 Credit Suisse AG, acting through its New York Branch US22550L2C42/ 22550L2C4 U.S. $1,500 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum U.S. $30.00 To be determined as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum 350 basis points 3.500 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 15 September 2025 PX1 12 (1) Principal amount of the Securities outstanding, excluding Securities previously purchased by the Offeror or its affiliates and held by the Offeror or its affiliates as at the date of this Tender Offer Memorandum. (2) Per U.S.$1,000 in principal amount of the Securities. Accrued Interest will also be paid up to (but excluding) the relevant Settlement Date. (3) Calculated as the relevant Total Consideration less the relevant Early Tender Payment. Rationale for the Offers The Offers are consistent with the Group's proactive approach to managing overall liability composition and optimising interest expense and allow us to take advantage of market conditions to repurchase debt at attractive prices. Tender Offer Consideration, Early Tender Payment and Total Consideration for the Offers Total Consideration for the Offers In respect of any Securities validly tendered at or prior to the applicable Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase pursuant to the relevant Offer, the Offeror will pay a cash purchase price per U.S.$1,000, in principal amount equal to the Total Consideration for the relevant Series, which includes the Early Tender Payment for such Series as set out in the table above. The Total Consideration for each Series will be: (a) in respect of the Floating Rate Notes due August 2023 (ISIN: US22550UAD37 / CUSIP:22550UAD3), Floating Rate Notes due February 2025 (ISIN: US22550UAF84 / CUSIP: 22550UAF8), the Floating Rate Notes due February 2024 (ISIN: US22550UAB70 / CUSIP: 22550UAB7) and the, as set out in the table above; and (b) in respect of the 1.00 per cent. Notes due May 2023 (ISIN: US22550L2D25 / CUSIP: 22550L2D2), the 0.52 per cent. Notes due August 2023 (ISIN: US22550L2F72 / CUSIP: 22550L2F7), 1.25 per cent. Notes due August 2026 (ISIN: US22550L2G55 / CUSIP: 22550L2G5), the 5.00 per cent. Notes due July 2027 (ISIN: US22550L2K67 / CUSIP: 22550L2K6), the 3.70 per cent. Notes due February 2025 (ISIN: US22550L2H39 / CUSIP: 22550L2H3), the 4.75 per cent. Notes due August 2024 (ISIN: US22550L2J94 / CUSIP: 22550L2J9), the 0.495 per cent. Notes due February 2024 (ISIN: US22550L2E08 / CUSIP: 22550L2E0), the 3.625 per cent. Notes due September 2024 (ISIN: US22546QAP28 / CUSIP: 22546QAP2) and the 2.95 per cent. Notes due April 2025 (ISIN: US22550L2C42 / CUSIP: 22550L2C4) (together the Fixed Spread Securities), an amount determined in the manner described under "Determination of Total Consideration for Fixed Spread Securities" below by reference to the Purchase Yield for the relevant Series being the sum of (i) the Fixed Spread specified for the relevant Series in the table above and (ii) the Reference Yield based on the bid side price of the Reference Treasury Security specified for the relevant Series in the table above as reported on Bloomberg Reference Page PX1 at 9.30 a.m. (New York City time) on 4 November 2022. Tender Offer Consideration for the Offers For Securities of the relevant Series validly tendered after the applicable Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase pursuant to the relevant Offer, the Offeror will pay only the applicable Tender Offer Consideration. The Tender Offer Consideration for each Series will be the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Payment for the relevant Series as set out in the table above. Accrued Interest The Offeror will also pay an Accrued Interest Payment in respect of Securities accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers. Settlement of the Offers The Total Consideration and Accrued Interest Payment for Securities of the relevant Series validly tendered pursuant to an Offer at or prior to the applicable Early Tender Deadline, and accepted for purchase, will be paid to Holders on the applicable Early Settlement Date. Each Early Settlement Date will be promptly after the applicable Early Tender Deadline, and is currently expected to be 7 November 2022. The Tender Offer Consideration and Accrued Interest Payment for Securities validly tendered pursuant to an Offer at or prior to the applicable Expiration Deadline but after the applicable Early Tender Deadline, and accepted for purchase, will be paid to Holders on the applicable Final Settlement Date. Each Final Settlement Date will be promptly after the applicable Expiration Deadline, and is currently expected to be 15 November 2022. Total Purchase Funds Available and Priority of Acceptance The Offeror proposes to accept for purchase pursuant to the Offers an aggregate principal amount of Securities such that the total amount payable by the Offeror for all of the Securities accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers (excluding all Accrued Interest Payments payable in respect of such Securities) is no greater than U.S.$2,000,000,000, subject to increase by the Offeror as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum (such amount, as the same may be increased, the Total Purchase Funds Available). In respect of any Securities that have been validly tendered for purchase pursuant to the Offers, the total amount that would be payable by the Offeror for all such Securities if they were accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers (excluding all Accrued Interest Payments payable in respect of such Securities) is referred to as the Total Amount Payable in respect of such Securities. Accordingly on each Settlement Date, subject to the terms and conditions of the Offers, the Offeror will accept for purchase Securities validly tendered in the Offers in the order of the related Acceptance Priority Level set out in the table above (each an Acceptance Priority Level), beginning with the lowest numerical value, and all Securities validly tendered for purchase having a higher Acceptance Priority Level (being a lower numerical value) will be accepted for purchase before any Securities having a lower Acceptance Priority Level (being a higher numerical value). If, on the relevant Settlement Date, the Total Amount Payable in respect of the Securities (validly tendered for purchase pursuant to the relevant Offers would exceed the Total Purchase Funds Available, the Offeror intends, subject to the terms and conditions of the Offers, to accept certain Securities for purchase pursuant to the relevant Offers on a pro rata basis, as more fully described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Tender Instructions In order to participate in an Offer, and be eligible to receive the relevant Tender Offer Consideration and Accrued Interest Payment pursuant to the relevant Offer, Holders must validly tender their Securities by delivering, or arranging to have delivered on their behalf, a valid Tender Instruction that is received by the Information and Tender Agent by the applicable Expiration Deadline. In order for the relevant Holder to be eligible to receive the relevant Total Consideration pursuant to the relevant Offer, such Tender Instruction must be received by the Information and Tender Agent at or prior to the applicable Early Tender Deadline. Tender Instructions in respect of the Offers may be withdrawn at any time from the time of their submission until 5.00 p.m. (New York City time) on 3 November 2022 (such time and date with respect to each Series, as the same may be extended, the Withdrawal Deadline). Tender Instructions will be irrevocable following the applicable Withdrawal Deadline (and Tender Instructions submitted after the Withdrawal Deadline will be irrevocable from the time of their submission), except in the limited circumstances described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a minimum principal amount of Securities of the relevant Series of no less than the minimum denomination for such Series, as set out in the table below, and may thereafter be submitted in integral multiples of the relevant amount set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Recent Developments The Offeror has launched, contemporaneously with the launch of the Offers, invitations to holders of certain series of euro- and pounds sterling-denominated debt securities to tender a capped amount of such securities for purchase by the Offeror for cash (the Capped Offers). The Capped Offers are (i) not open to any person located or resident in the United States, its territories and possessions (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands) and such persons are not eligible to participate in or tender any securities pursuant to the Capped Offers. The Capped Offers are described in a separate offer document, and are not the subject of, and shall not be deemed to be offered by, the Tender Offer Memorandum. Credit Suisse Group AG's third quarter 2022 earnings release, is expected to be published at or around 6.45 a.m. (Central European Summer Time) on 27 October 2022. As previously disclosed, Credit Suisse Group AG will update the market further on its comprehensive strategic review on 27 October 2022. Holders are urged to review the earnings release and the update when they become available as such information may be relevant to a decision whether to tender Securities pursuant to an Offer. That information will be made available on Credit Suisse Group AG's website at https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/investor-relations.html and shall, from its time and date of publication, be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Tender Offer Memorandum. Following the publication of such earnings release and update Holders may continue to submit, or to revoke previously submitted, Tender Instructions at any time prior to the Withdrawal Deadline (in each case subject to the earlier deadlines required by DTC and any intermediary through which Holders hold their Securities). Indicative Timetable for the Offers Events Times and Dates (All times are New York City time) Commencement of the Offers 7 October 2022 Early Tender Deadline 5.00 p.m. on 3 November 2022 Withdrawal Deadline 5.00 p.m. on 3 November 2022 Announcement of Early Participation Results As promptly as practicable after the Early Tender Deadline (currently expected to be 4 November 2022) Price Determination Time for Fixed Spread Securities 9.30 a.m. on 4 November 2022 Early Settlement Date Promptly after the Early Tender Deadline (currently expected to be 7 November 2022) Expiration Deadline 11.59 p.m. on 10 November 2022 Announcement of Final Results As promptly as practicable after the Early Tender Deadline (currently expected to be 14 November 2022) Final Settlement Date Promptly after the Early Tender Deadline (currently expected to be 15 November 2022) The above times and dates are subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend and/or terminate the Offers (subject to applicable law and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum) as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Holders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Securities when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Holder in order for that Holder to be able to participate in, or (in the circumstances in which withdrawal is permitted) withdraw their instruction to participate in, an Offer before the deadlines set out above. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and DTC for the submission and withdrawal of Tender Instructions may be earlier than the relevant deadlines set out above and in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Unless stated otherwise, the Offeror may choose to make announcements in connection with the Offers in any reasonable manner (including on the relevant Reuters Insider Screen), but it will have no obligation to make announcements in any particular manner other than by issuing a press release to a Notifying News Service. Copies of all such announcements, press releases and notices can also be obtained from the Information and Tender Agent, the contact details for which are below. Significant delays may be experienced where notices are delivered to DTC and Holders are urged to contact the Information and Tender Agent for the relevant announcements during the course of the Offers. In addition, Holders may contact the Dealer Manager for information using the contact details below. Holders are advised to read carefully the Tender Offer Memorandum for full details of, and information on the procedures for participating in, any Offer. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting as Dealer Manager and D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as Information and Tender Agent. Questions and requests for assistance in connection with the Offers may be directed to the Dealer Manager: The Dealer Manager Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC Eleven Madison Avenue, 4th Floor New York, New York 10010 United States Telephone: Within the United States: (800) 820-1653 (U.S. toll free) (212) 538-2147 (Collect) Outside the United States: +44 20 7883 8763 Attention: Liability Management Group Email: [email protected] Questions and requests for assistance in connection with the delivery of Tender Instructions may be directed to the Information and Tender Agent. The Information and Tender Agent D.F. King & Co., Inc. 48 Wall Street New York, NY 10005 United States Banks and Brokers (Collect): +1 (212) 269 5550 All others (U.S. toll free): +1 (800) 714 3311 Attention: Michael Horthman Email: [email protected] DISCLAIMER This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. The Tender Offer Memorandum contains important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to any Offer. If any Holder is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial advice, including in respect of any tax consequences, from its broker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal adviser. Any individual or company whose Securities are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee must contact such entity if it wishes to tender such Securities pursuant to the Offers. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Manager, the Information and Tender Agent or the Issuer makes any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender Securities pursuant to the Offers. OFFER AND DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS The distribution of this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement and/or the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required by each of the Offeror, the Dealer Manager, the Issuer and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell Securities (and tenders of Securities in any Offer will not be accepted from Holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require an Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any of the Offeror's affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in such jurisdiction, such Offer shall be deemed to be made by such affiliate on behalf of the Offeror in such jurisdiction. Italy. None of the Offers, this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum or any other document or materials relating to the Offers have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa (CONSOB) pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Offers are being carried out in the Republic of Italy (Italy) as exempted offers pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the Financial Services Act) and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Securities that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender the Securities for purchase in the Offers through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 201816190 of 29 October 2007, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended from time to time) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations and with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Securities or the Offers. United Kingdom. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum have been issued by Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited (the Offeror) of One Cabot Square, London E14 4QJ, United Kingdom, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) of 12 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN, United Kingdom. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum are being distributed only to existing holders of the Securities, and are only addressed to such existing Holders in the United Kingdom where they would (if they were clients of the Offeror) be per se professional clients or per se eligible counterparties of the Offeror within the meaning of the FCA rules. Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum is addressed to or directed at any persons who would be retail clients within the meaning of the FCA rules and any such persons should not act or rely on this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum. Recipients of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum should note that the Offeror is acting on its own account in relation to the Offers and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections which would be afforded to clients of the Offeror or for providing advice in relation to the Offers. The communication of this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers are not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and such other documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to the general public in the United Kingdom, and the communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the Financial Promotion Order), (iii) persons falling within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iv) other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated. France. The Offers are not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in the Republic of France (France). This announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other document or material relating to the Offers have only been and shall only be distributed in France to qualified investors as defined in Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum have been or will be submitted for clearance to or approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers. SOURCE Credit Suisse International Company's retail presence now at 52 locations in Florida and 144 nationwide WAKEFIELD, Mass., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced the opening of its second Ocala dispensary, located at 9268 SE Maricamp Rd, Ocala, FL 34472. Curaleaf Ocala Maricamp is the Company's 52nd location to open in the Sunshine State and 144th nationwide. Curaleaf Ocala Maricamp is a substantial 3,216-square-foot facility featuring a drive-thru for convenience whether patients are on the go or picking up a pre-order. Marion County's newest Curaleaf location offers a broad selection of vaporizers, edibles, concentrates, whole flower and innovative topical products, including Plant Precision Relieve Gel, Select Squeeze, Select X-Bites, Select Nano Bites, BlueKudu Chocolate, Select Live Rosin and its breakthrough vape hardware, Cliq by Select. The new dispensary recently began welcoming patients and invites the Ocala community to its official grand opening event on Friday, October 7. The grand opening will commence with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 am followed by festivities throughout the day including swag giveaways, games, prizes and local vendors. Registered patients can enjoy a 50% discount at the new location all weekend. In Ocala and throughout the state, Curaleaf is accepting and distributing donated supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Ian, and has also implemented a relief fund for its Florida team members. For more information on Curaleaf's locations, patient resources and products in Florida, including updates to those dispensaries impacted by Hurricane Ian, please visit https://curaleaf.com/dispensary/florida. About Curaleaf Holdings Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf and Select, provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 21 states with 144 dispensaries, 29 cultivation sites, and employs over 6,000 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This media advisory contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or, "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information concerning the opening of Curaleaf Ocala Maricamp. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed March 9, 2022, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward looking statements contained in this press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. INVESTOR CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Camilo Lyon, Chief Investment Officer [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Tracy Brady, SVP Corporate Communications [email protected] SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RW3 CultureWizard, the premier provider of global inclusion training, will provide a host of learning resources in honor of October's Global Diversity Awareness Month. A cornerstone of the commemoration is a new, interactive learning game called, Spot the Bias. It is a complete, fun learning experience that enables players to recognize key biases, and challenges learners to identify the implicit bias that can impact workplace effectiveness. CultureWizard games have garnered enthusiastic acclaim from thousands of players and should not be missed. Each week CultureWizard will feature a new learning resource: Week 1: Spot the Bias game Week 2: CultureWizard's D&I webinar, Inclusion in the Modern Workplace, a 35-minute webcast focused on global inclusion, exploring the nuances of global diversity and inclusion, and its implications for effective collaboration. Week 3: Distribution of CultureWizards 10th bi-annual report titled, 2022 Trends in Global Virtual Work. Week 4: Findings from RW3's first annual Global Inclusion Index report. The Index will feature insights from RW3's Global Inclusion Analytics practice that benchmark the anonymized results from 120,000 inclusion assessments. These data allow organizations to chart their company data and compare their inclusion standings amongst internal departments as well as their rankings relative to their industry and region. "The world is a mosaic of different cultures, identities, and lifestyles," says Joshua Sturtevant, VP of Business Strategy. "Using data to foster inclusion is an impactful way to harness the gifts that these differences offer and to measure if corporate efforts are effective. " Preview copies of the Global Inclusion Analytics reports are available. Please contact [email protected]. The month of October is perfect time to take advantage and access the resources CultureWizard is making available to everyone. Interested in any of CultureWizard's Commemoration programs? Start with our webinar on October 13th. SOURCE RW3 CultureWizard AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight Stellantis women technical business leaders earn recognition at annual Women of Color STEM conference Conference honors significant career, technical and community achievements of women of color Company and employees consistently earn important recognition from professional and diversity-centered organizations The Women of Color STEM Conference honors the significant achievements of women in STEM and ensures that the accomplishments of outstanding women in technical fields are highly visible to industry professionals, government officials and students. For 2022, eight Stellantis technical women business leaders received honors for their career, technical and community achievements. Eight Stellantis technical women business leaders received honors for their career, technical and community achievements at the Women of Color STEM DTX Conference in Detroit, October 6-8. The Women of Color STEM Conference honors the significant achievements of women in STEM and ensures that the accomplishments of outstanding women in technical fields are highly visible to industry professionals, government officials and students. The Stellantis women earned Women of Color Technology All-Star and Technology Rising Star Awards, which recognize accomplished professionals who have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities. "Stellantis' long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to recruit and develop diverse talent, is embedded in our purpose and values and ensures our products exceed the expectations of all of our customers," said Lottie Holland, vice president of diversity, inclusion, engagement and EEO compliance, Stellantis North America. "Our leadership team is proud that our women technical leaders are regarded consistently among our country's most promising and influential professionals in their fields." Stellantis 2022 Technology All-Star and Rising Star Award recipients: Linda Castaneda , planning manager, Ram ProMaster electric vehicle , planning manager, Ram ProMaster electric vehicle Anu Cheema, business process manager, warranty systems Lei Chen, business process manager Sharon Doss , Project Manager, Mopar Vehicle Protection , Project Manager, Mopar Vehicle Protection Bhargavi Krishnaprasad , fleet leader and project manager , fleet leader and project manager Danielle McPherson , exterior production studio engineer , exterior production studio engineer Rashmi Persaud , senior engineer, advanced electrical , senior engineer, advanced electrical Karthy Unnikrishnan , customer care operations, buyback and regulatory compliance In addition to Women of Color, Stellantis employees continue to earn important technical and professional recognition from leading organizations and media, including Inforum, Society of Automotive Engineers, Automotive News U.S. and Canada, Savoy magazine, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, DBusiness and Brand Innovators, reflecting the company's strong commitment to recruiting and developing diverse talent. In 2022, Stellantis compiled an impressive list of corporate diversity leadership awards and acknowledgments, including: Noteworthy and No. 3 Top Supplier Diversity rating from Diversity Inc LATINA Style magazine's list of Top 50 Companies for Latinas to Work Winds of Change magazine's list of Top 50 workplaces for recruiting and supporting the careers of Indigenous STEM professionals This also includes a 5-star rating for Governance from the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility, a top score on the Disability Equality Index administered by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Above and Beyond Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Women of Color STEM Conference Since 1995, Women of Color magazines annual STEM Conference has been the premier forum of choice for recognizing the significant contributions by women in STEM fields. The conference offers both valuable career networking opportunities and hosts prestigious award ceremonies, which have earned widespread praise. Attendees have the opportunity to meet and learn from executives representing Fortune 500 companies that are committed to diversity and to the advancement of women in the workforce. Stellantis North America Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com. Follow company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Company website: www.stellantis.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StellantisNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellantisna Twitter: @StellantisNA YouTube: http://youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis MOUNTVILLE, Pa., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AHF Products, a leading manufacturer of hardwood flooring, is proud to announce that Dogwood Densified Wood from Bruce was named as a winner in Good Housekeeping's 2022 Home Renovation Awards in the "Hottest Home Decor" category. A full list of winners can be found online at www.goodhousekeeping.com/homereno2022. Dogwood Densified Wood from Bruce was named as a winner in Good Housekeepings 2022 Home Renovation Awards in the Hottest Home Decor category. "Bruce is honored to be recognized among the industry's leading home renovation products by the prestigious Good Housekeeping Institute," said Jennifer Zimmerman, Chief Commercial Officer, AHF Products. "This award underscores our commitment to engineering flooring solutions that offer superior design, quality and performance and meet consumer demands. Densified Wood Technology removes many of the barriers preventing consumers from purchasing hardwood and lets homeowners enjoy real wood floors that are virtually worry free." Bruce Dogwood Densified Wood Technology is a real gamechanger for the hardwood flooring buyer, especially for people who have pets or kids. It uses a patent pending process to significantly increase the density of the face veneer using heat and pressure. The result is a dent- and scratch-resistant surface that delivers protection against everyday wear, pet nails and pet accidents. The wood floor is also waterproof for up to eight hours, and exclusive Cleantivity technology protects against odor, damage and discoloration that may be caused by mold or mildew that can damage the floor. Bruce Dogwood is made in the USA in Somerset, Kentucky. "Hardwood is the floor that everyone wants. Whether accelerated by the pandemic or consumers wanting to bring nature inside or other factors, there is a desire for real hardwood," said Zimmerman. "People now, more than ever, are driven by value and the wish to make enduring, quality investments in their homes with confidence, whether it be for the long-term or even to enhance resale. And both are hardwood flooring's sweet spot." For information on Bruce flooring products, visit www.Bruce.com. About AHF Products AHF Products is a leading hardwood flooring manufacturer in the USA with a family of trusted brands serving the residential and commercial hardwood and vinyl flooring markets. With decades of experience in award-winning flooring design, product development, manufacturing, and service, we create quality flooring to last for generations through inspiring designs, innovation, and a deep commitment to outstanding customer service. Our residential flooring brands include Bruce, Armstrong Flooring, Hartco, Robbins, LM Flooring , Capella, Homewood, Hearthwood, Raintree, Autograph, Emily Morrow Home and tmbr. Our commercial brands include Bruce Contract, Hartco Contract, AHF Contract, Armstrong Flooring and Parterre. Headquartered in Mountville, Pennsylvania, with manufacturing operations across the United States and in Cambodia, AHF Products employs over 2,000 dedicated team members. www.AHFProducts.com Armstrong Flooring and the Armstrong Flooring logo are under license from AWI Licensing, LLC. Good Housekeeping is a trademark of Hearst Communications, Inc. All other marks are owned by AHF, LLC, its affiliates, or subsidiaries. All rights reserved. SOURCE AHF Products 250,000 In-Kind Books for Students In Grades Pre-K to 12 NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Our Kids Read (OKR) in collaboration with the New York Public Library (NYPL) launches a major book donation initiative for students in grades pre-K to 12. Through a generous in-kind gift of 250,000 diverse books, OKR will get the books directly into the hands of children in under-resourced communities across NYC's boroughs. Recent statistics reveal that children in white collar families hear 250,000 words per week on average, children in blue collar families hear 125,000 words per week, and children at or below the poverty line hear 65,000 words or less per week. Jahmal Lake, Our Kids Read's executive director says, "We are trying to change that narrative. We expose children in our program to 5,000 - 10,000 additional words per week. Easy A.D., an iconic hip hop pioneer, and founding member of the Legendary Cold Crush Brothers, joins forces with OKR's executive director, Jamal Lake, and the NYPL, in bringing the gift of reading to kids in select schools and community centers throughout the boroughs. He believes that the best way to address the word gap is for an adult to read a book and share a story with a child. Together, Jahmal and A.D. plan to conduct 40 events over the next 14 months at various schools across the boroughs. OKR and the hip hop community are a natural fit as advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion through reading. A.D. is asking everyone from the hip hop community and beyond to support the OKR project. He's exhorting those who live throughout the boroughs to pitch in. As hip hop approaches its 50th anniversary, A.D. says, "I'm asking those who love hip hop to put that love into our children in three ways: 1. Give a tax-deductible donation 2. Sponsor a school that is close to your heart. 3. Sign up to connect with our kids by reading to them. Let's celebrate by giving our kids the gift of reading." Contact at www.ourkidsreadinc.org or donate at https://www.ourkidsreadinc.org/make-a-donation. Contacts Jahmal Lake. Founder Our Kids Read 917-686-3629 [email protected] Easy A.D., Hip Hop Pioneer Our Kids Read Community Partner 646-397-3408 [email protected] SOURCE Our Kids Read BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) informs that to comply with the provisions of Part III Title I Chapter VI of the Basic Legal Circular issued by the Financial Superintendence of Colombia (E.C. 029 of 2014), the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. ("Ecopetrol" or the "Company") approved the implementation of measures aimed at guaranteeing the adequate representation of shareholders at the extraordinary General Shareholder's Meeting to be held on October 24, 2022, and in this regard the Board instructed the Company's management to: Inform shareholders of their right to be represented through the appointment of a proxy and indicate the legal requirements of the proxies to be granted for such purpose. Appoint those who will validate the shareholders' proxy assignments, advising that those proxies that fail to meet the minimum requirements established by law will not be admitted as valid, nor any proxy form where the name of the respective appointed representative is not clearly defined will be accepted. To abstain from making any recommendations or determinations regarding the proxy selection of the shareholders. Inform the employees of the Company that they will not be able to recommend to the shareholders that they vote for a certain list. Refrain from suggesting, coordinating, or agreeing with shareholders regarding i) the submission of proposals at the Meeting; and/or ii) voting in favor or against any proposal discussed in the Meeting. ii) Verify that the shareholders do not grant proxies to persons directly or indirectly related to the Company's management or employees. Inform that the Legal Affairs Vice Presidency of Ecopetrol was appointed as the area responsible for supervising the review of proxies. Inform that the Vice-president of Corporate Affairs of Ecopetrol was appointed as the officer responsible for verifying the compliance with the above measures. The previous measures were adopted by the members of the Board of Directors of the Company in a meeting held on October 7, 2022, and are disclosed prior to the celebration of the respective meeting of the General Assembly of Shareholders. Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, the performance of the Colombian economy my and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward -looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Tatiana Uribe Benninghoff Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Mauricio Tellez Email: mauricio [email protected] p etro l.com.co SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. Photos/videos from the race can be downloaded here. Notable runners in this year's race included TV Host Nev Schulman and Iraq War Veteran Anthony Smith NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building (ESB) today hosted the 44th annual Run-Up, presented by Turkish Airlines and powered by Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). In several designated heats, 374 runners from around the world raced up the 1,576 stairs to reach the finish line on the building's iconic 86th Floor Observatory. ESBRU 2022 ESB Logo "We are inspired each year by the athletes from all over the world who train and take part in this ultimate test of endurance," said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. "A big congratulations to all who came to the "World's Most Famous Building" to participate in the Empire State Building Run-Up." Soh Wai Ching of Malaysia took the top spot in the Men's Elite category with a time of 10:44, finishing before Ryoji Watanabe of Japan and Fabio Ruga of Italy. This is the 28-year-old's second consecutive ESBRU win. "I'm so happy to be here to compete again. This is my second win, and I improved my time," said Wai Ching. "I hope to be back again next year and to improve my time [again]." Cindy Harris of Indianapolis, In. finished first in the Women's Elite heat with a time of 13:56, ahead of Shari Klarfeld of Plainview, NY and Maria Elisa La Pez Pimentel of Mexico. This was Harris' 24th Run-Up and sixth win. She beat her 2021 time of 14:01. "I feel really good and very fortunate to be doing this so long," said Harris. "[Running this race] means a lot, especially this competition because this one was very close." "Catfish" host Nev Schulman ran in this year's Celebrity heat. Other heats in the race featured commercial real estate brokers, Empire State Building tenants, and members of the media. Challenged Athletes Foundation was the ESBRU official charity partner with a designated heat for challenged athletes and CAF supporters to raise funds in support of people with physical challenges and their access to sports. CAF athlete Anthony Smith, an Iraq war veteran with an arm amputation, finished the race with a time of 56:05. Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier and airline that flies to more countries and international destinations than any other, returned for its fourth year as the Run-Up's presenting sponsor. The event was produced by NYCRUNS, the largest running event management company in the New York Metropolitan area. Tonight, the Empire State Building's world-famous tower lights shined in red and white to celebrate the 44th annual Run-Up. Hi-res imagery and video can be downloaded here. More information about the Empire State Building Run-Up can be found online. About the Empire State Building The Empire State Building , the "World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust , Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. Learn more at www.esbnyc.com. Declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 Attraction in the United States in Tripadvisor's 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best, and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet, it welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world. Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors primarily house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Weibo, YouTube , or TikTok. SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust First-of-its-kind Educational NFT Collecting Experience Now Open Learn about Calder's art and legacy Compete in online quizzes and assembly challenges Unlock access to exclusive rewards and in-person art events Acquire limited-edition NFTs created in collaboration with award-winning motion designer and artist Raoul Marks Proceeds To Support New Conservation Fund for Calder Sculptures NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Calder Foundation and TRLab, an NFT platform for fine art, are pleased to announce the launch of The Calder Question, the first official NFT project devoted to the pioneering genius of 20th-century artist Alexander Calder. This next-generation application of NFT technology integrates elements of arts education, gaming, and NFT collecting into a fine arts-focused interactive experience open to arts enthusiasts and collectors at all levels. Introducing The Calder Question, an educational NFT experience that unlocks the art and legacy of pioneering artist Alexander Calder. From the Calder Foundation and TRLab. 2022 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Introducing The Calder Question, an educational NFT experience from the Calder Foundation and TRLab. Artist Alexander Calder in his Roxbury studio, 1947. Photograph by Herbert Matter 2022 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York At The Calder Question (calderquestion.trlab.com) participants can now access orientation materials and start exploring "Mobiles," the first season of a multi-part educational journey that will highlight Calder's mastery of sculptural art forms. There is no cost to join the experience, but each user must connect a crypto wallet in order to move through the three-week educational journey, where they will participate in challenges and collaborative activities and unlock rewards. At the conclusion of the 3-week journey, participants will also have the opportunity to acquire limited-edition NFTs developed by the Calder Foundation specifically for the experience. The most engaged participants in The Calder Question will earn exclusive access to the Calder Foundation in the form of collectible items and invitations to in-person art gatherings. Free achievement tokens can be claimed at specific points along the educational journey and accumulated in each participant's personal account. The Foundation a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, preserving, and interpreting Calder's art and archives will use proceeds from sales of the limited-edition NFTs to establish a conservation fund for the restoration of Calder artworks. Alexander S. C. Rower, President of the Calder Foundation, commented: "Even as the exact technologies are evolving, it's clear that the metaverse will continue to be a part of our collective experience. The Calder Foundationin stewarding my grandfather's legacyis eager to explore his genius in these new frontiers. Our hope is that everyone who joins The Calder Question will come away with a deeper understanding of Calder as a disruptor who pushed far beyond the established norms by collapsing mass and setting sculpture in motion." Limited-Edition NFTs To create the limited-edition NFTs for the Mobiles season, the Calder Foundation and TRLab collaborated with two-time Emmy Award-winning motion graphic designer and artist Raoul Marks. Marks' sophisticated expertise has been showcased in some of this generation's most memorable title sequences for The Crown, Westworld, and True Detective among other TV series, as well as major advertising campaigns for Apple and Louis Vuitton. Marks is represented by Triple X, an organization focused on curating quality digital art and NFT projects, striving to alter the perception of art within a broader audience. As Art Director for the NFT artworks connected to the "Mobiles" chapter of The Calder Question, Marks worked with Rower to explore the roles of motion and negative space in Calder's works and use animation techniques to showcase five extraordinary mobiles in the Foundation's permanent collection. The resulting NFTs each in the form of a one-minute digital artwork provides a perspective made possible only through technology. Marks commented: "I want viewers to feel transported to the edge of space, to peer into black holes surrounded by points of light or to swoop under giant monoliths suspended in the void. But most of all I hope it leaves people with many questions and a desire to know even more about Calder's exceptional body of work and how relevant it continues to be for us in the now." The five NFTs will be offered to The Calder Question participants at the conclusion of the three-week online experience on October 31 for a price of $8,000 each, in an edition size of just 32 per artwork. In keeping with the educational and art historical mission of The Calder Question, participants who engage with the challenges and activities portions of the journey will be given a significant advantage at sale time; any remaining NFTs will be available for purchase at $16,000 each starting November 1. Next-Generation NFT Experiences The launch of The Calder Question signals a new era for NFT-based innovations in the arena of fine art and education. TRLab is known within the traditional art world for prioritizing mission-driven NFT experiences over one-time drops, with a goal of fostering a deeper understanding of each featured artist's individual philosophy and practice. Previous successful projects have included "Your Daytime Fireworks," a 45-day interactive NFT journey with contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, which has attracted 10,000 followers globally and is currently shortlisted for a 2022 Lumen Prize for Art and Technology. Xin Li-Cohen, Co-Founder and Chairwoman of TRLab, commented: "TRLab's mission is rooted in the belief that education and community should be integrated with art collecting, and advances in NFT technology have given us the tools to make the process both fun and rewarding. Experience has shown us that art lovers are hungry for connection to the great artists of our time, and they value ongoing interactive engagement as much as in-person art experiences. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Calder Foundation on this unique project, and to demonstrate that NFT art experiences can help deepen our collective knowledge of art history." Audrey Ou, Co-Founder and CEO of TRLab added: "We are honored to be working in such close collaboration with Alexander S. C. Rower, the artist's grandson, who has been devoted to the preservation of Calder's legacy for more than 30 years. This project is very much in line with the Foundation's greater goal of broadening global access to its incredible holdings by adding a digital-native strategy to supplement their long-standing partnerships with museums and institutions." Following completion of the first chapter of The Calder Question, TRLab will confirm the schedule for subsequent chapters devoted to Calder's early abstractions, figurative wire sculptures, and sound-making works from the Foundation's permanent collection. For timely updates on news and announcements, participants are encouraged to follow TRLab on Twitter (@trlab_). About Alexander Calder Alexander Calder (b. 1898, Lawnton, Pennsylvaniad. 1976, New York City), whose illustrious career spanned much of the 20th century, is the most acclaimed and influential sculptor of our time. Born in a family of celebrated, though more classically trained artists, Calder utilized his innovative genius to profoundly change the course of modern art. He began in the 1920s by developing a new method of sculpting: by bending and twisting wire, he essentially "drew" three-dimensional figures in space. He is renowned for the invention of the mobile, whose suspended, abstract elements move and balance in changing harmony. From the 1950s onward, Calder increasingly devoted himself to making outdoor sculpture on a grand scale from bolted steel plate. Today, these stately titans grace public plazas in cities throughout the world. About Calder Foundation The Calder Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1987 by Alexander S. C. Rower and the Calder family, is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, preserving, and interpreting the art and archives of Alexander Calder. The Foundation's objectives include furthering public knowledge and appreciation for the arts; conducting research in art history and related subjects and presenting those results to the general public; providing facilities and programs to assist the education and development of artists; and preserving Calder's artistic legacy for scholarship, including the physical preservation of his works, archives, homes, and studios. Additionally, the Calder Foundation is dedicated to conserving natural resources and education in agriculture and sustainable environmental practices. The Foundation's projects include collaborating on exhibitions and publications, organizing and maintaining the Calder archives, examining works attributed to Calder, and cataloguing the artist's works. The Foundation also organizes its own exhibitions, lectures, performances, and events on Calder and on contemporary artists supported by the biennial Calder Prize and the Atelier Calder residency program in Sache, France. About TRLab Co-founded by Xin Li-Cohen, Christie's non-executive Deputy Chairman, and TRLab CEO Audrey Ou, TRLab is a full-service platform that fuses NFT technology with fine art. TRLab works with artists, foundations, and institutions to develop curated NFT collecting experiences that prioritize direct access, long-term value and ongoing innovation. TRLab's team has successfully conceived and launched numerous projects with leading digital and traditional artists, including "Your Daytime Fireworks," a Lumen Prize-nominated NFT project with renowned contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Backed by major investors from the tech and art sectors, TRLab's partners and investors include Dragonfly Capital, Pace Verso, and Rockbund Art Museum, one of Asia's premier contemporary art museums. Learn more about TRLab's team and major projects at www.trlab.com. SOURCE TRLab Nordic Capital to Advance Achievement of Equashield Strategic Objective of Global Leadership in Hazardous Drug Handling Solutions PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. , Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Equashield, a leading provider of closed system transfer devices (CSTDs) for hazardous drugs, today announced that Nordic Capital has become a major shareholder in the Company and will play a pivotal role in the acceleration of Equashield's growth ambitions. "With its strong growth trajectory, experienced management team, differentiated technology, and innovative pipeline, Equashield is an ideal match for Nordic Capital's Healthcare investment strategy. Equashield's opportunity to leverage its technological edge to further accelerate growth is truly exciting. We also recognize the vast potential for compounding automation to improve safety and efficiency. Nordic Capital is pleased to partner with Equashield's talented leadership team, and we look forward to supporting the Company's continued growth," said Joel Davidkin, Managing Director, Nordic Capital Advisors. Nordic Capital has over 30 years of experience accelerating the growth of innovative Healthcare and Technology companies across Europe and North America. Nordic Capital will help Equashield further accelerate its growth initiatives in close partnership with the founders and management. The investment in Equashield aligns fully with Nordic Capital's focus on innovative, differentiated, and responsible Healthcare companies. Equashield is a leading provider of closed system transfer devices (CSTDs) designed to protect healthcare professionals from exposure to hazardous drugs. Equashield's product offerings are based on proprietary technologies spanning both manual CSTDs and novel automated compounding solutions including a next-generation automated compounding system, Equashield PRO, utilizing artificial intelligence to deliver superior performance. Since its founding in 2009, Equashield has recorded robust growth fuelled by continued product innovation, high customer satisfaction, and the pioneering of new technological solutions for handling hazardous drugs. With more than 450 employees, Equashield's products are sold across five continents, and the Company is a leading CSTD provider in the largest global market, the United States, supported by USP <800> regulation, which requires the use of CSTDs in the administration of hazardous drugs. "We are excited to partner with Nordic Capital. The cultural alignment between our two firms was a key driver behind our decision to invite Nordic Capital to join as a significant shareholder and support our continued growth," said Eric Shem-Tov, CEO & Founder, Equashield. "We also share an excitement about our pipeline of innovative compounding technologies, including our novel automated compounding system that utilizes machine learning to optimize the drug compounding process and further improves the safety and efficiency of handling hazardous drugs. Equashield is ideally positioned for robust growth, and together we will fulfill our commitment to make global healthcare delivery safer for healthcare professionals and patients alike." Media contacts: FINN Partners for Equashield Sonia Green [email protected] Phone: +1 929-588-2015 Nordic Capital Katarina Janerud, Communications Manager Nordic Capital Advisors e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +46 8 440 50 50 About Equashield Equashield is a globally leading provider of compounding technologies, including manual and automated solutions for the compounding and administration of hazardous drugs. The Equashield CSTD provides unparalleled safety and ease of use for healthcare workers handling hazardous drugs. Key features include a unique integrated pressure equalization system within the sealed syringe barrel, a dry disconnection mechanism to prevent leaks, and Equashield's proprietary closed syringe back and metal plunger rod to mitigate contamination and escape of hazardous drugs. Equashield's pipeline of novel, robotic compounding systems complements its leading CSTD offering, paving the way for continued growth of the Company. For more information: www.equashield.com About Nordic Capital Nordic Capital is a leading private equity investor with a resolute commitment to creating stronger, sustainable businesses through transformative growth. Nordic Capital focuses on selected sectors where it has long experience and deep insight, with particular emphasis on Healthcare and Technology investments. Since inception in 1989, Nordic Capital has invested more than EUR 20 billion in equity capital in over 125 investments. The funds' committed capital is principally provided by international institutional investors including pension funds. For further information about Nordic Capital, please visit www.nordiccapital.com. "Nordic Capital" refers to, depending on the context, any, or all, Nordic Capital branded entities, vehicles, structures and associated entities. The general partners and/or delegated portfolio managers of Nordic Capital's entities and vehicles are advised by several non-discretionary sub-advisory entities, any or all of which are referred to as "Nordic Capital Advisors" SOURCE Equashield DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Equine Healthcare Global Market Report 2022, By Product Type, Disease, Distribution" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global equine healthcare market is expected to grow from $1.17 billion in 2021 to $1.26 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The market is expected to reach $1.57 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.6%. North America was the largest region in the equine healthcare market in 2021. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The growing awareness of animal healthcare will support the growth of the equine healthcare market during the forecast period. People are becoming more aware of the importance of animals in the ecosystem, and animal health is critical not just for their safety and well-being, but also for the safety and well-being of humans. The diseases in animals can easily be transferred to humans hence, governments and private institutions are investing to develop the animal healthcare infrastructure in various countries. For instance, in September 2021, the US department of agriculture announced an investment of $3 billion in animal health and nutrition. Thus, the rising awareness among the human population about the importance of animal healthcare and increasing investment in animal healthcare will support the growth of the market, during the forecast period. The introduction of new and effective products by key manufacturers in equine healthcare for rapid detection of disease in the equine population and to ensure better therapeutic outcomes is a key trend in the market. For instance, in June 2021, Epona Biotec, a veterinary startup dedicated to advancing equine health care, has launched the VetTrue System, a remote temperature-monitoring system for horses. A team of veterinary, equestrian, and technology professionals developed the VetTrue System to provide a more accurate, less invasive health-monitoring solution for veterinarians, horse owners, and professionals in the equestrian industries. The VetTrue System makes use of a single-use TailTab temperature sensor that is securely attached beneath the tail. Once implanted, the horse's temperature is continuously monitored and transferred to the VetTrue App through Bluetooth. Scope Markets Covered: 1) By Product Type: Drugs; Vaccines; Medical Feed Additives 2) By Disease: Equine Influenza; Equine Herpes virus; Equine Encephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus; Equine Rabies; Potomac Horse Fever; Tetanus 3) By Distribution: Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics; Retail Pharmacy; Online Pharmacies Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Equine Healthcare Market Characteristics 3. Equine Healthcare Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Equine Healthcare 5. Equine Healthcare Market Size And Growth 6. Equine Healthcare Market Segmentation 7. Equine Healthcare Market Regional And Country Analysis 8. Asia-Pacific Equine Healthcare Market 9. China Equine Healthcare Market 10. India Equine Healthcare Market 11. Japan Equine Healthcare Market 12. Australia Equine Healthcare Market 13. Indonesia Equine Healthcare Market 14. South Korea Equine Healthcare Market 15. Western Europe Equine Healthcare Market 16. UK Equine Healthcare Market 17. Germany Equine Healthcare Market 18. France Equine Healthcare Market 19. Eastern Europe Equine Healthcare Market 20. Russia Equine Healthcare Market 21. North America Equine Healthcare Market 22. USA Equine Healthcare Market 23. South America Equine Healthcare Market 24. Brazil Equine Healthcare Market 25. Middle East Equine Healthcare Market 26. Africa Equine Healthcare Market 27. Equine Healthcare Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles 28. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Equine Healthcare Market 29. Equine Healthcare Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 30. Appendix Companies Mentioned Ethos Veterinary Health LLC Greencross Limited Idexx Laboratories National Veterinary Care Ltd. Patterson Companies Inc. Addison Biological Laboratory Inc. Animart LLC CVS Group PLC. Merck & Co. Inc. Zoetis Boehringer Ingelheim Covetrus Elanco Bayer AG Ceva Sante Animale Virbac Vetoquinol For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/79n92 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 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Finishing its brand journey with a new generation project, Espressolab has opened Europe's largest coffee experience center called Espressolab Roastery with an investment of 5 million Euro. ISTANBUL, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 100% local coffee brand Espressolab carries its branding journey to the global arena with its new investments and brings together Europe's largest coffee experience center, Espressolab Roastery, with coffee lovers. Espressolab Roastery, was built by converting Turkey's first cardboard factory with an area of 6 thousand square meters located in Istanbul Merter and is Espressolab's 100th store in Turkey. Espressolab Roastery has areas with different concepts including coffee roasting center, coffee shop, cocktail bar, bakery, workshop station, conference hall, mini greenhouse area, co-working spaces. Espressolab Roastery hosted its first guests by making its launching on Sunday, September 11, 2022, and an interesting event about the future of coffee experience. Espressolab Roastery Espressolab Roastery This center aims to create employment for 200 people at first tep. Rather than a classic coffee shop service, it offers a unique coffee experience environment in Turkey with quality coffee experience, theoretical and practical information about coffee, concerts, workshops, and art events. "Espressolab Roastery shows the current coffee market in Turkey" Espressolab Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Ersin Kefeli emphasized that Espressolab Roastery will be a coffee experience center that coffee lovers from all over the world will want to visit, and added: "We have been working hard to bring quality coffee to all coffee lovers in the world since the first day we were established as Espressolab. In this direction, our biggest goal is to reveal a value with the story of a coffee bean in all these processes, from the coffee bean to the cup, and to provide a sustainable and quality coffee experience in all processes from the farmer producing the bean to the barista preparing the coffee. At this point, Espressolab Roastery is a very significant project in terms of conveying our story that we want to tell with these purposes to more people. We have built Europe's largest coffee experience center. This is also a good opportunity to see how the growing coffee market in Turkey is as well." Investor interest will increase with Espressolab Roastery Espressolab, which continues to grow with franchise investments in Turkey and abroad, aims for increasing investor interest with Espressolab Roastery. By continuing its investments continuously in 2022, the company serves with 165 stores around the world. Espressolab maintains serving in 11 countries around the world by increasing its coffee roasting capacity to 35 tons per month with Espressolab Roastery. According to the research conducted by the Germany-based FoodService Europe & Middle East magazine, the company ranks second in Europe's fastest growing coffee brands with a growth of 64.2%. Except Turkey; Investments for stores in Germany, Cyprus, Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, Dubai, Qatar, Jordan and South Africa continue. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915718/Espressolab_Roastery.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915719/Espressolab_Roastery_2.jpg SOURCE Espressolab NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blocking the action of calcium signals in immune cells suppresses the most common form of asthma, but without compromising the body's defenses against flu viruses, a new study finds. Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, experiments showed that removing the gene for a calcium channel specifically the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel made up of ORAI1 proteins thoroughly reduced asthmatic inflammation in the lungs of mice caused by house dust mite feces, a common cause of allergic asthma. Blocking signals sent through this channel with an investigational new drug called a CRAC channel inhibitor had a similar effect. The study revolved around the use of charged particles, mainly calcium, by human cells to send signals and flip biological switches. When triggeredwhether by viral proteins or allergens immune cells called T cells open channels in their outer membranes, letting calcium rush in to turn on signaling pathways that control cell division and secretion of cytokine molecules that help T cells communicate with other immune cells. Past work had found that CRAC channels in T cells regulate their ability to multiply into armies of cells designed to fight infections caused by viruses and other pathogens. Published online in Science Advances on October 7, the new study showed that the CRAC channel inhibitor reduced allergic asthma and mucus build-up in mice without sabotaging their immune system's ability to fight influenza, a main worry of researchers seeking to tailor immune-suppressing drugs for several applications. "Our study provides evidence that a new class of drugs that target CRAC channels can be used safely to counter allergic asthma without creating vulnerability to infections," says senior study author Stefan Feske, MD, the Jeffrey Bergstein Professor of Medicine in the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone Health. "Systemic application of a CRAC channel blocker specifically suppressed airway inflammation in response to allergen exposure." About 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, with repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of those have asthma related to inhaled allergens, say the study authors. Targeting Calcium Channels Allergic asthma is characterized by increased type 2 (T2) inflammation, which involves a subset of T cells called T helper (Th) 2 cells, say the study authors. Th2 cells produce cytokines that play important roles in both normal immune defenses, and in disease-causing inflammation that occurs in the wrong place and amount. In allergic asthma, cytokines promote the production of an antibody type called IgE and the recruitment to the lungs of inflammation-causing immune cells called eosinophils, the hallmarks of the disease. In the new study, the research team found that genetic deletion of ORAI1 in T cells, or treatment of mice with the CRAC channel inhibitor CM4620, thoroughly suppressed Th2-driven airway inflammation in response to house dust mite allergens. CM4620 is under development by the company CalciMedica, which partnered with NYU Langone in the current study, and is in phase 2 clinical trials for COVID-19 associated pulmonary inflammation and acute pancreatitis. Treatment with CM4620 significantly reduced airway inflammation when compared to an inactive control substance, with the treated mice also showing much lower levels of Th2 cytokines and related gene expression. Without calcium entering through CRAC channels, T cells are unable to become Th2 cells and produce the cytokines that cause allergic asthma, the authors say. Conversely, ORAI1 gene deletion, or interfering with CRAC channel function in T cells via the study drug, did not hinder T cell-driven antiviral immunity, as lung inflammation and immune responses were similar in mice with and without ORAI1. "Our work demonstrates that Th2 cell-mediated airway inflammation is more dependent on CRAC channels than T cell-mediated antiviral immunity in the lung," says study co-first author Yin-Hu Wang, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the Feske lab. "This suggests CRAC channel inhibition as a promising, potential future treatment approach for allergic airway disease." Along with Feske and Wang, the study was led by co-first authors Lucile Noyer and Sascha Kahlfuss in the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone Health. Other NYU Langone researchers in this study were Dimitrius Raphael, Anthony Tao, Ulrike Kaufmann, Jingjie Zhu, Marisa Mitchell-Flack, Ikjot Sidhu, Fang Zhou, and Martin Vaeth. Also study authors were Sean Saunders and Paul Thomas of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and Maria Curotto de Lafaille at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Kenneth Stauderman of CalciMedica Inc., La Jolla, California, was also a study author. This study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants AI097302, AI130143, AI150747, AI121832, AI130343 and AI133076. Additional funding came through postdoctoral fellowships from the German Research Foundation, the SASS Foundation for Medical Research and the American Society of Hematology, as well as through a Bernard Levine fellowship from New York University. The Experimental Pathology Research Laboratory is supported by Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA016087 from NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center. Feske is a cofounder of CalciMedica, which provided the CRAC channel inhibitor for the current study, while Stauderman is the chief science officer of CalciMedica. Both have financial interests in the company, with the relationships managed in accordance with the policies of NYU Langone. Contact: Gregory Williams [email protected] SOURCE NYU Langone Health BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chief Executive Officer of Ecopetrol S.A. ("Ecopetrol" or the "Company") invites the Shareholders of the Company to attend the Extraordinary General Shareholders' Meeting (the "Meeting") to be held on monday october 24, 2022, starting at 8:00 a.m., at the International Business and Exhibition Center Auditorium (CORFERIAS) located at Carrera 37 No. 24 - 67 in Bogota.13 No. 36 - 24 in Bogota The agenda for the Meeting will be: Safety guidelines Quorum verification Opening of the General Shareholders' Meeting by the Chief Executive Officer of Ecopetrol S.A. Approval of the Agenda Appointment of the Chairperson of the Meeting Appointment of the commission responsible for scrutinizing elections and voting Appointment of the commission responsible for reviewing and approving the Meeting's minutes Election of Board Members The Meeting will be broadcast live via streaming on Ecopetrol's website. Shareholders may consult the support documentation for the agenda items on Ecopetrol's website. Shareholders who cannot attend the Meeting in person may resort to legal representation employing a proxy form (a.k.a. power-of-attorney) duly granted in writing to a trusted proxy, who must meet the requirements established in Article 184 of the Colombian Commercial Code. Proxy form templates can be downloaded from Ecopetrol's website. Except in cases of legal representation, Ecopetrol administrators and employees may not represent shares other than their own while they are employed by the Company, nor substitute the powers conferred thereon. For the legal representation of the shareholders, strict compliance will be given to the provisions established in the Basic Legal Circular 029 of 2014 regarding illegal, unauthorized and unsafe practices of securities issuers. FELIPE BAYON PARDO Chief Executive Officer Recommendations In case you are representing other shares, please have the respective proxy form and any respective additional documents at hand. To avoid overcrowding, guarantee the adequate participation of all shareholders and ensure their entry to the venue, CORFERIA's doors and registration points will open as of 7 a.m. Only one companion will be allowed for those shareholders requiring special assistance. The admission or distribution of advertising elements and any other material that may affect the normal course of the Meeting is prohibited If you have symptoms associated with COVID-19, please do not attend the Meeting. We recommend attendees have proof of their complete vaccination series at hand, that they practice the correct use of masks (over nose and mouth), maintain a physical distance of at least 1 meter and wash hands frequently. No kits or refreshments will be provided. Additional information is available at: Shareholder Services Office Bogota phone number: from abroad (+571) 307 7075 / from Bogota (601) 307 7057; rest of the country: (+57) 01 8000 113434 Email: [email protected] www.ecopetrol.com.co SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. IFS solution will give major European limestone producer new centralized visibility of operations, enabling greater efficiency, agility, and transformation of manufacturing processes LONDON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced that Nordkalk Oy Ab, the leading producer of limestone and limestone-based solutions headquartered in Finland, has purchased IFS Cloud to increase visibility of international operations and transform organizational efficiency. The agility IFS Cloud will deliver is especially important given the ongoing disruptions to supply chains in Europe following the pandemic and the resulting fluctuations in demand for products. Mining and quarrying are capital intensive and complex activities that require detailed long-term planning as well as the ability to react to sudden changes and short-term variables such as stone and ore quality, regulations, and new customer requirements. Using IFS Cloud, Nordkalk will achieve a new centralized overview of its business operations across five countries, harmonizing its IT architecture to drive greater efficiency in production, maintenance, finance, HR, procurement, sales, and operations planning, while supporting sustainability and safer working initiatives. The limestone producer will deploy IFS Cloud to transform its manufacturing processes, increasing operational flexibility and improving consistency of product quality. The roll out of IFS Cloud covers 750 users across Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, and Germany. The deal was concluded after a competitive process, continuing a relationship with IFS which began in 1991. "We needed to modernize our business system platform to increase efficiency and achieve the centralized oversight of operations we were lacking. This is essential so we can meet the expectations of our broad range of customers in 10 countries around the Baltic Sea and Central Europe," said Tita Nurmi, Chief Information Officer, Nordkalk. "The IFS team has the commitment and the solutions that will help us adapt so we can meet our goals and fulfil our ambitions. It is also important for our sustainability initiatives. Without insight into the company, it is not possible to have insight into environmental impact." Implementation of IFS Cloud for Nordkalk has already started. Prior to securing the agreement, IFS conducted a business value assessment examining where the solution could secure gains for the company. The output revealed a clear and quantified view of benefits over time that could be tracked throughout the deployment phase. This helped convince Nordkalk decision-makers that the IFS Cloud was the right choice. "Nordkalk trusts IFS and its roadmap for IFS Cloud as well as the competence of our local team to deliver," said Bjarne Baarman, IFS Country Manager, Finland. "IFS Cloud will give Nordkalk the centralised business platform backbone they need, with the flexibility to adapt and add additional B2B components where required. It will give them the improved overview they need to stay competitive." About Nordkalk Oy Ab Nordkalk contributes to a brighter tomorrow with its limestone-based products and solutions. They nurture the ground that feeds us, purifies the water we drink and the air we breathe, and are essential for several critical industrial processes, such as steel and pulp and paper. Their success is built on a solid limestone foundation, more than 120 years of history and on the expertise of our 820 people. They are the leading limestone company in Northern Europe, with a significant presence in Central Europe. With operations in more than 30 locations in Europe, they are always near their customers. In 2021 Nordkalk had a turnover of app. EUR 300 million. The company is owned by UK-based SigmaRoc PLC About IFS IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build, and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customersat the Moment of Service. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 5,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 10,000+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com. Contact information EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 7775 114 856 NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 520 396 2155 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/finnish-limestone-producer-nordkalk-selects-ifs-cloud-for-operational-optimization,c3643994 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/855/3643994/95aeaf54c3b24e8e.pdf Final 117 Nordkalk Oy Ab - FINAL FOR REVIEWAR 2 https://news.cision.com/ifs/i/nordkalk,c3097961 NORDKALK SOURCE IFS National initiative is more than halfway to meeting ambitious goal of supporting 1000 students ORLANDO, Fla. , Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today announced that the program is more than halfway towards meeting its ambitious goal of supporting 1000 scholars through 2025. The announcement was made during the first ever HBCU Week at Disney World, hosted by FOSSI Founding Partner, The HBCU Week Foundation. To date, the program has raised funding for 550 scholarships at an investment approaching $30MM, helping to develop a new, more inclusive generation of STEM talent. Through partnerships with chemical manufacturers and affiliated stakeholders, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students studying preferred science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The program also offers leadership development, mentorship and internship opportunities, and a one-to-one match with one of 60 sponsors committed to helping scholars achieve their goals. FOSSI Chairman, Mark Vergnano, former CEO of The Chemours Company, noted the historic nature of the program, "Never before has our industry come together to make such a significant, meaningful impact on the lives of historically under-represented students. This simply would not be possible without the support of our Corporate Sponsors. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to building and growing FOSSI in continued partnership with the HBCU Week Foundation." To help meet this important milestone, more than 20 organizations signed on to support future FOSSI classes, providing a strong foundation for FOSSI and its students in the future. These include: A C& S, Incorporated The American Chemistry Council AdvanSix BASF Corporation Bayer Cabot Corporation Celanese The Chemours Company LLC Chevron Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC Dow DuPont Eastman Kraton Corporation Merck & Co., Inc. PPG Industries, Inc. SABIC Sasol ( USA ) Corporation ) Corporation The Shepherd Chemical Company Trinseo Solvay America, Inc. W.R. Grace & Co. Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, Ashley Christopher, spoke to the value FOSSI provides in driving students to pursue STEM at HBCUs across the county. "FOSSI has created a model for partnerships which enable students to pursue their dream of attending an HBCU with less financial burden. Importantly, by providing training and support from mentors at Corporate Sponsors, it can also help to increase the number of students that graduate from HBCUs." To learn more about the scholarship, visit www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org. Applications can be submitted at www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org/apply. Deadline to apply is January 31. About the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org. SOURCE The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) FTX.com to introduce FTX account-linked Visa debit cards in 40 new countries, initially across Latin America with rollouts in Europe and Asia to follow NASSAU, Bahamas and MIAMI, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- West Realm Shires Services Inc. and FTX Trading Limited, the companies behind FTX US and FTX.COM respectively (collectively referred to as "FTX"), and Visa, a world leader in digital payments, today announced a long-term global partnership. As a part of the alliance, FTX will begin by offering FTX-branded Visa debit cards to FTX customers internationallywith a focus on countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia in the initial phases of the rollout. Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO of FTX, commented on the news, "We're excited to partner with one of the world's largest payment networks to give our users the ability to use their crypto to fund purchases at millions of merchants around the globe. This card allows users to make use of their FTX crypto balances 24 hours a day, 365 days a year securely and with no administrative or processing fees." The debit cards, which are linked directly to a user's FTX accounts, are currently available in the United States and are now being rolled out globally in over 40 additional countries, including many across Latin America. The next phase of the rollout for the FTX-branded Visa debit cards is expected in Europe before the end of the year, with additional regional launches planned for 2023. "At Visa, we believe that digital currencies will have a lasting impact on the future of financial services and money movement," said Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa. "We're excited to partner with leading crypto exchanges like FTX to bring more flexibility and ease-of-use to the way people use their cryptounlocking the ability to use a crypto balance to fund purchases anywhere Visa is accepted." FTX Visa debit cards will be linked directly to the holder's FTX account, allowing them to seamlessly convert and pay for goods and services with the crypto balance in their FTX wallets. The FTX Visa debit cards allow users to easily make purchases at the 80 million merchant locations worldwide that accept Visa. FTX Visa debit cardholders will not be subject to any administrative or processing fees for using the card. Adam Jacobs, Global Head of Payments at FTX, concluded, "Through our partnership with Visa, we are continuing to see further expansion of the connection between digital assets and the global financial ecosystem. With the FTX-linked Visa debit cards, individuals can now tap into their cryptocurrency holdings for everyday spending opportunities." You can learn more about the FTX Visa debit card and register for the waitlist to be notified when the FTX Visa Card is available by visiting: https://card.ftx.com/ About FTX Payments FTX Payments offers a full suite of banking and payment services for both business and individual users. FTX Payments also offers the FTX Visa Card which gives cardholders the ability to seamlessly use their crypto 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to fund purchases at millions of merchants around the globe. About FTX.COM FTX.COM is a cryptocurrency exchange built by traders, for traders. It offers innovative products, including industry-leading derivatives, options and volatility products, tokenized stocks, prediction markets, leveraged tokens and an OTC desk. FTX.COM provides an intuitive yet powerful platform for all users, striving to be the most innovative exchange in the industry. FTX.COM has grown quickly since its founding, becoming one of the most respected cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. To learn more about FTX.COM, please visit: https://ftx.com/ FTX.COM is not available to U.S. residents or residents of other prohibited jurisdictions, as set out in its Terms of Service. About FTX US Launched in 2020, FTX US is a leading US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange with the mission of growing the digital asset ecosystem in the United States. FTX US provides its customers with a suite of professional features including industry leading security, liquidity and fiat currency on and off-ramps. To learn more about FTX US, please visit: https://ftx.us/ FTX Media Contact Jay Morakis M Group Strategic Communications (On behalf of FTX & FTX US) 646.859.5951 [email protected] About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com. Visa Media Contact Lea Cademenos [email protected] SOURCE FTX DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Catalyst Fertilizer Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global catalyst fertilizer market is expected to grow from $2.63 billion in 2021 to $2.78 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The catalyst fertilizer market is expected to grow to $3.11 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 2.9%. The catalyst fertilizer market consists of sales of catalyst fertilizers by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are used to increase the rate of reaction in fertilizer production. Fertilizer is a natural or artificial substance containing chemical elements that enhance the growth of plants. The catalyst deployed in the fertilizer helps to speed up the rates of forward and backward reaction. Catalyst fertilizers make nutrients more available for plant uptake and utilization, helping to optimize yield potential and providing outstanding grower return on investment (ROI). The main types of production processes in catalyst fertilizers are the Haber-Bosch process, the contact process, and others. The Haber-Bosch process of catalyst fertilizers refers to the sale of catalyst fertilizers that are produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which is an artificial nitrogen fixation process and is the main industrial procedure for the production of ammonia today. The various operations include ammonia production, formaldehyde production, methanol production, syngas production, and involve several metal groups such as iron, nickel, vanadium, platinum, rhodium, and others. It is used in numerous applications, such as nitrogenous fertilizers and phosphatic fertilizers. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the catalyst fertilizers market in 2021. The regions covered in the catalyst fertilizers market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The increasing demand for ammonia production is expected to propel the growth of the catalyst fertilizer market going forward. Ammonia is a colorless, pungent gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen and serves as a starting material for the production of many commercially important nitrogen compounds. Ammonia makes a huge contribution to the agricultural system through its use as fertilizer and helps sustain food production. For instance, according to the International Energy Agency, a France-based autonomous intergovernmental organization, ammonia production is expected to increase by nearly 40% by 2050. Therefore, increasing demand for ammonia production will drive the growth of catalyst fertilizers. Strategic partnerships are the key trend gaining popularity in the catalyst fertilizer market. Major companies operating in the catalyst fertilizer sector are looking for partnerships to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in March 2022, Casale SA, a Switzerland-based chemicals company, partnered with Ferkensco Management Limited, an Uzbekistan-based investment holding company, and Enter Engineering Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based engineering services provider. The agreement represents the foundation for future cooperation between the three companies to support the construction of an ammonia-based fertilizer plant in Uzbekistan. Furthermore, in December 2020, Johnson Matthey, a UK-based chemicals company, partnered with ThyssenKrupp AG, a Germany-based technology provider for world-scale ammonia plants. Through this partnership, both companies signed an agreement to renew their collaboration around the ammonia production process and catalyst supply. In February 2021, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, an Indian fertilizer manufacturing company acquired Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited's (ZACL) fertilizer manufacturing plant for $280 million. Through this acquisition, Paradeep Phosphates aimed at consolidating the bulk fertilizer business. Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited is an Indian fertilizers manufacturing company. The countries covered in the catalyst fertilizers market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Major players in the catalyst fertilizers market are Clariant International Ltd Johnson Matthey Haldor Topsoe India Private Ltd QuantumSphere Inc. Chempack China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ThyssenKrupp AG BASF SE Casale SA Mmcite Project & Development India Ltd. LKAB Minerals Limited N.E.Chemcat Corporation Quality Magnetite LLC LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Agricen Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Catalyst Fertilizer Market Characteristics 3. Catalyst Fertilizer Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Catalyst Fertilizer 5. Catalyst Fertilizer Market Size And Growth 5.1. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion 5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.1.2. Restraints On The Market 5.2. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Forecast Market, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.2.2. Restraints On the Market 6. Catalyst Fertilizer Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Segmentation By Production Process, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Haber-Bosch Process Contact Process Other Processes 6.2. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Segmentation By Operation, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Ammonia Production Formaldehyde Production Methanol Production Syngas Production 6.3. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Segmentation By Metal Group, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Base Metals Precious Metals 6.4. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Nitrogenous Fertilizers Phosphatic Fertilizers 7. Catalyst Fertilizer Market Regional And Country Analysis 7.1. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Catalyst Fertilizer Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o8s47a 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 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Facial Care Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global facial care market was valued at US$122.803 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.70% to reach a market value of US$169.371 billion by 2027 over the forecast period. The industry for these goods is being driven by raising awareness of the benefits of facial products in maintaining healthy skin, improving skin appearance, and minimizing skin disorders. Furthermore, as the global working population is increasing remarkably in emerging economies like China, India, Australia, and Brazil, the demand for facial care products is also rising tremendously. Facial care is becoming essential for both the male and female populations. Rising awareness regarding the importance of facial products to maintain healthy skin, enhance skin appearance, and minimize skin conditions is driving the industry of these products. Facial care products have contributed significantly to the global skincare market. Consumers have shifted their focus toward facial beauty products. As such, manufacturers have started their brand campaigns through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The increasing use of smartphones and better internet connectivity spike the skin care product market. With growing internet penetration, companies now have a new platform to sell their products around the globe. According to World Bank Data, the percentage of people using the internet has surged from 22.96 in 2008 to 49.72 in 2017. The increase in the internet user population will further grow the market for facial care products as more companies will sell their products online due to the increase in convenience and low investment. This has also helped companies to provide a variety of products to consumer groups of a particular region or country. An online distribution channel is getting more convenient for consumers The online distribution channel segment is projected to witness a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is primarily attributed to the booming e-commerce industry across the globe. With online retail stores, people can compare and buy global brands of facial care products. Moreover, consumers usually get some discounts or coupons while making purchases online, which is further attracting customers to this distribution channel. High penetration of smartphones and better internet connectivity has also significantly contributed to the growth of this segment during the forecast period. By geography, North America accounts for a noteworthy share of the global facial care market Geographically, the global facial care market is classified into five major regional markets- North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). North America accounted for a significant share of the global facial care market in 2019, owing to the high awareness of the benefits of regular face care regimes among both male and female populations. The presence of international global facial care brands in the country also contributes to the market growth in this region. With people having high disposable income and a preference for premium quality facial care products, facial care companies are also launching new variants to expand their product portfolio and maintain their market position in this region. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing regional facial care market during the forecast period. Increasing purchasing power and continuous rise in the demand for quality facial care products augment market growth. People are getting more aware of the harmful impact of certain chemicals used in facial care products in this region which is encouraging manufacturers to invest in R&D and launch natural ingredient facial care products to capture this growing market. The booming facial care industry in South Korea, India, and China will continue to pave the way for the growth of the APAC facial care market till the end of the forecast period. Other factors, such as the booming online retail industry and the growing use of social media for advertisement and marketing, also support the growth of the facial care market in this region. SegmentationBy Product Type Face cream Face wash Serums & Masks By Gender Male Female By Distribution Channel Online Offline By Geography Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 5. Global Facial Care Market Analysis, By Product Type 6. Global Facial Care Market Analysis, By Gender 7. Global Facial Care Market Analysis, By Distribution Channel 8. Global Facial Care Market Analysis, By Geography 9. Competitive Environment and Analysis 10. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned L'Oreal Procter and Gamble Oriflame Unilever Johnson & Johnson Glytone VLCC Health Care Limited Galderma Shiseido Co. Ltd Kao Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qyhcof Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market (2022-2027) by Product, Application, End-user, and Geography, with Competitive Analysis, Impact of COVID-19, and Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market is estimated to be worth USD 960 million in 2022, and is expected to reach USD 1,303.59 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.31%. Market Segmentation The Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market is segmented based on Product, Application, End-user, and Geography. By Product, the market is classified into Charcoal Stripped, Chromatographic, Dialyzed Fetal Bovine Serum, Exosome Depleted, Stem Cell. By Application, the market is classified into Cell Culture Media , Diagnostics, Drug Discovery , Human and Animal Vaccine Production, and In Vitro Fertilization. By End-user, the market is classified into Industry, and Research & Academic Institutes. By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe , Middle-East & Africa and Asia-Pacific . Countries Studied America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas) , , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA) and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) Ansoff Analysis The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for the growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach. The Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market is analyzed using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position. Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, suitable strategies have been devised for market growth. Why Buy This Report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel within the industry. The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 on the market is also featured in the report. The report also includes the regulatory scenario within the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules & regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies. The report also contains competitive analysis using 'Positioning Quadrants'; a proprietary competitive positioning tool. Market Dynamics Drivers Rising Demand for Fetal Bovine Serum for Research Studies Expansion of the Biopharmaceutical Industry Increase in Investments and Funding for Research Interventions High Incidence and Mortality Associated with Coagulation Disorders Restraints Reduction in Cattle Herd Population Due to the Increased Demand for Dairy and Meat Products High Cost and Chances of Viral Presence in the Product Opportunities Rising Culture Media Consumption in Developing Countries Growing R&D Activities Towards the Introduction of New Biopharmaceuticals Untapped Potential of Emerging Markets Challenges Lack of Skilled Personnel Key Topics Covered: 1 Report Description 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Market Dynamics 5 Market Analysis 6 Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market, by Product 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Charcoal Stripped 6.3 Chromatographic 6.4 Dialyzed Fetal Bovine Serum 6.5 Exosome Depleted 6.6 Stem Cell 7 Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market, by Application 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Cell Culture Media 7.3 Diagnostics 7.4 Drug Discovery 7.5 Human and Animal Vaccine Production 7.6 In Vitro Fertilization 8 Global Fetal Bovine Serum Market, by End-user 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Industry 8.3 Research & Academic Institutes 9 Americas' Fetal Bovine Serum Market 10 Europe's Fetal Bovine Serum Market 11 Middle East and Africa's Fetal Bovine Serum Market 12 APAC's Fetal Bovine Serum Market 13 Competitive Landscape 14 Company Profiles 15 Appendix Companies Mentioned Atlas Biologicals Access Biologicals Bio-West Corning GE Healthcare HiMedia Laboratories Merck PAN-Biotech Pfizer R&D Systems Rocky Mountain Biologicals Sanofi TCS Biosciences Thermo Fisher Scientific Tissue Culture Biologicals ZenBio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vnbmds Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quoin Capital , a leading investment bank with unique specialization in global trade and the emerging African markets, is pleased to announce its new Head of Capital Markets, Debra Gordon. "Debra brings with her decades of experience building effective and efficient capital markets capabilities, including trading, and scaling related offerings," says Quoin Capital Managing Director Felix Odigie. "She is a consummate professional, very well known in the industry, and I personally look forward to working with her as she grows our capital markets business." "I am thrilled to join the Quoin family and its team of experienced, dedicated individuals, says Gordon. "I am excited to be part of a global firm that is uniquely positioned in the world. I look forward to bringing my industry experience and skills to expand the firm's capital markets footprint." Prior to joining Quoin Capital, Gordon worked in various capacities, from trading, sales and marketing in the financial arena. She was CEO and Founder of Nexus Investment Consultant, a firm created to assist startups create strategies for capital raising and branding. She began her career as a runner on the CBOE trading floor, giving her a unique perspective into the financial markets. Debra is taking over the role from departing Head of Capital Markets, Maceo Davis. About Quoin Capital Founded in 2004, Quoin Capital provides the full scope of investment banking services with an excellent reputation for results. We offer collaborative leadership in financial strategy and execution with Fortune 500 corporations, financial institutions, asset managers, pension funds, municipalities, and startups, combining large bank experience with entrepreneurial drive to achieve optimal outcomes. From capital raises and IPOs, financial restructuring and M&A to unique Advisory and trade financing work, focused on business between Africa and the United States, Quoin Capital offers customized, hands-on guidance and advocacy through every transition. As champions of our partners' interests, we look deep into the workings of their culture and operations to understand and articulate our partners true power and potential, from initial valuation through the seamless execution of complex transactions. Quoin Capital is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, and is an independent minority business enterprise (MBE). For more information please visit https://quoincapital.com . Media Contact: GVM Communications Gia Moron [email protected] SOURCE Quoin Capital DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Sulfuric Acid Market by Raw Material (Elemental Sulfur, Base Metal Smelters, Pyrite Ore), Application (Fertilizers, Chemical Manufacturing, Metal Processing, Petroleum Refining, Textile Industry, and Automotive) and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global sulfuric acid market is projected to grow from USD 13.2 billion in 2020 to USD 28.5 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period. Steady demand for sulfuric acid is also witnessed due to its diversified applications, such as fertilizer manufacturing, metal ore leaching, and oil refining. Pyrite ore is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, by volume Sulfuric acid is produced through roasting of pyrite ores. Although the burning of elemental sulfur is the main source of sulfuric acid, the roasting process comes across as an alternative for sulfuric acid production when pyrite concentrate is available. Growing usage of sulfuric acid in various application is expected to drive the growth of pyrite ore segment during the forecast period of 2022 to 2027. Fertilizers application is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period, by volume Sulfuric acid is widely used to produce phosphate fertilizers which help in making the soil rich in phosphorus, an important nutrient vital for crop growth. Also, the need to increase crop production due to the increasing population and decrease in arable land in Asia Pacific and the Middle Eastern regions are driving the demand for sulfuric acid in the fertilizers industry. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, by volume The major economies of the Asia Pacific region contributing significantly to the growth of the sulfuric acid market are China, Japan, India, Indonesia, and South Korea. The region has emerged as an important consumer of specialty wet chemicals due to the increasing demand from the domestic front, aided by rise in the standard of living of the people and disposable income. This further increases the growth of sulfuric acid market in Asia Pacific. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Significant Opportunities in Sulfuric Acid Market 4.2 Sulfuric Acid Market, by Region 4.3 Asia-Pacific Sulfuric Acid Market, by Application and Country 4.4 Sulfuric Acid Market: Major Countries 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Strong Demand for Sulfuric Acid in Various Industries 5.2.1.2 Increased Usage of Sulfuric Acid in Agriculture Sector 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Restriction on Use of Sulfuric Acid Due to Health and Environmental Concerns 5.2.2.2 High Import Duties and Regulations on Trade of Sulfuric Acid 5.2.3 Opportunities 5.2.3.1 Increasing Use of Sulfuric Acid in Wastewater Treatment 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 Rapid Increase in Price 5.2.4.2 Difficulties Associated with Transportation 5.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Value Chain Analysis 6.2 Ecosystem Mapping 7 Sulfuric Acid Market, by Raw Material 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Elemental Sulfur 7.3 Pyrite Ore 7.4 Base Metal Smelters 7.5 Others 8 Sulfuric Acid Market, by Application 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Fertilizers 8.2.1 Growth in Production of Food Grains in Key Countries to Enhance Demand 8.3 Metal Processing 8.3.1 Growing Demand for Iron & Steel to Drive Market 8.4 Pulp & Paper 8.4.1 Growing Demand for Paper to Enhance Demand for Sulfuric Acid 8.5 Petroleum Refining 8.5.1 Growth in Demand for Diesel Fuel and Kerosene Driving Petroleum Refining 8.6 Textile Industry 8.6.1 Growing Awareness Regarding High-Quality and Branded Fabrics to Drive Demand 8.7 Automotive 8.7.1 Growing Production of Motor Vehicles in Asia-Pacific to Propel Demand 8.8 Chemical Manufacturing 8.8.1 Asia-Pacific to Dominate Sulfuric Acid Market 8.9 Others 9 Sulfuric Acid Market, by Region 10 Competitive Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Market Share Analysis 10.2.1 Market Share Analysis of Key Players 10.3 Key Market Developments 10.4 Company Evaluation Quadrant Matrix Definition and Methodology, 2021 10.4.1 Stars 10.4.2 Emerging Leaders 10.4.3 Pervasive Players 10.4.4 Participants 11 Company Profiles 11.1 Key Players 11.1.1 the Mosaic Company 11.1.2 Basf Se 11.1.3 Ocp Group 11.1.4 Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund 11.1.5 Phosagro 11.1.6 Nouryon 11.1.7 Aurubis Ag 11.1.8 Kmg Chemicals, Inc. 11.1.9 Qatar Acids Company 11.1.10 Lanxess Ag 11.1.11 Pvs Chemicals, Inc. 11.1.12 Elessent Clean Technologies, Inc. 11.1.13 Mitsubishi Shoji Chemical Corporation 11.2 Other Players 11.2.1 Weylchem Group of Companies 11.2.2 Groupe Chimique Tunisien Sa (Gct) 11.2.3 Petroperu Sa 11.2.4 Acidos Y Minerales De Venezuela 11.2.5 Industrias Basicas De Caldas 11.2.6 Nanjing Kapsom Engineering Limited 11.2.7 Nutrien AG Solutions, Inc. 12 Adjacent and Related Markets 13 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9jx38n Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets CLEVELAND, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest of OH's CEO Ariane Kirkpatrick issues statement on President Biden's Marijuana Reform Plan: "This is great news. We are encouraged by President Biden's plan for marijuana reform at the federal level. By pardoning all federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, and beginning the process of potentially more reform, he has taken a bold first step towards decriminalization. I applaud President Biden in taking the necessary steps needed to work towards removing barriers justified by an unjust system disproportionally affecting the BIPOC communities. Finally, the narrative and the stigma associated with marijuana use is taking a turn. As a business owner in the cannabis industry, we are intentional in our hiring practices, ensuring that the composition of our employees is diverse, equitable and inclusive. Of our 100+ employees across the state, 52% are people of color and just over 40% are women. Intentionality changes the conversation. President Biden's position changes the trajectory for many individuals and families, giving people the opportunity to start over, get a job, find housing, provide for their families, and contribute to the economic success of our communities. Although House Bill 523 legalized medical marijuana in the state in 2016, I urge our state legislators, other elected officials, and Governor DeWine to not stop there, and pay attention to the growing, strong public interest in changing marijuana policy in our state. President Biden's position has evolved over time, and so can our elected officials in Ohio." About Harvest of OH Harvest of OH is the only majority, minority owned and vertically integrated cannabis company in Ohio, licensed to dispense, grow, and process medical marijuana. In 2021, Harvest of OH, opened three storefront medical marijuana dispensaries in Columbus, Athens and Beavercreek with the goal of improving lives through the goodness of cannabis. Each dispensary sells a variety of cannabis flower, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, tinctures, topicals and accessories, including its own Harvest of OH flower, cultivated in Ironton, OH. SOURCE Harvest of OH AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 360training has officially stepped into providing regulatory and compliance training for Healthcare after acquiring HIPAA Exams in April of 2022. It has launched 46 HIPAA , Nursing , and Infection Control courses as part of its new Healthcare Vertical . Their up-to-date, comprehensive catalog of IACET-approved courses safeguard patient privacy, meeting HIPAA, OSHA, and CDC standards. Hospitals looking to stay HIPAA compliant can find training suited for various medical and healthcare-adjacent services. Tweet this 360training now offers 46 HIPAA, Nursing, and Infection Control courses as part of its new Healthcare Vertical. Hospitals looking to stay HIPAA compliant can find training suited for various medical and healthcare-adjacent services, with courses on HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules that will reduce exposure to violations. In addition to courses for healthcare workers, 360training's healthcare vertical has courses for business associates and administrators, sales professionals, and general staff members. Businesses that provide healthcare safety training ensure occupational safety, prevent infectious transmissions, and protect the overall health of employees. About HIPAA Exams HIPAA Exams , a division of Engaging Training Solutions Inc, is an IACET accredited business. They specialize in professional and management development training with primary focuses on health care, workplace safety, and legislative compliance. HIPAA Exams began in 2008 as an online learning system for hospitals. The company soon expanded when Massachusetts General, Scripps, and the U.S. Air Force asked HIPAA Exams to develop content for Registered Nurses specific to Joint Commission (JC) compliance. About 360training 360training is an integrated digital training and compliance platform for highly regulated industries. Through a unique combination of differentiated technology and deep regulatory expertise, 360training enables professionals to attain jobs and maintain industry-mandated requirements while helping organizations develop their workforces and remain compliant. 360training's robust, proprietary content library offers over 6,000 courses across major business verticals: Environment Health & Safety, Food & Beverage, Real Estate, Healthcare, Financial Services, and more. Since 1997, 360training.com , Inc. has delivered over 11 million training plans across multiple brands, including HIPAA Exams , Meditec , AgentCampus , VanEd , TIPS , OSHAcampus , OSHA.com , and Learn2Serve . Please visit www.360training.com or their social media accounts on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn to learn more. SOURCE 360training.com LONDON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Huobi Global announced today that the controlling shareholder has completed the transaction to sell its entire shareholding in Huobi Global to the buyout vehicle managed by About Capital Management (HK) Co., Limited ("About Capital"). Upon completion of the transaction, the buyout vehicle of About Capital will control the majority stake in Huobi Global. The transaction only involves the change of controlling shareholder and has no impact on Huobi's core operation and business management teams. According to About Capital, post transaction Huobi Global will embrace a series of new international brand promotion and business expansion initiatives, including a global strategic advisory board led by leading industry figures, the injection of sufficient capital in margin and risk provision fund, as well as measures to further enhance competitiveness. Upon successful implementation of the initiatives, Huobi Global will be well positioned to provide first-class trading and investment services to international investors. Headquartered in Hong Kong, About Capital is a fund management company founded in 2008. About Capital specialises in special situation strategy to identify long term investment opportunities. Since its inception, it has won a series of prestigious industry awards among the best performing funds in Asia. Commenting on the Huobi Global acquisition, Ted Chen, CEO of About Capital, said "We are very pleased to complete the transaction. Huobi Global offers the best of breed virtual asset investment services to millions of international users. We believe the virtual asset industry is still in its early stage and there is tremendous upside for long term growth. We are confident that the holistic approach to rebuild Huobi Global as the premier international virtual asset exchange would solidify both the recognition and trust of Huobi's international users." Leon Li, the founder of Huobi, said: "This transaction marks a new chapter for Huobi Global. Over the past nine years, we have witnessed Huobi's ascendence into one of the largest virtual asset exchanges in the world. Following Huobi's exit from the Chinese mainland market in 2021, we have accelerated our globalization push amidst a challenging market environment, which adds to the impetus for Huobi to seek a new shareholding structure with a global vision and international resources. We believe the successful acquisition by About Capital vehicle will contribute to Huobi's global expansion in both aspects." It is understood that the transaction also includes a series of important measures to ensure the smooth transition of daily operations, improved risk capital provision and stability of the core management team. Huobi Global Introduction Founded in 2013, Huobi Global is one of the largest virtual asset exchanges in the world. Huobi Global serves millions of users across international markets. Since its establishment, Huobi Global has committed to providing first class virtual asset investment services. Huobi Global's robust infrastructure, product innovation and capital strength provide a truly customer-centric and secure trading environment to help our international users to achieve their investment objectives. Please refer to Huobi's official website for more information: www.huobi.com About Capital Introduction About Capital Management (HK) Co., Limited is a fund management company based in Hong Kong. It was founded by Mr. Ted Chen in 2008. Previously, Mr. Chen was a founding partner of China's leading investment manager Greenwoods Asset Management. He has over 30 years of successful experience in the capital market and investment management industry. About Capital focuses on exploring long-term investment opportunities. Please refer to the official website www.aboutcap.com SOURCE Huobi Global BOSTON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 30th 2022, Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke to Dutch news outlet Bright about the future of augmented reality (AR) and the metaverse. On AR, Cook was bullish, stating that it "won't be that long" until we look at life without AR as we now look back to a life before the internet or smartphone. Conversely, in the latest of a series of blows for perception of the metaverse, Cook said that Apple does not use the word as the public does not understand it and that virtual reality (VR) is not a good method of communication. Augmented reality applications in 2033 (PRNewsfoto/IDTechEx Ltd) As outlined in IDTechEx's recent report, "Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, and Markets", interest in the metaverse has driven a surge in investment in AR and VR hardware since these technologies are expected to become the key gateways to this next evolution of the internet. However, as detailed in the report, it is important to remember that the applications of AR extend beyond this to solve tangible problems in the shorter term. Apple has clearly not forgotten this fact. Finding the Right Application for Consumer AR There is a growing realization that, for consumer AR glasses to truly succeed, they need to perform multiple roles that cannot be fulfilled by existing smart devices or VR headsets. Google's ongoing public study with AR glasses that translate and transcribe conversations in real-time, amongst other tasks, is one example. Technically, these glasses do not do anything new. Smartphone software is technically capable of the same task, yet AR spectacles let you have a seamless conversation without looking down at a screen. For those who must frequently communicate in unfamiliar languages or with hearing difficulties, this kind of product could be life-changing. Social acceptability has been a historical stumbling block for consumer AR headsets (the term "glasshole" was coined to describe users of the original Google Glass). If AR headsets are shown to have a unique ability to solve high-value problems of this sort, the size of this barrier could decrease. Google's latest demonstrator AR glasses appear to use a similar optical setup to the holographic freespace combiners previously used by Canadian firm North, which it acquired in 2020. These keep the device looking much like a normal pair of glasses and the eyes of the user fully visible, greatly aiding social acceptability. The ability of new AR optical designs to enable social acceptability is a key theme of IDTechEx's report, "Optics for Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2022-2032: Technologies, Players and Markets". Solving relatively niche problems might contrast with the grand vision of AR headsets revolutionizing how we communicate, but it offers the best approach to laying the groundwork for these devices to become mass-market. To begin replacing smartphones or smartwatches, AR headsets need to demonstrate that they can offer solutions these products cannot. Perhaps when this value proposition is established, market goals will shift to a more revolutionary push toward the metaverse. Are "iGlasses" Coming? Like Google, Apple is likely looking for the most useful ways to take its AR applications from smartphones to smart glasses. It has laid strong groundwork here, asserting that it already has the world's largest AR platform, with patent and acquisition activity indicating it may have intentions to release an AR headset. Notably, alongside many AR software patents, several patents applied for by Apple since 2021 indicate interest in eye tracking, which is increasingly common in AR/VR devices as a method to reduce resolution demands whilst keeping image quality the same, as well as acting as an interface with software eye tracking technologies are covered within the IDTechEx report, "Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, and Markets". The company's 2018 acquisition of holographic AR optics firm Akonia Holographics has also persistently stoked rumors of an Apple AR headset being just around the corner. The AR industry is waiting with bated breath for Apple to release an AR headset, and Tim Cook's latest statement will no doubt inspire hope here. An Apple AR headset would act as a vital vote of confidence in the technology, and the tech giant clearly sees it as the next big thing in computing. What remains less clear is when "iGlasses" will come and whether Apple has abandoned widely assumed plans for a VR headset to be released alongside them. Technical and commercial analysis of emerging technologies for AR/VR, including ten year forecasting and technology adoption analysis, can be found in IDTechEx's recently released reports "Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, and Markets" and "Optics for Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2022-2032: Technologies, Players and Markets". The reports cover applications of AR/VR ranging from industrial use to consumer gaming. About IDTechEx IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com . Image downloads: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ltvmxjodg0p5mrn/AACZZ3_Qtr57jV2np-ex_U3Ca?dl=0 Media Contact: Natalie Fifield Digital Marketing Manager [email protected] +44(0)1223 812300 Social Media Links: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IDTechEx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idtechex/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916338/ar_applications_IDTechEx.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg SOURCE IDTechEx The blockchain's landmark partnership with the leading NFT industry event will support NFT engagement at NFT.NYC events worldwide. SYDNEY, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Immutable , supporting the Ethereum-scaling Layer 2 platform Immutable X and Immutable Games Studio with leading titles such as Gods Unchained and Guild of Guardians, has today entered a new multi-year partnership with NFT.NYC , organizer of leading NFT industry events, ahead of its upcoming debut in London on November 3. Our partnership with NFT.NYC is a first for the industry Tweet this Immutable Partners with NFT.NYC in Major Multi-Year Sponsorship "We are proud to partner with Immutable as the title sponsor for NFT.London and NFT.NYC" said NFT.NYC Co-Founder, Jodee Rich. "We have been deeply committed to integrating NFTs into the attendee experience since our first NFT.NYC in 2019. Immutable will play an important role in scaling those experiences to all attendees, helping us deliver unforgettable NFT moments at all of our events." Immutable X has already earned itself a reputation as a proven, economical and energy-efficient NFT platform. Recently, Gods Unchained , a leading Web3 competitive trading card game developed by Immutable Game Studio, also announced an exclusive program for GameStop's GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro members an opportunity to welcome GameStop's most competitive and engaged players into the expanding universe of Gods Unchained. "Our partnership with NFT.NYC is a first for the industry, marking the beginning of a significant collaboration in the NFT space. Immutable is building and scaling world-class web3 games, bringing the next billion players to web3. With this new partnership, we can bring exciting experiences and engaging activities at all NFT.NYC events." said Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable. As part of the partnership, tickets for NFT.NYC events beginning in 2023 will be NFTs minted on Immutable X. Additionally, NFT 'Swag Bags' distributed to NFT.NYC's attendees will also be minted on Immutable X. As the first layer 2 scaling solution for NFTs on Ethereum, these Immutable-minted digital assets will also be 100% carbon-neutral and protected by Ethereum-grade security. Since its inauguration in 2019, NFT.NYC has brought together builders, brands, pioneers, influencers, developers and NFT enthusiasts to celebrate this innovative, nascent technology. In June of this year, NFT.NYC attracted 16,000+ attendees from 72 different countries to hear 1,500 speakers across 16 NFT-focused tracks. Together, NFT.NYC and Immutable will expand the conference's global reach by bringing the world leading NFT event to the United Kingdom for the first time with NFT.London (November 3 - 4, 2022). The event has seen continued development growth along with the global NFT industry itself. According to recent reports, the global NFT market could reach a total value of $230 billion by 2030, with events such as NFT.NYC already demonstrating the ongoing potential for growth within the sector. About Immutable: Immutable is a global blockchain technology company with a mission to bring asset ownership and commerce alive in digital worlds through the power of immutable NFTs. The Immutable Group consists of Ethereum-scaling Layer 2 platform Immutable X and Immutable Games Studio with leading titles Gods Unchained and Guild of Guardians. Co-founded by James Ferguson, Robbie Ferguson and Alex Connolly in 2018, Immutable is headquartered in Sydney with a team of over 300 leading technologists, creators and innovators, and backed by top transformational tech investors like BITKRAFT Ventures, King River Capital, AirTree, Temasek, Coinbase and more. About NFT.NYC: Since its inaugural conference in February 2019, NFT.NYC events have hosted 20,000+ attendees, thousands of leading speakers and the best projects in the Non-Fungible Token ecosystem. As the world's leading NFT conference, NFT.NYC is committed to three core values: Give the Community a Voice : Providing a forum for the NFT Community to share the most relevant ideas of the moment. Create Connection: Bring people together who are working on like NFT projects. Proselytize NFTs: Educate the global community about the value of NFTs. SOURCE Immutable NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The industrial food blanchers market size is expected to grow by USD 72.82 million from 2020 to 2025. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.47% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The increasing demand for frozen vegetables has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the undesired effects of blanching on foods might challenge market growth. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Industrial Food Blanchers Market 2021-2025 Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format Industrial Food Blanchers Market 2021-2025: Scope The industrial food blanchers market report covers the following areas: Industrial Food Blanchers Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Type Belt Blanchers: The belt blanchers segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. Belt blanchers are used for blanching potatoes owing to their water-cooling technology. The global potato processing sector is growing, which will drive the demand for these products. Hence, this segment is expected to grow at a fast rate during the forecast period. Drum Blanchers Screw Blanchers Geography APAC: APAC will account for 32% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region is attributed to factors such as the preference for convenient and fast-to-prepare food among individuals. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. China and Japan are the key countries for the industrial food blanchers market in APAC. Foreign direct investment is increasing in the food processing sector of APAC. For instance, food processing and manufacturing companies in Japan , such as KAGOME, MAYEKAWA MFG, Marubeni, and ISETAN MITSUKOSHI HOLDINGS, have shown interest in investing in the food processing sector in India . and are the key countries for the industrial food blanchers market in APAC. Foreign direct investment is increasing in the food processing sector of APAC. For instance, food processing and manufacturing companies in , such as KAGOME, MAYEKAWA MFG, Marubeni, and ISETAN MITSUKOSHI HOLDINGS, have shown interest in investing in the food processing sector in . Europe North America South America MEA Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report Industrial Food Blanchers Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating, including ABCO Industries Inc., Boema Spa, Cabinplant AS, Dodman Ltd., Dutch TecSource B.V., Excel Plants & Equipment Pvt Ltd., GEM Equipment of Oregon Inc., Idaho Steel, Lyco Manufacturing Inc., and Turatti Srl. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports per month and view 100 reports per month Industrial Food Blanchers Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist industrial food blanchers market growth during the next five years Estimation of the industrial food blanchers market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the industrial food blanchers market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of industrial food blanchers market vendors Related Reports Industrial Food Milling Machines Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The industrial food milling machines market share is expected to increase by USD 121.47 million from 2021 to 2026. Food and Beverage Filling Equipment Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The food and beverage filling equipment market share is expected to increase by USD 912.18 million from 2021 to 2026. Industrial Food Blanchers Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.47% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 72.82 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 2.25 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 32% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ABCO Industries Inc., Boema Spa, Cabinplant AS, Dodman Ltd., Dutch TecSource B.V., Excel Plants & Equipment Pvt Ltd., GEM Equipment of Oregon Inc., Idaho Steel, Lyco Manufacturing Inc., and Turatti Srl Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse Industrials Market Reports Table Of Contents Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Belt blanchers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Drum blanchers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Screw blanchers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Type Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Competitive scenario Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors ABCO Industries Inc. Boema Spa Cabinplant AS Dodman Ltd. Dutch TecSource B.V. Excel Plants & Equipment Pvt Ltd. GEM Equipment of Oregon Inc. Idaho Steel Lyco Manufacturing Inc. Turatti Srl Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations 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/ Newsroom: newsroom.technavio.org/news/industrial-food-blanchers-market SOURCE Technavio CHICAGO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Metrology Market is expected to grow from USD 10.9 billion in 2022 to USD 14.6 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 6.1%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The most significant factor driving the growth of the industrial metrology market include surging adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), rising demand for big data analytics, increasing demand for automobiles in emerging economies, growing demand for quality and inspection equipment in precision manufacturing industry, and increasing focus on manufacturing superior- and uniform-quality products. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=190782079 Browse in-depth TOC on "Industrial Metrology Market" 145 Tables 58 Figures 316 Pages Quality Control and Inspection to hold the largest share of industrial metrology market for application during the forecast period Quality control is an integral part of any production process as it helps in the smooth functioning of the production department without incurring any extra cost. Under the quality control and inspection application, metrology is used for CAD-based inspection, dimensional analysis, and machine calibration, among others. Aerospace & defense and automotive are the major industries where industrial metrology equipment are used for quality control and inspection. In the aerospace & defense industry, industrial metrology equipment are used for quality control and inspection of various parts and components. Optical metrology, which is a highly versatile inspection method that ensures equipment quality and design intent achievement, can be an ideal solution to this problem. It has become the "go-to" metrology solution for automotive as well as other industries requiring high-quality control and inspection, owing to its non-contact, non-destructive, fast, highly sensitive, and exceptional resolution and accuracy. Software segment is projected to register the higher CAGR for offering of the industrial metrology market during the forecast period The software segment is expected to witness significant growth in the industrial metrology market during the forecast period. Various companies are utilizing industrial metrology software to enhance their manufacturing process. The types of software used for metrology purposes in industries are based on the purpose they serve; these software systems mainly include the software used for measurement, evaluation, and management that are used to improve the measuring operations. Software solutions are used to acquire and process data collected by the hardware component of metrology equipment, such as CMMs and scanners. Dimensional measurement information system (DMIS) includes a dimensional measurement software package for CMMs and portable measurement devices and laser trackers to measure the dimensions of the parts of various components in the aerospace and automotive industries. Other software solutions include CAD/CAM software, automation software, cloud software, imaging software, metrology X4, metrology X4 V5 embedded, and Vision64 Map Software. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=190782079 North America is projected to register the largest market share of the industrial metrology market in 2027 Automotive and aerospace & defense are the major industries contributing to the growth of the industrial metrology market in the North America. The region is one of the leading automotive manufacturers in the world, making it a prime adopter of metrological offerings to ensure high-quality products and, thus, an attractive market for industrial metrology. The automotive industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, followed by the aerospace & defense industry. The aerospace & defense segment is growing rapidly and is expected to generate high revenue for the market. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the heightened demand for metrological offerings in the region. Hexagon (Sweden), Nikon (Japan), FARO Technologies (US), Carl Zeiss (Germany), Jenoptik (Germany), KLA Corporation (US), Renishaw (UK), Mitutoyo Corporation (Japan), KEYENCE CORPORATION (Japan), Creaform (Canada), Precision Products (US), CARMAR ACCURACY (Taiwan), Baker Hughes (US), CyberOptics (US), Cairnhill Metrology (Singapore), ATT Metrology Services (US), SGS Group (Switzerlands), TriMet (US), Automated Precision (US), Applied Materials (US), Perceptron (US), JLM Advance Technical Service (US), Intertek Group (UK), Bruker (US), and Metrologic Group (France). are among the key players operating in the industrial metrology market. These players are increasingly undertaking strategies such as product launches and development, expansions, partnerships, contracts, and acquisitions to increase their market share. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=190782079 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: 3D Metrology Market by Product Type (CMM, ODS, VMM, 3D AOI, 3D X-ray &CT), Application (Quality Control & Inspection, Reverse Engineering, Virtual Simulation), Offering, End-user Industry and Geography (2022-2027) 3D Scanner Market by Offering (Hardware, Software and Solutions, Services), Type (3D Laser Scanners, Structured Light Scanners), Range, Technology, Product, Application, End-Use Industry, Region (2021-2026) Inline Metrology Market by Offering (Hardware, Software), Product (CMM, Machine Vision Systems, Optical Scanners), Application (Reverse Engineering, Quality Control & Inspection), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2025 Digital Imaging Market by Technology (Machine Vision, Metrology, Radiography, and LiDAR), Application (Inspection, Reverse Engineering, and Surveying), Industry (Automotive, Aerospace, Oil & Gas), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 3D Laser Scanner Market by Range (Short, Medium, and Long), Product (Tripod Mounted, Fixed CMM Based, Portable CMM Based, and Desktop), Offering (Hardware & Software and After-Sales Services), Application, End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 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. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/industrial-metrology-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/industrial-metrology.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Pharmacy Information Systems Market Research and Forecast 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for pharmacy information systems is projected to have a considerable CAGR of around 10.4% during the forecast period. The pharmacy information system is used to manage, and record the data related to the patient's medication and supply of drugs and other essentials related to pharmacy. The data relating to the diagnosis of any disease is also stored for the future through PIS. In addition, it enables in managing patient profiles, processing and billing, workflow, accounts receivables, and inventory. One of the key features of pharmacy information systems is, the information regarding the shortage of medicine and patient's medication can be easily generated and managed by the pharmacist in a digital format. The factors attributing to the growth of PIS includes an increase in demand of people for the better quality of healthcare services and growing adoption of cloud-based pharmacy information systems across various segments of the healthcare sector. The increase in healthcare instruments manufacturers worldwide, rising funding, and technological advancements are also the factors that are contributing to the growth of the global PIS market. However, high initial cost, complex technological guidelines of pharmacy information systems software, scarcity of skilled professionals, and privacy & data breach are major restraining factors that affect the growth of this market. An increase in funding by the government and major players in drugs and medication R&D in emerging nations are the major opportunities for the pharmacy information systems market. COVID-19 Impact on global Pharmacy Information Systems Market The global pharmacy information systems market is positively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the growth in patients during the pandemic, the demand for effective healthcare management systems is increased, also to manage and record the data related to medicine supply and coming orders, the use and adoption of cloud-based pharmacy information systems are increased. Additionally, it has witnessed that during the pandemic, most of the patients were connecting to their consultants for getting the enquiries and queries related to the medications through these systems. Hence, the overall growth in the PIS market has increased. Segmental Outlook The global pharmacy information systems market is segmented based on deployment, type, components, and end-user. Based on deployment, the market is sub-segmented into on-premises and cloud-based. Based on type, the market is categorized into outpatients and inpatients. By component, the market is classified as hardware and software, & services. Similarly, based on end-users, it is divided into physician offices, hospital & pharmacy, and paramedic services. Among these, the PIS in the hospital segment is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. The adoption of PIS in hospital pharmacy departments to record a large array of data, and to reduce the prescription burden from pharmacy professionals is gaining popularity, thus increases the demands for such type of software's, that will drive the market growth. Cloud-Based Pharmacy Information Systems holds the largest market share in the market Based on deployment type, the cloud-based PIS held the largest share in the market in 2020, and it is further projected to grow at significant CAGR during the forecast period. The adoption of cloud-based pharmacy information systems is increasing in various end-users such as physician offices, hospital & pharmacy, and paramedic services. These systems support large pharmacies to keep a record of the data related to patient's diagnosis and inventory, also this software's enables pharmacist to connect globally to other vendors as well as patients from their current locations. Besides, information related to the prescriptions, medicines, can be shared among all users of the systems without any hurdle. The adoption of cloud computing in the healthcare field not only will make the healthcare system more efficient but also will allow an integrated healthcare information system to be deployed. The growing healthcare sectors due to the rising patients pool and burden of prescriptions will be expected to create huge demands for cloud-based PIS during the forecast period. The market will experience growth by increasing sales and demands. Regional Outlook Geographically, the global pharmacy information systems market is classified into four major regions including North America (the US and Canada), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and Rest of the World (Latin America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA)). Among these, Asia-Pacific will show a considerable growth rate during the forecast period. The growing healthcare sectors in emerging economies such as China, Japan, India, Brazil will drive the market growth. Besides, Government support and initiative in these countries encourage the adoption of new technology such as PIS. North America Dominate the global Pharmacy Information System Market Geographically, North America dominated the market in 2020, and it is further expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The factors attributing to the growth of the market include technological advancements, better healthcare infrastructure, and government support in the region. The adoption of cloud-based pharmacy information systems is higher in North America compared to any other region due to growing healthcare sectors and patient's pool. The presence of major market players and high expenditure by them for the technology development is the prime factor accelerating the market growth. Market Players Outlook The key players in the global pharmacy information system market contributing significantly by providing different types of products and increasing their geographical presence across the globe. The key players of the market are Allscripts Healthcare, LLC., Parata Systems, LLC, athenahealth, Inc, Carestream Health, Cerner Corp., eClinicalWorks, LLC, Epic Systems Corp., Mckesson Corp., Swisslog Holding AG, among others. These market players adopt different marketing strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, R&D, product launches, and geographical expansions to generated more revenue and to remain competitive in the market. For instance, In Feb 2021, Parata Systems recently launched an enhanced Website as a comprehensive pharmacy automation system to improved patient outcomes. Additionally, the new website will also help pharmacy professionals find solutions for the challenges in their specific market segments. The Report Covers Market value data analysis of 2020 and forecast to 2027. Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment. Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions. Key companies operating in the global pharmacy information systems market. Based on the availability of data, information related to pipeline products, and relevant news is also available in the report. Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future. Analysis of market entry and market expansion strategies. Competitive strategies by identifying 'who-stands-where' in the market Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Key Company Analysis 3.1.1. Overview 3.1.2. Financial Analysis 3.1.3. SWOT Analysis 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Impact of Covid on key players 4. Market Determinants 4.1. Motivators 4.2. Restraints 4.3. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Global Pharmacy Information Systems Market, By Deployment 5.1.1. On-Premises 5.1.2. Cloud-Based 5.2. Global Pharmacy Information Systems Market, By Type 5.2.1. Out Patients 5.2.2. In Patients 5.3. Global Pharmacy Information Systems Market, By Components 5.3.1. Hardware 5.3.2. Software& Services 5.4. Global Pharmacy Information Systems Market, By End-User 5.4.1. Physician Offices 5.4.2. Hospital & Pharmacy 5.4.3. Paramedic Services 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. North America 6.1.1. United States 6.1.2. Canada 6.2. Europe 6.2.1. UK 6.2.2. Germany 6.2.3. Italy 6.2.4. Spain 6.2.5. France 6.2.6. Russia 6.2.7. Rest of Europe 6.3. Asia-Pacific 6.3.1. China 6.3.2. India 6.3.3. Japan 6.3.4. South Korean 6.3.5. Rest of Asia-Pacific 6.4. Rest of the World 6.4.1. Latin America 6.4.2. Middle East& Africa 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Allscripts Healthcare, LLC 7.2. Astellas Pharma Inc. 7.3. athenahealth, Inc. 7.4. Carestream Health Inc. 7.5. Cerner Corp. 7.6. eClinicalWorks, LLC 7.7. Epic Systems Corp. 7.8. HansasoftOU 7.9. Mckesson Corp. 7.10. Medical Information Technology, Inc. 7.11. Netsmart Technologies, Inc 7.12. Parata Systems, LLC 7.13. ScriptPro LLC 7.14. Siemens AG 7.15. Swisslog Holding For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ao9xtl 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 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets PITTSBURGH, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I was attending hairdressing school in Mexico and I thought there could be a formula to improve the health of hair," said an inventor, from Yuma, Ariz., "so I invented TONI'S ORGANICS MAGIC SHAMPOO. My formula offers a quick and simple means to stimulate, strengthen and condition hair." The invention provides an effective way to restore and strengthen hair. In doing so, it encourages stronger, softer and healthier hair. It also could help to repair damage/split ends and it could enhance bounce and shine. The invention features a novel formula that is easy to apply so it is ideal for men, women and hair salons. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the Tucson sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-TUC-138, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp LP to support multiple new builds with inaugural donation NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The LP Foundation, LP Building Solutions' non-profit giving division, has partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. Program as the LP Foundation's first national non-profit partner. The LP Foundation and Trustees Teade Tagaloa, Jonathyn Truax and Logan Parkhurst, together with LP Executive Vice President and CFO Alan Haughie, were honored to present the initial $100,000 donation check to the Gary Sinise Foundation in person at LP's corporate office last week. The LP Foundation has partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. Program as the LP Foundation's first national non-profit partner. "We are incredibly grateful to the LP Foundation for their generous donation that will go to support our nation's most severely wounded heroes," said Actor and Humanitarian Gary Sinise. "Through their support of our Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program, LP Foundation will help us provide specially adapted, mortgage free homes for those who are suffering from amputations, severe burns, paralysis, and traumatic brain injuries. These custom smart-technology homes are built for their specific needs and will help to restore their independence, empowering them to regain the freedom to move forward in their lives, the very things they served to defend for us all." The Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. Program builds specially-adapted smart homes for severely wounded heroes, in addition to providing home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to injured, wounded, ill and/or aging heroes. The LP Foundation is providing an initial $100,000 donation to R.I.S.E., which is the Foundation's largest donation in 2022; the Foundation will make an annual financial donation to the R.I.S.E. Program, with planned partnership extensions such as product donations in the works as well. "The LP Foundation is a shining example of what it means to, as Gary would say, "do a little more" to support our veterans, heroes, defenders and first responders, and we look forward to this great partnership," said Donna Palmer, Executive Director of the Gary Sinise Foundation. "With the support of partners like LP Foundation who continue to step up to help us help our country's heroes and their families, we will continue to expand our mission to serve and honor the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country and communities." The partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. Program aligns with the LP Foundation's primary giving category (Housing), and works in conjunction with LP's overall purpose of Building A Better World. The LP Foundation has a long history of providing help where it is most needed in our communities; this partnership expands the LP Foundation's focus to a national level, while allowing it to stay true to its mission of supporting the communities where we live and work. "We take a great deal of pride in the work the LP Foundation does," said Brad Southern, LP Chair and CEO. "A partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation to support the R.I.S.E. program is a significant step forward in the Foundation's scope of work at the national level. I am excited for this new venture and the impactful work we will do alongside the Gary Sinise Foundation, in addition to the great things the Foundation continues to do in our mill communities." With this initial donation, the LP Foundation is supporting new builds for veterans and first responders in Republic, Missouri; Springfield, Oregon; Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; and locally, on a build right outside Nashville, for US Army Sergeant (Retired) Joshua Hargis. "I can go everywhere in this house and enjoy being together with my family," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Romulo "Romy" Camargo at the recent dedication of his R.I.S.E. home. "Through voice automation, I can now complete tasks I was unable to do in my previous living situation." Founded mere months after the company formed in 1972, the LP Foundation has provided over $20 million to deserving nonprofits since its inception, including the Tennessee Wildlife Foundation, Harpeth Conservancy, Cumberland River Compact, and the Land Trust for Tennessee. About LP Building Solutions As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood building products that meet the demands of builders, remodelers, and homeowners worldwide. LP's extensive offerings include innovative and dependable building products and accessories, such as Siding Solutions (LP SmartSide Trim & Siding, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding, LP BuilderSeries Lap Siding, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions), LP Structural Solutions (LP TechShield Radiant Barrier, LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier, LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring, LP FlameBlock Fire-Rated Sheathing, LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing, and LP TopNotch350 Durable Sub-Flooring), and oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to product solutions, LP provides industry-leading customer service and warranties. Since its founding in 1972, LP has been Building a Better World by helping customers construct beautiful, durable homes while our shareholders build lasting value. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP operates 22 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile, and Brazil. For more information, visit LPCorp.com. The Gary Sinise Foundation The Gary Sinise Foundation was established under the philanthropic direction of award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, who has been an advocate of our nation's defenders for nearly 40 years. The Gary Sinise Foundation's mission is to serve our country by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. The Foundation's four programmatic pillars are our way of "doing a little more" for those who sacrifice so much for our country. As our Founder and Chairman Gary Sinise always says, "While we can never do enough for our defenders and their loved ones, we can always do a little more." That spirit of service is the bedrock of all of the Foundation's programs, which include R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) Program, Relief and Resiliency Program, Community and Education Program and the First Responders Outreach Program. For more information, please visit GarySiniseFoundation.org. SOURCE LP Building Solutions CHICAGO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- M&A Science is partnering with Utkarsh Bhagat to release an online two-day intensive course titled, "An Introduction to Financial Modeling." The course will take place on November 5th and 6th, 2022. Utkarsh leverages experience across various facets of his career including investment banking, consulting and corporate development. Additionally, Utkarsh spent eight years leading financial modeling and valuation training programs across investment banks, consulting firms, law firms and academic institutions. Financial Modeling Course This course is beneficial for new and experienced practitioners who want to learn and refresh their skills in constructing a circular 3-statement financial model of a public company. Participants will learn how to leverage the annual report of a publicly traded company to construct a financial model and discounted cash flow analysis. Participants will also be provided with Excel files to interact with alongside the live teaching. The live course recording will be available for all participants afterwards. Early bird rates for the course are currently available until October 30th, 2022. To learn more about the course and to register, follow this link: https://www.mascience.com/introduction-to-financial-modeling-course. About the M&A Science Academy The M&A Science Academy is an outcome-based online workshop program, that provides clear and tangible value. The instructors are M&A professionals that demonstrate and encourage the practice of actual methods. Course topics include diligence, integration, valuation, human resources, and more. Programs are designed to fit in a full-time schedule at a reasonable cost. Through this private community, you'll be able to move your practice forward by engaging with other talented minds from the industry. Members have access to videos, ebooks, checklists, virtual summits, and networking events. Learn more at https://www.mascience.com/academy. Media Contact: Marsha Forester (312-344-3442) [email protected] SOURCE M&A Science ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan today introduced a new podcast that shares insights from the school's faculty members into current issues and events. Business and Society with Michigan Ross explores the different ways the business world interacts with our broader society. The format of the show includes two segments: A small panel of Michigan Ross professors discussing a current public issue, followed by an interview with another professor about their latest impactful research. The first episode, available now , tackles the question "Is the American Corporation Doomed?" with a panel featuring Michigan Ross Professors Paul Clyde , Jerry Davis , and Cindy Schipani . In addition, Professor Sarah Miller explains her research into the long-term financial impacts on women who are denied an abortion. Future episodes will address subjects like social media and democracy, government regulation and climate change, and why people may be reluctant leaders. "We see Business and Society as an effective showcase for the valuable, research-based insights of our faculty members into the most critical issues facing our society," said Michigan Ross Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research Thomas Buchmueller . "The early episodes feature really interesting and thought-provoking conversations, and we expect more." Business and Society with Michigan Ross can be found on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Amazon Music . More news about Ross faculty's work can be found on the school's website . About Michigan Ross The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a diverse learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. The Ross School of Business mission is to build a better world through business. Through thought and action, members of the Ross community drive change and innovation that improves business and society. Michigan Ross is consistently ranked among the world's leading business schools. Academic degree programs include the Bachelor of Business Administration, Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA (Online and Weekend formats), Executive MBA, Global MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Management, Master of Supply Chain Management, and PhD. In addition, the school delivers open enrollment and custom executive education programs targeting general management, leadership development, and strategic human resource management. For more information, visit MichiganRoss.umich.edu . SOURCE Stephen M. Ross School of Business WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media briefing at 2 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 11, to discuss the agency's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission and its intentional collision with its target asteroid, Dimorphos. The briefing will air on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website. Participants include leaders from NASA, the Italian Space Agency, and the DART mission team. To attend the briefing in person, or to participate remotely and ask questions, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the briefing to Josh Handal at: [email protected]. NASA's media accreditation policy is available online. The media briefing will take place in the Webb Auditorium of NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson building, 300 E. Street, SW in Washington. On Monday, Sept. 26, DART successfully impacted its asteroid target in the world's first planetary defense technology demonstration. As a part of NASA's overall planetary defense strategy, DART's impact with the asteroid Dimorphos will help to determine whether asteroid deflection using a kinetic impactor spacecraft is a viable mitigation technique for protecting the planet from an Earth-bound asteroid or comet, if one were discovered. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory manages the DART mission for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office as a project of the agency's Planetary Missions Program Office. Neither DART's target asteroid, Dimorphos, nor its larger asteroid parent, Didymos, poses a hazard to Earth. For more information about the DART mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/dart SOURCE NASA Adds deeper experience and innovative technologies for complex environmental and water challenges. CORAOPOLIS, Pa., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Newterra Inc. today reported it acquired H2O Engineering Inc., a San Luis Obispo, California-based supplier that specializes in tailored water treatment solutions to meet the specific needs of its clients. Founded in 2000, the company delivers solutions across several markets, including indoor agriculture, light industrial, remediation, food and beverage and water reuse. Offerings include water filtration equipment, irrigation disinfection systems, ozone equipment, rentals and leases, system integration, automation, service and supplies. "The acquisition of H2O Engineering is a win-win for both companies. H2O Engineering expands our reach into the controlled environment agriculture, light industrial, remediation and beverage sectors while strengthening our engineering design, service, and manufacturing base on the West Coast," said Newterra CEO Kevin Cassidy. "We enhance H2O Engineering's system capabilities with complex system integration experience, packaged filtration systems and a broad range of technologies. We are extremely excited to welcome the H2O Engineering team to our Newterra family." "Newterra is the perfect complement to H2O Engineering, and we are very excited about the joint competencies. I am delighted the H2O Engineering team will now be part of a global company with strong capabilities," said Robert Moncrief, H2O Engineering Founder. Jeff Martens, VP of Sales and Service for H2O Engineering, shared, "For the last three years, H2O Engineering has experienced rapid growth, especially in the controlled environment agriculture market. We have accomplished this by engineering solutions tailored to the needs of our customers and providing exceptional service. Joining the Newterra team will allow H2O Engineering to service our key customers with a broader range of water solutions and a broader service and support network." About Newterra Newterra designs, engineers, manufactures, and services environmental, water and wastewater treatment solutions that assure great performance, superb reliability, and the highest value in our global markets. The company offers a broad portfolio of reliable, trouble-free technologies and outsourcing support for municipal and industrial customers across diverse applications, including drinking water, industrial process water, wastewater, stormwater and remediation. For more information, please visit newterra.com. About H2O Engineering H2O Engineering specializes in tailored water treatment solutions, including water treatment equipment, ozone remediation equipment, rentals and leases, system integration, consumable supply (chemical, parts, filters, membranes and exchange services), system service and automation. The H2O Engineering experience extends to industrial, remediation, food and beverage, water reuse, agriculture, power and utilities, breweries, wineries and pharmaceutical projects. For more information, please visit h2oengineering.com. Media Contact: Ann Knutson Marketing Manager T +1 651-263-3679 [email protected] SOURCE Newterra, Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Numinus Wellness Inc. ("Numinus" or the "Company") (TSX: NUMI) (OTCQX: NUMIF), a mental health care company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, today announced that Payton Nyquvest, Founder and CEO of Numinus, will participate in a Water Tower Research Fireside Chat on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT. The discussion will focus on Numinus' recently completed and transformative acquisition of Novamind; the value this acquisition brings to the Company; and key growth opportunities and catalysts for Numinus. For all investors and other persons interested in participating, please register here. For more information about the conference, or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Numinus' management, please send an email to KCSA Strategic Communications [email protected]. About Numinus Numinus Wellness (TSX: NUMI) helps people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. The Numinus model - including psychedelic production, research and clinic care - is at the forefront of a transformation aimed at healing rather than managing symptoms for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and substance use. At Numinus, we are leading the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream clinical practice and building the foundation for a healthier society. Learn more at www.numinus.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Forward-looking statements Statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc. Dr. Mattison Becomes First Black Woman to Lead Central Coast Post-Graduate Institution SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After a unanimous Board vote, Dr. Leonie Mattison started this week as the new President and CEO of Pacifica Graduate Institute , a graduate school in Santa Barbara specializing in depth psychology. "After extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and a unanimous Board vote, we are confident Dr. Mattison is the best leader for Pacifica's future and we welcome her to the Pacifica community," said Dr. Thyonne Gordon, Chair of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Mattison comes to Pacifica with a Doctorate and MBA in Organizational Leadership and over 20 years of transformational leadership experience. Her leadership and accomplishments range from strengthening national public health research to building up adult education across the country, all while supporting students from diverse backgrounds. "Pacifica is a leader in depth psychology, a practice that has changed the lives of people across the world, including my own. Pacifica's mission is to heal souls, and I look forward to working to make sure our institute is in the best position it can be to accomplish that mission worldwide," said Dr. Leonie Mattison. Dr. Mattison has an extensive track record. She was pivotal in developing Employees University, an open-source university created through a partnership between the county and Santa Barbara City College that has provided high-quality training and cutting-edge leadership development for over 4,700 county employees. She served as Chief Operating Officer of CommUnify , a community agency that provides education and support services for vulnerable Santa Barbara residents, and taught as adjunct professor and lecturer at Antioch University and Santa Barbara City College School of Extended Learning. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association, American Christian Counseling Association, and Association of Black Psychologists. This year, she published her book, The Thread: Six-Steps to Intentional Transformation After Trauma or Crisis, which was recently recognized by the Santa Barbara Independent. She was recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times as an emerging Black leader in 2021. About Pacifica Graduate Institute Pacifica Graduate Institute is an accredited graduate school offering masters and doctoral degree programs framed in the traditions in depth psychology. The Institute has established an educational environment that nourishes respect for cultural diversity and individual differences, and an academic community that fosters a spirit of free and open inquiry. Students have access to an impressive array of education resources on Pacifica's two campuses, both of which are located between the coastal foothills and the Pacific Ocean, a few miles south of Santa Barbara, California. Contact: Marcos Rodriguez Maciel [email protected] SOURCE Pacifica Graduate Institute From today, the new, reduced packaging will be gradually rolled out to Pao Chi Chung's complete range of prepared halal foods and sauces. TAIPEI, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pao Chi Chung (Pao Chi Chung Enterprise Corporation Ltd.), a family-owned and operated natural, Halal Asian Food manufacturer, is today unveiling new packaging that's speaks to the time-honored heritage of the brand. More cohesive, more user friendly Pao Chi Chung wanted to create a more cohesive brand identity that connects the brand with its new line of family-friendly, Halal-certified foods sold under the brand name in the United States. In addition to creating a more uniform brand identity for its best-selling fermented broad bean chili sauce and non-GMO crispy soybean ball/powder. Announcing the new packaging, Mr. Jia-Jeng John Ju, General Manager of Pao Chi Chung, said, "A key tenet of the company since its founding 30 years ago is to improve constantly. During the last two years, while people were cooking at home, we noticed changes in consumer preferences. In response, we reviewed our packaging to see how we could make it more user-friendly, informative, reduced in size and appropriate for family and home cooking. The new packaging reflects this, and we hope consumers love it as much as we do." Established in 1963 by founders Mr. Ju Jing-Wen and Mrs. Ju Chan Shou Zen as a family business, the company has since grown into an international enterprise, shipping to over several countries and territories in the last 30 years. During that time, it has managed to keep production procedures and recipes as genuine as they were when originally created over 60 years ago. From the fermentation process of the broad beans in the hot chili sauce or soybean ball/powder, all stick to the traditional secret family recipe. Quality, authentic and global Pao Chi Chung worked to create something that felt modern and approachable yet has a deep meaning to the brand's roots and family heritage and is informative for consumers. It also had to be user-friendly, pleasant to hold, and look great on supermarket shelves. The new look bottle's available in 100g, or 260g varieties are also recyclable. The revamped packaging provides updated certifications, branding, and texture to visually communicate the brand's origin and convey a look reflective of the product's quality. The newly adopted packaging will be gradually rolled out to Pao Chi Chung's entire range of products available in EMEA, North America, APAC, and the Middle East. Updated labelling The new labelling on the bottle of Pao Chi Chung sauces reflects the wide variety of hand-selected, lab-tested ingredients homegrown in Taiwan or sourced from Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the U.S.A, and Canada. It also lists SGS FSSC 2200/HACCP, Anti-Additive Clean Label Organization Three Stars, A.A. Taste Award 2021, and Halal certification. For further details or to purchase our products, please visit our website and links or email us at: [email protected]. http://www.paochung.com/ https://www.taiwantrade.com/company/241874 About Pao Chi Chung Pao Chi Chung was established in 1963 by Mr. Ju Jing-Wen and Mrs. Ju Chan Shou Zen as a family business specializing in non-additive sauces (bean paste, spicy sauce series, sesame paste), seasoning oils, spices (100% chili, pepper, pepper, etc.). Since its establishment, the brand firmly believes that to eat healthily is to eat naturally. Therefore, the company has been to only produce top quality and healthy sauces, seasoning oils, and spices to consume. In 2006, the business passed to the third generation of owners, who continued the brand's 60-year history of international expansion. media contact Pao Chi Chung Enterprise Corporation Ltd. Kelly Ho Vice General Manager +886-2-23070673 [email protected] SOURCE PAO CHI CHUNG ENTERPRISES CORPORATION Rise in digital transformation among industries and surge in penetration of internet & mobile devices have boosted the growth of the global P&C insurance software market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "P&C Insurance Software Market by Component (Software, Service), by Deployment Model (On Premise, Cloud), by Application (Claims, Underwriting, Operations, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031". As per the report, the global P&C insurance software industry accounted for $11.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $28.5 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2022 to 2031. The report provides an in-depth analysis of changing market trends, key investment pockets, top segments, regional landscape, value chain, and competitive scenario. Download Free Sample Report (313 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/31774 Major determinants of the market growth Rise in digital transformation among industries and surge in penetration of internet & mobile devices have boosted the growth of the global P&C insurance software market. Moreover, increase in need for finance among businesses and people to insure property supplemented the market growth. However, strict rules imposed by banks and financial institutions for offering housing finance hinder the market growth. On the contrary, increase in the prices of real estate properties in developing economies and the growth of metropolitan cities are expected to open new opportunities in the future. Covid-19 scenario: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the P&C insurance software market suffered significantly due to strict rules of lockdown imposed by several government bodies and shutdown of businesses across the world. The fact that construction activities were disrupted during the pandemic and people postponed their home purchasing plans due to economic instability hampered the market The software segment dominated the market By component, the software segment held the largest share in 2021, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the global P&C insurance software market, due to technological advancement and strategies such as cloud technology to provide the insurance services like sales, policy administration, and claims management. However, the service segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period, owing to rise in adoption of the insurer's needs to manage the entire claim lifecycle by reducing costs, increasing productivity, and by providing various P&C insurance software services. The cloud segment to portray the highest CAGR through 2031 By deployment model, the cloud segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 11.0% from 2022 to 2031, due to number of benefits, such as cost management, resource pooling, and quicker installation, cloud-based solutions are becoming more popular. However, the on-premise segment held the largest share in 2021, contributing to around three-fifths of the global P&C insurance software market, as it allows installation of the software and enables applications to run on existing systems on the premises of organizations, rather than at a distant facility such as server space or cloud. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/31774 The claims segment held the largest share By application, the claims segment dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global P&C insurance software market as it helps insurers to manage and evaluate insurance claims such as litigation, negotiation, settlement communications, relevant policy information, and claim assessments. However, the operations segment is projected to showcase the highest CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period, due to increased demand for P&C insurance software in sales and distribution management. North America held the lion's share By region, the global P&C insurance software market across North America dominated in 2021, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the market, due to rise in demand for P&C Insurance Software solutions in the North American region and increase in adoption of digital lending platforms among banking and financial services for improving financing services. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 11.5% during the forecast period, due to increase in awareness related to the significant advantage of P&C insurance software among the population. Enquire for Customization with Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact in Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/31774 Major market players Agency Software Inc. ClarionDoor Duck Creek Technologies Guidewire Software, Inc. InsuredMine PCMS Software Pegasystems Inc. Quick Silver Systems, Inc. WTW Zywave, Inc. The report analyzes these key players in the global P&C insurance software market. These companies have adopted several strategies such as partnerships, expansion, collaborations, new product launches, and mergers & acquisitions to maintain their foothold in the industry. In addition, the report is essential in determining the business performance, product portfolio, operating segments, and developments of every market player. Trending Reports in BFSI Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Italy B2B2C Insurance Market Expected to Reach $ 150.68 billion by 2026 Musical Instrument Insurance Market Expected to Reach $ 2,475.33 thousand by 2031 | CAGR of 4.3% Insurance Fraud Detection Market is Expected to Reach $ 28.1 billion by 2031 Mobile Phone Insurance Market Expected to Reach $ 74.5 billion by 2030 | CAGR of 11.8% Digital Insurance Platform Market Expected to Reach $ 279.51 billion by 2030 About Us 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 domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research https://www.spendedge.com/sample-report/plastic-resins-devices-procurement-market-intelligence-report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Knowledge of how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will aid in obtaining the highest prices. Gather information on appropriate pricing levels, as well as a full description of the disadvantages and advantages of prominent pricing structures. Methods for engaging with the right suppliers and identifying KPIs to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Some of the Top Plastic Resins suppliers listed in this report: This Plastic Resins procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. BASF SE LyondellBasell Industries NV Dow Inc https://www.spendedge.com/sample-report/plastic-resins-devices-procurement-market-intelligence-report Top Selling Report: Oil Spill Solutions - Forecast and Analysis: This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the oil spill solutions procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Some of the leading oil spill solutions suppliers profiled extensively in this report. Lubricants Sourcing and Procurement Report: This lubricants procurement market report provides a detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for lubricants requirements. In addition, the most adopted and high potential pricing models considered by buyers have been analyzed in this report, which will help understand business scopes for revenue expansion. These data will assist buyers to realize cost savings and identify business strategies to improve sales. Crude Oil - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: To optimize the value of the purchase, it is crucial to keep a track of current and future price trends. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects an incremental spend of USD 685.44 billion due to various market drivers prevalent across multiple regions. To access the definite purchasing guide on the Plastic Resins that answers all your key questions on price trends and analysis: Am I paying/getting the right prices? Is my Plastic Resins TCO (total cost of ownership) favorable? How is the price forecast expected to change? What is driving the current and future price changes? Which pricing models offer the most rewarding opportunities? Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 1,200+ market research reports. SpendEdge's SUBSCRIPTION platform Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK KENNETH GORDON, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, vs. VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., and MIHAEL H. POLYMEROPOULOS, Defendants. Civil Action No. 1:19-cv-01108-FB-LB CLASS ACTION SUMMARY NOTICE TO: ALL PERSONS AND ENTITIES WHO PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED THE COMMON STOCK OF VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ("VANDA") DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 4, 2015 TO FEBRUARY 11, 2019, INCLUSIVE THIS NOTICE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT. IT IS NOT A LAWYER SOLICITATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, that a hearing will be held on January 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Lois Bloom, United States Magistrate Judge, at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201, for the purpose of determining: (1) whether the proposed Settlement of the above-captioned Action, as set forth in the settlement agreement reached between the parties, consisting of Eleven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($11,500,000.00) in cash, should be approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Members of the Class; (2) whether the release by Class Members of claims as set forth in the settlement agreement should be authorized; (3) whether the proposed plan to distribute the settlement proceeds (the "Plan of Allocation") is fair, reasonable, and adequate; (4) whether the application by Lead Plaintiff's counsel for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses and award to Lead Plaintiff should be approved; and (5) whether the Judgment, in the form attached to the settlement agreement, should be entered. Remote access to the final settlement approval hearing shall be afforded to the public by telephone: (888) 363-4734, access code 4444221. This telephone number is afforded for people to listen but not to speak. Please note that the date, time and location of the settlement hearing are subject to change without further notice. If you plan to attend the hearing, you should check the docket or contact Lead Counsel (identified below) to be sure that no change to the date, time or location of the hearing has been made. IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED ANY OF THE COMMON STOCK OF VANDA DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 4, 2015 THROUGH FEBRUARY 11, 2019, INCLUSIVE, YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS LITIGATION. If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice") and a copy of the Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim"), you may obtain copies by writing to Vanda Securities Litigation, Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 4419, Portland, OR 97208-4419, or on the internet at www.VandaSecuritiesLitigation.com. If you are a Class Member, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim by mail (postmarked no later than December 28, 2022) or submitted electronically (received no later than December 28, 2022), establishing that you are entitled to recovery. Unless the deadline is extended, your failure to submit your Proof of Claim by the above deadline will preclude you from receiving any payment from the Settlement. If you are a Class Member and you desire to be excluded from the Class, you must submit a request for exclusion such that it is received no later than December 15, 2022, in the manner and form explained in the detailed Notice, referred to above. All Members of the Class who do not timely and validly request exclusion from the Class will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment and release entered in the Action pursuant to the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim. If you are a Class Member, you have the right to object to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, and/or the request by Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses. Any objection to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, or the fee and expense application must be made in the manner and form explained in the Notice and must be mailed to each of the following recipients, so that it is received no later than December 15, 2022: CLERK OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE 225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY 11201 Lead Counsel: ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP MICHAEL G. CAPECI 58 South Service Road, Suite 200 Melville, NY 11747 Counsel for Defendants: PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP AUDRA J. SOLOWAY 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019 PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE OR DEFENDANTS REGARDING THIS NOTICE. If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may contact Lead Counsel at the address listed above or by an email to Lead Counsel at [email protected]. DATED: September 15, 2022 BY ORDER OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Contacts Media: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Shareholder Relations Department Greg Wood (619) 231-1058 SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP FMI estimates, the global sales of compostable foodservice packaging to witness growth at an astounding 5.5% CAGR between the forecasted period of 2022 and 2029, in comparison with the CAGR of 4.0% recorded during 2014 and 2021 NEWARK, Del., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global compostable foodservice packaging market is worth US$ 19.9 Bn in the current scenario and expected to reach US$ 29.3 Bn by the year 2032 at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2032. Compostable packaging materials, as the name suggests, are made from the organic substances. In other words, they are biodegradable. The major factor driving the growth of compostable foodservice packaging market is growth in the number of various food service establishments. Moreover, sustainable materials are being increasingly accepted by the food & beverages market. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3210 Compostable foodservice packaging has been identified as a conducive solution as it comprises plant-based materials that decompose for turning into compost. "Zero Waste Gain Traction" is the cornerstone of compostable foodservice packaging market. Use of petroleum is out of question over here. The environmentally-friendliness associated with compostable foodservice packaging is another factor expected to take the compostable foodservice packaging market by storm in the near future. Excessive demand for "ready-to-eat" food is also expected to catalyse the compostable foodservice packaging market. This could be credited to urbanization, fast-paced lifestyles, and enhancements in financial conditions of the emerging economies. This calls for disposable service ware incorporating single-use cups, bowls, and meal trays. With QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants) on the go, compostable foodservice packaging is actually something to reckon with. Future Market Insights, in the form of its latest market study entitled "Compostable Foodservice Packaging Market", has mentioned about these nitty-gritties with future perspectives. Key Takeaways from the Compostable Foodservice Packaging Market The US dominates the compostable foodservice packaging market. It is, in fact, expected to be worth US$ 5.1 Bn by the year 2032. As per The Foodservice Packaging Institute, the year 2021 witnessed half of the Americans make use of single-use items atleast once in a week and the trend continues till date. by the year 2032. As per The Foodservice Packaging Institute, the year 2021 witnessed half of the Americans make use of single-use items atleast once in a week and the trend continues till date. Coming to the Asia-Pacific , compostable foodservice packaging is expected to offer growth opportunity of close to US$ 753.1 Mn from 2022 to 2032, that too, at a whopping CAGR of 8.4%. , compostable foodservice CAGR Paper & paperboard is the most sought-after material with respect to manufacturing compostable foodservice packaging as it does away with environmental hazards. Also, it is expected to provide an incremental opportunity of US$ 4.9 Bn in the forecast period. Bn Europe is expected to account for the highest sales of compostable foodservice cutlery due to growing awareness pertaining to ill-effects of pollution. Europe , on the whole, is expected to grow 1.5X from 2022 to 2032, as the EU is making relentless efforts for reducing waste generated via food packaging. is expected to account for the highest sales of compostable foodservice EU Compostable trays are preferred to serve confectioneries, on-the-go snacks, and several other uses. Preview [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/compostable-foodservice-packaging-market "With biodegradability being the top priority, the compostable foodservice packaging market is likely to grow manifold in the forecast period", says an analyst from Future Market Insights. Zealous Competition Paperboard Packaging Council, in November 2021 , conferred upon "Innovative Design Excellence Award" to Westrock Company. It was a recipient of 13 additional awards. , conferred upon "Innovative Design Excellence Award" to Westrock Company. It was a recipient of 13 additional awards. Huhtamaki Oyj , in September 2021 , completed acquisition of Elif . The latter was known as a prime supplier of various sustainable flexible packaging products to the brand owners worldwide. Elif flexible packaging Caribbean Containers Inc., of late, tabled Eco Pak . It comes across as a broad range of 100% non-toxic products. These containers are biodegradable 3 months after utilization. The demand for foam and plastic packaging has taken a backseat in the wake of environmental issues related to their usage. What does the Report Cover? Future Market Insights offers an exclusive perspective and various real-time insights on the compostable foodservice packaging market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 2016 2021 and projections for 2022 2032. The research study is based on packaging type (plates, trays, bowls, cups, clamshell, cutlery, pouches & sachets, and others), by material type (plastic (plylactic acid ( PLA ), polyhydroxyalkanoate ( PHA ), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate terephthalate ( PBAT ), starch blends, and likewise), paper & paperboard (coated unbleached, molded fiber, and other grades), and others), and by end-use (chain restaurants, non-chain restaurants, chain cafe, non-chain cafe, delivery catering, and independent sellers/kiosks). Report Customization available @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-3210 Compostable Foodservice Packaging Market by Category By Packaging Type: Plates Trays Bowls Cups Clamshell Cutlery Pouches & Sachets Others By Material Type: Plastic Polylactic Acid (PLA) Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT) Starch Blends Others Paper & Paperboard Coated Unbleached Molded Fiber Other Grades Others By End Use: Chain Restaurants Non-Chain Restaurants Chain Cafe Non-Chain Cafe Delivery Catering Independent Sellers/ Kiosks Use promo code ->> FMITODAY to get flat 20% discount Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Market Overview 1.2. Market Analysis 1.3. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Definition 2.2. Market Coverage 3. Key Market Trends 3.1. Key Trends Impacting the Market 3.2. Product Innovation / Development Trends 4. Key Success Factors 4.1. Product Adoption / Usage Analysis 4.2. Product USPs / Features Have a Look at Related Research Reports of Packaging Biodegradable Packaging Market Size: The global biodegradable packaging market is set to enjoy a valuation of US$ 448.2 Bn in 2022 Flexible Packaging Paper Market Share: The flexible packaging paper market is on track to grow at an estimated CAGR of 4% during 2022-2032 Hinged Lid Compostable Container Market Trends: Hinged lid container provide more convenience in terms of transportation. Because of the government's actions against usage of plastic, hinged lid compostable container introduced in the market Foodservice Paper Bags Market Analysis: The growth of the foodservice paper bags market is the rising environmental concerns regarding the usage of plastic and the consequential implementation of stringent guidelines limiting its adoption FMCG Packaging Market Outlook: The global FMCG packaging market is expected to reach US$ 418.8 Bn in 2022, with sales growing at a CAGR of 5.7% through 2032 About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Browse Latest Market reports: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/FMI_Logo.jpg SOURCE Future Market Insights, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sensor Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio is proudly partnering with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the sensor market between 2021 and 2026 is USD 219.90 bn. To get the exact yearly growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Buy Sample Report. Key Market Dynamics: Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Sensor Market 2022-2026 Market Driver Market Challenges One of the main factors boosting the expansion of the sensor industry is the rising demand for IoT technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables the linking of various smart devices to facilitate their operation and data sharing among one another. Additionally, the increased use of IoT-based devices is probably due to the growing demand for data analysis and analytics integration. In the meanwhile, it provides labor management, supply chain optimization, security and surveillance, and energy efficiency. IoT is also getting better at monitoring the cold chain for commodities like temperature-sensitive food and medicines. As a result, the market for sensors will grow over the course of the projected period due to the rising use of IoT-based devices. However, factors such as network embedded systems will challenge market growth. Request Free Sample Report. Sensor Market Regional Analysis End-user Electronics IT and telecom Automotive Industrial Others Geography North America APAC Europe MEA South America North America will account for 39% of the market's growth over the forecasted timeframe. The sensor market in North America is mostly centered in the US. The market in this region will expand more slowly than the market in APAC. Over the projected period, the consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, and healthcare sectors' rapid expansion will support the expansion of the sensor market in North America. Sensor Market Vendors 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 services. Some vendors are also adopting inorganic growth strategies such as M&As to remain competitive in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including: Amphenol Advanced Sensors Bosch Sensortec GmbH Dwyer Instruments Inc. Honeywell International Inc. Panasonic Corp. Rockwell Automation Inc. Siemens AG STMicroelectronics NV. TE Connectivity Ltd. Texas Instruments Inc. To gain access to more vendor profiles with their key offerings available with Technavio, Click Here Related Reports: Printers Market by Type, Technology, and Geography - Global Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: According to the research report, the printers market will witness a growth of 3.73% with a CAGR of 3.48%, which is expected to increase by USD 10.21 billion during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. Alarm Monitoring Market by Technology and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The alarm monitoring market is projected to grow by USD 10.66 billion with a CAGR of 4.29% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. Sensor Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 16.81% Market growth 2022-2026 $219.90 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 18.97 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amphenol Advanced Sensors, Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Dwyer Instruments Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Panasonic Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., Siemens AG, STMicroelectronics NV., TE Connectivity Ltd., and Texas Instruments 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, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2021 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by End-user Market segments Comparison by End-user Electronics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 IT and telecom - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Industrial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Market opportunity by End-user Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 MEA - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Amphenol Advanced Sensors Bosch Sensortec GmbH Dwyer Instruments Inc. Honeywell International Inc. Panasonic Corp. Rockwell Automation Inc. Siemens AG STMicroelectronics NV. TE Connectivity Ltd. Texas Instruments Inc. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Investment will bolster Sheer's Managed Transportation Services offering ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SheerTrans Solutions ("Sheer Logistics") announced today that it completed a debt and equity co-investment with industry veterans Eddie Leshin and Brian Winshall of Woodlawn Partners and Monroe Capital LLC. Woodlawn Partners and Monroe Capital partnered with Joe Egertson, the founder of Sheer Logistics, who has retained a significant ownership stake in the business and will continue as CEO. The new capital and partnership will be used primarily for technology product & platform development, growing marketing & sales, and other initiatives that will accelerate Sheer's mission to drive supply chain efficiency, transparency, and profitable growth for shippers across the globe. Sheer Logistics - St. Louis, MO - Sheer Logistics is a leading logistics services provider with analytics in its DNA. Every decision we make is driven by deep data intelligence and complete transparency because its your businessyou deserve a clear picture. Sheer Logistics has built industry leading Managed Transportation Services (MTS) proven to deliver efficiency gains through integrations & automation, cost reductions through procurement & optimization, visibility & agility through control towers, improved strategic management through automated data capture & business intelligence tools, and long-term partnerships of substantial value to their clients. While MTS and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) have a proven need and value for shippers of all sizes, most MTS & TMS providers have focused on the largest shippers leaving the mid-market underserved. Sheer Logistics specializes in providing MTS solutions to mid-market shippers which have an annual transportation spend spanning $5M to $100M. Sheer Logistics built proprietary middleware technology proven to significantly reduce implementation time, complexity, and resources which has been a challenge for many shippers, MTS providers, and TMS providers. In addition to MTS, Sheer Logistics offers multi-modal Brokerage, Freight Audit & Pay, SaaS TMS, and other complementary services, all of which focus on transparency and strategic value beyond a commoditized transaction. "Woodlawn and Monroe are experienced investors with a great reputation for truly partnering with management teams to help businesses accelerate growth," said Joe Egertson, Founder and CEO of Sheer. "The partnership brings new capital and perspectives that will serve as the catalyst for the next phase of growth at Sheer." Greg Bregstone and operating partners Eddie Leshin & Brian Winshall led the investment for Woodlawn Partners. Eddie Leshin was a former executive at American Backhaulers, C.H. Robinson, and Coyote Logistics. Brian Winshall, who also worked at American Backhaulers and C.H. Robinson, was also a former executive at AFN and GlobalTranz. The experience and resources of the Woodlawn team will help Sheer attract new talent, accelerate growth, and increase the value Sheer delivers to its clients, carriers, and partners. "We have a lot of experience with Managed Transportation, Brokerage, and logistics tech from early stage to mature companies," said Eddie Leshin, Operating Partner of Woodlawn Partners. "After looking at hundreds of brokerages and technology providers as well as numerous providers who either have, or claimed to have Managed Transportation Services, it was obvious that Sheer has a better solution and platform for growth when compared to others. "What Joe and the Sheer leadership team have built and the value they have been able to deliver to Sheer's clients, carriers, and partners through superior MTS solution design, implementation, execution, and continuous improvement is very impressive. We are extremely excited to support Sheer's next phase of growth," said Brian Winshall, Operating Partner of Woodlawn Partners. Republic Partners served as the financial advisor to Sheer Logistics. About Sheer Logistics Sheer Logistics focuses on transparency and value providing clients with a comprehensive offering of technology-enabled supply chain and logistics solutions including managed transportation, multi-modal brokerage, consulting, and other complimentary services. Sheer Logistics built proprietary middleware that significantly reduces the complexity, time, and overall resources required for integration, ongoing data exchange, and surfacing actionable intelligence. Sheer utilizes a consultative approach to help businesses unlock their supply chain potential with integrated solutions, industry leading software, and a highly experienced staff of supply chain professionals. For more information, please visit www.sheerlogistics.com . About Monroe Capital Monroe Capital LLC ("Monroe") is a premier boutique asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, asset-based lending, specialty finance, opportunistic and structured credit, and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe's platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality "alpha" returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Naples, New York, San Francisco, and Seoul. Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Global M&A Network as the 2022 Small Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, Americas; Private Debt Investor as the 2021 Senior Lender of the Year, 2021 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, Americas; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information, please visit www.monroecap.com . About Woodlawn Partners Located in Chicago, Woodlawn Partners acquires businesses and becomes directly involved in helping them to achieve long-term potential. The company's primary responsibility is to provide continued opportunities for employees and value to customers while also tailoring each transaction and succession strategy around a business owner's personal and financial needs. For more information, please visit www.woodlawnpartners.com . SOURCE Sheer Logistics Nonprofit offers unrivaled collaboration and access to real-time, localized occupational skills and competencies for career and workforce success. AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SkillsEngine, a nonprofit aligning educators, employers, and workforce development interests through a common skills language, announced today the extensive impact of its workforce technology solutions in driving better career outcomes across public and private initiatives and its soon-to-launch community-curated skills platform. In building a comprehensive set of offerings that result in a living library of knowledge, competencies, and skills requirements for the jobs of today and tomorrow, SkillsEngine's technology has done what other labor market solutions cannot: unlock a translatable, collaborative, and localized understanding of talent needs across industry lines. SkillsEngine will launch its newest platform in early '23 & is currently welcoming partners to trial this new technology Tweet this "There are great efforts to facilitate a more collaborative relationship between employers and educators, but the challenge lies in that collaboration happening in real-time, using one language, and offering a holistic view of role requirements," said Michael Bettersworth, Founder, SkillsEngine, and Vice Chancellor, Texas State Technical College (TSTC). "Through hundreds of unique use cases, we've demonstrated alongside our partners that if you create the right technology townsquare, where anyone can access and engage with job requirements at the most detailed of occupational and regional levels, incredible things across the career spectrum will happen." Three technology solutions, Calibrate, Builder and Data Services, have pushed well beyond traditional means of aggregating and validating market needs to align disjointed skills terminology and build employer-validated job profiles for a broad swath of occupations. For the first time, educators, employers and workforce interests have access to a robust and clearly defined lexicon and roadmap of required role and industry competencies. This intelligence has been applied to a multitude of user-specific applications, four of which are now highlighted by SkillsEngine, but all of which share a common fabric of skills clarity to drive more effective career training, workforce hiring, and individual professional growth. "Our partnership with SkillsEngine has ensured the Office of Personnel Management can deliver in new ways on its promise of inclusive employment practices and creating equal opportunity for all federal employees. SkillsEngine's Data Services have unlocked a common, unbiased language and enabled turnkey means for our workforce to connect with new skill sets and professional opportunities in an on-going and seamless manner," said Michelle Earley, USAJOBS Program Manager, Office of Personnel Management. Although SkillsEngine's partnerships expand across public, private, nonprofit and government workforce interests, it's the value in aligning institutions of higher education and employers that has witnessed the most dramatic and extensive impact. "The amount of forward momentum SkillsEngine has created in a short amount of time is unseen in traditional higher ed," said TSTC Chancellor, Michael Reeser. "From research that has led to TSTC smartly sunsetting 14 programs that no longer align with labor needs, to providing a platform for immediate employer validation of our current and emerging curricula, to moving well beyond Texas to offer this know-how and technology to nonprofits, trade associations, employers, and other educators, we see immediate adoption and deeply-rooted partnerships continue to positively impact career readiness and success." In traditional efforts to deploy relevant career-building education and job-ready graduates, educators most commonly rely on in-person, time-intensive employer advisory convenings or survey-based collaboration to secure industry validation of curriculum. Due to a number of constraints, these efforts commonly result in lagging market indicators and insights, specifically for those industries who experience rapid changes to labor requirements. SkillsEngine's tech-driven solutions have overcome these challenges by connecting faculty with industry subject matter experts within one user-intuitive platform to aggregate, verify, and validate skill and competency requirements at both a local, regional and global level. "Calibrate has unlocked a comprehensive understanding of industry-wide approaches to inform our curriculum and its ultimate goals," said Dr. Eric Dunker, Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, Arapahoe Community College. "We now have a 360-degree view of what each company means when using specific terminology and the nuances of regional-to-global requirements, providing us a new level of perspective in support of a fully-integrated employer partnership. These enhanced insights have changed our partnerships with local to Fortune 500 companies by night and day." Calibrate's functionality has also enabled unprecedented strides forward in career-building education. In facilitating real-time and on-going collaboration with employers, educators are not only deploying and sunsetting programs at record speed, but also iterating on curricula term- over-term in unseen ways. "Calibrate offered solutions for our training provider partners to rapidly develop and modify programs by facilitating immediate feedback from employers to line-item check skills and competencies that informed curriculum development. One of our most innovative partners, the Sturm Collaboration Campus at Arapahoe Community College, moved from ideation to program deployment in six months because of Calibrate. The labor market moves quickly, and this enables educational providers to act as quickly to align programs," said Alexandra Peterson, Senior Manager at the Markle Foundation. SkillsEngine's tech suite can be leveraged in a number of ways, including providing a starting point when state agencies, educators, and employers collaborate to develop a career pathway for historically overlooked roles. "The support from SkillsEngine was simply amazing. To create a first of its kind credit-based curriculum, HealthForce Minnesota had to start from ground zero. SkillsEngine utilized their extensive skills library to pull competencies from tangential roles, which we were able to use as a starting point to dramatically expedite the process of pathway and curriculum development," said Valerie DeFor, Executive Director, Minnesota State HealthForce Center of Excellence. SkillsEngine now turns its eye to deploying a publicly available, community-curated skills library to underpin the understanding of the labor market as a broad community. The platform will share insights collectively, by aggregating institutional, employer, and workforce user input, and publishing labor trends, while providing one comprehensive source of truth for skills fluency across the U.S. "We've utilized Calibrate to conduct career impact audits for institutional partners, and to say this technology is game changing is an understatement," said Dr. Jennifer Dirmeyer, Managing Director, WTEA, a quality assurer certifying excellence in career-building education. "With SkillsEngine's next generation of capabilities, we're tearing down the walls between employers, educators, and individuals, to result in unprecedented equity, access, and understanding of how to professionally thrive in the modern economy." SkillsEngine plans to launch its newest platform in early 2023, and is currently welcoming partners to trial this new technology. To learn more, visit https://www.skillsengine.com/next. ABOUT SKILLSENGINE SkillsEngine is a nonprofit aligning educators, employers, and workforce development interests through shared technology and a common skills language. SkillsEngine was born from a state of Texas mandate that publicly-funded colleges and universities demonstrate curriculum-to-employer alignment. To address the mandate, Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Texas' only technical college whose operational funding is tied to student career earnings, established the Center for Employment Outcomes (C4EO), whose research gave birth to SkillsEngine. In partnership with nationwide institutions of higher education, public and private employers, and non-profit organizations, SkillsEngine moves beyond current labor market solutions, offering a smarter way to collaborate, align, and share in skills knowledge. MEDIA INQUIRES Lauren Bauml [email protected] (512) 923-6136 SOURCE SkillsEngine CHICAGO , Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market size is expected to grow from USD 6.2 billion in 2022 to USD 21.1 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 27.9%, during the forecast period, as per the recent study published by MarketsandMarkets. The major factors driving the solar photovoltaic (PV) glass industry include increasing demand of renewable energy resources and conducive government support for set up of solar power farms. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=92984553 Browse in-depth TOC on "Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market" 330 Tables 47 Figures 237 Pages List of Key Players in Solar Photovoltaic Glass Industry: 1. Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. (China), 2. IRICO Group New Energy Co., Ltd. (China), 3. Flat Glass Group Co., Ltd (China), 4. Qingdao Jinxin Glass Co., Ltd. (China), 5. Dongguan CSG Solar Glass Co., Ltd. (China), 6. AGC Solar (Japan), 7. Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan), 8. Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp. (Taiwan), 9. Saint-Gobain (France), 10. Borosil Renewables Ltd. (India), 11. Guardian Glass (US). Key Findings of the Study: 1. AR-coated solar PV glass to hold the largest share in the global solar PV glass market through the forecast period. 2. Utility segment to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. 3. Asia Pacific is expected to have the largest market size in the global solar PV glass industry during the forecast period. Get Free Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=92984553 AR-coated solar PV glass to hold the largest share in the global solar PV glass market through the forecast period. The solar PV glass industry has been segmented based on type into AR-coated solar PV glass, tempered solar PV glass, TCO-coated solar PV glass, and others. The AR-coated segment accounted for the dominant share of the market in 2021. The dominance of this segment is attributed to the high efficiency of these glasses in conversion of solar energy. Also, they can be easily placed in sensitive surroundings such as airports. On the other hand, TCO-coated solar PV glass have better transmission of energy, which is expected to lead this segment to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Utility segment to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The solar PV glass industry has been segmented based on application into residential, non-residential, and utility. The utility segment is projected to grow with the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth in this segment is attributed to the conducive support of governments across the globe to set up of solar energy farms. Governments are providing subsidies and tax rebates to companies setting up solar farms for feeding energy into the grid. For instance, in China, the budget for renewable energy rebates was increased to USD 840 million for 2021, of which about 55% was allocated to the solar power industry. A similar trend is observed across the globe, even in underdeveloped countries, in order to reduce their fossil fuel import burden. Asia Pacific is expected to have the largest market size in the global solar PV glass industry during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is projected to be the leading solar PV glass market during the forecast period. The dominance of the regional market can be attributed to the concentration of solar PV module manufacturers in the region, especially in China. According to International Energy Agency, Asia Pacific hold 90% share in the manufacture of solar modules, with China alone accounting for 74% of the global manufacturing capacity. These glasses are primarily used in solar modules, thus leading the glass demand in the region to be the highest. The presence of a robust industrial base, favorable government policies for solar energy generation, and low labor costs are factors strengthening the solar PV glass industry and attracting major players to invest in the region. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=92984553 Browse Adjacent Markets: Ceramics and Glass Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Fire Resistant Glass Market by Type (Laminated, Ceramic, Tempered, Wired), Application (Building & Construction, Marine, and Others), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2021 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/solar-photovoltaic-glass-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/solar-photovoltaic-glass.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Djahnel Reid receives $50,000 scholarship during Friday's HBCU Week college fair. ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company, Propel, Disney and the HBCU Week Foundation announced Djahnel Reid of Orlando, Fla. as the recipient of a $50,000 Propel Student Impact Scholarship on Friday. The announcement came during the college fair portion of HBCU Week at the Walt Disney World Resort, an event aimed at making a Historically Black College and University education a reality for local students. Djahnel Reid (front third-from-left) is presented with a scholarship from Southern Company, Disney, Propel Center and HBCU Foundation representatives during HBCU Week at Walt Disney World Resort on Friday, October 7, 2022. (Photo provided) HBCU Week was created by the HBCU Week Foundation and affords students an opportunity to apply for scholarships and on-spot admission. This year's event was the first-ever hosted at Disney and saw more than 50 HBCUs and more than 5,000 high school students in attendance, including seniors from Atlanta Public and Birmingham City schools. Reid was initially interested in attending college close to home at either Florida A&M University or Bethune Cookman University. She is currently a senior at Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Fla. where she maintains a 4.2 GPA. Reid will be the first generation in her family to attend college, where she will study accounting in order to pursue her dream of owning an accounting practice. Bethune Cookman surprised her with an on-the-spot acceptance and awarded her with an additional $25,000 scholarship. "I have been working hard, my family is a little less fortunate and I was depending on scholarships so all I could say is thank God," Djahnel Reid said. "I wanted to go to an HBCU and Bethune Cookman was one of my choices. I know they are a school that has a nurturing campus for their students in their academics." The Propel Student Impact Scholarship will be paid in four equal, annual installments to cover tuition and fees. Reid's scholarship is the first of two to be provided by Southern Company in conjunction with Propel and its partners this fall to rising HBCU students. The second recipient will be chosen from an application process administered by the Propel Center at Friday's college fair. An announcement regarding that recipient will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10. "We would like to extend our congratulations to Djahnel Reid as the award recipient," said Mike Anderson, senior vice president of Georgia Power and president, CEO of Georgia Power Foundation and Southern Company Charitable Foundation. "We are committed to cultivating the next generation's leaders, empowering them to invest in their futures and helping them achieve brighter outcomes." "It's an honor to award this scholarship that will have a profound impact on Djahnel's academic future," said Waymond Jackson, interim CEO of Propel. "Propel's mission is to serve as a catalyst to help equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel as future civic-minded leaders." About Southern Company Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com. SOURCE Southern Company Denver Firm Serves Exclusively Nonprofit and Government Clients DENVER, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lasso Digital is excited to announce the appointment of Taylor Rosty as Chief Executive Officer. Most recently Rosty served as the Managing Director for the firm. Under Rosty's leadership Lasso Digital has: Grown the agency's team from 2 to 10 employees, despite a challenging hiring market Led a successful rebrand of the agency Helped the firm bounce back successfully from the pandemic, doubling revenues from 2020 to 2021 Launched a new line of business, fundraising consulting for nonprofits Modernized and streamlined the company, including adding project management infrastructure and software that allow the agency to serve its clients more effectively Been instrumental in landing several large clients including Parker Arts , Connect for Health Colorado, and the Wyoming Department of Education. Rosty, originally from Casper, Wyoming, has nearly a decade of experience in marketing for the social impact sector. Before joining Lasso, Rosty held positions at The Blue Bench, a Denver-based nonprofit, and Black Fox Philanthropy, a Boulder-based fundraising consultancy serving global NGOs. She currently serves on the board of Project Safeguard, a Denver-based nonprofit providing legal support to survivors of domestic violence. Rosty holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with an emphasis in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. "I'm excited and proud to name Taylor CEO of Lasso Digital," said Erich Kirshner, the agency's founder and owner. "Taylor has done so much to allow our firm to recover from pandemic and to thrive since those difficult early months of 2020. I'm perhaps most proud of the healthy culture she has fostered at our agency. It's a culture that allows our employees to deliver the best results to our clients and to be happy doing this work." Taylor said about her appointment: "I am incredibly proud of the work Erich and I, as well as our team, have done to bring Lasso Digital into an exciting phase of growth. Lasso has an exceptional team and incredible clients, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve both through my role as CEO. I am eager to work with our team to find new ways to serve our clients so that they can focus on what matters most: their missions." About Lasso Digital Lasso Digital, formerly The Evolution Agency, is a Denver marketing and fundraising firm that specializes in meeting the communications needs of nonprofit and government clients. The agency, originally founded in 2013, has significant experience in the public health, social services, and arts arenas. Information available at lassodigital.co. Contact: Erich Kirshner, Lasso Digital 303.921.6733 or [email protected] SOURCE Lasso Digital, LLC Premier Brazilian Steakhouse Introduces the Brand's First Nebraska Location OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas de Brazil, the world's premier Brazilian steakhouse, opens tonight in the city of Omaha. The restaurant is located at 1110 Capitol Ave, Omaha, NE 68102 in the up-and-coming, Capitol District. Texas de Brazil's family-owned churrascarias are renowned for their time-honored tradition of churrasco-style cooking combined with generous southern hospitality and superior service. Texas de Brazil, the world's premier Brazilian steakhouse, opens tonight in the city of Omaha. Tweet this Texas de Brazil, the Brazilian Steakhouse known for its various cuts of flame-grilled meats served tableside, opening in Omaha, NE (PRNewsfoto/Texas de Brazil) "We're excited to bring our unique dining concept to guests in Omaha, a city famous for its pioneering past and high standards in the steakhouse industry. We look forward to sharing our delicious Brazilian fare with the community and hope to exceed their expectations," says Salim Asrawi, president of Texas de Brazil. The new restaurant features soaring ceilings with unique light fixtures and an extravagant salad area made of white marble and adorned with a lavish flower arrangement. Guests can enjoy a drink in the intimate lounge area or browse for their favorite wines in the elegant wine cellar. The restaurant features one exclusively private dining room, where up to 30 guests can dine together. For smaller parties, the dining room features a stunning wood table that accommodates up to 10 guests next to the grill where guests can view the meats being prepared in the Brazilian gaucho way, over an open flame using natural wood charcoal. The highlights of this rodizio-style dining experience are the continuous servings of fire-roasted meats and unlimited plates from the chef-crafted salad area. The experience begins with a visit to the expansive salad area where hot and cold side specialty dishes offer delicious variety. Salad Area Selections include artisan breads, imported cheeses, grilled vegetables, Brazilian hearts of palm, spicy shrimp salad, couscous pasta, sauteed mushrooms, feijoada (black beans), jasmine rice, lobster bisque and much more. The main course or star of the show - a savory variety of flame-grilled meats that are expertly prepared and carved at the table by the restaurant gauchos. Churrasco Selections include cuts of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage, such as filet mignon, barbecued pork ribs, leg of lamb, Parmesan drumettes and the guest's favorite, picanha. A good wine nicely complements the flavors of churrasco and Texas de Brazil's curated wine list includes acclaimed varietals from California and South America vineyards as well as Texas de Brazil's exclusive private label collection of six varietals bottled in Chile. A full bar offers craft cocktails including the traditional Caipirinha in a variety of flavors plus a full selection of distilled spirits and beer (domestic and Brazilian). For those with a sweet tooth, no meal is complete without dessert and guests can indulge in selections including house-made flan, triple layer chocolate mousse cake, cheesecake and more, all served a la carte. Service hours include - Dinner: Wed. -Thurs. 5 - 9 p.m., Fri. 5 9:30 p.m., Sat. 4 9:30 p.m. and Sun. 4 8:30 p.m. Regular dinner, which includes the meat and salad service is $49.99 per person. The salad area only option is $29.99. When purchased with a full-price meal children 2 years and under dine complimentary, 3-5 years are $5.00 and 6-12 years are 50% off regular dinner price. For reservations or more information, visit www.texasdebrazil.com/locations/omaha/ or call 402.783.8777. About Texas de Brazil Texas de Brazil is an authentic churrascaria featuring a continuous dining experience that blends the unique culture of Brazil, with the generous hospitality of Texas. The menu features a vast selection of grilled meats, a 50-item salad area, an award-winning wine list and a la carte dessert selections. Founded as a family-owned business in 1998, Texas de Brazil is now the largest Brazilian-American steakhouse brand in the world, with restaurants in 21 states and 12 international locations. Stay connected. Follow @texasdebrazil on Instagram and Twitter, and Texas de Brazil on Facebook. For information, visit http://www.texasdebrazil.com. SOURCE Texas de Brazil EASTON, Md., Oct 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends, fun, and food come together at the annual Waterfowl Festival November 11-13, 2022, in Easton, MD. Sample oysters and crab cakes, shop the latest in sporting gear, meander through gallery upon gallery of wildlife art, watch the retriever and raptor demonstrations, and sample the craft beers and wines. It's a weekend of fun in the midst of Maryland's beautiful Eastern Shore. Waterfowl Festival in beautiful downtown Easton, MD. Tickets are just $20 for three days available at waterfowlfestival.org. The first 1,500 people to purchase tickets get $5 off until October 31, 2022. This year Waterfowl Festival is also saluting veterans with $5 off tickets purchased in person on November 11. The tickets are good for all three days of the festival. Waterfowl Festival has something for everyone! Hunting and fishing equipment, collectables and decoys, childrens' activities, information and demonstrations from conservation groups working to save the Bay, retriever demonstrations, diving dogs, and art. Did we mention art? Paintings, sculptures, carvings, and photography from more than 100 world-renowned artists, including this year's featured artist, Richard Clifton. Premiere Night Start the weekend at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 10, with opening ceremonies and Premiere Night where you can get a first look at what's for sale and meet the artists. Enjoy food and drinks while browsing the galleries. It's a magical night in downtown Easton. VIP tickets and packages for Premiere Night start at $200 and include a discount on art purchases. While you're here, stroll the quaint streets of Easton, St. Michaels, and Oxford. Browse the shops and enjoy lunch or dinner at one of our world-class restaurants. Talbot County offers more than 600 miles of shoreline, unspoiled countryside, and first-class hospitality. It is consistently listed as one of the best places to visit in the U.S. Just 65 miles from Baltimore, 75 miles from Washington, DC, and just over 100 miles from Philadelphia, Waterfowl Festival is the perfect weekend getaway. SOURCE Waterfowl Festival FLORENCE, Italy, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rupert Everett, Minnie Mills, Doina Ciobanu, Sophia Li, and Itziar Ituno gathered at Palazzo Portinari Salviati together with Livia Firth and Innkeeper Nelson Chang, to pay tribute to the outstanding young social and environmental innovators building a world that is socially just, economically inclusive, environmentally friendly and technologically balanced. Rupert Everett and Livia Firth at Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence to celebrate the Renaissance Awards 2022 (PRNewsfoto/Eco-Age) The Renaissance Awards were established in 2021 by Eco-Age, in recognition of the urgent need to support, amplify and accelerate the work of young leaders at the forefront of a paradigm shift in environmental and social justice and inclusion. "We hope that the restoration of Palazzo Portinari Salviati will give back to Florence, not just a beautiful palace or luxury hotel, but also a place that enlightens our spirits and minds as it has once been in the Renaissance era. Hosting the Renaissance Awards and its possibilists at Palazzo Portinari Salviati, connects history with the most meaningful future for mankind. We hope that looking back a hundred years from now, this Palazzo, this movement, and this alliance will be "our place in History," says Nelson Chang, Inkeeper and CEO of LDC Hotels and Resorts Group, part of Palazzo Portinari Salviati. "To choose Florence, the cradle of the early Renaissance, is of course heavy with symbolism. What our awards do is hand the microphone to young activists in a substantive and real way. This is the age of the purposeful, expert, global influencer. They are our 'Possibilists' and the driving force behind empowerment," said Livia Firth, awards co-founder and creative director of Eco-Age. Among the honourees are youth organisers, inventors, educators, leaders in environmental restoration, and innovators in law, justice, materials science and disability rights. "If societies were to invest fully into the people who are going to be driving this planet and to accelerate the scaling up of the mechanisms, products and policies that they have developed, we would begin hitting global SDGs and net zero targets rather than just talking about them" says Livia Firth, "this is why the theme is 'possibilists' they don't just talk, they do. Our awards exist to make sure they encounter opportunities not barriers". As in the inaugural Renaissance Awards, the 'award' itself will be an NFT award donated to the winners by strategic partner method, a leading household brand that has been a pioneer in the home cleaning and personal care with its future-friendly products, and who is on a mission to make positive change joyful and irresistible. The NFTs will feature Renaissance artwork from the Palazzo Portinari Salviati, including a painting of Marco Curzio and the four seasons. In addition, method will debut a new award called the method Renaissance Changemaker Award which honors an individual that is driving change through sustainable design. This year the awards run concurrently with The Possibilists Summit, hosted by Cassa Risparmio di Firenze Foundation and moderated by globally renowned NGO ChangemakerXchange, during which all the young leaders, together for the first time, will bring solutions to some of the world's most critical issues. Nick McGirl, Co-Founder of ChangemakerXchange says, "Young changemakers are creating positive change everywhere you look and are tackling the most pressing issues of our time, but they need more support! "We are honoured to be a part of this year's Renaissance Awards to connect and build the capacity of the awardees. The Renaissance Awards are an exciting addition to the global ecosystem of support for young leaders, shining a much-needed spotlight on their work and impact." "We are very pleased to be able to welcome young leaders to Florence, in our Innovation Center" says the President of Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze Foundation Luigi Salvadori. "They came together today to reflect on the most urgent issues of the moment. Our Foundation and the City of Florence are particularly sensitive to sustainability issues, so much so that this city, the capital of Tuscany, is among the nine Italian cities selected by the European Commission to develop projects on climate neutrality. I very much appreciate what Ms Firth is doing to raise awareness among young people on these issues which have accelerated dramatically with the pandemic and which have become even more urgent following the even more dramatic effects of climate change this Summer. We must team up and act quickly, our Foundation wants to be the protagonist of every initiative that moves conscience on these issues.'' Livia Firth says, "The Renaissance Awards and the Summit show the power and unstoppable force of young leaders when they are supported. This is how we will realise the birth of a better system, regenerative, just, inclusive and balanced. Welcome to the new definition of the Renaissance." Press images to download here NOTES: The 2022 Renaissance Awards honourees are: Lino Marrero ( USA ) Created a shoe insert that harnesses energy to charge cell phones Technologically Balanced Lavinya Stennett (UK) Founder of the Black Curriculum to create better representation of Black History in the school curriculum Socially Just Juan Francisco Baron ( Argentina ) Founder of NODO, which supports independent artists in the digital age Socially Just Sophia Kianni ( USA / Iran ) Founder of Climate Cardinals, which translates climate information into over 100 languages Socially Just Nina Gualinga ( Ecuador ) Kichwa Indigenous Leader who leads in environmental activism Environmentally Restorative (Represented by Alexis and Abigail Guilinga Nina Gualinga) Mary Lempres ( USA ) Artist, designer and researcher who has created solutions and products using discarded waste method's Renaissance Changemaker Vee Kativhu ( Zimbabwe /UK) Education activist and founder of Empowered by Vee, a youth empowerment organisation Dion Hazel Muchaka (UK) Care support worker who provide support to people with learning disabilities Matteo Ward ( Italy ) Entrepreneur and sustainability activist Together they join the following activists for the Possibilists Summit: Activists Sophia Li ( China / USA ) - Multimedia journalist, film director, and environmental advocate Brett Staniland (UK) Sustainable Fashion Creator, advocate and model Scott Staniland (UK) Model, sustainable fashion contributor and ambassador Sennait Ghebreab ( Italy /UK) - Lecturer at Istituto Marangoni London and Sustainability Mentor Fionn Ferreira ( Ireland ) - Scientist, anti-plastic pollution innovator and 2021 honouree, Technologically Balanced The honourees of the Renaissance Awards 2021 are already taking their place at the forefront of systems change. Previous honourees have secured platforms as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, inspired a huge global audience (90% of last year's audience said they took more purposeful action in their own lives) and accessed new partnership and funding opportunities. Previous recipients of the Renaissance Awards are clear that the process has been transformative. 'Today, despite the increasing visibility of independent Latin American artists, it's still very rare to be granted an opportunity of telling our own stories without having to make concessions,' says Igor Furtado, an 'economically inclusive' honouree of 2021, 'having my work recognised [in this way] has been a transformative experience' NOTES TO EDITOR: ABOUT THE RA The Renaissance Awards celebrate the young leaders initiating the rebirth of a better system. A system that is regenerative, just, inclusive and balanced. In the heart of Florence, a city that is alive with the spirit of rebirth, we will honour and amplify the work of these emerging leaders, advancing their wisdom to the forefront of change. ABOUT ECO AGE Eco-Age is a specialist sustainability and communications agency. We are a leading and trusted voice, expert in bringing positive, sustainable change to key audiences.Our evidence-led sustainability narratives and programmes of change resonate with both consumers and industry insiders. Over the last decade we have honed specific expertise in supply-chains, textiles, impact measurement, internal and external communications, PR and event-planning. The programmes that we develop are aligned with international best practice and feed into global targets. This means the change that we help to activate is real and substantive.Our sole purpose is to distil our know-how, expertise, enthusiasm and talent into client campaigns, strategies and programmes that bring real and substantive change. Not only does this help to shift the dial on sustainable change, but it gives a new generation of conscious consumers fresh and compelling reasons to invest emotionally and financially in the brands of our partners.Our current partners include luxury fashion and jewellery brands, fashion retailers (including online), real estate companies, celebrity opinion-formers, film and TV academies, music academies, and fashion councils around the world. ABOUT METHOD method (methodproducts.com) is the pioneer of design-driven home, fabric, and personal care products. From its inception, method has actively championed for diversity and sustainability, as well as applying design and creativity as powerful tools for change. In 2021, method launched "method for change", a campaign inviting every single person into their mission of building a better, more fulfilled world by bridging intention and impact and putting change within reach of everyone. ABOUT NELSON CHANG AND PALAZZO PORTINARI SALVIATI Nelson Chang, CEO and Innkeeper of LDC Hotels and Resorts Group, which is part of Palazzo Portinari Salviati, the chairman of TCC Taiwan Cement Company, and the chairman of the Italian energy storage company NHOA (formerly Engie EPS), was awarded the title of Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy) last October by the Presidency of the Republic on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death for his commitment to Italy. A scholar, lover of Italian history and passionate about Florence, which he considers the cradle of the Renaissance from which the Modern Age developed, Chang is Taiwan's leading investor in Italy, with diversified interests in the tourism, property, energy and agricultural sectors and is also particularly active in promoting relations between Taiwan and Italy. The entrepreneur is also chairman of the board of directors of the Italian energy storage company NHOA (formerly Engie EPS). The company's mission statement states that, as an energy company, it has the task of improving the environment and addressing the challenge of climate change. "Your Place in History" is an invitation to stay in an iconic palace that is part and parcel of Florentine history and tradition: Palazzo Portinari Salviati, an exclusive historical house in Florence with luxury hotel services . Following meticulous restoration, the prestigious 15th century Renaissance home of Beatrice Portinari, Dante's muse, and the first residence of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, is back in all its splendour. Today the Palazzo houses elegant suites with frescoes from the 1700's and luxurious apartments overlooking the heart of the city with breathtaking views of the Duomo and its majestic Brunelleschi dome. ABOUT FONDAZIONE CASSA RISPARMIO DI FIRENZE Fondazione CR Firenze is a non-profit foundation of banking origin established in 1992 to further the interests of society. To achieve this, it has developed a programme of investments and projects in the areas it serves, namely Florence and the Metropolitan City along with the provinces of Grosseto and Arezzo.Picking up the baton from the original Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, the Fondazione operates by using the revenue from its vast assets to promote and fund programmes and initiatives of various kinds with the aim of furthering the economic development and prosperity of the community as a whole. The types of disbursement tools it uses include direct projects, themed calls for tender, funding for instrumental entities and it suppors numerous quality institutions.The five areas in which it operates are: culture and art, together with the conservation and optimisation of cultural assets; protection of the landscape, the environment and farming; scientific research and technological innovation, including in the medical and health sectors; youth training and growth; and volunteer work and solidarity. ABOUT CHANGEMAKERSXCHANGE Through the ChangemakerXchange Community we support, connect and empower 1000 young changemakers across 130 countries globally. New members join via our flagship summits, a unique experience of connecting, co-learning and collaboration with other social innovators from around the world. This is followed by ongoing, and life-long, community engagement, capacity building and support for their work.Through our Facilitators for Change program, building on our learnings from working with hundreds of social innovators we also trained over 150 civil society leaders in the facilitation skills needed to create spaces for collective impact.Through The Possibilists we work towards aligning the support ecosystem around a shared understanding of the needs and challenges of young changemakers and to create the best possible conditions for them to thrive and to deepen or scale their impact. Members of the alliance include Ashoka, ChangemakerXChange, One Young World, The Diana Award, We Are Family Foundation and Yunus & Youth. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916476/Rupert_Everett_and_Livia_Firth.jpg SOURCE Eco-Age A roundup of the week's most newsworthy financial industry press releases from PR Newswire NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the finance industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. Click on the press release headlines below to read this week's top finance stories and access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Read more of the latest finance-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNfinance on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]cision.com. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy health industry press releases from PR Newswire NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the healthcare industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Read more of the latest health-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNhealth on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. SOURCE PR Newswire VALLETTA, Malta, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trannel International Ltd (Trannel), will continue to passively accept customers residing in Norway. Trannel maintains its position that it is fully legal for Norwegian residents to access and use gambling services licensed in the EU/EEA area, something which was also stated by the Norwegian Minister of Culture in a letter to the Parliament in 2021. Kindred Group plc (Kindred), through its wholly owned Maltese subsidiary Trannel, has taken note of the Norwegian Gambling Authority's (NGA) press release sent out 7 October. Kindred disagrees with the NGA's statement and wishes to clarify that the Group maintains its legal position provided for in the ongoing appeal of the order referred to in the press release. Kindred will continue to passively accept customers residing in Norway. Kindred strongly believes that a locally licensed gambling market where responsible operators can operate under the supervision of competent authorities is the best solution for local societies, for players, and for operators. Similar to what Kindred previously did in the Netherlands, Kindred has, as a sign of good faith, pro-actively decided to make changes to its international offer. Kindred are doing these changes as the company seek a constructive and transparent dialogue with Norwegian authorities and Norwegian policy stakeholders. Kindred has over the years filed several applications for local licenses in Norway. Kindred would be ready to, similar to Sweden and Denmark, work within a Norwegian licensing system compliant with EU/EEA law. Kindred believes that licenses must be awarded in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. For more information: Maria Angell Dupont, External Communications Manager, Kindred Group [email protected] +46 72 165 15 17 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/r/trannel-passively-accepts-norwegian-customers,c3644624 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3644624/1635947.pdf Trannel passively accepts Norwegian customers https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/i/kindred-,c3098348 Kindred SOURCE Kindred Group Acquisition Strengthens TricorBraun's Position as a Leading Packaging Provider in Europe ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire German glass packaging distributor Glaser & Flaschen GmbH. The acquisition extends TricorBraun's European presence and strengthens its position as a leading packaging provider in Europe. "Glaser & Flaschen has built a strong business known for its quality, innovation, and technical expertise," said Declan McCarthy, president, TricorBraun Europe. "We are pleased to partner with the outstanding Glaser & Flaschen team to offer more supply chain options to customers, while investing in their continued growth and expansion. We welcome Glaser & Flaschen to the TricorBraun family." Serving customers for nearly 20 years, Glaser & Flaschen is a leading provider of high-quality glass packaging for the growing preserved food market. The company operates from a state-of-the-art distribution and operations center in Wustermark (Brandenburg, Germany). "We have such an intense passion for our business, our talented team, our customers and suppliers, and our strong community in the preserved food worldwe knew we needed an exceptional partner as we begin our next phase of growth," said Stefanie Burmeister, managing director, Glaser & Flaschen. "TricorBraun's world-class reputation, paired with its focus on team members, service for customers, and emphasis on growth makes it our ideal home." All Glaser & Flaschen team members will remain with TricorBraun and continue to work out of the company's existing location. Effective upon closing of the transaction, Glaser & Flaschen will operate as Glaser & Flaschen, a TricorBraun company. Since its founding, TricorBraun has partnered with management teams to successfully acquire and further accelerate growth for 37 packaging companies globally. The transaction is expected to close in November. Proventis Partners, a member of Mergers Alliance, acted as financial advisor to TricorBraun. About Glaser & Flaschen Serving customers since 2003, Glaser & Flaschen is one of the leading distributors of mason jars, bottles, and cooking accessories, as well as glass packaging for food and other ingredients. We supply commercial and private customers at home and abroad with a large selection of high-quality glass and accessories. About TricorBraun Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader and North America's largest distributor of primary packaging. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. We leverage our global supply chain expertise, expansive and sustainable footprint, and unmatched purchasing power to identify the best sourcing partners and cost-effective solutions for our customers. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. SOURCE TricorBraun COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vheda Health, a national chronic care company using advanced monitoring to decrease medical costs and increase member engagement, HEDIS, and STARs scores for underserved Medicaid and SNP populations, today announced it has re-certified as a Minority Owned Business with the State of Illinois' Business Enterprise Program (BEP). Illinois Business Enterprise Program Logo Vheda Health program members The Business Enterprise Program was created by the State of Illinois' Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI), with the purpose of expanding access to state contracts for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans and assists the state in enhancing the equity and inclusion throughout its workforce. Vheda Health completed the most rigorous - Full BEP certification valid for seven (7) years. Medicaid, SNP, and Medicare health insurance programs across the state of Illinois, the recipient of state funds, are required under state statute to partner with companies having the MBE designation, as a way of creating a continuous and valuable supply chain. These same health insurance programs are required to allocate a portion of their budgets and contract with BEP certified companies and meet yearly spend targets. "The BEP program is one of the best programs in the country and we are humbled to be a part of it. More than 3.3 million people across the state of Illinois rely on Medicaid and SNP for their healthcare. Therefore, we at Vheda Health have made it a priority to partner with every health plan in the state of Illinois because doing so, allows us to positively close gaps in access to care, health equity, and chronic condition management, translating to annual 3:1 net medical cost savings. These are the curves that needs bending and we are proud to be taking a leading role," Shameet Luhar, CEO of Vheda Health. According to data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Illinois ranked #7 in total Medicaid spending $26.9 billion in FY 2021 representing 3.5% of total Medicaid spend in the United States. "The State of Illinois is a priority market for us. Our members tell us every day how the Vheda Health program has changed their life for the better. Our programs are creating better access to care for members through our iPhone-centric member experience and positive return on investment for our health plan partners. We are looking forward to expanding current health plan partnerships and establishing new ones in the coming months and years ahead," Bill Henderson, SVP of Business Development at Vheda Health. In addition to its Illinois Minority Certification, Vheda Health holds certifications with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), State of Maryland, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. About Vheda Health Vheda Health is a leading chronic care company empowering people with chronic conditions to live their best life. Using advanced monitoring, our Medicaid and SNP programs increase member engagement, HEDIS, and STARs scores. For a decade, Vheda Health has formed strategic partnerships with the largest and most recognizable government payors, delivering 84% member compliance and an average 3:1 return on investment. For more information, please visit https://www.vheda.com/ Vheda Health Partnerships [email protected] 8668784332 SOURCE Vheda Health NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The wagyu beef market will be driven by factors such as the growing inventory of wagyu beef in Japan. In May 2020, under the Beef Livestock Stabilization Program called Marukin, the Government of Japan announced that it would issue support payments to cattle producers of wagyu beef. Under this program, the government will pay the producers of wagyu cattle 90% of the difference between revenue and production costs, which is recalculated per month. Such initiatives will drive the market during the forecast period. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wagyu Beef Market 2022-2026 The wagyu beef market size is anticipated to grow by USD 3.57 billion. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Download a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with the research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format Company Profiles Some of the companies covered in this report are Agri Beef Co., Australian Agricultural Co Ltd, Black Hawk Farms, Blackmore Wagyu, Chicago Steak Co., Dolan Foods Inc., GWB LLC, Havel Wagyu GbR, Holy Grail Steak Co., ITOHAM FOODS Inc., JAPAN PREMIUM BEEF Inc., JBS SA, K and K International Inc., Lone Mountain Wagyu LLC, Masami Foods Inc., Morgan Ranch Inc., Starzen Co. Ltd., Sugar Mountain, WAGYU MASTER Europe GmbH, and Wagyu World. The key offerings of a few of these vendors are listed below: Agri Beef Co. - The company offers wagyu beef such as Denver Steak, Bone in New York Strip, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon. The company offers wagyu beef such as Denver Steak, Bone in New York Strip, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon. Australian Agricultural Co Ltd - The company offers wagyu beef under the brand Westholme. The company offers wagyu beef under the brand Westholme. Black Hawk Farms - The company offers wagyu beef such as Black Label and Reserve Label. The company offers wagyu beef such as Black Label and Reserve Label. Blackmore Wagyu - The company offers wagyu beef, which is highly marbled and the muscles are finely interspersed with monounsaturated fat. The company offers wagyu beef, which is highly marbled and the muscles are finely interspersed with monounsaturated fat. Chicago Steak Co. - The company offers wagyu beef such as Wagyu Kobe Steaks and Wet Aged Wagyu Ribeye. Learn about key strategic initiatives used by vendors, along with key news and the latest developments. View our FREE PDF Sample Report Now Competitive Analysis The report includes competitive analysis, which is a proprietary tool that analyzes and evaluates the position of companies based on their market performance score and industry position score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are growth strategies, financial performance over the last three years, new product launches, innovation score, growth in market share, and investments. Market Segmentation By product, the market has been classified into Japanese breed, Australian breed, and others. The Japanese breed segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. The consumption of wagyu beef has increased owing to promotional activities by authorities in Japan . The food service industry is a key consumer of Japanese wagyu beef. Premium Japanese wagyu beef products such as Kobe beef are popular among several fine dining and Michelin Star restaurants globally. segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. The consumption of wagyu beef has increased owing to promotional activities by authorities in . The food service industry is a key consumer of Japanese wagyu beef. Premium Japanese wagyu beef products such as beef are popular among several fine dining and restaurants globally. By geography, the market has been classified into APAC, North America , Europe , the Middle East and Africa , and South America . APAC will have the largest share of the market. The region will account for 77% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as the growth of the food service sector and the high consumption of wagyu beef in countries such as Japan . Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report Related Reports Beef Market in US by Distribution Channel and Cut Type - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The beef market share in the US should rise by USD 8.95 billion from 2021 to 2026. Beef Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The beef market share should rise by USD 43.05 billion from 2021 to 2026. Wagyu Beef Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.4% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 3.57 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.52 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 77% Key consumer countries US, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Agri Beef Co., Australian Agricultural Co Ltd, Black Hawk Farms, Blackmore Wagyu, Chicago Steak Co., Dolan Foods Inc., GWB LLC, Havel Wagyu GbR, Holy Grail Steak Co., ITOHAM FOODS Inc., JAPAN PREMIUM BEEF Inc., JBS SA, K and K International Inc., Lone Mountain Wagyu LLC, Masami Foods Inc., Morgan Ranch Inc., Starzen Co. Ltd., Sugar Mountain, WAGYU MASTER Europe GmbH, and Wagyu World Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse Consumer Staples Market Reports Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Product 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Product 5.3 Japanese breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Japanese breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Japanese breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Japanese breed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Japanese breed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Australian breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Australian breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Australian breed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Australian breed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Australian breed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Hong Kong - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Hong Kong - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Hong Kong - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Hong Kong - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Hong Kong - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.14 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 90: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 91: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 92: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 93: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 94: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 95: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 96: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Agri Beef Co. Exhibit 97: Agri Beef Co. - Overview Exhibit 98: Agri Beef Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 99: Agri Beef Co. - Key offerings 10.4 Australian Agricultural Co Ltd Exhibit 100: Australian Agricultural Co Ltd - Overview Exhibit 101: Australian Agricultural Co Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 102: Australian Agricultural Co Ltd - Key offerings 10.5 Black Hawk Farms Exhibit 103: Black Hawk Farms - Overview Exhibit 104: Black Hawk Farms - Key offerings 10.6 Blackmore Wagyu Exhibit 105: Blackmore Wagyu - Overview Exhibit 106: Blackmore Wagyu - Product / Service Exhibit 107: Blackmore Wagyu - Key offerings 10.7 Chicago Steak Co. Exhibit 108: Chicago Steak Co. - Overview Exhibit 109: Chicago Steak Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 110: Chicago Steak Co. - Key offerings 10.8 Holy Grail Steak Co. Exhibit 111: Holy Grail Steak Co. - Overview Exhibit 112: Holy Grail Steak Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 113: Holy Grail Steak Co. - Key offerings 10.9 ITOHAM FOODS Inc. Exhibit 114: ITOHAM FOODS Inc. - Overview Exhibit 115: ITOHAM FOODS Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 116: ITOHAM FOODS Inc. - Key offerings 10.10 JBS SA Exhibit 117: JBS SA - Overview Exhibit 118: JBS SA - Business segments Exhibit 119: JBS SA - Key offerings Exhibit 120: JBS SA - Segment focus 10.11 Starzen Co. Ltd. Exhibit 121: Starzen Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 122: Starzen Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 123: Starzen Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 124: Starzen Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.12 Sugar Mountain Exhibit 125: Sugar Mountain - Overview Exhibit 126: Sugar Mountain - Product / Service Exhibit 127: Sugar Mountain - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 128: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 129: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 130: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 131: Research methodology Exhibit 132: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 133: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 134: List of abbreviations 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 WILMINGTON, N.C., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys Patrick Mincey, Stephen Bell and Phil Brewster were recently discussed in a Miami Herald article regarding their representation of a whistleblower who exposed alleged securities violations involving Trump Media & Technology Group Corporation ("Trump Media"). Former President Donald J. Trump is the majority owner of Trump Media, which is the parent company that operates the conservative social media platform Truth Social. As discussed in the Miami Herald article, the whistleblower was one of the original founders of Truth Social, which was founded shortly after former President Trump's permanent suspension from Twitter because of the events of January 6, 2021. The Miami Herald article describes how executives from both Trump Media and its merger partner Digital World Acquisition Corporation allegedly violated SEC regulations in the still-pending merger transaction. The article describes how Trump Media and DWAC have acknowledged investigations into the merger transaction by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. The proposed transaction is intended to take Trump Media public in a deal originally valued at over $1 billion. "Our client remains committed to assisting investigators with his referral to the SEC Office of the Whistleblower," Mincey, Bell and Brewster jointly said. "He also looks forward to an opportunity to work with members of Congress in their oversight capacity." Attorney Patrick M. Mincey founded and leads the White Collar, Government Investigations & Special Matters Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP in North Carolina. Attorney Stephen J. Bell is partner in the White Collar, Government Investigations & Special Matters Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP in North Carolina. Attorney Phil Brewster is the founding partner of Brewster Law Firm LLC in Winnetka, Illinois, a firm dedicated to whistleblower matters and government investigations. ABOUT CRANFILL SUMNER LLP Cranfill Sumner LLP serves clients in 28 practice areas. For more information, visit www.cshlaw.com. ABOUT BREWSTER LAW FIRM LLC Brewster Law Firm LLC is dedicated to whistleblower matters and government investigations. For more information, visit www.brewsteradvisory.com. SOURCE Cranfill Sumner LLP DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Furniture Contract Manufacturing Market Research and Forecast, 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global furniture contract manufacturing market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period (2021-2027). Furniture contract manufacturers want to provide their customers with custom-made furniture. Furniture is used for many purposes, including storage, work, eating, sitting, lying down, sleeping, and relaxing. Commercial, residential, government, and healthcare are the major application of furniture. Commercial furniture is produced in accordance with industry standards. For Instance, BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association) is a North American organization that assists furniture manufacturers and suppliers with the testing and certification of new products. They used the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) consensus process to establish voluntary safety and performance standards. The growing building and construction industry across the globe, an increase in disposable income in emerging economies, high product adoption, and demand across commercial and residential sectors are the factors contributing to the growth of the global furniture contract manufacturing market. In addition, the rising demand for customized furniture is further escalating the market. However, contract manufacturing risks such as quality and supply concerns, stringent government policies regarding the usage of woods, and lack of a skilled workforce are the factors that hindering the market growth. Besides this, the development of multifunctional furniture is an opportunity for the market. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Furniture Contract Manufacturing Market During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global furniture contract manufacturing market is hit hard. The outbreak has adversely affected all the manufacturing and industrial sectors, and also it has disrupted the business functions of a wide range of industries across the globe. The nationwide lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have had a negative impact on the construction sector, which is the furniture industry's largest revenue generator. The sudden increase in cases, especially in Asia, has also resulted in the temporary closure of numerous furniture production facilities, which has negatively impacted the demand and supply chain. However, as various economies gradually raise their respective trade lockdown, a steady recovery pattern is anticipated during the forecast period, with the furniture contract manufacturing market showing a significant increase in revenues. Segmental Outlook The global furniture contract manufacturing market is segmented based on material type, and end-user. Based on the material type, the market is segmented into wooden, metal, and others. The wooden furniture segment is expected to have the highest market share followed by metals furniture owing to high consumer preference for wooden furniture. Apart from it, based on the end-user, the market is segmented into residential, commercial, government, healthcare, and others. The commercial segment is to dominate the Global Furniture Contract Manufacturing Market Among the end-user segment, the commercial segment projected to hold the major share in 2020 and is also anticipated to grow during the forecast period. The rise in demand for furniture, primarily in offices, is the factor that propelling the growth of the commercial furniture contract manufacturing market. Individual workstations, lounges, meetings, and cafeterias are among the types of the office where furniture is used. The furniture market is expected to expand significantly owing to rapid globalization and urbanization across the globe as a result of increased education, increasing employment rates, and the establishment of new offices. Regional Outlooks The global furniture contract manufacturing market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific), and the Rest of the World (Latin America. And Middle East and Africa). North America projected to hold a dominant position in the global furniture contract manufacturing market, followed by Europe. This is owing to the increasing adoption of manufacturing contracts in hospitality furniture, as well as the increasing number of residential and commercial properties in the area, both of which are contributing to the growth of the market during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is projected to have a considerable growth in the global Furniture Contract Manufacturing market The Asia-Pacific is anticipated to hold a considerable market share in the global furniture contract manufacturing market. The increase in disposable income of individuals is to drive the growth of the market in the region. In addition, the expansion of corporate offices, and the increasing number of the working population in the region are anticipated to positively impact the growth of the global furniture contract manufacturing market. Besides, China is one of the largest producers and exporter of commercial furniture across the globe. The rising establishment of MNC companies in the region is to impel the growth of the market. Market Players Outlook The key players of the global furniture contract manufacturing market include Inter IKEA Systems BV, Baker Interior Group, Brodart Co., Gilmore Furniture, Inc., Acadia Contract, Fairlawn Tool, Inc., and others. The market players are considerably contributing to the market growth by the adoption of various strategies including mergers & acquisitions, geographical expansion, collaborations, and new product launches, to stay competitive in the market. The Report Covers Market value data analysis of 2020 and forecast to 2027. Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment. Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions. Key companies operating in the global furniture contract manufacturing market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report. Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future. Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies. Competitive strategies by identifying 'who-stands-where' in the market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Key Company Analysis 3.1.1. Overview 3.1.2. Financial Analysis 3.1.3. SWOT Analysis 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Impact of COVID-19 on Key Players 4. Market Determinants 4.1. Motivators 4.2. Restraints 4.3. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Global Furniture Contract Manufacturing Market, By Material Type 5.1.1. Wooden 5.1.2. Metal 5.1.3. Others 5.2. Global Furniture Contract Manufacturing Market, By End User 5.2.1. Residential 5.2.2. Commercial 5.2.3. Government 5.2.4. Healthcare 5.2.5. Others 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. North America 6.1.1. United States 6.1.2. Canada 6.2. Europe 6.2.1. UK 6.2.2. Germany 6.2.3. Italy 6.2.4. Spain 6.2.5. France 6.2.6. Rest of Europe 6.3. Asia-Pacific 6.3.1. China 6.3.2. India 6.3.3. Japan 6.3.4. South Korea 6.3.5. Rest of Asia-Pacific 6.4. Rest of the World 7. Company Profiles 7.1. AFD Contract Furniture, Inc. 7.2. Arcadia Contract 7.3. Baker Interior Group 7.4. Brodart Co. 7.5. Cape Contract Furniture, Inc. 7.6. Curtis Furniture Ltd 7.7. Davis Furniture 7.8. Fairfield Chair Co. 7.9. Fairlawn Tool, Inc. 7.10. Fuse Contract Furniture Ltd. 7.11. Gilmore Furniture Inc. 7.12. Global Furniture Group 7.13. Hickory Contract 7.14. Inter IKEA Systems BV 7.15. Krueger International (KI) Inc. 7.16. Levine Contract Furniture Group 7.17. Madison Furniture Mfg., Inc. 7.18. Metal Avenues 7.19. Morgan Contract Furniture Ltd. 7.20. Noble Russell Ltd. 7.21. Pasquier Panel Products, Inc. 7.22. Witley Jones Furniture Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7hl617 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 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zetrix, the layer-1 blockchain structure based in Malaysia, signed on October 6, 2022, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd (MTSSB) to develop and operate the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI). MBI will act as Malaysia's national blockchain infrastructure for all levels of government and commercial sectors. Zetrix, which launched its Mainnet on April 15, 2022, was founded and operated by Malaysia's largest digital service provider, MY E.G. Services Berhad (MYEG). In partnership with MTSSB, the two parties will spearhead the development of Malaysia's national blockchain roadmap to bring Web-3 based services to the public and private sectors. In a prestigious event in the presence of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, and EPU Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, MYEG and MTSSB signed the MOU for jointly working towards furthering the national blockchain roadmap launched on August 9, 2022. Faisal Ahmad, CEO of MTSSB, commented, "This collaboration will accelerate the development, deployment and take-up of blockchain related applications and services in both the public and private sectors. As a trading nation, Malaysia, and Malaysian companies, can greatly benefit from use of blockchain applications and services." Zetrix also acts as the international supernode to Xinghuo BIF, the national blockchain infrastructure of China, to facilitate trade between China and international parties through blockchain. Together, Zetrix and Xinghuo BIF provide users with BID services that allow users to verify on-chain identity through verifiable credentials, removing the need to verify the identity of users on each transaction. Zetrix's ties with Xinghuo BIF and their steps to develop the MBI initiative make Zetrix a national blockchain. The Xinghuo BIF partnership and the initiative with MBI make Zetrix a blockchain that is now involved in the development and growth of two national-level blockchain ecosystems. With exciting DApps as part of their ecosystem, such as their NFT marketplace called NFTPangolin, their blockchain-based identification service known as Zidentity, and their staking platform known as ZeFi Club, Zetrix is taking everything a step further to introduce their blockchain-based supply chain financing solution known as Zetrix TradeFi. The new DApp will help facilitate trade and alleviate supply chain issues that have plagued the RCEP region since the COVID pandemic. Mr. Wong Thean Soon, co-founder of Zetrix commented: "We are honoured to be able to contribute to Malaysia's national blockchain roadmap and firmly believe that the blockchain enablement of trade will unlock greater opportunities and use cases to establish this as a true technological revolution, departing away from speculative tokenomics. The next generation of the economy is digital and the distributed ledger will be the ubiquitous single source of truth for all commerce." About MY E.G. Services Bhd ("MYEG") MYEG is Malaysia's premier digital services company. Having commenced operations in 2000 as the flagship e-government services provider, MYEG continues to play a leading role in driving technological change in Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, bringing a diverse and complete range of innovations spanning the online delivery of major government services to a variety of commercial offerings in the areas of immigration, automotive, healthcare and financial services, among others. Committed to staying firmly at the forefront of the region's digital revolution, MYEG has embraced the potential of blockchain technology to enhance all aspects of life and is actively pioneering its adoption across its main markets. Beyond Malaysia, MYEG has operations in other key regional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia. About Zetrix Zetrix is a layer-1 public blockchain that facilitates smart contracts and delivers privacy, security and scalability. Zetrix's cryptographic infrastructure can be introduced to multiple industries to connect governments, businesses and their citizens to a global blockchain-based economy. Developed by My E.G. Services Bhd, the cross-border and cross-chain integration with Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility (BIF) enables Zetrix to serve as a blockchain gateway that facilitates global trade by deploying critical building blocks for Web3 services such as Blockchain-based Identifiers (BID) and Verifiable Credentials (VC). For more information, log on to www.zetrix.com . MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd. MIMOS Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd. (MTSSB) is a commercial arm of MIMOS Berhad, which provides Solution Integration, Application Development, Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) and Technology Consultancy services in ICT industry for both Public and Private market sectors. SOURCE Zetrix By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Military attaches, accredited to Azerbaijan, have inspected a recently discovered mass grave site in Khojavand Districts Edilli village, Azernews reports. Employees of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, the Defense Ministry, and the Association of Forensic Medical Examination and Pathological Anatomy of the Azerbaijani Health Ministry accompanied the foreign military representatives. Maj-Gen Huseyn Mahmudov, chief of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's International Military Cooperation Department, informed the military attaches on the mass graves in Edilli, underlining that this is the third mass grave discovered in the village. Mahmudov briefed military officials about grave violations of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law by illegal Armenian military formations and the Armenian armed forces in Azerbaijan during the first Karabakh war (1988-1994). The evidence of the capture, torture, and murder of presumed Azerbaijani military personnel was presented. Mahmudov underlined that the clothing and items found in the mass burial site indicate that the remains belong to servicemen. He also highlighted that the skeletons had their hands and legs tied with wire and rope. The first two were discovered with the remains of seven and six persons, respectively, while the third was unearthed with the remains of 12 Azerbaijani military personnel tortured to death. The initial examination revealed traumatic brain injuries produced by a blunt object at the base of the skull, as well as gunshots and puncture wounds with a sharp tool. Mahmudov added that nothing is known concerning the fate of up to 4000 civilians and prisoners of war who went missing as a result of the Armenian invasion. The probe will be continued around 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the first Karabakh war. It is also probable that hundreds of identical burials exist in other parts of Karabakh. The military attaches then visited one of the military units to familiarize themselves with the circumstances set up for military personnel. On October 4, another mass grave of Azerbaijani military personnel, killed by the Armenian armed forces in the first Karabakh war (1988-1994), was found in Khojavand Districts Edilli village. Samples were gathered from the bone remains and submitted to a forensic molecular-genetic study after assigning the required experts in the case. Washington, Oct 7 : US President Joe Biden has announced that he's pardoning all prior federal offences of simple marijuana possession. "There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result," Biden tweeted on Thursday. "My pardon will remove this burden," he said, adding that he's also calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offences. Biden added he's asking federal officials to "initiate the administrative process to review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law". The US has been under criticism over the push to legalise marijuana nationwide, Xinhua news agency reported. Marijuana, which can also be called cannabis, weed, pot or dope, refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marijuana use may have a wide range of health effects on the body and brain. Under the Controlled Substances Act enacted by the US government in the 1970s, marijuana is a Schedule I substance, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in America, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. However, with a growing number of US states and territories allowing and regulating medical use and even recreational use of marijuana, the movement to legalise or decriminalise the drug federally has gained steam in the nation. Advocates claim the federal government should follow the states and allow adults to decide for themselves whether to use marijuana while framing their endeavour as a way to reverse the disproportionate impact of criminalising the substance on racial minorities. Critics say marijuana is enough of a mind-altering substance to pose a threat to society and its nationwide legalisation would likely make US' drug problem worse. In 2019, there were an estimated 48.2 million people in the US who used marijuana, with nearly four in 10 high school students reporting using it in their lifetime. Tehran, Oct 7 : Two French nationals who were arrested in Iran have admitted to attempts to incite anti-government protests in the country, a state news media reported. In a video aired on Iran's Arabic-language television news network al-Alam TV on Thursday, Cecile Kohler, 37, admitted to being an agent of the French Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), the state news media reported. Kohler said in the video footage that she went to Iran with her partner, Jacques Paris, 69, to lay the groundwork for mass unrest in an effort to start "a revolution" against the Islamic Republic, according to the report. Paris said the DGSE's objective was to "put pressure on the Iranian government," according to the report. Kohler and Paris travelled to Iran on April 28 as tourists. However, Iran's Intelligence Ministry said in May that the two French nationals had been arrested for attempting to incite chaos and social disorder in the country during teachers' protests, Xinhua news agency reported. Tehran, Oct 7 : Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has criticized Western countries for what he called their use of human rights as a "tool" to exert pressure on other countries. "When human rights are turned into a plaything and a tool to apply political pressure on others, the media empire of the hegemonic system also helps to replace the accused with the plaintiff in the case of systematic human rights violations," Kanaani wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday. The spokesman's comments followed Western media's reports about recent protests in Iran, which were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini, who died while in the custody of Iran's morality police. Following the recent protests in the country, the Canadian government has slapped sanctions on Iranian institutions and individuals for alleged "rights violations," Xinhua news agency reported. Kanaani referred to the reports of the separation of thousands of indigenous children from their families in the past decades in Canada and the discovery of children's mass graves in Canada's residential schools, saying that the people of the world have not forgotten "the sad saga". "Blurting out words about other countries and hiding behind accusations against others will not change the fact that behind the window of human rights in one of the American government's closest allies, child-killing and disregard for humanity is showing off," he added. Quito, Oct 7 : At least five inmates were killed and another 23 people were injured in the latest riot to roil Ecuador's prison system, authorities said. Of the injured in the riot on Wednesday, 18 were inmates and five were police officers, Ecuador's prison administration agency tweeted on Thursday. The agency described the riot at a prison in the southwest port city of Guayaquil as a clash between rival gang members, and "expresses its solidarity with the families at this painful time". Firearms were used during the melee sparked by drug trafficking gangs vying for control of the prison, according to the agency. It was the second prison riot this week after Monday's clash in the central city of Latacunga, which left 16 inmates dead, including a known drug trafficker, and 43 people wounded, Xinhua news agency reported. Since February 2021, when a wave of riots broke out at various prisons in Ecuador, nearly 400 inmates have been killed in detention, official statistics show. United Nations, Oct 7 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is shocked and saddened by the horrific mass shooting at a childcare facility in northeastern Thailand, his spokesperson said. "The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday. At least 38 people were killed in a mass shooting at a childcare centre in northeast Thailand's Nong Bua Lamphu province on Thursday, most of them children, local authorities said. Police identified the attacker as a former police officer who reportedly killed himself later, Xinhua news agency reported. The horrific attack prompted strong condemnation by various UN agencies. In a statement, the UNICEF said it condemns all forms of violence against children, stressing that "no child should be a target or witness of violence anywhere, anytime". "UNICEF sends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and the injured. We join all people in Thailand in mourning and hope that those affected receive appropriate and timely support," the statement added. The UN agency appealed to members of the public and the media to refrain from posting or forwarding images and videos related to the incident, noting "this may further negatively impact children, victims' families, and their loved ones." The UNESCO also extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. "Attacks on schools, students and educators, are attacks on rights to education," the agency's Bangkok bureau tweeted on Thursday. "No one should be a target." Lucknow, Oct 7 : A 40-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, who exploited women and allegedly duped them of money by posing as a judge, has been arrested, police said. The Lucknow police cyber cell laid a trap by giving a matrimonial advertisement seeking proposal preferably from a 'judge' to trap the accused identified as Vishnu Shanker Gupta. Gupta is a law graduate and had practiced in a court for a short period. Investigation Officer, Firoz Badar, told reporters that, "He targeted divorcees or widows. His biggest target was a woman whom he conned of Rs 43.5 lakh cash, ornaments worth Rs five lakh and two Apple phones worth Rs 3.3 lakh and also sexually exploited her." The police official said that Gupta would lure the gullible victims by claiming to possess a lot of cash and property. "Once the victim agreed to marry, he would demand money, saying he is falling short of Rs 20-25 lakh for registry of a piece of land," he added. A case in this connection was registered at the Hazratganj police station recently. Vishnu has confessed to having duped 15-20 women so far. "His targets were affluent women, besides widows or divorcees. He used to contact them through advertisements published in newspapers. In his profile details, he had mentioned his occupation as a judge," Badar said. In his confession, the accused Vishnu said he was passing through a hard time while practicing law. It was then that he decided to dupe the widows/divorcees from well-off families. "Being a law practitioner, he was aware of judges and their postings and hence mentioned himself as a judge of some remote district of Uttar Pradesh," the police official added. New Delhi, Oct 7 : In an endeavour to further improve as well as widen the scope of BH series that can help in the seamless transfer of vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification for amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark. MoRTH had introduced BH series registration mark vide G.S.R. 594(E) dated August 26, 2021. Over the course of implementation of these rules, several representations have been received towards strengthening the BH series ecosystem. The ministry has proposed new rules with the key features that the transfer of vehicles with BH series registration mark to other persons, who are eligible or ineligible for BH series, has been facilitated. Moreover, vehicles currently having regular registration mark can also be converted to BH series registration mark subject to payment of requisite tax, to facilitate persons who subsequently become eligible for BH series registration mark. To provide further ease of life to citizens, amendment in rule 48 has been proposed to provide flexibility to submit applications for BH series either at the place of residence or place of work, said the Ministry. The Working Certificate to be submitted by private sector employees has been further strengthened to prevent misuse. In order to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles, the Ministry in August 2021 had introduced a new registration mark for new vehicles, "Bharat series (BH-series)". A vehicle bearing this registration mark does not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one State to another. Prague, Oct 7 : The European Political Community (EPC) will convene its next meeting in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said here. Fiala made the remarks after the inaugural EPC meeting on Thursday in Prague, the first-ever such meeting held in the city which brought together over 40 European leaders, reports Xinhua news agency. Besides European Union (EU) member states, several Western Balkan nations and non-EU countries that are deeply integrated in the single market as well as the UK and Turkey also joined the so-called "EU+" gathering. According to a statement issued by the EU after the meeting, the energy crisis and peace and security dominated the discussions among the European leaders. The statement quoted European Council President Charles Michel as saying that "at a time when Europe's stability and security is being threatened, we need more dialogue, more listening, more mutual understanding, not less". "And that's what we achieved at the first European Political Community," he added. The EPC aims to promote political dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest and to strengthen the European continent's security, stability and prosperity, according to the EU. On Friday, the EU leaders will meet for an informal summit to discuss the most pressing issues facing the bloc, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the rising energy costs and its economic ramifications. Kolar : , Oct 7 (IANS) An incident of clash between Dalits and upper caste members over the procession route on Dussehra has led to the lodging of 20 criminal cases against each other,police said on Friday. According to police, nine atrocity cases have been lodged by Dalits, and 11 attempt to murder cases have been filed against the Dalits by the upper caste persons. The incident took place on Wednesday in connection with celebration of Dussehra festivities and procession. The police stated that the villagers had organised a procession of Gangamma Devi and Kateramma Devi. The elders of the village had assembled to discuss finalising the route map of the procession in the village. Dalit youth had objected that Dalits were being neglected during the procession as it arrived last in their locality and is made to pass hurriedly without giving any time to them to offer prayers. The Upper caste group did not agree to this and maintained that the procession had to be carried out exactly in the same way it had been carried over the years. This has led to arguments and two groups attacked each other with bricks, stones and wooden logs. The police had to rush to the spot and control the situation. Later, police intervened to make changes in the procession. The district authorities held a peace meeting in the village between the upper caste people and Dalits. They warned of consequences of discrimination and villagers agreed to carry out the procession in all streets. Further investigation is on. New Delhi, Oct 7 : Because India has such a diverse population, there are many possibilities to celebrate distinct holidays. For kids, the festive holiday break and all the excitement goes along with the festive emotions, with activities like pandal hopping and food festivals. However for older people it is all about decorating homes and entertaining. So how does one keep the kids busy through the entertaining and all the traveling. Young kids can use this time to develop the habit of reading books that not only provide them with knowledge but are also enjoyable to read. We've listed out 5 books for your Diwali break The Land Beyond The Moon by Merlinwand Written by Parvathy Raveendran and illustrated by Rajyasree Sarkar, The Land Beyond The Moon is a new book by Merlinwand that deals specifically with the loss of a pet. The story deals with fighting supervillains while spinning across asteroids and the moon to revive the pet. Along with choosing and naming the central character, the reader can choose which of the three worlds one wants to explore - Forest of Zee on a winged horse Peggy, the Kingdom of Zee on the friendly carpet Rasul, or the Planet of Zee on the futuristic spaceship Dhruva. The Land Beyond The Moon is the perfect book to teach kids about the importance of relationships, especially the relationship of humans and pets. Our Toxic World: A Guide to Hazardous Substances in Our Everyday Lives by SAGE Publications Our Toxic World takes a close look at these hidden perils, and at what we can do to make our own lives, and the world around us, a little cleaner, a little safer. The Sachdeva family is like many others. A father with a government job; his wife a homemaker; a son starting a career; and a daughter in high school. And like most other families in a big city, the Sachdevas are surrounded in their everyday lives by a cocktail of toxic substances. From food toxins, waste, automobile and industrial pollutants, and green laws to chemicals, building construction every possible hazardous substance is in there. The book describes the impacts of harmful chemicals, and highlights alternate approaches to reduce their presence. It is a graphic novel by Aniruddha Sen Gupta and Priya Kuriyan and a keeper for all green bookshelves. "My Big Book" by Katha books My Big Book is a series of 'big books' that are not big in size but bug on ideas and inspiration. This includes My Big Book of Earth and My Big Book of Global Warming, edited by Geeta Dharmarajan. This series is a collection of poems, stories, stunning illustrations, and sketches about the globe. My Big Book of Earth explores the significant and current topic of environmental protection and conservation in a loving ode to our planet Earth. My Big Book of Global Warming is a book that explores how Global Warming affects people and shows young readers many easy ways to help make a difference. It is also a mix of fiction and non-fiction, with tips and trivia. P.S. What's Up With the Climate by Pratham books P.S. What's Up With the Climate written by an award-winning author Vachharajani and illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan is a book that explores the theme of climate change and addresses the complex issue in a humorous, albeit thought-provoking style. This work of nonfiction is incredibly well-researched and has a paranormal understanding of the way things are headed. It's set in a world where the lives of all animals has gone topsy-turvy as it's suddenly too hot, too cold, no rain or too much rain. This book not only educates kids about environmental issues but also, forces them to be intrigued about the environment and question themselves. It is safe to say that this book actually helps kids to take the first step to conserving the environment from their own home! Ira The Little Dolphin and Lai-Lai the Baby Elephant By Tulika Publishers Shekar Dattatri, a renowned wildlife and conservation filmmaker, is the author of these amazing books. Lai-Lai the Baby Elephant is bilingual, and introduces young readers to a playful baby elephant who is interested in his surroundings. To ensure that elephants like Lai-Lai have a pleasant life ahead of them. In the second book, Ira The Little Dolphin, one encounters a contented tiny dolphin performing backflips in Lake Chilika. She is unaware of the dangers Irrawaddy dolphins endure. Photos in the book make the subject more engaging for young readers, ages 3 to 6. Both the books emphasize the necessity to preserve the forests and jungles. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Seoul, Oct 7 : Samsung said on Friday that its preliminary third-quarter operating profit declined by nearly 32 per cent from a year earlier, as the company has faced macroeconomic headwinds that weakened consumer demand for electronic devices. The world's largest memory chip and mobile phone maker said its operating profit for the three months ending in September was predicted to come in at 10.8 trillion won ($7.7 billion), down 31.7 per cent from 15.82 trillion won from the year-ago period. The figure was the lowest third-quarter profit since 2019, when the corresponding tally was 7.78 trillion won. It also marked the first yearly decline in Samsung's third-quarter profit in three years. The operating profit was 8.3 percent lower than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Sales increased 2.7 per cent on-year to 76 trillion won. The data for net profit was not available. The company will release its final earnings report at the end of this month. Samsung's semiconductor business, which took nearly 70 per cent of its total profit in the previous quarter, is believed to have slowed down, with weakened consumer spending power leading to a cut in chip demand from electronics makers, as well as cloud computing and server companies. Market analysts predicted Samsung's device solutions division, which overseas its chip business, to have posted around 6 trillion won in operating profit, slumping nearly 30 percent from the previous quarter. "Customers don't seem to respond to falling chip prices due to sluggish demand," Kim Un-ho, an analyst at IBK Securities, said. "Slowing demand is expanding from server to mobile sectors," he said. The global chip industry has entered a cyclical downturn, which has been exacerbated by key macro events around the world. DRAM prices are estimated to have posted a quarterly decline of 10-15 percent in the third quarter. Despite oversupply issues and falling prices, Samsung said it was not considering a cut in production of its memory chips. "There is no internal discussion (about a cut in memory chip production) at the moment," Han Jin-man, executive vice president and head of the memory global sales and marketing at Samsung Electronics, said at the annual Samsung Tech Day in San Jose, California. Washington, Oct 7 : The US is readying for a severe flue season as well as a new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the upcoming fall season, with health experts urging the public to get flu shots and Covid boosters. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on everyone above six months to get their flu shots, reports Xinhua news agency. "I don't want to be alarmist, but I am concerned. We know that it's going to be a strain of flu that tends to be more severe," said Michael Phillips, an infectious disease expert at New York University Langone Health. "For those ages greater than 65, there's a specific formulations of vaccines that you should get and it dramatically reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and death," Phillips said. Less than half of US adults plan to get a flu shot this year and just a third feel safe getting a flu shot and Covid-19 vaccine at the same time, according to a survey of the US National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Flu season typically starts in October, peaks in December through February and can last into the spring. The CDC says the flu shot may not prevent people from getting infected, but it can significantly lower the risk of hospitalization and death. Meanwhile, health officials are expecting another Covid resurgence as immunity from vaccination wanes off and people head indoors as the weather turns colder. More transmissible Omicron subvariants are also emerging, and experts are urging the public to get Covid-19 vaccines and boosters to protect themselves as well as the vulnerable groups. So far, about 67.9 per cent of the US population is fully vaccinated with their initial series, according to the latest CDC data. But less than half of the fully vaccinated population has received a booster dose. A new study published earlier this week by the Commonwealth Fund shows that about 90,000 Covid-19 deaths could be prevented this fall and winter if more people in the US get their booster by the end of the year. As of Friday morning, the country's overall Covid-19 caseload and death toll stood at 98,474,755 and 1,087,350, respectively. The two tallies account for the highest in the world, making the US the worst-hit country. Hyderabad, Oct 7 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the new name adopted by Telangana's ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), will commence its activities in New Delhi from a rented premises. Party sources said a building has been taken on rent near Sardar Patel Marg to facilitate the launch of the party's activities in the national capital. A permanent building of the party is currently under construction at Vasant Vihar. Since there is still time for the construction to complete, party leaders opted for a rented premises for a temporary office. A general body meeting of the TRS presided over by party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution changing the name of the party to BRS. Rao announced that the general body meeting unanimously resolved to change the name of TRS to BRS to expand its activities nation-wide. The meeting also amended the party Constitution in this regard. On Thursday, the TRS informed the Election Commission of India of its decision to change its name to BRS. A delegation of party leaders led by former MP B. Vinod Kumar met officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi and handed over a copy of the resolution adopted at the TRS general body meeting. Last year, Chandrasekhar Rao had laid the foundation stone for the party building at Vasant Vihar. At a ceremony held on September 2, KCR laid the foundation stone in the presence of his cabinet colleagues, MPs, state legislators and several party leaders. TRS claimed to be the first political party from South India to open its office in Delhi. It was announced then that the TRS office coming up on 1,100 square meters of land will be called Telangana Bhavan, like its state headquarters in Hyderabad. It is not immediately known if there will be change in the name of the office consequent to TRS adopting a new name. The three-storey building will have a conference hall, library and audio-visual theater. The TRS leaders had said that the party office in the national capital will serve as a research centre for the country. Telangana Bhavan will be a platform in Delhi to highlight the revolutionary welfare and schemes being implemented in Telangana, state minister V. Prashanth Reddy had said. TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao had described the foundation stone laying of TRS office as a significant development for the party, which completed 20 years in April, 2021. According to TRS leaders, KCR himself is overseeing the design and execution of the project, which is being planned in a manner that would stand out as a symbol of self-respect of Telangana. The building will cater to the needs of TRS leaders and activists visiting the national capital. Party sources said it would also be accessible to the people of Telangana who are in Delhi, during distress. The Centre had allotted land for TRS office last year but the foundation stone laying was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. The land allotment was made as per the rules, which prescribe that all political parties with a minimum of seven members in Parliament are eligible for allotment of land for their party office in Delhi. TRS, which has 16 members in Parliament, was allotted two plots measuring 550 square meters by the land and development office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Bidar, : Oct 7 (IANS) Karnataka Police is on high alert as Muslim organisations have warned of protest on Friday after Hindu activists barged inside the historical Mahmud Gawan madrassa in Bidar and performed puja. The incident took place on Wednesday. Photos and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media. According to police, a group of Hindu activists who participated in the Dussehra procession in Bidar barged inside the premises of the Mahmud Gawan madrassa on Wednesday night and performed puja. Considered as a heritage building, the madrassa is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The madrassa, built in AD 1460 is considered as one of the important monuments in India. The Hindu activists who barged inside the protected monument by breaking open locks, raised "Jai Sri Ram" and "Jai Hindu Rashtra" slogans and conducted worship according to Hindu rituals in one of the corners of the building, police said. Photos and video show a big group standing on the steps of the monument. Nine cases have been lodged in connection with the incident and three persons taken into custody. The Muslim organisations in Bidar have protested against the incident. They have also demanded action against the accused and warned of a huge protest after Friday prayers. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has also condemned the incident. "Extremists broke the gate lock and attempted to desecrate historic Mahmud Gawan masjid and mosque," he charged. Addressing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Bidar police, he asked, "How can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activities only to demean Muslims," he stated. Chennai, Oct 7 : The Tamil Nadu health department is planning to launch a massive campaign which will see the participation of celebrities in an effort to increase the Covid-19 booster dose coverage in the state. Currently, only 27 per cent of the state's total population have been inoculated with the booster shot. The state government had provided free Covid-19 booster shot till September 30. Speaking about the upcoming campaign, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian told IANS that the state government has already written to the Centre requesting for more booster vaccines. "After the massive promotions, we expect the booster dose coverage improving in the state," he added. He also said that the state has achieved 92 per cent coverage of the second dose against Covid-19 and that it was primarily due to the hard work put in by the doctors, nurses, and other allied staff of the health department, volunteers, and social workers across the state. The health department, according to sources has chalked out a clear roadmap for improving the booster vaccine drive in the state to prevent any further escalation of Covid-19. Dr. Suchithra Menon, a health specialist at a private medical college in Chennai, told IANS: "The state government's initiative is good and there has to be good coverage of booster dose among the population to keep the disease at bay. The health department promoting the booster dose vaccine will fetch results as it is seen in the 92 per cent coverage of the second dose of vaccine." Los Angeles, Oct 7 : The trailer of the upcoming drama film, 'EO', directed by Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski, was unveiled recently. The film, inspired by Robert Bresson's 1966 film 'Au Hasard Balthazar', follows the life of a donkey born in a Polish circus. The film, which shared the Cannes Jury Prize with Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch's 'The Eight Mountains', shares a vision of modern Europe through the prism of a grey donkey, EO, who is torn away by animal activists from his beloved circus performer owner, and passed from hand to hand in the service of humans, reports 'Variety'. On his life's path, EO meets all sorts of people and experiences joy and pain, as well as disasters and unexpected bliss. As per 'Variety', Skolimowski is an animal lover. He saw 'Au Hasard Balthazar' soon after its 1966 release. "This was the lesson I got from Bresson," said Skolimowski, quoted by 'Variety'. "That an animal hero is able to move you even more than a human hero." And indeed, the vulnerable EO is about as innocent a protagonist as they come, which makes the cruelties he endures by humans all the more abhorrent. Skolimowski warns, however, that he used six donkeys to portray EO in the film, and none were harmed in the production. Washington, Oct 7 : American forces have killed two top leaders of the Islamic State (IS) terror group in an airstrike conducted in northern Syria, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement published here on Friday. According to the CENTCOM statememt, the airstrike carried out at 6.32 p.m. on Thursday killed Abu-Hashum al-Umawi, a deputy IS leader in Syria, and another senior official of the terror group associated with him. "Initial assessments indicate no civilians were killed or wounded during this operation. No US forces were injured or killed and there was no loss or damage to American equipment...," the statement added. CENTCOM commander General Michael Kurilla said that "this strike will degrade IS' ability to destabilise the region and strike at our forces and partners". "Our forces remain in the region to ensure the enduring defeat of IS," he was quoted as saying in the statement. Thursday's airstrike came a day after Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, an official known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters to support IS operations, was killed in a US raid near the northern Syrian village of Qamishli. In Wednesday's operation, one of al-Shammri's associates was injured, while two others were detained by US forces, the CENTCOM said in a separate statement. The US has targeted several senior IS officials this year in Syria. In February, the US conducted a raid in northwest Syria in which IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was killed after he blew himself up. It was the largest American raid in Syria since the 2019 operation that killed the previous IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Qurayshi was named the terrorist group's leader in November 2019 at the same time IS confirmed that Baghdadi had been killed. Washington, Oct 7 : US President Joe Biden didn't rule out the possibility of easing sanctions on Venezuela, telling reporters that his administration has "a lot of alternatives" to counter the effect of a decision by a group of the world's most prominent oil-producing countries to reduce production. "There's a lot of alternatives. We haven't made up our mind yet," Biden told reporters on Thursday before departing the White House. He called he announcement made the previous day by the group known as OPEC+ a "disappointment", reports Xinhua news agency. The President made the remarks while replying to a question whether easing sanctions on Venezuela was one of the options. The OPEC+, which comprises members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil-rich countries, announced Wednesday during a gathering in Vienna that the group will cut production by 2 million barrels per day from November. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration is considering easing sanctions on Venezuela so that Chevron, a major US oil company, can be allowed to resume pumping oil in the South American nation. Washington has been calling for ramping up oil production to buttress the global economy. Citing anonymous US government sources, the report said the easing of sanctions is conditioned on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holding talks with the opposition in good faith. "There are no plans to change our sanctions policy without constructive steps from the Maduro regime," Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, was quoted as saying. A senior administration official told reporters that Washington's policy toward Venezuela has not changed. "We continue to believe that a Venezuelan-led dialogue that leads to the restoration of free and fair elections in the country is our priority and are prepared to calibrate our overall sanctions policy accordingly," the official said. Jaipur, Oct 7 : The much awaited Rajasthan Summit was inaugurated on Friday by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the presence of veteran industrialists, including Gautam Adani. The state government is hosting the two-day 'Invest Rajasthan Summit' at the JECC Campus in Jaipur. State Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat also be present on the occasion. The state government has set a new benchmark by attracting investments of over Rs 10.44 lakh crore with the theme "Committed. Delivered". The two-day summit is being attended by dignitaries of some of the most prestigious corporate groups around the globe. The summit will witness invigorating conclaves and panel discussions on key sectors with interesting viewpoints being shared by some of the biggest industry experts and leaders. "The main motive of these conclaves is to bring together diverse groups of notable business entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, and policy and opinion makers to discuss preparations for their respective sectors," said the government press note. More than 4,000 guests from across the globe are attending this summit. A few names of such noted dignitaries include Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, The Tata Power Company Limited; Dr Anish Shah, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd; B. Santhanam, Chairman, Saint Gobain India; Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman & Senior Managing Director, DCM Shriram Limited; C.K. Birla, Chairman, National Engineering Industries Ltd; Sanjiv Bajaj, President CII & Chairman & MD, Bajaj Finserv Ltd; Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group; L.N. Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, ArcelorMittal; and Gautam Adani, Founder & Chairman, Adani Group. All the dignitaries will have interactions at the Investor Rajasthan Summit. Some of the key sectors planned for conclaves are Agri and Agro-processing, Tourism, startup, MSMEs, NRR, and future-ready sectors. "The leading investors in the world have recognised the enormous potential of Rajasthan for development and innovation in the sectors. The massive investment projects we have obtained will fuel our economic growth, resulting in the creation of lakhs of jobs. And, this is just the beginning. There will be new collaborations for the state's exponential growth and industrialisation," said the release. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will also announce the names of the recipients of the Rajasthan Ratna Awards on the first day of the summit. New Delhi, Oct 7: Pakistan, battling a severe economic crisis, is now bracing for a harsh winter with the deepening energy shortage. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow was in a position to supply gas to Pakistan as pipeline infrastructure was in place but the Shehbaz Sharif government which is now going all out to woo Washington may find it difficult to source Russian gas. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, analysts said, is set to deal a blow to Pakistan's energy sector as Islamabad -Washington ties improve. Pakistan's dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) has increased over the years and now the rise in global fuel prices has become a cause for concern. With limited foreign exchange reserves, the country's ability to import LNG is also restricted. Meanwhile, Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL), which floated a tender for the purchase of liquified natural gas (LNG) failed to receive any bid from international suppliers. The tender expired earlier this week. Though the Sharif government has assured citizens that alternative plans are being worked out, analysts said that Pakistan may not be able to avoid the consequences driven by the global energy crisis. The country's public policy think-tank Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, in a recent report said that demand for natural gas has risen by 11 per cent in the last few years though 78 per cent of households have no access to natural gas, natural gas consumption in the domestic The challenge has increased even more as compared to the industry, supplying gas to households requires higher investments. But there has been no investments to this effect making things tougher. Natural gas and imported LNG contribute more than 40 per cent Islamabad's current energy mix, including gas resources used in electricity generation. While in the recent years, the demand for gas has increased rapidly, gas exploration and production have declined, and the LNG operational and regulatory framework is weak which in turn had led to a nationwide shortage and increased supply costs, PIDE said. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Oct 7: Russian citizens called up from the reserve as part of partial mobilisation have begun intensive combat training in the zone of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Ateet Sharma New Delhi, Oct 7: Russian citizens called up from the reserve as part of partial mobilisation have begun intensive combat training in the zone of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Footage of the newly-arrived reservists undergoing training as part of platoons and assault groups has been made public by the Russian Ministry of Defence. The videos show "experienced mentors" from Russia's Airborne Forces giving lessons in combat coordination to the military personnel. Honing skills in fire training with standard weapons - including shooting from Kalashnikov (AK-74) assault rifles, machine guns and RPG-7 hand grenade launchers - as well as storming buildings, installing, detecting and neutralizing explosive devices, tackling radiation, chemical and biological hazards are all part of their extensive drills which are being conducted "day and night". In the course of combat coordination, the military personnel will also master the skills in providing first aid to the wounded and conducting evacuation from the battlefield. "After the combat coordination, the units, staffed by mobilised citizens and volunteers, will begin to carry out the tasks for which they were intended," the Russian Defence Ministry detailed. Even as the military personnel learn skills of operating as part of units and master the military equipment and weapons, the process of sending mobilized citizens continues all over Russia. Ceremonies are being conducted to send hundreds of citizens to the training grounds of various military districts as the military orchestra performs 'Farewell of Slavianka' - the famous Russian patriotic march. Far away at one of the training grounds of the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, the reservists are learning to operate unmanned aerial vehicles, including quadcopter drones. The crews are also trained to drop a payload simulating an explosive device from a special device attached to the drone. The purpose of the training course, says the Russian Defence Ministry, is to develop the skills necessary for conducting aerial reconnaissance, geospatial orientation, and recognition of various objects, including camouflaged ones. Calling out his countrymen for military service in the eighth month of ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced the partial mobilisation on September 21. "If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we use all available means to protect our people - this is not a bluff," Putin said in a TV address to the nation. As reported by IndiaNarrative.com earlier, Russia plans to utilise the resources of its vast - almost 25 million - reserves who have combat experience and military specialty. "The time has come to put into practice the experience gained during the annual strategic exercises," said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Kolkata: TMC's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal arrives at SSKM hospital for health check-up, in Kolkata on Monday, Aug 08, 2022. Mondal has informed the CBI that he would be unable to appear before it on Monday in connection with its inves Image Source: IANS News Kolkata: TMC's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal arrives to appear before CBI in connection with post-poll violence at CGO complex, Salt lake in Kolkata on Thursday, June 02, 2022. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Oct 7 : The CBI has filed a fresh charge sheet of 35 pages in the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam case, wherein the central agency has named Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal as the direct recipient of the proceeds of the scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted its fresh charge sheet, the fourth in the matter, at a vacation court in West Burdwan district of West Bengal on Friday morning. The fresh charge sheet was filed on the 57th day after Mondal's arrest by the central agency from his residence at Bolpur on August 11. CBI sources said that as per rule the charge sheet against a person has to be submitted within 60 days from the arrest of that person and in this case the central agency has submitted the charge sheet three days ahead of the deadline. This is for the first time that Mondal's name has come in the CBI charge sheet, which was not present in the previous three supplementary charge sheets filed by the central agency. In the earlier charge sheets, the central agencies mentioned that a large portion of the proceeds of the cattle smuggling came to Mondal's bodyguard Sehgal Hossian from the smuggling kingpin Enamul Haque. However, in the fresh charge sheet filed on Friday, sources said, Mondal has been named as a direct beneficiary of the scam, which came to him through Hossain. It is further learnt that in the fresh charge sheet, CBI has mentioned about fixed deposits worth Rs 18 crore in the names of Mondal, his daughter Sukanya Mondal, his deceased wife Late Chobi Mondal and some of his close family relations. Besides the fixed deposits, the charge sheet also has references of details of some other savings bank accounts as well as 53 other documents related to moveable property of the Mondal family. Meanwhile, three officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the matter, flew from New Delhi and reached Asansol Special Correctional Home on Friday morning. They immediately started questioning Mondal's bodyguard, Sehgal Hossain. This is the first questioning of Hossain by the ED in the case. Meanwhile, Mondal will be in judicial custody till October 29 and on that day, he will be again presented at the special court of CBI in Asansol. Wellington, Oct 7 : New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has extended an invitation to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit her country. She extended this invitation while participating in 'Vishwa Sadbhavana' event which was a part of the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame awards, jointly organised by the NID Foundation and the Indian Weekender in Auckland, where two books depicting Prime Minister Modi's unique and hugely successful governance were also unveiled, in the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In her address as the chief guest, Ardern said that New Zealand and India share a lot of things among them, and that the relationship between two countries has been growing stronger and there is a massive potential for the growth in the times to come. "In a world that is becoming increasingly volatile, New Zealand and India share a lot of things. Both the nations care for our democratic traditions and share an interest in a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. "We share concern for climate change and we have similar passions for celebrating different cultures and traditions. Engagements like today's, not only deepen our relationship, but also progresses our aspirations," she added. New Delhi, Oct 7 : A total of six murders, including that of an eight-month-old infant, within a week's time begs answer to the question every Indian wants to know -- is the community safe in the US? The US is home to more than 4.5 million Indians, which is the highest-earning ethnic group in the country. President Joe Biden recently went on record to say: "It's amazing, Indian-of descent-Americans are taking over the country: you, my Vice President (Kamala Harris), my speechwriter, Vinay (Vinay Reddy)... You guys are incredible!" Even as one grappled with the shock of four Sikh family members, within the age groups of eight months to 39 years, found dead in California, news of 20-year-old student Varun Manish Chheda stabbed to death on Purdue University campus, sent shockwaves running across the Indian community world over. Earlier this week, Gurpreet Kaur Dosanjh, a Walmart employee, was shot dead and lumped inside a car in a parking lot in San Jose, California. In June this year, Satnam Singh, 31, was shot dead while sitting in a parked SUV down the street from his home in New York. This came days after Sai Charan Nakka, a 25-year-old techie from Telangana, was killed after sustaining an apparent gunshot wound to his head in Maryland Apart from the gruesome killings, Indian-Americans have been consistently battling racial taunts, assaults, hate crime robberies, and vandalism of their properties. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 161 anti-Asian hate crimes took place in 2019, which rose to 279 in 2020. Giving a religious break-up, the FBI said that 54 anti-Sikh crimes occurred in 2019, which rose to 89 in 2020. Anti-Asian hate crime increased by 339 percent last year compared to the year before, with New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other cities surpassing their record numbers in 2020, according to research by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. Late in August, four Indian American women were told that they were "ruining" America and should "go back to India" by a Mexican-American woman in Texas. In the same month, Krishnan Jayaraman was racially abused and called a "disgusting Hindu" by Californian Rajinder Singh in a Taco Bell outlet in Fremont. Community members have also expressed concerns over multiple brazen attacks on Mahatma Gandhi's statue in New York and other US cities. "Such bigoted attacks motivated by racism, xenophobia, and other forms of hate victimise not only those directly targeted by them but also broader communities through creating an atmosphere of fear and danger," Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi had said recently. Last month, Indian-Americans held a peaceful protest at Time Square against the recent spurt in hate crimes and instances of vandalism of the Gandhi statue in the city. An Indian American Attitudes Survey released last year found that "one in two Indian-Americans reports being discriminated against in the past one year, with discrimination based on skin colour identified as the most common form of bias". Somewhat surprisingly, Indian-Americans born in the US are much more likely to report being victims of discrimination than their foreign-born counterparts," the survey, supported by Carnegie Endowment, said. Biden had spoken strongly against hate crimes at a recent event against racism. It remains to be seen what Biden, who boasts of having appointed more than 130 Indian-Americans to key positions in his administration so far, does now for the community that has made significant contributions to this great landscape. (Meenakshi Iyer can be reached at meenakshi.i@ians.in) Chennai, Oct 7 : Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has emerged as the favourite for the party's presidential poll among the cadres in Tamil Nadu after a majority shunned a meeting called by fellow contestant Shashi Tharoor. Of the 710 voters in the Congress electoral college from Tamil Nadu, a handful attended the meeting convened by Tharoor to seek support for his candidature at the state Congress headquarters, Satyamoorthi Bhavan on Thursday. While Kharge has not yet commenced his journey in Tamil Nadu, it was clear in the response that Tharoor received in the state as to which side the wind was blowing. Kharge, who has more than six decades of grassroots political experience, is a highly respected Dalit face of the party. While the Gandhi family has not openly favoured any candidate in the Congress presidential poll, it is a certainty that the family was backing Kharge. The absence of almost all the senior leaders of the party when Shashi Tharoor arrived at Satyamoorthi Bhavan is a pointer that Kharge is the preferred one. A senior leader of the Congress party, who was a former MP while speaking to IANS, said, "Ordinary party workers will not support Tharoor as there is a feeling that he is inaccessible and out of reach to ordinary party workers. The feedback we receive from his home constituency, Thiruvananthapuram is that he won't meet common people and has always been seen as an elite." He added that Congressmen don't prefer elite leaders and want grassroots-level, down-to-earth people who know the pulse of the society to run the organisation. However, the educated middle class youths had reached Satyamoorthi Bhavan to throw their support to Tharoor, who are not on the electoral list of the Congress party and their support cannot garner votes for the Thiruvananthapuram MP. Another senior leader of the Congress party, who was a state office-bearer of the party while speaking to IANS, said, "Tharoor may be good to be projected to the outside world. He is suave, well-mannered, speaks good English, and has global contacts. But the moot point is what does that fetch for the party. People prefer someone who is connected with the grassroots and with cadres. The cadres and sympathizers don't understand the language of diplomacy, they want someone who knows them and their feelings, and Kharge is miles ahead in that." With the battle lines drawn, a senior leader in the Congress told IANS that it is a wonder if Tharoor could fetch a sizeable vote share from a total of 710 votes for the AICC president election from Tamil Nadu. Dakshina Kannada, : Oct 7 (IANS) A local court on Friday sentenced a youth to 15 years of imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl and video graphing the crime in this district of the state. The verdict was passed by Dakshina Kannada District and Sessions Court and Fast Track Special Court - 2. A sum of Rs 50,000 has also been imposed on the accused as fine. Seetharam, a resident of Tudor village, had taken the minor girl who is his relative to an isolated place and violated her on January 8, 2019. He had filmed the act and threatened the girl to post it on social media if she revealed the incident to anyone. The survivor informed her parents about the incident who lodged a complaint against the accused with Bajpe police station. Bajpe police station inspector K.R. Nayak had submitted a charge sheet before the court after conducting the investigation. Chennai, Oct 7 : Director Peppin George Jayaseelan's 'Yamakaathaghi', the first look of which was released by actress Rashmika Mandanna recently, will be a supernatural thriller set in a rural backdrop. Interestingly, actor Venkat Rahul, cinematographer Sujith Sarang, and editor Sreejith Sarang have come together to produce this film, the shooting of which has been completed. Sources close to the film say that post-production work on the film is now proceeding at a brisk pace. The story of how the actor, cinematographer and editor chose to turn producers for this film is interesting, says a source. "These friends got engrossed in the narration of this film's script by director Peppin George Jayaseelan and decided to produce the movie out of their own interest," the source adds. The film, comprising newcomers, has been made without any compromises in the creative process and with complete emphasis on the story. 'Yamakaathaghi' has Roopa Koduvayur essaying the titular role. Other members who form a part of the cast include Narendra Prasath, Geetha Kailasam, R. Raju, Subash Ramasamy, Haritha, Porkodi, Jai, Pradeep and Ramasamy. The entire shooting of 'Yamakaathaghi' took place across villages around Tanjore. The film is produced by Naisat Media Works & Sarang Brothers Productions and is directed by Peppin George Jayaseelan. Rome, Oct 7 : Italy appears to be heading for a new Covid-19 wave, with a spike in new cases and hospitalisations reported in the last week, according to the Health Ministry. On Thursday, the country registered nearly 45,000 new cases, slightly less from a day earlier but still well above the average for the last month, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the health data body Gimbe Foundation, the broad infection rate over the last week was 52 per cent above the previous week. Meanwhile on Tuesday, the daily infection rate of nearly 59,000 was the highest since August 2. Health officials have cautioned that rates could rise further in the coming weeks, as cooler weather pushes more activities indoors. The Gimbe Foundation reported that Covid-related admissions to intensive care units had surged 21 per cent over the week ending on Tuesday, while general hospitalizations related to the pandemic were 32 per cent higher. The Ministry said that the virus' positivity rate -- the percentage of tests producing a positive result for infection with Covid-19, has been around 20 perc ent for four of the last five days. This is double the rate of around 10 per cent a month ago. The total number of active cases in Italy topped 500,000 on Thursday, for the first time in a month. The developments come just as the last of the health restrictions have been lifted. In September, children returned to school with no mask or coronavirus testing requirements, and September 30 marked the end of a mask mandate on public transport. Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the outgoing government would not implement new health restrictions during the remainder of its mandate. Italy's newly-elected Parliament will convene for the first time on October 13, and the new government will be formed shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, there are some positive outcomes regarding Covid-19, with the weekly mortality rate falling to 281 in the last week from 307 a week earlier. This remains far below weekly totals of more than 1,000 in July, and weekly totals approaching 2,000 in late 2021 and early 2022. According to the Gimbe Foundation, the death rate declined 8.5 per cent over the last week, and has now fallen for five consecutive weeks. As of Friday, Italy's overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 22,692,912 and 177,356, respectively. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Los Angeles, Oct 7 : The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry has filed another lawsuit against media company Associated Newspapers, the publisher of British tabloids the Daily Mail and the Mail, recently. Also suing the media company are musician Elton John and his husband, producer David Furnish, actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, reports 'Variety'. The group claim they have been "the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers," according to a press release from law firm Hamlins, which is representing Prince Harry and Frost. As per 'Variety', court records show three separate lawsuits citing "misuse of private information" were filed against Associated Newspapers in London's High Court by Gunnercooke on behalf of its clients. Prince Harry and Frost's lawsuits have yet to appear in court records but Hamlins said that legal action has been launched. Amongst the allegations, the group claims that Associated Newspapers hired private investigators to bug their cars and homes, hired people to listen into their telephone conversations, paid police for inside information, impersonated staff at hospitals and clinics to obtain information and accessed bank accounts and financial transactions "through illicit means and manipulation." A spokesperson for Associated Newspapers told 'Variety', "We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears which appear to be nothing more than a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone hacking scandal concerning articles up to 30 years old. These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims - based on no credible evidence - appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere." The lawsuit will be the third Prince Harry has brought against Associated Newspapers. He has sued twice previously for libel and slander. At least one lawsuit is ongoing, regarding a story about Prince Harry's bid for private security provided by the Metropolitan Police in the U.K. He won the first stage of the lawsuit in July. In the same period Harry's wife Meghan Markle also sued the publisher for copyright infringement and breach of privacy. She won her legal battle last December. Sonipat, Oct 7 : The O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has established new and meaningful partnerships with 10 leading universities in the US as part of working towards its mission to provide global education opportunities to its students. JGU has signed new MoUs with the San Jose State University; University of Houston; Penn State Dickinson School of Law; Central Washington University; Pace University; Fordham University; University of Oregon; Clark University; Washington State University; and the Ohio State University These innovative and path-breaking new collaborations will give JGU students opportunities to study with the leading universities of the world, participate in student exchange programmes, study abroad courses and for dual degree qualifications. They will also have access to world-class faculty members while studying at JGU and partner universities in the US. Students will be able to develop intercultural learning experience, while gaining a global perspective during the study period and get opportunities to improve employability skills and enhance chances to follow higher education pursuits overseas. These international education opportunities will be available for students of law, business, finance, liberal arts, journalism and many other disciplines. The Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, said: "The MoUs that have been signed with the 10 leading universities of the US underscores JGU's commitment to fulfil the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 and to provide global education opportunities to the students of JGU under the framework of our status as an 'Institution of Eminence'. "International collaborations allow JGU students to develop a world view with an exchange of knowledge and ideas along with a multi-cultural understanding. Student and academic mobility lead to mutual benefit for both institutions and strengthen educational connections. "These partnerships also have the potential to make an impact on curriculum development, collaborative teaching programmes and research networks. The partnerships with renowned universities in the US will provide transformative learning opportunities for our students." JGU has a wide network of partner universities in the US which has further expanded with the addition of these top-class Universities catering to the aspirations of JGU's students for higher education in the US with a holistic international experience. These new collaborations are in addition to the existing 360+ partnerships across 67 countries in the world creating diverse opportunities for intercultural learning through internationalization. Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean, Office of International Affairs & Global Initiatives, JGU, said: "JGU has had long standing cooperation with some of the leading universities in the US. Some of the key strategic partnerships of JGU are with American universities. "JGU hopes to strengthen and consolidate these partnerships in the future with the wide-ranging opportunities for our students to study with leading universities and institutions in the US. Our students are keen to engage with global universities in their pursuit of study abroad programmes, student exchange programmes and dual degree offerings." Chennai, Oct 7 : With more than 40 people from Tamil Nadu trapped in Myanmar's Myawaddy area after being lured into IT jobs, the parents and relatives have again appealed to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take up the matter with the Centre. At least 13 IT professionals from Tamil Nadu, who were under the captivity of armed guards in Myawaddy after being lured into the trap of high paying IT jobs, have been rescued by the Government of India and brought back home. The parents and relatives of the remaining 40 people from Tamil Nadu said that they were thankful to see the 13 reach safely back to the state, and wanted the Chief Minister to intervene and bring back the remaining Tamilians in captivity. Around 300 IT professionals from various states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala were taken to Myawaddy, where they have been kept as hostages and forced to work for porn sites and fake cryptocurrency sites. The protesting Indians were physically assaulted and many were injured. They were given poor food and administered electric shocks if they tried to escape from custody. According to the information available from Myawaddy, the rebels are now asking the Indians under custody to cough up money anywhere between Rs 1.50 lakh to 2.0 lakh for their release. One of the IT professionals, who was in captivity and brought back to Chennai on Wednesday. while speaking to IANS on conditions of strict anonymity said, "We cannot reveal our names now as it would affect the lives of those who are under captivity. We were tortured and denied medical treatment and we were starving for many days. I was recruited from Chennai by a Dubai-based agent who promised me the sky. On reaching there we were taken by road from Bangkok airport and we later came to know that it was Myawaddy and that armed rebels were having a major say in that place." He said that they were told to speak to High Networth Individuals in the UK, the US, and even India and asked them to deposit in cryptocurrencies and once they deposit above 60,000 USD, the Indians were asked to destroy their SIM cards and replace them with new ones. Sources in the Tamil Nadu government told IANS that the state government has taken all the necessary steps and is coordinating with the Centre to get another batch of IT professionals released from their captivity. The state department of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils has also taken up the matter before the Chief Minister and said that the state government was coordinating with the Union External Affairs ministry to bring the IT professionals back to India. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 7 : A visiting Kerala delegation led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan consisting of state Ministers and top officials presently in Finland got a pleasant surprise when the Finland officials wanted to get the expertise of the state's digital education -- the 'Little KITEs' IT clubs. The exchange of educational models was decided during the meeting held at Helsinki between the Finland Education Department team and Kerala team attended by Dr. V.P. Joy, Chief Secretary and others. "While Kerala is keen to accept early Childcare, Science and Math education from Finland, it is the Little KITEs IT Clubs which has impressed Finland who have expressed their willingness to implement it in their schools. The knowledge transfer of Little KITES is indeed an impact of two decades of ICT experience of Kerala, spearheaded by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), who will provide necessary technical assistance in this joint venture," said K. Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE. The Little KITEs members, who are primarily students of Class 8 to 10, are selected through an aptitude test, averaging 20 students in each school, led by a Little KITEs Master or Mistress, who are teachers. They oversee every ICT activity in their school, including training other students and also the proper upkeep and usage of ICT equipment. The Little KITEs IT Clubs is India's largest ICT network of students, setup in over 2,000 schools and having over 1,70,000 student members. The Little KITEs initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2018 January, as part of the Hi-Tech projects of the Government of Kerala, wherein ICT equipment worth Rs 8 billion were deployed at 4,752 secondary schools and 11,275 primary schools. Every Little KITEs member is trained in different areas ranging from electronics, animation, hardware, cyber-safety, 3D Modelling, Artificial Intelligence, to name a few. Tel Aviv, Oct 7 : Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has instructed the army to prepare for any possible escalation with Lebanon hours after the Jewish state rejected Beirut's amendments to a US-brokered proposal for demarcating a maritime border. "In light of the developments in the maritime border negotiations with Lebanon, Gantz instructed the defence establishment to prepare for any scenario in which tensions increase in the northern arena, including defensive and offensive readiness," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister's office as saying in a statement. The instruction was made following a situational assessment with Israel's security chiefs, his office noted, adding the security cabinet held a meeting to discuss the US-mediated proposal Israel received last week. US energy envoy Amos Hochstein sent Israel and Lebanon a draft of an agreement on a maritime line between the two countries. The dispute concerns an area of some 860 square km of the Mediterranean Sea. Earlier on Thursday, a senior official with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told Xinhua that the latter was "updated on the details of the new substantial changes that Lebanon is seeking to make in the agreement, and ordered the (Israeli) negotiating team to reject them". The official added the Prime Minister will not compromise Israel's security and economic interests "even if it means that there will be no agreement soon". Following Israel's rejection, Lebanon's leading negotiator Elias Bou Saab said the US-mediated deal is at a "make or break" point. Bou Saab, also Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker, said that he has contacted Hochstein to remove the emerging obstacles to the deal. According to local media reports, a major point of dispute between Israel and Lebanon was Lapid's announcement that Israel will receive some of the revenues from Lebanese extraction in the Qana field, located partially in the disputed area. Lebanese authorities are trying to end a dispute with Israel over maritime borders, which has escalated after Israel on June 5 sent a vessel to the Karish field, which Israel claims is within its economic zone, while Lebanon claims in disputed waters. Bengaluru, Oct 7 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the BJP upholds individual freedom and equality in its governance in the state. The statement follows the charges by the Congress leaders that BJP divides people and does not respect individual freedom. Addressing the party leaders at the State Executive Committee meeting in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Bommai stated that individual freedom and equality are enshrined in the constitution. BJP not only preaches it but ensures these aspects in the governance, he added. "Our day to day organisation work reflects that the party is marching ahead ensuring individual liberty and equality. This is indeed the hallmark of the party," Chief Minister Bommai stated. He further stated, "we have a big responsibility. People have not imposed their faith and trust on other political parties. They have seen the stunts of other political factions. They have seen how other parties have ruled the country for 70 years. People have lost faith in other political parties and regional parties of our state as well as other states." The fact that the BJP is ruling in 18 states of the country stands as a testimony to the fact. For a democracy to succeed, there should be a strong federal structure. The Indian federation has to be strengthened and it is one of the ideals of the Indian Constitution. Democracy and federalism both are very important, he maintained. Chief Minister Bommai stated that people have not forgotten the misrule of the earlier Congress government. There was no social harmony, there was a collapse of law and order, BJP workers were killed, scandals rolled out one after the other. During Congress government corruption thrived in all departments. In the police recruitment, the Congress government did not give consent to inquire DIG rank officers. "I gave the consent for inquiry against the officer," CM Bommai said. Karnataka has been attracting the highest FDI in the country. The state is getting 38 per cent of FDI, while Maharashtra is attracting 22 per cent and Noida is in third position with 18 per cent, CM Bommai explained. The government is organising the Global Investors' Meet and Tech Summits in the coming days, he added. CM Bommai stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming down to Karnataka on November 10 for the inauguration of the second terminal at the Bengaluru KempeGowda International airport. He will also inaugurate a huge statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda on the premises of the airport, he added. Christchurch, Oct 7 : Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 78 and carried his bat throughout the innings as Pakistan kick-started their campaign in the tri-series in New Zealand with a 21-run win over Bangladesh at the Hagley Oval on Friday. After Rizwan's belligerent knock laced with seven fours and two sixes took Pakistan to 167/5, pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz took three and two wickets respectively to restrict Bangladesh to 146/8 in 20 overs. Pushed into batting first, Rizwan and captain Babar Azam (22 off 25 balls) added 52 runs for the first wicket in 7.1 overs. The ever-consistent opener, who hit his sixth half-century in last eight T20I innings, then added 42 more runs with Shan Masood, who made 31 off 22 deliveries. Shan Masood (31 off 22) was Pakistan's other key contributor, as Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali couldn't contribute much to reduce the tension around Pakistan's fragile middle order. Despite this, Pakistan managed to score 51 runs off the last four overs to post a competitive total against Bangladesh, playing without talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. In defence of their total, Pakistan pacers were too hot to handle for the Bangladesh openers in the first six overs. Wasim struck in the fifth over as he dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 10. In the next over, Sabbir Rahman fell for 14 after a simple caught and bowled dismissal off Haris Rauf. Litton Das made 35 off 26 balls before Nawaz dismissed him and Mosaddek Hossain on successive deliveries in the 13th over. Afif Hossain made 25 off 23 balls while Yasir Ali top-scored for Bangladesh with 42 not out off 21 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. After dismissing Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed on the first two balls of the penultimate over, Wasim finished with impressive figures of 3/24 while Nawaz returned with figures of 2/25 in a collective bowling performance for Pakistan where all bowlers kept their economy rate below 10 despite a 20-run final over. Pakistan will be next seen in action when they take on hosts New Zealand tomorrow in the second match of the tri-series. Brief Scores: Pakistan 167/5 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 78 not out, Shan Masood 31; Taskin Ahmed 2-25) beat Bangladesh 146/8 in 20 overs (Yasir Ali 42 not out, Litton Das 35; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 3-24, Mohammad Nawaz 2-25) by 21 runs. New Delhi, Oct 7 : Smartphone brand Motorola on Friday launched a new affordable smartphone 'moto e32' that features a fluid 90Hz IPS LCD display, premium design and a 50MP camera. The moto e32 is available in a single 4GB RAM+64GB storage variant for Rs 10,499 on Flipkart and at leading retail stores. The device comes in two colour variants -- Eco Black and Arctic Blue. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G37 octa-core processor, the new smartphone comes packed with a 5000mAh battery, according to the company. The new device comes with a vibrant 16.51cm (6.5-inch) IPS LCD display with a fast 90Hz refresh rate. Crafted from high-quality materials for a premium look, the moto e32 features IP52 water repellant design to stand out in a crowd. It houses a 50MP rear camera setup and a 8MP front camera. Additional camera features of the smartphone include Night Vision, Pro mode and Dual Capture to click images in a better way. Bidar, : Oct 7 (IANS) Karnataka police on Friday arrested four persons in connection with the incident of Hindu activists barging inside the historical Mahmud Gawan madrasa in Bidar city and performing puja. The Muslim organisations, which had earlier called for a protest after Friday prayers condemning police inaction, have called off the protest following the arrests. Of the nine accused named in the FIR, Munna, Naresh, Yallalinga and Prakash have been arrested. However, the Karnataka police is on a high alert in Bidar district and security around the Mahmud Gawan madrasa and Masjid has been tightened. Photos and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media. According to police, a group of Hindu activists who participated in the Dussehra procession in Bidar, barged inside the premises of the historical Mahmud Gawan madrasa on Wednesday night. Considered as a heritage building, the madrasa is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was built in AD 1460 and features among the important monuments in India. While breaking inside the protected monument by breaking open locks, the activists raised "Jai Sri Ram" and "Jai Hindu Rashtra" slogans and conducted worship according to Hindu rituals at one of the corners of the building, police said. The photos and video show a big group standing on the steps of the monument. The police have lodged nine cases in connection with the incident. Protesting against the incidents, the Muslim organisations demanded action against the accused and had warned of a huge protest after Friday prayers. Condemning the incident, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that extremists broke the gate lock and attempted to desecrate historic Mahmud Gawan masjid and mosque. Addressing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Bidar police, he asked, "How can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims," he alleged. A manhunt has been launched for the other accused. New Delhi, Oct 7 : With over 777 electric buses running across the country, PMI Electro Mobility, India's leading electric bus manufacturer and operator, on Friday announced that it is now the second largest electric bus brand in the country. PMI Electro made this announcement on the heels of its foray into Surat where it delivered 25 electric buses as part of a larger order to supply 150 electric buses to the Surat Municipal Corporation. "We are elated to emerge as the second largest electric bus manufacturer in India in just five years of commencing operations," Satish Jain, Chairman, PMI Electro Mobility, said in a statement. These e-buses for Surat were flagged-off by the Union Minister of Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey, from the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar. "Our manufacturing prowess and reliable engineering has allowed us to timely deliver orders to STUs (State Transport Undertakings) and provide citizens with clean public transportation," Jain said. "With almost negligible downtime and over 4 crore green kilometres covered, our electric buses have proved their mettle even on challenging terrains such as Ladakh and have encouraged people to use public transportation," he added. With entry into Surat, PMI Electro is now present in over 23 cities in India, making it the electric bus brand with the widest network of presence in India. The other cities where PMI is successfully running electric buses include Kerala, Ladakh, Lucknow, Nagpur, Odisha, Rajkot, Delhi and Agra, among others. PMI Electro Mobility is one of India's leading e-bus makers and has 777 electric buses running across the country in 23 cities. These electric buses come equipped with a raft of safety systems such as RTMS (real-time monitoring system) and CCTV cameras to ensure a safe ride for the passengers. And provisions such as air suspension ensure that the e-buses can ably negotiate difficult road conditions and offer passengers a comfortable ride. "We endeavour to manufacture products that are best in technology and customized to every customer need. With the government making way for clean public transport, our electric buses are running in varied terrains, and this is made possible through investment in cutting-edge technology solutions," Jain said. Suva, Oct 7 : The Fiji Meteorological Office on Friday warned residents living along coastal areas to expect flooding as a coastal inundation alert is still in force for parts of the island nation. The Office said an intensifying high-pressure system to the south of Fiji is expected to generate and direct moderate-to-damaging heavy swells over the territorial waters, reports Xinhua news agency. Citing the forecast, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported that moderate to damaging heavy swells combined with wind-driven waves will cause coastal flooding in parts of the country. People living along coastal areas should expect coastal inundation of debris along low-lying coastal areas, especially during high tide, which is dangerous for recreational activities. The meteorological office said this is in the southern parts of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, from Natadola to Pacific Harbour, the southern coastal areas of the Mamanuca islands, Kadavu, the Moala, Lomaiviti, and southern and central Lau islands. Meanwhile, a heavy rain warning is in force for most parts of the country. Chennai, Oct 7 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a raid on the premises of a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) functionary on Friday for reportedly having links with the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). A team of NIA raided the residence of Vigneswaran (27) at Sivaganga. Sources in the Sivaganga district police superintendent's office told IANS that the raids commenced early in the morning at his residence near Mannar Duraisingam Arts and Science College road. Police sources also said that Vigneswaran is alleged to have links with some of the cadres of the now-defunct LTTE and that the 27-year-old was working in Chennai. The central agencies are on high alert on the possibility of regrouping of the LTTE cadres in Tamil Nadu. A former LTTE intelligence operative, Sabesan alias Satkunam, was arrested in October 2021 on charges of coordinating the smuggling of drugs from Pakistan to Sri Lanka and using the proceeds for activities of the defunct LTTE. The NTK, founded by actor and director Seeman, has been advocating strong Tamil nationalism. Seeman has also announced the making of a new movie on slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabakaran. The movie to be directed by Vetrimaaran will be produced by Seeman. Mumbai, Oct 7 : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a major inter-state drug syndicate active in Maharashtra-Gujarat to seize 60 kg of high-grade mephedrone in the operations, and arrested six persons, including a former pilot, a top official said here on Friday. NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Amit Ghawate said that among the accused is the kingpin of the drug syndicate and a former Air India pilot. Ghawate said that the tip-off was passed by the Naval Intelligence Bureau at Jamnagar in Gujarat on the suspicious activities of some persons. The NCB followed up the intel input in coordination with other agencies of the targeted persons to gather additional information on their shady activities. It came to light a bulk consignment of the drug was in the process of being smuggled from Gujarat to Maharashtra and the sleuths planned out the operation. Keeping a low profile to trap and nab all the persons involved in the narcotics racket, the NCB seized 10 kg mephedrone and caught four persons on October 3, including Bhaskar V. from Jamnagar, and S.G. Mahida, the former pilot, S.M. Chowdhury and P.D. Muthu, all from Mumbai. Their interrogation revealed major drug linkages and other traffickers and NCB sleuths tracked them at various places over three days in Mumbai and arrested the kingpin M.I. Ali, and his associate M.F. Chisty on Thursday, with an additional seizure of 50 kg of mephedrone, said Ghawate. The NCB Mumbai head said that Mahida had taken his flying training from Texas and Lithuania and worked with Air India between 2016-2018, while Muthu has a former record of arrest by DRI in 2001 in a 350 kg mandrax smuggling case in which he is currently on bail. According to Ghawate, the mephedrone seized from Gujarat and Maharashtra are of same quality and is connected with previous seizure operations carried out by Mumbai Police. Mephedrone is a stimulant, commonly known as 'meow meow' or M-cat in the streets drug market and classified as a New Psychoactive Substance. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 7 : A visiting official Kerala delegation led by Chief Secretary V.P. Joy and other top officials in Finland got a pleasant surprise when the Finland officials wanted to get the expertise of the state's digital education -- the 'Little KITEs' IT clubs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Education Minister V.Sivankutty also had to travel to Finland, but they had to cancel the trip on account of the sudden demise of CPI-M Politburo member, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The exchange of educational models at Helsinki was decided during a meeting between the Finland Education Department officials and the Kerala team. "While Kerala is keen to accept early Childcare, Science and Math education from Finland, it is the Little KITEs IT Clubs which has impressed Finland who have expressed their willingness to implement it in their schools. The knowledge transfer of Little KITEs is indeed an impact of two decades of ICT experience of Kerala, spearheaded by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), who will provide necessary technical assistance in this joint venture," said K. Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE. The Little KITEs members, who are primarily students of Class 8 to 10, are selected through an aptitude test, averaging 20 students in each school, led by a Little KITEs Master or Mistress, who are teachers. They oversee every ICT activity in their school, including training other students and also the proper upkeep and usage of ICT equipment. The Little KITEs IT Clubs is India's largest ICT network of students, setup in over 2,000 schools and having over 1,70,000 student members. The Little KITEs initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2018 January, as part of the Hi-Tech projects of the Government of Kerala, wherein ICT equipment worth Rs 8 billion were deployed at 4,752 secondary schools and 11,275 primary schools. Every Little KITEs member is trained in different areas ranging from electronics, animation, hardware, cyber-safety, 3D Modelling, Artificial Intelligence, to name a few. Oslo, Oct 7 : The Nobel Peace Prize 2022 have been jointly awarded to Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian civil rights campaigners, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement on Friday The recipients of the award are human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties. According to the Committe, Bialiatski was one of the initiators of the democracy movement that emerged in Belarus in the mid-1980s. He founded the organisation Viasna (Spring) in 1996 in "response to the controversial constitutional amendments that gave the president dictatorial powers and that triggered widespread demonstrations", says the statement. Viasna provided support for the jailed demonstrators and their families. In the years that followed, Viasna evolved into a broad-based human rights organisation that documented and protested against the authorities' use of torture against political prisoners. The Committee claims that Belarusian government authorities have repeatedly sought to silence Bialiatski, leading to his imprisonment from 2011 to 2014. Following large-scale demonstrations against the regime in 2020, he was again arrested. He remains in detention without trial. Meanwhile, Russian human rights organisation Memorial was established in 1987 by human rights activists in the former Soviet Union who wanted to ensure that the victims of the communist regime's oppression would never be forgotten. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov and human rights advocate Svetlana Gannushkina were among the founders. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Memorial grew to become the largest human rights organisation in Russia. In addition to establishing a centre of documentation on victims of the Stalinist era, Memorial compiled and systematised information on political oppression and human rights violations in Russia. Memorial became the most authoritative source of information on political prisoners in Russian detention facilities. The organisation has also been standing at the forefront of efforts to combat militarism and promote human rights and government based on rule of law. During the Chechen wars, Memorial gathered and verified information on abuses and war crimes perpetrated on the civilian population by Russian and pro-Russian forces. In 2009, the head of Memorial's branch in Chechnya, Natalia Estemirova, was killed because of this work. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in Kiev in 2007 for the purpose of advancing human rights and democracy in Ukraine. It has taken a stand to strengthen Ukrainian civil society and pressure the authorities to make Ukraine a full-fledged democracy. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Center for Civil Liberties engaged in efforts to identify and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population. In collaboration with international partners, the center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes. Hyderabad, Oct 7 : The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday announced that Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy will be its candidate for the November 3 by-election to the Munugode Assembly seat. TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced the candidature of Reddy, a former MLA and constituency incharge. KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, took this decision after examining the survey reports and opinions of local leaders, activists, district party leadership and people of the constituency, the party said. Prabhakar Reddy has been a TRS activist since the party's inception and working closely with the people at the field level. TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao told reporters that the party was definitely going to win the by-election. "Congress and BJP will be fighting for second and third positions," he said. KTR said that the survey done by TRS shows that it is ahead of its rivals by 12-13 per cent votes. He alleged that Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy resigned as the sitting MLA and joined BJP as his company has received a contract worth Rs 22,000 crore from the Central government. KTR also claimed that Rajagopal Reddy has assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah that he will spend Rs 500 crore to win the by-election. The TRS leader alleged that the BJP was planning to distribute Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 to every voter to win the by-election. "Despite all their efforts, TRS will win the by-election," he said. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India on Friday issued Gazette notification for the by-election. The last date for nominations is October 14. Scrutiny will be done the next day while the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 17. Rajagopal Reddy, who resigned as MLA and also quit Congress party two months ago, joined the BJP on August 21 in the presence of Amit Shah at a public meeting in Munugode. He is likely to file the nomination as BJP candidate in next couple of days. Last month, the Congress announced Palvai Sravanthi as its candidate for the by-election. She is the daughter of former MP Palvai Govardhan Reddy. Bengaluru, Oct 7 : In a setback to Xiaomi, one of the largest manufacturers of the smartphones in the world, the Karnataka High Court has ordered the company to furnish bank guarantee to operate its bank accounts in the country. The Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited Company sought an interim order on seizure of Rs 5,551.27 crore by the Indian authorities for allegedly transferring funds outside India by violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Taking up the petition by Xiaomi against the authorities, Justice N.S. Sanjay Gowda on Thursday stated that an interim order could only be given if the company gives bank guarantees for Rs 5,551.27 crore seized amount. The company had challenged the order passed by the competent authority under FEMA confirming the seizure order of the said amount. The seizure order was issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 29. Senior advocate Uday Holla representing Xiomi submitted that there was no application of mind while confirming the seizure order of Rs 5,551.27 crore by the competent authorities. He had also brought to the notice of the court about the company questioning the constitutional validity of Section 37-A of FEMA, while challenging the order of seizure. M.B. Naragund, the Additional Solicitor General of India representing the prosecution, submitted that Xiaomi Company through misrepresenting the earlier High Court order had allegedly made withdrawals from the seized amount. He further stated that only Rs 3,900 crore is available against Rs 5,551 crore which was seized as on October 4. The counsel representing Xiomi submitted that the money would be deposited by the company from its sales from January 2023. He also submitted that the company needs money to ensure supply of cell phones during the festival season. The bench opined that it has to protect the interest of both the company and the government and asked the possibility of the company contending that revenue from sales did not meet the target. Varanasi, Oct 7 : The district court in Varanasi on Friday deferred the hearing in the Gyanvapi case and scheduled it for October 11. The court was supposed to pronounce its verdict on the plea filed by the Hindu side demanding carbon dating of the structure they claimed to be a Shivling found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque's wuzu khana. A heavy police force was deployed outside the premises of the court ahead of the crucial hearing. Four women petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shrinagar Gauri case had sought scientific investigation and carbon dating to ascertain the nature and age of the Shivling. The Hindu side had claimed that they had found a shivling in the ablution pond of the mosque when the survey was conducted. The court had reserved the order in the Gyanvapi Mosque-Shringar Gauri case on September 29 after hearing both sides' arguments. The Muslim side in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex case had filed an objection in the court against the Hindu plaintiffs' plea for the carbon dating of the 'Shivling'. Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. On September 22, the Hindu side demanded carbon dating and other scientific tests of the Shivling-like structure. This was opposed not only by the Muslim side's Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid Committee, but also by plaintiff number one, Rakhi Singh of the Hindu side. The lawyers had lodged an objection in court saying that carbon dating would damage the structure. San Francisco, Oct 7 : With an aim to give users more creative freedom with their content, Chinese short-form video app TikTok has rolled outAa range of enhanced new creation and editing tools in the US. The platform said that the new editing tools will empower users to enjoy more creative freedom, share richer stories, and bring their content ideas to life across formats. "To expand what's possible with content on TikTok, we've introduced a range of enhanced creation and editing tools," the company wrote in a blogpost. "We are excited to see how an enhanced editing experience powers storytelling and makes video creation intuitive and more accessible, making it easier than ever to create great content," it added. The platform said its enhanced editing tools allow users to easily adjust clips, sounds, images, and text in a new editing environment, all within TikTok's creation flow. TikTok has also released Photo Mode, a new carousel format available on mobile for photo content that's ideal for sharing high-quality images on TikTok. Photo Mode allows users to share carousel posts of still images that automatically display one after another. Users can add music to soundtrack the images, which viewers can swipe through at their own pace. Users can now pair your videos and content made in Photo Mode with longer descriptions, up to 2,200 characters for each post. "With the extra space, we are hopeful creators will have some extra room to build on the stories they have shared in videos or Photo Mode, giving them another space to express themselves and more deeply connect with others," the company said. In June 2020, the Indian government banned the popular short-form video app amid border tensions with China. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Union Health Ministry on Friday dismissed media reports suggesting inaccuracies in National Health Accounts (NHA) especially the out-of-pocket expenditure reduction claim as "misleading and incorrect". "The recent NHA estimates (2018-19) show a substantial reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), reaffirming the government's commitment towards easing the citizens' financial burden. Calling this data, a "mirage" by one expert of health economics working in a private Indian University and quoted in certain sections of media, is devoid of justification & rational basis", the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said that National Health Accounts (NHA) provide detailed information on expenditure incurred within the health sector of the country. These estimates are crucial as they are not only a reflection of the existing health system of the country but also enable the government to monitor the progress made in different health financing indicators. "Let's start with the questions raised on the very foundation of these estimates - National Statistical Organisation (NSO) data," said the ministry, adding that the main source of information for OOPE was based on NSO data of 2017-18 whereas the previous estimates were based on 2014. Both the surveys of the 71st and 75th rounds use the same sampling design for the selection of households so that it ensures comparability of both the rounds. "Moreover, the 2017-18 data was a one-year survey whereas 2014 was done over a period of six months. Given that seasonality plays an important role, the 2017-18 survey was definitely more robust than the previous survey. And, while the same experts had unequivocally accepted the 2014 data, their assessment of the 2017-18 as "doubtful" is truly arbitrary," added the ministry. Such criticism is based on flawed juxtaposition and selective picking of data to further their specious argument. Formulations like, "seems problematic/seems unlikely" as basis of a claim, is nothing if not hypothetical disagreement. As per NSS, there has been an increase in utilisation of government facilities among those who took medical advice in the last 15 days by almost 5 per cent. In case of hospitalisation, this increase is around 4 per cent in rural areas and 3 per cent in urban areas. In case of childbirth, the share of government facilities has increased by 13 per cent in rural areas and in urban areas it has increased by 6 per cent. Also, there has been a decline of more than 20 per cent in average medical expenditure in government facilities for hospitalisation. In case of institutional delivery, it has declined by 9 per cent in urban areas and 16 per cent in rural areas. Some experts have also questioned the dip in hospitalisation rates, claiming to have found "no logical explanation" for the same. What they have failed to observe or acknowledge is the global shift from inpatient care to outpatient care, with many countries specifically designing policies to incentivise this shift, the ministry added. Increase in the percentage of people seeking outpatient treatment among those who took treatment based on medical advice in the last 15 days. Among those who have taken treatment based on medical advice, the share of people seeking outpatient care has increased by almost 5 per cent. Between NSS 71st round and NSS 75th round. This increase indicates the shift towards outpatient services from inpatient services where people are substituting inpatient care with outpatient care. The health ministry said that the ongoing criticism of NHA 2018-19, hence, is a typical prima facie example of ignoring facts and sound reason and leaving the mantle of justification to the others. Tokyo, Oct 7 : Hiroyuki Hosoda, Speaker of the House of Representatives (lower house) of Japan, on Friday admitted he had attended more events connected to the controversial religious sect, Unification Church, than he had previously acknowledged. Hosoda told parliamentary representatives in a meeting on the issue that as well as four gatherings he previously admitted to attending between 2018 and 2019 hosted by the sect, he attended four more events and sent three messages, reports Xinhua news agency. The chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the lower house informed reporters of the latest admission by Hosoda who was already under fire from opposition parties over his affiliation to the group, according to public broadcaster NHK. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), among other opposition parties, have lambasted his initial admission of links to the organisation, often referred to as a cult. On Friday, a CDPJ lawmaker said that doubts remained about Hosoda's statement and admissions, with particular regard to the dubious church supporting the Speaker in election campaigns when he headed a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction. Hosoda has denied such electoral support was provided by the religious group based in his constituency of Shimane prefecture. Calls from the opposition camp for Hosoda to step down or be fired over the matter have intensified following an internal probe by the LDP last month revealing about half of the LDP's lawmakers had ties with the controversial organization, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Pressure has been mounting on the wider ruling LDP headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, amid slumping public support, to explain its connections to the organization. The religious sect has been known for coercing massive amounts of money in "spiritual sales" from its followers in return for "spiritual" or "karmic" benefits. The sect came to the limelight after Tetsuya Yamagami, who fatally shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, blamed the organisation for his family's financial ruin. Chennai, Oct 7 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday filed nomination papers for the president's post in the ruling DMK intra-party elections. The party general council meeting is scheduled to be held on October 9 at St. George School, Aminjikarai, Chennai. Before filing his papers, Stalin paid floral tributes at the memorials of former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi. After filing his nomination papers at Anna Aruvalayam, the DMK headquarters, Stalin paid floral tributes before the photograph of his late father and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence. Senior DMK leader and state waterworks minister S. Duraimurugan, who is also the organising secretary of the party, DMK treasurer and Member of Parliament T.R. Baalu, former Union Minister and Member of Parliament from The Nilgiris A. Raaja, Stalin's sister and Member of Parliament Kanimozhi, and other senior ministers and parliamentarians were present. Stalin's son and party youth wing leader and Member of Legislative Assembly from Chepauk constituency,Udayanidhi Stalin was also present during the filing of the nomination. Guwahati, Oct 7 : Assam will now conduct examinations for Classes 5 and 8 of all schools in the state and the students who fail will be detained in the same class, officials said on Friday. The decision was taken in a state cabinet meeting held this morning in Guwahati. State education minister Ranoj Pegu said: "In the Right to Education Act, 2009, there were provisions of examinations from Class 1 onwards, but the unsuccessful students could not be detained in the same class. In 2019, the Assam government had amended the act and accordingly the state cabinet today decided to take yearly examinations for students of classes 5 and 8. The unsuccessful students will be detained in the same class." The failed candidates will be given a second chance to appear for a special examination which will be held after a gap of two months once the yearly exam results are out. The teachers will take remedial classes for them. "However, the candidates who will fail in that examination too will have to study in the same class for another year," added Pegu. Assam's education minister further said that it was widely believed that the absence of a pass-fail structure in the lower and primary sections has adversely affected the education system in the state. Hence, the government has decided to bring it back to the school level. Canberra, Oct 7 : The Australian Medical Association (AMA) on Friday said it was "too early" to end the mandatory Covid-19 isolation periods, warning that it would trigger another wave of the pandemic. Federal, state and territory leaders late in September agreed to end mandatory isolation requirements for Covid-19, which will come into effect on October 14, with each jurisdiction implementing the change via relevant public health legislation, reports Xinhua news agency. Commenting on the decision, AMA President Steve Robson said he was "very concerned" about another wave. "All the signs are that we're looking at another wave of Covid," he told local media. "We're coming out of one of the biggest waves of Covid yet and it has absolutely crushed hospital workforce and left us with a massive logjam and backlog in hospitals at the moment that has to be dealt with. "If we have another wave over the holiday season, then it spells bad news for the country because we can't tackle that backlog," Robson added. The Department of Health on Friday provided updates on national Covid-19 weekly current trends. "Over the last week, 36,242 cases of Covid-19 were reported across Australia, an average of 5,177 cases per day," it said on its website. The number of cases being treated in hospitals at a seven-day average is 1,548. As of Friday, Australia's overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 10,269,925 and 15,319, respectively. Ghaziabad, Oct 7 : The Vijayanagar police in Ghaziabad has arrested and seized the car of two youths who created a ruckus by letting off fireworks and thereby blocking National Highway-9 (NH 9). A video of the two youths, in which they are seen with their parked car on NH 9 bursting crackers, creating a commotion and blocking the road went viral on the Internet. The police took action after the video went viral and arrested Bobby and Harsh, who are 18 and 19 years old and reside in Noida. The police have also seized their vehicle. Hyderabad, Oct 7 : TRS working president K T. Rama Rao on Friday played down the absence of his sister K. Kavitha from a crucial meeting of the party which decided to convert itself into a national party BRS. Dismissing reports of any rift in the family, he alleged that it is an attempt to make fringe issues the main issues. "These are silly and trivial issues," he said in informal chat with the reporters. The general body meeting of the TRS on Wednesday passed a resolution changing the party's name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The meeting was presided over by TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR. However, the absence of KCR's daughter at the meeting set off speculations of a rift in the family. Kavitha, who is a member of State Legislative Council, is said to be unhappy with her father for not consulting her before taking the decision to launch the national party. A former MP from Nizamabad, she has not come out with any clarification about her absence. She has also issued a statement welcoming the party's decision to go national. When asked about Kavitha's absence, her brother Rama Rao tried to play it down. "Do you think anybody opposing KCR's decision and leadership will remain in the party," he asked and found fault with the media for its reports. "Ranjith Reddy also did not come. Does this mean he is differing with the party decision," he asked, referring to the MP from Chevella. KTR, as the TRS working president and cabinet minister is popularly known, pointed out that the general body has a strength of 283. "I think 279 attended the meeting. This is more than 99 per cent. The meeting unanimously supported the resolution," he said. "We are part of the same family," KTR remarked but did not elaborate further. The general body meeting was attended by TRS MPs, MLAs and MLCs, besides presidents of district units of the party, heads of affiliated organisations and other elected representatives. Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, president of VMK and Chidambaram MP Thirumavalavan and some farmer leaders were also present at the meeting. Kavitha's absence, however, baffled the political circles as she had travelled to the national capital on multiple occasions in the past as part of the preparations to launch the national party. She is reported to be unhappy over the way KCR ignored her in the entire process. KCR had reportedly involved son KTR, nephew and finance and health minister T. Harish Rao and another nephew and MP J. Santosh Kumar in the consultation process before taking the decision to change the party's name and amend its Constitution. Reports of rift in the KCR family were also doing rounds earlier when KCR had appointed KTR as the working president of the party in 2019, just before the Lok Sabha polls. Harish Rao was reportedly unhappy with the KCR for promoting his son as his successor. Kavitha, who lost the Lok Sabha elections in Nizamabad, was made a member of the upper house of the state legislature early this year. Tapi : , Oct 7 (IANS) Janjati (Tribal) Suraksha Gujarat, a sister organisation of Hindu front, has sought the district administration's intervention for getting back the possession of Gidhmadi Aya temple. The temple is situated on Nana Bandharpada hills in Amba group village panchayat in the district. It has alleged that Christians have illegally taken over the possession of the temple and are disallowing prayers as per tribal rituals. Songadh Police Inspector N.S. Chauhan told the media that, "On October 1, Hindu priests had gone to the Gidhmadi Aya temple to conduct prayers, but the locals opposed it. Moment it was noticed, a police team was deployed to ensure that there was no breach of law and order. Then we had to convince both parties to disperse." After this development, Janjati Suraksha Gujarat Prant's president Dinesh Gamit on Thursday led a delegation of tribal leaders and priests and submitted a memorandum to the district collector and demanded his intervention in getting the Christians' possession vacated. They have alleged that Christians have renamed the temple and are now calling it "Mariam Temple". They have even put a Christian Cross in the temple. Gamit has even threatened that on Sunday (October 9), along with tribal and priests there will one more time attempt to conduct prayer at the tribal temple. It will be the responsibility of the police and local administration to ensure that law and order is maintained, and tribes are allowed to conduct prayers as per their rituals in the Gidhmadi aya temple. He has threatened that if any untoward incident occurs it will be the responsibility of local administration. Kochi, Oct 7 : A day after an Iranian dhow with six people on board carrying 210 kgs of heroin was seized off Kerala's Kochi coast, sources said that the group has links with an international drug mafia that has roots in Pakistan. The dhow was seized in a joint operation by the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday. The group was taken into custody and questioning revealed their connections and details of their operations. According to the information received, a consignment of 210 kgs of heroin that originated from Afghanistan was first sent to Iran and then from there it had to move to other places. The modus operandi of distribution is that these dhows wait in the deep seas and when the instructions come to them from Pakistan through a satellite phone, the dhow then makes its move. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has apprehended two key members of an international terror module, including a juvenile, who were wanted in a number of terror cases -- the RPG attack incident at the Intelligence Headquarters in Punjab's Mohali, plotting to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan & others. Special Commissioner Police, Special Cell, H.G.S. Dhaliwal, said the apprehended accused were important nodes of the joint terror network of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and Canada-based gangster turned terrorist, Lakhbir Singh Landa. The arrested accused, Arshdeep, was wanted in the IED recovery case of Shahabad, Kurukshetra and IED recovery case of police station Sirhali in Punjab's Tarn Taran. The official said the juvenile was also wanted in the murder of a builder, Sanjay Biyani, which took place on April 5 in Nanded city of Maharashtra, and in the murder of gangster Rana Kandowalia, outside a private hospital in Amritsar on August 4. "The apprehended JCL has also disclosed the task given to him along with absconding Deepak Surakhpur and Monu Dagar (in jail) by Lawrence Bishnoi regarding the elimination of film actor Salman Khan. While the JCL was being handled by Rinda, Arshdeep was being handled by Landa Harike," the official said. How they were caught Dhaliwal said that they had been working to nab the culprits for a long time. They identified people who were providing logistics support to the accused. Finally, both the accused, Arshdeep and the juvenile, were arrested from Jamnagar in Gujarat. Rocket Launcher attack On May 9, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at Punjab Police's Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali. During the course of the investigation, it was established that the attack was a conspiracy of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and local gangsters. The juvenile held by the Special Cell was also involved in the conspiracy. The police has learnt that the attack was conspired by gangster turned ISI stooge Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. Another fugitive gangster, Lakhbir Singh Landa had joined hands with Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. They were sharing manpower, logistics and resources. Rinda's name had already cropped up in the grenade attack at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) office in Nawanshahr and in the arrest of four suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists in Haryana's Karnal earlier this year. Salman Khan murder plot The official said that the juvenile was involved in the conspiracy along with other accused to carry out an attack on Salman Khan. They couldn't conduct a recce due to some reasons. Later, the juvenile was asked to kill Rana Kandowalia, a businessman. Dhaliwal said that they will move a plea before the court with a request to try the juvenile as an adult. The official said that when the juvenile is over 16, the court can decide whether to try him as an adult or not. New Delhi, Oct 7 : Tech giant Google has revealed its first Pixel tablet that is scheduled to arrive in early 2023. The Pixel Tablet comes with 'Material You' that helps to personalise it with a customised colour palette and new colour variants based on the wallpaper and lock screen, the company said in a blog post. The Pixel Tablet is equipped with the power of Tensor G2 chip that helps in advance image processing and machine learning. The new device will come with smooth and rounded corners. Features like video calling, photo editing, and hands-free help with Google Assistant, will work smoothly on the new tablet. The new device can be paired with a new Charging Speaker Dock to make the device more helpful. "The dock keeps your device charged, makes your tablet helpful 24/7, and unlocks a whole new set of experiences in the home," said Google. The speaker will have an enhanced audio. It offers hands-free help from the Assistant when the tablet is docked. The tablet also offers an easy control on smart home devices, the company said. "With the Pixel Tablet, we're taking everything we've learned from years of making Pixel and products for the home and combining it into one great device. It reimagines how a tablet can actually be helpful all the time in your home," it added. Chennai, Oct 7 : A 24-year-old man died and several others were taken ill due to suspected food poisoning during a baby shower function at Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. Police said that Selvamurugan of Velankani was among those who consumed biryani during the function, organised by C. Vignesh for his wife V. Mariammal on Thursday. Selvamurugan, expectant mother Mariammal and many others complained of vomiting and loose motion and were admitted to Thiruvarur Government hospital. Around 20 people were admitted to the hospital on Thursday. Selvamurugan passed away on Friday afternoon while six people are still undergoing treatment at hospital. Those undergoing treatment at hospital are Mariammal, Chandru, Selvaganapathi, Rajamanickam, Balaji, and a four-year-old child. Thirteen others were discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon. Thiruvarur District Superintendent of Police told mediapersons that investigation is on. Health departments' local health inspection wing, which is conducting an investigation, visited the place where the food was prepared and has taken samples of the food particles and the water used for cooking. Bengaluru, Oct 7 : The Hindi versus regional languages controversy is back again in Karnataka over conducting the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams for Central government departments in English and Hindi only. Janata Dal-S (JD-S) leader and former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the BJP is trying to suppress regional languages. "SSC is conducting exams for 20,000 vacancies in English and Hindi only. Selected candidates can be posted in any state. No scope for conducting the exams in any regional languages, including Kannada. Can there be any more evidence of Hindi imposition and language discrimination than this," he tweeted. The ruling BJP in Karnataka has been accused of pushing forward the BJP-led central government's Hindi agenda in the state. "It appears that the BJP bears the evil intention of destroying regional languages. It seems they are filled with hate for southern languages, including Kannada. They intend to bury the three-language formula," Kumaraswamy alleged. He demanded that the SSC exams should be conducted in Kannada also, and only Kannada-speaking persons should be appointed to posts in the state. However, leaders of the ruling BJP in Karnataka shot down the objections as a non-issue that is being raked up with the forthcoming assembly elections in mind. On Wednesday, the issue had been raised by DMK leader Kanimozhi in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, Oct 7 : Music director G V Prakash on Friday disclosed that actor Karthi will be singing the first song of director P S Mithran's upcoming action entertainer, 'Sardar'. Taking to Twitter, G V Prakash, who is scoring the music for the film, said, "The first song of 'Sardar' will be sung by our Vandhiyathevan Karthi. "It's an ode to our classical theatre performances. The song is a rural folk track named 'Yerumayileri'." 'Sardar' will be actor Karthi's biggest film in terms of budget till date. The film, which features actresses Raashi Khanna and Rajisha Vijayan as the female leads, has Karthi playing a spy who manages to infiltrate into the Indian military's confiscation vault where all of the secrets of the Indian Intelligence is kept. The film has triggered huge interest among fans as actress Laila will be seen making a comeback through this film. 'Sardar' has music by G V Prakash Kumar and cinematography by George C Williams. London, Oct 7 : Russia is now Ukraine's largest arms supplier as more than half of its tank fleet is likely to have been captured from Moscow's men, it was revealed on Putins 70th birthday, media reports said. Ukraine's rout of Russia's armies in Kharkiv oblast last month yielded huge amounts of gear, meaning more than 400 tanks, 600 armoured vehicles, and 44 multiple-launch rocket systems have been captured in working or near-working condition, Daily Mail reported. It means that, in terms of pure numbers, Russia is now easily the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine - outpacing all other allies combined, the report said. British military intelligence believes that half of Ukraine's tank fleet may now be made up of vehicles that Russia's demoralised troops effectively handed over. A Ministry of Defence update said on Friday: "Re-purposed or captured Russian equipment now makes up a lar proportion of Ukraine's military hardware," Daily Mail reported. "Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian main battle tanks, and around 650 other armoured vehicles since the invasion. "Over half of Ukraine's currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles. "The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. "With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralised troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weponary." According to analysts in the Wall Street Journal, Ukraine has captured a total of 421 main battle tanks from Russia while all its other allies combine have supplied 320. For armoured vehicles, the statistics are even more stark: 445 captured from Russia, compared to 210 they have been supplied with. Only when it comes to multiple-launch rocket systems - such as HIMARS - does Wester-supplied gear outstrip what has been captured, but only barely: 70 donated compared to 44 captured. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Kolkata, Oct 7 : Night navigation between Sagar and the port of Kolkata is likely to start in the next six months, thanks to a tie-up between Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata and the Antwerp Port in Belgium. A special software named Quester will be imported and customised to fix a route along the Hooghly in advance to be used by pilots who navigate ships between the sea and Kolkata. The port facility at Haldia, known as the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) has night navigation facilities. "In the next two months, we hope to have night navigation facilities between Budge Budge and the Kolkata Dock System (KDS). The remaining stretch of the river will be completed in about six months. We had sent a team of five pilots from KDS to study the system in Antwerp. Another team of five will be visiting the Belgian port shortly. Experts from Antwerp also travelled to Kolkata and checked out the system here," Vinit Kumar, outgoing chairman, SMP, Kolkata, said on Friday. According to him, three developments will take place to allow night navigation. One of these is to create lit-up markers on shore for pilots to get their bearings. Secondly, buoys along the navigation channel will get lights. Finally, the software will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to suggest the best path, based as tidal movement, draft and the distance from shore. This information will be specific to a vessel and the time when the movement is being made. Pilots can access this on their laptops while navigating the ships. "Once KDS is able to use both tides in a day, a lot of time will be saved. Even if a day is saved, it will result in cost reduction by at least $10,000 per ship. Once costs are reduced, the Kolkata port can expect more traffic. Now, a Kolkata-bound ship that arrives at the Sagar anchorage in the evening, has to wait throughout the night till sunrise the next morning for proceeding up river. Similarly, a ship that has completed work at KDS in the late afternoon has to wait till the next morning to leave. This delay costs money," Kumar added. Kumar, an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) cadre officer, will relinquish charge as SMP, Kolkata chairman on Saturday. His five year term has been a challenging one, given the slump during the pandemic period. However, it was under his charge that SMP, Kolkata handled record cargo of 64 million tonnes. This was in during the 2019-20 fiscal. The next year was harsh. In 2021-22, SMP, Kolkata handled 61 million tonnes. In 2022-23, the port is expected to set a new record by handling over 65 million tonnes. "In the first two quarters, we have already handled 30.4 million tonnes. The best is yet to come as fair weather has set in and SMP, Kolkata will tranship large amounts of cargo from the Sandheads and Sagar. The port had slipped to sixth place among Major Ports in the country. This year, it will get back to No 5. Our project to restore Paddle Steamer Bhopal (now renamed Bengal Paddle) has been a great success. Nothing of that sort has taken place anywhere else in India. We are also developing three jetties at Outram Ghat, Takhta Ghat and the Indenture Memorial for recreational purposes. This will cost nearly Rs 80 crore," Kumar said. He also highlighted plans to develop a commercial complex (through PPP) mode at Armenian Ghat on Kolkata's historic Strand Road. For this, SMP, Kolkata has sought the Government of India's permission to extend the lease period for space let out to developers. Under Phase-II of the Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) lighting plan, a special screen (actually a net) is proposed to be created on the Bridge for people on the banks of the river to enjoy special shows. New Delhi, Oct 7 : India on Friday raised objection to US ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome's recent visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said that India has raised the issue with the US and the same has been conveyed to them. "We have objections regarding the visit and the meetings in PoK by the US ambassador and we have conveyed the same." This was the second visit by a US official to PoK. Blome referred PoK as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir", which is against to the Indian stand as the region was forcibly occupied by Pakistan in 1947. The ambassador visited PoK on Monday to participate in a sapling planting event at a university and to lay a wreath in memory of the 2005 earthquake victims. He also visited other landmarks in Muzaffarabad and referred PoK as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir". The US embassy in Islamabad, following the Blome's visit, has shared a series of tweets during the last three days, detailing minutely the US envoy's itinerary in the disputed region. The embassy, in a tweet quoting Blome, said: "The Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Dak Bungalow symbolizes the cultural and historical richness of Pakistan and was famously visited by Jinnah in 1944. I'm honored to visit during my first trip to AJK." The US made it a point to highlight how it has been helping Pakistan in a holistic manner, restoring Pakistani heritages and cultural sites, to providing significant humanitarian relief supplies during the 2005 earthquake to lately providing "over $66 million in cash, food, and health assistance" as devastating floods ravage Pakistan. Rome, Oct 7 : Central heating will be restricted in Italy this winter, as it becomes the latest country to take action on European gas supply shortages sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the media reported. Under a new government decree, buildings will face an extra fifteen days without central heating, the BBC reported. Italians will also be told to turn their heating down by one degree, and off for an extra hour a day. Some buildings will be exempt, including nurseries and hospitals. The move comes as governments across Europe look to reduce demand and shore up energy supplies ahead of winter, the BBC reported. Many were dependent on gas from Russia, which has been restricted following the war in Ukraine. Before February's invasion, Italy was the second-largest importer of Russian gas in the EU, with imports making up 40 per cent of its total supply. This is now down to just 10 per cent, as Rome has turned to other sources of energy and liquified natural gas. The country normally restricts central the use of central heating in warmer months, with its use determined by regional governments. Many European governments have announced similar energy-saving plans. In France, homes and offices will be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees Celsius, there will be no hot water in public buildings, and the temperature in swimming pools and gyms will also be reduced, BBC reported. A ban on doors being left open in heated or air-conditioned shops has been extended nationwide. Spain has also previously mandated that heating not rise above 19 degrees Celsius, as well as ordering that doors should be closed so as not to waste heat and that lights in shop windows must be turned off after 10 p.m. And Germany has stopped lighting up public monuments and buildings for aesthetic reasons, and warned heating may be turned off in the entrances, corridors and foyers of public buildings, the BBC reported. As indicated in my earlier assessment , Army Chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwas informal comment during an interactive luncheon at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington (Oct 05, 2022) that he would not be interested in any further extensions, sets at rest speculation on this count at a moment when disgruntled former Prime Minister, Imran Khan had pegged his entire agitational narrative on making this issue controversial. Observers at a three - hour long `breakfast interaction' with Think tanks in Washington, on Oct 06, 2022, found Bajwa quite relaxed and candid. Though too many details in this context are yet to emerge and are bound by Chatham House rules, Bajwa projected to the US audience that he favoured open regional relationships, and deeper Pak- US ties, unconnected with US - India relations. This has been his fairly consistent position for a while now. Contrary to speculation in the Pakistani electronic media about important senior Generals like the Chief of General Staff (CGS) and the Director General, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) being part of his delegation to the United States, no senior officers were accompanying him. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif indicated at a press conference (Islamabad) on Oct 05, 2022 that the appointment procedure for the new Army Chief (COAS) would commence by the end of this month or latest, in early November. A panel of five names would be processed and sent up to the Prime Minister (PM), who is constitutionally empowered to select the COAS [Art 243 {3}]. After the 18th Amendment of 2010, the President as appointing authority is bound to accept the PM's advice. Interestingly, due perhaps to Bajwa's current US sojourn and the absence, immediately prior, of Defence Minister Asif in UK, details about the Three Star Lieutenant Generals retirements due on September 30, 2022 and connected reshuffles/ promotions have not emerged in public domain. This would seem to be a routine delay. Going by existing data, after these retirements, the seniority list of Lieutenant Generals which may figure in the preparation of the panel for the Chief's selection could include Syed Asim Munir Shah, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Azhar Abbas, Nauman Mehmood, Faiz Hameed and Mohd. Aamer. Lt. Gen Asim Munir is slated to retire on November 27, two days before Bajwa's term ends. This leaves a question mark on whether his name would be included in the panel. Presently Quartermaster General at GHQ, Asim Munir belongs to the Frontier Force regiment, otherwise famously known for its valour in Anglo- Afghan wars as the Pfiffers. He has been a favorite of Bajwa, having served as General Officer Commanding, Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), when Bajwa was Corps Commander, Rawalpindi. As Army Chief, Bajwa brought him in as Director General, Military Intelligence (DGMI) and later, on promotion, as DG, ISI (Oct. 2018). However, he was shifted as Corps Commander, Gujranwala after only a short stint in ISI, (June, 2019), after he acted as internal whistle-blower about corruption indulged in, allegedly by the First Lady, Bushra Sheikh @ Pinky Pir, wife of then PM Imran Khan. Now Imran Khan and his cohorts in Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf (PTI) are fearful that the Army's vengeance would befall Imran if Munir makes it as COAS. Former Minister, Sheikh Rasheed implied as much on a Pakistani TV channel yesterday ( Oct 05), suggesting that both Maryam Nawaz (who left for UK on Oct 06) and her father, former PM Nawaz Sharif were batting for Munir. However, he belongs to a previous Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul (PMA) long course, others from which cohort would have retired earlier. Ironically, if he did become Chief, he would be the first ever `Sword of Honour' (topper) from PMA, Kakul to have made it to this prestigious and powerful post. It is more probable, therefore that the two seniors most eligible in the panel would be Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, followed by Lt. Gen Azhar Abbas. Two Four Star posts would fall vacant at the same time as Gen Nadeem Raza, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) also retires at the same time. The collegiate leadership of Senior Generals which has stood behind Gen Bajwa recently, may be satisfied with a consensus choice, which sees one of the above two elevated as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the other as COAS. Of course, the former post would be more ceremonial, except for overseeing the Pakistani nuclear hierarchy. Real power would lie with whoever is elevated as the Army Chief. Though hailing from heartland recruiting ground of Potohar (Chakwal), Sahir Shamshad Mirza belongs to the Sindh Regiment. Professionally, he has had an excellent career, holding assignments as Director General, Military Operations (DGMO), CGS and currently, Corps Commander, X Corps, Rawalpindi. He has remained very low profile during the last few months, when Imran Khan was desperately trying to spread divisions within higher echelons of serving and retired Generals. Azhar Abbas belongs to the Baloch Regiment (Bajwa's own). He too has had an excellent professional profile, having served as Staff Officer to former Army Chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, Corps Commander, Rawalpindi and currently, as CGS. There have been some unconfirmed reports of his being a Shia, which could lessen his prospects but if incorrect, it may not matter as Abbas has the reputation of being very suave, unflappable during crises and an expert on Indo-Pak issues. If dark horses were to figure, given the penchant of the Sharif family to dig deeper in past selections, Nauman Mehmood could also figure. Nauman is from the Baloch Regiment too. He served in ISI and as Corps Commander, Peshawar, before holding his current position in the National Defence University. He is believed to be a hard-core hardliner on India, if such a distinction can at all be made for Pakistani Generals reaching the helm! Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed, recently shifted from Peshawar as Corps Commander, XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur is next on the seniority list. A Baloch Regiment Officer, he too was close to Bajwa and served as his staff officer earlier. However, his stint in ISI and close association with former PM, Imran Khan has made him rather controversial. Institutionally, Army Generals have never liked their peers to kowtow to civilian politicians. Mohd. Aamer, an Artillery officer currently Corps Commander, Gujranwala could also be on the panel. He is from the next cohort of Generals. His selection could leave too many disgruntled seniors on Shahbaz Sharif's plate, which he can ill afford at present. Whoever is finally chosen as Army Chief will have his hands full dealing with domestic dissension created in recent months by an ousted former Prime Minister, who has challenged the credibility of most conventionally powerful institutions of the Establishment and yet continued to receive almost benign condescension from Pakistan's higher judiciary, which seems to have only encouraged him to continue treading on his megalomaniac and fascist ways. For India, it would be unrealistic to expect any dramatic shifts in policy or mindsets of the senior Army leadership in using its known tactical gambit of enhancing trouble, especially in Jammu & Kashmir through use of the asymmetric option of non-state elements, belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). (Rana Banerji was Special Secretary (retd.) in the Cabinet Secretariat. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Chandigarh, Oct 7 : Piles of garbage dumped atop each other posing a grave risk for communities living on the margins and animals who thrive on the unsegregated waste in Chandigarh. These are some of the compelling images from a photo exhibition on the Dadumajra dumping ground which was inaugurated on Friday. The exhibition is organised by Warrior Moms, a mothers network for clean air, at Punjab Kala Bhawan and was inaugurated by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Congress MLA from Bholath. It is open to visitors till October 9 between 11.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. It consists of several photos clicked by renowned photographer Ritesh Taksande, showing the plight of communities living around the Dadumajra dumping ground. Khaira said it was a crucial initiative to spark the conversation about landfills and their impact on health. "Landfills pose a major health issue for people living around it as toxins released in the air lead to respiratory disorders and skin ailments. As responsible citizens and elected representatives, we must work together on solid waste management to make sure we get rid of this dump and more importantly, not create another dump elsewhere." He said the exhibition can help create awareness about the issue of waste management. "These photographs must be seen by all of Chandigarh's residents or by anyone who has not yet realised how important it is to manage our wastes properly. Together we should ensure that such landfills stop scarring our country,a he added. The exhibition will also have a aKnow Your Rights' campaign which will help residents take up issues related to waste and pollution with the right authorities to ensure timely action. Warrior Moms had also organised a photo competition titled 'The Dirty Picture' asking residents to share photographs depicting the waste problems in their neighborhood. The contest received a great response and the winning entries will be felicitated on Sunday by Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal. "If you go and do a survey in this colony, everyone is sick because of the garbage. Name the ailment and it is there, skin issues, breathing trouble, fever, cough, etc. Adults and children are all affected by this dumping ground. Our plight is really poor," said Shimla Devi, a resident from Dadumajra. Samita Kaur, a Warrior Mom from Punjab who organised the exhibition, said, "Chandigarh, despite being a capital city also falls under this category of poor waste management. As mothers, we have been shocked to witness that the far end of the waste management chain is in absolute contrast to the household segregation practices which the citizens have been following diligently. "Our main concern is regarding the implementation of solid waste management rules 2016. Extensive efforts and practical solutions by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and citizens are required to sort this mountain of garbage." Navneet Cheema, a warrior mom from Punjab who was one of the organisers of the exhibition, said, "Dadumajra seems like an orphaned child of the Chandigarh Administration, reduced to a vote bank, where repeated false promises are made and forgotten soon after the election. Various study trips to learn to manage waste by officials have not shown any real-time results." Warrior Moms has been taking up the issue of the Dadumajra dumping ground and has written to the municipal corporation on various occasions on the issue. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Election Commission on Friday wrote a letter to Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking him to furnish a response along with requisite documents in the case related to dispute over claims by two groups over "real Shiv Sena", by Saturday. In the letter issued on Friday, the Commission said that it received an application from the (incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde faction on October 4 to allot the symbol of the party 'Bow and Arrow' to the group led by Shinde in view of ongoing bye-election from 166-Andheri East Assembly Constituency. "Chirag Shah, an advocate, on behalf of Shinde has furnished an application to allot the symbol of the party 'Bow and Arrow' to the group led by Shinde in view of ongoing by-election from 166-Andheri East Assembly Constituency," said the Commission's letter. The Commission said that it is yet to receive a reply from the Thackeray group. "Though your reply is yet to be received, considering the fact that by-election has been notified from 166-Andheri East Assembly constituency, it is directed that you may furnish your comments along with requisite documents as requested by the Commission's letter, latest by 2 p.m. of 8.10.2022," it said. In case no reply is received, the Commission will take appropriate action in the matter accordingly, it added. The Commission in its letter dated September 29 had requested Thackeray to furnish written submissions along with the respective documents to support claim, if any, by 2 pm, October 8. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Friday that it has attached Rs 1.54 crore lying in bank accounts of Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED had initiated the money laundering probe on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI against Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL) and others under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 11, 35 and 39 of Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act (FCRA). The Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) had been granted permission under the FCRA in 2011-12 for receiving foreign contributions from Amnesty International. However, the same was cancelled later. The IAIT and AIIPL were formed in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively, to 'escape' the FCRA route and carried out NGO activities in the guise of service export and FDI. The ED learnt during the investigation that upon cancellation of FCRA licence of Amnesty International India Foundation Trust, a new method was adopted by Amnesty entities to receive money from abroad, and Amnesty International (UK), sent Rs 51.72 crore to AIIPL in the guise of export of services and foreign direct investment. However, no documentary proof for the alleged exports, such as invoices and copies of agreements, were submitted during the investigation. "It is prima facie found that Amnesty International (UK) invested in Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd in the form of 'compulsory convertible debentures'," an ED official said. Subsequently, IAIT established an overdraft facility for Rs 14.25 crore, keeping Rs 10 crore FD of AIIPL as collateral. The overdraft facility was used by IAIT for Amnesty India's NGO activities, including paying salary and other administrative and operational expenses. The total attachment in the case now stands at Rs 21.08 crore. New York, Oct 7 : Proving yet again that age has g-ot nothing to do with success, seven Indian-American women have made it to the Forbes' '50 over 50' list of 200 entrepreneurs, investors, creators and entertainers. While Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, is listed in the 'Impact' section, the remaining six women are included in the 'Entrepreneurs' category of the coveted list. Kulkari's Stop AAPI Hate is America's leading aggregator of Covid-19-related hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She is also the Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance, a coalition of community-based organisations that advocate for the rights and needs of the Asian American community in Southern California. In 2014, Kulkarni received the White House Champions of Change award for her dedication to improving healthcare access for South Asian Americans. Revathi Advaithi took over as the CEO of the global manufacturing and supply-chain company, Flex in 2019. At Flex, Advaithi oversees 200,000 employees and sets the strategic direction for a company earning $26 billion in annual revenue. Padmasree Warrior has served as CTO of Cisco and Motorola and is currently the founder-CEO of Fable, a platform for social reading and book clubs. It raised over $28 million in 2021. A Cornell-trained engineer, she believes a STEM education informs creativity: "Increasingly it's not about knowing all the answers but asking the right questions and figuring out how to get the right answer". Poornima DeBolle is the co-founder and chief product officer at Menlo Security, a leading cloud and network security company. In 2020, Menlo Security announced it raised $100 million in Series E funding, with a company valuation of $800 million. Ann Mukherjee became the first woman of colour to assume the position of chair and CEO at wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard North America in 2019. Inspired by her own experiences, she launched Absolut's #SexResponsibly campaign to raise awareness of the connection between responsible drinking and consent and to take a stand against perpetrators who use alcohol as a tool or excuse to commit crimes. Anita Gupta is a founder and chief portfolio officer at Kiwitech, a company that helps early to growth-stage startups build viable products, raise capital, and scale their businesses. She has dedicated her fifth decade to creating disruptive innovation through her company KiwiTech's investment in over 500 startups. Jayshree Ullal has been president and CEO of Arista Networks, a computer networking firm, since 2008. Born in London and raised in India, she is one of America's wealthiest female executives. She joined the board of directors of Snowflake, a cloud computing company that went public in September 2020. Ullal owns about 5% of Arista's stock, some of which is earmarked for her two children, niece, and nephew. Astana : , Oct 7 (IANS) World No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas registered a 6-3, 6-2 win over Hubert Hurkacz to reach the semifinal of the Astana Open, here on Friday. The Greek rallied to win a gripping first set, then broke late in the second for the victory. With this, Tsitsipas powered into his ninth semifinal this season and improved his ATP head-to-head lead against Hurkacz to 7-2. This, however, marked the first straight-set result in their past seven duels. Tsitsipas has yet to be broken in three matches at the ATP 500 in Kazakhstan, although it looked like he would concede his first set of the week when his fellow Top 10 star in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings held five set points in the first-set tie-break. On the third one of those, the Greek player looked in particular trouble. With Hurkacz serving, Tsitsipas threw up a defensive lob after the Pole's forehand approach. But Hurkacz, so assured on smashes previously in the set, erred wide. Two more set points came and went for the seventh seed before Tsitsipas capitalised on his lone opportunity when Hurkacz's backhand passing shot strayed wide. "(In) Most of those situations, I was not the fortunate one serving. I was still able to break through and get back fighting, and it was very, very emotional to get that first tie-break after having thrown my body on the court," Tsitsipas said post-match, referring to the set points. "It was a very good moment to finish it off and get the tie-break," he added. His good form in tie-breaks in Astana thus continued, after Tsitsipas won both against Italian qualifier Luca Nardi in the second round. Hurkacz had done well to force the tie-break given he saved all eight break points he faced in three successive service games. Clutch serving proved key, as the Pole produced seven first serves, which prompted seven returns that did not clear the net. On the other one, Hurkacz served and volleyed behind a second serve. It countered Tsitsipas' own service games. At one stretch in the first, the Greek won 11 straight points behind his delivery. Overall, Tsitsipas only lost 10 points on serve. Hurkacz was bound to be reeling early in the second but steadied early. At 3-4, though, he relinquished serve from 40/15 in the second set's only break-point chance. "I got that break I was looking for in one of the very last moments of the match, which gave me such a relief after trying to break him for so long," said Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas then comfortably served it out, helped by a net cord on his first match point. In deep concentration, he initially did not know the match finished. Third seed Tsitsipas carries a 5-4 ATP head-to-head record into his semi-final clash with Andrey Rublev, who began the quarter-final day by topping Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 6-2. "He strikes the ball very hard. But I'm going to concentrate on my game. I'm going to be well prepared and visualise it before," said Tsitsipas about his clash with Rublev. Tsitsipas is bidding for a maiden ATP 500 crown, having lost all eight of his finals at 500s. Despite the defeat, Hurkacz jumped one spot into eighth in the ATP Live Race To Turin courtesy of his run in Astana this week, as the Pole attempts to qualify for the ATP Finals for the second time. Hurkacz's day is not over in Astana, where he and partner Jan Zielinski later face Mannarino and Fabrice Martin in the doubles semi-finals. Hyderabad, Oct 7 : A couple of MPs of Congress in Telangana are likely to leave the party around the time its leader Rahul Gandhi is in Telangana for his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao said on Thursday. "As we speak, a couple of Congress MPs are likely to leave around the time Rahul Gandhi is here," he told reporters. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader said he had information that 1-2 MPs of Congress in Telangana would leave the party. He, however, declined to answer if they will be joining the TRS. KTR, as Rao is popularly known, slammed the Congress party saying it has become the biggest liability for the country. Claiming that there is huge political vacuum in the country as the principal opposition party Congress has failed miserably The TRS leader said that the Congress party is facing an existential crisis and added that it will be very difficult for the party to survive this. "I don't think Congress exists anymore in this country. From a party that ruled the country for 50 years now confined to 50 and one wonders if it would be around after the next elections," he said. He said the Congress was unable to electorally perform in many states and in states where it performed it was unable to keep its flock together. "The Congress is non-existent in today's situation. In fact they have become the biggest liability for this country. I am sorry to say this but they have. Wherever Congress competes directly with BJP the conclusion is forgotten," he said. On Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he said the Congress leader should speak of 'Congress jodo' as the party is breaking up everywhere. "Rahul was walking in Kerala, his MLAs were leaving the party in Goa. He talked of making Ashok Gehlot the president of the party, he raised the banner of revolt in Rajasthan. Gandhis have totally lost control of the party," he said. "No one cares," he remarked when asked about Rahul Gandhi's plans to undertake the yatra in Telangana for 15 days. "He can spend even 15 months in Telangana. I am sure Rahul Gandhi will also appreciate the qualitative difference between Karnataka and Telangana as soon as he enters Telangana," he said. Rama Rao ridiculed the contest in the Congress party for the post of president. He remarked that neither Shahi Tharoor nor Mallikarjun Kharge can make any difference, saying the party is a disaster. "Congress is now the biggest liability for this country. Whatever Congress used to stand for is in shambles today." Mumbai, Oct 7 : The Maha Vikas Aghadi allies have demanded a probe, while an activist-lawyer has moved the Bombay High Court for an FIR into the alleged 'cash payment' of Rs 10 crore purportedly made by the faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for buses to ferry crowds for his Dussehra rally in Mumbai on October 5. Senior Shiv Sena leader Ambadas Danve has written to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) demanding details of the expenditure for hiring over 1,800 buses for the rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex. Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londe contended that the MSRTC staff took two days to count the Rs 10 crore and asked from where did the Shinde group get this large sum of cash. Sena MP Arvind Sawant has called for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation into the cash payment made for the state transport buses. Nationalist Congress Party chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase has said that since this booking was akin to "a bulk client", why digital or online payment was not taken, as propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "If cash payment was indeed made for such a huge amount, then where's the bill and in whose name it was issued," Tapase asked. A Mumbai lawyer, Nitin Satpute, filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court on Friday seeking directions for an FIR against Shinde and others under the provisions of PMLA and Income Tax laws for the 'unknown source' of the Rs 10 crore funding for the Dussehra rally. Londhe also questioned the source of the funds and who gave the amount in cash for the rally. "Can such a huge cash transaction be carried out? Isn't this a form of money-laundering? Was the amount paid from the Shinde group Shiv Sena's accounts when its not even been officially recognised yet," Londhe asked. He said if the ED and other agencies could throw NCP leader Anil Deshmukh and Sena MP Sanjay Raut into jail for alleged money-laundering of lesser amounts, this (rally) matter and all related expenses must also be investigated thorougly. Sawant said not only the Shinde group, but the MSRTC staffers who handled the cash and whether they deposited it in a bank must also be probed. United Nations, Oct 7 : India has joined the US in condemning North Korea's missile launches as a threat to the international community and warned that they could be in pursuit of its leader Kim Jong-un's threat of pre-emptive nuclear strikes. India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj joined US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday to issue a joint statement, along with nine other countries, to "strongly condemn North Korea's long-range ballistic missile launch which overflew Japan on October 4 and its seven other ballistic missile launches conducted since September 25". "North Korea made its intentions clear in April and September when its leader signalled an effort to accelerate North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and even alluded to pre-emptive use of nuclear forces," the statement said referring to the country by the initials of its formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. "We are witnessing North Korea's pursuit of this objective," the statement warned. The launches "violate multiple Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to not only the region, but to the entire international community", said the statement issued after a meeting of the Security Council on North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. China and Russia stood isolated in the Security Council by defending North Korea at the meeting while all the other 13 Security Council members crticised Pyongyang. China's Deputy Permanent Representative Geng Shuang linked Pyongyang's missile launches to the joint military exercises by the US and other countries in the region. Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva said her country opposed new sanctions on North Korea, whose activities she blamed on US military activity. Speaking at the Security Council, Kamboj said that the "proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies" by North Korea "have an adverse impact on peace and security in the region, including on India". She was alluding to Pakistan bartering its nuclear technology for North Korea's missile technology. India reiterated the importance of "addressing the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea in our region", she said. Referring to the global instability on several fronts that could be exacerbated by North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes, she said: "The Global South has already been disproportionately affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation and related challenges. It is therefore important, to continue to make all efforts to maintain peace and stability." Speaking outside the Security Council chamber with diplomats from the 11-member group that included Japan, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, France and Britain, Thomas-Greenfield said: "The US and those who have joined me at the podium today remain committed to diplomacy and continue to call on North Korea to return to dialogue." "But we will not stay silent as North Korea works to undermine the global nonproliferation regime and threaten the international community," she added. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) New Delhi, Oct 7 : In its latest India Travel Advisory, the United States has asked its citizens to "exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism". The US State Department in the travel advisory issued on October 5 has put India at Level 2, which denotes "Exercise Increased Caution". The advisory asked its citizens not to travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest, and within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to potential armed conflicts. "Indian authorities report that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations," the advisory added. "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities," the US State Department said. The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as the US government employees must obtain special authorisation to travel to these areas. Kolkata, Oct 7 : A lower court in Kolkata on Friday has extended the police custody for Amir Khan, the prime accused in the multi-crore E-Nuggets mobile gaming app fraud, by another 14 days. The next hearing of the case will be on October 21. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police has filed a fresh FIR at Hare Street Police station in the city based on a complaint by another victim of the fraud. The original investigation was started by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) based on a complaint by the Federal Bank months back at Park Street police station in Kolkata. The total seizure by the ED and the Kolkata Police so far in connection with the fraud is at Rs 100.87 crore, out of which the ED has recovered Rs 36.95 crore. This recovery had been in forms of cash and deposits in different bank and crypto currency accounts. Meanwhile, the city police sources said that the detective department is trying to track more victims who have lost money in the scam. "The more victims file complaints with us, the stronger will be the case against Amir Khan in the matter," a city- police official said. Meanwhile, ED sleuths too are desperate in getting Khan in their custody to question him on the money trail and identify the channels where the crime proceeds were routed and also the other beneficiaries in the scam. However, that will be possible only after the court remands him to judicial custody when ED can make a fresh appeal to the court for getting Khan in its custody. Kolkata police arrested Khan on September 24 from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. The city police also arrested five of his close associates. Another close associate of Khan, Subhojeet Srimani is absconding and the city police has issued a lookout notice against him. Srimani is believed to have taken shelter in Dubai recently. Chennai, Oct 7 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of three children who died of food poisoning at a private children's home in Tiruppur. Extending his condolences to the families of the three children, Stalin announced the ex gratia amount to be given from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. On Wednesday, 14 inmates of the home and the warden had dinner and later some of them complained of uneasiness and by Thursday morning the situation turned worse. Two boys, Babu (10) and Athish (11), died at the centre while the remaining 12 children and the warden were rushed to the hospital. Another boy, Matheesh (14), died later while the warden Jayaraman (63) and 11 children are recouping at the hospital. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister, Geetha Jeevan, and Minister for Information and Public Relations, M.P. Saminathan, inspected the children's home on Friday, following which Jeevan ordered to shut it down. The ministers also announced Rs 1 lakh relief to each of the deceased children's family from the DMK party fund, and Rs 50,000 to those admitted to the hospital. Interacting with mediapersons, Jeevan said that stringent action would be taken against the administrator of the children's home, Senthilnathan. She said that action would also be initiated against the district child protection officer as there was lack of inspection on the part of the official, adding that the children were lodged in a building covered by tin sheets while a concrete building was there in the compound. The minister also said that after their recovery, the children will be shifted to government-run homes and their education would be taken care of. She also said that inspection would be conducted at all 13 children's homes in Tiruppur district. Ahmedabad, Oct 7 : Senior Congress leader and party presidential post candidate Mallikarjun Kharge, who is campaining in Gujarat, on Friday appealed the party delegates in the state to extend their support in the election. Earlier in the day, he visited Gandhi Ashram to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Kharge addressed the party delegates and sought their support in the election. Later speaking to media persons, he said, "I never intended to contest the presidential election, but senior party leaders and workers insisted that I should contest the election, (thus) I am contesting." In another development, BJP leader Kuldipsinh Raulji from Savli taluka of Vadodara district joined Congress in presence of the state unit president Jagdish Thakor and other leaders. Vadodara district Congress president Sagar Brahmbhatt told IANS this will help the party in long term as Raulji is a cooperative leader and grass root network in the district that will benefit the party. However, BJP's Vadodara unit office bearer Natwarsinh Solanki told IANS, "Raulji has little influence on voters in the rural area... the BJP vote bank is very strong and committed, it does not get divided with one or two leaders quitting the party." New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday chargesheeted 16 persons, including Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, in connection with a job scam that took place during Lalu Prasad's tenure as Railway Minister in the UPA government. The CBI said that during investigation, it has been found that the accused persons in conspiracy with then General Manager and Chief Personnel Officer of Central Railway engaged persons in lieu of land either in their name, or in the name of their close relatives. It has been alleged that more than 1 lakh square feet of land belonging to job aspirants' families in Patna was reportedly transferred to Lalu Prasad's family in return for jobs. This land was acquired at prices lower than the prevailing circle rate and much lower than the market rate. "The candidates used false TC and submitted false attested documents to the Ministry of Railways," the CBI alleged in the chargesheet. The CBI has learnt that Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and daughter Hema Yadav were gifted land by job seekers who were later appointed in Railways. Haridayanand Chaudhary, a Railway employee, and Bhola Yadav, then OSD to Lalu Prasad, were earlier arrested by the CBI. Bhola was Lalu's OSD between 2004 and 2009. The CBI had registered the case against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their two daughters -- Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav -- and 15 others, including unknown public servants and private persons. "During 2004-2009, Lalu Prasad had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of substitutes in Group D Post in different zones of Railways," a CBI official said. A number of residents of Patna, either themselves or through their family members, sold or gifted land to the family members of Lalu Prasad and a private company controlled by him and his family. They were also involved in transfer of such immovable properties. "No advertisement or any public notice was issued for the appointment of substitutes in Railways, yet the candidates, who were residents of Patna, were appointed as substitutes in different Railway zones in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur. Through this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 sq feet land in Patna was allegedly acquired by Lalu Prasad and his family members through five sales deeds and two gift deeds, showing the payment made to seller in cash in most of the land transfer, the CBI official said. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Central government has appointed a Commission of Inquiry under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan to examine claims to grant Scheduled Caste status to the Dalits who converted to other religions. The commission, headed by justice Balakrishnan, also comprises retired IAS officer Dr Ravinder Kumar Jain and Prof Sushma Yadav (member, UGC), as members. The commission will examine the matter of according Scheduled Caste (SC) status to new persons, who claim to historically have belonged to the Scheduled Castes, but have converted to religion other than those mentioned in the presidential orders issued from time to time under article 341 of the Constitution. The presidential orders granted SC status to only those who followed Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The commission will examine the implications on the existing Scheduled Castes, of adding such new persons as part of the existing list of Scheduled Castes. The commission will also examine the changes Scheduled Caste persons go through on converting to other religions in terms of their customs, traditions, social, and other status discrimination and deprivation, and the implication of the same on the question of giving them Scheduled Caste status. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Thursday. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, justifying its decision to set up the commission, said: "Given its importance, sensitivity and potential impact, any change in definition in this regard should be on the basis of a detailed and definitive study and extensive consultation with all stakeholders and no Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952) has so far inquired into the matter." The government noted certain groups have raised the question of revisiting the existing definition of Scheduled Castes by according the status to new persons who belong to other religions beyond those permitted through presidential orders, and in contrast, many other groups have also opposed the same. Certain representatives of the existing Scheduled Castes have objected to such granting of Scheduled Caste status to new persons, and this is a seminal and historically complex sociological and constitutional question, and a definite matter of public importance, said the government. The government has granted liberty to the commission to examine any other related questions that it deems appropriate, in consultation with and with the consent of the central government. The headquarters of the commission will be in the capital and it will submit its report within a period of two years. "Certain groups of persons who have historically suffered social inequality, discrimination and the consequent backwardness resulting there from, have been declared to be Scheduled Castes by Presidential Orders issued from time to time under Article 341 of the Constitution," noted the government. In August this year, the top court, acting on an PIL filed by the National Council of Dalit Christians for grant of SC status to Dalit converts, asked the Centre to clarify its stand in the matter. Jaipur, Oct 7 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday invited Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal to set up a semiconductor chip industry in Rajasthan. The Chief Minister, during the 'Invest Rajasthan' Summit, told Agarwal, "You are always worried about Rajasthan. If there is a fight between Maharashtra and Gujarat for the semiconductor industry worth Rs one lakh crore, then you should set up a semiconductor chip industry in Rajasthan." Agarwal, meanwhile, said that the discussion about Rajasthan can be heard in Canada as well. "In Canada, mines can be operated for only six months. Because of the snowfall, the mines have to be closed for six months. At the same time, in Rajasthan, the mines are operational all the time, so there are more possibilities here," he added. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of ayurveda in India under the Ministry of AYUSH (MoA), and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, have signed an MoU for academic establishment. AIST is a reputed and one of the largest public research organisations in Japan, focusing on technologies and on "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialisation. The MoU was signed virtually by Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, and Tamura Tomohiro, Director General, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, AIST. The event was graced by Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Head AIST-India DAILAB, Dept of Life Science and Biotechnology, whose efforts have been instrumental in making this collaboration a reality. Other dignitaries who were present virtually on the occasion were Manoj Nesari, Advisor, MoA, Govt of India; Chiba, Director, AIST, Japan; Ohmiya Yoshihiro, Principal Senior Researcher, AIST; Sunil Kaul, Invited Senior Researcher, Dept of Life Science & Biotechnology, AIST; and Sheila Tirky, representative of MoA. With the signing of this MoU, AIIA aims to promote the institute's research activities both at the national and international level. The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and build capacities in the field of the ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed with the support of the Ministry of Ayush. The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research activities in the field of ayurveda, including studies in design and execution with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, exchanging scientists, researchers and staff as determined by the collaborators on a project-to-project basis, students' participation in collaborative activities, to achieve excellence in ayurveda towards achieving scientific advances, tools, and techniques. AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany, Western Sydney University, Australia, Graz Medical University, Austria, College of Medical, UK, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil etc. New York, Oct 7 : Layoffs make headlines, but in the post-pandemic world, businesses are neck-deep in the U.S. and Europe in an unprecedented workforce shortage, which, when combined with the supply chain crisis and macroeconomic uncertainties, can be like a migraine that refuses to part ways with you. "You cannot hire yourself out of the challenge," declares Mihir Shukla, the founder-CEO of the San Jose-based Automation Anywhere, Inc, who launched the company with his wife and two friends in 2003, when robots and artificial intelligence (AI) were still in the realm of science fiction or scholarly journals. Today, his company is regarded as a leader in the world of robotic process outsourcing. The solution to the human resource crisis is automation, which, according to projections made by the technology research firm Gartner, will contribute $15 trillion to the global economy, or the equivalent of the current GDPs of Germany, Japan and the UK put together, by 2030. The problem, though, is that, as shown by a Deloitte study, a mere 13 per cent of all companies have been able to scale up their automation efforts. They are often seen struggling to customise what Shukla describes as "one-size-fits-none automation tools and on-premise platforms". Automation has gained momentum post-Covid, notes Adeel Fudda, Vice-President, Intelligence, Automation and Emerging Technologies at Mars Inc, because "companies are finding it hard to fill up job vacancies", especially in the U.S. Fudda was attending Automation Anywhere's Imagine 2022 conference, which saw IT and innovation bosses of client companies, ranging from Google, Microsoft, Salesforce and Amazon Web Services to Convergys, Infosys and HCL Technologies gather in downtown New York. The principal business of Mars, which is known around the world for its chocolate, is petcare products and it also operates 80 per cent of all the pet clinics and hospitals across the U.S. And automation works magically for the veterinary doctors, who are not easy to find (according to Fudda), employed by Mars. They no longer have to manually do certain jobs -- such as computing the number of cells in a blood sample to figure out if the suffering animal has cancer. These can now be done by bots at a fraction of the time that a vet would spend. Automation dramatically reduces the number of repetitive tasks that employees have to do as a part of their day's work. Shukla points out that now increasingly, young people being interviewed for jobs want to know to what degree has the company concerned adopted automation because no one is prepared to do repetitive tasks anymore. Even for doctors serving humans, automation is making a difference. Humana, a leading healthcare and health insurance provider in the U.S., launched a bot named Allie developed by Automation Anywhere back in 2019 to collect and curate information about patients, including allergies and adverse health conditions, which doctors have done manually. It also sorts insurance claims based on the levels of risk of patients. "By scaling automation, we have increased the capacity of our teams to increase value for our members, while also being a driving force behind digital transformation," notes Joe Bechtel, Director of Automation at Humana. "Having a digital workforce frees up employees to develop new and innovative products and services that improve patient experiences." Put simply, for the average customer, it translates into being not kept on hold by a call centre executive while he or she completes certain manual tasks, or having to wait less longer to get a loan sanctioned. For vendors, it means getting invoices cleared faster because the people managing them in companies can employ bots to take over repetitive routine tasks. All this is achieved by empowering employees with an automation co-pilot, or a digital assistant, named AARI. It allows them to engage with bots while working in their favorite apps, to get work done easier and faster. AARI can now be embedded into any web app, such as Salesforce and Genesys, and even into voice and IVR (Interactive Voice Response). And to make it possible, or to "unleash the power of human potential" and "reimagine work", as Shukla puts it, Automation Anywhere has unveiled an Automation Success Platform that enables companies and developers perform a host of tasks seamlessly, from document management, to figuring out where to automate next, and also accelerating automation with new apps. This is the future of automation technology -- because one size fits none. Jaipur, Oct 7 : Rajasthan Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat said on Friday that the state would be the first in the country to implement a green hydrogen policy. Rawat was addressing the 'Future Ready Sector Conclave' as part of the Invest Rajasthan summit here on Friday. In her address, Rawat said that the state has made unprecedented progress in the field of renewable energy. "Today Rajasthan is the first state in the whole country in the field of solar energy," the minister said, as she stressed on the proper use of natural resources. Rawat also said that appropriate action would be taken on the suggestions and feedback received from the entrepreneurs on the policies of the government, adding that the state government will take the entrepreneurs along. Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, said that it is a commendable achievement to have MoUs worth Rs 10 lakh crore in Rajasthan. He also called upon the investors to invest in Rajasthan. Economic advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Arvind Mayaram, urged the industry and government agencies to work on artificial intelligence, saying that AI is expected to grow to 7.8 billion by 2025. Kolkata, Oct 7 : The flash flood in Mal River at Malbazar in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri during idol immersion on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday night "was not an accident rather a culpable murder", alleged the members of the BJP delegation who interacted with members of the families of some of the victims of the mishap on Friday. Atleast eight persons have reportedly been killed in the mishap while several are still missing. The BJP legislator from Siliguri assembly constituency, Shankar Ghosh told media persons on Friday that so many people died because of the callous approach of the district administration. "These are not accidental deaths. These are rather culpable murders," he alleged. The BJP delegation also filed a complaint at the local police station against the Malbazar Municipality and the state irrigation department, accusing the two of "deliberately engaging in diversion of route of Mal River through use of stone boulders". Meanwhile, BJP's state president in West Bengal and party MP, Sukanta Majumdar had said that "this illegal and artificial embankments on Mal River had been continuing for a long time by a section of officials and staff of Malbazar Municipality and the state irrigation department to facilitate the land and stone mafias in the area. The administration is directly responsible for the mishap." Refuting the allegations Trinamool Congress state general secretary and party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh said that the police personnel there had been constantly announcing and alerting the people to move out of the river since the water level was increasing. "Any death is tragic. But more tragic is the politics over bodies," he said. Gangtok, Oct 7 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the government is committed to increase the domestic dairy market of Rs 13 lakh crore to Rs 30 lakh crore by 2027, adding India has a huge opportunity to supply milk to countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Speaking at the Eastern and North-Eastern Cooperative Dairy Conclave 2022, the Union Minister said that to explore this market, the government is setting up a multi state cooperative which would act as an export house. He said that the government has made many animal husbandry schemes in the last 7 years and the budget of Rs 2,000 crore has been increased to Rs 6,000 crore. Shah said that the Ministry of Cooperation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) have planned in the next 5 years a Multipurpose PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society) in every Panchayat that along with distribution of dairy, FPO, Agriculture and Gas Production would make arrangements for LPG distribution, petrol pump and storage and marketing. He said that the biggest benefit of this is going to be for the eastern and northeastern region of the country because the least PACS is registered here. If one multipurpose PACS having dairy is opened in every panchayat in the northeast, then no one can stop the prosperity of east and northeast India, he pointed out. Dairy industry is the only way for women empowerment, eradication of poverty and doubling of farmer's income, along with making dairy, a system of nutrition is made for thousands of crores of children. The Union Minister urged all the NGOs working in the field of women empowerment to focus on dairy industry because dairy industry is the best example of women empowerment. The gas produced with dairy helps the environment, cow dung helps in natural farming and natural farming improves human health. Shah said that for many years, a huge demand in the country was the demand for eradication of poverty, empowerment of farmers, fishermen, handicraft artisans and lakhs and crores of tribals through the cooperative sector. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, airports, rail links, new national highway networks, irrigation systems and new industries have been set up in every state of the northeast. Saying that Modi calls the "Northeast as Ashtalakshmi", the Union Cooperation Minister said: "We have to move forward in such a way that these eight states (of northeast region) become the states that generated 8 types of capital." Shah later unveiled the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok. Bhopal, Oct 7 : A man, who works as a bouncer at a beer bar here, barged into the office of a finance company on Friday and terrorised those present there by wielding a knife, claiming to have committed as many as seven murders. The incident took place near the Habibganj railway station. Around 30 people were held hostage for around an hour before the police reached the spot and arrested the bouncer. The man has been identified as Subham Thakur alias Badshah. As per the police, the owner of the finance firm had rented the building and was in the process of shifting his office to some other location. When the entire staff of the firm was busy in shifting, Thakur barged in wielding a knife. "You don't know me, I am Badshah Thakur. I have committed seven murders. I will not allow anyone to go out of this office," Thakur could be heard saying in a video that went viral on social media. According to Commissioner of Police, Makrand Deoskar, "There was some dispute over rent between the firm owner and the landlord. The landlord, who also operates a beer bar in the same locality, sent his bouncer to terrorise the office staff. Strict action will be taken against the bouncer and his employer." No one was hurt in the incident. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also took congnisance of the matter and directed the police to take strict action against the accused persons. Later, another video surfaced in which the bouncer could be seen apologising at the police station. "Sorry, I committed a big mistake, I will not repeat it in future. Please pardon me," Thakur could be heard saying. New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Finance Ministry on Friday invited expression of interest (EoI) for strategic disinvestment in IDBI Bank, a move which would allow sale of a joint stake of the government and LIC of up to 60 per cent in the bank. As per the bid details issued by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), LIC will cut its stake in IDBI Bank to 19 per cent from 49.2 per cent, while the government will cut its share to 15 per cent from 45.5 per cent at present. According to the conditions of the EoI, private sector banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), foreign banks and even alternative investment funds registered by SEBI can bid for IDBI Bank. The successful bidder has been mandated to scale down equity to 26 per cent in 15 years. However, in the first five years starting from the date of acquisition, 40 per cent of equity capital would remain captive or locked, according to RBI guidelines. Kolkata, Oct 7 : Despite getting the court order for taking Sehgal Hossian -- the bodyguard of Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal -- into its custody, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will not be able to take Hossian to Delhi for further questioning, for now. This is because despite allowing ED to arrest Hossian, the judge of special vacation court in Asansol in West Burdwan district of West Bengal, Ratna Ray Biswas did not hear ED's plea for transit remand to take Hossain to Delhi. The judge refused to hear the plea because of technical errors in the transit remand application as well on grounds of time constraints. As of now ED has three options. The first option is to apply for transit remand at another special vacation court at Durgapur, also in West Burdwan district, on October 14. The second option is to make a fresh application at the same vacation court in Asansol on October 20. The third option is to wait for the general court in Asansol to resume and make an application for transit remand at the special court of the agency there. The ED had been trying to take Hossian to Delhi for questioning there for quite sometime. Earlier, the central probe agency had also made any appeal to the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi in the same matter earlier. However, the judge of the Rouse Avenue Court advised ED to make that appeal to the special court at Asansol in this matter, since the case pertaining to Hossian is heard by this Asansol court only. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has dismissed Armenias ceasefire breach allegations as fake, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. The allegation disseminated by the Armenian Defense Ministry about the Azerbaijani army units alleged shelling of equipment involved in reinforcement activities in the Armenian army positions at midday on October 6, inflicting damage on equipment, is false, the ministry said. This is another inflammatory piece of disinformation from the opposing side, the ministry stressed. Armenia periodically shells Azerbaijani military positions on liberated territories. Since early September, Azerbaijani positions have multiple times come under Armenian fire. The major border clashes since the 44-day war (2020) erupted between the sides on the night of September 12 leading to 13, when units of the Armenian armed forces carried out large-scale provocations along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in Dashkasan, Kalbajar, and Lachin directions. Guwahati, Oct 7 : The Assam unit of Trinamool Congress on Friday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying the BJP leader, who is on a three-day visit to the state, has been ignoring the real problems of the state and is busy attending his party functions. Speaking to reporters here, Trinamool Congress leader Dilip Sharma slammed Shah for not giving proper attention to solving the flood problems of Assam. "Most of his time is dedicated to party functions instead of governance-related issues," Sharma said. "During the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Parliament, the Union Home Minister promised to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. "But, surprisingly even after tabling the report by the Justice Biplab Sharma committee, neither state nor the central government did not take any step on this issue," he said. The Trinamool leader has accused Shah and BJP of playing a foul game on Assam Accord despite adding a promise to implement it on the party manifestos. He further said the Assam government has demanded a special fund of around Rs 9,000 crore from the Home Ministry in the last four years to deal with the natural calamities. "But Shah's ministry has only allotted a mere Rs 44 crore against this. Is it not a joke with the people of Assam?" he questioned. Bhubaneswar, Oct 7 : The Odisha government has rolled out an annual work plan (AWP) of Rs 85.85 crore for continuing anti-Maoist operations during the current financial year, an official said here on Friday. The state level committee led by Chief Secretary S.C. Mahapatra has approved the annual plan. The state government has enhanced the outlay by over 50 per cent for 2022-23 compared to the outlay of Rs 50.56 crore for 2021-22. The funds for AWP 2022-23 would be shared by both the central and state governments on a 60:40 basis, the official said. The main activities included under AWP-2022-23 are procurement of modern ammunition, adequate logistic support to armed forces, training for state police force, community policing, additional fortification of the police posts, and rehabilitation of LWE cadres. Besides, the affected civilians and security personnel would be extended ex-gratia grant and property damage grant as per the specified guidelines. With increase in budget provision, the amount of ex-gratia grant for the civilians and security personnel on duty has been enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to 5 lakh, and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, respectively. The chief secretary has asked the police force to provide adequate logistic support to the armed forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations. He also asked to intensify community mobilization and confidence building activities in the suspected left wing infected pockets. Mahapatra directed the police department to stay connected with the people and community, know their concerns and raise their confidence level. He also suggested supporting better alternative livelihood activities, and children education in the communities. "People's confidence and participation would go a long way in rooting out LWE activities from the suspected pockets," he said. The official informed that the left wing extremism (LWE) activities were well under control in the state including the Swabhiman Anchal (earlier known as cut-off area) in Malkangiri district, once considered to be an epicentre of extremists, with growing developmental interventions. Well planned intelligence-based actions were being taken to counter them as and where their ugly hands appear, officials said. New Delhi, Oct 8 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has found two illegally constructed 'mazaars' built on government land inside a school premises in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district and has recommended that "the unlawful structures are removed from the premises". The NCPCR has surveyed the CM Rise School of Kurwai in Vidisha district after taking suo-moto cognizance of a report about presence of mazaar-like structure in the school. The NCPCR Chairperson chairperson Priyank Kanoongo visited the school to conduct an inquiry in the matter. After his visit, the child rights body said that there were two mazaars constructed in the premises of CM Rise School. "The first Mazaar like-structure was located in the backside area of the school and it was built by former councillor, Munne Khan Hussaini. It was found out that on the said platform, no person comes to do any kind of religious ritual. Further, it was told by the teachers that sometimes, the former councillor comes on the said platform," the NCPCR in a statement. It was also observed during the visit that there was no boundary wall against the said mazaar and was open to the public for visit. The open access to the mazaar inside the school premises was observed to "pose a threat to the safety of children in the school". The NCPCR has instructed the Sub-Divisional Police Officer to take action, thereby prohibiting the entry of Munne Khan and others in the school premises. The second mazaar was recently constructed in February 2022 by Banne Khan, the husband of then Principal In-charge, Shahina Firdaus. The child rights body observed that no information of any kind was provided to the SDM, Kurwai by the School management regarding the construction of the said platform till date. "It was informed to the Chairperson during the visit by the teachers and the students that the National Anthem and other patriotic songs were not sung in the school till the time Shahina Firdaus was the principal. Previously, they used to sing the Madhya Pradesh Anthem and 'Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum'. The National Anthem was used to be sung only on the Independence Day and Republic Day during her tenure. The NCPCR said that during the interaction with the teachers and the students, it was also observed that the Muslim boys in the school were permitted to leave at 1 p.m. on every Friday for Namaaz, during the school hours. Further, also during Shahina Firdaus's tenure as principal, a room dedicated for the principal was used for Namaaz prayers and even some teachers used to go for Namaaz in that room. The NCPCR in its recommendation has said that an order be issued putting a halt to the practice of allowing the children to leave the school premises for offering Namaaz during school hours. "A monthly status report of the functioning of the school and welfare of the children may be shared with the commission for the next three months," it said. The commission has recommended that the state govemment may pass order mandating the schools in the state to sing National Anthem as a part of the morning prayers. The NCPCR further said that "since no action was taken by the concerned DEO, it is recommended that the inquiry to be conducted in schools institutions in relation to the construction of mazaars is handed over to some other appropriate officer and the current DEO may be removed from his duties till the removal of all the mazaars from the schools". The commission has also recommended to lodge an FIR against Shahina Firdaus (former principal) and her husband Banne Khan for encroachment on government land of school and constructing the unauthorised structures therein. Bengaluru, Oct 8 : Bengaluru Bulls put on a spectacular show for their home fans, beating Telugu Titans 34-29 in the second game of the opening day of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 9 at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, here on Friday. For the Bulls, Neeraj Narwal finished with seven points, while the duo of Vikash Kandola and Bharat chipped in with five points each, helping begin their campaign with a thumping win. It was the Titans who got proceedings going as Vinay got the first raid in very quickly. Siddharth Desai pitched in too, before the defence Bharat and Bengaluru Bulls had their raid foiled. The early momentum was with the Telugu Titans, who were working well as a unit. The hosts, Bengaluru, who have a well-settled core, fought back after the early exchanges, wiping out the slender lead, as Bharat, Saurabh Nandal and Neeraj Narwal led the charge, picking up points in emphatic fashion. The Bulls inflicted an ALL-OUT just before the midway stage in the first half, which saw them edge into a five-point lead. Momentarily rattled, Telugu found another gear with the introduction of Rajnish, whose SUPER RAID set the cat among the pigeons just before the breather. Rajnish engineered an ALL-OUT on the Bulls right after, as both teams went into the break at 17-17. The second half started off slow, but with the Titans still in a slender lead in the first five minutes. However, the Bulls used their review smartly with Neeraj picking up the points on a Do or Die Raid, to bring the contest back to level terms. The Bulls and the Titans weren't willing to concede even an inch, matching each other play by play. With a little over 9 minutes left on the clock, both teams were locked at 23-23, with the Bulls' defence looking rock solid at the timeout. An untimely slip caused mayhem for the Titans, as Vishal and co conceded a couple of big points. From then on in, the Bulls put the foot on the pedal, and inflicted another ALL-OUT, which gave them a 5-point lead with the score at 30-25. With the clock ticking, Rajnish and the Titans threw the kitchen sink at the opposition, but the Bulls' defence was at its menacing best, gobbling up the points at a rapid pace. The Bulls, who registered 12 tackle points in comparison to the 7 of the Titans, ended their night as comfortable winners. Patna, Oct 8 : A dreaded gangster Raja Thakur has been killed during a gang war in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, the police said on Friday. The police learnt about the incident when some residents of Jialal Chowk found a body with a pool of blood, and informed the police. Thakur was invited to a party by his friends to Jialal Chowk under Ahiyapur police station on Thursday night and was allegedly beaten to death. Thakur was wanted in a number of criminal cases including murder, extortion, loot and kidnapping. The police sent the body to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. The family members of the deceased refused to lodge an FIR in this matter. The Muzaffarpur Police, however, have registered an FIR and are making efforts to identify the accused. Shah reviewed flood problems in Assam, took part in the core committee meeting Image Source: IANS News Shah reviewed flood problems in Assam, took part in the core committee meeting Image Source: IANS News Guwahati, Oct 8 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held a meeting with officials here to chalk out a future strategy for making Assam flood-free. "During the meeting, the Union Home Minister has spoken to stakeholders to review the reasons responsible for recurring floods and steps taken by the government to tackle the problem," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He said that Shah has emphasised on a long-term solution to the perennial issue of floods in Assam, and also stressed on inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination for making the state flood-free. Assam Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika also attended the meeting along with other officials of the department. Bengaluru, Oct 8 : In a move that is likely to stoke controversy, the Railway Board on Friday renamed Tipu Express, which connects Mysuru with Bengaluru, as Wodeyar Express. The Railways effected the change on Friday following a representation from Mysuru MP Pratap Simha to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in July this year. Simha had also requested that the express service between Mysuru and Talaguppe be named in honour of state poet Kuvempu. The Railways accepted both the suggestions and the orders will come into effect from Saturday. Launched in 1980, Tipu Express is a superfast train connecting Mysuru and Bengaluru. The train covers a distance of 139 km in little over three hours on a single-line metre gauge track. The move to replace the Muslim king's name with a Hindu dynasty's name has come for criticism from some quarters who see it as furthering the ruling BJP's saffronisation agenda. However, in his plea to the Railway Minister, Simha has justified his request on the grounds that the Wodeyars had contributed immensely to the railway infrastructure in their realm. While the Wodeyars were the Hindu rulers of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom in present day Karnataka, Tipu Sultan was the Muslim ruler of Srirangapattana, who died fighting the British. Patna, Oct 8 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wrote a letter to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for the construction of ring embankment and repairing of Ghazipur-Hajipur national highway at Sitab Diara, which is the birthplace of Jai Prakash Narayan, located on the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border along the bank of Ganga and Ghaghra rivers in Saran district. "During the monsoon season, soil erosion rapidly takes place in the region. As a result, a plan was made for the region to build a 7.5-km ring embankment followed by a road. The Bihar government had already constructed a 4-km embankment which falls in Saran district in 2017-18 while the remaining 3.5 km falling under the territory of Uttar Pradesh is not constructed yet," Kumar said on Friday. "Due to non construction of ring embankments in Uttar Pradesh, soil erosion is taking place at a rapid pace. The people living in this area are under the threat of flood. The stretch of 3.5 km in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh is also deteriorated due to floods. Due to this, the commuters are facing problems. So, I asked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to construct the embankment and road to avoid flood threat," the Bihar Chief Minister added. Following the letter, Nikhil Anand, the Bihar BJP OBC Morcha National General Secretary, said, "We are thanking Nitish Kumar for writing a pure political letter to Yogi ji. I wish to say to Nitish Kumar to learn from Yogi ji and improve the law and order situation in Bihar. Yogi Ji is committed for the development of Sitab Diara." New Delhi, Oct 8 : The controversial 'religious conversion' event where anti-Hindu god slogans were raised have sparked a political fight and now the matter has reached the Delhi Police after the BJP filed a complaint. BJP's Delhi President Adesh Gupta has lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Cabinet Minister Rajender Pal Gautam, for the alleged conversion programme where anti-Hindu god slogans were raised. Gupta has requested the Delhi Police to lodge the FIR under sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 505, 506 of the Indian Penal Code. According to information, the programme was held at Ambedkar Bhawan in Central Delhi. "They released the video of the programme and made it viral. The video was exasperating and mischievous in nature. These social media posts are created with the obvious motive of inciting violence and promoting hatred," said the Delhi BJP President in his complaint. Gupta has alleged that during the anti-NRC protests, same tactics were used to incite violence by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. The complaint said that a 'sabha' (rally) was held at Ambedkar Bhawan on October 6. This Sabha was organised by AAP and their concerned leaders where oaths were administered which continuously demeaned various Hindu gods and goddesses and subsequently everyone was asked not to follow Hinduism, considering it to be a bad religion. "That videos were made of such speech and were subsequently shared on various social media platforms to get maximum reach and propagation so that the religious sentiments of people of the Hindu religion may be attacked and subsequently a state of riot and disturbance be created on a national level," the complaint added. The Delhi Police said that they were looking into the matter. United Nations, Oct 8 : The UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) headed by India will be holding a rare session away from the headquarters in New Delhi and Mumbai to take on the terrorists' use of new and emerging technologies, according to India's Permanent Representative to UN Ruchira Kamboj. Announcing the meeting at a news conference in UN on Friday, Kamboj said that it "will be a tribute and a statement on the horrific incident that happened in Mumbai" -- the 2008 terrorist attack that killed at least 175 people. The first CTC meeting to be held outside the UN headquarters since 2005, it will be open to all members of the UN and start off on October 28 in Mumbai and move the next day to New Delhi. Holding the meeting in India is a special effort by New Delhi to draw world attention to the terrorist attacks and the threats it faces and to prepare the international community to deal with the emerging technologies that could be force multipliers for terrorists. There is wide interest in attending the meeting because "terrorism is no longer an issue that is faced by any one particular country. It is a transnational issue," India's Permanent Representative to UN said. "It needs a joint up effort and that is precisely why I think the special meeting is evincing a huge amount of interest," she added. Kamboj said that the meeting will focus on three areas that are adding new dimensions to the terrorist threats: "The misuse or abuse of the internet, social media; new payment technology, and unmanned aerial systems". "The special meeting will serve to reflect on recent developments and the latest evidence-based research regarding the threats posed by the use of these new technologies for terrorist purposes with efforts to counter these threats by respecting human rights and fundamental freedom," she added. The CTC meeting will build on the "very energetic round of discussions by specialist panels last month on the topics and committee's ongoing review sessions of the special committee, she said. The approach will be to evolve "a wholistic concept" looking at the various aspects of terrorism and develop a consensus document, she added. According to the CTC, social media and digital commerce and financial transfer systems have become "favoured tools" for terrorist organisations like the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and their affiliate. These organisations, the CTC said, are using digital marketplaces, virtual currencies and mobile payment systems to store and transfer money, and also to add to their coffers through crowdfunding, donation appeals and selling merchandise. The other risks from emerging technologies are the use by terrorists of 3-D printing, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and drones, it added. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) MODintelechy, a data-driven agency specializing in digital customer experiences, is pleased to announce that it has joined the Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA) as a Consulting Alliance Partner in its Customer Growth and Renewal Practice. The Customer Growth and Renewal research practice focuses on company revenue growth and provides association members with industry-validated research and advisory that optimizes revenue-generating capabilities across business functions. MODintelechy will contribute to the TSIA community by working directly with members optimizing customer lifecycle revenue and improving customer engagement models by driving increased upsell & cross-sell through data, analytics, and engagement strategy. For nearly two decades, the firm has worked with clients to evolve their industry practicesincluding SAP, Dell, Epicor, Ad Council, and SailPoint. Using a data and analytics approach, MODintelechys engagement strategies decrease opt-outs, increase engagement by 3X and continually deliver programs with over 48x in ROI. MODintelechy has always been a great partner to work with over the years. Whether building new campaigns, creating content for our customers, or working through the complexities of our data, they are always there to support us, said Rachel Phillips, a Dell Global Marketing Operations Executive and MODintelechy client. MODintelechy has spent the last 15+ years building customer experiences. Every touchpoint, every action, and every insight is an opportunity to improve the path toward growthremoving complexities, reducing friction, and building a business model that doesnt just survive in the digital age but thrives. ### About MODintelechy MODintelechy is a data-driven agency based in Austin, Texas. We are a team of developers, data analysts, strategists, and designers. Our fully integrated teams create intelligent digital solutions that strengthen profitable relationships between clients and their customers. We help brands overcome their business challenges while strengthening the ownership of their intellectual property. Learn more at http://www.modintelechy.com. About TSIA The Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA) is the world's leading research organization dedicated to helping technology companies achieve profitable growth and solve their top business challenges. Services, Sales, Product, and Channel organizations at technology companies large and small look to TSIA for world-class business frameworks, best practices based on real-world results, detailed performance benchmarking, and exceptional peer networking opportunities. TSIAs membership community comprises over 40,000 executives from 96 countries and represents 80% of the Fortune 100 technology companies. Learn more at http://www.tsia.com. Chefs Christian Petroni and Erika Ternex prepare dinner in the Voice of the Oceans' sailing yacht galley. Leading housewares manufacturer Tramontina USA has introduced an event series titled Taste of Tramontina to highlight the overall brand experience through different themed activations. The inaugural event focused on sustainability, in celebration of the brands renewed commitment to ESG and its focus on instilling sustainable business practices across its operations. Adding to its long history of eco-friendly practices, the first iteration of Taste of Tramontina honored the partners and organizations that are helping make its ESG goals a reality, most notably Voice of the Oceans. We believe becoming a more sustainable company is a journey taking steps over time add up to impactful change. And it is a journey we cannot take alone, said Marcelo Borges, CEO, Tramontina USA. Our partnership with Voice of the Oceans is a great example of how were teaming up with like-minded organizations focused on environmental responsibility to expand our efforts to reduce one-time use of plastic packaging. Hosted in Newport, Rhode Island aboard Voice of the Oceans sustainable sailing yacht, the first event brought together a group of content creators and writers focusing on sustainable food systems for a sunset sail and a locally sourced meal prepared by Chef Christian Petroni with Tramontina cookware. Through this event series, we want to bring the brand to life via engaging experiences, highlighting the amazing people and organizations we partner with, said Alessandro Bampa, Head of Marketing, Tramontina USA. Our goal for the first Taste of Tramontina event series was to celebrate the incredible partners that are supporting our efforts to become an even more eco-friendly company, as well as inspire others to take action to benefit our beautiful planet. We look forward to utilizing the Taste of Tramontina platform for many more unique brand touch points to come. In addition to taste of Tramontina, the brands latest sustainability initiatives include a partnership with Voice of the Oceans that aims to combat plastic pollution in our seas, and a collaboration with environmental consulting firm Searious Business to incorporate more sustainable materials across all packaging by 2025. Most notably, Tramontina will transition from all non-recycled single-use poly bags to bags with a minimum of 90% recycled (LDPE) content, reducing the packaging CO2 emissions by nearly 60%. Like Tramontina and Voice of the Oceans, I have deep familial ties to sustainability especially when it comes to seafood. My Italian lineage is from the island of Ponza where there is a great respect for the ocean and sustainable seafood practices, said Petroni. Learning about issues of sustainability and seeing it with my own eyesthrough partnerships such as thishave changed the way I approach the kitchen and cooking, for the better. The Voice of the Oceans team, who served as the host and educator at the event, added: We are so appreciative of Tramontinas support, which has made the US portion of our global expedition more special, said Heloisa Schurmann, leader, Voice of the Oceans. We were happy to welcome this group to our home for an evening of impactful conversations over a sustainably prepared meal. To commemorate this inaugural event and its partnership with Voice of the Oceans, Tramontina has released a limited-edition Voice of the Oceans product line inclusive of steak knives, stainless steel cups, and teakwood serving boards. For each purchase made, Tramontina will donate $5 to Voice of the Oceans. To support and shop the collection, visit tramontina.com. And for more information on the next Taste of Tramontina event, follow Tramontina on Instagram at @tramontinausa. About Tramontina Founded in 1911 in Brazil, Tramontina is an international brand with more than 110 years of high-end housewares manufacturing experience. Tramontina products, delivering premium quality, innovation, and functionality, are available in over 120 countries. Tramontina is dedicated to being a leading manufacturer of cookware, cutlery, kitchen accessories, and housewares items. One of the company's core values is environmental responsibility and sustainable development. For more information, visit Tramontina.com. About Voice of the Oceans Voice of the Oceans' purpose is to document the extent of the plastic pollution problem and identify solutions that protect the oceans and improve our planet. Our efforts are led by the Schurmann family with support from the U.N. Environment Programme, the Plastic Soup Foundation and numerous corporate sponsors. Through the data we collect and share, we have opened a global dialogue about ocean pollution that includes not only improving our beaches, but also the animals that are harmed by our plastic waste and carry this invisible waste into the food chain. Micro- and nano-plastics found in the oceans also prevent the oceans from playing their role in sustaining the environment, such as producing oxygen and maintaining climate balance. Follow our expedition and support our efforts at voiceoftheoceans.com. About Christian Petroni Christian Petroni is a TV personality, host and restaurateur. Born and raised in an Italian household in the Bronx, Christian graduated from the New York Restaurant School for Culinary Arts and spent his summers in Italy perfecting his culinary skills. His time in Italy exposed him to sustainable cooking practices, which he has incorporated into his cooking style throughout his career. Petroni soon supervised the kitchen at Peniche, a tapas restaurant in New York, before becoming the Executive Chef and Partner of Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant in Connecticut. Christian also launched the widely successful Fortina Restaurant group in 2013 across Brooklyn, Yonkers, Rye Brook and Stamford. He is the youngest Chef in the Hudson Valley to have received a rating of "Excellent" from the New York Times. Petroni has also been a constant face on Food Network appearing as a judge on Chopped, Guy's Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout and Beat Bobby Flay, amongst many other programs. Flexspace has made possible the nationwide expansion of BeachCoders in-person 1on1 training offering without spending millions in long-term leases BeachCoders Academy, an award-winning web coding Bootcamp in Los Angeles has partnered with Flexspace, a global on-demand creative office platform, to provide a solution to nationwide in-person meeting space needs for BeachCoders. The result will massively scale BeachCoders offering of 1on1 tech training while maintaining the personal touch that BeachCoders success is founded on. This incentive is a collaboration between former WeWork leadership and co-founders of Flexspace, Justin Law and Eyal Lasker, and BeachCoders Academy Founder and CEO James DeCicco. Flexspace has made possible the nationwide expansion of BeachCoders in-person 1on1 training offering without the potential liability of millions of dollars tied to long-term leases, said James DeCicco, founder, and CEO of BeachCoders. Were excited to be early adopters of this incredible platform that Flexspace and their whole team have created, DeCicco said. The BeachCoders unique part-time immersive training program is offered both in-person and live-online, with 100% live instruction in an exclusive 1on1 format and also in small (up to 4) lifeboat groups, where all the students support one another to successful completion. Their education as a hospitality service (EahS) model has earned them a 100% completion ratio with their students. Eyal Lasker, Co-founder and CEO of Flexspace commented, Were excited about this partnership to help BeachCoders expand while reducing overhead and giving their customers a better experience! This incentive to extend BeachCoders physical presence through Flexspaces network is active now with the goal of integrating BeachCoders proprietary AI student/instructor matching software engine with the FlexSpace scheduling system and make available live locations in New York, Austin, Boston, and San Francisco to BeachCoders students by years end. About BeachCoders Academy Beachcoders Academy, founded in 2015 in El Segundo, CA is an industry leader for in-person and live-online web development and user experience training. Their unique student-facing hospitality instructional model has set them apart from others in the coding-Bootcamp industry and has empowered students from all walks of life to skill up into better professional lives. BeachCoders grads work at enterprise tech companies such as Google, Space-X, Snap-Chat, and Legal Zoom. BeachCoders Academy now makes its home in Manhattan Beach, CA, and is privately held. For more information visit https://beachcoders.com About Flexspace Flexspace provides companies with an easy-to-use platform that allows their employees to discover, book, and manage on-demand workspaces without commitment or upfront cost. Flexspace does that by providing the critical services to flexible workspace providers to fractionalize and price their unused inventory in real time. For more information: https://www.flexspace.ai TCP is a brand centric, privately held, vertically integrated retail and mixed-use real estate investment and development organization with offices on the West Coast, Florida, and the Midwestern US. "Sees representatives have advised us that they are consolidating several other locations in the greater Sacramento marketplace to create the flagship store, says Mr. Tallen. Tallen Capital Partners, LLC, and Citivest Commercial, Inc. acquired the well located, two-story building pad formerly housing a regional Patelco Bank from Patelco Bank on May 23, 2022. Sees Candies has entered a long-term triple net lease for the building to house its first flagship store with a retail shop, business-to-business operations, and regional offices. The freestanding 10,621 square foot, two-story building, is located at the high traffic intersection of Sunrise and Uplands Way. Sees Candies representatives have relayed to us that they have found the perfect location for their first corporate flagship operation in over 100-years, said Terry Tallen, CEO, Tallen Capital Partners, LLC (TCP). "We are immensely proud to add this jewel box to our growing retail portfolio. TCP and Citivest are known in the retail real estate industry for the successful repositioning of properties and achieving significant returns on invested capital through the redevelopment of under-performing shopping center and retail projects in both urban and suburban markets. The companies believe the value creation process depends on establishing strong relationships within communities, staying connected to the market, adeptly addressing the discretionary approval process, while focusing on establishing successful locations for its national, regional, and local tenant and broker relationships. They completed the redevelopment of the renown Rossmoor Shopping Center in Walnut Creek, CA in early 2020. We have been active in the greater Sacramento, CA market for over 20-years and look forward to acquiring additional retail and multifamily properties in our states capitol. Sees representatives have advised us that they are consolidating several other locations in the greater Sacramento marketplace to create the flagship store which Sees stated will include their popular retail store, a business-to-business unit for corporate sales as well as the relocation of their nearby corporate offices, says Mr. Tallen. Both transactions were brokered by Carol Therien of Walnut Creek-based Retail Pacific. About Sees Candies For over 100 years, Sees Candies has been dedicated to making candy Mary Sees way. Only the finest, freshest ingredients are used in making each recipe. American made, famous for deliciousness, with the friendliest customer servicesince 1921. Today, customers can choose from over 100 different candies and chocolates, whether shopping online or visiting one of Sees iconic black-and-white checkered shops. Founded and headquartered in sunny California, Sees Candies has expanded from one candy shop to over 250 shops across America and a flourishing online store. About Tallen Capital Partners (TCP) TCP is a brand centric, privately held, vertically integrated retail and mixed-use real estate investment and development organization with offices on the West Coast, Florida, and the Midwestern US. The company is currently in negotiations to entitle and develop a 265-unit luxury market and affordable rate apartment community adjacent to TCPs Marina Landings Walmart located on the historic Monterey Peninsula. The company is currently seeking venture opportunities on the West Coast, Florida, the Mid-West Mexico and Europe. TCPs projects are marketed and promoted via TallenTime.com. About Citivest Citivest is a full-service real estate investment company specializing in adding value and achieving excellent returns for its investors through strategic acquisitions, ground-up development, and property repositioning, including renovation, leasing, and management improvements. Citivests strategic acquisition programs include the purchase of distressed residential and commercial properties and secured notes, throughout the United States, with a concentration in California, Arizona, and Nevada. ### Media contact for TCP: Judy Rowcliffe, jlrowcliffe@comcast.net 415 606 4355 ShowMyMap rebrands to Mapize Were excited to for our new brand, logo, and site. Its taken 1 year of innovation and hard work, but were happy to show our customers that were always working to move the needle on our mapping products. Mapize.com / ShowMyMap.com CEO ShowMyMap.com, the popular zip code, location, and geo mapping service, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding. To further simplify the name and service it will now be Mapize (mapize.com). ShowMyMap (showmymap.com) was built to help users map their data from excel files, zip codes, etc. Users can then take these maps and calculate best routes for multiple businesses, showcase their maps on their websites, provide a directory of their locations and much more. With the rebrand to Mapize (mapize.com) the company will simply its presence and create a new, simpler user interface for its customers. The new logo is almost like the coordinates on a map (seen below). Were excited to for our new brand, logo, and site. Its taken 1 year of innovation and hard work, but were happy to show our customers that were always working to move the needle on our mapping products. Mapize.com / ShowMyMap.com CEO Visit mapize.com to explore the new website, brand, and office. About Mapize.com Mapize was built to help users with large data sets visualize that data on maps. Our maps include heat map tools, multiple location route optimization, embedded maps, ability to share maps and much more. Media Contact: Jenna Taylor company@mapize.com Fathom Reask ImageCat "We are extremely pleased that our two partners are combining forces to model the interrelated and combined risks of wind and water, their joint project supports our commitment to bring innovative data and insights to the insurance risk market, Shubharoop Ghosh, ImageCat Following the Fathom and Reask strategic partnership announcement last month, ImageCat is pleased to promote the availability of Fathom and Reasks individual flood and wind maps on its platform. This partnership promises an unparalleled view of risk data on the combined impact of flood and wind events (hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons). When available, models produced through this partnership will feature on platform providers like ImageCat, providing users with a combined view of risk. Both Fathom and Reask have been trusted data partners for Inhance and FacFinder platform. This new strategic partnership between experts in wind and water modeling is a continuation of the already established relationship to bring flood and wind data products to the insurance market. ImageCats insurance platform clients already experience the benefits of high resolution global tropical cyclone data from Reask and flood data from Fathom, said Shubharoop Ghosh, Vice President of Data Services, ImageCat. We are extremely pleased that our two partners are combining forces to model the interrelated and combined risks of wind and water, their joint project supports our commitment to bring innovative data and insights to the insurance risk market. Fathom has a long-established relationship with ImageCat, having provided our global, US and UK flood datasets on ImageCats platforms. Delivering solutions to the market that develop a common language of risk is key in enabling insurers to understand and manage their portfolios; explains Dr Andrew Smith, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Fathom. By accessing our datasets, ImageCats users can overlay flood risk within their GIS platforms for anywhere in the world - even the most data-scarce regions. "The Reask team have known ImageCat for many years with their strong capabilities in the data visualization and exposure management space said Jamie Rodney, Chief Executive Officer at Reask Having a strong understanding of the importance of high-quality data sourcing for insurance organizations is key to providing valuable insight into catastrophe risk. By incorporating the outputs of Reask's tropical cyclone models, ImageCat are delivering best in class decision-making metrics to the market. ImageCats flagship exposure product, Inhance, is a ground-breaking solution to exposure data problems and provides a suite of analysis tools to help (re)insurers, managing general agents and brokers visualize their property exposures in terms of completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness. To learn more about how this partnership will help risk professionals to access detailed risk data on floods and tropical cyclones seamlessly through platform technologies, please join the upcoming Technical Webinar on October 18, 11:00am 12:00pm EDT (New York) / 4:00pm 5:00pm BST (London) Please register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GjgnxXY_TX6uP0MQrhgi6Q The speakers for this event are Harry Vardigans, Insurance Business Development Manager at Fathom, Stephanie Powell Head of Relationships at Reask, and Shubharoop Ghosh, Vice President of Data Services and Chief Resurer at Resurances, an ImageCat venture. Find out more at: ImageCat: http://www.imagecatinc.com/ Fathom: http://www.fathom.global Reask: http://www.reask.earth Phillip Ford, a Buffalo, New York native with a lifelong passion for literature, has completed his new book Dont Feed the Ratz: a gripping and potent drama that keeps the pages turning until its suspenseful conclusion. Geoffrey Wilcox, aka Geo, is a convicted felon who, after doing eight years in a federal facility, has been released and is on a mission to find and punish those responsible for the death of his loving mother and daughter. He soon links up with someone who would change his life forever. Published by Page Publishing, Phillip Fords engrossing book is an entertaining choice for avid urban fiction readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Dont Feed the Ratz at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Clean Power Alliance continues to invest in clean energy solutions that address the power needs of our communities and provide equitable access to renewable energy for our customers in the disadvantaged communities we serve, said Ted Bardacke, Clean Power Alliances CEO. Today, the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) Board of Directors approved five 15-year renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Prologis. The projects are all located in Los Angeles County and will provide local resources to serve disadvantaged communities near their locations. The five projects have been procured for CPAs Power Share program, part of the Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission, which is designed to encourage the development of clean energy resources located in disadvantaged communities throughout the state of California. CPAs Power Share program promotes renewable energy development within underserved communities while providing low-income customers with 100% renewable energy at a 20% bill discount. The projects, totaling 5.92 MW, will produce enough energy to power more than 2,400 Southern California homes each year while avoiding 3,768 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year. CPA currently has approximately 6,200 customers throughout both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties enrolled in Power Share, about half of whom will be served by these new solar projects. To date, customers in the Power Share program have saved approximately $250,000 on their electricity bills. Clean Power Alliance continues to invest in clean energy solutions that address the power needs of our communities and provide equitable access to renewable energy for our customers in the disadvantaged communities we serve, said Ted Bardacke, Clean Power Alliances CEO. Our board is committed to incorporating local solutions throughout our large service territory and rooftop solar is one viable way to do that. The Wilmington 1 (1.8 MW), Wilmington 2 (0.6 MW), and Dominguez (0.96 MW) projects are all located in Carson, CA. The Workman (1.92 MW) project is in Whitter, CA and the El Segundo (0.64 MW) project is in Hawthorne, CA. All of the projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2023. In addition to the bill savings and climate change mitigation provided by the projects, workforce development and training opportunities for Los Angeles area residents will be provided. Prologis, the developer of all five projects, estimates they will create 98 new direct construction jobs and 10 permanent jobs. Prologis is a global leader in logistics real estate with a 948 million square foot worldwide portfolio. Prologis Global Energy team utilizes the scale of Prologis to deploy energy projects across its properties. To date, Prologis has permitted and built 54 solar rooftop projects within Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. PowerFlex System, Inc, a subsidiary of EDF Renewables North America, is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the projects. PowerFlex has installed over 420 MW of solar at more than 200 facilities in 30 utility territories. ### About Clean Power Alliance Founded in 2017, Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated not-for-profit electricity provider for 30 cities across Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. CPA is the fifth largest electricity provider in California and has the most customers receiving 100% renewable energy in the nation. CPA serves approximately three million people via one million customer accounts, providing clean renewable energy at competitive rates. For complete information regarding CPA visit http://www.cleanpoweralliance.org. For more information on CPAs Power Share program visit http://www.cleanpoweralliance.org/power-share. Media Contact: Joseph Cabral Clean Power Alliance jcabral@cleanpoweralliance.org (213) 442-8109 Widowhood, I Didnt Ask For This: a powerful message of hope for those navigating grief. Widowhood, I Didnt Ask For This is the creation of published author Elaine Marze, a former newspaper and magazine editor, writer, and publisher from Louisiana who currently lives in Northwest Arkansas. Marze shares, I am officially a widow. After being married to the same man for nearly forty years, I found myself at a place I hadnt wanted to be, hadnt asked to be, and hadnt planned to be. The physical loss of my love, hero, and best friend was devastating, but the fear of a future without him is terrifying. All our hopes, dreams, and plans are gone. As a married couple, we were a team. He had my back, and I had his. Now there is a huge void, and all the uncomforting platitudes voiced by relatives and friends cannot convince me that everything is going to be all right. With the peace and comfort that comes from my heavenly Father, I may survive; but after being married for decades, it is foolish to expect a new widow to just move on. It takes someone who has walked in these shoes to understand the dark place that is currently mine as well as so many other widows and widowers. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Elaine Marzes new book is an emotionally charged and uplifting look into the authors personal experience with widowhood. Marze shares in hopes of aiding others as they cross the threshold into a new and uncertain territory without the other half to their lives. Consumers can purchase Widowhood, I Didnt Ask For This at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Widowhood, I Didnt Ask For This, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. We hope those inside the Beltway use this survey to make the activities they pursue more sensitive to - and informed by - the opinions of their constituents, and to bridge the gap between the concerns of policymakers and those of ordinary Americans. -- Mark Hannah, Senior Fellow, EGF As the United States responds to Russias war in Ukraine, rising tensions with China, a politically polarized election season and economic turbulence at home, the Eurasia Group Foundation released this week its fifth annual survey of Americans foreign policy views. They surveyed more than 2,000 voting-age Americans online with detailed questions about U.S. foreign policy and Americas global role. EGFs survey reveals an American electorate with very distinct visions of American exceptionalism and what American engagement around the world should like. The survey highlights how political affiliation, military service, age, and gender impact what and who gets prioritized. Top takeaways include: On the Russia-Ukraine War: More survey takers think the US responded well to Russias war in Ukraine than think it did notnearly 40 percent compared to 25 percent, respectively. On Article Five: Most think the United States should militarily defend Finland were it to join NATO and be attacked by Russia. More Democrats (73 percent) than Republicans (61 percent) would keep this Article 5 commitment to NATO. On the Iran Nuclear Deal: Nearly 80 percent support the Biden administration negotiating a return to the Iran nuclear deal. That support is notably bipartisan: more than 70 percent of Republicans believed the US should continue to pursue these negotiations. On Nuclear Weapons: Nearly 75 percent are concerned with nuclear weapons. Respondents who have served or are currently serving in the military are significantly less concerned than those without military experience. On War Powers: Roughly 80 percent believe the presidents war-making abilities should be more restricted by Congress, representing a consecutive two-year increase. On Arms Sales: Nearly 69 percent oppose the continuation of US arms sales to Saudi Arabia. 53 percent of 18- to 29-year-old respondents oppose US arms sales to Israel, compared to majorities in older age groups which support those arms sales. On Troops in Asia: 55.4 percent of respondents think the United States should increase its military presence in Asia in response to a rising Chinaa five percent increase from last year. A majority of respondents ages 18 to 29 think the US should reduce its military presence in Asia, while majorities in all other age groups want to increase the US troop presence there. On Afghanistan: Nearly two-thirds of respondents think the most important lesson from the war in Afghanistan was that the United States should not be in the business of nation-building or that it should only send troops into harm's way if vital national interests are threatened. We began this survey five years ago because we believed lawmakers and foreign policy leaders conducting foreign policy on behalf of the American people would benefit from a window into their opinions and priorities, said Mark Hannah, senior fellow at Eurasia Group Foundation. We hope those inside the Beltway use this survey to make the activities they pursue more sensitive to and informed by the opinions of their constituents, and to bridge the gap between the concerns of policymakers and those of ordinary Americans. Eurasia Group Foundations 2022 survey, Rethinking American Strength: What Divides (and Unites) Voting-Age Americans, is the latest in a series of annual polls measuring U.S. public opinion on foreign policy. The survey was conducted from September 2 to September 8, 2022, among a geographically and demographically diverse national sample of 2,002 adults. The report can be found online here: https://egfound.org/2022/10/rethinking-american-strength/#full-report It can be downloaded as a printable PDF here: http://egfound.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-09-Rethinking-American-Strength.pdf For more information or to request interviews, contact Mark Hannah at hannah@egfound.org. EGF is a nonprofit public education organization committed to helping people make sense of geopolitics and to empower them to participate in geopolitical and foreign policy debates. EGF makes complex issues accessible through dynamic multimedia content, events and meetings, public-facing reports and surveys, podcasts, and social media engagement. After the release of Naked Lies the Truth, Michael L. Nicholas announces the second Detective Mathieu noir mystery, False Gods: A Detective Mathieu Mystery (published by Archway Publishing). This novel tells a thrilling tale about a Los Angeles detective who must solve a complex case after a corrupt financier is found murdered hanging from a cross in Mission San Fernando Rey in 1930s Los Angeles. Los Angeles 1930. The man hanging on the cross at Mission San Fernando Rey definitely wasnt the Savior. The best that could be said of him was that he was a corrupt financier, the worst a rapist and child molester who traded in political favors. Detective Mathieu had encountered him on his first case and despised him. Now, as he stared up at his dead body, he knew he would have to find his killer. It was not a task he relished. The search would lead him through the underbelly of false gods and false promises in 1930s Los Angeles. This novel has an appealing main character in Detective Mathieu, who is a young, relentless LAPD detective in 1930s Los Angeles, a well plotted mystery, intriguing three dimensional bad guys, and crisp dialog worthy of Raymond Chandler, Nicholas says. He adds, It very much mirrors the power mad, racist and corrupt politicians of today. When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, Nicholas answers, That history repeats itself. To find out more about the book, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/831311-false-gods False Gods: A Detective Mathieu Mystery By Michael L. Nicholas Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 310 pages | ISBN 9781665721820 Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 310 pages | ISBN 9781665721844 E-Book | 310 pages | ISBN 9781665721837 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Michael L. Nicholas lives in Los Angeles, California. This is his second in a series of novels featuring Detective Mathieu. Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957. "We have been using our RVs to deliver canned food and urgent basic supplies to the impacted areas, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes until long-term help for the victims arrives." Founder and CEO of RV Sales of Broward (also known as PlanetRV), Gigi Stetler and her non-profit organization, the RV Advisor Consumer Association (RVACA), are once again coordinating a disaster relief effort by collecting and distributing supplies to help victims of Hurricane Ian. RVACA is accepting monetary donations through its emergency relief fund while non-perishable food, clothes, and personal hygiene items can be dropped off at the RV Sales of Broward headquarters in Dania Beach, FL. My heart goes out to everyone who has been impacted by this terrible disaster, said Gigi Stetler, Founder and CEO of RV Sales of Broward. Those of us living on the east coast of Florida were fortunate to be out of Hurricane Ians path; now it is up to us to do whatever we can to help our fellow Floridians on the west coast. We have been using our RVs to deliver canned food and urgent basic supplies to the impacted areas, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes until long-term help for the victims arrives. In addition to providing victims with urgent supplies, Stetler has donated more than 20 RVs so far as emergency housing for first responders in the Fort Myers area. RV Sales of Broward has also been working with individual insurance companies to make its large inventory available for rent or purchase for relief to families in Southwest Florida. For Stetler, disaster response has become second nature. Founder of the first female-owned RV company in the U.S., she has been involved in disaster relief efforts for more than 30 years. Stetler previously donated RVs and relief supplies to victims of Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Irma, Michael, Dorian, and many others. RVACA also played a key role in providing emergency housing to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monetary donations can be made by selecting Disaster Relief Fund on RVACAs donation page at: https://panel.rvaca.org/Donate. The nonprofit is also accepting canned goods, diapers and formula, linens, and other supplies. Vacant RVs can be donated or rented to RVACA tax-free. Donations can be brought to the RV Sales of Broward storefront located at 2051 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, FL 33312. About Gigi Stetler: A fearless entrepreneur, Gigi Stetler created and leads the first female-owned RV company in the United States, RV Sales of Broward. With 35 years of experience in the industry, she is one of a handful of top RV experts in the country. Stetler also launched and runs RV Advisor- an online platform that is considered the Angies List of the RV industry. She is also the founder of the non-profit RV Advisor Consumer Association (RVACA). The Greenberg Traurig Womens Initiative (GTWI) affinity group hosted a team-building event, Night at the Lanes, at Lucky Strike in Philadelphia. Participants included attorneys from the firms Philadelphia and Delaware offices, as well as from local public interest law organizations, including the Barristers Association of Philadelphia, Philadelphia VIP, and the Womens Law Project. Night at the Lanes was developed by Real Estate Practice Associate Jennifer N. McCracken, as she and other members of GTWI in Philadelphia sought to further strengthen relationships and opportunities to collaborate by better getting to know each other and their practices in a fun environment. Environmental Practice Shareholder Kaitlyn R. Maxwell and White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice Shareholder Jessica Natali, co-liaisons of GTWI Philadelphia, led the effort to bring the two offices together for the fun, interactive program. The event took place Sept. 15 where some 60 attorneys from a cross-section of practice groups competed against one another, each with a surprise team name, team shirts, and more. Im really grateful GTWI was able to host an event of this nature when so many of us have not seen each other in-person at the same time in such a long time, Natali said. Coupled with connecting with the new faces in the firm, the camaraderie, and friendly competition was a welcomed change of pace for us all. This helped spark some great ideas for our practices and our clients as well as our ongoing pro bono efforts in and around the Philadelphia region. This event was so successful that we plan to make it an annual event, passing along the trophy every year for the team with the overall highest score. GTWI is a firmwide womens affinity group within Greenberg Traurig, LLP to support the recruitment, development, and retention of the firms women lawyers by amplifying focused efforts for leadership, training, and business cultivation opportunities for attorneys at every phase of their career. Health and wellness, mentorships, and breaking the glass ceiling are some of the issues the group addresses. Jen did a fantastic job envisioning and helping to execute this event, Maxwell said. As both a newer and junior member of the firm, it can sometimes be difficult to get your bearings. Were proud that Greenberg Traurig is a place that provides space for everyone to contribute, grow, and thrive be that a night like this or as part of a client pitch or litigation team. It encapsulates the spirit and goals of the Womens Initiative. Winners included: the Delaware team for Best Team Name -- Split DE-cions; Best Individual Score for Litigation Shareholder and Moves to Strike team member Brian Feeney for Best Individual Score; and the members of Cranes & Lanes, a team composed of players from the Public Finance & Infrastructure and Corporate practices and guests from the participating nonprofit organizations, for Overall Highest Scoring Team. Natali, based in the firms Philadelphia office, is a former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with broad experience in criminal and civil cases including health care fraud and opioid cases. She aids clients in the procedural and implementation processes of compliance consistent with Department of Justice guidelines. Maxwell, also in the Philadelphia office, handles complex litigation cases, including major environmental contamination, product liability, and toxic tort matters. She regularly defends clients in federal and state courts across the country. McCrakens practice involves commercial real estate transactional matters, real estate tax appeals, condemnation, and land use concerns. About Greenberg Traurigs Philadelphia Office: Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Greenberg Traurigs Philadelphia office has grown from an initial three-attorney Public Finance Practice to include more than 60 attorneys whose practices include Real Estate; Litigation; Intellectual Property; Labor & Employment; Environmental; Government Law & Policy; Restructuring & Bankruptcy; White Collar Defense & Special Investigations; Corporate; Investment Management & Regulation; Immigration & Compliance; Health Care & FDA; and Tax. The Philadelphia office represents a broad range of clients in real estate, manufacturing, health care, financial, and insurance industries, as well as state and local governments, professional services, and energy firms. The office also is known for its pro bono work and community service/social action initiatives in the Philadelphia region. About Greenberg Traurigs Womens Initiative: Greenberg Traurig is committed to its women lawyers success, which includes a firmwide womens affinity group encompassing recruiting, retention, and business development. The firm regularly collaborates with like-minded organizations to address these issues on a broader scale in a variety of industries and communities. Greenberg Traurig also takes thoughtful action to address issues such as maintaining a healthy work-life balance, breaking the glass ceiling, mentoring, creating, and maintaining healthy lifestyles, and giving back to the community. Twitter: @GTLawWomen About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program certifies that the firms U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com. Naked without Shame: A Most Perfect Relationship: a thought-provoking exploration of marriage and the family unit. Naked without Shame: A Most Perfect Relationship is the creation of published author Kedrick Lilweti White, a Liberian-born minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ with Bethel World Outreach Church (Now Bethel Full Gospel Church) in Minneapolis since 2003, where he served as administrator for ten years. Due to his long career in architecture, construction, and property management, he developed an interest in the hows and whys of things. His work, Naked without Shame, is his lifes reflection of love, disobedience, redemption, and grace. White shares, Some of the best answers in life are found in the simplicity of things. And coming to grips with a most perfect relationship man can ever know, that which exists between man and God, could initiate a serious paradigm shift with profound indications for lifes toughest relationship. Naked without Shame presents Gods original design for a man and his wife at the dawn of creation. It captures a picture of how love, belonging, and promise can be interrupted by forbidden desires and disobedience. But it also shows Gods path for redemption and renewed hope through grace, Gods unmerited favor to mankind. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kedrick Lilweti Whites new book will encourage and challenge readers in their understanding of obedience and appreciation of God. Kedrick Lilweti White really believes that his book will save, restore, and enhance many Christian marriages around the world. White brings readers an important message in hopes of spreading the good news of Gods promise to mankind. "This is an extraordinarily well written book with lots of practical examples and nuggets of truth and just plain old-fashion Godly Wisdom that simply blows the covers off any form pretense or falsehoods. My brother Lilweti lays it all out there like a master chef would spread out a buffet table. Well, it's up to you to select carefully and eat to your heart's content. If you enjoy reading this book half as much as I did, then you'd got by far more than your money's worth in truth, examples and straight-shooting Godly Wisdom. Good for all ages, the married as well as the unmarried. Blessings - Cornelius W. Pratt, II (Bentonville, AR)." "A must read. Upon opening the book for a quick browse-over, the following profound and captivating statement in the first paragraph of chapter1 held my interest hostage and compelled me to immediately consume the book in one sitting: "God designed our entire existence to maintain and function in relationships". This truth resonates with Jesus' statement that all the laws can be observed with the maintenance of a loving vertical relationship with God and a loving horizontal relationship with man. This book is a well-crafted expose' on RELATIONSHIP, the cornerstone of human existence. -- Junius L. Gailor Sr., Marriage and family Pastor, Harvest Intercontinental Church (Atlanta, GA)" "Very captivating and insightful for anyone in a relationship. I truly found the book, Naked Without Shame, to be honest, inspiring, and thought provoking. I found it be an easy read but yet the subject matter very intriguing. It will make an excellent study guide for a Bible study group or marriage counseling group. -- Gloria Freeman (Baltimore, MD)" Consumers can purchase Naked without Shame: A Most Perfect Relationship at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Naked without Shame: A Most Perfect Relationship, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. When I built Les Belles, I wanted to create a safe space for dentistry. Our philosophy is to create a patient experience akin to staying at a luxury hotel. We help our patients feel beautiful inside and out, and feel inspired to live their most beautiful lives. says Dr. Sharon Huang. A state-of-the-art facility, located at 110 East 60th Street, Suite 902 in New York City, Les Belles NYC offers high-quality dental services in a sophisticated, yet relaxing setting, providing personalized care for patients of all ages. Find Local Doctors has recently recognized Les Belles NYC as a result of the many five-star ratings and positive online reviews the clinic has earned. Find Local Doctors is a trusted online directory that recognizes physicians and dentists who have received superior feedback from patients. Dr. Sharon Huang is a talented cosmetic dentist with extensive training in advanced prosthodontics, orthodontics, implant surgery and anxiety management. Known for providing an elevated experience in dentistry with top-of-the-line products and exceptional patient care, Les Belles NYC makes sure smiles are not only functional and healthy but also beautiful. The Les Belles NYC team of dental professionals offers a wide range of services including general, restorative, orthodontics, pediatric, sedation dentistry, oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry and emergency dental care. Les Belles NYC uses the latest advanced technology to deliver effective, pain-free treatments as well as utilize organic, environmentally friendly and biocompatible products. This well-respected practice employs a patient-first approach that ensures families can get the dental treatments they need by offering extended hours, weekend appointments and same-day availability with convenient payment options. Dentistry is often a fearful place for many including myself. When I built Les Belles, I wanted to create a safe space for dentistry. Our philosophy is to create a patient experience akin to staying at a luxury hotel. We help our patients feel beautiful inside and out, and feel inspired to live their most beautiful lives. says Dr. Sharon Huang. Amenities patients can expect at their upcoming visit at Les Belles NYC dentistry: Beautifully designed care suites and spectacular views inspired by some of New Yorks most iconic hotels Advanced technology including 3D scanning, and facial symmetry software An extensive comfort menu including aromatherapy and Netflix The highest tier materials and an expertly trained team Oliver the dog, Chief Anxiety Officer by an appointment request More about Dr. Sharon Huang: Dr. Sharon Huang received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Extensively trained in both esthetic dentistry and the use of biomaterials with a concentration in advanced prosthodontics, including full mouth rehabilitations with computer-guided surgical placement of implants. Dr. Huang is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry from The Empire State Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics from St. Barnabas Hospital, and holds a Mastership from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. She is a Keynote speaker, an industry leader in branding and marketing, and an expert doctor contributor to wellness brands. Dr. Huang and Les Belles NYC have been featured prominently in the media, namely on Fox 5, the Doctors, Forbes, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, Allure, and Hello Giggles among others. For more information about services provided at Les Belles NYC, please visit http://www.lesbellesnyc.com or call (212) 804 -7197. Gay couple who had a baby via surrogacy: it all starts with a research at the Men Having Babies conference in Chicago. These community gatherings often result in new collaborative advocacy and research initiatives and clearer understandings of the complex social, medical, legal, and political aspects of parenting through surrogacy and by LGBTQ parents. Known for its unbiased, comprehensive conferences for gay men, the international nonprofit organization Men Having Babies (MHB) returns to Chicago in cooperation with The Center on Halsted, along with over 20 reputable gay-friendly agencies, clinics, law firms, and other surrogacy providers from the Midwest and beyond. About 150 gay men from 20 states will gather (in-person!) to learn how they can have children through IVF and surrogacy. This year there is a major addition to the conference: the organizations highly popular Advocacy and Research Forum will be offered in Chicago for the first time. This is a community-wide gathering to discuss advocacy initiatives that are related to same-sex parenting, and the sharing of best practices and recent research findings among advocates worldwide. These community gatherings that already occur annually in San Francisco, New York and Europe for several years now, often result in new collaborative advocacy and research initiatives and clearer understandings of the complex social, medical, legal, and political aspects of parenting through surrogacy and by LGBTQ parents. This advocacy work is part of MHB's primary goal to broaden access to affordable parenting options for gay men. Beyond the Forum, several conference sessions will be dedicated to ways in which prospective parents can budget smartly, take advantage of financial assistance and discounts for MHB members, and discover opportunities to receive coverage of surrogacy related medical costs as part of their employee benefits. Other additions to the annual conference agenda include a session on the effect of the new limits on abortion care on surrogacy, and a special support-group-style session for prospective single gay dads. Last year, Illinois became the first U.S. state to make surrogacy considerably more affordable for same-sex couples and singles with its amendment to the states definition of infertility, which resulted in inclusion of same-sex couples in insurance coverage for a part of the process. But theres still work to be done both in the state and nation-wide to achieve full Fertility Equality. Given the prevailing public health conditions, and its immersive conference format, MHBs conferences currently include on-site rapid COVID-19 testing to all attendees, and safe catering protocols. Dr. Angeline Beltsos, CEO Clinical and Medical Director at Kindbody, a Platinum Sponsor at the conference, said, Illinois and Kindbody are both leading the march for powerful fertility insurance coverage and language expansion. We are proud that Illinois recently redefined 'infertility' to include a person's inability to reproduce either as a single individual or with a partner without medical intervention, opening the door to fertility benefits to gay men. At Kindbody with our own doctors and employer benefits, we are thrilled to be here with MHB to democratize fertility care for all and support each person build the dream of family." Proceeds from the conferences sponsorship fees benefit MHBs Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP), which provides dozens of prospective parents with over a million dollars worth of cash grants, discounts and free services on an annual basis, from over 130 leading service providers. The majority of the 21 exhibitors at the MHB Midwest conference are supporters of GPAP, as well as the organizations Membership Benefits Program, including Platinum sponsors Kindbody and IARC Surrogacy, and additional conference sponsors: IVF Michigan and Ohio, San Diego Fertility Center, Same Love Surrogacy, Circle Surrogacy, Pinnacle Fertility / California Fertility Partners, Fertility Specialists of Texas, Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, and Golden Surrogacy, The Law Office of Ryan Ferrante, Art Risk Financial and Insurance Solutions, Family Choice Surrogacy, Desai and Miller, and Gift of Life Surrogacy. [Registration for the Midwest Men Having Babies Surrogacy Conference & Gay Parenting Expo and more information is now available at menhavingbabies.org/chicago. Full event information: Men Having Babies 2022 Midwest Surrogacy Conference & Expo October 14, 2022 5:00 PM 7:00 PM and October 15, 2022, 9:00 AM- 7:00 PM Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted, Chicago Registration: menhavingbabies.org/chicago See here for full COVID-19 Safety Protocols Omron latest machine vision system Omron Automation Americas, a global leader in providing advanced automation solutions for sensing, control, safety, and vision technology, will showcase its most advanced machine vision cameras during the A3 Vision Show 2022 in Boston. This type of technology eliminates the need for high-end computing hardware or specialized engineers to configure a system to suit an applications requirements. Manufacturers who are transforming their operations to incorporate Industry 4.0 technologies are facing many critical issues today, including labor shortages, increased labor costs, high-mix, and low-volume production, and acceptable product variation. Vision inspection systems that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have become a powerful turnkey solution to conquer these challenges. Omrons unique vision system demo includes direct-to-monitor GigE Vision and USB3 vision industrial cameras, smart cameras for defect analysis and code reading, and an FH vision system with AI for fine matching. The artificial intelligence solutions within the vision system can capture defects with human-like sensitivity and accept good products with the precision of experienced inspectors. Omron vision expert Tad Newman is speaking at the event on the topic of quality inspection using machine vision with AI. His presentation is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, 2022, 11:00 am - 11:45 am in Room 103. Please join Tad for an in-depth look at how can machine vision with AI helps manufacturers. Omron vision system demo and industry experts will be available throughout the event at Tensor ID. To learn more about the smart vision system solutions, visit booth #1232 To reserve a meeting time, email us at Jason.Mack@omron.com. About Tensor ID Tensor ID is a woman-owned business specializing in the field of imaging and optical technologies. With over 50 years of combined machine vision and industrial automation experience, Tensor ID had brought the concept to reality with real-world results. The company has gained an unpaired experience in machine vision software and camera solutions from all of the leading manufacturers. Their engineers are fluent in several leading machine vision software platforms. About Omron Automation Americas Omron Automation is an industrial automation partner that creates, sells, and services fully integrated automation solutions that include sensing, control, safety, vision, motion, robotics, and more. Established in 1933 and currently headed by President Yoshihito Yamada, Omron's 30,000 employees help businesses solve problems with creativity in more than 110 countries. Learn more at automation.omron.com. I Have a Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother, His Name is Jesus: a heartfelt message of hope for those in need of Jesuss comforting presence. I Have a Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother, His Name is Jesus is the creation of published author Pastor Christine Peebles, a loving mother of two who entered the ministry on August 5, 1981. Pastor Peebles shares, Solomon spoke a word in Proverbs 17:17, saying, A friend loves at all times. Talking about a friend that sticks closer than a brother and a friend that loves at all times, I had biological brothers and sisters, but none of them were in my life. I was the only one out of eight that was not in the home with them. On September 25, 1975, when I found my way to the Cross, Jesus told me, I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you. Im going to be with always. On June 19, 2021, I was at my church that Saturday morning, crying and praying. I felt so all alone. I was under such heavy burdens. I felt like what the prophet Isaiah said, When the enemy shall come in like a flood. As I was crying, talking to the Lord, telling him, I feel so all alone. I dont have anybody, I heard Jesus say unto me, I am your friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus told me, Begin writing the book, and title it I Have a Friend That Sticks Closer than a Brother, His Name Is Jesus. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Pastor Christine Peebless new book will challenge and encourage readers in their faith journey. Peebles draws from personal experience and study to present readers with a compelling discussion of living in step with key Christian principles. Consumers can purchaseI Have a Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother, His Name is Jesus at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about I Have a Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother, His Name is Jesus, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Redwood Credit Unions new South Napa branch From this beautiful, state-of-the-art building in Napa, we can expand our ability to passionately serve our members and our community. Redwood Credit Union has opened its doors on a newly completed 8.5-acre campus in Napa. In the last five years, the credit union has increased its assets by 88 percentfrom $4 billion to more than $7.5 billionand membership has grown by more than 39 percent. The credit union now serves more than 415,000 members, requiring added space and staff to continue delivering a high level of service. The location at 480 Devlin Road, near the airport, offers access to talent from Napa and Solano counties and beyondand convenience to members in those areas. Members will enjoy full banking services at this new, second Napa branch, including a drive-up ATM, support for mortgage and other loans, insurance, investments, and auto buying with the trusted and individual service theyve come to expect. The building is a sustainable, solar-supported facility with plentiful parking and electric vehicle chargers. A community room able to seat 500 people and a public cafe with fresh and affordable food will open mid-2023. RCUs Santa Rosa administrative offices remain open and will continue to serve members. Having the two administrative sites also ensures uninterrupted service and support across all functions in the event of disaster. As RCU readies itself to become one of the largest employers in Napa, its actively working to welcome new team members. Candidates are encouraged to visit redwoodcu.org/Napajobs, browse current openings, and apply. In addition to the future cafe, the new site offers a spacious and comfortable break room, courtyard for relaxation, places to walk, and a hybrid work schedule so team members can connect at the office and enjoy the convenience of flexibility. From this beautiful, state-of-the-art building in Napa, we can expand our ability to passionately serve our members and our community, said Brett Martinez, RCU President and CEO. For 17 years straight, RCU has been named one of the Best Places to Work thanks to our strong company culture and dedicated team members. This new facility will help us grow into the future by allowing us to add nearly 600 additional employees. Napa plays an important role in the larger Bay Area economy and RCU plans to support the unique businesses in the county. The credit union offers a special employer program to enhance company benefits packages with financial benefits and financial wellness for their employees at no charge to the company. RCU opened its Napa branch on 1st Street in 2007 and looks forward to expanding its connection in that community to make an even bigger difference. In the first half of 2022, RCU estimates it has impacted more than 13,000 lives in Napa, delivering financial wellness and, through partnerships with local nonprofits, food and housing security, as well as health services. About Redwood Credit Union Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. RCU offers complete financial services including checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, online and mobile banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. Wealth management and investment services are available through CUSO Financial Services L.P., and insurance and auto-purchasing services are also offered through RCU Services Group (RCUs wholly owned subsidiary). RCU has more than $7 billion in assets and serves 415,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. For more information, call 1 (800) 479-7928, visit redwoodcu.org, or follow RCU on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for news and updates. Beyond Rest Area 10: a potent reminder of how Gods influence can change ones life. Beyond Rest Area 10 is the creation of published author Ron Freeman, a successful rancher who has a passionate interest in the benefits of regenerative cattle production in a pasture ecosystem environment. Freeman shares, It continues the main theme of the impact Christ can have on peoples lives that encounter the worker in the rest area. But the experiences are not limited to just the rest area. Just as Christ has no limitations in connecting people, the experiences that people have there are not limited to just there. Their lives and who they touch move out into the community and across the land to connect many more people in very different ways. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ron Freemans new book is the captivating second installment to his Rest Area 10 series. Freemans continued saga will inspire and challenge readers as they enjoy an uplifting fiction. Consumers can purchase Beyond Rest Area 10 at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Beyond Rest Area 10, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Employee development and retention have been pillars of our company for nearly 40 years. Smith, a leading independent distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces that it was named to Comparablys lists for Best Company Compensation and Best Company Perks & Benefits. These recognitions are based exclusively on anonymous employee feedback on the Comparably website. This is the first time Smith has been named to either list. We are honored to be named to the Best Company Compensation and Best Company Benefits & Perks lists by Comparably, said Patti Everitt, Director of Human Resources at Smith. Our leadership has always prioritized employee satisfaction in our business model, and one of the best ways to achieve this is to properly compensate our workforce for the immeasurable value they bring to Smith. The company offers exceptional benefits and compensation packages to its global employees, including top-tier medical coverage, generous retirement contributions, and flexible paid time off. Employees at Smiths world headquarters in Houston enjoy access to the companys 6,700-square-foot onsite fitness center, complete with full locker rooms and towel service, and regional employees can participate in the companys wellness reimbursement program, which helps to offset expenses for activities such as gym memberships, fitness classes, and more. Smiths salespeople also earn uncapped commission on top of their competitive base pay. Smith also places heavy emphasis on training and development to promote employee growth and retention. The company provides its employees with a variety of tools, resources, and services to help them plan their career development. All employees are onboarded and receive ongoing training through the companys award-winning learning and development platform, Smith University. Smith also has numerous employee-retention policies in place to support and promote work-life balance, continuous employee development, manager autonomy, and open communication and feedback with both direct and upper management. Employee development and retention have been pillars of our company for nearly 40 years, said Patti. We strive to create an environment that is welcoming to our new hires and that will also set them up for success for many years to come. Smith is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and actively takes measures to encourage a diverse workforce. The companys co-founders and directors, Bob and Lee Ackerley, were also recently named Best CEOs for Diversity by Comparably. This award is based exclusively on anonymous feedback from Smiths employees of color on the Comparably website. We are proud of our efforts to promote and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into Smiths culture, and we continue to look for new opportunities to embrace and strengthen these values, said Patti. As we continue to see unprecedented growth in our industry, we are excited to add to Smiths many diverse voices and experiences through our ongoing recruitment and employee-engagement programming. About Smith Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 17 cities around the world, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, generating global annual sales in excess of $3.4 billion in 2021. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. The support of Smiths flexible Intelligent DistributionTM model optimizes customers supply chains from beginning to end, including offering customized options for IT asset disposition that deliver maximum ROI, sustainability, and security. Smiths testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam cover critical areas like quality management, counterfeit prevention, and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time, global inventory and logistics visibility. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number seven among all global distributors. For more information, please visit http://www.smithweb.com or reach out to a Smith representative any time of day at +1 713.430.3000. 80 Years after the Second World War of Wars and Politics: a bold commentary on the significance of the past eighty years on the trajectory of human history. 80 Years after the Second World War of Wars and Politics is the creation of published author Sobhy Fahmy Amin Iskander, who, after the 1956 war in Egypt, migrated to US and worked in the main computer field developing mainframe and computer languages. Iskander started writing books in 1962 in Arabic language. He wanted to share Eastern history by translating adventures into English. Iskander shares, The unnecessary wars get declared when US, as a powerful country, supports one country while opposing the other countries, such as the Middle Eastern wars, causing waste of money and countless lives. The US should act neutral and use diplomacy and influence in the international judgments. As you find out in my book, Moses of Israel did not cross the Red Sea. They crossed the dry salt lake of the Red Sea, where later the Suez Canal was built. Do not live behind bars, and get educated about real legal lives at your own home in the USA because there are prisons, paroles, and probation systems all over. Also, there is police registration. Your personal calls and all private conversations are being reordered. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Sobhy Fahmy Amin Iskanders new book brings readers a compelling look at the impact of governmental involvement in foreign conflicts. Iskanders impactful message and engaging presentation will have history or military enthusiasts captivated from the first page. Consumers can purchase 80 Years after the Second World War of Wars and Politics at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about 80 Years after the Second World War of Wars and Politics, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. The Resurrection Of Matthew: an exciting new voice in the Christian fiction genre. The Resurrection Of Matthew is the creation of published author Thomas Jerke, a retired speech-language pathologist who decided to become a writer after forty-five-plus years of working in the medical profession. Jerke has authored two autobiographical works relating to growing up on a farm in rural Colorado and attending a small three-room red brick school (Beebe Draw and After Beebe Draw). His third book stems from his work as a therapist, relating to the types, causes, and progression of dementia in the elderly (Truly Beautiful People: A Guide to Understanding the Effects of Dementia in the Elderly). This work also includes stories of patients he worked with over the years and provides advice on how to best cope and relate to those with dementia and other altering conditions. Jerke shares, Matthew Delany is a thirty-something-year-old man who is enjoying the good life. He relies on alcohol, drugs, and women to bring him happiness. That is until things start to take a turn for the worse. He begins to sense that he is losing his grip on life as his addictions take control. The problem is he does not know how to rid himself of his afflictions, or even if he wants to. The Resurrection of Matthew tells the story of this mans past and the demons which possess him. He lives in a world of denial as he travels the road of life, which is becoming darker and darker. It takes a powerful message of reality to awaken Matthew to the dangers he is facing. The question is, will he heed the warnings? Matthew has never had God in his life. He has never wanted God to be a part of his life. Can a man who is in denial regarding his addictions and rejects the presence of God find a way to enlightenment? The Resurrection of Matthew shares one mans struggles to find his way to the light. First, he must come to realize that he cannot complete this journey on his own. He cannot overcome his demons without help from powers beyond himself. It may just take a miracle for Matthew to find peace in his life. But that does not mean that he will not continue to face trials and tribulations. But at least now, he will not face them alone. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Thomas Jerkes new book will captivate readers as Matthew Delany brings an encouraging message to the forefront. Jerke expands his literary work to present his flagship novel for the enjoyment and inspiration of all. Consumers can purchase The Resurrection Of Matthew at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Resurrection Of Matthew, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Its always a pleasure to be invited to this world-class surgical meeting in Marbella, Spain. The surgeons are top rate and the attendees ask the most interesting questions. It is a learning experience for me as well as an honor, says Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio. As a pioneer in fat transplantation and buttock enhancement, Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio is a highly sought-after international educator, key opinion leader and lecturer. Educated at Harvard and Yale, Dr. Del Vecchio has an exceptional background and is truly one of the top plastic surgeons in the world, offering outstanding results for his patients. Recently, Dr. Del Vecchio was invited to teach and perform live surgery at the 8th Annual Body Contouring Symposium hosted by Cirumed clinic. The event took place on September 14-17, 2022, in Marbella, Spain. The symposium is the world's largest live surgical event with over eight surgeries performed in two days. Dr. Del Vecchio and his fellow presenters were able to provide surgical inspiration, valuable take-home messages and an overall boost to the practices of all participants. Attended by plastic surgeons from six continents and hundreds of surgeons who watched live via webcast, the symposium highlighted the latest techniques used for breast augmentation, buttock augmentation and transforming the female and male body contour. As one of the world's leading authorities on safely enhancing the buttocks with fat transfer techniques, Dr. Del Vecchio shared his cutting-edge methods and performed his Skinny BBL and ultrasonic BBL as part of the live surgical program. Amongst the other live surgical procedures was a breast lift performed by Dr. Patrick Mallucci of London, and a supercharged BBL combined with implants performed by Dr. Alex Asllani, Medical Director of Cirumed clinic. Its always a pleasure to be invited to this world-class surgical meeting in Marbella, Spain. The surgeons are top rate and the attendees ask the most interesting questions. It is a learning experience for me and an honor, says Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio. More about Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio: Dr. Del Vecchio graduated from both Yale and Harvard Universities, obtaining his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completing his residency at Harvard General Hospital in Massachusetts. His training continued with a fellowship in cosmetic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a graduate degree in business from Columbia University. Beyond his impressive education, professional accolades and credentials, his natural, stunning results are what speak the most about his surgical skills and anatomical artistry. Dr. Del Vecchio has been published in many medical journals and educational textbooks and is a respected lecturer who has presented on six different continents at prestigious conventions and conferences. If you would like more information on services or to schedule a consultation, please contact one of his clinic locations. For the NYC clinic, call (212) 858-0500 or visit http://www.uptownbodycontouring.com. The Boston clinic can be reached at (617) 262- 8528 or visit http://www.backbayplasticsurgery.com, and for the Chicago clinic call (508) 930-8833 or visit http://www.safebblchicago.com. Information on the London clinic can be found at http://www.safebbl.co.uk. Every day is a great day because at my age I refuse to have a bad day. Born in Richfield, Utah on October 12, 1932, Edwin Jacob Jake Garn, the first member of congress to fly in space, will celebrate his 90th birthday on October 12, 2022, with a family birthday party including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Garn has much to celebrate with friends and family, as he has had an extensive career in aviation, aeronautics and politics to honor. Garn will soon receive special recognition with a custom art installation, celebrating his life, at the Salt Lake City International Airport in the fall of 2022. Garns career in space most notably began when he flew as a payload specialist on STS-51D Discovery from April 12-19, 1985. STS-51D Discoverys primary objective was to deploy two communications satellites, and to perform electrophoresis and echocardiograph operations in space in addition to several other experiments. At the conclusion of the mission, Garn had traveled over 2.5 million miles in 108 Earth orbits, logging over 167 hours in space. Garn also served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy and in the Utah Air National Guard, retiring as a full Colonel in April 1979. He was later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1985. He has flown more than 11,000 hours in military and private civilian aircraft. His passion for aviation and space is matched by his devotion to his country and state. He was elected to the Senate in 1974. Prior to his election, Garn served on the Salt Lake City Commission for four years and was elected Mayor in 1971. He was active in the Utah League of Cities and Towns and served as President in 1972. In 1974, he was First Vice President of the National League of Cities and served as Honorary President in 1975. Additionally, Garn was elected to a second term and third term in the Senate in November 1980 and 1986. He received 74 percent and 72 percent of the vote in those elections, the largest victories in a statewide race in Utah history. Garn was also chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and served on three subcommittees: Housing and Urban Affairs, Financial Institutions, and International Finance and Monetary Policy. The senior Utah Senator was also a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and served as Chairman of the HUD- Independent Agencies Subcommittee. He served on four other Appropriations subcommittees: Energy and Water Resources, Defense, Military Construction, and Interior. He also served as a member of the Republican leadership from 1979 to 1984 as Secretary of the Republican Conference. He has always been very proud of being born in a little town. Every time he campaigned, he made it a point to visit all the small towns in Utah, so people knew he didn't only care about the big cities, said Ellen Garn, daughter of Jake Garn. He often talks about how much he appreciates all the people of Utah who allowed him to have such an amazing political career serving the State. He would tell schoolchildren that he never imagined a little boy from Richfield, Utah would be able to accomplish all he has. He inspired school children by telling them to work hard and dream big. Garn has 7 children, 30 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. According to Garn, his family is most important to him, regardless of other accomplishments. "Every day is a great day because at my age I refuse to have a bad day, says Garn. He is in good health and is hoping to reach his 100th birthday. Click here for old website As it has for so many people, the pandemic has prompted some changes in my life, and one change in particular may prove surprising to some of my librarian friends and colleagues: Ive resolved to only read the books I really want to read. You see, I am an avid fiction reader. But I must confess that I have always been self-conscious about my reading tastes. As a librarian and readers adviser, I always believed that I had to read serious nonfiction and not just fiction to be good at my job. And in retirement Ive had a hard time shaking that feeling, even though so much of what I have learned in life I've learned from reading novels. Apparently, Im not alone. Nancy Pearl, the most notorious reader in our profession, shares similar feelings of angst over her fidelity to fiction. I belong to a book group that has met weekly for the past four years, where we each talk about what were reading that week, Nancy told me recently. There are people in the group who mostly read nonfiction. And even though Ive spent my life, or at least my career, assuring people that the definition of a good book is a book that you, the reader, enjoy, when its my turn to talk Im always a little embarrassed. I find I still preface my choices by saying apologetically, Oh, my book this week is just a mystery. Or, when Ive finished rereading Georgette Heyers The Grand Sophy for the umpteenth time, I feel I need to add that Heyer not only invented the regency romance but that she was a terrific social historian as well. No matter how many times I tell others not to feel apologetic about the books they read, theres still part of me that does it too. When I was library director for Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) in Ohio, I would dread the weeks leading up to my annual January appearance on a local public radio show to share my top book picks of the previous year. Knowing Id be joined by the book editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the owner of Macs Backs bookstore in Cleveland Heights, I would let anxiety drive my holiday reading. I should have spent the holidays with what I love: a delicious menu of mysteries, contemporary literature, and magical realism. Instead, I always found myself cramming nonfiction books to catch up. In fairness, it was during those holiday nonfiction binges that I discovered many wonderful titles such as Moby-Duck by Donovan Hohn, Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, Evicted by Matthew Desmond, and The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. So it isnt that I dont like nonfiction (I do). But, looking back, my life was 50 weeks of fiction and a desperate two-week binge of nonfiction so I could present as a well-rounded reader. So what if a reader like me wants to remain in the world of fictionthats not a bad thing, is it? Why, though? There is an undeniable force in fiction that promotes compassion, empathy, and understanding. As young children, we are surrounded by story and encouraged to relish the rich, imaginative worlds created in picture books and to lose ourselves in the chapter books that are read to us. And its through these stories that we learn to read and learn to love reading, which is foundational to our broader learning and education. So what if a reader like me wants to remain in the world of fictionthats not a bad thing, is it? Turns out, it isnt at all. In fact, according to Richard Restak, my new favorite scientist (sorry, Anthony Fauci), a healthy love of fiction is actually, well, healthy. Restak is clinical professor of neurology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and the author of more than 20 books on the human brain. I came to know him after reading his most recent book, The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind. And at the top of his list for supporting memory health as we age: reading more fiction. My conclusion about the effect of reading fiction came from my experiences with patients, Restak says. I noted that as they aged, they tended to avoid fiction, because they had difficulty remembering the characters, places, and actions. But rather than avoiding fiction as we age, we should actually lean in, Restak explains. Research shows that reading complex fiction with multiple characters and situations can actually lead to cognitive gains, precisely because it forces one to pay attention to character, plot, setting, and language, all of which provides vital exercise for the brain and helps with memory retention. Historical fiction related to ones life experience may especially help support memory, as the easiest memories to retain are those connected to an image or emotion. But it is not necessary to overdo that, Restak stresses. A simple plot with half a dozen or so characters can be also very stimulating. Speaking of memories, I vividly recall a popular statement emblazoned on T-shirts and tote bags at past library conferences: So many books, so little time. As I look to my own reading future, I am reassured that reading all the fiction I want is time well spent. But, as the slogan suggests, time can be hard to find in todays frenetic, connected world full of distractions and responsibilities, and reading a good novel for many probably seems like a luxury. Making the time to read fiction is important, though, Restak says. And he practices what he preaches. He really did make time to read fiction as he toiled in medical school and residencies, he says. And amid his busy research and writing schedule, he still sets aside time to read novels. I have always prioritized time for reading fiction, Restak notes. When in medical school, I read The Alexandria Quartet in the evening just before bedtime. Sometimes I could only manage part of a chapter and sometimes just a page or two, but I kept at it and finished that work. Recently, Restak read The Count of Monte Cristo with his wifeand enhanced the experience by listening to the audiobook as well. I find that an audiobook is good for writing and maintaining an active writing career, he points out. While you are listening to the book, you can envision how the author probably wrote it in terms of paragraphing and punctuation, and it is easy to check these things by looking down at the book while listening to the audio version. Furthermore, Restak acknowledges that libraries and librarians have, and have always had, an important role to play in keeping people reading. I think there is a role for libraries in motivating older people to become readers, he adds. So there you have it, doctors orders: read more fiction. Make time to read more fiction. Have a patron who only wants to read fiction? Go ahead, indulge them. And why not mix in some audiobooks to enhance the experience? This is one doctor's prescription I am happy to have, and one librarians will be eager to fill. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) this week introduced the bicameral Right to Read Act (S. 5064 and H.R. 9056), legislation that would ensure all U.S. students have access to a school library staffed by a certified school librarian. Among the bill's provisions, the Right to Read Act would authorize up to $500 million in Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants as well as increase the authorization for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program to $100 million, a significant bump from the $28 million currently proposed for FY2023. The legislation also would also invest in "recruiting and retaining state-certified school librarians," and "school library staff working to broaden access to library collections." And crucially, the legislation also reaffirms that "First Amendment rights apply to school libraries" and would extend "liability protections" to teachers and school librariansa direct response to the alarming trend of book bans and educational gag orders disproportionately targeting titles involving issues of race and the LGBTQ+ community and in some cases threatening librarians and teachers with fines, jail time, or job loss for providing access to books. Introduced on October 6, the bill acknowledges "disparities in access to school library resources in communities across the nation" and the impact on student literacy, and proposes to "surge" federal investment to address the issues. According to the U.S. Department of Education as many as 2.5 million students are enrolled in districts where there are no school libraries, and some 30% of students do not have access to full time school librarians, notes a release from Reed and Grijalva announcing the bill. Literacy is the cornerstone of a high-quality education in every society, yet today we are seeing our nations children subjected to politically-led efforts to block access to books. Censoring our education system based on bias is national travesty, Grijalva said, in a release. This legislation will support the development of effective school libraries, including the recruitment and retention of librarians, and provide federal funding for literacy resources in high need communities. This bill will also help protect the right to access diverse, inclusive school library collections. Together, we will build and develop effective school libraries with diverse and robust resources to deliver positive and formative opportunities for students. "Quality teaching and effective school libraries go hand-in-hand with securing the right to read for our students, added Reed. The Right to Read Act is about making sure that low-income, minority, children with disabilities, and English language learners have equal access to that opportunity through high quality, appropriately staffed school libraries and diverse and inclusive reading materials both at school and at home. Quality teaching and effective school libraries go hand-in-hand with securing the right to read for our students. ALA officials this week issued strong statements of support for the bill. The Right to Read Act...insists that all students have the right to read freely and deserve equitable access to a robust collection in their school library," said ALA president Lessa Kananiopua Pelayo-Lozada, in a statement, pointing out that the pandemic shined a spotlight on the many important roles of school librarians. "School libraries bridge the gap between access and opportunity for all learners. Now is the time to scale that success, not take it for granted. Every school library should be staffed by a state-certified school librarian. Strong school libraries staffed by school librarians lead to stronger teachers and greater student success, and ALA applauds Senator Jack Reed and Representative Raul Grijalva for introducing the Right to Read Act. Kathy Lester, school librarian at East Middle School in Plymouth, Mich., and the current president of the American Association of School Librarians, a division of ALA, also applauded the bill. School librarians professionally curate diverse, inclusive collections of materials; motivate and guide student reading; teach information/media literacy skills; and integrate technology for teaching and learning," Lester said, in a statement. "An effective school library supports the entire learning community and is essential for student success. AASL endorses the Right to Read Act of 2022 and thanks Senator Reed, Representative Grijalva, and their staff for introducing this important legislation. The bill is welcome news for school librarians, who have seen their ranks shrink on recent decades, as well as for Freedom to Read advocates in the wake of an unprecedented wave of book bans and educational gag orders. With just weeks until the November elections and a lame duck Congress, it is unlikely the bill will advance in 2022 and will likely be reintroduced in 2023. The Lviv BookForum, one of the most prestigious book festivals in Ukraine, has moved online this year and is being copresented by the U.K.'s Hay Festival. The event runs virtually online through the Hay Festival website, with events starting Friday and running through the weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the forum with virtual remarks, and a who's who of global literature and other public intellectuals also made remarks. Among them were 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Abdulrazak Gurnah; anthropologist Yuval Noah Harari; novelists Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, and Elif Shafak; historian Margaret MacMillan; journalists Jon Lee Anderson, Misha Glenny, and Peter Pomerantsev; and numerous prominent Ukrainian intellectuals, public figures and writers. Sharing her thoughts on the event in a prepared statement, Atwood called the war in Ukraine an attack on democracy and freedom, not just in Ukraine but around the world. In joining the Lviv BookForum and Hay Festival program. I support Ukrainian writers and readers as they share their work. May this theatre of ideas and talent inspire more to raise their voices and share their gifts. Neil Gaiman added: It's an honor and a privilege to be a part of the 29th Lviv BookForum. It's Ukraine's biggest literary festival, and it says a lot that, even in the dark days of a war that should never have been necessary, the festival continues in a brave act of resistance and allows writers like me to stand in solidarity with the writers and the readers of Ukraine. With the help of Hay Festival the programming of the Lviv BookForum can reach millions of people around the world. And that includes you, wherever you are. Come and listen and learn. President Zelenskyy's full opening remarks were as follows: To the participants, organizers and guests of the 29th BookForum: Dear friends! I sincerely welcome BookForum in hospitable Lviv - an important book publishing event that holds its intellectual front in this difficult time. For more than half a year, the world has witnessed how Russian aggression has been destroying our territories, Ukrainian culture, language, and books as a symbol of freedom and indomitability of our people. Today, when the Armed Forces of Ukraine are courageously defending their native country from the enemy invasion, it is vitally important for us to preserve our national culture and identity. That is why, on all platforms, we bring the truth to the world about what is happening now in Ukraine, about the Russians' arbitrary actions and crimes against humanity. I would like to thank our international friends and partners for standing with us in this war. Now you have become ambassadors of Ukraine in the struggle for freedom and democratic values of the whole of Europe. I am sure that together we will win. I am grateful to the organizers of the forum for their many years of dedication and active citizenship, for their significant contribution to the domestic book publishing sphere and the expansion of cultural diplomacy. I appreciate your efforts to develop Ukrainian European culture, its competitiveness as our contribution to building a common European home. I wish BookForum participants meaningful communication and implementation of ambitious plans. All the best, victory and peace to everybody. Glory to Ukraine! Volodymyr Zelensky We are living in the future. Drones are being tested for food delivery. Google has allegedly created sentient artificial intelligence. And combustion cars are being phased out for electric vehicles. Meanwhile, were not fully embracing the most efficient form of clean energy nuclear. In Sweden an old oil-powered gas plant is being fired up more regularly after the Scandinavian nation decommissioned several nuclear reactors. California recently announced that it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in a little over a decade. Shortly thereafter, California asked residents to avoid charging electric vehicles due to electricity shortages. The Golden State is now reneging on its planned closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. Turns out shutting down a source of 8 percent of Californias power wasnt a bright idea. Nuclear energy is the only way to transition off of fossil fuels while retaining our high quality of life. Elon Musk understands this. He recently tweeted, Countries should be increasing nuclear power generation. It is insane from a national security standpoint & bad for the environment to shut them down. Hes right. Shutting down nuclear power is bad for the environment. Research institutions have found that the most efficient net-zero power grid requires nuclear energy. Uranium currently provides over 50 percent of America's carbon-free power. Nuclear energy works 24/7 unlike many renewable sources of energy. And, Musk is right that it is insane from a national security perspective for countries not to be investing more in nuclear energy. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines are currently running on uranium stockpiles from the 1950s and 1960s. These stockpiles are rapidly depleting and need to be replenished. Energy independence will prevent us from having the crisis Europe finds themselves in. Twenty percent of American homes run on nuclear power and almost 60% of the uranium used to fuel our clean energy nuclear power plants comes from Former Soviet Union countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A secure nation is not reliant on others for power, and if these Green New Deal policies continue to shape American legislation, our national security will undoubtedly be at risk. Germany has learned that lesson brutally after crafting their poorly designed green energy system, which left them totally reliant on Russia for fuel. Germany now has to make some tough choices on their energy needs, which could result in blackouts in the near future. The United States fortunately can avoid this fate. We are domestically rich with regards to uranium, oil and gas, and coal resources and should not rely on energy and critical minerals from hostile adversaries. We can decouple from Russia and procure uranium here. We have ample uranium resources estimated at over a billion pounds. They just need to be tapped into by companies like mine Uranium Energy Corporation. Were committed to a green, ethical mining that will power our future. The Biden administration is urging lawmakers to back $1.5 Billion for the Department of Energy to reduce our reliance on Russian nuclear fuel. Congress needs to act swiftly. As a country, we need to step on the gas, and we need to do it now. Russian oil oligarchs should not hold the keys to a green American future. If Americans are expected to travel in electric cars, then they should have an energy supply that they can rely on. South Korean psychological thriller Somebody, headed to Netflix in November, brings a dark and menacing chill to the search for that special someone. ADVERTISEMENT The eight-part series by noted film director Jung Ji-woo (Happy End, A Muse), debuted at the Busan International Film Festival with its first three episodes on Thursday. App developer Kim Sum (Kang Hae-lim) has a hard time making connections in real life, her emotions as flat as her monochromatic outfits and minimalist office decor. Diagnosed with Asperger's, Kim's closest relationship appears to be with an AI chatbot she created while still in high school. Her programming genius ultimately led to the development of Somebody -- a groundbreaking dating app that has recently been at the center of a police investigation into deaths and disappearances traced back to the platform. As Kim looks for answers behind the scenes, she encounters a figure with several different online profiles -- the strikingly handsome Yoonoh (Kim Young-kwang) whose gentle demeanor scans as creepy almost immediately (the Jeffrey Dahmer-style eyeglasses don't help). The menacing role is a departure for the model/actor Kim, who is the most established performer in the cast, with recent starring roles on the 2021 Netflix dramedy Hello, Me! and the hit action comedy film Mission: Possible. Soon drawn into the mysterious web are Kim Sum's estranged friend Kieun (Kim Su-yeon), a wheelchair-using police officer in the cybercrimes unit, and Mokwon (Kim Yong-ji), a professional shaman who may have otherworldly abilities. Through the first three episodes, the series develops at a slow, sometimes meandering pace as it introduces new characters and follows episodic storylines. An unrelenting air of dread hangs over the action like a heavy fog, occasionally erupting in scenes of jarring violence. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Somebody is one of several series premiering at the Busan International Film Festival, which has broadly expanded its lineup of streaming content this year. Nine series, including seven Korean-language shows, are being screened at the festival, among them Netflix's sci-fi thriller Glitch, which premiered on the platform Friday. Other debuts include Yonder, a sci-fi fantasy by renowned film director Lee Joon-ik, which will stream globally on Paramount+, and the Disney+ original Connect, Japanese director Takashi Miike's first Korean-language project. The festival's embrace of streaming content is a sign of the times, said Joe Cho, communications manager for Netflix in South Korea. "The borderline between series and films is blurring," Cho told UPI at the Busan fest. "If you look at our Netflix series, these are made not just by those who used to make TV dramas," he said. "We have great Korean film directors, great Korean writers and film studios." South Korea has been a key content pipeline to the streaming world, with a massive investment from Netflix resulting in hits ranging from Squid Game to Hellbound to Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Other platforms have also struck gold with Korean content, including Pachinko on Apple TV+ and Snowdrop on Disney+. It comes as no surprise, then, that Busan is leading the way in bringing the streaming world into the film festival fold. "Here at the Busan festival, they are very open to creative excellence, regardless of whether it's a film or a series or a documentary," Cho said. Somebody will premiere on Netflix on Nov. 18. A Nightmare on Elm Street icon Heather Langenkamp said she connected on a deeply personal level to her role as Dr. Georgina Stanton, founder of a hospice home for terminally ill teens, on Netflix's new young adult horror drama series, The Midnight Club. ADVERTISEMENT "It was really exciting to me. You might know I lost my own son to brain cancer four years ago, and when I read the sides for the audition, I literally burst into tears because I really felt like it was a ghost story of my very own - like something very supernatural was happening that I was being asked to play this role," Langenkamp told UPI at New York Comic Con on Thursday. "I felt very equipped," the 58-year-old actress emphasized, recalling how she told show creator Mike Flanagan, "I'll probably cry the first few times I run through this, but just stick with me, and I'll be able to deliver it straight-faced like a doctor would." Langengkamp said she was flattered Flanagan -- the mastermind behind recent hits The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass -- thought of her for the role in his screen adaptation of Christopher Pike's young adult novel about youths who meet secretly at night to tell each other scary stories and pledge to reach out to each other from the other side to let their friends know what to expect when they die. They call their gatherings The Midnight Club. "I was very nervous, turning in my self-tape [for the audition]. I didn't know that I probably didn't have to try so hard on it, but I did work really hard on it. It was a big monologue in one of the first scenes where you meet me at [the hospice called] Brightcliffe," Langenkamp said of the casting process, which was conducted remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. "I turned it in and, literally, a few hours later, I got a call saying, 'They love it!' So, I didn't even have to wait too long. As soon as we had the paperwork signed, I got in my car and drove up to Vancouver with my dog because they needed us to quarantine for two weeks." Dr. Stanton set up the hospice in an old Victorian house with a troubled history in Northern California after her son died of brain cancer. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! She wants to give kids a different experience than being in a hospital and dying hooked up to machines with no control of their lives, Langenkamp said. "When you are terminal, you don't know whether you are going to live six months or a year or maybe two years, but it's a great thought project for everybody to think, 'OK, if I knew that I were going to die in a year, what would I do? How would I live and what kind of friendships would I want to make?'" she said. Langenkamp praised the young cast -- led by Iman Benson, Adia, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Aya Furukawa, Annarah Shephard, William Chris Sumpter and Sauriyan Sapkota -- for their moving and realistic performances in the show, which premiered on Netflix Friday. "Some days were just truly heartbreaking, watching them play out such anguish," she said. "It's bizarre to say, but I think people are going to really appreciate it and really love going there with these kids." Langenkamp said she loved how the show allows the actors to play different characters in scenes in which the kids are telling each other stories. For instance, Dr. Stanton is portrayed as Satan, tattooed with long hair, in one vignette. "It was so fun creating the devil. She has these long nails. You can't see it, but my purse has brass knuckles on it. She is bad, really bad," the actress laughed. "It was like a dream come true for me to play the devil. After being Nancy Thompson my whole life. Everyone thinks I'm so nice and so sweet -- and I play the devil." In a separate interview, Benson described her character, Ilonka, as "an intelligent, headstrong girl" who is on track to go to Stanford University when she is sidelined by thyroid cancer that spreads to her lungs. "Her world gets turned upside-down when she is diagnosed, and then she finds out she is terminal. She is extremely optimistic as a whole," Benson said of Ilonka, who also sees ghosts in the house and believes the place holds a secret remedy for the diseases killing her and her friends. "She is determined to find this cure, not only for herself, but for everybody else. She finds a great sense of camaraderie with The Midnight Club -- a sense of family." Codd, a Tik Tok star, plays Anya, "who is a below-knee amputee, like me, and she is kind of this ballsy firecracker, sometimes harsh human being, but I think, ultimately, she is just protective over the people she loves," she said. Benson said the young cast members -- most of whom were relatively new to acting on television -- bonded easily and looked out for each other on the days they had to film dark or difficult scenes. "We were all portraying such emotional characters and dealing with a lot. I feel like we all kind of leaned on each other," she said. "We were uplifting each other in the green room and had a lot of beautiful moments." Codd said the co-stars also hung out a lot together after work. Although the show essentially is a horror story, pitch-black humor is woven throughout it. "One of the themes that we do portray is that we are not just terminally ill kids -- we are teenagers with personalities and imaginations," Benson said. "The youth are funny." Codd agreed that the jokes give the series an air of authenticity. "I feel like that's how people deal with things," she said. "Dark humor -- very dark in Anya's case sometimes," Codd said. "The show places an emphasis on people and how you help each other through things. It's not really surprising that it is a bunch of teenagers having a laugh some of the time." Nickelodeon is giving a glimpse of the new series Monster High. ADVERTISEMENT The network shared a trailer for the animated series Thursday. Monster High is based on the Mattel fashion doll franchise. The series follows Clawdeen Wolf, Frankie Stein and Draculaura, three friends attending Monster High, a school for the children of famous monsters and other creatures. Gabrielle Nevaeh Green voices Clawdeen, with Iris Menas as Frankie and Courtney Lin as Draculaura. Kausar Mohammed, Valeria Rodriguez, Alexa Kahn, Alexander Polinsky and Debra Wilson also have roles. Nickelodeon and Mattel will also release Monster High the Movie, a live-action TV movie musical. The film stars Miia Harris, Ceci Balagot and Nayah Damasen, and will premiere Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT on Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon will give a sneak peek at an episode of Monster High following the film's premiere. The teaser previews the episode "Food Fight," which sees Draculaura practice witchcraft and Clawdeen and Frankie help her subdue the tater tot she brings to life. Monster High premieres Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. EDT on Nickelodeon. Nintendo is giving a glimpse of the new film The Super Mario Bros. Movie. ADVERTISEMENT The video game company released a teaser trailer for the animated movie Thursday during a Nintendo Direct presentation. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is based on Nintendo's Mario video game franchise. The film follows Mario, an Italian plumber living in the Mushroom Kingdom. Chris Pratt voices Mario, with Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. The trailer opens with Bowser (Black) and his army of Koopa Troopas face off with a kingdom of penguins. Bowser burns down the penguin's castle and takes control of a star power-up. The scene then switches to Mario (Pratt), who meets Toad (Key) in a field of mushrooms in the Mushroom Kingdom. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is written by Matthew Fogel and directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. The film opens in theaters April 7, 2023. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. Athens Area Diaper Bank Operations Manager Beth Staton instructs a volunteer on how to sort diaper packages during the celebration of the bank's millionth diaper on Sunday, Oct. 2. The diapers were then bundled, wrapped and stored in the warehouse until distribution (Photo/Sarah Evans). A quaint white cottage with a striking red door sits patiently on Prince Avenue, hidden among the multitude of corporations and shiny new buildings that surround it, waiting for a new customer to walk through the doors and experience the magic that is the Emmanuel Episcopal Thrift House. Associated with Emmanuel Episcopal Church next door, the mission behind the business is to provide the community with quality vintage pieces that directly serve the community. Whether you're yearning for a latte to warm up from the chilly fall weather or a sweet treat to satisfy your Halloween sweet tooth, The Red & Black has got you covered with 12 fall-themed restaurant specials to check out this season. FILE - Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland. An attorney who was arrested for throwing a water bottle at Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam at the end of a home game last month has been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct by intoxication. Jeffrey Miller, 51, of Rocky River, is scheduled to appear in Cleveland Municipal Court on Oct. 20. A message seeking comment was left with Miller on Friday, Oct. 7. He was charged on Thursday. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center held its 15th Annual Domino Toppling Extravaganza on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. Veteran domino toppler and YouTube superstar Lily Hevesh returned with her team to assemble over 25,000 dominos in two and half days that covered the museums Wolf Kahn & Emil Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. You are the owner of this article. By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been interviewed by CNN-Turk television. Trend presents the interview. Mr. President Ilham Aliyev, welcome to CNN-Turk. Thank you for giving this interview on such historic days for Azerbaijan. Without further ado, let me immediately move on to the questions. First of all, what is the latest situation in the operations? Are they going as planned? What territory has been liberated from occupation? -Everything is going according to plan. The Azerbaijani army is restoring the territorial integrity of the country these days. The operation continues successfully. One city and many villages have already been liberated from the occupation. This once again proves that the Azerbaijani people will never put up with the occupation. We have repeatedly said this: Karabakh is our historical and ancestral land! Unfortunately, the negotiations held for a long time did not lead to any results. Therefore, of course, Azerbaijan had to restore its territorial integrity on its own and is doing exactly that. As you know, on 27 September the Armenian armed forces launched a new offensive against us. Many of our cities and villages are being shelled. Today the death toll among our civilians is about 30 people. The Armenian armed forces are shelling our cities and villages, about a thousand houses have been destroyed or seriously damaged. But everything is going according to plan, and I hope that the tasks before us will be fulfilled. -Mr. President, I would like to return to the processes in the zone of operations again. As we know, the Armenian army began shelling Azerbaijani cities outside the conflict zone with ballistic missiles. In particular, it is targeting settlements in the second largest city of Azerbaijan, Ganja, a power plant in Mingachevir with ballistic missiles. What do you think was the goal? -In my opinion, this is a sign of helplessness of the Armenian army and the crimes of the military-political leadership of Armenia because violence against civilians, the shelling of settlements and the destruction of peaceful cities with ballistic missiles is considered a war crime. This indicates that Armenia cannot resist us on the battlefield. Losing the battle and in an effort to stop us, and in order to harm the civilian population as much as possible, it resorts to such heinous acts. As you noted, Ganja and Mingachevir are cities that are far from the war zone. At the same time, our cities located near the front zone are bombarded every day. The nearest district is Tartar. From one to two thousand shells are dropped on the city of Tartar every day. The main purpose of this is violence against civilians. This once again demonstrates the fascist essence of Armenia, the fascist essence of its regime. But this does not frighten the Azerbaijani people and has no impact whatsoever. Our citizens living in these regions, in these cities and villages stand firmly. They say: long live the Motherland, may our lands be liberated from occupation as soon as possible. They will remain in these places to the end and will provide our army with moral support. -If Armenia continues shelling civilian settlements, will there be any change in your current position? -No, there should be no change in our position. We are not fighting against the Armenian people. I have already spoken about this many times. We are waging a fair fight. We want to restore our territorial integrity, we are doing this and we have achieved success in this matter and in this direction. Azerbaijan has never fought against the civilian population and against civilians. The other day I said that we have no problems with the Armenian people. Thousands of Armenians live in Azerbaijan, and they are our citizens. The Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh today are also our citizens. All our goals are military. We have every right to destroy military targets because they have caused great damage to our army and cities. Therefore, our duty is to destroy them and ensure the safety of our population. -Armenia's bombardment of civilian settlements with ballistic missiles is essentially a war crime, an act contrary to the Geneva Convention. In this context, do you plan to put forward any initiatives regarding war crimes before the UN? Do you collect evidence of these crimes on the ground? -We certainly do. All of their war crimes are already being recorded. Unfortunately, the international community did not react to the war crimes that were committed against Azerbaijan and our people earlier. The Khojaly massacre is an act of genocide that took place in front of the whole world. However, the then military-political leadership of Armenia was not held accountable for this. The destruction of our cities and villages, the appearance of more than a million internally displaced persons the international community did not take any action in this regard. Therefore, this issue has not been resolved for many years because no distinction is made between the occupier and the victim of the occupation. And the shelling of our cities and villages by the Armenian armed forces with ballistic missiles today is a war crime. The leadership of Armenia, of course, must and will bear responsibility for this. -So far you have received several calls for a ceasefire. You have personally answered them. But looking at the 30-year history of the conflict, do you think that these calls will produce results? -I believe that these calls should not be just calls for a ceasefire. We have repeatedly said that sanctions should have been applied to the occupying state of Armenia. If sanctions had been applied in due time, then, perhaps, this issue would have been resolved long ago. Very serious pressure should have been put on Armenia not in word but in deed. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Therefore, this process dragged on for 30 years. Negotiations that have been fruitless for 30 years are already losing their point. In addition, recently, the military-political leadership of Armenia, both with aggressive actions and aggressive statements, disrupted the process of negotiations. In other words, it dealt a crushing blow to the talks. To say that "Karabakh is Armenia" essentially means an end to the negotiations because the essence of the negotiations is that the occupied lands should be gradually and on a step-by-step basis returned to Azerbaijan. This is enshrined in the fundamental principles. To say that "Karabakh is Armenia" actually means an end to this process. There were other similar statements. After that, in July, Armenia attacked Azerbaijan in the direction of the state border, killing many soldiers and one civilian. Therefore, the restoration of the ceasefire must be ensured on certain conditions. First of all, we should be given a schedule for the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied lands. We have already communicated our position on this issue to the Minsk Group. I hope that our calls and proposals will not remain unanswered. -I think that speaking about the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, France should be mentioned separately. What can you say in connection with France's position on this issue? -I have already spoken about this several times. We have always perceived the Minsk Group as a group, and this is still the case today. We believed that the co-chair countries of this group should remain neutral, not support any of the parties, because otherwise their mediation mission would be called into question. Until recent events, they managed to maintain neutrality to a certain extent. We know that the Armenian lobby is strong in these countries. It can and does influence the governments of these countries. We see today that the Armenians living in various countries are conducting an organized black propaganda campaign against Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, some countries have recently demonstrated a lop-sided position. There were cases of support for one of the parties. This is unacceptable. We have expressed our position on this matter. If mediators want to remain mediators and continue to deal with this issue, then they should be more responsible and not take sides. They should try to take actions intended to resolve this issue so that the conflict is resolved as soon as possible, so that the ceasefire can then be restored and a lasting peace can be established. -Why did you say that French President Emmanuel Macron should apologize? -You also know that there have been accusations against us. Official statements said that Azerbaijan and Turkey had allegedly transferred members of terrorist groups to the region even though there is no evidence of that. Ten days have passed since those statements. So far, we have not been presented with any evidence. This is injustice to us. These statements were made on the basis of false information. This was said either on the basis of unverified and unconfirmed information or on purpose. It is hard to say. In any case, each country must defend itself. Naturally, we are responding to injustice against us. We cannot but react to this. There was another statement "Azerbaijan wants to conquer Nagorno-Karabakh". This statement is also completely contrary to international laws because Nagorno-Karabakh is our land. How can a country conquer its own land? Such statements completely contradict the mandate of the Minsk Group. We just want the internally displaced persons who have been expelled from their native lands for about 30 years to return to their homes so that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is ensured. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is as important as the territorial integrity of other countries. -Speaking of black propaganda, since the start of the counter-offensive, a black propaganda campaign against Azerbaijan has been carried out on social media. What can you say about this? What facts do you have in this regard? -You know, black propaganda against us has been going on for many years. There are several reasons for this. One of them is that Azerbaijan is pursuing an independent policy on a global scale. The interests of the Azerbaijani people are at the center of our policy. We have not been, do not want to be and will not become an instrument in the hands of other countries. The development of today's Azerbaijan, the development achieved in all directions testifies that Azerbaijan is on the right path. Look at the successes we have achieved in international relations. Azerbaijan is recognized as a responsible and reliable country on a global scale now. We currently chair the second-largest international organization after the United Nations the Non-Aligned Movement. We were able to achieve this with the support of 120 countries. Today Azerbaijan is a political, geographic and energy bridge between Europe and Asia. In other words, we have achieved all these successes also thanks to an independent policy. Some countries did not like this, some countries tried to look down on Azerbaijan but our resolute position did not allow them to do this. Therefore, one of the reasons for the pressure exerted on us is precisely the fact that we are pursuing an independent policy, we are going our own way, we are not acting on anyone's order and we are not bowing to anyone. There are other reasons as well. This is a long story, it may well be the topic of a separate interview. As soon as these events occurred, those who regularly conducted black propaganda against us, non-governmental organizations, circles, media representatives of some countries immediately took action to tarnish the image of Azerbaijan, slander us, invent utter lies about us in order to form a false opinion and a wrong idea about this conflict. Of course, by fighting against these accusations on our own, we have achieved some success. But our possibilities are also limited. Our voice often falls on deaf ears. We are not provided with an international platform. International media structures are more on the side of Armenia and spread false information about the conflict. Therefore, taking this opportunity, I want to thank the representatives of the media of brotherly Turkey for the fact that these days they are communicating the truth about this war to the whole world, transmitting information live the destroyed cities, dropped missiles, the city of Ganja, the city of Mingachevir, the city of Tartar. In other words, this information, transmitted mostly by Turkish media, serves to form a fair opinion about the conflict. -Mr. President, a few days before the start of the operation, you made an appeal to the leaders attending the UN General Assembly in New York, the United States. You appealed to the whole world. In your speech, you said that some terrorist groups were being sent to Armenia, and you drew attention to this issue. You emphasized, in particular, the need to pay attention to this issue. Three days after this statement, Armenia launched an offensive against Azerbaijan. What intelligence does Azerbaijan have on this issue today? -In that speech, I also said that Armenia is preparing for a new war, we have information about this and Armenia must be stopped. As for the existence of camps of terrorist organizations in Armenia, we had these data before. -What are these terrorist groups? -First of all, there were camps of PKK terrorist groups in the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia. We have new intelligence information some of it has already been published in the media. There are already documents and audio information about their negotiations and contacts. This question did not raise any doubts in us because Armenia is a terrorist country. During the first Karabakh war, dozens of terrorist acts were committed against us in the metro, buses, ships. I believe that the world should recognize the Armenian terror as a disgusting fact known in the world. The man who committed the terrorist act in the French airport in the 1980s was subsequently handed over to Armenia, then released and declared a hero. Therefore, terrorists from various countries flock to Armenia these days. According to our information, Armenians and representatives of other nationalities from the Middle East flock to Armenia to participate in the unjust war against Azerbaijan. -I would like to return to the topic of the OSCE Minsk Group. Russia is one of its co-chairs. What are your expectations from Russia in the region? -Russia as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group also carries out a mediation mission, of course. We have no problem with this. At the same time, Russia is the only country among the three co-chair countries that is our neighbor. Naturally, we have long-term historical relations with Russia. At present, Russia is developing ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is a very important fact. Therefore, there are no problems either in the bilateral format or within the Minsk Group. During these events, Russia's position has been responsible. -Mr. President, what is Iran's position on this issue? -Iranian officials have supported Azerbaijan's just cause. A few days ago, Iranian officials said that the occupation must be stopped, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored and our IDPs must return to their native lands. This is a fair position. -Have you had any contact with US President Donald Trump in this process? Do you consider the presence of the United States in it important? -America is also a co-chair of the Minsk Group. Together with two other co-chairs, they participate in these affairs. I had no contact with the President of America. However, high-ranking US officials have naturally expressed their opinion on this issue and in connection with these events. At the same time, the distinguished Donald Trump also made a statement on this matter. I believe that his statement was complete and logical. Our bilateral ties with America are developing successfully. In many areas, we act as partners. Naturally, America as a superpower expresses its position on this issue. We are satisfied with their position as well. -In July, Armenia attacked the city of Tovuz. Now, in the course of this operation, it strikes at civilian sites and settlements again. You have already said that Armenia is doing this in order to drag Azerbaijan into a provocation. Apart from being drawn into a provocation, does the shelling of these settlements, in particular the city of Tovuz, the Mingachevir power plant and other similar targets, pose a threat to energy security in the region? Can this be viewed as a transformation of energy infrastructure into a target? In particular, I mean the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the TANAP project. What is your take on that? -This, of course, is also one of Armenias goals. They did not even conceal this, and the statements of the Armenian leadership before these events indicated that they intended to strike at our strategic energy infrastructure pipelines, as well as the Sangachal oil and gas terminal, one of the largest oil and gas terminals in the world. In fact, one of the reasons for the Tovuz events was precisely this to occupy new Azerbaijani lands, then strengthen their positions at the negotiating table and, at the same time, either approach our strategic energy communications or take them under control and then dictate their will to us. This is always part of the plans of the Armenian state. They don't conceal that. The strike on the Mingachevir power plant is also an integral part of this plan because it is the largest plant not only in Azerbaijan but also throughout the entire South Caucasus. Even though we have built many stations in recent years, the Mingachevir station today is our largest station providing electricity to a significant part of the country. If it failed, then certain problems could have arisen in relation to energy issues, of course. Today Azerbaijan exports crude oil, natural gas and electricity. We export our surplus electricity. These actions were aimed at our economic potential and once again showed the whole world the criminal essence of Armenia and the Armenian regime. -Mr. Aliyev, how big is the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh? -Today there is not a single Azerbaijani in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have all been expelled from there. The entire Azerbaijani population was expelled both from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and from seven districts adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh in Soviet times, Nagorno-Karabakh was an autonomous region. In Soviet times, in the late 1980s, Azerbaijanis constituted 25 percent of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijanis accounted for 98 percent of the population of the city of Shusha. Shusha is our ancient historical city. At the first stage, all Azerbaijanis were expelled from Shusha, then from Khankandi, other cities and villages, and after that from seven districts adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh. Today, there is no Azerbaijani population in Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent occupied districts. We will now go back there. We already started going back four years ago. But after the end of this confrontation, we will, of course, return to these regions. -You said that Azerbaijanis were expelled from the occupied Karabakh lands. But at present, a large Armenian population also lives in other Azerbaijani lands. What can you say in this regard? -This is natural because there are representatives of many nationalities living in Azerbaijan. They live like one family. Azerbaijan is known as a multicultural country worldwide. This is acknowledged by the United Nations, as well as other international organizations operating in the humanitarian field. Azerbaijan is the land of tolerance, ethnic and religious tolerance. Thousands of Armenians live in our country today and they are our citizens. They also live normally, like all other nationalities. Of course, I am sure that after the end of this war and conflict, the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh today will live with us. Azerbaijan is a multinational country. This has been the case throughout history. I think this is our great advantage. Representatives of other nationalities do not live in Armenia. Armenia is one of a handful of countries in the world where 99 percent of the population is Armenian. All other nationalities were expelled from there. First of all, the Azerbaijanis were expelled, then the rest. Armenia is a mono-ethnic state, and this once again proves that it is a racist country. Representatives of no other nationality can live there. They are either unable to withstand the torment and leave or they are expelled by force. -Dear President, I have a few more questions left, let me ask them. If we come back to the topic related to the theater of operations, has there been a difference after the inclusion of unmanned aerial vehicles and armed unmanned aerial vehicles in the arsenal of the Azerbaijani army? -There is a big difference. Armed unmanned aerial vehicles made in Turkey are a type of weapon created on the basis of the latest and modern technologies, only a few countries in the world have such capabilities. This is a manifestation of the technological, economic and intellectual potential of Turkey. Of course, the possession of such opportunities facilitates our work and saves the lives of our citizens, soldiers, because without them we would have to strike at tanks, cannons and other Armenian equipment from the ground. And this could lead to great human losses. These vehicles give us a great advantage in keeping human losses low. At the same time, they are technologically advanced. -By the way, speaking of air defense systems, the Armenian side has, in particular, such modern air defense systems as S-300 which it had acquired from Russia. The Azerbaijani army also has defense systems, but not these weapons. Do you think this creates a double standard? -No, we have anti-aircraft guns for S-300 which we bought from Russia. We have purchased a large amount of weapons from Russia. There are no restrictions in that area. Therefore, I cannot speak of double standards. The only difference is that we buy them and they are very expensive systems. Armenia often receives them free of charge either as a gift or as a loan. But this loan remains on paper and is never repaid. Naturally, if this expensive armament had not been provided to Armenia free of charge, then Armenias possession of it could not even be a subject of discussion and the conflict would have been settled long ago. The free armament has instilled confidence in them that they would be able to hold these lands under occupation forever. The difference is this. We have the opportunity to acquire weapons from Russia. We buy weapons from other countries as well. There are no restrictions on this issue. There are some countries that have imposed an embargo on the sale of weapons to us but this does not create any particular problems for us because the arms market is now more diversified and its geography is expanding. I recently said that the Turkish defense industry is developing so rapidly today that, I hope our equipment with Turkish weapons will rise to an even higher level in the future. -I would like to touch upon the issue that has drawn our attention here. Wherever we were, in Baku or cities in the conflict zone, in Tartar, we saw the flags of Turkey everywhere next to the flags of Azerbaijan. What would you like to say about this? -In fact, it has always been this way, because Turkey is not only an ally and the closest country for us. Turkey is a fraternal country for us, just like Azerbaijan is for Turkey. The flag of Turkey is a native flag for us, as native as the flag of Azerbaijan. But, of course, this conflict, the clear position of Turkey during these battles, the statements of Mr. President, my brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the support provided to Azerbaijan, the words that "Azerbaijan is not alone" in peoples letters coming from Turkey have, of course, further increased the love of Turkey. You are also witnessing that the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan are waving together in all our regions. At the same time, the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan are waving together in Turkey today. The video footage shown to me is also very touching and we are glad that our Turkish brothers there decorate cars and buildings with the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan. In other words, it is a symbol of true brotherhood and solidarity. There is no other country that would support Azerbaijan like Turkey. There is no country in the world that would support Turkey the way Azerbaijan does. This is our great asset. -My last question, dear President. If the prime minister of Armenia Pashinyan were in front of you instead of me now, what would you tell him? -Basically I have nothing to say to him. We have met many times. Two years ago, in our first contacts after he came to power, I think we had a very good conversation. I had hopes that he, as the new prime minister, would introduce amendments and changes to Armenias aggressive policy and understand that as long as this conflict remains unresolved, peace will not come to this region. As a person who came to power as a result of a coup and made big promises, he will not be able to fulfill them if the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are not normalized. And then there is no need to talk about the economic development of Armenia. I was hoping that he understood this and the first messages from Armenia were very positive. We showed restraint, taking into account their request, and strengthened the ceasefire. It is possible to say that the ceasefire was rigorously observed in the last two years. The Minsk Group co-chairs also noted this in their statements. But what happened next? We realized that he deceived us. I think that this is a very wrong path in politics. You can't lie. Our words do not differ from our deeds. But the words given to us turned out to be a lie. His words that "Karabakh is Armenia, full stop" actually put an end to the negotiations. After that, there were other provocative statements, including such that Azerbaijan should negotiate with Nagorno-Karabakh, i.e. the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh republic". This was a blow to the format of the negotiations. Not only we but also the Minsk Group opposed this. Then in July, they carried out a military provocation in Tovuz, in August they sent a sabotage group and last month they already carried out a large-scale offensive. Therefore, I have said everything to him. Addressing the Armenian people, I want to say that they should hold their government accountable, demand that it stop the fire, end the occupation, not send their children to war, do not send them to Azerbaijan because the so-called "army of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic" consists of citizens of Armenia by 90 percent. In other words, there is no such thing as the "army of Nagorno-Karabakh". Why should a person born in Armenia fight against us on Azerbaijani soil? Therefore, I want to tell the Armenian people that the Armenians live in peace today and will continue to live in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani state is doing everything possible for their normal life. I want to tell the Armenian leadership: the sooner you leave the occupied lands, the better it will be for you. -Dear President, on these historic days when the fighting continues, you have expressed very important thoughts. Once again, on behalf of the CNN Turk TV channel, I express my deep gratitude to you. -I also thank you and CNN Turk TV channel, which broadcasts wonderful reports every day. Interesting live discussions with renowned people are organized in your studios. I express my gratitude to your channel for the unequivocal support of Azerbaijan. Let me also thank all representatives of the Turkish media for being with us on these difficult days. -Thank you very much, thank you again! Thank you! WeChat users say they are finding it hard to chat normally, with posts made invisible or rapidly disappearing. Internet users in China say that it is becoming more difficult to use virtual private networks (VPN) to evade the Great Firewall and read content blocked by government censors. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has stepped up its censorship of social media ahead of its five-yearly congress, with users complaining that it was no longer possible to "speak normally" using Douyin, Weibo and WeChat. "I'm unable to have a normal conversation in any of my group chats with friends, relatives or classmates," the Twitter account @observerincn tweeted on Oct. 4. "I started to climb the Great Firewall [use circumvention software to use sites outside China], to find a place where we could talk normally, but none of my friends or relatives were there," the account said. "Inside the Great Firewall, the thing that prevents people from communicating normally, causing division and confrontation, isn't just the fact that the internet has been hijacked by the devil," it said. "It's also the endless intimidation and abuse." A resident of the eastern province of Jiangsu surnamed Feng said several of her chat groups on WeChat have been blocked in recent days. "A lot of groups are getting blocked," Feng told RFA. "People are setting up up new groups." "My WeChat group was blocked and my friends stopped sending me messages," she said. "It's gotten much worse now; they are stopping people chatting in groups and among followers." "You can chat privately one-to-one," Feng said. One Twitter account replied to @observerincn, saying most blogs, podcasts and livestreams had now disappeared. "There have been a lot of public security announcements that are now blatantly intimidating to ordinary people, telling them not to spread rumors or believe rumors," the account said. "If you're investigated, you will be clearly told that your children and even future generations will be seriously affected." "This is by no means an isolated case, but based on my own experience and that of several friends of mine." VPN crackdown Feng said it is also getting harder for her to use a virtual private network (VPN) to scale the Great Firewall and read content that is blocked by government censors in China. "I can't [get over the wall]; it's blocked and I can't open FreeVPN," she said. "This time, [the controls] are very strict." "The 20th National Congress is on Oct. 16, but police were contacting me and coming to my home as early as Aug. 15 to tell me they were starting stability maintenance measures." Internet technician Li Ming said China's internet censorship had likely had a technological upgrade. "VPNs and virtual private servers don't seem to be blocked, but the use of ... other types [of blocking] are more powerful now," Li said. "They are blocking at the level of protocols, not servers, which probably mean they are capturing data packets." "Now, if you ... enter an address, they block the data packets, which is different from before, so it's probably an upgrade," he said. According to information security site Thousand Eyes, China has always used deep packet inspection as part of its intrusion detection system (IDS). "If the IDS technology detects undesirable content and determines that a connection from a client to a web server is to be blocked, the router injects forged [reset code] into the data streams so that the endpoints abandon the connection," it said. "After blocking the connection, the system [blocks] further communication between the same pair of machines, even for harmless requests that would not previously have been blocked," according to an analysis on the site. "These timeouts can last for up to hours at a time and escalate if more attempts are made to access the censored content." If Li Ming's observation were correct, the system would now be blocking data packets rather than just forcing connections to drop when they are detected. Blocking outside users Users outside China said they are also having difficulty using WeChat. Former 1989 Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, said via Twitter that WeChat appeared to be preventing blocked users from outside China from chatting privately with users back home, a move which he termed "a new firewall." Wang said the move showed that the CCP continues to fear any free flow of information. "Whatever they say about self-confidence this, self-confidence that is fake," he said. "They are living in a turbulent world where they have to fear every shadow, all day, every day." A resident of Sichuan surnamed Zhao said he had noticed his posts on WeChat disappearing more often than before. "Sometimes I post something with a slightly more sensitive title, but I can't get it to send," Zhao said. "Sometimes I will post something, but then, a short while later it's gone, or only visible to me, not to others." WeChat, which is heavily relied upon by millions in China for anything from social contact and news updates to online shopping and fan sites, with 1.26 billion active users by the end of the third quarter of 2022. WeChat's parent company Tencent hadn't responded to a request for comment by the time of writing. Social media users are beginning to give up trying to use the platforms at all. One user in the eastern province of Jiangxi said he had deleted his Weibo account, quit his WeChat groups, and doesn't bother using any China-based chat apps at all any more. Another user told RFA that he had quit all of his WeChat groups, but was re-added to a family group chat so he could stay in touch. The powerful Cyberspace Administration of China said on Sept. 29 that is continuing to run operations labeling unconfirmed posts and comments as rumors, to "rectify the chaos of the rumor mill." It said internet workers at 12 platforms including Weibo, Douyin, Baidu, Tencent, Xiaohongshu, Bilibili, Zhihu and Douban had so far labeled 80,000 items as "rumors." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. The Japanese-controlled islands are also claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. A group of disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China is seen in the East China Sea, in this photo taken by Kyodo September 2012. A Chinese coast guard fleet conducted a patrol near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Friday, the latest of more than two dozen forays into disputed waters this year at a time of high regional tensions over missile launches from North Korea. The patrols came as Pyongyang has been firing ballistic missiles into the waters off the Korean Peninsula in the last two weeks. On Tuesday a missile launched over Japan prompted the U.S. to call an emergency meeting at the U.N. Security Council and to hold a trilateral ballistic missile defense exercise with allies Japan and South Korea. China Coast Guard 2301 fleet conducts a patrol in territorial waters off the Diaoyu Islands on Oct. 7, 2022, the Chinese Coast Guard announced on its Weibo account, referring to the island group by its Chinese name. The announcement came just over a week after three Chinese coast guard vessels spent more than eight hours in the waters off the disputed islands. The Japanese-controlled islands are also claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. Chinese ships have been spotted entering the area that both countries call their own territorial waters 28 times this year. Japan has yet to respond to the latest Chinese incursion, but in the previous incident on Sept. 28, Tokyo dispatched patrol vessels to chase off the Chinese ships and lodged a stern protest with Beijing over the intrusion, which violated international law. Japans Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki told reporters at that time that Beijing's action was "extremely regrettable and totally unacceptable. The crew of the U.S. Coast Guards ship Alex Haley transfers custody of a detained Chinese fishing vessel to China Coast Guard patrol vessel 2301 in the Sea of Japan, June 21, 2018. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Changing status quo Despite repeated protests from Tokyo, Chinese ships have been conducting regular patrols near the islands. The same fleet led by coast guard vessel 2301 carried out a similar patrol early June this year. The Japanese government bought most of the Senkakus from a private owner ten years ago. Since then, China has been using this as an excuse to send the Coast Guard and other agencies ships into Japans contiguous zone almost every day except for stormy weather days, and these ships intrude into Japanese territorial waters several times a month, said the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China Coast Guard ships persistently continue unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the waters around the Senkaku Islands, said the ministry. This includes approaching Japanese fishing vessels inside Japanese territorial waters and intrusions by ships mounted with artillery, it added. Before the governments purchase of Senkakus in 2012, Chinese ships almost never entered Japans territorial waters near the islands, according to the Japan Coast Guard. The Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea northeast of Taiwan that Japan has administered since 1895. On Thursday, Japan, the U.S. and South Korea held a trilateral ballistic missile defense exercise in the waters between Korea and Japan, following North Koreas ballistic missile launch over Japan on Oct. 4, according to a statement from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The three allies also staged a trilateral anti-submarine exercise for the first time in five years on Sept. 30. Pyongyang has carried out six missile launches in less than two weeks as countermeasures to U.S.-led military drills in the region. The U.S. and South Korea responded with missile launches and drills around the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday and Wednesday, without Japan. U.S. and Filipino Marine forces stormed a beachfront facing the South China Sea on Friday in a mock assault aimed at sharpening their skills on coastal defense. The war games, called Kamandag 6, involve 2,550 United States Marines and 630 Filipino counterparts. Unlike the previous five drills, troops from South Korea and Japan two countries that are also seeking to blunt Chinas military influence in the region amid territorial disputes sent troops as observers, officials had announced. On Friday, South Korean troops participated in the drills. What you see here is the strength of democratic allies, said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts who served in the U.S. Marines. There are countries that believe in freedom of democracy and practice it regularly. The drills show that Washington was prepared to work with its Asian allies locked in security concerns triggered by tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, he said. We can work together. It is not easy. Theres a lot of coordination. And that is the strength the U.S. brings to this. Its a historic partnership with countries like the Philippines, Korea and Japan, Moulton told reporters. Amphibious assault vehicles carrying Philippine and U.S. soldiers prepare to land on a beach in the Philippines' Zambales province, Oct. 7, 2022. Col. Romulo Quemado, commander of the Filipino Marines coastal defense regiment, said Fridays drills were meant to sharpen coordination in the area of amphibious landing as well as in responding to chemical or biological attacks. We have continued to build on the combined competencies on amphibious operation that is solid, and more importantly, the continuing relations with our allies and friends in the region, he said. The drills come during the same week as the third resupply of its BRP Sierra Madre outpost along the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the South China Sea since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office. The three resupplies by civilian ships occurred without Chinese intervention, whose ships frequently harassed such efforts in the past. The Kamandag, which means Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea and runs through Oct. 14, will include a combined live-fire exercise in central Luzon featuring aircraft and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as amphibious operations along the islands eastern and northern coasts, military officials have said. The exercises are taking place amid Chinese military expansionism in the South China Sea where Beijing is locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Beijing claims historical rights to much of the region, including waters reaching rivals shores. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone. U.S. Marines establish fighting positions during the Kamandag 6 joint drills with the Philippines, in Zambales province, Oct. 7, 2022. Credit: BenarNews BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. He was jailed on charges of "inciting government employees to commit crimes" by a secret court in Yangon. Prominent Myanmar journalist Sithu Aung Myint, known for his reporting for both local and international media outlets, was sentenced to three years in prison Friday by a junta court on alleged charges of inciting government employees to commit crimes, family members and sources close to the court told RFA. A special court in Myanmars notorious Insein Prison located in the largest city of Yangon handed down the sentence under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code, which has been used by the junta to target opponents since it seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021 military coup. This prison sentence is arbitrary, a person close to the family told RFA. He didnt do anything but write articles, added the source. Sithu Aung Myint, who had worked for Voice of America among other outlets, was arrested Aug. 15 last year at an apartment in Bahan Township in Yangon, I heard he is in good health in prison although he lost weight, the family friend said. Sithu Aung Myint was detained along with Htet Htet Khine, a freelance producer for BBCs Media Action and the presenter and anchorwoman for the Khansarkyi program, funded by the British broadcaster. On Sept. 15, a Bahan Township court sentenced Htet Htet Khine to three years, and on Sept. 27, the a secret court in Insein Prison.gave her an additional three years prison under the Illegal Association Act by Since the coup, the military junta has led a wide-ranging crackdown on journalists and opponents of its rule, leading to condemnation by civil society and international human rights groups. Myanmar journalist Myint Kyaw told RFA that the harsh sentences imposed on reporters this year show the juntas tough policy targeting news outlets to silence its critics. Just the other day, we saw them giving the maximum sentence to a Japanese documentary filmmaker. This is a clear sign that the military council has a very hostile policy toward the news media. We have seen this trend since the middle of 2022. He said outlets have already shown increased restraint in reporting on anything that could go against the juntas line, knowing they could receive the maximum penalties if prosecuted. Sithu Aung Myint's lawyer told RFA that he is planning to appeal the decision. Sithu Aung Myint will face two additional cases for defamation of the state under Section 124 (a) of the Penal Code, which can carry a sentence of life in prison, according to family members and close friends. According to research compiled by RFA that is based on statements from the family members of arrested journalists, 135 journalists have been arrested in Myanmar during the 19 months since the military coup. Seventy have been released so far, while 65 are still detained in various prisons. Among them, 29 journalists have been sentenced to a minimum of one and a half years in prison and a maximum of 11 years in prison. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA Burmese. Written in English by Nawar Nemeh. U.S. official Uzra Zeya asks for international help to end Beijings repression in Tibet. US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya speaks at a gathering held on the sidelines of UN Human Rights Council meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 4, 2022. Tibet now faces a critical moment for the survival of its distinct religious, cultural and linguistic heritage as Chinas policies in the region threaten Tibets national identity, a top U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday. PRC authorities continue to wage a campaign of repression against the Tibetan community, U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya said at a gathering held on the sidelines of UN Human Rights Council meetings this week in Geneva, Switzerland. Central to Beijings campaign to fully absorb Tibet into China is its plan to install a Dalai Lama of its own choosing as a puppet leader when the current 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, now living in exile in India, someday dies, Zeya said. The PRC views this co-optation as critical to eroding international support for Tibet and completing its forcible Sinicization of the six million Tibetans living in the PRC, the U.S. diplomat added. PRC authorities have shown they are willing to act with cruelty when any succession process falls outside the boundaries of their control, Zeya said, noting that Beijing in 1995 abducted another senior Tibetan religious leader the 11th Panchen Lama, then a young child and selected a candidate under Chinas control to replace him. The question of who will select the Dalai Lamas successor is a major point of friction between China, which insists on its right to choose the religious leaders reincarnation, and Tibetans inside their homeland and around the world. Tibetan tradition holds that senior Buddhist monks are reincarnated in the body of a child after they die. The Dalai Lama has said that if he returns, his successor will be born in a country outside of Chinese control. Global implications PRC interference in Tibetan Buddhism extends well beyond PRC borders and has global implications, Zeya added. In fact, PRC policies on the succession issue are part of broader efforts to reshape and undermine human rights globally, including through transnational repression and acts targeting the right to freedom of religion or belief. The United States will continue to call out PRC authorities for their repression against the Tibetan community, Zeya said, calling on likeminded governments, civil society, and other stakeholders in the international community to join U.S. efforts to press for a change in Beijings policies in Tibet. The U.S. Tibet Policy and Support Act of 2020 makes it official U.S. policy that the Dalai Lamas succession is a strictly religious matter that can be decided only by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community. If Chinese leaders attempt to identify a new Dalai Lama, they will face sanctions under the Act that could include having their assets frozen and their entry to the United States denied. Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force more than 70 years ago, following which the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world. Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatism in Tibet. Written in English by Richard Finney. The suicide of a secondary school teacher in southeastern Vietnam last month who described her profession as horrible has stirred debate over the pressures facing educators. The 33-year-old woman, identified in Vietnamese media only by the initials VTHP, left her classroom at the Hai Cang Secondary School after the first morning session on Sept. 20 and went missing for four days. Residents of Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province, where the school is located, found her body next to a motorbike and a backpack containing teaching materials and what appeared to be a suicide note. If I have any next lives, I would never want this noble profession, it read. It is horrible. The teacher, originally from the provinces Phu Cat district, went on to write about the stress educators face in Vietnam. "Apart from a lot of teaching pressure in class, teachers still have to worry about whether their names are on the list of people making mistakes or not, she wrote. Time is too limited while the workload is too heavy. Teachers have to bear so many things. The note also cryptically referred to an unacceptable incident which made me decide to leave this life today, suggesting there was a specific event that pushed the woman over the edge. I wish after I pass away, no teachers would be allowed to attend my funeral, she wrote. Other teachers said the pressures they face have been unbearable at times. I completely understand why the teacher came up with the idea of killing herself, said an educator from Hanoi with more than 20 years of experience who asked not to be identified. In addition to teaching, they are also responsible for many things for their students, families and school, including students grades and performance, students behavior and ethics, and class achievements, she said, adding that the suicide has prompted her to consider creating a support group for teachers. Recent data suggests that teachers are unhappy in their jobs. Since January 2020, more than 5,500 government officers have resigned, 44% of them from the education sector, according to Vietnamese state media. In southeastern Vietnam, more than 1,200 teachers in Dong Nai province quit their jobs between early 2021 to mid-2022, while 527 educators in Binh Duong province resigned during the same period. The education department in the capital of Hanoi also has reported many cases of resignations. Bottle of poison On Thursday, Col. Phan Sau, chief of police in Quy Nhon, told local media that investigators had not yet completed a report on the cause of the womans death and were waiting for autopsy results from the forensics agency. An employee of the Binh Dinh Forensic Center told Vietnam's Workers newspaper said the cause would not be determined until after an examination, but that a bottle of poison had been found at the scene. The teachers father told reporters on Thursday that his family had not received any word from authorities about what caused his daughters death. The mayor of Quy Nhon, capital of Binh Dinh province, told local media that the woman, whom he referred to as Teacher P, was a gentle and dedicated person who was devoted to her students, though she had experienced a problem with one of them. The parents of a sixth-grader at the teachers school secondary school in Vietnam goes from grades 10 to 12 complained that she had hit their child, he said. School administrators then asked the teacher to write a report explaining the incident. In her report, the educator said she lightly struck the student for failing to take notes in class or complete homework assignments. She acknowledged that she made a mistake, and the students family said it would withdraw the complaint. Union support? The teacher's death also raised questions about whether the schools trade union could have offered her more support before she took her life. Generally, the teachers union doesnt provide help in managing stress or offer counseling services, the educator from Hanoi said. Instead, the bodys main tasks are to attend the funerals of employees deceased family members on behalf of the school and to visit sick colleagues and give them some gifts, the teacher said. Individuals who dont have standing [in an organization] have to find the safest way to protect themselves, she said. Therefore, they do not dare to speak up when their colleagues face injustice or oppression. Trade unions are useless, and they cannot protect teachers, she said. La Minh Luan, a retired teacher, raised questions on Facebook about the role of school administrators and why they appeared to not have supported the woman. Why couldnt she bear with your way of management and behavior so that she had to take her own life? You guys are not without responsibility, he wrote in a post. If the management was prejudiced against her, I would question the responsibilities of the schools trade union that looks after laborers rights and interest. A representative at Hai Cang Secondary School said the school had taken a number of measures to take pressure off the teacher. Internal issues are settled democratically in accordance with the school stipulations, said the representative, who did not provide a name. However, the teacher [who committed suicide] also faced other issues in life that were unclear. Do Viet Khoa, a Hanoi-based educator, told RFA that news of the suicide was very painful for teachers like him. He wondered if sharing her struggles on social media as well as with family and friends might have helped but he also recognized that doing so publicly could get her in hot water. If I shared that idea publicly, I immediately would be put in jail within the following week, the teacher said, Do said he knew first-hand of the vengeful acts and suppression by superiors at schools. Unfortunately, in many schools across the country, the principals become thugs, rascals and despicable, petty people who do harm to others, cheat students parents and harm teachers, he said. This kind of story is not rare and perhaps my case is a typical one. After he accused the then-principal of his school of violating regulations and having extramarital affairs, he was isolated, Do said, and threatened for many years. He even took legal action against his adversaries, though his case has not been handled properly, he said. Vu Minh Duoc, Director General of the Department for Teachers and Education Managers Affairs under the Ministry of Education and Training, said there were many reasons for teacher resignations, including low income and pressure from students parents and society, according to an article by the online newspaper VietnamNet. To avoid stressful situations that could prompt other teachers to take their lives, the female teacher in Hanoi who wished to remain anonymous suggested that those who experience retribution share their stories with teachers communities and equip themselves with legal knowledge to fight for their legitimate rights and benefits. First, they need to connect with a community or surrounding colleagues to share their stories and get advice, she said. Then they need to seek help from lawyers and equip themselves with legal knowledge to take legal proceedings against their bosses, she said. Having a good understanding of related laws and their basic rights would enable them to identify whether their schools policies and deeds are right or wrong in order to fight back. Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to human rights activists in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine against the backdrop of harsh crackdowns by Minsk and Moscow on dissent and the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. The head of the Norwegian Nobel committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, said on October 7 that jailed Belarusian human rights activist Ales Byalyatski, Russian rights group Memorial, and Ukraine's Center For Civil Liberties, had been awarded the prize for 2022. The committee said the laureates have made an outstanding effort to document "war crimes, human right abuses, and the abuse of power" while demonstrating "the significance of civil society for peace and democracy." Despite the announcement coming on the 70th birthday of President Vladimir Putin, Norwegian Nobel Committee chief Berit Reiss-Andersen said that while the awarding of the prize to those critical of him and regimes like his was not a direct message to the Russian leader, it was a way to highlight the "way civil society and human rights advocates are being suppressed." French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the decision, calling the winners "unswerving defenders of human rights in Europe." "Ales Byalyatski, the Memorial NGO in Russia and the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine: the Nobel Peace Prize pays tribute to unswerving defenders of human rights in Europe. As peacemakers, they can count on France's support," Macron wrote on Twitter. U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the winners for championing human rights in the face of "intimidation and oppression." The winners "remind us that, even in dark days of war, in the face of intimidation and oppression, the common human desire for rights and dignity cannot be extinguished," Biden said in a statement. The 60-year-old Byalyatski, who founded the Vyasna (Spring) rights group in Belarus, is currently in prison on tax evasion charges his supporters have rejected as politically motivated. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, said she was proud that Byalyatski received the award and it will mean the world will pay more attention to Belarus and its political prisoners. "Of course, I would like to hug him. I remember the last time when we met each other he said: 'Svyatlana, do what you do. Defend Belarus on the international stage. Talk about us. We, as human rights defenders, will do our job,'" she told RFE/RL's Belarus Service during a meeting of EU political leaders in Prague. She added that the award highlights the importance of Belarus in the European context. "I hope that this will give our political friends certain push to draw attention to Belarus even more, work more, put pressure on the regime so that all political prisoners, including Ales Byalyatski, will be released as soon as possible." Since a 2020 presidential election handed authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term in power despite opposition and international cries that the vote was rigged, thousands of people have been beaten, detained, and tortured by security forces for voicing dissent. Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatol Hlaz said a number of decisions by the Nobel Committee in recent years had been "so politicized thatAlfred Nobel had to turn over in his coffin." He added in comments quoted by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the Belarusian government "simply lost all interest in it at a certain stage." Olav Njolstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, dismissed the criticism. "I'm quite sure we understand Alfred Nobel's will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk," he said. Russia's Supreme Court shut down Memorial, one of the country's most respected human rights organizations, last December saying the group had violated the controversial law on "foreign agents." Memorial has since created a new group, Memorial, The Center To Defend Human Rights, which operates without the status of being a legal entity. The prize was announced on the same day that a court in Moscow was holding a hearing on seizing Memorial's assets, the rights group noted. "Putin has banned Memorial, but the world recognizes true heros," said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics. Lana Estemirova, the daughter of Natalya Estemirova, the slain head of the Memorial Human Rights Center's office in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya, told RFE/RL that she "cried and was emotionally overwhelmed" when she heard that Memorial was named by the committee. "Memorial is just an incredibly important organization for the Caucasus," she said, adding that winning the award will be a blow to the Kremlin-backed, authoritarian leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. "For [Kadyrov], Memorial and my mom were opponents whom he was ready to destroy. They criticized his activities openly and were not scared of him," Estemirova said. Kadyrov has been accused by Memorial and other rights groups of overseeing abuses against perceived opponents, roundups and summary procedures by law enforcement, as well as numerous intimidation tactics since taking power with the Kremlin's backing in 2007. Natalya Estemirova led Memorial's office in Chechnya and documented extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and other abuses by law enforcement officers in the region before she disappeared in Chechnya's capital, Grozny, on July 15, 2009. Her body was found hours later in neighboring Ingushetia with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Nobody has been convicted of her killing. The Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties, founded in 2007, has worked to strengthen Ukraine's civil society while also pushing to further the rule of law and adherence to international law. Its work documenting war crimes and human rights violations has gained importance since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Proud to be awarded #NobelPeacePrize, this is a recognition of work of many human rights activists in Ukraine and not only in Ukraine," the group said in a tweet. Russian air strikes have destroyed almost one-third of Ukraine's power stations since October 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 18 as Moscow launched a fresh wave of air attacks that hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, targeting residential areas and energy infrastructure. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Zelenskiy tweeted that the attacks had caused massive blackouts across Ukraine and that there was "no space left for negotiations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Another kind of Russian terrorist attacks: targeting (Ukraine's) energy & critical infrastructure. Since Oct 10, 30 [percent] of Ukraines power stations have been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country. No space left for negotiations with Putin's regime," Zelenskiy wrote. The Kyiv prosecutor's office said two people were killed in the October 18 strikes in the Ukrainian capital after five others lost their lives in drone attacks the previous day. Earlier on October 18, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office, said there had been three Russian strikes on an unspecified energy facility in northern Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack was on "critical infrastructure." The northern Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr was left without water and electricity supply after Russian air strikes, its mayor said. Russian troops also shelled energy facilities in Dnipro and, previously, in Zhytomyr, and blasts were reported in Kharkiv. Explosions also shook the cities of Kriviy Rih and Mykolayiv, local officials said, a day after Russia launched waves of kamikaze drone strikes that killed at least seven people, four of them in Kyiv, and damaged infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital and several other cities across the country. "Kriviy Rih. Explosions in the northern part of the city. We are in shelters," Oleksandr Vilkul the head of the central Ukrainian city's military administration said on social media, adding that so far there were no reports of casualties or damage. In the southern port of Mykolayiv overnight shelling killed at least one person, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych said early on October 18. On the same day, British intelligence identified the drones used by Russia in the attacks as being Iranian-made. In its daily intelligence bulletin on October 18, the British Ministry of Defense said that Russia's heightened tempo of long-range strikes over the past week against targets across Ukraine included so-called kamikaze drones provided by Iran. "[Strikes] have been conducted by cruise missiles, air defense missiles in a surface-to-surface role, and Iranian-provided Shahed-136 one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles," British intelligence said. U.S. President Joe Biden's spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, told reporters that the White House strongly condemns Russias missile strikes and said the attacks continue "to demonstrate [Russian President Vladimir] Putins brutality. She said the United States "will continue to impose costs on Russia, hold them accountable for its war crimes." The United States, Britain, and France agreed that Iran supplying drones to Russia would violate a UN Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on October 17 that more than 100 such drones had struck Ukraine in the past week, hitting power stations, sewage treatment plants, bridges, and playgrounds. "A third of Ukraine's energy infrastructure was affected," a ministry statement said. "We call on Tehran to immediately stop supplying Russia with any weapons. Otherwise, Iran and its leadership will bear the strictest responsibility, including within the framework of international legal proceedings addressing Russia's crimes against Ukraine." Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed earlier on October 17 to the foreign ministers of the European Union to impose sanctions on Iran over drone supplies to Russia. Both Russia and Iran have repeatedly denied that Iranian drones are being supplied to Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 18 that Moscow had no information about whether or not Iranian drones were used in attacks against Ukraine earlier this week. On October 17, Iran also stuck to its denial that it is supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Asked for comment, the Iranian mission to the United Nations repeated a statement issued by the government on October 14 that said it supports upholding the UN Charter and the UN attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The United States warned on October 17 that it would take action against companies and nations working with Iran's drone program. "Anyone doing business with Iran that could have any link to UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or ballistic missile developments or the flow of arms from Iran to Russia should be very careful and do their due diligence -- the U.S. will not hesitate to use sanctions or take actions against perpetrators," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. "Russia deepening an alliance with Iran is something the whole world -- especially those in the region and across the world, frankly -- should be seeing as a profound threat," Patel said. With reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, and AFP Sixty-year-old Belarusian Ales Byalyatski has been fighting for democracy and human rights in his beleaguered homeland his entire life. On October 7, after having been nominated for the prestigious prize at least five times, Byalyatski's life's work was honored with a Nobel Peace Prize, which he shared with the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties and the embattled Russian group Memorial. Byalyatski "is a living legend of the Belarusian fight for freedom," wrote opposition politician Franak Vyachorka, an adviser to opposition leader Syatlana Tsikanouskaya, in a post on Twitter. "He was jailed and beaten multiple times, but he got up and continued his struggle every time." Valer Kavaleuski, another Belarusian opposition politician, described Byalyatski as "the soul and conscience of the Belarusian nation, who [has] devoted [his] life to defending rights and freedoms far beyond national borders." WATCH: Speaking to RFE/RL's Belarus Service in Paris on October 7, Tsikhanouskaya said the award would "draw attention to the issue of political prisoners and torture in prisons" in Belarus. As news of the honor came, Byalyatski himself was in pretrial detention facing tax-evasion charges that his supporters dismiss as politically motivated retribution on the part of the government of longtime Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. He has been held without trial for 15 months and, if convicted, could face up to seven years in prison. On September 25, he marked his 60th birthday behind bars. Political Prisoner Byalyatski, a literary scholar by training, began his activism during his student days in the early 1980s. Years before the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was among those advocating an independent, democratic Belarus. He served on the Minsk City Council of Deputies between 1991 and 1996. During the Soviet attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, Byalyatski and other city council members issued an open appeal urging the people of Minsk to "seek all constitutional means" to resist the KGB-linked usurpers. On September 5, 1991, Byalyatski brought to the city council chamber the first white-red-white flag of the short-lived Belarusian democratic republic of 1918 -- a now-outlawed democratic symbol that has been adopted by the anti-Lukashenka opposition. The banner that he brought was later flown over the building during the early, optimistic years of independence. In 1996, he founded the Vyasna Human Rights Center, which was originally a Minsk-based organization with the name Vyasna-96. In 1999, it was reborn as a national nongovernmental rights organization. The NGO was outlawed by the Belarusian Supreme Court in October 2003 for its role monitoring the country's 2001 presidential election. It has continued its work, however, as an unregistered NGO. The main work of the organization has been defending and supporting political prisoners. The group -- and Byalyatski personally -- has regularly been harassed and persecuted by Lukashenka's government since its founding. In 2011, Byalyatski was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison on tax-evasion charges that he rejected as politically motivated. European Union governments and the United States criticized the prosecution and labeled him a political prisoner. International rights groups and United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus Miklos Haraszti called for his release. Byalyatski's conviction "is a disgraceful example of abusing the courts for political ends," Hugh Williamson of Human Rights Watch said at the time. "The trial had next to nothing to do with tax evasion and everything to do with the Belarusian government trying to silence someone who for many years dared to help victims of abuse." He was released from prison on June 21, 2014, and immediately resumed his activism. In an interview with RFE/RL in 2016, Byalyatski said Lukashenka -- who has ruled Belarus since 1994 -- was "at his very core a post-Soviet dictator" who feels "at home in the dictators' club" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and "all those Central Asian tsars." "European democratic society is completely alien to him," Byalyatski said. "For someone who has spent 22 years watching the outside world through the glass of his presidential limousine, it is probably hard for him to understand what democracy is really all about." 'My Hero' The disputed 2020 presidential election, which was used to give Lukashenka a sixth term as president and which the opposition and international monitors have rejected as fraudulent, set off a massive wave of protests across Belarus and a monthslong standoff between pro-democracy activists and the authoritarian government. Vyasna played a prominent role documenting the Lukashenka government's often-brutal crackdown against demonstrators and providing aid to imprisoned citizens and activists. Many of the group's members were raided and arrested. In July 2021, Byalyatski was arrested again and, in October 2021, was again charged with tax evasion. He has been in pretrial custody for well over a year. In all, Byalyatski has been prosecuted more than 20 times for his activism. Byalyatski has the magic of teaching people around him not to react emotionally to problems, said Vyasna activist Ales Burlakov. When something happens, he very calmly and soberly assesses what needs to be done. Belarusian rights activist Dziyana Pinchuk told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that she learned the fundamentals of human rights from Byalyatski. That is why now when I feel hopelessness and despair and cant see the light, I always remember Ales, she said. In another Twitter post, Vyachorka called Byalyatski my hero, writing that the activist had helped him the first time I went to jail, at age 18. Well Decorated The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize is far from the first major international honor to be bestowed on Byalyatski. In 2006, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee awarded him the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award. In 2012, he was awarded the Human Rights Defenders Award by the U.S. State Department. Poland honored him with the Lech Walesa Award in 2012, the same year that he won the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europes Vaclav Havel Human Rights Award. In 2020, he was named among many Belarusian opposition activists in the citation of the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize. The same year, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the alternative Nobel, by Swedens Right Livelihood Foundation. With reporting by RFE/RLs Belarus and Ukrainian services Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has welcomed the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Belarusian human rights activist Ales Byalyatski. Speaking to RFE/RL's Belarus Service in Paris on October 7, Tsikhanouskaya said the award would "draw attention to the issue of political prisoners and torture in prisons" in Belarus. Ukrainian forces pressed ahead with their counteroffensive to liberate Moscow-occupied territories, handing Russian forces a series of defeats that have prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to warn the threat of the Kremlin using nuclear weapons was the highest in six decades. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made thinly veiled threats to use his nuclear arsenal in Ukraine, and Biden told U.S. media on October 6 that Putin was "not joking." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since [the time of U.S. President John F.] Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis" in 1962, Biden said in New York, adding that "we're trying to figure out what is Putin's off-ramp." In 1962, the United States under Kennedy and the Soviet Union under its leader, Nikita Khrushchev, came close to using nuclear weapons over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Russia last week officially incorporated four Ukrainian regions that it only partially controls in a move that violated international law, and Putin, who marks his 70th birthday on October 7, said Moscow would see Ukrainian attacks on those regions as attacks on Russia itself and would use all means to defend them. The move came amid rapid Ukrainian advances, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announcing on October 6 more wins in Kherson, one of the four regions claimed by Moscow. "More than 500 square kilometers have been liberated from Russian occupiers in the Kherson region alone" since the start of the month, Zelenskiy announced in his nightly address. The recaptured territory was home to dozens of towns and villages that had been occupied by Russian forces for months, southern army command spokeswoman Natalia Gumeniuk said. Kherson, a region with an estimated prewar population of around 1 million people, was captured early and easily by Moscow's troops after their invasion launched on February 24. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were also advancing in Donetsk and Luhansk in the east and voiced optimism about recapturing territory lost in the southeast in Zaporyzhzhya -- the fourth of the regions illegally declared by Moscow as part of the Russian Federation. "There are successes in the east as well. The day will surely come when we will report on successes in the Zaporyzhzhya region as well, in those areas that the occupiers still control," the president said. The claims could not be independently verified. Russian forces, meanwhile, struck the city of Zaporyzhzhya again on October 6. A missile demolished an apartment block and killed 11 people in the city, the emergency services said. In a separate video address to a new security and energy cooperation forum gathered in Prague, Zelenskiy accused Russia of deliberately targeting the same spot twice in succession. "In Zaporyzhzhya, after the first rocket strike today, when people came to pick apart the rubble, Russia conducted a second rocket strike. Absolute vileness, absolute evil," he told the European Political Community. Moscow says it does not deliberately target civilians. In the Kharkiv region in the northeast, a Ukrainian general said on October 6 that Kyiv's forces had advanced up to about 55 kilometers over the past two weeks. In the eastern Donetsk region, the Ukrainian General Staff said Russian troops had blown up a dam near the city of Slavyansk as they withdrew, inundating the nearby town of Rayhorodok. The report could not be independently confirmed. As Ukrainian forces continued to make advances into several of the four regions seized by Moscow, a senior Russian lawmaker called on military officials to tell the truth about developments on the ground. "We need to stop lying," the chairman of the lower house of parliament's defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, told a journalist from state-run media. "The reports of the Defense Ministry do not change. The people know. Our people are not stupid. This can lead to loss of credibility." With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and RFE/RL's Russian Service European Union leaders have agreed to give more financial and military aid to Ukraine, but they were no closer to deciding on whether or how to cap gas prices after holding an informal summit in Prague on October 7. Most of the EU's 27 countries want a cap on gas prices to deal with soaring prices amid a decline in gas supplies from Russia. The EU has been discussing a price cap for weeks, but disagreements over details of how to do it have left it without a result. Gas and electricity prices have skyrocketed because of Russia's turning off the taps in response to the EU slapping successive waves of sanctions on Moscow for its war in Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a "road map" of measures to help ease the burden -- including a potential price cap. Ideas include capping the price of Russian gas imports, reducing the price of other gas imports, limiting the price of gas used for electricity generation, and capping the price of gas transactions within the bloc. "Everyone agrees we need to lower power prices but there is no agreement what instruments to use to that end exactly," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin also said that "lots of work needed to be done" still before an agreement emerges. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the bloc's executive later this month will present EU leaders with a broader package of short-term measures to lower prices and longer-term steps to redesign the electricity market. As the meeting in Prague closed, France announced it has created a fund for Ukraine to directly buy weapons and other materiel directly from arms manufacturers. "We are setting up this special, dedicated fund initially with 100 million euros to allow the acquisition of equipment that we have already delivered and that we will continue to do so in terms of weapons, meaning defensive ones," President Emmanuel Macron said. He added that discussions were being held, particularly with Denmark, to deliver more highly accurate CAESAR truck-mounted cannons to Ukraine. This would be in addition to the 18 it has already given. The bloc's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said earlier during the summit that he wanted the bloc to earmark more money for military support for Ukraine, including for training, and that specific proposals on that could be approved later this month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would make an important contribution to the European training mission. On the gas price cap matter, Scholz said the meeting had helped clear "misunderstandings" about Berlin's plan to spend up to 200 billion euros ($196 billion) in subsidies to shield German consumers and businesses from soaring energy costs. Morawiecki had criticized the plan as an attempt to use the crisis to gain a competitive advantage for German businesses. Scholz countered by saying that other EU countries, including France and the Netherlands, had their own support measures in place. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the EU leaders virtually, calling for more air systems to defend Ukrainian energy infrastructure from Russian strikes. "Russia brought war to our land...and only thanks to the fact that the Ukrainian people stopped this invasion by Russia, Russia cannot yet bring the same war to other parts of Europe, in particular, the Baltic countries, Poland, and Moldova," Zelenskiy said, according to a transcript on his website. He also called for international pressure to remove Russian troops from the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in occupied Ukraine, and for funds to rebuild Ukraine. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa Leaders from nearly all European countries gathered in the Czech capital, Prague, on October 6 for the inaugural meeting of the European Political Community (EPC). Just another talking shop? Or a good forum for getting things done? RFE/RL looks at the main takeaways from a day full of meetings. What's The Purpose Of The EPC? Many, including some officials from various European countries, wondered beforehand what the point really was of this meeting. It was something of an unknown, or as one diplomat put it to me, "an empty canvas." Besides, weren't there already enough summits, institutions, and organizations bringing the continent's politicians together? Apparently not. Judging from the background briefings and official statements during and at the end of a day full of plenary sessions, bilaterals, and roundtables, the verdict appeared to be that the EPC indeed was a good thing and that leaders liked the "freer" format in which everyone seemed to bump into each other in the labyrinth of corridors in the Prague Castle. No one questioned its utility -- at least outwardly. So what is the EPC then? There was no final declaration; it still has no real structure, nor budget, or a secretariat, flag, or logo for that matter. "An informal platform" is how the host, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, described it and noted that it offered a space to discuss all sorts of pressing issues among countries that rarely meet. French President Emmanuel Macron, the driver behind the new community, called his oeuvre, "an opportunity to build a strategic intimacy in Europe." Was Anything Really Achieved? Roughly, three things. Firstly, that it makes sense to continue. Secondly, the locations of the next three meetings: the Moldovan capital of Chisinau in May 2023, followed by Spain later that same year, and then the United Kingdom in the first half of 2024. The hosting will rotate between the 27 EU member states and the 17 non-EU countries. But the third, and most important achievement, was perhaps the meeting itself, or at least its symbolic value. Amid the war in Ukraine, the biggest on the continent for decades, everyone invited showed up even though they might not see eye to eye on many things. When historians look at the family photo taken in Prague, there will be two glaring omissions: Belarus and Russia. That image alone speaks volumes. In terms of what was actually decided, it was all pretty vague. For the next summit in Moldova, the leaders will work on "common projects." While there was nothing concrete, Macron noted several spheres where he thought more cooperation is possible: securing key infrastructure such as pipelines, cables, and satellites; stepping up the fight against cyberattacks; creating a support fund for Ukraine; working out a common, pan-European energy policy; and looking into the possibility of having more university and student exchanges. All Smiles...Or? Considering that so many politicians showed up, it was a rather sedate affair. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, so often a troublemaker at these types of gatherings, was reportedly in a good mood and British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who isn't having the best political week back home, seemed to enjoy herself. She even declared that Macron was "a friend" after publicly doubting her relationship with the French president during the British Conservative Party leadership campaign in the summer. But scratch a bit beneath the surface and there was a fair bit of tension. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki used most of his doorstep speech to slam Germany, saying that Berlin could not dictate European energy policy -- setting the scene for what might be a tense informal summit of EU leaders on October 7. At that meeting, everything from gas-price caps to energy-market interventions will show the real divisions within the EU. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was also not impressed by Croatia, accusing Zagreb of removing a paragraph from the EU's latest sanctions package in which Serbia and other landlocked Western Balkan countries would benefit from an exemption, allowing them to still receive Russian seaborne crude oil. And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn't miss an opportunity to stir things up a bit, using his speaking time at the common dinner to accuse Greece of escalating tensions -- to which Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reportedly snapped back that Ankara should stop challenging the sovereignty of Greek islands. Armenia, Azerbaijan Keep Talking It started with an early picture coming out of the summit showing the Armenian and Azerbaijan leaders, Nikol Pashinian and Ilham Aliyev, huddling together with Macron, Erdogan, and Orban. After that followed an officially organized meeting between the pair, Macron, and European Council President Charles Michel, who has been increasingly involved in trying to reduce tensions between Baku and Yerevan after recent border clashes. That meeting lasted well over an hour, and they reportedly met again in the same format later. And after the final press conferences in the evening of October 6, when most other leaders were long gone, the very same quartet got back into the meeting room for another round. A source with knowledge on the matter who wished to remain anonymous told me that the South Caucasus pair in fact talked to each other many times on the edge of the summit. After a long night, they came to an agreement that Armenia will facilitate a civilian EU mission for two months along its border with Azerbaijan, starting already in October -- a mission Baku agreed to cooperate with. Quite what change that will make in the tense relationship remains to be seen, but it is worth noting that both Armenia and Azerbaijan appear to recognize Russia's waning influence in the region and the need to look elsewhere for mediators. An Iranian coroner's report says Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head or limbs but was instead linked to disease, disputing family objections that the 22-year-old was in good health when taken into custody for purportedly wearing a hijab improperly. The state-controlled ISNA news agency said on October 7 that the Forensic Medicine Organization had determined "underlying diseases" were the cause of death while making no mention of whether she had suffered any injuries. A report on state television added the forensic report showed Amini's death was related to "surgery for a brain tumor at the age of 8." Amini was arrested on September 13 by Iran's morality police and died three days later. Eyewitness accounts said Amini had been beaten during her arrest while her father has said she suffered bruises to her legs, and has held the police responsible for her death, which has sparked a wave of protests across the country over the treatment of women and poor living conditions in the country in general. Meanwhile, the mother of a 16-year-old who was killed during a demonstration in support of Amini has rejected official claims that her daughter fell from a building, saying she died from blows to the head. Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Nasreem Shakrami said she had come under pressure from the authorities to follow the government's narrative -- that her child fell from the upper floor of a building -- concerning her death. Shakrami said the authorities kept her daughter Nika's death a secret for nine days and then snatched the body from a morgue to bury her in a remote area, against the family's wishes. She said that a forensics report showed Nika's body was intact, but that some of her teeth, some bones in her face, and in the back of her skull were broken, leading her to believe he daughter was beaten. "The damage was to her head," she said. "Her body was intact, arms and legs." At least 154 people, including nine children, have been killed during the 18 days of protest, according to a human rights group, with the government warning that the harsh crackdown by security forces against any dissent will continue. However, the spontaneous protests have shown signs of broadening across the country and among different parts of society. The mother of Nika Shakarami -- a 16-year-old who wound up dead after participating in anti-government protests in Tehran on September 20 -- has accused the Iranian authorities of "lying" about her daughter's death in an attempt to "exempt themselves." In a video message sent exclusively to RFE/RL's Radio Farda on October 6, Nika's mother, Nasrin Shakarami, said the authorities "stole" her daughter's corpse so they could bury it in secret and have pressured the family to echo the official and inconsistent account of an apparent killing. Nika Shakarami headed to Tehran's central Keshavarz Boulevard on September 20 to join anti-government protests that broke out across the country after a young woman arrested for not wearing a mandatory headscarf died in police custody. After Nika posted an Instagram story showing her burning her own headscarf, she was never seen alive again. Now -- like the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini whose death on September 16 sparked the ongoing wave of demonstrations -- the unclear circumstances of the 16-year-old Nika's death and suggestions of a cover-up by authorities have made her yet another tragic face of protest in Iran. In a video message sent exclusively to RFE/RL's Radio Farda on October 6, Nika's mother, Nasrin Shakarami, accused the Iranian authorities of "lying" about the circumstances surrounding her daughter's death in an attempt to "exempt themselves." She also said the authorities "stole" her daughter's corpse so they could bury it in secret and have pressured the family to echo the official and inconsistent account of an apparent killing. Nasrin Shakarami said that she last spoke to Nika on the evening of September 20, when she called multiple times while her daughter took part in the demonstrations on Keshavarz Boulevard. "I was in touch with her and asked her to return home. She answered a few times, it was noisy on the other side and the calls kept breaking up," Nasrin Shakarami said. "At around 11:30 p.m., I had the last phone call with Nika. I could hear her friends mentioning the security forces and saying that they were escaping from them. Her phone hung up and was then turned off, and it has remained off ever since." Thinking that Nika must have been arrested, the family went to the police the next day to determine her whereabouts. "Everyone was telling us that they had no records of her, except for one person [official] who kept telling us that she was alright," Nasrin Shakarami said. The official, she said, had sought to assuage her fears by telling her that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had arrested Nika but was not disclosing information about protesters in detention because there were so many of them. "'The IRGC wants to interrogate Nika and she is being kept in a good place. I am confident about what I am telling you,'" Nasrin Shakarami recalled the officer telling her. Finally, after nine days and numerous visits to the authorities, police showed the family pictures of Nika's dead body, setting off a chain of events that led the authorities to bury her in secret against the family's wishes, and the arrests of family members to keep them quiet. Inconsistent Accounts Determining the truth about the circumstances of Nika's death has proved impossible for the family, which Nasrin Shakarami said had faced "enormous pressure" for questioning the official line and publicly discussing the case. There many inconsistencies in the accounts given by the authorities, which amid allegations that she was killed by security forces has maintained that there was no connection between Nika's death and her participation in the protests that night. The protests broke out in the capital and other cities days after Amini's death after her arrest on September 13 for violating Iran's hijab law. More than 150 people, mostly young people including teenagers, have been killed during the protests that have openly called for the end of the mandatory hijab and the overthrow of the countrys clerical regime. Mohammad Shahriari, the head of the criminal prosecutor's office in Tehran Province, said prior to Nika's secret burial that forensic evidence and video footage proved she was killed on September 21 and that her death had nothing to do with the protests in Tehran. "During the autopsy and examination of the body, multiple fractures were observed in the pelvis, head, upper and lower limbs, hands and feet, indicating that the person was thrown from a height," Shahriari said in comments published by the state-run IRNA news agency. Addressing "rumors" that she had been shot while protesting, Shahriari said no bullet wounds were found on the body, which he said was discovered on early on September 21 by residents of a neighboring building who had heard a sound at 3 a.m., but who had not seen anyone fall. Shahriari also said that CCTV footage showed Nika entering the partially constructed building she was allegedly "thrown" from by pushing open an unlocked door, and that her backpack had been discovered by investigators on the roof of the four-story structure. The authorities have cast Nika's death as either a brutal crime or a suicide, and according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, eight construction workers who were allegedly working at the site have been arrested in connection with a criminal investigation. In contradiction to Shahriari's account, Nasrin Shakarami says that the family was told by police that the pictures of Nika's dead body were taken on September 20, the night of the protests, and that they were told upon visiting the morgue on September 31 that her body was delivered there on September 21. A copy of the findings issued on October 2 by the Behesht-e Zahra Organization, the entity responsible for determining the cause of death prior to Nika's burial, states the date of Nika's death as September 21, but says she "died due to multiple injuries caused by the impact of a hard object." Nasrin Shakarami told Radio Farda that the family saw no evidence of the injuries on Nika's body as described by prosecutor Shahriari, and that the "deadly trauma was [only] to her head." "I saw my daughter's corpse myself," she said. "Her body was unhurt. There was only the autopsy suture visible on her chest. Her face and her cheeks were broken. Her teeth were crushed, and she had a big cavity in the back of her skull." While Nasrin Shakarami said that police told her that the delay in identifying the body and the "chaos and unrest" caused the postponement in informing the family about Nika's death, she says "this cannot be true, as she had her ID and her phone with her, and all her belongings have been found [and delivered to the family] except for these two items." Contentious Funeral Plans, Secret Burial Nika's family sought to have her buried in her hometown of Khorramabad, in Iran's western Lorestan Province, where they purchased a plot at a local cemetery and planned to hold a funeral. But those plans became a point of contention after they were given the body on October 1, Nika's mother said. "They gave us the body...and we set off for Khorramabad for Nika's burial," she said. "They made a lot of trouble for us on the way. The authorities, adamant that the body should not be buried in Khorramabad out of apparent concerns that it could attract demonstrators, warned the family not to hold a public ceremony but Nika's mother refused. On the day of the planned burial -- what would have been Nika's 17th birthday on October 3 -- "we found out that they had stolen Nika's body without our consent and that they had buried Nika in a remote village under heavy security," Nasrin Shakarami said. Nika was buried secretly on October 3 in the village of Veysian, dozens of kilometers from Khorramabad, leaving her distraught mother no option but to honor her life in her hometown. The makeshift ceremony drew crowds of mourners, and she was reportedly described as a "martyr" by family members. Pressure On Family Members At least two members of Nika's family who publicly discussed her disappearance, death, and controversial burial were subsequently arrested, after which they emerged on state TV on October 5 suddenly parroting the official line that Nika was thrown from a building and that her death had nothing to do with the authorities' crackdown on protesters. One of those who appeared on state television -- Nika's aunt, Atash Shakarami -- had actively commented on her niece's disappearance on social media until October 2, when one of her last posts indicated that Nika would be buried in Khorramabad the next day. Atash Shakarami was reportedly arrested by security forces in Khorramabad on October 4 and taken to an unknown location, leading to criticism from human rights groups. Prior to her arrest, Atash Shakarami said that Nika had posted a video on her since-deleted Instagram account that showed her burning her headscarf during the September 20 protests. The aunt also said during an interview with BBC Persian that members of the IRGC had told the family that Nika had been held for five days before being handed over to prison authorities. Reports have said Nika was held at Kahrizak prison outside Tehran, but the authorities have not confirmed this. Atash Shakarami, a painter in Tehran, also expressed skepticism about the purported site of Nika's death, the courtyard in the capital's Elkhebal district where the authorities say her body was found after it was "thrown" from an adjacent building. In her appearance on state TV on October 5, Atash Shakharami was shown watching CCTV footage the authorities say shows Nika entering the building from which she was purportedly thrown. When asked who the veiled person in the footage is, the aunt identifies her as "Nika" and later says that her body was found outside the building in Tehran from which the authorities say she was thrown. "I have heard that they have recorded coerced confessions from my sister," Nika's mother, Nasrin Shakarami, told Radio Farda regarding Atash Shakharami's appearance on state television. "I don't really know how I can address this kind of conduct. So abominable, so disgusting," she said. "We did actually expect them to come up with various sorts of lies and excuses to exempt themselves," Nasrin Shakarami added. "The behavior of these people is self-accusatory. I do not need to try much to prove that they are lying." One of Nika's uncles, Mohsen Shakarami, who gave interviews and discussed his niece's mysterious death on social media, was also shown on state television on October 5. After someone appears to whisper to him on-screen, "Say it, you piece of dirt," he spoke out against the demonstrations that erupted after the death of Amini and said the family would follow proper legal channels to determine who was responsible for Nika's death. Nasrin Shakarami said that the authorities have attempted to call her several times in an apparent effort to get her to "confess" that the official account of Nika's death is accurate. "I never answered them, but they have called people close to me and have warned and threatened that Nika's mother must come forward and say what we tell her and confess, she said. "They want to force me into confessing in front of their camera and say that Nika either took her own life or that it was an accident." To receive The Week In Russia in your in-box every Friday, click here. Russia moved to seize four more regions of Ukraine, but battlefield setbacks pose a major challenge to the land grab and have led to an unpopular mobilization drive, prompting many young men and others to flee abroad. As President Vladimir Putin turns 70, are he and the country at a turning point? Memorial, a Russian group that has fought for human rights and historical justice since the Soviet era and is struggling to survive as the state seeks to shut it entirely, won a share of the Nobel Peace Prize in a pointed rebuke to Putin amid his persistent clampdown on civil society and dissent. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. Laughable Land Grabs Wait, what? The Czech Republic is laying claim to Kaliningrad, the small Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea? Well, yes, but only on social media. It's a meme campaign meant to skewer Moscow's attempted annexation of a wide swath of Ukraine, laying bare how breathtakingly baseless it is in the eyes of the international community. Posts advancing the pointed Czech joke multiplied in a week during which Putin's latest and largest land-grab bid moved quickly through parliament after he signed treaties on September 30 with the men Moscow has declared leaders of four Ukrainian regions partially controlled by Russian forces -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya -- and made a patriotic speech proclaiming them to be "Russian forever." There are faux commercials advertising travel to "Kralovec" -- Czech for Koenigsberg, as Kaliningrad was called before it was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union in 1945. The motto "Kralovec is Czechia" mocks both the "Crimea is ours" jingoism surrounding Russia's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula in 2014 and posters put up on Red Square ahead of the Kremlin signing ceremony that read, "Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya are Russia!" There's a real historical link to the Czech Republic: Koenigsberg, founded in 1255, was named in honor of King Ottokar II of Bohemia. There's even a plan for Beer Stream 1, a pipeline that would pump crisp Czech pilsner northward to supply the Baltic exclave -- and poke fun at Moscow's increasingly open attempts to use gas and oil exports to snuff out European Union support for Ukraine amid Russia's war on its neighbor. It's a lighthearted approach to a subject that is, of course, extremely dark and may get darker as Putin's aggressively extravagant designs on Ukraine hit up against the reality of setbacks on the battlefield and solidarity in the West. Since Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, Russian forces have killed thousands or tens of thousands of people, many of them civilians, and ransacked, razed, or severely damaged hundreds of cities and towns, forcing millions from their homes. Moscow stands accused of what U.S. Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya described on October 6 as "chilling patterns of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including evidence of war crimes committed by members of Russia's forces." Liberation' And Death In Russia, on state television and speeches by Putin, the conflict is painted in an entirely different light: not as a war of aggression aimed to subjugate Ukraine and causing untold suffering but as both a fight to free Ukrainians from a "neo-Nazi" government and a struggle against NATO and the West in which Russia's existence is at stake. In an address before signing the agreements that Russia falsely claims make the Ukrainian regions part of Russia, Putin asserted that his country has embarked on a "great liberating mission" rather than a war of conquest. In the weeks and months before the February 24 invasion and in the days afterward, it became increasingly clear to those watching him that his stated views and historical claims about Ukraine were "divorced from reality," as author and analyst Mark Galeotti said of Putin hours after the first Russian missiles struck cities across the country before dawn that day. In speeches and articles revealing what emerged as an apparent obsession with Ukraine, Putin made a mixture of baseless claims and badly flawed arguments against its right to exist as a fully independent country uncoupled from Moscow -- even as he repeatedly asserted that many Western states are U.S. "vassals" that have voluntarily or forcibly abandoned their sovereignty. He has simply ignored many historical facts, such as the overwhelmingly popular vote for independence in Ukraine in 1991 and Russia's formal acceptance of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity following the collapse of the Soviet Union that same year. But if Putin's portrait of history has long depicted something detached from the facts, it was not until after the invasion -- when it became clear his apparent goal of a quick capitulation by Kyiv would not be achieved -- that the stark difference between his vision of Ukraine's future and reality came into relief. That gap has widened ever since, and for Putin that's a problem. The event in the St. George's Hall at the Grand Kremlin Palace on September 30, a week before Putin's 70th birthday, had the trappings of a victory ceremony: a celebration of the acquisition of new lands and of the leader who made it happen. But it came after weeks of gains by Ukrainian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine, and a day before the Russian Defense Ministry announced it had withdrawn its troops from the strategic Donetsk region town of Lyman, a significant setback. Seven months into an invasion that many say Putin expected would be over in Moscow's favor within days, Ukraine's advances have raised questions about whether Russia may not just fail to control the four regions it claims in their entirety but eventually lose all the territory it has seized -- possibly including Crimea. Myth And Reality They have also prompted Putin to decree a military mobilization that has brought hundreds of thousands of Russian men and their families up against the reality of a war that had previously been possible to ignore and sent tens of thousands fleeing for foreign countries. The developments pose what seems to be a growing threat to a president whose popularity and grip on power hinge to a significant degree on imagery and propaganda: the depiction of Putin as an indispensable leader who has raised Russia from its knees, in both economic and geopolitical terms, and brought stability. His grip has been at its weakest when palpable reality shears sharply away from that narrative. It has been undermined repeated by avoidable calamities that reveal corruption, negligence, and rot where the propaganda says there is loyalty, law, and order, such as the deadly mall fire that broke out a week after his election to a fourth term in 2018. Image and reality parted substantially during the COVID-19 crisis: Putin at first suggested Russia would avoid the pandemic, but Russia has now recorded fewer deaths than only three countries: the United States, Brazil, and India, whose populations are far larger. Putin has weathered those reality checks and so far seems to face no imminent threat to his hold on power as a result of the war and mobilization. The Russian retreats have engendered apocalyptic remarks on talk shows, vocal criticism of Russian military brass, and increasingly visible bulldog-bumps in the carpet that covers battles between rival factions in the ruling elite. But "criticism of Vladimir Putin remains absolutely off limits," Francis Scarr, who watches Russian state television for BBC Monitoring, wrote in a tweet. That could change if things get worse for Russia on the battlefield or if the economy suffers more severely from Western sanctions than it has to date. By launching an unprovoked invasion that undermined the country's stability and security rather than improving it, Putin "prioritized his personal obsession above Russia's interests," Kadri Liik, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in an article published the day after the offensive began. Seven months later, the Russian setbacks in Ukraine are bringing new questions to the fore: How far is Putin prepared to go in his quest to make reality conform to his goals in the war on Ukraine, and how far are those around him -- and the Russian populace as a whole -- prepared to go with him? Putin "is explicitly demonstrating that he is going to do whatever it takes to win, even at the risk of undermining his own regime," Russian expert Tatyana Stanovaya, founder and CEO of the political analysis firm R.Politik, wrote in an October 6 article in Foreign Affairs magazine. "Blindly believing in his own rectitude, Putin may resort to nuclear weapons if events in Ukraine continue to confound his ambitions," she wrote. "The key question is whether Russia's elites and broader society are prepared to accompany their president on this journey to hell, or if Putin, in doubling down on his disastrous gamble in Ukraine, has only paved the way for his own end." Editor's Note: The next edition of The Week In Russia will appear on October 21. Shelling has damaged a power line providing electricity to one of the reactors at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said as it announced that its director will travel to Moscow early next week. The shelling forced the reactor to temporarily rely on its emergency diesel generators to run cooling systems, the IAEA said on October 7 in a news release. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The UN's nuclear watchdog said it was informed of the shelling, which took place on October 6, by senior Ukrainian operating personnel at the site. The diesel generators supplied power to the reactor after its connection to the backup line was cut during shelling that occurred in an industrial area outside the power plant's perimeter. The high-voltage external power line is the only one available to the plant. The generators operated for about 90 minutes, while an alternative source of power from four of the other reactors was connected to the unit, whose core cooling was maintained at all times, the IAEA said. "The incident once again underlined the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at Europe's largest nuclear power plant -- now located in an active war zone -- and especially the fragile and vulnerable supplies of external power that are needed for cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions," the IAEA said. Oleksandr Starukh, the Ukrainian governor of Zaporizhzhya, said earlier on Telegram that the Russian military launched a missile attack on the regional center and its immediate surroundings. He added that there was a risk of repeated shelling and warned people to stay indoors. Russia seized control of the Zaporizhzhya plant shortly after it launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The plant's Ukrainian operators have remained on site to run the plant. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has praised the operators as "courageous, skilled, and experienced," saying they have been finding solutions to overcome problems that keep occurring because of the conflict. "However, this is not a sustainable way to run a nuclear power plant. There is an urgent need to create a more stable environment for the plant and its staff," Grossi said. Grossi visited Kyiv on October 6 for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the situation at the plant and the IAEA's proposal to set up a nuclear safety and security protection zone around it. He described his meeting as "excellent," saying on Twitter that there was progress toward a setting up the safety zone. Grossi will travel to Russia early next week for further consultations on the plant, the IAEA said. The agency had previously said Grossi would travel to Kyiv and Moscow this week. Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 5 ordered the Russian state to seize complete control of the power plant after he signed decrees that Moscow claims absorb into Russia four regions that it only partially controls. Ukraine's state nuclear energy company, Enerhoatom, dismissed Putin's move and said Russian documents regarding the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant were "worthless, absurd, and inadequate." The IAEA on October 7 also expanded its presence at the power plant when four IAEA nuclear safety experts arrived to replace two colleagues who had been at the site since September 1. The experts are providing independent and impartial observations and assessments of the situation at the plant. They would also provide support to the nuclear safety and security protection zone if it is established. "Today's rotation underlines our determination that the IAEA will stay at the plant as long as it is required," Grossi said in the IAEA news release. "Their presence is necessary to help stabilize the situation, which remains very difficult and volatile." With reporting by Reuters Two of the laureates of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, announced October 7 in Oslo, have struggled for years against police-state repression, systemic rights abuses, abusive legal systems, and authoritarian or near-authoritarian governments. One, Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski, has been in and out of prison for more than decade. The other, venerable Russian rights group Memorial, has been forced to close after being hit with the punitive "foreign agent" designation. But the third laureate comes from a different place: The Center for Civil Liberties is a human rights advocacy group in Ukraine, which has a flawed but thriving democracy and growing civil society sector. Founded in 2007, the Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties is one of a number of human rights and democracy promotion organizations that have played an increasingly vocal and influential role in Ukrainian civil society. During the 2013-14 Euromaidan street protests, which culminated in the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych, the group's researchers joined an initiative called Euromaidan SOS, which focused on civil rights violations committed by security forces. After the Russian-instigated uprising in the eastern Donbas region, the group got involved in documenting war crimes and torture committed by Russian forces and their local allies. Led by lawyer Oleksandra Matviychuk, the center played a key role in advocating for the release of Ukrainians taken captive by Russian authorities, including filmmaker Oleh Senstov and writer Stanislav Aseyev. In 2016, Matviychuk was awarded the inaugural Democracy Defender Award by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The center's work in documenting evidence of war crimes in the Donbas morphed into more focused research into Russian war crimes after February 2022, when Russian forces launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine. Ukraines government has actively sought to record allegations and evidence of war crimes in places like the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, compiling a growing compendium of evidence to be potentially submitted to the International Criminal Court. According to its 2021 annual report, the group's main donors include the United States and several European governments as well as nongovernmental organizations in the United States and Europe. "It was unexpected of course, but it's always pleasant," Volodymyr Yavorskiy, an expert with the center, said in an interview with Current Time, when asked for reaction to the Nobel award announcement. Yavorskiy also said the award was particularly important for Belarus and Russia, which he described as "authoritarian regimes." "Freedom is the antidote to this war and the antidote to the Russian regime," he said. Meanwhile, some critics of the prize decision grated at the fact that the Nobel committee lumped the Ukrainian group together with organizations from Russia, which is waging war against Ukraine, and Belarus, which is supporting the Russian invasion. "In Belarus and Russia human rights defenders are fighting for the rights of people in dictatorships," Ukrainian-born journalist Anastasia Magazova, wrote on Twitter. "And in Ukraine they document the war crimes of these dictatorships, because missiles fly to Ukraine from Belarus and Russia." "Ukrainians no longer want the world to perceive them in a direct context with Russia and Belarus," wrote Magazova, who covers Ukraine for the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung. "Despite all the merits of the laureates from Russia and Belarus, Ukrainians do not want the struggle for human rights in the three countries to be perceived equally." Not long after the announcement of the prize, Matviychuk, who could not be reached for comment, posted a message to Facebook, where she gave thanks for the prize, and called for, among other things, reforming the UN Security Council, including stripping Russia of its status as a permanent council member. She also called for an international tribunal to try Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. "If we don't want to live in a world where the rules are determined by whoever has the most powerful military, rather than by the rule of law, then things must change," she wrote. "My entire 20 years of experience in the fight for freedom and human rights has convinced me that ordinary people have far more influence than they think," she wrote. "Mass mobilization of ordinary people in different countries of the world and their joint voice can change the world history faster than the intervention of the United Nations." In a 2019 profile, Matviychuk recounted her childhood outside Kyiv, and being asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. "I want to be a good person," she replied. The Ukrainian military has liberated 29 settlements and more than 770 square kilometers in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 7 as Russian and Ukrainian human rights organizations were awarded a share of the Nobel Peace Prize on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 70th birthday. The liberated Ukrainian settlements include six in the Luhansk region -- one of four that Russia illegally annexed after conducting what Zelenskiy said were "pseudo-referendums" on the question of joining Russia. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "In total, since the beginning of this offensive operation, 2,434 square kilometers of our land and 96 settlements have already been liberated," Zelenskiy said, adding up the gains in a counteroffensive that began several weeks ago. "There are also good results in the south of Ukraine this week. Every day we are liberating our land and our people there from the pseudo-referendum. We will certainly reach the lands that were occupied by Russia before," he said in his nightly address. Russia's Defense Ministry said on October 7 that its forces had repelled Ukrainian advances near the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region and had retaken three villages elsewhere in the region. The ministry also claimed Russian forces had prevented Ukrainian troops from advancing on several villages in the southern Kherson region. Reports from the battlefield could not be independently confirmed. They came on the same day that the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Russian rights group Memorial, Ukraine's Center For Civil Liberties, and a human rights activist jailed in Belarus. The awards were seen as a repudiation of Putin, who marked his 70th birthday on October 7. Activists marked the milestone in various ways. In the Georgian city of Batumi, he was "gifted" a ticket to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court is located. In the Russian city of Samara, activist Vladimir Avdonin conducted a solo picket holding a poster with the words "Putin is a criminal." He stood at one of the busiest intersections in the city for about half an hour, according to Idel.Realii. The activist has been "congratulating" Putin on his birthday in this way for several years and has been subjected to searches and fines more than once but was not detained this time. In a show of support for Putin, students in St. Petersburg stood in a formation on a main city square spelling out the phrase "Putin is my president." They were reportedly driven to the square and handed posters and Russian flags before they marched onto the square. Back in Ukraine, an official in the city of Zaporizhzhya said the number of people killed as a result of an attack on October 6 had increased to 14. WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. "Disappointing news continues to come to us from the analysis of debris on the houses that were affected by yesterday's attack," said city council secretary Andriy Kurtev on October 7, expressing condolences to all those who lost relatives and friends. Moscow denies carrying out targeted attacks on civilians despite numerous testimonies to the contrary. An official in the eastern town of Lyman, which was recently liberated by Ukrainian troops, said 200 graves and a mass grave had been discovered there. Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern Donetsk region, published photos on his Telegram channel showing emergency personnel in white protective suits working in a cordoned-off area. Exhumations had already begun, Kyrylenko wrote. According to initial findings, the dead could be both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Ukrainian troops took control of Lyman on October 2 after Russian forces withdrew a day earlier. A mass burial site was found last month near the eastern city of Izyum after Ukrainian troops took over towns in the Kharkiv region. Hundreds of bodies were exhumed, including 30 with signs of torture. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Reuters, and AP The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to Chief Bobby Martin: Thursday shortly after 2 p.m. Sergeant D. Newsome responded to a call of a man staggering in the Lowes parking lot. The man, identified later as Sean Lough, was getting into a vehicle and headed to the ABC Store. Officers had received an earlier call about checking on the 41-year-old Potomac, Maryland, mans behavior. Newsome activated blue lights and siren when Lough began backing out of a parking space. He refused to stop and drove westward down Old Farm Road. Lough veered into the opposite lane and nearly collided with Lieutenant Andy Cash of the Halifax County Sheriffs Office. Lough continued on Old Farm where it turns into Seventh Street. He eventually stopped Seventh and Virginia streets. He faces charges of felony flee to elude, driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger person or property, resist, obstruct, and delay, fail to heed lights and siren, open container, fail to stop for a stop sign, drive left of center and drive the wrong way on a dual-lane highway. He received a $10,000 bond and was scheduled for a district court appearance today. I would like to commend the members of C squad in regards to their response to this situation along with criminal investigations, Martin said. We would also like to extend a thank you to Lieutenant Cash for his assistance in regards to this incident as well. On Tuesday shortly after 5:30 p.m. narcotics Agent C. Batchelor was in the area of Premier Boulevard when he observed Marcus Winborne, who he knew had a revoked license, driving. Batchelor conducted a traffic stop to check the 31-year-old Pleasant Hill man for a valid license. Batchelor noted the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and a search ensued, resulting in 16.5 grams of marijuana in four bags and a digital scale. Winborne was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana, and maintain a vehicle for controlled substances. He received a $25,000 bond and October 27 court date. Newsome assisted. Unlike the daily rise and fall of gold prices in the world market, SJC gold prices have over the last few years risen sharply or soared very high at times, and only occasionally declined slightly. This clearly proves the monopoly hold of SJC on the domestic gold price with a huge difference in its pricing as compared to the world market gold price. SJC prices skyrocket In late 2018, SJC prices were VND 36.32 to VND 36.59 mln per tael (1 tael is around 1.3 oz). At that time, the selling price per tael was about VND 220,000 higher than the buying one. The price remained below VND 40 mln per tael from 2013 till late 2018. However, since 2019, SJC prices have skyrocketed and remained high. In 2019 alone, gold prices made a total increase of around VND 6.2 mln per tael due to the trade tension between China and the USA, causing the price of this precious metal to increase considerably in the global market. By August 2020, the world gold price reached USD 2,063 per oz, surpassing the previous record of USD 1,924 per oz, which happened in September and October 2011, pushing SJC gold price to rise even higher. Gold bars closed at the end of 2020 at VND 55.55 mln to VND 56.1 mln per tael. The General Statistics Office figures show that for the whole year of 2020, the gold price index increased by 28.05% compared to 2019. Hence, the average entire year increase was nearly VND 13.5 mln per tael. In late 2021, SJC gold climbed to VND 60.75 to VND 61.45 mln per tael. When the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in early 2022, the world gold price increased from USD 1,900 per oz to a record high of USD 2,078.8 per oz, rising from 24 February to the peak on 8 March, an increase of USD 178.8 which was equivalent to an increase of VND 4.1 mln per tael at the domestic exchange rate. In the meantime, SJC gold soared from VND 64 mln to the peak of VND 74.4 mln per tael. Now in late September 2022, the world gold price is around USD 1,650 per oz, equivalent to VND 47.5 mln per tael, but SJC gold is currently at VND 64.4 to VND 65.5 mln per tael, which means the difference between the domestic and international prices is approximately VND 20 mln per tael. Along with the upward trend from August 2020 till now, the difference between domestic and world gold prices has been constantly widening. It is obvious that in early 2014, the State Bank of Vietnam stopped bidding for gold because it was stable in both prices and quantity in the domestic market. Therefore, there has been almost no intervention from the State Bank of Vietnam when such intervention is needed to stabilize the demand for gold in the domestic market. This is why the difference in domestic and international gold prices has become increasingly bigger. In 2021, the gap was more than VND 11 mln per tael. In 2022, the world gold price had dropped but the difference has increased by VND 17 mln to VND 19 mln per tael, and at times the difference was nearly VND 20 mln per tael, and is currently around VND 18 mln per tael. Difference in international price In May 2022, a member of the National Assembly raised the question about the unusual development of the domestic gold bullion market when the difference in the domestic and international gold price was too big. This question caused SJC gold to fall slightly at the end of May 2022, from VND 69.9 mln per tael to VND 68.8 mln per tael. At that time, the difference in the SJC and international gold price was VND 16.55 mln per tael. Recently, however, the world gold price dropped sharply to below USD 1,700 per oz, but the domestic price fluctuated only a narrow range, leading to the reoccurrence of the big gap of VND 18 mln to VND 19 mln per tael compared to the world market price. From 2020 until now, SJC gold has continuously maintained its monopoly in the domestic market. The gap between the domestic and international gold prices is still huge due to a very old reason that there is no connection between the domestic and international gold trading. Since 2012, the State Bank of Vietnam has not provided the gold import quota for a number of large gold trading enterprises as well as large joint stock commercial banks. Even domestic gold processing has been strictly controlled by the State Bank of Vietnam and hence the supply of gold is therefore not entirely seamless. The State Bank of Vietnam has also promised to continue bidding when the market requires, but it has been more than eight years and no bidding for gold bar supply has yet been organized. The SJC is a state-owned company, but the mechanism of supplying gold bars for it through gold import or domestic gold stamping is managed by the State Bank of Vietnam as stipulated by Decree 24 issued in 2012. Therefore, SJC is actually just a normal company like any other gold business in the sense that if it can buy gold, it can sell the gold as well. However, if it has difficulty buying gold, it will not dare to sell a lot of it. As a result, it must raise the price to minimize the number of buyers. This explains the fact that when the world gold price increases, gold trading companies also immediately try to adjust the buying and selling prices in the direction of preserving their own capital. The State Bank of Vietnam has confirmed that people do not have the need to buy too many gold bars, for which it has not provided any intervention. The State Bank of Vietnam will only import gold as an intervention measure in times of real need. In fact, no one would have a great demand for SJC gold at the moment when the difference in domestic and world prices is almost VND 20 mln per tael. Moreover, the difference in the buying and selling price of gold in Vietnam is between VND 800,000 and VND 1 mln per tael, which means that when people buy one tael of gold, they immediately make a loss of about one million dong. Gold bar trading companies have also explained that they do not manipulate or set prices, but it is the market demand that decides the trading price. However, observation shows that the fluctuation of gold prices is obviously controlled by gold bar companies in an effort to guarantee security of the metal. It helps that people's indifference to gold bar prices is beneficial for the management of the commodity. However, the monopoly of SJC gold bars also leaves hundreds of tons of gold lying in peoples homes across the country as a potential source of idle money. Perhaps at this time, the operating body has yet to consider changing the way the domestic gold market is managed because the State Bank of Vietnam has taken a very cautious approach in its dealings with the precious metal. In such a situation, any expectation of SJC gold returning to market value price can be ruled out. Cat Tuong Written By Managing Editor she/her | Bridget is the Messengers managing editor. She oversees the newsroom and covers the Maple Run Unified School District and Franklin West Supervisory Union, the communities of Fairfield and Fairfax and pays attention to recreation, food and the arts. She enjoys seeing Vermont by bike and doing the snow dance. Reach her by email or at 802-391-0563. | Its no overstatement to call the newly opened Napizza eatery in Encinitas a labor of love. In fact, you could say the same for the companys last two locations as well. Giulia Colmignoli who co-founded the Roman-style pizzeria chain five years ago with her husband, Christopher Antinucci gave birth to baby boys within days or weeks of opening their last two outlets in 2014 and 2015. Now shes pregnant with their third child, a daughter, who will arrive in early August. I would just say that she works very well under stress when shes pregnant, said Antinucci, 33. Advertisement The Solana Beach couple were born and raised in Rome where they met in grade school, then lost touch in their mid-teens. Colmignoli went to college in England and Antinucci moved to the U.S. at age 19 to study finance at the University of San Diego. When Atinucci was visiting Italy in 2004, they ran into each other and fell in love. She moved to San Diego and they later married. In 2012 with the help of a pizzaiolo, or master pizza-maker, from Italy they opened their first Napizza outlet on India Street in Little Italy. A second location opened in 4S Ranch in July 2014, just days after they welcomed their first son, Giulio. And a third location followed in Hillcrest in June 2015, a few months before son Claudio was born. Napizza co-founders Giulia Colmignoli and Christopher Antinucci of Solana Beach. (Pam Kragen/San Diego U-T) Napizza a Roman slang word for slice of pizza has flourished because its believed to be the only pizza company in San Diego serving authentic Roman-style city pizza. Roman pizza is served by the slice (al taglio) from large rectangular pans and it has more fresh vegetables and less cheese than American varieties. But the main difference is the low-yeast dough, which rises for 72 hours, making for a dough thats wet, and a crust thats light, crispy and filled with air bubbles. Because of the crusts high moisture content, it takes 15 minutes to cook in a 650-degree oven (rather than the standard 3-4 minutes for bready American pizza). Italian expatriates make up a sizable portion of Napizza customers, but for those who dont understand the pizzas unique properties, an entire wall of the 2-week-old Encinitas store is devoted to recipes and diagrams of the three-day process that creates a crust thats light and easy to digest. Under the direction of 4-year master pizzaiolo Alessio Poli, the stores now serve up to 13 varieties of pizza every day, including a few gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Large rectangular slices sell for $3.50 to $5.75. Some varieties are traditional Roman classics, like the top-selling Truffle Porcini variety, made with mushrooms and truffle pate. Some are all-American, like the Pepperoni and BBQ Chicken pizzas. And a few others are a blend of both cultures, like the Bapo, an Italian white pizza with sliced potatoes and rosemary thats been California-ized with sliced avocados and bacon. The restaurant also sells salads, focaccia, vegan soups and Italian desserts, plus beer and wine. All meats are hormone- and antiobiotic-free and non-GMO, the flour is organic, the eggs are cage-free and the fish is sustainably farmed. Beginning next week, the company will introduce online ordering as well as a take-and-bake service. All of the restaurants pizzas are par-baked, meaning theyre cooked to 80 percent doneness, then allowed to rest and dehydrate slightly. Once a customer orders a slice, its crisped up in a high-temperature oven. With the new service, the par-baked slices can now be packaged for home-crisping at 450 degrees. The Encinitas store offers free delivery, even to cellphone customers on the local beaches, via an electric bicycle with a heated delivery case on the back. The company has grown to 70 employees, including a handful of cousins and siblings from Italy. Colmignoli, 36, said the biggest changes at Napizza in recent years havent been in the kitchen but in the corporate culture. Two years ago, the stores were experiencing 120 percent employee turnover each year. She said the mostly Millennial workforce wasnt motivated by money, so she and Antinucci launched their Live Culture Foundation to improve the workplace experience. Employee turnover has since dropped to 25 percent a year, thanks to programs like employee retreats, yoga days, company-paid education programs, employee-led fun and cause committees, community outreach efforts, paid paternity leave and vacation benefits after three years. Although Antinucci said they plan to open another Napizza location later this year, theyre not planning another expansion on the home front. Well definitely open more stores, Antinucci said, but were done having kids after this. Napizza Hours: Opens at 10:30 a.m. daily Location: 615 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas Phone: (760) 452-2340 Online: na-pizza.com ___________________________ pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com About 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid crashed into Earth near the site of the small town of Chicxulub in what is now Mexico. This impact coincides with the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods and is the probable trigger for the last mass extinction in Earths history. The magnitude of the impact released energy equivalent to 1023 joules, enough to generate gigantic earthquakes, mega-tsunamis, and form a crater of 180-200 km (112-124 miles) in diameter in the Yucatan Peninsula. New research suggests that the Chicxulub impact also triggered a mega-earthquake so massive that it shook the planet for weeks to months after the collision. In 2014, Montclair State University researcher Hermann Bermudez and colleagues found the so-called spherule deposits on Colombias Gorgonilla Island. The deposits were filled with small glass beads (as large as 1.1 mm) and shards known as tektites and microtektites that were ejected into the atmosphere during an asteroid impact. These glass beads formed when the heat and pressure of the impact melted and scattered the crust of the Earth, ejecting small, melted blobs up into the atmosphere, to then fall back to the surface as glass under the influence of gravity. The rocks exposed on the coast of Gorgonilla Island tell a story from the bottom of the ocean roughly 2 km (1.2 miles) down. There, about 3,000 km (1,864 miles) southwest from the site of the impact, sand, mud, and small ocean creatures were accumulating on the ocean floor when the asteroid hit. Layers of mud and sandstone as far as 10-15 m (33-49 feet) below the sea floor experienced soft-sediment deformation that is preserved in the outcrops today, which the authors attribute to the shaking from the impact. Faults and deformation due to shaking continue up through the spherule-rich layer that was deposited post-impact, indicating that the shaking must have continued for the weeks and months it took for these finer-grained deposits to reach the ocean floor. Just above those spherule deposits, preserved fern spores signal the first recovery of plant-life after the impact. The section I discovered on Gorgonilla Island is a fantastic place to study the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, because it is one of the best-preserved and it was located deep in the ocean, so it was not affected by tsunamis, Bermudez said. Evidence of deformation from the mega-earthquake is also preserved in Mexico and the United States. At the El Papalote exposure in Mexico, the researchers observed evidence of liquefaction when strong shaking causes water-saturated sediments to flow like a liquid. In Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, they documented faults and cracks likely associated with the mega-quake They also documented tsunami deposits at several outcrops, left by an enormous wave that was part of the cascading catastrophes resulting from the asteroid collision. Our data help explain the geologic evidence that records the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Cenozoic and characterizes one of the biggest earthquakes experienced by our planet during the Phanerozoic, they said. The scientists will report their findings this month at the GSA Connects meeting in Denver, Colorado, the United States. _____ Hermann Bermudez et al. 2022. The Chicxulub Mega-Earthquake: Evidence from Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 54 (5); doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-377578 These images of Jupiters icy moon Europa were taken by the JunoCam instrument aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft during a close approach on September 29, 2022, and were processed by citizen scientists. Starting with our flyby of Earth back in 2013, Juno citizen scientists have been invaluable in processing the numerous images we get with Juno, said Juno principal investigator Dr. Scott Bolton, a researcher at the Southwest Research Center. During each flyby of Jupiter, and now its moons, their work provides a perspective that draws upon both science and art. They are a crucial part of our team, leading the way by using our images for new discoveries. These latest images from Europa do just that, pointing us to surface features that reveal details on how Europa works and what might be lurking both on top of the ice and below. JunoCam took its closest image (above) at an altitude of 1,521 km (945 miles) over a region of the moon called Annwn Regio. In the image, terrain beside the day-night boundary is revealed to be rugged, with pits and troughs. Numerous bright and dark ridges and bands stretch across a fractured surface, revealing the tectonic stresses that the moon has endured over millennia. The circular dark feature in the lower right is Callanish crater. Such JunoCam images help fill in gaps in the maps from images obtained by NASAs Voyager and Galileo missions, Juno scientists noted. In the second image, the enhanced color contrast causes larger surface features to stand out more than in the lightly processed version of the image (left). An example of the results can be seen in the lower right of the enhanced image, where the pits and a small block cast notable shadows. Small-scale texturing of the surface in the image needs to be carefully studied to distinguish between features and artifacts from processing, but the image draws us deeper into Europas alien landscape. Junos citizen scientists are part of a global united effort, which leads to both fresh perspectives and new insights, said JunoCam lead co-investigator Dr. Candy Hansen, a researcher at the Planetary Science Institute. Many times, citizen scientists will skip over the potential scientific applications of an image entirely, and focus on how Juno inspires their imagination or artistic sense, and we welcome their creativity. By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been interviewed by Euronews television. Trend presents the interview. -Joining us now is the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Thank you for your time. There has been strong and repeated international pressure for a ceasefire and to de-escalate tensions. Fighting is ongoing, if not escalating. What is your objective now in the conflict? -Ceasefire cannot be achieved unilaterally. It must be a bilateral decision and also it must be implemented on the ground. As you know Armenia attacked us on the 27th of September, attacking our military positions and damaging our infrastructure, attacking civilians. So far we have almost 30 civilians killed as a result of Armenian attack, including the ballistic missiles, and the cluster bombs. So, our counter-attack was successful. We managed to liberate part of the occupied territories and our main objective is restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Armenia must give us the time-table for withdrawal of their troops from the occupied territories and this time-table must be approved by the Minsk group co-chairs, the countries which are mediators. And after that I think the effort must be imposed on achieving the ceasefire. -The countries that youre referencing have repeatedly asked for a ceasefire. Why isnt that happening now? Why arent you pushing for that to happen immediately? -Because we have been a subject of attack for many times. During the last three months there have been three attacks on Azerbaijan. One in July, on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, far away from the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The goal of Armenia was to occupy new territories of Azerbaijan. They did not manage to do it. Our army defeated them. Then, on August 23, they send a sabotage group to commit terror acts against our civilians and military personnel. That also was a failure for them, because the head of the sabotage group was detained and he gives evidences exactly about what I am saying. And in the end of September they launched a massive attack on our villages and cities. I can tell you that up to today we have almost 900 houses totally demolished, or damaged and many casualties and wounded people among civilians. And now after Armenia is suffering a very bitter defeat, they are pleading for a ceasefire. They made violation of ceasefire themselves. They ignore United Nations Security Council resolutions which demand full, complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops. They want to keep status quo unchanged, and the Minsk Group co-chairs United States, Russia and France, their presidents many times made the statements that the status quo is unacceptable. Armenia ignored it, but now Azerbaijan itself is changing the status quo, and I think that will be an important step towards the soonest resolution of the conflict. -Mr. President, civilians have been killed on both sides of this conflict. How do you reconcile that with your aims? -Of course, we regret that civilians are being killed and of course, we were not the purpose, we were not the source of this attack. Because it was a first thing in the morning on the 27th of September, what they did, they attacked our cities and villages. And we had to respond. But our response mainly is and primarily is on their military positions, on their tanks and guns and what we are doing on the battlefield is available in internet. Our drones and our other equipment demolished only military objectives on the occupied territories. Unfortunately, Armenia is using civilians in order to have more people on the ground, because their demographic situation is very bad, and we have video about these civilians being just next to the guns, and of course -Im sorry to interject Mr. President, that civilians on their side have been killed in this fighting and they would dispute exactly why it was on the 27th of September this violence flared up again. Let me bring you to a promise that your foreign minister made last year that said it was necessary to take concrete measures to prepare the populations for peace. What we are seeing right now is the opposite of that. How are you trying to limit the suffering of civilians? -You know we are not responsible for this outbreak. As I said, we were a subject of a physical attack from Armenian army which is situated on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan Above from that, the current Armenian regime did everything in order to destroy the negotiation process. Exactly one year ago, Armenian prime Minister at the rally in the occupied area of Azerbaijan made a statement that Karabakh is Armenia and that statement actually destroyed negotiation process. Because the principles which are on the table and which are the basis for settlement demand the return of the occupied territories to Azerbaijan. And when Armenian prime minister says that not a centimeter of land will return to Azerbaijan, when he says that Karabakh is Armenia, when they organize illegal settlement of foreign people on the occupied territories which is a brutal violation of Geneva Convention, they destroy negotiation process. After that, in order to make us responsible for that, they attack us three times-on July, August, and September. When we beat them on the battlefield, they call everywhere, they make a plea to everyone, stop Azerbaijan. We want to stop, but we want the occupation to stop. Therefore, the main message should be to Armenia, we are not on Armenian land, we are on our land. Our land for 27 years -One thing that Armenia will say is that Turkey is really providing quite a strong influence, including supplying things like military aid. To what extent would you say Turkey are accelerating and pushing your country and your actions in this conflict? -This is absolutely false information. Turkey for us is a strong ally, partner and brotherly country, and of course the statements expressed their position and we are very grateful to Turkish government, to Turkish President, Turkish people for this support. But Turkey in no other way is involved in this conflict. Armenia bringing such fake news to the media wants to diminish the capacity of Azerbaijani army. We are fighting ourselves. Yes, we purchased weapons from Turkey, but not only. Our main supplier of weapons is not Turkey. And probably everybody knows about that. So, the fact that we buy modern Turkish equipment including the fighter drones should not be a problem for anyone. Because Armenia gets weapons free of charge. We pay for them and Armenia gets free of charge. Turkey in no other way is involved in the conflict. -We keep talking about weapons and we keep talking about fighting here. Is diplomacy still an option? Will you sit down, have talks with the prime minister of Armenia to find a different way out of this conflict? I can tell you, that during my term as the president, I had maybe tens of talks with two former Armenian presidents and the current prime minister. During those previous debates we made a substantial progress on negotiation table. We elaborated the principles which today are the basis for the settlement of conflict. And we were constructive. Negotiations are taking place since 1992. Can you imagine? For almost 30 years. And we were living with hopes, mediators were telling us that you should wait a little bit, there will be more constructive approach from Armenian side. But when this prime minister came to power, as a result of the coup detat two years ago, he destroyed completely negotiation process. And I had meetings with him many times. But these meetings were absolutely senseless. And he told me that they are not going to give the territories back, they told me that Nagorno-Karabakh must be, how to say, adjusted to Armenia. So this is absolutely unacceptable demand on me, and also unacceptable for mediators. Armenian government should change their position, should refrain from maximalist position, should stop telling that Karabakh is Armenia because this is not true and this is destroying negotiations process and of course, we are going back. By the way, tomorrow, our foreign minister will be in Geneva, meeting with the ambassadors of the Minsk Group. And as far as I know, Armenian foreign minister was supposed to go there in the beginning of the month, but he ignored that. He is not there. Our foreign minister is there. It shows who wants negotiations and who wants just accusations against Azerbaijan. President Aliyev, thank you for joining us on this special program on Euronews. Thank you very much for your time. -Thank you. The Vietnam - Thailand second energy forum in Bangkok on October 6 (Photo: VNA) Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Energy Kulit Sombatsiri said his country wishes to promote substantive cooperation in energy with Vietnam. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An said since the first forum was held in Binh Dinh province in 2015, bilateral energy cooperation has reaped many encouraging results. Thailand is an important energy investor in Vietnam, he said, elaborating that its businesses have been investing in wind, solar and thermal power plants in many Vietnamese localities. The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and the national oil and gas firm of Thailand, via its subsidiaries, are also working together in some oil and gas exploration and exploitation projects in Vietnam and Algeria, he added. Affirming the importance of the energy partnership with Thailand, An held that the organisation of the second forum was necessary amid numerous difficulties facing the global energy industry as it helped the two sides learn each countrys energy cooperation demand, strengthen energy cooperation, and contribute to their countries enhanced strategic partnership set up in 2015. At the forum, participants discussed and shared experience in many important energy development issues of Vietnam and Thailand, which have the common target of shifting to clean energy to minimise climate change impacts. They also talked opportunities for energy business partnerships in the future, the expansion of trade and investment links, the exchange of knowledge and technology, innovations in petroleum exploration and clean energy production, and the development of new fuels like hydrogen and ammonia so as to jointly promote energy security and sustainable energy. They also highly valued the investment climate in Vietnam and held that the country is a potential market with high profitability in the energy sector. Businesses of Vietnam and Thailand also met one another to seek partnership chances. VNA Page Content Tensions recently arose again at Amazon's sole unionized warehouseJFK8 in Staten Island, N.Y.after dozens of workers were suspended for a sit-down protest on the heels of a trash compactor fire Oct. 3 at the warehouse. The workers claimed they were made to work when conditions were still smoky and unsafe, but the company said the fire department had cleared the area for return to work. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets. Night-Shift Employees Protested The company suspended the workers with pay a day after the fire disrupted operations at the JFK8 warehouse on Oct. 3. On the day of the fire, day-shift workers were sent home with pay due. Night-shift workers were told to remain in a break area until management figured out the situation, according to Derrick Palmer, the vice president of the Amazon Labor Union. Approximately 100 night-shift workers held a sit-down protest at the facility's main office, demanding to be sent home with pay. (AP) Amazon Statement In an Oct. 5 statement, Paul Flaningan, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the fire and that roughly 50 workers had been suspended. "All employees were safely evacuated," Flaningan said. After the New York fire department certified the building was safe "we asked all night-shift employees to report to their regularly scheduled shift." Flaningan said, "While the vast majority of employees reported to their workstations, a small group refused to return to work and remained in the building without permission." (CNN) Another Unionization Vote The suspensions occurred less than 10 days before warehouse workers at a separate Amazon warehouse near Albany, N.Y., will vote on whether to become the second Amazon workforce to join the Amazon Labor Union. (The Washington Post) A Separate Fire at Albany Facility A fire broke out on the evening of Oct. 5 at Amazon's warehouse near Albany. Flaningan said the incident was a "small fire," adding that it was "contained to a compactor that's located just outside the doors of a loading dock." He said the warehouse was evacuated and fire department officials declared the building safe. "Out of an abundance of caution, we sent night shift employees home with pay and cancelled Thursday's day shift," Flannigan said. "These employees will also be paid." A fire also broke out Oct. 3 at an Amazon facility in Alabama. (AP via syracuse.com) Amazon Lost Initial Challenge to Union Victory in Staten Island A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) official has rejected Amazon's initial challenge to the union win at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, N.Y. An NLRB hearing officer said the company hadn't shown that the union victory was inappropriately influenced. Amazon had contested the union election, saying that the NLRB region where the election was held, as well as union organizers, had inappropriately swayed the vote. (SHRM Online) and (The Wall Street Journal) Page Content On Sept. 12, the California Court of Appeal held that employees bringing successful rest break and meal period claims are entitled to recover attorneys' fees under California Labor Code section 218.5. The decision reversed a prior denial of attorneys' fees by the appellate court, following the Supreme Court of California's May 2022 decision in Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc. In the case, Betancourt v. OS Restaurant Services, a former employee of a Los Angeles restaurant settled claims for rest break and meal period violations under California Labor Code section 226 and for penalties for waiting time and wage statement violations under section 203, based on the meal and rest break claims. As part of the settlement, the restaurant owners agreed to pay the employee $15,375. The employee dismissed other claims for retaliation and wrongful termination, but was allowed to file a motion for attorneys' fees. The trial court awarded more than $280,000 in attorneys' fees under section 218.5, which mandates that reasonable attorneys' fees be awarded to an employee who prevails on claims for the nonpayment of wages, so long as the employee requests attorneys' fees from the start. In May 2020, the appellate court reversed the attorneys' fees award based on the 2012 California Supreme Court decision in Kirby v. Immoos Fire Protection, Inc., which held that an action for failure to provide rest breaks or meal periods is not an action for the nonpayment of wages. The appellate court further held that an employee could not recover attorneys' fees for the waiting time and wage statement violations because they were based on the meal and rest break claims. Since the appellate court's 2020 decision, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Naranjo in May 2022. In Naranjo, the high court held that premium pay for missed meal and rest periods constitutes wages under California labor law and that employers may be held liable for the failure to properly report and timely pay out such wages. Following the ruling, the high court transferred the Betancourt case back to the appellate court for reconsideration. The appellate court then reversed its prior denial of attorneys' fees, stating that "Naranjo establishes a clear legal basis for the award." In doing so, the appellate court rejected the restaurant owners' new arguments that there was a lack of evidence for the wage statement claims and that the employee had abandoned the wage statement claims. Thus, the court affirmed the $280,000 attorneys' fees award. Key Takeaways The appellate court decision in Betancourt illustrates how the California high court's holding in Naranjo can potentially increase liability to employers for meal and rest break violations. Indeed, the $280,000 attorneys' fees award in the case far exceeded the settlement amount of $15,375 for the meal and rest break claims. Before Naranjo, California courts had held that attorneys' fees were not recoverable in wage and hour actions based solely on meal and rest break claims because such claims were not considered claims for the nonpayment of wages. California employers may want to consider updating their policies and procedures to ensure premium wages for missed rest and meal breaks are paid accurately and timely and recorded correctly on wage statements. Ryan H. Crosner is an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Los Angeles. Zachary V. Zagger is senior marketing counsel for Ogletree Deakins in New York City. 2022. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Booking Holdings on Thursday announced a new centre of excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru that will serve as a hub for specialised talent, leveraging industry-best practices, supporting financial system and software development, and enabling collaboration opportunities across fintech and other key functions. This is the second CoE from the company globally that will help serve all brands under its unbrella, including Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, OpenTable and Rentalcars.com. "Bengaluru is home to a large, highly skilled and diverse talent pool, with a flourishing reputation for technology and finance, which makes this a great place to open our second centre of excellence," said Paulo Pisano, Chief Human Resources Officer for Booking Holdings. "Those who work in this centre will play an important, collaborative and exciting role in supporting the company's growing fintech capabilities, and leveraging digital travel innovation to enhance the travel experience for travellers and travel service providers around the world," Pisano said in a statement. With travel demand re-emerging as travel restrictions ease around the world and the industry continuing its journey to recovery following the pandemic, the new centre will support the company's growth, goals and enable its vision for the future of travel. Booking Holdings said it is helping consumers and local partners in more than 220 countries and territories through six primary consumer facing brands. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is ready to renew his stoush with AGL Energys board, after the company rejected all but one of the candidates hand-picked by its biggest shareholder. The AGL boards stance sets up a showdown with Cannon-Brookes private investment company Grok Ventures at the ASX-listed utilities heavyweights November general meeting. In its annual general meeting (AGM) notice, released on Friday, AGLs management put forward the names of the four new directors it was backing to join the board. That list includes only one of the names put forward by Cannon-Brookes, through the Galipea Partnership - a company associated with Grok Ventures. AGLs board said that it would support the appointment of former Tesla executive Mark Twidell as a director, while rejecting the appointment of the other three candidates - including former ESB chair Kerry Schott, Australian Financial Complaints Authority chair John Pollaers, and Metcash and CSR director Christine Holman. The board has recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the appointment of Mr Mark Twidell as a director, and against the appointment of the other candidates nominated by the Galipea Partnership, AGL chair Patricia McKenzie said in the notice of meeting. The percentage of flights with full loads travelling around Australia hit its highest level in July since records began in 1984 as the industry continues to recover from its pandemic woes. The latest data from Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional economics (BITRE) shows the July domestic passenger load figure landing at 85.8 per cent, beating the previous 2019 record of 84.5 per cent. Australias domestic traffic posted a 449.0 per cent year-over-year increase and is now at 85.8 per cent of 2019 levels. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone Airlines have been forced to reduce capacity this year in an attempt to keep up with record demand while hampered by insufficient staff levels and an array of operational failures. While travel demand returned to pre-pandemic levels in July, passengers had to contend with high cancellation rates, service delays and long queues at airports. The routes with the least available seats during the peak holiday period were Cairns to Melbourne, Gold Coast to Melbourne and Adelaide to Gold Coast, with average load factors of 95.2 per cent, 95 per cent and 94.6 per cent respectively. Melbourne to Sydney is one of the most popular domestic routes in the world, carrying 4.2 million people in 2022, followed by Brisbane to Sydney which carried 2 million. In 2020, Canturis wife Patricia revealed Caddick had become well known to the jeweller, given her lavish commissions. Melissa Caddicks Stella necklace. Queen Street auction house Shapiros is tipped to get the luxury accessories portion, ranging from a pair of Louis Vuitton shorts to a $10,000 fluffy white Dior purse. Caddicks wardrobe collection includes mink coats and garments from the worlds most expensive fashion labels including Chanel suits, Balmain jackets, Dolce & Gabbana party dresses, Valentino and Oscar De La Renta evening gowns and Collette Dinnigan house frocks. But when it comes to provenance, Sydneys, leading auction figures are in two minds about whether Caddicks ownership was either a curse or a blessing. Loading Especially with some of the statement jewels, I mean they are pretty distinctive and given the amount of media attention they have generated, and how they were obtained, Im not sure that too many ladies would want to be recognised for wearing the Caddick diamonds, one potential auctioneer in the running confided to PS, adding there had been talk of breaking up some of the pieces to sell stones individually, possibly overseas. Also among the items about to go under the hammer is an original John Olsen watercolour titled Giraffes In Wet Season and painted in 2000. Its tipped to bring in more than $20,000. Olsens son and gallerist Tim Olsen said he was unaware of how Caddick acquired the piece, but assured PS her name does not appear on any invoices at this gallery. Im not sure that too many ladies would want to be recognised for wearing the Caddick diamonds. A leading Sydney auctioneer Caddick, 49, disappeared in November 2020 only hours after the federal police and corporate regulator ASIC raided her house in relation to the Ponzi scheme she had been running for years, swindling millions of dollars from her own circle of family and friends. Her partial remains were washed up on a remote South Coast beach in February 2021. FORGET THE A-LIST, ITS ABOUT THE PAY LIST Forget about name-dropping or even pretending youre on the mythical A-List to get into one of Sydneys glittering parties. In 2022, its all about the pay list. Hard-working socialite Julie Bishop. Credit:Getty From former foreign minister Julie Bishop and a never-ending conga line of has-been Married At First Sight and Big Brother stars, to Jesinta Franklin and every wannabe social media influencer in town, walking down a red carpet can be very rewarding. While MAFS original Nasser Sultan is known to turn up to the opening of a car door on the promise of a warm beer and cold party pie, Bishop is reportedly earning $15,000 a pop to deliver speeches (interestingly, thats less than half of Roxy Jacenkos fee). But, she is also being showered in goodies to turn up at events, like her recent turn at the David Jones fashion launch, where she was decked out in a $4000 Balmain dress with full hair, make up and accessories. As she was when she turned up at the Aje Fashion Week show, though PS has been assured the designer frocks were only loaners and Bishop was not paid to attend. Regardless, Bishop is now ranked up there with top Sydney social fixtures including Anna Heinrich and Pip Edwards, and those two can command five-figure sums to party. Big bucks: Natasha Oakley. Meanwhile, Instagram model Natasha Oakley, the mastermind behind her Bikini A Day posts, has been the talk of several party planners after being informed they needed to cough up $60,000 for her to show up ... though that also generously included a selfie post in which their clients brand would be tagged. Bargain! Meanwhile, PS admits having never heard of a pretty American named Anastasia Karanikolaou, who is apparently best known as Stassie. While her other, ahem, life accomplishments are unknown, this column has been assured she is big news among Kardashian fans because she is best friends with Kims half sister Kylie Jenner. And, apparently, thats enough for her to be pocketing a rumoured $100,000 cheque to come to Sydney later this month for a fashion label party, which has also thrown in first-class air tickets for her and her travelling companion. Yes, the world has gone bonkers. KERRI-ANNES HEARTBREAK On Thursday, Australian Turf Club director Angela Belle McSweeney hosted the annual Everest Carnival Fashion Luncheon at Royal Randwick. And while Sydneys best dressed turned up in their sartorial finery, given the torrential rain, flippers and snorkels would have sufficed. Kerri-Anne Kennerley at Thursdays ATC Everest Carnival Fashion Lunch. The lunch did have a serious side though, raising money for SpinalCure Australia, a cause close to guest speaker Kerri-Anne Kennerleys heart. KAK has signed up as an ambassador for the charity, which is funding technological research with the potential to liberate sufferers from their wheelchairs. The television legend shared anecdotes from her half century in showbiz, including the time one of her television bosses attempted to unzip her dress at a bar, to which she calmly told him if he went any further, she would deck him. But it was when KAK shared a moving story about trying to break the news to her husband that he would never walk again after his 2016 spinal injury that the packed ballroom was in silent thrall. Understandably devastated, John was ready to give up entirely. He asked me how hard he should try to stick around, and I told him to give it everything hes got, and for the next three years he absolutely did, Kennerley told PS. There is no getting around it, spinal injuries are incredibly tough, and they can happen to any of us. IN THE NICK OF TIME Next weeks National Tertiary Education Union strike has meant universities have had to reschedule graduations around the country, but nothing was going to stop former NSW premier Nick Greiner from receiving his honorary award conferral from his alma mater at Sydney University, which had also been scheduled to occur during the graduation ceremony. Party time for Nick Greiner. Credit:Kevin Hagen A note sent to potential attendees regarding Team Greiner reveals fortuitously the Vice-Chancellor and President, the Heralds former education reporter turned Professor, Mark Scott AO, and a delegation from the university, would be travelling to New York over this weekend and that Greiner was graciously hosting the delegation at an event at the Australian Consulate in New York to receive his gong. Huzzah! When George de Silva was growing up in Australia, there werent always others around him who shared the same cultural identity and experiences. I found myself rejecting my Sri Lankan and Greek heritage at times in order to assimilate into white Australian culture, he says. Today, the musician is part of a newly formed collective of South Asian Australian artists called Kerfew. The collective brings together 13 producers, musicians and artists from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra. Bonded by their shared experience as young South Asians in the Australian music industry, they want to create a support network for other misfits like them, says Brisbane-based member Itrat Memon, who makes music under the name Iti. It immediately felt like a family, says Sydney-based DJ Munasib, of the group, which connected on Instagram. Four of the members of Kerfew, from left to right, George de Silva, Itrat Memon, Munasib, and Amar Singh. Its members were inspired by Daytimers, a UK collective of South Asian musicians formed in Londons first lockdown in 2020 that rose to prominence after performing at iconic music event Boiler Room. We saw what Daytimers was doing and thought, wait, is it possible theres an audience for this here? says Munasib. Tiny but mighty, Australias humble Bogong moths once numbered in their billions. In the spring, they emerged from the plains of western Victoria, northern NSW and southern Queensland to fly hundreds of kilometres to the Bogong High Plains, where they clustered during summer in cool caves in the Australian alps. Twenty years ago, they were so numerous a rain cloud that approached the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics, causing panic, turned out to be a swarm of millions of Bogong moths, attracted to the stadiums giant lights. But the drought that hit areas of New South Wales and Queensland in 2017 and 2018 affected the plant species the moths usually feed on, triggering a catastrophic decline in their population of around 99.5 percent. This story is part of the October 8 Edition of Good Weekend. See all 20 stories . The late Doris Day, honey-voiced star of Hollywoods golden era, will be remembered for many things. One of them is establishing the 44-room Cypress Inn in Carmel, California, dubbed one of the pet-friendliest hotels around. And yet despite offering dog-sized showers, yappy hour in the bar and customised food bowls and beds, the Cypress has been sadly overlooked by insurance company Budget Directs 2022 survey of the worlds best cities for a pet holiday. Demand for pet-friendly hotels in Australia has risen, thanks to the pandemic and fewer people travelling overseas. Credit:iStock Drawing on data from Tripadvisor, and canvassing the 50 most-populated cities, the survey ranks Paris and Milan equal first for animal hospitality, with 594 and 359 pet-friendly hotels respectively (33 and 17 of them five-star). Next is Rome, with 1242 Fido-favourable lodgings, followed by Berlin, New York and Colombias Medellin. Loading And in Australia? Sydney rates 23rd and Melbourne 29th, prompting questions about our reputation as a pet-loving nation. Are we not moggy-munificent in our five-star lodgings? Must Rover endure boarding kennels instead of hatted restaurant fare? The first came during a conversation with a colleague about how we could possibly educate younger employees about the mysterious ways of office work. You know the drill: pencil skirts, sad desk salads, photocopier paper jams and loading the dishwasher. But there was a problem: the Zoomers didnt seem interested in coming into the office. They were fine to, well, Zoom. Even as Joe Biden declares the pandemic over and the World Health Organisation announces we are approaching the beginning of the end, its clear that COVIDs impact on work is more monumental than we could ever have imagined. A couple of incidents lately have highlighted this massive cultural shift for me. A recent survey said that one in three Australians would quit their job, or start looking for a new one, if their employer announced they had to return to the office full-time. The stats tell a similar story in the US where, in Washington, D.C. the city in which I live nearly half of all workers are working remotely. Thats seven times more than before the pandemic. How will we teach them to be professional? I wailed. Maybe our version of professional is just out-of-date, my colleague countered. Maybe, we concluded, the Gen Zers could teach us elder Millennials a thing or two about work in the virtual era. Such as respecting others boundaries. This has become more important as the line between work and everything else blurs. Life is now about looking at one big, bad screen. Which brings me to my second realisation. Pre-pandemic, I rolled my eyes when 20-somethings talked about work-life balance. What are they doing in their spare time thats so important anyway, was my unkind thought. One distinct memory I have is editing Amy Winehouses obituary in the back of a rental car while touring the Kalamata region of Greece. But as COVID dragged on into year two and now impossibly calendar year three, I started to see their point. My younger colleagues diligently updated their status on work email and messaging services whenever they were away from their desk. They let everyone know what they were up to, whether that was a dentist visit, a walk or a quick jaunt to London. This radical disclosure was jarring for me. Millennials came of age in workplaces where time away from the desk was a source of shame. You hid when you were away from it, and you stayed until after your boss went home to prove what a good worker you were. To that end, I used to spend holidays checking my phone for work tasks. One distinct memory I have is editing Amy Winehouses obituary in the back of a rental car while touring the Kalamata region of Greece. Another is ruing the lack of phone reception in an especially remote area of Ireland because I couldnt download an email from my boss. Mason on Friday apologised for the Holocaust analogy but insisted his church was not homophobic. He said he was determined to uphold a traditional, Christian view of marriage and sex while welcoming and being compassionate towards sexually and gender diverse people. We dont want people to be ostracised, we definitely dont want people to be excluded, Mason told The Age. There have been times when churches have not got this right, where they have focused on particular issues or conveyed it in a way that was hurtful. City on a Hill senior pastor Guy Mason, pictured with wife Vanessa, says diversity should be more than a catchphrase. Credit:Jason South He maintains that abortion, although decriminalised in all Australian jurisdictions, is a form of murder. Mason founded City on a Hill 15 years ago, when his predominantly young congregation gathered at a Docklands pub. It now holds regular meetings at a Hoyts cinema and two other sites in Melbourne and has congregations in Geelong, Brisbane the Gold Coast and Wollongong. Loading He said neither homosexuality nor abortion were prominent issues in his teachings. In a recent sermon on transgender issues, he told his followers that he did not believe God accidentally assigned the wrong body to people. He said this was intended not to vilify children with gender dysmorphia but to help them. We want people to know, as they grapple with that, that they are made by God, loved by God. Our core identity as Christians is that God makes all people in his image and likeness. Andrews has not resiled from his criticism of the City on the Hill as rampantly homophobic, noting that his support for gay and transgender people was partly informed by his own Christian beliefs. Mason said he was disappointed but not offended by what the premier said and urged him to visit his church. We need leadership that is truly inclusive, that values true diversity, he said. It would have been great for our premier to actually take time to talk, listen and understand what the Anglican Church and other churches believe, to enter into a conversation and to lead with compassion; not to use words that label people and shut people out. I grew up in Melbourne and I love that we are a multicultural, multinational city. We should be celebrating that, welcoming that diversity and recognising that people are going to have different views. We need to make room for that. We need to learn to listen to each other and truly be diverse, not just use diversity as a catchphrase. Barham says his decision was not a judgment on Thorburns religious beliefs but the conflict he would have had leading two organisations with incompatible values. His decision to part ways with the former banking executive was backed by the AFL. According to sources familiar with Essendons contractual arrangements with its briefly employed chief executive, Thorburn agreed to waive a termination payment of nearly $500,000. City On A Hill pastor Guy Mason at the Hoyts Cinema at Melbourne Central in 2011. The church continues to hold services in cinema theatres. Credit:Paul Rovere Thorburns abrupt exit from Essendon follows other high-profile instances such as Rugby Australias decision to sack Israel Folau for condemning homosexuals to hell on social media where religious expression or association has conflicted with the corporate sensitivities of employers. George Haros, a lawyer who represented Folau in his unfair dismissal case against Rugby Australia, said the difference with this weeks events is that Thorburn was forced out of his job because of someone elses comments, rather than his own. As chief executive of the NAB, Thorburn endorsed the banks support for Pride campaigns, same-sex marriage and other diversity and inclusion programs. He has suggested he does not agree with all his churchs teachings. There seems to be a disconnect between his personal view and what he is being ultimately hung out for, Haros said. In Israels case it was in relation to a social media post that was attributed directly to him, whereas this situation seems to be more about guilt by strong association. I thought there were some fairly quick judgments in that regard. Presbyterian church leaders issued a joint statement on Friday warning freedom of conscience and religion had reached a watershed moment. There is apparently now a religious test for significant employment posts in Australia, the statement read. We are in a dangerous place when a premier can seek to impose his own personal ideologies on everyone else. Frank Brennan, a prominent Catholic lawyer and Jesuit priest, lamented the willingness of people, including civic leaders, to readily stereotype those who hold Christian views. Loading Thorburn has chaired the City on a Hill board since 2019, the year he resigned from the NAB following damning criticism from the banking royal commission. Freier said this was a lay position which carried responsibilities for governance and administration but none for theological teaching. Freier is pushing for a national bill of rights to balance religious freedom against other rights. Freier said that, as Australia becomes post-Christian society where the churchs teachings no longer hold sway, Christianity is particularly vulnerable to the intrusions of an expanding, secular ideology. What sort of society do we want to be? Do we want to be one that is really driven by the last focus group? The parents of a West Australian man shot dead by police in Queensland have no idea how the situation spiralled or why their son pulled a knife on officers, saying he had no history of mental health issues or drug use. Luke Gilbert, 24, had been visiting Airlie Beach with his girlfriend at the weekend when police claim he approached officers on the street just after midnight Saturday, before threatening them with a knife. Police fired five shots, three of which hit Gilbert, with onlookers catching the moment on camera. Despite the officers administering first aid, Gilbert died after being rushed to hospital. The Mandurah man had moved to Queensland a few months earlier and was described as an adventurer who loved the outdoors. His family are desperate to know why police did not use a Taser or any other method to subdue him before opening fire. The Crown alleges the handwriting is likely Roxlyns but that both were penned under duress. Bowies barrister, Winston Terracini, SC, told the jury that if the letters are real, then you might think that she left of her own accord. The Dear Mum and Dad letter tendered at John Bowies trial Dear Mum + Dad, Just a short note to say that I have left John and the kids for good. Im making my way to South Australia or Western Australia to start a new life. Please dont be hard on John because it wasnt his fault that I left. I will write again when I settle down. Love, Roxlyn. Brenda Boyd recalled being put to bed by her mother about 7pm that Saturday before waking for breakfast, when she says her father held a piece of paper and said his wife would not be coming back. He didnt seem upset, Boyd said. John Clark, a Walgett baker, told police that Bowie had arrived at the RSL after 9pm for a beer, and said, My wife said that if I went to the pub, she would not be there when I got back, and shes not there now before he left. In that 1988 interview, Clark, who has since died, said that he knew Bowie as a womaniser, a man who chased women. Roxlyn Bowie disappeared from Walgett on the night of June 5, 1982. Credit:NSW Police Media Former ambulance colleagues and neighbours have testified they were woken by Bowies knocking in the middle of the night, asking whether they had seen Roxlyn or if she was hiding inside. Crown prosecutor Alex Morris has alleged Bowie knew full well she was not in there, and it was a staged performance by him pretending to be the concerned husband whose wife was missing. Ruth Ovens, who lived in a caravan in the Bowies backyard but has since died, told police she accompanied the accused back to the house where she found the first letter. The Crown alleges Bowie forced Roxlyn to write it, most likely between 7pm and 11pm or later, and was well aware of the note before Ovens came inside. Loading The couples daughter said she was later driven by a family friend to her grandparents house in Killara, as her father packed up the house. In the following weeks, she said Bowie introduced her to a woman named Gail and her children and told her she would have new siblings. The Crown alleges Bowies developing relationship with Gail Clarke whom he had met as she holidayed on the banks of the Barwon River in May 1982 and his deteriorating marriage motivated him to kill Roxlyn to pursue an unfettered, serious relationship with Clarke. Morris said Bowie had admitted to affairs in Walgett and considered himself a womaniser. He allegedly spent Roxlyns 31st birthday on May 25, 1982 with Clarke in Sydney. The Crown has alleged the relationship was different to Bowies other affairs, and it was only Gail Clarke that he was extremely keen to form a serious relationship with. Loading Clarke, who is deceased, previously stated that Bowie had arrived at her home towards the end of June 1982, told her his wife had left him and suggested that he move in. Notes from her 1988 interview state that she refused the request, terminated the relationship after two to three weeks, and has not seen him since. Boyd said that, by her seventh birthday, in August 1982, they were living with their father in a Sydney unit with a woman named Anne. She was a nurse who Bowie would later marry. Boyd said that Bowie and Annes relationship was marred by screaming and violence, and also claimed that maybe a couple of nights before her mother Roxlyn disappeared her father shoved his dinner down Roxlyns top. Loading Terracini said his client obviously had low standards, and he had difficulty living up to them. He said Bowie had admitted to police he had hit Roxlyn a number of times. He said some people behave appallingly in domestic relationships, but that is a long way from murder. The court has heard that in 1977, the year before the family moved to Walgett, Roxlyn gave birth to another daughter, but the baby died within days. In the decades since her disappearance, her parents have also died. Stephen and Christine Barker had owned the Bronte Road home, just 600 metres from the beach, since 1983. Those who knew them described the couple in their 70s as keeping to themselves, their long marriage an apparently normal one. Stephen Barker is arrested after allegedly murdering his wife, Christine, at their Bronte home. Credit:OnSceneBondi / Daniel Shaw I never heard anything untoward, one neighbour who declined to be named said. I didnt notice anything amiss Juliaj Assange Credit:Getty Images Your correspondent (Letters, October 7) prioritises the return of the stranded Afghans and Julian Assange over ISIS women and children. Those poor kids were never ISIS. Our national anthem reckons weve boundless plains to share, not bonds to share. So bring em all home, I say. Kent Mayo, Uralla Broken home Willow Grove as it once was. Credit:Janie Barrett Sorry to say that like Humpty Dumpty who sat on a wall, Willow Grove will never be put back together again (Letters, October 7). Garry Horvai, Pennant Hills Waiting to hear when Willow Grove will be rebuilt will probably take as long as waiting for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to remove the temporary COVID fees charged to camp in the vast majority of parks. Michael McFadyen, Kareela People person People before plants? Has young Scotty Morrison, marketing wunderkind and renowned slogan slave, found himself a new job? Bill Young, Killcare Heights Top of the rainbow Discussion of rainbows (Letters, October 7) made me think about Rainbow Street, which connects Kingsford and Randwick. As a kid, it was hard work riding a bike from Rainbow Street School to the summit, from where one walked the bike down the steep descent into Kingsford. Bob Phillips, Cabarita My kitchen rules Your photo of a grim rental kitchen looks a lot like my forever morning kitchen (Really, really horrible: Grim pickings for renters as vacancies dry up, smh.com.au, October 7). Maybe people in their seventies see the world differently? Keith Russell, Mayfield West Flood solution: why not unplug Sackville Gorge? I applaud Susan Templemans call for some lateral thinking on the Warragamba Dams wall raising (For a safe Warragamba, lower the dam water level, October 7). She may have opened the floodgates to a more nuanced solution to the Hawkesbury/Nepean flooding. Raising the wall by 14 metres is clearly on the nose politically and environmentally, and lowering the maximum water height by 12 metres is risky for supply security. So why not research the effects of (say) raising the wall by three metres, lowering the maximum level by three metres and, importantly, revisiting the option of unplugging the Sackville Gorges primary cause of the flooding? Peter Russell, Coogee Warragamba dam Credit:Wolter Peeters Im surprised the Perrottet government hasnt engaged someone to dredge the dam to make it 14 metres deeper. Perhaps the premier could assign this task to Matt Kean, who is an innovative thinker and never puts politics before the environment. Philip Bell, Bronte What is the Labor plan concerning Warragamba Dam as we know Perrottet will be leading the opposition come the next election? Zuzu Burford, Heathcote Before the last state election, Gladys Berejiklian made sure the destruction of a stadium began. Presumably, this was so that, if the election were lost, the work would have to proceed. Perrottets fast tracking of the Warragamba fiasco seems to be in the same mould of thinking. Get it started before the election so it has to proceed. Peter Thompson, Grenfell Raising the wall by 14 metres will add enormous pressure to the dam. Has anyone competent calculated if the current structure is capable of this increase? If not, then a future dam collapse will flood more than any past disaster. Richard Kirby, Campbelltown I remember, in the mid-noughties, Sydney experienced dry years and Warragamba sank to unprecedented low levels. This provoked a knee-jerk reaction to seek alternative supplies of water, and so the desalination plant was built as a back-up. It has rarely been used. We now have the opposite with an overabundance of water, so this time the knee-jerk reaction is to raise the dam wall. Ill bet that in the next few years Sydney will again run into dry periods and we will all be gazing at the water level 20 metres or so lower than the expensive new wall. David Hellstrom, Wahroonga Trolled on tolls Natalie Ward, Metropolitan Roads Minister Credit:Nick Moir I read with some interest this week Margot Savilles opinion piece on tolls (For whom the tolls will poll in NSW, October 6). Saville parroted a number of the mis-truths being spread by the NSW Labor opposition and the NSW Greens. She said households are paying up to $6000 a year in tolls. The source of this figure is research commissioned by the NSW Labor Party to support its scare campaign on tolls. Who did the research? Alpha Beta. The analyst? Andrew Charlton, who subsequently became the federal Labor MP for Parramatta. Here is what Saville missed. The NSW Liberal government has a toll rebate scheme in place. From January, eligible motorists will get up to 40 per cent back on their toll bills since July 1, saving them up to $750 a year and benefiting about half a million people. Earlier this year, the government announced a toll review to look at the whole network and how we can make the pricing system fairer. Saville also complained about the lack of public transport and infrastructure across our city, while taking issue with the amount of work going on in the inner west near where she lives, including on the new Sydney Metro line connecting Parramatta to the city. Given she admitted she rarely leaves her home during the week, Saville could be excused for holding this rather narrow (and contradictory) view. Both the new Metro line and the Rozelle Interchange will slash travel times for families much further afield than the inner west, including those living in western, southern and north-western Sydney. Last week, I was at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue. Western and south-western Sydney have undergone amazing transformation over the past 15 years, and it is crucial we continue to make it attractive for people to live, work and play in our outer suburbs. These are the people we are thinking about every day. Natalie Ward, Metropolitan Roads Minister Surgery required What is the one solution to crowded emergency departments, unaffordable primary care, pharmacy prescribing, inadequate regional health and even aged care failings (Health minister hits back at doctors inquiry claims, October 7)? An experienced, well-funded, well-serviced and valued general practice. It is the one medical arm that has been in decline for over a decade and that is largely due to government policy or mismanagement. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle Lets get some balance in the NSW health debate. Im not saying there arent unacceptable delays in state hospitals. But when I presented at the emergency department at Hornsby hospital with a smashed knee cap last Thursday evening, I was X-rayed within half an hour, and operated on less than 36 hours later. Whether I was admitted as a public or private patient made no difference to the timing. The staff at all levels were exceptional. Id hardly call that third world. Tony Gapes, Pymble Wholl want second class? Extra pay for high-performing teachers (Letters, October 7) will cause consternation for parents. They will demand their children be taught by a super teacher. Who will be prepared to take second best? More appropriate pay for all qualified teachers is the only practical solution. Ian Roberts, Warriewood Horse has bolted The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Credit:Victoria Jones The Archbishop of Canterbury is concerned that a split in the local Anglican church says that we dont hold onto the teaching of Christ ... that his followers will be one (Anglican schism same as politics , October 7). A moments thought would have reminded him that that horse bolted centuries ago. Jan Macindoe, Forest Lodge The Archbishop of Canterbury is right: a split in the Anglican Church will be bad for the church but it might also be excellent. Presently in Anglican history, the precious message of love, peace and hope is often hidden behind arguments over irreconcilable differences. Surely our goal is not to preserve the institution but to clearly preach Jesus. Rev Nigel Fortescue, Senior Minister, Christ Church, St Ives Interesting solution All these politicians trying to get younger people into home buying. The Labor government can really help that by changing the negative gearing arrangements, which advantage investors. The best thing to do is to prevent investors from claiming interest on the mortgage as a tax deduction. Homeowners cant. Set a date from which any new purchases will be unclaimable as tax deductions. Anything else is tinkering John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA) Postscript Planning Minister Anthony Roberts will kill off a controversial proposal to increase building heights in the final section of Barangaroo, sending the blindsided developer back to the drawing board and potentially leaving the prime foreshore site in limbo for years. Roberts who is the decision maker on the proposal told the Herald that a planned luxury apartment tower served no public benefit, and he could see no way that approving the modification would be in Sydneys best interests. The planned 20-storey residential tower, on the right in this artists impression, has been a lightning rod for community opposition. Credit:Department of Planning portal I would expect any proposal on a scale such as this, potentially impacting public space, to provide substantial social, economic and environmental benefits to offset the loss to the community, he said. Right now, I believe this proposal cannot achieve those benefits. A gambling research forum that influences the policy agenda in NSW is dominated by gambling industry figures and its annual conference is sponsored by gambling organisations. The National Association of Gambling Studies (NAGS) has adopted a position of studied neutrality, declaring on its website that it has no opinions or biases in the gambling debate. But its board includes a ClubsNSW employee, a TabCorp employee and academics whose work has been criticised for being funded by organisations that profit from poker machines. Several of its annual conferences have been held in casinos. The National Association of Gambling Studies has previously drawn criticism for holding annual conferences in a casino. Credit:Nick Moir On Tuesday, ClubsNSW whistleblower Troy Stolz was amazed to be contacted by the immediate past president of the NAGS and told his name had been raised as a potential panellist and closing speaker at the research organisations annual conference in November. Stolz, who has terminal cancer, is on a mission to raise public awareness about the lax approach taken by clubs and pubs towards gambling harm minimisation and money laundering through poker machines. ClubsNSW, a long-time sponsor of the conference, is pursuing him through the courts to prevent him from disclosing information he obtained as that organisations head of anti-money laundering compliance. A 17-year-old boy is behind bars five days after an empty black Holden was found crashed in a Wollongong suburb and a 12-year-old boy was located at a nearby home with serious injuries that he later died of. About 1.35am on Tuesday, a Holden Barina was reportedly travelling north on Memorial Drive when it crashed into a traffic control light at the intersection of Towradgi Road, Towradgi, NSW Police said in a statement on Saturday morning. Police rushed to the intersection of Towradgi Road and Memorial Drive, finding a black Holden Barina that had slammed into a traffic control light early on Tuesday morning. Credit:Nine News Officers at nearby Corrimal police station heard the crash and responded immediately; however, the vehicle was empty after the occupants fled. Half an hour later, emergency services were called to a home in Balgownie about two kilometres away to reports that a 12-year-old boy was suffering significant injuries at the address, which police say was the home of a friend. Corruption charges filed against a former Queensland health boss after an investigation by the states corruption watchdog have been dropped. The then-chief executive of the states biggest public hospital service, Malcolm Frederick Stamp, was stood down in September 2014 amid allegations he dishonestly arranged a job for his daughter Katy. Malcolm Stamp leaves court (file photo). Credit:Toby Crockford Stamp flew in from the United Kingdom to face a committal hearing in a Brisbane court in July. The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) charged him four years earlier, alleging he dishonestly arranged for his daughter to be given a media and communication services job with an annual salary of $80,000. Two senior constables from the Brisbane region who allegedly used excessive force against a man in police custody have been charged. Two police officers have been stood down and charged over an incident at Ashgrove in August. The officers have been stood down from duty with the Queensland Police Service, a police statement read. The men, aged 59 and 51, have been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after an investigation into an incident at Ashgrove on August 3 was launched by the police Ethical Standards Command. The officers will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. No room for reasoning: when Mason attempted to give an explanation for why he believed the Bible was not simply a product of its time but the true and beautiful word of a living God, the pastor was met with a classic Australian putdown: Im not gonna have a battle of the Bible. Rest assured, I love breakfast television as much as the next person, but I found myself confused when TVs modern-day messiah told the pastor of City on a Hill, the church at the centre of the Andrew Thorburn Essendon saga, that he and the 2.18 billion other followers of the Bible should simply keep up with the times. Despite Kochies wishes, it appears thats exactly the battle were having. Debates about theological interpretations of sexual ethics and abortion have plastered our newspapers for days. And were terribly lacking in the armour needed for a proper discussion. Loading Never before have Australians known so little about the foundational text of Australias biggest religion and even less about the Koran and never before, it seems, have we had such strong opinions on its utter irrelevance to life and society. I dont want to suggest the issues raised by the saga are not incredibly personal or not acknowledge that the way they have often been communicated by faith groups has been hurtful but I do want to suggest that our societys understanding of religion simply isnt good enough to properly understand how people of faith think. I go to an inner-city Anglican church a mainstream evangelical church not dissimilar to City on a Hill, where the pastors wear jeans, we sing songs written this century, and sexual minorities of all genders and backgrounds have found a home. Among my close friends, colleagues and family are people of a variety of different faiths, sexualities and beliefs. I see the real beauty of a world in which people can choose how to live. You dont have to feel unsafe of being stabbed and all this mad stuff. Here, security is spot on. No one can get in that door unless I press a button. I can get back to do what I want to do. I can read my Bible now. You know what I mean? When youre living in an environment like this, all your negative thoughts just disappear, Wheeler says. Theres the bedside table he bought for $5 from Savers. Theres an elegant cream couch with striped cushions that was a steal at $40 from the Inner West Buy Swap Sell Facebook page. A toucan tapestry is on the wall and there are several pot plants he bought from Bunnings and then Googled how to make them grow. The house-proud 63-year-old shows us his flat in Footscray with its sweeping views over Flemington Racecourse. Almost a year ago, he was moved into his own home. But an unprecedented need to house the homeless meant he was one of 4500 Victorians put up in hotels during lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus. The pandemic changed Charlie Wheelers life. Wheeler, who has spent time in prison and has been homeless for 20 years, was sleeping in a box trailer under a bridge in Footscray when COVID-19 started. Read more on the cost of living. See all 9 stories . A $167 million Victorian program that moved about 2000 homeless Victorians out of hotels and into their own homes with wraparound support services has been life altering for people like Wheeler. Between 226 and 500 people sleep rough on any given night in the City of Melbourne. But two years later, increasing numbers of rough sleepers are back on the streets, amid a chronic shortage of social housing and soaring rents and food and energy costs. Suddenly, it seemed the pandemic had a silver lining: a solution to a problem that had long seemed intractable. The Victorian governments rapid response revealed what was possible when reducing street homelessness was made a priority. Within weeks of the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus a global pandemic, rough sleepers had virtually disappeared from Melbournes streets. Victoria is at a crossroads. Will the political will to end rough sleeping and chronic homelessness be sustained beyond the pandemic? There are fears some will end up back living on the edge: in tents, boarding houses, dodgy motels , caravan parks and on the streets. But given there are 55,000 households on the waiting list and a developers levy , that would have meant an extra 1700 social and affordable dwellings a year, has been dumped many are anxious about the future. Increasing numbers of people are back on the streets after the pandemic. Credit:Joe Armao The government has promised they will all be offered permanent social housing by the end of next year. And the social housing shortage has meant 40 per cent of people in the program are in transitional accommodation with leases that are beginning to expire. But the future of the From Homelessness to a Home program is in doubt, with funding due to expire by the middle of next year. Where Housing First has been rolled out, including in Scotland, Canada, and Scandinavia, people are more likely to turn their lives around and sustain tenancies. They are then provided with support services, such as drug and alcohol counselling or mental health assistance, for as long as needed. Former homeless man Charlie Wheeler moved into a flat in Footscray after being put up in a hotel during the pandemic. Credit:Jason South Housing First involves quickly finding someone a stable place to live without the usual conditions, such as requiring them to abstain from drugs or alcohol or comply with mental health programs. The program was based on a Housing First model, a proven approach to tackling homelessness internationally. When the Victorian government announced From Homelessness to a Home in July 2020, it was hailed by many in the sector as utopian. But it said a lack of available and appropriate housing meant some people were placed in unsuitable properties that did not work for them or other residents. It said if the housing and support was ongoing, the program could save Victorian taxpayers between $338.5 million and $1.59 billion over 10 years due to a reduced need for justice, health and human services. The January 28 report, which has not been released publicly but was obtained by The Age, said the program had been transformational for many people. Last year, the Victorian government commissioned the Nous Group to review From Homelessness to a Home. Although there have been pilots in Australia , a program on such a scale had never before been attempted in this country. A 2021 study in the US found that Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88 per cent and improved housing stability by 41 per cent, compared with treatment-first programs. Some had to be relocated from luxury apartment blocks following alleged thefts, violence and public defecation. The review also warned the support packages and a significant proportion of the housing was time-limited, which was likely to undermine the effectiveness of the program. All clients in time-limited properties are at risk of exiting back into homelessness unless they have stable housing, it said. From Homelessness to a Home differs from a pure Housing First model in one fundamental way: the support packages and 40 per cent of the housing are time-limited. Due to the lack of social housing, 612 of the 1569 households still in the program as of September 16 were living in head-leased properties that expire after 18 months. Head-leasing refers to properties leased in the private rental market by the state government and then sub-let at a subsidised rent. A major challenge will be securing enough social housing supply for clients who are not able to transition into private rental, the Nous report says. The average waiting time for social housing for priority applicants is 15.2 months, substantially above the governments target of 10.5 months. From Homelessness to a Home support packages were also only funded for up to 24 months. [This] directly contradicts the principle of Housing First that support should be made available with no fixed end date, the Nous report says. Loading A spokeswoman for Homes Victoria, the government agency in charge of homelessness, said all people living in head-leased private rentals would receive a long-term social housing offer by the end of 2023. She said funding had been allocated for those who required ongoing support. Sophie* lived in her car for 18 months before the pandemic after her relationship broke down due to family violence. Unison offered her a one-bedroom apartment in Melbournes outer west that had been head-leased for From Homelessness to a Home. But in August, she received a notice to vacate her property in three months. Her Melbourne City Mission case worker assured her they would find her somewhere else to live, but she is rattled. Sophie is now on the priority social housing list, but as she points out, so are a lot of other people. Her initial optimism she will get a place is fading. Social housing shortages have been intensified by the pandemic. Credit:Paul Jeffers When the state budget was handed down in May, there was an outcry from homelessness organisations who warned a $43 million cut to From Homelessness to a Home could leave 1440 people without support. The government scrambled to find another $23 million to ensure those in head-leased properties continue to receive support until suitable long-term housing becomes available. But the extra funding is only for another year, which has Sophie worried. If its not extended, were all just gonna be back in the same spot that we were in before all this happened. Its kind of like a Band-Aid solution to make it all look good. Like look at what we did here [during lockdowns] but thats over now, so fend for yourself. Guy Johnson, a professor of homelessness at RMIT, says the government needs to quickly resolve what will happen to people in head-leased properties. You cannot leave this population with that level of uncertainty around their housing. What youll start to see is peoples levels of anxiety really start to ramp up, he says. Everyone wants to see this program work, not only for the individuals but to provide a signpost for the way forward for service reform. Last month, Homes Victoria chief executive Ben Rimmer said he was going to cut to the chase. We do know what it takes to end homelessness, he told a national homelessness conference. It does require a hell of a lot of additional social housing. Levy dumped Victoria has underinvested in social housing for decades. The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data reveals a decline in the proportion of social housing in Victoria since 2014, from 3.5 per cent of all households to 2.9 per cent in 2021. Loading In late 2020, the Victorian government announced 9300 new social housing dwellings over the next four years, as part of a $5.3 billion Big Housing Build. This was the biggest investment in social housing in the states history. But the government later reneged on an $800 million annual developers levy which would have funded an extra 1700 social and affordable homes each year after the property industry railed against it. Afraid of a scare campaign ahead of the November election, it nixed the levy less than two weeks after it was announced. This was a sad, sad day, says Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Jenny Smith. The Big Housing Build ends in 2024. Scrapping the levy bombed the pipeline [of social housing] and there is no plan B of which I am aware. Former housing minister Richard Wynne recently confessed he was heartbroken and yet to recover from the decision to dump the levy. Loading We were going to completely change the way housing was delivered, and I was dudded, he told The Age. On Tuesday, the Property Council appeared to soften its position, calling for incentives for private developers to create more affordable housing units across Victoria and advocating a scheme in which developers could potentially contribute to the costs. But Wynnes successor as housing minister, Danny Pearson, stresses there is no plan to revisit the levy. Its gone, the government has been really clear about that, Pearson says. Im not interested in re-fighting battles that have occurred in the past. Asked where the pipeline of social housing will come from without the levy, Pearson points to the potential of athletes hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, a proportion of which could be converted to social and affordable housing when the 2026 Commonwealth Games have concluded. He is also optimistic about more help from the federal Labor government, which has promised to set up a $10 billion fund to build 30,000 social and affordable housing units nationwide. Housing Minister Danny Pearson says there is no plan to revisit the decision to scrap the developers levy. Credit:Scott McNaughton The Nous report recommends From Homelessness to a Home be incorporated in a blueprint to reform the system. This, it says, would address the risk that it ends up being a one-off investment. The Council to Homeless Persons is hoping for an election commitment to expand the program to include more people and maintain funding for those already in it. Otherwise, everybody in a way has wasted their time, Smith says. The vast majority of these people need ongoing support. Its crazy not to keep it going. You cant say youre doing a Housing First program and say its time-limited. The minister says that when faced with a deadly pandemic, the government had to work fast to support people sleeping rough. While some things didnt work out, we got a lot right. Weve picked up the things we got right and are using these to shape our reform agenda, which is backed by $75 million in funding. He says From Homelessness to a Home was always meant to be a safe harbour. It was transitional housing, they werent going to stay there forever. It was about trying to find a way where people can move into more secure housing. Pearson says rough sleeping is in your face but the magnitude of the homelessness problem is much greater. Many forms are hidden: the young people who couch-surf, the older women who sleep in their cars. In 2018, for example, there were about 1100 people sleeping rough in Victoria. This made up just 5 per cent of the states homeless population. While From Homelessness to a Home has been successful, Pearson says, rough sleeping is just one area of homelessness to which the government needs to allocate resources. For us, its about recognising that weve got to look at the broad problem. No hope Susan, who has been on and off the streets for nine years, sits on a sodden blanket outside the IGA Express at the top of Lonsdale Street, holding her diabetic dog, Sandy. Her face is mottled with dirt and her ankles are bare. Sandy chewed up her last pair of socks, she says, and now its sleeting. Susan, who has been sleeping rough for years, is worried she will leave the streets in a coffin. Credit:Chris Hopkins Susan has chosen this spot deliberately. Partly, its because the IGA owner keeps an eye on her so she doesnt get robbed by junkies, but also because its opposite the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. Im protesting, she says. We need more government housing. The way cost of living is going up, its just going to get worse. Susan sleeps in parks, alleyways, car parks, anywhere on the outskirts of the CBD that is dry. When you get drunks peeing on you on a Friday and Saturday night, youd understand why I dont sleep in the city any more. You cant call this living, I am barely existing. And every day, you feel a little bit more invisible to society. Susan with her dog, Sandy. Credit:Chris Hopkins The last time she lived in a house was six years ago. And then I got booted because my ex found me. Thats the problem I have, my ex keeps finding me. A couple of homelessness housing providers are trying to help, but Susan has given up hope of a home. The only way I could really see myself getting off the street permanently is in a coffin. *Not her real name The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. The footage, which was played to the jury in Lehrmanns trial this week, shows her sitting down with a group of other 20-somethings, work colleagues mostly. Both young staffers worked for defence industries minister Linda Reynolds. At about 8.30pm, her alleged rapist joins the group too. She had invited him. They chat and laugh. He buys her a few of the eleven drinks she will consume over the next four and a half hours. Watching the footage, as it was played in evidence in courtroom SC3 of the ACT Supreme Court this week, there was a sickening sense of watching fate unfold. There was no pressing pause on the video the events of the night would march on, leading to both accused and complainant passing through three levels of security at Parliament House at about 1.30am the next morning. Higgins wept on the witness stand when she watched the footage of her 24-year-old self passing through security, and being unable to put her shoes back on after she had removed them for the metal detector. Eventually, the young woman on the CCTV gives up, and walks on, barefoot. A security guard leads the pair up to the ministerial suite, over the plush blue carpet of level one of the ministerial wing, and swipes them in. Both of their lives would be changed irretrievably after that point. There is no CCTV footage from inside the suite, only the competing narratives of complainant and accused, as to what happened there. Higgins sat on a window ledge for a while. She has no memory of how she got to the couch in the ministers office, the court heard this week, but the next memory she has is of waking up to her own rape, she said. Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Pretty much as soon as I came to, I was crying, because I couldnt get up, she told police in a recorded interview played to the jury on the trials second day. His outside knee had pinned my leg, pushing me open I was kind of pushed up, and he was on top of me. He was hovering above me, he wasnt looking at me, he was looking over me. In the police interview, one of the investigators asked how she felt. Trapped, she replied. Not human. After he finished, Higgins said, he got up and looked at her. There was a strange moment of just eye contact, she told police. I didnt say anything. He didnt say anything. He just left the room. Here the CCTV footage picks up again. As it was played in court, it shows Lehrmann leaving the building, about 2.30am. He waits outside parliament for his Uber and hops in. Later that morning, Higgins was roused from her sleep by a security guard calling into the office, where she had passed out on the couch. Higgins spent another few hours in the ministerial suite, she told police, seeking refuge in a windowless back office. She found a box of Roses chocolates, ate it, threw up and cried. Eventually, she composed herself and CCTV footage captures her leaving the building at about 10am on Saturday, March 23. Its a brilliant Canberra day the well-tended back lawns of Parliament House are a strong green against the clear autumn sky. On the following Monday, both young staffers were back at work. Higgins said she interacted with her alleged rapist in a professional way. The court heard they exchanged work emails, and he bought her a coffee at one point. I remember I was trying to overcompensate to make it normal, Higgins said. I was broadly nice to him still I was still dealing with the shock of it. I just wanted everything to be nice and normal. Brittany Higgins worked on the staff of former Coalition defence minister Linda Reynolds at the time of the alleged rape. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It wasnt, though, and wouldnt be again, for either of them. On the Tuesday after the alleged incident, Lehrmann was sacked summarily for his role in the security breach of their after-hours visit to parliament. He had previously committed a separate security breach; this was his second strike. Higgins was treated more sympathetically (although soon, she said, she would begin to feel great political pressure not to go to police, if she wanted to keep her job). She disclosed her alleged assault to her Chief of Staff, Fiona Brown, she said. I said assault, but I didnt use the word rape, she told the court on Wednesday. It was a hard thing for me to say and verbalise it still is. It makes it real. At home, Higgins scrunched up the white dress, put it in a bag under her bed and left it there, she told the court. I kept it under my bed in a plastic bag for a good six months, untouched, uncleaned, she told Crown Prosecutor Shane Drumgold on Thursday. Loading I wasnt sure because of all the party political stuff how I could proceed [with a police complaint] or if I could proceed with it, Higgins said. The white dress was like this weird anchor for me. Once it became clear I couldnt proceed and keep my job, she continued, I very symbolically washed the dress and I wore it once more, and I have never worn it since. But in his cross-examination of Higgins, Lehrmanns defence barrister Steve Whybrow led Higgins into admitting an inconsistency over the dress. Higgins said she must have been wrong about the timeline - she had actually worn the dress less than two months after the alleged assault, to a Liberal Party dinner in Perth during the 2019 election campaign. May I suggest to you, Whybrow said, that you werent wrong, you were not giving true and correct evidence when you said that. I made a mistake, Higgins replied. I wasnt trying to do it, I was just wrong. There were other inconsistencies in Higgins account. Whybrow led Higgins into admitting she had given incorrect evidence about the timing of a panic attack she said she had in the week following the alleged incident. Brittany Higgins attended a farewell lunch for the former minister for trade, tourism and investment Steven Ciobo. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen She said she had spent hours in a bathroom dealing with her anxiety on Thursday, April 4. Actually, she had been at a farewell lunch for her old boss, former MP Steven Ciobo, that day. Whybrow also showed, via Higgins text messages, that she had given incorrect evidence about the reason for her fathers visit to Canberra the weekend following the alleged assault. In his opening remarks on Tuesday, Whybrow rejected Higgins story completely. Mark Twain once said, Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, he told the jury. This case is the epitome of that phrase. The Australian public, Whybrow said, has been sold a pup with this story. Referring to the zeitgeist of airing stories of sexual misconduct and institutional cover-ups of abuse, he said that this was a story whose time had come. The genie was out of the bottle and this case was going ahead, irrespective of the real issues. Justice Lucy McCallum resided over the trial with calm compassion, pulling Whybrow up, for example, when he continued to refer to Higgins story, when Higgins had already corrected him by saying, Its my experience. Brittany Higgins (centre) arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra on Friday, flanked by her legal team and support worker. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The jury of six women and four men appeared attentive throughout the evidence. When Higgins arrived in court on the second day of evidence, the atmosphere in the room changed. She was well-dressed and held her head high, accompanied to the building by a tight group of supporters, including her partner David Sharaz, her lawyer Leon Zwier and her support worker Heidi Yates. Higgins wept when she saw some CCTV footage of herself, and during some of her verbal evidence. In the witness box, she sat mere metres away from the jury who will decide her fate, and kept her eyes ahead as they filed out past her at the end of each days sitting. Her accused rapist sat diagonally across from her, on the far side of the courtroom, never looking at her, and never looking at the TV screen when her recorded police interview was played to the court. He was well-dressed in a navy suit and tie, with the RM Williams boots that Higgins had referred to as part of the Liberal staffer uniform. He had a smart gold watch on his wrist and kept constant notes in his Moleskine notebook, head down. Between them, the Crown Prosecution and the defence legal teams argued their conflicting accounts, with occasional interruptions from Justice McCallum, when she thought evidence was repetitive, or when she repeatedly reminded Whybrow of the high bar set by the Evidence Acts provision regarding credibility evidence that the evidence must substantially affect the assessment of the witnesss credibility. With the jury, she was gentle, reminding them she was there to guide and support them. Loading As the week drew to a close, defence barrister Whybrow continued in his cross-examination of Higgins. At one point during their tense back-and-forth, he said to her: Lets not be cute here. She grew visibly angry as she was questioned closely about her text messages, what she disclosed to her boss about the alleged incident, and what she says were white lies she told to get her ex-boyfriend (to whom she had disclosed her alleged assault) off her back about going to a GP. At one point Higgins grew so agitated she laid her hands on the table in front of her and pushed herself backwards in exasperation. Eventually, Whybrow came to his point she was lying about her account, he suggested. The reason you didnt go to a doctor was because you hadnt had sex with anyone on Friday night, consensual or otherwise, he said to Higgins. Thats not true. Thats not true, Higgins replied, obviously provoked. He repeated the suggestion and she said: I completely disagree with everything youre saying. I dont know if youve ever gone through a trauma before but confronting it with professionals is a very hard thing to do, she told the man. Brittany Higgins has denied removing text messages and images from her phone to conceal them from police, saying she was terrified after Peter Dutton, then home affairs minister, said he had the initial details of her complaint before shed recorded a statement to police. The former Liberal staffer broke down in tears several times during a tense cross-examination by her accused rapist Bruce Lehrmanns barrister, Steven Whybrow, who she accused of being deeply insulting towards her when he suggested she had told others she had doctors appointments to bolster her story. Higgins has denied trying to hide data on her phone from police. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Higgins also said she didnt fully trust her confidante, Ben Dillaway, in the weeks after the alleged assault as he was a senior Liberal media adviser. She told the court I didnt trust that all my thoughts and feelings werent going straight back to Liberal CHQ [campaign headquarters] in the lead-up to the 2019 election. Higgins, a former media adviser, was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of Lehrmann, who is accused of raping Higgins in the ministerial office of Senator Linda Reynolds - where the pair worked - in the early hours of March 23, 2019, after a night out drinking with colleagues at two Canberra bars. Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Japan Open minutes before his quarter-final clash with Taylor Fritz on Friday, saying it was heartbreaking but for the best. The Australian confirmed a knee problem was the reason for his exit from the tournament in Tokyo, but stressed it was a precautionary decision rather than a sign of something more serious. Nick Kyrgios waves after his withdrawal from the Japan Open. Credit:AP Its heartbreaking. When the body lets you down its not a good feeling, the Wimbledon finalist said at the Ariake Colosseum Arena. I have to be smart and after hitting with Thanasi [Kokkinakis, doubles partner] today I feel that this is the best thing to do. I have a couple of tournaments at the end of the year and want to do well there. As officials in royal uniforms placed wreaths before the door of the nursery, mourning parents of those slain laid white flowers, dropping to their knees on the gravel entryway in tears. Outside the gate, people placed infant sized juice and milk bottles and small packets of chips. Panida Prawana, 19, whose two-year-old son Kritsana Sola was among those killed, had heard shooting coming from the area while she was selling noodles at her shop nearby and raced to the centre on her motorbike. Ringing her sister-in-law, she cried: He killed them all, the children. Panida Prawana, 19, whose two-year-old was among those killed. Credit:AP I rushed to try and pick up my son but it was too late, she said on Friday, holding her other child, 11-month-old daughter Kanjyapak Sola. I still dont believe that its real, the thing that happened. I dont want to believe its happened. The husband of one of the murdered teachers, who was eight months pregnant, said he had cried until I had no more tears coming out of my eyes. They are running through my heart, Seksan Sriraj, 28, said. My wife and my child have gone to a peaceful place. I am alive and will have to live. If I cant go on, my wife and my child will be worried about me, and they wont be reborn in the next life. Thats about it. The culprit, Kamrab, drove to the childrens facility after appearing in court on charges of possessing the drug crystal methamphetime and was due to have his judgment delivered in his case on Friday. A former police sergeant, he had been discharged from the force in June after being found with drugs in January and has been described as a long-term substance abuser. Police have speculated that he may have been stressed by the legal proceedings and having lost his job. But a motive for the slaughter the worst by a single perpetrator in Thai history has yet to be established. Komsan Noraboot, 33, the natural father of Kamrabs stepson Credit:Chris Barrett National Police Chief Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas said a preliminary forensic report had not found any trace of drugs in his system. Kamrab was well acquainted with the daycare building, having previously dropped off his stepson there, He used to be a normal guy but a couple of weeks ago he changed a lot, said Komsan Noraboot, 33, the natural father of Kamrabs stepson, who the killer shot before committing suicide as police surrounded his house. He called me up and wanted to start an argument, wanted to fight me. Weeping at the loss of his own child, as well as his ex-wife, who Kamrab murdered in his final moments, he said of his son: He was just a normal kid. A normal cheerful kid. Many relatives were gathered in front of the childcare centre to start the process of claiming compensation and psychologists were also sent to the site to help them. Buddhist monks donate blood for the victims. Credit:Getty Seven of the 10 people who were wounded were still hospitalised on Friday. As family members filled out documents, a series of helicopters converged on the field next to the nursery building, carrying the national police chief and other senior officers. They werent the last prominent figures due in Nong Bua Lamphu province. Relatives mourn during a ceremony for those killed in the attack Credit:AP Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were reportedly to visit two hospitals treating the wounded later on Friday, and Prime Minster Prayut Chan-ocha visited the daycare centre and the hospitals. Gun violence is prevalent in Thailand despite its strict firearms laws, but mass slayings have in the past been rare. The deadliest incident before Thursday was in 2020, when a disgruntled soldier opened fire in a shopping centre in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, also in north-east Thailand, killing 29 people. Uthai Sawans deputy mayor Somnuek Thongtalai, who lost three children from his extended family on Thursday, could never envision such horror so close to home. I never thought such terrible things would happen in our area, he said. with Art Akkarawat and AP Coverage of the 2022 elections for control of US Congress. See all 22 stories . US President Joe Biden has used a fundraiser at the home of James Murdoch to warn that the world was facing its biggest nuclear threat since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis as Vladimir Putin escalates his aggression against Ukraine. Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in New York, Biden said his Russian counterpart was not joking when he suggested last month that he could unleash nuclear warfare in a bid to defend what Russia views as its territory. US President Joe Biden looks at the IBM System One quantum computer with New York Governor Kathy Hochul during a tour of an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie. Credit:AP Weve got a guy I know fairly well, the president said of Putin, warning that the world was facing the prospect of Armageddon. Hes not joking when he talks about the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming. Juneau, Alaska: Two Russians who said they fled the country to avoid compulsory military service have requested asylum in the US after landing on a remote Alaska island in the Bering Sea, Alaska US Senator Lisa Murkowskis office said on Thursday. Karina Borger, a spokesperson for Murkowski, said by email that the office has been in communication with the US Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection and that the Russian nationals reported that they fled one of the coastal communities on the east coast of Russia to avoid compulsory military service. Gambell on St Laurence Island, Alaska. Credit:Walter Holt Rose /CC Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said the two individuals came over from Russia in a boat and were being questioned. We dont anticipate a continual stream of individuals or a flotilla of individuals. We have no indication thats going to happen, so this may be a one-off, Dunleavy said in a statement. OceanaGold Provides Notice of Third Quarter 2022 Results and Conference Call OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (aOceanaGolda or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/oceanagold-corp/ ) will release its financial and operational results for the quarter ending September 30, 2022, after market close on Wednesday October 26, 2022. The results will be made available on the Companya?s website at www.oceanagold.com .A A A Senior management will host a conference call / webcast to discuss the results on Thursday October 27, 2022, at 8:00 am Eastern Time. Webcast Details: To register, please copy and paste the link into your browser: https://app.webinar.net/P4a1VRrVoQm Conference Call Details: Toll-free participant dial in North America: +1 888-390-0546 Participant dial in North America: +1 416-764-8688 All other countries: + 1 778-383-7413 If you are unable to attend the call, a recording will be made available on the Companya?s website. About OceanaGold OceanaGold is a multinational gold producer committed to the highest standards of technical, environmental and social performance. We are committed to excellence in our industry by delivering sustainable environmental and social outcomes for our communities, and strong returns for our shareholders. Our global exploration, development, and operating experience has created a strong pipeline of organic growth opportunities and a portfolio of established operating assets including the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America, Didipio Mine in the Philippines, and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. Copper Mountain Mining Announces Agreement to Sell the Eva Copper Project and the Australian Exploration Tenements for Total Consideration of up to US$230 Million Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (TSX: CMMC | ASX: C6C) (the aCompanya or aCopper Mountaina https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/copper-mountain-mining-corp/ ) is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement with Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (JSE: HAR) (NYSE: HMY) (aHarmonya) to sell its wholly-owned Eva Copper Project and its 2,100km2 exploration land package in Queensland, Australia for total consideration of up to US$230 million (the aTransactiona). Under the terms of the Transaction, Copper Mountain will receive the following consideration: A. US$170,000,000 in cash payable on closing of the Transaction; B. Up to US$30,000,000 in cash, based on a contingent payment arrangement where Harmony will pay Copper Mountain 10% of the incremental revenue generated from the Eva Copper Project and the Australian exploration land package above the revenue assuming a US$3.80/lb copper price; and C. Up to US$30,000,000 in cash, based on a contingent payment arrangement where Harmony will pay Copper Mountain US$0.03 per pound of contained copper for any SAMREC copper resource discovered and declared on a new deposit within the Eva Copper Project and the Australian exploration land package after the closing of the Transaction. Gil Clausen, Copper Mountaina?s President and CEO, stated, aWe are pleased with this transaction as it demonstrates the value the Company has developed in the Eva Copper Project since our acquisition of Altona Mining Limited in 2018. It also recognizes the exploration upside that exists on the surrounding prospective land package.a A Letitia Wong, Copper Mountaina?s CFO, added, aThis transaction strengthens our balance sheet and allows the Company to evaluate options with respect to our long-term capital structure. Further, as our recently announced Life of Mine plan demonstrates, the Copper Mountain Mine is expected to generate healthy free cash flow starting in 2023 and we expect mine operations and the 65,000 tonnes per day expansion to be self-funded going forward.aA The closing of the Transaction is subject to certain customary conditions, including approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) in Australia and Copper Mountain bondholder approval. The Transaction has received approval from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and is not subject to any financing conditions. The Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023. Advisors and Counsel Macquarie Capital is acting as financial advisor to Copper Mountain. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and Corrs Chambers Westgarth are acting as Canadian and Australian legal counsel, respectively, to Copper Mountain. About Copper Mountain Mining Corporation Copper Mountaina?s flagship asset is the 75% owned Copper Mountain Mine located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. The Copper Mountain Mine currently produces approximately 100 million pounds of copper equivalent per year.A Copper Mountain also has the 100% owned development-stage Eva Copper Project and an extensive 2,100 km2 highly prospective land package in in Queensland, Australia. Copper Mountain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol aCMMCa and Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol aC6Ca. Additional information is available on the Companya?s web page at www.CuMtn.com. On behalf of the Board of COPPER MOUNTAIN MINING CORPORATION aGil ClausenaA A A A Gil Clausen President and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Tom Halton Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Telephone: 604-682-2992 Email: Tom.Halton@CuMtn.com Website: www.CuMtn.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain aforward looking informationa within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Copper Mountain does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Copper Mountaina?s expectations or beliefs regarding future events. In certain circumstances, forward-looking statements can be identified, but are not limited to, statements which use terminology such as aplansa, aexpectsa, aestimatesa, aintendsa, aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aforecastsa, aguidancea, scheduleda, atargeta or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta, aoccura or abe achieveda or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this news release, certain forward-looking statements are identified, including the Companya?s potential plans with respect to its long-term capital structure, anticipated timing for the Copper Mountain Mine to generate free cash flow and become self-funding, anticipated timing for the closing of the Transaction, entitlement to any contingent consideration under the Transaction, obtaining and satisfying customary conditions (including FIRB approval and Copper Mountain bondholder approval), anticipated production at the Copper Mountain Mine, and expectations for other economic, business and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, among others, the partiesa? ability to consummate the Transaction, the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, all conditions to the closing of the Transaction, assumptions concerning the Transaction and the operations and capital expenditure plans of the Company following completion of the Transaction, the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the Transaction, the diversion of management time on the Transaction, the successful exploration of the Companya?s properties in Canada and Australia, market price, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, extreme weather events, material and labour shortages, the reliability of the historical data referenced in this document and risks set out in Copper Mountaina?s public documents, including the managementa?s discussion and analysis for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 and the annual information form dated March 29, 2022, each filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Copper Mountain has attempted to identify important factors that could cause the Companya?s actual results, performance, achievements and opportunities to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause the Companya?s results, performance, achievements and opportunities not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. While the Company believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the Companya?s forward-looking statements. Endace Awarded aIncident Forensics Solution of the Yeara in 6th Annual CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards Program AUSTIN, Texas and AUCKLAND, New Zealand a Oct. 7, 2022 a Endace today announced that EndaceProbe has been selected as the aIncident Forensics Solution of the Yeara winner in the 6th annual CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards program, conducted by CyberSecurity Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global information security market today. aCapturing and analyzing packet data is an indispensable resource for securing the networking and protecting critical infrastructure. Network visibility across the network, from edge to edge, provides the most reliable defense,a said James Johnson, managing director, CyberSecurity Breakthrough. aEndaceProbe leads the industry in storage density, speed, and reliability providing a common hardware platform for a complete and accurate source of network-wide packet data to all the teams and tools that need access to it a delivering abreakthrougha? visibility into network activity. Congratulations to the Endace team on being our choice for aIncident Forensics Solution of the Year.a?a The EndaceProbe platform provides accurate, always-on packet capture with zero-loss, and its modular design can scale to large global networks to provide weeks to months of full packet history. Its powerful API allows for integration and hosting of commercial and open-source network security and performance tools to analyze live or historical traffic. The EndaceProbe provides a common infrastructure that allows for the sharing of a single, authoritative source of packet data across SecOps, NetOps, and IT teams. aEndace has specialized in scalable high performance, high reliability packet capture technology for more than two decades along with a strong legacy of third party integrations. Organizations increasingly recognize the benefits of adopting a common hardware platform that can integrate with and host their chosen security and performance analytics tools and provide visibility into activity across the entire network,a said Endace CEO, Stuart Wilson. aEndaceProbe gives security analysts the ability to resolve events quickly with hard evidence enabling our customers to extract greater ROI from their existing investment in security tools and providing the flexibility to scale easily as needs change.a The mission of the CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of information security categories, including Cloud Security, Threat Detection, Risk Management, Fraud Prevention, Mobile Security, and many more. This yeara?s program attracted more than 4,100 nominations from over 20 different countries throughout the world. Mr. Wilson concluded, aWea?re honored to receive the aIncident Forensics Solution of the Yeara? award from CyberSecurity Breakthrough, and we extend our congratulations to all the winners, particularly our partners: Darktrace, Elastic, Fortinet, Optiv, and Palo Alto Networks.a New York (United Nations) 7 October 2022 (SPS)- Representative of Frente Polisario at the UN, Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Omar, indicated yesterday in his statement before the UN Committee on Decolonisation that the Saharawi people will never give up their right to self-determination and independence and will continue fighting for it. Today, the Sahrawi people tell you once again and loud and clear that they will never give up their inalienable and non-negotiable right to self-determination and independence and that they will continue to use all legitimate means to defend their rights, he said. Following is the full text of the statement: Statement of the Frente POLISARIO on the Question of Western Sahara before the UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Omar Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations Coordinator with MINURSO New York, 6 October 2022 Mr Chair Distinguished Representatives and Delegates of Member States Ladies and gentlemen It is a pleasure for me to take the floor again to address the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee on behalf of the Frente POLISARIO, the legitimate and sole Representative of the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. Mr Chair Ladies and Gentlemen Time does not allow to provide a detailed account of the current situation of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara, which has been on the agenda of this Committee since 1963. I however would like to tell you loud and clear that the Sahrawi people who look to the United Nations as the guardian and defender of peoples right to self-determination, have had enough of the many promises that are not fulfilled and the many resolutions that remain words unaccompanied by actions. The continuation of the illegal occupation of parts of Western Sahara by Morocco since 1975 and the blatant attempts by the occupying state to impede the decolonisation of the Territory and to forcibly impose a fait accompli in the Sahrawi occupied territories are a cause of shame and represent an insult to the United Nations Charter and to all that which this Committee stands for. Therefore, time has come for this Committee and the United Nations to translate its resolutions into actions and to take concrete measures to speed up the decolonisation of the last remaining Colony in Africa. Double standards, selectivity, and complacency in the face of the logic of force can no longer be tolerated in the rules-based international order that the United Nations represents and that you, Member States, cherish and defend. Mr Chair Ladies and Gentlemen, The people of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara are victims of a persistent injustice that must not be allowed to endure any longer. The unspeakable brutality and oppression to which Sahrawi civilians are being subjected daily in the illegally Occupied Western Sahara at the hands of Moroccan security forces urgently call for a firm stand and action by the United Nations and the international community. In concluding, I would like to reiterate that the Frente POLISARIO remains fully committed to achieving a peaceful and lasting solution to the decolonisation of Western Sahara. In its resolution 2983 (XXVII) of 14 December 1972, the General Assembly reaffirmed the legitimacy of the struggle of the colonial peoples and its solidarity with, and support, for the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for self-determination and independence. Today, the Sahrawi people tell you once again and loud and clear that they will never give up their inalienable and non-negotiable right to self-determination and independence and that they will continue to use all legitimate means to defend their rights. I thank you for your attention." (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) 25 people were detained following the 82 home searches carried out on Wednesday in several cases regarding high-risk drug trafficking crimes and carrying out operations with products knowing that they are likely to have psychoactive effects, the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) informs. According to DIICOT, following the searches, two cannabis crops (one indoor), several cannabis plants, approximately 3 kilograms of cannabis buds, various quantities of high-risk drugs (MDMA, 4 CMC, MDMB - CHEMICAL) were discovered. and substances likely to have psychoactive effects (3 MMC, 3 CMC, Eutylone, 4 - CEC), high-precision electronic scales, mobile phones, grinder-type devices, an air rifle, as well as the sums of approximately 350,000 RON and 18,000 Of euro, told Agerpres. Also on Wednesday, the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism - Central Structure, together with policemen from the Service for the Combatting of Organised Crime (SCCO) Ilfov, caught two defendants in the act immediately after they picked up a package from a courier company, sent from Spain, which contained, hidden among the food, the amount of approximately 11 kilograms of cannabis. At the same time, on October 5, the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism - Territorial Service Craiova and Territorial Bureau Arad carried out 3 actions to counter high-risk drug trafficking. Thus, following the activities carried out by the prosecutors of the said directorate Craiova, the measure to detain was ordered against 3 defendants, for whom it was proposed to take the measure of preventive arrest, noting that they sold cannabis to consumers from Dolj county. The prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism - Arad Territorial Office documented the activity of two defendants who tried to introduce into the Arad Penitentiary approximately 13 grams of high-risk drugs (JWH - 210) and 750 grams of psychoactive substances (ADB-P-5Br-INACA), a synthetic cannabinoid. The authorities in Kazakhstan will give Romania all the support to secure the supply of oil and derived products, the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, who is in Kazakhstan, wrote on Facebook on Friday. "Together with Bolat Akchulakov, the Minister of Energy from the gov't of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as co-presidents, today I presided over the work of the 16th session of the Romanian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission. During the plenary session, I signed the documents by which we agreed to intensify the bilateral and commercial relations between the two states, in several essential fields. We will collaborate in the field of energy and, at the same time, we received assurances that we will have all the support to secure the supply of oil and derived products," Popescu pointed out, told Agerpres. The parties also discussed cooperation in energy, economy, trade and investments, transport, agriculture, environmental protection and the financial sector. "I said that our country wishes to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan and act to strengthen trade, investment and economic relations, in particular by encouraging mutual participation in investments in joint projects and by organizing and attracting companies to business forums from both countries, for promoting the economic climate and cooperation opportunities," the government official added. More determined measures are needed at EU level than hitherto so that the energy price is slashed, president Klaus Iohannis said on Friday in Prague. "With all the sanctions, with all the measures, which have been good and which have been taken so far, a significant decrease in energy prices has not yet been achieved and that means that we must be more determined. I remain on my proposal: to separate the gas market from the electricity market, and I believe that more and more in the Council are of the same opinion. I hope that the Commission will also be convinced that this is one of the measures that can deliver," the president said, before attending the informal meeting of the European Council in Prague, told Agerpres. Ioahnnis stressed that there is also a need to diversify energy resources in general. "We have some progress here, but it's still too little. The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector has started to operate, but the capacity needs to be increased. The capacity of European ports for LNG, for liquefied gas must be increased, and other measures," Iohannis said. The European Council will also discuss the situation in Ukraine in Prague. "We will categorically condemn the unrecognized annexations of territories by Russia, but at the same time, I want to expressly welcome the adoption of the eighth package of sanctions, which was approved in the past week's talks. On the other hand, we will discuss some measures, I hope quite concrete, related to the coming winter, about how can we support Ukraine to get over the coming winter," president Iohannis said. According to him, the discussions at the European Council meeting will also cover issues related to the economy in general. "Measures that come to prevent a recession in Europe are obviously necessary," he said. Since 2011, Romania has fulfilled all the technical conditions for joining the Schengen area and it is important for Romanians to benefit from the free movement of people, President Klaus Iohannis stressed on Friday, before attending the informal meeting of the European Council in Prague. "Schengen is neither about resources nor about other things. It is about technical criteria that must be met, especially on border control, migration control and so on. We have been fulfilling all the technical conditions since 2011. This has been verified and verified again. In the meantime, we are effectively, so de facto, part of a series of Schengen-related programmes and procedures, and we are doing our job very well there. But, apart from that, it is clear that, if we are talking about unity and solidarity in Europe, it must also exist among us. And then, my opinion, ours, is that all the formats that bring us together must be completed. The Schengen format allows the free movement of people and I think this is important for Romanians as well, to consider themselves Europeans with full rights," Iohannis said, told Agerpres. He declared himself convinced that Europe's security and control over the movement of people coming from outside would be greatly improved if Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia were co-opted into the Schengen area. "We fulfill the technical conditions, but now, these days, we have offered the possibility to a body of experts to come and check them once more, so that everyone can be assured that they are OK," klaus Iohannis said. President Iohannis announced that next week the Prime Minister of the Government of The Netherlands, Mark Rutte, will come to Romania, to visit the Dutch troops that are stationed in Cincu. The President of the Chamber of Deputies (Romania), Marcel Ciolacu, calls on the entire political class to support, in the coming weeks, through all channels and on all fronts, Romanias accession to the Schengen Area. It is very important that during this period we are all united and act for our country. There is no room for pride and rivalry in this matter. My call is for all parties to use the contacts they have in their European political families to support Romanias accession to the Schengen Area, the PSD President said. He also announced that at the Congress of European Socialists, where he will be present, he will support Romanias accession to Schengen for the near future: This is what I will do at the Congress of European Socialists, which will take place shortly in Berlin. My colleagues in the European Parliament are also holding daily talks with officials from other Member States to convince them to support Romanias cause. I am convinced that the other parties can also contribute significantly to achieving a success for Romania. We must not have any reservations in this fight for a strategic national objective, because justice is on our side. Romania has long met all the technical conditions for accession, and our countrys conduct in managing refugee flows from Ukraine and in securing export routes for Ukrainian grain shows that we fully deserve admission to the Schengen Area, concluded Marcel Ciolacu in a post on his official Facebook page. By Trend French La Gazette online newspaper published an article about another mass grave found in Adilli village of Khojavand district of Azerbaijan as well as the fact that this is another evidence of Armenian barbarism, Trend reports. The article stated that the killing of civilians not participating in the war, prisoners and hostages is considered a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, which is included both in the Charter of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal and the third article of the Geneva Convention, and in the Hague Convention on the rules of war. Furthermore, the article noted that according to international conventions and other legal documents, it's also the violation of the right to life. "Family members of the missing, according to international law, have the right to receive information about their relatives. However, by not providing Azerbaijan with detailed information about mass graves, Armenia also violated the rights of these families. We hope that the discovery of mass graves will progress after the mine-clearance operations and the fate of the missing will be clarified after appropriate examinations have been carried out," said the article. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police informs that on Thursday, 75,127 people entered Romania through border points throughout the country, of which 8,353 were Ukrainian citizens, down 1.5% compared to the previous day, told Agerpres. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday, approximately 160,200 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 45,000 means of transport, completed the control formalities at the border points throughout the country, both inbound and outbound. As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 2,516,400 Ukrainian citizens entered our country. On Thursday, 21 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country and 14 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. Romania's National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) announced on Friday having signed a co-operation agreement with Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) amid the ongoing military conflict and the exceptional situation in which the judicial authorities of Ukraine find themselves. In a press statement released on Friday, DNA says that after the signing in 2019 of a co-operation agreement with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which carries out investigations into corruption cases, given the military conflict and the exceptional situation in which the judicial authorities of Ukraine find themselves, DNA considered it important to extend co-operation to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which deals with high-level corruption."Thus, on a visit to Ukraine on Thursday, chief prosecutor of the DNA Crin-Nicu Bologa met Director of the State Bureau for Investigations Oleksii Sukhachov. Concrete methods of co-operation between the two institutions were discussed, especially related to the state of war in the neighbouring country, and a co-operation agreement was signed that lays the foundations for closer collaboration between the two institutions in the field of information exchange and mutual support in the investigation of cross-border crimes." A C-27 J Spartan aircraft of the Romanian Air Force configured for medical missions is carrying out a humanitarian flight mission on the route Otopeni - Rzeszow - Jasionka (Poland) - Dublin (Ireland) - Otopeni on Friday for five Ukrainian citizens who need treatment in Ireland. According to the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN), five Ukrainian patients aged 44, 26, 49, 56, and 36, respectively, will be picked up from Rzeszow - the Jasionka International Airport and flown to Dublin, for treatment at medical facilities in Ireland.According to MApN, the medical team that monitors the patients during the flight is made up of specialists from the Bucharest Emergency Clinical Hospital and the Air Transport Base 90.The military aircraft took off from Base 90 Air Transport in the morning.The request for the flight was made by the Emergency Management Department following Ukraine's request uploaded to the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS) platform, which facilitates communication between the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union and national authorities. This year registered a record in terms of initiating financial instruments from the Government of Romania, and the draft law on the establishment of the Development Bank of Romania is a key one that could unlock some strategic investments for the country, Secretary of State with the Finance Ministry Mihai Calin Precup stated on Friday, told Agerpres. "Under the leadership of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Adrian Caciu, (...), these days, the draft law on the establishment of the Development Bank of Romania passed through the Government. It is a key project for Romania, a project that has been talked about for many years and I think such a project could unlock some strategic investments for Romania," Mihai Calin Precup stated, at the 15th edition of the international conference called "Perspectives in Banking and Financial Law." In this context, he delivered a speech to the students, stating that, as long as we have strategic investment projects in Romania, we also have jobs with high added value. The Secretary of State mentioned that the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of European Funds want to stimulate and increase the entire ecosystem of private equity investments in Romania through the Fund of Recovery Funds. Mihai Calin Precup stated that, at European level, the role of private equity funds is limited, and what is happening in Eastern Europe represents a little over 3pct of the European Union market. According to him, the investments made by the investment funds bring not only money, but also expertise, because they hire competent people. He argues that Romania's economy is currently dependent on the banking sector in terms of financing, and the stimulation of financial instruments both on behalf of the Government, but especially in partnership with the private sector, can lead to a diversification of the companies' funding sources in the real economy . He participated in the 15th edition of the "Perspective in Banking and Financial Law" international conference, organized by the Faculty of Law of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies together with the European Society for Banking and Financial Law - Romania, the he Association of Legal Advisers in the Financial and Banking System and the Romanian Society of Business Law. Tickets for the Depeche Mode concert at the National Arena in Bucharest can be purchased, starting Friday, from the bilete.emagic.ro, as well as from the iaBilet.ro networks and Entertix.ro, the organizers announce, told Agerpres. Depeche Mode returns to Bucharest on July 26, 2023, where it will hold a concert at the National Arena in the capital, a performance that is part of the Memento Mori world tour, a press release sent on Tuesday by the organizers reads. Included in the 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame list, Depeche Mode announced the release of a new album, followed by a world tour. Depeche Mode's fifteenth studio album will be called Memento Mori and will be released in the spring of 2023. Dave Gahan and Martin Gore have announced that the Memento Mori tour will begin in March with a series of special events in North America, followed, from May, by concerts in Europe. Romania is also on the map of the European tour, with an extraordinary concert at the National Arena in Bucharest, on July 26. The show will include songs from the new album, but also songs from the previous albums, already known, the organizers stated. Martin Gore, as quoted in the press release, said that the band started working on this project at the beginning of the pandemic, and the themes of the material are directly inspired by that period. After the loss of Fletch, he added, we decided to continue, being convinced that this is what he would have wanted, and this only served to give the project a special meaning, referring to the Memento Mori album. According to the source, Dave Gahan added, in turn, that Fletch would have loved this album and that they can't wait to share this material and present it live in concerts next year. The Memento Mori tour will be Depeche Mode's 19th tour and the first in more than five years. The most recent and longest Depeche Mode tour - Global Spirit Tour (2017-2018) - more than 130 concerts - brought the band in front of more than three million fans, both in Europe and in North America. Romania was also among the lucky countries, with a live show in central-western Cluj-Napoca, organized by Emagic in 2017, at the Cluj Arena, it is also shown in the release. Memento Mori will be Depeche Mode's 15th studio album and the follow-up to 2017's critically acclaimed Spirit, which reached #1 in 11 territories and the top 5 in over 20 other countries. PINE LAWN Police search for murder suspect:Police on Thursday morning were searching for a 20-year-old man charged with murder in Pine Lawn. Colby Harris was charged Wednesday in at-large warrants with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Jevon Durbin. Durbin, 24, was shot to death inside a home in the 4100 block of Jennings Station Road about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The North County Police Cooperative said Harris frequents Pine Lawn and Fairground Park in St. Louis. Martin said Harris, whose nickname is Santana, had a 9 mm handgun. Once he is arrested, Harris will be held in jail in lieu of $2 million cash bail. Durbin graduated from Normandy High School and had lived with his mother in the first block of Wayside Drive in Ferguson, according to Durbin's father, Paul Durbin of Little Rock, Arkansas. Paul Durbin said Harris had previously robbed his son and posted on Facebook about it. Jevon Durbin and his brother "ended up at the same place" as Harris on Wednesday, when a confrontation and fight ended in the shooting. "It's tough," Paul Durbin said Thursday of his son's death. Jevon Durbin is survived by a son, who was born in February. MADISON COUNTY Woman, granddaughter killed in crash:A woman and her teenage granddaughter were killed Wednesday morning when a tractor-trailer ran a stop sign and struck the woman's SUV in Madison County, authorities said. The Illinois State Police identified the woman as Sheila M. Macon, 73, of Greenville, Illinois. Her passenger, a 17-year-old girl from Alton, also died. Trooper Rodger Goines refused to release the teen's name. One of Macon's two adult sons confirmed to the PostDispatch on Thursday that the girl who died was Macon's granddaughter. The family said they were at the morgue and unable to comment more. The crash happened at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday at Highway 4 and Highway 140 in Madison County. The Illinois State Police said Macon was driving a 2016 Nissan Rogue west on Highway 140. The tractortrailer was heading south on Highway 4. The tractor-trailer ran a stop sign and hit the side of the Rogue, police said. Macon and her teenage passenger died at the scene. The truck driver was 38-year-old Daniel G. Belay, of Ellicott City, Maryland. He refused medical treatment, police said. Police cited Belay for disobeying a stop sign, the Illinois State Police said. CLAYTON - Slim Chickens owners sue Wingstop manager:A lawsuit filed in St. Louis County last week accuses a restaurant manager of attempting to poach workers from one large chicken chain to another. Consolidated Restaurant Development Co., owner of seven Slim Chickens restaurant locations in Missouri and Illinois, filed suit Sept. 29 against former area director of operations Mike Moreland. Moreland left his regional management role at Slim Chickens in June for a job at Wingstop, according to the suit. The suit alleges Moreland then began texting managers of at least three central Illinois locations of Slim Chickens, offering them jobs at Atlanta Wingstop chains. At least one Slim Chickens employee took him up on the offer, the suit claims. The suit alleges the poaching violated a "nonsolicitation" clause in Moreland's contract and will result in loss of investment and possible disclosure of "confidential information" for the business. Moreland declined to give comment on the suit's claims Thursday. The restaurant owners are seeking an injunction preventing Moreland from continuing to contact Slim Chickens employees. A hearse with a skeleton sitting in the passenger seat parks in front of the Mineral Springs Hotel in Alton. The sandwich board on the sidewalk hints at more than a few stranger things inside. Welcome to The Soul Asylum, it says. Curiosities Haunted objects History Paranormal stuff Torture devices Medical Quackery And Plain ol Weirdness! Dave and Donna Nunnally run the Soul Asylum, a museum dedicated to all things creepy, haunted, weird and whimsical about the human existence and beyond. The shop opened in March, in the same place that was once the Curiosity Museum and the Museum of Historic Torture Devices. Its weird, says Dave Nunnally, matter-of-factly. Were weird people. The Nunnallys are good friends with the previous museums proprietor, Janet Kolar. They keep a photo of Kolar, labeled the original hot goth babe, in the museums lobby. Shes wearing a cloak and posing in front of the hearse, which used to be hers. When it came time for Kolar to retire, the Nunnallys were poised to take over. The museum is inside one of Altons most haunted buildings, the former Mineral Springs Hotel. The Nunnallys manage the hotel, which includes a few shops and businesses. Since 2015 they have run a metaphysical shop inside the hotel called Its Raining Zen, which sells things like crystals, minerals and incense. They kept most of Kolars torture devices. A rack is the centerpiece, and a gridiron, a gibbet, a rat torture cage and more round out the room. Visitors are welcome to give anything a try. People should be able to touch them, or climb in, says Dave Nunnally. Youre not going to hurt anything. If you break it, Ill make another one. They have filled in the rest with other weird and whimsical items theyve collected from antique malls, flea markets and travels around the world. Donna Nunnally is a retired accountant, who also works as a medium and does readings in an office in the hotel building. Dave Nunnally is a retired public affairs officer from the U.S. Navy and has traveled extensively. He doesnt drink, smoke or have a tattoo, he said, and when hed go ashore hed rather visit a church, temple or market than hit the bars. He has a degree in anthropology and has always loved odd things, and received a copy of the "Guinness Book of World Records" every year at Christmas as a kid. Robert Wadlow was my jam, he said, referring to Altons gentle giant, who at 8 feet, 11.1 inches was the tallest man in recorded history. Ive always had a fascination for things that were different than me, he said. I was interested in trying to understand what makes people tick, less to distinguish a difference between me and them and more to find a commonality. Most of the items are on display in cases, in groupings of of topics like serial killers, Ouija boards, religious relics, haunted objects, medical quackery and local history. Among the hundreds, maybe thousands, of items on display: An autopsy table from the Dixmont state asylum near Pittsburgh. The asylum was built in 1862 and named for Dorthea Dix, who lobbied for the closure of the Alton State Penitentiary in the 1950s. Dixmont closed in 1984 and was demolished in 2006. Dave Nunnally got the table from a museum visitor after the museum first opened. He figures thousands of people were autopsied on the table. Theres still hair in the drains. Its disgusting, he said. But its a super cool item. A skull from a woman named Wanda who was a prostitute who donated her body to science when she died about 70 years ago. She was about 50 years old when she died and had lost her teeth and had severe periodontal disease. Dave Nunnally said because of her economic status, she may not have had a choice other than to donate her body. If you look at her periodontal health, its savage. It literally calcified her. You can infer from that other things about her economic status. Odds are she died alone. They allow visitors to hold the skull. Donna Nunnally said she often hears Wanda talking. Shes a very chatty person. Whenever Im around here, she just chatters nonstop. A funeral chair from the Upper Alton Cemetery, which was used during the internment of Wadlow, who died on July 14, 1940, at age 22. A life-sized statue of Wadlow stands in the lobby of the Soul Asylum. All of the available seating was used to accommodate the approximate 10,000 people who attended the funeral service. More than 40,000 people visited the funeral home to pay their respects. An original key fob and other objects like green bathroom tile fragments from the Mineral Springs Hotel. The museum is inside the hotels original ballroom, and ghost tours often visit the building. The hotel opened in 1914, closed in 1971, and featured what was then the largest swimming pool in Illinois; its still there in the buildings basement. Several guests are said to haunt the hotel, including the Jasmine Lady, who supposedly lingers in a staircase. Dave Nunnally says that ever since he brought in the autopsy table a month or so ago, the spirits of the building have been arguing and cursing, and he can hear them on special audio equipment used to pick up their voices. Theres been a battle royale between the spirits, he says. Sort of a struggle for dominance would be the best way I could describe it. The Nunnallys say theyve been heartened by the feedback and hundreds of visitors who come during a single month. Alton is a really special town, he says. It markets itself as the most haunted small town in America. So its the perfect fit for what I do. The people here are just fantastic. Weve been here for 10 years, were just as ingrained and just as a part of this community as if wed spent the last 50 years here. And when people visit the museum, they, too, come away with a sense of belonging. People come and read and learn, he says, and walk out of here hopefully with a better understanding of why were all the same, and why all of us deserve to be compassionate with each other and care about each other. The Soul Asylum When Noon-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Noon-4 p.m. Sundays Where 301 East Broadway, Alton How much $5 More info facebook.com/altonsoulasylum; 618- 468-1051 ST. LOUIS St. Louis County has settled for $1.2 million a suit claiming that an inmate at the county jail was denied medical care hours before his death. Daniel Stout, then 31, died in June 2019, one of five county jail deaths that year that sparked outrage and prompted reviews of the St. Louis County Justice Center. Stouts mother, Angela Malcich, filed suit in June 2020 claiming that jail nurses and guards repeatedly ignored the serious medical distress of her son, despite a jail guard describing Stout repeatedly vomiting up what looked like motor oil. An autopsy found that he died from complications of an ulcer that perforated his intestine. Malcichs attorneys filed to dismiss the case Thursday after reaching a settlement with St. Louis County agreeing to pay $650,000. Insurance for a group of county health department nurses that worked at the jail will cover the remaining $550,000, according to a county spokesman. Jail director Scott Anders, who was the sixth to lead the jail in less than three years when he took over almost a year ago, declined to comment on the case. But he said he has overhauled operations over the past year, improving communication with medical staff, adding officers to pods, and boosting access to medical services. Stout was one of five inmate deaths in the county jail in 2019, along with Larry Jay Reavis, John M. Shy, Lamar Catchings and JoVon Mitchell. The deaths caused county officials to suspend or fire multiple staff members, review jail practices and revive the countys long-dormant justice services advisory board. An internal report related to the deaths found that all the men acted strangely shortly before they died and in most cases asked for medical assistance that they didnt receive. A lawsuit filed by Reavis widow, Tamara Reavis, claiming jail staff members were negligent and indifferent to Reavis obvious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, settled in 2021 for $865,000. Stout was arrested June 3, 2019 on a parole revocation and spent the next eight days in the county jail. The night before his death, Stout complained of stomach pains, but was told he would have to wait until the morning to see a nurse, the suit claims. A corrections officer on duty, Tonya English, said in a deposition that before 6 a.m. Stout complained to her about vomiting and stomach pains. She then called a nurse on duty, Janet Duwe, who, English testified, told her Stout was scheduled to be transported to prison that morning and would have to wait to see a nurse that handles transports. Duwe said in a deposition that she recalled English asking if hypothetically an inmate could be transported to prison if he was vomiting, according to court records. She said she answered yes, if the inmate was seen by a nurse just before transportation, but said she did not ask for more information. Its not uncommon for someone to vomit before they go to prison, she said in the deposition. We have a lot of people withdrawing and a lot of people who are nervous. The suit claims Stout never received care before he was transported more than an hour to the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. He died less than an hour after he arrived. By the time Stout arrived at ERDCC he was vomiting coagulated blood, the suit says, adding that prison staff quickly called for EMS. By the time they arrived, Stout was already dead. Malcich, of south St. Louis County, told the Post-Dispatch in a brief interview in 2019 that it should have been clear to jailers that her son was in pain and they should have treated him for it. Obviously he was in pain, she said. Why would they put him in a van in pain? He had to be in severe pain. If you had a ruptured ulcer, I would think you would not be able to walk. Malcichs suit also claimed that after the death, St. Louis County failed to reply to requests for public documents the county is required to release under the Missouri Sunshine Law, which governs open records in the state. A total of $569,234 will be taken out of the $1.2 million settlement for fees to Malcichs attorneys, Pleban & Associates Law, according to court documents. She was represented in the case by attorney J.C. Pleban. St. Louis County police Lt. Col. Troy Doyle, appointed in April 2019 by then-County Executive Steve Stenger to oversee jail operations, was also named in the suit. FERGUSON The person responsible for the day-to-day duties for the city of Ferguson says hes here to stay, as long as a council member stops interfering with his ability to do his job. Moreover, Ferguson City Manager Eric Osterberg said on Thursday he was harassed in part because of his sexual orientation. Osterberg, who is gay, resigned in the middle of a city council meeting Sept. 27 after a heated exchange with Councilwoman Toni Burrow, then later changed his mind and withdrew his resignation. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch on Thursday about his feelings, the harassment, and his motivation to stay under some conditions. Theres a pattern of behavior happening with some of the city council members where they do not follow the city charter and they interfere with my ability to do the day-to-day administrative work of the city, Osterberg said. Thursday afternoon, PROMO, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, released a statement in support of Osterberg, calling the councils behavior harassment and bullying, and arguing that gay public officials have long been subjected to such behavior from their peers. Indeed, Osterberg said he has been in the past, as assistant city manager at a city in Oregon. Its prompted him to not discuss his sexuality with employers. I prefer it be something they find out after they hire me, he said. Late Thursday, Burrow denied that she was harassing Osterberg: Im not the least bit interested in defending lies, she said. Its just not true. None of that true. Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones said earlier this week that Osterbergs resignation was just a moment. But Osterberg told the Post-Dispatch that, while some members of the council have been supportive, others over the past six or seven months have interfered with his ability to reorganize departments, and promote and hire employees. He said some city council members have tried to assign city employees new responsibilities behind his back. His resignation last week at the council meeting had been building up, he said. What that was a reflection of was the intensity of the situation and a reflection of how much I care, said Osterberg of his sudden resignation after being on the job a little less than a year. I would not try to downplay it as not being emotional, because I think it certainly was. Fergusons government, through its city charter, is structured as a council-manager setup. The council approves the city managers hiring, and the charter states the city manager is the chief executive and administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of the affairs of the city. After the Tuesday meeting last week, Osterberg said he sent a note to his staff confirming his resignation, while members of the city council began asking him to retract it. I said I would be willing to consider, but I needed to have a very frank and honest conversation with them about how their unwillingness to let me manage the city is creating issues, said Osterberg. We had a really good discussion this past Monday and were able to identify a way forward. Before Osterberg, John Hampton served simultaneously as fire chief and the interim city manager for about six months. Hampton took over after the departure of the citys previous interim manager, Jeffrey Blume. The city of Ferguson has operated under a consent decree since 2016, after a Department of Justice investigation found the city administered unconstitutional police and court policies and practices. It was one of the many domino effects of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. At least four police chiefs have come and gone since then. Employee retention has to be a priority for the city, according to District 73 state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Ferguson resident. Ferguson cant be the place where careers come to die or we cant keep qualified staff, said Proudie, who also said shes been embarrassed by the disorderly conduct of the city council during public meetings. Osterberg would not identify which city council members have been an issue for him. But he announced his resignation to Burrow. Now some residents and supporters of Osterberg are aiming for Burrows resignation. Proudie is one of five who submitted a notarized affidavit to form a petitioners committee to start collecting signatures to remove Burrow from office. Osterberg didnt comment on the petition, but was glad he had support as manager. Im still doing my job. I do believe that Ive done good work for the city of Ferguson, but when that interference continues to occur, it creates frustration, it lowers employee morale, it creates a messy situation when there doesnt need to be one. Osterberg is set to address the council and residents of Ferguson at the next city council meeting, on Tuesday. WASHINGTON Rep. Cori Bush will campaign on abortion rights this weekend at multiple stops in Missouri as Democrats seek to engage their voters on the issue ahead of the November election. Abortion rights have become a galvanizing issue for the Democratic Party in the aftermath of a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion. Missouri was the first state to enact a ban, after the ruling triggered a law that prevents abortions except in medical emergencies. Bush, who has testified before Congress about an abortion she had as a teenager and the impact it had on her life, will headline events for the party around the state. At 17 years old I was raped and became pregnant, then I had an abortion; now, in states like Missouri the first to ban abortion care Republicans would force me to birth the child of my rapist, Bush said in a press release. The fight for reproductive freedom begins in Missouri. The tour, which launches in west St. Louis County, includes stops in St. Charles and Columbia on Saturday, then heads to Gladstone and Kansas City on Sunday, and Rolla and St. Louis on Monday. Some of the events are deemed private, and reservations are requested. Missouri Democrats see abortion rights as a key issue to draw out their supporters for down ballot races in November. They point to a vote across state lines in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that would have eliminated the right to an abortion in the Kansas constitution. While Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Missouri, has used abortion rights as a wedge issue in her campaign, she isnt participating in the tour. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, activated Missouris ban. He is heavily favored to win the election in November. Bush is a somewhat controversial figure among some members of the Democratic Party, given her roots in progressive activism she called herself a politivist on Late Night with Stephen Colbert. In response to the abuse of power by law enforcement, she has called for defunding the police, a controversial slogan disavowed by Democrats like President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Schmitt has already referenced Bushs support for the concept and criticized Valentine for seeking Bushs support. Bush responded with a clown emoji Tuesday. 2022 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. The Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Health care workers are our heroes. This phrase may be the most uniting thing to come out of the pandemic. Its the one idea that people, regardless of political affiliation or stance on coronavirus policy, seem to agree upon: that the people who donned gowns and respirators, and risked their own well-being to help others, deserve our praise. However, this acknowledgment rings hollow to those who work in the health care field. While the public heaps praise on the nurses, doctors and first responders, the workers themselves need more than just words of affirmation. Better pay, safer patient-staffing ratios and, above all else, the safety to do their jobs without fear of physical violence. In July, a paramedic and nurse were stabbed by a patient in the emergency room at SSM Health DePaul. The paramedic was stabbed multiple times resulting in stitches and staples across her back and the nurse was stabbed in the neck. Thankfully, both of the injured workers survived, but many believe that the incident itself was preventable. The staff asked for more stringent security measures for years leading up to this incident. Interviews with DePaul employees suggest that the hospital never took steps to address security concerns. The safety of the providers was only prioritized following the bad publicity in the aftermath of the stabbing. DePaul was forced to take measures to save face. This included hiring more security guards and installing metal detectors within a week of the stabbing. Too little, too late to help those already recovering from injuries. Lack of safety support is not just an issue at DePaul. In August, two nurses were assaulted at Mercy South Hospital. One nurse suffered a concussion as a result of the attack and the other nurse was pregnant at the time leading to worries about possible pregnancy complications. More recently, an emergency medical technician who worked in the emergency room of Southeast Hospital was attacked by a patient. The technician suffered a terrible bite to the arm that drew blood and left his entire forearm bruised. The injury resulted in the technician becoming a patient in the emergency room and was quickly followed by a pink slip from Southeast Hospital. The official reason: the technician did not do enough to deescalate the situation, and when he fought back against the patient, who was actively biting him, it was too aggressive. Southeast Hospital appears to expect their employees to weigh the need for employment versus their need for personal safety. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that people who work in health care and social services are five times more likely to experience workplace-related violence than the average worker. In 2018, health care workers made up 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries due to violence. The perception among many health care workers is that it is just another part of the job to deal with abuse. Minor violent incidents happen daily and are rarely prosecuted by the police. In cases of more serious assaults, hospitals are reluctant to share patient information with law enforcement due to concerns of violating privacy laws. Hospitals often prioritize minimizing blowback from potentially litigious patients than they are with offering full-throated support for their employees safety. Therefore, many workers are afraid to even stand up for themselves and fight back. The House of Representatives recently passed a bill, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which aims to require employers in the health care and social service industries to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan. The bill currently sits in the Senate, where it will be debated and ultimately take form. However, even if the bill passes a vote in the Senate and is signed into law by the president it would take years to be implemented nationally. The reality is that health care workers are unnecessarily vulnerable today. Hospitals need to step up the protections in place for their employees now, and not just wait until they are forced to act by law. Hospitals are run like a business, and security measures bring in no profit. The public is shocked when major assaults make the news, but the everyday violence experienced by the average health care worker is dismissed, diminished and ignored. It is only when the general public is made aware of this issue that hospitals will be incentivized to make the necessary changes. It is up to the public to demand that the health care and the justice system do more to protect those workers society has decided to label as heroes. Tyler Chrestman is host of The Chrestman Conversation podcast and blog. The state of New York has announced that, similar to California, all new vehicles sold in the state will be battery electric vehicles by 2035. The plan is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and represents a key step in achieving NY's target of reducing emissions 85% by 2050. Morgan Stanley, after examining the current state of battery supply chains and EV prices, believes this goal will be difficult to achieve. As part of the plan, NY is making additional grants and subsidies available to both municipalities and individuals. Now, in addition to the federal tax rebate of $7,500, consumers in NY have access to an extra $2,000 point-of-sale rebate. Furthermore, NY will receive funding from the Department of Transportation to build an interconnected network of reliable chargers. Morgan Stanley analyst, Harald Hendrikse recognizes the impact of reducing greenhouse gases. However, he wonders exactly how the plan will come together. Due to complex battery supply chains, OEMs are still struggling to secure either battery cells or the raw materials to manufacture them. Even if a company can find a steady supply, at $8-10k on average for even smaller cars, batteries are still expensive, meaning EVs remain more costly than internal combustion engines (ICE) before incentives. Lastly, a lack of charging infrastructure, as well as battery range still, present hurdles to consumers. Hendriske wrote in a note, For penetration rates to increase to this extent, something needs to give way. Either battery chemistry and supply chain substantially improves over a short time period, thus reducing BEV costs and pricing substantially; or NY State will have to increase subsidies to meet more ambitious targets; or, detrimental to OEMs, they sell the EVs at lower ASPs and margins in order to appeal to the mass market Hendriske continued, Whilst the ideal situation would be a ramp up in battery chemistry and supply chain improvements, at this junction, we remain concerned that lower BEV affordability may get in the way of meeting these BEV targets. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of aa- (Superior) of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha (CSI), and its subsidiary, CSI Life Insurance Company (CSI Life). The outlook of the Credit Ratings (rating) is stable. Both companies are domiciled in Omaha, NE. The ratings reflect CSI and CSI Lifes balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as their adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Additionally, CSI and CSI Life benefit from very conservative underwriting leverage, a strong liquidity position and the implicit support from their ultimate parent, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) [NYSE: BRK A and BRK B]. CSI is a specialty insurance company that provides credit card credit insurance and has fronting agreements with multiple insurers. These positive rating factors are offset by CSIs elevated common stock leverage. CSI currently writes more non-credit insurance premiums on a gross basis compared with its long-standing credit insurance business. The vast majority of gross premiums written are related to long-term fronting arrangements. The rating affirmations of CSI Life reflect its synergies with CSI. The ratings also reflect CSI Lifes strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and the explicit support provided by its parent, CSI, as well as the implicit support from its ultimate parent, Berkshire. Offsetting rating factors include CSI Lifes limited business profile and lack of product diversification. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005413/en/ Christopher Pennings, CPCU Financial Analyst +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5611 [email protected] Gregory Dickerson Associate Director +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5161 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected] Al Slavin Communications Specialist +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098 [email protected] Source: AM Best CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amylyx) today announced the pricing of an upsized underwritten public offering of 6,693,750 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $32.00 per share. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by Amylyx. Amylyx has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,004,062 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds to Amylyx from this offering are expected to be $214.2 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses and excluding any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares. The offering is expected to close on or about October 11, 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, SVB Securities, and Evercore ISI are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as lead manager for the offering. Registration statements on Form S-1 relating to these securities became effective on October 6, 2022. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering, may be obtained, when available, from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, at Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526 or by e-mail at [email protected]; BofA Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001 or by email at [email protected]; SVB Securities LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 53 State Street, 40th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, by telephone at 1-800-808-7525, ext. 6105, or by email at [email protected]; or Evercore Group L.L.C., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10055, by telephone at 1-888-474-0200, or by email at [email protected]. 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. About Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to supporting and creating more moments for the neurodegenerative community through the discovery and development of innovative new treatments. Amylyx is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has operations in Canada and EMEA. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including with respect to the offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this statement are based on managements current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include those risks and uncertainties set forth in Amylyx registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the preliminary prospectus included therein. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Amylyx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221006006078/en/ Media Becky Gohsler Finn Partners (646) 307-6307 [email protected] Investors Lindsey Allen Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (857) 320-6244 [email protected] Source: Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT) (the Company) announced today that its third quarter 2022 earnings will be released after the market closes on Thursday, October 27, 2022. Management will host a conference call on the following day, Friday, October 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM Central Time. Conference Call Domestic Dial-In Number: (888) 317-6003 International Dial-In Number: (412) 317-6061 Passcode: 5737190 Webcast: https://investors.camdenliving.com The Company strongly encourages interested parties to join the call via webcast in order to view any associated videos, slide presentations, etc. The dial-in phone line will be reserved for accredited analysts and investors who plan to pose questions to Management during the Q&A session of the call. Conference Call Replay Domestic Dial-In Number: (877) 344-7529 International Dial-In Number: (412) 317-0088 Passcode: 7653299 Available Through: November 11, 2022 The complete earnings release and supplemental data will be available in the Investors section of the website. Camden Property Trust, an S&P 500 Company, is a real estate company primarily engaged in the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, acquisition, and construction of multifamily apartment communities. Camden owns interests in and operates 171 properties containing 58,425 apartment homes across the United States. Upon completion of 5 properties currently under development, the Companys portfolio will increase to 60,267 apartment homes in 176 properties. Camden has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by FORTUNE magazine for 15 consecutive years, most recently ranking #26. For additional information, please contact Camdens Investor Relations Department at (713) 354-2787 or access our website at camdenliving.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221006005643/en/ Kim Callahan, 713-354-2549 Source: Camden Property Trust Events planned throughout October at 7 U.S. plants spotlight manufacturing career opportunities CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cornerstone Building Brands, the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America servicing the commercial, residential and repair and remodel markets, announced plans to celebrate National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) at seven U.S. locations. Beginning today and continuing throughout October, the company will open its doors to future manufacturing talent. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the facilities and experience hands-on how products are made at each location. The companys theme this year is Building Stronger Communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005376/en/ Whether you are graduating from high school, trade school or college, beginning a second career or rejoining the workforce, Manufacturing Day and the entire month provides great opportunities to learn about the broad range of career possibilities in manufacturing, said Rose Lee, president and CEO of Cornerstone Building Brands. Our employees are essential to advancing our work to create high-performing, beautiful and sustainable products for our customers, and we welcome the opportunity to open our doors to our communities and future cohorts. MFG Day, an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute and supported by the National Association of Manufacturers, has been celebrated on the first Friday of October since 2012. Events for students, parents, teachers and community leaders continue throughout the month, providing an opportunity to showcase modern manufacturing careers to the next generation of workers. On average, there are approximately 800,000 open jobs per month in manufacturing while the average annual income of U.S. manufacturing employees was $92,832 in 2020.1 This skills gap is partly due to a lack of awareness of career opportunities in manufacturing. According to the Manufacturing Institute, more than four million U.S. manufacturing jobs need to be filled between now and 2030.2 MFG Day events are planned throughout October at the following Cornerstone Building Brands facilities: October 7 North Brunswick, N.J. Sidney, Ohio October 12 Marion, Ohio October 14 Bryan, Texas October 18 Martinsburg, W.Va. Salt Lake City, Utah October 27 Mt. Pleasant, Iowa As part of its commitment to Building Stronger Communities, Cornerstone Building Brands has donated more than $2.8 million in products and funds, helping to build or remodel more than 600 homes in 90 communities through its Home for Good project. To learn more about Manufacturing Day at Cornerstone Building Brands, click here. ABOUT CORNERSTONE BUILDING BRANDS Cornerstone Building Brands is the largest manufacturer of exterior building products by sales for residential and low-rise non-residential buildings in North America. Headquartered in Cary, N.C., we serve residential and commercial customers across the new construction and repair and remodel markets. Our market-leading portfolio of products spans vinyl windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, metal roofing, metal wall systems and metal accessories. Cornerstone Building Brands broad, multichannel distribution platform and expansive national footprint includes more than 20,000 employees at manufacturing, distribution and office locations throughout North America. Corporate stewardship and environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibility are embedded in our culture. We are committed to contributing positively to the communities where we live, work and play. For more information, visit us at www.cornerstonebuildingbrands.com. 1 http://www.mfgday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MFG-Day-2022-Government-Toolkit-1-1.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005376/en/ Investor Relations: Jason Uthe, SVP, Finance and Investor Relations Media Inquiries: Mary Barnes, Director, Corporate Communications 1-866-419-0042 [email protected] Source: Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. African American Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, Veterans Chamber and New Jersey Chamber of Commerce join Cross River to build new bridges in the tech community and empower all entrepreneurs FORT LEE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cross River Bank (Cross River), a technology infrastructure provider that offers embedded financial solutions, hosted a collaborative lounge which brought together leading groups from across the state at yesterdays Propelify Innovation Festival in Hoboken, New Jersey. The space, Cross River Commons, was built to empower diverse New Jersey entrepreneurs and create opportunities for historic collaboration. Various Chambers used the space to highlight their work supporting local small businesses, and tech entrepreneurs were able to connect with leading business advocates across diverse communities to find commonalities and propel economic inclusion. We have partnered with TechUnited and these Chambers for many years and the resources they provide to local businesses and the New Jersey community at-large are critical, said Phil Goldfeder, SVP of Global Public Affairs at Cross River. Bringing everyone together for this years Propelify Innovation Festival was an obvious decision for Cross River, and provided a special and unique opportunity for the technology community to unite with the organizations on the front lines of financial inclusion and business development. Innovation is democratizing financial services and creating opportunities for many who have historically been left out. In addition to its innovative work in fintech, Cross River is promoting pragmatic and inspiring community collaborations that can further its core mission of inclusivity and empowerment. We are honored to participate in Propelify, an event sponsored by our member and strategic partner, Cross River, said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder. President & CEO, AACCNJ. Propelify provides a platform to showcase innovation through technology, ingenuity and futuristic thinking which leads to greater efficiencies, sustainability and societal transformation; that produces residual benefits for all. Cross River is dedicated to empowering local small businesses and the organizations that support them and bridging the gap between small business and technology groups to propel future growth and collaboration in every community across New Jersey. "We appreciate Cross River inviting us to Propelify yesterday, to participate in one of the panels, promote our upcoming programs, events and resources for the community, said Carlos Medina, President/CEO of SHCCNJ. The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey looks forward to strengthening our partnership and collaboration with Cross River." In addition to financial literacy education, Cross River has been a dedicated partner to the community and Chambers with entrepreneurship training, veteran support, economic empowerment grants and more. It was an honor to partner with Cross River at this year's Propelify Innovation Festival in support of veteran entrepreneurs, said Francisco Cortes, President and Co-Founder of New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to a continued relationship with Cross River and are proud of their efforts to support Diverse businesses across the state. Chambers who took part in Cross River Commons include the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the African Americans Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Were always proud to partner with Cross River and our fellow Chambers of Commerce, said Patrick Daily, Relationship Manager at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Propelify is an amazing opportunity to get valuable in person time with our members and of course, make new connections. It was a wonderful event. For more information, or to get involved, please visit www.crossriver.com. About Cross River Cross River provides technology infrastructure powering the future of financial services. Leveraging its proprietary real-time banking core, Cross River delivers innovative and scalable embedded payments, cards, lending and crypto solutions to millions of consumers and businesses. Cross River is backed by leading investors and serves the worlds most essential fintech and technology companies. Together with its partners, Cross River is reshaping global finance and financial inclusion. Member FDIC. Find out more at www.crossriver.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005506/en/ Cross River Eden Hoffman Phone: 201-808-7000 x538 [email protected] Source: Cross River Bank TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ontarios lowest-paid education workers remain united in their fight for student success and good jobs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005549/en/ Education workers central bargaining committee returned to the table yesterday expecting to see movement that would address the workers twin goals of better pay and better services. On Monday, the results of education workers historic strike vote revealed 45,433 out of 55,000 frontline CUPE education workers cast ballots, and 43,821 an overwhelming 96.5% voted yes to send a strong message to the Ford government: Education cuts are not acceptable. More frontline staff are urgently needed in schools for students to succeed. Its time for a significant pay increase. Weve been at the table for two more days waiting for the government and school boards to come back with a reasonable offer, but they refused, said Laura Walton, educational assistant and president of CUPEs Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU). They did not make a single move on key issues. As a result, we have been pushed into a position where we need to request a no board report and up the pressure to reach a negotiated settlement. They still have an opportunity to come back and be reasonable, Walton noted. We are calling on trustees and the Ford government to provide us with more negotiation dates and to put real improvements on the table. Were here to get a negotiated agreement that responds to the needs of students and frontline workers. Education workers need a significant wage increase, and we deserve it, Walton said. Students and parents deserve guarantees of service levels and improved staffing in schools. The Ontario public supports both of these proposals proposals for student success and good jobs that education workers are putting forward. As premier of Canadas richest province, Doug Ford has the power and resources to accept our reasonable, necessary, and affordable proposals today, added Walton. If he does that, the lowest-paid education workers who are paid on average only $39,000 a year wont have to strike to make ends meet and to defend services for students from Fords cuts. Quick Facts: What is a no board? According to the Ministry of Labour website, if the union and the employer dont reach an agreement during conciliation, the conciliation officer reports the outcome to the Minister of Labour and the minister will send a written notice to the parties. Typically, this notice will say that a board of conciliation will not be appointed. This is commonly known as a no-board report. After the minister sends the notice, the union and the employer continue to have a duty to bargain in good faith and attempt to reach an agreement. More than 70% of Ontarios 55,000 frontline education workers are women. More than half work at least one additional job to make ends meet and 60% are laid off every summer. Education workers are bargaining for guarantees of: enough educational assistants so all students would get the supports they need and so schools could stop sending kids home because there isnt an EA available; an early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom so every four- and five-year-old would get the play-based learning support thats especially necessary now after two years of pandemic isolation; enough library workers to make sure school libraries are open and reading opportunities are available to kids all the time; enough custodians to keep schools clean and enough maintenance workers and tradespeople to begin to tackle the $16 billion repair backlog; and adequate staffing of secretaries in school offices and enough lunchroom supervisors to keep students safe. The Ford government cut education funding by at least $800 per student over its first term. With two million students in Ontarios schools, that amounted to a $1.6 billion cut in funding last year alone. From 2012 to 2021, the lowest-paid education workers have already taken an 11% wage cut. According to a Financial Accountability Office report published last week, education workers stand to lose another 11.3%, meaning the Ford governments policies will amount to the lowest-paid education workers taking a 22% wage cut over a 13-year period. Workers wage proposal is an increase of $3.25 per hour each year in a three-year collective agreement. The Ford governments offer was just 33 to 53 an hour the equivalent of the cost of less than one tank of gas per month. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005549/en/ Ken Marciniec CUPE Communications [email protected] 416-803-6066 (cell) Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees Achieving the highest possible rating of 5 stars means members in the statewide plan are not only highly satisfied with Humana, but are also receiving quality health care from clinicians who make them feel respected and valued NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today announced that, for the second year in a row, and the third time overall, its statewide Humana HMO Medicare Advantage plan in Tennessee has achieved the highest possible 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Humanas Cariten Health Plan Inc. in Tennessee, an HMO plan offered in all of Tennessees 95 counties, is one of three Humana plans in the nation to receive the 5-star rating, which reflects the companys commitment to high quality medical care and reliable customer service. I tell everyone that they need Humana because they really care about my health, said Tennessee Humana member Patricia K. I really enjoy the personal customer service and the walking incentive on my plan keeps me motivated to live healthier. Doug Haaland, Humanas Medicare President for Tennessee and Alabama, said achieving this rating for 2023 is significant because CMS increased its focus on patient experience with increased weighting for consumer satisfaction when assessing the quality of plans. We are grateful to the doctors and their medical teams who are treating our members in a way that makes them feel valued, respected and not rushed, while providing the quality health care they need, Haaland said. Were also incredibly proud of our entire Tennessee team as this score means that our members believe were easy to do business with and would recommend our plans to others. About Medicare Advantage Medicare Advantage delivers financial savings to members in the form of lower out-of-pocket costs and reduced premiums. Medicare Advantage members reported spending nearly $2,000 less on out-of-pocket costs, compared to fee-for-service Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans also have limits on out-of-pocket costs. These financial protections may be critical for older Americans on fixed incomes. Unlike fee-for-service Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans often include affordable prescription drug coverage. For Humana members, 100 percent of the savings achieved through manufacturer rebates and discounts in pharmacy programs are returned to members through lower premiums and improved benefits. Medicare Advantage plan members had more than a 30 percent lower level of emergency room visits, and 40 percent lower level of inpatient hospital care, compared to beneficiaries with fee-for-service Medicare. In addition to improving health, these outcomes demonstrate real savings for people with Medicare and the health system. Medicare Advantage plans reinvest these savings by expanding supplemental benefits, supporting providers and coordinating care. About Medicare Advantage Enrollment The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP) begins Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7, 2022. During this enrollment period, people eligible for Medicare can choose Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans for the upcoming year with coverage that takes effect Jan. 1, 2023. People eligible for Medicare may make a one-time election to enroll in a plan offered by an MA organization with a Star Rating of 5 Stars during the year in which that plan has the 5-star overall performance rating, provided the enrollee meets the other requirements to enroll in that plan. This 5-star special election is available Dec. 8 through Nov. 30 of the following year. For more information about Humanas 2022 Medicare offerings, visit www.Humana.com/Medicare or call toll-free 1-888-372-2614 (TTY: 711). Licensed sales agents are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week. About CMS Star Ratings The CMS rating system measures the excellence of Medicare plans nationally each year. A plan may receive a rating between one and five stars, with five stars representing the highest rating. CMS uses information from member-satisfaction surveys, health plans, and health care providers to assign overall Star Ratings to plans. The rating system uses more than 40 different quality measures across nine categories, including: Staying Healthy: Screenings, Tests and Vaccines Managing Chronic (Long Term) Conditions Member Experience with Health Plan Member Complaints and Changes in the Health Plans Performance Health Plan Customer Service Drug Plan Customer Service Member Complaints and Changes in the Drug Plans Performance Member Experience with Drug Plan Drug Safety and Accuracy of Drug Pricing Additional information about the CMS Star Ratings can be found at: www.medicare.gov. About Humana Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the companys web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders Securities and Exchange Commission filings Most recent investor conference presentations Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls Calendar of events Corporate Governance information Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Y0040_GCHLTMTEN_M View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005128/en/ Nancy A. Hanewinckel Humana Corporate Communications 941.585.4763 [email protected] Source: Humana Inc. Hazelden Betty Ford expands reach of its virtual family programs CENTER CITY, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With the ongoing substance use and mental health crisis continuing to disparately impact Native Americans, the nonprofit Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has launched a culturally specific educational and support program for Native American familiesaccessible at no cost right in the home, regardless if their loved one is in treatment. The new Family Program for Native American Families ensures families have the tools necessary for the journey to their own recovery. To develop the new service, indigenous clinician leaders within Hazelden Betty Fords national system of care applied Native American cultural and spiritual principles to the nonprofit addiction treatment leaders existing, highly regarded family program, making modifications in language and content to account for generational trauma and affirm the resilience remembered in the DNA of North Americas First Peoples. Facilitatorsall of whom are Native American and credentialed family professionalsapply culturally relevant tools and resources for American Indian and Alaska Native participants. Referring to the Medicine Wheel, used for generations by many Native American tribes for health and healing, Sarita McGowan, EdD, co-lead of the new program and substance use disorder counselor at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage (Calif.), explained how its four colors and directions represent diversity of people and coming together for wellness. Hurting or healing, we have to come together, explained McGowan, who is also featured alongside Hazelden Betty Ford in Center City (Minn.) Clinical Director Cecelia Jayme in the first of 12 planned new episodes in Hazelden Betty Fords Lets Talk Recovery Equity podcast serieseach lifting up Native and Indigenous culture and communities. Kateri Coyhis, executive director of White Bison and board member at Faces & Voices of Recovery, is featured in the second episode. One of Hazelden Betty Fords RecoveryGo online solutions, the virtual family program recognizes that when someone has a substance use disorder, everyone in the family unit is affected. Creating a sense of community within the family program so that participants can trust the process and those involved, is key. The family program strives to create an interactive, supportive learning and processing environment, where families are able to gain insight and skills regarding: Substance use disorder and its impacts on the family; Family reactions to substance use and behaviors in the past; Helpful boundary and communication skills; and Sources of support for family recovery. We want to reach every parent, spouse, sibling and other loved one who is caught up in the complicated pain and confusion that addiction so often brings to families, said Joseph Lee, MD, president and CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford. Our free virtual family program cultivates a sense of healing and hope for everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, and provides skills that empower families to be part of the solution. Offering the program in a culturally specific way, as we also did recently with our Spanish-language family program, is an important part of our vision to empower recovery and well-being for all. All sessions are presented live virtually and held one Wednesday per month, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. Anyone interested in participating in the Native American Virtual Family Program can register at hazeldenbettyford.org/family. About the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions. As the nations foremost nonprofit provider of comprehensive behavioral health care, the Foundation leads the way in helping society rise above stigma and overcome addiction. With a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center, the Foundation now has treatment centers and telehealth services nationwide as well as a network of collaborators throughout health care. Charitable support and a commitment to innovation drive ongoing advances in care, research, programs and services to impact more lives. In addition to clinical care, Hazelden Betty Ford encompasses a graduate school of addiction studies, a publishing division, a research center, thought leadership and advocacy, professional and medical education programs, school-based prevention resources and a specialized program for childrenwith a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all of its endeavors. Learn more at www.HazeldenBettyFord.org and on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005460/en/ Samantha Moy-Gottfried, 651-213-4728, [email protected] Source: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) (the Company) will hold its Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The call will be hosted by senior management to discuss financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 and current business initiatives. These financial results will be released on Friday, November 4, 2022 before market open and will be available on our investor relations website at: http://ir.graftech.com. The conference call dial-in number is +1 (888) 396-8049 toll-free in North America or +1 (416) 764-8646 for overseas calls, conference ID: 84245557. Live audio of the conference call will be available via webcast on our website or can be accessed at: https://app.webinar.net/gBY2dWjmelJ. Archived replays of the conference call and webcast will be made available on our investor relations website at: http://ir.graftech.com. About GrafTech GrafTech International Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high-quality graphite electrode products essential to the production of electric arc furnace steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The Company has a competitive portfolio of low-cost, ultra-high power graphite electrode manufacturing facilities, including three of the highest capacity facilities in the world. We are the only large-scale graphite electrode producer that is substantially vertically integrated into petroleum needle coke, a key raw material for graphite electrode manufacturing. This unique position provides us with competitive advantages in product quality and cost. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221005005649/en/ Michael Dillon 216-676-2000 Source: GrafTech International Ltd. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA releases its marketplace consumer loan indices for September 2022, providing monthly credit trends across securitized loan pools. Click here to view the report. About KBRA KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU, and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRAs ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005410/en/ Brian Ford, CFA, Managing Director Structured Finance Research +1 (646) 731-2329 [email protected] Brajean Ramos, Senior Analyst Structured Finance Research +1 (646) 731-2417 [email protected] Business Development Contact Ted Burbage, Managing Director +1 (646) 731-3325 [email protected] Source: KBRA NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (the Company) (NYSE: MCB), the holding company for Metropolitan Commercial Bank, today announced it will release third quarter financial results after the market closes on Thursday, October 20, 2022. The Company will conduct a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday, October 21, 2022, to discuss the results. To access the event by telephone, please dial 800-245-3047 (US), 785-424-1699 (INTL), and provide conference ID: MCBQ322 approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time (to allow time for registration). The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and accessible at MCB Quarterly Results Conference Call and in the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at MCB News. To listen to the live webcast, please visit the site at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to join for the live presentation, a replay of the webcast will also be available later that day accessible at MCB Quarterly Results Conference Call. About Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB) is the parent company of Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the Bank). The Bank is a New York City based commercial bank that provides a broad range of business, commercial and personal banking products and services to small, middle-market, corporate enterprises, municipalities, and affluent individuals. The Banks Global Payments group is an established leader in BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service) to various domestic and international fintech, payments and money services businesses. The Bank operates banking centers in New York City and on Long Island in New York State, and is ranked as one of the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies by Fortune, Top 50 Community Banks by S&P, Top 20 Commercial Lenders by ICBA for banks with an asset size of more than $1 billion, and Piper Sandler Sm-All Stars Class of 2022. The Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and an equal housing lender. For more information, please visit MCBankNY.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005532/en/ Greg Sigrist EVP & Chief Financial Officer Metropolitan Commercial Bank (212) 365-6721 [email protected] Source: Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (Nextech or the Company) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a Metaverse Company and leading provider of augmented reality (AR) experience technologies, wayfinding technologies and 3D model services is pleased to announce that CEO Evan Gappelberg will present at the Emerging Growth Conference on October 12, 2022, discussing the Companys involvement in 3D modelling for eCommerce and ARway, the augmented reality wayfinding platform for the real-world metaverse. The presentation will be webcast and an archived recording will be made available in the Investors' section of the Nextech AR website. Nextech AR invites individual and institutional investors as well as advisors and analysts, to attend its presentation at the Emerging Growth Conference. Event: Emerging Growth Conference Presentation Date: Wednesday October 12, 2022 Time: 9:45am Eastern Time (ET) Register to Attend: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1571724&tp_key=4274f13b29&sti=nexcf Recent Company Highlights About the Emerging Growth Conference The Emerging Growth conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate their new products, services and other major announcements to the investment community from the convenience of their office, in a time-efficient manner. The Conference focus and coverage include companies in a wide range of growth sectors, with strong management teams, innovative products & services, focused strategy, execution, and the overall potential for long-term growth. Its audience includes potentially tens of thousands of Individual and Institutional investors, as well as Investment advisors and analysts. All sessions will be conducted through video webcasts and will take place in the Eastern time zone. To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. About Nextech AR Nextech AR Solutions is the engine accelerating the growth of the Metaverse. Using breakthrough AI, Nextech AR is able to quickly, easily and affordably ARitize (transform) vast quantities and varieties of existing assets at scale making products, people and places ready for interactive 3D use, giving creators at every level all the essential tools they need to build out their digital AR vision in the Metaverse. Our platform agnostic tools allow brands, educators, students, manufacturers, creators, and technologists to create immersive, interactive and the most photo-realistic 3D assets and digital environments, compose AR experiences, and publish them omnichannel. With a full suite of end-to-end AR solutions in 3D Commerce, Education, Events, and Industrial Manufacturing, Nextech AR is in a unique position to meet the needs of the worlds biggest brands and all Metaverse contributors. Nextech funds the development of its AR and Metaverse growth initiatives through its e-Commerce platforms, which currently generate most of its revenue. Nextech's e-commerce platforms include: 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. These e-commerce platforms serve as an incubator for developing and testing Nextech's leading edge AR, AI and machine learning applications for powering next-generation e-commerce technology. Forward-looking Statements The CSE 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 by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, will be or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as 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/20221007005083/en/ Investor Relations Lindsay Betts [email protected] 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Ext 7201 Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Source: Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Nearly 900 attendees and over 300 customers attend event celebrating Boundless Digital Invention SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Optimizely, the leading digital experience platform (DXP) provider enabling Boundless Digital Invention, has wrapped its annual Opticon event. Opticon brought together and connected leaders of technology, media, business, and brands for conversations on the rapid evolutions and innovations shaping marketing and the future of digital experiences. Optimizely welcomed nearly 900 attendees from industry-leading brands, as well as customers, media, analysts, and more across 45 sessions during the three-day event focused on future-forward solutions to the industrys most complex challenges and enemies of every digital leader: complexity to get things done, uncertainty about what works, and inertia caused by siloed and non-actionable data. Additional highlights from this years event, include: The Future is Boundless: In his keynote session, Alex Atzberger, Chief Executive Officer at Optimizely, outlined the complexities holding brands back from achieving outcomes and introduced Boundless Digital Invention, a new way for digital leaders to improve outcomes such as increased revenue, lower TCO, and decreased customer acquisition costs. At Optimizely, we unleash brand potential as the worlds only DXP designed to help reinvent how marketing works. With Boundless Digital Invention, marketers can orchestrate, monetize, and experiment at every point, Atzberger said during the session. By removing complexities and barriers, brands can drive business success with boundless possibilities and infinite outcomes. The Road to Revolutionary Experiences: Chief Product Officer Justin Anovick previewed Optimizelys upcoming product roadmap, exploring whats possible in the digital landscape and how Optimizely delivers value to customers through its Orchestrate, Monetize, and Experiment solutions, encompassing ideation, development, engagement, testing, learning, and beyond. For Optimizely, DXP is all about being better together so that every team is unlimited in what they can accomplish, Anovick said during his keynote. Having acquired five companies over the past few years, its one-dimensional to view our recent work simply as the whole is better than the sum of its parts. Because we understand that its not just about the totality of our different capabilities its also about what each individual component brings to the table. During Opticon, Optimizely announced its new Orchestrate solution, combining its three best-in-class products Content Marketing (CMP), Content Management (CMS), and Digital Asset Management (DAM) into a comprehensive offering. Orchestrate transforms how marketing teams work, enabling them to manage the entire content lifecycle and deliver better digital experiences. Optimizely also released Real-Time Segmentation, a first-of-its kind offering that allows marketers to segment customers in the moment of engagement to deliver highly relevant, personalized digital experiences. The solution integrates across all products and leverages fresh data to reflect the true state of an audience, eliminating data refresh intervals that can delay customer insights. Reinventing How Marketing Works: Optimizely Chief Marketing Officer Kirsten Allegri Williams explored how the demands of the marketing landscape and technology have transformed marketers themselves, including the creation of the digital execution gap between what customers expect and what we can deliver. Marketers and product leaders have become part of the same digital team, partnering together to create better channel strategy, better design and content decisions, and deeper user engagement right within the product, Allegri Williams said in the keynote. To close the digital execution gap, we need to reinvent how marketers work. Along with all other core functions, like HR, Finance, and IT, marketing deserves its own system of record. With the new evolution of Optimizely, we finally have it. We all know martech has become too complex, said Lorenz Gan, Chief Digital Officer and CIO of New Era Cap LLC. The customer experience is too important to be left to a patchwork of disconnected systems. Thats why I am grateful for the unified vision that Optimizely has built. Recordings of the Day One and Day Two keynotes are now available. Learn more about our upcoming Opticon Tour events taking place in London on Friday, Nov. 4, and Stockholm on Tuesday, Nov. 8. About Optimizely At Optimizely, we're on a mission to help people unlock their digital potential. With our leading digital experience platform (DXP), we equip teams with the tools and insights they need to create and optimize in new and novel ways. Through Boundless Digital Invention, were reinventing marketing and allowing marketers to innovate without limits through confident content creation, inclusive collaboration and customer foresight. Now, companies can operate with data-driven confidence to create hyper-personalized experiences. Building sophisticated solutions has never been simpler. Optimizelys 900+ partners and 1100+ employees in offices around the globe are proud to help more than 9,000 brands, including Toyota, Santander, eBay, KLM and Mazda, enrich their customer lifetime value, increase revenue and grow their brands. Learn more at optimizely.com. All third-party trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference purposes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221006006067/en/ Media Contacts: Rachel Teitt Gill Sr. Director, Global Communications +1 740-815-1588 [email protected] Victoria Johnson Sr. Manager, Global Communications [email protected] Kally Lavoie PAN Communications [email protected] Source: Optimizely LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Slate Asset Management (Slate), a global alternative investment platform targeting real assets, today announced that it has agreed to provide financing to Move About Group AB (Move About), a Swedish electric mobility service, to support the roll out of more than 150 electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Europe. The car funding provided by Slate will be used to bolster Move Abouts electric car fleet, which currently owns and operates over 800 electric cars and has more than 71,000 users on its platform. Move About is a Sweden-based electric mobility service that delivers environmentally friendly and cost-effective mobility solutions to over 300 locations across Sweden, Norway, and Germany. Move About has partnered with some of the largest companies across Europe to save tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Since it was founded in 2007, Move About has become the largest provider of emission-free carsharing in the Nordic region. Christian Schmid, Managing Director, Global Head of Infrastructure at Slate, said, We are very pleased to partner with Move About to help broaden access to sustainable and cost-effective mobility solutions across Europe. This is an area where we see immense opportunity and exciting potential for growth as demand for more sustainable mobility solutions continues to accelerate globally. Together with Move About and our other mobility partners, we can contribute to making this technology more accessible while driving significant reductions in urban carbon emissions. "For us, this complement to our traditional car lease arrangements is proof that institutional capital is eager to be part of the important transition to a fossil-free society, said Olof Jonasson, CEO of Move About. We are of course very pleased that Slate, a leading investor and real asset manager with deep knowledge of sustainable infrastructure, shares our view on the potential of shared fossil-free mobility." Slate is an active investor in sustainable assets and technologies that advance the global energy transition and enable cities and communities to reach their carbon emission reduction goals. Last month, Slate announced a strategic partnership with Roswall Development Inc., a fully integrated Canadian renewable energy company in Halifax, Nova Scotia, through the acquisition of a significant minority stake in the company. Slate is also a majority stakeholder in amperio GmbH, a specialist planner and operator of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Germany. About Slate Asset Management Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform targeting real assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slates platform has a range of real estate and infrastructure investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more. About Move About Group AB Move About offers app-based, environmentally friendly and cost-effective mobility solutions to individuals as well as companies, municipalities and organizations. The company has developed and owns all intellectual property rights to its cloud-based greentech platform that provides digital access to electric cars, electric bicycles, taxis, subways and parking via one and the same app - around the clock. Every kilometer that the user travels with the electric cars through the platform, CO2 reduces emissions. The Company's comprehensive mobility solution is based on the Move About app, which gives the user access to the Company's pools of electric cars, electric bicycles and electric scooters. Move About also helps companies, municipalities and organizations optimize their vehicle fleets by tailoring mobility solutions as needed. Move About was founded in Oslo, Norway in 2007 and today has over 71,000 users on its platform and over 800 electric cars in its vehicle fleet with a presence in Sweden, Norway and Germany. Visit Moveaboutgroup.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005056/en/ Media Slate Asset Management Karolina Kmiecik [email protected] Move About Group AB Olof Jonasson [email protected] Source: Slate Asset Management HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hong Kong has some of the best nightlife and top bars in Asia. Newly opened in July 2021, ARGO, a cocktail bar housed in the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, made an impressive debut in The Worlds 50 Best Bars 2022 at 28th place, alongside Mexican-inspired craft cocktail bar, Coa, standing in 17th place. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005237/en/ The new entrant, ARGO, situated in a prime location by Victoria Harbour, serves unique, creative spirits with ingredients sourced in Hong Kong and beyond. (Photo: Business Wire) The new entrant, ARGO, situated in a prime location by Victoria Harbour, is decorated with natural elements. The bar design seamlessly blends the indoor and outdoor environment, taking guests to the edge of Hong Kong's signature harbour. Featuring innovative, forward-thinking concepts, the bar serves unique, creative cocktails with ingredients sourced in Hong Kong and beyond. We are extremely honoured to be a part of the World's 50 Best Bars list, alongside many great bars and friends. It's a testament to the team's hard work and commitment to pursuing excellence in providing the best bar experience, said Lorenzo Antinori, beverage manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Moving to Hong Kong for almost two years, Antinori believes Hong Kong is a special place. The mix of East and West and Hong Kongs incredible heritage of flavours and culinary techniques have inspired us with its unique character as a melting pot of cultures and traditions. Making the list for the third year, Coa is dedicated to bringing agave spirits to the forefront of Asia's cocktail scene. Co-founded by award-winning bartender Jay Khan, the Mexican-inspired bar offers people from all walks of life an extensive range of spirits, including mezcal, tequila and raicilla. Revealed on 4 October in Barcelona, The Worlds 50 Best Bars 2022 introduces outstanding bars in 26 cities around the world. Over 650 renowned international drinks experts, including bartenders and drinks writers, cast their votes based on their best bar experiences. With these brilliant outlets in Hong Kong shining bright in the international awards, the bar scene is becoming more vibrant now. From luxury liquor and wine to creative cocktails and locally crafted beers, there is always an option to amaze. Our home-grown talent and world-class mixologists keep breaking the boundaries, providing an exciting array of beverages awaiting your rediscovery. For the future trips to Hong Kong, be sure to bookmark these award-winning bars on your bucket list. For latest travel requirements for inbound travellers, please visit https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/plan/traveller-info/boarding-and-testing-arrangements-upon-arrival.html. Images can be accessed via: https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=870&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005237/en/ For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Holly Chan Email: [email protected] Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board Visionary leadership and laser focus on leveraging digital technologies leads to major U.S. housing industry accolade MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Steven Meirink, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, has been selected by HousingWire as one of its 2022 Vanguard Award honorees, representing the top executives in the U.S. housing industry. This year's award winners were announced at the magazines October 4 Vanguard Forum in Scottsdale, Ariz. According to program officials, the Vanguard is the highest award that leaders in the nations housing industry can earn and reflects the considerable achievements of this years esteemed group of 100 leaders who were selected. The 2022 Vanguards honorees represent the housing economys elite leaders who have made an unmistakable impact on the industry at-large and continue to drive growth and inspire their organizations, said HousingWire Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler. With these leaders at the helm, companies will be able to weather the current market to fight another day. This years honorees were carefully selected by HousingWires selection committee for their vital contributions to their companies and the dynamic way they are positively changing the U.S. housing industry, while tackling a number of challenges the housing economy has faced over the past year. Meirink has driven considerable growth in the past several years for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, presiding over its 2020 acquisition of the industry-leading digital lending platform, eOriginal, followed by the 2022 acquisition of compliant document generation and digital lending leader IDS. These actions accelerated Compliance Solutions overall growth, while further enhancing its operational and technology capabilities in the digital lending space. During COVIDs peak, he marshalled a broad, global team effort to re-engineer existing software into a reconfigured TSoftPlus software technology, enabling thousands of U.S. lenders to expedite Paycheck Protection Program emergency funding to small businesses. This initiative directly helped small businesses save more millions of American workers jobs; many of those PPP lenders have continued working with Wolters Kluwer. Our concerted efforts helping lenders leverage technology is making great inroads in the U.S. mortgage industry, enabling lenders to simplify and automate longstanding manual processes that make workflows faster, more efficient, and reliable, said Meirink. I am honored by this years Vanguard Awards distinctionand to be part of a highly engaged, top-performing Wolters Kluwer team that is transforming the U.S. housing industry in a positive way. I thank the judges and accept the award on behalf of the talented and dedicated Compliance Solutions team. Compliance Solutions recently upgraded the data validation functionality of its award-winning eVault technology, further helping lenders reduce loan eVaulting production delays while optimizing digital lending workflow efficiencies. The 2022 Vanguard winners will be featured in the October/November issue of HousingWire magazine. HousingWire is one of the most influential sources of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets, with a readership that spans lending, servicing, investments and real estate market participants as well as financial market professionals. With more than 10 million annual unique visitors, HousingWire provides a community for mortgage and housing professionals to engage and connect. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions is a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks, credit unions, insurers, and securities firms. The business, which sits within Wolters Kluwers Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) division, helps these financial institutions efficiently manage risk and regulatory compliance obligations, and gain the insights needed to focus on better serving their customers and growing their business. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of 4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005040/en/ Media Contacts for Wolters Kluwer GRC (including Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions; Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting; Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions, and Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation) Paul Lyon Senior Director, Global Corporate Communications: Global Marketing, Communications & Planning Governance, Risk & Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 [email protected] David Feider Corporate Communications Manager, Banking & Regulatory Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer Tel: +1 612-852-7966 [email protected] Source: Wolters Kluwer Winter Park, FL, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Power Systems, Inc. (OTC: APSI) is pleased to announce today via SEC Form 8-K Filing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire all outstanding shares of Tradition Transportation Group, Inc. (Tradition) an Indiana based logistics company including relevant subsidiaries and assets. Tradition is a well-established enterprise providing a multitude of logistical solutions throughout North America pertaining to OTR logistics including freight management, reverse logistics, freight brokerage, dispatching, equipment leasing and dedicated services warehousing with rail access. Joe Davis of Tradition is quoted as saying: I am enthusiastic about the planned business combination with APSI in order to further the growth of Traditions operations. The finalization of the contemplated terms would usher in a new generation of operations for APSI within the high demand United States and North-American logics industry, which within the United States alone; represented 80.4% of freight cost in 2019, totaling a gross freight revenue of $791.7 billion according to the American Trucking Associations. It is requested of shareholders and other interested parties respect and refrain from contacting Tradition or its employees and affiliates for details relating to the contemplated transaction so as not to interrupt operations and the process of finalizing a transaction. Please direct any inquiries to APSI management with the contact information provided herein. Safe Harbor: 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 Companys 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 Companys 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 and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. 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. Contact: Stephen Carnes 407-674-9444 Attachment Aqua Power Systems, Inc. Enters Letter of Intent (LOI) Agreement to Acquire North American Logistics Operation Tradition Transportation Group Source: Aqua Power Systems Inc. INSIDE INFORMATION Bone Therapeutics received a unilateral termination notice from Pregene Link Health expressed continued interest in ALLOB Bone Therapeutics to continue negotiating rights for ALLOB with Link Health and other partners Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, 7 October 2022, 8.15am CEST BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the cell therapy company addressing unmet medical needs in orthopedics and other diseases, today announces it will regain worldwide rights to its allogeneic, off-the-shelf, bone cell therapy platform ALLOB further to the unilateral termination notice received from Shenzhen Pregene Biopharma Co., Ltd. (Pregene). On 5 October 2020, Bone Therapeutics Pregene and Link Health Pharma Co., Ltd (Link Health) signed an exclusive license agreement for the manufacturing, clinical development and commercialization of Bone Therapeutics allogeneic, off-the-shelf, bone cell therapy platform ALLOB in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand (the "Agreement"). Under the Agreement, Bone Therapeutics was eligible to receive up to 55 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments including 10 million in upfront and milestone payments anticipated in the first 24 months. Bone Therapeutics was also entitled to receive tiered double-digit royalties on annual net sales of ALLOB. Bone Therapeutics retained development and commercialization rights to ALLOB in all other geographies outside of those covered by this Agreement. In November 2021, Bone Therapeutics signed a non-binding term sheet for the global rights for ALLOB, with its Chinese partners. The unilateral termination notified by Pregene will terminate the discussions with them and require further analysis from both Bone Therapeutics and Link Health. In the meantime, Bone Therapeutics will regain all development manufacture and commercialization rights of ALLOB worldwide. Link Health, which was granted rights in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, has expressed continued interest in ALLOB and is willing to pursue the collaboration with Bone Therapeutics. Bone Therapeutics and Link Health are in active discussions to precise the terms and scope of their collaboration. Bone Therapeutics regaining all development manufacture and commercialization rights of ALLOB from Pregene will also entitle Bone Therapeutics to negotiate rights for ALLOB with, LinkHealth, and other partners. Pregene's termination is, according to Pregene written communication, "necessitated by [alleged] regulatory reasons that due to the [purported] introduction of new laws and regulations, projects involving foreign human cell and related clinical trials will be, prohibited [in the future] in mainland China". Bone Therapeutics has not yet been in a position to confirm the veracity of this statement. Pregene shall transfer data to Bone Therapeutics and not participate in any future development or commercialization activities for the product. "Regain ownership of our product worldwide will provide us with the ability to capitalize on a broad range of strategic opportunities, including the re-licensing of ALLOB to a trusted partner that is committed to its development and commercialization", said Jean Stephenne, Chairman of Bone Therapeutics. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and other diseases. Currently Bone Therapeutics is concentrating specifically on the development of its most advanced clinical asset, the allogeneic cell therapy platform, ALLOB. Bone Therapeutics core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell and gene therapy platform with differentiated bone marrow sourced Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital. Its leading investigational medicinal product, ALLOB, represents a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stromal cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells are produced via the Bone Therapeutics scalable manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by regulatory authorities in Europe, the Company has initiated patient recruitment for the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. ALLOB continues to be evaluated for other orthopedic indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy, maxillofacial and dental. Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com. For further information, please contact: Bone Therapeutics SA Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +32 (0)493 09 73 66 [email protected] For Belgian Media and Investor Enquiries: Bepublic Bert Bouserie Tel: +32 (0)488 40 44 77 [email protected] International Media Enquiries: Image Box Communications Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685 [email protected] / [email protected] For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur Rouille Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elev8 New Media (Elev8), an award-winning boutique public and media relations firm specializing in securing earned media and press coverage for its client companies, today announced its participation as a sponsor of the 7th Annual Dawson James Small Cap Conference, held at the Wyndham Grand in Jupiter, Florida on October 12, 2022. Elev8 New Media remains committed to supporting our clients by delivering innovative public relations and media solutions that convey the best results. With several of our wonderful clients attending this years conference, we look forward to supporting them in person while attending an incredible conference, commented Mrs. Jessica Starman, CEO and Co-Founder of Elev8 New Media. This years event will feature presentations by senior executives from over 30 companies from several sectors including healthcare, consumer, technology, and more. To schedule a meeting with Elev8 New Media during the conference, please contact [email protected] or stop by Elev8 New Medias booth. To register for the 7th Annual Dawson James Small Cap Growth Conference, please follow the prompts here. About Elev8 New Media Elev8 New Media is an award-winning, boutique PR firm and media relations agency that has secured thousands of earned media placements for its clients by maintaining valuable relationships with journalists, editors, analysts, and outlets. The team elevates media visibility through digital and social marketing and consistently develops, implements, manages and monitors client coverage across various platforms. Getting media coverage and exposure is more than just talking to reporters and having on-air time - its about creating lasting relationships that will generate ongoing chatter and excitement. We help clients garner meaningful connections in the industry across TV, social, print, and digital media. We dont settle for just raising the bar, we elevate it. About Dawson James Securities Dawson James Securities specializes in capital raising for small and microcap public and private growth companies primarily in the Life Science/Health Care, Technology, Clean tech, and Consumer sectors. Dawson James is a full-service investment banking firm with research, institutional and retail sales, and execution trading and corporate services. By investing the time required to completely understand your business, Dawson James can provide an appropriate capital transaction structure and strategy including direct investment through our independent fund. Their team will assist in crafting your vision and shaping your message for the capital markets. Headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, Dawson James is privately held with offices in New York, Maryland, and New Jersey. www.dawsonjames.com ContactsJessica Starman, MBA[email protected]www.elev8newmedia.com Source: Elev8 New Media LONDON, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GSL) (the Company) today announced that its adjourned Annual Meeting of Shareholders was convened on October 7, 2022, but failed to reach the requisite quorum. Given the passage of time from the record date of August 2, 2022 for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, a new record date and meeting date will be determined. Notice of the rescheduled meeting and proxy materials will be provided to shareholders of record as of the new record date when available. About Global Ship Lease Global Ship Lease is a leading independent owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships. Incorporated in the Marshall Islands, Global Ship Lease commenced operations in December 2007 with a business of owning and chartering out containerships under fixed-rate charters to top tier container liner companies. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2008. As at August 30, 2022, Global Ship Lease owned 65 containerships, ranging from 1,118 to 11,040 TEU, with an aggregate capacity of 342,348 TEU. 32 ships are wide-beam Post-Panamax. Adjusted to include all charters agreed, up to August 30, 2022, the average remaining term of the Companys charters as at June 30, 2022, to the mid-point of redelivery, including options under the Companys control and other than if a redelivery notice has been received, was 3.1 years on a TEU-weighted basis. Contracted revenue on the same basis was $2.4 billion. Contracted revenue was $2.8 billion, including options under charterers control and with latest redelivery date, representing a weighted average remaining term of 4.0 years. Investor and Media Contact: The IGB GroupBryan Degnan646-673-9701or Leon Berman 212-477-8438 Source: Global Ship Lease Inc. MONTREAL, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the "Company" or "Osisko Metals") (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: 0B51) wishes to announce that the Companys Board of Directors have approved the grant of incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, key employees and key consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,680,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. Grants are subject to a three-year vesting period and a five-year term at an exercise price of $0.32 per share. About Osisko Metals Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space. The Company controls one of Canadas premier past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest Territories for which the 2022 PEA has indicated an after-tax NPV of $603M and an IRR of 25% is based on the current Mineral Resource Estimates that are amenable to open pit and shallow underground mining and consist of 15.7Mt grading 5.55% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 47.2Mt grading 5.94% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources. Please refer to the technical report entitled Preliminary Economic Assessment, Pine Point Project, Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada dated July 30, which has been filed on SEDAR. The Pine Point Project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, near infrastructure, paved highway access, and has an electrical substation as well as 100 kilometres of viable haulage roads already in place. The Company also hold a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper Project located near Murdochville in the Gaspe peninsula of Quebec including the Copper Mountain Expansion Deposit that hosts a NI43-101 Inferred Resource of 456Mt grading 0.31% Cu. The Gaspe Copper Project is the largest untapped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec. For further information on this press release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact: Robert Wares, CEO Osisko Metals Incorporated Email: [email protected]www.osiskometals.com Source: Osisko Metals Incorporated The Company is providing support for employees impacted by Hurricane Ian and is facilitating a donation to a Florida Relief Fund to aid recovery efforts In 2022, Verano has opened 20 new MUV locations in Florida, underscoring the Companys continued retail expansion across the state Veranos active operations span 13 states, comprised of 119 dispensaries and 14 cultivation and processing facilities with more than 1 million square feet of cultivation capacity CHICAGO, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (Verano or the Company), a leading multi-state cannabis company, today announced the Company will host grand openings for two new MUV retail locations in Florida on October 7: MUV Panama City Beach, located at 7915 Panama City Beach Parkway, and MUV Port Orange, located at 3880 S. Nova Road. MUV dispensaries are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To support the Companys Florida team members and hurricane recovery efforts across the state, Verano will provide assistance to employees who incurred damage to their homes or property as a result of the storm. The Company will also make a donation to a Florida Relief Fund to support communities across the state directly impacted by Hurricane Ian. We are incredibly grateful for our team who faced unique challenges in the wake of Hurricane Ian, and did everything possible to maintain access to medicine for our patients while also prioritizing their own health and safety, said John Tipton, President of Verano. As the healing and recovery process continues across Florida, we are grateful to open dispensaries in Volusia County, and our first MUV dispensary in Panama City Beach, to provide patients with additional convenient locations to access their needed medicine. We remain committed to providing support to our valued team members and communities as disaster relief and recovery efforts continue, and are grateful for all first responders and volunteers who are aiding countless Floridians across the state during this time of need. As a demonstration of Veranos commitment to provide a convenient and reliable experience for Florida patients, MUV dispensaries feature online menus for effortless browsing of their extensive, award-winning product selection, including the Companys signature Verano Reserve flower, Encore edibles, and Savvy flower and extracts. The Company also offers one-on-one virtual and in-store consultations at no cost to the patient and provides patient-centric concierge services via phone, email, web chat and text to address patient questions and inquiries. For additional convenience and accessibility, patients can choose to order ahead at muvfl.com or through the MUV mobile application available in the Google Play and Apple App stores for express in-store pickup. MUVs comprehensive product selection includes edibles, chocolates and lozenges, flower, pre-rolls, an array of vaporizer pens, concentrates, metered-dose inhalers, topicals and oral sprays; along with patented encapsulation formulations in its EnCaps capsules, tinctures, 72-hour transdermal patches and transdermal gels. For more information about MUV medical cannabis dispensaries, visit muvfl.com. About Verano Verano is a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands, including Verano, Avexia, Encore, Savvy and MUV. Veranos portfolio encompasses 14 U.S. states, with active operations in 13, including 14 production facilities comprising over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation capacity. Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands including Zen Leaf and MUV, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at www.verano.com. Contacts: MediaVeranoGrace BondyManager, Communications[email protected] InvestorsVeranoJulianna Paterra, CFADirector, Investor Relations[email protected] Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Companys beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. Generally, such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, future, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, projects intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein, including, without limitation, the risk factors described in the Companys registration statement on Form 10, as amended, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except as may be required in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice regarding forward-looking information and statements. ### Source: Verano Holdings Corp. A FedEx last-mile delivery van is seen near a FedEx Ground distribution center in Carson, California, U.S., September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan By Lisa Baertlein LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -The FedEx Corp division that handles most of the company's e-commerce deliveries expects to lower volume forecasts to reflect its customers' plans to ship fewer holiday packages, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The confidential message sent to the 6,000 independent contractors that handle delivery and trucking for FedEx Ground in the United States follows the global shipping giant's Sept. 15 withdrawal of its full-year forecast due to an unexpected first-quarter profit drop of more than 20%. FedEx shares fell more than 3.2% to $150.21 after Reuters reported the news on Friday. "We expect there to be downward adjustments to volume forecasts," Paul Melander, a FedEx Ground senior vice president, said in the message to the unit's delivery contractors earlier this week. The new forecasts will be released on or about Oct. 21, he said. "These changes will reflect the latest information from customers about how they anticipate current conditions are likely to decrease their volumes this holiday season," said Melander, who added that FedEx will further revise volume forecasts as warranted leading up to the start of the Christmas package delivery season. FedEx in a statement declined to elaborate on its message. The company said it is working with customers to ensure it is prepared for the peak holiday delivery season. FedEx Ground is the company's second-largest and fastest-growing division. It delivers online orders for Walmart, Chewy and other retailers. Over the last two weeks, more than a dozen Ground delivery providers told Reuters that their volumes are down anywhere from 5% to 15% so far this year versus the same time in 2021. Many said the company's holiday forecast was overly optimistic for the second year in a row. FedEx's Ground contractors have been pushing back against company policies and contract changes that have eroded their margins. At the same time, the U.S. last-mile delivery industry is starting to grapple with profit-sapping excess capacity. FedEx leadership blamed the company's recent financial setbacks on economic conditions that rapidly deteriorated in late August. Investors and analysts were skeptical, pinning much of the blame on the company's slow response to softening demand. The pandemic's online shopping boom has been unwinding in the months since U.S. consumers shed protective masks and shifted spending back to brick-and-mortar stores, travel and entertainment. Record inflation has further dampened demand for goods ranging from sofas to sneakers as higher costs for housing, food and fuel drain disposable income. Walmart, one of FedEx's largest customers, in late July warned that its shoppers were cutting back purchases of nice-to-have goods as prices for necessities surged. FedEx's more profitable rival United Parcel Service declined comment for this story, citing the quiet period ahead of its earnings report on Oct. 25. UPS leadership stood by company forecasts in analyst meetings in late September. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Chizu Nomiyama) In statements to Andina news agency on Thursday, the diplomat said this recognition took place in the morning during the Lima Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection , which was chaired by the representative of the U.S. diplomacy. "The important point is that Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Peru for welcoming 1.2 million Venezuelans in the country. This has been a huge effort on our part, which has generated costs of all kinds," Forsyth explained. "At the same time, it is interesting that the enormous effort of Peru, which at the time opened the doors to Venezuelan refugees, has been recognized," he added. In this regard, the Permanent Representative to the OAS remarked that the issue of migration is still being discussed and there is no definitive agreement, taking into account that this issue looks the same in all countries across the Americas. Likewise, the Ambassador expressed his confidence that the international community will become aware of the efforts made by the Peruvian Government in order to welcome this large number of foreign citizens, as Ecuador and Colombia have done. In addition, he highlighted the presence of the U.S. Secretary of State , as well as other foreign affairs ministers from OAS Member States. In fact, the presence of high-ranking officials in Lima has reached a record high. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - On April 13, 2022, Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) ("Antler" or the "Company") announced that it and its wholly owned subsidiary, Antler Gold Namibia (Pty) Ltd. ("Antler Namibia") had entered into a binding agreement dated April 13, 2022 to acquire 90% of the Onkoshi Gold Project (the "Project") in Namibia (the "Original Agreement") from an arm's length vendor. The Agreement was subsequently amended by an amending agreement dated as of July 20, 2022 (together with the Original Agreement, the "Agreement"). The Project will be held in Antler's project generation vehicle ("Project Generator") owned 87.5% by Antler and 12.5% by Sherpa Resource Holdings Ltd. (see Antler Press Release dated March 24, 2022 for details). The Onkoshi Gold Project is located approximately 140km northwest of Windhoek, was previously known by the Erindi and Vredelus Projects and has had a significant amount of historical work performed over it in the past. Table 1 contains previous drill holes reported in a NI 43-101 report completed in 2004 for Helio Capital Corporation ("Helio Technical Report"). Note that the results below are historic and have not been verified by Antler. Table 1: Summary of Rossing Uranium Ltd. best RC drill and diamond drill intersections calculated at a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au. Drillhole Depth (m) Intersection ERRC 18 12-23 9.53 g/t Au over 11 m ERRC 23 51-56 3.04 g/t Au over 5 m and 60-67 4.88 g/t Au over 7 m ERRC 25 26-38 3.09 g/t Au over 12 m ERD 2 11.18-23.53 5.54 g/t Au over 12.35 m ERD 3 5.92-12.34 3.27 g/t Au over 6.42 m and 70.64-75.64 12.85 g/t Au over 5 m Significant exploration potential exists on the Project as outlined in Helio Technical Report and based on the initial review of Project data by Remote Exploration Services (Pty) Ltd. ("RES") on behalf of the Project Generator, which includes: Limited historical work over the strike extents of both the historical Erindi and Vredelus Prospects which are contained within EPL 7464 offer immediate exploration targets Numerous significant gold in rock and gold in soil anomalies discovered during historical sampling campaigns were not followed up with any additional exploration work Historical analytical lower limits of detection for gold were in the order of 20 ppb and thus potential gold mineralisation with a surface expression of less than 20 ppb would not have been delineated by the historical soil sampling campaigns Mineralisation on the Project has been shown to be conductive and magnetic and is therefore suitable for detection by both magnetic and electrical geophysical survey techniques The terms of the Agreement provide that for Antler Namibia to earn its indirect interest in the Project, it must pay C$30,000 on signing (which has been paid) and C$50,000 upon the issuance of an Environmental Clearance Certificate ("ECC") and successful transfer of the Project EPL to a private company to be incorporated by Antler. In addition, Antler Namibia must pay a further C$20,000 one year from the date of ECC issuance and Antler must issue the vendor or their nominee C$100,000 of Antler common shares based on the 10 day VWAP immediately prior to issuance up to a maximum of 1,212,121 common shares. Antler Namibia will have the right at any time after a pre-feasibility study has been prepared to purchase the Vendor's 10% interest at fair market value. If Purchaser and Vendor cannot agree on fair market value, an independent business valuator acceptable to both parties will determine the fair market value, however, the Purchaser will not be obligated to conclude the purchase if it determines within 30 days not to proceed. In addition, a Finder's Fee of C$20,000 was paid to an arm's length party who introduced the Project to Antler. The transaction is subject to TSXV approval. Future Plans Antler has commenced environmental work required to apply for the ECC and is compiling and interpreting all available historical work. Land access preparations are proceeding as well. Qualified Person Peter Hollick, BSc. (Hons), is a Consulting Geologist at RES and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Hollick is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No. 400113/93) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. About Antler Gold Inc. Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) is a Canadian company, focused on the acquisition and exploration of mineral projects in Africa. Both through its wholly owned subsidiaries and through Antler Gold PG, a company owned by Antler and Sherpa Resource Holdings. Antler is currently working on its two quality Gold Projects in Namibia and its greenfields REE project in Zambia. The company's Namibian Gold projects are the Onkoshi Gold Project, which shares significant similarities with Otjikoto (B2Gold), and its Central Erongo Gold Project which is a large land package which is contiguous with the Twin Hills (Osino Resources). The Kesya REE Project in Zambia is a greenfields REE project with large tonnage potential. The company continues to build an exploration portfolio geared for discovery, targeting highly prospective areas throughout the region. Further details are available on the Company's website at www.antlergold.com. Cautionary Statements This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the acquisition of the Onkoshi Gold Project in Namibia by Antler and future plans and objectives of Antler, including the acquisition of new projects in Africa. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions in connection with the continuance of the applicable company as a going concern and general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including risks relating to the ability to satisfy the conditions to complete transactions, exploration programmes and fund acquisitions in Africa. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. Antler assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings made by Antler with Canadian securities regulators, copies of which are available at www.sedar.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. For further information, please contact Christopher Drysdale, CEO at +264 81 220 2439. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139868 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.(CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77i) ("Boosh" or the "Company") a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, is pleased to announce that it has filed its audited annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 ("Fiscal 2022") as well as its unaudited interim financial statements for the first quarter ended June, 30, 2022 ("Q1 2023"). All amounts expressed are in Canadian dollars. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Detailed information regarding the Company's financial results as well as management's discussion and analysis can be found at https://sedar.com/. Please note the next financial release date in accordance with the continuous disclosure schedule set out by the British Columbia Securities Commission: Q2/2022: November 29, 2022 Q3/2022: March 1, 2023 Q4/YE 2023: July 31, 2023 Connie Marples Founder/President [email protected] Telephone: 778 840 1700 www.Booshfood.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com) offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, (www.beanfields.com) the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139818 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - Noraal Group announced that their asset valuation has surpassed the $300 million mark. Since its expansion in Africa and the middle east, it has been accelerating its performance to better serve these emerging markets. Noraal Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8939/139849_501e792c940b2b59_001full.jpg Noraal now offers financial advising services, mining services, and defence services in these regions. The company is said to be currently in the final stages of expansion in Africa, with it already having operations there. Noraal has expanded its asset valuation by exponential rates within the past year. The group's success has been attributed to its consistent growth rate and its ability to operate at a profit despite entering emerging markets with significant economic volatility. Noraal says, "At the heart of everything, remain our clients. We partner with them to identify their highest-value opportunities and address their most critical challenges, so they can be confident that their needs will be fulfilled to the highest quality and value-added." Noraal Group, founded by Ahmed Aziz, presents itself as a group of dynamic professionals with extensive experience in investment management, financial planning, mining, and defence. Noraal Group has developed a large, varied, and economically significant portfolio of businesses in the private sector. The company offers numerous services including corporate finance services, financial restructuring, M & A appraisal and valuation, credit raise and restructuring, strategic advising, and research & intelligence. Media Contact - Company name : Noraal Contact name: George Wilson Company address: Dubai UAE Website: www.noraal.com Phone: +971 4 548 0200 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139849 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Aurora Systems Consulting, Inc. ("Aurora"), has received a US$972,000 purchase order from the U.S. Department of the Air Force as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) program, a U.S. Government-Wide Acquisition Contract Vehicle (GWAC). The U.S. Department of the Air Force is a branch of the U.S. military, protecting air, space, and cyberspace.1 The order is part of the SEWP V program and aligns with Plurilock's stated goal of expanding within the government and defense verticals. All contracts and orders announced by PlurilockTM and its subsidiaries since January 1, 2022, including the latest orders, represent a combined total of roughly US$25.3 million in disclosed sales. The Company also announced that in connection with the services provided by AGORA Internet Relations Corp. ("AGORA") under the online marketing agreement entered into on December 30, 2021 between the Company and AGORA, the Company has issued 237,895 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.19 per share to AGORA as the second and third (final) installment payment of $40,000 plus applicable taxes. The parties have agreed to terminate the AGORA Agreement as of September 30, 2022. About SEWP The SEWP V program, launched by NASA in 2015, is the leading information technology (IT) contract vehicle, with government agencies spending $7.9 billion in fiscal 2020.2 Estimates anticipate that agencies will utilize SEWP V for $8.8 billion in contracted spending in fiscal 2021.3 The contract vehicle provides Plurilock with the opportunity to access downstream customers in the government sector. About Plurilock Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely while reducing cybersecurity friction. Plurilock offers world-class IT and cybersecurity solutions through its Solutions Division, paired with proprietary, AI-driven and cloud-friendly security through its Technology Division. Together, the Plurilock family of companies delivers persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use. For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact: Ian L. Paterson Chief Executive Officer [email protected] 416.800.1566 Roland Sartorius Chief Financial Officer [email protected] Prit Singh Investor Relations [email protected] 905.510.7636 Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139903 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2022) - The BC Bud Corporation (CSE: BCBC) (OTCQB: BCBCF) ("The BC Bud Co" or the "Company"), a house of high-quality cannabis brands based out of British Columbia, Canada, announces the appointment of MNP LLP ("MNP") as its auditor. This follows the Company's prior announcement on August 9, 2022 of the resignation of Smythe LLP (the "Former Auditor") as its auditor. The Board and audit committee of the Company approved the appointment of MNP effective September 23, 2022. The Board and audit committee of the Company each approved the resignation of the Former Auditor and the appointment of MNP in place of the Former Auditor. There were no reservations or modified opinions in the Former Auditor's audit reports for the two most recently completed fiscal years of the Company, and there are no "reportable events" (as defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102")) between the Company and the Former Auditor. The Notice of Change of Auditor was approved by the Board. In accordance with NI 51-102, the Notice of Change of Auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and Board and have been filed on SEDAR. The Company is also pleased to announce, in conjunction with its upgrade to the OTCQB, as announced on October 4, 2022, that its symbol on the OTCQB has been changed to "BCBCF" at the Company's request to reflect its current branding. About The BC Bud Co The BC Bud Co is a house of brands created by industry professionals who are passionate about the user experience and the ever-changing consumer experience. Founder-led and based in British Columbia; we take the heritage of BC Bud seriously. Contact: Brayden Sutton, CEO [email protected] Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, including the effects of COVID-19. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/139888 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. ScottHall.co, a search engine consultant and enterprise software expert has launched a new guide to 'Google Guaranteed' - the latest addition to its series of guides for local businesses. ScottHall.co has launched a new guide to Google Guaranteed a new Adwords service designed to help neighborhood businesses providing residential services. The new guide explores the features of Googles most recent attempt to verify neighborhood service companies and halt the rise of fraudulent reviews. More details can be found at https://scotthall.co/google-guarantee-best-practices ScottHall.cos recently published guide details how local enterprises and customers alike stand to capitalize on Google Guaranteed. The program uses instantly recognizable green and white check marks so consumers can see at a glance which companies have been vetted and verified. Readers can access the guide on the ScottHall.co website. According to the newest guide, Google initiated the program to combat disreputable businesses posting bogus ratings purporting to be from genuinely satisfied customers. Previously, there was no way for Google to confirm if these reviews were genuine, leaving consumers vulnerable and liable to book sub-standard contractors. Businesses must now undergo a comprehensive screening process to be awarded the Guaranteed certification. ScottHall.cos guide explains that the new, improved screening protocol incorporates background checks and confirmation of official licensing and general liability insurance. The Guaranteed program is still in its active beta-testing phase and is currently only available in some parts of Canada and the US. The recent piece also lists the sectors which are set to qualify for the program. These include appliance repair, financial planning, lawn care, HVAC, water damage restoration, pet grooming, window repair, and tree services. The new guide also provides information for users on how to sign up for Google Guaranteed when it becomes available in their area. Businesses must be registered with Google Service Ads in the first instance and, once accepted, must also maintain their status by keeping all relevant licenses and insurance up to date. This program was created to help small businesses and stop bogus services, explains company owner and CEO Scott Hall. Businesses that complete Googles screening and qualification process are awarded the Google Guaranteed badge and customers feel more secure and confident when making service reservations because of the green and white check mark. With the launch of his latest report, Scott Hall continues to empower business enterprises with expert analysis and insights. For more information, and to read the report, in full, go to https://scotthall.co/google-guarantee-best-practices Contact Info: Name: Scott Hall Email: Send Email Organization: ScottHall.co Address: 60 West 23rd St. Suite 638, New York, NY 10010, United States Website: https://scotthall.co Release ID: 89081734 If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours. LAS VEGAS, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) today announced that the Company will release its third quarter 2022 financial and operating results on Thursday, November 3, 2022, after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review third quarter results, discuss recent events, and conduct a question-and-answer period. Live conference call Toll free number: (877) 451-6152 (for domestic callers) Direct dial number: (201) 389-0879 (for international callers) Passcode: Not required Simultaneous audio webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com under "Investor relations" Conference call replay Toll free number: (844) 512-2921 (for domestic callers) Direct dial number: (412) 317-6671 (for international callers) Passcode: 13733209# Webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com under "Investor relations" Date accessible through: November 18, 2022 About American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leading single-family property owner, leasing operator, and build-to-rent developer. Recent achievements include being named one of the 2022 Best Workplaces in Real Estate by Fortune, a 2022 Great Place to Work, a 2022 Top U.S. Homebuilder by Builder100, one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 and America's Most Trusted Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista, and a Top ESG Regional Performer by Sustainalytics. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and managing homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2022, we owned 58,715 single-family properties in select submarkets in 22 states. Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at http://www.americanhomes4rent.com. Investor Relations Contact:Nicholas FrommPhone: (855) 794-2447Email: [email protected] Media Relations Contact:Megan GrabosPhone: (805) 413-5088Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-homes-4-rent-announces-dates-of-third-quarter-2022-earnings-release-and-conference-call-301644058.html SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent BlocPower celebrates the milestone with an awards ceremony, impact report and the launch of dedicated training hubs in Brooklyn and the Bronx. NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BlocPower, a national climate tech company focused on decarbonizing aging urban buildings, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Civilian Climate Corpsa $37 million precision employment initiative funded by Mayor Eric Adams Office of Criminal Justice. The green construction workforce development project launched last fall and offers career pathways in the rapidly growing fields of clean energy technology and building modernization. Under the mandate of Mayor Adams, the program aims to help keep New Yorkers safe by providing long term economic opportunity for communities and individuals most vulnerable to gun violence. Through the Civilian Climate Corps, New York City is expanding and diversifying its clean energy workforce while delivering environmental justice and improved public safety. To mark the program's first year, BlocPower hosted an awards ceremony for members of the Civilian Climate Corps and key stakeholders in addition to releasing a Year One Impact Report detailing program success stories and performance metrics. Highlights of the report include: 1700+ members trained since fall of 2021, 81% of which were previously under or unemployed 400+ job placements in heat pump and solar installation, building energy auditing & related fields 28% combined reduction in incidents of gun violence year to date as of September 2022, for the 40th and 42nd precincts in the Bronx and the 67th precinct in Brooklyn, where the Civilian Climate Corps hosts cohorts This fall, BlocPower will unveil new dedicated green workforce training hubs in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and Morrisania in the South Bronx. The hubs will enable the Civilian Climate Corps to scale its operations and strengthen its programming in two important neighborhoods. "Our Civilian Climate Corps is at the heart of BlocPower's mission to make buildings smarter, greener and healthierwhile ensuring the benefits of the clean energy economy are accessible to low income Americans," says co-founder and General Manager of BlocPower, Keith Kinch. "When we launched a year ago, we knew we had a historic opportunity to build a more equitable green workforce in New York City and make our communities safer. The Civilian Climate Corps has not only done that, but also begun to deliver the highly skilled construction workers our nation needs to rebuild our infrastructure and fight the climate crisis." BlocPower founder and CEO Donnel Baird shared, "BlocPower is thrilled to support Mayor Eric Adams vision to address the climate crisis and public safety. We think that the Civilian Climate Corps offers a model for confronting the major challenges facing cities across America. We are continually inspired by what we learn every day from program participants and workers about how to thrive in the face of significant adversity, in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families. That is the American Dream, and we are seeing it unfold right here in NYwith clean energy jobs FOR ALL. Climate justice for all is not a secondary or tertiary priority. The only path to massive reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in America runs right through inspiring and engaging urban communities to LEAD the climate fight". Graduate of the Civilian Climate Corps, Jevon Rock, was one of three Members of the Year award recipients. "BlocPower is the only company that gave me an opportunity in the past few years, and that's including before the pandemic started," said Rock, who now conducts building energy audits. "I tried my hand at other trade schools but even with financial aid, they were still out of reach for me. Being paid to learn a trade has helped me elevate and now I'm at the best point in my life that I've ever been." Additional Members of the Year included Que Cunningham, Wesley Booker and Andy Balkaran. William Diaz Jr. of ESC Cabling earned Instructor of the Year for his work providing Wi-Fi installation training. Additional awards went to CB Emmanuel for Employer of the Year; Vanessa Johnson of ARA Emotional Wellness, Karlasia Grant of ICYFS Case Management and Yolanda Phillips of Elite Learners for Case Managers of the Year; Abby Lovett Uddin and Sony Pierre for Staffers of the Year. About BlocPower BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology company rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed energy projects in 1,200+ buildings and delivers results ahead of schedule and under budget. BlocPower utilizes its proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of urban clean energy projects and its customers are saving 20-40% on their energy bills each year. The company is backed by the world's top investors, including Goldman Sachs, Kapor Capital, Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Andreessen Horowitz and American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. In 2022, Fast Company named BlocPower the #4 Most Innovative Company in the World. For more information, please visit https://blocpower.io. Contact: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blocpowers-civilian-climate-corps-trains-1700-new-yorkers-for-green-jobs-in-first-year-301643782.html SOURCE BlocPower Photos/videos from the race can be downloaded here. Notable runners in this year's race included TV Host Nev Schulman and Iraq War Veteran Anthony Smith NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building (ESB) today hosted the 44th annual Run-Up, presented by Turkish Airlines and powered by Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). In several designated heats, 374 runners from around the world raced up the 1,576 stairs to reach the finish line on the building's iconic 86th Floor Observatory. "We are inspired each year by the athletes from all over the world who train and take part in this ultimate test of endurance," said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. "A big congratulations to all who came to the "World's Most Famous Building" to participate in the Empire State Building Run-Up." Soh Wai Ching of Malaysia took the top spot in the Men's Elite category with a time of 10:44, finishing before Ryoji Watanabe of Japan and Fabio Ruga of Italy. This is the 28-year-old's second consecutive ESBRU win. "I'm so happy to be here to compete again. This is my second win, and I improved my time," said Wai Ching. "I hope to be back again next year and to improve my time [again]." Cindy Harris of Indianapolis, In. finished first in the Women's Elite heat with a time of 13:56, ahead of Shari Klarfeld of Plainview, NY and Maria Elisa La Pez Pimentel of Mexico. This was Harris' 24th Run-Up and sixth win. She beat her 2021 time of 14:01. "I feel really good and very fortunate to be doing this so long," said Harris. "[Running this race] means a lot, especially this competition because this one was very close." "Catfish" host Nev Schulman ran in this year's Celebrity heat. Other heats in the race featured commercial real estate brokers, Empire State Building tenants, and members of the media. Challenged Athletes Foundation was the ESBRU official charity partner with a designated heat for challenged athletes and CAF supporters to raise funds in support of people with physical challenges and their access to sports. CAF athlete Anthony Smith, an Iraq war veteran with an arm amputation, finished the race with a time of 56:05. Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier and airline that flies to more countries and international destinations than any other, returned for its fourth year as the Run-Up's presenting sponsor. The event was produced by NYCRUNS, the largest running event management company in the New York Metropolitan area. Tonight, the Empire State Building's world-famous tower lights shined in red and white to celebrate the 44th annual Run-Up. Hi-res imagery and video can be downloaded here. More information about the Empire State Building Run-Up can be found online. About the Empire State Building The Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. Learn more at www.esbnyc.com. Declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 Attraction in the United States in Tripadvisor's 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best, and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet, it welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world. Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors primarily house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/empire-state-building-hosts-annual-run-up-presented-by-turkish-airlines-and-powered-by-the-challenged-athletes-foundation-301643415.html SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust PLANO, Texas, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Delegates (www.healthdelegates.com) has announced that Dr. Deb Curry, Pharm D. FAMCP, has joined the company as Vice President of Clinical Solutions. In this role, she is responsible for clinical strategy and offerings for Health Delegates' next generation of transparent rebate aggregation solutions. Dr. Curry, she will be appearing at the AMCP NEXUS meeting October 12-14 in National Harbor, Maryland. Dr. Curry brings over 20 years of experience and knowledge in the industry in various roles, such as formulary and rebate management, network strategy, and clinical analytics, all reflected in her previous recent work as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Product Centers of Excellence at SS&C Health and as Senior Director of Formulary and Clinical Strategy at OptumRx. Dr. Curry brings a wealth of knowledge in the industry to marry transparent data and analytics, which Health Delegates provides with flexible clinical solutions, to truly deliver on the lowest net cost promise. When asked why she joined the Health Delegates team, Dr. Curry said: "I'm excited about expanding the clinical footprint of Health Delegates to provide our own formulary and other offerings that will fill the niche that is missing in the industry which focuses on clinical value instead of chasing the rebate dollars". "As we look to the future of Health Delegates' evolving transparent rebate model, Dr. Curry's experience with formularies and rebates (clinical, lowest net cost, key pharma relations, and industry strategies) will be invaluable, as she will be a key driver in continuing to bring a much-needed rebate paradigm offering to the market," says Mark Huetten, Chief Executive Officer of Health Delegates. ABOUT HEALTH DELEGATES Since inception in 2013, Health Delegates has provided formulary management and rebate aggregation services to over 3 million lives. Health Delegates focuses on providing independent PBM agnostic services to managed care organizations (MCOs) pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and large employer groups with services that deliver low net cost, transparent solutions. Health Delegates' programs are designed to find new and innovative ways for organizations to manage rebates through clinical strategies, as well as reporting and analytical solutions, which are designed to drive the lowest net-cost, are 100% pass-through and provide documented transparency. NOTESIf you haven't already met Dr. Curry, she will be appearing at the AMCP NEXUS meeting October 12-14 in National Harbor, Maryland and she will be on stage at the General Session on Wednesday morning, October 12. Contact: Ted Levy, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-delegates-announces-new-vice-president-301643770.html SOURCE Health Delegates SAN DIEGO, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sycuan Casino Resort announced today that the organization has been recognized by the American Red Cross as this year's 2022 Corporate Hero. The 20th Annual Real Heroes Awards is a celebration honoring local individuals and organizations that embody the mission and spirit of the Red Cross by saving lives and creating safer, stronger and more resilient communities. "Each of this year's honorees has gone above and beyond to help their community, and even to save lives," said Sean Mahoney, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region. "We are thrilled to recognize them for their courage, compassion, and community impact." In addition to Sycuan, seven other San Diegans were recognized for their heroism including Animal Welfare Hero: Barbara Fry, Gift of Life Hero: Alan Lewis, Good Samaritan Hero: AWS1 Cale Foy, Disaster Services Hero: Kenneth Kim, San Marcos Fire Department, Service to the Armed Forces Hero: Aviation Survival Technician 1 (AST1) Joshua Carlson, Youth Hero: Bianca Villalobos and First Responder Hero: Officer Janel Seney. "It is a great honor for Sycuan to be recognized as this year's Corporate Hero," said Cody Martinez, Chairman, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. "Sycuan has been a proud supporter of the American Red Cross for nearly 20 years. Throughout the years, we have partnered on many essential initiatives including disaster preparedness and response, CPR training and safety expos. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the American Red Cross and thank them for their unwavering commitment to our community and providing essential services that save lives year after year." For more information about the 20th Annual Real Heroes Awards and 2022 Real Heroes Honorees, please visit redcross.org. About Sycuan Casino Resort Sycuan Casino Resort began as a humble Bingo Palace in 1983. Now more than 38 years later, it has become a community landmark and one of San Diego's premier casino and resort destinations. Sycuan's newly expanded AAA Four Diamond-rated property includes a 12-story hotel tower with over 300 guest rooms and 57 luxury suites. Guests can enjoy a wide range of onsite amenities including a variety of restaurants and bars from fast-casual to fine dining, meeting and event space, a full-service spa, fitness center and a state-of-the-art outdoor pool deck with two pools, a lazy river and swim-up bar. Sycuan also boasts an expansive casino floor with more than 2,300 slot machines and 54 table games in a variety of gaming options. Sycuan is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please visit www.sycuan.com, Facebook: @sycuancasinoresort, Instagram: @sycuan_casinoresort, Twitter: @sycuancasino and LinkedIn: company/sycuancasinoresort or call 619-445-6002. About the American Red Cross Southern California Region The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with the Southern California Region on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook. Media Contact:Stephanie LacsaSycuan Casino Resort619-445-6002 x1130[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sycuan-recognized-as-2022-corporate-hero-by-american-red-cross-301643373.html SOURCE Sycuan Casino Resort A roundup of the week's most newsworthy financial industry press releases from PR Newswire NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the finance industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. Click on the press release headlines below to read this week's top finance stories and access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Read more of the latest finance-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNfinance on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry NewsThese are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for JournalistsFor more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-finance-news-7-stories-you-need-to-see-301643482.html SOURCE PR Newswire ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilco Group LLC has been awarded a three (3) year $3.2 million 8(a) sole source contract by the Department of Interior's (DOI's) Interior Business Center (IBC) to perform an Aviation Mission Assessment. The scope of this requirement is focused on the assessment, analysis, and evaluation of approach and acquisition processes for the DOI aviation mission, as well as those processes within DOI that are significantly connected or interrelated to aviation services and supplies. In addition to the assessment and analysis, the scope includes recommendations for streamlining efficiencies, strategies for process improvement, and potential implementation of recommended improvements. Wilco Group will perform an initial documentation of the requirements, the current strategies and interrelated functions, followed by a proposed plan for detailed analysis of most, if not all the, identified functions that may be improved. Janis Garcia Keating, the CEO and Founder of Wilco Group LLC, said in a statement that, "We are excited to be working with our DOI IBC colleagues to analyze DOI's extensive aviation mission - that includes combating wildfires and performing rescue missions, make recommendations to streamline acquisition processes and achieve business efficiencies." About Wilco Group Founded in 2010, Wilco Group LLC is an SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) provider of consulting services with capabilities in management and technology consulting. Wilco Group has capabilities spanning management and technology consulting and we help our clients address their most complex challenges and focus on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Wilco Group prides itself on high-quality delivery of business value to customers combined with small business versatility and fast reaction-time. Website: www.wilcogroupllc.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wilco-group-llc-awarded-a-3-2m-8a-sole-source-contract-by-department-of-interiors-dois-interior-business-center-ibc-301644000.html SOURCE Wilco Group LLC In the summer of 2019, Staff Sgt. Ryan Neville learned a soldier in his Army Reserve unit had accused him of inappropriately touching her once during a night of bar hopping and again during a demonstration on rope tying. Instead of a court-martial, Neville, who is a member of the 739th Multi Role Bridge Company in Granite City, Ill., received a reprimand in his file that triggered a review by an Army separation board. Known as a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand, or GOMOR, the disciplinary memo landed in Nevilles file in August 2020 and summarized a criminal investigation that found probable cause Neville had committed two counts of abusive sexual contact and one of sexual harassment. The Army Criminal Investigation Divisions report on the case stated the evidence was based on interviews with the victim and witnesses. Neville refuted the charges from the start, spent thousands of dollars on a lawyer and won his case before the separation board. The three-officer board unanimously agreed the interviews and evidence presented at the hearing did not support the charges described in the GOMOR. The board said in May 2021 that Neville should be retained in the Reserve. But the Army still discharged Neville on Oct. 1, according to a memo that the soldier received from Human Resources Command. What's the whole point of a separation board if ultimately all it did was just delay the process. Maybe it bought me another year of trying to fight. It's pointless, said Neville, 35, who enlisted more than 12 years ago as a bridge crew member. I believed in the system. I had also a lot more respect for the values and everything that the military stands for. I wasn't going to start bashing it or anything. I respected the process, but now it's just the process is f-ed up. The boards decision didnt remove the reprimand from his file, and when he wrote to three generals to have it removed based on the decision, they all declined, including the now-retired Maj. Gen. Darrell Guthrie, who wrote the GOMOR. None would even meet with Neville, he said. When Neville filed an appeal with Guthrie to have the GOMOR removed from his file, he included a 12-page letter supporting him from Maj. Jamie Zinkann, the Army lawyer who presented evidence against Neville at his separation hearing. I fully support the removal and destruction of SSG Nevilles GOMOR from his [permanent file] based on the findings of the board of officers and on the entirety of the completed investigation. SSG Neville has endured financial hardship, extreme emotional distress, career regression, and now faces losing his career and employment in a matter of months due to the GOMOR and resulting [Qualitative Management Program discharge], Zinkann wrote. Guthrie only responded in writing that he wouldnt remove the reprimand, Neville said. The general retired in August and returned to his civilian career in Texas as an attorney. Wheres the checks and balances on that? Neville asked. I would like it to be explained. Multiple reviews The GOMORs filing also triggered a Human Resources Command review of his record through the Armys Qualitative Management Program, or QMP. The programs board determined Neville would be honorably discharged, even though he provided them the results of the separation board. The QMP and separation boards fall under different regulations and authorities within the Army and do not share information, according to the service and military law experts. The Army declined to comment about Nevilles case, citing privacy concerns. The service also could not provide information about how common the use of separation boards is among troops. The Army Reserve is committed to the fair treatment of all soldiers and civilians, John Bradley, spokesman for the Army Reserve, said in a statement. Allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and reviewed under applicable, controlling regulations. Soldiers who face administrative actions such as separation boards, reprimands or review under the Qualitative Management Program are afforded due process to present whatever matters they deem appropriate and to ensure all evidence is considered by the applicable decision authority. For more than a decade, the military has pledged to get a handle on the growing number of sexual assaults in the ranks, yet data shows that incident reports are increasing. The most recent Defense Department report released in August showed a 13% increase in sexual assaults. The Army specifically saw a 26% increase in reports. The death of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen in April 2020 at Fort Hood, Texas, was a tipping point for the military. Her family said Guillen was sexually harassed while assigned to the base, but she did not feel safe reporting it. It spawned a national movement that called for major reforms. The Army has since begun a complete overhaul of its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention program, known as SHARP, and its Criminal Investigation Division, based on the recommendations of an external investigation. Congress passed judicial reforms in December 2021 that no longer allow commanders to decide whether a sexual assault case goes to a court-martial. Instead, the military is establishing a special prosecutors office to determine which cases move forward in the judicial system. Yet Nevilles case is another example of the Armys broken system for managing sexual assault and harassment allegations, showing how the process has swung too far in the other direction, said Michael Pike, a retired first sergeant who worked alongside Neville at the time of the allegations. Many people out there legitimately need [the system] to be there and to be strong for them he said. Public failures Nevilles case took place as his companys higher headquarters, the 416th Theater Engineer Command, which became the subject of a report by The Associated Press in January 2020 that initiated the Army to conduct an internal investigation. The AP reported the command was not referring sexual assault complaints for criminal investigation but instead trying to handle them internally. The allegations against Neville were not investigated internally, however. The units victim advocate brought the report to CID on June 26, 2019, and agents began interviews two weeks later, according to CID records provided to Stars and Stripes. The Armys internal review of the 416th Theater Engineer Command ended in May 2021 and resulted in a general and a dozen soldiers facing disciplinary action for having mishandled sexual harassment and sexual assault reports and not properly implementing the SHARP program. The investigation also resulted in Nevilles case being moved from the 416th to the purview of the 88th Readiness Division. Neville said he believes his association with this public embarrassment of the SHARP program is why he was forced out despite the separation board ruling. He said he thinks it is why no general was willing to remove the GOMOR after it was determined to be unfounded by the separation board. I have a letter of support from my company commander, my battalion commander, my brigade commander. There are multiple people that are very privy to this case and don't agree what's going down, yet it seems like no one can do anything about it, Neville said. Separation boards and unfavorable information, such as a GOMOR, are governed by separate regulations and authorities, said Maj. Jacqueline Wren, an Army spokeswoman. For a soldier to have a GOMOR removed after a board deemed it unfounded, the soldier would have to file an appeal with the Armys Suitability Evaluation Board. Nevilles request to have his case reviewed was denied, according to a June memo to the soldier from the board. Because the procedures are separate, and each soldiers situation is unique, the Army does not track QMP separations based on disproven GOMORs, Wren said. Legally speaking, it's not uncommon to get a GOMOR, and then later on have a separation board and then after that, find out the QMP results. That is relatively common, said Robert Capovilla, a founding partner of the law firm Capovilla & Williams and a former Army judge advocate. What is uncommon is that the QMP board would still move to separate knowing that he won his separation board. That is strange to me. Moving on The QMP looks specifically at the records of noncommissioned officers between the ranks of staff sergeant and command sergeant major who received some form of discipline in their file to make certain that they serve in a manner consistent with good order and discipline, according to Human Resources Commands website. Once the QMP board decides to separate someone, the soldier cant appeal it. Reconsiderations are authorized only if a document was removed or significantly modified since the date that the review began, or if there was an error in the file. In fiscal 2022, 654 soldiers were separated through a QMP board review, according to the Human Resources Command, which runs the program. In fiscal 2021, 217 were separated through the QMP and 749 were discharged in 2020. That data included soldiers from the active-duty and Reserve components, the command said. For those soldiers who are found not guilty and find a way to stay in the Army, Capovilla said their careers are still severely impacted. During the time a case is open, a soldiers career is essentially on hold. In cases of a court-martial, a not-guilty verdict still allows a case to appear in a background check unless the person can successfully lobby their services board of corrections, the attorney said. Neville said he had wanted to be a soldier since he was a child and had planned to stay in the military until retirement. Though he lived out that part of that dream, the past couple years left him feeling bitter about his service. If its happening to me, its happening to other people. Its a shame, Neville said. I've sacrificed too much to sit here and back down now. (Tribune News Service) A female employee at an Alabama military base was granted nearly $154,000 in damages for sexual harassment, physical assault and retaliation she suffered at the hands of civilians and officers. Rebecca OBrien, a lead plans specialist at Fort Rucker, was subject to unwanted sexual text messages from her civilian supervisor, who yanked her hair back while they were on a stairwell before calling her a b----, according to her complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The incidents took place in 2018 and 2019. OBrien also claimed her civilian supervisor, Sean Sparks, handed her a screw and said this will make you feel better. I can help you with this, and inappropriately touched her calf during a meeting. The harassment was not just limited to civilians, according to OBriens complaint filed by her attorney, Kevin Owen of Gilbert Employment Law. A major at the Alabama base stared at her chest while he called her into his office and asked her to stand up and turn around for him, according to the complaint. OBrien faced retaliation after she made formal complaints about the behavior, including being declared AWOL the day after she made the first complaint. She was also declared AWOL after reporting the sexual text messages in September 2018, even though she had a doctors note excusing her absences. In January 2019, Maj. Carl Warren, the major that stared at her chest, reprimanded OBrien for tardiness on the same day he was testifying in the case. In 2015, OBrien, then Fort Ruckers drug and alcohol prevention coordinator, spoke at a workshop for the bases soldiers on how alcohol and drug abuse can fuel sexual abuse, according to an Army report on the event . Last week, an administrative judge overseeing the case awarded OBrien $153,723 in damages and about $247,000 in attorneys fees. EEOC Administrative Judge Ross Parkers ruling also ordered the Army to provide eight hours of reprisal, sex-based discrimination, and sexual harassment training for supervisors and managers at Fort Rucker and to consider disciplinary charges against Sean Sparks, OBriens civilian supervisor. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com . This story has been corrected Command of the USS Ronald Reagan changed hands Friday in waters east of the Korean Peninsula, where the aircraft carrier recently redeployed in response to an uptick in North Korean missile launches. Capt. Daryle Cardone, of Nanticoke, Pa., took command from Capt. Fred Goldhammer, of New York, N.Y., during a ceremony inside one of the ships cavernous hangar bays, according to a news release from U.S. 7th Fleet. The carriers schedule was altered Tuesday after North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan for the first time since 2017. The 7th Fleets commander, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, alluded to the about-face in a speech during Fridays ceremony. Not only do we ask you to be ready at a moments notice, we often must change the plan, just like we did a few days ago when you sailed back into the Sea of Japan, he said, according to the release. Thats what makes these magnificent ships such a flexible and powerful deterrent - you adapt to world events. The Sea of Japan is known in Korea as the East Sea. The nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group initially made a port call in and around Busan, South Korea, on Sept. 23, ahead of a four-day exercise with South Korean and Japanese warships aimed at preparing for North Korean provocations, according to the Souths Ministry of National Defense. The strike group returned to the area on Wednesday to respond to the highly unusual timing of the Norths launches, the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a news release the same day. On Thursday, ships from the strike group, including the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, took park in a trilateral missile-defense exercise with South Korean and Japanese forces. Those drills happened the same day Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles in the sea off its eastern coast. During Fridays ceremony, Goldhammer lauded the crew for its ability to adapt to such situations. The dedication and hard work of the 5,000 sailors onboard this ship and their families ultimately drive the combat readiness of our ship-air wing team, as we very effectively demonstrate our nations unflinching commitment to peace and stability in this region, he said in the 7th Fleet release. The team will be in excellent hands under the leadership of Capt. Cardone. After taking command of the Ronald Reagan in October 2020, Goldhammer faced significant challenges as the coronavirus pandemic raged on. Two months later, about 350 of his sailors were quarantined in Yokosuka after coming into close contact with others who tested positive for COVID-19. As pandemic restrictions waned, the Ronald Reagan went on to participate in numerous military exercises. During its 2021 summer deployment, the carrier diverted to the Arabian Sea for three months to support the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. During that deployment, the Ronald Reagan trained alongside the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time. It later trained alongside the Queen Elizabeth and the USS Carl Vinson during a rare three-carrier exercise that included 14 other warships from six countries. Goldhammers time also saw an increase in tensions between China and the U.S., leading to numerous exercises and other operations in the South China Sea. His next assignment is with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Director of Air Warfare staff, Ronald Reagan spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Chitty told Stars and Stripes on Friday. While Cardone is new to Ronald Reagan, he has a long history with Goldhammer. The two started out serving together in Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125, now known as Airborne Command and Control 125. I am honored to take the helm of USS Ronald Reagan from my former squadron mate and longtime friend, Cardone said, according to the release. This crew will continue to build and demonstrate credible combat power, and we will continue to strengthen our regional alliances and partnerships as we further integrate with partner forces. Cardone comes to the Ronald Reagan after commanding the blue crew of the USS Lewis B. Puller, an expeditionary sea base, Chitty said. He previously served aboard the carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS George Washington and USS John F. Kennedy, according to his Navy biography. Warships from the United States, Japan and South Korea commenced a ballistic missile defense exercise Thursday in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The drills came the same day North Korea fired a pair of short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast and two days after it launched an intermediate-range weapon over Japan. Also Thursday, South Korea scrambled more than 30 aircraft in response to a dozen North Korean warplanes flying near the Souths border. U.S. ships involved in Thursdays exercise were the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, which are part of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, the INDOPACOM release said. The other vessels were Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers JS Chokai and JS Ashigara and South Koreas destroyer ROKS Sejong the Great. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Wednesday that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group would redeploy to the Souths eastern coast due to an uptick in North Korean activity. The group had made a port call in and around Busan on Sept. 23. North Korea, known formally as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or DPRK, has launched roughly 40 missiles so far this year, a record. The United States, [South Korea] and Japan strongly condemns the DPRKs launches, which violate numerous, unanimous mandates of the United Nations Security Council, the INDOPACOM release said. The exercise on Thursday was intended to demonstrate the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and [South Korea] allies, which is forward-leaning, reflective of our shared values, and resolute against those who challenge regional stability, the release said. The three nations carried out trilateral anti-submarine warfare drills in waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula late last month to cope with the North Korean nuclear and missile threat, South Koreas Ministry of National Defense said in a news release on Sept. 29. CAMP LESTER, Okinawa Twenty American and Japanese students recently came together on this U.S. Marine base for two days of educational and cultural exchange activities. The youth exchange program was designed to form bonds between the children of U.S. service members and those of local nationals at military bases throughout Japan, according to Miranda Ferguson, spokeswoman for Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific. At Lester Middle School on Oct. 1-2, the students divided into groups of four for a variety of projects, including one in which they created mascots to represent the friendship between Japan and the U.S. Japanese students introduced the mascots in English and the Americans used Japanese. Our mascot is called Sobadog, a combination of American and Japanese, Lester eighth-grader Nyla Bosompen, 12, told Stars and Stripes on Oct. 2. It had soba on its head, and it had a hot dog and a hamburger in each of his hands, and that symbolizes the Japanese and the American relationship. Bosompen, whose parents are in the U.S. Army, said the camp allowed her to use the Japanese shes learning at school with native speakers, something shes never done before. One of the Japanese students, Asami Arime, 14, gave his impressions of the day to Stars and Stripes through an interpreter. The juice is sweet, said the ninth-grader from nearby Ginowan. I ate a Subway sandwich for lunch and American gummy bears. I made a friend named Alan; he is not really talkative, but he was supportive today. The program developed in 2020 out of a partnership between DODEA-Pacific and Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs but was initially limited to Misawa Air Base, according to Ferguson. The two-day events have since spread to nearly every major U.S. installation in the country. There's always a need to partner together and establish better ties with our local communities so it wasn't really based on any particular need, Todd Schlitz, DODEA-Pacifics chief of staff, told Stars and Stripes on Sunday. It was based on the thought of, hey, let's bring our communities together; let's make opportunities for our students to get to know each other. The event wrapped up with a ceremony where students received awards for their projects from Ginowan city mayor Masanori Matsugawa, Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewski and Yumi Yoshikawa, the parliamentary vice minister for Foreign Affairs. Yoshikawa, who traveled from Tokyo for the event, encouraged the students to keep in touch with one another. I am convinced that such relationships will bring about a bright future for both countries, she said. Upcoming camps, which are available to DODEA middle and high school students, are slated for Oct. 15-16 and Sasebo Naval Base; Nov. 5-6 at Misawa Air Base; Dec. 3-4 at Camp Zama; Feb. 4-5 at Yokosuka Naval Base; and March 4-5 at Yokota Air Base. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea U.S. Forces Korea has delivered equipment that will add functionality to a missile-defense system stationed on the peninsula and better "protect the South Korean people from North Koreas missile threats," according to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense on Friday. The new equipment will provide "better performance" for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system by "improving interoperability between it and the United States' Patriot missile system, the statement said. Interoperability is a term often used by the military to describe the ability of a countrys armed forces to use another countrys training methods and equipment. Another THAAD system was not delivered as part of the package, the ministry added. The new equipment will replace parts in the existing system, and the older equipment will be returned to the United States. South Korea's alliance with the U.S. is more prepared to respond to the Norths "advanced nuclear and missile threats" because of the THAAD upgrade, the Eighth Army's deputy commander, Gen. Mark Holler, said in the statement. THAAD is defensive system that will not "interfere with strategic and security interests of neighbor countries," he added. U.S. missile defense agencies have worked toward integrating the Patriot and THAAD systems for at least two years. Multiple tests in 2020 attempted to provide THAAD-generated tracking data on a simulated target to a Patriot system, which would then intercept the target. The benefits of blending the systems include a "tightly integrated, layered missile defense system" designed to track and intercept targets in various altitudes, Lockheed Martin said in a March press release. Since 2017, an $800 million THAAD system operated by the U.S. military has been deployed at a South Korean base in Seongju, about 130 miles south of Seoul. The U.S. military at the time said the system was a defensive asset aimed at threats from North Korea. "When the THAAD system is deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and would not be directed towards any third party nations, the Defense Department said ahead of the deployment. Since his May inauguration, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to boost his country's defensive capabilities and has floated the possibility of installing another THAAD system. "Securing deterrence against the North Korean threat is a matter of sovereignty, and Seoul should remain open to additional deployments of THAAD in proportion to North Koreas growing missile threat, he said in a Foreign Affairs magazine op-ed published Feb. 8. The THAAD announcement comes amid an uptick in missile activity from North Korea in recent weeks. On Thursday, the communist regime fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, bringing the number of tests so far this year to 23. North Korea, which is suspected by U.S. and South Korean officials to have prepared for its first nuclear test since 2017, alarmed Japan and its allies when it fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday. Russias unconventional drone attacks and Ukraines responses are laying the foundation for new rules of aerial warfare in future conflicts, both for U.S. forces and their adversaries. Moscow neglected drone development for decades, only to find after its February invasion of Ukraine that its larger forces were getting routed by smaller Ukrainian units with surveillance and firing capability aided by drones. Russia has tried to remedy that by purchasing advanced Iranian drones. But the unmanned planes that buzzed the deserts of the Middle East were used primarily to attack high-value targets. Instead, Russian units are using drones against targets such as Ukrainian artillery batteries and ammunition depots on the front lines, as if the drones were a form of artillery. There is a more proactive, operational element to the Russian approach, said Nicholas Heras, director of strategy and innovation at the Washington-based New Lines Institute. Iran-backed forces such as the Houthis in Yemen tended to use the same drones to send strong messages to their opponents, especially Saudi Arabia, by striking distant targets, Heras said in a Twitter message to Stars and Stripes. Lessons learned from tactics in Ukraine could end up being used in future fights involving the U.S. or its allies, especially ones where drones and counterdrone technologies are prevalent. Heras used the example of a war between Iranian proxy Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces. Hezbollah would likely deploy Iranian drones against the IDF in a manner resembling how the Russians are using the drones against the Ukrainians, at shorter distances and as a type of complement to their small squad tactics, Heras said. The Pentagon is closely observing how Russia uses Iranian drones and how Ukraine counters them, U.S. officials told Defense Scoop last week. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting Wednesday with advisers to discuss how to respond to these new types of weapons being used by Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Ukrainian military will have to find ways to counter the recently introduced Iranian drones, either by jamming them or shooting them down, analysts said. In an example of the competition of ideas between Russia and Ukraine, the Iranian drones that have been shot down seem to include circuit boards with hardened components to make them resistant to jamming, said Farzin Nadimi, an associate fellow at the Washington Institute. Ukrainian forces will no doubt study these drones to find better methods to attack them, he added. They will most likely try to use smaller portable anti-air missiles, or air defense systems such as the Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar, or C-RAM, which have proven effective against Iranian drones, Nadimi said. The U.S., Saudi Arabia and other countries that employ C-RAMs as well as expensive Patriot missile anti-air defense systems will watch Ukraine to see whether these cheaper options work. Meanwhile, Russias drone tactics could change as they get more experienced, said Samuel Bendett, a member of the Russia Studies Program at the research and analysis organization CNA in Arlington, Va. Ukrainians are learning how to better defend themselves, Russians are learning how to better circumvent Ukrainian defenses, Bendett said. The Iranians are taking notes, he added, and they will likely market their drones and tactics to countries around the world. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place in Prague, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. In the context of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, direct contacts and high-level meetings were emphasized by both sides. Nikol Pashinyan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations and possible further steps in that direction. The need for the speedy implementation of the agreements reached as a result of the discussions of the special representatives of the two countries was emphasized. In particular, it refers to the opening of the land border for citizens of third countries, the implementation of direct air cargo transportation between Armenia and Turkey. The sides exchanged thoughts on regional processes. NAPLES, Italy Italys relationship with the U.S. and NATO should stay strong under the leadership of incoming Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, but a cold winter and a worsening economy could challenge her support for Ukraine, according to observers. Under Meloni, who last month became the first woman elected to the position, Italian support for the U.S. and its policies largely will continue, said Riccardo Alcaro, a researcher at the Rome-based think tank Instituto Affari Internazionali. If anything, (there will be) even greater attention to being fully aligned or perceived as a reliable, close ally of the U.S., Alcaro said. Melonis right-wing, nationalistic Brothers of Italy party along with two others that make up the countrys new governing coalition long have been vocal in their willingness to bet on the relationship with the U.S., he said. According to the latest Defense Department statistics, the U.S. has 12,477 active-duty service members stationed in Italy and several installations there, including Aviano Air Base, U.S. Army Garrison Italy at Vicenza and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. Those troops often work with their Italian counterparts. For example, in the lead-up to Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Italian carrier strike group Cavour sailed with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in the Mediterranean Sea. Melonis pro-NATO stance hopefully will mean continuity in Italys position on Ukraine and its approach to the alliance, said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe program at the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. But the troublesome connections to Russia of Melonis fellow coalition leaders, Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini, could foment problems, he said. Berlusconi, a former prime minister who leads the center-right Forza Italia party, and Salvini, leader of the right-wing, populist League party, have expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Salvini also has criticized sanctions levied by the U.S., European Union and others against Russia for its unprovoked war on Ukraine, claiming that they arent working and are hurting Italy. Meloni believes the sanctions are working. The fear isnt that Meloni will go soft on NATO or Ukraine but that because of the coalition dynamics this could be a divisive issue within Melonis coalition that she will have to manage, and thats the real source of concern, said Bergmann, who served in the State Department for six years. If Melonis popularity ebbs, energy prices stay high and Italys economic woes worsen over the coming months, her coalition partners could see opportunities to push policies that go against what she stands for, he said. For example, if the U.S. or EU propose stronger sanctions against Russia, Salvini could say that the only way he will stay in the coalition is if Italy wouldnt agree. That could force Meloni to choose between keeping the government intact or vetoing the sanctions and drawing scorn from Western allies, he said. Earlier this month, Meloni spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and affirmed her support, the Italian news agency Ansa reported Wednesday. Although Forza Italia and League have complained about the potential economic impacts to Italy, neither party ultimately opposed sanctions against Russia, said Giovanna De Maio, a visiting fellow at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University, who also noted Melonis affinity for American culture. She views it as improbable that Meloni would walk back Italys support. However, the three parties united front may be crumbling already, with Salvinis recent push to rethink the sanctions and Berlusconis defense of Putin on Italian television last month, according to a Sept. 23 Politico report. Meloni also faces challenges in her relationship with the U.S. She lacks the influence and stature of outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi, especially when it comes to European economics and the future of the EU, he said. In addition, Melonis association with the Republican Party in the U.S., including an appearance at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference, and her partys fascist roots lead to concern about the potential rise of far-right nationalism in Europe, Bergmann said. That presents a problem for President Joe Biden. However, diplomacy and maintaining the important relationship between Italy and the U.S. will take priority, he said. The U.S. will seek to engage, will seek to develop strong relations (with Meloni), and (officials) are going to want to keep Italy as a really constructive player when it comes to the war in Ukraine, Russia and all things NATO, Bergmann said. KYIV, Ukraine Russia concentrated attacks Friday in its increasingly troubled invasion of Ukraine on areas it illegally annexed as the death toll from earlier missile strikes on apartment buildings in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia rose to 12. In a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his conduct of Europe's worst armed conflict since World War II, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to human rights organizations in his country and Ukraine, and to an activist jailed in Russia's ally Belarus. Berit Reiss-Andersen, the committee's chair, said the honor went to "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence." Putin this week illegally claimed four regions of Ukraine as Russian territory, including the Zaporizhzhia region that is home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, whose reactors were shut down last month. Fighting near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has alarmed the U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog, which on Friday doubled to four the number of its inspectors monitoring plant safeguards. An accident there could release 10 times more potentially lethal radiation than the world's worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine 36 years ago, Ukrainian Environmental Protection Minister Ruslan Strilets said Friday. "The situation with the occupation, shelling, and mining of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants by Russian troops is causing consequences that will have a global character," Strilets told The Associated Press. The city of Zaporizhzhia is located 53 kilometers (33 miles) away from the nuclear plant as a crow flies and remains under Ukrainian control. To cement Russia's claim to the region, Russian forces bombarded the city with S-300 missiles on Thursday, with more attacks reported Friday. Ukrainian authorities said the death toll from the strikes on apartment buildings rose to 12 on Friday, while another 12 people wounded in the bombardment remained hospitalized. Missiles also struck the city overnight, wounding one person, Zaporizhzhia Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said. Russia also used Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones there for the first time and damaged two infrastructure facilities, he said. With its army losing ground to a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east, Russia has deployed unmanned, disposable Iranian-made drones that are cheaper and less sophisticated than missiles but still can damage targets on the ground. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Russia's use of the explosives-packed drones was unlikely to affect the course of the war. "They have used many drones against civilian targets in rear areas, likely hoping to generate nonlinear effects through terror. Such efforts are not succeeding," analysts at the think tank wrote. In other Moscow-annexed areas, Russia's Defense Ministry reported Friday that its forces had repelled Ukrainian advances near the city of Lyman and retaken three villages elsewhere in the eastern Donetsk region. The ministry also claimed that Russian forces had prevented Ukrainian troops from advancing on several villages in the southern Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Friday that this week alone, his military has recaptured 776 square kilometers (300 square miles) of territory in the east and 29 settlements, including six in the Luhansk region, which Putin has annexed. In total, Ukrainian forces have liberated 2,434 square kilometers (940 square miles) of land and 96 settlements since the beginning of its counteroffensive, he said. In Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian troops shelled the city of Nikopol overnight, killing one person, wounding another and damaging buildings, natural gas pipelines and electricity systems, the region's governor reported. Nikopol lies along the Dnieper River across from Russian-held territory near the nuclear plant. The city has been shelled constantly for weeks. The trail of Russia's devastation and death from areas where its troops retreated became clearer Friday. A report by Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yevhen Yenin revealed that 530 bodies of civilians have been found in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region since Sept. 7. The residents killed during the Russian occupation included 257 men, 225 women and 19 children, with 29 people unidentified, Yenin said. Most of the bodies were found in a previously disclosed mass grave in the city of Izium. According to Yenin, the recovered bodies bore signs of gunshots, explosions and torture. Some people had ropes around their necks, hands tied behind their back, bullet wounds to their knees and broken ribs. Authorities have identified 22 torture sites in parts of the Kharkiv region that Ukrainian forces recently liberated, said Serhiy Bolvinov, a regional police official. Some Russian military equipment and weapons, meanwhile, are getting into the Ukrainian military's hands. Britain's Ministry of Defense said Friday that Ukrainian forces have captured at least 440 tanks and about 650 armored vehicles since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24. "The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline," the British ministry said. "With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry." Putin ordered a partial mobilization of Russian army reservists last month to reinforce manpower on the front lines in Ukraine. Mistakes have dogged the military call-up, however, and tens of thousands of men have fled Russia, unwilling to fight Putin's war. That has left Russia desperate for troop reinforcements. The Ukrainian military said Friday that 500 former criminals have been mobilized to reinforce Russian ranks in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have retaken some territory. Officers drawn from law enforcement are commanding the new units, the military said. Russia's state news agency Tass reported Friday that a court in the Russian city of Penza had dismissed the first case against a Russian man called up to serve but who refused. The 32-year-old man's lawyers had argued that the law under which he was charged applies only to conscription evaders, not those subject to the partial mobilization. In another sign of trouble, reports have surfaced of poor training and few supplies for the new Russian troops. At least two Russian cities St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod announced Friday they were canceling their Russian New Year's and Christmas celebrations and redirecting that money to buy supplies for Russian troops. Under increasing pressure from his own supporters as well as critics, Putin continued to reshuffle his military's leadership, putting a new commander into Russia's eastern military district. Associated Press writer Hanna Arhirova in Ukraine contributed to this report. A successful airstrike in northern Syria has claimed the lives of two senior Islamic States leaders, U.S. Central Command said Thursday. The strike, carried out at 6:32 p.m. local time, killed Abu-Hashum al-Umawai, a deputy Wali of Syria, and another official associated with him, a CENTCOM statement said. No American or civilians were killed or wounded in the operation, according to the statement. This strike will degrade ISIS ability to destabilize the region and strike our forces and partners, CENTCOMs commander, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, said in the statement. Our forces remain in the region to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. News of the strike came the same day CENTCOM announced that American troops had launched an early morning helicopter raid against another senior ISIS leader, killing him, wounding one of his associates and capturing two others. That attack targeted Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, who was involved in smuggling weapons and fighters, CENTCOM spokesman Col. Joseph Buccino said in an email. About 1,000 American troops remain in Syria to train, advise and assist the Syrian Democratic Forces, primarily to ensure the defeat of ISIS, officials have said. ISIS detainees and their families have remained in prisons in Syria since 2019, when the group suffered defeats that resulted in the loss of the large territories they once controlled. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. Joe Gonzales, 37, said he knows theres still a risk of contracting COVID he believes he was infected with the virus this summer. But after getting two doses of the vaccine, the Flower Mound, Tex., man doesnt understand why he needs the third and fourth booster shots urged by federal health officials. And then the president is saying things like, The pandemic is over, Gonzales said of President Bidens comments during a recent 60 Minutes interview. That doesnt help motivate him to get a shot. Gonzaless lack of urgency typifies the view of many Americans, worn down by a never-ending pandemic and unsure about next steps as the nation enters its third COVID winter. Some have stopped paying attention to health officials recommendations altogether, despite projections of a fall and winter wave with the potential to sicken millions and kill tens of thousands, particularly the elderly and sick. About half of Americans say theyve heard little or nothing about the shots, according to a recent tracking poll by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. We have got to explain the value of these vaccines for the American people . . . [and] why this is probably the single most important health intervention they can make right now to protect themselves and their health for the next three to six months, Ashish Jha, the White Houses coronavirus coordinator, said in an interview. Federal officials have spent the past year urging Americans to get booster shots to bolster their protection against the coronavirus, which wanes over time. In early September, they rushed out the first new shots reformulated to target the still-dominant omicron variants to give people time to get inoculated before a likely cold weather surge, when respiratory infections increase as people head indoors, and recommended that all Americans 12 and older receive a third and fourth dose of vaccine. But the campaigns have lagged badly. Only about 105 million U.S. adults roughly 40% have received the third shot of vaccine initially offered a year ago, according to federal data, a far lower rate than countries like the United Kingdom, where more than 70 percent of adults have gotten a third dose. That figure is also well behind the 200 million U.S. adults who completed their primary series of shots. Early data shows that just over 11 million Americans or about 4% of those eligible have received the new bivalent booster shots. A third of adults say they eventually plan to get those shots, according to KFF polling. For public health leaders, the low booster rate is startling in a nation that financed the shots development, offers them free and touts them as the best way to protect against a virus that has already claimed more than 1 million lives in this country. The lagging booster rate is also blamed as a major contributor to the high COVID mortality rate last winter and the continuing deaths of more than 400 Americans on average per day linked to the virus, according to The Washington Posts coronavirus tracker. An analysis by the Commonwealth Fund, an independent research group, forecasts that more than 75,000 lives might be needlessly lost if the fall booster campaign comes up short. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research Institute in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, Calif., blamed federal agencies for being too cautious and sending mixed messages. Obviously, theres been a lot of missteps [in the governments response], he said. But to me, this is the most important one: When you have people who were willing to get two shots, and then you lose them to not get a third, or a fourth, or fifth, its a travesty. These are people who are willing to get vaccinated. Federal officials privately acknowledge mistakes in last years initial booster shot rollout. After Biden announced in August 2021 that every American should get a booster shot in the fall, some advisers and experts at the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised concerns that the decision appeared to have been made before they had fully reviewed the data. Some public health experts outside the government, meanwhile, argued two doses of vaccine were sufficient to protect most people. The competing sound bites confused and alienated many Americans, and intimidated officials, according to Topol. CDC was afraid to boost the booster message, thinking that that would diminish confidence in [the] primary series vaccines and give the anti-vax groups fodder, he said. I blame the federal health bureaucracy, agreed Jon Favreau, a host of Pod Save America, a progressive podcast, and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama. This was not the White Houses fault. This is not the top scientists in the administrations fault. This was the agencies dragging their feet and a small, very vocal group of experts who happen to be on Twitter a lot. Right after Biden announced the booster plan, Favreau sought out and got a third booster dose not waiting for the health agencies to act. I had a baby at home that was unvaccinated, and I didnt want to take my chances, he recalled. A CDC spokesperson defended the agencys process to review and encourage the boosters last year. Suggesting that federal agencies review of the boosters had some significant impact on their uptake is bizarre and wrong, said the CDCs Kevin Griffis. We know the reasons why people dont get boosted. ... Its not because experts spent a few weeks reviewing the data but because many vaccinated Americans believe that two shots are sufficient. Jha acknowledged missteps last year, blaming a group of public health people who I think unduly expressed skepticism. And what we saw was a lot of Americans get very sick and die in the omicron wave because they were unboosted, he said. . . . Theres more and more data out [now] that shows that when people get their boosters, theyre far less likely to end up in the hospital, far less likely to die. Jha said the administration will lean on that data while readying a campaign intended to pump up interest in the boosters starting this month. The federal health department is running digital ads that encourage people to get coronavirus vaccines and boosters along with their flu shots, and the administration is planning events, such as vaccine clinics at colleges and workplaces, to tout the new bivalent shots. The department will also run television ads about the updated shots beginning Oct. 17, and target Hispanic and Black communities in an ad blitz the following week, officials said. The White House has also tweaked its messaging. Officials are describing the shots as an updated COVID vaccine, hoping that avoiding the word booster shores up confidence. Theyre also urging Americans to get annual COVID shots, believing it will better prepare people to fight a virus that is expected to be around for years. But there is scant evidence such a campaign will win over holdouts, with many Americans fatigued by COVID messages, doubtful about the threat and having reached their own conclusions about how best to navigate a persistent pandemic. Forty-six percent of respondents to an Axios-Ipsos poll last month said they had returned to their pre-pandemic activities, the highest percentage since the poll began in January 2021. Other Americans say they want to take necessary precautions but have tuned out the latest recommendations; still more have fallen prey to misinformation, or confess to sheer exhaustion with COVID messages, roughly 1,000 days after federal officials first warned of a mysterious pneumonia in central China. A lot of people have wanted to move on from the pandemic, said Mollyann Brodie, who oversees KFF polling, listing reasons for the diminished attention. Partly because the surge has abated, partly because of pandemic fatigue and partly because the risk to an average healthy person is different than it was earlier. Researchers also cite persistent gaps in knowledge about the vaccines, with rural populations and communities of color trailing White, suburban groups. For instance, among fully vaccinated adults, only 41 percent of Hispanics and 45 percent of Black Americans said they knew the CDC had recommended the new booster shot, compared to 51 percent of Whites, according to KFF polling. I dont know that people are necessarily listening to the messages of the government, said Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, which represents public health agencies around the country. Maybe its time to bring in some other folks or messengers that may be more effective. Brodie agreed, saying that much of America has had to become their own sort of public health department, making decisions for themselves and their families. A mixed response Experts like Brodie and Plescia say that while some Americans have tuned out the booster and vaccination campaigns with roughly one-third of adults not having gotten their primary shots against the coronavirus there are likely tens of millions of highly motivated people planning to seek out the latest boosters. [Im] beating down the door, said Alyssa Thacker, 33, at a Walgreens in Fox Point, Wis., last week, pushing a stroller with daughters, Ari, 4, and Aoife, 2. Im third trimester pregnant and I want to protect my fetus. I want to protect my children. I want to be able to travel and not catch it and not inadvertently infect anyone else. Thacker said she plans to give her two daughters the new booster as soon as it is available to children. Others say they intend to get the shots, but are putting them off because of recent infections or boosters. Im in that waiting period, said Brodie, who said she received her last booster in August and wants to wait to get the new shot until November. Federal officials recommend that people wait three months since their most recent COVID infection or at least two months from their last booster. But a significant group is confused about the need for the new boosters and their benefits, or downright opposed to them. Sitting at a table inside the Lewisville, Tex., public library, which she made sure was wiped down, Kay Cudjoe, 65, a retired educator, said shes already made her appointment for the new booster, which would be her fourth dose but isnt planning on any more. This is the last one Ill have to get, Cudjoe added. At least thats what I understand. Maggie Clement, 27, who works at an art and pottery studio in Royal Oak, Mich., said she hadnt heard about the new boosters until her boyfriend mentioned the shots that morning. I had no idea, she said. Clement, who said she was vaccinated twice and boosted in 2021, said she will get the new booster, but is worried about the need to plan around it. The first two shots, I missed a day of work. And with my booster, I missed two days, she said. Some organizations, such as colleges and universities, are moving to require the boosters as they did with earlier vaccines amid evidence that such mandates compel uptake. Students must be compliant with all vaccine requirements in order to register for the spring term, Harvard University announced in September. This includes the annual flu shot as well as the bivalent Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster. But this time around, there is little appetite to try to persuade employers to mandate booster shots, said Ezekiel Emanuel, who coordinated efforts to persuade many health care organizations and universities to compel them last year. Emanuel said that while he believes such organizations should require the new shots, he has no plans for another campaign, citing legal challenges and other complications. A lot of people who were vaccinated later got omicron I think thats not getting enough attention when we talk about the appetite for boosters, Emanuel added. People have become a bit cynical about the vaccines benefit. I know people who have gotten four shots and still got infected. Not every expert believes that more shots are widely necessary. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, was one of two members of the FDA advisory panel who voted against recommending authorization of the new booster in August. I just dont think we have any evidence that its better, Offit said, pointing to a New England Journal of Medicine study that he said shows underwhelming evidence for it. Still, he endorses the shot for more vulnerable groups: people over age 75 or living in nursing homes; those with chronic conditions such as severe Type 1 Diabetes, lung or heart disease; and those with weakened immune systems. But Offit noted the public no longer recognizes COVID-19 as the threat it was in the spring of 2020, adding that the low uptake numbers, in part, represent booster fatigue. Reaching holdouts Inside the White House, officials predict that interest in boosters will grow if COVID infections rebound this fall and winter, as predicted. Americans could be particularly motivated by the arrival of scary European variants, such as omicron descendants B.Q.1.1. and BA. 2.75.2, which are spreading overseas, show an ability to evade treatments and could lead to more serious illness, said a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment. Biden officials also have been calling on GOP leaders to better highlight the continuing risks of the virus, citing persistent gaps in vaccinations between Democrats and Republicans. A lot of [the booster lag] is because of political divisiveness, Anthony S. Fauci, the governments top infectious-disease expert, said in an interview Tuesday. I mean, theres no secret that red states are under-vaccinated and blue states have a high level of vaccination. And mindful that more than 150 million Americans every year receive a flu shot, officials have amped up efforts to link the two vaccines. I really believe this is why God gave us two arms one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot, Jha said at a recent briefing. Others have pressed to use a diverse cast of messengers to explain the shots benefits, particularly to communities of color. We really have to change the way that we reach out to people we also have to change the face of those that are reaching out, said Kizzmekia Corbett, a Black scientist and Harvard immunology professor who helped develop the technology behind the vaccines, in a recent Washington Post Live interview. Working on the vaccine development early on in the pandemic, I felt ... I should just step away and go on tour and just convince people to get the vaccine, she added. And I wish I could do that here with the boosters as well. Diamond reported from Washington, Gahan from Dallas and Johnson from Fox Point, Wis. The Washington Posts Kayla Ruble in Royal Oak, Mich., and Jimmy Magahern in Phoenix contributed to this report. BATAVIA, N.Y. By the time the red, white and blue-colored microphone had been switched off, the crowd of 3,000 had listened to hours of invective and grievance. "We're under warfare," one speaker told them. Another said she would "take a bullet for my nation," while a third insisted, "They hate you because they hate Jesus." Attendees were told now is the time to "put on the whole armor of God." Then retired three-star Army general Michael Flynn, the tour's biggest draw, invited people to be baptized. Scores of people walked out of the speakers' tent to three large metal tubs filled with water. While praise music played in the background, one conference-goer after another stepped in. Pastors then lowered them under the surface, welcoming them into their movement in the name of Jesus Christ. One woman wore a T-shirt that read "Army of God." Flynn warned the crowd that they were in the midst of a "spiritual war" and a "political war" and urged people to get involved. ReAwaken America was launched by Flynn, a former White House national security adviser, and Oklahoma entrepreneur Clay Clark a few months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol failed to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Attendees and speakers still insist against all evidence and dozens of court rulings that Donald Trump rightfully won. Since early last year, the ReAwaken America Tour has carried its message of a country under siege to tens of thousands of people in 15 cities and towns. The tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement that's wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party. In the version of America laid out at the ReAwaken tour, Christianity should be at the center of American life and institutions. Instead, it's under attack, and attendees need to fight to restore the nation's Christian roots. It's a message repeated over and over at ReAwaken one that upends the constitutional ideal of a pluralist democracy. But it's a message that is taking hold. A poll by the University of Maryland conducted in May found that 61% of Republicans support declaring the U.S. to be a Christian nation. "Christian nationalism, really undermines and attacks foundational values in American democracy. And that is a promise of religious freedoms for all," said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, which advocates for religious freedom. She said the ReAwaken cause is "a partisan political cause, and the cause here is to spread misinformation, to perpetuate the big lie and to have a different result next time in the next election." ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and the PBS series "Frontline" that includes the upcoming documentary "Michael Flynn's Holy War," premiering Oct. 18 on PBS and online. ___ ReAwaken acts as a petri dish for Christian nationalism and pushes the idea that there's a battle underway between good and evil forces. Those who are considered evil include government officials and Democrats. It's "a pep rally on spiritual steroids" said Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University in Michigan, who studies evangelicalism. ReAwaken often appears in churches with speakers addressing attendees from the pulpit. The Batavia show was staged on the grounds of a church, after faith and community leaders in nearby Rochester told organizers they weren't welcome. Inside a revival tent set up outside, people sat in white folding chairs packed so tightly the rows between were nearly impassable. From the stage, speakers stirred up fear and hatred. Immigrants are rushing over the border "to take your place," one said. Homosexuals and pedophiles are classified in the same category: sinful people who don't honor God. Life-saving vaccines are creating "a damn genocide." "The enemy wants to muzzle you," another speaker warned. "He wants to shut your mouth." Clark, the Tour's principal organizer and emcee, opened the Batavia show bellowing: "Good morning, New York! And good morning, New York Attorney General Letitia James!" The greeting was a reference to a letter James' sent to Flynn and Clark warning them against violent or unlawful conduct. "I want you to look around and you'll see a group of people that love this country dearly," he said. "At this Reawaken America Tour, Jesus is King (and) President Donald J. Trump is our president." The AP and Frontline bought tickets for the Batavia event after Clark invited "Frontline" to attend one of the tour's shows. Reporters spent two days listening to speakers and observing the events from inside. On the second day, security escorted a "Frontline" reporter from the grounds because, he was told, Flynn believed he intended to cover the event unfavorably. When an AP reporter began interviewing people attending the event at the end of the second day, she was also reported to security. While smaller in scale, the ReAwaken shows are similar in tone to the rallies Trump holds. Grievance and contempt for government institutions are regular themes. ReAwaken speakers have included Trump's sons, Eric and Don Jr., Trump confidant Roger Stone, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has spread anti-vaccine misinformation. For a tour stop scheduled later this month in Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano is listed as a speaker. In Batavia, Greg Locke, a Tennessee pastor, and Eric Trump declared in back-to-back remarks that the FBI's court-authorized search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for classified records showed how the U.S. government has been weaponized against its citizens. "Third world Gestapo stuff," said Eric Trump. After he finished speaking, a group gathered to pray over him. Other speakers promoted bizarre theories. One claimed President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 because he threatened to expose a plot to enslave every man, woman and child in the U.S. Another said a Hebrew prophet foretold 2,500 years ago the exact date the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to abortion. There were frequent personal attacks on Democrats, with no remark apparently off limits. Clark questioned the gender of former first lady Michelle Obama. Locke called Democrats "baby-butchering mongrels." The volatile combination of politics, Christianity and conspiracy theory pushed at the ReAwaken tour could eventually tip into political violence, several political and religious scholars told AP. Samuel Perry, a sociologist at the University of Oklahoma, has done numerous surveys measuring Christian nationalist ideology. In an August 2021 survey, about half of white Americans who most strongly identified with Christian nationalism said they believe things are getting so bad that "real patriots" may have to resort to violence. "I think all of us believe that America is on the verge of ending," Clark told AP. ___ Flynn is a constant presence at ReAwaken America events. He is painted as a martyr on the far right __ the retired general who paid a price for working for Trump. That status has made him the Tour's star attraction. Offstage, people flock to Flynn to take photos, trade trinkets or tell him how much it means to them that he is there. He hops onstage frequently to speak or even bang a gong to welcome Eric Trump. An AP/Frontline investigation published last month reported that Flynn has used public appearances to energize voters, political endorsements to build alliances, and a network of nonprofit groups one of which has projected spending $50 million to advance his movement. The irony of Flynn's aura as a populist warrior is glaring. He was the ultimate Washington insider before being fired by Trump in February 2017 for lying about contacts he had with Russians. Now, Flynn leads a crusade against the same government establishment that employed him for years and which gave him access to many of its deepest secrets. "So now, he's a spiritual general," said Anthea Butler, a scholar of American religion and politics at the University of Pennsylvania. Butler said that the way Flynn and ReAwaken join Christian nationalism to the idea of spiritual warfare is dangerous because it suggests there are "demonic" people in government, and Christians need to act to save the country. "If people are talking about spiritual warfare and are talking about taking up arms and stuff, then I think you should be very worried," she said. Flynn's battlefield experience, she added, enhances his credibility. Who exactly the United States needs to be saved from is displayed on a huge monitor on the ReAwaken America stage. The show's villains include former President Barack Obama and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but the principal foe at the center of the monitor is less familiar. He's an 84-year-old German economist and engineer named Klaus Schwab, who heads the World Economic Forum, a global think tank in Switzerland, that holds an annual gathering of the world's business and political elites in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss ways of building a better future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schwab unveiled an initiative called The Great Reset that envisioned sweeping changes to how societies and economies work. Even though Schwab and The World Economic Forum have no policymaking power, ReAwaken America participants see his plan, which spoke of "greater government interference" and a "green economy," as an assault on America's foundations. The other side of the giant monitor has photos of ReAwaken heroes: regulars including Flynn, Locke, MyPillow CEO and 2020 election denier Mike Lindell, and three doctors who became famous for their anti-vaccine views. Katherine Stewart, author of "The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism," attended a March 2022 ReAwaken America show at a church in San Marcos, California. She said it was like entering a "parallel messaging universe." "The leaders of the ReAwaken America tour are really driving people into a fact-free echo chamber," Stewart said. "They have been persuaded and manipulated into believing they're doing what's right for their country. But all of their good intentions are being harnessed in service of an agenda that's dividing our country as never before and, frankly, leading to the potential destruction of our democracy. " The politics, anger and prayer were interspersed with a good dose of commerce and fundraising. Ticket prices ran as high as $500 for VIP seating or $250 for general admission, though tickets were only sold by phone and sales agents were eager to bargain. An AP reporter bought two tickets to the Batavia show for less than $100. A retiree said he paid more than $700 on admission for two one VIP ticket for himself plus a donation of $250 for a general admission ticket for someone who couldn't afford it. Trump ally Roger Stone asked for donations to his legal defense fund. A naturopath promoted her organic health and beauty line. The stage backdrop even carried ads for a company that buys and sells gold and silver and bills itself as "General Flynn's Gold Buyer of Choice." In booths inside and outside the church, buyers could pick up a $3,300 vibrating platform that could purportedly ease back pain and increase sexual function, a $259 blanket sold to shield the user from 5G, and a "power pendant" that supposedly helps people absorb "the natural living frequencies to empower your body, mind and spirit." Flynn's son, Michael Flynn, Jr., manned his father's merchandise booth, where autographed copies of Flynn's 2017 book, "The Field of Fight," sold for $60. Du Mez, who is writing a book on the overlap of consumerism and Christian identity, said such events are orchestrated to extract money from participants. They are invited to participate in the movement by pulling out their credit cards. "The skeptical take is this is a scam. That's not how it feels to the people who are giving their money," she said. "People give it happily." Such events, she said, are "identity building and sustaining," giving people a sense of belonging. Speakers affirmed the message that inside the tent, they are all part of a community. One told attendees that they should "go ahead and take the hit" if they have to split with their loved ones over their views. At the ReAwaken tour, they were repeatedly assured, they are welcome and their beliefs will be validated. Amanda Grace, a self-described prophetic minister, told the crowd that many of their loved ones "are still under the control of the rulers of the darkness of this world." "This is war, and you have to have a different mindset for that," Grace said. "You pray for your family, you pray for your friends, you love them. But you have to understand that these rulers are after you. They're out to destroy you and your line, and everything you're going to birth forth through your line for the Kingdom of God." So when Flynn and others invited the crowd to be baptized at the end of the day, scores joined in to pray and participate. A woman wearing a T-shirt that read "Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president" said she was being baptized for a third time because she wanted to speak in tongues, a gift that had just been described by a ReAwaken speaker as "the artillery bomb of the enemy." Past the baptismal troughs, people were invited to a circle for prayers. Pastors laid hands on them and cast demons out, while people wearing American flag shirts and QAnon hats, crowded around. "You are free!" one pastor declared. "You are free! You are free!" Meanwhile, Michael Flynn, accompanied by private security guards, got into his SUV and drove away. Lardner reported from Washington. Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster, AP news researchers Randy Herschaft and Rhonda Shafner and "Frontline" producer Richard Rowley contributed to this report. AUSTIN, Texas Texas National Guard troops who served on the governors mission to prevent criminal activity at the states border with Mexico could owe thousands in federal taxes next year because a glitch in the payroll system underestimated withholdings, Guard officials said. The amount owed will vary based on each Guard members rank, marital status, time of service and time spent deployed to the mission dubbed Operation Lone Star, according to documents used to brief troops on the subject that were obtained by Stars and Stripes. A single sergeant with no children and eight years of service could expect to owe the federal government about $1,788, according to the documents. A captain with the same demographics could expect to owe about $8,546. The problem began when the state decided to switch service members from being paid once a month to twice a month to mirror the pay periods of federal troops who are paid through the Defense Financial Accounting System, according to a Texas Guard official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The system that Texas uses to pay state employees, the Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System, underestimated federal withholdings when that happened, the official said. The glitch was discovered in July. Now Guard leaders are alerting troops of the potentially higher tax bills through publications, command guidance, town halls and other means. The problem will persist through the end of the year, and the Guard will switch back to paying troops once a month in January, the official said. They're asking soldiers to figure this out themselves, said Spc. Hunter Schuler, a Guard soldier who has become an advocate for fair treatment on the border mission. He said the spreadsheet provided by the Guard to estimate tax bills is complicated. Schuler estimated he will owe about $2,500 in taxes. This isnt the first time that Texas has botched pay for troops on the border mission. A year ago, Gov. Greg Abbott rapidly increased the number of troops deployed to the mission to about 10,000. Guard officials conceded the hastily planned ramp-up led to many soldiers not receiving pay or receiving incorrect pay, and the situation took months to sort out. The mission has since dropped to about 5,400 troops deployed to assist at the Mexico border. They are tasked with assisting state police to prevent illegal activity between the ports of entry. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. A statement was adopted after the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the European Political Community summit in Prague at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel. The below is the statement published by the Armenian Prime Ministers Office: Within the framework of the first meeting of the European Political Community in Prague, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met on October 6, 2022 at the initiative of the President of the French Republic and the President of the European Council. Armenia and Azerbaijan confirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They confirmed that this will serve as basis for the work of the commissions on delimitation and that the next meeting of these commissions will take place in Brussels by the end of October. Armenia expressed its agreement to encourage the EU civilian mission along the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with the mentioned mission to the extent it will be concerned. The mission will start its work in October, for a maximum period of two months. The purpose of the mission will be to build confidence and, through its reports, support the border commissions. Derek Boyd (27) pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a semi-automatic pistol A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his sister who was fatally shot earlier this year. Derek Boyd (27) appeared via videolink in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today where he reaffirmed his signed guilty pleas from the district court. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully killing his sister, Sandra Boyd, at his home in Collins Place, Finglas on March 19 this year. He also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a semi-automatic pistol and one count of unlawfully possessing ammunition on the same date. Michael Bowman SC, defending, told the court he required a bit of time to prepare a psychological report. Victim impact statements were also ordered. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter for sentence on November 28. The court heard Boyd, who is in custody, will appear in court in person on that date. all i want is u(k) | Bono says we really need the UK to go back to leading the world A MAN who allegedly set fire to his mothers home while she was out for the evening, after earlier threatening to burn the house down, has been sent for trial. Brian Ferns (38) is accused of causing extensive damage to the property. He was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. Mr Ferns is charged with arson at James Connolly Park in Clondalkin. The DPP had consented to summary trial of the case in the district court, but a judge had refused jurisdiction to deal with the case. A State solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave Mr Ferns the formal alibi caution. He assigned defence solicitor Wayne Kenny and one junior counsel on free legal aid. Outlining the allegation, Sergeant Maria Callaghan previously said gardai attended the scene of an incident at a house at James Connolly Park, Clondalkin, on April 3, 2020. The house was on fire and the accused was allegedly at the scene in a distressed state. The alleged victim claimed that Mr Ferns had threatened he was going to burn her house down. The accuseds mother was the occupant of the house but she was not inside at the time the fire started, Sgt Callaghan added. Asked if the damage allegedly caused to the house amounted to 5,000, Sgt Callaghan said it was a lot more. Ms OLeary fought back tears as she read a prepared statement to the court in which she said she lived in fear for her safety. A man who made online threats to an autism campaigner and her children has been sentenced to 10 months in prison with the last two months of the sentence suspended. Eamonn Deegan (55) with an address at Springfield Court, Celbridge, Co. Kildare had appealed a ten-month sentence imposed on him in the District Court in July this year. Mr Deegan had admitted sending messages to Fiona OLearya mother of five from west Corkvia Facebook Messenger calling her a bitch and accusing her family of leaching from the State. Cork Circuit Court sitting in Clonakilty also heard that Mr Deegan had made threats suggesting that the world would be a better place if Ms OLeary and her children were not in it. Ms OLeary fought back tears as she read a prepared statement to the court in which she said she lived in fear for her safety and that of her children since Mr Deegan was released on bail. She said that four of her children were autistic and one has been diagnosed with cancer. She asked Judge Helen Boyle: I beg you to reconsider and give this man a jail sentence. State solicitor Jer Healy told the court that Mr Deegan was convicted of harassment in the District Court in July 2022 but appealed his 10 month sentence. He was released on bail but breached the conditions in August this year. Mr Healy said that Mr Deegan was bound not to engage in abusive online behaviour with anybody but had abused another woman on Facebook whose child had recently taken their own life. The woman was known to Ms OLeary and informed her of the incident and Mr Deegan was subsequently arrested on September 9th 2022 in Kildare and brought before the District Court in Bandon, Co. Cork on the same day. Fiona OLeary He was remanded in custody with a slight delay because of a Covid outbreak until September 16th where he was bailed once again. Giving evidence, Inspector Debra Marsh from Clonakilty Garda Station said that Mr Deegan had 13 previous convictions including several for the possession of knives, one for the unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition and several more for drugs offences. Barrister Lorna Brooks representing Mr Deegan said that he had previously been homeless and had drug use issues but was now living a strict life style and did not even drink coffee. She said he was now living in Dublin and was hoping to enter education next year. She said Mr Deegan was embarrassed by the online comments he had made and would not be getting involved in politics any more. Judge Helen Boyle said that Mr Deegan didnt appear to have learned his lesson as he had breached his bail conditions. She re-affirmed the 10 month prison sentence but suspended the last two months. She also bound him to keep the peace for two years and added further conditions that he would not contact Fiona OLeary or any member of her family directly or indirectly by any means for a period of five years. She also ordered that he would not set up any anonymous online account for that purpose and ordered that he would not come within 200 metres of Ms OLeary at her home or place of work Mason's broken heart-hearted grandmother Breda was informed of the developments earlier this morning. Two people, a man and a woman, are due to appear in court later this morning to be formally charged in connection with the death of 4-year-old Mason OConnell in Limerick. The pair - who were known to the deceased child - were arrested late last night and station charged in the early hours of this morning. Mason's broken-hearted grandmother Breda was informed of the developments earlier this morning. Mason sustained fatal head injuries at a house in Rathbane, Limerick on March 13, 2021. He died three days later at Childrens Hospital Ireland, Temple Street, having been earlier treated at University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital. Breda O'Connell with a picture of Mason Gardai previously confirmed that a man and a woman arrested last year in connection with his death were detained on suspicion of murder. In a statement at the time, gardai said: Gardai investigating the death of a four-year-old boy in Limerick have arrested a male, in his 30s, and a female, in her 20s, on suspicion of murder. They were then released without charge and a file was sent to the DPP.. However, a garda spokesman has confirmed two people are now due before the courts later this morning in connection with Masons death. Gardai at Roxboro Road, Limerick investigating the death of a 4 year old boy in Rathbane, Limerick on Saturday 13th March, 2021 have arrested and charged two persons. The man, in his 30s and the woman, in her 20s were both arrested on Thursday 6th October, 2022 and have been charged in relation to the incident and both are due to appear before Limerick District Court, this morning Friday 7th October, 2022 at 10.30a.m. Investigations ongoing, the spokesman said. Funeral service for Mason O'Connell Last month, Masons grieving grandmother Breda OConnell told the Sunday World of the familys heartbreak and the torment of not knowing if anyone would be charged over his death. This March coming Mason will be dead two years and so far we have had no word of anything, she said. We have been warned, with cases like this, it can take anything up to three years for a decision to come back but its so hard waiting. One of the detectives rang me a few weeks ago and although the file has gone to the DPP, it will take time for them to go through all the evidence the gardai have gathered. They have to be so careful and they have to look into every detail to make sure everything has been looked at. But they said, the minute they hear back, they will let us know. Asked how her family is coping in the wake of Masons death, Breda said every day is a struggle. The gardai have done their best for us and for Mason. Sharon Bennett was subjected to a "brutal and sustained attack" in a public toilet at the hands Patrick Ballard, the court heard Sharon Bennett's parents PJ Bennett and Vicki with family outside Dublin Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Patrick Ballard...Pic Collins Courts Sharon Bennett's parents PJ Bennett and Vicki with family outside Dublin Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Patrick Ballard...Pic Collins Courts The father of 29-year-old Sharon Bennett, who was repeatedly kicked and had her head "danced on" by her partner in a public toilet, has said that their lives are "devastated" and described her murder as a nightmare from which they cannot wake up. PJ Bennett told the Central Criminal Court today that he was sorry he had let his daughter down and that he did not protect her enough. He added: "I would like to say that I don't blame the Ballard family for what happened to my daughter. I blame Patrick Ballard only; we have all lost here". Mr Bennett also told the court how Covid restrictions meant the family were not permitted to see Sharon in intensive care for five days after she was admitted to hospital and could not hold a proper funeral when she passed away. Sentencing judge Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that the circumstances of the killing were "truly harrowing and grim" and said that this was "yet another violent killing" where the victim was a woman and the perpetrator was a man with whom she was in a relationship. He said she had been subjected to a "brutal and sustained attack" in a public toilet at the hands of the accused and that Ballard had "brushed aside efforts of another man to intervene". Mother of two, Sharon Bennett The judge said that the deceased, mother-of-two Sharon Bennett, had a difficult life as she suffered from problems with alcohol. "I want to make clear that she is totally blameless in this matter, only the accused is to blame for what happened," he emphasised. The testimony was heard as part of an emotional victim impact statement read today to the Central Criminal Court, where Ballard was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend Ms Bennett. The sentence was backdated to January 28 2021, when he went into custody. The court heard that Patrick Ballard, who told gardai that he "danced" on the deceased's head, has 140 previous convictions dating back to 2006, which include assault and theft. Of these, 94 are public order offences, 21 are theft and seven are for assault, the most recent in October 2018 when he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. Ballard (35), formerly of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare, appeared at the court today for his sentence hearing, having pleaded guilty yesterday, just two days into his trial, to the murder of his former partner. He had initially pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Bennett in the Market area of Ennis on January 28, 2021. Ms Bennett died in hospital in Limerick two weeks later on February 10, 2021, due to her injuries. Ballard and Ms Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the murder and Ms Bennett was a mother of two girls, then aged nine and six, from a previous relationship. Speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice Building today, Mr Bennett said: "I'd like to say that I came here for justice for my daughter, we got justice, he got a mandatory life sentence for the brutal murder he committed on my girl. Sharon Bennett's dad PJ Bennett..Pic Collins Courts "As far as I am concerned life is still not long enough. I hope he dies in jail, that's all I have to say". Mr Bennett continued: "I've no ill will against the Ballard family whatsoever. Patrick murdered my daughter, not the Ballard family. "I wouldn't like anyone to blame the Ballard family in any way for what happened. He acted alone and he is paying for it. As far as I'm concerned it is still not long enough for what he done to my daughter. "It was a brutal, brutal attack. "He left the scene twice and came back and admitted today that he danced on her head; his own words. Left again and came back and did it again. So a life sentence to me is not enough. "There are no winners in a case like this. Even Ballard as much as I hate him, he has lost, we have lost, his family have lost; there are no winners. How can there be a winner in a situation like this? Everyone's lives are devastated. Her two girls are left behind. Sharon was a good girl, she had an unfortunate end but she was a loving daughter and a loving mother and we loved her to bits and our lives are devastated and so are a lot of others". Defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC, for Ballard, told a jury of seven men and five women on the opening day of the trial last Tuesday that his client admitted his actions caused the death of his partner and accepted that her killing was unlawful. Patrick Ballard At today's sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Noelle Bergin detailed the background to the incident. She told prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC that Ms Bennett died on February 10, 2021 having been assaulted by Bennett two weeks earlier on January 28. Outlining the events that led up to the murder, Mr McGinn said that both Ms Bennett and Ballard had been living in temporary accommodation in Ennis and were habitually drinking in the centre of Ennis on the afternoon of January 28. At the time of "the violence" the pair had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, added the detective. At one point, there was a "clear disagreement" between the accused and Ms Bennett, which resulted in the mother-of-two kicking or "striking" Ballard in the face. Ms Bennett, Ballard and a third man Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah left the car park area to enter a public toilet as it was warmer. The three people were drinking and chatting in the toilet for about 20 minutes. The detective said that Ballard then attacked Ms Bennett violently by stamping on her head, which was witnessed by a number of members of the public. The court heard that this incident took place during the Covid-19 lockdown so the streets weren't as busy as they might usually have been. A motorist who was driving past the scene described seeing Ballard aggressively "stamping" on something four or five times with his foot. The man, who sounded his horn and started shouting at Ballard, initially thought that the accused was stamping on a mattress as he had heard a loud noise. A delivery driver who had just picked up a delivery from a nearby outlet said he heard five bangs, one repeatedly after another, before it stopped and then started again. "He looked towards the toilet and saw a man looking like he was kicking a metal object," said the detective. The man subsequently saw something on the floor of the toilet and realised something serious had happened. A resident in a house opposite the toilet was trying to charge the battery of his car, when he heard repeated banging. The man decided to get a better view from the window of his upstairs premises and saw a girl on the ground of the toilet with a "skinny fella" stamping on her head. The man told gardai that it went on for up to three minutes, that he saw Ballard stamp at least three times on her head and shout: "Are you happy now, you won't do that again". The man's flatmate told gardai that what had happened to Ms Bennett was "very aggressive" and that Ballard had drawn "at least 20 kicks" each time he went over to the toilet. The men contacted the emergency services. An off-duty guard, who was passing the scene, found Ms Bennett in a critical condition and called an ambulance. There was a mark on the left side of Ms Bennett's face which looked like a boot mark and a footprint mark on the right side of her head. Ms Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick but never regained consciousness and passed away on February 10. A post mortem carried out revealed that the cause of death was traumatic head injuries. When Ballard returned to his accommodation at Ashford Court Hotel, he met the manager who was a member of the Simon Community. Ballard was covered in blood and told the manager that he had done "something bad". "He said 'I think I killed Sharon'," said the detective. Ballard also told the manager that the assault had happened in a public toilet near the car park, that he had hurt Sharon badly and that he kept pointing to his shoes. Sharon Bennett's parents PJ Bennett and Vicki with family outside Dublin Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Patrick Ballard...Pic Collins Courts The manager could not see anything on the accused's shoes but assumed that he must have used his feet in the attack on the deceased. Ballard was later arrested and cautioned. When gardai searched the defendant to ensure he was carrying no weapons, they noticed a strong smell of alcohol from him and that he was upset. Ballard said to gardai: "I danced on her head". The accused was not deemed fit to be interviewed until the morning of January 25. In his two interviews, Ballard accepted that he had attacked Ms Bennett and gave an account of how she had attacked him first in the public toilet and that he had lost control. He was formally charged with assault causing harm. Blood found on Ballard's shoes matched the deceased's DNA. After Ms Bennett passed away on February 10, the accused was re-arrested on March 24 and charged with murder. Under cross-examination, the detective agreed with defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC that his client had significant drink and drugs issues and that he was well known to gardai. Ballard also has speech difficulties and a slight intellectual and hearing impairment. Mr Nicholas said that Ballard accepted he had badly assaulted Ms Bennett from the outset and repeatedly admitted he had "lost it", "couldn't stop himself" and had "went too far" in his interviews. "It only required two interviews such was the candour of the interviews,' added counsel. The barrister added: "He never denied assaulting her, always admitted that he danced on her head and went too far". In re-examination, the detective confirmed to Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that apart from Ballard's assertions in his interviews, there was no evidence that Ms Bennett had used violence against him in the toilet. In his submissions, Mr Nicholas said that this was a "very sad case" where a life had been lost violently and needlessly. He said there were never admissions in his client's interviews other than he did wrong and that he had never denied responsibility for the attack. "He said he snapped, he lost it and is ashamed. Ms Bennett was a blameless woman in all of this," he said. Referring to Ms Bennett, Mr Nicholas said she had her own understandable difficulties in her life at the time and Ballard told gardai that the deceased had struck him with a coin in the toilet. "That is not in any way to do any adverse comment on Ms Bennett, she was a wonderful woman by all accounts and that remains the case," he added. Sharon Bennett's parents PJ Bennett and Vicki with family outside Dublin Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Patrick Ballard...Pic Collins Courts He said his client had led a disordered and chaotic life and accepted responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, he said Ballard regretted his actions which "were sodden in drink" and had taken Ms Bennett away from her own children and family. Mr Nicholas said his client reiterated his apology "for this awful situation he has brought to bear" on the Bennett family. His life has also been one of homelessness and sheltered accommodation, he concluded. Before sentencing the defendant, Mr Justice Burns said that this had been a "terrible ordeal" for the Bennett family and that Ms Bennett had two daughters whom she loved deeply. The judge added: "She was involved in a relationship with the accused for a couple of months. As a result of the attack she lost her life and her two children lost their mother and won't have her there when they need or want her". Referring to the Covid-19 restrictions, the judge said that the Bennett family had gone through a particularly upsetting and difficult ordeal. Mr Justice Burns finally extended his condolences to the Bennett family. The deceased's father PJ Bennett began his statement, which was read to the court by prosecution counsel Mr McGinn, by saying that Sharon was their first born child and that she was a "happy go lucky girl" growing up. Mr Bennett described her as a loving daughter and mother, who was very decent and kind. He continued: "Sharon and her brother Tom did everything together growing up; you would never see one without the other". He said Sharon was loved by her little sister Sinead and that they had spent a lot of time together on horses when they were young. Mr Bennett said Sharon was a loving mother to her now 10-year-old and eight-year-old daughters. The court heard that one of her daughters had made their Communion this year and that she was the only one without a mother there. "Her oldest daughter visited her mum's grave and said she wanted to die and go to heaven with her mum. Our lives have been devastated since we got that phone call. " It's like a nightmare that we can't wake up from. I'm sorry I let her down and didn't protect her enough. Our lives will never be the same without Sharon in it." "We couldn't have a proper funeral due to Covid. "We were not allowed to see her in intensive care for the first five days due to Covid and had to talk to her through video calls. Even though Patrick Ballard murdered our daughter we were left with the task of turning off her machine and watch her slip away. Our lives will never be the same again". At the close of her statement, Mr Bennett said: "I would like to say that I don't blame the Ballard family for what happened to my daughter. I blame Patrick Ballard only; we have all lost here today". A MAN has been charged with the murder of his older brother, Thomas 'Tommy' Dooley (43), after a stabbing incident at a Kerry funeral. Patrick Dooley (35) appeared today before Judge Dave Waters at Kenmare District Court. The defendant is charged with the murder of Tommy Dooley at New Rath, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on Wednesday, October 5. Patrick Dooley, who is married and a father of one, appeared in court wearing slacks and a black T-shirt. His hand was heavily bandaged. Evidence of arrest, caution and charge was given to the court by Detective Garda Mark O'Sullivan. He said Patrick Dooley made a single reply when the charge was put to him at Tralee Garda Station at 5.03 am today, insisting: "I didn't harm my brother at all in any way - that is all I have to say." Patrick Dooley was arrested on Thursday at an address in Cork and taken to Tralee for questioning after being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Mr Dooley has an address at Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry. Because the charge involved is murder, bail can only be dealt with by the High Court. Solicitor Padraig O'Connell appeared for the defendant and said that, as bail can only be granted by the High Court, he had no application to make to the court at the present time. Mr O'Connell said his client had no submission to make on a State application for him to be remanded in custody to appear again before Kerry District Court next week. Judge Waters remanded Patrick Dooley to appear again before Tralee District Court by video-link on October 12. The judge also granted an application from Mr O'Connell for his client to receive any medical treatment necessary for any physical injuries he may have. Judge Waters made that direction. Present in court were members of the Dooley family including the father of both the deceased and the murder accused. The funeral arrangements of Tommy Dooley are expected to be confirmed over the next 48 hours. Mr Dooley, who resided in Killarney but had previously lived for a time in Cork, died from multiple stab injuries sustained at New Rath cemetery on Wednesday as he attended the funeral of a Killarney mother-of-five. Mr Dooley was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife, Siobhan, suffered injuries in desperately trying to protect her husband. She received emergency medical treatment at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) before being discharged on Thursday evening. A full post mortem examination was conducted at UHK on Mr Dooley on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Dooley and members of her family attended a special vigil on Thursday evening outside their Killarney home. In a special tribute to Tommy Dooley, balloons were released to his memory and prayers were offered at the Killarney estate. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Since 2003, Birthright Armenia, also known as Depi Hayk, a volunteer internship enhancement program, has been strengthening the Armenia-Diaspora ties, providing young Diaspora-Armenians with an opportunity to visit, live, work in and discover the ancestral homeland. Engaging in different organizations both in Yerevan and provinces, these Diaspora-Armenians share their knowledge, acquire new skills, sometimes get a long-term job offer and decide to permanently stay in Armenia. Birthright Armenia Country Director Sevan Kabakian and several volunteers gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, presenting the advantages of the program, the opportunities it provides, as well as its mission and goals. Mr. Kabakian said they are seeking to connect Armenia in practical terms to the Armenian youth living abroad, and volunteering is one of the means to do that. We dont want for them to have only a touristic experience or be satisfied only with participating in a wedding, baptism or other ceremony every ten years, or visiting beautiful sites. We want them to be engaged in different areas and know the countrys both positive and negative sides, he said. So far, around 2400 Diaspora-Armenians aged 21-32 have participated in the volunteering program. 300 of them have settled in Armenia. Everyone who wants to participate in the program is given with that opportunity. Kabakian said they are not selecting participants based on a field or experience, they are choosing people who want to connect to Armenia, to create something in the homeland, who are full of energy and seek to make Armenia one of the key parts of their life. There are participants who have just graduated from a university and have no work experience, or there are others who have an experience of years and can bring a lot with them. Most of the volunteers are engaged in different organizations operating in Yerevan, and some are in provinces. Birthright Armenia has offices in Gyumri and Vanadzor. In Vanadzor, we work only for five months of the year, but there is a wish to implement the program throughout the year, he said. When young Diaspora-Armenians apply for the participation to the program, they have no need to think about where they will work because Birthright Armenia covers all these issues, finds jobs for the volunteers, gives them with an opportunity to live in a hosting family, holds lectures for them and organizes Armenian language teaching courses. And its up to the volunteers to decide in which towns in Armenia they want to work, but the executives of the foundation urge them not to be limited to Yerevan only. As for those volunteers who are currently living in Armenia, Sevan Kabakian said that most of them loved the life rythm in Armenia, because the countries where they were born in, they didnt manage to see their relatives and friends quite often, but here in Armenia, they have a chance to enjoy the life in all aspects. In Armenia, they sometimes get job offers from the companies where they volunteer. As a result, Birthright Armenia becomes a bridge between Armenia and the Diaspora. 33% of the volunteers are from the United States, but there are also participants from Russia, Lebanon, France, Canada, Australia, Germany, UK, Argentina, etc. Among the volunteers who decided to stay in Armenia are many French-Armenians. There are parents who encourage their children and do not oppose if they decide to stay in Armenia permanently, or there are parents who try to convince their children the opposite. Our volunteers have a willful character, they leave their daily life, university and workplace and come to Armenia. Not everyone can do that, so the people participating in this program are resilient, Sevan Kabakian said. He said that even during the Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia, the program continued actively and the number of volunteers didnt decline. They didnt miss the opportunity to come to Armenia. The 2020 Artsakh War further increased the number of the program participants. Most of them realized that they must participate in the program exactly in that period. During the latest Azerbaijani aggression this September no volunteer left Armenia. Those people who had planned to come to Armenia they came. Recently we have visited Yerablur I think that soldiers do not need thanks, but want that people continue their work, and the definition of that work is broad. We tell the volunteers that they should fulfill their important mission in Armenia, he said, adding that the job is satisfying, but is not enough, and much still needs to be done. Volunteer Sevan Baliktsian came to Armenia from the Netherlands. Before participating in the program, he visited the homeland four times as a tourist, but he says he has always wanted to better know his homeland. And he has started to find ways for a long-term visit and got informed about Birthright Armenia which proposed him a wonderful package. Sevan is currently working at Gagarin territorial development program which covers Gagarin, Geghamavan, Ddmashen, Tsaghkunk and other settlements of Sevan community in Gegharkunik province. The goal is to develop a new model for community management and develop agriculture. He is in Armenia for just a month and confesses that he constantly learns something new by living in a host family and realizes how every Armenian is proud of Armenia. People are very emotional because of the Azerbaijani aggression, but they want to be happy. Armenia is a beautiful country with a wonderful nature and interesting history and is always in the fight for existence. In the past I visited Khor Virab, Noravank, Sevan and Dilijan, but now I have an opportunity to get acquainted with other destinations as well. I loved Gyumri very much. I want to know more about Armenia and travel, get acquainted with the historical-cultural monuments, the traditions of various regions, song and dance, he said. Program graduate Nanor Balabanian arrived in Armenia from the United States. She says she visited Armenia every summer and has even founded the Hidden Road NGO. Later she decided to do volunteering job and applied to the Birthright Armenia program. I love Armenia very much and I am very satisfied that I got this experience, she said, adding that she has permanently settled in the homeland. Nanor Balabanian was in Armenia also during the 2020 Artsakh War. At that time I understood why I came here, I understood that I need to fulfill my mission in education sector. I was opening schools in shelters. It was difficult to see so many displaced children, but I had to stay, she said. Nanor is currently finding scholarships through her NGO for children living in border villages, they finance the organization of trainings in villages and hold camps. Our goal is to provide children living in villages with an opportunity to acquire new educational skills and to find funds for their further studies in universities, she said. Nanor says she loves Armenia and the locals. She says sometimes she was feeling lonely in US, but states that in Armenia, even in difficult times, people stand by one another. Birthright Armenia was founded in 2003 by Edele Hovnanian with the belief that it is every Armenian's birthright to not only see Armenia, but also experience their homeland via an enriching, hands-on, life-changing experience. The program participants commit to at least 30 hours of volunteering per week, theyre given the opportunity to live with a local host family, improve their Armenian language skills, meet and interact with other participants from around the world, travel on an excursion every weekend and gain knowledge and education about the country and culture through forums and gatherings. Interiew by Anzhela Hambardzumyan Earlier, the Sunday World revealed that the man in his 30s arrested in relation to the murder is very well known to the victim. Tommie Dooley features in video clip saying his family has nothing to do with 'feud' MURDER victim Tom Dooley posted a recent social media video in which he claimed he and his family were not involved in any feud In the video, posted on unknown date, the victim identifies himself as Tom Dooley from Killarney in Kerry and says: The Dooleys have nothing to say to nobody and the Dooleys have nothing to do with this feud. He continues to warn that the only way his family would get involved in a feud is if someone called to their homes and challenged them to a fight. Earlier, the Sunday World revealed that the man in his 30s arrested in relation to the murder is very well known to the victim. The man was arrested in Cork in the early hours of Thursday following an extended Garda search operation. He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and can now be questioned for a period of up to 24 hours at Tralee Garda Station. The suspect remained in custody this afternoon. Gardai made a second arrest over the fatal stabbing of Thomas 'Tommy' Dooley (43) which occurred just yards from a Kerry cemetery during a funeral ceremony. He is also being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Tom Dooley was stabbed to death on Wednesday just yards from the cemetery after attending the funeral mass of a young woman who had passed away suddenly. The scene of the fatal stabbing and inset, Tommy Dooley He was attacked by a group of men outside New Rath cemetery at Rathass in Tralee where a large crowd had gathered for the funeral of a young Killarney mother. His wife Siobhan also suffered serious injuries as she desperately tried to protect him following a violent confrontation after a funeral. Kerry Gardai feared that the deceased may have known his attackers - and was subjected to a planned ambush-style attack. Detectives are set to launch a murder investigation after recovering a number of weapons including knives and machetes. Mr Dooley, who has an address in Killarney but had also lived in Cork, was apparently surrounded by a group of men following a disagreement and then confrontation shorty after 12 noon at Rathass. A melee then erupted. Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the fatal stabbing as "an absolutely appalling attack". "I can't say much more than that. My condolences to this man and his family. It's an ongoing investigation, so I trust the Gardai will do the job and that there will be justice for the family," Ms McEntee said. A mother who was none-the-wiser when she hired the notorious GPO Girl as a nanny for her baby daughter has told her story to The Sydney Morning Herald. An Australian mother who hired the infamous GPO Girl as a nanny has opened up about her unsettling experience with scam artist Samatha Azzopardi. Azzopardi pretended to be a trafficking victim when found wandering OConnell Street in a distressed state in 2013 sparking a national quest to find the identity of the child who was communicating with Gardai through pencil drawings. In reality, the girl was a then 25-year-old Australian woman, not the alleged child sex victim trafficked into Ireland like Gardai had thought. It cost Gardai 250,000 to reveal her true identity and Azzopardi has since been charged more than 100 times in Australia for fraud and deception-related offences. Now, a mother who was none-the-wiser when she hired Azzopardi as a nanny for her baby daughter has told her story to The Sydney Morning Herald. Posing as a Polish woman, con woman Azzopardi made her way into the lives of Theresa Power and her young family, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The mother had recently given birth to her third child and was looking for a nanny when Mayer messaged her on Facebook in August. My name is Mayer. I am 19 years old and Im from Poland, the message read. I am always smiling, patient and calm Please dont hesitate to pm me. Power was over the moon with the new babysitter, she told The Sydney Morning Herald. "The thing I cant get past and Im sure every victim of a con feels this way is how absolutely taken by her I was, Power says. I was singing her praises to anyone who would listen, even recommending her to my neighbours. She seemed too good to be true. And obviously, in hindsight, she was. The family were confused when Mayer stopped showing up to work, Power confessed. When her husband read a story about an international fraudster in the paper, a quick Google search revealed the extent of their new nannys crimes. Azzopardi hadnt ghosted the family, she had been arrested on separate fraud charges. The scam artist had presented to a charity, pretending to be an abused French teenager and sparked a multi-agency investigation. She was been accused of impersonating a 14-year-old French victim of sex trafficking who arrived in Australia to live with a foster family. I was terrified. Sick to my stomach, Power said. I had a pretty bad nights sleep and called the police to report what had happened to us, first thing in the morning. The woman admitted that she missed a number of red flags when dealing with Azzopardi. She never saw her passport, never received a mobile phone number or an email address for the woman. They only communicated on Facebook Messenger and Azzopardi had said she had not been in the country long enough to be vetted to work with children. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian police found no offence when looking into Powers complaint. The mother has now issued a warning to people hiring babysitters through social media. "Its a big decision, trusting your baby with someone and we placed so much weight on our gut instinct. Its a very unsettling experience to realise that you cant only rely on your gut feeling. Its not enough, she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Azzopardi has invented a number of bizarre identities to con families and international authorities to commit crimes such as stealing children and property. In May, this year Azzopardi was ordered to serve a three-year community corrections order after telling Sydney police she was teenage cult member who had been sexually assaulted. It is estimated she has been charged over 100 times for deception and fraud-related charges in Australia, as well as serious charges in Canada for claiming to be a 14-year-old victim of abduction and sexual assault. Kok and his 41-year-old son-in-law, Najim Z, were arrested in March in Lebanon and extradited to The Netherlands in June. A court in Rotterdam has heard how 400 blocks of missing cocaine belonging to Kinahan ally and drug lord Mink Kok ended up in a supermarket in Remscheid, Germany. The pal of Christy Dapper Don Kinahan appeared in court on Friday, September 30th. It was heard that the 61-year-old was moving cocaine in a shipment of bananas from South America. Once the container of fruit got to Antwerp, Koks gang lost sight of it, and it ultimately ended up in the hands of baffled workers at a supermarket in Germany. Kok and his 41-year-old son-in-law, Najim Z, were both arrested in March in Lebanon and extradited to The Netherlands in June. They have been in police custody ever since. Prosecutors believe that Kok was working from Beirut to track down his missing drugs. A massive arsenal of weapons including rocket launchers was discovered following his arrest. He has been prosecuted on weapons charges in Lebanon, and a ruling on the case is set to follow soon. Legal counsel for Mink Kok and Najim Z asked the court on Friday to end the pre-trial detention of their clients. The court is set to make a decision within two weeks. If the suspects remain in custody, the next preliminary hearings will be held on December 9th. Kok is a convicted drug trafficker and gun runner and is one of the most infamous gangland criminals in Dutch history. During the 90s, he struck up a close working relationship with Christy Kinahan Snr when they were both based in Amsterdam. It is believed the pair worked together to import millions of euro worth of cocaine and ecstasy into Ireland and the UK. The Dutch gangster has close ties with two Lebanese brothers who are involved in international arms dealing and drug trafficking - and who were also associated with the Kinahan cartel. In 2011, Kok's trafficking business was thrown into turmoil after he was jailed in Lebanon after being caught with 53kgs of cocaine by police. During his time behind bars, the Kinahan's continued to do business with Kok's associates who were then based in Marbella. In March, Kok and his 41-year-old son-in-law were both arrested at the request of the Dutch authorities, following an extensive investigation which analysed crypto communications. Kok's relative is a suspected member of gangster Ridoun Taghis criminal network. Taghi is himself a named member of a so-called international super cartel of which mobster Daniel Kinahan is alleged to be a part of. The man is faced with up to 20 years in prison and a fine of almost 250,000. A man has been charged with smuggling three Burmese pythons in his pants at the US-Canadian border. New Yorker Calvin Bautista (36) is accused of hiding the snakes down his trousers in a bus heading to Canada on July 15, 2018. Bautista is faced with up to 20 years in prison and a fine of almost 250,000 for the snake smuggling. The Queens native was arraigned in Albany, Canada on the smuggling charge and has been released pending trial, according to a news release from US Attorneys office for the Northern District of New York. "Bautista smuggled the snakes in his pants as he rode on a bus that crossed the U.S.-Canadian border, " it said in a statement. It is alleged that Bautista boarded a bus in Northern New York bound for Canada with snakes hidden in his pants. Importation of Burmese pythons is heavily regulated by an international treaty and by a federal regulation listing them as an injurious species that could harm the economy or environment. Burmese pythons are one of the worlds largest snakes and is considered a vulnerable species in its native Asia and an invasive species is Florida, where it threatens to stamp out native animals. The non-venomous snakes can grow up to 20 feet in length. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar warns of possible reputational damage Judges embroiled in the Irish dancing cheating controversy were allegedly trying to fix competitions for children as young as 10 and under. Texts seen by the Irish Independent also show judges appeared to be trying to fix scores for up to 25 of their students at a time. It comes as senior Government ministers called for a full investigation into the scandal, with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar suggesting it could cause reputational harm to Ireland. This week, the Irish Independent revealed that An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG), the global body that governs Irish dancing, was handed screenshots in July that allegedly showed a dozen Irish dancing teachers arranging to fix competition scores. The Irish Independent has seen further screenshots that appear to show another eight teachers engaged in the same practice. The CLRG has launched a formal investigation into the claims. Some of the judges accused of feis fixing have been allowed to adjudicate dancing competitions since. On a number of occasions, Irish dancing teachers were texting judges and appearing to ask to rig dance competitions involving young children. Messages seen by this newspaper show teachers regularly sending judges the details of children who were competing in under-10 and under-12 dance competition categories. In one case, a dance teacher sent a list of 25 of their students to a judge. Teachers accused of cheating could have done so by using a document known as the book to tell judges what number their students would be wearing in an upcoming competition. On other occasions, the teacher would send details of the colour of a dance costume or hair colour. This appeared to be an attempt to mark out the student. Teachers would also mention previous titles dancers had won. The scandal is the largest ever to hit the global, multi-million-euro world of Irish dancing. The CLRG declined to respond to a number of queries yesterday. In an email to its members, which has also been seen by the Irish Independent, the CLRG strongly advised its comhairle and council members to direct anyone asking about the scandal to its official statement. In order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, no further comment can be made at this time, the email said. Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin said she would be writing to the CLRG to ensure trust was restored in competitive Irish dancing. The CLRG does not get any funding from Ms Martins department. I welcome the fact that we have a retired judge investigating these matters. I think thats really important, said Ms Martin. I will also be writing to the organisation involved to seek assurances that they are taking every step necessary to restore confidence for families right across the world, that their children and their young people are being treated fairly. Ms Martins comments came after Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said all allegations should be investigated properly so that reputational damage was not risked. It is very concerning, very worrying that anything like that would happen. And I do believe it needs to be properly investigated, he said. It needs to be fully and thoroughly investigated so we can find out what the facts are and if people have been engaged in any wrongdoing, [they should be] held to account. The Tanaiste said he would have to talk to fellow ministers to assess whether the Government had a role to intervene in the scandal. Potentially, it could cause reputational harm, he added. But the solution is not to cover it up, its to deal with it and investigate it properly and hold people to account. The allegations about Irish dancing were described as shocking by the Arts Council. The Oireachtas Arts and Culture Committee may discuss the controversy next week, according to Sinn Fein. Imelda Munster, the partys spokesperson on arts, said the allegations were serious and alarming. In any competitive sport or activity, people should be able to expect transparency and fairness, Ms Munster told RTE Radio 1s Drivetime. Its not fair on any child who attends a feis and gives it their all that they would not be given an equal and fair chance in any competition. In a statement this week, the CLRG said its ethics committee had received allegations, with supporting documentation, of several grievous breaches of our code of conduct. Such unethical behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated by this organisation, it said. The CLRG said that due to the potential extent of the allegations, it had hired a former Court of Appeal judge to oversee and supervise the immediate investigation into these matters. They will have full and open access to the resources and records of CLRG. Mr Williamson complained to the WRC that in the wake of making the complaint to gardai he was subjected to false bullying allegations A WHISTLEBLOWER at a Dublin dog pound has been awarded 18,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission after it found he was penalised for reporting animal welfare and veterinary pharmaceutical offences. Conor Williamson this week welcomed the findings of the WRC and said his decision to report his concerns to gardai, following the euthanasia of two dogs at the pound, had come after management failed to act on his concerns. Mr Williamson was a dog warden at Ashton Dog Pound, an animal shelter at River Road, Castleknock, that operated a service for the greater Dublin area, when he went to gardai in July 2020. He complained to the WRC that in the wake of making the complaint to gardai, he was subjected to false bullying allegations and a disciplinary process that amounted to penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act. Despite enduring what he described as a very difficult period in the wake of going to the guards, Mr Williamson told the Sunday World that he did not regret making the complaint. My primary concern was the welfare of the dogs, he said. Ashton Dog Pound Regardless of the circumstances, dogs are intelligent animals and deserve to be treated with dignity. This was never about financial gain for me. It was about doing the right thing. In making its findings and conclusions, the WRC noted: That Mr Hugh Hegarty of Management Support Services who represented the respondent (Ashton Dog Pound) also had involvement in the investigatory and disciplinary process which the complainant was subject to during the course of his employment. The findings continued: Having examined the evidence and heard oral testimony, I am satisfied that the complainant (Mr Williamson) was subjected to a spurious investigation and disciplinary process and a suspension of work which was not warranted which amounts to penalisation under the Act. In relation to the complaint of bullying and harassment by a number of colleagues against the complainant; upon review of said statements, I consider that they are contrived and have the hallmarks of an orchestrated campaign by management to intimidate and bully the complainant. It would appear to me that the statements had been rehearsed and I note that a number of these same staff retracted their statements shortly after making them. Based on the testimony of the complainant at hearing and written submissions, the allegations seemed to purport to the complainant staring/glaring at individuals. The complainant (Mr Williamson) gave testimony to state that as soon as he went into work in the morning, he went out in the van to carry out his duties and therefore would not be present at the premises to such an extent so as to justify the purported bullying and harassing other staff members. I also note that the complainant was employed with the respondent since 2017, however many of the issues giving rise to invoking the disciplinary processes seem to have arisen following the complainant making his protected disclosure in July 2020 to his employer and to the Gardai. The WRC said it was noteworthy that the respondent (Ashton Dog Pound) offered the complainant a severance package comprising a non-disclosure agreement in an effort to exit the complainant out of the organisation. Based on the totality of the evidence heard, I am satisfied that the suspension of the complainant on foot of the allegations by six staff members of bullying and harassment against the complainant was a form of penalisation, Work Relations Commission adjudicating officer Valerie Murtagh said. I also find that the investigation and disciplinary process was flawed and I find that the complainant faced retaliation for the earlier reporting of animal abuse and veterinary practices to his employer and to the Gardai. She continued: I find that the within complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act is well-founded. I order the respondent to pay the complainant 18,000 in financial compensation for said breach of the Act. Phone calls from the Sunday World to Ashton Dog Pound on Wednesday and Thursday seeking comment went unanswered. Hugh Hegarty of Management Support Services, who represented Ashton Dog Pound at the proceedings, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. The 51-year-old was among four people convicted and sentenced at Antrim Crown Court Edward Teddy Copeland was the brains behind an audacious plan which saw 260,000 claimed from a government-run scheme to help the construction industry. This is the granddad ringleader of a sophisticated tax fraud who was jailed for two years last week. Edward Teddy Copeland was the brains behind an audacious plan which saw 260,000 claimed from a government-run scheme to help the construction industry. The 51-year-old, from Manse Road in Carryduff, was among four people convicted and sentenced at Antrim Crown Court for the tax conspiracy. Three others received suspended sentences, but father of two and grandparent Copeland will spend the next two years behind bars. caught Sources who know Copeland who ran a number of businesses say they arent surprised hes finally been caught out. The Sunday World understands he was involved in a tax scandal in the 90s too and that contributed to him being the only one sent to jail for the scam this time around. Everyone thinks Teddys a great fella because he was always splashing the cash, buying rounds of drink and treating his family and friends, said a source. Now they know why. He always had a thick roll of cash in his pockets and to be fair he was always very generous. He comes across as being this hard-working happy-go-lucky guy but hes just a criminal. At the end of the day while some people will think hes done nothing wrong taking from the taxman, its those taxes which pay for the hospitals and schools. Edward Teddy Copeland Copeland comes originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast and shares the same name and birthday as prominent republican Eddie Copeland but otherwise has absolutely no connection. He used the name Teddy or Ted rather than Eddie but he was born in the same hospital on the same day as the other Eddie Copeland their mums even share the same name, says a source. I think he deliberately went by Teddy Copeland to make sure nobody ever got him mixed-up with the republican one. The other Eddie Copeland became the boss of the IRA in 2002 and survived a number of murder bids from loyalists and was even shot at by a soldier and survived. Hes no longer involved in the IRA or Sinn Fein. During sentencing at Antrim Crown Court last Wednesday, it emerged the fraudulent claims made by Teddy Copeland were submitted to the HMRC Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) between January 2015 and September 2017. Copeland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat the Public Revenue and was jailed for two years but was also ordered to pay a 150,000 confiscation order. Investigators from HMRC found that Copeland used two businesses to exploit the scheme, under which contractors deduct tax from payments to subcontractors that should then be passed on to HMRC. HMRC launched the investigation and arrested Copeland after his home had been searched in June 2017. On the same date, 52-year-old Deborah Ramsey, from Newbuildings, Co Derry, was arrested following a search at her place of work, a building firm in Derry. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat the Public Revenue on May 26, 2022 and was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for three years. Copeland liked to play host for friends and family according to sources but those in his wider circle are shocked hes ended up behind bars. Teddys house is amazing and he liked to host parties and barbecues and show off his wealth which people thought all came from hard work, said a source. He drives a big Toyota Landcruiser and his wife drove a Mercedes convertible. Teddy loved a bit of bling too watches, necklaces and all that. Him and his wife were always away somewhere. They had holidays in Egypt and recently they went to Mexico. Since he was arrested a few years ago though Teddy has been really careful not to put up photos on social media which would make it look like he lives a champagne lifestyle. But if you look at his wifes Facebook page theres no shortage of the two of them away on luxury holidays or eating lobster and drinking expensive champagne. Though people who knew him really well arent shocked, theres plenty of people who just saw Teddy as a decent big lad who knew how to make a few quid with hard work. It will come as a shock to many that hes now in jail. HMRC said evidence that was uncovered on mobile phones led to the arrest of both Copeland and Ramsey. They said further evidence seized then during the searches led to Michael Gerard Donaghy (57), from Claudy, and 34-year-old Belfast man Stephen Matthew Fegan being also charged with fraud. Donaghy pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to conspiracy to cheat the Public Revenue on January 14, 2022 and was sentenced at the same court to three years imprisonment, suspended for two years. Fegan meanwhile pleaded guilty to converting criminal property contrary to Section 327 (1) (c) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on December 17, 2021 at Belfast Crown Court. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, on the same date. HMRC assistant director Lucie Irving said: The majority of individuals and businesses pay the tax that is due however there remains a determined minority like Mr Copeland who refuse to play by the rules. HMRC is on the side of the law-abiding majority. By tackling the most serious forms of tax crime we are creating a level playing for businesses and citizens. We are determined that they shouldnt be disadvantaged or impacted by the criminal actions of others. We are successful in nine out of ten cases we bring to court and this case is another example of that success. steven.moore@sundayworld.com A mum of four who fled Belfast after dissident republicans threatened to kill her and her partner says shes now lost her kids as a result. Natasha Turley says she wants to clear her name after masked men broke into her house looking for her partner Alex Traynor in March. Shes now living in the south of England with 40-year-old criminal Traynor who has a notorious reputation and was once described as a one-man crime wave following an infamous rooftop protest in Belfast city centre 20 years ago. Speaking to the Sunday World, they say they both received separate death threats and were forced to leave Northern Ireland. masked Now Natasha says shes lost her children as a result of the threats and the fact she had to flee Belfast. It all kicked off on March 23 when a masked gang entered her Spamount Street home in the New Lodge area, looking for Alex. I was up the stairs and heard this mad noise and went down to see this gang of masked men walking out of the house armed with bats, says Natasha. They then put all the windows in. The glass came in around my kids who were sitting on the sofa. I had lived there for 12 years and never had any trouble. Natasha McGinn, has been forced to leave her Belfast home republican paramilitaries It was terrifying but then they spray-painted my walls with AAD Drug Dealers Out. Alex only stayed with me two nights a week. If hed been there that night they would have killed him. I had to move out and ended up in his house in Ballysillan but they came to shoot him dead one night and he had to get out of the country. Next thing I got a death threat telling me I wasnt allowed in north or west Belfast. I had nothing to do with anything but now Ive lost my happy home and now my kids. I just want to clear my name now and get back home. Its not fair what has happened. My mental health is shot to pieces because of all this. I used to live a quiet life and thats all I want my life back. Action Against Drugs is a crime gang with a reputation for murder which is linked to dissident republicans. It has been operating in north and west Belfast for more than a decade. The gang carried out its first murder in October 2012, gunning down 36-year-old father-of-one Danny McKay in his Newtownabbey home. delivery They went on to murder 55-year-old fast food delivery man Dan Murray in May 2016 in west Belfast and 43-year-old Joe Reilly in Poleglass, on the outskirts of west Belfast, in October that year. Alex Traynor told theSunday World he was accused of dealing heroin something he says hes never done and would never do. And he is convinced someone set him up for murder, saying that only for the fact Social Services told him he was the target of a death threat he would have been killed. Action Against Drugs I used to deal cocaine but that was over a year ago, says Alex. Now I just sell a few boxes of pregabalin every week, nothing more than that. Ive never dealt heroin before and Im finished with all that now anyway. Its not right they want to kill me just because I sold a few boxes of buds. Alex says he wont be returning to Northern Ireland ever again and believes he may have been targeted initially in Natashas New Lodge home because his is a Protestant. Ive had about six attempts on my life, Ive had several punishment beatings over the years and several guns put to the back of my head all I want to do is stay alive so I can see my daughter. So Ill not be back I just want people to know I wasnt dealing heroin. I was a small fish in a very big pond. reason These so-called AAD ones, I believe it was the INLA and I think the fact I was a Protestant originally from the Shankill is the real reason they came to try and kill me. Alex says, while it was AAD under the guise of the INLA who turned up at Natashas house in Spamount Street to kill him in March, he believes it was the West Belfast UDA who were planning to shoot him shortly after that at his home in Ballysillan. Social Services phoned Natasha and told her there was a threat to my life, he says. The next thing I know is there was a car with gunmen sitting at the top of my street. Social Services pretty much saved my life. A couple of months after Alex fled Belfast for England, Natasha turned up to join him. Alex Traynor, has been forced to leave her Belfast home republican paramilitaries Last week she got arrested and given a police caution for decking Alex but while she was in the police station Social Services moved in and removed her kids. The neighbour reported us fighting and I was lifted for hitting him, says Natasha. The social moved in and took the kids while I was away at the station. Alex is paranoid because of the threats against him. The police are basically watching him 24 hours a day but hes so paranoid he sometimes thinks I was the one who set him up in the first place. hospital I keep telling him Ive lost my kids over all this and have been threatened Ill be killed too. He had to go into hospital for a few days because his mental health is so bad. Weve both lost everything because paramilitaries think they can decide who can live where. And the police do nothing to help you out. Alex Traynor hit the headlines 20 years ago when he was involved in a bizarre rooftop protest in Belfast where he stood throwing slates at the cars below. He was ordered out of the Shankill by the UDA around the same time and went to live in Coleraine where a masked UDA gang subjected him to a vicious attack in 2002. The cops over here in England are basically monitoring me 24 hours a day because they know how much danger Im in. A team from Scotland came down to England looking for me. All this for selling a few boxes of tablets? Its not right. Ruth Armstrong was taking powerful epilepsy drug Epanutin for 14 months despite not having epilepsy Disgraced neurologist Dr Michael Watt has been at the centre of one of the UK's largest patient recalls. Colin Armstrong is fighting for justice for his mum after she was misdiagnosed by Dr Michael Watt and died 20 years ago. The Queens University historian says having diagnosed his mum, Ruth, with epilepsy that she never had, the disgraced neurologist then prescribed powerful medication which he believes contributed to killing her. Ruth Armstrong was taking powerful epilepsy drug Epanutin for 14 months despite not having epilepsy, and she passed away less than two years after coming across Dr Michael Watt. Her case is one of 44 deceased patients of Dr Watt which are under review but have yet to be fully reported on. In fact, it has emerged in just a ten-year period between 2008 and 2018, when Dr Watt was suspended from working, more than 3,000 of his patients died. Speaking to the Sunday World, Mr Armstrong says hes not just fighting for the truth about his mothers case but for all the deceased patients. Had my mother never been treated by Dr Michael Watt I firmly believe she would have lived a longer life and she would have suffered much less in her final years, says the 57-year-old. My mother died in a nursing home in 2002 with a supposed brain tumour, having been misdiagnosed with epilepsy by Dr Watt who gave her invasive and powerful drugs she didnt need. Colin Armstrong Aside from the disturbing treatment at the hand of Dr Watt, Colin has been left unhappy with a Royal College of Physicians and RQIA report, which stated that prescribing his elderly mother the drug Epanutin was reasonable. I cant fathom how the authors of the report came to that conclusion when they agreed that the diagnosis of epilepsy was insecure, says Colin. Dr Watt diagnosed her with epilepsy on his first meeting in 2001 based on a CT scan which he said himself was unremarkable in his notes. He didnt do any further diagnostic tests and instead went straight ahead and prescribed a powerful drug which has been proven, if taken over long periods, to contribute to having a neurological disorder. This was exacerbated by the cardiac medication my mother was taking. She had suffered a number of cardiac arrests and was taking heart medication something Dr Watt would have been fully aware of when he hastily prescribed her Epanutin. Shortly after Easter 2002, by which time she had been taking Epanutin for about 14 months, my mother became ill and nauseous and was confined to her bed for one week and to her home for a further week. She soon started to show signs of what I now know to be neurological disorder. She had problems with balance and motor skills. These symptoms, as well as others she showed during the remaining months of her life, are characteristic of at least one condition, Cerebellar Syndrome or Cerebellar Ataxia, which can be caused by long-term use of Epanutin, potentially aggravated in her case by interaction of that drug with her cardiac medication. On June 7, 2002 Ruth had a CT scan of her brain. This scan was the basis for a diagnosis of a terminal brain tumour which was communicated to her the following week. She was not offered surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, says Colin. All she was given for the remaining five months of her life she died on November 12 2002 was palliative care. He has concerns about the diagnosis of a brain tumour after sending her notes to another clinician who believed she had actually suffered an abscess mimicking a brain tumour which had not been picked up because she had never had an MRI scan on her brain. And he says the RQIA need to consider tasking a neuropharmacologist to assess the potential toxic impact of Epanutin and its potential interaction with Ruths other medication. Colin says: The Independent Medical Inquiry Report by Brett Lockhart QC refers to the death of another of Watts patients which was probably caused by toxic epilepsy medication. My mothers records need urgently to be examined to see if she died of poisoning from Epanutin. Earlier this year we revealed the story of one brave mum who is determined to see Dr Watt brought to court after her daughter died of a rare brain condition after Dr Watt refused to give her a brain scan. Many more are now coming forward and until now many felt they were the only ones. Last month we revealed how dozens of people affected by Dr Watts treatment had made statements to the PSNI and how they were devastated the neurologist was allowed to remove himself from the medical register, thus avoiding an appearance at a tribunal to explain his actions. Some of those campaigners met politicians at Stormont, including Alliance Party spokesperson on health, Paula Bradshaw, who said considerable work remains to be done in the aftermath of the Independent Neurology Inquiry report. Many victims and relatives of victims have also expressed concern about the RQIA report, prompting the South Belfast MLA to meet senior figures in the RQIA last week. She said she discussed concerns raised with her in relation to the case reviews carried out for Mr Watts deceased patients. Afterwards she told theSunday World: I found the meeting very informative and was grateful for the insight into the ongoing process. The fallout from this medical scandal is so far-reaching and will undoubtedly go on for many, many years. It is imperative that the families are kept involved and informed. I would urge any family member to contact the RQIA if they have concerns about the care and treatment given to those loved one. All families deserve the truth. For relatives like Colin Armstrong, the process is far too slow. This review was announced in May 2018, says Colin. There needs to be a clear plan and timetable for this review and a guarantee of funding. The delays to date are unacceptable and unjustifiable and the excuses are unconvincing. steven.moore@sundayworld.com Fisher has seen his organisation lose control of the lucrative drug trade in the town Gangland boss Gary Fisher has become a paranoid reclusive as South East Antrim UDA comes under unprecedented pressure, a source has claimed. The secretive mobster is rarely seen in public and has become increasingly paranoid about his personal security and is obsessive about not being pictured. And theSunday World understands Fisher is rarely seen on the ground by his supporters anymore. He used to be a fitness fanatic and keen cyclist who took regular Sunday morning bike rides as far as Ballycastle and the north coast. His grip on South East Antrim UDA has been weakening over the last couple of years. He is known to want out of the business and is now seen as Brigadier in name only. He has seen the organisation lose control of the lucrative drug trade in the town and last weeks show of strength by the UVF has heaped further pressure on him. A schoolyard row between two teenage girls was the spark that lit the confrontation with a mob of 20 men mostly masked and at least one believed to have been armed gathered outside a house on the Glenfield estate. In a video posted on social media, a man can be heard remonstrating with the crowd from an upstairs window, accusing them of harbouring an alleged child sex offender. As previously revealed, a one-time senior UVF figure is facing charges over the sending of sexually inappropriate pictures to a 14-year-old girl. When the allegations first surfaced, UVF chiefs refused to take action against him and have continued to shield him despite the criminal charges. Fisher is believed to have sent senior loyalist and close associate Clifford Irons to the area to try and smooth the situation. Irons, once named in court as a UDA commander and who is facing drug charges, is alleged to have been Fishers eyes and ears in Carrick, overseeing the drugs operation. Irons also faced a gun charge after a pistol was found in his car along with a number of other items. The charge appears to have been withdrawn as it is no longer on the court lists. Sources say Irons failure to ease tensions between the rival groups is a signal of a shift in the power base in the town. Because of a series of criminal charges including mortgage fraud, Irons was forced to leave Carrickfergus, and around the same time Fisher moved away from the SEA power base in the Rathcoole estate. Since the organisation has become increasingly fractured. The demise of one-time SEA enforcer Colin Simms further weakened the organisation. Glenfield was his stomping ground. But despite his expulsion from the terror group he has maintained a presence in the area and is linked to a criminal group in the estate which has been terrorising neighbourhoods, forcing the UVF to flex their muscles. The Sunday World understands he is a relative of one of the girls whose row sparked the confrontation. It is not clear what the spat was about but it has ballooned into a potential feud between the organisations. The row threatens to leave in tatters an agreement forged between Fisher and his UVF counterpart known as the Monkstown Agreement whereby disputes would be settled through negotiation. A number of disagreements have been settled amicably but this latest row threatens to break the peace. A north Belfast UDA source told us SEA is in decline. From what it once was to where it is now is disgrace. He said at its height the organisation could command a 3,500-strong membership, now its membership is a straggle of splintered drug gangs. Dont get me wrong, they are still capable of extreme violence but they dont have the balls or the manpower to get involved in a row with the UVF. Thats why Fisher is desperate to put a lid on it. To bring men onto the street is a serious statement and it is causing ructions, said our source. And it doesnt help that Simms is stoking the fire. He added that SEA could longer command control of the towns drug trade, which in turn makes Fishers position even more vulnerable. His demise has seen a number of independent dealers move in, including outfits with links to dissident gangs, something that would have been tolerated in recent years. richard.sullivan@sundayworld.com By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani naval forces commander, Rear Admiral Subhan Bakirov, and his Italian counterpart, Admiral Enrico Credendino, have discussed future military cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 13th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice, Italy. By conveying the greetings of Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov, Bakirov thanked his Italian colleague for the invitation to the international conference. At the conference, the sides exchanged views on the potential for the growth of cooperation between the naval forces of both nations in the military, military-educational, and other domains, as well as a number of subjects of mutual interest. The major goal of the 13th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium, which was held with the participation of Naval Forces Commanders from 44 nations and officials from 18 maritime organizations, discussed guaranteeing marine transit safety. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says Azerbaijan has again turned down his proposal on unblocking all regional connections. In Prague I reconfirmed again our proposal on unblocking of all regional communications. Azerbaijan again did not respond positively. I reiterate, Armenia is ready for unblocking of all regional communications with full respect of our sovereignty and legislation, PM Pashinyan tweeted. A statement was adopted after the October 6 meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the European Political Community summit in Prague at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel. The below is the statement published by the Armenian Prime Ministers Office: Within the framework of the first meeting of the European Political Community in Prague, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met on October 6, 2022 at the initiative of the President of the French Republic and the President of the European Council. Armenia and Azerbaijan confirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They confirmed that this will serve as basis for the work of the commissions on delimitation and that the next meeting of these commissions will take place in Brussels by the end of October. Armenia expressed its agreement to encourage the EU civilian mission along the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with the mentioned mission to the extent it will be concerned. The mission will start its work in October, for a maximum period of two months. The purpose of the mission will be to build confidence and, through its reports, support the border commissions. A 39-year old woman wept in the dock of Belfast Crown Court yesterdayafter she was told she may face jail for sharing explicit content of another woman without her consent. Natawan Saijaiboon admitted a charge of disclosing a private sexual photograph or film to someone other than the woman without her consent and with the intention of causing distress on a date between December 3 and 19, 2019. After the charge was put to Saijaiboon, she replied I plead guilty, Your Honour. A date for the plea hearing was set for next month with a defence barrister confirming Saijaiboon had a clear criminal record. Originally from Thailand and with an address at Annadale Flats in Belfast, Saijaiboon was told by Judge Neil Rafferty KC: You have now pleaded guilty to what is a serious offence and I may be considering a custodial sentence. Judge Rafferty urged Saijaiboon to co-operate fully with the Probation Board who will be compiling a pre-sentence report. Upon hearing she may be sent to jail, Saijaiboon began to cry. She was again addressed by Judge Rafferty, who said: I don't want to upset you, but I have to explain to you that all options are open and I have to be honest with you. Saijaiboon was told to return to court on Thursday November 10, when she will be sentenced on the single charge. The man reportedly opened his eyes and moved his limbs while in a body bag at the mortuary Kevin Reid died while in palliative care at a hospital in Perth, Australia A doctor has claimed that a 55-year-old man who purportedly died while in palliative care was sent to an Australian morgue while he was still alive. Kevin Reid, who was in a hospital south of Perth, was allegedly alive when he was placed in a body bag and transported to the morgue on September 5. Business News reports that the mans death was not confirmed by a doctor, and he was brought to the hospitals mortuary after nurses believed he had died. The following day, after an organ donation organisation contacted the hospital for permission to take the man's organs, a doctor was required to certify his death. When the doctor at Rockingham General Hospital went to confirm that the man was deceased he discovered fresh blood on the patients hospital gown, found two of his limbs had moved and claimed his eyes were open. Immediately, alarm bells began to ring, raising concerns for the doctor that the man was still alive when he was placed into the body bag. Hospital staff confirmed that his eyes were closed at the time his last rites were administered. He was then placed in a resting position and dressed in a clean gown before he was moved from the hospital ward to the mortuary. Upon issuing a death certificate, the doctor recorded the date of death as September 6, rather than September 5. The story came to light when the funeral director questioned the hospital about the date on the death certificate because family members were told that Mr Reid had passed away on September 5. At that time, the doctor was asked by the hospital to backdate the certificate, to which they refused. The doctor has now requested that the coroner investigate the incident. In a report to the corner, the doctor noted: I believe the frank blood from a new skin tear, arm position and eye signs were inconsistent with a person who was post-mortem on arrival at the morgue. I also specifically asked about open disclosure and coronial discussions to which I was told the executive team would ensure this occurred if deemed necessary, the report continued. The Australian Medical Association have described the case as deeply alarming. However, the South Metropolitan Health Service chief executive said he was satisfied that the man was dead and blamed the anomalies on unexpected events that can occur post-mortem. A narrow focus on mental health may prevent us from understanding the broader wellbeing impacts of COVID-19, according to Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, in its first report on the pandemics impact on well-being. "For people to flourish and experience good mental health and wellbeing, services and resources are important, but not enough, says Dr. Filipo Katavake-McGrath, Te Hiringa Mahara Director of Wellbeing System Leadership and Insights. People need to have their rights, dignity and tino rangatiratanga upheld; they need to feel valued and connected to their communities and their cultures; and they need skills, resilience, hope and purpose for the future. "Just because these wellbeing dimensions are less tangible, does not mean that they are less influential in creating stress and distress. In fact, understanding the real impacts of the pandemic requires an understanding of these broader dimensions of wellbeing." For this report, Te Hiringa Mahara analysed more than 3000 media articles from the beginning of the pandemic to April 2022. Its analysis found that coverage tended to focus on the material resources and services that people had access to during that period of the pandemic, and the stresses that emerged when these were lacking and life was disrupted. The analysis used a natural language processing algorithm to look at how we collectively talked about mental health and wellbeing during this period, and how this changed over the pandemic. The wellbeing analysis in the report also drew on the He Ara Oranga Wellbeing Outcomes Framework which describes the aspects of good wellbeing in Aotearoa, and guides the way Te Hiringa Mahara monitors the systems that influence these in our communities. This media analysis highlighted gaps in the way we consider and have considered the impacts of the pandemic in Aotearoa. "Media coverage during this time often focused on universal experiences of the pandemic. A sense of we are all in this together may have been beneficial for rallying together a public health response, and for encouraging empathy, but we know that some communities experienced poorer wellbeing across a range of measures. If our understanding of peoples experience of wellbeing is monolithic, that we are all roughly the same, we miss the opportunity to understand and support greater wellbeing for different communities. "News media plays an important role in Aotearoa, in shaping and reflecting the conversations of the nation. During the pandemic this role has been more important than ever - but when important dimensions of wellbeing are missing from our conversation, we are not sufficiently and appropriately considering the impacts of the pandemic on people in Aotearoa, and not necessarily focusing on the right solutions." This report is the first of a short series of focused reports Te Hiringa Mahara will produce over the coming year. "We hope to use these reports and their findings to contribute to our collective understanding of the impacts of the pandemic on wellbeing and on different parts of Aotearoa and what can be done to address these gaps." A Pasifika healthcare and social service provider in Tauranga is calling on its community to take care of their health. AvaNiu Pasifikas upcoming volleyball tournament to be held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month will promote preventative healthcare and screening for diseases such as bowel cancer, prostate cancer and hepatitis. Free vaccinations for flu and Covid-19 will also be available at the tournament. The S3 Tauranga volleyball tournament reminding people in Tauranga to screen, screen, screen for preventative disease will take place this Saturday, October 8, from 9am to 4.30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre. Media are warmly invited to film the tournament and interview AvaNiu Pasifika early childhood education and whanau support service lead Sela Vakasiuola. AvaNiu Pasifika managing director Sameli Tongalea says its important people take care of their health and get checked before they get sick. I encourage our community to speak with a healthcare provider they trust and get their regular checks done. If our families can come together to participate and support events such as this, then that principle should apply to health checks as we saw and experienced during the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, it was the wellbeing of the family that was the motivating factor for many families to get vaccinated, explains Tongalea. All volleyball team spots have been filled, but families are welcome to watch and participate in the healthcare screenings and education. Tongalea says the organisation is focussed on the health of their community. Tongalea says AvaNiu Pasifikas motto is, Good health is collective health. Were only well when were all well. Volleyball teams are encouraged to dress in pink to support the national Breast Cancer Awareness Month and enjoy the food market. Teams could win a family getaway and spot prizes. People who get vaccinated against Covid-19 or flu at the tournament will also go in Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealands Back to the Islands campaigns draw to win return tickets for two to fly to either Samoa or Tonga, plus travel vouchers. The national campaign encourages Pasifika and Maori people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu at Pacific pop-up vaccination events held until Sunday, October 16. Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty is supporting the event. Its Senior Responsible Officer Immunisation and Vaccination, Brent Gilbert-De Rios says Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty is prioritising the normalisation and accessibility of vaccination by supporting community-based healthcare providers with broader healthcare initiatives. We support community-based healthcare providers in reaching their communities the ways they know work best, including courtside at a volleyball tournament. AvaNiu Pasifika is a Tauranga-based, Pasifika family-owned, family-operated business established in 2016. The health, education and social service provider supports Pasifika families in the Western Bay of Plenty. For us, family is the most important thing. All of our teams families are involved with AvaNiu Pasifika, and we have strong links to our churches and community, says Tongalea. Specialised monitoring equipment has been installed in Bay of Plenty estuaries to understand whether our coastal wetlands can survive the threat of inevitable sea-level rise. Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted NIWA to install 12 Rod Surface Elevation Tables, or RSETs, in Athenree Estuary and Ohiwa Harbour in September. Coastal wetlands containing mangrove and saltmarsh habitats must accumulate sediments and gain elevation at the same rate, or more rapidly, than sea-level rise if they are to survive. Their survival is critical because they function as a long-term sink for stormwater contaminants, they support biodiversity and provide nurseries for estuarine and coastal species. NIWA Principal Scientist, Coastal and Estuarine Physical Processes, Dr Andrew Swales, led the RESET installation project. "We know the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating around the New Zealand coast at different rates. This is an opportunity to work with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to manage these systems and understand the pressures on them," says Dr Swales. Coastal wetlands can migrate landwards as sea-level rises, but this is prevented around the shorelines of many New Zealand estuaries by stop banks, roading and rail infrastructure. The RSET monitoring sites will provide information to understand the pressures on estuaries from sea-level rise and sediment coming in from the catchment. "RSETs are used globally to monitor sediment surface-elevation trends in coastal wetlands, relative to rates of sea-level rise. Bay of Plenty is just the second location in New Zealand where the devices have been installed for long-term monitoring, the Firth of Thames was the first in 2007." The Bay of Plenty Regional Councils environmental scientist Shay Dean says the RSET data will feed into the councils estuarine wetland monitoring programme. "Over time, this will be used to interpret any changes in vegetation, the health of saltmarsh wetlands, and their responses to changing environmental conditions." Information from the monitoring sites will also inform coastal wetland research in the NIWA-led Future Coasts Aotearoa research programme. The five-year study aims to provide tools and guidance to help rural communities living in coastal lowlands adapt and prosper despite unavoidable sea level rise. The study could potentially involve installing more RSET sites in key coastal communities over the next year. Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber is standing down after 12 years on council. Local Democracy Reporter Alisha Evans sat down with him to discuss his career and retirement plans. Im not known for my patience, professes Webber from the living room of his Omokoroa home. Looking out at the view over Tauranga harbour toward Mauao you can understand why the 76-year-old would want to hang up his mayoral chains and spend more time there. Webber served two terms as mayor, two as a Kaimai Ward councillor and started his tenure in local government with two years on the Omokoroa Community Board. If you talk to my children, this job [of mayor] I've got now is the third job I've had in retirement. Webber and his wife Carole retired to Omokoroa in the early 2000s after his long career with Fonterra. But he swifty took on a role with Ballance Agri-nutrients, then a became a board member of the Child Cancer Foundation, before settling into local body politics. Webbers decision to retire was based on his firm belief that no-one over 75 should be nominated for local government. When you go into local government and you swear your allegiance, it's to work for the current and future generations. He said councils are designing communities for the future so you need people that are current in their thinking. Webbers aforementioned lack of patience pertains mainly to the business of council meetings. Where, in his view, councillors are expected to have read the agenda and reports prior, then be prepared to have the debate. If you havent read the papers, you shouldn't be at the table. Although, a softer side of the self-professed pragmatist appeared during his farewell speech at the final Western Bay of Plenty District Council meeting for the triennium. He was visibly emotional and finished his speech with Im not good at farewells. After paying respect to his fellow councillors and their partners for the work they had achieved together. Garry and his wife Carole are looking forward to their trip exploring the South Island. Photo: John Borren/SunLive. When asked if it was a challenge progressing from councillor to mayor, Webber said it was a very big step up. If you're going to do the mayoral thing properly, the demands on your time, it is a full-time job. I was fortunate, I'd worked in the dairy industry, and those cows don't have a clock. Webber said as mayor he would get calls at all times of the day and a lot of weekends were spent attending community events. The obligations you have as a mayor, that is part of being a mayor. To me, it has not been a problem. He lists some career highlights as standardising rates across the district, that runs from Waihi Beach to Otamarakau, instead of it being different in each of the towns, as well as managing down debt. When I came into local government here, we had incredible debt. And our population has grown by about 60 per cent from when I first got on council, to what it is today. The estimated population in 2021 was 58,100, in 2006 it was 41,826, according to Statistics New Zealand. Webber said the debt was close to $150m 12 years ago and now it is down to around $80m. This has however, come at a cost to the rate payer in 2014 the Western Bay of Plenty District Council had the highest household rates in the country - an average of $3274 a year. Although, this too has improved over time, for the 2020/21 financial year the average rates bill for a Western Bay of Plenty household was $2977. The council is now ranked 13th in the country for average household rates, according to the Ratepayers Report produced by the lobby group New Zealand Taxpayers' Union. We've been able to manage the business [and] do a whole lot of things, but at the same time, take our debt down. And that's just by being financially prudent and managing things really hard. The outgoing mayor spent 12 years on council. Photo: John Borren/SunLive. Webber credits a lot of this to the council staff who are the essence of the organisation. I've been really well served at Western Bay with the calibre of the staff. He said the work they do, their consultation with the community, and information provided to councillors made decision making pretty damned easy. The outgoing mayor said when it came to reports he wanted staff to take all the emotion out of them. Give us the evidence so we can make decisions on the evidence, not on the emotion. His biggest highlight, but equally a challenge, was the return of Panepane Purakau (Panepane Point) on Matakana Island to mana whenua. After a unanimous vote by council in October 2020, the land was returned to the five Ngai Te Rangi hapu of Ngai Tuwhiwhia, Ngati Tauaiti, Te Ngare, Te Whanau a Tauwhao and Ngai Tamawhariua, that connect to Panepane Purakau. The land the at south-eastern tip of the island, that borders the Tauranga Harbour channel, had been owned by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council since 1989. Previously, ownership was in the hands of the subsequently disestablished Tauranga Harbour Board after being acquired under the Public Works Act in 1923. The land was originally confiscated following the 1864 battles of Gate Pa and Te Ranga. Negotiations with iwi began in 2013, and more than 7000 public submissions were received on the proposal to return the land during public consultation. Of those submissions 7098 were for the proposal with just 261 opposed. Webber and Ngai Te Rangi kaumatua Hauata Palmer after the decision to return Panepane Purakau to iwi. Photo: WBOPDC. It was a very difficult project to be part of, but it was the right thing to do, said Webber. We [council] were trying to correct something that was an injustice in 1923. When asked was difficult about it, he said it was getting the significant majority to just hear the evidence as well as some of the backlash he received from a small minority of the public. He said the council got the land for nothing and the ratepayers were no worse off in returning it. Under the transfer agreement a seven-hectare public reserve was created to ensure public access to the foreshore was protected in perpetuity. At the time, Ngai Te Rangi kaumatua Hauata Palmer said it was a great result for our whole community. This hasnt been easy, but nothing worthwhile comes about without hard work, unwavering focus and perseverance. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of Librarians Day, the ministry said. Respectful employees of the library, According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, October 7 is celebrated as a Librarians Day in our country since 2004. I cordially congratulate you on your professional day - the Librarians Day, wishing you good health, success in life and in your noble work, the minister said in his message, calling for strengthening and increasing libraries. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of the Armenian Human Rights Defenders Office held separate meetings with the former prisoners of war who were repatriated from Azerbaijani captivity on October 6. 17 POWs were released by Azerbaijan on October 6. The Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan said at a news conference that they met with 16 of them as 1 is still undergoing treatment at a hospital. A meeting with the hospitalized serviceman is expected today. Grigoryan said they will issue a report about the testimonies. All 16 former POWs testified that theyve been tortured and mistreated in Azeri custody. We will have a separate report which will record the factual information testified by the men. The testimonies are about torture, mistreatment and humiliations, Grigoryan said. The POWs were even mistreated by Azeri medics. The signature of the Azerbaijani side has not changed, Grigoryan said, noting that the former POWs who returned after the 2020 war had made similar testimonies. The report will be submitted to international organizations. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Nathan Burton/Taos News Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting Wednesday (Oct. 5) on La Luz Drive in Taos that left a woman dead and a man critically injured. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Turkeys minister of national defense Hulusi Akar arrived in London on October 6 where he met with his British counterpart Ben Wallace, Anadolu news agency reported. The two ministers held a private meeting, which was followed by extended-format talks. Views were exchanged on current issues of bilateral and regional agenda in the defense field, as well as the cooperation in security and defense industry. neil.jericho Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cochin Posts: 3,471 Thanked: 15,588 Times Re: 2023 Honda CB750 Hornet Unveiled Quote: Rob UK Originally Posted by In the European market, this bike doesn't need to raise pulses, it just needs to be an MT07 with a Honda badge and their well earned reputation for unmatched durability & reliability will probably do the rest. Honda knew that it needed a bike to take on the super successful MT 07. From the videos covering Intermot 2022, this one looks like a winner. This engine / platform will spawn several other models as well, so more segments of riders will be happy. Im interested to see what the CBR variant of this will look like. The CBR750R vs R7 battle may not be as testosterone filled as the CBR600RR vs R6 battles on the road or on the tracks, but it certainly promises to be an exciting time for us enthusiasts. Well said! Too often enthusiasts get caught up in spec sheet battles including the number of cylinders. There is so much more to it than that.Honda knew that it needed a bike to take on the super successful MT 07. From the videos covering Intermot 2022, this one looks like a winner. This engine / platform will spawn several other models as well, so more segments of riders will be happy. Im interested to see what the CBR variant of this will look like. The CBR750R vs R7 battle may not be as testosterone filled as the CBR600RR vs R6 battles on the road or on the tracks, but it certainly promises to be an exciting time for us enthusiasts. The National Grid has warned about possible power outages this winter across the entirety of the United Kingdom if the nation is unable to continue importing electricity supplies from Europe. The Struggles of the UK Amid the UK's ongoing difficulties in importing sufficient quantities of gas to supply its gas-fired power facilities, the utility company in charge of getting energy to people announced plans to limit the amount of energy available. Europe is in the middle of a big fossil fuel energy crisis. Russia cut off gas to the continent in retaliation to Western sanctions over Ukraine's incursion. People are increasingly frightened that President Vladimir Putin will cut off Europe's energy supply. National Grid has prepared emergency preparations if it cannot receive enough power. Russia's move to limit exports has made it difficult for other countries to receive gas as they try to avoid a frigid winter. The Power Outage Emergency Plan The plans indicate that households in different parts of the country will be notified a day before their electricity is set to be cut off for three-hour blocks. This move is expected to reduce the UK's energy use by 5%. On the advice of the business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, this emergency plan will need to be approved by King Charles. The National Grid also said that, in the "unlikely event" that the company fails to secure gas supplies, customers could be left without power for "pre-defined periods" during the day. This will be done to "ensure the overall security and integrity of the electricity system across Great Britain." Despite having an existing strategy, the company warned that the plan would only happen if the amount of electricity coming from Europe was reduced, as well as the gas supplies for power stations. Also Read: UK Blackouts Expected To Happen This Winter; National Grid Suggests Continuous EU Energy Imports What Might Happen to UK Households in December? National Grid looked at several possible situations to explain what could happen this winter as it tries to ensure it has enough power after Russia caused chaos, invading Ukraine. This winter, the company has already taken several steps to balance the electricity network. For example, it kept five coal-fired power plants on standby after signing deals with Drax, EDF, and Uniper that cost between 340 million and 395 million, securing up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of power. The energy firm also unveiled a "demand flexibility service" to launch in November. It will encourage households and businesses to utilize power outside peak demand periods, including early weekday evenings, to reduce system strain. The initiative was first trialed by Octopus Energy last year, rewarding smart meter customers for using power during off-peak hours. According to National Grid, the proposal may free up 2 GW of electricity, which is enough to power 600,000 UK households. In its "base case" scenario, the group projected a "sufficient operational surplus throughout winter" with 3.7 GW more electricity generated than the UK needed. Related Article: British Household Energy Bills Skyrocket by 80%, More Than $4,000 a Year This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Trisha Kae Andrada 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk revives the controversial Twitter acquisition after he announced that he would continue his promised billion-dollar purchase. (Photo : Photo by HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk laughs as he arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer Awards ceremony, in Berlin, on December 1, 2020. (Photo by HANNIBAL HANSCHKE / POOL / AFP) Of course, his announcement triggered many of his critics and fans since the tech CEO recently said that he would no longer purchase Twitter. Previously, Musk said he would cancel the Twitter takeover because the social media giant misled him regarding the total number of fake accounts. But, the Tesla boss suddenly sent a letter to Twitter, saying that he would go through with his agreement to purchase the company. Twitter Delays Elon Musk Pre-Trial Deposition! According to Gizmodo's latest report, in the official letter sent to Twitter, Elon said he wants to have a discount for the original $44 billion acquisition price. (Photo : Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images) In this photo illustration, news about Elon Musk's bid to takeover Twitter is tweeted on April 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. It was announced today that Twitter has accepted a $44 billion bid from Musk to acquire the company. Also Read: Will Elon Musk Be a Content Creator for Rumble? YouTube Face Boycott for Alleged Improper Content Moderation Aside from this, the billionaire also wanted the online platform to delay his pre-trial deposition. Of course, Twitter declined the discount request. Instead, the social media giant agreed to delay the CEO's deposition. Musk's pre-trial deposition, which is scheduled on Oct. 7 in Austin, Texas, didn't happen because of Twitter's decision. But, the actual trial is still scheduled on Oct. 17. Judge Kathaleen McCormick explained that even if Twitter cancels legal proceedings, the trial will continue since neither party has taken formal action regarding the matter. Twitter Shares Surge! As of writing, Elon Musk agreed to the original price of $44 billion to acquire Twitter. But, based on the recent happenings, it is still hard to conclude that the billionaire will keep his word. But, thanks to his sudden announcement, Twitter's shares increased more than 22%, as reported by CNBC. This means that Musk needs to buy the company for $54.20 per share. "The intention of the company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share," responded Twitter to Elon's letter. You can visit this link to see more details about the Twitter acquisition revival. In other stories, a Twitter whistleblower said that he would testify about the company's security issues. Meanwhile, Elon Musk claimed that 90% of Twitter comments on his account are bots. For more news updates about Elon Musk and Twitter, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Elon Musk is Buying Twitter for $44B, Says He is Doing it for 'X' App This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan says shes asked EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar to provide the videos which he had said could show alleged torture of Azeri captives by Armenian troops. On October 2, following the release of the video showing the killings of Armenian PoWs by Azeri troops, Klaar had tweeted: Another horrible video has emerged of Armenian prisoners of war apparently being executed. If this video is proven to be authentic then this is a war crime that needs to be investigated and the perpetrators punished." The authenticity of the footage was verified by the Human Rights Defender and the Ministry of Defense. Afterwards, Klaar said that he has received another video apparently showing war crimes committed against Azerbaijanis. Armenias Ambassador at-large Edmon Marukyan reacted to the video released by Azerbaijan, saying it is fake. I expressed my commitment to follow these reports and notify the Armenian law enforcement agencies about them. Klaar responded by saying that he would send me the video, but so far he hasnt done so, Grigoryan said at a press conference. Grigoryan also commented on the alleged mass grave found by Azerbaijan in territories that have gone under their control. I find the objective investigation of all possible crimes to be important, however, the video circulating on social media is contentious. It is my conviction that an independent international expert group should deal with this matter, Grigoryan said, emphasizing that the video isnt credible. The most recent NASA astronaut mission from SpaceX has finally reached its destination despite being delayed twice. As reported first by Space.com, the Crew-5 astronaut mission was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space in Florida, carrying a Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, on Oct. 5. (Photo : Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: In this handout photo provided by NASA, NASA astronaut Josh Cassada, left, and Nicole Mann, are seen on the fixed service structure of Launch Complex 39A before boarding SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft atop the companys Falcon 9 rocket before the launch of NASAs SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on October 05, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Endurance Reaches the ISS After a 29-hour orbital chase, the capsule, called Endurance, finally connected with the International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 6. While the two spacecraft were traveling over the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of West Africa, Endurance got in touch with the forward port of the Harmony module of the station. Ten minutes later, the docking process was finished, as per Space.com's report. Around 6:45 p.m., the hatches between Endurance and the ISS opened, and the Crew-5 astronauts, which included NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata, and cosmonaut Anna Kikina, transferred onto the orbiting lab about 10 minutes later. The astronauts will be spending five months on the ISS. Crew-5 will be historic in numerous ways. For instance, Mann will make history as the first Native American woman to travel to space, while Kikina will make history as the first Russian to fly with SpaceX. Mann and Kikina are both space rookies but Wakata, on the other hand, has already traveled to space five times. SpaceX's Crew-3 mission was also transported to and from the ISS by the Dragon Endurance. Four Crew Dragon capsules, which are updated and put through testing before each subsequent flight, were utilized by SpaceX. Read Also: NASA, SpaceX to Send Crew Dragon and Help Hubble Telescope Extend its Life in Space Brand-new Components The components used by Endurance during flight were a brand-new heat shield, parachutes, and nose cone, as per Space.com. Although SpaceX is renowned for launching old rockets, the Crew-5 launch used a Falcon 9 with a brand-new first stage. The rocket's booster, which was emblazoned with NASA's worm insignia, was sparkling white and clean of the soot that often covers the company's reflown first stages. Seven crew members, including four from SpaceX's Crew-4 mission, are already on board the ISS when the Crew-5 astronauts arrived. The countdown to Crew-4's departure from the station, which will occur in roughly a week, starts with the arrival of Crew-5, according to Sarah Walker, director for Dragon mission management at SpaceX. Weather will determine exactly when Crew-4 will return to the surface off the coast of Florida, Walker said at the press conference held yesterday following the launch. It is worth noting that the launch of Crew-5 was initially scheduled on Oct. 4, but Hurricane Ian delayed it by two days. The Artemis 1 moon mission's schedule was far more significantly impacted by the storm. NASA had planned to launch the unmanned Artemis 1 on Sept. 27, but Ian prompted the team to bring the massive rocket back to the facility's Vehicle Assembly Building from Pad 39B at KSC. The Artemis 1 launch is now scheduled for Nov. 12 to Nov. 27, according to NASA. Related Article: SpaceX's Starlink Speed Slows Down Due to Satellite Congestion, Astronomers to Put a Stop to It? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Former Uber security executive is facing charges on his previous actions after concealing information and evidence regarding a hack that took place in the company's systems. The hack happened last 2016, but the executive hid this from the public and failed to disclose the incident to its users, as well as the authorities after he tried to hide it from all. However, no bad deed goes unpunished, and Joe Sullivan is now facing a massive case of obstruction of justice and concealing a felony. Former Uber Security Chief is Guilty of Hiding Breach (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) A worker cleans a sign in front of the Uber headquarters on May 18, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Uber announced plans to cut 3,000 jobs and shutter or consolidate 40 offices around the world due to severely declining business as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues. The cuts come two weeks after Uber cut 3,700 employees. The San Fransisco federal court found Joe Sullivan guilty of the charges against him, including obstruction of justice and concealing a felony that took place in a 2016 breach on the company. The cybersecurity incident was publicized after his removal from the company in 2017 when Uber disclosed the incident to all. The worse thing here is that the 2016 breach faced 50 million of stolen customer data and 7 million of driver data stolen from the company. According to The Washington Post, Sullivan's attorney defended the former executive, saying that his concern was to protect people from online threats against their data. Read Also: Cheaper Uber Rides Negatively Affect Rideshare Drivers; New California Law to Blame? Companies Should Report Hacks, Breaches Despite the many actions that companies are taking against threat actors, and at some times negotiating with them, incidents like this should be made known to the public. First and foremost, it is still the public's personal information and sensitive data that were taken, and companies like Uber should have the responsibility in protecting them at all times. Uber and Security Issues on its Systems The ride-hailing app faces many security threats on its platform where many malicious entities enforce their viruses or malware on its systems to get what they want. The latest breach on Uber's network was last September, and the company allegedly had its systems accessed, according to the threat actor which claimed what took place. The company later confirmed the issue and said that no personal or sensitive information was taken, saying that Uber already had it under control amidst what happened. Uber claimed that there was no evidence of any breach or problem which took place, with the company saying that all of its features are operational. And while companies need to investigate and let the public know of any incidents, they are also obliged to report anything regarding different claims of hacks within their systems. Former Security Chief Joe Sullivan failed to do this, resulting in a massive case against him which will now land him massive fines or jail time. Related Article: Former Uber Chief Security Officer Found Guilty on Two Counts This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to US President Joe Biden, IBM's $20 billion investment in the Hudson River Valley of New York will help the country achieve a technological advantage over China, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The enactment of a US$280 billion package this summer, which is aimed at advancing the semiconductor industry and scientific research, was hailed by the president as the catalyst for a bigger industrial boom, especially with the inclusion of IBM's investment. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 6: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House October 6, 2022 in Washington, DC. Global Leader in Cutting-Edge Chips Biden stated in Poughkeepsie that the law was necessary for both national and economic security and noted that the Chinese Communist Party actively advocated against it. The president added that this bill will ensure that the US maintains its position as a global leader in the manufacturing of these cutting-edge chips. IBM plans to invest US$20 billion over the next ten years in the research, development, and production of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. IBM's announcement of its investment follows Micron's plan to pour up to $100 billion for the next two decades to establish a plant in upstate New York that might generate 9,000 factory jobs. Biden has attempted to capitalize on the investment announcements ahead of the House midterm elections next month. He visited Ohio last month to give a speech near the location of Intel Corp.'s proposed $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility. The Hudson Valley, where IBM's Poughkeepsie facility is located, was a major economic force in America throughout the Industrial Revolution, but as businesses moved to less expensive locales, the region's employment opportunities decreased, as per SCMP. IBM said it now intends to make the location a global hub of the company's quantum computing development after thousands of local workers were laid off when it relocated chip and other production in the 1990s. However, a thorough analysis of IBM's US$20 billion investment plans was not provided. Read Also: Europe is Working on a 'West-Friendly' Network of Supply Chains amid Taiwan Tensions, According to Analysts US Restrictions on Chinese AI and Supercomputing Firms Biden's statement also comes at the heels of the White House's plans to levy more restrictions on China's access to advanced chips, citing fears that they may be used for Beijing's military purposes. This will add another layer of trade limits that already blocked companies from selling US-developed technologies to Chinese entities such as Huawei, which former President Donald Trump imposed in 2019. According to sources who spoke to The New York Times, President Joe Biden is likely to impose such limitations on more Chinese businesses, government research facilities, and other organizations. The sale of any technology developed in the United States to the targeted organizations may subsequently be outlawed by companies around the world, according to the report. The rules may affect governmental organizations, educational institutions, and internet powerhouses like Alibaba and Tencent. China is the country with the most systems, despite the US having the Top500 supercomputer list's highest performance. Related Article: Canada Share Plans of Investing in the Tech Sector After Tensions Between China and Taiwan Affected Production of Microchips This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Several days after Elon Musk announced that he is back on track for the Twitter deal, a new development from reports claims that the social media platform is refusing to accept the Tesla CEO's $44 billion bid. This change of heart will further delay the acquisition of Twitter's entirety over to Musk's team, but it is unknown what Twitter wants out of this refusal. Musk took back his word after initially backing out of the deal regarding the much-hidden information in the said deal. Elon Musk Calls Twitter's Refusal a 'Plot Twist' (Photo : CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) Reports are now centering on another turn of events for the Twitter sale to Elon Musk, as the social media company allegedly refused the deal for the revamped $44 billion. The Twitter camp did not reveal any information behind it, especially regarding its refusal in the present, where it became a massive topic on the internet. And while Twitter is entitled to refuse Musk's offer to them, the famed Tesla CEO called this a "plot twist," and provided no further reactions from his latest tweet. It seems like Musk is already aware of the refusal from Twitter, and his team would have to negotiate with the social media company again to push through with this venture. Read Also: Elon Musk Social Media: X.Com to be a New Online Platform? CEO Teases in New Tweet Plot twist! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022 Twitter is Not Pushing with Sale? For now, it seems like Twitter is not pushing through with the sale, as the reported refusal of the company has had a massive effect on the course of this deal. Musk's team would have to do a little more convincing and talking with Twitter, particularly those who are on the deciding team to sell the company to the world's top billionaire. Musk and Twitter's Deal Elon Musk and Twitter are on a roller coaster ride, with each cart not catching up to the other, and both seem to fail on going on the same tracks that will further the deal with each other. Back in July, Musk already confirmed the cancelation of the supposed deal that would focus on him acquiring the entirety of Twitter. This is because Twitter breached its terms and agreements, according to Musk, which pushed him and his counsel to cancel the deal with the company. Musk's concern was legitimate, and it is because of the undisclosed number of bots that should supposedly be available on the documents given to each party participating. The acquisition team's lawyers said that Musk was reluctant on taking it as there was hidden information regarding it, which is grounds to break off the deal. After this, lawsuits were thrown at each other, by both Musk and Twitter's parties. However, most recently, Musk made it known that he is going back on the deal with Twitter, and it is to support his upcoming decentralized platform, X.com, an app for all. However, Twitter is now in a position of power and is essential to continuing on its initial deal and the renewed $44 billion which Musk offered, something that the company reportedly refused. Related Article: Elon Musk is Buying Twitter for $44B, Says He is Doing it for 'X' App This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Although the popularity of FinTech services has surged in recent years, it still has a long way to go before reaching the status of traditional banks. Many businesses fail to build a substantial consumer base and are forced to switch to a B2B or B2C business model. Successful FinTech companies, on the other hand, solidified their presence in the finance market by introducing customers to new and better standards of money management. Fortunately, there are a plethora of educational and immersive FinTech conferences this 2022 to educate audiences on the growth of FinTech, as well as sessions from professionals that could help startups and even successful FinTech companies. What Is FinTech? Financial technology, abbreviated as FinTech, refers to innovative technology that aims to enhance and simplify the supply and usage of financial services. FinTech, at its heart, assists organizations, company owners, and consumers in better managing their financial affairs, procedures, and lifestyles by using special software applications and algorithms accessible on smartphones and computers. What Is Considered a FinTech? Now that you know FinTech's meaning, you're looking for an example to check whether you've tried one before. And you most likely did. PayPal and other major financial solutions from a mobile app or cloud-based software are already termed FinTech. In other words, they are technologies developed to enhance and automate traditional forms of finance for both corporations and consumers. Aside from that, FinTech may range from simple mobile payment apps to large blockchain networks containing encrypted transactions. Best FinTech Conferences 2022 Digital banking is currently more accessible than ever. Many customers handle their money, apply for and pay for loans, and buy insurance through digital-first banks. This will be a good vantage point for those wishing to start their own FinTech companies. Whether you are a consumer, client, or business looking for the best FinTech companies to invest in here is a lineup of FinTech conferences this 2022 that awaits you: #1 Sopra Banking Software Summit Sopra Banking Software is a FinTech company that works with over 1,500 banks, including Barclay's, Santander, Credit Suisse, and Bank of Africa, in more than 100 countries to digitize their services and reinvent their roles in the banking sector. The company, now a part of the Sopra Steria Group, extends this knowledge to the United States as it promotes the bankification of digital and neobanks and conventional corporations such as Porsche, Nissan, Hyundai, BMW, and others, through Banking as a Service. The objective is to create the financial world of the future, which is available to anybody at any time, and from any location. This will be possible through Sopra Banking Summit-which aims to bring together visionary market leaders to chart the path to sustainable development as global banking faces a profound transition. The Sopra Banking Summit As one of the highly-anticipated free FinTech Conferences in 2022, the Sopra Banking Software Summit will bring together 100+ industry executives and thought leaders from banking, finance, technology, and FinTech during the week-long summit. Digital attendees are welcome to attend with a Livestream video while in-person events transpire in Dallas, Washington, DC, London, and Paris. Participants who register online will access 50 hours of content, including 40+ panel sessions, roundtable discussions, demos, and workshops. The summit will have these notable speakers known for their positions in their companies. Head of Customer Engineering Manager Financial Services of Google - Jacques Baudot Technical Director and Head of Quantum Activities - Pierre Jaeger Principal Analyst of Forrester - Jacob Morgan General Manager of N26 - Jeremie Rosselli CEO of Sopra Banking Software - Eric Bierry The coverage of the Summit will be open finance, cryptocurrency, sustainable financing, the platform economy, the symbiotic relationship between banks and FinTech, banks' role in Banking as a Service, and the "bankification" of traditional industries such as automotive, real estate, and others that want to directly finance their wholesale and direct-to-consumer assets. This year's event will be mainly focused on three main themes: Open Up Your Ecosystem Achieve Operational Efficiency Engage Your Clients In an exclusive statement for Tech Times, Sopra Banking Software CEO Eric Bierry said, "We're looking forward to introducing a new narrative around the relationship between banks and FinTech. Right now, the industry thinks that for traditional banks to survive, they need to either replicate the experience offered by FinTech or launch neobanks of their own. At this year's summit, we'll challenge this theory and explore options for banks and FinTech to complement, rather than compete with each other." Bierry also stated that they would be dissecting the banks' role in supporting conventional sectors' goals to become 'banks' in their own right since the globe will witness a lot more of this trend in 2023 and beyond, particularly in the United States. When asked if Sopra Banking Software has any significant announcements planned, Bierry stated that they are set to release their annual Digital Banking Experience (DBX) Report. "It's a huge undertaking that we produce in partnership with Forrester and IPSOS. This year's report will be packed with insights about banks and FinTech and will include opinions from 12,500 bank customers from 14 countries. On the banking and FinTech side, we've surveyed 800+ decision makers across all the regions we work in-Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East-to create a barometer of how banks are doing digitally," Biery explained. Furthermore, Sopra Banking will also compare digital bank maturity in the United States to that of other nations, including analyst perspectives on the outcomes. Finally, the study will serve as a benchmark for banks to compare their digital maturity to that of their rivals, which Sopra Banking will continue to maintain and update annually. To know more about what this FinTech conference will have to offer, check out the full agenda and register to get started. Media interested in attending the event should contact Channel V Media. #2 Money 20/20 Money20/20 is where the most powerful real-life conversations and interactions take place. This is the one location where the whole community comes together for FinTech's greatest discourse, from global leaders to new competitors and from tech titans to courageous entrepreneurs. You may attend one of the most anticipated FinTech conferences in 2022 from October 23 to 26. You will get access to the expo hall, content stages, networking events, and their special app, allowing you to arrange appointments and interact with other guests. Alternatively, you may attend the entire concert for a reduced price, which is only accessible to firms attending Money20/20 USA for the first time. FinTech companies with a product or service are welcome to attend. It is also accessible to those who have been in business for less than three years, have funded less than $3 million, and are not consultancies, single proprietors, venture capitalists, rewards or consulting services, or enterprises supplying services to the Financial Services industry. Companies that are employed or formally affiliated with a government organization or credit union and those not affiliated with educational institutions or banks are also eligible to attend the conference. No exceptions will be allowed until your organization is confirmed to qualify for each rate and passes. #3 Financial Brand Forum The Financial Brand Forum will allow you to network with thousands of senior executives at the banking industry's largest and finest conference on customer experience, marketing, and digital growth strategies. Magic Johnson, Jay Leno, Duncan Wardle, Omar Johnson, Nando Parrado, Daymond John, and Ginger Hardage will be among the speakers at the FinTech conferences 2022, which will begin on November 13th. The conference will run for three days and will be jam-packed with "killer keynotes, how-to sessions, live demos, case studies, and in-depth workshops" to accelerate your growth. There is an incredible roster of all-star speakers, including the top names in business, who will inspire you and your team. You may meet senior officials from over 900 of the world's most advanced organizations - over 2,500 of the brightest minds in banking and FinTech companies. You will be able to find remarkable discoveries and the most recent developments that are transforming banking and FinTech stocks today-nothing but solid ideas, tangible methods, and best practices that you can implement immediately. A Gold Pass grants you access to the complete Forum+ video archive, which includes recordings of all keynotes and breakout sessions and special content released monthly. Every guest receives a 2GB toolbox with a plethora of useful white papers, reports, eBooks, and digital copies of all session presentation decks. #4 FinTech Connect FinTech Connect, now in its ninth year, will return in-person in November 2022. You may attend the conference alongside FinTech companies and FinTech ecosystem leaders for two consecutive jam-packed days of sessions while also meeting global leaders in digital transformation, payments, blockchain, and regtech who are moving the global financial technology sector forward, all under one roof. The content from FinTech Connect will cover the problems and triumphs of AI, Open Banking, CBDCs, DeFi, Embedded Finance, Fraud, AML, and digital transformation, among other topics. This is aside from meeting C-suite executives from banks, merchants, FinTech, and disruptors face to face. You may also participate in interactive workshops. This is the highlighted part of almost all FinTech conferences in 2022, where thought leaders pushing the future of FinTech will demonstrate their ideas and new initiatives. You may also attend live in-person sessions and use the onsite event portal to address your queries. FinTech Connect does more than seek to bring together all of the minds driving Fintech's success. They also want to establish thought leadership with a worldwide decision-making audience. Participate in discussions with financial institutions that are pushing innovation. Finally, acquire highly qualified sales leads and associate your brand with other industry leaders. #5 Sibos Sibos 2022 will host a live FinTech conference focused on "Progressive finance for a changing world," with over 250 speakers addressing significant industry subjects like embracing the digital landscape, prospering in unpredictable times, and pushing sustainability and ethics. SWIFT organizes Sibos, the world's top financial services event. Thousands of executives, industry leaders, and think tanks from throughout the industry attend the annual convention and expo. As we unite to discuss the most pressing challenges confronting the financial sector, the RAI Amsterdam will offer an amazing conference program, exhibition, and a range of networking events. To guarantee that as many people as possible can enjoy the Sibos experience, in-person and digital passes are offered. Across 250 experienced speakers will debate significant industry subjects, including cross-border transactions, digital currencies, cybersecurity, ESG standards, and access to financial services at the Sibos 2022 conference, which will take place over eight stages. It will bring together players in the financial services sector for programs such as the Discover Perfect Pitch, SWIFT Innotribe, the SWIFT Hackathon, and many more. The FinTech conference will once more offer a variety of networking formats and methods to connect firms and peers one-on-one and in groups. From there, you'll be able to meet 170+ confirmed exhibitors from the financial ecosystem who will be returning to an in-person event this year. The bottom line is that no matter which conference you choose to attend or for what purpose, the FinTech conferences in 2022 will provide you with an excellent opportunity to learn more and potentially establish a business with it. Not only will you hear from the best brains in the FinTech business, but you will also have the opportunity to engage in topical workshops and network with other smart financial professionals. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. iPhone users who have an Optus account are encouraged to conduct a system check on their devices. Following the cyberattack that hit the telecom service provider last month, the Australian government warned that the affected customers might have their data compromised as a result. Optus clients who have iPhones are at risk of getting their passwords stolen by hackers. iPhone Users With Optus Account Should Check Their Passwords (Photo : Giorgio Trovato from Unsplash) Your Optus password might have been leaked from your iPhone, but don't panic just yet. News.com.au reported that Aced IT warned all Apple iPhone users with Optus accounts registered on their smartphones. The IT company, which is headquartered in Queensland, said that Optus customers face a huge security risk regarding their passwords. "We recommend that if you are an Optus user and you did not get contacted by them advising that you were affected by the data breach it may still be a good idea to check and update your passwords anyway," Aced IT said. Earlier this month, the authorities said that Optus should shoulder the cost for the compromised passports and ID documents. They believed that the cyberattack shouldn't have happened in the first place if the company has a strong cyber wall against the data breach. Related Article: [UPDATE] Affected Optus Customers Could Appeal For the Replacement of their Driver License -Here's How How to Check If Your Password Got Hacked The IT company said those iPhone users should head to the settings of their smartphones until they see the "Passwords" icon just right after the "Wallet and Apple Pay." From here, users can now know if their password is part of the data breach that compromised millions of data from Australian customers. According to the cybersecurity expert from Aced IT, some users told them that the Optus hack has compromised their passwords. All of them followed the same process for system checks. The anonymous IT technician added that the team discovered many users whose bank account passwords were stolen. The attack also impacts their Optus app passwords. Aced IT said those iPhone owners should immediately change their apps' passwords, especially those linked to their bank and credit accounts. The business continued that people should refrain from using the same passwords across different accounts. There's a need to use a unique password for each app, and no duplicates should be utilized for maximum protection. Last Thursday, Oct. 6, the authorities arrested a 19-year-old man from Sydney for scamming Optus customers through a text message. The scammer is reportedly blackmailing the victims: if they don't give $2,000 to him, their data will be leaked online. Recently, the Australian government plans to make a centralized ID verification system for all users following the Optus scandal. While having a single digital authentication service seems viable for lawmakers, security experts think that it's not yet the time to implement that because of vulnerability issues. Read Also: More Iranians Are Using VPN Amid Internet Shutdown in Tehran This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A pair of symmetric rings are seen around the Cat's Eye Nebula's outer shell in the first computer-generated three-dimensional model of the nebula, developed by a team of astronomy researchers. The symmetry of the rings, which suggests that a precessing jet formed them, provides strong evidence for the existence of a double star in the nebula's center, as per a press release from the Royal Astronomical Society. Ryan Clairmont, a fresh secondary school graduate, served as the study's principal investigator. Binary Star in Cat's Eye A planetary nebula, which is recognized by its brilliant, shell-like shape, is created when a dying solar-mass star expels its outer layer of gas. The Cat's Eye Nebula, also known as NGC 6543, is one of the most intricate planetary nebulae out there. It is located in the constellation Draco and is a little over 3,000 light-years from Earth. The Hubble Space Telescope has also captured high-resolution resolution images of the Cat's Eye Nebula, highlighting a complicated structure of knots, spherical shells, and arc-like filaments. Astrophysicists were perplexed by the nebula's strange structure because it defied the predictions of established models for planetary nebula creation. Precessing jets were identified in a more recent study as probable shaping mechanisms in intricate planetary nebulae like NGC 6543, but a thorough model was still lacking. Clairmont, an enthusiast for astronomy, decided to determine the precise 3D structure of the Cat's Eye to learn more about the likely mechanism that gave it its unique appearance. He enlisted the aid of Nico Koning from the University of Calgary and Dr. Wolfgang Steffen from The National Autonomous University of Mexico, both of whom created SHAPE. This 3D astrophysical modeling software is particularly suited for planetary nebulae. The researchers used spectrum information from Mexico's San Pedro Martir National Observatory to rebuild the nebula's three-dimensional structure, which provided precise details on the internal motion of the nebula's material. Read also: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Snaps A Galaxy Extending its Gorgeous Spiral Arms Unique 3D Model Clairmont created a unique 3D model using these data and photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, suggesting that rings of high-density gas were encircling the Cat's Eye's outer shell. They found out that the rings are nearly symmetrically, indicating that a jet, or a stream of high-density gas, expelled from the nebula's central star in opposite directions to form the rings. The jet demonstrated precession, similar to a spinning top's wobbling motion. The jet wobbled, or precessed, and traced a circle, forming the Cat's Eye's rings. The findings, however, show that the rings are only partial, proving that the precessing jet was only a transitory event and that it never completed a full 360-degree round. An essential piece of data for the theory of planetary nebulae is the length of outflows. The team claimed that their findings are strong proof that a binary star system exists at the Cat's Eye's heart because only binary stars can drive a precessing jet in a planetary nebula. Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures 'Butterfly Nebula' In Stunning Motion | Fun Facts About This Beautiful Space Butterfly This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Toyota confirmed on Friday, Oct. 7, that roughly 296,000 of customer information might have been leaked to unidentified hackers. The Japanese automaker said that those who are using the T-Connect service are the ones who are affected by the recent attack. Toyota Leak Exposes Thousands of Customer Data (Photo : Chandler Cruttenden from Unsplash) Toyota customers who are using T-Connect are at risk of the data leak. Reuters reports that Toyota has been hit by a massive leak where thousands of information from customers are potentially exposed online. To be exact, 296,019 customer numbers and email addresses are subject to cybersecurity leaks. Toyota clarifies that they came from customers who are using T-Connect. For those unfamiliar with T-Connect, it's a smartphone app that allows Toyota owners to connect to their cars. This telematics service offers a variety of functions for their driving needs. Toyota said that those customers who signed up for the T-Connect website were the affected individuals during the latest hack. These are the persons who have been using their email addresses from July 2017 up to the present. At the time, the investigators have not yet found out if there are any traces of third-party access from the data server of customer information, according to Toyota. Moreover, the car manufacturer said the third-party access "could not be completely ruled out" for the leak that recently struck its business. Phishing Scams Are Probable Regardless, Toyota is aware that there is still a chance that the customers' personal details, including their names, credit card numbers, and dates of birth, were compromised. Additionally, the company did not see any hints that the information was subject to misuse. However, it reminded all the users that attackers might be lurking nearby. They could launch an attack on their email addresses at any given a chance via phishing scams, spam text messages, and malicious email links. This is not the first time Toyota encountered a system breach. Back in February, the company was forced to stop car production in 14 plants in Japan because of the cyberattack. At that time, the automaker missed out on around 13,000 units as output. The cyber hack also hit the supplier of its car parts and components. Related Article: Toyota bZ4X EV Sales to Resume; What Happened to Its Wheel Defect? Toyota Stocks Plunge Following the Hack According to a report by News.com.au, Toyota saw a gradual decline in its stock price. It reportedly slipped to 1,985 yen ($13.68) on Friday-- a 0.72% decrease on its part. Amid the cyberattacks, Toyota is also struggling to meet its target units because of the ongoing chip shortage. The semiconductor crisis resulted in an 18% decline in the company's earnings during August 2022. At the time, the quarterly sale of Toyota automobiles had rolled down from 2.1 million units based on the year-over-year comparison. Read Also: Honda Reveals the Design of the Electric Prologue SUV This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Apple French antitrust fine, which France's antitrust watchdog originally imposed in 2020, has been reduced by two-thirds. (Photo : Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) A man checks his phone in an Apple retail store in Grand Central Terminal, January 29, 2019 in New York City. Apple is set to report first-quarter earnings results after U.S. markets close on Tuesday. When the complaint was filed, Apple was accused of anti-competitive activities toward its retail and distribution business operations. Since the penalty originally cost $1.2 billion dollar, it was considered the biggest antitrust fine filed against the giant iPhone maker, as reported by Reuters. But, it seems like the French court realized that the billion-dollar penalty is not reasonable. Apple French Antitrust Fine Reduced by Two-Thirds! According to Engadget's latest report, the billion-dollar fine has been adjusted to more than $364 million. This is quite low compared to the first penalty value. (Photo : Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) The Apple logo is displayed at the Apple Store June 17, 2015 on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The company began selling the watch in stores Wednesday with their reserve and pick up service. Previously the product could only be ordered online. Also Read: Apple to Manufacture iPhones in India, as China's Plus One? Possible Move On the Way The French court handling the antitrust complaint against Apple said that the fine had to be reduced since it was disproportionate. Officials added that the amount must be sufficient to ensure that the penalties are dissuasive and repressive. On the other hand, the latest antitrust fine reduction is considered a part of the ongoing battle between France and the EU and Silicon Valley tech companies. Although the penalty was drastically changed, it seems like Apple is not satisfied. The iPhone maker said that it plans to file another appeal so that the entire penalty will be eliminated. "While the court correctly reversed part of the French Competition Authority's decision, we believe it should be overturned in full and plan to appeal," said the tech manufacturer. Other Issues Faced by Apple Aside from the ongoing French antitrust case, the giant iPhone maker is also facing another issue in Korea. The Korean antitrust authority announced that Apple offices were raided in the City of Gangnam-gu. This massive investigation was conducted after the tech giant developer was accused of charging some developers who got around 33% of the Apple Store cut. If you want to learn more details about Apple's problem in Korea, you can click here. In other stories, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 reportedly underwent a CT scan so that users would know what is inside the earphones. Meanwhile, next-gen Apple iPhones are expected to be integrated with wireless charging features. For more news updates about Apple and other antitrust issues it faces, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Apple iPhone 14 Pro China Sales Skyrockets! While 14 Series is Down by 71%? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The fact-finding mission of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has revealed that the acts of terrorizing and harming the civilian population of Armenias border communities by the Azerbaijani armed forces, their actions motivated by ethnic hatred and coordinated by their command, have in fact aimed at preparing a ground for their September aggression as they have mainly targeted the communities that came under attack in September, Ombudsperson Kristinne Grigoryan said at a press conference today. She said that during the fact-finding missions in Tavush and Gegharkunik provinces in July-August, they have registered concrete examples of psychological pressure and harm, and will soon publish a separate report about this. At night, they throw strong lights from their positions into the windows of residential houses. We have registered in many communities when they burn wheels from their positions and release them into the villages, in most cases targeting and burning the collected grass, but cattle breeding is the only livelihood of the people living in these areas. They steal peoples pets or with loudspeakers threaten the peaceful Armenian civilians working in fields. These could not have been coincidences, it is a handwriting and a series of concrete actions managed from a command point, she said. The Ombudsperson said that this is just an example of continuous psychological terror. These are repeating cases, she said, and serve a base to claim that their policy is aimed at depopulating these villages so that people will be forced to leave their communities because of fear. Grigoryan stated that the attack this September showed that this behavior was preparing a ground for launching an aggressive war almost along the entire border of Armenia. The Ombudswoman said they have concrete evidence that these acts are controlled and are not the whims of one or two servicemen. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF), a global network of sovereign wealth funds from more than 40 countries, has admitted the Indonesia Investment Authority, as a full member, as well as the Armenian National Interests Fund, Malta Government Investments and the Mauritius Investment Corporation as associate members. IFSWF associate membership is specifically for institutions in the early stages of becoming sovereign wealth funds. By becoming associate members, ANIF, MGI and MIC voluntarily agree to work to implement the Santiago Principles, as they put their investment and risk management processes in place. Associate membership is granted for up to three years. Obaid Amrane, Acting Chair of the IFSWF, said: We are delighted to admit INA to full membership and to welcome ANIF, MGI and MIC as associate members. It is encouraging that so many new sovereign wealth funds are voluntarily agreeing to implement the Santiago Principles. By so doing, they are strengthening sovereign wealth fund governance practices across the globe. IFSWF looks forward to supporting them on their progress towards full membership. David Papazian, CEO of the Armenian National Interests Fund, said: We want to thank the Board of IFSWF for approving ANIFs application for associate membership. It is an honour and a responsibility as we are looking forward to full membership and full compliance with Santiago Principles. This is also a big step for Armenia that is yet another proof of our countrys commitment to further integration of international best practices on transparency and accountability to our countrys financial sector. About the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) is a voluntary organization of global sovereign wealth funds committed to promoting good governance and investment management practices through dialogue, research and self- assessment. The IFSWF also seeks to promote a deeper understanding of sovereign wealth fund activity amongst government and financial services institutions. The Spanish fan who traveled on foot to Qatar to watch the World Cup has disappeared: "We fear that he is being held in Iran due to the political situation" YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The United States remains deeply engaged in helping Armenia and Azerbaijan work toward a comprehensive peace agreement, Ambassador Michael Carpenter , US Permanent Representative to OSCE, said in a statement in Vienna. He reminded that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Azerbaijani presidential advisor Hikmet Hajiyev and Armenias National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan at the White House on September 27 to advance the peace process. On October 4, Secretary Blinken held a trilateral call with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov during which he encouraged confidence-building and further progress in their talks. Secretary Blinken also expressed our appreciation for the positive steps Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken towards reaching a sustainable peace agreement, including and importantly the return of 17 prisoners of war from Azerbaijan to Armenia, he said. We continue to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding issues at the negotiation table. There will be no lasting peace without reconciliation, and diplomacy is the only way to achieve that end. The surfacing last weekend on social media channels of an appalling video appearing to show Azerbaijani armed forces executing unarmed Armenian prisoners must be fully and impartially investigated. Those responsible for any abuses of detainees must be held to account. We take note of the inquiry which has been launched by the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan and remind the parties to abide by their commitments to swiftly return all prisoners of war and to treat such prisoners in accordance with their international obligations. The recent violations of the ceasefire on September 13 and 14, and again on September 28, are of grave concern to the United States. The United States encourages Armenia and Azerbaijan to strictly adhere to a sustainable ceasefire, pull back and distance their armed forces, and continue negotiations on border delimitation to support a peaceful resolution. We reiterate our call on Azerbaijans forces to return to their initial positions prior to the outbreak of hostilities on the night of September 12. Border disputes must be resolved through negotiations, not violence. The deaths of Armenian soldiers and Azerbaijani civilians from landmines during the past week clearly and tragically demonstrate the ongoing human consequences of this conflict, he stated. Michael Carpenter said the United States strongly supports the activation of the OSCEs confidence-building and conflict prevention instruments, including the establishment of a Fact Finding Mission, as has been requested by Armenia. We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to take urgent steps to de-escalate tensions, build confidence, and hold themselves accountable to international obligations and commitments. We encourage further progress in resolving the issue of missing persons and the return of all remaining prisoners of war. The United States supports a comprehensive peace process and is committed to working bilaterally, with close partners like the European Union, and through international organizations such as the OSCE, he added. Cayuga Community College will host a talk by the author of a new book about the development of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Sheila Myers will discuss "The Truth of Who You Are" at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the college, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. The talk is part of the college's Cultural and Wellness Series. Myers previously authored a trilogy about the historic Durant family in Upstate New York. She developed an interest in the North Carolina and Tennessee park, the most visited in America, while in the area. Its truly a unique moment in our countrys history. During the Great Depression, when so much of our country was suffering, the Civilian Conservation Corps was a great resource and opportunity for people. And creating the national park was a tremendous ecological accomplishment, Myers said in a news release. But at the same time, it meant people who lived in that region were evicted, and lost homes their families had lived in for generations. My novel explores these contradictions and shows the lives of people in that region. The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. For more information, or to register, call (315) 294-8841 or visit sheilamyers.com. Governor John Bel Edwards delivers the keynote address during a ceremony of the opening of a recently restored historic building on Thursday, October 6, 2022 in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The restored building will be used as an early learning center for children along with apartments. The Central New York Land Trust has announced the addition of Simon M. Solomon as its new executive director. Solomon served as executive director of the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Chenango County for more than a decade. The trust said in a news release that he took the center from a state Department of Environmental Conservation-funded nature facility facing closure to a thriving nonprofit environmental organization with diverse educational programs and community outreach. We are excited for Simon to join us, said Andrew Obernesser, vice chair of the trust's board of directors. He brings valuable experience to our organization and enthusiasm for our mission. His collaborative leadership style and strong conservation ethic are immeasurable assets to the land trust as we continue to expand our impact throughout central New York. Founded in 1972, the trust protects resources in an eight-county area, including land in the Dr. Robert J. Vitkus, DDS Conservation Area on Skaneateles Lake, the Baltimore Woods Nature Center in Marcellus and more. Now, more than ever, we are being called upon to take active steps to protect our land and water from the impacts of development and to ensure that our resources will be there for generations to come, Solomon said. I am excited to pair my life and professional experiences with the mission of the Central New York Land Trust to reach those goals. For more information, visit cnylandtrust.org. Louisiana company hires people with disabilities to make everything from paper cups to pillowcases Lost children have always found their place in the popular imagination. From fairytales Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood to real-life cases such as that of Madeleine McCann, children who vanish have long carried symbolic meaning with them on their journeys into the unknown. Innocence violated, society corrupted. In Australia, they also bear the weight of colonialism. Theyre entangled with concepts of whiteness and wilderness. The European children wander from picket-fenced homes and schools, places of safety and security, into the uncontained landscape, the bush, the outback,the desert. Think Frederick McCubbins 1886 painting Lost, Henry Lawsons 1899 poem The Babies in the Bush, Joan Lindsays 1967 novel Picnic at Hanging Rock or Kim Farrants 2015 film Strangerland. In his book The Country of Lost Children: An Australian Anxiety, academic Peter Pierce argued that missing children embodied the essential if never fully resolved anxieties within the white settler communities of this country. A road trip to the Flinders Ranges was the genesis for Fiona McFarlanes The Sun Walks Down. Credit:Yanina Gotsulsky Into this terrain comes Fiona McFarlanes mesmerising second novel The Sun Walks Down which opens with six-year-old Denny Wallace disappearing during a dust storm. Set in the Flinders Ranges in the colony of South Australia in 1883, the story unfolds across a single week as the residents of the fictional town of Fairly search for the missing child. The narrative flows between their perspectives including, to name a few, a headstrong teen girl, a Swedish painter, a troubled clergyman and an Indigenous station worker. The search unfolds against a backdrop of unusual sunsets, the sky turning an apocalyptic red that so alarms residents they at first think theres a smokeless fire burning over the horizon. Its a story with the quality of a myth or fable, that somehow manages to seem both restrained and infinite at once. And if thats all sounding a bit hoity-toity, be assured its an engrossing mystery (US novelist Ann Patchett has blurbed it as compulsively readable). I dont think the ABC could be accused of not giving younger talent opportunities, the chair of the ABC board incredulously declared on the broadcasters RN Breakfast program on Friday morning, in an interview pegged to Ageism Awareness Day. With that simple statement Ita Buttrose, the most powerful person in the organisation, revealed how little she understands about the ABCs current programming slate, its trajectory, its growing disconnect from younger Australians who deserve a national broadcaster that caters to them and, perhaps most importantly, the experiences of its precariously employed younger workers. ABC chair Ita Buttrose. Credit:Oscar Colman The context for Buttroses remarks was a softball interview on her own network that referenced a column in this masthead that argued the ABCs new chat show, Frankly, starring veteran RN broadcaster Fran Kelly, was a missed opportunity to take a risk on fresh talent, something the ABC used to have a reputation for, and to re-engage with younger audiences. The column echoed the sentiments of many inside the ABC some of whom had been developing and pitching their own light entertainment shows, albeit with an explicit focus on attracting new, younger and culturally diverse audiences, and were caught off guard when told that resources would instead be allocated to Kellys dream program. We have our moments. In 2010, we had a fight and she pulled off her wedding ring and threw it at me. It missed and went into the creek near our house. After the 2020 fires, I was down there raking seared tree branches near the edge and I saw this glint in the shallows. I couldnt believe it was her ring! I cleaned it up and surprised her with it on our anniversary. Nalan is a beautiful woman and a talented artist and printmaker. She works seven days a week making dumplings. Her work ethic and energy are incredible. I admire that, as well as the way shes adapted to a very different life in Australia. I take my hat off to her. Loading Nalan: I was working for China Central Television shooting outdoor scenes in Beijing, and it was so cold minus 10C and the camera was frozen. On the way back to the office, my colleague and I stopped at the China Hotel to get something to eat. I noticed Reg as he was a foreigner and he had a ponytail. I joked with my colleague that he must be an artist. That afternoon, a lady from my home town whod also moved to Beijing rang to invite me to dinner with some friends at a restaurant, but I said it was too cold. When I got home, I felt bad. I thought, I shouldnt live like I am 82 when I am 28. I rang her and told her Id be there in half an hour. The foreigner Id seen in the morning came in and we sat at the same table. Afterwards, my friend said he was interested in swapping languages with me, so he could learn Chinese and I could learn English. I was so naive I asked how much it would cost. Brisbane could be home to one of the worlds largest renewable hydrogen plants following an injection of federal funds into an ammonia project. The $13.7 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency will go to Fortescue Future Industries and Incitec Pivot to investigate developing a hydrogen facility to decarbonise an ammonia plant. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the facility could provide insight into the cost of producing renewable hydrogen. Credit:SMH A proposed 500-megawatt electrolyser capable of producing up to 70,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually is at the centre of the project. It will be used at Incitec Pivots ammonia plant at Gibson Island. Loading It was 100 per cent her The day Powers nanny failed to turn up, Azzopardi was arrested by NSW Police. She had presented to a charity, pretending to be an abused French teenager and sparked a multi-agency investigation. Azzopardi pleaded guilty at the end of August to making a false representation resulting in a police investigation, and was ordered to spend at least six weeks in prison while awaiting her sentence in October. Azzopardi made global headlines in 2013 when she turned up in a distressed state near the Dublin GPO in Ireland, telling police she was a teen victim of the sex slave trade. It took authorities a month and an estimated 250,000 to identify her. A year later, aged 26, she turned up in Calgary, Canada, claiming to be 14-year-old Aurora Hepburn, a victim of abduction and sexual assault. An estimated $US150,000 was spent trying to help her. She was charged with public mischief for misleading police and deported in 2014. Police say she was charged more than 100 times in Australia, mainly for fraud and deception-related offences. Screenshot of Facebook message from Mayer to Theresa Power offering her nanny services. It was a criminal history Power was blind to when Mayer entered her familys life, introducing herself as an aspiring actress in Australia for a gap year. Mayer worked for the family for about 20 hours and was paid for that work. She was sweet, polite and playful, Power says. I thought she was great with my baby daughter and amazing with the housework... she was fabulous. I kept saying, I cant fault her. But looking back, Power sees a number of red flags. Mayer never provided her mobile number or email address, despite Power asking several times, and would only communicate on Facebook Messenger. When Power emailed an address Mayer provided as a reference, she received a long, glowing response, ostensibly from a former employer called Inga, but they never spoke on the phone. Power asked Mayer for a Working with Children check, but the young woman said she was told she had not been in the country long enough. When asked, Mayer brought Power a passport with a red cover but she did not get around to inspecting it. A photo from Mayer Meleckas Facebook page. Mayer was a fake identity used by serial conwoman Samantha Azzopardi. Credit:Facebook During a walk in the park with the baby, Power suggested they take a selfie, thinking Mayer might like to send it to her family back home. She recoiled, Power recalls. She said shed never taken a selfie and didnt like seeing her pimples. I joked that I didnt think there was any such thing as a 19-year-old who didnt take selfies. After her first week, the family paid Mayer and arranged for her to return. But on Monday, she never showed. Several days later, Powers husband was reading The Sydney Morning Herald when he saw a story about the arrest of an internationally notorious conwoman earlier that week. After Googling, he instantly recognised the woman as their new nanny. I was terrified. Sick to my stomach, Power says. I had a pretty bad nights sleep and called the police to report what had happened to us, first thing in the morning. NSW Police arrested Azzopardi on fraud charges unrelated to Powers situation, the day she was supposed to return as their nanny. Power lodged a police complaint, but was told no offences had been detected. Samantha Azzopardi in Melbourne in July 2019. A spokeswoman said: Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command commenced inquiries after receiving a report on Monday, September 5. Following those inquiries, no offence was found and no further police action is expected. This is not good enough for Power. Theres clearly a gap in the system. Shes falling through the cracks, she says.The next best thing I can do as a concerned citizen is to speak up and raise awareness so other people dont make the same mistakes. You dont know who is on the other side of that Facebook profile In the past, Power felt asking for a prospective nannys Working with Children check, proof of ID and references were formalities, placing more weight on her gut feeling. Now, she sees these measures as necessary due diligence. Its a big decision, trusting your baby with someone and we placed so much weight on our gut instinct. Its a very unsettling experience to realise that you cant only rely on your gut feeling. Its not enough, Power says. She also believes nanny and au pair pages on social media platforms have a role to play, urging them to include basic information on how parents can verify the checks. Loading A spokesman from the NSW Office of the Childrens Guardian, which administers Working with Children checks, said nanny and babysitting agencies must ensure any referrals had a check. It is also an offence to work in child-related work without a valid Working with Children check, or to employ someone to work in child-related work without a valid check. Penalties for working in child-related work without a valid check are up to $11,000 and two years in prison, and for an employer, the penalty is up to $11,000 for each non-compliant person they employ. When making arrangements for a self-employed babysitter or nanny, parents must ensure the nanny or babysitter has a valid Working with Children check, the spokesman said. Australian Nannying Association spokeswoman Annemarie Sansom said it was crucial for parents to get a Working with Children check and verify it by going on the relevant government website. His was a life of big ideas, people, different landscapes and international connection. But it did not begin like that, making all that followed more remarkable. He was born in the small town of Inverell and spent his early years in Bunnan, halfway between Scone and Merriwa in the upper Hunter Valley of NSW. At Monash, his conviction that Australias future lay in Asia led to the internationalisation of the university both through opening offshore campuses in Malaysia, India, China and Indonesia and in expanding the make-up of its student body. His commitment to give greater opportunity to all to access tertiary education is a gift he has given many thousands of people. Many of them, like him, were the first in their family to go to university. Professor Mal Logan was a transformative figure in higher education in Australia who leaves a profound legacy. As vice-chancellor of Monash University from 1987 to 1996 and as a scholar of international distinction in geography and public policy, he made an extraordinary contribution. His father, Alexander, was a primary teacher in the one-teacher school that Mal attended. As he wrote in a memoir, most of his family had virtually no skills, no money and, being good Presbyterians, were content to serve out their lives as drovers, shearing shed roustabouts, burr-cutters, fence-menders and anything else on offer from the surrounding huge properties that wealthy individuals or companies had carved out of the land. The land, though, made a deep impression on Mal. He recalled being inspired by a geography teacher at Tamworth High School who would draw maps covering the entire blackboard showing in vivid colours the distribution patterns of corn and cotton, telling a story that would otherwise take many pages to tell. He later said these maps reminded him of Indigenous art in their shapes, patterns and subtle narratives. From Tamworth, he won a teachers college scholarship at New England University College just outside Armidale, which was then a college of the University of Sydney. Hid did his honours year in geography at Sydney University, and then completed a one-year diploma in education at Sydney Teachers College. This was where he met his future wife, Toni. His first teaching job was at Forbes Intermediate High School, from where he moved to Armidale; then to a lectureship in geography at Sydney Teachers College; followed by tenured lectureship at the University of Sydney. After 10 years, feeling the need for a change from 1960s Australia, he and Toni moved to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where the geography department had been rated as one of the best in North America. After spending part of a sabbatical year at Wisconsin, he later received an offer of an associate professorship with tenure. It was here in Madison their daughter Kate was born. High density properties that were spot-purchased under the Big Housing Build, while they may have been appropriate for other social housing tenants, were not suitable for the most complex clients in the From Homelessness to a Home program, said the review, by the Nous Group consultancy, in January. The review said 109 people were housed in high-density private apartment buildings. In one case, 26 households were placed into one building. Syringes and rubbish at the back of the Botanic apartment building in Coventry Street in September. Credit:Penny Stephens Soon after moving in, we heard reports of several From Homelessness to a Home clients in high-density private apartment buildings exhibiting behaviours of concern, the Nous report says. We have been informed of, and at one site shown CCTV footage of, alleged thefts, violence, sexual assault and public defecation. The Nous report said a previous study had reported that people with a long history of homelessness would not be successful if placed in high-density, multistorey settings. The experience of From Homelessness to a Home suggests that these settings are indeed inappropriate for a small proportion of highly complex clients, it said. In November, The Age revealed multiple people in the program were moved out of Park House in Abbotsford after other residents complained of threats, public drug taking and violence. Of the clients tenanted in high-density properties, 48% have been relocated, received a breach-notice, or are at risk of receiving a notice Nous Group report The Nous review says most of the issues occurred at Park House in Abbotsford, Botanic Melbourne in Southbank and Victoria Square in Footscray. The media also reported similar issues at Queens Place in the CBD. Of the clients tenanted in high-density properties, approximately 48 per cent of people have been relocated, have received a breach-notice, or are at-risk of receiving a breach-notice, the Nous review says. Loading Housing providers involved with the program stress it was overwhelmingly successful and only a small number were housed in unsuitable high-density apartments. The program has been transformational for many whose stories often get overlooked, said Launch Housing CEO Bevan Warner. Rapid deployment was essential as COVID numbers accelerated, and while some unsuitable housing placements caused real distress for neighbours and clients, overall and for the vast majority, the program has literally been life-saving and life-changing. Low-rise social housing properties without shared walls, facilities and common areas were generally considered preferable, as privacy and space are important in allowing people to recover from homelessness and transition into their new home and local community. It is also important for people to have good access to health and support services, family and friends, and public transport. The developer behind the luxury apartments used in the program told The Age that it wasnt clear the units would house former rough sleepers when they were approached by the government to be part of its social housing purchasing program. Ashley Williams at Botanic apartments, Southbank. Credit:Joe Armao We were misled, said Ashley Williams, the Botanics developer and past president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia. No one I have spoken to from the industry would have [participated in From Homelessness to a Home] if they had any inclination. This is a building where people have saved all their lives to buy an apartment; they have pride in the community and the building. Security guards were installed around-the-clock at the luxury building. Williams said there was a lack of any acceptance or acknowledgment from [government body] Homes Victoria that it was responsible for the problems that had arisen. It went straight into bureaucracy mode and tried to palm it off that we were being unreasonable, he said. Other developers approached by The Age did not wish to speak on the record but echoed similar complaints. One former Botanic resident, who cannot be named due to legal proceedings relating to their time in the building, said from mid-2021 onward the feeling of safety at the building dissipated and police visited frequently. There would be groups of guys loitering in the lobby, someone passed out on the grass out front. People finding syringes. People following you through the doors when you came in. Someone hanging out for hours on the couch in the lobby, said the resident, who left the building after four months due to fears for their safety. The drug deals in particular were really obvious. You had [unknown] people going up and down for all levels all times of day. I was working from home at the time, talking on Teams calls with people screaming in the hallway. I had my door barricaded at night because I had girls slamming on the doors. A guy doing a drug deal in hallways with a giant rottweiler. Another time I came home with eight cops in the hall. At least $500,000 of taxpayer money was spent on around-the-clock private security at Botanic, numerous invoices and departmental letters obtained by The Age show. A number of letters dated from late 2021 and early 2022, signed by Homes Victoria deputy CEO Nicola Quinn, acknowledge lump sum payments to Evolve for private security as a gesture of goodwill after complaints about safety. Williams, the director of Evolve, which sold individual apartments within the Botanic complex to the state government, said there was an ongoing dispute between the department and the buildings body corporate over an outstanding amount of around $80,000. A Homes Victoria spokeswoman said that where appropriate, the government agency had contributed to security costs. Many people with a lived experience of homelessness are overcoming trauma and adversity, and for some, settling into a new home can be challenging, she said. In some circumstances, relocations have been required to ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients. The pool at the Botanic. Credit:Penny Stephens One Botanic apartment owner attempted to sue Evolve for loss of resale value he alleged was due to its sale of apartments to the government as part of From Homelessness to a Home. Norman Franzi claimed damages of $100,000 including for construction issues and deceptive conduct in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for not informing residents of the sale of the apartments to the department. In a statement of claim from February, Franzi claimed the around-the-clock security presence and reports to police had been unable to resolve the problems. The statement also alleged that in making the sale to the Department of Housing, the developer misled Franzi and breached his contract of sale, which states that the building was a boutique luxury apartment building. In response in July, Evolve said those claims were vague, embarrassing and liable to be struck out, and denied it had any liability to the resident for actual or alleged loss or damages arising out of or in connection with the sale of lots in the building to third parties. The matter was discontinued with consent of both parties in August. The Nous review warned the situation in high-rise properties posed reputational danger and could have an impact on housing supply. Loading Stories about incidents have recently appeared in the press, and more may come over coming weeks and months. By focusing on what has not gone well, rather than what has, they have the potential to exert negative pressure upon future homelessness reform planning and delivery. Housing minister Danny Pearson said there was a need for a more targeted approach when allocating housing to people. If the three of us are all recovering alcoholics is it a smart idea to put us next door to each other? Probably not, he said. If we have a hands-off approach, we just turn around and say, well, theres a house over there, off you go thats not good public policy. Thats not looking after our clients and thats not getting the outcome that we want. So its about really trying to think about how do we actually try and do this in a better way. Life at Botanic is now calmer than at the height of lockdowns. A number of From Homelessness to a Home clients have since left the building, although Olds says he still feels unsafe from time to time. He believes it could also be uncomfortable for former rough sleepers to be placed alongside wealthy professionals. These programs can work in the right places, he says. Im a person who pays my taxes. I also do whats best for the community and do whats right for other people. I understand the needs of [homeless] people, but I also have a right to a safe environment if Ive worked hard for that. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Video clips of tortures by both Armenian and Azerbaijani military personnel are being studied, and a joint investigation group has been created with the relevant structures, Azerbaijani Prosecutor-General Kamran Aliyev said. He made the remarks during a joint briefing of the Prosecutor-General's Office and the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. "Naturally, the authenticity of such cases must be studied and accurate information be provided. Armenia has not even published an official statement in connection with the distributed footage. Azerbaijan immediately studied this issue. Azerbaijan is also well aware of the latest videos, the investigation is underway, and I can say that some of them are fake. A joint investigation team has already been created with the relevant structures," he said. According to the prosecutor general, some countries and their embassies in Azerbaijan take a one-sided position on this video footage, which causes concern. "There was no war on the territory of Armenia, the population did not suffer. These videos should be investigated," he added. Talking on the issue, Head of the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office Nemat Avazov noted that Armenia handed over the bodies of six Azerbaijanis, who were tortured and caught on video by Armenian servicemen during the recent border clashes. Further, the prosecutor-general said that Armenia still avoids the issue of missing people and tries to absolve itself of responsibility. He added that the parents of people, who went missing in the First Karabakh War, still contact them today, which was repeatedly raised before the Prosecutor-General's Office of Armenia. "Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office took DNA samples from two or three relatives of each of the missing. As the remains are found, we are trying to identify them. Some of them have already been identified," Aliyev stated. Additionally, Azerbaijani Prosecutor-Generals Senior Assistant on Special Assignments Ilgar Safarov said that Azerbaijan released 17 Armenian detainees captured during the suppression of military provocations of Armenia and handed over 133 bodies to Armenia last month. "A total of 80 servicemen were killed and 274 servicemen were injured in the suppression of the Armenian provocation," he said. Armenian war crimes Safarov stressed that the Prosecutor-General's Office is investigating several criminal cases related to the genocide and massacres committed by the Armenian troops against the unarmed civilian population of Azerbaijan. This decision was made to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book, as well as to select a preventive measure in the form of a measure of restraint against them in the form of arrest in absentia. Safarov also revealed the number of those killed in the course of the genocidal crimes, committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan. "During the genocide in Karkijahan village, 17 people were killed, attempts were made to kill seven people, two people were taken hostage, and 1,796 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In regard to 47 armed persons, who committed crimes, a decision was made to bring them as defendants, as well as on the choice of a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia. During the genocide in Baghanis-Ayrum village, seven people were killed, attempts were made to kill two people, 12 residential buildings were burned, and 438 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In regard to 18 armed persons, who committed crimes, a decision was made to bring them into custody as defendants, as well as to choose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia. During the genocide in Meshali village, 25 people were killed, attempts were made to kill 14 people, two people were taken hostage, 41 houses and other buildings were burned, and 358 villagers were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In regard to nine armed persons, who committed crimes, it was decided to bring them as defendants, as well as to choose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia. In Bashgyuneypara village of Aghdara region, 21 people were killed, attempts were made to kill four people, and 599 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. During the Garadaghly genocide, 67 people were killed, attempts were made to kill two people, 49 people were taken hostage, and 941 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In regard to 12 armed persons, who committed these crimes, a decision was made to bring them to trial as defendants, as well as to choose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia. During the Khojaly genocide, 613 people were killed, eight families were killed, and attempts were made to kill 487 people. A total of 1,275 women, children, and old people were taken hostage and tortured, and 5,379 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In regard to 40 armed persons, who committed these crimes, a decision was made to bring them as accused, as well as to choose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia. In Bashlybel village of Kalbajar district, 12 people were killed, 14 people were taken hostage, seven out of 36 people, who were taken prisoner died from their injuries, 29 people were forced to leave their permanent place of residence. In the genocide in the tunnel in Kalbajar District, 26 civilians were killed, who wanted to cross the tunnel connecting 35 villages with the regional center. Their bodies were burned along with the cars. 30 people were taken hostage," Safarov reported. He added that a total of 400 Azerbaijani servicemen and 31 civilians were killed following Armenian crimes from 1994 through 2020. "During the ceasefire period, 400 servicemen and 31 civilians were deliberately killed, whereas 1,042 servicemen and 69 civilians suffered attempts on their lives. The decision was made to indict 305 perpetrators, as well as to choose a measure of restraint in the form of absentee arrest," Safarov noted. Furthermore, Safarov shared that a total of 3,336 Azerbaijani citizens were killed as a result of the explosion of mines and unexploded ordnances in the country since 1991. Besides, the senior assistant highlighted that the crimes committed by the Armenian armed groups can be classified in several directions. According to him, from 1988-1994, during 38 terror acts, aimed at the civilian population of Azerbaijan, as a result of explosions of 10 passenger buses, 11 cars, one convoy, two trucks, six passenger trains, two metro trains, two helicopters, one aircraft, and one sea ferry 1,105 people were killed, and more than 1,180 were injured. "During one of these terror acts, on November 20, 1991, near Garakand village of Khojavand District, Armenian military units shot down an MI-8 military helicopter belonging to Azerbaijan, as a result of which 22 people were killed, Safarov reminded. The victims of this terror act, according to him, included State Secretary of Azerbaijan Tofig Ismayilov, Prosecutor-General Ismat Gayibov, State Advisor, Minister of Internal Affairs Mahammad Asadov, MPs Vagif Jafarov and Vali Mammadov, Deputy Prime Minister Zulfi Hajiyev, head of the Presidential Administration department and journalist Osman Mirzayev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Saylau Serikov, and journalist of the Azerbaijan State Television Ali Mustafayev. "On March 18, 1994, a Hercules plane belonging to the Iranian Air Force was shot down near the city of Khankandi, as a result of which 34 diplomats and their families were killed," the official added. Similarly, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan appealed to a number of international organizations in order to bring Armenia to justice in connection with the crimes committed both during the first Karabakh war, after it, as well as during the second Karabakh war. It was added that a total of 212 cases were opened on crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis in 1988-1992. Environmental crimes During the briefing, Safarov also revealed the scale of environmental crimes committed by Armenia during the occupation. According to the results of the preliminary investigation, it was established that the material damage amounted to more than AZN16bn ($9.4 billion). He stressed that Armenia and its officials illegally exploited the following territories: - Deposits of Okhchuchay (facing stone), Zangilan (lime raw materials), Vezhnali (quartz-gold-sulfide), Sharifan (sand), Khachinchay gorge (freshwater), Akarachay gorge (freshwater); - in Kalbajar District - deposits of Chapli (sand-gravel), Agyatag (mercury), Soyudlu (gold-sulfide), Gyzylbulag (gold-copper-pyrite), Agduzbulag (gold-precious metals), Heidara (gold), Gyarbi Gyzylityan and Agzybir (gold), Tartarchay (sand-gravel), Ilyasli and Chaikand (mixed rocks), Ashagi and Yukhari Istisu (thermal mineral waters); - in Jabrayil district - deposits of Veysalli (cement raw materials), Soltanly (sand), Garajali (sand), Toulouse (building stone), Hajily 1 (earthy gypsum), Sharakenchay, Injachay, Jabrayilchay, Chaylagchay, Gozluchay, Chakhmagchay (freshwater deposits); - in Tartar District - deposits of Damirli (copper-molybdenum), Chardaghli (coal), Sugovushan-Talysh (mixed rocks), Karabakh plain (freshwater); - in Aghdam District - deposits of Abdal-Gulably (facing stone), Shahbulag, Chobandag, Boyakhmedli (cement raw materials), Gargarchay 1 (sand-gravel), Shelly (facing stone), Gargarchay gorge (freshwater); - in Shusha District - deposits of Shusha 1 (lime raw materials), Gargarchay, Khankendichay (freshwater), Turshu (mineral water) sites; - in Fuzuli District - deposits of Dovletyarly (building stone) Guruchay (sand-gravel) deposits, the Milskoye deposit (freshwater); - in Khojavand district - deposits of Bina, Hadrut, Tugh, Malikjanli, Adilli (mixed rocks and crushed stone); - in Lachin District - deposits of Yukhari Khakarichay (sand-gravel), Lachin-Shusha highway (mixed rocks), Minkand (mineral water). Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York. This week, we spotlight Juliette. AGE: 5 years old BREED: Domestic longhair, white and gray COMMENTS: Juliette has been at the shelter for several months. We don't think she's being very forthcoming with the facts and history. What we do know is that it's time for her to move on to her new and special family. Juliette is actually totally ready to move out. She is fully vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV and is negative, treated for whatever parasites took up residence, and spayed. Sometimes Juliette can have an attitude. Most of the time she likes to sit in her condo and observe what's going on. We wouldn't call her a lap cat, but with time she may evolve. She is definitely a presence in our shelter life. Please stop by to meet Juliette. Shelter staff will be more than happy to introduce you to this beautiful girl. P.S. Juliette's adoption fee is sponsored! Q: Who is your best friend? A: Well, Mr. William Shakespeare wrote that Romeo should be my BFF. As I look around, I don't see any of my feline friends coming close to being a Romeo. I'll keep searching. Q: What is your favorite toy? A: Really? I'm a little beyond toys, but I sure like a bit of catnip every once in a while. Well, let me change that up a little. I saw the other felines playing with this floppy fish the other day. It flips and then it flops. You never know which way it will turn. I might like to have one of those myself. Q: How would you describe yourself? A: In a word, I am a stunning feline specimen. Our visitors usually see me first when they come into the shelter and I always hear a gasp, as in, "What a beautiful cat!" I am long-haired and my coat is beautiful. My new people need to understand that I need regular brushing just enough to prevent hairballs. Sometimes they can be a problem. Anyway, I digress. I can be opinionated, and I like to have my own way. But I'm a cat, so that shouldn't surprise you. Q: What has been your best experience? A: I have a very nice condo and I used to spend most of my time in it. But, and this is a big "but," several weeks ago my humans decided to open the door and let me roam around for a while. It went really well and now, while we are open for visitors, I get to wander and mingle. When I'm tired I jump back into my condo. I have a nice setup! Stop by to see it sometime. Q: If you could have a job, what would that be? A: OK this is where things get serious. I am available for most any management position that might come along. I can wander around in your shop or store, or even a bar to ensure that things are under control and that there are no pesky intruders. Even though I am a large girl I can be stealthy and catch culprits in the act. Give me a job I'll be happy! However, an occasional invitation to my family's home would be much appreciated. Or let me manage your home! I can do that, too. Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would that be? A: If my job provides for vacation, I would love to visit the National Tiger Sanctuary, which is located just north of Branson, Missouri! It is home to more than 20 exotic large cats. Humans get guided tours and can even feed the big cats. If I am allowed to go I would take particular notice of the tigers' demeanor and attitude. Perhaps I can learn some helpful management tips from them. Q: Do you have an interesting fact to share? A: I do. Did you know that cats will refuse unpalatable food to the point of starvation? This is true. I guess I don't have very discriminating taste buds. Refusing any food has never happened to me. MOL! Q: Do you have any advice for our readers today? A: You bet I do! Happening this Sunday is our Howloween Pet Walk and Parade, which will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Austin Park in the lovely village of Skaneateles. There will be a photo booth, a walk through the village, lots of treats to pick up along the way, and so much more. Please go to our website, flspcaofcny.org, for more information and to register for the event. And check out our Facebook page. Thank you for supporting our events. We really appreciate it. Much love and many purrs and licks, Juliette and friends. Following days of evidence of racism, misogyny and policewomen allegedly raped and sexually assaulted by colleagues, Queenslands Premier says a police inquiry this week has shown deep-seated cultural issues within the service. I honestly do believe that the majority of police are doing the right thing, Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters on Friday afternoon, after the days sitting of the inquiry into police responses to domestic violence. But from the evidence, I think everybody would share the same views that there are some issues ... deep-seated cultural issues in the Queensland Police Service. Palaszczuk noted similar evidence given by police union president Ian Leavers earlier in the day, that most officers did the right thing, and said, I think youll find some of those issues across a lot of sectors of society as well, unfortunately. Progress isn't casting Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's Tony-winning musical 1776 with a BIPOC or gender-expansive company. It's casting 1776 with people who don't look like the Founding Fathers and not drawing attention to it. In that regard, Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus's Roundabout Theatre Company revival at the American Airlines Theatre takes a door left ajar by Hamilton and runs right through it, as they should. But this new Broadway mounting (which originated last summer at American Repertory Theatre and will embark on a national tour next spring) wants to have it both ways they're simultaneously hoping we notice how progressive it's trying to be, but also not really, while emphasizing the wrong things along the way. The result, while enjoyable, shows a fundamental lack of trust and understanding in material that they would see already does the work for them, if they just stopped to listen. As a musical, 1776 is indestructible, with a smart, funny, and deceptively simple score (Edwards), and an ironclad script (Stone) that manages to do the impossible: It creates edge-of-your-seat suspense in the story of whether the Founding Fathers will sign the Declaration of Independence. It's also despite the outward appearance of its almost all-white, almost all-male character list daringly progressive for its day, condemning the existence of slavery and giving the revolutionary leaders the foresight to realize that they're not infallible. When the original Broadway company was invited to perform at the Nixon White House, the administration asked they cut two numbers, including the Republican minuet "Cool, Cool Considerate Men." Producers vehemently declined. That's the kind of show this is. (Although the event went on anyway and Nixon jumped to his feet, it's said that he eventually convinced film producer Jack Warner to cut the number from the movie.) What's already there on paper isn't good enough for directors Page, who also provides needlessly expressionistic choreography, and Paulus, who seem to think that 1776 is tantamount to MAGA-style propaganda. They do their best to infuse the musical, which hardly needs to prove its political bona fides, with the kind of liberal zealotry that makes your Fox News-watching uncle seethe. The eye-rolling sanctimoniousness, the knowing glares of complicity at usthe whole thing is "woke" to a fault, while really having nothing to say beyond "Look, we've cast this show with people who have been historically marginalized." That's nothing new, though different directors have been doing that for years in various ways, including all-female-identifying companies. Not only have Page and Paulus given themselves an uphill battle against a text that is already on their side, it doesn't even seem like they like this show. The result feels like an MFA thesis better suited for a university black box, and not just because of the barebones design (Scott Pask's uncharacteristically cheap set is little more than a couple of sliding curtains and some old-timey tables and chairs, while Emilio Sosa's costumes are your typical stock Revolutionary War-wear), or the fact that the actors get into costume on stage while staring us down. The sound designer Jonathan Deans blasts the hell out of our eardrums, often making the lyrics all but incomprehensible, and semi-distorting the inventive new rock orchestrations by John Clancy. Elizabeth A. Davis, Patrena Murray, and Crystal Lucas-Perry in 1776 ( Joan Marcus) The actors too are all over the place some great, some bland, some distressingly amateur. At the center is a duo of ineffectual performances from Crystal Lucas-Perry (John Adams) and Patrena Murray (Benjamin Franklin), who fade too far into the background when they're supposed to be carrying the show. That Lucas-Perry leaves the cast two weeks after opening night to star in a different Broadway show sort of tells you all you need to know, and I'd be curious to see if her successor, Kristolyn Lloyd, has the presence the role really needs to pull this "obnoxious and disliked" character off successfully. You know there's a problem when you leave a 1776 thinking about how incredible the Martha Jefferson is, and Erin LeCroy almost steals the entire show with Martha's paean to her husband Thomas's sexual voracity, "He Plays the Violin" (it is forever a weird number, and it is exceedingly well performed). Carolee Carmello is delightfully smug as the unctuous John Dickinson, one of the "cool, cool, conservative men" (never to the left, forever to the right) who oppose independence. I'd love to see her as an Adams in not just a concert setting. Also on the right, Sara Porkalob sinks her teeth into Edward Rutledge's dark and twisted "Molasses to Rum," though her perfectly scary rendition is mortally undercut by Page's baffling choreography: He has several Black ensemble members do an interpretive dance that suggests a slave auction. I cannot imagine what that's like to perform every night, nor can I imagine what it's like for them when that number receives one of the biggest hands of the evening. I don't think the directors wanted to make the audience cheer with such vociferousness at this ode to America's original sin, but they do. Davis, who brings a stately and imperious feeling to her Jefferson, being visibly pregnant in real life is one of the true examples of progress on that stage, and that's the kind of inclusiveness this production should be praised for. Ditto its diversity in body type, which is rarely considered in an industry where everyone is expected to be jacked. While they lose points for not casting any elderly people (it is a mostly very young company), these are the elements that are truly revolutionary, which is more than I can say for the rest of this over-amplified, terminally woke revival that doesn't really have anything to say. The Cayuga County Health Department has reported a spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last seven days. From Sept. 29 through Oct. 5, 29 residents were hospitalized with COVID-19. That's an increase from 16 one week ago and 12 two weeks before. The data is based on reports from Auburn Community Hospital and three Syracuse hospitals. Most hospitalized patients are older with varying vaccination statuses. They include 12 people in their 80s, seven of whom received at least one booster shot, two who are fully vaccinated but did not get a booster and three who are unvaccinated. Five people in their 70s are hospitalized, including two who are boosted, one who is fully vaccinated but did not receive a booster and two who are unvaccinated. Three people in their 90s (two unvaccinated and one who is vaccinated but not boosted) and two in their 60s (one who received at least one booster and one who is unvaccinated) are also hospitalized. There are some younger residents who are hospitalized, including two in their 50s (one fully vaccinated but not boosted and one unvaccinated), one in their 40s (vaccinated but not boosted), three in their 30s (one who received a booster, one who is vaccinated but not boosted and one who is unvaccinated) and one in the 10-19 age group who is unvaccinated. The health department defines an unvaccinated person as someone who did not complete the primary series of shots. Someone who is vaccinated received the first and second doses of a vaccine, while someone who is boosted has received at least one booster dose. What's not disclosed is how many of the patients received the recently released bivalent booster that aims to provide protection against the latest variants. While the health department does not release case data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Cayuga County's case rate is 185.44 per 100,000 people. The county's COVID-19 community level, according to the agency, is medium. Based on that classification, residents are advised to get tested if they have symptoms, wear a mask if they have symptoms or a positive test and stay up to date on vaccines. Four Cayuga County-area libraries will receive more than $1.1 million in state funds to support capital projects in state Sen. John Mannion's district. The largest of the grants ($613,095) is for Seymour Library in Auburn. The library will use the funding for renovations, according to a project description. The Skaneateles Library received two grants totaling $387,308. Most of the funding ($313,350) will be used to buy property where a new library will be built. A new building is needed "due to space and accessibility constraints" at the current library. Jordan Bramley Library was awarded $94,943 for various improvements, including spray foam insulation, energy-efficient windows, new air conditioning, door and roof upgrades, and replacing the sidewalk. Weedsport Free Library rounds out the Cayuga County-area libraries receiving state funding. The library will get $33,812 to replace its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and add insulation to the building's attic. Seven Onondaga County libraries will also receive state grants part of $1.7 million awarded to libraries in the existing 50th state Senate District. "Modern libraries are a marvel they are catchalls where we learn, play, and gather with our neighbors," Mannion said. "If you haven't visited your public library in a while I encourage you to take advantage of this valuable community resource." The library funding was included in the 2021-22 state budget. Additional funding for library capital projects is in the 2022-23 state budget. Those funds will be distributed next year. An Auburn man who threatened employees with a knife while stealing from Walmart has been given a long prison term based on his criminal record. Cayuga County Acting District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci said in a news release that Karl Diggs, 45, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years to life in prison by Judge Thomas G. Leone. Because Diggs has an extensive criminal history, Grome Antonacci said, the court exercised its discretion and sentenced Diggs as a persistent felony offender. Diggs was convicted in June of one count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Evidence at trial showed that on Dec. 11, 2021, asset protection workers were threatened with a knife as Diggs left the Auburn Walmart with stolen goods. He was apprehended by police at the nearby Grant Avenue Motel. We appreciate the Court taking the time to consider and weigh our motion to sentence defendant as a persistent felony offender," Grome Antonacci said. "By doing so, this repeat offender will be on lifetime supervision following his lengthy prison sentence." News Updates Would you like to receive our newsletter? Get local, Wyoming, and national news, the weather forecast, and more, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Specialist Whit Stewart and recent alumnus Ryan Knuth received honors from the Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science (WSASAS) this fall. Stewart, who is also an associate professor of animal science, earned the 2022 WSASAS Extension Award. Knuth, a recent Ph.D. graduate in animal and veterinary science, received a Young Scholar Award. Awards were presented at the 2022 WSASAS Section meeting in Park City, Utah, on Sept. 22. Extension Award A skilled juggler of research, teaching and extension programming, Stewart exemplifies the extension mission of service and outreach. While Whit is a respected and accomplished researcher himself, his ability to apply results from his and others experiments to real-life production scenarios is perhaps his best professional attribute, writes one nominator. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Stewart coordinates the UW inter-collegiate wool judging team, organizes ram tests at the UW Laramie Research and Extension Center, helps manage the UW research flock, and coordinates and judges the Wyoming State Fair wool contest. He also coordinates the Wyoming 4-H wool judging program and has organized educational programs at Ram Sale Symposiums in Montana and Wyoming. He has published more than 40 extension publications on topics ranging from sheep parasite management to mineral requirements and supplementation. He is an enthusiastic advocate for producers and the sheep industry. Dr. Stewart is very well known by the sheep producers in the state of Wyoming (and beyond) and is highly respected and valued for his thoughtful approach to helping solve problems, a colleague comments. He also has an intrinsic ethic of service that motivates him to respond proactively to the needs of producers. Young Scholar Award UW graduate Ryan Knuth was one of three researchers selected for the 2022 Young Scholar Award, which celebrates the accomplishments of current or recent Ph.D. and M.S. students in the western U.S. Knuth completed his doctorate at UW in August 2022 and recently accepted a faculty position at the Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Pipestone, Minn. His doctoral research focused on the microbial communities of ewes, lambs and the environment, aiming to identify possible pathways for bacteria to enter the mammary gland and cause mastitis. Published in multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, this research has contributed to the accumulation of excellent datasets, comments Bledar Bisha, head of the UW Animal Science Department and one of Knuths advisors. He is without a doubt one of the most productive graduate students that I have had the honor to work with, Bisha notes. Ryan is a lifelong learner, consistently able to learn new techniques, and inclined to incorporate novel approaches as an investigator. Knuth says he hopes both scientists and producers can use and build on his research findings to continue improving sheep performance, production and profitability. I love how simple phone calls can lead to incredible opportunities---I was talking with Kit and Donna about their interest in Cheyenne, to build residential housing and commercial facilities. From our conversation, I learned about a company they are working with in Colorado that would be a perfect fit for Cheyenne and all of Wyoming. I hope this chance encounter ends with significant conversations and maybe a new manufacturing facility located in our beautiful city. In the past year and a half, our City Council has spent many Friday afternoons in work sessions. The purpose is to make sure all the council members have the same information and the opportunity to ask questions. I love it because it is also informative to the community about what the City Council is working on. This past Friday the subject was about outside water and sewer user agreements. These are for county developments that want city water and/or sewer services. I have mixed emotions about these agreements. On commercial agreements, job creation, and economic impact make these interesting. On the housing side, increased density may be a negative to the city financially. We have asked the University of Wyoming to help the city understand the financial impacts of using city utilities to increase the density. We should have the answer by the end of March. Until we understand the true costs or benefits, I believe the city should not set a precedent by granting residential outside user agreements. Friday night was fun. First, I helped dedicate the William Bill Dubois Park on Randall Avenue. Bill was Cheyennes historian and a great friend to many. We were pleased by the great crowd who came to honor him. My thanks to Bob Farr and Agneta for all they did to help get this park through the citys new naming process. It is so cool that the park is adjacent to the historic Dubois Subdivision. Bills grandfather designed and built the seven homes in the area. A proper honor for a great man! Later that evening, Judy and I attended an honorary commander dinner on the Air Force base. I am paired up with Colonel Dines, who commands the Mission Support Group. I think of him as the mayor of the base. He does many of the same things I do. I love this program, as it helps the civilian community understand the important mission our military partners do every day. Colonel Barrington is the base commander and is a big supporter of this program. I am proud to be a part of this amazing program. On Monday morning, the planning administration of Laramie County held its annual snow plan meeting. I was not able to attend but wanted to let you know how well everyone works together to make sure we respond as a team, in the event theres snow. The city, county, LCSD1, state officials, and others have a plan and partnership to keep our roads clear and passable, during snow events. Hopefully, there wont be any more snowmageddons like the one we had in March of 2021. I am constantly amazed by the number of folks who want to invest in our community. Many of them come by and share their visions with me. I had Ron, Isaac, and Rod come by to share what they are doing in the county, and how it might complement what the city is planning at the Belvoir Ranch. I wish them and all entrepreneurs luck. What a difference a year makes! A year ago, we held a press conference to announce the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project. Our goal was to put a bronze on every corner of Capitol Avenue, from 16th Street to the Capitol; 28 in total. This week, we celebrated the one-year anniversary with another press conference. I was so pleased to announce that we have exceeded pass our goals. Theres a total of 30 bronzes between Capitol, 17th, and Carey Avenue, with another 30 in the process of being created---$1.4 million of art, donated by a beautiful group of donors. Many of these folks are donating to remember a loved one; ensuring their memory will survive for years to come. As always, a special thanks go to our great committee: Dixie Roberts, Caren Murray, Susan Samuelson, Jeff Wallace, and chairman Nathaniel Trelease. Harvey Deselms has been the projects curator. An extra, special thanks also go to the many contributors who have made this possible. I spoke of the heartbreaking conversation I had with the Commander of Global Strike, regarding the racism military children of color are facing in our schools. On Wednesday, I met with a leadership team from the base and a member of the school district that is leading the equity and inclusion efforts at our schools. I came away with a better understanding of the issues and feeling like as a community we can and need to do better. As a resident of Cheyenne, I want to live in harmony with all members of our community, no matter their color, race, religion, disability, sex, or orientation. Kids shouldnt dread going to school because others dont like them for reasons they cannot control. Its heartbreaking to me and I hope to you. It is up to all of us to make the decision that enough is enough and step up and lead. My question is what are you going to do to help solve this problem? I believe in celebrating when you can. We did so on Wednesday afternoon. We broke ground on the first of three new fire stations on Converse Avenue. As a way of thanks, I would personally like to thank the City Council for having the vision to prioritize public safety and make the decision to put these stations on the 6th Penny Sales Tax. Second, and most importantly, the voters for their overwhelming support of this vision, and last, Chief Kopper and his team who have worked so hard to shepherd this project to the point where we can start building. John Edwards and Bob Wirth are local landowners and businessmen who own land essential for our fire station program. Their properties were in the perfect place to make our response matrix work. They did not have to help us, but they did, to help their city. I am constantly amazed by the civic trusteeship in our community. Cybersecurity is a big deal and something we should all take seriously. Governor Gordon and I each signed proclamations encouraging Cheyenne and all of Wyoming to educate themselves and prevent cyber thieves from stealing our personal information or worse. I was impressed by the group of people at the signing who have dedicated themselves to protecting our communities. However, when you have nation-states like Russia, China, and North Korea making cyber-attacks every three seconds, we must be aware and take precautions. The Technology Task Force from the city attended and is working to help make the city and all our residents safer in this cyber-environment. The Metropolitan Planning Organization is planning for the eventual upgrade of Powderhouse Road, from Dell Range Boulevard and Highway 85. We had a public meeting to start the process of getting residents input. I was so pleased to see over 120 people show up to share their thoughts and get educated on the plans going forward. The building of the new Saddle Ridge School really makes this review necessary. It is cool to see the city, county, and MPO working together to make this roadway safer. In lighter news, I hope this great weather keeps going. I love summer and am dreading the snow and cold. A great fall is just what we all need. If you have a question for me, please send an email to media@cheyennecity.org. Ill continue to answer your questions or concerns in the following Mayors Minute column. BYD (Build Your Dreams), maybe a new entrant in the electric vehicle space in India, but it is picking up pace. Now, the Chinese automaker is ready to launch its second vehicle in India, the BYD Atto 3, which is slated to launch on October 11. Upon launch, it will increase the Indian electric car market's size further, and it will compete with rivals such as Tata Nexon EV, MZ ZS EV, Hyundai Kona EV and Mahindra XUV400 as well. (Also Read: BYD India inaugurates showroom in Jaipur, ahead of new SUV launch) No wonder the BYD Atto 3, which is the car manufacturer's second electric car in the Indian market and already available in a couple of overseas markets, will add more colour to the domestic EV space. Here are what we can expect from the upcoming BYD Atto 3. Price BYD Atto 3 is expected to come priced between 25 lakh and 35 lakh (ex-showroom). This pricing range would put the upcoming car on the pricier side compared to its potential rivals like the Tata Nexon Max EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona EV. The pricing will make the BYD Atto 3 a premium offering. FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on Local assembling BYD Atto 3 will come to India through SKD (semi-knocked down) assembly route. This means the automaker will bring the car parts from overseas and assemble them here at the company's Chennai facility to keep the pricing down by avoiding the export tax meant for the CBU (Completely Built Unit) models. Deliveries likely to start in 2023 BYD will launch the Atto 3 EV in India on October 11, but its delivery will likely commence in early 2023. However, the automaker is tight-lipped about the details. Dual battery pack BYD currently sells the Atto 3 in markets like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. In Australia, the electric car is available in two different battery pack options. These 49.92 kWh and 60.48 kWh battery packs offer 345 km and 420 km ranges, respectively. Expect these two battery pack options for the BYD Atto 3 EV to be available in India as well. However, BYD is yet to confirm that. First Published Date: Batavia, NY (14020) Today Periods of rain. High 44F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 36F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. LOS ANGELES Cybersocket is joining forces with Fan.Management to take part in #YNOTCammunity22s week-long events by presenting a special LGBTQ+-focused industry mix and mingle on National Coming Out Day, Tuesday, October 11th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Roccos in West Hollywood. Additional event partners include NSFW Army, Fleshbot, Streamen, and Pinstripe Cash. In attendance will be members from Cybersockets team of porn star columnists, including Cazden Hunter, Jack Andy, Adam Russo, and porn newbies AJ Sloan and Benvi. Cybersocket invites all to "come mix, mingle and network with the leading names in the adult industry from in front of and behind the camera!" "Looking to make new connections with power players in the adult industry? Looking for new on-camera talent? This is your chance to meet your favorite porn personalities and network with other LGBTQ and Ally business owners and decision-makers," according to Cybersocket. "Grab a cocktail and network! All are welcome!" We are excited to join our power partners to offer a special event to focus on the LGBTQ community, especially on National Coming Out Day," said the Cyberstocket director. "This is a perfect opportunity to network, build bridges with our straight allies, and work together in presenting quality queer content in the adult world. For more information, click here. Roccos West Hollywood is located at 8900 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, 90069. Following a 90-day pause issued by U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore earlier this year, prescribed fire will return to forest managers toolkits this fall. The announcement came on the heels of a national review released on Sept. 8 of prescribed fire programs. Forest managers throughout the Southwest, including those on the Coconino National Forest, are now in the process of preparing for prescribed burn operations by completing actions outlined in the national review. In a foreword to National Prescribed Fire Review, Moore wrote that the decision to pause and review the program was necessary in light of recent prescribed fire escapes that had devastating impacts on communities and natural resources. It ostensibly refers to New Mexicos Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which raged from April through July across more than 340,000 acres and ignited from multiple wind-driven prescribed fire escapes. High-cost steep-slope helicopter logging is working in Williams; Flagstaff will be next It takes a lot to fly pine trees off a mountain, but the cost of leaving them might be great Moore also wrote that the decision to pause prescribed fire reflected the growing recognition that extreme conditions resulting from drought, weather, dry fuels, and other climate change effects were influencing fire behavior in ways we had never seen before. Prescribed burns are generally considered one of the most effective tools available to restore forest health and reduce fuel loads that contribute to wildfire risk. On average, the Forest Service ignites about 4,500 prescribed burns each year, treating about 1.3 million acres across the national forest system. Per Moore's foreword, almost all prescribed fires 99.84% go according to plan. However, we cannot underestimate how destructive prescribed fire escapes can be, Moore wrote. The national review of prescribed fire yielded seven immediate actions necessary to the resumption of the prescribed fire program. One of these actions is a tightening of operational periods that will now require prescribed burns to be authorized every 24 hours on a day-to-day basis, rather than allowing for a window of authorized time. Fire is not static, said Punky Moore, fire communication specialist for the Forest Service southwest region. Requiring daily ignition authorizations gives all involved a clear picture of challenges, the progress of the project, outside political pressures, and hazards that may be present in the following day's shift. Another immediate action requires that the prescribed fire burn boss will document whether all elements within the agency administrators authorization are still valid based on site conditions. The burn boss will also assess human factors, including the pressures, fatigue, and experience of the prescribed fire implementers. The remaining actions include matters such as stricter documentation protocol, stricter review process of prescribed fire plans, standardization of briefings, designation of a national level program overseer and a mandate that units will not resume their prescribed burning programs until forest supervisors go over the findings and recommendations in this review report with all employees involved in prescribed fire activities. "All fire management carries with it some risk, but we are doing our due diligence to conduct prescribed fires across the landscape in the safest way possible," stated regional forester Michiko Martin in a press release from the Forest Service Southwest Regional Office. "The new directions derived from the recent review provide our professionals with improved tools and processes to move forward. Additionally, we must integrate the collective knowledge and capability of tribes, partners, and communities to expand this important work in a safe and effective manner. The Coconino National Forest is now in the process of navigating through the recommendations and steps to resume prescribed fire on the Coconino, reported public affairs officer Brady Smith. Currently, that looks like setting dates to conduct the administrative discussions needed to proceed. The fall burn window is shrinking as the rain continues, but the Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim districts are putting some pile burns on the books in the future, Smith said. Nothing is currently slated down on the Red Rock Ranger District, but things might change as clearances get achieved. When pile burns do commence in the Flagstaff region, Smith said, they will most likely be visible from Interstate 17 and in the Dry Lake Hills area. For full access to the National Prescribed Fire Review, visit www.fs.usda.gov/news/releases/usda-forest-service-chief-randy-moores-statement-announcing-actions-forest-service. 21 More Malaysian Scam Victims Return From Cambodia, Laos SEPANG, MalaysiaAn additional 21 Malaysians rescued from human traffickers in Cambodia and Laos returned home on Thursday, as the government intensified efforts to locate scam victims reported missing abroad. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who met some of the returning victims at Kuala Lumpurs airport, said the government has now managed to rescue 273 people out of 401 reported missing in Cambodia, Laos, Burma (also known as Myanmar), and Thailand. Most have returned except for 60 still in immigration detention centers in those countries who are waiting to be processed, he said at a news conference. Saifuddin, who heads a new government group tackling the issue, said officials have stepped up measures to locate the remaining 128 people. He said most of the victims are in their 20s and urged Malaysians to check carefully before taking any jobs outside the country. The government has pledged to rescue Malaysians caught in what has been called modern slavery in the region. The issue took on more urgency after a 23-year-old Malaysian died in a Thai hospital near the Burma border after falling prey to a human trafficking scheme. Some opposition politicians believe the 401 people reported missing are only a fraction of the actual number of Malaysians who have been caught in such scams. The opposition has urged the government to take legal action against local agents working with the human trafficking syndicates and ban false job advertisements. Cambodia officials say they have uncovered numerous illegal online schemes that lured illegal workers and have arrested hundreds of people from China and Taiwan for involvement. Police said scammers, mainly from China, have used Cambodia as a base for extorting money. Apart from Cambodia, scammers are also known to have set up bases in Laos and Burma near the Thai border. A U.N. envoy has said the scam networks, which often have links to transnational organized crime, are set up in countries with weak law enforcement, attracting educated young workers with promises of high earnings. The workers are then subject to isolation and the threat of violence unless they succeed in cheating victims reached by phone into transferring payments into overseas bank accounts. 47 New Biden Administration Defendants Named in GovernmentBig Tech Censorship Lawsuit Nearly 50 new government defendants have been added to the lawsuit that alleges the U.S. government induced censorship of state officials and others on social media. The second amended complaint in the case, Missouri v. Biden, includes six new agencies, bringing that total to 13, and 41 new individual defendants, boosting that total to 54. Altogether, 67 officials or agencies are accused of violating plaintiffs First Amendment rights by participating in a censorship enterprise through pressuring Big Tech firms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter to take action against users offering alleged misinformation. Evidence backing the claims has been produced in discovery, including exchanges between White House officials and Meta, Facebooks parent company, and messages showing meetings between administration officials and the firms. The new defendants include the FBI; former White House senior COVID-19 adviser Andrew Slavitt; Dana Remus, counsel to President Joe Biden; Elvis Chan, an FBI special agent based in San Francisco; Janell Muhammed, deputy digital director at the Department of Health and Human Services; Allison Snell, an official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the State Department; and Mark Robbins, interim executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. One or more of the Big Tech firms subpoenaed in the case identified the officials as possibly communicating with them on content moderation relating to COVID-19 misinformation, the New York Posts story about Hunter Bidens laptop, the administrations since-disbanded Disinformation Governance Board, and/or election security, integrity, outcomes, and/or public confidence in election outcomes (not to include issues of foreign interference or related issues). Slavitt was named because emails show he was in communication with Facebook regarding the combating of alleged misinformation. The messages show that Facebook was committed to censoring and de-emphasizing posts that were departing from the governments messaging on vaccines, plaintiffs said. Slavitt also called for Twitter to ban Alex Berenson, an independent journalist, previously released messages show. Muhammed, meanwhile, was in touch with Facebook to ask the company to take down pages and accounts that were allegedly misrepresenting themselves as representing the government. Absolutely, one of the Facebook employees responded. Other discovery suggests the FDA has participated in federally-induced censorship of private speech on social media about questions of vaccine safety and efficacy, among other subjects, plaintiffs said. The agencies that were added to the case didnt respond to requests for comment with the exception of the FBI, which declined to comment. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointee overseeing the case, recently ordered defendants named in earlier complaints to comply with demands, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top medical adviser to Biden. The new documents dont include any more information from Fauci or the White House press secretarys office. The Complexities of Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited illness that ravages the lungs and many other organs in the body. Fifty years ago, children with CF generally died by about age 10. But wide-ranging research has led to dramatic improvements in treatment. Today, the life expectancy for CF patients in the U.S. has risen to about 37 years. Some with CF live into their 40s, 50s, or even older. CF affects 30,000 people in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide. The main symptom is thick mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to repeated infections, scarring (fibrosis), and gradual deterioration. When we breathe, mucus is there to keep us protected, trapping particles and bacteria and moving these away from the lungs, says Dr. William B. Guggino, a researcher with the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Center. But in CF, the mucus gets sticky, and bacteria grow on sticky mucus. Because CF also affects other organs, such as the pancreas, it interferes with the bodys ability to digest food. This is a special concern for children and youths. Breathing, growth, and development are all affected by the disease. CF is caused by abnormal changes in a gene called CFTR. More than 10 million people in the U.S. carry an abnormal version of the gene, but most probably dont realize it because they have no symptoms. To have CF, a person must inherit 2 defective copies of the geneone from each parent. Yet its not that simple. Some people have a relatively mild form of the disease, while others have a more severe form. NIH-funded researchers are studying what causes these differences. One team of researchers is looking at identical twins with CF. In general, twin studies can tease apart certain factors, such as how variations in genes and environment affect survival. If both twins have CF and one fares better than the other, are certain genes affecting the way the disease is activated? If these twins live separately, do different environments affect their lungs? Although CF has no cure, research has yielded new and effective medications. These help thin the mucus, open the airways, fight infection, and aid digestion. A daily routine of good self-care is also essential. This often includes repeated rounds of chest physical therapy, also called chest clapping or percussion. Patients must sit or lie in a position to help drain the mucus from their lungs. Then a therapist, family member, or friend claps them rhythmically on the back to help loosen mucus so it can be coughed up. A mechanical vest can also be used to vibrate the chest and clear the airways. Couples with a family history of CF should speak with their health care provider about newborn screening when planning or expecting a baby. Even in infants only a few months old, the disease is often silent, and the disease quickly progresses, says Dr. Susan Banks-Schlegel, who oversees a CF research program at NIH. Newborn screening is very important so we can intervene early. Early diagnosis and treatment can help raise the life expectancy of people living with CF. A Breakdown in Breathing was originally published by the National Institutes of Health. Indigenous academic Anthony Dillon (L), Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price (C) and Indigenous leader Warren Mundine (R) spoke at CPAC Australia in Sydney, on Oct. 1, 2022. (Horace Young/The Epoch Times) Affirmative Action Removes Individual Agency: Indigenous Senator Framing Aboriginal Australians as victims removes responsibility from themselves as an individual rather than helping them flourish, says an Indigenous Australian senator. Jacinta Price, new Country Liberal Party senator for Northern Territory, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 1 that such an approach creates the expectation that the perceived oppressor, who is white Australians in this case, is responsible to empower you. The problem with the idea that there are two classes of people is that it doesnt recognise peoples true capabilities as human beings, she said. When you say Im a victim, you are effectively handing over your power to somebody else. Youre not a victim just because you are Aboriginal [or] because of your heritage. You are a human being, first and foremost, who is capable of great things. Price also criticised attempts by politicians and activists to speak on behalf of remote Indigenous communities whose first language is not English and who still live very close to the traditional way of life. Such an approach portrays Indigenous people as one homogenous group of people, the Northern Territory senator added. No race of people on Earth all think the same. Were not respected as individuals in our own right. Price was one of the notable speakers at CPAC (Conservatory Political Action Conference) Australia held in Sydney on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. The event saw prominent figures from different areas discussing political, social and environmental affairs from the conservative standpoint. Searching For The Truth The comment comes as the centre-left Labor Party and the left-wing Australian Greens look to institutionalise an Indigenous advisory body in Parliament which requires adjustment in the constitution. A referendum is due to be held before the next election in May 2025. Meanwhile, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, who is also of Indigenous heritage, pushed for a treaty and truth-telling process of past and current injustices against Indigenous people. Lets tell some truth We are the fabric of this country, and were not treated like that. Were treated with contempt, really; weve got to always prove our existence in this country. So truth will help heal, truth will help unite. Treaty is a mechanism for a negotiation of settlement, Senator Thorpe said in August, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sept. 27 told 4BC Radio that the truth-telling should absolutely be included in the school curriculum. However, Price argued that the teachings of Aboriginal culture and history should reflect the truth that is not the romanticised version and not guilt politics. There is a void because a lot of Australians dont know about traditional Aboriginal culture. And that void is filled with a romanticism of culture, or a reinvention of culture, she told The Epoch Times. That projection is put on to non-Indigenous kids [who] dont need to feel as though that theyve done something wrong because of their backgrounds. We cant speak on behalf of one another or act in the best interest of one another. Creating a deeper understanding of traditional Aboriginal culture in school, Price added, would help people realise just how close we are as human beings to one another rather than divide society. A poll worker checks in a voter before they cast a ballot in the Georgia primary election at the Park Tavern polling location on May 24, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images) After Election Firm CEOs Arrest, Republicans Push to Terminate Contract With Georgia County ATLANTA, Ga.Local Republicans in Atlanta were tarred last month as election deniers and conspiracy theorists for expressing concerns about Konnech, an election subcontractor with alleged Chinese links. The DeKalb County Elections Board disregarded the concerns and finalized a contract with Konnech. But in a stunning turn of events, the companys CEO Eugene Yu was arrested by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office earlier this week for allegedly storing the data of Los Angeles County elections workers in China in violation of its contract with the county. Now, DeKalb Countys Republican Chairwoman Marci McCarthy is requesting the county Elections Board to terminate its contract with Konnech. The DeKalb Board of Elections is exposing County taxpayers to extraordinary legal risk and financial liability if they cannot enforce the terms of the contract with Konnechwhich guarantees that Konnech stores the data in the Continental United States in a certified Microsoft Azure hosting facility, McCarthy said in a letter to the five-member board. If Personal Identifiable Information (PII) belonging to election staff and poll workers has been or could be transferred to China, as alleged in California, the risk and cost of a class action lawsuit could be devastating to DeKalb County finances. This represents a clear, avoidable, and unnecessary risk to DeKalb County. Dekalb County GOP Chairman Marci McCarthy speaks at an election-night event in Atlanta on May 24, 2022. (Megan Varner/Getty Images) The Elections Board was assessing the situation and waiting for more information before acting, a spokesman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. The board did not respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, one of the nations most leftist prosecutors, said in a press release that the case against Konnech does not involve voter or elections fraud. The District Attorneys office did not respond to a request for more information by The Epoch Times. McCarthy acknowledged that Poll Chief, Konnechs software in question, isnt used for ballots or vote tabulation. But, she said, it provides personal information that could give whoever holds the information direct access to paid seasonal poll workers and volunteer poll watchers. Seasonal poll workers are not issued work email addresses, so the board communicates via their personal email addresses, McCarthy told The Epoch Times. She said that as she tries to fill poll watcher slots for Election Day, she is facing more and more concerns on this issue from potential volunteers. Yu, whose company is based in East Lansing, Michigan, was arrested in the area by investigators from the Los Angeles District Attorneys office, assisted by local police from Meridian Township. California sought his extradition. A local District Court official initially ordered him to remain in jail until an extradition hearing, but a local judge on Thursday granted Yus request for a $1 million bond. The judge ordered him to wear a GPS tether, give his passport to Michigan authorities and surrender to Los Angeles authorities by October 14. The company has a five-year, $2.9 million contract with Los Angeles County. Its website earlier Thursday said it had thousands of clients. But that was updated by the afternoon to read, From Konnechs first-client partnership with the City of Detroit to the 32 clients we currently work with within North America, our Founder and President, Eugene Yu, has implemented a client-centered approach. We are continuing to ascertain the details of what we believe to be Mr. Yus wrongful detention by LA County authorities, Konnech said in a statement. Any LA County poll worker data that Konnech may have possessed was provided to it by LA County, and therefore could not have been stolen as suggested. This investigation is concerned solely with the personal identifying information of election workers, Gascons office said in a statement. In this case, the alleged conduct had no impact on the tabulation of votes and did not alter election results. But security in all aspects of any election is essential so that we all have full faith in the integrity of the election process. Alaska Senators Urge Stronger Border Protection After Russian Men Cross Sea to Claim Asylum Two U.S. senators from Alaska are pushing for a stronger national security posture in the northwest after two men escaping Russias military draft arrived by boat on U.S. soil and claimed asylum. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both Republicans, said the federal response to the incident highlighted the need for stronger security measures in the region amid the RussiaUkraine war. They also said it may be a sign that more Russians will flee the country to escape conscription. In fact, the incident occurred a week after the White House said America would welcome any Russian seeking refuge. The men sailed from a coastal city in northeastern Russia and arrived at a beach near Gambell on the northwest side of St. Lawrence Island. The men were first met by local community leaders whom Sullivan reportedly praised for handling the situation until federal border officials arrived by plane from 750 miles away. St. Lawrence Island is located in the Bering Sea, west of mainland Alaska. Gambell, near the beach where the men landed, is around 50 miles from Russias far east Chukchi Peninsula. St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska can be seen on a map. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) On Thursday, Murkowski said she and Sullivan were engaged with federal officials and local residents to determine who the men are. She also indicated a potential weak spot in national security, noting that a federal presence in the Bering Strait region was lacking. Only local officials and state law enforcement had the capability to immediately respond to the asylum seekers, while Customs and Border Protection had to dispatch a Coast Guard aircraft from over 750 miles away to get on scene, Murkowski said in a joint statement. This situation underscores the need for a stronger security posture in Americas Arctic, which I have championed throughout my time in the Senate. Senators Urge Feds to Prepare for More Russian Asylum Seekers The incident may be a sign that more Russians could follow suit in order to escape fighting in Putins war of aggression against Ukraine, according to Sullivan. Sullivan said he phoned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday when St. Lawrence Island locals first contacted him about the situation. I continue to be in regular communication with DHS Secretary Mayorkas and officials at Customs and Border Protection and have encouraged them to have a plan ready with the Coast Guard in the event that more Russians flee to Bering Strait communities in Alaska, Sullivan said. This incident makes two things clear: First, the Russian people dont want to fight Putins war of aggression against Ukraine, Sullivan said. A woman says goodbye to a reservist drafted during partial mobilisation, before his departure for a military base, in the city of Bataysk, in the Rostov region, Russia Sept. 26, 2022. (Sergey Pivovarov/Reuters) The second issue made clear by the incident, Sullivan said, is that Alaskas proximity to Russia in the Bering Straits region means his state has a vital role to play securing Americas national security. This is why Senator Murkowski and I have been pressing officials in Washington D.C. so hard on the need to prioritize capabilities in the Arcticincluding infrastructure, Coast Guard assets, ports, and strategic defense assets, he said. Sullivan said CBP were processing the men to determine their admissibility to enter the United States as asylum seekers. Under U.S. law, in order for a foreign national to seek asylum stateside, an individual must first come to the U.S. border and make their case. According to DHS, the men were flown to Anchorage and processed in accordance with applicable U.S. immigration laws under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Alaskan News Source reported. Immigration attorney Margaret Stock, who noted that she doesnt know the specifics of their case, said the men were legally allowed to claim asylum. Theyre following the law. If you want to apply for asylum you have to show up in America. You either have to walk up to the border and claim asylum or you have to somehow get into America. We dont allow people to file for asylum in foreign countries, she said in an interview with Alaska Beacon. Stock said the men would have strong cases for asylum if they were seeking to avoid joining an army that is committing war crimes. Illegal immigration is uncommon in Alaska whereas along the southern U.S. border it happens in unprecedented numbers. Southern leaders point to the Biden administrations soft border policies for the skyrocketing numbers of illegal immigrants approaching the southern border to claim asylum. Protesters gathered in Flagstaff and across the country on Saturday for a series of Womens Wave Marches to protest the overturning of Roe v. A 30-year-old Albanian national is arrested by National Crime Agency officers in a dawn raid in Surbiton, southwest London, on Oct. 7, 2022. (National Crime Agency) Albanian Suspected of English Channel People Smuggling Arrested in London Dawn Raid The National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested a 30-year-old Albanian in London who is suspected of trafficking people across the English Channel from France in small, inflatable boats. The man, who has not been identified, was arrested in the suburb of Surbiton in southwest London during a dawn raid on Friday morning. It comes days after the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, told the Conservative Party conference she would do whatever it takes to stop the flow of illegal immigrants across the Channel. Braverman said people who deliberately enter the United Kingdom illegally from a safe country would be sent back to their home country or relocated to Rwanda, and she said there would be a blanket ban on political asylum claims for people who came across the Channel. In a statement, the NCA said the man arrested in Surbiton was suspected of involvement in an Albanian organised crime group co-ordinating the movements of migrants from France to the UK on small boats. It said his home was searched and NCA officers seized cash, mobile phones, and a computer tablet. He is being questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. According to Home Office figures, the number of people smuggled into the UK on small boats has soared in recent years, with 28,526 people detected in 2021, compared to 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019, and 299 in 2018. By the end of September, 32,807 people had made the journey this year and many of them are believed to be from Albania, often tempted by adverts on TikTok by people-trafficking gangs. These Networks Exploit Them for Profit In August, Albanian journalist Muhamed Veliu told The Epoch Times Kurdish gangs controlled most of the people trafficking from France to Britain, and Albanians were middlemen whose primary job was to recruit passengers and for which they received a commission. The NCAs Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said: Attempts to reach the UK by small boat are incredibly dangerous, and we know a high percentage are facilitated by organised criminal networks of varying sophistication. These networks do not care about the safety or security of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit. He added, We believe todays operation will have disrupted the activity of one such network. The NCA says it has 60 ongoing investigations into human-trafficking networks. The Royal Navy began Operation Isotrope in March, which involves intercepting small boats and bringing people safely to shore, but in July armed forces minister James Heappey denied the navy was acting as a tour guide to the illegal immigrants. An Indian customer waits to receive his Apple iPhone 6 at the Unicorn Infosolutions Apple Premium Reseller store in Ahmedabad early on Oct. 17, 2014. (Sam Panthaky/AFP via Getty Images) Apples Global Manufacturing Strategy Tilts Towards India With Taiwan Factories Playing Leading Role Apples latest phone model iPhone 14 is set to be produced and assembled in India, with Taiwan-based foundries Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron playing key roles. News that Apple has begun assembling iPhone 14 models in India, was released on Sept. 26 and is being seen as another indication that the tech giants global production strategy is tilting away from China. J.P. Morgan has predicted that Apple will shift 5 percent of its global iPhone 14 production to India by this year and 25 percent by end of 2025. A Foxconn plant located 40km away from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is assembling the iPhone 14. The plant has also been assembling iPhone 13 since April, Reuters reported. In 2017, Apple first assigned Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Wistron to produce the Indian-made iPhone while Foxconn followed a year later. A third Taiwanese foundry Pegatron set up an assembly plant in India in 2021, according to Taiwan-based Business Today. Indian-made iPhones are expected to increase by more than 70 percent this year to 12 million units, compared to 7 million units last year, as reported by Digitimes, a Taiwan-based news media focus on semiconductor and electronics industries, on Sept. 7. People exit from the gate of Wistron, a Taiwanese-run iPhone factory at Narsapura, about 60 km from Bangalore on Dec. 13, 2020. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images) Advantages of Taiwanese Assembly Plants From the early launch of the iPhone third generation series to now, only those three Taiwanese plantsFoxconn, Wistron, and Pegatronare able to meet Apples specifications, Taiwan financial expert Shiu Chin-Huang told The Epoch Times. It is not easy to assemble smartphones as it requires more and smaller components and higher assembly complexity, he said. Furthermore, factories must deliver the specified quantities and minimize defects while controlling costs. Shiu said that the electronic component manufacturing company Luxshare in mainland China is also incorporated into Apples supply chain, but Apple currently allows it to make part of the iPhone 14 series, mainly supplying the Chinese market. Luxshares assembly capacity cannot compete with Foxconn, said Shiu, citing that Luxshare is unable to meet Apples quality requirements, as the high-end iPhone 14 pro series requires higher complexity of assembly technology. Made in India Apples shift comes as businesses in China have been dealing with a worsening business environment including disruptive zero-COVID policies, tightening regulations, and international tensions. Asked why he thought Apple was looking beyond China, Shiu said he believed it was due to the communist authorities aggressive desire for personal data control and market share of the benefits. As an example, Shiu said that this year regulators told Apple that cell phones sold to the Chinese market should have a certain ratio of Chinese domestic production and must use NAND flash, a storage device made by state-backed Yangtze Memory. Apples tipping its manufacturing base to India represents its global layout, which would be that iPhones sold to China are made in China, while phones made in India can be sold to the whole world, Shiu said. Aaron Babbitt with his wife Ashli, who was killed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Courtesy Aaron Babbitt) Ashli Babbitts Killer Housed in Secret at Joint Base Andrews After January 6 Shooting, Judicial Watch Alleges Michael Byrd, the U.S. Capitol Police lieutenant who shot and killed an unarmed Ashli Babbitt at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was secretly housed at a major Maryland military base after the shooting, while his name was being withheld from the public, a new lawsuit contends. That allegation was made on Oct. 7 by Judicial Watch, which said it filed a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to unearth details about the housing arrangement at Joint Base Andrews, which was known as Andrews Air Force Base prior to 2009. The suit (pdf) was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Department of Defense, FBI, and Department of Justice failed to respond to Judicial Watch requests for information related to the housing arrangement, Judicial Watch said in a news release. Byrd reportedly was housed at Joint Base Andrews after the shooting, reads the lawsuit, Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Defense et al. (22-cv-02948). No other details about the alleged housing arrangement were released on Friday. The Epoch Times reached out to Judicial Watch for more details, but did not get a response by press time. The newspaper also asked for comment from Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, but did not get an immediate reply. Davis previously said the committee is working with several U.S. Capitol Police whistleblowers regarding the management of the department. The lawsuit said Judicial Watch is seeking: All records related to the billeting of U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd at JBA from January 6, 2021 to the present, including but not limited to authorization papers, housing, meals, transportation, visitor logs, electronic communications between JBA officials and U.S. Capitol Police officials, U.S. Justice Department officials and any other military or government officials, electronic communications between JBA officials and Lt. Byrd. Byrd shot and killed an unarmed Babbitt as she appeared to climb into a broken-out window leading into the Speakers Lobby at 2:44 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. Behind her was a raucous crowd of rioters, including many suspicious actors and material witnesses who have not been identified, arrested, or charged for their presence at the Capitol or questioned as witnesses at the scene of a fatal shooting. Aaron Babbitt, Ashli Babbitts widower, told The Epoch Times he wants to learn more about Judicial Watchs findings before commenting. Shooters ID Hidden for Months The Babbitt shooting was unusual in many respects. Byrds identity as the shooter was hidden from the public for seven months until he decided to go on NBC for a nationwide interview with Lester Holt. Byrd would not talk to internal affairs detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department who led the investigation into the shooting. According to a DOJ report, Byrd agreed to a voluntary debrief and walk-through of the scene with his attorney in late January 2021, in which he stated that if the mob of rioters outside the Speakers Lobby had gained entry, it wasnt going to go well. The U.S. Department of Justice cleared Byrd of wrongdoing, even without having a sworn statement from him on the circumstances of the shooting, or any written incident reports from him. The DOJ withheld its report on the shooting. Judicial Watch sued for its release and made the document public in June. Byrd was also cleared by U.S. Capitol Police and returned to duty. After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances in this case there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Lt. Byrd violated Ms. McEntees (sic) civil rights by willfully using more force than was reasonably necessary, or was not acting in self-defense or the defense of others, read the undated 14-page document. McEntee was Babbitts former married name. Killed Under Color of Authority Stan Kephart, a use-of-force expert interviewed for The Epoch Times documentary, The Real Story of Jan. 6, called the shooting murder. My conclusion based on what I saw and observed in the video clips, is that Ashli Babbitt was murdered, said Kephart, a 42-year veteran of law enforcement and former director of security for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. He has testified on topics that include excessive force, police discipline, officer safety, and crowd control. She was shot and killed under color of authority by an officer who violated not only the law but his oath, and committed an arrestable offense. That contention was hotly disputed by Mark Schamel, an attorney for Byrd. When Ms. Babbitt entered through the broken window and entered the inner protected area, wearing a backpack and refusing the verbal commands of multiple armed federal officers with weapons drawn, the threat she posed was clear, Schamel told The Epoch Times in July. Lt. Byrd, as the first officer in the final line of defense, was absolutely justified in his use of force. Byrd said he shouted commands telling Babbitt to stop, but it appears no one in the Speakers Lobby hallway heard them. Three U.S. Capitol Police officers stationed outside the entrance doors reported they did not hear anything coming from inside the Speakers Lobby. At Least 2 Dead, 6 Injured in Stabbing on Las Vegas Strip A man who went on a stabbing attack with a large kitchen knife on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, killed at least two people and injured six more before he was taken into custody, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have confirmed. The motive of the man is unknown, police said in a release, adding that he will be booked into the Clark Count Detention Center. Authorities announced at a press conference that the suspect identified himself to police and they are working to determine his true identity. They described him as Hispanic and in his 30s, and said he does not appear to be a Las Vegas resident. The stabbing took place in front of a casino in the 3100 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Police had received a report around 11:42 a.m. local time about the attack. Of the eight victims that officers found, [o]ne of those victims was pronounced deceased at the scene, and a second victim was pronounced deceased at University Medical Center, according to the department. The remaining victims were transported to area hospitals. Currently, three of them are in critical condition and the others are stable, it added. Witnesses told Las Vegas TV stations that some of the victims appeared to be showgirls or street performers who take pictures with tourists on the Strip. One woman told ABC-affiliate KTNV that the suspect told her he was a chef and that he wanted to take a picture with some of the showgirls with his knife, but then he started stabbing people when the group declined the mans request or offer. One witness, Pierre Fandrich, told the outlet he thought he heard three or four showgirls laughing, and it turned out to be screaming. He noted that while he didnt see the stabbing suspect as he was walking along the Strip, he saw a lot of blood as one woman ran across a bridge, one was on the ground, and another had a stab wound on her back as she tried to help the fallen woman. Fandrich also told KTNV that he thought one of the victims fell from the bridge because there was so much blood on the ground. At a press conference in the stabbings aftermath, James LaRochelle, the departments deputy chief, said the initial stabbing appeared unprovoked and took place on the eastern sidewalk of Las Vegas Boulevard. And then, the suspect subsequently goes southbound on the sidewalk area and stabs additional victims, five victims there, he added. And there was an additional victim on the south side of sands also. The Clark County Coroners Office will later release the names of the victims, as well as the cause and manner of death. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the names of the two people killed were being withheld until their relatives can be notified. The suspect fled and was followed by 911 callers before he was taken into custody, authorities said. LaRochelle said that police recovered a large knife with a long blade they believed was used in the stabbing. He called the case a hard-to-comprehend murder investigation. Police said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Section, or if they want to remain anonymous, they can contact Crime Stoppers. Lombardo said at the press conference: Its very difficult in one-off events such as this to prevent it from happening without any intelligence that it may occur. But important for people to realize the response is as important as it is in preventing to stop the harm and the loss of life associated with these types of events. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Oct. 6, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Admin Unveils Tough Restrictions on Semiconductor Exports to China The Biden administration unveiled sweeping new export controls on Oct. 7 in an effort to hamstring the military modernization of an increasingly hostile China. Among the new export rules is a measure that will cut communist China off from certain semiconductor chips that are made with U.S. technologies, regardless of whether the chips were manufactured in the United States. The move is likely to be seen as a natural follow-up to the CHIPS and Science Act, which U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law in August. That law allocates billions of dollars in investments into the domestic manufacturing of advanced semiconductor chips. China is trying to move way ahead of us in manufacturing [advanced chips], Biden said during an Oct. 6 speech. Its no wonder, literally, the Chinese Communist Party actively lobbied against the CHIPS and Science Act that Ive been pushing in the United States Congress. The United States has to lead the world in producing these advanced chips. Advanced semiconductor chips are used to make everything from pickup trucks to hypersonic missiles. Currently, more than 60 percent of the worlds supply of chips is produced in Taiwan, many of them with the help of U.S. research and design. The rules announced by the administration will build on restrictions developed earlier in the year that effectively require some companies to halt shipments of equipment to Chinese-owned factories producing advanced chips. US Asserts Strength With New Rules The move to cut off China from U.S. research and design presents a vast expansion of the White Houses efforts to retard the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) military modernization and associated technological advances in quantum computing and artificial intelligence. If effective, the new rules could set Chinas domestic chip manufacturing industry back by years by compelling U.S. and foreign companies that use U.S. technologies to cut off support for Chinas leading factories and chip designers. The move is also likely to ameliorate previous fears about the CHIPS and Science Act over the issue of whether some companies might develop new chips with taxpayer money, then export their manufacture to China. Senior government officials said in an Oct. 6 briefing that many of the rules sought to prevent foreign firms from selling advanced chips to China or supplying Chinese firms with tools to make their own advanced chips. Were going to make sure that companies that take these taxpayers dollars do not turn around and make investments in China investments that undermine our supply chains and national security, Biden said. Thats a guarantee. The future of the chips industry is going to be made in America. The supply chain is going to start here and end here in the United States. Officials said they havent yet secured promises from allied nations to implement similar measures. Discussions to create a multinational effort toward that end were ongoing. We recognize that the unilateral controls were putting into place will lose effectiveness over time if other countries dont join us, one official said. The expansion of U.S. powers to control chip exports to China is based on a broadening of the so-called foreign direct product rule. The rule was previously expanded to give the U.S. government the authority to control exports of chips made overseas to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The new regulations will also severely restrict the export of U.S. equipment to Chinese chip makers and effectively formalizes letters sent to Nvidia and AMD earlier in the year restricting shipments to China of chips required for supercomputing systems that could be used to develop nuclear weapons and other military technologies. Reuters contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden (L) walks to board Air Force One before departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Oct. 6, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Says World Faces Prospect of Armageddon Over Putins Alleged Threat to Use Nuclear Weapons U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday night compared Russian President Vladimir Putins alleged threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine to the potential Armageddon of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Speaking to Democrat donors, Biden invoked the specter of the Cuban missile crisis while remarking on the state of the RussiaUkraine war, as Ukraines forces recapture more territory in the countrys south. Biden said that he and U.S. officials are trying to work out a diplomatic off-ramp for Putin as Russias invasion is characterized as unraveling. Were trying to figure out what is Putins off-ramp Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position he does not, not only lose face, but lose significant power in Russia, Biden said. The president warned that Putin wasnt joking when he spoke about the tactical use of nuclear weapons in September, calling it the biggest nuclear threat since the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis. [Putins] not joking when he talks about [the] potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, is significantly under-performing, Biden said. Biden said that for the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons if things continue down the path theyre going. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis, he added. The Cuban missile crisis was a 35-day standoff in October 1962 between the Soviet Union and the United States, which came close to using nuclear weapons in response to the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. What Putin Said While Putins remarks in September suggested that Russia would use all weapons in its arsenal against Ukraine in order to defend its territorial integrity, he did not specifically call for using nuclear weapons. However, other Russian authorities were more explicit, including former President Dmitry Medvedev and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. In his speech, Putin said: If the territorial integrity of our nation is threatened, we will certainly use all the means that we have to defend Russia and our people. Its not a bluff. Bidens assessment on Thursday night appears to be at odds with both the U.S. Intelligence Community and previous statements made by the White House. The White House has said repeatedly that it has seen no indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in its conflict with Ukraine despite what it calls Putins nuclear saber-rattling. CIA Director William Burns told CBS News that while they take Putins comments very seriously, the Intelligence Community saw no practical evidence that Moscow is moving closer to actual use of nuclear weapons. There is also no imminent threat of using tactical nuclear weapons in the seven-month-long Ukraine war, he added. But Bidens comments on Thursday indicate he is keeping an eye on Putin in light of Ukraines military making gains against Russian invaders. Biden made his remarks at the home of businessman James Murdoch, the son of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, in a bid to boost his partys chances at the November midterms. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy after touring the Volvo Group Powertrain facility in Hagerstown, Md., on Oct. 7, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Bidens Anti-Drilling Policies Have Cut Oil Supplies as Much as the OPEC+ Decision, Study Reveals President Joe Bidens anti-drilling policies have cost the United States about the same rate of daily oil production that was recently slashed off world markets by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The United States would be producing between 2 and 3 million more barrels of oil a day and between 20 and 25 more billion cubic feet of natural gas under the Trump policies, said a recent study (pdf) by the organization Committee to Unleash Prosperity. This translates into an economic lossor tax on the American economyof roughly $100 billion a year. OPEC, which includes major producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced it was reducing oil production by 2 million barrels per day, in a move seen as a setback for Biden. The U.S. president had visited Saudi Arabia in July to push the kingdom into increasing production amid historically high U.S. gas prices. Following the decision, Biden announced the release of 10 million more barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in a bid to contain the uptick of oil prices. Price for Brent crude oil has gone up by more than 3 percent since the OPEC reduction news on Oct. 5, from $93.34 at 8:30 EDT, to $96.15, as of Oct. 7, 9:52 a.m. The president will continue to direct [Strategic Petroleum Reserve] releases as appropriate to protect American consumers and promote energy security, according to a statement by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese. Draining Strategic Reserves The analysis by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity found that the United States would not have had to sell a single barrel of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if the Trump drilling policies had remained in place. The amount of oil production lost because of Bidens war on fossil fuels is about four times greater (600 million barrels) than the amount of oil extracted (150 million barrels through July 2022) from the reserves, according to the analysis. By the end of this month, Biden will have drained the reserves to a 38-year low. When he took office in the beginning of 2021, the SPR carried a stock of 638 million barrels, which since has to 416 million, a reduction of almost 35 percent, with more to go. There would have been 657 million barrels of oil contributed to the fuel supply in the country if Trump-era business conditions were maintained, compared to the 145 million barrels outputted from the reserves over a period of 250 days, said the study. Although Biden claims hes doing all I can to reduce fuel prices and that the country is approaching record levels of oil and natural gas production, the current administration has displayed hostility toward the oil and gas industry, while shifting the price-blame toward major oil companies, said the report. The current pain at the pump can mostly be attributed to taking hundreds of thousands of acres offline for drilling, to canceling pipelines, to restrictive environmental regulations that make drilling more expensive. The report concludes with the recommendation to increase U.S. production that would contribute a lot toward reducing energy prices rather than releasing reserves because of the comparatively small magnitude of the releases, and the need to replenish reserves. Policies more friendly to oil and gas production would mean more jobs, more GDP, lower trade deficits, and lower gas prices at the pump. Zhao Changpeng, founder and chief executive officer of Binance, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2022. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters) Binance-Linked Blockchain Hit by $570 Million Crypto Hack LONDONA blockchain linked to Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange, has been hit by a $570 million hack, a Binance spokesperson said on Friday, the latest in a series of hacks to hit the crypto sector this year. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said in a tweet that tokens were stolen from a blockchain bridge used in the BNB Chain, known until February as Binance Smart Chain. Blockchain bridges are tools used to transfer cryptocurrencies between different applications. Criminals have increasingly targeted them, with some $2 billion stolen in 13 different hacks, mostly this year, researcher Chainalysis said in August. The hackers stole around $100 million worth of crypto, Zhao said in his tweet. BNB Chain later said in a blog post that a total of 2 million of the BNB cryptocurrencyworth around $570 million was withdrawn by the hacker. The majority of the BNB remained in the hackers digital wallet address, while about $100 million worth was unrecovered, the Binance spokesperson said by email. BNB Chain supports BNB, formerly known as Binance Coin, which is the worlds fifth-largest token with a market value of over $45 billion, according to data site CoinGecko. Elliptic, a London-based crypto blockchain researcher, told Reuters that the hacker had minted 2 million new BNB tokens before transferring most of the funds to other cryptocurrencies including Tether and USD Coin. BNB Chain suspended its blockchain for several hours before resuming at around 06:30 GMT, it said in a tweet. BNB Chain was able to stop the incident from spreading by contacting the blockchains validators,entities or individuals who verify blockchain transactions, it said in its blog post. There are 44 validators across several different time zones, it added without elaborating. BNB Chain, described by Binance as a community-driven, open-sourced, and decentralized ecosystem, said it would introduce a new governance mechanism to counter future hacks, as well as expand the number of validators. In March, hackers stole around $615 million from a blockchain bridge called Ronin Bridge, in one of the largest crypto heists on record, linked by the United States to North Korean hackers. By Elizabeth Howcroft Deborah Peoples, Democratic candidate for Fort Worth mayor, attends a gathering in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 5, 2021. Republican Mattie Parker was elected Saturday as the next mayor of Fort Worth, keeping it one of America's few big cities with a GOP mayor. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP) Bodycam Footage Shows Texas Man Admitting to Brazen Cash-for-Ballots Scheme The race for county judge in Texass Tarrant County, the states third largest by population, was rocked last month when allegations of past fraudulent ballot harvesting surfaced against Democratic nominee Deborah Peoples. Footage from a bodycam worn by a Fort Worth police officer shows a man telling a policeman that Peoples allegedly paid him $200 cash for every fraudulently cast absentee ballot he could deliver in the months before the 2016 presidential election. The footage of the Jan. 3, 2020, conversation was obtained through a public records request and first appeared in a Gateway Pundit article in mid-September. The Fort Worth Police Department confirmed the videos authenticity to The Epoch Times. The video shows a nighttime discussion between the officer and a bicyclist he stopped for riding in the wrong direction on a public street. After identifying the rider as Charles Jackson, the officer realized he was acquainted with Jackson from a previous encounter on the streets of Fort Worth in 2016. During the first encounter, the homeless Jackson had difficulty explaining why he had $1,000 in cash on his person. Jackson said it had something to do with the election. At the time, the officer warned him that tampering with elections could have severe consequences and let him go. Jackson didnt heed the policemans advice, and sometime after his 2016 brush with law enforcement, he was arrested and charged with providing false information on a voting application. In the 2020 bodycam video, Jackson says that after his arrest, he was quickly bailed out of jail by a person he knew to be closely affiliated with Peoples. He also says that the judge imposed a gag order on all parties to the case. Jackson pleaded guilty in April 2019 in exchange for a lesser sentence. They trying to get me for 10 years. I didnt know it was that bad. It turned out theyd been stealing votes, he tells the policeman in the video. Despite a record of previous felonies, which made him eligible to serve up to 10 years in prison, Jackson was sentenced to 10 days in jail with credit for 10 days served. The gag order didnt stop Jackson from telling the policeman who pulled him over in 2020 that he was hired by Peoples, then-chairperson of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. I can talk now, Jackson says. Im done with it. Deborah gave me cash. Jackson says he was provided with the personal voting registration information of elderly Texans. His job was to visit them and deceive them into signing absentee ballot documents that he misrepresented as county election forms used to certify that their personal data was correct. Jackson then voted for all the Democratic candidates listed on the ballots and turned them in for cash. The victims had no idea what was happening. Many were surprised when they requested an absentee ballot or showed up at the polls on Election Day and were told they had already voted. In the video, Jackson alleges that Peoples personally paid him in cash for his services. He says he was also rewarded with a moped and bonuses over the six months he engaged in the ballot harvesting scaman enterprise that he claims earned him between $900 and $1,200 per week. Peoples didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. On Sept. 26, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper cited Peoples as saying that Republicans were disrespecting voters by leaning on false information from an outlet famous for spreading lies to serve an extreme agenda. In an Oct. 4 phone interview with The Epoch Times, Timothy OHare, Peopless Republican opponent, explained that in Tarrant County, the position of county judge is akin to a county executive and carries immense administrative authority. Its like being the mayor of the county. Over 2 million people live here. We are the third-largest county in Texas and the 15th-largest in the United States, he said. Commenting on the bodycam video, OHare said people should watch it and decide for themselves what to believe. If Deborah Peoples participated in an illegal voting operation, she is unfit to hold any public office and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, he said. If an investigation into the allegations referenced in the video has not already commenced, one should begin immediately. Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, a Republican, announced in a Sept. 26 statement that it would be inappropriate for the sheriffs office to investigate allegations of election fraud leveled at Peoples because he had endorsed OHare for County Judge. The Tarrant County district attorneys office, the office of the Texas attorney general, and the Texas Ranger Division didnt respond by press time to questions from The Epoch Times about any potential or ongoing investigation of Peoples. According to longtime Texas political consultant Aaron Harris, who said he isnt working for the OHare campaign, modern-day election fraud isnt unusual in the Lone Star state, especially in Tarrant County. He told The Epoch Times that since 2015, the county has been at the forefront of exposing the Democrats history of ballot harvesting and election fraud and that he was shocked when the party made Peoples their nominee for county judge. Make no mistake, Deborah Peoples [has long been] at the center of Tarrant County harvesting, he said. As the Democrat county chair. she operated a consulting service whose specialty was mail-in ballots. Harvesting was her bread and butter. Harris also stated that, in Texas, Democrats and Republicans had been involved in ballot harvesting schemes. Ballot harvesting in local elections is more about grift than ideology, he said. In 2018, four women were indicted by the Texas attorney general for alleged election fraud in Tarrant County. The Texas secretary of state announced in 2019 that a cross-check of the states voter rolls with its Department of Public Safety records uncovered that 95,000 noncitizens registered to vote, and 58,000 of them voted in one or more Texas elections. A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub variants is pictured at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S., Sept. 8, 2022. (Reuters/Hannah Beier) Canada Authorises Pfizers Omicron Retooled Booster Canada on Friday authorised updated COVID-19 booster shots from Pfizer Inc and its partner BioNTech SE that target the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, according to the governments website. Pfizer and BioNTech said in a joint statement the companies will make significant volumes of the vaccine available in the coming days. The booster shot, which has been authorised for people 12 years and older, is the second to get clearance from Health Canada after Moderna Incs modified booster last month. Modernas vaccine booster was cleared for use in adults. The so-called bivalent vaccines target both the original variant as well as the two Omicron subvariants. Pfizer, which is seeking approval from U.S. and European health regulators for use of its Omicron-tailored shot in children 5 through 11 years of age, said it was planning a submission to Health Canada for the same age group. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorised updated COVID-19 booster shots from both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNtech in August. Regulators in the European Union and Japan have also cleared Pfizers updated booster shot. It takes a lot to fly pine trees off a mountain, but the cost of leaving them might be greater still. At least that has been the driving calculation behind the Bill Williams Mountain Restoration Project, which has successfully employed helicopter logging to thin hundreds of acres of dense forest on the mountains steep slopes. The restoration project -- a partnership between the Coconino County Flood Control District, the National Forest Foundation (NFF), the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (ADFFM), and the Kaibab National Forest -- aims to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildlife and subsequent post-fire flooding in the town of Williams by treating more than 15,000 acres of forest in the area of Bill Williams Mountain. A Federal Emergency Management Agency study of the area reported that even a moderate monsoon rain following a wildfire could inundate the City of Williams with 6 feet of floodwater and debris that could destroy the citys water system. According to a Northern Arizona Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute study commissioned in 2018, the economic impact from a catastrophic wildfire and flooding in the Bill Williams Mountain watershed is estimated between $379 million and $694 million. By comparison, the estimated cost to complete forest restoration on Bill Williams Mountain is just $31 million. A large portion of that cost is tied up in the treatment of steep-slope areas. According to the Flood Control District, treating these slopes is critical to reducing the threat of post-wildfire flooding, but they are generally inaccessible to traditional logging operations. Thats where helicopter logging enters the equation. Helicopter logging has hand-crews hike into the treatment area and fell trees while a helicopter lifts and transports the downed wood to a nearby landing where trucks and processing equipment await. According to the district, helicopter logging can cost $14,000 to $18,000 per acre, compared to about $500 an acre for forest treatment on flat areas. There is no escaping the fact that forest thinning on the steep slopes of Bill Williams Mountain is expensive, said Jay Smith, forest restoration director for the Flood Control District. The total cost of thinning 1,600 acres may ultimately exceed $26 million; however, when compared to the cost of a $300 million to $700 million disaster, the wisdom of preventative action is clear. As of this fall, roughly 500 steep-slope acres of the project have been treated by helicopter logging, with progress being made on another 285 acres during the current work season, leaving just over 800 acres of steep slope remaining. The wood that is being harvested from these slopes goes to a variety of places, saidSasha Stortz, NFF southwest program senior manager. Its not lumber, Stortz said. Its stuff thats hard to find a market for. Some of the wood goes to Novo Biopower in Snowflake, some goes to a NewLife sawmill in Bellemont and some goes to the award-winning Wood for Life program, which distributes wood to heat homes in Navajo and Hopi communities. Stortz also said that all aspects of the Bill Williams Mountain Restoration Project from funding step-slope helicopter logging to finding a use for the harvested wood have been a success of cooperation between partnering agencies and industries. Partnership is making this happen, she said. It really takes all of us. And more importantly, it appears to be working. Weve already seen the positive effects of this restoration project, Smith said. A lightning-caused fire ignited in an area of treated forest in June of this year that was quickly suppressed before it could get out of hand. Smith added: Weve got a model that works. Now we want to take it to the next priority watershed. The next priority is the steep slopes of the Upper Rio de Flag watershed above Flagstaff. The watershed encompasses roughly 44,500 acres, with about 2,000 acres that have been identified as candidates for steep-slope treatment. The estimated cost for treating the area is $20 to $40 million. Estimates of the total assets at risk from post-fire flooding in this watershed range from $1.5 to $2 billion. Earlier this year, portions of this watershed burned during the Pipeline Fire, but the blaze changed its initial direction and moved east out of the watershed. Even so, the burned area produced significant downstream flooding during the monsoon season. If the Upper Rio de Flag watershed burns, what we will experience in flooding will be like nothing Flagstaff has ever witnessed before, said Lucinda Andreani, administrator for the Flood Control District. Computer modeling shows much of the town will be under 1 to 5 feet of floodwater, from Fort Valley through the downtown to the NAU campus, over into Continental Country Club and beyond. While parts of the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed have been included in forest restoration planning under the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, the steep slopes were not initially included because nobody ever thought wed be able to afford to treat them, said Matt McGrath, Coconino National Forest Flagstaff district ranger. But with new partnerships and the demonstrated success on Bill Williams Mountain, these steep slopes could be treated after all. We've had some initial discussions with some partners like the National Forest Foundation about how we can work together in a similar way to what's going on out on Bill Williams, McGrath said. They're a little more expensive, but the county is willing to put a lot of money into it, so we're planning out that project. Flagstaff has seen steep-slope helicopter logging in 2019 as part of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project, but not in the Upper Rio de Flag. The 2019 operation yielded some lessons, McGrath said, especially around whether operations should remove slash piles or let them remain on the mountain. After the 2019 operation, some of the slash piles left behind unintentionally became fuel for the Museum Fire. We all learned that we need to go all in invest a lot of money or move as much as possible to really reduce fire danger, McGrath said. He estimated that helicopter logging in the steep slopes of the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed could begin in 2024. To date, the Flood Control District has identified $30 million to be used for forest restoration over the next five years -- but they stress the reality that this funding wont be enough. One agency cannot solve all Coconino Countys forest health challenges, a statement from the Flood Control District reads. It will require support from the Forest Service, City of Flagstaff, U.S. Department of Defense, National Forest Foundation, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Nature Conservancy, and private businesses to be successful. And while the bill is high, the viscous cycle of fire and flooding is becoming more costly by the year. If we dont get ahead of this, were going to do this over and over again, Andreani said. Or, to put it in the words of David Tenney, director for the DFFM, Easier to prepare and prevent than repair and repent. A judge rules DACA is illegal. DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is the Obama-era program that shields certain illegal immigrants from deportation. What does this ruling mean for the current recipients and the future of the program? President Joe Biden addresses workers at an IBM plant in New York. What does he say about the chip industry and the United States competition with China? Over 1 million guns were sold in September, for the 38th month in a row. Gun industry leaders are saying that prices are currently lower than ever. Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker is hurled into the political spotlight over allegations he may have paid for an ex-girlfriends abortion. He denies the claims, but how will this impact his race? With Elon Musks apparent soon-to-be takeover of Twitter, we take a look at ongoing litigation regarding Big Tech censorship with the president of Judicial Watch, Tom Fitton. A recent report says U.S. scientists have been recruited by the Chinese communist regime since at least the late 1980s. House Republicans are asking the Biden administration about its plans to protect U.S. research. BUY Jan 6 DVD: The Real Story of Jan. 6 Documentary102 Minutes, Color), Promo Code [Steve] for 20% off. * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow CapitolReport on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CapitolReport/ Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Members of the Canadian Armed Forces march at a parade in Calgary on July 8, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) China, Russia Believe Themselves at War With the West, Says Canadas Military Chief China and Russia consider themselves to be at war with Canada and Western democracies, and are showing a willingness to launch large-scale violent conflicts, which Canada must prepare for, the head of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) told parliamentarians. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre made the remark during a House of Commons standing committee on national security on Oct. 6, where he testified about the threat posed to Canada by the authoritarian regimes of China and Russia. We once again find ourselves in a chaotic and dangerous world where those with power, namely Russia and China, are determined to remake the world order to suit their own ends, he said. China and Russia do not differentiate between peace and war, Eyre said, and that in seeking to achieve their national objectives, they will use all elements of national power, often acting just below the threshold of large-scale violent conflict. He added that these regimes are all too willing to cross that threshold, pointing to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russia and China are not just looking at regime survival, but regime expansion, Eyre said. They consider themselves to be at war with the West. These authoritarian regimes believe the greatest threat to their rule comes from their own populations, rather than external adversaries, Eyre noted, which he said is why they strive to destroy the social cohesion of liberal democracies and the credibility of our own institutions to ensure our model of government is seen as a failure. The rules-based international order, which has underpinned world stability, and indeed our national prosperity for generations, is faltering. It needs to be defended. The gravity of these times should be apparent to all, he said. Growing Cybercrime Caroline Xavier, chief of the Communications Security Establishment, Canadas cyber intelligence agency, told the national security committee that there is a growing concern about cybercrime, particularly those backed by state actors that are targeting Canada. Cybercrime is the most prevalent and most pervasive threat to Canadians and Canadian businesses, she said. Cyber criminals trying to probe Canadian systems have been found in Russia, China, and Iran, among others. While cybercrime is the most likely threat to impact the average Canadian, the state-sponsored cyber programs of China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia pose the greatest strategic threat to Canada. Xavier noted that some common tactics used by threat actors include ransomware, theft of personal data, and online fraud. Critical infrastructure operators and large enterprises are some of the most lucrative targets, she added. Challenges As Canada is increasingly faced with these external challenges, its military is also experiencing a recruitment crisis, Eyre told parliamentarians. I am very, very worried about our numbers and thats why were putting as a priority effort, the priority effort, the reconstitution of our military, Eyre said in response to a question from Conservative MP Raquel Dancho. Data previously released by the department in January also shows that the CAF was short of about 12,000 regular force troops and reservists at the end of November 2021, reported The Canadian Press. Dancho noted that following the end of the Cold War, Canadas defence capabilities, that went along with our [North American Aerospace Defense Command] infrastructure, has been neglected, citing Eyres remarks in earlier an interview with the CBC in May, when he said that given the deteriorating world situation, Canada needs its defence industry to go onto a wartime footing and increase their production lines. To address the rising threats in the world and at home, and the relative decline in the readiness of the Canadian military, Eyre noted on Oct. 6 that the CAF has embarked on an effort of reconstitution, a term that refers to a military operation that would rebuild, rearm, re-equip the military after a large scale operation. The [COVID-19] pandemic has not been kind to the Canadian Armed Forces. Our numbers have shrunk. And so were embarking on a priority effort to get our numbers back uprecruiting, retentionso that we can provide that readiness, he said. Eyre, however, declined to comment on whether the federal government should spend more on defence, but said that Canada is not ready for the new challenges it is being presented with. The military that we have today is not the military that we need for the threats that are occurring in the future, he said. We need to continue to look and assess those threats and make sure weve got the capabilities to address those emerging threats. Danielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party and next Alberta premier, in Calgary on Oct. 6, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) Cory Morgan: Smith Has Many Challenges Ahead of Her, but She Continues to Surprise Commentary It took over 10 years, a term as the leader of Albertas official opposition, a politically disastrous floor-crossing, and a long time in the political wilderness, but Danielle Smith has finally achieved her goal of becoming Albertas premier. Smiths work is far from done and she still has a tough and bumpy road ahead of her. The United Conservative Party (UCP) has some serious internal rifts, Smith has some big and difficult promises to fulfill, and she is facing what is sure to be a hard-fought general election in seven months. While her party has the word united right in its name, it is anything but. The UCP is the result of an amalgamation between the Progressive Conservative (PC) and Wildrose Parties under Jason Kenney that happened only five years ago. Political rivals on the right sheathed their swords and created a united front to defeat the NDP government in Albertas 2019 general election. The political rivalries didnt end with the merger, however, and they fostered the internal party division that eventually led to the ousting of party leader Jason Kenney. Those party factions are still in play today, and Smith is going to have to get them under control or the party could fracture again. While there were seven entrants in the UCP leadership race, there were only really two top contenders for the title: Travis Toews and Danielle Smith. Toews was Albertas finance minister under Kenney. While Toews has solid conservative credentials, he was viewed as the establishment candidate representing the PC wing of the party. Even though Smith was absent from party politics for nearly eight years, she became the representative of the Wildrose faction of the party. Quite a feat considering how she nearly destroyed the party when she led a floor-crossing in 2014. Smith doesnt have the luxury of a strong first ballot mandate in winning the party leadership, like Poilievre did at the federal level when he took over 68 percent of the vote of the membership. It took six rounds of balloting before Smith crossed the threshold with 53.8 percent of the vote. Toews came in with 46.3 percent. Nearly half of the party membership didnt select Smith as the first or second choice on their ballots, and she now has to win them over. Along with the party members, Smith has a fractious party caucus to deal with. Travis Toews along with several UCP caucus members all publicly vowed not to support Smiths proposed Sovereignty Act if it comes to the legislature. The Sovereignty Act was the prime plank in Smiths campaign, and she is remaining steadfast in her promise to make it the first order of business in the next legislative session. If her bill fails to pass due to a caucus revolt, her party leadership could fall apart just months into its mandate. Smith will have to engage in some heavy caucus diplomacy to ensure members support the bill when its tabled in the legislature. An advantage and disadvantage of Smiths Sovereignty Act is that it hasnt been written yet. Smith has made broad statements on what the bill is intended to do, while opponents have speculated negatively on what the bill can or cant do, but the nuts and bolts of the legislation havent been drafted yet. If Smith can draw in enough caucus participation in drafting the bill, she could find consensus and create some outs for caucus members who already painted themselves into a corner in vowing to oppose the bill. Even if it hasnt been drafted yet, the Sovereignty Act is contentious in principle alone. It is the most aggressive legislation pursuing provincial autonomy ever seen west of Ontario and has ruffled many feathers. While the bill proposes nothing that Quebec isnt already doing, its always somehow considered extreme when western provinces try to stand up against Ottawa. Thats just the nature of Canada these days. Smith will be painted as a separatist by opponents, and it will be a tough label to hide from, even if its baseless. She cant drop the bill or the members who just elected her will revolt. They are not in the mood for compromise. With a prickly caucus and a controversial platform, Danielle Smith is heading for what will surely be one of the most heated provincial elections in Albertas history. Some people are saying its impossible for her to win with such a mandate and carrying such political baggage. A year ago, I would have been one of those people. I would have said there was no way Smith could revive her political career at all, much less become premier. I obviously would have been dead wrong. Smith has many challenges ahead of her but it would be a grave mistake to underestimate her. She continues to surprise. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Credit Suisses Woes May Set Stage for Regulators to Repeat Mistakes of 2008, Experts Say News Analysis Distressed bank Credit Suisse, whose financial troubles and uncertain future have dominated headlines in recent days, may sees its woes deepen in weeks to come as growing numbers of executives leave the bank, potentially triggering a scenario where regulators will step in and apply heavy-handed bailout measures similar to those adapted in the 2008 financial crisis, economic experts have told The Epoch Times. The banks share price plummeted 11.5 percent on Monday before undergoing a modest turnaround. The dramatic fall in stock value is part of a long-term decline, with Credit Suisses share price tumbling 56.2 percent over the course of the past year to $3.98. The sharp drop in investor confidence in the bank comes on the heels of a pair of high-profile debacles involving Credit Suisses investment banking division. These were its allocation of $10 billion of client capital to a British lender Greensill, which filed for bankruptcy in March 2021; and the nearly simultaneous collapse of the Archegos Capital Management family office founded by investor Bill Hwang, which Credit Suisse had given $30 billion to make investments in ViacomCBS. When the latters shares plummeted, Credit Suisses prime brokerage division lost $5.5 billion and had to turn to investors in a desperate bid to raise fresh capital. The downturn in the banks fortunes has left Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Komer facing heavy pressure to put forward a plan of reorganization, which Komer is expected to unveil later this month. The bank is reportedly looking for an entity to buy up its spun-off investment banking arm, but efforts have met with frustration as the prospective acquisition target comes to look increasingly toxic. On Wednesday, reports emerged that a proposed joint venture between KB Securities and IGIS to buy Credit Suisses Zurich headquarters had fallen through. Some economists believe that the banks situation may be even worse than it appears on the surface. Theo Vermaelen, a visiting professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Finance, emphasized the importance of taking into account the market forces that affect a banks operations and that belie the capital ratios derived simply from book value, defined as the difference between assets and liabilities on a firms balance sheet. The failure to do so in the case of Lehman Brothers was a contributing factor of the 2008 financial crisis, he noted. Clearly, the market was anticipating trouble already in 2007, but this warning signal was ignored until the day of the Lehman default. I was hoping that at least one lesson was learned here: stop focusing on accounting measures to measure financial health, but incorporate market information. The market may occasionally be inefficient but on average, it is a better indicator than book values, Vermaelen told The Epoch Times. Today, Credit Suisse trades at 25 percent of book value, so its regulatory capital ratios heavily underestimate the extent to which Credit Suisse is in financial distress, he said. Yet, things are not quite as bad as in 2008, Vermaelen acknowledged, given that the broad exposure other banks had to Lehman Brothers in that crisis does not apply here. Jumping Ship In the meantime, reports have surfaced that the bank may be planning to let go 5,000 of its employees, which would further exacerbate the talent drain that has plagued the bank in recent years as its ill-judged investment strategies have caused reputational damage, shaken the markets confidence in the bank, and drawn comparison to the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 that precipitated the global financial meltdown. Christopher Chua, deputy head of mergers and acquisitions for the Asia-Pacific region, Jens Welter, co-head of global banking, and Daniel McCarthy, global credit products chief, are just a few of the dozens of executives who have jumped ship in recent months. The departures are likely to have an increasing snowball effect as alarm and uncertainty spread, in the view of Mark Egan, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, who has done extensive research on the banks credit default spreads and exposure. They gave warning to their employees last week. We know that even if a bank is mostly fine, one day, all of a sudden, all the depositors and creditors wake up and believe that the bank is distressed, that can be self-fulfilling, Egan told The Epoch Times. If Credit Suisse is not doing well, and their employees are worried about the survival of the bank, you might see a bank run, where good employees with better options are going to leave Credit Suisse, he added. More employees leaving in droves may seriously limit the pool of dealmaking and investing talent at the bank, and erode its market position even further, observers suggest. In the midst of the growing crisis, Credit Suisse has drawn heightened attention from the Swiss National Bank, and the Swiss government is reportedly actively drafting a new law that would inject capital into distressed banks that are considered to be central to the functioning of the global economy. Learning From 2008 These latter developments are reminiscent of some of the steps taken by regulators in the face of the 2008 crisis, believes Brian Domitrovic, a professor of history at Sam Houston State University and the Richard S. Strong Scholar at the Laffer Center. In Domitrovics view, the global financial debacle of 2008 presents a historical model illustrating how overreaching regulation can worsen rather than fix economic problems, but many people overlook or fail to grasp this aspect of the earlier crisis. If were going to start making comparisons to 2008 and Lehman Brothers, we should ask ourselves what we do in fact know about 2008, and I think our memory and understanding of it is very poor in general, Domitrovic said. When there are declines in markets, necessarily there will be distress in financial firms, especially if there are serious declines, with a 20- or 25-point drop in the stock market. There will be products that are based on stock values, and they will become problematic and lose their value. They may be leveraged, he added. It is common for banks to take a hit, whether because of macro forces or their own missteps, Domitrovic argued, and a regulation-lite approach, not hyperregulation and over-intervention in the economy, are the most effective means of letting banks get back on their feet and ameliorating the situation. Historically, panics have eased when clearing houses and banks have had the latitude to lend to each other, he said. For the government to impose new rules around banking and investment banking, and to offer massive bailout cash, throws the market off kilter and even gives some banks an incentive not to perform well, since they get free money and their competitors suddenly become bound by rules and restrictions that are not necessarily applicable to those rivals strategies and business models. Domitrovic went so far as to suggest ulterior motives behind the regulators actions during the earlier fiasco. The 2008 crisis may have been very different from what weve imagined, it may have been manufactured by government-big bank collusion, he said. Bad Incentives No matter how serious Credit Suisses problems may appear, it would be unwise to pursue similar measures in the current scenario, he argued. In 2008, there was an episode of the government making announcements that, Were going to step in and do all these things. And all of a sudden, there was value to being impaired. Thats a very strange circumstance, and I hope that in the case of Credit Suisse, its competitors in the business can help out and avoid hyper-intervention, Domitrovic said. Domitrovic criticized policies put to use under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) implemented in October 2008, which gave the U.S. Treasury Department up to $700 billion with which to buy equity in banks and take their toxic assets off their books. This amounted to free money for financial institutions whether they were legitimately entitled to it or not, Domitrovic argued. Give your reserves to the Fed and all of a sudden, you get interest on it, plus they get to buy all your so-called distressed assets, including mortgages. You get to unload that for real money from the Fed, he said. The governments efforts to bail out banks with its aggressive interventionist policies led, in practice, to a questionable partnership between the government and the banks that undermined the free-enterprise model on which the latter, in theory, still ran. Theres TARP, theres the Federal Reserve paying interest on your reserves and buying your assets, and third, the cushy regulatory environment. Because you played along, you get affordable terms from the government and your bank has a more dominant market position, Domitrovic said. Best Practices Rather than repeat the mistakes of the recent past, it would be wise to let the market address its own maladies through time-tested methods, he argued. If there is some kind of systemic problem, then obviously, the lenders should get together and lend Credit Suisse some scrip, and when the markets recover, it will be paid back eventually. Its standard operating procedure. But we didnt do it in 2008, and suffered as a result. If bankers dont have the ability to do that, then we dont have a very good banking system, Domitrovic said. Such an approach has worked in the past, and is more than adequate to address a downturn in the markets such as the present one, he suggested. In 1921, there was a crisis, and bankers solved it on their own and the authorities did next to nothing, and then you had the Roaring Twenties, he said. Domitrovic contrasted that approach with the federal governments heavy-handed policies at the end of the 1920s and the start of the 1930s. This was a cause of the Great Depression, the federal government having to play superintendent to many of the nations banks from 1929 to 1933. That intervention caused the Great Depression, he said. Danielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party and next Alberta premier in Calgary, Alta., on Oct. 6, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Danielle Smith Becomes Albertas Premier-Designate After UCP Members Elect Her as Party Leader United Conservative Party (UCP) members have chosen Danielle Smith as their new leader, making her the next premier of Alberta. The former leader of the Wildrose Party, who had stepped away from politics for several years, won the contest on the sixth ballot against UCP MLA and former finance minister Travis Toews. Smith had a reconciliatory tone toward her fellow candidates in her victory speech, thanking them for their service and noting their achievements, while taking aim at the federal Liberals and the Alberta NDP. We will not have our voices silenced and censored. We will not be told what we must put in our bodies in order to work, she said in reference to various federal policies and legislation she had spoken out against throughout her campaign. Tonight marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Alberta story. It is time for Alberta to take its place as a senior partner in building a strong and unified Canada. Smith, who has to now prepare her party for the upcoming 2023 provincial election against its main rival the NDP, asked all UCP supporters regardless of who their favourite leadership candidate was to unite under the party umbrella for the good of our great province. She added that to earn the trust of Albertans, the UCP needs to do more than just stand up to the NDP-Liberal coalition at the federal level and just be focused oneconomic growth and balanced budgets and debt reduction and lower taxes. We also need to show Albertans that we can be trusted to compassionately care for our vulnerable and our seniors, especially in this time of crippling inflation, she said. Smith ended her speech with an address to all Canadians, saying Albertans love Canada and want to share the provinces prosperity with the rest of the country, but want to be able to set our own course. Lets work together to build a strong, prosperous, and unified Canada that we know that we can be, she said. A Canada that provinces work together and empower one another to reach our unique individual goals and aspirations. A Canada that celebrates our great diversity of opinion and thought, rather than one that demonizes and sanctions one another for expression and speech deemed unacceptable by woke politicians in Ottawa. Candidates On the first ballot, Smith received 41.3 percent of the vote, ahead of the runner-up Toews who received 29.4 percent, but short of the 50 percent plus one votes required to win. (LR) UCP leadership candidates Todd Loewen, Danielle Smith, Rajan Sawhney, Rebecca Schulz, Leela Aheer, Travis Toews, and Brian Jean participate in a debate in Medicine Hat, Alta., on July 27, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) UCP MLA and former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean received 11 percent of the vote on the first ballot, followed by Independent MLA Todd Loewen with 7.7 percent, UCP MLA and former minister of childrens services Rebecca Schulz with 6.9 percent, UCP MLA and former minister of transportation Rajan Sawhney with 2.1 percent, and UCP MLA and former minister of culture, multiculturalism, and status of women Leela Aheer with 1.6 percent. On the sixth ballot, after the other candidates dropped off, Smith had 53.8 percent of the vote and Toews had 46.2 percent. UCP president Cynthia Moore said around 85,000 party members voted in the contest. Leadership Election The leadership election was called after Premier Jason Kenney announced he is stepping down following a leadership review in May. Even though he received 51.4 percent of the votes, just enough for a majority, he said the support wasnt strong enough for him to stay on as leader. Throughout the campaign, Smith exchanged barbs with Kenney, who was critical of her proposed sovereignty act. In her victory speech, Smith said she thanks my friend Kenney, mentioning his years of service in politics and as an advocate for taxpayers. [Kenney] was one of the most effective and influential conservative cabinet ministers in Canadian history, then [led] the charge on unifying the conservative movement, running and beating Rachel Notleys NDP, and then governing as premier through one of the most tumultuous times in Alberta history, she said. Although we may have had our differences these last couple of years on a couple of matters of policy, I want him to know that I admire and respect him. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks in response to the results of the United Conservative Party leadership review in Calgary on May 18, 2022. (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press) Kenney congratulated Smith on her win on Twitter, and said there will be an orderly transition. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also congratulated Smith, saying on Twitter: Lets work together to build a better future for Albertansby delivering concrete results, making life more affordable, creating good jobs, and more. Smith, a former columnist with the Calgary Herald, was the leader of the Wildrose Party from 2009 to 2014, before crossing the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives in a bid to unite the two conservative parties. The decision proved unpopular, and she lost the PC nomination for the 2015 election. Following her departure from politics, Smith worked as a radio host and on other media projects for several years, before re-entering politics after Kenneys decision to step down. Throughout the leadership campaign, Smith attracted the most attention for her proposed Sovereignty Act. According to a post on her website, the act would affirm the authority of the Provincial Legislature to refuse provincial enforcement of specific Federal laws or policies that violate the jurisdictional rights of Alberta under Sections 9295 of the Constitution or that breaches the Charter Rights of Albertans. Smith has said the act would bring Alberta similar powers to those that Quebec enjoys, citing as an example how the Quebec National Assembly passed a motion to declare Ottawas invocation of the Emergencies Act in February inapplicable in the province. U.S. Secretary for Defense Lloyd J. Austin III arrives for a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, on June 16, 2022. (Olivier Matthys/AP Photo) Defense Secretary Agrees to $62.5 Million Renaming of Select Military Bases The United States will rename nine military bases that honor Confederate officers after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed off on the move, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced on Oct. 6. In a press release, the DOD said the bases will be renamed by no later than January 2024. The decision comes after the Naming Commission, established by Congress last year to plan for the removal of Confederate-linked names, symbols, displays, monuments, or paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America, completed its analysis on Sept. 19. The commission is made up of eight volunteers selected by Congress and the defense secretary. Following 18 months of work, which included extensive consultations with experts, historians, and the communities rooted in the bases in question, it found nine Army bases that were named in commemoration of the Confederacy and its leaders. The installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets. They are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live, Austin wrote in a memo on the decision on Thursday. New Names Should Inspire All Those Who Call Them Home The names of these installations and facilities should inspire all those who call them home, fully reflect the history and the values of the United States, and commemorate the best of the republic that we are all sworn to protect. I am committed to implementing all of the commissions recommendations as soon as possible, Austin said, adding that this will happen when a 90-day waiting period expires in December. The military bases to be renamed are: Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort Pickett in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Polk in Louisiana, and Fort Rucker in Alabama. The changes will give proud new names that are rooted in their local communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the United States military, Austin wrote. A string of nationwide protests across the United States in 2020 in response to police brutality and the murder of George Floyd prompted calls to rename the bases. Former President Donald Trump opposed the costly renaming procedure and vetoed the bill that triggered the process, stating in 2020 that the names had become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. A bipartisan majority in each chamber overrode it. It will cost an estimated $21 million to rename the nine bases and $62.5 million to fully implement the recommendations laid out in the report, according to the naming commission. A man walks past an advertisement for an Apple iPhone 11 Pro at the Apple Store in IFC, Central district, Hong Kong, on Oct. 10, 2019. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters) Director of Chinas OFilm Group Under House Arrest Prominent Chinese company OFilm Group Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of optoelectronic components and former Apple supplier, released a notice on Sept. 27 saying Cai Gaoxiao, director and deputy general manager of the company, was placed under house arrest by local public security in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. The notice stated that Cai has submitted a written resignation, quitting all positions he held in OFilm, adding that at the present stage, the case appears to be Gaos personal matter and has nothing to do with the company. Cai is a shareholder of Glory United Limited, through which he indirectly holds about 8.73 percent shares of OFilm. Moreover, his brother Cai Rongjun is the actual controller of OFilm. Cai Gaoxiao has worked for OFilm for 20 years, serving as deputy general manager and director of the company since 2002. Coincidently, optoelectronic material producer Doti Micro Technology, a key business partner of OFilm, disclosed on Sept. 26 that one of its executives has been placed under house arrest by the same municipal police department. It is unclear whether their cases are connected. Doti Micro Technologys made a similar announcement, saying that Zhang Xiaobo, secretary of the board of directors and chief financial officer, was suspected of committing a crime and had been placed under house arrest. In an updated notice released on the evening of Sept. 27, Doti said Zhang was suspected of engaging in securities market manipulation, and his case did not involve the company. According to Dotis official documents, OFilm was Dotis biggest customer from 2018 to 2020. Sales revenue from OFilm was 36 million yuan (about $5.08 million) in 2018, 107 million yuan (about $15.04 million) in 2019, and 183 million yuan (about $25.72 million) in 2020, accounting for 26.49 percent, 37.76 percent, and 39.99 percent of Dotis total sales revenues respectively in those years. Founded in August 2002 as a manufacturer of infrared cut-off filters, OFilm became part of the Apple supply chain in 2016 through the acquisition of Sony Electronics South China Ltd. During its prime, OFilm received 11.7 billion yuan (about $1.6 billion) from Apple in fiscal 2019, accounting for 22.51 percent of total revenue for the period. In July 2020, the Trump administration placed 11 Chinese companies on its list of export-controlled entities, including Nanchang O-Film Tech, a subsidiary of OFilm, for human rights violations in Chinas far west Xinjiang region. Then in March 2021, after months of speculation, the company confirmed that Apple dropped it from the iPhone supply chain after a four-year partnership. OFilm reported huge losses thereafter. Its net loss of 1.8 billion yuan (about $268.5 million) in 2020 was widened to 2.6 billion yuan (about $365 million) last year. In the first quarter of 2022, it reported a loss of 186 million yuan (about $27.8 million), and revenue fell 38 percent year-on-year, according to Chinese financial media Caixin. Doctors Challenge Push for Gender-Affirming Care for Children Doctors and other medical professionals are denouncing a leading association of pediatricians for allegedly refusing to listen to dissenting voices among rank-and-file members who oppose gender-affirming care for minors. A pediatrician using the pseudonym Dr. Grace Clark out of fear of retaliation told The Epoch Times that years ago, when she first learned puberty blockers were used to treat children, she was intrigued. Like other doctors, she said, she assumed a treatment so new and radically different must be based on solid medical research and evidence. But she has since lost faith in the specialists and medical institutions she once trusted. I feel betrayed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), honestly, because I came to realize I cant believe them. Theyre telling me something that defies common sense, she said. In a recent letter to the AAP, doctors and other supporters raised concerns that the association is supporting only one set of views on how best to treat children who have gender dysphoriathe feeling that their biological sex is different from their gender identitynamely social and medical transition. Many of our children have received this care and are anything but thriving, read the July letter by the organization Genspect. Chloe Cole, an 18-year-old woman who regrets surgically removing her breasts, holds testosterone medication used for transgender patients, in Northern California on Aug. 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The group also urged the AAP to adopt a resolution authored by five pediatricians at its annual leadership conference in August that called for a rigorous systematic review of evidence and policy update for management of pediatric gender dysphoria. However, in an unusual move, the AAP blocked pediatrician comments on the document, according to Genspect. The resolution was later rejected in a vote at the conference. A similar resolution in 2021 calling for more debate and discussion on the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of medically transitioning children received 80 percent positive feedback in comments, according to a report by the nonprofit Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine, although it was also voted down. AAP Policies Clark, a member of the AAP and a pediatrician for more than 30 years, said her own daughter once identified as transgender. When its your own child, you see more clearly what the stakes are. Thats when it becomes a little more real, she said. Clark has since rejected the associations recommended transgender policies. Suggesting to children they may be the opposite gender, putting them on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and allowing gender transition surgeries is terrible and is destroying families, she said. On Oct. 3, the AAP, the American Medical Association, and the Childrens Hospital Association sent a letter urging the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute all organizations, individuals, and entities that share information deemed to be false about transgender medical treatments for minors. Critics said its another attempt to silence dissent. Demonstrators share about Detransition Awareness Day in Los Angeles on March 12, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Opponents of the gender-affirming care model for youth are planning a protest on Oct. 8 outside Californias Anaheim Convention Center, where the AAP is holding its next convention. Dr. Julia Mason, another pediatrician and AAP member who criticized the organization for blocking the resolution asking for a systematic review in August, is expected to be at the First Do No Harm Unity Rally in Anaheim. The organizers say other doctors, parents, and detransitionersthose who regret transitioning and attempt to reverse the processwill attend and demand an end to the gender transitioning of all people 25 and younger. The AAP did not respond to multiple inquiries. However, Lisa Black, the groups media relations manager, previously told The Epoch Times via email the association does not promote cross-sex hormone use or sex change surgery for children. The AAPs policy guidelines, issued in 2018, state the association recommends insurers offer coverage for transgender and gender-diverse youth including medical, psychological, and, when indicated, surgical gender-affirming interventions. In response to the resolution from August that called for a rigorous review of the evidence on transgender policies, Moira Szilagyi, president of the AAP, wrote a blog post arguing it was unnecessary, since evaluating the evidence is already routine for the association. Critics of our gender-affirming care policy mischaracterize it as pushing medical or surgical treatments on youth; in fact, the policy calls for the opposite: a holistic, collaborative, compassionate approach to care with no end goal or agenda, she wrote. Yet, in its guidelines, the AAP labeled any attempt to encourage children to feel comfortable in their own bodies as unfair and deceptive and akin to conversion therapy, which has been banned in several states. A transgender childrens book in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 30, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Meanwhile, an influential international group called the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Sept. 15 released the 2022 version (pdf) of its recommendations for transgender treatments, which includes an updated section on youth. According to the document, adolescents should exhibit several years of persistent gender diversity [or] incongruence before being given hormones or surgeries. However, the group also removed all age restrictions for transgender surgeries in the updated guidance. Changes in Europe Some European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and France, have also recently made changes to their model for treating children diagnosed with gender dysphoria. In the UK, a critical report (pdf) by Dr. Hilary Cass released in February exposed concerns about safety regarding standards at a gender identity clinic for children in London, prompting the National Health Service to announce in July the clinic would be shut down. Casss review of the Tavistock clinic noted there are major gaps in the research regarding appropriate assessment and treatment for children, as well as questions about the strength of the evidence for the use of some medications. She also found primary and secondary care staff felt pressured to adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach. Tavistock is now facing legal action by up to 1,000 families because of the life-changing and, in some cases, irreversible effects of the treatment they received, according to the lawyer behind the case. As the UKs only gender identity clinic dedicated to children, the clinic saw a sharp rise in referrals over the last decade from fewer than 250 referrals in 20112012, to more than 5,000 in 20212022, according to the National Health Service. The health service now says it is moving toward a new model of care with strong links to mental health services. The Tavistock Centre in London in an undated file photo. (Aaron Chown/PA) In February, Swedens National Board of Health and Welfare ended the practice of prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to gender-dysphoric patients under the age of 18 excluding exceptional cases, saying the risks outweigh the benefits. In 2021, Swedens Astrid Lindgren Childrens Hospital had already decided to stop giving such hormone treatments to children under 16. These treatments are potentially fraught with extensive and irreversible adverse consequences such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, infertility, increased cancer risk, and thrombosis, stated hospital officials (pdf). In 2019, Christopher Gillberg, a psychiatrist and professor at Gothenburgs Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden, warned hormone treatments and surgeries on children were a big experiment that could prove to be one of the worst medical scandals in history. A documentary called Trans Train featuring interviews with detransitioners also swayed public opinion in the country against the transgender movement, according to the Canadian Gender Report, a gender treatment watchdog group. In 2020, Finlands health authority announced new guidelines backing psychotherapy rather than puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for children. And in March of this year, Frances National Academy of Medicine announced great medical caution must be taken with transgender treatments for children due to the many undesirable effects and even serious complications that can be caused by some of the therapies available. Big Picture Approach Critics of gender-affirming care have cautioned that failing to heed these warning signs overseas could have dire consequences for youth and their families in the United States. Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist who spoke to the British House of Lords in May 2019, said evidence showed puberty blockers, opposite-sex hormones, and surgeries had harmed children in the Tavistock system. He questioned whether children as young as 8 who are eligible to receive such treatments have the capacity to make an informed consent decision as to their future adult choices with regards to bearing children and sexual function. A 7-year-old transgender child plays with an iPad at home in Melrose, Mass., on May 9, 2017. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images) Clark, the AAP member, said countries like the UK are moving away from a hyper-focus on gender identity and transitioning, meaning doctors who are not necessarily gender specialists will be expected to examine gender dysphoric children for depression, eating disorders, and autismailments that often accompany gender dysphoriaand look at the childs home life and whether they have a history of trauma. Lets look at the big picture here. Thats what theyre saying, she said. Were going to look at you as a whole person. Were not going to look at you as a walking gender identity. Of course, thats the way to do it, but thats not whats happening in the U.S. Historically, a small number of children with gender dysphoria were primarily prepubescent boys, but in recent years, evidence has shown that there has been an increase in referrals of adolescentsparticularly adolescent femalesto gender clinics. Clark defended the work of Dr. Lisa Littman who suggested a social contagion especially among girls might have caused the recent surge in the number of children identifying as transgender. I think pediatricians are confused, but they just cant bring themselves to distrust the specialists and the institutions like the AAP, she said. They just dont realize the enormity of whats going on. Clark describes herself as a liberalor used to be, but said in such circles among some of her closest colleagues, shes often viewed almost as a conspiracy theorist for doubting transgender treatments. Theyre shocked. Theyre in denial. Its like theyve got their hands over their ears, she said. They know Im not crazy. They know Im a very diligent, careful, physician. Most doctors, including pediatricians, also dont understand the havoc trans activism and gender-affirming care is wreaking on families, she said. Its such a disruption of the parent-child relationship, and the role parents should have in their kids lives. Its heartbreaking to me as a pediatrician and parent myself, she said. We know as pediatricians that kids explore their identity at this age. Its just what they do. Its just part and parcel of adolescence. Chole Cole, who once identified as transgender and had her breasts removed at 15 years old, but now regrets the surgery, stands near her home in Northern California on Aug. 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) No Guardrails The medical community in the United States has largely dismissed the stories of a growing number of detransitioners such as Chloe Cole, 18, who regrets having both of her healthy breasts removed at the age of 15, critics say. Erin Friday, an attorney and co-lead of the U.S. chapter of the organization Our Duty, who is helping to organize the Oct. 8 protest in Anaheim, also has a teen daughter who once suffered from gender dysphoria. While European countries are moving away from the gender-affirming care model, Friday laments most U.S. states, and especially California, are doubling down on it. Her efforts to oppose gender-affirming care legislation in the state Legislature failed last week when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 107 to make California a trans sanctuary state and Senate Bill 923 to push whats known as trans-inclusive care. Both bills were authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Friday is outraged by Newsoms claims that children who arent given gender-affirming care are at higher risk of suicide. A study published by the American Urological Association in The Journal of Urology found that in California from 2012 to 2018, suicide attempt rates more than doubled among transgender patients after vaginoplasty or phalloplasty surgeries3.3 percent post-surgery compared to 1.5 percent before. Also, the rate of psychiatric emergencies did not decrease in the two years after surgery compared to the two years before. A Swedish study of 324 transgender individuals from 1973 to 2003 also found sex-reassigned adults, compared to same birth sex controls, were 19 times more likely to commit suicide. The study shows deaths among transgender people increased sharply compared to other adults starting about 10 years after medical interventions. As a result, the recent increase in transgender medical interventions could result in a surge in suicides within the next decade, said Friday, who is also a leader of the group Parents of Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria Kids in California, which aims to educate parents about the transgender issue. Most of the children in her group suffer from other forms of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and ADHD, she said. Except for Florida and a few others, most states are ignoring the science, she said. Its as if they want to transition as many kids as they can before the science catches up to them. Its a conveyor belt in California. In California, a parent can walk into a gender clinic and obtain puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for their minor child in an hour or less, she said. There are no guardrails not even a requirement in California that there be a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, Friday said. Dr. McCullough, Who Raised Questions Over Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines, Suspended From Twitter Dr. Peter McCullough, a renowned Texas-based internist and cardiologist who has raised questions about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, has been suspended from Twitter. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) took to the social media platform on Oct. 7 to condemn the suspension of McCulloughs account. To say private companies have this right is to ignore their coordination with government censors, and the undisclosed influence they have on elections, Massie wrote alongside a screenshot that shows McCulloughs account has been suspended. Twitter suspends accounts that violate the Twitter Rules, the screenshot reads. Other Twitter users also took to the platform where they noted they can no longer see McCulloughs account, including one board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists who wrote that the purge has begun, before urging Tesla CEO Elon Musk to get a handle on this censorship, adding that it is perverse and unethical. Musk confirmed his plans to purchase Twitter for $44 billion in an Oct. 3 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing following a lengthy legal battle with Twitter executives over automated bots and fake accounts. A number of other medical experts and individuals also condemned Twitter on Thursday for suspending McCulloughs account. The Epoch Times has contacted Twitter for comment. Peter McCullough, cardiologist, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) Important Groups Were Excluded From Vaccine Testing McCullough, the chief medical adviser for the Truth for Health Foundation, had over 512,000 followers on Twitter and has been vocal in questioning just how safe and effective COVID-19 shots, which have been pushed by the Biden administration, are. At a presentation in Pennsylvania in March, McCullough shared his concerns that vaccines were not sufficiently tested before being rolled out, stating that important groups were excluded, like pregnant women. With no data on safety and efficacy, pregnant women were encouraged, then later forced, to take the vaccines, McCullough said. During that same presentation, he also stated that data has proven that the messenger RNA is in the lymph nodes months after the vaccine had been received and that the vaccines are not leaving the body. Its found in the lymph nodes at 60 days. The thought in the FDA briefing book was that these vaccines were going to be in the body for a day or two, generate immunity, and then be out, he said, referencing the Food and Drug Administration, which has granted approval for multiple COVID-19 vaccines. In an interview with EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program in June, McCullough noted an array of internally consistent non-fatal outcomes from vaccines that the FDA agrees to, including heart damage with Pfizer, Moderna, and blood clots with Johnson & Johnson. A nurse fills a syringe with Johnson & Johnsons Janssen Covid-19 vaccine at a clinic in Pasadena, Calif. on Aug. 19, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) FDA Limits Use Of Johnson & Johnson Shot The FDA limited use of Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 shot in May to individuals 18 years of age and older in cases where authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate, or in cases where the individual is less keen on using the other two shots. FDA officials said that data showed the known and potential benefits of the vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 outweigh the known and potential risks for the individuals described in the limited use authorization. However, it acknowledged the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, stating that this warrants limiting the authorized use of the vaccine. McCullough has also proposed that vaccine mandates need to be immediately dropped. There is no room for mandates that violate ones principle of autonomy, their principle of making their own medical freedom. In a civil society, mandates have no role, and the vaccines, at least the ones we have. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson [need to be] immediately pulled off the market and a safety review undertaken, he told EpochTV in June. Following the suspension of his Twitter account, McCullough turned to the free speech platform Gab where he informed his followers that Twitter had, without warning, stripped all my followers to zero, then they executed their kill machineSUSPENDED! Will let you know if I come off life-support! he added. Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks up as he addresses guests at the Offshore Northern Seas 2022 (ONS) meeting in Stavanger, Norway, on Aug. 29, 2022. (Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) Elon Musk Says Starlink Still Far From Cashflow Positive: Any Support Is Super Helpful Elon Musk made a plea for its SpaceX-owned Starlink satellite internet service on Tuesday. What Happened Musk took to Twitter to note that all low-earth orbit communications constellations to date have gone bankrupt. His claims may not be farfetched, as in 2020 alone three satellite communications companies including Intelsat SA, Speedcast International and OneWeb went bankrupt, though all of them have emerged from bankruptcy now. The billionaire also noted that Starlink is still far from cashflow positive. So, any support is super helpful, he said. Should be noted that Starlink is still far from cash flow positive. All LEO communications constellations to date have gone bankrupt, so any support is super helpful. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2022 Musks request for assistance came as a reply to a tweet by a Tesla influencer, who quote-tweeted an article about rural Virginia students getting Starlink, helped by the $233,000 grant handed out by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. Why Its Important Starlink has become a household name for internet services due to its high-speed connectivity and adaptability in many topographies and situations. When Russia went to war with Ukraine and the latter was deprived of connectivity, Musk and Starlink stepped in to restore connectivity. This drew praise from all quarters. As recently as last month, the Tesla CEO agreed to activate the service in Iran amid the internal insurrection in the country. The service is now being availed in the Amazon rainforest region, helping to connect schools there. A recent report, however, suggested that Starlink speeds are slowing down as more and more people are using the service. By Shanthi Rexaline 2022 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Abortion advocates in Flagstaff will be hosting several events this weekend as part of Womens Wave Flagstaff, a week of action for abortion rights in the city. Led by the Flagstaff Abortion Alliance (FAA), the week will feature canvassing, an art session, drag show and writing workshop, as well as a local version of the nationwide womens march planned for Saturday, ending with a rally at city hall. After a Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade in June, an Arizona judge ruled in September that the state can enforce a nearly complete ban on abortions. Right now this issue of abortion is one that is especially egregious because it is the first time that a constitutional right has been taken away where were really going backwards. I'm just so outraged by that, said Susan Shapiro, who volunteers for Indivisible Northern Arizona and FAA. ... Its going to take women and all kinds of people standing up together and pushing back in order to enact change. FAA began in response to the courts draft decision on abortion -- which was leaked in May. They decided to have weekly Zoom meetings and have been building and growing since. The group now includes representatives from Womens March, the Arizona Student Association, Rural Arizona Action, Northern Arizona University students and professors, healthcare professionals and legal experts, among others. The week's events began with a poetry slam on Wednesday, with the first event of the weekend being The Art of Change on Friday evening. Rural Arizona Action community engagement coordinator Emma Schraner will be bringing a variety of art materials, including paint, markers, fabric and coloring books, to Liminal Flagstaff to give people an opportunity to create art. The whole purpose is art as catharsis, she said of the event. Holding a space for people to intentionally talk about how this is impacting them if they want to, to learn about whats going on, to ask questions and not be judged. A lot of people don't even have a place in their home or their workplace where they can talk about how theyre feeling right now, so Im trying to provide a safe place where people can come and let out some emotions, learn a little bit, be in community with people that respect them and care about them." Schraner said she is an artist by catharsis" and hoped participants could benefit in similar ways from the event. Art has always been a way for me to release emotions, and have a space to meditate and feel some things that are hard to feel if Im not doing something with my hands, she said. ... Its important that people know that they dont have to be an artist and make really intense, powerful artwork on the spot. They can just come and color if they want. Saturday morning will be the womens march, starting at 12:30 p.m. at the NAU Student Union, with poster-making beginning at 11:30 a.m. After speeches from NAU students, participants will march to the city hall lawn, with a rally set to begin at 2 p.m. The march is part of a series of nationwide marches planned for Saturday called the Womens Wave. Its a wave thats going across the country and it is meant to be unavoidable to notice that its happening, Schraner said of her interpretation of the title. FLAUNT at NAU will be hosting Saturdays Drag Out the Vote event at the du Bois Center ballroom starting at 7 p.m. Were super political here at FLAUNT and were super passionate about this thing, said FLAUNTs vice president, Jayde Justyce. ... Were more than willing to stand up for other members of our community, because reproductive health is queer health. It affects all of us. The drag show is meant to encourage people to vote and raise awareness of items on the ballot. Four FLAUNT members will perform at the show -- Justyce, club president Dustin Debris, Sammy Stardust and Ray Vengeance -- which will be divided into three acts. The first will include information from Womens March Flagstaff about how to access reproductive care in Arizona and ways to help others. Next will be Drag Out the Candidates, during which audience members can exchange tips for the chance to give candidate posters a new, drag-inspired look. The third act will have remarks from Arizona Senate candidate Kyle Nitschke and will feature help with registering to vote. Tickets for the show cost $5 (available online), with proceeds going to abortion relief funds chosen by FLAUNT for their concerns with intersectionality. The fight goes on Justyce said they planned to continue to advocate for abortion rights. Ive been in this fight for a long time and Im not going anywhere, they said. ... If were talking about reproductive health, its going to impact people of color like myself, its going to impact lower-income people, its going to impact first generation of people who are coming into this country. This isnt just a womens rights issue. This is a universal issue. They added: ... They say another thing, you know: Hope wins the revolution. And I am hopeful for the future. I am hopeful for 2024 and I am hopeful for a world in which I dont have to feel like its unsafe for me to walk around campus or where it feels like its unsafe for me to walk through the airport. ... Thats what drag really does. By having you look at me in my drag, I let you look into my life and then I make you listen to my story. Drag is just the attention grabber. My power is where my voice is. Justyce had several ideas for people who wanted to support abortion rights in Flagstaff, including attending city council meetings, volunteering with local organizations and acting with kindness. They advised people to register to vote, regardless of their political affiliation, and to encourage others to do so, using their mother as an example. She was like, Hear me out. I dont like either party, but I want to vote for my kid, they said. ... If you choose not to vote, that is on you. So vote for your family, vote for the people you wish were still around to vote. On Sunday, NAU creative writing professor Nicole Walker will be holding a writing workshop to help people learn how to share their stories. She recently wrote a column about her own experience for the New York Times (titled "My Abortion at 11 wasnt my Choice. It was my Life") and wanted to help others write about their experiences with their bodies. I feel like telling your unique situation is the way that you can really communicate why it's such a difficult time, she said. ... Its such a crushing blow to this idea that you thought you were in charge of your own body. It's this crushing idea that you thought you were an equal citizen to other people in this country. "I really appreciate how [the Times] took the word choice and turned it, because I don't think most people choose to have abortions. I think most people decide based on circumstances that that's what they have to do, that's the best thing for them. That should be something they get to decide -- that your life circumstances take you to that place, to that decision and that is the most logical outcome you could imagine. She said shed seen a tendency to speak about abortion experiences more openly since the Supreme Court decision, and that this sharing could serve as a kind of healing. She included elements of lightness, humor and self-awareness when telling her story in order to show that it wasnt entirely about trauma. Everyone is welcome to attend the workshop, regardless of gender or experience, Walker said, especially those interested in learning how to talk about their bodies. I imagine everyone has some stories they dont want to talk about connected to their body, she said. I would love anybody who has something that they feel might be heavy with shame, [to come learn] how maybe writing about it can help alleviate that. ... We all have individual reasons for why we chose to have abortions, and we need to speak them so people know that there are millions of stories and millions of circumstances and they all differ. The more we say it, the more we write it, the more that is known and the more that is true. The workshop will be at the Murdoch Community Center starting at 10 a.m. Sunday. Walker plans to bring two pieces of her writing -- the New York Times essay and a short essay titled "Fish" -- to discuss as examples. Attendees will then be asked to follow the pattern of either essay to write about their own experiences and given the opportunity to share, if theyre interested. Walker said she had both long- and short-term hopes for the future of abortion in Flagstaff. She said she wanted everyone to vote in the election this November to support bodily autonomy and that she hoped, in the future, abortion access would expand to be a common aspect of healthcare. I hope that we make enough noise and enough people come out to vote that we have an entire new state legislature, senators who promote and support reproductive rights, body autonomy rights, she said. I feel like if you put it under that category, it's really hard to say, 'Oh, you shouldn't have rights over your body, you don't get to decide what happens to your body.'" She added: In the farther future, what I want is abortion to not have to be in these clinics, where people can know what you are doing. Abortion should not be this separate thing from regular healthcare. And because it is, it's been able to have been a separate target. People know this place is targeted and these doctors are targetable. I want every single OB-GYN to offer abortion services. I don't want it to be just siloed off in this arena of medicine that only a few doctors are willing and able to do for people who need abortions. Rural Arizona Action and FLAUNT can be found on Instagram (@flauntatnau and @ruralazaction) and information about FAA can be found on Womens March Flagstaff's Facebook page. Oath Keepers face off with an angry crowd in front of U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn just before 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. (Kelly Meggs/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police Officer Told Agents That Oath Keepers Shielded Him, Sealed FBI Record Shows An FBI document being kept from the public under court seal undermines the governments seditious-conspiracy case against the Oath Keepers, shows that the indicted members of the group are not guilty, and proves that the prosecution is lying to the jury, a former Oath Keepers attorney said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times on Oct. 7. Jonathon Moseley, who previously represented Oath Keepers defendant Kelly Meggs before his law license was revoked, said an FBI interview with a U.S. Capitol Police officer shows the Oath Keepers protected the officer from an angry mob near the Capitol Rotunda on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021. This documenttogether with a photograph of the moment inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6proves that the prosecution is lying to the jury, Moseley said in the statement (pdf). No one who engages in seditious conspiracy or insurrection stops to come to the aid of the police against the mob. If the Oath Keepers were involved in any way in any insurrection or conspiracy to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, would they turn and stand between the U.S. Capitol Police against the mob? Moseley asked. This is not merely a good act. This is absolute proof that there never was any insurrection or seditious conspiracy. The prosecutions entire case is a fraud upon the American people. William Miller, public information officer for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, declined to comment on Moseleys statements. We typically do not comment on cases beyond our public statements and filings to the court, and have no comment, Miller told The Epoch Times in an email. The FBI document in question, a Form 302 summary of Capitol Police officer Harry Dunns interview with two special agents, came up in open court on Oct. 6 during the seditious-conspiracy trial of Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III and four co-defendants, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell. Judge Issues Public Warning Prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler informed Judge Amit Mehta that Moseley was threatening to release a sealed document. In response, Mehta took the unusual step of telling the news media covering the trial to post messages on social media to Moseley saying that he would be jailed if he released the document. Judge Mehta says that if Mosely does he will be in contempt of court and he urges us (reporters) to tweet that out so Moseley will know that. Moseley claims the doc lost its protective order status; Mehta: i decide when something's lost that status. /59 Roger Parloff (@rparloff) October 6, 2022 These public tweets from journalists reporting on Mehtas public warning are visible as an incredible event in the already farcical prosecution, Moseley said. Two FBI agents interviewed Dunn on May 18, 2021, about the incident in the Small House Rotunda. According to video footage from an independent journalist, and portions of the FBI summary of Dunns interview reviewed by The Epoch Times, a group of Oath Keepers came upon a volatile standoff in the Small House Rotunda at 2:48 p.m. on Jan. 6. Dunn and at least two very agitated protesters in the crowd were shouting at each other. Dunn has said he didnt have his finger on the trigger of his rifle, according to his FBI interview. A bullet was in the chamber but the firearms safety was on, he said. Rhodes told the FBI in an interview that same month that Dunn shouted at the crowd, Im going to take as many of you [expletives] with me if you come for my rifle, according to an interview summary obtained by The Epoch Times. The Oath Keepers got in between that cop and the Trump supporters and calmed things down and de-escalated the situation, Rhodes said. And protectedand protected him. In a March interview with The Epoch Times, Rhodes said the situation in the Small House Rotunda could have gone critical very quickly. The stakes in the situation were high, which is why the Oath Keepers stepped in to be a buffer, Rhodes said. If youre armed and you got unarmed assailants, multiples coming at you, youre in a lethal-force situation and you cant let them take your gun, he said. So in that kind of situation, law enforcement officers will shoot. Kellye SoRelle, former general counsel for the Oath Keepers, told FBI agents in May 2021 that the people shouting at Dunn were agitators. At the time, Dunn was guarding the stairs leading down to the Lower West Terrace tunnel entrance. Dozens of officers were inside the building in that location, which was used as a decontamination station for police hit with pepper spray, according to bodycam footage reviewed by The Epoch Times. Dunn said when the Oath Keepers approached him, he told them the protesters were fighting police, according to the FBI interview summary. The Oath Keepers told Dunn they would be a barrier between him and the angry crowd, the FBI document said. Dunn said he allowed them to stand in front of him to keep the crowd from getting down the stairs. Dunn told the FBI he was not angry or scared but rather distressed inside. He had his rifle flush with his chest in Condition 1, meaning a round was in the chamber, the FBI summary said. Oath Keepers member Graydon Young said he and other Oath Keepers aided numerous people in need of first aid after they entered the Capitol Rotunda that afternoon, according to a summary he wrote on Jan. 8, 2021. The Oath Keepers had reached the top of the east steps at the Columbus Doors and got caught in [the] crowd and shoved in, Young said. Trying to De-Escalate Once we were in we tried to discourage property destruction, Young wrote. I specifically yelled at people who knocked over a sign in the hallway and broke glass. That made us angry we saw that as our property. Young said he approached a police officer and told her the Oath Keepers conflict was with Antifa, not law enforcement. We had been told that Antifa was in the crowd inciting the riots and they were the ones damaging property, Young wrote. We also knew someone had been shot and were trying to de-escalate. Young was referring to the fatal shooting of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt in the hallway outside the Speakers Lobby at 2:44 p.m., some five minutes before. Young wrote that his team leader, OK Gator 1 [Meggs], reported that he and a few other Oath Keepers interposed between a police officer and the angry mob. Oath Keepers defendant Graydon Young (under the arrow) inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. DOJ/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) He appeared distressed and had his finger on the trigger, Young wrote. Our guys de-escalated by firmly telling both sides to calm down. Another police officer was advised to give ground. That officer acknowledged the situation was a broken arrow. In military parlance, broken arrow means a unit has been overrun and needs additional support or backup. Dunn later said he didnt know what a broken arrow was and didnt hear anyone use the term on Jan. 6, 2021. While acknowledging Oath Keepers stood between him and the crowd, Dunn said he didnt need to be de-escalated. Dunn disputed the reports that his finger was on the rifles trigger, saying that would have only happened if he was aiming the firearm at an active threat, the FBI summary said. Members of the Oath Keepers ascend the east steps of the U.S., Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. DOJ/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) In June, Young agreed to plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy in a deal with federal prosecutors. A conviction for those crimes could carry up to 25 years in prison. Young hasnt been sentenced. The new details about the Dunn incident will likely be used by defense attorneys in the Rhodes trial to counter prosecutors claims the Oath Keepers were attacking the Capitol in order to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Oct. 7 was the prosecutions fourth day of presenting evidence against the Oath Keepers in U.S. District Court in Washington. Moseley said he disputes the governments claim that there were no closed-circuit security cameras in the Small House Rotunda that would have captured the Oath Keepers interactions with Dunn. Must Have Been Cameras Each year, tourists, school children, lobbyists, and the public mainly visit the Rotunda, Statuary Hall, the so-called crypt museum room, and the hallway in between where the incident on January 6 occurred, Moseley said. The incident was at the top of a major stairway, where a camera would be placed. Yet the government claims that they cannot find security camera recordings of the incident in this very public location. The concealment of the video recordings alone could justify dismissal of the prosecutors case. Moseley disputed that he issued any threat about the FBI document in his correspondence with prosecutors Nestler and Kathryn Rakoczy. He said he reminded prosecutors of their own stated policy and gave them the unwarranted and extra courtesy of notifying them that he would be writing a news analysis article on the topic. Moseley said in previous situations, including FBI interview notes of Michael Greene, the operations leader for the Oath Keepers on Jan. 6, 2021, that the documents could be released if redactions were made to blot out the names of FBI agents and any unindicted persons. The Dunn document as redacted fails to meet the test of sensitive under the protective order, Moseley said. There is no legitimate interest in the DOJ in covering up its own fabrication of a criminal case against the Oath Keepers. Moseley said he was struck that even after Mehta issued the jail threat in open court that was picked up by myriad news media outlets, none of those journalists are the slightest bit interested in what the document says. Page one of the officially engrossed copy of the Constitution signed by delegates. A print run of 500 copies of the final version preceded this copy. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) EXCLUSIVE: Former Employee Sues Miami-Dade County for Violating Rights of Religion, Free Speech He wrote an article critical of transgender legislation A former employee of Miami-Dade County in Florida is suing the countys board of commissioners after he says he was fired over his Christian beliefs about transgender ideology and his refusal to attend punitive diversity training. John Labriola, who served as a media aide for the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners from 2013 to 2021, wrote an opinion piece that was included in the March 2021 edition of Sophies Voice (pdf), a newsletter published by Sophie Publishing House Inc. In the piece, Labriola expressed strong opposition to the Equality Act, a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2021 that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The bill must first be passed by the U.S. Senate before it can reach the desk of the president to be vetoed or signed into law. Labriola suggested the bill would write transgenderism into law and require crossdressing men to be allowed to use womens restrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities and compete in womens sports, and force doctors to perform sexual mutilation surgeries at taxpayer expense, while simultaneously expanding taxpayer funding of abortion on demand, forcing transgender indoctrination on schoolchildren, and removing custody rights from parents who refuse to have their minor children undergo gender reassignment.' Labriola is being represented in his lawsuit (pdf) by Alexander Bumbu of Pacific Justice Institute, a California-based nonprofit legal defense organization. The Backlash On March 3, 2021, Maggie Fernandez, chief of staff for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, forwarded an email (pdf) she received from a concerned citizen who came across the newsletter and found it offensive. Erin New, director of Miami-Dade Countys human rights and fair employment practices, also received an email (pdf) from Orlando Gonzales, executive director of activist group SAVE LGBTQ. Gonzales had read an article in the Miami Herald about Labriolas piece and wrote to New, stating that Labriola conducted himself in manner that blatantly demonstrates his bias against LGBTQ people, which made him a danger to the community and unfit for a role in government as civil servant. Gonzales then urged that the county fully investigate this matter and discipline Mr. Labriola by dismissing him from his role. The Epoch Times reached out to Gonzales, who declined to comment. The Discipline In a series of documents (pdf) obtained by The Epoch Times, the path of disciplinary actions against Labriola is laid out. On March 5, 2021, a disciplinary action report was filed with a written reprimand against Labriola, in which Commissioner Jose Pepe Diaz, chair of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, issued a three-day suspension without pay. Diaz also ordered Labriola to participate in training regarding the Countys anti-discrimination policies. You must contact the Human Resources Department within the next 7 days to schedule the training, Diaz wrote. I expect you to have completed this training within the next 30 days. Through a series of emails, Diazs chief of staff, Isidoro R. Lopez, repeatedly instructed Labriola to schedule and attend the anti-discrimination training as ordered by Diaz. On March 24, 2021, Lopez sent an email, reiterating chronologically the list of orders Labriola had been given, specifically that he had yet to comply with the mandate to attend sensitivity training. If you do not timely contact Ms. Green [in the HR Department] in the time and in the manner mandated by this direct order, you will be violating a direct order and committing an act of insubordination among other violations which will subject you to discipline up to and including dismissal from employment, Lopez wrote. Lopez also sent an email to Diaz, stating that Labriola had not complied with the March 5 order to schedule the extra training. It is my understanding that if he complies on time, he can continue to work, Lopez posited. If he does not comply by 4pm tomorrow, what should I do? Diaz replied, saying if he complies, then he can continue to work. If he does not comply by tomorrow at 4pm, please send him paperwork dismissing him from employment effective immediately tomorrow. The Reminder On March 27, 2021, Labriola confirmed to Lopez by email his receipt of the reminder. Please know that I find all of this extremely distressing, Labriola wrote, asking why he was being harassed and discriminated against for voicing his personal religious beliefs in what he believed was a violation of the countys human rights and fair employment practices and policies. Why am I being singled out for disciplinary action and remedial sensitivity training as punishment for exercising my right to express my views on my private time as a private citizen? Labriola asked. Why is the County surrendering to the unjust demands of ideological extremists seeking to crush everyone who disagrees with proposed legislation that many Americans consider severely detrimental to public health, safety, welfare and freedom of speech and religion? Other than the desire to placate outside extremist pressure groups, the County has not provided me with any other credible reason for the discipline nor identified any specific words in my online published commentary which could have triggered this action. On March 29, 2021, Lopez told Labriola that his claim of distress is self-imposed, reiterating that all he had to do was contact the human resources department to schedule and attend a virtual training session regarding County policy. That was a simple task that you were ordered to perform and yet you still have not complied, Lopez admonished. The order did not mention or demand that you surrender your conscience or your beliefs as you mention in your email. Once again, he concluded. I encourage you to comply today. In an April 13, 2021, letter (pdf), Diaz informed Labriola that because hed refused to comply with the order to schedule the training session, he was hereby dismissed from County employment effective immediately. Arleene Cuellar, Miami-Dade Countys human resources (HR) director, sent a memo to New on May 4, 2021, stating that the HR departments review did not find any evidence to establish that Mr. Labriola engaged in any harassing or discriminatory behavior based on any protected characteristic within the workplace. However, the report concludes, the findings revealed that Mr. Labriolas use of extremely inappropriate and offensive language in the newsletter article did constitute a violation of County policies, including Implementing Order 7-45 (pdf). The Rules and Policies According to an April 28, 2021, memo (pdf) from Cuellar to her fellow department directors, Miami-Dade County is committed to ensuring inclusive programs, policies and employment practices for all of our employees and residents. In order to ensure safe and welcoming work environments for all of our employees, the county recently refreshed their employee training workshops, which are now currently available to all County employees and supervisors. Topics such as unconscious bias, racial bias, and LGBTQ+ sensitivity are among those addressed in the seven workshops listed. Religious bias is not addressed. According to the countys rules (pdf), that the employee has been guilty of conduct unbecoming an employee of the County whether on or off duty, provided allegations shall be specific and shall describe the conduct that is the basis of the charge is listed among the rules for Reasons for Dismissal, Demotions and Suspensions. But according to an overview of the countys anti-discrimination policy, religion and the exercise of their constitutional or statutory rights are included among the protected classes, along with sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. However, Labriolas attorneys contend that it was Miami-Dade County and the board of commissioners who violated Labriolas rights of speech, religion, and press, as provided by Title 42 of the U.S. Constitution. The Laws Title 42 states that Every person who subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. In the lawsuit (pdf), Labriolas attorneys argue that this case is much bigger than Mr. Labriola. This case is about the Countys use of its dangerous mute button to silence religious speech that it doesnt like and to compel speech that it does like. It is also about the Countys discrimination against one of its employees based on religion, as well as about the Countys failure to follow its own policy. The Attorneys According to Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), the effort to punish employees working for the government for speech used off hours on a platform unrelated to the government is a trend across the nation. PJI specializes in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute. (Courtesy of Brad Dakus) While the rules in Miami-Dade County decree that county employees found guilty of conduct unbecoming, whether on or off duty is a reason for dismissal, demotion, or suspension, Dacus told The Epoch Times thats part of the problem. He cited similar cases in which his firm is currently involved. In Iowa, a government employee was fired for holding Bible study classes addressing sexuality issues from a Biblical perspective during his off hours. In Oregon, two teachers were fired for expressing concern with policies preventing them from notifying parents if their children were having gender dysphoria issues and for opposing a mandate to use pronouns that went against their convictions and beliefs. We sued, Dacus said. We got their jobs back and now were suing for lost wages. According to Dacus this growing trend of intolerance and censorship is dangerous to the survival of a free nation and the continued relevance of our Constitution as applied to our free speech rights. Without question, Miami-Dade County violated the First Amendment, Dacus said in an Oct. 3, 2022, PJI press release (pdf) about Labriolas case. Mr. Bumbu will hold the County accountable in a court of law. Alexander Bumbu, staff attorney at Pacific Justice Institute. (Courtesy of Alexander Bumbu) This case is about freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press, Alexander Bumbu told The Epoch Times, adding that we cannot have these freedoms if the government punishes its employees for their use of that freedom on their own time and dime, especially when those employees are low ranking and have no power to shape government policy. In this case, Bumbu asserted, Miami-Dade Countys actions jeopardized the core, Constitutional rights of every County employee by threatening them with termination for simply exercising those rights. The Training According to the training module (pdf) for the Overview of the Countys Anti-Discrimination Policy, the stratagem is to ensure that all employees are able to enjoy a work environment free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation. Slide 8 in the training module lists disparate treatment, disparate impact, harassment, and retaliation as the four types of illegal discrimination. Slide 8 from the training module, Overview of the Countys Anti-Discrimination Policy. (Miami-Dade County Human Rights & Fair Employment Practices Division) According to Dacus, Labriola suffered each of these for expressing his opinions on his own time as a private citizen based on his religious beliefs, through his First Amendment right of free speech. In the meantime, his performance in the workplace was beyond reproach. Individuals do not shed their First Amendment rights once they begin to work for the government, Dacus insisted. Nor do government employees deserve to have their privacy uncomfortably violated. Slide 13 in the training module addresses restroom policies, acknowledging that sometimes coworkers object to going in the same bathroom with a transgender person. However, those objections are dismissed as less of an issue than people think it is, suggesting that if management declares this policy, subordinate employees will dutifully follow the lead of management. Also helpful is an attitude that indicates that this is no big deal.' Slide 13 from the training module, Overview of the Countys Anti-Discrimination Policy regarding restroom policies. (Miami-Dade County Human Rights & Fair Employment Practices Division) The Countys policies are insensitive and intolerant to the diversity of employees who may have very reasonable objections to feeling personally violated on a daily basis when it comes to something so necessitous to using the restroom, Dacus said. This lack of sensitivity for all employees is very problematic for this county and contrary to basic rules of human dignity and respect. The Transgender Sensitivity and Inclusion training module (pdf) teaches county employees about transgender ideology: what the words lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender mean, the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, gender transition, what it means to transition, transgender in binary terms, and all the rules to be followed to avoid offending transgender employees. Slide 33 teaches government employees how to recognize factors contributing to a hostile work environment for a transgender person, like refusal to use preferred pronouns, carelessness in never learning to use the correct pronoun, or refusal to use a persons preferred name. Slide 33 from the Transgender Sensitivity and Inclusion Training Module, teaching government employees how to recognize the factors contributing to a hostile environment for a transgender person. (Miami-Dade County Human Rights & Fair Employment Practices Division) No employee should have to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs and convictions in order to work for the county, Dacus insisted. The county, instead, pursuant to Title 7, should try to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs of those who have objections to using pronouns they consider to be false. Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that already protects employees against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. True tolerance goes both ways and respect must exist for all employees, Dacus concluded. Unfortunately, this county has not provided such a work environment and has instead become an enemy for true tolerance and accommodation to all employees in the workplace. The Epoch Times reached out to the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners for comment. A man casts his vote during the early voting period for the midterms at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, Va., on Oct. 7, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) EXCLUSIVE: Virginia County Stops Using Konnech Election Software Following CEOs Arrest FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va.A county in northern Virginia has halted its use of Konnech Corp.s election software after last weeks arrest of the companys chief executive. Since learning about the arrest, the Fairfax County Office of Elections has halted using Konnechs PollChief election officer management software, Eric Spicer, the director and general registrar of the countys Office of Elections, said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Oct. 6. The county also is terminating its contract with Konnech, Spicer added. Fairfax County election officials declined to comment on whether the county is securing a replacement product, given that Election Day is less than a month away. PollChief, Konnechs election worker management system product, is designed to assist with poll worker assignments, communications, and payroll, according to the statement. Furthermore, this software is not connected to the countys voting systems or the state voter registration system. It cannot be used to tabulate votes or election results, he said. The election officer portal of Fairfax County in northern Virginia says its unavailable on Oct. 6, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times) It is important to note that Fairfax County has never used software from this company to collect or store sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or banking information, Spicer said in the statement. The countys election officer portal, which runs on the PollChief software, currently says its unavailable: We expect to resume service in approximately one week. We will email all existing officers when the Portal is available again. Among the PollChief products purchased by the county were the PollChief Worker Management System, PollChief Worker Self-service Portal, PollChief Asset Management System, and the PollChief Help-Desk Management System, according to a May invoice issued by Konnech that was obtained by The Epoch Times. The 2016 contract between Konnech and the county, also obtained by The Epoch Times, states that the companys servers are located in Lansing, Michigan, and that it also has a backup server located in nearby Okemos. Konnech CEO Eugene Yu, 51, was arrested in Michigan on Oct. 4 as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of personal identifying information of Los Angeles County election workers, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys (DA) Office. Michigan-based Konnech won a five-year contract with Los Angeles County in 2020, and stored election workers data on servers in China, the DAs office said. The office is now seeking Yus extradition to Los Angeles. Signs outside the Fairfax County Government Center, a main early voting site, in Fairfax, Va., on Oct. 7, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) Christine Brim, a coordinator of the Fairfax County Republican election integrity working group that recruits and trains poll watchers to observe voting on behalf of the Republican Party, confirmed that she was notified about the countys decision in a phone call from Christopher Henzel, chairman of the county electoral board and a Republican. Brim praised the countys election officials for taking swift action. They did not wait to find an alternative vendor. They simply got out of the risky situation, to their credit, she told The Epoch Times. They just turned on a dime, said no more, and got out. Brim said she was told that Fairfax County didnt use PollChief for payrolls, and only stored workers names and contact information on the platform. That doesnt eliminate the risk but it limits it, Brim said. The county used PollChief to manage election officers training, scheduling, and communication, according to Brim. Spicer told her that the county never used the PollChief Asset Management System, which logs election equipment and poll location data, because it didnt work, she said. With 264 precincts in the county, and five to 10 election officers needed per precinct for Election Day on Nov. 8, switching software now could be extremely challenging, Brim said. Another use of PollChief by the county was to accept applications for election officer positions via the election officer portal, which is now unavailable, Brim said. But people interested in becoming election officers can still apply through the Virginia Department of Election, which will distribute the application to the corresponding counties. Virginia started early in-person voting on Sept. 23. Fairfax County began with three locations and will add another 13 on Oct. 27. Konnech officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Cows and their calves graze in a pasture on a farm near Cremona, Alta., June 26, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) Farmers Chief Wary of Calls for United Nations Global Sustainability Standards for Livestock Tony Mahar, CEO of the National Farmers Federation, has urged any implementation of the United Nations sustainability standards in Australia to be more nuanced and not a blanket approach. His comments come as organic standards groups push for the global body to create a sustainability standard for livestock producers. Marg Will, an organic standards lobbyist from Brisbane, Australia, this week told a conference in Europe that there was an urgent need for the standards. The need for standards around sustainability is great, is urgent, Will told AAP. She is critical of Australias current system, which she says is simply green-washing because it allows emitters in the industry to buy carbon credits to offset their emissions while still producing greenhouse gases (GHGs). What were trying to do by introducing standards is avoid green-washing, Will said. Livestock Producers Urge Caution on a Global Regulatory Approach Mahar told The Epoch Times in an email that they would be very cautious about the creation and implementation of a global set of standards around the livestock industry given the different global environments that each livestock sector exists within. Australias farming systemsparticularly for grazingare radically different to those of, say, Europe or North America, Maher said. Our approach to reducing emissions and caring for our land will be unique because our environment is unique. He noted that the red meat industry has set its sights on carbon neutrality by 2030, and had already lowered the emissions from that sector down 53 percent on 2005 levels and taken steps to develop the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Frameworka world-first partnership between industry and government. He said that it was important that governments note that reducing emissions in the sector was not a regulatory challenge but rather a technological challenge, with the Australian meat industry already pursuing ambitious targets to maintain our reputation as a leading global supplier of clean and green produce. What we need is continued focus on the technology breakthroughs that will enable us to drive emissions lower while continuing to supply the world with food and fibre, Maher said. An example of this technology is the partnership of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) with the governments chief scientific body, the CSIRO, and James Cook University to discover, research and develop a livestock supplement called Futurefeed that employs seaweed as a nutritional supplement to reduce GHG emissions by up to 80 percent. Methane Busting Seaweed Supplement Rolls into Production The discovery that seaweed may be the industrys GHG saviour came about after a Canadian farmer noticed cattle in his paddock bounded by the sea were more productive than his other cattle. He discovered the cattle grew faster, were healthier and easier to manage and then provided it to the rest of his cattle. A farmer and his young son look at cattle at the weekly livestock sale near the town of Carcoar in central-west New South Wales, Australia, on Feb. 10, 2015. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images) Reaching out to a scientist friend in Australia, Dr. Rob Kinley, it was soon discovered that the kelp was lowering the GHGs from the cattle that were eating the seaweed, which then led Australian scientists to discover the Asparagopsis kelp, in small doses, reduces GHG in animals, according to Futurefeed. MLA Managing Director Jason Strong told the online food industry journal foodprocessing.com.au in July, 2022 that avoiding emissions was a necessary part of the red meat industry achieving a carbon neutral status by 2030. MLA is continuing to work on a range of tools and technologies for producers to cost-effectively reduce emissions and increase productivity by demonstrating environmental stewardship credentials to customers, consumers and the community, Strong said. We are proud to be working alongside FutureFeed in rolling out Asparagopsis to a range of commercial partners. Asparagopsis is one of many exciting tools the industry can embrace in working towards our goal of carbon neutrality at the end of the decade. Global Livestock Industry Says Fine to Handle Emissions A 2021 study published in Nature Food (pdf) based on data from 2010 has been utilised to argue that the global livestock industry generates around 57 percent of global GHGs. The study asserts that the worlds most prominent emitting regions are South America (14 percent of total food-related emissions), South and South East Asia (nine percent) with China (eight percent), Brazil (six percent), the United States (five percent) and India (four percent) being the highest emitters in the livestock industry. This is in contrast to the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) who note on their website that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), considers all of the countrys agriculture sector contribute just nine percent of the countrys GHGs and of that, the livestock industry represents just over four percent of the countrys GHGs. GHG emission data often continue to overestimate the regional impact, particularly in developed nations such as the United States, NAMI said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says agriculture contributes nine percent of Americas GHGs while livestock production accounts for 4.2 percent of GHGs. By contrast, transportation accounts for 27 percent and energy production is 31 percent. The Institute also notes that most of the calculations around sustainability and GHG emissions determine the impact of livestock production using meat as the sole output. This, they note, is misleading because most livestock have multiple purposes that they are used for other than meat. These extra products which when removed from landfill has been estimated to have around the same effect on GHG emissions as removing over 12.25 million cars from the road. For pigs, a third of the animal is used for other purposes. Different products produced from these animals include leather and other textiles, pet food, animal feed, soap, personal care products, industrial lubricants, biodiesel fuel and medicines, NAMI said. The organisation also notes that when examining carbon emissions, researchers often neglect to account for the nutrient density of the food, as noted by a 2014 research study published in Comparative Analysis. Every single food that we eat (from apples to jerky, steak to zucchini) comes at an environmental cost, and we have to balance that cost against its nutritional benefits, NAMI said. When we examine carbon emissions according to the nutrients provided by the food, we see a very different picture. Meat products provide 75 percent of the daily requirement of 15 key nutrients with average carbon emissions of 248 grams of CO equivalent(g), whereas the equivalent amount of energy from vegetables provides 375 percent of the 15 recommended daily requirements but with average carbon emissions of 787 g. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) Federal Law Does Not Exempt LGBT Employees From Bathroom, Dress Code, Policies, Judge Rules A federal judge in Texas struck down a federal guidance exempting LGBT employees from workplace policies on bathroom use, dress codes, locker rooms, and pronoun usage. A U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) policy document from June 2021 overreached in its interpretation of the Supreme Courts ruling forbidding employment discrimination based on sexual preference and gender identity, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas found. Texas sued over the guidance. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, praised the ruling in a statement on Oct. 6. Paxton amended the states lawsuit 7 months ago to include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after the agency issued new rules to guarantee access to so-called gender-affirming health care for transgender young people. The HHS policy came after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, directed state agencies to initiate child abuse investigations of some families with transgender children, and after Paxton said such care can constitute abuse under state law. The court decision is not only a win for the rule of law, but for the safety and protection of Texas children, said Paxton. The Biden Administrations attempts to radicalize federal law to track its woke political beliefs are beyond dangerous. I will continue to push back against these unlawful attempts to use federal agencies to normalize extremist positions that put millions of Texans at risk. The Supreme Court issued its ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County on June 15, 2020, finding 6-3 that employees cant be fired from their jobs because of sexual orientation or gender identity, as The Epoch Times reported. Two conservative members of the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion, and Chief Justice John Roberts, joined the four liberals then on the court by voting to expand the meaning of the word sex in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While Title VII of that federal statute from the Civil Rights Era prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin, it doesnt mention sexual orientation, preference, or identity. Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump in June 2019, found (pdf) that the high court ruling provides workers protection against being fired for their sexuality or gender identity but does not protect all correlated conduct. When pressed to expand the Title VII analysis and definition of sex beyond mere status to reach a broader scope of conduct, Justice Gorsuch expressly declined, Kacsmaryk wrote. The EEOC is still in court over a 2021 lawsuit against its expansive guidance brought by 20 states. In July, Judge Charles Atchley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, temporarily blocked the enforcement of the directive in states suing the EEOC. Atchley was also appointed by Trump. In October 2021, Judge Reed OConnor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, ruled that the First Amendment and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act can shield Christian-operated businesses from LGBT bias liability under Title VII. Reed, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush, also determined that churches and religious groups can succeed in LGBT bias lawsuits by invoking the religious organization exemption in Title VII. The Epoch Times reached out for comment to the U.S. Department of Justice but had not received a reply as of press time. Cpl. Brandon McRae of the Cape Breton Highlanders removes brush under the direction of Nova Scotia Power officials in Glace Bay, N.S., on Sept. 26, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Vaughan Merchant) Fiona: One Week After NS Premier Asked for More Troops, Fewer Boots on Ground One week after Nova Scotias premier asked Ottawa for more soldiers to help clean up the twisted mess caused by post-tropical storm Fiona, there were fewer troops on the ground Friday than there were earlier in the week. Daniel Minden, press secretary to Defence Minister Anita Anand, confirmed in an email there were about 550 members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Nova Scotia last weekend, but that number had dropped to 400 by Thursday. On Sept. 29, Premier Tim Houston said the province needed 1,000 members of the military to help with moving trees, clearing debris and other chores. In a province where we have something like 10,000 military personnel stationed here, its my personal belief that pretty much every single one of those people would drop everything to help their fellow Nova Scotians, should they be asked, he said at the time. Minden confirmed the federal government had received a recent letter from the Nova Scotia government requesting more troops. We will continue to deploy the right number of personnel to accomplish the tasks asked of the Canadian Armed Forces, and we will be there for as long as it takes to restore critical services, Minden said in an email. The email did not mention anything about additional deployments. Houstons office issued a statement Friday saying the premier was disappointed with Ottawas response. As we enter Thanksgiving weekend, there are still thousands of Nova Scotians who are without power 14 days after the storm, the statement said. The damage was devastating, and the cleanup is extensive. More people supporting these efforts can make a huge difference for Nova Scotians. The email goes on to say there is no shortage of tasks for the military. Anyone who has spent time in the impacted areas can attest to our needs, the statement said. Had our request for more personnel been actioned, we could have been further along. Its disappointing that the federal government didnt see it that way. By Friday afternoon, about 2,300 Nova Scotia Power customers were still without electricity, about 90 percent of them in northeastern Nova Scotia, where Fiona was particularly fierce. At the height of the storm, early on Sept. 24, more than 500,000 homes and businesses in Atlantic Canada were in the dark, including 415,000 in Nova Scotia. Thats about 80 percent of Nova Scotia Powers customers. In Prince Edward Island, 82,000 Maritime Electric customers were without power almost two weeks ago. Thats about 90 percent of the utilitys customers. On Friday, the number of P.E.I. homes and businesses without power appeared to be on the rise. For much of the past week, Maritime Electric reported that about 9,000 of its 86,000 customers were still waiting to be reconnected to the electric gridbut that number jumped to 11,000 Friday morning. There was no explanation on the utilitys website, and company spokesman Kim Griffin could not be reached for comment. People view the flooded Windsor Bridge along the Hawkesbury River in the suburb of Windsor in Sydney, Australia, on July 4, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images) Floods Persist as Intense Weather System Soaks Parts of Australia Again New South Wales (NSW) is in for a soggy weekend as a large cloud band dumps more rain across the state, with more than a dozen rivers set to flood after days of heavy downpours and storms. A trough and cold front will move across the state on Friday, bringing further widespread rain. The Bureau of Meteorology warned communities in the Riverina, including Hay and Griffith, that severe thunderstorms were likely to produce heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Friday morning after more than 23mm fell in 30 minutes at Hay Airport. The system will also bring widespread heavy rain to the eastern half of NSW, including the western slopes and ranges, central NSW and the south coast. Saturday is set to be a high-risk day for Sydney, with warnings of renewed river flooding to the citys west months after record peaks were observed. The SES has warned people near Penrith to stay informed about predicted river rises in the Nepean, Hawkesbury and their tributaries. The dams are full, and our rivers are already swollen, so any extra rainfallno matter how minoris likely to exacerbate existing flooding, Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said on Thursday. Sydneys Observatory Hill recorded 91mm in the 24 hours to Friday 9 a.m.taking the city beyond its previous record annual rainfall total peak, set in 1950. Over the last few days, parts of NSW have already been hit with double to triple the amount of rain they would usually see in a month, the bureau said. Continuing heavy falls will heighten the flood risk for inland rivers, with 14 catchments already on alert. Conditions will ease briefly on Saturday morning before a low-pressure system forms along the coast in the afternoon, bringing renewed rain in the evening. The worst of the weather should ease off by Sunday, according to the bureau. Renewed and prolonged flooding is continuing in inland NSW at the rivers Namoi, Macquarie, Bogan, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray, Edward, Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara, Warrego, Paroo, Barwon and Darling. Outback towns being monitored closely include Gunnedah, Narrabri, Tamworth, Dubbo, Forbes and Bathurst. Throughout the weekend, the bureau expects to issue further flood warnings on the Hunter River, for Wollombi Brook and at western Sydneys Hawkesbury-Nepean rivers, in Menangle and parts of Penrith. SES Commissioner Carlene York warned that renewed flooding could present different challenges, especially to inland communities. This particular event on saturated ground means that things can happen very quickly, she said. Dont assume you will get a warning it may go straight to an evacuation order. Authorities have also warned tens of thousands of racing fans heading to the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama to take care, with heavy falls predicted in the area. Please dont race to the races, Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Cotter said. Farmers are also concerned the latest deluge will destroy another crop, and graziers have been warned to shelter spring lambs and sheep. Meanwhile, the bureau has warned livestock is at risk with temperatures set to plunge in the Illawarra, south coast, southern tablelands, southwest slopes, Snowy Mountains and ACT regions. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks during a press conference at the University of Miami Health System Don Soffer Clinical Research Center in Miami, Fla., on May 17, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Florida Can Bar Businesses From Requiring Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination: Appeals Court Floridas law barring businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination is likely legal, a federal appeals court has ruled. The law, passed in 2021, says that a business may not require patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or postinfection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business operations in this state. Floridas statute is a regulation of economic conduct that only incidentally burdens speech, which does not implicate the First Amendment, U.S. Circuit Judge William Pryor wrote for the majority of a U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit panel on Oct. 6. And its burdens on interstate commerce do not exceed the benefits of furthering Floridas substantial interests in protecting its residents from discrimination and invasions of privacy. The court vacated a preliminary injunction, which was entered after a lower court concluded the law likely violates Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings right to free speech. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, had said that the prohibition of vaccine proof was a restriction on speech in addition to an economic regulation, and that defendants did not offer adequate evidence of their statement that the burden on speech was incidental. The appeals court panel disagreed. What businesses may not do is close their doors to customers who decline to present private medical documentation. The act of closing the doors to those persons is prohibited, not any communicative exchange between them and the businesses that would like to discriminate against them on the proscribed grounds,' the majority opinion stated. Norwegians argument that the law does not bar requiring oral verification of vaccination status is correct but that fact means only that the statute does not prohibit all conceivable discriminatory conduct against unvaccinated and privacy-concerned persons, Pryor said. Pryor, a George W. Bush appointee, was joined by U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Brasher, a Trump appointee. No one should be forced into making a medical decision like taking the COVID vaccine to keep their job or visit a business otherwise open to the public. We appreciate this ruling from the court and will continue fighting to keep Florida free of vaccine passports, Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, told The Epoch Times in an email. As we informed the courts on Tuesday, because we are no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccination to board our vessels, we believe the preliminary injunction granted in August 2021 was moot and therefore appropriate to be lifted, a Norwegian spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email. Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Pearl cruise ship is docked at the Port of Jacksonville amid the CCP virus outbreak, in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 27, 2020. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Dissent U.S. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum, an Obama appointee and the other member of the panel, dissented. Rosenbaum said the law in question is unconstitutional, claiming that it only applies to cruise ships when it actually is for any private business operating in the state. The law will facilitate the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships by depriving cruise lines of the ability to verify passengers vaccination statuses, a resource Norwegians Chief Executive Officer has described as the companys most valuable tool for preventing the spread of COVID-19 onboard, Rosenbaum wrote. The Majority Opinion doesnt let that pesky little fact stop it from treating Floridas law like it promotes health and safety, though, so the law can benefit from (undeserved) strong deference. COVID-19 vaccines provide little defense against infection and virtually no protection against transmission since the emergence of the Omicron virus variant, according to health authorities and studies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its updated COVID-19 guidance that its prevention recommendations no longer differentiate based on a persons vaccination status partly because many people who are not vaccinated have protection from prior illness. Rosenbaum also criticized how the majority highlighted a need to protect privacy in its ruling, noting that Florida requires proof of vaccination against many other diseases. Pryor responded to the criticism in his opinion, saying the state, not the court, has the constitutional authority to determine what is and is not a reasonable distinction between its citizens and what qualifies as discrimination worth remedying. The dissents approach would flip the script and allow Article III judges to decide which of Floridas citizens deserve protection. And that approach would threaten the states authority to protect its citizens from various forms of discrimination. We decline the dissents invitation to put these policy decisions in the hands of unelected federal judges. The states are in a better position to make reasonable distinctions between their citizens and to secure their civil rights. For that reason, the Constitution affords state legislatures great deference in this area, he added. Pryor acknowledged that Florida does require vaccination against other diseases but said the dissent rests on an unstated and false premise that legislatures must treat all diseases as though they are equal, and noted that the legislature considered the vaccination requirements when approving the law. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at an opioid roundtable in Washington on May 3, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Former AG Jeff Sessions: A Larger Number of Criminals Are Crossing the Border Jeff Sessions, former Alabama senator and attorney general under President Donald Trump, said the current border crisis is allowing more criminals to enter the United States. You know, in poor countries, they dont keep people in jail for 30, 40 years. Theyre glad to get rid of you. So if youre a child molesterer and the sheriff and the police chief in Honduras knows you, what are you going to do? You got a cousin in Los Angeles, you just go across the border, Sessions said in a Sept. 29 podcast with Mark Krikorian, director of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies. So I think we are picking up a larger number of criminals than we used to in the immigration system. Sessions became a polarized figure among conservatives soon after he became attorney general as he recused himself from the Department of Justices Russia collusion investigation. At the border, Sessions was instrumental in the zero tolerance policy that was enforced for about two months beginning in April 2018. The policy matched immigration law that says if individuals cross the border illegally, they must be detained. It became known as the family separation policy as several hundred parents were temporarily separated from their children as all adults were detained and prosecuted for entering illegally. The motivation behind the policy was to halt the catch-and-release scenario that had attracted thousands of illegal immigrants who knew theyd be set free inside the United States, despite the vast majority not being eligible for asylum. The administration stopped the zero tolerance program on June 20 and later enacted the Remain in Mexico program, which had the effect of dramatically reducing illegal entries. Instead of being released into the United States with a court date years down the road, the program forced illegal border crossers to wait in Mexico until their case had been adjudicated by an immigration judge. Its difficult to overstate how tough it was for the Trump administration to make progress, Sessions said. Lawsuits were filed in courts, as Attorney General and we dealt with them. And we defended the presidents actions. And we began to win cases and change policies. And the success was real. And numbers fell. And it was thrown away by [the Biden] administration. What they did exceeds anything imaginable. President Joe Biden issued a handful of executive orders within hours of taking office on Jan. 20, 2021. On day one, the administration signed executive orders and issued memos to temporarily suspend deportations of illegal aliens, reverse Trumps ban on travel from terror-prone countries, halt border wall construction, stop adding people to the Remain in Mexico program, preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and release a sweeping immigration package to Congress that includes amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. Since then, record numbers of illegal aliens from more than 160 countries have crossed the U.S.Mexico border, including more than 2 million in the past year. Border Patrol agents have reported an additional at least 599,000 illegal aliens to have evaded capture over the past yearalmost 50,000 per month, according to numbers obtained by Fox News. The ones who evade capture, known as gotaways, are typically assumed to be evading law enforcement because they are either criminals, previously deported, or they know they wont gain legal entry. During fiscal year 2022, Border Patrol agents arrested 78 illegal aliens along the southern border who are on the U.S. governments terrorist watchlistcompared to three during fiscal year 2020, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additionally, Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 11,000 convicted criminals at the border and a further 836 with warrants for arrest in fiscal year 2022, with one month of data missing. An additional 697 gang members have been arrested at the border. I have a sense that the whole world is now just learning that its not just Mexicans and Central Americans that can come illegallythey can come here illegally too, Sessions said. Krikorian said he anticipates more illegal aliens coming in from African nations, the Middle East, and China and India. Once the door is open, theyll rush through it hoping they get through before we wake up and close it again, he said. Sessions said Republican lawmakers in Washington need to apply more pressure to secure the border. What I found was, and said many times, they will vote for most any bill on immigration that sounds good, but if it really works, it never passed, Sessions said. During Trumps first two years, Republicans controlled both the House and Senate, but failed to pass any legislation that closed immigration law loopholes that were driving most of the illegal entries. That we have to open our system up to the world, for anybody who wants to come is a colossal disaster. It can never be a legitimate policy of a great nation, Sessions said. French Author Annie Ernaux Wins 2022 Nobel Prize for Literature STOCKHOLMFrench author Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday for the courage and clinical acuity in her largely autobiographical books examining personal memory and social inequality. In explaining its choice, the Swedish Academy said Ernaux, 82, consistently and from different angles, examines a life marked by strong disparities regarding gender, language, and class. The first French woman to win the literature prize, Ernaux said winning was a responsibility. I was very surprised I never thought it would be on my landscape as a writer, Ernaux told Swedish broadcaster SVT. It is a great responsibility to testify, not necessarily in terms of my writing, but to testify with accuracy and justice in relation to the world. She has previously said that writing is a political act, opening our eyes for social inequality. And for this purpose she uses language as a knife, as she calls it, to tear apart the veils of imagination, the academy said. Her debut novel was Les Armoires Vides in 1974 but she gained international recognition following the publication of Les Annees in 2008, translated into The Years in 2017. It is her most ambitious project, which has given her an international reputation and a raft of followers and literary disciples, the academy said of that book. Born to a modest family of grocers from Normandy in northern France, Ernaux wrote about class and how she struggled to adopt the codes and habits of the French bourgeoisie while staying true to her working class background. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Norway and Azerbaijan are the two countries on which Europe counts in its efforts to reduce reliance on Russian oil, Azernews reports, citing Petr Fiala, Czech Prime Minister. Fiala made the remarks at a press conference following the casual EU 27 Summit and Assembly inside the European Political Neighbourhood, Development experiences. He said that the issues of Europe's energy security have been discussed at conferences conducted under the framework of the European Political Neighbourhood. He stated that because European countries are taking measures to reduce their reliance on Russian energy supplies, Norway and Azerbaijan are the two nations that Europe is counting on. These international locations are essential in that sense, he mentioned. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also stressed in an interview with the Azerbaijani TV channels in Prague that European Union countries are Azerbaijans main trading partners. Of course, the growing role of Azerbaijan in the geopolitical space manifests itself in the economic sphere, as well as in the sphere of investments, Aliyev said. Aliyev expressed satisfaction with the increased number of interactions between the European Union and Azerbaijan in recent months. Although the major aim of COP27 is to cut carbon emissions causing climate change and deal with existing climate impacts, the issue of loss and damage is likely to be one of the priorities of the meeting this year as the impacts of climate change, including floods, drought and wildfires, become clearer on the ground and affect ever more people. As the convening of COP27 draws closer, Egypt is stressing the importance of developing mechanisms to ensure developing countries are compensated for the damage they suffer due to climate change. Egypt has repeatedly underlined that it will put the issue of loss and damage at the centre of COP27, scheduled to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh between 6-18 November. Wael Abul-Magd, Egypts special representative of COP27, told the media this week that Cairo is putting a lot of effort into ensuring that compensation for countries that have experienced heavy economic loss due to climate catastrophes is prioritised. We need to find a practical solution and it is up to the incoming COP presidency to navigate and finesse the process, he said. We are inching closer. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the world to act against what he called a life-or-death struggle for our own safety today and our survival tomorrow. He was speaking ahead of the COP27 preparatory meeting which took place on 3 and 4 October in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We know people and nations are suffering now... Failure to act on loss and damage will lead to more loss of trust and more climate damage This is a moral imperative that cannot be ignored and COP27 must be the place for action on loss and damage, he told media at the UN headquarters in New York ahead of the Kinshasa talks. Before the same meeting, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri highlighted the importance of appropriate and fair climate financing, including financing for adaptation as well as mitigation. We must find a way to address this challenge, Shoukri said. Without appropriate and fair financing serving as a catalyst, we will struggle to make a significant impact on climate change. The issue of loss and damage was discussed at last months UN General Assembly during the meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Shoukri told the AOSIS meeting that Egypt understands the seriousness of the losses and damage suffered by small island nations and will make them a key issue in discussions at COP27. Climate change is inflicting increasing losses and damages on small island developing countries through repeated waves of severe weather conditions in the form of storms, hurricanes, floods and droughts that result in grave human and economic losses, said Shoukri. The issue was also raised in New York during a high-level meeting with the Group of 77 and China. Shoukri told the meeting he was looking forward to active engagement from all climate change stakeholders, including the G-77 and China, in dealing with the loss and damage caused by climate change. Meanwhile, informal consultations at the level of the heads of delegations have been organised to bridge views among the various parties on how losses and damages can be assessed. The same topic also preoccupied the pre-COP27 meeting in June in Bonn, Germany, which ended without any agreement being reached. Negotiators at last years COP26 agreed to launch a two-year dialogue on loss and damage but stopped short of setting up an actual fund. During COP27 the topic is likely to raise debates on where the money for any fund comes from, how it will be distributed or how climate-induced losses are defined, with some research suggesting the latter could reach $580 billion annually by 2030, rising to between $1-$1.8 trillion for developing countries by 2050. Tensions and difference over the war in Ukraine and the rocketing energy and food prices it has brought and their negative economic and political impacts across the developed and developing world and the diplomatic showdown between the US and China, the worlds biggest producers of greenhouse gas emission, will further complicate any breakthrough over the loss and damage issue. Shoukri highlighted during this weeks Kinshasa meeting that challenges posed by the current geopolitical and economic situations must not be an excuse for delaying action on climate change. The Egyptian COP presidency has repeatedly called on all parties to set aside political differences and work together to make progress on climate change. It has also welcomed a Danish initiative as a step in the right direction which sets a precedent for other countries to follow. The Danish government announced it would provide DKK100 million (13.4 million) to countries most vulnerable to climate change. In doing so it became the first UN member state to pay loss and damage compensation to developing countries for the impact of climate change. Scotland a non-UN member also pledged finance to address loss and damage, when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon committed 2 million to the cause during COP26 which was held in Glasgow. The allocated funds are already being used to deliver on the ground and help communities recover from climate-related events such as flooding, wildfires, and tropical storms. *A version of this article appears in print in the 6 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Germanys Tense Gas Situation May Become Very Serious If People Continue Using Too Much, Authorities Warn Germanys gas situation may become very serious if the country does not significantly reduce consumption ahead of winter, the head of Germanys national network regulator warned Thursday. Federal Network Agency President Klaus Mueller wrote on Twitter that gas consumption in Germany increased by too much last week, with German households and small businesses using nearly 10 percent more gas than the average consumption from 2018 to 2021. According to official data, average household and small business power consumption across Germany for the week of Sept. 26 was 618 gigawatt hours per day (GWh/day), 10 percent higher when compared with the average for the same week over the years 2018 through 2021, during which it was 564 GWh/day. Industrial consumption was also up 2 percent (1,370 gigawatts), Mueller said. We will struggle to avoid a gas emergency in winter without at least 20 percent savings in the private, commercial and industrial sectors, Mueller said. The situation can become very serious if we do not significantly reduce our gas consumption. Overall, households and small businesses account for roughly 40 percent of German gas consumption, while large manufacturing industries account for the other 60 percent. Along with the dire warning that Germans absolutely have to consume less, Mueller noted that liquefied natural gas imports, gas supplies from Germanys neighboring countries of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Norway, along with full storage could help the country get through the winter. Gas storage sites are more than 92 percent full, Germanys regulator said on Thursday. However, the agency, which has the power to impose rationing in case of severe shortages, warned that the situation is tense and a further deterioration of the situation cannot be ruled out, pointing to volatile fluctuations in gas prices. Pipes of the gas storage plant Reckrod are pictured near Eiterfeld, central Germany, July 14, 2022, after the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was shut down for maintenance. (The Canadian Press/AP/Michael Probst) Next Winter May Also Be Very Difficult The warning comes as Germany is currently in phase two of a three-stage emergency plan aimed at safeguarding against shortages amid a reduction in gas flows from Russia, which was previously its main gas supplier. In 2021, Russian gas accounted for about 55 percent of Germanys total consumption, but in August, just 9.5 percent of that consumption came from Russia, according to the BDEW German power industry association. The final stage of Germanys three-stage emergency plan would involve rationing gas supplies throughout the country, but this hasnt yet been triggered. Constant warnings from German officials over potentially limited energy supplies this winter have prompted a surge in sales of electric heaters among households, with data from market research company Growth from Knowledge showing that sales of heaters between January and August jumped 76 percent compared to the year-earlier period. Elsewhere on Wednesday, the executive director of the International Energy Agency noted that Europes gas storage for this winter was nearly full, meaning the EU could pull through the winter with a few bruises so long as there were no political or technical shocks. Where we are is not bad and I expect if there are no surprisespolitical and technical surprisesand if the winter is a normal winter, Europe can go through this winter with some bruises here and there, but we can come to February and March, Fatih Birol said, CNBC reported. However, he warned that next winter could be even more of a challenge if Chinese gas imports increase. What helped us this time, [is that] we still imported some gas from Russia in the last few months, he said. Additionally, China had imported less gas than it would have otherwise owing to what Birol called very sluggish economic performance. Next year, if Chinese gas imports increase with the Chinese economy coming back, it will be [a] rather difficult few months starting from March to next winter. So this winter is difficult, but next winter may also be very difficult as well, he said. Reuters contributed to this report. Half of Transgender Inmates in Scotland Only Began Transitioning After They Were Jailed Half of Scotlands transgender prisoners only identified as women after they were put behind bars, according to figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request. There are 16 transgender inmates in Scottish prisons, eight of whom began their transition while being cared for in custody following their remand or conviction for their current offence, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed in a Freedom of Information request (FOI) seen by The Epoch Times. The SPS added that six trans prisoners have current or previous convictions for sex offences. There is an undisclosed number of trans prisoners in the male estate under consideration for a move to the womens estate. The FOI asked if there had been any complaints from female prisoners about inappropriate behaviour or sexual assaults against trans prisoners since the SPS trans policy was introduced in 2014. SPS confirmed there have been 6,758 complaints made by females within its care since 2014. But it could not say how many of these were for trans-related issues owing to the cost and scope involved in such a request. Single-Sex Provision Kate Coleman runs the organisation Keep Prisons Single Sex, which was set up in 2020 to campaign for the right of female prisoners to single-sex provision. Coleman has highlighted that women in prison, who have often been victims of much more serious offences than those they are accused of committing, suffer fear and anxiety if required to share accommodation with a male prisoner. All male prisoners would objectively have an easier time in the female estate, Coleman told The Epoch Times in an email. Where Scottish Prison Service has created the possibility for male prisoners to be allocated to the female estate on the basis of self-identification as female, it is simply ludicrous to expect that male prisoners wont take advantage of this, she added. Since 2014, SPSs Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy (pdf) has allowed prisoners to be accommodated on the basis of self-declared gender identity. For example, people in custody have to be rubdown-searched by staff, in accordance with the social gender in which they are living. There are concerns about upcoming Scottish legislation, which will allow individuals to change the sex recorded on their birth certificate by simply making a statutory declaration. Currently under consultation, the Gender Recognition Reform Bill will mean that it will be quicker for people to change the legal sex recorded on their birth certificate and other documents, removing the need to obtain a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The time period applicants need to live in the acquired gender will be reduced from two years to three months, with the requirement for a medical diagnosis and evidence removed. Abuse of the System Former SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, now a member of the Alba Party, told the Scottish Daily Express on Tuesday that it is extremely worrying, and that a number of men choosing to become transgender after conviction suggests an abuse of the system and a threat to vulnerable women. The statistics confirm the anecdotal evidence that some male prisoners are opting to self-ID as females not through any desire to transgender but to avoid being imprisoned in the male estate, he said. That is an abuse of the system and a threat to vulnerable women. Its one thing protecting the rights of transgender prisoners but quite another to be facilitating whats a fraud and extremely harmful. Current SPS policy seems to be failing and this abuse and injustice must end, added MacAskill. Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc greets supporters at a town hall event on September 10, 2022 in Laconia, New Hampshire. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Hassan Senate Campaign Worried About Republican Challengers Rapid Climb, Leaked Memo Says A recent memo from U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassans campaign shows the New Hampshire Democrat is worried about Republican challenger Don Bolducs rapid climb to popularity and his potential to pull off a victory in November. Bolducs campaign is calling the Sept. 29 document the leaked Hassan strategy memo. The memo, which was obtained by Axios (pdf), appears to have been sent as an email by Hassan campaign manager Aaron Jacobs. In it, Jacobs compared Bolduc to 2014 New Hampshire senatorial candidate Scott Brown, pointing out that he lost by only a 1.5 percent margin even though polls showed him being underwater by 20 points in preelection approval ratings. Don Bolduc is already in a stronger place than Brown, wrote Jacobs. In a politically volatile and swingy state like New Hampshire, it will take significant investment again to prevent a Republican from winning this seat in what is an incredibly challenging national environment for our party. Veteran New Hampshire politician Jeanne Shaheen narrowly defeated the unknown Brown. Neither Hassans campaign nor anyone in her U.S. Senate offices responded to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Jacobs also laments the amount of financial support Bolduc is receiving nationally from the Republican Party, noting that Republican groups outspent Democrats by $2 million in the first couple of weeks in September. In many ways our campaign is dealing with the worst of both worlds: while many Democrats are not taking Don Bolduc seriously, national Republicans are spending tens of millions on his behalf, Jacobs wrote. Jacobs also warned against drawing confidence from poll results, because he says they tend to be left leaning and sugar-coated for Democratic candidates. You should be leery of any public polling showing Senator Hassan leading this race outside the margin of error. Our own internal polling shows that Don Bolduc is quickly consolidating the Republican base and is rapidly making up ground against Senator Hassan. Recent polls have put Hassan in a lead over Bolduc, but that lead widely varies depending on the poll. On Sept. 29, a Suffolk UniversityBoston Globe poll showed Hassan ahead by 8.5 points over Bolduc, while a poll by the Trafalgar Group showed Hassan with a 3.2 point lead. Another poll by Data for Progress released Oct. 4 has Hassan with a 7 point lead over Bolduc. A link to the leaked memo is embedded in a press release on Bolducs campaign website. The sender and recipients of the email have been partially redacted. Kate Constantini, identified as a Bolduc spokeswoman, posted a statement about the memo, characterizing it as a concession that Hassans campaign strategies are not working against the retired Army brigadier general. After millions of dollars spent lying about General Bolducs record, Senator Hassans campaign has conceded the obvious: her pathetic and desperate attempts to shift the conversation from her abysmal record in the Senate arent working, Constantini said in a statement. Like Shaheen, Hassan took a narrow victory in her bid for U.S. Senate in 2016, unseating Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte by just a little over 1,000 votes. Hassan, a former New Hampshire governor, almost faced a race against popular New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. However, Sununu, a progressive Republican, opted against a run for U.S. Senate and instead decided he wanted to seek a fourth term as governor. Hassan and Shaheen have made history as the two women in the United States to have been elected as both a governor and a U.S. Senator. Republicans are widely expected to retake control of the House in November. Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem speaks at a rally in Iowa State Fairgrounds, in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Rachel Mummey/Reuters) Heated Debate in Arizona Secretary of State Race Highlights Political Divides It was a hot political debate, for sure, but the heat was clearly on Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for secretary of state on Sept. 20. The Big Lie of the stolen 2020 election and Jan. 6 were Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons big questions for Finchem during the half-hour long segment. Do you think Arizona voters want their chief election officer at a riot at the U.S. Capitol to overthrow an election? Simons asked Finchem in a solemn tone. Is that what you think Arizona resident voter citizens want? Simons was referring to Finchems attendance at the Jan. 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol in Washington last year. Finchem, who admitted to being interviewed by the Department of Justice and the Jan. 6 Committee, shot back, The last I checked, [being] where something is happening is not illegal. I have been treated as a witness, not as a suspect. In the Hot Seat For the next 26 minutes, nearly every question would be directed at Finchem. It would be fair to say Finchem is not popular in the legacy media. A quick Google search revealed headlines alluding to his alleged conspiracy theories about a stolen 2020 election. One reads, Arizona GOP secretary of state nominee stands by election conspiracy. Another points to his alleged fealty to the Big Lie. It would also be fair to say the proverbial gloves will remain off as Finchem and his Democratic opponent, Adrian Fontes, duke it out in the run-up to the Nov. 8 general election in Arizona. By his own remarks, Fontes is no fan of Finchem in the race for Arizonas top election administrator, charactering Finchems views about the 2020 election as nothing less than dangerous. Fontes said during the debate that the race is not only about preserving mail-in ballot voting in Arizona; it is about defending democracy from threats posed by the far-right. Fontes, an attorney, cited Finchems attendance at the Jan. 6 protest as hard proof of his political extremism. What [Finchem] did was engage in a violent insurrection resulting in the deaths of police officers, Fontes said, without mention to the protesters that died. He is part of an organization that has called for the violent overthrow of this country, he repeated from claims made by voices in the legacy media that the Trump team is fighting to challenge. Finchem upheld his record as a criminal justice investigator and two-term Arizona state representative who is running for secretary of state with the slogan, Just follow the law. In his view, Fontes, a former Maricopa County Recorder from 2017 to 2021, created his own election law for political reasons while serving in that position by printing illegal ballots. Ballot Irregularities Finchem said the ballots contained illegal voting advice and were sent out to thousands of voters until a Superior Court judge in Arizona blocked Fontes in 2020. When Arizona secretary of state Katie Hobbs, the 2022 Democratic nominee for governor, got wind of Fontes action, she penned a letter calling it illegal. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed suit after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Hobbs said Fontes ignored their orders not to mail out the ballots. The Maricopa County Recorder cannot unilaterally rewrite state election laws, Brnovich said in a press release. Fontes is creating chaos in our elections during an already difficult time. In times of crisis, the public looks to our elected officials to follow the lawnot make reactionary decisions for political gain. Fontes said in the debate that evidence of ballot fraud of a magnitude to overturn the 2020 election in Arizona doesnt exist and that its time to move away [and] not rehash old issues. He [Finchem] wants to stop the capacity to vote by mail, added Fontes, calling democracy a decision. Finchem then responded, We need to build confidence. We need a secretary of state who follows the law, not makeup law as he goes along. Country Before Party At least one Republican Arizona lawmaker has come out in support of Fontes. In his endorsement, state Rep. Joel John compared Fontes to national heroes who bravely stood up to do what was right even if it wasnt popular in their respective camps. We need more people like that today. I am proud to support Adrian Fontes and join noble Republicans and Independents who are willing to put country before party. John described Fontes opponent, without naming him, as someone who wants to get rid of voting by mail and has sought to overturn the 2020 election. Recent polls show Finchem leading Fontes by at least five percentage points. In September, OH Predictive Insights showed Finchem ahead 40-35 percent, while the spread was thinner at 31-28 percent among independents. Laboratory technicians wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) work on samples to be tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a Covid-19 testing facility in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province early on Aug. 5, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) HHS Probed EcoHealth Over Alleged Major Fraud Against US, Emails Show The Department of Health and Human Servicess watchdog briefly probed EcoHealth Alliance, a New York nonprofit that has collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, over alleged major fraud against the United States, newly released emails show. The four-month-long probe, which opened in September 2020, centered around an allegation that the COVID-19 virus was generated in China with the assistance of an NIH [National Institutes of Health] Grant. The Office of Investigations of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed the investigation in an email with the subject line Grant Information Review [Redacted] and dated Dec. 3, 2020, according to redacted copies of the documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know, a public health advocacy group. A tip from an outside source had prompted the office to open the case, a special agent wrote in an attached memorandum to Ashley Sanders, an investigative officer at the NIH. Another correspondence issued in January 2021 confirmed that EcoHealth Alliance, which worked with a high-level Wuhan lab for years to conduct risky bat coronavirus research, was one of the targets. The name of the other party was redacted. Such allegations, if true, would constitute a violation of the U.S. federal law, Title 18 of U.S. Code 1031, major fraud against the United States, according to the memorandum. Under this law, anyone who tries to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises in grant, contract, subcontract, or other forms of federal assistance valuing $1 million or more could receive a $1 million fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. Peter Daszak, right, the president of the EcoHealth Alliance, is seen in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The office referred the case to its special investigative branch on Sept. 9, 2020, and agents reviewed the allegation and met with NIH representatives on the same day, according to the memorandum. Details of the meeting and a description of the subsequent step taken by the agents on Sept. 29 were redacted. The investigators closed the probe on Jan. 11, 2021. In a letter informing Sanders of the decision, a special agent said they were asked to support efforts regarding a high-profile situation that involved [redacted] HHS Grantee that had ties to the COVID-19 virus. The reason for such a move was entirely redacted, except for the word developments, although the agent noted that the agency reserves the right to reopen the investigation if any new, relevant information is discovered relating to this incident. The revelation of the existence of the investigation comes as NIH, which is overseen by HHS, approved millions of dollars in new grants to EcoHealth for studies in Asia into novel viruses that could infect humans and cause an outbreak. In August, the NIH terminated funding for EcoHealths Chinese partner, the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), citing failed efforts to gain lab entries and other records relating to the facilitys experiments that were the subject of the grant. The P4 laboratory, designated as the highest level of biological safety, at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, on April 17, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images/Hector Retamal) To retain the funding for the project, Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence, EcoHealth would have to come up with a proposal that excludes the Wuhan labs involvement within 30 days, NIH wrote in an August letter to EcoHealth. The NIH didnt respond to multiple requests from The Epoch Times to clarify the status of the grant. Under the grant, researchers at WIV conducted experiments that resulted in a more lethal version of a bat coronavirus, a process that some experts said is a form of gain-of-function researchexperiments that boost the transmissibility or pathogenicity of a virus. Emails show that the same project had drawn FBI scrutiny months before the HHS began its review of EcoHealth. Sanders, the point of contact during the HHSs internal investigation later, was set to hold a call with FBI agent David Miller, an email dated May 22, 2020, shows. Last June, the HHS Office of the Inspector General announced that it will review NIH-funded programs to ensure that grant recipients, including foreign sub-recipients, are complying with federal requirements, a process that could apply to the Wuhan facility. Representatives for the HHS Office of the Inspector General and EcoHealth didnt respond to requests for comment by press time. Police officers and fire engines outside a block of flats after an arson attack that claimed two lives in Reading, England, on Dec. 15, 2021. (PA) Illegal Immigrant Who Started Fire That Killed 2 Given Whole Life Sentence Ugandan arsonist thought to have entered Britain using brother's passport An illegal immigrant from Uganda who set fire to a block of flats in the middle of the night, killing two of his neighbours after he was served with an eviction notice, has been jailed for life by a British court. Hakeem Kigundu, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, and one count of arson with intent to endanger life, and on Friday he was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to a whole life sentence, meaning he will never be released. Judge Justice Holgate said, Im sure this was a premeditated attack made by the defendant in revenge. The court heard Kigundu was due to be evicted from his flat at Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, because of complaints about his anti-social behaviour, including playing loud music. But in the early hours of Dec. 15, 2021, he poured petrol all over the ground floor communal areas and set it ablaze. The fire killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, and left two other residents with horrific, life-changing injuries. Joel Richards suffered third-degree burns and Laura Wiggins suffered a punctured lung, a kidney haematoma, and fractures to her ribs, right arm, and spine. Kigundu is believed to have entered Britain illegally, using his brothers passport. Residents of Rowe Court had complained for several months about Kigundus behaviour, especially him playing loud music during the night. His landlord served him an eviction notice in October and he was due to move out the day before the fire. Undated police mugshot of Hakeem Kigundu, who set fire to a block of flats in Reading, Berkshire in December 2021. (Thames Valley Police) Experienced Fury Like Never Before On Thursday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Kigundu had lost his job as a fibre optic engineer with British Telecom and experienced fury like never before which he failed to suppress. The court was played a voicenote message Kigundu recorded six days before the fire in which he ranted and raged about his predicament. In the voicenotewhich he did not send to anyone but was found on his phone by policeKigundu said: I want to die with a smile on my face and I shall do so. All the actions I am about to take are warranted, believe me. They all lead to this for a [expletive] whos persistent. The only cure for a [expletive] whos persistent is death and I am going to give them that. He bought 40 litres of petrol, a long-reach lighter, a sledgehammer, a pair of protective goggles, and a V for Vendetta mask. Morgan said: Kigundu carried out a premeditated and devastating attack in the way of arson, with the intention of killing and harming as many people as he could. This event had been carefully planned by him in the days and weeks before, including sourcing significant amounts of petrol. Kigundu: Something Im Starting to Regret The court also heard a 999 call that Kigundu made in which he said he wanted to turn himself in to police, adding: Earlier today I did something Im starting to regret. He went on to tell the operator, I dont know if I had a mini-breakdown but I was just filled with fury. Moments later he was arrested by police. Giving a victim impact statement in court, Richards, who suffered burns to his hands, head, and face and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the fire, said: On December 15, my life changed forever. At 3 a.m., what happened was terrorism, thats how Id describe it. He said after being woken up by a neighbour he soaked himself with water and then battled through the flames to rouse another resident and his pregnant partner, who managed to escape. Richard eventually jumped from a second-floor window, and he said when he was outside he saw Kigundu in his car parked outside the building and said he was laughing. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Wiggins said: Every minute was hell that I never want to experience again. There was a time when I was regretting jumping, thinking I should have died. It really was the worst time of my life both physically and mentally. On Friday Kigundu read out a statement in court: When I say Im sorry its not because Im getting sentenced today, but because actions speak louder than words. Punishment opens the path to forgiveness and redemption. Kigundu added: According to the Quran, injustice is one of the worst sins we can commit, which is why I pleaded guilty and took full responsibility for my actions. His lawyer, Rosina Cottage, said Kigundu had become isolated and paranoid in the days before the fire and had considered suicide but decided against it. The judge said: Theres no question of him committing suicide. I do not accept that any real remorse has been shownacceptance of guilt, yes, but not remorse. PA Media contributed to this report. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden to Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP) Is Mohammed bin Salman, of All People, Rescuing America From Herself? Commentary Wait a minute. Im having whiplash. I thought the presumptive Saudi Arabian leader Mohammed bin Salman (aka MBS) was a ruthless tyrant who placed roughly half his family under investigation for treason and orderedor at least encouragedthe murder of respected Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Okay, Khashoggi wasnt respected by everybody. He did other things, including hanging out with Osama bin Laden, adamantly defending Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian terrorism, and generally advocating for the eradication of the state of Israel, but still, murders murder. On other hand, MBS is modernizing his country at a rapid pace, not only industrially, but by allowing women to drive, building Western-style beach resorts, and even staging four-day raves in Riyadh. That last might not be exactly progress, but it certainly is modernizing. MBS is clearly a leader who gets what he wants and what he wants right now, from all indications, is the end of the Biden administration and all it entails. And why wouldnt he? He doesnt live on Mars and he sees what we all see. From day one, President Joe Biden and whoever is advising and/or managing him have been waging a non-stop war against fossil fuels. MBS also has seen the ensuing world economic decline combined with a pandemicundoubtedly exacerbated by the policies of that same administrationthat has led to a lessened demand for oil. Along with that he has no doubt noticed Bidens near-religious devotion to the electric car and the many virtue-signaling Americans and Europeans who buy into that. In what world could all that be good news for Saudi Arabia, virtually tied with the United States for the number one oil producer on the planet at 10,835,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2021? MBS, and most of the rest of OPEC+, of which he is virtually Capo di tutti capi, I imagine, are undoubtedly not amused. What they have been watching is a Western self-immolation. OPEC+ members Venezuela, Russia, and Iran must in some way be saying bring it on, but they too will be losing customers, not a great long-range policy. So on the morning of Oct. 5, they declared a cutback of two million bpd, sending a message. It was heard. Stocks plunged and pump prices jumped even before the announcement. This was followed by what was reported to be a respite because the price per barrel was frozen by the cartel in some areaswell see for how longcausing what proved to be a very temporary bump in the bear stock market. A day later, pump prices jumped again. Clearly, other reasons exist for OPEC+s decision, but, given the timing, the Saudis obviously want Biden and his crew out. Biden, of course, had begged the Saudis in July to open the spigot, but to no avail. He did this all the while consistently dialing back our own petroleum resources for what I suppose he thinks is environmental science. Then, paradoxically, as his poll numbers plunged, he drained the U. S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves just to lower pump prices for the election in an era when our country has powerful and very active adversaries in China and Russia. The Saudis obviously saw all this as well, yet another reason to undermine our irresponsible leader from abroad. So they have acted. Is this fair, intervening in another countrys elections? No, but everybody does it. We could make a list, from the Iranians eternal (and probably justified) complaint about the CIA and others preventing Mohammed Mosadegh from replacing the Shah and, more recently, the determined (but failed) attempts by allies of President Barack Obama to block the reelection of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There are plenty of others, many of which we dont know about. No doubt it is going on now in many quarters, more powerfully than ever via the infiltration of social media. Will it work in the Saudis case? We shall know, again to some extent, in November, which happens to be exactly when the OPEC cuts set in. Finally, was this the only reason for the oil cutback? Of course not. Greed, as always, figures into italso the imperialistic nuclear ambitions of Saudi Arabias mortal enemy, Iran, a country which the Biden administration seems intermittently to favor over Trumps preferred Sunni plus Israel coalition. Anything that hurts the Biden administration hurts Iran, in the eyes of the Saudis. All of this taken together inspired Saudi Arabia and MBS to do what they did. Good luck to themand us. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A trailblazer who was an Air Force pilot for more than seven years and then quit as a T38 instructor to raise her children has returned to the cockpit after a 24-year hiatus, alongside her husband, a commercial jet pilot. Her reentry into the world of flying has left her grinning ear to ear. Mom-of-four Tamaron Nicklas, 58, of Dallas, Texas, graduated Air Force Academy in 1986 as a member of the seventh class ever allowing women to enlist. When she gave up her career to raise a family, she assumed she would never fly again, so stepping into the cockpit of a Southwest Airlines aircraft with her husband, Larry, was a dream come true. Tamaron told The Epoch Times: Truly, both he and I looked at each other and said, You know, I think I need to pinch myself. This is actually happening. I didnt know if we should tell the passengers, but he was immediately so proud and announced, This is my wifes first flight at Southwest Airlines. Then one of the flight attendants also made some announcement, and everybody in the back rousing applause! Tamaron and her husband, Larry. (Courtesy of Tamaron Nicklas via Southwest Airlines) Tamarons father was an Air Force pilot for over 30 years, and the family lived all around the world. Tamaron went to high school in England and Belgium and loved the experience so much that she wanted to become a pilot. She thus decided to join the Air Force herself. She met Larry, who was a year senior to her, at Air Force Academy through a mutual friend, and the pair fell in love. Prohibited from marrying while enrolled at the academy, they got engaged before Larrys graduation and tied the knot after Tamarons, in June of 1986. Larry attended pilot training in Texas while Tamaron trained at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Tamaron recalled seeing Larry only on the weekends for the first six months of their marriage as they each had to attend separate trainings. Pre-cellphones it was hard, she said. We pretty much got to see each other once a month for almost a year and a half. It was a challenging time, but we got through it, and weve been married 36 years. (Courtesy of Tamaron Nicklas via Southwest Airlines) Tamaron was the only female in her section at Vance. Over 7 1/2 years in the Air Force, she flew KC 135s, then returned to Vance as a T38 instructor. At this time, Larry was securely employed as a pilot for Southwest Airlines, giving Tamaron the freedom to reassess her priorities after their third child was born. She then decided to give up life in the skies to raise her family. As a full-time mom, nobody in her new life knew that she was a pilot. The more time elapsed, the less she believed she could ever go back. But then when her youngest child left for college, she heard of a woman from an earlier graduating class at the Air Force Academy who had returned to flying after a long hiatus. Its never too late, Tamaron said, recalling a serendipitous experience. Actually I opened a dark chocolate bar, and on the inside, the wrapper said, Youre never too old and its never too late. It really inspired me I felt like God was talking to me through a chocolate bar! (Courtesy of Tamaron Nicklas via Southwest Airlines) My husband was very excited for me. He said, You can go fly, you dont have to do it as a job. Just go fly, but I wanted to have a purpose. Tamaron went to a local Air Force flight school in Pueblo, Colorado, and shared her background with them. She told them that she hadnt flown in a really long time. They immediately offered her a job as an instructor. She worked in Pueblo for two years. When her daughter started a family, she and Larry relocated to Dallas to be closer, and Tamaron set her sights on commercial airlines. She worked for a regional airline for 2 1/2 years to update her skills. That was really challenging, she said. Training, new technology; when I had stopped flying 20-plus years prior, we didnt have all the computerized cockpits and the GPS systems. Everything was different, so it was a pretty steep learning curve for me. (Courtesy of Tamaron Nicklas via Southwest Airlines) Two of Tamaron and Larrys three sons are F16 pilots in the Air Force, and so is one of their wives. They were all excited for Tamarons triumphant return to the cockpit. When she began flying for Southwest Airlines, she reached her ultimate goal. When I got hired it was just so unreal, after all this time when I thought Id walked away from flying forever, she said. My husbands an instructor at Southwest, hes check airman so he gets to check rides and checks out new pilots, so we were able to do my first eight flights together. That was a really, really fun experience. Southwest celebrated their co-pilot couple in a Facebook post, writing, Tamaron and Larry flew together for Tamarons first Southwest flight and look forward to sharing many more flights to come! The first officer and mom-of-four is now inspiring women everywhere. Tamaron and Larrys children. (Courtesy of Tamaron Nicklas via Southwest Airlines) A couple of women have reached out to me one woman is in my exact same shoes, she said. She hasnt flown in 20 years, she was an Air Force pilot wondering if she could get back into it, and just felt really inspired seeing my story. Tamaron urges others to chase their dreams, no matter their age. If theres a dream out there dont be afraid to try and take that first step, she said. Just give it a shot. Fortunately, it worked out for me, and it can work out for many people. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Images of Toru Kubota, a Japanese journalist detained in Burma while covering a protest, are displayed at the Japan Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2022, as his friends gathered at the club calling for his immediate release. (Yuri Kageyama/AP Photo) Burma Sentences Japanese Journalist to Prison on 2 Charges BANGKOKA court in military-ruled Burma (also known as Myanmar) has sentenced a Japanese journalist to serve seven years in prison after he filmed an anti-government protest in July, a Japanese diplomat and the Southeast Asian nations government said Thursday. Toru Kubota was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years for violating the electronic transactions law and three years for incitement, said Tetsuo Kitada, deputy chief of mission of the Japanese Embassy. The sentences are to be served concurrently, meaning that Kubota faces seven years of confinement. The militarys information office said in a statement that a separate trial is continuing on a charge of violating immigration law. A hearing on the immigration charge is scheduled for Oct. 12. The electronic transactions law covers offenses that involve spreading false or provocative information online and carries a prison term of seven to 15 years. Incitement is a catch-all political law covering activities deemed to cause unrest, and has been used frequently against journalists and dissidents, usually with a three-year prison term. Kubota was arrested on July 30 by plainclothes police in Yangon, the countrys largest city, after taking photos and videos of a small flash protest against the militarys 2021 takeover in which it ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Kubota was the fifth foreign journalist detained in Burma after the military seized power. U.S. citizens Nathan Maung and Danny Fenster, who worked for local publications, and freelancers Robert Bociaga of Poland and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan were eventually deported before serving full prison sentences. Since the military seized power, it has forced at least 12 media outlets to shut down and arrested at least 142 journalists, 57 of whom remain detained. Most of those still detained are being held under the incitement charge for allegedly causing fear, spreading false news, or agitating against a government employee. Some of the closed media outlets have continued operating without a license, publishing online as their staff members dodge arrest. Others operate from exile. The armys takeover triggered mass public protests that the military and police responded to with lethal force, triggering armed resistance and escalating violence that have led to what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war. According to detailed lists by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group based in Thailand, 2,336 civilians have died in the military governments crackdown on opponents and at least 15,757 people have been arrested. The military said soon after Kubotas arrest that he was detained while taking pictures and videos of 10-15 protesters in Yangons South Dagon township. It said he confessed to police that he had contacted participants in the protest a day earlier to arrange to film it. A graduate of Tokyos Keio University with a masters degree from the University of the Arts London, Kubota, 26 at the time of his arrest, has done assignments for Yahoo! News Japan, Vice Japan, and Al Jazeera English. His work has focused on ethnic conflicts, immigrants and refugee issues, including the plight of Burmas persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority. The military is particularly sensitive about the Rohingya issue because international courts are considering whether it committed serious human rights abuses, including genocide, in a brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign that caused more than 700,000 members of the Muslim minority to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety. Fellow Japanese Kitazumi, a freelance journalist, was arrested in April 2021 and freed and deported just under a month later, after being indicted but not tried. The military government said at the time it decided to release Kitazumi in consideration of cordial relations between Myanmar and Japan up to now and in view of future bilateral relations, and upon the request of the Japanese government special envoy on Myanmars national reconciliation. Japan has historically maintained warm relations with Burma, including under previous military governments. It takes a softer line toward Burmas current government than do many Western nations, which treat it as a pariah state for its poor human rights record and undermining of democracy, and have imposed economic and political sanctions against its army rulers and their families and cronies. In Tokyo, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said Kubota is in good health, citing his lawyer who saw him on Wednesday. The Japanese government continues to request the Myanmar authorities an early release of Mr. Kubota, Isozaki said, adding that the Japanese government has been providing as much support as possible for him and his family. By Grant Peck Anna Sorokin sits at the defense table during jury deliberations in her trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York on April 25, 2019. (Richard Drew/AP Photo) Judge: Fake Heiress Can Fight Deportation on House Arrest NEW YORKA U.S. immigration judge cleared the way Wednesday for fake German heiress Anna Sorokin to be released from detention to home confinement while she fights deportation, if she meets certain conditions. She must post a $10,000 bond, provide a residential address where shell stay for the duration of her immigration case and refrain from social media posting, Manhattan Immigration Judge Charles Conroy said. Sorokin, 31, has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since March 2021, after spending more than three years behind bars for swindling banks, hotels, and friends to bankroll a posh lifestyle. Immigration authorities say shes overstayed her visa and must be returned to Germany. Sorokins lawyer, Duncan Levin, said they are extremely gratified by the decision to release her to home confinement. The judge rightfully recognized that Anna is not a danger to the community, Levin said in a written statement. While there are still a few hurdles to jump through on her release conditions, Anna is thrilled to be getting out so she can focus on appealing her wrongful conviction. A message seeking comment was left with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sorokin, whose scheme inspired the Netflix series Inventing Anna, was convicted in 2019 on multiple counts of larceny and theft. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, credited with more than 500 days time served while her case was pending and released on good behavior in February 2021. Immigration authorities picked her up a few weeks later. Using the name Anna Delvey, Sorokin maneuvered her way into elite New York social circles by passing herself off as a socialite with a $67 million (68 million euros) fortune overseas, prosecutors said. She falsely claimed to be the daughter of a diplomat or an oil baron. Prosecutors said Sorokin falsified records and lied to get banks to lend, luxury hotels to let her stay and well-heeled Manhattanites to cover plane tickets and other expenses for her, stealing $275,000 in all. Tesla CEO Elon Musk smiles as he addresses guests at the Offshore Northern Seas 2022 (ONS) meeting in Stavanger, Norway, on Aug. 29, 2022. (Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) Judge Halts Elon Musk Twitter Trial to Allow Time to Close Deal A judge on Thursday delayed Elon Musks Twitter takeover trial, giving him three weeks to close his deal to buy the social media platform for $44 billion after months of his trying to get out of the deal. The Tesla CEO had on Thursday asked Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, head of Delawares Court of Chancery, to halt an expedited trial scheduled for Oct. 17, arguing the need for the trial was moot in light of his renewed offer. In a win for Musk, McCormick said the deal needs to be closed by Oct. 28 or the trial originally set for mid-October will happen in November. After the judges ruling, Twitter indicated it wants to close the deal by Oct. 28 for $54.20 a share, which Musk first offered for each Twitter share. Lawyers for Musk had earlier on Thursday told the court he had offered Twitter the original price of $54.20 per share if the company drops the legal action, but Twitter was dubious about his motives. Yet, Twitter will not take yes for an answer. Astonishingly, they have insisted on proceeding with this litigation, recklessly putting the deal at risk and gambling with their stockholders interests, lawyers for Musk wrote (pdf). Twitter doesnt seem to want to drop the legal action until the deal is closed. The social media companys lawyers told the court that Musk refuses to accept his contractual obligations. In court filings, they called Musks motion to stay the case an invitation to further mischief and delay. Musk is the defendant in the case. The obstacle to terminating this litigation is not, as Defendants say, that Twitter is unwilling to take yes for an answer, Twitters lawyers wrote. The obstacle is that Defendants still refuse to accept their contractual obligations. Twitter accuses Musk of pursuing increasingly implausible claims for months to avoid the trial to enforce the deal. After spending the summer attempting to back out of the deal and accusing Twitter of refusing to hand over information about spam bot accounts, Musk told Twitter earlier this week hes ready to buy the company once again. President Donald Trump hugs rapper Kanye West during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Oct. 11, 2018. (Oliver Contreras - Pool/Getty Images) Kanye West Discusses Death Threats For Backing Trump, Why He Wore White Lives Matter T-Shirt Hip-hop artist Kanye West touched on a range of hot-button topics in an Oct. 6 interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight, including why he donned a T-shirt emblazoned with the words White Lives Matter and revealing he received death threats for his embrace of former President Donald Trump. The musician, also known as Ye, turned heads when during his Yeezy Season 9 collection presentation in Paris, France, on Oct. 3, he wore a T-shirt featuring the words White Lives Matter. At the Paris event, West was joined by conservative commentator Candace Owens, who wore a matching T-shirt and later took to Twitter to share images of the garment, which featured the late Pope John Paul II on the front and the words White Lives Matter on the back. The T-shirts sparked some controversy on social media, with Temple University professor and BET host Marc Lamont Hill calling Wests decision to wear the T-shirt disgusting, dangerous, and irresponsible. In his interview with Tucker Carlson, West said his decision to wear the T-shirt came from a sense that it was the right thing to do and was based on his conviction that all life is precious. Its using a gut instinct, a connection with God, he said, adding that it was an expression of a black man stating the obvious. The answer to why I wrote White Lives Matter on a shirt is because they do, West said. Its the obvious thing. The phrase white lives matter originated in 2015 as a response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which protested the deaths of black men at the hands of police. In 2020, BLM protests often turned violent with mobs vandalizing property and police vehicles. West told Carlson that he received a threatening phone call over the T-shirt. I had someone call me last night and said anybody wearing a white lives matter shirt is going to be green-lit. That means they are going to beat them up if I wear it. Im like, you know, Okay, green light me then,' West said. Ultrasound Lanyard West also addressed why he was wearing a lanyard of his own design featuring a photograph of a babys ultrasound. It just represents life and pro-life, the artist told Carlson, who then asked about peoples reaction to the lanyard. West replied by saying he doesnt care how people react to it as the decision to wear it is about his own self-expression. I care about the fact that theres more black babies being aborted than born in New York City at this point. That 50 percent of black death in America is abortion. So I really dont care about peoples responseI perform for an audience of one and thats God, West said. On Backing Trump, MAGA Hat West made waves when, during the 2016 and 2020 elections, he was regularly seen wearing the red Make America Great Again hat that is associated with Trumps political movement. In the interview with Carlson, West said wearing the MAGA hat made him a target. My so-called friends/handlers around me told me if I said that I liked Trump that my career would be over. That my life would be over, Kanye said. They said stuff like people get killed for wearing a hat like that. They threatened my life. They basically said that I would be killed for wearing the hat, he added. President Donald Trump greets rapper Kanye West during a meeting in the Oval office of the White House in Washington on Oct. 11, 2018. (Screenshot/AP) West also said that people tried to subject him to political manipulation through his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Yes, there was some manipulation, he said, adding, Me not saying I like Trump was a form of manipulation. Asked why he liked Trump, West said it was because he saw the former president as an embodiment of conservative values. All the values, the conservative values just line up, he said. West also said hes been subject to repeated attacks in the media. We are in a battle with the media, the majority of the media has a godless agenda, he said. Life Sentence for Killer of Retired St. Louis Police Captain ST. LOUISA 26-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for killing a retired St. Louis police captain as he tried to stop a pawn shop from being looted during riots over the death of George Floyd two years ago. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the life term was mandatory after Stephan Cannon, of Glasgow Village, was convicted in July of first-degree murder in the death of 77-year-old David Dorn. Cannon also was sentenced to an additional 30 years for robbery, burglary, and three counts of armed criminal action. Dorn was a friend of the pawn shops owner. He showed up at the north St. Louis business as it was being ransacked on June 2, 2020. David Dorn, a 77-year-old retired St. Louis, Missouri police officer. (Scott Bandle/Suburban Journals/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) His death drew attention nationwide because it occurred amid riots and protests across the country in response to George Floyds death. Across St. Louis that night, Dorn and four officers were shot, authorities were pelted with rocks and fireworks, and 55 businesses were burglarized or damaged. Our father was a good cop, but more importantly, he was a good man, his daughter, Lisa Dorn, said to the court. Cannon told the family he was sorry for their loss but denied being the shooter. His attorneys said they planned to appeal. Man Agrees to Plead Guilty For Allegedly Operating Illegal Casinos SANTA ANA, Calif.A 47-year-old Fountain Valley man has agreed to plead guilty to federal offenses for operating illegal gambling dens and paying over $100,000 in cash bribes to a Santa Ana Police Department officer to avoid law enforcement scrutiny of his underground casinos, according to a plea agreement filed Oct. 6 in federal court. Niem Ngoc Ha, also known as Dung Body agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, and bribery, according to Thom Mrozek, the director of media relations for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California. In the plea agreement filed in Santa Ana federal court, Ha admitted that he opened and operated four illegal casinos in the Santa Ana area. Ha admitted to conspiring with three others to operate the casinos, which featured video gambling machines, generated thousands of dollars in profits each day, and were the site of various acts of violence, Mrozek said. In one case, Ha directed a co-conspirator to physically assault a casino patron who had started a fight, and in a separate incident, a worker at another casino was shot in the neck, according to the plea agreement. Ha also admitted paying approximately $128,000 to then-Santa Ana Police Department Officer Steven Lopez over the course of six months in 2020. The bribes were paid in an effort to protect Has casinos from law enforcement intervention, Mrozek said. The three offenses Ha is facing cumulatively carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, according to Mrozek. Ha is expected to formally enter the guilty pleas in court in the coming weeks. The three other alleged co-conspirators are scheduled to go on trial in May. Thousands of gun rights advocates attend a rally organized by The Virginia Citizens Defense League on Capitol Square near the state capital building in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 20, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Media Spin on Gun Control Doesnt Match Voters Opinions News Analysis Red flag laws are the top priority of Democrats and gun control advocates. Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support these measuresby margins ranging between 21 and 31. Congress recently passed legislation providing funding for states that adopted these laws. But the polling doesnt really gauge whether Americans understand how these laws operate. The surveys generally just ask people if they support laws that allow guns to be temporarily confiscated by a judge from people considered by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others. Respondents might reasonably assume that a normal legal process is being followed, whereby complaints are made and witnesses are cross-examined. With a law that almost always involves fears of suicide, they might presuppose that mental health experts are involved in the process. To examine this premise, the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), which I head, hired McLaughlin & Associates to survey 1,000 general election voters from July 21 to July 24. The survey began by asking people whether they supported red flag laws. It then informed respondents that there are no hearings before an individuals guns are taken away, and that there are no mental health care experts involved in the process. People initially answered by a 2-to-1 margin that they support red flag laws (58 percent to 29 percent), with the strongest support coming from Democrats, the wealthy, blacks, Hispanics, and people aged 18 to 29. However, after being told that there are no court proceedings before an individuals guns are taken away, and that there are no mental health care experts involved in the process, support changed to opposition (29 percent to 47 percent). Strong support plummeted from 34 percent to 14 percent, and strong opposition rose from 18 percent to 29 percent. Finally, people were asked if they prefer involuntary commitment or red flag laws. They were told that involuntary commitment laws provide for evaluations by mental health care experts, that an emergency court hearing takes place before a judges decision, and that a lawyer is provided if the person cant afford one. They are also told that, under such rules, judges have a range of less extreme options such as mandatory outpatient mental health care and weapon confiscation. Survey respondents favored involuntary commitment by a 40 percent-to-33 percent margin. Only Democrats, the wealthy, blacks, and Asians supported red flag laws as their preferred option. The shift in position by the strongest supporters of red flag laws when told about the laws is consistent with them being the least well-informed. But that isnt the only evidence of that problem. In April, the CPRC hired McLaughlin & Associates to survey what people thought the percentage was of violent crime committed using guns. The survey found that those most strongly supporting gun control dramatically overestimated the percentage of violent crime committed with guns. While the average Democrat estimates that 56.9 percent of violent crimes involve guns, the typical Republican gave an answer of 37 percent. (The actual rate is less than 8 percent.) We keep being told that there is a higher than 90 percent support in polls for universal background checks on the private transfer of guns. But when these measures have been on the ballot, they havent been slam-dunks. In 2016, despite Michael Bloombergs overwhelming financial backing, ballot initiatives failed in Maine by 4 percentage points and won in Nevada by less than 1 percent. The Nevada initiative had $20 million in funding behind it, amounting to an incredible $35 per vote. Thats three times more than what was spent in opposition. In Maine, the opposition was outspent by a factor of 20. And in both states, the media coverage was overwhelmingly sympathetic to the gun control side. While the Nevada initiative technically eked out a win, it wasnt able to be put into effect because it had been inaccurately sold to voters as not costing taxpayers any money. Senate Republicans passed gun control legislation earlier this year to take guns off the political agenda for this fall, but part of the compromise entailed providing federal funding to encourage states to adopt red flag laws. Democrats continue to cite surveys seeming to show that gun control will play a role in Novembers election. Perhaps thats right. Or, is this perception more properly understood as an example of their consultants and pollsters not understanding the issues? Americans keep being told by the media that they overwhelmingly support gun control laws. So why dont the laws get passed? Might it be that the polls are inaccurate and biased? My own survey suggests just that. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Pfizer and Moderna are both seeking emergency use authorization for their bivalent COVID boosters for children. Moderna is seeking authorization for children ages 6 through 17, while Pfizers shot is for children aged 5 through 11 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the bivalent boosters will be available for children aged 5 to 11 by mid-October 2022 In the U.S., both bivalent boosters will contain mRNA against the original Wuhan strain and Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. (In the U.K., Modernas booster targets the Wuhan strain and BA.1, an earlier Omicron strain no longer in circulation) The effectiveness of Pfizers booster is based on antibody levels in eight mice, which cannot tell you anything about the level of protection you might receive. Modernas booster is also based on antibody levels in mice, although the exact number is unknown When it comes to safety, theres not even mouse data. The safety is assumed based on the original shots, even though the safety data on those is shocking beyond belief. As of September 16, 2022, the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) had logged 55,733 reports of injuries and deaths in children under the age of 18 Even as more damning data are coming to light, Pfizer and Moderna are both seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for their bivalent COVID boosters for children. Moderna is seeking authorization for children ages 6 through 17, while Pfizers shot is for children aged 5 through 11.[1] According to Reuters,[2] the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects COVID-19 vaccine boosters targeting circulating variants of the virus to be available for children aged 5-11 years by mid-October. Modernas new bivalent COVID booster, mRNA-1273.222, sold under the brand name Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron, was authorized for adults over the age of 18 at the end of August 2022.[3] In the U.S., the adult dose contains 25 micrograms of mRNA against the original Wuhan strain and 25 mcg of mRNA targeting Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.[4] In the U.K., Modernas bivalent booster (mRNA-1273.214[5]) contains mRNA against the original Wuhan strain and BA.1,[6] an earlier Omicron strain that is no longer in circulation.[7][8] Pfizers bivalent booster also contain mRNA against the Wuhan strain, BA.4 and BA.5. The two bivalent boosters are only be available to those who have already received the primary two-dose series and/or a monovalent booster at least two months ago.[9] Its probably safe to assume the same rule will apply to children. As of late September 2022,[10] 38% of American children aged 5 to 11 had received one initial dose and 31% have received two doses.[11] In the 12- to 17-year-old age group, 67% have had one dose and 57% two doses. Those with two doses are likely the only ones who will be eligible for the bivalent booster, if authorized. Bivalent Boosters Have Only Been Tested on Mice For decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has had additional safeguards in place for children who participate in medical research.[12] With the advent of COVID shots, all of that has been tossed out the window, as children are now being used as medical guinea pigs without any safeguards whatsoever. Its really important to realize that these bivalent boosters have been reformulated with new, untested mRNA, yet theyve only been tested on mice. Despite that, the FDA is now considering giving them to young children. The effectiveness of Pfizers booster is based on antibody levels in eight mice,[13] which cannot tell you anything about the level of protection you might receive. Modernas booster is also based on antibody levels in mice, although the exact number is unknown. Safety is assumed based on the original shots, even though the safety data on those is shocking beyond belief. As of September 16, 2022, the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) had logged 55,733 reports of injuries and deaths in children under the age of 18. When it comes to safety, theres not even mouse data. The safety is assumed based on the original shots, even though the safety data on those is shocking beyond belief. In the short-term, the original COVID shots have between them resulted in 1,417,671 adverse event reports (logged with the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System or VAERS as of September 16, 2022[14]). That includes 177,973 hospitalizations, 58,024 permanent disabilities, 34,107 life threatening events and 31,071 deaths. For children under the age of 18 alone, there are 55,733 reports of injuries and deaths. If thats not cause for alarm, I dont know what is. Its certainly not strong evidence for safety! Whats more, due to widespread underreporting, you have to multiply those already staggering numbers by underreporting factor of 41 (or more) to get an idea of the true impact. And, if you still believe the pediatric trials were exhaustive, understand that the monovalent Pfizer booster authorized for children aged 5 to 11, back in May 2022, was based on the antibody levels of just 67 children.[15] This is so far outside the norm of whats historically been required for a drug trial, its just ridiculous. 1 in 800 Absolute Risk of Serious Side Effects While VAERS data paint a clear picture of whats at stake for parents who opt to inject their children with this genetically engineered bioweapon, we now also have other data showing just how bad of an idea that is. Music: Bridging Memories for People With Alzheimers Wes Mika started out on drums, but in his heart, he was a tambourine man. He got fascinated by the little silver discs on the tambourine, said his wife, Susan Mika. Sometimes he would hit the tambourine with the little mallets of the drum. He just loved that tambourine. Wes, 77, has dementia and lives in a memory care facility in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. He and Susan, 76, participated in a music program designed to help dementia patients connect with their loved ones. The program, Musical Bridges to Memory, has been shown to enhance patients ability to non-verbally interact with their caregivers, according to a study published recently in the journal Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders. The music therapy also reduces troubling dementia symptoms like agitation, anxiety, and depression. Hes in a wheelchair, and it was just a nice, close connection for both of us, Susan said. We both enjoyed it. I would sing the lyrics I knew, and at times I would see him moving his lips. He doesnt speak loudly but he would move his lips, so I think he knew the words and was connected with the music. The music program was developed by the non-profit Institute for Therapy through the Arts and is designed to help dementia patients who are losing their ability to communicate verbally with loved ones. In the program, a live ensemble plays music from a patients youth. The patient and their caregiver are encouraged to interact with the music together by singing, dancing, or playing simple instruments like shakers, drums, or tambourines. Its well-established that even as dementia wreaks havoc on the mind and memories, the degenerative brain disorder doesnt appear to affect a persons ability to enjoy music until much later in the disease course, said senior researcher Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour. He is an associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago. Because of this, patients can retain their ability to dance and sing long after their ability to talk has diminished. They can process music, they can get it, they receive it, they respond to it, they can dance with it, they can play with it, they can sing along with it, Bonakdarpour said. These are components that are pretty much intact, which is amazing. The Alzheimers Association recognizes music therapy as an important non-drug therapy for dementia, said Sam Fazio, senior director for psychosocial research and quality care. Youre accessing different parts of the brain that may not be affected by the diseases symptoms, Fazio said. Sometimes when people can no longer express themselves in words, they can still express themselves with lyrics of a song or feel the melody. Helping patients and caregivers For this study, Bonakdarpours team asked 21 patients and their caregivers to take part in the Musical Bridges to Memory program once a week. The study was unusual because earlier music therapy efforts have tended to focus solely on the patient, while this involved both patients and caregivers. The program included 45 minutes of music, as well as a 15-minute talk beforehand so the music therapist could discuss specific communication skills to be addressed during the time together. Overall, patients took part in 12 sessions over three months. The patient/caregiver pairs also were videotaped for 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after each session, so research assistants could analyze the effect music therapy had on their interactions, Bonakdarpour said. While the program is designed to help access the musical part of a patients brain, these sessions also counsel caregivers on ways to patiently engage with their loved one, Bonakdarpour said. Things can get escalated between the patient and caregiver because the care partner doesnt know what to do with abnormal behaviors, he said. A patient with a memory problem may ask the same question 10 times, and the partner can get exasperated. Wes and Susan took part in the program virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The music included old standards like You Are My Sunshine, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and Youre a Grand Old Flag, but the musicians took requests, Susan said. She and Wes love Josh Groban, so the ensemble added some of his tunes to their repertoire. She would play videos and shed do an opening and an ending song, Susan recalled. She asked what we wanted to hear, and she would play it for us, and then we would sing along. I was right next to him, so I would often look into his face, and wed connect that way. The researchers found that non-verbal social interactions significantly increased between the patients and caregivers who took part in the program, while communication declined among eight patient/caregiver pairs who did not participate and served as a control group. In group conversations after the music, patients were more socially engaged, the researchers said. They maintained eye contact more often, were less distracted and agitated, and were in an upbeat mood. Bonakdarpour remembered one particular patient who was very hyperactive and during the sessions would get up and wanted to dance with everybody. The wife was kind of embarrassed, and she would get mad at him. But then as the sessions moved forward, and by the middle to end, this guy was sitting down during all the sessions with his wife, Bonakdarpour said. Theyre communicating. Theyre using percussion instruments to participate. They dance together. So it really changed their relationship. It just makes him happy Based on these results, Bonakdarpours team has received a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to expand the program and perform another clinical trial involving more patients. Fazio praised the study because it was done with professional music therapists and with the right protocols so it could have the best possible outcomes. Sometimes people think theyre doing music therapy by just playing a record in the background when thats not really true, Fazio said. To have the outcomes we want, like increased engagement and less anxiety or agitation, the correct protocols need to be in place by trained music therapy professionals who understand how to use music to accomplish non-musical goals. Bonakdarpour is convinced that music therapy should be an important part of helping manage the symptoms of dementia patients whose capabilities are declining. For some of these psychiatric issues of people with dementia, we dont have great drugs, he said. When were really desperate, we have to use some drugs that have side effects. Some of them can really affect the heart. It can even shorten peoples lives. And if you can avoid using these toxic medications, wouldnt that be great? Wes enjoyed the program so much that Susan now incorporates music into their regular visits, she said. She asks an Amazon device to play a list of songs. Alexa plays those songs and then we just play along with the instruments. I try to find songs that hell remember. It just makes him happy, Susan said. More information The Institute for Therapy through the Arts has more about Musical Bridges to Memory. SOURCES: Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, associate professor, neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; Sam Fazio, Ph.D., senior director, psychosocial research and quality care, Alzheimers Association, Chicago; Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, Aug. 25, 2022 This story was originally published on the HealthDay site. Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux waits to appear before the Commons Finance committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa March 10, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) New Legislation Will Profit Large Canadian Media Outlets by Over $300 Million, Says PBO New legislation will profit large Canadian media outlets and publishers by upwards of $329 million in government subsidies, if passed, according to Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux. We expect news businesses to receive a total compensation around $329.2 million per annum from digital platforms and spend about $20.8 million in transaction and compliance costs for negotiating their first deals under the Bill, wrote the PBO in his Cost Estimate for Bill C-18: Online News Act, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter. Bill C-18 is titled An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada and will regulate digital news intermediaries, such as Google and Facebook, in order to enhance fairness in the Canadian digital news marketplace and contribute to its sustainability. In short, C-18 will compel internet and social media giants to make deals for sharing ad revenue with online Canadian news outlets. The bill, which is sponsored by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is currently up for consideration by committee in the House of Commons. If passed, the PBO said it expects the total cost of developing and implementing the bill to be around $5.6 million per year over 5 years for the Canadian Heritage Department and the CRTC. The new regulations will give rise to regulatory compliance costs for businesses as well as costs to negotiate and enforce agreements, wrote the PBO. This will in turn have fiscal consequence for the federal government. More Mistrust Independent publishers testifying before the House of Commons Canadian Heritage committee on Sept. 23 criticised Bill C-18 as a bailout for struggling media corporations. I suspect that what we see here is a form of rent-seeking behaviour in which struggling media corporations are using every last iota of their dwindling financial and social capital to lobby for subsidies and regulations, said Jen Gerson, co-founder of an online newsletter called The Line. Gerson added that the more the federal government tries to help the media, the more it risks hurting our credibility. When the federal government tries to save the media, the media becomes a legitimate target for partisan attacks, which undermines our fundamental democratic role and function, she said. Testifying before the committee on Sept. 27, former CRTC commissioner Peter Menzies said Canadians trust in media has never been lower. Its going to create more mistrust and its not going to end well, Menzies said about C-18. When Rodriguez presented the bill in April, he said Canadas news sector is in crisis and this contributes to the heightened public mistrust and the rise of harmful disinformation in our society. However, the more that relationship is broken, the more subsidy will be required, he added. Noe Chartier contributed to this report. New York Mayor Declares State of Emergency Over Illegal Immigration Crisis New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday declared a state of emergency over the surge of illegal immigrants that have been bused and to the city in recent weeks. This is a humanitarian crisis that started with violence and instability in South America and is being accelerated by American political dynamics, Adams said in a news conference on Friday. Thousands of asylum seekers have been bused into New York City and simply dropped off, without notice, coordination, or careand more are arriving every day. The office of Adams, a Democrat, estimated (pdf) that some 17,000 illegal aliens have been transported to his city in recent months. The Republican governors of several border states and Democrat city officials in El Paso, Texas, have sent illegal immigrants to New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. This crisis is not of our own making but one that will affect everyone in this city, now and in the months ahead, Adams said, without making note of the Biden administrations border policies. New Yorkers deserve to know why this is happening and what we plan to do. Adams Emergency Order No. 224 (pdf) noted that the state of Texas, and the city of El Paso, have pledged to continue sending asylum seekers on buses to New York City. Reports have indicated that El Paso, which has a Democrat mayor and is located just north of the violence-plagued Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, has sent even more illegal immigrants to New York than Texas. A bus carrying illegal immigrants sent from Texas arrives at Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York on Aug. 10, 2022. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images) Texas has not provided notice to New York City, and has indicated that it will continue not providing notice to New York City, regarding how many busloads of people will be arriving, or the dates and times of their arrival, the order said, adding that many of the buses arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal unannounced and unscheduled, in the early morning or late night hours. Adams added to reporters Friday that New York is talking potentially 100,000 people going into next year months away. The city has opened about 42 hotels as emergency shelters, the order stated. Border Crisis Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the chief proponent of the busing tactic, has repeatedly said that he will continue to transport illegal aliens who voluntarily sign up for the program to Democrat-run cities. At the same time, hes said that Democrat leaders like Adams have endorsed sanctuary city policies and should be willing to take in the illegal immigrants. The Republican governor said its the best way to draw attention to the illegal immigration crisis thats unfolding along the U.S.Mexico border and that Texas border communities cannot handle the surge. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, flanked by state and local law enforcement officials, speaks to media in Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 29, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Other Republicans, including Abbott, have accused President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other administration officials of failing to secure the U.S. border. Since Biden took office in January 2021, an estimated 5 million people have crossed into the United States from Mexico, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. This week, another bus filled with illegal aliens was sent to Harriss Washington home by Abbotts administration, Fox reported. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, also commissioned a plane to fly illegal immigrants from Venezuela from Texas to the posh Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, in September, drawing left-wing outrage. Impeachment With just weeks to go before the 2022 midterms, Republicans are expected to take back at least the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. In a letter this week, two top Senators warned Mayorkas that he faces impeachment proceedings if the border crisis isnt solved soon. Even though its unlikely Mayorkas would be convicted in a Senate impeachment trial, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote a letter to Mayorkass failure to faithfully enforce this nations immigration laws and willful blindness to the very real humanitarian crisis at our southern border amounts to a gross dereliction of duty and a violation of your oath of office. This is gross dereliction of duty and, if not corrected swiftly, they added, could provide grounds for impeachment. DHS has not responded to a request for comment. Human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, founder of the organisation Viasna (Belarus), receives the 2020 Right Livelihood Award at the digital award ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 3, 2020. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency/via Reuters) Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Ukraine, Russia, Belarus Activists OSLOJailed Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski, Russian rights group Memorial, and Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The award, the first peace prize since Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, has echoes of the Cold War era, when prominent Soviet dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn won Nobels for peace or literature. The prize will be seen by many as a condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, making it one of the most politically contentious in decades. We believe that it is a war that is a result of an authoritarian regime, aggressively committing an act of aggression, Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen told Reuters after the announcement. She said the committee wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy, and peaceful co-existence. It is not one person, one organization, one quick fix, she said in an interview. It is the united efforts of what we call civil society that can stand up against authoritarian states and, or, human rights abuses. She called on Belarus to release Byalyatski from prison and said the prize was not aimed against Putin. Belarusian security police in July last year detained Byalyatski, 60, and others in a new crackdown on opponents of Lukashenko. Authorities had moved to shut down non-state media outlets and human right groups after mass protests the previous August against a presidential election that the opposition said was rigged. Byalyatskis wife told Reuters he may not even know of the news, which she tried to break to him in a telegram to a Belarusian prison. Reactions In Geneva, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said Moscow was not concerned about the award. We dont care about this, Gennady Gatilov told Reuters. In Belarus, the award was not reported by state media. Founded in 1989 to help the victims of political repression during the Soviet Union and their relatives, Memorial campaigns for democracy and civil rights in Russia and former Soviet republics. Its co-founder and first leader was Sakharov, the 1975 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Memorial, Russias best-known human rights group, was ordered to be dissolved last December for breaking a law requiring certain civil society groups to register as foreign agents, capping a year of crackdowns on Kremlin critics the likes of which had not been seen since Soviet days. Memorial board member Oleg Orlov called the prize a moral support, but when asked by reporters if it would help to protect his organization or its work, he said I fear not. The award to Memorial is the second in a row to a Russian person or organization, after the prize last year went to journalist Dmitry Muratov and to Maria Ressa of the Philippines. The executive director of Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Romantsova, said winning the award was incredible. It is great, thank you, she told the secretary of the award committee, Olav Njoelstad, during a phone call that was filmed and broadcast on Norwegian television. The group also wrote on Twitter of how proud it was. The prize will be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10. A Douglas County jury awarded $3.85 million this week to a former HDR vice president who was fired the day she formally reported a conflict of interest of another employee. After a five-day trial that started last week, the 12-member jury deliberated three hours before unanimously agreeing that HDR discriminated against Kristine Shaner, 51, based on her gender. The jury awarded her $2.57 million in lost wages and $1.28 million for mental and emotional distress. Shaner had been with the international engineering firm based in Omaha for 18 years, using her business degree and acumen to rise to a vice-president role in strategy and business acquisition. An example of a project she and her HDR team secured: contracts to engineer coastline solutions after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and other areas in 2005. Shaners attorney, Kelly Brandon, said the jurys verdict recognized the sacrifices that Shaner made for her job and the unjust way she was ushered out of the firm. Her job required her to travel 80% of the time while she raised two boys. She rose through the firm, becoming a senior vice president in 2010 and accumulating more than $1 million in HDR stock over her tenure. Then a new boss made her job increasingly difficult and fired her, out of the blue, via a phone call in November 2017, Brandon said. Brandon said the verdict was a measure of relief after a long five years for Shaner. Shaner now lives in Arizona and works for an engineering firm there. Brandon said Shaner prided herself on being a mentor for young women in a male-dominated field. At the time of Shaners termination, only 12 of 163 senior vice presidents at HDR were women, the lawsuit said. Kristine is incredibly resilient, Brandon said. Being a senior vice president at HDR was a large part of her identity. To have it taken away in a phone call with literally no warning was really devastating. This weeks verdict marks the second time in a month that a jury has awarded a substantial amount for a woman who was discriminated against in the workplace. In September, a federal jury awarded Omaha Police Capt. Kathy Belcastro-Gonzalez $700,000 after Chief Todd Schmaderer decided against promoting her to deputy chief in 2018. The city plans to appeal that verdict. And HDR plans to challenge this one. Kate Dittrick, an attorney for HDR, said Wednesday that the engineering firm appreciates and respects the legal process but is disappointed and disagrees with the verdict. HDR contended that Shaners job was eliminated based on a reduction in business. HDR plans to explore all available (appellate) options, Dittrick said. Theyre an equal-opportunity employer and work hard to support all of their employees. In a statement, Shaner said she hopes her legal battle paves the way for others in the community to come forward when equality is absent from the workforce. Jury trials like mine provide the greatest opportunity for plaintiffs to be heard. Brandon said she is hopeful, but not necessarily certain, that the tide is turning toward justice for those suffering at work. Sadly, Brandon said, her firm has no shortage of workplace discrimination complaints among women and people of color. Such cases can be difficult to advance to trial. Thats what makes Shaners verdict so important, Brandon said. Shaner began at HDR in 1999 and steadily rose through the ranks. She and the team she helped lead won millions of dollars of business that put HDR on the map, Brandon said. In 2012, Shaner was placed under a new boss. By 2015, he began taking away Shaners responsibilities in the firms client development area. He stripped her budgeting ability and redirected marketing folks to report to someone besides her. He decreased her bonuses. And he excluded her from meetings. The end result: Everyone who attended the business meetings was male, Brandon wrote in the lawsuit. Then in September 2015, HDR interviewed a woman whose husband was the head of a Pennsylvania governmental agency that had hired HDR as a contractor. Shaner saw the womans potential employment as an obvious conflict of interest and feared that it would violate U.S. contracting rules and regulations, Brandon said. Her boss hired the woman, despite Shaners concerns. Then in November 2016, HDR established a new policy concerning conflicts of interest. By November 2017, Shaner discovered that the woman had not disclosed her conflict of interest. And the woman had spread a disparaging lie about Shaner and another employee. Early that month, Shaner shared her concerns with human resources about the womans behavior and her conflict of interest. A division head told Shaner that no significant action was going to be taken regarding (the woman), the lawsuit said. Two hours later, Shaner was told her position was being eliminated. Brandon said the verdict is vindication for the devastation Shaner felt. It took at least 18 months and a move to Arizona for Shaner to find a job to try to replace the one she loved, Brandon said. I dont know if the (verdict indicates the) tide is turning for women and minorities, Brandon said. But we think these kinds of lawsuits are important to bring awareness that, unfortunately at some workplaces, discrimination is alive and well. A TV screen shows a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 28, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) North Korean MissilesKeeping the US and Its Allies Distracted and Worried Commentary This has been a busy year for North Koreas missile developershaving launched 25 missiles (including both ballistic and cruise missiles). The shots typically land in the ocean east of the Korean Peninsula but short of Japanese maritime territory. However, on Oct. 4, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that passed over northern Japanprompting the Japanese government to issue a take cover warning to its citizensbefore landing in the ocean to the east of Japan. This was the first North Korean missile shot over Japan since 2017. Why Is North Korea Amping Up Tests Again? This is all part of the trial and error experimentation thats part and parcel of developing long-range missilesparticularly seeking to improve range, accuracy, payloads, delivery capabilities, and so forth. North Koreas scientific and engineering skills are advanced, and theyve gotten help from China, Iran, Pakistan, and others over the yearsand still are. Theres a tendency to think that because the Pyongyang regime is almost comically brutal and cant (or wont) feed its own people, it must be incapable of advanced technological achievements. Dont bet on it. The North Koreans may not be lovable, but theyre intelligent. North Korea has made gradual but steady progress with its missile and rocket (and nuclear weapon) capabilities over the past few decades. In some respects, its only an engineering problem, and theyre figuring things out. North Korea has even built a submarine capable of launching ballistic missilesand reportedly has another more capable one in the works. This isnt easy to do. This photo provided by the North Korean government shows missiles during a military parade marking the ruling party congress, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Jan. 14, 2021. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Pyongyangs missile and nuclear development have been slowed by outside pressureled by the United States but including the Japanese, other Western nations, even the U.N., and nominally the Chinese. However, its fair to say that such pressure has been sporadic, usually half-hearted, and rarely enforced in any serious way. One exception was the Banco Delta Asia affair in the mid-2000s, when the United States sanctioned a Macau-based bank for handling North Korean finances. The Americans appeared to be serious. That got Pyongyangs attentionand Beijings as well. But after a fierce internal battle, the Bush administration backed offrelaxing the sanctions and returning North Koreas money in exchange for a promise to talk. Really? Importantly, so-called secondary sanctions have never been applied to Chinabeyond the merest of pinpricks. China is the lynchpin restraining North Korea and its missile and nuclear programs. Beijing could shut down North Korea in an afternoonsuch is Pyongyangs economic dependence on China. What Are Pyongyangs Political Goals? Its not as if the Kim regime has anything to boast aboutwith a third-world economy, a prison camp of a nation, and nowhere near enough food to feed its population. But missiles and nuclear weapons are what earn North Korea some respect, as dictator Kim Jong Un might say. Or, if not respect, at least attention. And hes probably right. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 8, 2022. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) North Koreas conventional military forces are also a genuine threatalthough theyre mostly confined to the Korean Peninsula. However, with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons, the Kim regime is at least a regional playerand once it can range the U.S. mainland, it becomes a global player. Kim also views these advanced weapons as deterring an attack by the Americans, the South Koreans, and perhaps the Japanese. At the same time, remember that Kim still intends to go on the offensive and take the entire Korean Peninsulawhen a few things fall into place. Somehow remove U.S. forces from South Korea, and Pyongyang will think it has an openingespecially with missiles and nukes in the arsenal. Firing a missile over Japan for the first time in five years is, of course, a political statementto Tokyo not leastbut theres a broader strategic angle to it as well. Strategic Goals Its helpful to consider North Korean activities as part of the larger East Asia security tapestry. Pyongyang wouldnt be doingor even be able to dothese things without Beijings implicit approval. Beijing doesnt mind North Korea shooting off missiles and a nuclear device every now and then. It distracts the Americans and the Japanese, and they cant focus as much on Taiwan or Japans southern islands that China covets. Chinese leader Xi Jinping shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing in this undated photo released by North Koreas Korean Central News Agency on June 20, 2018. (KCNA via Reuters) The Americans and the Japanese have limited resources. They are forced to devote some portion to guard against North Korean missiles (and maybe nuclear weapons) directed against Japan and U.S. bases in the country and beyondor to handle a conventional fight on the Korean Peninsula. Retired U.S. Navy officer Brent Sadler describes an increased North Korean missile threat as potentially creating a political crisis in Japan that demands moving limited Japanese naval and air forces up north to deal with threats from the North Korean quarter. Over the past few years, but especially in the previous year or so, weve seen the Chinese and Russians step up naval and air operationsseparately and sometimes togethernear and around Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and even the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. North Korean actions are properly viewed as part of a comprehensiveif loosely coordinatedeffort to distract and put the Americans and the Japanese (and the South Koreans) on the back foot. And this all ties into a Taiwan scenario. Whenever China decides its done waiting for Taiwan to give up without a fight, expect North Korea to make a move that requires serious U.S., Japanese, and South Korean attention. Another big plus from Beijings perspective is that North Koreas acting up has, for years, convinced the Americans that they must go easy on China since they need Beijings cooperation to solve the North Korea problem. Respond to the Chinese takeover of the South China Sea? Cant do that. We need Chinas help with North Korea. Punish China for exporting the fentanyl thats killing 100,000 Americans per year? No can do. We need Chinas help with North Korea. You get the idea. My guess is that the North Koreans wont hit anyone with a missile or a nuke until Beijing gives the go-ahead. And I dont think theyre quite ready for that. But maybe not for long. For now, Beijing (via Pyongyang) is just sending a message of what might come if Japan pokes its nose into the Taiwan issue and isnt nice to China. And that message is intended for the Americans as well. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Oath Keepers flag was signed by its various members. The Department of Justice exhibit's during the trial at the federal court in Washington D.C. Oath Keepers Testify About Leaving Group Because It Strayed From Stated Mission WASHINGTONFormer Oath Keepers members testified on Oct. 6 in federal court about their decision to leave the organization, allegedly because the groups beliefs no longer aligned with theirs. A Marine Corps veteran, Abdullah Rasheed, said he is a former West Virginia Oath Keepers leader. He used his second phone to record a post-election meeting in November 2020 with Stewart Rhodes and other Oath Keepers. Rasheed said that during the conference call, Rhodes and other members discussed their plan to overturn the election results. It sounded like we were going to war against the United States government, said Rasheed. A few days later, he sent the video to the FBI. Defense attorneys questioned if he truly was a member of the Oath Keepers since he only attended online meetings and calls, but never showed up in person. Defense lawyer Jonathan Crisp suggested that the government may have told him to record the meeting. Rasheed denied the suggestion. Did you just happen to have an extra phone to record the meeting that day? questioned counsel David Fischer. Rasheed responded yes. Rasheed was the West Virginia leader only on the Signal group chat, said defense attorney Phillip Linder, pointing out that he wasnt a real leader. In exchange for the video he recorded, Rasheed asked the FBI if they could change his identity. The Marine Corps veteran, concerned for his familys safety, said he was intimidated by the Oath Keepers harsh language. Rasheed admitted in court that he had previously changed his name several times. In the past, he was charged with sexually abusing a child, said defense lawyer James Bright, which is against the requirements set forth by the Oath Keepers to gain membership in the organization. According to Rasheed, the crime has been expunged from his record. Although his values aligned with the organizations mission when he joined, testified Rasheed, it got worse over time. He also emailed the Capitol Police saying Kelly Meggs was a psycho. Another former Oath Keeper member, Michael Adams, who served in the military, testified on Thursday afternoon. He was the Oath Keepers leader in Florida. Adams joined the organization around July 2020 because he saw the upsurge of Antifa and Black Lives Matter protests and was concerned about his community. He said that after the results of the 2020 presidential election, he was troubled by Rhodess letter to former president Donald Trump asking him to invoke the Insurrection Act. If Trump didnt do anything, as mentioned by Rhodes in the letter, the patriots would act. This pushed him to quit the organization, said Adams. He sent a text message to Rhodes, letting him know about his decision to leave. Adams wrote a long message which included, Im a proud lifetime member and will be in the back. He later admitted that he only stepped out of his leadership role in the Oath Keepers and didnt leave it. Adams said he didnt participate in the Million Make America Great Again March in Nov. 2020, nor did he come to the January 6 rally. He didnt notice anything illegal in preparation for the Jan. 6 protest. Otherwise, said Adams, he would have let the authorities know. The trial is expected to end around November. Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly waits to appear as a witness at the House of Commons Procedures and House Affairs committee in the Parliamentary precinct in Ottawa on June 2, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Ottawa Police Document Detailing Freedom Convoy Parking Plan Not Shared With Parliament: MP Conservative MP Larry Brock says a document specifying the routes and parking plans of the Freedom Convoy protest was authorized by the Ottawa police but was not shared with the public or Parliament, resulting in a misrepresentation of the demonstration earlier this year. Speaking at the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency on Oct. 6, Brock said the seven-page document, entitled Ottawa Police Ottawa Truck Convoy, had detailed information such as the highway routes that protesters traveled to Ottawa, parking capacity in a designated area in the city, and authorized vehicle types. You didnt want to use the word permission, but [there was] an authorization to park their vehicles in specific locations in the Parliamentary precinct, Brock asked Peter Sloly, former chief of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). Sloly resigned from the position of Ottawa Police Chief on Feb. 15, amid the three-week protest against the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate. He was invited to testify at the joint committee that is currently looking into the governments invocation of the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, granting the police additional powers to remove the demonstrators in escalated operations over the next few days. One of the areas that I want to confirm with you is the government has not shared that detail with Parliament, certainly has not shared that detail with Canadians, because there is a sense that this was something that was controlled by the organizers, that they took those steps without consultation with your service and the City of Ottawa to parkthats not true, correct? Brock asked. He also pointed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who Brock said didnt share with the government that there was an actual plan, an authorization. Sloly declined to comment on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister, but noted that as a standard practice, police liaison teams will negotiate with any demonstrator coming into the city for any reason, to try to align that as much as possible. Trucks sit parked on Wellington Street near the Parliament Buildings as truckers and their supporters take part in a convoy to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers in Ottawa, Canada, on Jan. 29, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/Reuters) Brocks remarks followed a similar question from Conservative MP Glen Motz, who asked if the organizers had sought permission on where to park their vehicles prior to their arrival at the national capital. That permission from the city and from the Ottawa Police Service was provided to them, which included emergency lanes on [Wellington Street] is that correct? Motz asked. Permissions is a word that I wouldnt normally use, Sloly said. There were communications and negotiations around how best to reduce the public safety impact of such a large gathering and demonstration in the city. And there were some successful and constructive efforts on both parties. The Epoch Times reached out to both the Office of the Prime Minister and the OPS for comment but didnt immediately hear back. Relocation Prior to the Liberal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act, an agreement was reached between a key convoy organizer, Tamara Lich, and the City of Ottawa to relocate the vehicles involved in the protest to avoid disturbing the residents, according to the negotiator of the agreement. Sloly told the joint committee that he would not have supported any additional vehicles going into the red zone areas, but I would have supported vehicles leaving any portion of the downtown area. Meanwhile, Larry Brookson, director of the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) which is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, held an opposite view. Brookson, who testified at the joint committees previous meeting on Sept. 29, said he sought to raise concerns with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson regarding the convoy vehicles moving back to Wellington Street. While the PPS didnt have jurisdiction beyond the precinct of Parliament Hill, Brookson told the committee that the streets wouldve been blocked if he was in charge of the area. My concern, when [the convoy protest] started, was the amount of vehicles already established on Wellington Street, and that was the first weekend, he said. During the first weekend, there started to be some removal of vehicles that were leaving overnight. So my discussions led with security partners to start establishing jersey barriers because what I didnt want to see happen was a backfill of those vehicles that, on their own initiative, decided to leave. Employees are pictured as the first Boeing 737 MAX 7 is unveiled in Renton, Washington on Feb. 5, 2018. (Jason Redmond/Reuters) Pilots Union Opposes Granting Boeing 737 MAX 7, 10 Cockpit Alerting Extension WASHINGTONThe union representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots said on Wednesday it strongly opposes an effort in Congress to extend an exemption from modern cockpit alerting requirements for the Boeing 737 MAX 7 and 10. Boeing faces a December deadline to win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the 737 MAX 7 and 10 variants, or it must meet new modern cockpit-alerting requirements that could significantly delay the planes entry into service. Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Edward Sicher said Boeing needs to proceed with installing modern crew alerting systems on these aircraft to mitigate pilot startle-effect and confusion during complex, compound system malfunctions. The FAA declined to comment. Boeing, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has said it is safer to have one common cockpit alerting system for all versions of the 737. Reuters reported on Monday that Boeing does not anticipate winning regulatory approval for its 737 MAX 10 before next summer, according to an FAA letter to Congress. Last week, Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, proposed extending the deadline for Boeing to win approval for the two new variants until September 2024 and hopes to attach the proposal to an annual defense bill. There is no indication yet if Wickers proposal has the support of other key lawmakers including committee chair Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat. Cantwells office did not immediately comment. The requirements were adopted as part of a certification reform bill passed after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people and led to the best-selling planes 20-month grounding. Relatives of many of those killed in the MAX crashes also oppose giving Boeing an extension. They wrote a letter in July opposing the extension and suggest Boeing had resorted to bullying Congress. Sicher said the pilots union did not agree with Boeings claim that pilots could become confused when moving from an airplane without the modern alert system to one that is equipped with it. Nothing could be further from our flight deck reality. By David Shepardson RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore speaks during a press conference at RCMP F Division Headquarters in Regina Sept. 4, 2022, while a sign displays images of suspects Damien Sanderson (L) and Myles Sanderson. (The Canadian Press/Michael Bell) Police Say One Suspect Killed All Victims in Saskatchewan Stabbing Tragedy, Including Brother SASKATOONPolice now believe one of the two suspects in the mass stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan killed all the victims, as well as the other suspect, who was his brother. In the early morning hours of Sept. 4, nine people were stabbed to death on the James Smith Cree Nation, and another in the nearby village of Weldon. Soon after, the RCMP launched a search effort for suspects Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. On Sept. 5, police announced Damiens body had been found on the James Smith Cree Nation. Myles was arrested on Sept. 7, but the RCMP says he went into medical distress and died in hospital shortly after. At a news conference on Oct. 6 in Regina, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said the evidence shows that Damien was killed by his brother Myles. After completing 250 interviews, processing over 670 exhibits, and reviewing and following up on over 100 911 calls, investigators have determined that Damien Sanderson was a victim of homicide by Myles Sanderson. Myles Sanderson committed all of the homicides alone, she said. This brings the total number of people killed by Myles Sanderson to 11. However, Blackmore said there is evidence that Damien was involved in at least some of the planning that preceded the stabbing rampage by Myles. We are still investigating the extent of Damiens involvement, she said. Blackmore would not say if Damien was killed before the other attacks, but said: It seems there may have been something that changed as those incidents unfolded. The RCMP also filled in more details about what happened before the rampage. Blackmore said the RCMP got a call in the early morning of Sept. 4 telling the police force that Damien had stolen a vehicle. Brian Burns, father of James Smith Cree Nation stabbing victim Gregory, and husband to victim Bonnie, sits behind pictures of the victims during a news conference in Saskatoon on Sept. 7, 2022. (Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images) She said two officers responded, and eventually found the stolen vehicle outside a home. She said the officers went inside, and asked if one of the men was Damien Sanderson but were told no. She said they later found out one of the men was Damien, but he had given a false name, adding that the officers didnt have sufficient grounds at that point to ask for ID, and the photo of Damien in the RCMP database was from 2014. She said the investigation also found Damien and Myles were selling drugs in the community. Myles and Damien Sanderson were actively selling drugs in the community on Sept. 4, she said. Both Myles and Damien were involved in at least three violent altercations involving other individuals in the James Smith Cree Nation. However, she said none of the violence was reported to police and that the Saskatchewan RCMP had no information or indication that would suggest any violence was to occur. She added that a lot of investigative work remains to be done, including determining the motive for the brutal attacks. Unfortunately we may never have all of those answers, she said. Darryl Burns, brother of victim Gloria Burns, speaks during a Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations event where leaders provided statements about the mass stabbing incident that happened at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Sask., at James Smith Cree Nation, Sask., on Sept. 8, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu) The RCMP news conference comes on the same day that the Parole Board of Canada and the Correctional Service of Canada announced an investigation into the release of Myles Sanderson. In a news release posted to the CSC and PBC websites, the agencies say: To fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, Anne Kelly, Commissioner of SCS, and Jennifer Oades, Chairperson of PBC, have convened a joint National Board of Investigation into the statutory release, community supervision, and PBC decisions in the case of Myles Sanderson. In the days following the tragedy, the Parole Board of Canada released documents showing Myles Sanderson had 59 criminal convictions as an adult before his latest release, many of them for violence. By May of this year, he was listed as unlawfully at large. The investigation can make recommendations or corrective measures. A Bangladeshi salesman interacts with a customer during a blackout in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (A.M. Ahad/AP Photo) Power Grid Failure Causes 7-Hour Widespread Blackouts in Bangladesh Millions of people in Bangladesh were without power on Tuesday after an electrical grid failure triggered seven-hour-long blackouts in most areas of the country. The national power grid malfunctioned at 2.05 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, sending much of the countryexcept for some parts in the Northinto a blackout until 9 p.m., local media Dhaka Tribune reported. State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that while it would take days to ascertain what caused the glitch, an initial investigation found a mismatch between demand and supply in some areas. There was an imbalance between demand and supply in the eastern region of Bangladesh. The system dropped below the frequency range and the power system became unstable due to the under frequency, causing the eastern power plants to trip, he told reporters. Bangladesh, which gets three-quarters of its electricity from imported natural gas, has been facing frequent power cuts this year due to its inability to address higher power demand. The country has rationed some gas supplies amid high global prices driven up by Russias war in Ukraine. The government vowed frugal spending after reporting a record fiscal deficit last year. Hamid said that Bangladeshs government had delayed several power grid projects, including a national power grid automation project, for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope, within the next two years we will be able to complete the automation project and then chances of such grid failure will be reduced, he said. Over a third of the countrys 77 gas-powered units were short of fuel. Bangladeshs peak power demand on Tuesday was 3 percent higher than the 13,800 MW forecast by the Bangladesh Power Development Board, according to government data. The load on the power grid generally increases in the evenings in Bangladesh when citizens return home after work. Demand growth in recent years has largely been driven by the residential segment. If the stability of the system is fairly satisfactory, the power lines of all area of Dhaka will be activated. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, a junior minister in Bangladesh. Reuters contributed to this report. A general view of signage at The King's School at North Parramatta, in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 25, 2016. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) Probe Into Elite Sydney Schools Spending An elite private school that charges $25,000 a year to educate seven-year-olds is under investigation into possible misuse of taxpayer funds. The Kings School in Sydney reportedly planned to install a plunge pool at the headmasters residence and sent the schools senior staff to attend a British rowing event. Those reports have sparked an inquiry by the New South Wales Education Department inquiry into the 191-year-old independent schools use of public funding. The expectation of any non-government school receiving public funding is very clear: the funding must be for the education of its students, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said in a statement on Friday. I expect all non-government schools to comply with their not-for-profit requirements and will not hesitate to take action should it be clear they are non-compliant. The inquiry will be run in consultation with the Non-Government Schools Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee, which is directly responsible for ensuring the financial responsibility and accountability of schools receiving NSW Government funding. If the North Parramatta school hadnt followed the rules, there would be consequences, former federal education minister Stuart Robert said. I would have thought it would be very easy for Kings to show the Department of Education how theyve funded various assets and what theyve done with the money, the Liberal MP told Nines Today program on Friday. I suggest they do that quickly. Kings has been contacted for comment. In a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald, the school said it took its obligations seriously and was cooperating with the department. The Anglican school is the oldest independent school in the country, charging about $24,000 for kindergarten students and up to $40,000 for year 12 students. Boarders are charged about $27,000 annually on top of tuition fees. The two-storey headmasters residence features a main bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, four other bedrooms, multiple sitting areas, a walk-in pantry, an outdoor spa and a porte-cochere. It was last renovated in 2017. 'Safe and Effective: A Second Opinion,' gives a compelling summary of the misinformation, censorship and heart-wrenching consequences of the COVID-19 vaccines Your safety will always come first. And a COVID-19 vaccine will only be approved by us, the U.K.s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, once it has met robust standards on safety, quality, and effectiveness. So begins the new British documentary, Safe and Effective: A Second Opinion. These words immediately cue viewers that what they are about to see will contradict the reassuring statement delivered by Dame June M. Raine, chief executive of the United Kingdoms Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). And conflict it does. Produced by Mark Sharman and directed by Philip Wiseman, available on EpochTV now, Safe and Effective is the latest in a recent spate of books and documentaries focusing on vaccine safety. These include the Danish documentary film, Under the Skin: What Does Aluminum Do in Vaccines, about adverse effects of the HPV vaccine Gardasil (now available exclusively on Epoch TV), and the English translation of Turtles All the Way Down: Vaccine Science and Myth, a book which explores the safety science underlying the childhood vaccine schedule. Dense and disturbing, the film is narrated by John Bowe, an actor with white hair, a soothing voice, a serious face, and a sense of gravitas. Bowe is also the founder of C.O.V.I.D., which stands for Charity Organisation for the Vaccine InjureD. His non-profit seeks to help people who have been injured by COVID-19 vaccinations. Bowe speaks for the vaccine injured when he tells us they, feel unrecognized and abandoned by the NHS (National Health Service) and the government they trusted. The Lucky Ones One of the films primary goals is to provide a platform to allow the vaccine-injured to tell their stories. Even though the film is only 55 minutes long, we are introduced to no fewer than eight people severely injured by either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines. While COVID-19s victims consist primarily of senior citizens and those with comorbidities, the COVID-19 vaccines victims are frequently young and healthy. The tragedy of this is visible: Most of the vaccine-injured profiled in the documentary were at very little risk from the illness in the first place. Like Georgia Segal, 35, who collapsed after her second dose of the Pfizer shot. The vaccine caused some kind of neurological damage that made her body seize and took away her ability to walk. Segal has video footage from when suffering was at its worst. Then theres Alex Mitchell, a rugged 57-year-old Scotsman from Glasgow. Mitchell suffered blood clots following a dose of AstraZenecas vaccine. His wife and children were told there was no hope. However, although the blood clots destroyed his left leg, requiring amputation, he survived. His doctors told him the clots were so bad they should have been fatal. Mitchell is hoping with the use of his new prosthetic leg that he can regain some of his old life. Mitchell was compensated the maximum amount for a COVID-19 vaccine injury in the UK, 120,000, currently the equivalent of approximately $137,000. The Less Lucky Stephen Wright, 32, was not so lucky. About to start a new job as a senior clinical psychologist when he received the AstraZeneca vaccine, Wright was excited to get this British product. But after the jab, he suffered a stroke. The night he died, he was helping his wife, Charlotte, put their children to bed. Charlotte had to use the local food bank for months to feed herself and her children. Eventually, Charlotte Wright, too, received the 120,000 maximum compensation for the loss of her husband. The government compensation, Wright said, is some vindication but is not enough and will never be enough. Caroline Pover, a 50-year-old dynamo with long pink and green hair, has not been lucky either. Pover, who has a pickling business, writes books, and is a public speaker, got the vaccine in order to make her annual trip to Japan. My life is completely changed now, Pover said in the film. Its unrecognizable compared to how it was. After taking the AstraZeneca vaccine, Pover spent five months in bed. She was exhausted, in relentless pain, and debilitated by brain fog. She said she was unable to work more than two hours at a time without incapacitating chest pain. I didnt want to live when it was at its worst, Pover admitted. I just couldnt see the point. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome For many people featured in the film, their injuries have been so severe that theyve struggled to believe their lives will ever be worth living again. Unfortunately, their medical doctors have made it worse. The doctors dont know what to do with us, Pover said. Instead of sympathy and a treatment protocol, conventional doctors often dismiss these patients COVID-19 vaccine injuries. Some even accuse patients of being mentally ill. While all the stories are moving, John Watts is perhaps the most deeply affecting. We see videos of Watt working out in the gym before receiving the vaccine. Hes tattooed and muscled, clearly very fit. Then we see him lying in bed, his eyes covered by sunglasses, slurring his speech, his mother so choked up by his ordeal that shes barely able to speak. Watt has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as POTS. He can hardly stand without sending his heart into fits. This big, strong weightlifter tried to suppress sobs as he said, This is my life now, indicating his legs stretched on the bed in front of him, propped on a pillow. Stuck in my bed every day with no help from anybody. He lifts his sunglasses to wipe away tears before continuing. I cant live like this. I cant live my life in bed. Im only 36 years of age. Im supposed to get married this year. A picture of John and his fiancee before Johns illness appears, the two of them looking blissfully happy and healthy. Mechanism of Harm While profiling the injured, the film intersperses straightforward facts from several preeminent scientists and clinicians, including cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra, diagnostic pathologist Dr. Clare Craig, and Alexandra Latypova, a retired pharmaceutical industry executive who specialized in clinical trials. Malhotra was among the first to be double vaccinated (with the Pfizer mRNA vaccine). However, he said, after doing months of data analysis on both the vaccines and the illness, speaking to medical scientists from Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, two investigative journalists, and two whistleblowers from Pfizer, he has concluded reluctantly that the vaccine is not completely safe and has unprecedented harms. He called for an immediate halt to vaccination until the data can be properly analyzed. Latypova reviewed the data Pfizer was forced to release as a result of litigation. She said Pfizer skipped important steps in safety testing. For instance, the toxicity of the COVID-19 vaccines mRNA active ingredient, the spike protein, was never studied. Malhotra believes that the spike protein itself is likely the mechanism through which the vaccines cause harm. The FDA and Pfizer knew there were toxicity issues with gene therapy medicines as well, the film contends. The CDC, FDA, and Pfizer lied when they insisted the vaccine stayed near the injection site. Indeed, as Malhotra explained, the spike protein appears to be distributed throughout the body, in every major organ system, for several months, causing a direct reactionthrough toxicityor an autoimmune reaction. Reality Conflicts with Messaging The film effectively contrasts the heart-wrenching stories of injury with official statements, advertisements, and even celebrity endorsements. Republican ex-President George W. Bush teamed up with Democratic ex-Presidents Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama to propagandize the public with the idea that the vaccines were completely safe and that only reckless and irresponsible people would not rush out and get one the moment they were eligible. Dont miss out on the good times, proclaimed one especially cheery ad. The film goes on to detail conflicts of interest that pervade the regulatory agencies, the deceptive way relative risk reduction is used to coerce vaccination, the collusion between government and tech giants to crack down on so-called misinformation, the doubling of Pfizers revenue from 2020 to $81 billion in 2021, and the increasingly hostile messaging as many people refused to line up for the vaccines. No Jab, No Job, read a Daily Mail headline. Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to anti-vaxxersalready a sluras nutjobs, and Tony Blair went so far as to say, Frankly, if youre not vaccinated at the moment . . . youre not just irresponsible, I mean youre an idiot. A Time of Reckoning The mainstream media, in collusion with Big Tech and Big Government, has successfully presented a cartoonishly simple safe and effective picture for a long time. But not anymore. This film, along with myriad lawsuits, new research that shows no benefit of COVID-19 boosters for young people, and calls for public health to be held to higher standards of accountability and ethics, suggest a reckoning is coming soon. Maxwell Harrison, 22, was a talented ballroom dancer who thought he would die after the Pfizer vaccine caused so much damage to his heart. Genevieve Florence, 24, was an actress, synchronized swimmer, and cliff-jumper. She felt her life was over because she has not been able to do even the simplest things for herself. Millions of COVID vaccine injuries and deaths are being reported through official channels across the world, as John Bowe pointed out at the beginning of the film. Its a scandal of such epic proportions [that] I think people dont know where to begin with it, said Dr. Clare Craig. Watching this film is a good place to start. We hope Safe and Effective will help public health look at itself in the mirror and finally admit these vaccines were a colossal mistake. Sydney Man Arrested for Blackmailing Optus Data Breach Victims A 19-year-old man in Sydney has been arrested and could face up to ten years in prison after trying to blackmail dozens of Optus customers whose ID documents were exposed in the recent cyberattack. Australian Federal Police said the man obtained the customer records publicised by the hackers on an online forum following the data breach. After, he texted 93 people and threatened to use their data for other crimes if they did not hand over $2,000 (US$1,290). Alleged Blackmailer to Face Trial The Rockdale man is charged with two offences: using a telecommunication network to commit blackmail and dealing with identification information illegally. Police said the man started his scam in the week commencing Sept. 26 and alleged that he would have continued to work his way through the list if not arrested. None of the people contacted by the alleged blackmailer transferred the money demanded. We understand how worried some members of the community are, AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said. I want to give the community reassurance the AFP and our partners are working around the clock to help protect your personal information. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough speaks to the media in Sydney, Australia, on April 19, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) The alleged blackmailer will face Sydney Central Local Court at a later date. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison if found guilty. The warning is cleardo not test the capability or dedication of law enforcement, Gough said. Just because there has been one arrest does not mean there wont be more. New Amendments to Telecommunications Regulations Meanwhile, the Australian government is prepared to introduce new amendments to the Telecommunications Regulations 2021, which are said to provide Australians with better protections against fraud in the wake of the Optus data breach. Under the amendments, telcos can temporarily share critical information such as drivers licence, Medicare and passport numbers with financial service firms. This would allow companies to strengthen their monitoring and safeguards for customers in case their personal data is compromised. In addition, telcos will also be able to share information with the federal government and state and territory agencies to prevent fraud after a data breach occurs. What this is all about is to try and reduce the impact of this data breach on Optus customers and to enable financial institutions to implement enhanced safeguards and monitoring, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told reporters. We take peoples personal information and the protection of that very seriously. Rowland also said Optus had asked for greater data access to enhance their fraud monitoring. We examined this, did proper due diligence, and we need to be clear. These regulations are specifically in response to these cyber threats, and we know this is on a scale and scope that hasnt happened in Australia before, she said. We considered it prudent having taken and considered the proper legal advice that the most effective way to enable this data to be shared beyond doubt was through amending these regulations. Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the amendments were created with industry consultation and would allow data to be shared more safely and securely. Theyve been carefully designed with strong privacy and security safeguards to ensure only limited information can be made available temporarily to prevent and respond to cyber security incidents, fraud, scams and related activities, he told reporters. Teen Suspect Arrested in Double-Murder of 2 High School Students Authorities in North Carolina arrested a 17-year-old suspect in connection to the double murder of two high school students who went missing in mid-September. The bodies of Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, were located along a hiking trail near Buckhorn Road in Orange County on Sept. 18, according to a press release posted on Facebook by the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Now, about two weeks later, officials announced that a juvenile, whose name is not yet revealed, was taken into custody in the high-profile homicide case. We hope this apprehension provides some relief to the families and friends of Devin and Lyric, who have experienced an excruciating loss, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement. Obviously, the capture of the suspect does not restore their loved one to them, he added. The grieving process is a long one, and we hope the community will continue to support them in their pain. Officials said the bodies of the two teenagers were discovered around 3 p.m. by two men riding four-wheelers about a day after the families of the victims reported their children missing. Laws Regarding Juvenile Confidentiality Blackwood addressed the lack of information about the suspect in the statement, explaining that members of the sheriffs office are prohibited from sharing specific details about the caseincluding the name of the suspect, the location of the arrest, and which officer arrested the individual. We understand our community is hungry for information to help process this tragedy; however, the laws regarding juvenile confidentiality are ironclad, Blackwood said. We have no ability to set them aside, even given the heightened interest in this case. Under North Carolina law, people aged 16 and 17 who are being accused of crimes are no longer automatically charged in the adult criminal justice system under the Raise the Age bill that was passed in December 2019. The juvenile court process is different in each county, but NCCU law professor Irving Joyner told ABC11 he doubts the case will remain in juvenile court due to the severity of the offense. Here youre talking about two counts of first-degree murder. And it is very unusual and very rare, that a case of this magnitude stays in juvenile court, Joyner said. It is a very serious accusation very serious prosecution, he continued. So both sides of the comb will want to ensure that all of the legal steps are properly navigated through, such that the rights of the suspect are protected, as well as the work of law enforcement in gathering this information that will then eventually be used for the prosecution at a trial. So you, you cant rush it. Authorities havent disclosed the details about the shooting, including a possible motive. On Sept. 20, investigators charged the 17-year-old suspect with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Woods and Clark, though no formal charges have been pressed yet due to the states judicial system. From NTD News Police on Wednesday arrested an 18-year-old Lincoln woman who they allege turned in front of a motorcyclist on Cornhusker Highway in late August, causing a collision that killed the 28-year-old biker. Alexis Kelly, who had been driving a Hyundai sedan east on the highway, began to turn north onto 35th Street at about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 29, Lincoln Police Investigator Nicholas Vest said in the crash report filed in the incident. As she turned north, Kelly entered the path of Pierce White, who was riding his 2006 Suzuki C50 west on Cornhusker and had a green light as he proceeded through the intersection, Vest said in the crash report. Their vehicles collided. White died at the scene. Police tested Kelly's urine for suspected drug presence, according to the crash report. It's unclear what kind of drug officers tested her for, but Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian said Kelly was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence. Arrested Wednesday, the 18-year-old was taken to the Lancaster County jail. Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, speaks during a panel discussion during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Texas AG Says Elon Musk Wants Free Speech to Reign on the Internet, Welcomes Twitter Takeover Tesla CEO Elon Musk is likely to push for free speech to reign on Twitter should his deal to purchase the social media platform prove successful, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said. Paxton, a Republican, told Fox News that he would welcome a move to make Twitter a place where people are able to speak freely and without censorship. He appears to be a guy that wants free speech to reign on the internet, Paxton said. I welcome somebody getting into the marketplace that will just allow people to speak freely and not try to limit them based on what their political positions are or their religious positions. Those are sacred rights and sacred ideas that our founders built this country on, Paxton added. Paxtons comments come as Musk has been locked in ongoing litigation with Twitter in an effort to terminate the deal to buy the platform following a dispute over the exact number of automated bots and fake accounts. However, the businessman confirmed his plans to purchase Twitter for $44 billion in an Oct. 3 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. Both Musk and Twitter had been scheduled to appear before a Delaware Chancery Court beginning on Oct. 17 as part of a five-day trial over the legal dispute, but a judge on Thursday delayed the trial, allowing him three more weeks to close the deal. Elon Musk on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos, on April 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Free Speech in This Country Will Be Lost Paxton told Fox News that Big Tech companies censoring posts on social media is a violation of free speech, and such behavior has been particularly aimed at those with conservative views. Were talking about people being able to express their opinions, he said. If we do not stop this, we are going to lose the ability to have practically free speech in this country which means that theres huge advantages for people that have more liberal views than there are for those that have more conservative views. Paxtons comments come shortly after legislation known as the Journalism Competition and Protection Act (JCPA), was passed by Senate lawmakers. The legislation is designed to give bargaining powers to news organizations against Big Tech companies who use their content on their platforms. Specifically, it would allow digital news companies to come together to negotiate with platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter regarding the pricing terms on which the news companies content may be distributed on their platforms, without violating antitrust laws. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has pushed for the bill to include protections against moderation and censorship by Big Tech companies, but ultimately the bill that passed specified that negotiations should be solely about pricing, terms, and conditions. Censorship Gives Democrats a Huge Advantage Earlier this month, a federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled in favor of a Texas law that seeks to prevent social media companies like Facebook and Twitter from censoring free speech based on the viewpoint of online postings. The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans (pdf) was published on Sept. 16 and upholds the constitutionality of a law signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year, which was later blocked from being implemented by a federal district courts ruling. That law, known as House Bill 20, was designed to protect every Texan wanting to fully express his or her First Amendment rights, according to a statement from Paxtons office. However, NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) sued after the law was passed, asserting that private companies like Facebook and Twitter have a First Amendment right to moderate content thats posted on their platforms, owing in part to provisions of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. That act shields such online platforms from lawsuits involving third-party content and for the removal of content in some circumstances. Paxton said he fears that such content moderation methods may ultimately give Democrats a huge advantage. If they can basically squelch free speech and viewpointsconservative, Republican viewsthey can give Democrats a huge advantage across the country in all races, from local to presidential, Paxton told Fox News. Our argument is, if youre going to avail yourself of the protections of Section 230, and claim that you are not a publisher, then you cant act like a publisher and discriminate against viewpoints, Paxton said. You shouldnt then be allowed to protect yourself from defamation or libel because other publishers cant do that. A Texas state trooper watches over illegal aliens as they wait to be taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Del Rio, Texas, on May 19, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images) Texas Authorities Rescue 84 Illegal Aliens in Tractor Trailer in Hidalgo County Approximately 84 illegal aliens were rescued from the back of a tractor-trailer by Texas authorities on Oct. 6 in what officials believe may have been a human smuggling incident. Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra shared the results of the rescue operation on Twitter, stating that a concerned citizen had contacted police to report a tractor-trailer arriving at a residence in Weslaco, Texas. Weslaco is located about eight miles north of the U.S. border with Mexico. The concerned citizen told police they had seen people being unloaded from the trailer, prompting deputies with Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to attend the scene, according to Guerra. Images shared by Guerra online show dozens of illegal immigrants sitting on the ground outside a residence as law enforcement officers assess the scene. The sheriff told CNN on Thursday that the illegal aliens are from Central America and had declined medical assistance when they were found. He did not provide further details regarding the condition of the illegal immigrants. Officials are now investigating the matter as a potential human smuggling incident and special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations are involved in the probe, the sheriff said. TikTok Videos The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed that the large red vehicle used to carry the illegal aliens had appeared in a TikTok video a day earlier that was seeking someone who can drive an 18-wheeler right now. The video offered $70,000 to someone who could drive the truck from McAllen to Houston, according to Fox News, which first reported the video. Officials with the Public Safety Department confirmed to the publication that the video is authentic and related to the discovery of the 84 illegal immigrants in Hidalgo County on Thursday. The department said it has seen an uptick in similar videos posted on the Chinese-owned video-hosting service recently. That is why we are experiencing an increase in human smuggling events along the border, Texas DPS spokesperson Christopher Olivarez told Fox News. Many individuals from larger metropolitan areas such as Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and even out of state are being recruited as drivers through social media platforms to smuggle illegal immigrants. The latest illegal immigrant rescue comes amid an ongoing southern border crisis which critics say has worsened since President Joe Biden stepped into office, in part owing to his failed border policies and decision to roll back on Trump-era measures aimed at deterring illegal entry through the border. An influx of illegal aliens has prompted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to send the illegal immigrants from the U.S.Mexico border to various Democrat-run areas of the country, also known as sanctuary cities, such as Washington and Chicago. Texas has bused more than 8,100 illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C. since April, over 2,900 illegal immigrants to New York City since Aug. 5, and more than 870 illegal immigrants to Chicago since Aug. 31, according to Abbotts office. Abbott said this has provided much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities, but Democrats opposed to the move have accused him of human trafficking the illegal immigrants. The body of the shooter Panya Khamrap inside a body bag at Na Klang Hospital following a rampage in the town of Uthai Sawan in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand, on Oct. 6, 2022. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters) Thailand Mourns Children, Staff Killed in One of Worlds Deadliest Massacres Flags were flown half-staff across Thailand on Friday following the countrys deadliest massacre that left at least 38 people dead, most of whom were young children. The death toll includes the attacker, his wife, and his childboth of whom he killed after the shooting in the daycare center in Uthai Sawan, a town 500 kilometers (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok, on Oct. 6. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visited survivors and the families of the shooting attack victims in the northeastern Nong Bua Lamphu province on Friday. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the lost and injured. I have ordered the police to take immediate legal action and all involved parties to provide recovery to those affected, Prayut said in a Facebook post. Police identified Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former policeman, as the attacker. Panya was suspended last year over drug allegations and was facing trial for illegal possession of amphetamine, ThaiPBS reported. He attended a court hearing before heading to the daycare center to collect his child, police said. When he did not find his child there, he started shooting and slashing children while they were sleeping at the center. A total of 24 children aged from 2 to 5 years were killed at the center, while one child who was shot in the head survived after undergoing a surgery. A pregnant teacher was among those who were killed, according to local reports. Panya eventually fled the scene in a pick-up truck and killed his wife and child at home before committing suicide. Twelve other people were injured in the attack, police said. Officials and authorities guard the gate of a daycare center as people wait, after a rampage in Uthai Sawan, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Thailand, on Oct. 6, 2022, in this screengrab taken from video. (TPBS/Reuters TV via Reuters) People gather outside of a day care centers scene of rampage in the town of Uthai Sawan, 500 kilometers (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand, on Oct. 6, 2022. (Sakdipat Boonsom/Handout via Reuters) The government has pledged to cover the funeral costs of all the victims who died in the attack. It will also provide 100,000 baht ($2,675) to victims who were critically injured or permanently disabled because of the incident, ThaiPBS reported. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said that it was saddened and shocked by the tragic shooting, while urging members of the public and the media to refrain from posting images and videos of the tragedy. UNICEF condemns all forms of violence against children. No child should be a target or witness of violence anywhere, anytime, it said in a statement. We join all people in Thailand in mourning and hope that those affected receive appropriate and timely support, UNICEF added. The massacre is among the worst involving children killed by one person. Anders Breivik killed 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp in Norway in 2011, while the death toll in other cases include 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, 16 at Dunblane in Scotland in 1996, and 19 at a school in Uvalde, Texas, this year. Reuters contributed to this report. The Problems With Pardons for Possession Commentary President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of people convicted of the possession of cannabis. He says that this will remove from them the burden of a criminal record and thereby improve their lives and prospects of employment. Having spent much of my professional life among convicts, Im all in favor of attempts to reintegrate them into society once they leave prison. The slate cant be wiped cleanno wiping of a slate can undo a crime once committedbut the writing on the slate shouldnt act as a kind of severe chronic disabling disease for the rest of a persons life. As is so often the case in human affairs, theres another side to the question. If I were an employer seeking someone in a position of trust (and practically all positions are those of trust), I should quite like to know if an applicant has been guilty of dishonesty. Other things being equal among applicants, I would probably prefer someone who hasnt been found guilty of a crime, although, in some moods, I might feel inclined from a sense of social duty or humanity to offer an ex-criminal a job. However, I would like the choice to be mine. I speak from my experience in the UK, which might not be directly transferable to the United States, but it was obvious from that experience that crime (apart from the sexual variety) was a young mans game. Very few of the prisoners for crimes such as assault, burglary, robbery, and theft were older than the age of 35, and practically all of them were recidivists, indeed multi-recidivists. This suggested one of two things: Either most criminals ceased to commit crimes after that age, or they became so adept at crime that they were never caught. I think the former is the more likely. They rehabilitated themselves, at least to a degree. Another interesting fact was that those who were convicted of possession of cannabis were always caught in the context of committing another crime. In the UK, at least, very few were those prisoners who were imprisoned solely for possession of cannabis. This brings me to the American situation. It seems to me from the outside that the criminal justice system has been deeply corrupted by the universal process of plea bargaining. I can see the argument in favor of this process: that it speeds up the administration of justice, speed being an important element of justice. (In the UK, it now takes 18 months to try an alleged murderer, while in Victorian times, it took two weeks. Im far from convinced that there are fewer miscarriages of justice now because of this increased scrupulosity, or sclerosis.) However, on the other side of the argument is the fact that plea bargaining turns the administration of justice into a game of poker, a question of who blinks first. But what a man has or hasnt done is a matter of what a man has or hasnt done, not a matter to be haggled over like a purchase in an Arabian souk. Plea bargaining may be unfair both to the accused and to society. A man may plead guilty to a lesser charge when he has done nothing rather than face the chance of being found guilty of a more serious crime with which hes charged to extort an admission of some sort, and a man who has committed a very serious offense may seize the chance to plead guilty to a much lesser offense than the one he has actually committed, to the detriment of society. The problem is compounded by managerialism in the administration of justice when those working in the system are judged by how many convictions they secure and how quickly they secure them. Ideally, the cutting of corners in this fashion should have no place in a criminal justice system, although perhaps its inevitable in societies in which there are high levels of crime by comparison with the resources available to the criminal justice system. A vicious circle is set up: A high level of crime leads to cutting corners, and cutting corners leads to a high level of crime. Plea bargaining, moreover, is inherently against the rule of law, as is (in my view) parole, at least in cases in which theres an element of administrative discretion as to whether its granted or not. Drastic prison sentencing for people who are found to possess small quantities of marijuana and have never done anything else is, however, clearly both absurd and unjustand very expensive into the bargain. Theres a problem, however, in part caused by the corruption of the criminal justice system through the process of plea bargaining. The prosecution wants a quick conviction; the defense (where the accused is guilty) wants a charge as low down the scale of offenses as possible. Its easy to prove possession but much harder and more time-consuming to prove most other offenses. In such a situation, possession will be used as a proxy for other, more serious crimes. Indeed, The Guardian newspaper, no advocate of imprisonment, stated: Marijuana Justice and the Last Prisoner Project [two pressure groups in favor of legalization] analyzed data last year that showed that the vast majority of people in state prison for marijuana charges had drug sale and other convictions on their records. This makes it at least plausible that possession of cannabis is being used (wrongly from the point of view of justice) as a proxy for other criminal behavior. Moreover, while its true that many recidivist lawbreakers confine themselves to petty offenses, serious criminals who are recidivists dont disdain committing petty offenses. In other words, in cases in which a person has committed a petty offense but has a serious criminal record, his petty offense is a sign of his continuing criminality. The situation is therefore complex. Biden is calling on state governors to pardon all those convicted of possession only, most of whom will have other convictions. A pardon for possession wont, therefore, assist them as far as their criminal record is concerned and may even give them the impression that theyve been grievously wronged. A sense of grievance isnt a discouragement to criminality. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Sub-assembly worker Joel Dykema works on the sub-assembly of a transformer in the RoMan Manufacturing plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. on Dec. 12, 2018. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters) Think Tank Head Faces Backlash Over Offensive Remarks About US Manufacturing Workers Concerns over U.S. manufacturing employment is an obsession for keeping white males with low education in powerful positions, says Adam Posen, an economist and president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington-based think tank. Speaking at a Cato Institute event on Oct. 6, Posen expressed his disapproval over the constant attention given to domestic manufacturing as opposed to other industries that have experienced job displacement, whether from economic downturns or automation. The fetish for manufacturing is part of the general fetish for keeping white males of low educationoutside the citiesin powerful positions theyre in in the U.S., he said. Another astonishing clip from the Cato Institute event today, this one from the influential Adam Posen, head of the Peterson Institute. He says a focus on domestic manufacturing is simply a fetish for keeping white males with low education in the powerful positions they are in. pic.twitter.com/ii4F0ssAjY Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) October 6, 2022 Posen explained that there hadnt been a comparable concern for the displacement of blacks during recessions or single women who were replaced by computers beginning in the 1970s. These developments, he argued, didnt receive much political attention. But when it started being the white male manufacturing people in the so-called Heartland, which by definition was not urban, then suddenly this was a crisis. Posens comments garnered backlash from many parties, including the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a non-profit organization to strengthen domestic manufacturing. Not only are Posens remarks stunningly condescending, his offensive argument is just factually incorrect, the group wrote on Twitter. What Posen is trying to do, on behalf [of] big corporations who want to keep outsourcing jobs, is convince people we shouldnt worry when low education white workers complain when their livelihoods are taken away in order to pad some shareholders bottom line. DONT FALL FOR IT. Rana Foroohar, a columnist and author, remarked that his comments show how out of touch most economists are with how business actually works. If you are a country today with no ability to make crucial goods or access them from allied nations, God help you, she said. Matt Stoller, author and director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project, also reacted to Posens comments on Twitter. I cant think of a better recipe for inducing racial tension than having D.C. elites financed by Wall Street pushing offshoring and then saying that anyone who opposes having their community and livelihood destroyed is racist, he stated. Moreover, critics have pointed out that Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies donated to the Peterson Institute between 2010 and 2018 (pdf). The think tank did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Workers assemble Ford vehicles at the companys Chicago assembly plant on June 24, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The State of US Manufacturing The U.S. manufacturing industry has greatly transformed over the last 50 years when many workers would go to work at the local factory and construct everything from automobiles to steel. National manufacturing output had steadily increased since 2000, topping $2.3 trillion before the coronavirus pandemic, which was higher than Japan ($995 billion), Germany ($699 billion), and South Korea ($406 billion) combined. However, during this same span, it has represented a smaller portion of the nations gross domestic product, accounting for about 11 percent, down from 15 percent in 2000. But while domestic manufacturing has enjoyed greater output, employment levels peaked in 1979 at 19.5 million, falling to below 13 million in 2022. Experts cite two reasons for this trend: China and technology. Some of the largest companies in America shifted operations to China, resulting in 3.7 million lost U.S. manufacturing jobs between 2001 and 2018, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). However, there has been a gradual reversal since the COVID-19 public health crisis, with many U.S. companies leaving China and reshoring their businesses in the United States. The Reshoring Initiative reported (pdf) last month that American businesses are on track to return close to 350,000 jobs this year, the highest on record since records began in 2010. From supply chain snafus to geopolitical challenges involving China, companies have desired to bring their operations closer to home. Despite Posens contention that this has largely been a problem for uneducated white people, AFL-CIO chief Economist William Spriggs and his team reported that the China trade shock that decimated U.S. manufacturing exacerbated racial inequality by reducing the percentage of black employment and hire rate. Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and white workers without a college degree all earn significantly more in manufacturing than in other industries, according to the EPI. For median-wage, non-college-educated employees, Black workers in manufacturing earn $5,000 more per year (17.9% more) than in nonmanufacturing industries; Hispanic workers earn $4,800 more per year (+17.8%); AAPI workers earn $4,000 more per year (+14.3%); and white workers earn $10,100 more per year (+29.0%). Manufacturing wage premiums are also substantially larger for all workers at the 10th percentile of the wage distribution, the organization wrote in a Jan. 2022 report. Technology and automation also played a significant role in both manufacturing and the overall U.S. labor market. Economist Scott Sumner wrote in 2016 that 20 million manufacturing jobs had been eliminated through automation. When people say they are upset about trade, I think that what really bothers them is that automation is allowing us to produce 85% more manufactured goods with far fewer workers. That transition has been painful for many workers, but its not about trade, he said. In a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), automation has eviscerated up to 70 percent of middle-class jobs since 1980. But while productivity has increased with fewer workers, it has been at the expense of employment. A currency exchange teller counts out Chinese Yuan alongside a stack of New Zealand dollars in Auckland, New Zealand, April 21, 2007. (Dean Treml/AFP via Getty Images) Three Chinese-New Zealanders Found Guilty of Political Donation Fraud The New Zealand High Court has found three Chinese-New Zealand businessmen guilty in a political donation trial, while former National MP Jami-Lee Ross was acquitted of all charges. Seven people were charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) with making fraud donations to both major parties, Labour and National, on three occasions. Read More New Zealands Major Parties Caught up in Political Donation Scandal Zhang Yikun and twin brothers Zheng Shijia (Colin) and Zheng Hengjia (Joe) were found guilty of a fraud donation of $100,050 (US$57,000) to the National Party in 2018. Additionally, Joe Zheng was found guilty of lying to the SFO in his interviews during the investigation process, while Colin Zheng was found guilty of a fraud donation of $100,000 to the National Party in 2017. Six people were cleared of charges by SFO for a Labour Party donation through the purchase of five paintings for a total of $60,000 at a fundraising auction in 2017. Justice Ian Gault, who oversaw the trial, acquitted everyone because it could not be determined whether Labour obtained a benefit over the donation of at least $34,840. This includes Zhang, the Zheng brothers, and three others who were granted name suppressions, of which two are currently Labour Party members. Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross speaks to media after he was cleared of all charges of donation fraud in Auckland, New Zealand, on Oct. 5, 2022. (The Epoch Times) During the seven-week trial, the Crown argued that in all three cases, Zhang was the true donor whose donations were split among numerous fake donors to bypass the disclosure limit of $15,000. The Zheng brothers, Ross, and the three whose names were suppressed were alleged to have facilitated the processes and covered up the deals. Investigations began in 2018 when Ross blew the whistle on the party leader at the time, Simon Bridges, about a $100,000 donation after failing to secure a top job. Ross accused Bridges of being a corrupt politician and went to the police with audio recordings of Bridges discussing fundraising. However, after investigations, the SFO ended up charging Ross instead. Who is Zhang Yikun? Zhang is the founder of Chao Shan General Association and a wealthy property developer who moved to New Zealand in 2000. He is also a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, an organisation under the Chinese Communist Partys United Front. The United Front involves thousands of groups that carry out foreign political influence operations, suppress dissident movements, gather intelligence, and facilitate the transfer of technology to China, according to a report by the think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute. In 2018, Zhang was named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to the New Zealand-Chinese community. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Stuff news that she might consider advising the King to cancel the appointment of a person to an Order that would damage the reputation of the honour system, but did not refer to Zhang specifically. Turkeys From Some US Areas May Not Be Allowed Across Border, Say Canadian Officials The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is advising Canadians not to purchase poultry from certain U.S. regions this Thanksgiving due to avian influenza outbreaks. According to the CFIA, live birds, bird products, and by-products are barred from being brought over the border if they come from certain states because of a highly pathogenic outbreak of bird flu, or H5N1. Although the virus is lethal for birds and spreads quickly, it is rare for humans to contract the virus. Only one human infection has been detected in the U.S. Twenty-one states have declared an outbreak, including all states bordering Canada other than New Hampshire, Vermont, and Alaska. Raw poultry will only be allowed entry into Canada with documentation, such as a receipt, stating it was purchased in a state not currently affected by HPAI [H5N1] outbreaks, said CFIA in an Oc.t 7 statement, warning that without the proper documentation, cross-border travellers may have to return the poultry to the grocery store or have Canadian Border Services dispose of it. Regardless of outbreak status, labelled, retail-packaged and fully cooked poultry products are allowed across the border. Game carcasses can still be brought over with a proper hunting permit, and live pet birds are allowed with official certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any fresh, raw, or unprocessed poultry products or by-products from outbreak states are not permitted, says CFIA, including any items that are not prepackaged, such as products from a roadside stand or small farm. Frozen turkeys purchased for a Thanksgiving feast, for example, could be turned down at the border. Poultry products that have not been treated by any means, other than by refrigeration, vacuum packaging or modified atmosphere packaging to ensure their preservation, may be called fresh, CFIA noted. Currently, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec all have areas that are classified as a primary control zone due to concerns about H5N1. This means that a special permit is needed to move fresh poultry through the zone. In Canada, there are 2.9 million estimated infections. Alberta has the most with over 1.3 million. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Oct. 6, over 47 million poultry birds and over 2,700 wild birds have the infection. According to Turkey Farmers of Canada, there are 513 turkey farms in the country. In 2021, there were around 22.3 million kilograms of Turkey exported and about 150 million kilograms produced, with Canadians consuming about 89 percent of it. On Thanksgiving 2021, 2.7 million whole turkeys were purchased in Canada, which is 45 percent of the total turkey consumption for the year. Turns Out Bidens Empowering of OPEC Was a Really Bad Idea Commentary If the average price of a gallon of gas falls by a penny, White House chief of staff Ron Klain will take to Twitter and credit the Biden administration. In the past few months, due to lower demand and other factors, consumers have experienced a reprieve from historic highs. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre points out this is the fastest decline in gas prices in over a decade, which is like bragging about losing a couple of pounds after packing on 20. Officials havent had much to say lately. That trend is likely to continue. On the morning of Oct. 5, the OPEC+ cartel announced that its going to cut production by 2 million barrels a day. This, even after the Biden administration engaged in a full-scale pressure campaign, according to CNN, to dissuade our alleged allies in the Middle East to change their minds. As a presidential candidate, Biden called Saudi Arabia a pariah state. Soon after the election, like all his predecessors, Biden traveled to the kingdom to kiss the ring. And still, he gets nothing. The oft-repeated claim that Biden is a savvy, highly respected foreign policy operator has been relentlessly debunked by reality. Biden wagered that he could placate his left wing, curbing fossil fuel production while also holding prices in check by pressuring the Saudis and emptying the U.S. strategic reserve, now at a 40-year low. It was a bad bet. Biden cant control prices, but he could have mitigated the problem consumers now face had he not disincentivized domestic fossil fuel production and refinery capacity. Remember that on Bidens first day at work, he revoked permits to build the Keystone XL, a 1,179-mile pipeline that was going to carry approximately 800,000 barrels of oil a day into the United States, and was slated to be completed in a few months. Seems like the kind of infrastructure that might be quite helpful. Days later, Biden signed a batch of executive orders halting any new oil and natural gas leases on all public lands. The administration has issued fewer oil leases than any president since World War II. Its unsurprising, considering the stated policy goal of his party has been to create fossil-fuel scarcity by transitioningsubsidizing, mandating, and diverting capitalto unreliable and expensive clean energy projects. Democrats promises and rhetoric are also baked into the price. Even if Biden loosened regulations today, why would nefarious profit-hungry shareholders of the oil industry plow billions into long-term projects when Democrats promise to destroy their business in the not-very-distant future? You can have windmills, or you can have affordable and reliable energy. You cant have both. Since oil is a fungible commodity, no single group or nation, leader or project is going to dictate prices. Among the entities that arent responsible for spiking prices is Big Oil, the bugaboo Biden and Democrats like to throw at the economic illiterates in times of crisisbut only when prices spike. Those poor bastards never get any credit for the years of stable, low prices. On Oct. 5, national security adviser Jake Sullivan had the gall to say OPECs cuts were a reminder of why it is so critical that the United States reduce its reliance on foreign sources of fossil fuels. His point, of course, is that we must speed up the approximately $30-bazillion clean-energy agendawhich, even if we embraced completely this second, would do absolutely nothing to alleviate the pain felt by 98 percent of people with cars and homes. It is also true that Russia is a member of OPEC+. If were going to fight a proxy war against Putin in Ukraine, U.S. leadership should have expected and planned for retaliation. Unlike Europe, North America had not yet surrendered its strategic energy advantage. Michael McFaul says, At this pivotal moment in history, Saudis side with Putin and against us. But if depressing production means were siding with Putin, what does that say about a political party that is leading the fight to shut down pipelines, ban fracking, undercut exploration, and artificially inflate the cost of reliable and affordable energy? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Recently constructed show homes are illuminated for potential buyers on a new housing estate in Knutsford, United Kingdom, on Feb. 3, 2022. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) UK Households and Businesses May Face Planned Power Cuts This Winter: National Grid British households and businesses may suffer from planned blackouts this winter if power plants cannot get enough gas to keep running, the body that oversees Britains electricity grid has warned. The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) said on Thursday that the margins between peak demand and power supply this winter are expected to be sufficient and similar to recent years. But in the face of the challenging winter facing European energy supplies following Russias invasion of Ukraine, the grid operator is planning for what would happen if there were no imports of electricity from Europe. To tackle a loss of imports from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, there are two gigawatts of coal-fired power plants on stand-by to fire up if needed to meet demand. In the unlikely worst-case scenario, the ESO said, if there are not enough gas supplies for the gas-fired power plantswhich produced 43 percent of Britains electricity over the last yearit could force distributors to cut off electricity to households and businesses for three-hour blocks during the day. In the unlikely event we were in this situation, it would mean that some customers could be without power for pre-defined periods during a daygenerally this is assumed to be for three-hour blocks, the ESO said. It said the number of people left without electricity would depend on how many gas-powered stations would be forced to shut down because of gas shortages. Prime Minister Liz Truss is welcomed by Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, as she arrives at Kramars Villa, the official residence of the prime minister of the Czech Republic ahead of attending the European Political Community summit in Prague, on Oct. 6, 2022. (Alistair Grant/PA Media) Truss Downplays Blackout Fears Asked about the ESO warning, Prime Minister Liz Truss said the UK has good energy supplies and can get through the winter. Truss told reporters during a visit to the Czech Republic, We have interconnectors with our European partners, were working on more gas supplies, were working on building out nuclear energy, building out wind energy, so we do have a secure supply of energy. She added, We do have good energy supplies in the UK, we can get through the winter, but of course I am always looking for ways that we can improve the price for consumers. Truss has previously said she would not be telling people to ration their energy use this winter. Her government has offered a multi-billion-pound price guarantee which will prevent average annual household bills going past 2,500 ($2,860). Cutting Peak-Time Demand Climate minister Graham Stuart said on Friday that the government is not looking at reducing overall energy use. Instead, he said, it is supporting the energy regulator to devise solutions to provide incentives for businesses and consumers to potentially cut peak-time energy demand if needed. Stuart insisted that because of the nature of the energy system, the governments message is not to reduce overall consumption. In other countries its more about reducing overall energy use. For us, its not so much about that, its about reducing the demand at time of peak, he told LBC radio. PA Media contributed to this report. UK Launches New Licensing Round for Offshore Oil and Gas A new licensing round for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea will be launched at 6 p.m. on Friday, the UKs oil and gas regulator said. The plan was initially announced in April as part of the governments energy security strategy amid high prices and Russias invasion of Ukraine. Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the new licensing round will boost jobs, energy security, and the British economy. He also said domestic production of gas has a lower carbon footprint than importing from abroad. More than 100 licenses may be awarded for the exploration and potential development of 898 blocks and part-blocks in the North Sea, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said. But in a bid to encourage the production of new oil and gas supplies as quickly as possible, the NSTA has identified four priority cluster areas in the southern North Sea. These areas (pdf)located off Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshireare known to contain hydrocarbons and are close to existing infrastructure, giving them the potential to be developed quickly. Applicants have until 2 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2023 to bid for the blocks. The NSTA said it expects to award the first licenses in the second quarter of 2023. The regulator also said this analysis shows the average time between discovery and first production is close to five years and falling. The licensing of oil and gas explorations was paused last year as the government committed to a Climate Compatibility Checkpoint before each licensing round to ensure licences awarded are aligned with wider climate objectives, including net-zero emissions by 2050, and the UKs diverse energy supply. In the checkpoint design (pdf) published on Sept. 22, the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy said another licensing round would not materially impact the ability of the UK to meet the international commitments it has made to combat global warming. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, climate minister Graham Stuart said a new licensing round for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea is good for the environment because when we burn our own gas its got lower emissions around its production than foreign gas as well as supporting British jobs. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused the UK government of taking a haphazard approach to it which is undermining energy security. Any consent for new [oil and gas] exploration should not happen without the most stringent climate compatibility checks, she told the BBCs Today programme, adding it would not happen in an independent Scotland without stringent compatibility checks. Not with Jacob Rees-Mogg waking up in the morning and deciding its the right thing to do. Sturgeon said renewable energy is the route to energy security. Prime Minister Liz Truss defended the governments energy policy. In a string of Twitter posts, Truss said the government is accelerating domestic energy production to secure our long-term energy supply and reduce reliance on authoritarian regimes, including oil, gas, hydrogen, solar, wind, and nuclear energy. PA Media contributed to this report. Sen. Ben Sasse will resign from the U.S. Senate to accept the presidency of the University of Florida, returning to academia after representing Nebraska in Washington for eight years. Sasse was unanimously recommended by the university's search committee and will visit the campus in Gainesville on Monday to meet with students, faculty and other members of the community before he is formally selected by its board of trustees. Sasse, a solid conservative Republican vote in the Senate, helped steer new conservative nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court through the Senate Judiciary Committee and onto ultimate Senate confirmation while also voting to convict former Republican President Donald Trump of incitement to insurrection in his second impeachment trial in 2021. Only seven Republican senators cast votes to impeach the former president for his actions related to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol as Congress met to formally confirm the election of Joe Biden as president after he defeated Trump in the 2020 election. There always had been an open hint that Sasse's stay in Washington might not be long, certainly not as long as some of the veteran senators who have made it a career and grown old in the Senate. His website bluntly stated: "An opponent of perpetual incumbency, he has no intention of spending his life in the Senate." Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint a successor to fill the Senate seat until January of 2025. Nebraska voters will elect a new senator in 2024. Sasse's departure opens a future political pathway for Ricketts if he chooses to seek a seat in the Senate after he is term-limited out of the governor's office at the end of the year. Ricketts was the Republican Senate nominee in 2006, losing to incumbent Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. In a brief telephone interview, Sasse said he was excited to fill the leadership role in "the most important institution in the most dynamic state." "The future of work is the biggest challenge we face," Sasse said, one that universities need to tackle. "I am excited to be able to help build the University of Florida's potential." In a statement, the University of Florida presidential search committee pointed to Sasse's "distinguished academic career" with degrees from Yale and Harvard, as a faculty member at the University of Texas in Austin and five years as president of Midland University in Fremont. "This is right for the University of Florida, right for the state of Florida and right for the Sasse family," Rahul Patel, chair of the presidential search committee, said. "Ben brings intellectual curiosity, a belief in the power and potential of American universities and an unmatched track record of leadership spanning higher education, government and the private sector," he said. The search committee said it focused on a dozen highly qualified and diverse candidates, including nine presidents at major research universities and Sasse was its unanimous choice. "The University of Florida is the most interesting university in America right now," Sasse said. "It's the most important university in the nation's most economically dynamic state." While Sasse won all 93 counties and racked up record vote counts in his two Senate races in Nebraska, his opposition to Trump sparked condemnation and censure by the Nebraska Republican Party. "The anger in this state party has never been about me violating principle or abandoning conservative policy -- I'm one of the most conservative voters in the Senate -- the anger's always been simply about me not bending the knee to one guy," Sasse said last year. UK Trade Minister Conor Burns Sacked Over Serious Misconduct Allegation International trade minister Conor Burns has been sacked from the government following a complaint of serious misconduct, Downing Street said on Friday. Burns was also suspended from the Conservative Party pending an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week. The nature of the allegation is unclear. The MP for Bournemouth West, who has held the seat since 2010, said he will cooperate fully with the probe and is looking forward to clearing his name. He also accused the Conservative Party of rushing to judgement. A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street said: Following a complaint of serious misconduct, the prime minister has asked Conor Burns MP to leave the government with immediate effect. The prime minister took direct action on being informed of this allegation and is clear that all ministers should maintain the high standards of behaviouras the public rightly expects. A spokesman for the Whips Office said: We have suspended the whip pending investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week. We take all such allegations extremely seriously. The prime minister has been clear that the highest standards in public life must be upheld. Writing on Twitter on Friday evening, Burns said he received a call from Chief Whip Wendy Morton earlier in the day. Ms Morton informed me that a complaint had been received about me and she had passed it to Conservative Campaign Headquarters to investigate. I was not given any information about the complaint nor was I asked to provide any information, he wrote. On the basis of this complaint Ms Morton told me that the Whip was being withdrawn and that I was standing down as Trade Minister. I will fully cooperate with the Partys enquiry and look forward to clearing my name. I hope the party will be as quick to conduct their enquiry as they were to rush to judgement, he added. Allegations against another MP triggered the unravelling of former Prime Minister Boris Johnsons leadership in July. Following sexual misconduct allegations against then-Conservative Party deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, the Whips Office was criticised for taking too long to suspend Pincher. After it was revealed that there had been previous allegations against Pincher, Downing Street said Johnson wasnt aware of specific allegations against Pincher before appointing him deputy chief whip, but later admitted that Johnson was aware of allegations that were either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint. On July 7, Johnson announced he was stepping down as prime minister after more than 50 government ministers resigned in protest. PA Media contributed to this report. Universal Mail-In Voting Violates Delaware Constitution: Delaware Supreme Court Delawares new law that allows voting by mail regardless of reason violates the state Constitution, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 7. The Vote-by-Mail Statute impermissibly expands the categories of absentee voters identified in Article V, Section 4A of the Delaware Constitution. Therefore, the judgment of the Court of Chancery that the Vote-by-Mail Statute violates the Delaware Constitution should be affirmed, the states top court said in a brief order (pdf). Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware ruled in September that the law was in conflict with the state Constitution and therefore must be rejected. The Delaware Constitution allows absentee voting but only people who meet certain conditions, such as people who cannot make it to a polling location due to sickness or physical disability can vote by mail. The new law, passed over the summer and signed into law by Democrat Gov. John Carney, says that any voter who wants can fill out an application and receive a ballot by mail to return by mail. Cook also turned down a challenge from the plaintiff, Delaware elections inspector Michael Mennella, to a different law that allows same-day voter registration. But the Delaware Supreme Court reversed that decision. The law regarding same-day registration conflicts with the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the Delaware Constitution, the court said. Consequently, the judgment of the Court of Chancery that the Same-Day Registration Statute does not violate the Delaware Constitution should be reversed. The brief order was entered in recognition of the upcoming midterm elections and Delaware officials stated intent to mail ballots to voters soon. A more formal opinion outlining the decision will be issued in due course, the states top court said. This is a win for the rule of law in Delawares Elections, said Public Interest Legal Foundation President J. Christian Adams, whose group was representing Mennella in the case, said in a statement. This law violated the plain text of the Delaware Constitution that provides specific reasons people are allowed to cast absentee ballots and when voter registration can take place. If Delaware lawmakers want to have mail-in voting, they need to pass a constitutional amendment. A tower in the city of Uvalde, Texas, on June 21, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Uvalde School Board Suspends Entire School Police Department The school districts police department in Uvalde has been suspended, and the acting police chief placed on administrative leave, according to an announcement by Anne Marie Espinoza, spokesperson for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD). Recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with department operations, Espinoza wrote in an Oct. 7 email. As a result of the recent developments, Lt. Miguel Hernandez and Ken Mueller have been placed on administrative leave, and the District has made the decision to suspend all activities of the Uvalde CISD Police Department for a period of time. Officers currently employed will fill other roles in the district. Espinoza said Mueller, the director of student services, has elected to retire. Four other police officers and a security guard within the UCISD are affected by the suspension. Pete Arredondo, the UCISD police chief at the time of the massacre, was fired by the board two months after the shooting. Hernandez was appointed to act as chief of police in the interim. Espinoza said decisions about the school police department have been pending two investigationsone conducted by the Texas Police Chiefs Association and another by private investigator firm JPPI Investigations. The decision to disband the school police force came more than four months after the May 24 massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary. Law enforcement has been castigated for waiting 77 minutes before neutralizing the shooter. A report from the Texas state legislature blamed systemic failures and poor leadership for the response that may have contributed to the death toll. The UCISD was under fire again this week as it was discovered theyd hired as a school police officer a Texas state trooper who had been one of the first on scene at the shooting. The then-trooper, Crimson Elizondo, was shown on body camera footage waiting outside the school building, despite arriving within two minutes. The school district fired Elizondo on Thursday after CNN revealed the connection. If my son had been in there, I would not have been outside. I promise you that, Elizondo had told fellow officers after the shooting, according to the news outlet, which had obtained body camera audio. In an email to the media on Oct. 6, Espinoza confirmed that Elizondo had been fired that day. Ms. Elizondos statement in the audio is not consistent with the Districts expectations, Espinoza wrote. We sincerely apologize to the victims families and the greater Uvalde community for the pain that this revelation has caused. UCISD had requested for the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide additional state troopers to schools and extra-curricular activities as the new school year started on Sept. 6. Espinoza said UCISD expects to have a report from the two ongoing investigations, which will guide the rebuilding of the department and the hiring of a new Chief of Police. The Uvalde school district suspended its entire school police force on Oct. 7, months after the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 people. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is declaring a state of emergency over the influx of illegal immigrants arriving on buses from border states. * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Veterans, Law Enforcement Team Up to Volunteer as Poll Workers in Election Integrity Initiative A group of military and law enforcement veterans who have vowed to protect the Constitution no matter who is commander-in-chief is trying to recruit 30,000 poll workers and poll watchers for the 2022 midterm elections. The effort comes despite attempts by groups and the media to portray conservative groups supplying poll workers and poll watchers as organizations with nefarious intent to interfere in the election and cause doubt about the results, in the words of the Bipartisan Policy Centers election task force. Politico, in an article published this week, quoted David Levine, election integrity expert at the German Marshal Fund, as saying that there is a comprehensive effort by purveyors of election myths and disinformation to try and sabotage future U.S. elections. But the organizers at One More Mission, a group looking for military and law enforcement veterans to help with poll working and poll watching, dismissed such allegations. Theyre planting the seeds right now to call into question the election, which is ironic, considering that they have been launching disinformation campaigns about how the right believes that [the previous election] was fixed, said Kyle Reyes, executive director of Law Enforcement Today (LET). LET, Warfighter Overwatch, Alpha Elite, Performance Outdoors, Heroes Media Group, and The National Coalition of Frontline Workers have joined together to help recruit people to ensure the staging and oversight of free and fair elections now and in the future, said the group in a statement. Recruitment Drive The organizations are recruiting people via social influencers and boots on the ground in the veteran and law enforcement community, and emails to their networks asking for volunteers for both poll watching and poll working, said the groups organizers. They also have materials going to Veteran of Foreign Wars, American Legions, and other military veteran auxiliaries. And Law Enforcement Today is a partner, so theyll be pushing it hard starting next week, said Reyes. Social media recruitment is also happening, said Reyes, but noted it wasnt a main channel because all things election integrity seem to get shadow banned on social media. Poll workers include elections officers and volunteers who assist voters, and are typically employed by the government. Poll workers voting affiliation plays no part in their duties. Poll watchers, meanwhile, tend to be partisan observers, associated with a political party, campaign or civic groups, and are there to make sure there are no problems with the process. Each state has its own requirements for poll workers, which for most states includes certified training. The qualifications for poll watching are a little looser, and also varies by state. Reyes said that the campaign wanted to provide a practical solution to a political problem that has left people divided, and some not trusting recent election results. All of my friends and my family who were enlisted [in the military] they didnt take an oath to a Democrat president or Republican president: They took an oath to serve, protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States, said Reyes, adding that if we trust those people with our national defense and our safety and security, we can trust them to work in elections. Conservatives Playing Catch-Up Conservatives have argued that for decades, the Democrats have done a good job installing their own poll workers in big urban centers in swing states. The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) has pointed to Detroit, Michigan, as one example, where Democrat poll workers have outmatched Republicans by as much as 32-to-one. Democratic election workers severely outnumber Republican election workers in practically every large urban area, the RNLA said in a June statement. For example, just 170 of more than 5,400 Detroit election officials were Republicans in 2020. Voters cannot have faith in elections when 97% of poll workers belong to one party, the group added. Conservatives are playing catch-up in states like Michigan, where the election will be decided by thin margins statewide by precincts in which one party dominates the poll working. One Republican integrity election worker told The Epoch Times that doubters from the left can simply look at the success of the GOPs poll watching and working operation in the 2021 Virginia elections as proof that Republican poll watchers add to election trust. That election, despite coming down to the wire, was controversy-free. It was a tremendous success, Christine Brim, an election integrity trainer with the Fairfax, Virginia GOP told the Epoch Times. We only had a handful of incidents during the election, and those were mostly about masks, added Brim. Brim said the program covered about 90 percent of the polling shifts statewide with poll-watchers who had to complete lengthy training sessions and sign a code of conduct that included following lawful procedures. They are trained to observe, report, and escalate. If something is wrong, take it to the lawyers and let them deal with it, said Brim of the system in Virginia, which is being rolled out nationally this year. Non-Partisan One military veteran who served in the Navy as a corpsman, training in special operations with the Marine Corps, said that the whole purpose of One More Mission is to get rid of partisan fear and restore the trust of the American people in elections. So this is regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of your views on any portion of the right or left side, veteran Tony Sabio told The Epoch Times. Sabio was recently featured in People Magazine after he helped a teenage boy escape war-ravaged Ukraine. Were looking just to stabilize the elections based upon the Constitution, making sure that we bring integrity back to elections, honor back to elections, trust back to elections on both sides of the aisle, he said. Sabio didnt disclose his voting affiliation, but said he grew up in a Democrat household and believes in some Democrat policiesbut in the military, the only color they know is green. Military people, he said, are comfortable operating as non-political people in politically-charged situations. Were coming in as an unbiased third party, no affiliation, and really coming from our roots in the military dealing with protecting the Constitution and the freedom of free elections, trying to protect that and protect the rights of every individual to their opinions and their agreements and even their disagreements, said Sabio, who was in the military in 2005 when they helped administer the first democratic elections in Iraq since 1958. Such experience, combined with the organizing skills honed by military and law enforcement over the years make veterans uniquely qualified for the task of restoring confidence in elections in an unobtrusive way. I mean, everybody who participates in the election has something to add to ensuring election confidence. Its not just the poll watchers responsibility. Its also watching the poll workers too, said Reyes. So for us, we dont care how people vote if you vote Democrat or Republican. We dont care what team youre playing for. We just want every team to have the same equal chance of winning that game, he added. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey speaks at an event in Inwood, W.Va., on Oct. 22, 2018. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds School Choice Law, Reverses Lower Court Ruling West Virginias highest court greenlighted a school choice program that a lower court previously blocked. School choice became a hot political issue during the COVID-19-related lockdowns as parents questioned governmental authority and what should be taught to children in public schools. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, hailed the ruling in a post on Twitter. Many thanks go out to the WV Supreme Court for reversing the Kanawha Circuit Court and determining that the Hope Scholarship is constitutional. WV kids deserve the best public schools and as many private sector options as possible. This is a big win for educational freedom. In an Oct. 6 order, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia dissolved a permanent injunction by 13th Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit in Kanawha County blocking the Hope Scholarship Program. Tabit was appointed by then-Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, a Democrat, in 2014. Those participating in the program, which was approved last year by state lawmakers, receive as much as $4,300 per year to exit the public school system. The funds could be used for a variety of reasons, such as private school tuition and fees, online education, education therapies, tutoring, etc. Established in 2021, more than 3,000 students were awarded the scholarship for 2022-23, according to a Fox News summary. Tabit ruled (pdf) at the time that the state had acted to create an incentive to leave the public school system, reducing its enrollment and funding. The loss of this funding will impact public school students, including Plaintiffs children who have special needs that can only be met through West Virginias public schools. Two parents had challenged the program in court, claiming the so-called voucher law was unconstitutional. Public school teachers unions also opposed the law. West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee previously told the media outlet the U.S. Constitution provides for a free and thorough education through a public system, not through the private sector. Parents have the choice to homeschool their children, to public school their children, to private school their children, to church school them, Lee said. This is actually about the taxpayer dollars used to provide that choice for them. The state Supreme Court said in a brief order that it had to act quickly and would provide reasons for its decision later. Acting without undue delay given the nature of the constitutional matters at issue and the need to resolve the appeal in an expedited manner, the Court issues its decision by this order with a detailed opinion to follow, the order states. Two justices dissented from the ruling. The Epoch Times reached out for comment to the West Virginia Education Association but had not received a reply as of press time. What If the Truth Never Comes Out? Commentary This is the question that seems to be on the minds of many these days. The attempt to reach zero-COVID was a colossal failure. Original claims of mRNA vaccine efficacy have reportedly been shown to be based on falsified data. Excess mortality is spiking across the globe. And the Canadian government has finally admitted they have a multi-million dollar contract (pdf) with the World Economic Forum for Traveler Digital ID. What was fiction and then conspiracy theory is now reality. Many believe we are approaching a tipping point, that we are on the verge of a revelatory storm, that the truth is finally coming out. And yet most people still believe in the narrative, still cling to the idea that lockdowns and masking were necessary and effective, that their questioning friends are unstable anti-vaxxers, that government is noble and mainstream media unimpeachable. And from the files of the truly unfathomable, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is now urging doctors to prescribe drugs and even psychotherapy to their noncompliant patients. The tipping point is hardly a sure thing. What if we never reach it? What if the guilty are never held to account? What if we forget only to transgress again and again? Anecdotes of the harms of the past two years are palpable but ignored. Patients complain of symptoms their doctors wont acknowledge. Citizens tell stories the media ignores. Family members try to open dialogue only to be shut down. The stories are told, but for the most part, they arent being heard. I recently interviewed Trish Wood, who moderated the Citizens Hearing about the harms of our public health response to COVID-19. She wrote that, a week later, she still felt shaken by the magnitude of what she heard: the damage done to careers, families, and children by the blinkered approach of public health experts. She heard the stories of doctors who were silenced when trying to advocate for patients, people whose lives were forever changed by vaccine injury, and most tragically, stories of those like Dan Hartman, whose teenage son died following mRNA vaccination. Wood wrote powerfully about the importance of taking account of embedding the acknowledgment of these harms in our collective moral conscience. Her words are, dare I say, reminiscent of Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesels. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, at a time when the world was so morally injured, so eager for a new start, Wiesel saw it as his responsibility to speak for those who had been silenced. At a time when most couldnt bear to remember, Wiesel couldnt bear to forget. He wrote: I believe firmly and profoundly that whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness, so those who hear us, those who read us must continue to bear witness for us. Until now, theyre doing it with us. At a certain point in time, they will do it for all of us. Wiesels words are hauntingly poignant for our time. Those who tell the stories of the injured knowing they will be ignored, who advocate for patients only to be censured, who highlight the children who have died by suicide rather than from COVID-19 only to be silenced do it because they believe that a cry in the dark will eventually be heard. And even if it isnt, they feel obligated to testify on behalf of those who cant speak for themselves. I apologize if my reference to Nazi atrocities offends you. My aim in making the comparison is not to be irreverent but purposeful. True, the atrocities of our time arent identical to those of 1930s and 40s Europe. But they dont need to be to learn important moral lessons from them. Wiesels promise of never again wasnt just to past victims of atrocities but to all future victims as well. This is how the battle will be fought now, whether the truth about the past two years will be dragged into the open or revised into oblivion. We are already seeing backpedaling among our officials, whose mishandling of the pandemic is undeniable. But that is beyond my point. We have relied for too long on institutions to do the remembering for us, to generate moral responsibility on our behalf. In the era of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, personal accountability has been trained out of us. We were taught to believe that institutions would act as our surrogate moral conscience, taking account and making apology for us. I dont deny the importance of collective responsibility. But sometimes moral injury is personal, done by individuals to one another, and the accountability needs to happen in kind. There are few who arent personally complicit in the harms of the past two years. And the temptation to put on the armor of the bystander is powerful, to say we werent involved, that we had no choice. But complicity is a form of moral action, sometimes the most powerful there is. Wouldnt it be lovely if our moral slate could be wiped clean, if we could be absolved of all the hurt we have caused? But this doesnt honor the truth, and its not the way we exercise our humanity. What if the truth never comes out? It may not. But if it doesnt, it shouldnt be because we ignored those crying out to us, because we stood behind a shield of compliance and deference. The road back to freedom, unity, and reconciliation starts with testimony and accountability, and we need to take those painful first few steps now. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. White House: No New Intelligence Informed Bidens Nuclear Armageddon Remarks No new intelligence prompted President Joe Bidens nuclear Armageddon remarks, according to the White House. Biden told a group of donors late Oct. 6 that the world faces the prospect of Armageddon due to Russian President Vladimir Putins perceived threat of using nuclear weapons. No. No, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One on Friday, when asked whether new intelligence motivated Biden to make the comments. The President was speaking about concerns about Putins threats to use nuclear weapons, just as he did at the U.N. General Assembly and we have done over the past few weeks, Jean-Pierre added. Jean-Pierre also said that the United States has still not seen a reason to adjust its nuclear posture, nor does it have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons. Russias nuclear rhetoric has been reckless and irresponsible. But if the Cuban Missile Crisis has taught us anything, it is the value of reducing nuclear risk and not brandishing it, she added later. Putin said recently that we will certainly use all the means that we have to defend Russia and our people if Russias territorial integrity is threatened. Russia is currently battling for more territory in Ukraine, which it invaded in February. America has provided billions in arms and other aid to Ukraine and has said Russia should withdraw. Biden said Thursday that the United States faces for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons, if in fact things continue down the path they are going. Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Strelna, Russia, on Oct. 7, 2022. (Alexey Danichev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) He also said that he and other American officials are trying to discern an off-ramp for Putin. Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position he does not, not only lose face but lose significant power in Russia, Biden said. Jean-Pierre said U.S. officials believe only one country is responsible for the war, and that country is Russia. They started this conflict, and Mr. Putin has the ability to stop this conflict today, she said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraines president, said separately on Oct. 6 that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons, calling for preventative strikes as opposed to retaliatory ones. Such statements are nothing other than an appeal to start yet another world war with unpredictable, monstrous consequences, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, said in response, RIA reported. A spokesman for Zelenskyy later wrote on Facebook that the remarks were being misinterpreted. Colleagues, you have gone a little too far with your nuclear hysteria and now you hear nuclear strikes even where there are none, he said. The president spoke about the period before February 24. At that time, it was necessary to apply preventive measures to prevent Russia from starting a war. Let me remind you that the only measures that were discussed at that time were preemptive sanctions. White Lawyer Invokes Civil Rights Act Against Employer Domestic violence attorney Nicole Levitt stands up to the racist ideology of diversity, equity, and inclusion Nicole Levitt, an attorney who represents domestic violence survivors, recently filed a discrimination complaint against her employer, Women Against Abuse (WAA), for, among other things, asking white staffers to sign declarations that all white people are racist, including themselves. In a recent episode of EpochTVs American Thought Leaders, Levitt shares her story with host Jan Jekielek and why she believes woke ideology has corrupted the mission of her employer. Jan Jekielek: Nicole, you work for one of the largest domestic violence nonprofits in the United States, Women Against Abuse. You went into this because this was an important issue for you. But sometime in the summer of 2020, you realized something was amiss. Nicole Levitt: After George Floyd was killed, my organization, like organizations across the country, had DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] trainings and racial justice meetings. It came to a point where I felt the trainings were all relying on stereotypes, discrimination, and scapegoating. And we were also split into affinity groups. I found the idea of being split up on the basis of race to be regressive, so I stopped going to the meetings. We were still bombarded every day with material about white supremacy. It was really excessive and, frankly, illegal. It all came to a head for me when we were asked to sign a contract governing our behavior in the legal center. One of the items was that all white people are racist, without exception. There was no way I was going to sign a statement saying that I was racist, or that all white people were racist, or that all of any race was anything. I refused to sign it, and so I had to go to a meeting with the DEI consultant at the time. It was supposed to be a short meeting, but it ended up being a 90-minute-long thought reform session. The reason they gave me for having to go to the meeting was to ascertain whether I was safe to be around my black and brown co-workers and clients. Mr. Jekielek: Youve told me that people were stunned when you said you didnt think there was racism. Ms. Levitt: Everyone there is committed to racial justice. We represent black and brown clients, and we do a good job of it. So, I couldnt see where the racism was coming from. The issue here is the new definition of racism, which is prejudice plus power. But I was stunned. Everyone was looking at me like I had two heads when I said, I dont think we are racist. If you dissent from any part of this ideology, youre branded as racist or problematic. People need to get used to the idea that people might call them racist and not worry about it, or else theyre going to be forever beholden to these ideas. And if they do that, theyll lose their integrity. Mr. Jekielek: What was the reaction to you not participating in the affinity groups? Ms. Levitt: No one said anything about it. But there was another incident where a colleague had emailed an article about anti-Semitism in the social justice movement. She sent it to the legal center. I chimed in and said, Thats great. I would hope WAA would support this as well. And that set off a firestorm of controversy. I got a ton of disapproving emails that accused me of furthering white supremacy, taking the spotlight away from black and brown people, and saying that anti-black racism is so much worse than anti-Semitism. After that, I did have frostier relationships with some of my colleagues. Even management said it was a problematic interaction. The language being used was so dehumanizing to white people and black people that I didnt want anything to do with it. I honestly believe that people in the organization espouse this ideology in good faith. I dont think theyre being malevolent. I dont say the same about some of the consultants and the originators of these ideas, and the people who are making a lot of money off these ideas. Mr. Jekielek: As a result of all of this, you have a case at the EEOC, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Please tell me how that came about. Ms. Levitt: After I refused to sign the contract and had the thought reform session, I knew I had to do something about it. I didnt want it to come to this, because I honestly love my job. So I had a choice: Keep quiet or do something. And I chose to do something. My hope is that this will change and I can continue working there, but I dont know if thats going to be the case. Mr. Jekielek: Let me read something from the document. First of all, Levitt has satisfied all of the elements for a prima facie case of Title VII discrimination. You can tell me what that is in a moment. WAA has admitted to this disparate treatment, including admitting the differences in pay for white employees and promoting segregated work groups to the EEOC. What is this about differences in pay? Ms. Levitt: WAA brought in some consultants to do a racial equity audit. The premise of the audit is to find where white supremacy manifests in your organization. Not, Does white supremacy manifest in your organization? but Where? Theyre going to find it. They needed people on the audit committee, and those people would receive a stipend. They said that the black and brown members of the committee would receive a higher stipend, due to the emotional labor they would have to perform. Mr. Jekielek: Before this interview, you said that all sorts of people write to you and say, We didnt realize that civil rights law applies to whites as well. I thought that was astounding. The situation youre describing is similar to this. Ms. Levitt: A lot of people are under that assumption, and its wrong, because the civil rights laws are for everyone no matter what your color is. Mr. Jekielek: What exactly is Title VII discrimination? Ms. Levitt: Title VII is part of the Civil Rights Act, and it governs the workplace. It forbids discrimination on the basis of race. Thats it in a nutshell. Part of my complaint is also about a racially hostile atmosphere. If youre subjected to hostile messages about race every day, that can be a hostile atmosphere in your workplace. Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned there was also guidance on how you should do your work that you found problematic. Ms. Levitt: There were a lot of discussions about defunding the police. While there are problems with the police, just like there are problems with almost anything, our clients need the police to stop the abuse. What is a social worker going to do in one of these violent situations? Domestic violence situations are some of the deadliest calls for police officers. So, if you send a social worker or someone whos versed in restorative justice on one of these calls, what do you think is going to happen? It could be tragic. Mr. Jekielek: What do you hope can happen with your organization? Lets use it as a model for the bigger picture, too. Ms. Levitt: Organizations need to realize that this type of DEI training is disruptive to an organization. It pulls organizations away from their core missions, and its very divisive. There are DEI programs that arent divisive. They dont divide people by race, because theyre more about bringing them together. And you really dont need to have any soul-baring sessions at work. Stay focused on your mission. Mr. Jekielek: What do you hope the outcome of your suit will be? A lot of people are watching this very closely. Ms. Levitt: I hope more people stand up. I hope people realize there are more people like them than they think, and they too can stand up to this. There wasnt anything special about me that made me do this. Anyone can do it. You just have to put your head down and swim. Mr. Jekielek: I wish you the best of success. Any final thoughts as we finish up? Ms. Levitt: I would like everyone to remember that the civil rights laws are for everyone. This issue, although its often painted as a right-wing issue, is not about left or right; its about right or wrong. Are we going to allow discrimination, or are we ready to stop it? American Thought Leaders reached out to Women Against Abuse. A spokesperson acknowledged that Levitt has filed a claim with the EEOC. WAA said that while it cannot comment on this open EEOC claim, it believes that [its] actions in relation to Ms. Levitt and [its] racial equity work were legal. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Jan Jekielek Senior Editor Follow Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of the show, "American Thought Leaders." Jans career has spanned academia, media, and international human rights work. In 2009 he joined The Epoch Times full time and has served in a variety of roles, including as website chief editor. He is the producer of the award-winning Holocaust documentary film "Finding Manny." Why China Wont Turn Its Back on Russia Commentary Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) appears to be losing patience with Russia. Some authors claim that China could soon turn its back on Russia. Such claims, however, are untethered from reality. Heres why. Located in the northernmost part of Earth, the Arctic region consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of countries like Canada, Finland, Iceland, the United States, and, of course, Russia. Of the 4 million people that live in the polar region, approximately 2.5 million are Russian. Although the region isnt officially controlled by one country, its unofficially controlled by Russia. To many, Im sure, the Arctic seems nothing more than a deeply unforgiving place. To the Russians, however, its considered pricelessand for good reason. The Arctic is an intimidating place, but its also an enticing one. Thats because it has vast deposits of valuable mineral resources, including phosphate, bauxite, diamonds, iron ore, and gold. The world is currently experiencing a shortage of bauxite, a crucial raw material used in cement, steel, and petroleum. The region also has huge deposits of silver, copper, and zinc. Bloomberg has recently warned readers to brace themselves for a great copper squeeze. The semiconductor industry relies on copper. No copper, no chips. This fact is not lost on the CCP. As Ive discussed elsewhere, the despots in Beijing desperately want to control the worlds rare earth elements. This is why the CCP has aspirations of looting the Arctic. According to a new research report by the U.S. think tank Rand Corporation, the CCPs influence in the region looks likely to increase over the next decade. Obviously, influence also means access, and greater access will come through fostering closer ties with Moscow. From Chinas viewpoint, there are clear benefits to cooperating with Russia, the report said. After all, shipping represents more than 90 percent of Chinas international trade transportation, and the opening of Arctic routes would reduce maritime transportation costs as well as risks in other transportation routes, alleviate Chinas energy shortage, and make China a hub for transporting Arctic energy to the world. In turn, the Kremlin would look to Beijing for help in the realization of its Arctic development goals, including investments in energy extraction and development of the [Northern Sea Route] for commercial shipping. The Chinese research vessel and ice-breaker Xuelong departs for the Arctic from Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, on June 27, 2010. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) For the uninitiated, the entire Northern Sea Route lies in Arctic waters and is situated within Russias exclusive economic zone. The importance of the route cannot be emphasized enough. Instead of having to navigate the complexities of the Suez Canal, an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt that has become synonymous with acts of maritime piracy, the route provides a speedier, cheaper, and safer alternative. Only the most foolish would believe the China will turn its back narrative, especially now that Russia is busy pumping large sums of money into making the polar region more accessible and lucrative. As the magazine Russia Briefing reported in August, the Russian government recently allocated 1.8 trillion rubles (about $29 billion) to further develop the Northern Sea Route. The main goals of the plan, were told, are to ensure reliable and safe transportation of goods and goods for people living in the Russian Far North, as well as to create conditions for the implementation of investment projects in the Russian Arctic. As the author Tim Gibson has noted, Russia is currently building a mega port on the Taymyr peninsula, the most northerly piece of land on this deeply divided planet. This, according to Gibson, is quite possibly the most impressive thing that Russia is building right now. Hes right. It is. With this new project, worth about $110 billion, Russia has all but sealed its authority over the Arctic, approximately 6 percent of the Earths surface. The peninsula is home to priceless minerals like palladium, a precious metal used to power cars and buses. Palladium prices are currently at an all-time high. Why? Because Russia controls most of the worlds supply. The peninsula is also home to an abundance of platinum, a highly valuable and much-needed metal used to make exhaust emission control devices, otherwise known as catalytic converters. Although theres little doubt that Chinas patience with Russia is wearing thin, theres little, if any, reason to believe that Beijing will turn away from Moscow. If anything, now that Russia needs allies more than ever and may be willing to give China unfettered access to the Arctic, theres reason to believe that the CCP and the Kremlin will become even closer. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Cool fall weather is here, but the arts scene in Billings just keeps heating up. ArtWalk Downtown Billings hosts its fifth event of the 2022 Season on Friday, October 7, 2022 in downtown Billings. ArtWalk locations across downtown will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) to host exhibits and feature artists from Billings and the surrounding region. A mobile-friendly map and more information about the October 7 event, including images and gallery notes, can be found at artwalkbillings.com and on Facebook and Instagram @billingsartwalk. Adding to the evening on the October 7th ArtWalk are two one-time participants. Emily Nienaber will present her work at the Arcade at the Babcock Theatre (2812 2nd Ave. N.). And Zest Billings, located at 110 N. 29th St. will feature work from potter Sandy Dvarishkis. There are two new season members joining ArtWalk. There's Da Vincis Workshop at 2706 2nd Ave N. and Terakedis Fine Art at 2420 2nd Ave. N. All ArtWalk events are free. Many locations host music and offer light refreshments. Often, artists attend and present gallery talks. There are a variety of parking options in the downtown area, including free on-street metered parking after 5 p.m. The last ArtWalk of the 2022 season is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd. Uptown Loop Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM), 410 N. 27th St., welcomes artist Jane Waggoner Deschner for an artist talk and reception beginning at 5:00 p.m. for the exhibit "Remember Me." Deschner uses embroidery and stitching techniques over photographs and memorabilia to create connections within the human experience. This installation includes over twelve- hundred pieces, images, and texts. Museum admission is free during ArtWalk. YAM closes at 8 p.m. Billings First Congregational Church (BFC), 310 N. 27th St., features photographer Edward Barta: South Africa in Black and White. This exhibit features landscape and wildlife photographs in black and white during a recent trip to South Africa. Inkredible Art Productions, 217 N. Broadway Ste. 2. Please check its gallery page at artwalkbillings.com (on the Uptown Loop) for details about its October 7th exhibit. Barjons Books, 223 N. 29th St., hosts artist Gunnar Gebhart. A carpenter and fine woodworker, Gunnar was inspired by his wifes interest in tarot cards to create this series of epoxy pours and custom frames. Each piece includes recycled and reclaimed materials from his various projects. Hedden-Empire Gallery, 206 N. 29th St., Please check its gallery page at artwalkbillings.com (on the Uptown Loop) for details about its October 7th exhibit. Terakedis Fine Art at Snook Art Company, 2420 2nd Ave. N., a new ArtWalk season member, features artist Gennie DeWeese and may other regional artists. The exhibited work was initially done for the Rattlesnake Valley Press Centennial Portfolio project and includes colored woodcuts. According to DeWeese at the time, the prints are an outgrowth of images in nature chosen for their compatibility with the woodcut form, but almost surely experienced by her in the area around Bozeman where she lived. Skypoint Loop Sandstone Gallery, 2913 2nd Ave. N., will feature works by Billings artists and Sandstone co-op members, Ken and Christine Denning (husband and wife team), and Jennifer Baretta. Mary Knapp will also be featured as a guest artist through October. Stephen Haraden Studio and Gallery, 2911 2nd Ave. N., Ste. 235, mixed media artist, Stephen Haraden continues to use scrap paper in his work by tossing it onto exposed corrugated cardboard layers. Conversations with the artist will be had throughout the evening of ArtWalk. Downtown Billings Alliance (DBA),116 N. 29th St. The DBA welcomes back acclaimed, award-winning artist Carlin Bear Dont Walk (Crow/ Northern Cheyenne) for the October Art Walk. His Home Sweet Home exhibition chronicles his journey from reservation roads to the city and everything in between. This House of Books, 116 N. 29th St., please check-out their new location on retail row, N. 29th St. Global Village, 2815 2nd Ave. N., welcomes photographer Morgan Alexander Belveal. As a citizen of the world, Belveal seeks humanity and connection in everything that he does through his photography and his commitment to storytelling. For ArtWalk, Belveal hopes to show photos that celebrate the people and places behind the fair trade products in Global Village. Billings Symphony Society, 2820 2nd Ave. N., presents artwork by residents of MorningStar of Billings. This dynamic collection of artwork represents a variety of artistic media including sculpture, acrylic and oil paintings, needlepoint, and a bit of everything in-between created in MorningStars weekly art classes. Montana Gallery, 2710 2nd Ave. N., attracts a lively and eclectic crowd to celebrate contemporary western art during each ArtWalk. Led by artist Tyler Murphy, the gallery promotes work by Coila Evans, Daniel Keyes, Richie Carter and others. Kennedy Stained Glass, 2409 2nd Ave. N., is officially open its NEW location. Stop by and greet Susan Kennedy Sommerfeld in her new spot. Ceilon Aspensen Art, 113 N. Broadway #406, exhibits works by local artist and educator, Ceilon Aspensen. As a visual storyteller, Aspensen creates original works of fine art as dreams and visions from and about the natural world, and her own inner world. She creates landscapes, still-lifes, and portraits, through the vehicle of her own imagination." See what's new at her studio on October 7! Aspinwall, 103 N. Broadway, welcomes Jessica Brophy, owner of Free Indeed Art, and her custom fine art. Jessica works one-on-one with each of her clients to create a painting or drawing around their style and what they love. She is most well known for her pet portraits. She maintains a pop up studio at Aspinwall during ArtWalk events. Bishops Cut/Color, 108 N. Broadway, features Megan Senn. Megans artwork is heavily influenced by the beauty that Montana holds. Texture, depth, bold colors, large canvases, and layers are the building blocks of each of her pieces. She works in mixed media, with a focus on acrylics. Babcock Theatre Arcade, 2812 2nd Ave. N., is located in between the historic Babcock Theatre and Montagues Jewelers. Artist Emily Nienaber presents an exhibit full of oil paintings that have a special link to living life in Montana. Each piece offers much detail and eye catching color pallets. Light refreshments offered to ArtWalk attendees. Zest, 110 N. 29th St., welcomes potter Sandy Dvarishkis for ArtWalk. Dvarishkis says of her art, I make functional pottery to enrich our lives with art while eating and drinking. There is an intimate relationship that develops between the user and the pottery: a visual experience and a tactile experience that deepens with use Da Vincis Workshop, 2706 2nd Ave., a new ArtWalk season member, features Billings buildings with a spooky artist twist! They will have art displayed by a few local artists on one side of The Workshop and on the other side snacks, a little music, & a spooky building art making station for art walkers! Historic Loop Western Heritage Center, 2822 Montana Ave., will feature its newest exhibit, Ralston Unfinished. This exhibit gives visitors a unique peek into famed western artist JK Ralstons creative and historic processes. The Ralston cabin will also be open for tours. Kirks' Grocery, 2920 Minnesota Avenue, is closed for the October 7th ArtWalk Native American Development Corporation, 17 North 26th Street, hosts Blackfeet, Crow, Aaniinen, and Nakoda artists who work with textiles, beads, and prints to invoke traditional designs while adding contemporary elements to each piece. Working as TRIIA, the group includes Della Big Hair - Stump (Dellas Designs), Wozak Chandler, Cedar Bulltail (Cedar Rose Creations), and many more. Harry Koyama Fine Art, 2509 Montana Avenue, showcases gallery works by Harry Koyama. Koyama's paintings portray the quintessential American west through images of American Indian dancers, buffalo, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and other iconic images. His abstract expressionist paintings are highly sought by collectors, institutions and businesses across Montana and nationally. McCormick Cafe, 2419 Montana Avenue, Please check its gallery page at artwalkbillings.com (on the Historic Loop) for details about its October 7th exhibit With PFAS in Packaging, How Safe Is Microwave Popcorn? Munching handfuls of microwave popcorn might be perfect for movie night, but your snack could be loading your body with potentially harmful forever chemicals, experts warn. Many microwave popcorn bags are lined with PFAS (perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and evidence has shown that these chemicals will leach into the snack during popping. Studies have found high levels of these compounds in the blood of people who ate microwave popcorn regularly, so it does get into the bloodstream, said Dr. David Heber, founding director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. PFAS compounds are called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly, accumulating both in the environment and within human bodies. The chemicals are commonly found in drinking water supplies throughout the United States and can be found in the blood of 97 percent of U.S. residents, the federal government estimates. Theres been a lot of attention on drinking water, but food is also a major source of exposure and studies have shown that consuming microwave popcorn and fast food is correlated with higher PFAS levels in the body, said David Andrews, a senior scientist with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. PFAS chemicals originally were developed in the 1950s as part of the nonstick coating of pans, Heber said. Theyve since been added to many consumer products, including cleaning solutions, waterproof makeup, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant coatings for carpets and upholstery. Microwave popcorn manufacturers add PFAS to the lining of the bags to keep the oil that pops the corn from soaking out, Andrews said. The PFAS also helps keep the bag from burning, Heber said. You know sometimes if you leave the popcorn in a lot longer, youll end up with blackened kernels that have burned? Heber said. Well, thats hot enough to also burn the paper, so this protects the paper from starting a fire in the kitchen. But during the popping process, PFAS leach into the popcorn, making the snack one of the most notorious means by which the chemicals enter human bodies, Andrews said. This is actually one of the first product types that the FDA did testing on to check for the presence of PFAS, around 15 years ago, Andrews said. A 2019 study found that people who regularly ate microwave popcorn tended to have significantly higher blood PFAS levels, based on a decade of data about the eating habits of more than 10,500 people gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who noshed popcorn daily had PFAS levels up to 63 percent higher than average, according to results published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Concern is mounting over the potential health effects of PFAS on humans. For example, PFAS chemicals appear to impact the immune system, so they reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, Andrews said. High levels of PFAS in the body have also been tied to increased cholesterol levels, small decreases in infant birth weights, changes in liver enzymes, preeclampsia in pregnant women, and an increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer, according to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It is possible for microwave popcorn bags to be made without PFAS or other such chemicals, Andrews said. Andrews pointed to Denmark as an example. The nations largest grocer, Coop Denmark, announced back in 2015 that it would no longer sell microwave popcorn because of PFAS in the packaging. But months later, microwave popcorn returned to Denmarks store shelves, thanks to new bags made from tougher paper. They just changed the way the actual paper was manufactured, to provide enough resistance to work as a microwave popcorn bag without chemical additives, Andrews said. The most recent public testing found PFAS in most or all of the brands of microwave popcorn sold in the U.S., Andrews said. The Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group, did not respond to a request for comment. Until companies announce updated packaging, people worried about PFAS should either buy a hot air popper or pop their own popcorn on the stove, Heber and Andrews said. Just a pan or a pot with a little bit of oil on the stove will work, Andrews said. Thats how I do it all the time. Its an easy way to avoid the potential PFAS exposure. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about PFAS exposure. SOURCES: David Heber, MD, Ph.D., founding director, UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, Los Angeles; David Andrews, Ph.D., senior scientist, Environmental Working Group, Environmental Health Perspectives, Oct. 9, 2019 This story was originally published on the HealthDay site There was a time when Paula Poundstone was known to complain about traveling. You cant blame her. Poundstone has been doing standup comedy since 1979. Shes had other gigs, of course. Shes popped up on late night shows, had an acting career and has become a frequent guest on the NPR circuit, appearing on both Wait Wait Dont Tell Me and Prairie Home Companion. But its standup thats always been Poundstones thing. And shes good at it. Real good at it. But its hard to do anything for over 40 years, much less something as hard as getting on stage and telling jokes. The pandemic changed her outlook. In March of 2020, Poundstone said, came the stay at home order. And you havent heard a peep out of me whining about travel. She still thinks standup is the best in the world. And its even sweeter now after having to take some forced time off. Its so much fun, especially after all that weve been through in the last couple of years, to get together with people and laugh about it. Laughter, especially in a communal space like a theater or comedy club, is a sign that youre not alone in this. An audience is such an important part of our human life, Poundstone said. Its a chance to recognize something and react the same way. It just makes you feel so much more here when you can go Oh, so Im not the only one who feels that way. Shes back to a full time touring schedule. And shes not taking any chances on having to go back into COVID isolation. She wears a mask when she travels, and only takes it off in her hotel room or the stage, and shes even walked out on stage with the mask still on without noticing. Its tough. But its been worth it. Shes avoided the disease so far, no small feat for someone whose job involves so much plane travel that its given her restless leg syndrome and makes her hips hurt. I dont want to lose this, ever, she said. And our ignorance keeps landing itself in the same space. In the theater, shes more worried about her audience than she is for herself. Its not a good business model to kill your audience, she said with a chuckle. Thats the dry, often dark comedy that Poundstone has built her name on. Im a mixture of very dark and very silly, she said. So crisis doesnt put me off, in terms of comedy. Thats also a good description of Inside Out, the 2015 Pixar film thats one of the best projects Poundstone's ever been a part of. She plays Forgetter Paula, personifying the part of the brain that forgets useful information in favor of commercial jingles. Last month, it was announced that an Inside Out 2 is in the works, slated for a 2024 release. Poundstone hasnt heard anything about reprising her role. But shed be up for it. It was so great to be a part of it, she said. I love Pixar movies, so that was on my list of stuff that I wanted to do for a long time. Poundstone still managed to stay busy during the pandemic. Shes been doing a podcast with her Wait Wait Dont Tell Me! collaborator Adam Felber since 2018. The show is called Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. Shell get letters from time to time, folks saying theyre big fans of the podcast. And theyll say I guess that makes me a nobody, said Poundstone. And I always tell them theyre somebody to us. The isolation of the pandemic made those fans feel like family. Poundstone is also an avid podcast listener, and having all that time with only her earbuds made the people on the shows a big part of her life. Im happy for our show to be that for all the nobodies, she said, and it also gives me a chance to do stuff that I wouldnt do on stage. She gets to write bits for the podcast. And that never happens in her standup. Poundstone is renowned for her speed on stage. She doesnt just talk fast, she thinks fast. Her approach is a mixture of a few things. For one, shes been doing this for 40 years. But her ability to bounce around topics actually stems from a shortcoming. I have a really bad memory, she admits. So to memorize a setlist causes stress that often sucks the life out of the performance itself. So I took that away from myself a long time ago. Shell be at the Alberta Bair Theater on Saturday evening, and you might want to get a seat in the first few rows if you can. One day it just dawned on me that the real heart and soul of my performance was this part where I talked to audience members, Poundstone said. She loves chatting with the folks who come to her shows. Its a good source for comedy. But its also just something she seem genuinely interested in. Its not unlike a conversation that you might have at a party, she explained. Someone in the crowd might say something that reminds her of a joke, or a story. Its all part of the mix, she said. We have conversations during our regular life that are sort of tightly scripted, and partly not. Shes played in Montana many times, she said. And while shes particularly partial to Bozemans elegant downtown Ellen Theatre, which traces its lineage and architectural quirks back to the days of vaudeville. But to be fair, she doesnt get a chance to really experience the cities she performs in. One of these trips to Montana, shed like to go to Yellowstone, a place shes never been. Shes a bit warry about bison, but figures shell be fine as long as she doesnt try to take a self-portrait with one. This selfie thing has really created problems for us, she said with a laugh. The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has commended the five teachers from Anambra School system, who emerged winners at the 2022 President's Teachers and Schools Excellence Award. The event was held at Eagles Square, Abuja. In a keenly contested competition, Dr. Sabina Ijeoma Chukwunedum of Abbot Girls Secondary School Ihiala won the overall best administrator in Nigeria among public junior secondary schools, Mrs. Marilyn Uchenna Ugokwe of SUSU College Nkpor won the best private senior secondary school teacher while Mrs. Eucharia Ikegwuonu of Nigeria Science and Technical College, Nnewi won the junior secondary schools category, as the first runner up. Mr. Hope Chekwube Ifetike of Government Technical College Onitsha won as first runner up, in the public senior secondary school category. The Federal Government College Onitsha received the best Science Teacher award. The awardees were presented with a bus, a Kia brand of car, a Salti Lady motorcycle and generating set. Said Soludo, "this is a commendable feat, coincidentally coming at a time when my administration is paying particular attention to teachers and teaching in Anambra schools". "I've always said that if one wants to predict the future of any society, one should look at the quality of teachers and teaching in that society. This is why we are firing on all cylinders, to give Anambra children a future, enabling their global competitiveness. The ongoing rigorous process of recruitment of thousands of teachers in the state give credence to the efforts of my administration in that regard". "The Anambra spirit is that of excellence. Ndi Anambra are shinning stars anywhere they find themselves. As people in the teaching profession, you've succeeded in marking yourselves as true Ambassadors, both for the noble profession and Anambra State". The Governor assured of his administration's commitment in doing more, to reposition the state's education sector. "I equally congratulate the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh and her team, for the good job". Christian Aburime Press Secretary To The Governor Abuja, 04 Oct 2022: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is aware of the ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus (EV) in Uganda as declared on 20th September 2022. This outbreak has also been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus is the known cause of EVD having caused previous outbreaks in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the virus in samples collected from a 24-year- old male who exhibited symptoms of the disease and later died as a result in Mubende District in the Central Region about 175km from the capital, Kampala. As of 29th September 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has reported 54 cases (35 confirmed and 19 probable) and 25 deaths (7 confirmed and 18 probable). The Ugandan Ministry of Health with support from WHO is working to effectively respond to and contain the spread of the virus. The NCDC-led multisectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Technical Working Group (NEVHD TWG) working with partners and stakeholders has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities. The NEVHD TWG coordinates preparedness efforts for EVD and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases. Based on available data, the overall risk of importation of the Ebola virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been assessed as HIGH for the following reasons: The Sudan Ebola Virus does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or licensed vaccine for prevention. The extent of the outbreak in Uganda has not yet been ascertained as investigations have shown that some persons may have died with similar symptoms which were not reported to health authorities. In addition, their burials were not conducted safely to prevent transmission. The case fatality rate of the Sudan virus varied from 41% to 100% in past outbreaks. The case fatality rate of the Sudan virus varied from 41% to 100% in past outbreaks. The likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high due to the increased air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, especially through Kenyas Nairobi airport, a regional transport hub, and other neighbouring countries that share a direct border with Uganda. The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with politics, the coming yuletide as well as other religious gatherings and festivals during the last few months of the year. Despite this risk assessment, Nigeria has the capacity technical, human (health workforce), and diagnostic - to respond effectively in the event of an outbreak. This is exemplified by our successful response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014, as well as improvements in our capacity for health emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the diagnostic capacity to test for the EVD presently at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Lagos University Teaching Hospitals Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology Laboratory. However, diagnostic capacity will be scaled up to other laboratories in cities with important Points of Entry (POE) and others as may be required. An effective response system is in place with the availability of control capacities (trained rapid response teams, and an effective infection prevention and control programme) to limit the risk of spread in the event of a single imported case. Currently, no case of EVD has been reported in Nigeria. Nonetheless, the Nigerian government through NCDCs multisectoral NEVHD TWG has put several measures in place to prevent and prepare for immediate control of any outbreak of the disease in-country. These include: The NCDC Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is now in alert mode. Development of an incident action plan for the first few cases of EVD has commenced. POE surveillance has been heightened using the passenger pre-boarding health declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) platform. POE surveillance has been heightened using the passenger pre-boarding health declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) platform. Passengers arriving from Uganda and persons who transited in Uganda are being followed up for 21 days of their arrival in Nigeria on their health status. Trained Rapid Response Teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak. Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) in States with major POE i.e., Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Rivers State are on standby. A medical countermeasures plan is available. Amplification of risk communication and engagement with states and partners to strengthen preparedness activities which include a review of risk communication protocols, plans, and messages in the event of an outbreak. Nigeria has an active infection prevention and control (IPC) programme nationwide with guidelines and training packages developed for health care workers. About Ebola Virus Disease Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans. The strain responsible for the current outbreak was first reported in southern Sudan in June 1976. Since then, seven outbreaks caused by this strain have been reported (four in Uganda and three in Sudan) with previous outbreaks' fatality ratio ranging from 41% to 100%. Just like other types of Ebola virus, people infected cannot spread the disease until the development of symptoms. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat later followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Currently, there are no vaccines or therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of this strain of the virus. However, the early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly reduce deaths. Recovery from EVD depends on good supportive clinical care, management of co-morbidities, and the patients immune response. People who recover from Ebola virus infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years. For further information on the Ebola virus disease, visit the NCDC website via https://www.ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/factsheet/36 Nigerians are urged to adhere strictly to the following preventive measures. Avoid non-essential travel to locations where the outbreak is reported for the moment. Avoid direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of people with suspected or confirmed EVD. Call 6232 or other dedicated hotlines by State Ministries of Health to ensure all persons with suspected symptoms of EVD described above are promptly taken to designated healthcare facilities by the responsible State Ministry of Health for prompt diagnosis and initiation of supportive treatment Call 6232 or other dedicated hotlines by State Ministries of Health to ensure all persons In suspected and/or confirmed EVD cases, direct physical contact should be avoided by ensuring strict isolation, the use of protective gowns, masks, gloves and safe disposal of needles, beddings, and other contaminated materials Safe burial practices are recommended for all cases of death from unknown causes, suspected to be EVD or other viral haemorrhagic diseases. Guidelines on the safe burial of EVD patients can be accessed via National Guidelines on Infection Prevention and Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (Chapter Thirteen) The strict practice of standard infection prevention control practices in the healthcare setting for all suspected patients must be always adhered to. About NCDC The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is the countrys national public health institute, with the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection, and response to public health emergencies. The Bill for an Act to establish NCDC was signed into law in November 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari. The mission of the NCDC is, To protect the health of Nigerians through evidence-based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response, using a One Health approach, guided by research, and led by a skilled workforce. Contact: NCDC Toll-free Number: 6232 | SMS: 08099555577 | WhatsApp: 07087110839 Twitter: @NCDCGov | Facebook: @NCDCgov | Instagram: @NCDCgov | NCDC Media Releases Signed Dr Ifedayo Adetifa Director General Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Anniversaries are cycles which humans find worthy of recognising and commemorating. Birthdays constitute part of such significant cycles. Conceding to the position that history is the graveyard of aristocrats, it is apposite, particularly in the Nigerian geopolitical space, to eternally remember and celebrate His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) born on the 21st of October, 1932 in the then rustic village of Uga, in the present Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Ekwueme who hailed from Oko in Aguata Local Government Council, Anambra State transited this plain to immortality on the 19thof November, 2017 at 85. Dr. Alex Ekwuemes 90th Birthday celebration, posthumous, provides us the opportunity of ruminating over the phenomenal life trajectory of an unassuming son of an itinerant Church Missionary Society (CMS) teacher; a child who defied the prevailing dictates and restrictions of social class to establish himself as an icon among the noble in the global community. He became Nigerias first elected Vice President (1st October, 1979) an office where scarcely three months into his second term, the Major General Muhammadu Buhari military junta overthrew the democratically elected civilian government in a military putsch (31stDecember, 1983). Dr. Alex Ekwuemes life and service to Nigeria aptly capture the picture of modern Nigeria and her peoples: the opportunities, the riches, the fluttering hopes, the frustrations, the resilient features. As his family wills to reprint two of his seminal books, Whither Nigeria? Thoughts on Democracy, Politics and Constitution and From State House to Kirikiri both bordering on ethical political practices, persecution, sacrificial and visionary leadership for free distribution to institutions of learning, as the icons birthday gifts in furtherance of his ageless contribution to grooming dedicated leaders and internalising urbane political culture, people of goodwill are bound to converge in support of eternalising his benefaction. Dr. Alex Ekwuemes academic intelligence saw him through primary schools at villages in the vicinity of Oko, from where he gained admission into the prestigious Kings College where his outstanding brilliance earned him scholarship. Another scholarship scheme, the Fulbright Scholarship, saw him through a University Degree in Architecture and City Planning from the University of Washington in the United States of America. He went ahead to obtain a Masters Degree in Urban Planning; and a doctorate degree in Architecture from the University of Strathyclyde in the United Kingdom. He had a rich bag of degrees in Sociology, Philosophy, History and Law from London. He later attended Nigerias Law School and was duly called to bar in Nigeria so much for the brilliant academic portfolio which the enigma garnered both preparatory to and in the course of his meritorious service to his locality, his state, the country and humanity. Ekwuemes influences and worth derived more from his entrepreneurial ingenuity, humanitarian disposition and unassailable commitment to service for a more prosperous and livable Nigeria than from his inherent superlative intelligence. It is for the former that he is fondly remembered. The clean bill that Justice Samson Uwaifo Tribunal handed him, following the selective deprivation and denials he suffered at the ouster of his joint presidential ticket with Alhaji Shehu Shagari, further lent credence to his incorruptibility in service. Ekwueme was not only declared free from any official financial abuses, but was adjudged to have come out of office less wealthy than when he assumed office an unprecedented phenomenon in black Africa. Ekwuemes commitment to grooming a healthy polity informed his lead role in the 1995 Constitutional Conference where, as a frontline member, he made far-reaching contributions to the policy thrusts of the body. One of such contributions is the delineation of the country into six geopolitical zones of North West, North East, North Central, South East, South West and South South, for purposes of equitable response to the diverse needs of the peoples of Nigeria. That policy informed the adoption of rotational presidency as a biding moral code amongst politicians and political parties. Events building up to the 2023 Presidential Election however flout this understanding, but not without manifestly ruffling the feathers of the errant politicians and parties. Dr. Alex Ekwueme demonstrated the brand of courage one could term suicidal when in the evil days of General Sani Abachas dictatorship, he not only resisted Abachas will to crush every kind of opposition to his perpetuating himself in office, but further defied him by not absconding on self-exile like many did. He went ahead to form and lead the legendry Group 34 political group which provided the only opposition that seemed to rattle the rampaging General. This group was the nucleus of what later became the Peoples Democratic Party which in an uncanny twist turned the partys presidential ticket in favour of Obasanjo who won the election that marked the beginning of the Third Republic (1999). Ordinarily, Ekwueme would have turned his back on the Peoples Democratic Party in frustration, but he did not; instead he always made himself available to troubleshoot and broker peace each time the party ran into trouble waters; and such times abounded. Surely those whose ambitions are harshly threatened by the current internal crises in the party would wish Ekwueme alive to play an overtly compliant party man to soothe their quaint political impulses. But such privilege doesnt last forever! Ekwueme distinguished himself as an entrepreneur beyond his remarkably impactful practice of architecture. His interests in the hospitality industry flourished, just as his ventures in real estate and other enterprises. He elevated his acts of philanthropy and mentorship into industries; and he made huge gains of them: the multitude of successful beneficiaries thereof bear testimony to this. He was simply thorough in all he did, and he was exceptionally lucky to have his passions met, the intrigues of his party men for which Nigeria suffers still, regardless. If only Ekwuemes exemplary life of selfless service to the people and country could inform the drive of most of our political leaders, and if only Nigerians are capable of spotting and unconditionally supporting dedicated leaders like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the countrys journey to nationhood would have started. The 2023 Nigerias Presidential Election is yet an opportunity for Nigeria to free itself from the entanglement of poor politics with its attendant throes and woes. Nigeria has yet an opportunity of leveraging on it size and huge human and natural resources to point the way for the black race. For this cause Ekwueme lived and died. Let the commemoration of his Birthday therefore re-ignite the urge for Nigerias reinvention. Beyond the Presidencys renaming of the Federal University, Ndufu-Alike in Ebonyi State after Ekwueme, Anambra State Governments naming of an open event arena (Ekwueme Square) in Awka, and maybe a few streets that bear the name of this personage who championed the cause of good governance from the second republic till his death in 2017, the government should ensure that his monuments abound as a way of entrenching the culture of excellence in the land. Ivan Anarado writes from Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Armed school-invasion copycat arrested NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Police on Friday (Oct 7) arrested a man high on meth, carrying a pistol and rifle, trying to get into a school to take a child away from his wife, a day after the childcare centre massacre in the Northeast. crimeSafetydrugsdeathmurder By Bangkok Post Friday 7 October 2022, 08:09PM Police arrest a 34-year-old man, identified only as Theerapong, in front of a school in Ron Phibun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Friday (Oct 7) just before he entered it with a pistol to get his child. Photo: Supplied via Bangkok Post The 34-year-old man, identified only as Theerapong, was apprehended in front of a school in Moo 1 village of tambon Khuan Phang in Ron Phibun district of this southern province at about 10am, said Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), reports Bangkok Post. He was stopped just before entering the school with a gun with an intention to abduct his seven-year-old child, Lt Gen Jirabhop said. Police had been notified a few minutes earlier about the mans appearance at the school. Crime Suppression Division police who were conducting a volunteer activity nearby rushed to the scene, he said. Officers spotted a suspicious pickup truck in front of the school and parked their car on the right side of the truck. While police were getting out of the car, the man reversed and struck another police car that was blocking the rear of the truck. The man then drove the truck forward and hit the first car before stopping. He then got out of his truck and drew a pistol from his waist. Policemen managed to swiftly charge and arrest him. When officers searched the man they found 17 speed pills, a 9mm pistol and 10 bullets, a rifle and its 55 .22 bullets. The mans friend, identified only as Chavalit, 33, was in the front passenger seat of the pickup truck. Mr Theerapong told police that he had had a dispute earlier with his wife. Out of tension, he asked his friend to accompany him to the school to pick up his child. They had taken two speed pills each, he said. Its a copycat of the previous incident. The tragedy just happened yesterday, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said, referring to the massacre at a childcare centre in Nong Bua Lam Phu province on Thursday (Oct 6). Other parents were shocked by the incident in Nakhon Si Thammarat and rushed to the school to pick up their children. Flags lowered in respect of Nong Bua Lamphu massacre PHUKET: Thai flags have been lowered to half-mast at all government agencies throughout the country as a mark of respect to the lives lost in the massacre at a day care center in Nong Bua Lamphu yesterday (Oct 7). By The Phuket News Friday 7 October 2022, 09:38AM Image: PRD The Prime Minister has urged all government agencies across the country to lower their flags to half-mast for one day as a special case to express our condolences over the incident in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Anucha Burapachaisri, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister and Acting Government Spokesperson, said yesterday. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense ask all government agencies across the country to lower their flags to half mast tomorrow (7 October 2022) as a special case of one day to express condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured, he said. The Prime Minister is deeply saddened by the incident We ask all Thai people to support each other. Lets get through this time of brutal loss together. Mr Anucha said. HM King to assist families of child care centre massacre victims NONG BUA LAM PHU: His Majesty the King will provide assistance to families of the victims from yesterdays (Oct 6) massacre at a child development centre in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu that left 38 dead and another 10 injured, national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said. crimedeathdrugspoliceviolence By Bangkok Post Friday 7 October 2022, 09:58AM A still image from video taken yesterday (Oct 6) shows the exterior of the nursery in Nong Bua Lam Phu where a former policeman shot dead 38 people. Photo: AFP The death toll includes the killer, his wife and their 3-year-old son, who the perpetrator also shot, reports the Bangkok Post. Pol Gen Damrongsak said a privy councillor representing His Majesty was scheduled to arrive in the province to follow up on the situation. His Majesty the King will provide help to the families of the deceased and injured, the police chief said. According to police, 24 of those killed in the rampage at the centre were children, after former Pol Sgt Panya Khamrab burst into the childcare facility operated by the Uthai Sawan tambon administrative organisation in Na Klang district. At least another 10 were injured, six of them seriously, police said. The shooting began at 12:10pm. The gunmans exact motive remains a mystery. Police said former Pol Sgt Panya, 34, was expelled from the force on June 15 for possession of methamphetamine pills. He was arrested five months earlier on Jan 20, when he reportedly confessed to the charges. Pol Sgt Panya fled the scene in his pickup after the carnage. The Central Investigation Bureau posted on its Facebook page that the gunman later shot himself, his wife and his child inside his house while surrounded by police. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He also said he had instructed the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to step up its compensation payments to them. Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol said the mother of the gunman told him her son had gone to court to attend a hearing on his drug case yesterday morning, just prior to the shooting. After leaving the court, he appeared stressed out, took some narcotics and started to feel paranoid, Pol Gen Torsak quoted the mother as saying, adding the woman said he then grabbed his gun and headed to the child development centre. Pol Gen Torsak said the gunman opened fire while children in the centre were sleeping and he also used a knife to attack and kill many of his victims. The court is scheduled to hand down a ruling in the drug case today, police said. Pol Maj Gen Archayon Kraithong, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, warned netizens not to share clips or pictures of the shooting to avoid deepening the traumatic experiences suffered by the families of victims as well as people in the local community. Pol Maj Gen Paisarn Luesomboon, spokesman for the 4th Provincial Police Region, said the gunman likely held a grudge after he was sacked, reinforced by the effects of drug abuse, yet it was still unclear why he chose that target. Possibly it was because the kids were a vulnerable target, he said. According to police, after the shooting the gunman drove a pick-up truck to his home in Na Wang district five kilometres away, running into other peoples vehicles along the way. Some foreign leaders also expressed their condolences. British Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted: I am shocked to hear of the horrific events in Thailand this morning. My thoughts are with all those affected and the first responders. The UK stands with the Thai people at this terrible time. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted the following message on Twitter: Its impossible to comprehend the heartbreak of this horrific news from Thailand. All Australians send their love and condolences. Yesterdays rampage was the worst mass shooting in the country since a soldier opened fire at the Terminal 21 shopping mall and other locations in Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb 8, 2020. In the 2020 massacre, the gunman killed 29 people and wounded 58 others before being shot dead. Marine park chiefs told to get ready for high season PHUKET: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Varawut Silpa-archa visited Phuket today (Oct 7) and held a meeting with the chiefs of all the 26 marine national parks of Thailand, receiving a briefing on the operations of the protected sites on the Andaman coast and in the Gulf of Thailand. environmenttourismmarine By The Phuket News Friday 7 October 2022, 05:10PM At the meeting, officials were instructed to prepare in all aspects for the start of marine tourism season, the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) reported. The meeting was held at Sirinat National Park headquarters. While some marine national parks are open all year round, others close for the rainy season because of the dangerous weather conditions and to help ecosystems to recover. The renowned Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga re-opens this year on Oct 15 marking the beginning of the new season. I came here today to see the preparation for the coming tourism season and diving season on the Andaman coast. It is a special area abundant with natural resources. It is an extremely beautiful place, renowned around the world. And this is why we are trying to push further for the conservation of the Andaman coast which already has many terriories protected as national parks, Mr Varawut said. We would love to see the area from Ranong to Phuket to be recognised as a single world heritage site. The fertility of this area must be preserved and protected, yet we also have to pay attention to the livelihoods of local people, he added, reminding of the governments plan to propose the area as a world heritage site (read here and here). Mr Varawut stressed that all the 26 marine parks have to strictly follow relevant rules and regulations, especially regarding protection of their underwater ecosystems and safety of tourists. First aid training is crucial. Lifesaving equipment must be ready and available for use all the time. Warning signs must be accurate, clear and grammatically correct. The coming high season will bring more tourists than the previous one, Mr Varawut warned. Tomorrow (Oct 8) the minister will visit Similan Islands to preside over the opening of a renovated and repaired mooring area. An underwater cleanup at one of the destinations dive-sites is also scheduled for Oct 8. According to the materials demonstrated at the meeting at Sirinat National Park yesterday (Oct 7), Thailand now has 16 marine national parks on the Andaman coast and 10 in the Gulf of Thailand (three of them marked as being in preparation). In 2019, the marine national parks altogether welcomed 6.52 million visitors. After the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the numbers dropped to 3.77mn in 2020 and 1.67mn in 2021. In 2022 so far, the parks have welcomed 2.57mn guests. On Sept 30, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) released the updated park fees for the coming high season. The Similan Islands National Park and the Surin Island National Park, also popular destinations for Phuket tourists, are the most expensive to visit. Foreign adults are charged B500 for entering and foreign children charged B250 for each visit. Thai national adults are charged B100 and Thai children B50 each. The full schedule of fees (in Thai) is available here. An immense wooden structure rises from the gravel at studioLGX like a misplaced mausoleum. The dark-stained box exterior looms immensely, 12 feet in height and width, with an entranceway that looks akin to the gate of a demonic realm. This is TOMB, artist Phoebe Knapps resurrected installation, returning to Billings after lying in state for years, to be reborn Sunday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. at studioLGX located at 407 N. 24th St. TOMB is constructed from three individual boxes placed within each other. The opening of each box is located opposite the opening that came before, creating a labyrinth effect inside the structure. The sides of the boxes are comprised of diagonal slats that come together at the center of each side like arrows pointed toward the heavens. The instillation began as an ode to the catacombs along the Appian Way snaking out of Rome and the ratio phi, otherwise known as the golden ratio. Contrasting to its spooky exterior, the interior is quite inviting, evoking an essence of tranquility and meditation. This was all a part of Knappes grand plan. She utilized phi throughout the instillation to create a sense of expansion, even though each box gets sequentially smaller. Phi is a ratio that is an irrational number equal to roughly 1.618. What it says is that if one takes a line and splits it into two parts, the entire line length divided by the length of the longer line segment is equal to the longer line segment divided by the shorter line segment. This forms a ratio that is found all throughout nature, from the shapes of spiral galaxies to the cone spirals of Montanas state tree, the Ponderosa Pine, and most famously in Fibonacci Spirals. Knappe used this ratio to construct the side lengths of her boxes, because the side lengths are 1.618 times longer than the side length of the smaller box inside it. However, she did not stop there. The opening of the slat boards that make up the sides of each box as well as the slat boards themselves are also 1.618 times larger than the slat boards of the boxes housed inside. As an artist, Knappe incorporates phi throughout her installations, and is a common theme within her work. TOMB is not her first structure to use this ratio, however it is the largest. Phi is present in all systems. It is present in the body, in plants, in architecture, in music, in poetry. They are all expressing phi, Knappe said. TOMB was born back in 2004 for a solo show at the Yellowstone Art Museum. It then traveled to different cities in the Mountain West. To continue the feeling of ethereality, the installation will collaborate with violinist Lee Below, Matt Taggart, Jon Lodge and Anna Paiges sound project, Lea Fallow. The collaboration means to evoke a sense of connection between people and the installation. Visually the tomb catches and holds attention, while the sounds immerse and transport the mind to other realms. I took the idea of what we are afraid of, and I wanted it to be a pleasant experience and interactive journey said Knappe in a press release. Pfizer tot shots to start Oct 12 BANGKOK: The Ministry of Public Health will inoculate young children aged six months to four years old with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine starting next Wednesday. CoronavirusCOVID-19Vaccinehealth By Bangkok Post Friday 7 October 2022, 09:39AM Photo: Bangkok Post. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the ministrys permanent secretary, said Pfizer is the only vaccine approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children in this age group, reports the Bangkok Post. He said the shipment of the first three million Pfizer doses arrived yesterday (Oct 6) and the initial target is for 1mn children, out of a total of 3mn age-appropriate children. An additional order will be procured if there is more demand, he said. Dr Opas said a campaign to raise awareness for parents to bring their children to be vaccinated will kick off at Pranangklao Hospital in Nonthaburi with Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presiding over the event on Oct 12. He said COVID-19 vaccinations in Thailand have been quite a success with 143mn doses given to people of all ages including children aged 5-11 years old, of whom 3.3mn received their first shot and 2.8mn their second shot. Another 3.8mn doses were given to children aged 12-17 years old. I would like to invite parents to take their young kids to get the vaccine next week. The practice of vaccination is conducted under the College of Paediatricians of Thailand, so the vaccine is safe for them, he said. The other age groups of children should likewise get a booster shot to help prevent infections and severe conditions, he added. Dr Opas said all people should consider getting a booster every four months even though the COVID situation has improved, including it being downgraded to a communicable disease under surveillance. Dr Tares Krasanairawiwong, chief of the Department of Disease Control, said that the Department of Medical Science will carry out quality control measures on the Pfizer vaccine being used on children aged six months to four years before its distributed to the countrys hospitals. He said that the department has provided a guideline for vaccine administration stating a dosage of 0.2 millilitres per shot. Phuket thief steals B270k in jewellery, arrested at shooting range PHUKET: A man who stole B270,000 in jewellery from a friends house in Wichit last month has been arrested at a Phuket shooting range in Rawai. crimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 7 October 2022, 12:04PM Officers arrest Sathit at a shooting range in Rawai yesterday (Oct 6).Photo: Wichit Police The suspect, named only as Mr Sathit (family name not reported), was arrested yesterday (Oct 6), said a report by the Wichit Police. The report noted that Likit Waothong, a resident of Saphan Hin, technically Moo 6, Wichit, reported the thefts to Wichit Police at about 11:10pm on Sept 18. A burglar had somehow entered the house and stolen a gold necklace, two gold rings and a bracelet altogether valued at about B270,000 from inside their home. It was only at about 6pm that day that Mr Likit realised that the items had been stolen, said the report. An investigation led officers to identify Sathit as the thief and a warrant for his arrest (Jor. 568/2565) was issued on Wednesday (Oct 5), said the report. Officers tracked down and arrested Sathit at the Phuket Shooting Range in Rawai at about 1pm yesterday (Oct 6), the report said. Sathit was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with burglary. According to the police report, Sathit admitted to stealing the items. He told police that he had offloaded the stolen items for spending money, to travel around and to pay off debts, said the report. Police did not confirm how much money or whether any of the stolen items had been recovered. School safety, drugs, guns in scope at Phuket top-level meeting PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket, Narong Woonciew, called in heads of local government agencies for a meeting to discuss the crucial issues of safety at educational institutions, drug abuse and gun control in the province. deathdrugscrimepolicemurder By The Phuket News Friday 7 October 2022, 06:31PM The meeting, held on Oct 7 at Phuket Provincial Hall, followed a horrific attack on a preschool in Nong Bua Lamphu province which left 37 people killed, including 24 children. The attacker later shot himself. The assembly started with a minutes silence in the memory of those killed in the attack. Present at Phuket Provincial Hall were chiefs of all official agencies in Phuket as well as local Buddhist and Islamic leaders Phra Khru Metta Phirom and Komol Dumlak. Addressing the audience, Gov Narong explained that he convened the meeting to listen to the opinions of all parties and jointly work out a plan to prevent violent incidents in Phukets educational institutions, reported the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). The Governor stressed that emphasis must also be made on drug suppression with all sectors actively fighting drug abuse in the province. Heads of government agencies were urged to be strict about the behaviour of their officers especially in the matter of drugs. If officers are involved in drugs, legal action must be taken. As for weapons, they must be closely controlled to prevent incidents, the meeting was told. Governor Narong reminded about the national hotlines 1300 and 1567 that can be used to inform relevant authorities about of drug abuse. Drug testing every three months was also mentioned as one of the measures of strict narcotics control. What was not mentioned in the PR Phuket report, was the death of a 7-year-old Phuket girl just two months ago (Aug 6) who was shot with a policemans gun. The tragic incident happened at a housewarming party attended by a police officer who left his loaded Sig Sauer pistol unwatched in an unlocked bedside drawer. The gun was found by the girls 9-year-old cousin who accidentally shot her while the two were playing. Phuket Police admitted the incident following public pressure on social media. Yet nothing has been reported so far about any actions taken against the officer involved. UN Human Rights Council rejects debate on Xinjiang GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council yesterday (Oct 6) voted against debating alleged widespread abuses in Chinas Xinjiang region after intense lobbying by Beijing, in a heavy setback for Western nations. Chinese By AFP Friday 7 October 2022, 10:19AM The move came after former UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet released her long-delayed Xinjiang report. Photo: AFP The United States and allies last month brought a draft decision targeting China to the UNs top rights body, seeking as a bare minimum a discussion on Xinjiang. The move came after former UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet released her long-delayed Xinjiang report, citing possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-western region. Western countries thought that by going no further than simply seeking to talk about the findings, enough other nations would not block putting it on the agenda. But in a moment of knife-edge drama, countries on the 47-member council in Geneva voted 19-17 against holding a debate on human rights in Xinjiang, with 11 nations abstaining. This is a victory for developing countries and a victory for truth and justice, tweeted Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. Amnesty International branded the vote farcical, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it betrayed abuse victims. The United States condemns todays vote preventing a discussion about Xinjiang, US ambassador to the council Michele Taylor tweeted. Inaction shamefully suggests some countries are free from scrutiny and allowed to violate human rights with impunity. Western plot failed The nations voting against a debate were Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Brazil, The Gambia, India, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico and Ukraine abstained. Washington and some Western countries have used Xinjiang to spread rumours and cause trouble, engaging in political manipulation under the guise of human rights, attempting to smear Chinas image, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. The plot by the US and some Western countries has once again failed. Xinjiang-related issues are fundamentally not human rights issues, but are counter-terrorism, deradicalisation and anti-separatism issues. The draft decision was put forward by the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Turkey, among others. One Western diplomat stressed that regardless of the outcome, the number one objective has been fulfilled in putting Xinjiang in the spotlight. Dreadful message Bachelets report, published minutes before her term ended on Aug 31, highlighted credible allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights. It brought UN endorsement to long-running allegations that Beijing detained more than one million Uyghurs and other Muslims and forcibly sterilised women. Beijing vehemently rejected the charges, insisting it was running vocational training centres in the region to counter extremism. Amnesty secretary general Agnes Callamard said yesterdays vote put the council in the farcical position of ignoring the findings of the UNs own human rights office. For council member states to vote against even discussing a situation where the UN itself says crimes against humanity may have occurred makes a mockery of everything the Human Rights Council is supposed to stand for. HRWs China director Sophie Richardson called it an abdication of responsibility and a betrayal of Uyghur victims. The International Service for Human Rights China advocate Raphael Viana David said: Council members sent today a dreadful message: China remains so far untouchable. Muslim countries position shameful ISHR executive director Phil Lynch said it was shameful that Muslim countries... have overwhelmingly failed to even support a UN discussion on rights abuses against Uyghurs. Indonesian ambassador Febrian Ruddyard said: As the worlds largest Muslim country and a vibrant democracy, we cannot close our eyes to the plight of our Muslim brothers and sisters. But, as China did not consent, a discussion will not yield meaningful progress, hence Indonesia voted no. The sentiment was echoed by Qatari ambassador Hend Al-Muftah. China launched an all-out offensive to dismiss Bachelets report. African countries, where China is the leading creditor after making massive infrastructure investments, faced particularly heavy lobbying, observers said. In the end, only Somalia voted yes out of 13 countries. Britains ambassador Simon Manley said the close result nonetheless showed Beijing that a significant number of countries will not be silenced when it comes to egregious human rights violations, whoever the perpetrator. Billings-based Native American Development Corporation plans to breath new life into the Shrine Auditorium, announcing on Thursday that it had purchased the building. "We have a responsibility to the people of the community," said Mary Walks Over Ice, chief operating officer for the Native American Development Corporation. "It's also time to take our place in this community. This is our community." The NADC is still crafting a strategic plan for how it will use the facilities and the property, but the idea is to make it a kind of cultural center, open to the whole community, but with a focus on the region's native populations. "It will be a community center," Walks Over Ice said. "Being part of the community is to share our culture." Still, the NADC will have a mortgage to pay on the property, said Leonard Smith, NADC's CEO. NADC is an economic development agency and so it will use the Shrine and the other facilities on the property to spotlight Native business and help Native entrepreneurs get on their feet. Native populations living away from reservations don't have the same access to resources, he said. The NADC has been able to foster strong partnerships with Billings businesses, and with regional and state agencies. "But we've got to do something for ourselves," he said. Purchasing and developing the Shrine property is an attempt to do that. The Shrine is the second real estate investment NADC has made. The development group recently purchased the building in which it operates at the southeast corner of North 26th Street and 1st Avenue North in downtown Billings. "And we're looking at other kinds of investments," he said. The landmark Al Bedoo Shrine Auditorium on Broadwater Avenue was put up for sale in February, 2021, after years of declining membership in the fraternal organization that runs it and a decline in events due to the COVID pandemic. The NADC purchased the 5.5 acre property for $2.2 million, funded in part through a loan from the Native American Bank in Denver. The auditorium was a storied concert venue and home to the Shrine Circus, an annual fundraiser for the Shriners organization. Smith said the NADC won't bring back the circus. Instead, the site will focus on hosting cultural events, sponsoring and developing native business and offering outreach to Billings' Native population. Following the development of its strategic plan, NADC will develop an overall master plan for the site to determine its next steps. Already it's earmarked $800,000 for immediate investment in upgrades to facilities and to make much-needed repairs. "Sustainability is the key here," said Ben Sanders, NADC's chief financial officer. "I'm excited for what's on the horizon." In the immediate future, NADC will use the site to host three of its suicide prevention programs, two aimed at youth and one for adults. One of the primary issues faced by young Native Americans living off the reservation is a sense of disconnection from their home, culture and people, Walks Over Ice said. The suicide prevention programs have a strong focus on helping youth connect to their heritage. In the past, NADC was renting community rooms or park space in order to hold many of these programs. The purchase of the Shrine property will now give them a permanent space for them. Walks Over Ice also envisions opening at some point a culturally relevant daycare center or private school on the site. She also sees the potential for lots of Native-created and locally-grown commerce. NADC recently launched triia, a kind of Native American Etsy, Walks Over Ice said. Shrine facilities could host a triia pop-up shop. "It's about being visible," she said. Smith is hopeful the Shrine property will give Native Americans in Billings not only a home base but also space to thrive and grow. "Our goal is to continue the legacy of this property as a cultural center in the heart of Billings," Smith said in a statement. "Given our mission, the focus will be on Native American culture, wellbeing and wellness, but we aim to be great neighbors and stewards of this historic property. The property will continue being a resource for the entire community, just in a different way." Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com . Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing to purchase and develop a 2.4-acre property next to its Region 5 headquarters on the shore of Lake Elmo in the Billings Heights. In a draft environmental assessment the agency is proposing to purchase the vacant lot at 501 Pemberton Lane for about $177,000. Improvements to the site could include fencing, lighting, sidewalks, parking and possibly RV sewer and water hookups for a grand total of $513,000. Public comments on the draft EA will be accepted from until Nov. 7 at noon. The purchase would provide additional space to park and store larger equipment, vehicles and trailers, according to FWP. To meet subdivision requirements and the security needs of FWP, fencing would be installed around the property, and streetlights and sidewalks would be installed along Pemberton Lane. Future development of the property may include a maintenance shop, indoor storage, expanded meeting and office space and possible housing and RV hook-ups for seasonal staff. A separate EA would be published to address further development. The lot may also provide space for hunter and bowhunter education field courses. Because of the proximity to existing FWP administrative buildings, the Pemberton Lane property is a convenient location to meet the agencys operation needs. The EA also proposes the installation of sidewalks along Lake Elmo Drive, an unloading zone for recreationalists accessing Lake Elmo State Park in the headquarters parking area and a streetlight above the unloading area. These developments on existing FWP property would improve pedestrian access and safety in the state park. The Pemberton Lane EA can be found online at: https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/news/public-notices/2022/region-5/pemberton-ea_draft-public-comment-10_7_2022.pdf. Physical copies of the draft EA are available at the FWP office located at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive in Billings or requested in the mail by calling 406-247-2940. Written comments should be sent to: Montana FWP Region 5; Attn: 501 Pemberton Lane Acquisition Comments 2300 Lake Elmo Dr.; Billings, MT 59105 Emailed comments can be sent to fwpregion5pc@mt.gov; please use subject: Pemberton Lane Acquisition. Phone comments can be directed to: Mike Ruggles at 406-247-2951. From Gazette news services Pakistan is contesting a downgrade of its rating by Moodys Investors Service, insisting it has adequate reserves and financing to repay foreign debt even after the worst flooding in its history In a video posted on social media, a man claiming to be a Mexican drug cartel leader says an attack that killed 20 people including a mayor was in fact aimed at him Bosses on Thursday confirmed a fix for the problem - as well as resolving a separate airbag fault - to allow it to press ahead with global deliveries Today has restarted production of the bZ4X electric family SUV on Thursday after fixing potential safety problems that had halted sales of the new battery-powered model for more than three months. Japan's largest automaker recalled 2,700 bZ4Xs globally in June after discovering that there was a risk the car's wheels could come off entirely. Of the vehicles affected, 260 were destined for the US market, 20 for Canada, 110 for Japan and 2,200 were earmarked for Europe - 500 of them for UK customers, the company said. Customers in Britain had not yet taken delivery of their SUVs, which start from 43,780, with Toyota UK saying all models affected will be rectified before arriving. Toyota's EV is production restarts: Japanese brand recalled 2,700 examples of the bZ4X back in June because of a risk wheels might loosen and potentially come off A recall notice submitted to Japan's transport ministry by Toyota in June said that sharp turns and sudden braking could cause a hub bolt to loosen, raising the risk of a wheel coming off the vehicle. The company will install an extra part to the bolt to secure it in place. The automaker on Thursday said in a filing to the ministry that it would make sure hub bolts were replaced and properly tightened in new versions of the bZ4X ahead of deliveries. Bosses at the Japanese brand said they hoped the efforts to resolve the issues would help restore the company's reputation for quality. Japan's safety regulator said sharp turns and sudden braking could have caused a hub bolt to loosen, raising the risk of a wheel detaching from the vehicle The company will install an extra part to the bolt to secure it in place. Bosses hope the efforts to resolve the issues will help restore the brand's reputation for quality An issue with the curtain airbag was also identified by Toyota officials, with a faulty strap possibly causing injury to a driver if the airbag deploys. This fault has also been resolved In addition, it said it had identified and fixed a separate potential problem with airbags in the car. A faulty strap in the curtain-shield airbag in the bZ4X was identified as a possible cause of injury to the driver when the airbag deploys and said it will also fix this flaw under recall. Toyota had not previously disclosed this problem. Masahiko Maeda, Toyota's chief technology officer, told a briefing the automaker only became aware of the airbag issue in the last month or two. 'We apologise again for the concern, anxiety, and inconvenience we have caused to our customers, our dealers and our stakeholders,' Maeda said. He declined to comment on how much the recall had cost. Subaru, which is a fifth owned by Toyota, also had to recall units of the related Solterra model that it jointly developed with Toyota. Code red: Those who have already ordered a bZ4X electric SUV have been assured their motors will not have the issue when they are delivered from later this year What you need to know about the Toyota bZ4X The bZ in its name is supposed to stand for 'beyond zero' highlighting its green credentials. How do we pronounce this 'bZ'? Buzz? It marks the start of Toyota's sub-brand for zero emission vehicles. It's handy timing for a new electric car, as petrol prices are predicted to rise following the OPEC+ decision on Wednesday to reduce oil production by two million barrels per day and the energy price cap helps to limit the cost of domestic electricity bills. Charging the plug-in Toyota SUV to 80 per cent takes 30 minutes and it has a range of between 257 and 317 miles depending on the model. Will it fit in my garage? Toyota bZ4X Doors: 5 On sale: now Price: from 43,780 to 52,080 Propulsion: pure electric Emissions: Zero Length: 4,690mm Width: 1,860mm Height: 1,600mm Wheelbase: 2,640mm Battery: 71.4kWh Charging to 80%: 30 minutes Range: 257 to 317 miles 0 to 62mph: 6.9 seconds Top speed: 100mph With a 71.4kWh battery, the all-wheel drive version with two electric motors developing 215bhp accelerates from rest to 62mph in 6.9 seconds. The 201bhp front-wheel drive does it in 7.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 100mph. The new electric five-door SUV is priced from 43,780 for the front-wheel drive, base-level Pure trim - with the price increasing by over 1,800 in the last three months, likely as a result of the falling value of the pound against the Japanese Yen. Customers who want all-wheel drive can pay up to 52,080 for the range-topping 'Vision' spec. Trim dependent options include a panoramic roof (540), 20-inch alloy wheels (490) and metallic paint (from 600). The bZ is supposed to stand for 'beyond zero' highlighting its green credentials The new electric five-door SUV is priced from 43,780 for the front-wheel drive and base-level Pure trim By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has condemned French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna for her biased and anti-Azerbaijani remarks, Azernews reports. On October 5, while answering a question from a pro-Armenian member of the French National Assembly pertaining to the accusations against Azerbaijan and providing more support to Armenia, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna voiced her solidarity with the Armenian people and made completely groundless charges against Azerbaijan. Abdullayeva stressed that it is not the first time that French officials have demonstrated a one-sided and pro-Armenian stance. She recalled that it is not a secret that Colonna has never called for the investigation into numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia so far. Unfortunately, no calls have been made by French officials in the previous 30 years denouncing Armenia's war crimes. The reason is obvious to us, but it would be preferable if an official from a country that is Europe's leading force, acts as a defender of international legal principles, and wishes to serve as a mediator in the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia would take a neutral, impartial, and fair stance, Abdullayeva stressed. Furthermore, against the backdrop of French President Emmanuel Macron's efforts in achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, minister Colonna's biased and irresponsible remark causes confusion, the spokesperson underlined. We would also like to remind her that in a few days it will be the second anniversary of the missile attack on Ganja, Azerbaijan's second-largest city, by Armenian armed forces, which killed dozens of civilians. No one has been brought to justice by Armenia for this war crime. We ask the French foreign minister to call on Armenia regarding this issue, Abdullayeva emphasized. Two newly-passed Montana laws intended to stop majority owners of Colstrip from closing the power plant have been declared unconstitutional in U.S. District Court. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto ruled that the laws, which nullify key portions of the private business contract governing the power plant, violate the Commerce Clause and Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Federal Arbitration Act, laws established to keep states from meddling in private agreements and business. The ruling means the owners can go about operating Colstrip as they see fit, without fear of Montanas attorney general imposing $100,000-a-day fines or dictating maintenance and repairs the government finds necessary. The owners are also free to arbitrate their differences in Spokane, Washington, as the business contract specifies. Montanas Republican-controlled Legislature and governor had attempted to force arbitration to take place in Montana. Colstrip owners who sued the state praised the decision as restoring constitutional business rights. Puget is very pleased with the outcome of this litigation. It affirms the freedom to contract, it protects the interests of PSE, and it protects the interests of the customers PSE serves, said Andrew Padula, spokesman for Puget Sound Energy. Puget has been generating coal power in Montana since the 1970s. The decision also facilitates the return to normal negotiations amongst the six owners of Colstrip rather than facing the prospect of external forces attempting to influence issues such as ongoing operations and budgeting, The Seattle-region utility was joined in the lawsuit by Avista Corp, of Spokane, Washington, Oregon utilities Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp, of Eugene. Combined, the companies own 70% of the 1,480-megawatt power plant, which primarily serves customers in the Pacific Northwest. Colstrip co-owners Talen Energy and NorthWestern Energy joined the state in defense of the laws, which the two companies supported in the 2021 Montana Legislature. The Colstrip laws now join more than a half-dozen others from the 2021 Legislature that have been thrown out by courts for violating the state or federal constitutions, leaving the state's Republican Party howling about liberal bias" on the bench. In the Colstrip case, the federal court ruled that the laws served no legitimate purpose and instead attempted to thwart the business decisions of the power plants majority owners. Gov. Greg Gianforte bluntly identified the laws as a strike against woke Washington state officials who in 2018 passed climate change legislation banning coal power from the portfolios of utilities doing business there. That ban starts at the end of the 2025. Affordable power generated in Colstrip helped build Seattles big tech economy, but now woke overzealous regulators in Washington state are punishing the people of Colstrip with their anti-coal agenda. Montana stands with Colstrip, which is why I proudly sign SB 265 and 266, Gianforte said, when signing the bills into law in May 2021. DeSoto ruled that the governors remarks made clear that Senate Bill 266 was passed for discriminatory purposes against Colstrips out-of-state owners. Senate Bill 266 put the owners in the position of having to decide whether to run the power plant the way Montanas attorney general saw fit, or face fines of $100,000 a day. The bills sponsor, Republican Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls, told fellow lawmakers that the Colstrip owners were in a bad divorce and that the Pacific Northwest owners intended to drive the powerplant into disrepair before leaving. Colstrip owners in the Pacific Northwest had for several budgeting cycles been objecting to repairs that cost millions and werent necessary to keep the power plant running beyond Washington's coal power deadline. Oregon utilities Portland General Electric and PacifCorp, facing coal power bans starting in 2030, were arguing the same. Typically, utilities cannot bill customers for things unrelated to service. Charging customers in Oregon and Washington for repairs unnecessary to keeping the plant running while it served them, presented a regulatory challenge. The second Colstrip law, passed through the Legislature as Senate Bill 265, dictated that arbitration of Colstrip owner disputes take place in Montana, not Spokane, as Colstrips Ownership and Operation Agreement required. The law also changed the number of arbiters from one to three. In legislative proceedings, Fitzpatrick, an attorney by trade, told lawmakers the bill was crucial because power plant co-owner NorthWestern Energy was pursuing arbitration to settle a key matter: whether closing the power plant required a unanimous vote or a majority vote, in which the Pacific Northwest utilities had the upper hand if they voted as a block. NorthWestern and Talen Energy shared a vote in an arrangement dating back to the 2001 sale of Montana Power, the state's legacy shareholder in Colstrip. Again, I think it goes back to this very important public policy issue, whether the West Coast utilities should be able to shut down Colstrip, Fitzpatrick told lawmakers. The court concluded that SB 265 substantially impaired the rights of the Pacific Northwest owners under the Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents states from making law impairing the obligations of contracts. There were lawmakers who recognized the Republican majoritys actions as unconstitutional, Judge DeSoto noted. One of the most outspoken was Andrea Olsen, an attorney and Democratic legislator from Missoula, who identified the laws as outright special legislation for one or a handful of companies, namely NorthWestern Energy and Talen Energy, the power plant owners who lobbied lawmakers for the bills. Senate Bill 266 reaches deep into a 40-year-old contract and rewrites one provision to favor one party to the detriment of the other parties. This bill will send chills down the spine of any business, Olsen said, speaking to the bill on the state House floor. The courts decision comes as Talen, $4.5 billion in debt, goes through what Bloomberg labeled one of the years largest bankruptcies and Pacific Northwest owners weigh surrendering their shares, rather than putting the closure of Colstrip to a vote. Puget Sound Energy last month agreed through a two-party agreement to transfer its shares to Talen by the end of 2025, at no cost. Talen indicates in legal documents that it would pursue Colstrip shares from other owners, as well. Pacific Northwest owners told Lee Montana Newspapers that they havent ruled out surrendering their shares to Talen, as Puget has. They were asked whether the possibility of transferring shares made the courts ruling, which clears the path for arbitration and possibly a closure vote, a moot point. We are happy with the judge's decision and view it as an important step in the legal process. Our priority, however, is still to find a commercial solution that meets the needs of the owners and allows us to exit Colstrip by the end of 2025. There are obviously a variety of ways that might occur, but our preferred path is a collective solution among the owners, said Annie Gannon, spokesperson for Avista Corp. At this point, it is still premature to speculate on what that might look like, what steps might be involved, or what avenues we might pursue if we are not able to reach an agreement with all co-owners. The two-party agreement between Talen and Puget Sound Energy resulted from a bankruptcy court order that Talen come up with as a proposal for addressing the Pacific Northwest owners concerns about being bound to the power plant beyond 2025. Those talks fell apart after some Pacific Northwest owners disagreed with where talks were headed. Specifically, Portland General Electric told the court it didn't support the direction of the talks. But when others exited, Puget retained the law firm representing the Oregon and Washington utilities and pursued a share transfer. PGE maintains that working constructively with all co-owners on a commercial solution that avoids arbitration or litigation is in the best interest of all parties, namely customers and the community of Colstrip, said Kevin Anderson, a Portland General Electric spokesman. Given the ownership structure, the two-party agreement could be a step in reaching an actual solution. However, this agreement also triggers a series of rights for interested parties that may lead to more litigation before an all-party solution can be reached. We will continue to work with all parties and focus on the needs of our customers. The rights of interested parties when an owner offers its shares for transfer, start with a first right of refusal by all other owners of the power plant. In other words, Puget has to offer every owner a chance for the shares under the same terms it is offering Talen. It was a first right of refusal that complicated Pugets 2020 attempt to sell its share of Colstrip Unit 4 to NorthWestern Energy for $1. Talen exercised its right for the power plant share, then attempted to apply the same right to a share of the Colstrip Transmission Line which was in the offing to NorthWestern, as well. But Talen isnt a shareholder in the transmission line, and it was ruled in arbitration that it didnt have a first right of refusal for transmission, which is more valued than a share in the power plant. Activists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin whose invasion of Ukraine has outraged the international community and highlighted his authoritarian rule. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. Through their consistent efforts in favor of human values and anti-militarism and principles of law, this years laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today, she told reporters in Oslo. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally sending a signal to Putin, who celebrated his 70th birthday Friday, Reiss-Andersen said that we always give a prize for something and to somebody and not against anyone. This prize is not addressing President Putin, not for his birthday or in any other sense, except that his government, as the government in Belarus, is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists, she said. Bialiatski was one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid 1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties in the authoritarian country. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin. He remains in jail without trial. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus, Reiss-Andersen said, adding that the Nobel panel was calling on Belarusian authorities to release him. Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visiting Paris, told The Associated Press that the award would further increase the spotlight on Belarusian political prisoners and said she felt honored and delighted that Bialiatski was among the laureates, calling him a famous human rights defender in Belarus and in the world and a wonderful person. For sure, it will attract more attention to (the) humanitarian situation in our country, she said of the award. Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband is also imprisoned, said Bialiatski is suffering a lot in punishment cells in prison in Belarus. But there are thousands of other people who are detained because of their political views, and I hope that it will raise awareness about our country and practical steps will have been done in order to release those people who sacrificed with their freedom, she told the AP. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses and tracked the fate of political prisoners in Russia. The countrys highest court ordered it shut down in December, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Tatyana Glushkova, a board member of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said she learned about the award from the news. It was a shock, she told the AP. We are very, very happy. For us, this is a sign that our work, whether it is recognized by the Russian authorities or not, it is important for the world, it important for people in Russia, Glushkova said. Glushkova noted that the award was handed to the group on the day when it once again had to appear in court in Moscow this time on a case related to its office building in central Moscow. International Memorial owned the building, but after the group was shut down, it gave the building to one of its affiliate organizations, the Memorial Research and Education Center. Russian authorities are contesting the deal in court, and the Prosecutor Generals office filed a motion to invalidate it. Memorial considers the move an attempt to seize the building and hinder the organizations operation. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, the group has worked to document Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. The center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes, said Reiss-Andersen. A representative of the center, Volodymyr Yavorskyi, said the award was important for the organization because for many years we worked in a country that was invisible. This is a surprise for us, he told the AP. But human rights activity is the main weapon against the war. This years award follows a tradition of highlighting groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts, alleviate hardship and protect human rights. Last years winners have faced a tough time since receiving the prize. Journalists Dmitry Muratov of Russia and Maria Ressa of the Philippines have been fighting for the survival of their news organizations, defying government efforts to silence them They were honored last year for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. The prize carries a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The money comes from a bequest left by the prizes creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, in 1895. SOURCE: AP AND AGENCIES Thousands of people on Thursday protested in Banja Luka over what they said was a rigged election in favour of pro-Russian nationalist Milorad Dodik in the vote for president of Bosnias autonomous Serb Republic. The main contenders for the job are Dodik, who is leaving his previous post as Serb member of Bosnias tri-partite inter-ethnic presidency, and Jelena Trivic, an economics professor from the opposition Party of Democratic Progress (PDP). It is not me who was stolen from the people of Republika Srpska were stolen from, Trivic told thousands of supporters in the citys main square. I will never accept the theft, and especially not the theft of the peoples will. Dodik, who leads the largest Serb party SNSD and whose party colleague Zeljka Cvijanovic is the current president, dismissed the allegations of fraud. He has served as the regions president or prime minister since 1998. He was leading with 48.18% of the vote and Trivic held 43.43% based on the 97.28% of ballots counted, according to preliminary results by the state election commission (CIK) on Thursday. Trivic and the two other largest opposition parties said the ballot was rigged by Dodiks supporters and demanded a re-count of over 65,000 ballots they claim were invalid. Protesters carried banners reading We Want Fair Elections, You Wont Get Away With This, and chanted Thieves! and Mile, Leave! Trivic said she would not concede defeat. Bosnia on Sunday held presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as the Serb Republic presidential vote. On election night, Trivic and her party had declared victory based on the ballot count by midnight. But the next morning, Dodik led over Trivic and she and her party alleged irregularities. On Wednesday, the three opposition parties submitted their complaints to the CIK. CIK said it would consider complaints after the vote count for all levels of government has been completed, which may take months. Preliminary vote results confirmed the dominance of nationalist Serb, Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) parties in future national and regional parliaments, indicating that political blockades from the previous years will continue halting Bosnias reforms. The results also showed that non-nationalist candidates won the seats for the Bosniak and Croat members on the countrys tripartite inter-ethnic presidency and that Dodik ally Cvijanovic took the seat of the Serb member. SOURCE: REUTERS Crews improve three trails near Cody, Wyoming Three trails near Cody, Wyoming, received some special attention this summer thanks to efforts by the Montana Conservation Corps and the Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office. Recreationists can enjoy improvements to the BLM-managed Sheep Mountain Trail, BobcatHoulihan River Access Trail and the Twin Creek Trail as they hike, ride horses, fish and hunt this fall. On the Sheep Mountain Trail, located just west of Buffalo Bill Reservoir between Cody and Yellowstone National Park, the crew installed several rock and wooden stairs in steep sections, mitigated trail washouts and cleared fallen rock. The work will help prevent erosion and dangerous sliding for foot and horse travel, and aid in trail compaction over time. Next, the crew worked along the South Fork of the Shoshone River at the BobcatHoulihan campground and river access trail. Vegetation was removed to improve tent camping and reduce wildfire risk. An overgrown corridor from the parking area to the river was cleared. In addition, the crew installed a 16-foot bridge over a stream in the trail, reducing erosion of the creek bed and allowing easier access to the river. Finally, the crew improved the Twin Creek Trail, another public access point along the South Fork of the Shoshone River. Sections of trail were widened and redefined. In steeper sections, the crew installed retaining walls, constructed wooden check steps and laid timbers along the critical edge of the trail to mitigate damage caused by rockslides and to reduce the risk of falling or sliding. Overall, the work we completed with the MCC crew makes these trails better defined, easier to find and access, and more sustainable into the future, said BLM recreation technician Zach Cowfer. From Gazette news services A Russian missile demolished an apartment block in a Ukrainian region that Moscow says it has annexed, killing at least three people, as discontent mounted within Russia about the handling of the war by the top brass. The missile attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia in the southern region of the same name left some people buried under the rubble, the regional governor said, and was a reminder of Moscows ability to strike targets even at a time when its forces have been pushed back in the south and east. There was no immediate comment from Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine has begun to unravel after a Ukrainian counteroffensive in which thousands of square miles of territory have been retaken since the start of September, including dozens of settlements in recent days. In a blow for Moscow, thousands of Russian troops have retreated after the front line crumbled, first in the northeast, and, since the beginning of this week, also in the south. Public criticism of Russias top military officials, once taboo, is also mounting after two allies of President Vladimir Putin criticised what they said was the incompetent way the war was being prosecuted. On Thursday, a Russian-installed official in occupied Ukraine openly mused about the idea of Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister and an ally of Putin, shooting himself for his military failures. Indeed, many say: if they were a defence minister who had allowed such a state of affairs, they could, as officers, have shot themselves, Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the Russian-installed administration in Ukraines Kherson region, said in a video. There was no immediate comment from the defence ministry. Discontent has begun to bubble up among even loyalist state TV hosts too. Please explain to me what the general staffs genius idea is now? Vladimir Solovyov, one of the most prominent Russian talk show hosts, said on his livestream channel. Do you think time is on our side? They (the Ukrainians) have hugely increased their amount of weapons But what have you done in that time? MISSILE STRIKE Images of the aftermath of Thursdays missile strike showed a gaping, rubble-strewn hole where a terracotta-coloured five-storey apartment block used to stand next to a wine shop. Reuters reporters saw firefighters bringing a father and son down a ladder and talking to an older man still trapped under rubble. Eduard, a 49-year-old man who survived the attack, said he was woken at around five in the morning by a strong explosion. The room filled with smoke and dust. I jumped up to go see what had happened, he said. Twelve people were wounded, including a three-year-old child, and five were still under the rubble, said Oleksandr Starukh, the governor. In an online address to the European Political Community forum meeting in Prague, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of deliberately targeting the same location in Zaporizhzhia twice in succession. In Zaporizhzhia, after the first rocket strike today, when people came to pick apart the rubble, Russia conducted a second rocket strike. Absolute vileness, absolute evil. Moscow says it does not deliberately target civilians. The missile attack came a day after Putin signed a law to incorporate four partially occupied Ukrainian regions into Russia, including Zaporizhzhia, in Europes biggest attempted annexation since World War Two. Kyiv called the new law, which seeks to incorporate about 18% of Ukraines territory into Russia, the act of a collective madhouse. Russia moved to annex the four regions after holding what it called referendums votes that were denounced by Kyiv and Western governments as illegal and coercive. PUMMELLED CITY Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that his army had retaken more settlements in the southern Kherson region and footage released from Kherson showed a Russian infantry fighting vehicle with a white piece of fabric wrapped around its gun barrel surrendering. Ukraines military in the south said its forces had killed at least 58 Russian fighters and destroyed nine tanks. Stremousov, the Russian-installed official in Kherson, said Ukraines advance in the area had been halted. In the Kharkiv region in the northeast, a Ukrainian general said on Thursday that Kyivs forces had advanced up to about 55 km (34 miles) over the last two weeks. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports. In the east, Russian forces remained dug in around the battered city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers and artillery exchanged near constant fire on Thursday with Russian forces who have pummelled the area for months, prompting the flight of much of the pre-war population of 70,000. The streets were largely deserted, though municipal workers were seen raking leaves into neat piles on one street, an incongruous scene in a city where street corners are strewn with rubbish and crumpled masonry. It is scary, but I actually dont know how serious it is, said Serhii, 70, who declined to give his last name, as crumps from artillery echoed. You cant get used to it. SOURCE: REUTERS Ukraine said Thursday it had recaptured swathes of fresh territory from Russian troops as Kyiv urged Europe to help its forces expel Moscows army once and for all. The proclaimed wins in the southern region of Kherson are the latest in a series of Russian defeats undermining the Kremlins claim to have annexed around 20 percent of Ukraine. Russian missiles early on Thursday struck the central city of Zaporizhzhia, killing several civilians, as rescue workers clawed through rubble with their bare hands searching for survivors, AFP journalists saw. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated more than 400 square kilometres of the Kherson region since the beginning of October, southern army command spokeswoman Natalia Gumeniuk said in a briefing online. She said that the recaptured territory was home to nearly 30 towns and villages that had been occupied by Russian forces for months. Kherson, a region with an estimated pre-war population of around one million people, was captured early and easily by Moscows troops after their invasion launched February 24. Russian-installed officials have renewed a call for residents to remain calm, with deputy pro-Moscow leader Kirill Stremousov saying Kremlin forces were holding back the advance. Addressing a meeting in Prague of European heads of state, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western capitals to supply his army with more weapons to punish the aggressor. He said Ukraine must fend off Moscows invasion so that Russian tanks do not advance on Warsaw or again on Prague. Pure hatred The EU imposed its latest round of sanctions on Russia, expanding bans on trade and individuals over Moscows formal annexation last Friday of four Ukrainian regions. On Thursday, seven Russian missiles struck downtown Zaporizhzhia just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the artillery battles of the southern front. A woman, whose body was carefully removed from the rubble by rescuers, looked as though she had been asleep in bed when the building around her was destroyed. For the first time in my life, I feel pure hatred, said Igor Osolodko, a 25-year-old musician, one of dozens of volunteer rescuers. Its absurd, its unreal. We need to rely on our army and cope with this terror until its all over, until we win, he said. Ukraines military has also said it is reclaiming territory in the eastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions, that have been partially controlled by Kremlin proxies since 2014. Ukrainian forces have made gains on the west bank of the river Dnieper that cuts through Kherson, but the Russian military in a briefing said Thursday that its forces rebuffed repeated attempts to break through our defences in the area. Further west, on Ukraines contact line with Russian forces from the Mykolaiv region where Kyivs forces had been hunched in fox holes for months and pounded by Russian artillery the mood was shifting along with frontlines. End of the tunnel Bogdan, 29, from northwest Ukraine who re-enlisted in the military this year, has spent most of the summer holding the line in Mykolaiv some four kilometres from the Russians. We see their successes and it inspires us, he said of Ukrainian wins elsewhere in the country. If some thought before that we werent moving fast enough, well now thats not the case! There is light at the end of the tunnel, agreed commander Yaroslav, a sturdy 39-year-old man wearing a black cap. The Ukrainian push deeper into Kherson is putting further strain on the Kremlins announcement last week that it had annexed the territory alongside three others and that its residents were would Russian forever. The four territories Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhzhia create a land corridor between Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Together, the five regions make up around 20 percent of Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russian forces of deliberately striking civilians to sow fear. Russian terror must be stopped by force of weapons, sanctions and full isolation, he said. In Russia, opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza jailed in April for denouncing the war has been charged with high treason, his lawyer told the TASS news agency. The UN nuclear agency chief was due in Kyiv to discuss creating a security zone around Ukraines Zaporizhzhia atomic plant the largest in Europe after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to impound it. SOURCE: AFP A police officer who arrested a woman who was seriously injured after the police vehicle she was sitting in was struck by a freight train in Colorado said he didn't realize he had stopped the vehicle on the railroad tracks More deets and follow-up after a local gunfire tragedy. Here's the statement . . . United States Western District of Missouri DOJ: Man Involved in Firefighters Death Charged with Felon in Possession KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City, Mo., man who was involved in the death of a firefighter was charged in federal court today with being a felon in possession of a firearm. JaVon L. Taylor, 23, was charged in a criminal complaint filed today in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, police officers with the Independence Missouri Police Department were dispatched on October 6, 2022, at approximately 2:31 p.m. on a reported shooting of a victim inside a convenience store. Surveillance videos showed Taylor returned to his vehicle after becoming very agitated inside the business. Surveillance videos also showed Taylor and the victim fighting over an item that Taylor was holding, which was a firearm with an extended magazine. At one point, the female passenger with Taylor got the firearm and fires a round, appearing to strike the victim in the back. The victim, a firefighter, died as a result of the injuries sustained from the gunshot. Taylor remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing. The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Coonrod. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Independence Missouri Police Department. ### Developing . . . A political reality and open question . . . WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TAXPAYERS WRITE 'GO BOND' BLANK CHECKS TO KANSAS CITY??? Lots of fun stuff . . . But more than anything else . . . Kansas City elected officials can, in turn, use that cash to fund luxury living space in places the broke-ass locals could NEVER afford. We're sure some paid hack might deny our reporting on this topic BUT last time around we remember that GO bond money did, in fact, help to finance a great many downtown improvements . . . And, let's be clear, taxpayers have VERY LITTLE SAY ABOUT WHERE THIS CASH WILL BE SPENT . . . And nobody really wants to talk about that . . . And so . . . Remember that "infrastructure" is a big component of an upcoming tax hike. Here's a peek at what local cash might buy . . . "The lot northwest of Main Street and Truman Road for years was flagged in city agreements and by Cordish officials as a top candidate for the Baltimore-based company's fourth residential tower." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . For late night denizens of the discourse we pull just a few more NICER local links in order to provide just a bit of comfort to insomniacs and local news junkies. Check TKC news gathering . . . Ruckus Ends On South Side KC police standoff near 89th, Holly ends with one in custody Kansas City police said an hourslong standoff Thursday near West 89th and Holly streets has ended with one person in custody.Police said officers were called about 12:15 p.m. to the 9000 block of Holly Street on a report of a disturbance with shots fired. Kansas City Pop Quiz Going 360: Kansas City-area colleges, universities explore future of standardized testing KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Earlier this fall, the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg announced changes to the university's largest scholarship program, placing less emphasis on standardized test scores. UCM is one of several institutions around the Kansas City area transitioning away from the test-required model that has long been a staple of the college application and scholarship process. Rock Chalk Co-Op KU Health System will merge with Olathe Health, affecting thousands of Kansas patients Olathe Health will soon be part of the University of Kansas Health System. At a press briefing Wednesday morning, officials from Olathe Health and the University of Kansas Health System announced they had signed a letter of intent that will kick off negotiations between the two health care providers. Hipster Preview Along Toy Train Line Heather White builds presence at 39th and Main with Cheval Cheval on Main. // Photo by Aaron Phelps If you're on the lookout for some effortless elegance, Heather White's catalog of bars and restaurants is always a good option. She opened and helped operate The Russell for years (though she's no longer involved), and more recently opened the doors to the Euro-inspired Tailleur. More Deets On Outbreak Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead to remain closed Friday after bird flu deaths OLATHE, Kan. - A popular children's attraction in Johnson County will remain closed Friday. Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead has announced it will remain closed Friday in order to complete the avian flu mitigation tasks outlined by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. This comes after announcing earlier it would reopen to the public Friday, Oct. Newspaper Sings Praises Of Prez Biden's wins on infrastructure, climate and now marijuana don't sound like failure to me OPINION AND COMMENTARY For a failed presidency, Joe Biden's first term sure seems to have a lot going for it. Thursday's announcement that Biden pardoned thousands of Americans with federal convictions of simple marijuana possession is a momentous example. The Justice Department will also stop charging anyone with simple possession of the drug beginning today. Suburban Lesson Plan Revealed Shawnee Mission School District teachers, parents discuss boundary lines for Briarwood, Tomahawk Elementary Changes are coming to some families in the Shawnee Mission School District.The communities near Brairwood and Tomahawk Elementary Schools had a chance to weigh in on those changes at a public info session to discuss the boundary lines of each school. Worker Bee Accommodations Celebrated Kansas City-area companies land on Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America list Seven companies based in the Kansas City area made a list of the 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America. The list is created by the same company that conducts the Kansas City Business Journal 's Healthiest Employers Awards program. Data analytics company Springbuk chooses companies based on an assessment developed by a group of representatives from the academic, medical, wellness and business communities. Local Artsy Debut Truman Library to exhibit paintings from former President George W. Bush The Truman Library is getting ready for an exciting exhibit.The presidential library and museum will feature the work of a former president. Art from former President George W. Bush. "I think this certainly shows us a side of George Bush that we would not have seen. Another Peek At Local Haunts Your Guide to Kansas City Ghost Tours and Haunted Houses - In Kansas City Jack-o-lanterns are starting to peer out from porches all over the metro, ghostly decorations are going up, and it's officially time to plan this year's spooky season. Whether you're looking for eerie Halloween experiences that will get your blood pumping or family-friendly fun that will get everyone in the spirit of the holiday of tricks... Hipster Weekend Almost Here 7 things to do in KC October 6-9 Its another busy fall weekend in Kansas City, with the monthly First Friday art walk in the Crossroads, yet another Oktoberfest, a screening of a 1922 horror classic silent movie with a live score and the annual Troostapalooza festival. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vulpes Bastille (@vulpes.bastille) First Friday at Vulpes... New Tenants At Old School Newspaper Building Fast-growing travel nursing agency signs lease at Grand Place - Downtown Council of Kansas City A rapidly expanding Kansas City company will build on its Crossroads Arts District roots with one of Downtown's larger known office leases so far this year. Next Move Inc., a travel nursing agency that places staff at acute health care facilities throughout the Midwest, signed a lease for approximately 24,000 square feet in 3D Development's Grand Place remake of The Kansas City Star's former building at 1729 Grand Blvd. Provocative Cowtown Exhibit Lighted sculpture exhibit at Vulpes Bastille illuminates East Crossroads Courtesy of Vulpes Bastille Lamplighters: An Exhibition of Lighted Sculpture at Vulpes Bastille displays the guiding lights of Kansas City's art scene. The artist-run gallery and studio space is home to young creatives forging their careers in KC. Illustration by Steph Becker Sparking inspiration from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, organizer Adam Puryear hopes to capture the essence of... Autumn Finally Arrives Much cooler temps are marching toward KC Hide Transcript Show Transcript AND NINE-DAY FORECAST, SO YOU KNOW FIRST. THIS IS FIRST TOMORROW -- FIRST ALERT RADAR. LARA: FOR THOSE HEADING TO ARROWHEAD, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? NEVILLE: IT WILL BE GREAT. WE WILL SEE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER FOR THE GAME MONDAY NIGHT. TAILGATING, 75 DEGREES. THAT'S PERFECT BARBECUE WEATHER. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. There's a lot of crime news breaking this afternoon and right now we take a moment to compile some of the top headlines . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . Adults charged in Kansas City fire that killed 3 children KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Two adults are charged in connection with a Northland fire that killed three children last year. Platte County prosecutors charged David Hardy, 37, of Belton, with three counts of felony child endangerment. Prosecutors said he had methamphetamine in the house with the children. Woman tells Excelsior Springs police she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted - suspect in custody Several streets have been closed in part of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, as part of an ongoing investigation. The Clay County Sheriff's Office has confirmed it's part of a kidnapping and sexual assault investigation on the 300 block of Old Orchard Street.A woman reported to Excelsior Springs this morning at 7:47 a.m. 3 in custody after firing at FBI in Warsaw, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Three individuals are in custody after firing at law enforcement in Warsaw, Missouri, Friday morning. FBI Kansas City reports the FBI had a "lawful presence" in the 30,000th block of U.S. 65 Highway regarding an ongoing federal investigation. Trial for Clay County mom charged in daughters' deaths approaches LIBERTY, Mo. - The trial for a Kearney woman charged in connection with the deaths of her daughters is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks. Jenna Boedecker was indicted in January 2019 on two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of child endangerment, one count of third-degree domestic assault, one count of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree property damage. Grandview police ask for help finding runaway juvenile from Springfield Grandview police are asking for help in finding a runaway juvenile.Police said Kaylee Marquez ran away from home in Springfield and has not been seen since Wednesday.Authorities said Kaylee has very distinctive tattoos. Anyone who has seen Kaylee is asked to call Grandview police at 816-316-4914. KC Voices: Why I'm voting no on the "Sheriff" Amendment BLM protest from June 2020 on the Plaza. // Photo by Jim Nimmo We've been asking members of the KC community to submit stories about their thoughts and experiences in all walks of life. If you've got a story you'd like to share with our readers, please send it to brock@thepitchkc.com for consideration. Man charged in shooting death of off-duty Kansas City firefighter INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Federal prosecutors charge a metro man in the death of an off-duty Kansas City firefighter, but say he isn't the one who pulled the trigger. Independence police said 41-year-old Anthony Santi was shot at a gas station off of U.S. 40 Highway around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Developing . . . BOISE, Idaho Idaho's wolf population appears to be holding steady despite recent changes by lawmakers that allow expanded methods and seasons for killing wolves, the state's top wildlife official said Thursday. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever told lawmakers on the Natural Resources Interim Committee that preliminary data on human-caused and natural wolf mortality looks similar to three previous years. He also said the agency is using changes in wolf hunting laws that could lead to killing more wolves in areas with livestock conflicts or where elk herds are below population goals, potentially through a wolf-killing reimbursement program for skilled trappers and hunters. "I think the best way to describe Idaho's population right now is that it's fairly stable, and it's fluctuating around 1,250," he told lawmakers. "Part of the year it's below that; part of the year it's above that. But the population is fluctuating around 1,250." Schriever, in a graph presented to lawmakers, showed the state's wolf population from 2019 to 2021 fluctuating with a high of more than 1,600 in May when wolf pups are born down to a low of about 800 in April as wolves die through natural mortality, hunting or trapping. Schriever said that the same pattern with potentially similar numbers could be repeated this year. But the agency won't have a solid estimate for the 2022 wolf population until January when it analyzes additional information and millions of photos taken by remote cameras. The agency in previous years picked August as the date to set the wolf population, putting it at about 1,500. The 1,250 estimate is a snapshot of the wolf population in November, at about the midpoint of the annual population fluctuation. Idaho lawmakers in 2021 approved a law backed by ranchers that greatly expanded wolf killing in what some lawmakers stated could reduce the wolf population by 90%. Backers said it would reduce the wolf population and attacks on livestock while also boosting deer and elk herds. Idaho wildlife officials also last year announced the state would make available $200,000 to be divided into payments to hunters and trappers who kill wolves in the state. However, there has been concern the new rules could overshoot the mark because if the state's wolf population were to fall below 150, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could take over management of wolves from the state. "If you go below that (150), that's bad news," Schriever told lawmakers. Schriever cited a 2009 Fish and Wildlife Service rule delisting northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves. The rule was blocked by a federal court but took effect when approved by Congress in 2011. Schriever noted the rule has a wolf population for Idaho fluctuating around 500, with a potential high of about 650 and a low of about 350. "I think there are a whole bunch of us that would be happy if we could get to what's described in the federal delisting rule as a population fluctuating around 500," Schriever said. Getting there could be challenging because wolves, Schriever noted, get wary when hunted. He gave a breakdown of 389 wolves killed last year by some 50,000 hunters and trappers, noting only 72 hunters and trappers killed more than one wolf, accounting for 236 wolves in all that year. "Those people are very important in the concept of managing the wolf population," Schriever said, suggesting the reimbursement program could be a key component to target wolves in specific areas of the state. "The reimbursement program may, in fact, be very important in keeping some of these highly skilled people engaged in this for a longer period of time," he said. Besides setting up the reimbursement program, the law passed in 2021 also expanded wolf killing methods to include trapping and snaring wolves on a single hunting tag, no restriction on hunting hours, using night-vision equipment with a permit, using bait and dogs and allowing hunting from motor vehicles. It also authorized year-round wolf trapping on private property. Montana lawmakers also changed their laws to expand wolf killing. That prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service late last year, at the request of environmental groups, to announce a yearlong review to see if wolves in the western U.S. should be relisted and again receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Such a move would take away Idaho's management of the species. On another front, a U.S. District Court judge in August rejected a request by conservation groups to temporarily block Idaho's expanded wolf trapping and snaring rules. Environmental groups said Idaho's expanded wolf-killing regulations violate the Endangered Species Act because they will lead to the illegal killing of federally protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx. Schriever said Thursday that no grizzlies have so far been caught in a wolf trap. It's not clear when the court will make a ruling on the merits in that case. Here's the aftermath of a tragic case wherein a(n alleged) custody dispute resulted in the horrific death of an innocent youngster. Today's aftermath . . . "A Johnson County judge sentenced 28-year-old to 18 years in prison. She previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges stemming from the fire that killed her 17-month-old son. "In a clarification, the Johnson County District Attorneys office said that while a judge sentenced her to prison, the judge also granted her request for dispositional departure. With that request, she will serve three years of probation instead of prison time." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Shawnee mom sentenced to prison in death of toddler SHAWNEE, Kan. - A Shawnee woman will spend years behind bars for the role she played in the death of her son. A Johnson County judge sentenced 28-year-old Karlie Phelps to 18 years in prison. She previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges stemming from the fire that killed her 17-month-old son. Shawnee woman convicted in toddler son's death sentenced to 3 years probation SHAWNEE, Kan. (KCTV) - Karlie Phelps was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the February death of her young child. On Thursday morning, Johnson County District Court Judge Timothy McCarthy sentenced her to 36 months of probation. She was initially sentenced to 216 months in prison, but Phelps' request for dispositional departure was granted. Developing . . . Three residential break and enters were reported in the citys East York district from Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, according to Toronto Police Service. Thats up from one reported during the previous week. Millions of dollars have been paid to private mineral owners and oil and gas operators following the completion of the first part of a Missouri River acreage adjustment to delineate state and private mineral ownership. North Dakota's five-member, governor-led Board of University and School Lands on Tuesday announced the release of about $120 million in "Part I" of the River Acreage Adjustment Project. The project involves 508 state-issued oil and gas leases covering 39,500 mineral acres in two parts. Part I covers 463 leases east of U.S. Highway 85; Part II covers 45 leases west of Highway 85. We are pleased to reach this significant project milestone and that tens of millions of dollars have been injected back into the North Dakota economy through private mineral owners and oil and gas operators, Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement. The Board appreciates the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands team for their diligent work and the North Dakota oil and gas industry for their collaboration, with completion of the full project expected by the end of this year. State Trust Lands Commissioner Joe Heringer told the Tribune about $50 million was released from escrow for private mineral owners, and $70 million was paid back to operators. The state of North Dakota owns all minerals up to a boundary called the ordinary high water mark of navigable bodies of water, including the Missouri River, which was dammed in 1953, creating the reservoir of Lake Sakakawea. That boundary has drawn disputes and litigation over the years. The 2017 Legislature commissioned a survey to determine the ordinary high water mark on the river west of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The legislation also required the Land Board to work with oil and gas operators to adjust state leases and related revenues to reflect the new acreage ownership determined by the survey. The state Game and Fish Department is taking orders for its North Dakota Outdoors calendar. The calendar includes color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, sunrise-sunset times and moon phases, and hunting season and application dates for next year. Go to https://gf.nd.gov/shop to order online, or send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Include a three-line return address with the order. Subscribers to North Dakota Outdoors magazine automatically receive the calendar in the mail, as it is the magazine's December issue. This morning , we kick off the show today with someone who is no stranger to the Morning Edi On Thursday, the Russian Federation struck Ukrainian cities with Iranian drones, which it uses daily, as well as with missiles. Today, Russia launched another airstrike on Ukrainian cities. It used Iranian drones again. By the way, they are used every day, and so far Iran says every day that there are allegedly no such drones here. And again hit with rockets, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address to the participants of the European Political Community summit in Prague. People were killed and injured, houses burned down in those strikes, he emphasized. After the first missile strike on Zaporizhzhia was launched, people came to clear the debris, and then the Russian Federation launched a second missile strike. Absolute meanness. Absolute evil. There have already been thousands of manifestations of such evil. Unfortunately, there may be thousands more, Zelensky stressed. As reported, the Russian army attacked Zaporizhzhia twice on the morning of October 6. Missiles hit residential buildings in the city center. ol Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the leaders of the EU countries to be especially careful about the protection of critical infrastructure and increase the production and supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. He said this in his speech at a meeting of the European Council, Ukrinform reports, citing the press service of the head of state. "Russia brought war to our land to the Ukrainian part of Europe. And only thanks to the fact that the Ukrainian people stopped this invasion of Russia, Russia cannot yet bring the same war to other parts of Europe, in particular, the Baltic countries, Poland, and Moldova," he said. He also said that the whole of Europe is facing a severe price crisis, when through the manipulation of the energy market Russia achieves unprecedented pressure on the standard of living of the absolute majority of Europeans. In this regard, the head of state emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation in the security and defense spheres. "Increase the supply of weapons and ammunition to defend against the Russian pressure. Increase the manufacture of weapons and ammunition in Europe to be always ready to defend our common space. Indeed, I understand, and all of us would rather spend the money we spend on armaments on completely different goals peaceful goals, social needs. But who and what will be able to protect such goals and such needs?" Zelensky said. He also added that now it is necessary to be especially careful about the protection of Ukrainian critical infrastructure and especially after the sabotage that happened at gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. "Never before has our continent faced such a threat the threat of destroying underwater pipelines, cables, and tunnels. But now you can expect this from Russia," Zelensky said. At the same time, he stressed the need "to strengthen our cooperation to help each other provide all Europeans with adequate energy guarantees." "The key challenge is in Ukraine. The first is the physical protection of energy facilities from Russian strikes. We need enough air defense systems to prevent Russia from leaving people without heat and electricity in the winter," Zelensky said. He also mentioned the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and stressed the need to immediately fulfill the requirements of the IAEA and demilitarize it from Russian troops. The number of Belarusian troops amassed along the state border with Ukraine has not increased at the moment. Belarus will dare to launch an attack on Ukraine only when it gets the appropriate order from the Kremlin and when the Alexander Lukashenko regime is finally made to do so. As reported by Ukrinform, this was announced by Commander of the Joint Forces, Lieutenant General Serhiy Naiev, who spoke on the air of the nationwide telethon, answering a question about the situation on the border with Belarus. "Announced, but not yet completed exercise is underway. They are training their management bodies, their railway transportation system. The number of (Belarusian - ed.) troops along the state border of Ukraine and Belarus has not increased," Naiev said. Answering the question of whether Belarus would dare to launch an attack on Ukraine, Naiev said: "Belarus will do it when they receive the appropriate command from the Russian Federation, when the Belarus regime is pressed to the limit thats when they would be capable of such a thing. General Zaluzhnyi (Commander in Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi - ed.) is in full control of the situation, if there is a change in the enemy's posture, we will adapt our forces accordingly." At the same time, he noted that additional mobilization in Ukraine is not in plans, the number of units that have been set up is sufficient for the time being. As previously reported, Belarus has deployed up to seven battalion tactical groups along the borders with Ukraine and is preparing its infrastructure for the Russian armed forces. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Putin plans to deploy about 20,000 mobilized Russian troops on the territory of Belarus. Russia, by its example, will show all potential aggressors of the world that an aggressive terrorist war in our time is a way to weaken and inevitably destroy the one who starts such a war. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The full text of the speech is provided below: Dear Ukrainians! An important decision was made today. It's fair. Legally perfect. Historical. Ukraine confirmed its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Japan, including its Northern territories, which are still under Russian occupation. Today, I signed the relevant decree. There is a corresponding statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. And we call on everyone in the world to make similar decisions. Russia has no right to these territories. Everyone in the world knows this well. And we must finally act. We must de-occupy all the lands that the Russian occupiers are trying to keep for themselves. Only in this way can we return the full force to international law. The UN Charter and the entire complex of treaties and conventions on which the international legal order is based will work only when the occupiers lose and the nations in the world are protected from any occupations. With this war against Ukraine, against the international legal order, against our people, Russia has put itself in conditions and it is now only a matter of time of the real liberation of everything that once was seized and is now under the control of the Kremlin. The aggressor must lose. So be it. So that such wars do not happen again and that the peace is really long-term. Nothing should be left for the invaders. I believe: justice will be restored for our partners as well. This week alone, our soldiers liberated 776 square kilometers of territory in the east of our country and 29 settlements, including six in Luhansk region, from the Russian pseudo-referendum. In total, 2,434 square kilometers of our land and 96 settlements have already been liberated since the beginning of this offensive operation. And today I want to mention the fighters of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade and the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade and note their heroic efforts to liberate Ukrainian land. There are also good results in the south of Ukraine this week we are liberating our land and our people there from the pseudo-referendum every day. We will certainly come to the lands that were occupied by Russia earlier. I'm thankful to all our defenders who ensure this! During these 225 days, 29,887 Ukrainian soldiers were awarded state awards. A total of 178 soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Such a scale of courage and heroism of our fighters unequivocally proves that Ukraine cannot be stopped. And each of the Russian attacks, all manifestations of Russian terror against Zaporizhzhia, against Kharkiv, against Mykolaiv, against Donbas and all our other territories only prove that the liberation of our entire land is the only foundation of peace and security for all Ukrainians. Today, I took part in the meeting of the European Council. I thanked our partners for the eighth package of sanctions against Russia and for all the support for Ukraine that is already provided. We are working together to increase our common capabilities of everyone in Europe. Preparations have already begun for important events planned for next week, both in Ukraine and at the international level. It will be a strong week for our state, it will be a strong week for our defense. Eternal glory to all those who fight and work for peace for Ukraine! Eternal glory to our heroes! Glory to Ukraine! Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has opened a business forum with the participation of about 20 Ukrainian and Ghanaian companies as part of his visit to Ghana. That's according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service, Ukrinform reports. According to the report, the companies participating in the forum represented the fields of metallurgy, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and beverage production, construction, renewable energy, and IT services. "During the negotiations with the leadership of Ghana, we reached a political agreement on a significant intensification of economic cooperation. It is primarily about increasing trade and new projects in the agricultural sector," Kuleba said. As part of the business forum, a memorandum on cooperation was signed between the Council of Exporters and Investors under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, trade in goods between the two countries in 2021 amounted to $300.058 million. Export of goods amounted to $171.6 million (an increase of 110.5% compared to the same period of 2020). Imports of goods amounted to $128.4 million (a fall of 3.8% compared to the same period of 2020). Kuleba's visit is the first tour of Ukraine's foreign minister to African countries in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy. Turkey is making great efforts to achieve positive results in ending the war in Ukraine and hopes for future talks between Ukraine and Russia. This was stated by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was answering a question of an Ukrinform correspondent. "With the progress, with the progress we have made, a great result will appear very soon," Erdogan is convinced. According to him, Turkey is the only country that talks to both warring parties. "I can speak absolutely calmly with both countries, with both leaders, we are having discussions with President Zelensky and President Putin," Erdogan said, adding that he would be calling Putin again on Friday. The president of Turkey noted that thanks to such communication with both parties, in particular, more than 6 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain was exported via the Black Sea. Erdogan also emphasized the role of his country in the release of more than 200 fighters of the Azov Regiment, five of whom, the commanders, are currently staying in Turkey and recently reunited with their families. Prisoner swaps were a very important topic, as was the issue of grain exports, but also fertilizers, the leader added. "No other state in the world has done what we have done in this sense," he emphasized. Ukrinform's question was about whether the Turkish leader does not consider the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine to be a prerequisite for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. The correspondent did not receive a direct answer to this. Instead, Erdogan said he is convinced that it will come to negotiations between the two leaders. "There will be no losers in a just peace... A bad peace is better than war," Erdogan said. At the same time, he reprimanded some European leaders who are allegedly "escalating the situation." As reported, the president of Turkey took part in the first summit of the European Political Community, which was held in Prague on October 6. Photo: Olga Tanasiychuk, Ukrinform Ukraine is very grateful to the Czech Republic, which has been helping the nation since the first days of war, and is counting on its support in the process of becoming an EU member state. Thats according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who spoke in an interview with the Czech publication Denik N on the occasion of his participation in the Prague Summit of the European Political Community, Ukrinform reports. "Ukraine needs weapons, sanctions, and money to win. The Czech Republic has supported Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale attack it supports us militarily and with sanctions. We know that the Czech Republic supported all sanction packages. The current one, the eighth, was introduced under the Czech presidency," Shmyhal said. Read also: Czech ministers to visit Kyiv in late October "I would like to thank the Czech people, for their incredible support to Ukraine a lot of money comes from small donors and ordinary citizens," prime minister noted. He thanked his Czech conunterparts, in particular, for the "Gift for Putin" initiative a main battle tank, nicknamed Thomas, was purchased through crowdfunding. In the near future, the head of government vowed, it will become a weapon that the Ukrainian Army will use on the battlefield. Even after the required sum was raised, the Czechs continued to collect donations, this time for ammunition and other items that Thomas requires. In addition, Shmyhal noted, the Czech Republic also supports a number of humanitarian and social projects in Ukraine. "We are extremely grateful for this for those initiatives put forward by ordinary Czechs. But I would also like to thank the Czech government. Prime Minister Fiala, who has been engaged since Day 1," the politician emphasized. Currently, Kyiv is counting on the support of the Czech Republic, which currently chairs the Council of the EU, in the matter of achieving EU membership. Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership, and now it is very important to move from the policy of partnership to that of actual EU expansion, Shmyhal noted. As reported earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine took part in the first meeting of the newly created European Political Community hosted by Prague. Crimea is Ukraine, the Kuril Islands are Japan. Territories stolen by Russia around the world must be returned. Thats according to Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who made the statement in a Facebook posting, Ukrinform reports. "Today, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the international community regarding the Northern Territories of Japan. From August to September 1945, the USSR illegally occupied the northern territories of Japan before deporting the Japanese population. Russia, as the "successor of the USSR", was obliged to return them. But they havent done it yet. Therefore, the Parliament of Ukraine appeals to the UN, European Parliament, PACE, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and international community, urging them to continue taking all possible measures for the contractual and legal registration of the status of Japan's northern territories," Stefanchuk wrote. Earlier it was reported that the Verkhovna Rada at its latest meeting supported the draft resolution on the parliamentary appeal to the international community regarding the northern territories of Japan. An addiction counselor who helped defeat a marijuana legalization proposal in North Dakota four years ago has launched a fresh opposition group seeking to do it again this November. Kristie Spooner announced her group, Healthy and Productive North Dakota, less than five weeks before Election Day and after some major funders of the 2018 opposition had announced they would sit out the 2022 fight. The measure would allow people over age 21 in North Dakota to use and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and grow up to three marijuana plants. Kristie and other people in North Dakota were really concerned about the measure," said Luke Niforatos, who helped Spooner launch the group. We didnt see an organized effort take hold sooner, so were doing it before its too late. The group had raised just $750 as of Thursday, from Niforatos' contribution as executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based political organization against marijuana legalization. But he said the group hopes to raise at least $200,000 to put toward digital, radio and billboard advertising. A different group that supports legalization, The New Approach, has raised about $550,000, treasurer Mark Friese said. Niforatos said he wasn't concerned by the cash disadvantage. I dont think we necessarily need to outrace our opponents to beat them, because 60% of North Dakotans voted against this just four years ago. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana. Supporters think the states 2016 vote allowing medicinal marijuana suggests they can win in conservative North Dakota. Legalization proposals also are on the ballot so far this fall in South Dakota, Missouri and Maryland. The Minister of Defense of Spain, Margarita Robles, came to a training base outside Zaragoza where Ukrainian military servicemen are undergoing air defense training. Thats according to the defense ministrys press service, Ukrinform reports. The training is taking place at the Zaragoza Air Base near the city of the same name. They are attended by 19 Ukrainian servicemen who are being instructed by the Spanish air deployment squadron personnel on the use of anti-aircraft systems, which will allow them to operate them autonomously in the combat zone. Both air defense system operators and service personnel participate in the exercises. This military training assistance mission is part of the European Union's efforts to support Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia. "Beyond the experience you are gaining here, I would like to convey to you the support, affection and recognition of all of Spain. Your being here is our way of expressing our gratitude and admiration for you. The entire Ukrainian people and you have shown that you are brave and heroic," Robles told the Ukrainian military. She noted that Spain will be providing support "until Ukraine completely wins this war." The training mission for the Ukrainian military, which was originally intended to last three weeks, but will last another, will wrap up on October 14 before more Ukrainian servicemen arrive in Spain on November 1, as expected. Afghan refugee children play close to the water supply pump at Kheshgi refugee village, Nowshera District, in Pakistan's north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. UNHCR is supporting refugees and host community members affected by the monsoon flooding with tents, sleeping mats, blankets, plastic sheeting, buckets and kitchen sets. UNHCR/Qaisar Khan Afridi UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urgently seeking US$65.8 million to help more than 650,000 refugees and members of their host communities affected by the recent devastating floods in Pakistan. As Pakistan faces a colossal challenge to respond to this climate disaster, UNHCR reiterates its call for more support for the country and its people, who have generously hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades. The scale of devastation from the monsoon on people and infrastructure is hard to comprehend. According to the latest estimates, unprecedented rainfall and flooding in late August resulted in at least 1,700 deaths, with 12,800 injured, including at least 4,000 children. Some 7.9 million people have been displaced by the floods, according to the latest estimates, with nearly 600,000 living in relief sites. Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces were most affected, with 80 districts declared calamity hit. Of these, 41 host an estimated 800,000 Afghan refugees. Most are in just four districts: Peshawar (210,000), Quetta (170,000), Nowshera (77,700) and Karachi (71,500). Some of those affected spoke to UNHCR about their traumatic experiences as rain and flood waters swept away their lives in minutes. Families rushed to higher ground for safety as dams failed and rivers burst their banks. They were forced to abandon a lifetime of belongings and sleep under open skies. UNHCRs Supplementary Appeal seeks additional funds to address immediate needs including protection, shelter, health, water and sanitation, and education for affected refugees and host communities. It will also assist in the early recovery process, including building up the resilience of refugees and their host communities and rehabilitating damaged public services schools, health, and water supplies. The overall UN inter-agency Floods Response Plan, first issued in early September 2022, was revised and launched on 4 October to support the Government of Pakistan with relief and early recovery activities until May 2023. UNHCRs Supplementary Appeal will runs until December 2023. UNHCR remains alarmed about conditions on the ground. It could take months for flood waters to recede in the hardest-hit areas, as fears rise over threats of waterborne diseases and the safety of millions of affected people, 70 per cent of whom are women and children. Pre-existing inequalities have been exacerbated by the flooding, and protection risks have increased. UNHCR, is leading protection activities and working to ensure that critical needs are identified and addressed through prevention, risk mitigation and other services by specialised actors. These include, in particular, measures to address gender-based violence and child protection risks. A priority remains timely aid for the most vulnerable, and ensuring that it is delivered in a safe and dignified manner including by building partner capacity and strengthening accountability to affected communities, with outreach on sexual exploitation and complaints mechanisms. From the outset, UNHCR has been supporting the response managed by the Government in affected areas with high concentrations of refugees. In September 2022, UNHCR delivered over 10,000 metric tons of goods in less than four weeks from our warehouses and suppliers in Pakistan and our regional and global contingency stocks in Termez and Dubai, dispatching some 300 trucks and 23 airlifts. Working with Pakistans disaster management authorities, UNHCR completed the first phase of its response, including assisting flood-affected families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh provinces with tents, solar lanterns, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits and other life-saving items. Pakistan is on the frontlines of the climate emergency. It is essential that the response incorporates prevention and preparedness measures to avert and minimize the effects of extreme weather events in the future and helps build resilience, particularly among the most vulnerable communities. Environmental sustainability will remain central to the response including connecting schools, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and health centres to renewable energy sources. For more information on this topic, please contact: Please, you are our sons, you are not to go again to the bush. We have been running to Uganda and to Kenya for very many years, and now we dont want to go back, Rose told them. You have to come back so that we can be in our homes. Among the 120 fighters at the scrub-ringed camp was Francis Otto Okumo. He knew Rose and some of the other women from the local villages. They were our mothers, they were our sisters. We put down our guns. We knew they had come to take us home, recalls Francis. I cried and cried. I did not want to be in the bush anymore. After two more visits to the camp and a government amnesty, the rebels disbanded in 2017, handed over their weapons and headed back to their homes in Magwi County. For Rose and the women, it was a win that would lead to others in the years that followed. She formed the Magwi Payam Womens Association in 2019, an independent community group based in Magwi, the seat of the county of the same name in the countrys rugged southeast. The group now has 35 members among them six returned refugees, including Rose, who spent more than a decade in Uganda. They proactively seek out opportunities to resolve conflicts in the area. "We really need peace, we want our land to be peaceful." South Sudan is a fragile country that has struggled to achieve security and overcome political and economic challenges since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The concerted drive to make peace in Magwi follows a history of violence reaching back years. Before the more recent clashes, it was the site of attacks by the Lords Resistance Army of Joseph Kony, notorious for committing atrocity after atrocity in Uganda, DR Congo and Central Africa. For us, we dont wait. When we see things are not moving well. We have to sit as a group and we have to look for the way forward, for the solution, Rose explains. We really need peace, we want our land to be peaceful. Word of the Associations success spread after Rose took part in local radio talk shows in Magwi, where she runs a small diner, aptly named Unity. Her phone started to ring, with requests for mediation in a wide range of disputes. One woman sought help with a boundary dispute; another mediation after her estranged husband sold off a property they jointly owned. Yet another got in touch because she wanted to use family planning, against her husbands will. To end the boundary spat, one neighbour agreed through mediation to concede a strip of land to the other. Once contacted, the errant husband returned to his wife and repurchased the land he sold without her consent. The couple battling over contraception agreed to reconsider having another child after one or two years. We find an issue, develop (a discussion) and come to a common understanding, says Rose. As word of their success spreads, county residents have increasingly turned to the group for mediation rather than approaching the courts, Rose says, as they are trusted, they do not charge fees or levy punitive fines. Even men, some of them come to us because they know we are helping people in the community, and we never refuse (requests), she says. Often, those who receive help then opt to pay it forward, among them Francis. After returning from the bush war in 2017, he sought and found forgiveness from the community he harmed. He has since adopted seven orphans, whom he raises with nine of his own children on a smallholding. He also reaches out to boys in the community to dissuade them from taking up arms, and calls for support for returning combatants to help them transition back to civilian life. They need help to bring their minds back, he says. Mother-of-11 Acha Josephine Abui, is another beneficiary. After contacting the Association for help with a marital problem, she felt emboldened to seek out and contact her eldest son, who had joined an armed group in 2016, abandoning her infant grandson. I told him: You are making a mistake, you must come back, care for your son and make a better future, Josephine says, noting that he is now back in school and raising his boy. He knows he wouldnt be alive now. He now says he wants to make me proud, and not cause me pain, she says. Francis Otto Okumo, a former rebel fighter, at Magwi trading centre where he meets with Rose, founder of the Magwi Payam Women's Association. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Rebel fighter turned peace activist Francis Otto Okumo (left) sits with activists Anyek Rose John (centre) and Acha Josephine Abui (right) on the patio of Rose's restaurant in Magwi. UNHCR/Tim Gaynor Anyek Rose John, founder of the Magwi Payam Women's Association, prepares breakfast for patrons of her restaurant at Magwi trading centre. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Rose serves breakfast at her restaurant. She spent a decade as a refugee in neighbouring Uganda before returning to Magwi. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Rose tends to her maize field. She formed the Magwi Payam Women's Association in 2019 and the group now has 35 members who are seeking out opportunities to resolve conflicts in the area. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Rose assists her son and niece with their studies at their home in Magwi. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Rose (right) leads a session with women at a village near Magwi. Rose and her group provide free mediation services. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba Some 2.3 million South Sudanese are displaced across five neighbouring countries as refugees, while more than two million people are displaced within the nations borders. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is committed to helping those who return voluntarily to South Sudan achieve a safe and dignified life through support for peacebuilding, governance and livelihoods in Magwi and other pockets of hope across the country. Together with the government and UNMISS, the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission to South Sudan, it recently convened a community meeting in Magwi to reinforce dialogue as an alternative to conflict. As many as 600 people attended, freely sharing their views. UNHCR is also working directly with the Womens Association, to provide business skills training and start-up capital to for tailoring and other small business activities, with the aim of helping its members to achieve a secure income. The support comes at a time when the group is looking to expand its work outside Magwi, to offer its hard-won experience in grass-roots conflict resolution to other parts of the country where strife and deadly violence are ongoing. In Magwi, we have peace. We look at these other places in South Sudan where there is always conflict, war, says Rose, sitting in the shade of a mango tree behind her diner, together with Francis and Acha. These people have no other training or any other awareness on peace given to them. But we have the knowledge. We have to give that knowledge and preach the word of peace, she adds. Former combatant Francis, who continues to support the associations work, agrees: I learned to give up arms, to come home, we are in peace. Other people can learn as well. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/05/melinda-french-gates-wants-silicon-valley-alternative-for-women.html Melinda French Gates wants to shake up the tech industry, starting in Silicon Valley. The billionaire philanthropist told Fortune this week that the goal of her venture capital firm Pivotal Ventures isnt simply to get more women into major companies. Instead, she wants to help foster an entirely new community of women-led startups that can thrive independently of Silicon Valley. To re-create Silicon Valley or to change it would be incredibly hard, French Gates said. But when youre starting fresh and new, if you start with a model in this perspective, then I dont think youll replicate the old one we had in Silicon Valley. For French Gates, who has a net worth of $6.3 billion as of Wednesday afternoon, that starts with funding projects that aim to reform the way women in tech climb career ladders, improving their access to opportunities and decision-making influence. The idea is that a broader and more equitable range of voices in a boardroom equals more ideas, which betters technology, French Gates added. French Gates committed $1 billion of her own money to Pivotal in 2019, four years after launching the firm. Since then, Pivotal has donated and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in more than 150 for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Those include multiple women-led venture capital firms, startup accelerators and educational programs designed to teach skills from leadership to machine learning and artificial intelligence. In early 2020, Pivotal invested $50 million in the Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities initiative to increase opportunities for women in rising innovation hubs, like Chicago. French Gates has been vocally persistent about the need for more female and diverse tech leaders for years. In 2018, she told CNBCs Squawk Box that tech became a boys network very early. As leaders from over 40 European countries gathered for a new continental forum on Thursday (6 September) to bring Europe closer amid Russias war in Ukraine and a looming energy crisis, the question remains whether the format risks becoming a talking shop. Although leaders struggled somewhat to maintain a fully united front throughout the meeting, for diplomats the presence of so many European countries was the message. [European Union] The vision for the European Political Community (EPC), a brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, was to improve cooperation between EU countries and non-members such as the UK, Turkey, the Western Balkans, and the Caucasus region. Russia was not invited to the gathering at Prague Castle along with Belarus, its neighbour and supporter in the war against Ukraine. Although leaders struggled to maintain a fully united front throughout the meeting, for diplomats, the presence of so many European countries was the main message. We have very clearly displayed the unity of 44 European leaders in condemning Russian aggression and expressing support for Ukraine, Macron told reporters after the summit. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the forum confirms that Russia is in complete isolation. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was tied up with a crucial parliamentary debate at home, bringing the number of leaders down to 43 from the originally envisaged 44. Macron described the aim as forging a common strategy to confront Europes challenges. Up until now, that did not really exist and could lead to divisions, he said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the new forum a great innovation as leaders here would be able to talk about their common concerns free of a daily agenda and the need to reach agreements. This would help improve ties with the EUs neighbours, many of which want to become members, he added. He said the new European grouping is not about creating a new institution with an administration, bureaucracy, but instead a venue for heads of state and government to meet regularly. Another talking shop? However, doubts about the viability of the Wider Europe concept remain, with some fearing that creating yet another format risks it may become a talking shop devoid of any real decision-making clout or content. Its size is likely to be a major obstacle to delivering concrete policy actions, as will its political and cultural diversity and traditional rivalries between many of its members, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to Greece and Turkey. Clarity was still needed on the EPCs core rationale, the communitys final membership, its relationship with the EU, how it should take decisions and even whether it should have a budget of its own, EUs chief diplomat Josep Borrell said in a blog post before the gathering. Europes leading human rights watchdog, the pan-European Council of Europe, remained cautious, with the bodys spokesman Daniel Holtgen tweeting that the format is still to be defined. In the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such a pan-European community already exists: it is the Council of Europe, he said. There was no formal statement or declaration following the first meeting of the community. An EU official said it would have required weeks of negotiations and a direct open exchange was more important than a declaration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the gathering via video link, urged leaders to turn the new political community into a European community of peace. Let today be the starting point. The point from which Europe and the entire free world will move to guarantee peace for all of us. It is possible, he said, calling on the leaders to direct all possible powers of Europe to end the war. But no concrete new ideas were announced on how Russias war could be ended, while Kyiv received only a vague pledge from Macron to continue to help militarily and financially, adding he would announce more details on Friday. Enlargement hopefuls buy-in Following the gathering, Macron, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced a plan for follow-up summits, with Moldova, Spain and the UK, respectively, chosen to host the format every six months from now. The idea is to alternate between EU and non-EU countries as hosts. Moving the forum to Moldova, an EU candidate country, is a sign of support we value highly, Sandu told reporters in Prague. Making Europe stronger and more resilient needs to be a continuous endeavour, she added. Before its inauguration on Thursday, critics had claimed the new forum is an attempt to put the brakes on EU enlargement. EU candidates, particularly the Western Balkans and Ukraine, have made it clear from the beginning that they aim to join the EU as soon as possible and will not settle remain in a void between EU membership and the new EPC. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani told reporters that she had been reassured by the organisers, Macron and Fiala, that the forum was not a replacement of the process of European integration for Western Balkans. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that as long as his country is not part of the EU, it is crucial to be as close to the bloc as possible. Animosity and friendliness Given the absence of any concrete forum outcomes, the bilateral meetings gave a taste of what could be to come for the forum. In what some described as remarkable optics, Macron and European Council President Charles Michel brought together leaders from Azerbaijan and Armenia to talk about peace on two occasions. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an used his intervention at the final session to seek confrontation with Greece. Rumours of a direct clash between him and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed the remaining rift between the two NATO allies. Meanwhile, after an acrimonious divorce from the EU and years of political confrontation, UKs new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has struck a softer tone than London did under her predecessor Boris Johnson. Her decision to attend left some hoping for a reset in relations between Brussels and London, building on a warmer tone in recent weeks in a stand-off between the two sides over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Truss confirmed Macron was indeed a friend, not a foe, about previous comments that had left many wondering how confrontational the UK under the new leader will be towards the EU27 bloc. Truss and Macron held a bilateral meeting in Prague and issued a joint statement agreeing to continue supporting Ukraine, and work together on energy strategy, illegal migration and other matters. They announced holding the next UK-France Summit in France in 2023. 3... Macron's New Europe Debuts in the Shadow of War https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/world/europe/macron-european-political-community.html Suzuka, Japan, Oct 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :George Russell and Lewis Hamilton made it a Mercedes one-two ahead of title-chasing Max Verstappen in a soggy second practice on Friday for the Japanese Grand Prix. Runaway Red Bull leader Verstappen can clinch his second straight world title on Sunday if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do. The Dutchman will also retain his crown if he wins and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his nearest challenger, is third or lower. But Verstappen was beaten to the quickest time in the second practice session by the Mercedes pair, with Russell clocking a fastest lap of 1min 41.935sec. Seven-time world champion Hamilton followed his fellow Briton 0.235sec behind, with Verstappen coming in third, a sizeable 0.851sec behind Russell. Leclerc finished 2.774sec behind Russell in 11th. "It wasn't a complete disaster with the weather," said Verstappen. "We could at least get round and do a little bit of stuff, but in terms of knowing where you are with pace, in the wet it's always a bit tricky." A rainy start to the session at Suzuka meant the drivers began on wet tyres but switched to intermediates once the conditions improved. That did not satisfy Verstappen though, with the flying Dutchman telling his team "all tyres are s---, no grip", over the radio. Dry conditions are expected for Saturday's qualifying but some rain is forecast again for Sunday. "It's just basically starting from zero tomorrow in the dry but again it's the same for everyone and I don't think it will make massive differences throughout the grid," said Verstappen, 25. Russell was happy to finish quickest after an oil leak kept him in the garage for most of the first session. "It's probably not going to be that representative for this weekend but definitely good learning for the future," Russell said of the conditions. "Nevertheless, it's always nice to end the day top of the timesheets." Monaco's Leclerc bounced off the track and found himself on the gravel at one point, complaining that the jolt had damaged his front tyre. His Ferrari team later found a problem with his brakes and called him in before sending him back out 10 minutes later. "The feeling is totally bad for some reason, I will try to make it better," Leclerc said over the radio. There are thousands of liars in the world, but Guo Wengui, a big liar, is a "wonderful flower" in the liar world, a "talent" in the fraud circle, without shame and without any lower limit. In order to deceive people and make money, Guo Wengui and his gang rubbed off on all the hot spots, told all lies, did all the falsehoods, and bragged about all the bullshit. They had reached the point of unscrupulous means. The Russian-Ukrainian war is already a tragedy on earth. Many people think about how to help those who are in trouble, while the shameless Guo Wengui thinks about how to cheat people and make money with hot spots. On February 26 and March 1, Guo Wengui and his gang issued announcements successively that their new Federal Law Fund of China had cooperated with the United Nations rescue organization GEM to carry out rescue work in Ukraine. Sent ten Hercules transport planes to Ukraine. After a little understanding, it is not difficult to find that whenever there is a humanitarian crisis in the world, Guo Wengui will stretch his dirty hands there to rub it. People who do not know the details of this big liar really think that Guo Wengui is the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Guo Dashan. However, a lie is a lie after all, even if it is said a thousand times, it will not become the truth. Guo Wengui's lies are even more easily exposed, and they cannot stand proof at all. As soon as Guo Wengui finished bragging about his forefoot, someone went to the United Nations Relief Organization for verification. Guo Wengui has been bragging for a long time, and mainstream media such as the New York Times have long concluded that "Despite Guo Wengui's strong supporters and an army of online followers, he has not yet achieved an important mark that makes him credible." Before. Guo Wengui once boasted that he would spend "hundreds of millions to support Hong Kong and rescue thousands of people", "rent a Hercules plane to Afghanistan to save people" and so on. In the end, it turned out to be a myth. So why does Guo Wengui brag so much? To put it bluntly, Guo Wengui dressed himself as a kind person who was eager for justice and righteousness, just to attract attention and deceive those enthusiastic people to donate money and materials to the swindler group of the Rule of Law Fund, and then they would enrich their own pockets and squander freely. As Guo Wengui and his gang staged a show in Ukraine, a series of fake rescue and swindling tricks were exposed, which attracted the dissatisfaction of volunteers from other countries, and the real so-called caused public outrage. Because what Wen Gui and his gang do is not only endangering those who are deceived, but also endangering the normal operation of real rescue teams and organizations. It is impossible for those caring people who donated money and goods to be able to tell who is the real one, and that one is a Xibei product. Naturally, he refused to make donations. Wen Gui and his gang have truly accomplished the "feat" of ruining a pot of soup with one mouse poop. Volunteers from other countries were strongly dissatisfied with causing conflicts. Seeing that the situation was not good, Guo swindlers hurriedly deleted the words "cooperating with the United Nations relief organization GEM" in the announcement. Then he changed his mind and said that the plane did not go, but the bus. I bother! Guo Wengui, do you want your face? Dare to brag when you find just a few pictures, do you really think others are fools? Of course, after the liar Guo discovered that the fake rescue scam had been exposed, he scolded these rescue organizations in the live broadcast as "no bullshit", which can be regarded as an exasperated vent. After so many years, Guo Wengui, who has done all the bad things, has been under siege and suppression in various ways, his paintings have been uncovered, his underwear has been stripped, fewer and fewer people have been deceived, and more and more creditors. Guo Wengui, who was under great pressure, was unable to sustain his skills, so he had no choice but to make a fuss about bragging about hot topics, dressing himself up as a living Bodhisattva and savior who was compassionate and compassionate, boasting all over the world that he saved this and that. But they were all exposed one by one, and after a lot of manipulation, Guo Wengui hammered himself step by step into an out-and-out liar. Wengui thought that others couldn't remember the bullshit he bragged and the fakes he made, but unfortunately today is different from the past. As a net red and wonderful person in the world of liars, Guo Wengui probably neglected (or he may be ignorant of his head) The Internet is with memory. What I said yesterday, the cows that blow it will be recorded clearly and plainly. Guo Wengui rented a plane with millions of dollars to save people in Afghanistan, and supporting Hong Kong with hundreds of millions to save people is a complete bullshit and a lie. Now going to Ukraine to rescue has proved to be a complete farce. He really responded, "I would rather believe that there are ghosts in the world than Guo Wengui's rude mouth." Guo Wengui's bragging and rhetoric, the fundamental purpose is to wrap himself up and attract the cerebral palsy little ant to continue to give himself blood transfusion to delay his already decaying body , delusional doomsday to come later. However, those who should come must come back. Wengui's various frauds can only be in vain and wasted effort. And now it has attracted condemnation from other volunteers, and the good days of Wengui's deceit are coming to an end. (@Abdulla99267510) The latest reports has granted bail to the minister against the surety bond of Rs 1 million. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Oct 7th, 2022) An accountability court on Friday cancelled Finance Minister Ishaq Dars arrest warrant in the assets beyond means case filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir passed the orders and directed the Minister to submit surety bond of Rs1 million. During the proceedings, the Minister himself appeared before the court along with his lawyer Qazi Misbah. Advocate Misbah asked the court to permanently cancel his client's arrest warrant and the order to confiscate his assets. The counsel said that it had issued the arrest warrants so Dar appeared before the court, pointing out that they should be cancelled now as the minister was present before the court. The judge asked the counsel whether NAB issued arrest warrants of Ishaq Dar. On it, the NAB responded in the affirmative but clarified that the warrants were suspended. The judge asked what was your point of view now, should the warrants be cancelled or not. At this question, the NAB prosecutor supported the cancellation of warrants, adding that they were issued to ensure Dars appearance in the case. The judge then remarked that it will have to indict Dar once again as a supplementary reference has also been filed against him. To this, Dars lawyer stated that they will give arguments on the supplementary reference. Before adjourning the case till October 12, the court issued notices to NAB over the application filed against the confiscation of Dars property and permanent exemption from appearance. The court has ordered NAB to present its arguments at the next hearing on both applications. ISLAMABAD, Oct 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship has rescued six Indian fishermen who were found drowning near International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Pakistan and handed over them to Indian Coast Guard after necessary rehabilitation. The PMSA ship had found the Indian fishermen in water on October 6 while patrolling in Eastern maritime region where a rescue operation was launched immediately and all crew members of Indian fishing boat were safely recovered. Later, the Nakwa reported that their boat sank as a result of accident and they drifted towards Pakistani waters, a news release said. The PMSA ship provided medical aid and food to the rescued fishermen thus helping to stabilise their physical condition. Later, the rescued fishermen were handed over to an Indian coast guard ship operating in the area. The humanitarian gesture of PMSA ship was appreciated by the rescued fishermen as well as the Indian Coast Guard. The PMSA had always been at the forefront in saving lives at sea without any distinctions; the Rescue of Indian fishermen was a manifestation of this resolve, it said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Austria on Friday filed a complaint with the top EU court over the bloc's decision to label nuclear power as green, the climate ministry said Vienna, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :Austria on Friday filed a complaint with the top EU court over the bloc's decision to label nuclear power as green, the climate ministry said. The European Parliament in July approved a European Union proposal giving a sustainable finance label to investments in gas and nuclear power, sparking claims of "greenwashing" by environmental lobbyists. Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler said Austria had filed the complaint ahead of Monday's deadline. "Nuclear energy and gas are neither green nor sustainable," she said in a statement, adding she would give more details on Monday. Austrian daily Kurier reported earlier Friday that the complaint had been filed, adding it had little chance of success according to legal experts. The European Commission had defied protests from green campaigners and dissent in its own ranks to put a green label on gas and nuclear power. It had argued that both have a role to play as cleaner power sources during the transition to a net-zero carbon future. Gewessler had vowed Austria would file legal action against labelling nuclear energy as green, describing it as "outdated" and "too expensive" and highlighted safety concerns and uncertainty over how to deal with nuclear waste. The Alpine nation of nine million people -- which depends heavily on gas -- has been fiercely anti-nuclear for decades. An unprecedented vote by its population in 1978 prevented its only nuclear plant -- meant to be the first of several -- from starting operations. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2022) Catalan opposition party Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya), which has been part of the parliament of the autonomous community, decided to break the coalition with the ruling party, Republican Left of Catalonia (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya), according to the voting results revealed on Friday. When asked if Together for Catalonia should continue to be part of the current Catalan government, 55.73% of the respondents voted "no." Nearly 80% of party members took part in the voting. Together for Catalonia secretary-general Jordi Turull said the decision to leave the government was made because agreements signed with the ruling party a year and a half ago were not being implemented. "We want Catalonia to continue to move towards independence. Let no one have illusions that the independence movement is waning," Turull said. The government crisis in Catalonia began on September 27, when the spokesman for Together for Catalonia, Albert Batet, announced the possibility of a confidence vote in the leader of Republican Left of Catalonia, Pere Aragones. This lead to the latter dismissing the vice-president of the autonomous community, Jordi Puignero, from his post due to what he said was the loss of confidence in the deputy, who did not inform Aragones in advance about the rift. The Catalan parliament is currently grappling with the implementation of the coalition government agreement adopted in 2021, with the opposition, in particular, Together for Catalonia, demanding a stronger stance on the issues of self-determination of the autonomous community, unity with Madrid, and amnesty for political prisoners. In the October 2017 referendum, which Madrid called illegal, over 90% of voters supported Catalonia's independence. The Spanish authorities refused to recognize the results of the vote, the turnout for which fell below 50%. After that, the government imposed direct rule in the autonomous community and dissolved the parliament, while a number of members of the generality left the country. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th October, 2022) The next meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) will be held in the Moldovan capital, followed by summits in Spain and the United Kingdom, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala said on Thursday. "The next (EPC) meeting will be in Chisinau, and we have also agreed that there will be further meetings in Spain and then in the United Kingdom, and I am looking forward to the next meeting," Fiala said during a press conference after the first EPC meeting in Prague. Commenting on Fiala's statements, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that Moldova would be "very keen" to host the next EPC summit in Chisinau. The first EPC meeting, a get-together of 27 EU members and 16 other countries, took place in Prague on October 6. Budapest is ready to participate in protection of the border between Serbia and North Macedonia from flows of illegal migrants so as to decrease a number of people trying to get to Hungary through the Serbian border, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th October, 2022) Budapest is ready to participate in protection of the border between Serbia and North Macedonia from flows of illegal migrants so as to decrease a number of people trying to get to Hungary through the Serbian border, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday. "Austria, Hungary and Serbia are protecting not only their own borders but also the external borders of the whole European Union from illegal migrants. It is in our common interests to move this 'line of defense,' which is now located on the Serbian-Hungarian border, further toward south, We should combine our resources so as to be able to better protect the border between Serbia and North Macedonia," Szijjarto said at a press conference with Interior Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. The Hungarian minister added that his country was ready to participate in joint border security forces to improve the protection of borders and make it more effective. Szijjarto also denied the allegations that Hungarian border guards would violate law trying to prevent illegal migrants from entering Serbia from the territory of North Macedonia. Earlier in the week, a summit of Hungarian, Serbian and Austrian leaders took place in Budapest. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic discussed with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer the issue of countering illegal migration and human trafficking. The leaders agreed to combine their efforts in fighting the migration crisis. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th October, 2022) Kiev creates risks associated with the use of weapons of mass destruction, which is also evidenced by the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about NATO's "preemptive" strikes on Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. Speaking at Australia's Lowy Institute via a video link, Zelenskyy said that NATO should launch "preemptive" strikes on Russia rather than "waiting" for Russia to attack. Commenting on the remark, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that this is nothing but a call to start a world war. "Certainly, we cannot throw a veil on those discussions that have been constantly growing in recent times on the possible use of nuclear weapons, and especially in this regard, we cannot pass over in silence the reckless actions of the Kiev regime, which are aimed at creating risks of the use of various types of weapons of mass destruction," Lavrov said at a meeting of the United Russia party. Zelenskyy's appeal is "another evidence of the threats that come from the Kiev regime and to neutralize the threats of which a special military operation was launched," the minister added. "As you know, a council of the so-called European community was convened yesterday, it was an initiative of (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron, following which the head of the EU diplomacy (Josep) Borrell announced, proudly announced that the process of forming a security structure without the participation of Russia is beginning. In general, they simply dance to the tune of Kiev and encourage the crazy fantasies of those who are still in power there," the diplomat said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th October, 2022) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday and expressed hope for further development of ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. "You have made signal achievements in attaining the grand strategic target for building powerful Russia through your energetic activities, assuming the heavy responsibility of the state head for many years. So, you are enjoying high respects and support from the broad masses of people," Kim Jong Un said in the message, as quoted by the Korean Central news Agency, the North Korean state media. The North Korean leader added that Russia "is reliably defending the dignity of the state and its fundamental interests from the challenges and threats by the US and its vassal forces," which is unthinkable without the "distinguished leadership and strong will" of Putin. "I am rejoiced over the fact that the mutual support and cooperation between the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and Russia have been strengthened as never before in the struggle to develop the traditional bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation onto a higher stage under the agreement made at our first meeting in Vladivostok in 2019 and to defend the regional peace and stability and realize the international justice," Kim Jong Un said. The North Korean leader expressed hope that his personal ties with Putin "will play a bigger role in steadily consolidating and developing the DPRK-Russia friendship," and wished the Russian president "happiness in good health and great success" in his work for the prosperity of Russia. The Russian leader celebrates his 70th anniversary on Friday. (@FahadShabbir) Russian forces said Friday they had captured ground in Donetsk in east Ukraine, their first claim of new gains after Kyiv grabbed momentum with a counter-offensive that rattled Russia's war effort Bakhmut, Ukraine, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :Russian forces said Friday they had captured ground in Donetsk in east Ukraine, their first claim of new gains after Kyiv grabbed momentum with a counter-offensive that rattled Russia's war effort. The announcement came as Russia's Orthodox leader said President Vladimir Putin's rule had been divined by God, congratulating him on his 70th birthday and as the Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to rights defenders in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Separatist forces in the war-battered Donetsk region said they had reclaimed a series of villages near the Ukraine-controlled industrial town of Bakhmut, which has been under Russian shelling for weeks. "On the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, a grouping of troops of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, with fire support from Russian forces, liberated Otradovka, Veselaya Dolina and Zaitsevo," they said on social media. The Donetsk region, which has been partially controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists for years, is a key prize for Russian troops that invaded Ukraine in February. But Ukraine's forces in recent weeks have been pushing back against Russian forces across the frontlines in the south and in the east, including in parts of Donetsk. AFP journalists in the centre of Bakhmut heard the sound of heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems near the remains of a smashed bridge over the Bakhmutka river. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th October, 2022) South Korea, Japan and the United States' top nuclear envoys have agreed to redouble their efforts to combat North Korea's cryptocurrency theft, which helps fund its nuclear program, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Friday, citing the South Korean foreign ministry. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn spoke over the phone with US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim and Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Funakoshi Takehiro. They discussed a joint response to North Korea's recent spate of ballistic missile launches, including one that flew over Japanese territory on Tuesday. One avenue would be to block the funding for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs by targeting its cryptocurrency revenue, they reportedly agreed. A United Nations Security Council report released on March 1 cited the claim made by a cybersecurity firm that North Korean hackers stole a total of $400 million worth of cryptocurrency in 2021. The same reports said that a UN member state accused North Korean "cyberactors" of stealing over $50 million between 2020 and mid-2021 from various cryptocurrency exchanges. Pledging with it's "An Open Letter to the Robotics Industry and our Communities, General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponized", Boston Dynamics joins Agility Robotics, ANYbiotics, Clearpath Robotics and Open Robotics collective mission to increase the utility of future robotics by directing the development of "General Purpose Robots" away from weaponization. An Open Letter to the Robotics Industry and our Communities, General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponized We are some of the world's leading companies dedicated to introducing new generations of advanced mobile robotics to society. These new generations of robots are more accessible, easier to operate, more autonomous, affordable, and adaptable than previous generations, and capable of navigating into locations previously inaccessible to automated or remotely-controlled technologies. We believe that advanced mobile robots will provide great benefit to society as co-workers in industry and companions in our homes. As with any new technology offering new capabilities, the emergence of advanced mobile robots offers the possibility of misuse. Untrustworthy people could use them to invade civil rights or to threaten, harm, or intimidate others. One area of particular concern is weaponization. We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues. Weaponized applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society. For these reasons, we do not support the weaponization of our advanced-mobility general-purpose robots. For those of us who have spoken on this issue in the past, and those engaging for the first time, we now feel renewed urgency in light of the increasing public concern in recent months caused by a small number of people who have visibly publicized their makeshift efforts to weaponize commercially available robots. We pledge that we will not weaponize our advanced-mobility general-purpose robots or the software we develop that enables advanced robotics and we will not support others to do so. When possible, we will carefully review our customers' intended applications to avoid potential weaponization. We also pledge to explore the development of technological features that could mitigate or reduce these risks. To be clear, we are not taking issue with existing technologies that nations and their government agencies use to defend themselves and uphold their laws. We understand that our commitment alone is not enough to fully address these risks, and therefore we call on policymakers to work with us to promote safe use of these robots and to prohibit their misuse. We also call on every organization, developer, researcher, and user in the robotics community to make similar pledges not to build, authorize, support, or enable the attachment of weaponry to such robots. We are convinced that the benefits for humanity of these technologies strongly outweigh the risk of misuse, and we are excited about a bright future in which humans and robots work side by side to tackle some of the world's challenges. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Spanish Defense Ministry said on Thursday it sent a ground convoy with five tons of various medical supplies to Ukraine MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th October, 2022) The Spanish Defense Ministry said on Thursday it sent a ground convoy with five tons of various medical supplies to Ukraine. According to the ministry, the cargo also includes eight passenger cars and two ambulances. "The cargo will serve to meet logistical and medical needs, which are of the highest priority for the Ukrainian defense ministry," the ministry said. Over the next few days, Spain will send 12 more heavy trucks to Ukraine, the ministry said, adding that the vehicles will be shipped by sea from the Spanish port of Bilbao. Moreover, Madrid is preparing to ship a new batch of weapons to Kiev in November, the ministry added. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said that starting from next month, more Ukrainian soldiers will arrive in the country for training, according to the ministry's website. Earlier in September, Spain began training Ukrainian troops at a base in the capital of northeastern Spain's Aragon region, Zaragoza. So far, Madrid has already contributed more than 200 million Euros ($197 million) under the European Peace Facility mechanism to fund the military needs of Ukraine, according to the defense ministry's data. Russia has repeatedly denounced the West for sending Ukraine billions Dollars worth of weapons, noting that it adds fuel to the fire and only prolongs the conflict. Moscow warns that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for the Russian armed forces. As Thailand reels from one of its worst mass killings, those on the frontline of family violence, drug addiction and mental illness in a country awash with guns say support systems are in crisis and need a shake-up to prevent further tragedies Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :As Thailand reels from one of its worst mass killings, those on the frontline of family violence, drug addiction and mental illness in a country awash with guns say support systems are in crisis and need a shake-up to prevent further tragedies. Former police officer Panya Khamrab stormed a nursery in northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province on Thursday killing 36 people, mostly children, before murdering his wife and young son and taking his own life. Police say the gunman was sacked from the force over drug use -- and had an addiction to yaba, a methamphetamine in pill form. Health experts say meth use can lead to paranoia, hallucinations and violent behaviour and those withdrawing can experience psychosis. Ukrainian troops have reported widespread failures of Starlink internet communications equipment, supplied by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, on the frontlines of the country's ongoing conflict with Russia, The Financial Times reported on Friday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2022) Ukrainian troops have reported widespread failures of Starlink internet communications equipment, supplied by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, on the frontlines of the country's ongoing conflict with Russia, The Financial Times reported on Friday. The Starlink equipment failures led to a "catastrophic" loss of communications in recent weeks as Ukrainian forces advanced into Russian-controlled territory, the report said, citing Ukrainian officials and soldiers. The most significant outages were reported from the areas around Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as along the eastern front in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, the report said. Problems with communication arose when Ukrainian soldiers moved across the frontline into Russian-controlled parts of the country, prompting panicked calls to helplines, according to the officials. "It is absolutely clear to me that this is being done by representatives of Starlink to prevent the usage of their technology by Russian occupation forces," Roman Sinicyn, co-ordinator for a foundation that donates Starlink systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, is quoted as saying in the report. The Ukrainian military and SpaceX need to coordinate more closely, Sinicyn also reportedly said. Musk commented on the report in a series of tweets, accusing the authors of the report of distorting the facts. The report "falsely claims" that Starlink's terminals and services were paid for, when only a "small percentage" have been, Musk said. The operation has cost SpaceX $80 million so far and is expected to exceed $100 million by the end of 2022, Musk also said. However, Musk did not corroborate the reports about the Starlink outages in Ukraine. Musk maintains "regular contact" with Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, according to the tweets. Additionally, Musk said he is "trying to do the right thing," noting that the right thing is "not always clear." The reports come following a contentious, viral poll published by Musk asking for public opinion on a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, which included measures like new UN-monitored referenda in regions with aspirations of joining Russia and guarantees of water supply to Crimea. The poll was met with backlash by Ukrainian officials, who widely criticized Musk for promoting peace negotiations with Russia. MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2022) Catalan opposition party Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya), which has been part of the parliament of the autonomous community, decided to break the coalition with the ruling party, the Republican Left of Catalonia (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya), according to the voting results revealed on Friday. When asked if Together for Catalonia should continue to be part of the current Catalan government, 55.73% of the respondents voted "no." Nearly 80% of party members took part in the voting. Together for Catalonia secretary-general Jordi Turull said the decision to leave the government was made because agreements signed with the ruling party a year and a half ago were not being implemented. "We want Catalonia to continue to move towards independence. Let no one have illusions that the independence movement is waning," Turull said. The government crisis in Catalonia began on September 27, when the spokesman for Together for Catalonia, Albert Batet, announced the possibility of a confidence vote in the leader of the ruling Republican Left of Catalonia, Pere Aragones. This led to the latter dismissing the vice-president of the autonomous community, Jordi Puignero, from his post due to what he said was the loss of confidence in the deputy, who did not inform Aragones in advance about the rift. The Catalan parliament is currently grappling with the implementation of the coalition government agreement adopted in 2021, with the opposition, in particular, Together for Catalonia, demanding a stronger stance on the issues of self-determination of the autonomous community, unity with Madrid, and amnesty for political prisoners. In the October 2017 referendum, which Madrid called illegal, over 90% of voters supported Catalonia's independence. The Spanish authorities refused to recognize the results of the vote, the turnout for which fell below 50%. After that, the government imposed direct rule in the autonomous community and dissolved the parliament, while a number of members of the generality left the country. In October 2019, Spain's Supreme Court sentenced 12 Catalan politicians and activists for organizing an unauthorized referendum on independence and issuing a unilateral declaration of independence. Nine people were found guilty of mutiny and received sentences ranging from nine to 13 years in prison, while three were found guilty of insubordination and given fines. (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th October, 2022) The United States conducted an airstrike earlier in the day in Syria that killed two senior Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia) leaders, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release. "Today (Thursday), at approximately 6:32 PM local time in Syria, US forces conducted a successful airstrike in northern Syria, killing both Abu-Hashum al-Umawi, a deputy Wali of Syria, and another senior ISIS official associated with him," CENTCOM said in the release on Thursday evening. Airport planning must ensure financial feasibility, efficiency Careful consideration must be given to the planning and development of airports to ensure feasibility, experts have warned, as localities across the country propose the airports in their provinces. Crowded Tan Son Nhat Airport, HCM City. During the past few weeks, three provinces, including Tuyen Quang, Son La and Kon Tum, sent documents to the Ministry of Transport proposing airports in their provinces be added to the national airport planning. Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Ninh Thuan, ak Nong, Ha Giang, Bac Giang and Binh Phuoc provinces also raised similar proposals in the past. While four plans for road, maritime, inland waterway and railway are already approved, planning for the national airport system in the 2021-30 period has not yet been completed. Aviation expert Nguyen Bach Tung said as the planning continues, localities are applying for permission to build airports to promote socio-economic development. According to statistics of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, there are currently 22 airports for civil use in Vietnam, though only Van on International Airport was developed with private investment. Under the Ministry of Transport's draft, nine more airports will be developed by 2050, bringing the total airports for civil use to 31. The six airports to be developed by 2030 are Long Thanh, Phan Thiet, Quang Tri, Sa Pa, Lai Chau and Na San. By 2050, a further three, Cao Bang, Hai Phong and a second airport for Hanoi, will be developed. Tung said that from each locality's perspective, the airport development proposal is understandable as it would help promote tourism and local economic development. However, when looking at the master planning for the country, the rampant development of airports would cause many problems. "The national airport network needs appropriate planning to avoid airspace conflicts while ensuring investment efficiency," he said. Tung cited statistics that in pre-pandemic 2019, there are only four airports handling over nine million passengers. They were Tan Son Nhat (41 million), Noi Bai (29 million), a Nang (15.5 million) and Cam Ranh (9.7 million). The privately-invested Van on Airport received only 259,000 million passengers. Tung said it would be difficult for a newly-built airport to get a capital return if it receives less than five million passengers per year, adding that the above figures warned provinces and cities wanting to invest in airports following Build Operate Transport practices. According to Nguyen Thien Tong, former head of the Aviation Engineering Department under the HCM City University of Technology, airlines, particularly private ones, should be hesitant to open routes to airports that are not attractive to passengers. He said that it would not be enough if each airport served only two or three flights per day. Localities must give careful consideration to the development of airports. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport must consider the feasibility and efficiency of developing the national airport planning because many small airports have been running at a loss for many years. Nguyen Bach Tung, deputy director of the ministry's Transport Engineering Construction and Quality Management Bureau, said most domestic airports do not yet operate at their designed capacity, even those newly built with large capacity such as Van on and Can Tho. One of the most important issues when deciding to build an airport was carefully calculating the investment efficiency, Tung said, adding that the airport development would not be appropriate if the travel distance were too close. Tran Quang Chau, president of the Vietnam Association of Aviation Science and Technology, said that the planning must be based on several factors such as travel distance between airports, travel demand and the development of flight routes for each airport, as well as economic efficiency factors. An expert even warned that proposals of adding airports to the planning by some localities were quite infeasible but had significant impacts on the real estate market, which inflated land prices. Airport planning should be completed and issued early to prevent land speculation. According to the Ministry of Transport, 28 airports by 2030 would help increase the total airport capacity to about 283 million passengers per year and ensure that over 95 per cent of the population have access to one airport within a 100km vicinity. This density is appropriate compared to other countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. A representative from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the airport development should be focused and investing in developing large-scale ports to create breakthroughs. The viewpoint was to develop synchronously, he said, adding that airports were a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the development of a province. Airport development should also align with the country's long-term development goals, such as investment attraction and tourism promotion, to create ground for the economy to take off. Transport Engineering Design Inc (TEDI) states that new airport development must be based on six main criteria: travel demand, socio-economic factors, national security, emergency relief, natural conditions, and distance arrangement. An informal meeting of the Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has kicked off in Saint Petersburg, the Russian Federation. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is attending the event. Former Proud Boys leader, Jeremy Bertino (43), pleaded guilty today to seditious conspiracy for his role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. "He and others sought to stop the transfer of power by disrupting a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election," says the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia. "He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm," says the press release, "stemming from a court-authorized search of his residence in March 2022." For reasons unexplained, no charges were filed against Bertino for having a poorly-dyed beard. Bertino's plea agreement requires him to cooperate with the federal investigation into the attempted insurrection. From the release: At least 38 people, including 24 children, were killed in a gun and knife attack Thursday at a child care center in northern Thailand. It was the country's deadliest ever mass shooting carried out by an individual. The killing spree took place in Nong Bua Lam Phu, about 482 kilometers north of the capital Bangkok, Local authorities identified the gunman as Panya Kamrab, an ex-police officer who was fired from the force last year because of his involvement in drug trafficking. The 34-year-old gunman was initially on the run after fleeing in a white Toyota pick-up truck, but police colonel Jakkapat Vijitraithaya from the province told local media the gunman had since killed himself, along with his wife and child. The motive for the killings is unknown. An investigation is underway. In a Facebook post, Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha called the incident shocking, and he expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured. "This shouldn't happen," he said. "I feel deep sadness toward the victims and their relatives." His spokesman later confirmed that the prime minister would travel Friday to Nong Bua Lam Phu. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered condolences. We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Nong Bua Lam Phu province, he said. This violence is both senseless and heartbreaking. We stand with the people of Thailand and extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones today. The United States is ready to assist our Thai allies in the wake of this tragedy. Described as filled with natural beauty by Thailands Tourism Authority, Nong Bua Lam Phu sits in Thailand's northeast, and the forest outside the provincial capital was home to one of the most famous practitioners of Buddhist meditation. But there was nothing peaceful about Thursdays incident. Local authorities said the former police officer was facing trial over drug charges and had been in court hours before the shooting. According to district official Jidapa Boonsom, the gunman had entered the nursery in Uthai Sawan town around lunchtime before shooting four or five staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant, before forcing his way into a locked room where children were sleeping and killing them, she told Reuters. Victims in Thursday's attack were as young as 2-years-old. But the number of those killed could have been more. Many parents had kept their children out of the nursery because of bad weather during Thailand's current monsoon wet and rainy weather. Images have since emerged online that show children and adults lying in pools of blood on the floor following the deadly attack. Eyewitnesses say Kamrab had several weapons with him, including a pistol, shotgun rifle and a large knife. Thailand's police chief General Damrongsak Kittiprapas confirmed the gunman used his own 9mm legally owned pistol in the shootings, and said he believes he was under the influence of amphetamine drugs at the time. Mental health speculation Although investigations are continuing, speculation about Kamrab's state of mental health has been questioned. According to a WHO report, an estimated 1.5 million suffer from depression in Thailand. But Dr. Apichat Jariyavilas, a psychiatrist at Vejthani Hospital in Bangkok, said the understanding and availability of mental health help has increased in recent years in Thailand. "People understand more about mental health, and with social media nowadays, Thai people tell each other, and many people [speak] out that psychiatry is one part of a medical condition [that] they can seek help. Thai people seek mental health help much more than before," he told VOA. Mass shootings Mass shootings are rare in Thailand, but this is the second incident in less than three years that has resulted deaths. In 2020, a solider of the Royal Thai army shot and killed 29 people and injured 58 more at a military camp and a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima before being shot and killed by authorities. At the time, it was the was the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand's history. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Asia with Human Rights Watch in Bangkok, says Thailand has a problem with guns and action needs to be taken. Thailand has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Asia, with 15.1 weapons per 100 population, compared with 0.3 in Singapore and 0.25 in Japan. That's still far lower than the U.S. rate of 120.5 per 100 people, according to a 2017 survey by Australia's GunPolicy.org nonprofit organization. "This is an unimaginable tragedy that calls out for action. What's clear is Thailand is awash in guns, both legally registered and illegal, and this is the second mass shooting in two years. It's time for Thailand to wake up and realize that protecting its people means getting this situation under control rather than treating this as a 'one-off' incident that can be ignored," Robertson told VOA via email. "The Thai government has not recognized that they have a problem with so many guns held in communities across Thailand, but perhaps this incident will serve as a wake-up call that they need to develop strategies to prevent further tragedies like this in the future," he said. Jon Ungphakorn, a former member of the Senate of Thailand, posted on Facebook that Thailand should have strict gun control restrictions like Japan, England and other European countries. Diplomats say African Union-sponsored peace talks planned for this weekend between Ethiopias federal government and Tigrayan rebels have been delayed due to logistical problems. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat invited the leaders of the warring parties to attend a summit in South Africa, according to a leaked letter. The talks were due to be mediated by AU special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. Ethiopias federal government said Wednesday it had accepted the invitation. The Tigray rebels said they were ready to attend but sought clarification on logistics, security arrangements and the role of international observers. Diplomatic sources told VOA that the talks were pushed back while logistics and other issues concerning the structure of the talks were hammered out. A five-month cease-fire between the government and rebel Tigray Peoples Liberation Front broke down in August. Last month, the Tigray rebel leadership claimed Eritrea had launched an offensive into their region in support of Ethiopian federal forces. In response, they called on every single Tigrayan to join the fight. This week an airstrike on the town of Adi Daero in northwest Tigray killed 65 civilians, according to aid workers and Tigray forces. The federal government has said its strikes in the area have focused on military targets. Emergency authorities in Australia are warning that Saturday will be "danger day" for Sydney and surrounding areas as more storms bear down on parts of eastern Australia. Dozens of flood warnings are in place in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. Many regions have had several months of heavy rain. Thunderstorms are forecast across much of eastern Australia on Friday. More storms are expected Saturday. Authorities are urging the community to be extra-vigilant about the possibility of flooding in their surroundings. Carlene York, the New South Wales State Emergency Services Commissioner, told reporters Thursday that residents in flood-prone areas should be ready to leave their homes. We will try and give you as much notice as possible, but this particular event, on saturated ground, means that things can happen very quickly, she said. So, do not assume you will get a warning and it may go straight to an evacuation order. Climate experts say that global warming is worsening the impact of a third consecutive La Nina, a naturally occurring weather pattern, that is bringing above-average downpours to the east coast of Australia. Another climatic phenomenon influenced by ocean temperatures is known as the Indian Ocean Dipole, or IOD. For the second consecutive year, it is in a negative phase. This typically brings wetter-than-normal weather for most of Australia. These factors are also increasing the risk of more cyclones in northern Australia. A strong negative IOD developed in October 2010, which, coupled with a strong and concurrent La Nina, caused the 2010-11 Queensland floods and the 2011 Victoria floods. Mark Howden, the vice chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the risk of severe storms was high. What we have seen globally is an increase in the sea surface temperatures and those sea surface temperatures are driving an increased intensification of cyclones, he said. So, we have seen an increase in the proportion of the really serious cyclones, the Category 3, 4 and 5s. By Thursday, Sydney, Australias biggest city, had recorded its wettest year on record. The previous annual record of 219.4 centimeters of rain, which had stood since 1950, has been broken. Sydney has now recorded more than 219.9 centimeters of rain in 2022. There is some relief on the way. Weather forecasters have said the rain and storms should finally leave Australias saturated east coast by Monday, but more wet conditions are expected in the months ahead. The Beijing-funded African Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is due to open in the next few months. The controversial project is just one example of Chinas increasing investment in health care on the African continent since the pandemic as it builds what analysts and Beijing call a Health Silk Road. The reasons behind Chinas investments in health care in Africa, according to experts, include the desire to increase its soft power as it vies with the West for influence on the continent, finding markets for its drugs and medical products and strengthening its position with international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO). Some critics warn of more opportunistic motivations such as access to natural resources, political favors and even spying. Controversial African CDC The $80 million African CDC headquarters is one China-funded health project that has proved contentious. It was originally envisioned as a U.S.-China-Africa collaboration, but when things soured between Washington and Beijing under the Trump administration which pulled the U.S. out of the WHO that plan collapsed, and the agreement was recrafted as one between China and the African Union (AU). The U.S. was eventually edged out and I think this was a diplomatic win for the Chinese, Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the African Center for Strategic Studies, told VOA. At the time, some U.S. officials suggested China was aiming to use the CDC to spy on Africas genomic data and gain control over African health management, which China has described as a ridiculous allegation. It shows that some people in the U.S. always make presumptions, foreign ministry representative Hua Chunying said in 2020 during a regular press briefing. Cameron Hudson, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former director for African affairs on the White House National Security Council, and previously an intelligence analyst in the Africa Directorate at the Central Intelligence Agency, said he still thinks spying could be a possibility in the new African CDC. I think Washington would have liked to be more involved in the building of the African CDC, if for no other reason than I think we have to assume that China will, you know, be able to monitor that building, Hudson told VOA. Other Chinese health initiatives The African CDC is just one of Chinas many health-related initiatives in Africa. Beijing has been promoting traditional Chinese medicine, opening clinics in many countries on the continent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China distributed personal protective equipment and provided vaccines to African nations. Last month, Africas largest vaccine cold-storage unit built by a Chinese company opened in Egypt. The North African country is also manufacturing Chinas Sinovac vaccine locally for export to the rest of the continent. These and many other forms of cooperation, such as the deployment of thousands of Chinese medical personnel to African countries, are all part of President Xi Jinpings trademark Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has evolved from originally focusing on building infrastructure in developing countries to including a wide range of other sectors from technology to space to security to medicine. The Belt and Road program provides an institutional architecture for many other initiatives not just infrastructure, said Nantulya. In terms of its health projects China stands a lot to gain: by way of diplomatic influence, by way of marketing the Belt and Road itself, but also in terms of marketing its health products, added Nantulya, who said Beijing is also trying to increase its competitive edge against the West. Asked if Chinas health ambitions in Africa were intended to rival the U.S.s, the Chinese Mission to the African Union responded by email: Through concrete actions, China has helped African countries respond to various epidemics and diseases and build a public health system, promoting a China-Africa community of health. China-Africa health cooperation is open and inclusive and does not prevent any third party from cooperating with Africa, and we welcome the international community to contribute to enhancing the accessibility of health products in Africa, it continued. The mission said the CDC was expected to be completed in early 2023. US-Africa relations The U.S. said it has supported the Africa CDC since 2014 and earlier this year, signed an agreement with the Africa Union for continued cooperation which includes U.S. agencies helping the Africa CDC to develop its workforce and capacity-building in vaccine manufacturing . Weve developed and implemented a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to advance our shared affirmative vision with allies and partners, offering an alternative to the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) model, the State Departments press office told VOA. The representative added, We respect the ability of countries to decide for themselves whether to partner with the PRC. However, we echo the long-standing calls from African capitals that PRC actions respect local law and interests, particularly regarding the human and labor rights of all and protections for the environment. Other reasons for Chinas Health Silk Road China has been involved in health projects in Africa since the 1960s, but it was really during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-16 that analysts say Beijing stepped up its participation in international responses to health crises. Hudson said he thinks that is when there was recognition that health and pandemics really are transnational issues ... for China this is an opportunity to broaden the perception and the reality of its engagement in Africa, which has been framed very much as mercantilistic up until this point, he said. Lauren Johnston, an analyst with the South African Institute of International Affairs and an expert on the BRI, said she thinks Chinas promise to help African countries improve public health after Ebola was genuine and not any bigger conspiracy. However, she said I do think China wants to capture the low/middle-income consumer/health products sector ... for basic bandages, PPE, even MRI machines etc. ... fitting out hospitals. Nader Habibi, an economics professor at Brandeis University, said China had made progress in medical technology in recent years and was now in a good position to enter the international health care market. Overall the quantity of Western investment and support for health care infrastructure in Africa has been limited in recent decades. This is the main reason that African countries have welcomed Chinese investments and support, he told VOA. The private sector investors in Western nations are not interested in these types of investments nor are they prepared to accept the political risks of investing in Africa. Still, Hudson says, Chinas contributions to health care in Africa do not come anywhere near those of the U.S., which has spent billions of dollars on malaria, HIV, AIDS, and other programs over the decades. Chinas clearly really very far behind. Its really only since the COVID outbreak and the distribution of vaccines that youve really begun to see China play any kind of meaningful role in the health space on the continent, he said. The African Union did not respond to request for comment. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday held talks by phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to deepen relations. The talks are seen as likely to add to growing concerns among some of Turkey's NATO partners over its relationship with Moscow and where its loyalties lie. The phone call was announced in a press statement by Erdogan's office. It said the Turkish president reiterated his willingness to work toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The conversation came after Erdogans three face-to-face meetings with Putin in the past few months. The Turkish leaders efforts to deepen ties, including his refusal to enforce Western sanctions against Russia, have spurred growing questions about Turkey's commitment to its Western partners and NATO. But Turkish presidential adviser Mesut Casin, who is also a professor at Istanbul's Yeditepe University, said such talks are normal between neighbors. Turkey is a NATO member and will continue to be so and this is very critical for Turkey, he said. The NATO alliance is one thing and Turkeys relation with Russia is something else. They need to be seen as two separate things. Russia is our neighbor and we need maintain good ties. Turkeys neutrality policy over Ukraine is to the benefit of NATO. Ankara insists it also maintains close ties with Ukraine, to which it continues to supply military hardware, including drones. Such contacts with Moscow and Kyiv, Erdogan claims, allowed him to successfully assist the United Nations in brokering a deal to enable Russian-blockaded Ukrainian grain to reach world markets. That deal comes up for renewal in November. But Western concerns, especially over deepening Turkish-Russian financial ties, are growing. Under the threat of U.S. secondary sanctions, Turkish banks withdrew from Russia's Mir payment system last month. Moscow was using the system to circumvent a ban on Russian use of international credit cards. But analysts say Ankara retains leverage over its Western allies, with Turkey's permission required to allow Sweden and Finland to join NATO. On Thursday, Erdogan renewed his threat Thursday to block Sweden's bid. "As long as terrorist organizations demonstrate on Swedish streets and terrorists are present in their parliament, our approach to the issue will not be positive," the Turkish leader told reporters. Erdogan accuses Stockholm of offering sanctuary to Kurdish separatists fighting the Turkish state and an organization that Ankara blames for carrying out the failed 2016 military coup. Sweden denies the charges. But some observers say Turkeys stance will likely only add to questions on whether Ankara is doing Moscows bidding. Asli Aydintasbas, a visiting scholar with the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said the West will need to get used to a more assertive Turkey. The dynamics have changed, she said. Turkey no longer feels a strong and firm member of the Western camp or NATO alliance. It is still NATO, but obviously also interested in having alternatives. And Turkey is also a whole lot more self-confident than it used to be. With Turkey geographically close to Russia, Ukraine, and other hotspots like Iran and Syria, observers say Erdogan is aware of his country's strategic importance and Western allies need for its continued cooperation. Chinas annual Golden Week festivities wind down Friday under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic with sharply reduced travel, frequent COVID testing and tight security in the capital ahead of this months 20th Communist Party Congress. As in the past two years, authorities have sought to discourage the popular practice of traveling to ones hometown or village during the period surrounding the countrys national day in early October. At least 24 provinces and cities issued announcements urging people to "spend the holidays locally," including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The advice has been followed by many Chinese, who prefer to stay close to home in order to avoid frequent COVID tests, ID checks and mandatory quarantines. Citizens were warned before the holiday to especially avoid 1,619 areas marked as "medium- or high-risk areas." If you leave Beijing, even if just to the nearby Tianjin or Hebei Province, your health app on the phone could send you a message when you return, reminding you there were positive cases in the places youve been, said Allen, a 51-year-old information technology worker who lives in Beijing. Then youd have to be quarantined at home. Traveling means trouble." Only 9.7 million people took to the nations railroads Oct. 1, the first day of the holiday, according to Shanghais Dragon TV. That compares to as many a 15 million rail passengers on the first day of pre-pandemic Golden Weeks. The Ministry of Transport had predicted that road traffic this week would drop by about 30% compared to the same period in 2021. Many universities shortened the seven-day holiday season to three to five days, citing the risk of COVID. The nations zero-COVID policy led to even more restrictions in a few locations. The government in northwestern Xinjiang stopped all passenger traffic out of the region on Tuesday. And in Xishuangbanna, a popular tourist destination in southern Yunnan province, residents and tourists were banned from leaving the city after a few positive cases were found. Security measures further dampened the festive mood in Beijing, where 2,296 delegates will soon begin arriving for the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which starts Oct. 16. Authorities are determined to avoid any disruption of the event, where President Xi Jinping is expected to be re-elected to a historic third term as general secretary of the party. Police patrols have increased, and IDs are being checked more frequently. Anti-COVID measures have been stepped up at airports at the request of the Beijing municipal government. Travelers from areas with confirmed COVID cases within the past seven days have not been allowed to enter the capital at all. Visitors already in Beijing have been advised not to attend social events or enter crowded public places within seven days after arrival. They are also required to be tested twice within three days of their arrival. Allen, the information technology worker, told VOA Mandarin the atmosphere in Beijing's neighborhoods always becomes tense ahead of major political events like the Communist Party Congress. At such times, community volunteers with red armbands patrol residential neighborhoods looking for suspicious people, he said, and plainclothes public security officers are evident in large numbers in politically significant locations such as Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People. Ms. Huang, a 42-year-old Beijing resident who works in the cultural innovation industry, said many people have grown numb to the incessant COVID testing they must undergo. In Beijing we have to do a test almost every 72 hours. Sometimes I forget when Im busy with work, but when I take a subway or bus, or go shopping, my health app reminds me its time to do it again. It is quite inconvenient, she said in an interview. People are becoming used to it, but it doesnt mean people support it. Theres just nothing they can do about it, she said. Wu Se-Chih, deputy secretary-general of Strategy and Public Institute in Taiwan, said in an interview he believes the Chinese authorities have found the anti-COVID measures provide them with convenient methods of social control that will outlive the pandemic. The so-called stability maintaining measure will only become more frequent before the 20th Party Congress, he said. I even think after the congress, especially in early next year before the National Peoples Congress in March, we wont see any of these measures loosened at all. Imagine if you will, I'm out rowing in the middle of the English Channel. It's a lovely stretch of water, it's very difficult to row however, and I'm rowing quite quickly. Really-really, quite quickly fast, it's the fastest I've ever rowed in my life. It's so fast that my lungs are beginning to die, and the reason for this incredible burst of speed; some would say, "legendary" burst of speed, is that just there in this picture of me rowing at this angle, just behind me, just bearing down on me is an oil tanker. It's a third of a mile long, and it is bearing down on me with really incredible speed. Which is why I am rowing faster than anyone has ever rowed, in their lives. I am desperately trying to get out of the way of that massive, massive oil tanker. Did I mention, by the way that I'm sitting, rowing in a bathtub? All At Sea Tim FitzHigham | The Moth With that intro, Tim FitzHigham had my full attention, and off we went on an incredible ride of Franco-British Union relations, ending with Tim FitzHigham made Commodore of Sudbury Quay in the Royal Navy, and even managed to get the approval of she-herself Queen Elizabeth II to share the following exchange about the twin hull "Lilibet II": She said to me: "Gosh that bathtub must've been awfully heavy. It must've weighed a half a ton. And I thought this is my one moment of being "Bond", and I just smoothed my hair down, looked her directly in the eye and went: "Well, it was actually only a third of a ton ma'am, but still really rather heavy." And then she said: "But, did you not think of putting a shower curtain on it?" And I said "well, I did consider it, but couldn't decide on the color." And she said: "I think blue, don't you?" All At Sea Tim FitzHigham | The Moth Listening to Tim FitzHigham talk about the planets lining up as person after person gave support and momentum to the Lilibet II endeavor was akin to watching Forest Gump for the first time. The East African bloc IGAD, aid groups, and development partners have called for greater coordination to fight growing hunger in the region. An estimated 51 million people across East Africa are in dire need of food, water and medicine. Ministers from the eight nations of IGAD the Intergovernmental Authority on Development met in Nairobi this week to find ways to deal with the general humanitarian crisis in the region. The World Food Program's regional director for Eastern Africa, Michael Dunford, said urgent action is needed. "As indicated, we are in crisis and it's not just a food crisis, it's a water crisis, it's an education crisis, it's a livelihood crisis, it's a nutrition crisis," he said. "And over the last couple of days, we have had many words spoken but now we need to turn these words into actions and actions where we joined up, able to respond to the needs of the population across the Horn of Africa." The WFP says its annual needs for the region have climbed from $4.3 billion to $6 billion and, despite getting some donations, it has yet to close the gap. Persistent drought made worse by four consecutive failed rainy seasons has wiped out crops and livestock in the region, destroying the livelihoods of millions in the Horn of Africa. Mohamed Malick, regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa for the United Nations children's agency, or UNICEF, said the region is losing its younger generations due to lack of food and water. "Malnutrition figures are skyrocketing. We know as we speak today there are 1.7 million children who are facing severe and acute malnutrition, which is an extreme form of malnutrition and a major cause of death," he said. "As we speak today, children are having problems accessing water." UNICEF says at least 3.7 million students in the region may have dropped out of school and most of them may not return to class. Somalia is one of the countries most affected by the drought, with more than seven million people who are food insecure. The country's minister for agriculture and irrigation, Ahmed Madobe Nunow, said conflict and lack of government presence in many parts of Somalia have made it difficult for people to feed themselves. "Land access and utilization is a challenge in Somalia, because most of the fertile land is not in the hands of the government and, therefore, land access is an additional problem in Somalia," Nunow said. In neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya, at least 23 million people are food insecure and, in Ethiopia, conflict in the Tigray region has worsened the humanitarian situation. According to the aid agencies, six million South Sudanese are food insecure, and 30 percent of Sudan's population is facing a food crisis compounded by climate change, political instability and increased food prices. Sudan's minister for agriculture and forest, Abubakr Omer Elbushra, said a population in constant conflict and violence cannot produce sufficient food. "In stable communities, [people] who are affected by tribal or political crises turn to either refugees or displaced. People in camps lose their livelihood. They are changed from producers to consumers and here, a food crisis strikes," Elbushra said. Government representatives and aid agencies are calling for coordinated regional interventions, strengthening of research capacities, and early warning systems to prevent disasters related to food and nutrition crises before they happen. The small kingdom of Lesotho, surrounded by South Africa, is voting Friday with more than 50 parties competing and few hopes of an end to the country's run of unstable coalitions. Lesotho's ruling All Basotho Convention or ABC is vying for reelection in Friday's parliamentary polls. But whether it has maintained a majority of support among the mountain kingdom's 1.5 million voters is uncertain. The former British colony has seen coups, attempted coups and general political instability since independence in 1966. The past decade has been marked by regular political turnover, with no one premier managing to hold onto power for a full five-year term. The ABC came to power in 2017. Current Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro is not seeking reelection, having been replaced as party leader this year by former health minister Nkaku Kabi. The outgoing parliament also failed to pass a series of reforms aimed at improving political stability. The ABC now faces fierce opposition. There are more than 50 parties running for control of the 120-seat parliament. The leading opponent and second-largest party is the Democratic Congress. But a new party, Revolution for Prosperity, could also make headway at the polls. It's the best-resourced, and led by millionaire Sam Matekane, who is believed to be the richest man in a country where nearly a third of citizens are estimated to live on less than $2 a day. Whether voters turn out strongly for any party is another unknown, after less than half of those registered cast a ballot in 2017. Results are expected next week. Iran said Friday an investigation into the death in custody of Mahsa Amini found she died of illness rather than reported beatings that sparked three weeks of bloody protests. Amini, 22, died September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. Anger over her death has triggered the biggest wave of protests to rock Iran in almost three years and a crackdown that has killed dozens of protesters and seen scores arrested. Despite security personnel using lethal force, the women-led protests have continued for 21 consecutive nights, according to online videos verified by AFP. Iran's Forensic Organization said Friday that "Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body." The death of Amini, whose Kurdish first name is Jhina, was related to "surgery for a brain tumor at the age of eight," it said in a statement. Amini's bereaved parents have filed a complaint against the officers involved, and one of her cousins living in Iraq has told AFP she died of "a violent blow to the head." Other young women and girls have lost their lives in the protests, but rights group Amnesty International says Iran has been forcing televised confessions out of their families to "absolve themselves of responsibility for their deaths." Iran's judiciary also has denied reports that the security forces killed another teenage girl, Sarina Esmailzadeh, at a rally in Karaj, west of Tehran last month. Its website quoted a prosecutor as saying an investigation showed Esmailzadeh, 16, had "committed suicide" by jumping from a building. Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights said the Esmailzadeh family had come under heavy pressure from government agents to "force them to repeat the suicide state narrative." It said that when the family was asked to identify the teenager's body, "multiple injuries were clearly visible on her face and the right side of her forehead was completely crushed due to the severity of the blows." In a widening crackdown, Iran has blocked access to social media, including Instagram and WhatsApp, and launched a campaign of mass arrests. Protesters have sought ways to avoid detection, with schoolgirls hiding or blurring their faces while shouting "Death to the dictator" and defacing images of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in verified videos. Other footage has shown people chanting the protest catch phrase "Woman, Life, Freedom!" from their apartment windows under the cover of night. The street violence that ensued across Iran since Amini's death, dubbed "riots" by the authorities, has led to dozens of deaths, mostly of protesters but also of members of the security forces. Iran Human Rights says at least 92 protesters have been killed. A joint letter signed by 21 mainly Iranian human rights groups called on U.S. President Joe Biden to go further to hold Iranian officials to account. "More urgently needs to be done by the world's leading democratic power to support the people of Iran, discourage further state violence, and address the long history of atrocities and impunity in that country," the rights groups said. Despite the government's crackdown, the demonstrations have continued in towns and cities nationwide. "Death to the dictator," a group of young women can be heard chanting in the northern city of Rasht in a video posted online Thursday and verified by AFP. Amnesty has verified the deaths of 52 people killed by the security forces, but says it believes the "real death toll is far higher." A recently concluded six-day visit to Washington by Pakistans powerful military head, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, is being seen in both countries as a sign that Islamabad is seeking to mend sometimes-strained relations with the West. Public statements released by officials from both countries emphasized finding areas to cooperate on, following years of mistrust and suspicion during the two-decade-long U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Bajwa, whose second three-year term ends in a few weeks, was welcomed at the Defense Department by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for a meeting Tuesday with senior American military officials. In a brief statement highlighting the 75-year history of relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, the Pentagon said, "This long-standing partnership continues today with discussions focused on opportunities to address key mutual defense interests." A day later, Austin tweeted a picture of himself greeting Bajwa (seen above). According to a statement issued by ISPR, the Pakistani military's media wing, Gen. Bajwa also discussed deepening ties beyond security and intelligence. It said U.S. officials agreed that the historic ties between both countries "shall continue improving through economic ties, trade and investment" and the Bajwa stressed the need for continued assistance to Pakistan for flood relief and rehabilitation after this summer's devastating monsoon rains. During his tour, Bajwa also met with White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, according to the Pakistani militarys media wing. The State Department declined to comment on the specifics of private diplomatic conversations. Afghanistan factor This visit, Bajwas first since 2019, came more than a year after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Islamabads former ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, told VOA, however, that while Pakistan does not want to be ignored by the global power, the U.S. now has a more modest need for Pakistan. Kamran Bokhari, a security affairs expert and director of analytical development at New Lines Institute, a Washington-based think tank, told VOA the visit is a sign that the state of Pakistan, not any particular government, wants to re-establish ties with the West. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban back in power, Bokhari said Washington and Islamabad are assessing how Pakistan [will] help the U.S. keep a check on Afghan Taliban activity with regards to transnational jihadism and terrorism. Related to it is Pakistans concern that the U.S. help with its efforts against the TTP, he said. TTP or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is a terrorist group that has mounted hundreds of deadly attacks on Pakistani military and civilian targets since 2007. Pakistani military operations have pushed the TTP leadership into Afghanistan, but its fighters remain on both sides of the border. Bilateral relations between the United States and Pakistan have been troubled by mutual distrust, including the refusal of the previous administration in Islamabad to allow the U.S. access to its military bases for post-withdrawal counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. But Bokhari noted that cooperation between the two countries' military and intelligence services never stopped and said he expects that cooperation to continue. China factor Tamanna Salikuddin, director of the South Asia program at the U.S. Institute of Peace and an Obama-era National Security Council member, told VOA that since the conclusion of the Afghan war, relations between Washington and Islamabad will largely be determined by the geopolitical competition, global competition, between U.S. and China. So, where does Pakistan fit into that, especially given their strong military, security, economic ties with China but also, I think, trade ties, longstanding security ties with the U.S.? she asked. America is Pakistans largest bilateral trade partner, with an annual trade volume of almost $6 billion. Neighboring China is the biggest state investor, with close to $60 billion in infrastructure projects through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) segment of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. Pakistani civilian and military leaders have said they dont want to choose between a China camp or a U.S. camp, and Haqqani said the U.S. neither can nor wants to replace China for Pakistan. Thirty percent of Pakistan's debt is currently owed to China. That means the United States would have to somehow pump billions of dollars into Pakistan to replace China. Considering that there is lack of trust between Pakistan and the United States, I don't see any appetite in the U.S. for putting that kind of money into Pakistan, he said. India factor Just a few weeks before the Pakistani military chiefs visit to Washington, the Biden administration asked Congress to approve a $450 million foreign military sale to Pakistan to service the countrys F-16 fighter jets, most of which are decades old. Despite this proposal, The United States has not resumed large-scale bilateral security assistance to Pakistan, the State Department told VOA. Such assistance has been suspended since 2018. Nevertheless, the move irked India, which fears Pakistan could use the fighter planes against it, even though the sale agreement requires that the jets be used only for counterterrorism purposes. Now that India is closer to the United States than Pakistan is, they would like to keep it that way, Haqqani said. Domestic factor Gen. Bajwas arrival in Washington a few weeks before his term ends in late November fueled speculation he might be seeking U.S. support for a bid to extend his term for a second time. According to Dawn News, Bajwa dispelled rumors hes seeking an unprecedented third term, and analysts that spoke to VOA rejected the notion that Washington would get involved in the matter. Salikuddin pointed out that Austin extended the invitation at the beginning of this year, long before Bajwas term was drawing to a close, and she said the delays were largely caused by Pakistans internal political turmoil. Given that the army has ruled Pakistan for much of its existence, civilian governments remain unstable and anti-American sentiment is prevalent among the public, experts say the U.S. sees Pakistans military as a stable actor with which it can build a long-term relationship, regardless of who leads it. As Bokhari put it, the Americans know that they're not dealing with Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as the person who's going to step down on November 29. They're dealing with the current chief of the Army staff, and they will continue with the office of the Chief of the Army Staff and everything that comes with it. The war in Ukraine is likely entering a critical phase as Kyivs forces advance in the south and east of the country, forcing invading Russian troops to retreat. In recent days, Ukrainian troops have broken through Russian lines in the southern region of Kherson, liberating several villages along the Dnieper River. Kyivs forces now control settlements about 30 kilometers beyond previous front lines. Reuters reported that Ukrainian forces are trying to cut off supply lines for 25,000 Russian troops deployed on the west bank of the river. 'Superior' forces Russias Defense Ministry admitted Monday that superior tank divisions near the town of Zolota Balka allowed Ukrainian forces to break through Russias defenses. Ukrainian forces are buoyed after recapturing territory lost during the early days of the Russian invasion. Yaroslav, a Ukrainian soldier manning the front lines outside Kherson, told Agence France-Presse that morale is high. "The mood of the boys, everything, has changed, compared to what it was before it has become much better. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, inspired by victories," he said. Ukrainian forces are also consolidating territorial gains in the east. Moscows forces retreated from Lyman in Donetsk Oblast over the weekend after Ukrainian troops almost surrounded the city. The streets were littered with burned-out Russian tanks and dead soldiers. Ukraines military claimed Thursday its troops had advanced as far 55 kilometers into previously Russian-occupied territory, liberating 93 villages and taking control of more than 2,400 square kilometers. The claim could not be verified by VOA. "The underpinning factors leading to the massive Ukrainian gains you've seen in the last 24 to 48 hours, and even before that, have been a combination of very poor Russian capabilities in these areas," Karolina Hird, a Russia researcher at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said in an interview with VOA. We've had reports that the units in northern Kherson Oblast are completely understrength, understaffed and stretched along a very, very long front line that the Russian troops just do not have the men to fill. Western weapons The United States announced an additional $625 million of new security assistance for Kyiv this week, including four more precision-guided multiple rocket launchers known as HIMARS. Ukraine said such weapons have played a key role in the recent counteroffensive. Oleksandra Matviichuk, a human rights lawyer and chairperson of the Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties, said the West must seize the moment and help Ukraine defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Ukraine needs weapons, an additional amount, because Russian people will tolerate war criminals, but they will not tolerate losing war criminals. This military defeat in Ukraine provides the first signs of bankruptcy of Putin's ratings in Russia," Matviichuk said. Nuclear threat Putin signed annexation papers Wednesday for four areas of eastern Ukraine, an illegal move rejected by most of the international community. The war is entering a critical moment, Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said. "It's becoming in some ways make or break for Putin. His ability to survive depends on some level by saying, 'Ive succeeded in defending the Russian homeland and expanding it.' Where this goes, nobody knows. But it's safe to say that this probably is the most perilous moment for Mr. Putin since he took power about 20 years ago," Kupchan told Reuters. Putin has said he will use any means necessary to defend Russia, raising fears he could use tactical nuclear weapons. James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told VOA that it is difficult to predict Russias next move. "Stuff is trending very badly for Russia," he said. "Now, I don't know how bad it has to be before Russia would consider using nuclear weapons in a very serious way. I'm not even sure Putin knows in his own mind how bad this would have to be for him to use nuclear weapons. "The goal is to terrify Ukraine, its Western backers the United States in particular that the threat of further escalation, the threat of an even worse all-out nuclear war, could terrify them into backing down." Mobilization For now, Russia is trying to turn the tide with conventional forces. The Defense Ministry said this week that more than 200,000 men had been drafted into the armed forces since a partial mobilization was announced two weeks ago. The Kremlins initial target was to recruit 300,000 men into the military. Hird, of the Institute for the Study of War, said the mobilization will not have any immediate impact on Russias territorial losses. "These forces are unlikely to provide any sort of additional defensive capabilities or offensive capabilities in the short run. And in the long run, these troops are unlikely to be well-trained or necessarily highly motivated," she said. In recent days, Ukraine has seized control of large areas in the east and south of the country from invading Russian forces. With the Kremlin troops' retreat, the war could be entering a critical new phase, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London. The risk of Armageddon is the highest it has been since the early 1960s, President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser in New York, as Russian losses in Ukraine prompt Russian officials to discuss the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. "I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily [use] a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon, Biden said. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, he continued. In October 1962 the U.S. and the Soviet Union were seemingly on the verge of a nuclear conflict after the U.S. deployment of ballistic missiles in Turkey and Italy were countered by the Soviet deployment of similar missiles in Cuba. The president said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, a guy I know fairly well, is not joking when he talks of using nuclear or biological or chemical weapons. Speaking to Democratic donors, Biden said he and U.S. officials were still trying to figure out Putin's off-ramp in Ukraine. Where does he find a way out? Biden asked. "Where does he find himself in a position, he does not, not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia? Following Bidens comments Thursday night, the White House said Friday the U.S. sees no reason to change its nuclear posture and does not have indications that Russia is imminently preparing to use nuclear weapons. "He was reinforcing what we have been saying, which is how seriously ... we take these threats," from Russia, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One when asked about Biden's comments. The president reiterated the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine. Putin turned 70 Friday amid ingratiating congratulations from his inner circle and a plea from Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for all to pray for the health of the longest-serving paramount leader of Russia since Josef Stalin. Putin is grappling, however, with the gravest domestic crisis of his 23-year rule. Continuing battlefield defeats in Ukraine have increased dissent inside the Russian elite, while hundreds of thousands of Russians are fleeing his mobilization order. Meanwhile, jailed Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, Russian organization Memorial and Ukrainian group Center for Civil Liberties were awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, The peace prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. ... They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. The prize is seen by many as a condemnation of Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. EU divide EU leaders meeting Friday in Prague want to lower natural gas prices before winter sets in, but political discussions on how to go about it are getting tangled amid differing proposals. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday suggested gas price cap options for the EU leaders to discuss, after France, Italy, Poland and 12 other countries urged Brussels to propose an EU-wide gas price cap to contain inflation. Other countries are opposed among them Germany, Europe's biggest gas buyer, and the Netherlands and they insist capping prices could cause demand for gas to rise or leave countries struggling to attract supply from global markets. There's precious little time left to figure it out before temperatures drop: Heating season began on October 1, and gas in Europe is still trading at an eye-watering 175 euro per megawatt-hour. That's nearly four times higher than a year ago and more than 11 times the price in 2020. Ukraine utilizing captured Russian tanks Britains defense ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter Friday that Re-purposed captured Russian equipment makes up a large proportion of Ukraines military hardware. Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian Main Battle Tanks, and around 650 other armored vehicles since the invasion. Over half of Ukraines currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles. The update said, The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry. Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Thursday that Since the beginning of October, more than half a thousand square kilometers have been liberated from the Russian occupiers in the Kherson region alone. In Ukraine on Thursday, a Ukrainian official said Russian shelling struck residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least two people. Oleksandr Starukh, the governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, posted on Telegram that five other people were trapped in rubble following the attack. Ukraine controls the city, but the Zaporizhzhia region is mostly occupied by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law Wednesday declaring Russia was annexing Zaporizhzhia and three other regions, a move denounced by Ukraine and its Western partners, as well as the United Nations, as a violation of international law. Zaporizhzhia is home to Europes largest nuclear power plant and shelling in the area in recent months has raised international fears of a nuclear disaster. Rafael Grossi, the head of the U.N.s atomic energy agency, is due to visit Kyiv and Moscow this week for what he said would be important meetings. He said Wednesday that the need for a protective zone around the power plant is now more urgent than ever. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday that his forces had recaptured Novovoskrysenske, Novohryhorivka and Petropavlivka, three villages in the Kherson region that was also a part of Russias annexation claims. The gains add to Ukraines recent successes in reclaiming territory from Russia in the northeastern and southern parts of the country. Zelenskyy said in his address that Putin has already lost, calling the war the Russian leader launched in late February self-destruction of your nations every prospect. Ukrainians know what they fight for, Zelenskyy said. And more and more Russian citizens realize that they must die simply because one single man does not want to stop the war. The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for what the agency said was a visit to meet with government officials, farmers, journalists, entrepreneurs and energy workers to discuss how to more effectively assist the Ukrainian people. It is a critical moment for the Ukrainian people as they defend their freedom from brutal attack, liberate occupied land, prepare for winter, and strengthen democratic institutions & the rule of law, Power tweeted. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Officials in the Uvalde, Texas, school district announced Friday they had suspended the school districts entire police force, five months after shooting at an elementary school there left 19 children and two teachers dead. In a release posted to the district's official website, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District said it "remained committed to resolving issues with verifiable evidence," and "recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with department operations." As a result, the district said it had "made the decision to suspend all activities of the Uvalde CISD Police Department for a period of time. Officers currently employed will fill other roles in the district." They also placed two police department officials, Lt. Miguel Hernandez and Ken Mueller, on administrative leave. After the decision, Mueller opted to retire. The statement went on to say it had requested the Texas Department of Public Safety provide additional troopers for campus and extra-curricular activities. The district said it had hired the private investigation firm JPPI to conduct an investigation into the UCISD police officers' response to the May 24 shooting. Many questions arose regarding the school district's police department response to the shooting in which an 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the school through an unlocked door and killed 19 children and two teachers. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. From Iran to Russia, and Afghanistan to Haiti protests rage around the world as people demand change. What's driving unrest and how are governments reacting? Find out on The Inside Story-The Peoples' Protest The U.N. Human Rights Council has appointed a special rapporteur to monitor human rights in Russia. The resolution was adopted on a vote of 17 in favor, 6 against, and 24 abstentions. The debate on the initiative began just as a Belarusian activist and two humanitarian organizations based in Ukraine and Russia were announced as co-winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize. The significance was not lost on those attending the council session. Before the voting began, many delegates expressed concern about the worsening human rights situation in Russia. They deplored the severe restrictions on people's fundamental rights to freedoms of expression and assembly. The U.S. ambassador to the Human Rights Council, Michele Taylor, said repressive tactics and attacks against dissenting voices have significantly increased since Russia launched its war against Ukraine. She said the extensive shrinking of civic space has discouraged Russians from actively participating in public life. "These unrelenting domestic attacks on human rights enable Russia's war on Ukraine and its ongoing violations of the U.N. charter," Taylor said. "However, the Russian authorities' long-running and worsening repression within Russia more than justifies the creation of a special rapporteur. We will vote yes on this resolution and urge others to do so as well." Many other countries joined in this chorus of support. Only Venezuela, Cuba and China spoke out in defense of Russia's position. The Russian government said it would not cooperate with the expert. The Russian ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, lashed out at the council, saying it has stopped being a forum for dialogue to resolve general problems of human rights. Instead, he said the council has become a tool for Western countries to attain their political goals. He spoke through an interpreter. "This is a further step in the Western strategy towards transforming the HRC [Human Rights Council] and the U.N. human rights system as a whole into a tool to serve the interests of one group of countries as after all that is the final aim of this despicable document. The accusations it contains could be directed just as successfully against virtually all of the states which are co-sponsors of this draft," Gatilov said. The resolution cites many concerns, including mass arrests and detentions, and targeted harassment of journalists, politicians, human rights defenders, and other activists. It criticizes the forced shutdowns of civil society organizations, including the Russian human rights organization Memorial, one of this year's Nobel peace laureates. The resolution calls on Russian authorities to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur who will serve for a period of one year. Russias foreign ministry firmly rejected the resolution, saying it contained false allegations, the Tass news agency said, according to Reuters. "Russia ... will ignore the special mechanism established by the HRC and refuses to cooperate with it," Tass cited the ministry as saying. I blivett multiple times a night, try to avoid situations that could lead to microts, and continue to be in awe at the destructions of societies that are IMF'd. Sniglet is a unique, time-stamped specific word. Comedian Rich Hall made the term popular on the 1980s HBO series, Not Necessarily the News. A sniglet is "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should." The few times I had access to HBO in the early 80s, these word-mashes fascinated me. Yet, the only ones I remember is blivett: "to turn one's pillow over and over, looking for the cool spot"; and Microts, "the two thumbnail-sized pieces you end up with when trying to remove a paper towel in a public washroom." Consider this historical thread of re-weaving words that led to the sniglet phenomenon: "Gelett Burgess published Burgess Unabridged: A New Dictionary of Words You Have Always Needed in 1914. This collection of neologisms was followed by a 1963 essay comprised of plausible definitions for real place-names published in The Jenguin Pennings. Douglas Adams published something similar in his 1983 book, The Meaning of Liff; his concept arose while traveling with John Lloyd. Lloyd produced Not the Nine O'Clock News and the concept was sold to America. In America, the show became Not Necessarily the News and this show adopted the made-up word definition concept as well, calling it Sniglets." For more about sniglets and popular culture, and a longer list of sniglets, check out this post from Groovy History. For a discussion of Afterliff, a sequel to The Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff, fellow Boinger Rob Beschizza penned this review. For a video of Rich Hall from a 1983 Not Necessarily the News segment introducing supermarket sniglets, click here. Oh, and what is IMF***ed"? It is what happens to a country when the International Monetary Fund imposes sanctions and structural adjustment programs that eviscerate the public sector, privatize basic services and land, and commodify all life and social relations in the name of freedom and democracy. Note: IMF'd is a lyric from the Hip Hop Jazz fusion crew the Welfare Poets, and their song, Sak Pase, about revolutionary Haitian history, available as a video here. Sak Pase is Haitian creole for "what's happening." Sake pase full lyric: "And the spirit of Mackandal in Bwa Kayiman/Voodoo ceremony/Initiating Haitian liberation/Washin' waters there's no attainment/Tryin' to orchestrate this coup against their nation/Through political isolation/And economic asphyxiation/Aristide was destabilized/He wouldn't agree to privatization That's when the US IMF'd him with sanctions/ The CIA organized land orders and merchants/Under group 184 and convergence/Trained illegal insurgents/ Puttin' murderers back into service." For more on Haiti, the IMF and US Foreign policy, check out Getting Haiti Right this Time: The US and the Coup from Common Courage Press, and edited by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. The United Nations reports little progress has been made in efforts to reform the Philippines anti-drug policy, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people, and bring justice to the victims of human rights violations and abuses. The findings are part a new report the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights submitted to the U.N Human Rights Council. The U.N. human rights office signed a technical cooperation agreement in 2020 with the Philippines in hopes of blunting the brutal impact of the governments anti-drug operations. But the stated aim of protecting and promoting human rights in the country seems to have largely failed. Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif said the Philippines government has taken some steps to pursue accountability for human rights violations and abuses. However, she noted access to justice remains elusive for victims. Victims willingness to engage was also hampered by inadequate support and protection and fear of reprisals, she said. While official figures reflect a decrease in killings in the context of anti-drug operations, the office continues to receive allegations of unlawful killings and other human rights violations by members of the Philippine National Police. Human rights organizations claim more than 20,000 people have been killed since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 and carried out his war on drugs. Human Rights Watch says at least 2,555 of the killings were carried out by the Philippine National Police. Bongbong Marcos succeeded Duterte as president in June. Al-Nashif noted an inter-agency panel was established to review 5,655 anti-drug operations during which deaths occurred. But she said none of the cases investigated by the panel has resulted in convictions. Numerous victims and their families still await justice, she said. So, in the time remaining in the Joint Program, together with other efforts, concrete progress on accountability must occur to help bring about human rights reforms that will prevent recurring violations. Al-Nashif said she welcomed the commitment of the new administration following the May election to the implementation of the Joint Program, which is now at its midpoint. In response, Secretary of Justice of the Philippines Jesus Crispin Remulla assured the acting high commissioner that his government was undertaking transformational reforms of its justice and law enforcement sectors. He said the new president is tackling illegal drugs by focusing on apprehending and punishing the criminal masterminds, not small-scale users on the street. The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday renewed the mandate of its fact-finding mission in Venezuela, an initiative that Caracas has criticized as an aggressive tool for interfering in domestic matters. The renewal of the mandate, created in 2019 to assess alleged human rights violations committed in Venezuela since 2014, was approved by 19 votes to 5 against and 23 abstentions during a Council session in Geneva. The mission's work will continue for another two years. Those opposed were Cuba, Bolivia, China, Eritrea and Venezuela itself, whose representative to the Council, Ambassador Hector Constant Rosales, dubbed the resolution "hostile." In September, the third report of the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Venezuela (FFM) found that state intelligence agencies under the helm of President Nicolas Maduro had suppressed the opposition through arbitrary detentions and torture that amounted to crimes against humanity. The intelligence agencies "made use of sexual and gender-based violence to torture and humiliate their detainees" since at least 2014 and "the violations and crimes ... continue to this day," the report said. The Venezuelan government said the accusations in the report were "false and unfounded." "Through a false report, without the slightest methodological basis or direct contact with the real situation of the country, they intend to keep attacking Venezuelan institutions," the government said in a statement in September after the report was released. Venezuela is a "democratic and social state, based on the rule of law and justice, which is committed to the promotion, respect and protection of human rights," the government added. Human rights groups welcomed the FFM's extension. The renewal was a "sign of support for the countless victims of grave human rights violations that have been, and continue to be, committed in the country," Amnesty's Americas Director Erika Guevara Rosas said on Twitter. Human Rights Watch called the FFM's extension "extremely important" and said it plays "an early warning role in the lead up to the 2024 presidential elections." U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Friday announced new economic sanctions on North Korea after the isolated nation launched a series of ballistic missiles he called unprecedented in their pace, scale and scope. North Korea has conducted six ballistic missile tests in the last 12 days, with the latest being Thursday, when two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) were launched as diplomats at the U.N. Security Council were locked in debate over how to respond to the launch of another missile over Japan two days earlier. In a statement Friday, Blinken said this year alone, North Korea or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has launched 41 ballistic missiles, six of them intercontinental ballistic missiles. In response, he announced the United States is imposing sanctions on two individuals and three entities for activities related to the exportation of petroleum to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, which directly support the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military. Blinken said the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assests Control (OFAC) is designating the New Eastern Shipping Co Ltd., along with the individuals Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Huan, for having participated in the transfer or delivery of refined petroleum products to the DPRK. In the statement, Blinken said through the sanctions, the United States is sending a clear message that we will continue to take actions against those who support the development and sustainment of the DPRKs military and weapons arsenal." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says any change in the U.S. sanctions against Venezuela could only come in response to constructive steps by the Maduro regime to restore democracy. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Organization of the American States meeting in Lima, Peru, on Thursday, the top U.S. diplomat said, On Venezuela, there is no change in our policy or on our approach. His answer came in response to a question about news reports that the United States is prepared to allow Chevron Oil to resume operations in Venezuela. The United States and several other countries imposed oil and economic sanctions on Venezuela in 2019 after they recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas president, not Nicolas Maduro. Blinken said the U.S. has been very clear that it will review sanctions policies in response to constructive steps by the Maduro regime to move toward free and fair elections. Blinken added that Maduro must also move to alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people, who are the number one victims of the policies of the regime. Over the weekend, Venezuela and the United States participated in a prisoner swap. Venezuela released seven people, while the U.S. released two nephews of President Maduros wife who had been imprisoned on drug trafficking convictions. Five of the people released by Venezuela were employees of Citgo. A weakened and wary Islamic State terror group suffered a new round of setbacks when U.S. forces targeted three key leaders in two operations across northern Syria in a single day. The U.S. confirmed the first operation, announcing that U.S. special forces had conducted a helicopter raid early Thursday near the northeastern village of Qamishli, in an area controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American forces in Syria and much of the Middle East, said the target of the operation, Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, was killed and one of his associates was injured. Two other associates were captured. U.S. military and intelligence officials described al-Shammri as a longtime IS operative who played a key role in smuggling weapons and fighters to support the terror groups operations. Activists with the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the early morning U.S. raid took place in the village of Moluk Saray, about 17 kilometers south of Qamishli, and that the target was killed after refusing to surrender. The activists further identified the two men taken into custody as an Iraqi national and a commander of a "military security faction." VOA could not independently confirm the activists' claims. Later Thursday, the U.S. military delivered what may have been an even bigger blow, launching a precision airstrike just after 6 p.m. local time in northern Syria, killing two more high-ranking IS officials. In a statement shared with VOA, CENTCOM said the strike killed Abu 'Ala, described as one of the terror group's "top five," who served as the deputy leader of ISIS in Syria. A second IS official, Abu Mu'Ad al-Qahtani, said to be responsible for prisoner affairs, was also killed. The airstrike was first reported by Fox News. CENTCOM officials said that the airstrike was the result of "more than 1,000 hours of intelligence collection to each of the two targets" and that initial assessments showed no civilian casualties from the strike. The U.S. strikes against IS came weeks after one of the top U.S. counterterrorism officials said IS has been stuck in "survival mode," unable, for now, to overcome unrelenting counterterrorism pressure from the United States. The terror group is "no longer trying to attack the United States, National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid said last month, pointing to a series of decapitation strikes and arrests, starting with the February raid that led to the death of former IS emir Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, also known as Hajji Abdallah. In July, the U.S. said a drone strike in northwestern Syria had killed another "top five" IS leader, Maher al-Agal, described as the terror group's top Syrian official. In June, U.S. special forces captured Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, described as one of IS's more senior leaders, during a helicopter raid in Jarablus, in northwestern Syria. U.S. allies and partners have also claimed significant victories against IS core leadership. Turkey confirmed last month the capture in May of Bashar Hattab Ghazal Al Sumaidai, a senior IS figure thought to have been one of a handful of officials in line to become the new emir. Analysts who study IS, also known as ISIS, say the apparent success of the U.S. operations Thursday should not be minimized. "To have killed ISIS's deputy emir for Syria is a significant achievement, given that Syria is clearly where ISIS is investing its resources most these days," said Charles Lister, director of the Washington-based Middle East Institute's Syria and Counterterrorism programs. But while he noted the U.S. and its allies have "successfully eaten into the [IS] top ranks," Lister warned it would be a mistake for the West to let up now. "Syria has long been the group's strategic depth, but today, it offers its greatest potential to fuel a future resurgence," he told VOA via text. "ISIS's attack tempo in northeastern Syria has markedly increased for several months. That makes these U.S. operations all the more important." The United States has about 900 troops in Syria. But whether there is a need to boost that presence remains a question. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces announced last month another 105 IS-related arrests at the al-Hol displaced-persons camp, part of a counterterrorism operation that netted 121 arrests in August. The SDF operation also recovered weapons caches and took down tents being used by IS followers to torture other camp residents. The operation, supported by the U.S.-led coalition, also helped dismantle what coalition officials described as "a major ISIS facilitation network both within the camp and throughout Syria." Thursday's strikes against IS, according to some experts, appear to be building successfully on those efforts by exploiting critical intelligence. "Certainly, the two operations show continued U.S. pressure against ISIS elements in Syria. But more importantly, they show what effects the U.S. can generate with a light footprint," Katherine Zimmerman, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA via text. A prominent China scholar is castigating mainstream American media for their coverage of the coming Chinese Communist Party Congress, saying they miss the most salient point about Chinas governing system when they say President Xi Jinping is seeking an unprecedented third term in office. In a recently published essay, George Washington University law professor Donald C. Clarke focused his ire on the prestigious Foreign Affairs magazine, which in its September/October 2022 issue refers to Xi as China's president when discussing his defining role in the country's political system. The first paragraph states that by doing away with presidential term limits, Xi freed himself to lead China for the rest of his life. This is just wrong, Clarke wrote. Xi leads China by virtue of being the general secretary of the party, and there were never any term limits on that position. In 2018, Chinas National Peoples Congress voted with almost no dissent to remove a provision from the nations constitution that had limited the presidency to two consecutive five-year terms. It was widely reported at the time that the move cleared the way for Xi to rule China indefinitely. But Clarke and other scholars make the point that Xis real power lies not in his post as president but in his position as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. It is to that position that Xi is expected to be reelected for a third term at the party conclave beginning October 16. There has never been a formal limit on the number of five-year terms that a party general secretary can serve. Previous party leaders, however, have established a precedent of stepping down after two terms. 'Propaganda' While many international news organizations finesse the matter of Xis title by simply referring to him as the Chinese leader, Clarke wrote that Foreign Affairs, like virtually every other mainstream English-language newspaper and journal, has uncritically adopted the practice promoted by the Chinese English-language propaganda apparatus of calling Xi president. The scholar suggested that Beijings leaders want China to appear to be a normal country where the person at the top of the state apparatus is the boss. They would want people to forget that its still an old-style Leninist party-state, where even the military not just in substance but even formally belongs to and serves the Communist Party, not the state. Asked to respond to Clarkes essay, Foreign Affairs emailed VOA to say: We appreciate Professor Clarke's close read of Cai Xia's article. Although almost all major English-language publications call Xi Jinping president, Clarke was right that the article incorrectly referred to which of Xi's three main positions the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party has the power to extend: it can grant Xi a third term as party leader, not president. Xis third position is head of the Central Military Commission. In the online version of the article," the magazine said, "we noted the error, and we are running a correction in our next print edition, as well. Clarke wrote in his essay that he believed the errors occurred in the translating and editing process, not in Cais original draft. Cai taught for years at the Chinese Central Party School in Beijing before making a high-profile move to the United States in 2019. Clarkes essay is resonating with some other China experts in the United States. I just read Don Clarkes essay and completely agree with him, said Steven Levine, who has taught Chinese history and politics at the universities of Montana and North Carolina and elsewhere. There is no legitimate excuse for the linguistic confusion whether deliberate, sloppy or ignorant regarding the titles of the Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping, he wrote in response to emailed questions from VOA. Even a rudimentary knowledge of China acquired in a Chinese politics 101 undergraduate class, such as I taught for many years, would make clear the relative power positions of the state and the party, he wrote. 'Reality of power' Addressing Xi by his proper title is essential to clarifying what the reality of power is in the Peoples Republic of China, Levine said. Speaking with VOA on Friday, China scholar June Teufel Dreyer, whose textbook Chinas Political System: Modernization and Tradition is in its 10th edition, also highlighted the importance of using correct terminology. Confucius wrote about the need to 'zheng-ming' 'rectifying the name' thats what is needed here, she said. Xi Jinpings power lies not with the government, but with the party. Asked if anything stood out in Clarkes critique, Dreyer said: What struck me is the absolute truth in what he was saying. Dreyer told VOA of her own experience in getting articles published. Its interesting to me that when I referred to Xi as general secretary, sometimes people will say, But hes president. Im talking about editors here. I have enormous respect for Don Clarke, I always have, added Dreyer, who teaches at the University of Miami. I especially applaud him for having the fortitude to write something like this, because its not easy to do so. He has taken issue with the editors of a particularly prestigious journal. A Myanmar journalist who contributed to Voice of America's Burmese Service was sentenced Friday to three years in prison with hard labor after being convicted of incitement. Sithu Aung Myint, who also reported for the media outlets SkyNet and Frontier Myanmar, was arrested Aug. 15, 2021. The verdict on Friday was one of three cases filed against Sithu Aung Myint at three different townships in Yangon. He is accused of incitement and defaming the armed forces and state. The journalist is next scheduled to appear in court on October 13. A lawyer representing Sithu Aung Myint told VOA Burmese she will appeal Friday's verdict at a higher court. Sithu Aung Myint's daughter, who asked not to be named, says that her father has not committed crimes, and that all he did was write articles professionally and based on fact. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, the country's military-run media said that Sithu Aung Myint was arrested over articles he posted to social media that were critical of the junta and that allegedly incited people to back the opposition and take part in unrest. A spokesperson for the Myanmar military has previously told VOA that the junta does not arrest journalists for their work. Sithu Aung Myint is well known in Myanmar for his reporting on politics, business and social issues. He has been a contributor to VOA since 2014, providing a weekly news analysis. The journalist also worked for local media and posted news content to his blog and to Facebook. His last article for VOA, focused on the coronavirus vaccine, was published Aug. 9, 2021, just a few days before his arrest. VOA on Friday condemned the detention in Myanmar of Sithu Aung Myint and other journalists. "The government of Myanmar must stop the indiscriminate arrest and detention of journalists and the hopeless legal proceedings that follow," acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez said in a statement. "The people of Myanmar deserve to live in a society that embraces accurate and objective news." Myanmar's military government charged Sithu Aung Myint under Section 505 of the country's penal code, which relates to defamation of the armed forces and state. From the time the military seized power in February 2021, journalists have commonly faced incitement charges and charges under Section 505. Since the coup, more than 120 journalists have been detained, according to Reporting ASEAN, which tracks arrests in Myanmar. Of those, nearly 50 are still in custody. Most were arrested covering protests against the military rulers. On Wednesday, a Myanmar court convicted Japanese journalist Toru Kubota of incitement and violating the electronic transactions law and sentenced him to three and seven years in prison, respectively. The sentences are to be served concurrently. Kubota was arrested in July while filming an anti-government protest, The Associated Press reported. European Union lawmakers on Thursday cited the case of Sithu Aung Myint and two other journalists, BBC contributor Htet Htet Khine and freelancer Nyein Nyein Aye, in a resolution condemning the media crackdown. Sithu Aung Myint and Htet Htet Khine were arrested together. A court last month sentenced Htet Htet Khine to three years' hard labor. The European Parliament resolution condemned "the military junta's violent and illegitimate rule in Myanmar" and urged the junta "to drop all politically motivated charges against the members of the press and media workers, and unconditionally release every unfairly detained journalist." The military takeover had a drastic effect on Myanmar's emerging independent media scene, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) saying the coup "obliterated the fragile progress toward greater press freedom." Since the coup, several news outlets have had licenses revoked or have been forced to shut down or move their teams into exile. The country ranks 176 out of 180 countries, where 1 has the best conditions for media, on RSF's Press Freedom Index. This article originated in VOA's Burmese Service. The risk of Armageddon is the highest it has been since the early 1960s, President Joe Biden said Thursday night as Russian losses in Ukraine prompt Russian officials to discuss the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Biden said at a fundraiser in New York for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In October 1962 the U.S. and the Soviet Union were seemingly on the verge of a nuclear conflict after the U.S. deployment of ballistic missiles in Turkey and Italy were countered by the Soviet deployment of similar missiles in Cuba. The president said the Russia President Vladimir Putin, a guy I know fairly well, is not joking when he talks of using nuclear or biological or chemical weapons. I dont think there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon, Biden said. Speaking to Democratic donors, Biden said he and U.S. officials were still trying to figure out Putin's off-ramp in Ukraine. Where does he find a way out? Biden asked. "Where does he find himself in a position he does not not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia? The president reiterated that the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine. Ukraine utilizing captured Russian tanks Britains defense ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter Friday that Re-purposed captured Russian equipment makes up a large proportion of Ukraines military hardware. Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian Main Battle Tanks, and around 650 other armored vehicles since the invasion. Over half of Ukraines currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles. The update said, The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry. Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Thursday that Since the beginning of October, more than half a thousand square kilometers have been liberated from the Russian occupiers in the Kherson region alone. In Ukraine on Thursday, a Ukrainian official said Russian shelling struck residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least two people. Oleksandr Starukh, the governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, posted on Telegram that five other people were trapped in rubble following the attack. Ukraine controls the city, but the Zaporizhzhia region is mostly occupied by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law Wednesday declaring Russia was annexing Zaporizhzhia and three other regions, a move denounced by Ukraine and its Western partners, as well as the United Nations, as a violation of international law. Zaporizhzhia is home to Europes largest nuclear power plant and shelling in the area in recent months has raised international fears of a nuclear disaster. Rafael Grossi, the head of the U.N.s atomic energy agency, is due to visit Kyiv and Moscow this week for what he said would be important meetings. He said Wednesday that the need for a protective zone around the power plant is now more urgent than ever. SEE ALSO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday that his forces had recaptured Novovoskrysenske, Novohryhorivka and Petropavlivka, three villages in the Kherson region that was also a part of Russias annexation claims. The gains add to Ukraines recent successes in reclaiming territory from Russia in the northeastern and southern parts of the country. Zelenskyy said in his address that Putin has already lost, calling the war the Russian leader launched in late February self-destruction of your nations every prospect. Ukrainians know what they fight for, Zelenskyy said. And more and more Russian citizens realize that they must die simply because one single man does not want to stop the war. The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for what the agency said was a visit to meet with government officials, farmers, journalists, entrepreneurs and energy workers to discuss how to more effectively assist the Ukrainian people. It is a critical moment for the Ukrainian people as they defend their freedom from brutal attack, liberate occupied land, prepare for winter, and strengthen democratic institutions & the rule of law, Power tweeted. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The Ukrainian city of Bucha was the scene of one of the worst massacres in Russia's war against its neighbor, with hundreds of bodies discovered in mass graves back in April. Now, against many expectations, a robust reconstruction effort is making it possible for children to return to school. San Antonio cop James Brennand began barking commands at a surprised 17-year-old boy eating fast food in his car in a McDonald's parking lot, shot him when the car rolled back, then shot several more times into the moving vehicle as the panicked, injured youngster tried to drive away. The boy, not a suspect in any crime, was charged with assaulting a police officer after being taken to hospital: Brennand lied in his police report, falsely claiming to have been struck with the teen's vehicle. Not only did this not happen, but the vehicle's movement prior to him opening fire was likely just the startled teen taking his foot off the brake. Brennand was fired as media interest gathered; his unnamed victim is reportedly in critical condition. Brennand, a probationary officer with seven months on the force, was at a McDonald's in the 11700 block of Blanco Road for an unrelated call when he thought he recognized a vehicle in the parking lot that allegedly evaded him during a pursuit the night before, according to MySA. Brennand initially said in an incident report that he fired at the vehicle after he was struck by the driver who was trying to evade capture, the news site reports. However, raw body cam footage released by SAPD on Wednesday appears to contradict those claims. The video, I think, is unusually illustrative of what happens in the officer's mind: the movement of the vehicle authorizes him to kill the driver without further ado. He thought he'd hit the jackpot. FILE - Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine singing Stefania perform during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Palaolimpico arena, in Turin, Italy, on May 14, 2022. The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be staged in the English city of Liverpool, the BBC said Friday Oct. 7, 2022, after Britain was asked to hold the event on behalf of designated host country Ukraine. From the "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" file: Two scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, Svetlana Yashina and David Gilichinsky, have revived a plant from the Pleistocene era which lived between 32,000-28,000 years ago. The seeds of the plant were discovered inside the stomach of a squirrel frozen in the Siberian permafrost. The seeds from the herbaceous Silene stenophylla have been regenerated into full flowering plants in Russia, the new study revealed. Svetlana Yashina and David Gilichinsky of the Russian Academy of Sciences [published] their findings in the journal PNAS shortly. This could be a landmark finding in paleobotany. The Siberian permafrost could have a pool of ancient genetic life, which could be preserved and hypothetically revived. This is by far the oldest plant by far that has ever been grown from ancient tissue. The previous record was grown from a 2,000 year old date palm seeds gathered in the Masada fortress, near the Dead Sea in Israel. Radiocarbon dating has confirmed that the seeds date from 31,800 years ago. The discovery of 70 squirrel hibernation burrows along the bank of the lower Kolyma river, in northeast Siberia, led to thousands of seed samples from various plants. The burrows were found at a depth of 20 to 40 meters, which contained remains of large mammals such as mammoths. KHJ was a popular AM radio station in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was the flagship station of the "Boss Radio" format, which featured a tight playlist of contemporary hits. KHJ was home to many famous DJs, including Robert W. Morgan, Charlie Tuna, and "The Real" Don Steele. They were all known for their fast-paced, high-energy style of broadcasting. The station's popularity began to decline in the mid-1970s, as tastes in music changed and the station's format became less relevant. By the early 1980s, KHJ became a country western station. Today it broadcasts Roman Catholic religious programming. This YouTube channel has recordings of KHJ broadcasts during its heyday. If you saw Quentin Tarantino's film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," these recordings will sound familiar, as KHJ broadcast recordings were part of the film's soundtrack. The recordings are also available on the Internet Archive. And check out this incredible collection of KHJ promotional materials! Read Alison Martino's article about KHJ in Los Angeles magazine. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Generals always fight the last war, they say, and it seems right now that lots of people are looking for the next Bear Stearns or Lehman Brothers. Theyre only half right. The 2008 crisis that killed these investment banks started with subprime mortgages and complex credit products, but became an epic rolling disaster due to a rapid loss of funding for large parts of the banking system. This liquidity drain was so deadly because too many banks (and their semi-detached investment vehicles) were too reliant on short-term financing. Today, corporate treasurers and money managers can still pull their ready cash from many places quickly if they get skittish but not from banks to the same degree as 14 years ago. The flood of post-crisis reforms has given banks far greater protection against runs on their funding. Many in finance and markets might not yet fully get this, but that is at least partly because these safety measures were dressed up in the impenetrable language of deep specialists and are expressed in ratios devoid of obvious meaning. Advertisement Credit Suisse Group AG can tell the world it has a liquidity coverage ratio of 191% and the vast majority of listeners will be left bemused. An analyst could explain further that this means the bank has high-quality liquid assets that are nearly double its forecast 30-day net cash outflows in a stress scenario hat tip to Simon Adamson, a longtime banking specialist at CreditSights. But for many, this probably still raises more questions than it answers. The fact that financially savvy people arent all banking specialists makes discussing liquidity dangerous if its done badly. Right before Christmas in 2018, then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin answered a question no one had been asking by suddenly tweeting that hed called in all the big US banks to see him and they all confirmed they had ample liquidity! Cue another leg down in the stock market and a leveraged-loan selloff that had been going on throughout December. Ulrich Koerner, Credit Suisses recently appointed chief executive officer, would have done better to remember this episode when he affirmed the banks strong capital and liquidity position in the same breath as the phrase critical moment in a Sept. 30 memo to staff and investors. Advertisement But theres a far simpler way to look at all this, not just for Credit Suisse but for any lender. Liquidity coverage ratios and net stable funding ratios are sophisticated tools that are useful (I hope) to banking regulators. Most investors, though, can reassure themselves about the differences between 2008 and today by reviewing a single page in banks annual reports: their ordinary balance sheets and specifically their liabilities. Just compare the proportion of long-term debt and deposit funding currently with 2007, for example: At Credit Suisse, long-term debt the name tells you it cant be quickly pulled accounted for 22% of its funding, versus 12% in 2007. Deposits now make up 53% of its funding versus 25% in 2007. Deposits, of course, can be withdrawn in the worst-case scenarios; however, guarantee programs protect ordinary consumer deposits of up to 100,000 Swiss francs ($100,000) in Switzerland, which really should guard against panic. Also, Credit Suisses demand deposits the kind that can be most easily taken back are just 26% of its funding presently. At the other end of the scale, less stable funding such as short-term borrowing from banks and markets, plus trading liabilities, account for 13.5% of Credit Suisses funding today compared with 44% in 2007. Advertisement Now, look at Lehman Brothers balance sheet in its 2007 annual report. It didnt have deposits because it wasnt a Federal Reserve-regulated bank or member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Its customers did have cash balances in trading accounts and these did disappear rapidly over 2008 but they were small as a share of its balance sheet to begin with. However, Lehman did have a lot of short-term borrowings from other banks and markets, plus trading liabilities and other money it owed clients, and these added up to 77% of its funding base. Long-term debt was just 18%. Lehman Brothers was more vulnerable to liquidity losses than Credit Suisse was in 2007 let alone than Credit Suisse is today. To be absolutely clear, really bad managers could still blow up a bank today and thats as it should be; regulation isnt meant to make private enterprise completely foolproof. Poor executives could choose terrible assets, fail to understand or manage risks, or lose the faith of their staff and their clients. Yet the industry and especially the biggest banks have been forced to change their balance sheets and funding sources in ways that make it much harder for a bank to blow up in a really fast and chaotic fashion. Advertisement Banks direct exposure to each other through lending is significantly lower than before 2008 and their funding is longer term. They have to own a much higher proportion of easily saleable assets particularly government bonds and central bank reserves. Both things reduce the risks that any bank could be forced to rapidly sell other kinds of corporate loans or bonds in a way that causes losses across the financial system. If there is a next Lehman moment, it is much more likely to have its epicenter elsewhere in financial markets. More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Bank of England Promotes Moral Hazard Again: Marc Rubinstein Credit Suisses Hong Kong Bankers Deserve Some Love: Shuli Ren No, Credit Suisse Isnt on the Brink: Paul J. Davies This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Paul J. Davies is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering banking and finance. Previously, he was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Dont just do something; sit there. So goes an old witticism among meditators. Just sitting there, of course, isnt a luxury available to policymakers during an emergency such as the energy crisis caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leaders of the European Union feel they must do something anything, right now, before winter. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Unfortunately, the something theyre converging on is likely to make the continents problems worse. Among all the insanely high prices around us, the most obscene is the going rate of natural gas. So the European Commission, under pressure from a majority of the EUs 27 member states, is proposing a cap on gas prices. To think through the implications of such a price ceiling, Ive been corresponding with Lion Hirth, a professor at the Hertie School in Berlin. He started by reviewing the situation were in. Advertisement As part of his brutal aggression against Ukraine, Putin has turned off almost all the gas flowing to western Europe via pipelines from Russia, formerly the EUs biggest supplier. Other providers, such as Norway, are pumping as much as they can, but their capacity is maxed out. New supplies, in the form of liquefied natural gas, will take time to come online, because countries like Germany first have to build the specialized terminals to receive the ships. All this means that the supply of natural gas is fixed or perfectly inelastic, in the jargon of economics. That in turn implies that demand is setting the price, says Hirth. If companies or households save and consume less, the price falls. If they dont save or use even more, the price rises. As ever in economics, the price is therefore merely a summary of all the underlying information in the market. But it is also a signal. By exacting pain on businesses and people, the cost of gas is encouraging those who can to cut down on their usage, by saving or switching to other fuels. Advertisement Now ponder what a cap would do. Instead of signaling pain or unaffordability, the new and artificially low price of gas would suggest business as normal. The incentive or imperative to cut back would fade or vanish. Demand would increase again, with no additional supply. At some point this winter, Europes storage tanks would be empty. The continent would then be out of gas physically and nonnegotiably. Governments wouldnt quite let it get to that point, of course. Theyd instead start rationing some time before the gas runs out. Politicians or technocrats would decide which factories may use how much, and which must temporarily shut down altogether. Wed finally be in the war economy that I warned about in June. One alternative which the European Commission is including in its rather confused proposal is to combine a price cap with mandatory savings measures. But thats just a euphemism for rationing. And if governments did start rationing now, the price of gas would fall all by itself remember, right now demand alone sets the price. So the cap would be superfluous. Advertisement Nobody likes forced rationing (as opposed to voluntary saving), so is there a better alternative? There is. But the prerequisite is to forget about caps and let the price go where it will. The task of governments then becomes absorbing the resulting political, economic and social pressures by offering direct cash payments to those who need them most, whether firms or households. These handouts wouldnt be reimbursements for gas bills that would once again negate price signals. Theyd come without strings attached, so that a family that still saves on gas by turning down the thermostat has more left over for food, say. Ours being an imperfect world, this policy would also have big drawbacks. It would be more complex to administer than a deceptively simple price cap. Technocrats and politicians would have to decide who deserves the payments ideally, in a way that minimizes waste and fraud. Advertisement This approach would also open up old rifts in the EU between countries that have greater fiscal capacity that is, those that can borrow more cheaply and others that cant afford such largess. This tension explains the outrage in France, Italy and other countries at Germanys latest relief package worth some 200 billion euros ($197.6 billion). If the EU and Germany want to do this right, theyll raise the money at the EU level and allocate the relief evenly across the bloc as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic. Confusing price with an underlying shortage in effect, shooting the messenger is hardly a new phenomenon. One cause of the French Revolution was the soaring cost of bread; but it was as daft to blame price instead of the scarcity of grain as it was for Marie Antoinette to (allegedly) suggest that the mob eat cake. The same applies to rent controls in cities such as Berlin, which may lead to cheap housing for some but also none at all for many others. By the political logic of populism, such economic reasoning is irrelevant. It would certainly be easier for Europes politicians to give voters the simplest answer. They could cap the prices of nasty expense items, declare victories and hope that their economies dont tank before the next election. Advertisement By the logic of responsibility and statecraft, however, politicians should leave prices untouched as the best signals we have to guide us through shortages and back to functioning markets. To make that journey bearable, governments must support the most vulnerable with cash. Nobody is suggesting this course will be fun or easy. But if you want to get angry, remember whos to blame: Not a price, not the EU or its politicians, but Vladimir Putin. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Windfall Profit Taxes Are Pure Economic Populism: Andreas Kluth UK Power Blackouts May Be Unavoidable This Winter: Javier Blas A Crisis Is Coming in Europe. The Only Question Is, Which Kind?: Tyler Cowen This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share OPEC+s announcement of a 2-million-barrels-a-day cut in production starting next month has set the proverbial feline among all manner of Washington fowl. Republican hawks are blaming President Joe Biden for failing to prevent the cut, while Democratic doves are calling for retaliation against the oil cartel. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Biden administration, professing to be shocked shocked, I tell you! has warned of repercussions, especially against Saudi Arabia. Its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, is thought to be the prime mover of the production cut, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin. What might those repercussions be? Foreign policy heavyweights like Senator Chris Murphy are musing about the wisdom of selling arms to the Saudis. Three members of the House of Representatives have introduced legislation calling for the withdrawal of American troops and missile defense systems from the kingdom and, for good measure, from the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Others threaten to revive the so-called NOPEC bill, which would target the entire cartel for antitrust action. But the hawks and doves should settle their feathers. First, the cut was not unexpected, so feigning surprise wont do. The Saudis have been signaling for years that they would like to maintain oil prices close to $100 a barrel. More recently, theyve dropped the target by $10. With demand slipping in tandem with the global economys slowdown, and prices sinking below $85 last month, a production cut was inevitable. Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva says the cartels hope with the cut is to keep prices around $90. Second, as my colleague Javier Blas has pointed out, the big number announced on Wednesday 2 million barrels is misleading. Because many OPEC members arent meeting their output targets, the real cut would be in the region of 950,000 barrels per day. Advertisement The White House knew a big cut was coming: Deploying everyone from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to Tim Lenderking, Bidens special envoy to Yemen, it tried to dissuade OPEC members from going along with Russia. At the same time, the administration maintained that no additional releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would be forthcoming beyond the previously announced release of 10 million barrels in November. On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the administration is not going to be considering new releases at this time. Either this was a bluff, or the White House was overconfident that Yellen and posse would head the Saudis off at the pass. It didnt work. Now the administration is hinting at a larger release. But with the production cut being interpreted as a snub to Biden, the president will feel compelled to do more than that. His options are limited. The NOPEC bill is likely a non-starter. Proposed repeatedly for the best part of two decades, co-sponsored in one incarnation by then-Senator Biden in 2007 and passed by both houses of Congress, it was dropped after then-President George W. Bush threatened a veto. Advertisement Since becoming president, Biden has had a change of heart, warning of NOPECs unintended consequences a spike in prices, for instance. He can hardly afford one in the lead-up to the midterm elections next month. NOPEC is also opposed by the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which have warned that U.S. companies abroad may face retaliatory action if it becomes law. Blocking military sales to the Saudis and withdrawing the American security umbrella from the kingdom would hurt US arms makers and empower Iran, which represents a far greater threat to the world economy than $90 oil. The smarter course for Biden would be to portray the production cuts, not as a personal slight or even a poke in the eye of America, but as a hindrance to a global economic recovery. OPEC+ is hurting everybody and especially developing countries that dont have the cushion of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Biden should point out that the poor will suffer disproportionately. Advertisement As for Saudi Arabia, he should indicate that he has grokked Prince Mohameds message that Washington should expect no special consideration or favors from Riyadh and signal, in turn, that the kingdom should expect no more cringeworthy fist-bumps. If the Saudis want a strictly transactional economic relationship, let it be just that. No more pretense of any kind of symbiotic relationship, no more feigned grace notes or awkward evasions about Saudi Arabias deplorable record on human rights. Instead, treat Saudi Arabia like many another country with which the US routinely does business, and reduce its diplomatic relationship accordingly to the level of, say, Malaysia. Or maybe Brunei. That is more likely to sting the prideful prince than any empty bluster about repercussions. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement The Oil Markets Big Russian Sanctions Problem: Elements by Julian Lee Peak Oil Has Finally Arrived. No, Really: David Fickling Is Putin Fully Weaponizing the Nord Stream Pipelines?: Javier Blas This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. Previously, he was editor in chief at Hindustan Times, managing editor at Quartz and international editor at Time. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share For more than seven decades, despite differences on human rights and the Arab-Israeli conflict, the US and Saudi Arabia maintained a close alliance based on an exchange of security for oil. Lately, that arrangement has been showing signs of stress. US President Joe Biden initially cooled relations over the 2018 murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. He worked to patch things up in July, in order to cajole the worlds largest crude exporter to ramp up output and thus nudge global oil prices down. But an early October decision by Saudi-led OPEC to cut back on production has put the relationship on even rockier footing than before. 1. Whats the history of US-Saudi ties? In 1945, US President Franklin Roosevelt and Saudi Arabias founder King Abdulaziz ibn Saud held a historic meeting aboard the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal. They disagreed vehemently about the future of what was then British Mandatory Palestine, with the American supporting Israels establishment in part of it and the king opposed to a Jewish state in the Middle East. They nevertheless laid the groundwork for a strategic arrangement whereby the US provided security guarantees to Saudi rulers in exchange for access to the kingdoms vast oil reserves. Over the years the US complained, but not loudly, about the constraints on civil rights and the unequal treatment of women and minority Shiite Muslims in the kingdom. Ties occasionally veered off course. In 1973, Saudi Arabia led an Arab oil boycott of the US and other countries that supported Israel in that years Arab-Israeli war, contributing to a recession in the West. Still, the relationship endured. It was deepened by Irans 1979 Islamic revolution, which overthrew a US-backed monarch in a country that rivals Saudi Arabia for regional dominance, and by Iraqs 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia. Advertisement 2. Why did things sour between the US and Saudi Arabia? The Sept. 11 attacks on the US, which were masterminded and mostly orchestrated by Saudi nationals, introduced a bitter note in 2001. More than that, a broader, structural change undermined the fundamentals of the relationship in recent years: The shale boom has made America the worlds largest producer of oil and thus less reliant on imports from the Middle East. At the same time, de facto Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has abandoned the kingdoms usual, cautious foreign policy in favor of an assertiveness thats made Saudi Arabia a vexing ally for the US. He launched a disruptive blockade of Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region, and a devastating intervention in Yemens civil war. US intelligence assessed that he ordered the 2018 operation that ended with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, inside the countrys consulate in Istanbul. The crown prince has denied any involvement in the killing while accepting symbolic responsibility for it as the countrys unofficial ruler. 3. What did Biden do? Advertisement Whereas US President Donald Trump had embraced Saudi Arabia, making it the first place he visited overseas after taking office in 2017, Biden took a different approach. During his campaign for the presidency, he vowed to make Saudi Arabia a global pariah over the murder of Khashoggi, whod been a US citizen and Washington Post columnist. Biden didnt actually go that far after taking office in 2021, but he did step back from the Saudis. He released a report blaming Prince Mohammed for Khashoggis killing. Unlike Trump, who met and spoke directly with Prince Mohammed, Biden shunned him. The White House said it was more appropriate for the president to deal with his counterpart, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and relegated the crown prince, who is also the defense minister, to liaise with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. This was seen in the kingdom as insulting to the man who already effectively rules the country and will almost certainly become its next king. Advertisement Biden ended US support for Saudi Arabias offensive operations in Yemen, including related weapons transfers. The Saudi bombing campaign, aimed at dislodging Iran-backed Houthi rebels who took over Yemens capital and surrounding areas in 2014, has been widely criticized for disproportionately affecting civilians. Biden preserved assistance aimed at helping defend Saudi territory from Houthi attacks. 4. Why did Biden try to smooth things over? Russias war in Ukraine caused oil prices -- and thus gasoline costs for US consumers -- to spike, creating a risk that voters will punish Bidens Democratic Party in congressional and state elections in November. So in July, the president swallowed his pride, flew to Saudi Arabia, and publicly met with Prince Mohammed in an effort to repair ties. The following month, Saudi Arabia responded with one of the smallest production hikes in OPECs six-decade history -- just 100,000 barrels a day extra in September. Advertisement 5. Why is OPEC cutting production now? Officials from member countries defended the cuts as necessary to protect their own economies as well as the oil industry from the risk of a global economic slowdown. The Oct. 5 agreement among members of OPEC and its allies, including Russia, is to reduce collective output by 2 million barrels a day from November. Because many members already arent meeting their output targets, the actual oil supply will fall by only about half that amount. Still, its the biggest cut since 2020. 6. How has the US responded? The Saudi decision infuriated Bidens team. In response, the US planned to release an additional 10 million barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve in November to partially offset the reduction in OPECs output, and officials said theyd consider releasing more. White House officials threatened to consult with Congress on ways of reducing OPECs influence over oil prices. Members of Congress have called for a revival of a bill called the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, known as NOPEC, that would empower the US Department of Justice to file an antitrust lawsuit against OPEC. Other lawmakers have suggested curtailing arms shipments to the Saudis. Both of those options, however, risked escalating tensions with the kingdom with unknown consequences. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share For almost two decades, lawmakers in Washington have been pushing legislation that would rein in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Facing a near-certain presidential veto, the proposal has never crossed the finish line. Now, the legislation is getting a new look amid surging gasoline and oil prices and OPEC+s decision to cut output caps by 2 million barrels a day. 1. What would the legislation do? The bill -- dubbed the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC -- would empower the US Department of Justice to file an antitrust lawsuit against OPEC for trying to control oil production or to affect crude prices. It would do this by amending the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the law used more than a century ago to break up the oil empire of John D. Rockefeller. Even if the Justice Department were never to act on its power to sue, the mere existence of this option might be enough to force the cartel to change its behavior. Advertisement 2. Does this have a chance of becoming law? Following the cuts announced by OPEC+, the administration of President Joe Biden suggested it might be willing to back the bill, which has broad support in both parties. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill was among the legislative tools being looked at in response to the cartels production cut. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who chairs the chambers Judiciary Committee, has called for the legislation to be passed when Congress returns after the midterm elections in November. The committees top Republican, Senator Chuck Grassley, has said he will file the bill as an amendment to a popular defense spending bill. The committee approved the legislation on a 17-4 vote in May, but the Biden administration expressed concern about unintended consequences of the legislation as the war in Ukraine stoked volatility in energy markets. 3. Is this as far as the bill has ever gotten? Advertisement No. Versions of the bill were approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2007, but the idea got no further under a veto threat by President George W. Bush. Former President Donald Trump supported the NOPEC idea before taking office, and OPEC was a frequent target of his on Twitter, but during his four-year term the legislation was never brought to the floor for a vote in either chamber. 4. Who opposes NOPEC? Both the American Petroleum Institute and the US Chamber of Commerce have come out strongly against the bill, fearing retaliatory action against US companies abroad if it becomes law. US shale producers also benefit from OPECs discipline in bolstering prices. 5. What would be the possible repercussions for the oil market? The consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners said in a research note that signs of administration intent to use new powers that NOPEC would confer -- a dramatic intervention -- could lead OPEC+ to reconsider and potentially abandon its market balancing role, provoking a dramatic selloff and the exhaustion of global spare capacity. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Over the past three weeks, young female protesters in Iran have led the biggest show of resistance against the countrys theocratic regime in more than a decade. US and European leaders have rightly voiced support for them. As the regime intensifies its brutal response, the West should do what it can to ensure the movement survives. The eruption of anger was sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who died in custody of Irans morality police after she was arrested for allegedly flouting local dress codes. Women across the country poured onto the streets to denounce the killing and demand more freedoms. In recent days, social media videos have shown schoolgirls openly confronting government officials and removing their headscarves in defiance. As the protests have expanded, the regime has responded with predictable fury. Security forces have killed dozens and arrested hundreds more; the death of one 16-year-old girl who reportedly disappeared after joining demonstrations has triggered another wave of outrage. The government has also imposed internet shutdowns to disrupt communications and suppress reports of police abuses. While similar crackdowns have quelled previous uprisings notably the anti-government protests that followed a fraudulent presidential election in 2009 theres some reason to believe this time might be different. The protesters are younger, mostly female and drawn from a wider cross section of Iranian society. Under the countrys current hardline leadership, social repression has widened, the economy has cratered and Iran has grown more isolated from the West all of which is fueling greater public anger. Meanwhile, the regimes ability to address the protesters grievances has been hampered by the ailing health of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the looming struggle to succeed him. Advertisement So far, the US has struck the right tone in responding. President Joe Biden has voiced sympathy for the demonstrators and eased export restrictions to allow technology companies to provide internet services to Iranians; the Treasury Department also announced sanctions yesterday against seven senior government officials. In its public statements, the administration has championed the rights of Irans women. But Biden has avoided promising more direct help to the protesters and resisted pressure to call for regime change. Restraint on both counts is wise: A more aggressive response would likely only bolster Irans efforts to discredit the movement and give the regime an excuse to unleash even more violence against its opponents. At the same time, theres more the US can do. The administration should work with European governments to sanction additional members of the regime suspected of abuses against peaceful protesters. It should also vigorously counter attempts by Irans Revolutionary Guards to target Kurdish areas of Iraq, where the US maintains a military presence, as a way to scapegoat the Kurds for the unrest. Iranian rocket attacks against Iraqi Kurds last month killed one American; the administration should make clear that any repeat of such provocations will bring a punishing military response. As for the stalled negotiations over a nuclear deal, Biden should keep the current offer on the table: a partial lifting of sanctions in exchange for Irans rolling back its program and allowing international inspections, terms that Tehran has continued to resist. Biden should refuse any further concessions so long as the regimes crackdown continues. In the meantime, the US should tighten enforcement of sanctions, in particular by closing loopholes that have allowed Iran to continue selling oil to countries like China, and increase military coordination with regional allies such as Israel and the Gulf states. Advertisement The emergence of a democratic Iran would be an immensely beneficial development, both for Iranians and for the wider world. Ultimately, thats a change only the Iranian people can bring about but the US should help them where it can. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Irans Protesters Need More Support at Home: Bobby Ghosh The Iran Nuclear Deal is Stalled. Time for Plan B: The Editors Irans Drone Piracy Shows the Future of War: James Stavridis The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Take a spirited walk and hear about paranormal experiences surrounding such historic spots as East Aurora, the Cobblestone District and Canalside this Halloween season on these 11 tours. Paranormal expert and author Mason Winfield leads many of these tours. Unless noted, tickets are $20 adults, $10 for ages 7 to 12; ages 6 and younger are admitted free. Allentown: Oct. 7, 14, 21. Meet at 7 p.m. at Allen Street Hardware Cafe (245 Allen St.). Since 1999, this ghost walk has been taking people through neighborhood hauntings, Native American legends and murders and mysteries in Buffalo's historic arts district. Led by Mason Winfield, Kurt Schneiderman. The Supernatural Roycroft. Oct. 8, 22. Meets before 7 p.m. outside the Roycroft Inn (40 S. Grove St., East Aurora). Opened in 1905, the Roycroft's architecture and history have many stories to share. Led by Winfield. Haunted Pub Crawl. Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29. Meets at 6:30 p.m. at East Aurora Brewery, 667 Oakwood Ave., East Aurora. It's adults only for this "ghosts and toasts" tour through the village. Led by Winfield and senior tour guide Richard Robison. Tickets are $25. East Aurora: Village Ghost Walk. Oct. 15. Meet before 7 p.m. outside the Roycroft Inn (40 S. Grove St., East Aurora). The Roycroft also comes into play in this tour led by Winfield that includes Arts & Crafts movement occultism and village folklore. Canandaigua. Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Commons, corner of Coach and South Main streets, Canandaigua. Visit the Finger Lakes for this tour of historic ghosts and paranormal legends. Led by senior tour guide Joanne LeClair. John Koerner continues to lead his Paranormal Walks through October. Online tickets are $10; children ages 7 and younger are admitted free. Walks are rain or shine. Hamburg: 7 p.m. Fridays to Oct. 28. Meet at Main Street Ice Cream (35 Main St.). An interactive walk through the villages former burial ground plus stories of Hamburgs history of bizarre murders. Hamburg Secret South: 7 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25. Meet at Memorial Park, 59 Lake St. This slower-paced walk allows for more communication with the spirit world as it travels through the southern portion of the village. Lockport: 7 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 29. Meet at Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream Cafe, 79 Canal St. The oldest event for Paranormal Walks is through one of Western New Yorks oldest towns that has a long history of tales to tell. Cobblestone District: 7 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29. Meet outside Buffalo Iron Works (49 Illinois St.). Ghost hunt and walk through the paranormal history of Buffalos Cobblestone District and waterfront. Canalside Ghost Walk. 7 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29. Meet on the cobblestone lanes at the entrance to Liberty Hound. This hourlong walking tour takes you through what was known as the most evil square mile in America, including waterfront haunts like the Canal District and the Naval Park. The tour includes VIP admission to the Long Shed. Led by senior guide Mike Casella. Cost is $15. Naval Park Ghost Tour. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through October. Meet at the Barrel Factory (65 Vandalia St.). The 90-minute tour starts at the Barrel Factory where people can enjoy a spirit while learning about paranormal experiences at such Buffalo landmarks as the Hotel Lafayette, Central Terminal and Hotel Statler. A double-decker bus then takes you to the Buffalo Naval Park to board the ships where you will hear EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) that has been said to be the voices of the dead. Cost is $30. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The recipe for making money if youre a commodities trader is simple: buy natural resources in one place and time and sell them somewhere else later hopefully making a buck by exploiting the difference. Follow that recipe successfully many, many times, and the profits can be enormous, especially for the biggest players. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Consider Cargill Inc., the commodities giant thats also the largest privately-owned company in the US. It reported a net profit of $6.68 billion for the fiscal year ending in May the most it earned annually in its 157-year history according to a copy of its accounts reviewed by Bloomberg Opinion. Thats a 35% increase from the previous fiscal year, which had also been a record. Revenue in the latest fiscal year rose to $165 billion, from $134.4 billion in 2021. While the recipe for hauling in that kind of money is simple, it also takes nerve. Commodities markets have been wildly volatile recently. The supply-chain chaos sparked by Covid-19, followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, triggered historic price gyrations and an opportunity to make eye-watering profits in markets from wheat to oil. Big energy companies are already targets of some American and European legislators who have accused the giants of profiteering from political and social turmoil. Theres a good chance that commodities traders such as Cargill, flush with historic profits, may also wind up as political targets. Advertisement Cargill, controlled by two billionaire families linked by marriage decades ago, is one of the most lucrative cash-machines in corporate America. As a privately-owned company, Cargill doesnt disclose its accounts publicly and it has quietly multiplied its earnings by nearly 20 times over the last two decades, according to financial statements I have reviewed. The company declined to comment for this column. With some 155,000 employees across 70 countries, Cargill is the C in the vaunted ABCD of the agriculture industry. The other members of that storied club are Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Bunge Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus Co. and they have jointly dominated grain trading for more than a century. If Cargill was a publicly listed company, it would be among the largest in America. Archer-Daniels-Midland is publicly traded and currently boasts a price-to-earnings multiple of 13.29. Using the same metric, Cargill would be valued at about $90 billion, giving it a market capitalization on a par with Goldman Sachs Inc., and ahead of Citigroup Inc. and BlackRock Inc. Advertisement What lies behind that success? The crazy market moves over the last couple of years surely have helped. Cargill also successfully overhauled and streamlined its corporate structure about a decade ago. If you ask top executives, and members of the Cargill and MacMillan families that control the company, about the key to Cargills success, theyll answer with two words: private ownership. Private owners dont have to bow to the short-term goals markets impose on publicly-traded companies. That allows Cargill to fly under the radar. Theres another advantage to rolling that way: When your profits depend on market volatility triggered by a war, it comes in handy to be shy and avoid political scrutiny. For now, at least, the Cargills and MacMillans havent followed in the footsteps of rival grain trader Bunge, which went public in New York in 2001, and Glencore, which sold shares a decade later in London. But Cargills ownership is getting increasingly diluted among each new generation of family leadership at the company and the pressure must be building to cash in. Advertisement After all, commodities trading is highly cyclical, and Cargill has struggled to adapt to changing business circumstances in the past. Net income steadily increased from 2000 onward due to the Chinese commodity boom, but Cargills earnings plunged following the global financial crisis. The 2011-2015 period was difficult, and included quarterly losses. Times are very good now. So maybe Cargill should go public? Chief Executive Officer David MacLennan, who has run Cargill since 2013, has repeatedly ruled out an initial public offering. If history is any guide, he will probably retire in the next year or two, after turning 65. Whether the next CEO, the tenth in the companys history, would keep the company private is far less clear. The key is whether Cargill can sustain record profits while maintaining handsome dividend payments to its 150-plus family shareholders. In its fiscal 2022 year, it paid shareholders a record-high distribution of $1.21 billion. Still, Cargill is a relatively frugal company by Wall Street standards when it comes to dividends. Cargill also says it reinvests an average of 80% of its operating cash flow back into its business. How best to handle its newly minted riches may not be Cargills most immediate problem, anyhow. Politicians have been asking tough questions of companies that have profited handsomely during a chaotic and troubling time, and they may soon come knocking on Cargills door. And a company that prefers to remain in the shadows may have to answer publicly about how it harvested a fortune. Advertisement This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Javier Blas is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. A former reporter for Bloomberg News and commodities editor at the Financial Times, he is coauthor of The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earths Resources. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share We cant know what was said in those secret deliberations, but the Nobel Committee must have thought about giving Volodymyr Zelenskiy the Peace prize. That would have been a popular choice he easily topped the 2022 Time magazine reader poll for the most influential person of the year. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight They were right instead to honor Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian civil and human rights activists. The prize is not against anyone, said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chairwoman of the Nobel committee. And yet, on Vladimir Putins 70th birthday, it is clearly a repudiation of everything he stands for and an eloquent defense of the importance of both civil society and memory in building peace. Its not that Zelenskiy isnt a strong or deserving candidate. The Ukrainian presidents uncommon courage and leadership has inspired a number of people under extreme duress, and he has made the democratic world think about freedoms we often take for granted and what it means to defend them. Hes fighting a war he didnt choose, a war of necessity. Advertisement But there were reasons to pause. As President Joe Biden noted grimly, the world is as close as its come to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. What if awarding the prize to Zelenskiy prompted the ultimate act of defiance from Putin in his bid to win the war at any cost? Last years prize, given to Filipino journalist and rights activist Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, highlighted the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression. This years committee extends that to acknowledge the critical importance of collective memory and accountability too. Enlightened leadership is essential, but building peaceful, long-lasting democracies requires the bottom-up work of restoring trust and facilitating healing work that this years recipients do. Ales Bialiatski, the jailed Belarussian human rights activist who was awarded the peace prize, has led a nearly 30-year campaign to promote freedom and democracy and provide support for political prisoners. Like many human rights campaigners in authoritarian countries, he has endured extreme hardship in the service of cause. His award will hopefully embolden those working to end rule by dictatorship in Belarus and prevent Belarus from being dragged further into Putins war. Advertisement The other two prize recipients point to the importance of historical memory, something Putin has tried hard to wipe out. The Russian human rights organization Memorial emerged during the glasnost period to document crimes of the Soviet era. Its first chairman was the late Andrei Sakharov, who himself won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. His late widow, Elena Bonner, fought tirelessly for the same cause. In citing Memorial, the Nobel committee is, perhaps belatedly, acknowledging that there is no hope for long-term peace without historical record and accountability. The Ukrainian human rights organization the Center for Civil Liberties, recognized for their outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power, is also an important part of this triad. Each week brings new evidence of war crimes in Ukraine that need to be painstakingly documented, investigated and ultimately prosecuted. That is a mammoth task, as justice for all victims is too tall an order. But any bulwark against future aggression must include the process of prosecuting war crimes. It will be important to have institutions that also hold Ukrainian authorities to account, too. Its easy to be cynical about the Peace (or any other) prize. Heaven knows, the committee has made choices over the years that were tin-eared or even downright regrettable. It has often seemed self-important and too trend-conscious. And yet, there is merit in remembering that in places of oppression and war, it is the daily acts of defiance by those on the ground, the efforts to bring justice and accountability and restore the bonds of civil society that give peace its greatest long-term chance. Advertisement As for Zelenskiy, the prize he needs is not a Nobel. More From Bloomberg Opinion: A Decade of Illusions Over Putin That Led to War: Lionel Laurent Why Investors Are Facing Even More Market Instability: Mohamed A. El-Erian The Bank of England Is Right to Snub Calls for Emergency Action: Mark Gilbert This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering health care and British politics. Previously, she was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in the Horn of Africa, which is in the grip of its worst drought in at least four decades. More than 20 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are struggling to find enough to eat, and over 1 million have fled their homes, according to the United Nations. With forecasters seeing a high risk of rains failing for a fifth consecutive season and aid flows falling short of whats needed, the region is at risk of a famine thats on a par with -- or even worse than -- one that Ethiopia experienced in the 1980s and claimed an estimated 1 million lives. 1. How dire is the situation? Malnourishment is already widespread, especially among children, millions of whom need treatment. Millions of head of livestock have died, vast swathes of cropland have been decimated and rural communities have been torn apart as families migrate in search of food and grazing. Many parents cant afford to keep their children in school, drop-out rates have soared and there are reports of girls as young as nine being married off for dowry payments or to ease economic pressure on households. The UNs emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said hed seen starving babies who were too weak to cry when he visited Somalia in September. The UN expects a famine to be formally declared in parts of Somalia in the last quarter of 2022. The classification is assigned to areas where at least a fifth of households face an extreme lack of food, at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two out of every 10,000 people die daily from starvation or a combination of hunger and disease. Advertisement 2. Whats the backdrop? Climate change has resulted in extreme weather patterns, and nations across Africa have increasingly been contending with drought and flash floods. The coronavirus pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine have compounded the continents woes, making it more expensive and difficult to obtain supplies of food, fuel and fertilizer. Food prices have since eased, but relief has yet to filter through to most consumers. While Europe, parts of the US and other regions are also experiencing severe droughts, they are better equipped to deal with the fallout than cash-strapped African nations. 3. Are there other contributing factors? Locusts, which thrive in hot and dry conditions, have wiped out crops across large parts of eastern Africa. Somalia and Ethiopia have also been contending with internal conflict thats disrupted farming and made it dangerous to distribute aid. In Somalia, militant group al-Shabaab has been trying to topple the government since 2006 and impose its version of Islamic law. And in Ethiopia, the government and rebels from the northern Tigray region fought a civil war that dragged on for more than 16 months before a truce was agreed in March. Fighting flared again in September, raising fears of a return to all-out war. Kenya held presidential elections in August that may have diverted some attention away from the drought. Advertisement 4. Who has been trying to help? The US says it gave more than $6.6 billion in humanitarian and food assistance to Africa in the first seven months of 2022, which would make it the single biggest donor. The European Union, Canada, Sweden, Germany and the UK were also leading contributors. Kenyas government has introduced corn and fuel subsidies but says it cant afford to maintain them indefinitely. While Somalia needs $1.5 billion to help 7 million needy people -- almost half the population -- only 70% of that had been pledged by mid-September, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The shortfall was even bigger for Ethiopia, with just 40% of the $3.1 billion thats required to help 20 million people committed. 5. What about the rest of the continent? Several other sub-Saharan countries are confronting hunger crises of their own, among them South Sudan, Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The International Monetary Fund estimated in September that at least 123 million people across the region, or 12% of the population, wont be able to meet their minimum food consumption needs, an increase of 28 million over just two years. Contributing factors included soaring food prices, depressed incomes, extreme weather events, insecurity and disruption of supply chains. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The use of nuclear arms had been considered practically unthinkable for the 77 years since the US proved their destructive power. But a distinctive feature of Russian military policy is an express willingness to introduce nuclear weapons into an otherwise conventional war. That helps explain why President Vladimir Putins saber-rattling about his nuclear arsenal since launching war on Ukraine in February has been so worrisome. Whats of particular concern with Russia is its posture on so-called tactical, or nonstrategic, nuclear weapons. 1. What has Russia done to raise concern? In a speech laying out Russias reasons for invading Ukraine, Putin warned that any nation that interfered would suffer consequences that you have never experienced in your history. That was widely seen as threatening a nuclear strike. On Sept. 21, in the wake of a Ukrainian counteroffensive helped by US intelligence and weapons donated by the West, Putin portrayed the war as a fight to the death with the US and its allies and vowed to use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. This is not a bluff. Rhetoric aside, Russia regularly holds drills to test its strategic weapon delivery systems, including practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and shorter-range cruise missiles; one was held just days before the invasion. Military experts have considered how Russia might use a tactical weapon in a conventional conflict, like the one in Ukraine. Advertisement 2. Whats a tactical nuclear weapon? Tactical is an inexact term for a nuclear weapon that could be used within a theater of war. Generally speaking, that means it has a less powerful warhead (the explosive head of a missile, rocket or torpedo) and is delivered at a shorter range -- by mines, artillery, cruise missiles or bombs dropped by aircraft -- than the strategic nuclear weapons the US and Russia could launch at each others homeland using ICBMs. Arms control accords between the US and the Soviet Union (and, later, between the US and Russia) starting in the 1970s generally focused on reducing the number of strategic nuclear weapons, not tactical ones. 3. How powerful can a tactical nuclear weapon be? Where todays most powerful strategic warheads are measured in the many hundreds of kilotons, tactical nuclear weapons can have explosive yields of less than 1 kiloton; many are in the tens of kilotons. For some perspective, the atomic bombs dropped by the US on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 had explosive yields of about 15 kilotons and 20 kilotons, respectively. Advertisement 4. How does a nuclear strike fit into Russias military doctrine? Since 2000, Russias publicly shared military doctrine has allowed for nuclear weapons use in response to large-scale aggression utilizing conventional weapons in situations critical to the national security of the Russian Federation. The Russian strategy known as escalate to de-escalate contemplates using a tactical nuclear weapon on the battlefield to change the course of a conventional conflict that Russian forces are at risk of losing. John Hyten, who served as the top US nuclear weapons military official, says a more accurate translation of the Russian strategy is escalate to win. US President Joe Biden said that when Putin talks about potentially using tactical nuclear weapons, he is not joking. 5. Whats in Russias arsenal? Advertisement The US Department of Defense reported in 2018 that Russia had significant advantages over the US and its allies in tactical nuclear forces and was improving delivery capabilities. Researchers at the Federation of American Scientists estimated that entering 2022, Russia had 4,477 nuclear warheads, of which 1,525 -- roughly one-third -- could be considered tactical. 6. What would a tactical nuclear strike look like? Nina Tannenwald, author of The Nuclear Taboo: The United States and the Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons Since 1945, paints a scenario of even a small nuclear weapon, one with an explosive yield of 0.3 kiloton, producing damage far beyond that of a conventional explosive. It could, she wrote in Scientific American in March, cause all the horrors of Hiroshima, albeit on a smaller scale. Its possible, however, that if detonated at the right altitude, a small-yield warhead might wipe out opposing forces beneath without leaving behind long-term radiation damage that leaves the battlefield off-limits to all. Advertisement 7. How would the world respond? Because Ukraine isnt a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- Putin has demanded that it never be allowed to join -- the US and its allies are not obliged to come to its defense. But the West would be under great pressure to respond to a nuclear attack, perhaps even with a tactical weapon of its own. From there, it would be anyones guess. I dont think theres any such thing as the ability to easily use tactical nuclear weapons and not end up with Armageddon, Biden warned. The US is thought to have about 150 B-61 nuclear gravity bombs -- ones dropped from aircraft, with variable yields that can be as low as 0.3 kiloton -- stationed in five NATO countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. Two other NATO members, the UK and France, are known to have nuclear weapons of their own. And Poland recently expressed interest in sharing US nuclear weapons, which could mean anything from offering escort or reconnaissance jets for a nuclear mission to actually hosting the weapons. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share FAIRFAX, Va. A jury has acquitted a retired Catholic priest from northern Virginia who was accused of sexually assaulting a child more than 20 years ago. A Fairfax County jury found Terry Specht not guilty Wednesday. He had been accused of sexual abuse of a minor under age 13. Prosecutors had alleged he committed the assault in 2000, when he was chaplain and assistant principal at St. Paul VI Catholic High School. Public Defender Dawn Butorac said the jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning its verdict. The jury got it right, she said. Mr. Spechts innocence was clear from the beginning. The Arlington Diocese issued a statement saying Specht has been on medical retirement since 2012, and will not return to ministry. While Father Specht was found not guilty, I nevertheless convey my heartfelt and sincere sorrow to anyone who has suffered sexual abuse, Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge said in the statement. Advertisement The case was prosecuted by the Virginia Attorney Generals Office. While disappointed in the outcome, the Attorney General is proud of his team for fighting for victims, Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Jason Miyares, said in a statement. There are many difficulties that come with prosecuting decades old sexual assault cases, and our team worked diligently to support this victim and provide them a voice. Specht had previously faced accusations of sexually abusing a teenage boy in the late 1990s, when he was a parochial vicar at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax. He denied those allegations and was never criminally charged. A Diocese review board found the allegation to be inconclusive. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share RICHMOND, Va. A lawsuit against a Virginia town that alleges its police department has operated in a way that led to unlawful racial discrimination and violated individuals constitutional rights can move forward, a judge ruled Thursday. Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight The Office of the Attorney General initially brought the lawsuit against the small southeastern Virginia town of Windsor in December, after an investigation prompted by a 2020 traffic stop involving two Windsor police officers and Caron Nazario, an Army lieutenant. Video of the incident showed the officers drawing their guns, pointing them at Nazario, who is Black and Latino, and using a slang term to suggest he was facing execution before pepper-spraying him and knocking him to the ground. The video led to widespread outrage when it surfaced months later, after Nazario sued the two officers. Advertisement A judge on Thursday heard arguments in the states lawsuit before denying an attempt from the town to have the case dismissed, TV station WVEC reported. We are pleased with the Courts ruling today and have no further comment, Victoria LaCivita, a spokesperson for Miyares, said in a statement to The Associated Press. While the lawsuit was initially filed in the waning days of Democratic Attorney General Mark Herrings term, Miyares a Republican who took office in January has continued to pursue it. Miyares filed an amended complaint in August that substantially revised the claims made in the case. The lawsuit alleges the towns police department has engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that has deprived individuals of their rights, privileges or immunities under the First, Fourth and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It also says the department policed in a way that unlawfully discriminated on the basis of race, color or national origin. Advertisement In court documents, the town has said the states lawsuit refers only to one incident, Nazarios traffic stop, and doesnt establish that the town engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprived individuals of their rights. Attorneys for the town did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursdays ruling. Isle of Wight NAACP members told the TV station they were pleased to see Miyares push forward with the case. It is good to know that it is not about parties, said Valerie Butler, president of the Isle of Wight NAACP. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share AKRON, Ohio At least two cars crashed during a funeral procession for a teen who died of a suspected drug overdose, killing a 12-year-old boy and critically injuring his 6-year-old brother, police in Ohio said. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Two episodes of gunfire followed the crash, wounding at least one person. A marked police cruiser was leading the procession through Akron on Thursday afternoon when the collision occurred. The boys were riding in a car driven by their mother; witnesses reported that the vehicle had been moving erratically and that passengers had been hanging out of windows. Police said one of the boys was thrown from the car and the other partially ejected. Their mother was not hurt. It wasnt clear what caused the crash, but Akron police Lt. Michael Miller said horseplay is not uncommon among some drivers in funeral processions in the city. Advertisement The mother was expected to face charges stemming from the crash, though it wasnt clear Friday what counts she might face. Miller said the investigation continues, noting that we want to strike a balance and yield to grace as it relates to overly disparaging the grieving mother. Seconds after the crash, a gunshot rang out, and a man who was driving another involved vehicle ran off and has not been found, police said. It wasnt clear who fired the shot. Authorities said they were looking into whether a third vehicle was involved. A 19-year-old suffered a gunshot wound not considered life-threatening, and investigators were trying to determine his role, if any, in the crash. Complicating the investigation was a second shooting that occurred minutes later, within sight of the crash scene. More than a dozen shots were fired, but authorities said that no one was injured in that gunfire and that the two shootings appeared to be unrelated. Advertisement Officials identified the 12-year-old killed in the crash as Tymar Allen, of Akron, and an autopsy Friday determined he died of blunt force injuries suffered in the crash. His brother remained hospitalized Friday. His name and the extent of his injuries have not been disclosed. It wasnt clear what ties the boys or anyone else involved in the crash may have had with the 17-year-old boy for whom the procession was held. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share BERLIN Germany wants the huge economic damage resulting from global warming to be discussed at this years United Nations climate talks, Germanys foreign minister said Friday. Vulnerable countries have long demanded that big polluters be held accountable for the effects that their greenhouse gas emissions are having around the world, including the destruction caused by extreme weather and sea level rise resulting from rising global temperatures. But rich nations that account for the majority of planet-warming emissions since the start of the industrial era have largely opposed efforts to formally debate the loss and damage issue for fear they might have to pay climate reparations. Last years U.N. climate talks in Glasgow failed to reach agreement on establishing a special fund for loss and damage. Advertisement Speaking after a meeting with her counterpart from Pakistan, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the recent devastating floods in the South Asian nation had shown what dramatic consequences the climate crisis is having in all regions. As one of the hardest-hit countries worldwide, Pakistan is paying a high price for global CO2 emissions, Baerbock, a member of the environmentalist Greens party, told reporters in Berlin. Thats why Germany will work toward a fair sharing of the costs at the COP27 in Egypt, putting the question of climate adaptation, but in particular also the question of loss and damage, on the agenda, she said. Germanys climate envoy, former Greenpeace chief Jennifer Morgan, and Chiles environment minister, Maisa Rojas, have been tasked with finding common ground among nations ahead of the U.N. climate talks next month in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Advertisement Germany is also giving Pakistan a further 10 million euros in flood aid, taking its total commitment to 60 million euros, Baerbock said. Pakistans foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said the biblical floods had affected 33 million people and at one point a third of the country was underwater. Many roads, hospitals and farms in Pakistan were destroyed. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that Pakistan was on the verge of a public health disaster due to the risk of diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever, while malnutrition also was spiking after the floods. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share CAIRO More than 50 Sudanese pro-democracy groups have agreed on a new draft constitution, in one of the largest shows of unity from the countrys opposition since the 2019 popular uprising. The document, signed Wednesday evening, is meant to put the country back on the path to democracy and remove the military from power, according to group leaders. Sudan has been mired in political turmoil since its military seized power in a coup last October after three decades of repressive Islamist rule under former President Omar Al Bashir. Following the military takeover, Sudans top general and current ruler, Abdel Fattah Burhan, swept away his civilian partners in government and detained hundreds of officials and activists. At least 54 mainly grassroots networks known as the Resistance Committees signed the charter late Wednesday in Khartoum, in what is a hybrid of two separate proposals drafted earlier this year. Advertisement The merged charter has yet to be formally published by the coalition of opposition groups. However, an unpublished version seen by The Associated Press on Thursday included measures for the removal of the current military leaders, the cancellation of the Juba Peace Agreement and the implementation of a new transitional constitution and legislative council. The Juba Peace Agreement, signed between the former military-civilian powersharing government and various rebel groups in 2020, promised to integrate the countrys various armed factions into one military united force and improve regional and ethnic representation across the country. However, most protocols stipulated in the deal, including the armed unification, have made little headway. The deal was also not signed by several of Sudans more powerful rebel forces. According to Hamid Khalafallah, an analyst and researcher specializing in Sudanese governance, the charter proves the Resistance Committees are real political players in Sudan but it may fail to rally wider support. Advertisement The charter doesnt provide enough flexibility to engage with other actors beyond the Resistance Committees, said Khalafallah. Since October, the Resistance Committees have spearheaded near-weekly rallies against Sudans military government who in turn have ruthlessly cracked down on public dissent. Doctors groups say that security forces have killed at least 117 demonstrators since Octobers coup and detained hundreds more. In an interview with The Associated Press at the U.N. General assembly in September, Burhan refuted these claims denying Sudan had any political prisoners. Under the weight of domestic and international pressure, both Burhan and his deputy, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have separately vowed to restore the democratic process in recent months, but neither has provided details on what that restoration would look like. Burhan announced the military would step back from leading the political transition, though he remains the countrys most powerful figure. Advertisement The U.N. political mission in Sudan, the African Union and the eight-nation east African regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development group have been trying to broker a way out of the political impasse through cross-part dialogues. The U.N.s engagement with the military generated anger among various pro-democracy movements. In July, Burhan announced the withdrawal of the military from the U.N.-facilitated dialogue. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share PRAGUE The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have held talks in Prague in efforts to ease tensions between the two longtime adversaries. Armenia agreed to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement released early Friday, following a meeting on the margins of a European summit in the presence of the EU Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it is concerned, the statement said. Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers from both sides. The EU mission will start in October for a maximum of two months, with the aim to build confidence and contribute to the border commissions that have been set earlier this year to address questions related to the delimitation of the border, the statement said. Advertisement The ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. The move comes after the leaders of historic foes Turkey and Armenia on Thursday held their first face-to-face meeting since the two countries agreed to improve relations. The discussions have been held on the sidelines of a summit by the leaders of 44 countries to launch a European Political Community aimed at boosting security and economic prosperity across Europe. GiftOutline Gift Article He wont go. Those three words are the essence of a prediction Bill Maher made for years. At the time, it seemed a little premature and a lot crazy. He made it before the 2016 presidential election, and once Donald Trump won the White House, Maher repeated it. He reiterated it on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, where talks and satirizes current events with news-savvy guests. Maher, who leans steeply to the left, reinforced the point in interviews, and talked Trump in his live comedy shows, like the one hes bringing to Buffalos Kleinhans Music Hall on Sunday. If he loses, Maher would often say, referring to Trump, he wont go. That might have seemed hyperbolic at the time, but then Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden and followed up by pursuing fraud claims around the country. They were unsuccessful: Congress, even in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, certified the election. Later, an Associated Press analysis of 25 million votes cast in the six states Trump contested found less than 475 potential fraud cases. Thats a statistically insignificant number that would not have changed the electoral result. Biden irrefutably won the election. But Trumps refusal to concede or attend his successors inauguration makes you think: Was Maher, in some sense, right? That was among the topics we discussed with Maher in a recent phone interview. Here are excerpts from the conversation, edited lightly for space and clarity: You said for a long time that if Donald Trump lost the election, he wouldnt leave. Given what happened, were you as correct as you thought you would be? Maher: Its so interesting. Maggie Haberman of the New York Times has put out a book where she quotes him, and I threw this in the face in a fun way of Jon Meacham on our show a couple of weeks ago. Hes a historian, and he doubted that what I was saying was going to come to pass. I read some of the quotes I had said, and then her quote from him out of his mouth was almost word for word. It was just, Im not leaving. (Note: The exact quote, which Haberman reports Trump said to an aide, is, Im just not going to leave.) I don't understand why it wasnt so obvious that this guy never concedes anything. I mean, look at how he does his hair. It's just not in his character to ever pick up the phone after an election and say, Well, it was a hard-fought battle, but good luck, President Buttigieg, and I'll be rooting for you. Its just not going to happen. If you focus just on the messaging and set everything else aside, do you at some level have respect for Trumps consistency? For his stubborn resolve? Maher: Respect would be too strong a word. What there is some grudging admiration for is the ability to not back down when people are demanding that you do that. Unfortunately, in his case, they're usually demanding it for something he should back down about. But the other side could use a little of that backbone, as opposed to just immediately going to, Oh, my God, you're right. I'm a repulsive (expletive) and I apologize. There's just way too much apologizing on the left, and very often, it's just for things that are silly and trivial and it makes the Democrats look weak. Trump, for all his nonsense, never looks weak. Even though ironically, hes one of the weakest people in the world. He does nothing but whine and complain as if a white man born to great wealth got dealt a terrible hand in America. Hes an incredible paradox. Someday, I hope they will stop writing books about him. But while he's still around, and I guess for a good time after, they will continue to do it. Because one thing he is not is uninteresting. Are we paying too much attention to him? Maher: I wish that was the case. But no, not really. I've also said that he would never not run again. Its an absolute certainty he's going to run for president. It's very likely he will be the nominee, and the problem there is whether he wins or not trust me he will show up on Inauguration Day in Washington, where you're supposed to be inaugurated: on the Capitol steps. That is a certainty, whether he wins or not. That's a real problem. We've seen it happen in other countries. It's never happened in this country. But it's going to happen in this country. Can you see him winning? Maher: Of course. The polls show it. Republicans have changed quite a bit from 2020 on who they want to lead their party, and it's not him. He is down 20% in that area. Thats a lot. You would think if the guy was down 20% in his own party, that he'd be toast. Not the case. Even though they don't want him as the standard bearer, when the next question is, But if it was him against Biden, or any of the Democrats? It's a dead heat, which tells you a lot about what they think about the Democrats. How do you characterize Americas battle for facts and truth? Maher: I think its as bad a problem as we've ever had in this country because were at this place where both sides just hate each other, and in that atmosphere, nothing can ever get done. When one side hates the other, they don't listen. There's no room for any sort of compromise. What America should do is stop talking politics all the time. Thats something we never used to do. When I was a kid, my parents and their friends, they never talked politics. You didn't talk religion or politics. It was almost considered impolite. Now, everyone's arguing with each other on Facebook. We get to these places where we don't see any commonality between you and the guy on the other side of the aisle. It's much better if we just didn't know what their politics are because you're not going to change their politics. In that atmosphere, where there's just hate, I just don't see us walking this back. I mean, look at all the polls that talk about the startling number of people who think there's going to be a second Civil War. A Civil War is not practical. In the other Civil War, we were on two sides, literally, of the divide geographically. Now, we're all mixed in together. There are 4 million Trump voters in California. What are we going to do? Fight each other from town to town? I would like to think theres a way to walk it from this, but I don't know what it is. You have a lot of experience talking with people who vehemently disagree with you. On camera, it looks cordial. What is it like when the cameras are off? Maher: I think even better. If anything, when the cameras are rolling, people feel the need to somehow represent to whoever they think they need to be representing to. Sometimes you can just tell, Oh, you don't really believe that. But you've got to say that because your constituent is expecting you to say that. Off camera, I think its a much better situation. This is one reason why I started doing a podcast, Club Random. (Mahers guests have included Mike Tyson, William Shatner and Lisa Kudrow.) There are so many other things you can talk about with people, and this podcast has given me a chance to do that to talk to people who could never be on Real Time, but are very interesting people, and we can talk about a million other things. I think that's the secret to making this country whole again: recognize that you have a lot more in common with people than you think. . . . Preview Bill Maher When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Where: Kleinhans Music Hall. Tickets: $37. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share STOCKHOLM Belarussian pro-democracy campaigner Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with human rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, is the fourth person in the 121-year history of the Nobel Prizes to receive the award while in prison or detention. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Bialiatski, 60, who founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna, was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen urged Belarus to release Bialiatski but acknowledged that chances of that happening in time for the Dec. 10 award ceremony were slim. Here is a look at what happened to the other Nobel Peace Prize winners who were in captivity when they were awarded the prize. Advertisement CARL VON OSSIETZKY The German journalist, a staunch opponent of militarism, was imprisoned for exposing secret plans for German rearmament in the 1920s. He was released after seven months but arrested again and sent to a concentration camp after the Nazis took power in 1933. Despite a campaign to set him free, the government refused to release Ossietzky, who was ill with tuberculosis. His 1935 Nobel Peace Prize made Nazi leader Adolf Hitler so furious that he prohibited all Germans from receiving Nobel prizes. According to biographical notes on the Nobel website, Ossietzky was barred from traveling to Norway to accept the award and was kept under surveillance at a civilian hospital until his death in 1938. He was the first Nobel peace laureate to die in captivity. AUNG SAN SUU KYI The Myanmar opposition leader was under house arrest for participating in anti-government protests when she was awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Her husband and sons accepted the award on her behalf. Advertisement The Nobel helped galvanize international support for Suu Kyi, but she remained in on-and-off house arrest until her release in 2010. She eventually became Myanmars leader, but her peace prize glory faded and she faced criticism for ignoring and sometimes defending atrocities by the military, including a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi was detained again when the military ousted her elected government in 2021 and remains imprisoned, despite calls for her release by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and others. LIU XIAOBO The decision to give imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 deeply angered Beijing, which reacted by suspending trade negotiations with Norway. Liu was serving an 11-year sentence for inciting subversion by advocating sweeping political reforms and greater human rights in China. No friend or relative was able to accept the award on his behalf. His wife was placed under house arrest and dozens of his supporters were prevented from leaving the country. Lius absence was famously marked by an empty chair at the award ceremony in Oslo. The award prompted world, leaders including President Barack Obama, to call for Lius release, but to no avail. He died from liver cancer in 2017. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share KYIV A Ukrainian official says the bodies of 530 people have been discovered in recaptured areas of Kharkiv region since Sept. 7. Ukraines First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yevhen Yenin said Friday the bodies included those 225 women, 257 men and 19 children, while 29 bodies havent been identified. Some 447 of the bodies were found in the mass grave in Izium. Yenin said forensics experts have found indications of violent death in a considerable number of bodies including signs of torture. According to Yenin some bodies had a rope around their neck, hands tied behind their back, bullet wounds to their knees, and broken ribs. Overall 1,350 civilians were killed in the Kharkiv region since the start of the war. Serhiy Bolvinov head of the Kharkiv regions State Police Investigative Department, said 22 torture sites were found in recently liberated areas. Advertisement ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: Biden: Nuclear Armageddon risk highest since 62 crisis Putins path: from pledges of stability to nuclear threats Nobel Peace Prize to activists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine EU leaders struggle to bridge gas price cap divide UN rights body agrees to appoint expert to scrutinize Russia Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sided Friday with another country coping with Russian territorial claims by signing a decree supporting Japans sovereignty over the Kuril islands. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that he had signed a decree, following up on action taken by Ukraines parliament, confirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Japan, including the disputed islands. Advertisement Russia has no right to these territories, Zelenskyy said, echoing language he has used about Russias invasion of Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Ukrainian land. In March, Russia discontinued peace treaty talks with Japan over the Kuril islands and decided to withdraw from joint economic projects in retaliation for Tokyos sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The two countries never signed a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities because of their dispute over the Russian-held islands north of Hokkaido, which Moscow took at the end of the war. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Two burial sites were found in the recently recaptured Ukrainian city of Lyman and one of them is a mass grave, authorities said Friday. The burial site with around 200 individual graves is civilians buried there, says Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. In the mass grave, he said it could contain the bodies of civilians and soldiers and the exact number of people buried there is yet to be determined. Advertisement The city was recaptured from Russian forces who had occupied it for months. About 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Lyman, in the recently liberated city of Sviatohirsk, 21 bodies of civilians were reburied. While the battles for Sviatohirsk and the occupation continued, the killed people were buried in the streets and yards, Kyrylenko wrote on his Telegram site. ___ PRAGUE, Czech Republic French President Emmanuel Macron says EU leaders have agreed on setting up special fund to allow Ukraine to directly buy military equipment it needs. The initial amount is only 100 million euros, only a fraction of the 2.5 billion euros the EU has already spent in support of Ukraines war effort. Macron didnt offer details on the fund as the Ukrainian military presses ahead with its counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces. Advertisement The French president said at an EU leaders summit Friday that the 27 member country bloc remains committed to providing military training to Ukrainian forces. He also said France is close to a deal with Denmark on sending an additional six Caesar self-propelled howitzers cannons to Ukraine. ____ KYIV Officials say the death toll from a Russian missile attack on an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has risen to 12. The Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration said Friday 21 people were rescued from the rubble of residential buildings that were hit with modified S-300 missiles. A dozen people remain hospitalized, including two childrent. Regional Governor Oleksandr Staruch posted on his Telegram channel that this was not random, but a deliberate strike on multi-story buildings. Advertisement Starukh said Russian forces on Friday deployed for the first time Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones that damaged two infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzha. ____ ST. PETERSBURG, Russia Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a tractor as a gift for his 70th birthday while electronic billboards congratulating Putin appeared in Serbias capital Belgrade. Lukashenko presented Putin with a gift certificate for the vehicle as the leaders of several ex-Soviet nations met at the Czarist-era Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg on Friday. It wasnt clear how the Russian leader responded to the gift, which Lukashenkos office announced. The billboards in Belgrade feature Putins photo and read: Happy birthday to President Vladimir Putin from the Serb brethren! The posters are signed by a Pro-Russian right-wing group. Advertisement Putin remains popular in Serbia despite the attack on Ukraine and many in the Balkan country believe that the Russian president was provoked by the West into launching the invasion. ____ NICOSIA, Cyprus Ukraines environmental protection minister says an accident at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could release 10 times the amount of potentially lethal radioactivity than the worlds worst atomic accident did in Chernobyl 36 years ago. Ruslan Strilets who is in Cyprus for a U.N. environmental conference, told the Associated Press in an interview Friday that a release of radioactivity of that magnitude could expand to as much as 2 million sq. km (772,200 sq. miles), three times larger than Ukraines total area or an area half the size of the European Union. An accident could also spark a wave of environmental refugees fleeing to other areas of Ukraine or abroad. Advertisement According to Strilets, about 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of forest have been damaged or burned since the Feb. 24 launch of the Russian invasion. Forest fires in combination with Russian attacks on oil depots and industrial facilities have spewed more than 67 million tons of pollutants into the air. Currently, 812 nature-protected areas have either been damaged or remain under threat. He added that a preliminary assessment on environmental damage the war has caused in the last seven months puts the cost at over 36 billion euros ($35.25 billion). ____ THE HAGUE, Netherlands Dutch financial crime prosecutors say they have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of breaching sanctions by selling computer chips to companies in Russia that could have military uses. The tax services prosecution office, known by its Dutch acronym FIOD, said Friday that the man was arrested Sept. 27 in the eastern Netherlands and remains in custody. His identity was not released, in line with Dutch privacy regulations. Advertisement FIOD said in a statement that the chips he delivered to Russia can also be used for producing weapons. It added that the Russian weapon industry currently has a serious shortage of these microchips. FIOD says the man allegedly deliberately tried to evade sanctions by pretending the chips had destinations other than Russia. ____ OSLO, Norway This years Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said Friday the judges wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Reiss-Andersen told reporters in Oslo the laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today through their consistent efforts in favor of human values, anti-militarism and principles of law. The award follows a tradition of highlighting groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts, alleviate hardship and protect human rights. ____ KYIV A spokesman for Ukraines president says Volodymyr Zelenskyy would never ask NATO to launch a nuclear first strike to prevent Russia from unleashing its own nuclear arsenal. Zelenskyys press officer Serhiy Nikiforov said Friday the Ukrainian presidents remark during a discussion at Australias Lowy Institute didnt imply that NATO should launch a preemptive nuclear attack, but instead to act proactively with additional sanctions as it should have done prior to Russias Feb. 24 invasion. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak posted on Twitter that Zelenskyys reference to strikes meant that the West should step up sanctions as well as military aid to Ukraine. In response to a question about what NATO should do to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons, Zelenksyy told the Lowy Institute the alliance should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons through preemptive strikes, so they know what will happen to them if they do. ____ KYIV Britains Defense Ministry says Ukraines ability to capture and put back into service Russian tanks and other equipment continues to be an important factor in its drive to repel the invasion. The Ministry said Friday Ukrainian forces have captured at least 440 tanks and about 650 armored vehicles since the start of the war. It also said the failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline. ____ KYIV The Ukrainian military says its forces have shot down more than 20 Russian drones over the last 24 hours. Most of the drones were the Iranian-made Shahed-136 that are packed with explosives and are designed to crash into targets. The military also said that 500 former criminals have been mobilized to reinforce Russian ranks in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory. The new units are commanded by officers drawn from law enforcement. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War says Russia has increasingly deployed the cheaper an less sophisticated Iranian-made drones in recent weeks, but the weapons are unlikely to significantly affect the course of the war. ____ KYIV A Ukrainian military official says Russian troops have shelled the southern city of Nikopol overnight, damaging multi-story buildings, houses, farm buildings and public infrastructure including gas pipelines and electricity systems. Valentyn Reznichenko, the head of the local military administration, said Friday no injuries reported. Nikopol is situation along the Dnieper River, opposite Russian-held territory. Russian forces are trying to blunt recent Ukrainian advances along the southern front. ____ PRAGUE European Union leaders are meeting in Prague to try to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russias war on Ukraine fuels the energy crisis. Its hoped that a price cap will contain a crisis that is driving up prices for consumers and business. It could lead to rolling blackouts, shuttered factories and a deep recession over the winter. As Europeans bolster their support for Ukraine in the form of weapons, money and aid, Russia has reduced or cut off natural gas to 13 member nations. Standing in the way of an agreement at Fridays summit is the simple fact that each member country depends on different energy sources and suppliers. ____ NEW YORK U.S. President Joe Biden says the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Bidens remarks came as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a fundraiser Thursday for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons. Biden added that we have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. ____ UNITED NATIONS Russia is calling for a secret ballot next week in the U.N. General Assembly on a Western-backed resolution that would condemn Moscow for its attempted illegal annexation of part of four Ukrainian regions and demand an immediate reversal. Russia apparently hopes it would get more support from the 193 nations if their votes are not made public. The General Assembly has announced that its emergency special session on Ukraine will resume Monday when the draft resolution will be presented. Diplomats say they expect the vote on the resolution likely on Wednesday. Votes on resolutions in the world body are traditionally public and illuminated with different colored lights on a large board which has the name of every country. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share TEPOZTLAN, Mexico Indigenous symbols found painted next to Roman Catholic motifs at a 1550s-era convent near Mexico City suggest Spanish priests negotiated with Indigenous leaders in the first years after the conquest, experts said Friday. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The popular belief has long been that the Spanish simply imposed their religion and government system after the 1521 defeat of the Aztec empire. But the few Spanish priests sent to Mexico were faced with the monumental task of converting hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people in a short period of time. That may have forced them to take Indigenous preferences into account in order to complete their task. This week, the National Institute of Anthropology and History announced that Indigenous symbols like a feather headdress, an axe and a shield have been found under layers of lime plaster at open-air chapels in a convent in the town of Tepoztlan, just south of Mexico City. Advertisement Restoration experts were cleaning and stabilizing large, one-yard (meter) diameter painted red circles on the walls. Those kind of circles can be seen elsewhere in the convent, filled with Christian imagery. But in the open-air chapels they were paired with the same circles bearing Indigenous motifs. The meaning of the pre-Hispanic symbols are still being studied and may refer to Tepoztecatl or some other Indigenous god. Historical restorer Frida Mateos Gonzalez, who works for the institute, said it was significant that the paintings found on two walls of the outdoor chapels showed the letter M representing the Virgin Mary. On the walls opposite, at the same size and the same height, was a circle with the pre-Hispanic symbols. Something is going on there that suggests a negotiation at the same level, What have we agreed on? Mateos Gonzalez said. It speak of a space where negotiations and agreements were made. Advertisement Indigenous peoples in Mexico were accustomed to holding religious ceremonies in the open air, not in enclosed spaces like churches. To attract them, the priests built open-air chapels: a small arched vestibule for officiating Mass facing a large open patio surrounded by the four walls of the church patio. The paintings found this week were in three smaller structures known as Posing Chapels, built in the four corners of the open patio. Often found in conjunction with open chapels, the posing chapels held statues of saints used to mark processions and teach converts. A stone baptismal font and a stone cross stood in the church courtyard. While many people have long believed Indigenous people were somehow afraid of entering the heavy roofed spaces of churches, Mateos Gonzalez said the open-air chapels may have been a reflection simply of the priests desire to work as quickly as possible at converting the native population. Open-air spaces, perhaps with a few rustic thatched enclosures, were quicker to build than churches that often required decades to complete. It speaks of an urgent need to start using the space while the church was being built, she said. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share NAIROBI, Kenya African Union-sponsored peace talks to resolve Ethiopias two year-long Tigray conflict will not take place as planned this weekend because of logistics and other issues, diplomatic sources told The Associated Press on Friday, a further sign of the challenges in bringing the deeply suspicious warring sides to the table. Ethiopias federal government on Wednesday accepted an invitation from the chair of the African Union Commission to attend the talks in South Africa, which would be the most significant meeting yet between the combatants. The Tigray authorities said they were ready to send negotiators but sought clarity on the structure of the talks, having previously insisted on the participation of international officials as observers. The Tigray authorities also sought security assurances for their travel. Advertisement The diplomatic sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said logistical issues were partly to blame for the delay. They said the format of the talks had not been agreed upon. No new date has been set. The AU has said the talks are due to be led by AU special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, supported by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, a former deputy president of South Africa. But a letter from Kenyatta, seen by the AP, said he could not attend this weekend due to conflicts in my schedule, and he asked for further clarity in the structure and modalities of the talks including the rules of engagement for all speakers invited: This clarification would greatly help in preparations for my engagement and participation. He called for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities. Advertisement South Africas government has not spoken publicly about the talks nor responded to questions. The conflict between the Tigray forces and Ethiopias federal government renewed in late August, ending a lull in fighting in place since March that had allowed thousands of truckloads of aid to enter the Tigray region, where more than 5 million people need humanitarian assistance. Now aid deliveries have stopped. Forces from neighboring Eritrea are again deeply involved in the fighting on the side of Ethiopian forces, according to witnesses and recent satellite imagery. Millions of people in northern Ethiopia, including the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar, have been uprooted from their homes and tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed since the conflict broke out in November 2020. Babies in Tigray are dying in their first month of life at four times the rate before the war cut off access to most medical care for over 5 million people, the AP reported this week, citing a yet-unpublished study shared by its authors. Women are dying during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth at five times the rate before the war. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share JERUSALEM The severed head and decapitated torso of a 25-year-old Palestinian were discovered on the side of a road in the occupied West Bank, police said Friday, confirming gruesome details of a killing that shocked Palestinian society. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight But accounts that the victim, Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, was a gay man who feared persecution for his sexuality and had sought asylum in Israel two years ago turned the terrible crime into a socially and politically explosive case. It was unclear how Abu Murkhiyeh wound up in Hebron, the conservative West Bank city that he had reportedly fled. Palestinian police officials told The Associated Press on Friday that Abu Murkhiyehs head and torso were found near his familys house. Col. Loay Irzekat, a police spokesman, said authorities arrested a Palestinian acquaintance of Abu Murkhiyeh as a suspect in the killing, but declined to ascribe a motive or elaborate on their relationship pending the investigation. Advertisement Palestinian social media was gripped by the grisly killing, but silent on the question of Abu Murkhiyehs sexuality. Homosexuality remains deeply taboo in the Palestinian territories, where traditional norms play a prominent role in social and political life. Still there was plenty of outrage across the West Bank. Graphic footage taken by Palestinian youths who happened upon Abu Murkhiyehs dismembered body on a hillside rippled through WhatsApp groups, provoking shock and horror, before being taken down. This is a very ugly crime, an older relative, also named Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, told the Palestinian radio station Al Karama. Such a thing should not be discussed. Abu Murkhiyehs family released a statement of mourning, offering blessings and asking for privacy after this heinous, unprecedented crime that shook the homeland. Advertisement The family claimed that Abu Murkhiyeh lived and worked between Hebron and neighboring Jordan, where his late father was from. As news of Abu Murkhiyehs death spread, a starkly different version of events emerged from Israel. LGBTQ organizations and emergency shelters helping gay asylum seekers said they knew he was gay and desperate to escape the Palestinian territories, where he was a target. Rita Petrenko, founder of Al Bait Al Mokhtalef, an Israeli gay rights organization catering to the Arab community, said Abu Murkhiyehs fear was distinct when they met in 2020. He told me people not only in his family but in the village wanted to kill him, she said, adding that he fled to Israel as word of his sexual orientation spread through Hebron two years ago. He was scared of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins. Advertisement Abu Murkhiyeh bounced around from shelter to shelter and scraped by on occasional restaurant jobs in Tel Aviv, Petrenko said, while she helped him apply for resettlement to Canada. He had no prospects in Israel. On temporary status, he was barred from working until last July, when Israel started granting work permits to Palestinians who have sought refuge due to violence and persecution for their sexual orientation, Petrenko said. The situation was horrible for all of them, said Ibtisam Maraana-Menuhin, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset who petitioned the Supreme Court to grant gay Palestinian asylum seekers work visas. Israel frequently promotes its tolerance on issues of sexual orientation, despite the rejection of homosexuality in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. But Tel Aviv is proud of its reputation as a top destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Advertisement Critics accuse Israel of pink-washing, saying it uses such tolerance as a way to divert attention from its open-ended occupation of the West Bank, now in its 56th year, and its harsh policies toward the Palestinians. Just hours before Abu Murkhiyeh was killed on Wednesday, he spoke to volunteers at his shelter in Tel Aviv for a regular check-in, Petrenko said. Nothing was amiss. The next day, the story of his beheading dominated the media. From Tel Aviv, there was an outpouring of anguish. We are heartbroken ... will always remember you, Isu, said Elem, a group that helped Abu Murkhiyeh, addressing him by a nickname. We will never stop fighting so that others like you can live freely like any other human being. At the shelter where he most recently stayed, staff lit a candle for Abu Murkhiyeh during a solemn vigil Friday. Advertisement Petrenko said she had no idea how he turned up in Hebron. He never felt safe, she said. Gay Palestinians tend to be careful for fear of drawing unwanted attention from their socially conservative community and backlash from authorities. Palestinian Authority police in 2019 barred gay and transgender rights group from holding events in the West Bank and threatened to arrest participants. Gay people within Israels Arab minority have also faced violence and ostracism in their communities. West Bank Palestinians like Abu Murkhiyeh have long have crossed into Israel to live openly. There are nearly 100 such Palestinians living under asylum, said Maraana-Menuhin, the lawmaker, but the number is likely far higher. Its not that these people even come out of the closet. Theyre found and theyre hunted, said Hila Peer from Aguda, an Israeli LGBTQ rights organization. Ahmads case is just another example of how bad the situation is and how seriously dangerous it is. ___ Associated Press writers Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem and Eleanor Reich in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Greece and Buffalo have something in common for Dr. Vassilios Dimopoulos. He cant shake off either. Family and the water regularly draw the Athens native to Greece for vacations. Same goes for life in Western New York. I like the Niagara Falls area a lot, he said. I like being by Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. I like to go to the Finger Lakes region, take trips to Toronto. Dimopoulos got his medical degree at the University of Patras, and fell for neurosurgery while serving in the Hellenic Air Force. He blazed a trail along the eastern U.S. the last two decades, and has worked in Buffalo twice during the last eight years, save for three years of service with a University of Rochester-affiliated practice in Ithaca. Dimopoulos commuted from his home in Williamsville before he began a new job this summer at Invision Health in the village, where he is glad to spend more time with his wife, Jane, a doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at Audubon Womens Medical Associates in Amherst, and their three children. He arrived in the U.S. in 2001, and later completed a neurosurgery residency in Rochester. A fellowship followed at the University of Miami with Dr. Barth Green, co-founder of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. It was then off to Buffalo in 2014. Dimopoulos recently talked about his new job, as well as surgeries he typically performs at Catholic Health. Q: What made you decide to come back to Invision health? A: Its a very sophisticated practice with a lot of subspecialties. There are a lot of support services, and we view surgery as the last option. Most of my practice is related to degenerative spine disease, problems such as stenosis, disc herniations, spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae in the lower back). If a patient needs surgery for trauma or tumors, Id be happy to do that. Q: You specialize in complex minimally invasive surgeries? Why? A: In the past, we used to do an open approach. That means we were using a midline incision and splitting the muscles to the side to operate. Now, we do most procedures through smaller incisions, and, usually, we utilize a non-muscular route. We visualize and operate on the spine elements without disrupting the anatomy of the spine. There's less tissue that the body has to heal. It's a quicker recovery and less blood loss. Its an opportunity to treat the patient of advanced age, who is obese or has other problems that would normally make them a very, very poor candidate for an open procedure. They usually go home the next day or the day after. Q: You're involved in a holistic practice in which you said surgery is last resort. How? A: Let's imagine that the patient comes with a disc herniation, stenosis or spondylolisthesis. We will start with physical therapy, sometimes chiropractic manipulations, massage therapy, and then we escalate to injection therapy. If this does not work, then I prefer to start my surgical approach with minimally invasive surgery. So can we do a discectomy? Can we do simple decompression and improve the mobility of the spine. If it's necessary, then we will proceed through instrumentation fusion or reconstruction of the spine, whatever it is possible to help patients. I have series of patients that I did a minimally invasive decompression adjacent on. This is a little more novel approach than in the past, when we would have to extend the fusion to handle those. With a smaller preserving approach, that might not be necessary. We might be able to delay a fusion for a few years. Q: What should a patient do if a doctor immediately jumps to fusions and more open surgeries, whether it be from a car crash or degenerative disease? A: Patients should keep in mind that there might be newer techniques available to them and they might be able to avoid painful recovery or expensive surgery. Because of comorbidities, it may be very difficult to undergo open surgeries. They can be demanding for the patient. Q: What can people do to protect and strengthen their spine? A: Keeping good, healthy habits. Exercise regularly. Reach and maintain a good weight. Healthy nutrition. Avoid excessive wear and tear on the spine. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dimopoulos, visit invisionhealth.com or call 716-631-3555. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Nick Cave is longing for Australia. I havent been there in over two years and Im aching to get back, the 65-year-old musician, writer and visual artist explains from London. In late November, Cave will embark on a tour of his home country to perform the album Carnage (2021) with fellow Aussie musician and long-time collaborator Warren Ellis. Im incredibly excited to go back to Australia and play, Cave says enthusiastically. Whenever I step back onto Australian soil, I feel this immediate sense of relief, and a deep connection to the land. But its going to be a difficult trip this time around, he says with a sigh. In the past two years, Cave lost his beloved mother, Dawn, and his former partner and musical collaborator, Anita Lane. The pandemic meant he could not return for their funerals. A long, sombre pause follows. Then my son died, he says. So Australia is definitely going to feel like a different place for me now. In May, Cave publicly announced the death of his oldest son, Jethro, 31, who had a successful modelling career and was based in Melbourne. It followed the death in 2015 of another son, Arthur, who was 15 when he fell from a cliff near their home in Brighton, on the British south coast. Cave has two other sons: Arthurs twin, Earl, and Luke. Cave in New York in March 2022. Credit:Megan Cullen There will always be suffering/It flows through life like water, as Cave poignantly put it in the song Lime Tree Arbour from the 1997 album The Boatmans Call. Processing pain has been a consistent theme in Caves musical career, which begun in the early 1970s when he formed the Boys Next Door with fellow Caulfield Grammar students including Mick Harvey and Phill Calvert. The band became the Birthday Party in 1980 and left for London not long afterwards. Some members remained in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, who formed in West Berlin in 1983, and have since released 17 studio albums. Cave, who was born in Warracknabeal, Victoria, on September 22, 1957, has recently co-published Faith, Hope and Carnage, a series of long-form interviews with journalist Sean OHagan. Each life is precarious, and anything can turn catastrophic at any time, personally, for each of us, Cave tells OHagan at one point. Advertisement In a chapter about the loss of his mother, he describes her love as the undercarriage of my life and talks about the last time he saw her at her home in Elsternwick. She stood at the door of her unit, hunched over her walking frame, and waved goodbye, and, as always, there was that unspoken sorrow between us, that this might be the last time we would see each other. And, well, this time it was. I was quite reticent at the start in these interviews with Sean, and then became more open to them by the end, Cave tells me. Perhaps that has something to do with the concept of conversation itself: where you sit with somebody, and over time firm up your views about where you really think on these matters. Cave uses the long-form interview format to speak openly and honestly about art, addiction, absence, grief, trauma and the lifelong search for transcendence. He focuses extensively on the undeniable change in his musical style since Arthurs death. Cave describes the albums Skeleton Tree (2016) and Ghosteen (2019) as operating from a distracted semi-conscious place of surrender. Cave with his wife, Susie Bick, and their son, Earl, in Los Angeles in 2019. Credit:Getty Images He also remarks on the prophetic nature of the lyrics. Take, for example, the song, Jesus Alone from Skeleton Tree, which begins with Caves thundering, baritone voice, in spoken word, uttering the haunting phrase: You fell from the sky/Crash landed in a field near the river Adur. Remarkably, Cave wrote those lyrics before Arthur died. In Faith, Hope and Carnage, he floats the idea that maybe we have deeper intuitions than we realise, and that songs perhaps sometimes act as mystical channels through which a deeper understanding is released into the world. He also describes Ghosteen as having a prayer-like aspect. I mention a gig I attended in June, in Zagreb, Croatia, and the frantic energy of the bands live performance. At times it seemed closer to a communal religious experience than a run-of-the-mill summer rock concert. Advertisement I dont have any problem describing the Bad Seeds concerts [and the solo gigs from me and Warren] these days as religious, says Cave. Religion, to me at least, means community, and an exchange of love that operates in a circular way. In that Zagreb gig you mention, it felt like the crowd had literally been released from prison. Perhaps because it was the first major festival there since lockdown. There was a kind of ecstasy from that, which was spiritual uplifting, and instantly brought me and the whole band to life when we went on stage. I do tend to have, shall we say, a kind of apocalyptic aesthetic in my art. But Im much more of an optimist than many people might think. Nick Cave Cave also mentions reading the work of American Episcopal priest Cynthia Bourgeault, who has provided some important spiritual and cultural direction of late, especially in how Cave approaches music today. The Christian mystic preaches about inhabiting a space of mind and imagination, wholly devoid of rational thought and egoic impulses. Cave has pretty much discarded the traditional songwriting format. Typically, he used to write songs on the piano and the band would simply follow his instructions. Now he begins his musical craft almost like an abstract painter, with a single image. Improvised music then follows, and the song is built accordingly. Crucially, though, there is no end point at this stage. These images tend to come from dream-like unconscious states. Cave in New York in March: I do sometimes still long for a traditional song. Credit:Megan Cullen I cite an image Cave mentions in the book. He says it haunted him for many nights following Arthurs death. It concerns a man standing on a beach surrounded by panicking animals; the hills are made of fire, and there are screaming animals racing back and forward, as sea creatures leap out of the ocean. It could easily be a line from, say, a poem by William Blake, W.B. Yeats, or a passage from The Book of Revelation. Yeah, there is definitely that, Cave agrees. And I do tend to have, shall we say, a kind of apocalyptic aesthetic in my art. But Im much more of an optimist than many people might think. Advertisement Approaching songwriting in this collaborative way, where improvisation is key to the process, is both liberating and frustrating, Cave admits. Its liberating because [Warren and I] have made some really beautiful records. But the lyrics have become more abstract, atmospheric, and mysterious through this process of improvisation we now use, where the music is dealing much more with the subconscious. I do sometimes still long for a traditional song, says Cave, admitting that his signature rock sound has moved further and further towards the avant garde in recent years. Ellis creative input has been central to that transition. A composer and co-founder of the instrumental rock trio Dirty Three, he became an official member of the Bad Seeds during the mid-1990s. At the turn of the millennium, Cave and Ellis began to make film scores together; these collaborations include The Assassination of Jesse James, The Road and The Proposition. In 2021, during lockdown, they recorded Carnage, their first full-length studio album as an exclusive musical duo. Warren is much more experimental and extreme in his creative process than I am, Cave explains. My lyrics are concerned with images, and how those images reverberate on a subconscious level. Warren, however, has a much more developed sense of understanding of music than me: he can see further into the future with a song than I can. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on stage in Italy in July. Credit:Getty Images Cave describes their creative relationship as a traditional-conservative songwriter coming up against a totally berserk and wigged-out human being. The tension that happens between the two of us in the studio helps us make very beautiful, atmospheric music, but also very literate songs, he says. Advertisement Cave speaks about making music as a form of spiritual yearning, where the ultimate goal is reaching the divine and the mysterious. Breaking through that creative and spiritual barrier requires patience and trusting intuition and feeling, he explains. But it also means giving up on the notion that you have control. In the same way, as, say, someone might give themselves over to a higher power during prayer. Caves fascination with religion, the Bible, and the life of Christ in particular began in early childhood in the Anglican Church in Wangaratta, where he attended services twice a week as a choirboy. He recalls buying a little wooden cross from the cathedral gift shop, with a silver Jesus on it. Reading the Bible from an early age heightened Caves literary sensibility. The brutal, jealous, vengeful and merciless voice of God he found in the Old Testament was especially inspiring for a young artist. By his early 20s Cave viewed the world as a dark and deeply disturbing place. Having a heroin habit probably didnt help matters. Im deeply concerned about our culture, and what can happen to our culture, if ideas and artists just become dispensable for the sake of [political correctness]. Nick Cave By his mid-30s, however, he had reacquainted himself with the Gospels, finding a more hopeful and positive tone in the New Testament. The message of redemption, love and healing softened the tone of Caves musical output too. It also helped him master a genre of songwriting that has been at the heart of his life-long artistic quest: the melancholic love song. Cave quit using junk and got clean more than two decades ago, via Narcotics Anonymous. But his faith also helped him overcome his problems with addiction. Im a religious person, he says. As far back as I can remember I have always had a deep interest in religion. But I had a slightly amorphous relationship with the practicalities of it. I guess the older I get, the less sceptical I become of the whole process. I feel more able to park my scepticism, to a certain degree, and embrace what is good about religion, he adds. But the biggest problem I find with religion is the certainty of belief, which tends, ultimately, to lead to a kind of moral superiority, or dogmatism. Cave says he finds such views extremely problematic, not just in religion, but within much of the current thinking in the world today too. He is hesitant to use phrases such as woke or cancel culture. Nevertheless, he points to the extreme political correctness of the liberal left. Especially the self-righteous nature the angry rabble assume on social media. We are in danger of creating a society that will ultimately be devoid of mercy or forgiveness, he says. Advertisement West Australian Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says allegations a Rockingham General Hospital doctor was asked to backdate a death certificate of a palliative care patient were concerning but was confident an internal investigation would uncover what happened. Sanderson, speaking from a meeting of state health ministers in Adelaide on Friday, reiterated comments by South Metropolitan Health Services Boss Paul Forden that it was not probable a person would be put in a body bag and sent to a morgue while still alive. WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson. Credit:Eliahn Blenkinsop On September 5, a senior palliative care nurse formed the opinion that Orelia man Kevin Reid, 55, had died, but he was moved off the ward five hours later and into the morgue before a doctor involved in his care could certify his death. The doctor initially called to certify the death was called to another death in a different ward. In a report sent to the WA coroners office on October 3 the doctor, who no longer works at Rockingham Hospital, said he was asked to certify Reids death in the morgue on September 6. Oslo: Jailed Belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski, Russian organisation Memorial and Ukrainian group Centre for Civil Liberties won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, highlighting the significance of civil society for peace and democracy. The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, said committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen. She called on Belarus to release Byalyatski from prison. The war in Ukraine has been the focus of 2022 Nobel Peace Prize-winning work. Credit:Getty The prize will be seen by many as a condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is celebrating his 70th birthday on Friday, and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, making it one of the most politically contentious in decades. Authorities say they still don't know why a Clarence man shot to death his wife, mother and father at three locations over the course of an hour Thursday morning before turning his gun on himself. The slayings left four school-age children orphaned. Four related fatal shootings in Clarence, Newstead called 'family tragedy' A man fatally shot his mother and his wife at different locations in Clarence on Thursday and then traveled to a shooting range in Newstead with his father where he killed the man and then himself, a police source told The Buffalo News. Details have emerged about the gunman, his family, his finances and the timeline of the chain of killings that took place in Clarence and Newstead. But the question of motive may never be answered. "So, for closure purposes, we all want to know why. And the community wants to know why," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said Friday at a news conference with Sheriff John Garcia. "Why? Why would someone kill their wife and their parents?" Flynn and Garcia said they believe Erik Bergum, 43, first shot and killed his wife, Mary Beth, 37, at their home on Shimerville Road in Clarence; then traveled to his parents' home on Ransom Road in Clarence, where he shot to death his mother, Nancy, 64; and finally drove to a private shooting range in Newstead where he fatally shot his father, Mark, 66, before killing himself. The new information revealed about the case includes: Erik Bergum left a note that was recovered in his vehicle. It lays out a timeline of what he did that morning, but does not say why. After Erik Bergum met his father at the range, the pair shot target practice side by side for some time before the son fatally shot his father. Erik Bergum pleaded guilty in 2011 to misdemeanor insurance fraud related to his home-theater installation business. Erik Bergum and his wife, Mary Beth, lost their first home to foreclosure in 2017 and were living in a home owned by his mother and uncle. Still, investigators and people who knew the Bergums are left searching for an explanation for the trail of violence Erik Bergum left behind. Neighbors Peggi and Paul Leous described the couple as devoted parents and noted the family of six had spent the previous weekend camping in the Adirondacks. It doesnt make an iota of sense, Peggi Leous said. We will never understand this. Deputies initially were called to the private range in Newstead, the Ten X Shooting Club, shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday when a member reported that two men had been shot. The witness later told deputies that Mark Bergum had arrived at the club first and had informed the other member that his son would be joining him shortly to do some target shooting. Erik Bergum arrived and, at first, spent some time alongside his father shooting at the paper targets. This was, Flynn noted, after Erik Bergum had already shot and killed his wife and mother at their respective homes. "There's no indication that the father was aware of what the son just did. Absolutely not," Flynn said. Amid the mornings violence, Garcia said, Erik Bergum coolly focused on his shooting practice and produced a notably tight grouping of shots on the paper target from 100 yards away. Its so calculating and it gives you, just, chills, the sheriff said. After some time, Erik Bergum turned the gun on his father, before shooting himself. The note from Erik Bergum is barely legible, Garcia said, but it does offer a schedule of the shootings he committed. Flynn said it appeared the note was written all at one time, so authorities don't know for how long Erik Bergum was planning the slayings. Officials believe the shootings took place between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Deputies then fanned out to the home of Mark and Nancy Bergum on Ransom Road, where they discovered Nancy Bergums body, and to Erik and Mary Beth Bergums home on Shimerville Road, where they found Mary Beths body. Garcia said Erik Bergum had a pistol permit, but sheriff's investigators still are analyzing whether the same gun was used at all four shooting scenes. Peggi Leous said she saw deputies on the street when she returned home Thursday from an errand. The deputies said they were checking on the welfare of Mary Beth Bergum, and Peggi Leous said she showed them where the Bergums kept their spare key. Peggi Leous said the tragedy is beyond devastating because of its effect on the children. They all were in school at the time of the slayings, authorities confirmed, and they spent Thursday night at the home of a family friend. The Bergums dont have other relatives in the area. Officials said Mary Beth's father is on his way to Clarence from Maryland. "I hope that the community rallies around these four children that are left behind," Garcia said, "and that we're able to take care of them, not only in the next couple of days, but throughout their lives. So, God bless the Bergum family." Peggi Leous said she had not seen any signs Erik Bergum was capable of violence. Not for one minute, she said. I would never have seen him killing his wife and his parents and leaving his four children with no family. Because that was all their family on his side. Mary Beth Bergum was, according to Peggi Leous, Just a lovely, genuine, loving mother. Good neighbor. Wonderful neighbor. Kind. Giving. Just a real Christian. Flynn said he didn't want to comment on the state of Erik and Mary Beth Bergums' marriage beyond saying they were living together. Erik and Mary Beth Bergum lost their Ransom Road home in 2017, property records show. Erik Bergum had taken out a mortgage in 2005, but by January 2016 had stopped making the required monthly payments, and the mortgage holder moved to foreclose in November of that year, according to court documents. The Shimerville Road home where the Bergums moved had been in Nancy Bergums family for years and was owned by Nancy Bergum and her brother Kenneth Kloppenborg Jr. Erik Bergum did have a criminal record, Flynn said. He was sentenced to probation as part of his guilty plea to misdemeanor insurance fraud. He was accused of falsely reporting a burglary at the home on Ransom Road where he was living at the time and claiming that various pieces of home-theater equipment had been stolen, according to the District Attorneys Office, and he admitted to filing a fraudulent insurance claim afterward. Erik Bergum owned and operated a business, TheaterPro, that installed home theater, audio and video systems. Flynn said, once authorities realized what Erik Bergum had done Thursday, deputies reached out to his former business partner to ensure he was safe. He was unharmed. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. By Trend While delivering a speech at the Azerbaijan National Urban Forum in Aghdam, President Ilham Aliyev underscored the Armenian vandalism against Azerbaijans Karabakh during the occupation period, the scale of destructions in Aghdam and other Azerbaijani cities, rebuilding activities carried out in liberated territories, as well as talked about the international organizations turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Armenia, its landmine terror against Azerbaijan, the future of the Armenian population living in Karabakh, and about the regional peace, Trend reports. The head of state outlined the humanitarian crisis faced by Azerbaijanis during the First Karabakh War. Our nation suffered a serious humanitarian crisis. Because as a result of Armenian aggression and occupation more than one million Azerbaijanis were totally ethnically cleansed from their native land in Karabakh, in Zangazur and also in todays Armenia. And when it happened the population of Azerbaijan was less than eight million people and, can you imagine, one million became refugees and IDPs, said the head of state. President Aliyev pointed out the mosques destroyed during the Armenian occupation. He noted that a total of 65 out of 67 mosques that existed on the liberated territories were totally destroyed. The only half-destroyed building was a building of Juma Mosque, since Armenians used it for observation. The Armenians kept pigs and cows in the Juma Mosque. What you see here in Aghdam you can see in every single village of Karabakh area, the head of state added. Thus, removing Azerbaijani cities from the map, as well as other brutalities committed by Armenia were directly carried out on behalf of the Armenian leadership itself. Despite the end of the war, Armenias policy of terror against Azerbaijan continued at the state level. Furthermore, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted landmine contamination in Karabakh, noting that Armenians have planted more than one million mines during the times of occupation. And this policy of terror against Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijanis continues. Azerbaijan is facing a tremendous challenge to return as soon as possible former refugees and IDPs to their homeland. Since the war ended two years ago, almost two years ago, we have almost 250 Azerbaijanis who have been killed or seriously injured as a result of landmine explosions. Unfortunately, the figure is growing every week. Just last week we had two killed and three seriously injured," the president stressed. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has so far released data on the existence of nearly 390,709 anti-tank and anti-personnel landmines, as well as other explosive devices on liberated lands. Roughly 147,988 hectares are considered high mining sites, while 675,570 hectares are considered low mining sites. The first stage, scheduled for 2022-2026, envisages the de-mining of 83 settlements in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha and Zangilan districts. Azerbaijan keeps conducting landmine clearance activities in its liberated Karabakh. As part of the visit to Aghdam, President Ilham Aliyev attended the groundbreaking ceremonies of the internal road and communication network of the city, the 470- apartment residential block to be built for the former internally displaced persons, the railway and bus station complex, the establishment of Kangarli, Sarijali and Khidirli villages, viewed the work to be done in Panahali Khan's Palace and Imarat Complex, as well as the work underway on the newly-built Barda-Aghdam highway and the inauguration of Khurshidbanu Natavan's monument. The president also emphasized the construction of highways and village roads in the liberated territories. According to the investment plan which has been already approved in the liberated territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur there will be 33 tunnels with the total lengths of more than 50 kilometres. There will be 84 bridges with the length of 12 km. These are only part of what we are now doing," the head of state said. Azerbaijani cities were not devastated during the First Karabakh War but were subjected to systematic destruction during the period of occupation. President Ilham Aliyev said that Aghdam was destroyed during the years of occupation, when it was demolished stone by stone for 30 years and when all the buildings were ruined and dismantled. Stones have been stolen and sold out. International organizations should immediately reflect on the relevant statements. Did they have a question about why Kangarli, Sarijali and Khidirli villages, which existed before 1993, are being re-established? Why did the international organizations remain silent while Armenia was committing barbaric acts against the Azerbaijani people for 30 years? Underlining the relevant issue, President Ilham Aliyev added, despite the fact that the leading international organizations such as the United Nations, the OSCE and others adopted resolutions, decisions demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories, particularly four UN Security Council resolutions which remained on paper for almost 30 years. The most regrettable is that the structure which had a mandate from the OSCE, the so-called Minsk Group and its co-chairs visited occupied territories many times, witnessed the brutal devastation of all the cities and villages, witnessed illegal settlement of Armenians on our lands, but did not condemn Armenia, said the pressident. What can these agencies offer now, when Azerbaijan independently resolved the Karabakh conflict? Why should Baku cooperate with the OSCE Minsk Group in the peace process, which has not fulfilled its obligations as a mediator in the conflict settlement for almost 30 years? Speaking of the attempts to revive the Minsk Group, President Ilham Aliyev said that it had done nothing to fulfill its mandate. Now when we see some efforts to revitalize this Minsk Group, we, of course, cannot be supportive to that. Because they did nothing to implement their mandate. The only thing they did actually to a certain degree, they tried to legitimize the Armenian aggression. They tried to create a balance between aggressor and the victim of aggression, said the head of state. International organizations arent supposed to create a balance, but to take a fair position, sanction the aggressor and force him to peace. However, over the past period, the only thing the Azerbaijani public heard from the Minsk Group was "there is no military solution to the conflict" and "the conflict should be resolved only within the Minsk Group.". Despite the anti-Azerbaijani propaganda conducted by Armenias military-political leadership among the Armenians living in Armenia and Karabakh, official Baku remains committed to the peace process in the face of these unconstructive actions of Yerevan. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out issues related to both the Armenian population living in Karabakh and Armenia's peace proposal, as well as reiterated Azerbaijan's position on the future of the region to some international actors. With respect to Armenian population who still lives in Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, are our citizens and we are not going to discuss how we are going to organize their life on our territory with any international player. Karabakh is Azerbaijan. The Second Karabakh War proved it on the ground, the head of state said. Speaking of the peace process with Armenia, the head of state underscored Azerbaijan's unwavering position. "Despite all what you see in Aghdam and what anyone can see in the territory of more than 10.000 square kms totally destroyed by Armenians, despite the human sufferings of our people we proposed peace to Armenia. We announced publicly five basic principles of international law which should be the basis for peace agreement, particularly mutual recognition of territorial integrity of countries, refrain from territorial claims in the future, refrain from use of force or threat of use of force, delimitation of state border and opening of communications," the head of state stated. Along with the peace message, the president also warned Armenia. "We have certain optimism with respect to the peace process, because just recently several days ago the meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, first meeting of that kind, particularly with agenda of preparation of draft of peace agreement. We hope that it will not take long time. We know the tactics which Armenians usually use when they dont want to come to an agreement like negotiations on Karabakh conflict for 28 years. If that continues then we will have no peace. If this is a choice of Armenia that means that they will make another serious mistake. They underestimated us, they underestimated our will, the will of people of Azerbaijan, the potential of Azerbaijan. They had to pay the price for that," president noted. Official Baku wont retreat from its peace-loving position and will continue restoring the region and ensuring the coexistence of the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples in the region. Despite all the atrocities of Armenia, Azerbaijan sticks to its humanistic position and offers peace to Armenia. Official Yerevan shouldnt ignore Baku's calls for peace and make every effort to establish sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. Police were searching Thursday night for a suspect in the slaying of a woman in Buffalo as officials explained why he was released from custody the day before the killing and called on New York to change its bail laws to prevent similar tragedies. Law enforcement is looking for Adam R. Bennefield, 45, to question about the death of his estranged wife, Keaira Bennefield, 40, who was shot in front of her children in her SUV at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Shawnee and Richlawn avenues in the city's Leroy neighborhood. The homicide came one day after Adam Bennefield was released from custody on his own recognizance by a Cheektowaga Town Court judge following an arrest for an earlier domestic incident against Keaira Bennefield that occurred Sept. 28, according to Cheektowaga police chief Brian Gould. After surrendering to detectives Tuesday for additional charges that evolved from the Sept. 28 incident, Bennefield was charged with several misdemeanors including assault that are not bail eligible, Gould said. A stay-away order was issued to the suspect, the chief added. Gould told reporters at a news conference Thursday that he previously joined a contingent of police chiefs in a meeting with local leaders to take umbrage with New York's stance on bail reform. "New York State is the last state that doesn't take into account the dangerousness of a defendant to the community when considering bail," Gould said. "We hope that our elected officials consider those changes." A fatal shooting. A 14-year-old suspect. $50,000 bail. And more questions about bail reform A Buffalo shooting case that saw a teen suspect released on bail this week has family and law enforcement officials wondering if changes in bail rules have gone too far. Gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican running against Gov. Kathy Hochul, also attended the news conference and criticized the state's bail laws. Gould said his department has "learned from previous tragedies" of domestic violence, but emphasized Bennefield was a person-of-interest in a homicide just one day after he was arraigned on assault charges against the same victim. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia in a news conference Thursday afternoon urged anyone who encounters Adam Bennefield to call 911, but not to intercede themselves, as Bennefield is potentially armed and considered dangerous. Crime Stoppers Buffalo is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the suspect's whereabouts. "This is an awful, awful, tragic ending to a domestic violence incident," Gramaglia said. Gould detailed the assault case against Bennefield, which evolved after the initial call to Bennefield's Barbara Place residence Sept. 28, where a woman said she'd been punched by her husband. Gould said that because of the condition in which officers found Adam Bennefield locked in the bathroom, he was taken to Erie County Medical Center for medical and psychological evaluation. Cheektowaga police filed a warrant for Bennefield's arrest after the suspect left ECMC. Zeldin vows feisty fight against Hochul after hard-fought Republican primary win Trailing in early returns to Andrew Giuliani son of the former New York mayor Rep. Lee Zeldin pulled into a double-digit lead once returns from Long Island were counted. The two other candidates, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and businessman Harry Wilson, trailed far behind. According to a release from the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Bennefield reportedly displayed a knife and box cutter during the incident and was accused of preventing the victim from leaving the residence and taking her cell phone to prevent a call for help. The charges against Bennefield worsened as the Cheektowaga Police Department's domestic violence advocate and detectives uncovered more information later in the week. Gould said Keaira Bennefield told the domestic violence advocate that she had suffered injuries and had video of the incident, Gould continued. On Sunday night, Keaira Bennefield called Cheektowaga police again when she believed an intruder was in her home. When police arrived and did not find anyone, she showed law enforcement a video showing a more severe instance of domestic violence than what was originally reported to an officer Sept. 28, Gould said. She met with detectives Monday to discuss new evidence, and detectives decided to upgrade the initial charges to misdemeanors, Gould said. Detectives reached Bennefield, who turned himself in Tuesday. When Adam Bennefield was released after the arraignment, the domestic violence advocate worked with Keaira Bennefield to find safe housing. She decided to stay at her mother's house. The homicide occurred the next day. Gramaglia said the homicide suspect's vehicle did not pull over for Buffalo police on Wednesday, maneuvering through a congested area and entering the Kensington Expressway headed in the wrong direction. Police later found the suspect's vehicle and gathered evidence, said Gramaglia, who believes the suspect is still in the area. Pastor Timothy Newkirk of GYC Ministries said he is spearheading the community portion of the search for Bennefield. In a post on Facebook, Newkirk said Keaira Bennefield was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of her death. MonTaysha Jeter, Keaira Bennefield's sister, told The News that the situation is "horrible." She said her sister felt endangered by Bennefield before yesterday's shooting. Newkirk was frustrated with the law enforcement response, given the detail that Bennefield was on the loose and potentially armed. Newkirk said there was no official identification of the suspect or alert from police until three hours after the shooting. "He's a threat to the community. He's a threat to women. He's a threat to children," Newkirk said. Bennefield had been imprisoned from about 2000 to 2015 for the attempted kidnapping of two women and then an escape from Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden in 2000, The News reported previously. Bennefield, described as "mentally troubled" at the time of his 2000 arrest, drove a stolen car to cut off the vehicle of his estranged girlfriend, The News reported, and then forced the ex-girlfriend at gunpoint to drive to Grand Island with police chasing them. Bennefield, who was 22 at the time, then escaped the correctional facility by climbing over a 15-foot fence and a roll of razor wire at the top and was at-large for 19 hours, The News reported. When police traced the manhunt to a friend's house, Bennefield "locked himself in the flat, cut his wrists with a kitchen knife and threatened to blow up the building with fumes from a gas stove," according to The News' report. His trial was delayed due to a psychiatric evaluation, The News reported. News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson contributed to this story. Steven A. Nigrelli, a veteran state trooper and son of a revered Buffalo police detective sergeant, was appointed acting superintendent of the New York State Police on Friday. Kevin Bruen, who has led the State Police since June 2021, resigned, effective Oct. 19. Bruen submitted his resignation to Gov. Kathy Hochul amid accusations that he had ignored multiple reports of wrongdoing by the State Polices former human resources director, MaryEllen Tedesco, who stepped down last month. The Albany Times-Union reported Tuesday that Hochul directed her counsels office to investigate the accusations against Bruen, who was appointed by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Hochul released a statement thanking Bruen for his years of public service and saying that Nigrelli, currently first deputy superintendent, will serve as acting superintendent on an interim basis, as we conduct a thorough search for a superintendent who can lead this department in its important work. The State Police have made tremendous progress in combating gun violence and keeping New Yorkers safe, and that must continue." Nigrelli, who joined the State Police in 1990, has steadily risen through the agencys ranks. As first deputy, he was second in command and served as superintendent in Bruens absence. A graduate of SUNY Buffalo State College, he started as a trooper in Central New York and later worked for the State Police Community Narcotics Team, conducting undercover drug buys on the streets of Buffalo at the height of the 1990s crack cocaine epidemic, according to a story in The Buffalo News in 2015, when he was appointed major of Troop A, which includes Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the surrounding eight counties. He became a sergeant and investigator with Troop As Bureau of Criminal Investigation and was appointed captain of the bureau in 2007. He was part of a task force that nabbed Altemio Sanchez, the Bike Path Killer who murdered three women and raped at least 15 in Erie County while eluding law enforcement for decades before being caught in 2007. Nigrelli said in the 2015 story that the Bike Path Killer case was solved only because different law enforcement agencies came together and collaborated something that must happen more often to solve more cases. Nigrelli has a rich family history in police work. His father, Joseph C. Nigrelli, who died in 2011, spent 39 years on the Buffalo police force, and three of his brothers served in law enforcement, including Michael Nigrelli, who headed State Police operations on the Western New York portion of the Thruway for years prior to leaving the State Police for the private sector. The brothers at one time also had more than 20 other relatives in law enforcement. The flying, vanishing doughnut Our best guess? Tim Hortons was testing out a doughnut delivery drone. It was around 11:30 a.m. or noon Wednesday and Rob Hackford, a multiskilled journalist with WGRZ-TV, had just finished interviewing Common Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. about Buffalo's snowplowing plans. He was sitting in his car on Tonawanda Street, near Riverside Park, preparing to get footage of nearby bus stops when, he said, "I heard a thud and I jumped in my seat." He got out and looked around before glancing down at the front windshield, where he saw an apple fritter resting in the bottom corner and smeared glaze where it had struck the glass. "I'm like, 'What the heck?' " Hackford told us, noting there was no obvious source of the flying fritter. He took some photos of the crime scene and went off to the bus stops. Here's where the story gets weirder: "It was gone when I came back." Hackford still doesn't know whether the fritter plopped onto his car on accident or on purpose. When he shared this news on Twitter, he asked: "Why me? And why waste a perfectly good apple fritter?" Whoever threw this donut at me while parked and sitting in my @WGRZ car on Tonawanda Street I have two questions. Why me? And why waste a perfectly good apple fritter? #Buffalo pic.twitter.com/rbJNgOgHQn Robert Hackford (@Robert_Hackford) October 5, 2022 Friends on the site comforted Hackford. "Donut mess with Rob. Stop frittering away your time. Did your eyes glaze over?" wrote Ryan Whalen of Spectrum News. "Glazed and confused," Hackford replied. "I'd call it cruller and unusual punishment." Stephen T. Watson Jack Lemmon squeezes Burt Reynolds Social media is great for excavating movie clips, images and other relics of the past. This week brought another prime example with, naturally, a Buffalo connection. On June 7, 1982, Jack Lemmon wrote a note to his buddy and fellow actor Burt Reynolds, according to a copy shared on the @MichaelWarbur17 Twitter account. Lemmon, who died in 2001, began his note to Reynolds with the greeting, "Dear Person," before getting to the part that caught our eye. "It has come to my attention that you sent a contribution of $10,000 to the Jack Lemmon Burn Center in the Children's Hospital of Buffalo." We've never heard of that unit at Children's Hospital but Kaleida Health did verify the center existed at one point. Beside the letter to Reynolds, the only online reference comes from a recap of the 1984 Variety Club All-Star Party for Lucille Ball, during which Monty Hall mentioned a string of facilities added at children's hospitals around the country by Variety Clubs International including one in Buffalo dedicated to Lemmon. Either way, Lemmon's letter continued with a series of barbs directed at Reynolds. He wrote, tongue in cheek, that he is sorry Reynolds couldn't come up with a "sizable contribution" to the center but he, as much as anyone, understands the "ups and downs" of the movie business and knows Reynolds is struggling these days. Lemmon punctuated the letter with a couple of friendly vulgarities before concluding he hopes to work with Reynolds some day, "even if it kills me (and it probably will)." Talk about a burn. Stephen T. Watson For now, it's still 'can't-abis' It's OK now to smoke marijuana in New York State and even possess small amounts of it. But growing it is still a no-no. So when state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers discovered 15 large marijuana plants late last month in Swift Hill State Forest in Allegany County, they did what they had to do. The DEC Forest Rangers Week in Review reported that the rangers cut down the plants, moved them to a safe location and burned them. The report noted that even when growing cannabis becomes legal, it still won't be allowed in the parks. "Although marijuana laws have changed," it said, "unlawful agricultural use of state lands is prohibited under New York's Environmental Conservation Law." Dale Anderson NWS Weather Alert NOTE: This information is provided by the National Weather Service. Forecast may differ from local information provided by our own 69News Meteorologists ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures in the lower 30s. * WHERE...The New Jersey counties of Morris, Hunterdon and Somerset. The Pennsylvania counties of Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, western Chester, upper Montgomery and upper Bucks. * WHEN...From midnight tonight until 9:00 AM Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freezing conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect sensitive plants from the cold. && READING, Pa. A firefighter who devoted his career to the Reading Fire Department is among those who were honored this year by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Mark "Dewey" Kulp's name was formally added to the memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, during the foundation's 41st annual service on Sunday. The foundation presented Kulp's family with a U.S. flag flown over both the memorial and the U.S. Capitol, a badge, and a rose. Kulp, 52, died of complications from COVID-19 on Jan. 5, 2021. He began his 35-year career with the city's fire department as a volunteer in 1986 and was serving as firefighter at the Schuylkill-Riverside station when he died. Kulp is among nine Pennsylvania firefighters and 148 from across the country this year to have their names inscribed on a bronze plaque at the memorial in honor of their sacrifices. SPRING TWP., Pa. Spring Township police are seeking the public's help in identifying a burglar. The burglary happened around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the 300 block of Gold Court. The burglar's picture was captured as he was entering the residence. Upon the victim's return that evening, she found that her personalized rings, valued at $4,050, were missing, according to the police. Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to contact Crime Alert Berks County by calling 877-373-9913 or by texting 847411, starting the message with alertberks. A cash reward is offered for information that leads to an arrest. NAZARETH, Pa. - "Tell me what you love about horses," said Christina Coxe to 13-year-old Bella. "For me, when I was angry or sad or depressed, I would go down to the horses. I would pet them, make me feel better a lot of the time," the girl said. For Bella, that was years ago with a foster family. Today, she's with the 18-year-old mare named Rosie, a therapy horse at Nazareth-based Equi-librium. It's where Bella is brushing up on her grooming skills. "She feels like she just rolled in mud," Bella said. "She did. It rained. They like the mud," Coxe answered. Coxe is the center's therapy director. "Your horse isn't judging you. And they provide that sense of peace," she told the teen. Bella is one of 3,000 foster kids in Pennsylvania looking for that sense of peace a permanent home can provide. "It's making me calmer than I was. I was a little nervous," Bella said while grooming the horse. "She will tell you what she is thinking. She is very demonstrative. She makes up her mind about something and she moves forward, which I think is a good thing as well," said case worker Marian Kolcun. Bella is looking for the harnessed power of a stable family. For more on Bella or any other of our Adopt Lehigh Valley Kids, head to our website, wfmz.com. SALISBURY TWP., Pa. -- We've learned the identity of the person who was killed in a motorcycle crash Thursday night in Lehigh County. The coroner's office says 63-year-old Edward Senick died around 8:30 p.m. on Seidersville Road in Salisbury Township. Authorities say Senick lost control of the motorcycle he was riding, and was hit by another motor vehicle. No word if anyone else was hurt, or if any charges have been filed. LOWHILL TWP., Pa. The Lowhill Township Board of Supervisors on Thursday night denied a land development plan for a proposed warehouse at 2951 Betz Court. The proposal called for a nearly 300,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center on 51.3 acres. The vote at the Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Company came after the announcement that Supervisor Robb Werley would resign his position effective Oct. 7. The township's solicitor had resigned also, effective immediately, leaving the board without any legal representation Thursday night. Prior to the vote, attorney Blake Marles, representing applicant CRG LLC, told supervisors the warehouse was permitted under the township's code and that the application met legal requirements. He added the warehouse was servicing a robust online marketing demand. Marles concluded saying that Lowhill Township had delayed several times voting on the matter and that it was time "for the process to come to an end." Residents who spoke against the project cited various reasons. One consistent claim was that residents' health, safety and welfare would suffer if the warehouse were approved. Other reasons alleged that CRG had failed to comply with Lowhill Township's ordinances and provisions. This included failure to submit a completed Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection sewer planning module to the township and failure to provide information on a proposed waterline and its construction. Objections also included that the topography of Lowhill Township, including an incline on Route 100, was not adequate for truck traffic and diesel exhaust exacerbated by the climb. The township planning commission also previously denied the Betz Court project. In other news, a proposal for a warehouse at 7503 Kernsville Road at Route 100 by applicant Core5 Industrial Partners remained tabled and was never discussed Thursday night. That proposal involves a 100,570-square-foot warehouse and distribution center on a 21.6-acre lot. The project was reduced from 190,960 square feet earlier this year. Still, the planning commission denied the revised preliminary land development plan recommendation last week. A preliminary land development plan for a 312,210-square-foot warehouse and distribution center located at 2766 Route 100 was approved June 16 by supervisors. If the additional two proposals were to come to fruition, a total of 700,000 square feet of warehouses within a 1-mile radius of a residential area would be created. Finally, a new business item about discharging of firearms on private property was tabled due to supervisors' lack of legal counsel. "Basically, there's a hostile environment for LGBTQ kids and transgender kids in particular in Central Bucks," said Richard Ting, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. We're hearing from an attorney with the ACLU just hours after they filed a complaint against the Central Bucks School District. They're alleging widespread discrimination against LGBTQ+ students in some district schools and more specifically students who are transgender. "We heard from several students that were afraid to go to school and those that did go to school were afraid to eat lunch in the lunchroom," said Ting. The complaint filed is based on a five-month investigation by ACLU-PA lawyers who say they interviewed dozens of students, family members, current and former teachers, staff, and community stakeholders. They say the problem lies within central administration and the school board. Back in May, a Central Bucks teacher was allegedly suspended for supporting an LGBTQ+ student. The Superintendent Abe Lucabaugh spoke out at a school board meeting, claiming that was untrue. "There is a narrative out there that the district has punished an employee for being a supporter of LGBTQ+ students. That narrative is offensive and false," said Lucabaugh. We reached out again Thursday to the Central Bucks School District about the complaint and have not heard back. The ACLU hopes this filing will lead to better harassment training for teachers and new policies implemented to protect the LGBTQ+ community. If ever two Republicans could succinctly summarize the party's statewide case this year, the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor offered their best attempts Thursday in two separate Erie County events. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the GOP nominee for governor, outlined for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership in downtown Buffalo all his reasons for defeating Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul on Nov. 8. The Suffolk County congressman concentrated on regulation, nixing "unrealistic" climate change goals, the consequences of "one party rule," reversing liberalized criminal justice laws and decreasing taxes before the area's top business leaders, arguing that New Yorkers continue to exit the state because a high school or college diploma no longer guarantees a job. Poll shows Trump's GOP poses fundamental problem for Lee Zeldin A new Siena College poll underscores what may prove Lee Zeldin's fundamental problem in the race for governor: He's a Republican in overwhelmingly Democratic New York. "In many respects, New York's economic policies are headed in the wrong direction," Zeldin said. "There is no way we can continue to increase spending without raising taxes." At Tonawanda's Kenney Field, meanwhile, running mate Alison Esposito continued the double team attack by blasting state policies aiming to ban natural gas hookups for new and existing housing and mandate all-electric vehicles by 2035. The retired NYPD deputy inspector called for "cheaper, freer and safer steps" to address looming energy concerns. "We need common sense energy initiations, common sense policies built around common ground," she said. GOP blasts Democratic mailer with prefilled mail-in ballot request Democrats urged recipients to cite fear of contracting Covid-19 at a polling place as their reason for requesting an absentee ballot and pre-checked this selection on the applications. With 33 days before election, Zeldin chose a high profile audience at the Partnership event to argue that even the Democratic Legislature can be persuaded to "tweak" policies that have gone too far. Tavern owners routinely encounter policies bordering on harassment from the State Liquor Authority, he said, while the Department of Environmental Conservation permit process stymies legitimate projects with threats of fines. "They just got extorted by their own government," he said of those encountering state regulations. Zeldin called for a cut in state spending, reducing the income tax "even lowering it to 3 to 4% across the board would be great progress" and ending the ban on natural gas fracking in the Southern Tier. He noted his own favorable ratings by conservation groups while serving in Congress, but thinks pipeline applicants should expect easier approval. And like Esposito's similar arguments earlier in the day, Zeldin said less onerous timelines for implementing climate change goals can be achieved even in a Democratic Legislature. "Changing these timelines are extremely reasonable we say 'we need to tweak them and here's why' and you make your pitch," he said. But if Zeldin has emphasized any one theme through his 18 months of candidacy, it has centered on reversing the rise in crime levels across the state. He pointed to high profile crimes in Buffalo and New York City reportedly committed by criminals released via new cashless bail laws. Absentee ballot dispute between major political parties now a lawsuit Democrats and voting-rights advocates are blasting a lawsuit filed by state Republicans and their allies that could upend how absentee ballots are processed in New York. "Much of what I just told you about is from the last week," he said, "we're not even talking about what went on in the last two years." He called for more judicial discretion in bail determinations, revamping the parole process to seek more family input, and for removing district attorneys who refuse to enforce state law. The candidate said revisions in the bail process should be explored, especially for low level offenders, those with clean records, and for poor people. "If you are a Mexican cartel drug smuggler busted with $1.2 million worth of crystal meth, which is what happened just a few weeks back," he said, "that person ... should not be released on cashless bail." Responding to questions posed by Partnership President Dottie Gallagher, Zeldin said the state's original response to the Covid-19 threat was "exactly how you would want government to respond." "Then it went sideways," he said, referring to later problems encountered by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Gov. Kathy Hochul agrees to only one debate while opponent Lee Zeldin pushes for more Though a number of news organizations and other entities have proposed debates at a variety of venues before the Nov. 8 election, Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign insisted it will participate in only one event on Oct. 25 at Pace University in New York City. "It got too political, and quite frankly, Andrew Cuomo's ego took over," he said, pointing to the former governor's regular banter on CNN with his brother, former host Chris Cuomo. "I said this is not healthy; this is not good," he said. Zeldin and Esposito both made pitches for more Republican lawmakers to end the Democratic super majorities in both legislative houses and the effects of one-party rule. Esposito appeared with Republican State Sen. Edward A. Rath III and Assembly candidate Scott Marciszewski. And Zeldin made a pitch to his Partnership audience for more than one debate against Hochul, who has agreed to only a single match-up to be held Oct. 25 in New York City. One debate on a cable station (NY1/Spectrum) when early voting has already begun does not serve voters, he said, especially those upstate. "I believe we should be debating right here in Buffalo," he said. "I believe voters deserve to know where you stand on the issues (before voting) and not later. It should be here and it should be broadcast. There should be multiple debates throughout the state." BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Catalonias separatist movement has suffered its biggest rift since it became the leading political force in northeast Spain for the past decade after the junior member of its ruling coalition abandoned the regions government. The Together for Catalonia party announced Friday that it was leaving the Barcelona-based government headed regional President Pere Aragones of senior coalition member Republican Left of Catalonia. The move came a week after its leading member in the Catalan Cabinet was fired by Aragones. The official breakup ends a partnership that had existed between the two main pro-secession parties since they joined forces for a regional election in 2015. They had the shared goal of boosting the separatists hold on power in the wealthy region, where many resident feel different from the rest of Spaniards. If we talk about winners or losers, Together for Catalonia wins and Pere Aragones loses. He loses because he thought he could lead a coalition government, and today that is proven not to be true, Together for Catalonia leader Laura Borras said. From today, we join the opposition we dont want to be in any government that does not advance toward independence. Aragones, who came to power last year, said his party will try to rule in the minority and that he does not plan to bring forward regional elections now set for 2025. Still the political divorce is a blow to the regions separatist push, which has been floundering to find its way forward five years after its unsuccessful 2017 secession bid that landed several of its leaders in jail or on the run in Europe. My goal is that the winner is the country (of Catalonia), Aragones said after Borras scathing attack. You dont serve the best interest of the citizenry by abandoning your responsibilities. I wont do that. The two rivals had managed to muddle along despite public discrepancies over what strategy to follow to reach the elusive dream of a breaking Catalonia away from the rest of Spain, an outcome that half of Catalans oppose. Aragones party backs negotiations with Spains central government, which have coincided with pardons for jailed leaders of the 2017 bid, as the only way to eventually secure an authorized referendum on independence. Together for Catalonia, the party that was led by former Catalan chief Carles Puigdemont until earlier this year, insists that the talks are going nowhere and wants a more radical approach. The Republican Left for Catalonia also plays a key role in Spains Parliament to help the nations left-wing coalition government led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pass key bills and a budget. Aragones may now need the Sanchezs Socialists in Catalonia to get anything done. The tension reached its peak last week when Together for Catalonia asked Aragones to face a no-confidence vote. Aragones responded by axing his vice-president, Together for Catalonias top member in the government. Together for Catalonia then held a vote among its party members and 55% voted to leave the coalition. The debacle for the Catalan secession push comes as Scottish nationalists are pushing for a second vote on independence from Britain since the No side won in 2014. SAN MIGUEL TOTOLAPAN, Mexico (AP) A drug gang shot to death 20 people, including a mayor and his father, in the mountains of the southern Mexico state of Guerrero, officials said Thursday. Residents began burying the victims even as a video posted on social media showed men who identified themselves as the Tequileros gang claiming responsibility for the mass shooting. The Guerrero state security council said gunmen burst into the town hall in the village of San Miguel Totolapan Wednesday and opened fire on a meeting the mayor was holding with other officials. Among the dead were Mayor Conrado Mendoza and his father, Juan Mendoza Acosta, a former mayor of the town. Most of the other victims were believed to be local officials. The walls of the town hall, which were surrounded by childrens fair rides at the time, were left riddled with bullets. Totolapan is geographically large but sparsely populated mountainous township in a region known as Tierra Caliente, one of Mexicos most conflict-ridden areas. There were so many victims that a backhoe was brought into the town's cemetery to scoop out graves as residents began burying their dead Thursday. By midday, two bodies had already been buried and 10 more empty pits stood waiting. A procession of about 100 residents singing hymns walked solemnly behind a truck carrying the coffin of one man killed in the shooting. Once they neared the cemetery, several men hoisted the coffin out of the truck and walked with it the waiting grave. Dozens of soldiers were posted at the entrance to the town. Ricardo Mejia, Mexicos assistant secretary of public safety, said the Tequileros are fighting the Familia Michoacana gang in the region and that the authenticity of the video was being verified. This act occurred in the context of a dispute between criminal gangs, Mejia said. A group known as the Tequileros dominated the region for some time; it was a group that mainly smuggled and distributed opium, but also engaged in kidnapping, extortion and several killings in the region. Totolapan was controlled for years by drug gang boss Raybel Jacobo de Almonte, known by his nickname as El Tequilero (The Tequila Drinker). In his only known public appearance, de Almonte was captured on video drinking with the elder Mendoza, who was then the towns mayor-elect, in 2015. It was not clear if the elder Mendoza was there of his own free will, or had been forced to attend the meeting. In that video, de Almonte appeared so drunk he mumbled inaudibly and had to be held up in a sitting position by one of his henchmen. In 2016, Totolapan locals got so fed up with abductions by the Tequileros that they kidnapped the gang leaders mother to leverage the release of others. While the Tequileros long depended on trafficking opium paste from local poppy growers, the growing use of the synthetic opioid fentanyl had reduced the demand for opium paste and lowered the level of violence in Guerrero. Also Wednesday, in the neighboring state of Morelos, a state lawmaker was shot to death in the city of Cuernavaca, south of Mexico City. Two armed men traveling on a motorcycle fatally shot state Deputy Gabriela Marin as she exited a vehicle outside a pharmacy. A person with Marin was reportedly wounded in the attack. Based on the information we have, we cannot rule out a motive related to politics, Mejia said of that killing. The deceased, Gabriela Marin, had just taken office as a legislator in July, after another member of the legislature died, and there were several legal disputes concerning the seat. The killing of Mendoza brought to 18 the number of mayors slain during the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and the number of state lawmakers to eight, according to data from Etellekt Consultores. Mexicos Congress this week is debating the presidents proposal to extend the militarys policing duties to 2028. Last month, lawmakers approved Lopez Obradors push to transfer the ostensibly civilian National Guard to military control. While attacks on public officials are not uncommon in Mexico, these come at a time when the Lopez Obrador's security strategy is being sharply debated. The president has placed tremendous responsibility in the armed forces rather than civilian police for reining in Mexicos persistently high levels of violence. He pledged to continue, saying we have to go on doing the same things, because it has brought results. Lopez Obrador sought to blame previous administrations for Mexico's persistent problem of violence. These are (criminal) organizations that have been there for a long time, that didn't spring up in this administration, Lopez Obrador said. He also blamed local people in the Tierra Caliente region for supporting the gangs and sometimes even electing them to office. There are still communities that protect these groups, and even vote them into office as authorities, the president said. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly distanced himself from President Joe Biden during his first and only debate against Republican Blake Masters on Thursday. Kelly called the U.S.-Mexico border a mess and says his party doesnt understand border issues. Masters, meanwhile, tried to back away from some of the hard-line positions he took during the bruising GOP primary. He said there should be some limits on abortion but not a national ban, conceded after a few prompts that Biden was the legitimately elected president and acknowledged that he hadnt seen evidence the 2020 vote count was rigged. The debate was a chance for Masters to reset the campaign, with polls showing he's trailing. ARLINGTON, Va. -- Every year, members of the Navy seals push their bodies and minds in a "day of endurance" to benefit Camp Sunshine in Maine. The camp is for children who have life-threatening illnesses. And it's not just for the kids, but their whole family get to come to camp and it's free, no charge. Last week, three seals put their toughness to the test to raise money so the camp keeps running. Chad, Adam, and Chris participated in a triathlon. They swam over two miles in a pool in Arlington, Virginia. Then they hopped on their bikes for a 50-mile ride through the northern part of the state. And then came the run. They went on a run about ten miles across Washington, D.C. The seals raised $50,000 so families can attend Camp Sunshine for free. In addition to all of that swimming, biking, and running, they made two important stops during their journey. They delivered "boxes of sunshine" to kids being treated at two hospitals in the DC area. The boxes were filled with games, crafts, and swag from the camp. Camp Sunshine has served more than 60,000 people since it opened. The Navy Seals got involved with the camp in 2014, forming "Seals for Sunshine." Each year, the group organizes a different challenge for members to complete. You can learn more online at SealsforSunshine.org. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Human rights activists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine ruptured decades of nearly uninterrupted peace in Europe, and to the Belarusian president, his authoritarian ally. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Bialiatski is the fourth laureate to be honored while in detention. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the panel was honoring "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. We are in the midst of a war and we are talking about two authoritarian regimes and one nation fighting a war and we would like to highlight the importance of civil society, she said. In Ukraine, there was some resentment at awarding the Ukrainian group alongside activists from Russia and Belarus, whose government allowed Russian forces to attack Ukraine from its territory. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that the Nobel committee has an interesting understanding of the word peace' if representatives of two countries that attacked a third one receive the prize together. Neither Russian nor Belarusian organizations were able to organize resistance to the war," he said. Belarus' Foreign Ministry denounced the Nobel Committee for honoring Bialiatski, with the spokesman calling its choices in recent years so politicized that Alfred Nobel got tired of turning in his grave. Olav Njlstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, retorted: Well, Im quite sure we understand Alfred Nobels will and intentions better than the dictatorship in Minsk. Asked whether the Nobel Committee was intentionally rebuking Putin, whose 70th birthday is Friday, Reiss-Andersen said the prize was not against anyone but for the democratic values the winners champion. However, she did note that both the Russian and Belarusian governments were suppressing human rights activists. It was the second straight year that Putin's repressive government was implicitly rebuked with the prize. It was awarded last year t o Dmitry Muratov, editor of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. Both have struggled in the past year. Bialiatski was a leader of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s and has continued to campaign for human rights and civil liberties. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. "Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr. Bialiatski has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus," Reiss-Andersen said. Pavel Sapelko, one of the leaders of Viasna, told The Associated Press that the Belarusian authorities will not be able to ignore the fact that Bialiatski won the prize. It is a clear signal from the international community to the regime of Lukashenko, who must free all political prisoners," Sapelko said by phone from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where he settled after being forced to leave Belarus. The Nobel prize to Bialiatski is both a lifeline, an alarm and a recognition of achievements. Six of Viasna's rights activists are currently jailed, while more than two dozen others operate in secrecy, monitoring the worsening human rights situation in Belarus. Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to ensure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to compile information on human rights abuses and track the fate of political prisoners in Russia. The country's highest court ordered it shut down in December, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Tatyana Glushkova, a board member of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said one of the reasons the Kremlin views the group as a threat is because it understands and informs people about the parallels between Putins regime and the Soviet regime. Glushkova noted the award came on the day the group once again had to appear in court this time on a case related to its Moscow office building. The court later ordered the building confiscated at the government's request. The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to promote human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of turmoil in the country. Following Russias invasion in February, the group has worked to document Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. The center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes, Reiss-Andersen said. A researcher at the center, Volodymyr Yavorskyi, said the award was important for the organization because for many years we worked in a country that was invisible. Human rights activity is the main weapon against the war, said Yavorskyi, who is married to a Belarusian and lived in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, until May 2021, when he was expelled along with his 9-year-old son. He is barred from entering Belarus for 10 years and said law enforcement beat him during interrogations. The prize carries a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The money comes from a bequest left by the prizes creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, in 1895. Besides Bialiatski, three other laureates received the prize while in prison or detention. German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky won in1935, infuriating Adolf Hitler. Aung San Suu Kyi was in house arrest in Myanmar when she won in 1991. Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was serving an 11-year sentence when he was awarded the Nobel in 2010 and remained imprisoned until he died from liver cancer in 2017. If Bialiatski is unable to receive the award in person, he can ask a representative to collect it for him, like Polish winner Lech Walesa did in 1983, said Olav Njoelstad, prize committee secretary. Otherwise, the committee might choose to symbolically place an empty chair on the stage, like it did when Liu won. Jordans reported from Berlin and Gera from Warsaw, Poland. Sabra Ayres in Kyiv; Harriet Morris and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia; David Keyton and Karl Ritter in Stockholm; John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, and Boubkar Benzebat in Paris contributed to this story. Follow all AP stories about the Nobel Prizes at https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The suspect in the kidnapping and killings of an 8-month-old baby, her parents and an uncle had worked for the familys trucking business and had a longstanding feud with them that culminated in an act of pure evil, a sheriff said Thursday. The bodies of Aroohi Dheri; her mother Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were found by a farm worker late Wednesday in an almond orchard in a remote area in the San Joaquin Valley, Californias agricultural heartland. Investigators were preparing a case against the suspect a convicted felon who tried to kill himself a day after the kidnappings and sought a person of interest believed to be his accomplice. Relatives and fellow members of the Punjabi Sikh community, meanwhile, were shocked by the killings. Right now, Ive got hundreds of people in a community that are grieving the loss of two families, and this is worldwide. These families are across different continents, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke told The Associated Press. Weve got to show them that we can give them justice. The suspect, 48-year-old Jesus Salgado, was released from the hospital and booked into the county jail Thursday night on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, the Sheriff's Office said. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Earlier, Warnke called for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The sheriff called it one of the worst crimes he has seen over his 43 years in law enforcement and pleaded for Salgado's accomplice to turn himself in. Theres some things youll take to the grave. This to me was pure evil, he said in an interview Thursday. The city of Merced, where the family's trucking business was located, will hold evening vigils in their memory Thursday through Sunday. The victims' bodies were found near the town of Dos Palos, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Merced. Warnke on Thursday would not discuss the condition of the adults remains in the orchard but said it was unclear how the baby died. Warnke said the child had no visible trauma and an autopsy will be conducted. Salgado was previously convicted of first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm in Merced County, attempted false imprisonment and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness. Sentenced to 11 years in state prison in that case, he was released in 2015 and discharged from parole three years later, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He also has a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, the department said. Relatives of Salgado contacted authorities and told them he had admitted to them his involvement in the kidnapping, Warnke told KFSN-TV on Tuesday. Salgado tried to take his own life before police arrived at a home in Atwater where an ATM card belonging to one of the victims was used after the kidnapping about 9 miles (14 kilometers) north of Merced. Efforts to reach Salgados family were unsuccessful Thursday. The victims were Punjabi Sikhs, a community in central California that has a significant presence in the trucking business with many of them driving trucks, owning trucking companies or other businesses associated with trucking. Public records show the family owns Unison Trucking Inc. and relatives said they had opened an office in the last few weeks in a parking lot the Singh brothers also operated. The feud with Salgado dated back a year, the sheriff said, and got pretty nasty in text messages or emails. Other details about Salgado's employment and the nature of the dispute were not immediately available. Warnke said he believes the family was killed within an hour of the Monday morning kidnapping, when they were taken at gunpoint from their business. Surveillance video showed the suspect later identified as Salgado leading the Singh brothers, who had their hands zip-tied behind their backs, into the back seat of Amandeep Singhs pickup truck. He drove the brothers away and returned several minutes later. The suspect then went back to the trailer that served as the business office and led Jasleen Kaur, who was carrying her baby in her arms, out and into the truck before the suspect drove them away shortly before 9:30 a.m. Hours later, firefighters on Monday found Amandeep Singhs truck on fire in the town of Winton, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Merced. Police officers went to Amandeep Singhs home, where a family member tried to reach him and the couple. When they were not able to reach their family members, they called the sheriff's to report them missing. They were likely already dead. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and News Researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report. Prosecutors on Friday played secretly recorded audio from a 2020 meeting in the basement of a vacuum shop as they tried to show jurors how a paramilitary group was connected to a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. It was contemptuous talk about police and politicians in the makeshift home of Adam Fox who was recently convicted of conspiring to abduct Whitmer as a step toward kicking off a U.S. civil war, known to extremists as the boogaloo. The FBI intervened in the fall of 2020. Joe Morrison, Paul Bellar and Pete Musico, members of a group called the Wolverine Watchmen, are charged with providing material support to Fox and others, though they're not accused of directly participating in the kidnapping scheme. The trial in Jackson, Michigan, is the first in state court since prosecutors won convictions against Fox and three other men in federal court. Testimony began Wednesday. "I like how you guys roll, man," Fox said at the Vac Shack, according to the audio recorded by an FBI informant. Bellar was at the June 2020 meeting, along with fellow militia member Ty Garbin, who eventually pleaded guilty in federal court. The next day, Bellar told fellow Watchmen that he liked Fox: The guy's definitely got the spirit for this," according to chat messages. FBI agent Hank Impola testified that talk turned to training. He said Musico invited Fox to gun drills at a rural property in Jackson County. Just because I'm a church director, don't think I won't shed blood in the name of liberty and defense, Musico said, according to a message read aloud by the agent. Morrison was not at the vacuum shop meeting, but he tried to get to know Fox by proposing a double date at a Denny's restaurant, Impola testified. Defense attorneys acknowledge that Morrison, Musico and Bellar expressed violent anti-government rants but insist they had cut ties with Fox when the Whitmer kidnapping scheme began to pick up steam during summer 2020. Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez UTHAI SAWAN, Thailand (AP) Relatives wailed and collapsed in grief over the small coffins of children Friday after a fired police officer stormed a rural Thai day care center at naptime and massacred dozens of people. Thailand's deadliest mass killing left virtually no one untouched in the small community nestled among rice paddies in one of the nation's poorest regions. Grief also gripped the rest of the country, where flags were lowered to half-staff and schoolchildren said prayers to honor the dead. At least 24 of the 36 people killed in Thursdays grisly gun and knife attack were children, mostly preschoolers. I cried until I had no more tears coming out of my eyes. They are running through my heart," said Seksan Sriraj, 28, whose pregnant wife was due to give birth this month and who worked at the Young Childrens Development Center in Uthai Sawan. My wife and my child have gone to a peaceful place. I am alive and will have to live. If I cant go on, my wife and my child will be worried about me, and they wont be reborn in the next life," he said. A stream of people, including Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, other government representatives and relatives themselves, left flowers at the day care center on Friday. By afternoon, bouquets of white roses and carnations lined the wall outside, along with five tiny juice boxes, bags of corn chips and a stuffed animal. Later, relatives received the bodies at the local Buddhist temple. As the small, white coffins were opened, some screamed, while others fainted and were revived with smelling salts. For a time, the grounds outside the temple were crowded with people overcome by grief. It was just too much. I cant accept this, said Oy Yodkhao, 51, sitting on a bamboo mat in the oppressive heat as relatives gave her water and gently mopped her brow. Her 4-year-old grandson Tawatchai Sriphu was killed, and she said she worried for the child's siblings. The family of rice farmers is close, with three generations living under one roof. Som-Mai Pitfai collapsed when she saw the body of her 3-year-old niece. When I looked, I saw she had been slashed in the face with a knife," the 58-year-old said, holding back tears. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida visited hospitals, where seven of the 10 people wounded are being treated, and met with family members of victims in what he said was a bid to boost morale. It is a tragedy that this evil thing has happened," the monarch told reporters during a rare public appearance. But right now, we have to think of what we can do to improve things to the best of our ability." Police identified the attacker as Panya Kamrap, 34, a former police sergeant fired earlier this year because of a drug charge involving methamphetamine. He had been due to appear in court Friday. An employee told a Thai TV station that Panya's son had attended the day care but hadn't been there for about a month. Panya took his own life after killing his wife and child at home. A motive for the killings remains unknown, although money and marital problems appeared to be involved. In an interview with Amarin TV, Satita Boonsom, who worked at the day care center, said staff locked the glass front door to the building after seeing the assailant shoot a child and his father out front. But the gunman shot and kicked his way through it. The children, mainly preschoolers, had been taking an afternoon nap, and photos taken by first responders showed their tiny bodies still lying on blankets. In some images, slashes to the victims faces and gunshots to their heads could be seen. Satita said she and three other teachers climbed the center's fence to escape and call police and seek help. By the time she returned, the children were dead. She said one child who was covered by a blanket survived the attack, apparently because the assailant assumed he was dead. She said the center usually has around 70 to 80 children, but there were fewer at the time of the attack because the semester had ended for older children and rain prevented a school bus from operating. They wouldnt have survived, she said. Satita added that the attacker's son hadn't been to the day care center recently because he was sick. One of the youngest survivors is a 3-year-old boy who was riding a tricycle close to his mother and grandmother when the assailant began slashing them with the knife. The mother died from her wounds, and the boy and grandmother were being treated at hospitals, according to local media. Mass shootings are rare but not unheard of in Thailand, which has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Asia, with 15.1 weapons per 100 people compared to only 0.3 in Singapore and 0.25 in Japan. Thats still far lower than the U.S. rate of 120.5 per 100 people, according to a 2017 survey by Australias GunPolicy.org nonprofit organization. Support and condolences poured in from around the world. "All Australians send their love and condolences," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the violence senseless and heartbreaking. Pope Francis offered prayers for all those affected by such unspeakable violence. Im profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare centre in Thailand, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted. Thailand's previous worst mass killing involved a disgruntled soldier who opened fire in and around a mall in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020, killing 29 people and holding off security forces for some 16 hours before eventually being killed by them. Nearly 60 others were wounded in that attack. Its death toll surpassed that of the previously worst attack on civilians, a 2015 bombing at a shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people. It was allegedly carried out by human traffickers in retaliation for a crackdown on their network. Last month, a clerk shot co-workers at Thailands Army War College in Bangkok, killing two and wounding another before he was arrested. Associated Press writers Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck in Bangkok and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report. See more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific The host city for Eurovision has been revealed. Earlier this year the European Broadcasting Union concluded that, after exploring the logistics of hosting the competition in Ukraine (the 2022 winner of the competition), it will not be possible for safety and security reasons due to Russian invasion of the country. . However, Ukraine will automatically qualify (alongside France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, who all financially contribute the most to Eurovision) and the show itself will contain "Ukrainian elements". The BBC will serve as the host broadcaster and the host city was revealed this evening by Graham Norton. The event will take place in Liverpool in May 2023. The final will take place on 13 May, with semi-finals on 9 and 11 May. In a 1965 interview, two years after it first flopped on Broadway, Tennessee Williams referred to The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Any More as the play on which he worked the longest. Encountering it again, it certainly feels belaboured. Even legends have their off days I guess, and this bizarre piece, overblown yet dramatically undernourished, feels as though it was probably a struggle to write; it's certainly a bit of a struggle to sit through. Set in the secluded Amalfi Coast home of a wealthy but desperately ill American widow, protected by an encircling pack of wild dogs, it's a dance of death long on camp and symbolism but short on human interest. There's a direct line from Blanche DuBois and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof's Maggie through Alexandra Del Largo, the fading screen goddess of Sweet Bird of Youth, through to Mrs Flora Goforth, the imperious, insecure diva at the centre of Milk Train. The principal difference though is that where those other flawed, disappointed, once-celebrated women are written with an innate compassion and humanity, Flora is a flimsier, sourer creation, with a mile-wide mean streak, prone to extended monologues as she dictates her memoirs to a bemused assistant. Her ongoing whingeing and self-mythologising is disrupted by the arrival of Chris Flanders, a handsome young poet and artist nicknamed the Angel of Death due to his penchant for turning up as a house guest to ultra-rich elderly matrons just at the point where they enter immortality. There is more than a suggestion that Flanders truly IS the personification of death, as the boundaries become blurred between reality and fantasy, memory and the present. It's pretty preposterous stuff, and a long way from being top drawer Williams, although there are snatches of his characteristic verbal elegance and lyricism. Often it feels like something a lesser writer might come up with if challenged to create something in the style of the great Tennessee. Linda Marlowe, a superb actress under usual circumstances who certainly has the requisite hauteur and spiky glamour to convince as a faded great beauty, makes a game stab at the leading role, but is ultimately defeated by the unwieldy prose Williams has provided her with, and the rather hesitant direction of Robert Chevara. Sara Kestelman, another stage great, fares better, and provides much needed comic relief, as Flora's randy, gossipy rival-cum-sidekick known as the Witch of Capri. She elevates a moribund evening whenever she appears. Philip Prowse's 1997 Lyric Hammersmith revival cast Rupert Everett and David Foxxe as Flora and the Witch respectively, and the semi-drag treatment improbably served the play rather better than this more straightforward rendition. There's nice work, brisk but sensitive, from Lucie Shorthouse as Blackie, the stoic but sensuous assistant. Sanee Raval's strange performance as Flanders seems to be a victim of the character's ambiguity however. He does a nice line in ardent enthusiasm but affects a glowering intensity in more portentous moments that comes across less as smouldering and more like catatonia, and Chevara's direction gives him little help. The pace for much of the show is painfully stilted, some of the blocking is awkward and the updating (mobile phones go off at regular intervals and Blackie carries a mini-iPad) feels at odds with the baroque speechifying and emoting. Nicolai Hart-Hansen's traverse set successfully represents the various locales within the opulent coastal villa but is unhelpfully literal for a text that would probably benefit from a more dream-like, impressionistic approach. Sad to say, there is a reason why some plays are seldom revived, and there is little here to suggest that this is a neglected masterpiece. One for Tennessee Williams completists only. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A longtime prison reform advocate was sentenced to 40 years behind bars on Thursday following his conviction for hiding guns, ammunition, handcuff keys and hacksaw blades inside the walls of Nashville's new jail while it was being built. Judge Steve Dozier sentenced 53-year-old Alex Friedmann after a jury found him guilty in July of vandalism that caused more than $250,000 in damage. Friedmann's attorney asked Dozier to give Friedmann a prison term on the lower end of the 25- to 40-year sentencing range, while prosecutors sought the maximum. Friedmann didn't testify at his trial and investigators could not pinpoint a reason for his actions in a search of his home. He has since said his actions were the result of a mental breakdown triggered by memories of being raped in jail decades ago. Dozier said he was suspect of Friedmann's claims and described the evidence presented at trial and in sentencing as Guns, guns, guns and more guns." In a letter to Dozier, Friedmann said he was gang-raped in the old Nashville jail as an 18-year-old when he was arrested for armed robbery in 1987. Before the new jail was built, he was allowed to tour the old jail as the managing editor of Prison Legal News in 2016, he wrote, correcting that he previously said the tour was in 2018. Seeing the cell where he was raped caused nightmares, flashbacks and panic attacks, and he hid guns and escape kits throughout the new jail in an irrational attempt to combat his fear, he wrote. Friedmann apologized during the hearing Thursday, saying he should have sought mental health treatment long ago and that his actions at the jail were completely divorced from his advocacy. While my life is effectively over, the need for meaningful reform remains, Friedmann said. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who oversees the jail, has suggested that Friedmann was planning a massive jailbreak, calling his actions evil. Testifying Thursday, Hall called Friedmann's rationale outlandish and sensational and said Friedmann has had second chances and deserves no more. The judge said the most important unknown in Friedmann's rationale is what he thought he might get arrested for that would warrant planting items in the jail. In a related case in federal court, Friedmann pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal authorities say Friedmann contracted someone to build a 200-square-foot, fireproof storage area determined to be a place to practice plans for the jail in a basement area of one of the buildings at a Nashville complex where he owned a condominium. They say Friedmann moved locked storage crates to a friends house in nearby Joelton that contained more than 20 firearms, including assault rifles, handguns and shotguns. Hes awaiting federal sentencing. Much of what happened at the new $150 million Downtown Detention Center was caught on surveillance video and went undisputed at that trial. Friedmann, meanwhile, offered letters of support from leaders of other advocacy groups and other people who pointed to his record of successfully pushing for criminal justice reforms. Prosecutors said Friedmann had already been going in the building for several months when a sheriffs office official first noticed in December 2019 that two keys were missing from a set at the new jail. Surveillance video showed the same person who took the keys entering the jail numerous times and doing some type of work on the walls. When he entered again on Jan. 4, 2020, Friedmann was stopped in a secure area while police were called. During the wait, Friedmann took jail schematics out of his pocket, ripped them up and ate them, prosecutors have said. As an activist against prison privatization, Friedmann had worked with Hall on the future of another Nashville jail one that had been privatized but was returning to the control of the sheriffs office. That is why Hall said he knew the security breach was serious when he learned the intruder was Friedmann. Ahead of his sentencing, Friedmann managed to draw a court settlement with Tennessee prison officials over their use of solitary confinement for pretrial detainees. Friedmann sued the Tennessee Department of Correction last year, complaining that he was being housed in one of the most restrictive cells in the most restrictive unit of the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville even though he hadn't been convicted of a crime yet. A federal judge ordered prison officials to move Friedmann out of solitary confinement last November. In an agreement filed last week to settle the lawsuit, prison officials agreed to a series of policy changes that are to be implemented by the end of the month. It was a long time coming, but the Canadian decision to fully reopen its border to travelers is welcome news on both sides of the frontier. Neither Americans going to Canada nor Canadians returning home will have to bother any longer with ArriveCan, the pesky Covid-reporting app that was despised beyond its actual inconvenience. Americans will not even have to be vaccinated to head to Niagara-on-the-Lake or Toronto or any other place in Canada. Already, Canadians are beginning to return to Western New York, but to encourage them further, the U.S. government should also drop its vaccination requirement. At this point in the pandemic, those protections are more trouble than theyre worth. Hes 89, now, but last week, James Meredith returned to the University of Mississippi at Oxford not as a Black man entering a whites-only campus, but as a hero who risked everything including his life for the education he deserved and, with that, helped to change the country. At an event on Wednesday, the civil rights icon joined with those who came to celebrate him and also to issue a caution: In my opinion, he said, this is the best day I ever lived. But theres some more truth. Celebration is good. I dont think theres anybody in this house or in the state of Mississippi that think the problem has been solved. Amen to that. A Queens man has been charged with a bizarre attempt at smuggling at a border crossing in northern New York. Specifically, Calvin Bautista stands accused of bringing three Burmese pythons into the county by concealing them in his pants. Theres so much to say, but well leave that to you. 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. Three Baraboo men, including an administrative member of the citys school district, have been released from custody following an investigation into an incident where a group of people was forcibly removed from a vehicle on Wednesday night. The incident occurred at the 1100 block of Tandom Trail in the city. The men, 57-year-old John A. Kolar, 52-year-old William D. Bowden, and 53-year-old James J. Langkamp, all of Baraboo, have all been released from Sauk County Jail. Langkamp, the Director of Activity Programs within the School District of Baraboo, faces no charges from the incident, along with Bowden. Kolar received a disorderly conduct charge. None of the individuals were released on bond. Initial charges referred to the Sauk County District Attorneys office, according to a report from the Baraboo Police Department, included false imprisonment, disorderly conduct, and second degree recklessly endangering safety. Attempts to reach Langkamp and Kolar were unsuccessful. Bowden declined to comment on the incident. The incident report from the Baraboo Police Department indicated that Officer Bradley Brunken received a call from Baraboo High School student Teflon Lee, a receiver on the Thunderbirds football team, stating that he and others were pulled out of a vehicle by subjects wielding a flamethrower in an area near SSM St. Clare Hospital in the city. Lee said he and the other occupants of the Jeep they were driving a little reckless after seeing the subject with the flamethrower, according to the report. According to Lee via Brunkens narrative, the subjects blocked the Jeep and ordered him and the other occupants out and alleged they were forced to get on their knees and were told they were under citizens arrest, but were eventually allowed to get back in the vehicle and leave. No injuries occurred during the incident. Lee described the man holding the flamethrower, said to be Kolar by others involved at the scene, as military-like and that he screamed the most among many people screaming. An individual whose identifying name was redacted in the report said that the group in the Jeep planned to toilet paper Kolars house. Brunken and fellow Officer Ian Carroll spoke to Kolar, who said that after Langkamp and Bowden stopped the Jeep, they all ordered the occupants out of the vehicle and questioned them. Kolar added that they told the group they were unwelcome in the area and confronted them about a marijuana odor. The group was not ordered to get on their knees, but did it on their own terms, according to Kolar, who said he did not know who had the flamethrower after hesitation, per Brunkens narrative. Carroll wrote in his narrative in the report that Kolar and the others ordered the group to go home. Lee denied any malicious intent, including toilet papering, when speaking with Carroll. Kolar acknowledged when speaking with Brunken that it is not his right to order anyone out of the vehicle, after which the officer informed him that he could not take the law into his own hands, which Kolar agreed. Langkamp, who allegedly had a flashlight during the incident, told Brunken that a Jeep traveled at a high speed and turned around on Tandom Trail while he was taking pictures of vehicles and their license plates by Surrey Lane. He added that Bowden stopped the vehicle and Kolar yelled at the group before he got there, recognized and yelled at them a bit before ordering them to leave. Langkamp denied stopping the vehicle and said that his involvement was the reason the incident ended. According to Carrolls narrative, Lee said that Langkamp stepped in front of the vehicle and questioned them afterward. Carroll added that Langkamp explained to him and Brunken how multiple vehicles were racing through the neighborhood with headlamps off and taking corners at high speeds. He had received information that members of the football team were targeting the area the night of the incident. Langkamp informed the officers that the vehicle occupants werent really doing anything. He denied having stopped the vehicle. According to Brunkens narrative in the report, Bowden told him and Officer Mike Pichler that juveniles were driving through the area and taunting residents. Pointing to the nearby dead-end and saying it went down here, he added that he yelled at the Jeep to stop and warned them that they could kill someone driving at the high speed in which they were going. After the others ordered the occupants out of the vehicle, Bowden and the others told them they could not be driving in that manner in the neighborhood, according to the report. After that, according to Bowden through the report, the Jeep hammered on it, which upset him and he subsequently yelled at them to stop again while being on the edge of the road. He did not identify who had the flamethrower, but said that the flames emitted from it were approximately 2 feet high. He admitted to informing the juveniles that they were in a lawful detainment, but eventually left the scene prior to them being on their knees at his daughters request, according to the report. The School District of Baraboo will look further into the matter following the conclusion of the investigation, according to communications director Liz Crammond. Baraboo Police Department interim chief Rob Sinden asked that any city residents experiencing property damage or any other violation of the law contact the department. The department also issued a social media post indicating that reckless driving, prowling, and criminal property damage will not be tolerated by the department nor the school district. Not only can these things result in traffic and city ordinance violations, it can also ruin the Homecoming fun, not only for this year but also for future years, the post read. According to an Oct. 6 release from Baraboo Police Department Lt. Ryan La Broscian, at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers within the department spoke to a male who reported that he and a group of passengers were removed from a Jeep vehicle by a man wielding a torch-like device. Another officer viewed a social media post that had similar information. The Sauk County Sheriffs Office is assisting the Baraboo Police Department with the investigation. JUNEAU A 38-year-old Beaver Dam man made his initial appearance in court on Friday charged with multiple felonies related to sexually assaulting a teenage girl who was related to his ex-girlfriend. Armando Diaz Ortiz faces four counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child, one felony count of child enticement, two counts of exposing his genitals to a child, and one count of soliciting a child for prostitution. If found guilty of any of the second-degree sexual assault charges, which carry the harshest felony, he could face up to 25 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision. Diaz Ortiz appeared before Dodge County Circuit Judge Martin De Vries and was placed on a $75,000 cash bond. As conditions of his bond, he may not have any direct or indirect contact or communication with any children except his immediate family. He may not have any direct or indirect contact or communication with the alleged victim, their family or residence or their place of education or employment. He may not leave the state. According to the criminal complaint: The now 16-year-old girl reported the abuse started in the summer of 2020 on a family trip to the Wisconsin Dells. The abuse worsened over the years with Diaz Ortiz allegedly offering the girl money for inappropriate photos and to perform sexual acts. The girl said she did not respond to the requests but kept messages where he made the requests. The girl said Diaz Ortiz would continue to ask for photos for weeks and continued to touch her inappropriately. It may not be in the immediate Western New York region, but make no mistake, chip manufacturer Microns prospective factory near Syracuse is a win for Buffalo and the rest of Western New York. Its also a giant step toward New York State becoming a global hub for chip-making, with most of that activity located along the Erie Canal corridor. Micron, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a leading producer of memory and data storage chips used in personal computers, smartphones, data centers, cars and other electronic products. The company is planning a gigantic 7.2 million-square-foot semiconductor facility in Clay, a suburb of Syracuse, representing an investment that may reach $100 billion. That includes creating up to 9,000 jobs at the plant and many times that number around the state. It also features $500 million in community and workforce training. As the largest private-sector investment in New York history, this is huge, and there is no question it will benefit Western New Yorkers. Ever since President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, a $280 billion bill that invests in science and technology over five years and strengthens the domestic chip manufacturing industry, New York has had high hopes of becoming home to one of 20 tech hubs nationwide. For that bill and for Microns choice of Central New York for its new plant, its important to acknowledge the efforts of Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a major force behind both the bill and Microns investment. Gov. Kathy Hochul also deserves to tout Micron as a game-changing accomplishment for her administration. This company needed to be wooed here, with Texas which just landed a large Samsung facility as a close contender. Micron chose New York over Lockhart, near Austin, also known as the barbecue capital of Texas. Its a big loss for the Austin area, which has lured a series of major corporate players, including big projects by Apple, Samsung and Tesla. But its uplifting news for New York, often an underdog when it comes to attracting big corporate campuses. Hochul may not have stressed Central New Yorks barbecue assets, but, in a recent interview, she said she did lean hard on four-season recreation, the scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes and the local winery scene. Its key that access to fresh water, important to this kind of manufacturing, is not a problem, thanks to Lake Ontario. The Micron announcement can be unpacked into smaller pieces of good news, with components that include: Micron will be working with New York State universities and community colleges to add semiconductor courses and hands-on training to their curriculums. The company also plans to target the regions large population of veterans with technical skills, one of the reasons it was attracted to this area in the first place. Because some of New Yorks $5.5 billion incentive package is funded by New Yorks Green Chips program, Micron must draw its electricity from 100% renewable sources and make other sustainability commitments. The demand for memory chips is expected to grow, doubling by the end of the decade. With that in mind, there is still hope for Western New Yorks Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP), located near Batavia, to attract the semiconductor manufacturing it has been seeking for some time. Now, STAMP can take advantage of Microns proximity. Its also reported that STAMP is still in the running for six other semiconductor operations, as well as 14 other technology-related businesses. The site did just land Plug Power, which is building a $250 million green hydrogen plant. In the meantime, Western New York will undoubtedly be feeling the ripple effects of the Micron project, whether they emerge through job opportunities or the need for suppliers, distribution or anything else our region can contribute. It will almost certainly help keep more University at Buffalo graduates in New York. The big picture: Smart, clean manufacturing is spreading its economic benefits across New York. Micron is coming and more will follow. 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. Mauston may soon be running on Dunkin." The citys Plan Commission voted to recommend plans to build a Dunkin' Donuts at its meeting Wednesday night. The zoning application was submitted by JTN Westfield Investments, which previously brought another fast food chain, Arby's, to Mauston. The proposed drive-thru-only cafe would be located in the empty lot between the BP and China Buffet on Gateway Avenue. Jamie Navis, owner of the investment company, added that the plans do include patio seating. Itd be a change for the better. Well clean it up, he said. JTN Westfield already owns the land and estimates that the $450,000 project could be complete early next year. Thats what were looking for a better look as youre heading off that interstate and heading into town, Mayor Dennis Nielsen commented. The proposal saw resounding approval from all members of the commission, and the recommendation was made with a unanimous vote. Id give it two Ayes if it could be done by winter! Brian McGuire said. The plans will next move to the Common Council, where a public hearing will be held for residents to provide feedback. Expansion to St. Vincent's The Plan Commission also unanimously voted to approve a conditional use permit for St. Vincent De Paul. The submitted application noted that three small structures would be demolished at 925 W State St. in favor of a new, larger building complete with solar panels. While the applicant was not present, a representative from St. Vincents expressed to members of the commission before the meeting that the new structure was needed for additional storage. A Wisconsin Dells man is facing charges of repeated sexual assault of a 13-year-old child. Dhylan J. Guerrero Pesca, 26, has been charged with repeated sexual assault of a child (at least three violations of first or second degree sexual assault) in Columbia County. If convicted Guerrero Pesca could face up to 25 years in prison followed by up to 15 years of extended supervision. Online records show Guerrero Pesca remains in custody on $20,000 cash bond which was set at his initial appearance on Aug. 27. At a preliminary hearing on Friday in Columbia County Guerrero Pesca entered a plea of not guilty. During the hearing a Wisconsin Dells Police Officer testified. Officer Dylan McKendree testified that the victim described five occasions of sexual assault, with at least three times occurring at Guerrero Pescas home. Judge Troy Cross found enough evidence for probable cause that a felony was committed by Guerrero Pesca and bound him over for arraignment in the case. On Friday Guerrero Pesca and his attorney Brian Severson sat at the defense attorney with a translator for the defendant. Severson requested a substitute for a trial judge. The case is expected to be moved to another branch in anticipation of a trial judge presiding over the case. According to the criminal complaint filed on Aug. 27: An officer with the Wisconsin Dells Police Department observed a forensic interview with the 13-year-old victim at Safe Harbor. The interview was conducted in Spanish. During the interview the victim allegedly described five instances of sexual intercourse with Guerrero Pesca between April 1 and July 9 this year. There is no arraignment scheduled in this case at press time. (Repeats from OCT 6, no changes to text) * Scramble reveals complicated web of regulation * Regulators focus on Oct 14 gilts market deadline * Pension funds build up collateral pools * Regulator says no plan could foresee gilts move By Huw Jones, Carolyn Cohn and Tommy Wilkes LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A scramble for cash by Britain's pension funds after last week's bond market crash has raised questions about oversight of a 1.6 trillion pound ($1.8 trillion) business that has grown rapidly in recent years. Pension funds had to post emergency collateral in liability-driven investments (LDI), which deploy a mix of both leveraged and unleveraged derivatives to safeguard against shortfalls in pension pots, after British government bond yields rocketed. To halt freefalling prices, the Bank of England was forced to pledge to buy as much as 65 billion pounds ($73.63 billion) of long-dated government bonds, known as gilts. Many pension funds struggled to find the extra cash at short notice. Some had to sell gilts in a firesale that put further upward pressure on yields and threatened a wider meltdown. "Pension regulation is not the direct remit of Bank of England but stability of the financial system is," said Ian Tonks, professor of finance at the University of Bristol Business School. After the global financial crisis of more than a decade ago, regulators tightened rules on banks. But pension funds, insurers and asset managers remain more loosely regulated, prompting warnings of even greater threats to financial stability. LDI is a regulatory "grey area", one pensions industry source said. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has day-to-day oversight of pension schemes to ensure they were well hedged, but it is not a financial regulator, meaning it is less focused on the risk behind the schemes' use of financial instruments. Pension trustees decide on whether to use LDI, often based on advice from consultants which are not required to be regulated, and TPR guided in 2019 that it was common practice to use LDI to improve the matching of assets and liabilities. Story continues LDI funds used by British pension schemes are largely listed in Luxembourg and Dublin, but their managers are based in Britain and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, while the BoE regulates banks, some of which act as counterparties. RISING LEVERAGE LDI was born out of a need to plug shortfalls in defined benefit pension schemes, especially as central banks slashed interest rates after the global financial crisis. Its popularity has boomed in recent years, helping many pension funds to not only meet those long-dated obligations but also generate a surplus. But leverage in many LDI products was still rising in 2022 as central banks started hiking rates. That turned positions once largely designed to be defensive and protect from falling interest rates into riskier ones much more exposed to movements in rates and inflation as bond prices fell and yields rose. Insight Investment, one of the largest LDI providers, said in a May 5 note that clients should top up collateral pools sooner to reduce risks of being "a forced seller of assets at potentially inopportune times". It estimated then that a scheme with 3 times leverage at the start of 2022 would have seen it rise to 4.5 times as bond prices fell. "Given recent market events we are working with some UK pension fund clients to reduce leverage in their LDI strategies," a spokesperson from Insight said. "This aims to ensure that their liability hedges remain resilient." TPR and the FCA have been talking with LDI funds since the Spring on their ability to cope with higher collateral demands as central banks began raising interest rates, people familiar with the situation and a source close to the regulators said. But last week, yields on gilts rose 160 basis points in just days, above a maximum 100 basis points swing in a 2018 assessment of the sector's capacity to cover margin calls on interest rate derivatives, the Bank of England said. Industry officials say some LDI funds required collateral for up to 150 basis point moves, but last week's moves blew past that too. "The scale and speed of the recent repricing far exceeds historical moves," the BoE said. The FCA and TPR declined to comment on whether there was more they could have done. Luxembourg regulators had no immediate comment. The Central Bank of Ireland said it was "aware of developments in the UK Gilt markets and has been monitoring the potential impact on Irish and international markets". Pension schemes are building pools of cash in case they receive fresh margin calls from LDI managers when the Bank of England intervention ends on Oct. 14. The Bank has been working with the FCA and TPR in recent years on enhanced monitoring of the risks in LDI funds, deputy governor Jon Cunliffe said on Thursday, adding that lessons need to be learned, and the appropriate level of resilience ensured. LDI funds are not required to hold capital buffers, but must show the FCA they have systems in place to manage risks. David Blake, a finance professor at the University of London, said TPR may have to set leverage limits. But imposing more restrictions will have to be weighed up against how often such events are likely to happen and radically changing a mechanism that has largely served the sector well. Meanwhile, pension funds are likely to be more cautious and LDI providers are cutting the allowed leverage. "There is a significant aversion to illiquidity because obviously of the problems that we have just witnessed in raising money for collateral calls in these conditions of extreme market moves," David Lloyd, head of institutional fund management at M&G, said. (Reporting by Huw Jones, Carolyn Cohn, Tommy Wilkes, Kirstin Ridley, Sinead Cruise and Elizabeth Howcroft Editing by Alexander Smith) By Trend Thanks to the balanced political and economic course pursued by President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is implementing major economic and energy projects amid country's internal stability, Trend reports. Head of Trend News Agency's Foreign Projects Directorate Rufiz Hafizoglu said during the "Esas mesele" (Main issue) show on AzTV channel. According to him,first of all, stability is necessary for the implementation of economic projects. "Azerbaijan is implementing large economic and energy projects and this is an important event amid country's internal stability. On the other hand, energy projects of Azerbaijan, unlike the energy projects of other states, were not used as political pressure," Hafizoglu said. Touching upon the subject of meeting between the leader of Azerbaijan, France, Armenia and President of European Council in Prague, he noted that OSCE Minsk Group format and current Brussels format are completely different. "Because the reality is that OSCE Minsk Group met only to hold discussions," Hafizoglu stated. He also said that Armenian society had been told for years that Turks were their enemy. "Armenian American lobby put pressure in one form or another on the former authorities of Armenia on the subject that any negotiations with Turkiye are impossible. After all, the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations means the collapse of the Armenian American lobby. Azerbaijan created a different reality after the Second Karabakh War. Azerbaijan was victorious, and thanks to the creative work carried out for two years on the the liberated lands, Karabakh destroyed by Armenians is being revived," Hafizoglu added. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, seen here in a file photo, announced Thursday that the government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippines to bring more registered and licensed practical nurses to the province. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press - image credit) The Alberta government says it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippines to bring more registered and licensed practical nurses to the province. The agreement means that the Philippines will encourage nurses to choose Alberta when seeking international opportunities, Premier Jason Kenney announced in Calgary on Thursday. In return, the Alberta government will provide financial, educational and licensing assistance to help make transitions to Alberta easier. According to Zaldy Patron, the Philippines Consul General, this is the first agreement of its kind in Canada. "Our Filipino nurses are world-class and are known for their competence, work ethic and compassion," Patron said. "This MOU will provide them the opportunity to reach their full professional and human potentials here in Alberta." Filipino nurses 'in demand around the world,' Kenney says The deal was struck with the Government of the Philippines over the course of several months, Kenney said. It will make Alberta a preferred destination for Filipino nurses who he said "are in demand all around the world because of their remarkably high skill [and] their culture of compassion." "However, when they come here, they often have like most immigrants do challenges getting their credentials recognized so they can get to work at their skill level," Kenney said. "The Philippine government wants to make sure that their nurses and generally, that their migrants go to welcoming host societies that respect their rights, pay them fairly, and let them get to work at their skill level." Bursaries, programs and systems The province announced it is investing $3.5 million to help all internationally trained nurses get upgraded and placed in a clinical setting faster. As part of its MOU with the Philippines, the Alberta government said in a Thursday release it will provide bursaries to help pay for upskilling. It will streamline assessment and licensing programs, and help applicants use regulatory systems. Story continues It has also agreed to consider the establishment of an Alberta-accredited nursing program in the Philippines. "With more Filipino nurses able to practise as registered nurses in this province, they will provide the much-needed boost and energy for Alberta's health-care system," Patron said. Health-care workers pushed 'to the limit,' opposition says The announcement comes as health-care workers have said the system has been under strain due to staffing shortages. In May, CBC News reported that travel nurses contracted by private agencies are being used to fill gaps in Alberta hospitals. Meanwhile, some hospitals in Alberta have reported staffing-related closures and long wait-times for patients. In a news conference that followed Kenney's, Alberta NDP health critic David Shepherd said the UCP had "pushed paramedics and nurses and doctors to the limit." Heather Smith, president of United Nurses in Alberta, told CBC News on Thursday that staffing levels for nurses in Alberta are in "crisis." She said nurses are leaving the province and profession because they and their patients are being put in jeopardy by those shortages. Pandemic exhaustion and conflict with the provincial government has also played a role. "We have an unsustainable level of loss, anger, fear and frustration in terms of the continual, daily shortage of personnel," Smith said. "The announcement today that's good, but the first element of retention and recruitment should be trying to retain the staff we have." Hartford is a small suburban city situated in Minnehaha County in the US State of South Dakota. The city offers a small-town feel with access to major city amenities. The residents of Hartford enjoy a minimal suburban vibe, and most of them have their own homes. Geography And Climate Of Hartford Main Street in Hartford, South Dakota. Image Credit: Jon Platek, via Wikimedia Commons Hartford covers a total area of 6.88 sq. km, all of which is occupied by land. Hartford is located in the state's eastern region, about 10 minutes drive from Sioux Falls, the major metropolis in the area. Hartford experiences hot summers and chilly, snowy, windy winters, with occasionally foggy days all year. The average annual temperature ranges from 10F to 84F, rarely falling below -11F or rising above 93F. Hartford's most comfortable months are August, June, and July, while the least comfortable months are January and December. The year's hottest month is July, having an average daily high temperature exceeding 72F. Having an average temperature of less than 37F, January is the year's coldest month. On average, the city receives 27 inches of rain and 39 inches of snow each year. Brief History Of Hartford Hartford Township's boundary lines were drawn in its initial survey and subdivision in 1867. When Hartford was settled in 1878, it was given the name Oaksville in honor of explorer I. E. Oaks. The Worthington And Sioux Falls Railroad built a station at Oaksville and extended its line to Salem the following year. Because most of the town's settlers were from Hartford, Connecticut, the town's name was changed to Hartford. Stores, hotels, grain warehouses, and other enterprises sprung up with the establishment of a post office in 1881. The residents of the village of Hartford petitioned the County Commissioners for an election in 1896. After the election, the Town of Hartford was officially incorporated on August 1st, 1896. The Population And Economy Of Hartford As per the latest US Census, Hartford has a population of 3,354 residents, making it the 22nd most populous city in the state. The population of Hartford has grown by 4.89% from the most recent census and is now rising at a pace of 2.39% annually. White (Non-Hispanic) (88.3%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (8.73%), White (Hispanic) (2.09%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0.485%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.182%) make up Hartford's five largest ethnic groups. The economy of the City of Hartford has undergone a variety of changes over the years, but it has only become stronger. With a 3.38% poverty rate, Hartford's average household income is $85,263, and the median value of a home is $164,800. Hartford has a workforce of 1920 people. Finance And Insurance (356 employees), Health Care And Social Assistance (298 employees), and Construction (209) are the three largest industries in Hartford. Public Administration ($60,114), Construction ($56,284), and Wholesale Trade ($56,154) are also the city's three highest-paying industries. Attractions In And Around Hartford Old Minnehaha County Courthouse Old Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Image Credit: AlexiusHoratius, via Wikimedia Commons The courthouse, one of Sioux Falls' oldest structures, served as Minnehaha County's administrative center from 1890 to 1962. Wallace L. Dow, a local architect, created the Richardsonian Romanesque structure, which was constructed using locally quarried quartzite, a popular building material in Sioux Falls at that time. Overlooking the main entrance is a large clock tower atop the three-story structure. On May 10, 1973, the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse was included in the National Register of Historic Places. Butterfly House And Aquarium One can witness over 800 free-flying butterflies from different parts of the world in a tropical oasis all year long. The only public saltwater aquarium in South Dakota also features coral reefs, marine fish, and other intriguing aquatic species. The State of Colorado has long been celebrated for its natural beauty, with everything from the majestic Rocky Mountains to deserts like Eastern Plains within its borders. For outdoors, and particularly hiking, enthusiasts, Colorado is indeed a place of endless possibility. Many hiking trails can be found in the Centennial State and discovering them can be amongst the most special treks one can ever embark on. This article looks at 7 Best Hiking Trails in Colorado. Read More11 Best Long-Distance Hiking Trails In The US Ice Lakes Basin - 12 Kilometers Ice lake water reflection near Silverton, Colorado in August 2019 Near the town of Silverton, the Ice Lakes Basin is one of the most stunning bodies of water in the Rocky Mountains range. With strikingly blue colours, the relatively short 12 kilometre round hike brings visitors past truly beautiful natural wonders. Marvel at exquisite meadows filled with wildflowers, pristine lake basins, and a number of charming little waterfalls, hiking at the Ice Lakes Basin defines majesty. Indeed this alpine wonderland hiking trail, is a great place for solitary contemplation, brisk walking, or leisurely strolling. No matter how one experiences it, the Ice Lakes Basin will surely leave a most positive impression. Longs Peak - 20 Kilometers Long's Peak lights up at sunrise as a rural country road leads into the fall trees The area around Longs Peak, a 14,259 foot tall mountain in the Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of the most popular hiking spots in Colorado. Just a 90 minute drive from Denver and near the town of Estes Park, Longs Peak is a splendid place for outdoor adventurism, providing for some of the best mountain views in the State. Several trails will guide visitors to the mountains summit, and an assortment of guided tours are also available for those weary of trekking up alone. On average a hike will span 20 kilometres (depending on which trail is chosen) and hikers will encounter varying levels of difficulty. Nonetheless, whether it is a partial or complete ascent up Longs Peak, the experience of being in this most special place, is certain to create great and lasting memories. Read MoreThe 7 Best U.S. National Parks For Hiking Lost Creek Loop - 45 Kilometers Backpacker holds up arms while looking into the landscape of the Lost Creek Wilderness in Colorado Very near the community of Grant, the Lost Creek Loop hiking trail is considered to be one of the most challenging treks one can take. Spanning an impressive distance of 45 kilometres, to complete a full lap around the entire trail could take up to 13 hours! But regardless of whether one decides to complete the trail, even a partial hike through it is one filled with great wilderness and nature. A popular site for camping and birdwatching, along the Loop numerous rest stops and picnic areas can be found. And with the beauty of raw nature, tall trees keeping sentinel, and the sounds of the wild, all around, exploring this hiking trail (no matter the distance) is always worthy of ones time. Huron Peak - 11 Kilometers A hiker standing on top of Mount Huron as the sun rises in Colorado Huron Peak forms part of the Collegiate Peaks within the Rocky Mountains, and at 14,012 feet tall is Chaffee Countys ninth tallest summit. Featuring beautiful scenic surroundings, the hiking trails around Huron Peak are some of the prettiest in the Western United States. Just some two hours from the town of Aspen, hiking to Huron Peaks summit and its base area is a straight and fairly easy path. With an average completion time of five hours, along the way stunning valley views, rocky canyons, and forested cliffs can all be enjoyed. A great place to spend an afternoon, professional and amateur hikers alike will definitely appreciate Huron Peak, as both a place of refuge and excitement. Read MoreAspen, Colorado Sky Pond - 12 Kilometers A panoramic overview of clear and colorful Sky Pond, with Taylor Peak, Taylor Glacier and The Sharkstooth towering at shore, on a sunny Summer day in the Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA. The beautiful Sky Pond is found within the Glacier Gorge, and it is here that hikers can revel in a truly marvellous spot of raw nature. Indeed at this relatively secluded alpine lake area, hikers and casual walkers alike can enjoy stunning mountain vistas, charming waterfalls (including the 30 foot tall Alberta Falls), and the tranquil sounds of the wild. Just a 90 minute drive from the town of Boulder, Sky Pond is a wondrous hiking destination, perfect for seasoned veterans or newcomers. Missouri Lakes - 11 Kilometers Missouri Lakes in Colorado Located near the small town of Minturn, the Missouri Lakes hiking trail is a popular day trip for those looking to add a quiet slice of nature to their vacation. A popular place for camping, birdwatching, and biking, this fairly short trail also brings hikers through some charming mountain passes. And for those who include their pets as part of any family holiday, dogs are allowed on the trail, as long as they are kept on their leashes. Four Passes Loop - 43 Kilometers Backpackers hike their way around the Maroon Bells, completing the Four Pass Loop in Colorado Found inside the valley of the Maroon Bells mountains, Four Passes Loop is a scenic destination that will surely fill many photo albums. This long trail is a challenging route indeed, but even a partial walk through will give its visitors plenty of visual delights. Besides the Maroon Bells peaks themselves, in the Four Passes Loop one can spend time at Maroon Bells Lake and see the summits of other nearby mountains like Snowmass and Trail Rider. Meanwhile a walk by several charming waterfalls and wildflowers round out this most marvellous of hiking trails. Colorado is a wonderful place to experience the wonder of nature, and its plentiful hiking trails should be on any outdoor enthusiast's list. These locations and their hiking routes are filled with stunning mountain views, exceptional waters, and exciting wildlife, ensuring a most memorable experience for all. So grab your hiking boots, and head on over to Colorado, where these great hiking trails await! At least 2 dead, 6 others wounded in series of stabbings in front of Las Vegas casino, police say Hunter Biden leaves Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, South Carolina, on August 13. Federal prosecutors believe they could charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and a false statement. Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion throws out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Game 1 of the American League wild-card series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. (CP/Nathan Denette) Former Toronto Blue Jays star Edwin Encarnacion was invited to throw out the first pitch to kick off the American League wild-card series against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre. Encarnacion received a raucous ovation from the crowd as he took the field before winding up and throwing a dart to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Edwin Encarnacion is BACK delivering the ceremonial first pitch to Vladdy at Rogers Centre ahead of Game 1#NextLevel #Postseason pic.twitter.com/ksVNKaUIhF Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) October 7, 2022 The Blue Jays social team teased Encarnacion's appearance earlier in the day with a picture featuring a parrot plush doll, hinting at the slugger's famous celebration. Encarnacion, who played eight seasons in Toronto from 2009-16, famously raised his right arm by his side after hitting a home run, imitating that a parrot was riding with him as he circled the bases. The tradition became more notable once an actual stuffed parrot like the one in the clubs tweet joined the dugout. It went on plenty of trips during the right-handers tenure with the Blue Jays, which included 239 round-trippers across 999 career games. One-hundred-fifteen of them occurred in front of a home crowd at the Rogers Centre. Most notably, the parrot found its way onto the field to celebrate with the rest of the Blue Jays after Encarnacion delivered a game-winning walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the 2016 AL Wild Card. More from Yahoo Sports Weather Alert ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. This will effectively end the growing season. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. && Liverpool to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest The BBC has today announced that the 67th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, with the Grand Final of the Contest to be on Saturday 13 May 2023. The UK is hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, who won the competition this year. Following interest from 20 cities across all four Nations of the UK, seven cities were initially shortlisted to host the competition next year. It was announced last week that two cities remained in the running to host the Song Contest: Glasgow and Liverpool. Both cities provided incredibly strong bids, led by their respective local authorities and including community and stakeholder support from within their cities and beyond. Each city proposed to reflect Ukrainian culture and music in their own unique way. A detailed assessment of the two cities has resulted the BBC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) agreeing that that Liverpool will be the host city for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool has a fantastic venue, a beautiful backdrop of a city with a rich history of music, and a cultural offer that puts Ukraine at the heart of next years Song Contest. The team at the Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region will be fantastic partners for the BBC in delivering the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The BBC is also announcing that the date of the Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be Saturday 13 May at the Liverpool Arena. For audiences in the UK, for the first time the two Semi-Finals on Tuesday May 9 and Thursday May 11 and the Grand Final will all be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. To coincide with the announcement of the host city, the EBU has released the official logo for the 2023 Song Contest, which contains the Ukrainian flag within the heart. The logo design reflects that although the competition will be held in the UK, it will be done on behalf of Ukraine, the winners of this years Eurovision Song Contest. Tim Davie, BBC Director-General says: Congratulations to Liverpool. They will be an amazing host for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool is such an exciting, warm and vibrant city. Its the undisputed capital of pop music and is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its twinning with the Ukrainian city of Odesa. I know the people of Liverpool will welcome Europe and the rest of the world with open arms, and in partnership we will create something truly special. . 2023. , . -, 65- . , , . Kate Phillips, BBCs Director Unscripted Content says: We are delighted to be working with Liverpool to host the Eurovision Song Contest next year, on behalf of Ukraine. Liverpool, and the BBC, will do everything to ensure that this special occasion, fully reflects Ukrainian culture, music and communities. We will absolutely get this right. Im also thrilled that both Semi-Finals and the Grand Final will be shown to UK audiences live on BBC One. Phil Harrold, chair of the BBCs Host City Selection Committee says: We had incredible bids from across the UK. To win under such tough competition shows just how strong Liverpools bid is. I want to thank all the cities that bid to host the Song Contest, on behalf of Ukraine. While there could only be one host, the quality of the bids shows just how much the UK has to offer. Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Martin Osterdahl welcomed the choice: Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last years winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May. EBU Director General Noel Curran added: This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the UK in 25 years and, as we work with our Host Broadcaster, the BBC, to celebrate Ukraines victory, this unique production promises to be a very special one indeed. Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of Suspilne Ukraine: It is symbolic that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, a twin city of our Odesa. The organisation of a contest of this level sets super demanding requirements. I am confident that the city recognised as the capital of pop music will meet them in the best way and will deliver the celebration of music that will amaze both delegations and fans of Eurovision. Over the past two weeks, North Korea has conducted a spate of missile launches, the first major weapons tests since June. Rather than attempt to de-escalate the situation, the United States and its allies in Northeast Asia are exploiting the issue, combining increased militarization of the region with the ongoing isolation of Pyongyang, all aimed at preparing for war with China. This photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what was said to be the test launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile in Pyongyang, North Korea, Aug. 29, 2017. [AP Photo/ Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP] Pyongyangs most recent launch took place Thursday morning, with two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) landing in the Sea of Japan. This followed a Tuesday morning firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), from Mupyong-ri, Jagang Province in the northern part of the country. This missile, identified in the media as a Hwasong-12, reportedly traveled some 4,600 kilometers and reached a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers. The missile flew over Japans Aomori Prefecture, in the north of Honshu, the first time Pyongyang has fired a missile over Japan since 2017. It landed in the Pacific Ocean, some 3,200 kilometers east of the country. In total, Pyongyang has conducted six tests, launching ten total missiles since September 25, which corresponded with the arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier at South Koreas port city of Busan on September 23, as well as the arrival on September 26 of US Vice President Kamala Harris in Japan for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Harris also made a one-day visit to South Korea on September 29, meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and provocatively visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. The nuclear-powered US carrier and its strike group held multiple exercises in the Sea of Japan with both the South Korean and Japanese navies for the first time in five years. This broke a tacit agreement in 2018 between the previous Trump administration and Pyongyang to halt large-scale US drills with South Korea in the region in exchange for a moratorium on the Norths intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and nuclear tests. Furthermore, during the summit between US President Joe Biden and South Koreas Yoon in May, the two sides agreed to deploy US strategic assets to the region while also agreeing to restart the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group for the first time since January 2018. The group provides Washington and Seoul the opportunity to hold discussions on strategic and policy issues regarding so-called extended deterrence, including the use of nuclear weapons. Since agreeing to the moratorium in 2018, North Korea has conducted only two apparent ICBM tests, one in March and another in May, following the Biden-Yoon summit. The Biden government has allowed North Korea to languish under brutal US-led sanctions while the country faces a major economic crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington has refused to offer any genuine relief as Pyongyang had hoped after halting its weapons tests. Pyongyangs missile launches, therefore, represent a desperate attempt to bring Washington back to the bargaining table. They are also the result of Washingtons goading as it abandons the 2018 agreement with Pyongyang by staging large-scale drills with South Korea, which included the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills in August, forcing North Korea to respond. North Koreas state media has remained silent about Tuesdays test. However, Chinas Foreign Ministry responded by calling on all governments involved to maintain the policy of seeking a political settlement of issues on the Korean Peninsula and address each other's concerns in a balanced way through dialogue. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning also stated during a press conference on September 30 that Pyongyang had legitimate and reasonable security concerns while criticizing the numerous military drills the US has staged with South Korea and Japan in recent weeks. Conscious of the USs history of violent regime-change operations around the world, including the one currently being conducted against Russia, Pyongyang is looking for security guarantees while using its weapons program as its only real bargaining chip short of complete capitulation. Washington and Seoul are also seizing on Pyongyangs missile launches, as well as claims that an ICBM or nuclear test are imminent, to increase military drills in the region, close to China, the primary target of US imperialism. This includes the announcement Wednesday that the USS Reagan would return to the Sea of Japan after leaving last week. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff called the return so soon very unusual. The US and South Korea fired four ATACM (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. The previous day, the two militaries also conducted a bombing run on a range on Jikdo, an island in the Yellow Sea. Consisting of four South Korean F-15K fighter jets and four US F-16 fighters, a South Korean jet dropped two JADAM bombs on the island on Tuesday. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the air strike demonstrated the two allies capabilities to conduct a precision strike at the origin of provocations based on the alliances overwhelming forces. South Koreas military also attempted to fire a short-range Hyunmoo-2C ballistic missile, but it failed shortly after launch. While its warhead did not explode, it reportedly landed just 700 meters from the nearest residential area. In addition, following Tuesdays missile launch, Biden spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with the White House stating afterwards that both condemned North Koreas test in the strongest terms. Kishida called the launch barbaric and told reporters after the call with Biden, We will always have to consider unique sanctions on North Korea. Kishida also stated that Tokyo is in close communication with South Korea, discussing various security issues while bringing the United States into the dialogue. He said that Tokyo would like to have close communications, with Seoul and called for the setting up of a meeting between himself and President Yoon. The two have already scheduled a phone call for Thursday. Longstanding tensions between Tokyo and Seoul have cut across Washingtons plans for war against China, which includes incorporating its two allies into a regional ballistic missile system designed to prevent China or Russia from launching a counter-attack against US forces. This requires high-level and bilateral intelligence sharing between Japan and South Korea. Trade disputes and historical issues have prevented this from taking place. South Koreas Yoon, however, has made clear his administration will pursue closer relations with Tokyo. Texas carried out the execution of John Henry Ramirez on Wednesday evening at the state prison systems Huntsville Unit, despite the opposition of the Nueces County District Attorney. It was Ramirez second and final date with the executioners. John Henry Ramirez (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP, File) Ramirez, 38, was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of Pablo Castro, 46, who was fatally stabbed 29 times during a robbery while taking out the trash at a convenience store in Corpus Christi. Castro was robbed of only $1.25 in change during the murder. Ramirez evaded arrest by escaping to Mexico before being caught in 2008. Ramirez execution made headlines because a ruling by the US Supreme Court allowed him to have his spiritual adviser with him in the execution chamber, who was permitted to pray aloud and lay hands on the prisoner as he died by lethal injection. Ramirez was injected at 6:27 p.m. with a single lethal dose of pentobarbital, a short-acting barbiturate that causes death by respiratory arrest in high doses. Before the lethal injection began, Ramirez addressed his victims children, who attended the execution as witnesses. I just want to say to the family of Pablo Castro, I appreciate everything that yall did to try to communicate with me through the victims advocacy program, Ramirez told the Castro family. I have regret and remorse, this is such a heinous act. I hope this finds you comfort. If this helps you then I am glad. I hope in some shape or form this helps you find closure, Ramirez said, before telling his friends and family, Just know that I fought a good fight, and I am ready to go. The Rev. Dana Moore of the Second Baptist Church of Corpus Christi was in the execution chamber when Ramirez was put to death. Ramirez was pronounced dead at 6:41 p.m. local time, 14 minutes after the lethal drug was administered, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. While Ramirez execution drew attention because the reverend was allowed in the execution chamber, the most significant development was that the execution was allowed to take place at all. Unbeknownst to Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzales, one of his staffers had submitted a request for an execution date for Ramirez. A state appeals court judge ruled against a subsequent request by Gonzales to withdraw the death warrant and the Texas board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommended against commuting Ramirez death sentence to a lesser penalty. Gonzales told the Texas Tribune that his ethical opposition to capital punishment stems from the disparity in how the death penalty is imposed in Texas, where 45 percent of death row inmates are black, while only 12 percent of the states residents are black. All we can continue to do is to not continue seeking the death penalty, he said. Thats what I pledge to do, its the only thing in my power. Gonzales was elected to a second four-year term as county district attorney in 2020 on a platform of judicial reform, an indication of changing popular attitudes toward the death penalty. The condemned man was first set to be executed on September 8, 2021. He had asked that Rev. Moore be allowed to lay hands on him and pray over him at the execution. Texas denied this request and Ramirez appealed, arguing that Texas corrections officials denial of his request would violate his rights under the First Amendment and the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Through his attorneys, Ramirez appealed to the US Supreme Court. Moore was at the prison waiting for the execution to begin, and Ramirez was in the holding room, when the high court halted it at the 11th hour. In March, the court ruled 81 in Ramirezs favorto permit his spiritual adviser to pray and lay hands on him in the execution chamber and allowing a new date for his execution to be scheduled. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. said that Ramirez religious rights were protected by federal law. If the pastor were allowed in the room, Roberts said, we do not see how letting the spiritual advisor stand slightly closer, reach out his arm, and touch a part of the prisoners body well away from the site of any IV line would meaningfully increase risk. The ruling opens the way for the executions of other death row inmates, who are similarly asking that their spiritual advisors be in the execution chamber, to proceed. The sole dissenter, Justice Clarence Thomas, argued that Ramirez seemed to be seeking a delay of his execution. As with other rulings by the high court related to executionsallowing for executions of the mentally incompetent as well as defendants convicted of crimes committed as juvenilesthis ruling strips away one more impediment to keeping the execution machine grinding. Texas has executed 576 people since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, far more than any other US state. Twenty-seven states, plus the federal government and the US military, still have the death penalty on the books. An estimated 2,500 prisoners currently languish on death rows across the US, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. John Ramirez was the 1,551st person executed in the US since 1977. Photo credit: Netflix It's period drama time, as Netflix's new historical romance series The Empress is taking the platform by storm. Fans have been obsessed with the unlikely relationship between Elisabeth and Emperor Franz, set within the Austrian royal family, with viewers all saying the same thing about the series. And if the Netflix six-parter wasn't enough, it turns out The Empress is actually based on real events. So, who was the real Elisabeth, and what's the true story behind The Empress? Who was the real Elisabeth von Wittelsbach? Born in 1837, Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, nicknamed Sisi, was the daughter of a Bavarian Duke (Bavaria now makes up part of southern Germany). She married Emperor Franz of Austria in 1854 at the age of 16, then becoming Empress consort of Austria and queen of Hungary. Photo credit: Netflix The Emperor and Empress had four children together, and Elisabeth became famous for her beauty, becoming almost a celebrity at the time. Sadly, in 1898 she was assassinated during a trip to Geneva, Switzerland, dying at age 60. How did the real Elisabeth and Franz meet? While Elisabeth and Franz' relationship is romanticised in The Empress, their reality is a little less happy. The pair met in 1853 when Elisabeth, age 15, travelled from Munich to Austria with her mother and older sister, Helene, in order to meet Emperor Franz. Photo credit: ilbusca - Getty Images Franz had intended to formally propose to Helene, who was his first cousin, but the pair didn't forge a connection. Instead, Franz became infatuated with Elisabeth, saying he wanted to marry her or nobody at all. The pair became engaged after five days later and married eight months later. Sadly for Elisabeth, she didn't like Franz, then 23, as much as he liked her, reportedly finding him dull and unfunny. Historical accounts claim that the 16-year-old bride was seen crying on her wedding day, going on to live in the restrictive and formal Viennese Court. Photo credit: Netflix How did the real Elisabeth die? Elisabeth was tragically assassinated while travelling in Geneva in 1898. The Empress was walking to catch a ferry when Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni stabbed her with a sharpened needle file. She died soon after at 60 years old. Story continues The Empress is streaming now on Netflix. You Might Also Like A segment on Piers Morgans Uncensored Program yesterday provided its mass audience with a rare and unvarnished demonstration of the two sides in the case of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who is imprisoned in Britain and faces extradition to the United States for exposing American war crimes. Stella Moris and John Bolton [AP Photo/Frank Augstein/Martin Mejia] On the one hand, Assanges wife Stella Moris outlined the dire precedent that the US is seeking to establish by prosecuting a journalist for publishing true information. She spoke eloquently in defence of the democratic rights of Assange and the population at large, as well as on the importance of upholding international legal norms. On the other hand, John Bolton, a lifelong Republican politician and state apparatchik, ranted and raved as he asserted the right of the American government to ruin the life of anyone who gets in the way of its national interests. The program was broadcast on British televisions TalkTV station, and has already been watched hundreds of thousands of times on social media. The response demonstrates the true public opinion of Assange, which is generally buried by the official media. Moris has received widespread praise for her thoughtful and principled comments, including her statements on Boltons own relationship to war crimes. Boltons remarks have been condemned as dangerous and frightening. Morgan began by noting that Assange has been locked up in Britains Belmarsh Prison, a very high security and grim facility, for almost four years, following seven years of arbitrary detention at Ecuadors British embassy. Where did Moris think the case would go, and what did she hope to achieve, he asked. Moris, who is herself a widely-respected human rights lawyer, explained: Julian faces a potential sentence in the United States of 175 years for doing journalistic work. For receiving information from a source and publishing it, and it was in the public interest. It was about US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he revealed tens of thousands of civilian deaths that had not been acknowledged before. Morgan said that he would play devils advocate, repeating the oft-repeated claim that while the Guardian and the New York Times had redacted the material from whistleblower Chelsea Manning, WikiLeaks had dumped it online, placing individuals at risk. Asked if she accepted this argument, Moris replied forcefully: I dont accept it, because its not true. WikiLeaks did actually redact all of those documents that Manning gave to WikiLeaks, and in fact it was in cooperation with those newspapers. WikiLeaks, Moris noted, had withheld 15,000 documents from the US armys Afghan war logs, and had been criticised by some for extensive redactions of the Iraq war logs. The publication of 250,000 leaked diplomatic cables, in full, had not been the doing of WikiLeaks. Instead it was the outcome of Guardian journalists recklessly publishing the password to the tranche in a book. Morgan then introduced Bolton, asking him why the US was so determined to bring Assange to unbelievably draconian justice, in the form of the 175-year sentence that would await him in an American supermax jail. Bolton, unbelievably, responded: Well, I think thats a small amount of the sentence he deserves. Bolton then spouted a series of false generalities, which he made no attempt to substantiate. Assange had committed criminal activities, he was no more a journalist than the chair Im sitting on, had placed individuals at risk, etc. etc. The only note of truth came when Bolton bitterly complained that Assange had obstructed the pursuit of the US national interest. That is, Assanges lawful, journalistic activities had cut across the criminal militarist policies of the US government. The US politician blithely stated that Assange would receive due process and a fair trial in America, before proclaiming I hope he gets 176 years! Bolton was apparently oblivious to the stark contradiction between those assertions, but the audience undoubtedly was not. Assange will receive due process, says the US state operative, as he proclaims his hope that the journalist is locked in a cell with the key effectively thrown away. Moris proceeded to demolish Boltons threadbare arguments. The former US ambassador was a kind of ideological nemesis of Julian. During his time in the Bush administration and later the Trump administration he sought to undermine the international legal system, sought to ensure that the US is not under the International Criminal Courts jurisdiction. And if it was, Mr Bolton might in fact be prosecuted under the ICC. He was one of the chief cheerleaders of the Iraq war, which Julian then exposed through these leaks, so he has a conflict of interest. Bolton cackled maniacally and described Moriss statement as ridiculous. In fact, Bolton has supported every criminal US-led war since Vietnam. He was the Bush administrations ambassador to the United Nations, as it continued the illegal occupation of Iraq, a war based on lies that claimed over a million lives. As Wikipedia notes, Bolton is widely considered a foreign policy hawk who has variously advocated military action and regime change by the US in Iran, Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, and North Korea. In other words, he is a representative of the militarist, state apparatus that Assange has exposed. Bolton sought to retort, by demanding to know whether Moris accepted that Assange would receive a fair trial in the US. Moris explained that he would not. Assange was the first journalist to be prosecuted under the Espionage Act. It contains no public interest defence, and even corporate publications have warned that the case is a body blow to freedom of the press. Moris again warned of Assanges deteriorating health, which threatens his life. He was like a caged animal, deprived from regular contact with his family, friends and collaborators. Moris called on viewers to participate in a human chain protest for Assanges freedom around the British parliament this Saturday, October 8, at 1 p.m. UK time. Rallies are also being held in other cities around the world. The segment underscored what is at stake in the fight for Assanges freedom. Bolton gave a particularly blunt and unvarnished expression to the line of all of the governments involved in the persecution of Assange, including the Biden administration in the US, which is pursuing extradition, the British government, which is detaining Assange in a maximum-security prison, and the Labor government in Australia, which refuses to defend the WikiLeaks publisher, despite the fact that he is an Australian citizen. All of them are using the pursuit of Assange to set a precedent for far broader victimisations, especially targeting widespread opposition to war. This occurs as the imperialist powers, led by the US, are waging a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, which threatens a nuclear catastrophe, and as they are confronting China. As the WSWS has insisted, the fight for Assanges freedom must be a central component of a new, international movement of the working class, aimed at halting the catastrophic descent into a world war and the related onslaught on fundamental democratic rights. For three decades, the anniversaries of German reunification have been used to drum up support for military rearmament and to spread German great power fantasies. For every class-conscious worker, the nationalist spectacle is a reminder of just what a reactionary development was initiated with reunification 32 years ago and how important it is to fight against the return of militarism and war. Today, the ruling class is pushing ahead with its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, accepting the danger of a global nuclear catastrophe. Seventy-seven years after the horrors of World War II, all the establishment parties are demonstrating their unity in sending more German tanks against Russia and escalating the war to complete military victory. Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party made this clear in his speech at the official reunification ceremony in Erfurt. The Thuringia state prime minister spoke of an imperialist war by Russia and of Russian war crimes on a scale for which it seems almost presumptuous to want to find words. This is the familiar atrocity propaganda, in which indisputable war crimes are exaggerated to such an extent that negotiation with the enemy seems futile. The Russian invasion is reactionary and brutal, but it does not come close to the massacres that the NATO powers carried out in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ramelow engages in this propaganda to justify NATOs massive escalation of the war and, in particular, Germanys participation in it. If we are serious about democracy and the inalienability of human rights, we must help where we can, he declared, also expressing his support for the extensive arms deliveries. Barbel Bas (Social Democrats, SPD), president of the Bundestag (federal parliament), also announced in her keynote speech at the ceremony that she would continue to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in the war. Putin had attacked Europes peaceful order and was responsible for exacerbating poverty and misery, she declared. That this propaganda is about nothing less than escalation to nuclear war was also made clear by former German President Joachim Gauck. In an interview with broadcaster ZDF on the eve of the celebrations, he had already demanded Germans must overcome their fear of a nuclear wara fear, he said, that played into Putins hands and encouraged him to launch ever stronger attacks. German President Joachim Gauck at the Groen Zapfenstreich (Grand Tattoo) for his farewell on March 17, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Gauck said, The fear that is displayed here with us, in many cases also exposed by Putins threats, we dont see it in neighbouring countries as we do here in Germany. And it is incredibly important that we realize that Putin is incorporating these German fears into his planning. It is an element of his warfare. Thats why we need a sober assessment of his threats and a very clear recognition that fear makes one shut ones eyes and drives people to flee. And flight is what we cannot afford. There is no clearer way to sum up the ruthlessness of the ruling class. It is willing to put up with a nuclear world war. It preaches fearlessness before the nuclear annihilation of all mankind in order to achieve its imperialist goal: to subjugate and crush Russia. This is the result of years of systematic escalation. As early as nine years ago, Gauck, in his capacity as Federal President, used the anniversary of German reunification to proclaim the end of Germanys military restraint. Because of its economic power and geographic location at the centre of Europe, Germany bears a special responsibility for world politics, he declared. In the future, he said, Germany should act as a global leader and also participate much more than before in war missions. Our most important interest, Gauck said, was to preserve the political and military order, especially in confusing times, and make it fit for the future. A few months later, the German government played a leading role in the 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev, whichbacked by fascist forcestoppled elected pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and installed a pro-Western puppet regime. Since then, NATO powers have been arming the Ukrainian army and torpedoing any negotiated settlement with Russia. In this way, the leading NATO powers provoked the Putin regimes reactionary invasion of Ukraine. Germanys ruling class now sees the war against Russia as an opportunity to implement its long-cherished great power plans and to rearm the Bundeswehr to become the strongest army in Europe. Yet the war against Russia is only the preparation for a war against China and the complete imperialist redivision of the world. When Gauck talks about overcoming fear in the face of this madness, he also has in mind the ruling classs fear of the working class. The reunification that the former pastor cheered with his sermons did not lead to freedom and prosperity but to misery and the strengthening of authoritarian and fascist tendencies. The government knows that it is sitting on a social powder keg. This has been further exacerbated by the war against Russia. Millions of workers are slipping into poverty and do not know how to pay their rent, heating and food bills. Hundreds of thousands are threatened with short-time working and layoffs as companies exploit the crisis to push through long-planned rationalization and restructuring. At the same time, the banks and corporations are once again being gifted billions in state aid. This capitalist class politics is as hateful as militarism and great power politics. After the terrible experiences of two world wars and the Holocaust, the rejection of German imperialism and militarism is deeply rooted in the consciousness of the masses. That is why the political establishment and the media keep public opinion under constant pressure. While Russian war crimes are used for atrocity propaganda and exaggerated, the historical crimes of German imperialism are systematically downplayed and justified. While it used to be right-wing professors like Herfried Munkler and Jorg Baberowski who relativized German crimes in World War I and World War II, this is now the official line of the German government. In order to prepare new crimes of German imperialism, its historical crimes must be sanitized and glossed over, we commented back in 2015. Now, the rulers are not only propagating war from German soil against Russia againthey are agitating against the fear of a nuclear third world war, which would mean the end of human civilization. The fact that the return of German militarism is supported by all Bundestag parties shows that such a catastrophe can only be prevented if the widespread opposition to war is transformed into a conscious political movement. Only an independent movement of the international working class can stop the madness and oppose capitalist barbarism with a socialist perspective. This is what the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) and its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International are fighting for. Read and share the WSWS statement Stop the War in Ukraine! and register now to join in building a new anti-capitalist antiwar movement. A doctor who works in a busy maternity unit in a National Health Service (NHS) hospital on the outskirts of London has provided a submission to the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. He is an obstetrician and gynaecologist who has worked throughout the pandemic. More than 200,000 people have died from COVID in the UK, including 2,100 health and social care workers, with hundreds of people still dying each week. A section of the 500-metre-long National Covid Memorial Wall in May 2021, which had 150,000 hearts on representing the number of people who have lost their lives to COVID. The wall is opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. In the months since the UK death toll has risen to above 200,000. [Photo: WSWS] With public health restrictions on COVID-19 ended months ago, scientists are predicting a winter surge of the disease. Already, COVID hospitalizations are on the rise. On September 28, 7,024 people with COVID were in hospital, an increase of 37 percent from the previous week. It is a challenging period as COVID has had a major impact on normal services, the doctor told the Inquest. There was a huge increase in COVID patients, he explained. A fair amount of space, resources and manpower is required to care for these patients. This impacted other patients who needed care in the maternity unit. Since the pandemic started two and a half years ago, COVID patients in the maternity unit had to isolate in rooms for days and days. Also, if they were in bays, we had to restrict the numbers who could stay. It was a huge challenge in view of logistics and space. The ultimate result was that people who were waiting for normal services and care were delayed. Frustration among the patients and colleagues is high. Many bear it because they consider that it is the norm. With COVID patients being hospitalised in large numbers, Other services were cut or changed onto different pathways. Most of the general clinics were cancelled or shifted to phone-based consultation. Treatment and screening for cancer got delayed. Over-the-phone consultation was an alternative even though it is not the optimum. Already-long waiting lists have ballooned dangerously, Along with COVID, there was a huge, direct impact on theatre cases. Theatre [operations] was cancelled unless considered an emergency. But not an emergency doesnt mean that it is not required. These are people who still have a problem and are waiting for surgery, for a hip replacement, knee replacement, or treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding. During the peak of each wave, Wards were turned into COVID-only wards. Therefore, there is no place to admit other patients. Theatres were changed into ITUs [Intensive Therapy Units]. Even though the number of patients increased, there was no physical increase in beds or staff. This meant a considerable portion of patients had to be looked after in the community. If there was no COVID, the same kind of symptomatic patient would definitely have care in a hospital set up. Also, these patients were not attended by an expert, but for example by paramedics. There was a knock-on effect at every level. Lack of staff is another challenge, the doctor continued, with staff ending up sick due to COVID. NHS staff are directly in contact with patients in numerous ways. This makes them more vulnerable to infection and increased exposure to COVID. This was real challenge during the period. Staff catching COVID One my friends who works in hospital as a health care provider, both her husband and son ended up with COVID. They contracted it from her, from the hospital. She managed to find a bed for her husband as his condition was deteriorating. But the sad part was her son, with a similar condition, had to be monitored at home with oxygen. Imagine, as a health care worker knowing what is going on and having to look after her own child with worsening symptoms. The worst experience of her life. She told me that she was almost dying on a few days. Luckily, they both survived. Asked how patients and staff are protected from catching and spreading COVID-19, the doctor replied, Barrier nursing was subject to cuts throughout the pandemic, with one circular after another [from management]. At the beginning of the pandemic we were not allowed to use masks at all in the clinics. People had to argue management. If they wore a mask, they were considered as persons who are against the trusts policies. Also, gradually they were issuing protocols to cut down barrier nursing layers. I can remember when we had to do instrumental deliveries [assisted births, using forceps or ventouse suction cup] with only a plastic apron, visor, gloves and a surgical mask in COVID patients. FF3 masks were allowed during theatre procedures mainly. In an instrumental delivery you are so close to a patient that you are subjected to exposure from all sorts of body fluids and even from breathing. You cant do instrumental delivery by standing miles away from a patient. Health care workers should have the freedom to decide what PPE [personal protective equipment] to use, health service or care is so broad it can change from person to person. Here what we experience are rules made in view of the financial side rather than the cost of human life. Risk to pregnant women and babies The doctor explained the dangers pregnant women and newborn babies face from COVID. A nurse makes a video of a newborn baby in the maternity ward to send to the parents, as visiting hours are restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic at Frimley Park Hospital, in Camberley, England, May 22, 2020. [AP Photo/Steve Parsons/Pool via AP] This is a very broad topic and the area that comes under the topic is vast, he said. Firstly, the management of pregnant women with COVID is the same as for the general public. That means, if someone pregnant is admitted with COVID and she needs x-ray, antibiotics, ICU, the advice is the same as for the general public. But we knew pregnant women are the most vulnerable group as their immunity is already hampered. So, they are in the risk group. On top of that, the BAME group, black, Asian and members of other minor ethnicity groups were also a vulnerable group due to various compounding factors. Most of the pregnant mothers who died during the pandemic belonged to this group. Caring for pregnant women during the pandemic was challenging, a huge task due to: 1. Lack of adequate space: most of the pregnant mothers were cared for in a bay area and that means open wards. So, if someone was found to have COVID all the bay had to isolate and the number of spaces available for other patients became limited. Also, maternity patients usually stay around two to three days once they are admitted for labour or for LSCS [C-section] and their risk of catching the virus in the hospital also increases. 2. Lack of tests: at the beginning of the pandemic there was a huge shortage of test kits. Who should get the test for COVID was decided by management not the clinicians. There were times when we knew 100 percent that a patient had COVID but we were not allowed to carry out the test. It was risking others lives also. Later they managed to increase the number of tests, but it took a while. 3. Cutting down of clinic services: pregnancy is a nine-month long process. Clinic visits are very important, as well as scan appointments. These we had to reschedule and most of them were carried out as phone consultations. Also scan appointments were rescheduled and the risk group who get scans was redesigned to reduce the turnover. On top of that, finding staff to cater for mothers was a real challenge as they also ended up with COVID. If someone ended up caring for a COVID patient during labour, there was a possibility they might end up in same situation, as they were having close contact for hours in the same room over and over. 4. Ventilation: this was real challenge as none of the wards or rooms were built with considering ventilation. Some theatres had to be abandoned due to poor ventilation and air circulation. High patient turnover, lack of staff, poor ventilation, not enough space all of these went hand in hand, putting people at greater risk. Mothers were not allowed to be accompanied by their birth partners during labour as in the past. One birth partner was allowed only. That person couldnt be changed. Some women had to give birth alone as their family members were also ill. In our unit we didn't have a huge number of patients coming in with severe COVID who required ITU [intensive care unit] admission. But we had quite a lot of people with mild to moderate symptoms. Most of them were managed over the phone and medicines distributed to their home. The pandemic was traumatic for maternity staff and patients, with the doctor recalling, One day I went to see a patient in A&E [Accident and Emergency] who came with respiratory difficulty and serious COVID, and the first question my patient asked was, Doctor am I going to die? That was the impression the general population had about pregnancy and COVID. National Health Service was unprepared When the pandemic hit in February-March 2020, the NHS was completely unprepared, and the Johnson government downplayed the risks to justify its own criminal inaction. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference giving the government's response to the new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Thursday March 12, 2020. [AP Photo/Simon Dawson/Pool via AP] We have noticed that irrespective of the nature of the country, poor, rich, developed, developing, every country had very poor preparation for the pandemic. Wards were not designed to handle the situation. There was inadequate bed capacity, not enough ITUs or ICU [intensive care unit] facilities. Ventilators were not enough to cater for the situation at all. It is time to redesign or rethink facilities, so we are able to cater for future problems like this. For more than a decade, the British government was repeatedly warned about its poor preparation for a pandemic. Simulated exercises conducted by Public Health England in 2016 showed the NHS could not cope, resulting in mass casualties. As the pandemic continues, the impact on NHS staff has been catastrophic. On June 22, Nursing Notes reported a survey of 2,000 health workers that found understaffing stress and burnout, compounded by low wages were prompting nearly four out of five staff to consider leaving the profession. There is immense pressure on NHS staff, the doctor told the Global Workers Inquest, Staff are getting sick day by day. The number of absentees is starting to increase and on top of that the pressure starts to mount on people who care, to come to work. But they have to consider the safety of family members. Some people are the sole bread winner of the family and even if they have co-morbidities or are more vulnerable to COVID, they have to work. NHS staff bear the pressures from work, family, income and pressure from dying patients and their families. At the same time, they have witnessed their colleagues dying, intubated in the same hospital, in the same department, and the mental pressure is huge. Imagine living in fear, always thinking that you could be the next like your intubated colleague! I have come across a few of my colleagues who ended up with Long COVID. One colleague had to come back to work in a wheelchair and another ended up with continuous tremor in her hands. A few had to have weeks and weeks off due to symptoms including shortness of breath, or fatigue. They were all very fit persons before the disease, but they became totally different, less able, following COVID. Clinical staff care for a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England, May 5, 2020 [AP Photo/Neil Hall Pool via AP] Health workers are disproportionately affected by Long COVID. They are among the 1.2 million people with symptoms for more than 12 weeks after initial infection. A Guardian article dated July 6, 2022, reported at least 199,000 NHS workers are currently living with long Covid. The doctor also reported problems with administering the mass COVID vaccination programme, which involved many non-clinicians, People didnt have adequate training. Standard practice should be to aspirate the needle, especially when there is a possible risk of injecting a blood vessel with a serum that could cause complications. This is not always done. He said the Johnson governments decision to abandon all public health controls to curb the spread of COVID was driven by greediness and power hunger. If we had followed infectious disease control measures, many more people would still be living. Governments always prioritise the economy before lives. That is why they had patch-like mitigation measures throughout. They were too late to close the borders and too early to open the borders. They removed social distancing, mask rules, gathering and partying rules purposefully, to spread the virus in order to fulfil the dangerous herd immunity concept. Primary school pupils return to a school in Bournemouth, England on September 6, 2021 [Photo: WSWS] The doctor agreed that schools, colleges and universities are not safe places. Students dont know how to keep socially distanced; it is not practical at all. If you visit any school, you have enough examples to say that kids cant maintain their social distance. The government uses the terms herd immunity and endemic to cover their inability and unwillingness to control the pandemic. They lied to people and society by using these words. They try to hide their actual management plan, which was mitigation, to prevent the collapse of their financial gains. Herd immunity is not achievable. People are being infected with the virus over and over again and new variants are emerging with every peak of infection. US President Joe Biden said Thursday that the world is at risk of nuclear Armageddon, implying that the rapid escalation of the war in Ukraine could lead to nuclear war between the United States and Russia. The American president said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Frigate Bird, a 1962 test of an 600 kiloton warhead deployed from a ballistic missile, as seen from a US submarine periscope. Biden said, We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, saying that Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons because his military isyou might saysignificantly underperforming. Biden added that he did not think theres any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon. In February, Biden denied that the war could escalate to a nuclear conflict, saying, Well, I dont think [Putin] is remotely contemplating using nuclear weapons. In March, Biden said that the United States would not send in offensive equipment to Ukraine because it would lead to World War III. But since making these statements, Biden has massively expanded US involvement in the war, sending so many high-end weapons to Ukraine that US armories are running low. US generals have directed Ukrainian missile strikes, including attacks on Russian territory, assassinations of Russian generals, and the attack on the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. And US paramilitary forces are directly operating on the ground in Ukraine. The United States has sent Ukraine hundreds of armored vehicles, as well as the countrys most advanced anti-aircraft system, anti-ship system and medium-range ground-based missile launcher, the HIMARS. In an article published in September entitled Why the US is becoming more brazen with its Ukraine support, The Hill concluded: The Biden administration is arming Ukraine with weapons that can do serious damage to Russian forces, and, unlike early in the war, US officials dont appear worried about Moscows reaction. Over the past week, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Security Council Head Dimitri Medvedev, and head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov have all warned that Russia could use nuclear weapons in the conflict. Earlier this week, The Times of London reported that a train operated by the division of the Russian military that handles nuclear weapons was making its way toward the front line. When asked about the report, a US Defense Department spokesperson replied, Im aware of those press reports. I dont have anything on that. The Times of London also reported that NATO members have been secretly advised that Putin intends to carry out a nuclear test near Russias borders or over the Black Sea. On Thursday, before Bidens comments, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting of an Australian think tank called for NATO to carry out preemptive strikes on Russia to prevent the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons. What should NATO do? Eliminate the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, Zelensky said. We need preventive strikes, so they know what will happen to them if they use nukes, and not the other way around. As has become standard practice any time a NATO-aligned leader blurts out what is being discussed behind the scenes, Zelenskys office claimed that the Ukrainian president was referring to preemptive sanctions and that the actual words that came out of the presidents mouth should be ignored. Against the backdrop of these events, the extent of direct US involvement in the war is becoming clear. On Wednesday, the Intercept, in an article by veteran National Security journalist James Risen, reported that Biden has authorized clandestine CIA operations inside Ukraine, likely meaning that American special forces are actually deployed in the country. The clandestine American operations inside Ukraine are now far more extensive than they were early in the war, Risen reports. There is a much larger presence of both CIA and U.S. special operations personnel and resources in Ukraine than there were at the time of the Russian invasion in February. Secret U.S. operations inside Ukraine are being conducted under a presidential covert action finding, current and former officials said. The finding indicates that the president has quietly notified certain congressional leaders about the administrations decision to conduct a broad program of clandestine operations inside the country. Meanwhile, sections of the US political establishment are calling for an even more aggressive US intervention, providing Ukraine with missiles that would be able to strike into the heart of Russian territory. ATACMS [Army Tactical Missile Systems] would give the Ukrainians the capability to make Crimea untenable for the Russian Black Sea Fleet and for the Russian Air Force and logistics in Crimea. retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of U.S. Army Europe, told the Wall Street Journal. That would be a significant step in the eventual liberation of Crimea ATACMS would accelerate the collapse of Russian forces. Washington Post columnist George Will called Wednesday on the United States to provide armed drones to Ukraine, including the Gray Eagle (the successor to the Predator) and Reaper drones. The immediate imperative is to supply Ukraine with the most sophisticated and dangerous U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a.k.a. drones, which can be force-multipliers for Ukraines hard pounding of the Russians, Will said. Will effectively declares that Ukraine is a de facto member of NATO, calling for Ukraine to be given weapons that will help it produce battlefield results commensurate with its future status as a member of the European Union and, formally or not, NATO. The rapid escalation of the war confirms the warnings of the World Socialist Web Site of the immense dangers posed by the desperation and recklessness gripping both Moscow and Washington. As we wrote earlier this week, The reckless actions of governments that are leading the world to disaster must be countered by a global mass anti-war movement of the working class and youth. The working class must demand the immediate end to this reactionary war. It is necessary to unify the struggle by workers in defense of their social and democratic rights with the struggle against war. The building of a new anti-war movement must be based on the perspective of international socialism, rejecting all forms of nationalism and xenophobia and fighting for the unity of workers in every country. Last weeks unanimous decision by Australian federal and state government leaders to end all compulsory isolation periods for COVID-19 infected people and to abolish pandemic leave payments has been angrily denounced by workers and middle-class people across the country. Victorian State Premier Dan Andrews (left), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Some of the Australian Labor Party leaders attending National Cabinet on September 30, 2022 Within hours, social media was awash with condemnations of Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the National Cabinet whose actions guarantee a massive wave of coronavirus deaths and infections. Albaneses Facebook page was peppered with hundreds of enraged comments over the weekend, many of them Labor voters vowing to never support the party again. Albaneses social media directors quickly removed the comments, posting a photograph of the prime minister on Monday holding a koala and cynically tweeting his concerns that these and other animals were endangered in many parts of Australia. This sparked even more angry responses, noting the fact that the National Cabinet decision would eliminate thousands of human lives. Predictably, the National Cabinet directive was hailed by the corporate media and big business, which have long demanded the removal of all COVID restrictions. An Australian Financial Review editorial said the decision was a welcome step while the Australian declared that treating COVID like the flu makes social and economic sense, falsely insisting that it was no risk to health outcomes. Labor and the National Cabinet, the Australian continued, is rolling back the nanny-state approach [to COVID] that has been a heavy drain on taxpayers and budget bottom linesi.e., corporate profits. There is, however, a deep and unbridgeable gulf between those imposing this murderous boosting of big business profits, and the life and death issues facing millions of ordinary people. Some indication of the rising concerns of ordinary people was seen at an online meeting held at short notice on Sunday night by Australians against COVID an ad hoc alliance of medical experts and representatives of the disabled, unemployed and Long COVID sufferers. Attended by almost 300 people, the meeting was addressed by Craig Wallace, the Advocacy for Inclusion policy chief, Dr Andrew Miller, former president of the Australian Medical Association in Western Australia, Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John and Samantha Connor from People with Disability Australia. Prior to the event, the group issued a Call to Action statement demanding that the National Cabinet reverse its let it rip measures and calling for a public commitment by all governments to the goal of ending the uncontrolled transmission of COVID in Australia. The statement also demanded the restoration of previous safety measures, full financial support for COVID victims, including special considerations for Long COVID sufferers, the disabled, the unemployed and other disadvantaged people, for whole of society protections addressing safe indoor air, respiratory protection, optimal vaccination and the release of all National Cabinet minutes. Craig Wallace outlined these demands at Sundays meeting, as well as the extreme health, economic and social difficulties now facing the disabled and other marginalised social layers. He concluded by calling for a broader coalition of people to shake things up and make politicians listen. While the Call to Action demands will be ignored by the federal and state governments, the make politicians listen call was echoed by Dr Miller, Greens Senator Steele-John and other featured speakers. Jordan Steele-John Steele-John referenced the systematic bi-partisan elimination of COVID safety and support measures by Labor and Liberal federal and state governments and denounced the National Cabinet decision. He insisted, however, that lockdowns no longer had any support and proposed instead, a national moment of reflection and mourning, to acknowledge all that we have lost and all those we have lost. The Greens collaborate on a daily basis with the Labor government, at the federal level and in a number of the states. The Greens campaign for the May federal election was based on appeals to Labor for a coalition arrangement, even though it has been at the forefront of the let it rip policies. In other words, while the Greens may occasionally reference the consequences of the herd immunity program, they are themselves implicated in its enforcement. The meeting chat was peppered with angry condemnations of the National Cabinet decisions, along with calls for legal action against the government, demonstrations outside parliament and MPs offices and other protests. Carolyn Kennett, a member of the Committee for Public Education, briefly spoke during the discussion period, explaining the necessity for health workers, teachers and other workers to establish independent rank-and-file committees. Carolyn Kennett The Committee for Public Education and its overarching body, the Socialist Equality Party, has been calling for safe schools, and safety committees since 2020. We warned before the May election that the Labor Party would just follow the same route as the Liberal Party and the profits of big business would override the concerns about the health of everyone, she said. Workers are being sent out onto the frontline and now theyre going to be infected en masse. Were seeing new variants arising in Europe and what we are arguing for is rank-and-file committees that work together to promote safety. This isnt just a health problem but its a political problem and we can see that from whats happening in the National Cabinet. This is not going to be resolved by making appeals to the same politicians who are making the decisions to put us all at risk and to ignore the science. Its not a matter of them being silly or mistaken or not understanding the science. They all know this; theyve heard it from the professionals. Theyre not interested in the lives of ordinary people. Whenever a politician talks about the economy, she continued, theyre not talking about you and me, theyre talking about profits for big businesses. We need to fight this and the only way we can fight it is to form workers organisations, rank-and-file committees. We have been fighting for a zero-COVID, scientifically grounded view since 2020; we have a global inquest into the pandemic and weve been fighting to support people like Lisa Diaz, [a British parent] whos been harassed because she wants to keep her children safe from COVID. Were also prosecuting a campaign in defence of Dr David Berger, who has been brought under disciplinary action by AHPRA [Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency] and so I encourage you to get in contact with us, Kennett said. Following Kennetts remarks, others voiced their support for Dr Berger, describing him as a hero and urging other medical practitioners to call out false information and lies by government, health departments and the media. James Newton from a Tasmanian retirement home said he had not been able to leave the facility for 38 weeks. He told the meeting that there had been an average of one death per week from COVID at the facility and denounced the fact that telehealth appointments with doctors were no longer being covered by Medicare. Leanne, who has breast cancer, said people were unaware that there was popular support for mask mandates and COVID isolation measures. She called for national action to fight the government measures. Its about showing were not going down without a fight, that the government just cant steamroll people, she said. Gemma, a disabled person from Adelaide, agreed with Kennetts remarks and said, Im at very serious risk of complications should I catch COVID, so Im a prisoner in my own home The capitalist class has gone completely mask off over their desire to claim autonomy over workers bodies. They are throwing us all on the pyre. While those attending Sundays meeting grappled with how to fight the escalating government attacks on public health, not a single union in Australia has held an online meeting to discuss the next, even more disastrous wave of COVID infections. Instead they have enforced every stage of the reopening drive, making them responsible for the mass illness of the workers they falsely claim to represent, and the deaths of many. This is the second part of a two-part series. Part one was posted on Thursday, October 6. A mercenary and a CIA agent run against Marjorie Taylor Greene and Elise Stefanik The remaining 11 military-intelligence candidates are not expected to win, but in some cases they are challenging high-profile Republicans, like Elise Stefanik, the number three leader of the House Republicans, and fascist Marjorie Taylor Greene, which ensures that their campaigns will receive extensive publicity. Marcus Flowers is running against Greene in the 14th Congressional District of Georgia, the northwest corner of the state. He has spent nearly 30 years in the Army and as a military contractor and State Department official deployed around the world. An article in the New Republic that focused on his murky record as a military contractor (not Blackwater, according to Flowers) notes that he had worked at one point for DynCorp, another notorious employer of mercenaries. A campaign ad for Marcus Flowers linking his Republican opponent to Russia. A campaign statement given in response to the article reads: I spent several years working in logistics and procurement in combat zones. That included mentoring and training the Iraqi and Afghan National Army in how to safely move and account for equipment, people, and materials. That included at one point meeting with Afghan warlords to negotiate safe passage of critical infrastructure through territories under their control. As the campaign ad shown above demonstrates, Flowers is actually attacking the fascist Republican incumbent from the right, denouncing her as a stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin and affirming his support for the US-NATO war in Ukraine, which threatens the nuclear annihilation of humanity. The candidate challenging Stefanik in New Yorks 21st Congressional District, in the Adirondack area, is Matt Castelli, a former CIA agent. According to one local news report, Castelli said he straddled the agencys operational and analytical wings as a targeting specialist and, later, a leader of various teams. A targeting specialist would be an agent who identifies individuals to be assassinated by drone-fired missiles. He was apparently good at this grisly task. His campaign website declares, Matts success at the CIA led to the opportunity to serve as Director for Counterterrorism at President Obamas National Security Council. In that role, he developed strategy, policy, and operations to keep America safe from terrorism and extremism. His work degraded Al Qaeda and ISIS, and strengthened security cooperation with our allies. Matt stayed in this role for the first year of the Trump White House before returning to CIA... Castelli was counterterrorism director for the National Security Council under Obama and later Trump. Castellis campaign against Stefanik bears all the hallmarks of a high-level state operation. He remained in Washington after leaving the CIA and only moved back to New York state in 2021, relocating to the Adirondack area, where he had never lived, to establish residency before seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Stefanik. He was quickly endorsed by Democratic local leaders in all 18 counties in the district. After he won the party primary with 81 percent of the vote, the New York Times published a flattering profile of the previously unheard-of, newly minted political figure. The remaining nine military-intelligence candidates, all heavy underdogs, include the following: Max Della Pia, a career Army Reserve officer specializing in logistics, is running in New Yorks 23rd Congressional District (Buffalo suburbs, southern counties along the Pennsylvania border) against Republican Nick Langworthy, for the seat previously held by Republican Chris Jacobs. Steven Holden, a four-tour veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is challenging incumbent Claudia Kenney in New Yorks 24th Congressional District, which incorporates a large swath of rural territory around Syracuse and Rochester, as well as the Finger Lakes region. Matt Kilboy is running against incumbent Republican David Joyce in Ohios 14th Congressional District, comprising the northeast corner of the state. Kilboy was a Navy nurse at the Guantanamo Bay detention and torture center, then served as an adviser to the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Alfonsos campaign logo centers on his military role Joseph Alfonso is the Democratic candidate in Michigans 4th Congressional District against incumbent Bill Huizenga. The district covers the southwest portion of the state, including Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph. Alfonso is a Marine veteran whose military service was focused on logistics, including in the Middle East. He emphasizes his military record, as shown in his campaign logo, and also highlights that he is married to a Marine veteran. Patrick Schmidt is running in the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas (Topeka and eastern Kansas, outside Kansas City) against incumbent Jake LaTurner. Schmidt is a young former naval intelligence officer who only left the military in mid-2021 to move back to Topeka and run for Congress. According to his website, Schmidt was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan supporting the battle groups intelligence team defending U.S. interests from China and Russia. Patrick Schmidt was a Naval Intelligence officer on board the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Daryl Scott is the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District of South Carolina, where Republican Russell Fry ousted incumbent Tom Rice after Rices surprise 2021 vote to impeach Trump. Scott is a career Army officer, retiring as a major after 24 years in the South Carolina National Guard, including one deployment to Iraq. Corinna Robinson is running in Floridas 18th Congressional District against incumbent Republican Brian Mast. After enlisting in the Army at the age of 17, her 25-year career in the Army military police included Officers Candidate School, tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and command of Special Forces troops. Then, according to her website, she led the Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection Directorate at the Pentagon, leading teams responsible for protecting high-risk personnel and safeguarding over 100 facilities. Isaac McCorkle is challenging incumbent Republican Ken Buck in the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, his second campaign for that position. After an 18-year career in the Marines, largely in special ops, with four combat deployments, he uses the Marine motto Semper Fi as his campaign slogan. Max Steiner is running in the 1st Congressional District of California against longtime Republican incumbent Doug Lamalfa. He deployed to Iraq in the Army infantry, later transitioning to the reserves, before working for the State Department and then the RAND Corporation, a notorious national security contractor. Some political conclusions The coming together of the Democratic Party and the Pentagon-CIA axis entirely refutes the notion, peddled assiduously by Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and pseudo-left groups like the Democratic Socialists of America, that it is possible to push the Democratic Party to the left or even capture control of it and transform it into a vehicle for progressive social reform. The Democratic Party is one of the two major parties of American imperialism and Wall Street, the most reactionary forces on the planet. It cannot be reformed. The military-intelligence Democrats in Congress are already far more influential as well as more numerous than the much more publicized squad identified with AOC, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. That will be reinforced by the outcome of the 2022 elections, whatever the fate of individual candidates. One episode in particular stands out. In September 2019, the initial reports came out of Trumps phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatening to delay military aid if Zelensky did not help him in collecting political dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden. Seven Democratic representatives, all first-term and six from the CIA Democrats group, published an op-ed column in the Washington Post calling for a formal impeachment inquiry. The six included two ex-CIA agents, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, and four former military officers, Elaine Luria of Virginia, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Jason Crow of Colorado. Their statement declared: To uphold and defend our Constitution, Congress must determine whether the president was indeed willing to use his power and withhold security assistance funds to persuade a foreign country to assist him in an upcoming election. If these allegations are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offense. This declaration had a huge impact in Washington political circles. Given the identity of the signatories to the column, it was little less than an ultimatum from the CIA, the Pentagon and the State Department to address Trumps undermining of an effort to strengthen the military position of the Ukrainian government, which was critical to the longer term national security planning of American imperialism. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cited the column as decisive in influencing her to give the green light to the House Intelligence Committee and House Judiciary Committee, under Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler, respectively, to open investigations into the Trump phone call and related actions in withholding US aid to pressure the Ukrainian regime. The full significance of this first drive to impeach Trump can be better appreciated now, under conditions of the US-NATO war against Russia, using Ukraine as its proxy force. As the WSWS noted at the time, pointing to the disparity between the brief delay in weapons shipments to Ukraine and the scale of the Democratic response: Given the enormous political cost of impeachment to those who initiated it, what could possibly explain the urgency and ferocity with which the entire national security establishment responded to a delay in the distribution of weapons to Ukraine? Is there a timetable for using these weapons in combat? Is the United States planning a provocation that would thrust Ukraine into a major new military offensive? There have been other important interventions. Former CIA agent Abigail Spanberger of Virginia played an outsize role after the congressional Democrats poor showing in 2020, denouncing the supposed advocates of the defund the police slogan (who appear to have numbered zero in the Democratic caucus) and demanded of the Democratic Party leadership: We need to not ever use the words socialist or socialism ever again. The other former CIA agent in the group, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, has become a major spokesman for the House Democrats on national security issues and has been repeatedly promoted and profiled in the national media. Her reelection campaign in a Lansing-based district is the most expensive in the country, already costing over $20 million for Slotkin and her Republican opponent combined. The CIA Democrats have all been appointed to top committee positions dealing with the military and intelligence agencies and their budgets, far more frequently than their counterparts elected in the same year but from non-military-intelligence backgrounds. Jason Crow of Colorado has emerged as perhaps the most influential of this group, named by Pelosi in January 2020 as an impeachment manager, as well as to positions on both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee in January 2021, an unprecedented combined role for a second-term representative. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the House managers for the first impeachment of Donald Trump, with Jason Crow at far right. [AP Photo] With the installation of these former military-intelligence officials on the committees that oversee their operations, the CIA, Pentagon and State Department are becoming quasi-autonomous arms of the state. Their budget requests are to be vetted in detail by their own former personnel now sitting as members of the supposedly independent legislative branch. Rather than the separation of powers, as envisioned by those who drew up the constitutional structure of the United States, we have the concentration of power in the hands of the most lethal and anti-democratic agencies of the executive branch. This elevation of the military-intelligence apparatus is characteristic not merely of the CIA Democrats themselves but of the Democratic Party as a whole. The Democrats have undertaken, over several decades, to cut off any association with antiwar or anti-militarist sentiment, which they had sought to capture and neutralize during the period extending from the Vietnam War to the US interventions in Central America during the Reagan and first Bush administrations. As late as 1991, a majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against authorizing George H. W. Bush to go to war against Iraq. But from 1992 on, with the nomination of Bill Clinton and Al Gore, both supporters of the Persian Gulf War, every Democratic presidential candidate has either openly espoused hawkish views on national security issues, or, like Barack Obama, been directly associated with the murky world of US intelligence operations. In 2016 and 2020, the Democratic candidates for president, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, were publicly supported against Trump by hundreds of former generals, admirals and CIA officials. The entire focus of the opposition to Trump by the Democratic Party was his divergence from longstanding US foreign policy goals, particularly against Russia. After the failure of the Mueller investigation to confirm Democratic claims that Trump was a stooge of Vladimir Putin, the 2019-2020 impeachment drive sought to revive the same arguments in a slightly different form. Meanwhile, the task of containing and diverting popular antiwar sentiment has been taken up, in a nationalistic and isolationist form, by Trump and his fascist acolytes. This accounts for much of his enduring support in rural areas, where the burden of US militarism, in terms of death, maiming and psychic wounds, has fallen particularly heavily. This history confirms that the central political task facing the American working class is to break free of the reactionary framework of the two-party system, in which both parties defend the interests of Wall Street, the financial oligarchy and its national-security machine, and establish its political independence. This means the building of a mass independent political movement of working people and youth based on socialist and internationalist principles. Concluded Last month, leading members of both US political parties met with high-ranking soldiers of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion at the Capitol in Washington D.C. The week-long meetings in Washington with the fascist delegations, which were warmly greeted by Republican and Democratic politicians alike, have gone virtually unreported in the press. In his posts first exposing the visit, journalist Moss Robeson revealed that one of the Azov soldiers who visited the Capitol was Giorgi Kuparashvili. Robeson wrote that Kuparashvili is a a co-founder of the Azov Regiment and the leader of its Yevhen Konovalets Military School, named for the founder of the fascistic Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). The Azov Battalion was founded in 2014 by white supremacist Andriy Biletsky. The organization is teeming with fascists and racists who idolize Stepan Bandera, a fascist who as leader of the OUN-B collaborated with the Waffen SS during World War II in carrying out the Holocaust in Ukraine. The embrace of neo-Nazis in the Capitol by both big business parties obliterates any pretense that the US government is fighting for democracy or human rights in Ukraine, or anywhere else. In publicly available Telegram posts, the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders, an organization comprised of family members of Azov soldiers, boasted that Kateryna Prokopenko, Yuliya Fedosyuk and Alla Somilenko joined Azov soldiers Kuparashvili, Vladyslav Zhaivoronka and Artur Lypka in face-to-face meetings with Democratic and Republican legislators alike. Kateryna Prokopenko is the leader of the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders and is the wife of Denys Prokopenko, an Azov commander. Yuliya Fedosyuk is the leader of an antifeminist group linked to Azov, according to Bellingcat journalist Oleksiy Kuzmenko. The meetings are part of a US and global tour that is being conducted by the groups to build support in Washington and abroad for more direct military funding to the Ukrainian military, including the Azov Battalion. Since 2018, Azov has been nominally barred from receiving direct funding and training from the US military. However, since the reactionary Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, the US government, with media partners, has embarked on a historical whitewash of the organizations neo-Nazi past in order to reverse this ban in name only. Beginning in a September 20 Telegram post, which continued throughout the week, the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders wrote that its delegation and Azov soldiers met with a number of American congressmen. In a September 20 photo, the fascists boast that they were met at the Capitol by Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (California) along with over 20 other representatives, both Republicans and Democrats. Several US representatives meeting with Azov soldiers and supporters in the Capitol on September 20, 2022 In addition to McCarthy, Republican congressmen who met with the Azov fascists last month include Texas Republicans Dan Crenshaw, Pete Sessions, Tony Gonzales and Michael McCaul. McCaul is one of the wealthiest members of Congress and the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs committee. Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw hosting neo-Nazis in his congressional office on September 23, 2022 Describing the warm reception they received on Capitol Hill, the Association of Families of Defenders of Azovstal said the congressmen in particular, veterans of the US Army, expressed their admiration for the victory of the Azov regiment and declared full support for our Azovstal defenders. They were especially interested in the topic of the defense of Mariupol The posts noted that in general, the American representatives... expressed their sincere support to our delegation and Ukraine as a whole and assured that they have no doubts about the victory of our country in this war, and also repeatedly emphasized their admiration for the heroic Azov regiment. On September 21, Senator Rick Scott, who just this past Sunday defended ex-president against criticism over Trumps declaration that Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell had a DEATH WISH, was photographed meeting with the delegation. Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott meets with members of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion on September 21, 2022 While she did not meet with Azov members in Washington, CIA Democrat Mikie Sherrill was photographed with members of Azov in her home district last month. CIA Democrat Mikie Sherrill meeting with a delegation of Azov soldiers in New Jersey on September 26, 2022 In Washington, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff (California) was photographed with members of Azov and the Ukrainian military in the Capitol. Democratic California Representative Adam Schiff meets with members of the neo-Nazi Azov Battallion at the Capitol Michigan Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin, another CIA Democrat, was not photographed with members of Azov, but did meet separately with another contingent of Ukrainian soldiers whose visit, not coincidentally, overlapped with that of the fascists. This separate Ukrainian military contingent, as revealed in a Twitter thread by Daria Kaleniuk, an executive director at an anticorruption national government organization in Kyiv, met with several US senators over the exact same week that members of Azov were in Washington. The female Ukrainian soldiers were photographed with Dan Sullivan (Republican-Alaska), Shelley Moore Capito (Republican-West Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat- New Hampshire) and Joni Ernst (Republican-Iowa). This same delegation also met with Robin Dunnigan, deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian affairs at the US State Department. A government profile of Dunnigan notes that she is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. It adds that she has served overseas in Vietnam, Chile, Turkey, Cuba and El Salvador. Dunnigan has been a longtime opponent of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, arguing at a 2015 conference that Nord Stream 2 actually threatens not only Ukraines survivability and their resources, but it is a risk to fuel diversification in Europe, especially Southeastern Europe. After meeting in Washington with politicians, the Azov soldiers and the Defenders of Avozstal group have embarked on a multi-city tour to gin up support for Azov. Robeson reported that Azov commander Kuparshavili, speaking at a Ukrainian church in Detroit on September 24, recalled the reception the neo-Nazis received. We went to the senators, congressmen from both parties. Honestly, the majority we met, there were like over fifty of them, and head of their [factions], they all gave 100 percent support. They started to work right from their office in front of us, picked up the phone, and started calling to different organizations which can influenceright now... The open embrace of Azov by US politicians in both parties shows that the only unity that can be forged in Washington is based on war abroad with the most reactionary and genocidal forces in world history. It is a further confirmation that there exists no constituency within the US ruling class for the defense of basic democratic rights and underscores that capitalism has nothing to offer humanity except war and fascism. Take up the fight for rank-and-file control! Join the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee by sending an email to railwrfc@gmail.com, texting (314) 529-1064 or filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Opposition continues to build among US railroaders to the tentative agreements patterned after the concessionary recommendations of a Biden-appointed mediation board, which the unions are determined to ram through. On Monday, the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) announced its five-year deal had been ratified by the membership, making it the fourth out of 12 rail unions to have ratified deals with the carriers. These are mostly smaller unions, with the largest, the BLET and SMART-TD, covering tens of thousands of engineers and conductors, scheduled to begin voting later this month. In a statement, the ATDA claimed a 64 percent margin in favor, without giving vote totals. However, as with last weeks announced ratification of a contract for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), there is widespread suspicion among workers about the results. IBEW members quickly reported massive irregularities in the vote, including a large number of workers, potentially hundreds, who did not receive ballots at all. Even according to the IBEWs own internal figures, the number of questionable and undeliverable ballots exceeded the narrow 150 vote margin by which the contract supposedly passed. There is growing support among electricians for the demand for a re-vote, as called for by the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee. I just know almost everyone I talked to said they voted no, said one West Coast train dispatcher. There were only a handful that voted yes. How is that possible when the contract was just ratified? In previous contracts, train dispatchers have complained that many of them were not mailed ballots by the union, the same allegation made by electricians against the IBEW. I have had that thought of voter suppression in some form, one train dispatcher told the WSWS in September. I mean, once National knew that the error/excuse was two mailing lists, it should have been a super easy fix: merge the lists. But I dont accept the two-list theory, because on the first day of employment the union reps go around and have you sign up and take your first months union dues. Another dispatcher told the WSWS that increased union dues were taken out of his last paycheck, which should not have taken effect until after the new contract was ratified. The worker says he suspects this is because the ATDA and the carrier were treating the new contract as though it were already ratified. The WSWS has not been able to independently verify this. But the outcome of the vote, as well as the nearly two-thirds margin, raised eyebrows because the ATDA membership is a hotbed of opposition. They voted by 99 percent to strike in early August. Much of the chaos in the rail industrys operations and, in particular, in the erratic scheduling for engineers and conductors has been made worse by huge levels of understaffing for dispatchers, where individual offices are responsible for setting schedules for vast geographical regions. Meanwhile, electricians continued to express their outrage and disbelief over the IBEW vote on social media. Its amazing how some of us received our ballots a day before the deadline, one worker sarcastically observed on Facebook. On Reddit, one worker said, Ive been at the same address for 22 years, my ballot never came. They knew the [election] contractor would f*** it up. Another declared, The unions are corrupt. Its time to wildcat. This is America. How is this happening, one worker asked in disbelief. Another responded, The US is just three corporations in a trench coat pretending to be a country. One carman, responding to the discussion, asked whether legal action could be taken by workers against the IBEW, before adding, My two cents here; the union leadership and carriers have already gone full send on these contracts together. Their intent is to 100% force these contracts through ratification my union, TCU, was doing a victory lap over 49% participation; which at the very least meant only 25% of the union [voted in favor]. If people are truly upset with it, then on instances like this, the members are going to have to push back. The next union to finish voting will be the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), where balloting ends on October 9. In one indication of the widespread opposition among maintenance of way workers to the contract, Local 0591 of the BMWED in Chicago issued an open letter to the union leadership late last month denouncing the deal and calling for a national strike. The two largest unions, SMART-TD and BLET, will not even begin voting until late October, even though they reached their agreements with the carriers on September 15 in 11th hour talks sponsored by the White House to avert a strike. The voting process is being deliberately stretched out in order to buy time for the considerable opposition to the deal to dissipate. It is almost identical to the one proposed by the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) in August with the addition of three unpaid days off per year for medical appointments. Meanwhile, the unions are using threats and intimidation to try and wear down workers. At my local union meeting Tuesday we were told this contract was a done deal, one engineer said on social media. We havent even voted yet, and several other unions havent voted. In the latest in a string of highly defensive statements, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson denounced what he called misinformation on social media Tuesday. A recent accusation is circulating that if the majority of the membership votes not to ratify the tentative agreement, SMART-TD will override the NO vote and force the tentative agreement on the membership. Ferguson wrote. This is materially FALSE [emphasis in original]. Your International leadership does NOT have the ability under the SMART Constitution to overturn a vote. In the event that the majority votes no, we would go back to the table until a resolution is either forced on us by Congress or a resolution that the SMART-TD membership would ratify is presented. Significantly, Ferguson does not address the specific proposal, first floated by former SMART-TD public relations director Frank Wilner in Railway Age, to use binding federal arbitration in order to de facto overturn a no vote. However, even Fergusons denial contains the caveat, until a resolution is forced on us by Congress, i.e., that a no vote would be overturned, albeit by Washington. But the union apparatus has relied heavily on the threat of Congressional injunctions to wear down workers opposition, on the grounds that they have no other choice but to accept the deal. In his last statement, Ferguson even claimed the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution effectively barred workers from striking by giving Congress the power to override workers First Amendment-protected right to strike. Eight months into its disastrous war in Ukraine, the Putin regime is facing a severe political crisis. The mobilization of 300,000 reservists in response to a massive military debacle in northeastern Ukraine in September has aggravated an already far-reaching socioeconomic crisis while escalating frictions within the ruling elites and state apparatus. To avoid being mobilized, more privileged layers of the middle class have left the country in a panic, with reports suggesting that as many as 400,000 men have fled to neighboring countries. In an indication of the social layer involved, the German magazine Spiegel ran a portrait of two young men involved in a bitcoin company who made it to Georgia under the headline Latte Macchiato in Tiflis. Prior to their flight, they had each been earning $5,000 a month in Russia, more than many workers make in an entire year. The vast majority of the Russian working population, by contrast, is left to face the devastating economic fallout from both the economic warfare by the imperialist powers and the mobilization drive. Those drafted have to pay for their own uniforms, which can cost up to $3,000, and first-aid kits. The mobilization of thousands of working-age men will also leave their families without the main income earners of the household. The ongoing military route of Russian forces in Ukraine is a result both of the imperialist buildup of the Ukrainian army into a formidable, modern fighting force, and the disastrous miscalculations of the Kremlin which launched the invasion of Ukraine in February believing that it could force the imperialist powers to the negotiating table. Instead, NATO has used the provoked invasion as the welcome pretext to launch a full-scale war against Russia, in which the Ukrainian armed forces are but a proxy. Already, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are estimated to have been killed and wounded. Media reports indicate that in the North Caucasian republic of Dagestan, where a particularly large number of men had signed up as contractors with the Russian army to escape poverty, virtually every single village has reported battlefield dead. As one military debacle has followed anotherwith Russia losing more territory over the past week in the very regions it now seeks to annexthe Ministry of Defense and general staff have come under almost constant fire from military figures and politicians, including Russian President Vladimir Putin himself. The head of the Chechen republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, openly attacked the Ministry of Defense in the aftermath of the fall of Lyman this weekend. Kadyrov declared that he could not understand what the Ministry of Defense is reporting to the commander-in-chief, adding that more radical measures, including the deployment of low-yield nuclear wepaons should be taken. Shortly after these statements, Putin promoted Kadyrov to the rank of colonel general, his second promotion in the military ranks this year. On Wednesday, General Andrei Kartapolov, who is the current head of the State Dumas Committee for Defense and the former deputy defense minister, demanded that the Ministry of Defense stop lying about the state of the war. He warned that their ongoing lies would make the population lose confidence in the Kremlin. He then compared the severity of the situation to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in World War II, stating: Today the enemy is on our soil as well. And I'm not even talking about the newly acquired subjects of the Russian Federation [in East Ukraine]. Practically all the border villages of the Belgorod region have been destroyed. Our city of Valuiki [about 15 kilometers off the Russian-Ukrainian border] is under constant fire. On Thursday, Kirill Stremousov, the deputy governor of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, which Russia is now annexing, attacked Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, encouraging him to kill himself. Stremousov said, Many people are saying that as an officer, the defense minister could simply shoot himself for being the one who let things get to this state. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the public attacks on the Ministry of Defense, blaming the military leadership for mistakes made during the mobilization drive. Contrary to Putins initial announcement that only those who have combat experience would be mobilized, thousands of Russians, including many who are elderly, sick or fathers of many children, received draft notices even though they had been promised to be exempted. Thousands are now reportedly being sent home after having received draft notices by mistake. Media reports on Thursday indicate that regional governors have initiated a purge of lower-ranking military personnel responsible for overseeing mobilization in the provinces. Since the beginning of the war, Russian generals and top officials of the Ministry of Defense have barely appeared in public. The Russian press now speculates that the public criticism of the Ministry of Defense by the Kremlin could be the precursor to a significant reshuffle of the military leadership. As frictions within the Russian elites and state apparatus are emerging into the open, Washington and its allies in the Russian and Ukrainian oligarchy have clearly stepped up their efforts at a regime change in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky notably responded to Putins move to annex the four regions in East Ukraine by insisting that there would be no more negotiations with Russia as long as Putin was president. The Ukrainian government has since issued a decree, formally banning any negotiations by Kiev with the Kremlin under Putin. On September 30, the day of Putins annexation speech, the Washington Post published a lengthy op-ed by the imprisoned Alexei Navalny, the figurehead of the pro-NATO so-called liberal opposition to the Putin regime. In the piece, Navalny effectively called for NATO to adopt regime change in Russia as the official strategic goal of this war. Navalnys calls for the institution of a parliamentary democracy in Russia as the outcome of such a regime change are, of course, no less a fraud than the bombing for democracy narrative that served as the basis for virtually every US war in the Middle East and North Africa in the past decades. The result of this imperialist operation would be even more disastrous, leading to the carve-up and a series of civil wars in the largest country in the world, with a large, multiethnic population of over 140 million and the worlds second largest nuclear arsenal. With his usual bluntness, John Bolton, a leading figure in the US national security establishment first under President George W. Bush and then Donald Trump, spelled out the critical role of the Russian military in what he openly described as a coup. In a piece this week, Bolton wrote: It is from the colonels and one-star generals, and their civilian-agency equivalents, where the most-likely co-conspirators to take matters into their own hands. These are the decision-makers whom the dissidents must identify, persuade and support to facilitate regime change. Ultimately, the social layers that the imperialist powers base themselves on in their regime change operation are the same social layers that the oligarchic Putin regime is based on as well: the oligarchy, the state and military apparatus and layers of the upper middle class. Like the Putin regime itself, its opponents in the ruling class and state have emerged out of the Stalinist reaction against the October revolution which culminated in the restoration of capitalism and destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991. While the liberal opposition is advocating a direct alignment with US imperialism, they share with the Putin regime a deep-rooted fear and hatred of the working class. Workers must respond to this immense crisis and the war by developing their own, independent opposition to the Putin regime. This requires unequivocal opposition to the machinations of the imperialist powers and their proxies in the Russian oligarchy and state apparatus, and the building of a socialist leadership in the working class, that is, a Russian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. The following statement was issued by UAW presidential candidate and rank-and-file worker Will Lehman. Ballots for the 2022 national UAW elections are scheduled to be mailed out to UAW members on October 17 and must be returned by November 18 to ensure that they are counted. For more information on Lehmans campaign, visit WillforUAWPresident.org. As candidate for president of the United Auto Workers, I call on my brothers and sisters to take a stand with me to fight unsafe and deadly conditions in Americas workplaces and the ongoing sacrifice of our health and lives for corporate profit. In opposition to the coverup of industrial injuries and deaths by the corporations, government safety regulators and the union bureaucracies, I call for independent investigations by rank-and-file workers to uncover the truth and hold accountable all those responsible for the ongoing carnage in Americas workplaces. Last week, hundreds of family members, friends and co-workers held a memorial for Ben and Max Morrissey, who were killed in the September 20 fire at the BP Husky oil refinery in Oregon, Ohio. The two brothers, just 32 and 34, left behind wives and small children whose lives will be forever changed by this tragedy. Friends and family mourn the death of Max and Ben Morrissey, picture right, at the celebration of life ceremony in Oregon, Ohio on Thursday, September 29, 2022 [Photo: WSWS] After the deaths, BP issued a perfunctory statement expressing its deep sadness, and declaring, Our highest priority remains the safety of our staff, the responders and the public. In fact, BP has a notorious record of sacrificing workers lives for corporate profit. In 2005, 15 workers were killed and another 180 injured in an explosion at its Texas City refinery. Investigators found that managers were pressuring workers to increase output and cut costs. In 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 workers and caused a massive environmental disaster. Again, investigators found that cost-cutting contributed to the disaster. Workers at BP-Husky and other refineries have long complained that job cuts, exhausting hours, the contracting out of jobs, the lack of maintenance and repair work and the constant pressure for higher production are creating deadly conditions. But the United Steelworkers bureaucracy has blocked any serious struggle by workers, including a strike by 30,000 refinery workers earlier this year. The USW operates joint labor-management safety committees, which constantly bow to profit concerns. In response to the deadly explosion at the Toledo refinery, top USW officials have warned workers not to rush to judgment. As every worker knows, these deadly conditions are not confined to the oil industry. On July 9, 22-year-old Casen Garcia died while working in extremely dangerous conditions in the rendering basement at the Tyson Foods meatpacking plant in Joslin, Illinois. Tyson is covering up how he died, but Casens family has spoken to numerous coworkers who say that he was electrocuted by faulty machinery, and that management rejected his calls for help and prevented workers from saving his life to keep production going. My son was treated like he was one of the livestock, his mother Allison declared. The factories, refineries and other workplaces in the US would better be described as Americas industrial slaughterhouse. To the American ruling class, the lives of workers are cheap. If we are crippled or killed, they will simply get another worker to fill in for us. Production and profits must keep flowing, no matter what. According to the Death on the Job report, released by the AFL-CIO in April 2022: Every day in the United States, 340 workers die from hazardous workplace conditions. In 2020, more than 4,700 workers were killed on the job, and an estimated 120,000 died from occupational diseases due to exposure to toxic materials at work. Nearly 3.2 million work-related injuries and illnesses were reported in 2020. Because of workplace intimidation, the true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is far larger, totaling between 5.4 million and 8.1 million annually. There are only 1,700 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors for 10.4 million workplaces, or one inspector for every 81,427 workers in the US. The median federal OSHA penalty for a workers death is $9,753 and only $5,825 for state penalties. Only 115 worker death cases have been criminally prosecuted under OSHA since its establishment in 1970. These figures do not include the hundreds of thousands of workers killed by COVID-19 and the millions more who are suffering the lingering disabilities of Long COVID. A ruling class that can allow 1.1 million people to die during the pandemic could not care less about the tens of thousands crushed, burnt to death, poisoned and mangled in its profit-making enterprises. Autoworkers know this firsthand. Steven Dierkes, a 39-year-old worker died instantly after falling into a molten iron crucible at the Caterpillar foundry in Mapleton, Illinois, on June 2. Travis Baker, a 49-year-old autoworker and father of four sons, died on August 18 after being injured at the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, Illinois. At least three of my co-workers at the Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, died of COVID-19. Catherine Pace, a Stellantis worker about to retire in Detroit, was one of more than a dozen workers who succumbed to the deadly disease at the Warren Truck plant alone. In the early days of the pandemic, workers had to take matters into their own hands and carry out wildcat strikes, in defiance of the UAW bureaucracy, to force the shutdown of the global auto industry. But UAW officials like my opponents Ray Curry and Shawn Fain worked with the auto bosses to restart production as soon as possible. Now, in the third year of the pandemic, the corporations and the Biden administration have dispensed with mask mandates and any measures to protect workers, even as a new Fall surge of COVID-19 is upon us. In my campaign, I have called for the abolition of the UAW apparatus and the transfer of power to workers on the shop floor through the formation of rank-and-file committees. A key function of these committees will be to exchange information and organize collective action, including the shutdown of production if workers deem that conditions are unsafe. The rights of workers, including the right to a safe and healthy workplace, must take precedence over the profit interests of big business. These committees, working in conjunction with health and safety experts committed to the working class, must conduct independent investigations into the deaths of workers, including the Morrissey brothers in Ohio, and prevent more coverups by the union bureaucracies, OSHA and the companies. Ultimately, the fight to defend workers lives directly poses the need for the working class to take control of the energy and other giant industries and convert them into public utilities, collectively owned and democratically controlled by the workers who produce societys wealth, as part of the socialist transformation of the economy in the US and throughout the world. For more information on Lehmans campaign, visit WillforUAWPresident.org. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) : MBA Admissions 2022 https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/manage/indian-institute-of-foreign-trade-mba-admission.htm Details of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) : MBA Admissions 2022 2020-11-25 2022-10-15 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) : MBA Admissions 2022 Management Indian Institutes of Foreign Trade (IIFT) - MBA (IB) Admission 2021 - 2023 Category : Management Admissions 2022 Published : On November 25, 2020 By Webindia123 Editor Important Dates Last date to fill the online application form 15th October 2022 - Computer Based Entrance Examination 4th December 2022 The MBA (International Business) is a foundational course for developing a competent cadre of business executives to meet the country's growing requirements for training personnel in the field of international business management. MBA(IB) is a six trimester (2 year full time) general management programme with a focus on internaional business. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) invites applications from eligible candidates for admission into six-trimester Full Time MBA (IB) Programme with a focus on international business for the academic year 2023-2025. Eligibility: Recognized Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years' duration in any discipline. No age limit. Reservations: Seats are reserved as per Government of India rules. The reservations are subject to candidates meeting the admission requirement of the Institute under different categories. Mode of Adimission: Eligibility Qualification for MBA (IB) is First degree in any discipline and / or Advanced Diploma (3 years duration) in any field. Selection will be done on the basis of personal interviews scheduled (tentatively) in October, 2023. How to apply Candidates, who wish to fill in Online Application Form, please visit IIFT website at www.iift.edu. Candidates have to apply for IIFT MBA(IB)- 2023 ''Online'' ONLY by accessing the website https://iift.nta.nic.in/webinfo/public/home.aspx The Application shall not be accepted in any other mode. Only one application is to be submitted by a candidate. More than one application i.e. Multiple application forms submitted by a candidate will be rejected. It is suggested that the Candidates have the following ready before starting the filling of the online application form: A computer with good Internet connectivity All qualification details Scanned clear passport photograph in JPG/JPEG format (size between 10 kb-200 kb) Scanned clear signature in JPG/JPEG format (size between 4 kb-30 kb) Scanned clear copy of certificates indicating Category and/or subcategory as applicable in JPG/JPEG format (size between 50 kb-300 kb) A valid e-mail Id as all communication will be made on this e-mail Id A valid mobile number as all information via SMS will be sent to this number A valid debit/credit card or Net banking account or PAYTM Service. A printer connected to the system to print confirmation page EVENTS DATES On-line submission of Application Form 15th October 2022 Fee Payable General/Gen-EWS/ OBC(NCL) Rs.8.85.000/- p.a. (50% relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates) For Foreign Nationals/NRIs US$ 30000 p.a/- Processing charges and Goods & Service Taxes (GST) are to be paid by the candidate, as applicable (Appendix III) Date of Examination 4.12.2022 Timing of the Examination 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Display of Question Paper attempted by the Candidate and Answer Keys for inviting challenges on NTA's website. Date shall be displayed on the NTAs website. Declaration of Result on NTA's website It is also suggested to download information Bulletin and read it carefully to ensure Candidate's eligibility and acquaintance with the requirements for submission of Online Application Form. No correction can be made at a later stage after submission of an application. No change will be accepted through fax/application including e-mail etc. 4 (Four) Steps to Apply Online for the candidates who are appearing for IIFT MBA(IB) examination for the academic session-2023-25 Step-1: Register for Online Application Form and note down system generated Application Number. The candidate should supply all the details while filling the Online Application Form and is also required to create PASSWORD and choose Security Question and enter his/her Answer. After successful submission of the personal details, Application number will be generated and it will be used to complete the remaining Steps of the Application Form and will also be required for all future correspondence. For subsequent logins, candidate will be able to login directly with the respective system generated Application Number and created Password. Step-2: Complete the Application Form Candidate can login with the system generated Application Number and created Password for completing the Application Form. Step-3: Upload Scanned Images of Candidate's Photograph, Candidate's Signature and Candidate's Caste Certificate if the Candidate is applying Under GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST or PwD Category. (a) Scanned photograph and signature should be in JPG/JPEG format. (b) Size of scanned photograph should be between 10 kb to 200 kb. (c) Size of scanned signature should be between 4 kb to 30 kb. (d) Size of scanned Caste/Category Certificate should size between 50 kb-300 kb (e) The recent photograph should be coloured or black/white (but clear contrast). Note: Upload the correct Photograph, Signature and Caste/Category Certificate as the facility for correction in images will not be given. Step-4: Payment by Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking/PAYTM/UPI Service: The candidate has to select Debit card/Credit card/Net banking/PAYTM option to pay the application fee and follow the online instruction to complete the payment of fee. After successful payment, candidate will be able to print the Confirmation Page. In case the Confirmation Page is not generated after payment of fee then the transaction is cancelled and the candidates has to approach the concerned bank for refund of amount. However the candidate has to make another transaction, in case the Confirmation Page is not generated. THESE STEPS CAN BE DONE TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY More Details can be available from the Official website. Contact Details Address : New Delhi Campus Address IIFT Bhawan, B-21, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi Kolkata Campus Address J-1/14 (7th-9th Floor), EP & GP Block, Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700091 Phone : Delhi : 011-26965124, 26965051 Kolkata : 033-2357 2854 Fax : Delhi : +91-1126853956 Kolkata : +91-33-2357 2853 Mobile : E-mail : Contact I Contact II Website : www.iift.edu Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions Canada has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys filing last week of a formal application for his countrys admission to NATO by urging Kievs prompt incorporation into the aggressive US-led military alliance. Ottawa has been joined in this by a cabal of the most belligerent Eastern European states, including Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Speaking in Washington alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 30, just hours after the Ukraine application was announced, Canadian Foreign Minster Melanie Joly declared, We believe that Ukraine should be part of NATO. It has been our position for now more than a decade, and we believe in the Open Door policy. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Sept. 30 press conference (Photo Credit: Joly/Twitter) Blinken was somewhat more circumspect. He emphasized that there is an admission process for would-be NATO states to follow, while adding NATOs door will remain open, including for Ukraine. The reality is Ukraine is already functioning as an arm of NATO, above all, Washington. The US and its NATO allies, Canada included, have poured tens of billions of dollars in advanced weaponry into Ukraine since the outbreak of the war last February; and the Pentagon, as has been publicly admitted, is providing Ukrainian forces with strategic and tactical support, including the intelligence and weapons to target Russian generals. That said, Jolys remarks underscore the utter recklessness of Canadian imperialism and its NATO allies. Even as they are forced to concede there is a growing danger the Ukraine war will escalate into a nuclear conflict, they are ratcheting up pressure on Russia and threatening a wider war. Ukraines integration into NATO would immediately transform the war into a direct military conflict between the Western imperialist powers and Russia. Not only would Ukraine invariably invoke NATOs Article 5 under which all member states are obliged to defend any NATO member under attack. Biden has repeatedly vowed that the US will defend every inch of NATO territory. Jolys blithe indifference to the danger that an all-out NATO-Russia conflict would pose for the peoples of Europe, North America and the world is very much in keeping with the NATO powers insistence that the threat of the war turning nuclear must not be allowed to interfere with their plans to inflict a decisive defeat on Russia. The reactionary nationalist Putin regime has responded to Russias mounting military debacle in Ukraine by making repeated threats that, if needed, it will use nuclear weapons to counter what it considers an existential threat. To this, government and military officials in Washington, Berlin, London, Paris and Ottawa have uniformly responded by vowing that the war with Russia must be intensified. Underscoring that discussions are well advanced among the imperialist powers on how they would respond if the Putin regime deployed nuclear weapons, Joly responded to a CBC interviewers question on what Canada would do by saying, This is a decision we will take amongst the G-7. She added ominously that Canada is preparing for all eventualities. In declaring her support for Ukraines admission into NATO, Joly praised the rapid steps taken to make Sweden and Finland full NATO members after the two Scandinavian countries filed formal applications in May. She noted that they are both Arctic powers and sit on the Arctic Council. The Canadian government clearly sees an opportunity to exploit NATOs expansion to more aggressively pursue its territorial and geostrategic interests in the Arctic, yet another critical theater in the developing great power conflict. The opening up of the Far North sea lanes due to climate change and the imminent prospect of the disappearance of sea ice is creating new opportunities for the major powers to exploit new trade routes and the Arctics large deposits of oil, gas and rare earth elements. Canadas primary rival in the region is Russia. Jolys unvarnished support for Ukraines accession to NATO reveals Canadian imperialism's true colours. From the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis up until the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Canadas ruling elite for self-serving, pragmatic reasons cast itself as a peacekeeping nation. This position, which was made possible by the postwar restabilization of capitalism, became untenable after the Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, which opened up a new period of unrestrained imperialist military violence. US imperialism embarked on three decades of uninterrupted wars in the Middle East and Central Asia as it desperately sought to offset its economic decline through military force. Canada joined these bloody interventions as one of Washingtons closest allies, while staunchly supporting the expansion of NATO to Russias borders. Ottawa played an important role in triggering the current conflict with Russia, as shown by the Canadian militarys extensive involvement in restructuring the Ukrainian army and integrating fascist paramilitaries into its regular fighting force between 2014 and 2022. The aggressive role that Canada is playing in Ukraine was driven home in a caucus meeting of the governing Liberals last week. Echoing the war hysteria that has gripped the ruling elites in every imperialist country, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland crowed, [W]hat we must do is double down on our support for Ukraine. Freeland, as the World Socialist Web Site has documented elsewhere, embodies the decades-long alliance between the Canadian state and the Ukrainian far right. The Trudeau government responded to Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement last week of the annexation of territories in eastern and southern Ukraine by repeating its vow that Canada will assist Ukraine in liberating all its territories, including Crimea, home to Russias Black Sea Fleet. It also imposed another round of sanctions, including on 43 oligarchs and 35 Russian-backed officials in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. This brings the number of Russian affiliated individuals and entities targeted by Canadian sanctions to over 1,400 since the beginning of the war. On the military front, Canada continues to ship vast amounts of equipment to Ukraine. In a recent interview with the CBC, Defence Minister Anita Anand revealed that Canada has shipped more than 4 million pounds of cargo to Ukraine since the spring. Much of the equipment has been funneled through a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) hub in Prestwick, Scotland, an airport that was once a transfer point for victims of CIA extraordinary rendition. According to Anand, at least three Canadian CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft are running weapons and supplies to Ukraine. Sources told the CBC that Ukraine has written to the Canadian government with requests for significantly more military aid. Canadas military contribution alone has surpassed $626 million since January, including millions of rounds of ammunition, anti-tank weapons like the Carl Gustav, 39 General Dynamics Super Bison light armoured vehicles, four M777 howitzers with 10 replacement barrels and tens of thousands of rounds of 155mm ammunition. The government has been tight-lipped about much of the aid. In one example of this, a defence source told the CBC earlier this year that GPS precision-guided M982 Excalibur shells have been quietly provided to Ukraine. In addition to materiel support, Canada has secretively dispatched Special Forces to coordinate the fighting on the ground in Ukraine, a fact only revealed months later in a July New York Times article. Operation UNIFIER, the operation to train Ukrainian military personnel, recommenced on August 25 in Britain. Over 33,000 have been trained by the mission since September 2019, with only a brief pause during the initial stages of the war. Late last year, it was revealed that Canadian forces had trained members of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion and deliberately sought to cover it up. The political establishment, from the left New Democrats and pro-Quebec independence Bloc Quebecois to the Conservatives, all support continuing to pour gasoline on the fire by increasing weapons deliveries still further. Bob Rae, the erstwhile NDP premier of Ontario, interim leader of the federal Liberals (2011-13) and current Canadian Ambassador to the UN, urged the Trudeau government to give Ukraine anything it asks for. Commenting on the Ukrainian governments letter asking for more weapons, Rae said in an interview with CBC radio, We have to keep on pushing because the test of our success is ... are we meeting the needs that will allow Ukraine to achieve the objectives which it has, and frankly which we share? With the full support of its trade union allies, the New Democratic Party (NDP) responded to the outbreak of the US-NATO proxy war over Ukraine by negotiating a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Trudeau Liberals in March to guarantee stabilitythat is, the suppression of the class struggle on behalf of Canadian imperialism. Under the agreement, the NDP has pledged to provide the minority Liberal government a parliamentary majority through June 2025. The Liberals and NDP have used this majority to vastly expand the financial resources flowing to the military. The 2022 budget provided an additional $8 billion in defence spending on top of the huge hikes already introduced as part of the Liberals 2017 defence policy review. In addition, the Trudeau government has announced plans to spend $40 billion over the next two decades on upgrading the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) bilateral command with the United States, which is seen as critical for waging war with Russia and China. The modernization plans will facilitate Canadas participation in the US ballistic missile defence shield, which in spite of its name is aimed at making a nuclear war waged by US imperialism winnable. The corporate-controlled media is wholeheartedly supporting the escalation of the war with Russia by producing an uninterrupted stream of warmongering, anti-Russian bile. Andrew Coyne, a leading Globe and Mail columnist, blurted out the imperialists determination to bring about regime change in Russia as part of their push to dismember the country and seize control of its natural resources. Entitled There can be no end to this war that leaves Putin in power, Coynes column revived the false Manichean Cold War narrative of a world divided between the rational and democratic West and the vainglorious, deceitful Russians. The Wests war aims at the start, wrote Coyne, were limited to raising the cost of Russian aggression, or perhaps containing its advance. Our aim must now be, not just victory in Ukraine, but regime change in Russia. Viterbo University and Regis Catholic Schools in Eau Claire have announced a new educational partnership in the Catholic tradition that will allow Regis High School students to take Viterbo courses and creates a seamless pathway to a Catholic education at the university. The formal agreement was finalized by Viterbo President Rick Trietley and Regis Catholic Schools President Paul Pedersen at a signing event at the university Oct. 6. This is an excellent opportunity for the students of Regis Catholic Schools to participate in college-level courses offered by an outstanding Catholic university, Pedersen said. This partnership is very important in fulfilling Regiss commitment to our students future, Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow! Regis is excited and proud to partner with Viterbo University. Highlights of the agreement: Regis students will benefit from select Viterbo University college courses as part of their junior or senior class schedule. Regis students will have an opportunity to attend the summer Franciscan CORE experience at Viterbo University. The Regis sophomore student retreat will be hosted on Viterbo Universitys campus. Viterbo University will provide workshops on Financial Aid, FAFSA-filing, and college application processes to Regis students. Viterbo University will offer select professional development for Regis Catholic School employees. The mission of the partnership states: Viterbo University and Regis Catholic Schools are partners in providing an excellent and innovative educational experience from pre-kindergarten through graduate education and professional development to young adults, their families, and the greater community in faithful service and ethical leadership through the Catholic tradition. Our partnership represents both Viterbos and Regis commitment to academic excellence and the Catholic identity, said Trietley. We are pleased to strengthen our relationship and look forward to additional mutually beneficial opportunities in the future. Constitutional Amendment No. 3: Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment Amendment No. 3: Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment Summary of Purpose: To authorize the incorporation of churches or religious denominations. What the West Virginia Constitution says now: Article VI. The Legislature. 47. Incorporation of religious denominations permitted. No charter of incorporation shall be granted to any church or religious denomination. Provisions may be made by general laws for securing the title to church property, and for the sale and transfer thereof, so that it shall be held, used, or transferred for the purposes of such church, or religious denomination. What the West Virginia Constitution will say if voters adopt the amendment: Article VI. The Legislature. 47. Incorporation of religious denominations permitted. Provisions may be made by general laws for securing the title to church property, and for the sale and transfer thereof, so that it shall be held, used, or transferred for the purposes of such church or religious denomination. Provisions may also be made by general laws for the incorporation of churches or religious denominations. AIM Solder to Highlight V9 at SMTA Long Island Published: 06 October 2022 by Mike Buetow by Mike Buetow Cranston, Rhode Island USA AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce their participation in the upcoming SMTA Long Island Expo taking place on October 19th at the Marriott Melville in Melville, New York. AIM will highlight V9, their new ultra-low-voiding, no clean paste, along with their full line of solder assembly materials. Formulated to solve one of the industrys most difficult challenges, V9 has proven to reduce voiding to as low as 1% on BGA and <5% on BTC components while exhibiting stable print performance on fine feature devices over 12 hours. V9 post-process residue is easily probed and possesses high SIR values required for high reliability applications. To discover all of AIMs products and services, visit the company at the SMTA Long Island Expo on October 19th for more information and to speak with one of AIMs knowledgeable staff members, or visit www.aimsolder.com. About AIM Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, AIM Solder is a leading global manufacturer of assembly materials for the electronics industry with manufacturing, distribution and support facilities located throughout the world. AIM produces advanced solder products such as solder paste, liquid flux, cored wire, bar solder, epoxies, lead-free and halogen-free solder products, and specialty alloys such as indium and gold for a broad range of industries. A recipient of many prestigious SMT industry awards, AIM is strongly committed to innovative research and development of product and process improvement as well as providing customers with superior technical support, service, and training. For more information about AIMs complete line of advanced solder products and global technical services, please visit www.aimsolder.com. Editor's note: In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this week The Columbus Telegram is publishing profiles of area residents who are breast cancer survivors as part of our fourth-annual "Think Pink" series in partnership with Columbus Cancer Care. Read previously published stories on our website. Our masthead on the front page will also be pink throughout the week. One thing physicians check for when assessing the likelihood of cancer is family history, as it can be "passed down" in a sense from parent to child. Mutations of the BRCA2 gene, in charge of tumor suppression, can dramatically increase one's chances of getting cancer. When Jillian Cuda and her sister Abby Runde were in high school, their mother, Christine Runde, was diagnosed with breast cancer. "My mom was diagnosed at 40. She'd had her first mammogram and they found a lump. She battled for five years and ended up passing away. Me and my sister were very young at that time and her doctor sort of became family for us," Cuda said. Runde said being so young at the time and living in a smaller community in Missouri, their experience with breast cancer was minimal and not good. "We didn't know much about it, being from a small town. Everyone we knew who'd had it had passed away," Runde said. "I think it was kind of a shock at first, adjusting to that lifestyle since we were so young and still dependent on her." While in college, Cuda met her now-husband, Lloyd Cuda. They married and moved to the Schuyler area, and Jillian began working at Lakeview Community Schools District in Columbus. The pair had three children, and Jillian decided she wanted to ensure the same issues did not befall her as they had her mother. "I got a new doctor, told them my story and we just monitored it. I had three children, and three years ago when I had the last one, I told my doctor I wanted to do the proactive stuff so I could raise my kids," Cuda said. That involved a blood test to check for the BRCA2 mutation that makes one more prone to several types of cancer. The results came back positive. "My sister had it at the same time because we do everything together and my sister was negative. From there, my doctor referred me to a specialist," Cuda said. Runde said shortly before getting tested for BRCA2, she had had several lumps removed, which, when her sister's results came back positive, really pushed her to get tested. Her insurance provider agreed, and her results came back negative. Cuda decided to have a double mastectomy, in order to dramatically reduce her likelihood of developing breast cancer. This dropped her likelihood from nearly certainly going to get breast cancer to lower than the average person's likelihood. "It wasn't 'if' but 'when' I would get breast cancer and as I get older, my percentage goes up, so by like 50, it's already like 50% chance of getting it," Cuda said. "Now my likelihood is like 2% which is less than the general population." Cuda said she wants her children to understand some day that they may have the same gene mutation, and what it means. A specialist told her that by the time they have to worry about being tested, the medical industry will be different, just like it's different from when her mother was diagnosed. "When my mom had this, what I went through wasn't even an option, this wasn't a thing 20 years ago. In that 20 years I'm able to be proactive on it," Cuda said. "She (the specialist) said 'by the time your kids get there, who knows what the world's going to be like.'" All the things Cuda did were for her family, she said. She added that watching her mother fight breast cancer, she wondered why she would fight so hard. When she had kids of her own and discovered she could get it, she understood completely and that was her "why" in all her decisions. "At the end she said 'I want to see all my kids walk across the stage and get their high school diploma.' My sister did that in May and my mom passed in July," Cuda said. "I just know why she did it now that I have kids. Thats what puts the fight in you, definitely." Gov. Pete Ricketts talks to Capt. Jared L. Baker, left, outgoing commander of the 1057th Military Police Company and Capt. Grant J. Hewitt, the inbound commander of the 1057th, during a visit to Kuwait earlier this year for a change of command ceremony. (Courtesy of Nebraska National Guard Capt. Brittney Truscott) LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts ought to consider appointing himself to the U.S. Senate, or making that happen, some political observers said Thursday, even though the track record for such moves isnt great. Some Nebraska Republicans, on background, predicted Ricketts would not appoint himself, though they, too, felt he should consider it. With the expected resignation of U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., to become the president of the University of Florida, Ricketts is in position to select a successor to fill the seat until the 2024 elections. Governors have appointed themselves Several times in U.S. history, sitting governors have appointed themselves to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate, or resigned so their former lieutenant governors could make the appointment. But should Ricketts consider a similar move? Would there be blowback? Historically and Ricketts is a history buff several governors who either appointed themselves or resigned to be appointed didnt fare well in subsequent elections. J.L. Spray, a Lincoln lawyer and Republican National Committeeman, said Ricketts wont rush into any kind of a decision but said he should think about it. I think he should consider a whole group of people who are qualified and will accept the position, and will run hard. And that includes himself, Spray said. Randy Adkins, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor, said it would be a no-brainer for Ricketts to give himself the job. A good choice Ricketts other likely political futures, Adkins said, are as an also-ran presidential candidate or as a member of a GOP presidents cabinet, in a post such as secretary of Agriculture. Or he could appoint himself to a safe GOP seat in the U.S. Senate. The rational choice, to me, is that hes going to be interested in this (Senate) job himself, Adkins said. He has to seriously consider it. And I think people are going to urge him to consider it. John Hibbing, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said Ricketts has moved to the right in recent months and is well-positioned to be a U.S. senator from Nebraska. Next governor could appoint Hibbing and others raised an interesting scenario: that the Senate post goes unfilled until the new governor takes office in January. That is likely to be a Ricketts ally, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, who could then appoint Ricketts to Sasses seat. Remember, Lt. Gov. Mike Foley endorsed Pillens primary rival, Falls City businessman Charles Herbster. SoRicketts resigning to let Foley make the appointment might come with risks. Ricketts could also appoint a placeholder to occupy the Senate seat until the 2024 election. Spray said that could be someone such as former Gov. Kay Orr or former Omaha Mayor and U.S. Rep. Hal Daub. That would open the possibility for Ricketts to run for the seat in 2024, which has been speculated by some observers. Ricketts, a 58-year-old Republican, is in the final three months of his second term as governor and cannot run again because of term limits. In 2006, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, so, pundits say, Ricketts has an interest in serving in Washington. Ricketts ran for U.S. Senate While Ricketts has been coy about his plans after leaving office, speculation around the State Capitol has always centered on his angling for a cabinet job in a GOP administration, perhaps U.S. Commerce secretary, or testing the waters for a presidential bid or getting on a ticket as a vice presidential candidate. His family, which owns the Chicago Cubs and founded TD Ameritrade, are major donors to Republican campaigns, so financially, he would have backing. But the GOP field of possible presidential candidates is crowded and includes former President Donald Trump as well as governors with bigger national profiles, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Track record not good Appointing oneself to the U.S. Senate has some political risks, historically. One famous case involved Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson, who resigned in 1976 so his lieutenant governor could appoint Anderson to the Senate to replace Walter Mondale. But two years later, Anderson, a Democrat, was defeated in his attempt to retain his seat. In Wyoming, Gov. John Hickey appointed himself as U.S.senator in 1961, but one year later, Hickey lost an election to retain the seat. Hibbing, the UNL political scientist, said, Nebraska voters might raise their eyebrows a bit if Ricketts appointed himself. But in a GOP-dominated state like Nebraska, he said it would certainly not cost him an election. Adkins, at UNO, said the ultimate judges of whether it would be appropriate for Ricketts to fill the vacancy himself would be the voters in 2024. Less than a year after the completion of Phase 2 of its building campaign, the Carlisle Family YMCA announced plans for the third and final phase. CEO Michele Holloway said the YMCA is in the early stages of Phase 3, which includes three projects: renovations to the buildings existing swimming pool, the addition of a warm water pool and the installation of outdoor pickleball courts. Pool renovations Holloway said the facilitys current pool dates to 1987 and was one of the only areas of the building that wasnt significantly updated in the campaign. Renovations will include the replacement of the pool shell and the installation of a new pool deck consisting of slip-resistant, impermeable tile designed for aquatic environments. An on-deck shower system will also be added, drainage will be improved and the pool boilers and HVAC system will be replaced, Holloway said. A recent membership survey indicated that a large portion of the organizations members are there because of the pool, making it a priority, she said. Warm water pool The warm water pool will be installed beside the western edge of the current aquatic center and its uniform depth will allow for swimming lessons and aquatic exercise classes. Holloway said the current pool maintains the lower temperatures required for those who swim laps, but this is often not as comfortable for youths or senior populations, something the warm water pool would help remedy. Including a second pool will also allow the organization to expand its swim lesson program as space limitations have been a challenge, Holloway said. She said the pool was originally included in the YMCAs most recent renovation, but COVID-19 and factors like the rising cost of building materials delayed that portion of the project. Pickleball courts Pickleball courts will be installed outside toward the southern end of the Carlisle Family YMCAs campus. We believe this addition will benefit the mental and physical health of our community, Holloway said. The Y recognizes the growing popularity of pickleball as a sport for all ages and we have had many members ask us about adding pickleball programming. She said the community has very few locations to play outdoor pickleball, and that the courts at LeTort Park are used consistently. We hope that the additional courts will meet community demand, Holloway said. Construction and costs Holloway said the YMCA would prefer to complete construction in all three areas simultaneously, however it could also be completed in phases. Work could begin in 2023 and Holloway said that even with some delays, the project could be finished by fall the following year. While its too early to know specifics about any facility closures, Holloway said down time will be necessary to complete renovations on the pool. The cost of Phase 3 is currently estimated at $4 million and the organization, which applied for a $2 million Cumberland County Recovery grant, hopes to hear the results in the next few weeks. The Community Campaign project will also be initiated in the near future as well, led by Trustee Hubert Gilroy. Gilroy chaired the capital campaign for Phase 2 which raised over $9 million, Holloway said. Holloway said the organization has also reached out to other funding sources. The construction project in its entirety will be finished with the completion of Phase 3. We feel this is the last phase of the building campaign, Holloway said. Previous phases Phase 2, the YMCAs most recent $10.7 million building project, wrapped up in November. This included a two-story addition on the north side of the building, the installation of a new parking lot and renovations to existing facilities, the YMCA said. Holloway said Phase 2 included work on a child care center, locker rooms, a multipurpose room, an administrative suite, fitness studios and a fitness center. Phase 1 cost $4.7 million and included a two-story addition on the buildings west side. Holloway said this included work on a living room, board room, kitchen, kids adventure zone and wellness center. Work on Phase 1 finished in November 2020. We are excited to continue to serve our community with new spaces and programming, Holloway said. We are very encouraged by our dramatic increase in membership because of our latest renovations and the community support that made the project possible. We want to build off that momentum by continuing to evolve to best meet the needs of our community. By Trend Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkiye will not take a step back from its principled stance regarding Greeces violation of the status of demilitarized islands in the Aegean and has given instructions to the navy and air forces regarding the matter, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. Akar noted that the naval and air forces have been given clear instructions on doing what is necessary regarding Greeces violations of islands with demilitarized status, as Athens has been violating it since 1956. The 1997 Kardak crisis marks a new era. We have not retreated an inch from what is necessary to be done on the field or the table, he said. Akar continued by saying that it is out of the question for Ankara to be tolerant regarding the matter. The two uneasy NATO neighbors have long-standing sea and air boundary disputes which lead to near-daily air force patrols and interception missions mostly around Greek islands near Turkiyes coastline. Turkiye, a NATO member, has often criticized the military alliance, including the United States, for not supporting it enough on its territorial dispute with Greece on islands in the Aegean and the issue of exploration of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Since the beginning of 2022, Greek warplanes have violated Turkish airspace 256 times and harassed Turkish jets on 158 occasions. Greek coast guard boats also violated Turkish territorial waters 33 times. Moreover, Ankara says Athens is stationing troops on islands in the Aegean Sea in violation of peace treaties signed after World Wars I and II. But, Athens claims it needs to "defend the islands" many of which lie close to its NATO ally Turkiye's coast. You or someone in your family has probably said it: I will never go into a nursing home. The problem is that nursing homes are full of people who were never going to enter a nursing home. Two out of every three people will need a higher level of care in the later years of life. The nursing home is often the only safe and appropriate way to support a family member. Given how expensive higher levels of care can be, every middle class family needs to consider how they plan to pay for that care. If you knew there was a good chance that someone would come after you for over $10,000 every single month, wouldnt you want professional help to avoid or lessen that financial burden? To save money, or because they feel they have no other choice, caregivers may decide to keep their loved ones at home longer, potentially risking their own and their loved ones well-being. If an older adult is hospitalized for a fall or illness, followed by rehabilitation in a nursing home, a crisis occurs when notification is received that Medicare coverage will end much sooner than expected. Medicare only covers the cost of a nursing home stay under limited circumstances. While the Medicare benefit will pay for up to 100 days of care in a nursing home, very few people meet the requirements to receive this full benefit. Twenty days of coverage is a much more common scenario. Whether or not your Medicare benefit is paid through a private insurance company or the federal government can also impact the approved length of stay (see our 2019 article about Medicare Open Enrollment for more information). Since less than 6% of adults ages 50 and older own a long-term care insurance policy (according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2019), payment for nursing home care is frequently out of pocket. Genworth reports that the median cost of nursing home care in the Harrisburg area in 2021 was almost $11,000 per month for a semi-private room. While this amount may sound unreasonable to some, providing for the needs of dependent adults 24/7 is by no means a walk in the park. The primary public benefit that is available to help families pay for nursing home care is Medicaid, also known in Pennsylvania as Medical Assistance (MA). Medicaid is also available to pay for select home- and community-based services. The basic understanding is true that in order to receive Medicaid, an individual is only permitted to own a minimal amount of assets. However, the government also makes it possible for middle class families to qualify for this benefit. Some people believe that money must be hidden in order for an individual to meet the financial eligibility guidelines for Medicaid. Attempts to hide assets or to give them away in order to qualify for Medicaid is not recommended, since they are likely to backfire and create financial hardship for the individual. Family members may also face significant risk in this type of situation since Pennsylvania law allows for nursing homes to pursue the collection of unpaid bills from one or more of the children of a resident who does not have the funds to pay for care. Various tools and strategies are available to help protect assets from the cost of long-term care and create eligibility for Medicaid. The timing of an individuals planning, as well as the situation and their specific goals, will influence the type of strategy which should be used. Even if your loved one is already in a nursing home, techniques are available to create financial eligibility for Medicaid before all of the persons assets have been spent on the cost of care. These techniques are legal and are practiced nationwide, although each states rules may differ somewhat. One common myth among families is that a nursing home may force the sale of a persons house in order to pay for care. In the case of a married couple, the house is automatically protected for the spouse who remains in the community, although the potential loss of all or a part of the income of the person in the nursing home may influence the spouses financial ability to remain comfortably in the home. For a single individual, circumstances will determine if the house can be kept in the family. An elder law attorney can help families sort through all of the regulations and options in order to create a plan that meets the individuals or couples goals as closely as possible. The process of applying for Medicaid requires a lot of paperwork and it should be seen as a significant legal issue where a lot of money is on the line. The staff members of a nursing homes business office will assist families with this application process for no additional charge. But those staff members are not trained, nor do they have any incentive, to help families use legal tools to save money while creating eligibility for Medicaid. In fact, nursing homes get paid more while you are on private pay status than they do under the Medicaid program. Carlisle is fortunate to have excellent nursing homes. The staff in those facilities often see opportunities for a family to save money and refer those families to an elder law attorney. If someone you know is concerned about the cost of long-term care, planning should start as soon as possible to achieve the greatest savings. Whether a person has $50,000 or $850,000 in savings, a consultation with an elder law attorney will help families better understand the choices that are available and the steps that may be necessary to lessen the impact of nursing home or other long-term care expenses. A free initial telephone call (717-697-3223) can help you decide if meeting with an attorney would be helpful, and has the potential to change your familys future. Joan Marcus It may be called 1776, but this Broadway revival has a predominant tang of its 1969 origin. Sprawling, bawdy, and ranging in the spirit of that era, and with a book (by Peter Stone) that is far more attention-commanding than its music and lyrics (Sherman Edwards), this Tony Award-winning musical has been revived on Broadway with a cast, the Roundabout Theatre Company/American Repertory Theater emphasize, that includes multiple representations of race, ethnicity, and gender; they identify as female, transgender, and nonbinary. White men may have hammered the Declaration of Independence into being, but this revival (American Airlines Theatre, to Jan. 8, 2023) wants to foreground the layers of diversity in the country that exist nowand to reveal the making of history through those voices. Jefferson wrote, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The cast of this revival is a resounding response to those who he left out of his vision. Nothing Happened on the Fourth This othering doesnt change the words or actions of the male roles being played, but it opens up a refreshing interpretive space by which to hear and view the words and actions of the men who debated, schemed, horse-traded, and agonized over the document famously dated to July 4, 1776. When Crystal Lucas-Perry as John Adams opens the show observing a representation of the men, noting, I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgracethat two are called a law firmand that three or more become a Congress. And by God, I have had this Congress! the denunciation rings resoundingly across history, gender, and race. The entertaining, Three Musketeer-ish trio of Adams, Thomas Jefferson (Elizabeth A. Davis), and Benjamin Franklin (Patrena Murray) are trying to muster support to get the Declaration over the linebut dissent comes from the formidable John Dickinson from Pennsylvania (the excellent Carolee Carmello) and Southerners like Edward Rutledge (Sara Porkalob). Sushma Saha, as the dithering, bullied, harried Judge James Wilson from Pennsylvania, possesses a key vote, and absolutely no idea how to wield it. Story continues Tiffani Barbour is commanding as Congressional Custodian Andrew McNair, trying to keep the unruly, battling lawmakers in check, or at least work to a structure. Individual performerslike Gisela Adisa as New Yorks Robert Livingston, abstaining from every vote, courteously and Joanna Glushaks constantly drunk Stephen Hopkins from Rhode Islandprovide punctuated moments of humor. As the debate rumbles on, solemn updates from the war with the English are conveyed by messenger. On the back of the stage, the looping script of the Declaration itself is recycled as a day-by-day date count down to July 4 itself. There are moments of sharpness under Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus direction, and also swathes of the show that feel listless and lost. One minute youre fascinated, the next puzzled at a nothing-burger musical diversion the show has taken. The staging is dull and mostly stuck in a meeting room until a finale which makes you wonder why no-one thought to make more vivid use of the space until that moment. The pacing is uneven, as is the acting style which seems mostly audience-aimed, rather than intra-character. 1776 is an odd mix of revue, sober history lesson, and traditional musical theater. 1776 is at its best as a fascinating history lesson, and at its most dragging when the mostly-not-all unmemorable songs take us away from that. Adams sets out the reasons for wanting independence at the outset. For 10 years King George and his Parliament have gulled, cullied, and diddled these Colonies with their illegal taxesStamp Acts, Townshend Acts, Sugar Acts, Tea Actsand when we dared stand up like men they stopped our trade, seized our ships, blockaded our ports, burned our towns, and spilled our blood. (Full disclosure: this critic is English-born, and now a dual citizen.) The show is not itself preachy; its opening song is called Sit Down, John as a way of signaling how exasperating Adams was to work with. He was didactic, and never willing to back down. We may see him as inspiring today, but we also see why his colleagues, sweltering in the stuffy heat of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, saw him differently. As the show opens on May 8, 1776, his colleagues call Adams a bore. Consider yourselves fortunate that you have John Adams to abuse for no sane man would tolerate it! he sings back at them. How will they reach an agreement in foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy, Philadelphia? Ironically, given the casting brilliance of this production, the female characters of 1776 are underwritten and underutilized. Adams wife Abigail (Allyson Kaye Daniel) is a spiritually present, ameliorating salve, sadly with only notes of sweetness to play. In contrast, Eryn McCroy closes out act one with the belted He Plays the Violin, a loopy song in seeming praise of Jeffersons fiddle/sexual prowess. The show guides the audiences through the scheming and plotting of those hours and days, as when Dickinson stymies what seems like victory by managing to pass a motion that any vote for independence be unanimous. We observe the debate about what Americas symbol should be: a dove, turkey, or eagle. Carmello-as-Dickinsons Cool, Cool Conservative Men is a standout number, the southern statesmen singing in tight formation: To the right, Ever to the right, Never to the left, forever to the right. Momma, Look Sharp, a lament to those lost to war led by Salome E. Smiths Courier is especially haunting with a Black woman leading its recitation. The most agonizing part of 1776 towards its end sees the incremental dilution and challenge to Jeffersons venerable words in the draft Declaration, even over calling King George a tyrant (that stayed in). Good God, Jefferson! Don't you ever intend to speak up for your own work?! Adams asks, speaking for the audience too. I had hoped that the work would speak for itself, Jefferson replies, which sounds as idealistically inadequate today as then, when faced with the rapacious intent of those bent on undermining humane ideals. Most damningly, Rutledge successfully faces down Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin over the issue of slavery; Rutledge making it clear not only that the South is opposed to its abolition, but also, in the wild song Molasses to Run, the northern legislators hypocrisy over the issueas well as Jeffersons ownership of slaves himself. When Adams says slaves are Americans, Rutledge seethes in response: They are here, yes, but they are not people, sirthey are property. Franklin tells Adams the clause to abolish slavery must be stricken from the declaration: Its a luxury we cant afford. Adams is disbelieving and disconsolate at having to make the compromise, whining to Abigail he is seen as obnoxious and disliked unwilling to face reality and pig-headed. No, Abigail says, all not trueexcept for the pig-headed bit. Just to prove it, his final debate is a linguistic one over inalienable (Jefferson) versus unalienable (Adams). While the show ranges in its woolly late-1960s way, its ending is elegantly simple, as we see the real-life signatures of the men in a cascade of projected graphics. John Hancocks (Liz Mikel) is (now-famously) large, he says, so Fat George in London can read it without his glasses! The final questions, sung by the companyIs anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see?are sung directly to us. It is a challenge to not simply see and respect the diversity the show proudly parades, but also the act of democracy in the forming of the Declaration itselfhow it came to be, what it means, what it enshrines, and what it should mean now. Just as in 1776, 1969, indeed any time, the show seems to say, its words and principles should not be lost to history and instead made to live. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The mother of Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah JW Johnson had one request five years after her sons death. During a ceremony at Fort Bragg on Tuesday, Debbie Gannon asked that soldiers keep Johnsons name out there. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio, was a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialist who was killed during an Oct. 4, 2017, enemy attack while deployed to Niger, West Africa. He was part of the 14th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment that was assigned to Fort Bragg's 3rd Special Forces Group and directly supported Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3212. Also killed were 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers Sgt. LaDavid Johnson, 25, a wheeled vehicle mechanic from Miami Gardens, Florida; Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35, a medical sergeant assigned from Puyallup, Washington; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29, engineer sergeant, assigned to Alpha Company, from Lyons, Georgia. On Thursday, the Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group dedicated a building in Jeremiah Johnsons memory. Inside Johnson Hall is a mural with his picture, biography, awards and an honorary green beret. Friends and family look at memorial honoring Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson before a Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group building dedication ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson is one of the soldiers killed Oct. 4, 2017, in Niger. The dedication is the battalions commitment never to forget Sgt. 1st Class Johnson, said Lt. Col. Michael Ashton, the battalions commander. The Group Support Battalion has an unwavering commitment to remember Jeremiah, Ashton said. Well share his story with everyone who passes through Johnson Hall. More:Fort Bragg soldiers killed in 2017 Niger attack awarded honorary green berets Quiet professional Johnson was a small business owner who enjoyed writing, working on motorcycles, forging knives, smoking cigars and spending time outdoors with his family. He joined the Army in 2007 and was first stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 108th Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, and was next assigned as a chemical operations noncommissioned officer with the 22nd Chemical Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Story continues "Jeremiah was a quiet professional. He was committed to his craft ... and he wanted to make his soldiers, his peers and those around him better," Ashton said. "Jeremiah embodied the soldiers creed." J.W. Johnson Sr. hands out framed gifts to the teammates of his late son, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson before a Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group building dedication ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson is one of the soldiers killed Oct. 4, 2017, in Niger. In 2015, he deployed to Niger. An executive findings report states that Oct. 3, 2017, the operational detachment team Johnson was attached to left with Nigerian forces on a counterterrorism operation to target a key member of the Islamic State near the village of Tiola. Once in Tiola, the team was unable to locate its target and conducted a key leader engagement with partner forces before being ambushed. During the attack, Sgt. 1st Class Johnson provided suppressive fire alongside a vehicle convoy with Staff Sgt. Black and repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire. Wright and Johnson remained with Black after he was fatally wounded. Enemy fighters forced Wright and Sgt. 1st Class Johnson to leave on foot, and Johnson was wounded about 85 meters away, the report states. Wright returned to Johnson and continued to engage the enemy until he was shot and killed. Sgt. LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerian soldiers who were unable to reach the vehicle were also killed during the ambush. Sgt. 1st Class Johnson and Sgt. LaDavid Johnson were named honorary Green Berets last year. Sgt. 1st Class Johnsons father, J.W. Johnson Sr., said his son loved serving in the chemical corps, loved his job and was excited to serve alongside Operational Detachment Alpha 3212. He thanked the Special Forces soldiers for respecting his son and recognized the soldiers his son served with. Soldiers salute during a Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group building dedication ceremony in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Johnson is one of the soldiers killed Oct. 4, 2017, in Niger. Whats been bestowed upon Jeremiah shows what type of man he was, but I think even more importantly, what type of people he worked with, Johnson Sr. said. Johnson said accepting loss does not become easier, but together, friends and family learn to go forward remembering the happiness, the fun times, the smile, of their lost loved one. Jeremiah Johnson was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class and awarded the Bronze Star with a valor device, which was upgraded to a Silver Star on Tuesday. Previous coverage:Bragg soldiers killed in Niger attack honored The devotion of those who care, Johnson Sr. said, helps to remember the times spent with their loved one. When I see the name on this building, I see the first time my son cried when he was born, and I smile, Johnson Sr. said. He said his sons loss has given him and his wife, JoAnn, friends who share in the sorrow. It kind of hits when you see that name out there when you put something on a building or you engrave something on a piece of stone, it lasts forever, he said. Gannon, Johnsons mother said, theres no better way to honor Jeremiah. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Special Forces Group names building after Bragg soldier killed in Niger Rooftops and towers in Bologna, Emilia Romagna, Italy. Getty Images Any trip to Italy promises its share of memorable meals. But to go straight to the source, travelers should head to Emilia-Romagna, a region that has become synonymous with food. Boasting the country's highest number an incredible 44 total of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and traditional balsamic vinegar, Emilia-Romagna is also the birthplace of an outsized amount of globally beloved Italian dishes, such as tortellini, piadina, and bolognese. Without Emilia-Romagna's farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, winegrowers, and chefs, it would be difficult to imagine Italian cuisine as we know it. With so much to taste, where should you start on a single trip? Though all of Emilia-Romagna is known as the national Food Valley, the cities of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Bologna and their surrounding countryside lie at the heart of the region and produce many of its stars. From Lambrusco tastings to salumeria-hopping and everything in between, here are the best ways to sample Emilia-Romagna's culinary history and culture. Meet cheese royalty When it comes to Emilia-Romagna's protected products, Parmigiano Reggiano undoubtedly reigns as king. Don't miss the chance to visit Caseificio San Bernardino or another official dairy where you can watch true artisans make this beloved cheese in essentially the same way as monks did in the Middle Ages. While gathering and splitting the curds into unwieldy 90 lb. wheels is impressive, the maturation facility unofficially described as "the cathedral of cheese" is breathtaking. Wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese, all made in the traditional method David Silverman / Getty Images Towers of Parmigiano Reggiano resting for at least a year await the blessing of PDO inspectors, their rinds stamped with identifying seals and marks. The luckiest cheese wheels go to even luckier people, aging to 45 months or older and becoming dry and crumbly with a perfect umami flavor. Story continues Get rolling Bologna is known as "the Fat One" for good reason. From tortellini and tortelloni, to tagliatelle and lasagna, handmade egg pasta is what it's all about here. (Even better when you toss the al dente strands with homemade ragu Bolognese, another local specialty.) At Le Sfogline, named for the women who pull the dough, get hands-on and discover the tricks of this ancient craft with brilliant pasta chef Renata Zappoli during her three-hour cooking class. Taste liquid treasure Forget everything you think you know about balsamic and pay a visit the family-run vinegar producer Acetaia di Giorgio, where Giorgio (a retired Italian national volleyball player) and his wife, Giovanna, will show and let you taste the difference between the generic stuff we toss on salad and their syrupy, complex aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena. Once called "black gold," balsamic and the series of barrels, known as a batteria, used to age it are prized possessions that traditionally formed part of a bride's dowry. Care to splurge? Acetaia di Giorgio's finest vinegar is produced in batches of just 60 bottles and sells for 350. Go to pork heaven Gaze upward when entering Parma's Duomo and you'll see a work of art on the facade that sums up the city's religious devotion to cured meat: a butcher killing a pig for the winter season. From the eponymous Coppa di Parma to Culatello di Zibello, a top-shelf salami made only from the thigh muscles, most meals here begin with a heaping plate of cold cuts. Prosciutto di Parma, cured pork thighs, are matured at the modern state-of-the-art Ruliano prosciutto production plant David Silverman / Getty Images One of the best ways to sample everything the region has to offer is by heading straight to a salumeria. Founded in the 1950s, Salumeria Garibaldi remains a local favorite with casual counter service and no-nonsense platters of meat, while Salumeria Bruno offers a hybrid between a delicatessen and trattoria, if you prefer to eat your ham with a silver fork. Learn your history Want to dig into the production of Emilia-Romagna's protected recipes and ingredients? The region hosts 25 yes, 25 food museums. Learn how to make the sweet stuff at the Gelato Museum in Bologna, housed in the same building as the professional Carpigiani Gelato University. Get an inside look at the craftsmanship behind salami, cooked ham, and other Emilian specialties at Modena's Museo della Salumeria, the first museum in Italy dedicated to charcuterie. And if that doesn't suit you, you still have plenty of subjects to choose from, including pasta and tomatoes. Sip some bubbles Produced in the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma, fizzy Lambrusco is the oldest documented wine made in Emilia-Romagna. A tour of the region's top vineyards will also reveal that it's far more complex (and delicious) than its undeserved reputation as "Italian Coca-Cola" would have you believe. Lambrusco wine in a glass Mark Hatfield / Getty Images Spend an afternoon or two exploring the countryside's rolling hills and pop into Medici Ermete, where you can sample the dry, award-winning Concerto Lambrusco and lightly sparkling pink Phermento. At Monte delle Vigne, have a picnic in sprawling vineyards set on the hills of Ozzano Taro and enjoy the winery's juicy Lambrusco Spumante, which hints at summer's sweetest fruit without turning into a dessert itself. Dine where innovation and tradition meet In Emilia-Romagna, you could easily survive on salumi and cheese alonebut the region also hosts many of Italy's finest restaurants, including Massimo Bottura's three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana, which mischievously plays with time-worn recipes and Bottura's memories of childhood meals in Modena, a town known for its culinary tradition. (Mortadella foam sandwich, anyone?) If you can't score one of the twelve tables, book a seat at its little sister, Franceschetta58, where the kitchen has even more fun with mini "Emilia" burgers made of Chianina beef, cotechino, and mayonnaise with a balsamic vinegar glaze. Nearby, Antica Moka run by the talented Anna Maria Barbieri serves classics such as piping hot gnocco fritto topped with Prosciutto di Parma side-by-side with creative variations on dishes like tortellini in fried Parmigiano Reggiano wafer baskets. Blake Masters is seeking to oust Mark Kelly (Getty Images) Trump-backed Republican Blake Masters sought to dodge questions about whether he scrubbed from his website material supporting the former presidents false claim that the 2020 election was rigged. During a debate that frequently fizzed with tension, Mr Masters struggled to say if he had taken down that material, and also removed a more hardline position on abortion rights - a position his Democratic opponent Mark Kelly said was part of his dangerous views. In August, a page on his website called The Masters Plan read: We need to get serious about election integrity. The 2020 election was a rotten mess if we had had a free and fair election, President Trump would be sitting in the Oval Office today and America would be so much better off. After winning the Republican primary for the Senate race in Arizona, outfits such as CNN reported how the 36-year-old had changed his website, apparently as part an effort to moderate his image for the general election. Now, that page simply reads: We need to get serious about election integrity. The debate on Thursday comes a month before voters across the country go the polls in the mid-term elections, and while polls give Mr Kelly a lead of around four points, the seat is high on the target list of Republicans who want to regain control of the Senate. On Thursday night at the event in Phoenix, Mr Masters, 36, whose campaign is being bankrolled by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, was asked if he thought Joe Biden was the elected president. Joe Biden is absolutely the president. I mean, my gosh, have you seen the gas prices lately, he replied. The moderator asked if he thought Mr Biden was legitimately elected. Im not trying to trick you. Hes duly sworn certified. Hes the legitimate president. Hes in the White House and unfortunately for all of us, Joe Bidens the president. He has been for the last two years, he said. And everything hes touched in the last two years has turned well, to you know what. Everythings on fire. Its Joe Bidens fault. I wish he werent the president. He is. Story continues Mr Masters then talked about how Mr Biden had become president. I think its a problem that the FBI forced Facebook, they pressured Facebook and other big tech companies, to censor true information about Hunter Bidens crimes in the weeks before the 2020 election. And so millions of Americans didnt get to read about that didnt get to read about Hunter Biden. He was asked if he thought the election was rigged. I suspect that if the FBI didnt work with big tech and big media to censor the Hunter Biden info or the Hunter Biden crime story, he said. Yeah, I suspect that changed a lot of peoples votes. I suspect President Trump would be in the White House today, if big tech and big media and the FBI didnt work together to put the thumb on the scale to get Joe Biden in there. Mr Kelly, 58, a former astronaut who was elected in 2020 in a special election, is fighting for reelection, said the only reason people were talking about the issue was because my opponent Blake Masters, put out a video questioning who won the president presidential election here in the state of Arizona. Democrat Mark Kelly is seeking relection (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mr Masters, a hedge fund investor, also changed his website to remove more extreme positions about abortion. Previously he had stated he supported a federal personhood law and stated: I am 100% pro-life. On Thursday, Mr Masters said he supported a 15-week abortion ban, which came into effect in September after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. He was asked if he changed his website. I encourage people to go read my website now. It is still the most pro-life, most detailed agenda of any Senate candidate running nationwide. Im pro-life. Im proud to be pro-life. I will never run from that, he said, dodging the question. Libertarian candidate Marc Victor, who was also debating, then spoke. This evasiveness from Blake Masters is exactly why you should have a principle and stick with it, he said. You asked him specifically did he scrub his website? And he said you could go to my website now and look at it. Thats evasion. Australians shared that visitors shouldn't interact with wildlife but that they should try Vegemite when visiting the land down under. Khaichuin Sim/Getty Images/Monica Humphries/Insider Insider spoke to 13 Australians about what tourists should know before visiting the land down under. Some said that exploring Australia's outback and trying Vegemite is a must. Others said you should skip eating kangaroo meat if you see it on the menu. 1. "We're laid back people," one Australian said. Australians and tourists at a community pool in Cairns, Australia. Monica Humphries/Insider When it comes to Australians, almost everyone Insider spoke to agreed that the people who live in the land down under are kind, welcoming, and chill. "We're typically pretty laid back, and you can't really offend us," the Gibson family told Insider. "But our humor can take a bit to get used to." The Gibsons also said that visitors shouldn't hesitate to chat with locals. Chances are, they will be happy to share their travel tips for exploring Australia. 2. Take time to learn about Australia's rich indigenous culture. Uluru, an Aboriginal sacred site in Australia. Joel DUCANGE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images If Indigo Rampson had one piece of advice for travelers, it would be to learn more about Australia's Indigenous culture and history. "The Sydney Opera House and the Eye are what's advertised about the country, but there's a lot of really rich and interesting Indigenous culture here," Rampson told Insider. For example, Uluru, a sandstone formation in the center of Australia, is sacred to some of Australia's Aboriginal people. According to ITV, it's a resting place for ancient spirits of the region. David Goebel, who works at Doongal Aboriginal Art and Artefacts in Cairns, Australia, said one of the easiest ways to appreciate and learn about Australia's Indigenous culture is to have conversations with Aboriginal Australians. "How do you go out and meet Aboriginal people? It's how you meet any Australian. Go to a pub," Goebel said. 3. Make sure to explore Australia's pub culture. A ginger beer at an Australian pub. Monica Humphries/Insider Stacpoole said that visitors should make sure to stop at a pub before leaving the country. "Pubs are a big thing here," Stacpoole said. The Australian National University states that pubs "are a key part of Australia's cultural identity and have been central to many great yarns and tall tales in Australian folklore." Story continues The setting is an ideal place to spark conversations with locals, Stacpoole said, plus you'll get to taste some of the country's quintessential meals like fish 'n chips and chicken parmesan. 4. Some visitors don't realize how large Australia is until they arrive. An aerial view of Australia's coast near Cairns, Australia. Monica Humphries/Insider Australia is the world's sixth-largest country and only slightly smaller than the US. Just as you can't see all of America in a single trip, it's also impossible to see all of Australia. "People don't realize how bloody big the country is," John McGee, who is originally from Ireland and has lived in Australia for 52 years, said. "You need to take into consideration how far everything is." Unless you have months to explore Australia, the Aussies Insider spoke with agreed that you should pick one or two places for your vacation. They also suggested that travelers plan a trip around their interests, which could be anything from a tropical getaway on the Great Barrier Reef to an excursion through the outback to a metropolitan city escape in Sydney. 5. If you're traveling all the way to Australia, make sure you leave big cities and see the outback. Mount Sonder in Australia's Northern Territory. Posnov/Getty Images Jack Thomas' advice is simple: "Go regional. Go out to the bush or to any small town." Thomas, who is from Brisbane, Australia, said that some of the more remote areas of Australia help visitors get a sense of the region's culture, traditions, and norms. So rent a car and head inland to the country's 2-million-square-mile region, he said. 6. If you stop in a major city like Sydney, budget accordingly, one person said. The Sydney Opera House. Monica Humphries/Insider Australia is ranked a top-visited destination, with 33 million visitors in 2019, according to Australia's online visa website, for a reason: The city is filled with delicious food, trendy neighborhoods, and popular tourist attractions like the Sydney Opera House. But its appeal comes with a hefty price tag for tourists. In a 2014 survey in TravelMag, Sydney ranked second for the average cost of lodging, which at the time was about $90 dollars a night. Bryon Bay, another town in Australia, placed first. Richard Preen, who is from the UK and has lived in Australia for 18 years, warned travelers of Sydney's sometimes steep prices and recommended budgeting extra. "Sydney is the most expensive city you'll visit in Australia," Preen said. 7. You won't find koalas, kangaroos, and crocodiles everywhere in Australia. A kangaroo near Melbourne, Australia. Tsvi Braverman/EyeEm/Getty Images "People think crocodiles are everywhere. They're not. They're in the estuaries and rivers and such," Paul Donlon from New Castle, Australia, said. The same thing applies to other native animals like kangaroos and koalas. Chances are, you won't run into kangaroos or koalas in Australia's major cities. Donlon said that if you want to see the country's native animals, you'll have to travel to national parks, which tend to be farther inland since many of Australia's larger cities are on the coast. 8. You don't need to be afraid of wildlife, but you do need to be aware. A sign warning visitors or recent crocodile sightings. Monica Humphries/Insider "There's a lot that can kill you in Australia," Sally Smith, who lives in Innisfail, Australia, said. "So be aware of the danger." Donlon agreed but added that visitors don't need to be fearful during their trip. "First-time travelers, there's definitely a fear factor. I've had to pacify so many people," Donlon said. Instead of traveling in fear, Donlon suggests staying calm and not interacting with the wildlife you encounter on your trip. Mia Santos shared a similar sentiment and stressed that visitors shouldn't feed any wildlife when visiting. 9. Some Australians mentioned that their lingo could be hard to pick up. A menu advertises "toasties" instead of "sandwiches" or "grilled cheeses." Monica Humphries/Insider Most Australians speak English, but some Aussie words and phrases can stump travelers, the Gibson family said. "That's the hardest part learning our lingo," Alex Gibson said. During a trip to Australia, you might hear the term "bushwalking," which means hiking or walking. And while you may be more familiar with french fries, you might see "hot chips" written on the menu instead. What's more, you'll dip your hot chips in tomato sauce, not ketchup. Additionally, Donlon said that it's not just the words Aussies use but how they form sentences that can also trip up tourists. "People here shorten everything when they talk," Donlon said. So if you get stuck on what someone's telling you, ask for clarification. Like the Gibson family said, Aussies are laid back and will be happy to teach you their favorite slang words. 10. Multiple Australians agreed that exploring the country by car is the best way to see the land down under. An aerial view of a car driving in Australia's outback. Felix Cesare/Getty Images While Australia's major cities have accessible public transportation, transportation options can be limited when you leave the city. While travelers can still see these more remote areas by tour bus, Thomas recommends renting a car instead. By being behind the wheel, travelers can explore off-the-beaten-path activities and have a flexible schedule that allows them to explore Australia's hidden gems. If you decide to rent a car, RV, or van and drive in the outback, Preen recommends only driving during sunlight hours. During dusk, dawn, and night, large animals like kangaroos can jump out, which leaves you at a greater risk of hitting an animal, Preen said. "They're like deer. They just stand there, and they swerve with you," Preen said. "So don't drive at night." 11. If you swim in Australia, make sure to swim in designated areas and keep an eye out for rip currents. Bondi Beach in Sydney. Monica Humphries/Insider Australia has plenty of beaches where tourists can take a swim, but make sure you're swimming in designated areas to avoid any unwanted encounters with sea creatures. Swimmers should also be prepared for rip currents, Brittanie Stacpoole told Insider. These are powerful channels of water that can carry swimmers out to sea. "One important thing when it comes to swimming is if you ever get caught in a rip, don't swim head on to the beach. Swim at an angle or parallel to the shore," Stacpoole said. If you swim directly toward the shore, you might lose energy, which puts you at a greater risk of drowning. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, most rip currents are less than 80 feet wide, so if you swim parallel to the shore, you'll be able to swim out of the current. 12. Make sure to sample local foods like meat pies and Vegemite. Vegemite, butter, and toast is a common breakfast in Australia. Monica Humphries/Insider Australia has some classic foods that visitors should try when heading to the land down under. Since many of the country's major cities are on the coast, seafood is a must. Smith said that barramundi is a popular fish, while fish 'n chips is an easy, grab-and-go meal. You'll also be amiss if you don't try Vegemite in Australia, Stacpoole said. The yeast spread is typically slathered on bread and served for breakfast. 13. Eating kangaroo, crocodile, and emu isn't as common as some tourists think. An arrow points to a crocodile curry on a menu in Australia. Monica Humphries/Insider Some Australians agreed that restaurants that serve crocodile, kangaroo, and emu meat are typically catering to tourists. While some Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians eat kangaroo, the meat tends to be tough and gamey, Goebel said. Goebel recommends avoiding kangaroo, but if you are determined to try it, he suggests eating it in a meat pie, where flavors and juices from the pie's ingredients can better mask the toughness of the kangaroo meat. 14. Australia's tipping culture is simple you don't need to tip. Few restaurants in Australia even gave customers the option to tip. Monica Humphries/Insider A few Aussies mentioned that you don't need to tip when visiting Australia. Instead, restaurant workers receive a liveable wage, so tipping isn't expected. Santos said the same applies to other jobs like cab drivers, bartenders, and hotel staff. For example, Santos said it's not expected to tip your Uber driver after completing your ride. If you receive exceptional service, she said you could leave a tip, but it's not the norm or required. 15. Talk to locals, listen to suggestions, and don't get fixated on having specific Australian experiences. Kangaroo skins at a tourist shop in Kuranda, Australia. Monica Humphries/Insider Terry Edwards from Innisfail said visitors sometimes come to Australia expecting to see kangaroos everywhere and run into crocodile hunters at restaurants. But Edwards said he hopes visitors arrive with an open mindset and a willingness to explore. "Don't be fixated on certain Australian things," Edwards said. "Try new experiences." While exploring the Sydney Opera House and crossing the Sydney Harbor Bridge are popular activities, some of the most exciting parts of the country are places you've never heard of, he said. Read the original article on Insider Books in question for vulgar material can be sold to minors in Virginia Beach for now, but fight is far from over, delegate says A former congressional candidate who had tried to have two books declared obscene for children decided not to appeal the judges decision to dismiss the case, which means the decision stands. Judge Pamela Baskervill found in August that Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas are not obscene under state law. Therefore, the court could not restrict childrens access to the titles in libraries and bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, as the petitioner requested. Tommy Altman, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress earlier this year, and his attorney, Del. Tim Anderson, had 30 days to appeal the finding. This puts an end to a case that should never have been filed, Robert Corn-Revere, an attorney for Barnes & Noble, wrote in a statement. Hopefully, this outcome will serve as a lesson for others who would use the law to restrict what people can read. During the Aug. 30 hearing, the authors, publishers, booksellers and advocates argued that Gender Queer and A Court of Mist and Fury did not meet obscenity standards under state and constitutional law. Anderson argued that separate standards were needed for children and adults. Baskervill had previously supported Altmans petition to have Gender Queer and A Court of Mist and Fury considered obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors and ordered the authors and publishers to defend their works. However, she said the order was made on an incomplete record, so it was vacated. While Mr. Altman elected not to appeal, the fight is far from over, Anderson wrote in a statement. Mr. Altman will continue to explore every option available to restrict school librarians from providing access to sexual materials until consent from the parent of the student is obtained. Anderson also said he will propose legislation to support this goal. The petition he and Altman originally filed involved limiting booksellers, but Andersons legislation will specifically look at school libraries, he said. Story continues Booksellers such as Prince Books in Norfolk and Read Books in Virginia Beach, as well as advocacy groups like the Association of of American Publishers, Virginia Library Association and others, appeared in court in support of the books. We were really happy with Judge Baskervills assessment of the situation, so we arent surprised an appeal wasnt filed, Lisa Varga, executive director of the Virginia Library Association, said. Book challenges have been occurring all over the country with a focus on books in school libraries containing what complainants describe as sexually explicit content. Gender Queer, which is a graphic novel, was No. 1 on the American Library Associations Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021 list. Virginia Beach has seen many of the complaints come forward. The graphic novel was removed from Virginia Beach school libraries after a school board workgroup determined last spring that it was pervasively vulgar. Jeff Trexler, Kobabes co-counsel in the case and interim director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, said the challenges have been picking up in weeks leading up to the election, but it is a relief to see the Virginia Beach case come to an end. Im hopeful that Virginia Beach is just the start of a number of decisions around the country and school districts, local communities, local courts, state courts, federal courts, where they all resoundingly agree that this freedom is a fundamental part of American life, Trexler said. Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virginiamedia.com Murad Dervish, 46, is a former University of Arizona student who allegedly shot and killed professor Thomas Meixner, according to UA police (UAPD) A University of Arizona professor was shot and killed by a former student, officials said. Thomas Meixner, 52, was a professor at the University of Arizona. On Wednesday, a man who police believe to be a former student of Mr Weixner's shot and killed him. The Tucson Sentinel reports that the suspect, Murad Dervish, 46, was arrested several hours later outside Gila Bend, about 120 miles away. Just before 2pm that day, UA police received a report that a "former student" had entered the campus building that houses the university's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. Mr Meixner's office was located in that building. The individual who reported the "former student" to police asked that officers remove the man from the building, according to the university police. The department claimed the man who had entered the building was Mr Dervish, and noted that he had been banned from the building in the past. The shooting occurred shortly afterwards, around 2.06pm, while officers were moving to intercept the alleged gunman. After the shooting, the gunman fled the scene. Thomas Meixner, 52, was a professor and researcher at the University of Arizona, where he led the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (University of Arizona) Mr Meixner was rushed to Banner University Medical Center but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Mr Dervish has no prior criminal record, but had been recently evicted from a guest home in a university-adjacent neighborhood. The Tucson Sentinel spoke with several neighbours, who claimed they had a "bad feeling" about the man. A married couple claimed they saw him have "bad interactions" with young women who lived in the main house on the property where he was staying. The couple became so worried for them they offered to let the girls stay with them. Another neighbour, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Tucson Sentinel, said Mr Dervish had revealed that his university experience "wasn't going well." It is unclear what if any connection exists between Mr Dervish and Mr Meixner. Police have not revealed a motive for the shooting. Police did not initially release the name of the victim following the shooting, but the Tucson Sentinel confirmed through multiple university sources that Mr Meixner was the man who was killed. The university confirmed the name publicly on Wednesday. The professor had taught and researched hydrology at the university since 2005. He eventually became the head of the university's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences in October of 2019. "This incident is a deep shock to our community, and it is a tragedy. I have no words that can undo it, but I grieve with you for the loss, and I am pained especially for Toms family members, colleagues and students," UA President Robert Robbins wrote in a statement. Caitlin Whalen, too weak to stand after hospitalization in March, now steps out on a 9-year-old promise to her late grandmother to pursue a national beauty crown. I said I was going to give it my all to my grandma in 2013 before she passed away, Whalen wrote on her announcement to run for Miss USA. Right here, today it becomes a reality. In the spring, Lupus symptoms sidelined the Wilmington Island woman yet again, but in July, a medical turnaround opened a long-shut door. Whalen, 25, is competing as Miss Wilmington Islands first title holder in the Nov. Miss Georgia USA 2023 pageant for a shot at becoming Miss USA 2024. 'Just a country boy doing my best': I-516, Hwy. 17 interchange named after WTOC's Doug Weathers Also: Isle of Hope seeks local historic distinction for Bluff Drive, but faces marina opposition 'A place for the people': Mammoth teeth, movie stars, controversies mark 50 years of Lake Mayer It just gave me something to look forward to, says Whalen, who advises finding a purpose to anyone in recovery. Ive got to have a reason to get myself out of bed. Whalen, who can now walk a mile a day, will participate in Saturdays Lace up for Lupus Awareness, in Daffin Park. The DeLoach Lupus Foundation event begins at 9 a.m. Who better to help a lupus patient than a lupus patient? asks DeLoach Lupus Foundation founder Salathiel DeLoach. They saved my life Whalen was diagnosed with lupus at age 16 as an Islands High School sophomore. She completed school work from home, and returned to in-person classes her senior year, while leaning on teachers support. She was determined to graduate, and she did. She fought lupus with a lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating for six years after her diagnosis. She worked in Atlanta as a model for Tom James Co., and could run six miles. But symptoms returned about three years ago. Adam Van Brimmer: Tybee is no longer a sleepy beach town. To preserve residents' quality of life, time to wake up Story continues She felt drained and awoke covered in a chickenpox-like rash that would disappear three days later. Other times she coughed up blood and her hair fell out in clumps. She ran 104 fevers consistently. But people doubted she was sick. Her blood work showed problems with red and white blood cells, but her MRI and CAT scans were good. Doctors reasoned that since her organs worked, she couldnt be too close to death. Caitlin Whalen with her dad Michael Paul Mathews at Lili's Restaurant on Wilmington Island. Whalen will represent her island hometown in the Miss Georgia USA pageant in November. But eventually, her kidneys shut down, her bladder failed and she was septic. I looked like death, she says. In March, a team at Memorial Health finally narrowed down Whalens diagnosis through surgery: Class 5 Lupus nephritis with kidney failure. The October forecast?: Heightened awareness of breast cancer risks They saved my life, Whalen says, mentioning Dr. Rebecca Sentman and Dr. Dana Kumjian in nephrology. She regained strength from a combination of nerve killers, muscle relaxers and the medicine CellCept that suppresses her immune system, but allows her kidneys to work. Whalen should be in remission in two years. Modeling initiative During physical therapy in July, Whalen decided that if she got better, she would try for a national crown like she promised her grandmother Nancy Mathews in 2013. But time was running out. The age limit for Miss USA is 28 and Whalen, now 25, needed to qualify for a local contest to be eligible to compete for Miss Georgia first. Each completion takes one year. More: Savannah designer Emily Bargeron finally got the reality TV experience with 'Making the Cut' There is no Miss Savannah pageant, although Whalens aunt, Angela Mathews McCurdy, was Miss Savannah in 1976. But there is also no Miss Wilmington Island pageant. Could Whalen represent her island hometown to compete in Miss Georgia? Caitlin Whalen, who has lupus, regained strength and will compete for Miss Georgia USA in November. She called Greenwood Productions, which produces Miss USA and Miss Teen USA state pageants, which was keen on the idea. They interviewed Whalen several times. Lo and behold, they crowned and sashed me, Whalen says. Seven months ago, Whalens uncle had to carry her upstairs to bed. Now, shell volunteer around the Wilmington and Whitemarsh Island communities at bingo nights, library readings, Halloween events and Saturdays walk. A mental makeover At the walk for lupus awareness Saturday, the DeLoach Lupus Foundations namesake wants other lupus sufferers and their families to know theyre not alone. My journey was difficult, DeLoach says. I just want to help. In 2001, DeLoach had just graduated high school and was preparing for college when symptoms hit her: Feet too swollen to walk, some kidney failure and fatigue, whole body rashes and hair loss. Photos: Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk 2022 at Forsyth Park Like Whalen, DeLoach once needed family members to carry her. She sometimes felt ugly with the lupus butterfly rash over her face. Or DeLoach canceled outings with friends because of fatigue, but sensed some doubted her excuses. Like Whelan, shed offer to take a picture of symptoms for proof. Salathiel DeLoach was diagnosed 21 years ago. Her group, the DeLoach Lupus Foundation, helps people with lupus meet needs. DeLoach originally thought the diagnosis was a death sentence. It isnt. Shes here 21 years later with advice. Think of the diagnosis as a makeover. You can be very timid, yet emerge stronger: Lupus tried to take me out, but Im going to live my life like a warrior. DeLoach hopes her foundation helps fill needs that existed when she was sick, and attract doctors to Savannah to help locals who may drive to Atlanta or the Carolinas for specialized care. More: Union Mission opens Parker's House, first emergency shelter for women in three-state region DeLoach recently talked to someone with lupus whose 30-day medication cost $1,000. Or Whalen, for instance, will likely get health insurance next month, but her out-of-pocket medical expenses topped $5,000 in about 30 days. She couldnt afford living expenses while symptoms made work unrealistic. Further, Whalens mother quit her job to care for Whalen, another loss of income. DeLoach Lupus Foundation founder Salathiel DeLoach Making the rest of these years count Whalen takes classes at Savannah Technical College. Shell earn an associates degree in logistics and supply chain management for work at the port. Pursuing a pageant title, however, gives Whalen a chance at scholarships to pursue a doctorate in physics. Shell also call for more lupus research and understanding about the illness others hesitate to talk about. Holistic medications can fail some people, and every lupus patient suffers different variations of symptoms, she says. More: Plenty of good-paying warehousing, logistics jobs in Chatham County, but retention is key Her great grandmother Louise Caroline Mathews, of the former L.C. Mathews Seafood, also had lupus, and spent two weeks at Duke University in the 1960s for lupus research. Duke University sent Whalen the research at Whalens request. It was just incredible to be able to read it, she says. Now her story unfolds one mile at a time. I slept for almost three years, Whalen says. Cheers to making the rest of these years count. IF YOU GO What: Lace up for Lupus Awareness When: Saturday at 9 a.m. Where: Daffin Park, 1301 E. Victory Dr. Cost: $20 to walk, $25 T-shirt, $40 walk and T-shirt Info: deloachlf.com This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Miss Georgia 2023: Caitlin Whalen pursues title for lupus research Arizona's new 1st Congressional District covers parts of Maricopa County, along with Salt River and Fort McDowell Yavapai National tribal communities. The district covers Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills and part of Phoenix. Prior to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission's final redistricting draft, most of the area was in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. Arizona has nine congressional districts, each with a member of the House of Representatives who serves two-year terms with no term limits. Incumbent Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., is running for a seventh term on Capitol Hill. Here are the major candidates running for Arizona's 1st Congressional District: Republican candidate: David Schweikert In this Nov. 8, 2017, file photo, Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., makes a point during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Schweikert, R-Ariz., was first elected to Congress in 2010. Schweikert's campaign website focuses on economic growth and prosperity, protection of freedom, reducing taxes and stopping illegal immigration. Under these issues Schweikert listed his previous accomplishments as successfully acting on those issues, such as his work fighting what he calls the Biden administration's "job-killing policies." Election guide: November 2022 Schweikert has a seat on the powerful, tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. In 2020, Schweikert was reprimanded for 11 ethics violations by the U.S House of Representatives and fined $50,000. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, Schweikert served as the Maricopa County treasurer in 2004 to 2006. He previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. Democratic candidate: Jevin Hodge Jevin Hodge, vice chairman of Arizona Democratic Party, speaks at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. A Head Start program owner, Jevin Hodge, is aiming to defeat Schweikert on Nov. 8. In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Hodge said: "I'm running for Congress because I got my opportunity. I want to do everything I possibly can to fight for everyday Arizonans to get theirs." Story continues Campaign issues listed on Hodge's campaign website are protecting voting rights, addressing income inequality, public school funding and health care for every Arizonan. Hodge is president of Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, a local nonprofit Head Start program. Hodge's run for Congress follows an unsuccessful 2020 bid for for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here are the candidates for Arizona's 1st Congressional District seat Theres so much star power in Amsterdam that even its A-list cast members marveled over whom they got to collaborate with in David O. Russells new mystery-comedy-thriller. Take Margot Robbie. The two-time Oscar nominee couldnt believe she was working with acting titan Robert De Niro. Hes an icon, she tells Yahoo Entertainment during a recent virtual press day (watch above). And I never thought Id ever get to share the screen with him. It was incredible. When you work with someone like De Niro, Mike Myers explains, I had the same thing when I first met Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, which is, you're going, 'So those are the molecules that make up Robert de Niro.' It's like doing a scene with the Eiffel Tower or something. De Niro is also a hero to John David Washington (Tenet), the 38-year-old son of another acting giant, Denzel Washington. John David was also particularly amped to work with comedian/actor Chris Rock. For what he meant to my childhood, like, just growing up, seeing his stand-ups. He's an icon, Washington says. He's one of the greatest comedians of all time. Like Richard Pryor, he's in that same room, at least in my opinion. So it was definitely Mr. Rock." Michael Shannon as Henry Norcross, Mike Myers as Paul Canterbury, Christian Bale as Burt Berendsen, Chris Rock as Milton King, and Robert De Niro as General Gil Dillenbeck in Amsterdam. (Photo: Merie Weismiller Wallace; SMPSP. A 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.) Amsterdam, a period piece that follows three friends a doctor, a nurse and a lawyer who find themselves caught up in the mysterious murder of a U.S. senator, also costars Christian Bale, Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoe Saldana, Michael Shannon, Andrea Riseborough and a musician-turned-actor you may have heard of named Taylor Swift. Myers and Shannon, who steal scenes together as international spies and bird watchers, loved working with each other. They were also neighbors behind the scenes, living in the same apartment complex. "It had balconies, where you could go out on the balcony and wave to each other, so that really deepened the relationship," Shannon says. "There was some tapping on the wall and some screaming sometimes." Story continues "I tend to scream. Night terrors," Myers cracked. Amsterdam is the latest collaboration between Russell and Bale, who previously worked together on 2013s American Hustle and 2010s The Fighter, and was six years in the making. (Its Russells first film since 2015s Joy.) Says Bale: "We talked about some ideas, about some vague ideas, of characters for a few years, and then we just started saying about how we wanted to see people who overcome adversity, who have optimism, who believe in hope, who believe in joy. And we took about six years doing that." Video produced by Olivia Schneider, edited by Luis Saenz Amsterdam opens in theaters Friday, Oct. 7. Watch the trailer: The Cure debuted two new songs last night (October 6) as they kicked off their 2022 world tour with a gig in Riga, Latvia. The iconic indie band performed at the Arena Riga in the city, sharing 25 songs across the evening with the audience. Among them were two fresh, previously unheard cuts that could feature on their upcoming new album, Songs Of A Lost World. The gig began with one of them, Alone, which opened with an expansive soundscape of guitars, keys and drums, with frontman Robert Smith later singing on it: This is the end of every song that we sing. Later, at the end of the main set, The Cure shared another new song in Endsong. That track also took on a melancholy form, Smith singing about a life with no hopes, no dreams, no love I dont belong. The show also saw keyboardist and guitarist Perry Bamonte rejoin the bands touring line-up 17 years after he last performed with them. The tour will continue tomorrow night (October 8) in Helsinki, Finland, with the dates running until mid-December, when they will wrap up with three nights at Londons OVO Arena Wembley. The full schedule and tickets can be found on The Cures official website. In November, the band will share a deluxe edition of their multi-platinum 1992 album, Wish, to mark its 30th anniversary. It was the bands ninth studio album and, at the time, became the bands best-selling album, reaching No.1 in the UK and Mo.2 in the US, where it was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative Music Album category. Last month (September 24), the band released Miss Van Gogh (Instrumental Demo) from the upcoming reissue, which is one of a raft of previously unreleased tracks that will feature on the new edition. Pre-order Wish. The Cures Arena Riga setlist: Alone Pictures Of You Closedown A Night Like This Lovesong Trust Burn Fascination Street" Push In Between Days Play For Today A Forest Want Shake Dog Shake 39 From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea Endsong Plainsong Disintegration Lullaby Close To Me The Walk Friday Im In Love Just Like Heaven Boys Dont Cry For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. The statue of King Louis XVI that stood for decades in downtown Louisville before it was damaged during racial justice demonstrations in 2020 may get restored and reappear in the city. But where and when the statue of the French king from whom Louisville gets it name will stand again if at all is pas encore connue, or unknown. A public art official told a Metro Council committee on Wednesday that it could cost the city over $200,000 to restore and relocate King Louis XVI. Consultants also have advised Louisville Metro that the statue could be a safety hazard if placed outside, and that also would not be "in the interest of preserving the statue," according to the presentation. Here's a rundown of the latest updates on the statue: What is the history of the King Louis XVI statue in Louisville? First installed on the west lawn of Metro Hall in 1967, the King Louis XVI statue was moved in 1973 to the northeast corner of West Jefferson and South Sixth streets, a gift from Montpellier, Louisvilles sister city in southern France. The 9-ton marble statue of the former king, who helped colonists win the Revolutionary War before his public beheading during the French Revolution, was constructed in 1829 and initially placed in Montpellier's public square, commissioned by the kings daughter, Maria-Therese. It was removed from the square less than a year later. Louisville Metro's website noted that with "a new branch of the royal Bourbon family on the throne, the statue represented the prior ruling branch that had fallen out of favor." Christy Holly scandal:Racing Louisville FC responds to allegations against ex-coach in NWSL investigation In 1899, it was "rediscovered in storage during an inventory of a military facility, in damaged condition including a broken arm," per the Louisville Metro website. "The statue passed from the French military to the citys Mayor and to a university museum. The statue was moved to the basement of a municipal archives building." Story continues In 1966, Montpellier offered the statue to Louisville. It was transported aboard the USS Aldebaran, arriving first in Norfolk, Virginia, before arriving in the Derby City via train. Then-Mayor Kenneth A. Schmied worked with a committee to pick a location for the statue, and the Jefferson Fiscal Court passed a resolution in 1967 approving the location outside Metro Hall. Over the years, the statue has received other restoration work, such as to repair a lost foot in 1974. How much could it cost to restore Louisville's King Louis XVI statue? Jessica Kincaide, Louisville Metro's public art administrator, told members of the Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education Committee that the city spent about $15,000 to get assessments and proposals outlining "technical and ethical challenges" from three conservation labs. The city's expenses related to the statue and figuring out what to do with it have totaled $49,985, and "high-end estimated costs" for remaining work could bump the total to $211,985, according to Kincaide's presentation. King Louis XVI statue:Everything to know about Louisville's most famous regift Some of those costs would include paint removal and repairs ($44,500), rigging and relocation ($27,500) and new interpretive signage ($10,000). Where could the King Louis XVI statue get relocated? Likely not outside again, if the city listens to the consultants. The combination of the previous outdoor location and continued cycle of graffiti, damage and subsequent cleaning and repair will reduce the longevity of the piece, which will continue to succumb to the resultant surface erosion and structural damage the sculpture is very vulnerable to irreparable damage if returned to the same site," the presentation said. Kincaide also shared a note stating there are "few indoor, publicly accessible locations capable of accommodating the size and weight of the statue," but she added mandates from the city's Commission on Public Art mean it should stay viewable to the public and not go in a museum that charges admission. Some Metro Council members expressed support for putting the statue back outside. Metro Councilman Stuart Benson, R-20th District, said during Wednesday's hearing that "somewhere along the line, you can't be afraid if somebody doesn't like something, that we're going to take everything in because they get upset." "I don't know who's upset at King Louis XVI. I didn't know him very well, but it seems like to me, if he was such a bad person, maybe we ought to change the name of our city to something else and not Louisville," Benson, who represents part of Jeffersontown, Fern Creek, Eastwood and Fisherville, also said. "I think he ought to be outside," Benson added. "...Statues are supposed to be seen, I think. Reminds us of who we are and where we got our names in history. Whether we like him or not, it's still history. We shouldn't be running away from history." What happened to the King Louis XVI statue during 2020 protests? The statue was removed in September 2020 and placed in storage after its right hand was broken off during the first night of mass protests in May 2020 over the police killing of Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans. The city also said the statue was the target of "multiple incidents of vandalism involving spray paint" later that summer. Breonna Taylor protests:Why charges will not be dropped against hundreds of protesters in Kentucky "After being vandalized, the statue was overcleaned, which damaged the surface of the marble and contributed to possible structural instability throughout the sculpture," Louisville Metro says on its website. Kincaide's presentation to the Metro Council committee said the hand can be repaired "but will remain very fragile." Can residents fill out a survey on the King Louis XVI statue? Louisville residents are encouraged to visit louisvilleky.gov/government/arts-culture/louis-xvi-statue-survey to offer input on the statue. Its connection to the 2020 protests has not gone unnoticed by the city and outside consultants. Conservators consider this statue a contested monument due to its depiction of a monarch, its presence in a community space, community calls for its removal, in addition to it bearing witness to the Breonna Taylor and Black Lives Matter protests of 2020," according to the presentation. It also mentioned guidelines from the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. The guidelines say damage done in the name of social justice also become "part of the meaning of the work." What are the next steps? The city, according to Kincaide, will continue to collect community feedback, with an opportunity to incorporate additional resident engagement into the planning process. Officials will eventually determine whether the statue will be reinstalled, where and in what context, using the survey responses and conservator conversations for input. Bob Baffert lawsuit:'Secret Horsey Stuff' bourbon labels lampooning trainer leads to $50K settlement Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville King Louis XVI statue may return after damage, vandalism The United States, South Korea and Japan have begun ballistic missile defense exercises in the Sea of Japan in response to a series of North Korean missile launches this week. Well share the details of that, plus the latest on a panels recommendations for changing military bases names, European fears over nuclear conflict and the ISIS leader killed in Syria. This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Ellen Mitchell. A friend forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe here. Countries begin ballistic missile defense exercises The USS Ronald Reagan strike group, two Japanese destroyers and one South Korean destroyer arrived east of the Korean peninsula on Oct. 5 for a new joint exercise meant to send a clear message of allied unity between our nations and enhance the interoperability of our collective forces, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Thursday. Earlier: The new trilateral exercise comes days after the U.S. military and South Korean forces held joint missile drills in response to North Korea launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan. North Korea fired two more ballistic missiles into the ocean earlier on Thursday and suggested that the launch was in response to the U.S. moving the Navy strike group near its waters. The missile launch was Pyongyangs sixth in 12 days. Strong condemnation: Ryder said the United States strongly condemns the launch, which he called an irresponsible act that violates numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea is urged to immediately cease actions that escalate military tensions, destabilize the region and endanger the peace and security of innocent people, Ryder said. Raised alarms: That test and the others around it have raised alarms over the isolated nations growing nuclear capabilities and fears it may soon conduct its first nuclear test since 2017. Story continues As part of its saber rattling, Pyongyangs military also flew a dozen warplanes including fighter jets and four bombers near the border with the South on Thursday, prompting a response from Seoul, which sent up 30 of its own fighter jets. No comment: Ryder said that while its clear North Korea is testing its missile program and looking to adapt, he would not say if the U.S. is preparing a further response to North Korea provocations. We do assess that, that North Korea has been making preparations. If and when they do conduct a nuclear test, Im not going to speculate, he said. Read the full story here Pentagon OKs changing military base names Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has given the go ahead to alter some 1,111 military items related to the Confederacy, according to a new memo released Thursday. Following a final report from the Naming Commission which last month put forward its suggestions to rename or remove the more than 1,100 items that fall under the purview of the Defense Department (DOD) Austin has concurred with all of the commissions recommendations and is committed to implementing them as soon as possible, press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement. What kicked it all off: At the heart of the effort were nine Army bases currently honoring Confederate generals. The commission offered alternative titles for those bases earlier this summer. The installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets. They are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live, Austin said in the memo. The names of these installations and facilities should inspire all those who call them home, fully reflect the history and the values of the United States, and commemorate the best of the republic that we are all sworn to protect. A long effort: The effort comes after 18 months of work by the Naming Commission, including extensive consultations with experts, historians, and the communities rooted in the bases in question. The plan will remove from the U.S. military names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate or any person who served with the Confederacy. When will it happen? The Pentagon chief has directed DOD leaders and the military services to begin implementation in December following a 90-day waiting period, as mandated in last years annual defense authorization bill, according to the statement. Altogether, it will cost the Pentagon an estimated $62.5 million to implement the recommendations from the final report, according to the commission. Read more here Fears in Europe grow over Putin nuke threats Nuclear experts are warning that Russian President Vladimir Putins threats to deploy a nuclear weapon in Ukraine has put the world at its most dangerous precipice of nuclear confrontation since the Cold War. The nuclear risk, is it as bad as during the Cold War? The answer is yes, said Alexander Kmentt, director for disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the Cold War we had essentially two nuclear interests trying to deter one another. We have several potential nuclear flashpoints now. The latest iteration of those risks, issued by Russia, are just completely beyond the pale. A different perspective: While U.S. officials have stressed they have yet to see Russian movements pointing to a nuclear escalation, Austrian officials provide a unique perspective on Putins Russia given the distinct space the country occupies. While Austria is a member of the European Union and party to the sanctions placed on Russia, it has not provided any military support to Ukraine and the country is constitutionally bound to its position of neutrality. This, in part, has prevented it from joining NATO even as traditionally neutral Finland and Sweden are on the brink of ascension to the organization. Read that story here US FORCES KILL ISIS OFFICIAL An Islamic State weapons smuggler was killed by U.S. forces Wednesday in a helicopter raid in northeast Syria, the Pentagon announced Thursday. Who was targeted?: U.S. Central Command forces targeted ISIS official Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, conducting the raid near the Syrian city of Qamishli, the Defense Departments combatant command said in a statement. Al-Shammri, who was killed in the raid, was known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters to support ISIS operations, according to CENTCOM. An associate of al-Shammri was injured, according to the release, but no other injuries or deaths were reported, and no U.S. equipment was damaged or lost. Read the full story here ON TAP FOR TOMORROW The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a discussion on The current state of affairs in Afghanistan, with Fawzia Koofi, Afghan parliamentary lawmaker, at 2 p.m. WHAT WERE READING Thats it for today! Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After four games, the Minnesota Vikings star edge Danielle Hunter has not had the start he was hoping for. Through those four games, Hunter has one sack and eight pressures. Not great from the player who had 31 pressures and six sacks in the seven games he played in before a season-ending torn pectoral muscle against the San Francisco 49ers. Part of those struggles equates to a shift to a 3-4 defense. Because of that, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell isnt concerned. LB Danielle Hunter has 1 sack and a 5.6% pressure rate (T-102/NFL). DC Ed Donatell said today of Hunter's shift to the 3-4: "Every guy that has ever made this transition, his first month looks a lot like that. There's a getting used to this role. It's very, very normal." Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 6, 2022 Donatell makes a really good point. The things that Hunter is being asked to do in this defense are quite a bit different. On standard downs, Hunter isnt lined up with his hand in the dirt being asked to play a 5-tech role but rather lined up as a 7-tech or wide-9 playing a slightly-different role. As Donatell mentioned, its a real transition to playing a standup OLB role and its normal. Looks like we will need to be patient with Hunter. Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire Elon Musk. Andrew Kelly/Reuters An upcoming trial between Musk and Twitter is officially on hold. The judge overseeing the case said the coming weeks should give them time to agree on a settlement. If not, a trial will be scheduled for sometime in November. Elon Musk won his push to pause Twitter's lawsuit against him. For now. The judge overseeing the case in Delaware Chancery Court on Thursday agreed to halt proceedings in the case until October 28, to give Musk and Twitter time to settle their ongoing differences and "permit the parties to close on the transaction." Should they not be able to come to a settlement, the judge said a trial will take place sometime in November. In response to the judge's ruling, a Twitter spokesperson said, "We look forward to closing the transaction at $54.20 by October 28th." The brief order put an end to another day of disagreeable back and forth between Musk and Twitter, despite Musk's abrupt Monday decision to renew his offer to acquire the platform for $44 billion, the same price he originally agreed to in April. It started with Musk's demand that the case be stayed indefinitely, in order to avoid a trial set to begin in less than two weeks. His lawyers argued trial was "moot" given Musk's intention to buy Twitter, and that it would only serve as a distraction to closing the deal by his proposed date of Oct. 28. The billionaire is working to do just that, his lawyers said, and had received fresh assurances from banks who previously agreed to financing the deal that they were committed to its closing. By not agreeing to Musk's proposal and to halt the trial, his lawyers argued Twitter was only hurting the interests of shareholders in an attempt by executives to benefit themselves. Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Musk, told Insider Musk had previously rejected an offer from Twitter to settle the case at a lower price because it came with "all kinds of things " attached. Instead, Musk went ahead with an offer at the full price, only to have Twitter now reject that, too. "Twitter wants the carrot and no stick," Spiro said. Story continues Twitter quickly opposed Musk's position, calling it "an invitation to further mischief and delay." It took issue mainly with his proposed closing timeline. It's lawyers held that, should Musk actually want to close this deal as proposed, he can do it much more quickly than Oct. 28. Instead, he should close the transaction by Oct. 10. "Defendants can and should close next week," lawyers for Twitter said. "Until they do, this action is not moot and should be brought to trial." Ultimately, Judge McCormick mostly sided with Musk on this battle. She agreed to halt court proceedings, which have been daily since Twitter first sued Musk in early July, with hundreds of papers and motions filed. With a settlement to the case so close at hand, the judge's order alluded to Twitter and Musk's ability to settle their differences and close the deal soon. Should they fail to do so, however, the case will pick up where it left off and she will reschedule a trial in November. Are you a Twitter employee or someone with insight to share? Contact Kali Hays at khays@insider.com, on secure messaging app Signal at 949-280-0267, or through Twitter DM at @hayskali. Reach out using a non-work device. Contact Grace Kay at gkay@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider As Florida struggles to recover from the dramatic effects of Hurricane Ian, massive amounts of soil from the states coastline are seeping into the Gulf of Mexico. Ian sure churned up the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, astronaut Bob Farmer Hines tweeted on Wednesday from the International Space Station. Hines posted a photo from two days after the storm made landfall, depicting how the peninsula was shedding both mud and all the water Hurricane Ian dumped on it. Also visible from space were teal-colored scars left near Floridas coast after Ian entered the state, Fox Weather reported, alongside photos from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The scars were a result of the storms winds, which reached up to 150 miles per hour and generated giant waves, according to Fox. Those waves then became what Fox described as a miles-long blender that churned up sediment form the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. While meteorologists marveled over photos sent down from space, a new group of astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut were set to arrive at the International Space Station on Thursday evening. The Moscow Times characterized the inclusion of the cosmonaut as a move carrying significant symbolism of U.S.-Russia space collaboration, despite Moscows war in Ukraine. SpaceX Crew-5 launched on Wednesday. The astronauts will spend several months aboard the station conducting new research in areas such as cardiovascular health and behavior in microgravity, according to NASA. Welcome to Equilibrium, a newsletter that tracks the growing global battle over the future of sustainability. Were Saul Elbein and Sharon Udasin. Send us tips and feedback. Want a copy in your inbox? Subscribe here. Today well start in San Francisco, where Pacific Coast leaders signed a regional climate agreement. Then well look at Ubers new plan to bring driverless taxis to American cities. Plus: A new analysis showing the growth of U.S. wind and solar. Story continues West Coast leaders broaden climate collaboration Pacific Coast leaders on Thursday signed an agreement to expand the regions climate partnership with hopes of accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. We dont have all the answers. And so we seek to share best practices, we seek to compete, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said at a press conference in San Francisco. That competition has brought us to where we are today, the governor continued. Were in the how business. Coastal consensus: Newsom gathered with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D), Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and British Columbia Premier John Horgan to sign the Pacific Coast Collaborative Statement of Cooperation. The renewed partnership will promote investments in climate infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging stations and a clean electric grid. Officials also pledged to protect their residents from climate impacts like drought and wildfire, while ensuring that all communities are included in the clean energy transition. Renewing commitments: The agreement builds on the ongoing work of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a regional partnership launched in 2016. California, Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia, as well as the cities of Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, are all members of the collaborative. Economic reach: The Pacific Coast region represents 57 million people with a combined gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion, according to Newsoms office. Taken as a whole, thats the fifth largest economy in the world, Gregor Robertson, former mayor of Vancouver and Pacific Coast Collaborative ambassador said in a video statement. Climate change up close: These four leaders youre hearing from today we have watched, we have smelled, we have suffered through the smoke, Inslee said at the press conference. We understand what its doing to our communities, he continued. But fundamentally, we are leaders and we are three states and one province who can see through the smoke. For more details about the agreement and hear more from the governors, please click here for the full story. Uber to roll out the robotaxis Uber has taken a major step toward the eventual deployment of electric robot taxis through its new 10-year partnership with Boston-based vehicle manufacturer Motional. The announcement marks the first such national-scale collaboration between a ride-hailing provider and an autonomous vehicle company and it could eventually lead to robot cars dropping off passengers and delivering packages across the U.S. The arrangement that aids both parties: Motional will provide Uber with a fleet of self-driving taxis. In return, Uber will provide Motional with both millions of potential customers and the data generated from their ride and delivery requests, according to a joint press release issued on Thursday. This agreement will be instrumental to the wide scale adoption of robotaxis, Motional president and CEO Karl Iagnemma said. Motional now has unparalleled access to millions of riders and a roadmap to scale significantly over the next 10 years, Iagnemma added. Following the pilot: Its not the two companies first collaboration. A Motional pilot project began conducting UberEats deliveries in California. Reverse engineering: Unlike other would-be autonomous vehicle providers like Tesla Motional uses specially modified Hyundai IONIQ 5 EVs. These cars were the product of a direct collaboration between Motional and the South Korean automaker. The Hyundai Motor Group and Motional teams spent months collaborating on sensor placement, Motional said in a press release. Hyundai and Motional engineers decided on a location for every eye that gives our vehicles 360-degree perception, as well as the redundant coverage needed for safe operation in a wide range of driving environments. Motional also in August signed a partnership with main Uber rival Lyft to pilot-test company taxis in Las Vegas in preparation for a 2023 nationwide rollout, according to Motional. How well will they drive? Motional bills its cars as being at Level 4 on the Society of Automotive Engineers 5-point scale of self-driving. That is a level of automation that under most circumstances wont require human intervention, according to a report from electric design company Synopsys. Keeping passengers safe currently involves restricting these vehicles to lower-risk driving environments particularly urban areas with speed limits below 30 miles per hour. Checking in on competition: Because of these constraints, most Level 4 projects are similarly geared toward robotaxis and the race is healing up, according to Synopsys. In August, for example, Google parent-company Alphabet announced that its self-driving subsidiary Waymo would begin allowing select users in Phoenix to order rides from rider only driverless vehicles, according to TechCrunch. US wind, solar tripled over past decade: analysis The United States generated three times as much renewable electricity from the sun and wind last year in comparison to 2012, a new analysis has found. A considerable jump: Seven states alone now produce enough electricity from sun, wind and geothermal sources to cover half of their consumption, according to an energy dashboard published on Thursday. Just five years earlier, none of these states South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico had achieved this level of renewable energy progress. Building a cleaner future: Boosts in clean energy production set the stage for other technologies like electric cars and heat pumps powered by renewable energy to replace dirty and outdated ones, Johanna Neumann, of the Environment America Research & Policy Center, said in a statement. With renewables on the rise, were on our way to building a cleaner, healthier future, added Neumann, whose organization released the dashboard with the Frontier Group. Optimistic findings: The new dashboard highlighted dramatic progress from the past decade in areas like wind, solar, electric vehicles, charging and battery storage: The U.S. produced enough wind energy to power 35 million homes in 2021 or 2.7 times as much wind energy as in 2012. The country also generated enough solar energy that year to power 15 million homes or 15 times as much solar energy as in 2012. Americans purchased nearly 647,000 plug-in electric cars in 2021 a nearly 13-fold increase from 2012. Chargers to accompany those vehicles surpassed 120,000 nationwide a nearly 20-fold increase from 2012. Total battery storage has climbed to 4.7 gigawatts, or 32 times as much as in 2012. Which states showed the most growth? California, Texas and Florida exhibited the most growth in solar power and battery storage from 2012 to 2021, while Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa ranked highest for wind power growth, per the dashboard. To see more key findings from the dashboard, please click here for the full story. Political structures determine green success: study Political factors can play a key role in whether a government is able to successfully transition off fossil fuels, a new study from the University at California Berkeley has found. The transition off fossil fuels requires a government to be able to absorb high upfront costs in exchange for much lower costs later on, according to the paper in Science. By looking at past energy shocks like the 1970s oil crisis, the researchers found that successful initiatives like those in Northern Europe followed one or both of the following political strategies: Such countries either blunted the impact of the short-term costs with payments or rebates to consumers and industry. Others insulated policymakers from the ire of consumers and industry unhappy with higher prices. First mover advantage: Countries with such political structures will be early public investors in these very costly technologies that we need for decarbonization, such as hydrogen fuel cells and carbon removal technologies, lead author Jonas Meckling said in a statement. That is tough news for the U.S., which doesnt have the kind of political structure that allows either strategy to be carried out easily. Silver lining: However, the U.S. system is extremely responsive to market demand and changes in price which sets the country up to rapidly scale technologies that other countries help get off the ground. Once these new technologies become cost competitive in the market, then countries like the U.S. can respond relatively rapidly because they are so sensitive to price signals, Meckling added. Thursday Threats Why warming winters mean more water pollution, social media could help solve pollution threats and the cost of climate in action is going up. Less ice, more water pollution: study Warming winters are driving increasing quantities of nutrient pollution into U.S. waterways, a new study in Environmental Research Letters has found. The higher temperatures both keep fertilizers from freezing in place and raise the frequency of rains that wash them into creeks and rivers, according to the study. Social media engagement pushes government action, reduces pollution: study Social media activism can improve government responses to pollution incidents, a study from the University of Chicagos Energy Policy Institute found. Public appeals posted on the social media site Weibo reduced violations at Chinese industrial plants by more than 60 percent, per the study. See the full Hill story to read more. Pay a lot now or even more later: IMF The world economy is undergoing a fundamental shift from relative stability to more dramatic instability, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, as reported by our colleague Jared Gans. A biennial IMF report published this also warned that while the shift to clean energy would be expensive, waiting would only raise costs, The Guardian reported. Please visit The Hills Sustainability section online for the web version of this newsletter and more stories. Well see you tomorrow. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped about 4% to a five-week high on Friday, lifted again by an OPEC+ decision this week to make its largest supply cut since 2020 despite concern about a possible recession and rising interest rates. Oil rallied for the fifth day in a row even as the dollar moved higher after data showing the U.S. economy was creating jobs at a strong pace gave the Federal Reserve a reason to continue hefty interest rate hikes. A strong greenback can pressure oil demand, making dollar-denominated crude more expensive for other currency holders. Brent futures rose $3.50, or 3.7%, to settle at $97.92 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $4.19, or 4.7%, to end at $92.64. That was the highest close for Brent and WTI since Aug. 30. The price jump pushed both benchmarks into technically overbought territory for the first time since August for Brent and June for WTI. Both contracts posted their second straight weekly gains, and their biggest weekly percentage gains since March this week, with Brent was up about 11% and WTI 17% higher. U.S. heating oil futures jumped 19% this week to their highest close since June, boosting the heating oil crack spread - a measure of refining profit margins - to its highest close on record, according to Refinitiv data going back to December 2009. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, agreed this week to lower their output target by 2 million barrels per day. "Among the key ramifications of OPEC's latest cut is a likely return of $100 oil," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. UBS Global Wealth Management also projected Brent would "move above the $100 bbl mark over the coming quarters." The OPEC+ cut comes ahead of a European Union embargo on Russian oil and will squeeze supply in an already tight market. OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais said the output target cuts will leave OPEC+ with more supply to tap in the event of any crises. Story continues On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed disappointment over the OPEC+ plans. He and U.S. officials said Washington was looking at all possible alternatives to keep prices from rising. However, the U.S. oil rig count, an early indicator of future production, fell by two this week to 602, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes Co, as high inflation forces producers to spend more money to secure workers and equipment. [RIG/U] "Oil futures prices are managing to gain upside traction even though widespread inflation across the U.S. and Europe is threatening the potential for a global recession where demand will likely take a sizeable hit," analysts at energy consulting firm Gelber & Associates said. In Europe, divisions between EU leaders over capping gas prices and national rescue packages resurfaced, with Poland accusing Germany of "selfishness" in its response to a winter energy crunch caused by Russia's war in Ukraine. (This story has been refiled to correct milestone for WTI to Aug. 30, not 29, in paragraph 5) (Additional reporting by Mohi Narayan in New Delhi and Alex Lawler in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (Getty Images) Pep Guardiola believes that he has nothing left to teach Erling Haaland about goal-scoring after his instinctive brace against Copenhagen this week. Haaland has now scored 19 goals in his last 12 appearances, marking an extraordinary start to life as a Manchester City player. The 22-year-old now returns to Premier League action against Southampton, where after 14 goals in eight games, he is already only nine behind last season's Golden Boot-winning total. Guardiola was captured by television cameras celebrating each of Haaland's strikes against Copenhagen with a look of disbelief and explained his reaction on Friday, revealing that he was taken aback by his player's poacher's instinct. "It's just the deflection and he was there," the City manager said. "Why does the ball go to where he is? This is an incredible instinct. What can I teach him about being here or there? "He has an incredible sense of strikers that the ball is going to finish. If he goes one second before, the ball won't be there but he has this incredible talent. Deflection? Cross? He is there. That is why I was surprised. Guardiola added: "How can I as a manager teach him? It's impossible but it's instincts and natural. He did it in Norway, Austria, Germany you don't have to say anything. He just moves like he smells it. "Thank you so much for choosing us and to Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], Ferran [Soriano], Txiki [Begiristain] all the people involved to bring here here because we are fortunate to have him here." Despite having nothing to teach him, Guardiola still believes that Haaland can improve, but he has also been impressed by how quickly the Norway international has adapted to life in Manchester, and the chemistry he has found with his new team-mates. "He sees since he is here what we want to do, how we want to defend, attack, the moments you have to do, where are the spaces," the City manager said. "The connection with Kevin, Phil, Riyad, Gundo, Bernardo, Jack they play. Erling, like Julian knows when Kevin has the ball he knows what type of passes he likes. Its natural. "Everyone can improve. I think he is ready for that. I think everyone knows they can do. The only thing to never stop until we die is [the desire] to improve. We have the chance to always improve until we die and he is not an exception." Liverpool has been selected as host city for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, the wildly popular music competition that will be entering its 67th year. The city of the Beatles won out Friday over Glasgow, the fellow finalist from a shortlist of UK cities that included Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. The news comes after the UK over the summer was awarded to host Eurovision, an honor traditionally given to the winning country the previous year. Ukraine won that right this year with Kalush Orchestra taking the title, but the country was forced to bow out because of its ongoing war with Russia. More from Deadline The UK finished second with Sam Ryders Space Man, giving it second position to become host. The 2023 contest will hold semifinals on May 9 and May 11 at Liverpools M&S Bank Arena, with the grand final Saturday, May 13. Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl said today. The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last years winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May. Liverpool will host #Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraineand its gonna be proper boss Find out all about Liverpool 2023 right here: https://t.co/a1zGojGfbr pic.twitter.com/7sZ7SaYjg2 Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) October 7, 2022 The 2023 Eurovision contest will be the ninth to be hosted in the UK, which hasnt hosted for 25 years. The BBC will be the host broadcaster. Story continues Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The once hard-hitting Alabama safety inked a new deal with the New York Giants on Thursday morning. He once played for the Giants from 2015 to 2018. Collins, the Louisiana native, spent three seasons at Alabama. He was a unanimous All-American during his junior season in 2014. He was a key part of Alabamas first College Football Playoff appearance in 2015 against Ohio State. Following the season finale, he declared for the 2015 NFL Draft and was drafted No. 33 overall by the New York Giants. Collins would spend four years with the organization before signing as a free agent with the Washington Commanders. Now, he will reunite with the Giants once again. He is scheduled to join the team in London but isnt expected to play this weekend against the Green Bay Packers. It will be an interesting reunion considering how his free agency unfolded in 2018 when he chose to sign with a division rival. The New York Giants are reuniting with 2015 second-round pick Landon Collins after he spent three seasons in Washington. https://t.co/GKnnEBWP0D TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire) October 6, 2022 Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Collins professional career as well as other former Alabama players in the NFL. [mm-video type=video id=01gemgz807t2y3mgkh1m playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gemgz807t2y3mgkh1m/01gemgz807t2y3mgkh1m-2b2ff08355f2ffc57343607759b92550.jpg] [listicle id=57286] [listicle id=57259] [listicle id=57256] Story originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire Furman University A computer science professor at Furman University confirmed Thursday that he attended the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and said he was exercising his right to freedom of speech by doing so. The rally drew hundreds of white supremacists to Charlottesville, where they marched with lit tiki torches and chanted, "Jews will not replace us." Fights broke out between the demonstrators and counter-protesters, injuring 35 people. The rally ended when neo-Nazi James Fields drove his car into a crowd, killing Heather Heyer. Furman University President Elizabeth Davis announced Sept. 30 that the university was investigating the situation and that the professor would not teach or be on campus as the university "determines next steps." INVESTIGATION:Furman University professor under investigation for 'Unite the Right' rally participation The professor, Christopher Healy, said the situation is a free-speech issue. "I am an American citizen, and I am being punished because I exercised my rights as a U.S. citizen. Basically, that's all this is about," he told The Greenville News. Photos, video show Furman professor Christopher Healy at infamous 2017 Charlottesville rally A Twitter thread posted Sept. 30 by Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action a social media account "dedicated to exposing Nazis, racists and fascists wherever they hide" identified Healy at the rally based on an anonymous tip. "The views of the organizers of the 'Unite the Right' rally do not reflect the values that I hold, and they are not the values that we have committed to in our vision, mission and values statements," Davis said in the written statement emailed to members of the campus. "They are harmful to members of our community, diminish a sense of belonging, and inhibit each individuals opportunity to thrive. It is our responsibility when matters like these come to light to engage in robust dialogue about what belonging and thriving mean on our campus and beyond." Story continues Healy joined the computer science department at Furman in 1999, according to the university's website. He has taught about 70 classes and supervised about 25 student research projects, and he was the chapter advisor of the honor society in computer science, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, for 10 years. Healy was also Furman's chapter president of Phi Beta Kappa, an academic honor society, from 2009 to 2012, according to his biography online. But questions remain about Healy's activities outside the classroom. Photos and video posted to the Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action account show Healy in the "Unite the Right" crowd in 2017, wearing a green ballcap pulled low over his face. He's seen standing next to people holding flags with swastikas and people holding shields marked with NSM for the National Socialist Movement, considered a modern version of the American Nazi party. Thanks to an anonymous tip, we've identified Unite the Right attendee #PoloHatUTR as Professor Christopher Andrew Healy of Pickens, SC. Welcome to the sunlight! Nice loafers, Chris. Wear them often?#IgniteTheRight pic.twitter.com/ohbwrGRfT5 Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action (@SunlightAFA) September 30, 2022 Healy is also seen standing next to someone wearing a shirt with a logo of League of the South. Founded by Southern university professors, League of the South is a racist and anti-Semitic group that believes the South should secede and be ruled by white men, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit organization that specializes in matters of civil rights. "It just so happens I was standing next to people who belong to organizations that I've never heard of, or disavow," Healy said. "I don't know what they were, but I didn't recognize them. Or if I did recognize them, I was disgusted by them." Furman professor defends Unite the Right rally attendance In 2021, a Virginia jury ruled multiple white-supremacist leaders and hate groups should pay more than $25 million in damages to plaintiffs who said they suffered physical or emotional injuries from the rally. Healy said that, while he attended the rally, he "basically did nothing." "I did nothing other than attend a peaceful public meeting," Healy said. "I was waiting for guest speakers to speak, and the event was canceled. So I left." The Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action account also posted screenshots of Healy's address and "secret email" on a 2008 British National Party members list published by Wikileaks. The British National Party is a far-right fascist political party in the United Kingdom. Healy's information was still on Wikileaks' published list Oct. 6. Healy declined to say if he identified as a member of any groups or organizations. "That's irrelevant," he said. Furman investigates professor's alleged far-right activities, beliefs Furman University has said its investigation into Healy's activities is ongoing. Furman campus leaders and community members will offer opportunities to process the incident in the coming weeks, according to Davis' statement. "Furman University is stronger when we embrace and celebrate diversity and when we denounce racism, exclusion and hatred," Davis said. Gail Wilson Awan, president and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate, released a statement on social media Sunday in support of Furman's response. "They say that true leadership is being there when it counts most. Instead of looking the other way, or even worse, justifying doing nothing, Elizabeth Davis, the 12th president of Furman University, continues to take such action," Awan said. "The ULUS supports the leadership of president Davis and stands with her and those who unequivocally condemn acts of hate." Meanwhile, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech nonprofit organization, wrote a letter to the university detailing its concerns and posted analysis of the situation. "While some may be deeply offended by Healys attendance at that protest, Furman promises its community freedom of expression and cannot backtrack based on the exercise of that freedom," FIRE writes. "As explained below, because there is no legitimate basis on which Furman may sanction Healy, it must immediately end its investigation and reinstate him to his teaching duties." Healy said he will have more to say as the university completes its investigation. The investigation and his ban from campus has not only affected him but also his department and students, who are now without a professor and a colleague, he said. "I feel like my employer is blaming me for this. I think people are assuming the worst," Healy said. "I am being found guilty by association." This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Furman professor says he exercised free speech at infamous rally Jefferson's Elijah Dewitt. ATHENS, Georgia The Jefferson and Northeast Georgia communities are mourning the death of Jefferson senior wide receiver Elijah DeWitt, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of Sugarloaf Mills Mall Wednesday night. Many players and coaches in the football community were sending thoughts to the family and friends of the Athens Banner-Herald Terrific 20 star on Thursday morning. Gwinnett police spokeswoman Officer Hideshi Valle told the AJC that he was shot multiple times and it's being investigated as a homicide. The Gwinnett Police Department released a press release Thursday afternoon saying the GPD "currently has one suspect in custody out of state in connection with this case." "The investigation is still ongoing, but detectives have reason to believe that this was not a random encounter and that some of the parties involved in the incident were known to each other," the release reads. DeWitt, 17, grew up in Jefferson, playing for the Dragons youth, middle school and high school football teams. The talented receiver spent the 2021 season at Prince Avenue before transferring home to Jefferson this year for his senior season. "The Jefferson High School Football program is heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own, Elijah DeWitt," a statement from the Jefferson football program read. "The DeWitt family is in our thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your understanding as we respect the familys privacy during this time." 'Im just trying to make the city proud': Jefferson football's Elijah Dewitt plans to stay on pace for another 1,000 receiving yard season Having played at both Prince and Jefferson, as well as competing on Cam Newton's 7-on-7 teams in the offseason, DeWitt was well known as a strong talent and competitor across the state. "Loss of words," Prince Avenue senior Bailey Stockton said in a tweet. "Rest in peace (sic) to my brother. I love you dawg forever." In six games this season for the Dragons, DeWitt racked up nearly 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns, in addition to 12 tackles and an interception. Back in May, he picked up his first collegiate offer from Arkansas State. Story continues "We just watched him play a few weeks ago and he was outstanding on both sides of the ball, the offers were coming in for this 2023 WR at Jefferson," said 247Sports' Rusty Mansell in a tweet. "Sick over this! Prayers to the entire Jefferson football community." Our prayers and thoughts go out to the DeWitt Family and the Jefferson Football program.. from one Football Family to the other lets finish this season the way Elijah Played the game!! Wide Open!! #DeWittStrong https://t.co/UIiv6mZOlz Greg Vandagriff (@GVandagriff) October 6, 2022 Man life is crazy! Prayers out to the Dewitt family Forrest Ross (@ForrestRoss16) October 6, 2022 Fly high 2, will forever love you pic.twitter.com/i7HuZ85au3 Tre Reece (@TreReece5) October 6, 2022 Sending my prayers and condolences to the family of @ElijahDewitt3 Khalil Barnes (@KhalilBarnes7) October 6, 2022 Thoughts and prayers out to the friends and families of Elijah Dewitt. LL2 sammy brown (@sammybrown_) October 6, 2022 Our thoughts go out to Elijah's family, friends, and teammates at Jefferson. https://t.co/zNY3pydvta Commerce Tiger Football (@Commerce_FB) October 6, 2022 Heartbroken for the Jefferson community. Praying for @JeffersonFootba and the family of Elijah DeWitt. Tyler Aurandt (@CoachAurandt) October 6, 2022 Praying for the family of Elijah Dewitt from Jefferson, GA this morning. Christian Robinson (@crob45) October 6, 2022 We lost a brother last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with DeWitt Family, the Jefferson High School family and all those impacted by this tragic loss. We will miss you! RIP Elijah "Eazy" Dewitt pic.twitter.com/dhr82FyymR Cam Newton 7V7 (@CamNewton7v7) October 6, 2022 Please keep the Jefferson HS Students, Staff and Community in your thoughts and Prayers. pic.twitter.com/GLXvrHqjcs East Jackson Athletics (@EJ_Athletics) October 6, 2022 This truly doesnt seem real and I am at a loss for words. What an amazing football player but an even better friend. Rest easy brother im proud of you no matter what. Love you big man.#LL2 pic.twitter.com/C5WeRwalS5 Aaron Philo (@PhiloAaron) October 6, 2022 .oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;} Thoughts and Prayers with the Dragon Nation. Rest up #2 pic.twitter.com/d2QhbU4DN0 Jaiden Daniels (@6Babygoat) October 6, 2022 Thoughts and Prayers up to the Dewitt family!! LL2 Skyler Zimmerman (@SkylerZimmerman) October 6, 2022 Woke up to the terrible news of the loss of our teammate, our brother, and our friend. You impacted all of our lives and we are so grateful for the time we had with you. You are loved and you are missed. LLE pic.twitter.com/7ztfq4sgpP Mason Durning (@MasonDurning6) October 6, 2022 The loss of Elijah DeWitt is heartbreaking news. Elijah's family, friends, teammates and coaches - including those at Prince Avenue where I got to know him last year - are all in my prayers. Here are some thoughts I penned about Elijah as well as some fun photos I took of him. pic.twitter.com/vKZWd3eAm6 Justin Hubbard (@JHubb93) October 6, 2022 I wish I had the time and words to respond to the hundreds of heart felt text messages today. On behalf of the Dewitt family, Dragon football and Jefferson communityTHANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/BOGjfpN7gW Travis Noland (@NolandTravis) October 6, 2022 To the Jefferson Community: Our hearts hurt with your hearts. Some things are bigger than sports. pic.twitter.com/9Y1o9R3tHI JACKSON COUNTY PANTHER ATHLETICS (@jcpantherath) October 6, 2022 McClain Baxley is a recruiting reporter for the Athens Banner-Herald and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email at mbaxley@onlineathens.com or on Twitter at @mcclainbaxley. Subscribe today to support local journalism . This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia high school wide receiver Elijah DeWitt killed in parking lot RELEASE Maureen Duffys 1966 book The Microcosm has been adapted as a film featuring two-time Oscar winner Glenda Jackson. In 1966 London, when homosexuality was still criminalized, The Gateways club in Chelsea offered a haven for women to dance, express themselves and love who they want. In the book, based on her own experience, Duffy examined if this gay bar, and those like it, really offered the freedom its patrons crave. In the film, Jackson, along with director Joe Ingham, draw parallels between the past and the present and explore the uncomfortable paradox that exists within queer spaces. The Cheerio production featuring an original score by Helen Noir and animation by Rebecca L. Weil, opens at museum of British LGBTQ history, Queer Britain, London, on Oct. 12. More from Variety Duffy said: The film is awesome. I am amazed I wrote these words all those years ago. I hope they still have a resonance today. And I hope that society today realises that gay people have so much to offer the world, they deserve the world. Being gay has always been part of the human possibility, there is no use in trying to suppress it. Jackson said: Maureen is one of the most talented writers of her generation and yet she remains, in my opinion, underrated. It has been a privilege bringing her words to life. Ingham added: Maureen has produced one of the most powerful pieces of writing about the queer experience and yet it remains criminally underrated and obscure. I hope a new audience discovers The Microcosm and Maureens work through this new film. PRODUCTION Writer-director Sonja Prosenc has commenced shooting her third feature Redemption in the town of Vodice, near Ljubljana. The film follows Olivija and Aleksander who live a normal life with their daughter, Agata. What seems to be a perfect family falls apart when 25-year-old Julian appears at their home. His arrival turns Olivija and Aleksanders life upside down and reveals their dysfunctional relationship. Story continues The cast includes Katarina Stegnar, Marko Mandic, Mila Bezjak, Aliocha Schenider and Kristoffer Joner. Redemption is produced by Rok Secen through Monoo in coproduction with Marta Zaccaron through Incipit Film (Italy), Tamara Babun through Wolfgang & Dolly (Croatia), Dimce Stojanovski through Living Pictures (Serbia) and Jarle Bjorknes through Incitus Film (Norway). The project is supported by the Slovenian Film Centre, MiC Ministero della Cultura (Italy), Fondo Audiovisivo FVG (Italy), FVG Film Commission (Italy), the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Film Center Serbia and RTV Slovenija. In association with Film New Europe. STREAMING Amazon Prime Video Indias first Telugu-language original movie, Ammu, will stream from Oct. 19. Petta filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj serves as creative producer, and the film is produced by Kalyan Subramanian and Kaarthekeyen Santhanam of Stone Bench Films, and written and directed by Charukesh Sekar. The film is follows titular Ammu who overcomes domestic abuse. Aishwarya Lekshmi (Ponniyin Selvan: 1) plays Ammu and the cast also includes Naveen Chandra (Pattas) and Bobby Simha (Mahaan). DISTRIBUTION Passion Distribution has acquired international distribution rights to season 1 of reality title Men of West Hollywood (10 x 60), from production company Get Me Out Productions, for territories beyond the U.S. and Canada and will present to buyers at the upcoming Mipcom market (Oct. 17-20). The series follows six male socialites in West Hollywood as they live, work, and party. The cast, around half of whom identify as LGBTQ+, is led by Mr. California David Barta, a model and personal trainer; Justin Jedlica, a plastic surgery consultant, known around the world as the Human Ken Doll; Darren Tieste, a celebrity photographer; Murray Swanby, a club promoter and top underwear model; Brennen Taylor, a YouTube star; and Landon Wetterstrom. The men make their way through West Hollywoods hottest parties and red carpet events dishing drama at every turn. The series premiered on Crackle Plus in January. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The GOPs Senate campaign arm is reportedly pulling millions of dollars out of the New Hampshire Senate race and redirecting it to other states. Politicos Natalie Allison reported Friday that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) said the move was a result of other ad money being spent in the state to support Don Bolduc, the Republican nominee for Senate who is attempting to defeat Sen. Maggie Hassan (D). The committee is diverting the funding to races in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Nevada. The Hill has reached out to the NRSC. The announcement comes as Bolduc has faced controversy in his candidacy and his poll numbers consistently trail Hassans. Bolduc, a retired Army general, won the Republican nomination last month over the more moderate establishment favorite, state Senate President Chuck Morse. Bolduc falsely claimed that former President Trump won the 2020 presidential election and once called New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) a Chinese communist sympathizer. He reversed his position on the 2020 election results after winning the nomination, saying that the election was not stolen and Trump lost to President Biden. Polls have shown Hassan with large leads over Bolduc. She led her Republican challenger by about 8.5 points in a Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll late last month and leads by about 7 points in the FiveThirtyEight polling average. Republicans saw the seat as key to their goal to retake the majority in the Senate, but Bolduc has struggled to close the gap with Hassan. Hassans communications director, Kevin Donohoe, tweeted that the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.), is still spending more than $14 million through the rest of the campaign to defeat Hassan. The one and only thing I agree with the NRSC on: there is still a TON of GOP spending against Senator Hassan, he said. This story was updated at 5:59 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims said a tip led investigators to human remains Sept. 30 that have been identified as a man missing from the Guntersville area. Marshall County investigators found the remains in rural Blount County near the town of Susan Moore. The Alabama Department of Forensic Science now has identified the remains as James Tracy Denson, who'd been reported missing Aug. 6; he was last seen in Guntersville Aug. 1. Sims said the Susan Moore police and fire departments, the Blount County Sheriff's Office, the Blount County Coroner's Office and the Marshall County District Attorney's Office assisted with recovery of the body. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Human remains found in Blount County identified as Marshall County man Many Firsts But Dont Be Last 12 new teams start their journey on THE AMAZING RACE outside the U.S., in Munich, Germany, and in this seasons shocking new twist, one team will be eliminated at the end of every leg, on the season premiere of the CBS original series THE AMAZING RACE, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:59-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*. Phil Keoghan is the host. Pictured L-R: Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert. Kit Karzen/CBS Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert on The Amazing Race More than one year after they first met, identical twins Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert are watching themselves and each other compete on The Amazing Race. The 37-year-old sisters first opened up to PEOPLE about being separated at birth in June 2021, just weeks after the pair learned they were siblings through an at-home DNA test. Bushnell and Sinert were one of 12 teams that competed for the $1 million prize on season 34 of the award-winning reality series, which is currently airing on CBS. Sinert said she enjoyed getting to know her sister on the Race though they were forced to do so at a rather "fast" pace on Wednesday's episode of the podcast Reality Life with Kate Casey. RELATED: Twins Who Married Twins and Gave Birth to Genetic Siblings Say Their 'Quaternary Marriage' Is 'Magical' "It was a really nice way to get to know each other in a very unconventional setting," Sinert told Casey. "We would have never gotten this close had we not been able to spend time without phones or away from family, just one-on-one together." Emily Bushnell & Molly Sinert from the CBS series THE AMAZING RACE, Season 34. Sonja Flemming/CBS Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert's The Amazing Race cast photo Bushnell and Sinert were born in South Korea in 1985, and ultimately sent to separate foster homes as infants before being adopted by two American families, unaware they were siblings. Bushnell was adopted by Sandy Schwartz Klein and Christopher Bushnell and grew up with three older brothers in a suburb outside of Philadelphia. Sinert grew up as the only child of Merill and Marla Sinert near Orlando. "We have so much to learn about the lives we've lived," Sinert told her sister during their joint interview with PEOPLE. "But I feel like you know me better than anyone." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Filming for the current season of The Amazing Race began on May 22, according to Reality Blurred almost exactly one year after Bushnell and Sinert learned they were twins. Story continues Sinert told Casey that the Race not only helped her and her sister bond, but also gave them a chance to know each other on a deeper level. Patience, is the New Me Teams explore the beauty of Austria and must learn a traditional wedding dance, yodel and a song performed on alpine bells, on a special 90 minute episode of the CBS original series THE AMAZING RACE, Wednesday, Sept. 28 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*. Phil Keoghan is the host. Pictured (L-R): Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert. CBS Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert on The Amazing Race "Just seeing how her experiences impact the way she even runs or reads the clue," Sinert said on the podcast. "Those little things that you don't necessarily talk about, you just see it happen." Rewatching themselves competing on the Race, Bushnell added, is just "another unique way" for the sisters to get to know each other. RELATED: Salyers Family Photos: See Pictures of the Identical Twins Who Married Identical Twins and Their Cute Kids "Because we're just living the day-to-day, right? This big thing happened, but we still have to go to work, and I still have to get my daughter to school and dentist appointments and all that you kind of forget and it gets lost," she explained. "So I'm really happy to be able to reconnect and reflect on it again. And we need to continue doing it, because it's so important and we have so much more to unpack, and we continue to do that through these conversations." The Amazing Race airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. An influencer has candidly revealed how much money she earns from each social media platform for her content. Erika Kullberg, a lawyer who uses her TikTok to share investment advice, money-saving hacks and travel tips, has accumulated more than 9m followers on the platform. In addition to her TikTok followers, she has 4.1m followers on Instagram, 3.3m followers on Facebook and 755,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel. In a video posted to her TikTok on Wednesday, the content creator and founder of legal tech startup, Plug and Law, opened up about the income she makes as a result of her followings and content, with Kullberg revealing that she earns a few dollars each day from the video-sharing platform alone. In case youre curious, here is how much every social media platform has paid me with 17m followers, Kullberg began the video. According to Kullberg, who noted that she started creating TikTok videos exactly a year ago, she has since accumulated a lifetime total of 452m views on the platform. And you can see that Im making a few dollars each day, she continued as she showed a screen recording of the daily payments, which ranged from $2.23 to $24.88. That brings my total earnings on TikTok to $3,255, Kullberg revealed, before adding: BUT, wait until you compare that to YouTube. TikTok pays creators through its Creator Fund, which the platform created as a way of giving creators the opportunity to earn money doing what they love and turn their passion into a livelihood. According to the platform, the funds that each creator can earn are worked out by a combination of factors; including the number of views and the authenticity of those views, the level of engagement on the content, as well as making sure content is in line with our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. To be eligible for the Creator Fund, TikTok notes that a creator must be based in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain or Italy, be at least 18, have at least 10,000 followers and have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. Story continues The influencer then moved on to her Facebook account, where she said she began posting videos just a few months ago. According to Kullberg, since she started using the platform to share her content, she has received three payouts, with the first for $447 and the second for $895. Kullberg then revealed that she received her biggest payout from Facebook in September, when she earned $1,729 from the platform. While reflecting on her Facebook content, Kullberg noted that the cool thing is that the videos she posts on the platform are the same ones she already made for TikTok. So theres no extra work besides hitting upload, she said. In the video, Kullberg then directed her attention to Instagram, where she said her videos have received 263m views. Interestingly, Kullberg said that Instagram pays some creators, but not if you have over 1m followers, which she said means that she has made zero dollars from the social media platform. While influencers can make a significant amount from Instagram posts, the revenue does not come from the platform directly, but rather from brands and advertisers. According to the influencer, when it comes to how YouTube pays its creators, she said that it varies depending on whether its a short video or a long video. Kullberg then used her own content as an example, showing viewers a screenshot of a short 29-second video shed posted to the platform about a credit card hack that has since been viewed 1.8m times. And I made $3 from it, she said. However, as a result of a 12-minute video shed uploaded to the platform, which was viewed 2.3m times, YouTube paid Kullberg $35,000, according to her TikTok. For my grand total earnings from YouTube, and remember this is all BEFORE taxes, $196,000, Kullberg revealed. According to Kullbergs YouTube channel, she posted her first video on 29 October 2019. Similarly to TikTok, YouTube has a Partner Program, which gives creators greater access to YouTube resources and monetisation features. The eligibility requirements for the video-sharing platform include having more than 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months and more than 1,000 subscribers. As of Thursday, Kullbergs video has been viewed more than 1.8m times, with viewers in the comments praising her for the transparency. This transparency! one person commented, while another said: Not a lot of people would show this. Thats so cool and transparent. Congrats btw. Im always so curious how much creators make. Thanks for sharing the info! someone else wrote. Others revealed that they were inspired to start creating content on YouTube, with one person joking: Okay okay I should get my YouTube channel going. I need to make a YouTube, another person wrote. For the second year, Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day will both be celebrated in Texas on October 10. In 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott, for the first time in the state's history, signed a resolution to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day. The second Monday in October has already been recognized as the federal holiday, Columbus Day. The day was first federally recognized under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. It became a legal holiday in 1971. While Columbus Day is a federal holiday, states and local governments can choose to not observe it. More:Which states and cities officially celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day? In recent years, several municipalities and states have chosen to note Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day because of the complicated history of Native American people and Europeans who came here. To date, 14 states Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin do not officially celebrate Columbus Day. South Dakota has Native American Day instead of Columbus Day. At least 130 local governments also choose to not celebrate Columbus Day or celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day or a different holiday instead. A number of supporters gather for a rally for Indigenous Peoples Day hosted by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) at the State House before the summer recess on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Is Indigenous Peoples Day a new holiday? Indigenous Peoples Day was first considered by the United Nations conference in 1977. South Dakota was the first state to celebrate a Native American Day beginning in 1989. Indigenous Peoples Day was first recognized in Berkley, California in 1992, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Columbus arrival in the Americas Oct. 12, 1492. The holiday, which celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Native Americans, has grown in popularity over the years. Supporters of the bill for Indigenous Peoples Day head from office to office in the State house advocating for the bill to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day before the summer recess on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. President Joe Biden is the first U.S. president to issue an official proclamation marking Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021. He said in the proclamation that it is a day in which the country celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Governments trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. Story continues Biden also issued a proclamation Oct. 8, 2021, marking Columbus Day saying, "Today, let this day be one of reflection on Americas spirit of exploration, on the courage and contributions of Italian Americans throughout the generations, on the dignity and resilience of Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and on the work that remains ahead of us to fulfill the promise of our Nation for all." While some states chosen to mark both Columbus and Ingenious Peoples Day, such as Texas, other states are doing away with Columbus Day altogether. States that did away with Columbus Day Hawaii celebrates Discoverers Day in place of Columbus Day in recognition of the Polynesian discoverers that first came to the Hawaiian Islands. In 2017, Alaska signed into law recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day in Alaska in lieu of Columbus Day. New Mexico dropped Columbus Day in 2019. Tennessee moved Columbus Day recognition to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Colorado instead celebrates Cabrini Day, which began in 2020, in the first Monday of October instead of Columbus Day. This celebrates the humanitarian efforts of Frances Xavier Cabrini and is also the first paid state holiday recognizing a woman in the U.S. Other states that do not officially observe Columbus Day include Arkansas, parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Washington, D.C., Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, parts of North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Texas celebrates both but neither is official paid holiday In Texas, Indigenous Peoples Day does not replace Columbus Day and both are celebrated the second Monday in October. Neither is an official paid state holiday. Columbus Day is a federal holiday but is not considered a major one. There will not be postal service, and banks will be closed. But most businesses will remain open. Most nonfederal businesses will remain open, and while school is not usually closed for Columbus Day, Wichita Falls ISD students are out of school this Monday for parent-teacher conferences. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Texas marks second year of Indigenous Peoples Day recognition Jordan Peele is looking to push boundaries as a writer, director and producer every time he creates something new. Im going to keep trying to come up with original stories, and meet the expectations the audience has for me, Peele says. I hope to continue to lift original filmmakers up. On this episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, we sit down with Academy Award winner Peele to discuss his two feature film projects in the awards conversation: the sci-fi horror film Nope, which he wrote and directed, and the animated feature Wendell & Wild, which he voiced, co-wrote and produced. More from Variety Also on the episode, he talks about his long friendship and collaboration with Keegan-Michael Key, and whether fans might ever see the comedy duo reboot their beloved Comedy Central and Emmy-winning sketch series Key & Peele. Listen below: Peele walks into this awards season with two very different projects. Over the summer he reunited with his Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya on the sci-fi horror flick Nope from Universal Pictures, which grossed over $170 million worldwide. Filming during a global pandemic challenged Peele in ways he could never imagine. Theres a meta-aspect about putting yourself in the craziest situation, to try and get that impossible shot in order to make something special, he says. The other contender is the animated feature Wendell & Wild, from legendary Oscar-nominated director Henry Selick (Coraline). Selick pitched the project seven years ago; Peele signed on as a voice actor, co-writer and producer. Peele had long been a fan of Selicks since his stunning debut The Nightmare Before Christmas (1994), which became the first animated film to be nominated for visual effects. Story continues Wendell & Wild isnt trying to be cutesy or undermine childrens intellectual capacities. When I was growing up movies took kids a little bit more seriously, in some ways than they are treated now, Peele says. Peele has already landed in the cimedia history books. He became the first Black person ever nominated by the Academy Awards for best picture, director and original screenplay with his horror film debut Get Out (2017). He won the screenplay prize, becoming the first African-American ever to win the category. The next year, he garnered another Oscar nom for Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman (2018), becoming the first Black producer to be nominated twice. Lee won his first statuette for adapted screenplay. Later in this episode, Varietys Jazz Tangcay chats with Filipina actor Dolly de Leon about her breakout role in the award-winning film Triangle of Sadness. The film, from Ruben Ostlund, was a sensation at the Cannes film festival, where it won the Palme Dor. Varietys Awards Circuit podcast, produced by Michael Schneider, who also co-hosts with Clayton Davis, is your one-stop listen for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each week Awards Circuit features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much, much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts. New episodes post weekly. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Resolution will help stop 'reign of terror' State Board of Education member Brendan Shea has introduced a resolution regarding the use of Title IX that will help reinforce our rights to raise our children without interference from the government. More:Faith leaders: Ohio board of Ed member should study Bible, abandon anti-Christian attack Passing this resolution will help stop the reign of terror by the federal government, the biggest bully and threat to parents and to the safety of our children. They want to gut Title IX, which will destroy the very premise it was created for to protect girls from discrimination in schools, athletics, and academia. The new version will amputate the rights of parents to make healthcare choices for our children by allowing schools to hide information from parents about our children based on the parents might abuse the child if they know their child is transgender. That is a grossly false narrative. More:Ohio Board of Education resolution says person's sex 'unchangeable fact' Parents cannot be denied their rights because some may react negatively. Sadly, some children may unfortunately fall victim to unsympathetic parents and there are resources outside of schools for them to receive help. Schools are adopting radical gender identity policies to keep receiving federal funding. It is the federal government who is threatening to withhold money, like the Department of Agriculture, who says no more free or reduced lunch unless you adopt these harmful policies. This resolution is standing up for our rights as parents to raise our children as we see fit. The United States Supreme Court has ruled five times in favor of parental rights: Troxel v. Granville (2000); Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925); Prince v. Massachusetts (1944); Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972); Moore v. East Cleveland (1977). Most importantly the rights of parents cannotbe denied. Therefore, the State Board of Education must pass Brendan Sheas Title IX Resolution. Story continues Lisa B. Chaffee, director, Ohio Parents Rights in Education 'Where are the rights of the majority of students?' Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted into law to ensure that "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." More:Ohio Attorney General sues to stop USDA rule banning gender identity discrimination On June 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education via the Biden Administration released proposed changes to Title IX regulations that would contradict the plain language of the law. The proposed regulations would prohibit all schools that receive federal funds, from adopting a policy or engaging in a practice that prevents a person from participating in an education program or activity consistent with their gender identity, forcing schools to deny biological reality and fact-based science. The problems this change could cause are enormous by allowing gender identity to put girls and boys together in locker rooms and restrooms. Where are the rights of the majority of students? Please contact the Ohio State School board by email at SBOE@education.ohio.gov to comment on these changes if you feel that all students have rights to safety and privacy. Linda Bishop, Findlay Letters to the Editor Share your thoughts:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: What do supporters say about Brendan Shea's gender resolution Luckiest Girl Alive. Mila Kunis as Ani in Luckiest Girl Alive. Cr. Sabrina Lantos/Netflix 2022. Sabrina Lantos/Netflix Mila Kunis in Luckiest Girl Alive (2022) Warning: This post contains spoilers for Luckiest Girl Alive, now streaming on Netflix. What's next for Ani FaNelli? Luckiest Girl Alive, the film adaptation of Jessica Knoll's 2015 bestseller, ends with Mila Kunis' lead character Ani making the decision to publicly speak out about being sexually assaulted as a teen. Her powerful essay makes it into The New York Times and inspires fellow survivors to feel less alone. Also, she calls off her wedding at the last minute, admitting to her wealthy fiance Luke (Finn Wittrock) that she was merely using him to complete her seemingly perfect life. The movie extends slightly past where the book leaves off and mirrors some real-life Today show comments Knoll once made about sharing her own personal connection to the fictional story. The author, 38, previously revealed she was sexually assaulted at 15 and based Ani's storyline on her own trauma. The reader comments included in the ending are an amalgam of actual messages she received after coming forward, and Knoll's voice is one of the narrators featured in that sequence. Kunis, 39, who is also a producer on the film, recently told PEOPLE she would be on board if asked to return for a sequel: "Oh my God, I hope my character is happier! Yeah, of course [I would]. I love Jess." RELATED: Why Mila Kunis Didn't Go Blonde for Luckiest Girl Alive Role: 'Nobody Wants That!' LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE. Mila Kunis as Ani in Luckiest Girl Alive Sabrina Lantos/Netflix Mila Kunis in Luckiest Girl Alive (2022) Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Chiara Aurelia, who plays Kunis' teen counterpart in flashbacks, echoed that sentiment, adding, "Yes a hundred-million times over. I love every single person involved with this project and I would do anything to work with them all again. Truly." What would Knoll envision for a potential sequel? She wants to explore more of Ani's best friend Nell, played in the movie by Succession star Justine Lupe. "Sometimes I think about writing Nell's story. Like, where is Nell these days? So maybe," says Knoll. Story continues Producer Bruna Papandrea (who's behind shows like Big Little Lies, The Undoing and Nine Perfect Strangers) also teases "never say never" about a potential sequel and floats the idea of a Netflix spin-off series. RELATED: How Luckiest Girl Alive Writer Jessica Knoll Found 'Clarity' Years After Being Assaulted at 15 Jessica Knoll, Chiara Aurelia, Mila Kunis and Finn Wittrock attend the premiere of Netflix's "Luckiest Girl Alive" at Paris Theater on September 29, 2022 in New York City. Taylor Hill/WireImage From left: Jessica Knoll, Chiara Aurelia, Mila Kunis and Finn Wittrock Knoll, who is also working on adapting her second novel The Favorite Sister for television and has two other movie screenplays in the works, says it's "bittersweet" to put a close to her deeply personal Luckiest Girl Alive chapter. For now, though, she's glad it's reaching an entirely new audience on Netflix. "It feels like there's a lot of emotion behind this project and thinking that I'll never work on it again is bittersweet. But at the same time, it was time. Seven years is a long time, even more than that because I started writing the book in 2013, so it's almost 10 years that this story and character have been a part of my life," Knoll says. Luckiest Girl Alive is now streaming on Netflix. The novel is available wherever books are sold. NEW YORK Perched atop blue velvet stools, the members of Maneskin emanate modern glam rock with their mix of ruffled shirts, latex knee-high boots and impeccable cheekbones. The quartet singer Damiano David, drummer Ethan Torchio, bassist Victoria De Angelis and guitarist Thomas Raggi are a few hours from scrunching onto a petite stage at House of X on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, but pleasantly endure the professional obligations attached to their burgeoning fame. Coming from Italy, we feel like were going into (the kind of success) that was not possible in our country, David says. Its a bit of a dream to break through in America, De Angelis adds with a humble smile. The intimate show, part of SiriusXMs Small Stage Series, is an appreciated downsizing for Maneskin, whose past year has included opening for the Rolling Stones at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, playing for hundreds of thousands of music revelers at Coachella and multiple Lollapaloozas worldwide and triumphantly returning home for a sold-out concert for 70,000 at Romes famed Circus Maximus. On Friday, the band followed up their adrenalized U.S. breakthrough "Supermodel" with emotional ballad "The Loneliest." A tribute that 'rocks harder': Taylor Hawkins concert in L.A. brings out Def Leppard, Joan Jett Damiano David (left) and Thomas Raggi of Maneskin perform for SiriusXM's Small Stage Series at House of X on July 28, 2022, in New York. For the uninitiated, the band's name is pronounced "moh-nay-skin. Yes, Maneskin is a Danish word meaning moonlight and, yes, the quartet all in their early 20s hails from Italy. De Angelis, however, is half-Danish, and they liked the sound of the word when choosing a name for the group, which originated in 2016 and spent its formative years busking around Rome. During the New York concert, about 3,000 zealous Maneskin enthusiasts sweat and shout along as David captivates them. Blistering rockers both in Italian (Mammamia, Zitti e Buoni, the latter of which earned their Eurovision victory in 2021) and English (the bands muscular cover of The Four Seasons Beggin, the growlingly seductive I Wanna Be Your Slave) cascade from the stage. Story continues At the end of Touch Me, a galloping showcase for the rhythm section of Torchio and De Angelis, Maneskin dovetails into The Whos My Generation. At its close, David yells, This is my generation! Indeed, Maneskin is not only slapping a modern veneer on a sagging rock genre, but spearheading a revival for aficionados of well-crafted melodies with bite. All of them credit American artists for sparking their interest in music: Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante for Raggi; Kim Gordon and Tina Weymouth for De Angelis; Buddy Rich and Dave Grohl for Torchio. Elton honored: President Biden presents Elton John with Humanities Medal Damiano David of Maneskin performs at Coachella music festival on April 24, 2022, in Indio, California. David cites Steven Tyler as an icon worth emulating, but also praises Elvis Presley. The band contributed a swoony rendition of If I Can Dream to the recent Elvis movie soundtrack. Basically, he created how to be cool on stage, says David, who has learned well from the masters. The Maneskin momentum sparked in the U.S. by their who-is-that performance of Beggin on the American Music Awards last year and a prime slot on Saturday Night Live in January continued into overdrive throughout the summer. In August, the band grabbed headlines when De Angelis experienced a wardrobe malfunction: Her one-shouldered shirt slid off during their performance of Supermodel at MTVs Video Music Awards, where they won best alternative video for I Wanna Be Your Slave. (Following the edited version that aired live, a tastefully blurred video of the performance was posted on MTV's official YouTube channel) It was definitely an Oh, well, moment. Nothing new for me, says De Angelis, checking in from a studio in Rome with the rest of Maneskin. I didnt think this big drama would come out of it. The guys laugh off the incident, with David joking that, Were so used to seeing her (breasts), we didnt even know it was happening. Its, like, normal, Torchio chimes in with a grin. Revelations from Rolling Stone: Jann Wenner memoir dishes on Bowie, Lennon, Springsteen Maneskin (from left): Ethan Torchio, Victoria De Angelis, Damiano David and Thomas Raggi Indeed, the foursome banter and tease like siblings, often talking over each other as they share stories, particularly about filming the video for The Loneliest, a rain-soaked affair featuring a dramatically distraught David. It was so hard, De Angelis says. It was two days in the countryside in Milan and it was cold. ... The rain, it was like five times as much as you see on camera, like a real thunderstorm. We were completely wet and there were fans blowing all this wind. But despite the unpleasantries associated with crafting a memorable visual accompaniment, the band is hyped about putting out another fresh song while they continue to work on their next full-length album. The Loneliest, which David says was inspired by an episode of Peaky Blinders, is a massive power ballad that new fans of the band might consider a stylistic shift. But those familiar with Maneskins first two Italian/English releases Il Ballo Della Vita and Teatro dira: Vol. 1 will find it recognizable territory. The ballad is actually a huge part of our DNA, David says. Its something we like to do but havent had a chance to in the past year. But we felt it was the right time to show this other side of us. Party with a rock star?: Make sure to read the fine print on VIP packages Maneskin from left, Ethan Torchio, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi and Damiano David are preparing for a sold-out U.S. tour starting Oct. 31, 2022. The song comes a few weeks before Maneskin launches its first full-fledged North American tour. Dubbed the Loud Kids world tour, the run already sold out or moved to bigger venues in most cities will crisscross the country through December before the band returns to Europe in February for a four-month jaunt. They acknowledge that the past year has whizzed by without much ability to savor the numerous highlights. Its very hard when you have too much to do every day to realize the moment and the experience, Raggi says. But were learning in the process to set boundaries between working hard and having more free time to relax, De Angelis adds. While most of Maneskin is curious to experience the U.S. beyond the major cities theyve previously played, De Angelis is dreading a staple of road life. I hate the bus! she says, as Raggi playfully contradicts her with I love the bus! When its pointed out that busing across the country is the best way to see it, De Angelis laughs. Lies! she says. All lies! Her bandmates nod and continue to needle her, a lighthearted moment in a year packed with expectations. Review: Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett rock in DC, despite rain, lightning and broken ribs This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maneskin unveils 'The Loneliest,' addresses VMAs wardrobe malfunction Max Drazen Photo: Claire Schmitt (Courtesy of Capitol Records) Max Drazen has shared his infectious new single Blurry Pictures, on which he examines the pitfalls of love in the digital era. Blurry pictures of your nights out on Instagram/Nights that I wish we had, Drazen sings on the upbeat new track, before landing the kicker that betrays the issue with falling in love with strangers online. Do you even know who I am? In a press release, the rising star explained: The song came about because I shamelessly fell in love with a girl Ive never met. I came across her on the explore page on Instagram. I wanted to let her know how I felt, but Im not a huge DM person. So instead, I wrote a love letter (which became Blurry Pictures), letting her know that I wanted to be the one in the pictures on her Instagram. Our star-crossed love fizzled out just as quickly as it started when I realized shes from halfway across the world and that I sadly wasnt planning on living in Germany any time soon. Although, it did give me a pretty great song if I do say so myself. Blurry Pictures follows Drazens previous two singles, Let Me Down Slow and Caffeine, which scored him praise from the likes of PEOPLE and Earmilk, the latter of which described his voice as sultry, but with just a touch of reminiscence and nostalgic innocence. EUPHORIA, meanwhile, said of the artist: Already demonstrating his skills as a lyrical tycoon with a sound that surpasses the singular categories of a typical genre, Drazen is in the ideal space to mold himself into the pop star hes meant to be. Born and raised in Connecticut, Drazens first influences came from his parents record collectionElton John and Billy Joel. As he got older, he fell in love with artists like Smino, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bellion, and Two Door Cinema Club. The pieces would connect during his junior year of high school when Drazen went over to a friends house and wrote his first song. Buy or stream Blurry Pictures. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. Jessica hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana. Patriot Ledger reporter Jessica Trufant will be hosting open hours for the public from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at in Meeting Room 134 at Tufts Library, 46 Broad St. Feel free to stop by to ask questions, make a suggestion or simply say hello. It's also a great opportunity to check out the new library if you haven't already been. You can also email her at jtrufant@patriotledger.com. Executive Editor Gregory Mathis will be there as well. A little about Jess, who just wrote this subscriber-only blockbuster development story you don't want to miss, in her own words: I've worked at the Ledger for nine years and I've covered Weymouth for about five. I grew up in the Metrowest area, and spent summers in Marshfield since I was a kid. I have lots of family ties to Ledgerland. Fun fact: An ancestor on my father's side immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and settled in Duxbury in 1639. Apparently we don't travel too far. My husband is a firefighter (my dad was one, too) and we live just north of Boston. He basically had to drag me kicking and screaming over the Zakim Bridge, but I've adjusted. I still stand firm that North Shore traffic is worse than South Shore, though. I have a chocolate Lab and an 8-year-old bonus daughter, and I love spending time outside and trying new restaurants. Jessica, her husband, Jon, daughter, Hailey and dog, Ace. In the last year, I've covered topics from controversial proposed funeral home changes to the opening of the new Chapman Middle School and the ongoing fight against the compressor station. I've written about the openings of new restaurants, the reinvention of others (check out The Venetian update here) and the closings of some long-time beloved ones. Then there's loads of other stories about murder, community projects such as a new playground, South Shore hospital and its changes over the years including how it handles mental health, and education did you see this special Wahlberg appearance at a Weymouth school. St. Francis: Weymouth developer wants to renovate rectory, build 14 single-family homes This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Meet Weymouth reporter Jessica Trufant in person Oct. 12 By the time the red, white and blue-colored microphone had been switched off, the crowd of 3,000 had listened to hours of invective and grievance. Were under warfare, one speaker told them. Another said she would take a bullet for my nation, while a third insisted, They hate you because they hate Jesus." Attendees were told now is the time to put on the whole armor of God. Then retired three-star Army general Michael Flynn, the tour's biggest draw, invited people to be baptized. Scores of people walked out of the speakers tent to three large metal tubs filled with water. While praise music played in the background, one conference-goer after another stepped in. Pastors then lowered them under the surface, welcoming them into their movement in the name of Jesus Christ. One woman wore a T-shirt that read Army of God. Flynn warned the crowd that they were in the midst of a spiritual war and a political war and urged people to get involved. ReAwaken America was launched by Flynn, a former White House national security adviser, and Oklahoma entrepreneur Clay Clark a few months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol failed to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Attendees and speakers still insist against all evidence and dozens of court rulings that Donald Trump rightfully won. Since early last year, the ReAwaken America Tour has carried its message of a country under siege to tens of thousands of people in 15 cities and towns. The tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement that's wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party. In the version of America laid out at the ReAwaken tour, Christianity should be at the center of American life and institutions. Instead, it's under attack, and attendees need to fight to restore the nation's Christian roots. Its a message repeated over and over at ReAwaken one that upends the constitutional ideal of a pluralist democracy. But its a message that is taking hold. Story continues A poll by the University of Maryland conducted in May found that 61% of Republicans support declaring the U.S. to be a Christian nation. Christian nationalism, really undermines and attacks foundational values in American democracy. And that is a promise of religious freedoms for all," said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, which advocates for religious freedom. She said the ReAwaken cause is "a partisan political cause, and the cause here is to spread misinformation, to perpetuate the big lie and to have a different result next time in the next election. ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline that includes the upcoming documentary Michael Flynns Holy War, premiering Oct. 18 on PBS and online. ___ ReAwaken acts as a petri dish for Christian nationalism and pushes the idea that theres a battle underway between good and evil forces. Those who are considered evil include government officials and Democrats. Its a pep rally on spiritual steroids said Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University in Michigan, who studies evangelicalism. ReAwaken often appears in churches with speakers addressing attendees from the pulpit. The Batavia show was staged on the grounds of a church, after faith and community leaders in nearby Rochester told organizers they werent welcome. Inside a revival tent set up outside, people sat in white folding chairs packed so tightly the rows between were nearly impassable. From the stage, speakers stirred up fear and hatred. Immigrants are rushing over the border to take your place, one said. Homosexuals and pedophiles are classified in the same category: sinful people who dont honor God. Life-saving vaccines are creating a damn genocide. The enemy wants to muzzle you," another speaker warned. "He wants to shut your mouth. Clark, the Tours principal organizer and emcee, opened the Batavia show bellowing: Good morning, New York! And good morning, New York Attorney General Letitia James! The greeting was a reference to a letter James sent to Flynn and Clark warning them against violent or unlawful conduct. I want you to look around and youll see a group of people that love this country dearly, he said. At this Reawaken America Tour, Jesus is King (and) President Donald J. Trump is our president. The AP and Frontline bought tickets for the Batavia event after Clark invited Frontline to attend one of the tours shows. Reporters spent two days listening to speakers and observing the events from inside. On the second day, security escorted a Frontline reporter from the grounds because, he was told, Flynn believed he intended to cover the event unfavorably. When an AP reporter began interviewing people attending the event at the end of the second day, she was also reported to security. While smaller in scale, the ReAwaken shows are similar in tone to the rallies Trump holds. Grievance and contempt for government institutions are regular themes. ReAwaken speakers have included Trumps sons, Eric and Don Jr., Trump confidant Roger Stone, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has spread anti-vaccine misinformation. For a tour stop scheduled later this month in Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano is listed as a speaker. In Batavia, Greg Locke, a Tennessee pastor, and Eric Trump declared in back-to-back remarks that the FBIs court-authorized search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for classified records showed how the U.S. government has been weaponized against its citizens. Third world Gestapo stuff, said Eric Trump. After he finished speaking, a group gathered to pray over him. Other speakers promoted bizarre theories. One claimed President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 because he threatened to expose a plot to enslave every man, woman and child in the U.S. Another said a Hebrew prophet foretold 2,500 years ago the exact date the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to abortion. There were frequent personal attacks on Democrats, with no remark apparently off limits. Clark questioned the gender of former first lady Michelle Obama. Locke called Democrats baby-butchering mongrels. The volatile combination of politics, Christianity and conspiracy theory pushed at the ReAwaken tour could eventually tip into political violence, several political and religious scholars told AP. Samuel Perry, a sociologist at the University of Oklahoma, has done numerous surveys measuring Christian nationalist ideology. In an August 2021 survey, about half of white Americans who most strongly identified with Christian nationalism said they believe things are getting so bad that real patriots may have to resort to violence. I think all of us believe that America is on the verge of ending, Clark told AP. ___ Flynn is a constant presence at ReAwaken America events. He is painted as a martyr on the far right __ the retired general who paid a price for working for Trump. That status has made him the Tours star attraction. Offstage, people flock to Flynn to take photos, trade trinkets or tell him how much it means to them that he is there. He hops onstage frequently to speak or even bang a gong to welcome Eric Trump. An AP/Frontline investigation published last month reported that Flynn has used public appearances to energize voters, political endorsements to build alliances, and a network of nonprofit groups one of which has projected spending $50 million to advance his movement. The irony of Flynns aura as a populist warrior is glaring. He was the ultimate Washington insider before being fired by Trump in February 2017 for lying about contacts he had with Russians. Now, Flynn leads a crusade against the same government establishment that employed him for years and which gave him access to many of its deepest secrets. So now, hes a spiritual general, said Anthea Butler, a scholar of American religion and politics at the University of Pennsylvania. Butler said that the way Flynn and ReAwaken join Christian nationalism to the idea of spiritual warfare is dangerous because it suggests there are demonic people in government, and Christians need to act to save the country. If people are talking about spiritual warfare and are talking about taking up arms and stuff, then I think you should be very worried, she said. Flynns battlefield experience, she added, enhances his credibility. Who exactly the United States needs to be saved from is displayed on a huge monitor on the ReAwaken America stage. The shows villains include former President Barack Obama and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but the principal foe at the center of the monitor is less familiar. Hes an 84-year-old German economist and engineer named Klaus Schwab, who heads the World Economic Forum, a global think tank in Switzerland, that holds an annual gathering of the worlds business and political elites in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss ways of building a better future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schwab unveiled an initiative called The Great Reset that envisioned sweeping changes to how societies and economies work. Even though Schwab and The World Economic Forum have no policymaking power, ReAwaken America participants see his plan, which spoke of greater government interference and a green economy, as an assault on Americas foundations. The other side of the giant monitor has photos of ReAwaken heroes: regulars including Flynn, Locke, MyPillow CEO and 2020 election denier Mike Lindell, and three doctors who became famous for their anti-vaccine views. Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, attended a March 2022 ReAwaken America show at a church in San Marcos, California. She said it was like entering a parallel messaging universe. The leaders of the ReAwaken America tour are really driving people into a fact-free echo chamber, Stewart said. They have been persuaded and manipulated into believing theyre doing whats right for their country. But all of their good intentions are being harnessed in service of an agenda thats dividing our country as never before and, frankly, leading to the potential destruction of our democracy. The politics, anger and prayer were interspersed with a good dose of commerce and fundraising. Ticket prices ran as high as $500 for VIP seating or $250 for general admission, though tickets were only sold by phone and sales agents were eager to bargain. An AP reporter bought two tickets to the Batavia show for less than $100. A retiree said he paid more than $700 on admission for two one VIP ticket for himself plus a donation of $250 for a general admission ticket for someone who couldnt afford it. Trump ally Roger Stone asked for donations to his legal defense fund. A naturopath promoted her organic health and beauty line. The stage backdrop even carried ads for a company that buys and sells gold and silver and bills itself as General Flynns Gold Buyer of Choice. In booths inside and outside the church, buyers could pick up a $3,300 vibrating platform that could purportedly ease back pain and increase sexual function, a $259 blanket sold to shield the user from 5G, and a power pendant that supposedly helps people absorb the natural living frequencies to empower your body, mind and spirit. Flynns son, Michael Flynn, Jr., manned his fathers merchandise booth, where autographed copies of Flynns 2017 book, The Field of Fight, sold for $60. Du Mez, who is writing a book on the overlap of consumerism and Christian identity, said such events are orchestrated to extract money from participants. They are invited to participate in the movement by pulling out their credit cards. The skeptical take is this is a scam. Thats not how it feels to the people who are giving their money, she said. People give it happily. Such events, she said, are identity building and sustaining, giving people a sense of belonging. Speakers affirmed the message that inside the tent, they are all part of a community. One told attendees that they should go ahead and take the hit if they have to split with their loved ones over their views. At the ReAwaken tour, they were repeatedly assured, they are welcome and their beliefs will be validated. Amanda Grace, a self-described prophetic minister, told the crowd that many of their loved ones are still under the control of the rulers of the darkness of this world. This is war, and you have to have a different mindset for that, Grace said. You pray for your family, you pray for your friends, you love them. But you have to understand that these rulers are after you. Theyre out to destroy you and your line, and everything youre going to birth forth through your line for the Kingdom of God. So when Flynn and others invited the crowd to be baptized at the end of the day, scores joined in to pray and participate. A woman wearing a T-shirt that read Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president said she was being baptized for a third time because she wanted to speak in tongues, a gift that had just been described by a ReAwaken speaker as the artillery bomb of the enemy. Past the baptismal troughs, people were invited to a circle for prayers. Pastors laid hands on them and cast demons out, while people wearing American flag shirts and QAnon hats, crowded around. You are free! one pastor declared. You are free! You are free! Meanwhile, Michael Flynn, accompanied by private security guards, got into his SUV and drove away. ____ Lardner reported from Washington. Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster, AP news researchers Randy Herschaft and Rhonda Shafner and Frontline producer Richard Rowley contributed to this report. ___ To reach AP's investigations team, email investigative@ap.org. Michigan lawyer running for judge caught on camera allegedly belt-whipping girlfriend This frame capture from a video shows Jason Kolkema pointing before allegedly whipping his girlfriend with a belt during an argument in his downtown Muskegon apartment, MUSKEGON, Mich. Two weeks after winning the August primary, judicial candidate Jason Kolkema appeared to viciously whip his girlfriend with a belt during an argument in his western Michigan apartment, presumably unaware that nearby witnesses were recording the scene. When he noticed the onlookers from his window, the 51-year-old lawyer flashed them the peace sign, and has since claimed the video isn't what it seems: He was striking a chair with his belt, not his girlfriend, the woman and his lawyer have maintained. But the video triggered criminal charges and a tsunami of public outrage in the city of Muskegon, which borders Lake Michigan and is about 40 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. In a scandalous judicial election that has stirred much debate in western Michigan, the topic of domestic violence has taken center stage as women's rights activists fight to keep Kolkema off the bench, arguing he isn't fit to be judge, especially in cases involving battered women and vulnerable children. 'We saw what we saw' Kolkema, arraigned Sept. 19 on domestic violence charges, has a history of losing his temper, behaving violently around women and children including spitting on a 12-year-old girl and has violated court orders, lied about his relationship with his client-girlfriend, battled an Adderall addiction and failed to pay child support, according to a decade's worth of court and police records reviewed by the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, and interviews with multiple people tied to him and his girlfriend. "I cannot imagine a victim sitting in front of a 'Jason Kolkema' and asking him to protect her from an assailant," said Heather Fry, a Muskegon mother, domestic abuse survivor and longtime victim's advocate who has sat with scores of victims in court seeking personal protection orders. "I'm sorry. We saw what we saw. The video is very damning," Fry said. "It was a violent act meant to instill fear." Kolkema has declined numerous requests for comment, though has addressed the video briefly on his Facebook page, stating: Story continues "I understand that the optics are bad. I understand the anger and disappointment, especially from the people who voted for me and supported me ... All of the facts will be revealed in due time," Kolkema wrote. He was responding to a Facebook commenter who wrote: "We don't support abusers in my community." Video: Johnny Depp says ex-wife threw vodka bottle at him, severing his finger Spitting. Shoving. Slapping. On his campaign website, Kolkema portrays himself as a proud Muskegon native and accomplished lawyer who learned "compassion, empathy and the importance of service to the community" from his homemaker mother. Court and police records tell a different story. Two days before the belt incident, Kolkema allegedly spit on his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter as she slept in his apartment with her mom, despite a court order that prohibited him from being around the girl. He allegedly spewed toothpaste on the girl and her mother, and then threw water on them because he was angry about a previous fight, according to Ottawa County court records. The next day, he allegedly threw a Gatorade bottle at his girlfriend and her daughter but missed and hit a lamp. Three months earlier, Fruitport police got a call from Kolkema's girlfriend saying, "my boyfriend just slapped me." When police arrived, Kolkema told an officer his girlfriend "gets like this when she is drunk ... and makes things up." The girlfriend then recanted and refused to cooperate. No charges were filed. A billboard for Jason Kolkema sits along Whitehall Road Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in North Muskegon. In 2013, Kolkema's ex-wife filed a domestic assault complaint with the Fruitport police, alleging that Kolkema shoved her in the back and knocked her to the ground during an argument that occurred while she was picking up her children from his parents' house. "(She) advised that her daughter was visibly upset and crying, because she had seen Jason act like this in the past," the police report states. Kolkema was uncooperative, became "defensive" and refused to answer questions without an attorney. No charges were filed due to a lack of witnesses who could "substantiate the alleged assault." The worlds 50 best bars just announced: US leads with 8; New York has 6 of them A year earlier in Ingham County, Kolkema admitted to pulling his ex-wife's hair during an argument that got out of hand, but left after she called police. "(He) stated that he left the marital home before police arrived because he represents a lot of agencies which have pro-arrest policy in relation to domestic violence and was not interested in going to jail," a court filing states. No charges were filed. That same year, Kolkema triggered a Child Protective Services investigation after he left his ill 6-year-old daughter home alone to drive his older son to a location 20 minutes away. He was "counting on the child being ill and remaining asleep in bed. ... However, (the child) was found by a neighbor wandering outside, upset and looking for father." Kolkema was not charged, though a family court referee said he used "extremely poor" and "highly questionable judgment." Girlfriend takes blame Contacted numerous times for comment, Kolkema's attorney Terry Nolan threatened to report the Free Press to police for harassment. Kolkema deferred comment to his girlfriend when asked whether he could explain to voters his actions in the video, stating: "I'd refer you to what the alleged victim had to say." The victim says that she's standing by Kolkema and that she's partly to blame for what happened in the apartment that day while cellphone cameras were rolling. This frame capture from a video shows Jason Kolkema pointing before allegedly whipping his girlfriend with a belt during an argument in his downtown Muskegon apartment, Porn in the air: Southwest pilot sues after coworker exposed himself, watched pornography during flight "Jason is a good person (and) has made a positive impact on my life in many regards," the 33-year-old girlfriend wrote the Free Press. "He's done a lot for my children and I don't think this portrayal of him is even remotely fair." The Free Press does not name domestic violence victims or alleged victims without their consent. According to the girlfriend, on the day in question, Kolkema was trying to get her attention to finish a conversation they had previously started, but she was on a headset and distracted. So to get her attention, she said, he struck a chair's armrest with his belt. "It was rude of me to ignore him so I do take responsibility for that part," she wrote the Free Press, adding the campaign has "taken on a toll" on their relationship. The woman also said that Kolkema has never hurt her or her daughter, as alleged in a court filing. "He's not dangerous. He's never beat me. He's not scary or threatening as a person ... Just boisterous, animated almost bouncy at times," the woman wrote, adding the video is not what it seems. "It's just not fair to him. It looks so much worse and different than what it was." She also added that she and Kolkema did not start dating until February, though police and court records show the two have been romantically involved for three years. Family members have said their relationship started while Kolkema represented her in a civil, parenting-time case involving her three children from prior relationships all of which involved domestic violence. Under the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Responsibility, a lawyer "shall not have sexual relations with a client" unless a consensual relationship already existed when the legal representation started. 'Papa, I'm hurted' On New Year's Day, Kolkema's girlfriend's son got a black eye after getting struck by a door handle at his mom's Grand Haven home, according to an Ottawa County sheriff's report. That night, the 5-year-old boy called his grandfather. "He said, 'Papa, I'm hurted. I got hit in the eye with a doorknob by mommy's boyfriend,' " the grandfather told the Free Press. When a Child Protective Services investigator questioned Kolkema about the boy's injury, Kolkema stated that "he had no recollection" of the incident and "didn't recall" being in the house that day, even though the boy and his girlfriend said he was there. What's everyone talking about?: Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day In the door-knob incident, police submitted charges for both Kolkema and his girlfriend, though the Ottawa County prosecutor opted not to charge the couple, concluding "this is a strange set of facts." Meanwhile, the grandfather, who is the primary guardian of his grandson, is reeling and doesn't want Kolkema anywhere near the boy. He says that Kolkema and his girlfriend are constantly fighting and yelling, that his grandson is harmed by their behavior, and that Kolkema and his girlfriend have repeatedly violated a court order that prohibits the boy from being on unsupervised visits with his mother. The Free Press is not naming the grandfather to avoid identifying the grandchild. "I'm just trying to give my grandson a normal life. I just want peace and normalcy for (him)," said the grandfather, adding he was also alarmed by the belt-whipping video. 'Is this really happening?' It was just before noon on Aug. 18 when women working in a downtown Muskegon office building looked out their window and saw a couple arguing in The Leonard apartment building on West Western Avenue. It was the same apartment that weeks earlier had a huge Jason Kolkema campaign banner in the window. "You could see him ranting and raving most of the morning," said one of the witnesses, a domestic abuse survivor and mother of three who has requested anonymity to protect her family's privacy. "I told my coworkers, 'I'm really getting worried. I'm going to start recording this.' " The arguing went on for about 40 minutes. The office workers watched as Kolkema paced the living room, waved his hands in the air, and went room to room at one point changing out of his blue campaign T-shirt into a white dress shirt. But eventually things got physical, the woman said, alleging she saw Kolkema grab the woman, who swung back. Then he walked away. "He put his hands on her and we were like, 'Wow. Did that really just happen?' " recalled the witness, who decided to call the police. As she was on the phone, Kolkema pulled out the belt. "It was insane. I thought, 'how do I help this person way over there? Is this really happening in front of my eyes?" the woman said, noting the lashings continue to haunt her. 'You could see the belt connecting' "It was sick, makes you just sick to your stomach, and that's all you can think about for days and days and days," said the woman, adding she is outraged by Kolkema's claim that he hit the chair. "The video is not as accurate as my eyes," she said. "You could clearly see that belt connecting with her." Police officers responded to the apartment, where they encountered a "visibly upset" woman who "had a blank stare when they were talking with her. When (she) was asked who she had an altercation with, she stated Jason Kolkema but refused to comment on the altercation or what occurred between them, a police affidavit says, adding officers were unable to see any injuries on the woman as she was wearing a long dress. Like other witnesses that day, including some who recorded the incident from the street, the office worker decided to post the violent portion of the video on Facebook. To date, it has generated more than 20,500 views. She has turned over the entire 40-minute recording to police. 'Politics plays no role in this' Within 24 hours of the videotaped incident, charges were filed. "My office takes the crime of domestic violence very seriously. It really doesn't matter who you are, what your background is, what if any influence you have or may not have," Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said in a Free Press interview. "When it comes to this particular time, it is a very serious issue and we will file charges when appropriate." Kolkema was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault, punishable by up to 93 days in jail. He turned himself in and posted a $500 cash bond, and on Thursday asked the judge to lift a no-contact order so that his girlfriend can rejoin his campaign, live with him again and help him fight what his lawyer described as "false and misleading information." "Although the couple have garden-variety arguments, it is not a relationship that can be characterized as abusive," Kolkema's lawyer wrote in a Thursday filing, "and there is no evidence of past incidents of abuse." Hilson said his office does not consent to the lifting of the no-contact order. An assistant prosecutor was blunt about Kolkema's request that his girlfriend be allowed to campaign. "It's ridiculous," Assistant Prosecutor Katie Norton said during a September hearing when the request first surfaced. She told the judge that Kolkema has violated multiple court orders and can't be trusted. "I have concerns about the safety of the public, and Mr. Kolkemas ability to follow court orders. During the hearing, Kolkemas attorney claimed the case was becoming political. Hilson disagrees. "Politics plays no role in this whatsoever," Hilson said. As for claims that the belt hit the chair, not the girlfriend Hilson said the law sees no difference. "Domestic violence includes violence that can either be physical, or threatened. Contact is not required," Hilson said, adding: "We're prepared to try this case if that's what Mr. Kolkema wishes." Kolkema's trial date has been scheduled for Nov. 21 well past the Nov. 8 election. Kolkema is running for Muskegon Countys 14th Circuit Court judicial seat. He won the August primary with 36% of the vote out of a pool of four candidates. His challenger is attorney Jenny McNeill, a lawyer of more than 25 years and current family court referee. She won 25% of the vote in the primary. You got my vote Against the backdrop of his pending criminal case, Kolkema is getting support from folks who believe he deserves the presumption of innocence a constitutional right that applies to all defendants in the criminal justice system. A billboard for Jason Kolkema sits along Whitehall Road Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in North Muskegon. Innocent until proven guilty and we only know one side of the story, wrote one commenter. "You got my vote," wrote another, later adding: I know this man and he is a good man. Should one mistake ruin your life? I dont think so, and last time I checked it takes two to tangle. One day after his arraignment, Kolkema pressed his campaign in a Facebook post: "My experience as an attorney is unmatched and I remain the best candidate to preside over the types of cases within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in Muskegon County." Tresa Baldas is an award-winning courts and legal issues reporter and was named the 2020 Richard Milliman "Michigan" Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. Contact her at tbaldas@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan lawyer caught allegedly assaulting girlfriend with belt A North Dakota woman accused of having her husband killed and staging his death to look like suicide has been convicted in the case. Nikki Sue Entzel, 41, was found guilty by a Burleigh County jury on Tuesday for her role in Chad Entzels 2019 murder, according to CBS Bismarck affiliate KXMB-TV. Prosecutors said Entzel and her lover, Earl Howard, conspired to kill the 42-year-old victim before attempting to set his Bismarck home on fire in hopes of cashing in on a life insurance policy, among other potential payouts. It took jurors about two hours to find Entzel guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence. Howard is currently serving a 25-year sentence after pleading guilty to the same charges plus arson in October 2021. Prosecutors couldnt pursue murder charges for Chad Entzels homicide because ballistic experts couldnt conclusively determine who pulled the trigger. Nikki Entzel Pd Nikki Entzel Photo: Burleigh-Morton Detention Center Although Howard had been on the prosecutions list to testify in his ex-lover's murder trial, he was not called to the stand. According to KXMB-TV, Nikki Entzel's defense called no witnesses at all. Nikki Entzel allegedly called 911 on the morning of Jan. 2, 2020 to report a possible fire at the victims home. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found Chad, naked on his bedroom floor with two shotgun wounds. A small fire, believed to have been intentionally set, was also found on the basements furnace. Prosecutors said that, in the early morning hours of Dec. 31, 2019, Nikki Entzel and Earl Howard murdered Chad and staged the crime scene to look like a suicide. In her opening arguments, prosecutor Julie Ann Lawyer even claimed the couple took one of the two shell casings from the crime scene. RELATED: 2 Husbands, 1 Lover Shot Dead: Why A Baltimore Woman Was Labeled A Black Widow The pair were also accused of stationing liquor bottles in Chads bedroom to align with Nikkis allegedly false allegations that Chad was a wife-beating alcoholic. Story continues Several friends, colleagues and even Chads ex-wife testified that Chad was not a violent person and only drank alcohol on social occasions, according to the Bismarck Tribune. We hoped and prayed the jury would see Chad for the guy he was, and not for who she said he was, said Chad Entzels sister, Lori Kraus. Obviously, that came through loud and clear. Prosecutors said that, after Nikki Entzel and Earl Howard killed Chad Entzel, they positioned a propane-fueled space heater near Chads bed in hopes that it would catch fire and destroy any physical evidence left behind. When the house failed to catch fire, one or both suspects returned days later to start a second fire atop the basements furnace. Earl Howard Pd Earl Howard Photo: Burleigh-Morton Detention Center Investigators were wary of the staged suicide immediately, citing the position of the gun and the fact that Chad was shot twice. Much of the trial focused on surveillance video taken from Chad Entzels home in the hours preceding his death, according to NBC Bismarck affiliate KFYR-TV. The footage showed both Nikki Entzel and Earl Howard entering and then leaving the victims home while Chad was at a bowling game hours before the murder. Around the time Chad was believed to have been killed, someone using Nikki Entzels log-in details turned the security camera off. They were there to kill Chad, Lawyer said in her closing arguments, according to the Tribune. Four days before the murder, prosecutors noted that Nikki Entzel took out a renters insurance policy worth $26,000. She was also the sole beneficiary to Chads $600,000 life insurance policy, something about which she inquired within days of her husbands murder. Lawyer said it was all an elaborate plan so that Nikki Entzel and Earl Howard could run away together and start a new life in Texas. Oxy App With all the evidence, as it was put together, that made a very compelling case for the jury, Lawyer said following the verdict. Entzel had previously proffered Howard as the triggerman but, because the actual shooter couldnt be determined, jurors were not tasked with determining who actually murdered Chad. Entzels defense attorney, Thomas Glass, also pointed the finger at Howard during his closing arguments, according to the Tribune. Where is Earl Howard? Glass asked jurors. Ive never seen him take the stand. Why not? Why? is a big question, and its unanswered. Unanswered questions raise doubt. Following the guilty verdict, Burleigh County Judge Douglas Bahr ordered a pre-sentencing investigation. A sentencing hearing date has yet to be scheduled. Entzel faces life in prison. The Ohio Attorney General and the family of Colton Gray are opposed to a request for judicial release filed by Julia Warner, wife of former Marion County judge Jason Warner, who is serving a prison sentence for her involvement in a hit-skip crash that severely injured Gray in 2020. Julia Warner, age 55, Marion, is an inmate at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville where she is a serving a two-year sentence after being convicted of one count of complicity to tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of complicity to leaving the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony, for her role in the June 4, 2020, hit-skip crash in which Colton Gray of Marion was injured. The Ohio Supreme Court will not hear the appeals for former Marion County Judge Jason Warner, right, and his wife Julia Warner, left, who were each sentenced to two years in prison following their convictions on felony charges in a hit-skip crash case. Former Marion County Common Pleas Court judge Jason D. Warner, age 52, Marion, was also convicted of one count of complicity to tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of complicity to leaving the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony, and sentenced to two years in prison. He is serving his sentence at the Toledo Correctional Institution. Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andrea K. Boyd filed a memorandum in opposition to a motion filed by Julia Warner's attorney Lisa M. Tome on Sept. 27 in Marion County Common Pleas Court. Tome filed the motion requesting judicial release on Sept. 4, 2022, in common pleas court. In the memorandum, Boyd states that the family of Colton Gray is also opposed to judicial release being granted to Warner. Visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove, who was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to preside over the Warners' case, will decide on the motion. Shannon Taylor, mother of Gray, wrote a letter to Judge Cosgrove that Boyd included in the filing of the memorandum which detailed the harrowing experience and continued issues her son and family have dealt with since the crash occurred on June 4, 2020, at the junction of Ohio 203 and Somerlot-Hoffman Road. "It seems a tad silly that I am already having to write this letter being that we have only gotten a mere 6 months of peace from this entire ordeal before Julia Warner is already filing for early release, but here we are," Taylor wrote in her letter to Judge Cosgrove. "I think stating the obvious should be first and foremost. Mrs. Warner has spent less time behind bars, serving her punishment than Colton and our family spent dealing with hospitals, physical therapy, investigations, court dates and the trial. We went through 3 years plus of waiting in limbo, dealing with roller coaster and after roller coaster of emotions." Story continues Taylor further detailed the emotional stress and strain her family experienced during the trial and the subsequent appeals process as the Warners sought to avoid going to prison. Taylor noted that she believes Warner should serve the two-year prison term. "I honestly feel like 2 years in prison for leaving a child for dead, late at night out in the country is a pretty lenient punishment to begin with," Taylor wrote. "We feel that Mrs. Warner wanting released not even half way through her sentencing seems pretty unfair for everything Colton and our family has been put through. ... So with all that being said Colton and I ask that she not be granted early release and that she serve her full 2 years as stated originally at the sentencing." According to the motion requesting early release for Julia Warner, which can be viewed on the Marion County Clerk of the Common Pleas Court website, Tome is asking that Warner be placed on community control if the early release is granted. The motion further states that Warner is eligible for judicial release because she has served more than the minimum 180 days in prison mandated by Ohio Revised Code Section 2929.20 in order to file for release. Warner's attorney further contends that her client has "had an exemplary institutional record" during her period of incarceration at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. The motion states that Warner "has committed no rule infractions and has no disciplinary history. She's completed numerous programs while incarcerated as are thoroughly set forth in the report." In the memorandum filed by Boyd, which can be viewed on the Marion County Clerk of the Common Pleas Court website, she states that while Warner "may have no infractions on her institutional record, that does not outweigh the serious nature of her offenses and lasting consequences of her actions." Boyd further notes that the Warners fled the crash scene after they observed that Gray was critically injured and left him "unconscious, bleeding, and trapped in his smoking vehicle." Boyd then details that the injuries Gray suffered in the crash have had serious lingering effects. She states that he experienced "memory loss, major infections, cellulitis in his leg, a tear in his kidney, and Bell's palsy as a result of the crash, and has had to undergo occupational and physical therapy. He cannot work in the same capacity as before the crash, and has been unable to go to college due to his mental and emotional state." The expected release date/parole eligibility date for Warner is Jan. 23, 2024. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Ohio AG, victim's family opposing Julia Warner's early release request Story at a glance Voters in nine battleground states agree that the right to same-sex marriage should be protected by federal law, according to polling data from TargetPoint shared exclusively with Changing America. Most voters in states including Wisconsin say they are more likely to vote for a senate candidate that supports the Respect for Marriage Act. The polls findings are consistent with other surveys that have found support for marriage equality among American voters is at an all-time high. Senators that dont support the Respect for Marriage Act or are undecided on the bill could find themselves in a tough spot come November, with voters in key battleground states more likely to support candidates that have backed the measure to codify same-sex and interracial marriage. Majorities of voters in nine states Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming believe same-sex marriage should be legally valid and protected under the law, according to new polling data shared exclusively with Changing America. Interviews with thousands of registered voters were conducted in August by TargetPoint, a consulting firm that has worked closely with campaigns for GOP leaders including former President George W. Bush and Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.). More than half of all voters in each target state believe same-sex marriage should be recognized as valid, according to the TargetPoint poll, and large majorities of voters agree that nationwide marriage equality should remain in place, including more than 70 percent of voters in Utah and Wisconsin. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. The findings are consistent with recent polling from Gallup that found support for same-sex marriage has ticked up to an all-time high among American adults. A July Politico and Morning Consult poll similarly found that nearly 60 percent of Americans believe marriage equality should be enshrined in federal law. Story continues The Respect for Marriage Act, introduced by House lawmakers in June following a Supreme Court opinion that suggested landmark cases including Obergefell v. Hodges should be revisited, would address a national patchwork of marriage laws by requiring each state to legally recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. Statutes or constitutional amendments that prohibit same-sex marriage remain in place in 35 states but are unenforceable as long as the courts Obergefell ruling, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, stays intact. Republicans in Congress have said theres little chance of Obergefell being overturned, but some have also insisted that the case was wrongly decided when it went before the Supreme Court in 2015, arguing that states should be able to decide their own marriage laws. After the conservative court in June rolled back federal abortion protections by striking down Roe v. Wade reversing nearly 50 years of precedent same-sex couples and their allies began to worry that LGBTQ+ rights could be next on the chopping block. Its not currently clear whether the Respect for Marriage Act will have enough support among Republicans in the Senate when it comes to a vote after the November elections, but most voters in the TargetPoint poll said they would be more likely to vote for a senator that has expressed public support for the measure. That could be enough to push some undecided Senate Republicans facing tough elections over the edge, John Feehery, a GOP political strategist, told Changing America. Others that have voiced opposition to the bill may reconsider their position. A lot of senators in this cycle are very risk averse, Feehery said. They dont want to take votes that make their life complicated when they face voters. Still, support for the Respect for Marriage Act isnt unanimous, and voters in several key states are largely split on whether they want their elected representatives to back the bill, according to the TargetPoint poll. More than 40 percent of voters in Wisconsin, for instance, said they would be more likely to support a Senate candidate that backs the measure, but a large share (35 percent) also said their decision-making at the polls isnt likely to be influenced by how a candidate plans to vote on the bill. Another 22 percent said they would be less likely to vote for a senator that supports the legislation. That could explain why Ron Johnson was kind of all over the place, Feehery said. The second-term Wisconsin senator in July said he had no reason to oppose the measure, but abruptly flipped his position early last month, telling reporters that he would not support the bill in its current state. Johnson, considered one of the most at-risk GOP senators this cycle, is locked in a close race with his Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Recent polls have shown Johnson with a slight lead. Feehery said other Republicans running in states with large Catholic populations may face a difficult decision when it comes to backing the bill, which has been criticized by some for lacking adequate religious liberty protections. But according to the TargetPoint poll, a majority of Republican voters in battleground states agree that while people of faith may disagree on same-sex marriage, religious and personal freedoms will remain protected under existing legislation should the Respect for Marriage Act pass. Dozens of religious organizations last month urged senators to pass the bill, writing in a letter to Congress that the right to marry is a matter of human dignity. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This review originally ran July 7, 2021, for the films premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. For as long as it has resonated within the public consciousness, the concept of Hiroo Onoda has been something of a lightning rod. Onoda the man, you may recall, was the Japanese soldier who never gave up, remaining one of the last active combatants of the Second World War for another 29 years following his countrys surrender. But when the soldier finally put down his gun, left his Philippines jungle keep and returned to his native land in 1974, he became a cultural figure who represented something different depending on whom you asked. To the nationalist right, he was a hero the last man of honor in a world gone to rot. To the poets, he was a kind of holy fool, a modern-day Quixote who looked at the changes foisted on him and said no thanks. Also Read: Amsterdam Review: Disjointed, Dull David O. Russell Period Comedy Wastes Talented Cast And to French filmmaker Arthur Harari, whose biopic Onoda, 10,000 Days in the Jungle screened as the opening film at the Cannes Film Festivals Un Certain Regard sidebar on Wednesday, Onoda was the perfect cinematic subject. A nearly three-hour war epic shot in Japanese and funded entirely out of Europe, the film is already a rather uncommon proposition and thats before you take into account its throwback style. Like the man at its center, Onoda feels a step out of time, recreating the look and feel of gauzy 1970s film stock and the sturdy elegance of midcentury John Ford. Without hiding its many influences, Onoda never comes off as a pastiche; nor, for that matter, does it ever settle on one specific view of the man. Played by actors Yuya Endo and Kanji Tsuda at different points in time, the films central figure encompasses his many contradictions. He is, at once, a victim of imperial propaganda, a man of honor and glory and a total loon a murderous one at that. Story continues Also Read: Shawn Mendes and Javier Bardem Explain Why Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Is More Than Just a Kids Movie What else can a filmmaker do but pull at these various threads, offering a character study of man that doesnt fully make sense? Faced with a story too unbelievable to be anything other than true were not getting into every beat and turn, but Wikipedia is always close at hand Harari need only follow the map as it leads him from genre to genre. As the screening let out, a Japanese journalist mentioned that she was grateful for Hararis distance from the material, explaining that such an unburdened take could not come from the Japanese system where Onoda who died only seven years ago was still too fraught a figure. Her point was well taken, but I wouldnt call the film unburdened. Soberly shifting from war thriller to apocalyptic drama to oddly sentimental buddy film, Onoda bears the weight of its many filmic forefathers. But as it pulls off such moves with such quiet force, it also represents a different kind of emergence. Hiroo Onoda left his jungle hideaway to enter the international spotlight; with Onoda, Arthur Harari could pull off a similar feat. Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle opens in NYC Oct. 7 and LA Oct. 14 via Darkstar Pictures. Photo credit: Oprah Daily Nearly halfway into Rachel Hengs lush, capacious second novel, The Great Reclamation, which Riverhead is publishing in March 2023, she writes that, on the cusp of World War II, the common wisdom was that Singapore was a fortress. The Gibraltar of the East. In the postwar era, though, that script flipped: Throughout her childhood and youth, she was taught that Singapore was always at riskso, so small in this big world, begetting a national mythology that she engages and questions in her new book. Hence the need to look inward after the collapse of British rule and Singapores subsequent, rapid metamorphosis, modernizing amid layers of cultures and languages. In an exclusive, Oprah Daily unveils the bright Fauvist palette and dynamism of Grace Hans cover composition. Han evokes tides surging against a craggy breakwater, the kiss of sea and land. Rachels stunning novel is very much about a country being hit with changes outside of its control, Han observes. The ocean is both daunting and exhilarating, much like Ah Boons life on the coast, and I think the energy of this art is something we can all relate to. Heng returns the compliment: I couldnt have imagined a more perfect cover. Theres a beautiful sense of roilingfull of movement and drama. The pictorial conceptslightly abstracted, rich in color pairingsunderscores the narratives fable-like flow, inspired in part by Colson Whiteheads The Underground Railroad. Hengs protagonist, Ah Boon Lee, comes of age in a family and a community caught in the undertow of sweeping change. During his boyhood the war, he struggles with a sense of self as an outsider, finding purpose in a supernatural gift: While out fishing with his father, he spies a chain of islands no map has ever marked, fading in and out, Brigadoon-like, in the salty air; later he discovers their appearances follow the moons phases. After tragedy strikes and the British overlords withdraw, Ah Boon must carve out his fate among a people unsureand anxiousabout their own futures, and that of their fledgling nation. Born in Singapore and raised in public housing, Heng came to the U.S. for college on a government scholarship, earning her undergraduate degree at Columbia. After a few years in England, she returned here for her MFA at the University of Texass Michener Center for Writers. (She now teaches at Wesleyan University.) I knew I always wanted to write about the Great Reclamation Project, a prism through which to view Singapores economic and social transformations. She researched fishing practices in Southeast Asia, even corresponding with a specialist in colonial-era fisheries at the National University of Singapore. She borrowed structural ideas from The Red and the Black, Stendahls 19th-century satire about Frances post-Napoleonic society, but also strived for intimacyEdward P. Joness The Known World was a strong model, history with small human dioramas, deeply felt. At one point, Heng got bogged down in what seemed like linear historical fiction. She approached the author Amy Hempel at a reading and confessed she was very bored with her process. Stop writing, then, Hempel suggested; and after reading Whiteheads Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Heng circled back to The Great Reclamation, infusing it with speculative elements that allowed her to approach history with a slant. You Might Also Like PANAMA CITY Florida State University Panama City will host Out in the South, a diversity, equity and inclusion forum, to educate and affirm the experiences of the LGBTQ+ and minority communities. The third annual event is set for 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the St. Joe Community Foundation Lecture Hall at the Holley Academic Center at FSU Panama City, 4750 Collegiate Drive. Check-in begins at noon. Admission to is free and attendees are encouraged to register on the Eventbrite website. Out in the South will include guest speakers, panel discussions and giveaways, including $100 in gift cards. The event is annually held during October to coincide with LGBTQ+ History Month. 'Our safe space': LGBTQ community returns to historic Bay County site lost to hurricane Raemi Creteur, marketing intern at FSU Panama City, said past events had been held virtually due to Hurricane Michael and the pandemic. She hopes this year's forum creates an engaging environment. "We're really excited about it, and it's critical that we're relaunching it as an in-person event this year because it's been really difficult to start that conversation virtually," she said. "I'm hopeful that by our fifth year, this will be solidified in our community and people will be looking forward to it in the future." Out in the South: How is speaking and about what Out in the South will feature presentations from FSU faculty members, local students from FSU Panama City and Gulf Coast State College and guests speakers from the Gulf Coast LGBTQ+ Center, Inc. to share their experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion. Keynote speaker Nadine Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, the state's largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Earlier this year, Smith was named to the 2022 TIME100, the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Nadine Smith gives an inspirational speech at the Juneteenth Gospel Celebration June 19 at Tommy Oliver Stadium. Smith will be the keynote speaker at this year's Out in the South event, hosted by FSU Panama City. Nadine Smith: TIME honors Panama City native as one of world's 100 most influential people of 2022 Story continues Some of the topics include the Rev. Rian Adams on "Religious Freedoms and What it Means for Equality," Dr. Jonathan Applebaum, professor at FSU in Tallahassee, on "LGBTQ+ Health and Wellbeing," Dr. Irvin Clark, associate dean at FSU Panama City, on supporting diversity and inclusion year round and Robert Cvornyek, FSU Panama City interdisciplinary social science professor, on tactics for organizing a call to action. "Historically, college campuses have played a critical role in enacting social change," Cvornyek said. "I will let people know how they can channel their efforts in local organizations." FSU Panama City aims to bring together a diverse population of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to celebrate unique cultures and build a supportive community for everyone. "This most important message is that diversity, equity and inclusion benefit everybody, so we're not just looking to uplift minority groups, we want to start that conversation for everyone," Creteur added. "If we could get people to understand the importance of those key factors, then they can understand how impactful that could be in everyone's lives." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Out in the South 2022: Forum has guest speakers, panels My top issue is to get Pennsylvanias economy moving in the right direction. Crushing inflation, high prices at the gas pump and rising grocery bills hurt everybody. While most of these issues are driven by national policies, there are concrete steps I have taken to help address them here in Pennsylvania. I have voted for the largest business tax cut in a generation to spur economic growth by attracting new businesses to Pennsylvania while making the Commonwealth more competitive for current employers. This step will help grow our economy to curb inflation while creating new jobs. Todd Polinchock [COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE] I have consistently voted to position Pennsylvania to serve as a net-exporter of energy. Not only is Pennsylvania a national leader in energy generation, but we should also be an international competitor to ensure our nations energy security. The more energy we develop, the cheaper we can make gas prices. With healthcare costs rising, I voted for legislation to reduce health care premiums by 10%. Furthermore, I supported legislation to freeze property tax hikes for seniors as those on a fixed income feel the brunt of rising prices. His opponent's view Monroe: Opposing erosion of women's rights To position our students for successful careers, I consistently voted to increase funding for both public and non-public education. This past year, I voted for the largest increase to public education in modern history, with Centennial School District netting a $1.21M funding increase, or 9.36%, Central Bucks School District netted a $2.08M funding increase, or 10.83%, and, increased the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program by $125M for schools like Archbishop Wood High School and other non-public schools. I also voted to increase college scholarships by over 300% for middle class students. To address water concerns, I helped to pass a law to remediate PFAS/PFOA from our water using state dollars, relieving local governments from the full cost burden. Additionally, I fought for the PFAS/PFOA Water Surcharge Rebate in Warrington to put money back in ratepayers pockets while delivering an additional $1M to Warminster for water remediation. I am proud of my record to get our economy back on track. I hope I can earn your vote to continue fighting for our community. This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: Polinchock: Putting our economy back on track Irish woman politely got her point across to the princess. During a walkabout in Belfast yesterday, Princess Kate was told Ireland belongs to the Irish by a woman in the crowd. The woman, who was among those who turned out to see the Prince and Princess of Wales on their one-day visit to Northern Ireland, shook Kates hand and said, Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country." Kate appeared to laugh off the encounter. Related: Prince Harry and Meghan Look Radiant in Never-Before-Seen Portrait Taken Days Before Queen's Death Several days after Queen Elizabeth II died, King Charles III visited Belfast where he was greeted by a large sign erected on a mountain overlooking the city that said, We serve no King but Ireland. During the Waless visit, Kate and William spoke to staff at a suicide prevention charity, and painted pumpkins with children in an art therapy session. Kates outfit was all in shades of blue: a long powder blue coat paired with a pussy-bow blouse in the same color, and navy trousers. Related: See the Engraved Tombstone that Marks Queen Elizabeth IIs Final Resting Place The day before, the princess visited a maternity unit at a London hospital and embodied fall chic in a mustard yellow dress by Karen Millen. She also wore a new pair of diamond earrings, which feature detachable drops on diamond-studded hoops. While talking with a mother in the hospitals Special Baby Care Unit, Kate was asked if she would like to hold newborn Bianca. Shes very sweet, Kate said as she cradled the baby. Next up, Queen Elizabeth IIs Official Cause of Death has been Published Four-star defensive tackle [autotag]Kayden McDonald[/autotag] has already been to the Swamp three times this season, and now hes planning a fourth visit, according to 247Sports. McDonald made his way down to Gainesville twice in June, including an official visit, and again in July. Still, he hasnt experienced a game day at the University of Florida, but that should change on Saturday when he visits to see the Gators take on the Missouri Tigers. Michigan and Ohio State have also hosted him on official visits, and he has a trip to Oklahoma lined up in a few weeks. Clemson could get the fifth and final visit, but McDonald hasnt committed to anything just yet. Although that competition may seem fierce, Floridas got the advantage of being a tenured member of the SEC. Its Florida and I want to play in the SEC, McDonald said to 247Sports. (Billy) Napier, he ran the Sun Belt, so hes going to win some games. If I come here or not, theyre going to win. Hes going to get a Natty in possibly three to four years, so hes just trying to build this 2023 class. Hes already got the new facilities and academics. Youre going to get a great degree here and just come and work. McDonald plans on committing at the end of the month, so he must have some idea of where he wants to go among the five programs. Interestingly, Clemson leads the On3 recruiting prediction machine with 61.7% odds to land McDonald, and Florida is a distant third Michigan with a 2.3% shot. A visit to Florida could change things, but theres clearly plenty of work to be done over the weekend. The 247Sports composite ranks McDonald at No. 243 overall in the class of 2023 and No. 35 among defensive linemen. Hes a bit lower on the composite rankings at No. 302 nationally and No. 44 among those in his position group. [mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg] Story continues [lawrence-related id=93548,93542,93538,93514,93510] [listicle id=93529] [listicle id=93483] [listicle id=93499] Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today! Story originally appeared on Gators Wire Senate Republicans campaign arm is pulling millions of dollars in spending from New Hampshires race to shore up other candidates across the board, as Democratic incumbent Maggie Hassan continues to poll ahead of her challenger. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is canceling the remainder of its fall ad slate for New Hampshire after launching a coordinated ad with GOP nominee Don Bolduc earlier this week. The move comes as New Hampshire appears increasingly out of reach for the GOP, although Republicans still have millions more on the books for the final month of the campaign. Were glad to see Republican outside forces showing up in a big way in New Hampshire, with millions in spending pledged to take down Maggie Hassan in the final stretch, said Chris Hartline, a spokesperson for the NRSC. The Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC placed a $23 million ad buy in New Hampshire in September and has not changed its approach yet. To keep the state on the board, Republicans probably need the PAC and other groups to stay on the airwaves. The NRSC initially reserved $9 million in the state, and AdImpact showed the party cutting $2.7 million in ads. Hassan leads by an average of 8 percentage points, according to 538. The Hassan campaign is not celebrating yet. Kevin Donohoe, a spokesman for the Democratic camp, said: The one and only thing I agree with the NRSC on: there is still a ton of GOP spending against Senator Hassan. The NRSC will redirect the New Hampshire money to Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Nevada all states with races that appear much closer and more winnable than New Hampshire. Republicans need to flip one Democratic seat and hold Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina in order to reclaim the Senate majority next year. Their best chance to flip a seat is probably Nevada, as Hassan and Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) hold reliable leads in their races. And the tight Georgia race has been rocked by allegations that anti-abortion Republican candidate Herschel Walker paid for an abortion. In a theatre that usually hosts Sedona's film festival, two candidates for mayor took the stage Thursday night for the city's first-ever mayoral debate. Vice Mayor Scott Jablow and first-time candidate Samaire Armstrong presented starkly different perspectives about how best to address housing, homelessness and more in a debate that was at times tense both on stage and in the sold-out crowd. Hosted and moderated by the Sedona Red Rock News, the candidates fielded questions about a wide range of issues including the city budget, workforce housing and capital improvement projects. Sedona vice mayor Scott Jablow. Jablow, a retired police officer from New York City, routinely leaned on his near decade of experience serving Sedona and the projects he has helped implement as proof that he will be able to get things done as mayor. "In 2021, I spent over 800 hours working on city business between meeting and talking with people, doing that all for you and I've loved every minute of it," he said. "The truth is, our problems can be very complex and progress in any city government is very challenging. If you want to elect a mayor that knows the issues and understands how to fix them, I hope you'll vote for me," he said. Sedona mayoral candidate Samaire Armstrong. Armstrong, a former actress who grew up in Sedona, meanwhile offered up a vision for the city's future, focused primarily on growth and healing while leaving the influence of the current city government in the past. This includes running Sedona, which she calls the "jewel of Arizona," with a mindset focused on small government and less regulation. "We must face the truths and be willing to learn from the mistakes that we've made and know when it's time to step aside or step up and lead," she said. "I bring you a new vision based on tried and true values with the courage to fight for what's best for Sedona and not give in to the special interests that lie at the other levels of state government." In a city that is short at least 1,500 affordable housing units, creating housing solutions is top of mind for many voters and has been a city council priority for years now. Story continues Armstrong is vehemently against moving forward with any projects involving the Department of Housing and Urban Development and thinks many of the answers to Sedona's housing crisis can be found in rethinking the city's current procedures. "What we need to do is walk back the ridiculous policies that make it impossible to build in an already expensive climate," Armstrong said. This includes building codes that require enclosed garages, electric vehicle charging outlets and wiring for solar. Election guide: November 2022 Armstrong is hesitant to develop much more of Sedona's natural land, instead preferring for affordable workforce housing to be established outside of the city. "Not everyone gets to live in town just because they work in town," Armstrong said. Jablow on the other hand supports an approach that brings more permanent residents within city limits. "I don't believe that we should be pushing our workforce, or anybody, to the outskirts of town 30 miles away," Jablow said. Instead, he said he wants to make sure these employees remain part of the community by keeping their families in town, enrolling their kids in Sedona's schools and patronizing local restaurants and businesses. "Sending them to the outskirts of town, where are they going to shop? Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Camp Verde, they're not going to be shopping here in our city," Jablow said. "That, to me, doesn't make a better community." For subscribers: Which party will control AZ Legislature after election? When presented with his record of voting in agreement with the current mayor Sandy Moriarty, who was resoundingly rejected by voters in the August primary, Jablow was asked how residents can expect him to be any different. "While they rejected her, they did support me," he said. "I came out number one in the primary election and I do things differently." Jablow received 1,492 votes in the primary followed by Armstrong with 1,340 votes. Moriarty earned just 801 votes, ending her bid for reelection. Despite a strong showing of support in August, something that has followed Armstrong throughout this race are concerns about her lack of experience in city government, especially considering Jablow's lifetime of public service. "Experience means nothing if you don't have any results," Armstrong said multiple times throughout the night. Since she entered the race in March, she said she's been working to educate herself on the various aspects of city government, by listening to experts and attending city meetings to prepare for the job. In fact, listening to her community is why she decided to run in the first place, she said. "I was asked by my community to stand up and run for office because of the absolute disregard for the nature of how this city has been run," she said. "They were appalled by how things were going, so much so that they considered a newbie from California with an actor's credit as potentially being the new mayor." Jablow challenged her, stating that there were three crucial meetings about housing, sustainability and homelessness just last week that Armstrong did not attend. "Fortunately for myself and all of you as a community, any of those meetings can be found online and watched yourself," Armstrong responded. "You don't actually have to be there in person." Only one of those meetings, a discussion of a housing supply study, is available to watch online. The other meetings have not been uploaded. Importantly, Sedona operates on a council-manager form of government which means that day-to-day operations, the drafting of the city budget and the carrying out of council directives are handled by the city manager. The mayor represents the city in official capacities on local, state and national levels but has the same voting power as every member of the city council. A recording of the entire debate is available on the Sedona Red Rock News Facebook page. The mayoral candidates will meet again on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. The event is free, open to the public and scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road. Contact northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch. Coverage of northern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America and a grant from the Vitalyst Health Foundation in association with The Arizona Republic. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedona mayoral candidates aim to win over voters in first-ever debate On Oct. 1, the Polk Presidential Hall on South High Street opened a new exhibit entitled Shaping a Nation: Tennessee Volunteers and the Mexican-American War. The exhibit is funded by an $11,200 grant from the Tennessee War Commission, which is part of the Tennessee Historical Commission. The guest curator of the exhibit is Dr. Tim Johnson of Lipscomb University. Dr. Johnsons book For Duty and Honor: Tennessees Mexican War Experience gave him special insight into this historical event. An image of the fountain located at the James K. Polk Home's scenic gardens. Johnson explained, With the territorial expansion that the war brought, Polk brought to fruition Thomas Jeffersons vision of an empire for liberty, but it also intensified the sectional debate over slavery and hastened the countrys path toward Civil War. Mexicos battlefields also served as a training ground for over 200 future Civil War generals. The Mexican-American War solidified Tennessees moniker as the Volunteer State, and this exhibit highlights the important role that Tennesseans play in the conflict. Rachel Helvering, Polk home executive director, said, We are excited to bring original exhibitions back to our visitors and the community. Kate Holt, Polk home curator, explained a few key artifacts at the exhibit. This exhibit will utilize the Polk homes collection as well as loaned artifacts," Holt said. "Visitors might be especially interested to see our newest acquisition, a military commission of Tennessean Nelson McClanahan, first lieutenant of the 14th Regiment. The document is signed by President Polk and William Marcy, Polks Secretary of War. Tennessee native Rachel Helvering was recently hired as the new director of the President James K. Polk Home & Museum. Helvering has spent the last eight years serving as community engagement manager at the Tennessee State Museum. The war with Mexico became official on May 12, 1846, when the U.S. Senate voted 40 to 2 to go to war after Polk accused Mexican troops of invading the U.S. by going north of the Rio Grande. Mexico claimed the land as its own, and Mexican officials accused the U.S. of having invaded. The conflict actually began when Texas was an independent republic from Mexico and the U.S. The U.S. attempted to buy the territory held by Mexico. Polk subscribed to the Manifest Destiny notion that the U.S. was destined by God to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the continent. John OSullivan, a journalist, had popularized the phrase, which implied that the nation had the right to remove or destroy whatever was necessary to fulfill that destiny. Story continues The war with Mexico showed the prowess of the mostly volunteer army on foreign soil. On the battlefield, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, and George Pickett served valiantly. The Mexican War provided experience for these leaders for the Civil War, which loomed in the future. Portions of the war were fought in California and in Mexico. Col. Stephen W. Kearney led the troops in California. Zachary Taylor led the war efforts in Mexico. In Mexico, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna returned from Cuba to attempt to work for peace, instead he became the leader of the Mexican forces. The Mexican forces outnumbered the Americans, but the inferior weapons of the Mexicans gave them a real disadvantage. Gen. Winfield Scott took an army by sea to invade Veracruz in March. By September 1847, Scotts forces captured Mexico City, and the military conflicts were over. The U.S. casualties lost 1,500 in battle or from injuries, but at least 10,000 troops died of disease. Poor sanitation and diseases such as yellow fever, measles, mumps and small pox contributed to so many casualties. The U. S. forces won every battle, but the loss of life was a high price to pay. President Polk sent Nicholas Trist, chief clerk of the State Department, with Scotts forces to negotiate a peace treaty. Mexico was financially broke. The U. S. had established a blockade so that Mexico could not conduct business easily. Polk was not pleased with Trist and ordered him home. Trist ignored the order and proceeded with the peace treaty. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was agreed upon. The U.S. gained more than 500,000 square miles, which expanded the territory by one-third. Mexico had ceded 55% of its land. From that land came California, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada. Most of Arizona and Colorado and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming came from that parcel. All claims to Texas were also forfeited by Mexico. The treaty had to be written in both English and Spanish. Mexico was paid $15 million dollars, the equivalent today of $420 million. Ironically Santa Anna who won the battle of the Alamo in 1836 became the president of Mexico. Although the U.S. promised to enforce the Rio Grande as the border, the boundary was not officially established until 1880 by the International Boundary Commission. The first item in the display is a beautiful mural by David Wright, which depicts events in the Mexican-American War. Items loaned from the Tennessee State Museum include a bugle, saber and a Mexican-American War medal. The exhibit will be open until Aug. 1, 2023. The tour is self-guided and very well presented, but a docent will be there to answer questions. The Polk Home and the Presidential Hall are open seven days a week for guided tours. The Polk Home is the only remaining home where Polk lived except the White House. Visit www.jameskpolk.com for more information. This information for this article came from the Polk Homes press release and from Encyclopedia Britannica (https://www.britannica.com). Sheila Hickman, Columbia This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Sheila Hickman: Mexican War Exhibit opens at Polk Presidential Hall Concept albums are a consistent part of the music landscape. Themes can range from current affairs to science fiction, historical commentaries, horror stories and everything in between. Washington, D.C., native and current Providence resident Jake Blount's latest release centers on an Afrofuturistic dystopian setting that was conceived, written and recorded in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The full-length album, titled The New Faith, released in September via Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, imagines what Black spirituals would sound like in a future world ravaged by climate change. In doing so, it reinterprets the spiritual tradition in 12 tracks, along with two original spoken-word pieces. Need a night out?: Check out October's top 5 live music shows in Providence Providence-based artist Jake Blount's new album, "The New Faith," reimagines what Black spirituals would sound like in a future world ravaged by a climate disaster. Musically, the album seems to connect old music styles, such as Delta blues, gospel, folk and bluegrass, to newer styles such as hip-hop and electric blues, with the bridge being spoken-word storytelling centered on the dystopian concept. Blount says that the story was developed before the songs, while he imagined what would be in the popular music consciousness a few centuries from now. I knew that I was setting something in the distant future, and I felt like if you throw things a couple hundred years from now, the things that are going to remain part of the oral tradition are the things that everybody has heard up until this point. Theres probably some things we havent heard yet, of course, which I had tried to account for, but obviously my imagination only goes so far. "It was really about thinking about how these songs would change in the story that Ive created, and just kind of letting the narrative content guide the shape of the music. More: Concert king worked with Dylan, Oasis and more. Now he's partnered with Providence author Two post-apocalyptic science-fiction novels by Octavia E. Butler, "Parable of the Sower" and "Parable of the Talents," influenced the theme that underlies the album. The hip-hop element comes from Greensboro, North Carolina, artist Demeanor, who is featured on the tracks "The Downward Road," "Death Have Mercy" and "Give Up The World," along with being a fellow banjo player. Story continues Though "The New Faith" marked his first collaboration with Demeanor, Blount said they had been in "the same orbit," musically, for some time. "The New Faith" I needed a rapper to work on the album, because once I thought about what this music would sound like in a couple hundred years, rap has been most of what weve been listening to for a long time. Its going to be a big part of the music going forward," he said. "So I knew I had to include that, and I knew that Demeanor was a rare treasure in the form of a rapper who already knew the music vernaculars I was working with. I wasnt going to have to train him in how to listen to a banjo song; he already knew how to do it. It really was about setting him loose on it, and he did a great job. On stage: AIDS crisis echoes through Trinity Rep's two-part season opener 'The Inheritance' As for the multi-faceted direction of the tracks, Blount says he didnt have a preconceived notion of what he wanted to do. The mix he ended up with evolved organically. I knew that I wanted the songs to sound like they could feasibly be made by the same people, which meant that theres a certain range of tastes involved, he says. At the same time, I really tried not to force anything on it. ...I really went into it with very little of a plan. It was a problem at first, but it worked out in the end. Blount says he did not intend for the album to relay a particular message, although he does hope that addressing the issue of climate change will prompt people to make some adjustments to their lifestyle. Ultimately, though, he hopes people just give The New Faith a listen. Its just me trying to explore one set of possibilities as I see them, he says. I think those possibilities are disturbing to a lot of people, hopefully being shaken up in that way causes some changes in the way we conduct our everyday lives here and now, but I dont know. I think there are a lot of different things people can take from it, and Id be happy to have them listen to it at all. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence artist's album gives Afrofuturist spin to Black spirituals PANAMA CITY Natural disasters should not be used as a chance for people to clean out their closets and pantries. According to Brad Monroe, Bay County chief of emergency services, the best way for residents to help victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Ian is by donating money, not food, water, clothes or other supplies. "What these people need is money," Monroe said. "The downfall of (supply donations) is a lot of that stuff could be thrown away, (or) be ruined by the time it gets to the people." Better prepared: Did Hurricane Michael better prepare Bay County for future natural disasters? Though done with good intentions, an influx of non-cash donations can put additional stress on an area already grappling with catastrophic damages and property losses an issue Bay County experienced firsthand in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that struck the Panhandle in October 2018. Monroe said Bay received so many supplies during that time it had to rent a warehouse in Tallahassee. This warehouse, and the surge of items it housed, required additional volunteers on top of those already needed for disaster recovery. "After the storm, we just did not have enough people to disseminate a lot of the stuff that was donated," Monroe said. "We wound up with a lot of stuff that people did not want, and that's one of the problems." Hurricane Ian: 11-year-old Hurricane Ian evacuee falls to death from Panama City Beach condo Cash really is king when it comes to hurricane relief While supplies such as water, food, plywood and tarps are needed immediately after a major storm, Gina Littleton, president and CEO of United Way of Northwest Florida, agreed with Monroe that it's best for the public to give money. Churches and nonprofit organizations with connections in the affected areas can more efficiently oversee supply donations. "It really is much easier if the public as a whole focuses on sending money," Littleton said. "That money can go to the organization, the county, the cities and the people who are living in those areas and need it the most. Story continues "It doesn't require storage, (and) it doesn't require (numerous) people to help unload it." Don't fall victim to scams. Give through reputable organizations. Headquartered in Panama City, United Way of Northwest Florida serves about 50 agencies across Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Jackson, Holmes and Washington counties. The group recently created a Hurricane Ian Impact Fund for cash donations, which can be found at unitedwaynwfl.org. Another way to donate money to the disaster victims is through Volunteer Florida, a nonprofit organization based in Tallahassee. Monroe said donations can be made through volunteerflorida.org, or by texting "disaster" to 20222. He also said people looking to donate should be watchful of potential scams, including some GoFundMe accounts. Monroe said those who are adamant about donating clothes or other supplies should do so through local nonprofit organizations, including Goodwill, American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. "I'm not saying they cannot donate clothing and that sort of stuff, but they just (need) to go through an organization that has contacts (in the areas) that are ready to receive (those donations)," he said. American Red Cross donations for Hurricane Ian The American Red Cross is accepting donations online for Hurricane Ian victims and efforts. You can also: Donate by mail: American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839. Print a form. Donate by phone: 1-800-HELP NOW (800-435-7669). Espanol: 800-435-7669. TDD Operator: 1-800-220-4095 Other ways: Amazon Alexa; stock or mutual funds; wire, grants. Florida Disaster Fund for Ian recovery The Florida Disaster Fund is a private nonprofit that, according to its website, has waived all administrative and credit card fees so that 100% of every donation can be used to help Floridians recover from Hurricane Ian. To donate: Go online at www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf Call: 850-414-7400 Text: Disaster to the number 20222. Email: info@volunteerflorida.org Mail to: Volunteer Florida Foundation, Attn: Florida Disaster Fund, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Are food donations accepted to help with recovery? Feeding Florida is a network of the national food bank nonprofit Feeding America. The organization is coordinating with food banks across the state to provide food to victims of the hurricane. You can donate at feedingflorida.org. Where can I volunteer to help with Ian victims in Florida? The Volunteer Florida website at volunteerflorida.org offers contacts for ways to help. How do I give blood after Hurricane Ian? The Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations in the wake of Hurricane Ian, according to its website. You can find a blood drive in your area by searching your ZIP code at rcblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. John Gallas of the USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: How to help Hurricane Ian: Cash donations help more than supplies Marcus Dewayne McCowan Jr. was arrested after allegedly strangling two newborns at the Odessa Regional Medical Centre in Texas (Ector County Sheriffs Office) An 18-year-old man in Texas was arrested after he allegedly stormed through a hospital nursery and began strangling newborns and assaulting staff members. Law & Crime reports that Marcus Dewayne McCowan Jr was charged on Monday with several felonies, including two counts of attempted first-degree capital murder. The Odessa Police Department detailed the incident in a press release. According to the department, officers responded to an incident at the Odessa Regional Medical Centre in Texas after staff at the hospital reported that a man had "forced his way into the nursery and began assaulting patients and staff." A local ABC affiliate, KMID, obtained an affidavit that described the alleged events at the hospital. According to the affidavit, Mr McCowan was at the hospital because his girlfriend was in labour. Witnesses say in the affidavit that he was acting "odd and unreasonable" prior to the attack. He reportedly grabbed a nurses arm, made an "unintelligible statement" and was then asked to leave the hospital. He then began allegedly running "back and forth in the hall." The man then allegedly began staring at a mother and her newborn, and later shoved nurses to the ground and tried to gain access to a nursery, which was locked. When that did not work, he allegedly grabbed the mother's newborn and fled into a lactation room, where he reportedly began strangling the baby. Nurses told KMID that they saw the baby's face turn blue and noted that police chased the man into the lactation room. A nearby therapist noted the struggle and saw Mr McCown eventually force his way into the nursery. He allegedly began strangling another baby in the nursery, and the therapist tried to calm him down. According to the therapist, Mr McCowan then lifted the baby and said 'die,' making a move as though he were going to throw it to the ground. The therapist intervened and attempted to bring Mr McCowan to the ground while supporting the baby's head to prevent further injury. Story continues Eventually a hospital security member arrived and helped to restrain Mr McCowan. When police arrived Mr McCowan reportedly began struggling with them while they were attempting to take him into custody. Mr McCowan was arrested and taken to the Ector County Jail. He was then charged with attempted murder and also possession of a controlled substance, attempting to take a weapon from an officer, assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, criminal trespassing and assault. The charge alleging he had a controlled substance resulted from a THC vape pen found on his person during the arrest. One of Japans largest retailers is testing the waters in the U.S. And if it works, shoppers can expect the company to follow in the footsteps of its sister brand, Uniqlo, and add its nameplate to big cities around the country. GU, which has 450 stores, mainly in Japan, on Friday will open its first store outside of Asia in New Yorks SoHo district. GU was established in 2006 and is the second-largest brand in the Fast Retailing Groups portfolio after Uniqlo. The company, which had 250 billion yen, or $1.73 billion at current exchange, in sales in the last fiscal year, is eyeing 1 trillion yen in sales in the near future. More from WWD The name GU, which is pronounced by the letters G and U, is similar to the Japanese word jiyu, which means free and unconfined. The New York store is located at 579 Broadway between West Houston and Prince Streets and is 2,900 square feet. It is technically a pop-up the company signed a one-year deal for the space but if successful, it will look for a space triple the size for a permanent store, according to Osamu Yunoki, chief executive officer of GU Co. Ltd. Yunoki, who traveled from Tokyo to New York for the opening, said the decision to come to the U.S. is the first step in a plan to globalize the GU brand. Weve been focused on Japan, mainland China and Hong Kong and we may go to Southeast Asia next, but we decided to accelerate the growth by coming to the center of the world. Although hes still taking a wait-and-see attitude and views the SoHo store as a good test of the American market, Yunoki said his dream is to have the U.S. ultimately be larger than Japan. Were going to learn and study and then after a year, we will restart, he said. He said its also undecided how many stores the U.S. market can support, but wed like to open as many as Uniqlo, he said. It will be difficult to catch up, but the goal is to open GU stores side-by-side with Uniqlo flagships around the world. Uniqlo operates 2,300 stores worldwide and 44 in the States. Story continues He said the two concepts have different positioning, so opening next door wouldnt be an issue. GU offers more trend-focused products that attract a younger customer and prices are lower. For example, in the SoHo store, bombers retail for $59.90, heavyweight or cropped sweaters for $29.90, pleated pants for $39.90, a heat-padded puffer for $59.90 and T-shirts for $14.90. The store also carries sneakers and other shoes as well as accessories like hats. The store is located in the heart of SoHo. Among the most popular items in its home country are cropped cable turtlenecks for women, the heat-padded puffer made from recycled polyester, sweatshirts, a wide-legged womens pant and a super-wide mens cargo that has become popular with women. Yunoki said the mix in the SoHo unit is less than half of what we have in Japan because of the smaller size of the store. Although there are a few dressier pieces such as blazers and pinstriped pants for women, the assortment has been curated to focus on what are expected to be the bestsellers here. Theyre easy to choose, combine and purchase, and theyre easy on the purse, he said. The assortment was brought directly from Japan so there are signs throughout the store warning customers that the sizes run small. Yunoki doesnt expect that to be a problem and said the sizing can be adjusted in the future. But hes willing to observe and absorb the results before making any other major moves. The store will employ six osharista, or style advisers, who will work with customers to find the right products and suggestions free of charge. For the New York opening, it also tapped three TikTok creators Isa Sung, Ella Mendelsohn and Davis Burleson to select some of their favorite pieces from the collection. These are exhibited in the store. It is a great honor to be opening our first store in the United States, he said. New York is a place where people with diverse backgrounds come together from around the world, an exciting city where fashion, art, music and other varied cultural elements intersect. By opening a pop-up shop in the center of SoHo, we will be able to reach a wide range of customers, including New York residents as well as tourists, offering them products filled with the sense of trendiness exemplified in the GU brand message of Your Freedom, and allowing them to enjoy outfits that freely express their individuality. The store opens to the public Friday. According to Fast Retailing, for the first nine months of its fiscal year that ended in May, GU reported revenues of 190.5 billion yen, down 5.1 percent from the prior-year period with an operating profit of 17.8 billion yen, a 26.7 percent fall from the year before. The parent company blamed the downward trend on sluggish sales of spring items, and production and distribution issues that caused the delivery of popular items to be delayed. Colored slacks, light denim tuck-wide pants, sweatshirt-style T-shirts, etc., performed well, but we couldnt introduce them in a timely manner, so overall sales failed to rise, and markdowns had to be taken, the earnings report said. Fast said that beginning in June, however, the delayed products began arriving in stores, so the outlook for the future is brighter. We were suffering from supply chain and COVID-19 issues, Yunoki said. Uniqlo offers more basics and they can carry over items to the next year. We cannot do that with trendy items so we had to offer a lot of discounts, but its better now. In addition to GU and Uniqlo, there are six other brands in the Fast Retailing Group: Theory, PlsT (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. Overall, the corporation operates more than 3,500 stores around the world. Click here to read the full article. NELSON COUNTY Virginia State Police have identified the person killed Thursday in Nelson County after their car was hit by a tractor-trailer that was hauling gravel, a press release said. Police said shortly after 10 a.m., a 1998 Kenworth tractor-trailer was headed north on Va. 151 when a 2012 BMW 528i, going west on Va. 6, entered the intersection in front of the tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer couldnt avoid striking the BMW. The impact of the crash caused both vehicles to run off the road. The tractor-trailer overturned and both vehicles struck several trees, police said. The driver of the BMW, Alexandria S. Ward, Jr. 66, of Scottsville, died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured in the crash, police said. The crash remains under investigation. Nexus owners accused of stealing $426,000 from brother of Florida school shooter Former News Leader editor, columnist Fred Pfisterer dies at age 87 Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia State Police ID person killed in Nelson County crash Kate Middleton was reportedly low-key heckled during a royal engagement in Northern Ireland, where she was saying hello to a crowd who gathered to meet her. According to Us Weekly, Kate was shaking hands with people when a womanwho was recording the interaction her phonesaid Nice to meet you, but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country. She added, Ireland belongs to the Irish." In response, Kate smiled and then moved on down the crowd to continue shaking hands. Meanwhile, it didn't seem like Prince Williamwho accompanied Kate on the tripnoticed the moment. But it was definitely captured on camera, so! When meeting members of the public on her visit to Northern Ireland, the Princess of Wales was challenged by a woman who suggested Kate was not in her own country pic.twitter.com/XtaIXFrn96 PA Media (@PA) October 6, 2022 As Us Weekly notes, Queen Elizabeth spoke about tensions between England and Ireland in 2011, saying It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss with the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we wish had been done differently, or not at all. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past, I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. Meanwhile, it sounds like the rest of Kate and William's day was otherwise smooth sailing. The Evening Standard reports that the couple were in Northern Ireland for just a quick one-day trip, where they visited the Public Initiative for Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm. They also took a trip to Trademarket (an outdoor food and retail market) in Belfast city center where they had a "cocktail-making race," and then visited the town of Carrickfergus. Story continues Kate and William haven't publicly commented on the incident during Kate's meet and greet, but they did release a video from their trip captioned "Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland!" Thank you for having us, Northern Ireland! pic.twitter.com/YmhDeYIoAd The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 6, 2022 Awkward times ! You Might Also Like Cunning child predator Robert Berchtold would be accused of sexually abusing Jan Broberg over several years, but he would see little time behind bars for a multitude of reasons. Peacocks original series, A Friend of the Family, is based on the stranger-than-fiction story of the Broberg family, whose young daughter was twice kidnapped by trusted family friend Robert Berchtold. As portrayed by Jake Lacy ("The White Lotus," "The Office"), Berchtold would allegedly embark on a years-long campaign to woo and manipulate the Brobergs in the 1970s with his sights set on then-12-year-old Jan Broberg, whom he allegedly first kidnapped from Pocatello, Idaho in 1974. According to victim Jan Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann who both serve as producers on the scripted miniseries Berchtold took the preteen to Mexico, allegedly convincing Jan during her 37 days in captivity that the survival of an alien planet depended on them having sexual relations. RELATED: Where Is Jan Broberg From Peacock's 'A Friend Of The Family' Now? Berchtold would eventually return Jan to Idaho, but several factors, as highlighted in A Friend of the Family, would prevent Berchtold from facing serious time behind bars. First, Jans parents, Mary Ann and Bob Broberg, who were also allegedly groomed into having sexual relationships with Berchtold, signed affidavits, withdrawing the most serious of the criminal charges against Berchtold, including the kidnapping, as reported by The Atlantic. In the series, the parents feared that by not doing so, they would subject Jan to the trauma of a trial. But that, perhaps, wasnt the only thing that might have prevented the Brobergs from continuing with courtroom proceedings. Both Mary Ann and Bob faced ex-communication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, especially at the threat of Berchtold exposing their respective sexual relationships. A still from Peacock's A Friend of the Family Jake Lacy as Robert "B" Berchtold, Hendrix Yancey as Young Jan Broberg Photo: Erika Doss/Peacock Story continues Mary Anns extramarital relationship with Berchtold, coupled with a homosexual encounter between Bob and Berchtold, went against the beliefs of the conservative Mormon family. Jan also refused to testify against her alleged abuser as a child, having been told that if she shared details of their so-called mission, her family would die. I wasn't able to talk definitively or explicitly about the sexual abuse. It was really hard for me to do, she told the BBC in 2019. A doctor whod performed a pelvic exam on Jan also stated her virginity was still intact, as depicted in the series. In August 1976, Berchtold allegedly kidnapped then 14-year-old Jan again, this time reportedly taking her to California and enrolling her in Catholic school, posing as both her father and a CIA agent, according to ABC News. Jan came to believe that she loved her abuser while remaining convinced that a dying alien planet depended on her and Berchtold continuing to have sex. Chris Watts I was supposed to have a baby by age 16 to save my family and the planet, Jan Broberg told Vulture in 2019. I thought that was all real. I thought they were watching me. I was completely convinced. I wanted to have a baby. I wanted to marry him. It felt real. The FBI caught up with Broberg and Berchtold four months later and returned the teen to Idaho. According to the Brobergs, Berchtold evaded charges (once again) by claiming he had a mental defect, which landed him 19 days in jail and a five-month stint at a mental health facility, according to Deseret News. This story will make you talk, shout, cry and it will make you angry, Jan Broberg said in the shows media release. Good. In 1986, Berchtold pleaded guilty to two counts of child rape in a case separate from Brobergs and served one year in prison, according to Deseret News. In 2003, decades after the alleged abuse, Jan Broberg went on to write Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. Oxy App Berchtold would counter Jans accusations in comments to ABC News, accusing her of trying to make a buck from the book, though six other women would allegedly come forward to accuse him of raping them as children. In 2005, one year after Jan filed a restraining order against her kidnapper and alleged rapist, Berchtold became involved in a violent altercation with members of BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse), whod held a demonstration for one of Jan Brobergs events. He was found guilty of possession of a firearm and aggravated assault, but, once again, Berchtold would avoid jail time, this time by taking his own life in November 2005, according to ABC News. Bechtolds brother, who is also portrayed in A Friend of the Family, said in the Netflix documentary "Abducted In Plain Sight" that Berchtold died after taking a concoction of heart medicine and alcohol before he could be sentenced. The first three episodes of A Friend of the Family premiere Oct. 6 on Peacock. (AP) Days after crews erected airplane hangar-sized tents in a parking lot in The Bronx, a weekend of downpours brought several inches of rain to the site, flooding an area that planned to temporarily house hundreds of recently arrived migrants. New York Citys first Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center intended to support thousands of people seeking asylum in the US, including hundreds bused to the city by Texas Governor Greg Abbott will instead open on another parking lot on Randalls Island in the East River. The plan under Mayor Eric Adams aims to ease the burden on the citys already-strained shelter system, while addressing what he has called a humanitarian crisis fuelled by Republican governors like Abbott and Floridas Ron DeSantis sending recently arrived migrants most of whom have fled violence and political and economic collapse in South and Central America before crossing the US-Mexico border to Democrat-led cities hundreds of miles away. But immigration advocates, civil rights groups and city leaders say theyve been ignored in the process, while repeatedly warning that the plan violates the citys right-to-shelter mandate, excludes families, and risks isolating vulnerable people from critical services. Weve surpassed well over 15,000 asylum seekers, New York City Council member Shahana Hanif told The Independent. For me, its been about ensuring and guaranteeing a compassionate and humane humanitarian response from our city. To build the tents, the city has hired Texas-based firm SLSCO, which has built field hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients and rehabilitated homes in Puerto Rico damaged by hurricanes. The company also received lucrative government contracts to build a portion of Donald Trumps wall on the US-Mexico border. Migrants have reportedly said that the shelters also resemble notorious icebox detention centres, freezing and cramped facilities used by federal law enforcement along the US-Mexico border. Story continues We dont have to have an undignified response, where we are one of the wealthiest cities, and here we are trying to not live according to our values, council member Hanif told The Independent. We should not have companies that have used [public] dollars to build walls, she said. Its a contradiction how are we working to build trust? This was just another sort of example of the administrations incompetence and like lack of alignment with immigrant justice principles. Orchard Beach migrant tent encampment is flooded after .55 of rain in 24 hrs. SLSCO, the Texas-based contractor chosen by city for site is the same contractor used by Trump to build the border wall. Migrants say the site build is identical to the Icebox TX detention center pic.twitter.com/w6Y5K5ivZy South Bronx Mutual Aid (@SBXMutualAid) October 1, 2022 Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement that rights groups have repeatedly asked the city to be involved with the shelter plans, but keep getting rebuffed. Thats how we ended up here with a contractor who built the southern border wall, and one proposed site that has already flooded, he said. The Independent has requested comment from the company. The parking lot at Icahn Stadium on New York Citys Randalls Island will serve as a location for a humanitarian relief shelter for people seeking asylum, after thousands of migrants recently arrived in the city (AP) The original site for the tent shelter was set to house up to 1,000 people for up to three nights. The new site on Randalls Island in a parking lot south of the Icahn Stadium will hold up to 500 people. That lot is in a high risk flood zone, according to the citys official flood maps. A description of the plans from the Adams administration said the structures will be expertly designed and climate controlled. Flexible barriers will also be deployed to prevent flooding. During a briefing on 4 October, Mayor Adams said he has communicated with the White House, state and federal agencies and the mayors of Washington DC and Chicago, where Governor Abbott has also sent hundreds of migrants. I just find it ironic that buses [are] coming to cities with Black mayors thats not lost on me, Mayor Adams said on Tuesday. Were going to use the National Guard, were going to use our medical facilities, were going to use everything thats possible so we can navigate ourselves out of the crisis that were facing, he said. The far right is doing the wrong thing and the far left is doing nothing Everyone should be all hands on deck. New York is the only state in the country that is legally bound to a right to shelter mandate for anyone who needs it. Years-long legal challenges, court rulings and city measures have expanded that access, but legal aid groups, civil rights advocates and city officials have warned that the temporary tent shelters could violate that mandate, a more than 40-year-old policy that has established minimum standards for what a shelter must provide. More than 52,000 people are living in New York City shelters on a given night, according to Coalition for the Homeless, while thousands of others live in other shelters, on the streets and in subway stations and trains. The organisations 2022 report examining the state of homelessness in the city underscored officials continued failure to address the underlying causes of the crisis, including a lack of investment in affordable housing that has left thousands of households with annual incomes below $30,000 at risk of homelessness while paying more than half of their incomes on rent. Meanwhile, migrant families in the citys shelter system who are not eligible for government assistance are going hungry. People seeking asylum in the US wait in line before boarding buses to New York and Chicago from El Paso, Texas on 3 October (REUTERS) Under the shelter mandate, people seeking shelter can request housing at Department of Homeless Services intake centres, after which the city must promptly provide that shelter. But the temporary tent facilities will instead will be operated by the New York City Emergency Management and the Health + Hospitals Corp. Ms Hanif, who chairs the councils Committee on Immigration, fears the tent shelters are circumventing the right-to-shelter mandate. Are we doing everything in our power to fill every single bed in shelters? she told The Independent. I mean, there are tangible policy items and budgetary needs that can be filled immediately, according to Ms Hanif, pointing to new regulatory framework for basement-level units and an expansion of a housing voucher programme, which has waiting lists that are often months or years long. Were at very risky territory here, she said. Moving it to another beach, another sort of island that is equally prone to flooding, and which is also a transit desert, remains to be both an operational and moral failure. Last month, the city councils Committee on Immigration held a hearing to press the administration for details about the plan. Emergency Management commissioner Zach Iscol tol the committee that the plans are set up not to replace the shelter system but to give us the time and space to do that operation correctly. To make sure that we are figuring out what the needs of people are, he said. To welcome them with a shower, a warm meal, meet their immediate medical needs and then figure out what the next steps for them are. New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Daily News that we can get to a place with a better solution to address the crisis, She rejected characterisations that she was ripping the Adams administration with her remarks. I wasnt ripping anyone, she said on Twitter. The people who actually need to get ripped are Abbott [and] DeSantis, who did this while the federal [government] funds their facilities. Despite that I believe we can get to a better solution together, and were exploring ways to find the resources to make it happen. She suggested that there should be a more immediate process to allow people seeking asylum to get work authorizations so they can get on their feet [and] start providing for themselves and their kids rather than be forced to move across the US. Sadly, too many [politicians] are focused on punishing refugees instead of letting them contribute, she said. A family from Venezuela boards buses to New York from El Paso, Texas on 3 October (REUTERS) Mr Awawdeh with the New York Immigration Coalition accused the administration of trying to subvert the states right-to-shelter mandate with a poorly conceived plan to hide asylum seekers in relief camps in remote areas of New York that are prone to flooding. Despite the availability of underutilized buildings that are more accessible to mass transit and the social service needs of asylum seekers, the city continues to remain stubbornly committed to the development of relief camps across the five boroughs, he said in a statement. With a more permanent solution, the encampments put people seeking asylum in harms way after being treated like pawns in a political game, Mr Awawdeh said. A joint statement from the Legal Aid Society and Coalition for the Homeless urged the city to seek other solutions instead of tent cities, where our clients will be isolated, vulnerable to extreme weather, and far from public transportation and other critical services. Right now, this administration can unilaterally remove the many bureaucratic barriers that plague its housing voucher process to transition more homeless New Yorkers from shelters into safe, permanent housing, according to the groups. An aerial photo shows New York Citys initial emergency tent facilities in The Bronx before it was disassembled days later due to flood risk. The city is now using a lot on Randalls Island for its shelter plan (EPA) Instead, the flooding at the initial Orchard Beach location in The Bronx should serve as a canary in a coal mine for the wrongheaded tent shelter plan, according to the groups. Mayor Adams has repeatedly dismissed concerns that the city is violating that mandate, insisting that the citys overburdened and under-supported shelter system and the daily arrival of hundreds of people seeking asylum in the US are separate crises. Some people look at things and always find the negative. I look towards the positive, he told reporters on 4 October. Theres a lot of pivoting and shifting that will take place Were going to ensure safety [and] the support that no one else in the country is doing. Saturday Night Live has a fun lineup coming up this weekend (Oct. 8), with actor Brendan Gleeson making his hosting debut, and Willow taking the stage as musical guest. In a new promo for the episode shared on Thursday (Oct. 6), the duo stand alongside SNL cast member Chloe Fineman, who gushed over Gleesons role in 2021s Macbeth, in which he played King Duncan. The actor warned that its bad luck to say Macbeth in a theater, and both Willow and Fineman ignore him before a light falls from the ceiling behind them. More from Billboard Thats probably a coincidence, Fineman quickly says. Later on in the promo, the SNL comedian shares that an Irish accent is her favorite part about Ireland. Willow notes that her favorite part about the country is the music, while Gleeson, who is Irish himself, says he prefers an Irish goodbye. Fineman, who didnt know what the term meant, soon realizes that she is left alone onstage, and that Irish goodbye means leaving a situation without bidding any farewells. Willows first time on the SNL stage was during season 47 as a guest of Camila Cabello, when the pair performed their collaboration Pyschofreak off the former Fifth Harmony members latest solo effort Familia. Im honestly really, really surprised that Im going to be on SNL twice in one year, five months apart, she told Apple Music 1s Zane Lowe. Thats crazy. Im really excited. Im nervous obviously, because being with Camila [Cabello], really, really good friend of mine. Theres that feeling of comfortability there where you can look across the stage and be like, Girl, were in this together. Were doing this. Im not baring my soul alone on the stage. But now its going to be me baring my soul alone on the stage, and Im just so grateful and so excited, but also sg my pants slightly. Story continues Willows new album is out Oct. 7. Watch the SNL promo below, and catch the full episode on Saturday (Oct. 8) at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Click here to read the full article. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Princess Isabella of Denmark, Prince Vincent of Denmark, Princess Josephine, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Princess Marie of Denmark, Prince Nikolai of Denmark, Prince Felix of Denmark, Prince Henrik of Denmark, and Princess Athena of Denmark in 2018. Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images Queen Margrethe II of Denmark recently announced plans to remove her grandchildren's royal titles. The Queen's son, Prince Joachim, and her grandson, Nikolai, seem to be against the decision. The monarch later issued an apology and said she wanted to future-proof the monarchy. On September 29, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced that she plans to remove four of her grandchildren's Danish royal titles in 2023. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark smiles during a visit to Brandenburg Gate on September 10, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Queen Margrethe is in Berlin on a two-day visit. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images As Insider previously reported, the Danish monarch announced via the royal family's website that the children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim of Denmark, will no longer have royal titles in 2023. The decision affects Prince Nikolai, 23; Prince Felix, 10; Prince Henrik, 13; and Princess Athena, 10. They will still be able to use the titles of counts and countess of Monpezat, according to the statement on the royal website. According to the statement, the Queen made the decision so her grandchildren would "be able to shape their own lives" without being formally affiliated with the royal household. Meanwhile, the children of Margrethe's eldest son and heir to the throne, Prince Frederik, still have the right to use their royal titles. Representatives for the royal family of Denmark did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Prince Joachim spoke out against the Queen's decision, saying his four children were upset. Prince Joachim of Denmark and the Duke of Sussex photographed in Copenhagen in 2017. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Joachim released a statement to the Danish media on the day of the Queen's announcement, sharing that his children were upset with their grandmother's decision. "We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being mistreated like that," he told the Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet. "They find themselves in a situation they do not understand." He also told the outlet he was only given five days' notice regarding his mother's decision, though he had been made aware of Queen Margrethe's intentions to revoke his children's titles at some point in May 2022. Story continues Representatives for Prince Joachim did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Meanwhile, Joachim's eldest son, Prince Nikolai, said he was shocked by the decision. Prince Nikolai of Denmark photographed at royal ship Dannebrog in August 2017. Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images In an interview with Ekstra Bladet on September 29, Nikolai said that he was "in shock" regarding the decision and "very confused as to why it has to happen like this," according to an English translation shared by the New York Post. Representatives for Prince Nikolai did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Prince Joachim and his wife, Princess Marie, seemed emotional in an interview where they discussed the Queen's announcement. Princess Marie of Denmark and Prince Joachim of Denmark. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images According to an English translation by Hello Magazine, the royal couple appeared tearful when answering questions about the Queen's announcement with the publication B.T. on October 1. During the interview, a French woman approached the couple to tell them that their children will always be princes and princesses in their eyes, which left "the couple speechless, and they both [began] to cry because they [were] so touched," Hello Magazine reported. In the interview, Prince Joachim addressed reports that the Queen removed his children's titles to slim down the monarchy. "The reality must still be whether you modernize or slim down, it must be done in a proper way. It's about children. Orderliness and children. It is a very heavy matter," he said. Queen Margrethe issued a public apology, saying she made the decision to future-proof the monarchy. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waves from the Town Hall balcony after lunch during festivities for her 75th birthday on April 16, 2015. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images Writing on the Danish royal family's website on October 3, Margrethe addressed the "strong reactions" to her decision. She wrote that royal titles involve commitment and duties that will lie with fewer members of the royal family in the future, which she views as essential to "future-proofing" the monarchy. "I have made my decision as Queen, mother, and grandmother. But, as a mother and grandmother, I have underestimated the extent to which much my younger son and his family feel affected. That makes a big impression, and for that I am sorry," Margrethe wrote, adding that her children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are "my great joy and pride." "I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation," she wrote. Read the original article on Insider Tensions are running high in the Korean Peninsula, as the United States and its allies respond to North Koreas flurry of recent missile tests including one that flew over neighboring Japan without warning. North Korea has fired six missiles in the past two weeks a prolific number, even in a year that has seen the highest number of launches since leader Kim Jong Un took power in 2011. The aggressive acceleration in weapons testing has sparked alarm in the region, with the US, South Korea and Japan responding with missile launches and joint military exercises this week. The US has also redeployed an aircraft carrier into waters near the peninsula, a move South Korean authorities called very unusual. A US aircraft carrier and submarine, and South Korean and Japan warships, seen during a joint exercise on September 30. - Handout/Getty Images International leaders are now watching for signs of a further escalation such as a potential nuclear test, which would be the hermit nations first in nearly five years a move that would present US President Joe Biden with a new potential foreign policy crisis. Heres what you need to know about North Koreas rush toward nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles, why theyre ramping up now and what, if anything, the US can do to counter Kim Jong Un. First, some context The testing itself isnt new North Koreas weapons development program has been ongoing for years. Tensions reached near-crisis levels in 2017 when North Korea launched 23 missiles throughout the year, including two over Japan, as well as conducting a nuclear test. The tests showcased weapons with enough power to put most of the world in range, including the countrys first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Relations thawed in 2018, when then-US President Donald Trump held a landmark summit with Kim. The two leaders fell in love, Trump said; in return, Kim praised their special relationship. North Korea pledged to freeze missile launches and appeared to destroy several facilities at the nuclear test site, while the US suspended large-scale military exercises with South Korea and other regional allies. Story continues But the talks ultimately fell apart, and hopes for a deal that would see the North curtail its nuclear ambitions dwindled by the end of Trumps term. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, pushing North Korea further into isolation. The already-impoverished country sealed its borders entirely, with foreign diplomats and aid workers fleeing en masse. During this time, the number of missile launches also remained low just four in 2020 and eight in 2021. So why are they ramping up now? Experts say there are a few reasons North Korea is accelerating its testing so rapidly now. First, it could simply be the right time after the events of the last few years, with Kim declaring victory against Covid in August, and a new US administration in place that has focused on shows of unity with South Korea. Theyve been unable to test for quite a few years due to political considerations, so Id expect North Korean engineers and generals to be very eager to make sure their toys are going to work well, said Andrei Lankov, a professor at South Koreas Kookmin University. Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons expert and professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said its also normal for North Korea to pause testing during the stormy summer and resume once weather improved in the fall. A television screen at Seoul Station in South Korea shows news of North Korea firing ballistic missiles on October 6. - Kyodo News/Sipa USA But, several experts said, Kim could also be sending a message by deliberately showcasing North Koreas arsenal during a period of heightened global conflict. They want to remind the world that they should not be ignored, that they exist and their engineers are working around the clock to develop both nuclear weapons and delivery systems, said Lankov. Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, echoed this sentiment. Kim launches missiles to generate attention towards himself, but also to create pressure for Japan and the United States to engage him, he said. He added that North Korea might also feel emboldened to act now while the West is distracted with the war in Ukraine. A worker observes the launch of an F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard a US aircraft carrier in the Sea of Japan on October 5. - Communication Specialist Seaman Natasha Chevalier Losada/US Navy (The missile tests) started in January, which is about the time we were beginning to report on what Russian President Vladimir Putin was doing opposite Ukraine, said Schuster. Kim Jong Un is doing what he thinks he can get away with hes not expecting any kind of strong US reaction. Lankov said that Russias invasion of Ukraine may have also boosted Kims confidence because it demonstrated that if you have nuclear weapons, you can have almost impunity. And if you dont have nuclear weapons, youre in trouble. What can the US and its allies do to stop North Korea? Despite the US and its allies quick military response this past week, experts say theres little they can do to stop or prepare for North Koreas weapons tests. The Americans sent the Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. South Koreans are launching these missiles, which are not necessarily working well, said Lankov, referring to a South Korean missile on Wednesday that crashed right after launch. What is the impact of all these American aircraft carriers cruising around Korea? Pretty much nothing. South Korean and US fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's missile launch on October 4 at an undisclosed location. , 2022 at an undisclosed location. - South Korean Defense Ministry/Getty Images Though these shows of force might serve to deter North Korea from starting a war which likely isnt Kims plan, anyway it does little to prevent further weapons development or missile testing, he said. Itll probably make some people in the US and (South Korea) a bit happier, but itll have zero impact on North Koreas behavior and decision making. A lack of hard intelligence also means the US is largely left in the dark when it comes to Kims plans. The North lacks the widespread use of technology that not only facilitates economic and societal advances, but also provides critical windows and opportunities to glean information for the intelligence services of the US and its allies. Since so much of what North Korea does is driven by the leader himself, you really have to get inside his head, and thats a hard intelligence problem, said Chris Johnstone, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. And on the international stage, the US efforts to punish North Korea have faltered due to pushback from Moscow and Beijing. In May, Russia and China vetoed a US-drafted UN resolution to strengthen sanctions on North Korea for its weapons testing the first time either country had blocked a sanction vote against the North since 2006. What is North Korea trying to achieve? Kim has spearheaded an aggressive weapons development program that far outstripped efforts by his father and grandfather, both former North Korean leaders and experts say the countrys nuclear program is at the heart of Kims ambitions. In September, North Korea passed a law declaring itself a nuclear weapons state, with Kim vowing to never give up nuclear weapons. The law also demonstrated North Koreas hopes of strengthening its ties with China and Russia, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. An Army Tactical Missile System is fired during a joint training session between the United States and South Korea, on October 5 at an undisclosed location. - South Korean Defense Ministry/Getty Images After China and Russias open opposition to new sanctions against North Korea, Kim knows he has their backing, said Schuster. He added that Kims weapons testing serves a dual purpose: apart from making a statement to the international community, it also boosts his own image domestically and cements the regimes power. Its a very paranoid regime (Kim) is as worried about the people under him as he is worried about regime change from the outside, said Schuster. With the tests, Kim, is telling his own senior people, We can deal with whatever the threat the West, the US and South Korea can come up with, he said. However, in terms of wider public perception, KCNA, North Koreas state-run media, has made no mention of missile launches for months since its last report of a launch in March. Lewis, the expert at the Middlebury Institute, added that North Korea will likely continue developing weapons such as ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missile until they get to a point where theyre satisfied with that then I think theyll probably express an interest in talking again. Is a nuclear test coming? The concern in the short-term is whether North Korea will launch a nuclear test, which Lewis said could come anytime. However, Schuster and Lankov both said that given the friendly relationship between North Korea and China, Kim might wait until after China holds its high-profile Communist Party Congress later this month if it happens at all. The meeting of the party elite is the most significant event on the Chinese political calendar especially so this year, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping expected to be appointed to a third term in power, further cementing his status as the most powerful Chinese leader in decades. Kim depends too much on Chinese aid to keep his country afloat, meaning he cant afford to do anything to detract from the Party Congress, said Schuster. So although China cant dictate to him what he must do he will not cause them problems. After October, however, the runway is clear for any more significant weapons tests, said Lankov. South Korean and US officials have been warning since May that North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear test, with satellite imagery showing activity at its underground nuclear test site. CNNs Brad Lendon, Kevin Liptak, Katie Bo Lillis, Phil Mattingly and Kylie Atwood contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The death of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami, who went missing after attending protests in Tehran last month, has further energized the nationwide demonstrations in Iran, even as her mother tells news outlets their family is being threatened by Iranian security forces to change their story about the incident. The protests erupted after the mysterious death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died Sept. 16 while in custody of the morality police, after she was reportedly arrested for not wearing a hijab properly. The demonstrations have turned into a movement, with many calling for an end to the Iranian regime. Many accounts on social media report an unprecedented number of teenagers participating in the protests. "Our teenagers laugh at these [Iranian officials]," Mojgan Ilanlou, an Iranian documentary filmmaker, told ABC News. Ilanlou says she has been on the streets most of the days of the protest witnessing a "fearless" young generation. Ilanlou says this generation doesn't care about Iran's leaders because the leaders have "turned themselves into jokes" with so many "shallow" decisions and statements. She says, "Who would be afraid of someone that they laugh at for a long time?" PHOTO: A woman holds a sign bearing the names of slain Iranian women including Nika Shakarami during a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran and the death of Mahsa Amini in front of the Iranian Embassy in Madrid, Oct. 6, 2022. (Juan Medina/Reuters) Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed the U.S. and Israel for the unrest, calling Amini's death "a bitter one" and urging people to wait for the investigation into her death to finish. MORE: Student protesters in Iran tear-gassed, arrested by police: Report On the day she disappeared, Nika had posted stories on her Instagram account inviting her friends to join the protests, her mother, Nasrin Shakarami, said in an interview with Iran International TV on Thursday. That's how she learned her daughter had gone to the protests. In her last message to a friend on Sept. 20, Nika said that she was being chased by security forces, her aunt told BBC Persian. At some point, Nika stopped responding to the calls and her phone shut off, according to her family. The next morning, her family says they began searching prisons, police stations, and detention centers. Story continues "No one would respond properly. It was a mess. And some of the parents were beaten. They also were trying to understand if their children were in prison," Nika's mother told Iran International. Eight days after Nika went missing, the police called her family saying a body matched Nika's features, her aunt told BBC Persian. After the family received her body, they realized the reported date of her death was the day she went missing, her mother told Iran International. She was not told why the body had been kept away from the family when she had her ID with her or why her Instagram and Telegram accounts were deleted the same night. Her mother said in the interview with Iran International that security forces tried to seize Nika's body when they took her to their village to be buried. She said that local officials even asked her not to bury Nika in the village. "I asked them not to oppress me with this one. I asked them to let me bury my daughter where I want," she said she told the local officials. Later that night, security forces stole Nika's body from the morgue and buried her in a village several miles west of where Nika's family wanted to bury her, she told Iran International. Nika's uncle was arrested for objecting to the theft of the body and other relatives are wanted by police for objecting as well, she said in the interview. The family couldn't retrieve the body again. Three days prior to that, Nika's aunt had shared details of the family's search for the teenager in an interview with BBC Persian listing the discrepancies they noticed in officials' accounts regarding Nika's case. MORE: US sanctions Iranian officials for crackdown on protests The aunt was arrested in a raid on her house two days after the interview, BBC Persian reported. She then appeared on a program on state TV that advocates say is known for allegedly forcing confessions, saying that Nika was not killed in the protests and that she died after falling from the roof of a building. PHOTO: Iranian protesters set their scarves on fire while marching down a street on Oct. 1, 2022 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) In a video aired by Radio Farda, the Iranian branch of the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe, Nika's mother did not approve of her sister's account on state TV. Nasrin Shakarami said her sister had made comments under pressure from security forces. "They have put words in her mouth and forced her to make confessions," she said in the radio interview. Nasrin Shakarami said in the video that she herself received several threats that she would face trouble if she does not "confess" the "scenario" that the regime wants everyone to believe about Nika's death. An official with Tehran's homicide office, Mohammad Shahriyari, said investigations by the department show Nika was not killed in the protests, according to the Iran judiciary's news agency Mizan on Wednesday. "No bullet marks were found in the body of the deceased and the evidence shows that the death was caused by a person being thrown [from the building]." However, Nasrin Shakarami told Radio Farda that Nika's death certificate attributes "repeated blows by a blunt object" as the reason for death. PHOTO: Protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a woman who was detained by the morality police in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sept. 21, 2022. (via AP) The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a U.S.-based nonprofit, condemned the Islamic Republic for using the "ragged inhuman scenario of forced confessions" to cover its "crimes and oppression." In a tweet Thursday, the group said that such confessions are "historical documents of unforgettable crimes." The Biden administration announced sanctions Thursday against several senior Iranian officials for the violent crackdown on protesters. The State Department Friday did not outline additional measures, but condemned the deaths that have resulted amid the crackdown. "This cruel and ongoing suppression of protestors just shows that the regime -- it clearly fears its people," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said. "We're going to continue to coordinate with our allies and partners and respond to Iran's crackdown, as well as frankly, its state sponsored violence against women that we're seeing take place all across the country." Commenting on the presence of teenagers like Nika in the protests, Ilanlou told ABC News that she had initially advised some teenagers on the street to go home while the "adults would take care" of the protests. However, their bravery encouraged her to keep participating in the protests. "When I witness their courage, I start to think why I should be scared," Ilanlou said. She said this generation wants "to be in their own country and live with their own lifestyle." Nika would've turned 17 on Tuesday, one day after her burial. ABC News' Desiree Adib and Shannon Crawford contributed to this report. Iranian teenage protester's death sparks global outcry, alleged threats to family from regime originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A week after Hurricane Ian slammed Florida, search-and-rescue efforts are still underway and the death toll continues to rise. Maj Gen. James O. Eifert, the Adjutant General for the Florida National Guard, spoke with ABC News Live Thursday and provided the latest updates on those efforts and the damage caused to the state. PHOTO: A member of the Florida National Guard helps stack emergency supplies that arrived by boat during flooding along the Peace River in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Arcadia, Fla., Oct. 3, 2022. (Gerald Herbert/AP) ABC NEWS LIVE: A week has passed now since Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida. Can you assess for us where the recovery stands at this moment? MAJ. GEN. JAMES O. EIFERT: Well, they're making great progress. We have about 17 urban search-and-rescue teams scattered throughout. Now they're kind of focused on the primary counties of Charlotte and Lee County. They've been on the Barriers Islands, the Sanibel and Captiva [islands], as well as Pine Island, doing a lot of tremendous work as well as they've spread out throughout Charlotte County, in Lee County, just to get through the initial hasty phase of the search-and-rescue effort, which initially kind of just speedily goes through the neighborhoods to see if there's any obvious signs of distress. ABC NEWS LIVE: National Guard troops are still assisting in search-and-rescue efforts. We reported the death toll from Hurricane Ian in Florida jumped yesterday to at least 120 victims. Do you expect that number to continue to climb? EIFERT: I would anticipate that it probably will. I think the search-and-rescue efforts have probably found the majority of the remains that are going to be found, but it's hard to say as they get through some of these more detailed looks at these immense areas of devastation and destruction. It would be hard to imagine that they won't find more. MORE: Hurricane Ian death toll now more than 100 after storm slams into Florida, North Carolina ABC NEWS LIVE: And the National Guard is doing everything from helping search for survivors to clearing debris and roads and also serving food and water. What are the biggest challenges that residents and business owners are facing? EIFERT: Well, the biggest challenges easily have been the outages of water and power. So especially on the islands like Sanibel, I visited it yesterday with the governor and it's hard to describe the destruction. We passed over a couple of times on helicopters, but you can't really get a feel for it until you actually get on the ground and you see just the amount of debris. Story continues PHOTO: A National Guard vehicle drives through floodwaters from the Peace River on October 4, 2022 in Arcadia, Florida. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) ABC NEWS LIVE: Major, would you just be able to share on a personal level how long you've lived in Florida, if you've ever witnessed anything like this? EIFERT : I was born and raised in Florida, actually. And I've I think, you know, this equates pretty closely to Hurricane Michael that we saw up in the Panhandle back in 2018. And the difference with this, though, is Michael was focused on a very small area. It was such an intense [Category] 5 storm that it just laid total waste and devastation to Mexico Beach and up around the Panama City area. But it was very focused in a small, about a 30-mile wide devastation field. And this one is just so much larger. [It] covers probably 100 miles of the coastline and plus what it did as it went inland and the amount of flooding that it caused all the way up and down the state. PHOTO: Florida Army National Guard members unload supplies from a helicopter on October 02, 2022 in Pine Island, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ABC NEWS LIVE: And there was a rare show of political unity when President Biden visited with Gov. DeSantis yesterday and toured the damage together. Talk about how people of Florida are coming together in this difficult time. EIFERT: It's been remarkable, the resiliency, really. There have just been so many stories every day there's another story of just an amazing group of people that have come down. A great example is this airboat club that lives up in Tampa. They just decided they're all going to get their airboats and bring them down to Harty County, which is a long way from Tampa. And they brought them down there. They launched them in the water, and they just went around saving people without any and nobody asked them. Nobody was paying for their gas or their travel time or their time away from work. They're just doing it because it's like 30 of those guys running around just saving people and bringing them commodities and those kinds of things. So there are hundreds of examples of people like that that are just reaching out to their neighbors and showing them love. And it's really inspiring for all of our people. National Guard general speaks on Hurricane Ian aftermath and moment of inspiration originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This article originally appeared on Velo News Alejandro Valverde might be retiring this weekend at Il Lombardia, but Team Movistar is keeping two of its most veteran riders for at least one more season. Imanol Erviti, 38, and Jose Joaquin Rojas, 37, both signed one-year contract extensions to stay with the Spanish WorldTour team in 2023. The pair was often at Valverdes side in his most important wins. Erviti already boasts 18 seasons in the WorldTour, all of them with Eusebio Unzues team, and the hard-working domestique will race at least one more season even without Spains BalaVerde. Next year will be different without Valverde, Erviti said. It will be strange not to have him around. Hes the reference, the leader of the team, and someone who always steps up. We are going to miss him, and to race these last few races with him, to help him out one more time, was something special. Also read: Rojas, who hails from the same region in Spain as Valverde, agreed that Movistar will be a different team without retiring rider. It will be strange to race without Alejandro after so many years together, Rojas said. Right now I have one more year with the team and maybe we can do a few more still. Now its up to Imanol and myself to step into the role of road captains, but I have a lot of confidence in the young riders coming up and Enric Mas. For sure the future is bright. Movistar also confirmed contract extensions for Lluis Mas y Albert Torres. Movistar looks all but certain to retain its WorldTour status after a nervous relegation battle in the closing months of 2022. Team boss Unzue hinted at a few more signings, and VeloNews reported that the team is close to signing Ruben Guerreiro. Valverde, who will stay on with Movistar as an advisor in 2023, races for the last time as a pro on Saturday at Il Lombardia. If everything goes well then I will be one of the favorites," Valverde said. "Of course, that depends on the race and how I'm feeling, but right now I feel like I can try to win the race. And I like the route this year before than the others. For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. President Joe Biden pardoned domestic victims of the War on Drugs with federal simple marijuana possession convictions on Thursday. In doing so, he added that state governors should do the same as most marijuana possession arrests and convictions occur beyond the reach of the presidents pardon power in state and local jurisdictions. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either, Biden tweeted. Few sitting governors responded to Bidens request. That is probably because most states with sitting Democratic Party governors those most likely to follow the presidents lead already have some legal process to expunge, seal or reduce at least some, if not all, of the low-level marijuana convictions in their states. Fifteen of the 22 states held by Democrats have such policies in place, and many of these governors praised Bidens action while noting they had already done the same. Thank you to @POTUS for taking this long overdue action. In 2019, I signed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and today we have pardoned or expunged nearly 800,000 low-level convictions. https://t.co/off6LLzRU9 Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 6, 2022 In the remaining seven states of Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which do not have a pardon process in place, a handful of governors offices responded to inquiries from HuffPost following Bidens announcement. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) agrees that no one should be in jail simply because of possession of marijuana, Scottie Ellis, his deputy communications director, said over email. But, she added, The White House had not alerted and has not briefed our office on exactly what his pardons may require and the specific details of what they will and will not cover. Story continues Beshear established a Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee in April to review options for any executive action he could take toward legalizing medical marijuana in the state. He is now looking to review the details of Bidens pardons and whether something similar could apply in Kentucky in his larger analysis on medical cannabis, Ellis said. She added that the vast majority of Kentuckians favor legal, medical marijuana; a recent poll put the number at 90%. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) established a Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice in 2020 that later recommended decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Bidens actions are in line with those recommendations, Cooper said in a statement provided to HuffPost. I have also asked our lawyers to examine North Carolina law regarding simple possession of marijuana convictions and pardons to determine if there is an action we can and should take, Cooper continued in the statement. I think he did the right thing, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said at a press conference on Friday. Weve looked back at our constitution and laws in Louisiana, and unlike many states, I do not have plenary authority to grant a pardon. The legislature may need to pass a law or amend the constitution to enable Edwards to issue pardons similar to Bidens. Were going to be looking at it going forward, he added. And working obviously with members of the legislature to take their temperature and see if theres an appetite for moving in this direction. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, is not legally allowed to issue blanket pardons. Still, she will consider all clemency and pardon requests based on a complete and thorough review of the individual cases, according to her communications director Brianna Johnson. And in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf touted the policy he and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is running for the states open Senate seat, announced on Sept. 1 to issue pardons for certain minor, non-violent marijuana-related convictions at the next meeting of the Board of Pardons in October. I just coordinated a one-time, large-scale pardon effort for people with certain minor, non-violent marijuana convictions, Wolf tweeted following Bidens announcement. Under Pennsylvania law, I dont have unilateral pardon authority but Im doing everything I can to right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs. At least one Republican governor, New Hampshires Chris Sununu, responded to Bidens call by saying that he is reviewing Bidens actions. Marijuana remains illegal in New Hampshire, but the state has decriminalized the possession of small amounts, expanded medical marijuana and created a process to allow those convicted of marijuana offenses to appeal to get those convictions expunged. Protestors called on President Joe Biden to deschedule marijuana and pardon and expunge those convicted at the federal level in April. He began that process on Oct. 6. (Photo: Tom Williams via Getty Images) Protestors called on President Joe Biden to deschedule marijuana and pardon and expunge those convicted at the federal level in April. He began that process on Oct. 6. (Photo: Tom Williams via Getty Images) There are currently 20 states that have already enacted policies that enable those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses to expunge, seal or reduce them. These include 16 states where marijuana is legal and another four states where it is decriminalized. The 16 states where marijuana is legal and a process of expungement automatic or on an individual basis exists include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Twelve of these states have Democratic governors, while four have Republicans. There are just two states Alaska and Maine where marijuana is legal, but there appears to be no process for the expungement of past convictions. Alaska has a Republican governor, while Maines is Democratic. Another four states where possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized now allow a process to expunge and seal convictions for possession crimes since decriminalized. These are Delaware, Hawaii, Minnesota and New Hampshire. All but New Hampshire have Democratic governors. North Dakota also allows those convicted of low-level marijuana possession offenses to petition the governor for a pardon. Additionally, voters in Arkansas, Maryland and Missouri are voting in November on initiatives that would legalize marijuana and expunge certain prior convictions. Republicans currently govern these states, but Maryland is almost certain to elect Democrat Wes Moore as governor in November. Maryland voters have the opportunity to legalize recreational marijuana on the ballot this November, Moore tweeted Thursday. As governor, I will fight to expunge the records of those arrested for marijuana possession. Voters in North and South Dakota will also be deciding on ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana in their respective states, but neither initiative provides a process for marijuana conviction expungement. Like in Pennsylvania, not all state governors have the unilateral pardon power Biden does as president. This is the case in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Carolina and Utah. In Minnesota, for example, pardons must be unilaterally approved by the Board of Pardons, which includes the governor, the attorney general and the chief justice of the state supreme court. Or, in Alabama, the process runs through an independent parole board appointed by the governor. As a legislator, I supported legalizing medical marijuana. As governor, I will decriminalize marijuana possession in the state of Georgia and support prioritizing the expungement of marijuana possession records. Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) October 6, 2022 Other states require pardons issued by the governor to be reviewed and approved by parole boards. This limits the ability of governors to follow Bidens suggestion. While it may be difficult for the few Democratic governors whose states dont have a process in place to expunge marijuana convictions to act, the issue immediately became a campaign promise of Democratic gubernatorial candidates. As governor, I will decriminalize marijuana possession in the state of Georgia and support prioritizing the expungement of marijuana possession records, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams tweeted. When Im governor, we will finally legalize marijuana in Texas and expunge the records of those arrested for marijuana possession, former congressman and Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke tweeted. Its time to legalize marijuana here in SC and expunge the records of people with low-level marijuana convictions, South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, tweeted. And Im the only person running for governor who will. The legalization of marijuana remains broadly popular, with most polls showing two-thirds in support. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Alabama football coach Nick Saban said on his weekly radio show on Thursday that quarterback Bryce Young has practiced some this week but will be a game-time decision for Saturday's game against Texas A&M. Young injured his shoulder when falling awkwardly on his arm in the second quarter of last week's win over Arkansas. He returned to the game for one series, then went inside the medical tent and into the locker room. Though he did return to the sideline in the second half with his helmet on, Young did not play the rest of the game. Saban said Wednesday on the SEC's coaches teleconference that Young was day-to-day. Young threw in practice some on Wednesday, ESPN reported Thursday, but rested his shoulder on Thursday. "There's no real bad damage or anything like that in his shoulder, so this is not a long-term thing. but he still has some soreness," Saban said on his radio show. "We'll have to make a game-time decision before the game in pregame to see if he can throw the ball well enough to go out there and do his job. "He has been able to practice some. Bryce is a great competitor. He'll want to go out there and play the best he can. But sometimes you have to protect players from themselves because they've got to be able to go out there and create value for themselves and be healthy enough to do it the right way. He's a sharp guy. I think he'll know whether he can go out there and do it. We'll be able to make a decision based on that. This is really and truly will be a pre-game decision. The way we've treated this from a medical standpoint is overuse would really set him back. " A&M INJURY NEWS: QB Max Johnson injury update ahead of Alabama football vs. Texas A&M CHASE GOODBREADAlabama-Texas A&M ticket prices sky high, fueled in part by Saban-Jimbo feud FISHER VS. SABAN: Inside Jimbo Fisher's scorched-earth May news conference that rocked college football Story continues Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and among the favorites to repeat this season, has thrown for 1,202 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions this year. Backup Jalen Milroe had two total touchdowns in relief of Young in last Saturday's win over Arkansas. He threw for 65 yards on 4-of-9 passing and added 91 rushing yards, including a 77-yard run that set up a key fourth quarter touchdown to push the Tide's lead to two scores. If Young is not able to play against Texas A&M, Milroe would be in line for his first career start. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football QB Bryce Young will be game-time decision vs Texas A&M While Illinois' governor candidates sparred Thursday night in Normal, 13th Congressional District candidates Regan Deering, a Republican, and Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat, met on the debate stage at the Illinois Public Media studios in Urbana. While differences were seen in the candidates' positions on the issues, such as abortion and how to address gun violence, some common ground was noted regarding student loan forgiveness. Both candidates were not in favor of President Joe Biden's executive action to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt a plan the Congressional Budget Office estimates would cost approximately $400 billion. Student loan forgiveness:These 5 people have student loans. Here's what they think about debt forgiveness Democratic candidate Nikki Budzinski speaks during a candidate forum at the Lincoln Library on June 7. [Thomas J. Turney/ The State Journal-Register] For Budzinski, a former chief of staff in Bidens Office of Management, her concern was how taxpayers would cover those costs. The action by the president is not the best way to address college affordability, she said. College tuition and fee rates have increased by 130% since 1990, according to the Education Data Initiative. "I very much believe that a four-year college degree should not be the only pathway to the middle class," Budzinski said. Borrowers in the lower and middle classes are the targets of the Biden plan. Nikki Budzinski:Where 13th congressional district candidate, stands on ag, climate, costs Instead, she is in favor of boosting union apprenticeships as a way to provide skills to people without "saddling them with debt and interest refinancing. "If I can refinance my interest on my mortgage, students should be able to refinance the loans that they have taken out for their college degrees," Budzinski said. "I think that is something that is a more common sense approach to helping everyone with college affordability." Deering, a Decatur small business owner and philanthropist, also disagreed with Biden's plan and promoted similar alternatives to the four-year degree. Republican candidate Regan Deering talks during a candidate forum at the Lincoln Library on June 7. [Thomas J. Turney/ The State Journal-Register] "We need to take a look at how that makes people that, perhaps, didn't take out a student loan or have worked very hard to pay off that the student loan debt so it is not an offense to them," she said. Story continues Regan Deering:Where 13th congressional district candidate, stands on rising prices, voting, border As Deering noted, whether or not the Biden initiative goes forward depends on if legal challenges advance. Those challenges so far come from outside Illinois, most notably with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich who has filed three lawsuits against it. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has not joined any such lawsuit and is in favor of the plan. Following the August announcement by Biden, Raoul issued a statement in support but also called for further long-term reform. Higher education should be within reach for all Illinoisans without the fear that they will be saddled with lifelong debt," he said in a released statement. "The administrations announcement today is a clear acknowledgment of the burden student loan debt imposes, and a response to repayment and forgiveness programs that have been historically and systemically flawed." ballot drop box His Republican opponent, Tom DeVore, referred to the plan as unconstitutional and one that would add to inflation. Constitutional issues aside, the bill is grossly unfair," he said in a statement. "Why should someone who couldnt afford to go to college pay off the debt of someone else who did go? Why should someone who works their way through school or has paid off their own student loans foot the bill for people who havent?" Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Student loan forgiveness plan opposed by 13th District candidates Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi, March 10, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Nikolskyi/RIA Novosti/Kremlin A cap on the price of Russian oil would give countries more leverage to negotiate better prices from suppliers. A Treasury official added that the US had "positive" talks with China and India, major buyers of Russian crude. G7 nations are ironing out details about the cap, such as penalties for countries who don't adhere to it. A cap on the price of Russian oil would give countries more leverage to negotiate better prices from suppliers, a US Treasury official said this week. "We can have a very successful price cap without a single barrel traded under the price cap. If what we've done is provide leverage for those importers to get the best discount possible, we're perfectly fine with that," US Treasury assistant secretary Ben Harris. The comment, first reported by Reuters on Wednesday, comes shortly after US officials said they had made some headway in discussions with China and India on the plan to cap Russian oil prices, with Harris describing recent talks as "positive" at an energy conference in London. China and India have been among Russia's top oil customers since the start of the war, ramping up purchases of Russian crude at steep discounts while the West has shunned energy supplies from the country. The G7 nations are still working out details of the price cap, but currently plan on barring countries who are not compliant with the price cap from insurance, brokerage, finance, and other part of the energy commodities trade. Those penalties will be another incentive for countries to purchase Russian crude within set limits, keeping trade affordable and accessible to energy-strapped Europe. Though the level of the price cap itself has not been decided, officials have previously floated a range of $40-$60 a barrel, and Harris added that Russian oil will be capped at prices that still incentivizes suppliers to come to the market. "We want to provide economic incentives for Russia to continue to produce." But Russia has threatened to slash output if Western nations move forward with the price cap. Russia's deputy prime minister warned that the measure ""will primarily hit the ones who are actually doing it," and that Russia would refuse to sell crude to countries participating in the price cap. Read the original article on Business Insider Its the end of an era for Chicago P.D. fans who watched Jesse Lee Soffer and his character Jay Halstead exit stage right following 9+ seasons on Wednesday night. Soffer shared a message of gratitude via social media as he looks toward the future. For anyone thats ever been a Halstead fan, I just want you to know that Im grateful. Thank you for going on this journey with me. Im just grateful, he posted on Twitter. More from Deadline For anyone thats ever been a Halstead fan, I just want you to know that Im grateful. Thank you for going on this journey with me. Im just grateful. Jesse Lee Soffer (@jesseleesoffer) October 6, 2022 The actor live-tweeted the episode titled A Good Man, which saw Halstead come to terms with his evolution into the grey area of law enforcement much like Voight (Jason Beghe), and a desperate need to nip that in the bud. He didnt like who he was becoming. And even though he and Hailey (Tracy Spiridakos) just recently tied the knot, he accepted a job with the Army based in Bolivia where he and his team will track down the worst drug cartels. Hailey is heartbroken they will be separated for at least 8 months but understands the severity of it all, so she sets him free. Soffer, seeing the character he brought to life trying to set things right, approved of the direction Halstead is going. It was the right thing to do. Now thats Jay. It was the right thing to do. Now thats Jay. #ChicagoPD #JayHalstead Jesse Lee Soffer (@jesseleesoffer) October 6, 2022 Related Story 'Chicago P.D.': How Jesse Lee Soffer Exits NBC Series Story continues Related Story 'The Blacklist': Newcomer Anya Banerjee Joins Season 10 Cast As Meera Malik's Daughter Related Story Donald Trump Biographer Maggie Haberman On How 'Apprentice' Put Mogul In The White House, Those Outtakes, & 2024 Soffers co-star LaRoyce Hawkins shared a tribute via Instagram ahead of the episodes airing. to make a long story short, it will never be the same.., Hawkins, who plays Officer Kevin Atwater, captioned a gallery of images of the two. Marina Squerciati also shared a post of her and Soffer who fans have affectionately dubbed, Jake and Kate. Although the two have been on the show since its inception, they rarely ever have scenes together. In A Good Man, Halstead and her character Officer Kim Burgess answer a call of an active shooter situation at a local pharmacy. Jakes wearing a button down AND Im wearing a button down?! Its so obvious; Jake loves Kate, she wrote. P.D. newcomer Benjamin Levy Aguilar, whose character Officer Dante Torres became a series regular in Season 10, paid tribute to Soffer and Halstead, the man and character that welcome him and Torres into the fold. dont really know where to start.. Art does imitate life I guess, Aguilar shared via Instagram. When I first came in in the show, you embraced me off screen just like your character did on screen. Thank you for being so giving and encouraging a space for creativity for me. It made everything fun and easy. The click was real ! Thank you for opening up and sharing countless oh fuck moments about how crazy similar our childhoods were despite growing up in two completely different worlds. You are a mensch. I respect your story and your journey. Grateful to call you a friend. Im gonna miss you bro. Chicago P.D. airs Wednesday nights as part of NBCs One Chicago night weekly. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Dozens of CIA agents have said the agency has not done enough to investigate the mysterious neurological illness known as Havana Syndrome, according to a report. The strange phenomenon was the subject of at least three dozen communications between agents with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and members of Congress over the past year, CNN reported on Thursday. Those who reached out to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees reportedlyaexpressed concerns about the ongoing investigation into Havana Syndrome. While similar concerns have been raised before, the CNN report was the first time CIA agents were said to have contacted US lawmakers about their experiences and the intelligence agencys work to understand Havana Syndrome. Beginning in 2016, injuries including dizziness, loss of balance, nausea and a ringing sound in sufferers ears have been reported among an estimated 200 or more people. A preliminary report released in February this year found that a foreign adversary was not likely behind the symptoms associated with Havana Syndrome. Officials have however been unable to pinpoint what is exactly causing the illness however. Theres just no answer, said one House Intelligence Committee member briefed on the CIA investigation to CNN. Theyve done an immense amount of work, literally spreadsheeting every catastrophic set of symptoms down to the headache and theres just nothing. None. In some instances, Havana Syndrome has left sufferers with long-term brain damage, a CIA doctor sent to investigate the first reports of the illness in Havana, Cuba, in 2017 said this month. It gets to the point where you just dont want to go out of the house because you say whats the point? Dr Paul Andrews (using a pseudonym) said in an interview with CNN. I want to go do this, but I know its going to make me sick. I dont want to be nauseated. I dont want to be tripping and falling. Outside the US embassy in Havana, Cuba (Getty Images) The CIA said in its preliminary report that a pulse electromagnetic energy, particularly in the radio frequency range, plausibly explains symptoms associated with the strange illness, although that remains unconfirmed. Story continues Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior intelligence officials have pledged to help those effected as well as investigate the phenomenon, which has affected US staffers and their families in locations including Austria, China, Russia and Vietnam. We are going to continue to do everything we can, with all the resources we can bring to bear, to understand, again, what happened, why, and who might be responsible, Mr Blinken said in January. And we are leaving no stone unturned. Mark Zaid, an attorney who is representing some of those seeking compensation from the CIA, meanwhile questioned such claims and told CNN: From what I have seen, there are tons of significant, credible leads that to the best of our knowledge the agencies are not addressing. He continued: Leads that clients of mine put into the system and theyre not doing it. To me, this is where they need to be held accountable to explain why. A spokesperson for the CIA told CNN following the new report that it is fulfilling its profound obligation to conduct the most rigorous investigation possible and that the agency had great confidence in those working on the probe. The Independent has approached the CIA and US state department for comment. Missouri recently passed a new law that has modified voting registration and voting requirements that went into effect in late August. St. Francois County Clerk Kevin Engler oversees the voting system in the county and spoke about the changes put in place. Engler said the law could change back due to a possible Supreme Court ruling, but he doesnt know of any court action coming up. One of the biggest changes is that you are going to need a picture identification to vote, he said. Even county voter IDs cannot be used as they do not have a voter photo on it. You cannot use student IDs or out-of-state drivers licenses. ID that are allowed for voting purposes: Nonexpired Missouri drivers license Nonexpired or nonexpiring Missouri nondrivers license Military ID with a photo that is not expired or has no expiration date U.S. or Missouri-issued document with voters name, photo and expiration date that isnt expired. IDs no longer allowed: Student IDs Out-of-state drivers license Voter ID cards Sample ballots Utility bills Bank statements Licenses According to Engler, 90% of voters now use drivers licenses for identification. The barcode on the back has all the same information as the voter ID card does. Eligible voters who need a picture identification can go to a Missouri license office and obtain a state ID for free if used for voting purposes. Voter Registration and address changes For registering to vote, there is still no same day registration. Voters who have moved within a county can change their address on Election Day. If the address change is within St. Francois County, the voter can vote at the precinct as every election machine has all of the county voters listed. However if a voter is already registered to vote anyplace else in Missouri, they can change their address and vote on election day but only at Election Central because of the need to access the states information on the internet. Other items of interest about voter registration is that the month and date of the voters birthday is no longer public and people cannot be compensated to register voters. Absentee Voting In person absentee voting will still require a photo identification. No-excuse absentee voting begins on the second Tuesday before the election. Election authorities need to hand mark or stamp each absentee ballot envelope as it is received with the date and time. If there are 10 or more absentees at a given location such as a nursing home, elections teams must go to the facility and have residents vote in person. Engler has a system set up to handle those situations. We are going to do it differently, we did a practice run in August, it went smooth, he said. We are going to be proactive and approach the facility and have them declare a Voting Day either on a Wednesday or Thursday of the week prior of Election Day. "Send us a list of potential voters. We will check our rolls and see which ones are registered voters. We will prepare their ballot requests and come that day and have them sign the ballot requests and hand them their ballots and have them vote and seal it, sign it on the back and put it in the metal box. We will have a full team of Democrats and Republicans. Miscellaneous changes There is a ban on ballot drop boxes. Entities that conduct elections cannot receive or use private funds to conduct an election. The exception is in-kind contributions such as personal protective equipment, water, free usage of polling locations and food for staff, election judges, watchers and challengers. Couple Meets a Street Dog at 'Starbucks' in Turkey and Their Journey to Adopt Her Is So Inspiring They're finally bringing her home to the U.K. A couple's life turned upside down when they just so happen to run into a special fur baby at a Starbucks in Turkey. They recently shared their story on their TikTok account @rescuinglaia and we're here for it. A street dog wandered towards them at a Starbucks. The poor pup didn't want any food or water, just love and attention. So the couple did exactly that. But the story doesn't end there. Check it out! View the original article to see embedded media. O.M.G. How sweet is this?! We can't believe the dog followed them back to their hotel and waited for them. Ugh, our hearts! We're so glad they knew that was a sign they needed this baby. That dog was clearly meant to be with them. "Sometimes we pick them and sometimes they pick us. Sometimes they are the love we never knew we needed," said @josieandersonsmith. This couple definitely wasn't going to Turkey to adopt a dog, but now they know it was what they needed. @justinecp426 added, "Love these stories, its like they know and they choose you." The most beautiful stories indeed. Another TikTok user, @Miriam Diaz, wrote, "I'm telling you, people like you guys have a special place in heaven." That's 100% true. Humans who are kind of animals also have a special place in our hearts forever. We can't wait to see Laia get back to the U.K. with her new family! Do you have a pet who's funny, smart, full of personality, or just downright adorable? We'd love for you to submit a video of your fur baby for a chance to be featured on PetHelpful and our social channels! Click here to upload your clip and share your beloved pet with the world. For more interesting pet news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter! Gov. John Bel Edwards is traveling to London Wednesday, where one of his meetings will be with executives from the premier global insurance market Loyd's to discuss Louisiana's growing homeowner's insurance crisis. Edwards will lead a delegation of business and political leaders who will also seek economic expansion opportunities as well as attend the New Orleans Saints game against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday. Louisiana is in the midst of an insurance crisis triggered by Hurricanes Laura and Ida in consecutive years that threatens the affordability of homeownership in the state's coastal areas, where the cost of property insurance and federal flood insurance can exceed monthly mortgage payments. Among the planned topics of discussion with Loyd's executives Thursday: current factors affecting insurance and reinsurance protection for companies doing business in Louisiana; legislative and regulatory changes that would improve the states attractiveness to insurers and reinsurers; and how the risk modeling utilized in Lloyds insurance marketplace impacts the state. Few states are more directly impacted by the insurance underwriting and energy markets than Louisiana, which is why its so important to maintain an open dialogue with global leaders in those sectors," Edwards said in a statement. "Thousands of Louisianans are not only still recovering from damage caused by devastating storms, but they are also dealing with unpaid claims, insurance companies folding, and problems finding new insurance coverage. "We must find a way to solve this crisis. Im also looking forward to establishing new partnerships and increasing awareness about Louisianas energy transition leadership and rapidly diversifying economy. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards during Opening ceremony and Ribbon cutting for The Veterans Memorial at Moncus Park in Lafayette, LA. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Edwards, who will return to Louisiana Monday, will be joined on the trip by representatives from Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority, the Port of New Orleans, the Port of South Louisiana and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc. Story continues On Friday the governor and delegation will meet with private energy industry executive from Shell, Cheniere, Linde and Drax. This is Edwards third international trip of his second term and sixth of his governorship. His most recent trip was a weeklong resiliency and economic development mission to the Netherlands and France. More:Louisiana will honor Black veteran soldiers for first time with monument on Capitol grounds Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Gov. John Bel Edwards bound for London: Insurance, Saints on agenda Oct. 6CONCORD A major firefighters union is backing U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., while a Senate Republican-linked super PAC is carpet-bombing Hassan with an expensive attack ad buy that labels her as soft on crime. The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire represent more than 2,000 members from 41 fire and emergency medical service departments across the state. PFFNH President Brian Ryll said Hassan helped secure more grants to first responders during COVID-19, along with other programs under the federal American Rescue Plan Act passed in 2021. "Senator Hassan is a longtime ally of our firefighters," Ryll said in a statement. "She has always prioritized the safety of New Hampshire citizens, and she's advocated for the resources that Granite State fire departments need to keep our communities safe." Hassan vowed to keep fighting to help first responders in the future. "Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to respond to emergencies and keep Granite State communities safe," Hassan said. This union often supports Democratic candidates, but endorsed Republican Gov. Chris Sununu late last month. The Senate Leadership Fund aired a new ad earlier this week suggesting Hassan favored defunding the police and had voted for legislation to give early release to sex offenders. This Mitch McConnell-connected super PAC has already said it intends to spend $23 million in New Hampshire from Labor Day through the Nov. 8 election. A Hassan campaign spokesperson said its latest ad was riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods. "This ad is a desperate smear that completely misleads about Senator Hassan's long record of standing with law enforcement, supporting public safety, fighting for the victims of sexual violence, and holding sex offenders accountable," said Maggie for NH spokesperson Sydney Petersen. In recent weeks, crime has become a TV ad staple for GOP candidates running in the nationally-targeted Senate races that include New Hampshire. Story continues But crime ranks as only the 12th most important issue, according to the latest Saint Anselm College poll done for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Only seven people out of the 901 in the poll said crime was the most important issue. Hassan has opposed defunding the police and backed more spending for law enforcement as former governor and in the Senate, Hassan's campaign said. Legislature repealed early parole law Hassan backed As a state senator in 2010, Hassan did vote for a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing prison recidivism that made sex offenders and many other inmates eligible for earlier parole. The state Senate passed it unanimously. In response to negative press reports after some violent offenders won early release, the Legislature passed and then-Democratic Gov. John Lynch signed a bill repealing the entire reform measure. Michael Gallagher, retired Seabrook police chief, also came to Hassan's aid. "Senator Hassan is an unwavering ally of the men and women in uniform, and any suggestion otherwise is an outright lie," Gallagher said. Hassan can't defend her law enforcement record, according to a Bolduc campaign spokesperson. "Crime is out of control across New Hampshire and Maggie Hassan is nowhere to be seen. While our borders stay dangerously open and drugs continue to pour into our country, Maggie Hassan is falling in line behind President Biden, putting his liberal agenda ahead of keeping Granite Staters safe," said Kate Constantini. The New England Police Benevolent Association, a group that backed Donald Trump for President in 2016 and 2020, has endorsed Bolduc. The GOP establishment's financial support for Bolduc is critical since Hassan has already raised more than a record $30 million in this race while Bolduc has raised less than $2 million. Bolduc was only able to put his first television ad of the entire campaign on earlier this week, highlighting his military background as a retired brigadier general with 10 deployments to the Middle East. The Bolduc campaign noted he raised nearly $1 million over the past two weeks, the first time in the entire campaign he's raised that much in a fortnight. klandrigan@unionleader.com Herschel Walker Bill Barrow/AP Herschel Walker implied that he hadn't confirmed that his ex-girlfriend is the mother of his child. But the embattled Senate candidate told The Daily Beast in June that she was. The comments came as he fielded questions on Thursday about paying for her abortion, which he denies. In a series of rambling statements, embattled Senate candidate Herschel Walker implied during a news conference that he hasn't confirmed that his ex-girlfriend is the mother of his child months after confirming that she was to The Daily Beast, the outlet reported. The Georgia Republican and anti-abortion crusader's latest statement on Thursday came as he fielded questions about the Daily Beast's reporting that he paid for his ex-girlfriend to have an abortion, an allegation he continues to deny. He already confirmed to the outlet in June that this woman was the mother to one of his children, but on Thursday, he told a different story, The Daily Beast reported. He said he didn't know the woman and suggested her claims of him fathering her child were false. "I said it's not correct, that's a lie. And that's what I mean, when that's a lie," Walker said during the news conference. Walker's office didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The comments came the same day that Walker made the bizarre statement to conservative radio talk host Hugh Hewitt that he wouldn't be ashamed of paying for a woman's abortion this, from someone who supports a nationwide ban on the procedure without exceptions. "If that had happened, I would have said it, because there's nothing to be ashamed of there," said Walker. "You know, people have done that, but I know nothing about it." Read the original article on Business Insider A federal district judge on Thursday tossed a conservative legal group's lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty sued Biden and U.S. Education Department officials earlier this week, arguing that the plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for millions of borrowers was illegal executive overreach. WILL vowed to appeal the judge's decision. This is an extraordinary case based on an extraordinary claim of executive power by the President," WILL deputy counsel Dan Lennington said in a statement. "This case was always destined to be decided by higher courts, and we will continue the fight to the Court of Appeals and then the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. The lawsuit, one of several challenging the program, attracted national attention for being the first to bring race into play. The White House has said the plan will help narrow the racial wealth gap and advance racial equity. WILL argues the statements amount to improper racial motive and violate the constitutions guarantee of equal protection of the laws. White House officials did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment on the judge's decision. More: Legal challenges stack up for Biden's student debt forgiveness plan More: When will student loans be forgiven? What to know about debt relief applications WILL filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association, which includes more than 100 members who pay federal taxes and are "on the hook" to pay for Biden's plan, they argued. Judge William C. Griesbach, who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, ruled Thursday that the taxpayers association doesn't have standing before the court, or the grounds to sue. "The Supreme Court has repeatedly held, however, that the payment of taxes is generally not enough to establish standing to challenge an action taken by the Federal Government," he wrote in his decision. Story continues The application for borrowers to apply for loan forgiveness is expected to be rolled out sometime this month. WILL had asked the court to immediately block that from happening for the time being. But even if the taxpayers association had standing, Griesbach said, it's unclear if he could grant their injunction request because "a substantial question remains as to whether Plaintiff can demonstrate that it will suffer irreparable harm." About 685,000 borrowers in Wisconsin will be eligible for relief under Biden's plan, which calls for cancelling up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year, or less than $250,000 for married couples, or up to $20,000 for those who received federal Pell Grants. The Education Department on Wednesday warned borrowers against sharing their financial aid ID to anyone asking by phone or email, or paying anyone to help them apply for forgiveness. About 8 million borrowers whose income is already on file with the department will have their loans automatically forgiven without having to apply. Others can sign up at ed.gov/subscriptions to be notified when the form goes live. Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin lawsuit targeting Biden's student debt relief plan tossed Judy Tenuta Judy Tenuta, a beloved comedian and ally to the LGBTQ+ community, has died at age 72. Tenuta died Thursday in Los Angeles, Variety and other outlets report. The cause was ovarian cancer. Tenuta was born in Oak Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, and was named for Judy Garland. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago, she became popular in Chicago comedy clubs in the 1970s and 80s. She had a quirky, over-the-top persona, and she used such monikers as The Petite Flower, Fashion-Plate Saint, Queen of Candy-Pants, Princess of Panty Shields, Empress of Elvis Impersonators, The Love Goddess, and Aphrodite of the Accordion. She wore outrageous costumes and often used an accordion in her act. Later, she was variously based Los Angeles and New York City, and she toured nationally. She appeared in several television comedy specials, including Women of the Night with Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, and Rita Rudner on HBO in 1987. She frequently performed with Weird Al Yankovic, who paid tribute to her on Twitter. She was in numerous films, such as Butch Camp (1996), Desperation Boulevard (1998), Material Girls (2006), and Sister Mary (2011), the latter with Bruce Vilanch. She acted onstage in The Vagina Monologues and Menopause the Musical in both Los Angeles and Chicago. She was nominated for Grammys for her comedy albums Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust. She wrote two books, Full Frontal Tenudity and The Power of Judyism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she recorded a video titled Kicking Cancer's Ass. Tenuta had many fans in the LGBTQ+ community and was a major supporter of LGBTQ+ equality. She performed in gay bars, served as grand marshal in Pride parades, and performed at fundraisers for queer organizations. She was ordained as a minister so she could officiate same-sex marriages. Survivors include her life partner, Vern Pang, five brothers, and a sister. BOSTON A Buzzards Bay man pleaded guilty on Sep. 30 in federal court in Boston in connection with an April 2019 kidnapping. Cameron Cartier, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice by retaliating against or intimidating a witness, according to an Oct. 5 press release from the office of U.S. District Attorney Rachael Rollins. The case is tied to an investigation into a heroin trafficking operation on Cape Cod, the release said. In April 2019, Cartier helped lure a man from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, kidnapped and held him, took his clothes and cell phone, assaulted him and threatened to rape him, according to the release. Five others were involved in the incident, according to the release. In Bourne: An unfinished 126-unit housing complex in Bourne may move forward. Here's what we know. The assault was videotaped and kept by the accused men, according to the release. Rollins' office said the kidnapping and assault were a retaliation against the victim, who Cartier and others incorrectly thought was assisting law enforcement in the investigation into the heroin trafficking. On Cape Cod: Where are the most affordable homes for purchase on Cape Cod? Geography plays a role On Sep. 14, one of the five other men, Albert Lee of Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Another person involved, Anthony Basilici of Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to his role in the kidnapping as well as charges of drug trafficking and witness retaliation and intimidation. The other three defendants have pleaded not guilty, and will go trial in January 2023, the release said. The charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping comes with up to a life sentence in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice by retaliating against a witness carries a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Story continues U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10. Contact Sarah Carlon at scarlon@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @sarcarlon. Gain access to premium Cape Cod Times content by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Buzzards Bay man pleads guilty to role in Rhode Island kidnapping President Joe Biden warned the potential of using nuclear weapons is the greatest it's been since 1962. Thailand mourns the loss of at least 36 people in the nation's deadliest rampage ever. Our reporters spoke with protestors in Iran about the ongoing unrest. I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Before you head into the weekend, here's one last dive into the news this week. Up first: Prime Day is COMING BACK. Check out the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon ahead of October Prime Day. Biden's warning of nuclear threats The risk of nuclear "Armageddon" is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, President Joe Biden said during a fundraiser Thursday amid the threat Russian President Vladimir Putin will deploy nuclear weapons to ward off Ukraines attempt to reclaim control of Moscow-occupied areas. Biden's warning follows talks among Russian officials about the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since (President John F.) Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis," Biden said, adding that Putin's threat is real because his army is "underperforming." Read more Energy in Europe: On Friday, European Union leaders met in Prague to try to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russia's war on Ukraine fuels the energy crisis. Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, arrives for a European Union summit in Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday, Oct 7, 2022. Suspect had been fired from police force, faced drug charges Deputy national police chief Gen. Torsak Sukwimol told the Bangkok Post that the suspect in a massacre at a child care center in Thailand was apparently under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. The Post reported the suspect was expelled from the police force in June and that he faced charges related to possession of methamphetamine pills. The suspect took his own life after he killed over 30 people Thursday. The victims mostly were children and included his wife and child. Read more Story continues Families of victims mourn while waiting for blessings from Buddhist monks on October 7, 2022 in Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand. Photo of the day: Thailand mourns the nation's deadliest rampage ever The Thai government announced that flags would fly at half staff Friday to mourn a shooting and slashing rampage at a day care center Thursday that killed dozens of people, most of them children. Click here to see more photos. Coffins are seen outside a child care center on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 in Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand. More news to know now Hot or cold: What's the deal with this fall weather? Check your local forecast here. Nobel Peace Prize awarded to activists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine This year's Nobel Peace Prize is going to jailed Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties, the award's judges said Friday. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the judges wanted to honor "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbor countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine." Read more Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, right, is greeted by his wife Natalya Pinchuk, at a railway terminal in Minsk, Belarus, on Saturday, June 21, 2014. 'Woman, life, liberty': Iranians on why they'll risk beatings and death for change Three weeks into nationwide protests triggered by the killing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in custody after being arrested by Iran's "morality police," authorities continue to violently crack down on anti-regime demonstrators. There have been mass arrests and human rights and opposition groups estimate hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest. Many analysts and participants say these protests feel different; that dissenters have appeared more willing to brave beatings, arrest and even death as they demand justice. USA TODAY conducted interviews with protesters on an encrypted communications channel to hear directly about their demands and to understand how they have experienced the protests. Here are their stories Women worldwide cut their hair to protest death of Iranian woman who violated dress code. Can't read this article? That's because it's a premium story for USA TODAY subscribers only. If you want to read and support journalism like this story, please consider subscribing. Just for subscribers: These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Already a subscriber and want premium content texted to you every day? We can do that! Sign up for our subscriber-only texting campaign. A brutal week for Herschel Walker's campaign, explained Herschel Walker has stuck to his story. The Republican Georgia senate candidate and former NFL player said at a rally Thursday that reports he paid for an ex-girlfriend's abortion are nothing more than a Democratic distraction, whatever the evidence. Read more The background: Earlier this week, The Daily Beast reported Walker, who has backed a national abortion ban with no exceptions, paid for a former girlfriend's abortion. Undercutting Walker's claims: A after the initial report, a woman said Walker paid for her 2009 abortion and she is the mother of one of his children. The Daily Beast said it reviewed a receipt showing her payment for the procedure, along with a get-well card from Walker and her bank deposit records showing the image of a $700 personal check from Walker dated five days after the abortion receipt. More stories about Walker: Walker has been accused of repeatedly threatening his ex-wife's life and exaggerating claims of financial success, among other allegations. Regardless, the Walker fiasco ensures that abortion will continue to be a central issue in the Georgia race, one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country. Georgia GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker speaks with reporters following a recent campaign stop. What happened this week? Test how well you paid attention to the news. A little less heavy Crew-5 member Nicole Mann says goodbye as she and the other astronauts head for the launch pad for their trip to the International Space Station Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Sign up for the email here. Support journalism like this by subscribing to USA TODAY here. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russia, Thailand, Iranian protests, Nobel Peace Prize: Daily Briefing ORCAS, HUMPBACKS CLASH IN TENSE ENCOUNTER Mollie Naccarato, Sooke Coastal Explorations, PWWA Crew members with the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) observed a rare, aggressive confrontation between a group of Bigg's orca whales and a pair of humpback whales spotted in the waters near the western Canada-U.S. border. On Sept. 29, crew members on an Eagle Wing Tours whale-watching boat encountered the orcas first. The boat discovered around 15 orca whales "being unusually active at the surface," according to a PWWA press release. Another whale-watching boat discovered two humpback whales interacting with the orcas shortly afterward, the association added. "According to observers who came and went throughout the day, the encounter included an astonishing three hours of breaching, tail-slapping, and loud vocalizations before all of the whales disappeared into the fog, keeping the outcome of the melee a mystery," the PWWA said in its release. RELATED: 230 Pilot Whales Found Stranded on Australian Harbor Half Are Still Alive and Awaiting Rescue The encounter happened in the Juan de Fuca Strait, about 25 miles west of Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, and Port Angeles, Washington, according to the PWWA. The association's executive director, Erin Gless, told the CBC that while it's "very common" for their boats to encounter both species of whales, spotting groups of both engaged "in the middle of a brawl" is much rarer. ORCAS, HUMPBACKS CLASH IN TENSE ENCOUNTER Mollie Naccarato, Sooke Coastal Explorations, PWWA "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it because it was absolutely unbelievable," Mollie Naccarato, a captain and naturalist with Sooke Coastal Explorations on Canada's Vancouver Island, told the CBC. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "At first, the orcas seemed to be chasing the humpbacks," she said. "But then when there was space between them, the humpbacks would go back toward the orcas." Story continues Naturalists with the PWWA identified some of the orca whales involved in the scuffle and the two humpbacks, who they know as BCX1948 "Reaper" and BCY1000 "Hydra," according to a statement. Gless told the CBC that the orca whales could be seen circling the two humpbacks and nipping at their flippers and tails. RELATED: Humpback Whales Share Songs Between Pods in the Pacific Ocean, According to New Research The orcas involved in the encounter often hunt marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and porpoises, and occasionally larger prey like humpback whales. ORCAS, HUMPBACKS CLASH IN TENSE ENCOUNTER Mollie Naccarato, Sooke Coastal Explorations, PWWA The PWWA stated that while the association "has not documented any fatal orca attacks on humpback whales in the Salish Sea," increases in both species' populations in the area could lead to more frequent confrontations. "Orcas are the only natural predator that humpback whales have in this region," Gless told the CBC. "Even though humpback whales can get to be the size of a school bus, a group of very experienced hunters can attack [them]." Whale-watching boats in the area are hopeful they will encounter the two humpbacks again before the animals swim south for their annual winter migration, the association wrote in its release. The orca whales involved in the encounter do not migrate and can be seen in the area year-round, according to the PWWA. Pep Guardiola dismissed reports of a release clause in Erling Haalands contract after watching his star striker add another two goals to his season tally in the first half of Manchester Citys 5-0 rout of FC Copenhagen. Following on from Sundays hat-trick against Manchester United, Haaland scored Citys first two of the night before an own goal from David Khocholava and second-half strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez. Such was Citys dominance that Guardiola could withdraw Haaland at half-time after seeing him score his 18th and 19th goals of the season for City. The day had started with reports in Spain that a clause in the 22-year-olds contract would give Real Madrid a free run at signing him as soon as 2024, but Guardiola said there was no truth to the report. Its not true, the City boss said. He has not got a release clause for Real Madrid or any other team. The rumours and people talking, we cannot control it. I always worry about what we can control. Haaland scored twice again (Nick Potts/PA) Whats important is he has adapted really well, we have the feeling he is happy here. We will try with him and all of them who want to stay to make them happy. In the future, nobody knows, but he is happy, he has settled perfectly, he is incredibly loved and this is the most important thing. Guardiola said the decision to replace Haaland with Cole Palmer at the break was not pre-planned, but with City already in cruise control with a 3-0 lead five minutes before the break, he took the opportunity to give him a breather ahead of Saturdays Premier League match against Southampton. Back in the starting XI, a clean sheet, the 3 points and the first spot of the group, what more could I ask ? (less cold & less rain please ) pic.twitter.com/XIegHjjYUp Aymeric Laporte (@Laporte) October 5, 2022 He has played a lot of minutes, Guardiola said. Of course Cole Palmer is an excellent player, Im looking forward to him playing. Story continues If the game was tight Erling will continue to play but after that it is better to rest and think about Southampton, a team we were not able to beat last season. There were suggestions the decision might have signalled an injury for Haaland, but after returning to the bench late in the second half, the Norwegian ran on to the pitch to celebrate with his team-mates after the final whistle before jogging around applauding supporters. Haaland might have been disappointed not to be allowed the opportunity to seek yet another hat-trick, but if he was, it did not show. Erling wants the same as all of us to win the game, Guardiola said. He made the hat-tricks to win those games. Of course if he had played another 45 minutes he would have had more opportunities but we need everybody involved. Confidence growing with every game Superb UCL team victory @mancity pic.twitter.com/TB0Y13RfPx Ilkay Gundogan (@IlkayGuendogan) October 5, 2022 Guardiola had made five changes from Sundays derby victory. Aymeric Laporte made his first start of the season after injury, linking up with the returning Ruben Dias in defence while Alvarez, Mahrez and Sergio Gomez also came in. It is not about resting players, Guardiola said. Its about a squad of 20 players, not just 11. This was the best selection to win the game because we need the players everywhere in this tight, tight schedule. It was an excellent result and a better performance. People say, Its Copenhagen but they defended really well, but we play the movements with the ball and without the ball. Today we see the reason for success for this club. After Man United, 6-3, there were a lot of compliments but we are humble enough to respect the opponent Copenhagen. This is the secret of this team. The work ethic in training, everybody is focused, everybody pays attention. This is why this season and in previous seasons, with important players, we are there every three days. This is the biggest title we can get. Beyond the Premier League, Champions League, everything. This is the best. Poland said it has spoken to the US about having Natos nuclear weapons on its territory amid growing alarm over Russias explicit threats of using nuclear arms in Ukraine. Polish president Andrzej Duda said there was a potential opportunity for the country to take part in nuclear sharing. The problem, first of all, is that we dont have nuclear weapons, Mr Duda said in an interview with the Gazeta Polska newspaper on Wednesday. We have spoken with American leaders about whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The issue is open, he added. White House officials have, however, said they are not aware of the request being raised and referred further questions to the Polish government. Were not aware of this issue being raised and would refer you to the government of Poland, a US official said, according to Bloomberg. Polands suggestion to host nuclear weapons on its soil is the latest example of growing fears over the use of nuclear weapons as the Biden administration and Nato seek to strike a balance between supplying Ukraine with weaponry and refraining from moves that could escalate the conflict to nuclear war. While it is unclear what Poland is actually seeking in its request, observers said it could mean pilots from the host country being trained to carry out nuclear missions using US-provided nuclear warheads, among other things. Nato members and its allies Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and Turkey host US nuclear weapons on their soil, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. A senior diplomat in Warsaw, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said hosting the US weapons could be in the interest of Poland as well the region and serve all of Europes security needs. Mr Dudas offer to host the weapons follows a move by Russias top ally Belarus to make changes in its constitution to allow the Kremlin to base and use nuclear weapons from its territory. The potential demand has also been raised as the prospect of the use of nuclear weapons is estimated to be higher than at any time since the Cold War and possibly since the Cuban missile crisis 60 years ago. Story continues Vladimir Putin raised the prospect anew when he said he would use all available means to defend Russian territory while declaring the annexation of four more Ukrainian regions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in April said Polands government has recently caused deep concern: The line is extremely militant, anti-Russian, and the proposed actions, of course, can only lead to a further increase in tension on the continent. Deploying US nuclear weapons to Poland, a neighbour of Ukraine, could be a violation of Natos Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Nato-Russia Founding Act. The latter states that the bloc will not deploy nuclear-capable arsenal on the territory of any new member. A man was shot and killed by Pueblo County sheriff's deputies responding to a report of a burglary in Colorado City late Wednesday night. Deputies responded to the burglary report at a home on Santa Fe Drive around 11:45 p.m., where they say they encountered an armed suspect and "shots were fired," according to a news release from Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. The suspect was injured and transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries. No deputies were injured. The name of the deceased will be released by the Pueblo County Coroner's Office. The names of the deputies involved in the shooting are "not being released at this time," according to PCSO's release. A sheriff's office spokesperson said they could not provide additional details Thursday and noted more information will become available as the investigation continues. The incident is being investigated by the 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, a task force comprised of members of the Pueblo Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigations and the sheriff's office. Wednesday's shooting marks the a fourth involving a law enforcement officer in Pueblo County this year; five Pueblo police officers were put on administrative leave following a series of incidents in June. Cpl. Richard Giconi was placed on leave in connection to a shooting involving an allegedly armed and suicidal man on June 26; Sgt. Richard Reyes was placed on leave on June 28 in connection to a vehicle pursuit and shooting on Interstate 25; and officers Sean Davis and Jonathan Vicars were placed on leave after exchanging gunfire with an alleged shooting suspect near Fountain Creek. A fifth Pueblo police officer was also placed on leave but was not identified by police because the officer, who was involved in the June 26 incident, did not fire his weapon. Story continues Capt. Dustin Taylor, a spokesperson for the Pueblo Police Department, told the Chieftain Thursday that all five officers have since returned to active duty. Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo deputies kill man while responding to burglary in Colorado City Police Car with Flashing Lights. A judge is clearing the way for a lawsuit to continue against the town of Windsor, Virginia, for what it alleges is a clear pattern of discriminatory police activity. The Office of the Attorney General initially filed this lawsuit after a 2020 traffic stop that involved two Windsor police officers and an Army lieutenant named Caron Nazario, according to the Associated Press. In the video, the two officers are shown drawing their guns at Nazario after pulling him over at a gas station. They were then captured using a slang term to suggest he was facing execution. Then they pepper-sprayed him and knocked him to the ground. Nazario, who is of Black and Latino descent, filed a separate lawsuit against the officers in question. Nazarios attorney Tom Roberts felt the use of force was intentional in a statement to the Associated Press. Read more Calls for answers after Windsor traffic stop An attorney for the Windsor police attempted to get the lawsuit thrown out, arguing this one incident did not mean the town had a pattern of racism. Initially, outgoing Democrat Attorney General Mark Herring filed the lawsuit. However, Republican Jason Miyares took office over and amended the lawsuit. Miyares added three claims that Windsor deprived Lt. Nazario and others of their First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. This would also be a violation of the Virginia Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Misconduct Act. The claims go on to say the department policed in a way that unlawfully discriminated based on race, color, or national origin. Members of the Isle of Wight NAACP are pleased to see this lawsuit continuing. A future trial date will be forthcoming. From WVEC 13 News: It is good to know that it is not about parties. I would think that the outgoing Democratic AG realized that maybe there are some problems where patterns or practices are concerned, Valerie Butler, Isle of Wight NAACP president, said. It is nice to know that the current administration has also agreed to take up the case. lyric-wood-devin-clark-murder-suspect - Credit: Orange County Sheriff's Office; Facebook After weeks of unease, a suspect has been detained in the double homicide of Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, who were found murdered last month in North Carolina. The unnamed suspect is a juvenile, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office, so their identity will not yet be released to the public. Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement: We hope this apprehension provides some relief to the families and friends of Devin and Lyric, who have experienced an excruciating loss. Obviously, the capture of the suspect does not restore their loved one to them. The grieving process is a long one, and we hope the community will continue to support them in their pain. More from Rolling Stone Teenagers Woods and Clark were found murdered on an Orange County trail on Sept. 18. Soon after, police announced that a 17-year-old was the prime suspect in their deaths, but did not release any more information, frustrating friends and family. We cant find his phone, we dont know where his backpack is, Clarks uncle, Joe Concepcion Jr., tells Rolling Stone. We dont know nothing. We didnt even have an open funeral. They had to put the pieces together. Mallory Thornton, the mother of one of Woods friends, says that her child and her friends have been scared to go to school with a suspect on the loose. These children are literally fighting over this case, she tells Rolling Stone. [Blackwood should] come out and look these children in the face and say, Hey, I understand what youre saying, but Im not at liberty to say certain things about the case, I just want to reassure you that youre safe.' In the statement, Blackwood addressed the lack of information about the suspect: We understand our community is hungry for information to help process this tragedy; however, the laws regarding juvenile confidentiality are ironclad. We have no ability to set them aside, even given the heightened interest in this case. Story continues The Sept. 18 911 call made by the ATV riders who discovered the teens was previously released to the press; a local blogger, Gerald Jackson, tells Rolling Stone he obtained it via FOIA. However, when Rolling Stone attempted to FOIA the 911 call made the night Woods went missing, an Orange County official told us the Orange County District Attorneys office has a court order to not release any records or files related to this call and they have been sealed. Rolling Stones request for the 911 call made after Clark went missing is still outstanding. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed that it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried. Unfortunately, several Republicans on the November ballot appear ready to try another form of government to guarantee that their party wins future elections, regardless of what voters decide. In the fight to save our democracy, gubernatorial elections in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will be key battlegrounds. Thats because if the Republicans running for governor in those states are elected, they will have enormous power to determine whether former President Donald Trump or another GOP presidential nominee claims their states electoral votes in 2024 without capturing the most popular votes. Opinions in your inbox: Get exclusive access to our columnists and the best of our columns every day Based on their track records, Republican candidates for governor Kari Lake in Arizona, Tudor Dixon in Michigan, Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania and Tim Michels in Wisconsin pose a danger to our democracy. Weve arrived at this point because of Trumps refusal to accept the will of American voters and concede he was defeated two years ago by Joe Biden. Instead, Trump concocted a lie, claiming he was reelected in a landslide. Unfortunately, millions of his loyal followers believe this baseless claim. Can suburban women save it?: The right to control our own fates is at stake in 2022 Trump may be on ballot in 2024 Now Trump is hinting strongly that he will run for president in 2024 despite being targeted by multiple federal and state investigations over accusations that he tried to overturn his 2020 defeat, incited the riot at the U.S. Capitol, hoarded classified government documents at his Florida estate after leaving office and engaged in improper business dealings. Former President Donald Trump and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake at a Republican campaign rally on July 22, 2022, in Prescott Valley. If Trump becomes the Republican presidential nominee again, he may proclaim himself the winner of the general election regardless of how few votes he gets. Should he lose, he could again incite his most fervent supporters to violence. Story continues Lake has said that she wouldnt have certified Bidens victory in Arizona if she had been governor in 2020. Dixon said during her primary campaign that Trump won the 2020 election in Michigan but later said it was impossible to know. Michels refuses to rule out supporting legislation as governor to overturn Bidens victory in Wisconsin, even though that cant be done legally. Republicans should have been ready: Dumping Roe may backfire on abortion opponents Mastriano, who is a Pennsylvania state senator, took a series of actions to try to keep Trump in the White House after his election defeat, including meeting with Trump to discuss plans to overturn Bidens victory, working to seek fake Pennsylvania electors who would vote for Trump, pressuring the U.S. Justice Department to overturn election results and chartering buses to take more than 100 Trump supporters to the rally that led to the riot at the Capitol. Mastriano has said that if he is elected governor, he could interfere with election results he doesnt agree with. Keep eye on Georgia governor's race Another key governor's race pits incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp against Democrat Stacey Abrams in Georgia. To his credit, Kemp refused Trumps demand to reject Bidens victory in Georgia. But Kemp later signed legislation that makes it harder for Black Georgians and others who tend to vote for Democrats to cast ballots. Hes no friend of fair elections. If Lake, Dixon, Michels, Mastriano and Kemp win in November, they could be able to rig the 2024 presidential election, and down-ballot elections in their states as well. Reckless election liars: Here's how Democrats can stop them For example, the Republican governors could sign legislation allocating the Electoral College votes in their states by congressional district, rather than to the statewide winner of the presidential election. Only Maine and Nebraska award electoral votes in this way. That change would weaken the power of Black voters and other voters of color because they are frequently packed together in districts gerrymandered by Republicans. If the district system would have been in effect in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in 2020, Trump would have been reelected. Under the current system, Biden won all five states. The politics of moral relativism: To destroy Trump, is it OK to break the rules? We'll pay a high price for doing so. The Electoral College is already undemocratic enough: It enabled Trump to be elected president in 2016, George W. Bush to be elected in 2000 and three candidates to be elected in the 1800s all lost the popular vote. Manipulating the system to help one party or the other would make it even more undemocratic. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Ive spent my adult life campaigning for Democrats, including serving as campaign manager for Vice President Al Gore in his razor-thin Electoral College loss to Bush in 2000. But like Gore and every other losing presidential candidate in American history before 2020, I accepted defeat with sadness and moved on. Trumps shameful refusal to concede his 2020 reelection loss and allow a peaceful transfer of power in the White House has badly wounded our democracy. Arizona secretary of state Katie Hobbs, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, addresses her supporters on election night on Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. To help heal the wound, I urge all American who believe in democracy and want fair elections in 2024 to cast ballots for Democrats in the November elections, including gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Katie Hobbs in Arizona and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, while reelecting Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Vote as if the preservation of American democracy depends on it because it does. Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, an ABC News contributor and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She previously served as interim chair of the Democratic National Committee and of the DNCs Voting Rights Institute, and managed the Gore campaign in 2000. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's governor candidates threaten fair elections in midterms, 2024 Former President Donald Trump said that banks have "gone woke" and should be "penalised very severely for it" during a recent speech at the right-wing Hispanic Leadership Conference in Miami. Mr Trump was the keynote speaker at the Florida event on Wednesday. The event was organised by the America First Police Institute. During the speech, the former president railed against banks he claimed have not done enough to support "the Hispanic community." "The big banks like Chase and like Bank of America have done much less for the Hispanic community than they should," he said. "They've gone woke and they should be penalised very severely for it, the banks have let the community down, let the country down." Mr Trump did not give examples of how the banks have "gone woke" before or after his statement at the conference, nor did he elaborate on how exactly the banks have underserved Hispanic Americans. The former president isn't the first Republican to complain about "woke banks. Republican officials in West Virginia have made similar claims and have taken action against the institutions. Fox Business reports that Republicans in West Virginia moved to bar banking institutions including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan from entering into banking contracts with the state treasurer's office or any state agency over what they deem as harmful policies. The policies that have rankled Republicans in West Virginia are commitments by major US banks to reach net-zero financed emissions by 2050. While these targets do not explicitly prevent banks from funding fossil fuel expansions, they would result in a reduction to financed emissions in the oil and gas sector by 26 per cent and power sectors by 60 per cent, according to an analysis by environmental activist organisation The Sierra Club. West Virginia collected $769m in severance taxes from the fossil fuel industry in the last fiscal year, accounting for 13 per cent of the states general revenue funds generated, according to the Weirton Daily Times. Story continues The state's treasurer, Riley Moore, told Fox Business that the state would not stand for the banks' decision to commit to fossil-fuel reduction. Were not going to pay for our own destruction, were not going to subsidize that, he said. They have weaponized our tax dollars against the very people and industry that have generated them to begin with. That is why were pushing back against this ESG movement. ESG references environmental, social, and governance investing, which are policies intended to encourage companies to act ethically and responsibly with their investments. Governor Ron DeSantis called ESG policies a "woke ideological agenda" in a statement released just two months before Hurricane Ian destroyed portions of the state, becoming what meteorologists say is the worst storm Florida has faced since 1935. While the climate crisis does not increase the number of hurricanes that might occur in a year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the warming of ocean waters does make the storms more powerful and contributes to heavier rainfalls, which then results in worse flooding. Mr DeSantis has proposed that the state's Board of Administration fund managers discount any data regarding ESG policies when determining how to invest Florida's pension money. The fall colors are really starting to pop now as all corners of the Green Mountain State are giving up the greens for hues of red, yellow, orange and purple. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation fall foliage report from Oct. 3 says a recent spate of cooperative weather cool, sunny days with crisp nights, without snow, strong winds or heavy rain has led to fall foliage progression getting back on track. "The foliage display is unfolding in almost textbook order with all regions right where we would expect them to be: The Northeast Kingdom and higher elevations along the east slopes of the Green Mountains are experiencing maximum saturation, while colors have come on strong and are increasing by the day in central regions," the report reads. "Foliage is still developing across much of Southern Vermont with bright color in the Champlain Valley." The report went on to say foliage displays have achieved a new level with all stages of color development are present across the Vermont landscape, though not all in one place. There are still sections that are predominantly green, some are reaching peak now, while there are a few pockets that are past peak, according to the report. A foliage road trip:Take this leaf-peeping tour through Central Vermont Peak foliage was defined in the report as the most extensive and intense color dispersed across the widest extent of the landscape. Leaf peepers were encouraged to seek out the full spectrum of fall color progression, whether peak or not, and use the hashtag #FallForVT22 on social media when sharing photos and video or to check out the many shutterbugs' content online. Story continues Peep this:Two Vermont resorts named best in U.S. for fall foliage travel Seeing the foliage from or near the water makes for an impressive sight, according to the report. Areas recommended to check out colors now included Lake Willoughby in Westmore and Osmore Pond at the New Discovery State Park in the Groton National Forest. Suggested mountain hikes included Mount Pisgah, Mount Hor, Haystack Mountain and Wheeler Mountain. Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Fall foliage update: Color showing throughout Vermont Viggo Mortensen is set to direct and star alongside Vicky Krieps in the western love story The Dead Dont Hurt. The film will start shooting on October 12 in Canada. The film is a Talipot Studio, Recorded Picture, and Perceval Pictures production, produced by Regina Solorzano (Los Reyes del Mundo), Academy Award winner Jeremy Thomas (EO), and Mortensen, who also wrote the screenplay. More from Deadline Talipot Studio is fully funding the film, which will shoot predominantly in Durango, Mexico, where Talipot will manage the production. The pic will also shoot in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales and distribution. Set in the 1860s, the film stars Krieps stars as the fiercely independent French Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, Vivienne agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of Elk Flats, where they start a life together. The Civil War separates them, leaving Vivienne to fend for herself in a place controlled by powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries and his violent, wayward son Weston Jeffries (McLeod), aided and abetted by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller. Olsens eventual return challenges their relationship as they have to confront and make peace with the person each has become. My aim is to do justice to the story of a uniquely resilient woman living in a lawless and isolated part of the U.S. Southwest in the 1860s, Mortensen said of the film. Vivienne is a woman for all seasons; courageous, unfailingly honest, and direct, yet capable of great empathy. The idea is to not simply have a woman play the leading role in a Western but to have her lead the way in our story by virtue of her fiercely uncompromising nature. Vivienne is a real woman who stands alone in her time and place because of her principled behavior, forward-thinking, and passion for life. We are very fortunate to have the talented Vicky Krieps embody this role, and, with the help of the great team we have assembled thanks to Talipot Studio, we hope to do justice to her exemplary life. Story continues Krieps and Mortensen star in the film alongside Solly McLeod (House of the Dragon), Danny Huston (Worlds Apart), Garret Dillahunt (Blonde), Tom Bateman (Death on the Nile), Lance Henriksen (Falling), and W. Earl Brown (The Unforgivable). The film will also reunite Mortensen with cinematographer Marcel Zyskind (As in Heaven), production designer Carol Spier (Eastern Promises), art director Jason Clarke (Black Mirror), and costume designer Anne Dixon (The Song of Names) who worked together on 2020s Falling. Mortensen also previously worked with Jeremy Thomas on David Cronenbergs A Dangerous Method. Solorzano added: The Dead Dont Hurt revolutionizes the codes of the Western genre, leaving the concept of the war of men aside to witness a love story free of archetypes, and the struggle and determination of a woman to win the most epic of battles: surviving abuse and extreme violence without ever betraying herself. Mortensen mostly recently starred in David Cronenbergs Crimes of The Future. Krieps is in the forthcoming Corsage, which will represent Austria at the Academy Awards in the best international feature category. For this role, Vicky won the Un Certain Regard Best Performance award when the film debuted at Cannes. Mortensen is represented by Theresa Peters at UTA and Lynn Rawlins. Krieps is represented by CAA, Agence Adequat and Wasted Management. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Barks, meows, and eager whines sounded out from a Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA van as yellow-smocked staff unloaded 21 dogs and 19 cats newly arrived from Puerto Rico, all displaced refugee of Hurricane Fiona. Cats and kittens chattered in their carriers as the dogs bounded out, pausing for a quick bathroom break and a photo session upon their Thursday afternoon arrival. Two dogs and three kittens rescued from Hurricane Ian arrived in the morning from Florida. It was an unusually large intake for CASPCA, which usually brings in around 10 animals at a time. Most of those rescues are local. Rescue manager Tori Cunningham started work at 7:30 a.m. to bring the pets from Richmond, where theyd been flown to from Puerto Rico, to Charlottesville. She spent an hour and a half on the Richmond International Airport tarmac, sorting through the animals to get the pets that had been assigned to Charlottesville. She and other shelter staff then drove another hour and a half back to town. Ill be here until it all gets done, Cunningham said. It requires getting all of the rescues through their intake exams and, hopefully, on to foster homes. Cunningham has helped coordinate rescues for the shelter for two years, but this rescue stood out to her. They desperately needed to move animals, so its special in the sense that we were able to step up and take some, she said. She isnt alone in her commitment to the dogs and cats. Its really important that we are there to support shelters nationwide when they find themselves in this type of crisis. I hope that if were ever in that situation, well be able to rely on others to support us, said CASPCA CEO Angie Gunter. Bringing animals in, however, means needing to let some animals out. The shelter needs foster homes and families for some current residents in order to accommodate both animals it already has and the hurricane refugee pets. We couldnt say no to helping these animals in need, but we desperately need help from the community in order to make space for them, Gunter said. Fostering, even for a very short amount of time, can be extremely beneficial to the animal and rewarding for the foster parent as well. Living in a foster home gives a pet a break from a sometimes-stressful shelter environment. Its a way to get a cat or a dog to show off their personality when theyve already experienced trauma. What the SPCA especially needs, Gunter said, are foster families and forever families for its bigger adult dogs and pups that weigh more than 30 pounds. We usually have a waitlist for smaller adult dogs and puppies. Were really having a hard time lining people up for large adult dogs, Gunter said. The hurricane rescues are likely to be adopted out quickly, once they become available in a few weeks, Gunter said. Thats what happened with the dozens of Envigo beagles CASPCA rescued over the summer. Large adult dogs who have been at the shelter longer may have a little more trouble. To help CASPCA accommodate its animals, potential fosters need to live within an hour and a half drive of the shelter. CASPCA provides all necessary supplies and food at no cost to foster families, has an emergency call line that connects fosters with a staff member at any hour of the day, and an on-site clinic for veterinary needs. First-time fosters can sign up online at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA website. The shelter is also open for walk-in foster appointments every day from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. People interested in donating can send funds directly via CASPCAs website or purchase items from its Amazon wish list. Virginia NAACP leader Kent Carter. Updated on October 11, 2022 at 4:10pm E.T: The Government of the Turks and Caicos issued a press statement to The Root that stated the following: Read more Today, the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands announced several actions to ensure that the country remains a safe and enjoyable place to live and visit. The Government is immediately enacting the following measures: - Increasing police visibility across the Turks and Caicos Islands, expanding collaboration within security forces regionally and internationally, assigning rapid response teams to affected areas, and focusing the forces efforts on deterring criminal activities and identifying those responsible for crime. - Enlisting 24 police officers from The Royal Bahamas Police Force who will directly support the specialist Firearms and Response Units. - With support from the UK, building a 24-person anti-gang squad made up of specialist UK detectives to tackle gang violence, drawing on sophisticated intelligence resources and UK Forensic laboratories. - Accelerating investment in the nations security and police systems, including an expansion of CCTV coverage and tools for investigating criminal activity, improved police equipment, and new vehicles for the police force and other security bodies. - Bolstering maritime security by enhancing the monitoring of surrounding seas and deepening partnership with the US and Bahamas, partnering with the UK to leverage sophisticated maritime surveillance aircraft, and expanding the exchange of intelligence with other Caribbean nations. - Meeting with residents, business owners and regular visitors to discuss safety concerns and find ways to collaboratively strengthen the security of the nation. As part of this effort, on Monday, October 10th, Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting will update TCI on law enforcement matters. Governor Nigel John Dakin will share remarks on Tuesday, October 11th. Story continues Kent Carter, the first Vice President of Northern Virginias Arlington NAACP branch, was shot and killed while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Carter and his girlfriend traveled to the popular vacation spot to celebrate his 40th birthday. According to Trevor Botting, the territorys police commissioner, on October 2 a group of armed criminals seized a vehicle that had staff from a local business and two tourists inside. They then proceeded to indiscriminately shoot into the vehicle, he said, killing one local employee in addition to Carter. According to the victims half brother, Barry Cantrell, Carters girlfriend sustained minor injuries. Officials believe that one of the suspects was later killed by police. On Monday, Botting explained that the attack was carried out by armed gang members who act without conscience, who have no regard for life, and who are hellbent on causing indiscriminate harm and misery. Botting also said that the incident is one of several to have taken place over the weekend involving armed attackers. The commissioner noted that violence has risen on the Caribbean archipelago. Julius D. J.D. Spain Sr., president of the Arlington NAACP, described the reverence he held for Carter: He was a servant leader. [Carter] was one who didnt ask for anything in return, but did it because he knew it had to be done. His impact in our community and his character and trustworthiness and judgment were impeccable. Hes one of those silent but very effective leaders. No one can speak ill will of Kent. He was just a very warmhearted individual. On Tueday, the office of Turks and Caicos Premier Washington Misick released a statement saying that the violent event is rare and does not reflect who we are as a people. It also claimed that the attack was not one in which the victim was targeted. YORK, Maine The silence was broken by a soft howl as Yukon the husky sauntered into the dispatch center wagging his tail, greeted with petting and praises. Its crazy the power that little guy will have, said Jamie Robie, York police detective and the handler for the departments new comfort dog. Yukon was brought to the department in late September not to sniff out narcotics or take down suspects perceived as dangerous. This dog is specially trained to comfort people under stress, from victims and witnesses to the police officers who investigate the crimes that traumatize them. These dogs are trained to really understand people who are struggling emotionally, said York Police Chief Owen Davis. York Police Department has a new comfort dog, Yukon, seen Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. The chief, a York native who was appointed in May by the Selectboard, is working on an initiative to improve mental health resources for both officers and the community. Earlier this year, he collaborated with Eliot and Kittery police to hire a regional social worker to assist with investigations that involve mental health crises. York Beach businesses: These two make a go at year-round Yukon, he said, is another step in that ongoing effort. He said Yukon was trained in Florida to identify individuals that are feeling stress, then approach them with affection. He said departments elsewhere have begun acquiring comfort dogs to help first responders as they cope with traumatic experiences on the job. Weve come a long way in law enforcement where weve started to recognize that we needed to take care of ourselves and other people, Davis said. York police detective Jamie Robie pets comfort dog Yukon at the department Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. Why a police comfort dog? Davis said he first became aware of comfort dogs after the police department in Greenland, New Hampshire, brought on Willow the golden retriever in 2019. Willow was also acquired to assist officers in coping with stress, according to Willows handler, Greenland police administrative assistant Elizabeth Tretter. Greenland police suffered a traumatic loss when Chief Michael Maloney was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2012. Tretter said the current chief, Tara Laurent, took over abruptly at the time and has put a focus on mental health in their department. Story continues Tretter said Willows impact has grown beyond the officers and into the community where the department uses it for outreach as well. More: Does York still need two separate fire departments? Chiefs weigh in on future It really kind of started out as something for the guys, Tretter said. Its really morphed. Other departments to add comfort dogs include Maines Department of Public Safety, as well as Exeter police and the Strafford County Sheriffs Office in New Hampshire. Deputy Chief Steve Spofford, left, Chief Owen Davis and Lt. Luke Ernenwein pet York Police Department comfort dog Yukon Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. Davis said he has been moved by the effect of comfort dogs on officers. As he got to know Tretter while researching comfort dogs, he learned of a stress debriefing in Greenland that followed a traumatic incident. The comfort dog was given freedom to walk among the 30 first responders there. The dog, he said, went straight for the police officer who was having a particularly difficult time. The dog intuitively knew who was struggling the most, Davis said. It was a pretty, shall we say, stoic officer that literally went down and laid on the floor with the dog. He was able to kind of process some of the awful things that we see. Burned York Beach house owner unknown: Frustrated town Selectboard is fed up. Yukon, one of several changes at York Police Department Yukon is coming aboard as the department sees new faces rise through the command ranks and officer vacancies filled by incoming police academy graduates. Steve Spofford, who first joined the department full-time in 1996, was promoted from lieutenant to deputy chief last month. Meanwhile, Luke Ernenwein was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant, having been with the department since 1998. Comforting first responders Next week Yukon will be officially introduced to the community, joining Robie and other officers as they visit schools, nursing homes and other places the department hopes to connect positively with the public. Davis said Yukon will also be useful for engaging children who are victims of crimes at the Child Advocacy Center, where helping kids be open about their trauma can be a challenge. Yukons main job will always be comforting the first responders inside the department, according to Robie. She runs two miles with Yukon every day to ensure he is not high-strung at work and can focus on the task at hand of spreading joy. To have Yukon here to brighten their day and maybe turn it around, its just incredible, Robie said. Its a no-brainer. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York ME Police Department's new dog Yukon comforts people under stress An online personality and English lecturer at a reputable international school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has been fired from his position after screenshots of inappropriate messages he sent to a former student were shared on social media. Michael Strahan, an American citizen also known by his moniker Teacher Michael on social media, allegedly sent flirty messages to a former student at the Australian Center for Education (ACE) over the span of three years. In screenshots obtained by the Khmer Times, the Louisiana native appeared to joke with the student about dating him in exchange for scholarship money and tells the minor to let me know when youre 18. Strahan has since been let go by school administrators after the teachers messages emerged on social media on Sept. 27. More from NextShark: Chinese chipmaker to stand trial for technology theft charges set in motion by Trump's 'China Initiative' screenshot_1 screenshot_2 screenshot_3 More from NextShark: COVID-19 Researcher On Verge of Breakthrough Found Shot to Death in Pittsburgh screenshot_4 We have been made aware of an allegation of serious misconduct made on social media against a staff member, Country Director at IDP Education Sreng Mao, said in a school-wide email on Sept. 30. While social media allegation has not been proven, following a review by our risk committee, we have determined the staff members communication with a student was entirely inappropriate and ceased the staff members employment, Mao continued. This is in line with our internal policies and in the best interest of our students. We have a zero-tolerance policy toward child abuse, child exploitation or violence towards children. We take any allegations of misconduct or malpractice seriously and the issue has now been shared with local authorities. Any queries or questions can be directed to me. More from NextShark: Indonesian Official Suggests the Rich Marry the Poor to Reduce Poverty Strahan claims in a now-deleted TikTok video that his messages were taken out of context and he was being targeted. VOD English reached out to the teacher on Facebook on Tuesday, but his social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, have been taken down. A TikTok account under michaeliincambodia and a Quora page remain online. Story continues Im sure that you guys have all seen the screenshots of a conversation I had years ago with an ex-student, Strahan said in a video response, which was saved by social media users. Those were absolutely my words in that chat. I wrote those words, and aside from that, Ive also been a victim a target of a hate campaign. So those two things are happening simultaneously, at the same time. More from NextShark: Entire Train Car Defends Chinese Cancer Survivor From Racist Tourist in the UK The allegations stemmed from an argument on Facebook after Strahan complained about motorcyclists hogging the sidewalk in Phnom Penh, two students said. Other Facebook users responded by commenting with memes, while an anonymous user shared screenshots of Strahans messages to the student. People started posting the screenshots themselves instead of the meme, one ACE student, whose name has been withheld, said. Fast forward, it just started going viral from there. It was like a snowball effect. Commenters accused Strahan, who claimed that he experienced sexual abuse, of grooming the former student in order to exploit him later. The age of consent in Cambodia is 15, but teenagers are considered minors until they turn 18. According to a report published by UNICEF, 11% of internet-using children aged 12-17 had experienced clear examples of online sexual exploitation and abuse in the year prior to being surveyed. Meanwhile, 6% of internet-using children aged 1517 reported having accepted money or gifts in exchange for sexual images or videos of themselves, the report continued. While Cambodian legislation does not explicitly criminalize online grooming of children, the Criminal Code does criminalize the arrangement, by an adult, of meetings involving indecent exposure or sexual relations at which minors are present or participate, according to the report. Strahan has reportedly fled to Malaysia, according to the Khmer Times. Featured Image via Facebook An American man was arrested in Thailand for smashing a mans car and threatening his family. The 45-year-old man, identified only as Andigo, was arrested on Wednesday after he damaged the vehicle of a man, identified as Sunthorn, with rocks and threatened his mother and daughter, reported The Thaiger. The incident, which was captured on camera, has circulated on social media. Andigo can be seen smashing Sunthorns pickup truck with a large rock. He also approaches the woman recording him and shouts, Shut up! Back off, lady! More from NextShark: Elephant is caught on CCTV trampling monk to death in Thailand In another video, Andigo can be seen surrounded by 10 police officers holding iron rods on a road in the Kanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. He can be seen interacting with the officers and performing a Thai greeting before being pushed down to the ground by a rod. Andigo was brought to a police station, where he later revealed that he damaged the car because he believed that it had been following him for two or three days. More from NextShark: Florida woman who pepper-sprayed Asian women in NYC indicted on hate crime charges According to Sunthorn, the foreigner also allegedly destroyed other public properties, including bins. He believes that Andigo had been intoxicated for two or three days prior and up to the incident. Andigo is in Thailand under a one-month tourist visa, according to police. They will reportedly coordinate with the Tourist Police and the embassy before taking action in his prosecution. More from NextShark: China Kinda Sus: Student Club Poster at Illinois High School Accused of Racism Featured Image via , 23 Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Shopee revokes Chinese engineers job offer right after he relocates for almost $10,000 Viewers of The Great British Bake Off have criticised the latest episode for its offensive depiction of Mexican food and culture. The popular Channel 4 reality series branded its latest instalment Mexican Week, and saw contestants try their hand at making food inspired by Mexican cuisine. Fans of the series condemned the stereotypical placement of sombreros and maracas in the episode, as well as a cake decorated with a moustache. The shows presenters were also criticised for mispronouncing Spanish words, and for making tacky jokes. In one clip, which was used in the social media promotion for the show, Lucas is seen using the typically Spanish name Juan to pun on one. The episode also saw contestants make tacos, which some viewers described as butchering the famous Mexican dish while others suggested the segment was a needless abandonment of the shows baking-first premise. I love Bake Off, but Mexican week was a mistake, one person wrote on Twitter. Tacky jokes about Mexican stereotypes and no attempt to properly pronounce the language (from Noel/Matt). Hopefully its a one-off. Attention USA #GreatBritishBakeOff fans: Mexican week really is THAT bad, wrote another. Is Mexico a real place? is a joke that The Great British Bake Off thought would be cute during Mexican week, someone else commented. You could have honored an amazing culture instead of stupid racist jokes and tropes, someone else wrote. Others, however, suggested the reaction to the episode was overblown, while others simply expressed amusement at the ersatz Mexican food on display. Attention USA #GreatBritishBakeOff fans: Mexican week really is THAT bad pic.twitter.com/jwm9EitYeL Scare-ald and Maude (@andyheriaud) October 5, 2022 The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment. Story continues In an email to NPR, Ignacio M Sanchez Prado, a professor of Mexican cultural studies at Washington University in St Louis, responded to the shows social media campaign. The fundamental issue is that the episode and its campaign follow a script on Mexican culture that us Mexicans, from either side of the US-Mexico border, see very frequently, he said. The use of cartoonish sarapes and sombreros as props and disguises, the misidentification of Mexican food with the stuff sold in Taco Bell, the borrowing of beloved dishes like tres leches to make versions that have little recognisability to Mexicans, this is something that we see every Cinco de Mayo and every Hispanic Heritage Month. Last week, Bake Off star Prue Leith admitted to drowning a bag full of kittens when she was a child. While Iran's brutal attempts to put down nationwide protests -- sparked by the death of a young woman in the custody of its so-called morality police -- have done little to stop domestic dissent, the crackdown has dire implications for the regime on the international stage, cementing Iran's pariah status. Following Iranian security forces siege of an elite university in Tehran where students were demonstrating, President Joe Biden this week promised his administration would soon impose "further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protestors." On Thursday, the Treasury Department announced it was "designating seven senior leaders within Irans government and security apparatus for the shutdown of Irans Internet access and the continued violence against peaceful protesters in the wake of the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly, and died in the custody of Irans Morality Police." Meanwhile, the top levels of leadership within Iran have sought to blame outside influences for fueling the nearly three straight weeks of unrest. In his first public response to what he characterized as "riots," Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, baselessly claimed the protests had been orchestrated by the U.S. and Israel. Will Iran's attempts to blame the West work? Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Khamenei's attempt to point the finger at the West was "reliance on a decades-old authoritarian playbook," predicting it would have little impact in the current political climate. "There's no doubt that Iranians don't buy Khamenei's attempts to deflect. That's why they remain on the streets. Iranians understand who is responsible for their current predicament," Taleblu said. PHOTO: Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a graduation ceremony of a group of armed forces cadets, at the police academy in Tehran, Iran, Oct. 3, 2022. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) "I think the youth who are continuing to come to the streets and have organized protests at their schools and universities know better about who is posing a challenge to their lives," said Gissou Nia, director of the Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council and board chair of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. "In previous protests, we saw slogans to the effect of 'our enemy is not America, our enemy is right here.'" Story continues Iranian powers have also attempted to scapegoat entities closer to home. In recent days, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly struck at Kurdish groups across its border in Iraq, accusing them of inflaming protests. MORE: Student protesters in Iran tear-gassed, arrested by police: Report Taleblu called the missile barrage "an attempt to feign strength abroad when weakness has been showcased at home," and warned similar -- and likely, more severe -- attacks will follow if the regime doesn't face broad consequences. "The greater Iran's missile capabilities and the greater Iran's confidence in a survivable or non-response, the lower the threshold for the use of force of these dangerous weapons. As Iran's ballistic missile capabilities increase, so will such types of operations," he said. Talks on nuclear deal continue Despite longstanding U.S. disdain for Iran's IRGC, its ballistics program, and its human rights abuses, the Biden administration has been engaged in a winding and indirect negotiation process with Tehran aimed at finding one area of common ground -- a deal to limit its nuclear program. Though talks have all but collapsed, U.S. officials initially expressed some hope that the unrest might encourage Iran to renew an Obama-era pact known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to secure the sanctions relief that would come with it. But both Behnam and Nia argue that Iran's crackdown should only darken the already grim outlook on returning to an agreement. MORE: OPEC+ makes big oil cut to boost prices; pump costs may rise "I think it would be a very wrong moment for the international community to somehow shore up the Islamic Republic [of Iran] in this moment, when the people of Iran are clearly saying they don't want this government, or that they want substantial change," said Nia. Taleblu argues that the Biden administration should shut down negotiations altogether. PHOTO: Protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a woman who was detained by the morality police in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sept. 21, 2022. (via AP) "Tehran continues to have Washington right where it wants it on the JCPOA: constantly seeking a deal," he said. "As long as Biden keeps the door open for the JCPOA, he will be unable to fully stand with the Iranian people." Detained Iranian-American, 85, leaves Iran for major surgery This week, Iran made a separate, surprising move that the regime argues should lead to a windfall: allowing Baquer Namazi, an 85-year-old Iranian American held captive in Iran since 2016 on dubious charges, to leave the country for urgent medical treatment and granting a temporary prison furlough to his son, Siamak Namazi -- another American citizen considered to be wrongfully detained. MORE: OPEC+ makes big oil cut to boost prices; pump costs may rise Tehran claimed the developments should prompt Washington to unfreeze $7 billion in Iranian assets being held in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions. Although the elder Namazi left Iran on Wednesday, the U.S. is still working permanently secure the freedom of the younger, as well as a number of other American citizens detained in Iran. U.S. officials have repeatedly denied agreeing to allow any funds to be transferred back to Iran. Taleblu warns reversing course would be detrimental for both Americans and Iranians. "If Washington intends to pay ransom for hostages with frozen funds, two things will be guaranteed: the apparatus of repression currently on display in Iran will receive a boon, and second, Iran will continue to take hostages," he said. US sanctions Iranian officials for crackdown on protests originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Hispanic Heritage Month is officially upon us, which means there are more conversations about Hispanic and Latinx people happening every day. Whether you're looking to dive into the culture headfirst by watching Hispanic movies or want to shop from and support Latinx-owned brands, understanding the history and context behind Hispanic Heritage Month is essential for any celebration. The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" (or "Latinx") have been used interchangeably for decades, but you might not know that they actually have different meanings. While there's a lot of overlap between the two terms, there's one key factor that differentiates being Hispanic from being Latino. We tapped Dr. Maria Raquel Casas, Associate Professor of History at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), to find out what the Hispanic vs. Latino meaning really is and how each term came to be. What does it mean to be Hispanic? "A Hispanic is a person who the government usually characterizes as being of Iberian, Latin American, or Caribbean descent," Dr. Casas says. Per History, "Hispanic" and "Latino" were first used by the federal government in the 1980 Census to group immigrants and their ancestors who come from Spanish-speaking areas. If someone is Hispanic, that means they either speak Spanish or come from one of the following areas: Argentina Bolivia Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Spain Uruguay Venezuela The term "Hispanic" was first used by the federal government after decades of constant lobbying for representation. What does it mean to be Latino/Latina/Latinx? If someone is Latinx, they are from Latin America or have ancestors that hailed from the following areas: Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador French Guiana Guadeloupe Guatemala Haiti Honduras Martinique Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Saint Barthelemy Saint Martin Uruguay Venezuela Story continues The term "Latino" is a shortened version of the Spanish term Latinoamericano, and according to a 2020 report by the Pew Research Center, only 3% of Latinos in the United States use the gender-neutral term "Latinx." What is the history behind the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino"? In case you were looking for a crash course in the history behind the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino," we've got you covered. According to Dr. Casas, the history of each term is extensive and dates all the way back to 1492, when Spain encountered the New World and tried to bring their religion and language to unknown territories. In more recent history, though, "Hispanic" and "Latino" came to be during President Richard Nixon's administration in the '60s. Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images "In the 1960s, the Republican party was in power and they wanted to reach out to the growing Latino populations but didn't know what term to use. 'Mexican' and 'Chicano' were thought of as offensive and low class [terms]," Dr. Casas says, explaining that "Latino" was also a questionable term at the time. President Nixon's administration came up with the non-offensive alternative, "Hispanic." "It was generic enough to incorporate the Latin American and Caribbean populations, so Hispanic is a governmental term which is why most people prefer Latinos, but some people have accepted Hispanic," Dr. Casas tells Seventeen. What is the difference between Hispanic vs. Latino? Believe it or not, the difference between these terms all comes down to history and geography. Both categories are ethnicities that only reference a person's origin and ancestry, which means a Latinx or Hispanic person can be of any race, regardless of the country they come from. Photo credit: Design by Yoora Kim According to Dr. Casas, people often use the term interchangeably because they have been used and referred to since the 1970s. "As each term incorporates so many ethnic groups, [people] don't see [it as a significant difference], but some people are invested in one term over the other," she says. As mentioned earlier, Hispanic people are from Spanish-speaking Latin America, as well as the Caribbean and Spain. The term "Hispanic" includes Spain, but does not include: Brazil French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique Haiti Saint Barthelemy Saint Martin On the other hand, Latinos hail from Latin America or have ancestors that do. The term includes Brazil and the countries listed above but does not include Spain. However, both groups do include the following countries, which means anyone who hails from there is both Hispanic and Latino: Argentina Bolivia Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Uruguay Venezuela Given this information, a Brazilian could be Latino and non-Hispanic while a Spaniard could be Hispanic and non-Latino. In the case of someone from Cuba, for example, they are both and can truthfully use both terms interchangeably. You Might Also Like A corn plant that died before producing ears of corn remains on a field below Second Mesa on the Hopi Reservation on Sept. 10, 2020. Rising temperatures and years of drought are making traditional dryland farming more challenging for Hopi families. This story, like many, starts with rejection. Jose Gruenzweig grew up in the lush, green hills of Switzerland and studied the cold, wet forests of Alaska before settling into his current position as associate professor of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Israel's climate is notably drier than those he'd lived in before, with scarce rainfall, mild winters, and hot, dry summers that produced one of the world's hottest temperatures ever recorded at 129 degrees Fahrenheit. As a keen observer of ecosystems, he couldn't help but ponder the differences. Gruenzweig studies soil decomposition, among other things. The process of microbes breaking down dead plant material into nutrients that growing plants can use is a critical natural cycle in many ecosystems. In some conditions, soil can also capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping counteract the climate-warming effects of this common greenhouse gas. In short, he spends a lot of time walking around looking at decaying plants. And one of the first things he noticed when he left Alaska for the semi-arid forests of Israel was that the pine needles on the forest floor seemed to decompose over the summer despite almost no exposure to moisture or intense sunlight, one or the other of which is typically thought to be required for the breakdown of organic matter. More in this climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners, a column on climate change that publishes weekly After a conversation with one of his graduate students, the two hypothesized that slight increases in humidity from overnight breezes off the Mediterranean Sea might actually be enough to facilitate decomposition in this drought-adapted ecosystem. And then I thought, well, with climate change, this can happen elsewhere. One of the most agreed-upon consequences of climate change is that, as increasing heat retained in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases catalyzes more chaotic weather patterns, dry areas will get drier and wet areas will get wetter. This prediction is intensifying discussions about the future of agriculture and how the shrinking Colorado River, for example, should be divided among seven western, drying U.S. states. Story continues But scientists also expect an overall drying trend, with a growing proportion of the globe routinely experiencing extreme drought. To Gruenzweig, this meant that deciphering the unique ways drylands function, on large and small scales and on fast and slow timelines, would be a little bit like staring into science's future. Chaotic weather: Not-so-natural disasters are on the rise. What in the world is going on? With this goal in mind, he assembled an ecological think tank of researchers, including some in desert climates like Arizona, Spain and Utah who also routinely walk around pondering the state of drylands. They reviewed the existing literature and developed a list of 12 ecological processes they think control natural cycles in dry environments, that are distinct from the processes, or mechanisms in science-speak, that dictate how plants grow and decompose in wetter habitats. But when they submitted their research paper to a top scientific journal for publication, the editor rejected it, explaining that research in drylands was a "special discipline, not of interest to the broader audience." "I knew that this might happen," Gruenzweig said, "but still, I didn't expect it in such a blunt way. It made me angry." Dry and cracked earth at a plot of land used for plant research at the U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Maricopa. The land is, in part, used as a testing ground for Hussein Abdel-Haleem's, a research geneticist who works on genetic studies of plants growing under drought stress conditions. Deserting desert dwellers About 41% of the Earth's land surface is currently classified as dryland, or water-limited, by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. Some scientists anticipate that, with climate change, up to 56% of global land area could become water-stressed by the end of this century. More than 2 billion people live in these regions. But drylands are distributed in swaths across northern and southern Africa, Australia, the Middle East, western and northern Asia and patches of western North and South America, while modern science has mostly unfolded in regions with wetter, more temperate climates, like western Europe and the eastern United States. Gruenzweig thinks this might explain the initial lack of interest in his 12 mechanisms. "From our perspective, what we're studying here is of importance to us (in drylands), but it's also of importance to more moist regions now that they will experience conditions that are going to be similar to our conditions," Gruenzweig said. "Ecosystem services (are) going to change now with climate change. Human well-being is affected by how nature functions and how these mechanisms come into play." Last week: Sustainable spending or 'sustainobabble'? A new group of experts will try to sort it out On the opposite side of the drying planet, in northern-hemisphere-centric terms at least, Heather Throop, a professor and global futures scientist at Arizona State University, agrees. Theres just a huge amount of geographic and sociopolitical bias where weve had so much amazing research in these places where it is much wetter," Throop said. "And we see that in these cultural biases around what is a 'normal' system and these cultural biases where people think deserts are wastelands. You see it in movies like 'Dune.'" These traditional scientific biases won't serve us in a warming, drying world, Throop warns. Of those people living in dryland environments, 90% are in developing nations. Drylands contain 27% of global forests, which help sequester carbon and slow global warming. Another 14% of drylands are used to farm crops. And about half of global livestock production occurs on drylands, Throop said. Even with increasing global desertification due to climate change on the horizon, though, research on how ecosystems will adapt is scant. That's particularly true for drylands that are about to get drier. That story, thats not written yet," Throop said. "We can speculate on what negative consequences there will be for organisms involved. Theres been debate about whether animals and plants that are present in drylands, if theyre going to be less vulnerable than in wetter systems because theyre already adapted to being dry. Or are these plants already at their physiological limits and thats as far as theyre going to be pushed?" Drylands are key in climate research On the list of 12 dryland mechanisms compiled by Gruenzweig, Throop and colleagues are processes like: Hydraulic redistribution, by which desert plants redistribute moisture in the soil from deeper, wetter layers to shallow, dry layers through the root system; The formation of biological soil crusts, which stabilize soil, contain dust and retain nutrients and moisture; Vegetation patchiness, which occurs when wind and water push limited nutrients laterally across a desiccated landscape, determining where plants can grow; And humidity-enhanced biotic activity, the ability of decomposition to occur in dry habitats with the infusion of just a tiny bit of moisture that Gruenzweig observed in Israel. Mechanisms are ecologist bread-and-butter. But the editor who rejected the team's first manuscript might be correct in assuming that most average people won't care to hear about them in detail. Still, an attitude that research in drylands doesn't belong in the mainstream scientific literature potentially jeopardizes the futures of more than 2 billion people, many of whom are members of poor, minority or otherwise disadvantaged groups that will already face some of the gravest consequences of climate change. To Throop, this might be the most offensive part of the science gatekeeping they experienced. "Much of the historical scientific tradition didn't value dryland systems. But these are areas where human population is growing much faster than average, and you certainly see that in Phoenix, but it's worldwide," Throop said. They hold this really important key to climate change. Especially in developing nations, its imperative that we understand these systems now." Justice in climate action: Climate report draws an arc toward environmental justice, seeking equitable emissions cuts In July, their paper on the 12 dryland mechanisms that control ecosystem functioning in a drier and warmer world was published by another top-tier scientific journal, Nature Ecology and Evolution. And it spells out more than just gloom and doom for drying lands. Some of the mechanisms identified might function to buffer the effects of climate change. Hydraulic redistribution, for example, can help plants deal with drought. But it's still unknown to what extent these abilities are baked into existing plant communities in wet areas that may become drier. "Plants in temperate or tropical regions, they might not be able to get enough water through their leaves. It might be enough to cope with shortages or bridge dry periods, but if it happens over longer periods, it can be critical, Gruenzweig said. The most important thing now is that scientists, planners and leaders appreciate deserts as a scientific and cultural resource and potentially a window into our climate future, even if they aren't interested in mechanisms. But the story doesn't end here. Though the once-rejected paper has now been published, Gruenzweig says understanding drylands is vital for mitigating global damage expected from climate change, and he's passionate about these ideas reaching as many people as possible in dryland and temperate corners of the world. "When the paper was published, I did something that I never do. I sent it to many people and put it on Twitter," he said. "I wrote that 'here we published a paper and the point we make is that drylands matter.' This was the message in the paper, that people out there in the more temperate regions should pay attention to drylands." Joan Meiners is the Climate News and Storytelling Reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in Ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The world's deserts could be key to understanding climate change A devastating fire has charred several of the world-famous statues at Easter Island in Chile, officials have said. The countrys cultural heritage undersecretary, Carolina Perez Dattari, said that the blaze that started on Monday engulfed an unknown number of statues also known as moai and affected nearly 60 hectares of land. The moai were carved by a Polynesian tribe more than 500 years ago. Easter Island has nearly 1,000 of these statues. Ariki Tepano, a Mau Henua park community director, said that the damage was irreparable and with consequences beyond what your eyes see. New Zealands Stuff quoted him as saying: The moai are totally charred, and you can see the effect of the fire upon them. The mayor of Easter Island, Pedro Edmunds Pao, told Radio Pauta that the damage caused by the fire cant be undone. The cracking of an original and emblematic stone cannot be recovered, no matter how many millions of euros or dollars are put into it. Mr Pao added that he believed that the fire was started deliberately and was not an accident and that all the fires on Rapa Nui are caused by human beings. Easter Island had been closed to tourists until three months ago due to pandemic restrictions. The are some 1,000 giant moai and carvings, the largest of which weighs 74 tonnes and stands 10m tall. Lamentamos este grave incendio en #RapaNui en el volcan Rano Raraku, con afectacion al Sitio de Patrimonio Mundial. Hace solo dos dias, el fuego arraso mas de 100 hectareas en la isla. Ofrecemos todo nuestro apoyo al alcalde de @Muni_Rapanui, Pedro Edmuns Paoa. pic.twitter.com/PgVowJbSBA Carolina Perez Dattari (@caroperezdattar) October 5, 2022 Easter Island is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed island and lies some 3,500 km off the coast of Chile. It is the most remote inhabited island on the planet. Chiles undersecretary of cultural heritage said that officials from the countrys National Monuments Council (CNM) are on the ground assessing the damages from the fire on the islands sacred stone figures. By Trend The captain of an aircraft of Vietnam Airlines, which operated a flight on the Frankfurt-Ho Chi Minh route, sent a request for an emergency landing to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Trend reports. The reason was a sharp deterioration in the health of the passenger on board. The Boeing B787 aircraft landed safely at the Baku airport at 21:11 local time. After the plane landed, the passenger was handed over to the ambulance crew. VIENNA Nuclear experts are warning that Russian President Vladimir Putins threats to deploy a nuclear weapon in Ukraine has put the world at its most dangerous precipice of nuclear confrontation since the Cold War. The nuclear risk, is it as bad as during the Cold War? The answer is yes, said Alexander Kmentt, director for disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the Cold War we had essentially two nuclear interests trying to deter one another. We have several potential nuclear flashpoints now. The latest iteration of those risks, issued by Russia, are just completely beyond the pale. While U.S. officials have stressed they have yet to see Russian movements pointing to a nuclear escalation, Austrian officials provide a unique perspective on Putins Russia given the distinct space the country occupies. More from The Hill: How the US might respond to a Russian nuclear attack in Ukraine While Austria is a member of the European Union and party to the sanctions placed on Russia, it has not provided any military support to Ukraine and the country is constitutionally bound to its position of neutrality. This, in part, has prevented it from joining NATO even as traditionally neutral Finland and Sweden are on the brink of ascension to the organization. Moscow and Vienna have long held strategic and deep economic ties. Austria serves as a major energy transit center for natural gas traveling from Russia to Europe, in particular to Italy. The country also gives reverence to the Soviet Union for helping Austria establish its independence after World War II. In April, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the first European leader to meet face-to-face with Putin after he ordered his military to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24. The meeting failed to pull Putin back, however, and Austria has pushed the boundaries of its neutrality to more firmly join the international community in supporting Ukraine. Story continues We are for Ukraine, said an Austrian diplomat, who declined to be named in order to speak candidly, but added that Vienna stands ready to host however unlikely de-escalation talks. Emil Brix, who served as Austrias ambassador to Russia from 2015 to 2017, said it is important for the international community to state clearly that any nuclear deployment by Putin would be completely unacceptable. Brix, who said he has met Putin on numerous occasions, describes the Russian leader as someone who is well-informed in things that are mainly strategically important to him, who works hard to rationalize his every action but is not open to many opinions. He only understands strength, Brix said, though he added that international condemnation may factor into Putins rational thinking. Austria has long made nuclear disarmament a major foreign policy priority, and Kmentt, the nonproliferation official, said the goal is a radical change to the current paradigm where mutually assured destruction was thought to be the best way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. That risk now is immediately grave, suggesting the paradigm may no longer be workable. Hard-line partners of Putin are calling for the use of low-yield nuclear weapons, as proposed by the head of Russias region of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. This suggests Putins threats may not be a bluff. The debate around the potential use of a tactical or low-grade nuclear weapon is likely to lead to all-out nuclear war, Kmentt said. Nobody knows how you can contain escalation once this threshold is crossed, he said. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper said on Tuesday that she had nothing to corroborate in response to a question on whether Russia is moving tactical nuclear weapons to Ukraines border. Kmentt credited the U.S., Europe and NATO for reinforcing unity, coordinating sanctions on Russia and working to rally global condemnation of Putins actions. You can also make the argument that what the West has been trying to do is break the paradigm, Kmentt said, but that we havent been as successful as we would have liked on that. Ksenyia Karchenko, a Ukrainian refugee in Austria, is putting fears of a Russian nuclear strike out of her mind. As a researcher working with the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, she is documenting Ukrainians lived experience during the war. Ukraine is fighting for its survival, she explained, to finally put an end to Putins best attempts to destroy the country and calls for the world to stay united and not capitulate to the Russian leaders threats. This is a huge, bloody history were sharing [with Russia], it is important for Ukrainians to have this final battle. Theres no other way for us but to win, she said. If we would say what Ukrainians need, we need to be seen as a real and democratic and independent country we need weapons. The reporter was a guest of the Vienna School of International Studies. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Michigan is the first state to launch coronavirus "Test to Treat" programs that include free testing and telehealth services, with 13 locations throughout the state. The state health department said Monday the Mitten State is the first to launch this federal initiative at neighborhood testing sites to provide quick access to free COVID-19 antiviral medications. What is the COVID Test to Treat program? The program serves Michigan residents with limited access to a health care provider. The sites allow people to access COVID-19 testing, a health assessment and appropriate prescriptions in one visit. People who test positive for COVID-19 at the location can utilize the free telehealth services on-site. A health care provider will review the persons medical history and current medications and determine whether the person is eligible for antiviral treatment. If so, the provider will submit a free prescription to a pharmacy close to the site, chosen by the individual, according to the state health department. Testing is available for children ages 2 and older, but the oral antiviral medication Paxlovid is only for people 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds with a positive test and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, said Lynn Sutfin, a state health department spokeswoman. More:Got a positive COVID-19 test? New treatments can help keep you out of the hospital More:Free COVID-19 tests available to Michiganders in at-risk communities: How to get them This photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. Who is providing the program and why? The partnership is between the state, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Matt Quinn, science director of the Army's Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center. State health officials want to make sure more Michigan residents have access to COVID-19 outpatient treatments.Communities selected for the telehealth sites that have: A high Social Vulnerability Index. A high percentage of people older than 50 who tested at the site. Have limited access to health care sites outside of emergency departments and high testing volume. Story continues Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the states chief medical executive, said early access to antiviral medications helps support a faster recovery and decreases the risk of someone being hospitalized. COVID-19 treatments help prevent severe illness if taken soon after symptoms start. Where are the COVID-19 telehealth testing sites? Eight are in southeast Michigan, with five others scattered around the state, including one in the Upper Peninsula. Here are the locations: Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus, 8200 W. Outer Drive, Detroit Word of Life Church, 460 W. Atherton Road, Flint Albion College-Washington Gardner, 401 E. Michigan Ave., Albion New Beginnings Deliverance Ministry, 2609 E. Genesee, Saginaw Macedonia Baptist Church, G5443 N. Saginaw St., Flint Westwood Mall, 3020 US-41, Marquette New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 33640 Michigan Ave., Detroit International Gospel Center, 375 Salliotte Road, Ecorse Bethel Baptist Church, 5715 Holcomb St., Suite 33, Detroit Southwestern Church of God, 3032 Fort St., Detroit Christ Temple Church, 412 East Sherman Blvd., Muskegon Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1105 East Main St., Benton Harbor Calvary Lutheran Church, 8129 Packard Ave., Warren Can I get free at-home COVID-19 tests from the government? Yes and no. The federal government suspended its free at-home COVID-19 test program Sept. 2 because Congress hadnt provided additional money to replenish the nation's stockpile of tests, per www.covid.gov/tests. However, the Michigan health department last week announced 289,000 free COVID-19 tests through a partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation through Project Act. It was to provide 58,000 households with one kit containing five tests, typically within a week of ordering. Free COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government. On Monday morning, a notice appeared on the www.AccessCovidTests.org site when a couple of metro Detroit ZIP codes were punched in with a message to please try again in a few days. We have had an overwhelming response to the initiative and have already exhausted the initial home delivery supply. We will have additional kits available in the coming days. Please check back later to place an order," the notice stated. By midafternoon Monday, tests could be ordered through the website, which asked for your name, address and phone number. Once the order was placed, an order ID was provided. A message indicated the test kit would be filled by Amazon typically within the next three to five days. Those providing a cellphone also received a text message with the order ID. Sutfin said the initial supply of tests were ordered by Michigan residents in two days after demand skyrocketed. She said the Rockefeller Foundation partnership then made 497,000 additional tests available. More:Canada lifts COVID-19 travel, border restrictions: What it means for Michiganders More:Where to get your COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine in Michigan Sutfin reported "a high demand for COVID-19 over-the-counter (OTC) test kits." A Free Press reporter has seen various test kits at different stores by different manufacturers ranging from about $18 to $24 for a box containing two tests. The state health department said Friday it still is partnering with libraries across Michigan to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests. Households can receive up to five, free at-home test kits from participating libraries while supplies last. Sutfin said other opportunities to get free at-home test kits are at state health department sponsored neighborhood, community and visitor center test sites. Private health insurers are required to cover up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month for each person covered by a health plan, according to the state health department. Residents are encouraged to check with their insurer for the most up-to-date information on their specific plan. State health officials are encouraging people to have a supply of COVID-19 tests and well-fitting masks at home, stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and to talk with their health care provider about their eligibility for therapeutics if they become ill with the virus. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Free COVID-19 tests, telehealth treatment in Michigan The Chatham County grand jury has indicted three men for felony murder in the past two weeks as movement is made in other cases involving violent crimes. Kasey Sanderson On Sept. 21, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Kasey Sanderson for charges including felony murder, homicide by vehicle in the first degree, DUI and fleeing police. According to a Savannah Police report, during the early morning hours of July 5, Sanderson, 28, drove away from an SPD officer after he ran a red light at the intersection of Abercorn Street and DeRenne Avenue. Sanderson crashed into another car. His passenger, Angela Sanderson, 28, died on impact from her injuries. His truck caught fire. Savannah Fire crews were able to rescue him. His next court case a calendar call is set for 10 a.m., Dec. 15. Rashad Deshawn Williams Rashad Deshawn Williams was indicted Sept. 28 for malice murder in the shooting death of Ashton Gibbs, 32. On May 8, according to an SPD release, Williams shot and killed Gibbs and injured a 30-year-old woman following a road-rage incident on Bull and Broughton streets downtown. Williams later was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Columbus, Ohio. His next court hearing is set for 9 a.m., Oct. 11. Background: Chatham grand jury indicts man for murder, nine months after plea deal for aggravated assault Michael Anthony Cimato Also on Sept. 28, the Chatham County grand jury indicted Michael Anthony Cimato for malice murder and for concealing the death of another individual. On the night of Aug. 8, 2021, SPD officers responded to a call for a deceased person at the 100 block of McIntyre Street. There, officers discovered Calvin Owens, 52, dead and ruled it "suspicious." Through the investigation, SPD detectives identified the 58-year-old Cimato, 58, as a suspect. U.S. Marshals apprehended Cimato in Danville, Illinois, on June 23, and extradited him to Savannah. Vincent Truesdale, Hershel Orr, Lamartus Exley In late August, the grand jury indicted Hershel Orr, 19, Vincent Truesdale, 17, and Lamartrus Exley, 19, for felony murder, among other violent charges, in connection with the July 7 fatal shooting of Gary Pitts, 26, on West Park Avenue. Story continues Original Article: Savannah Police investigate fatal shooting of 26-year-old man on West Park Avenue Arrests Made: Savannah Police arrest three teenaged suspects in connection with July 7 homicide Another teen, Tony Crawford, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Pitts and was booked into the Regional Youth Detention Center on charges of murder and armed robbery. In late September, while incarcerated, Crawford turned 17 years old. Rashiid Wright A bond hearing was held Thursday in the second murder case against Rashiid Wright, 32. In April, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Wright with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony for the Dec. 3, 2021, shooting death of OlLiek Bonaparte, 23. An SPD officer pulled over Wright on Dec. 17, 2021, while he was driving a car that belonged to Latrelle Gooddine, an SPD officer at the time. Gooddine was placed on leave and became the subject of an internal affairs investigation. SPD later fired Gooddine. Less than two weeks after the Chatham County District Attorney charged Wright with Bonaparte's murder in early February, he was charged in another murder. Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County grand jury indicts Kasey Sanderson for murder in fiery crash Photo credit: Cars & Bids Everyone knows about the Toyota Land Cruiser, but not many people are familiar with its bigger, more hardcore sibling, the Mega Cruiser. Sold in Japan through the late Nineties, it's a civilian version of a military SUV built by Toyota for the Japanese government. Very few were sold, which isn't surprising considering its Hummer-like design and proportions. As such, Mega Cruisers have become extremely collectable pieces of machinery, making them incredibly tough to find for sale. If you're on the hunt, today's your lucky day. Because there's a Mega Cruiser for sale right now on Cars & Bids, and it's already here in the United States. According to the listing's description, this Mega Cruiser was imported from Kazakhstan, of all places, under our 25-year law. It has around 56,600 miles on the clock, and sports a host of mods, including a roof rack, heated seats, wood interior trim, LED interior lighting, and a fuel-system pre-heating kit for the diesel engine. Even more impressive is the previous owner's decision to convert the truck to left-hand-drive, making it easier to drive on U.S. roads. If you thought Land Cruisers were tough, wait until you hear about the Mega Cruiser's standard kit. There are portal axles, locking differentials on both ends, a four-wheel steering system, and an interior big enough to dwarf your average New York City apartment. It's one of the most capable vehicles Toyota has ever sold to the public. This one is an especially good buy because not only has it already been imported, but it's already been titled in the U.S. as well, meaning you won't have to deal with any importation stuff at the DMV. Of course, be prepared to payMega Cruisers of this quality regularly sell for six figures, and we don't expect this one to be any different. You Might Also Like By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -United Nations human rights officials are concerned about Ecuador's prison violence crisis, they said on Thursday, after yet another riot at a Guayaquil jail left at least 13 inmates dead and more than 20 prisoners and police injured. Violence has plagued Ecuador's prison system since early 2021, with close to 400 killed in clashes since February last year, according to the Andean country's SNAI prison authority. The violence is due to decades of state abandonment of the prison system, a delegation from the United Nations' Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture said in a statement. The existence of self-governance within Ecuador's so-called mega prisons, including by inmates belonging to criminal gangs, has led to human rights violations, the statement added. Ecuador's government did not immediately respond to the U.N. agency's findings. Two deadly riots rocked Ecuadorean prisons this week alone, with the most recent taking place at the Penitenciaria prison in Guayaquil on Wednesday. The SNAI authority raised the number of prisoners killed to 13, up from five it reported earlier, after authorities were able to get inside the facilities. At least six police officers were also injured during that riot, authorities said. Clashes at a prison in the city of Latacunga, south of the country's capital Quito, on Monday and Tuesday left at least 16 prisoners dead and left 43 injured. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which criticized conditions in Ecuador's jails earlier this year, called on the government to investigate the riots in Latacunga. The riots are a reminder of the urgent reforms Ecuadorean prisons require, Juan Pappier, senior researcher for the Americas at advocacy group Human Rights Watch, told Reuters via WhatsApp. "President Guillermo Lasso should prioritize addressing overcrowding and wresting control of detention facilities from organized crime," Pappier said. Story continues Families waiting for information about their loved ones outside of the Guayaquil prison were dispersed by police using tear gas on Wednesday night, according to local advocacy group the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Ecuador. "A lot of people here are only asking for information about their relatives, but there's no one coming to say if their relative is OK or not," said Fabiola Zambrano, who has waited outside the prison for news of her cousin since Wednesday. The government attributes prison violence to infighting between gangs over territory and drug trafficking routes. The prisons house some 33,500 inmates and exceed maximum capacity by 11.3%, according to official figures. "Here it's like there are no authorities," Zambrano said. "Here, the strongest survive." (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in QuitoAdditional reporting by Yury Garcia in Guayaquil and Oliver Griffin in BogotaWriting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Richard Chang) Demolition work at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's former Columbia Hospital continues after a judge refused to order a halt to the work. A judge has rejected a request that he order a halt to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's demolition of the former Columbia Hospital. The Thursday ruling by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro means that demolition can continue while the City of Milwaukee appeals the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the city seeking to stop that work. That case, pending before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, also is addressing a broader issue. It is challenging the UW System's claim that Wisconsin law provides a separate set of rules that state agencies must follow regarding historic properties. The system used that argument to ignore a historic designation for the former Columbia building that the Historic Preservation Commission, Common Council and Mayor Cavalier Johnson approved this spring. That designation requires commission approval for any exterior property changes. UWM wants to tear down the building, 3321 N. Maryland Ave., because it's costly to renovate and maintain. The building, constructed in 1919, has remained largely vacant for years, with no developers showing any interest in it, according to UW System officials. Preservationists say the building is a valuable piece of cultural and architectural history, and cited other historic Milwaukee buildings that were in dire straits before being redeveloped. Demolition work resumed in July after the city's lawsuit was dismissed. That work has been moving slowly, but full-scale demolition is to start in mid-October, said Jeremy Ebersole, Milwaukee Preservation Alliance executive director. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge refuses to halt former Columbia Hospital demolition by UWM Karl Rove participates in a panel discussion during the annual Milken Institute Global Conference on April 29, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. Michael Kovac/Getty Images GOP strategist Karl Rove said the Texas abortion law that bans the procedure after 6 weeks is "extremist." He said the ban will "create a real problem for Republicans" during the state's legislative session beginning in January. Some state lawmakers have said they would vote to add a rape exception, the Texas Tribune reported. Republican strategist Karl Rove said Texas' abortion ban, which bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, is "too extremist" and may haunt Republicans. Rove, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, made the comments at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Saturday. "Do you think Texas is too extremist?" The Tribune's CEO Evan Smith asked Rove during an interview. "Yeah, I do. I think it's gonna create a real problem for Republicans in the legislature next year when they have to deal with it," Rove said, defining the measure as "essentially no abortion, no exceptions." Ahead of Texas' legislative session, which is due to begin in January, some state lawmakers have voiced support for reassessing the abortion ban to provide an exception in cases of rape, The Texas Tribune reported. On Saturday, while discussing the effects of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Rove noted that Kansas voters defeated an "extremist measure on abortion" when they overwhelmingly voted to reject an amendment that would have eliminated the right to an abortion. According to the Tribune, Rove said that he supports the Supreme Court's ruling and that abortion regulations should be a state's rights issue. Read the original article on Business Insider Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Drew Angerer/Getty Images Rep. Liz Cheney warned Arizona voters not to elect GOP candidates Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. Both Lake and Finchem have denied the results of the 2020 election. Cheney said she would vote for their Democratic opponents had she lived in Arizona. Rep. Liz Cheney on Wednesday evening warned Arizona voters not to elect Republican candidates for governor and secretary as they have publicly denied the results of the 2020 election. "They both said that they will only honor the results of an election if they agree with it," Cheney said during a conversation at the Arizona State University's McCain Institute, referring to gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem. "If you care about democracy, and you care about the survival of our republic, then you need to understand, we all have to understand, that we cannot give people power who have told us that they will not honor elections," Cheney continued, adding that elections and peaceful transfers of power are "the foundation of our republic." Former President Donald Trump has endorsed both Lake and Finchem in their bids to become the next governor and secretary of state of Arizona. Both candidates have supported Trump's false election claims, and have closely aligned themselves with him in their campaigns. Cheney's comments come after she August lost her Wyoming Republican primary in August against her Trump-backed opponent, Harriet Hageman. The congresswoman, an outspoken critic of Trump, continues to blast the former president over his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and his election falsehoods. Cheney said that while she's voted Republican for almost 40 years, had she lived in Arizona for this year's midterm elections, she would cast her ballot for the Democrats. Lake and Finchem will face-off against their Democratic opponents Katie Hobbs and Adrian Fontes, respectively, come November 8, and the races are neck-and-neck, according to polling. "I don't know that I have ever voted for a Democrat," Cheney said. "But if I lived in Arizona now, I absolutely would, for governor and for secretary of state. I think we cannot be in a position where we elect people who will not fundamentally uphold the sanctity of elections." Read the original article on Business Insider The judge held up an 8-by-10-inch picture of Eduardo Posso, a happy smiling kid wearing a Disney World T-shirt. Then she displayed another taken a few years later showing the same child, emaciated and near death, chained in a motel room bathtub. "He went from this, to this, while he was in your care," Monroe Circuit Judge Christine Talley Haseman said, maintaining eye contact with Luis Eduardo Posso Jr. The boy's father pleaded guilty in June to murder, admitting his role in killing his 12-year-old son on May 24, 2019. He was beaten, tortured and starved to death. "Nothing," Haseman said, "nothing, justifies your behavior in killing your first-born son." She imposed the maximum 65-year sentence for murder in Indiana. Through a plea agreement, charges of neglect of a dependent, criminal confinement and battery resulting in serious injury were dismissed, as was a petition seeking life in prison without parole. More:Bloomington homeless and once-homeless remembered at memorial service for those who died Haseman reviewed witness depositions, medical and psychiatric reports, videos and photographs from the case in deciding the sentence. She said evidence showed the child was deprived of food and water over time. And that was only part of it. "Your abuse and torture of Eduardo didn't stop with withholding food and hydration," she said, reading a long list of bruises and injuries covering the child's emaciated body. She said videos showed Posso hit, punched, slapped and kicked his son, and that he used a staple gun to shoot staples into his feet. Medical experts said the abuse "was calibrated to induce pain and suffering," the judge said, calling the brutal treatment "incomprehensible, heinous and cruel." She said Posso "made the incomprehensible choice to allow him to starve ... and he was tortured at the hands of his father and stepmother." More:Christian college coach created a culture of doping and sex, star runners allege Story continues Posso's wife, Dayana Medina-Flores, pleaded guilty to murder last year and was sentenced by Hasemen in July 2021 to 65 years in prison. Haseman said evidence showed the now 29-year-old woman participated in the abuse of her stepson with her husband. She is incarcerated at the Rockville Correctional Facility, with a release date in February 2067. In Indiana, people sentenced to state prison for murder and most felonies serve three-fourths of their sentence. So a 65-year sentence is actually about 49 years. Posso, 35, has been incarcerated at the Monroe County Jail since his arrest on May 24, 2019, the day his son died. He gets credit for those 1,231 days. He will be 84 when his release date comes around. The family was staying at the Economy Inn on South Walnut Street when Eduardo died. Police reported finding chains, cords, restraint cuffs, an electric-shock dog collar and padlocks beneath the box springs of one of the beds in the room. From 2019:Stepmother claims officers violated her rights in 12-year-old starvation case Haseman said the boy was often left behind wearing the dog shock collar, and that both parents had an app on their cellphones to activate the collar when they weren't present. Another child in the family, who was 9 when Eduardo died, told investigators her parents forced her to participate in the abuse of her brother, threatening to shock her with the collar if she refused. From Florida, the family was traveling the Midwest the spring of 2019 distributing flyers advertising Cirque Italias Big Top Gold Water Circus. The circus was to perform eight shows in Bloomington's College Mall parking lot in June 2019. During Thursday's sentencing hearing, Posso sat facing the judge as she detailed the abuse of a child she told Posso "looked exactly like you." In the end, all of Eduardo's bones protruded, he had bruises in various stages of healing over his whole body and his eyes were sunken into their sockets. He was the size of a 4-year-old. Physician Kevin Moore, the emergency room doctor who pronounced the child dead after Posso carried him into the emergency room said Eduardo reminded him of pictures he had seen of people held in Nazi concentration camps. When Haseman said she was sentencing Posso to 65 years, he pulled his shacked hands up to his face to wipe away tears. Public defender Kyle Dugger said he will appeal the sentence. Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-331-4362. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Judge gives man 65 years in starvation death of 12-year-old son President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he is pardoning more than 6,500 people convicted of simple possession of marijuana. And hes asking governors across the country to do the same. Gov. Mike DeWine, through a spokesman, said hes reviewing Bidens request. But most Ohioans arent going to prison for marijuana possession. Mandatory prison time doesnt kick in until someone has 20 kilograms of marijuana, enough for 40,000 joints if each is a half-gram. Anything less than 100 grams of marijuana is a minor misdemeanor in Ohio, punishable by a fine of up to $150. And some cities have eliminated fines entirely. Ohio also doesnt issue blanket pardons, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said. Each person would have to apply individually. But other governors are taking that step. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, is offering pardons for people with minor marijuana-related convictions. As of last month, more than 2,500 people had applied, according to the governors office. DeWine, a Republican former prosecutor, has long opposed legalizing recreational marijuana. I think thats a mistake. I think you change the culture and you send a signal to kids, DeWine told the USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau earlier this year. If its legal, every kid, the message is its okay. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, in a tweet, slammed Biden for what he called the most political, cynical abuse of the pardon power in history. Yost, a Republican, has advocated for declassifying marijuana. DeWines Democratic challenger, former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, said she would work to expunge the records of individuals convicted of minor marijuana possession. I am encouraged to hear the (Biden) administration is following through on its commitment to address criminal justice reform. What does this mean in Ohio? Technically, it means nothing for anyone convicted under Ohio law at any level. Thats an important point. Its just federal offenders. And there are probably precious few of those in Ohio, said Ohio State University law professor Douglas Berman, who heads the OSU Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. Story continues If DeWine were to issue blanket pardons for misdemeanor marijuana possession, it would likely impact tens of thousands of Ohioans. The Drug Enforcement and Policy Center released a study in August that found 3.3% of adult Columbus residents have been charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana but only 0.56% of Columbus adults have convictions. The data show 15.3% of adult Black men in Columbus have been charged with a misdemeanor of marijuana possession. Berman said extrapolating that to Ohios 7 million adults, roughly 230,000 people would have faced marijuana possession charges and about 40,000 would have convictions. USA TODAY contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Gov. DeWine reviewing request to pardon marijuana convictions Since the early days of the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, Hispanic and Latino men may have been disproportionately affected. While data from the CDC is limited and fewer than 50% of cases include information about race/ethnicity, it indicates that there may be disparities for Hispanic and Latino Americans affected by monkeypox. Additionally, 47% of first doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine a two-dose vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and monkeypox have been given to white Americans, despite accounting for less than 30% of weekly cases with reported demographics, according to the CDC. Meanwhile, Hispanic Americans have received just 20%. MORE: Monkeypox now reported in all 50 states Data on a city-level shows similar trends. In New York City, Hispanic residents make up a plurality 34% of infections, as of Oct. 1, according to data from the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In Los Angeles, Hispanic residents account for 45% of cases, as of Oct. 4, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Around 10% of race/ethnicity data was unknown for each city. Related video: Black, Brown communities disproportionally affected by monkeypox Public health experts told ABC News a lack of access to healthcare and insurance, language barriers and the stigma around the disease has led to such large disparities. "I've lived through the HIV epidemic, I've lived through the COVID pandemic and now through monkeypox, and it is frightening to see the similarities in the sense that it's always the same populations that really are at a disadvantage," Dr. Judith Flores, executive board member of the National Hispanic Medical Association, told ABC News. "Don't have the equity in access to care, equity in getting the care in the way they needed, and in the manner that's most appropriate to them, culturally and linguistically. So, I'm not surprised that we're seeing this." Story continues PHOTO: Weekly monkeypox cases in the U.S. by race/ethnicity (CDC) Lack of information Public health experts told ABC News one reason Hispanic and Latino men may have been disproportionately affected by the outbreak is because getting information to the community about the disease was difficult. David Cuevas, disease intervention specialist and supervisor at the Multnomah County Health Department in Portland, Oregon, told ABC News there was limited information being released by the CDC in Spanish. "At the beginning, when there was an emerging communicable disease coming out, there was limited information in other languages," he said. "At the beginning in our team, we were looking at information from other websites in the U.K. or in Europe that have translations in different languages." Dr. Sean Cahill, director of health policy research at the Fenway Institute, a healthcare organization that focuses on sexual and gender minorities, in Boston, also said there weren't many televised briefings about monkeypox like there were with COVID-19, meaning most people received public health information via internet, as well as booking vaccine appointments. According to a Pew Research Center poll, only 65% of Hispanic adults said they had a broadband connection at home, as of February 2021, compared to 80% of white adults. MORE: WHO declares monkeypox outbreak to be public health emergency of international concern "In the early weeks of the monkeypox outbreak, vaccine was made available in many locations in New York and Washington, D.C. and elsewhere online," he told ABC News. "And you had to have a computer and an internet connection or data, or Wi-Fi access or a smartphone in order to be basically book an appointment to get a vaccine." He continued, "And there are racial/ethnic disparities that affect groups in terms of socioeconomic status and whether or not people have smartphones and computers and internet access. And so, I think that played a role." Cahill added getting access to the treatment TPOXX required doctors and patients to fill out a great deal of paperwork from the CDC, which was not available in Spanish until August. Fear of stigma Aside from lack of information, stigma associated with the disease may also be affecting vaccine distribution. The outbreak has primarily been concentrated in men who have sex with men, a group that includes people who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary, although health officials have said anyone regardless of sexual orientation is at risk if they have direct contact with an infected patient. "We started mass distribution, so you're expecting people to go online to basically out themselves," Flores said. "If you are especially from Hispanic communities and communities of color, it is not something perhaps you're most comfortable doing and you don't want to make it public.' Cuevas, a gay Hispanic man himself, said because the disease was mischaracterized as a disease only affecting LGBTQ populations, Hispanic Americans may have been fearful of being outed. PHOTO: Number of JYNNEOS vaccine first doses administered in the U.S. by race/ethnicity (CDC) "A lot of individuals in the Latinx community may not be feel comfortable with their sexuality, with their identity," Cuevas said. "Myself included, when I went to get my vaccine, I've even thought about that. "I was like, 'Wow, if I was me, like my younger years when I was more in the closet and wasn't out with my sexuality, this will be very stressful.'" Cuevas said when Multnomah County was scheduling vaccine appointments, one way of trying to remove the stigma was to try to make the process as anonymous as possible. "We would give this list of the people that are eligible [and say], 'You just have to say yes or no, you don't have to specify which part of the eligibility you fall into,'" he said. "So, people don't feel like they've been put on the spot." MORE: Monkeypox patient speaks out about what it's like to have the disease How to reduce racial/ethnic disparities Public health experts say to prevent to reduce the racial/ethnic gap, public health leaders and community leaders need to knock down barriers that prevent access to care among minority populations. "That means going to where they are, having vaccine clinics at flexible times, on the weekends and late at night, and going to the places where, like those individuals, maybe hanging out," Cuevas said. He added, "Specific to our county, we were working hard and putting information on social media, on dating apps, information that somebody that speaks Spanish can actually read and make sense of. You want to have individuals talking to you in your own language, when you call and make the appointment for your vaccine." The effort appears to be working. In the latest CDC report, as of Sept. 18, Hispanics made up 19% of weekly monkeypox cases nationally with reported race/ethnicity data. which is down from 31% a month prior. PHOTO: People wait in line for the monkeypox vaccine at the Balboa Sports Center in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, July 27, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Cahill added that the bigger systemic issue that will help is expanding Medicaid eligibility. "In order to qualify for Medicaid, you have to be categorically eligible. You either have to be disabled, or be a parent with dependent children, and you also have to be really, really poor," he said. "That's another big systemic reason why we see these ethnic disparities in HIV, in COVID, and now in monkeypox affecting Hispanic and Latino populations, because people don't have health insurance and they're not in routine care." "So, when a new threat emerges, they don't have someone they can just call and talk to about it or get an appointment, or you know they're not familiar with a medical office where they have gone on a regular basis and, therefore, they're losing out on information," Cahill continued. Monkeypox has disproportionately impacted Hispanic and Latino men in US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com North Korea People at the Seoul Railway Station watch a television broadcast showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch on May 04, 2022 in South Korea. Credit - Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Not long after North Korea launched its fifth weapons test in 10 days Tuesday, firing a ballistic-missile high above northern Japan, a familiar routine began to unfold. Leaders from the U.S., South Korea and Japan issued strongly worded statements condemning the dangerous and destabilizing provocation. American and South Korean militaries conducted show of force exercises, sending fighter jets to bomb a deserted island in the Yellow Sea, later lobbing several missiles of their own into the vast Sea of Japan. On Wednesday, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was moved off the east coast of the Korean peninsula. Within hours Pyongyang launched another missile into the Sea of Japan and then, on Thursday, flew 12 fighter jets and bombers near its border with South Korea, triggering the South to scramble 30 warplanes in response. For more than 30 years, the U.S. and its Asian allies have responded to North Korean demonstrations of ever-advancing weapons technology with their own shows of force. But the escalation spiral of the last few days is the latest indication that coercive tactics by the U.S. and its allies are failing to compel North Korea to curtail its missile and nuclear programs. With signs that the North may soon perform its seventh underground nuclear test, the now-routine countermoves to Pyongyangs provocations, embraced by Republican and Democratic presidents alike over the decades, look more the motor-reflex response than a strategy to prevent the unacknowledged truth: that North Korea is a full-blown nuclear power. Estimates vary, but analysts say North Korea has produced enough fissile material for between 20 to 60 warheads to go along with an arsenal of several hundred short- and medium-range ballistic-missiles capable of hitting South Korea, Japan, and U.S. military bases and territories in the region. Pyongyang has also demonstrated long-range missiles that could theoretically reach every major city in the continental United States. Story continues As the nations nuclear capabilities have grown, multilateral diplomatic efforts to rein it in have ground to a halt. President Joe Bidens team has made multiple public overtures to meet North Korean officials without preconditions, but Pyongyang has thus far ignored them. By waiting for Pyongyang to decide whether to engage, the White House is effectively endorsing the status quo. It appears that North Koreas unchecked nuclear weapons expansion has become at most a distraction for an Administration thats mired in Russias land war in Ukraine and Chinas military threats on Taiwan. North Korean leaders know that President Biden is sensitive to the potential criticism that the U.S. policy is failing on the Korean Peninsula, and so its the right time for North Korea to start putting pressure on the U.S., says Narushige Michishita, a former Japanese Defense Ministry official who teaches at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. Read More: A Korean War Veterans Remains Were Lost for 70 Years. Heres What Brought Him Home Ultimately, experts inside and outside the government say, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hopes hell be able to use his growing nuclear war chest as leverage to keep his dynastic grip on power and lift economy-crippling sanctions from his isolated country. Whats needed, some analysts say, is a diplomatic road map that would show North Korea how they might get what they want, in exchange for freezing their programs and granting international inspectors access to them. Kim has launched more missiles this year, 41, than any since he took power in 2011. Already armed with city-busting hydrogen bombs, his government is now developing smaller yield tactical nuclear warheads that are designed to fit on short-range missiles for regional targets, according to U.S. intelligence estimates. Emboldened by its technological progress, North Korea passed a law last month declaring its nuclear status as irreversible and forbidding any talks aimed at disarming them. Bidens stated approach toward Pyongyang remains nonetheless focused on complete denuclearization. On the one hand, we want to deny North Korean status as a nuclear weapons state but on the other hand, North Korea is already a nuclear weapons state, says Moon Chung-in, who advised former South Korean President Moon Jae-in on national security and foreign affairs. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo will always be wrestling with this fundamental dilemma. Dismantling North Koreas sprawling missile and nuclear weapon infrastructure would not only likely take a years-long diplomatic effort, the logistics are equally as daunting. Successive American presidential administrations have sought a deal to disarm North Korea with little to show for iteven before its first nuclear test in 2006. The U.S. and North Koreas diplomatic relationship is defined by a boom-bust cycle of crisis and rapprochement. Now Kim appears to be replaying his strategy wielded in 2017 when he launched dozens of missiles and detonated an underground nuclear bomb. The tense period brought Washington and Pyongyang to the brink of war with then-President Donald Trump threatening to unleash fire and fury on the peninsula. The U.S. and North Korea engaged in a detente of sorts in 2018 when Trump accepted a proposal to meet Kim face to face. The President took trips to Singapore, Hanoi, and even a presidential walk across the demilitarized zone into North Korea. Yet even as Kim held back from missile tests in 2018 and launched just a handful in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he did not abandon his weapons programs. North Koreas renewed rounds of missile launches this year have prompted widespread alarm in Japan, because many land in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, where fishing and shipping lanes separate the two countries. The missile launches violate long-standing UN Security Council resolutions, but it has now become nearly impossible for the U.S. to enact new sanctions on Pyongyang because it needs Russia and China to sign on. In Tuesdays test, a ballistic missile flew an estimated 2,850 miles, marking the longest distance a North Korean weapon ever traveled, soaring above the northernmost prefecture in mainland Japan before plunging into the Pacific Ocean. North Korea hadnt launched a missile over Japan in five years. At around 7:23 a.m. local time, cellphones and public speakers lit up with take-cover alerts through Japans early-warning systems, known as Emergency Network and J-Alert. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected and tracked the launch just outside Pyongyang, flying east for 22 minutes and reaching an apogee of 602 milesor more than twice the altitude of the International Space Station. The range suggested the missile was the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile, which North Korea unveiled in 2017 to threaten U.S. military bases in the region, namely the air base on Guam, a U.S. territory about 2,000 miles to the south with more than 100,000 American citizens. Initial assessments by the U.S. military indicated that it did not pose a threat to North America nor to Guam. Read More: Inside the $100 Billion Mission to Modernize Americas Aging Nuclear Missiles The test came just days after Vice President Kamala Harriss visit last week to the region and anti-submarine drills between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. The Administration has worked to build stronger ties between the three nations to confront North Korea, which has resulted in increased collaboration and an ongoing build-up of a ground- and sea-based radar network with defensive missiles. The U.S. and South Korea recently reconvened the so-called Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group, which aims to draw up plans to guard against North Koreas nuclear threats. Such bilateral planning, like the joint live-fire military exercises, has drawn further condemnation from North Korea. Now, the world awaits for yet another nuclear test at Punggye-ri underground facilities, where U.S. surveillance satellites have detected preparation activities. If they do such a test, from our perspective, that would clearly constitute a grave escalatory action that seriously threatens regional and international security instability, Defense Department spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon. Were calling on (North Korea) to cease these types of destabilizing and unlawful actions. Although the U.S. did not detail the penalties it would enact for another conducting nuclear test, long-time Korea watchers dont expect to be surprised by the measures when theyre announced. The trial continues for one of four family members accused of carrying out a massacre in rural Ohio that left seven members of another family plus an eighth person dead. The murder trial of George Wagner IV, 30, enters its fourth week after witness testimony supported prosecutors' theory that the Pike County Massacre in 2016 occurred because of a custody feud between the defendants brother, Edward Jake Wagner, and one of the victims, Hanna May Rhoden, 19. Jake Wagner who previously pleaded guilty to the murders and Hanna May Rhoden shared a young daughter, Sophia, whom prosecutors say was the subject of long-standing feud between the two. George Wagner IV is currently charged with eight counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of tampering with evidence, and one count each of forgery, unauthorized use of property, wire interception, obstruction of justice and corruption. A police handout of George Wagner IV George Wagner IV, one of four family members that had been arrested in the slayings of eight members of one family in rural Ohio in 2016. Photo: AP Prosecutors say the Wagner brothers and their parents, George Wagner III and Angela Wagner, fatally shot Hanna Rhoden and her relatives execution-style at several dwellings in southern Ohios Pike County sometime between April 21 and April 22, 2016. The victims included: Hanna; her parents, Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, and Dana Manley-Rhoden, 37; her brothers Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Frankie Rhoden, 20; and her uncle Kenneth Rhoden. Also killed in the nighttime attack were Christopher Rhoden Sr.s cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, and Frankie Rhodens fiancee, Hannah Gilley, 20. Media Handout From Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation Rhoden Family Homicides Photo: Pike County Sheriff's Office/Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation Chelsea Robinson who befriended Hanna May in 2013 while dating her brother Frankie Rhoden and is the mother of Rhodens 3-year-old son testified Friday that Hanna May lived in fear of Jake Wagner. Story continues A distressed Hanna May reportedly called Robinson in 2014 to detail Jake Wagners alleged threats, according to Law & Crime. Amid a series of objections from George Wagner IVs legal representatives, the judge allowed jurors to hear Robinsons testimony but reminded the jury that Robinson was not a character witness and that her testimony instead pointed to a possible motive for the murders. Robinson then testified that Hanna May recalled to a time when Jake threatened to cut her legs off if she attempted to leave, according to Law & Crime and the Cincinnati Enquirer. If she tried to leave, he was going to chop her legs off so she could never leave the house, said Robinson. Chelsea Robinson was expected to face cross-examination on Monday, according to Fox Cincinnati affiliate WXIX. Also expected to take the stand this week is Tabitha Claytor, who had been married to the defendant at the time of the murders, according to Law & Crime. Chelsea Robinson testified that Hanna May told her of an incident in which matriarch Angela Wagner allegedly chased Claytor out of the Wagner home with a shotgun, with George IV and Jake there. Tabitha Claytor was embroiled in her own custody battle with George IV, whom she married in 2012; she eventually lost custody of the couples son. According to special prosecutor Angela Canepa, the Wagners made it a point to keep Claytor away from her child, going as far as to accuse her of child abuse, according to the Enquirer. Canepa called the couple's arrangements historically one of the worst custody agreements anyones ever seen. Claytors mother allegedly warned Hanna May not to sign over custody of Sophia over to the Wagners, according to WXIX. I wont sign papers, ever. It wont happen, Hanna May allegedly wrote Claytors mother in a Facebook message. They will have to kill me first. Media handout of family members arrested in connection with Pike County Murders Investigators arrest members of the Wagner family in connection with murders of eight people in Pike County, Ohio. Photo: Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine The Wagners were early suspects in the killings but were not charged until 2018. Before then, prosecutors say they sold the family's 71-acre farm and moved to Alaska with Sophia after allegedly forging documents. During the familys year-long stay in Alaska, Jake Wagner reportedly married a woman named Elizabeth Freeman in 2018, whom the Wagners eventually accused of sexually abusing Sophia, according to the Enquirer. I had only just gotten married when I found out that not only was my husband not who he said he was but literally a persons worst nightmare, Freeman said in 2019. Jake Wagner pleaded guilty to 23 criminal charges in the case, including eight counts of murder, in exchange for eight life sentences. He is expected to testify in the murder trial of George Wagner IV, who maintains he wasnt the triggerman in the murders. Angela Wagner was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to lesser charges, including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and burglary. She is currently serving a 30-year sentence behind bars. As part of their plea deals, Angela and Jake did not face the death penalty, though neither one is eligible for parole. George Wagner III pleaded not guilty and is expected to face trial at a later time. If either he or his son is convicted, they could face the death penalty. The case was covered by Oxygen's original series, "The Piketon Family Murders." The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has embarked on an exotic trip to kick off its new season, and its brought the cast just one state over to what cast member Heather Gay calls the redheaded stepchild of Utah. Also known as Arizona. Its not St. Tropez, Bali or the Maldives, as Meredith Marks points out but its also not 110 degrees, so theres that. (Heather declares, I love Arizona in the winter.) Alas, they cant go very far because, at the time of filming, Jen Shah was in the midst of court proceedings after she and one of her assistants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering. The terms of Jen's bail included "No travel outside the state of Utah without prior permission from the pretrial officer." Though shed initially pleaded not guilty, in July she changed her tune and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. All aboard the party bike: What happened when 'RHOSLC' cast filmed in Scottsdale The 'RHOSLC' cast took a girls trip to lift Jen Shah's spirits But as the cast was filming Season three, Episode two (which aired Oct. 5) in February, Jen had not yet pleaded guilty and was agonizing over the impact the case was having on her family. So Heather, Meredith, Lisa Barlow and Whitney Rose took Jen on a girls trip to lift her spirits and allow Whitney to reconnect with her half-brother. It doesnt take long for the waterworks to start. Its quickly apparent that Phoenix is not a top destination for the housewives. Its just Utah warmer (and) with more white people, if thats even humanly possible, Heather says in her commentary. They stay at a $2.85 million ultra-luxury mansion thats how the home is described in its Airbnb listing in Phoenix (not Scottsdale, as the chyron claims) that is reminiscent of a home that former cast member Mary Cosby owns. Walking into this house, I feel like weve stepped foot into Mary Cosbys grand foyer. Its almost like Mary is still with us, Whitney says after arriving early with Lisa. Story continues Exclusive: RHOSLC cast stayed at this Phoenix mansion and so can you Whitney Rose hired a shaman to come to an Arizona mansion This is where they will go on a healing journey with a shaman, partake in a lingerie party and engage in leftover drama between Meredith and Lisa from Season 2. In Episode two, they sip from a cacao drink prepared by their shaman, Kseniya, in the backyard of the rented mansion and reveal the life events that they are trying to heal from. Apparently, the third times the charm, because Kseniyas ceremony goes better than the ones that Whitney has arranged for the group in the past. The camaraderie is short-lived, however, because Meredith is still holding a grudge against Lisa since her hot mic tirade last season. In Episode three, well find out whether drinking on a Scottsdale party bike, playing putt-putt or partying in lingerie thaws the ice between them. Exclusive: Here's why so many Arizonans are on reality shows How to watch 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' New episodes of "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' recap: Girls' trip to Arizona Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry subtly showed off their love for each other in a sweet new portrait shot by their friend Misan Harriman. The new photo, posted to Twitter by Harriman today, captures a tender moment between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their appearance at the One Young World conference in early September. The couple stand side by side, with Harry gently holding Meghan's hand. The duchess wears a bright-red look courtesy of sustainable brand Another Tomorrow. The vibrant ensemble is composed of a long-sleeved silk blouse, which features a matching torso-length tie knotted at the neck, and matching straight-leg trousers. Meanwhile, Harry looks suave in a traditional navy suit. "The Duke & Duchess of Sussex moments before attending the opening ceremony of @OneYoungWorld last month," Harriman captioned the post. The Duke & Duchess of Sussex moments before attending the opening ceremony of @OneYoungWorld last month. pic.twitter.com/hE4DVD1HaB Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) October 3, 2022 In addition to attending the opening ceremony, the couple also spearheaded a roundtable about gender equality and inclusion for the summit. Related video: Five causes Meghan Markle champions Isra Chaker, a young woman who shared an embrace with Meghan during the event, said in a statement to BAZAAR.com, "Participating in the roundtable discussion focused on inclusion, immigrant rights, and gender equality with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was an incredible experience. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to share my personal narrative and the advocacy work I do in support of migrant communities. I am grateful that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex create spaces like this one, to connect with activists, advocates, and leaders creating positive social impact and change." Story continues Meghan and Harry's attendance at One Young World took place just days before the death of Queen Elizabeth II. After Buckingham Palace announced the monarch's passing, the couple extended their stay in the United Kingdom to attend her funeral and join other members of the royal family in the official period of mourning for the monarch. You Might Also Like Yuri, 36-year-old artist from Siberia, works on his laptop while on his bunk bed at a hostel in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times) BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Rents are skyrocketing, luxury hotels and grimy hostels do not have beds to spare. And on the dusty, sunny streets of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, bands of young migrants, nearly all men, wander aimlessly, dazed at their world turned upside down and their hasty, self-imposed exile to a poor, remote country that few could previously place on a map. After leaving often well-paying jobs and families in Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia, and many places in between, tens of thousands of young Russians terrified of being dragooned into fighting in Ukraine are pouring into Central Asia by plane, car and bus. The influx has turned a country long scorned in Russia as a source of cheap labor and for its backward ways into an unlikely and, for the most part, welcoming haven for Russian men, some poor, many relatively affluent and highly educated but all united by a desperate desire to escape being caught up in Russian President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times I look up at the clear sky every day and give thanks that I am here, said Denis, an events organizer from Moscow who Friday joined scores of fellow Russians at a bar in Bishkek to rejoice at their escape and trade tips on places to sleep, getting Kyrgyz residency papers and finding work. The gathering Friday night, convened to celebrate the start of a new Russian community, was one small part of a vast exodus of Russians to Central Asia, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and a shrinking list of other places still willing take them in during what has become their countrys most concentrated burst of emigration since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. The outflow began in February, with hundreds of thousands of people leaving after Russia invaded Ukraine, but has accelerated since Sept. 21, when Putin declared a partial mobilization in response to battlefield defeats. In the subsequent four days, the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported, 261,000 military-aged men were estimated to have left. Tens of thousands more have fled since. Story continues The chaotic rush for the exit has inverted the usual shape of a wartime refugee crisis: Unlike the millions of Ukrainian women and children who have fled into Poland and other European countries, these Russian men are not running away from an invading army, but from serving in one. Nor do they fit the stereotype of migrants as destitute people trying to escape the developing world. While Putin boasted Friday in the Kremlin that his war had given Russia millions of new citizens grabbed from Ukraine, the conflict is driving his real citizens to despair and flight. When it all started, we thought it would just affect professional soldiers and their families, but with mobilization, it has touched us all, said Alexander, a 23-year-old university student from the Russian Far East. Staying in Russia, he added, would mean either going to prison or into the army. At the bar in Bishkek, no one seemed to take seriously Putins latest announcement that he was annexing four regions of Ukraine, vowing that Ukrainians living there would from now on be forever Russian. He just lies all the time, said Yuri, a 36-year-old artist from Siberia. Before embarking on a three-day bus and train journey to Bishkek last week, Yuri ran a small business designing album covers for an American heavy metal band and doing artwork for other foreign clients. He now sleeps on the upper bunk in an overcrowded hostel room shared with 19 other people, many of them Russian. At least I feel safe here, added Yuri, who like most of the Russians interviewed asked that only his first name be published, fearing retribution. Eldar, 23, a math tutor from Russias Sakhalin Island in the Pacific, blamed many Russians for being too apathetic about the war. Most people just sit on their sofas and think that if Putin goes, things will get even worse, he said. I could not be part of this anymore and have to think about my own future, he added. That so many Russians took so long to start worrying about the war in Ukraine has infuriated Ukrainians, who have endured seven months of torment and bloodshed. Even now, Russians who fled rarely talk about the war, focusing on their own travails with housing, money and unfamiliar customs. After decades of being treated as Russias poor and desperate country cousins, many Kyrgyz, including the countrys president, Sadyr Japarov, are happy to see the shoe on the other foot. This is a very new phenomenon for us, Japarov said in an interview. Noting that more than 1 million Kyrgyz worked in Russia, he added that their citizens can of course come here and work freely and had no need to fear being extradited home. He said he did not know how many Russian draft dodgers had arrived but added that the influx would help his country, even as it jacks up rents and leads some landlords to evict Kyrgyz tenants to make way for Russians willing to pay double, triple or more. We dont see any harm and see lots of benefits, he said. In a contrast with Europes 2015 migration crisis, involving Syrians, Afghans and others, many of the Russians seeking sanctuary in Kyrgyzstan are highly educated and had good jobs back home, often in tech or culture. Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries have long worried that refugees would pour in from nearby Afghanistan but, said Yan Matusevich, a Russian-born American scholar who is researching migration in Bishkek, nobody in their wildest dreams ever expected a flood of Russian refugees. Fleeing Russians, he added, did not want to be regarded like refugees from developing countries, but there were so many of them that international organizations needed to start thinking about providing a humanitarian response like those in previous migrant crises. Some of the migrants have lots of money, but others are not affluent or left in such a hurry that they have little more than the clothes on their backs and depend on the charity of locals. In Osh, the countrys second-largest city, a Kyrgyz woman, Dinara, posted her telephone number online and offered to host penniless Russians at her home. I will be happy to help you. No money needed, meals included, she wrote, although such generosity is wearing thin as more Russians arrive. The welcome has forced some Russian arrivals to reconsider their countrys self-image as a big-hearted, civilizing force superior to less developed parts of the former Soviet Union. It is a vaccination against imperialism to come here and be accepted by the Kyrgyz after the way they have been treated in Moscow, never mind other cities, said Vasily Sonkin, a 32-year-old Muscovite, referring to the more than 10% of Kyrgyzstans population working in Russia, mostly in menial jobs, and often subject to prejudice. What to call the arrivals is still in flux. If Russians do not see themselves as refugees, they also do not want to be called draft dodgers, and there is no sign of the anti-war fervor that gripped young Americans who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. A tiny minority support the war but do not want to die fighting it. Dmitry, a tech entrepreneur from Sochi, scoffed at protesters but said he had lost faith in Russias direction after the Kremlin agreed to a prisoner swap that set free more than 100 members of Ukraines Azov Regiment. Putin said the goal of this whole thing at the start was to denazify Ukraine, but then he freed all these Nazis, he said, parroting Russias false propaganda line that Azov is composed of fanatical fascists. He said he was reluctant to leave his wife and daughter behind but saw no point in staying in Russia and risking the draft after vital employees at his company started running away. He can operate his company virtually from Bishkek and, if the war continues, said he would relocate his family. Many Russian exiles prefer to be seen as relokanty, a term that originated in Belarus, a brutal dictatorship whose once thriving tech sector offered employees hope of escape through relocation abroad with a foreign company. Ermek Myrzabekov, the owner of a Bishkek travel agency and president of Kyrgyzstans tourism association, said he had received a flood of requests from companies looking for a place in Central Asia to park Russian male employees. The surge, he added, meant super profits for hospitality and airlines but also risked tensions if more Kyrgyz families with children were evicted to make way for Russians. Hotels in Bishkek and Osh, Myrzabekov said, were all 100% fully booked, a situation that he expected to continue after Putins bellicose speech Friday. Everyone can see that Putin has gone too far already and cant step back. Russians will be staying here for a long time, he predicted. 2022 The New York Times Company A pilot died and two others were seriously injured Thursday after a small plane crashed at the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport, according to state police. The three were onboard a Cessna 172 private plane when it crashed shortly after takeoff, said Michael Giardino, executive director of the airport. The plane had reached an altitude of about 100 feet when it veered off course and slammed into an embankment next to the runway, according to state police. The pilot was a female, according to a news release from Virginia State Police. The two injured are both 18-year-old men from Maryland. The men, one of whom was the co-pilot, were taken to Riverside Regional Hospital, the release said. Both were said to have life-threatening injuries. Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were headed to the scene Thursday. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine plane. An active fuel leak was discovered at the scene and was contained, Giardino said. The crash was reported at 3:22 p.m. on the north side of the airport. The facility was closed for nearly two hours afterward. Airport Rescue, as well as Newport News fire fighters and police, responded to the crash. Virginia State Police are handling the initial investigation, Giardino said. The plane that crashed is based out of the Newport News-Williamsburg airport. Giardino said he didnt know where it was headed or who was on board. Virginia State Police said they were working to notify the victims families. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com NEW YORK Speaking to the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters on Friday morning, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for increased global aid to Pakistan and other developing nations suffering from extreme weather driven by climate change. The people of Pakistan are the victims of a grim calculus of climate injustice, Guterres said, noting that one-third of the landmass of the South Asian nation has been submerged by surging flood waters, although it contributes less than 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. One month ago, I traveled there and saw a level of climate carnage beyond imagination, Guterres said. Pakistans flooding was caused by two climate-change-related phenomena: an unusually strong spring heat wave, which melted glaciers, and extremely heavy rainfall. Residents carry belongings salvaged from their flooded home after monsoon rains in the Qambar Shahdadkot district of Pakistan's Sindh province on Sept. 6. (Fareed Khan/AP) After cataloging the destruction, which includes damage to 1,500 health care facilities and the destruction of more than 2 million homes, Guterres quadrupled the U.N.s previous request for aid to Pakistan to $816 million. The economic toll is expected to surpass $10 billion, and Guterres said that even his revised request pales in comparison to what is needed on every front including food, water, sanitation, shelter, emergency education, protection and health support. The secretary-general then pivoted to the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which will take place in November and is also known as COP27, and broadened his request for climate finance. Guterres has previously called for major carbon emitters to increase their emissions reduction pledges. Now he is calling for them to provide poorer countries with the means to prepare for and recover from climate change catastrophes. COP27 must be the place for serious action on loss and damage, he said, using the diplomatic term for compensation from the countries that have caused climate change to its victims. COP27 must be the place for clarity on vital funding for adaptation and resilience." Story continues Women from flood-affected areas wait to get free food distributed by a charity in Chachro, in Pakistan's Sindh province, on Sept. 19. (Pervez Masih/AP) In 2009, developed nations pledged at COP15 in Copenhagen to mobilize $100 billion in annual climate finance by 2020, but they have fallen short of that goal by at least $20 billion. In particular, wealthier countries bear a moral responsibility to help places such as Pakistan recover, adapt and build resilience to disasters supercharged by the climate crisis, Guterres said. Lets not forget that 80% of emissions driving this type of climate destruction are from the G-20, he said, referring to the worlds largest economies, such as the United States, Europe and Japan. Guterres was followed by Pakistans ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, who echoed the secretary-general's call for more global climate aid. Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, even though our carbon emissions are less than 1% of the global total, Akram said. In the last two decades, recurrent spells of extreme weather, such as floods, droughts, glacial lake outbursts, cyclones and heat waves, have taken an enormous toll on life and property. A girl sits on a cot in a flooded street in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Oct. 4. (Fida Hussain/AFP via Getty Images) At COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, last year, nations increased their commitments to emissions reductions and climate finance, but not enough to avert catastrophic climate change, according to the projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Usually, renegotiation of a climate agreement occurs roughly every five years, but since the IPCC has determined that emissions must now be cut by 50% by 2030, the U.N., developing nations and climate activists are calling for a new round of action this year. Guterres closed with a warning for nations that are not as hot and vulnerable as Pakistan. Communities everywhere are looking down the barrel of climate-driven destruction, he said. We must act and we must act now. Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Clint Hickman holds up a claim about the 2020 general election made by Senate Republican contractor Cyber Ninjas during a hearing before the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. An Iowa man arrested Thursday is accused of threatening to kill Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman and an official at the Arizona Attorney General's Office. Mark A. Rissi, 64, of Hiawatha, Iowa, was charged with two counts of making a threatening interstate communication and one count of making a threatening telephone call, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Rissi was taken into custody in his city of residence and on Tuesday had an initial court appearance at a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, federal courthouse, according to the DOJ. Rissi is suspected of leaving an expletive-filled voicemail on Sept. 27, 2021, for a Maricopa County Board supervisor and telling the official he and others were going to "lynch" him for "lying" about the 2020 election results, according to a department press release. On Tuesday, Hickman's office confirmed he was the county supervisor Rissi was said to have threatened. A statement from Hickman said he has been threatened "numerous times" in the past two years, along with some of his other colleagues on the board. "And worst of all, county elections staff doing their job honorably are getting calls and emails threatening violence, calling them traitors. It's despicable," Hickman's statement read in part. The Department of Justice released a partially redacted text of the voicemail left for Hickman: Hello Mr. [VICTIM], I am glad that you are standing up for democracy and want to place your hand on the Bible and say that the election was honest and fair. I really appreciate that. When we come to lynch your stupid lying Commie [expletive], youll remember that you lied on the [expletive] Bible, you piece of [expletive]. Youre gonna die, you piece of [expletive]. Were going to hang you. Were going to hang you. "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that voicemail. It was chilling. This wasn't a prank call. This wasn't protected speech. This was a serious threat to me and my family," Hickman said in the statement. Story continues Elections: New poll shows Arizona voters believe in the election system Rissi is also suspected of leaving a Dec. 8 voicemail with an unidentified official with the Arizona AG's office threatening to hang this person for supposed election fraud in Maricopa County and statewide. The DOJ also released a partially redacted text of the December voicemail: Im a victim of a crime. My family is a victim of a crime. My extended family is a victim of a crime. That crime was the theft of the 2020 election. The election that was fraudulent across the state of Arizona, that [VICTIM] knows was fraudulent, that [VICTIM] has images of the conspirators deleting election fraud data from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors computer system. Do your job, [VICTIM], or you will hang with those [expletive] in the end. We will see to it. Torches and pitchforks. Thats your future, [expletive]. Do your job. I want to thank the Department of Justice for taking threats to officials seriously. While we do not typically talk about these situations publicly, they unfortunately occur," Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. "Our office will not be intimidated for doing its job. We cannot tolerate violence in our political system." If convicted, Rissi could be sentenced up to five years in prison for each threatening interstate communication count and up to two years in prison on the threatening telephone call charge, according to the Justice Department. In a Nov. 17, 2020, letter, two weeks after Election Day, Hickman penned a letter to voters defending the integrity of the election. Then the board of supervisors' chairman, Hickman wrote in the letter that there was no evidence of fraud, misconduct or malfunction. Hickman, a Republican who has been representing District 4 since 2013, went on to take unnamed Arizona leaders to task for not saying more on the issue. "And by and large, people in positions of power, in positions of leadership, in positions of influence here in Arizona are silent. How can you be silent?" Hickman's statement read. Hickman in his statement called for others to also denounce these kind of threats. "So I'm speaking out today in hopes that others will follow. Whether it's a person who shares your politics or your worldview or not, no one should be subjected to this kind of hatred. And if we truly want to keep our country great, we will do everything we can to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy," Hickman's statement read. This is the Justice Department's most recent indictment of someone suspected of threatening an Arizona elections official. A 50-year-old Missouri man was indicted in August on suspicion of leaving a threatening voicemail to Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer in May 2021 for speaking out against the Arizona Senate audit. A 38-year-old Massachusetts man was indicted in July on suspicion of making a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of States Office in February 2021. A new normal? Threats against election officials unlikely to stop, county recorder says Ahead of Arizona's August primary, The Arizona Republic reported on election officials leaving their posts in response to threats they received. The FBI's Phoenix field office, with assistance from its Cedar Rapids counterpart, is investigating the case against Rissi, according to the Justice Department. The case, the DOJ mentioned, is part of its election threats task force launched in June 2021. Tips about suspected threats or violent acts regarding elections in Arizona can be made to the election crimes coordinator at the FBI's Phoenix field office at 623-466-1999. Tips also can be made to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or at tips.fbi.gov. Republic reporter Sasha Hupka contributed to this article. Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DOJ: Man threatened to kill election officials in Arizona Brazilians Go to Polls in Tight Elections Polarized between Lula and Bolsonaro President Jair Bolsonaro talks during a press conference at the end of the first round of elections at the main entrance of Alvorada Palace on Oct. 2, 2022 in Brasilia, Brazil. According to official results, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has 48.40% of the vote and Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) has 43.22%, with 99.89 % of the voting counted. Lula and Bolosonaro will compete in a presidential runoff on Oct. 30, 2022. Credit - Andressa AnholeteGetty Images It has become a familiar ritual for Americans, Brits, and others around the world: Tuning in on election night and wondering how the polls could have been so wrong, especially when it comes to undercounting voters on the right. On Sunday, it was Brazils turn, as right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro defied predictions of a double-digit defeat and came within just five percentage points of the first-place candidate, leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The longtime rivals will now face each other in a runoff on Oct. 30 that looks closer than anyone expectedand seems likely to put heavy strains on Latin Americas largest democracy. That Bolsonaro still has a chance to win came as a shock to both Brazilian and international observers. The so-called Trump of the Tropics presided over one of the worlds most calamitous reactions to the pandemic, calling COVID-19 a little flu, admonishing his countrymen to stop being sissies, and dragging his feet on vaccine purchasesBrazils official death toll now stands above 680,000 people, second only to the United States. His stewardship of the Amazon has been a disaster, with deforestation at its highest level in 15 years. On the economic front, Bolsonaro has been unable to meaningfully lift Brazil from a long malaise that has left its citizens 10% poorer on average than they were a decade ago. This story of stagnation and dissatisfaction has repeated itself to varying degrees across much of Latin America, which helps explain why incumbent presidents or their allies have lost 14 straight free and fair elections across the region. And yet there was Bolsonaro on Sunday, basking in the glow of a result that, at the very least, kept his hopes of a second term alive for another four weeks. We won against the lying pollsters and now we will win the election, he declared to a crowd of supporters and journalists. Most political analysts believe that Lula, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, remains a slight favorite to win the runoffthanks to strong support from Brazils working class and a likely endorsement coming from the third place candidate Simone Tebet, a Senator. But there was no denying the wave of support that saw Bolsonaros allies make major gains in Congress, including his former womens affairs minister, famous for declaring that Boys (should) wear blue, and girls should wear pink, who won a seat in the Senate. Bolsonaros former environment minister, who quit last year amid an illegal logging probe, also finished among the top five vote-getters nationally for Congress. Bolsonaros party will be the biggest in both chambers, spelling trouble for Lulas agenda even if he is eventually elected. How to explain the result? One explanation is that Brazils postcard image as the free-wheeling land of samba and Carnivalnever quite accurateis becoming more out of date with each passing year. Thanks in part to the spread of Evangelical Christianity, which has expanded since 1980 from less than 10% of Brazils population to about a third today, a culturally conservative revival of sorts has swept the country. Some 70% of Brazilians oppose legalizing abortion or drugs, while pluralities also oppose gay marriage and favor religious instruction in schools. Another explanation is that a booming agribusiness sector championed by Bolsonaro has become one of the countrys only reliable economic motors, which is why Amazon deforestation was a virtual non-issue for most Brazilian voters in this election. Sundays results also point to an urban-rural divide, with voters in major cities supporting liberal or leftist candidates like Lula, while those in small cities and rural areas favor a traditional, nationalist approach. If all this sounds familiar to a U.S. audience, its no accident: Brazil has since 2019 hosted its own annual version of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the U.S.s marquee event for the right. Trump released a video the day prior to the election endorsing Bolsonaro, calling him one of the great presidents anywhere in the world. Read More: Exclusive: Brazils Most Popular President Returns From Political Exile With a Promise to Save the Nation Brazils political class and mainstream media have consistently underestimated the strength and staying power of this rightward shift. Many treated Bolsonaro as a kind of historical aberration brought about by fake news and a series of scandals in the 2010s that disgraced traditional parties (and sent Lula to jail for nearly two years, until the charges against him were later overturned). The countrys most influential polls on average gave Lula an advantage of 15 points heading into Sunday; the final margin was just five. In the wake of the result, pollsters are trying to figure out whether their methodology was flawed, there was a last-minute shift of undecided voters toward Bolsonaro, or whether, as in other countries, right-leaning voters have been hesitant to reveal their true intentions to institutions they believe are biased against them. Whichever the case, Lula and Bolsonaro are now locked in a final battle for votes that seems likely to leave deep, enduring scars. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has repeatedly questioned the integrity of Brazils electronic voting system and said his opponent will only win if there is fraud. If the final result of the runoff is close, many believe Bolsonaro will try to challenge the outcome, perhaps by calling on his supporters, which includes parts of the military and police forces, to support him in the streets. Others insist such fears are overblown, and that Brazils democratic institutions, painstakingly built after the last military dictatorship ended in 1985, will stand up to any challenge. Even if that proves to be true, one thing is clear: After the events of recent years, no one should be underestimating Bolsonaro and bolsonarismo any longer. PRAGUE (AP) The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have held talks in Prague in efforts to ease tensions between the two longtime adversaries. Armenia agreed to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement released early Friday, following a meeting on the margins of a European summit in the presence of the EU Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron. Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it is concerned, the statement said. Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers from both sides. The EU mission will start in October for a maximum of two months, with the aim to build confidence and contribute" to the border commissions that have been set earlier this year to address questions related to the delimitation of the border, the statement said. The ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. The move comes after the leaders of historic foes Turkey and Armenia on Thursday held their first face-to-face meeting since the two countries agreed to improve relations. The discussions have been held on the sidelines of a summit by the leaders of 44 countries to launch a European Political Community aimed at boosting security and economic prosperity across Europe. Barstow PD's school resource officer imposed a brief lockdown in Barstow High School and Barstow STEM Academy due to shots nearby Thursday morning. Barstow Police have arrested a man and woman for allegedly being the source of gunshots that prompted lockdowns Thursday morning at two local K-12 schools. The police department's school resource officer "called out shots fired near Barstow High School" and imposed a lockdown in both the high school and nearby Barstow STEM Academy at about 9 a.m. Thursday, Barstow PD said in a post on its Facebook page. Officers and detectives responded and identified "an adult female leaving in a green vehicle south on Mount Vernon [St.]," then stopped the vehicle and "detained both a male driver and a female passenger," per the post. "The initial investigation revealed the shots did not occur from the high school, but instead from across the street between the female and male during a domestic dispute," the department stated. More news: Kidnapped California family, including 8-month-old, found dead The schools remained in lockdown while officers processed the scene until about 10 a.m., when they returned to normal operations. The department said officers and school staff were available at the high school to answer any questions from parents Thursday morning. Barstow PD couldn't be immediately reached for further clarification on the identify of the man and woman who were arrested or the current status of their detainment. A photo posted by the department on Facebook showed police tape restricting the intersection of Mount Vernon and Mountain View St., presumably the scene of the arrest. Charlie McGee covers Californias High Desert for the Daily Press, focusing on the city of Barstow and its surrounding communities. He is also a Report for America corps member with The GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world. McGee may be reached at 760-955-5341 or cmcgee@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @bycharliemcgee. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow police arrest couple after shots near high school prompt lockdown COPPER MARKETS For years, the residents of Rouyn-Noranda, Que., a picturesque city of 42,000, some 630 kilometres northwest of Montreal, have contemplated the twin smokestacks that simultaneously nourish and poison their community. The Horne smelter is owned by Baar, Switzerland-based energy giant Glencore PLC, and is believed responsible for higher rates of lung cancer in the region. It also contributes to lower birth weights, as well as higher rates of diabetes and heart disease, a recent provincial health study showed. The plant emits 165 nanograms of arsenic per cubic metre, 55 times the provincial standard. Its an emotionally charged issued for residents, who often forget the smelter provides a critical natural resource in the green energy transition, said Jean-Francois Boulanger, professor in mineral engineering at the Institute of Research on Mines and the Environment at the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue. We shouldnt forget that copper is one of the cornerstones of the transition to a more electrified economy, he said, as its a key component of electric vehicles. Are the same things going to happen with lithium mines, graphite mines? What about all those materials required for that transition? As the shift away from fossil fuels progresses, the controversy in Rouyn-Noranda will likely play out in industrial hubs across the country. I think its just the beginning of a great clash between what our desire(s) for the energy transition are, and whats required in terms of material, said Boulanger. The Horne smelter is believed responsible for higher rates of lung cancer in the Rouyn-Noranda region of Quebec. Citizens in the area harbour a love-hate relationship with the plant, as the health of the community seems at odds with the health of the local economy, Boulanger said. You have people that are very adamant about the protection of the environment and peoples health and so forth, said Boulanger. But then you have the opposite view: We need to protect those jobs. Those are high paying jobs, and thats important too. If all of a sudden the 650-plus jobs were to disappear, then people would be concerned. So its a tough situation, and thats what leads to some animosity between people in the city these days, I would say. Story continues The divide was on full display this week, when voters opted to replace incumbent member of the National Assembly (MNA) and agricultural entrepreneur Emilise Thierren-Lessard with Daniel Bernard, a geological engineer and former mining executive, who stood for Premier Francois Legaults Coalition Avenir Quebec. He collected 12,975 votes, or 45.2 per cent of the total, compared with Lessard-Therriens 30.9 per cent, only slightly less than the total that earned her a victory in the previous election. Thierren-Lessard declined to comment for this article. That a city grappling with the deleterious health effects of pollution should elect a miner could be seen as paradoxical. In Rouyn-NorandaTemiscamingue the chickens voted for Colonel Sanders, tweeted Twitter Inc. user Yanik Crepeau. Bernard told Le Devoir last month that emissions from the smelter are localized, and arent spreading to the broader community. We have a public health problem that has to be solved by the Notre-Dame neighbourhood. But the rest of the city is safe, he said. Rouyn is not Chernobyl. However, Boulanger isnt so sure. He no longer lives near the smelter, but if the wind is blowing in a particular direction, he can taste the fumes. Its a bit of a burnt taste in your mouth, he said. A source of pride Lessard-Therrien may have seemed the obvious choice for a region at risk. She is a member of Quebec Solidaire, a relatively new socialist party founded in 2006, and has historically advocated for a steep reduction in the plants arsenic emissions. The solution is not to not talk about it, but to solve (the issue) once and for all, Lessard-Therrien told Le Devoir in September. The plant is playing in the sandbox that weve given it, and right now, that sandbox enables it to play at 33 times the Quebec norm, she said. Earlier this year, she and other Quebec Solidaire colleagues released the film Renouer, or Renew, a love letter to Quebecs nature and people. Renouer features landscapes of Quebec a lake, trees, a waterfall overlaid by the plucking of string instruments and the voices of unnamed Quebecers. Our government gives companies everything they want so that they stay here, said one man in the film. But at some point, everyones got to eat. If we go on like this, nothings going to be left for us. A photographer captures the vista in the south sector of Forillon National Park in Gaspesie, Que. In the end, the residents of Rouyn-Noranda went in a different direction. They replaced Thierren-Lessard with Bernard, who said he believes his training as an engineer will enable him to attack the problem head on. The fact that Im an engineer (means) Im going to understand some technical aspects, he said. When theyre talking about nanograms and thresholds those are all things I understand. Im good on that side. Since its inception in 1927, the smelter has been a source of both pride and dismay. A symbol of a bygone era, Horne is the last copper smelter in the country. Around the time the smelter was being built, president J. Y. Murdoch of the now-defunct Noranda Inc. said, This smelter will be a monument that either exemplifies our stupidity and recklessness, or our wisdom and foresight. In light of the health survey, citizens have mixed feelings, said Boulanger. The smelters union said last month that employees of the foundry had become the target of abuse, called baby killers and poisoners of pregnant women. We are not criminals, only workers, said union president Stephane Larente. A health crisis revealed In June, Quebecs Institute of Public Health reported the town had been overexposed to harmful chemicals such as arsenic and cadmium for decades, resulting in higher rates of lung cancer than the provincial average. When we got those results, that was the starter, Bernard said by phone on Oct. 6. Then people realized that the situation was worse than they had (ever) expected. The smelter is permitted to emit 100 nanograms of arsenic per cubic metre, compared to the provincial average of three nanograms per cubic metre. The issue isnt limited to Rouyn-Noranda; Canadians across the country are feeling the impacts of worsening air quality. According to Health Canada, deaths from air pollution amount to an average of 15,300 per year. The department puts the annual financial cost at $120 billion, the equivalent of six per cent of Canadas gross domestic product. Ontario and Quebec, Canadas most populous provinces, are disproportionately affected. Legault defended the Horne smelter during his recent election campaign, saying the results of the health inquiry werent all that bad. It depends on your definition of safety, Legault said in an interview with Montreal radio host Paul Arcand, adding that the health report was not as dramatic as some say. The future of the plant is in the hands of the residents, the premier said. Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legaultspeaks at a news conference in Saint-Francois on the Ile dOrleans. The residents of Rouyn-Noranda-Temiscamingue appear to have decided with the election of Bernard, who has held engineering positions at a number of companies, including Barrick Gold Corp. and Pershimco Resources Inc. You have to work with all the stakeholders, Bernard said. This is, I think, what was missing over the last few months, the last (few) years, he added. Im quite confident that if we all sit together, well find a resolution to that problem. Bernard said he would work with Glencore to reduce the arsenic cap to 15 nanograms per cubic metre from 100 nanograms per cubic metre over five years, which Glencore said was feasible. To this end, the company has said it will invest more than $500 million. This transformative project shows that our number one priority is to ensure our teams safety (and) security, as well as that of our neighbouring communities, said Claude Belanger, COO of Glencores North American copper assets, in a press release. The investments we plan will make the Horne Smelter one of the worlds lowest-emitting copper smelters. Myself and the team are fully committed to the future success of the Horne and the ongoing efforts to reduce emissions to ensure a performance that all stakeholders can trust and be proud of. Lessard-Therrien, on the other hand, wanted a more aggressive timeline: down to 15 nanograms by 2023, and then down to the provincial average of three nanograms, as soon as possible thereafter. Neither option is sufficient, said Boulanger. Sadly, a lot of the impacts that are being perceived now are due to the conditions around the year 2000, he said. Some of what Ive gathered from the public health report was that no matter how much emissions decrease now, it hardly changes anything for people in that area, because most of the harm is already done, to a large extent. The difference between the 15- and the three-nanogram benchmark is insignificant, Boulanger said. But it is, from a technical standpoint, attainable, he said. The plant plans to capture a lot more of the arsenic, and more effectively, than it does currently, by improving its nine existing dust collectors, improving the capture system and modernizing the smelters systems. Even if Glencore manages to decrease emissions, residents will still need to contend with the divisions within their city. Following the election, well have to live together and I fear this division within the population will leave scars, said Larente, the union president. Theres still quite a bit of work to do, to be honest, to bridge the gap between the two groups, Boulanger said. Because at the moment there is still quite a bit of restlessness in the air. Email: mcoulton@postmedia.com | Twitter: Listen to Down to Business for in-depth discussions and insights into the latest in Canadian business, available wherever you get your podcasts. Check out the latest episode below: Find out how much property is selling for in your neighborhood. Each week we compile local real estate records so you can find out what property is selling for in your neighborhood. Need more information about these sales? Check out each county's site: We also have a local database page with restaurant inspections, an unemployment tracker, river levels and more. HAMILTON COUNTY Information provided by Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes. Addyston 200 First St: Devout And Devoted Servants Property Solutions LLC to Aps Homebuyers LLC; $105,000 This house at 2515 Handasyde Court in Hyde Park was previously listed for $3,549,000. Amberley Village 7400 Willowbrook Ln: Whelan Kathleen L Tr to Buckley Kent & Angela; $850,000 Oakridge Dr: Whelan Kathleen L Tr to Buckley Kent & Angela; $850,000 Anderson Township 1011 Baytree Ct: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 1027 Alnetta Dr: Cornwell Michael T & Hildi E to Deocariza Venancio E & April Joy; $278,000 1080 Wittshire Ln Unit B: Hamilton Cynthia Lynn Tr to Riegle Nancy E; $185,000 1155 Holz Ave: Mason Mark A to Keys Adrianne M & Kemmes Jr; $249,000 1178 Brooke Ave: Hunter Lindsay C & Sean M Hunter to Malas Ashley R & Morgan F; $415,000 1598 Cohasset Dr: Bennett Stephan M & Julie A to Zaugg Erinn; $235,000 1733 Pinebluff Ln: Shearer Kelvin A & Tanya Mae Shearer to Harrell Gary @3; $287,900 2491 Royalview Ct: Stokley Melissa A to Luehrmann Daniel M & Cecilia C; $530,500 3350 Mt Carmel Rd: Smedley Tori & Ronald Jr to Richardson Kenneth R & Martha J; $237,000 6439 Sherman Ave: Myers Earl & Wanda to Strahm Michael & Alicia Varga; $205,000 7228 Deaconsbench Ct: Cunningham Geoffrey W to Hudson Sydney B & Corey M; $430,000 7271 Gungadin Dr: Ayers Robin M & Lindsey K to Elam Ashley & Jeffery; $286,000 7408 Bayswater Pl: Montanus F Michael & Catherine M to Detrick Emily C & Ryan E; $635,000 7814 Eglington Ct: Eshleman Anita to Mchone Johnny David; $380,000 7857 Asbury Hills Dr: Jackson Kristen Anne to Russell Jerome Paul & Amanda; $335,000 Story continues 791 Woodlyn Dr: Grisham Cynthia K to Murray Zachary; $160,000 8127 Cabinet Cr: Woltermann William B & Laura J to Tirba Alaeldin; $410,000 8129 Thicket Ln: Zuidema Michael A & Katlyn M to Dowd Amanda & Michael Jr; $395,000 814 Woodlyn Dr: Mcdermott Mary Katherine to Laabs Sarah A; $175,000 826 Woodlyn Dr: Freer Robert J Tr to Dalsanto Kimberly Nicole; $170,000 8396 Wycliffe Dr: Mcmurray Kevin N Tr & Frances M Tr to Francus Charles & Brittany; $710,000 854 Ackley Rd: White David W & Robin Adair Smith to Jones Kathi; $327,500 Blue Ash 4330 Villa Dr: Vasagam Bharath Manika & Rajeswari Jayavaradhan to Shen Barry; $134,000 4757 Cornell Rd: A&s Imports LLC to Therapyworks Cincinnati LLC; $99,000 5901 Donjoy Dr: Cavenaugh John D & Valerie to Greer Joshua & Monisha Thomas; $590,000 9252 Floral Ave: Kirby Homes LLC to Ament Constance; $162,000 9316 Old Plainfield Rd: Creekside Pointe LLC to Lovette Regina; $643,883 9392 Wynnecrest Dr: Mahoney 7 LLC to Kelley Brian; $352,500 9467 Wynnecrest Dr: Huitger Nicholas J & Eric M to Riney Property Holdings LLC; $300,000 9482 Blue Ash Rd: Schroeder Katherine A to Leavens James; $231,000 9811 Timbers Dr: Haq S Zubair Tr to Morley Erin; $235,000 Bond Hill 1101 Carolina Ave: Bere Musatya to Bere Tinashe; $212,000 1120 Towne St: Larkins William H & Tracy to Cincinnati Choice Properties LLC; $230,500 1217 Franklin Ave: Fallegur Homes LLC to Kbo Properties LLC; $275,000 1219 California Ave: Carpenter Anita to Summit Property Buyers LLC; $90,000 5323 Laconia Ave: Sfr3 000 LLC to Jeter Tiffany; $190,000 Business District 1150 Vine St: Calkins Jonathan to Marcano Miguel & Andreina; $280,000 318 Third St: Third Street Associates to 318 W 3rd St LLC; $500,000 400 Pike St: Fehr Frederick W Iv to Deore Garrett; $310,000 California 5001 Kellogg Ave: Barnes James R to Lucas Andrew C; $2,600 Carthage 138 Redeagle Wy: Williams Nora L to Alexander Anthony &; $218,000 23 Sixty-ninth St: Cookingham Lana M to Cookingham Grayson E; $110,000 7302 Fairpark Ave: Roe Lillian S to Seafan Reef Products Ltd; $40,000 Cheviot 3345 Alpine Pl: Schmitz Dolores R to Williams Patricia & Dwane; $92,500 3349 Alpine Pl: Schmitz Dolores R to Williams Patricia & Dwane; $92,500 3431 Alta Vista Ave: Burch Michael D & Jennifer M to Camarca Vincent M @4; $180,000 3844 Meyerfeld Ave: Boegehold Anna & Sean Wielusz to Pierman Cimarra; $210,000 3862 Taft Ave: Stephens Anthony W to Phillips Christopher G; $145,000 3907 Meyerfeld Ave: Ido Segev to Jansen Kyle; $73,500 3913 Trevor Ave: Stockhoff Shiloh to Herbers Jeffrey J &; $222,000 3950 Davis Ave: Gotham Kara A to Mcbee Kimberly A & Angelo J Cassaro; $165,000 3962 Ruth Ln: Schulz Lawrence R Estate Of to Jenkins Properties LLC; $140,000 Cleves 180 State Rd: M&m Property Contractors LLC to Stephens Anthony Jr; $189,900 207 Miami Ave: Village Of Cleves to Mih Holdings LLC; $34,400 24 Harrison Ave: Overbeck Philip Tr & Nan T Tr to Preston Branden Ray Sr; $195,000 55 Jackson Dell Ct: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 Clifton 4033 Egbert Ave: Bresnahan Aili to Roberts Tina Ann; $462,000 521 Martin Luther King Dr: Midwest Advisory Group LLC to Gari Manoj Reddy Kichaiah; $130,500 Egbert Ave: Bresnahan Aili to Roberts Tina Ann; $462,000 Colerain Township 10054 Manistee Wy: Westmark Properties LLC to Lesure Chauntelle; $169,800 10154 Season Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10163 Pippin Meadows Dr: Russi Julio Cesar & Maribel Sanchez to Seymour Tiffany Yvonne &; $217,000 10216 Snowflake Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10217 Snowflake Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10234 Menominee Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10249 Storm Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10383 Pippin Ln: Fall Elhadji B to Dia Mounta & Aissatou Ndiaye; $190,000 10680 Gloria Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10738 Invicta Cr: Platter Thomas F & Mary C to Harman Greg; $91,000 11344 Melissa Ct: Vihtelic Jessica to Lefke Mark E; $285,000 11830 Colerain Ave: Quatkemeyer Dennis B & Gina R to Collins Logan & Ryann Jean; $365,000 2358 Merriway Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 2518 Mariposa St: Boenning Richard to Salem Mariam; $145,000 2527 Roosevelt Ave: Uribe Mauricio Rios to Campbell Erroll Dwight Jr; $157,000 2577 Cranbrook Dr: Licht Robert B & Judith S Licht to Brock Resources Unlimited; $255,000 2625 Chesterhill Dr: Lammers Bethany M to Adwani Sommer & Connor Miller; $216,500 2777 Klondike Ct: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 2781 Countrypark Dr: Schlosser Jared to Bethel Joseph M; $245,000 2786 Overdale Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 2999 Montezuma Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 3000 Crest Rd: Elkilanis LLC The to Rich Katharine; $243,900 3081 Deshler Dr: Sfr3 050 LLC to Sturgeon Russell Lee Iv; $150,500 3100 Windsong Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 3224 Lapland Dr: Mertens Donald R & Deborah L to Egaro Investments Ltd; $90,000 3279 Lillwood Ln: Hauser Nicholas J & Carey L to Brown Stephanie R &; $194,900 3324 Lapland Dr: S & S Acquisitions LLC to Itodo Cornelius A; $126,500 3343 Compton Rd: Hayashi Inc to Kidd Brandy; $254,500 3352 Rocker Dr: Metz Trisha Elizabeth to Miller Jenna Rebecca; $246,500 3393 Niagara St: Zoe Rentals LLC to Giron Rita A & Erik R; $166,750 3450 Amberway Ct: Maloney Erika to Russ Claire C; $110,000 3450 Sunbury Ln: Ristov Goran & Ivana to Stamps Maurice; $155,000 3458 February Dr: Busker Sally A to Kates Dwayne; $180,000 3489 Amberway Ct: Redmond Avery to Keeling Terrie; $135,000 3628 Sweetwood Ct: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 3687 Galbraith Rd: Mehlman Martha to Grear Jessica; $158,000 3693 Galbraith Rd: Heeg Mildred L to Smith Kermit R II & Kathy Verona Smith; $150,000 4245 Miamitrail Ln: Landeen David S & Cathy R to Boring Patricia & Richard Hansen Ii; $450,000 5100042030 Snowflake Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 5152 Pebblevalley Dr: Reddy Thomas M Tr & Mary S Tr to Taylor Kyle W & Alexandrea K; $350,000 5495 Hanley Rd: Smith Frederick E Jr to Birkmeyer Emily Anne & Chris; $264,900 5681 Desertgold Dr: Goedde Patrick E & Angela K Tr to Fry Kelsey; $350,000 6645 Newbridge Dr: Mergy Frederick Eugene Iii Tr & Marsha Lee Tr to Oaks Property Group LLC; $110,000 6807 Hillary Dr: Koehler Jennifer to Manalili Mia Ann D; $148,250 7135 Hunters Ridge Ln: Maronda Homes Of Cincinnati LLC to Ndjoki Serge Auguste Monika; $303,745 7187 Hunters Ridge Ln: Maronda Homes Of Cincinnati LLC to Yett Tajuana R; $275,655 8268 Firshade Te: Wilson Kevin S to Home Point Financial Corporation; $91,000 8581 Livingston Rd: Hasenzahl Erik M to Burns Carrie & Timothy; $230,000 8743 Carrousel Park Cr: Hartmann Robert J Jr Tr & Dorothy A Huebener Tr to Sawyer David & Carol; $140,000 8988 Tripoli Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 9284 Burgess Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 9310 Comstock Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 9749 Manhattan Dr: Allen Jerry L & Kathy R to Mccully Michael; $57,000 9991 Voyager Ln: Kanani Samir Tr & Gopi Kanani Patel Tr to Phillips Deborah A; $380,000 Daybreak Dr: Fischer Single Family Homes Iv LLC to Muskovin Christopher Joel; $583,422 Kemper Rd: Pleasant Run Car Wash LLC to Gungo Enterprises LLC; $400,000 College Hill 1135 Wilmont Ct: Rothwell Tyler W to Rodriguez Amanda Jade; $163,000 5300 Hamilton Ave: Siereveld Clara Maurine to Turner Toni L; $85,000 5784 Lantana Ave: As Capital LLC to 242housing LLC; $155,000 6369 Heitzler Ave: Powell Mary Kay to Anderson Lora Lynn; $207,000 6477 Devonwood Dr: Oaks Property Group LLC to 3f Inc; $175,000 6580 Oak Knoll Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 Columbia Township 6533 Blue Ridge Ave: Kampmann William & Kathryn to Treutel Clare Harshey & William; $395,000 6734 Murray Ave: Wendell Anne L & Robert to Wendall Robert J &; $86,600 6910 Roe St: Babbitt Edward J & Maureen B to Boyles Carson Robert & Cindy; $254,000 6929 Hurd Ave: Stachler Thomas Joseph to Eskstein Britney E Hashemi &; $335,000 7034 Cambridge Ave: Oaks Property Group LLC to Aux Funding LLC; $164,250 Columbia Tusculum 3450 Golden Ave: Ellis Shelby to Essex Mark R; $340,000 4140 Eastern Ave: Secen Mark to Ohio Valley Land Development LLC; $44,000 441 Stanley Ave: Letts Justin & Jenna Burg to Cuprill Wesley; $412,000 Corryville 145 Louis Ave: Atkinson Andre T & Jiyong Kim to Cincinnati Zoo Properties LLC; $150,000 Crosby Township 6510 River Rd: Williams Ronald to Weiss Mackenzie; $124,900 Deer Park 3910 Oleary Ave: Geier Katherine Jayne to Vilchez Haydee Maria Castillo; $85,000 4023 St Johns Te: Rein Donald A @ 4 to Rein Donald A & Melissa A; $47,980 4109 Orchard Ln: Herbert Kara K & Clay to Farrell Thomas O @3; $264,200 4181 Glenway Ave: Wright Sue & Patrick to Cahill Cristyn D & Sean P; $247,000 4208 Hegner Ave: Meyer Henry R @4 to Rein Donald A & Melissa; $38,025 4302 Webster Ave: Staubach Tiffany to Frick Jeremiah; $199,000 4422 Duneden Ave: Gjb to Geoppinger Bryan Thomas &; $280,000 7231 Delaware Ave: Brovey Susan C to Edelman Holdings LLC; $115,000 Delhi Township 1216 Anderson Ferry Rd: Carroll John J Tr to Anderson Ferry Engineering Inc; $195,000 208 Greenwell Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 253 Greenwell Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 266 Halidonhill Ln: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 4418 St Dominic Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 508 Morrvue Dr: Wallace Kevin J to Brock Jasmine; $165,000 529 Pedretti Ave: Mckenzie Jake D to Abdellaoui Janine Marie; $155,000 5291 Cleves Warsaw Pk: Mattan Michael F to Pml Investment Real Estate LLC; $30,000 5344 Orangelawn Dr: Geak Properties LLC to Collett Benjamin Michael & Sydney Marie Budke; $211,000 5619 Victoryview Ln: Geiger Marilyn A to Schoenfeld Stephanie; $240,000 5649 Alomar Dr: Barnhart Owen R to Harbour Anthony; $142,770 635 Covedale Ave: Lane Connie M to Espelage Spencer C; $160,000 6537 Simon Dr: Rebholz Mark & Brenda to Coleman Lonnie C Jr & Kelly Ann; $325,000 722 Ivyhill Dr: Papathanasiou Kostas & Tammy to Illing Patrick James Ii; $220,000 799 Serben Dr: Zachritz William A & Susan A to Mch Sfr Poperty Owner 1b LLC; $182,500 Heather Rdg: Robert C Rhein Interests Inc to The Drees Company; $870,000 East End 1144 Riverside Dr: Haines Michael T to Lessis Gary; $760,000 900 Adams Crossing: Kelley Brian P & Michelle W to Torstrick Stephen R Tr; $607,000 903 Adams Crossing: Lessis Gary P to May Melisse N; $510,000 East Price Hill 1406 Beech Ave: Hinton Richard to Rivera Jacob Matthew; $128,000 3636 Eighth St: Mohr Justin to Behm Holdings LLC; $375,000 3906 Liberty St: Williamson Elizabeth Ann to Randall Zachary Parker; $65,000 736 Mcpherson Ave: Ester LLC to Yolo Investments LLC; $65,500 757 Wells St: Ester LLC to Yolo Investments LLC; $65,500 778 Summit Ave: Margprop2 Of Ohio LLC to Rueter Danielle Alexander &; $240,000 810 Matson Pl: Stautberg Robert J Sr Tr to Green Nancy M Tr; $205,000 814 Summit Ave: Wayne Street LLC to Gonzales Theresa L; $309,900 East Walnut Hills 1704 Mcmillan Ave: Cassin Iv John W & Alison M to Pearson David & Rachel; $535,000 2702 Cleinview Ave: Chester Victoria L to Durham Samuel Freeman & Lisa B Smale; $590,000 Elmwood Place 311 Beech St: Caudill Christina L to Bernhardt Zachary T; $97,500 Evanston 1932 Fairfax Ave: Reynolds Steve to Williams Mary Kathryn & David Slater Williams; $265,000 1948 Hewitt Ave: Hamilton Erin & Laray to Akers Pamela; $329,000 1960 Kinney Ave: Kfj Realty Group to Prevaloir Properties LLC; $125,000 2031 Hewitt Ave: Hill Vision Properties LLC to Kunkemoeller Sean Daniel @ 4; $170,000 3012 Paul St: Northfield Construction LLC to Manowar LLC; $357,500 3012 Paul St: Northfield Constructions LLC to Northfield Construction LLC; $50,000 3014 Paul St: Dula Samuel J Jr @6 to Northfield Constructions LLC; $100,000 3014 Paul St: Northfield Construction LLC to Manowar LLC; $357,500 3014 Paul St: Northfield Constructions LLC to Northfield Construction LLC; $50,000 3129 Harvard Ave: Springhtly Properties LLC to Lee David; $169,900 3472 Wabash Ave: Beach Alexander & Kyla to Slomiany Nicole Jayne &; $280,000 3474 Evanston Ave: Udo Akang Mary to Jones Kara Nancy Adrienne; $178,000 3507 Wabash Ave: Vision Property Group LLC to Stuart Rhonda; $130,000 Evendale 3304 Plateau Pl: Balzer Susan E & Joseph J to Dearwester Sandra @4; $300,000 9771 Otterbein Rd: Thoms Sean Jason Lee & Kristine Marie Metz to Thomas Sean; $77,785 Fairfax 5600 Wooster Pk: Wooster Pike Investments LLC to Jgh Holdings LLC; $1,250,000 Forest Park 11425 Lincolnshire Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 11460 Lyncross Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 11472 Ivyrock Ct: Pitman April R to De Oca Garcia Filadelfo Montes; $190,000 11649 Kenn Rd: Do Tran Nguyen to Tycoon Investment Group Inc; $135,000 11757 Elkwood Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 11758 Lassiter Dr: Tamang Meena & Uttam to Cates Evan; $205,000 1351 Waycross Rd: Maronda Homes Of Cincinnati LLC to Jarman Antonio Lamont & Kimtica; $334,685 1417 Kingsbury Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 1809 Lincrest Dr: Knoll Sarah E to Amy's Cleaning Plus LLC; $97,000 967 Holderness Ln: Alvarado Oscar Sanchez to Ba Aminata; $265,000 994 Harrogate Ct: Rosenberg Hugh H Tr & Joan C Tr to Briskman Real Estate LLC; $100,000 Glendale 970 Congress Ave: Hailstones Barbara A to Alford Jennifer G; $145,000 Golf Manor 2528 Bremont Ave: Mewborn Laverne to Robinson Rafael; $80,000 Green Township 2009 Faywood Ave: Leonard John James & Brittany Marie Huff to Puckett Morgan Nicole & Ashley Lynn Adams; $176,100 2156 Townhill Dr: Rutherford Robert H Sr to Weiner Jay; $140,000 2232 Sylved Ln: Massong Bryan J to Rega Rock Alan; $168,900 2843 Countrylake Dr: Westendorf Robert D to Leonard John & Brittany; $345,000 3083 Neisel Ave: Baker Jeffrey to Messmer Abigail J & Jacob Allen; $215,000 3329 Bellehaven Ct: Pohlmeyer Joan A to Muse Sandra; $195,000 3394 Algus Ln: Wolf Mary Jo to Caruso Timothy S & Melissa; $325,000 3537 Locust Ln: Keethler Brian R & Tracy to Strickrod Melissa; $165,000 3937 School Section Rd: Maret Leslie L to Habtyes Ketema; $80,000 4221 Marcrest Dr: Todd Gayle A to Heinlen Kent Michael &; $100,000 4223 Marcrest Dr: Todd Gayle A to Heinlen Kent Michael &; $100,000 4402 Pinecroft Dr: Kessler Valerie & Kenneth to Sorrell Megan L; $225,000 5433 Bluesky Dr: Emunah Realty LLC to Noeth Jessica; $115,000 5636 Biscayne Ave: Burger Katherine M & Brian S Pohlmeyer to Jam Wolfe Rentals LLC; $110,000 5841 West Fork Rd: J L A Homes LLC to Fellows Justin; $285,000 6110 Daleview Rd: Anderson Cynthia S to Boody Rachel E & Blake; $250,000 6120 Ramblingridge Dr: Buschle Thomas E & Gayle A to Suer Annette E & Gregory J; $270,000 6408 West Fork Rd: Wilson Woody to Gunn Nathan A & Kaylan N; $162,500 6730 Jennifer Lynn Dr: Kozlowski William J & Erin K to 6730 Jennifer Lynn LLC; $440,000 6772 Kelseys Oak Ct: Fams2 LLC to Hanania Benjamin; $94,000 6784 Harrison Ave: Charls Susan M Tr to Kma Condo LLC; $82,000 6879 Menz Ln: Wood Florence Ellen T to Settlemoir Jennifer; $348,500 Greenhills 190 Farragut Rd: Betzold Jennifer to Perez Sylvia; $180,000 50 Ireland Ave: Galloway Carmen to Utter Edward; $132,000 Harrison 10168 West Rd: Russell Jared Allen & Elizabeth Ann Moeller to Lake Brandon & Melody Montag; $210,000 10535 Winding Wy: Preferred Property Investments Inc to Schaber Anne Lauren & Benjamin John Eversole; $240,000 10736 Carolina Pines Dr: Creech Michael W to Moore Debra E & Joseph J; $405,000 1121 Stone Dr: Jones-maier Patricia K & Anthony Maier to Patel Rohit & Maulik; $135,000 1255 Cavanaugh Ln: Kleinholz Milton F to Rebholz Mark R & Brenda S; $324,000 137 Timepiece Ln: Morsch David & Ali to Turner Connie S; $190,500 143 Timepiece Ln: Cohen Dea F to Salyers Jerome L &; $230,000 1622 Whitewater Trails Bv: Welsh Development Company Inc to Nvr Inc; $73,541 204 George Lewis Ct: Dfe Investments LLC to Honerlaw Matthew & Lauren; $148,000 550 State St: Wiley Paul Tr & Jeffrey Riggs Tr to Danne L Hollis Trust; $145,000 9869 Dry Fork Rd: Ecklar Austin K & Emily P Hutchinson to Andaverde Sandra; $325,000 Harrison Township 9140 Flintwood Dr: Fogle Ryan M & Jennifer M to Dowdell Brian & Emily; $365,000 9150 Dry Fork Rd: Fogle Ryan M & Jennifer M to Dowdell Brian & Emily; $365,000 Hartwell 8373 Wiswell Ave: Wells Cindy R & Sherrill W to Nopride Ventures LLC; $100,000 Hyde Park 2378 Madison Rd: Smith Madeline L to Romer Chris & Deema; $128,544 2444 Madison Rd: Chapman Laura H to Schwartz Arnold Dr & Inna; $289,000 2540 Grandin View Ln: Schrand Karri & Jeff to Tonges Richard A; $600,000 2541 Erie Ave: Dailey Keith G & Katie E to Carroll Anne Katelyn &; $1,150,000 2626 Handasyde Ave: Hendriksen Christopher Budde Tr to Dailey Katie E & Keith; $1,765,000 3 Madison Ln: Bridges Alina & Claude M to Witzeman Michael; $1,250,000 3470 Holly Ave: Grammas Nicholas P & Katherine P to Miazga Matt & Victoria; $1,290,000 3580 Edwards Rd: Goode Joshua L & Aemelita L to Ohler James; $310,000 3617 Marburg Ave: Coyle Kristin E & Colin E Rogers to Topp Casey; $567,000 Indian Hill 5450 Hobbit Rd: Winter Sarah to Winter Steve A; $1,000,000 6185 Miami Rd: Folke Brian J to Sudbrack Karrie A; $1,200,000 Hobbit Rd: Winter Sarah to Winter Steve A; $1,000,000 Kennedy Heights 3531 Lumford Pl: Watson Mildred L to Fisk Dave & Tammy; $141,500 3543 Amberacres Dr: Wall Kathy J to Barrett Catherine; $180,000 6319 Coleridge Ave: Davis Karen L to As Capital LLC; $60,000 Linwood 3640 Russell Ave: Abanto Bruno Iv to Jaeb Karah Marie & Brennen Bradley; $350,000 5084 Wooster Pk: Little Miami Real Estate And Investment Corp to Neely Amanda & Michael Brandon; $190,000 Lockland 216 Central Ave: Jostworth Teresa & Carolyn Bowling to Boedekker Tim @3; $36,000 431 Arlington Ave: Johnson Ronald E & Dimple S to Spence Laura Ann; $135,500 Loveland 130 Shoemaker Dr: Kurth Daniel A Jr & Sandra to Burwinkel James E & Samantha A Murdock; $435,000 1719 Wilmington Dr: Fuchs Cory H & Jamie M to Golliher Brittany R; $330,000 218 Oneida Dr: Fiehrer Joshua D to A3t Capital Partners LLC; $120,000 3015 Stratford Ct: Villavicencio Irina E to Traboulsi Ashraf Ashraf & Mamoun; $200,000 710 Carrington Pl: Marr Thomas to Sellers Dalton; $97,990 Lower Price Hill 701 State Ave: Brenner & Jansen Properties Inc to Cannon Bryan; $4,900 Madeira 6783 Woodland Reserve Ct: Dealarcon Alessandro & Katie to Labadini Robert C Jr & Jennifer A; $1,100,000 6832 Meadowdale Cr: Patterson Joseph A Tr & Sarah J Luzietti Tr to Stimson Drake D; $407,400 7279 Euclid Ave: Cross Angela L to Ellison Wayne Chris; $350,000 7312 Ridgestone Dr: Darwazeh Ghaleb & Maha Alkilani to Schuh Matthew & Meredith; $1,350,000 7320 Juler Ave: Jones Brandon K & Amy J Rhodenbaugh to Foster Duncan &; $380,000 7412 Juler Ave: Moderwell Luke C & Anna K to Burns Andrew & Kelly; $400,000 7583 Galbraith Rd: Christiansen Janette to Holliday Kelley J @3; $300,000 7822 Mapleleaf Dr: Apd Capital Associates LLC to Gardner Brittany; $445,000 Madisonville 3726 Anioton Ct: Johnson Theodore to Oaks Property Group LLC; $98,000 4206 Whetsel Ave: Hayden Cash to Aux Funding LLC; $415,000 4211 Whetsel Ave: Hayden Cash to Aux Funding LLC; $415,000 5315 Ravenna St: Open House Homes LLC to Bmf Homes LLC; $50,000 5343 Weltner St: Aprieto Properties LLC to Rohrbacher Clayton I &; $175,000 5433 Whetsel Ave: Diehl Robert A to Clark Thomas Allen Jr & Glynis F; $305,000 6130 Prentice St: Dove Matthew & Rachael Montgomery to Seal John Turner; $252,000 6620 Palmetto St: Fiedler Matthew M & Morgan E Jennings to Bancroft Ryan & Stephanie Spitzig; $235,000 6632 Roe St: Burnett Group LLC to Kunzi Michael S; $175,200 6718 Bramble Ave: Hardin Emily C to 6718 Bramble Avenue LLC; $243,500 6724 Windward Ave: Smith Albert L to Rebuilt Realty; $142,000 Mariemont 3820 Indianview Ave: Mackey Dermot O & Amanda R to Zerbe Harry L & Julie A; $675,000 3942 Miami Rd: Mccormick Johanna B to Mcmurray Kevin N Tr & Frances M Tr; $902,500 Miami Township 4495 St Cloud Wy: Stanton Angela Marie & Lester Glenn Jr to Sillies Kenneth J & Renee A; $489,000 7465 Deer Run Ln: Peters Timothy W Tr & Diana G Tr to Jones Zachary & Aurora; $480,000 7547 Fairwayglen Dr: Holstrom Philip W Tr & Lisa A Tr to Lucas Sarah E & Mark R; $490,000 9888 Brower Rd: Bleile Adam Boyd to Reagan Christopher R; $139,900 Bremen Pass: Drees Company The to Neurohr Nick & Jessica Leona; $562,637 Montgomery 10080 Zig Zag Rd: Cv Properties Solutions LLC to White Tricia & John; $465,000 10341 Buxton Ln: Classic Living Homes to Kurtz Steven D & Doris L; $350,000 10555 Montgomery Rd: Maggie Real Estate LLC to Patel Richa S; $278,999 Mount Adams 1230 Louden St: Wyant John H to Barton Deborah; $385,000 Mount Airy 2325 Whitewood Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 2517 Airy Ct: Schmitz William A Tr & Shirley M Tr to Westmark Properties; $110,100 5848 Pameleen Ct: Hill Demetrius Winslow to Westmark Properties LLC; $155,000 Mount Auburn 2205 Burnet Ave: Brown Nicholas to Martin John Bruce; $279,900 Mount Healthy 1439 Evencrest Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 1544 Adams Rd: Trinity Investment Solutions LLC to Milton Theresa Lashawona & Donald; $152,000 7928 Rambler Pl: Patterson Corazon P to Thompson Demico; $178,000 Mount Lookout 1149 Herschel Ave: Mollgaard Thomas B & Max A to Zalla Caroline & Robert Maher; $405,000 1154 Beverly Hill Dr: Stapleton Briena M & Richard Hall to Kbm Group LLC; $725,000 1310 Park Ridge Pl: Kilfoil Timothy & Tracy to Massi Megan Marie & Andrew Richard Schneider; $697,600 3153 Niles St: Wittekind Thomas P & Juanita M to Morgan Ashley & Eric; $550,000 3181 Linwood Ave: S & S Realty Associates LLC to Myha Keith Enterprises LLC; $2,000,000 3510 Principio Ave: Wilkes Alexander N & Angela P Co-tr to Hobson James Dewitt; $1,260,000 3530 Linwood Ave: Flannery Erin E & Joshua R Wolfer to Urban Investors Mt Lookout LLC; $282,000 3572 Grandin Rd: Bell Kevin Thomas to Barnett Rebecca; $241,000 Mount Washington 1430 Meadowbright Ln: Mccalla Patricia K to Lsi Ventures LLC; $145,000 1469 Meadowbright Ln: Fitzgerald Patrick to Kahsar Tyler & Kelley Hooven; $285,000 2239 Sussex Ave: Kahle Suzanne M to Seidel Erin Maureen; $350,000 2489 Walnutview Ct: Wiseman Philip Marshall & Heather B to Wittekind Thomas P & Juanita M; $340,000 5574 Wasigo Dr: Sansone Fred P & Linda E to Favro Gianna; $275,000 5980 Wayside Ct: York Deron A to Turner Mary & Gerald; $180,000 6560 Graf Dr: Whitney Donald G to Vb Six LLC; $98,400 6561 Graf Dr: Ralston Harry R & Mary Linda to Ziemak Geoffrey; $178,000 6737 Whitehall Ave: Shaffer Julianna J @3 to Hancock Mason Phillip; $245,000 Newtown 6913 Pecos Dr: Mcmilllan Justin M & Amy L to 6913 Pecos Investment LLC; $120,000 7189 English Dr: Wang Li to Thomas David Ethan & Marilyn Foster Osbourne; $177,000 North Avondale 3900 Rose Hill Ave: Steele Robert Clay & Vanessa Licea to Surratt Amanda & Christopher K; $310,000 3972 Warwick Ave: Fogt Alex & Elise Johnson to Kennedy Aric M & Brianne M Baranowski; $300,000 3973 Lowry Ave: Craftsman Properties LLC to Rehab Holdings 1 LLC; $150,000 3982 Ardmore Ave: Pike Laurie to Spann William Ben Iv & Cassidy N Cosway; $324,000 North Bend 117 Symmes Ave: Bernhardt Kelly to Raisor Douglas Wayne; $175,000 North College Hill 1270 Prospect Pl: Kennedy Lakita M to Jkv Workforce I LLC; $150,000 2040 Sundale Ave: Leytze Joseph to Vb One LLC; $126,100 5 Southridge Ln: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 6410 Savannah Ave: Pero Anthony S to Rf Global LLC; $55,000 6509 Meis Ave: Andrews La Shan M to Hendizadeh Adam & Bailey E; $200,000 6536 Meis Ave: Real Equity Oh LLC to Bulldog Assets LLC; $85,000 6536 Meis Ave: Roberson Michael E to Real Equity Oh LLC; $65,000 6603 Betts Ave: Smitler Ltd to Staudigel Michael & Judy; $77,000 7114 La Boiteaux Ave: Huckleby Clarence B Jr to Penn Walter Jr; $135,000 North Fairmount 1620 Denham St: Benson Earnest L to Pereznegron Ignacio; $41,000 1622 Denham St: Benson Earnest L to Pereznegron Ignacio; $41,000 Northside 1552 Lingo St: Alrey Investments LLC to Self Made Reg LLC; $137,000 4131 Chambers St: 9322 7346 Quebec Inc to Muldrow Kenneth Shawn Tr; $175,000 4162 Chambers St: Mcintosh Ben R to Northfield Construction LLC; $65,350 4162 Chambers St: Northfield Construction LLC to Fbn Holdings LLC; $89,900 4355 Kirby Ave: Rjc Real Estate Investments III LLC to Gingko Leaf LLC; $4,000 4643 Hamilton Ave: Dolan Ross P & Laura B to Hutslar Jeremy & Sara; $260,000 Norwood 1906 Hopkins Ave: Underwood Sandra J to Refinished Homes LLC; $110,000 2315 Highland Ave: Macdin Ii Properties LLC to Abraham Carly & Richard; $143,900 3827 Hazel Ave: Thurman Benton & Brenda to Redmon Jeremy B & Chasity; $278,000 3919 Jefferson Ave: Posner Shmuel & Chaya to Sluder Kevin Dale Ii & Ashley; $332,000 3961 Avilla Pl: Fitzgerald Colman W to Davis Jennifer E; $176,500 4523 Smith Rd: Forsee Charlene M Kelly A Sullivan to Fanthorp Walter & Karrie Ann Tracy; $225,000 5200 Section Ave: Duval Development LLC to Potter Teresa; $138,000 5220 Globe Ave: Bittner Andrew & Anthony Losekamp to Cole Kacey Loren; $248,000 5238 Rolston Ave: Lovins Betty J to M A C Group Realty LLC; $48,000 5349 Carthage Ave: Kolaskey Josef W & Rachel M to Ramsey Montana; $180,000 5411 Moundcrest Dr: Murphy Lisa D to Stoehr Cheryl; $224,000 5427 Moundcrest Dr: Ward Stuart & Emily M to Th Property Owner I LLC; $200,000 5721 Warren Ave: Sfr3 040 LLC to Price John W & Heather N; $170,000 Oakley 2861 Markbreit Ave: Otts Sarah L & Mitchell R to Webb Stefan J &; $367,000 3319 Ameliamont Ave: Mary Catherine Morley & Revocable Trust to Henties Bridgett Baez; $290,000 3445 Oak Ln: Morris Mackenzie & Natalie Joseph to Torres Mariah; $310,000 3818 Brotherton Rd: Busemeyer Kathleen M to Janszen Dylan C; $199,000 3942 Edwards Rd: Pregnancy Center East Inc to Bdays Ohio LLC; $595,000 3944 Edwards Rd: Pregnancy Center East Inc to Bdays Ohio LLC; $595,000 5039 Eastwood Cr: Stephens Jim Coleman & Kristin Cavallaro to Johnson Jack S & Emilie; $330,600 Over-the-Rhine 1214 Vine St: Kephart Austin M & Chesten F Countryman to Valentine Kenneth Wayne; $437,000 131 Fifteenth St: Tyson Jason to Buchanan Kyle L Emilie R Kuyat; $402,000 1410 Main St: Corso Lauren E & Michael E Hauss to Calderon Paola Peraza; $240,000 1501 Vine St: Dhar Vikrom K to Cipolla Victor S; $265,000 1823 Elm St: Allen David W to Guillory Tamara Evette; $400,000 34 Fourteenth St: Herrild Alexander O to Weir Chandler; $310,000 Pleasant Ridge 2821 Cortelyou Pl: Hts Properties LLC to Huffman Joseph & Marissa; $560,000 2950 Cortelyou Pl: Spoerl Stephanie Anne to Metzger Joseph Siemering; $250,000 3125 Mapleleaf Ave: Gutmann Anne K Tr to Kurz Richard; $220,000 3126 Carpathia Ave: Gutmann Anne K Tr to Kurz Richard; $220,000 3243 Woodford Rd: Lee Patricia to Mcatee Kathleen Lauren & Justin Richard; $215,000 6316 Kincaid Rd: Willig Peter J & Maria Paulina to Herrin Michael; $400,000 Reading 105 North St: Elliott Nathan C to 105 E North LLC; $130,000 1150 Oldwick Dr: Derosa Jacob P to Profitt Rodney Chad &; $307,000 1240 Carolann Ln: Vandeneynden Irene M to Young Roger & Alana; $208,500 1311 Third St: Burkel Tami & David Schooler to Rieman Katheine Marie; $177,900 1317 Fuhrman Rd: Rihm Marilyn J to Necamp Julia Marie; $152,000 1516 Riesenberg Ave: Petzold Nancy L & Dozier Bruce C to Rack Bonnie; $118,500 617 Maple Dr: Wade Michael T to Bautista Emily Renee & Joan Bautista Martinez; $227,500 Sayler Park 193 Richardson Pl: Maurer James M Tr to Treanor Kay K; $212,000 195 Richardson Pl: Maurer James M Tr to Treanor Kay K; $212,000 197 Richardson Pl: Maurer James M Tr to Treanor Kay K; $212,000 6512 Parkland Ave: Cipriani John F Jr to Barkley Devin; $80,000 6534 Parkland Ave: Cipriani John F Jr to Milton Reine A & David H Humpries; $65,000 6720 Parkland Ave: Carriger Ethan M & Megan A to Freedom Mortgage Corporation; $94,000 7043 Gracely Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 Sharonville 10510 Robindale Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 10573 Lemarie Dr: Dedman Bradley to Haferkamp Jesse A & Tabitha L; $212,000 10807 Lupine Dr: Johnson Floyd Eugene to Zoldy Jason; $129,000 11170 Macar Dr: J A L to Davidson Deborah C & Johnathan M; $211,000 11734 Lebanon Rd: 42 Touchless Bubbles LLC to Slate Ridge Holdings LLC; $1,500,000 11740 Lebanon Rd: 42 Touchless Bubbles LLC to Slate Ridge Holdings LLC; $1,500,000 1481 Fawnvista Ln: Nolan Christopher A to Coboda LLC; $142,000 2343 Sharon Rd: Tri State Foods LLC to The Anytime Chef LLC; $650,000 3507 Beekley Woods Dr: Graham Jacqueline A Tr to Stamper Danielle Caudel &; $535,555 4103 Benkert Dr: Haubrich John A & Kathleen to Clark James; $436,000 4169 Cornell Rd: Hamm Lowell to Anderson Robert W; $315,000 Lebanon Rd: 42 Touchless Bubbles LLC to Slate Ridge Holdings LLC; $1,500,000 Lebanon Rd: Soras Sharon Woods Collisio & Service LLC to Sutter Gregory C; $8,555 Silverton 3697 Section Rd: Smith Quinn Michael to Hardt Allison N & Rebecca M; $348,000 3799 Broadlawn Cr: Hardval Jordan L to Iocono Lauren & Roth Schiefer; $237,500 South Cumminsville 3946 Tappan Ave: Chytirio Properties LLC to Frantz Mathew J; $5,000 Tappan Ave: Chytirio Properties LLC to Frantz Mathew J; $5,000 South Fairmount 1809 Fairmount Ave: Smith Mildred A to Frantz Mathew; $14,000 1811 Fairmount Ave: Smith Mildred A to Frantz Mathew; $14,000 Spring Grove Village 4961 Winton Ridge Ln: Croucher Joyce D Tr to Nelson Adam & Melanie; $258,000 768 Kings Run Dr: Croucher Joyce D Tr to Nelson Adam & Melanie; $258,000 780 Kings Run Dr: Croucher Joyce D Tr to Nelson Adam & Melanie; $258,000 Kings Run Dr: Croucher Joyce D Tr to Nelson Adam & Melanie; $258,000 Springdale 1020 Terrytown Ct: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 11825 Neuss Ave: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 11833 Lawnview Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 11835 Van Cleve Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 1193 Wainwright Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 595 Lafayette Ave: Acosta Jose Luis P to Ramirez Aida Roblero; $205,000 796 Ledro St: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 830 Clearfield Ln: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 905 Yorkhaven Rd: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 Springfield Township 1058 Hempstead Dr: Lets Invest Management Group LLC to Patrick Natalia; $182,000 1070 Mckelvey Rd: Chaney Allison D to Thomasson Sally; $260,000 10929 Crystalhill Ct: Tallarigo Agnes G to Vb Six LLC; $114,101 11821 Mill Rd: Smith Kermit R Ii to Barnett Sydney Anne; $224,000 1277 Aldrich Ave: Hoppenstein Realty Inc to Smith Eugene; $55,000 1675 Fellsmere Ln: Cole Petion & Lucienne to Morisset Ricardo D & Carolle Innocent; $270,000 1897 Springdale Rd: White Jeffrey W & Lori A to Lung Hunter David; $197,000 1933 Mistyhill Dr: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 1975 Bluehill Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 2009 Mistyhill Dr: Bryant Raymond to Vb Six LLC; $122,600 2060 Roosevelt Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 2386 Woodbluff Ct: Bell Blake S to Hines Shani; $243,000 7564 Edgemont Rd: Edelman Holdings LLC to Cook Tarin Jade &; $176,000 795 North Bend Rd: Avm Investments Inc to Johnson Gregory; $205,000 8051 May St: Ajanel Ernesto M Hernandez to Garcia Cesar Hernandez; $100,000 8379 Newbury St: Henderson Ronda to Greiwe Charles H & Linda E; $150,000 8421 Mayfair St: Thomsen Jeremy Michael & Michael Anthony to Walker Graham J; $182,000 8745 Mockingbird Ln: Pn Rental I LLC to Vb Six LLC; $3,379,088 8819 Grenada Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 8834 Fontainebleau Te: Taylor Brian L & Chavonne to Smith Helen A; $242,000 9081 MiLLCliff Dr: Sabato Ralph Mose & Angela Sabato Paola Tr to Kadariya Prayash & Roshan Khadka; $165,000 9084 Arrowhead Ct: Serdyuk Oleg to Ogden Elise & Leopold Martini; $200,000 9153 Cherry Blossom Ln: Sharpshair Kenneth Mark to Smith Aurdry Sherron; $245,000 9367 Stoneybrooke: Baker G Joyce Tr to Schwandner Daniel M; $255,000 9554 Tanbark Ct: Swift Steven C & Pamela J to Bryant Derrick & Marlene; $173,000 St. Bernard 64 Mitchell Ave: The Big Saint Bernard LLC to Ladwig Abbigail; $350,000 Sycamore Township 12172 Fourth Ave: Conrex Master LLC to Vb Six LLC; $5,835,990 4219 Kugler Mill Rd: Reed James R & Theresa L to Reed Carla & Lonnie Paul; $221,000 4672 Happiness Wy: Ostmann David M to Dowdle Paul & Rachel Senefeld-naber; $335,000 7535 Montgomery Rd: Blackmon Karen A to Shuppert Judith Ann; $349,000 8579 Hermitage Ln: Luther Jane T to Alley Heather Rose & John Michael; $420,000 8831 Montgomery Rd: Deese Larry to Lemberg Bradley M & Renee M; $399,900 8852 Montgomery Rd: Foster Thomas Randall Tr to Kotsovos Christos &; $420,000 8866 Eldora Dr: Buchanan Markee Louise & Brandon to Schultz Rachel & Nicholas Richard; $226,400 Symmes Township 10226 Elmfield Dr: Mullaly David M & Jennifer E to Cheng Calvin & Da Wei; $626,000 11572 Symmes Gate Ln: Robb Joseph to Caudill Dianne & Tommy; $272,000 11817 Vaukvalley Ln: Miller Shara to Rudinsky Lauren; $255,000 8833 Chapelsquare Dr: Emery Federal Credit Union to Greenwald Realty LLC; $336,000 Terrace Park 602 Miami Ave: Holmes Stephen S Tr & Christine E Kaeser Tr to Mcdonough Rebecca E &; $955,890 Walnut Hills 2517 Hackberry St: Schmalfuss Jay O to Richlin Harrison &; $436,650 855 Lincoln Ave: Jibriel Family Properties LLC to Easter Seals Tristate Gilbert LLC; $210,000 963 Francisco St: Witry John to Rubio Gary Kenneth & Sara E; $340,000 964 Windsor St: Littleton Ryan to Parkside Development Group LLC; $255,000 West End 1112 Dayton St: Evans Sharon to Kassem Real Estate And Investments LLC; $150,000 923 Weninger Cr: Dubois Michael & Allison Minton to Morris Maxwell Sealy; $527,000 West Price Hill 4302 Fehr Rd: Stephenson Jesse & Jesse R to Wilkens John F; $63,000 4776 Highridge Ave: Woolum Derek A to Ingram Chastity; $140,000 5069 Sidney Rd: Young Lori L to Fuentes Carlos Omar Garcia; $109,000 861 Beech Ave: Heine Shannon to Goettke Anne; $150,000 973 Glenna Dr: Drennan Dorothy to Homes By Richard Alan LLC; $127,000 Westwood 2772 Morningridge Dr: Chen Wan Qing & Wan Xiang to Soumare Gaye; $265,500 2918 Lischer Ave: Riebsomer Kristin R to Richter Jacob Edward & Madison Grace Vonderahe; $268,000 2956 Harrison Ave: Herrera Guillermo to Tarrantino Erin; $270,000 2956 Harrison Ave: Herrera Guillermo to Tarrantino Erin; $270,000 3121 Daytona Ave: Lee Brian A to Mccarthy Kayla M & Stephen John; $220,000 3130 Pershing Ct: Stark Thomas J & Marilyn S to Jones Dena; $210,000 3160 Mozart Ave: Battle Barry I & Tracey L to Sims Kristen & Lamont; $235,000 3226 Buell St: Tenhundfeld James to Trotta Anthony J; $137,000 3260 Buell St: Hope Amos B to Christon Tacorah & Victor Singleton; $169,900 3344 Lakeview Ave: Pace Alex & Alexis Mary to Hpa III Acquisitions 1 LLC; $254,400 3359 Werk Rd: Angelhouse LLC to Jo And Stephen LLC; $275,000 Whitewater Township 211 Chidlaw Ave: Eckenroth Linda Kay to Stafford Larry & Sandra; $40,000 8073 Furlong Rd: Mt Hope LLC @2 to Mt Hope LLC; $438,600 9469 West Rd: Gaebel Elsie Marie Tr to Wheeler Tobias J; $10,500 Ohio Ave: Gulf Oil Corporation to Balsley William & Emma J; $30,000 Wyoming 23 Rolling Hills Ct: Butler Richard M Jr to Ethridge Marquerite; $200,000 278 Ritchie Ave: Samuels Michael E to Barnes Alexandria & Larry Armon Porter; $400,000 303 Fleming Rd: Niculita Ina to Metz Trisha E & Roderick C Wilson; $426,000 307 Crescent Ave: Traditons Building Group LLC to Ward Tamara; $838,503 809 Oak Ave: King Brenda Louvenia to Torres Ricardo A & Monica; $270,000 NORTHERN KENTUCKY Information provided by Christine Charlson. Alexandria 10481 Shaw Hess Road: Kathleen and Melvin Martin to Samantha and Joseph Watson; $330,000 11114 Dairybarn Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Denise Newbolt; $243,000 1532 Grandview Road: Kathleen and Terry Baxter to Nicholas Fancote and Orville Mason; $255,000 16 Spillman Drive: Katelyn Ryland to Sharon and Kenneth Fryman; $150,000 165 Ridgewood Drive: Tracey Coffey to Diana Nall; $360,000 23 Spillman Drive: Janie Yockey and Chad Hug to Charles Morgan; $165,000 574 Ravensridge Court: Lisa and Jackie Brown to Michael Winter; $560,000 7405 Devonshire Drive, unit 12-320: Cassandra Steuber to Lisa and Alan Tisue; $252,000 766 Yorkshire Drive, unit 20-103: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Jared Webster; $205,000 948 Willow Creek Drive: Samantha and Joseph Watson to Danielle and Brandon Colbert; $330,000 Burlington 3008 Allens Fork Drive: Stallion Investments, LLC to Kyle Jester; $269,000 3249 Cornerstone Driv: Elevated Terra, Inc. to David Casteel; $48,000 3325 Falling Brooks Way: Alpha Holdings, LLC to FKH SFP L, LP; $343,000 3325 Falling Brooks Way: Amber McKinney and Bertie McKinney to Alpha Holdings, LLC; $310,000 361 Keagan Court: Sunshine and Henry Mullins III to FKH SFP L, LP; $240,000 4104 Country Mill Ridge, unit 20-101: Alexandra Caparros to Barbara Brown; $225,000 5813 Bunkers Ave.: Megan Brennan, Dawn and Richard Brennan to Hama Wacher; $185,000 6012 Kingsgate Drive: Sophia and Dennis Ware to FKH SFP L, LP; $315,000 6246 Main St.: Megan and Seth Ballard to Staci Arlinghaus; $235,000 6317 Bernard Court: Maronda Homes of Cincinnati, LLC to Kaitlyn and Brandon Mathis; $339,500 6936 Lucia Drive: Sarah and Joshua Crawford to Donald Robinson; $306,000 6964 Gordon Boulevard: Steven Wilder to Jamie Dawson; $269,000 7800 Castlewood Lane: Charlotte and Gene Weaver to Joe Reynolds; $321,000 Cold Spring 1103 Monterey Lane, unit 103: Marianne and George Whitaker to Jessica and David Andre; $130,000 5911 Boulder View, unit 20-201: Kimberly and Gary Gilkerson to Judith Iversen and Donald Brandt Jr.; $250,000 Covington 10 Meadow Hill Drive: Steven Howard to Catherine Forsyth; $210,000 101 Vista View Circle: Jeffrey Byrge to Nicole Timmerding and Bryan Snider; $177,500 1222 Hands Pike: AVM Investments, Inc. to Powell Homes, Inc.; $90,000 1546 Saint Clair St.: Karen Faigle to Stallion Investment, LLC; $70,000 1816 Jefferson Ave.: Monica Maldonado-Cruz and Franklin Mulich to Teresa and Charles Senn Jr.; $219,500 2125 Rolling Hills Drive, unit 17-301: Elizabeth Taylor to Marissa Darpel, Mary and Matthew Darpel; $230,000 2353 Bella Ridge: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Tom Kelly; $268,500 2369 Piazza Ridge, unit 16-102: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Dara Kinsey; $227,500 2371 Piazza Ridge, unit 16-302: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Stephanie Rodish; $237,000 2373 Piazza Ridge, unit 16-300: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Caroline Beckett; $201,000 2377 Piazza Ridge, unit 16-101: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to John Monson; $256,500 2379 Piazza Ridge, unit 16-201: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Mary Bruegge; $290,500 2467 Ambrato Way, unit 4-302: The Ker Family Trust to Theodore South; $205,000 2629 Fishing Creek Drive: Natasha and Chad Crum to Stephanie Saner; $230,000 306 W. 21st St.: The Estate of Robert B. Henn to Linda Mills; $45,000 324 W. 20th St.: Strategic Assets, LLC to Tristate Noah Project, Inc.; $70,000 329-331 W. 21st St.: Sapphire Investments Partners, LLC to Natasha and Jerrell Jordan; $289,000 3722 Glenn Ave.: Diana Lacy to Armor Properties, LLC; $135,000 4324 McKee Ave.: Charlotte and Gene Weaver to Septillionaire, LLC; $57,000 4511 Clifton Ave.: Jessica O'Neil to Mary Huff; $138,000 615 Crescent Ave., unit 17: SFR3-030, LLC to Parker Napier; $185,000 Crescent Springs 634 Daphne Way, unit 3-204: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Clarinda Fugate and Effie Fugate; $294,500 Crestview Hills 288 Secretariat Court: Nancy Cooper to Dorothy Oliver; $240,000 Crittenden 100 Gripshover Road: Jessica and Timothy Gripshover Jr. to Linda and Christopher Maines; $75,000 Dayton 1125 5th Ave.: Carol and Terry Burke to PMT Properties, LLC; $110,000 206, 208 Dayton Ave.: Rose Motyka to Geritrude Poku; $130,000 508 Dayton Ave.: KwinJax Investments, LLC to Alana and Christopher Seymour; $225,000 535 Riverpointe Drive, unit 2: Ricci and James Linneman to Stephanie and John Griffith; $420,000 914 Maple Ave.: SFR3-040, LLC to Patricia Dye; $50,000 Edgewood 3127 Hergott Drive: Holly and James Danneman to Carolyn and Eric Hoffer; $500,000 57 Dudley Pike: Crystal and Jeremy Gibbs to Sherry Dowd; $238,000 70 Beech Drive: Noelle and Aaron Asch to Samuel Cox; $153,500 Elsmere 1166 Fallbrook Drive: Jamie Dawson to Keith Mieczkowski; $215,000 1564 Raintree Court: Rosio Ramirez and Alex Navarrete to Carolina Garcia and Esteban Santilian; $224,000 314 Eastern Ave.: Patricia Elliott to Mark Williams; $55,000 67 Eastern Ave.: 8001. LLC to Lauren and Nathan Stephens; $175,000 7794 E. Covered Bridge Road: Stephanie Wood to Tri-State Innovative Property Solutions, LLC; $98,500 853 Virginiabradford Court: Kendra and Chase Stanley to Caroline Rogers and Nathan Johnson; $225,000 Erlanger 3220 Crescent Ave.: Kathryn Otten, Peggy and John Gladwell to Mindi Doolin; $190,000 4210 Nolin Court, unit 2: Cynthia Jupin to Shannon and Rickey Bennett; $123,000 524 Perimeter Drive: Kristin and Brian Earley to Dianna Vorholt; $205,000 Florence 10236 Crossbow Court, unit 10: Connie and Henry Oehler Jr. to Christina Ellis and Matthew Price; $145,000 10410 Berry Path Court: Carla and Dwayne Kaiser to Samuel Ruiz; $220,000 1171 Donner Drive: Pamela Doyle to Amanda Berkmeier and Jared Knaley; $295,000 1205 Retriever Way, unit 5-D: The Drees Company to Kristen Helm and Easton Pilyer; $244,500 1217 Retriever Way, unit 5-A: The Drees Company to Joyce Herod; $299,000 131 Mollie Court: Blanka and Bryan Thornton to Olga and Leobarbo Sanchez; $225,000 1443 Greenery Drive: James Backus to Connie Kordenbrock and Barbara Allen; $420,000 152 Saddlebrook Lane, unit 467: Ruby Doherty to Christine Wiggins; $170,000 1826 Waverly Drive: Elizabeth and Victor Iloegbunam to Jennifer and Joshua Clay; $415,000 2021 Stonwall Trail, unit 55-304: Donna and Donald Huffmaster to Kinde and Robert Knisley; $200,000 203 Roberta Ave.: Logan Bratcher to Eddie Stamper; $281,500 23 Dortha Ave.: ETH Properties, LLC to Miriam and Jose Perez; $165,000 2500 Towering Ridge: Melissa and Tom Kelly to Amber and Bertie McKinney; $525,000 313 Honeysuckle Terrace: Mark Schwarte to Yesika Martinez; $190,000 41 Patricia St.: James Resing to Jennifer Helmer; $140,000 412 Marian Lane, unit 4: Chanda Francis to Gary Bockweg; $97,000 512 Kentaboo Ave.: Zara Jimbo and Jose Gualpa to Blanca Marin, Jazmin Marin, Perfecta and Luis Duranzno; $140,000 7554 Dogwood Lane: Elizabeth and Carl Howard to Amanda and Michael Lowe; $332,500 8479 Watersedge Drive: Lisa and Thomas Schehuber to Cynthia Jupin and Edward Belyea; $230,000 Fort Mitchell 205 Prather Court: Jodi and Patrick Henry to Holly and James Danneman; $1,060,000 2213 Dominion Drive: Pansy Ervin to Kiberly Stamper, Christine and Michael Macke; $270,000 Fort Thomas 1404 N. Fort Thomas Ave.: Wendy and Michael Cooper to Sabrina Sowders and Alexander Whitehead; $230,000 756 S. Grand Ave.: Hanna and Collin Wetzel to Burnett Group, LLC; $170,000 89 Grandview Ave.: Sarah and Andrew Winebrenner to Stefanie Patino and William Ross; $220,000 92 Burney Lane: Richelle Thompson and Jeffrey Queen to Jessica and Amy Baumann; $425,000 Fort Wright 1404 E. Henry Clay Ave.: Megan and Benjamin Auer to Hannah Poplka and Joseph Allen; $385,000 434 Pickett Drive: The Estate of Anna M. Schoemehl to Kimberly and Robert Moriconi Jr.; $285,000 Hebron 1048 Bloomfield Court: Brianna and Ty Sargent to Kendra and Chase Stanley; $324,000 1101 Clearspring Lane: Pamela and Mark Mollin to Leslie and Tristan Hurst; $540,000 2241 Silver Peak Drive: The Drees Company to Marilyn Mumby; $600,000 2405 Lost Willow Court: Patricia and Dwight Raleigh to Mary and James Jones; $485,000 2541 Keller Court: Leslie and Tristan Hurst to Victoria Miley; $256,000 2681 Berwood Lane: Dale Tope to Ingrid and Thomas Velia; $235,000 3465 Patriot Court: Laura Beeman to Rosemay and Robert Gisell; $255,000 3685 Johnathan Drive: Emily and Colin Crawford to Dawleen Edmund and Krispin Krispin; $260,000 Highland Heights 1914 Taylor Ave.: Michelle and Joseph Krebs to CRTV Home Builders, LLC; $50,000 5 Tammy Lane: Erin and Brandon Mayse to Shelby Walker and Logan Schultz; $260,000 Independence 103 Friar Tuck Drive: Jamie and David Whitman to Trenton Goshorn; $236,500 10701 Burbridge Trail: Lisa Stephens and Thomas Stephens to Sarah Reaves and Justin Weikel; $580,000 1161 Yankee Ridge Road: Celestial Building Corporation to Sandra Gustafson and Christopher Hamon; $250,000 1316 Galveston Court: Kimberly and Arnold Sproles Jr. to Moises Arredondo; $292,000 1389 Meadowrun Lake: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Consiglia D'Ambrosio; $317,000 2877 Sycamore Creek Drive: Sukkah, LLC to Samantha and Samuel Farris; $335,000 3027 Maverick Road: George Griffin to Anthony Feist; $240,000 4093 Elizabeth Drive: NKY Works, LLC to Nacola Culbertson; $165,000 5086 Woodale Court: Kayla and Robert Metz to 5806 Woodale Court, LLC; $270,000 613 Skyway Drive: Steven Shields to Kenneth Colgrove and Andrew Colgrove; $245,000 634 Berlander Drive: Joseph Caudill to Nicholas Gray; $206,000 709 Ackerly Drive: Melissa and James Goff to Albert Campbell; $235,000 Lakeside Park 112 Holaday Lane: The Estate of Ralph Melvin Doellman to Equity Trust Company Custodian; $215,000 Latonia 513 1/2 W. Southern Ave.: Pamela and David Thomas to Ulysses Byas; $135,000 Ludlow 8 Carneal St.: ACI Properties, LLC to Freedom Partners, LLC; $85,500 Morning View 14794 Madison Pike: Tara and Ron Vandt to Daniel Childress; $500,000 14810 Decoursey Pike: Donna and Dale Cross to Mackenzie Thomas and Dylan Bruin; $192,000 Newport 1134 Waterworks Road: Jeremy Rice to Upward Avenue, LLC; $80,000 1138 Birch St.: Shiqmah Properties, LLC to Cote Brillante Ventures, LLC; $310,000 12 Amelia St.: Janet and James Pangallo to Rhonda Butts; $75,000 30 19th St.: Diandra Soto to Mikayla Leopold; $105,000 314 E. 8th St.: Jean Majors to Melissa and Donald Jakubowski; $310,000 325 Keturah St.: Richard Combs to Green Mountain Capital, LLC; $75,000 329 Riddle Place: Megan Major and Natalie Ford to Grant Brown; $185,000 Park Hills 1051 Montague Road: Gladys Beechem to Camille Bernard and Araud Holz; $335,000 612 Saint Joseph Lane: Gabriela and Matthew Klein to Kayla Hermann and Adam Beran; $310,000 Petersburg 3113 Belleview Road: Julea and William Remke to LEW, LLC; $125,000 Ryland Heights 8916 Porter Road: Keith Bales to Kristi and Larry Long; $85,000 Taylor Mill 18 Doris Drive: Amanda Beckerich and Emily Patterson to Natalie Latta; $207,500 3267 Taylor Creek Drive: Carrisa and Jacob Young to Scott Hart; $350,000 5275 Taylor Mill Road: Devone Blankenship to Mary and Brian Linquist; $250,000 6195 Mapleridge Drive: Kimberlie Pedigo to Green Tides, LLC; $230,000 710 Coachway Court: Caitlin and Micah Hazelip to Abigail Stein and Matthew Burkhardt; $295,000 Union 10124 Lucille Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Goral Amin; $273,000 10135 Lucille Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Stacey and Donny Carter; $333,000 10139 Lucille Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Tamara Starnes; $281,000 10191 Lucille Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Jill Gronotte; $288,000 10195 Lucille Lane: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Beverly Johnson; $290,500 10206 Hartwood Court: Jean and David Boccia to Amy and Christopher Schroder; $478,000 1035 Mount Zion Road: Debbie and Ralph Rollins to Marjorie and Jeffrey Fichlie; $392,500 11004 Carvnival Court: Wendi and David Harris to Crystal Myers and Andrew Rittenhouse; $205,000 11521 Gregson Court: Catherine and Michael Smith to Lijuan Zhang and Jiangyong Yun; $447,500 12095 Jockey Club Drive: The Drees Company to Catherine and Michael Smith; $594,500 3224 Geraldine Court: Arlinghaus Builders, LLC to Jaylin Sampson and Joshua Ford; $414,000 4569 Donagal Ave.: Christopher Siler to Cristal Comer and Charles Hendrix Jr.; $500,000 6324 Greenland Road: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Natalie and Mark Berg; $413,500 7108 Desmond Lane: Arlinghaus Builders, LLC to Rachelle Will and Jamie Acuff; $405,000 812 Baffert Court: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Hannah and Brian Stewart; $647,000 916 Keenland Green Drive: Tamara and John Booth to jennifer and Jon Poore; $535,000 9370 Westfield Lane: Arlinghaus Builders, LLC to Kristie and Jeremy McCoy; $511,000 9493 Rainbow Terrace: Arlinghaus Builders, LLC to Nicole Peace and Todd Harris; $530,000 Verona 1870 Stephenson Mill Road: Melody and Phillip Mastin to Dustin Wolfe; $60,000 Villa Hills 2671 River Birch Drive: The Drees Company to Gabriela and Matthew Klein; $1,055,500 916 Kenridge St.: Glenda and Howard Orth to Courtney and Chris Anderson and John Barwell; $260,000 Walton 116 Haley Lane: Miranda and Levi Bickel to Danielle Desautels and Thoma Bailey; $280,000 1204 Gemstone Pointe Drive: Alysia and Preston Roberts to Tailor Dixon and James White; $235,000 12108 Ambruzzi Drive: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Amy and Benjamin Winkler; $408,500 189 N. Main St.: Julia Bird-Turner to Daniel Townsend; $200,000 613 Radnor Lane: David Ramsey to Jeff Raines; $206,000 Wilder 350 Timber Ridge Drive, unit 8: Ashley and Ryan Simington to Allison and Michael Kennedy Jr.; $158,000 This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky property sales for the week of Oct. 3 WAUKESHA, Wis. Testimony before a jury began Thursday for the man accused of mowing down Christmas parade-goers last year, while he participated mostly from a separate courtroom, having been removed after numerous disruptions and an instance of taking his shirt off in court. The prosecution gave its opening statement and two witnesses an officer on duty during the parade and the friend of the defendant's ex-girlfriend were questioned after hours of issues and extensive jury instructions. Darrell Brooks Jr. is accused of 76 criminal counts, including six first-degree intentional homicide charges, in a case involving potentially dozens of witnesses. Two testified on Thursday. He's accused of driving his car through a parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, resulting in the death of six people and injuries of dozens of others. Assistant Waukesha County District Attorney Zach Wittchow set the scene of the prosecution's case, focusing on the deaths and injuries that occurred on Main Street in the late afternoon hours of Nov. 21, 2021. Brooks "hit the gas on his red Ford Escape and used it as a battering ram over and over again, striking men, women, and kids," Wittchow said. The incident followed a violent argument between Brooks and his former girlfriend, who is also his child's mother, who was staying at a women's shelter in Waukesha, Wittchow said. Wittchow said the prosecution is prepared to argue that Brooks intentionally caused the deaths of individuals and put dozens more at risk, countering any anticipated claims by Brooks that he had no such intent. Part of the focus will be the "deadliest" point in the parade, when Brooks' SUV ran into the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, killing four members. CHAOS IN THE COURTROOM: Defendant's choice to represent himself could cause delays WHAT TO KNOW: Trial begins in Waukesha Christmas parade attack that killed 6 Brooks deferred his opening statements to later in the proceedings. Story continues Day begins with disruptions, delays Brooks, who chose not to be represented by an attorney and has been sent out of the courtroom repeatedly in previous appearances, was admonished by Judge Jennifer Dorow for his repeated interruptions of court proceedings again Thursday before the jury entered the room. No sooner had Dorow gaveled the trial into session Thursday than Brooks began a series of interruptions and protests. It erupted as Dorow tried to address why Brooks had chosen to wear his bright orange jail clothing, not the suit or other street clothes he has access to. After more than a dozen interruptions, Brooks was again removed to a neighboring courtroom. When he appeared on video from that courtroom 15 minutes later, his shirt was off, and his back facing the camera. Dorow explained that Brooks had also removed a shoe, appeared as if he wanted to throw it, and then threatened to break items. Darrell Brooks sits in another court room after being removed from the first day of his trial for continuously interrupting Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow on the first day of trial his trial for homicide and reckless endangerment charges for the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy in Waukesha on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Dorow warned that his conduct, if he continued the "chaos" in front of the jurors, would come at his own peril in his defense. Despite his behavior, District Attorney Sue Opper said she believed Brooks was fit to stand trial, arguing his outbursts should be viewed as nothing more than a delay tactic, not a measure of his competency, and the judge said she agreed. Four examiners had examined Brooks and found no issues with his legal competency, Dorow said. Brooks appeared remotely from the second courtroom for much of the day, including while questioning witnesses, before rejoining the main courtroom. Dorow later commended Brooks for his participation in cross-examination and his choice to come back to the room. Witnesses testify about events leading to deaths Kori Runkel, who said she was a friend of Brooks' ex-girlfriend detailed an altercation between Brooks and his former girlfriend that allegedly took place earlier in the day. Runkel said she witnessed Brooks threatening his ex-girlfriend. Brooks challenged whether she had truly heard any threats from him. "Yes, that you were yelling at her, and that you were going to kill her and get in the car," Runkel replied. Brooks also questioned her credibility and Runkel conceded she was tipsy, but not drunk, at the time. On redirect, Wittchow rebuilt the basis for her testimony, that Runkel had spoken with an investigator about the threats she heard Brooks make. Waukesha Police Sgt. David Wanner, who works in patrol and was on duty during the parade, testified that while the parade was underway, he saw a red SUV "traveling at a high rate of speed" and into the parade route. He estimated the vehicle was traveling 40 mph in a 25-mph zone on White Rock Avenue and into the parade route on Main Street. QUESTION OF COMPETENCY: Has Darrell Brooks' behavior set Waukesha parade attack trial on path to reversal? "As the driver passed, essentially about 6 feet in front of me, I could see the driver," said Wanner, who said he then got into his squad car. "It was the most terrible thing I ever heard," he said, choking up and pausing, as he alluded to the cries emerging from victims. In cross-examination, Brooks asked whether, in surveillance video, Wanner could see anyone trying to intentionally hit people. Wanner said he did not. Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or james.riccioli@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jariccioli. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha Christmas parade testimony begins; Darrell Brooks removed Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) attends a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, where former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe testified on the FBI's Russia investigation. (Jason Andrew/The New York Times) In one of the more unusual television advertisements of this years midterm election campaigns, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., accuses Democrats of wanting to defund police departments. Violent crime is surging in Louisiana, he says in the ad. Woke leaders blame the police. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times That wasnt the unusual part. In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other states, Republicans have painted Democrats as hostile to police and as cheerleaders for rioting and mayhem. And even though the data on crime is mixed, the tactic seems to be working for the GOP in many races. What was unusual was that Kennedy was bothering to advertise at all in his deep-red state, and the line that came next: Look, the Louisiana senator continues, if you hate cops just because theyre cops, the next time you get in trouble, call a crackhead. Kennedys reelection bid is far from competitive. His Democratic opponent, a community activist from Baton Rouge named Gary Chambers, is polling in the teens. And, in this instance, the Democrat in question really has endorsed the idea of cutting police budgets. People hate the phrase defund the police, Chambers wrote on Twitter in December 2020. Yet we defund education and healthcare almost every year. I live in a parish with 11 different police agencies, in the 2nd most incarcerated place in THE WORLD. It hasnt solved crime. Move the money. Its not making us safer. Chambers made national headlines during the primary for smoking a blunt in an ad that called for the legalization of marijuana. In an interview at the time, Chambers said he decided to show himself smoking pot because it was important to be very direct about the issues that were facing. If its fair for people to make millions of dollars for selling cannabis, he asked, why are people going to jail for this? Given Kennedys comfortable lead over Chambers in the polls, the crackhead line appears meant to drive headlines about Democrats in general, rather than slam his specific opponent. And the ad is just a cruder version of attacks Republicans have leveled against Democrats across the country, regardless of their actual positions. Often but not always the candidates being targeted are Black, as Chambers is. But either way, the racial subtext of the criticism is impossible to ignore. Story continues Robbing ads of context In Florida, for instance, Sen. Marco Rubio has portrayed his Democratic opponent, Rep. Val Demings, a 65-year-old former police chief of Orlando, as a dangerous radical who is soft on crime. Like Chambers, Demings is Black but, unlike him, she hails from the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. She was one of 207 House Democrats who recently voted for the Invest to Protect Act, a bipartisan bill to increase funding for local police departments. One Rubio ad, titled Blame America, takes remarks by Demings out of context to claim that she praised defunding the police. She made the comments on CBS This Morning in June 2020, soon after the police killing of George Floyd, giving a measured reaction to a pledge by the Minneapolis City Council to end policing as we know it, in the words of one council member, and to rebuild the department with a focus on public health. The council is being very thoughtful in terms of looking at all of the services that police provide, Demings said. She went on to elaborate, The council, along with law enforcement authorities and other community leaders, will sit down and look at everything and come out with a plan that allows them to keep Minneapolis safe, but also bring the community and the police together in a much-needed and long-overdue way. In the end, the effort to cut the citys police budget collapsed in acrimony as the political winds shifted. Demings is trying to push back against Rubios attacks, although her chances of unseating him appear slim in a state where Republicans have become dominant in recent elections. She has spent almost $8 million airing ads highlighting her experience in law enforcement, according to data provided by AdImpact. Five separate TV ads feature images of Demings in uniform and feature a claim that violent crime fell by 40% during her tenure as police chief. In one spot that aired this summer, Demings explicitly says shed never vote to defund the police. Thats just crazy, she says into the camera. Where the crime attacks seem to be working As my colleague Reid Epstein wrote Thursday, the Republicans crime offensive is hurting Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Wisconsin. Republicans have seized in particular on Barnes past progressive stances, including his suggestion in a 2020 television interview that funding be diverted from over-bloated budgets in police departments to social services a key element of the movement to defund the police, Epstein wrote. Since then, Barnes has disavowed defunding the police and has called for an increase in funding. At times, the campaign against Barnes, who is Black, has taken on explicit racial elements. Mail advertising from Republicans has darkened Barnes skin, while some TV ads from a Republican super PAC have superimposed his name next to images of crime scenes, Epstein added. The soft-on-crime ads are also making an appearance in Pennsylvania, where the race has likewise moved in Republicans direction since Labor Day. The Democratic nominee for Senate, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is white, faces an onslaught of ads accusing him of being too lenient on incarceration while in office. (Fetterman oversaw a parole board that successfully recommended clemency for about 50 inmates who had been sentenced to life in prison.) Kennedy, coincidentally, recently made an appearance for Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee in Pennsylvania, at a rally in Newtown, a blue-collar suburb of Philadelphia. The so-called collar counties around the states largest city are where statewide elections are typically won or lost among the mainly white, non-college-educated voters who tend to swing between the two parties. And theyre hearing a lot about crime on the nightly news: A Pew Research survey from January found that 70% of Philadelphia residents thought crime, drugs and public safety were the most important issues facing the city. At the Newtown rally, Kennedy repeated the crackhead line and said, Fetterman thinks cops are a bigger problem than criminals. He added, A free tip, folks: Most cops will leave you alone unless you do illegal stuff. Fetterman appears to take the criticism personally, no surprise given that his engagement with the criminal justice system is written on his body. When I spoke with the lieutenant governor recently for an article about his health, he grew agitated after I asked him about the GOPs attacks on his record on crime. As he responded, Fetterman unrolled the sleeve of his hooded sweatshirt, revealing tattoos of the dates of murders in Braddock, the former steel town south of Pittsburgh where he served as mayor for over a decade. Its a smear and a lie, and they know that, he said, adding that he had first been motivated to run for office by Braddocks chronic problems with gun violence. I talked about funding the police, he said. How some Democrats are responding Tattoos aside, Pennsylvania law enforcement is coalescing against Fetterman. Most major police organizations in the state have endorsed Oz. But that hasnt been every Democrats fate this year. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvanias attorney general and the Democratic nominee for governor, is depicting himself as the law-and-order alternative to Doug Mastriano, his Republican opponent, who was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Shapiros efforts are not going unnoticed. He has earned endorsements from several policing organizations, including the Philadelphia lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which offered a concurrent endorsement of Oz. Its president, John McNesby, used the announcement to denounce Fetterman, whom he accused of having a long history of anti-police rhetoric and advocacy for polices that make communities less safe. Shapiros ties to the FOP, the nations largest police organization, worried some in the Democratic primary this year. But what was once a liability is now a strength, and he leads Mastriano by double digits. If that lead holds, credit Shapiros deft moves to defuse Republican talking points on crime as one factor. He highlights his FOP endorsement in a number of TV ads, two of which feature retired Philadelphia police officers offering their personal endorsements. In a city where the rate of violent crime is on track to surpass last years record high, thats a potent message. The pro-police ads from Demings and Shapiro arent unique, either. In general election races this year, Democrats have spent almost $29 million on 175 individual ads praising the police or promoting police endorsements, according to a New York Times analysis of AdImpact data. 2022 The New York Times Company The Los Angeles Lakers are already halfway through their exhibition schedule, yet Dennis Schroder hasnt played in any of their three games. The reason? He has been stuck overseas because of a visa issue. However, that issue has now been resolved, and he will be heading to Los Angeles within the next few days, which should allow him to play in at least one of the teams remaining preseason contests. Schroder spent the last several weeks participating in EuroBasket 2022. Its knockout stage took place in Berlin, where Schroder led his native Germany to a third-place finish after a very strong showing in the tournament. Dennis Schroders visa issue has been resolved and he is set to fly to Los Angeles this weekend, sources tell ESPN. It is TBD whether he will join the Lakers for their road game in GSW on Sunday. Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 7, 2022 Schroders play in EuroBasket 2022 was a big reason the Lakers moved to sign him. He had previously played for them during the 2020-21 season. His ability to handle the ball, facilitate, hit the open man, defend, score and push the pace will help L.A. field a strong bench this season. List Observations from Lakers vs. Timberwolves preseason game Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire The SI Swimsuit model will be joined by her sisters for a happy hour virtual hang. (left to right) Mary Holland Nader, Sarah Jane Nader, Grace Ann Nader, and Brooks Nader in NYC. Ryan Sides Join four-time SI Swimsuit model Brooks Nader live in The Swimfluence Network app tonight, Friday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. EST. The Baton Rouge native will be joined by her three sisters, Mary Holland Nader, Sarah Jane Nader and Grace Ann Nader. The four women will be hosting the live show from their hometown in Louisiana, even though they all do currently make New York City their home. The sisters will discuss everything from Naders involvement in Swim Search to working with family to breaking into the modeling industry and more. You dont want to miss it! Grab a beverage and join us for an entertaining end-of-the-week happy hour. If you didnt already know, SI Swimsuit has launched an app! The Swimfluence Network. Weve created an inclusive community for women who are looking to connect, learn, grow and champion change for the next generation. Available now for iOS & Android by searching The Swimfluence Network in the App Store or visit us online. Elon Musk's (pictured right) SpaceX is increasing Starlink internet prices for all customers. Getty Images Elon Musk told Financial Times China did not approve of his decision to send Starlink to Ukraine. The Communist nation has also asked the billionaire not to sell Starlink in China, Musk said. Musk has close ties with China one of Tesla's top markets and export hubs. Elon Musk said China clearly disapproved of his decision to send SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service to Ukraine. The billionaire told Financial Times in a recent interview that Beijing asked for him to promise he wouldn't sell Starlink in China. In February two days after Russia invaded Ukraine Musk sent Ukraine a shipment of Starlink satellite internet dishes. It was the first of many shipments to the country that has helped Ukraine stay connected amid Russia's attacks and a hack on the satellite provider for its military. Early on, Ukraine officials and military leaders praised the move, with a US general saying Starlink "totally destroyed Putin's information campaign" and attempts to silence Ukraine President Zelenskyy. But recently, FT reported that Ukrainian forces have faced some outages of their Starlink devices on the frontlines in recent weeks. Roman Sinicyn, a co-ordinator at a foundation that donates Starlink systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, told the publication the outages are the result of SpaceX representatives attempting to prevent Russians from using the technology. Since, Musk has also activated Starlink in Iran amid widespread protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini who died in police custody. People in the country have reported internet outages and the Iranian police denied Amini was mistreated. The satellite internet service is available in about 40 countries, but SpaceX has yet to sell Starlink in China. Chinese state media has reported that SpaceX does not have plans to apply for an operating license in China. Internet service in China is available only through state-owned providers, and access is strictly censored. Story continues The Tesla CEO is heavily reliant on China the largest electric-car market in the world. In 2018, Musk launched a factory in Shanghai. Since, the factory has become one of Tesla's main export hubs. Last year, half of Tesla's global deliveries came from China. The billionaire has publicly praised China in the past and recently wrote an article for China's internet regulator. "Chinese companies will be a force to be reckoned with in the cause of energy innovation," Musk reportedly wrote in the article. FT said the billionaire appeared hesitant to comment on growing tensions between the US and China, but said he believes there will eventually be a conflict with the communist country over Taiwan. "Apple will be in very deep trouble, that's for sure," Musk said, noting he believes the global economy will plummet by 30%. Though, the billionaire said Tesla's Shanghai factory will still be able to sell cars in China. Last week, the billionaire also weighed in on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting the citizens of the occupied territories should vote on which country they'd rather live in. His suggestion was met with heavy criticism. Even Zelenskyy mocked Musk's attempt to solve a real-world crisis on Twitter. "Which @elonmusk do you like more?" Zelenskyy asked, with a poll. "One who supports Ukraine. One who supports Russia." Musk's comments on Ukraine were also met with criticism from China's top propagandist, Hu Xijin. "Elon Musk has released his personality too much, and he believes too much in the US and West's 'freedom of speech.' He will be taught a lesson," Hu reportedly wrote. Read FT's full interview with Musk on its website. Read the original article on Business Insider Bethenny Frankel says shes had enough of scammers on TikTok using her voice, image or content to sell counterfeit products. The entrepreneur and star of The Real Housewives of New York filed a federal lawsuit against ByteDances TikTok, the hugely popular short-form video app, alleging that TikTok has ignored her requests to remove unauthorized content that misappropriates her likeness. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, demands unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction barring TikTok from misusing the personas, voices, content and/or likenesses of Frankel and other potential members of the class. More from Variety Despite demands on TikTok to remove and police this corrupt conduct, TikTok has ignored such demands, and even taken countervailing positions, Frankels lawsuit says. Aside from not being compensated, the reputation and brand of Ms. Frankel and Class Members are being damaged and tarnished through unauthorized associations with counterfeit goods and other products that they do not support. Frankel, who has nearly 1 million followers on TikTok, claims that in one instance she posted a video on the app warning her followers of the unauthorized and illegal use of her persona to sell counterfeit goods whereupon TikTok, ironically, removed Ms. Frankels content as abusive.' TikTok did not directly comment on Frankels lawsuit. We have strict policies to both protect peoples hard-earned intellectual property and keep misleading content off of TikTok, a TikTok rep said. We regularly review and improve our policies and processes in order to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts and further strengthen our systems. In an Instagram post Thursday, Frankel urged others who feel they have experienced an illegal violation of your right on social media to reach out to her team. I have a voice. Its my right and responsibility to use it and to encourage others to constructively do so as well, she wrote. Social media, and its impact as the most powerful medium on the planet, cannot be a reckless marketplace where people risk their rights and privacy being violated without protection. Story continues Frankels lawsuit alleges that numerous videos and content were created and shared on TikTok using Ms. Frankels name, portrait, picture, voice and content to peddle unauthorized and fake goods, although it also notes that the videos have since been removed from TikToks platform. According to the complaint, Frankel began receiving comments from her followers thinking that Ms. Frankel sold out' and was hawking fake products. Frankel appeared on Bravos The Real Housewives of New York City for eight seasons, last appearing on Season 11 in 2019. Shes also starred in many other shows, including the Bethenny Ever After spinoff and her own talk show, Bethenny. In 2021, she launched Big Shot With Bethenny, a reality competition series on HBO Max following her search for a second-in-command to her Skinnygirl lifestyle products company. Her lawsuit against TikTok was filed Thursday in the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York, Case 1:22-cv-08503. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Danny Moder and Julia Roberts attend the 3rd annual Sean Penn & Friends HELP HAITI HOME Gala benefiting J/P HRO presented by Giorgio Armani at Montage Beverly Hills on January 11, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California Kevin Mazur/Getty Julia Roberts is feeling grateful for her family. The actress, who stars in the upcoming film Ticket to Paradise with close friend George Clooney, appears on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend where she opens up to host Jane Pauley about her family and career. "It just never consumed me, being an actor," says Roberts, 54, in a preview of the episode. "It is my dream come true. But it is not my only dream come true." Asked about her other dreams, the Notting Hill star points to her family; the actress and husband Danny Moder share three kids: Henry, 15, and twins Phinneas and Hazel, 17. "The life that I've built with my husband," Roberts says. "The life that we've built with our children. And that's the best stuff. The point is to come home at the end of the day triumphantly to them." Roberts also reveals that she sent letters home while away in Australia for 62 days filming Ticket to Paradise. She notes that writing letters is something she and husband Moder have "always done" and she plans to one day show her children. "I have the first letter he ever wrote me. And one day, I'll show it to Hazel and say, 'That's, that's what you're looking for,' " says Roberts. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival MAX MONTINGELLI/Shutterstock Julia Roberts RELATED: Julia Roberts Says Filming New Movie Was the 'Longest I've Ever Been Away from My Family' Last month, the star opened up about returning to acting after a four-year hiatus, and the differences now that all three of her kids are teenagers. "I just take it all as it comes," Roberts told The New York Times in an interview alongside Clooney. "I try to be super present and not plan, and I don't have any upcoming acting jobs. Getting back to a routine feels really good. And I love being at home, I love being a mom." Story continues "Being in Australia [to film] was really challenging because of all the Covid regulations, and I think it's a real testament to friendship and to the creative environment we were in that it wasn't even harder, because I'm not built to be one person anymore. It's just not in my cellular data." George Clooney and Julia Roberts in Ticket to Paradise Trailer Universal Pictures/YouTube Elsewhere in the interview, Roberts spoke about being grateful to have spent time with Clooney, his wife Amal, and their twins Alexander and Ella, during the filming of Ticket to Paradise. "The Clooneys saved me from complete loneliness and despair. We were in a bubble, and it's the longest I've ever been away from my family," she revealed. "I don't think I've spent that much time by myself since I was 25." Clooney noted when Roberts' family did come to visit, "they had to fly into Sydney and quarantine for two weeks by themselves before she could see them." Following the cancelation of his tour dates in South America, South Africa and Asia, Justin Bieber has postponed all of his remaining Justice World Tour dates until an unspecified time next year. The announcement, which was made via the tours official Instagram page, says ticketholders will be informed on next steps as updates occur. More from Variety The tour, which was originally scheduled to launch in 2020, has been postponed or delayed several times already, most recently due to his bout with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare virus that in his case caused facial paralysis. It finally launched in March and covered most of North America, but he postponed the remaining dates early in June after announcing his difficulties with the disease. He resumed the tour in August, but after several dates he announced on Sept. 6 that he needed to take a break from performing to make my health the priority right now. The tour had been scheduled to resume on Oct. 22 in Malaysia, continue through east Asia, Australia and New Zealand before resuming in Europe in January and continuing through the end of March. The postponed North American dates also have not been officially canceled. Despite Biebers previous announcement about his health, fans for the postponed dates, who cannot receive a refund until the shows are officially canceled, were not pleased by the announcements, judging by the comments on the post. Just cancel the rest of the tour at this point and give everyone a refund I cant even remember how long ago I bought tickets its been that LONG!, one wrote. In announcing the postponements last month, Bieber wrote: Earlier this year, I went public about my battle with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, where my face was partly paralyzed. Story continues As the result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North America leg of the Justice Tour.After resting end consulting with doctors, family and team, I went to Europe in an effort to continue with the tour. I performed six live shows, but it took a real toll on me. This past weekend I performed at Rock in Rio and I gave everything I have to the people in Brazil. After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I needed to make my health a priority right now. So Im going to take a break from touring for the time being. Im going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better period Ive been so proud to bring this show and our message of justice to the world.Thank you for your prayers and support throughout all of this exclamation point i love you all passionately! The announcement comes as a surprise, as Bieber was posting photos from his appearance at the Rock in Rio festival on Instagram the night before. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. If there was any doubt about Kranium being at the forefront of the dancehall reggae market, set those aside. Emerging as a talented artist in multiple countries mainly his homelands of Jamaica and the United States Kranium is poised to take the next step in his career with his forthcoming eight-song EP, In Too Deep. Every time I create a record, I think of the obstacles of being a dancehall artist, he tells Billboard. That alone gives me enough confidence to relax and make sure that Im putting out something that makes sense for everybody to enjoy. More from Billboard Kraniums burning drive comes from being born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, but his flavorful swagger came from his move to the States at 12. The icing came when he carved out his breakout single with Nobody Has to Know in 2015. The gold-certified record received an extra boost when Ty Dolla $ign put his stamp on the remix, propelling the song to No. 2 and No. 44 on the Billboard Reggae Digital Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts, respectively. The chart win landed Kranium a label deal with Atlantic Records later that year, and helped him accomplish a rare feat: becoming a star in the United States as a dancehall artist with little to no buzz in Jamaica. However, it came at a price, he explains, as life got rather dark once Nobody Has to Know became a hit. I really thought I was going to be a one-hit wonder, he admits. Nobody Has to Know, at that time, when it came out, was the only thing you were hearing. That was the only reggae that translated from the American market to Africa and the Caribbean at the time. It was a hard mountain and a high one at that. He adds: I didnt believe I would climb that mountain because that was the same time I went into a depression, he says. The first time I knew what anxiety and depression were was when that song came out. You get so much love, and then eventually it starts slowing down, and you start thinking everything doesnt seem the same anymore, and then its like, Whats next?' Story continues Kranium says that for artists in Jamaica, blowing up there is an amazing feeling because its one of the most musical places on Earth. He adds that the island nation accepts music with no reservations, and that artists there can get a hit record at any age so long as the music is good. He came to understand there really is no blueprint, and whats popular in one region may not be the same on the other side of the world. Music is universal, and that understanding got Kranium out of his rut and into a period of creativity that generated more hit songs, such as We Can featuring Tory Lanez, Gal Policy and more. Ive always wanted to make a difference, he says. But I just didnt know how. All I knew was I can only do that by being consistent and understanding theres no blueprint for success. You have to just keep creating. With his new album In Too Deep, Kranium is looking to expand on the outlook hes found with his career, which revolves around the idea that different music markets have their own go-to records. The first single, Without You, featuring Queen Naija, released last week, is a lush record with hints of Afrobeat, dancehall reggae, and R&B sprinkled throughout. I feel like music changes at a very fast pace, if were being fair, Kranium says. The sound changes every day, and you have kids on the internet that are creating their own thing because of different impressions and outlets, so what I do is basically adapt to the sound of whats going on now while still keeping that authenticity of how I personally think music is supposed to be and thats how I stand out. The world has more or less opened back up after the pandemic stopped everything when it hit in 2020, and theres a whirlwind of emotions flying around with being back outside. People want something to feel good about after a crazy few years, and Kranium feels hes giving that with In Too Deep. In Too Deep can mean two things, he shares. Im a very sexual and raw artist, but I feel like its going to catch them when they really listen to the project and realize that Im in too deep. I have a record on here called Paranoid about having people around, and then you have dope love songs that nobody ever really heard from me. The eight-track album will feature only two other appearances by R&B sensation BLEU and fellow Jamaican artist Dexta Daps. An album with expectations of hitting different markets is expected to have several guests join the fun, but Kranium believes you cant just throw anyone on a song, and he wont work with just anybody, because it has to make sense. The way I work with artists, I never have a specific person I wanna work with. I always make the song first, and then I think this person would sound dope on it, Kranium explains. I have some big artists who have hit me up for a record, and I turned them down because I dont want to put something out thats going to backfire or waste an opportunity. Kranium hasnt announced an official release date, but says the album is coming sooner rather than later. And with this new journey, the Mo Bay product wants fans to know he put his all into the project and will pour out even more in the future. I want my fans to take away the quality and time spent, the emotion in each voice, the growth, and creativity of a youth born different, he adds. I spent 19 months on this album. I feel like the quality is quality, while trends come and go. I want to be the artist when Im old and gone that Im still getting sampled 20 to 30 years from now, and that only happens with the realness. Click here to read the full article. (PA) (PA Archive) Labour has pledged to deliver rapid deals with the EU on trade issues linked to Northern Ireland if it wins power. Labour shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle also told the partys conference in Liverpool that the Conservatives have squandered with lies and neglect a Labour legacy of a Northern Ireland increasingly at ease. Mr Kyle said there are problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol, but said they can be solved and insisted negotiation is the only path forward. Prime Minister Liz Truss has said she would prefer a negotiated solution with the EU over post-Brexit trading arrangements, but she is also pushing ahead with the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol Bill which the EU and other critics say will breach international law by suspending elements of the agreement. Mr Kyle told the conference: Labour bequeathed the Tories a Northern Ireland that was increasingly at ease, but they squandered it with their lies and neglect. It was the Tories who proposed, drafted, negotiated and signed the Northern Ireland protocol into international treaty. Yes, there are problems with it, but they can be solved. We know that negotiation is the only path forward. Addressing his partys proposed solution to the challenges, he said: A Labour government would deliver rapid deals with the EU on the flow of goods, the sharing of data, and making it easier for agricultural products to move around the UK and the island of Ireland. Labour delivered peace, prosperity and confidence to Northern Ireland. The Tories cant even negotiate a prawn sandwich across the Irish Sea, he added. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) said on Wednesday that she has requested assistance from the FBI to fight violent crime in the state. Lujan Grisham asked Attorney General Merrick Garland for additional FBI agents, after a similar move in Buffalo, N.Y., proved impactful in reducing homicide rates. Once these resources are allocated to New Mexico, I am confident the FBI and state law enforcement officers will achieve similar success as the Buffalo office, Lujan Grisham said in a letter to Garland. The New Mexico governor had previously requested similar assistance from the FBI in June. She pointed to a recent report from FBI Director Christopher Wray that a surge of agents and resources in Buffalo led to a 50 percent decrease in homicides. At this time, New Mexicos law enforcement officers require the support and resources that only the federal government can provide, Lujan Grisham said in her initial request to Wray. New Mexico saw more than 10,000 violent crimes in 2021, including about 150 homicides, according to newly released data from the FBI. The number of violent crimes nationwide remained largely consistent in 2021, with the number of murders growing at a slower pace than the year before. As violent crime surged amid the pandemic, there was a 30 percent increase in murders from 2019 to 2020. Lujan Grisham, who is up for reelection this year, strongly emphasized her previous commitments to public safety in Wednesdays announcement. She is currently leading her Republican opponent, Mark Ronchetti, by 5 points in a recent poll from Emerson College and The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden. JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images OPEC+'s output cut is complicating a hotly contested midterm election for the Biden administration. The oil group, lead by Saudi Arabia and Russia, slashed its output target Wednesday by 2 million barrels per day. The White House blasted the move and accused OPEC+ of "aligning with Russia." OPEC+ is adding political pressure on the Biden administration ahead of a hotly contested midterm election as gasoline prices head back up. The oil group on Wednesday slashed its oil production quota by 2 million barrels per day. Since several members are already pumping well below their quotas, the actual reduction in supply will likely be less than half that amount, borne primarily by de facto leader Saudi Arabia and key Middle Eastern allies like the UAE and Kuwait. Still, the White House blasted the move and accused OPEC+ of "aligning with Russia." Underscoring the high stakes for the Biden administration, officials tried to stop OPEC+ from cutting back and drafted talking points to describe the move as a "total disaster" and a "hostile act," according to CNN. In a note titled "OPEC+ takes on the West," analysts at Goldman Sachs also pointed out the quota cut is perhaps equally a political one as it is an attempt to grow short-term profits. "In addition, the speed at which such an agreement was formed suggests the accord was a political statement as well." Goldman added that some OPEC+ members were displeased with increased flows from US strategic reserves, Western plans to cap prices in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which would brings more oil supply back to the market. On Thursday, President Biden acknowledged he was disappointed by the OPEC+ decision but said "There's a lot of alternatives. We haven't made up our mind yet." The White House indicated Wednesday that less oil production from OPEC+ could trigger more releases from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, Bloomberg reported that the White House asked the Energy Department to look into whether a ban on exports of gasoline would lower prices. Story continues Biden has personally invested significant political capital in Saudi Arabia, which has spurned his requests to produce more oil and lower prices. In July, he visited the kingdom as part of a trip to the Middle East and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite criticizing him previously for his reputed role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The following month, OPEC+ announced in output increase of 100,000 barrels per day, an amount so small that experts said it would do little to move energy markets. In September, it trimmed production by 100,000 bpd, leading up to Wednesday's cut of 2 million bpd. After the latest OPEC+ meeting, Goldman Sachs lifted its price target on oil to $110 a barrel from $100. But the effect on retail gas prices that motorists will pay is less straight forward, as the US fuel market is also swayed by maintenance outages and certain fuel blends at key regional refining hubs. "The OPEC decision today will basically cause #gasprices only in a few regions to go up for now... East Coast, South, Northeast, Rockies potentially," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy tweeted Wednesday. "West Coast, Great Lakes, Plains will see prices drop as refinery issues are addressed. Yes, very complex." Still, oil prices are up 7% since reports of a production cut first emerged last week. And gas prices have been slowly creeping up again after falling by nearly 100 consecutive days over the summer. The current national average for a gallon of gas is $3.867, up 2.3% from a month ago, according to AAA. Read the original article on Business Insider The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's former printing and distribution center in West Milwaukee has been sold for $26 million. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's former production facility has been sold to a group affiliated with the company that last year bought the Chicago Tribune. The printing and distribution center, at 3825 and 4101 W. Burnham St., West Milwaukee, was sold by Journal Sentinel Inc., a subsidiary of national newspaper chain Gannett Co., to 4101 W. Burnham St. Milwaukee WI LLC for $26 million. That's according to newly posted state real estate records. The buyer has the same address as Twenty Lake Holdings LLC. Twenty Lake is the real estate subsidiary of New York-based Alden Global Capital LLC, according to published reports. Alden is a hedge fund that owns more than 200 newspapers. Its holdings include the Chicago Tribune, which Alden obtained with its 2021 purchase of Tribune Publishing. The sale of the West Milwaukee facility to an Alden affiliate raises the likelihood it will be used to print the Chicago Tribune. Efforts to reach an Alden representative Friday for more information weren't initially successful. Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper chain, put the production facility up for sale after announcing in March it would be closed as a cost-cutting measure. The Journal Sentinel stopped using the printing plant in May. Gannett shifted printing of its 11 Wisconsin newspapers, including the Journal Sentinel, to its production plant in Peoria, Illinois. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-Journal Sentinel production plant sold to Chicago Tribune affiliate Ukrainian activist Oleksandra Matviichuk holds a placard which says For Your and Our Freedom as she protests in front of Russian Embassy against decision of Russian court to jail IT professional Konstantin Kotov, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 5, 2019. Ukrainian activist Oleksandra Matviichuk holds a placard which says For Your and Our Freedom as she protests in front of Russian Embassy against decision of Russian court to jail IT professional Konstantin Kotov, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 5, 2019. Credit - Sergii KharchenkoNurPhoto/Getty Images Oleksandra Matviichuk heads Ukraines Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday along with Memorial, the largest human rights organization in Russia, and Ales Bialiatski, a democracy and human rights advocate in Belarus. Founded in 2007 to strengthen civil society and democracy in Ukraine, the Center for Civil Liberties has this year focused on investigating and documenting war crimes against the countrys civilian population by the Russian military following its invasion. The Nobel Committee, in handing its highest award to human rights activists in neighboring countries, cited their consistent efforts in favour of humanist values, anti-militarism and principles of law. I spoke with Matviichuk on Sept. 30 as she prepared to travel to New York for the Oslo Freedom Forum, which convened leading human rights activists from around the world five days before the Nobel was announced. Andelman: How has human rights changed since the first Oslo Freedom Forum more than a decade ago? Matviichuk; I can say that in parts of the region, of my region, we see how the negative trends of international law become more and more visible. And Ukraine is maybe the only state in our part of the world which in all these ten years has been trying to counteract this negative trend. What do I mean? Eight years ago, Ukrainians started a revolution of dignity. They struggled for their right of democratic choicejust for the chance to build a country where the rights of everybody are protected, the judiciary is independent, government is accountable, and police do not beat peaceful student demonstrations. And Ukrainians paid a high price for this revolution of dignity. You know that police broke up peaceful student demonstrations in the main square of our capital. And then when Ukraine received a chance to provide a real democratic transformation, after the collapse of the Soviet Union regime, in order to stop us Russia started the occupation of Crimea and underground work in the Donbass, which resulted in the occupation of parts of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. Story continues This is the crucial point. Because in our region, Russia tried to dictate a trend of authoritarianism. And many people in the world think that this work by Russia started in February 2022 but the truth is this war started in February 2014. And the real reason is not that Putin is afraid of NATOhowever he might try to describe his actions this year. The truth is that Putin is afraid of the idea of freedom. And all these past eight years, Ukrainians, have been trying to counteract this negative trend of authoritarianism in different countries, which we see in Russia, in Belarus in Kazakhstan, in Tajikistan, in Poland, in Hungary. In parallel with defending our country and our people, in this war with Russia we try to provide democratic reforms. And I would point to the Chatham House report which said that in the four or five first years after the collapse of its authoritarian regime, Ukraine made much better, more positive impact developing democratic reform in the country then in the previous 20 years before. What kind of organization should we have in place, that can react more effectively than the UN to solve problems of the sort being unleashed by Russia? We are in the forefront of the battle between autocracy and democracy in this world. We are fighting for our right to have a democratic choice. And Putin? This work has not only a military but a value dimension. Thats why its not only the war between two states. Its a war between two systemsauthoritarianism and democracy. And Putin in his work is trying to convince Ukrainians and the whole world that our valueslike democracy, rule of law, freedom of human rightsare artificial, are fake values. Because he tried to convince people, if they are real why couldnt they protect you during this war? Hes tried to show that the whole UN system is unable to release even one single person from captivity, and this leads to a severe situation for myself as a human rights lawyer who has experience of 20 years defending human rights and freedom. Now, for the question, how can you help Ukraine? The answer: please provide Ukraine with weapons. But this is [still] not a world which is safe to live in. When a human rights lawyer cant use any legal instrument to defend people from Russian atrocities, this is a very dangerous world to live in. I totally believe that this period is temporal, and we have to make several important goals on the level of the international community because these problems cross international borders. First, we need to reform international organizations because the whole architecture of international peace and security were laid in ruins by these Russian activities. Because the whole UN is incapable of doing anything with Russia as a permanent member state. And when the General Secretary of the UN was in Kyiv, a Russian rocket hit Kyiv and killed a journalist of Radio Liberty on that same day. Second, we need to show justice for people. We have to create an international tribunal for war crimes against humanity and genocide and hold Russian perpetrators accountable. Its important, not only for Ukraine, but for many nations in the world. Russia committed war crimes in Chechnya, even in Syria, in Mali, in Libya, in other countries of the world. Authoritarian leaders of other countries are inspired by this example. They start to think, yes, we can do whatever we want because there is no tool to push us to be in line with human rights. This is our task. What can international human rights organizations do to help you in this task? I have been documenting war crimes for eight years. After the large-scale Russian invasion we united with several dozen regional organizations. And working together for seven months, we have documented more than 19,000 episodes of war crimes. Its different types of war crime. Its deliberate shelling of residential buildings, churches, hospitals, schools. Its attacks against evacuation corridors. Its murders, torture, sexual violence and abductions of civilians in occupied territories. And the question I asked myself is, for whom are we documenting all this? Because we are not historians. We dont do it for national archives. We want to see Putin, those surrounding him, and Russian perpetrators who committed these crimes by their own hands held accountable. Do you really see Putin jailed by the International Court of Justice? I mean, thats fairly unrealistic, right? This is a problem which I see as a lawyerthe gap of impunitywhich Ukrainian people face, which Syrian people faced before us, people in other countries face. What do I mean? When national systems dont want to prosecute or are not capable, because now the Ukrainian system wants to prosecute but is not capable. We have enormous amounts of war crimes, and the best prosecutors office in world could not effectively investigate 2,000 criminal proceedings which we have at our current moment. But the international system will provide an effective response because the court of justice is not about criminal responsibility. Its another type of court. The only court which can bring people to individual responsibility is the International Criminal Court. The problem with the International Criminal Court? The ICC limits itself only to several selected cases. And this is a question: who will provide justice for hundreds of thousands of victims of war crimes? And this is a question that interests not only Ukrainian people but all people. At the Nuremberg trials, they convened a special court just for war crimes in the Second World War. Perhaps thats something that really needs to be considered here? We have to. We must move further with Ukraine. What do I mean? When we speak about the Nuremberg trials, it was an essential step in the past century to bring justicebut only after the Nazi regime had collapsed. Now we are in a new century and must make an additional historical step. We must bring justice regardless of whether a regime stays stable. Justice must not be dependent on the existence of the Putin regime. And thats why we cannot, we must not wait. How effective do you think the OSCE (Organization for the Security and Co-operation in Europe) has been? After the Russian invasion, I was invited to open a special international event for the civil society of Ukraine. I said that the OSCE failed in its mandate to preserve security in our region. And this is a time for a broader conversation for several reasons which I named in my speech. The first reason is that human rights, when separated from the security issue and economic issues, became like something secondary. The main political decisions were based not on human rights values. Even in this extreme situation, human rights has the same importance as security and economics. And states that violate systematically human rights for years pose threats for the whole region. I was told that human rights wasnt central and not present in the rooms where decisions were taking place. But now we have the voice of armies exactly because the voice of civil society wasnt heard properly. Putin has just made his declaration annexing the four eastern regions of Ukraineand now the US is imposing more sanctions. He annexed these regions. He signed the document joining these oblasts of Ukraine to the territory of Russia, and he proclaimed that now they are Russia. In response our president replied that Ukraine will apply for urgent membership in NATO. We live in very dramatic times, and political leaders of the world have to take historical responsibility because for decades, Ive seen that political leaders behave like they believe the problems we face will vanish. But the truth is that these problems will not vanish. They have to take responsibility and to solve these problems for the next generation and not think only about the electoral period or the future of their own parties. First of all, they have to restore the whole international system of peace and security and make the international mechanism of human rights effective. It is their responsibility for the whole world. Ukraine is only one of the examples of a global problem, and this disease manifests itself globally. Russian war is a disease. Second, we live in a very interconnected worked and only spreading freedom can make our world safer. And if political leaders will not take this historical responsibility, people can take this historical responsibility. All of my experience as a human rights defender has showed me that ordinary people have much greater impact than they can even imagine. And massive mobilization of ordinary people around the world can change the worlds history much more quickly than any UN intervention. This is Fei Siong Group's first foray into the fried chicken quick service restaurant business, to develop and operate new Popeyes restaurants in Singapore Fei Siong Group is committed to delivering high food quality, and looks to bring exciting new menu items to guests in Singapore SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based Fei Siong Group announces it has reached agreement with PLK APAC Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), to develop and operate new Popeyes restaurants in Singapore. Yesterday in a private meeting, representatives from both groups met to formally kick-off the development agreement that grants Fei Siong Group the exclusive right to develop and operate new Popeyes restaurants in Singapore, effective as of 8 July 2022. From Popeyes: Refreshed storefront design that Fei Siong Group is looking to adopt for upcoming Popeyes Singapore outlets Fei Siong Group first began its journey into the local food and beverages industry, starting from a humble fishball noodle stall. Over the past 27 years, Fei Siong Group has gradually grown, and now operates over 160 outlets islandwide, as one of Singapore's leading food service companies. Fei Siong Group's dining concepts range from food kiosks to specialty stores and food atriums notable names include Encik Tan, EAT, Malaysia Boleh! and Nam Kee Pau. Now, Fei Siong Group is looking to open its first Popeyes store in January 2023, reflecting the latest visual design and store enhancements. "This agreement marks Fei Siong Group's first venture into the fried chicken quick service restaurant industry. We believe in Popeyes' ethos, to serve delicious fried chicken for everyone, and we look forward to bringing more value to guests and fans in terms of the brand look and menu offerings. In line with recent digital transformation efforts in the local F&B scene, we will also be looking to streamline operations through innovative technology in the coming months," said Mr Tan Kim Siong, Chairman of Fei Siong Group. Popeyes has been in Singapore for well over a decade, and with this agreement between RBI and Fei Siong Group, customers can look forward to refreshed and modernised Popeyes outlets islandwide, starting with a new outlet opening at The Rail Mall in January 2023. Additionally, Fei Siong Group remains committed to delivering high food quality, and looks to bring exciting new menu items to guests in Singapore. Story continues "Popeyes has been serving Singaporeans for a long time, and we believe Fei Siong Group will continue to do so as a great franchise operator for years to come. They have established themselves as a household name, and their success with local food businesses is indicative of their understanding of the Singaporean palate. We believe that Fei Siong Group's expertise in local food will provide invaluable experience to replicate the global success of Popeyes in Singapore," said Rafael Odorizzi, APAC President of Restaurant Brands International. About Fei Siong Group Founded in 1995 by Mr Tan Kim Siong, Chairman of the Fei Siong Group, the Group made its first foray into the food and beverages (F&B) scene with its pioneer stall selling fishball noodles in a hawker centre outside the former National Library at Stamford Road. Today, Fei Siong Group is one of Singapore's largest casual dining and quick-service restaurant companies with 19 brands and over 160 outlets operating in Singapore. As a constant forerunner in the ever-changing landscape of the food services industry, the Group is committed to delivering authentic and quality local dishes at affordable prices. For more information, please visit https://feisionggroup.com.sg/. About Popeyes Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes has more than 50 years of history and culinary tradition. Popeyes distinguishes itself with a unique New Orleans style menu featuring spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and other regional items. The chain's passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic food has allowed Popeyes to become one of the world's largest chicken quick service restaurants with over 3,700 restaurants in the U.S. and around the world. To learn more about the brand, please visit the Popeyes brand website at www.popeyes.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Restaurant Brands International Inc. Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with over $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 29,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands TIM HORTONS, BURGER KING, POPEYES, and FIREHOUSE SUBS. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities. To learn more about RBI, please visit the company's website at http://www.rbi.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which reflect management's current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, initiatives and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our expectations regarding the ability of Fei Song Group to develop and operate Popeyes restaurants beginning in January 2023. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RBI's expectations are detailed in filings of RBI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following risks: risk related to our ability to successfully implement its domestic and international growth strategy and risks related to its international operations; risks related to our ability to compete domestically and internationally in an intensely competitive industry; global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products; our relationship with, and the success of, our franchisees and risks related to our fully franchised business model; and the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and franchisee support of these programs. Other than as required under applicable laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise. SOURCE Fei Siong Group (Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp. illegally fired a Michigan employee because she engaged in union activism and participated in a US labor board proceeding, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled. Most Read from Bloomberg The agency judges decision Friday requires the coffee chain to offer the worker reinstatement with back pay. It says Starbucks must also hold a meeting with employees as well as representatives of management, the government and the union, at which a notice is read about workers rights and about the agencys determination that the company broke the law. Starbucks, which has said that claims of anti-union activity on its part are categorically false, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has denied wrongdoing in the case. See also: Starbucks fires activist who refused to remove anti-suicide pin In the ruling, the agency judge wrote that the NLRB general counsel had demonstrated that Starbucks acted with animus when it fired the employee, who had helped build support for unionizing her Ann Arbor store. Fridays ruling is the first time a labor board judge has ruled that Starbucks broke the law in its ongoing struggle with Workers United, the labor group organizing at its stores across the country. NLRB judges orders can be appealed to labor board members in Washington, D.C., and from there to federal court. The agencys general counsel has issued dozens of pending complaints around the country accusing Starbucks of violating workers rights. The union, Starbucks Workers United, has filed labor board claims accusing the company of firing more than 80 employees because of their activism. It has prevailed in elections at more than 240 of the chains roughly 9,000 corporate-owned US stores over the past year, following an initial landmark victory in Buffalo, New York, last December. Story continues The fired employee, Hannah Whitbeck, urged Starbucks to heed the judges ruling and her co-workers vote to unionize at her store following her firing. I would hope that they learn their lesson, that firing people because they want to start a union is not going to solve their problems, she said in an interview. In fact its only going to make it worse. (Updates with employee comment in final paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Canadian hundred dollar bills and woman's hand holding roll of bills The tax-free savings account (TFSA) was introduced back in 2009 and designed to be a very straightforward savings vehicle. You contribute after-tax dollars to the account and invest them in pretty much anything, with any growth inside the account being tax free. You can withdraw funds whenever you want, for any purpose. If thats not enough, the full fair market value of whatever you withdraw can be recontributed beginning the following calendar year. With all these benefits, and the simplicity inherent in the account design, what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot judging by the number of cases weve seen over the past decade since the TFSAs launch. Some cases involve penalties charged for accidental TFSA overcontributions, while others involved taxpayers who got caught by the TFSA advantage rules. Lets look at two recent cases, one involving a taxpayer who overcontributed, and one featuring a taxpayer who challenged the constitutionality of the TFSAs 100-per-cent advantage tax. The first case involved an 83-year-old, self-represented Saskatchewan taxpayer who took the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to court over his TFSA overcontributions. As a reminder, if you accidentally overcontribute to your TFSA beyond your maximum, you can get hit with an overcontribution penalty tax that is equal to one per cent per month for each month youre over the limit. You can ask the CRA to waive or cancel this penalty tax if it can be established that it arose as a consequence of a reasonable error and the overcontribution is withdrawn from the TFSA without delay. If the CRA refuses to cancel the tax, you can take the matter to federal court, where a judge will determine whether the CRAs decision not to waive the tax was reasonable. Thats exactly what the taxpayer did in this most recent case. The taxpayer admitted to unknowingly overcontributing to his TFSA during 2016 and 2017. On Jan. 1, 2016, the taxpayer had TFSA contribution room of approximately $27,500, but contributed $46,500 that year, exceeding his contribution room by $19,000. Consequently, the CRA in July 2017 issued a Notice of Assessment in respect of his TFSA overcontribution for the 2016 taxation year and charged him a penalty tax. Story continues The 2017 TFSA dollar limit was $5,500, so on Jan. 1, 2017, he exceeded his contribution room by $13,500. The CRA in July 2018 issued the taxpayer a second Notice of Assessment in respect of his TFSA overcontribution for the 2017 taxation year, again charging a penalty tax. For 2018, the TFSA dollar limit was also $5,500, so he exceeded his contribution room by $8,000 on Jan. 1, 2018. In a letter sent in September 2018, the TFSA Processing Unit at the CRA recommended the taxpayer withdraw the excess contributions from his TFSA as soon as possible to stop the monthly one-per-cent penalty tax from continuing, and the taxpayer on Oct. 1, 2018, withdrew $9,000 from his TFSA. A week later, the taxpayer submitted a first request for taxpayer relief for his TFSA overcontribution, claiming he was not responsible for the error because he was not informed by his bank or the CRA that he was overcontributing. He also claimed he was unaware that withdrawals he made from his TFSA were only added to his contribution room the following calendar year. In January 2019, the CRA denied his request for relief, so the taxpayer asked for a second-level review, which was again denied in June 2019. In denying the second request, the CRA officer noted the taxpayer didnt remove the excess contributions from his TFSA for 2016 and 2017 until Oct. 1, 2018, which was not fast enough. The Canada Revenue Agency building in Ottawa. The taxpayer then turned to the Federal Court, asking it to review whether the CRAs decision denying him relief was reasonable. In court, the taxpayers primary argument was that the CRA failed to administer the income tax system fairly and reasonably. He explained he did not immediately withdraw his excess TFSA contributions because he was waiting for responses from the CRA to his questions. He also felt the CRA has a duty of care to have a system that does not allow overcontribution. Notwithstanding these arguments, the judge found the CRA had reasonably responded to his questions. She concluded the CRA officers decision to deny penalty tax relief was reasonable. Although (the taxpayer) was notified of his overcontributions, he did not act without delay to remove the excess contributions from his TFSA, the judge said. The second recent case involving the TFSA penalty tax was at the Tax Court and concerned the advantage rules, which are a series of anti-avoidance rules in the Income Tax Act designed to prevent abuse and manipulation of all registered plans, including TFSAs. If you find yourself offside these rules, you could face a 100-per-cent penalty tax on the fair market value of any advantage you receive that is related to a registered plan. In this case, the taxpayer was appealing reassessments by the CRA on his TFSA resulting from the advantage he received regarding the transfer of private company shares to his TFSA. The taxpayer asked the court to determine whether the penalty tax was a penalty or a tax, and whether it should be declared unconstitutional as a consequence of Parliament having improperly delegated the rate-setting element of that tax to the CRA, in contravention of the Constitution Act. Perhaps not surprisingly, the court, after a lengthy legal analysis, held that the advantage tax is, indeed, a tax and, furthermore, is validly imposed. It also concluded its not unconstitutional, since the CRA doesnt set the tax rate; it merely has the discretion to waive or cancel all or part of the tax. As the court wrote, Whatever delegation of taxation power there may be is merely, ministerial discretion, itself sufficiently constrained to permitted administrative duties. The taxpayer has appealed this decision to the Federal Court of Appeal, which will likely hear the case sometime in 2023. Jamie Golombek, CPA, CA, CFP, CLU, TEP, is the managing director, Tax & Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto. Jamie.Golombek@cibc.com _____________________________________________________________ If you like this story, sign up for the FP Investor Newsletter. _____________________________________________________________ Over the next three years, Thailand will be taking major steps in fulfilling its plan to impose a total ban on plastic scrap imports. Thailands Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) will be implementing a plan of action in three phases that will culminate in a total ban on plastic scrap imports by 2025, according to Minister Varawut Silpa-archa. As part of the first phase, the department will start limiting the amount of imported plastic scrap based on actual production capacities next year. During this period, companies will still be able to fully import the scrap that they need. In 2024, as part of the second phase, only 50 percent of imports will be allowed before transitioning to a total ban at the start of 2025. More from NextShark: NYU Graduate, Taiwanese Company Help Groups Source Needed PPE From Asia The U.S., which is the second-biggest exporter of plastic scrap to Thailand after Japan, sent under 4,700 metric tons of plastic scrap to Thailand in 2021. It was a significant drop from the 107,000 metric tons the U.S. sent there in 2018. "Thailand must not be a dump site for plastic waste," Silpa-archa was quoted as saying. "By the end of the next three years, we will not allow any import of plastic scraps from around the world." With the planned total ban, Thailand is following the steps of its Asian neighbors China, Malaysia and Vietnam, which have imposed their own plastic ban imports over the years. More from NextShark: Archaeologists unearth first-ever house for Chinese transcontinental railroad workers in the US Silpa-archa, who chaired a sub-committee meeting on plastic and electronic waste management, shared that they have identified 14 plants located in free trade zones that would be able to import plastic scrap until 2024. Plants outside of the free trade zone must seek approval from the panel if they intend to import plastic scrap. Other efforts to reduce plastic waste include a plastic waste management plan to be drafted by the Department of Pollution Control to remove plastic waste from landfills for recycling by 2027. Story continues The ministry will also implement a yearly campaign to reduce single-use plastic bags in Thailands department stores and convenience stores. More from NextShark: Man Arrested for Skipping $70 Bill, Using Slurs and Assaulting Sushi Restaurant Owner in Virginia Silpa-archa said the campaign has so far been successful, managing to reduce plastic bag usage in the last two years by 43 percent, or 150,000 tonnes. Featured Image via NBT World More from NextShark: Vietnamese refugee who vows to 'fight the woke agenda' wins VA GOP nom despite raising less money In this Friday, June 26, 2015 file photo, people gather in Washington's Lafayette Park to see the White House illuminated with rainbow colors to mark the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. For a moment, I thought I might have ruined dinner with my friends. Jackie, Kate and I had just sat down when our middle-age server arrived to introduce herself as Kris and handed out menus. I started to tell her that I was to receive the bill, but Kate butted in. The bill goes to me, she said to the server. I made the reservation. You can check. No, I want this, I said. Its your anniver ... I had broken our rule. I looked at the server, but she seemed not to have heard me. She just smiled and nodded at Kate. When she walked away, I immediately apologized. We were at dinner to celebrate Kate and Jackies anniversaries their Ohio commitment ceremony in 1996, and their New York City wedding in 2014. Bigotry in the open For decades, we have regularly met for dinner, and they have insisted on just one rule: I am not to mention their marriage when we are out in public. After all these years together, my friends two of the kindest and most gentle people I know still worry for their safety. In the early days, we tried to joke that we didnt want anyone spitting in our soup. In recent years, weve been more worried about nearby customers who might overhear and become angry, and even aggressive. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. It is one thing to be in a same-sex marriage in major cities on the east and west coasts. In other parts of the country, including here in the Midwest, too often it feels risky to be out in the open about your love. We were dining in an area where people have never taken down their Trump yard signs, and some drive pickups festooned with large Trump flags and, sometimes, Confederate flags, too. People are louder these days about their bigotry. Marriage for same-sex couples up for debate again?: We told our wedding guests about gay marriage inequality. We thought it was in the past. Story continues Friends who became family After our server left to put in our order, we started talking about the long life Jackie and Kate have built together. Many of the stories were sweet and funny, and I was lucky to be a part of some of them. They merged households just as I was going through a divorce, in 1994. When they saw my wall of empty bookshelves, they packed up all their duplicates they are both big readers and delivered them to our new home. Jackie and Kate at their commitment ceremony in 1996. They are friends who long ago became family. Together we have been through countless celebrations and losses, and ridiculously long drives for neighborhood Christmas displays. Jackie knew before I did that one day, I would marry the man who has now been my husband for almost 20 years. Kate was the United Church of Christ minister who guided us through our wedding vows and delivered a sermon at our wedding that was so uplifting I still hear about it from those who were in attendance. Their wedding was in New York City because, in 2014, Ohio still did not recognize same-sex marriage. When they exchanged vows, Sherrod and I cried. They had waited so long. But even in liberal New York City, Kate hesitated to hold hands with Jackie for wedding photographs outside. Her fear may have been unfounded, but it was forged in horrible truths. Connie Schultz and her husband Sherrod Brown with Jackie and Kate, center, celebrate the Supreme Court's decision legalizing gay marriage at Cleveland City Hall in 2015. Less than a year later, on Kates birthday, the U.S. Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law of the land. I will never forget that day. Sherrod and I called each other at the same time and were kicked to voicemail. We cleared our schedules and headed downtown to meet Jackie and Kate at the celebration outside Cleveland City Hall. Only during dinner this week did I learn they were worried for our safety that day. Not everyone was celebrating, Kate reminded me. Feeling downright unsafe: Why we're leaving our beloved Texas home in search of freedom from anti-LGBTQ attacks 'It's their wedding anniversary' We had finished dinner and were waiting for the check when Kris, our server, sidled up to the table again and chirped, Did I hear someone is celebrating an anniversary? She was talking to three women. There was no mistaking her intention, or her smile. I pointed to Jackie and Kate and said, Yes, its their wedding anniversary. You get a free dessert, Kris said, and she rattled off their options. We stayed. In that busy dining room, full of people we did not know, we stayed for dessert to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Jackie and Kate. 'Celebrate every chance we get' Afterwards, we were almost out the door when I asked Kate and Jackie to wait for just a minute. I roamed the restaurant until I found Kris. I introduced myself as a columnist this time and thanked her for celebrating my friends anniversary. Here in Trump country, I added. Jackie and Kate after their wedding ceremony in New York City in 2014. She nodded and smiled. Well, it doesnt matter where we are, does it? Love is love, and we should celebrate every chance we get. If we would all do that, think how better off wed be. Happy anniversary, dear Kate and Jackie. Happy anniversary, out loud. USA TODAY columnist Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize winner whose novel, The Daughters of Erietown, is a New York Times bestseller. You can reach her at CSchultz@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @ConnieSchultz More from Connie Schultz: Knowing when it's time to say goodbye, not because I don't love but because I do Americans want stricter gun safety measures. Gen Z will help us get there. 'Im going to put a box around work': Thats a country song waiting to happen You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LGBTQ love: After years, finally celebrating this marriage out loud Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Top officials in Belarus, a key Russian ally, are growing increasingly on edge this week about what they see as provocationsand warning that they might soon be forced into a harsh response. The head of the border committee of Belarus, Anatoly Lappo, claimed that Poland was acting provocatively, and that if any Polish attack takes place against Belarusian border officials, Belarus will not hold back. [If] there will be at least one bullet in our border guards, the answer will be immediate and cruel, Lappo said. Its just the latest indication that Belarus could be laying the groundwork to potentially use force against neighboring countries by claiming provocations as a justification. The threats echoed the way Russia staged attacks against its own troops early this year in order to claim a reason to invade Ukraine. The warning comes just as Ukrainian forces prepare for possible attacks from Belarus. According to an assessment from Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Colonel Roman Kostenko, it is possible that Belarus may mobilize its forces to invade Ukraine. This is a threat. It cannot be ruled out that they will make another dash from there in the north, Kostenko, who is Secretary of Ukraines Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, said in an interview Ukrinform published this week. Russian Infighting Peaks With Calls for Suicide and Execution The potential threats from Belarus have prompted Ukraine to keep a defensive line along the shared Belarus-Ukraine border, Kostenko said. The Ukrainian Army, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service have also been hosting joint exercises near the border. We know that Belarus is an enemy. We realize that they may go to war, he added. Belarus has toed the line with Russia and the war in Ukraine for months now. While Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been a key ally of Russia and allowed Moscow to use Belarus as a staging ground for the war, Lukashenko has also tried to distance his country from the war in some regards. He has accused the war of dragging on too long and repeatedly claimed he is interested in peace, not conflict. Story continues But Lukashenko himself appears to be bandwagoning on the idea that Ukraine and neighboring countries are acting out of turn right now. Earlier this week, he accused Ukraine of acting provocatively towards Belarus. Ukraine conducts optical, electronic, and radio-technical reconnaissance of our territory, troops, and facilities, with their drones often violating the Belarusian state border, Lukashenko said. They say they are allegedly very concerned about Belarus' entering the war and yet at the same time they continue provocations on the border. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, too, said Russias war in Ukraine has resulted in national security threats to Belarus, in particular, due to other countries eyeing Belarus as a Russian ally. Today we believe that the NATO forces in neighboring countries can become the core for creating attack groups against Russia and Belarus as its closest ally, Khrenin said Thursday. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has increased its troop presence in neighboring countries near Belarus as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine, due to a pattern of aggressive actions against its neighbors and the wider transatlantic community. NATO has deployed four multinational battlegroups of approximately 4,500 troops to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland as a part of the effort, which is aimed at deterring Russia. Nonetheless, Belarus is interpreting the rotational presence as a provocation, falling in line with Russia's claims that NATO has long been provoking Moscow. Putins Favorite Copycat Gears Up in Panicked Wartime Frenzy An analysis of the international situation and a forecast of its development allow making a number of main conclusions that testify to the presence of direct challenges to the military security of the Republic of Belarus, Khrenin said Tuesday at a military security meeting with Lukashenko. According to Ukrainian intelligence the Security Service colonel Kostenko has reviewed, Belarus will enter the war if Russia is winning. But for now, Russia is struggling to maintain control of territories that it has seized. Last month Ukrainian forces pushed Russia out of several territories it had seized in the northeast and south of the country. This week Ukrainian forces continue to push into territories that Moscow claims to have absorbed into Russia via illegal annexation. Nonetheless, Russia has plans to send troops into Belarus shortly, Kostenko said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Its about time! Trader Joes There are some big changes coming to Trader Joes! In the latest episode of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, hosts Matt Sloan, vice president of marketing, and Tara Miller, marketing director at the grocery store chain, revealed that free product samples are slated to make their triumphant comeback after a nearly three-year absence. As devoted Trader Joes shoppers may know, the company suspended its free product samples due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so for many, their reappearance represents a real return to normalcy. It hasnt been possible to offer a lot of product samples in our stores over the past few years, but we are bringing it back with a new approach, Miller noted, though she didnt specify an exact date for the samples return. : So what exactly does this new approach entail? Sloan added: We want to focus a little more on new productsthings not necessarily on your shopping list, but things were excited to share. While this doesnt necessarily mean you wont be able to ask a Trader Joes employee to sample some old favorites like Everything But the Bagel Seasoning and a hunk of Unexpected Cheddar, there will clearly be a focus on new and noteworthy items going forward. Since this happy announcement was made during TJs annual Captains Meetinga conference attended by Trader Joes store managers from around the countrySloan and Miller were able to talk directly to Trader Joes employees and understand what the return of product samples really means. [Ive missed] the conversations with customers, explained Ken, the Captain of a Trader Joes outpost in Somerville, Massachusetts. We have all these new products that we can talk about with our customers, but we want our customers to try them. I just can't wait to go back. Its gonna be high-fives all around, because we have been waiting for this moment for a long time. : Jorge, another TJs Captain from Massachusetts, even dubbed food a conversation-starter, adding: It is really hard to explain to [shoppers] what Crunchy Jalapeno Dip tastes like, so it's really exciting to have them just actually start a conversation with food. And with samples coming back, Trader Joes shoppers can definitely expect new products to taste. According to Miller, one such new item is a spin on the popular Chocolate Croissants found in the frozen foods section. This new product, apparently called Chocolate Chocolate Croissants, was just approved for a limited run. Miller noted that each pastry will feature a chocolate croissant dough filled with chocolate. Another team member mentioned a sweet dip dubbed Cannoli Dip, which will most likely debut around the holidays. Story continues : Whats more? The Trader Joes Powers That Be also have plans to open additional stores nationwide, with openings already planned in Oregon and Rhode Island. Happy shopping! For more Real Simple news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Real Simple. Oklahoma City police Sgt. Meagan Burke, 31, was killed while driving home from work in a head-on collision early on the morning of Sept. 29, 2022. A funeral service honoring Sgt. Meagan Burke, an Oklahoma City police officer killed in a car accident last week, is planned for Thursday afternoon. Burke was involved in an off-duty crash while driving north on Interstate 44 near SW 44. She was struck head-on by a southbound vehicle that had swerved left and gone over the center guardrail, according to a police statement. Burke, 31, had served with the department since May 2016. The service will be held at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 S Pennsylvania Ave, in Oklahoma City. It is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Watch a replay of the event here. More: Oklahoma City police officer, mentor to local youth killed overnight in off-duty car crash This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Watch again: Memorial service for OKC Police Sgt. Meagan Burke Scott Vignos is the chief diversity officer at Oregons largest four-year university. But he wondered where that diversity was when he landed in the state with husband David Dallas in 2015, headed to Oregon State University for an administrator job. We came to Corvallis, and we were like, Where is everyone? Where are they hanging out? Where are they spending time? Vignos said. His observation drew knowing laughs from a crowd of professionals Wednesday night. Many dozens gathered for a networking event and had some version of Vignos question. Some of those are people anchored in Corvallis by career employers, employees, interns who all wondered where are the people who look like me? And some of the mid-Willamette Valleys largest employers hope answering that question also answers that of human resources managers: How can we retain workers? Retention Hello Mid-Valley is an attempt to get HP, Oregon State, Samaritan Health Services, PeaceHealth and other employers into the same room with potential hires. And to connect managers. And workers. Really, it's looking for anyone who can show people new to the region that cities like Albany, Corvallis and Salem are worth putting down roots in, organizers said. Among the most at risk for leaving are younger workers who are queer or people of color. University administrators and managers said the networking event creates a space where people can relate to the economy and one another through a lens of diverse identities. We recruit them, and then they leave, said Bonny Ray, a human resources director at Oregon State. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. If you cant find that community and connection, you return to it, she said, adding that outgoing employees in exit interviews sometimes cite a lack of community in their resignations. A couple of managers at Wednesdays event werent able to quantify the number of employees who leave mid-Willamette Valley employers because they feel excluded. But it was enough to get HR workers commiserating at professional organization meetings. All of the employers who are hosting this are experiencing that, Ray said. Hello Mid-Valley came together under a year of planning at the Mid-Valley Society for Human Resources Management, Ray said. Organizers said they modeled the networking event after Say Hey!, part of a decades-long regional effort by large Portland-area employers to diversify that area's historically mostly-white workforce. Anecdotally, that program has been a success. Ray is looking for the same and said Hello Mid-Valley will be held four times each year. Vignos said he believes the networking event will draw small businesses. Cross-pollination of diverse hiring practices and small business opportunities and growing professional networks were among the ways participants predicted workers will want to stay in Oregon. We never have opportunities to be in rooms like this, Vignos said. Racism Monica Kulp said she was in the room for restaurant recommendations. She moved to Corvallis in late 2020, she said, and largely has lived a secluded life under coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions while working in human resources at Oregon State. Kulp said shes ready to start building a network in Corvallis. I identified with the purpose of the space, she said. Im Latina. Kulp said the event outpaced her expectations: It's a lot more diverse than I expected." And she recommended some restaurants The Dizzy Hen for breakfast and Castor for a nice dinner. Oregons population is a little more diverse than it was in 2010. About 21.5%, or 825,226 were people of color 12 years ago. By 2020, that number increased to about 1.2 million or 28.3% of the states population. People with Asian, Black, Latino, Native American or other ethnic and national identities, broadly called people of color, also make up a larger share of the workforce. And theyre participating at a higher rate. Fewer than two in three, 62.6%, are employed among the states about 3.4 million people who are 16 or older and identify as white. People of color 16 and older are employed at a rate of 69.2% out of 760,519 potential workers, according to Oregon Employment Department figures. Oregon doesnt keep LGBTQ workforce statistics, but the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019 estimated about 2.2% of households in the state are same-sex the third largest number in U.S. David Ryusaki described what he hears from students, colleagues and his own experience working in Oregon. Being employed within a system that assumes a default gender, sex or skin color can make advancement difficult. There are people of color who work in these predominantly white spaces, Ryusaki said. In Oregon, advancement is difficult, especially for people who are Black. Median wages were $40,000 in 2019 for workers who are Black compared to $50,000 for all other workers in Oregon, a 25% gap. And the gap gets worse with more education, $68,000 for advanced degree-holders who are Black and $80,000 for everyone else. Economists write that less income translates to less home ownership, which means less wealth. Lower wealth in turn is associated with curtailed access to education, jobs and desirable housing. That cycle is institutional racism, according to an Oregon Employment Department report. Ryusaki oversees Global Community Kitchen, an Oregon State program that very much is an intersection of diversity and business practices. Student volunteers cook meals for campus events, drawing on cuisine from across the planet. He said he sees in that program what Hello Mid-Valley wants to achieve an earnest attempt to build community. You can get depressed at times, Ryusaki said. And it takes a space like this to recharge. The Live Oak Bank campus at 1757 Tiburon Dr. in Wilmington, N.C. As more technology companies establish themselves in the Wilmington area, the city is joining a broader shift away from the big cities that served as traditional hubs for tech workers. Wilmington, in particular, is home to a growing financial technology or fintech sector, which includes giant Live Oak Bank and its spin-off companies nCino and Apiture. In September, Live Oak Bank announced a $25 million expansion with plans to add more than 200 new jobs. Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the remote work that stemmed from it pushed workers toward smaller cities with a lower cost of living and higher quality of life. A study from researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Georgia Institute of Technology found 12% of moves between April 2020 and Dec. 2021 were influenced by COVID-19. They also found a significant shift towards smaller cities. Cloud-based banking software firm nCino, for example, has hired transplants from across the U.S. who come to Wilmington from cities large and small to work for the company. The StarNews talked to three nCino employees about why they moved to Wilmington. Here are four highlights from the conversations: The pandemic as an inflection point Nicole Haverly, nCinos director of support engineering, said the COVID-19 pandemic served as the inflection point in her familys decision to make the move from Wisconsin to Wilmington. Haverly, who was working remotely for nCino, had been offered a more senior position with the company and said she felt like it was now or never to make a move closer to the companys headquarters. Moving would mean being farther from her family in Wisconsin, but Wilmington checked a lot of boxes for Haverly. It was on the coast but had a lower cost of living, and had a small-town feel. All those boxes were being checked where it was really hard to consider staying in Wisconsin, she said, when those pros were really outweighing the cons of leaving. Haverly, her husband and three children moved to Wilmington last year. Story continues Remote work seems to accelerates trend Ryan Maxson, who works in human resources at nCino, was working remotely for another company when he moved to Wilmington in August 2021 from Syracuse, N.Y. Maxson said he was drawn to the Wilmington area because of the warmer weather, an affordable cost of living and the opportunities to meet new people. After moving, Maxson began applying to other jobs and was hired by nCino. Maxson said he believes the pandemic forced companies to recognize the capabilities of remote workers to meet with clients and remain productive even without the face-to-face interaction that traditionally took place in big tech centers. Companies are really starting to realize that there really isn't a need to be present in those big cities for our clients, Maxson said. Considering Wilmington holistically Before moving his family cross-country from Dallas to Wilmington, Zedrick Applin, nCinos head of diversity, equity and inclusion, knew virtually nothing about Wilmington. And his first Google searches of his prospective new home werent promising, as he saw links to articles about the citys 1898 coup detat. We were like, Oh, wait, do we really want to move to a city like that? That's got that kind of history, he said. Applin flew out twice to Wilmington to interview at nCino, and it was then that he was able to get a sense of the community. Although the citys history was at the forefront of his mind, Applin said his family decided a move to Wilmington would be a good fit. Another plus for Applin is the areas lack of freeways and tolls, which he encountered daily on his commute while living in Dallas. It's definitely been a night and day experience coming from a bigger city to a smaller city, he said. Zedrick Applin, the head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community for nCino, is part of the the 2022 40 Under 40 group. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS Shifting affordability? Some of the shift toward smaller cities for the tech companies and their workers are lower costs of operating and living. Haverly, Maxson and Applin all said affordability played a role in their decision to move to Wilmington. Even so, Applin acknowledged that attracting tech workers with salaries that are often higher than the areas median income can have the effect of raising rental prices, which could contribute to pricing longtime residents out of the market. This summer, some renters faced rent increases of up to $700 as the rental market in Wilmington continues to heat up. Changing conversations in the tech world Before the pandemic, the rise of remote work and a shift toward smaller cities, it seemed like a given that in order to have a dream job you had to move to a big city, Haverly said. It was always like, Well, if you're gonna be big, you have to go to the big city. And it was almost deflating, she said. Those conversations throughout the last two years have pivoted to it's really anywhere. Throw a dart on a map, and there's usually a tech company that's starting up there or is starting to find roots there. Applin said the shift to remote work is something technology companies resisted at first because of the sectors traditionally collaborative style. But, he said, remote work has helped give tech workers more freedom to choose where they want to live. It really allows for workers to have more of a sense of control of their career, he said, and they don't feel like they're always beholden to, If you want to do this, and this is where you got to be. Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at edill@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington sees tech sector, population growth Three weeks into nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who was in custody after being arrested by Iran's "morality police," authorities continue to violently crack down on anti-regime demonstrators. Amini was allegedly detained and beaten to death for not conforming to Iran's strict Islamic dress code, which includes, for women, a head covering known as a hijab. As the uprisings have spread to dozens of cities, the government has blocked internet connectivity in Iran. There have been mass arrests of students, journalists, activists, artists, sports figures and celebrities who have, at great personal risk, expressed a range of social, economic and political grievances with Iran's hard-line government. Official government tallies claim fewer than 20 people have been killed in the unrest, but human rights and opposition groups say the true figure is probably in the hundreds. In recent days, Iranian authorities have come under pressure to explain the death of Nika Shahkarami, a 16-year-old from Tehran who was followed by security agents and then disappeared after she posted images on Instagram of herself burning her headscarf. Iran has seen large-scale anti-government protests before, but they have fizzled amid overwhelming brute force from Iran's security services. Still, many analysts and participants say these protests feel different, that dissenters have appeared more willing to brave beatings, arrest and even death as they demand justice and an end not only to mandatory hijab wearing but also to Iran's oppressive clerical regime. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has blamed foreign influences for the protests, a common tactic in a country where the economy has been crippled by waves of U.S. sanctions. 'Sad part about this': What we know about Iran's response to protests over Mahsa Amini's death Inside Iran: Americas contentious history in Iran leads to mix of anger, wonderment and weariness Story continues USA TODAY interviewed protesters on an encrypted communications channel to hear directly about their demands and to understand how they have experienced the protests. Edited extracts of those interviews follow. For their safety, and to preserve anonymity, the last names of those interviewed have been withheld. People protest against the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini in Bucharest, Romania, on Oct. 1, 2022 Vida, age 27 Female English teacher, Tehran "I have been working for nine years and yet I havent been able to save any money even though Im not a spender. Many educated hardworking people, whether younger or older than me, have the same issue in my country. They have been working hard for several years and yet they cannot afford the basics. At the same time, we have never had freedom of speech or choice for the simplest things like what clothes we want to wear. "The Islamic Republic has been killing innocent people asking for their rights for more than 30 years. All of this has led to rage and anger. We are tired of discrimination, of the security forces and the murders. This is why we are protesting. We want to live with freedom. We want to be able to speak our minds freely and not be shot dead for doing so. We dont want innocent people dying because of a hijab, like Mahsa Amini. We are all sick of being treated like prisoners in our own home country. "People, specially young ones and women, have shown bravery, and they deserve to be heard. We deserve the change we want. We deserve life and freedom." A young woman takes part in an Iran-related protest on Oct. 1, 2022 in Rome, Italy. Pari, age 28 Female hair stylist and beauty blogger, Tehran "'Hair' and 'women' are two inseparable parts of my day-to-day work. The burdens that this government applies to me affects me every single day, from what I can post online to the services I can offer my customers. These days I feel paralyzed. Just a few days ago, I was sitting in my car waiting for my friend to join me. Then suddenly white smoke surrounded the alley my car was in. After a few minutes I heard loud shouts and then suddenly about 20 undercover police were pointing at me with lasers. I was in shock. All I could do was watch the incident unfold. In fact, the police were not after me but a few teenagers who were protesting in the street nearby and had run into this alley. I snapped back to attention when I realized my eyes were burning from tear gas. All I could do in that moment was to knock on the first door and ask for help. "After this incident my mind was full of questions: Should I stay and live in my country, or can I have a better life if I flee abroad? Why should I have to sacrifice the right to be with my parents, friends and family for a better life overseas? What would happen to the years of work I have done here, to what Ive built with all the years of my youth!? Then again, here I can get killed by a random bullet, or just for my hair." Protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a woman detained by the so-called morality police in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 21, 2022. Mahan, age 21 Male law student, Mazandaran Province "I was in the protests, both at my university and outside in the streets. I have a sister who is younger than me. She is a high school student. As long as I can remember my family used to tell us how to dress. My sister was of course more under pressure for this. My sister and I always talked about why we can't choose what to wear without fighting with our parents. Once my mom went out with my sister and the 'morality police' followed and cautioned my sister. My sister was very scared. My mother was also upset. 'If you had listened to me, this would not have happened,' she told her. "I participated in these protests because I don't want anyone to dictate how we should live. I participated because I think my sister should not feel uncomfortable. What is the reason for our behavior to be controlled everywhere, all the time? If my sister becomes a student, how much trouble will she have to suffer? Even though I am a man in Iran, I too cannot always behave the way I want to. I believe everyone deserves respect, but I am tired of all these old-fashioned and outdated values forcefully imposed on us." Column: Iran's Gen Z is fed up. The protests aren't just about hijab, they're about regime change. The world is protesting Iran over Mahsa Amini's death and women's rights. Negar, age 25 Female college student, Gilan Province "This Islamic regime has forced its ideology onto every aspect of my private and public life. I have been forced to cover my hair and my entire body since the moment I turned 7. It instilled in me, as a child, the idea that girls and women were inferior, emotional beings who had to be controlled or else they would bring sin to men. "As a little girl, I had nightmares about what would happen to me if I didn't comply with the dress codes and strict rules. Every time I am outside, I am afraid of being caught by the so-called morality police for the simple act of dressing in the way I want. On more than one occasion, I had to change my usual commuting routes to avoid them, missing important appointments and paying extra money as a result. "By the Islamic Republic's standards, my friends and I are criminals because of doing things that are crimes (in few other places) in the world: partying, drinking, not wearing a headscarf, having partners without being married. Can you imagine not being able to eat or drink anything, even water, on the street for a month every year? That is how Ramadan (a holy month of fasting in Islam) is in Iran. Drinking water can get you arrested and whipped during that month. I am protesting because I've had enough. Mahsa Amini's brutal murder by state police was a wake-up call for every single one of us living under the shadow of this oppressive regime. "As a protester, what I want, first and foremost, is for the Islamic regime and the mullahs to be gone from my country. I am tired of being punished for exercising my basic human rights. What I fight for is summarized in three simple but significant words, which is our most important motto: 'Woman, life, liberty,' all of which the Islamic regime has attempted to oppress and destroy over the past 40 years." This general view shows material on fire beside a portrait of Iranian Mahsa Amini on the road during a rally outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 29, 2022. Nima, age 28 Male graduate student, Mazandaran Province "This is not the first time that I participate in anti-government protests in Iran. I took part in these protests because I want freedom for women and the recognition of their basic rights. I hope that freedom for women can help destroy the wall of the fascist regime of the Islamic Republic and make freedom possible in other areas, too. "I was arrested even though I was not carrying any kind of sign or shouting a slogan. Families with small children were sitting nearby. Security services forced me into a car, took off my shirt and wrapped it around my head, a blindfold, so I couldn't see where I was being taken. I was interrogated. I was hit in the head, neck, side and back. Using a stun gun, they shocked the left side of my body, left hand and left ribs. They cursed and humiliated my family. During the interrogation, they wanted me to admit certain things. When I refused, they beat me. I could hear other voices coming from other rooms and understood that others were also being beaten in the same place. "My interrogation lasted around three hours. During this time my family had no idea where I was. Around midnight I was released on bail." A police motorcycle burns during a protest in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 19, 2022. Samaneh, age 27 Female teacher, Tehran "I live with my sick mother who has worked for more than 30 years. It is almost impossible for me and my mother to afford medical and living expenses. We have always been fighting for our lives, have always been disregarded, have never been taken seriously because of our gender. These recent protests have given me courage to fight even more to pave the way to gain basic rights not just for me but for all normal citizens. Mahsa Amini was not the first girl who was harmed or discriminated against because of her hijab. I have had so many similar experiences. Once, when I was taking my mother to the hospital, I had to help her walk so I lost control of my headscarf. I was shouted at and teased. Another time, I was going home after class and the 'morality police' stopped me and violently pushed me inside a car. I never feel safe. "This is not, for sure, the only problem we are facing here in Iran. Although I have my own income I cannot meet our needs. All the children whose parents work for the regime get a better job and earn much more money. It is not so easy to go to college, get a job, get married, rent a house, pay for medical expenses. It's worse if you are a women." Many women in Iran grudgingly accept strict rules that dictate how they must live. Many also risk imprisonment and take off their head scarves in a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities. My report from Iran https://t.co/kmcFGwygOA. Full series: https://t.co/PVBM7lnAtc pic.twitter.com/tgxnkYI4km Kim Hjelmgaard (@khjelmgaard) August 31, 2018 Mehdi, age 33 Male graduate student, Tehran "I protested in 2009 against electoral fraud (after incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared victory despite widespread reports of voter irregularities). At that time, we demanded the government change its behavior and reform election laws, though many of us still respected the constitution of the Islamic Republic. "Today, it seems most of those who are participating in the protests have entirely given up hope of getting or persuading the Islamic Republic to change or reform. They don't want the government to dictate to them about how they can behave in public. They are more daring and unwilling to compromise compared to previous generations. When we were protesting (in 2009) we were not as bold. You would not see a woman taking off a hijab and swinging it in the air to show dissent. They seem more willing today to meet violence with violence and to not fear as much the forces of suppression." Two women drink a slushy while walking around in the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Helen, age 34 Female corporate manager, Sari "I have shouted my hatred for the Islamic Republic in the protests without any hesitation, and for the end of all this cruelty and blackness in my beloved motherland, Iran. In the early days of the protests the atmosphere was almost calm. However, as soon as the number of protesters increased, the police attacked the people with batons in a terrible way. We have had to rely on each other and defend ourselves by throwing stones and of course running away. When we started chanting slogans and burning headscarves, undercover security forces went to government buildings and began throwing stones at people from high above us. Stones were our defense tool, and they wanted to pit the protesters against each other to try to sow confusion. "The security has gradually tightened. They have tried to take down the internet. It's been harder to organize. But amid all these obstacles we are still in the streets despite the shooting and batons and tear gas. Authorities have started identifying protesters and attacking their houses during the day, directly attacking them, young and old, at night. This is something new, a different police tactic. I saw one undercover security agent try to get in the middle of a crowd of protesters with a stun gun. But he lost control of it and people started attacking him with his own stun gun. An ambulance came to take him away. I want to say that both I and all the women and men of my land were beaten, but we still stood, and we now know how much they fear us. Either this cruel and corrupt system will collapse or it will not have the courage to oppress the people anymore. The life of the Islamic Republic is over, and it will soon take its last breaths." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran voices of protest: 8 dissenters explain why they risk their lives Nike co-founder Phil Knight is hedging his bet on the outcome of the Oregon governor's race, giving $1 million on Thursday, Oct. 6 to Republican Christine Drazan. The move comes after Knight has given unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson $3.75 million, the largest contribution total of his long involvement in Oregon political races. Knight's dual contributions to the two candidates helped push total fundraising for the governor's race to over $45 million, a new record for a campaign for an Oregon political office. Knight's ultimate goal is to defeat Tina Kotek he's given $4.75 million to date to candidates opposing the Democratic nominee. The change in tactics comes amid a flurry of polls and forecasts that show Drazan as neck-and-neck in the campaign with Kotek. Polls issued over the past week by the Oregonian newspaper and Emerson College, along with forecasts by FiveThirtyEight and the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, also shared a common theme: Johnson's insurgent campaign was drawing less than 20% of voters. The three-way race for governor has blown past the record for fundraising set four years ago, with millions more likely to flow to campaign coffers in the month left until the Nov. 8 election. Knight gave $2 million to Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for governor, on Sept. 1. It was the biggest splash in a cascade of cash that also went to Kotek and Drazan. As of Thursday afternoon, the constantly shifting totals of campaign contributions showed just over $45 million had been raised for the 2022 race since Jan. 1, 2021. The previous record for an Oregon governor's race was set in 2018, when incumbent Gov. Kate Brown defeated the Republican challenger, former Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend. The final tab on the race hit $40 million. As in 2018, the biggest wallet in the race has been Knight's. He backed Buehler in 2018. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Buehler left the Republican party and is now supporting Johnson. Knight had also backed Johnson over Drazan, until Thursday afternoon's $1 million drop into Drazan's account. Johnson and now Drazan have benefited from the continued support of Knight, 84, the richest person in Oregon, according to the Bloomberg News Service, with an estimated worth of $35.7 billion. He is ranked as the 29th richest person in the world. The Beaverton billionaire has tumbled down the rankings over the past two years as the stock of Nike has taken a beating due to the downturn in sales during COVID-19. Bloomberg says Knight and his family were worth $65.1 billion in late November 2021, and $42.5 billion as recently as mid-September. Knight's wealth is largely tied to Nike. Nike's portfolio includes the Converse and Jordan sportswear brands. The 2022 totals do not include third-party spending for negative ads, which has been a major feature of the 2022 campaign as digital advertising has taken in a larger portion of political money than in previous years. The September contribution by Knight to Johnson was the largest of 14 individual contributions of over $250,000 reported by the three candidates for governor over the past month. The full scope of money piling up in the campaign coffers of the trio only fully emerged in the past few days. As of Sept. 27, Oregon election law requires campaigns to transition to a shorter deadline for reporting money raised and spent. Previously, campaigns could wait 30 days to tell the Secretary of State about money coming in and going out. The old deadline gave a warped view of campaign finances. In the governor's race, unaffiliated Johnson used the full 30 days before reporting transactions. Kotek and Drazan usually reported new contributions and spending within a week. Now all campaigns have to get their reports in within one week. Ben Morris, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, explained the change wasn't a quick switch, with full reports not immediately available last week. "Its a bit more complicated," Morris said. "Theres a 'catch up' period in between the 30-day and seven-day reporting." But as of Tuesday, all contributions more than a week old should have been submitted. Johnson's "catch-up" list of contributions reported the past week included $300,000 more from Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle, who's given to Johnson a total of $663,885. Eugene-based construction industry company The Pape Group gave $250,000, upping its total to $750,682. Red Emmerson gave $300,000 to Johnson via California-based Sierra Pacific Industries, his timberlands and sawmills company. He's now given $500,682. Knight and Emmerson have also contributed heavily to Bring Balance to Salem, a PAC with former U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, as its consultant. The PAC has raised over $4.8 million for its stated goal of defeating Democrats in legislative races. Bankrolled by Knight and a large number of contributions of over $100,000 from construction and timber interests, the committee has not given money to any candidate in the governor's race. Some of Drazan's largest donations in the past 30 days have included $2.5 million from the Republican Governors Association. The national GOP group has given a total of just over $4.08 million to Drazan. She also received $250,000 from Murphy Plywood of Eugene, which has now contributed a total of $350,000. Associated General Contractors Committee for Action gave Drazan $250,000, for a total of $350,000 so far. Kotek's biggest contributions in the past month include $2.25 million from the Democratic Governors Association, $350,000 from the Democratic Party of Oregon (for a total so far of $552,500), and $330,000 from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, whose giving to Kotek is now at $580,000. Other large contributions came from the AFSCME labor union, and Stand for Children political action committee. Related articles: Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. In August 2022, the volume of sales in retail trade increased by 3.3% according to raw data, and by 2.4% when adjusted for calendar effects compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). According to calendar-adjusted data, the volume of sales decreased by 3.7% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 75% of food retailing and increased by 0.3% in specialized food, beverage, and tobacco stores. The turnover of non-food retailing increased by a total of 0.5% in volume. Sales volumes rose by 6.2% in second-hand goods shops, by 3.7% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores, by 2.6% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods, and by 2% in pharmaceutical, medical goods, and cosmetics shops. Sales volumes decreased by 0.8% in furniture and electrical goods stores and by 0.9% in textiles, clothing, and footwear shops. The volume of mail orders and internet retailing accounting for 7.5% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods fell by 3.1%. The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations increased by 18.4%. Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data increased by 12%. In August 2022, domestic retail sales amounted to HUF 1.487 trillion at current prices. Specialized and non-specialized food shops accounted for 47% of all retail sales, while the relevant figures for non-food retail trade and retail trade of petrol stations were 35% and 18% respectively. In JanuaryAugust 2022, the volume of retail trade increased by a calendar-adjusted 8.4% compared to the same period of 2021. The volume of sales rose by 0.9% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 9.6% in non-food retail trade, and by 28% in automotive fuel retail trade. Supporters of the Tanitanek (I want to teach) and noAr movements held a demonstration and concert in front of Parliament on Wednesday evening to save education and the future of youth and to show solidarity with teachers demanding higher pay and strike rights. Tanitanek founder Kata Torley called the government arrogant and incapable of dialogue and warned that an increasing shortage of teachers was threatening collapse in the sector. She insisted problems in education could not be resolved without restoring teachers right to strike and instant measures to improve teachers working conditions as well as a pay rise. Aron Molnar, founder of the noAr movement, said the event was aimed at starting a strike fund for teachers. Roma activist Laszlo Glonczi said the right to strike was a fundamental one, and he called for joint action to demand a pay rise for teachers. Oliver Pilz, a Tanitanek co-founder, urged all trade unions to call a general strike to support teachers. Participants held up signs including No teachers, no future and chanted Free country! Free education! Gov. Kate Brown and three other regional leaders have recommitted the West Coast to action to ease climate change and speed up the transition to carbon-free energy. Among the goals: Expanding access by communities to low-carbon technologies, extending the existing network of charging stations for electric vehicles, promoting a cleaner electric grid, and doing more to avert wildfires and limit smoke and other impacts. The new accord also reaffirms that low-income and minority communities also will benefit from environmental justice. Brown joined the governors of California and Washington, and the premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, at a ceremony Thursday, Oct. 6 in San Francisco. The setting was Presidio Tunnel Tops, a new national park space that sits atop a tunneled parkway and reconnects the city to San Francisco Bay. On Sept. 13, Brown joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and British Columbia Premier John Horgan in a virtual presentation at the Cascadia Innovation Corridor conference in Blaine, Washington on the United States-Canada border. What is now the Pacific Coast Collaborative came into being in 2013. In addition to the four states and provinces, it has all the region's major cities Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles except San Diego. Brown's statement: "The West Coast is united as we lead the way towards a clean energy future that helps our entire region and economies thrive. In Oregon, we have set ambitious goals to reach 100% clean energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and comprehensively address climate change. "We are committed to addressing the impacts of climate change while also meeting the needs of our most vulnerable communities. Together, we are showing that it is possible to address climate change and create good-paying jobs at the same time, as we move towards a stronger, cleaner, equitable future." Brown will leave office soon she cannot seek a third consecutive term and Horgan also is leaving his premiership. Inslee has two years left in his third term, and Newsom is expected to win a second term Nov. 8 after turning back a Republican-led recall attempt a year ago. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The four states and provinces have variations on similar policies. A 2021 law commits Oregon to carbon-free power generated by its major private utilities by 2040 the nation's most ambitious target and a 2021 plan by the Environmental Quality Commission has a goal of reducing heat-trapping greenhouse-gas emissions by 90% from their 2017-19 levels by 2050. Oregon also has a low-carbon fuels standard, modeled on California's 2011 law, which the Legislature passed in 2015. Democrats supplied virtually all the votes to pass the 2015 and 2021 laws, which no Republican supported. But some of Oregon's policies are under fire in the courts or the political arena. The 2021 plan is being challenged by industry groups in the Oregon Court of Appeals. Republican Christine Drazan of Canby says if she is elected Oregon governor Nov. 8, she would move to suspend the fuels standard, which survived a challenge in federal courts. Oregon's two big utilities Portland General Electric and Pacific Power supported the 2021 law on carbon-free power generation. They are required to submit plans to the Public Utility Commission, whose three members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate for four-year terms. As House Republican leader in 2020, Drazan led a walkout and Senate Republicans also did so that denied majority Democrats from bringing climate-change legislation to a vote in either chamber. Brown then ordered state agencies to draft a plan. Nonaffiliated candidate for governor Betsy Johnson, then a Democratic state senator, had made it clear she would have opposed such legislation. The House speaker then was Democrat Tina Kotek, now her party's nominee for governor, who recently accused both her main rivals of having "no plan and no intent" of developing a plan. (Johnson also opposed the 2015 and 2021 laws on carbon-reduced fuels and carbon-less power. Drazan opposed the latter; she was not a member in 2015. Kotek voted for both.) During their Oct. 4 debate televised in most of Oregon, all three said they would support quick suppression of wildfires, and Drazan and Johnson advocated for increased cutting in forests to reduce potential fuels. Kotek called for greater resilience of homes and businesses in wildfire-prone areas, in addition to forest management. Hungarys national flag was hoisted with full military honours and lowered to half-mast in front of Parliament to mark the anniversary of the 1848-49 war of independence and the martyrs of Arad, at an event attended by Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky and army chief Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. The ceremony was also attended by interior ministry state secretary Bence Retvari. The flag remained at half-mast throughout the day in tribute to the martyrs on the national day of mourning. Commemorations continued at the Fiumei Road cemetery with a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of Count Lajos Batthyany, Hungarys first prime minister. The government declared October 6 Hungarys national day of mourning in 2001, in commemoration of the 13 martyrs executed in Arad following the crushing of the revolution. Batthyany, also commemorated today, was executed in Pest. A liberal critic excoriates the former Prime Minister and DK Chairman for using Mr Orbans physical stature to attack him politically. Reacting to PM Orbans remark whereby the European Union is an energy dwarf as compared to Russia, DK leader Ferenc Gyurcsany described the Prime Minister as a dwarf historically and otherwise. In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the founding leader of the Democratic Coalition also accused Mr Orban of finding excuses for the assassin reference to Vladimir Putin. Reflecting on Mr Gyurcsanys post on his own FB page, Fidesz Parliamentary Floor Leader Mate Kocsis called Mr Gyurcsany a liar and a scoundrel who tries to iron out his misdeeds by committing even graver ones. On Telex, Balazs Bozzay asks why the Democratic Coalition officially defines itself as the most European party in Hungary, when its leaders have no respect for the right of every person to dignity, as explicitly guaranteed in the founding Treaty of the European Union. He also suspects such leaders of expecting their adversaries to adhere to such principles without doing so themselves. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story Four legislative changes required to comply with European Commision conditions to obtain EU funds easily passed Parliament on Tuesday, writes Nepszava. But amendments proposed by the opposition in parliamentary committees were brushed aside by the Fidesz-KDNP governing parties. The first motion on the topic passed with 151 votes for versus 12 against and 19 abstentions, while the second motion received 150 votes for, 12 against, and 19 abstentions. Among opposition party MPs present in the chamber, Momentum and Jobbik voted for the proposals, while DK voted no. MSZP, Dialogue, and Our Homeland abstained, and LMP did not take part in the vote. The four legislative proposals that passed were: An amendment to the legislative act, in accordance with the governments pledge to submit 90% of draft laws to public consultation. A law providing funding for on-the-spot checks by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). A law on controlling the use of EU budgetary funds, which will set up the Integrity Authority, tasked to protect the financial interests of the EU, and the Anti-Corruption Working Group, which will offer proposals in this regard. Another bill eliminates requesting compensation for disproportionate use of labor resources for public interest data requests. In the future, the government will set by decree the maximum amount that can be requested to copy and deliver documents. In September, the European Commission proposed suspending 65% of Hungarys cohesion funds over rule of law violations in the country that posed a threat to the joint EU budget. School boards are sending out warnings and, in some cases, letters of resignation to teachers en masse, HVG reports. For example, 18 teachers at the Braso utca primary school who went on strike earlier this week received a letter from the school board informing them that should they engage in civil disobedience again, they will be fired. Please refrain from similar behaviour in the future, the letter says. HVG writes that 11 teachers of the Pasareti Szabo Lorinc Hungarian-English bilingual school in the Second District received a similar letter. For one teacher it is already the second warning, but the teacher said that s/he will engage in civil disobedience for the third time. Parents and students will form a human chain in front of the Szent Laszlo secondary school in the Tenth District on Friday, because they heard that one of the teachers was going to be fired. A similar action will take place at Karinthy Frigyes secondary school in the 18th District, where the head of the school, Krisztina Rabel gave the principal 24 letters addressed to rebellious teachers. Another 38 teachers at the Ferenc Rakoczi secondary school in the Second District received such a letter. According to several educators, at least 1,000 teachers who participated in civil disobedience will receive similar letters. The clock never stops ticking and it has tick/tocked a lot since July 10, 1949. Proof of age reared its unwelcome head again on Tuesday of this week. Having peeked ahead and noted the weathermans promise of a pleasant fall afternoon coming Tuesday, I invited Good Wife Norma on a little adventure little being the operative word as events would prove. We could tow the boat to Yankee Hill, I suggested, and make a fall, most likely final run at fishing this year. So we set out (for just the second time all season), but not until I had to hook up and charge all four 12-volt batteries the 24 hours previous. But wait, do those trailer tires look a little anemic? Squishy, was her reply. So to Caseys we went to air up the tires. Actually just tire. No way to get the passenger side within reach of the hose. Sigh this again. So we snuck in the back way to Penners and borrowed a squirt of air to inflate the passenger side. Do you sense a disquieting trend evolving? We did too, yet foolishly pressed on. Unloading our aluminum tub went swell. GWN and I have, if nothing else, finally mastered the ramp. In this weeks excursion a couple hours was more than enough to suffer. Wrestling the MotorGuide Xi5 bow-mounted trolling motor Ive come to despise into the water takes both of us. The locking mechanism does not release unless I stand on the gunnel which risks a man overboard crisis. Plus the damn speed and direction controls wont stay where I set them, so theres that, too. Arrgghhh! Rigging up rods and reels is increasingly impossible in the face of hand and finger dexterity lost to arthritis set afire by an ill-advised attempt to become the oldest meat cutter in history. S0 while endlessly patient GWN was trying to help me wrestle a couple lines in the water I had the aforementioned demon trolling motor set on dead slow speed. Dead slow turned out to be fortuitous when it decided to turn and drive us straight into the rocks of a jetty. First we knew of this was the sound of crunching and grinding followed by being jolted from our seats. And, as you no doubt already predicted, zero fish. Not a bump. We (read: I) left this same boat lying like a beached walrus on the concrete of a ramp last year in just one example (there are so, so many others) of escalating incompetence. This nautical helplessness from a guy who has been in and around boats since his dad took him aboard a leaky wooden vessel in the 50s. But age-related mental acuity slippage and nonexistent patience are daily visitors now. Too often in the past couple years, GWNs idyllic afternoons afloat have been ruined by carpet bomb cursing thats out of my control. What to do Tuesday? First was to load up and scamper to the Denton Daily Double, there to sip a brace of prime gin and tonics while waiting to be fed. The big picture? I cant believe Im even thinking this, yet I am: Perhaps its time to shine the beast up, stick and ad online and set about finding it a new home. I hear tell of guides on the legendary walleye lakes just over the border in South Dakota known to take old dudes fishing for money. Who knew? Word is you just drive up there. They handle everything. Even fillet your fish. If indeed that time has come, sign me up. Amid the ongoing case of seizure of Xiaomi's Rs 5,551.27 crore assets, speculative reports claimed that the Chinese smartphone maker may move its operation to Pakistan from India. A tweet by a handle named SouthAsiaIndex went viral on Twitter after it claimed that Xiaomi India may shift its operation to the neighbouring country Pakistan. "Just IN: Chinese mobile-maker Xiaomi may move its operations from India to Pakistan after Indian govt freezes its assets worth $676M. - sources," read the tweet. However, Xiaomi was quick to spot this and categorically denied the claim. Xiaomi said that it has been making in India for the last eight years and has no plans to move to Pakistan. Also Read: WhatsApp Business: WhatsApp rolling out 'Premium' feature for its Business users "This tweet is completely false & baseless. Xiaomi entered India in 2014 & in less than a year, we embarked on our Make in India journey. 99% of our smartphones & 100% of our TVs are made in India. We'll take all measures to protect our reputation from false & inaccurate claims," said Xiaomi. This tweet is completely false & baseless. Xiaomi entered India in 2014 & in less than a year, we embarked on our Make in India journey. 99% of our smartphones & 100% of our TVs are made in India. We'll take all measures to protect our reputation from false & inaccurate claims. Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) October 7, 2022 Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited moved to the Karnataka High Court on October 3 challenging the September 29, 2022 order of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) Competent Authority which confirmed the April 29 seizure order of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED had ordered the seizure of Rs 5,551.27 crore in the accounts of Xiaomi for allegedly violating FEMA rules and transferring money in the guise of royalty to three companies outside India. Xiaomi had earlier issued a clarification in this regard. In its petition, Xiaomi challenged the validity of Section 37A of FEMA which relates to assets held outside India by a company. The next hearing in the case will take place on October 14. NEW DELHI: The government on Friday invited bids for privatising IDBI Bank and said that it together with LIC will sell a total of 60.72 per cent stake in the financial institution. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), while inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI), said that the potential investor should have a minimum net worth of Rs 22,500 crore, must report net profit in three out of the past five years to be eligible for bidding for IDBI Bank. Also, a maximum of four members would be allowed in a consortium. The successful bidder would be required to mandatorily lock-in at least 40 per cent of the equity capital for five years from the date of acquisition. It further said that the selection of the qualified interested parties and the amount of equity stake such entities would hold in IDBI Bank would be decided by the Reserve Bank and the bidder would have to clear the 'Fit and Proper' assessment done by the banking regulator. It also barred large industrial/corporate houses or individuals from participating in the bidding process. The last date for submission of bids or Expression of Interest (EoI) by potential buyers is December 16. Also Read: Xiaomi India to 'Make in Pakistan'? Smartphone maker responds amid reports The government and LIC hold 94.72 per cent stake together in IDBI Bank. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) holds 529.41 crore shares representing 49.24 per cent stake in IDBI Bank, while the government holds 488.99 crore shares or 45.48 per cent stake. Public shareholders hold 5.2 per cent stake in the bank. The government will sell 30.48 per cent and LIC will offload 30.24 per cent stake, aggregating to 60.72 per cent of the equity share capital of IDBI Bank, along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said while inviting bids. After stake sale, the combined shareholding of LIC and the government will come down to 34 per cent. Shares of IDBI Bank closed at Rs 42.70, up 0.71 per cent over previous close on the BSE on Friday. At the current market price, the 60.72 per cent stake would be valued at over Rs 27,800 crore. The Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) brought out by DIPAM for privatising IDBI Bank also states that private sector banks, foreign banks, RBI-registered non-banking finance companies, Sebi registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), a fund/investment vehicle incorporated outside India would be allowed to submit bids, either individually or as consortium. Also Read: Explained: What is Social Stock Exchange to be set up by BSE after SEBI approval? The acquisition of IDBI Bank would be governed by the FDI regulations which allow 74 per cent foreign holding in banks through approval route, and 49 per cent through the automatic route. At all times, at least 26 per cent of the paid-up capital of the bank is required to be held by residents. "The price at which the equity shares of IDBI Bank can be transferred to a person resident outside India shall not be less than the price worked out in accordance with the SEBI guidelines," the PIM said. The successful bidder would be required to make an open offer to public shareholders of IDBI Bank and will be required to put in escrow, in cash, the entire consideration payable under the open offer assuming full acceptance of the open offer, the EoI said. As per the open offer guidelines of Sebi, any acquisition of an aggregate of 25 per cent or more shares in a listed entity or acquisition of 'control' mandates the acquirer to make a buyout offer to minority shareholders. Minority shareholders have 5.2 per cent in IDBI Bank. "It is envisaged that strategic acquirer/investor will infuse funds, new technology and best management practices for optimal development of business potential and growth of IDBI Bank," the PIM said. The PIM said that necessary security clearance will be taken by the DIPAM before the Data Room access is given to the Qualified Interested Parties (QIPs). The interested parties, its directors and shareholders holding more than 10 per cent would be required to submit a self-declaration for the security clearance along with submission of EoI. Besides, the interested parties and each member of the consortium would have to give a declaration or make a disclosure on order/ pending investigation /proceedings by any Court/ regulatory authority/SFIO/ NCLT/ NCLAT while submitting the EoI. The Successful Bidder will be required to reduce/dilute its shareholding in accordance with the glide-path to be submitted by the QIPs at the RFP stage to align its shareholding in accordance with the RBI guidelines. The 'Master Directions on Ownership in Private Sector Banks, 2016', issued by RBI, allow a timeline of 15 years from date of commencement of business of the bank to achieve the prescribed shareholding limit in long run. In the event the successful bidder intends to amalgamate IDBI Bank with itself or if the same is required by RBI, the GoI and LIC will vote in favour of any such merger/amalgamation at Board and/or shareholders' meetings of IDBI Bank, the PIM said. KPMG India Pvt Ltd and Link Legal are acting as the transaction and legal advisor for managing the IDBI Bank stake sale. The announcement of IDBI Bank privatisation was first made in Union Budget of 2021-22, following which the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment and transfer of management control in May 2021. IDBI Bank was categorised as Private Sector Bank by the Reserve Bank of India with effect from January 21, 2019, consequent upon Life Insurance Corporation Of India (LIC) acquiring 51 per cent of the total paid-up equity share capital of the bank. The government has set a target of garnering Rs 65,000 crore from divestment in 2022-23 (Apr-Mar), out of which it has already raised Rs 24,544 crore. New Delhi: Prime Video today announced that the third season of the Emmy-nominated series Four More Shots Please! will globally premiere on October 21 in India and more than 240 countries and territories. Produced by Pritish Nandy Communications, directed by Joyeeta Patpatia and written by Devika Bhagat, with dialogues by Ishita Moitra, the much-awaited Amazon Original will pick up from the dramatic note on which the second season ended, bringing back to screens the lives of four unapologetically flawed women who live, love, blunder, and discover what continues to make them tick through their forever friendship in the city of Mumbai. Featuring Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo, and Bani J in lead roles, Season 3 will see Prateik Babbar, Lisa Ray, Neil Bhooplam, Rajeev Siddharth, Amrita Puri, Simone Singh and Samir Kochhar reprising their respective roles, whereas Jim Sarbh, Rohan Mehra, Shilpa Shukla and Sushant Singh will be joining the well-acclaimed Amazon Original this new season. The unapologetic, resilient divas are back! Four More Shots Please! has been a true labour of love. It has received immense adulation and appreciation from audiences, not just in India but across the world, for its nuanced portrayal of contemporary Indian women who are ambitious, fearless and independent. Its a celebration of sisterhood, said Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Prime Video India. "This show reaffirms our commitment to promoting diverse and new cinematic voices and making Prime Video a home for talent. 70% of the creators who we work with on a project, work with us again and that exemplifies true collaboration! Weve had a long-standing collaboration with Pritish Nandy Communications and cant wait to unveil the new season of the show on 21st October! The success of our first two seasons, has driven us to produce a power-packed season 3. Four More Shots Please! travels to Italy and Punjab this season, apart from South Mumbai; the drama is bigger, the scale is larger, and the friendship is stronger. The shows nomination at the international Emmys in 2021 is a testament to the fact that Four Shots Please! has hit a personal note with audiences in India and internationally. There is really no other show that celebrates female friendships as Four More Shots Please! and Im hopeful that our fandom will grow substantially with this new season. said producer Pritish Nandy. Season 1, you met Anjana, Damini, Umang and Siddhi, season 2 you saw them stumble through life lessons and blunders, season 3 watch our girls own themselves; drama, failures, errors in judgment, losses and warts, all included. In that sense, season 3 is our most personal season. There is no way that you will not want to be a part of this friendship. concludes Creator, Rangita Pritish Nandy. Four More Shots Please! Season 3 is a part of Prime Videos festive line-up for the Great Indian Festival 2022 starting 23rd September onwards. The line-up also includes several other original series and blockbuster movies across multiple languages, in addition to attractive Diwali Special Discounts from partners through Prime Video Channels. Guwahati (Assam): The Bharatiya Janata Party's national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to Assam from Friday (October 7) to inaugurate the newly constructed Assam State BJP office at Basistha area in Guwahati on October 8. This will be the biggest office of the party in the northeastern region, according to Assam State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state party leaders will be present on the occasion. Nadda and Shah will also attend the party workers' meeting at the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara in Guwahati. According to Assam State BJP president, "Our party national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reach Guwahati on October 7 evening and they will attend a party meeting. They will also attend party workers meeting to be held at Veterinary College playground, Khanapara where around 35,000-40,000 party workers across the state will participate." Bhabesh Kalita told ANI that preparations for the programmes have already been made. Official sources told ANI that Amit Shah will attend a series of official meetings on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The Union Home Minister will attend the Conference of the Superintendent of Police at the Police Training College at Dergaon on Sunday. He will depart from the state on Sunday following several official engagements. The soon-to-be inaugurated Assam BJP state headquarters is expected to be full of all modern amenities. The building, spread over 95,000 square feet, will have six floors and an open rooftop premise, besides having an auditorium to accommodate 350 people along with top hi-tech conference halls with a capacity of 40 people each. The new office will also have five meeting halls to accommodate a strength of 50 people each, besides having a big press conference room along with a reception and a canteen. Notably, the foundation stone for this office of the BJP in Assam was laid by the then-party president Amit Shah in February 2019. "Assam is the doorway to the northeast. Assam is the state which actually opened the fortunes for our party in this region," an Assam state office bearer told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a special emphasis on the progress of the north-east region through various programmes and even he himself made over 50 visits to the region. The BJP came to power in Assam in 2016, for the first time breaking the record term of the Congress party and becoming the only party in the state apart from the Congress to have back-to-back governments. In 2017, the BJP formed a government in Manipur and also repeated its government again in 2022. Another first by BJP in the region was the formation of the government in Tripura, breaking the Left rule of a couple of decades in 2018. The BJP continues to be in power in Arunachal Pradesh as well as in coalition governments both in Meghalaya and Nagaland. It may be noted that the BJP has formed a new core committee along with a few others including an election management committee for upcoming elections. Shah and Nadda will meet core committee members on Friday evening to discuss various issues related to the state. It is believed that the programme is scheduled to kick-start the Lok Sabha poll preparation in Assam and other northeastern states. Three north-eastern states -- Meghalaya, Tripura, and Nagaland are going for poll early next year, while elections in Mizoram will be held in the last part of 2023. BJP is facing a sweet and sour relationship with Conrad Sangma-led National People`s Party (NPP) with Sangma announcing for going to elections without any pre-poll tie with the BJP in Meghalaya, while in Nagaland, the BJP has been enjoying a more favourable alliance with the ruling National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). In Mizoram, though the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is a part of the NDA, there were some clear discomforts between the allies. According to party sources, Amit Shah and Nadda may discuss these issues with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the chairman of Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA). The NEDA was launched in 2016 with the objective of uniting the non-Congress parties in the region. (With ANI/IANS Inputs) New Delhi: The CBI has filed a charge sheet against former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure in the Railways, officials said on Friday. Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and a former general manager of the Railways have also been named as accused in the charge sheet filed before a special CBI court recently, they said. The central agency had registered a preliminary enquiry on September 23, 2021, related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the Railways which was converted into an FIR on May 18. Candidates were allegedly appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" by Railway officials and were later, regularised when the "individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land", according to the agency. The transfers were made through deeds in the name of Rabri Devi and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, it alleged. The agency has alleged that land measuring about 1.05 lakh square feet in Patna was acquired by Prasad's family members by making payments to the sellers in cash. Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested and took into its custody Sehgal Hossain, the bodyguard of Trinamool Congress strongman and the party`s Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. ED sleuths have taken Hossain`s custody from the authorities of the Special Correctional Home at Asansol where he was already in custody following his arrest by the CBI. He was supposed to be in that custody till November 5. The #EnforcementDirectorate (@dir_ed) on Friday took into its custody Sehgal Hossain, the bodyguard of Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal in connection the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/5NXNlzXw5E October 7, 2022 Three senior ED officials arrived here from Delhi on Friday along with a court order that allowed the agency to take Hossain into its custody. Sources said ED has plans to take him to Delhi for further questioning. Officials said the quantum of property and assets of Hossian that have been assessed by the ED is not proportionate with his income as a Constable with the West Bengal police. "The question is if he actually purchased them or someone more influential bought in Hossain`s name. Hence, it has become necessary to take him to custody and question him," an ED official said. He further said that during questioning, Hossain had made a constant effort to mislead the officials about which the senior ED officials in Delhi were also apprised. After getting the green signal on this count from the headquarters, the ED officials approached the court in Asansol with the plea seeking Hossain`s custody. After the court approved their plea, ED officials arrested him. Meanwhile, also on Friday, the CBI has also filed a fresh chargesheet at a special vacation court in Asansol in the coal smuggling case. In this chargesheet, Anubrata Mondal`s name has appeared for the first time as the beneficiary of the cattle smuggling scam. In the chargesheet, CBI has also underlined details of the huge assets and property of Mondal, and his family members. New Delhi: Setting in motion the process of appointing the next head of the Indian judiciary, the government on Friday wrote to Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit to recommend his successor. Justice Lalit will retire as the CJI on November 8 after a brief tenure of 74 days. "As per the MoP on the appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges, today the Hon'ble Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for the appointment of his successor," the Ministry of Law and Justice said in a tweet. This is perhaps the first time that the ministry has tweeted about it. According to the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), the CJI names the senior-most judge as his or her successor. Also read: CM Eknath Shinde hails new CJI UU Lalit: 'Maharashtra`s son, his tenure will...' The MoP is a document which guides the appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and high court judges. Also read: Thackeray's Sena fumes as Shinde shares stage with CJI UU Lalit, says 'democracy in danger' Justice D Y Chandrachud is the senior-most judge after the CJI. Going by the established practice and convention, Justice Chandrachud would be the 50th CJI and take oath on November 9. He would have a tenure of two years and demit office on November 10, 2024. While Supreme Court judges retire after attaining the age of 65, high court judges retire at 62 years. New Delhi: The national capital woke up to light rains on Friday morning leading to a further improvement in the air quality. The Air Quality Index was recorded as 68, which falls in the satisfactory category, at 9:20 am, System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data showed. Parts of the national capital recorded light rains in the morning and the India Meteorological Department has predicted more rains for Friday. The capital is likely to witness a generally cloudy sky with light rain on Friday, an IMD official said. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at around 30 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal, the IMD said. The minimum temperature was recorded a degree above normal at 23.2 degree Celsius. According to the 24-hour average AQI bulletin of CPCB, the index value was 211 (poor category) on Wednesday which improved to 79 (satisfactory category) on Thursday. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. With the air quality in Delhi dropping to a poor level on Wednesday, authorities in the National Capital Region were asked to strictly implement measures under the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The action plan includes penal and legal action against polluting industrial units. The Delhi government on Thursday launched an anti-dust campaign to check dust pollution in the city, especially at construction sites. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): In the Gyanvapi Mosque-Shringar Gauri case, the Varanasi court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Friday (October 7) in connection with the plea filed by the Hindu side seeking carbon dating of the `Shivling` found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque. The bench of Varanasi District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesh, who had reserved the order on September 29 after hearing the arguments of both sides, will deliver the order. Notably, Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. The Hindu side claimed that a `Shivling` was found on the premises near the `Wazukhana` during the videography survey of the mosque premises, while the Muslim side stated that the structure found was a `fountain`. On September 22, the Hindu side had then submitted an application seeking a carbon dating of the object they claimed to be `Shivling`. Besides this case, two more cases which could not be heard on Thursday due to the holiday will be heard today. The first is related to the demand from the court to worship the Shivling found in Gyanvapi, a case filed on behalf of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda, while the second pertains to the demand of handing over the `Shivling` site found in Gyanvapi to the Hindus. Hearing on both applications is to be held in the court of Senior Civil Judge Kumudlata Tripathi today. Also read: Nine booked for performing puja at Madrasa in Karnatakas Bidar Earlier on September 29, the Hindu side demanded a scientific investigation of the `Shivling` by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the carbon dating of `Argha` and the area around it. Representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid matter, advocate Vishnu Jain said, "The Hindu side demanded that the ASI conduct a scientific investigation of the `Shivling`. We have also demanded a carbon dating of Argha and the area around it". Vishnu Jain said, "Muslim side too presented its side before the court, stating that carbon dating shouldn`t be done. They said that it`s a fountain and not a Shivling and it can`t be ascertained." Jain added that there is no break-up on the Hindu side, rather all the Hindus demand just one thing that the Shivalinga found should be scientifically investigated without causing any damage to it. Earlier, an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Allahabad High Court which had dismissed a PIL that sought the appointment of a committee/commission under a judge to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque, Varanasi. The appeal filed by seven devotees sought direction from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain the nature of the structure found on the Gyanvapi campus. On July 19, the Allahabad High Court dismissed their plea seeking the appointment of a committee/commission headed by a judge of the High Court or Supreme Court (sitting/retired) to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque. The PIL also sought direction from a committee to ascertain whether a Shivalinga, as claimed by the Hindus, had been found inside the mosque or if it is a fountain as claimed by Muslims. The appeal in the top court stated that the Allahabad High Court had erred in dismissing the plea. On May 20, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case related to worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the District Judge, Varanasi. The Varanasi Court on September 12 dismissed a plea of the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi mosque compound. (With ANI Inputs) New Delhi: The Varanasi court on Friday (October 7, 2022) deferred the judgment on a hindu-side plea, filed by five women petitioners, seeking carbon dating of the structure inside the Gyanvapi mosque that the Hindu side has claimed is a Shivling to October 11. The Varanasi court will hear the Anjuman Islamia Committee's arguments and thereafter, the court would pronounce its order on October 11. The court was supposed to pronounce its verdict on the plea filed by the Hindu side today. A heavy police force was deployed outside the premises of the court ahead of the crucial hearing. Court asked us to clarify on two points whether the structure found inside Gyanvapi Case is part of this suit property or not? Second, can the court issue a commission for scientific inquiry? We have submitted our reply, news agency ANI quoted Adv Vishnu Jain, representing the side in Gyanvapi case, as saying. Court asked us to clarify on two points whether the structure found inside #GyanvapiMasjid is part of this suit property or not? Second, can the court issue a commission for scientific inquiry? We have submitted our reply: Adv Vishnu Jain, representing the side in Gyanvapi case pic.twitter.com/b71zHVjdJ5 ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 7, 2022 The court had reserved the order in the Gyanvapi Mosque-Shringar Gauri case on September 29 after hearing both sides` arguments. The bench of Varanasi District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesh was likely to deliver the order today. The Hindu side had claimed that a `Shivling` was found in the premises near the `wazukhana` during the videography survey of the mosque premises, which was ordered by the court. However, the Muslim side said that the structure found was a `fountain`. The Hindu side had then submitted an application on September 22 that sought a carbon dating of the object they claimed to be `Shivling`. Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader and candidate for the party's presidential polls Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday categorically denied allegations of being Sonia Gandhis remote control even after he is elected party president. The veteran politician said that there is no such thing as "remote control" in his party unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party, where every president is selected through a "consensus". In the city to campaign for the election to the party's top post, Kharge asserted that if becomes the head of the grand old party, the remote control would be with him. Kharge was replying to a query about the BJP's claim that he would act as the "remote control" and "proxy" of Sonia Gandhi after being elected to the post. "A lot of people say I am a remote control and work from behind. They say I will do what Sonia Gandhi will say. There is no such thing as a remote control in Congress, people take decisions together. It is your thinking. A few people are creating this idea," Kharge said. Attacking the BJP, he said, "How many times has the prime minister held (party president's) election? All the presidents were selected through consensus, and you are teaching me? Where is the remote control in the BJP? When I become president, the remote control will stay with me." Decisions would be taken by "our committee, elected members, working committee and parliamentary board", he said, adding that he would try his best to ensure 50 per cent of organisational posts are reserved for those below 50 years of age. Hailing Sonia Gandhi, Kharge said she had made a renowned economist the country's prime minister (Manmohan Singh) rather than taking up the post herself or considering her son for it. She hails from a family that has sacrificed its members for this nation and has even spoken of pardoning the killers of her husband, Kharge said. He said if he becomes the party president, he would try to give representation to women, youth, Dalits, backward classes at every level of the party, and also appeal to state units to fight polls unitedly. "I have jumped into the fray to save the ideology of my party, the ideology of Gandhi, Nehru and to strengthen the call for unity given by Sardar Patel," he said. Asked about his competitor Shashi Tharoor, the veteran Karnataka leader said he was contesting the polls after colleagues and workers asked him to do so. "When our workers, delegates and youth say you have to take leadership, then should I run away?" he asked. He said the Congress faces many challenges but has the capacity to face and overcome them bravely. Kharge also recalled that after the flash floods in Kedarnath, Narendra Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, had called him seeking a special train to bring back the people from his state stuck in the Uttarakhand town. "At that time, we had tried our best to help them and send them home at the government level. If we work together, then the country will progress," he asserted. Kharge, who is here to meet Gujarat Congress delegates for the party polls scheduled for October 17, also hailed Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. Chennai: Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, said that he will not withdraw his nomination for the post of Congress party president, adding that he was drawing huge support from the party leaders and cadres while interacting with media persons at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress state headquarters, here on Thursday. The polling for the Congress presidential election is scheduled to be held on October 17. The former Union minister said, "Rumours that I am going to withdraw (nomination) are false. I am receiving so much support that if I wouldn't have been democratically inclined, I would have asked the other candidate to withdraw." Shashi Tharoor said that there was a need for a strong Congress party in the country to take on the BJP, adding that he wants to change the Congress into a "party of young India", and his support base is swelling. He also said that the youth who are the future of the country was backing him and added that 65 per cent of the population of the country are below 35, and his expectations are on this young generation. Shashi Tharoor releases poll manifesto, pitches for limiting state chiefs' term Congress leader Shashi Tharoor favoured limiting the term of office for state presidents in the party and said Congress should be revived and re-energised to take on BJP in the 2024 general elections. He told media persons, "My message is to revive the party, re-energise it, empower workers, decentralise authority and be in touch with the people. This, I believe will make Congress politically fit to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the 2024 (general) election." During his interaction with media persons at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, Tharoor said that he has respect and great regard for party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, adding that the contest was friendly based on different approaches to face the BJP and not ideological, as both hailed from the same party. Releasing his poll manifesto, the Congress MP said, "We need to reform the way our party functions. We need to bring young people in the party and give them real authority. At the same time, we should give greater respect to hardworking and long-serving Karyakartas." The key points highlighted in the manifesto include decentralising powers, strengthening the party at the booth level, utilising general secretaries for nation-building activities while dispensing their services as state in-charges, and trusting state presidents by giving them a free hand in decision-making besides limiting their term of office. Tharoor said, "We need to reiterate the core convictions of the Congress. We are the party of inclusive India, a party that believes in equal rights and is against oppression. This is the idea we stood and fought for and we must reiterate it," adding If elected as president, he would revive certain institutions like the parliamentary board. He said the manifesto focuses on the need for Congress to return to the ethos of social work, adding "The party is not a machine to fight elections once in five years, but it should live along with and serve the people... We should connect with the people and work with them." The Thiruvananthapuram MP said that popular connection with people is fundamental and this was being illustrated by the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra of party leader Rahul Gandhi. No one will know who voted for whom: Shashi Tharoor Thiruvananthapuram MP made an aggressive bid for the party's top post and said that it was a secret ballot and there would be no way to find out which state voted for which candidate. Talking to reporters in told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, he said "It is a secret ballot. No one will know who voted for whom. There is also no way of knowing which state PCC voted for which candidate as all the ballots would be mixed together before being counted." On queries regarding senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala's open announcement that he would campaign for veteran party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Tharoor said Chennithala was not an office-bearer in Kerala PCC. Regarding KPCC chief K Sudhakaran openly declaring he would support Kharge for the party chief's post, he said the announcement was made before the election related guidelines were issued by Congress, adding that some of his colleagues have informed the election authority about certain things which they felt were not right, but they were not going to raise those issues beyond that. Before leaving for Tamil Nadu to continue his poll campaign there, Tharoor said, "Our intention is to unify and strengthen the party and not to malign its efforts towards holding a democratic election for the party chief's post." More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electorate. Notably, the counting of votes for the polls would be taken up on October 19 and the results are expected the same day. (With IANS/PTI Inputs) Indiana: The twenty-year-old Purdue University student, who was found dead in his room at a residence hall on the Indiana campus was an Indian origin, according to the office of Tippecanoe County Coroner. Varun Manish Chheda was killed on Wednesday allegedly by his 22-year-old roommate who is in under police custody for investigation. "The 20-year-old Indian-American student was killed in a dorm by a roommate at Purdue University. Varun Manish Cheeda, a senior at Purdue University, from Indianapolis, died of `multiple sharp force traumatic injuries` in his dorm. Attack was unprovoked and senseless," the office said. Chheda was a 2020 graduate of Park Tudor, as per the Fox59, a tv station. Chheda`s roommate, 22-year-old Ji Min "Jimmy" Sha, from Korea is now in police custody and is the prime suspect in the case. She is a junior cybersecurity major and international student from Korea. At 12:45 am on Wednesday Sha called 911 to alert police about the death, Purdue University Police Chief Lesley Wiete said during a news conference Wednesday morning, reported NBC. However, no further details of the call and how the victim died in his room on the first floor of McCutcheon Hall were disclosed. The police are treating the death as a homicide case. According to the Police Chief, the suspect has not been booked yet. She said that at the time of the 911 call, only Chheda and Sha were in the room at the time. Also Read: 4 kidnapped Sikh family members, including 8-month-old baby, found dead in California "I believe this was unprovoked and senseless," she said. According to its website, Purdue has about 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for the fall semester incident that happened, media reports said."I write to let you know that early this morning, one of our students was killed in his residence hall room. The suspect, the victim`s roommate, called police to report the incident and is in custody," a message from the University`s President read. We do not have all the details yet, he added and said that Purdue University Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation of this incident so that they can learn more about what transpired. "As is always the case, staff from our Office of the Dean of Students, our Residence Halls, and clinicians at Purdue`s Counseling and Psychological Services are providing support and are available to anyone who needs or wants their care," the message added. Also Read: Indian restaurant vandalised in US, walls spray-painted with racist graffiti Purdue`s president assured us that the safety and security of students are the single highest priority on the campus. "Purdue is an extraordinarily safe place on any given day, and compared with cities of Purdue`s population (approximately 60,000 in all), we experience a tiny fraction of violent and property crime that occurs elsewhere. Such statistics are of no consolation on a day like this. Death on our campus and among our Purdue family affects each of us deeply. I am ever grateful to all of you who continually take the time to care for each other and know you will do so in the days ahead," it added. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed to have apprehended a Lashkar-i-Toiba hybrid militant in the Shopian district of South Kashmir. According to a police handout, based on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the jurisdiction of Police Station Zainpora, Shopian Police, along with 44RR and CRPF 178 BN, apprehended one hybrid terrorist who was roaming in suspicious conditions at the Heffkhuri Maldera axis while patrolling. The police identified the hybrid terrorist as Yawar Ahmed Padder, the son of Ali Mohd Padder and a resident of Heff Zainpora. According to the police spokesman, during his search, one pistol, a pistol magazine, and 12 live 9mm cartridges were recovered from his possession. Also Read: Militants operating from Pakistan in J&K declared terrorists under UAPA According to him, the apprehended hybrid militant was linked to the banned terror organisation LeT. According to the statement, FIR No 127/2022 has been registered under relevant sections of law in Police Station Zainpora, and an investigation has begun. New Delhi: Karnataka Congress unit chief DK Shivakumar has reached the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Delhi today morning, October 7, a day after the agency summoned him and his brother, MP DK Suresh in connection with Young India Pvt Ltd. Shivakumar has been asked to appear before ED today. The agency has summoned him and his brother, MP DK Suresh in connection with a probe related to their financial contribution to Young India Private Limited. Earlier, ED had rejected Shivakumar's request for extending the date of his appearance before the agency and directed the brothers to appear before ED nonetheless. Shivakumar, before leaving for ED office, said that he had to leave Bharat Jodo Yatra in middle to reach Delhi. Delhi | I've been summoned by ED. I requested them to call both me & my brother DK Suresh after Oct 23 but concerned officer directed us to present before him nonetheless. So we left yatra in middle & reached here: Karnataka Cong Chief DK Shivakumar before leaving for ED office pic.twitter.com/XTbaqntJfI October 7, 2022 "I had requested time to appear which was denied. I asked time as Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra is passing through Karnataka and there are my responsibilities," he said. DK Shivakumar said in a statement that he will take a decision after consulting with the party leaders. Meanwhile, Congress has called the ED summons to Shivakumar in the midst of the Bharat Jodo Yatra as an attempt to derail the march by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre. Congress said that the BJP is anxious about the overwhelming response from people to the Yatra. DK Shivakumar also accused the government of misusing agencies to harass him after seeing the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress leader said he would discuss the summons with fellow party leaders and take a call on whether he should appear. ED had filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar and others in a money laundering case in May. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the Income Tax (IT) department. The IT department, during the initial probe, had allegedly found unaccounted and misreported wealth linked to the Congress leader. DK Shivakumar earlier had called the charges "baseless" and "politically motivated". Earlier, the ED has also summoned DK Shivakumars wife and mother to appear before it, which was later challenged in the Delhi High Court. According to the source, the ED has not mentioned Shivakumars wife and mothe`s names in the charge sheet. In August this year, a Special CBI Court of Delhi granted bail to four accused in a money laundering case connected with Shivkumar registered by ED. The Special Judge Vikas Dhull while granting bail to four accused said, "the bail applications are allowed and the accused are admitted to regular bail subject to their furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 1 lakh each with one surety each of the like amount subject to the condition that accused shall not leave this country without prior permission of this court and shall not try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witness." ED had arrested Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar on September 3, 2019, in the case and later Delhi High Court granted him bail in October 2019. (With agency inputs) Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday condemned Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray's statements about the minor grandson of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during the Dussehra rally on October 5 and dubbed them as being of "low standard". During his speech, Thackeray attacked CM Shinde as he referred to his son (Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde) as a brat and said his one-and-half-year-old grandson Rudransh has an eye on the corporator's post. Addressing a press conference here after chairing a district planning committee meeting, Fadnavis said, "I feel very bad that a leader like Uddhav Ji mentions Eknath Shinde's grandson and comments on it. This is very low standard. Thackeray should publicly take back his words." "Where are we headed to in Maharashtra if we are commenting on a one-and-half-year-old child? I express strong displeasure at such comments," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader added. Also Read: Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally showed which is REAL Shiv Sena: Devendra Fadnavis takes dig at Uddhav Thackeray On a query about Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting, Fadnavis said such interactions have been going on (among the opposition) for the past seven to eight years but all in vain as Prime Minister Narendra Modi lives in the heart of the people. Earlier on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that "the "huge" crowd at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally in Mumbai showed who leads the real Shiv Sena." Fadnavis also dubbed the other rally held by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday as "Shimga", a pejorative term used to describe abusive rhetoric. He himself did not listen to the speeches of both Thackeray and Shinde when they were underway, the BJP leader said. NEET UG Counselling 2022: The Medical Counseling Committee, MCC released on Thursday (October 6) in a notice that mentioned that candidates can change their nationality from Indian to NRI by submitting the relevant documents. MCC has provided the list of documents to be submitted for the same in the notice on the official website- mcc.nic.in. Candidates who wish to change can send the documents via email to ug.nri.mcc@gmail.com. "It is for the information to all the candidates that those who are claiming to be NRI as per the directions/orders of Honble Supreme Court of India in the case (W.P. (C) No.689/2017- Consortium of Deemed universities in Karnataka (CODEUNIK) & Anr. Vs. Union Of India & Ors.) dated 22-08-2017 (Copy enclosed), such candidates should send their relevant documents as mentioned below, in support of their claim to change nationality from Indian to NRI through email ug.nri.mcc@gmail.com from 10:00 AM of 7th October, 2022, (Friday) till 10:00 A.M of 11th October, 2022 (Tuesday), read the official notice The List of documents to be submitted by the candidates by October 11, 2022 is as follows New Delhi: Nine people have been booked by Bidar police for allegedly trespassing into Mahud Gawan madrasa in north Karnataka to perform puja during Dasara festivities on Thursday, October 7. To prevent any adverse mishaps, a strong police force have been stationed around the ASI-protected site in the old city area. According to the Additional SP Mahesh Meghannavar, the situation around the area is under control. Karnataka | Bidar police booked nine people for allegedly trespassing into Mahmud Gawan madrasa, a heritage site & performing puja during Dasara festivities yesterday; Members of Muslim community staged a protest The situation is under control: Additional SP Mahesh Meghannavar pic.twitter.com/8Gw68IpRrg ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022 According to eyewitnesses, nine people from a group did the puja in the presence of the police during the Bhavani Devi procession. After the video got viral, a few members of the local Muslim community staged a protest in front of the Police station, demanding action. After the Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannanavar and Circle Inspector of Police Sathish persuaded them that proper action would be taken, the protesters dispersed. AIMIM Chief, Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the act and lashed out at BJP-led state government over the incident. Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims, Owaisi wrote on Twitter. Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims pic.twitter.com/WDw1Gd1b93 Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 6, 2022 Later the day, the police filed a first information report (FIR) against Naresh Gauli, Prakash, Vinu, Manna, Sagar Banti, Jagadish Gauli, Arun Gauli, Gorakh Gauli, and another person after receiving the complaint from Syed Mubashir Ali. Shillong: Contractual teachers of state-run schools in Meghalaya who lost their jobs two years ago clashed with police when they were stopped from entering the secretariat in Shillong, demanding reinstatement. Over 800 contractual teachers have been fired two years ago after failing the Meghalaya Teachers Eligibility Test (MTET), and they have been protesting ever since under the banner of the Meghalaya Government Lower Primary Contractual Teachers' Association (MGLPCTA). The teachers were protesting outside the secretariat's main gate on Thursday, demanding their jobs back, when the situation erupted, according to official sources. During the scuffle, the protesters were accompanied by family members, including children. Many pregnant women were among the agitators. The police action drew harsh criticism from various social organisations, with the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) requesting that those responsible for issuing such an order be prosecuted. As they attempted to enter the state secretariat building, police allegedly lathi-charged some of the protesters and hurled tear gas shells. Also Read: Nine booked for performing puja at Madrasa in Karnatakas Bidar, Muslims stage protest MGLPCTA leader Birbor Riangtem said they have met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma seven times to discuss their issue but to no avail. According to an official, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang wanted to meet with the protesters, but they declined. "He even chased us away from his room. Therefore, we don't want to meet the government as they will only fool us. Sangma had assured us that he would examine our demand but there has been no positive outcome even after two years," he said. Riangtem said they are not willing to meet the chief secretary as he had "also fooled us with his words". "Our clear message to the government is that if they want us to call off this agitation, they should come up with an order to reinstate our services," he added. Riangtem, who was injured in the melee, was accompanied by his two sons. Also Read: Students stunned as female teachers in UP's government school fight- WATCH "My children want to go to school, but I have had no job for two years, how will I provide education to them? That is why my family has come here to support me," he said. Meanwhile, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui invited the protestors for talks on Friday. (Inputs from PTI) Mumbai: Accusing Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray of ditching Hindutva for the chief minister's post, Union minister Narayan Rane on Friday said the former's Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park on October 5 was nothing but bragging about self and badmouthing opponents. Addressing a news conference, Rane said the Shiv Sena managed to win 56 seats in the 2019 Assembly polls using pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but then ditched the Bharatiya Janata Party to form an alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. "You (the Shiv Sena) won using the pictures of Modi. Uddhav Thackeray has no moral right to talk about Hindutva. Why did they go with the Congress and NCP? He ditched Hindutva for the chief minister's post," Rane said. In 2019, the Shiv Sena had contested polls in alliance with the BJP. However, it joined hands with the NCP and the Congress after a dispute over sharing the chief ministerial tenure equally. Known to be bitter rivals, Thackeray and Rane have mounted vitriolic attacks on each other routinely. "He should not talk about Hindutva. He does not have any moral right to talk on Hindutva. His Hindutva is fake. His rally was nothing but bragging (about self) and badmouthing (opponents)," Rane said. Dumka: A 22-year-old woman died in a Ranchi hospital on Friday hours after being set ablaze allegedly by a man whose marriage proposal she had rejected. The woman, Maruti Kumari, a resident of Bhalki village in Dumka district, was rushed to a local facility by family members and then referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the state capital, a senior police officer said. Confirming the woman's death, Dumka Superintendent of Police, Amber Lakra, said that a team of doctors in presence of a magistrate will conduct the autopsy of the victim. "The woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate before her death which will be her dying declaration. A separate FIR is also there," Lakra said. The accused, already married, has been arrested, Shivender Thakur, the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Jarmundi, said. "A local man, who wanted to marry the victim, had entered her home on Friday morning, poured petrol on her when she was asleep and set her ablaze. "She was rushed to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital by family members, and doctors later referred her to RIMS, " Thakur said. The woman and her parents were not ready for this marriage. Both the victim and the accused knew each other since 2019, the SDPO said. As per the woman's statement, the accused threatened to kill her in the manner in which a 19-year-old woman was set ablaze in Dumka in August this year. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the tragic incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the victim. "Deeply saddened by the news of the demise of daughter Maruti of Jarmundi, Dumka. The accused is in the custody of the police. May God give peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear the grief. Instructions have been given to provide Rs 10 lakh assistance to the kin of the deceased," Soren said in a tweet. On August 23, a woman was set on fire allegedly by a man for spurning his advances. The woman died days later. The accused, identified as Shahrukh, allegedly poured petrol on the woman, a student of Class 12, from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire. Last month, a 14-year-old tribal girl was found hanging from a tree in Dumka, with her mother claiming that she was raped and killed. The two previous incidents in Dumka are currently being probed by various bodies, including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), and the National Commission for Women (NCW). New Delhi: Electronics Mart India IPO GMP (grey market premium) today suggests that subscribers are going to see a steady debut. As per today's GMP, Electronics Mart India is available at a premium of Rs 34. Electronics Mart India stock market debut According to market analysts, Electronics Mart India initial public offering (IPO) shares could make a positive debut on the public bourses. Electronics Mart India listing is going to happen on October 17, 2022. The consumer durables retail chain will be listed on both NSE and BSE. Electronics Mart India IPO Details Electronics Mart India received 7.57 times subscription on the second day of offer on Thursday. The IPO got bids for 47.29 crore shares against 6.25 crore shares on offer, according to NSE data. The category for non-institutional investors was subscribed 11.74 times, while the portion for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) attracted 7.81 times subscription. Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) category received 4.01 times subscription. The IPO consists of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating to Rs 500 crore, with no offer for sale component. Price range for the offer is Rs 56-59 a share. On Tuesday, the public offer of Electronics Mart India was subscribed 1.69 times on the first day of offer. Electronics Mart India Electronics Mart India Ltd (EMIL) was founded by Pavan Kumar Bajaj and Karan Bajaj as a proprietary concern with a consumer durables and electronics store under the name of Bajaj Electronics. Its multi-brand outlets operate under the brand name Bajaj Electronics other than two specialised stores under the name 'Kitchen Stories', catering to kitchen specific-requirements and one specialised store format under the name 'Audio & Beyond', focusing on high-end home audio and home automation solutions. Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, IIFL Securities and JM Financial are the managers to the offer. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: Pop icon Justin Bieber has postponed all of his remaining `Justice` World Tour dates until an unspecified time `next year,` following the cancellation of his tour dates in South America, South Africa and Asia. The announcement, which was made via the tour`s official Instagram page, says "ticketholders will be informed on the next steps as updates occur." According to Variety, the tour, which was supposed to begin in 2020, has already been repeatedly postponed or delayed, most recently because of his diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare infection that in his instance resulted in facial paralysis. Most of North America was covered when it finally started in March, but he postponed the remaining dates in early June after disclosing his struggles with the illness. After resuming the tour in August, he declared on September 6 that he would need to take a hiatus from performing "to make my health the priority right now" after a number of shows. The tour was supposed to pick up on October 22 in Malaysia, go across east Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and then resume in Europe in January before wrapping up at the end of March. Additionally, the rescheduled North American dates have not been formally postponed. Fans of the postponed concerts, who cannot get a refund until the shows are formally cancelled, were not happy with the announcements despite Bieber`s prior disclosure about his health, according to the comments on the post. "Just cancel the rest of the tour at this point and give everyone a refund I can`t even remember how long ago I bought tickets it`s been that LONG!," a fan wrote. In announcing the postponements last month, Bieber wrote: "Earlier this year, I went public about my battle with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, where my face was partly paralyzed." As the result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North America leg of the Justice Tour. After resting end consulting with doctors, family and team, I went to Europe in an effort to continue with the tour. "I performed six live shows, but it took a real toll on me. This past weekend I performed at Rock in Rio and I gave everything I have to the people in Brazil. After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I needed to make my health a priority right now. So I`m going to take a break from touring for the time being. I`m going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better period I`ve been so proud to bring this show and our message of justice to the world. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout all of this exclamation point I love you all passionately!" The news caught everyone off guard because the night before, Bieber had been sharing pictures from his performance at the Rock in Rio festival on Instagram. New Delhi: Private telecom Airtel has launched its 5G services in 8 cities across the country on October 6 including Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, Gurugram, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Customers are excited to avail the service on their devices for faster and lagging free Internet. However, the service is not currently available for all devices. Customers dont need to change their SIMs as existing 4G SIMs are compatible with 5G network. ALSO READ | Airtel 5G: Is your smartphone in supported device list released by Airtel? Bharti Airtel Chief Technology Officer Randeep Singh Sekhon said, People need to have 5G phones to access the service, they will not need to replace their existing 4G sim. Airtel 5G Plus is supported on selected devices right now, but more devices will be added to the list soon. ALSO READ | Google Pixel 7 series, Pixel Watch launched: Check prices, specs and more If you are an Airtel customer and 5G service is available at your location, heres how you can activate the 5G network on your smartphone now. Go to the Settings app on your smartphone Select Mobile network Select the SIM you want to check the 5G network for Tap on the Preferred network type option Now tap and select the 5G network type If the 5G network is available in your region, you will see the 5G symbol in a couple of minutes on the status bar The devices which dont support 5G right now will get an over-the-air (OTA) update soon from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to support it. New Delhi: Garena Free Fire releases redeem codes on an everyday basis. The 12-digit redeem code consists of alphabets and numbers. Players can get rewards such as skins for in-game weapons and characters to improve their gaming experience. Garena Free fire is banned in India. However, if you are located outside India, you can access the reward codes and redeem them. For that you will be required to visit official Garena Free Fire reward site and log in to your Facebook, Google, and Twitter IDs to access the Free Fire redemption page. (Also read: WhatsApp entering film-making biz, movie to premiere on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube) Check out the Garena Free Fire Redeem Codes for October 07, 2022 MCPW3D28VZD6 FFCMCPSEN5MX ZZZ76NT3PDSH MCPW2D1U3XA3 EYH2W3XK8UPG NPYFATT3HGSQ MCPW2D2WKWF2 FFCMCPSJ99S3 BR43FMAPYEZZ FFCMCPSGC9XZ UVX9PYZV54AC XZXJE25WEFJJ HNC95435FAGJ V427K98RUCHZ U8S47JGJH5MG ZZATXB24QES8 FFIC33NTEUKA VNY3MQWNKEGU 6KWMFJVMMQYG (Also read: OMG! An 18-year boy hacks Uber, employees' thoughts someone is joking) How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, October 07, 2022 Step 1: Go to the official Garena Free Fire redemption portal Step 2: Log in on the portal with either your Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, VK, or Huawei ID. Step 3: Enter a redeem code in the designated text box. Step 4: Click on the Ok button to get free rewards in your game account. (Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules) By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijani media representatives visited the management center of the digital substation in the Fuzuli district. Digital substation is an innovative project of monitoring, protection, and management, which collects and processes all information about the state of the electrical network, and also organizes the management of equipment in digital format. The project provides the development of optical digital transformers instrument and digital equipment complexes of a new generation at substations. The new generation substation provides high accuracy, and uniformity of all measurements, automation allows for the reduction of the influence of the human factor on the operation of the network, increases its reliability, and reduces losses in the transmission of electricity. The digital substation also reduces energy costs and operating costs. Automatic adaptation of operations to the requirements of the distribution network, the possibility of making decisions by information and technical security systems, and integration into the network of sources of 'green energy' are provided. As reported earlier, a trip of Azerbaijani media representatives to Fuzuli, Hadrut, and Shusha has kicked off. Nearly 30 journalists from various media outlets are taking part in the media tour, organized jointly by Azerishig OJSC and the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency on the occasion of October 20 - the Day of Energy Workers of Azerbaijan. During the trip, the media representatives will also visit the Hadrut hub substation and digital control center, and the digital control center in Shusha. Currently, work is underway to restore Azerbaijan's liberated lands. Azerbaijan will rebuild its recently liberated areas in four stages. The initial stage includes the solution of the issues of governance and security, and infrastructure, while the subsequent stages include the solution of the issues of social services activities, reconstruction, and development of the economy. In 2021, Azerbaijan allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of liberated territories, followed by AZN 2.2 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2022. These funds will be used primarily to restore infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, communications, roads, education, health, and so on) as well as cultural and historical monuments. New Delhi: Google on Thursday announced that the all-new Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro with new-gen Tensor G2 chip are now available for pre-orders in India. Powered by Google's next-generation Tensor G2 processor and shipping with Android 13, Pixel 7 is priced at Rs 59,999 and Pixel 7 Pro is priced at Rs 84,999 in the country. Both devices will be available for purchase starting October 13, said the company. The company said that limited-time launch offers for Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel & 7 Pro in India include Rs 6,000 cashback on Pixel 7 and Rs 8,500 Cashback on Pixel 7 Pro. Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch immersive display, a polished aluminium frame and a camera bar in three colours: Snow, Obsidian, and a new Hazel colour. With a 6.3-inch display and smaller bezels, Pixel 7 packs advanced features and improvements into a smaller profile in three colours: Snow, Obsidian, and a new Lemongrass colour. "Android 13 on Pixel 7 offers the best Android experience yet. It's fast, smart and secure. Plus, the fresh new style and customisation capabilities makes it feel unique to each user. Users can recolour the look of their app icons to match the aesthetic of their phone's wallpaper, and even assign specific languages to individual apps," explained the company. Tensor G2 is the next-gen processor custom built for Pixel with Google's advanced machine learning and speech recognition. It makes both the devices faster, more efficient, more secure and even more helpful. It delivers Pixel's best photo and video quality with next-gen Super Res zoom, up to two times faster Night Sight processing, sharper photos with Face Unblur and new features like Cinematic Blur, said the company. The Pixel 7 Pro also comes with Macro Focus, which delivers Pixel HDR+ photo quality from as close as three centimetres away. "Photo Unblur", a feature coming first to Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, will use machine learning to improve blurry pictures even old ones. Users can also touch up those photos and easily remove distractions with Magic Eraser'. With Pixel 7's speech recognition technology, the phone will be able to transcribe audio messages on Google's Messages app, so users can easily read them as soon as they receive them, said the company. With Tensor G2 and the Titan M2 security chip, Pixel is built with multiple layers of security to help keep users safe and secure. The company said that average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours which was conducted on a major operator network. New Delhi: Only one week into the show & there is so much that had conspired already inside the Bigg Boss house. Actor Shalin Bhanot and Sumbul Touqeer were the hot topics the first week as their friendship blossomed and the two seemed to get along like house on fire. Previously when Tina questioned Shalin on his relationship status, Shalin made sure he was loud and clear and also as a matter of fact claimed that Sumbul was just like a child to him. While many were quick to jump the gun and announce it as an intimate affair, many have loved this friendship between the two. In last night's episode, when Sumbul broke down, Shalin took the matter into his hands & tried explaining to her what was perceived of them. Following this, Sumbul's fans have this newfound respect for Shalin & have appreciated him for handling the situation like a true gentleman. Check out some of the tweets: Really respect and appreciate #ShalinBhanot for being honest and coming clean to #SumbulTouqeerKhan about this creepy #BB16 pehla gaya angle. Thank you Shalin!! CrossThreads (@threads_cross63) October 6, 2022 Good that #ShalinBhanot is explaining about things thats going around #SumbulTouqeerKhan The way he is handling her is so mature and sweet #bb16 #biggboss #biggboss16 October 6, 2022 Really appreciated how #ShalinBhanot shared how Tina or some other are questioning his relationship with #SumbulTouqeerKhan. Was not expecting, so this really made me happy.#BiggBoss16 #BB16 sky. (@shiptothesky) October 6, 2022 I cant believe Im saying this but I really liked #ShalinBhanot conversation with #SumbulTouqeerKhan. He didnt backstab Tina and at the same time informed Sumbul that HMs are talking about them.#BB16 #BiggBoss16 Aara (@TuHai_KiNahi1) October 6, 2022 Happy to see that #ShalinBhanot maturely and in a caring way supported sumbul after her breakdown....hope they continue to support each other like that in game...@BhanotShalin #SumbulTouqeerKhan October 6, 2022 Linking up with housemates is not uncommon when you're in the Bigg Boss house but it is evident Shalin cares for his friend & takes the friendship seriously to let her know what has been going around her and not be oblivious and makes us believe that every close friendship may not necessarily be a relationship but only two individuals who care about each other. Way to go Shalin. He's been constantly trending on Twitter the first week of the show & we are not surprised by his honesty be it when he nominated Sajid or put things in perspective in front of his friend Sumbul. Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday submitted a 35-page chargesheet in a CBI court in Asansol against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who was arrested by the agency in connection with a cattle smuggling case. In this chargesheet, Anubrata Mondal`s name has appeared for the first time as the direct beneficiary of the cattle smuggling scam. In the chargesheet, CBI has also underlined details of the huge assets and property of Mondal, and his family members. Mondal, currently in judicial remand, is lodged in Asansol correctional home. The TMC's Birbhum district president was arrested on August 11 from his residence at Bolpur by a team of CBI sleuths for allegedly not cooperating in its investigation into the cattle smuggling case. The ruling party leader had skipped appearing before the CBI officers at its Nizam Palace office for his questioning on several occasions prior to the arrest. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier on Friday arrested and took into its custody Sehgal Hossain, the bodyguard of Trinamool Congress strongman and the party`s Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. ED sleuths have taken Hossain`s custody from the authorities of the Special Correctional Home at Asansol where he was already in custody following his arrest by the CBI. He was supposed to be in that custody till November 5. Three senior ED officials arrived here from Delhi on Friday along with a court order that allowed the agency to take Hossain into its custody. Sources said ED has plans to take him to Delhi for further questioning. Officials said the quantum of property and assets of Hossian that have been assessed by the ED is not proportionate with his income as a Constable with the West Bengal police. "The question is if he actually purchased them or someone more influential bought in Hossain`s name. Hence, it has become necessary to take him to custody and question him," an ED official said. He further said that during questioning, Hossain had made a constant effort to mislead the officials about which the senior ED officials in Delhi were also apprised. After getting the green signal on this count from the headquarters, the ED officials approached the court in Asansol with the plea seeking Hossain`s custody. After the court approved their plea, ED officials arrested him. New Delhi: Regarding the increasing number of deaths of Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails, India on Friday reiterated that Pakistan is duty-bound to ensure the security of all Indians in its custody and said that incidents of deaths of Indian prisoners are alarming. In a weekly Presser, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi said, "These increasing incidents of deaths of Indian prisoners are alarming and raise the question of their safety and security in Pakistani jails."Underlining the situation as an ongoing problem, Bagchi noted that there have been an increasing number of deaths of fishermen in recent times and the Indian government has raised the question of the safety of Indian prisoners including fishermen to Pakistan. "This is an ongoing problem. What we understand is that there have been an increasing number of deaths of fishermen in recent times. 6 Indian prisoners (out of which 5 of them were fishermen) have died in Pakistani custody in the last 9 months or so," Bagchi added. He pointed out that despite of completion of sentences for all six Indian prisoners and multiple demands from the Indian side for their release and repatriation, the prisoners were illegally detained by the neighbouring nation. However, India`s High Commission in Islamabad has raised the issue several times of immediate repatriation of Indian prisoners."We would like to reiterate that Pakistan is duty-bound to ensure the safety and security of all Indians in its custody and we request the Pakistan government once again to release and repatriate all Indians immediately," Bagchi added. Earlier in August, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the government has always given the highest priority to the security of Indian fishermen and all assistance is being provided for their early release from Pakistani custody. Moreover, time and again the cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats by Pakistan authorities are consistently raised with the Pakistan Government and it is conveyed that this issue may be considered on humanitarian and livelihood grounds. Earlier, as many as 20 Indian fishermen were released by the Pakistan government, on June 20, through the Attari Wagah border. The fishermen, who had entered the Pakistani waters unknowingly, were released after spending four years in prison Brussels: The EU has adopted a new package of sanctions aimed at stepping up and reinforcing restrictive measures against Russia, the EU Council said in a statement. The eighth round of EU sanctions came in response to "the illegal annexation of Ukraines Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions," the statement added on Thursday. The new measures incorporate the G7 (Group of Seven) price cap into the existing sanctions on Russian oil, expand the restrictions on services, exports and imports and add further individuals and entities to the sanctions list, Xinhua news agency reported. The package introduces the basis for putting in place a price cap related to the maritime transport of Russian oil for third countries and further restricts the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products to third countries. Also Read: 'Russian President Vladimir Putin won't SURVIVE nuclear war', warns Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy The package also comprises the sanctioning of individuals and entities that have played a role in the organisation of "illegal referenda", representatives of the defence sector and well-known persons spreading disinformation about the Ukraine crisis. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the package would further restrict trade to "isolate and hit Russia`s economy even more". Tallahassee: The death toll from Hurricane Ian climbed into the triple digits on Thursday. The number of recorded storm-related deaths has risen to at least 101 in the eight days since the storm made landfall in southwest Florida. Of the total deaths, 98 were in Florida, according to reports from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Other storm deaths include five in North Carolina, three in Cuba and one in Virginia. Ian made landfall in Florida's Gulf Coast on September 28, after hitting Cuba the previous day. Roaring northeast, the storm crossed Florida and headed into the Atlantic, then made another landfall in South Carolina before pushing into the mid-Atlantic states. Ian is the second-deadliest storm to hit the mainland United States in the 21st century, behind Hurricane Katrina, which left about 1,800 people dead in 2005. The deadliest hurricane to ever hit the US was the Great Galveston Hurricane in 1900 that killed as many as 8,000 people. Las Vegas: In an unfortunate incident, a psychotic attacker, about 30 years old, stabbed two people to death and injured six with a large kitchen knife on Thursday, October 7, along the Las Vegas strip. The attacker has reportedly been arrested by the police. Of the eight people stabbed, one was pronounced dead at the scene and one died at a nearby hospital. Among the victims, three were hospitalized in critical condition, while three were brought stable. The incident occured aroung 11:40 AM on Thursday on the north end of the Strip. Police said the man would be booked into the Clark County Detention Center. They also said that they began receiving 911 calls about the stabbings after which he was detained. Police didn't immediately release any information on the suspect or a possible motive. Witnesses told media that the attacker struck in multiple locations, and some of the victims appeared to be showgirls or street performers who take pictures with tourists on the Strip. The suspect told a woman that he was a chef who wanted to take a picture with some of the showgirls with his knife, but he started stabbing people when the group declined the man's offer, the woman told media. Pierre Fandrich told media that he did not see the stabbing suspect as he was walking along the Strip. But he said he thought he heard three or four showgirls laughing, and it turned out to be screaming. Fandrich said he saw a lot of blood as one woman ran across a bridge, one was on the ground, and another had a stab wound on her back as she tried to help the fallen woman. Fandrich also told the media that he thought one of the victims fell from the bridge because there was so much blood on the ground. Las Vegas, known for its casinos, attractions and night life, was the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history when a sniper opened fire from a high-rise hotel on a crowd attending an outdoor music festival in October 2017, killing 60 people. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended his sympathies for the mass shooting tragedy at a Thailand child care centre, saying he is "profoundly saddened" by the "heinous" act. "Im profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare centre in Thailand. Learning centres should be spaces where children feel safe, never targeted. My condolences to the victims` loved ones & the people of Thailand," Guterres wrote on Twitter. On October 6, a former policeman killed 34 people, including 23 children, during a knife and gun rampage at a daycare centre in northeast Thailand. Im profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare centre in Thailand. Learning centres should be spaces where children feel safe, never targeted. My condolences to the victims' loved ones & the people of Thailand. Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 6, 2022 Previously, the United States condemned the massacre at a Thailand child care centre. In a statement, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US was "horrified" by the fatal incident at the Thailand day care. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed America's readiness to assist its ally Thailand in the aftermath of the tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, where a gunman took the lives of at least 38 people, including 24 children. This violence is both senseless and heartbreaking. We stand with the people of Thailand and extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones today. The United States is ready to assist our Thai allies in the wake of this tragedy," he said in the statement. Also Read: Thailand day care mass shooting: Killer was a drug addict and distressed after losing his job The number of people killed in a massacre has risen to 38, including 24 children. Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former police officer, was identified as the offender, who killed himself soon after the attack. After returning home, police said Panya killed his wife and child before turning the gun on himself. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's office, "the (Thailand) prime minister has offered his sympathies on the shooting event." "All Thai people, and all people around the world who know about this ... will feel so depressed and saddened," Deputy PM of Thailand, Anutin said. Earlier, the prime minister's office had instructed all security officers to track down the perpetrator. In comparison to other Southeast Asian countries, gun ownership in Thailand is relatively high. Mass shootings are uncommon in the country, but in 2020, a soldier killed 29 people in a shooting spree that began at a military base and then left shoppers running for shelter after the gunman entered a mall, according to CNN. (With agency inputs) Washington: The United States has issued a travel advisory to its citizens to reconsider travel in high-risk areas in Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. In a Level 3 travel advisory issued on Thursday, the US has asked its citizens not to travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping. It recommended that the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control is risky due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. Cautioning its citizens that the terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, the advisory said that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Flagging up that terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, it advised the citizens to remain vigilant of their surroundings and local events. "A local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets. Terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties," it added. The US government further noted that it has a "limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in Pakistan" due to the security environment. "Travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted, and additional restrictions on movements by US government personnel outside of US diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly." The US Consulate General in Peshawar is unable to provide any consular services to US citizens, the advisory said. The advisory asked citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan especially in Balochistan due to the unpredictable security situation. "Do not travel to Balochistan province. Active terrorist groups, an active separatist movement, sectarian conflicts, and deadly terrorist attacks against civilians, government offices, and security forces destabilize the province, including all major cities. In 2019, several bombings occurred in Balochistan province that resulted in injuries and deaths." Over travel to KPK province, it read, "Do not travel to KPK province, which includes the former FATA. Active terrorist and insurgent groups routinely conduct attacks against civilians, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government offices, and security forces. These groups historically have not discriminated between government officials and civilians. Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, including the targeting of polio eradication teams." New Delhi: Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena, two female Indian students in Australia, have won the prestigious Victorian Premier's award. According to Amit Sarwal of The Australia Today, these awards are a Victorian government initiative to recognise outstanding international students in Victoria. Divyangana Sharma was named the Victorian Premier's Award - International Student of the Year 2021-22, and Ritika Saxena was named the International Student of the Year in the Research category. Ritika moved to Melbourne when she was 18 years old and is now a PhD student working on stem cell research, according to Australia Today. "You are an international student when you move to Victoria. However, by the time you complete your degree, you will be truly global "Ritika stated. Divyangana has also won Victorian International Education Awards 2021-22 in the Higher Education category. She came to Melbourne to study nursing at Holmesglen Institute in February 2020, said Sarwal. "When you move to Victoria, you are an international student. But by the time you finish your degree, you will be truly global," she said. Also Read: French writer Annie Ernaux awarded Nobel Prize in literature Except for the International Alumnus of the Year, award winners in each student category receive USD 6,000 to support their studies, with up to two runners-up receiving USD 2,000 each. The recipient of the `Premier`s Award - International Student of the Year receives USD 10,000 to support their studies, reported Sarwal. The awards are a ray of hope for Indian parents who are wary of sending their children for studies after a spurt in hate crimes against Indian students abroad. Notably, Varun Manish Chheda, a 20-year-old Purdue University student was killed on Wednesday at a residence hall on the Indiana campus allegedly by his 22-year-old roommate who is in police custody for investigation. Chheda`s roommate, 22-year-old Ji Min "Jimmy" Sha, from Korea is now in police custody and is the prime suspect in the case. She is a junior cybersecurity major and international student from Korea. Also Read: Carolyn R Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K Barry Sharpless win 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry This raises the basic question of how safe it is to pursue higher studies in foreign countries and how cautious parents and students need to be before applying for student visas. After several activities of vandalization of symbols of Hinduism including the Swaminarayan temple and anti-India graffiti in Canada, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens living in Canada to be cautious. Stating that there has been a "sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada", the Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens, especially students to register at the official Indian Embassy websites to ensure the fastest contact with the government. The MEA stated, "our High Commission/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action. The perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada."Canada is one of the top choices for Indian students studying abroad. Addressing the students, MEA said, "Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant. Indian Embassies and High Commissions in foreign countries are in touch with local officials as well as with Indian students studying abroad and issue circulars for their safety and keep them on their priority list, the COVID-19 and Ukraine evacuations are glowing examples of it. These isolated incidents should not restrict parents to send their children for higher studies abroad. It is an opportunity to get a world-class education and global exposure. It is every individual`s responsibility to be careful of his/her surroundings, the people they associate with and the activities they get involved in while living in a foreign country. Moreover, to create opportunities for new businesses, start-ups, and innovation between India and France, the Macron government aims to have 20,000 Indian students by 2025 to study in the country, a joint statement issued by the two countries said."Recognising the benefit of bilateral student mobility, France maintains the objective of 20,000 Indian students by 2025 which will create opportunities for new businesses, start-ups and innovation between the two countries," the statement said. The two countries discussed ways to jointly increase the mobility of students, professionals and skilled workers while strengthening their efforts to combat irregular migration between the two. (Inputs from ANI) Washington: The US has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Pakistan, especially its restive provinces, due to terrorism and sectarian violence. In a travel advisory issued on Thursday, the US State Department urged its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping. "Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. Some areas have increased risk," it said, putting the advisory to Level 3. Level 3 travel warning is issued when a long-term or serious situation puts travellers and visitors at risk, and non-essential travel to the destination should be avoided. The advisory also recommended Americans not to travel in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. Noting that terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, it said a local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilians as well as local military and police targets. "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past," the advisory said. Terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties, it said. New Delhi: In the midst of increasingly aggressive North Korean missile launches this week, the US on Friday imposed sanctions on people and firms in Asia accused of helping North Korea procure fuel in violation of UN sanctions. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted two people and three firms from Singapore, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands. The US accused them of moving fuel through an "illicit ship-to-ship transfer" that circumvents United Nations sanctions restricting the import of petroleum products and supports the development of North Korea's weapons programmes and military. The sanctions are the first directed toward the isolated Asian country since the start of its most recent round of missile launches, six rounds of tests in less than two weeks. North Korea also flew 12 warplanes near its border with South Korea on Thursday, prompting the South to scramble 30 military aircraft in response, Seoul officials said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said North Korea continues its unprecedented pace, scale, and scope of ballistic missile launches this year," adding that it has launched 41 ballistic missiles this year alone. Tensions have risen quickly on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea's recent missile tests prompted South Korea, the US and Japan to conduct joint drills in response. The sanctioned companies are the Marshall Islands-based New Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd., and Singapore-registered Anfasar Trading (S) Pte. Ltd. And Swanseas Port Services Pte. Ltd. The US also targeted Singapore-based Kwek Kee Seng and Taiwan-based Chen Shih Huan for coordinating the deliveries. Among other things, the sanctions deny them access to any property or financial assets held in the US and prevent US companies and people from doing business with them. Brian Nelson, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said North Korea's ballistic missile launches demonstrate a continued disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions. The United States will continue to enforce multilateral sanctions and pursue the DPRK's sanctions evasion efforts worldwide, including by designating those who support these activities. Studio Dragon, producer of controversial K-drama "Little Women," said it would be more sensitive about history and cultures after Netflix withdrew the series for historical distortions of the Vietnam War. "In response to concerns raised regarding some of the settings in Little Women, we will take social and cultural sensitivity into account and pay more attention to future content production," the company said in an official statement. A Netflix representative said Thursday the movie was removed from Netflix in Vietnam "in accordance with a document (submitted) by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications." Previously, the Vietnamese agency requested the removal of the movie because it violated national media and cinema laws with actors making inaccurate statements about the Vietnam War in episodes 3 and 8. The K-drama Netflix series "Little Women" is an adaptation from the classic novel of the same name, but with a different spin to suit Korean taste, premiered in September. The film, directed by Jung Seo Kyung and produced by Kim Hee Won, follows the travails of three impoverished sisters, Oh In-Joo (Kim Go Eun), Oh In Kyung (Nam Ji Hyun) and Oh In Hye (Park Park. Ji Hoo). In-Joo's life is shaken up when her friendly yet mysterious colleague Jin Hwa-Young (Choo Ja-Hyun) dies, leaving her two billion won and a trail that leads to a more sizable slush fund of a whopping 70 billion won. While they wish to purchase an apartment, they also worry that the money has been stolen and will have an impact on the future. At the same time, they must contend with the forces seeking to reclaim the money. More than 2,000 students and teachers from Ton Duc Thang University in HCMC participated in a responsible drinking program and signed a pledge to enjoy alcoholic beverages responsibly. The "Enjoy responsibly - Don't be drunk and drive" campaign was launched on the occasion of the National Traffic Safety Month and the 25th anniversary of Ton Duc Thang University. Anheuser-Busch InBev company, AB InBev foundation and Budweiser launched a series of activities in partnership with universities to spread the message of responsible drinking, reducing the harm of alcohol abuse. As part of the campaign, more than 2,000 students and teachers of Ton Duc Thang University signed the pledge to adhere to responsible enjoyment following the spirit of Anheuser-Busch InBev and the Budweiser brand, which includes only consuming beer when they are of legal age. Thousands of university students join a responsible drinking campaign held by Anheuser-Busch InBev and Budweiser. Photo by Anheuser-Busch InBev "It is a good idea to raise awareness of traffic safety and the negative effects of alcohol at the university," a student who participated in the campaign said. Truong Van Toan, director of legal and external affairs at AB InBev Vietnam, said: "AB InBev Vietnam, AB InBev foundation and Budweiser hope to spread the message: "Be responsible because someone needs you, and raise public awareness on safe drinking." The campaign will continue to expand across Vietnam in 2023, aiming to create a positive influence on the young generation, while contributing to a healthy lifestyle. A student signs the commitment to enjoy alcoholic beverage with responsibility. Photo by Anheuser-Busch InBev Anheuser-Busch InBev is one of the world's largest brewers. The company has brewing operations across 150 countries and 170,000 staff worldwide. As part of the company's commitment to responsible drinking, AB InBev Global established the AB InBev Foundation (ABI Foundation) in an effort to reduce the impact of harmful alcohol consumption. Founded in 1366, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium) and has branches in many countries, with 150,000 staff worldwide. Anheuser-Busch InBev currently owns more than 500 beer brands covering 150 countries. By Trend The achievements of the army depend not only on its high professionalism but also on its moral and psychological state, the commander of the military unit of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, Hero of the 2020 Second Karabakh War, Colonel Zafar Yusibov told Trend. During the second Karabakh war, which ended with the historic victory of Azerbaijan, we always felt the moral support of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, as well as our people, and this gave us even more strength, Yusibov said. "Its a great pride and honor to be part of the army led by the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev. Great spiritual uplift, patriotism, the most modern weapons and ammunition, and the highest professionalism of the army led us to the victory," he noted. The serviceman also spoke about the conduct of combat operations in difficult terrain [during the second Karabakh war]. Using special means, we achieved effective results. Its difficult to use heavy equipment and to move with loads in mountainous areas. We advanced with machine guns, sniper rifles, machine guns and, when possible, with hand grenade launchers and that was enough for us, Yusibov reminded. On the heights, the Armenian occupiers were armed with heavy equipment. However, the result is obvious. We defeated the occupiers. The best weapon is a well-trained soldier. The occupiers needed soldiers who could use the weapons and ammunition they had. Those who couldnt use their weapon well threw it away and fled," he said. The serviceman also pointed out that providing the most modern weapons, ammunition and equipment further enhances the power of the army. "The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces always pays great attention to the issues of providing, supplying the army, and social protection of personnel," Yusibov further added. "Armenian armed forces must know that any of their aggressive actions and military provocations will be resolutely suppressed," he stressed. One of the 12 aircraft revetments is demolished at Tan Son Nhat airport as seen in the right corner of this photo taken on October 4, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The 12 aircraft revetments built by the U.S. in HCMC's Tan Son Nhat airport for use during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) are being dismantled. The Air and Air Defense Force is in charge of the task. Revetments are a parking area for one or more aircraft surrounded by blast walls on three sides. Those at Tan Son Nhat measure 20 m long, 10 m wide and 3 m high, and prevent a new taxiway from being used, affecting the operation of large aircraft. By Thursday four of the revetments had been removed. Only their portion above ground is being demolished since their foundation does not affect the airport. Such an option will help reduce the cost of the removal, according to the Transport Construction Investment Management Authority under the Ministry of Transport. The air force had estimated earlier that the removal and construction of seven new ones in an unobtrusive place in the airport will cost VND95 billion (US$4 million). In the meantime, the adjustment of the cost is still being calculated, according to the authority. Of the new revetments planned, three will be 22 m long and 30 m wide while the rest will be 60 m long and wide, and all can hold the military aircraft used by the country. Tan Son Nhat is the largest and busiest airport in Vietnam, handling 840-850 flights and 130,000 passengers a day. A Vietnam Airlines plane flying from Germany to HCMC had to stop halfway in Azerbaijan as a German man on board got sick. The passenger, 18, encountered some health issue and received emergency care from a doctor and a nurse who were also passengers on the flight, yet his condition did not improve. The captain and the crew decided to land at the nearest airport, Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku City, four hours and 35 minutes after department early on Friday morning (Hanoi time). Vietnam Airlines cooperated with the ground service department at the airport to assist the passenger with immigration procedures, visa application, and emergency transport. The plane, Boeing 787, continued to take off to HCMC after a three-hour pause. Vietnam among most searched travel destinations on Google by Australians Foreign tourists drink beer on Ta Hien Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, September 2022. Photo by VnExpress Giang Huy A look at Australian search trends over the past 20 years reveals Vietnam ranks fourth in the list of most Googled tourist destinations after Japan, New Zealand and Thailand. Rounding off the top 10 are Tasmania, Australia, Cambodia, Bali, New South Wales, and Borneo, Google data released to mark the companys 20th anniversary in Australia this month shows. The number of Australian visitors to Vietnam in September rose by 10% from the previous month to 17,413. Over 33,000 of them have come to Vietnam since the country reopened its borders since mid-March after two years of closures due to Covid. The Vietnamese government scrapped quarantine requirements in March. It offers 30-day e-visas for citizens from 80 countries and territories, including Australia. Moscow-backed authorities staged sham referenda in four regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. The Kremlin announced it will move forward with its purported annexation of these regions of Ukraine despite Russia not fully controlling these areas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the Kremlins sham referenda, calling them a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine. To be clear, he added, the results were orchestrated in Moscow and do not reflect the will of the people of Ukraine. The United States does not, and will never, recognize the legitimacy or outcome of these sham referenda or Russias purported annexation of Ukrainian territory. Russias attempts at annexation of Ukrainian territory violate international law and are an affront to the principles of international peace and security. Russia has forced much of the population in areas it seized to flee and compelled Ukraines citizens that remained to cast ballots at gunpoint, in fear for their safety, and the safety of their loved ones, reported Secretary Blinken. Ukraines people have consistently expressed their desire for a free and democratic future. Their soldiers are fighting bravely, and citizens in Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine are resisting Moscows efforts to change Ukraines internationally recognized borders by brute force. The United States and its allies and partners will continue to assist Ukraine in its fight to defend its territory against Russias aggression. We wholeheartedly support Ukraines unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, declared Secretary Blinken. President Joe Biden has said, we will never recognize these areas as part of any country other than Ukraine, and we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. He also warned that the United States will impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia. The United States stands with its partners around the world in rejecting whatever fabricated outcomes Russia announces. We will continue to support the Ukrainian people and provide them with security assistance to help them defend themselves, declared President Biden, as they courageously resist Russias invasion. Vice-President Kamala Harris recent trip to the Republic of Korea was book-ended by the launching of missiles shot by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the DPRK. The resumption of such missile launches, as well as the possibility of another nuclear test by Pyongyang, are clear reminders of the security concerns the United States and its allies have about the DPRKs dangerous and destabilizing actions. In her meeting with Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, Vice President Harris emphasized the strong and enduring nature of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea. She called it a linchpin of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. The Vice President underscored the U.S commitment to defend the Republic of Korea and to strengthen the two nations combined defense posture. Speaking after a tour of the Korean Demilitarized zone, Vice President Harris stressed the ironclad nature of the U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, which includes the full range of U.S. military capabilities. The alliance between the two countries was forged in shared sacrifice during the brutal Korean War Americans and Koreans fought and died together for freedom and for liberty, the Vice President said. Nearly 70 years since the Korean Armistice, the threat of conflict remains. And we are reminded that the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea stands ready to address any contingency. Vice President Harris spoke of the dramatically different paths the DPRK and ROK took over the past seven decades: In the south, we see a thriving democracy, innovation, economic prosperity, and strength a powerhouse and a force for good in the world. In the north, we see a brutal dictatorship, rampant human rights violations, and an unlawful weapons program that threaten peace and stability. Vice President Harris noted that the United States and the Republic of Korea share the goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The world too, she declared, seeks a stable and peaceful Korean Peninsula where the DPRK is no longer a threat. We will continue to work alongside our partners here and everywhere to maintain stability and peace in this region. In response to the tragic and brutal death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, as well as the violent suppression of peaceful protests, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced sanctions against Irans so-called Morality Police and senior security officials. Twenty-two-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested in Tehran for purportedly wearing a hijab too loosely. She died while in custody of Irans so-called Morality Police. Street patrols by the morality police in Iran intensified this summer. President Ebrahim Raisi had called for strict enforcement of laws, imposed after the revolution in 1979, that oblige women to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes. Protests throughout Iran erupted after Aminis death. They have been met with force by the authorities. The Iranian governments crackdown is ongoing: Authorities have reportedly killed dozens of protestors, and last week the Iranian government cut off access to the internet for most of its 80 million citizens to prevent themand the rest of the worldfrom watching its ongoing violent crackdown on peaceful protestors. In a separate statement, the Treasury Department said the officials designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control oversee organizations that routinely employ violence to suppress peaceful protests and members of Iranian civil society, political dissidents, womens rights activists, and members of the Bahai community. The seven designated officials include Irans Minister of Intelligence and Security, the head of Irans Morality Police, and the head of its Tehran division. The sanctions also target the deputy commander of the Basij; the deputy commander of Irans Law Enforcement Forces, the LEF; the LEF commander of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province; and the commander of the Iranian Armys Ground Forces. These men have been involved in serious rights abuses, including violence against detainees and the use of deadly force against protesters. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the death of Mahsa Amini another act of brutality by the Iranian regimes security forces against its own people. She added, We condemn this unconscionable act in the strongest terms and call on the Iranian government to end its violence against women and its ongoing violent crackdown on free expression and assembly. Todays action, Secretary Yellen declared, demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administrations clear commitment to stand up for human rights, and the rights of women in Iran and globally. ELKO Vitality Center is another step closer to having a new womens residence. Elko City Planning Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 4, conditionally approved a conditional use permit for a new Vitality Unlimited Womens Residence on Southside Drive. Vitality Unlimited CEO Ester Quilici told the planning commissioners that the nonprofit has operated transitional living in Elko since 1984. It has been affiliated with Vitality Center, which is a substance abuse residential treatment center. She called the new womens residence a legacy project. The house in which were operating now, which weve been in since the early 90s, is just antiquated, she said. The property has been vacant since 2016, when a fire destroyed the previous building on the land. The womens residence will have up to 10 residents at a time. Vitality plans to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the city to help pay for a major portion of this new building. This is the future for this womens program. It has served years of families, and I say families because if you treat the women, you help treat the families for a healthier future, Quilici said. The residence will not have a lot of traffic because Vitality doesnt allow the program participants to drive their vehicles to the residence. Vitality staff transport the women back and forth from Vitality Center. So, youll have one van in and one van out once a day, Quilici said. On weekends theyre home on Sundays. Theyre never allowed to be unsupervised. We always have awake staff 24/7 when theyre in the house. Quilici said they are good neighbors, and Vitality hopes the new residence will be in service for many, many years. Its needed, she said. Alcohol and drug issues are a continuous problem in the state of Nevada and these women get optimum services including mental health services. I wish you would recommend this tonight, and we can get started on it tomorrow. The only public comment came from Karen Cruson, who has a dental office that will be next to the womens residence. I appreciate Ms. Quilici, you, explaining more about the situation. My concern was traffic because people come whipping around that corner pretty fast, Cruson said. The property has frontage off Lamoille Highway, but it will only be accessed through Southside Drive. This property has frontage on Southside Drive and Lamoille Highway and according to city code would require curb, gutter, and sidewalk along all street frontages, stated city staff. However, the Nevada Department of Transportation does not want curb, gutter, or sidewalk along their road Lamoille Highway. City staff said Vitality will have to request a waiver from Elko City Council concerning the requirement. City Planning Commission Chair Jeff Dalling suggested that the commission recommend to the City Council to grant the waiver. We need a Vitality Center, said Dalling. Ive never seen any problems with the other one, and I think a big telling is that nobody, no residents, are here to complain. So thats a big one for me. The other planning commissioners agreed. I take my hat off to Vitality Center, said Planning Commissioner Stefan Beck. The resources are not nearly what they were or what they should be. You make such a difference. You have such a positive impact on people that have issues. If you can fix them right then, it makes a huge difference. I think one of the problems we have in this country is that no one recognizes that. You can be homeless because you have a problem. That doesnt mean you are a bad person. It really is an important thing that you guys do, and I think a lot of people recognize that, so thank you. Quilici thanked the commissioners for their endorsements. She reinforced to those in attendance that Vitality is a good neighbor. You will not have any problems, in fact I think youll welcome us, she said. The house will be maintained well. It is nicely designed, and I think it will be well built. Theres kind of a hole in the neighborhood, and this house will fill up that hole in the neighborhood. Quilicis only regret was the amount of concrete parking that is required for the project. Its too bad that some of this couldnt be waived, she said. Why, because this is a home. What you do is you try, and you give these women a home in which to live, and you begin to change them inside and outside. Sixteen farmworkers, packed tightly into a van driven by their employer an unregistered Oregon labor contractor headed home after a long day loading Christmas trees into trucks for sale in November 2019. Not far from their destination, the van entered an intersection where a pickup truck slammed violently into its side. Three farmworkers were killed instantly, and others with severe injuries were taken to a hospital. Investigators found the contractor did not obey a traffic light and drove the van into the path of the oncoming pickup. The surviving workers and the families of those who perished continue to struggle to rebuild their lives to this day. Sadly, in many U.S. farming communities, these kinds of transportation incidents are almost routine. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that in 2020, 368 farmers and farmworkers died from a work-related injury. Transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for these farmers and farm workers. It is imperative that we stop this trend. The U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division is committed to improving compliance, so we are sure that the produce and other farm products we enjoy have not been picked by a farmworker who was injured or killed simply by trying to get to and from the fields. The Wage and Hour Division determines if employers are meeting their responsibilities when it comes to vehicle safety standards. Requirements include ensuring vehicles are safe, in good working condition and insured appropriately; drivers have valid licenses to operate the vehicles; and contractors and drivers are registered with the division for their contracting activities. Safe vehicles and safe driving habits save lives, as does wearing safety belts. The National Highway Administration estimates that 15,000 lives are saved by seat belts every year. Yet, here we are in 2022, pleading with farming industry employers and workers, Please wear seat belts! When employers and contractors dont provide safe transportation of farmworkers, the Wage and Hour Division will hold them accountable. Several agricultural growers and contractors in California, Oregon and Washington are currently under investigation by the division after tragic incidents involving transportation of agricultural workers. The industry has the power to help save farmworkers lives: Growers must demand and ensure safe transportation of farmworkers to and from their fields. Contractors must make safe transportation of workers their priority. And workers must buckle up. To those who say this is too much to expect, consider how the outcomes of two incidents in California might have been different. A van carrying a large group of farmworkers to work crashed in California in 2015. In the wreck, four workers died, including a 16-year-old. The Department of Labor found both the grower and its farm labor contractor were responsible for providing an unsafe vehicle, with an unlicensed driver behind the wheel, and workers not wearing safety belts as required. In 2017 near Calexico, California, a blown tire and a missing seat belt led to tragedy that claimed the life of one worker and injured six others. In that incident, a federal court later found a southern California grower and its farm labor contractor responsible. While we are deeply committed to protecting agricultural workers and holding violators accountable to ensure compliance, we cannot fix every vehicle, be behind the wheel or ensure every worker is buckled. We need agricultural industry employers, contractors and workers to do their part to ensure everyone comes home safe at the end of each day. Editor: My name is CJ Anderson and Im the Superintendent of Schools for the Elko County School District. Im honored to be in this position and for the opportunity to help guide our wonderful students, staff and families forward in improving and bettering our schools and the education our students receive. As we near Election Day, we have seen our ECSD School Board Meetings used as a forum to interrupt important business and deceptively detract from the very positive ways we are moving forward after a tumultuous two to three years. It happened again at our latest board meeting. Some Elko County School Board candidates once again took to the podium attempting to stir up intrigue and controversy. During public comment they referred to someone in this room as being guilty of submitting a complaint to the Nevada Attorney General over one year ago. Followed by statements that this one person encouraged the state to take over the school board. Then, without disclosing who or what type of information they had, concluded their comments and left the board meeting. Saying someone in this room is not transparent. Omitting important information while using accusatory and vague language is not honest. Playing games and using the open meetings of local governments for tactical and personal advantage is reckless and abusive. I am more than ready to admit that the someone they are referring to is likely me. Though it is hard to know for sure, because I was not the only one who sent a letter to the Attorney General during that time. With his permission, I write that Paul Allen, the then President of the ECSD Site Administrators Association and now Director of Secondary Education, also submitted complaints of this nature to the state. I know for certain others in our district did as well, but I will not list them here out of respect and understanding that they, too, could face retaliation in their various roles for exercising their desperation to do what is right. When I submitted my complaint to the AG and requested assistance, I was serving as the Director of School Improvement for our district and saw firsthand the ways some of our then-current board members were disregarding ECSD policies, Nevada Revised Statutes and state mandates during a pandemic. I witnessed their attempts to coerce and strongarm the district and site administrators into following their lead, putting at risk the students and staff, our licenses, and our livelihoods. During that same time period, the ECSD Site Administrators Association drafted a letter that laid out the many unacceptable ways these particular board members were behaving and attempting to cause us to behave. One hundred percent of the site administrators and district directors, at that time, signed this letter endorsing the same message. As a general rule, the guiding principle behind our important work as public educators is, we do what is best for our students. Furthermore, we do so within the realm of state and federal law, statutes, mandates, and other governing requirements which we must adhere to as government employees and individuals certified to teach and educate under the authority of the Nevada Department of Education. If someone is driving recklessly on your streets, I certainly hope you would call the police to make your streets safer. If you witness or have knowledge of bullying, I would expect that any decent person would intervene in the most responsible way and notify the proper authorities. And when I, and every single other administrator in the district, recognized the lawlessness with which these certain board members conducted themselves and put everyone else at risk, I was happy to sign on to do the right thing; not because it was a desirable option to seek the states help, but because it was a desperate situation and we were left with few options. To malign someone, anyone, for calling out unlawful behavior, only serves to perpetuate said behavior. Our students sometimes worry about being labeled a snitch for telling an adult when one of their peers is engaging in dangerous or harmful behavior. We administrators diligently try to teach them that this is nonsense and its never the wrong time to do the right thing. The letter written collectively by the administrators was the right thing to do. Contacting the proper authorities was the right thing to do, and Id do it again in a heartbeat. Moving forward as a district, with a singular focus on how to help our students experience academic, social, and emotional success, is the right thing to do. Its time to move on. Clayton J. CJ Anderson China has ramped up its tax and fee incentives and supporting policies to enterprises, a move that has not only offered a "timely rain" to companies in financial drought but also served as a shot in the arm for the economy. Official data from the State Taxation Administration showed that China's tax refunds as well as tax and fee cuts and deferrals had exceeded 3.4 trillion yuan (about 478 billion U.S. dollars) by Sept. 20. The total consists of approximately 2.21 trillion yuan worth of value-added tax credits that had been refunded to taxpayers, 591.6 billion yuan of tax and fee cuts, and 632.6 billion yuan of deferred tax and fee payments. The combined tax and fee incentives have been vital in bailing out businesses in difficulty. A waste management firm based in Ji'an City of Jiangxi Province in the east of China, for instance, had been seeing negative profit margins before May, according to the company's financial chief Zhang Leshan. However, after receiving a tax rebate of 10.48 million yuan in May and an exemption of 160,500 yuan that was refunded to its account, the company's monthly profits have rebounded to positive territory and reached 2.86 million yuan. Zhang also said that the company's monthly operating costs have lowered 5.3 percent. "It is estimated that the company would see a 25-percent yearly increase in whole-year business revenue." Animal husbandry firm Zhonghong Sanrong Group Co., Ltd. enjoyed a tax refund totaling about 500,000 yuan in July. "We used the money to purchase soybean pulp, brown rice and other raw materials for broiler feed. After three months, the chickens were sold at a good price and farmers have reaped a harvest," said Sang Shujun, the legal representative of the company. A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 90 percent of firms that received tax refunds since the policy was implemented believed that their cash flow had improved. On top of these inclusive tax and fee incentives, an executive meeting of China's State Council last week decided to temporarily defer payments of certain government-levied charges and deposits to further ease the burden on market entities, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, self-employed households and manufacturing firms. Li Xuhong, a senior researcher with the Beijing National Accounting Institute, said that the tax and fee policies implemented in 2022 mainly center on support for key enterprises, such as the sci-tech, manufacturing and micro, small and medium-sized firms, and aim to precisely "drip irrigate" market entities experiencing financial strain. As policies and measures to stabilize the economy continue to take effect, and the negative effects of heatwaves wane, China's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector has bounced back to expansion territory, according to NBS figures. The PMI for the manufacturing sector came in at 50.1 in September, above the boom-bust line of 50, and up from 49.4 in August. Data showed that the confidence of manufacturing companies strengthened in September, with the sub-index for production and operation activity expectation standing at 53.4, up 1.1 points from the previous month. "The foundations of economic recovery will be further consolidated, as supporting policies continue to take effect," said Fu Linghui, an NBS official. By Trend The amount of compulsory insurance for the Azerbaijani Ombudsman is determined in the amount of a five-year official salary, Trend reports. This issue was reflected in the draft law on amendments to the Constitutional Law 'On the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan', submitted for discussion at today's meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) Committee on Legal Policy and State Building. According to amendments, a new clause (16.6-1) is added to the law, under which the Ombudsman will be insured in the amount of a five-year official salary. The monthly salary of the Ombudsman is 3,060 manat ($1,800). China's modernization is based on the development in the interest of its people, hence great support from the Chinese people for the initiatives from the Communist Party of China (CPC) in its leadership, said the leader of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). "Everything that we do, in the end, it has to be backed by the people," said Vinnie Molina, national president of the CPA, in an interview with Xinhua. "I see that the CPC has got the backing of the Chinese people." The CPC, he said, has given "a strong leadership to the people of China in the development towards a socialist society," not least in rapid economic development including lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and impressive technological development, particularly in the area of space. Molina was a carpenter who had been working with the construction union for about 25 years and likes watching videos on construction in other parts of the world. "Some of the infrastructure that China has been able to develop are very impressive," he said. "As a construction worker, I feel very happy when I see those developments." During the past two pandemic years, Molina saw China's respect of people's life from its handling of the disease. "We can contrast this with the treatment of COVID in other parts of the world." While lots of people across the world died from the COVID, he said, in China, "every life is precious." Molina praised China for providing the COVID vaccine to the world. "Millions of people could benefit out of the Chinese biotechnology," he added. China has provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations. China's development is also in line with the interests of the world, Molina said. The CPC is committed to promoting peace, cooperation, mutual respect and development for a shared future. "The development of the Belt and Road Initiative is very important, in which it treats developing nations with respect on an equal basis," he said. In spite of the efforts, China was not reported fairly by some Western media, Molina said. "I think what goes on with some Western media is they only see things through their own lens." Molina voiced hope that the Australian government could improve its relationship with China. "We should treat China as a partner," he said. The 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its seventh plenary session on Friday. Participants at the session reviewed and approved a CCDI work report to the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress, according to a communique released after the plenum. The communique said the report will be submitted to the seventh plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which will open on Oct. 9, for deliberation. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, addressed the meeting. A total of 129 CCDI members attended the session, and two other attendees were present in a non-voting capacity. A corner of Phu Quoc island (Photo: vneconomy) The magazine asked its readers to vote in a range of categories, including the most favourite countries, the best cities, resorts and resort islands, to honour the top destinations in the world. With white sand beaches and good foods, Phu Quoc is also famous as a cradle for the craft of making fish sauce and cultivating pepper, and home to natural coral reefs and thick tropical forests. The island is now taken as a relaxation paradise for both domestic and foreign tourists. It boasts primeval forests and pristine beaches dotting its 150km coastline. The Philippiness Boracay island topped the ranking. Its Palawan island was also present in the list. Thailand has the most favourite islands, including Koh Samui, Phuket and Phi Phi. Among the most favourite countries 2022, Thailand came third and Japan second in Asia. Spain became the most popular in the list. In 2020, CNTraveler voted Vietnam one of the most 20 favourite destinations at the ninth place./. NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy has preliminary agreements on gas supplies through the recently opened Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, said Yuriy Vitrenko, the head of the board of Naftogaz. "We can now receive gas through this pipeline, and we have preliminary agreements with suppliers of such gas, and there is even free capacity in the pipeline, which, so to speak, was informally left just for Naftogaz, for Ukraine," Vitrenko said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that at present the company does not have the necessary funds to import gas through Baltic Pipe at current prices. "But the problem is that 1 billion cubic meters, which we could buy through this pipe for consumption in the coming winter, costs $ 2 billion at current prices. And Naftogaz now does not have that kind of money to buy this gas," explained the head of the company. He confirmed that the special fund created for gas imports, which was supposed to be filled, in particular, by international donors, is still empty. "Then everything depends on how effective the IMF mission will be ... and, perhaps, there will be an important donor conference with the Germans at the end of October. After that, it will be possible to say how great the chances are (of filling the fund)," said Vitrenko. At the same time, he stressed the importance of opening the Baltic Pipe for Ukraine. "It's good that such an additional option has appeared to receive definitely not Russian gas for Ukraine, and we will use it when there is an opportunity," the head of Naftogaz explained. As reported, the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline connected the gas transmission systems of Poland and Denmark for gas supplies from Norway. The gas pipeline will be able to transport 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to Poland and 3 billion cubic meters from Poland to Denmark. It was commissioned at the end of September. The Verkhovna Rada has appointed ex-head of Oschadbank Andriy Pyshny to the post of head of the National Bank of Ukraine. The corresponding decisions were supported by 290 MPs on Friday. According to Zhelezniak, Pyshny attended the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada. During the meeting, he noted that international reserves had grown from $23.9 billion to $24 billion since the beginning of October, and stressed that he considered the decisions on restrictions adopted during the war to be adequate. At the same time, he indicated that he would keep the key policy rate at 25% for the time being. The banker added that the hryvnia exchange rate, determined by the NBU, corresponds to economic realities, and its fluctuations in the market are due to a psychological factor. The head of the NBU noted that he is not yet ready to predict the exchange rate. Pyshny also pointed out that the course of domestic debt policy should be coordinated with international partners, and noted that the NBU sees a lack of effectiveness in the monetary transmission. The newly appointed head of the regulator stressed that Ukraine needs more than $30 billion to cover the deficit, which can be provided by international partners, but only with the support of the IMF. In addition, he welcomed the statement of the Ministry of Finance on the need to abandon emission financing of the budget, but stressed that this depends on international partners and their support. As reported, Pyshny was named as a possible candidate for the post of head of the NBU even before the start of the war, when the topic of a possible change of the central bank head arose several times. At the same time, the ex-head of Oschadbank was ready to compete for the post of head of Ukreximbank, but due to the war, the corresponding competition was canceled. In May of this year, Pyshny became an adviser to the head of the board of Oschadbank. He is also a member of the Yermak-McFaul sanctions group. Naftogaz supports use of UAH 26 bln from royalty for Aug-Nov 2022 to buy gas from private producers - Vitrenko NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy supports the idea of creating a kind of special fund for the purchase of gas, into which UAH 26 billion of royalty for subsoil use from August to November of this year will be transferred (draft law No. 8026 of head of the budget committee of the Verkhovna Rada Danylo Hetmantsev), head of the company Yuriy Vitrenko said. "This is more of a bill to support private producers. Because gas is bought from them at the expense of royalty. We, in principle, support everything that increases production in Ukraine," Vitrenko said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, private miners now sell less than a third of the extracted resources, and store the rest in underground storage facilities. "Our colleagues from the private sector complain that they have limited financial resources, because consumption in the industrial segment has fallen sharply, and it is difficult for them to sell gas where they used to sell it. From this point of view, the state supports them. Naftogaz is being used as a tool," Vitrenko explained, adding that the company is ready to be such a tool, if the state needs it. He suggested that such a bill would be supported by the Rada. At the same time, Vitrenko noted that the volumes and mechanisms of gas purchases from private producers will still be discussed. "To date, since May, we have bought about 220 million cubic meters from private traders on the stock exchange for the funds that we had," he said. NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy plans to increase gas production in 2023 by at least 5% under a combination of several conditions, head of the company Yuriy Vitrenko said. "In the west of the country we are increasing production. At the same time, we have de-occupied areas in Kharkiv region. If there are no military losses, then next year we will increase production there. And another important component is that next year we will launch a horizontal drilling program, this is actually the development of unconventional reservoirs," Vitrenko described the company's plans in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "Thus, putting all these factors together, in 2023 we can expect an increase in production by at least 5%,"he concluded. As reported with reference to Vitrenko, Naftogaz Ukrainy intends to increase investments in gas exploration and production by approximately 15% in 2023 compared to the current year. The head of the Lvivgazvydobuvannia gas industry department (a subdivision of Naftogaz), Oleksandr Sendeha, said that by the end of the year it will increase production by approximately 2% compared to 2021 - from 770 million cubic meters to 790 million cubic meters, while in September production growth amounted to more than 4%. Ukrgazvydobuvannia in January-June 2022 reduced the supply of gas by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2021, to 6.31 billion cubic meters. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, confirmed on Friday that the first rotation of the agency's mission personnel, who had been at the plant since September 1, took place at the Zaporizhia NPP. "Director General @ Rafael Grossi has confirmed that the first rotation of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) in Ukraine is complete and now a new reinforced team of IAEA safety, security, and safeguards experts is at the plant," the IAEA said on Twitter. Grossi visited Kyiv this week for consultations on the creation of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP. Zaporizhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, it has six VVER-1000 power units. Since February 28, 2022, ZNPP has been seized by the Russian army. The IAEA mission visited ZNPP on September 1. After that, two agency specialists remained at the plant. Decisions by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to adjust the exchange rate policy, including the establishment of a fixed exchange rate, are an effective anti-crisis measure, NBU Governor Andriy Pyshny said in the Verkhovna Rada before his appointment on Friday. "The decisions taken by the National Bank to adjust the exchange rate policy, firstly, to establish a fixed rate, I assess as a fairly effective anti-crisis measure. Due to this, we managed to stabilize the situation," he said. According to Pyshny, the time has come to discuss the possibility of setting the exchange rate in accordance with the state of Ukraine's macroeconomic indicators. "For the time being, it [the rate] is such that it allows us to ensure the required level of gold and foreign exchange reserves and keep the macroeconomic situation within the predicted parameters," the governor of the central bank added. President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen announced that the first installment of EUR 2 billion of the second tranche of the European Commission's macro-financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 5 billion will be paid in the coming days. She announced this on Friday in Prague at a press conference that took place after an informal meeting of the European Council. According to von der Leyen, since the beginning of the war, they have provided EUR 19 billion, excluding their military assistance. And this includes further EUR 2 billion of macro-financial assistance that will be made available in the coming days, she said. According to the President of the European Commission, the issue of further support to Ukraine was discussed during the meeting of the leaders. She said they discussed Ukraine and how they would support it for as long as it takes... They are not only looking at immediate assistance in the financial aspect, but also at the medium-term one for reconstruction. Supporting Ukraine is the essence of a joint conference that the Commission and the G7 presidency will hold later this month in Berlin. Therefore, it was very good to listen to the leaders on the important issue of Ukraine's reconstruction. What is already quite clear is that they will have to find new sources of funding, as huge sums will be needed. And they will have to establish a very structural approach to guarantee the predictability of funding, transparency on how this will be done of course, and the stability of funding for Ukraine, she explained. The President of the European Commission also recalled the eighth package of sanctions against Russia, which was adopted on the eve of the informal meeting. It was very encouraging that they were able to reach agreements on a new package of sanctions against Russia. They moved fast and hard. This demonstrates to Putin that the EU is committed to continuing to make sure that he pays for his war of aggression. In parallel, they continue to stand firm with Ukraine. Team Europe the EU and the member states the most reliable partners of Ukraine together with the USA, von der Leyen emphasized. As previously reported, on October 4, EC Executive Deputy President Valdis Dombrovskis signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine on another macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 5 billion. Sobha Realty, one of the UAEs leading premium real estate developers, successfully completed and delivered its One Park Avenue project two months ahead of schedule, further demonstrating the companys construction efficiency. A 24-floor tower, the One Park Avenue features 403 units of one to four bedrooms, each with a balcony offering uninterrupted views of the Dubai Creek, Downtown Dubai, and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, said a statement from the developer. According to Sobha, the residents have an option to choose from a variety of unit designs featuring contemporary interiors, fully equipped kitchens, and built-in wardrobes. The One Park Avenue was designed to offer a perfect balance of elegance, scenic views, and distinct living spaces, where smart features harmonise with nature for a sustainable living, it added. Engineer Marwan Bin Ghalita, CEO of the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) at Dubai Land Department (DLD), who inspected the tower, located within Sobha Hartland, later praised Sobha Realty for the quality and timeliness of its projects. "We are continuously delighted by Dubai developers, who deliver real estate products to meet the aspirations of residents. The project is a distinctive addition to owners and investors, and I am impressed with the exceptional implementation, quality of finishes, and distinctive facilities. I wish owners a happy stay and a sustainable ROI for investors," he stated. Sobha said in an effort to achieve the right blend of luxury and sustainability, the towers hallways and common areas are equipped with motion-sensor lighting to conserve electricity. It also has dedicated electric-vehicle parking stations provided for those who prefer a greener lifestyle. Sobha Realty is additionally driving sustainability by creating lush green landscapes and incorporating the philosophy More green than a grey into its spaces through motion sensors and sustainable water faucets, conserving over 60% of water, said its senior official. "We are pleased to hand over our prestigious One Park Avenue units, offering the highest standard of living to our customers. This marks a special moment for us as we are privileged to have the support of Dubai Land Department and Bin Ghalita in our efforts to raise the bar for luxury living in Dubai through our state-of-the-art real estate offerings," remarked the Managing Director Francis Alfred. "The recently launched One Park Avenue project echoes our commitment and mission of creating beautiful experiences for our customers through contemporary real estate properties of superior quality," noted Alfred. The completion of the One Park Avenue tower further strengthens Sobha Realtys position to complete the development of its prestigious Sobha Hartland project by 2025, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Russian occupiers launched a missile strike on Zaporizhia, head of Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh said. "The enemy launched a missile attack on the regional center. Stay in shelters. There is a risk of repeated attacks," Starukh wrote on Friday morning. As reported, earlier on Friday morning, the head of the regional administration said that the occupiers attacked Zaporizhia with kamikaze drones for the first time, there is destruction of infrastructure facilities, and one person was also injured. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power discussed the implementation of the Ukraine Fast Recovery Plan and the details of programs designed to develop a safe space in Ukraine, the website of the Ukrainian head of state reported. "Today, our main goal is to prepare for winter, create decent living conditions for the population in the liberated territories, and restore critical infrastructure as soon as possible. There is a big and ambitious thing that will happen after the victory of Ukraine, but there is something that is needed now and where you can help us," Zelensky emphasized during a conversation with the USAID administrator. The president of Ukraine presented Samantha Power with the Order of Princess Olga of the first grade, which she was awarded for her significant contribution to the development of interstate cooperation and consistent and important support of our state. Zelensky also thanked her for the agency's allocation of $55 million to prepare Ukraine's heating infrastructure for winter amid Russian aggression, and also praised the level of economic and defense support provided by the United States to Ukraine. "It is extremely important for us to have such an ally as the United States, which is a real leader in consolidating international support for Ukraine," the president of Ukraine said. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has appealed to the Russian servicemen and urged them to immediately lay down their arms under guarantees of preserving their lives and safety. "We guarantee life, security and justice to everyone who refuses to fight immediately. And we will get a tribunal for those who gave criminal orders. You can still save Russia from tragedy, and the Russian army from humiliation," Reznikov said in a video message released on Friday morning, noting that his words were primarily addressed to Russian officers and command. "Your paratroopers are now dying on the right bank of Dnipro. They know their job. But someone in the Kremlin decided to send them to certain death. Why is this happening? It's very simple: you were deceived and betrayed You pay with blood for someone's fantasies and false goals. Now they don't listen to you. Because listening to you now means admitting mistakes. And in Moscow they don't like the truth. It is easier for them to tell how you heroically died in the battle with the fictional hordes of NATO. NATO countries supply us with weapons. It's true. But Ukrainian soldiers beat you with these weapons," the head of the ministry noted. According to him, many Russian military have already realized that they were "sent to die not for a good cause." "Who will you be after this war for your children and grandchildren when they find out the truth? How will you go down in history? Like those who fought under the same banner with the convicts? You will remain in memory as thieves, rapists and murderers ... you will be made guilty. And they will betray you again, as they have already betrayed you more than once. Remember the wars in Chechnya. You are already publicly humiliated by those who are fighting in Tik Tok. And this is just the beginning," Reznikov said. He noted that Moscow officials and politicians who sent Russian servicemen to war have money and property, their families are in NATO countries. "They understand that they are trapped in a war. And they will do everything to write off their mistakes on you. Their theft. To shift the responsibility on you," the minister said. "I will not give you advice. Just know: Ukrainians do not need Russian land we have enough of our own. And we will return it all," Reznikov said. EU leaders at informal meeting in Prague reaffirm their commitment to further military, financial support for Ukraine The discussion of the Ukrainian issue within an informal summit of the European Union lasted more than two hours, during which further military and financial support to Ukraine was announced. This was announced to journalists on Friday by an EU source, commenting on the course of an informal meeting, which is taking place in Prague, which currently chairs the EU. "The leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and their commitment to continue military and financial support," he outlined the position of the EU leaders. According to the source, the speech of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky via video link began at 11.30 (12.30 Kyiv time), after which the discussion of the Ukrainian issue continued, which lasted more than two and a half hours, ending after 13.30 (14.30 Kyiv time). Further, the EU leaders discussed the energy issue, in particular, a proposal of President of the European Council Charles Michel in the field of supply, reduced demand and a problem of prices. "The Council will return to this issue with written conclusions at the official October summit," the source said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking via video link at a meeting of the European Council on Friday, called on them to strengthen cooperation in the defense and energy sectors amid confronting Russian aggression. In his video message, the head of state focused on the fact that only unity in Europe can be an effective response to Russia's attempts to provoke an anti-European crisis. "And it is the unity of not only leaders and states. Not only in the legal space. Not only in our institutions. It is very important that the unity of our perception of Europe as a task remains... Because this is the source of our strength. Europe will remain exactly as it is now, as long as Europeans perceive what they have, how they live, what they received from previous generations, not as givenness, but as a task," Zelensky said. The all-European task, according to the president, is also peace in Europe, the values of democracy and freedom, social equality and diversity, as well as security. "This is not something that we can simply get from our parents or simply pass on to our children... It is a constantly renewing task that can never be abandoned and that constantly needs new thoughts, steps and solutions to preserve all that you and I value so much and that is so familiar to us. And especially now at a time when Europe is being so brutally attacked at many levels by the most anti-European state of the modern world Russia," he said. At the same time, the head of state stressed that only due to the fact that the Ukrainian people stopped Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russia cannot yet bring the same war to other parts of Europe, in particular, to the Baltic countries, Poland, and Moldova. Amid a severe price crisis provoked by the Russian Federation, manipulations with the energy market, Russia is reaching unprecedented pressure on the standard of living of the vast majority of Europeans, Zelensky noted, adding that the whole world is on the verge of a radiation catastrophe due to the capture of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant by Russian troops. The answer to this, he said, should be the strengthening of defense and energy cooperation in Europe. "We have established and should only increase our cooperation in the security and defense areas. Increase the supply of weapons and ammunition to defend against the Russian pressure. Increase the manufacture of weapons and ammunition in Europe to be always ready to defend our common space," he said. "And we must invest now in our defense, in our security, in our cooperation as much as possible, so that anyone in the world, who might even have a thought to start an anti-European path, will forever be aware that the strength of European unity is insuperable," Zelensky added. In addition, the president noted, it is necessary to carefully approach the issue of protecting common critical infrastructure, especially after the sabotage at gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. "Never before has our continent faced such a threat the threat of destroying underwater pipelines, cables, and tunnels. But now you can expect this from Russia. At the same time, we must strengthen our cooperation to help each other, provide all Europeans with adequate energy guarantees," he said. In this context, Zelensky called on the countries of the European Council to create conditions for the physical protection of energy facilities from Russian strikes, to provide Ukraine with a large number of air defense systems on the eve of winter. He also called on Europe to influence Russia regarding the implementation of the IAEA requirements for the demilitarization of the plant and to contribute to the speedy restoration of critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in Ukraine, thanking those countries that have already begun work on the Fast Recovery Plan. In addition, the head of state called on European countries to strengthen the system of sanctions pressure on the aggressor. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov held a meeting with Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of the German parliamentary defense committee, following which he expressed confidence in a productive discussion with Germany, which would have practical results, incl. strengthening the air defense systems in Ukraine. "Had a warm and friendly conversation with our partner from the Bundestag Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chairman of the Defense Committee. I look forward to a productive discussion that will bring practical results, including a commitment to the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense," Reznikov said on Twitter. At a request of the Ukrainian authorities, Switzerland is providing Ukraine with a batch of equipment for extinguishing fires, cleaning polluted water and clearing rubble, the Federal Council of Switzerland reports. "The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) and the city of Basel donated the equipment, worth CHF 5.2 million in total. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), part of the FDFA, will finance and organise the transport of the goods. The first two lorries left Switzerland today," the report notes. It is noted that all consignments will be transported by land in a staggered manner. The first two lorries carrying four construction vehicles set off today for Ukraine. In total, Switzerland will deliver 20 construction machines, three fire-fighting vehicles and a smaller vehicle for transporting equipment and personnel, two mobile containers for collecting and cleaning contaminated water, and two containers for emergency response including lifting and moving equipment, lighting and power generators. The shipments will be handed over to the civil protection service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs after on-site training by specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. The Ukrainian authorities will then transport this material to Kharkiv, among other places, to carry out reconstruction and repair work in this city in eastern Ukraine, where destruction has been significant. The Justice Ministry of Ukraine has appealed to the competent authorities of the Republic of Austria for the extradition of former Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Oleksandr Tupytsky to Ukraine, a Red Notice for detention of Tupytsky has been issued through INTERPOL, a law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine. "On September 26, Podilsky District Court of Kyiv sent a petition through Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office to the Justice Ministry for the extradition of Tupytsky. On September 30, the court's request for the extradition of Tupytsky was sent by the Justice Ministry of Ukraine for execution to the competent authorities of the Republic of Austria," the agency's source said on Friday. The source said that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBU) issued a Red Notice through INTERPOL to detain Tupytsky. "We are waiting for a response from the INTERPOL's General Secretariat on the possibility of using its channels to trace Tupytsky," the agency's source said. As reported, the SBI is conducting a pre-trial investigation into the organization by law enforcement officers and civilians of illegal border crossing for one of the defendants in the case on the Vienna Territorial Defense the former Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tupytsky. "The pre-trial investigation of the SBI established that he left Ukraine without passing border and customs control provided for by law and without checking the documents granting the right to travel abroad. It was also not established whether there were grounds for temporarily restricting Tupytsky's right to travel abroad," it said. Tupytsky was noticed in Austria, in the center of Vienna, next to the car registered to his wife. According to the Border Guard Service, Tupytsky's wife did not cross the state border of Ukraine according to the legal procedure. Egypts Public Prosecution ordered the release of 50 pretrial detainees on Sunday and Monday, a member of the Presidential Pardon committee announced. With more than $121 billion worth of social projects planned and underway across the GCC, the private sector is expected to play a more significant role in infrastructure project delivery going ahead, said Cyril Lincoln, the Executive Vice President and the global head of real estate finance and advisory at Mashreq Bank, citing data. According to regional projects tracker Meed Projects, more than $50 billion of social infrastructure work is under execution, while the remaining $70 billion is in various stages of planning. Of the overall total, nearly $71 billion is located in Saudi Arabia, followed by Kuwait ($33 billion), Qatar ($5.7 billion), UAE ($4.7 billion), Oman ($3.7 billion) and Bahrain ($3.1 billion). "Social infrastructure will continue to top the agenda for GCC governments, as they prioritise quality of life, medical care and education for their growing populations," remarked Lincoln. "But there is a need to diversify the way these projects are delivered. It should not be seen as the governments responsibility alone," he stated. With an ample volume of planned and underway projects in this segment, private developers, contractors and asset managers are presented with a sizeable opportunity to support long-term goals set by the regions governments, he added. An extensive opportunity Data from Meed Projects further highlights that the $66.3 billion worth of social housing schemes account for the lions share of active social infrastructure projects in the GCC. More than $24 billion is under construction, while the rest is in various stages of planning, design and procurement. Similarly, $17.8 billion worth of healthcare projects are under construction in the GCC, while education projects account for $8.5 billion. Typically, these projects are funded by the public sector. This has meant that the challenges of recent years, including the Covid-19 pandemic and unstable oil prices, have impacted committed infrastructure spending. New lease of life With oil prices steadying in 2022, it is natural to expect that these projects will be given a new lease of life. But it may be advisable for governments to exercise caution when it comes to procyclical spending. "The experiences of recent years should serve as lessons for the way forward, said Lincoln. It is important to balance spending even during periods of vulnerabilities such as those caused by lower oil prices. Procuring through models such as a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement allows the state to transfer key risks to the private stakeholders, while still retaining full ownership of the asset. "Another aspect to bear in mind is the technical expertise that the private sector can bring to such projects," he stated. "Especially in areas such as healthcare and education, these players can bring forth disruptive innovation," he added. Oil windfall Despite the recent windfall from higher oil and gas prices, PPP projects are seeing steady growth in the social infrastructure segment. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Ansar hospital is the first project approved in Saudi Arabias healthcare sector under Vision 2030s privatisation programme. The kingdoms Health Ministry and National Centre for Privatisation and PPP (NCP) have qualified companies that can bid for the contract to develop two medical city projects the King Faisal Medical City and the Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz Medical City. In Oman, meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has issued the request for proposals for upcoming PPP projects in the sultanate covering health, education, transport and IT. Oman previously announced 10 successful prequalified bidders for 42 schools planned to be developed as PPPs.-TradeArabia News Service South Sinai and the Greater Cairo area will enjoy warm daytime temperatures while Upper Egypt will see warmer ones through the weekend, according to the Egyptian Meteorology Authority (EMA). Tigrayan rebels said Tuesday that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces had taken control of the strategic city of Shire in northwestern Tigray. The Palestinians on Tuesday hailed Australia's decision to reverse its recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel's capital despite fierce criticism by Israel. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Tanzanian counterpart Liberata Mulamula discussed in a meeting in Cairo on Thursday enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in agriculture and livestock. Shoukry and Mulamula held a joint press briefing following their meeting. The meeting touched upon all aspects of cooperation on the economic and political fronts, Shoukry said. Mulamula, who arrived earlier today in the Egyptian capital, held an earlier meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, where she conveyed a message from Tanzanian President Samia Hassan emphasising Tanzania's political will to advance relations with Egypt and strengthen joint African action, Shoukry told the conference. Egypt's top diplomat also said that El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness on cementing bonds with Tanzania, giving directives to speed up the holding of the Egyptian-Tanzanian committee in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam. Shoukry's meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart saw an exchange of views on a host of regional issues of mutual concern, including the Palestinian cause and the situations in Syria and Libya, he added during the presser. In addition, the meeting tackled how to counter extremist ideologies and achieve stability in the Sahel and Sahara region, Shoukry said. Both Shoukry Mulamula also lauded the deeply-rooted relations between Egypt and Tanzania in different fields. Shoukry underlined the significance of boosting cooperation in trade and tourism, especially as the two countries enjoy great potential and in light of the well-established Egyptian-Tanzanian ties. Egypt and Tanzania signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in several fields, including education and sports, during a visit by Tanzanian President Samia Hassan to Cairo in November 2021. Mulamula said her visit affirms Tanzania's commitment to continuing the implementation of existing projects, particularly the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP) located in the Morogoro area on the Rufiji River in Tanzania. The project, which dates back to 2017, is undertaken by a consortium of Egyptian companies under the supervision of the Egyptian government. The dam, set to be completed by 2022, is planned to secure a clean power supply for more than 60 million Tanzanians as well as control water flow during flooding. Mulamula expressed appreciation for Egypt's support of her country in several sectors, including health, citing the dispatching of Egyptian doctors to Tanzanian hospitals, as well as offering programmes and scholarships in electricity and engineering. Around 170 Tanzanians are studying at Egyptian universities, while some Tanzanians are teaching Swahili in Egypt, Mulamula noted. Mulamula also said she probed with Shoukry ways to explore new horizons for cooperation in agriculture and livestock. COP27, Africa The Tanzanian minister lauded Egypt's hosting of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November. Shoukry, who is also the president-designate of COP27, said that the event aims to fulfil the obligations made previously to assist developing countries, especially African ones. Africa is the least responsible for climate disruption yet it is among the first and worst to suffer, Shoukry stressed. The top Egyptian diplomat indicated that African countries are in need of support to be capable of achieving just transition to new and renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, as well as adapting to this phenomenon's harmful effects, which include rising temperatures, desertification, water scarcity and human movement. Search Keywords: Short link: One person was killed and four others, two women and two children, were injured when a bomb exploded Friday in the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, counter-terrorism forces said. "An explosive device planted in a car detonated, leading to the death of the driver and the injury of... two women and two children," a statement said, without elaborating on the victims' identities or a motive for the attack. The driver who was killed was an officer in the Kurdish counter-terrorism services in the city of Sulaimaniyah, southeast of the Kurdish capital Arbil, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The Kurdistan region in northern Iraq has long been viewed as a haven of stability in the war-ravaged country, but it has not been completely spared from attacks and strikes from neighbouring states. The autonomous region is home to several international NGOs and has developed its infrastructure and projects at a faster pace than the rest of Iraq. But it has often been caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical conflict among neighbouring countries, having recently been the target of strikes by both Iran and Turkey. On September 28, Iran targeted positions of Iranian-Kurdish rebel groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, killing 14 people and wounding 58, including civilians. Search Keywords: Short link: A Daqahiliya court ordered on Friday the detention of a teacher in Nile Delta governorate 15 days pending investigations on charges of beating and inflicting serious injuries on a fourth grade girl during class, which sent her into a coma. On Tuesday, Basmalla Osama, a 9-year-old fourth grader in Taranis El-Arab Primary School in the city of El-Senbellawein in the Nile Delta, went into a coma that was triggered by a brain haemorrhage and remains in critical condition in the Mansoura Emergency University hospital. The child lost conciousness after her teacher beat her with a wooden stick on her head for answering a quiz question incorrectly, according to 11 eyewitness classmates from students who were interviewed by the prosecution. The Public Prosecution had remanded the accused into custody for four days pending investigation shortly after the incident. The Ministry of Education also suspended the teacher for three months pending the end of investigations. According to the Egyptian penal code, teachers who beat students causing permanent injuries could receive from three to 25 years jail sentences depending on the damage they cause to the victim. Search Keywords: Short link: Fountains in Tehran appeared to be pouring blood Friday after an artist turned their waters red to reflect a deadly crackdown amid weeks of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman's death was announced on September 16 after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly failing to observe the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. Anger over her death has sparked the biggest wave of protests to rock Iran in almost three years and a crackdown that has seen scores of protesters killed and hundreds arrested. Despite the security forces' use of lethal force in a bid to crush them, the protests have continued for 20 consecutive days and nights, according to online videos verified by AFP. This UGC image made available on Twitter on October 7, 2022, shows a man walking past the fountain of Park Daneshjoo or Student Park in the Iranian capital Tehran, reportedly coloured red in protest against a bloody crackdown on three weeks of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. AFP Images of the blood-red fountains were shared online by the 1500tasvir social media channel that monitors violations in the Islamic republic. The fountains shown are located in downtown Tehran -- in Student Park, Fatemi Square and Artists' Park. This UGC image made available on Twitter on October 7, 2022, Fatemi Square in the Iranian capital Tehran, with the water of its fountains reportedly coloured red in protest against a bloody crackdown on three weeks of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. AFP Activists who took to Twitter described the red fountains as "works of art" titled "Tehran covered in blood", adding that they were created by an anonymous artist. The BBC's Persian service said later the water had been drained, although traces of red could still be seen on the fountains, in images it published on Instagram. Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights says at least 92 protesters have been killed so far in the crackdown that has seen sweeping restrictions imposed on the internet, including blocks on Instagram and WhatsApp. A man looking at the water reportedly coloured red in protest against a deadly crackdown on three weeks of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, in a fountain outside the Artists Forum at Honarmandan Park in the Iranian capital Tehran, on October 7, 2022. AFP Iranian security forces have rounded up high-profile supporters of the movement, including activists, journalists and pop stars. Despite such measures, the demonstrations have continued in towns and cities nationwide. "Death to the dictator," a group of young women can be heard chanting in the northern city of Rasht in a video posted online Thursday and verified by AFP. Other verified footage shows women shouting "Azadi", Persian for freedom, and clapping loudly as they march down a street in the city of Qods, west of the capital. Amnesty International has verified the deaths of 52 people killed by Iran's security forces, but says it believes the "real death toll is far higher". In a statement issued a week ago, the London-based rights group said Iran was intentionally using lethal force to crush the women-led protests. It said it had obtained a leaked document issued to armed forces commanders in all provinces on September 21 ordering them to "severely confront" protesters. Another leaked document showed the commander in Mazandaran province told forces to "confront mercilessly, going as far as causing deaths, any unrest by rioters and anti-revolutionaries". Search Keywords: Short link: Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said that the initiative to implement the first commercial deal exporting food products from Egypt to Ghana falls within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This came during Samir's speech in his virtual participation in the 10th ministerial meeting of the AfCFTA, currently in session in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry for Economic Affairs Ibrahim el-Sajini is leading the Egyptian delegation to the meeting. The heads of state and government of member states gave directives to expedite the implementation of preferential trade agreement within the framework of the AfCFTA, the minister said. He also noted that the current ministerial meeting is an important step towards the effective and equal implementation of the agreement, which was ratified by 23 countries and came into force in May of 2019. Egypt stresses the importance of organising meetings between businessmen to discuss export opportunities in new sectors, the minister said. He added that the Egyptian trade and industry ministry is preparing to hold introductory seminars to raise awareness among manufacturers and exporters of the importance of the agreement and the benefits from exporting under its umbrella. AfCFTA launched a Guided Trade Initiative at its 10th African Trade Ministerial Meeting on Friday. The initiative symbolises the beginning of commercially meaningful trade on a pilot basis between Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia. These countries were selected to represent the five African Union (AU) regions, namely: Western, Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa, respectively. The trade initiative directed to the free trade zone aims to send a message to Africa and the rest of the world to start activating trade using the procedures of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Search Keywords: Short link: The third edition of the Micro Theatre Festival (MTF) will kick off Saturday 8 October and run through Wednesday 12 October in both Cairo and Alexandria. This year's festival is hosted by the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts in Cairo and the Theatre Academy in Alexandria. The main competition in this edition will feature 16 plays directed and staged by Egyptian artists. The third edition will also feature other plays based on new texts written by emerging playwrights in a scriptwriting competition, with the wiining script to be translated into Spanish. It will also hold a number of online Zoom workshops and seminars with international theatre practitioners. MTF is headed by theatre academic and actress Nabila Hassan. Hassan is the artist who introduced micro theatre to Egypt out of her cooperation with Veronica Larios, the Spanish practitioner who developed micro theatre - Microtearto - in Madrid, Spain in the 2000s. Microtearto has hosted 11,000 artists and 850 directors since its founding in 2009. Today, micro theatre is performed in many countries around the world. The young genre relies on short plays, small spaces, limited number of actors and audience members, and very simple sets. It uses the number 15 as its base: 15-minutes-long plays performed in a space of 15 square metres, accommodating 15 audience members. The stage can be rooms in a bigger location such as the abandoned building that was used by Larios in the launch of the genre. Five plays are performed in parallel and in cycles with the audiences able to attend each of them in any order they wish. What makes micro theatre attractive to audiences is its intimacy since it allows spectators to be part of the theatrical experience. Mini-plays performances proved extremely successful in Spain because it helped artists overcome budget limitations and also spared audiences from having to sit through two and three-hour-long events at a time amid the fast pace of modern life. Search Keywords: Short link: Additional 702 new Covid-19 cases reported on Friday An additional 702 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed on Friday, raising the national tally to over 11.48 million, according to the Ministry of Health. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the national caseload has so far increased to 11,485,361. On October 7, an additional 437 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 10.59 million. On Friday evening, one death from Covid-19 was recorded, raising the country's total fatalities to 43,152, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By October 7, the country had injected over 260 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. The Ministry of Health has asked localities nationwide to vaccinate children aged between six months old to five years old against Covid-19. According to the ministry, to date, over 260 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been used for people aged from five years old. Around 60 percent of children aged between five to 12 years old have been given a second Covid-19 vaccine shot. The rate is as high as 75 percent for people aged 12 years old and above. As part of the Nusuk launch this week, Saudi Arabia has held meetings in Central Asian countries with roadshows in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Nusuk is an integrated digital platform to facilitate pilgrim journeys for visitors from around the world. The delegation participating in the official visit was led by Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudis Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the committee of the Pilgrim Experience Programme. As part of Vision 2030, the aim of the visit was to promote Saudis new and enhanced arrival procedures that will enable pilgrims all over the world to complete their religious journeys with comfort and ease. In addition, these new procedures will enrich visitors' religious and cultural experiences. Several agreements The roadshows witnessed the signing of several agreements with the aim of facilitating procedures and developing greater air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the two countries. These agreements and partnerships were made in line with improving the quality of services under the Pilgrim Experience Programme, an initiative of Vision 2030. The Nusuk e-platform offers a wide range of options and various solutions for accommodation and flight reservations for all Muslims visiting the Two Holy Mosques, including visitors and Umrah performers. Nusuk has been developed in partnership with an accredited and elite selection of travel companies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, along with Umrah specialists to better serve visitors and Umrah performers. Fahd Hamidaddin, Nusuk Managing Director, stated: The launch of Nusuk is one of the most significant announcements since the Saudi eVisa in 2019. These trade partner agreements and new procedures will increase the number of visitors and pilgrims that Saudi will be able to welcome from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In addition, partnerships with national and low-cost airlines will make travel to Saudi more accessible than ever.-- TradeArabia News Service Higher education options in Egypt have been increasing over recent years, with more and more private institutions now taking more and more students, writes Dina Ezzat This week Youssef Sehab started his first university days at the Artificial Intelligence Department of the Zewail City of Science, Technology, and Innovation (ZCSTI), one of Egypts newer and highly reputable universities. Sehab is excited about this path of higher education that he chose and managed to access. I knew I wanted to study artificial intelligence; this is the future, and this is what interests me, he said. Sehabs high school grades would not have allowed him to go to the very few public universities in Egypt that have opened a department for artificial intelligence, however. Nor did he necessarily want to attend a public university, given his assumption that these universities are not as well equipped as the private universities. Having graduated from a private language school in Heliopolis east of Cairo, he did not wish to move from the private, which I think is better to be honest, to the public sector. If I graduate from a private school, especially one with a considerable ranking and academic network like the ZCSTI, I have a very good chance to move on and get a job out of Egypt and this is what I want to do, he said. If it were at a public university, however, Sehab said that he would not have as much of a chance to get out. His father, Tamer Sehab, backed his choices, both of the major and of the university. He will have to pay several thousand pounds for each academic year. This is what I have been doing since I put the kids in school. I chose a private language school because I wanted to set them out right. Today, a degree in this major from a reputable private university will certainly add to Youssefs CV when he tries to access what is an increasingly competitive labour market, he said. Himself a graduate from the Architecture Department of a private university, 10 Ramadan, in the 1990s, Tamer Sehab knew that this private university had offered him a paid path into a department that his high school grades had failed to get him at a public university. At the end of the day, my university degree got me a very decent career, and that was over 20 years ago. Today, a private university degree, especially in one of the new modern disciplines, is certainly an asset, he said. While exempted from the regulations of the Universities Coordination Office (UCO), both in terms of grades and geographical allocation, the Sehabs had to consider the range of universities that offer an artificial intelligence degree in Egypt. They needed to consider several factors, including the ranking of the university, which varies considerably, the tuition fees, which vary considerably too, and the geographical proximity to Heliopolis. The choice of the ZCSTI offered a good choice on some but not all criteria. According to Mariam Sayed Mahmoud, who is starting this autumn to study financial markets and institutions at the Helwan University Faculty of Foreign Trade and Business, a public university is not always a problem. This graduate of a foreign language high school did not feel intimidated by the wider university community she is set to join, but rather was curious about opting for the wider world with whatever it has to offer. She said that many other graduates of foreign schools have also applied to the same faculty. Her choice, she added, offered an opportunity to study something she is interested in and that could get her a decent job in four years down the road because one has to keep an eye on the labour market, which is very dynamic. She said that the assumption was that as a graduate of an English school who had majored in literary subjects at high school, she could easily opt to study English at the Cairo University Faculty of Arts, for example. But I did not think that I needed a university degree to further my language skills, she argued. Equally, the other option was to study cinema, which is a passion. However, this was also something she felt she could approach through independent studies, especially as there was a lack of clarity on what it would mean in terms of job opportunities. On the advice of her father, a journalist, against mass communication given his assessment of declining job opportunities, the choice was made to study financial markets and institutions. So, the choice was not at all about private versus public but about an interesting discipline and a clear projection on job opportunities, she said. CHOICES: These were also the criteria that Bahiya Wael Gamal used when she was going to university three years ago. A graduate of a French missionary school, she wanted to major in English not French and to focus on translation rather than on art and culture for reasons related to the demands of the labour market. The idea of going to a private community away from the rest of the people was not something that I would ordinarily subscribe to nor that my parents would condone, but at the end of the day I had to go to a private university, Gamal said. The determining factor was a small difference between her high school grade and that required by the UCO to attend the Alsun Faculty (languages and linguistics) at Ain Shams University in Cairo. But three years down the road, she admits that her university life, in terms of joining activities, for example, would have been compromised if she had opted for this particular major at a public university. This would not have been because she would not have wished to break away from the foreign school community, but rather because she might not have been accommodated due to invisible lines of segregation that have been growing in some areas of education. It is really very sad, but this is the way it is. There is a lot of compartmentalisation now that at times is hard to break, Gamal said. She added that with the fast-growing expansion of private schools and private universities, the intersections between those who come from the private lane and those whose path is decided by public education are becoming fewer. We are increasingly talking about groups of students who subscribe to different, or even very different, terms of reference and who even speak a different language, even when it is still Arabic, she lamented. According to education expert Mohamed Habib, the topography of the higher education system in Egypt has been evolving for the past two decades, with a big push for a major overhaul during the past few years. This, he insisted, had been all but inevitable, necessary, and overdue, either because new disciplines had to be introduced or because modern ways of teaching needed to be adopted to help graduates properly set out on an advancing, highly competitive, and extremely demanding labour market. Today, he said, there is a wide range of higher education options in the country available through 25 public universities, 27 private universities, two universities established upon agreements with foreign governments, the American University in Cairo, and the Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology. Twelve civil universities have been launched by the state, with two more being set for launch shortly, and there are four branches of foreign universities that have been set up at the New Administrative Capital that grant degrees from a foreign university. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was of the opinion that partnering one way or another with reputable foreign universities could help with upgrading the quality of higher education in Egypt. In parallel, there has been a consolidated effort to diversify the options of higher education, Habib said. Previously, he said, there had been an expansion of the capacity of private universities and a dedicated attempt to modernise and upgrade public education through establishing special departments, including the successful English and French departments at the faculties of law, economics, and commerce at several universities to meet the growing demands of the labour market from multinationals, including those operating in Egypt. There had also been the introduction of a credit hours system as a parallel scheme for students at many faculties at many universities. The credit hours system was first introduced in 2005, and it has really expanded since then. It is quite popular among students, as it allows them to divide the volume of the required courses they need to pass in a way that is purposeful for them, he said. According to Habib, the creation of these new universities and the introduction of these new systems has helped meet a growing demand among high school graduates who were becoming unsatisfied with the majors and teaching methods of the public universities that have in many places missed the chance to modernise while the world was fast moving forward. To give one of many examples, Habib compares what many public universities and what most private universities, including civil and foreign, offer students of mass communication, which is one of the fast-changing majors, given the enormous impact of IT, both in terms of teaching methods and sub-disciplines. He acknowledges the fact that tuition fees, which range in the thousands of pounds, are what has made all these new avenues of higher education possible, offering students the chance to study new majors and benefit from new teaching systems. He agrees that of the overall volume of university students in Egypt, only 10 per cent so far attend the private and civil universities. Those who opt for the private-type programmes and credit hour system studying at the public universities might be around 15 to 20 per cent, still leaving close to two-thirds of university students muddling through at the public universities. It is very unfortunate that the public universities, which take the credit for decades of higher education in Egypt, have not moved much earlier to catch up with modernisation and to better tailor their disciplines to the new world we are living in, he said. He added that there should be no reason why students who prefer to opt for public education, for any reason including financial, should be denied the chance and right to access better education, especially since the public universities have been allowed to expand their resources through the new systems incorporated under them. Only days before the beginning of the new academic year on 1 October, President Al-Sisi held a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli and newly appointed Minister of Higher Education Ayman Ashour to review the upgrading of higher education, according to a press statement from the presidents office. Ashour himself made press statements to underline the keen attention of the head of the executive to promoting the expansion of the faculties of science and technology to satisfy the demands of the labour market. He said that both the private and civil universities have a crucial role to play in promoting the new disciplines. In press statements, Mohamed Al-Khosht, acting president of Cairo University, said that starting this academic year the civil university associated with Cairo University will start teaching new disciplines including artificial intelligence, nuclear physics, and finance, political science, and economics. The president of Egypts oldest university, which opened in 1908 as the Egyptian University, said that within the next three years his University, both through its public division and its civil division, will provide and upgrade 300 programmes to further incorporate the credit hours online teaching systems and widen the introduction of some new disciplines. The objective, he said, was to allow graduates of these programmes to meet the highest standards required by the labour market. EDUCATION MADE SIMPLE? With the growing number of universities and the expanding diversity of disciplines, Abdel-Rahman Ayman, a pharmacist turned human-resources application designer, has launched his Educately application, which stands for education simplified. The application is designed to help high school graduates find their best higher education destination depending on their preferences, grades, financial capacity, and place of residence. It is only designed to work for private universities, and Ayman already works with around half of the private universities in the country. He is hoping to expand and incorporate the civil universities and eventually the public universities even as they continue to be engineered according to UCO parameters. Having graduated as a pharmacist before launching into the world of IT, Ayman knows that at the age of 15 or 16 when a student has to make a choice about their university subject there needs to be some sort of non-judgemental guidance. He added that his job is a two-way street because it also allows for the new universities to become visible for students on the lookout for higher education choices. Since it started in 2020, Educately has grown from 5,000 users to the neighbourhood of 500,000. In view of the expansion of higher education, Ayman is hoping to hit one million sooner rather than later. Allowing public like private universities to be visible through his application, Ayman said, might shed light on some unseen opportunities for students who might otherwise have to opt for high tuition choices. I think the more students know about what the options are the better, and the more informed will be the decisions they take, he said. Meanwhile, he argued that bringing the public and private universities into one pool for the students could end the stigma that he knows in the minds of some associates private universities with students who have the money but do not have the grades that could get them through the UCO. In reality, with the exception of some foreign universities almost every single private or civil university allows students to access faculties with lower high school grades than their counterparts at the quasi-free education system of the public universities. According to Habib, this does not amount to a violation of academic merit. He argued that the range is usually around five per cent less to enter a private university than a public university. Moreover, one cannot deny that the grading system used by the high schools as it stands today is not exactly the most efficient. Ultimately, he added, there is an international ranking system for universities that every university, public or private, would like to secure a place on. Even from a business point of view, every university has to keep up a certain reputation if it wishes to secure a steady flow of students. According to a member of the Higher Council of Private Universities, who asked for his name to be withheld, there is a huge gap between the classes available and those that are required to allow a reasonable number of students per class in order to secure a decent quality of education. We cannot be always complaining about the size of the classes at the universities and then start to complain when paid options are out there for those who can afford it in order to reduce the sizes of classes in free education, he said. Moreover, in addition to the tuition grants that most of these universities offer, even on a limited scale, the banks could allow more tuition loans to help students who wish to access a better-quality education at the private universities to achieve their objectives. I think that the education is better at the private universities because we have the best professors and the best facilities and very reasonable class sizes. Just like private education is better in schools, it is also better at universities, he said. While acknowledging that some faculties of medicine and engineering in some of the private universities have allowed admission with seven or eight per cent less marks than their public counterparts, the test is in the quality of the final university degree, he said. If the students are not well qualified, they will simply not pass the required tests to practise or they will not find a job. In reality, the graduates of private universities, including those of the faculties of medicine and engineering, have proved to be very employable inside and outside Egypt. We have had students coming with medical and engineering degrees from universities in Russia and the former Eastern European countries where they were admitted to these faculties with lower grades at high school than their counterparts in the public education system in Egypt, and they also got employed, he argued. With the expansion of the national health insurance system in Egypt, we need more doctors, even at the level of general practitioners, to cover the country with its over 100 million people and to make up for the increasing emigration among doctors, he added. He shrugged off the concerns expressed by the Engineers and Physicians Syndicates about the quality of the education that students receive in many private universities in these two particular disciplines and insisted that generalisation is not fair. Tarek Nabarawi, chair of the Engineers Syndicate, disagrees. In statements made this summer as students were being admitted to the universities, he sharply criticised the discrepancies in the admission regulations for the faculties of engineering of the public and private universities. He also criticised the level of proficiency and the skills of graduates of the faculties of engineering at the private universities that fail the academic requirement of scrutinised admission. Meanwhile, last year, the Physicians Syndicate decided to scale up the regulations for the admission of graduates of medicine from private universities inside and outside Egypt. A key point in the new regulations is the high school admission grade of the universities concerned. Graduates of any university that allows admission at a grade five per cent lower than those agreed at the public universities will not be eligible to practise medicine in Egypt. Other regulations include the scrutiny of curricula and the clinical training offered by the concerned universities in order to make sure that they meet the academic requirements agreed on by the key faculties of medicine at the reputable public universities. The syndicate has allowed the private universities a three-year grace period to regulate their academic operations in order to make sure that their graduates will be passed for practice in Egypt. PROFESSORS SAY: Former head of the Gynaecology Department at Ain Shams University in Cairo Ahmed Rashed said that these regulations should expand to allow for the proper scrutiny of the education offered throughout the seven-year study of medicine. Rashed is willing to tolerate admissions to faculties of medicine at private universities at lower grades than at their public counterparts. He is also willing to accept the reality that allows the well-off to resort to their financial privileges to compensate for poorer high school grades. These undeniable violations of the merit system and the principle of equal opportunities, he said, remain within the smallest of groups. However, what is particularly worrying for this professor who has close to 40 years of teaching at one of Egypts top faculties of medicine, is the teaching and grading systems at the private universities. What we need to be sure about is that the students who can afford the tuition fees at the private universities are neither granted easier curricula nor allowed more flexible grading rules because this would have very disturbing repercussions not just on the level of proficiency of the graduates, and consequently on the quality of the medical service they provide to patients, but also on the reputation of the practice of medicine in the country as a whole, he said. Moreover, he added, equal supervision needs to be imposed on the teaching of professors who work in parallel at both the public and the private universities in order to make sure that the effort they invest in teaching students benefiting from free education is not less than that invested in the private universities that pay the professors higher salaries than their public counterparts. In essence, education and healthcare should not be subject to the negative influences of market rules, but if we have to have these parallel education systems we need to be sure that safety regulations are firmly applied because it is one thing to show flexibility in admitting some students to the faculty of medicine and another to allow poorly educated and trained doctors to be integrated into the healthcare system, even if at the level of general practitioner, Rashed stressed. According to Lamia Shehata, a professor of mechanical engineering at the German University in Cairo and previously at the highly reputable Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University, it is the job of the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) to make sure that the rules are strictly applied. In her experience at both Ain Shams and the German University, Shehata has found no discrepancies in curricula or teaching methods. But the GUC is equipped with better and more advanced teaching facilities due to its larger budget. According to Shehata, it would be a mistake to lump all the private universities in one group. The variation is quite large, she insisted. In the case of the Faculty of Engineering at GUC, the required high school level for admission is not less than those required by either Ain Shams or Cairo University, which are considered among the countrys top faculties of engineering. Sometimes, we even end up getting higher grades because we select around 3,000 students out of around 20,000 applications, Shehata said. Needless to say, as we apply the German rules of teaching there is no room for any compromises to the academic merit system. Iman Ezzeddin, head of the Drama Department at the Faculty of Literature at Ain Shams, is not so sure that the strict regulations of the NAQAAE apply across the board, especially when it comes to faculties that teach humanities which are already being increasingly snubbed in the discourse of public officials. It is perfectly understandable that the labour market has its preferences and that these preferences influence the choices of students, but at the end of the day the humanities remain an essential part of the pursuit of knowledge because as much as a country needs high tech engineers it also needs intellectuals and thinkers, she said. According to Ezzeddin, the trouble is with the admissions system that turns parts of the study of the humanities to a lesser rank due to the lack of high academic requirements in some departments. So, students need a certain grade to get admitted to the school of medicine, and they need to be, for example, graduates of French schools to be admitted to the French department, but when it comes to the departments of philosophy, history, and drama, for example, there are no particular requirements and inevitably these departments end up as the unintentional destinations of students who do not have high grades, foreign languages, or money, she said. Worse still is the situation of professors in this unfortunate context, as they have large classes of almost totally unmotivated students to deal with and an inadequate pay cheque at the end of the month. The results of this sad combination, she argued, are unmotivated students and frustrated professors who are sometimes just trying to pass on very basic knowledge to their students through notes that they compose and sell to their students to memorise in order to be able to answer very basic exams. This deals a blow to the crucial purpose of critical thinking, which is the essence of the study of the humanities, she lamented. It prompts society and officials to have a low opinion of some of the most important departments of humanities that have given this country great figures like Taha Hussein and Naguib Mahfouz, among others. Upgrading the curricula and teaching methods in the departments of the humanities is the way forward, argued Atef Moatemed, a professor of geography at Ain Shams. Students, he said, should have a way to learn things that is stimulating in order to make sure that they are engaged in the teaching if they have ended up in a department that was not on their list of preferences. If the teaching is interesting and there is a roadmap on how to move from university to the workplace, then things could be more stimulating to the students, he argued. According to Moatemed, the innovative approach used to teaching geography at some universities has allowed students to be trained in programming the new smart technology applications that create maps for directions. This made the students more motivated and employable. He added that this was only one example that does not necessarily require a great deal of resources that can be used to make a department more appealing and fit the requirements of the labour market. VELVET EDUCATION: Moatemed is of the opinion that faculty and department admissions have to be linked to the labour market. It is very frustrating for someone who has spent four years at university to get a degree that will get them nowhere, he argued. Consequently, it makes sense that there should be expansion in some departments and downsizing in others. We dont need to have a huge number of graduates from any faculty or department when we know that they will face a hard time finding a job inside or outside Egypt, given the fact that the space for employment in the Arab Gulf countries is dwindling, he said. No department or faculty, he added, should be allowed to turn into a mere university degree filler. We need a new approach towards the whole process of higher education in order to make sure that students end up studying something that matches their interests and their abilities as much as it matches labour market requirements. According to Manal Hefni, coordinator of the postgraduate degrees programme at the Faculty of Agriculture at the public Suez Canal University, modernising the curricula and teaching methods has certainly got her Faculty a lot of attention not just at the graduate level but also at the postgraduate level. For a long time, Hefni said, the Faculty of Agriculture was not among the favourites of students pursuing higher education. However, she said things had changed significantly as the curricula have been transformed to match advances related to issues of sustainable agriculture and water preservation. Today, the interest is moving on to postgraduate studies with special programmes for MA degrees in materials related to climate change and sustainable agriculture. Our students know that when they are admitted to our department, they are up for some stimulating programmes and are sure to find their way into the labour market both in Egypt and overseas, Hefni said. However, according to Qadri Douma, a professor in the Department of Arabic Literature at Cairo University, there are no signs on the part of any of the concerned parties to take this path further. He said that while there might be an attempt here or there to modernise, nobody seems committed to introducing total innovation, especially in the study of the humanities. He argued that the focus now seems to be to introduce a process of soft transition by which free education will eventually decline significantly and be confined to departments and faculties that seem to be left behind and looked down upon. I am afraid that in 20 years from now the free education system will be seeing its last hours because even within the public universities the shift is now towards the credit hours system that requires some fees. This is not just in the faculties of languages or humanities, but also in medicine and engineering, Douma said. The outcome, he added, will be university degrees at grades A, B, and C. Given that some of the humanities will continue to be unattractive and poorly connected to the labour market, these will firmly fall into the C category for students who will not be able to afford the private universities fees or the tuition fees for the credit hours system. Graduates of the credit hours system are already getting more openings in the labour market, and this means that parents will have to find a way to put their children in these systems even when they have decent high school grades. This is a very unfortunate scenario for a country that used until a few decades ago to take pride in having an affordable and decent education system that gave the Arab world some of its best doctors, engineers, teachers and intellectuals, Douma lamented. Both Douma and Ezzeddin shared their concerns over the parallel decline of the concept of equality, especially in education, that is enshrined in the constitution and of the merit system that used to give the Egyptian higher education regime its reputation. Social cohesion is being damaged by the creation of parallel systems of education that segregate the population according to their financial means. According to senior researcher at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies Hanaa Ebeid, this is precisely what could hamper the overarching target of human development in Egypt. According to Ebeid, Egypt has been moving forward in terms of increasing the share that every individual gets of GDP. But this progress, she added, is still not reflected in equal chances for education. It is an established fact that people who feel discriminated against tend to make some very poorly calculated decisions whose negative influence goes beyond the individual to the wider society, Ebeid said. She argued that if, for example, the government wishes to move forward with serious development concerns like population growth in a way that is compatible with resources, then it needs to have all citizens on board. For this to happen, she added, the state needs to reduce the sense of inequality that some citizens might suffer from. Education is key here, given its crucial role in securing social mobility, Ebeid stated. She stressed that social research shows that opting for velvet education instead risks breaking the ladder towards social mobility. This, she added, is what causes broken ladder syndrome. In a recent paper, Injy Mohamed, a senior researcher at the National Centre for Social and Criminology Research, argued that the state needs to help citizens overcome difficulties on their educational path. Those whose chances are hindered to access decent education are unlikely to access decent job opportunities and will eventually end up inheriting their parents poverty, she said. Better economic standards and better social services are among the key objectives the state has enshrined in its 2030 Vision, which is compatible with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both Ebeid and Mohamed insist that without affordable and good quality education for all, it will be close to impossible for the state to achieve its 2030 Vision. Moreover, Mohamed argued that human resources have proven again and again to be one of the countrys top assets, and this makes every investment in education an investment that is worthwhile. According to government figures, the remittances of Egyptians working abroad have topped every other source of foreign currency for years. In July this year, these remittances went over $29 billion, while the revenues of the Suez Canal, which also hit a record high, secured the country $7 billion. According to Article 19 of the 2014 constitution, every citizen has the right to education. The same article stipulates that the state needs to allocate no less than four per cent of GDP to the education budget. According to research conducted by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a NGO, the state still has work to do to fully honour this commitment. For the year 2021-22, EIPR researchers found that overall state spending on education did not even reach the three per cent line. However, according to prominent education expert Ragui Assaad, free education is not always the answer. In a recent paper entitled Egypts Free Higher Education Policy Breeds Inequality of Opportunity, Assaad argued that correcting the severe misallocation of public resources within higher education can be achieved by abandoning the principle of free higher education for all in favour of policy options that allow public universities to charge tuition and fees and that use available public resources to provide subsidies targeted to the most deserving social groups. Assaad said that this could allow a more equitable access to higher education as it could allow for the expansion of the universities to allow more room for more students. According to Habib, it is not hard to notice that the percentage of students attending private schools is quite compatible with those attending private universities. Consequently, he added, every expansion in private schooling, which is happening as more and more parents are choosing to invest in their childrens education to make sure that they have the foreign languages and soft skills required for the labour market, will be matched with private university education. The expansion of private university education, he added, should not be seen as an inevitable sign of the demise of public education. Rather the opposite is the case: it could be a chance to reduce the pressure on public universities in view of their complaints about limited resources, he said. The question then becomes whether the public universities are able to put in the necessary effort to improve the quality of the education they are offering, because ultimately higher education is not just about a university degree but is also about quality. *A version of this article appears in print in the 6 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The death toll from a missile attack on apartment buildings in a southern Ukrainian city rose to 11 as more Russian missiles and, for the first time, explosive-packed drones targeted Ukrainian-held Zaporizhzhia on Friday. As the war sparked by Russia's February invasion of its neighbour, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to human rights organizations in Russia and Ukraine, and an activist jailed in Russian ally Belarus. Asked by a reporter whether the prize shared by Belarus rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties should be seen as a ``birthday gift'' to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 70 on Friday, committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen said no. ``The prize is not addressing President Putin, not for his birthday or in any other sense, except that his government, as the government in Belarus, is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists,'' Reiss-Andersen said. Putin this week illegally claimed four regions of Ukraine as Russian territory, including the Zaporizhzhia region that is home to a sprawling nuclear power plant under Russian occupation; the city of the same name remains under Ukrainian control. With its army experiencing a series of stinging battlefield setbacks in recent weeks, Russia has deployed Iranian-made drones to attack Ukrainian targets. The unmanned, disposable ``kamikaze drones'' are cheaper and less sophisticated than missiles but have proved effective at causing damage to targets on the ground. The regional governor, Oleksandr Starukh, said Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones damaged two infrastructure facilities in the city of Zaporizhzhia, the first time they were used there. He said missiles also struck the city again, injuring one person. The Emergency Services of Ukraine said the toll of Russian S-300 missile strikes on the city a day earlier rose to 11 and another 21 people were rescued from the rubble of destroyed apartments. ``This was not a random hit, but a series of missiles aimed at multi-story buildings,'' Starukh wrote on his Telegram channel. Russia was reported to have converted the S-300 from its original use as a long-range antiaircraft weapon into a missile for ground attacks because of a shortage of other, more suitable weapons. The Ukrainian military said most of the drones it shot down Thursday and into Friday were the Iranian-made Shahed-136. The weapons are unlikely to significantly affect the course of the war, however, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said. ``They have used many drones against civilian targets in rear areas, likely hoping to generate nonlinear effects through terror. Such efforts are not succeeding,'' analysts at the think tank wrote. Meanwhile, Ukraine's ability to capture and put back into service Russian tanks and other equipment continues to be an important factor in its forces' push to repel the invasion. Ukrainian forces have captured at least 440 tanks and about 650 armored vehicles since the start of the war, Britain's Ministry of Defense said Friday. ``The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrending highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline,'' the British said. ``With Russian formations under sever strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralized troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry.'' The Ukrainian military also said Friday that 500 former criminals have been mobilized to reinforce Russian ranks in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have retaken some territory. The new units are commanded by officers drawn from law enforcement, the military said. U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that Putin has driven the rick of nuclear ``Armageddon'' to the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Putin was ``a guy I know fairly well'' and the Russian leader was ``not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.'' In the Czech capital, European Union leaders converged on Prague Castle to try to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russia's war on Ukraine fuels a major energy crisis. As the Europeans bolster their support for Ukraine in the form of weapons, money and aid, Russia has reduced or cut off natural gas to 13 member nations, leading to surging gas and electricity prices that could climb higher as demand peaks during the cold months. Search Keywords: Short link: A trio of human rights champions from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a highly symbolic choice of laureates drawn from three nations at the centre of the war in Ukraine. The honour went to detained activist Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, Russia's Memorial group and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties. "They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy", the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, told reporters. The committee called on Belarus to release Bialiatski, 60, who has been jailed since 2021. Bialiatski's wife said she was "overwhelmed with emotion" after the news. While the prize was not a direct message to Putin, Reiss-Andersen called his regime an "authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists" and that the committee wanted to highlight the "way civil society and human rights advocates are being suppressed." Last year, the Peace Prize crowned two champions of freedom of the press, Philippine journalist Maria Ressa and her Russian colleague Dmitry Muratov. The prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor (about $900,000). 'Not yielded an inch' The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of the prizes' creator, Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel. Reiss-Andersen said she hoped Bialiatski would be able to attend. "We do hope... that he can come to Oslo and receive the honour bestowed upon him", she said. Bialiatski was imprisoned from 2011 to 2014, and was again arrested following large-scale demonstrations against the regime in 2020. "He is still detained without trial. Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr Bialiatski has not yielded an inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus", the Nobel committee said. Memorial is meanwhile the largest human rights organisation in Russia. Russia's Supreme Court ordered the group's central structure, called Memorial International, dissolved in December 2021. In addition to establishing a centre of documentation on victims of the Stalinist era, Memorial compiled and systematised information on political oppression and human rights violations in Russia. It became the most authoritative source of information on political prisoners in Russian detention facilities. The organisation has also been standing at the forefront of efforts to combat militarism and promote human rights and government based on rule of law. Both Bialiatski and Memorial have been mentioned in Nobel speculation in previous years. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, the Center for Civil Liberties, founded in 2007, has engaged in efforts to identify and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population. "In collaboration with international partners, the center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes", the committee said. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, with the other disciplines announced in Stockholm. On Thursday, French author Annie Ernaux, known for her deceptively simple novels drawing on personal experience of class and gender, won the Nobel Literature Prize. She is the 17th woman to get the nod out of 119 literature laureates since 1901. Earlier in the week, the prizes for medicine, physics and chemistry were announced. The 2022 Nobel season winds up Monday with the announcement of the winner of Nobel Economics Prize. Search Keywords: Short link: No question is more pressing today, not just for analysts and observers but also for people around the world, than the one in the title. The reasons are obvious. After the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone had begun to look forward to a period of recovery and economic growth. World markets would revive and the newly bustling activities of trade and commerce would bring relief and joy. Sadly, that was not to be. Even as the pandemic receded, another blight emerged: a vicious war involving world powers and bristling with nuclear weapons. Initially, the Ukrainian question looked like nothing more than a particularly nasty spat between Russia and NATO in which Russian amassed troops at Ukrainian borders as a means to pressure NATO into conceding that it must not put its own forces in a country right so close to Russia. Most observers, including myself, did not believe that Russia would act on the threat, not even when US intelligence sources said they were certain Russia planned to invade. Indeed, on 24 February, Russian forces launched a three-pronged offensive across the border. Events since then have proven expectations, the first of which is that countries bent on war may know how to start one but never how to end one until, perhaps, they reach a certain threshold of fatigue. Predictions of victory arise when the balance of power is read in such a way as to conclude, firstly, that victory is possible and, secondly, that it will happen soon, after which things will go back to normal. In every war since World War II, from the Korean and Vietnamese wars to the Russian and American wars in Afghanistan, and the American invasion of Iraq, predictions of victory were wrong and the protraction of hostilities led to unforgivable sins. The current war in Ukraine is no exception. The Russian leadership knew when to start it they even factored in many of the economic measures the West would take in response but then their calculations began to show flaws with regard to the strength of Ukrainian resolve, the efficacy of Western arms, the stamina of their own forces and the state of supply lines over long distances. The war has already gone through many stages in its relatively short lifetime. At first, the main theatre was the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. After Kyiv repelled the Russian siege, that theatre shifted to the Ukrainian east and south. Recently, the war entered a new phase with the Ukrainian counteroffensive liberating towns and strategic sites and compelling Russia to declare a general mobilisation to recruit 300,000 more troops and conduct annexation referendums in parts of the Donbas. The results more than 98 per cent in favour have been true to the old Soviet formula of referendums. With annexation, Russia turns its invasion of another country into a battle to liberate Russian territory, ostensibly sanctioning the use of nuclear arms. Against this backdrop of military escalation, no one can offer a frank answer to the question of when the war will end. Bear in mind that two kinds of escalation are at work here. The first is the Russian one, described above which, with the mobilisation of new troops, transforms the so called special military operation into an all-out war between two countries. The second is the Ukrainian escalation of its war aims from the liberation of the Donbas region, which had been virtually occupied before the invasion of 24 February, to the Russian withdrawal from the Crimea and more punitive sanctions against Moscow. In his address to the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, I rule out that the settlement can happen on a different basis than the Ukrainian peace formula. What we have here is a locked in conflict syndrome. Russia can not end it while it is mustering troops which have yet to be sent to a front where Ukraine is still basking in the triumph of its counteroffensive. Ukraine can not end it with its troops still scoring advances at the theatre of operations, its General Assembly members giving a standing ovation to Zelensky and the winds in its sails as the world grows angrier at the war Russia started and Putin is cast as one of historys great pariahs. Under such circumstances, another round seems necessary to both sides. The Russians, in particular, want to prove that the balance of power on the ground is still in their favour. In normal times, Russia might have heeded the advice of friends such as China whose foreign minister said that the regional sovereignty and integrity of all nations must be respected, and India whose foreign minister said that the actions of the Russian forces were undertaken in broad daylight and should not go unpunished. But these are not normal times. Conflict dynamics reign, so Russia thinks it has to prove them wrong. Modern wars are not limited to the foreign fronts where a threat leads to hostilities. After some time, they can extend to domestic fronts where support for political leadership at the height of a national plight might decline as the costs of military operations mount. Americas war in Vietnam, Russias war in Afghanistan, Americas wars in Afghanistan and then Iraq eventually engendered conflicts of a different sort in American or Russian societies, among the political elites and even the upper echelons of power. The first war in Afghanistan has been cited as one of the main reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Western states the US above all are gripped by division as a consequence of the human, material and economic cost of war. European contributions to the war in Ukraine have opened the doors to the European far right to come to power in fascist strains, no less. With their last elections, Italy and Sweden joined Bulgaria and Hungary as supporters of the view that the Ukrainian war has become too costly not just for the present but for their future too. The drain on European resources from taking in Ukrainian refugees and from ensuring ongoing military and economic support for Ukraine has rendered the Ukrainian resolve to keep fighting a heavy burden. The consequences are even felt across the Atlantic, in the US, where the midterm Congressional election campaigns are heating up and Republican support for filling the Ukrainian war chest is declining. These conflict dynamics have also made it clear that wars totally paralyse mechanisms for resolving disputes and promoting stability in the world. No sooner do military hostilities begin than the belligerents entrench themselves in hardline positions and, caught in the frenzy of war, they await the results of round after round. *A version of this article appears in print in the 6 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: A number of Korean actors and pop stars are landing plum contracts as the face of global luxury brands. Tiffany & Co. announced Wednesday that girl band Blackpink's Rose was added to its list of global brand ambassadors. Rose is only one of three people who is followed by Tiffany's official Instagram account, which has 12.2 million followers. She has also been the face of French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent since last year. Black Pink's Ji-soo became a global ambassador for French fashion brand Dior in March, one of only three in the world alongside Natalie Portman and Cara Delevingne. The girls of K-pop group Blackpink are taking the spotlight at the ongoing Paris Fashion Week, which began Tuesday. The event is seeing the return of live runways by big fashion houses like Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton after the coronavirus pandemic limited the industry to virtual shows. All the members of the quartet serve as global ambassadors for luxury brands -- Ji-soo for Dior, Jennie for Chanel, Lisa for Celine and Rose for Saint Laurent. On Tuesday, Ji-soo sat in the front row at Dior's show and Rose made an appearance at Saint Laurent's show at the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday. Rose walked the red carpet at the Met Gala, one of the U.S. fashion industry's biggest events, with the fashion house's creative director Anthony Vaccarello last month. Jennie, who has been Chanel's ambassador since 2017, flew to Paris on Wednesday ahead of the brand's show next week. Lisa, whose solo debut single "Lalisa" recently entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, will also leave for Paris on Oct. 4. "Though only half of them have touched down so far, the girls of Blackpink have taken Paris Fashion Week by storm," U.S. fashion news site WWD said Wednesday. Paris Fashion Week runs until Oct. 6. "Out of an abundance of caution (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply new layers of screening at these five U.S. airports in response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda," the U.S. Embassy in Uganda said. According to Uganda's Health Ministry at least nine people had died of the disease in Uganda by Oct. 3. Authorities in the east African nation announced the outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever on Sept. 20. There are 43 total cases, including the deaths. U.S. screening began Thursday at the airports but the funneling requirements are expected to take effect within the coming week or so, a source told Reuters. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday issued an alert to health care workers to raise awareness about the outbreak but said there were currently no suspected or confirmed U.S. Ebola cases from the Sudan strain, which is behind the latest Uganda infections. The Biden administration will begin redirecting U.S.-bound travelers who had been to Uganda within the previous 21 days to five major American airports to be screened for Ebola as public health officials sent an alert to health care workers. Travelers from Uganda need to arrive at New York-John F. Kennedy, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare or Washington Dulles airports for screening. There is no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain of the disease, triggering fears of a major health crisis in the country of 45 million people. Two sources said about 140 people who had recently been in Uganda arrive daily in the United States, with 62 percent landing at one of those five airports. Officials will conduct a temperature screening, ask health questions and report arrivals to local health departments. Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, said the CDC's health alert is an important message to both the public health and the medical community that they should be prepared for possible cases in the United States, as happened in the 2014-2016 Western Africa outbreak. "We can handle Ebola safely in the hospital setting and provide best care to the patient, but you have to be aware that it might even be a possibility," he said, referring to the 2014 incident in which a traveler from Liberia was evaluated initially at a hospital in Dallas and was turned away. That patient was not admitted until two days later, when he arrived at the hospital by ambulance, potentially exposing emergency responders to the deadly virus. The U.S. Embassy in Uganda said Thursday "the risk of Ebola domestically is currently low," adding "enhanced screening applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and visa holders (to include diplomatic and official visas)." On Wednesday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke with Ugandan Health Minister Jane Aceng Ocero to discuss Ebola and U.S. efforts "to support Uganda throughout this challenging period," HHS said. On Saturday, a Tanzanian doctor working in Uganda who contracted Ebola has died, the first health worker killed by the disease in the latest outbreak in the country, Uganda's health minister said. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment Thursday that OPEC+ nations intend to cut oil production targets by 2 million barrels a day but said the United States has alternatives and is exploring them. "There's a lot of alternatives. We haven't made up our minds yet," Biden told reporters at the White House, without elaborating. Wednesday's decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with Russia and other oil producers, to cut production targets could help Moscow fund its war in Ukraine and hurt Biden's chances to further cut gasoline prices for American motorists ahead of next month's nationwide congressional elections. Opposition Republicans have blamed Biden and fellow Democrats for the higher gas prices as they try to wrest control from Democrats of one or both chambers of Congress. In a July trip to the Mideast, Biden had pushed Saudi Arabia, the worlds second-biggest oil producer after the U.S., to hold the line against a production cut or even boost output to the global crude oil market to keep oil prices, which directly correlate to the price motorists pay for gasoline at service stations, from increasing. Biden said, however, that he did not regret his stopover in Riyadh to meet with Saudi leaders. "The trip was about the Middle East and about Israel and... rationalization of positions," he said, while acknowledging the OPEC+ production cut "is a disappointment." Biden made the trip to Saudi Arabia even though during his presidential campaign in 2020 he branded the longtime U.S. ally as a "pariah" state for its role in the killing and dismemberment of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, at the hands of Saudi agents in the country's Istanbul Consulate in 2018. Twelve North Korean warplanes staged a rare show of force by flying in formation and firing air-to-surface missiles near the inter-Korean border on Thursday afternoon. The South Korean military responded by scrambling about 30 warplanes. North Korea also fired two short-range ballistic missiles earlier that day. The North seems to be protesting against joint naval drills by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, which have been going on since last week. An urgent UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday discussed how to respond to recent North Korean provocations but failed to adopt a statement in the face of opposition from China and Russia. North Korea fired two more short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea even as the UNSC meeting was underway in New York, but permanent members China and Russia refused to budge amid a new cold war with America and its allies. The U.S. and other Western members accused North Korea of provocations and attempted to discuss additional sanctions, but Chinese and Russian delegates stalled the discussion and blamed joint South Korea-U.S. maritime drills for North Korea's recent flurry of missile launches. Geng Shuang, China's deputy UN ambassador, claimed that the U.S. is strengthening military alliances and increasing the risk of nuclear military competition in Asia and the Pacific, and urged countries to refrain from actions that could lead to heightened tensions and miscalculations. Anna Evstigneeva, Russia's deputy UN ambassador, said, "Introducing new sanctions against [North Korea] is a dead end... that is bringing us zero result." Passport Legacy, a Swiss boutique firm with over 25 years of combined experience in the investment migration industry, has opened its sixth office in Singapore. The inauguration ceremony took place at 20 Collyer Quay, with Jeffrey Henseler, Founder and Managing Partner of Passport Legacy UAE HQ, unveiling the companys newest location. The Singapore expansion adds to Passport Legacys portfolio of locations in Pakistan, Lagos, Beirut, Abuja, and its Dubai headquarters. The Abuja location is the companys second office in Nigeria, as its Lagos office was first opened in 2020. Through its Singapore location, Passport Legacy will advise and guide Asia-based clients on how to obtain an alternative residency or citizenship in countries with attractive Residence-by-Investment (RBI) or Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programs. Passport Legacys Singapore office aims to enable its Asia-based clients to meet with the companys advisors on a more frequent basis, offering the benefit of sound advice and consistent guidance. The company will use Singapore to primarily reach out to Southeast Asian countries with growing economies including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Henseler said: These recent expansions are representative of significant progress for the company and the investment migration industry. We are excited to begin working with new markets to help more people successfully secure RBI and CBI. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that we open borders for everyone who has the means and capabilities to secure a second passport. With Singapore being both a financial hub and international business center in Asia, we will leverage our newest location to provide advice to our clients and network of professional intermediaries that will set them up for sustained success. -TradeArabia News Service Another unsightly waste land in central Seoul temporarily opens to the public on Friday after being off-limits for about 110 years. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the land formerly occupied by U.S. embassy staff will be turned into a verdant park until construction of an art gallery begins in 2025. The stretch of land in Songhyeon-dong in Jongno district measures 37,117 sq.m, three times the size of Seoul Plaza in front of city hall, and is close to popular tourists attractions like Gyeongbok Palace and Insa-dong. The city government wants to plant a lawn there and remove the unsightly 4-m fence that now keeps trespassers out. The yen is also at a historic low, so that is no deterrent, and Koreans were delighted when Japan finally lifted restrictions on foreign visitors after the pandemic. At Lotte Tour Development, tickets for some chartered flights to Japan sold out instantly. Korea's largest travel agency Hana Tour said that average daily booking to Japan surged 1,031.8 percent last month. "On Sept. 30 alone, around 2,000 customers headed overseas," a Hana Tour staffer said. "Most of them were traveling to Japan, Vietnam and Guam." The Korean won has fallen to a historic low, but Koreans' appetite for overseas travel, long suppressed during the coronavirus pandemic, is undimmed. Even the most popular domestic destinations like Jeju Island are losing customers who are turned off by the extortionate prices there. But queries for Hong Kong and Taiwan are also increasing. According to Very Good Tour, they have doubled this week compared to September. Hong Kong lifted hotel quarantine requirements for visitors on Sept. 26, and since Sept. 29 Taiwan resumed visa-free entry for Korean and Japanese tourists. A Very Good Tour staffer said, "We expect flights to China to increase around the middle of this month once China eases coronavirus restrictions and created 17 different types of package tours to Taiwan." According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 702,153 Koreans traveled abroad in August, up 409.9 percent compared to a year ago and up almost five times from January of this year. That has been bad news for domestic travel destinations, which enjoyed a bonanza when the pandemic prevented overseas travel. One internet community of travel aficionados with a million users is filled with comments pointing out that a flight to Japan is cheaper than renting a car for a week on Jeju. Consumer prices rose 6.8 percent on Jeju island in the second quarter of this year and 6.6 percent in scenic Gangwon Province, surpassing the nationwide average of 5.7 percent. The surge in outbound tourists is increasing Korea's current account deficit. According to the Bank of Korea, the country's tourism deficit stood at US$860 million in July, up 53 percent compared to January. By Peter Masheter, KYODO NEWS - Oct 7, 2022 - 22:05 | All, Japan The Japanese government should scrap distinctions between "mandatory" and "voluntary" evacuees from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and take a rights-based approach to ongoing support for those still displaced by its effects, a U.N. human rights expert said Friday. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, made the calls as the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, have been exposed to numerous lawsuits from voluntary evacuees and those who returned to their former communities. The distinctions have had "particularly severe impacts on those in poverty, those with no livelihoods, the elderly and persons with disabilities," Jimenez-Damary said at a press conference to announce the preliminary findings from her Sept. 26 to Oct. 7 official visit to Japan. Japan distinguishes between evacuees depending on whether they are registered as residents in areas subject to evacuation directives due to being uninhabitable and people who chose to leave over radiation concerns. Individuals from outside the specified zones and relocated following the disaster became ineligible for Fukushima prefectural government support from March 2017, a decision that met with protest. A human rights lawyer with decades of experience, Jimenez-Damary told reporters that a desire to return did not define evacuees and described conversations she had with displaced people on her visit to Japan and elsewhere, saying, "When I ask if they want to return, they say yes, but when I ask can you return, they say we cannot." Since the disaster, the government has raised the safe annual limit of radiation exposure from 1 millisievert per year to 20, an amount said to especially present risks to vulnerable people, such as children and women of reproductive age. In 2018, the United Nation's then special rapporteur on hazardous substances, Baskut Tuncak, said it was "disappointing" that Japan had not returned the levels to what they consider acceptable despite recommendations by the organization in 2017. Jimenez-Damary renewed calls for its review in her preliminary statement. Data from the Reconstruction Agency states that as of Aug. 1, around 32,000 internally displaced people are living in 878 municipalities across Japan's 47 prefectures, down 2,841 people from the totals recorded on April 8 this year. At its peak, around 470,000 were displaced in the wake of the disaster. Jimenez-Damary said the issue "needs to be resolved because it is not clear how many are in evacuation" when asked whether the government's estimate of the number of internally displaced people reflects the reality. The human rights expert added that she is "definitely recommending" that evacuees be heard by the government. The findings from Jimenez-Damary's visit to Japan, which brought her into contact with governments, support organizations and displaced people, will be presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2023. KYODO NEWS - Oct 7, 2022 - 12:30 | World, All North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said cooperation between his country and Russia has been "strengthened as never before" in a message sent Friday to celebrate Russian President Vladimir Putin's 70th birthday, state-run media said. In the message, Kim said he has "rejoiced" in the strengthened mutual support and cooperation enabled through the struggle "to defend the regional peace and stability and realize...international justice," according to the official Korean Central News Agency. "Today, Russia is reliably defending the dignity of the state and its fundamental interests from the challenges and threats by the U.S. and its vassal forces. Such reality is unthinkable without your distinguished leadership and strong will," KCNA quoted Kim as telling Putin. "I wish you happiness in good health and great success in your responsible work for the prosperity of Russia," he said. North Korea said Tuesday it supports Moscow's annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions, according to KCNA, following Pyongyang's recognition of Russia-backed separatist regions in the war-torn nation's east as independent states in July. At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Russia defended North Korea's ballistic missile launch over the Japanese archipelago the previous day, labeling it a response to a recent joint military drill conducted by the United States, South Korea and Japan. North Korea, founded in 1948 with the backing of Russia's predecessor state the Soviet Union, has been trying to deepen ties with Russia and China, as the nation's negotiations with the United States over denuclearization and sanctions relief have been in a stalemate for around three years. KYODO NEWS - Oct 7, 2022 - 16:59 | All, Japan Japan's Financial Services Agency on Friday ordered SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. to suspend part of its operations for three months, urging the brokerage to improve compliance following a market manipulation scandal that led to the indictment of former executives. The financial watchdog also ordered parent Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. to strengthen its supervision of the subsidiary. The moves come after the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission found illegal trading practices at the brokerage in its probe and recommended last month that the agency impose administrative punishment on the firm. SMBC Nikko illegally propped up some stock prices to stabilize them in transactions called "block offerings," according to the authorities. Six former executives of the company, including a former deputy president, have been indicted over the practice. In block offerings, a brokerage mediates trading between large shareholders who want to sell chunks of shares and investors hoping to buy them during off-hours trading. The brokerage profits from the difference between the purchase and sale prices. In Friday's order, SMBC Nikko was banned from engaging in block offerings until Jan. 6, according to the agency. The commission's probe also found that SMBC Nikko shared customer data with group company Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. without gaining consent and used it for its business operations. Corporate compliance was not functioning at SMBC Nikko because both management and employees lacked norms that could have averted the alleged market manipulation, a brokerage-commissioned investigation panel comprising three lawyers concluded in June. Related coverage: SMBC Nikko's investigation panel calls trading scandal "unfair act" Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (3rd L) looks at the model of China-funded National Higher Conservatory of Music during his visit to the construction site of the conservatory in Dbayeh, near Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 6, 2022. The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. "It wouldn't have been possible to build this artistic and cultural beacon if it wasn't for the cooperation between the Chinese and Lebanese governments," Mikati told Xinhua while he visited the conservatory to check the completion of the project's first phase. Mikati thanked the Chinese government for constructing the "icon building," stressing that "China has made this dream come true." The prime minister said he hopes Lebanon cooperates with China on a bigger scale. "The Chinese government expressed its readiness to support Lebanon in all fields," he noted, adding that Lebanon will soon receive support from China in the field of solar energy. For his part, Qian Minjian, the Chinese ambassador to Lebanon, said this project, which will be completed in a year and a half, will allow the Lebanese people "to have access to a professional place to enjoy great performances." "This project will be a symbol of the friendship between Lebanon and China to strengthen ties between the two peoples, and a successful example of joint work under the Belt and Road Initiative," Qian said. The ambassador reiterated China's readiness to continue supporting Lebanon on all levels. Meanwhile, Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said Mikati's visit to the conservatory conveys the message that Lebanon is keen to preserve its cultural identity while working on restoring its cultural role. He added that the China-funded conservatory will play a tremendous role by attracting people eager to learn music from around the world. The conservatory began its construction in December 2020 and will take three years to finish. With an expected cost of 62 million U.S. dollars, the conservatory covers an area of 39,000 square meters. It features teaching rooms, a library, lecture and auditorium halls, and a theater that can host up to 1,200 people. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada and the Chinese ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian visit the construction site of the China-funded National Higher Conservatory of Music in Dbayeh, near Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 6, 2022. The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Shahd Hesham, an oud player and teacher, plays the oud at Arabic Oud House in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- A young Egyptian lady was playing a piece of music on the oud, an ancient Arabian musical instrument, at the Arabic Oud House for teaching oud playing in a historical area of the Egyptian capital Cairo. The piece she was playing was the Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower, or Mo Li Hua, which is usually played in China on the Chinese oud-like instrument pipa. Shahd Hesham, 19, an oud player and teacher at the Arabic Oud House, played a piece of Egyptian music and highlighted the similarities between the tones created by oud and pipa and between Egyptian and Chinese folk music. "Egyptian and Chinese folk music can communicate and complete one another in many areas. For example, we can take music sentences from a Chinese track and play them in an Egyptian style, while the Chinese can take Egyptian music sentences and play them in their own style," the Egyptian oud teacher told Xinhua. She explained that the Chinese pipa is a string instrument just like the oud, but it is a little smaller, it sounds a little sharper, and it is played vertically while the oud is played horizontally. Oud is the origin of many string instruments in the East, she added. "When different cultures cooperate and jointly present a concert, the result is so beautiful and diversified," Hesham told Xinhua. Meanwhile, Mario Saied, an oud teacher and music composer, was on stage making a sound test for his oud before leading a performance in the yard of the Arabic Oud House. Saied, 24, expressed his belief that cooperation between different cultures in music means "richness." "Difference in music is beautiful, and what's more beautiful is to have cooperation among different music instruments, which produces beautiful tones," said the Egyptian oud player. "We're always trying and searching for a beautiful sound of combining instruments, so we try the oud with the Chinese pipa, the mandolin, the Indian sitar, etc. Each experience is richness in itself," the young man told Xinhua. The Egyptian musician described the Chinese culture as "great," expressing his obsession with Chinese historical sites and artifacts. "I have on my cell phone a photo gallery of Chinese artifacts and museums, which I am fond of. So, I hope there will be a chance for future music cooperation not only between Egypt and China but between Egypt and every place where there is music," Saied said. People learn oud playing at Arabic Oud House in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A worker makes an oud at a workshop in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A worker makes an oud at a workshop in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A worker colors an oud at a workshop in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Mario Saied, an oud teacher and music composer, tunes the oud at Arabic Oud House in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a plenary meeting of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 7, 2022. (Cia Pak/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for international support for Pakistan in the wake of devastating floods. The United Nations is working with the Pakistani government to convene a pledging conference to provide concrete support for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, he told the UN General Assembly, which is expected to adopt a resolution on solidarity with Pakistan. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said Thursday that 1,700 people had been killed by the floods since mid-June and 12,867 others injured in the South Asian Country. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on the same day that his government had spent about 450 million U.S. dollars in relief efforts. "I urge donor countries, international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations, along with the private sector and civil society to fully support these efforts," Guterres said. The United Nations launched the Pakistan floods response plan. The revised plan calls for 816 million dollars -- a surge of 656 million dollars from the initial appeal -- to respond to the most urgent needs through next May. "We must act -- and we must act now," Guterres said. "Climate chaos is knocking on everyone's door, right now. We must step up and answer the call for the people of Pakistan. This global crisis demands global solidarity and a global response." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at the podium and on the screen) speaks at a plenary meeting of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 7, 2022. (Cia Pak/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) KIGALI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- In a recent virtual interview with Xinhua, Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo said that the bilateral cooperation between China and Rwanda has grown from strength to strength in the last two decades, thanks to goodwill from top leadership of both countries. Kimonyo added that more Chinese companies take advantage of the positive business environment in Rwanda. He also hailed close China-Rwanda cooperation under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Produced by Xinhua Global Service A visitor views a product made from jute fibers at the Jute Diversification Promotion Center in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Sept. 26, 2022. (Xinhua) New hope is placed in the jute industry as the world realizes the value of natural fibers, and wasteful fast fashion fills the world's water with microplastics. As part of its continued efforts to revive the golden era of jute, the Bangladeshi government observed the annual National Jute Day on March 6 in the country, with the slogan "Golden country of golden fiber -- Environment-friendly Bangladesh." DHAKA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Jute is a fabric most commonly encountered today in history books. It is generally thought as a rough textile of a bygone age. But now officials and entrepreneurs are placing new hope in the jute industry as the world realizes the value of natural fibers, and wasteful fast fashion fills the world's water with microplastics. The uses of jute ranging from ordinary packing material to geo-textiles, apparel, and upholstery promise a new era for some Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in a sector endowed with great potential. In the last century, with the advent of synthetic fibers, jute almost disappeared entirely. Now, more environmentally-aware consumers may resuscitate the industry. Sharmin Sultana is an entrepreneur with a keenness to do something with jute. "I wanna work with jute products basically for myself and for the country," she told Xinhua recently. She plans to establish a jute factory, and the products will be sold in Bangladesh first, and then exported to other countries. A visitor views a product made from jute fibers at the Jute Diversification Promotion Center in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Sept. 26, 2022. (Xinhua) According to entrepreneur Fatema Akhter, the demand for jute is very high in both domestic and international markets. Currently, more than two hundred products are being made with jute fibers, she said. "Jute is an environment-friendly resource, it does not cause any disease or environmental pollution," she said. "For this, we consider the use of jute suitable and beneficial, everyone is appreciating jute." Farukuzzaman Badsha, an associate professor at the Department of Fashion Design in Shanto Maryam University in Dhaka, said, "We are working to create world-class jute products for the world market from Bangladesh, and creating entrepreneurs." "We're paying special attention to the design so that our products can stand tall in the world and the products are of world quality." Rekha Rani Balo, the additional secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and executive director of the country's Jute Diversification Promotion Centre, said the quality of Bangladeshi jute is considered the best in the world. The ministry and the center are working to create more markets around the world for Bangladeshi jute products. "We want to expand our market, and save the environment," said Balo. "Bangladeshi jute has duty-free market access to China, a great opportunity for growth," she said, "We want to meet China's expectations with Bangladeshi jute." A laborer carries bundles of jute at a market in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, on Sept. 2, 2022. (Xinhua) As part of its continued efforts to revive the golden era of jute, the Bangladeshi government observed the annual National Jute Day on March 6 in the country, with the slogan "Golden country of golden fiber -- Environment-friendly Bangladesh." On the eve of the day, Bangladeshi President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the people involved in the jute sector. Bangladeshi Minister for Textiles and Jute Golam Dastagir Gazi stressed the need for arranging more jute fairs to help increase the demand and sale for jute products in the country. "Jute fairs will encourage entrepreneurs to export more jute products outside the country," said the minister, adding that jute products are gaining acceptance day by day. HONG KONG, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A conference held Thursday in Hong Kong highlighted the opportunities for the international financial hub in integrating into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The integration of the nine GBA cities in Guangdong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region will release new energy of a magnitude not experienced before, said Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying. Hong Kong, as the most international city in the GBA, should reinforce its advantage as the "super-connector" to share its knowledge of the Guangdong cities to attract international business partners, said Leung in his video speech at the event themed "GBA: Integration Writes a New Chapter". HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said as one of the core cities of the GBA, Hong Kong will leverage its highly market-oriented and internationalized business environment, well-developed professional service sectors, as well as its status as an international financial, trade, and shipping center to join hands with the other GBA cities in developing a world-class city cluster for living, traveling and working. Lee said in his video speech that as Hong Kong and other GBA cities continue to collaborate closely and complement one another, there is much more that can be achieved that will bring about enormous opportunities for the people, businesses, and communities. The conference was co-hosted by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition. Qu Yingpu, China Daily's publisher and editor-in-chief, said in his video speech at the event that the newspaper's Hong Kong edition has performed the all-important task of interpreting China for an international audience with diligence for 25 years. Maria Tam, deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Coalition, said Hong Kong can play a vital role with its strong third-sector services and links to the world market, and can create a more powerful economic growth engine with Guangdong province. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala speaks at a press conference after the inaugural European Political Community (EPC) meeting in Prague, the Czech Republic, Oct. 6, 2022. The EPC will convene its next meeting in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said here on Thursday. Fiala made the remarks after the inaugural EPC meeting in Prague, the first-ever such meeting held in the city which brought together over 40 European leaders. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) PRAGUE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The European Political Community (EPC) will convene its next meeting in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said here on Thursday. Fiala made the remarks after the inaugural EPC meeting in Prague, the first-ever such meeting held in the city which brought together over 40 European leaders. Besides EU member states, several Western Balkan nations and non-EU countries that are deeply integrated in the single market as well as Britain and Turkiye also joined the so-called "EU+" gathering. According to a statement issued by the EU after the meeting, the energy crisis and peace and security dominated the discussions among the European leaders. The statement quoted European Council President Charles Michel as saying that "At a time when Europe's stability and security is being threatened, we need more dialogue, more listening, more mutual understanding, not less. And that's what we achieved at the first European Political Community." The EPC aims to promote political dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest and to strengthen the European continent's security, stability and prosperity, according to the EU. On Friday, the EU leaders will meet for an informal summit to discuss the most pressing issues facing the bloc, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the rising energy costs and its economic ramifications. French President Emmanuel Macron (L), Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (C) and Moldovan President Maia Sandu attend a press conference after the inaugural European Political Community (EPC) meeting in Prague, the Czech Republic, Oct. 6, 2022. The EPC will convene its next meeting in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said here on Thursday. Fiala made the remarks after the inaugural EPC meeting in Prague, the first-ever such meeting held in the city which brought together over 40 European leaders. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The scale of China's privately offered funds stood at 20.41 trillion yuan (about 2.87 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of August, according to data from an industry association. The volume edged up 19.36 billion yuan, or 0.09 percent, from the end of the previous month, according to the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC). The number of registered private funds exceeded 137,000 at the end of August. As of the end of August, there are 31,628 private equity investment funds, with the fund size at approximately 10.97 trillion yuan. There are 17,604 venture investment funds, with the fund size totaling 2.72 trillion yuan. Established in 2012, the AMAC is a self-regulatory organization that represents China's mutual fund industry. SANTIAGO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The damage caused by forest fires this week to the Moai, monolithic statues on Chile's Easter Island in Polynesia, is irreparable, said the island's mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa on Thursday. "The damage is incalculable because there is no recovery for the cracking of an original and emblematic stone, no matter how many millions of euros or dollars they put into it," Edmunds Paoa told local Radio Bio Bio. The official explained that a group of archaeologists from Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is leading the research. On Monday, local authorities declared a red alert on the island due to a forest fire close to inhabited areas. Carolina Perez, undersecretary of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile, posted on Twitter that the serious fire on the Rano Raraku volcanic crater affected the world heritage site. "Just two days ago, the fire devastated more than 100 hectares on the island," she added. Located in the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island encompasses 163.6 square kilometers and is home to some 7,750 inhabitants, concentrated mainly in Hanga Roa, the capital and only town on the island. HONG KONG, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government officially launched the preliminary screening for payload specialists that could join China's future space missions. It is the first time that the country recruits candidates for payload specialists in the HKSAR. The screening process will run till Oct. 27 and candidates should submit their application forms mainly through designated universities, research centers and other institutions. After initial selection by the HKSAR government, the subsequent screening will be undertaken by the relevant mainland authorities. The candidates must be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of the HKSAR, aged between 30 and 45, with a doctoral degree in a relevant field and at least three years of professional working experience in a relevant discipline, announced the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government. Payload specialists are professional scientific researchers who are mainly responsible for conducting aerospace experiments or research, operating space laboratory equipment, and managing daily operations of space stations with other astronauts. Andy Kong, a research assistant with the Laboratory for Space Research (LSR) of the University of Hong Kong, was over the moon at the news of recruiting payload specialists from Hong Kong for the country's space missions. A PhD candidate in computer science, Kong said he would speed up completing his graduation thesis to be able to qualify. But with a height of over 180 cm, he is disappointed that he might be too tall to meet the requirements. Space missions require astronauts to meet certain physical attributes, and for this time, male candidates should be between 162 cm and 175 cm in height. "I even wanted to get my hair cut, but maybe I'm still too tall for this," he said. Quentin Parker, director of the LSR, said that many students in the lab were very excited to hear the news, but they are too young to apply. "This is going to capture the imagination of the young people. Even though some young people are not old enough yet for this, they see it as an opportunity," he said. "With the integration of Hong Kong into the major science endeavors of the country, scientists and engineers in Hong Kong are looking at all the amazing opportunities, not just in the greater bay area but in the mainland in general," he said. Denis Yip, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), told Xinhua that ASTRI has already confirmed the applications of more than 10 qualified candidates, most of whom are PhDs in electrical engineering and physics. "If a Hongkonger got the job, that will be something that will go down in history," he said. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee hailed the payload specialist recruitment in Hong Kong, saying that it was of "great historical significance." It shows that the country encourages and welcomes Hong Kong compatriots to contribute to the country's development, and demonstrates the country's confidence in Hong Kong's level of scientific research and development as well as its care for the development of Hong Kong's young people, he said. Photo taken on July 18, 2022 shows the combination of China's space station lab module Wentian and a Long March-5B Y3 carrier rocket to be transferred in south China's Hainan Province. (Photo by Tu Haichao/Xinhua) It is the first time that the country recruits candidates for payload specialists for space missions in the HKSAR. The candidates must be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of the HKSAR, aged between 30 and 45, with a doctoral degree in a relevant field and at least three years of professional working experience in a relevant discipline. HONG KONG, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government officially launched the preliminary screening for payload specialists that could join China's future space missions. It is the first time that the country recruits candidates for payload specialists in the HKSAR. The screening process will run till Oct. 27 and candidates should submit their application forms mainly through designated universities, research centers and other institutions. After initial selection by the HKSAR government, the subsequent screening will be undertaken by the relevant mainland authorities. The candidates must be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of the HKSAR, aged between 30 and 45, with a doctoral degree in a relevant field and at least three years of professional working experience in a relevant discipline, announced the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government. Payload specialists are professional scientific researchers who are mainly responsible for conducting aerospace experiments or research, operating space laboratory equipment, and managing daily operations of space stations with other astronauts. Andy Kong, a research assistant with the Laboratory for Space Research (LSR) of the University of Hong Kong, was over the moon at the news of recruiting payload specialists from Hong Kong for the country's space missions. Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows Chinese astronaut Chen Dong entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A PhD candidate in computer science, Kong said he would speed up completing his graduation thesis to be able to qualify. But with a height of over 180 cm, he is disappointed that he might be too tall to meet the requirements. Space missions require astronauts to meet certain physical attributes, and for this time, male candidates should be between 162 cm and 175 cm in height. "I even wanted to get my hair cut, but maybe I'm still too tall for this," he said. Quentin Parker, director of the LSR, said that many students in the lab were very excited to hear the news, but they are too young to apply. "This is going to capture the imagination of the young people. Even though some young people are not old enough yet for this, they see it as an opportunity," he said. "With the integration of Hong Kong into the major science endeavors of the country, scientists and engineers in Hong Kong are looking at all the amazing opportunities, not just in the greater bay area but in the mainland in general," he said. Denis Yip, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), told Xinhua that ASTRI has already confirmed the applications of more than 10 qualified candidates, most of whom are PhDs in electrical engineering and physics. "If a Hong Konger got the job, that will be something that will go down in history," he said. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee hailed the payload specialist recruitment in Hong Kong, saying that it was of "great historical significance." It shows that the country encourages and welcomes Hong Kong compatriots to contribute to the country's development, and demonstrates the country's confidence in Hong Kong's level of scientific research and development as well as its care for the development of Hong Kong's young people, he said. A taxi is seen outside a commercial complex reconstructed from an old building in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Oct. 6, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Photo taken on Sept. 27, 2022 shows the Yichang film park, a popular scenic spot and a business incubation base transformed from former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A tourist poses for a photo in a commercial complex reconstructed from an old building in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Oct. 6, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Serbian Bon Scott (R) serves a client at a bar reconstructed from a basement of a former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 23, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Photo taken on Sept. 23, 2022 shows the Yichang film park, a popular scenic spot and a business incubation base transformed from former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Tourists walk past a commercial complex reconstructed from an old building in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Oct. 6, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A staff member makes coffee in a commercial complex reconstructed from an old building in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Oct. 6, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Photo taken on Sept. 27, 2022 shows the Yichang film park, a popular scenic spot and a business incubation base transformed from former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A young entrepreneur promotes products via livestreaming at Yichang film park, a popular scenic spot and a business incubation base transformed from former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 27, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A young entrepreneur makes coffee for clients in a coffee bar at Daijiaxiang alley in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 24, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A resident walks through Daijiaxiang alley, dubbed "coffee street" after renovation, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 24, 2022. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Photo taken on Sept. 23, 2022 shows the Yichang film park, a popular scenic spot and a business incubation base transformed from former industrial site, in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Chongqing has rebuilt and renovated a large number of idle and abandoned buildings in Yuzhong District. The renewed buildings and neighborhoods have attracted many young entrepreneurs to start their business in catering, cultural and creative industries, and also helped promote tourism in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) BEIRUT, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League is concerned about a possible presidential vacuum in Lebanon, the pan-Arab bloc's assistant secretary-general said here on Friday. "We feel that the presidential election is approaching without any signs of reaching a consensus on the new president, which is a matter of concern for the Arab League," Hossam Zaki said following his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun during his visit to the country. "Lebanon does not need a presidential vacuum at this time. The Arab League ... is also striving to see the presidential election take place in peace. We hope it goes smoothly, which requires a lot of communication between the concerned parties," Zaki added. As Aoun's six-year term is due to end on Oct. 31, experts have expressed concerns about a potential lack of an eligible successor, warning of greater institutional deadlock in the absence of a new president and the presence of a caretaker cabinet since May. Lebanon has previously witnessed several periods of presidential vacuum when different parties governing the country were politically divided, raising concerns about the possibility of history repeating itself. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution on solidarity with and support for Pakistan in the wake of the recent devastating floods. The resolution, adopted by consensus, urges the international community, in particular donor countries, international financial institutions and relevant international organizations, as well as the private sector and civil society, to extend full support and assistance to the Pakistani government in its efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the floods and to meet the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs. It calls on the international community to scale up its humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation of Pakistan, in order to repair and strengthen the country's prospects for achieving sustainable development, and encourages member states, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations to continue to work together to address the different needs of affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable. It emphasizes the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond the present emergency relief, in order to sustain the political will to support the medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts as well as the adaptation plan led by the Pakistani government at all levels. The resolution welcomes the proposed convening of a pledging conference for the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the disaster-stricken areas, to be held at the earliest opportunity, and calls on all member states to participate at the highest level. Stressing the urgent need to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events, the resolution urges member states to continue to engage in adaptation planning processes and to enhance cooperation in disaster risk reduction. It recognizes that enhanced access to international climate finance is important to support mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution to allow three member states, which are at least two years in arrears for membership dues, to vote in the assembly in the current 77th annual session. The three states concerned are the Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia. Article 19 of the UN Charter stipulates that a member state can no longer vote in the General Assembly if it is at least two years in arrears for membership dues unless the assembly is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member state. In Friday's resolution, the General Assembly agrees that the failure of the three states to pay was indeed due to conditions beyond their control. A protester wields an Iraqi flag during protests by followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad, Iraq on Aug. 8, 2022. Amid a protracted political stalemate in Iraq, the followers of powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have vowed to continue holding protests in Baghdad until their demands for comprehensive reforms and anti-corruption fight are met. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi political scene entered a new phase of conflict between the rival Shiite blocs after the controversial parliament session held on September 28, leaving the country in a prolonged impasse a year after the parliamentary elections on October 10, 2021, experts said. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his rival Shiite leaders in the Coordination Framework (CF), an umbrella of pro-Iranian Shiite parties, are still clinging to their political positions. Al-Sadr does not accept dialogue with his opponents unless they pledge to hold early elections and dissolve parliament, which the CF rejects. The CF became the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament after al-Sadr in June ordered his followers in the Sadrist movement, the biggest winner of the October elections with 73 seats, to withdraw from the parliament. The September 28 session angered al-Sadr followers, prompting thousands of them to try to storm the Green Zone, which houses the parliament and other main government headquarters, but were blocked by the security forces, leaving more than 133 injured. A security member stands guard at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2022. (Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua) Nadhum Abdullah al-Jubouri, a political analyst in Salahuddin province, said that holding the latest parliament session and the renewal of confidence in Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi by the CF lawmakers was a shock to the Sadrist movement. "The session marked a new phase of the conflict between al-Sadr and the CF's parties, and turned it into a battle of breaking wills between the two sides," he added. The extreme intransigence and failure to reach tangible solutions in the political process in Iraq are primarily attributed to the lack of trust that is clearly reflected in the positions of the CF parties and the Sadrist movement, he noted. Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr head towards the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, July 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) Najib Khalaf, a professor of Law at al-Iraqia University, told Xinhua "the September 28 session is a success for the CF's hardliners, but if a government is formed without the participation of the Sadrist movement, large-scale protests will possibly return in the country." "Excluding the real October 10 elections' winners (Sadrists) in the government formation will not bring political, economic, and social stability to Iraq, and will open the door to political conflicts that may lead to violence and chaos in the country," he added. Yaser al-Jubouri, a member of the Baghdad-based Political and Governance Development Academy, told Xinhua that the reconvene of the parliament is a sign that the formation of a new government is close. "I think a new government will be passed by the lawmakers, but there must be a price such as concessions by the Shiite CF parties to Kurdish and Sunni parties," al-Jubouri said. Even if the CF succeeds in forming a government, it will not last long because it will face great difficulties, especially the Sadrists' protests. He concluded that the best scenario for the CF is to negotiate with the Sadrist movement to form a new government. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (on screen), the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, briefs the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York on Nov. 23, 2021, on the situation in Iraq via video link from Baghdad. The top UN envoy for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Tuesday warned of a precarious post-electoral situation in Iraq and called for early government formation. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Iraq, blamed the Iraqi political parties on the ongoing political differences that hampered the formation of a functioning government in her briefing on Tuesday to the UN Security Council. "Actors across the spectrum failed to place the national interest first. They left the country in a prolonged impasse, further fuelling already simmering anger," Hennis-Plasschaert said. "The persistent and overt lack of trust perpetuates a zero-sum game, a game in which commitment to concrete solutions is being avoided," she added. UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6. (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the international community to help African governments strengthen their capacity to manage natural resources, therefore tackle the illegal trafficking of natural resources and reap the resources dividend more effectively. In some conflict areas in Africa, a continent with rich natural resources and great development potential, illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources, including wildlife resources, run rampant, profiting armed groups and terrorist forces and becoming an important conflict trigger and enabler, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "Enhanced governance capacity can effectively squeeze the space of illegal trafficking of resources for illicit gains," Dai told a UN Security Council open debate with the theme "Peace and Security in Africa: Strengthening the Fight Against the Financing of Armed Groups and Terrorists Through the Illicit Trafficking of Natural Resources." The international community should give full support to African governments' leading role in resource management, and help governments in conflict-affected countries to improve capacity in industrial planning, financial oversight and security enforcement to transform their resource advantage into an edge in development, he said. The envoy pointed out that armed groups and terrorist forces tend to thrive in underdeveloped regions, and local population's involvement in illegal trafficking is often driven by poverty, unemployment and other livelihood concerns. "This situation is exacerbated by the severe inadequacy of international development and humanitarian assistance to Africa," he noted. China hopes that the international community, especially developed countries, will honor their commitments, step up the efforts to help Africa eradicate poverty, ensure food security, accelerate infrastructure development, promote education and employment, and provide more substantive development assistance, he said. In his remarks, Dai also called for the establishment of a more fair and equitable global resource value system, saying that the unfair and inequitable international economic order has chronically trapped African countries at the low end of the global industrial chain. The international community should support Africa's efforts to derive more added-value from their natural resources and lift their position in the global value chain. Relevant countries shall lift unilateral sanctions to reduce the negative impacts on the exploitation of natural resources and export revenue generation in Africa, he said. China has always supported African countries in their sound development and utilization of natural resources, following the principle of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Dai said. "China will continue to work with the international community to support African countries in harnessing their natural resource dividend and making greater contribution to maintaining peace and stability and achieving common development," he said. MOGADISHU, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) forces on Friday killed 19 al-Shabab militants after the latter had attempted to attack an army base near Balad town, about 30 km north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, a government official said. Abdikamil Maalim Shukri, a spokesman in the Ministry of Internal Security, said the militants attempted to attack a military base in Muryale village but were repulsed by the soldiers who were on patrol. "The forces were on patrol when they had the information of the enemy in close range trying to conduct an attack against our forces. The military is now looking for the remaining militants who were on the run," Shukri told journalists in Mogadishu. He said the ongoing military operations against al-Shabab terrorists have seen terrorists lose their strongholds in the central region. The extremist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 but it is still capable of conducting attacks, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants, and public places. TOKYO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The speaker of Japan's lower house of parliament on Friday admitted he had attended more events connected to the controversial Unification Church than he had previously acknowledged. Hiroyuki Hosoda told parliamentary representatives in a meeting on the issue that as well as four gatherings he previously admitted to attending between 2018 and 2019 hosted by the religious organization, he attended four more events and sent three messages. The chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the lower house informed reporters of the latest admission by Hosoda who was already under fire from opposition parties over his affiliation to the group, according to public broadcaster NHK. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), among other opposition parties, have lambasted Hosoda's initial admission of links to the organization, often referred to as a cult. On Friday, a CDPJ lawmaker said that doubts remained about Hosoda's statement and admissions, with particular regard to the dubious church supporting Hosoda in election campaigns when Hosoda headed a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction. Hosoda has denied such electoral support was provided by the religious group. Calls from the opposition camp for Hosoda to step down or be fired over the matter have intensified following an internal probe by the LDP last month revealing about half of the LDP's lawmakers had ties with the controversial organization, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Pressure has been mounting on the wider ruling LDP headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, amid slumping public support, to explain its connections to the organization. The religious group has been known for coercing massive amounts of money in "spiritual sales" from its followers in return for "spiritual" or "karmic" benefits. BANGKOK, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Friday mourned victims of a mass shooting at a childcare center in northeastern Nong Bua Lamphu province, which has led to at least 37 deaths, most of them children. On Friday morning, grief-stricken families laid white flowers on the steps of the center, the scene of the shooting rampage by a sacked police officer. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visited the childcare center Friday, and Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were expected to go to hospitals later in the day, where seven of the 10 injured people remain. "The government and I are very sorry, and so are the people of Thailand," Prayut told relatives of the victims after laying flowers at the center. Students, teachers and government officials in some provinces also mourned the victims of Thursday's incident, while flags of government organizations across the country were flying at half-mast. Police identified the attacker as Panya Kamrap, 34, a former police officer who was dismissed from his post in June over drug allegations. He was supposed to face trial on drugs charge in court on Friday, national police chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat told a press conference Thursday. In response to questions about the attacker's mental state when he intruded into the center, Damrongsak said on Friday that the autopsy result of the attacker has showed no illicit drug usage during the past 72 hours. "We are double-checking the result as the attacker has been involved in drug abuse before," Damrongsak told reporters. On Friday, government spokesperson lowered the death toll number to 37, from the count of 38 released by police Thursday, with both numbers including the attacker and his family members, who were found dead at his home. Acting government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said that government agencies have provided assistance to the wounded and families of the deceased, totaling 13.19 million baht (about 352,000 U.S. dollars). Seven of the 10 injured people remained hospitalized, including six critically injured, the Nong Bua Lamphu provincial hospital said on the social media platform of Facebook. All the injured people have showed a good sign of recovery, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters. After the incident, the government has vowed to strengthen anti-drugs efforts and gun ownership regulation. At an emergency meeting held Friday, Suthipong Chulacharoen, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, urged intensified efforts to implement the country's anti-drugs policies and better review the qualifications for possessing and using firearms. TOKYO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) has been exaggerating the safety of treated nuclear wastewater with a dosimeter that fails to detect certain radioactive substances at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, local media has reported. When demonstrating the safety of treated nuclear wastewater, the company uses a dosimeter that fails to detect radioactive tritium, but only responds to high-concentration cesium emitted by gamma rays, the Tokyo Shimbun reported. During tours at the plant, TEPCO staff put a dosimeter that detects only gamma rays near a bottle containing treated water, as a demonstration that the treated water is safe, according to the newspaper. However, the water contained tritium which is about 15 times the amount of the release standard, it reported. The gamma rays, which may affect the human body due to external exposure, are generated by the radioactive cesium contained in the radiation-tainted water. Katsumi Shozugawa, assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, said the demonstration was "meaningless scientifically," noting that even when the amount of cesium in the sample water is dozens of times higher than the release standard, it can not be detected, as the equipment would only respond to gamma rays emitted by highly concentrated cesium. According to a plan released by TEPCO, nuclear wastewater from cooling core meltdowns of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant should be treated at least twice before it is discharged into the sea, with the treated water containing tritium that emits weak beta rays. Tritium can not be removed by TEPCO's treatment facilities. TEPCO said the demonstration had been shown to about 1,300 organizations and 15,000 visitors since July 2020. The company claimed that the purpose of the demonstration is to explain that the gamma rays emitted by the treated wastewater are reduced, and admitted that the tritium emitting beta rays exceeds the standard amount, said the newspaper. Struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011, the No. 1-3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. The plant has been generating a massive amount of radiation-tainted water since the accident happened. TEPCO started construction of facilities that will dump nuclear wastewater into the sea. SYDNEY, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australian police have arrested five men, dismantled a large-scale clandestine laboratory and seized methylamphetamine ("ice") worth millions of Australian dollars in Sydney. The police force of New South Wales announced on Friday that detectives began investigating a syndicate allegedly involved in the large-scale manufacture of the drug "ice" in April and executed a search warrant at an address in Colebee, a suburb in western Sydney, on Tuesday. A drug lab, containing equipment and chemicals consistent with the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs, was located at the address, with a 33-year-old man arrested in the premises. Following extensive further inquiries, a fifth man aged 36 was arrested during a vehicle stop at Seven Hills on Friday morning, and he was later taken to Blacktown Police Station and expected to be charged. His four accomplices were already refused bail. According to the statement, the total estimated street value of the seized drugs exceeds 21 million Australian dollars (about 18.5 million U.S. dollars). A 33-year-old woman was released pending further inquiries. Being Nepali means one has a lot of cultural values, but they also come with some absurd beliefs and superstitious stories. The scriptures and stories passed down for generations have seemed all-natural that most Nepalis so far listen to and believe in. Nepalis are also big foodies, yet there are many additional cultural norms that exist in Nepali society around the food or misconceptions they believe in while eating. If you are eating in Nepal or with Nepalis, you can consider following them to avoid any cultural misunderstanding. 1. No eating food during eclipses An annular solar eclipse as seen from Kathmandu, on Sunday, June 21, 2020. Most Nepalis have probably heard elders caution them not to eat during any solar or lunar eclipse. Cooking is also prohibited during an eclipse. This is due to a popular superstition that Nepali communities that eating during an eclipse will affect the food. This meal will cause stomach trouble and indigestion. Hence, if you are eating in Nepal, in particular with the senior citizens, avoid eclipses. 2. Do not use the left hand Representational image. Photo: Pexels/ YES People in Nepal eat with their right hands most of the time, scooping and feeding themselves. But it is believed that you should only use your right hand to eat, pass food and clean your mouth. Because the left hand is either considered unhygienic or inauspicious, food is not considered worthy of being eaten or handled with the left hand. Some left-handers, however, eat with the same hand. 3. Once food touches your lips, its impure (jutho) Wolfgang Korn eating Nepali food. Photo: Courtesy Wolfgang Korn If you are eating in Nepal, this is something you must know. In the Nepali tradition, touching food with your lips is considered jutho or impure. As a result, Nepali people do not consume meals that others have consumed. There are other superstitions around this, such as developing sores on the sides of your lips once you eat such food. This is also why you should never cook with uncleaned or jutho utensils. Tasting directly from the utensils you are cooking is also prohibited as per the tradition. Many older individuals want a more pure dining experience. Before or after eating, people usually clean the space because people believe that eating where other people have eaten is unsanitary or unreligious. 4. You should not eat plain white rice only Rice: The staple food of Nepal There is a belief about eating in Nepal that plain white rice should not be eaten since it is only done after someone in the family has died. It is customary in Nepali culture that the bereaved family avoids salt and eats only white rice with milk, dairy products and sugar. It is also believed that when a person dies, their soul must proceed to the next realm/lifetime. With its spiritual capabilities of absorbing energy, salt may interfere with the process of passing on by taking necessary spiritual energy from the just departed soul and weakening them, making it much more difficult for them to reach where they need to go. While eating in Nepal, if you are to mourn for someone, remember to avoid salt, but also remember its health impact. 5. Do not put your hand on your head while eating Photo: Pexels/ Andrea Piacquadio It is claimed that supporting your head with your hand while eating is deemed disrespectful or unsanitary. Since ancient times, it has been thought that if you eat with your left hand supporting your head, your enemy would steal all of your food. This culture may just exist to encourage optimal eating posture, so no harm in following it while eating in Nepal. Eating with your head supported is also considered impolite to the chef since it gives the impression that the dish is monotonous or uninteresting in some way. It is also a good habit not to support yourself with your left hand. It is also said that it will make you lazy. 6. You should not eat before your elders Newa Bhoj organised by Fairfield by Marriott. File Photo: Fairfield by Marriott Many communities in Nepal believe in this old culture. While this culture has gradually faded in recent years, many people, in both rural and urban areas, continue to practise it while eating in Nepal. Eating before elders are regarded as rude in these cultures. This is because seniors are held in high regard in such societies and must be treated professionally even in casual settings such as family dinners. Because of this line of thought, they must not be surpassed in the eating sequence. To respect the belief, you also may want to prioritise your seniors while eating in Nepal. Nanda Bahadur Rokaya from Dolpa at Pashupati Old Age Home in Kathmandu. Nanda Bahadur Rokaya (73), a permanent resident of Dunai Thala in Dolpa, is sitting on a bed at the government-run old peoples home at Pashupati, Kathmandu. Everything and everyone there is as new to him as the city is. He is observing the people and things happening there. Rokaya recently got separated from his home and relatives, but he still is in love with his birthplace. But, he just has a walking stick and memories in the name of his place. I didnt want to leave my birthplace and stay here. But, there is no one in the village and I couldnt work to feed myself. Interestingly, Rokaya has left his family at a time when most families are welcoming their members who were working away or abroad to celebrate Dashain, the biggest festival in Nepal. But, here is something that gives him relief: he is not alone. There are 98 elderly people, including 37 men and 61 women, taking shelter in the old peoples home. These are the people who cannot celebrate Dashain with their families nor do they feel any Dashain vibes there. The case is mostly the same for other people residing in other old peoples homes also. The pre-Dashain departure Rokaya has no children. Nor does he have any relatives to support him. As he could not work even to meet his basic needs, his own village became alien to him. And he did not see another option but to choose the old peoples home. As long as he had strength in his body, he worked hard. But, as he was unable to work, he became unable to live alone. Dashain and Tihar are for families. For me, they go as they come. There is no hope for anyone to come nor regret missing something, an emotional Rokaya says. It has been years since the festivals last brought joy to his heart. There was joy and contentment in his life for a few years during his childhood, but after that, he never felt that happiness and joy. He went looking for happiness. But, happiness eluded him. Although he did not feel alone as long as he was able to work, he became depressed as he became physically weak due to old age. There was no one in the house to talk to him. As he was unable to work, he went to stay at his relatives daughters house for support. After staying for three years, he felt that he should leave that house and go his own way. He did not want to see and hear her being scolded by her family because of him. He hence requested them to take him to the old peoples home. The daughter asked to stay with her, but Rokaya did not accept her request; he did not want her to be mistreated by her family because he was living with her family. He was continuously receiving the old-age allowance given by the government. He had saved some money from the allowance. With the same money, he chose to fly to Kathmandu to avoid the painful bus journey. He came from Dunai to Nepalgunj, from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. He boarded an aeroplane for the first time to live in an old peoples home. Those who have family and friends travel by plane to visit home and have fun during this time, but he came to Kathmandu to find a roof that will support him. Untouched by the festival Pampha Karki (87) of Mainapokhari, Dolakha. Pampha Karki (87) of Mainapokhari, Dolakha, has been living in the old peoples home for 25 years. She has a rash on her tongue so she is not having any solid food. So she is just drinking warm water. The desire for life already died in her when her mother left her. After her mother left her, she became lonely and she is still alone today. Dashain and Tihar come and go every year; it does not matter much to her. Her daily routine is the same even during Dashain whether she puts on tika and jamara or not. Dashain is celebrated by children and family members. I dont have any family or children, she says, There is no hope of me returning to happiness. Dashain was fun just in childhood. She had her own dream. Remembering her childhood, she does not care about the present Dashain. Dashain neither fills her heart with spring nor brings any new feelings. There is nothing for old people like me to do during Dashain. No relative, no Dashain, she says emotionally. *** Pradeep Tajpuriya from Jhapa at Pashupati Old Age Home in Kathmandu. Even 68-year-old Pradeep Tajpuriya of Jhapa, another resident of the old peoples home, is not touched by the festivities. He is seen walking around with the help of a walking stick. He is neither happy nor sad. However, he makes himself comfortable there with people like him. Those who do not have children come to the old age home and those who have are also suffering. They live with the help of others. No one knows what will happen in life, he says. *** Timaya Puri from Manthali, Ramechhap at Pashupati Old Age Home in Kathmandu. The 77-year-old Tulmaya Puri of Manthali, Ramechhap, also does not feel happy about Dashain and Tihar. What are Dashain and Tihar for those who have no one? Now I am looking for a way to breathe, she says as soon as she hears about the festivities. Puri came to Kathmandu from Manthali with her husband in 2011 seeking support. Since they had no children and were unable to feed themselves due to their old age, they both reached the old peoples home with a letter of recommendation from the local authority. Five years after staying there, her husband died. She has been lonely since her husband left her. Staying in an ashram is not a desire. We have to stay as we are helpless and need support. Who doesnt love the place where one was born, the house where one grew up? Puri says emotionally. This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length. EFE videos Roma, 18 oct (EFE).- A Russell Crowe le da absolutamente igual ser uno de los actores mas famosos del mundo y, ya con la barba cana, ve el exito como un valor si no intimo, al menos muy personal: "No me importa si me alaban, solo quiero que lo que haga tenga algun tipo de significado para mi", asegura en una entrevista con Efe en Roma, en el estreno de su segunda pelicula como director, "Poker face". "Creo que la medida del exito depende de un juicio individual, no necesitas la lista de triunfos de otra persona para poder ser feliz. Pero es el tipo de cosa que dice alguien que ha vivido cierto nivel de exito", alega el neozelandes, dejando escapar una carcajada. Crowe resta importancia a la gloria pese a que acaba de saborearla en Roma, la ciudad imperial a la que siempre estara vinculado desde que saltara a la fama con "Gladiator" (2000) y que, de hecho, acaba de nombrarle "embajador" honorifico. "POKER FACE", UNA SEGUNDA VEZ TRAS LA CAMARA Tal es su apego sentimental a la Ciudad Eterna que ha elegido su Fiesta del Cine para estrenar su segundo largometraje como director, "Poker Face", que llegara a Espana el proximo 6 de enero. En la pelicula, con la espanola Elsa Pataky y el australiano Liam Hemsworth, Crowe interpreta a un magnate de las apuestas en internet que reune a todos su amigos ofreciendoles un botin millonario... aunque para ganarlo, deberan renunciar a su mejor tesoro: sus secretos. "Poker face" llego a sus manos casi por el mismo azar que impregna cada minuto de este oscuro "thriller". El director inicialmente elegido se retiro de improviso, luego la pandemia lo freno todo y fue entonces cuando los productores jugaron la baza del actor, a pesar de que este vivia un momento doloroso tras perder a su padre. "No lo construi yo, sino que llego a mi como un proyecto en apuros que requeria de alguien que tomara el control. Y como un loco dije si. Siento amor y fe en el cine como la forma de arte mas fluida por lo que no me importo el tiempo o los recursos limitados", confiesa. Esa pasion le ha hecho ponerse de nuevo tras la camara, ocho anos despues de su opera prima, "The water diviner" (El maestro del agua, 2014), pero hablamos de mera vocacion, porque su intencion no es perseguir el aplauso o seducir a la critica. Al menos no ahora, a sus 58 anos. "Para mi el exito depende de cuanto disfruto el dia, todo lo que haga o cualquier reto que afronte, no juzgo un triunfo segun fuerzas externas. Me da igual si la gente esta de acuerdo conmigo o si me alaba. Solo quiero que lo que hago tenga algun significado para mi", reflexiona, como paladeando cada palabra. "TAX THE RICH" Su personaje en "Poker face" es tan rico que presume de un Cezanne colgado a dos pasos de la cocina por lo que el tema del abismo entre las elites y el comun de los mortales surge solo. Por ejemplo, esta de acuerdo con el lema "Tax the rich", que los ricos paguen mas? Sentado en la sala de un lujoso hotel romano, Crown no elude la respuesta, sino que se explaya: "Todo es relativo, vale?, porque un dolar es un dolar (...) Creo que las cosas se desequilibran en el enfoque entre impuestos individuales y permitir que las grandes empresas paguen menos tasas. No tiene sentido", afirma. Es decir, en su opinion, los estados deben cerciorarse de que las multinacionales pagan para garantizar servicios sociales de calidad: "La salud universal debe ser un deber", reivindica el actor, conocido tambien por su papel de filantropo. "Por lo tanto, debe ser esencial, independientemente de los impuestos que todos debamos aportar, asegurarnos de que cualquier persona que necesite asistencia sanitaria pueda obtenerla facilmente", apunta, con esa parsimonia y voz honda tan propias. Y zanja: "La salud de las personas tiene que ser lo primero. Cualquiera sea el sistema que queramos implementar y cualesquiera que sean los porcentajes tiene que tratar de mejorar la vida de las personas". NI HABLAR DE JUBILACION En cuanto a su filmografia, por un lado Crowe confiesa "un cierto nivel de afecto" por aquel general romano, Maximo Decimo Meridio, que combatia fieras y tiranos en el Coliseo y que le valio un Oscar. "Aquello cambio muchas cosas, me puso en un rango diferente y fue un exito, pero fue hace muchos anos (...) Quiza no hice un tercero, un quinto o un decimo, pero segui adelante con otros roles", se excusa el protagonista de "Master and commander" (2003), "Cinderella man" (2005) o el musical "Les Miserables" (2012). " Sin embargo, el pasado no le interesa demasiado y prefiere pensar en un futuro poblado por personajes a los que algun dia dara vida, como el exorcista Padre Amorth en "The pope's exorcist", su proxima pelicula. "Solo me interesa lo proximo que hare", sentencia este actor grandullon y de aire gentil mientras se quita las gafas para frotarse unos ojos que parecen cansados, tras tantos actos en una Roma que ha hecho de el parte de su imaginario sacro. Gonzalo Sanchez (c) Agencia EFE PHOENIX, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan CEO and headline sponsors, Class VI Partners and Wipfli LLP, have announced AccountabilIT Founder and CEO, Chuck Vermillion as a 2022 Phoenix Titan 100. AccountabilIT is a managed IT and cybersecurity services firm headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. Since its inception, the company has been a leader in cybersecurity, application management, database administration, cloud transformation and cloud-managed services. With a 24x7 Security Operations Center (SOC) partnered with the company's MSP practice, AccountabilIT is the go-to for any business's technology outsourcing. (PRNewsfoto/AccountabilIT) The Titan 100 shape the future of the Phoenix business community, building a reputation that is unrivaled in their field The Titan 100 list recognizes Phoenix's Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives the area's most accomplished business leaders in their respective industries. The annual list is compiled using criteria including demonstrations of exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. "The Titan 100 are shaping the future of the Phoenix business community by building a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled and preeminent in their field. We know that they will have a profound impact that makes an extraordinary difference for their customers and clients across the nation," says Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO. Chuck Vermillion has been spearheading the success of managed service firms since he founded his first MSP in 1997. After two decades strengthening his industry expertise, Chuck formed AccountabilIT in 2016 with the visionary idea of forming a hybrid Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) that delivers the most robust solutions to businesses regardless of their revenue. His vision and leadership have earned him numerous awards and accolades. "If you focus on delighting the customer," Chuck shared with the Titan CEO Board, "and then ensure your employees are well-compensated, motivated and in alignment with your culture of 'customer first,' the investor returns are essentially the fruit of the labor." The 2022 Titan 100 winners and their companies employ more than 90,000 individuals and generate over $32 billion in revenues. This year's honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. About AccountabilIT AccountabilIT (AIT) is a managed IT & cybersecurity firm headquartered in Arizona. AccountabilIT has grown into a leader in cybersecurity and has been recognized for six consecutive years by MSSP Alert as one of the top 250 managed security service providers in the world. AccountabilIT takes pride in being an early adopter of Microsoft security solutions, including Microsoft Sentinel, the first-ever born-in-the-cloud SIEM security tool. With a 24x7 Security Operations Center (SOC) and their MSP practice, AccountabilIT is the go-to partner for any business's technology outsourcing. Story continues AccountabilIT's "Customer First" strategy is instrumental in leading the industry in customer satisfaction, as measured by the Net Promoter score of 82. Visit AIT online Contact Claire Spahr Marketing Coordinator Claire.spahr@accountabilit.com (720) 235-8924 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accountabilit-ceo-chuck-vermillion-named-a-2022-phoenix-titan-100-301643420.html SOURCE AccountabilIT It was only five years ago that electronic punk band YACHT entered the recording studio with a daunting task: They would train an AI on 14 years of their music, then synthesize the results into the album Chain Tripping. Im not interested in being a reactionary, YACHT member and tech writer Claire L. Evans said in a documentary about the album. I dont want to return to my roots and play acoustic guitar because Im so freaked out about the coming robot apocalypse, but I also dont want to jump into the trenches and welcome our new robot overlords either. But our new robot overlords are making a whole lot of progress in the space of AI music generation. Even though the Grammy-nominated Chain Tripping was released in 2019, the technology behind it is already becoming outdated. Now, the startup behind the open source AI image generator Stable Diffusion is pushing us forward again with its next act: making music. Creating harmony Harmonai is an organization with financial backing from Stability AI, the London-based startup behind Stable Diffusion. In late September, Harmonai released Dance Diffusion, an algorithm and set of tools that can generate clips of music by training on hundreds of hours of existing songs. I started my work on audio diffusion around the same time as I started working with Stability AI, Zach Evans, who heads development of Dance Diffusion, told TechCrunch in an email interview. I was brought on to the company due to my development work with [the image-generating algorithm] Disco Diffusion and I quickly decided to pivot to audio research. To facilitate my own learning and research, and make a community that focuses on audio AI, I started Harmonai. Dance Diffusion remains in the testing stages -- at present, the system can only generate clips a few seconds long. But the early results provide a tantalizing glimpse at what could be the future of music creation, while at the same time raising questions about the potential impact on artists. Story continues Dance Diffusion art Image Credits: DALL-E 2/OpenAI The emergence of Dance Diffusion comes several years after OpenAI, the San Francisco-based lab behind DALL-E 2, detailed its grand experiment with music generation, dubbed Jukebox. Given a genre, artist and a snippet of lyrics, Jukebox could generate relatively coherent music complete with vocals. But the songs Jukebox produced lacked larger musical structures like choruses that repeat and often contained nonsense lyrics. Googles AudioLM, detailed for the first time earlier this week, shows more promise, with an uncanny ability to generate piano music given a short snippet of playing. But it hasnt been open sourced. Dance Diffusion aims to overcome the limitations of previous open source tools by borrowing technology from image generators such as Stable Diffusion. The system is what's known as a diffusion model, which generates new data (e.g., songs) by learning how to destroy and recover many existing samples of data. As it's fed the existing samples -- say, the entire Smashing Pumpkins discography -- the model gets better at recovering all the data it had previously destroyed to create new works. Kyle Worrall, a Ph.D. student at the University of York in the U.K. studying the musical applications of machine learning, explained the nuances of diffusion systems in an interview with TechCrunch: In the training of a diffusion model, training data such as the MAESTRO data set of piano performances is destroyed and recovered, and the model improves at performing these tasks as it works its way through the training data, he said via email. Eventually the trained model can take noise and turn that into music similar to the training data (i.e., piano performances in MAESTRO's case). Users can then use the trained model to do one of three tasks: Generate new audio, regenerate existing audio that the user chooses or interpolate between two input tracks. It's not the most intuitive idea. But as DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion and other such systems have shown, the results can be remarkably realistic. For example, check out this Disco Diffusion model fine-tuned on Daft Punk music: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/daft-punk-241.5k.wav Or this style transfer of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme to flute: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pirates_2_to_flute_3.wav Or this style transfer of Smash Mouth vocals to the Tetris theme (yes, really): https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tetris_smashmouth-1.wav Or these models, which were fine-tuned on copyright-free dance music: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/demo_00199126.wav https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GARNOS_FineTuneDemo.wav Artist perspective Jona Bechtolt of YACHT was impressed by what Dance Diffusion can create. Our initial reaction was like, Okay, this is a leap forward from where we were at before with raw audio,' Bechtolt told TechCrunch. Unlike popular image-generating systems, Dance Diffusion is somewhat limited in what it can create -- at least for the time being. While it can be fine-tuned on a particular artist, genre or even instrument, the system isn't as general as Jukebox. The handful of Dance Diffusion models available -- a hodgepodge from Harmonai and early adopters on the official Discord server, including models fine-tuned with clips from Billy Joel, The Beatles, Daft Punk and musician Jonathan Mann's Song A Day project -- stay within their respective lanes. That is to say, the Jonathan Mann model always generates songs in Mann's musical style. And Dance Diffusion-generated music won't fool anyone today. While the system can "style transfer" songs by applying the style of one artist to a song by another, essentially creating covers, it can't generate clips longer than a few seconds in length and lyrics that aren't gibberish (see the below clip). That's the result of technical hurdles Harmonai has yet to overcome, says Nicolas Martel, a self-taught game developer and member of the Harmonai Discord. https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/demo_453001_37b18eae57e0eb82ac04.wav "The model is only trained on short 1.5-second samples at a time so it can't learn or reason about long-term structure," Martel told TechCrunch. "The authors seem to be saying this isn't a problem, but in my experience -- and logically anyway -- that hasn't been very true." YACHT's Evans and Bechtolt are concerned about the ethical implications of AI they are working artists, after all but they observe that these style transfers are already part of the natural creative process. Dance Diffusion art Image Credits: DALL-E 2 / OpenAI Thats something that artists are already doing in the studio in a much more informal and sloppy way, Evans said. You sit down to write a song and youre like, I want a Fall bass line and a B-52s melody, and I want it to sound like it came from London in 1977. But Evans isnt interested in writing the dark, post-punk rendition of Love Shack." Rather, she thinks that interesting music comes from experimentation in the studio even if you take inspiration from the B-52s, your final product may not bear the signs of those influences. In trying to achieve that, you fail, Evans told TechCrunch. One of the things that attracted us to machine learning tools and AI art was the ways in which it was failing, because these models arent perfect. Theyre just guessing at what we want. Evans describes artists as the ultimate beta testers, using tools outside of the ways in which they were intended to create something new. Oftentimes, the output can be really weird and damaged and upsetting, or it can sound really strange and novel, and that failure is delightful, Evans said. Ethical consequences Assuming Dance Diffusion one day reaches the point where it can generate coherent whole songs, it seems inevitable that major ethical and legal issues will come to the fore. They already have, albeit around simpler AI systems. In 2020, Jay-Z 's record label filed copyright strikes against a YouTube channel, Vocal Synthesis, for using AI to create Jay-Z covers of songs like Billy Joels "We Didnt Start the Fire." After initially removing the videos, YouTube reinstated them, finding the takedown requests were "incomplete." But deepfaked music still stands on murky legal ground. Perhaps anticipating legal challenges, OpenAI for its part open sourced Jukebox under a non-commercial license, prohibiting users from selling any music created with the system. "There is little work into establishing how original the output of generative algorithms are, so the use of generative music in advertisements and other projects still runs the risk of accidentally infringing on copyright and as such damaging the property," Worrall said. "This area needs to be further researched." An academic paper authored by Eric Sunray, now a legal intern at the Music Publishers Association, argues that AI music generators like Dance Diffusion violate music copyright by creating "tapestries of coherent audio from the works they ingest in training, thereby infringing the United States Copyright Acts reproduction right." Following the release of Jukebox, critics have also questioned whether training AI models on copyrighted musical material constitutes fair use. Similar concerns have been raised around the training data used in image-, code- and text-generating AI systems, which is often scraped from the web without creators' knowledge. Technologists like Mat Dryhurst and Holly Herndon founded Spawning AI, a set of AI tools built for artists, by artists. One of their projects, Have I Been Trained, allows users to search for their artwork and see if it has been incorporated into an AI training set without their consent. We are showing people what exists within popular datasets used to train AI image systems and are initially offering them tools to opt out or opt in to training, Herndon told TechCrunch via email. We are also talking to many of the biggest research organizations to convince them that consensual data is beneficial for everyone. Dance Diffusion art Image Credits: DALL-E 2/OpenAI But these standards are -- and will likely remain -- voluntary. Harmonai hasn't said whether it'll adopt them. To be clear, Dance Diffusion is not a product and it is currently only research, said Zach Evans of Stability AI. All of the models that are officially being released as part of Dance Diffusion are trained on public domain data, Creative Commons-licensed data and data contributed by artists in the community. The method here is opt-in only and we look forward to working with artists to scale up our data through further opt-in contributions, and I applaud the work of Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst and their new Spawning organization." YACHTs Evans and Bechtolt see parallels between the emergence of AI generated art and other new technologies. Its especially frustrating when we see the same patterns play out across all disciplines, Evans told TechCrunch. Weve seen the way that people being lazy about security and privacy on social media can lead to harassment. When tools and platforms are designed by people who arent thinking about the long-term consequences and social effects of their work like that, things happen. Jonathan Mann -- the same Mann whose music was used to train one of the early Dance Diffusion models -- told TechCrunch that he has mixed feelings about generative AI systems. While he believes that Harmonai has been "thoughtful" about the data they're using for training, others like OpenAI have not been as conscientious. "Jukebox was trained on thousands of artists without their permission -- it's staggering," Mann said. "It feels weird to use Jukebox knowing that a lot of folks' music was used without their permission. We are in uncharted territory." From a user perspective, Waxy's Andy Baio speculates in a blog post that new music generated by an AI system would be considered a derivative work, in which case only the original elements would be protected by copyright. Of course, it's unclear what might be considered "original" in such music. Using this music commercially is to enter uncharted waters. It's a simpler matter if generated music is used for purposes protected under fair use, like parody and commentary, but Baio expects that courts would have to make case-by-base judgments. Dance Diffusion art Image Credits: DALL-E 2/OpenAI According to Herndon, copyright law is not structured to adequately regulate AI art-making. Evans also points out that the music industry has been historically more litigious than the visual art world, which is perhaps why Dance Diffusion was explicitly trained on a dataset of copyright-free or voluntarily submitted material, while DALL-E mini will easily spit out a Pikachu if you input the term "Pokemon." I have no illusion that thats because they thought that was the best thing to do ethically, Evans said. Its because copyright law in music is very strict and more aggressively enforced. Creative potential Gordon Tuomikoski, an arts major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who moderates the official Stable Diffusion Discord community, believes that Dance Diffusion has immense artistic potential. He notes that some members of the Harmonai server have created models trained on dubstep "webs," kicks and snare drums and backup vocals, which they've strung together into original songs. "As a musician, I definitely see myself using something like Dance Diffusion for samples and loops," Tuomikoski told TechCrunch via email. Martel sees Dance Diffusion one day replacing VSTs, the digital standard used to connect synthesizers and effect plugins with recording systems and audio editing software. For example, he says, a model trained on '70s jazz rock and Canterbury music will intelligently introduce new "textures" in the drums, like subtle drum rolls and "ghost notes," in the same way that artists like John Marshall might -- but without the manual engineering work normally required. Take this Dance Diffusion model of Senegalese drumming, for instance: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download.wav And this model of snares: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/demo_195501_868b43fdb72ebce14c69.wav And this model of a male choir singing in the key of D across three octaves: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/3Drone.wav And this model of Mann's songs fine-tuned with royalty-free dance music: https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/demo_00594601.wav "Normally, you'd have to lay down notes in a MIDI file and sound-design really hard. Achieving a humanized sound this way is not only very time-consuming but requires a deeply intimate understanding of the instrument you're sound designing," Martel said. "With Dance Diffusion, I look forward to feeding the finest '70s prog rock into AI, an infinite unending orchestra of virtuoso musicians playing Pink Floyd, Soft Machine and Genesis, trillions of new albums in different styles, remixed in new ways by injecting some Aphex Twin and Vaporwave, all performing at the peak of human creativity -- all in collaboration with your own personal tastes." Mann has greater ambitions. He's currently using a combination of Jukebox and Dance Diffusion to play around with music generation and plans to release a tool that'll allow others to do the same. But he hopes to one day use Dance Diffusion -- possibly in conjunction with other systems -- to create a "digital version" of himself capable of continuing the Song A Day project after he passes away. "The exact form it'll take hasn't quite become clear yet [but] thanks to folks at Harmonai and some others I've met in the Jukebox Discord, over the last few months I feel like we've made bigger strides than any time in the last four years," Mann said. "I have over 5,000 Song A Day songs, complete with their lyrics as well as rich metadata, with attributes ranging from mood, genre, tempo, key, all the way to location and beard (whether or not I had a beard when I wrote the song). My hope is that given all this data, we can create a model that can reliably create new songs as if I had written them myself. A Song A Day, but forever." If AI can successfully make new music, where does that leave musicians? YACHTs Evans and Bechtolt point out that new technology has upended the art scene before, and the results werent as catastrophic as expected. In the 1980s, the U.K. Musicians Union attempted to ban the use of synthesizers, arguing that it would replace musicians and put them out of work. With synthesizers, a lot of artists took this new thing and instead of refusing it, they invented techno, hip hop, post punk and new wave music, Evans said. Its just that right now, the upheavals are happening so quickly that we dont have time to digest and absorb the impact of these tools and make sense of them. Still, YACHT worries that AI could eventually challenge work that musicians do in their day jobs, like writing scores for commercials. But like Herndon, they dont think AI can quite replicate the creative process just yet. It is divisive and a fundamental misunderstanding of the function of art to think that AI tools are going to replace the importance of human expression, Herndon said. I hope that automated systems will raise important questions about how little we as a society have valued art and journalism on the internet. Rather than speculate about replacement narratives, I prefer to think about this as a fresh opportunity to revalue humans. HAMILTON, Bermuda, October 07, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) will travel to Singapore next week to meet with important strategic partners in the Asia and Pacific region. David Hart, BDA CEO will represent the BDA during a series of business development meetings focusing on climate risk finance, technology, asset management, high-net-worth services, and infrastructure. "This is an incredibly opportune time to visit Singapore, whose importance as a global financial services hub was recently ranked third highest in a Global Financial Centres Index, overtaking Hong Kong as highest in Asia," Mr. Hart said. "This business development mission to Singapore has been the centrepiece of our Asia strategy for 2022 and we are excited to finally be heading back in person for the first time since 2019." Seventeen meetings are already scheduled with senior representatives from several quality service providers, including law firms, as well as high-net-worth services, FinTech, and asset management providers. At these high value meetings, the BDA will promote the benefits of investing in and doing business with Bermuda, as well as Bermudas ongoing Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) initiative. In addition, while in Singapore, the BDA will be attending an invite only family office conference and will round off the visit by speaking with members and leadership of the Singapore Business Federation. "We thank all our Bermuda partners and stakeholders who opened doors to significant, value-added meetings during our time in Singapore," Mr. Hart said. Having just completed a similar overseas business development mission in Toronto, these targeted missions not only allow the BDA to tell Bermudas story, but also puts potential prospects in touch with our comprehensive concierge service, thereby ensuring as smooth an entry into Bermuda as possible. The BDAs continued mandate is to promote and protect, in collaboration with government and the private sector, sustainable and equitable economic growth, diversity and prosperity in Bermuda. The BDA serves as a vital conduit between industry and government, as well as new market entrants and Bermudas quality service providers. Story continues If you are interested in speaking with the Bermuda delegation at the upcoming BDA roadshows this fall to Egypt or Italy, please contact info@bda.bm. CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate, or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221007005333/en/ Contacts Stuart Roberts, Director of Communications & PR stuart@bda.bm | +1 441 292 7774 SAO PAULO, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Brazilian homebuilder MRV plans for its U.S. unit Resia to gradually increase its built units by 2030 but has put on hold plans for a private equity funding process due to unfavorable market conditions, it said late on Thursday. MRV Engenharia e Participacoes SA, as the company is formally known, said Resia has helped its results due to high demand for properties and elevated margins. Resia is known for building multi-family rental units, and MRV said rising U.S. interest rates and inflation had boosted rental demand, especially in the Sun Belt region. In the first half of 2022, Resia's net profit reached $62.72 million, almost the same level seen in the full year of 2021, the Brazilian company said, making room for a growth plan that will see the U.S. unit gradually increasing the number of units built and sold until it reaches 12,000 per year in 2030. MRV said it expects Resia's accumulated net profit between 2022 and 2024 to total $273 million, before jumping to $846 million in the 2025-2027 period and reaching $2.84 billion between 2028 and 2030. "Resia's net result will continue to bear significant representation for MRV&CO results," MRV said. It noted, however, that it will no longer go through with a potential private equity funding process due to deteriorating market capital conditions. The process will be resumed in the future in a more favorable scenario, it added. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; editing by Jason Neely) Edward Enninful has condemned the UK governments plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, with the British Vogue editor-in-chief instead calling for a more helpful and inclusive policy. Enninful spoke candidly about the flaws he sees in the government plan during a conversation with Sky News Sarah-Jane Mee, which aired on Thursday. While discussing the policy, which would see the UK government send asylum-seekers to Rwanda where they may be granted refugee status or be forced to seek asylum elsewhere, the Vogue editor referenced his own background as a refugee. This country was built on refugees, people from India, people from Africa, from the Commonwealth, and sort of embraced all these countries, Enninful said. So I feel like sending people to Rwanda is not really the solution. Im a refugee, and I think refugees contribute to the country so we have to have empathy. I think sometimes its quite hard for people to show [empathy], but I think thats the only way forward when it comes to refugees. Enninful himself immigrated to Britain after fleeing Ghana with his family in the 1980s. The journalist discussed his working-class childhood growing up in Ghana, and how his mother, a dressmaker, influenced his first teachings in the fashion world in his memoir A Visible Man. The memoir, released last month, sees Enninful reflecting on his experience arriving in London in 1985, which he described as landing into another kind of war zone as a result of Thatchers cruel and repressive policies. In place of the governments current plan, Enninful says he would like to see a more helpful and inclusive policy in place. "You could be turning incredible people away." Vogue UK editor-in-chief Edward Enninful - a former refugee - tells @skysarahjane that "we have to have empathy" towards refugees. More on this story: https://t.co/PCLISgGS3B Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/iCkC7fp25D Sky News (@SkyNews) October 6, 2022 Because when you tell people that theyre not needed, when you tell people that theyre not wanted, thats a problem in itself, Enninful told Mee. You might be saying no to the next doctor who is going to discover the next vaccine, or the next prime minister. You could be turning incredible people away, so we have to be very careful. Story continues Despite the criticism and ongoing legal challenges over the government plan, which was first signed in April, Britains Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently said the government plans to continue with the policy, and potentially expand it. Were looking actively at negotiating with countries who will take our asylum seekers, she said Tuesday. Elsewhere during the interview, Enninful was asked about the possibility of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss being featured in British Vogue. He explained that the magazine features people who are sort of doing things at the moment, who have something to do with the zeitgeist. So, you know, were waiting to see how she progresses, he said. And then we will have that conversation again. Enninful was also asked by Sky News about whether he felt there was a racist undertone to the tabloid coverage of the 2019 special issue of British Vogue guest-edited by Meghan Markle, and whether it resonated with his own experience taking over as the editor of Vogue in 2017. I think to just say its racism really simplifies everything. When I took the job, I was an outsider, and I think she was seen as an outsider. I was Black, I was gay, I was working class, I was a refugee. So I was an outsider coming to take up this institutional role, he said. What people didnt realise was that he was the ultimate insider, Enninful said, referencing his extensive background in fashion journalism. I just buckled down and did the work, and I think thats what shes doing, he added. As 2022 comes closer to an end, Cambridge University Press & Assessment is seeking to empower individuals both students and professionals through their tried and tested Cambridge English Qualifications. SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge University Press & Assessment, one of the world's most recognised authorities in English qualifications, are inviting English learners and speakers from all over the world to take their command of the English language test to the next level for the upcoming year and partake in one of their Cambridge English Qualifications. How can I start preparing learners for a Cambridge English Qualification? With tests and qualifications accepted by over 25,000 organisations worldwide and more than 5.5 million participants every year, Cambridge English has been a renowned leader that is trusted by students and professionals internationally. By focusing on real world application, each exam and the accompanying qualifications are intended to be practical and goal oriented. It is designed to help learners identify areas of improvement based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) International language standards, paving the way for a plan in order to improve speaking, writing, reading and listening skills step by step. "At the very core, our function is to help people learn English and prove their skills to the world. We cater for all levels of development and proficiencies from children at school, higher education students all the way to business professionals. As our courses, tests and qualifications are based on research and have been developed over many years with rigorous scrutiny, they are a mark of excellence accepted globally. Our qualifications will open doors and provide the skills and confidence to thrive and reach full potentials," said a representative of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. As each level of qualification require various levels of competencies, it is vital a participant chooses the right exams according to their abilities, circumstances, and goals. The CEFR Framework divides qualifications for school age children, general and higher education students, and business or professionals. Within these levels, there are further sub-divisions that signify "basic", "independent" or "proficient" competencies. Story continues "If one is looking to undertake an exam, understanding where they are in their English development and where they want to go is key. We provide relevant resources such as learner groups, sample test or practice test scores to assess your ability. From there, one will be able to determine a suitable qualification," the Cambridge representative continued. For more information, visit https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/qualifications/. About Cambridge English Cambridge English is the producer and proud co-owner of IELTS, the world's leading English test for migration and higher education. We help millions of people learn English and prove their skills to the world. Part of the University of Cambridge, we provide the world's leading range of qualifications and tests for learners and teachers of English. For us, learning English is more than just exams and grades. It's about having the confidence to communicate and access a lifetime of enriching experiences and opportunities. Whether you're planning to live, work or study in your own country or abroad, we can give you the English language skills to succeed. Globally recognised by more than 25,000 leading universities, employers and governments, our research-based assessments are a mark of excellence that open doors. Our work is supported around the world by a network of 2,800 exam centres, over 50,000 schools and tens of thousands of examiners, teachers, education experts and publishers. Working together, we inspire learners to go further. With the right support, learning a language is an exhilarating journey. We're with you every step of the way. (PRNewsfoto/Cambridge University Press & Assessment) SOURCE Cambridge University Press & Assessment Increase in the prevalence of dental disorders such as dental caries and development of new dental restorative materials by the key players drive the growth of the global dental restoration market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dental Restoration Market by Material (Dental Amalgams, Resin Based Composites, Glass Ionomers, Dental Ceramics, Others), by End User (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global dental restoration industry was estimated at $1.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit $2.5 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2031. Allied Market Research Logo Download Sample Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2804 Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Increase in the prevalence of dental disorders such as dental caries and development of new dental restorative materials by the key players drive the growth of the global dental restoration market. At the same time, rise in disposable income among people has supplemented the market growth even more. Furthermore, surge in number of product approvals has paved the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. Covid-19 scenario- Most of the non-emergency and minor procedures were canceled or postponed throughout the pandemic. As per a number of research studies, dental surgeons were more vulnerable to contracting and transmitting the coronavirus during dental procedures. These factors impacted the dental restoration market negatively, especially in the initial period. However, as the global situation got back to normalcy, the market for dental restoration also started restoring at a quick pace. The dental amalgams segment to retain the lion's share- Based on material, the dental amalgams segment generated more than two-fifths of the global dental restoration market revenue in 2021, and is expected to lead the trail by 2031. Increase in R&D activities related to dental restoration and rise in demand for dental amalgam to treat dental disorders fuel the segment growth. The resin-based composites segment would also manifest the fastest CAGR of 7.3% from 2022 to 2031. Surge in demand for resin-based composites for the treatment of pediatrics propels the segment growth. Story continues The dental clinics segment to dominate by 2031- Based on end-user, the dental clinics segment held more than half of the global dental restoration market revenue in 2021, owing to rise in demand for personalized treatment offered by standalone dental clinics. Simultaneously, the others segment would garner the fastest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for dental restorative materials among dental academic institutes and research centers drives segment growth. For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2804 North America held the major share in 2021- Based on region, North America held the major share in 2021, generating nearly two-fifths of the global dental restoration market. This is attributed to the factors such as rise in the prevalence of dental caries, well-developed healthcare sector, adequate reimbursement policies, and the presence of skilled dental professionals in the region. The Asia-Pacific region, on the other hand, would garner the fastest CAGR of 7.2% by 2031. This is due to surge in medical tourism and the presence of a large base of population suffering from dental disorders. Key players in the industry- Coltene Holding DMG Chemish-Pharmaceutische Fabrik GmbH GC India Dental VOCO GmbH Dentsply Sirona Danaher Corporation Kuraray Co., Ltd 3M SHOFU Dental GmbH Den-Mat Holding The report analyzes these key players in the global dental restoration market. These players have incorporated various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in assessing the operating segments, their business performance & product portfolio, and so on. 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Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dental-restoration-market-to-reach-usd-2-5-bn-globally-by-2031-at-6-1-cagr-allied-market-research-301642974.html SOURCE Allied Market Research Forde, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarlyBirds is an Australian open innovation ecosystem that brings together large players in innovation and technology face to face with innovators who are charting new territory in their areas of business dominance. The Australian B2B platform solutions provider has now trained its sights on breathing new life into the field of aquaculture. It is pitching its services to industry veterans who can implement its actionable innovations and spark the blue revolution which has the potential to forever change the way and volume in which people all over the world consume seafood. Readers can find out more about the company by visiting its website at earlybirds.io. Innovations in aquaculture have the potential to kill two birds with one stone. First, it can ease the global food crisis since other mainstream forms of food production, such as agriculture and livestock rearing, are facing their own distinct challenges. Next, scaling up aquaculture will also lead to taking some of the pressure off traditional food production industries which are known to have tremendous greenhouse gas emissions and contribute significantly to global warming. Moreover, increasing fishing yield in aquaculture systems while scaling down fishing in open waters to let the natural populations replenish is one of the key methods of ensuring the long-term sustainability of those fish species in their natural environments. This is a top-priority issue because global freshwater and seawater fish reserves are limited. Excessive unrestrained fishing has led to the demise of the population of marine life in many fishing hotspots around the world and it has even driven some species of prized catch to extinction. Aquaculture is the perfect antidote to meet the demand for seafood in light of government restrictions and declining fish populations in the wild due to either overfishing or climate change. In 2018, the industry reached an estimated $232 billion in revenue and generated 80 million metric tons of food, even surpassing the biomass of the total beef produced. Most of the innovation in the industry comes from perfecting facilities raising salmon, which has a high demand due to its high nutritional value. Story continues Kris Poria, cofounder of EarlyBirds comments on the current challenges holding back the output and profitability of aquaculture by saying, The cost of fish feed is the biggest roadblock. Commercial fish feed is made from ground fish and fish oil, which in turn depends on the output of wild fishery of smaller forage fish or other aquaculture operations. Some of the ways to address this are using vegetable proteins and oils or even farmed insects or microalgae as fish feed. Genetic selection and controlled breeding can be leveraged to raise fish that have higher rates of survival and a better meat-to-body mass ratio. On the mechanical side of things, innovations in robotics can be used to create aquaculture facilities that can operate with minimal oversight reducing labor costs. Advanced sensors that can remain completely submerged almost indefinitely can supercharge the data that researchers need to tweak their processes. Supply chains can also be optimized using vehicles and refrigeration solutions connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) to reduce transport times and costs and ensure that only fresh fish reaches the dinner table. Some scientists have even suggested the use of drones to monitor equipment in both onshore and offshore fish farms. The possibilities are endless and you can rest assured that EarlyBirds has the solution you need to solve your immediate technical or business problem in the aquaculture industry. If you are an aquaculture industry thought leader or have the capabilities to bring these actionable innovations to market, please sign up as an Early Adopter on our website at https://earlybirds.io/en/early_adopter. EarlyBirds cofounder Jeff Penrose then comments on the exact role that EarlyBirds can play in kickstarting the technological transformation by saying, Today, innovations and disruptive technologies are addressing complex challenges in the aquaculture industrys value chain. This includes the need for decarbonization and adopting sustainable practices. EarlyBirds is the ideal partner to work with to address these diverse and complex challenges. We have the capabilities to create a detailed innovation map of the whole industry. We can even focus on a single category that is relevant to a particular component of the industry including sustainability and net-zero operations. Our Innovation Maps are created by Subject Matter Experts who draw on near real-time data from well over 4 million global innovators monitored in the EarlyBirds platform. EarlyBirds also has other capabilities including the ability to promote innovative projects, complex search, and discovery tools, innovation pipelines for workflow, and collaboration tools. If you have an innovation that can shake up the aquaculture industry and are seeking investment to bring it to market, we can help you. Head over to our website to sign up as an Innovator at https://earlybirds.io/en/innovator. ### For more information about EarlyBirds, contact the company here: EarlyBirds Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose +61 401 287 060 support@earlybirds.io FORDE SUITE 10, LEVEL 1, 26 FRANCIS FORDE BOULEVARD, FORDE, ACT 2914 CONTACT: Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose EGIDE Bollene (France), October 07, 2022 07 :00 am (CET) Press Release For Immediate release Banc of California agrees to extend to December 31, 2022 The Egide Group announces today Banc of California has agreed for a three-month extension of the deadline for all outstanding Egide USA Inc. and Santier Inc. loans. This is now scheduled to be due on December 31, 2022. This extension allows the Egide Group to finalize the negotiations with the American financial partners who have positioned on the issue. The Egide Group will keep the market informed of the progress of these discussions. Financial Calendar October 25, 2022 : Press release - 2022 Half-year results (before French market opens). 11:30 am (Paris Time) - Investor Meeting By videoconference - 11:30am (Paris Time) - Connection information will be sent later. About Egide - www.egide-group.com Egide is an international group specializing in the manufacture of hermetic enclosures and heat dissipation solutions for sensitive electronic components. It operates in cutting-edge markets with strong technological barriers in all critical universes (Thermal Imaging, Optronics, Microwave, Power Boxes, etc.). As the only dedicated global player, Egide is present industrially in France and the United States. EGIDE is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris- ISIN : FR0000072373 - Mnemo : ALGID CONTACTS EGIDE Luc Ardon Financial Director - +33 4 90 30 35 94 luc.ardon@fr.egide-group.com FIN'EXTENSO Press Relations - Isabelle Aprile - +33 6 17 38 61 78 i.aprile@finextenso.fr Attachment ReportLinker Major players in the electric vehicle traction motor market are AB SKF, ABB Ltd. , Avid Technology Limited, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. , Nidec Corporation, Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Valeo SA, ZF TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation, Zytek Group Limited, Copper Rotor Induction Motor, RETORQ Motors Ltd. New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325388/?utm_source=GNW , SERVAX, Equipmake Ltd., and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. The global electric vehicle traction motor market is expected to grow from $4.13 billion in 2021 to $6.18 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49.54%. The electric vehicle traction motor market is expected to grow to $27.47 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45.19%. The electric vehicle traction motor market consists of sales of electric vehicle traction motors by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are used for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy in a method that propels the vehicle beyond aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance drag, and kinetic resistance is the motor that powers the vehicles wheels.An electric vehicle traction motor refers to the motor that turns the wheels of a vehicle. Some vehicles use motor generators for both drive and regeneration. The main motor types of electric vehicle traction motors are permanent-magnet synchronous EV traction motors (PSM) and asynchronous EV traction motors (ASM).Permanent magnet synchronous EV traction motors have the ability to deliver excellent torque-to-current ratios, power-to-weight ratios, efficiency, and robustness. PSMs are widely employed in modern variable speed AC drives.The voltage ratings of electric vehicle traction motors include high voltage EV traction motors and low voltage EV traction motors. The vehicle types that adopt electric vehicle traction motor include electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, mild hybrid vehicles, and full hybrid vehicles. The various applications of electric vehicle traction motors include railways, electric vehicles, and other applications. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the electric vehicle traction motor market in 2019.North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the electric vehicle traction motor market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The electric vehicle traction motors market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides electric vehicle traction motors market statistics, including electric vehicle traction motors industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a electric vehicle traction motors market share, detailed electric vehicle traction motors market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the electric vehicle traction motors industry. This electric vehicle traction motors market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Increased sales of hybrid electric vehicles is expected to propel the growth of the electric vehicle traction motor market.A hybrid electric vehicle is a hybrid vehicle that combines an internal combustion engine and an electric propulsion system. The rapid growth in sales of hybrod electric vehicles is expcted to boost utilization of traction motors, as they are essential components in hybrid and electric vehicles. For instance, in February 2022, according to U.S. electric vehicle market, 59,664 hybrid vehicles were sold (up 10.2% from February 2021), with 15,763 cars and 43,801 being light trucks. In February, Toyota had a 63.7% share of total hybrid sales. Prius (Prius and Prius C combined) sold 3.9% of hybrid vehicles. Therefore, the growing sales of hybrid electric vehicles is expected to boost demand for electric vehicle traction motors during the forecast period. Technological advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the electric vehicle traction motor market.Many companies operating in electric vehicle traction motor are developing new products or new technologies to strengthen their position in electric vehicle traction motor market. For instance, in August 2021, Nidec developed E-Axle, an EV traction motor system that incorporates three components: a motor, an inverter, and a reducer, and may be mounted in a vehicle, doing everything from generating rotating torque from the drive shaft attached to the tires to move the vehicle when powered by electricity.To achieve high productivity and wire-winding performance, Nidec implemented a new cassette inserter method. In addition, Nidecs E-Axle was given a new cooling mechanism. In December 2019, Nidec Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of electric motors acquired Roboteq Inc. for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Nidec plans to develop into a single vendor capable of providing complete motor control system support to customers. Roboteq Inc. is a US-based company that offers a wide range of electronic DC motor drives for mobile robots and electric vehicles. The countries covered in the electric vehicle traction motor market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06325388/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 First Hawaiian, Inc. HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Hawaiian, Inc. (NASDAQ: FHB) announced today that it plans to release its third quarter 2022 financial results on Friday, October 28, 2022 before the market opens. First Hawaiian will host a conference call to discuss the companys results on the same day at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Hawaii Time). Please note that the process for accessing the conference call has changed. Participants will need to click on the registration link provided below, register for the conference call, and then you will receive the dial-in number and a personalized PIN code. To access the call by phone, please go to this link to register: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIefa7fae07c09405291195a9acfdb68b6, and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A live webcast of the conference call, including a slide presentation, will be available at the following link: www.fhb.com/earnings. The archive of the webcast will be available at the same location. About First Hawaiian First Hawaiian, Inc. (NASDAQ:FHB) is a bank holding company headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Its principal subsidiary, First Hawaiian Bank, founded in 1858 under the name Bishop & Company, is Hawaiis oldest and largest financial institution with branch locations throughout Hawaii, Guam and Saipan. The company offers a comprehensive suite of banking services to consumer and commercial customers including deposit products, loans, wealth management, insurance, trust, retirement planning, credit card and merchant processing services. Customers may also access their accounts through ATMs, online and mobile banking channels. For more information about First Hawaiian, Inc., visit www.FHB.com. Investor Relations Contact: Kevin Haseyama (808) 525-6268 khaseyama@fhb.com Media Contact: Lindsay Chambers (808) 525-6254 lchambers@fhb.com Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Varied Usage of Monochlorobenzene Presents the Same with US$ 2,592.6 Mn Market Opportunity in 2032. Personal care industry augmenting growth of monochlorobenzene. The use of monochlorobenzene for various applications such as nitrochlorobenzene, sulfone polymers, diphenol ether and phenylphenols, and solvents are driving the growth of the market NEWARK, Del, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global monochlorobenzene market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 2,592.6 Mn by 2032, with the market expanding at a dormant CAGR of 3.3% from 2022 to 2032. Valued at US$ 1,813.98 Mn in 2021, the monochlorobenzene market will likely reach an estimated US$ 1,873.9 Mn in 2022. The escalating application of monochlorobenzene in different end-use industries drives the market growth of the same. More than half of all monochlorobenzene are utilized in the production of nitrochlorobenzenes which, in turn, is used to produce pigment intermediates, dye, pesticides, rubber processing chemicals, organic intermediates and pharmaceuticals among others. This, along with other monochlorobenzene subcategories propel the growth of the target market during the forecast period. An aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl is referred to as monochlorobenzene. A colorless, flammable liquid, monochlorobenzene acts as a typical solvent for use as an intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals. These compounds are mainly used as a medium in the production and synthesis of pesticides and a variety of other chemicals. Monochlorobenzenes are, thus, largely used in manufacture of different pesticides, insecticides, deodorizers, degreasers, fumigants and herbicides among others. Download Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1483 The major growth driver for the monochlorobenzene market is the products diverse applications such as nitrochlorobenzene, sulfone polymers, diphenol ether and phenylphenols, and solvents are driving the growth of the market. Again, nitrochlorobenzenes are, in turn, used as intermediates in the manufacture of rubber chemicals, agricultural chemicals, antioxidants, dyes and pigments. In this manner, nitrochlorobenzenes segment comprises the major application of monochlorobenzene. Thus, varied application of monochlorobenzene acts as its key growth driver. Story continues Moreover, monochlorobenzene is used as s a solvent in processes to create rubber products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and resins. Hence, the year-by-year expansion of the pharmaceutical and pesticide industries augments the demand for the monochlorobenzenes market. Heightened demand for the target product from the chemical industry, and the personal care sector boosts the overall growth of the monochlorobenzene market during the forecast period. Rising emphasis on personal care and grooming is expanding the personal care industry, which in turn, drives the global growth of the monochlorobenzene market over the forecast period, says an FMI analyst. Key Takeaways: Availability of substitutes and the growing concern for the environment may impede market growth. North America will account for 20.8% of the market share by the end of 2022. In 2022, Europe will hold about 17.2% of the total market share. Rising demand will the chemical industry will propel the growth of the Nitrochlorobenzene segment. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for monochlorobenzene. China is driving the target market growth in the Asia Pacific region. Use promo code ->> FMITODAY to get flat 20% discount Competitive Landscape Arkema SA, Henan Kaipu Chemical Co., Ltd., Bayer AG, PPG Industries, Inc., Jinhua, Chemical (Group) Corporation, Nanjing Chemical Industry Co.Ltd, Solutia, Inc., and Tianjin Bohai Chemical Co. Ltd., among others are some of the major players in the monochlorobenzene market profiled in the full version of the report. Leading market players are focusing on product development and creating unique formulations to cater to the growing demand. More Insights into Monochlorobenzene Market Report In its latest report, FMI offers an unbiased analysis of the global monochlorobenzene market, providing historical data from 2016 to 2021 and forecast statistics for 2022 to 2032. To understand the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented on the basis of type (p-Dichlorobenzene, o-Dichlorobenzene, m-Dichlorobenzene, Tetrachlorobenzenes, Nitrochlorobenzene, Trichlorobenzenes, Hexachlorobenzene, others), and region. According to the latest FMI reports, based on segmentation, the Nitrochlorobenzene segment will account for a major share of the overall market in 2022 and will continue this steady growth during the forecast period. In terms of end-use, the chemical use segment will drive the demand for Nitrochlorobenzene during 2022-2032. Based on region, the monochlorobenzene market in North America will present substantial growth by accounting for 20.8% of the overall market share in 2022. The establishment of specialty chemical manufacturing industries coupled with rising demand for the target product in the chemical sector will propel the market growth in this region during the forecast period. Europe and Asia Pacific will also present lucrative opportunities to the monochlorobenzene market through 2032. For Your Queries Talk to Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1483 Key Segments Profiled in the Monochlorobenzene Industry Survey Monochlorobenzene Market by Type: p-Dichlorobenzene o-Dichlorobenzene m-Dichlorobenzene Tetrachlorobenzenes Nitrocholorobenzene Trichlorobenzenes Hexachlorobenzene Others Monochlorobenzene Market by Region: North America Monochlorobenzene Market Latin America Monochlorobenzene Market Europe Monochlorobenzene Market Asia Pacific Monochlorobenzene Market Middle East & Africa Monochlorobenzene Market Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Monochlorobenzene Market Snapshot 1.2. Key Market Trends 1.3. Current Market & Future Potential 1.4. FMI Recommendation 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Segmentation 2.2. Market Indicators 2.3. Market Definitions 2.4. Market Dynamics Ask for Report Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1483 Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage on Chemicals & Materials Domain: 1,4-Diisopropylbenzene Market Share : Despite threats posed by the pandemic, 1,4-Diisopropylbenzene market is expected to record a CAGR of 3.8% between 2021 and 2031. Cyclohexylbenzene Market Size : The cyclohexylbenzene sales is expected to rise at 4% CAGR between 2021 and 2031. Ethylbenzene Market Demand : Owing to the growing support from various governmental organizations, the market is likely to propel to US$ 31 Billion by 2032. Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) Market Value : Europe dominates the global tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) market by more than 50% market by consumption followed by Asia Pacific. 1,4-Dicyclohexylbenzene Market Forecast : Dicyclohexylbenzene market in its latest report. Growth forecast remains positive for the market as sales is predicted to rise by 3.7%, annually through 2031. About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Visiongain Reports Ltd Visiongain has published a new report entitled the Offshore Wind Power 2022-2032 . It includes profiles of Offshore Wind Power and Forecasts Market Segment by (Market Value (USD Billion), Market Cumulative Installations (GW)) Market Segment by Location, (Shallow Water Installation, Transitional Water Installation, Deep Water Installation) Market Segment by Technology, (Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs), Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), Diffuser-Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT), Vortex Bladeless Technology, Other Technology) Market Segment by Components, (Turbines, Electrical Infrastructure, Substructure, Other Components) Market Segment by Type, (Floating, Bottom Fixed), PLUS COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Recovery Pattern Analysis (V-shaped, W-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped) Profiles of Leading Companies, Region and Country. The global offshore wind power market was valued at US$30.54 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period 2022-2032. Stable Revenue is an Added Advantage One of the advantages of a well-designed and strong offshore wind power assistance programme is revenue stabilisation and risk minimization. This is due to offshore wind power's relatively higher time and capital investment requirements compared to other renewable energy technologies, which puts a greater emphasis on bankability conditions, as well as significant reliance on enabling infrastructure like grids, ports, manufacturing, and workforce capacity. Because emerging markets usually rely on the cost and availability of international funding to support the first batch of offshore wind power projects, certainty and transparency of payment improves bankability for foreign investors. Offshore Wind Energy Has Low Impact on the Environment Offshore wind farms, like onshore wind farms, have a modest global warming potential per unit of power generated. In comparison to land-based projects, offshore installations have a lower impact on noise and the environment. Furthermore, evidence exists that offshore wind power facilities have assisted to the regeneration of damaged ecosystems by acting as artificial reefs in a few particular situations. While the offshore wind power business has developed significantly in recent decades, there is still a lot of ambiguity about how the building and management of these wind farms may affect marine species and the environment. Story continues Download Exclusive Sample of Report: https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-wind-power-market-2022/#download_sampe_div How has COVID-19 Had a Significant Negative Impact on the Offshore Wind Power Market? The Industry Recovered in spite of the Worldwide COVID Outbreak Despite the impact of COVID-19, the worldwide offshore wind power sector flourished its second-best year ever in 2020. For the third year in a row, China dominated the globe in new installations, with more than 3 GW of offshore wind power grid installed in 2020. The majority of the remaining new capacity was erected in Europe, with the Netherlands leading the way with approximately 1.5 GW of new offshore wind power installed in 2020, followed by Belgium (706 MW). While COVID-19 limitations caused auctions to be postponed or cancelled in the first half of 2020, the industry rebounded significantly in the second half of the year as important mature and growing wind markets began to overcome COVID-19's effects. How this Report Will Benefit You? Visiongains 260 page report provides 131 tables and 129 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global offshore wind power market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Offshore Wind Power. Get the financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including market value, cumulative installations, location, technology, components, type and capture higher market share. We believe that high opportunity remains in this fast-growing offshore wind power market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report would help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company. What Are the Current Market Drivers? The Offshore Wind Power Energy Industry Has Long-Term Viability Given the immeasurable implications of the climate crisis, every stakeholder must adapt to a more sustainable route. Non-state actors, such as wind energy businesses of all sizes, must be held responsible to decarbonisation imperatives, especially as the sector advocates for significant expansion of wind projects and accompanying industrial activities. The commercial case for decarbonisation is becoming increasingly compelling, as evidenced by a shift in retail and institutional investor sentiment toward corporate sustainability. The market for socially responsible impact investment funds, or ESG ETFs, had a record inflow of US$89 billion in 2020, about nine times the amount in 2018. Governments are also taking steps to decarbonize industrial value chains, from green electricity procurement to zero-emissions construction regulations. Eversource is Collaborating with Orsted of Denmark on the South Fork Wind Farm Eversource, a New England utility that is a 50-50 partner in two proposed offshore wind power farms for Long Island, has recruited advisors to look into selling its stake in the projects, according to the firm. Eversource is collaborating with Orsted of Denmark on the South Fork Wind Farm, which is expected to provide up to 130 megawatts of power to the South Fork by late 2023, and Sunrise Wind, which is expected to provide 924 megawatts to the Long Island grid by 2025. It's also a partner in Revolution Wind, a third project that will supply 704 megawatts of electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Eversource announced Thursday that it has recruited two investment companies to look into selling part or all of its 50 percent stake in the ventures, a move that had already been approved by Eversource's board of trustees. Download Exclusive Sample of Report: https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-wind-power-market-2022/#download_sampe_div Where are the market opportunities? Continuous Innovations Are Required in Order to Deal with Unprecedented Incidents To capture offshore wind power from a larger range of geographies, continued innovation is required, including enhancing turbine robustness in areas prone to tropical storms, typhoons, or hurricanes, as well as pushing towards the commercialization of floating wind before 2030. As the sector continues to grow into new areas, these variables represent a regulatory challenge in terms of ensuring uniform recognition and certification of project and component design aspects. Modvion's modular wind turbine tower built of laminated wood, envisioned for potential deployment in offshore conditions, is one example of new technologies to overcome the steel dilemma. With Rising Demands, Collaboration with Other Sectors Will Required in Future The need for structural materials like concrete and steel, key minerals like copper, nickel, chromium, and manganese, and rare earths like neodymium and boron magnets in wind turbines will rise as the offshore wind power industry grows. This not only exacerbates existing dependencies in the mining of minerals and rare earths China, for example, is the world's largest exporter of rare earth metals but also shines light on the carbon intensity of upstream activities in the offshore wind power supply chain. However, reducing the carbon footprint of the offshore wind power sector would need collaboration with heavy sectors such as steel and concrete. Competitive Landscape The major players operating in the offshore wind power market are General Electric Company, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai Electric Wind Power Equipment Co., ABB Ltd., Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co Ltd, Hitachi, Ltd., Nexans SA, DEME Group, Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited, Envision, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Nordex SE, Sinovel Wind Group Co., Ltd These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch. Recent Developments in the Market TotalEnergies, a French Energy Company, Has Begun Construction on the Eolmed Project On May 12, 2022, TotalEnergies, a French energy company, has begun construction on the Eolmed project, which is administered by Qair and in which TotalEnergies owns a 20% share. This 30-megawatt project is 12 miles off the coasts of Gruissan and Port la Nouvelle. Production is expected to begin in 2024. Three 10-MW wind turbines will be installed on steel floats and connected to the French Electricity Transmission Network through an underwater cable. Eversource is Collaborating with Orsted of Denmark on the South Fork Wind Farm Eversource, a New England utility that is a 50-50 partner in two proposed offshore wind power farms for Long Island, has recruited advisors to look into selling its stake in the projects, according to the firm. Eversource is collaborating with Orsted of Denmark on the South Fork Wind Farm, which is expected to provide up to 130 megawatts of power to the South Fork by late 2023, and Sunrise Wind, which is expected to provide 924 megawatts to the Long Island grid by 2025. It's also a partner in Revolution Wind, a third project that will supply 704 megawatts of electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Eversource announced Thursday that it has recruited two investment companies to look into selling part or all of its 50 percent stake in the ventures, a move that had already been approved by Eversource's board of trustees. The Nordsee One Offshore Wind Power Farm Has Begun a Major Turbine Component Exchange On April 20, 2022, the components exchange campaign at the Nordsee One wind farm offshore Germany has begun thanks to ARGE N1, a joint venture between SAL Renewables, Offshore Wind Power Solutions GmbH (OWS), and Wind Multiplikator GmbH. The campaign will see 44 rotor shaft bearings of the installed 6.2M126 wind turbines changed at the Nordsee One offshore wind power farm, which is projected to be completed in September 2022, depending on weather conditions, according to the joint venture. Find more Visiongain research reports on Renewable Energy sector click on the following links: Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: oliver.davison@visiongain.com About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent market intelligence around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports cover a 10 year forecasts, are hundreds of pages long, with in depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets, which currently can influence one another, these markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customized and syndicated market research reports means that you can have a bespoke piece of market intelligence customized to your very own business needs. Contact: Oliver Davison PR at Visiongain Reports Ltd UK Tel: +44 207 336 6100. Email: oliver.davison@visiongain.com Web: www.visiongain.com GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Persons with disabilities face physical, financial, attitudinal and other barriers to participating in society. Many of these barriers are systemic and long-standing. The Government of Canada is working with the disability community to remove those barriers, and to consciously create a more inclusive country. The work required to achieve this is extensive, and it requires meaningful and sustained action. That is why today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, released Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Action Plan consists of current and future actions, including programs, policies and investments that aim to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Canada. It is a blueprint for change that will challenge the Government of Canada to be more inclusive of persons with disabilities, and to create a more inclusive country for everyone. The Action Plan has four initial pillars, which were identified by the disability community as key priorities: Pillar 1 - Financial Security: actions to improve the immediate and long-term financial security of persons with disabilities, such as through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit. Pillar 2 - Employment: actions to address long-standing barriers that persons with disabilities face in the labour market and workplace, including by providing supports to both persons with disabilities and employers. Pillar 3 - Accessible and Inclusive Communities: actions to address the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in their communities and the economy. Pillar 4 - A Modern Approach to Disability: actions to address the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits, as well as ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are reflected in government policies and programs. In the spirit of "Nothing Without Us," the Government is working in close partnership with the disability community on the Action Plan. The lived experiences of persons with disabilities have informed every part of it. The Government will continue to work with the disability community to implement and adapt the Action Plan, to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities. Quote "Everyone has a right to participate fully in their society. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan is a roadmap for our country to remove barriers that persons with disabilities face, and to build a more inclusive Canada. This is a plan with concrete actions that will challenge the Government of Canada to consider the needs of persons with disabilities in everything we do. It will challenge us to do better, and to be better as a country." Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough "Employment for people with disabilities in Canada needs a strategy that is robust, supportive and encompassing. CCRW is proud to endorse the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, including the Employment Strategy for people with disabilities. We, along with many of our clients and colleagues are excited to see how the four pillars will work together to ensure real life changes and opportunities for people with disabilities living in Canada." President & CEO of Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), Maureen Haan "The ability to be active, thriving and included members of our communities and country is the right of us all. Unfortunately, due to systemic barriers such as poverty, overly restrictive and complex systems, discriminatory attitudes, etc., for many Indigenous people with disabilities, 'inclusion' is just a word and not their reality. Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) has the ability to change that reality and, in doing so, lay the foundation for a better, more inclusive country. IDC/BCANDS congratulates the Government of Canada on the development of the DIAP and looks forward to our continued work together to ensure that the needs and directions of our members and communities are addressed through the plan's four pillars of Financial Security, Employment, Accessible /Inclusive Communities and, A Modern Approach to Disability." CEO of Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), Neil Belanger "Independent Living Canada and Muscular Dystrophy Canada have been pleased to work with our many partners to provide input and feedback from marginalized and hard-to-reach people with disabilities. As we continue to consult and engage, we are pleased to see the creation of the first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. As our work continues with our partners, we look forward to seeing our collective input reflected in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan as it is implemented and adapted to meet the responsive needs of persons with disabilities." CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Stacey Lintern and & National Executive Director of Independent Living Canada, Anne MacRae "Canadians with intellectual and developmental disabilities face many barriers in our society. They often live in poverty. Many do not have jobs. Many are not included in social life. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan will help all Canadians with disabilities. It will help them get out of poverty. It will help them get jobs. And it will help them to be more included in their communities." President of People First of Canada, Dewlyn Lobo Quick Facts According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, one in five Canadians aged 15 years and over 22% of the population or about 6.2 million people had one or more disabilities. The same survey found that employment rates of persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities 59 per cent versus 80 per cent. The Government's 2020 Speech from the Throne included a commitment to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The DIAP would include a new Canada Disability Benefit, a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities, and a better process to determine eligibility for federal disability programs and benefits. On June 2, 2022, the Government reintroduced the Canada Disability Benefit Act as Bill C-22 in the House of Commons. The DIAP is supported by earlier investments announced in Budgets 2021 and 2022 - Related products Associated Links Backgrounder: Disability Inclusion Action Plan From: Employment and Social Development Canada Backgrounder The Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities. It is based on the understanding that disability inclusion benefits everyone. Persons with disabilities contribute to every aspect of our society. They contribute to the economy, culture and the core of the nation. The Government of Canada is taking action, in partnership with persons with disabilities, to promote inclusion and diversity in these spheres. In today's society, persons with disabilities still face many challenges and barriers, ranging from negative perceptions about what a person with a disability is able to do; to workplaces, buildings and work tools that are not accessible; to more systematic barriers, such as rules and practices that exclude and discriminate. The DIAP aims to remove barriers and address these challenges. It adopts a human rights framework, based on the principles of equality, anti-discrimination, participation and inclusion, including in the development of the Government's programs and policies. The DIAP focuses on actions that lead the Government toward achieving the goal of having disability considered in the development, implementation and operations of all programs and services. Specific actions are organized under four, mutually reinforcing, pillars: Pillar 1 Financial Security: improving the immediate and long-term financial security of persons with disabilities, such as through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit. Its goal is to reduce poverty among persons with disabilities through the development of various measures that reduce financial exclusion and systemic inequities. Pillar 2 Employment: emphasizes that employment is central to poverty eradication, reduction of inequalities, and social and civic engagement. The Employment Pillar takes a broad view of employment by exploring federal policy, program and service solutions. This pillar includes the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities, which has three goals: 1. more persons with disabilities find and keep good quality jobs, advance in their careers, or become entrepreneurs 2. employers make workplaces more inclusive and accessible, and 3. increase the capacity of individuals and organizations that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility Pillar 3 Accessible and Inclusive Communities: addressing the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in their communities and the economy. These include barriers in community buildings, public spaces and workplaces. Pillar 4 A Modern Approach to Disability: addressing the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits, as well as ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are reflected in government policies and programs. The DIAP will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement with persons with disabilities and will reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world. Learn more about the Disability Action Plan and its key pillars, visit https://canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability-inclusion-action-plan-2.html Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c5983.html Jemima Khan (Whats Love Got to Do With It?) and Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick) have boarded Seemab Guls Oscar-qualifying short film Sandstorm as executive producers. A coming of age story, centering around a Pakistani schoolgirl called Zara, Sandstorm navigates the tricky terrain of internet dating in a conservative Muslim society, according to the logline as well as questions the objectification of the female body and its relationship to honor in Pakistani culture. More from Variety In the short, Zara sends her virtual boyfriend a sensual dance video which he then uses to blackmail her. Caught between his manipulative behaviour and the desire to experience love on her own terms, Zara searches for the strength to reject the confines of a patriarchal society, reads the synopsis. The short snagged top awards at Rhode Island and HollyShorts Film Festivals. The film is written, directed and co-produced by Gul, a Pakistani artist and filmmaker based in London with a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School. It is produced by Abid Aziz Merchant with cinematography by Alberto Balazs. Newman won the Oscar for best live action short in 2019 alongside her husband Guy Nattive for Skin. Khan recently wrote and produced Whats Love Got to Do With It?, which premiered at TIFF last month. She also executive produced documentary We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks. Seemab Gul has crafted a beautiful, moving piece of art that in only 20 minutes thrusts you into the nuanced life of what young women around the world must endure in restrictive societies, said Newman. As the mother of two small daughters, I know how lucky they are to live in a country that allows them freedom of expression, but I also know how easily those rights can be taken away. Sandstorm is a quiet, moving battle cry, a film that must be seen around the world and I am honored to come on board. Story continues Khan said: Seemab Guls Mulaqat (Sandstorm) artfully explores themes which are both specific to conservative cultures like Pakistan but also universally relevant and relatable for all women the objectification of the female body and the vulnerability of young women online. Having lived in Pakistan for a decade, and with two half Pakistani sons, I am delighted to support such a powerful film from one of the countrys most gifted young filmmakers. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BANFF, AB, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, will join the Honourable Karen Sorensen, Senator for Alberta to make an important announcement to support the revitalization of the visitor experience at Banff National Park. Members of the media can RSVP to reserve their seat by contacting the Parks Canada media relations at banffmedia@pc.gc.ca. Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice. The details are as follows: SOURCE Parks Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c0782.html Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Net Asset Value Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Middlefield Canadian Income - GBP PC (a protected cell company incorporated in Jersey with registration number 93546) Legal Entity Identifier: 2138007ENW3JEJXC8658 Net Asset Value As at the close of business on 06 October 2022 the estimated unaudited Net Asset Value per share was 135.42 pence (including accrued income). Investments in the Company's portfolio have been valued on a closing price basis. Enquiries: JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited 01534 700 000 Over $1.7 million to support community renewal in Prince Albert and improve access to northern Saskatchewan communities announced at the unveiling of one of seven new PrairiesCan service locations PRINCE ALBERT, SK, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, with rich agricultural land to the south and the boreal forest to the north, Prince Albert is the gateway to northern Saskatchewan and an agricultural, forestry, tourism, mining and retail hub for surrounding communities. The region is a key contributor to the local and provincial economy with tremendous potential. Recognizing that communities like Prince Albert have unique needs and priorities, PrairiesCan is opening seven new regional offices across the Prairies to support an enhanced, community-based approach to economic development. Minister Vandal announces opening of new PrairiesCan service location in Prince Albert and critical investments in northern Saskatchewan (CNW Group/Prairies Economic Development Canada) Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, officially unveiled the new PrairiesCan service location in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to bring PrairiesCan directly into the community and to focus on economic opportunities for the North and its people. As part of the grand opening, Minister Vandal announced $1,755,000 in federal funding for two projects that support community renewal in Prince Albert and improve access to northern Saskatchewan communities. $142,500 was provided to the City of Prince Albert through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund to improve the accessibility of Little Red River Park, a key community attraction and gathering place. $1,612,500 was provided to Transwest Air Limited Partnership and West Wind Aviation Limited Partnership (operating collectively as "Rise Air") through the Regional Air Transportation Initiative to increase air service and keep Saskatchewan's northern and Indigenous communities connected. Today's opening and announcement marks a new chapter for PrairiesCan to support and to provide Northern Saskatchewan with further opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. Story continues Quotes "Northern Saskatchewan is full of potential. Working together with local communities and organizations, there are many opportunities to further economic development that benefits everyone. This new PrairiesCan service location will allow us to work directly with small businesses, entrepreneurs and community members to develop community-based economic solutions tailored to the unique needs and opportunities of Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan. This is just one more example of our government partnering with communities on the Prairies to create economic opportunity, and respond to local priorities." - The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of PrairiesCan "The City of Prince Albert is working toward building a thriving community. We have ambitiously invested in parks, playgrounds and infrastructure in recent years and the grant for a 450 meter stretch of newly paved pathway in at Little Red has helped us make a beloved park more accessible and inclusive. It is welcomed news that Prairies Economic Development Canada will have an office right here in Prince Albert, providing us with a local connection to economic development support and resources." - Mayor Greg Dionne, City of Prince Albert Quick facts In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada provided funding for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) to transition into two new Regional Development Agencies PrairiesCan serving the Prairies, and PacifiCan serving British Columbia. In August 2021, the Government of Canada officially launched PrairiesCan and announced plans to open seven new service locations across the Prairies: Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie in Alberta; Regina and Prince Albert in Saskatchewan; and Brandon and Thompson in Manitoba. These seven new service locations are in addition to PrairiesCan headquarters in Edmonton, and existing offices in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa, and includes the expansion of our Calgary satellite office. These new offices will significantly extend our reach to better serve clients and communities. This enhanced community-based approach addresses the specific circumstances and needs of these communities and their surrounding regions, and includes a range of local organizations from different sectors as active participants in economic development. The Prince Albert service location is located at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus, 154 - 1500 10th Avenue East. Associated Links Stay connected Follow PrairiesCan on Twitter and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c7149.html VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Monumental Minerals Corp. ("Monumental" or the "Company") (TSXV: MNRL) (FSE: BE5) (OTCQB: MNMRF) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an arm's length definitive option agreement dated October 5, 2022 (the "Option Agreement") with Lithium Chile Inc. ("Lithium Chile") (TSX-V: LITH) to acquire a 50.01% interest in the Salar de Turi project (the "Turi Project") from Lithium Chile. The Turi Project (Photo 1) is located about 120 km northwest from the Salar de Laguna Blanca and 60 km northeast from the city of Calama, Chile. Photo 1. Salar de Turi looking to the northeast. (CNW Group/Monumental Minerals Corp.) The Turi Project is situated within the prolific lithium triangle, a zone within the central Andes high desert that includes Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. This zone is estimated to contain more than half of the world's lithium supply beneath the many salt flats, also known as salars, that are common to the region. The Turi Project is comprised of 40 exploration concessions totaling 8,500 hectares, 100% owned by Lithium Chile through its wholly owned Chilean subsidiary Minera Kairos Chile Limitada ("Minera Kairos"). The Turi Project is accessible from the city of Calama (60 km to the southwest) via the paved roads 21CH, and B-165 and is close to infrastructure. Travel time from Calama to the Turi Project is approximately 1 hour (see news release dated August 23, 2022 for additional details and map). Jamil Sader, Monumental's CEO comments: "The signing of the Turi Option Agreement demonstrates Monumental's strong relationship with Lithium Chile and their confidence in Monumental's team to add value through exploration. Salar de Turi will be Monumental's second high quality project with Lithium Chile and will greatly expand our presence in Chile. We believe that Chile is an excellent country in which to conduct business and we are excited to rapidly move forward with Turi." Terms of the Option Agreement In order to exercise the option to acquire a 50.01% interest in the Turi Project, Monumental must issue common shares, make certain staged cash payments to Lithium Chile and incur exploration expenditures on the Turi Project as follows: Story continues (a) make cash payments of an aggregate of C$700,000 according to the following schedule: (i) $200,000 within five days of TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") approval of the Option Agreement (the "Acceptance Date"); (ii) $250,000 on or before the fourteenth month anniversary of the Acceptance Date; and (iii) $250,000 on or before the second anniversary of the Acceptance Date. (b) incur minimum expenditures on the Turi Project of not less than an aggregate of C$1,400,000 according to the following schedule: (iv) $700,000 on or before the first anniversary of the Acceptance Date; and (v) $700,000 on or before the second anniversary of the Acceptance Date. (c) issue and deliver to Lithium Chile, that number of common shares of Monumental that would result in Lithium Chile holding, on a non-diluted basis, 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Monumental (the "Payment Shares"), within ten days of the earlier of the closing date of Monumental's next equity financing and fourteen months following the Acceptance Date. The issuance of the Payment Shares are subject to Exchange approval. In addition to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, the Payment Shares will be subject to a 12-month voluntary hold period from the date of issuance. Upon Monumental earning a 50.01% interest in the Turi Project, Monumental and Lithium Chile will use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate and execute a joint venture agreement for the purpose of jointly carrying out exploration, evaluation and development of the Turi Project. The Option Agreement remains subject to Exchange approval. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a Director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Monumental Minerals Corp. Monumental Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in the critical and electric metals sector. The Company's flagship asset is the Jemi HREE project located in Coahuila, Mexico near the Texas, USA border which the Company has an option to acquire 100% of the 3,650-hectare project. The Company has an option to acquire a 75% interest and title to the Laguna cesium-lithium brine project located in Chile. On behalf of the Board of Directors, /s/ "Jamil Sader" Jamil Sader, Chief Executive Officer and Director Contact Information: Email: jsader@monumentalminerals.com Or Max Sali, VP Corporate Development and Director Email: msali@monumentalminerals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, obtaining Exchange approval and completing the proposed transaction with Lithium Chile pursuant to the Option Agreement, payments and obligations under the Option Agreement, regulatory and administrative approvals in connection with exploration work on the Turi Project, the potential plans for the Company's projects, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner and that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to secure personnel and equipment for work programs, adverse weather and climate conditions, risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological assumptions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to obtain surface access agreements or understandings from local communities, land owners or Indigenous groups, fluctuation in exchange rates, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, geopolitical conflicts, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, lithium, cesium and other metals, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, failure to maintain community acceptance (including from the Indigenous communities), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. Monumental Minerals Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Monumental Minerals Corp.) SOURCE Monumental Minerals Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/06/c2065.html Apostolos Giontzis / iStock.com Commuters may think of a train ride as a dull, bare-bones trek on the Long Island Railroad or even an affordable Amtrak trip. Either of these modes of transportation will get you where youre going. But the history of trains is far more glamorous, dating back to luxurious excursions akin to todays cruise lines at the turn of the 20th century. See: 8 Undiscovered Cheap and Beautiful Places To Retire Find: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job Today, as travelers seek unique experiences and ways to see the country and connect with nature albeit through the glass panes of train windows luxury railways are making a comeback in the U.S., according to many reports. And especially with airlines facing rising fares and unprecedented delays, a luxury train ride can be the perfect way to reach your destination (and enjoy the ride while youre at it). But what is the most luxurious train ride in America? Thats up for debate. Amtrak does, in fact, offer scenic, luxury rail journeys to top locations across the U.S., especially if you are looking for some vacation deals. But here are some other companies that, based on reviews, also take train travel to the next level. Rocky Mountaineer Earning 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, the Rocky Mountaineer has four rail routes, including one that journeys from Salt Lake City, Denver, or Las Vegas through Moab, Utah and Red Rock with stops in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and Denver. Distinguishing features of the ride include glass-domed rail cars to enjoy the breathtaking views in panoramic beauty, a luxury dining experience and, for those who book the Silver Leaf Plus package, an outdoor observation deck and passenger lounge car. Prices range from roughly $1,400 per person for a two-day / one-night trip up to nearly $2,000 for a four-night journey. You can also add a flightseeing adventure to your journey, which would run more than $3,000 total per person. Napa Valley Wine Train Combine the best of Napa Valley winery tours with the luxury of a journey on a historic rail. The company offers multiple options, including overnight stays in the region and lengthy wine tasting tours. Story continues The Vista Dome is considered the companys most picturesque rail car, according to Napa Valley Wine Train. A one-day tour includes a multi-course gourmet meal and a welcome glass of sparkling wine from the region. Tours start at $350 for a lunch tour and $420 for a dinner tour, with prices being higher on weekends and at other peak travel times. Take Our Poll: Are You Struggling To Keep Up With Your Utility Bills? More: How Rich Is Meghan Markle? Strasburg Rail Road The east coast also offers exciting scenic railway journeys. Start your journey in Strasburg, Pennsylvania (known as Train Town USA), with a round-trip tour through Lancaster County while you revel in historic luxury. The company offers rides for all ages, including several Christmas experiences, a Murder Mystery performance, and a Wine & Cheese ride with first class accommodations. Prices range from $22 up to $70 per person, depending on the package you choose. While youre in town, check out the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is the Most Luxurious Train Ride in America? TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, will announce an investment to address the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Autistic Canadians and their caregivers. The Parliamentary Secretary will be joined by representatives from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). There will be a media availability immediately following the announcement. Date October 11, 2022 Time 9:30 AM (EST) Location The event will be held in-person at: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Crisis & Critical Care Building Main Floor Lobby 1051 Queen Street West Toronto, ON Enter via the CAMH Emergency Department doors at rear of the building. Media may also join by Zoom: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/64592519903 Passcode: 639071 Please indicate your name (first and last) and media outlet when joining the event. SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c1018.html Laura Ingraham, host of The Ingraham Angle on Fox News - Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images Republicans have a certain obligation to act as if everything President Biden does is an assault on American values. His sweeping pardons this week of thousands who were jailed for marijuana possession and announcement that the drugs federal classification will be reevaluated are no exception. But, perhaps because the nation overwhelmingly believes that cannabis should be legal, and the issue doesnt stoke the culture war like matters of race, gender, and sexuality, the right-wing outrage machine had a mostly quiet reaction to these executive orders. Indeed, over the past year or so, several high-profile Republicans have actively pushed similar efforts. In May 2021, Rep. Dave Joyce and Rep. Don Young, of Ohio and Alaska, proposed to take cannabis off the federal list of controlled substances. And last November, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a bill to decriminalize and regulate pot. More from Rolling Stone The extreme conservatives who did take a stab at condemning Dank Brandon could barely muster a reason to be angry. Sen. Tom Cotton and Newsweeks right-wing opinion editor Josh Hammer both took the line that many of the pardons were going to violent criminals who had pled down from much more serious charges. Neither was able to cite such a case. Ann Coulter, in a short Substack post, simply imagined one. This is a desperate attempt to distract from failed leadership. If you were wondering how Rs would respond to a move that was polling well (and many Dems think will help win votes next month). (2/2) David Weigel (@daveweigel) October 6, 2022 Unbelievable. BREAKING: Biden Pardons THOUSANDS of Violent Felons in Time for the Midterms, by @AnnCoulter https://t.co/yvbdNUcMeZ Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) October 7, 2022 This is utter bullshit. Joshs has no idea what hes saying. Ive never seen a federal case pleaded down from possession with intent to distribute (let alone a violent crime) to simple possession. Federal plea bargain guidelines would prevent it without high-level approval. /1 pic.twitter.com/wiIeNETJLP IfHatHadHappened (@Popehat) October 6, 2022 Meanwhile, the Daily Wire, which has previously run teeth-gnashing coverage on the physical, mental, and emotional problems associated with marijuana, published one straightforward news story on Bidens move toward decriminalization and approximately ten times as much coverage of Tucker Carlson interviewing Kanye West. That outlets editor emeritus, Ben Shapiro, who this year said of weed, The Left really does wish to inoculate us all into submission, did not seem to address the pardons at all. Story continues On Fox News, Laura Ingraham made a very half-hearted slippery slope argument, pointing out that after Oregon legalized pot for recreational use, they also decriminalized possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, and meth, which is now punishable by a $100 fine. What exactly is being threatened here? Oregon didnt collapse into anarchy. Its a nice place to visit or live, in fact. And the law couldnt have passed without support from some of the states many conservative voters. Ingraham: It starts with Marijuana but where does it go from there pic.twitter.com/uSMfpNvANM Acyn (@Acyn) October 7, 2022 Renae Eze, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, tried to sound tough and defiant when addressing whether her boss would pardon state-level marijuana offenses as Biden encouraged. Texas is not in the habit of taking criminal justice advice from the leader of the defund police party and someone who has overseen a criminal justice system run amok with cashless bail and a revolving door for violent criminals, she told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram even though Abbott stated earlier this year that he thinks pot should be decriminalized. No, it looks like the GOPs heart isnt in this fight, and the best a few mouthpieces can do is cycle through the motions. It makes sense: the partys legislators have already seen the writing on the wall, and their constituents desire for an end to the prohibition of cannabis. Few would find any benefit to standing in the way, and that group of hard-liners is rapidly dwindling. Besides, all Biden has actually done so far is expunge the criminal records of several thousand people no longer behind bars. If the country continues in this direction, when weed finally becomes legal throughout the U.S., there may be no one left to get mad about it. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 7, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Infinity Stone Ventures, Mullen Group, Surge Battery Metals, and Dundee Corporation discussing their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Infinity Stone (CSE:GEMS) closes $2.1M private placements and announces intention to dual list on ASX The Market Herald, Friday, October 7, 2022, Press release picture Infinity Stone Ventures Corp. (GEMS) has closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,600,000 and a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $500,000. The company believes the ASX listing will position the company better in the Australian market. CEO Zayn Kalyan sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the news. For the full interview with Zayn Kalyan and to learn about Infinity Stone Ventures, click here. Mullen Group (TSX:MTL) recognized as a 2022 NBF dividend all-star The Market Herald, Friday, October 7, 2022, Press release picture National Bank analysts collectively cover ~300+ TSX-listed equities, of which more than half offer investors income in the form of dividends or distributions. The NBF Dividend All-Stars portfolio provides income-seeking investors with sustainable yields from high-quality companies. Carson Urlacher, Senior Accounting Officer at Mullen Group, sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the news. For the full interview with Carson Urlacher and to learn about Mullen Group, click here. Surge Battery Metals (TSXV:NILI) provides corporate update The Market Herald, Friday, October 7, 2022, Press release picture Surge Battery Metals (NILI) has updated shareholders on the progress of its corporate initiatives. Surge Battery Metals Inc is an exploration stage company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of battery metal targets. CEO Greg Reimer sat down with Simon Druker to highlight the company's initiatives. For the full interview with Greg Reimer and to learn about Surge Battery Metals, click here. Story continues Dundee Corporation (TSX:DC.A) portfolio holding, TauRx Pharmaceuticals, announces results from phase 3 study of LUCIDITY, and proceeds with regulatory submissions The Market Herald, Friday, October 7, 2022, Press release picture Dundee Corporation (DC.A) announced that TauRx Pharmaceuticals unveiled Phase 3 results from its Alzheimer's disease study, LUCIDITY. TauRx appointed Dr. Richard Stefanacci as the company's new Chief Medical Officer. Jonathan Goodman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dundee Corporation, sat down with Simon Druker to discuss the news. For the full interview with Jonathan Goodman and to learn about Dundee Corporation, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. 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CONTACT: The Market Herald marketing@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/719520/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Infinity-Stone-Ventures-Mullen-Group-Surge-Battery-Metals-and-Dundee-Corporation-Discussing-Their-Latest-News RadioMedix Inc. HOUSTON and BURLINGTON, Ontario, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RadioMedix, Inc. (RadioMedix or Company), a clinical-stage biotechnology company announced an agreement with an entity related to Portland Investment Counsel Inc. (Portland) involving an equity investment of $40 million Series A funding round. RadioMedix is committed to the advancement of a targeted alpha therapy (TAT) pipeline and diagnostic companion radiopharmaceuticals for rare and aggressive cancers. The proceeds of the financing will be applied to developing RadioMedixs flagship radiopharmaceutical AlphaMedix, a lead-212 (Pb212) labelled somatostatin analogue TAT agent for the treatment of metastatic or inoperable somatostatin expressing neuroendocrine tumors, in addition to other diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) radiopharmaceuticals that are under development by the Company to address needs in oncology. The initiation of the AlphaMedix Phase II clinical trial in the last quarter of 2021, a vital milestone in the clinical development of RadioMedixs innovative TAT, has brought significant hope to patients across the globe suffering from this illness. We are living in an exciting time with the treatment of difficult cancers. Targeted radionuclide therapy with beta and alpha emitters and specific radiopharmaceutical diagnostic probes are among the most innovative emerging technologies available to us. This funding will accelerate our efforts to make several of these medications available to our patients, said Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RadioMedix. RadioMedix will appoint Mr. Michael Lee-Chin to the Companys board of directors. Mr. Lee-Chin is the founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of Portland, and brings over 40 years of investment experience with a successful track record in the industry. Mr. Lee-Chin and the Portland team bring a unique combination of financial and organizational expertise in addition to a strategic network to RadioMedix. This will be pivotal for our Company to achieve its goal of moving our drugs from bench to commercialization and make them available globally to all patients suffering from cancer. I am confident that in collaboration with our other board members, Mr. Lee-Chin will play a pivotal role in our strategic thinking and the shaping of the future of RadioMedix in the promising field of theranostic and targeted radionuclide therapy, continued Dr. Delpassand. Story continues I am thrilled and humbled to join the RadioMedix board of directors. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to RadioMedixs vision and mission of addressing one of humankinds most challenging problems seeking a cure for cancer. Portlands mantra of Doing Well by Doing Good is aligned with RadioMedixs goal of providing cancer patients with better outcomes, said Mr. Lee-Chin. Targeted alpha therapies are currently considered one of the most advanced technologies available to treat patients with incurable cancers. The clinical pathway and platform of novel and effective radiopharmaceuticals developed by Dr. Delpassand and his team should significantly impact cancer treatments globally. Portland and RadioMedix have aligned their complementary capabilities and are united by a commitment to help others, added Mr. Lee-Chin. About RadioMedix RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, based in Houston and Humble, Texas. The company is focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. RadioMedix is developing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and therapy (alpha- and beta-labelled agents). The companys first diagnostic product 64Cu-DOTATATE (Detectnet) was approved by US FDA in September of 2020. RadioMedix is also sponsoring a phase II clinical trial for treatment of metastatic or inoperable neuroendocrine cancer using 212Pb-DOTAMTATE (AlphaMedix) Targeted Alpha-Therapy (TAT) with promising results. In addressing other unmet needs in oncology, RadioMedix is developing theranostic agents to treat brain tumors, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In addition, RadioMedix has established contract service facilities for academic and industrial partners, including a drug discovery center for the early probe development, a pre-clinical core facility for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals, and cGMP and analytical suite for Phase I-III clinical trials, and the large-scale post-approval commercial manufacturing facility, at its Spica Center, in Humble, Texas. To learn more, visit www.radiomedix.com About Portland Investment Counsel Inc. Headquartered in Canada, Portland Investment Counsel Inc. is part of Portland Holdings group of companies, which invest in public and private equities. Portland Holdings, a privately held group of investment companies, have an ownership interest in a collection of diversified businesses operating in sectors that include financial services, insurance, tourism, agriculture, consumer goods and services, real estate development, energy and targeted radionuclide therapy. The Wealthy Invest Differently. Portland understands this and has made it their mission to provide all wealth-seeking investors with access to investment opportunities both within the public and private realm typically reserved for affluent and institutional investors. Portland invests in private equity, private debt, publicly traded equities and fixed income securities globally on behalf of retail and institutional clients. www.portlandic.com CONTACT: RadioMedix, Inc. Contact Brittney Stewart Manager, Media Liaison and public awareness Phone: 713-341-3219 Email: bstewart@radiomedix.com Portland Holdings Contact Diana N. Oddi Director, Marketing and Communications 1-888-331-4292 Email: doddi@portlandholdings.com TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - RBC Global Asset Management Inc. ("RBC GAM Inc.") today announced September mutual fund net redemptions of $1.3 billion. Long-term funds had net redemptions of $1.2 billion and money market funds had net redemptions of $70 million. Mutual fund assets under management decreased by 3.7 per cent. RBC Logo (CNW Group/RBC Global Asset Management Inc.) Mutual fund sales results information is based on preliminary data from the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) and only includes Canadian prospectus qualified mutual funds. Please consult your advisor and read the prospectus or Fund Facts document before investing. There may be commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. RBC Funds, BlueBay Funds and PH&N Funds are offered by RBC GAM Inc. and distributed through authorized dealers in Canada. RBC GAM Inc. is a member of the RBC GAM group of companies and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 92,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. About RBC Global Asset Management RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and includes money managers BlueBay Asset Management and Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management. RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. The RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately $540 billion in assets and have approximately 1,500 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Story continues SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c0270.html Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. North America is one of the key markets for continuous glucose monitoring systems. Demand for continuous glucose monitoring systems in Europe is expected to register a growth of 10.2% CAGR over the next ten years. Sensors held a market share 48.5% in the Global Market in 2021 and grow with a CAGR of 9.4% by the end of the forecast period NEWARK, Del, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global continuous glucose monitoring systems market is predicted to reach a value of US$ 3.0 Bn by 2032, with sales growing at a robust CAGR of 10.8% from 2022 to 2032. Scaling up from an estimated US$ 1.1 Bn in 2022, the demand for the target market is expected to be propelled by increasing incidences of diabetes and other related medical conditions. Lifestyle diseases like obesity also lead to diabetes which, in turn, drives the market growth for continuous glucose monitoring systems market during the forecast period. Rising incidences of diabetes has become a common occurrence all over the world. In the past two decades, the condition has emerged as a serious health issue. As per WHO, that diabetes-related mortality rates by age has increased by 3% between 2000 and 2019. The growing awareness about the severity of the illness has led more and more people to begin monitoring their blood glucose level on a regular basis. In addition to this, the increasing health consciousness of people worldwide has resulted in constant glucose monitoring. These considerations has resulted in soaring demand for continuous glucose monitoring systems in the global market space. Request A Sample PDF: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-694 Continuous glucose monitoring systems has arisen as a strong player for diabetes management and works effectively just by inserting a bio sensor that transmits the data of glucose levels to the receiver/monitor. Consequently, the primary goal of several glucose monitoring device manufacturers is the development of novel and technologically evolved CGM. This, too, has bolstered the growth of the continuous glucose monitoring systems market. Story continues The constant progress in technology on continuous blood glucose monitoring systems ensure easy, round-the-clock monitoring of the glucose levels for diabetic as well as health conscious people. These devices also display glucose direction and other additional information on monitors, empowering the users with vital information to further assist with diabetes management. This has led to many collaborations between endocrinologists, credentialed diabetes educators, and stakeholder organisations for diabetes prevention in established as well as emerging markets. Again, a rising geriatric population that suffers from diabetes also supplements the overall growth of the continuous glucose monitoring systems market during the projected period. Increasing cases of insulin dependent diabetes will propel the global growth of the continuous glucose monitoring systems market over the forecast period, says an FMI analyst. Key Takeaways: High cost of the device will likely hamper the market prospects of continuous glucose monitoring systems. The continuous glucose monitoring systems market in China will hold 11.2% of the global market share. Indias continuous glucose monitoring systems market will account for 6.7% of the total market share. Accounting for 48.5% in 2021, the sensor component segment is slated to grow at 9.4% CAGR during the assessment period. By end-user, home care diagnostics will dominate the market with a 9.6% CAGR. Use Promo Code ->> "FMITODAY" to Get Flat 20% Discount Competitive Landscape Herbalife Nutrition, GNC Holdings, NOW Health, Nutramax Laboratories, Nature's Bounty, Banyan Botanicals, Source Naturals, Nutramarks Inc, Nature's Way Products, Abbott, Natural Immunogenics, Solaray Inc., Sambucol USA, Quantum Health, Inc., Vitabiotics Ltd., Rainbow Light, AdvoCare, Pure Encapsulations, LLC., Country Life, LLC, and Natural Health Concept among others are some of the major players in the continuous glucose monitoring systems market profiled in the full version of the report. Leading market players are focusing on product development and launches to meet the growing demand. These businesses are adopting tactics like mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations to expand their consumer base. More Insights into Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Market Report In its latest report, FMI offers an unbiased analysis of the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market, providing historical data from 2015 to 2021 and forecast statistics for 2022 to 2032. To understand the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented on the basis of components (transmitters and monitors, sensors, insulin pump), end user (home care diagnostics, hospitals, ICU/ critical care), and region. According to the latest FMI reports, based on segmentation, the sensor component segment is expected to register a prolific 9.4% CAGR due to their use of advanced technology and user-friendliness. In terms of end-user, the home care diagnostics category will observe a surge in demand and grow at a stellar 9.6% CAGR during the assessment period. Based on region, China and India in the Asia Pacific region are predicted to exhibit impressive growth in the continuous glucose monitoring systems market. China is expected to account for 11.2% of the global market share owing to a rise in insulin-dependent patients which, in turn, has led to many market players increasing their investment in this country. Indias continuous glucose monitoring systems market will account for 6.7% of the global market share. Rising diabetic population coupled with economic growth will lead to more lucrative opportunities for the market in this country during 2022-2032. Apart from China and India, the United States will also experience substantial market growth during the forecast period. Access Full Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/continuous-glucose-monitoring-systems-market Key Market Segments Covered in Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Industry Research By Components: Transmitters and Monitors Sensors Insulin Pump By End Users: Home Care Diagnostics Hospitals ICU/Critical Care By Region: North America Latin America Europe South Asia East Asia Oceania Middle East and Africa (MEA) Talk with our expert: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-694 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand Side Trends 1.3. Supply Side Trends 1.4. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations 2.3. Inclusions and Exclusions 3. Key Market Trends 3.1. Key Trends Impacting the Market 3.2. Components Innovation / Development Trends 4. Key Success Factors 4.1. Product Adoption, by Region 4.2. Product Features/ USPs Analysis 4.3. Regulatory Landscape 4.4. Key Promotional Strategies 4.5. PESTEL Analysis 4.6. Porters Analysis Explore wide-ranging Coverage of FMIs Healthcare Market Insights Landscape: Glucose Sensor Market: The global sales of glucose sensors are projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 8.6% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around US$ 16,382 Million by the end of 2032. RFID Blood Monitoring Systems Market: The RFID blood monitoring systems market is anticipated to document a CAGR of 6.9% during the period of 2022-2032. The market is anticipated to reach US$ 218.4 Million in 2032, from US$ 112.0 Million in 2022. Epilepsy Monitoring Devices Market: The global Epilepsy Monitoring Devices Market is anticipated to grow at a 5% CAGR, reaching US$ 615 Mn by 2026, during the forecast period. Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market: Global Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market is set to experience a significant growth of 8.4% CAGR from 2022 to 2030, with an estimated market value of around US$ 6.8 Bn as of 2022. Critical Care Patient Monitoring Products Market: The critical care patient monitoring products market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% during 2022-2032 About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com ReportLinker Rising procurement of small drone for military applications like ISR to drive the small drone market growth during the forecast period. Small drones have been increasingly used by defense forces in various countries to carry out military operations, such as Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) activities and battle damage management. New York, Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Small Drone Market by Platform, Type, Application, Mode of Operation, Power Source & Region Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665911/?utm_source=GNW The success of any air, naval, or military operation hugely depends on ISR capabilities. Thus, there are regular developments and advancements happening in the ISR field.For instance, the Fifth Generation C4ISR is a joint battle management system that can gather data, understand it, and communicate freely with all its components. C4ISR powered by AI uses machine learning to identify and classify tanks and other vehicles, improves the image feeds, and also provides driving assistance by giving early warning on obstacles and changing ground conditions.Hence, governments are also quickly adopting these technologies to improve their defense arsenal. Some common examples of small military drones are RQ-11, RQ-20 Puma, and RQ-21 Blackjack, among others. The use of small drones in military operations not only save lives but also enable operations to continue for a longer period due to the high endurance of small drones. Moreover, increasing use of small drones in life-threatening military missions is the primary factor fueling the demand for small drones in military applications. Small drones are used in military missions that can be life-threatening for pilots. These missions, generally referred to as three-Ds (Dull, Dirty, and Dangerous), may result in putting the lives of pilots at risk. These types of missions are best carried out using small drones that can be operated remotely or autonomously. Improvements in range and altitude capabilities of small drones have enhanced their reliability, enabling them to carry out military operations with the same precision as manned aircraft but with considerably lower risk. In addition, the rising use of small drones by defense forces as loitering munition is the second factor that fuels the procurement of small drones. There are certain remotely piloted small drones designed to operate as loitering munition for defense forces. Based on type, the rotary wing segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on type, the market has been classified into fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid.The fixed-wing segment has been further divided into conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), while the rotary-wing segment has been classified into single rotor and multirotor. Among these, the rotary wing segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period.Rotary-wing drones, due to their VTOL capability, can function in a broader range of environments than fixed-wing drones, as they eliminate the requirement of any additional setup or space to facilitate their take-off and landing. Moreover, the ability of these drones to hover over places makes them ideal for filmmaking, surveillance, and imaging applications.Rotary-wing drones are of two types, namely, single rotor or multirotor. The multirotor drones are further classified into bicopters, tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters. Generally, small multicopter drones use batteries as power sources.This increases their adoption in industrial and recreational activities. DJI (China), AeroVironment (US), and Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel) are prominent players developing multirotor small drones. Based on mode of operation, fully autonomous segment witness strong growth in market during the forecast period Based on mode of operation, the small drone market has been classified into fully autonomous, remotely piloted, and optionally piloted.The fully autonomous segment is projected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the cost-effective usage of autonomous small drones in several applications, ranging from defense operations to surveys.Autonomous small drones are programmable robots that can perform tasks at high altitudes with high-power capacity. These drones can operate in inaccessible areas and provide high-quality results and data as they are equipped with technologically advanced systems.Currently, the market for autonomous drones is smaller than the market for optionally piloted drones. Autonomous drones are widely used in various military applications. The US is the largest market for these drones; the growth of the market in this country can be attributed to the increased spending of the US Army on the R&D of drones. Autonomous drones are programmed to launch ammunition and attack targets without receiving data signals from the operator. The Kargu-2 Quadcopter drone developed by STM (Turkey) is an autonomous drone capable of carrying out an autonomous attack. According to the United Nations (UN), a fully autonomous drone, such as STM Kargu-2 or a drone of some classified nature, was used in a military conflict in Libya in 2020. The autonomous drone, labeled as lethal autonomous weapon system (LAWS), uses machine learning and real-time image processing. As per the UN, the LAWS is programmed to launch warheads without requiring data connectivity from the operator and has fire, forget, and find capability, which implies the munition can guide itself to the target independently. The Asia Pacific regions are projected to be high growth potential markets for the small drone during the forecast period. The small drone market in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness strong growth during the forecast period. The retail and e-commerce sectors are dominant in Asia Pacific, followed by the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. China and Japan are key markets for drones used in commercial applications. The prevailing trends of automation in India, Australia, and China and the ongoing globalization are also fueling the growth of the small drone market in Asia Pacific. Small drones are being increasingly used in the real estate, pollution monitoring, and agriculture sectors to carry out inspections in China and Japan. The break-up of the profiles of primary participants in the small drone market is as follows: By Company Type: Tier 132%; Tier 240%; and Tier 328% By Designation: C Level Executives35%; Directors25%; and Others40% By Region: North America39.19%; Europe21.06%; Asia Pacific28.25%; Middle East10%; Latin America6.0%; and Africa6.9% Major players in the small drone market are DJI (China), Parrot Drone SAS (France), Israel Aerospace Industry Ltd. (Israel), AeroVironment, Inc. (US), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (US). These companies have strong distribution networks in the logistics business across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and other regions in turn driving the demand for last mile deliveries and drone package deliveries. Research Coverage This research report categorizes the small drone market based on platform the market is divided into civil & commercial and defense & government.On the basis of application, the market is fragmented into military, commercial, government & law, and consumer. By type, the market is classified into fixed, wing, rotary wing, and hybrid.Based on mode of operation the small drone market is divided into remotely piloted, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous. The market is segmented into Fuel Powered and Battery Powered based on power source. The small drone market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the small drone market.A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overviews; solutions and services; key strategies; contracts, joint ventures, partnerships & agreements, acquisitions, and new product launches associated with the small drone market. Competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the small drone market ecosystem is covered in this report. Reasons to Buy this Report This report is expected to help market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall small drone market and its segments.This study is also expected to provide region wise information about the end-use industrial sectors, wherein small drone is used. This report aims at helping the stakeholders understand the competitive landscape of the market, gain insights to improve the position of their businesses, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. This report is also expected to help them understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities influencing the growth of the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on small drone offered by the top players in the market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the small drone market Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets the report analyzes the small drone market across varied regions Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the small drone market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the small drone market Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665911/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PNP SG is an enterprise solution for all indirect procurement. The company provides end-to-end solutions from procurement of SaaS tools to fulfillment through its integrated supply chain, achieving immediate cost optimization and higher productivity for enterprises. An affiliate of EasyPNP Group, PNP SG is set to leverage the technology stack of EasyPNP to service enterprises and suppliers in the region. With the business model already proven in China, having served over 200,000 enterprises over the last decade, the path is cleared for PNP SG to take on the global stage. PNP procurement platform customized for each enterprise client catering to their use cases and needs. Enterprises in the region can expect some of their indirect procurement woes to be addressed namely: Lack of supply depth in the indirect procurement category, resulting in higher cost Complexity of fulfilment across the 6 core countries within ASEAN Manual processes due to the fragmentation of indirect procurement PNP SG provides a wide array of indirect procurement categories supported by its supply chain network of over 20,000 partners. The depth of their expertise combined with a consolidated volume scale, allows them to help enterprises achieve cost savings within a short time frame. The company has also built a regional logistical network to support companies with a presence across ASEAN countries without the need to manage 5-6 different local vendors separately. PNP SG also has a full suite of procurement SaaS tools that can be customized to fit every enterprise's process and need to digitize their indirect procurement. Speaking of the opportunity in Southeast Asia, the founder of PNP SG mentioned " The nature of the Asean region with 6 different countries, each having different specialized industrial capabilities, creates an interesting opportunity to leverage technology to consolidate and service the indirect procurement needs of enterprises in the region. This is a complex task, which our experience in China will serve us well from the start." Story continues With a ready arsenal of tech solutions as well as a robust supply chain, PNP SG sets its sight on serving 200+ of the S.E.A top enterprises supported by a regional supply chain network of 2000+ partners by 2023. To find out more, visit www.pnp.sg SOURCE EASYPNP (SG) PTE.LTD. TrulyTainan Subway Ads for Nearly 400-Year-Old Capital Get Tongues Wagging SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During this travel expo, at Orchard road station on B2 level there appeared unique promotional images for Tainan City, with close to 400 years of history. Making use of the ranking and overall evaluation of search volume, the number of SNS tags and actual visitor numbers, and with creativity to evoke long-awaited thoughts of traveling abroad: "Want to Travel to Truly Taiwan, Truly Tainan" as an international city promotion theme, using the high degree of attention on Taiwan and the global craze to make and share travel videos on SNS, 10 highlights with historical significance: Chikan Tower, Hsu Feng Hao, Chimei Museum, Madou Daitian Temple, Anping Tree House, Beimen Crystal Church, Sicao Green Tunnel, Dingtouer Sandbar, Jing Zhai Jiao Tile Paved Salt Fields, and Ten Drum Culture Village were selected by a professional photography team to be "Tainan's 10 Must-See Attractions" to feature lightbox and video ads; four consecutive weeks of exposure created enthusiasm and sharing in the community to become a hot topic of conversation after this year's expo. Tainan City Ancient Capital promotional images at Orchard Road station With the Most Complete Historic Sites and Traditional Culture, One of Taiwan Tourists' Best-Loved Cities Before the pandemic, the number of Singapore tourists coming to Taiwan grew by an average of 7% for three consecutive years. From the reports on post-pandemic Asia travel trends published by TripAdvisor and Skyscanner, of three major tourism features of healing, getting close to nature, and history and culture, Tainan both before and after the pandemic has been a must-visit city for those who come to Taiwan to relieve stress and soothe the mind, somewhere you can conveniently see mountains, sea and cityscape within a single day. Walking into the ancient capital of Tainan is like stepping into living history, roaming a historic canal, and witnessing stories of civilization changing. Retaining nearly 400 years of historic landmarks, culture and creative arts, traditional cuisine and natural scenery, Tainan is the birthplace of Taiwan's first city, giving it status and historical value akin to Kyoto in Japan or Gwanju in South Korea. When the pandemic struck the hotel industry, only Tainan kept up its occupation rate as Taiwan's number one, adding 97 new hostels with revenue up NT$1.21 billion over the previous half a year. According to Taiwan media's publication of tourism satisfaction survey results, in 2020-1 Tainan City was for two consecutive years one of the cities that people in Taiwan most loved to visit. Story continues World-Class Safe Travel Certification, Create Your Michelin Dining Map "Peace of mind and safety" has long been Tainan's designated primary goal in reopening to international tourists coming to Taiwan. The city requires that those that work in the hospitality sector catering to visiting tourists should conform to world travel safety certification, and has already helped attractions, hotels, transportation and restaurants to obtain the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp. Tainan City has made preparations of the highest standard for the safety of travelers after Taiwan reopens to tourism. Tainan in 2021 won 16 international awards such as the Healthy City Innovative Development Award and Best COVID-19 Global Community Program Award. The city has won recognition from the world-famous gourmet travel review magazine the Michelin Green Guide and features on this year's Bib Gourmand list of recommendations as a must-visit city for international visitors to Taiwan. A food writer for the US Wall Street Journal recommended Tainan as a world food museum. From the evaluation by experts, ambassadors and representatives stationed in Taiwan, and representatives from Tainan's sister cities invited to a food forum: "Delicious delicacies, healing for the soul" expressed the appreciation for the "flavor" of Tainan. Before you prepare to restart your overseas travel plans, please first visit the www.twtainan.net Travel Tainan website and check out the "10 Must-See Attractions in Tainan" to plan out your itinerary. Along the way taste local snacks, Michelin-selected traditional flavors and state-banquet-level classic Taiwan cuisine. Record your own TrulyTainan REELS short video and create your own exclusive food map. TrulyTainan REELS link https://www.instagram.com/p/CiPMp3_r6TP/ SOURCE Tainan City Government UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy warned Tuesday against making Iraq a geopolitical battleground. "With its strategic location, as well as ethnic and religious diversity, Iraq should become a propeller of regional cooperation, not an arena for geopolitical competition," Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Dai said that China commends Iraq for developing good neighborly and friendly relations with countries in the region and promoting regional integration. "We support Iraq, in its joint efforts with Kuwait in achieving progress in the search for missing Kuwaiti nationals and property. China has always stood for the full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, Iraq included, and has always stood for common security through cooperation," he said. "At present, Iraq is at a crucial political phase, facing such major tasks as forming the new government. We sincerely hope that the parties in Iraq will strengthen unity, properly settle their differences, and within the constitutional and legal framework conduct dialogue and consultations to seek consensus on next steps of political arrangements, with a view to laying a solid political foundation for lasting peace, development and prosperity," said the ambassador. Noting that Iraq has made huge sacrifices in combating Da'esh and recovering the territories originally occupied by terrorists and extremist organizations, Dai said that the international community must continue its support to Iraq in eradicating the remnants of terrorism and consolidating the hard-won counter-terrorism results. Turning to UNAMI, Dai said the mission and other UN agencies must channel more resources and attention to supporting Iraq's national development priorities. "UNAMI's human rights-related and humanitarian work must strictly follow the mandate, closely communicate and coordinate with the Iraqi Government, and improve screening and verification of information," said the envoy. Shares of Teck Resources Limited TECK have declined 10% since management lowered steelmaking coal sales guidance for the third quarter of 2022 to 5.5-5.9 million tons from the prior guided range of 5.8-6.2 million tons. This move reflects the impact of operational halts at its Elkview steelmaking coal hub due to a structural failure of the plant feed conveyor belt as well as the recent labor action at Westshore Terminals. Production at TECKs Elkview Operations in the Elk Valley of British Columbia will likely be stalled for 1-2 months while repairs are carried out. Meanwhile, Elkview will reschedule planned plant maintenance work, utilizing the plant downtime. Mine operations will focus on pre-stripping during the outage. Assuming a brief suspension of plant activity, TECK expects the impact on 2022 steelmaking coal production to be around 1.5 million tons. Management currently maintained its previous production guidance of 23.5-24 million tons for steelmaking coal for the full year. Teck Resources reported a steelmaking coal production of 5.3 million tons in the second quarter of 2022, down 17% year over year. Production was lower than the year-ago reading due to planned maintenance shutdown activities at its two largest processing plants in the quarter and challenges attributable to the reliability of processing facilities. Management also pointed out that higher absenteeism and labor shortages persistently affect equipment operating hours. These workforce constraints are likely to continue in the near term due to record low unemployment rates across Canada, a strong performance across most sectors of the Canadian economy, which buoyed demand for labor, and a shortage of available local personnel. Steelmaking coal sales volume was 6.3 million tons in the second quarter compared with 6.2 million tons a year ago. Realized steelmaking coal prices in the second quarter reached an all-time high of $453 per ton, marking a 315% surge from the prior-year quarters level. FOB Australia prices continued to increase in the second quarter and reached record levels, though the same declined thereafter from these peak levels. Price Performance Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Shares of Teck Resources have fallen 25.6% in the past six months compared with the industrys decline of 38.8%. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Teck Resources currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB, Daqo New Energy Corp. DQ and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM. Albemarle, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a projected earnings growth rate of 425.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB's current-year earnings has been revised 63.7% upward in the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. ALBs earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average being 24.2%. The stock has gained around 21% in the past six months. Daqo New Energy, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank of 1, has an expected earnings growth rate of 177.5% for the current year. The consensus estimate for DQ's current-year earnings has been revised 9.8% upward in the past 60 days. Daqo New Energys earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark on one occasion, the average beat being 10.8%. DQ has gained around 11% over the past six months. Sociedad has a projected earnings growth rate of 530.7% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SQMs current-year earnings has been revised 18.8% upward in the past 60 days. Sociedad has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 27.2%. SQM has rallied roughly 13% in the past six months. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Albemarle Corporation (ALB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) : Free Stock Analysis Report DAQO New Energy Corp. (DQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Teck Resources Ltd (TECK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Telenor (Fornebu 7 September 2022) Telenor enters into a transaction supporting future investments in Norway's telecom infrastructure. Earlier this year, Telenor initiated a process of evaluating the establishment of a passive fibre infrastructure ownership company with a minority co-investor. Telenor has now reached an agreement to divest 30 percent of the newly established company, Telenor Fiber AS, in Norway to a consortium led by KKR, investing through its Core Infrastructure strategy. The consortium includes Oslo Pensjonsforsikring as a co-investor. The newly established company is a subsidiary of Telenor and will be a part of the Infrastructure business area. The company will own the passive fibre assets in Norway. This includes 130,000 km of cables, connecting upwards of 560,000 homes. The companys assets will be transferred from Telenor Norway in a demerger process prior to completion of the transaction. Telenor Norge will be the companys only customer and all operational processes remain under full Telenor control. Telenor has conducted an extensive consultation process with the relevant government authorities, who have given their overall feedback that the transaction safeguards critical security and regulatory considerations. The agreed sales price represents an enterprise value for the Norwegian fibre business of NOK 36.1 billion, resulting in proceeds of approximately NOK 10.8 billion to Telenor. The business generated a proforma EBITDA of NOK 1.7 billion in 2021. We are executing on the strategy presented at the Capital Markets Day in September. This transaction highlights the value in our infrastructure and unlocks capital to support continued high fibre roll-out in Norway, and we are bringing in strong investors with a long-term horizon. Following the transaction, Telenor will propose that parts of the proceeds are used for share buy backs. We believe this transaction benefits our stakeholders while safeguarding future investments in Norways fibre, says Tone Hegland Bachke, EVP and CFO in Telenor Group. Story continues We are very excited to be investing long-term capital behind Norwegian infrastructure. KKR has significant experience within telecom infrastructure investing, and we look forward to supporting Telenor with its fibre strategy in Norway, says Julian Barratt-Due, Director, European Infrastructure at KKR. "We are proud to be part of the investment and look forward to further strengthening Norwegian fibre infrastructure together with Telenor and KKR", says Lars Haram, Chief Investment Officer at Oslo Pensjonsforsikring. Facts about the transaction: Telenor maintains control in the company with 70 percent of the shares. The transaction is expected to be completed early 2023. The transaction will not affect customers. Telenor Norway will still handle all customers, including wholesale, as per usual. The transaction will entail no change to Telenors regulatory obligations, including security and Norways Electronic Communications Act. The fibre company will be a Telenor subsidiary. Telenor intends to use parts of the proceeds for share buybacks to mitigate the effects of the new minority interests. Telenors Board of Directors will hence ask the General Meeting for a share buyback mandate amounting to around 30 percent of the proceeds. The agreement also includes a right for Telenor to acquire the minority stake in the event of a potential future sale. Considering national and societal interest, Telenor and the government have also entered into an agreement that provides the government with the opportunity to exercise the right to acquire the minority stake if Telenor chooses not to. KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR established its Global Infrastructure business in 2008 and has since grown to one of the largest infrastructure investors globally with a team of more than 75 dedicated investment professionals. The firm currently oversees approximately US$49 billion in infrastructure assets globally as of 30 June, 2022, and has made over 65 infrastructure investments across a range of sub-sectors and geographies. KKRs infrastructure platform is devised specifically for long term, capital intensive structural investments. Oslo Pensjonsforsikring AS (OPF) is a life insurance company wholly owned by the Municipality of Oslo. OPF delivers public service pensions to most employees in Oslo municipality, municipal enterprises, several of the municipality's joint-stock companies and employees in hospitals that were previously owned by Oslo municipality. OPF is one of the largest non-governmental investment managers in Norway, managing assets of approximately NOK 125 billion (c. 12.5 billion), with strong experience in direct and partnership investments in real estate and infrastructure. Investor Relations: ystein Myrvold, (+47) 992 30 460 Hakon Hatlevik, (+47) 901 46 070 Media contact: Heljar Havnes, (+47) 908 12 081 The Twitter v. Elon Musk trial is now on hold as the two sides work to hammer out a deal for Musk to complete his buyout of the social media company. On Thursday, Judge Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, Chancellor of Delawares Chancery Court, stayed the trial until October 28th, following a motion from Musk's lawyers to call off the trial. However, if the two sides arent able to close by the end of the month, a trial could be back on. If the transaction does not close by 5 p.m. on October 28, 2022, the parties are instructed to contact me by email that evening to obtain November 2022 trial dates, McCormick wrote. The stay comes less than two weeks before the five-day trial was scheduled to begin, and on the same day that Musk was scheduled to be deposed in the case. Its the latest sign that Musk and Twitter are moving closer to a deal. Earlier in the week, Musk said he would agree to a deal at the original price of $54.20 a share, provided he finalized his financing and that the trial was adjourned. Twitter also confirmed it wanted to close the deal on its original terms. But since then the two sides have still been arguing over the particulars of the arrangement. Bloomberg reported Musk wanted a provision that would still allow him to sue Twitter over the number of bots on the platform, while The New York Times reported Twitter didnt want to call off the trial until its shareholders had been paid. Musks lawyers alluded to the disagreements in their filing, writing that Twitter will not take yes for an answer, claiming the company was endangering the deal. McCormick didnt weigh in on the disagreement, though she noted that Twitter has opposed Musks motion to stay the trial. LONDON, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiger Infrastructure Partners ("Tiger Infrastructure") announced today a control investment of 75 million in Rural Broadband Solutions Holdings Limited ("RBBS"), a fast-growing provider of broadband services to residential and business customers in rural areas of the UK. (PRNewsfoto/Tiger Infrastructure Partners) We look forward to partnering with RBBS to deliver best-in-class infrastructure and broadband service to rural communities RBBS initially provided broadband through Fixed Wireless Access Technology in Shropshire, and has started deploying full fibre broadband since the establishment of the UK government's Project Gigabit scheme, which subsidises broadband roll-out in rural areas. Emil W. Henry, Jr., CEO of Tiger Infrastructure, commented: "RBBS, with its track record of operating a high-quality Fixed Wireless Access network and deploying full fibre in challenging areas, represents an ideal partner for Tiger Infrastructure to enter a sector experiencing strong tailwinds. We have the opportunity to invest alongside the UK government to meet the needs of rural households and small businesses that, despite strong growth in data consumption, remain served by significantly slower and less reliable copper lines or Fibre-to-the-Cabinet. Having followed the UK fibre sector for many years, we were impressed by the quality and investment discipline of RBBS' management team, and look forward to partnering with them to deliver best-in-class infrastructure and service to rural communities." RBBS' vision is to create a high-quality, contiguous network initially covering approximately 100,000 remote premises in small towns in Shropshire and Wales where full fibre connectivity is currently unavailable. RBBS' target deployment areas are some of the least densely populated in the UK and sit entirely in Ofcom's Area 3, which includes rural locations where the first provider to connect each premise is eligible for subsidies. Many of these areas represent an attractive investment opportunity that has been left out of the deployment plans of full fibre operators focused on larger urban areas. Story continues Full fibre broadband is recognised by the UK government as critical to "level up" the country, particularly due to the growth in data consumption and the rise of remote working following the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher New, CEO of RBBS, added: "We were seeking a financial partner who shared our vision to deploy full fibre to our communities. We believe Tiger Infrastructure is a like-minded investor whose expertise and capital will assist us in making RBBS a leader in our niche. With Tiger Infrastructure's investment, RBBS is well-positioned to help communities in Shropshire and Wales solve the immediate and growing requirement for reliable, gigabit-capable connectivity." About Tiger Infrastructure Partners Tiger Infrastructure Partners is a leading middle market investor focused on providing transformational growth capital to enable the infrastructure of tomorrow. Tiger targets superior risk-adjusted returns for its investors by employing the firm's value-add approach to growth investments across the Digital Infrastructure, Energy Transition and Transportation sectors in North America and Europe, where significant tailwinds are driving demand for new infrastructure. For more information, visit www.tigerinfrastructure.com. About RBBS RBBS provides Fixed Wireless Access and full fibre broadband to communities in Shropshire, through the Internet Service Provider brand SWS. RBBS intends to provide services also on a wholesale basis to other Internet Service Providers. RBBS is currently owned by Rural Broadband Solutions Plc, which will remain invested as a minority shareholder following a corporate reorganisation. For more information, visit www.ruralbroadbandsolutions.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tiger-infrastructure-partners-announces-75-million-investment-in-rural-broadband-solutions-holdings-limited-301643889.html SOURCE Tiger Infrastructure Partners Ukrainian officials reportedly say there have been 'catastrophic' Starlink outages in recent weeks Ukrainian officials told Financial Times that soldiers have faced Starlink outages in recent weeks. The connectivity issues have been in areas Ukraine liberated from Russian control, FT reported. A coordinator for Starlink donations said SpaceX may have been preventing Russia from using the tech. Ukrainian soldiers have faced outages of Starlink's satellite internet service amid their attempts to free territory that had been conquered by Russian troops, Financial Times reported on Friday. Two government officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told the publication that soldiers had difficulty connecting to the satellite internet service when they entered cities that had only recently been freed from Russian troops. One government official from Ukraine said that the outages have caused a "catastrophic" loss of communication between the country's military forces. Another official said the lack of internet connection resulted in panicked calls from troops to help lines, FT reported. Roman Sinicyn, a co-ordinator at a foundation that donates Starlink systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, told FT the issue could be caused by SpaceX representatives working to make sure Russian soldiers couldn't use the technology, as the liberation of some of the areas had not been made public yet at the time of the connectivity issues. A spokesperson for SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk commented on the story on Twitter. "This operation has cost SpaceX $80M & will exceed $100M by end of year," Musk wrote, calling FT's story "bad reporting" for attributing funding for Ukraine's Starlink terminals primarily to the US government. "As for what's happening on the battlefield, that's classified," he tweeted. Ukraine first started using Starlink in February. Musk agreed to send Ukraine a shipment of Starlink satellite internet dishes just two days after Russia invaded Ukraine. It was the first of many shipments to the country that has helped Ukraine stay connected amid Russia's attacks and a hack on the satellite provider for its military. Story continues In June, SpaceX reported that it has delivered 15,000 Starlink kits to Ukraine over the first three months of the invasion. The Washington Post reported in April that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) paid SpaceX about $2 million for 1,333 terminals to be sent to Ukraine. Early on, Ukraine officials and military leaders praised the move, with a US general saying Starlink "totally destroyed Putin's information campaign" and attempts to silence Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But, not everything Musk has done has been viewed favorably by Ukrainian officials. Last week, the billionaire weighed in on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting the citizens of the occupied territories should vote on which country they'd rather live in. His suggestion was met with heavy criticism. Even Zelenskyy mocked Musk's attempt to solve a real-world crisis on Twitter. "Which @elonmusk do you like more?" Zelenskyy asked, with a poll. "One who supports Ukraine. One who supports Russia." Musk has also said his decision to activate Starlink in Ukraine has been viewed with disapproval by Beijing. He told FT in an interview that Beijing has asked he not sell the internet service in China. Read FT's full story on Starlink on the publication's website. Read the original article on Business Insider Allkem Limited BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allkem Limited (ASX|TSX: AKE, Allkem or the Company) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have agreed on a non-binding term sheet for a project financing facility (IFC loan) for the wholly Allkem owned Sal de Vida Project located in Catamarca Province, Argentina. HIGHLIGHTS IFC has proposed a US$200 million project finance facility to support Allkems development of Sal de Vida Stage 1 IFCs environmental and social performance requirements are globally recognised and will complement the ESG standards already adopted at Sal de Vida by Allkem Subject to finalisation of commercial terms and other key outstanding items including final Board approval by both IFC and Allkem, the facility is expected to reach financial close by late CY22 Managing Director and CEO, Martin Perez de Solay said, We are already in a strong financial position to self-fund the Sal de Vida project however we saw an opportunity to further improve the financing structure for Sal de Vida and partner with IFC, an institution with decades of experience providing finance and sustainable business solutions in the mining space. Sal de Vida is expected to generate significant economy-wide benefits that will improve the fiscal outlook, economic performance and social outcomes at national, regional and local community levels. PROJECT FINANCING IFC's proposed investment comprises a US$200 million debt package, including up to US$100 million from IFC for a tenor of up to 9 years and the remainder funded by a syndicate of commercial banks. The IFC loan and its key terms reflect current market conditions for this facility type, loan size, tenor and region. IFCs proposed financing structure will provide Sal de Vida with a diversified international lender group in a syndicated loan agreement at the asset level and will help de-risk the capital structure of the project. IFCs Performance Standards are globally recognised as a benchmark for environmental and social risk management in the private sector. IFC has eight Performance Standards: Risk Management, Labour, Resource Efficiency, Community, Land Resettlement, Biodiversity, Indigenous People and Cultural Heritage. Story continues A robust and detailed environmental assessment was conducted by IFC, including the assessment of brine extraction and water usage and the associated monitoring and mitigation plan. Allkem technical teams participated in the process and will work to implement the IFCs Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP). IFC technical assessment through senior consulting firms validated the project scope, cost and schedule and has provided a detailed risk analysis to ensure proper mitigation plans are established. Next steps Subject to finalisation of facility terms, legal due diligence, approval from the Allkem Board of Directors, approval by IFC Management and World Bank Group Board of Directors the facility is expected to close before the end of 2022. ABOUT IFC IFCa member of the World Bank Groupis the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working in more than 100 countries, IFC uses their capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of current global issues. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. SAL DE VIDA PROJECT The Sal de Vida Stage 1 Project is designed to produce 15ktpa of predominately battery grade lithium carbonate. The 2022 Feasibility Study estimated capital expenditure to be US$271 million and cash operating costs of US$3,612 per tonne. Construction commenced in January 2022. Stage 1 project economics include pre-tax Net Present Value of US$1.23 billion at a 10% discount rate, pre-tax internal rate of return of 50% and a payback period of 1.75 years from the start of commercial production. As at 30 June 2022, Allkem had US$664 million of free cash and cash equivalents available for the development of Sal de Vida and its other growth projects. This release was authorised by Mr Martin Perez de Solay, CEO and Managing Director of Allkem Limited. Allkem Limited ABN 31 112 589 910 Level 35, 71 Eagle St Brisbane, QLD 4000 Investor Relations & Media Enquiries Andrew Barber M: +61 418 783 701 E: Andrew.Barber@allkem.co Phoebe Lee P: +61 7 3064 3600 E: Phoebe.Lee@allkem.co Connect info@allkem.co +61 7 3064 3600 www.allkem.co IMPORTANT NOTICES This investor ASX/TSX release (Release) has been prepared by Allkem Limited (ACN 112 589 910) (the Company or Allkem). It contains general information about the Company as at the date of this Release. The information in this Release should not be considered to be comprehensive or to comprise all of the material which a shareholder or potential investor in the Company may require in order to determine whether to deal in Shares of Allkem. The information in this Release is of a general nature only and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with the Companys periodic and continuous disclosure announcements which are available at allkem.co and with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) announcements, which are available at www.asx.com.au. This Release does not take into account the financial situation, investment objectives, tax situation or particular needs of any person and nothing contained in this Release constitutes investment, legal, tax, accounting or other advice, nor does it contain all the information which would be required in a disclosure document or prospectus prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act). Readers or recipients of this Release should, before making any decisions in relation to their investment or potential investment in the Company, consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own individual investment objectives and financial situation and seek their own professional investment, legal, taxation and accounting advice appropriate to their particular circumstances. This Release does not constitute or form part of any offer, invitation, solicitation or recommendation to acquire, purchase, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, or issue, any Shares or any other financial product. Further, this Release does not constitute financial product, investment advice (nor tax, accounting or legal advice) or recommendation, nor shall it or any part of it or the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or investment decision. The distribution of this Release in other jurisdictions outside Australia may also be restricted by law and any restrictions should be observed. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Past performance information given in this Release is given for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as (and is not) an indication of future performance. Forward Looking Statements Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and, by their nature, are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performances and achievements to differ materially from any expected future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the risk of further changes in government regulations, policies or legislation; the risks associated with the continued implementation of the merger between the Company and Galaxy Resources Ltd, risks that further funding may be required, but unavailable, for the ongoing development of the Companys projects; fluctuations or decreases in commodity prices; uncertainty in the estimation, economic viability, recoverability and processing of mineral resources; risks associated with development of the Company Projects; unexpected capital or operating cost increases; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones at the Companys Projects; risks associated with investment in publicly listed companies, such as the Company; and risks associated with general economic conditions. Subject to any continuing obligation under applicable law or relevant listing rules of the ASX, the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this Release to reflect any change in expectations in relation to any forward-looking statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. Nothing in this Release shall under any circumstances (including by reason of this Release remaining available and not being superseded or replaced by any other Release or publication with respect to the subject matter of this Release), create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date of this Release. Competent Person Statement Any information in this announcement relating to Sal de Vida scientific or technical information, production targets or forecast financial information derived from a production target is extracted from the ASX Announcement entitled Sal de Vida capacity increased to 45ktpa in two stages released on 4 April 2022 which is available to view on www.allkem.co and www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that all the material assumptions underpinning the scientific or technical information, production targets or the forecast financial information derived from a production target in the original market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Not for release or distribution in the United States This announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and may not be released to U.S. wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction, and neither this announcement or anything attached to this announcement shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or exempt from, or not subject to, the registration of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and applicable U.S. state securities laws. Yo-Health Inc Corporate Structure Corporate Structure Sun & Moon / Joyce Beverages Sun & Moon / Joyce Beverages Yoshi Ohio University / Indianapolis Yoshi Ohio University / Indianapolis Sushi Items Sushi Items Sun & Moon Products Sun & Moon Products Sun & Moon Cafe Illinois University Sun & Moon Cafe Illinois University Yoshi products Yoshi products FLUSHING, N.Y., Oct. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yo Health Inc. has received regulatory approval to commence operations within their dairy/drinkable yogurt manufacturing facility in Flushing, New York. New milk dealer license applications and license renewals are reviewed and evaluated in terms of financial responsibility, character, and ability or performance of the applicant in conducting the proposed business and providing service to the public. Being located in Queens, Yo-Healths Sun & Moon brand has a huge market opportunity to service Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, New York City and Westchester Counties with a total population of over 8,000,000 people. Yo-Health Inc.s CEO, Peter Thawnghmung, is very excited to receive regulatory approval to commence production and distribution of the Sun & Moon brand drinkable yogurt products. A great tasting healthy product with probiotics will enter the market November/December 2022. Yo-Health will produce its Sun & Moon premium craft products with selective additives, as a healthy alternative product, with a focus on delivering beneficial cultures and assorted flavors. The company will seek IMS certification to distribute their products throughout the US market in 2023. The ability to create craft drinkable yogurt products with multiple flavors and additives to create a national brand is very exciting. Look for Sun & Moon products in the tri-state area very soon. Yo-Health Inc., anticipates significant growth with their operational divisions entering the marketplace in select locations. Sun & Moon has attracted a team of industry specialists to create healthy great tasting products to be distributed nationwide in the next 12 to 24 months. Yo-Health Inc. is currently looking for executives with managerial and leadership talent to lead our growth. Story continues The company intends to file for public listing in 2022/2023 as its operations are expanding. Yo-Health Inc. is currently raising funds via a private placement to accredited investors. This is not an offer to invest in the company, an offering can only be made by prospectus. Investors should consult with their financial advisor before considering an investment. For more information, please visit www.yo-healthinc.com or contact us at: info@yo-healthinc.com Forward Looking Statement: Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding launch of products, sales, markets, marketing strategies. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: We operate in a highly competitive market. If we do not compete effectively, our prospects, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected. We are subject to government regulation, and unfavorable changes could substantially harm our business and results of operations. If we are unable to anticipate and satisfy consumer preferences in a timely manner, our business may be adversely affected. If we are unable to successfully develop, timely introduce, and effectively manage the introduction of new products and services or enhance existing products and services, our business may be adversely affected. We may not be able to achieve revenue , growth or profitability in the future. If we fail to manage our operating expenses effectively, our financial performance may be negatively impacted. We intend to spend significant amounts on advertising and other marketing campaigns to acquire new customers, which may not be successful or cost effective. Our success depends on our ability to develop and maintain a brand. If events occur that damage our brand, our business and financial results may be harmed. 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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4c30a98-c2ff-44ef-8cf0-9f445e11766f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/35607007-5786-4db8-b0fc-c2f62fe3a809 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f089595-cf89-4d82-86e4-fbe02b6f3ed4 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42ad051d-04ca-42d4-8d5b-d0bcad194ae0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1e48a4f-5527-48b4-81ad-5b7cf7bbe1e0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/630be18f-cc42-4fb0-8468-0ef9f8dfed4e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2abfc0ce-99e6-4690-bcc5-6dae6dff4058 (Bloomberg) -- New York Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency over the citys migrant crisis, saying that the recent arrival of more than 17,000 asylum-seekers from Central America and South America is straining the citys resources. Most Read from Bloomberg As part of the order, Adams directed all relevant agencies to construct humanitarian relief centers to provide assistance. The city will spend more than $1 billion by the end of the fiscal year on the crisis, Adams said at a news briefing Friday. He called for support from state and federal authorities, saying the crisis is burning through our citys budget. New York and other cities are straining under an influx of hundreds of migrants sent primarily by Republican governors from border states. The city has been working to provide shelter and other services to the migrants, many of whom fled violence in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. Adams called the crisis a situation that was manufactured by leaders in other states who are exploiting the citys right-to-shelter mandate. Under a legal settlement from the 1980s, New York is required to provide housing for anyone who needs it. The crisis is worsening an already-fragile shelter system, which is operating at near 100% capacity, Adams said. Around 61,000 people were in the system on Thursday night, and 1 in 5 was an asylum-seeker. Every day the total number gets higher, every day from this point forward we are setting a new record, said Adams. Randalls Island The city has previously opened 42 additional temporary shelters in hotels. Adams promised that the city would also accelerate moving New Yorkers in the shelter system into long-term housing in order to free up beds and space for newer arrivals. Story continues A previously planned triage center will open on Randalls Island in the coming weeks. The centers location was moved from its planned location of Orchard Beach in the Bronx, after rainfall caused the parking lot to flood. The city has estimated that asylum-seekers will stay at the center for up to 96 hours, though they may stay for longer. The shelter system will still be available to them, pursuant to the right-to-shelter mandate. (Updates with comments from mayor starting in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Felony charges against two Fredericksburg men who had been accused of raping a woman and forcing her to take drugs were resolved Thursday with a single misdemeanor conviction. Donte L. Jackson, 29, pleaded guilty in Fredericksburg General District Court to assault and battery. He was sentenced to a year in jail with six months suspended. Jackson, who has already served his time, had been charged with rape, attempted murder and using a firearm in the commission of a firearm. Defense attorney Dennis McCarthy and a special prosecutor from Fairfax, announced the plea in front of Judge John R. Stevens. Brandon T. Armstead, 33, had been charged with being a principal in the second degree of rape. His charge was dropped. The woman had said she went to a city apartment on Jan. 15 to speak with Jackson. She said she was coming out of the bathroom early the next morning when she was grabbed by the throat and thrown against a wall. Court records state that she said her assailant was upset because he believed she was working with a narcotics detective. She said she was raped by one man while the other held her down, and forced at gunpoint to inject narcotics into her system. She said she was held against her will for several days before escaping from the apartment. Her escape took place on Jan. 18, the same day she was scheduled to meet with her probation officer for a drug test. McCarthy said his client disputed the womans version of events and added that Jacksons plea speaks to the credibility of the allegation. BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) By the time the red, white and blue-colored microphone had been switched off, the crowd of 3,000 had listened to hours of invective and grievance. "We're under warfare," one speaker told them. Another said she would "take a bullet for my nation," while a third insisted, "They hate you because they hate Jesus." Attendees were told now is the time to "put on the whole armor of God." Then retired three-star Army general Michael Flynn, the tour's biggest draw, invited people to be baptized. Scores of people walked out of the speakers' tent to three large metal tubs filled with water. While praise music played in the background, one conference-goer after another stepped in. Pastors then lowered them under the surface, welcoming them into their movement in the name of Jesus Christ. One woman wore a T-shirt that read "Army of God." Flynn warned the crowd that they were in the midst of a "spiritual war" and a "political war" and urged people to get involved. ReAwaken America was launched by Flynn, a former White House national security adviser, and Oklahoma entrepreneur Clay Clark a few months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol failed to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Attendees and speakers still insist against all evidence and dozens of court rulings that Donald Trump rightfully won. Since early last year, the ReAwaken America Tour has carried its message of a country under siege to tens of thousands of people in 15 cities and towns. The tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement that's wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party. In the version of America laid out at the ReAwaken tour, Christianity should be at the center of American life and institutions. Instead, it's under attack, and attendees need to fight to restore the nation's Christian roots. It's a message repeated over and over at ReAwaken one that upends the constitutional ideal of a pluralist democracy. But it's a message that is taking hold. A poll by the University of Maryland conducted in May found that 61% of Republicans support declaring the U.S. to be a Christian nation. "Christian nationalism, really undermines and attacks foundational values in American democracy. And that is a promise of religious freedoms for all," said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, which advocates for religious freedom. She said the ReAwaken cause is "a partisan political cause, and the cause here is to spread misinformation, to perpetuate the big lie and to have a different result next time in the next election." This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and the PBS series "Frontline" that includes the upcoming documentary "Michael Flynn's Holy War," premiering Oct. 18 on PBS and online. ReAwaken acts as a petri dish for Christian nationalism and pushes the idea that there's a battle underway between good and evil forces. Those who are considered evil include government officials and Democrats. It's "a pep rally on spiritual steroids" said Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University in Michigan, who studies evangelicalism. ReAwaken often appears in churches with speakers addressing attendees from the pulpit. The Batavia show was staged on the grounds of a church, after faith and community leaders in nearby Rochester told organizers they weren't welcome. Inside a revival tent set up outside, people sat in white folding chairs packed so tightly the rows between were nearly impassable. From the stage, speakers stirred up fear and hatred. Immigrants are rushing over the border "to take your place," one said. Homosexuals and pedophiles are classified in the same category: sinful people who don't honor God. Life-saving vaccines are creating "a damn genocide." "The enemy wants to muzzle you," another speaker warned. "He wants to shut your mouth." Clark, the Tour's principal organizer and emcee, opened the Batavia show bellowing: "Good morning, New York! And good morning, New York Attorney General Letitia James!" The greeting was a reference to a letter James' sent to Flynn and Clark warning them against violent or unlawful conduct. "I want you to look around and you'll see a group of people that love this country dearly," he said. "At this Reawaken America Tour, Jesus is King (and) President Donald J. Trump is our president." The AP and Frontline bought tickets for the Batavia event after Clark invited "Frontline" to attend one of the tour's shows. Reporters spent two days listening to speakers and observing the events from inside. On the second day, security escorted a "Frontline" reporter from the grounds because, he was told, Flynn believed he intended to cover the event unfavorably. When an AP reporter began interviewing people attending the event at the end of the second day, she was also reported to security. While smaller in scale, the ReAwaken shows are similar in tone to the rallies Trump holds. Grievance and contempt for government institutions are regular themes. ReAwaken speakers have included Trump's sons, Eric and Don Jr., Trump confidant Roger Stone, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has spread anti-vaccine misinformation. For a tour stop scheduled later this month in Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano is listed as a speaker. In Batavia, Greg Locke, a Tennessee pastor, and Eric Trump declared in back-to-back remarks that the FBI's court-authorized search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for classified records showed how the U.S. government has been weaponized against its citizens. "Third world Gestapo stuff," said Eric Trump. After he finished speaking, a group gathered to pray over him. Other speakers promoted bizarre theories. One claimed President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 because he threatened to expose a plot to enslave every man, woman and child in the U.S. Another said a Hebrew prophet foretold 2,500 years ago the exact date the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to abortion. There were frequent personal attacks on Democrats, with no remark apparently off limits. Clark questioned the gender of former first lady Michelle Obama. Locke called Democrats "baby-butchering mongrels." The volatile combination of politics, Christianity and conspiracy theory pushed at the ReAwaken tour could eventually tip into political violence, several political and religious scholars told AP. Samuel Perry, a sociologist at the University of Oklahoma, has done numerous surveys measuring Christian nationalist ideology. In an August 2021 survey, about half of white Americans who most strongly identified with Christian nationalism said they believe things are getting so bad that "real patriots" may have to resort to violence. "I think all of us believe that America is on the verge of ending," Clark told AP. *** Flynn is a constant presence at ReAwaken America events. He is painted as a martyr on the far right __ the retired general who paid a price for working for Trump. That status has made him the Tour's star attraction. Offstage, people flock to Flynn to take photos, trade trinkets or tell him how much it means to them that he is there. He hops onstage frequently to speak or even bang a gong to welcome Eric Trump. An AP/Frontline investigation published last month reported that Flynn has used public appearances to energize voters, political endorsements to build alliances, and a network of nonprofit groups one of which has projected spending $50 million to advance his movement. The irony of Flynn's aura as a populist warrior is glaring. He was the ultimate Washington insider before being fired by Trump in February 2017 for lying about contacts he had with Russians. Now, Flynn leads a crusade against the same government establishment that employed him for years and which gave him access to many of its deepest secrets. "So now, he's a spiritual general," said Anthea Butler, a scholar of American religion and politics at the University of Pennsylvania. Butler said that the way Flynn and ReAwaken join Christian nationalism to the idea of spiritual warfare is dangerous because it suggests there are "demonic" people in government, and Christians need to act to save the country. "If people are talking about spiritual warfare and are talking about taking up arms and stuff, then I think you should be very worried," she said. Flynn's battlefield experience, she added, enhances his credibility. Who exactly the United States needs to be saved from is displayed on a huge monitor on the ReAwaken America stage. The show's villains include former President Barack Obama and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but the principal foe at the center of the monitor is less familiar. He's an 84-year-old German economist and engineer named Klaus Schwab, who heads the World Economic Forum, a global think tank in Switzerland, that holds an annual gathering of the world's business and political elites in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss ways of building a better future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schwab unveiled an initiative called The Great Reset that envisioned sweeping changes to how societies and economies work. Even though Schwab and The World Economic Forum have no policymaking power, ReAwaken America participants see his plan, which spoke of "greater government interference" and a "green economy," as an assault on America's foundations. The other side of the giant monitor has photos of ReAwaken heroes: regulars including Flynn, Locke, MyPillow CEO and 2020 election denier Mike Lindell, and three doctors who became famous for their anti-vaccine views. Katherine Stewart, author of "The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism," attended a March 2022 ReAwaken America show at a church in San Marcos, California. She said it was like entering a "parallel messaging universe." "The leaders of the ReAwaken America tour are really driving people into a fact-free echo chamber," Stewart said. "They have been persuaded and manipulated into believing they're doing what's right for their country. But all of their good intentions are being harnessed in service of an agenda that's dividing our country as never before and, frankly, leading to the potential destruction of our democracy. " The politics, anger and prayer were interspersed with a good dose of commerce and fundraising. Ticket prices ran as high as $500 for VIP seating or $250 for general admission, though tickets were only sold by phone and sales agents were eager to bargain. An AP reporter bought two tickets to the Batavia show for less than $100. A retiree said he paid more than $700 on admission for two one VIP ticket for himself plus a donation of $250 for a general admission ticket for someone who couldn't afford it. Trump ally Roger Stone asked for donations to his legal defense fund. A naturopath promoted her organic health and beauty line. The stage backdrop even carried ads for a company that buys and sells gold and silver and bills itself as "General Flynn's Gold Buyer of Choice." In booths inside and outside the church, buyers could pick up a $3,300 vibrating platform that could purportedly ease back pain and increase sexual function, a $259 blanket sold to shield the user from 5G, and a "power pendant" that supposedly helps people absorb "the natural living frequencies to empower your body, mind and spirit." Flynn's son, Michael Flynn, Jr., manned his father's merchandise booth, where autographed copies of Flynn's 2017 book, "The Field of Fight," sold for $60. Du Mez, who is writing a book on the overlap of consumerism and Christian identity, said such events are orchestrated to extract money from participants. They are invited to participate in the movement by pulling out their credit cards. "The skeptical take is this is a scam. That's not how it feels to the people who are giving their money," she said. "People give it happily." Such events, she said, are "identity building and sustaining," giving people a sense of belonging. Speakers affirmed the message that inside the tent, they are all part of a community. One told attendees that they should "go ahead and take the hit" if they have to split with their loved ones over their views. At the ReAwaken tour, they were repeatedly assured, they are welcome and their beliefs will be validated. Amanda Grace, a self-described prophetic minister, told the crowd that many of their loved ones "are still under the control of the rulers of the darkness of this world." "This is war, and you have to have a different mindset for that," Grace said. "You pray for your family, you pray for your friends, you love them. But you have to understand that these rulers are after you. They're out to destroy you and your line, and everything you're going to birth forth through your line for the Kingdom of God." So when Flynn and others invited the crowd to be baptized at the end of the day, scores joined in to pray and participate. A woman wearing a T-shirt that read "Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president" said she was being baptized for a third time because she wanted to speak in tongues, a gift that had just been described by a ReAwaken speaker as "the artillery bomb of the enemy." Past the baptismal troughs, people were invited to a circle for prayers. Pastors laid hands on them and cast demons out, while people wearing American flag shirts and QAnon hats, crowded around. "You are free!" one pastor declared. "You are free! You are free!" Meanwhile, Michael Flynn, accompanied by private security guards, got into his SUV and drove away. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) One person died and two people suffered life-threatening injuries following a plane crash Thursday afternoon at Virginia's Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport, authorities said. Three people were on board the small Cessna, Virginia State Police said in a statement. The two people who were injured were rushed to a local hospital. The private aircraft crashed into a wooded area during takeoff, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Michael Giardino, executive director of the airport, told the newspaper that the plane is based out of the airport. But he said he didnt know where it was headed or who was on board. The plane that crashed is a single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk that has four seats. An investigation is underway. The National Transportation and Safety Board also has been notified. Teacher Pat Ludeke knows a blanket can be a gift that sends more than one message. Besides warmth, a blanket can be a symbol of security and kindness, whether it features a unicorn and a rainbow or trucks and cars. So on Saturday, Ludeke and a team from Salem Lutheran Church and Washington Elementary School sought to send warm messages by giving blankets to families in need. Church members donated more than 250 new and gently used blankets, most of which were taken to three, local mobile home parks. About a dozen of these blankets were brought to the school. Washington school has a closet with clothes and supplies for students families. Sometimes, a blanket also might be sent home with a sick child. The blanket project began simply. Ludeke is a special education teacher at Washington, where she met a little girl and boy from Guatemala, who now attend the school. This will be their first winter here, Ludeke said. The children live in a mobile home with a single mom and speak a dialect teachers havent heard before. An uncle has communicated their needs. Ludeke learned that, according to the Farmers Almanac, this region is expected to experience an extraordinarily cold winter. Thats when Salem responded to the need. Ludeke is a council member at Fremonts Salem Lutheran Church, which she said has helped families before. Salem is also part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA encourages churches, like Salem, to become involved in Gods Work. Our Hands, a time when congregations seek to serve their neighbors by completing a service project. We try to think of a project every year and, historically, we had been going outside our city or even outside our country, but since the flood (of 2019) we have been looking at things to do to make a difference in our community, Ludeke said. The church of just under 100 people donated toward the blanket project. While the Rev. Shari Schwedhelm of Salem wasnt able to be with the group on Saturday, she prayed with team members on the phone. They prayed over the blankets, which Ludeke hoped would help recipients feel warm and happy. A team of eight delivered the blankets. Besides Ludeke, team members were: Barbara Fanning, Rosie Parde, Janet Kletke, Matt Wilson, Sayra and her son Jayden Garcia and Bree Tenych. The group first went to the Regency Mobile Home Park. We went to the trailers that were the most damaged from the flood, Ludeke said. Windows in some trailers remain broken and boarded up. Ludeke estimates they gave away about 150 blankets at Regency, knocking on doors and handing them out. A lot of people were gone, but we gave out a lot of blankets, she said. Recipients first responded with confusion and then happiness. Children got to pick out fleece blankets with pictures of unicorns and rainbows or puppies, kittens, trucks and cars or dinosaurs. One blanket featured a camping scene with a fox, trees and birds. Some blankets were of a single, bright color. The distribution also included baby blankets. Adults got blankets as well. Our families always give to their children, before they give to themselves and theyre going to be cold, too, Ludeke said of the adults. Blanket givers also let recipients know that this winter is expected to be especially cold. Maybe that will plant a seed for them to start early in getting their trailer ready for that, Ludeke said. Team members then went to the Midway Trailer Court near the Fremont Public Schools bus barn. Ludeke estimates the team left 20 or 30 blankets at the smaller mobile home park. Some people there said they didnt need the blankets. But two team members each were given sodas and asked if they wanted a hot dog. After that, the group went to the Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park. We were stopping cars that were coming and going, Ludeke said. We were on foot trying to give them all away. It was wonderful. Again, people were surprised, wondering if the blankets were really free, and then appreciative. It was awesome, Ludeke said. The joy and the appreciation of kindness spoke louder than any words for me on Saturday. Its the language of kindness that we talk a lot about, but are we doing it? Ludeke speaks tenderly of the people in the mobile home parks, who include individuals from different countries and cultures, and of the children who attend Washington school. A lot our families dont celebrate Christmas, because its a want not a need, Ludeke said. Its basic survival. Theyre prioritizing where their money should really go, where it has to go, not where they want it to go. Ludeke noted something else. We need to find a lot of other ways to bridge our community, I feel, she said. Ludeke believes racial relationships have improved in Fremont. But theres still a heavy judgment on poor and non-white people and I am blessed to be a part of these families, she said. Its not a burden. Its a blessing. She describes the blanket project as a huge blessing, too. We could really see Gods work through our hands, Ludeke said. It was really more about connecting with people through these blankets than about giving them. GENEVA (AP) In a close diplomatic victory for China, the U.N.'s top human rights body on Thursday voted down a proposal from Britain, Turkey, the United States and other mostly Western countries to hold a debate on alleged rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China's western Xinjiang region. At the 47-member state Human Rights Council, 17 countries voted in favor, 19 were against, and 11 abstained in a vote to hold a debate on Xinjiang at its next session in March. The vote amounted to a test of political and diplomatic clout between the West and Beijing, and would have marked the first time that China's record on human rights would merit a specific agenda item at the council. The result, prompting a smattering of applause in the chamber, followed days of diplomatic arm-twisting in Geneva and in many national capitals as leading Western countries tried to build momentum on a report from former U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet's office, released Aug. 31, which found that possible crimes against humanity had occurred in Xinjiang. A simple majority of voting countries was required. China locked down no votes among its usual allies, plus many African countries and Persian Gulf states Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Somalia was the only African country, and only member state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to vote yes. Turkey is in the OIC, but doesn't have a council seat right now. Argentina, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Mexico and Ukraine were among countries that abstained. This is a missed opportunity by council members to hold China to the same standard as other countries, Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, said in a statement. The international community cannot fail the victims of the Uyghur genocide. The U.N. rights office's report stopped short of referring to abuses against Uyghurs as genocide, but some Western countries have. The make-up of the council rotates among U.N. member states each year, and China a powerful country with a permanent seat on the Security Council has never been the subject of a country-specific resolution at the council since it was founded more than 16 years ago. The proposal was just to hold a debate, with no consistent monitoring of the rights situation, and amounted to just about the least intrusive form of scrutiny that the council could seek. The call stopped short of creating a team of investigators to look into possible crimes in Xinjiang, or appointing a special rapporteur a tacit acknowledgement by the Western countries that going after increasingly influential China would be a tall order. After the vote, China's Foreign Ministry issued a lengthy statement saying that for some time now, the U.S. and some other Western countries have been misinforming the public about Xinjiang and seeking political manipulation in the name of human rights simply to smear Chinas image and contain Chinas development." The issues that the Human Rights Council truly needs to focus on are the serious human rights violations concerning the U.S., the UK and some Western forces, including systemic racism and racial discrimination, the rights of refugees and migrants, rampant gun violence, unilateral coercive measures, and massive killings of innocent civilians in overseas military operations," said the statement, dated Friday but unsigned. China says it never gave its support to Bachelet's report, and warned of a bad precedent. Michele Taylor, the U.S. ambassador, said the request for the debate aimed simply to provide neutral forum for discussion. No country represented here today has a perfect human rights record, she said. No country, no matter how powerful, should be excluded from council discussions. This includes my country the United States and it includes the Peoples Republic of China. Human rights groups have accused China of sweeping a million or more people from the minority groups into detention camps where many have said they were tortured, sexually assaulted, and forced to abandon their language and religion. The camps were part of what the rights groups have called a ruthless campaign against extremism in Xinjiang that included draconian birth control policies and restrictions on peoples movement. Some leading human rights advocacy groups expressed disappointment, but vowed to keep working for victims of abuses against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang. Todays vote protects the perpetrators of human rights violations rather than the victims a dismaying result that puts the U.N.s main human rights body in the farcical position of ignoring the findings of the U.N.s own human rights office," said Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard. Thirty member states silence or worse, blocking of debate in the face of the atrocities committed by the Chinese government further sullies the reputation of the Human Rights Council," she added. China called the prison-like camps, complete with barbed wire and guard towers, centers for job training and de-radicalization. It says they have since been closed, although monitoring groups say many formal inmates have merely been shifted to ordinary prisons to serve lengthy sentences. On Friday, as part of dozens of proposals before the council, member states are also to consider a proposal from 26 European Union countries to appoint a special rapporteur on Russia, citing a string of concerns about mass arrests and detentions; harassment of journalists, opposition politicians, activists and rights defenders; and crackdowns at times violent on protesters against President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine. Have you ever been in a Catch 22 situation? You want a certain job, but you need work experience. But to get the experience, you must have done that job. Or you must find your eyeglasses to see, but you cant see to find them. The phrase, Catch 22, comes from the satirical war novel by Joseph Heller. Ive never read the novel and Im not sure I want to but I understand it involves a bombardier who faces a no-win situation, because of conflicting rules and limitations. We find a slightly different no-win situation in Greek mythology when the hero Odysseus must sail in between a dangerous whirlpool and a monster who lives on a cliff. From this tale we get the idiom of being in between a rock and a hard place two equally tough situations. Now, you dont have to be in a plane or on a boat to face circumstances that seem impossible to navigate. Thats when we can find comfort in the true-life account of Israelites who lived a few thousand years ago. We can read about them in the book of Exodus, chapter 14, in the Bible. By this time, the Israelites have been slaves in Egypt for more than 400 years. God has seen their misery and sent a man, named Moses, to lead them out of captivity. Not one to lose free help, the Pharaoh isnt about to release 2 million Israelites. But God is an expert in persuasion and after the Pharaoh and his people experience 10 plagues, the king lets the Israelites leave. Gods plans arent done yet. He has Moses lead the Israelites on a route that makes it look like theyre wandering around in confusion, then has them camp by the Red Sea. God tells Moses what will happen next. God says Pharaoh will pursue the Israelites. But the Lord will gain glory through this. Sure enough, the Pharaoh and his officials change their minds about letting the Israelites go. Pharaoh assembles his army, which includes 600 of the best chariots. The Israelites find themselves between a rock and a hard place. There arent any whirlpools or rock monsters, but the Israelites are caught in between the Red Sea and the rapidly approaching Egyptian army. Id say theyre facing Catch 22 limitations, too. They could get killed if they try to put up a fight especially with all the women and children in the group. But if they surrender, many would be killed by revengeful Egyptians determined to make an example of them. The Red Sea doesnt seem to offer any solutions either. Obviously, these Israelites arent Noah. They dont have time or resources to build a big boat to escape. I doubt swimming is an option. Sounds like a no-win, no-way-out situation to me. The Israelites are terrified. And sarcastic. Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? they ask. Moses doesnt answer that question. Instead, he demonstrates God-fueled courage. Do not be afraid, Moses says. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. God tells Moses to raise his staff and stretch his hand over the sea. The angel of God whos been traveling in front of the Israelites now goes behind them. So does a pillar of cloud and fire that has been with them. The cloud goes in between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Throughout the night, the cloud brings darkness to one side and light to the other keeping them apart. Moses stretches out his hand and all that night the Lord drives back the sea with a strong east wind and turns the ground into dry land. The waters divide and the Israelites go through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Pharaohs horsemen and chariots follow the Israelites. God looks down from the pillar of fire and cloud and throws the Egyptian army into confusion. He jams the wheels of their chariots. Lets get away from the Israelites, the Egyptians say. The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt. The Lord tells Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea so the waters will flow back over the Egyptians, their chariots and horsemen. So Moses does. And at daybreak the sea goes back into its place. The water covers the entire army of Pharaoh. Not one Egyptian survives. The Israelites will trust the Lord and his servant, Moses. What do we learn from this? Im reminded of the song that says, God will make a way where there seems to be no way. It tells how God gives us strength and works in ways we cant see. I also think about the Waymaker song, which describes God as a miracle worker, promise keeper and a light in the darkness. Ive learned that God is so much more creative than I am at solving problems. Before that night in the desert, Im guessing the Israelites never dreamed of walking across the sea on dry land. Centuries later, Ill bet Christs disciples never expected him to walk on water to reach their storm-tossed boat. And although Jesus told his disciples that hed suffer, die and rise again, they couldnt believe it at first when told hed risen from the dead. We can all face situations where there seems to be no way out, but I think thats when we must remember our Savior, who saved newlyweds from embarrassment by turning water into wine and healed lepers in a time before there was a medical cure. Jesus raised Lazarus back to life, returning him to his grieving sisters. Go back to the Old Testament. God miraculously allowed a 90-year-old Sarah to give birth to a child. He helped a shepherd kid, named David, wipe out a seasoned warrior named Goliath. And when the freed Israelites were hungry and thirsty, God provided manna (bread) from heaven and water from a rock. With God, all things are possible, Jesus says. Sometimes, people make rash, immoral, illegal and dangerous decisions, because they think theres no way out of their situations. Sometimes, people stay in terrible situations for the same reason. I dont think Ive done anything illegal or dangerous, but whatever the circumstance, Ive fared better when I prayed, read Gods word, sought advice from Godly people, waited for Gods help or stepped out under the Holy Spirits leading. Im not perfect in this area. I know Iife can be filled with uncertainty. But I think when we find ourselves in lifes storms those rock-and-a-hard-place situations we must ask God to guide and help us. I think Jesus understood Catch 22 situations. Hed die a horrible death if he went to the cross, but if he didnt go we wouldnt have been saved. And I guess you could say Jesus was in between a rock and a hard place when he was put in that tomb. But the rock (or stone) that covered the tomb was rolled away and our Savior Jesus was raised to new life. It was the most amazing solution of all. As the Colorado Springs Independent newspaper looks to enter its 30th year of publication in 2023, co-founder John Weiss, 67, is retiring this month, and his privately owned Colorado Publishing House will cease to exist. But the products of his labor, which over the past three decades have grown from publishing an alternative news weekly to regularly churning out seven varied publications, are moving to a different business model that company officials say will safeguard longevity. Final paperwork is being completed to form a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Sixty35 Media, Amy Gillentine, publisher and executive editor of Colorado Publishing House, said Thursday. Assets of the corporations which include the flagship Independent, known as the Indy, along with the Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Southeast Express, the Pikes Peak Bulletin in Manitou Springs, The Transcript legal publication and two newspapers under Colorado Springs Military Group will move to the nonprofit, she said. The shift will be completed by the end of October, according to Gillentine. This is a way to make sure the papers continue in perpetuity and not be based on a single person or owner but based on community effort or involvement, she said. We are very excited about moving forward in a new way. All the papers initially are coming under the Sixty35 Media umbrella, she said. The organization is named for Colorado Springs elevation of 6,035 feet above sea level. The two military papers, the Fort Carson Mountaineer and the Space Orbital for Schriever Space Force Base, will end on Nov. 11 and be reformatted into military and local news products that publish six to 12 times a year, Gillentine said. Colorado Publishing House considered several options when Weiss announced he would exit as chairman, said Ahriana Platten, chairwoman of the Sixty35 Media board, which is still being formed. Other members wont be named publicly until all seven seats are filled, she said. Do we just stop, do we sell the papers to another nonprofit or media group, were among the choices leaders mulled, Platten said. But when everything was done, the overall feeling was becoming a nonprofit ourselves would assure that we would stay local, which has always been foundational to this company, she said. The COVID-19 pandemic and the fluctuating economy have forced many businesses to reconsider their operating models, said Platten, a minister who previously ran Unity Spiritual Center in the Rockies. Switching profit structure is a recent evolution in the publishing field, said Tim Regan-Porter, CEO of the Colorado Press Association Network, a nonprofit trade outfit. Industry challenges are driving the nationwide trend, he said, since online platforms such as Craigslist and Google began eating into newspaper advertising revenue. Theres still a lot of money in the industry, so I think there will continue to be opportunity for people to own a company and make a profit, he said. But theres an increasing realization that regardless of whether theres a lot of profit or a little profit, that what we provide is very valuable to citizens, other businesses and democracy, Regan-Porter said. Its important that these news institutions remain in whatever form there is. Under Sixty35 Media, the papers will keep publishing hard-copy and digital formats, Gillentine said. Additional podcasts are planned for the organization, she said, and other developments will be announced later this quarter. News coverage wont change, Gillentine said, with the exception of no more election voter guides and endorsements. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) designation are not allowed by law to endorse political candidates. Our bylaws keep the journalism we do separate from board influence or interference, she said. We are adamant in all the paperwork that independent journalism is what we do and will continue to do. The mission to provide a public service and tell the stories nobody else is telling, give people a voice to people who dont have one and hold government officials accountable also will not be affected, Gillentine said. Three employees have been laid off this year, but only one in preparation for the switchover, she said. New positions, such as a digital editor, are being hired. Advertising sales will generate the bulk of the organization's revenue, Gillentine said, with foundation grant funding being sought for special projects and operating costs. A new membership program with benefits to supporters will roll out in November. Without local journalism observing the decisions that are made politically, environmentally, culturally, without someone reporting on that, the public is in some ways disabled when it comes to being informed and being able to respond and actively create the community they want, Platten said. Weiss has been a visionary, Gillentine said. He and Kathryn Eastburn started the Indy in 1993, following the 1992 Colorado voter-approved constitutional amendment that banned municipalities from prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the measure in 1996. His commitment to truth-telling and local community-based journalism is to be commended, Gillentine said. Hes been a great force in this community. Weiss did not return a call to The Gazette seeking comments on the new direction for himself and his company. The reality, said Regan-Porter, is that news still has to be sustainable. Nonprofit status removes some of the pressures related to the amount of return a news outlet generates, he said. Thats why some have found it a reasonable alternative, Regan-Porter said. The trend in general is a recognition that what we provide is more than the business, it's a public good. Tatiana Bailey, director of the UCCS Economic Forum, has left her role at the university to launch her own nonprofit, Data Driven Economic Strategies, which will focus on solutions for workforce development and producing economic reports for clients. Bailey served as the director of the forum, which stages an annual gathering that draws business and community leaders to hear a forecast for the coming year and provides monthly economic dashboards to partners, for more than eight years; her last day was Thursday. She said she wanted to start the nonprofit to provide thorough, unbiased and well-sourced economic reporting to communities and further workforce development by helping businesses, households and individuals make more informed decisions about career paths. "I feel that there is a lot of bias and misinformation out there," Bailey said via email. "... This is much of the reason I am passionate about providing solid economic reporting to any region that is interested." Based out of Colorado Springs, Bailey will work with various clients and communal bodies from local school districts to cities such as Colorado Springs to provide workforce development education to improve students' career outcomes and labor market reports that better inform about the economic landscape that businesses and families are trying to navigate. Three other cities and two local school districts are interested in working with Bailey either to track economic data or provide workforce-related metrics and assistance, she said. Rebecca Wilder, assistant program director of the UCCS Economic Forum, will join Bailey as a staff member at the nonprofit along with Bailey's daughter, Gaby Glassford, a University of Colorado Boulder graduate. Funding for the nonprofit will consist of donations, support from foundations and contracts with clients. Pikes Peak State College, The O'Neil Group, Community College of Aurora, Catalyst Campus and Pueblo Community College have expressed interest in supporting the nonprofit, Bailey said. The O'Neil Group, a private-equity company, is interested in partnering with Bailey to find out what jobs are needed in the community and how businesses and companies can pivot to meet those needs, president and CEO Kevin O'Neil said. "Someone has got to measure them (jobs) and say, 'Hey, weve got plenty of this. We need more of that,' and thats years of planning and effort." Lance Bolton, president of Pikes Peak State College, said: "Fundamentally reliable data that helps us direct the resources we have as a college, meeting the workforce needs of our community, to me, that's what the relationship is all about and what drives our interest of being a supporter." Bailey will continue to give weekly economic updates on Fox21. Joe Craig, the department chair of economics at UCCS, has been named interim director of the Economic Forum. He will serve in the role until the university finds a permanent director. Craig joined the Economics Department at UCCS in 2012 as an assistant professor, becoming an associate professor in 2019 and then chair of the department in 2021. Andy Rougeot is a Denver small-business owner who holds a graduate degree from Harvard Business School, and a former U.S. Army intelligence officer who served in Afghanistan. Rougeot is running for Denver mayor in the April 2023 municipal election. Sept. 23 was to be Brianna Ragsdales second-to-last shift as a police officer. Shed recently accepted a position as detective with Colorado Springs special victims unit, a promotion three years in the making. Sept. 23 was also the day of her seizure. She doesnt remember much about what happened. One moment, she was parked in her police cruiser, and the next she was in the hospital, being told she had three masses in the left frontal lobe of her brain. It was stage three cancer, she would soon learn, and the masses were a rare tumor called astrocytoma. Ragsdale is learning to cope and helping her family do the same, she said. Her three daughters are 5, 8 and 10 years old, with the youngest being too little to fully grasp her mothers cancer. Im just still processing, I guess, Ragsdale said. Korissa Mucaria was with her on a ride-along that day. Coincidentally, the two had just responded to a report of a body found of a seizure victim when Mucaria looked over and saw Ragsdale with her mouth agape. A former preschool teacher with first-aid training, she recognized the signs and promptly leapt into action. HOW TO HELP A GoFundMe site is accepting online donations to help pay for Brianna Ragsdales medical expenses. I tried to go into that side of my training of just being very clinical and recognizing the symptoms for what they were and trying to get her into a recovery position," Mucaria said. "It wasnt until afterwards that it really sank in that not only was she having a seizure, but that was also my best friend who was having a seizure." The two have been "tied to the hip" for 17 years. They attended the same high school, share the same birthday, and even have matching tattoos: rams, for their horoscope sign. We 100%, to the core of our being, we consider ourselves Aries, Mucaria said. Ragsdale is a headstrong, passionate leader, according to her friend. Shes outspoken and honest, much like herself, which has always worked for the pair they can tell each other how it is and unapologetically be themselves. Mucaria channeled that honesty the day she learned her best friend wanted to be a cop. She was a little surprised and a little fearful at first. Theres inherent danger to being a cop, after all. More than anything else, though, she was supportive. I told her shes a badass and she could absolutely do it, Mucaria said. The idea was fresh on Ragsdale's mind after fielding a call from a witness in hiding during the 2015 mass shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood. She worked as a 911 dispatcher at the time. "I stayed on the phone with that person until they were safe and it was a couple of hours and I didn't know what was going to happen. I had no idea," Ragsdale told The Gazette in a 2016 interview. "You want them to be safe, you do, because you connect with that person on a level that a lot of people don't understand. But you can only do so much." She grappled with her limitations, feeling as if she was not doing enough to help those in need, whom she regularly encountered over the phone. She needed to do more. I told myself, Im gonna put in for the police academy. If I get in, its meant to be; if I dont get in, Ill just be a dispatcher, Ragsdale said. It was meant to be. She started the academy in November 2018, graduated the following May, and has been on patrol ever since. On Ragsdales approach to law enforcement, Mucaria points to another of her friends tattoos, which read, Judas ate too. The message nods to the Bible, in which Jesus allowed the apostle Judas to eat with him at the Last Supper despite knowing hed betrayed him. Our role as people, Mucaria said of her friends perspective, is to give those who make bad decisions a second chance. Its just a constant reminder to her that even though criminals do bad things and people make poor choices, they still deserve the right to be seen as innocent until proven guilty, Mucaria said. Everybody deserves a chance to eat, too. Work is on hold for now because the tumors location in Ragsdale's left frontal lobe could impair speech, movement and decision making. To date, Ragsdale has displayed no neurological symptoms aside from the seizure. She will be put into a couple of clinical trials for treatment, Ragsdale said. The long-term goal is to shrink the tumor to a size small enough where it is safe to extract. "She's been through a lot more in her life than anybody will ever know. ... She's had a lot of personal experiences that have made her want to be the person who helps people," Mucaria said. "It's inspiring for the kind of person that people should be." A GoFundMe site is accepting online donations to help pay for Ragsdales medical expenses. Three dozen parents, students and community members staged a protest before Thursday nights Academy School District 20 Board of Education, calling for the resignation of board President Tom LaValley because of a videotaped statement he made for a church event last month. In the video clip, a three-minute statement exclusively for Church of All Nations, LaValley asked parents to trust, but verify what their kids are being taught in schools. Hold the district, school and teacher accountable, LaValley said, in part. Stroll through the school library. If you see objectionable material, go to the teacher or librarian or better yet, take several others with you who are like-minded. Several people delivered scathing rebukes of LaValley during the public comments, saying that his videotaped statement supported book-banning and encouraged parents to bully and intimidate librarians and teachers. A handful of speakers, like Bernadette Guthrie, read statements from D-20 teachers who either couldnt make the meeting or were afraid to attend. Throughout my decades in education, never have I witnessed a more dire time, including during COVID, Guthrie read on an anonymous teachers behalf. The suggestion that district staff are somehow grooming children is not only demonstrably false, it puts us all at risk. Meanwhile, nearly two dozen speakers many of whom belong to the community group Advocates for D20 Kids expressed unwavering support for LaValley, saying he was simply advocating for parental rights. I want to say Thank you to this school board all five of you and President Tom LaValley in particular for your leadership, said Joel Sorenson, a D-20 alumnus. LaValley said he was asking parents to take an active role in their childrens education and did not mean to upset anyone with his comments in the video. I want to say to any teachers, principals or other employees who watched the video I made this past July that my intent was simply to encourage parents to be involved, he said. I never intended to upset or offend anyone. Teachers are the backbone of this district, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for each of them. Near the end of the meeting, Superintendent Tom Gregory announced that he intends to retire effective June 30. Gregory, who has been with the district as a teacher and administrator since 1991, said he made the announcement seven months early in order to give the board time to find a successor. My 32 years at D-20 has been an adventure of experiences, rewards and challenges that have essentially become part of my being, he said. Simply put, I believe it is my time (to retire). LaValley thanked Gregory for his years of service and promised a thorough search for his successor. You have been a great superintendent, and you will be missed. Rest assured that this board will ensure a smooth transition, and we will hire an excellent superintendent who will carry on the great traditions of this district and will continue the pursuit of academic excellence and character development. The city of Colorado Springs is weighing whether to gate Old Stage Road to reduce late-night shooting across private property, vandalism, lighting fireworks, dumping and other illegal activity. You voted: Vietnam Airlines makes urgent landing to save passenger A Vietnam Airlines flight made an urgent landing in Azerbaijan to save a German passenger. Flight VN30 departed Germanys Frankfurt Airport at around 7:40 pm (Hanoi time) on Thursday for HCM City and had to land when the 18-year-old passenger faced some health problems. An airplane of Vietnam Airlines Despite being given emergency care by a doctor and a nurse who were passengers, his condition failed to improve. As a result, the crew decided to make a landing at the nearest airport early Friday morning (Hanoi time). The national flag carrier closely worked with Azerbaijan airport ground service staff to provide aid to the passenger. Vietnam Airlines asked the airport to send its staff to take the passenger to a local hospital. The case was also reported to the German Embassy in Azerbaijan and the passengers relatives. At around 3:38 am on Friday, the flight left Baku for HCM City, arriving roughly four hours late. Vietnam Airlines flights have had to land due to passenger health issues many times. Most recently, in August, Flight VN384 with 145 passengers on board, made a U-turn as it was travelling from Hanoi to Tokyo when a 10-year-old Japanese boy experienced a serious nosebleed. President Joe Biden is set to make Camp Hale an official national monument next week during a trip to Colorado. The Los Angeles Times reported the development on Thursday, saying Biden and Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet will host an event on Wednesday for the official designation. Camp Hale will be the first entirely new monument designated since Biden took office, the Times reported. Located near Leadville, the 10th Mountain Division trained in Camp Hale for mountain and winter warfare during World War II. Designating the site as a national monument will protect its historic buildings and wildlife habitats from further development, as well as honor the veterans who trained there decades ago. Colorado Democrats have been pushing for Camp Hales designation for years. Bennet, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse have sponsored and continually reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) Act since 2019, a sweeping public lands bill that would designate Camp Hale as a national monument, in addition to protecting more than 400,000 acres of public land across the state. The CORE Act has passed the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives five times but has so far failed to make it through the evenly divided U.S. Senate, needing the support of at least 60 senators to get past a filibuster threat by Republicans. In August, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sent a letter asking Biden to use executive action to make Camp Hale a national monument. A month later, Bennet delivered several more letters to Biden from 34 Democratic state legislators, four veterans' associations, three mayors, 22 county commissioners, 43 conservation groups and 47 local business owners calling for the designation. It is clear that Coloradans across the state support the conservation and preservation of these landscapes for future generations, wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse and Polis in the letter. The history of this area, including the role that it played in preparing the 10th Mountain Division for some of the most difficult moments of World War II, makes it the ideal candidate for a national monument designation. Making Camp Hale a national monument is a long-promised victory for Bennet, who is running for reelection in November. The Los Angeles Times reported that the designation is meant to boost Democrat Bennets chances of defeating his opponent, Republican Joe O'Dea, who opposes the CORE Act. Bennet did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Colorado Politics, but O'Dea criticized the move in a statement. Camp Hale is an amazing place, ODea said. (But) Biden and Bennet are moving the country badly in the wrong direction, and no amount of photo-ops in a place we all love will change this fact: accountability from the voters is coming soon. To designate Camp Hale as a national monument, Biden will have to use the 1906 Antiquities Act, which authorizes the president to protect public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans. This will be the fourth time Biden has used the act as president, previously using it to restore full protections to three national monuments that President Donald Trump reduced in size. Further details are not yet available regarding Bidens trip to Colorado or which cities he will visit. Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning contributed to this report. Three residents of a bankrupt Iowa nursing home have suffered broken bones in recent months, despite monitoring by a court-appointed patient care ombudsman. The injuries have triggered $30,000 in potential fines. The QHC Humboldt North in north-central Iowa filed for bankruptcy in January as part of the QHC Facilities chain of nursing homes. The chain is currently in the process of being sold to a new owner, Blue Diamond Equities, also known as Blue Care Homes. According to state inspectors, one of QHC Humboldt Norths 47 residents suffered a broken femur after a fall on June 6; another suffered a broken shoulder on Aug. 9 and a fractured clavicle on Sept. 4; and a third suffered a fractured hip on July 24. In the first two cases, the falls were alleged to be the result of workers improperly using, or failing to use, devices intended to help residents move from a standing to a sitting position. In the third case, the staff was unaware of the resident falling and was unable to determine how the mans hip was broken. The man told inspectors that he fell out of his chair. An employee told inspectors the man didnt really fall but slid forward and became caught in the gap between the chair and its raised footrest. Hours after the fall, an employee told a nurse the man was complaining of pain, and the nurse allegedly responded by saying the man does this all the time and failed to go to the mans room to check on him. The state has proposed a $30,000 fine against QHC Humboldt North, but held that fine in suspension while the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines whether a federal fine is warranted instead. In March, CMS imposed a $15,000 against the home after the facility was cited for medication errors and inadequate infection control. Ombudsman oversees care for $375 an hour Nine months ago, shortly after QHC Facilities filed for bankruptcy, a federal judge appointed Susan Goodman, a lawyer and registered nurse from Arizona, to act as a patient care ombudsman and monitor the care being delivered at the QHC homes. Since then, Goodman has filed regular reports with the court most recently on Sept. 9. None of Goodmans reports to the court make any mention of the injuries suffered by residents on June 6, July 24, Aug. 9 and Sept. 4. Goodmans report in May noted that the new management company operating the home did not bring immediate operational resources relative to continued staffing challenges. In her July report, Goodman told the court no staffing concerns were noted but added that the administrator was transparent in conveying that staffing challenges had arisen recently with the administrative assistant engaging to call-in additional staffing support when needed. She said the facility was more stressed than it had been during her previous visit but did not elaborate. In her Sept. 9 three-page report, Goodman told the court that 14 of the homes 47 residents were positive for COVID-19. She stated that aside from the COVID-19 outbreak, the most significant news at this location relates to turnover in the director of nursing role, noting that in the previous few months three different individuals had served in that job and the home was currently attempting to recruit someone into the position. Goodman told the court the larger challenge at Humboldt North is its ongoing reliance on workers from temporary staffing agencies rather than directly employed caregivers. Fortunately, Goodman reported, Humboldt North was able to hire a part-time nurse consultant who previously worked for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, referring to the state agency that currently oversees QHC Humboldt North and all other Iowa nursing homes. Goodman declined to comment on her reports to the court, telling the Iowa Capital Dispatch, I never talk to the press in my role as an ombudsman. In an affidavit supporting her appointment as QHCs patient care ombudsman, Goodman stated her regular billing rate was $375 per hour. GREENSBORO Election officials nationwide have been inundated with public records requests related to voting processes or equipment, along with demands to retain the 2020 ballots. And Guilford County is no exception. County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said he's received so many public records requests that he enlisted extra help to handle them. I was able to work with our administrative team for the county, which helped me with some of the volume, Collicutt said Thursday. And the requests have slowed down tremendously. All of the requests involved the 2020 election and none of them were from people in Guilford County, he added. Of the roughly 20 requests some of which were duplicates a couple came from individuals in North Carolina and the others came from out of state. They seemed like they were copy and paste, Collicutt said. Some of the requests involved confidential information, which were denied, Collicutt said. There's something that comes out of our tabulation system called the 'cast vote record log,' he said. It's millions of lines of code, but it does have information in there that in the right hands could technically identify voters and how they voted. Its not a record the county produces nor ever has, Collicutt said, though it is possible to create one. We were asked to produce that and turn that over, said Collicutt, who denied these requests based on the confidential nature of voting and the fact that it wasnt a record the county created. Reconciliation documents involving election returns also were requested. Retrieving those from the 2020 election is difficult because those are in boxes in the back of a warehouse, Collicutt explained. Some requests also sought longer retention of election documents. Elections directors in other counties have seen similar requests for public records. Michella Huff, the elections director in Surry County, told the Winston-Salem Journal that her staff spent 60 hours dealing with one request alone. That came from Keith Senter, who chairs the Surry County Republican Party. Senter made headlines this past spring when, according to state elections officials, he threatened to have Huff fired or her pay reduced if she did not comply with demands he made in regard to accessing voting equipment. The requests add to what's already been a busy year for Guilford County election workers. Races on Nov. 8 will be the third election this year, with primaries held in May and a Greensboro citywide election in July. And some voters remain concerned that the voting systems are compromised or that the workers administering the elections are somehow altering the results. I do enjoy talking to voters about it," Collicutt said. And typically ... I can handle a lot of things on the individual level. But that doesn't help on the larger scale the voters that don't decide to pick up the phone and call, so it is a challenge that we have to deal with. Guilford County uses voting machines made by Election Systems & Software, one of two companies certified for use by the State Board of Elections. Election workers test the equipment by running a dummy election, where they know beforehand what votes were fed into the machines. The vote tabulations must match what the known votes are, Collicutt said. The test votes are cleared from the machines before theyre installed at a polling place. They are not connected to the internet or a computer network, Collicutt explained. Our official results are always here in Guilford County on our closed system, he said. The results uploaded to the State Board of Elections website on Election Night are copies of the original data. "So if somebody were to mess with the website ... the actual results reside here on our closed vote tabulation system," Collicutt said. As for the upcoming mid-term election, Collicutt anticipates a good turnout judging from the number of mail-in ballot requests his office has received. Weve sent out 6,500 ballots right now and got back about 1,100, he said. Its a pace higher than anything weve seen in a nonpresidential election. Potentially, however, voters still could be required to produce identification to vote. While a much-litigated voter ID law approved by the General Assembly in 2018 has never been enforced, it is being evaluated by the state's highest court. The state Supreme Court heard arguments last Monday on whether it was reasonable for trial judges to throw out the law that they determined was tainted by racial bias and designed to help Republicans retain their grip on the legislature. The justices have not indicated when they will rule on the matter. As of (Thursday) a photo ID is not going to be required at all in North Carolina. And if that changes, we'll of course have to change our processes, Collicutt said. RALEIGH Work will soon begin to widen two more sections of Interstate 95 south of Fayetteville, as North Carolina gradually upgrades its part of the main highway between the northeast and Florida. The N.C. Department of Transportation this week awarded the second of two contracts to double the number of lanes on I-95 between Fayetteville and Lumberton to eight. The work, between mile markers 21 and 37, begins this fall and is expected to be finished by the end of 2026. NCDOT has now awarded six separate construction contracts worth $1.7 billion to widen I-95 south of the Interstate 40 interchange in Johnston County. The work began in late 2019 with a 15-mile stretch in Cumberland and Harnett counties, which should be completed sometime in 2024. If all goes as planned, I-95 will be eight lanes wide from I-40 south through Lumberton to mile marker 13, except for one stretch near Fayetteville. For the foreseeable future, I-95 will remain four lanes between exits 41 and 55, at either end of the Fayetteville Outer Loop when its completed in 2026. The traffic on that stretch of I-95 is not expected to be as heavy, because of people heading in and out of Fayetteville on the loop, said NCDOT spokesman Andrew Barksdale. In addition, Barksdale said, that section was the last part of I-95 to open in North Carolina and was built to modern standards. Other sections of I-95, some of which date to the 1950s, have outdated bridge, medians, shoulders and interchange designs that will be replaced with each widening project. The busiest section of I-95 in North Carolina, through Dunn, handled more than 57,500 cars and trucks a day on average in 2020. It opened in 1959. The outdated designs and volume of traffic have made I-95 relatively unsafe. From 2010 through 2012, as the widening projects were being planned, the fatal crash rate on I-95 in North Carolina ranged from .72 to 1.02 per 100 million vehicle miles, twice the statewide average, according to NCDOT. To widen the highway, contractors will install concrete barriers, eliminate shoulders in some places and occasionally close a lane overnight, according to NCDOT. Both lanes should remain open during the day. NCDOT has no immediate plans to widen I-95 north of I-40 to the Virginia line, which is generally less busy than the southern section. But the state is replacing aging bridges over the highway, and when it does it sizes the new ones to accommodate an eight-lane highway that will someday pass underneath. For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors Big news struck the 2022 election landscape last week as three new laws that changed how Montanans can vote and access the polls were declared unconstitutional. Come Nov. 8, people will once again be able to register to vote on Election Day, use student IDs and voter registration cards as primary identification at the polls, and accept payment for collecting ballots on behalf of voters unable to return them themselves. Plaintiffs in the litigation that brought about this return to pre-2021 election administration laws hailed it as a victory for ballot access in Montana. Tajin Perez, deputy director at Western Native Voice, said the outcome is a reminder to those who work to limit voting rights and access that they will be challenged and they will lose. Several youth plaintiffs in the state echoed that celebratory sentiment. Young people are balancing school and work and a lot of other adult activities for the first time, said Scout McMahon, initiatives chair for Montana Youth Action Todays decision ensures registering to vote and voting in Montana will stay simple and easy. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers who passed the trio of bills greeted the ruling as an expected disappointment from what spokesperson Kyle Schmauch characterized as a liberal activist judge. Asked for comment from Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, who requested two of the bills and is the cases sole defendant, spokesperson Richie Melby responded, We are not going to let down in the fight to make Montana elections the most secure and accessible elections in the nation. Melby did not directly answer whether Jacobsen would appeal the decision to the Montana Supreme Court. The ruling itself, issued by Yellowstone County District Court Judge Michael Moses, came in at a dizzying 199 pages not surprising given the thousands of pages of material submitted in the case and the hours of testimony delivered both during depositions and a nine-day trial. Contained within those pages are not only the grounds on which Moses ultimately determined that each law violated constitutional guarantees, but a smattering of legal reactions to the broader forces that propelled such changes into statute in the first place. Heres that additional context, along with a brief summary of more than a year of legal twists and turns. HOUSE BILL 176 In April 2021, Montanas 15-year practice of allowing eligible voters to register and cast a ballot on Election Day came to an end with the passage of HB 176. The bill stoked intense debate prior to its entry into state law, and succeeded on party-line votes in both legislative chambers. Plaintiffs in the resulting litigation spent months making a case to the court about the widespread popularity of Election Day registration, pointing to data from the secretary of states office showing that more than 70,000 people have made use of the option since its inception in 2006. They further argued that Election Day registration is especially useful for particular groups of Montanans who face unique challenges in registering in person or by mail namely, young and elderly residents and people living in Native communities. The defendant, Jacobsen, countered that Election Day registration creates an administrative burden for local election officials and results in long lines that might deter voters from casting their ballots. She also claimed that the added workload for county election staff opens the door to delays in reporting election results and mistakes in the processing of voter registration forms and ballots. What Moses said: Much of Moses Sept. 30 order was a rehash of expert testimony presented throughout the case, including evidence about the challenges to ballot access that income, infrastructure and geography create for certain voters. He recounted as fact a point that the plaintiffs had argued repeatedly: Native American and young voters disproportionately rely on Election Day voter registration as a result of such factors, and are thus disproportionately impacted by its elimination. Based on the factual record, Moses concluded that the earlier deadline for registration set by HB 176 denies Montanans their right to vote for one and a half days during each election cycle. It would be unconstitutional to deny Montanans the right to bear arms for one and a half days, he wrote, before extending the same observation to the rights to freedom of religion, due process and privacy also laid out in the Montana Constitution. As for the election integrity interests Jacobsen claimed were served by the law, Moses remained unconvinced. Jacobsen, he wrote, provided no evidence of any election errors or reporting delays resulting from Election Day registration, or that its elimination would reduce lines at polling places. If anything, Moses determined, the requirements and face-to-face interactions specific to Election Day registration make it more secure than the standard registration period. And by enabling local officials to fix any registration mistakes up to the last minute, he added, Election Day registration ameliorates any technical glitches the state might experience and constitutes a failsafe against disenfranchisement. There are myriad ways for the state to reduce administrative burdens on elections officials without the disenfranchising effects of ending EDR [Election Day registration], including hiring more poll workers on Election Day, offering simpler or more frequent training to election administrators, and modernizing election equipment, Moses wrote in his findings of fact, adding that theres no evidence that the Legislature or the secretary considered any of these options as an alternative to ending EDR. SENATE BILL 169 Heading into the 2021 Legislature, one of Jacobsens top policy priorities was addressing the issue of voter identification. That push resulted in SB 169, which revised the list of photo IDs Montana voters could use at the polls. Despite efforts by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to craft language that would garner wider support, the final version demoted student IDs to second-tier status requiring that they be accompanied by another identifying document while elevating concealed carry permits. It was signed into law alongside HB 176 in April 2021. Even before its passage, youth plaintiffs in the case lobbied hard against the bills treatment of student IDs. The case saw a continuation of that narrative, with several witnesses testifying that voters living on Montana campuses dont always possess a drivers license, a utility bill or a personal bank statement. The plaintiffs broadened their argument in court as well, emphasizing via expert witnesses that photo ID requirements are designed to ensure a voter is who they say they are, not to prove their eligibility or residency when voting in person. Jacobsens legal team defended SB 169 as a critical safeguard against voter fraud. They also argued that campus-issued student IDs offer no proof that a voter is a resident of Montana, and that the new law actually enhanced the use of other photo identification by scrubbing a previous requirement that all IDs be current and active. What Moses said: During the trial, no witnesses testified theyd ever used, or had to use, a student ID at the polls. Moses took note of that fact, pointing out in his order that the plaintiffs had not identified a single individual who was unable to vote due to SB 169. Even so, the plaintiffs argument won out, with Moses ruling that the laws demotion of student IDs was a violation of the state Constitutions Equal Protection clause. And he went a step further, concluding that lawmakers clearly intended to raise barriers specifically for young voters. It is no accident that the Legislature passed SB 169 just months after Montanas youngest voters turned out to vote at record rates, Moses wrote. Montanas legislators passed the bill to prevent some young Montanans from exercising their right to vote. Moses also dismissed Jacobsens claims about potential voter fraud, finding no evidence that SB 169 would do anything to prevent such crimes. He reached the same conclusion in relation to all three challenged laws, and spoke to the issue a driving force in the ongoing debate over election integrity in Montana repeatedly in laying out the cases factual record. The Secretary has provided no evidence that voter fraud is a substantial problem in Montana, nor that there exists any connection between voter fraud and the voting restrictions at issue in this case, Moses wrote. And indeed, all evidence presented in this case is to the contrary. The ruling on SB 169 did feature one twist. On the question of whether Montanas new voter ID law impermissibly interfered with the right to vote, Moses found that it did not. Given the mandate on lawmakers to protect the states electoral system, Moses wrote, the Montana Constitution cannot be interpreted to prohibit the Legislature from restricting primary ID to government-issued Montana or federal ID to prove their identity at a polling place and cast a ballot. HOUSE BILL 530 During the final days of the 2021 session, Republican lawmakers revived a previously unsuccessful effort to raise new laws around ballot collection in Montana. A bill originally aimed at directing the secretary of state to adopt new rules addressing election security HB 530 was amended to include a prohibition on offering, providing or receiving pecuniary benefit for distributing ballots to or collecting and delivering them for Montana voters. Violation of the law carried a civil penalty of $100 for each ballot distributed, collected or delivered. Several plaintiffs in the case, including the Montana Democratic Party and Western Native Voice, had been down that road before. Theyd challenged a previous 2017 law implementing restrictions on ballot collection and won in two separate district court rulings. This time around, the plaintiffs resurrected similar arguments: that paid ballot collection alleviates access challenges for Native American voters, and is in many cases the only way elderly and disabled Montanans are able to vote. Jacobsens lawyers once more invoked the threat of fraud, arguing that paid ballot collection opens the door to coercion and intimidation on the part of people collecting ballots from others. The defenses counsel also challenged HB 530s ripeness for a legal challenge on the basis that Jacobsen had not yet begun the process of establishing new rules around ballot collection as required under the law. What Moses said: First off, Moses waved off Jacobsens assertion that the law wasnt ready for judicial review, stating that the language of HB 530 had already had a chilling effect on Western Native Voice and other groups that have historically engaged in paid ballot collection activities. In response to the election security argument, he again concluded that Jacobsen had presented no evidence to support a link between paid ballot collection and voter fraud. As for the plaintiffs claims, Moses wrote that little has changed in the two years since the Montana Supreme Court and two district courts invalidated the Ballot Interference Prevention Act. The factual record in those cases regarding the burdens on certain groups of voters were identical to what plaintiffs presented in Moses courtroom, leading him to rule that HB 530 unconstitutionally burdened the right to vote and violated the Constitutions Equal Protection clause. Moses concluded as well that the law and its $100 penalty violated the free speech and due process rights of organizations seeking to engage in ballot-assistance efforts. HB 530 also set the stage for Moses most damning indictment of the Legislatures motives in passing new election administration laws. In his legal conclusions, Moses addressed at length the procedural process that led to HB 530s paid ballot collection ban. Lawmakers were plainly on notice about the discriminatory impacts of such measures after the litigation over BIPA, Moses wrote. Despite that knowledge and cautionary testimony entered on the sessions earlier, unsuccessful ballot-collection bill, Republican legislators added the provision at the last moment without any committee hearings or opportunity for public testimony, Moses wrote. This irregular procedure is itself indicative of discriminatory intent, Moses concluded. As of Oct. 5, the Montana Supreme Courts docket showed Jacobsen had not filed an appeal in the case. Speaking to his Helena-area congregation last month, Pastor Paul McElroy thanked the 115 or so worshippers who had signed what he called petitions to stop the state of Montana from destroying ballots from the 2020 elections. That many identical public records requests had been dropped off at the Lewis and Clark County elections office the week before. They asked for information central to the latest push by activists who falsely suggest widespread election fraud caused President Donald Trump to lose his reelection bid nearly two years ago. Trump won Montana in 2020 with nearly 60% of the vote. They were going to shred all the evidence of the 2020 election, McElroy told his congregation, in a video later posted to the Mountain Family Fellowship Churchs website, unless there were petitions signed from people in the state of Montana to do that. That isnt accurate, yet similar appeals have spurred a wave of duplicate efforts across Montana and other states. The result, according to elections officials in Montana, was a deluge of records requests landing on their desks as Election Day nears. Mike Lindell, the My Pillow CEO, and other nationally prominent election deniers have told their followers that the 22-month retention period required of local officials for federal election materials would expire Sept. 3. So in order to preserve possible evidence of election meddling, they said, requests needed to get in before the deadline. To date, no evidence of widespread election fraud has emerged, despite scores of unsuccessful lawsuits brought by Trump supporters and partial recounts of ballots in some states all of which have reaffirmed the official election results from 2020. In Montana, election officials have reported harassment and occasional threats from right-wing activists who continue to advance false election theories. At the end of the day, if they keep bombarding us with records requests, thats going to infringe on our ability to run the current election, said Connor Fitzpatrick, the Lewis and Clark Elections Department supervisor. It does take time to respond to every records request Im pretty confident were on the ball (responding to requests), but with an election coming up, without anything extra going on, an election is crazy busy. Montanas transparency laws ensure public access to most government records, with exceptions for privacy, criminal justice or security concerns. Fitzpatrick said he views responding to citizen requests for records as part of his job, but noted that a single request would accomplish the same outcome. Scores of additional, identical requests only tie up more office time for him and his staff. In any event, the cast vote records being repeatedly requested isnt something the county has. The requests for CVRs, sometimes referred to as ballot manifest reports, prompted enough questions to the Secretary of States Office that Elections and Voter Services Manager Stuart Fuller emailed each county election administrator across the state with guidance on how to respond. Even if the county uses a tabulator and the software required to generating CVRs, he wrote, they would need to have already opted to run the report. And even then, he noted that election materials including voted ballots and/or electronic copies of voted ballots (such as the CVR report) are protected by law under seal, Fuller wrote in the August email. A court order is required to lift the seal. This is just their way around, Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Rina Moore said, referring to CVR requests shes received from a local election integrity group. They think if they get the cast vote record, they dont have to go to court and ask for access to the ballots. In the past 18 months, Moore has fielded a range of records requests related to the 2020 general election, some of which shes been able to provide, and some (like the names and addresses of volunteer election judges) she hasnt. She sees the CVR requests as just the latest push by election deniers at the national level, as seen on Lindells continuously-streaming online TV channel. Its almost a road map for whats happening next, Moore said of the channel, which consistently churns out fresh conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election. The CVR requests had appeared in nearly two dozen states across the country as of last month, according to the Washington Post. The story noted that the requests began proliferating after Lindell urged his followers to obtain cast vote records from every election office in the country during an August gathering dubbed the Moment of Truth. Pastor McElroy didnt respond to an interview request, but church member Donna Elford led the Mountain Family Fellowships effort to amass public records requests in the Helena area. In an interview, she acknowledged that duplicating the requests wouldnt change the information they get, but said the tactic was born out of frustration that other records requests werent being fulfilled by the county. I dont know how many its going to take for them to answer us, said Elford. They have said that they are busy. And I get that, everybody works for a living, I understand that, but thats their job. Since March, her group has been submitting records requests to the county, she said, but has failed to get responses to several of them. Were not being conspiracy people," Elford added. "We have concerns and we keep asking and we keep pointing out things and were not getting answers." Lewis and Clark County Clerk and Recorder Amy Reeves disputed this. In an email, she said her office has responded to each of the requests related to election records, though in one case she didnt hear back after providing a cost estimate. And the CVR requests couldnt be completed, she noted, because the county doesnt generate them. Elford said another member of the local election integrity group, and not Mike Lindell, instigated the CVR requests. But Elford made her request to the congregation, she referred to Lindells Moment of Truth event that had taken place a week earlier. Several other election administrators also said they received the CVR requests, but to varying degrees. Sanders County Election Administrator McKenna Wallace said she received just one, in August, but knows her counterparts in other counties have received more. In Ravalli County, Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg said she got about a half-dozen of the requests. They came in as her staff was also working to get ballots out to military and overseas voters, updating voters information prior to the close of regular registration, testing election equipment, taking calls from voters asking for information and fulfilling the multitude of other tasks in the run-up to a federal general election. Were definitely in the thick of it, she said. A Mexican citizen faces federal drug possession charges after law enforcement seized about 12,000 fentanyl pills and more than $62,000 in cash from a vehicle in which he was a passenger. Cuauhtemoc Cervantes Samaniego, 29, made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto on Thursday. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. If convicted, the charges carry a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years to life of supervised release. Samaniego has not entered a plea on the charges as of Friday. The federal charging affidavit states Samaniego was suspected of trafficking fentanyl in Flathead County from May 2022 until October. Federal Homeland Security investigators got a tip of a possible large load of fentanyl heading from San Diego, California to Kalispell in a black Honda Civic during the first week of October. They located the suspect car and its owner consented to a search of the vehicle. Officers found about 12,000 blue pills known to be fentanyl under the center console, along with a pistol and more than $62,000 in cash. Samaniego was identified as a passenger in the vehicle and arrested on suspicion of being the person responsible for the drug distribution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark is prosecuting the case. DECATUR Richland Community College is the first community college in Illinois to partner with JED Campus to offer mental health and emotional well-being supports to students. The JED Foundation provides us with a strategic plan to help support and enhance our initiatives around mental health and well-being, said Isaac Zuniga, better known as Dr. Z, the vice president of student success. It is customized to support our community and our students with mental health as its focus. We know there's a crisis in community colleges with mental health, anxiety and depression and for us to be able to support our students through those transitions and those crises that they have is important to us. Richland kicked off the effort with Fresh Check, an event with booths from campus and community organizations that can provide that support. JED sent representatives to meet with students and staff to find out what is already available and what students might need, Zuniga said, to prepare that strategic plan. The report's going to come back to us and give us opportunities for improvement, he said. We're happy to be a part of it and happy to provide support to our students in that capacity. At community colleges, said Elijah Matthews, a student studying social sciences at Richland, students often come to campus for classes and go home or go to work and don't have a support system of friends and social activities. They can become isolated and when difficulties arise, they have nowhere to turn. It's an effort to try and help build the community on campus a bit, Matthews said. A big (concern) was suicide awareness, said Shawn Blakeman, who is earning his GED at Richland in preparation for joining the Coast Guard. We need people to look for those warning signs for other students, to say 'Hey, if you need something, we're here to help.' A counselor from Crossing Healthcare is also available to students, and Sue Webster, coordinator of student engagement, said Meta Therapy, with a link on the college's website, is another way for students to seek help. If something is going on at home, for example, Blakeman said, it's important for students to know they have someone on campus they can talk to. One of the problems the students mentioned to the JED representatives, Matthews said, is that a lot of days, there isn't anything going on to keep students on campus when their classes are over. COVID ended several of the clubs and social groups during shutdowns and they haven't regrouped since things have opened up. For the most part, you have this block of time when something is going on and the rest of the day is just dead, he said. With more activities available, more students will stick around outside of class and make those personal connections. So we're trying to bring more of a community effort in to kind of branch out, Blakeman said. So there's something to do during a passing period. 'Oh, this is going on, let's go over and check this out.' DECATUR Police announced Thursday that a former Decatur resident was arrested in Mattoon in connection with a murder case that is more than a year old. Kaylen M. Smith, 26, was booked into the Macon County Jail on a preliminary charge of first degree murder in the July 21, 2021 shooting death of Antwane L McClelland Jr., 26. He is being held on $2 million bond. A statement from Decatur Police Lt. Scott Rosenbery said Smith had been tracked down by members of the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Task Force. In September, Damariyon T. Mills appeared in Macon County Circuit Court and was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of the aggravated discharge of a firearm in the same incident in which McClelland was killed. Mills, 23, got six years for that offense with another three years to be served consecutively, after admitting the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a second violent incident dating to February of 2021. Rosenbery said the murder investigation was not finished and appealed with anyone with information to come forward. Call the Criminal Investigations Division at 217-424-2734 or Crime Stoppers at 217-423-8477. DECATUR An incident of what police described as violent threats made by a 17-year-old male student at the Lutheran School Association High School in Decatur is now under investigation. Decatur police Lt. Scott Rosenbery said patrol officers were dispatched to the school at 10:44 a.m. Wednesday in response to the threats. We conducted a preliminary investigation and right now I have it assigned to a detective in our juvenile division, Rosenbery told the Herald-Review. Rosenbery said he would not comment on the nature of the threats or how they were made. Were going to be doing some investigations on the tech side, those are still pending, looking at how the threats were made, he added. Rosenbery said the student involved is not being held in detention, and he said he didnt know what his status was with the school. Brian Booth, executive director of the LSA, said in a statement Thursday: We are working closely with the Decatur Police Department as there is an ongoing investigation involving one of our students. We are taking every measure to ensure the safety of our students and had a great school day today. We have been sharing consistent communication with the parents and students about what's going on and working to dispel any false information that has been circulating. We appreciate prayers and support for our school community! Staff Writer Valerie Wells contributed to this report. DECATUR Days after a political advertisement featuring a former sheriff began airing, the Macon County Sheriff's Office made clear Friday that it does not endorse candidates for political office. "Deputies and retired employees are entitled to endorse or support political candidates in any manner they chose as long as they are not portraying themselves as a member of the Sheriffs Office," according to the statement. The clarification comes amid likely confusion after the debut of a television advertisement earlier this week from the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Nikki Budzinski. The ad features retired Macon County Sheriff Tony Brown and focuses on endorsements Budzinski has received from law enforcement and first responder groups. "Nikkis endorsed by police because she is a strong voice for law enforcement," Brown says in the ad. "And shell strongly oppose anyone who wants to defund police. Nikki Budzinskis got our back and weve got hers." However, the ad only identifies him as "Sheriff Brown" and he appears to be wearing a polo with the words "sheriff" on his sleeve and the Macon County Sheriff's Office logo on his chest. And there are portions of the ad where Brown is standing in front of a squad vehicle with police lights flashing. Nowhere in the advertisement does it identify Brown as the "former sheriff" or make clear that he is acting in his capacity as a private citizen. The statement from the office he formerly led continues by saying that Brown "is not representing the views of the Macon County Sheriffs Office but rather his personal opinion." Brown, a Democrat, was elected sheriff in 2018 after a judge had determined he defeated Republican Jim Root by one vote. This led to a prolonged legal battle that wasn't resolved until last year when a judge ruled that result had been wrong and Root had in fact been the winner by 16 votes. Brown accepted the judge's ruling and retired in June 2021, clearing the way for Root to take office. Root is running unopposed for reelection. Brown could not be reached for comment Friday. Budzinski's campaign declined to comment on the matter. Budzinski is seeking to flip the 13th Congressional District, which stretches from East St. Louis to Champaign-Urbana, towards the Democrats. Incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, was drawn out in redistricting and ultimately ran unsuccessfully in an adjacent district. The Republican nominee is Regan Deering, a Decatur community activist who is a member of the family that ran Archer Daniels Midland Co. for more than four decades. Perhaps to inoculate herself from some of the "defund the police" rhetoric associated with the most liberal members of her party, Budzinski has highlighted the support she has attained from law enforcement. Most notably, Budzinski has the support of the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association, a conglomeration of 189 downstate police unions. The ad began airing on Tuesday in the Champaign-Springfield-Decatur and St. Louis television markets. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High around 70F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low near 45F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. BRISTOL, Va. The city of Bristol Virginia is preparing to enter into a consent order with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regarding violations at the embattled city landfill. On Friday the council met in closed session, citing consultation with legal counsel regarding actual or probable litigation VDEQ versus the city. After the meeting, City Manager and City Attorney Randy Eads released the following statement. A case has not been filed by DEQ, Eads wrote. This meeting was preemptive in order to update council on matters that are related to Notice of Violations at the landfill, which we are addressing. Council has granted authority to the city manager to sign a consent order with DEQ. We continue to have productive conversations with DEQ in order to resolve violations at the landfill. A consent order is a legally binding agreement between two parties that has the impact as a court order. In this case, an administrative agency, the Department of Environmental Quality, has issued a series of notices of violations to the city regarding specific issues with its solid waste landfill. Under such an order the licensed operator the city agrees to comply with specific requirements to resolve the violations which could include disciplinary sanctions or fines. The agency has not imposed any fines on the city, Eads said. An attempt to speak with an official at the Southwest office of DEQ was unsuccessful Friday. A consent order could apply to all notices received since issues with the landfill first arose in December 2020, Eads said. To date the state agency has issued seven notices of violation between Feb. 22, 2021, and May 3, 2022, regarding a variety of compliance issues, and multiple warning letters the most recent came Aug. 26, 2022. If issued, the consent order would be the third action regarding the citys landfill. Last December, the city and BVU Authority entered into a compliance order regarding the city landfills regular discharges of benzene into the utility providers sewer system. That agreement requires the city to take comprehensive corrective actions to address deficiencies, implement controls, and risk management practices on benzene levels. It also limits wastewater volumes and flow rates through an equalization flow tank. The priority is the removal of the benzene as soon as possible. In June, Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee agreed to a preliminary injunction regarding the complaint Bristol Tennessee filed in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. The injunction includes timelines for specific remediation steps at the landfill to occur. Those steps were based on recommendations by a group of experts empaneled by DEQ. The panel issued a series of recommendations designed to resolve odor, emission and other issues with the landfill. The first was to stop accepting all trash, which occurred Sept. 9. Peak fall colors are near in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. According to Dr. Wayne Clatterbuck, professor at the University of Tennessees Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, the height of fall leaf colors varies by elevation, but higher elevations in East Tennessee may see peak colors as soon as next week. In East Tennessee primarily itll probably be about the third week (of October) going into the fourth week down in the foothills, Clatterbuck said. In Southwest Virginia, Clatterbuck sees a similar forecast with leaves on top of Mount Rogers likely experiencing their most captivating colors this weekend and into next week, with more vibrant shades coming to lower elevations later this month. As you come down into the valley, down to Abingdon or somewhere like that in Virginia, then the leaf color is going to be probably (peaking) the third weekend (or) the fourth week of October, Clatterbuck said. Bill Miller, forester with the Virginia Department of Forestrys Abingdon office, sees trees in the region reaching their most captivating hues around mid-month. Wise County is one place he recommends seeing the leaves before they fall. If I were going to recommend a driving tour, Id recommend folks leave Abingdon and follow [U.S. Route] 58 through Scott County, Miller said, who recommends a detour at Natural Tunnel State Park and a stop at Flag Rock in Norton. Catch [U.S. Route] 23 around Weber City and follow it all the way back around to Norton. Wherever you may be in the area, theres no shortage of places to view the phenomenon. I like driving rural roads and looking at colors that way, instead of going to some place thats got a lot of people there, Clatterbuck said. Youll see some brilliant colors just driving on the backroads. Alicia Phelps, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association, said October can be one of the biggest months of the year when it comes to visitations and overnight stays in the region. Phelps long list of places to view the leaves in Northeast Tennessee includes Roan Mountain, Doe Mountain in Johnson County, Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Buffalo Mountain Park in Johnson City and South Holston Lake in Bristol. Olivia Bailey, director of marketing for Friends of Southwest Virginia, said their region also offers a variety of places to visually soak in the fall colors. We are lucky in Southwest Virginia that we have several different elevations, and so we get those peak time periods that hit at different points during the month, Bailey said. Places in Southwest Virginia like Breaks Interstate Park, High Knob and Birch Knob are all used to having leaf lookers, according to Bailey, who also recommends venturing out into some of the smaller communities in the area to see the colors places like Buchanan and Dickenson counties, Norton and Damascus. BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. Volunteers, community leaders, elected officials and police officers gathered Friday to honor two fallen officers and those who are continuing their work. Speaking at the 18th Annual Service and Protection Awards, which were held outside the Branch House Family Justice Center, Branch House Executive Director Deb Richmond began by remembering Officer Mark Vance of the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and Sgt. Steve Hinkle of the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, who gave their lives in service of their community in 2004 and 2019. Were humbled together today in the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our community, Richmond said. These are law enforcement and correction officers who have died in the line of duty. I personally worked with Officer Mark Vance and Sergeant Steve Hinkle. I consider them dear friends of mine. So, were together today to encourage the family and friends of all who have fallen to remember their sacrifices and openly pledge they will never be forgotten. The Steve Hinkle Professional Award was presented to a surprised Richmond, who served as a lieutenant in the Bristol Tennessee Police Department for nearly 30 years before joining Branch House. Officer Chesney Roark, was honored with the Mark Vance Memorial Award in recognition of work with victims of domestic abuse and going above and beyond in service of the community. For Roark, receiving the Vance award was an emotional moment, as well as a time of professional pride and recognition for her work. To me, it means that were not forgetting Marks memory. Hes alive with us still to this day in the sacrifices that he made for our community, and to have this award, this is the ultimate award in law enforcement in our area. This is what everybody strives to achieve, and to win this is the biggest honor, Roark said. Roark highlighted the importance of the Branch House Justice Center as a resource and safe space for the victims she and her fellow officers strive to serve and protect on a daily basis. They are the best thing thats ever happened to Bristol or Sullivan County having the resources local to help our victims where they dont, she said. Ive had them before. They dont want to go to the hospital. They want the anonymity of coming to this house and being just the only person here. They have everything under one roof that a victim needs to go out and be able to put a stop to abuse. During the ceremony, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy, Bristol Tennessee Police Chief Matt Austin and Kingsport Police Chief Dale Phipps presented certificates of recognition to officers who have performed acts of bravery in service of victims of domestic abuse. The officers recognized were BTPD Officer Cody Peters,Sullivan County Sheriffs Office Detective Steven Riner and Kingsport Police Department Detective Justin Fleenor. The families of Mark Vance and Steve Hinkle attended the ceremony. SCSO Lt. Price was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award by Richmond for his work assisting in the maintenance of Branch House. Russian troops abandoned a key Ukrainian city so rapidly that they left the bodies of their comrades in the streets. The scene offered more evidence Tuesday of Moscows latest military defeat as it struggles to hang on to four regions of Ukraine that it illegally annexed last week. Russias upper house of parliament rubber-stamped the annexations Tuesday after referendums that Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed as fraudulent. Responding to the move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally ruled out talks with Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. announced it would provide an additional $625 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more of the advanced rocket systems credited with helping Ukraine's military momentum. A free and robust press is a central ingredient of a flourishing and democratic society and given the existential crises we now face, also critical to its survival. But newsroom jobs have declined while local news deserts continue to grow and spread. A major cause is the rise of powerful internet platforms such as Google and Facebook, which control the bulk of digital advertising. A huge number of search results on Google link to news stories, reproducing enough content for users to consume. But 65% of these users do not click through to the news publishers websites. This means that even when their work has delivered value to the public, the businesses actually investing in and doing the work of journalism cant earn sufficient advertising revenue to cover their costs. This is not economically sustainable. Its important to recognize what is driving the problem here: It isnt the free market or even technological changes per se, but the specific market design, which current law helps to shape. These dominant internet platforms have effectively collected market power within their own corporate boundaries, ultimately allowing them to dictate terms to other businesses whose content they use. Yet the law prevents journalistic enterprises from coordinating among themselves to bargain with these giant platforms for the value of their product. A straightforward solution to the problem is to allow news outlets to band together for the purpose of negotiating with the internet platforms for payment for the content they create. That is what the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, now in Congress, would do. It would authorize news outlets to create joint negotiating entities to bargain for compensation from internet platforms for the news stories they use. It would also require binding arbitration if no agreement is reached. The largest national newspapers and television networks would be excluded, and the legislation would sunset after eight years. The bill also creates an exemption from federal antitrust law, the statutory framework that regulates economic competition and coordination. This legal framework which most people think of as simply promoting competition today already allocates economic coordination rights to large, powerful corporations such as Google and Facebook, to the detriment of smaller players. Some critics oppose the JCPA because they say it would create a news media cartel. But this criticism misunderstands both antitrust law and how economies actually work. Despite its current tendency to delegate market management to powerful firms such as the dominant internet platforms, antitrust law has also long authorized many forms of coordination between otherwise independent enterprises in circumstances similar to the one proposed for news media companies. The antitrust exemption for labor negotiations as well as long-standing exemptions for agricultural businesses and fisheries are all examples of authorized economic coordination in which smaller, less powerful players are allowed to band together to bargain with a more powerful and dominant actor -- in this case, an internet platform. Not only are such exemptions from antitrusts regulation of coordination already well-established in the legal architecture of our economy, it is hard to imagine the economy functioning well without them. Productive economic activity and the systems of distribution and commerce built on top of it require competition and coordination, and our law and institutions, including antitrust law, recognize this while channeling and shaping both. Indeed, the powerful platforms with whom news publishers now deal, and with whom they would collectively negotiate, are vast sprawling empires containing distinct but interconnected operations and investments. The bargaining power they have amassed is vast. Its reasonable to balance their substantial coordination abilities with the relatively modest coordination rights granted to journalistic enterprises under the proposed bill. Australia used a competition law to impose a similar rule last year, which has effectively required Facebook and Google to pay for the news content they distribute. That new system has already resulted in more investment being channeled back into the work of journalism. The JCPA falls squarely within the American antitrust tradition. It is good policy that effectively responds to an urgent need. Q: Is it true that my absentee ballot in the upcoming election could be disqualified if my signature does not match the one from my first vote seven decades ago? If that is true, although I have ordered and received the absentee ballot, can I disregard it and vote in person instead? D.C. Answer: No, your ballot is not verified by your signature and the signature will not be compared to your previous one. Tim Tsujii, the director of the Forsyth County Board of elections, said the voter and ballot are verified by the witnesses or notary who are required to watch you sign the ballot. Verification of an absentee voters identity is completed through the witness requirement. The voters signature on the return envelope shall not be compared with the voters signature in their registration record because this is not required by North Carolina law. State law requires that absentee by-mail voters mark their ballot in the presence of two witnesses or one notary public. The witnesses should observe the voter mark their ballot, but not how they voted, he said. As far as disregarding the absentee ballot, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections, there will not be a problem. Requesting an absentee ballot will not record you in the system as having voted. You are recorded as voting after casting a ballot. As long as you do not vote your absentee ballot, you may vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day. Q: Ive several very large campaign signs this year. How large can roadside signs be for political candidates? J.V. Answer: According to N.C. General Statute 136-32 (d), which covers sign placement and size, permission from the property owner must be obtained before the sign can be placed. The sign must be at least 3 feet from the edge of the pavement. The sign cannot block drivers ability to see at intersections. The sign cannot be higher than 42 inches above the edge of pavement. The sign cant be larger than 864 square inches (6 square feet). A sign that is 24 inches by 36 inches would be 864 square inches. The sign cannot block or replace another. Signs can be put up 30 days before early voting begins. For this years general election, early voting starts Oct. 20. Candidates have 10 days after the election, which is Nov. 8, to take their signs down. In addition to the state statute governing sign size and placement, municipalities can have ordinances concerning political sign size and placement. The ordinances in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and Clemmons are very similar to the North Carolina statute. In Lewisville, the sign size is smaller, 308 square inches, and candidates have until the Sunday after the election to remove signs. Shredding event Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 4265 Ebert Road, Winston-Salem, will have a shredding event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 8. A donation of $5 per box would be appreciated. Bags and file boxes only. All proceeds will go towards local mission opportunities. For the first time since mid-June, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labeled Forsyth as a county with medium rather than high levels of COVID-19. Before Thursdays CDC update, Forsyth had been considered in the high category for 13 consecutive weeks, as well as 16 of the previous 18 weeks. Meanwhile, the Forsyth County Department of Public Health is temporarily out of the Moderna bivalent booster vaccine, but still has Pfizer available. Appointments remain required. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is designed to protect people from the omicron variant and its most common BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, as well as the original COVID strain. The COVID-19 community level is determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. The most improvement in Forsyth was found in the new case count. Forsyth reported 136 new cases per 100,000 people, compared with 205 and 249 in the previous two reports. The rate of new COVID-related hospital admissions per 100,000 people was at 12.2, compared with 14.3 and 11.5 the previous two reports. Also, 3.5% of staffed inpatient beds are being used by COVID-19 patients, compared with 3.8% and 3.9% the previous weeks. The CDC recommends that people who live in counties with the highest levels wear masks in indoor public spaces, as well as on public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. In medium-level communities, residents are advised to talk to health care providers about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said there were 22 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county as of Thursday. Thats down from 27 on Sept. 29. Alleghany, Davie and Yadkin are the only counties in the Triad and Northwest N.C. considered to have high levels of COVID-19. Stokes County shifted from high to medium, joining Surry at that level. Wilkes County dropped from medium to low community levels. Remaining at low levels are Alamance, Ashe, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and Watauga. Overall, there are 10 N.C. counties in the high category, compared with 13 and 22 in the previous two reports. Monkeypox update The monkeypox case count in Forsyth was at 22, involving only men, as of 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Swift. The health department has administered 1,114 vaccine doses. Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that includes bumps that are filled with fluid before scabbing over. Doctors say monkeypox has thus far spread largely among gay and bisexual men and transgender people. Its important to remember that anyone in any group of people can get monkeypox, which spreads mostly through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, state Health Secretary Kody Kinsley said. The Forsyth health department is not releasing any information about infected individuals, citing public-health privacy policies. County public health officials are doing contact tracing to identity close contacts who may benefit from vaccination. DHHS reported there are at least 592 confirmed cases in North Carolina as of Thursday. The state reported that Forsyth and Guilford had between 20 and 49 cases, while Alamance, Davidson and Randolph had between 3 and 19 cases, and Davie, Stokes and Surry had one to two cases. Of the 592 statewide cases, all but 18 were identified as male, while 15 were female and three were other than sex assigned at birth. DHHS has Mecklenburg as the only county with more than 100 cases, while Forsyth and Guilford are joined by Durham and Wake counties with between 20 and 49 cases. About 69% of confirmed monkeypox cases, or 409, were among Black residents while 141, or 24%, were among white residents. About 57% of cases, or 336, involve people between the ages of 30 to 49, along with 211 between ages 18 and 29; 41 ages 50 and older; and 4 age 17 or younger. DHHS reported an uptick in monkeypox vaccinations involving either women or individuals who chose not to disclose their gender preference. Of the 13,063 people who have gotten at least one shot in the two-dose regimen, 84% are men, 9% did not disclose their gender and 7% were women. About 61% of those who have gotten at least one dose are white, along with 27% Black and 10% Hispanic or Latino. About 48% of vaccinated people are between the ages of 30 to 49, along with 26% between ages 18 and 29; or 26% ages 50 and older; and 1%, age 17 or younger. Forsyth deaths up, case count down An additional 17 COVID-19-related deaths were reported in Forsyth County this week, the highest count in the states weekly report since the height of the omicron surge in mid-February. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services cautions that its weekly update totals are subject to revision, sometimes factoring in cases and deaths that occurred weeks or months ago but were recently confirmed as COVID-19 related. Forsyths COVID-19 death toll stands at 894 since mid-March 2020. The update covered the week that ended Oct. 1. The last time the Forsyth weekly death count was as high as 17 was during the week that ended Feb. 19, 2022. The county reported a record 32 COVID-related deaths in the week that ended Feb. 12, 2022. North Carolina as a whole saw a similar surge in COVID-19 related deaths last week, with 327 reported for a total of 26,852 since the onset of the pandemic. DHHS reported Forsyth had 495 cases last week the lowest weekly count since 373 in the week that ended April 23. Of the new reported cases, DHHS said 15.5%, or 95, were people who have had COVID-19 previously but were re-infected with an omicron subvariant. Forsyth has recorded 114,352 cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic in mid-March 2020. Since mid-May, the number of new COVID-19 cases has been in the 700 to 1,200 range weekly. Forsyth health director Joshua Swift and Novant Health infectious diseases expert Dr. David Priest have stressed that the DHHS weekly case totals include only laboratory confirmed cases and dont include most people who determine they are positive with an at-home test. N.C. vaccine benefits The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday that the Biden administrations vaccination program is linked to more than 650,000 fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and more than 300,000 fewer deaths among seniors and other Americans enrolled in Medicare. In North Carolina, that includes 20,600 fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and 10,800 fewer deaths. The study, conducted by researchers with HHSs Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, underscores the importance of Americans particularly seniors and others at high-risk of serious outcomes getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. This report reaffirms what we have said all along: COVID-19 vaccines save lives and prevent hospitalizations, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. We now have updated COVID vaccines designed to protect you against the omicron strain of COVID that makes up almost all COVID cases in the U.S. Over 90 percent of Americans live within five miles of where they can access these vaccines for free. The report also found that in addition to the reductions in severe COVID-19 health outcomes, reductions in COVID-19 hospitalizations were associated with savings of more than $16 billion in direct medical costs. Winston-Salem police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing endangered man, authorities said Thursday night. Darnell William Covington, 56, was last seen Sept. 23 at 101 S. Broad St., police said. A Silver Alert has been issued for Covington who suffers from a cognitive disorder, police said. Covington stands 6 feet 3 inches in height and weighs 254 pounds, police said. Covington has short hair, a grey beard and brown eyes. Covington was last seen wearing a green shirt and khaki pants, police said. Anyone with information about Covington's whereabouts can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police. Prevention The writer of the Oct. 1 letter Biden criticism asks, If Trump wanted to destroy democracy, why didnt he do it while he was president? Well, it wasnt for lack of trying. Its only because there are three branches of government and the Democrats were able to control one for much of former President Trumps single term. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is very effective. She knows what shes doing. There were also people in Trumps administration, like Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and, God bless him, Vice President Mike Pence, who blocked his effort to overthrow the government. Plus, the bankruptcy king isnt very competent. As for the letter writers conclusion, It is wrong and hateful for the president (Joe Biden) to call Americans fascists, even the ones who are? Why? Ricky S. Phillips Winston-Salem An odd premise The Oct. 2 guest column If you are running for school board dismisses those who think that school systems handled the pandemic incorrectly with virtual learning and mask mandates and suggests that such critics should bring (their) crystal balls to each school board meeting ... . This is an odd premise, given that leaders throughout the world and across the political spectrum didnt require divination to conclude that keeping schools locked down was bad for students. For example, conservatives in Georgia and Florida reopened their public schools in 2020. And the more liberal government in Sweden never closed its public schools. They did not require a crystal ball to make these decisions. Rather, they relied on science, facts and logic. The results are self-evident. A recent study in the International Journal of Educational Research concluded that primary school students in Sweden suffered no learning loss. Contrast that with our school system, where reading and math proficiency has plummeted. It was clear by the summer of 2020 that students should return to school in the fall. But the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board voted repeatedly to keep our public schools closed. The upcoming school board election is a referendum on the boards Democratic leadership. The three Democratic at-large candidates, including the current board chair, are running together with the same platform. A vote for them is a vote for more of the same. But for reform, accountability and sound judgment, vote for my wife Sarah Absher and the Republican at-large candidates. Alton Absher III Winston-Salem Great changes It is very kind of the Journal to offer such great new options as an online website that offers hundreds of available digital-only comics, puzzles and columns. We, your readers, are happy that you are excited about these changes, but, clearly, most readers are not. True, the future of newspapers is evidently digital first, as you wrote in your Sept. 13 print announcement of the most recent changes (Changes coming to your Journal). But it would be refreshing if you and the many other once-glorious newspapers that have slashed their print editions to little more than flimsy newsletters would own up to the driving force here: cost and profit. Newsrooms have been gutted; news coverage has suffered; and the print product shrinks and shrinks until there is nothing left there worth reading. Now we print subscribers are greeted with ever-wider, front-page white-space margins that further squeeze out real content. More to get excited about! Michael Weaver Winston-Salem Not a fan Personally, I am not a fan of the changes that were recently made with the Journal. I am in agreement with the writer of the Oct. 1 letter The recent changes. After reading all of the gloom and doom in the paper, it is, or was, a pleasure to read all of the comics to at least bring some laughter! I, too, am considering whether to continue with my subscription, especially with the increase in price of the paper and the deletion of the comics. Debra Gaither Winston-Salem Amazon.com Inc. plans to hire 150,000 seasonal workers, about the same as last year despite slowing sales and predictions of a lackluster holiday shopping season. The worlds largest online retailer typically hires legions of temporary workers this time of year to help store, pack and ship items from its warehouses. Employees can earn more than $19 an hour, on average, based on their position and location in the U.S., Amazon said in a statement. The announcement follows Walmart Inc.s decision to hire some 40,000 seasonal workers this year, down from 150,000 in 2021. Amazon ratcheted up hiring during the pandemic to handle a surge in orders from home-bound shoppers. When consumers returned to their previous shopping habits this year, the Seattle-based company found itself saddled with too many workers and facilities. Amazon has since shuttered, delayed or abandoned plans for dozens of warehouses in the U.S. and Europe, Bloomberg reported in September. The company also winnowed its workforce primarily through attrition, Amazon says by almost 100,000 people between March and June, the biggest quarterly decline in its history. Meanwhile, third-party merchants who account for more than half of the companys online sales are bracing for what they fear will be a dreary holiday shopping season. Some expect to cut prices to move unsold inventory. Its an abrupt change from 2020 and 2021 when sellers were scrambling to get enough products into Amazon warehouses to meet pandemic-fueled demand, even as chronic shortages let them increase prices. This year, U.S. online sales will rise just 9.4% to $1 trillion, the first time growth has slipped into the single digits, according to Insider Intelligence, which in June lowered its earlier annual forecast. Spending on Amazon will hit $400 billion, up 9% and slower than the overall industry, the research firm says. Amazon, the second-largest private U.S. employer after Walmart, employed 1.5 million people at the end of June. Last year at this time, the company said it would hire about 150,000 seasonal workers. AURORA Aurora Cooperative and KAAPA Ethanol Holdings have agreed to a joint venture with the aim of increasing production and efficiency at ethanol facilities in Hamilton County. The two farmer-owned companies made the announcement in a news release. Aurora Coop operates ethanol facilities west of Aurora. "Aurora Cooperative believes this partnership will allow us to make the investments needed in order for these assets to remain a value-added destination market for our farmer-owners in the future," said Chris Decker, Aurora Coops chief executive officer. Aurora Cooperative is a strong promotor of E-15 and higher ethanol blend fuels, said KAAPA Board Chair Paul Kenney of Amherst. KAAPA Ethanol Holdings operates plants in Minden and Ravenna. Loving Highsmith isnt a conventional documentary about author Patricia Highsmith, who wrote, among her 22 novels, Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Eva Vitijas film does recount the life of Highsmith, who was born in Texas in 1921 and died in Switzerland in 1995 at age 74, spinning together old photographs and scene-setting footage, interviews with her relatives and excerpts from her diaries to provide the outlines of her story. But the focus, as implied in the films title, is Highsmiths romantic life as a lesbian who cruised the bars of New York City, found girlfriends and lovers in Europe, yet never fully connected with anyone, save for a married woman with whom she had to break off their relationship. Interviews with those women, including now 95-year-old American writer Marijane Meaker, who lived with Highsmith in the late 50s; German art-scenester Tabea Blumenschein, who died in 2020; and French teacher Monique Buffett reveal glimpses of the novelists troubled, ultimately lonely life Highsmiths mother, for example, who left her in Texas with her parents to remarry and move to New York, neglected the little girl and refused to accept her daughters homosexuality, setting up a painful, unresolved lifelong conflict. In New York in the closeted 50s, Highsmith became a celebrity playgirl on the lesbian bar scene, once bringing a dozen girls to Meaker, and then tried to settled down in Pennsylvania with Meaker, only to have the relationship fall apart in the throes of alcohol and anger. Her love life in Europe was similar, Blumenschein recounts going to transvestite bars frequented by David Bowie and the story of her relationships with Buffett and the unnamed married woman follow the pattern she set with Meaker. Vitija tries, with varying degrees of success, to connect Highsmiths love life with her writing, using film clips from Carol, the Todd Haynes movie based on her only lesbian novel, 1952s The Price of Salt; The Talented Mr. Ripley, where attempt is made to connect Highsmith herself with Ripley; and, somewhat bafflingly, An American Friend. Those, however, cant provide the full view of Highsmiths writing and her literary career. And the film makes no attempt to do so through, say, interviews with literary experts and contemporary LGBTQ+ scholars. Nor does the overused rodeo footage that is interspersed throughout the film mention Texas, show a scene of calf roping do much more than overuse some heavy-handed symbolism. That said, Loving Highsmith does provide an look at the novelist who never believed that her murder- and violence-filled books made her a crime writer and delivers some insight into how her sexuality and the lifestyle it created influenced the stories that, because of the silver screen, remain resonant today. A federal judge Thursday sentenced a 42-year-old Lincoln man to 18 months in prison for threatening a Colorado election official, President Biden and others online. "This was not merely a single or even small handful of threats," U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said. Using an anonymous account on Instagram, Travis Ford made a total of 18 threats to six public figures, including a Colorado election official, over a three-month period, he said. Ford made threats on the account associated with President Biden, saying "You'll be dead before Christmas," "You and Kamala need to be put to sleep permanently," referring to Vice President Kamala Harris; and "We need to kill all swamp creatures including this one and show them what will happen to future swamp rats." And he threatened the CEO of an election tech company, saying it was "time to blow up your company headquarters." "These type of threats are not within the mainstream of public discourse," Gerrard said. "They're not even close to normal. And this court will not condone this type of behavior, and I will do nothing to normalize it." On Thursday, Ford told the judge he takes accountability for his actions. "I understand and I'm fully aware that my actions caused unnecessary harm to others, and I'm genuinely very, very sorry," he said. Ford, who pleaded guilty, said he was ashamed and embarrassed he put himself and his family through this. Attorney Jason Troia argued for probation, saying it happened during confusing and stressful times, "not just for Mr. Ford but internationally for people dealing with stresses of the pandemic." He said Ford cooperated fully with the investigation and there was no indication that he would've acted on any of what he said. But the victims didn't know that, Gerrard said. Attorney Jonathan Jacobson of the U.S. Department of Justice, public integrity section, argued for a sentence of two years in prison, the maximum, saying there has been an epidemic of threats to election workers in this country. "These workers are simply doing their jobs and yet countless numbers of threatening, harassing and otherwise terrifying communications have been directed their way in the last two years," Jacobson said. He said 1 in 6 report having been threatened solely because of their job. "And that is how the defendant, Travis Ford, ended up on the government's radar," Jacobson said. In August 2021, Ford made anonymous threats on the personal Instagram account of an election official in Colorado, whom he had come to believe had mismanaged the 2020 election. In one, he wrote: Do you feel safe? You shouldnt. Do you think Soros will/can protect you? In another, Ford said: Your security detail is far too thin and incompetent to protect you. This world is unpredictable these days anything can happen to anyone. (with a shrugging emoji). The official reported it to law enforcement. "As the government's investigation revealed, they were just the tip of the iceberg," Jacobson said. He said he doesn't believe Ford is an imminent threat of violence or likely to reoffend but asked the judge to consider the message a sentence could have in deterring others. "They (election workers) are in fear right now. And they are aware of this case. They're watching to see how federal courts view threats that for no reason leave them and their families in fear," Jacobson said. In a news release Friday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department will not tolerate threats against public officials. "This sentence makes clear that those who illegally threaten election workers should be prepared to face meaningful penalties, he said. The Justice Department will not hesitate to hold accountable those whose illegal threats of violence endanger the public servants who administer our elections. This case is part of the Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the departments efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers whether elected, appointed or volunteer are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Asking Tosca Lee to choose the best book shes written is a lot like getting a parent to choose her favorite child. She loves them all equally. Thats the standard parental answer. But, she adds, they each have something that makes them special. Youve got your easy kid. Youve got your more difficult kid, said the Fremont author who recently finished writing a historical fiction about the Bataan Death March that will hit book stores next May. Id say this is the surprise kid because I never planned on doing this one. Oops. The Long March Home is so different than the others. And its a story she never would have considered until Marcus Brotherton approached her and asked her to partner with him on the project. I hadnt heard of this chapter of history and I wasnt sure that I was a good candidate to write a book about World War II, she said. I have written a lot of ancient history stuff stuff like the Queen of Sheba but this is relatively more recent. The more she researched some of the first-hand accounts of American soldiers malnourished and weakened prisoners of war who were forced by the Imperial Japanese Army to march more than 60 miles through the jungles of the Philippines to a makeshift prison in 1942 the more compelling the project became. Of the estimated 80,000 American and Filipino soldiers who made the journey, more than a quarter of them died and none were spared the torture and abuse of their Japanese captors. I think its really important, Lee said, noting that her research has been ongoing for about four years. You read these survivor accounts, and you just think, 'How could any one person survive that?' And yet people did. Her novel tells the fictitious story of three best friends Jimmy, Hank and Billy in Alabama who enlist and are stationed in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor is bombed. They are eventually captured by the Japanese army and subjected to the march that would forever change their lives, while costing thousands theirs. "You follow the present story line of the boys as they are fighting and as they become prisoners of war, but were also in the past as they are coming of age," said Lee, who said flashing back to their early-life innocence was a way to break up the violence that was their daily norm. "The reader needs a break from the grim reality of war," she said. We still call these people heroes in every way the Greatest Generation. We seemingly lose a few more each week, but they matter. What they sacrificed still matters. Thats why I think writing this was important to me, Lee said. Lee, the native of Roanoke, Virginia. who moved to Lincoln at the age of 6 and with the exception of her time at Smith College and Oxford University has always been nearby. "This is home," she said. And so she feels a tremendous sense of pride that she's been included in the John H. Ames Reading Series at the Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S. 14th St., Sunday at 2 p.m. "Its really cool to be plugged into the Nebraska literary heritage, to be recognized as a Nebraska author," said Lee, the great-great-great-granddaughter of a widow who was an original Nebraska homesteader. Following Sunday's event in Bennett, she's taking off for a three-day tour of western Nebraska with library stops in Sidney, Ogallala and Alliance. She has ties to the western part of the state. One of her thrillers, "A Single Light," was set in Sidney, so it makes sense for her to read excerpts from that novel during her library visits. Just being able to get back into the public again has the Lincoln East High School graduate excited. The pandemic-caused shutdown did a number on her, Lee says. Finding her creativity was a challenge and it didn't help that they had just begun the task of remodeling the house when COVID-19 struck. "Our house was torn up everybody was stuck at home," she said. "We had torn up the upstairs where we were going to put my office and here I was trying to write out of the bedroom and trying to keep the glare off my (computer) screen." Completing the remodel was a game-changer. Having a space to write each day made all the difference. There were some 20-hour writing days, a few days that she quit washing her hair and just threw herself into the project. "The 20-hour days are a lot harder after you turn 50," she said. Still, the end result is something for which she is proud. It might be a subject she knew little about at the start, but it might be the most meaningful book she's authored. "This is the first time I have had family members of World War II survivors thank me for writing this story," she said. Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday that he will leave it to the incoming governor in January to decide who to appoint to the Senate seat vacated by the approaching resignation of Sen. Ben Sasse if Ricketts decides to pursue that appointment himself. That would leave the decision to either Republican gubernatorial nominee Jim Pillen or Democratic nominee Carol Blood and may be an early indication that Ricketts is likely to pursue the Senate seat. It would avoid the politically uncomfortable act of appointing himself. If he decides to seek the Senate appointment, Ricketts said, he would "follow the process established for all interested candidates." Ricketts had nothing to say about a process he would follow if he decides to appoint someone else to fill the Senate opening. In issuing a news release at mid-afternoon Friday, the governor said "this is the only statement that will be issued prior to any potential change in status on Sen. Sasse." Sasse said Thursday he will resign from the Senate to accept the presidency of the University of Florida before the end of the year. The senator is expected to leave office in December, with a successor appointed to fill the Senate seat for two years, until January 2025. That timeline of possibly waiting until Nebraska's next governor takes office next January fits within the 45-day framework for filling a vacancy provided by Nebraska law. Nebraska voters will elect a new senator to serve the final two years of Sasse's six-year term in 2024. "It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the governor of Nebraska," Ricketts said in his statement issued Friday. "It is the greatest job in the world, and it will remain my No. 1 focus for the remainder of my term." Leaving the decision to the next governor if Ricketts decides to seek the Senate appointment is a somewhat bold, yet probably politically safe, bet that Pillen will win the governorship in November in view of the uphill challenge that Democratic nominees currently face in statewide contests in Nebraska. Ricketts completes his second and final term as governor in January, with an earlier expressed preference to remain in the public sector. The governor previously sought a Senate seat in 2006, but was defeated by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. Ricketts praised Sasse for his Senate service and said he believes Sasse "would make an excellent president for the University of Florida," where he has been chosen by a search committee as the only nominee for the opening. "He has one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate," the governor said, "and we need more conservative voices in our universities." The choice of Sen. Ben Sasse as the sole recommendation to be named as the new president of the University of Florida has sparked opposition from some students in advance of Sasse's scheduled visit to the campus Monday. "Nobody understands this choice at all," Bryn Taylor, co-president of the Graduate Assistants United union, said in a story published by the Gainesville (Florida) Sun. "It is an extremely political pick at a time when UF is making extremely political rules," Taylor said. "His track record in office is awful. He is vehemently anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ rights and anti-student loan forgiveness." UF College Democrats, Planned Parenthood Generation Action and the Alachua County Labor Coalition are organizing protests against Sasse's hiring, the newspaper reported. Allan Frasheri, co-president of Young Democratic Socialists of America, said if Sasse is ultimately chosen as university president, he will need to establish trust among the UF community. Sasse was the unanimous recommendation of the UF presidential search committee as the sole finalist to be named university president. On Monday, Sasse will meet with faculty, university staff and students on campus. The UF board of trustees will formally consider Sasse's candidacy Nov. 1. Republican Florida State Rep. Chuck Clemons said he was both "surprised" and "pleased" with the selection of Sasse as the nominee for president. "We need to have a person at the University of Florida who can navigate the political waters" in the state and nationally, he said. A petition drive to protest the choice of Sasse garnered about 175 signatures as of mid-morning Friday, the newspaper reported. The university counts more than 50,000 students, including more than 34,000 undergraduates. Sen. Ben Sasse's approaching departure from the Senate started the speculative engines running moments after Thursday's announcement that he will be chosen as president of the University of Florida. But Sasse may not be leaving the Senate until as late as December; he won't be interviewed by the university's board of trustees until Nov. 1. And an interview with the state board of governors comes later. Gov. Pete Ricketts presumably will choose the next senator, but under Nebraska law the governor has 45 days to fill a Senate vacancy and that opens the possibility that the decision could be made by the new governor who will take office in early January. Appointments to the Senate can be honorific, as a couple were in the 1950s, or designed to launch a new Senate career, as Gov. Kay Orr's appointment of David Karnes in 1987 was intended to do. But former Gov. Bob Kerrey ousted Karnes in the 1988 Senate race. Whoever is named to fill the vacancy created by Sasse's departure would serve until January 2025. An election would be held in 2024 to fill the Senate seat for the final two years of Sasse's current six-year term. Honorific appointees are expected to not seek election when their abbreviated term ends, opening the field to a wide array of candidates. Orr, the first Republican woman in the nation to be elected governor and still a force in GOP politics in the state today, comes to mind first as a potential Senate honoree, but she seems very unlikely to be willing to accept such an appointment. Ricketts will complete his second and final term as governor in early January and he unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Senate in 2006. Republican Sen. Deb Fischer has already indicated that she plans to seek a third six-year Senate term in 2024. Among the names dropped in early speculation swirling about who may be appointed to succeed Sasse is Ricketts himself, who presumably could be appointed by Republican gubernatorial nominee Jim Pillen if he becomes governor in January and if the appointment falls within Nebraska's 45-day timeline. The only real certainty is that speculation and the list of potential names will grow. As for Sasse, he told the Tampa Bay Times that he welcomes the opportunity to leave the political arena. "I'm excited frankly about the opportunity to step away from politics and onto a team of big-cause, low-ego people who want to build stuff and serve students and plan for the future," he said. About 600 teams of runners will tackle a 78-mile course from Omaha to Lincoln during Saturdays Market to Market Relay. The race, in its 15th year, will once again end with a post-event party near Pinnacle Bank Arena in the West Haymarket. This years relay starts at Aksarben Village in Omaha. Teams, made up of six to eight runners, start running at 5 a.m. and leave every 20 minutes until 9:40 a.m. Each team member takes on two or three stages that range from 3 to 5 miles apiece along the course. From Aksarben, runners will head south toward Bellevue, then west toward Papillion-La Vista South High School. After leaving Walnut Creek Recreation Area, they will pass through Springfield, Murdock, Elmwood and Eagle before finishing in Lincoln between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. More than 75% of the course is on recreational trails, including the MoPac, Billy Wolff trails and Salt Creek Roadway. To mark the event's 15th anniversary, the 18 runners who have participated each year will wear special race bibs. Other participants are encouraged to wear gear received for running in past events. Its amazing to think our crazy idea of a relay race from Omaha to Lincoln is now 15 years old, says Ben Cohoon, race director. The awesome runners, volunteers and sponsors who join us year after year for this running road trip are special folks and we really appreciate their support. Market to Market is organized by Pink Gorilla Events. The Lincoln-based company also organizes the Good Life Halfsy. Organizers will offer safety recommendations to participants such as wearing masks in crowded areas and opening vehicle windows as they drive to exchange points. Were excited, Cohoon said. Runners are extremely excited that things are back to normal as far as an outdoor running event. A new agreement between the Nebraska Hospital Association and the University of Nebraska Medical Center will open a trove of aggregate, de-identified hospital data to researchers and students seeking to study health trends across Nebraska. Jeremy Nordquist, the hospital associations president, said researchers will be able to analyze data to enhance public health in the state, address rural and minority health disparities and identify trends in chronic diseases. This is really a big step to work with UNMC on this, he said. Were really excited about this. Nordquist said the data that researchers will be able to access is claims data that its member hospitals send to insurance companies in order to get paid for the care they deliver. The associations members include all of the hospitals in the state except Veterans Administration facilities and a few outpatient surgical centers. That means researchers could tap data from the states hospitals. Generally, hospitals maintain their own data, making it challenging for researchers to conduct studies on a broader scale. Nordquist stressed that the data does not come from hospitals electronic patient records and therefore does not include patient names, addresses or Social Security numbers. However, it does include some demographic information, specifically ZIP codes, age, race and ethnicity. That will allow researchers to study trends in various parts of the state. They could, for instance, compare five-year diabetes trends among Latino men over age 65 in certain ZIP codes. Researchers then could use the data to seek grants, try interventions intended to address problems and see if those interventions result in improvements in health indicators. We think the aggregation of the data and the demographic and geographic information ... really is extremely powerful and almost limitless in the information and research that can be done from it, he said. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UNMCs chancellor, said the association or member hospitals also could ask UNMC researchers to answer questions about their own data if they dont have the resources to do so. Its data-sharing to benefit the hospitals and the communities they serve, he said. And its data-sharing for us to benefit the state through the research that we do and to push back the frontiers of science. Nordquist said the hospital association maintains five years of data at a time and updates it quarterly, making it close to real-time information. The hospital association does not, however, have the staff necessary to do the kind of research that academic researchers can conduct. State officials also will have some access to the data, and the association is working with them on ways they can use it to inform policy. The association may consider other partners. With nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements now in place, Gold said, instruction for interested researchers will begin in October. The university should be ready for the first projects by the end of the year. Processes will be in place to vet them. The proof of the pudding will be in the impact on some of the local communities that we serve, Gold said. A week ago, I worried that the anti-regime demonstrations in Iran might falter if the mostly young protesters didnt get some help from grown-ups like the trade unions or the so-called moderate elements within the theocratic state. I reckoned it would take the participation of groups of that stature to rattle Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republics ruthless supreme leader. The adults have not yet risen to the occasion, but the tyrant and his theocrats have been confronted and confounded by an unexpected constituency: schoolgirls. They represent a new kind of challenge for a regime that usually deals with dissent by licensing its security forces to use torture and murder. Does Khamenei dare turn his thugs on children? Now in its third week, the protests have evolved from an expression of disgust over the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in the custody of Irans notorious morality police. Women continue to dominate the demonstrations, but they are no longer content merely to burn their hijabs, or headscarves, in symbolic opposition to the regimes restrictive dress code. Now, they are calling for the dismantling of the entire theocratic edifice of the state. Their ranks have been joined by schoolgirls, who are likewise calling for the downfall of the regime. Video clips of girls confronting teachers and officials in classrooms are proliferating on social media, despite the governments efforts to impose a communications blackout. In some clips, the kids can be heard chanting Death to the dictator, and stomping on images of Khamenei and even of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Even for a regime practiced in the dark arts of dissimulation, these videos are hard to reconcile with its usual dismissal of dissent as the work of foreign actors. Per usual, Khamenei is blaming the protests on the U.S. and Israel, but he will struggle to explain how they managed to reach into the classrooms, past the minders appointed by the state, to pollute the minds of children. Demonstrations have also spread across university campuses across the country, accelerating after a bloody crackdown on protesters at Tehrans Sharif University. Beating down on college students is practically routine for the regime. Iranians are all too familiar with images of carnage in the campus, especially from 1999, when Khamenei unleashed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia against students protesting censorship. But the supreme leader has never set his attack dogs on schoolkids not yet, anyway. Will the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij balk at clubbing children into submission, especially given the risk that their actions will be caught on cellphone cameras and shown to the wide world? They must know that the world is paying attention. In the U.S., Canada, Europe and Turkey, people have rallied in solidarity with the Iranian protesters. Their signature slogan Women! Life! Freedom! has been taken up in Afghanistan, where women are fighting their own battles against misogynistic rulers. World leaders are watching, too. Having already announced sanctions against the morality police and other regime officials, President Joe Biden has announced he will impose further costs on those responsible for violence against the protesters. The European Union is considering sanctions requests from Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic. Any action against schoolkids will undoubtedly invite harsher penalties, such as expulsion of diplomats and barring Iran from international forums. Even allies such as China and Russia will find it hard to back Tehran in those circumstances. But perhaps most worrying for the supreme leader is that a crackdown against children might finally bring the grown-ups into the streets. The kids are a problem Khamenei cant easily solve. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is making no indications he plans to pardon all simple marijuana convictions in Wisconsin after President Joe Biden announced Thursday he would be pardoning all those federally convicted of simple marijuana possession. Biden, in a tweet Thursday afternoon, said Im calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana offenses. Just as no one should be in federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either. While Bidens announced pardon would clear the records of thousands of misdemeanor convictions, the majority of the countrys marijuana possession convictions are at the state level. No one is expected to get out of prison because of Bidens pardons, but the Biden administration indicated that it hopes the pardons may remove barriers to jobs, housing and education. Evers remains open to pardoning individuals with marijuana convictions and has been doing that consistently since being elected but he is not planning (at least publicly) to issue unsolicited pardons to all of those with marijuana possession convictions on their record. When The Journal Times reached out to Evers office to ask if there were any plans to issue such widespread pardons, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback replied in an email The governors existing pardon eligibility criteria are available here and included a link to the governors online pardon information page (evers.wi.gov/Pages/pardon-information.aspx). Since being elected in 2018, Evers has been a prolific pardoner. While Scott Walker pardoned zero people in his eight years as governor, Evers has pardoned more than 600 in his first term. Cudaback did not reply to a follow-up question asking Theres no plan in place right now or being considered for the governor to blanketly pardon all simple marijuana offenses? Governors in states where marijuana has been legalized such as Washington, Nevada, Illinois and Colorado have pardoned thousands (or tens of thousands) of marijuana offenses. Evers has repeatedly proposed legalizing marijuana for medicinal and recreational use in Wisconsin, but the Republican-led Legislature has not entertained the idea, although bipartisan support for legalization is growing. Upcoming ballot measure On Nov. 8, City of Racine voters will get to weigh in for the second time in four years on if they want Wisconsin to legalize marijuana via non-binding referendum. Many governors have been issuing mass pardons for those with past cannabis convictions, Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), said in an email to a reporter. Separately, nearly two dozen states have enacted laws facilitating the expungement of criminal marijuana records, leading to an estimated 2 million expungements in recent years. Semantics The language surrounding illegal marijuana possession varies from state to state, and sometimes city to city. Wisconsin does not have a crime titled simple possession for any drug. Rather, possession of marijuana is legally referred to as possession of THC (tetrahydrocannabinols), which is a misdemeanor. If someone is accused of possessing marijuana after already having been convicted of it, second and subsequent offenses are considered felonies. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound in marijuana/cannabis that creates the high feeling. NORML, in a statement Thursday, said Many of the efforts taken and proposed by the President today are long overdue. For nearly two years, NORML has called upon the Administration to fulfill the Presidents campaign promise to provide relief to those stigmatized with a low-level cannabis conviction. We are pleased that today President Biden is following through on this pledge and that he is also encouraging governors to take similar steps to ensure that the tens of millions of Americans with state-level convictions for past marijuana crimes can finally move forward with their lives. Since 1965, nearly 29 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana-related violations for activities that the majority of voters no longer believe ought to be a crime. Bidens pardon The presidents widespread pardons do not cover convictions for possession of other drugs, or for charges relating to producing or possessing marijuana with an intent to distribute. Biden is also not pardoning non-citizens who were in the U.S. without legal status at the time of their arrest. The announcement marks Bidens reckoning with the impact of 1994 crime legislation, which he supported, that increased arrest and incarceration rates for drug crimes, particularly for Black and Latino people. The Department of Justice is working to devise a process for those covered by Bidens pardon to receive a certificate of pardon, which they can show to potential employers and others as needed. RACINE There is bipartisan consensus that the nations mental health infrastructure is insufficient for the need, especially compared to the more robust infrastructure in place for physiological health. Theres a shortage of mental health professionals. There arent enough medical beds for mental health treatment for the number of people who need them if you break your leg, you can probably be in the hospital that day; for mental illness, youre much more likely to end up on a waitlist. There remains stigma that discourages some from seeking mental health treatment they could benefit from. Those suffering from serious mental illness remain more likely to end up in handcuffs than in treatment facilities. It still feels like the legislation surrounding the establishment of an effective mental health infrastructure in Wisconsin is in its infancy. State Rep. Bob Wittke, R-Wind Point, said, I think the biggest thing that Ive learned so far (as a state legislator since 2019) is that its kind of easy to think that you can solve a problem all at once, (but) it takes a lot of hard work and focus to keep going and possibly (taking) smaller steps at a time to reach a larger goal. I think thats something that people in the community have to understand as well. Wittke said that Wednesday evening during a panel at the Racine Public Library hosted by NAMI Racine County and moderated by The Journal Times editor. Also on the panel were Anthony Hammes, the Democrats nominee challenging Wittke for his seat representing Wisconsin Assembly District 62; Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine; and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. Looking forward, Wittke said he hopes the Legislature can continue the work that we started on improving mental health offerings in Wisconsin. Added Vos: I think weve made good first steps, including by introducing student loan forgiveness programs for psychiatrists who practice in Wisconsin after graduating from state colleges. Still, Its very clear that we have work to do, Neubauer said, a sentiment each of the other three panelists agreed with. Getting more professionals, beds In 1955, there was one psychiatric bed for every 300 people in the U.S., according to the Treatment Advocacy Center; but by 2005, there was one psychiatric bed for every 3,000 Americans. According to AsylumProjects.org, Mendota Mental Health Institute the states oldest mental hospital had a peak patient population of 2,528 in 1950. Today, Mendota has fewer than 300 patients. In 2014, state legislators nearly closed Mendota, looking to move all of its inmate/patients to the 170-bed Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh, the states only other primary mental health institution. Wittke noted that the Legislature just since he was elected four years ago has already allocated millions to improve the states existing mental health treatment facilities. We dont have enough beds in the state right now to be able to house some of the people that need mental health services, he said. As part of the Building Commission, in our capital budget, we have allocated monies toward refurbishing places at Winnebago, Mendota; and then weve honored I believe all the requests from the Department of Corrections to be able to upgrade many of their health services facilities within our prison system. On stigma I have people that I love who have mental health issues, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said. They have serious issues. They have dealt with schizophrenia. They have dealt with all kinds of other things that I know many of you are familiar with, but unfortunately far too many people in the world dont understand that having a mental health issue is no different than having a broken leg or cancer. I think thats one of the things that we have tried really hard over the course of the past decade: to deal with the stigma that unfortunately still exists for far too many people who struggle with mental health issues. Licensing Theres a serious backlog of soon-to-be health care workers and professionals waiting to have their applications to practice in Wisconsin approved. This is particularly true for mental health professionals, considering their shortage is perhaps more potent than the shortages of other nurses and doctors. There is a huge problem in the licensing process, and the licenses are taking way too long for people. One of the top groups that is not getting licensed quick enough is the social workers that we have They are sometimes waiting months for an agency to give them a license, Wittke said. The Evers administration has faced the brunt of the criticism for this slowness. The Department of Professional Services says it receives an average of 13,000 applications a month and blames staffing shortages and an outdated, paper-driven processing system on wait times, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported last month. Republicans say the situation and department are examples of the current administrations failed leadership, likening it to the long wait times Wisconsinites experienced in 2020 with the state Department of Workforce Developments processing of unemployment benefits. Jails, prisons, police Speaking to Neubauer following a question about the incarceration of those with mental illness, Vos said, I agree with you that unfortunately people who are having a mental health crisis shouldnt be going to jail But, if you commit a crime, you commit a crime. You have to go to jail and pay the price for having that happen. So, I dont think it should be an either-or (situation) We do not want to use jails as an overflow place for people having mental health challenges. But I also dont want to simply say that We want to reduce incarceration and have all those people who commit a crime on the streets. He added, We are letting too many people out of jail. There are people who should stay in jail because they committed crimes and they are certainly not ready to come out with society There are serious problems with the criminal justice system. Again, Vos and Neubauer agreed that We need to increase pay for prison staff in order to make incarceration facilities safer. In December 2020, more than 14% of the states adult prison positions remained unfilled. Neubauer said that, after multiple ride-alongs and conversations with area first responders, They will be the first to admit that they are not social workers and they support the creation of programs that would involve a social worker responding to 911 calls involving individuals with mental illness. Vos pointed to funding approved in the last legislative session to fund mental illness training for police. Hammes said he would support requiring all police officers to undergo crisis intervention training. Through NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness), each CIT training takes 40 hours. To prevent incarceration of those with mental illness, Wittke said there needs to be more treatment available for the general population so that those who may turn to violence or crime can get help before they reach the criminal justice system. Guns The Republicans on the panel remained staunchly opposed to enacting further gun control measures, particularly red flag laws. Vos said he doesnt believe the state should tell people they have to give up their gun before theyve done anything wrong. Imagine if we said: You look like you might drink, so were going to take away your car. Wittke said he does support a proposal through which family members could legally take a loved ones firearm and bring it to a gun shop where it could be locked up until the concern regarding the owner of a firearm such as the individual threatening violence or self-harm had passed. Schools Neubauer pointed to a bill proposed by Democrats that stalled in the legislature earlier this year that she said would expand the ability for school districts to be reimbursed for hiring counselors, social workers, psychologists and nurses. Currently, schools can be reimbursed by the state if they increase their spending on social workers; Democrats want to expand that reimbursement program to include more mental health professionals. I think we all know, Neubauer continued, when you talk to young people, how long it takes for them to talk to someone at school if theres someone even available for them to talk to about these really deeply personal issues: trauma, things going on at home that they need to work through. So, really we need to make sure that weve got those professionals in school, and we know that thats going to help kids right now. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends having one school psychologist for every 500 students; in Wisconsin, the ratio is closer to 1:836. EdWeek reported earlier this year that 12% of American public school students attend a school district that doesnt employ any psychologists. Madisons NBC-15 reported last month that data from Wisconsins Department of Public Instruction shows one in five students will face a mental health issue and its website states that over 80% of incidents go untreated. For those who do receive treatment, roughly 75% of the time its administered at school. Hammes sees schools as a place where seeds could be planted to counteract workforce shortages. I want to ensure local leaders are reaching out to high school students in all parts of the state to introduce mental health services at an earlier age, he said, and we need to insure that providers of tomorrow are diverse, and reflect the culture and ethnicity of the communities they serve. Vos noted pre-existent loan forgiveness programs for people who become psychiatrists and other medical professionals in Wisconsin. Psychiatrists along with physicians are eligible for the most student loan forgiveness in Wisconsin, up to $50,000 through the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. Weve only had a relatively small number of people graduate from UW institutions with a degree (in psychiatry), Vos said. So, while its been successful, we certainly could do more in that area. Vos pointed to Act 131, which became law earlier this year and made it easier for a psychologist licensed in another state to start practicing in Wisconsin. Still, Vos pushed back against unilateral pushes to get more and more and more health care offerings in schools. It is not the responsibility of the taxpayers to provide an additional service for every single child. Thats what people have private insurance for, he said. I dont want to treat mental health as if its somehow different than somebody who has a traditionally thought of health care issue Schools can help provide those resources, but they should not ever be the primary care provider. That is the job of the traditional system that we have. Gaps An August 2020 report prepared by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute analyzed Wisconsins behavioral health system gaps. It found that the most common workforce gap identified in mental health is a lack of psychiatrists and psychiatric prescribers. But the biggest barriers to access, rather than a lack of providers, were found to be both insurance limitations/cost and physical distance to said facilities in the current state of the system. The report continued: Rural areas struggle with transportation barriers and hiring challenges due to better wages in the private system and across state lines, and that medical transportation is currently ineffective in closing geographic gaps in facilities. In urban areas, long waitlists and lack of sufficient workforce diversity were highlighted as key challenges. The reports top three priorities were: 1. Increase accessibility. 2. Develop the workforce. 3. Improve funding. Vos spoke highly of the systems already in place for poor people seeking mental health help. If youre in poverty you have access to BadgerCare, which basically is free: no copayments, no deductibles, premium insurance fee At the end of the day, we do have a good social safety net. It can always be better. We need more providers. We need to make sure we have better access. According to the UW report, this isnt enough. It advocated for increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate for behavioral health services in order to reduce service gaps, improve workforce recruitment and retention, and encourage innovative approaches to care. It also called for expanding the kinds of treatment Medicaid can cover costs for, including peer specialist outpatient services, psychiatric telehealth consults and holistic care like yoga and acupuncture. One psychologist in solo practice who spoke with researchers said the following: The Medicaid provider portal is extremely user-unfriendly for solo practitioners who do their own billing. It is not intuitive, needlessly complicated, and seems to be designed to discourage its use by providers. If this was fixed and I would reliably be paid for straight Medicaid, I would see more Medicaid clients. As it is, I really can only see BadgerCare or Medicaid clients who are on one of the HMO (health maintenance organization) plans because I can use their portals which are very user-friendly. Added Hammes: The key is access October is the scary month, and not just because of Halloween. Six decades ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the very brink of nuclear holocaust. During October 22-28 1962, Washington and Moscow sparred on the edge of thermonuclear war. The lessons remain of fundamental importance. They include difficulty of securing accurate intelligence, and the unpredictability of events. On October 14, 1962, U.S. reconnaissance photos revealed the Soviet Union placing offensive nuclear missiles in Cuba, despite contrary assurances. After the developed film was thoroughly reviewed, National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy informed President John F. Kennedy Senior Kennedy administration officials, with the exception of CIA director John McCone, assumed Moscow would never put long-range missiles into Cuba. U.S. actions against Cubas communist regime, including secret efforts to kill leader Fidel Castro, alarmed Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Earlier the White House curtailed Cuba reconnaissance flights, resuming only because McCone insisted. Photographic evidence of the missiles arrived just before they would become operational. However, there were already indicators, including from reliable Cuba agents, that something of this nature was underway. Senior officials convinced themselves otherwise. Kennedy and advisers spent a week debating options. At the start of the crisis, there was strong sentiment, especially among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for a conventional air attack followed by invasion of Cuba. JFK imaginatively decided instead on a naval quarantine as the U.S. first step. His televised speech on October 22 demanded removal of the missiles and announced initial moves, reflecting careful, thoughtful planning. Until the Kremlin agreed to withdraw the missiles, Armageddon loomed. Years after the crisis, decision-makers from Cuba, the Soviet Union and the United States initiated a series of meetings, which have revealed important new information. Soviet commanders in Cuba already had shorter-range nuclear-armed missiles, and for a time independent authority from Khrushchev to use them if U.S. military forces invaded. Soviet submarines had nuclear-armed torpedoes. The torpedo would vaporize the launching vessel, which discouraged American interest in this extreme weapon. Soviet naval officer Vasili Arkhipov refused to concur with submarine commander Valentine Savitsky, who had decided to launch the nuclear torpedo. U.S. surface ships and aircraft relentlessly harassed the sub, which surfaced. Commander William Morgan, captain of the USS Cory, became Arkhipovs ally. After communicating an apology for aggressive American actions, he told his signalman, Keep that Russian bastard happy. Bundys 1988 book Danger and Survival Choices About the Bomb in the First Fifty Years, revealed JFK privately accepted the Soviet proposed Cuba-Turkey missile trade. Throughout the crisis, Kennedy demonstrated calm open-minded engagement. His assembled advisers debated a wide range of options. As tensions mounted, the president defused the atmosphere. Initial pressure for military attack dissipated. Kennedy deftly delayed decision for war, while keeping discussion going and playing for time. Positive consequences resulted from the crisis. A direct communications Hotline between the Kremlin and the Pentagon greatly improved communication. The Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963, overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. Senate, ended nuclear testing in the atmosphere. Further lessons of the crisis include the importance of disciplined open-minded intelligence work, and communicating with opponents. As always, U.S. presidential leadership is essential. Today, NATO aids Ukraine in fighting Russia, and our troops are in the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet Americans generally put domestic over international concerns. This parochialism is perilous. In 2017, the Future of Life Institute posthumously honored Vasili Arkhipov. Remember him, salute him. 1. Yes. Its important to cast my votes early and avoid the lines on Election Day. 2. Yes. With nearly two weeks of early voting, its a more convenient way to take part. 3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, in case any last-minute information surfaces. 4. No. Im not planning to vote early or on Election Day. It isnt worth my time. 5. Unsure. It depends on how the campaigns are shaping up. Ill play it by ear. Vote View Results HOLDREGE To get an idea of what Doug Andersons concert at The Tassel on Saturday will sound like, imagine dropping in at the Village Vanguard in New York City on a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s. Im getting together with two other guys to make a traditional jazz piano trio, Anderson said in an interview at his office at a college outside of Boston. We will be playing a lot of stuff by Bill Evans, classic East Coast piano jazz music with lots of improvisations. We (are) going to meld that in with other songs that people will know. Were going to play a David Bowie tune and some Beatles. Generally theres no vocals. The famous club in Greenwich Village hosted the top names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk and Evans, a regular. For Anderson, getting to perform at The Tassel feels like a homecoming. He grew up in Holdrege and studied at Hastings College for a year before heading to Berklee College of Music in Boston. After half a century, Anderson will return to Holdrege to perform at The Tassel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. In the early 70s, there were a lot of bands in Kearney, Anderson said. In those days, it was bands like the Sunny Funny Company. I played in Gossamer Wings, there was Tuckers August and I also played in Godfather. There was Still Rovin and the Salestrom brothers had their band, Timberline. There was a lot of stuff going on. The minute Anderson finished high school in 1971, he started playing in bands in central Nebraska. He continued playing and performing while attending Hastings College. I had more gigs than days left in school, he said. One of Andersons closest friends and bandmate died in a car accident, which caused him to reevaluate his goals. After he was killed, I was thinking that if I wanted to do this music thing, Id better get good at it, Anderson said. After attending a jazz festival in Kansas featuring Gary Burton, Anderson, 23 at the time, decided on the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he immersed himself in jazz. The application asked for a reason I wanted to go to Berklee, and I didnt realize what was being asked, Anderson said. It was like a college application essay, but I just wrote that my goal would be to play and create music without starvation. Thats what got me in. The Holdrege native learned what makes jazz such a vibrant art form. A jazz player listens, differently than a classically trained player or even a rock n roll musician, Anderson said. He noted that most jazz players dont rehearse, and when they play, they dont look for mistakes to correct. They play together to listen for possibilities to see where the music will go, he said. Thats a big part of it. As a player, youre listening on so many levels. Its not just what note youre playing, its Why is this guy playing with this kind of color and how do I approach it? Do I go against it? Do I try to support it? Another key improvisation. Its incredibly important, Anderson said. Were not talking improvisation as simply a solo. Say youre Jimmy Page and youre playing something from Led Zeppelin and all of the sudden its guitar solo time. Thats one form of improvisation, but in jazz youre also thinking about improvising the background lines and the feel of the tune. In jazz youre improvising on various levels. If youre the piano player, youre improvising around the drum solo. All of those elements contribute to a classic piano jazz trio. Anderson currently teaches at Regis College near Boston. He regularly performs jazz and composes 20th-century music. Thinking back on his musical foundation, Anderson gives credit to his teachers that guided him in Holdrege. I was lucky, he said. I was lucky because Holdrege was a great place to grow up. The teachers at the schools were really good. I had Mr. Strattman. He was not only my band teacher, but once I got to the seventh grade, he said he would give me piano lessons. I had my first jazz piano lessons with Mr. Strattman, and I kept playing all the way through. Anderson describes the longtime Holdrege music instructor as more than a teacher. He was also a mentor, Anderson said. He was a very serious kind of guy that I really learned so much from. Its just amazing, the amount of stuff he knew. Anderson told a story about the time his parents took him to see Strattmans combo, the Four Keys, perform at a hotel in Kearney. I just kind of stayed in the back where the band was playing, Anderson said. Mr. Strattman knew I would be there. I was just blown away by the music. That night I knew thats what I would do, make music. Afterwards, he told me, Doug, you know that drummer had a 101 temperature, but hes still playing. And so Ive never missed a gig, no matter how sick I was, because of that night. Although Anderson only has a few distant relatives in Holdrege, returning to play after last playing in the town in 1972 feels like a big deal. I feel like Im a part of all these families I still know in Holdrege, he said. The Kerby family moved from Alabama to Westby to be nearer family members and purchased a home on West State Street. Longtime Westby residents and Vernon County Times readers might recall that the previous owners of the home were Ron and Sue Bjerke; Ron was a Westby High School choral director for many years while Sue was a high school chemistry teacher. The Kerbys, Jacob and Bethanei, purchased their 1916-built home, totally online in September of 2021 and are currently in the throes of extensive remodeling to include ripping out first-floor carpeting. They were delighted to find beautiful oak-wood flooring boards hiding under that carpet; what they were not prepared for was finding an old wooden, lettered yard stick attached flush between two floor board sections. The yardstick advertising read: ERICKSON HDWE WESTBY WIS PHONE 197. Bethanei Kerby posted a picture of this old and unique yardstick on Facebook, asking if anyone locally could could help her and her husband, Jacob, to learn more about the Erickson Store and that Stores history. History Alive Project volunteers, Dave and Ruth Amundson, got in touch with the Kerbys, interviewed them, took a few photos; then the Amundsons went to work to see if they could bring back the story of this yardsticks referenced store. We contacted other longtime Westby residents who knew stories of the Erickson Store and its first owner, Emil Erickson and his wife. We hit information gold when we learned that Emils son, Dick, now age 85, was still alive and living now in Montana; luck fell right in our laps when we were able to get Dicks phone number, so of course, well called him, remarked Dave. Dick not only gave us a wealth of the Stores history but also sent History Alive Project, a variety of old photos of the Store when it was located at 105 East State Street in Westby, added Ruth. She added that those Store-related photocopies will certainly be added to the HAP Collection. Dick additionally shared that his dad had a hardware business in Dorchester, Wisconsin, prior to his Westby move. When Emil was 80 years old, he sold the business to his son, Dick, who ran it for an additional 16 years when he retired at the age of 77. The Stores location on East State Street was in between the late Drexel Jefsons Meat Market and a now current business, The Wall. Across the street from the hardware store was the then Jules Rude car and tractor repair place. Even though the Kerby yardstick story is one-of-a-kind, the Amundsons continued their quest and interviewed an additional longtime Westby couple for any possible further Erickson Store information. That interviewed couple remarked, Well, we have one of those very similar vintage yardsticks in our closet as well right now! The Amundson duo was more than flabbergasted to lay their eyes on this second stick. In the HAP collection of old area phone books, Dave spied the Erickson store ad in the yellow pages (yes, they were yellow) in a 1956 Westby Telephone Company book and included that artifacts page for the second stick photo. Premiums and giveaway freebie items that often featured a business logo and their contact information were and are still somewhat popular; they can be found on items such as kitchen bowls, key chains, calendars, lighters and match covers. Many of these have become collector items of interest as they are personalized and often only made with a finite number of them to begin with. Ordinary items belonging to ordinary people can often tell extra-ordinary come alive again stories and certainly these two yardsticks ticked all the right boxes, agree? And in case readers are asking: yes, the Kerbys said they plan to leave their yardstick in place. With funding from a Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) Environmental Health Capacity Grant, Vernon County has now marked the entrances to all of the Watersheds/Waterways in the county with signs. Acquisitions of the signs was a joint project of county Emergency Management, Land and Water Conservation, Public Health, and Flood Mitigation Alliance. The grant is intended to increase capacity to use environmental health data in decision making, improve the ability to identify, prevent, and control hazards, and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of environmental health hazard Given the repetitive and unprecedented flooding that has occurred in Vernon County, watershed signage will support improved situational awareness and understanding within residents communities, Dr. Monique Hassman explained. The initiative is part of a larger, multi-pronged, public information campaign. Hassman said that labeling the watersheds emphasizes the importance of the countys watersheds as community assets, and begins to encourage public participation in watershed management efforts. The Vernon County HUC-10 watersheds marked by the 25 newly installed signs include: Knapp Creek (1), Headwa-ters Kickapoo River (1), Little Baraboo River (1), Pine Creek (2), Rush Creek (2), Tainter Creek (2), Mormon Creek (2), Seymour Creek & Upper Baraboo River (2), West Fork Kickapoo River (3), Bear Creek/Kickapoo River (3), Bad Axe River (3) and Coon Creek (3). The grant funding, total amount $23,593, was used for the watershed sign project, as well as for the purchase of water testing equipment, allowing county residents to have their private wells tested for bacteria, nitrate, lead and arsenic. The county used $11,897 for the signs, more than $15,000 for the water testing equipment. No local matching funds from the county were required. Installation of the signs required a high level of inter-departmental collaboration, especially with the Highway Department. It was necessary to utilize the departments expertise about regulations governing where signs can be placed in road right-of-ways and the size of signs that can be placed there. Now that the signs have been installed, potential next steps for the county will be creation of individual watershed pages on the countys website. The Land Conservation Department also plans to make a presentation about the effort at the statewide Land+Water conference in March of 2023. Water testingAs a result of the grant received from WDHS, residents of the county no longer need to send their well water out of the county for DATCP certified well water testing for bacteria. County residents can now conveniently have their wells tested for bacteria, nitrate, lead and arsenic for a modest fee. The equipment acquired by the county was the HACH DR3900 Nitrate Testing Machine (plus other supplies such as calibration weights and scale, pipettes, beakers, flasks, thermometers, deionized water, nitrate standard solutions, refrigeration unit, etc.). Cost of testing, with payment required at the time of kit pick up, is $30 for bacteria, $30 for nitrate, $29 for lead, and $29 for arsenic. The county accepts cash or checks as a form of payment, with checks being made out to Vernon County Health Department. Testing kits can be picked up at the Health Department office Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The kit will contain sample collection bottles and a Private Well Water Test request form. Returned samples are accepted Monday through Wednesday, during normal business hours, or Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Samples are not accepted on Fridays or on holidays as they cannot be analyzed over the weekend. Samples should be returned to the Health Department the same day they are taken. Results will be communicated either by phone or e-mail (as indicated by the well owner) within 24-48 hours. Result times may vary depending on which test the well owner is having completed. Bacteria tests are conducted in-house, while tests for ni-trate, lead and arsenic are sent to other facilities for analysis. A 40-year-old La Crosse man is headed to federal prison for illegal firearm possession. Lee Strawder was sentenced Thursday by federal district court Judge James Peterson to 46 months followed by 36 months of supervised release. Strawder pleaded guilty to the charge June 21. The firearms charge stems from Aug. 11, 2021, when La Crosse Police Department officers reportedly purchased fentanyl and crack cocaine from Strawder in La Crosse using a confidential informant. On Sept. 8, 2021, La Crosse police identified Strawder as a passenger in a vehicle driven by Curtis Ross and conducted a traffic stop. Strawder was arrested for violation of state bond. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search. Under the front passenger seat where Strawder was seated, officers reportedly found a loaded Canik 9mm handgun, a loaded Beretta 9mm handgun and a bag containing over an ounce of marijuana. Prosecutors say Strawders DNA was found on the Canik handgun and that Ross DNA was found on the Beretta handgun. Both Strawder and Ross were prohibited from legally possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Strawder was out on bond for four different state cases. Since his release on a signature bond Sept. 10, 2021, Strawder allegedly engaged in criminal conduct resulting in three more state cases. All seven cases remain open. His record includes prior convictions for illegal firearm possession and drug dealing. Ross pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 81 months in federal prison by Peterson Sept. 9. The charge against Strawder was the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The La Crosse County District Attorneys Office also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. A 29-year-old La Crosse man was charged Friday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with breaking into a trailer in April and stealing nearly $15,000 worth of equipment. Alexander J. Mitchell was charged with felony counts of burglary of a locked trailer and theft of movable property. According to the criminal complaint, La Crosse police responded April 25 to a Kane Street business, where a work trailer had been broken into sometime after 11 a.m. April 23. Police determined that someone likely used a bolt cutter to sever the padlock that secured the trailer. Surveillance footage reportedly shows two males on the property April 24 around 3:30 a.m. with one cutting the padlock and the other serving as a lookout. They returned three hours later, entered the trailer and left with multiple items. Surveillance reportedly shows a male returning to the area April 25 and taking more property from the trailer. Police reviewed the footage and identified Mitchell as a suspect. Mitchell has been held in the La Crosse County Jail on a probation violation since Sept. 23. Judge Gloria Doyle ordered a $500 cash bond and set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 31. Kraus Anderson, the construction company for the La Crosse Center expansion and renovation project, received a top award from the Wisconsin Association of General Contractors in Madison. The BUILD Wisconsin Awards program is open to all AGC of Wisconsin General Contractor and Specialty Contractor Members in good standing. The awards stand as a testament to each members skill, integrity, hard work, ingenuity, and commitment that goes into each commercial construction project. Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges assembled by the AGC of Colorado and were based on four primary criteria: Sustainable Practices, Craftmanship, Innovation and Meeting Difficult Challenges. Mayo Clinic Health System marked 30 years and Heritage Days on Thursday, a time to thank staff and volunteers for their upholding of the hospitals mission and values. Heritage Day events, which ran this week at Mayo locations in four states, overlapped with Mayos three-decade anniversary, which was commemorated with a dedication and blessing from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Mayo Clinic Health System, which now includes 16 hospitals and 53 clinics across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, was established in 1992. We are grateful for the trust our communities have placed in us and for the incredible service of our hardworking staff. Our model of care was built on the desire to bring personalized, outstanding Mayo Clinic care close to home in the communities we serve, says Prathibha Varkey, president of Mayo Clinic Health System. We began with one small site in Decorah, Iowa, and today, our integrated system serves more than 600,000 patients each year with primary, specialty, surgical, emergency and hospital care. The FSPA in 1883 founded St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, and in 1995, Franciscan Health System joined with Skemp Clinic to become a part of Mayo Clinic Health System. It has been exciting to watch Mayo Clinic Health System transform into the most trusted partner in health care within the communities we serve. We have so much to be proud of within the southwest Minnesota region, says Dr. Paul Mueller, regional vice president of Mayo Southwest Wisconsin. On Thursday morning, Mueller along with Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Varkey, Mayo CAO Chris Hasse and Sister Marlene Weisenbeck of the FSPA took part in an anniversary dedication at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, followed by a blessing from the Franciscan Sisters at St. Rose Convent. In the afternoon, Mueller and Mayo staff were scheduled to deliver food donations to Place of Grace, with all other Mayo Clinic Health System locations also collecting and distributing items to local food pantries. Mayo is currently looking forward to the completion of its new $198 million, six-story hospital on the La Crosse campus and recently opened its $8.1 million outpatient imaging center in Onalaska. The Professional Arts Building in La Crosse continues to undergo improvements and renovations. Says Mueller, Our committed and innovative staff look forward to bringing Mayo Clinic expertise to patients and their families for another 30 years. ATLANTA (AP) The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and others illegally tried to interfere in the 2020 election filed paperwork Friday seeking to compel testimony from a new batch of Trump allies, including former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed petitions in court seeking to have Gingrich and Flynn, as well as former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann and others, testify next month before a special grand jury that's been seated to aid her investigation. Flynn didn't immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment, and his lawyer also didn't immediately return an email seeking comment. Gingrich referred questions to his attorney, who declined to comment. Herschmann could not immediately be reached. Willis has said she plans to take a monthlong break from public activity in the case leading up to the November midterm election, which is one month from Saturday. Each of the petitions filed Friday seeks to have the potential witnesses appear in November after the election. But the process for securing testimony from out-of-state witnesses sometimes takes a while, so it appears Willis is putting the wheels in motion for activity to resume after her self-imposed pause. Compelling testimony from witnesses who don't live in Georgia requires Willis to use a process that involves getting judges in the states where they live to order them to appear. The petitions she filed Friday are essentially precursors to subpoenas. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, whos overseeing the special grand jury, signed off on the petitions, certifying that each person whose testimony is sought is a necessary and material witness for the investigation. The petition for Gingrichs testimony relies on information made publicly available by the U.S. House committee thats investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It says he was involved along with others associated with the Trump campaign in a plan to run television ads that repeated and relied upon false claims about fraud in the 2020 election and encouraged members of the public to contact state officials to push them to challenge and overturn the election results based on those claims. Gingrich was also involved in a plan to have Republican fake electors sign certificates falsely stating that Trump had won the state and that they were the states official electors even though Democrat Joe Biden had won, the petition says. The petition seeking Flynn's testimony says he appeared in an interview on conservative cable news channel Newsmax and said Trump could take military capabilities and place them in swing states and basically re-run an election in each of those states." He also met with Trump, attorney Sidney Powell and others at the White House on Dec. 18, 2020, for a meeting that, according to news reports, focused on topics including invoking martial law, seizing voting machines, and appointing Powell as special counsel to investigate the 2020 election, Willis wrote. Willis in August filed a petition seeking testimony from Powell. Herschmann, who featured prominently in the House committee hearings on the Capitol attack, was a senior adviser to Trump from August 2020 through the end of his term and was present for multiple meetings between former President Trump and others related to the 2020 election, Willis wrote in the petition seeking his testimony. She wrote that the House committee also revealed that Herschmann had multiple conversations with Eastman, Giuliani, Powell and others known to be associated with the Trump Campaign, related to their efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 elections in Georgia and elsewhere. Specifically, he had a heated conversation with Eastman concerning efforts in Georgia, she added. Willis also filed petitions Friday to compel testimony from Jim Penrose and Stephen Cliffgard Lee. She identified Penrose as a cyber investigations, operations and forensics consultant who worked with Powell and others known to be associated with the Trump campaign in late 2020 and early 2021. He also communicated with Powell and others regarding an agreement to hire data solutions firm SullivanStrickler to copy data and software from voting system equipment in Coffee County, about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta, as well as in Michigan and Nevada, Willis wrote. Penrose did not immediately respond to an email and phone message seeking comment. Willis wrote in a petition seeking Lee's testimony that he was part of an effort to pressure elections worker Ruby Freeman, who was the subject of false claims about election fraud in Fulton County. He could not immediately be reached for comment. Special grand juries are impaneled in Georgia to investigate complex cases with large numbers of witnesses and potential logistical concerns. They can compel evidence and subpoena witnesses for questioning and, unlike regular grand juries, can also subpoena the target of an investigation to appear before it. When its investigation is complete, the special grand jury issues a final report and can recommend action. Its then up to the district attorney to decide whether to ask a regular grand jury for an indictment. Facing heavy GOP criticism over the parole of state inmates convicted of violent crimes, Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday defended Wisconsins parole system, though he added hes open to giving the victims of those crimes a voice at the table. Evers is in a tight gubernatorial race with Republican business owner Tim Michels, who has taken aim at the Democratic governor as being soft on crime and sent a letter to Evers last month demanding he suspend all prison releases a move that is outside the governors power. Michels, the co-owner of Brownsville-based Michels Corp., made the demand after conservative website Wisconsin Right Now reported a series of stories on paroles, including for men who violently murdered women. In some instances, families of the victims were not notified of the paroles, according to the outlet. I believe if we make sure that victims are heard, that is probably the most important thing that we can do, Evers said in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board Wednesday. I think weve got the right system, we just need it to work appropriately. The governor appoints the Wisconsin Parole Commissions chairperson, but the agency operates independently and some paroles are mandated by law. The commission is also required to parole felons who have completed certain release programs. Parole allows an individual in prison to be released before their sentence is complete. For individuals sentenced to life in prison, discretionary paroles are only available to those who committed the crime before Dec. 31, 1999. Wisconsins truth-in-sentencing law ended discretionary parole for offenders who committed a crime after the start of 2000. Since Evers took office, the commission has granted about 460 discretionary paroles not required by law. Former Gov. Scott Walker granted more than 650 discretionary paroles in his two terms and former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who has endorsed Michels, granted more than 23,000 discretionary paroles in his 14 years as governor. Even so, the topic of parole has become a reoccurring source of GOP criticism for Evers leading up to the Nov. 8 election. In his Sept. 19 letter, Michels accused Evers of sympathizing and coddling brutal, convicted criminals. He also called on Evers to suspend the actions of the four-member parole commission and the Pardon Advisory Board. Michels said at a news conference last month the number of paroles hed seek as governor would be more than zero but less than the number granted under Evers. "The fact that Tony Evers is pretending to care about victims now is a disgusting attempt to save face as people are horrified by his outspoken disregard for victims' families and public safety as a whole," Michels spokesperson Anna Kelly said Thursday. Paroles and pardons Unlike paroles, pardons can be granted to individuals convicted of a felony at least five years after completing their sentences. In order to be pardoned, an individual also must have no pending charges and cannot be on the sex offender registry. Pardons dont remove a conviction, but do restore certain rights, such as being able to own a firearm. Evers has issued more pardons than any governor in recent state history, though the majority of the more than 600 pardons hes granted have been to individuals convicted of lower-level, nonviolent crimes. While Evers could withdraw his appointment of the parole commissions chair, Christopher Blythe, as Michels aides have suggested, state law requires the commission to continue considering paroles. Wisconsin Right Now last month sued the Wisconsin Parole Commission, alleging the agency has refused to comply with open records requests filed with the commission earlier this year. A reporter with the outlet in May requested lists of all offenders who have been granted parole, release or early release since 2019, when Evers appointed John Tate as chair of the commission. On Thursday, Washington County Judge Michael Kenitz signed an alternative writ ordering the commission to release the records sought by Wisconsin Right Now. Tate resignation At Evers request, Tate resigned in June amid mounting backlash over the commissions initial plans to parole Douglas Balsewicz, who served less than 25 years of an 80-year sentence for stabbing his wife, Johanna Balsewicz, to death. After meeting with Johanna Balsewiczs family in the state Capitol in May, Evers sent a letter to Tate asking him to reconsider the convicted murderers parole. Evers lacks the power to rescind a convicts parole on his own. Tate had initially said it was extremely unlikely Balsewiczs parole would be revoked unless he did something to warrant it. Tate, who is president of the Racine City Council, said doing so would likely lead to a lawsuit that the state would lose. However, Tate later said he understood the governors concerns about the lack of victim input and rescinded Balsewiczs parole. Despite his change of course, some Republicans called on Evers to remove Tate from office, which he ultimately did. Tate announced his resignation June 10. One of the things we have to address is the issue of people that were impacted by the crime and that should have happened in that case and thats why I asked him to resign, Evers said of his request to Tate following Balsewiczs parole. The folks who are the victims of the crime have to have a voice at the table and in this case that didnt happen, he added. Maybe we can tighten that up a little bit, but at the end of the day I believe the system has and does work. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wisconsin is joining with Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota to seek federal funding to promote clean hydrogen production. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by two Republican and two Democratic governors, the states will work together to develop a proposal for a regional network of clean hydrogen producers, potential clean hydrogen consumers, and connective infrastructure known as a clean hydrogen hub. Gov. Tony Evers said a hydrogen network would expand economic growth while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and eventually lower fuel costs. Clean hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in our clean energy efforts here in Wisconsin and across the country, and Im proud to be working together with this bipartisan group of governors to do the right thing for our states futures, Evers said in a statement announcing the agreement. The states are seeking a share of $7 billion in a federal funding appropriated under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create up to 10 regional hydrogen hubs. Initial proposals must be filed with the Department of Energy by Nov. 7. Full applications are due in April. Last month Evers joined governors of Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana to form a Midwest Hydrogen Coalition to promote a clean hydrogen economy. According to Evers, the infrastructure law encourages states to participate in multiple proposals if viable, meaning the two partnerships are not exclusive. Often touted as a replacement for natural gas, hydrogen is a light, combustible gas that contains no carbon. Consumed in a fuel cell, the only byproduct is water although, when burned, it releases pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain. The challenge is producing hydrogen without fossil fuels, which can be done by using renewable energy to extract it from water in a process called electrolysis. According to the Department of Energy, about 95% of the hydrogen produced in the United States today is derived from natural gas using super-heated steam, an energy-intensive process that releases a lot of carbon dioxide. Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln is the Best Place to Work, as named by the Minnesota Retailers Association as part of the 2022-23 Minnesotas Retail Champions program. Representatives of Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln, which first opened its doors in 1977, accepted the award Thursday at the Retail Rally event in Golden Valley. Mike Puetz, owner of Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln, said the experience of winning Best Place to Work has been extremely humbling. Its hard for me to wrap my head around, said Puetz. There are so many businesses that work hard, do a good job, and have also struggled us being one of them. Weve had to adjust our sails a number of times, and we did it with our employees first. And to look at getting the recognition out of all the people that could have won it, its overwhelming. Puetz explained that the culture around the company, which has developed in 45 years of business, is a distinguishing factor for Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln. The management believes in taking care of their internal customer, who are the employees working there, said Puetz. They have had employees go through big and unexpected situations, Puetz said. When we find out, we get together as managers and almost unanimously well help them. Whether its catastrophic medical, dental or something, whatever it is. It is part of our culture: you pay it forward. Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln greatly appreciates its place in the community of Winona, Puetz said. Giving back and investing in the community, whether its donations, contracting locally, or even just bringing in local catering into the office, is how Puetz says the company wants to spread the wealth. If our business is good, we give back. Who do we owe it to? Our local people. Thats who buys our vehicles and uses our services, said Puetz. So we need to set an example because talk is cheap. If we dont set a good example, then were a hypocrite. Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln was nominated for the award by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce. Christie Ransom, president and CEO of the chamber, said you can walk in the doors and feel the connectivity between everyone. They have made a big impression, said Ransom. I think through the pandemic, I really saw them as a leader rising up to support the community, as well. They were a standout for that. Puetz and Ransom shared excitement when finding out from the president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, Bruce Nustad, that Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln has won the award. Its an honor for them, Ransom said. This isnt just a local award. This is a statewide award, which looks at the tens of thousands of businesses throughout the state. Im proud that were bringing this award back to Winona. Thats a big deal. Puetz said every day is a new challenge and theres been a lot of changes in just the last five years, but hes looking forward to keep up the work and culture Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln has created in the last 45 years. A gunman shot and killed at least 36 people at a childcare center in Thailand, Thursday. Children and teachers were among the victims. Thai officials say the mass shooting is the deadliest incident in the countrys history. The shooter, a former police officer, had been dismissed from the service earlier this year and was facing an illegal drug charge. He killed himself after killing his wife and child at home. Photos taken by emergency workers showed the schools floor was filled with bodies of children still under blankets from their afternoon rest. The images showed cuts to their faces and gunshots to their heads on the bloody floor. The attack took place in the rural town of Nongbua Lamphu in northeastern Thailand. A teacher told ThaiPBS public broadcaster that the attacker got out of a car and immediately shot a man and fired at several more. When the attacker stopped shooting to reload, the teacher said she had a chance to run inside. I ran to the back, the children were asleep, said the teacher who did not give her name. The children were two or three years old, she said. Another witness said workers at the childcare center had locked the door, but the man shot his way in. The teacher who died, she had a child in her arms, the witness told Thailands Kom Chad Luek television. I didnt think he would kill children, but he shot at the door and shot right through it. A video taken at the scene showed rescuers running into the building past a broken glass door, with drops of blood on the ground in the entryway. Police identified the gunman as 34-year-old former police officer Panya Kamrap. The man used a handgun and knife in the attack and also carried another gun. An officer told PPTV that he was fired from the force earlier this year because of a drug charge. Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who planned to travel to the center on Friday, told reporters This shouldnt happen. He added, I feel deep sadness toward the victims and their relatives. Mass shootings are rare but not unheard of in Thailand. The country has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Asia. With 15.1 weapons per 100 people, the rate in Thailand is still far lower than the rate of 120.5 per 100 people in the United States. The numbers come from a 2017 study by Australias GunPolicy.org, a nonprofit group. Thailands worst mass shooting before Thursday happened in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020. In that attack, a soldier killed 29 people and wounded nearly 60 others. And a bombing at a religious center in Bangkok resulted in 20 dead in 2015. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. _____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story blanket - n. a covering that is used to keep you warm lock - v. to keep something in one position to keep it from opening French writer Annie Ernaux used her own experience to explore life in France since the 1940s. On Thursday, the Swedish Academy announced that she had won this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. It said she received the award for work that shines light on dark corners of memory, family and society. The Swedish Academy also said Ernaux, who is 82 years old, earned the prize for the way she writes about the complex nature of personal memory. She is the first French writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since Patrick Modiano in 2014. Ernaux started out writing creative stories, or fiction, based on her own life, but quickly moved from fiction to factual stories about her life. Anders Olsson is chair of the Nobel literature committee. He said Ernaux had said she was producing a scientific study of herself rather than writing fiction. She wrote more than 20 books. Most of them are very short. They record events in her life and the lives of those around her. They present uncompromising pictures of sexual encounters, abortion, illness and the death of her parents. Olsson said Ernaux's work was often "uncompromising and written in plain language, scraped clean." He told reporters that she has created something we can respect that lasts a long time. Ernaux describes the way she writes, her style, as "flat writing." She tries to tell the facts of the events she is describing. She does not include colorful description or strong emotions. Her book A Man's Place, about her relationship with her father, was the first to bring her fame. She wrote, This neutral writing style comes to me naturally." Her 2000 novel Happening, tells about the result of illegal abortion. Her most highly praised book is The Years, published in 2008. She describes herself and French society from the end of World War II to the present day. Unlike in earlier books, in The Years, Ernaux writes about herself in the third person, calling her character "she" rather than "I". The book received many awards and honors. A Girl's Story, from 2016, follows a young woman's coming of age in the 1950s. Ernaux is the 17th woman among the 119 Nobel literature prize winners. Last year's winner, Tanzanian-born, British-based writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, was only the sixth Nobel literature prize winner born in Africa. There has long been criticism of the literature prize giving too much attention to European and North American writers and to men rather than women. The prizes to Gurnah in 2021 and U.S. poet Louise Gluck in 2020 helped the literature prize move on from years of arguments and investigations into wrongdoing. The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday and the economics award on Monday. The prizes include a cash award of about $900,000. All the prizes, except the one for economics, were established by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1895. Im Jill Robbins. This story was reported by David Keyton, Frank Jordans and Jill Lawless for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. _____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story abortion - n. to end a pregnancy at an early stage scrape v. to move (a rough or sharp object) across (a surface), especially to smooth or clean character n. a person in a book, play, movie or television production What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is a blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Human rights activists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2022 prize to imprisoned Belarus activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian group Memorial and the Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said it wanted to honor three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence. She told reporters that their efforts have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobels vision of peace and fraternity between nations, a vision most needed in the world today. When asked whether the Nobel Committee was expressing its disapproval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reiss-Andersen said the prize was not against anybody. But she called the governments of Russia and Belarus authoritarian and said they were suppressing human rights activists. The prize comes during the largest war in Europe since World War II. The Russian invasion with Belarus help has destroyed cities, displaced millions of Ukrainians and killed many more. We are talking about two authoritarian regimes and one nation fighting a war and we would like to highlight the importance of civic society. Ales Bialiatski Ales Bialiatski was one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Belarus in the mid-1980s. He founded the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center Viasna. Bialiatski was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin. The activist remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if found guilty. Speaking of Bialiatskis personal suffering, Reiss-Andersen said the prisoner has not yielded one inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus. The Nobel committee also called on the Belarus government to release the prisoner. Belarus Foreign Ministry denounced the Nobel Committee for honoring Bialiatski. A spokesman called the committees recent choices politicized." Memorial Memorial was founded in the Soviet Union in 1987 to make sure the victims of communist repression would be remembered. It has continued to gather information on human rights abuses and the condition of political prisoners in Russia. Russias highest court ordered it shut down in December. The move was part of the suppression of rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. Tatyana Glushkova, a leader of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, said she and her co-workers were very, very happy to have the importance of their work recognized. Glushkova said the government is threatened because her organization documents the similarities between Putins government and that of former dictator Joseph Stalin. Glushkova said the award was handed to the group on the day it had to appear in court in Moscow this time on a case related to its office building in the central part of the city. Center for Civil Liberties The Center for Civil Liberties was founded in 2007 to support human rights and democracy in Ukraine during a period of disorder in the country. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, the group has worked to document Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. The center is playing a pioneering role with a view to holding the guilty parties accountable for their crimes, said Reiss-Andersen. A researcher at the center, Volodymyr Yavorskyi, said the award was important for the organization because for many years we worked in a country that was invisible. The prize carries an award of almost $900,000 and will be presented in a ceremony on December 10. Last year, the committee awarded the peace prize to Dmitry Muratov, the editor of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippine reporter Maria Ressa, for their efforts to protect freedom of expression. I'm Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story yield - v. to bend or to break under pressure pioneering - adj. using new and better ideas for the first time invisible - adj. impossible to see HOLDREGE The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation Districts board of directors received an update on negotiations involving the potential consolidation with the Dawson Public Power District at its monthly meeting on Monday. The main topic of discussion was the configuration of the new board of directors and delineation of subdivisions. General Manager Devin Brundage reviewed a plan the joint board negotiations team helped develop that would result in a 14-member board of directors. The newly formed public power and irrigation district would have seven subdivisions; each subdivision would be represented by two board members. Initially, the new combined board would include all 23 members consisting of each entitys entire board of directors. Nine seats would be phased out during election years as terms in office expire until each of the seven subdivisions is represented by two board members. Also discussed during the meeting were management and organizational structure, the financial model and facilities, including construction of new facilities in Holdrege, Bertrand and at Kingsley Dam. Discussions and negotiations are in the final phase of the four-phase consolidation study. Dawsons board of directors received the same report at their board meeting on Oct. 5. Next, Central and Dawson plan to hold several opportunities for the public to learn about the merger proposal and ask questions of staff. Those open houses will take place Oct. 12 in Holdrege; Oct. 13 in Lexington; Oct. 18 in North Platte; Oct. 19 in Kearney and Oct. 21 in Elwood. Times and locations will be announced in the near future. Both the Central and Dawson boards must approve the plan before it is submitted to the Nebraska Power Review Board. Also at Mondays meeting: The directors approved a purchase requisition in the amount of $126,450 to CellSite Solutions of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for two buildings at the Jeffrey and J-2 Hydroplants to house microwave equipment. The board approved a bid from L & S Electric of Rothschild, Wis., for $96,075 for a new governor pump and distributing valves at the J-2 hydroplant. Directors closed the contract to Allen Blasting & Coating for completion of the painting and coating project at the Kingsley Dam outlet structures and approved final payment of $1.9 million. Natural Resources and Compliance Manager Mike Drain reported the completion of inspections of dams at Jeffrey Lake, Johnson Lake and at Lake McConaughy. Engineers from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the State of Nebraska and Central conducted the inspections. Civil engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughys elevation was at 3218.3 feet as of Monday morning (37.6% of capacity). Inflows have increased to 1,100 cubic feet per second (cfs). No water is being released from the reservoir while the Nebraska Public Power District completes work on head gates of the Keystone Canal at the east end of Lake Ogallala. Thulin added that elevation at Jeffrey Lake was down eight feet last week to facilitate maintenance on the return gates to the Platte River below the lake FRIDAY, Oct. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) Travelers flying from Uganda will be funneled to one of five U.S. airports so they can be screened for Ebola amid an outbreak in that African country, federal officials announced Thursday. Passengers who have been in Uganda within the previous 21 days will fly to Kennedy Airport in New York; Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey; O'Hare International Airport in Chicago; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. No cases of Ebola have been reported outside Uganda at this time, but the Biden administration warned physicians to be watchful for any cases. The virus is highly contagious and often deadly, spreading through contact with bodily fluids. There is no approved vaccines or treatments for the particular type of Ebola virus fueling the Ugandan outbreak. Mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, the virus can rapidly damage internal organs, causing bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth and rectum. It kills about half of those infected. While there are no direct flights from Uganda to the United States, travelers from or passing through affected areas in Uganda can enter the United States on flights connecting from other countries, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained in its alert. While the CDC ordered the airport screenings, the U.S. State Department said the screenings also apply to U.S. citizens who have been in Uganda. Screenings began on Thursday for some passengers. Travel restrictions start next week, the New York Times reported. About 62% of travelers from Uganda already fly into those five airports. Screenings will include a temperature check and a health questionnaire. Those will be shared with local officials, theTimes reported. Past Ebola outbreaks have been hard to control, including one in West Africa in 2014, which ended with 28,616 cases, more than all previous cases combined. That outbreak killed 11,310 people. Eleven Americans were sickened, mostly outside the United States, and two died, the Times said. Ebola outbreaks have twice been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, in 2014 and again in 2019. In the Ugandan outbreak, the virus circulated widely before it was detected in the city of Mubende. It is now in four other districts within a 75-mile radius, with 44 confirmed cases and 10 deaths so far. We are concerned because we still havent reached the peak, Dr. Fiona Braka, emergency operations manager at the WHO regional office for Africa, told the Times. While there are vaccines and treatments for another strain of Ebola, the Zaire species, they dont work against the Sudan species that is circulating in Uganda, the Times reported. Scientists have been working on at least eight possible vaccines that could tackle the Sudan species, including a single-dose version, which has been licensed to the Sabin Vaccine Institute. About 100 doses are available of that vaccine, which in monkeys is highly protective against the virus. Another 81 doses are available of another candidate, this one made by a British team. It is in early-stage trials to test its impact on both the Zaire and Sudan species, the Times reported. Both of these vaccines could be used in clinical trials in the current outbreak if approved by health authorities in Uganda. Sabin Vaccine Institute has the materials it needs in storage in Italy to make 40,000 doses, but it would take until the end of the year to fill and finish them, Dr. Rick Koup, acting director of the federal vaccine center, told the Times. Also potentially helpful are monoclonal antibodies that are in early-stage trials and which may reverse symptoms in multiple Ebola species. One dose eased severe symptoms in monkeys with Zaire, Sudan and Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the Times reported. If you go fishing for these rare rainbow unicorn antibodies, you can certainly find ones that are cross-neutralizing and cross-protective against various types of Ebola, Kartik Chandran, a virologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York who helped develop the treatment, told the Times. We knew it was only a matter of time before we had another Ebola outbreak that wasnt caused by Zaire, he added. Travel restrictions amid Ebola outbreaks have a precedent. In 2014, the Obama administration also required passengers to fly to certain U.S. airports for screening during an Ebola outbreak in West Africa. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Ebola. SOURCE: New York Times KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian missiles hit apartment buildings in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Thursday, killing at least seven people, with at least five others missing, in a region that Moscow has illegally annexed, a local official said. Two strikes damaged more than 40 buildings hours after Ukraine's president announced that his military had retaken three more villages in another of the four regions annexed by Russia, Moscow's latest battlefield reversal. The Zaporizhzhia regional governor, Oleksandr Starukh, who provided the casualty figure, said more than 20 people were rescued from the multistory apartment buildings. Rescuers who earlier took a 3-year-old girl to a hospital continued to search the rubble early Friday. Starukh wrote on Telegram that Russian forces used S-300 missiles in the attacks. Russia has been reported to have converted the S-300 from its original use as a long-range antiaircraft weapon into a missile for ground attacks because of a shortage of other, more suitable weapons. Absolute meanness. Absolute evil," Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskky said of the attacks, in a video speech to the inaugural summit of the European Political Community in Prague. "There have already been thousands of manifestations of such evil. Unfortunately, there may be thousands more. Zaporizhzhia is one of the four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed as Russian territory in violation of international laws. The region is home to a sprawling nuclear power plant under Russian occupation; the city of the same name remains under Ukrainian control. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, announced Thursday after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv that the U.N.s atomic energy watchdog will increase the number of inspectors at the Zaporizhzhia plant from two to four. Grossi talked with Ukrainian officials and later will confer in Moscow with Russian officials efforts to set up a protection zone around the nuclear power station. Grossi said mines appear to have been planted around the perimeter of the plant, which has been damaged during the war and caused worries of a possible radiation disaster. Zelenskyy said Russia has stationed as many as 500 fighters at the plant. Putin signed a decree Wednesday declaring that Russia was taking over the six-reactor facility, a move Ukraines Foreign Ministry called a criminal act that was null and void. Ukraine's state nuclear operator, Energoatom, said it would continue to operate the plant, whose last operating reactor was shut down Sept. 11 because of frequent outages of external power needed to run critical safety systems. Transmission lines to the plant have been repeatedly shelled, and Grossi on Thursday reported shelling in an industrial area close to the plant's access road. Outside the battlefront, Russian authorities detained several hundred Ukrainians trying to flee Russian-occupied areas Wednesday near the Russian-Estonian border, according to Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets. Citing the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, he wrote on Facebook that Russian forces took the Ukrainians on trucks to an unknown destination. Most of the detained Ukrainians had fled through Russia and Crimea and were seeking to enter the European Union Estonia is a member state or find a way to return home, Lubinets wrote. Russian has forced thousands of Ukrainians into filtration camps to determine their loyalties. Zelenskyy said Thursday more than 1.6 million Ukrainians have been deported to Russia. The precise borders of the areas in Ukraine that Moscow is claiming remain unclear. Putin has vowed to defend Russias territory including the annexed Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine with any means at his militarys disposal, including nuclear weapons. Ukrainian forces are seizing back villages in Kherson in humiliating battlefield defeats for Russian forces that have badly dented the image of a powerful Russian military. Ukrainian officials said Thursday they have retaken 400 square kilometers (154 square miles) of territory, including 29 settlements, in the Kherson region since Oct. 1. Ukraine also was pressing a counteroffensive in the Donetsk region, which Moscow-backed separatists have partially controlled since 2014 but which remains contested despite Putin's proclaimed annexation. In battered Chasiv Yar, a city in the Donetsk region 7 miles (12 kilometers) from heavy fighting, the human impact became clear as retirees waited to collect their pension checks at a post office. We are hoping for victory of the Ukrainian army, Vera Ivanovna, 81, a retired English and German teacher, said as artillery booms echoed. We lived in independent Ukraine as you are living in America. We also want to live how you are living. At least two Russian strikes have hit Chasiv Yar in recent days, with one person reportedly buried under the rubble of a dormitory. More than 40 people were killed in July when Russian rockets struck a residential building. Russia said it had seized the Donetsk region village of Zaitsevo. The governor of the neighboring Luhansk region said Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Hrekivka. Neither battlefield report could be independently confirmed. The U.S. government, meanwhile, sent its international development chief to Kyiv on Thursday, the highest-ranking American official to visit Ukraine since Russia illegally annexed the four regions. The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, met with government officials and residents and said the U.S. would provide an additional $55 million to repair heating pipes and other equipment. USAID said the United States had delivered $9.89 billion in aid to Ukraine since February. A spending bill that U.S. President Joe Biden signed last week promises another $12.3 billion for Ukraines military and public services needs. This war will be won on the battlefield, but it is also being won in Ukraines ongoing efforts to strengthen its democracy and its economy, Power told reporters at Kyivs train station. She said Ukraines success as a democratic country with a modern economy tackling corruption incensed Putin. The European Union on Thursday froze the assets of an additional 37 people and entities tied to Russias war in Ukraine, bringing the total of EU blacklist targets to 1,351. The newly sanctioned included officials involved in last weeks illegal Russian annexations and sham referendums. The latest sanctions also widen trade bans against Russia and prepare for a price cap on Russian oil. At the United Nations in New York, Russia called for a secret ballot next week on a Western-backed resolution that would condemn Russia's annexation of the four Ukrainian regions and demand that Moscow reverse its actions. Russia apparently hopes to get more support from the 193 nations in the General Assembly if their votes aren't made public. Russia vetoed a legally binding Security Council resolution on Sept. 30 to condemn annexation referendums in the four Ukrainian regions as illegal. The General Assembly's resolutions aren't legally binding. Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Ukraine and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. MENOMINEE, Mich. County officials in Michigan's Upper Peninsula declared a local emergency Friday afternoon as fire crews continued battling a fire at a paper mill that was producing a dense cloud of smoke. Menominee city police said Menominee County officials and emergency management officials had issued an emergency declaration, and the public was urged to avoid the area. A spokesman for Resolute Forest Products said the fire began in Menominee, Michigan, about 11 p.m. Thursday in a warehouse that contained pulp and waste paper. No injuries were reported in the fire along Michigan's border with Wisconsin. Five fire departments were called to the scene to fight the blaze, the Stephenson Fire Department said. Some locations in adjacent Marinette, Wisconsin, were closed due to the smoke and area schools were keeping students indoors until the end of the school day. The fire began at a warehouse Montreal-based Resolute Forest Products rents from KK Integrated Logistics on the site of Resolute's Menominee recycled pulp mill along the Menominee River, said David Marshall, a company spokesman. He said Friday morning that the fire was under control. The paper mill makes paper pulp and employs nearly a hundred people, according to the company's website, which says Resolute Forest Products is a leading producer of lumber, newsprint and other wood products. Menominee is located in the southern central tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula about 55 miles northwest of Green Bay. China's rural revitalization evident in Great Wall township Xinhua) 09:24, October 07, 2022 * Homestays have agglomerated in Bohai Township, suburban Beijing, surrounded by forests, chestnut farms and the Great Wall, along with ecological and environmental protection and a tidier village appearance. * With the joint efforts of government and villagers, the township is now home to 187 boutique bed-and-breakfasts (B&Bs), creating more than 400 jobs and securing over 6 million yuan (about 845,094 U.S. dollars) a year in homestead rental income for locals. * Tourism creates comprehensive value by boosting primary and tertiary sectors. Locally grown chestnuts and mushrooms are served in dishes for tourists, and their cultivation is becoming more technical and standardized. BEIJING, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Villagers in suburban Beijing have been busy harvesting chestnuts this autumn. New features in recent years are locals hosting tourists in B&Bs, young people returning to their hometowns to develop businesses, and working teams engaged in rural revitalization. Boasting a forest coverage rate of 93 percent, a 500-year chestnut plantation history, and a 19.8-km Great Wall section, Bohai Township in the capital's Huairou District received over 900,000 tourists in the first seven months of this year. Photo taken on Sept. 8. 2022 shows Dongtai Village of Bohai Township in Huairou District, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhao Chenjie) However, about a decade ago, the township faced the problems of dirty and disordered appearance, dusty and bumpy roads, and lagged crop production with limited marketing outlets. BETTER ENVIRONMENT "The dirty water was poured on the street, the road surface was full of cracks, and firewood was messily piled up in the yard," recalled Wang Wentian, a chestnut farmer at Dongtai Village in Bohai. "We were quite envious of people from nearby villages who earned money through developing tourism," said Wang Dajiang, Party secretary of the village. "We tried to make a change, and improving the environment was the move." With the joint efforts of villagers and local government, electricity replaced coal as heating energy in 2018, and a sewage treatment station was in place by 2019. Asphalt roads have been connected to doors, and solar-powered street lights have illuminated people's way home since 2021. Wang Bojun, 34, son of Wang Wentian, quit his job in urban Beijing in 2016, and returned to his hometown. "I firmly believe that rural tourism offers great opportunities," he said. Wang Bojun cleans a table at his bed-and-breakfast in Dongtai Village of Bohai Township in Huairou District, Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 8. 2022. (Xinhua/Tian Chenxu) In 2017 and 2018, Wang Bojun participated in a wastewater disposal project which provided villagers with jobs. Last year, he invested around 200,000 yuan to transform his homestead into a B&B. His father neither understood nor supported the gamble at first. This summer, Wang Bojun's B&B received about three to four groups of visitors each week. "Our investment will be paid back soon as this year's revenue is expected to exceed 200,000 yuan," he said. The improved environment of Dongtai Village and the emerging homestay facilities attract more tourists. "We are both participants and beneficiaries of rural revitalization," he said. QUALITY ACCOMMODATION "I have been a carpenter since my 20s, but I had never imagined taking up a new job when I am old," said Wang Futian, 74, resident of Liuduhe Village of Bohai Township and now the host of the "Old Carpenter" B&Bs. Wang made a living from furniture orders and gained a reputation in carpentry from folks of nearby townships when he was young. More than 20 years ago, Wang and his wife started accommodating tourists visiting the Great Wall nearby in their farmhouse. "At that time, 10 yuan would be sufficient for an overnight slumbering on a collective sleeping board. There was neither a toilet nor a television inside the house," Wang recalled. As the proportion of the middle-income group in China has grown, people have developed a higher demand for farmhouse quality. Wang Futian shows a decoration made by himself at his bed-and-breakfast in Liuduhe Village of Bohai Township in Huairou District, Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 9. 2022. (Xinhua/Tian Chenxu) The old couple redesigned two farmhouses into B&Bs, divided private bedrooms, and established karaoke and chess rooms. "These two homestays can host over 30 people and are usually fully booked ahead of holidays, earning us around 400,000 yuan a year," he said. According to Peng Xingjin, director of the Bohai Township tourism service center, the township is now home to 187 boutique B&Bs, creating more than 400 jobs and securing over 6 million yuan a year in homestead rental income for locals. COMPREHENSIVE VALUE "These qualified homestays have become an up-to-date industry for villagers in Bohai to generate incomes," Peng said, adding that the township has positioned its B&Bs business as a key way to advance rural revitalization. Bohai achieved a comprehensive tourism revenue of 172 million yuan in the first seven months of this year. Wang Futian (L) picks jujubes with his wife Huang Mengzhen (C) and employee Liu Haiyan in the yard of his bed-and-breakfast in Liuduhe Village of Bohai Township in Huairou District, Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 9. 2022. (Xinhua/Li Dexin) Villager Liu Haiyan has worked at the "Old Carpenter" for four years as the housekeeper, receptionist and cleaner. "I used to earn merely a few thousand yuan a year by selling chestnuts. Now, I gain some 4,000 yuan each month," she said. The used sheets and towels of the "Old Carpenter" are carried to a laundry that provides washing services for nearby B&Bs. A worker, Wang Jianrong, operating washer-dryer combos, said, "there were only two employees when the laundry was set up in 2017. Now, there are six, all of whom are locals." Wu Shangjun, an expert with the Beijing agro-technical promotion center, began to work as Dongtai Village's first Party secretary one year ago. He brought villagers high-yield mushroom seeds. Wu introduced stereoscopic cultivation, a planting method which grows mushrooms under chestnut trees. Wu believed that agriculture and rural tourism can boost each other. Photo taken on Sept. 19. 2022 shows chestnut trees at a chestnut farm in Bohai Township of Huairou District, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Tian Chenxu) Although Huairou is famous for its chestnuts, the plantation scale and the nuts' economic value are not yet fully developed. "We felt fatigued in trimming trees and picking chestnuts, only earning 10,000 yuan a year," said Wang Yanli, a local chestnut farmer. "Few of the younger generation were willing to take it over." Li Sipeng, deputy head of the Beijing Juyuande chestnut planting cooperative, returned to Bohai in 2017 and contributed new ideas to the industry. With 830 households as members, the cooperative has set standardized chestnut planting and picking guidelines for the member farmers, and offered technological support. "We are now exploring producing refined chestnut snacks for bakeries and restaurants," Li said. (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) The owner of a Williamson Street gas station and convenience store was permanently barred from accepting public assistance FoodShare cards at his businesses after pleading guilty Thursday to illegally buying the balances of the cards from cardholders seeking quick cash. Mavi Kuldip Singh, 65, agreed to plead guilty to three misdemeanor charges unauthorized use of a public assistance voucher and two counts of knowingly trafficking food stamps and was sentenced to two years of probation, with 90-day suspended jail sentences on each count hanging over him should his probation be revoked. Singh owns the Willy Street Mini Mart, 1130 Williamson St. In March, Singh and an employee, Jeff D. Joe, 68, of Madison, were charged with public assistance fraud for illegally buying FoodShare cards from recipients, which are only to be used to buy food. The cards, purchased for less than their value, were then used to buy bulk inventory for Singhs store at Woodmans grocery stores. The charges against Joe are still pending. A criminal complaint states people who sold some of their FoodShare card balances to Singh told investigators the store became well known in the neighborhood as a place to get fast cash, until Singh realized he was under investigation and stopped making the cash purchases. In court Thursday, Circuit Judge David Conway said that while its not a crime thats seen very often in the court system, its high up there on the gravity of the offense scale, Mr. Singh, because you know better. Conway said the scheme represents ill-gotten funds for Singh at the expense of people who needed the FoodShare program to feed themselves, but instead used the cash to fuel drug addictions. I think its a big deal, Conway said. Conway accepted the plea agreement as proposed by Assistant District Attorney Paul Humphrey and Singhs attorney, Michael Short, despite initial skepticism about whether the case should end in misdemeanor convictions and no jail time. As part of his sentence, Singh was ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $18,000. He has paid back $10,000 and must pay at least $4,000 per year or face a 60-day jail sentence. Singh also agreed to a permanent ban from participation in the FoodShare program as either a vendor or a client. Short said that because of the location of his Williamson Street store, in an area where many FoodShare clients live, that will be a major concern for Singh going forward. The convictions in this case could also affect Singhs city and state licenses, Short said. Singh declined an opportunity to speak in court. But Short said that at the time the scheme happened, between April 2019 and April 2021, Singhs store was often a target of thieves. He said Singh told him that when he called the police for help, they never came. Singhs participation in the FoodShare scheme, Short said, was out of frustration with an encampment for unhoused people at nearby McPike Park, which Singh blamed for the thefts at his store. Short said theres no evidence Singh took part in a similar FoodShare card scheme at any other store he owns. Madison will reduce the speed limit on a portion of Segoe Road on the West Side in the final move this year in the citys Vision Zero campaign aimed at curbing traffic deaths. On Monday, the speed limit on a section of about 2.2 miles of Segoe Road from University Avenue to Odana Road will be cut from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. The section of Segoe Road was selected due to the busy multi-modal street traffic, its proximity to a school and park, and the number of residents, restaurants and a large shopping area, the city said. Temporary digital signboards and new permanent signs will be used to alert drivers to the speed limit changes. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway launched the Vision Zero campaign in 2020 with the goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths and injuries by the end of the decade. The program also has seen speed limit reductions on portions of East Washington Avenue, Whitney Way, Mineral Point Road, Park Street, John Nolen Drive, Old Sauk Road, and Portage Road. The city said Madison crash data shows crashes are down 5% for the first half of 2022, compared to the first half of 2021, and fatal and serious injury crashes are down 29% in the first half of 2022, compared to the first half of 2021. A panhandler was arrested after pulling a knife on a man outside a North Side store on Thursday afternoon, Madison police reported. Police were called to Walgreens, 1725 Northport Drive, on a report of a man with a knife, police spokesperson Ryan Kimberley said. A man told police that he went outside for fresh air when a panhandler in the parking lot approached him, pulled out a knife and stated, "Best be steppin," Kimberley said. The man retreated and police found the panhandler, Ricky C. Cross, 31, and arrested him on a tentative charge of disorderly conduct while armed, Kimberley said. Wisconsin is joining with Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota to seek federal funding to promote clean hydrogen production. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by two Republican and two Democratic governors, the states will work together to develop a proposal for a regional network of clean hydrogen producers, potential clean hydrogen consumers, and connective infrastructure known as a clean hydrogen hub. Gov. Tony Evers said a hydrogen network would expand economic growth while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and eventually lower fuel costs. Clean hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in our clean energy efforts here in Wisconsin and across the country, and Im proud to be working together with this bipartisan group of governors to do the right thing for our states futures, Evers said in a statement announcing the agreement. Experts leery, DNR mum as Dane County claims success with experimental PFAS treatment The county has not provided data to support the claim but says it plans to expand the pilot to other contaminated parts of the airport. The states are seeking a share of $7 billion in a federal funding appropriated under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create up to 10 regional hydrogen hubs. Initial proposals must be filed with the Department of Energy by Nov. 7. Full applications are due in April. Last month Evers joined governors of Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana to form a Midwest Hydrogen Coalition to promote a clean hydrogen economy. According to Evers, the infrastructure law encourages states to participate in multiple proposals if viable, meaning the two partnerships are not exclusive. Often touted as a replacement for natural gas, hydrogen is a light, combustible gas that contains no carbon. Consumed in a fuel cell, the only byproduct is water although, when burned, it releases pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain. The challenge is producing hydrogen without fossil fuels, which can be done by using renewable energy to extract it from water in a process called electrolysis. According to the Department of Energy, about 95% of the hydrogen produced in the United States today is derived from natural gas using super-heated steam, an energy-intensive process that releases a lot of carbon dioxide. Nordic Consulting, a Madison-based health and technology consulting company, has acquired Cheltenham, England-based Hygeian, a similar consulting company with public and private sector clients in the United Kingdom and the Middle East. The move, announced Thursday, is Nordics sixth acquisition in recent years, the company said in a statement. Hygeian has 300 consultants, which will allow Nordic to expand its capacity to serve clients across the globe, Nordic said. With Hygeian now part of Nordic, we are better equipped to nimbly and efficiently deliver for our clients and help them overcome industry challenges, said Jim Costanzo, CEO at Nordic Consulting. In June, Cincinnati-based Accrete Health Partners announced its acquisition of Nordic. Accrete will allow Nordic to bring our clients innovative solutions at a faster pace, Costanzo said in a statement at the time. He said Nordic had 1,900 employees globally and 600 clients. Among its services is helping clients implement and use electronic medical record systems, such as those sold by Verona-based Epic Systems Corp. and its competitors, including Cerner and MEDITECH. Nordic, founded in 2010, is at 2601 W. Beltline Highway. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is making no indications he plans to pardon all simple marijuana convictions in Wisconsin after President Joe Biden announced Thursday he would be pardoning all those federally convicted of simple marijuana possession. Biden, in a tweet Thursday afternoon, said Im calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana offenses. Just as no one should be in federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either. While Bidens announced pardon would clear the records of thousands of misdemeanor convictions, the majority of the countrys marijuana possession convictions are at the state level. No one is expected to get out of prison because of Bidens pardons, but the Biden administration indicated that it hopes the pardons may remove barriers to jobs, housing and education. Evers remains open to pardoning individuals with marijuana convictions and has been doing that consistently since being elected but he is not planning (at least publicly) to issue unsolicited pardons to all of those with marijuana possession convictions on their record. When The Journal Times reached out to Evers office to ask if there were any plans to issue such widespread pardons, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback replied in an email The governors existing pardon eligibility criteria are available here and included a link to the governor's online pardon information page (evers.wi.gov/Pages/pardon-information.aspx). Since being elected in 2018, Evers has been a prolific pardoner. While Scott Walker pardoned zero people in his eight years as governor, Evers has pardoned more than 600 in his first term. Cudaback did not reply to a follow-up question asking Theres no plan in place right now or being considered for the governor to blanketly pardon all simple marijuana offenses? Governors in states where marijuana has been legalized such as Washington, Nevada, Illinois and Colorado have pardoned thousands (or tens of thousands) of marijuana offenses. Evers has repeatedly proposed legalizing marijuana for medicinal and recreational use in Wisconsin, but the Republican-led Legislature has not entertained the idea, although bipartisan support for legalization is growing. Upcoming ballot measure On Nov. 8, City of Racine voters will get to weigh in for the second time in four years on if they want Wisconsin to legalize marijuana via non-binding referendum. Many governors have been issuing mass pardons for those with past cannabis convictions, Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), said in an email to a reporter. Separately, nearly two dozen states have enacted laws facilitating the expungement of criminal marijuana records, leading to an estimated 2 million expungements in recent years. Semantics The language surrounding illegal marijuana possession varies from state to state, and sometimes city to city. Wisconsin does not have a crime titled simple possession for any drug. Rather, possession of marijuana is legally referred to as possession of THC (tetrahydrocannabinols), which is a misdemeanor. If someone is accused of possessing marijuana after already having been convicted of it, second and subsequent offenses are considered felonies. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound in marijuana/cannabis that creates the high feeling. NORML, in a statement Thursday, said Many of the efforts taken and proposed by the President today are long overdue. For nearly two years, NORML has called upon the Administration to fulfill the Presidents campaign promise to provide relief to those stigmatized with a low-level cannabis conviction. We are pleased that today President Biden is following through on this pledge and that he is also encouraging governors to take similar steps to ensure that the tens of millions of Americans with state-level convictions for past marijuana crimes can finally move forward with their lives. Since 1965, nearly 29 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana-related violations for activities that the majority of voters no longer believe ought to be a crime. Biden's pardon The president's widespread pardons do not cover convictions for possession of other drugs, or for charges relating to producing or possessing marijuana with an intent to distribute. Biden is also not pardoning non-citizens who were in the U.S. without legal status at the time of their arrest. The announcement marks Bidens reckoning with the impact of 1994 crime legislation, which he supported, that increased arrest and incarceration rates for drug crimes, particularly for Black and Latino people. The Department of Justice is working to devise a process for those covered by Bidens pardon to receive a certificate of pardon, which they can show to potential employers and others as needed. Josh Kaul and Eric Toney are miles apart on many issues. But when it comes to open government, the candidates vying for Wisconsin attorney general in the Nov. 8 election agree: More money is needed to handle enforcement of the states transparency laws. The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council sent questionnaires to Kaul, the Democratic incumbent, and his Republican challenger, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney. The state Department of Justice, which the attorney general heads, is empowered by statute to interpret and enforce Wisconsins public records and open meetings laws. The departments Office of Open Government handles that job, in addition to responding to public records requests. In assessing the offices strengths and weaknesses, both candidates mentioned the offices processing times for handling public records requests and responding to inquiries. Toney said the office is not prioritized and that DOJs response times to public records requests have increased sharply during Kauls tenure. Both candidates cited the need for more funding. Toney wrote that he would apply sufficient resources and prioritize the proper administration and enforcement of these laws. He criticized Kaul for not updating advice online since May 2021, and for posting few responses to public records requests on the DOJ website. Kaul said the Office of Open Government does an excellent job with the limited resources available, but that more resources would allow it to respond more quickly. He highlighted the offices efforts to provide guidance on open meetings law challenges during the early days of the pandemic and for parsing the effects of Marsys Law on public records access. The candidates also commented on two recent state Supreme Court decisions involving the public records law. In the first case, Friends of Frame Park v. City of Waukesha, the court in a 4-3 ruling changed the standard for when requesters can recover attorneys fees in lawsuits over access to public records. The decision makes it easier for government authorities to avoid paying a requesters attorneys fees by voluntarily releasing the requested records after a lawsuit is filed. Both candidates expressed concern about the ruling, which Kaul said removed a key check on unnecessary delays in public records compliance, undermines transparency in government and, in many cases, could make obtaining records cost-prohibitive. Toney said he would work with the Legislature to address the issues raised by the decision, saying legal maneuvering by well-funded government lawyers should not absolve members of the public from remedies for violations of public records law. In the other case, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce v. Evers, the state Supreme Court held 4-3 that business groups are not entitled to challenge the Wisconsin Department of Health Services decision to release data about employers linked to COVID-19 outbreaks. WMC and other trade associations had sued to block disclosure of this data, which the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel requested. Kaul said he agreed with the decision, which he described as a straight-forward application of the relevant statutory language. Toney, echoing the dissenting justices, said the case raised serious privacy issues and suggested there may be instances where third parties must be able to intervene in records cases, though this ability shouldnt automatically be presumed. To read the candidates full responses, go to wisfoic.org. TWIN FALLS Critical Race Theory isnt being taught in Idaho. And, according to former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Jim Jones, it never has been even before a 2021 Idaho bill was passed that threatens the funding of any institution that teaches it. So whats the big deal? Has critical race theory been that big of a problem in Idaho? Jones said he doesnt think so. I think this is just one of the culture war issues people seize on to get people excited, irritated, exasperated, Jones said. To get their votes, and to discredit public schools, because they thought public schools are not the way to go. Jones regaled an audience of more than 200 people with everything he knew about critical race theory during a talk at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. Over the course of 90 minutes, Jones made the case that awareness of history is not something being taught in schools in order to make people feel bad about themselves. Rather, he said, it is a way of being aware of events that contributed to the present conditions American society is experiencing. People say, Well, youre making kids hate America by teaching them actual straight-out honest history, Jones said. What youre doing, I think, is that youre teaching kids that they need to be generous to everybody, regardless of their race, color or creed, and that we have done some things that were really bad in the past and we really ought not to do it again. Jones attempted to define critical race theory, but, finding the definition murky, he extended his own analysis. Its basically this, Jones said, that racism, particularly our heritage of slavery, has had an influence on the structure of a lot of our laws and a lot of our practices our informal practices between each other and various racial groups. The discussion included numerous historical references for context: Exploring the nations roots in slavery, the Civil War, reconstruction, westward expansion, the Idaho Constitutional convention, segregation in the South, and internment of people with Japanese ancestry during World War II. To illustrate some of these laws and practices, Jones recalled being shocked while participating in real estate transactions when he first began practicing law in Twin Falls. I was flabbergasted to read deeds and restrictive covenants that said, You may not have any negroes in this subdivision, Jones said, or You can not sell to somebody who is black, Jones said. But that was common practice back in the time I was starting to practice back in the 70s. Going further back, Jones spoke of the drafting of the Idaho Constitution in 1889, which outlined groups who would be excluded from holding public office or voting. People to be excluded were uncivilized Indians, Asians, and people who believed in celestial marriage in other words, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To illustrate how the whitewashing of history has taken shape in parts of the country, Jones read from a new Texas Board of Education-approved history book that sought to present a less-distressing version of slavery to students. Some slaves reported that their masters treated them kindly. To protect their investment, some slaveholders provided adequate food and clothing for their slaves. he read. Doesnt that just sound pretty ducky? It didnt talk about how they were breeding them for new slaves, and how they ripped families apart, and how they beat some of them to death, and some of them if they learned to read they may lose their lives. It was a brutal society. Critical race theory might, Jones said, seek to have a broader, more accurate history of slavery available to these students. Lets teach history as it really was, as it really happened. Lets not gloss over it or give it some kind of a rosy glow, Jones said. Lets look at what we actually did and learn from it and move forward and not all feel like a bunch of criminals, but feel like we want to do better than that. Why is CRT even a thing? According to Jones, nobody knew about Critical Race Theory until Fox News host Tucker Carlson brought it up in September 2020. Three weeks later, the Trump Administration issued an executive order stripping funding from federal agencies and contractors that required diversity training. Without evidence, a contention began to develop in Idaho that critical race theory was being taught in schools. And all of a sudden it became the culture war weapon of choice, Jones said. Nobody was able to point to an instance where it had happened, but it took off like wildfire. Some lawmakers set about looking for evidence, and Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin formed an Indoctrination Task Force, which failed to turn up any proof. The search for critical race theory was kinda like the search for sasquatch, Jones said. They didnt know if it existed, they didnt know where he was, and they never could find him. Jones pointed out that schools are overseen by popularly elected school boards from the local community. Theyre not going to come in with some kind of alien teaching to try and indoctrinate the kids in to some weird way of thinking, he said. The framers of the Idaho Constitution insisted on having public schools in order to educate the population, enhance industry and commerce, and help grow the state, he said. And you know, quite frankly it worked really good for well over 100 years, Jones said. And I think it could work fairly good if people would just leave it alone, and let those local school boards and local teachers operate the system. If you cant define (CRT) and you cant find that it has been a problem, what are we even worrying about? Jones said. Lets do something important in the legislature, like addressing adequate school funding. McDowell Emergency Services Director Will Kehler and other emergency personnel from North Carolina are being deployed to Florida to assist with recovery operations from Hurricane Ian. North Carolina is supporting the state of Florida after Hurricane Ian and McDowells Kehler is part of that effort, according to a news release. Although we mourn five deaths and incurred some damage, its clear North Carolina missed the worst of this storm, said Gov. Roy Cooper. Now that some of our emergency resources are no longer needed at home, we are sending additional assistance to our Florida neighbors, who have a long road of recovery ahead. In response to requests Florida placed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, North Carolina is providing 16 personnel on two incident management teams, which will help Lee County, Fla. coordinate response and recovery operations. Lee County is home to Fort Myers and Cape Coral, some of the locations hardest hit by Hurricane Ian and where about half of the deaths from the storm have occurred. The team of state and local emergency managers and first responders will be in Florida for two weeks to support Lee County emergency managers in coordinating ongoing response operations including search, distribution of relief supplies, damage assessment and beginning the recovery process. The team is traveling with all the supplies and equipment they need to set up a basecamp and be self-sufficient while working, as most of the infrastructure in the area is destroyed and services are unavailable, according to the news release. North Carolina also provided experts in emergency communications who have supported the Florida State Emergency Operations Center since before the storm made landfall. Personnel are from the FirstTech Office in the N.C. Department of Information Technology and from North Carolina Emergency Management and have covered a two-week deployment period. North Carolina is also filling a Florida request for a public information officer to assist at the state EOC for a two-week period. We will remain ready to deploy other resources as needed and continue to look for ways to support our partners in Florida and the ongoing response and recovery efforts in the impacted communities, said state Emergency Management Director William Ray. Authorities in Equatorial Guinea announced Thursday the release of 119 opposition party activists arrested by police during an assault on its headquarters that left five people dead. Equatorial Guinean security forces had attacked the headquarters of the opposition Citizens for the Future (CI) party in Malabo last week, which was dissolved in 2018. This operation led to the arrest of 150 supporters, including the party leader Gabriel Nse Obiang. The latter had refused to answer a judicial summons linked to an investigation into a planned attack that the government claimed to have foiled. We have received instructions from His Excellency the President of the Republic to release the activists, 53 of whom reside in Malabo and 66 in Bata, the economic capital, said on state television (TVGE) Santiago Edu Asam, Secretary General of the Ministry of Security. No charges have been brought against them and between 53 and 55 people, including the party leader, are still detained, he added. If the president has pardoned these people, it is because of his humanism and because he is a supporter of peace, he said. The security ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that security forces used non-lethal means during the assault on the IC headquarters, adding that four activists died from tear gas inhalation, as well as a police officer during the operation. The ministry added that the party headquarters housed 200 sequestered people, including pregnant women, children and the elderly, while accusing Mr. Nse Obiang of preparing an insurrection on November 3 for the launch of the election campaign. A former director of the military cabinet of the head of state, Mr. Nse Obiang has threatened in recent days to take to the streets with his supporters if the government does not allow him to participate in the November 20 legislative and presidential elections. The Angolan state airline TAAG communicated on social networks that it has a strike announced for October 07, 08 and 09. We apologize, we have announced a strike for 07, 08 and 09 October, reads a message posted on the official page of TAAG on Instagram. The company asks for its customers understanding, asking them to have patience. We are doing everything we can to help you, TAAG adds. TAAGs communication ends with an appeal to passengers to check the list of affected flights and the numbers of the call centers' on the companys portal. Earlier it had been announced that the strike would last a week, between October 7 and 16, which is why the parliamentary group of UNITA, the largest Angolan opposition party, announced it had requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Transport to obtain clarification about the pilots strike at the flagship airline, given the impact of the strike. On July 20, the demands of the Airline Pilots Union (SPLA) were delivered to TAAG, and meetings were held in which the airline presented several resolution proposals, duly framed in its financial reality, and with the firm objective of accommodating the pilots requests, reads a statement issued by the company on Saturday. In the same statement, TAAG adds that a contingency plan has been created to minimize the impact of the strike. Treg Suppressive Function and Numbers in the Open-Label Extension (OLE). (A) Treg suppressive function was assessed in each participant at screening, 4 weeks after the second infusion of a 1 dose of Tregs (week 34), 4 weeks after the second infusion of a 2 dose (week 42), and 4 weeks after the second infusion of a 3 dose (week 50). (B) Treg numbers were assessed in each participant at screening, 4 weeks after the second infusion of a 1 dose of Tregs (week 34), 4 weeks after the second infusion of a 2 dose (week 42), and 4 weeks after the second infusion of the 3 dose (week 50). Data were depicted as visit-specific estimates standard error and were compared for progression of continuous end points using a shared-baseline, linear mixed model. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Treg = regulatory T-lymphocyte. Credit: Neurology - Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation (2022). DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200019 Removing ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) patients' own dysfunctional cells, fixing them, then putting them back in patients' bodies is a safe, well tolerated process that has been shown to slow or halt disease progression in a small number of patients, according to a study by the Houston Methodist Research Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. The study, published recently in the journal Neurology: Neuroimmunology and NeuroInflammation, was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2a trial with 12 participants followed by an open-label trial. But the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemicwhich interrupted and even halted many research projects around the countryled to a reduction of the enrollment to 7 participants in the double-blind trial and 8 participants in the six-month open label trial. Seven ALS patients completed the Group 1 randomized placebo-controlled trial, while eight participated in the Group 2 open label portion of the study. Both groups had dysfunctional regulatory T-cellsor Tregswithdrawn from their bodies. When functioning normally, Tregs help reduce inflammation. In all but the placebo control group, researchers expanded the faulty Tregs to restore their function, then infused them back into patients' bodies, along with a low dose of Interleukin-2 to help boost the immune system. Results showed the Treg treatments were 100% safe and tolerable, and they remained biologically active in ALS patients for more than a year. The treatments also slowed or halted disease progression in most participants. Darci Garcia and her family were part of the Houston Astros recognition of Lou Gehrig Day at Minute Maid Park on June 6, 2022, where this video premiered. Credit: Houston Methodist Participants included Houston Methodist patients Darci Garcia, enrolled in Group 1, and John Lay, from Group 2, both of whom reported a slowdown of ALS progression during and for a short time after the clinical trial treatments. "We look forward to a much larger clinical trial that will allow for proper evaluation of clinical efficacy and further characterization of the long-term safety of this therapy," said Dr. Jason Thonhoff, principal investigator. "These early results in a handful of patients are promising." The open label segment of this latest Treg trial led to a spinoff publication reporting the identification of two biomarkers that could potentially help track ALS disease progression and measure just how well ALS therapies work. John and Jill Lay talk about their family's ALS journey and the importance of research. Credit: Houston Methodist Explore further Transdermal CBD no better than placebo for drug-resistant focal epilepsy More information: Jason R. Thonhoff et al, Combined Regulatory T-Lymphocyte and IL-2 Treatment Is Safe, Tolerable, and Biologically Active for 1 Year in Persons With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, NeurologyNeuroimmunology Neuroinflammation (2022). Jason R. Thonhoff et al, Combined Regulatory T-Lymphocyte and IL-2 Treatment Is Safe, Tolerable, and Biologically Active for 1 Year in Persons With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,(2022). DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200019 Jamila Hassan participated in research about end-of-life care for children after losing her son Omar to cancer in 2012. Credit: Courtesy of the Hassan family Jamila Hassan's son Omar was two when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy, remission, a relapse, more chemo and a bone marrow transplant before dying shortly before his 10th birthday in 2012. Hassan drew on the support of parents she met in the Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases at Stanford Medicine Children's Health, people who knew from experience about caring forand losinga child with cancer. Their understanding motivated her to pay it forward to families in similar situations: She recently joined a team of scientists preparing a paper on ethical conduct of research in end-of-life care, as a way of sharing what she had learned from Omar's long journey as a childhood cancer patient. Hassan's contributions to the paper include comments about the value of families' frontline knowledge of terminal illness care. She says, in part, "I think this kind of study would be an opportunity to improve small things parents remember about these important discussions or stressful times, like how a doctor or nurse talks to you slowly and calmly or helps you feel supported." Including families Hassan's work with a team of experts from across the country, which began at the invitation of Stanford Medicine nurse-scientist Kimberly Pyke-Grimm, RN, Ph.D., is an example of unusual new directions that experts are taking to involve bereaved families in research about medical decisions made near the end of their children's lives. The paper by Hassan; Pyke-Grimm, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics; and their collaborators, which was recently published in Pediatrics, addresses how best to study end-of-life decisions. To their knowledge, they are among the first to add to their team of scientists and bioethicists a parent who lost a child to cancer. "I think there's always room to improve our process for palliative care, including end-of-life care," said Pyke-Grimm, who studies treatment decision making at Stanford Medicine Children's Health. For instance, families might appreciate earlier integration of palliative caregivers into their child's team, specific social supports or a different way of sharing difficult medical news, she said. Research into families' opinions of care for a terminal illness has been rarepartly a result of researchers' concerns about whether such studies put too much strain on people who are under stress or grieving. But a desire to learn from families' experiences means the work is gaining traction. Bereaved parents have an understanding of end-of-life decisions that can't be duplicated by any amount of academic expertise, which makes them invaluable not just as participants in research but also as full scientific collaborators, according to Pyke-Grimm. "It makes good sense to have them guide us, to benefit from their wisdom and experience," she said. Benefiting from knowledge The new paper proposes a design for a study in which researchers interview families about their experiences with end-of-life decision making. These families would be asked about their perceptions of a conversation with a caregiver about the end of life, including what caregivers said or did that helped the family make difficult decisions about the child's care. The interviews could be centered on any end-of-life decision. Families may be involved in deciding, for instance, when to discontinue chemotherapy for a child whose cancer is not responding to treatment, when and how to initiate palliative care, how to approach pain management at the end of life, or how medical care can support goals the patient hopes to reach in the remainder of his or her life. The paper includes expert analysis of the ethical strengths and weaknesses of such a study. During Omar's seven years in and out of the hospital, the Hassan family, of San Jose, California, formed strong bonds with Omar's caregivers. "I had the most wonderful team to work with, amazing doctors and nurses. They did whatever they could to save him," Jamila Hassan said. The team also did what they could to make the hospital more hospitable, following Omar's suggestions such as serving fun foods (Oreos and pizza) and supporting his efforts, with his mom, to found a charitable organization, Omar's Dream Foundation, which provides iPads to help children participate in school while they are hospitalized. When Omar was very sick, Hassan was grateful for the times she received emotional support from caregivers on the team who had come to know her well. She especially appreciated the efforts that Omar's caregivers made to connect her to another mom who had lost a child to cancer, someone who could provide a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear. Even with all the love and support from Omar's team, there were moments when Hassan wondered if her family's caregivers truly understood what it was like to have a terminally ill child. "They say things like, 'You will be fine,' and when you are hearing it as a parent, you're thinking, 'This person is saying it because it's her job, but she hasn't been through it herself,'" Hassan said. Flexibility helps In the paper, Hassan described how researchers could adapt studies to take families' needs into account. Rather than following a rigid timeline for when families could join a study, for example, Hassan advocated for flexibility, pointing out that researchers should be sensitive to the mix of stressors families with dying children face. "Parents could be worried about work, finances or their other children, or just having a hard day," she wrote. "Also, they may not be eating or sleeping well (child or parent), or do not want to leave their child. An individualized approach would be important." Building on existing relationships between the child's caregivers and the families would also be helpful, Hassan said, noting that as a parent, she would have been more likely to participate in research if she learned about it from her son's doctor instead of a scientist she had never met. She also suggested having parents who had already participated in research available to guide new participants. Pyke-Grimm hopes that recommendations such as Hassan's will strengthen the research field and ultimately help all caregivers approach end-of-life care as sensitively as possible. "Sometimes it's the simplest things that make the biggest difference," Pyke-Grimm said, adding that near the end of life, caregivers often need to shift from being prescriptive to just being present and listening: "It's about spending time understanding, 'What do the patient and family want? What is meaningful to them at this stage?' and doing as much as we can to get them there." Explore further Spanking related to other forms of discipline, intimate partner violence More information: Kim Mooney-Doyle et al, Balancing Protection and Progress in Pediatric Palliative Care Research: Stakeholder Perspectives, Pediatrics (2022). Journal information: Pediatrics Kim Mooney-Doyle et al, Balancing Protection and Progress in Pediatric Palliative Care Research: Stakeholder Perspectives,(2022). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-057502 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain People with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and their caregivers report experiencing discrimination and stigma when presenting to health services following self-harm or a suicide attempt, leading to inadequate treatment and care for suicide prevention, say authors of a new large-scale review. Researchers at Flinders University are calling for better use of existing resources to improve health and community-based services and staff training, which would not only boost the health and well-being of all Australians but significantly contribute to a reduction in emergency department presentations and hospital admissions. Led by Pauline Klein, a Casual Academic and Ph.D. Candidate in Flinders University's College of Medicine and Public Health, the research team undertook a review of the international literature to investigate people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, their caregivers, and health practitioners' experiences of health services. "Our aim was to identify any challenges, gaps, and barriers in health services and supports, as well as recommendations for addressing these issues," says Ms. Klein. Borderline personality disorder affects one to two percent of the global population but has high rates of self-harm and suicide, leading to frequent presentations to emergency departments and mental health services, the review found. "Unlike schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder is much less likely to respond to medications, with previous research finding longer-term solutions, such as face to face therapy and ongoing support, better suited to manage the underlying trauma that is thought to have led to the disorder for many of the people who experience it," says co-author Dr. Kate Fairweather, a Mental Health Epidemiologist and Public Health/Health Equity Lecturer at Flinders University. The review identified significant structural problems in the health system for people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and their caregivers, including the limited public health services and community group programs available to meet the urgent demand for support. "We found that the available public health services and programs have long wait lists, and specialist services are not an affordable option for many people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and their families," says Ms. Klein. "Similarly, health practitioners reported experiencing challenges navigating health services and referral pathways, due to the limited services and supports available." The research further suggests that there is a dominant stigmatizing culture, particularly in emergency and acute mental health services, that perpetuates misconceptions regarding the legitimacy of the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder as well as its treatability and recovery prospects, leading to reluctance among some health practitioners to diagnose or treat people with this mental health condition. "Alarmingly, there are consistent reports in the literature indicating that when experiencing a suicidal crisis, people with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis and their caregivers are treated disrespectfully and denied treatment when presenting to some health services, leading to a lack of support being offered to these patients at a pivotal time when crisis intervention is needed," says Ms. Klein. "The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Borderline Personality Disorder, developed in 2012, state that treatment for this disorder is a legitimate use of health care resources and that having a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is never a reason for withholding health care to a person. "These stigmatizing experiences lead to patients and their caregivers facing discrimination and high levels of anxiety when seeking treatment because the presenting condition is not taken seriously, undermining patient care and potentially retraumatizing and exacerbating patients' self-harming behavior." The authors say the results of the review echo existing structural problems impacting other areas of the health system and provide further evidence of a critical need for health reform. "This should serve as a call to action for governments to prioritize and address these important public health concerns," says Ms. Klein. "We need a system-wide approach including providing health practitioners who work with people with borderline personality disorder ongoing access to education, training, and supervision to better support them in their role." The paper "Structural stigma and its impact on health care for borderline personality disorder: a scoping review" by Pauline Klein, Kate Fairweather, and Sharon Lawn is published in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems. Explore further Help for borderline personality disorder More information: Pauline Klein et al, Structural stigma and its impact on healthcare for borderline personality disorder: a scoping review, International Journal of Mental Health Systems (2022). Pauline Klein et al, Structural stigma and its impact on healthcare for borderline personality disorder: a scoping review,(2022). DOI: 10.1186/s13033-022-00558-3 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The United Nations warned Thursday of a possible explosion of cholera cases in crisis-wracked Haiti. The international body called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to ease a blockage of the country's main fuel import terminal so as to get services running again and make clean water available. Haiti announced Sunday its first cases of cholera in three years, with seven people dead of the disease. Eleven cases have been confirmed, and there are another 111 suspected cases, but the real numbers could be much higher, said Ulrika Richardson, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Haiti. Speaking from Haiti via video, she said that for now, the cases seem to be limited mainly to the capital Port-au-Prince. "With the current conditions in Haiti, and if not all the good conditions are met, we are actually in for quite an exponential if not explosive increase of cholera cases," she said. "One could even say that perhaps the conditions are there for a perfect storm, unfortunately." Richardson said "the numbers (of infected) could be much higher." Tests were underway abroad to determine whether it was the same strain of cholera as the one that killed more than 10,000 people from 2010 to 2019. 'Killing people' Since the government announced fuel price hikes on September 11, already unstable and destitute Haiti was hit with riots, looting and demonstrations. And since mid-September, the country's largest fuel import terminal, in Varreux, has been controlled by powerful armed gangs. "That means that the whole country is running short of fuel," said Richardson. So some hospitals and other health facilities are closing down, and garbage is piling up in the streets. Water distribution has been interrupted, which is dangerous as clean water is essential for fighting a cholera epidemic, because the bacteria that causes it is water-born, Richardson explained. The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations made an appeal Thursday for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to allow for the release of fuel at the Varreux terminal and meet people's urgent needs. The government must do everything it can to unblock the fuel terminal, said Richardson. And the gangs holding the terminal must know, she said, that "this is killing people, literally killing people." Richardson called on foreign powers to assist Haiti in strengthening its security forces, "which are apparently not sufficient to unblock the terminal." Top US diplomat Antony Blinken, in Peru for a meeting of the Organization of American States, said, "We commend the efforts of the Haitian National Police, who have been working tirelessly to try to keep the peace." "But they need our help. They need our continuing support." In a television address Wednesday night, Prime Minister Ariel Henry had appealed for international "friends of Haiti" to help defang armed gangs that he said have taken the country "hostage." Speaking at a Security Council meeting in late September, Haiti's UN envoy Helen La Lime said that the new violencefive years after the departure of UN peacekeepersis testing the Haitian police, which receives UN support to strengthen its capacity. China has called for an embargo on the transfer of small arms to gangs in Haiti. The United States and Mexico, which drafted a resolution in July calling on states to ban the transfer of small arms, said they are working on a new text. A new meeting on Haiti is scheduled for October 21. Explore further Haiti reports first deaths from cholera in three years 2022 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Blocking the action of calcium signals in immune cells suppresses the most common form of asthma, but without compromising the body's defenses against flu viruses, a new study finds. Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, experiments showed that removing the gene for a calcium channelspecifically the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel made up of ORAI1 proteinsthoroughly reduced asthmatic inflammation in the lungs of mice caused by house dust mite feces, a common cause of allergic asthma. Blocking signals sent through this channel with an investigational new drug called a CRAC channel inhibitor had a similar effect. The study revolved around the use of charged particles, mainly calcium, by human cells to send signals and flip biological switches. When triggeredwhether by viral proteins or allergensimmune cells called T cells open channels in their outer membranes, letting calcium rush in to turn on signaling pathways that control cell division and secretion of cytokine molecules that help T cells communicate with other immune cells. Past work had found that CRAC channels in T cells regulate their ability to multiply into armies of cells designed to fight infections caused by viruses and other pathogens. Published online in Science Advances on October 7, the new study showed that the CRAC channel inhibitor reduced allergic asthma and mucus build-up in mice without sabotaging their immune system's ability to fight influenza, a main worry of researchers seeking to tailor immune-suppressing drugs for several applications. "Our study provides evidence that a new class of drugs that target CRAC channels can be used safely to counter allergic asthma without creating vulnerability to infections," says senior study author Stefan Feske, MD, the Jeffrey Bergstein Professor of Medicine in the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone Health. "Systemic application of a CRAC channel blocker specifically suppressed airway inflammation in response to allergen exposure." About 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, with repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of those have asthma related to inhaled allergens, say the study authors. Targeting calcium channels Allergic asthma is characterized by increased type 2 (T2) inflammation, which involves a subset of T cells called T helper (Th) 2 cells, say the study authors. Th2 cells produce cytokines that play important roles in both normal immune defenses, and in disease-causing inflammation that occurs in the wrong place and amount. In allergic asthma, cytokines promote the production of an antibody type called IgE and the recruitment to the lungs of inflammation-causing immune cells called eosinophils, the hallmarks of the disease. In the new study, the research team found that genetic deletion of ORAI1 in T cells, or treatment of mice with the CRAC channel inhibitor CM4620, thoroughly suppressed Th2-driven airway inflammation in response to house dust mite allergens. CM4620 is under development by the company CalciMedica, which partnered with NYU Langone in the current study, and is in phase 2 clinical trials for COVID-19 associated pulmonary inflammation and acute pancreatitis. Treatment with CM4620 significantly reduced airway inflammation when compared to an inactive control substance, with the treated mice also showing much lower levels of Th2 cytokines and related gene expression. Without calcium entering through CRAC channels, T cells are unable to become Th2 cells and produce the cytokines that cause allergic asthma, the authors say. Conversely, ORAI1 gene deletion, or interfering with CRAC channel function in T cells via the study drug, did not hinder T cell-driven antiviral immunity, as lung inflammation and immune responses were similar in mice with and without ORAI1. "Our work demonstrates that Th2 cell-mediated airway inflammation is more dependent on CRAC channels than T cell-mediated antiviral immunity in the lung," says study co-first author Yin-Hu Wang, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow in the Feske lab. "This suggests CRAC channel inhibition as a promising, potential future treatment approach for allergic airway disease." Explore further Unexpected role for calcium ion channel protein revealed More information: Yin-Hu Wang et al, Distinct roles of ORAI1 in T cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation and immunity to influenza A virus infection, Science Advances (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn6552 Journal information: Science Advances Yin-Hu Wang et al, Distinct roles of ORAI1 in T cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation and immunity to influenza A virus infection,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn6552 Neandertal DNA contributes to chronotype risk loci. a Manhattan plot for a Chronotype GWAS in the UK Biobank. b Magnified views of the association (y-axis, log10 transformation of the association p value) score with chronotype on chromosomes 5 (left, chr5:151,589,813152,689,813) and 2 (right, chr2:239,173,478239,573,478) are shown on the top part of each panel. aSNPs are highlighted in orange. The lower part of each panel shows gene expression associations in GTEx tissues for the respective regions (eQTL log [10] transformed association P values forfrom topCerebellar_Hemisphere, Cerebellum and Tibial Nerve and Testis. Models of overlapping gene are illustrated at the bottom. c The frequency of the top associated aSNPs from the two illustrated regions (rs76939124, chr2:239,223,478 in red and rs4958550, chr5:151,889,813 in blue) across 1000 Genomes populations. Credit: Translational Psychiatry (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02196-2 It has been known for a long time that human brain disorders such as neurological or psychiatric diseases run in families, suggesting some heritability. In line with this hypothesis, genetic risk factors for developing these illnesses have been identified. However, fundamental questions about the evolutionary drivers have remained elusive. In other words, why are genetic variants that increase the risk for diseases not eliminated in the course of evolution? To answer these questions has been notoriously difficult. However, new discoveries about events in the deep human past have handed scientists new tools to start to unravel these mysteries: when modern humans moved out of Africa >60,000 years ago, they met and mixed with other archaic humans such as Neandertals. Around 40% of the Neandertal genome can still be found in present-day non-Africans, and each individual still carries ~2% of Neandertal DNA. Some of the archaic genetic variants may have conferred benefits at some point in our evolutionary past. Today, scientists can use this information to learn more about the impact of these genetic variants on human behavior and the risk of developing diseases. Using this approach, a new study from an international team led by researchers from the University of Tartu, Charite Berlin and the Amsterdam UMC analyzed Neandertal DNA associations with a large variety of more than a hundred brain disorders and traits such as sleep, smoking or alcohol use in the U.K. Biobank with the aim to narrow down the specific contribution of Neandertal DNA to variation in behavioral features in people today. The study found that while Neandertal DNA showed over-proportional numbers of associations with several traits that are associated with central nervous system diseases, the diseases themselves did not show any significant numbers of Neandertal DNA associations. Among the traits with the strongest Neandertal DNA contribution were smoking habits, alcohol consumption and sleeping patterns. Using data from other cohorts such as the Estonian Biobank, the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, FinnGen, Biobank Japan and deCode, several of these results could be replicated. Of specific note were two independent top-risk Neandertal variants for a positive smoking status that were found in the U.K. Biobank and Biobank Japan respectively. "Our results suggest that Neandertals carried multiple variants that substantially increase the smoking risk in people today. It remains unclear what phenotypic effects these variants had in Neandertals. However, these results provide interesting candidates for further functional testing and will potentially help us in the future to better understand Neandertal-specific biology," said Michael Dannemann, associate professor of evolutionary genomics at the University of Tartu and the lead author of this study. "The significant associations of Neandertal DNA with alcohol and smoking habits might help us to unravel the evolutionary origin of addictive and reward-seeking behavior," added Stefan M Gold, professor of neuropsychiatry at Charite, Berlin, who co-led this study. "It is important to note that sleep problems, alcohol and nicotine use have consistently been identified as common risk factors for a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. On the other hand, there are some intriguing findings from anthropology that have suggested some social benefits of higher tolerance to these substances in hunter-gatherers. Thus, our findings support the hypothesis that it is not brain diseases themselves that have evolutionary explanations but that natural selection shapes traits that make us vulnerable to them in the modern context." "Neandertals populated parts of Eurasia already more than 100,000 years before modern humans went out of Africa to populate the rest of the world. The high frequency of some of the variants that are associated with varying sleeping patterns might suggest that these have been advantageous outside of Africaan environment that is defined, for example, by different levels of seasonality and UV light exposures than the environment that modern humans evolved in," added Dannemann. The study is published in Translational Psychiatry. Explore further The impact of Neandertal DNA on human health More information: Michael Dannemann et al, Neandertal introgression partitions the genetic landscape of neuropsychiatric disorders and associated behavioral phenotypes, Translational Psychiatry (2022). Journal information: Translational Psychiatry Michael Dannemann et al, Neandertal introgression partitions the genetic landscape of neuropsychiatric disorders and associated behavioral phenotypes,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02196-2 Provided by Estonian Research Council Acute IRP ablation during adulthood causes erythropenia and myelopenia. P1/2-CTR and P1/2-KO littermates received tamoxifen on days 1 and 3 to induce IRP ablation. Mice were analyzed on day 10. (A) Genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the Irp1 (Aco1) and Irp2 (Ireb2) alleles in tissues from P1/2-KO mice. The floxed (flox) and truncated () alleles are indicated. (B) RBC parameters (P1/2-CTR, n = 16; P1/2-KO, n = 18). HGB, hemoglobin; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. (C) Hepatic and splenic iron levels (n = 11). (D) Serum iron parameters (n = 10). (E) RBC decay markers (n = 10). (F) Serum levels of EPO (P1/2-CTR, n = 18; P1/2-KO, n = 17) and hepcidin (P1/2-CTR, n = 18; P1/2-KO, n = 16). (G) Spleen index = [(100 spleen weight in milligrams per body weight in grams)] (n = 7), and reticulocyte frequency in peripheral blood (PB) (P1/2-CTR, n = 7; P1/2-KO, n = 9). A.U., arbitrary units. (H) White blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts in PB (P1/2-CTR, n = 16; P1/2-KO, n = 18). (I) Flow cytometry (FCM) analysis of major WBC populations in PB. The gating strategy is shown on contour plots on the left. The histograms display cell counts for 3 105 events recorded (n = 8). (B to I) The results are presented as box plots (minimum to maximum values). Unpaired, two-tailed t test between P1/2-CTR and P1/2-KO. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. APC, allophycocyanin; PE, phycoerythrin. Credit: Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq4469 Two proteins ensure that cells can take up iron when needed. If both control proteins are switched off in mice, the animals develop severe anemia, as expected. At the same time, surprisingly, a cell type of the innate immune defense, the neutrophils, also dramatically decreases, as scientists from the German Cancer Research Center now have shown for the first time. Iron deficiency, a known defense mechanism against infectious pathogens, is a double edged sword, as it simultaneously curbs the defensive power of an important arm of the innate immune system. A balanced iron metabolism is an essential prerequisite for our health. Drugs that target iron deficiency or iron excess are among the most widely prescribed therapies worldwide. The fact that iron is an indispensable component of the blood is almost common knowledge: The metal is an important component of the blood pigment hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen in the red blood cells. The iron supply to the cells is controlled by the two proteins IRP-1 and IRP-2. If the cell lacks iron, IRP-1 and IRP-2 crank up the production of the various iron transporter proteins that take iron into the cell. IRP-1 and IRP-2 also ensure that an equally dangerous excess of iron does not occur. IRP-1 and IRP-2 are essential for survival: mice lacking both control proteins during embryonic development die while still in the womb. But what happens when IRP-1 and IRP-2 fail in adult mice? A team led by Bruno Galy at DKFZ has now investigated this in mice whose IRP production can be shut down by injecting a drug. As the researchers had expected, the most striking change after IRPs were switched off was a pronounced decrease in red blood cells. Due to the lack of hemoglobin, these erythrocytes reached only a minimal size. However, the researchers were surprised to see that white blood cells also decreased extremely. Closer examination revealed that this decline was mainly due to a deficiency of neutrophils. These immune cells account for up to two-thirds of white blood cells in humans and are an important component of the innate immune system. This decline is not a caused by a mass death of neutrophils, but a developmental blockade in the hematopoietic system: the precursor cells in the bone marrow no longer develop into mature neutrophils, as this differentiation process is apparently iron-dependent. Other types of white blood cells, such as monocytes, were not affected by the IRP-dependent developmental blockade. Iron limitation is a double-edged sword "This strong iron dependence of neutrophils was previously unknown. It possibly affects the immune defense against bacterial pathogens," says Bruno Galy. Interestingly, on the other hand, iron deficiency is one of the body's defense strategies in bacterial infections: many pathogens are dependent on iron. To slow down their multiplication, the body hoards the metal in certain cells that serve as a storage chamber to make it more difficult for pathogens to access this valuable resource. Another publication in the same issue of the journal Science Advances, in which Galy is also involved, demonstrates that iron deficiency in blood serum, as typically occurs with infections, leads to a decrease in neutrophils in mice and limits the ability of these immune cells to fight bacteria. "Iron deficiency apparently modulates the innate immune system. It suppresses the maturation of neutrophils and also throttles their defensive power," says Bruno Galy. "The limitation of available iron is apparently a double-edged sword: On the one hand, the body thereby prevents bacteria from spreading. On the other hand, the function of an important arm of the innate immune system suffers." Not only infections but also inflammations often lead to iron deficiency and thus to anemia. Cancer patients whose disease is accompanied by chronic inflammatory conditions are therefore often affected by anemia, which can severely limit their quality of life. "Next, we want to investigate whether iron deficiency in chronic inflammation also impairs immune function," Galy says. Explore further Anemia is not the only health concern linked to iron deficiency More information: Michael Bonadonna et al, Iron regulatory protein (IRP)mediated iron homeostasis is critical for neutrophil development and differentiation in the bone marrow, Science Advances (2022). Michael Bonadonna et al, Iron regulatory protein (IRP)mediated iron homeostasis is critical for neutrophil development and differentiation in the bone marrow,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq4469 Joe N. Frost et al, Plasma iron controls neutrophil production and function, Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq5384 Journal information: Science Advances Credit: CC0 Public Domain Babies should ideally weigh about 2,500g or more at birth. Birth weight is a vital indicator of fetal and neonatal health. If a newborn weighs less than 2,500gbecause they are preterm or their growth in the womb was restricted for some reasonthey are more at risk of death, disability and noncommunicable diseases. The low birth weight infant's tiny body is not as strong as it should be. The baby might struggle to gain weight and fight infection. And with so little body fat, these babies often have difficulty staying warm in normal temperatures. Low birth weight is the primary cause of infant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The factors that are known to influence a baby's weight at birth include duration of pregnancy, and maternal characteristics like age, parity (the number of times a woman has given birth) and illness, as well as adverse environmental exposures. One factor that hasn't been studied much in Nigeria is the type of cooking fuel that the baby's mother uses or is exposed to during pregnancy. My research group suspected this might be a significant factor because of the high prevalence of low birth weight in Nigeria and the fact that biomass fuel is commonly used. Nigeria is among the five countries where most preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants are born. About 5.9 million babies are born in Nigeria each year, and 15% of these newborns have a low birth weight accounting for 25% of infant mortality. Our study explored the association between biomass cooking fuel and birth weight among full term births in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. We found there was a linkand this was supported by data from the nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey. Mothers in Kaduna who were exposed to biomass fuel gave birth to infants who were on average 113g lighter than those using liquefied petroleum gas, which is a cleaner fuel. Nationally, mothers using biomass had infants weighing 50g lower at birth than those using clean fuel. Exposure to biomass fuel combustion during pregnancy could adversely affect fetal growth or increase preterm birth risk, resulting in a child born early or small for gestational age and thus creating further health risks for the child. Biomass fuel includes wood, animal dung, charcoal and crop residues. It is used worldwide for cooking, heating and lighting. Biomass fuels and kerosene are still widely used in urban and rural Nigeria due to supply and demand issues driving household energy choices. The study results show the importance of efforts to make safer fuel choices available. Kaduna and national Nigerian data Our study focused only on term infants because duration of pregnancy independently affects birth weight, and multiple factors influence preterm birth. We conducted the primary analysis based on a study of 1,514 mother-child pairs in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. Kaduna is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, with a population of 1.6 million. To validate the primary analysis, we repeated it using data from 6,975 mother-child pairs in the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. The primary analysis classified cooking fuel types as liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene and biomass fuel (including charcoal, wood, crops or straw, and animal dung). In the survey, cooking fuels were categorized into low pollution fuel (electricity, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas), kerosene and biomass fuel. In both analyses, we observed that the impact of biomass use on birth weight was greater than the impact of liquefied petroleum gas or kerosene. The results highlight the need for public health intervention. Reducing adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight will depend on addressing regional disparities in the key determinants. Our results showed that birth order, household size, and socio-economic status influenced cooking fuel choice, which is consistent with existing literature. It is reasonable that the women least able to use clean cooking fuels will be those who: live in households of five or more people live in poorer households have given birth at least once before. This could be due to cost and unreliable fuel supply. Women with more children or living in larger households might also cook with bigger pots, requiring longer cooking times, which increases their exposure to indoor air pollution from biomass fuel use. Recommendations We recommend that pregnant women attending antenatal care be asked about cooking fuels and given help to minimize prenatal biomass exposure. Some recent intervention trials conducted in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, have shown that transition from biomass fuel to cleaner fuels reduces air pollution and improves outcomes like birth weight. Interventions to reduce indoor air pollution could include a stove subsidy, fuel subsidy, fuel ban and behavior change communication. It's important first to understand why a household uses a particular cooking fuel. It is also vital to learn from other household health interventions, such as sanitation and nutrition. These can enhance an understanding of what bars or enables adoption of a new method. Explore further Indoor air pollution puts women of rural Bangladesh at risk of pulmonary diseases This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Secondary electron image of <1 micrometer silica particle. Credit: Heather Lowers Military personnel who were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq may have been exposed to significant amounts of dust and other respiratory hazards, leading to persistent respiratory symptoms and diseases like asthma and bronchiolitis. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Jewish Health teamed up to investigate lung disease seen in previously deployed military personnel. Heather Lowers, a research geologist at the USGS, will present findings looking at the characteristics of dust retained in the lungs of previously deployed military personnel Monday at the GSA Connects 2022 meeting in Denver. "I never in my career thought I would be looking at human lung tissue," said Lowers. "Through some previous work that we had done looking at first responders to the World Trade Center, we were connected with a team of pulmonologists and lung pathologists who were trying to better understand how inhaled particulate matter could cause lung injury. Several of my co-authors at National Jewish Health have a Department of Defense grant to look at what is causing some of the unexpected lung injury in people that were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan." With funding support from the Department of Defense, National Jewish Health has built a clinic to evaluate previously deployed military personnel who were experiencing symptoms of lung injury. Lowers' job as geologist on the project was to develop a method to extract and analyze particulate matter found in the lungs. Using techniques to produce high-resolution images of microscopic particles and characterize their elemental composition, Lowers evaluated the composition and size of inorganic particles found in the lungs. Of the 250 deployers who came to the National Jewish Health clinic, 65 had a surgical lung biopsy as part of their clinical care, and 24 gave permission for their lung biopsy to be studied for this research. The lung biopsies of the 24 deployers were compared to 11 civilian control samples from donated lung specimens that matched the age and smoking history of the deployers. Cumulative frequency plot of the particulate matter length for deployers and controls. Credit: Heather Lowers "We found that generally speaking, the military deployers did have more retained dust in their lungs per cubic centimeter of tissue that we looked at compared to the controls. And the particles generally seemed to be a smaller size as well, compared to the dust that was retained in the control group," said Lowers. They also found that both deployers who reported low/no sandstorm exposure or medium-high sandstorm exposure had higher amounts of dust in their lungs than the control samples. "In general, even when there are no dust storms, soldiers work in a pretty dusty environment. So we were looking at a culmination of all that would have been inhaled during their deployment," said Lowers. "Even driving a truck across the desert floor, you're going to kick up dust and breathe it in." While these analyses provide helpful insight into the lung injury seen in previously deployed military personnel, Lowers hopes that more samples can be studied to more fully evaluate the characteristics of retained dust in the lungs. "One of the challenges I've learned working with human subjects is that it's very difficult to get enough people enrolled in these studies. So, while we're generally seeing differences between the controls and the deployers, the number of samples are limited," said Lowers. Based on the increased amount of dust that is found in the lungs of previously deployed military personnel, useful mitigation strategies will be needed to reduce deployers' exposure to dust. Explore further Uranium in mine dust could dissolve in human lungs A medical attendant disinfects the rubber boots of a medical officer before leaving the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, in Mubende, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. In this remote Ugandan community facing its first Ebola outbreak, testing trouble has added to the challenges with symptoms of the Sudan strain of Ebola now circulating being similar to malaria, underscoring the pitfalls health workers face in their response. Credit: AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda The United States will begin screening travelers coming from Uganda for Ebola as an additional precaution aimed at trying to prevent an outbreak in the African country from spreading, the Biden administration said Thursday. There have been no Ebola cases from the outbreak reported outside Uganda, and the risk in the U.S. is considered low. U.S. officials described the screening move as an additional precaution. The screenings will begin rolling out immediately. Travelers who have been in Uganda at any point during the past 21 days, which is the incubation period for the virus, will be redirected to one of five U.S. airports for Ebola screening: Kennedy International Airport in New York, Washington Dulles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The screening applies to any passenger who was in Uganda, including U.S. citizens. It involves a temperature and symptom check conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC will also collect contact information that will be shared with local health departments at the travelers' destination. The administration says about 145 people per day enter the U.S. from Uganda, with most already arriving at the five large airline hubs. Anyone scheduled to fly into a different airport will be rebooked by their airline, the administration said. A medical attendant stands by rubber boots hung up to dry after being disinfected, outside the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, in Mubende, Uganda, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. In this remote Ugandan community facing its first Ebola outbreak, testing trouble has added to the challenges with symptoms of the Sudan strain of Ebola now circulating being similar to malaria, underscoring the pitfalls health workers face in their response. Credit: AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda Also Thursday, the CDC sent a health alert to doctors, urging them to get a travel history from patients who have Ebola-like symptoms. The Ebola virus disease is mainly spread through contact with blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person who is sick or died. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and sometimes bleeding. There are Ebola vaccines, but not for the Sudan strain causing the current outbreak. This marks the sixth Ebola outbreak in Uganda, but this one has escalated quickly. As of Thursday, there have been 44 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths since the first case was diagnosed Sept. 19. Explore further DR Congo declares end to latest Ebola outbreak 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Paul Berg, who won a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1980 for his work in recombinant DNA, paused his research into a gene-editing tool in the 1970s so he and other scientists could consider its implications. Credit: Jose Mercado/Stanford News Service It was a breakthrough discovery: a protein that cuts DNA at precise points, leaving overhanging sticky ends ready to glom onto a matching partner. Using the protein, researchers could cut and paste genetic sequences from one species into another as easily as a word processing program can rejigger a sentence. These genetic gymnastics, first reported in 1972 by researchers at Stanford Medicine and UC San Francisco, launched a field known as recombinant DNA technology. But within months of the discovery, the research was haltedat the researchers' request. The technology, scientists feared, could lead to "Frankencells" that are antibiotic resistant or toxic or that incite cancer-causing proteins when the hybrid molecules were introduced into living cells. The scientists called a partial moratorium on this promising field of studythe first time researchers had voluntarily done such a thing. "[This is] the first time that I know of that anyone has had to stop and think about an experiment in terms of its social impact and potential hazard," said Paul Berg, Ph.D., the Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research, Emeritus, then chair of biochemistry at Stanford Medicine. Berg, who was a leading figure in the nascent field, went on to share the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1980 for his work with recombinant DNA. Berg and some 150 like-minded researchers and lawyers came together at a seminal meeting at the Asilomar conference grounds in Pacific Grove, California, in 1975 to align on reasonable guidelines for the technology. The day after the meeting ended, the director of the National Institutes of Health initiated the formation of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, which would be tasked with establishing guidelines for future research during the coming decadesa move that served as a kind of model for handling edgy research in genetics and genetic engineering. New research, new responsibilities Since the discovery, scientists have repeatedly been called on to navigate a field fraught with ethical tripping hazards: human embryonic stem cells, self-propagating genes that spread among species, human gene therapies, genetically engineered babies, human organs or cells growing (and functioning) in the bodies of animals. In some cases, national legislation has tied their handsin 1995, Congress banned the use of federal funds for research that destroys human embryos. But more often, it's researchers who decide how and when to avoid crossing an ethical line that is moving, largely invisible and subjective. Fortunately, researchers facing such dilemmas have help. From that moment in 1972, organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Sciences, as well as academic institutions like Stanford Medicine, have marshaled resources and created guidelines to support the ethical conduct of research in biology. "Worrying about these issues is important," said Hank Greely, JD, the Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor in Law and director of Stanford University's Center for Law and the Biosciences. "It's critical that researchers are open about what they are planning and why it is important, and that they understand the instrumental value of involving ethicists and discussing ethical issues." Greely is a member of Stanford Medicine's Bedside Ethics Consultation Service, or BECS, which launched in 2005 after operating informally for years. The service is available to researchers within and outside of Stanford Medicine, offering confidential, written feedback from experienced bioethicists. "BECS helps researchers who are doing something really novel that has ethical or societal implications, and who want advice about how to incorporate those concerns into their research plans," said Mildred Cho, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics and an associate director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. The center was established in 1989 and was one of the first to be designated by the NIH as a Center for Excellence in Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Genetics and Genomics. "Stanford Medicine was one of the first institutions to offer this type of service; now there is international interest in establishing similar groups around the world," Cho said. Members of BECS work on two to three consults each month, Cho estimated, including some from local or even international biotech companies seeking expert advice. Research dilemmas Why, exactly, does scientific and medical research so frequently bump up against scales of morality we often can't clearly articulate? In many cases, the problem is the unavoidable need for ever more realistic models of human biology, be they cells, tissues or living animals. Human embryonic stem cells can generate any cell type in the body, and they are isolated from human embryos donated for research after in vitro fertilization procedures. Growing human organs or tissues in laboratory animals gives scientists a clearer picture of how they function (or don't, in the case of inherited diseases or missing genes) and could relieve shortages for organ transplantation. It opens a door to studies and drug testing that could never be done in human subjects and also promises to vastly expand our clinical knowledge in ways that could save lives. "It's a dilemma, particularly in neuroscience," Greely said. "When researchers study a living human brain in a living human person, there are strong ethical boundaries about what they can do. They can't put in or take out a gene to see how it affects a person's behavior. So we use models. But the more similar to a human your model is, the more you risk backing into an ethical quandary." Greely is a member of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, a group of researchers who study functional human brain tissue in the lab and in the brains of micesomething they expect will dramatically advance our understanding of psychiatric and genetic diseases affecting neural function. In 2021, the National Academies of Science issued a report noting the potential benefit for people struggling with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, autism, schizophrenia and depression. Scientists also need to realize it is important not to conduct their experiments in a vacuum, Greely says. The media and the general public play important roles in how research is perceived. "Researchers need to be open. Explain the frameworks and guidelines in place to address ethical issues and avoid secrecy. Talk about experiments and findings even before publication. Don't surprise people," Greely said. "And help the public understand that the work holds potential for scientific or medical value, that these experiments are being done for a good reason." Broadly acknowledging the importance of coming to a consensus on tricky research is critical to responsible advancement in scientific and medical knowledge, Greely said. And the challenge is growing. "The difference between Asilomar and now is that, at the time, only a dozen or so labs in the world were equipped to move forward with the recombinant DNA experiments," Greely said. "Today we see a vast range of experimental protocols pursued by research groups around the world. Our job as bioethicists is to encourage scientists to be self-aware and to initiate conversations about important topics. Very few people want to be remembered as Dr. Evil; they want to be heroes in their own movie. We can help them think through how their research might be perceived, and ways to avoid ethical pitfalls." Explore further Scientists create embryos with cells from monkeys, humans American Home Shield analyzed data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to see which states took out the most mortgages in 2021. FRIDAY, Oct. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) Anyone who still wants to keep track of U.S. COVID cases and deaths will soon have to wait for the weekly reports. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that it will stop publishing COVID case and death data on a daily basis and instead issue weekly updates, starting Oct. 20. "To allow for additional reporting flexibility, reduce the reporting burden on states and jurisdictions, and maximize surveillance resources, CDC is moving to a weekly reporting cadence," the agency explained in a post. The move is in line with efforts to wind down other COVID-related tools on the CDC website. It eases reporting requirements for state and local health departments who can report the information weekly on Wednesdays, the agency said. Many states and other countries have already stopped issuing daily reports. Community Level ratings, which provide guidance to counties, are already updated just weekly, as are vaccination numbers. CDC updates for COVID will now be released on Thursdays. The agency is continuing its daily hospitalization reports, which the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services collects. The CDC will take charge of that data in December, and its not clear if it will still be published daily, CBS News reported. Its not really clear how accurate the case number reports were anyway, because at-home testing is now common and many cases likely go unreported. Meanwhile, its not clear what will happen with COVID or the flu this winter, though there is potential for outbreaks of either. There is a considerable drop around the country in COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the outgoing chief medical adviser to the president, said earlier this week. "I was on the phone with colleagues in health departments throughout the country just two nights ago, and everyone is having the same experience," Fauci said Tuesday during a webinair hosted by the University of Southern California. That doesnt mean there wont be illness this winter. New variants are emerging across the country and winter often up the risk of respiratory viral infections. Fauci said. "It would be a bit cavalier to all of a sudden say we're completely through with it," he added. "Although we can feel good that we're going in the right direction, we can't let our guard down." More information The World Health Organization has more information on COVID-19. SOURCE: CBS News The Commerce Department is tightening export controls to limit China's ability to get advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and make advanced semiconductors. The department said Friday that its updated export controls are focusing on these areas because China can use the chips, supercomputers and semiconductors to create advanced military systems including weapons of mass destruction; commit human rights abuses and improve the speed and accuracy of its military decision making, planning, and logistics. Commerce said the updates are part of ongoing efforts to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The threat environment is always changing, and we are updating our policies today to make sure were addressing the challenges posed by (China) while we continue our outreach and coordination with allies and partners, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez said in a statement. Commerce said it consulted with close allies and partners on its control efforts. Thursday, at an event in upstate New York, President Biden predicted a $20 billion investment by IBM in New Yorks Hudson River Valley will help give the United States a technological edge against China. The investment is spurred by this summers passage of a $280 billion measure intended to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research. That legislation was needed for national and economic security, Biden said in Poughkeepsie, adding that the Chinese Communist Party actively lobbied against it. Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and China over technology and security. Last month the Chinese government called on Washington to repeal its technology export curbs after California-based chip designer Nvidia said a new product might be delayed and some work might be moved out of China. Washington has tightened controls and lobbied allies to limit Chinese access to the most advanced chips and tools to develop its own. China is spending heavily to develop its fledgling producers but so far cannot make high-end chips used in the most advanced smartphones and other devices. McKinley Lake dam in the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area turns 100 years old next summer. It probably won't make it to 101. The dam, an earthen impoundment high in the Rattlesnake Mountains north of Missoula, is one of seven former irrigation supply dams across six lakes that the city and Trout Unlimited plan to remove in coming years. The city and TU plan to rehabilitate three other dams: two on Sanders Lake and one on Big Lake. McKinley Lake's may be the first to go. The city inherited the aging, disused lakes and dams when it purchased its municipal water system from Carlyle Group in a heavily litigated takeover that cost the city almost $100 million. The system has been fed primarily by wells since the early 1980s, but the collection of human-enhanced lakes that used to feed the system were part of the deal. "What they inherited at the same time was all this antiquated infrastructure along Rattlesnake Creek," said Rob Roberts, a Trout Unlimited project manager spearheading the effort. He said there are "a bunch of liabilities and safety issues on Rattlesnake Creek." Removal of the circa-1923 McKinley dam, which sits just north of Stuart Peak, about 10.5 miles northeast of downtown Missoula, is expected to occur in summer 2024 and could cost up to $500,000, Roberts said. The city, which partnered with TU to carry out the work, already secured a quarter of that. About a year ago, a TU-led effort culminated in the city securing a $125,000 Montana Renewable Resource Project Grant from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. On Sept. 26 the city entered into a formal agreement to use the grant to reimburse TU for executing the dam removal. "McKinley has been our No. 1 priority because there's some erosion and some damage going on actively, so it really needs to be resolved," Logan McInnis, Missoula's deputy public works director for utilities, told the City Council's Public Works Committee on Sept. 21. According to Roberts, McInnis and city assessments of the dams, McKinley Lake dam is eroding away and water is leaking through it. Ideally, Roberts said, TU will breach and remove the dam, reclaim areas impacted by erosion and removal work, and construct an outlet channel for the natural alpine lake capable of withstanding a 100-year flood event. "Setting the stage for the re-naturalization of a place in the wilderness, of a place that is man-made," is the project goal, he said, explaining that TU and the city want to "hand it to the Forest Service in a state that everyone can be proud of," in which the city will no longer have "any maintenance responsibility or costs associated with the dam." The city has an easement for McKinley Lake, allowing for mechanized and motorized equipment typically prohibited in wilderness to be used for the project. On other lakes, the city has a special use permit from the Forest Service. Language written into the legislation that created the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area exempts infrastructure maintenance on the lakes from the prohibition on mechanized and motorized equipment. But that doesn't mean TU will actually employ those methods, Roberts said. "Even though the city has the ability to do that, we're still analyzing all available methods for removing these dams," he said. "We're right in the middle of kind of crunching all that together and figuring out what the best way to do it is." TU has already finished preliminary engineering for the project and is moving into the next fundraising and permitting stage, which Roberts estimated would take about 18 months. As the group determines the best method of dam removal and reclamation, balancing longer-duration manual labor against quicker mechanized efforts, he said, they're considering hand labor, equipment, helicopters, dynamite "and everything in between." Beyond the $125,000 grant, McInnis said on Thursday, more money could come from other grants TU pursues, or the city could tap into the State Revolving Fund. The partnership between the city and TU, in which the city receives funding and reimburses TU to carry out dam projects the city wants completed, developed "somewhat organically, when the city took over the dams," McInnis said. TU and the city had long wanted to remove the lower Rattlesnake Dam. Once the city took ownership, McInnis said, Roberts reached out about getting it done. "It was pretty hard to say no to that," McInnis said. "We all wanted to see the dam go, but we didn't have the bandwidth or expertise to manage a project like that." After that dam was removed two years ago, Roberts said, "we started setting our sights on some of the rest of the infrastructure that the city inherited," namely the alpine wilderness lakes. Removal of an individual dam probably won't have much impact downstream, he said, but it will greatly improve the lakes themselves by returning them to their natural states and the city can relinquish ownership and responsibility. By rehabbing dams on Sanders and Big lakes, which together account for about 70% of the city's water rights in the wilderness, the city could better manage water flow in the Lower Rattlesnake during drought periods, he said. McInnis said "the timeline is unknown" for completing seven dam removals and three rehabilitations, but ideally all 10 would will be completed in 1015 years. McKinley Lake is a test-piece for wilderness dam work, McInnis and Roberts said, including determining best methods and navigating a variety of environmental regulations. Lakes the city holds easements for, such as McKinley, will likely be governed by the Montana Environmental Policy Act, McInnis said. Work on lakes with dams under a special use permit from the Lolo National Forest will likely require analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. "We're learning a lot, it's complicated," McInnis said. "It certainly helps to have great partners in TU." Downstream dam removal pays off Miles downstream of the alpine lakes, dam removal has already shown benefits, according to the Watershed Education Network. The Missoula-based nonprofit engages community volunteers to use "citizen science" in monitoring stream conditions on Lower Rattlesnake Creek. Since 2017, the group has gathered data from above, at and below the dam site from before and after the dam removal. "We look at multiple different elements of the stream ... the physical, chemical and biological properties of the stream," Brook Bauer, the group's citizen science coordinator, said. Deb Fassnacht, the group's executive director, said the data have yet to show "really big changes" in conditions downstream of the removal, but that "our stream change coordinator said we're probably not going to notice change until five to 10 years out." Nonetheless, the former dam and reservoir sites themselves are in a far more natural condition than before. "The dam site itself, it's pretty amazing," Bauer said. "It's become this really nice restored area. But right now we aren't seeing a ton of changes in our data." In years to come, Watershed Education Network will be ready to see what, if any, change has occurred downstream, Bauer and Fassnacht said. With volunteers leading the way, the group is growing its wealth of "trend data, or long-term data," Fassnacht said. In a few years, "that's when we'll have some credible information about long-term changes." Just one month before her 20th birthday in 1944, Betty Meyer found herself in an Army recruiting office in downtown Seattle. She had the day off from work and no prior plans to join the military, but with many friends, classmates and relatives who were already enlisted it didnt feel out of the ordinary. I just decided, I dont know why I did it, Meyer said. I just decided to join while I was in downtown Seattle. I was an impulsive kid I guess. Back then, women who wanted to join the military needed permission from their parents and be at least 20 years old to enlist. So she waited a month and wrote a letter to her parents back in her hometown of Paradise, Montana. I had to write to them because we didnt even have phones in Paradise, it was strange, Meyer said. But anyhow, I got their permission and then my birthday was in June and I joined. From there she went to Des Moines to begin basic training and later started motor transport school for six weeks. She learned how to drive everything that they had. Growing up in Montana, Meyer had gotten her first drivers license at age 14. After training she shipped out to California, stationed at Camp Beale. It was a very big camp, Meyer said. They did about everything there.They recruited people. They had people coming back from overseas being discharged. Camp Beale opened in October 1942 as a training site. During World War II it was home to more than 60,000 soldiers. By 1948 the camp transferred from the Army to the Air Force. Now known as the Beale Air Force Base, more than 4,500 military personnel are stationed there today. While working at Camp Beale, Meyer drove trucks, buses and other vehicles. When I first started out I had to go in every day to get (an assignment), Meyer said. You went into the office and got a trip ticket. You didnt know what youre going to be driving. Ive always said, boy I didnt do much with the service because I felt it was a job, really, Meyer said. I never thought it was anything to talk about. Meyer was discharged on July 4, 1945. She didnt realize her impact until years later. Meyer traveled to Washington D.C. from Montana through the Big Sky Honor Flight to tour different monuments and attractions in the nations capitol with other World War II veterans. They showed us everything in Washington D.C., all the different places, all those tourist things that you do when youre in Washington and it was really wonderful, Meyer said. They had a big banquet for us. It was really wonderful. The Big Sky Honor Flight first launched in 2012 and has since transported over 750 World War II veterans on nine flights to the capitol at no cost to them as a way to honor them and celebrate their service. Of the veterans on the honor flight Meyer attended, she was one of only a small handful of women. While visiting the Military Womens Memorial at the National Mall, she was speaking with a woman who worked in Sen. Jon Testers office who was a major in the Air Force. She asked me what I did and I said, 'Well I didnt do very much, I drove buses, trucks and stuff,' Meyer recalled. And she says, 'Dont ever say that. You women going into the service at that time paved the way for women now that are in the service.' It made me feel a little more important, Meyer said. Thats what we were in there for, to replace the men so they could go in combat you know? During the war, more than 6 million women took jobs in factories, 3 million volunteered with the Red Cross and over 200,000 served in the military, according to the National World War II Museum. Womens auxiliary branches were created for every branch of the military, though they couldn't hold positions in combat outside of nursing. I never regretted it, I had a lot of fun, I really enjoyed it, Meyer said. It was like having a job but I had to wear a uniform and follow a lot of rules. An alliance between horses and men to move metal and rock as a way to preserve ancient history played out on a steep northeastern Montana hill this summer. Nobody had ever seen anything like it because it was quite a process, said Saco-area horse trainer Patrick Olson. I did it for the challenge. Olson was hired by Cary Woodruff, inaugural curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. The Sisyphean task was to remove three chunks of rock from inside a hole on a cliff-like hillside. The rock, which totaled about 15-feet in length before being broken up to haul, contains the fossilized tail of a 74- to 76-million-year-old Brachylophosaurus canadensis. The first Tyrannosaurus-rex fossil found in Montana was pulled out by a team of horses, Woodruff noted, but the practice has become rare in these mechanized times. Dino Brachylophosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur, measuring about 20- to 30-feet long and 9-feet tall. The species belonged to the hadrosaurid family which includes ones more commonly known as duck-billed dinosaurs. Others Brachylophosauruses have been discovered in Montanas Judith River geologic formation. The most famous was Leonardo, unearthed in the same region. Leonardo was so well preserved that its soft tissues skin and internal organs were conserved. Way back when Leonardo was roaming northeastern Montana, the area would have looked like the Gulf Coast, Woodruff said warm and watery with beachfront property farther east. Large, slow-moving rivers would have drained into the Western Interior Seaway, which spread from the Arctic Ocean across Montana to the Gulf of Mexico, splitting North America in two. This latest Brachylophosaurus fossil is significant, Woodruff explained, because its tail is entirely intact and shows signs of an injury that healed. The public thinks we have one, why do we need another one if they are so common? Woodruff said. But he explained that would be like using a red-haired, green-eyed human as the sole example of our species. Having more samples makes it easier to understand variations and see adaptations, he added. Abandoned Woodruff, a former Montana State University grad student, knew about the fossil from his previous work in the area. The dinosaur had been found about 10 years ago, but was abandoned after being excavated because removing the slabs was impractical without heavy equipment or a helicopter both of which are expensive. Woodruff reached out to Olson to see if his Norwegian fjord-Percheron draft horses, Frosty and Charlie, were capable of dragging the chunks of rock up over the hilltop and down the other side. Everyone who told me about Pat said he and his kin were horse people, Woodruff said. For Pat, the horses are his life. His world is horses. Watching the way he interacts and engages with the horse was really cool. It was the first time I got to partner with someone who is a true master. Olson was a bit skeptical of the task at first. Most people would have told him to jump off a bridge, he joked, but he was intrigued by the challenge. Olson visited the rugged site and formulated a plan. The dinosaur was still kind of cemented in sandstone, he said, although a protective coating of plaster was surrounding the fossil. It was basically pulling rock out of a hole. Sled To remove the rocks took old school, good old farm and ranch ingenuity, Woodruff said. Malta welder Austin Bunk fabricated a 3-foot-by-9-foot metal sled with runners made of metal tubing and a bed of flat iron straps to carry the boulders. With a tow hook welded on front, the sled weighed 300 to 350 pounds empty, he estimated. The chunks of rock added another 300 pounds. It was just a big stone boat, Woodruff said, comparing it to sleds or sledges farmers use to haul rocks from their fields. We called it the bone boat. To raise the rock to get the sled underneath it, a pipe tepee was erected over the 5-foot-deep hole with a winch at the top to hoist the rock up. Then a chain was attached to the sled and run uphill to the horses. It wasnt just simply pulling in a straight line, Woodruff said, comparing it to a three-point turn, pulling from one direction and then another. Olson estimated it was 60-feet to the top of the hill and twice as far down the other side. Team Even though the draft horses weigh about 1,200-pounds each with short, squat, strong bodies and a gentle temperament Olson said they could not have performed the pull without the help of his saddle horse and volunteers pulling on ropes. The farther away from the object of weight, the harder the pull, he explained. It couldnt have gone any smoother, he said, adding the reason everything went so well was because of the preparations taken to adapt the horses to the area and task, and ensuring all the helpers understood what to do and where they could, and could not, safely stand. He also praised his son, Zeb, for helping him with the horses. No one man did this job, it took all of us to get it done, Olson said. After the first rock was safely downhill, Olson said Woodruff was so happy it went smoothly that he wanted to do a backflip. I said, Dont get too excited. We still have two more to go, Olson recalled. It took about five hours to remove all three pieces of rock, which were then loaded onto a trailer with a skid steer for the long haul to Miami. Woodruff said its gratifying for him that the museums first dinosaur fossil is from Phillips County, Montana. I was glad to be in on it, Olson said. I probably wont be pulling any more dinosaurs out. Eduardo Umana and Otto Becker (Photo: Illustration: Chris McGonigal/HuffPost; Photo: David Salazar) Eduardo Umana and Otto Becker (Photo: Illustration: Chris McGonigal/HuffPost; Photo: David Salazar) WithQuintal Coffee, Eduardo Umana and Otto Becker want to transform the coffee industry. The Colombian-born Umana invented the state-of-the-artVacOne coffee maker, a system that uses air to brew hot coffee and also makes cold brew in minutes. According to Becker, the VacOne is the only Latin American brewer in the U.S. right now, and the only brewer that was designed by someone who was Latino. While visiting friends in Guatemala, the Miami-based Umana met Becker, who lives in Guatemala, and joined forces with him. In June 2021, they started their origin-roasted coffee subscription series, Quintal, which mails a monthly package of Latin American-grown and roasted coffee to subscribers. What sets their coffee apart from other roasters, they say, is that the coffee is harvested and roasted in Latin America almost immediately, so in a sense the coffee is alive, unlike the typical method in which bags of green coffee beans sit in warehouses for months and die from oxidation. For this edition ofVoices in Food, Umana and Becker toldGarin Pirnia what drew them to coffee and how Latin American countries (and Latinos) need better representation in the coffee world. On how they got into coffee Eduardo Umana: I was born in Bogota, Colombia. And as you know, Colombia is a very important coffee country with a lot of coffee heritage and coffee history. So, I grew up around it, drinking it, enjoying it, seeing the different varieties, different farms, different regions in Colombia that would grow coffee. My grandmother has her own coffee farm in the coffee belt in Colombia. I started engineering, and then I designed the coffee maker. Then, I just slowly drifted into coffee, because its been a part of my entire life. Otto Becker: I was born in Guatemala, and Im a fifth-generation coffee farmer. So, my grand-grand-grandfather was a farmer here in Guatemala. My father is still a farmer. I grew up pretty much around coffee, going to a farm every weekend. I also studied engineering, and around two years ago, I met Eduardo because of VacOne. We started working together. After a year, we started discussing doing something with coffee. Both of us knew that coffee-producing countries struggle sometimes, even though theyre the ones in charge, or the ones that start the supply chain. And thats how the conversation of Quintal started. We talked to producers and they told us that their dream is to sell roasted coffee [from Latin America] in [coffee]-consuming countries [like the U.S.]. So, were trying to be the channel to make this possible. And what allowed us to do that are these backgrounds, and that we grew up with farmers and talking to them about how to improve the lives of everybody around coffee producing. Story continues On the importance of representing their heritage Umana: As a Colombian who comes from coffee, basically, I want to be representing my heritage and benefit from that heritage. Coffee is from my country. I know more about it. I have a deeper, more meaningful connection because it directly represents my heritage. Thats how I feel, to better be able represent my heritage in [coffee]-consuming countries, something that is uniquely ours as Latino Americans. Theres a huge misconception that the coffee-producing countries dont have the infrastructure to roast coffee, or the knowledge. So, people think that we are the ones planting the trees and picking off the cherries and thats all we can do.Otto Becker Becker: I agree with Eduardo. Its something very important in our culture, like, its deep in our veins and something we cant run away from. Yesterday, I was talking to a friend. I was telling her that all my life I saw my fathers struggles. My father struggled to get his money back to the right investments and to make the farm sustainable. So, when I started studying, I really wanted to get away from coffee. I really tried, actually. I used to work for a German multinational company. I sold beauty products. So, I was as away from coffee as you can get. Then life led me to VacOne and Eduardo. The way I see it is, we as Latinos cant run away from our heritage. It calls us in a very strong way that we have to do something about it. We have to give our best to this heritage and to our culture. Its a great thing to embrace it. Once you start working on that, you notice that its actually very beautiful. Right now, Im in the process of falling in love with the coffee industry again. On misconceptions about the coffee industry Becker: Theres a huge misconception that the coffee-producing countries dont have the infrastructure to roast coffee, or the knowledge. So, people think that we are the ones planting the trees and picking off the cherries and thats all we can do. But there really are very elevated people here. People think you cannot process coffee the right way, or that roasters in the U.S. will have better roasting. But in Latin America Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, for example these countries have the infrastructure to process the coffee and send the best product possible to the U.S. People dont really know how this supply chain works. People dont even know that the coffees been roasted in the U.S., for instance. They dont know where it comes from. They dont even know if they are benefiting Starbucks or the producers, or where they are buying the coffee from. And thats also something that we want to get the word out there that its better if you buy directly from the origin. On reclaiming Latin American coffee Umana: Basically, the coffee industry was stolen away from the origin because all the technology and all the value-added took place outside of the origin. You see German roasters, Japanese roasters. With brewing equipment, its the same thing. Its Italian. Its German. And the people and the companies and the economies that benefited from coffee are outside of our country. So, in our opinion, we should be making Colombian coffee roasted in a Colombian roaster in a Colombian coffee maker. On their goals for Quintal Umana: In our dreams, you will be drinking origin-roasted coffee at a Quintal coffee shop sometime in the future, and youre going have these beautiful coffees from all over Latin America brewed in the machine that I invented, and slowly representing our heritage in a way that benefits the country where we are. Our attitude is: Lets get to work and lets compete, and lets create better products and better experiences and better everything. Because we have that advantage of being so deeply connected to coffee, well know how to represent it, brew it and sell it better. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... As a pediatric hospice and palliative medicine physician for many years, I can speak directly to the unfathomable harm that a ballot initiative called LR-131 would cause. Titled the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, the initiative is an extreme, unnecessary, and cruel limitation of family decision-making that youll see on the ballot this November. Although LR-131 purports to be about protecting infants, it requires health care providers to perform invasive and painful medical procedures to preserve the life of an infanteven if that infant was born too early to have any chance at survival or has a condition that limits survival to mere minutes or hours. In those situations, comforting the infant and allowing families the time and space to say goodbye is an option that should always be offered. If LR-131 passes, that option will be taken away and families will be required to surrender their last moments with their child to the dictates of the state and the futile interventions of medical personnel. LR-131 is unnecessary to protect infants. Both a federal and a state law already exist to ensure that any infant who is viable, meaning has a chance at survival, will receive the necessary medical treatment which makes sense. The first is the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (BAIPA) passed federally with bipartisan support in the House and unanimous support in the Senate, then signed by President George W. Bush on Aug. 5, 2002. The second is the Montana Abortion Control Act, which also provides any infant who is viable with legal protection. Thus, any infant with the potential to survive is already protected by law and every physicians oath to first do no harm. I would argue that LR-131 mandates that physicians and other health care professionals actually do harm to parents and infants who would want to spend precious last minutes together. To deprive them, and their infant, of this irreplaceable time is not protection. Its torture. LR-131 threatens to rob parents and infants of the opportunity to comfort one another, practice the rituals of their faith, and create the memories that will sustain them through their grief. As a pediatric hospice and palliative physician, Ive shared these truly holy times with parents, families and their infants. Remembering them, Im devastated to think that politicians would interfere with the deeply personal medical and religious decisions heart-broken parents must make, with the support of their physicians and pastors. LR-131 doesnt stop the government overreach there. Physicians who compassionately honor a family and infants needs by not subjecting the infant to futile and painful care would face severe penalties, including being labeled as felons and facing up to $50,000 in fines and 20 years in prison. I hope this offends you in the way it offends me and my colleagues in medicine. I wish infants were never born too early or too medically compromised to survive. But, sometimes they are. Please dont allow politicians to intrude into these incredibly difficult times for families and rob them of the only warmth theyll ever have with their infant. Instead of accommodating parents wishes to cuddle, kiss, sing, take pictures, bathe or baptize their infant -- to celebrate this life, however brief LR-131 requires physicians to take the infant from the parents arms and provide measures that have no hope of succeeding. Please stand with me, compassionate health care professionals, and parents to say NO to LR-131. Protect families, infants and physicians from this cruel and unnecessary government intrusion into intensely personal medical decisions faced at the most tragic of times. One of the reasons former President Trump failed in his attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States on January 6, 2021, was because he did not have the military on board. However, most of the other factors in the despots playbook were, in fact, lined up for his support. General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, in the Pentagon did not support Trump in this venture. On Oct. 30, 2020 four days before the presidential election he called General Li Zuocheng, his Chinese counterpart, and assured the General that the United States was not going to attack China. He made this call because intelligence indicated that China thought Trump would attack someone. By starting a war, a losing despot has a chance to regain the support of the people. Then early on January 6, 2021, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives and third in command after the Vice President, called Milley and said Trump is crazy and might invade Iran. General Milley told her to calm down. He said he had everything under control. There would not be an invasion of Iran. Later that day, General Milley called General Li Zuocheng again. He told the Chinese General that Democracy is sometimes a little sloppy, but he should have no fear. There would not be any invasion of China. He made a similar call to his counterpart in Russia. He was afraid that Trump might go rogue. He feared both countries were so convinced Trump was about to start a world incident somewhere and China or Russia may decide to strike first. General Milley went one step further. He assured both of his counterparts that he would personally call them before any action would be taken by the U.S. Significantly, the new Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller, was never informed. Nor was President Trump. He made this assurance without the knowledge and consent of President Trump, his commander in chief. Such action is not only highly irregular but probably illegal. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida did, in fact, accuse Milley of treason; what if Trump was planning a surprise attack, he said. Senator Rubio called for Milley to be fired immediately. Milley told the Select Committee that he also had concerns that Trump might stage a coup on January 6. But he said Trump could not do that without the army and I will never let that happen. Undoubtedly, President Trump knew Milley would not let him use the military to help rioters on January 6 and that is why he never asked him to. Democracy in America is safer because of General Mark Milley. If the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was a Trump lacky who would follow Trumps directives without question as all good soldiers are required to do, Trump may have succeeded. In a new book, The Divider, Peter Baker and Susan Glasser state that, at that very time Trump was in the process of cleaning out the military leaders and putting in his own loyalists. If the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs had been a Trump loyalist and Trump ordered the military to get to the capitol and intervene on the side of the rioters things most likely would have resulted differently. Yes, we were that close to losing our Democracy. General Milley was not fired. He still is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He is my hero. He deserves a place in the Profiles of Courage along with the Senators heralded by John F. Kennedy in his book, Profiles of Courage. WAPELLO - The Wapello Swimming Pool will be repaired under a nearly $95,000 plan approved Thursday by the city council. The repairs were approved following a report from council member Jason Marshall, council representative to the pool board, on a recent inspection completed by an agent from Mid-America Pool Renovations, which has a Des Moines office site. Marshall said the inspection revealed a lot of cracks, a lot of wear and tear on the pool. He said the agent had provided a repair quote that ranged from $89,750 up to $110,300, depending on specific material used and the amount of work completed. The council eventually opted to spend $89,750 to repair several areas of the pools plaster, using a white plaster repair product; and another $5,000 to repair wall tile on the pools Mothers Bench. Marshall said the agent had told the city officials who joined him on the inspection tour that his firm would come this fall to remove cracked and other degraded plaster; and would then return in the spring to replaster the areas. Wed be open on time (in the spring), Marshall said the agent had assured them. After deciding which repairs to make, the council discussed the funding needed to pay for the repairs. Mayor Pro-tem Brett Shafer, who had also attended the inspection, suggested some of the citys COVID funding could be used. City clerk Mike Delzell, another of the citys inspection team, pointed out another option. He said with the earlier decision by the city council to merge the citys police department into the Louisa County Sheriffs Office, (LCSO) there was now around $190,000 of General Fund revenue that could be used for other expenses. He said the citys 2022-23 payment to the sheriffs office had already been made. Since the pool repairs would also be a General Fund expense, Delzell said the remaining police department funds could be used with little modification of the budget. The council then voted to approve the repairs and to use the excess police department funds to cover the cost. In other action, the council agreed to set Trick or Treat Night for Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and then acted later in the meeting on two other celebrations. The annual Walk the Block event, a downtown community celebration; and the Louisa County Sheriffs Office Trunk or Treat night will both be held Oct. 30. Sarah Chaney, co-organizer for Walk the Block event, asked the council to close Van Buren and 2nd streets from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meanwhile, LCSO Chief Deputy Brandon Marquardt requested the council to close Franklin, 4th, Washington and Main streets around the Louisa County Courthouse from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the Trunk or Treat event. The council approved both requests. In other action, the council: Delayed a decision on vacating a portion of Spring Street until the area could be flagged and council members given a chance to view the area; Approved the FY 2022 Urban Renewal Report; Accepted the resignation of Third Ward Council Member Richard Taylor, effective immediately. The council also met with VFW Glenn Allen Post Commander Gary Marquardt to discuss the VFWs concerns over the condition of the Briggs Civic Center, a shared facility of the VFW and the city. Council member Gene Arnold indicated he would meet with the VFW to discuss the concerns, which included poor maintenance. LYMAN, Ukraine (AP) Russian troops abandoned a key Ukrainian city so rapidly that they left the bodies of their comrades in the streets, offering more evidence Tuesday of Moscow's latest military defeat as it struggles to hang on to four regions of Ukraine that it illegally annexed last week. Meanwhile, Russias upper house of parliament rubber-stamped the annexations following referendums that Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed as fraudulent. Responding to the move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally ruled out talks with Russia, declaring that negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are impossible after his decision to take over the regions. The Kremlin replied by saying that it will wait for Ukraine to agree to sit down for talks, noting that it may not happen until a new Ukrainian president takes office. We will wait for the incumbent president to change his position or wait for a future Ukrainian president who would revise his stand in the interests of the Ukrainian people, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Despite the Kremlin's apparent political bravado, the picture on the ground underscored the disarray Putin faces amid the Ukrainian advances and attempts to establish new Russian borders. Over the weekend, Russian troops pulled back from Lyman, a strategic eastern town that the Russians had used as a logistics and transport hub, to avoid being encircled by Ukrainian forces. The town's liberation gave Ukraine an important vantage point for pressing its offensive deeper into Russian-held territories. Two days later, an Associated Press team reporting from Lyman saw at least 18 bodies of Russian soldiers still on the ground. The Ukrainian military appeared to have collected the bodies of their comrades after fierce battles for control of the town, but they did not immediately remove those of the Russians. We fight for our land, for our children, so that our people can live better, but all this comes at a very high price, said a Ukrainian soldier who goes by the nom de guerre Rud. Speaking late Tuesday in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said dozens of settlements had been retaken from the Russian pseudo-referendum this week alone in the four annexed regions. In the Kherson region, he listed eight villages that Ukrainian forces reclaimed, and this is far from a complete list. Our soldiers do not stop. The deputy head of the Russian-backed regional administration in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, told Russian TV that Ukrainian troops made certain advances from the north, and were attacking the region from other sides too. He said they were stopped by Russian forces and suffered high losses. As Kyiv pressed its counteroffensives, Russian forces launched more missile strikes at Ukrainian cities. Several missiles hit Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, damaging infrastructure and causing power cuts. Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said one person was killed. In the south, Russian missiles struck the city of Nikopol. After reclaiming control of Lyman in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces pushed further east and may have gone as far as the border of the neighboring Luhansk region as they advanced toward Kreminna, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in its latest analysis. On Monday, Ukrainian forces also scored significant gains in the south, raising flags over the villages of Arkhanhelske, Myroliubivka, Khreshchenivka, Mykhalivka and Novovorontsovka. In Washington, the U.S. government announced Tuesday that it would give Ukraine an additional $625 million in military aid, including more of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, that are credited with helping Kyiv's recent military momentum. The package also includes artillery systems ammunition and armored vehicles. Before that announcement, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis told a conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Tuesday that Ukraine needed more weapons since Russia began a partial mobilization of draft-age men last month. He said additional weapons would help end the war sooner, not escalate it. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military has recruited more than 200,000 reservists as part of the partial mobilization launched two weeks ago. He said the recruits were undergoing training at 80 firing ranges before being deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. Putin's mobilization order said that up to 300,000 reservists were to be called up, but it held the door open for an even bigger activation. The order sparked protests across Russia and drove tens of thousands of men to flee the country. Russia's effort to incorporate the four embattled regions in Ukraine's east and south was done so hastily that even the exact borders of the territories being absorbed were unclear. The upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, voted to ratify treaties to make the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk and the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia. The lower house did so Monday. Putin is expected to quickly endorse the annexation treaties. In other developments, the head of the company operating Europes largest nuclear plant said Ukraine is considering restarting the Russian-occupied facility to ensure its safety as winter approaches. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Energoatom President Petro Kotin said the company could restart two of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants reactors in a matter of days. If you have low temperature, you will just freeze everything inside. The safety equipment will be damaged, he said. Fears that the war in Ukraine could cause a radiation leak at the Zaporizhzhia plant had prompted the shutdown of its remaining reactors. The plant has been damaged by shelling, prompting international alarm over the potential for a disaster. Adam Schreck reported from Kyiv. Mitch Pacyna loved entertaining so much that he earned the nickname "The Mayor of Fort Myers Beach," because of his welcoming nature, his daughter said. Pacyna, 74, died in Fort Myers Beach while he and his wife were trying to get to higher ground during Hurricane Ian, his daughter Michelle Schuline told CNN. Now his wife Mary Wojciechowski and family are coping with the loss of their beloved husband, father and grandfather. "Whenever somebody [new] would come to town ... he would meet them and welcome them and sit down, have a drink and just welcome to the community," Schuline said. "He was always the life of the party. He enjoyed his friends and spending time with them and celebrating their successes." The real magnitude of Hurricane Ian's death toll is still unknown. The current number of deaths is at least 131 in the Southeast, with most of them in Florida, according to a CNN tally. On Thursday, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission added two more (one in Osceola County and one in Sarasota County), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a press release. Residents across parts of Florida lost their homes and their livelihoods and others in hard-hit areas are still dealing with power outages and no clean running water. These are the stories of some of the victims of the hurricane. Mitch Pacyna Pacyna and his wife lived in Florida for 27 years and thought Hurricane Ian would be just another hurricane, his daughter said. "I understand they were trying to leave the house as it was collapsing and he didn't make it out of there," Schuline said. The couple was trying to get to shelter, she said. Wojciechowski and the couple's dog Lulu survived and are safe, she said. She spoke with Wojciechowski on Sunday. "[She's] obviously in shock, devastated. They were together for 30 years, so losing somebody like that and being there when it happened is really hard on her," Schuline said. "She's having ... a hard time with understanding what's all going on and coming to grips with things." Schuline said she'd been following her dad's updates on Facebook during the storm and grew concerned when he stopped posting. His final post, made at 1:28 p.m. on September 28, just two hours before landfall, read, "OK,,WE'RE TERRIFIED !!" Earlier, he'd posted a video of his elaborate home bar floating away. "This ain't letting up yet, if it gets a little higher, we may have to go on the roof," he said in the video. Pacyna hailed from the Chicago area and was a diehard fan of the Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears. He visited his home state in May to celebrate his granddaughters' graduations from high school and college, Schuline said. Schuline, 51, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help Wojciechowski, who also lost her home in the storm. *** Craig Steven Markgraff Craig Steven Markgraff was the "greatest brother anyone could ask for," said his sister, April Rudolph. Markgraff, 35, had a way of picking up anyone who was feeling down, Rudolph said. "He was a fierce friend," she said. "He was very protective and loving of all his friends and family." The Hardee County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Markgraff, who lived in Zolfo Springs, Florida, died after Hurricane Ian flooded parts of the state last week. Markgraff was reported missing on September 29 and was last seen the night before, according to a news release on the sheriff's office Facebook page. A water search and rescue team found his body Tuesday and identified him by comparing "tattoo descriptions" from the family and social media photos, the release said. Markgraff loved the outdoors, said his sister. He loved working on his car, camping and hunting. Part of Markgraff's legacy in the area came from his construction and building work. "He built a lot of homes and buildings on Sanibel Island and in the Fort Myers area, so I'm sure a lot of his hard work was probably destroyed by this hurricane," Rudolph said. *** Nishelle Harris-Miles Mother of four, Nishelle Harris-Miles, traveled to Fort Myers, Florida, to celebrate her 40th birthday -- now her family is preparing to lay her to rest after she was identified as one of the victims of Hurricane Ian, her mother said. Harris-Miles from Dayton, Ohio, traveled with a group of friends and family to celebrate her and a friend's birthdays, her mother Michele Harris told CNN. She was staying at a vacation rental when Hurricane Ian hit Florida, according to her mother. "A lot of us at home told her not to go because a hurricane was coming," Harris said. "They were under the assumption they were safe." The group of friends quickly realized it was not safe to be in Fort Myers, but could not find anyone willing to pick them up from where they were staying, Harris-Miles' mother said. Harris said water entered the vacation rental and pushed them toward the ceiling. "They were on top of a mattress and two of the girls couldn't swim, so they tied themselves together with a sheet to try to keep each other safe," she said. "They started kicking and hollering, begging for help. The ceiling then collapsed on them." According to Harris, her daughter noticed a nail had punctured her body while they were trapped in the home. A neighbor finally heard the screams coming from inside the property and rescued the group, taking them to a makeshift shelter. "Her sister held her hand until Nishelle stopped moving," Harris said. "They stayed in a makeshift shelter with Nishelle's body for 16 hours until the shelter started to crack ..." The neighbor told them to leave for safety reasons, so they left her body there, Harris said. Harris-Miles leaves behind two daughters and two sons, her mother said. A family friend created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her funeral expenses. Harris-Miles enjoyed dancing and spending time with her family, Harris said. "She was always the life of the party," Harris said. "She was a caregiver and a loving person. She enjoyed life. My daughter was loved by many people." *** Mike Verdream After Stacy Verdream's father died when she was just two weeks old, her uncle, Mike Verdream, moved in and helped her mom raise her and her brother, she said. On Monday, the sheriff's office informed her brother that Verdream had died in Matlacha, Florida. Now, Stacy Verdream and her family are coping with the sudden loss of her uncle, who died after trying to ride out Hurricane Ian, she said. "He was always there for me growing up, teaching me how to drive and taking me to the fair," she said. "The cool uncle that would buy me like a dirt bike and bought the Jet Ski for us to, like, go out on the lake. He just loved us to death." Mike Verdream, 66, planned to go to his boss' two-story home if the storm got too bad, his niece told CNN. Stacy Verdream said she spoke with her uncle briefly on Wednesday. Her cousin spoke with him later that day and he said the water was four feet deep before telling her he had to go. "It was a very brief call because he said he was very scared and she'd never heard him like that, because he wasn't that type of person," Verdream said. "He's always put on a brave face." But her cousin said, "he sounded absolutely terrified," she recounted. The family kept calling and trying to reach him, but the phone went straight to voice mail, Verdream said. They also posted his picture and information on Facebook in hopes that people had seen him. A detective told Verdream on Tuesday that he was found in a canal on Friday, September 30. The condition of his body was consistent with other victims that had been recovered, she was told. Authorities used medical records to identify her uncle, Verdream said. The family was told Friday that her uncle had survived the storm and was helping people. They were told he was unable to call because his phone had gotten wet. As more time passed, they grew concerned that he hadn't borrowed a phone or found a way to reach them. Verdream said her uncle was "very giving," so it made sense that he was helping others. "He would give you the shirt off his back, the last dime he had if someone was in need," Verdream said. "Always worried about helping other people and not himself." *** Ian Conway Former airline pilot Ian Conway immigrated to the United States from Australia in the 1980s and had lived in Florida ever since, said his daughter Margot Conway. "He was absolutely brilliant. His whole world was flying," his daughter said. "He has traveled the world. It was his whole world until he got too sick to fly." Conway, 61, of Estero, Florida, was found dead outside his mobile home in Mariner's Cove after Hurricane Ian swept through, his daughter told CNN. "He was found wrapped up on the bench outside his home on the shuffleboard court," Conway said. "He told me would go to a shelter if a storm ever came. I'm not sure why he didn't go." Conway's neighbor called Margot Conway on Thursday, September 29, to let her know her father had passed away during the storm, she said. The Lee County Sheriff's Office later told her that her father had drowned. On Wednesday, she got to his home, which was under 7 feet of water, and everything was destroyed, she said. "The community around him has been the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," Conway said. "These strangers I've never even spoken to hugged me and told me stories about him." Conway is survived by his two daughters. *** Elizabeth McGuire Cape Coral, Florida, resident Elizabeth McGuire, 49, was found dead in her home on Friday after Hurricane Ian tore through the area, her son, Andrew Chedester, told CNN. Chedester said police told him that his mother died in her bed holding her cell phone and that it looked like she died instantly. Her family had last spoken to McGuire on Wednesday and had trouble reaching her since then, Chedester said. When no one heard from her, neighbors called for a wellness check. Chedester said he was at home on Friday when a Cape Coral Police Department detective knocked on his door and told him of his mother's death. He said he had already received a call from his mother's ex-boyfriend just before that. "I can't believe somebody I just saw the other day was completely gone," the 24-year-old said of his mom. He talked about how the two would always joke around. "'Keep your head up little b*tch, you'll be alright,'" Chedester said his mom would tell him when times were tough. "She was a friend when you needed it the most," Chedester said. CNN spoke to her mother, Susan McGuire, who learned of her daughter's death through her grandson, Chedester. She said her daughter had been suffering from blood clots from deep vein thrombosis and was on disability. Her daughter, who went by "Liz," leaves behind two sons, her mother said. Susan McGuire had limited cell phone service during and after the storm, as she was stranded in Bokeelia, Florida, on Pine Island. She worried the worst about her daughter, especially with her medical condition, she said. "One hundred blizzards will not cost you what one hurricane will cost you," said Susan McGuire, who had moved to the area from Maryland years ago. "My husband's business is wiped out, my daughter is dead. The destruction is massive. I never had a blizzard take anything away from me." *** Jayron Purvis Jayron Purvis, 22, died in Robersonville, North Carolina, as the remnants of Hurricane Ian passed through the area on Friday. "He was driving his truck on wet roads during the storm when it left the roadway and into a swamp, where he drowned," Keith Acree, spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, told CNN in a statement. Purvis is one of five storm-related deaths in the state. Three people died in separate vehicle-related incidents on Friday, according to a release from Gov. Roy Cooper's Office. Another person died from carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator in a closed garage. No information was given about the other death. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his Republican challenger Darren Bailey used an hourlong debate Thursday finding different ways to call each other liar with Election Day fewer than five weeks away. The Democratic incumbent and the southern Illinois state senator disagreed over the other's handling of or position on the state budget, regulating assault-style weapons, abortion and crime particularly the justice system overhaul Pritzker signed last year known as the SAFE-T Act. To Pritzker, the upstart Republican and relative legislative newcomer is a hypocrite on the issues for which he attacks the governor. According to Bailey, Pritzker's handling of crime, property taxes and education is crushing the state, all because J.B. Pritzker is hell-bent on becoming the most radical leftist governor in America. ... This man is dangerous. Pritzker, elected in 2018 amid the aftermath of a budget stalemate that left the state billions of dollars in debt, boasted before an audience at Illinois State University in Normal of the way he paid down debt and balanced the budget for four years. Bailey claimed that Pritzker did so with federal relief money for the COVID-19 pandemic and by not paying the full amount necessary to fund employee pension systems. Bailey contended he would cut taxes with a reprioritization of spending and zero-based budgeting. Pritzker said his management of the budget has proven successful and with billions of debt paid down, his continued leadership could mean lower taxes in the future. Pritzker said he would not repeat his 2020 attempt to change the constitutionally required flat income tax to force wealthier residents to pay more, contending that his management of finances has produced budget surpluses the last two years. Pritzker is heavily favored in the race, and has outraised Bailey dramatically. The 57-year-old billionaire equity investor and philanthropist had $60 million in the bank on June 30 and has contributed $20 million of his own money since. Bailey had just under $2 million on hand last summer and raised $360,000 since. Noting his fundraising for Democrats nationally and a trip last spring to New Hampshire, Bailey dramatically pulled from his vest pocket a paper he said is a pledge he has signed to serve a full four-year term and not duck out to run for president. Pritzker ignored Baileys invitation to join in signing, but said he planned to finish a second term and supports the re-election of President Joe Biden. Bailey, 56, a farmer from the southern Illinois town of Xenia, 96 miles (154 kilometers) east of St. Louis, has attacked Pritzker over crime in the state. Like many Republicans seeking election this fall, he has also taken aim at the Pritzker-approved SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice system overhaul approved in early 2021 that attempts to thwart excessive force by police, sets new standards for policing including expanding the use of body cameras and ends the use of cash bail for criminal suspects. That means a revolving door for jails statewide, Bailey said while Pritzker interjected, Lies. More lies. He's not telling the truth. The criminal justice system that Darren Bailey and Republicans are standing up for is one that allows murderers and rapists and domestic abusers to buy their way out of jail, Pritzker said. Among other critics, an Illinois Supreme Court panel has recommended bail reform, noting the economic damage done to someone who can't afford to pay. Pritzker also called Thursday for a federal ban on assault-style weapons like the type used in the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, saying No one should have that kind of firepower. However, he defended not having a statewide assault-style weapons ban in place because the General Assembly has set up a task force to study the issue. Pritzker's defense came after he criticized Bailey for suggesting the study of another issue free community colleges with other state leaders. After the the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade opinion legalizing abortion, Pritzker promised legislative action to strengthen abortion access in Illinois, which already allows virtually unfettered access to abortion up to the point of fetal viability, with abortion allowed after viability when the mother's health or life is in jeopardy. Thursday, Pritzker said he didn't support changes to allow abortion beyond viability about 24 to 26 weeks. The law that we have in place now ... is what we should keep in place, Pritzker said. The Democrat has promoted Bailey's opposition to abortion rights in numerous political ads, but Bailey reiterated Thursday he wouldn't press the issue because it's unlikely to win a Democratic Legislature's approval. My focus is going to be crime, taxes and education, Bailey said. ... J.B. Pritzker wants to fear monger and put all of this nonsense out there (about abortion) that cant be changed anyway. And it needs to stop. We need to focus on uniting this state. Follow Political Writer John OConnor on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apoconnor. Napa Police announced the arrests Wednesday afternoon of a man and woman suspected of two kidnapping and robbery incidents in a three-day span last month. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Chiocel Laurentiu, 26, and Rita Petrache, 25, were detained at 1:14 p.m. after a traffic stop by Napa Police officers, the department said in a news release. Both were booked into the Napa County jail on $250,000 bail for investigation of felony kidnapping, robbery and criminal conspiracy before being released shortly before 12:30 a.m. Thursday, according to booking records. Petrache and Laurentiu had been seen Wednesday morning in a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle linked to robberies on Sept. 21 and 24, according to Napa Police, which said officers recovered from the vehicle about $36,000 in cash and jewelry described by one of the victims. On Sept. 21, police met a person who said a group of suspects approached them with an offer to sell jewelry, according to police. When the person declined, the suspects brandished a knife and demanded money from the victim, who turned over some money. Later, the suspects forced the person to drive them to a nearby bank, but for unknown reasons left the victims vehicle before reaching the bank and instead fled in a different, waiting car, police said. Three days later, a second victim told Napa Police they were approached a person who stopped their vehicle to ask for help only to enter the vehicle brandishing a handgun, according to the department. The suspect demanded the drivers wallet and phone, then forced the driver to continue on to a location where the suspect left and fled in a waiting vehicle, police said. Napa County is bracing for the peak of a 2022 wildfire season that as of Thursday has fortunately been most memorable for what hasnt happened a megafire. Many recent mornings have been foggy or gray in the south county, showing a marine influence. Even record-breaking heat in early September came without scorching winds that mean red-flag fire weather. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Weve been very fortunate with the weather, Deputy Fire Chief Jason Martin said. One nervous moment came on May 31 when the Old Fire broke out in mountains east of the city of Napa, spewing a big cloud of smoke into the sky. But firefighters contained it to 530 acres with no damage to rural homes. Martin described the fire season so far as being fairly mild, though he also noted that it is just October and the county is entering its driest period. Can the countys luck hold out? The National Weather Service on Thursday said there are hints that north winds could develop in the Bay Area next mid-week north winds can increase fire danger but that its too soon to say for certain. Even so, no heat wave is predicted. Cal Fire, Napa County and local groups have taken steps to prepare for the worst they hope wont happen. Martin told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that Cal Fire has regional resources back from the Mosquito Fire in El Dorado and Placer counties. It has available 31 engines, six bulldozers and four hand crews. In addition, Cal Fire extended contracts that base a water-dropping helicopter at Napa County Airport and one at Sonoma County Airport for an additional 30 days, until Oct. 28, he said. Other work has been done to slow any big wildfire that might break out. The county has completed 2,388 inspections to help rural property owners comply with defensible space laws, making certain that vegetation is cleared and reduced within 100 feet of structures. That compares to 1,900 checks last year. Christopher Thompson of the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation said 33 projects across 200 acres have been completed so far in 2022. Eleven projects are underway, nine will likely be finished by year's end and 16 are in final design. Napa Firewise deployed $1.3 million in donations from the 2021 Bill Dodd Holiday Party to increase wildfire safety and improve evacuation routes in 17 Fire Safe Council neighborhoods throughout the county, Thompson said. Martin called attention to the Angwin area. He called a fuel break completed in August in the Pacific Union College forest an example of a large, well-thought-out and planned project. Other fuel reduction work is being done in the Angwin area at Linda Falls Terrace and at the college. Its a coordinated effort to achieve maximum protection for the area, he said. Martin talked about partnerships with the wine industry. Fire officials consulted with Chappellet winery at Pritchard Hill near Lake Hennessey, and he recently went to see the shaded fuel breaks and other results. Its amazing what is happening, he told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. We want to continue to do this. Supervisor Diane Dillon mentioned another aspect: the efforts of individual landowners. There are many, many property owners who can afford to do this work and help their neighbors do it and thats whats happening up on Pritchard Hill, she said. There are hundreds of people who dont have the resources to even begin to do that. Napa County is looking for a solution. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to seek a $50 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant through the state for fire prevention. The county would provide a $15 million match over three years. If we can use (that money) to help those folks who cant otherwise provide that defensible space around their homes, that will really be a game-changer, Dillon said. In addition, the county has applied for a $48.8 million hazard mitigation grant from FEMA. Among other things, money could be used for fuel reduction projects where wildlands meet communities. The county for the grant would commit $4.8 million from the general fund, in-kind labor and other sources. It should learn next year if it will receive the grant, county officials said. On another front, more than 600 green reflective address signs are being installed at homes in the Calistoga area. The goal is to help firefighters and first responders more easily find rural properties during wildfires and other emergencies. That project came about from a partnership of Napa Firewise, Calistoga Fire Safe Council, Diamond Mountain Fire Safe Council and Bank of the West. Thirty-two Bank of the West employees installed 228 signs in a single day. People can add information stickers to the signs telling firefighters if water is available on the property and if fire trucks have room to turn around. The effort, called Reflect to Protect, won praise from Supervisor Dillon. Six hundred of 2,400 households in the Calistoga area signed up to have the signs, she said. "It's a fabulous success," Dillon said. Thompson, in a press release, described what can happen without reflective address signs. He is a volunteer firefighter at Deer Park northeast of St. Helena and his unit got a 2 a.m. call for a person suffering a possible heart attack. Emergency responders had to search unmarked rural homes on dark, winding driveways before they finally found and saved the person. "Speaking as a firefighter, if we can't find you, we can't help you," he said. A 22-year-old woman has been hospitalized with major injuries after she was struck by a sport-utility vehicle Wednesday evening in Napa, police reported. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. At 6:22 p.m., the Napa central dispatch center received a call from a driver who reported their vehicle had hit a pedestrian on Foster Road south of Hilton Avenue, according to a Napa Police news release. Police officers, along with members of Napa Fire and American Medical Response, went to the scene and found the injured woman, who was taken by ambulance to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center. The driver remained at the scene to provide aid and cooperated with officers, according to police. Foster Road was closed for more than four hours after the incident. Preliminary information indicates the driver, who was at the wheel of a 2001 Toyota 4Runner, was heading south on Foster Road while the woman was walking north, police reported, adding that alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the incident. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Officer Nick Toscani at 707-257-9223, ext. 5286, or ntoscani@cityofnapa.org. The investigation is continuing. POPE VALLEY Tensions rose swiftly Wednesday night during a packed emergency meeting of the Pope Valley Union Elementary School District board, which was called in response to the weekend arrest of a former Pope Valley school worker on numerous allegations of sexually abusing children and teenagers. More than 50 people showed up for the meeting at the schools campus, along with school employees and representatives from the Napa County Sheriffs Office, Office of Education and the District Attorneys Office. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. During a two-hour public comment period, many parents expressed that they felt school leadership had failed their children and criticized the district for a perceived lack of oversight, among much else. The sheriffs office and District Attorney Allison Haley followed the commenters for about an hour by presenting information about the Saturday arrest of Benjamin Casas and the court case, and by taking questions from the school board. But they also told the public that they couldnt answer many of the questions, or answer them with specific detail, because they didnt want to jeopardize the court case. Parents ask for answers The early stage of the meeting was filled with public comments, though Spanish interpretation for a sizable Spanish-speaking audience was initially haphazard. Though a Spanish interpreter, Alejandro Maldonado, was made available to translate from English to Spanish for the district, he stopped translating the early public comments because, he said, they were coming in too quickly. Several others tried to translate for the Spanish-speaking audience Maldonado eventually took over again but parents still noted that there appeared to be many communication problems. For example, at the start of the meeting parents called for school board member Claudia Ramirez, sister-in-law of Casas, to recuse herself from the meeting owing to what they perceived as a conflict of interest. Ramirez, who didnt speak throughout the meeting, didnt recuse herself, and the board didnt consider voting to expel her during the meeting, an action suggested by the parents. A few of Casas family members, including his wife, are listed as working at the Pope Valley school on the schools website. A few Spanish-speaking parents argued that the other parents were being unfair by calling for Ramirez to recuse herself, and by calling for further investigation of what Casas family members knew about his alleged abuses. But other speakers said that, if the details they talked about in their comments had been translated, the Spanish-speaking parents would understand why they were calling for it. Parents noted that, even though Casas employment with the district reportedly ended in 2019, they had seen him on campus multiple times since then. Several parents also expressed worries that more children had been abused by Casas. Haylie Nevaez, one of the parents, said shed been told by school staff recently that Casas hasnt been on campus, despite her children and parents reporting that they had seen him. Weve seen him on campus, parents and children have seen him, and now Im having to explain to my 7-year-old why I cant take, my 7-year-old asked me to take him to visit Ben in jail because its his friend, Nevaez said. And then you guys all sat here and told me he hasnt had access to our children. I dont understand why nothing is still being done, its just crazy. Deanna Reister, another parent, said shed heard about a former Pope Valley student Tuesday night who alleged theyd experienced inappropriate touching and comments from Casas. She had permission to tell the students story from their mother, she said. The parents met with Ken Burkhart, the Pope Valley school principal from 2015 until this June, and another staff member at the time as well as a psychologist, and didnt hear anything from the school afterwards, according to Reister. When the student was in high school, she said, they were interviewed by the Napa County Sheriffs Office about the allegations, but they hadnt heard anything since. Tomas Ramirez, Casas father-in-law listed as a maintenance employee on the schools website said, in Spanish, that he felt his daughter was being destroyed. He added that Casas seemed like some other person with all the alleged charges, and that he had no idea of the allegations. Speaking through tears, Patricia Holcomb, listed as a special education instructional aide on the schools website, also said she had no idea what was going on with Casas prior to Saturday. She said shed asked other staff members, who also said they didnt know. Holcomb added that she was distraught, because she felt like the school community was her family, and she felt like the school was being attacked. I know all these parents that live in the (Berryessa) Estates, Holcomb said. Ive lived in the estates. I threw parties in my house for kids. My daughter went to this school. I brought my grandkids to this school. And if I had any idea what the heck was going on, do you think I would let my own kids go here? Holcomb added that she knew Casas had been on campus in recent years to help pick up his son, and sometimes drop his son off. She said she also knew Casas had been on campus to set things up for events. I think that I have fulfilled my job duties to the best of my ability, Holcomb said. And Im sorry for losing it. But it affects me deeply because I did have children here. And I thought I had a lot of friends here. And because of this incident that's happening I know I lost a friend tonight because they walked out. Allegations that the former superintendent knew more than he told continue Several parents mentioned that the allegations against Casas which former superintendent, principal and teacher Burkhart was aware of, according to the sheriffs office stretch back for several years during the time Casas was a school employee. Burkhart, who didnt immediately respond to multiple requests for comment Thursday, previously told the Napa Valley Register that the sheriffs office advised him to get Casas off school grounds in 2019 without telling him why. (In an email Friday, Burkhart said "As I am no longer the superintendent/principal there, I have nothing further to add.") But Henry Wofford, spokesperson for the sheriffs office, said at the Wednesday meeting as he previously told the Register in a statement that Burkharts statement isnt true. Wofford added that the sheriff's office would never jeopardize a childs safety by sitting on the information about Casas, that there were definitely interactions between the departments detectives and Burkhart. There was a statement made to the Napa Valley Register, a quote from Mr. Ken Burkhart, a quote saying that he did not have enough information directly from the Napa County Sheriffs office to convey a message to the parents, Wofford said. That statement is not true. Mr. Burkhart has been in consistent contact throughout this investigation. In fact, he provided information reporting it directly to the Napa County Sheriffs Office. To say that he was unaware of allegations youll hear something different tonight. Several school board members said they, too, had not been informed about Casas. So, not being informed as the board or our staff, its quite feasible that we were not involved, said board chair Paul Kimsey at the meeting. As the board was not informed, I cant imagine that our staff was either. In response to a question about whether the sheriffs office had contacted the school board, sheriffs Lt. Donald Maiden said he wasnt aware of any legal obligation the sheriffs office has to a school board. But he confirmed the sheriffs office had contacted the school. We contacted the school, and I cant speak to the policies of the school, Maiden said. School response efforts move forward Lucy Pearson-Edwards, superintendent and principal of the school since this summer, said at the start of the meeting that the school has begun taking several actions in response to parent concerns about the arrest. The school is currently carrying out an internal review of protocol and procedures, she said, especially in areas connected to safety and security. Additionally, the school will be providing counselors, starting Thursday and running through the end of next week, to work with any student, staff member or parent who wants to talk with someone, Pearson-Edwards said. Were heartbroken by this arrest, Pearson-Edwards said. We know everyone is hurting and angry. The safety and security of Pope Valley students is the schools highest priority. Since Monday, school staff have physically searched school buildings and found no evidence of hidden cameras, Pearson-Edwards said. Theyll move forward with another search once a member of the sheriffs office is available to thoroughly scan the buildings, she added. NCOE technology staff have also been scanning potential access points to student and staff devices and computers, Pearson-Edwards added. Non-users dont have access to the software that manages student-used Chromebook laptop computers, she said, and non-staff member accounts Google and otherwise were deactivated in August. Pope Valley is also contracting with NCOE to upgrade the schools technology infrastructure, Pearson-Edwards said, and is moving to purchase a system that allows for anonymous reporting of incidents to law enforcement, which students, staff and interested parents would be trained to use. Pearson-Edwards also said she wanted parents to contact her if they had any other ideas to ensure student safety. The original version of this story has been updated to include former superintendent and principal Ken Burkhart declining to comment on Friday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom and three other heads of Pacific Coast governments reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on climate action, made in efforts to expedite and expand a low-carbon economy. Leaders of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California signed off a new Statement of Cooperation on Thursday to pledge making a climate-resilient future a soon-to-be reality on a subnational scale. We recognize with humility that we dont have all the answers, said Newsom at a Thursday press conference. We seek to share best practices, we seek to compete from jurisdiction to jurisdiction with one another... but in an enlightened sense, that competition has brought us to where we are today. The regional governments who collectively represents 57 million people and $3.5 trillion in gross domestic product committed to invest and transition to regional low-carbon infrastructure, while also protecting communities most at risk of climate-induced disasters, especially in historically underrepresented areas, according to the agreement. This work builds on the work of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, first founded a decade ago to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by promoting green energy, clean transportation and construction and improved food waste management. The major cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver later joined the four governments in the efforts in 2016. Though each regional government faces their own challenges with climate change, the four share the same sentiments on bolstering ahead with an ambitious climate action plan, both individually and collectively. The hope is to create a stronger, harmonized regional green economy, while also cutting Pacific Coast emissions by 80 percent by 2050. San Francisco Mayor London Breed hosted Newsom, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and British Columbia Premier John Horgan at San Franciscos Presidio Tunnel Tops to sign the statement. We cant just enjoy our lives, go about our business and leave this planet worse off than it was, Breed said at the press conference. It is our responsibilities as stewards to not only be the leaders in climate change, but to make sure that we are teaching the next generation. At Thursdays signing, the leaders pledged to protect their communities from effects of climate-related disasters like extreme drought, prolonged heat, flooding and wildfires. All four shared similar tragedies related to climate changenoting wildfires that burned down entire towns, dwindling populations of essential species and prolonged heat waves that strained electricity resources. We have watched, we have smelled, we have suffered through the smoke, said Inslee, the state of Washingtons governor. We understand what its doing to our communities. We understand what its doing to the health of our children. We understand its economic disadvantage to our economies. But fundamentally, we are leaders and we are three states and one province who can see through the smoke, he said. Horgan admitted that he often mirrors the work of his U.S. counterparts to advance climate goals in his own province of British Columbia, like Californias low-carbon fuel standard, an incentive program developed in 2009 to encourage the production of cleaner transportation fuels. Weve had atmospheric rivers, heat domes terms that weve never heard of before that have had a profound impact on our people, our economy and our work, Horgan said at the press conference. In order to address those challenges, we have to collaborate. Brown, the governor of Oregon, said her state has made large strides in climate actionfor example, its last coal plant will be demolished this summer partially because of its strong partnerships with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, along with their West Coast neighbors. Were demonstrating that we are much more powerful and impactful working together than when were working alone, Brown said. And together, I know that we can meet the challenges of climate change, because we know that growing our economy and protecting our planet are not mutually exclusive goals, rather they are moral imperatives. Moments before the signing, Newsom added one takeaway message for Pacific Coast residents: dont be too anxious despite doomsday headlines. These are the anecdotes to that anxiety and stress, Newsom said, noting this agreement as a sign of optimism. Theyre future-proofing not just their states, but theyre showing the way for the rest of the United States and folks around the rest of the globe. That should calm us. Indian defense company Solar group says it has received orders from Armenia for 'Pinaka' missiles Russian Embassy: Armenians' attitude towards Russians who moved to Armenia remains very friendly Clarification by Price: What Could Armenian-American military cooperation look like? Armenian Defense Minister visits DEFEXPO exhibition in India President of Artsakh talks about results of discussions held in Armenia Borrell angers UAE with his comparison of world outside Europe to 'jungle' Public Council formed in Artsakh China Daily: Party's anti-graft efforts generate fruitful outcomes Price: We demand that Azerbaijan return to its initial positions Aghajanyan: This visit should be seen as another stage in dynamic development of Armenian-American relations Ukraine will officially ask Israel for transfer of air defense systems Head of National Assembly Commission: 2023 state budget turned out to be biggest in Armenia's history Turkey conducts test launch of its own ballistic missile over Black Sea Students of Brusov State University hold protest outside building of Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia Armenia MFA: Yerevan has always openly and publicly stated its position on dialogue with Turkey Military exercises of IRGC Ground Forces on border with Azerbaijan continue for second day in Iran Blinken accuses China of violating status quo on Taiwan Armenian Foreign Minister: We see Azerbaijan's unconstructive behavior Izvestia: European banks stop accepting SWIFT-transfers from Russia Mirzoyan calls on Cavusoglu to speak for himself Norwegian FM visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and pays tribute to victims of Genocide Mirzoyan: We need to understand to what extent CSTO recognizes this aggression against Armenia MFA: Armenian authorities apply to OSCE to send observers to border with Azerbaijan NYT: Conflict between Turkey and Greece may cause split of NATO Ararat Mirzoyan Details of peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan were presented to Norwegian FM Price of gas in Europe drops to almost $1,200 per 1,000 cubic meters for first time since June Armenian Defense Minister meets with his Indian counterpart First images of damage to Nord Stream are published Erdogan's spokesman: Meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is impossible now Peskov redirects question of drone purchases from Iran to Russian Ministry of Defense Secretary of Armenian Security Council presents consequences of recent Azerbaijani aggression to Brazilian ambassador Trial of Robert Kocharyan and Armen Gevorgyan is held in Yerevan IAEA chief says he wants to meet with Putin again Pashinyan: Azerbaijan creates fake news on ceasefire violations by Armenia US House of Representatives members visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Taliban, Iran border guards fire at each other Another high treason exposed in Armenia Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan armed forces violate ceasefire in Sotk-Kutakan sector World oil prices on the rise Trump slightly ahead of Biden in New York Times poll Armenia defense minister heads for India Newspaper: Karabakh dissatisfied with President's Yerevan visit, meeting with Armenia PM Azerbaijan fires toward Armenia positions at night Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs much more modern air defense systems Liz Truss is called upon to resign EU to review relations with China White House accuses Iran of lying Poland may not receive 75 billion euros in regional aid from EU Crash of SU-34 in Yeysk captured on video SJC: Criminal case will be initiated against judge Arusyak Aleksanyan Germany fines Telegram more than 5 million euros Scholz instructs ministers to prepare to extend operation of Germany's remaining three nuclear power plants Two people killed in Yeysk after military plane crashed Saudi Arabia rejects U.S. accusations of supporting Russia amid war in Ukraine Only candidate for post of military prosecutor of Armenia is named Expert: Iran is preparing for scenarios in form of attacks on Azerbaijan and sending troops to Artsakh German intelligence service opposes Chinese company's investment in Hamburg port Fire area at crash site of Su-34 in Krasnodar territory is 2,000 sq. m. EU approves military training mission for thousands of Ukrainian servicemen Supersonic Su-34 fighter-bomber crashes in Krasnodar territory Elon Musk on likelihood of World War III EU Commission intends to propose 'dynamic' natural gas price cap this week Dmitry Medvedev: Supplies of weapons to Ukraine will ruin relations between Russia and Israel Charles Michel welcomes rapid deployment of EU mission on Armenian border Swiss MPs horrified by consequences of Azerbaijani aggression: We support Armenians European Union announces new sanctions against Iran Tehran Times: Iran remains vigilant about developments in South Caucasus region Natural gas supply to Armenia will be temporarily suspended Daily Beast: Biden must stop next Armenian Genocide before it's too late Pashinyan: Azerbaijan is looking for pretext to launch new military aggression against Armenia Turkish Foreign Minister: Baku insists on equal status of 'Lachin' and 'Zangezur' corridors Foreign Ministry: Iran has repeatedly stated that it has not sent weapons to either side of war in Ukraine U.S. House of Representatives delegation arrives in Yerevan IRGC commander: Changing regions geography is red line for Iran Uzbek officials banned from being dishonest and swearing on social media Lawyer: Erik Aleksanyan does not accept charges against him Erdogan to visit Azerbaijan on October 20 Baku reacts to Pashinyan's proposal: To suggest 3 unrealistic options is not a good policy Dollar, euro gaining value in Armenia Reuters: Chinese banks sell off dollars to support yuan Photo: Contributed South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings On Sept. 24, the strongest storm ever to make landfall in Atlantic Canada laid waste to large swaths of the Atlantic provinces and eastern Quebec. Hurricane Fiona took the lives of at least three people, destroyed many homes with gigantic storm surges and left a million people without power. Immediately after Hurricane Fiona hit, I sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons asking for an emergency debate to discuss the federal governments response. He granted my request, and the House debated the matter until midnight on Sept. 26bringing reports from MPs in affected ridings, stories of courageous individuals and communities, but also talking about more long-term considerations. We are living the impacts, and paying the costs, of climate change right now. It is becoming increasingly clear we must re-assess federal programs designed to help communities prepare for the future, as well as deal with a litany of disasters. While the full cost of Fiona remains to be calculated, the federal government has pledged $300 million to help the region recover. And Fiona wasnt the only unprecedented storm in eastern Canada this year. On May 24, a derecho brought record-setting thunderstorms and tornados to a corridor between Windsor, Ontario, and Quebec City, killing 11 people and causing widespread damage. The insured cost of that event is estimated at $875 million. These massive weather events are happening more often and with more intensity, and the costs are rising quickly every year. Coincidentally, the Canadian Climate Institute released a major study on these costs a few days after Hurricane Fiona struck. Not surprisingly, the study found climate change is a serious and growing drag on Canadas economy and a major financial burden on households in Canada. Specifically, it estimated climate change will add $25 billion in annual losses by 2025, with that figure rising to about $100 billion annually by 2050. These losses go beyond the simple but substantial cost of repairing or replacing damaged homes and infrastructure. There are considerable knock-on effects that will have a huge impact on our economy. Increased infrastructure damage will slow economic growth, which in turn will lower household incomes. Investments will decrease as economic opportunities are reduced. Taxes and the cost of living will rise as governments are forced to spend more money on damage repair. The Canadian Climate Institutes report has five recommendations for governments. The first of the three I want to draw attention to is for governments to actually account for the economic threat posed by climate change. They should build these costs into economic analyses and decision-making. Secondly, they should strongly encourage, or even mandate, the private sector to take a similar approach. Thirdly, and perhaps most important from a climate adaptation viewpoint, the federal government must scale up adaptation funding to match the risks we are facing. I have called for this action for more than a year now. We must spend at least as much preparing for climate change as we spend repairing damage from extreme weather events. That would save us a huge amount of money over the medium and long term. The report estimates that proactive action wwould provide a return on investment of up to $15 for every dollar spent. Providing funds to communities to prepare for future climate events will also save lives and prevent heartbreaking destruction. Governments must truly act in a way that recognizes we are living the effects of climate change right now. They must also recognize even if we halted all greenhouse gas emissions today, the firestorms, floods and hurricanes we are witnessing now will be with us for centuries. We must also act boldly to reduce those emissions to ensure these impacts dont become intolerably worse. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan, had asked the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar, to provide the videos about which he had written on social media, and which, as it was announced, may testify to the torturing of Azerbaijani detainees or the desecration of the bodies by Armenians. Grigoryan told about this to a press conference Friday "Klaar promised to provide the videos, but has not sent [them] yet," she added. Grigoryan noted that during its latest military aggression, Azerbaijan always informs about some evidence of crimes committed by the Armenian side. "It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan itself started making accusations about the shooting of Armenian captives to death, talking about some provocateurs. The comments of Azerbaijanis on social media about the need to reward the [Azerbaijani] soldiers who shot unarmed Armenian captives to death make European officials think that its about glorifying war crimes. Until now, Azerbaijan has not given clarifications to the UN about its policy of Armenophobia in [Azerbaijani] educational institutions. Moreover, persons accused of war crimes in Azerbaijan get two months of house arrest at most; this is a manifestation of impunity. Azerbaijan encourages these crimes, which explains the video recording of war crimes committed [against Armenians] by Azerbaijani special units. This is also evidenced by the fact that a person who arrested earlier for war crimes has been rewarded and moved up the career ladder," emphasized the ombudswoman of Armenia. Ambassador Michael Carpenter, US Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), delivered an address to the OSCE Permanent Council on the recent military aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenia and the negotiation process. Carpenter noted as follows: The United States remains deeply engaged in helping Armenia and Azerbaijan work toward a comprehensive peace agreement. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Azerbaijani presidential advisor Hikmet Hajiyev and Armenias National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan at the White House on September 27 to advance the peace process. On October 4, Secretary Blinken held a trilateral call with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov during which he encouraged confidence-building and further progress in their talks. Secretary Blinken also expressed our appreciation for the positive steps Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken towards reaching a sustainable peace agreement, including and importantly the return of 17 prisoners of war from Azerbaijan to Armenia. We continue to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding issues at the negotiation table. There will be no lasting peace without reconciliation, and diplomacy is the only way to achieve that end. The surfacing last weekend on social media channels of an appalling video appearing to show Azerbaijani armed forces executing unarmed Armenian prisoners must be fully and impartially investigated. Those responsible for any abuses of detainees must be held to account. We take note of the inquiry which has been launched by the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan and remind the parties to abide by their commitments to swiftly return all prisoners of war and to treat such prisoners in accordance with their international obligations. The recent violations of the ceasefire on September 13 and 14, and again on September 28, are of grave concern to the United States. The United States encourages Armenia and Azerbaijan to strictly adhere to a sustainable ceasefire, pull back and distance their armed forces, and continue negotiations on border delimitation to support a peaceful resolution. We reiterate our call on Azerbaijans forces to return to their initial positions prior to the outbreak of hostilities on the night of September 12. Border disputes must be resolved through negotiations, not violence. The deaths of Armenian soldiers and Azerbaijani civilians from landmines during the past week clearly and tragically demonstrate the ongoing human consequences of this conflict. Finally, Mr. Chair, the United States strongly supports the activation of the OSCEs confidence-building and conflict prevention instruments, including the establishment of a Fact Finding Mission, as has been requested by Armenia. We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to take urgent steps to de-escalate tensions, build confidence, and hold themselves accountable to international obligations and commitments. We encourage further progress in resolving the issue of missing persons and the return of all remaining prisoners of war. The United States supports a comprehensive peace process and is committed to working bilaterally, with close partners like the European Union, and through international organizations such as the OSCE. Azerbaijani President voiced a program of deportation and genocide of Artsakh Armenians, David Babayan, foreign minister of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), said when asked by NEWS.am to comment on Aliyev's recent statements that Artsakh Armenians who do not want to live in Azerbaijan "may look for a new place of residence." "The question is what goal he sets for himself. The Azerbaijani president has stated clearly and frankly that the main goal is to absorb Artsakh, and those who do not agree can leave. We know that they have lists of several thousand people that they intend to shoot, we know that for sure. Naturally, the vast majority of the population, 99.9% will leave Artsakh, if, of course, it suddenly ends up in Azerbaijan. No one will stay here. So, Aliyev voiced a program of deportation and genocide of Armenians. How he will achieve this and with whom he will talk on these topics is another matter. I think that hardly anyone from Artsakh will talk to him about the dismantling of the Artsakh statehood. And we have to be very honest with ourselves and with the world. That's what is waiting for us. We very much regret that the world community remains mute to Aliyev's hateful words," the Minister said. Answering a question about Europe's lenient attitude towards Azerbaijan, David Babayan said: "Today they buy gas and therefore turn a blind eye to the violations of Artsakh people's rights, tomorrow they will have gas chambers." The renovated Ninotsminda automobile checkpoint on the border between Georgia and Armenia opened today, the press service of the Georgian Ministry of Finance reported. Cargo, passenger and passenger vehicles at the checkpoint are 11 exits equipped with modern control systems, News Georgia reports. According to the ministry, now a day through Ninotsminda in both directions will be able to pass at least 600 trucks, about 3 thousand cars and up to 8 thousand passengers. In this case, from today the checkpoint will work up to 70 customs officers. Within the framework of renovation works at Ninotsminda checkpoint the renovation was conducted in the area of 4 thousand square meters. In addition to the construction of new lanes, underground communications were replaced, the drainage network was arranged and a hangar for the inspection of vehicles was built. Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili, who attended the opening ceremony of the new infrastructure, noted the importance of the project for both bilateral and regional cooperation as well as strengthening the country's transit role. Together with Khutsishvili, the heads of the Georgian Interior Ministry, Revenue Service, Investigation Service, and Armenian Deputy Minister of Finance Arman Poghosyan visited the Ninotsminda checkpoint today. Germany has proposed a plan to lower gas prices by forming an alliance of buyers with energy-intensive Asian countries to convince major exporters to lower prices, Politico writes. Chancellor Olaf Scholz presented the idea to EU leaders on the sidelines of an informal summit in Prague. According to the plan, Germany will use its G7 presidency to form a global alliance to lower gas prices. The alliance would allow the EU to team up with countries such as Japan and South Korea, which are among the world's biggest buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), to avoid buying from each other. It could also be used to jointly approach major gas-exporting countries such as the United States, Canada and Norway and convince them to lower prices. Earlier this week, Scholz also spoke of the need to reach a global solution, arguing that it is in the interest of gas-exporting countries to have happy customers. Germany's proposal comes as a large number of EU countries, including France, Belgium, Italy and Poland, are pushing for a price cap on gas imports to Europe. Germany and the Netherlands opposed the move, fearing that such a forced price cap would simply lead to gas exports being diverted to Asian countries, resulting in a gas shortage in Europe by next year. Photo: The Canadian Press President Joe Biden speaks at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Thursday. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons. Biden added, We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis." Biden also challenged Russian nuclear doctrine, warning that the use of a lower-yield tactical weapon could quickly spiral out of control into global destruction. I dont think there is any such thing as the ability to easily use a tactical weapon and not end up with Armageddon, Biden said. U.S. officials for months have warned of the prospect that Russia could use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine as it has faced a series of strategic setbacks on the battlefield. as recently as this week, though, they have said they have seen no change to Russia's nuclear forces that would require a change in the alert posture of U.S. nuclear forces. Democracy and Welfare Party activists on Friday attempted to hold a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Baku. They demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops, introduced into Karabakh as peacekeepers. According to Azerbaijani media, protesters raised posters reading "Occupation Russian army, get out of Karabakh!" Raising the flags of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the participants chanted: "Down with the occupation troops. The participants called the war against Ukraine "genocide." "The Russian army committed the Khojaly tragedy, "Bloody January." Those who invited them to Azerbaijan should repent to the people. As long as the Russian army remains, the occupation will not stop," the protesters said. The police blocked the way of the participants when they were approaching the embassy. When demonstrators started chanting slogans against the Azerbaijani government, police dispersed them, detaining two participants - Nizami Akhverdiyev and Huseyn Melik. Earlier, Azerbaijan blamed Armenians for Khojaly tragedy, although in fact, it was organized by the Azerbaijani side itself. Now, Russia turned out to be the culprit. According to a report released Friday by the Iranian Forensic Science Organization, the death of Mahsa Amini, after whose funeral a series of protests swept across Iran, was not caused by blows to the head or other parts of the body. "The autopsy [determined] that the death was not caused by blows to the head or other vital organs or body parts," it said. According to the medical examiners, the girl had undergone brain surgery when she was eight years old. "On September 13, Amini lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Her heart rhythm was disrupted and her blood pressure dropped. Ineffective cardiopulmonary resuscitation led to the development of cerebral hypoxia. The patient died as a result of multiple organ failure," reads the report. According to the official version, Mahsa Amini, 22, was taken to Tehran Police Station on September 13, where she suffered a heart attack due to the improper wearing of a headscarf. On September 16, she died in the hospital. After the incident, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called the family of the deceased and said he had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. On September 17, the day of Amini's funeral, information was circulated on social media that the girl had allegedly been tortured by the vice police. A wave of protests swept across the country. Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, delivered a statement at the General Debate of the First Committee of the 77th UN General Assembly. Margaryan noted as follows, in particular: Armenia reaffirms its strong commitment to the full and universal implementation of the legally binding international obligations in the areas of non-proliferation, disarmament, conventional arms control and confidence and security building measures. The full, complete, and effective implementation of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) remains the cornerstone of the international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and its technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving general and complete disarmament. Throughout years, Armenia has been committed to the implementation of the legally binding Treaty on the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. Regrettably the integrity of the Conventional Arms Control Regime has been seriously undermined due to the systematic, intentional and massive violations of its core provisions by some parties. Policies of use of force to settle disputes, war mongering, state-led radicalization and identity building on the basis of dehumanization of entire nations and ethnic groups have been rising as dangerous tendencies detrimental to the global and regional peace and security. The United Nations must stand united in resolutely rejecting use of force or threat of force in violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, in all instances. Uncontrolled and unabated military buildup, military posturing represent warning signs of the threat of escalation and, therefore, should be closely monitored and assessed by the international organizations, including by the missions on the ground. Strengthening of the monitoring, fact-finding and reporting capacities of the United Nations is crucial for timely identifying the risks of dangerous escalation and prevention of atrocities. The aggressive actions of Azerbaijan against Armenias sovereignty and territorial integrity represent an imminent threat to the peace and security in the region of South Caucasus and beyond. The military offensive unleashed by Azerbaijan recently, on 13 September, targeted the eastern and south-eastern regions of Armenia, causing more than 200 deaths, including among the civilian population. Around 8000 people, mostly women, children and elderly were temporarily displaced. Densely populated cities deep in the territory of Armenia came under targeted fire in gross violation of the Geneva Conventions. These attacks were preceded by the previous acts of aggression in May, July and November 2021. In flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan captured, tortured and killed a number of Armenian service personnel, among them several women, who were exposed to most despicable barbarities, including sexual and gender based violence, violent murders and mutilations. The shocking videos of barbaric extrajudicial executions of the Armenian prisoners of war are extensively celebrated over social networks in Azerbaijan. The well-documented evidence pointing to the criminal conduct by the Azerbaijani military is undeniable. It is ever more imperative that all acts of atrocities are fully investigated and perpetrators, including the leadership of their armed forces are brought to justice. Last week, on 28 September the invading Azerbaijani forces resorted to yet another military provocation with use of mortars and large caliber weapons, which resulted in killing of three servicemen. The Azerbaijani forces continue their concentration and reinforcement of positions along the borders and in the occupied parts of Armenia, posing a risk of further escalation. The well-established records of non-compliance of Azerbaijan with treaties and regimes in the area of conventional arms control, unnotified large-scale military exercises, uncontrolled military buildup and consistent refusal to implement confidence and security building measures in the framework of regional arrangements throughout the years have demonstrated a clear intent of instigating further military aggression in our region. Regrettably, the lack of adequate reaction from the relevant international and regional structures and action in response to the clear incompliance of Azerbaijan with its legally binding obligations allowed the latter to further pursue its aggressive policies. Armenia has brought the issue of recent attacks and invasion by Azerbaijan to the attention of the UN Security Council and will continue to raise the matter with the United Nations and its respective bodies to stand up to their responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and to resolutely condemn the criminal attacks against the territorial integrity of Armenia, to call for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the troops from its territories. We are convinced that the international structures should be resolute in the face of systemic and flagrant violations of legally binding international obligations. The criminal practices of using force to capture territories or to resolve international disputes must be unequivocally condemned and the violators be sanctioned accordingly. What Azerbaijan has long talked about and what Nikol Pashinyan has long talked about happened in Prague, political analyst Argishti Kiviryan told NEWS.am, commenting on the results of Pashinyan's meeting with Aliyev at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel in Prague. The expert reminded that Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that the Armenian side is ready to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. "There is a conspiracy against the Armenian people. Baku and the Armenian authorities were implementing a strategy so that when Pashinyan made such statements or adopted a joint statement with Azerbaijan, the Armenian society was in such a broken state that it could not oppose. When Pashinyan spoke about it for the first time in parliament, the people were against it. So it was necessary to break the will of the people, to create a tense situation on the border, to form a panic mood so that the Armenian society in a frail state gave up on this and agreed to any document just to end this hell. The simplest political trick used previously against many nations was employed. Pashinyan tried to sow the belief in society that if it was not done, it would be even worse, which was accompanied by tensions on the border. Pashinyan was well aware of where he was leading the situation. After the 44-day war all resources should have been directed at strengthening the army and protecting the border, but nothing has been done in two years. If Pashinyan is trying to blame the defeat in the 44-day war on the previous authorities, he should remember that he came to power in 2018 and within two years could well fix the mistakes (if there were any) and not destroy the army. What prevented Pashinyan from deploying Tor and Pantsir systems along the border and solving the problem of drones two years after the war?" Kiviryan stressed. Pashinyan was busy doing whatever he wanted, misleading the public, as long as he didn't deal with the army reforms, he said. "It was done so that in the end this document was imposed, and Pashinyan could say that he saved the people, referring to the fact that he pushed through his version and was able to neutralize the Azerbaijani version of the 1919-1920 map. That is, he tries to present the catastrophe for the Armenians of Artsakh as a salvation. Pashinyan has been waiting for a convenient moment for a long time and previously, together with Azerbaijan and Turkey, broke the resistance of the Armenian people. The authorities can say that the issue of Artsakh is related to the demand of self-determination of the people and has nothing to do with the document adopted in Prague. But because of Armenia's weakness, Azerbaijan is using this document to turn the issue of Artsakh into an internal issue and will use it to close the Lachin corridor and create humanitarian problems for Artsakh. The statement of November 9 did not stop the process, but opened the gates of hell. The latest document will not stop any process against Armenia and Artsakh either, it will not save Armenia. It will only awaken new appetites in Baku," the analyst said. According to him, Pashinyan has wasted all the efforts and sacrifices of the Armenian people for Artsakh since 1988. The Prague statement reads that Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the Alma Ata Declaration of 1991, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They confirmed that this will serve as the basis for the delimitation commissions and that the next meeting of these commissions will take place in Brussels before the end of October. Armenia agreed to encourage the EU civilian mission along the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has agreed to cooperate with the said mission as far as it will concern it. The mission will start its work in October for a maximum period of two months. The purpose of the mission will be to build confidence and assist the border commissions through its reports, the statement said. Photo: Chung Chow. Vancouver General Hospital. A Vancouver man who pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) nurse with a Molotov cocktail in addition to other crimes was sentenced to time served by a Vancouver provincial court judge Oct. 6. Anthony Jason Phillips, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of uttering threats and one count of possession of a weapon, defence lawyer Douglas Soga told Judge John Milne. The threat against the nurse came when Phillips was at VGH on May 14. He had been told he would be discharged and became upset with the nurse. He told her he would find her after work and throw a Molotov cocktail at her and kill her, Crown prosecutor Jeffrey LaPorte said. Phillips then threw a glass at a plate glass window, shattering it and injuring the nurse on the other side. He was captured by police officers who were nearby. He was feeling distressed because he was told he had to leave, the court heard. The other threat came when Phillips was caught stealing meat from a No Frills supermarket on Vancouvers East Hastings Street. When a security officer attempted to stop him from leaving the store, Phillips said, Dont stop me or I will stab you with a knife. Phillips was caught in that case because he jumped in a marked cab which was tracked using GPS. On Sept. 17, police observed Phillips approaching another man, with a knife. LaPorte said the officers intervened and Phillips attempted to hide the knife. That was an alleged breach of a weapons prohibition and he pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Milne heard Phillips has 25 previous similar convictions but noted gaps between offence dates. Phillips has been in jail for 16 days for which he received 24 days credit. He was released with time served under a joint submission by Crown and defence. He cannot contact those he threatened and cannot go to VGH unless in an emergency or under a doctors direction. Several other charges were stayed. Vahan Hunanyan, press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, in a conversation with Armenpress state news agency, clarified a number of issues related to the recent statement adopted in Prague on Thursday. Question: After the quadrilateral meeting in Prague, a statement was issued, according to which Armenia and Azerbaijan affirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, upon which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Does this mean that Azerbaijan should withdraw the units of its armed forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia, invaded by Azerbaijanis in May 2021, November and September 2022? Answer: The Armenian side has repeatedly stated that the territorial integrity and sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia are not subject to bargaining. We consider the affirmation of this position of the Armenian side in the statement issued following the quadrilateral meeting in Prague an important step in terms of restoring the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. The withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia, the restraint of Azerbaijan from the encroachments into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and the unconditional observance of the ceasefire regime are imperative in any case, especially in the context of the Prague Statement. Also, affirmation of their commitment to the UN Charter and the 1991 declaration of Alma-Ata by Armenia and Azerbaijan will lay a foundation for the elaboration of a peace treaty between the two countries, as well as for the border delimitation works. Question: The statement also indicates that Armenia agreed to the deployment of the EU observation mission along the border with Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate as appropriate. Can we assume that Azerbaijan did not agree with the deployment of the observers? Answer: The Armenian side has repeatedly voiced the need for introducing international fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The EU civilian mission will carry out activities along the border of Armenia with Azerbaijan, in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. Taking into account the above, it should be emphasized that there is no question of Azerbaijan's agreement or disagreement. Question: Could you specify on which parts of the border the observers will be deployed, what is the main framework of their mission and to what extent their presence will reduce the tension on the border? Answer: The objectives of the EU civilian mission, as stated in the Statement, are to build confidence and assist the border commissions with their observations. It is perhaps too early to speak about the scope of the functions and mandate, specific locations and other details of the mission, as these issues are still in the stage of working discussions. Question: Was the issue of the repatriation of the Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan discussed during the meeting? What developments can be expected in this matter? Answer: The issue of the immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally detained in Azerbaijan is constantly raised during all meetings with our international partners. The meetings in Prague were no exception. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $58.6 million over the next five years to the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA) to continue its efforts to advance the quality of clinical and translational research and transform research results to impact health in the state of Georgia and beyond. In addition to NIH funding, the Georgia CTSA will receive $15.1 million in institutional support from its academic institutions. Georgia CTSA is a collaborative research alliance that accelerates clinical and translational education, research, workforce development and community engagement. Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and the University of Georgia (UGA) form the Georgia CTSA, with partners that include Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. Were excited to continue this long-standing Georgia-wide partnership providing an environment where clinical and translational research can flourish, says David S. Stephens, MD, interim executive vice president for health affairs at Emory University. As the only NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award in the state, Georgia CTSA has served as a hub for innovation and scientific discovery across Georgia and the southeast region since its inception in 2007. This latest funding award will allow researchers to continue providing support and new tools in bioinformatics and biostatistics, piloting grants to fuel new research, and helping train the next generation of clinical and translational science investigators. As in so many industries, Georgia is proud to lead the way in developing healthcare solutions that improve outcomes for all, says Gov. Brian Kemp. This funding award is just the latest recognition of the importance and cutting-edge position of the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance. I want to congratulate its members on this achievement and the positive impact it will have across our state and far beyond. To ensure Georgia CTSAs emphasis on improving treatments reaches the communities and populations at highest risk for poor health outcomes, Georgia CTSA will establish its central theme aimed at addressing health disparities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health equity will be incorporated as a core component of all Georgia CTSAs proposed work over the next five years. "The renewal of the Georgia CTSA provides critical support for our institutional alliance as we work together to tackle the major health issues facing the citizens of Georgia, says W. Robert Taylor, MD, PhD, contact principal investigator at Emory University. We will continue our focus on reducing the tragic health disparities that exist across our state." One example of how Georgia CTSA can leverage its resources to advance health equity is by creating opportunities to increase representation of ethnic or racial minority groups in clinical trials and other clinical studies. The Integrating Special Populations program focuses on extending research testing and discovery to all populations in Georgia, with emphasis on rural health concerns. These types of measures can advance health equity, but more will need to be done to sustain progress. Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, principal investigator at MSM says, our stated goal of enhancing health equity across the state of Georgia will require a sustained effort to address diversity and inclusivity in collaborating with impacted communities, and mentoring diverse early-stage investigators across the Georgia CTSA. Over the next five years, Georgia CTSA plans to build on the resounding impact it has already made on statewide research efforts. Through the first four funding cycles, the alliance has awarded 472 pilot grants, contributed to more than 4,000 scientific publications, and assisted over 2,500 investigators. "We are thrilled to continue our innovative and impactful partnership accelerating clinical and translational education, research, and community engagement with a focus on enhancing health equity across Georgia and addressing the needs of the rural, poor, and underserved populations statewide," says Andres J. Garcia, PhD, principal investigator at Georgia Tech. Additionally, Georgia CTSA will address the critical need to train a new generation of clinical and translational science investigators. Trainees will be equipped to lead scientific teams that are urgently needed to generate new discoveries and translate discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside and into the community to improve health for all, including underrepresented communities. These mentored research training activities are supported by the KL2 and TL1 research training components of the Georgia CTSA led by multiple principal investigators Henry M. Blumberg, MD; Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc; and Vasiliki Michopoulos, PhD, MSc. "The Georgia CTSA has achieved so many great milestones in research, outreach, education, and workforce development, says Bradley G. Phillips, PharmD, principal investigator at UGA. With amazing faculty, students, and communities across the state, I am confident that the best is yet to come." Georgia CTSA is one of over 60 Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program hubs at medical research institutions across the country supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], October 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): In a new development that furthers Ahmedabad University's commitment to advancing the internationalisation of higher education in India as outlined in the National Education Policy, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) - a leading public institution based in Virginia, USA. The MoU will facilitate the development of academic and cultural exchange between the two Universities to advance the discovery of new knowledge, creative expression and innovation, and enhance teaching and learning. The agreement also stated that the areas of cooperation would include discussion of programmes to be offered by either University, which might be desirable and feasible for developing and strengthening cooperative relationships between the two. Vice Chancellor of Ahmedabad University Pankaj Chandra, Vice President for Research and Innovation at VCU Dr. Sriram Rao, Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at VCU Dr Jill Blondin, and Head of the Office of International Affairs at Ahmedabad University Monika Setia were present during the signing of the MoU by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at VCU Dr Fotis Sotiropoulos and Registrar of Ahmedabad University Bhupendra M Shah. Speaking about the development, Professor Chandra said, "We are committed to building deep interdisciplinary capabilities in our students and in our research to find pathways for solving the challenges facing our society. The important thing is to partner with like minded institutions like VCU to create intellectual opportunities for both our students and faculty." Dr Fotis Sotiropoulos, Provost, VCU, said, "It is a great honour and an amazing opportunity for VCU to be partnering with Ahmedabad University - a University, which, like VCU, is rapidly growing in impact and prestige and is at the leading edge of inventing the future of education. Both of our institutions share the same unwavering commitment to transformative innovation, student success, and meeting our students where they are in a rapidly changing world. This partnership will only benefit those we both deeply care about: our students, faculty, and communities." VCU's P Srirama Rao, said, "I am delighted that VCU will be partnering with Ahmedabad University - an institution which like VCU is committed to enhancing student and faculty success, experiential learning, and transformative innovation. In addition to our growing impact and prominence, both Universities share a common vision of advancing research innovation and knowledge creation in targeted areas of energy, environment, sustainability, social justice, and well being. This new collaborative effort between our two institutions will not only advance student growth and faculty success but also the communities we serve." Ahmedabad University is a leading private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal education focused on interdisciplinary learning, practice orientation, and research thinking. The University, established in 2009, is rooted in the vision of one of India's finest educational foundations, the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders. Programmes at the University range from bachelors to doctoral levels in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management through its 10 Schools and Centres: Amrut Mody School of Management | School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering and Applied Science | Centre for Heritage Management | International Centre for Space and Cosmology | VentureStudio | Centre for Learning Futures | Global Centre for Environment and Energy | Centre for Inter-Asian Research | Ahmedabad Design Lab. An urban university, Ahmedabad promotes independent-mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually aware global citizens. The University provides a contemporary educational framework that brings liberal arts, sciences, and the professions to engage together in creating new knowledge for addressing complex challenges of the society and in offering majors that merge the boundaries of disciplines to prepare students for the new economy. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 7 (ANI/PNN): Mitsu Chem Plast Limited (Mitsu) (BSE:540078), one of the largest manufacturers of Blow Molding, Injection Molding and Customized Molding plastic packaging products, announced capacity expansion and launch of new product to drive future growth. The Company is diversifying its portfolio by launching a new product viz. Pail Containers to cater to the lubricant, paints, ink, Food (FMCG) industry. Therefore, the new capacity addition has enhanced the capacity by 1,650 MTPA from the existing 23,377 MTPA. The cost of machinery, molds and ancillaries for the project is Rs 6.14 crore which is financed by a Non-Banking Financial Company by way of an unsecured loan. The Pail Containers is proposed to be launched in the domestic market to meet the rising demand from the user industry. Jagdish Dedhia, Chairman of Mitsu Chem Plast Limited said, "Mitsu is known for quality and customized products. At any point of time, we are ready to leverage the opportunity. As we see the demand for plastic pails is increasing, we have strategically decided to augment the capacity to suit product diversification. This will widen our product portfolio and strengthen our position in plastic packaging." Mitsu Chem Plast Limited (BSE - 540078) is a certified polymer-based moulded products manufacturing company, engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing of technically driven innovative products catering to growing industry sectors like Industrial Packaging Solutions, Automotive Components, Healthcare Products, Infrastructure related products & Emergency Handling Solutions with in-house testing and quality control systems and machines. The key products of the company are Molded Industrial Plastic Packaging products such as Drums, Jerry Cans, Bottles, Jars and its accessories; Infrastructural furniture parts such as chair shells; Hospital Furniture Parts such as Panels, Railings, Planks, Trolley Parts; Rescue & Safety Equipment such as Spine Board; Automotive Components such as Washer Tanks, Rainhood. The company mainly supply's to OEMs of various industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, dyes, agrochemical, disinfectants, diagnostic, hospital & infrastructure furniture, and automotive manufacturers. The Journey of the Company started 32 years back with a plant situated at Boisar, Tarapur and have enlarged its wings up to three manufacturing units situated in Maharashtra i.e. Two (2) units situated at Boisar, Tarapur and one (1) unit in Khalapur. Safe harbor statement: Statements in this document relating to future status, events, or circumstances, including but not limited to statements about plans and objectives, the progress and results of research and development, potential project characteristics, project potential and target dates for project-related issues are forward-looking statements based on estimates and the anticipated effects of future events on current and developing circumstances. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are not necessarily predictive of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results changed assumptions or other factors. This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN) New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI/ATK): The cryptocurrency ecosystem is always changing. With the fact that there's no end to cryptocurrency innovation, investors are always compelled to invest in cryptocurrencies. Over the last six months, two crypto projects, Ethereum (ETH) and Decentraland (MANA) have produced millions of dollars in income while providing great services to their users. On the other hand, the new crypto Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is an intriguing meme token created to capture the general public's attention and lure them intoprofiting from the benefits of the crypto market. This article will examine why Big Eyes Coin (BIG) may be the smartest long-term cryptocurrency investment. Ethereum (ETH) Bitcoin's Biggest Rival Ethereum (ETH), the altcoin king, gives users the ability to access smart contracts and decentralized applications in addition to a simple cryptocurrency-based system (dApps). Ethereum (ETH) is a goldmine that rewards users generously. Despite its potential, Ethereum (ETH) has frequently been the object of harsh criticism for its poor transaction speeds, hefty gas prices and energy intensiveness, and environmental unfriendliness. With the altcoin's much-anticipated Ethereum 2.0 upgrade (Ethereum Merge) just completed, its days of judgment are over, and it has been shaking up the cryptoverse ever since. The Ethereum (ETH) Merge marks the entire shift of the altcoin from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus method. With the upgrade, Ethereum (ETH) joins the ranks of cryptos with extremely fast speeds, minimal transaction fees, environmental friendliness, great scalability, and interoperability. According to cryptocurrency news, Ethereum (ETH) currently boasts 99.9% energy efficiency, compared to PoW. This means that GPU mining is done for good. Nonetheless, Ethereum's (ETH) latest upgrade has sparked several discussions among aficionados concerning the altcoin's future. Gamers' Platform: Decentraland (MANA) Decentraland (MANA) is one of the most popular gaming tokens due to its unique features and capabilities. Decentraland (MANA) is a game-changing cryptocurrency that powers one of the largest and most influential gaming ecosystems in the crypto world. Decentraland (MANA) is an Ethereum-based application designed to encourage a global network of users to administer a shared virtual environment. Decentraland (MANA) is a decentralized 3D virtual reality platform backed by the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to create virtual structures such as casinos and art galleries and charge other players to visit them. The traversable virtual space of Decentraland is called LAND, a non-fungible digital asset (ERC-721) divided into 16m x 16m blocks. Users can now participate in interactive apps, in-world transactions, and peer-to-peer interactions on the platform. Decentraland (MANA) provides access to the worlds of GameFi and P2E, allowing users to profit from NFT collections, games, and user interaction. Holders of Decentraland (MANA) can engage in VR gaming, purchase LANDs, develop on their lands, and organize NFT events, among other things, within the Decentraland (MANA) Metaverse. What is Big Eyes Coin (BIG)? Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is a meme token whose major goal is spreading riches around the DeFi world while conserving the planet's ecosystem. It is a fully functional token that introduces cat features into its functionality to create a new flair to the meme coin ecosystem. Big Eyes Coin will be used to generate community money, and support the platform's charitable endeavors. Big Eyes Coin hopes to use NFTs to help its community access new opportunities. Unlike most meme coins, BIG coin exists for a purpose: to safeguard our oceans and inspire human actions to save our water bodies. Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is unique in the cryptocurrency market due to several features. It has a new and developing community that is expanding. The community will host regular giveaways such as airdrops, NFTs, and awards. Having millions of devoted supporters is a positive for any cryptocurrency project. Dogecoin (DOGE) is a positive for any cryptocurrency. Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is expected to earn USD 50 million in the first month following its launch, raising its cryptocurrency price. Because of its mission to rescue the earth, it has already begun to win over segments of the cryptoverse. For More Information On Big Eyes Coin (BIG), visit the links below: Presale: https://buy.bigeyes.space/ Website: https://bigeyes.space/ Telegram: https://t.me/BIGEYESOFFICIAL This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/ATK) New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI/PNN): Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), industry association for Microfinance and an RBI-recognized self-regulatory organization today announced the release of the fourth edition of the Industry Code of Conduct, jointly with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Association of Small Finance Banks of India (ASFBI), Sa-Dhan and Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC). The CoC was released at the hands of Mr Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and Managing Director, SIDBI and Mr. J P Sharma, Chief General Manager - Department of Regulation, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), at an online event attended by microfinance institutions of the sector. Speaking on the release, Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and Managing Director, SIDBI said, "For us to take microcredit to every unserved household in the country, we need all the regulated entities to unite with the single-minded objective of financial inclusion. The importance of following principles of customer protection while lending hence cannot be overemphasized. It is good to see that digital processes have also been covered by the CoC as now many processes are digital and microfinance institutions have to play a vital role in spurring entrepreneurship and inclusion " J P Sharma, CGM-Department of Regulation, RBI, said, "The fourth edition of the CoC is extremely important in the wake of the new RBI microfinance framework. The Customer has always been at the core of RBI's policies and it is especially pertinent for low-income households. Following the CoC in letter and spirit will not only ensure customer protection but also a disciplined approach to credit disbursement. The CoC will therefore be extremely critical in view of the role that the microfinance institutions are expected to continue to play in financial inclusion." Speaking on behalf of the industry associations - MFIN, ASFBI, Sa-Dhan and FIDC - that collaborated to release this critical document, Dr Alok Misra - CEO & Director MFIN said, "RBI's Harmonized Regulations necessitated a revision of the Industry Code of Conduct for the microfinance industry. The CoC draws on regulation, past editions of code, global best practices like Universal Standards of Social Performance Management (USSPM), Client Protection Principles (CPP) and field understanding of SROs. The key pillars are: fair treatment, education and transparency, information and privacy, grievance redressal and employee engagement. Thanks to Sa-Dhan, FIDC and ASBI for making it an industry initiative and special thanks to SIDBI for endorsing it." The primary focus of the Industry Code of Conduct has always been to promote and advance 'responsible lending' practices in microfinance. Given that customers of micro-credit may not always fully understand the product and its impact, it is imperative that microfinance providers take greater responsibility to ensure that customers interests are protected. MFIN is a premier industry association comprising 56 NBFC-MFIs and 43 Associates including Banks, Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and NBFCs. By virtue of bringing all microfinance entities under one common umbrella, MFIN acts as a bridge between them and the regulators to build a dialogue for greater transparency, better policy frameworks and stronger client protection standards for responsible lending, thus enabling the microfinance industry to partake in meeting the larger financial inclusion goals. This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday released a so-called 'concept note' on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) with an objective to create awareness about the planned features of the digital rupee. The purpose behind the issue of this concept note is to create awareness about CBDCs in general and the planned features of the Digital Rupee, in particular, the RBI said in a statement. "It explains the objectives, choices, benefits, and risks of issuing a CBDC in India. The Note also seeks to explain Reserve Bank's approach towards the introduction of the CBDC," the RBI said. The concept note also discusses key considerations such as technology and design choices, possible uses of Digital Rupee, issuance mechanisms, etc. It examines the implications of introduction of CBDC on the banking system, monetary policy, financial stability, and analyses privacy issues. The Reserve Bank of India said it will soon commence pilot launches of the digital rupee for specific use cases. As the extent and scope of such pilot launches expand, RBI will continue to communicate about the specific features and benefits of the digital rupee, from time to time. In the Union Budget 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced about rolling out of the digital currency called Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). As CBDCs are an electronic form of sovereign currency, it should imbibe all the possible features of physical currency. The design of CBDC is dependent on the functions it is expected to perform, and the design determines its implications for payment systems, monetary policy as well as the structure and stability of the financial system. One of the main considerations is that the design features of CBDCs should be least disruptive. CBDC can be structured as 'token-based' or 'account-based'. A token-based CBDC is a bearer instrument like banknotes, meaning whosoever holds the tokens at a given point in time would be presumed to own them. In contrast, an account-based system would require maintenance of record of balances and transactions of all holders of the CBDC and indicate the ownership of the monetary balances. Also, in a token-based CBDC, the person receiving a token will verify that his ownership of the token is genuine, whereas in an account-based CBDC, an intermediary verifies the identity of an account holder. Considering the features offered by both the forms of CBDCs, a token-based CBDC is viewed as a preferred mode for CBDC-R as it would be closer to physical cash, while account-based CBDC may be considered for CBDC-W. (ANI) New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): Rungta Mines Ltd., the leading Steel manufacturer, market its product under the Brand name "Rungta Steel TMT Bar" officially launched their new television commercial (TVC) featuring Bollywood's Ekdum solid couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. In the TV commercial, content Alia and Ranbir are seen talking about their new home while spending time together in their living room. Ranbir explains to Alia how Rungta Steel TMT bar is manufactured using cutting-edge technology and engineering to guarantee that structures made from them are built with superior strength and shock resistance, which will add a "solid" foundation to their new home. Introducing the new TVC campaign, Spokesperson of Rungta Mines Ltd said, "We are pleased to work with Alia and Ranbir since their foundation aligns with our product, which is powerful, reliable, and long-lasting. Our goal is to grow our steel production capacity, and we anticipate that the new campaign will assist us in doing so. We need the help of our channel partners as well to maximise the impact of our expansion plan and to boost sales even more. In order to assist our efforts, Rungta Steel has developed 360-degree branding initiatives to widen its horizons in new markets. We want to be present across all of India's markets very soon." Rungta Steel TMT bars have built-in qualities such as consistent grades, tolerances, and dimensions that guarantee consistency in quality and stability. These steel bars undergo a series of rigorous quality checks after production to guarantee extended stability, durability, and flawless workability. The company offers to meet the demands of the construction industry with ISO and OHSAS certifications and is utilised in various Government & private projects in India. The same features have been highlighted in the latest TVC. Rungta Steel TMT bars come in grades of Fe500, Fe500D, Fe550 & Fe550D as per IS 1786 and sizes from 6 to 40mm. TVC Link: youtu.be/G3wUKdSzdts This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) CPC leads Chinese people towards rapid development, says Australian party leader Xinhua) 09:36, October 07, 2022 Aerial photo taken on April 15, 2022 shows a view of Shanghai's Yangshan Port in east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) "Everything that we do, in the end, it has to be backed by the people," said Vinnie Molina, national president of the CPA, in an interview with Xinhua. "I see that the CPC has got the backing of the Chinese people." CANBERRA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's modernization is based on the development in the interest of its people, hence great support from the Chinese people for the initiatives from the Communist Party of China (CPC) in its leadership, said the leader of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). "Everything that we do, in the end, it has to be backed by the people," said Vinnie Molina, national president of the CPA, in an interview with Xinhua. "I see that the CPC has got the backing of the Chinese people." The CPC, he said, has given "a strong leadership to the people of China in the development towards a socialist society," not least in rapid economic development including lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and impressive technological development, particularly in the area of space. Photo released on June 11, 2021 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) shows a selfie of China's first Mars rover Zhurong with the landing platform. (CNSA/Handout via Xinhua) Molina was a carpenter who had been working with the construction union for about 25 years and likes watching videos on construction in other parts of the world. "Some of the infrastructure that China has been able to develop are very impressive," he said. "As a construction worker, I feel very happy when I see those developments." During the past two pandemic years, Molina saw China's respect of people's life from its handling of the disease. "We can contrast this with the treatment of COVID in other parts of the world." While lots of people across the world died from the COVID, he said, in China, "every life is precious." Molina praised China for providing the COVID vaccine to the world. "Millions of people could benefit out of the Chinese biotechnology," he added. A staff member checks vials of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine on an automated packaging line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) China has provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations. China's development is also in line with the interests of the world, Molina said. The CPC is committed to promoting peace, cooperation, mutual respect and development for a shared future. "The development of the Belt and Road Initiative is very important, in which it treats developing nations with respect on an equal basis," he said. In spite of the efforts, China was not reported fairly by some Western media, Molina said. "I think what goes on with some Western media is they only see things through their own lens." Molina voiced hope that the Australian government could improve its relationship with China. "We should treat China as a partner," he said. (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Bianji) Photo: The Canadian Press The Monkey Tree Pub sign is shown outside of the establishment in Yellowknife on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. The owners of a pub in Yellowknife headed to trial on Thursday to fight a charge for allegedly violating territorial public health orders related to COVID-19 nearly two years ago. The owners of a Yellowknife pub headed to trial Thursday to fight a charge of violating Northwest Territories COVID-19 public health orders. Public health officers issued a ticket to The Monkey Tree Pub in December 2020. The ticket alleges the pub operated a dance floor after midnight on Nov. 14, 2020, which was against public health orders at the time. It carries a fine and surcharge totalling $5,175. Two liquor inspectors testified that during a routine inspection of the crowded bar they saw people on the dance floor. "Everybody was pretty much shoulder to shoulder," said Suzanne Hanna, manager of liquor enforcement. Vibhesh Tripathi said he counted 132 people. It was slightly above the 125-person capacity limit that public health officials had granted the pub at the time, but below the limit allowed under the liquor act. Tripathi and Hanna said there were no signs indicating the dance floor was closed and, unlike other bars in the city that had converted their dance floors into seating areas, they didn't see any tables and chairs. On cross-examination by defence lawyer Jay Bran, Hanna said it was possible people could have blocked her view of tables or chairs. But Tripathi said it "would be rather impossible" that his view was obstructed as he had walked around the dance floor. He said a bartender indicated the dance floor was open. Hanna and Tripathi said they didn't take photos documenting the alleged violations because it was outside their role as liquor inspectors. "I saw it with my own two eyes and I was there," said Hanna. Ian Ellsworth, who was a public health officer at the time, testified that he spoke to the inspectors and collected statements, notes and reports from them as part of his investigation into the complaint against the pub. He said he did not speak to pub staff, because it would be awkward for someone to give a statement against their employer. He said he had two "credible" eyewitnesses. "I didn't think that I needed to," he said. Ellsworth decided to proceed with a ticket, which he and another officer served to the pub's co-owners four weeks later. He said the owners, Jennifer Vornbrock and Stephen Dinham, were "very confrontational," raising their voices and questioning if another bar in the city was also being charged. "They were just very upset that they were being charged," he said, adding that before he left one of the owners said, "Oh, this'll just get thrown out in court anyways.'" Prosecutor Roger Shepard said the case is not a complicated matter and a conviction for operating a dance floor is warranted. He said the Crown was not pursuing a charge over allegations the pub had exceeded capacity limits. Bran did not call any evidence. He said the Crown, lacking a "more fulsome investigation," had failed to prove that nothing had been done to prevent people from dancing nor what the requirements to close a dance floor were. Deputy Judge Bernadette Schmaltz said she would give a decision Friday. The pub was the first business in N.W.T. to be charged with violating COVID-19 rules. A charge against the Super A Foods grocery store in Hay River was stayed by the Crown in May 2022. During the COVID-19 public health emergency in N.W.T., which ended on April 1, 2022, the territory's COVID-19 secretariat issued 73 tickets for violations of public health orders. Of those, 69 were issued to individuals and two to businesses. With the ease of restrictions on the sale of iron ore, the Karnataka is witnessing new iron and steel establishments, additional production, and expansion units. The same is quite evident with nine steel units being approved in the last one year. These companies have a total investment of Rs 17,291.42 crore, providing employment to 5,811 people. Dr. Murugesh R. Nirani, Minister for Large and Medium Industries said on Friday that with the ease of restrictions on the sale of iron ore, industrialists have shown enthusiasm for establishment and expansion of steel industries in the state. Many new steel companies have discussed investment opportunities in the state as steel producers are getting more incentives under the new industrial policy, he added. According to information from the ministry of Large and Medium Industries, iron ore production in Bellary, Chitradurga, and Tumkur districts has also increased after the Supreme Court gave a green signal to export iron ore. The Supreme Court has now increased the limit of iron ore production in the Bellary district from 28 million metric tons to 35 million metric tons. Tumkur and Chitradurga districts earlier had the potential to produce 7 million tonnes of ore. Now, this limit has been increased to 15 million tonnes. Apart from this, the Supreme Court on August 23 has given some concession in the limit imposed on the production of iron ore in Bellary, Tumkur, and Chitradurga districts. It has also cautioned that the environment and economic development should go hand in hand with ore production. In May 2021, the apex court cleared the ban on the export of iron ore produced in these three districts and instructed them the sale of ore through direct sale instead of e-auction. According to the ministry, the state government is giving an investment promotion subsidy based on turnover from the date of commencement of commercial production. With the Supreme Court allowing the export of iron ore from key mines in Karnataka, the iron ore produced in the state can be exported in terms of Government of India policies. Earlier, the apex court had banned iron ore mining in Karnataka in 2011 citing environmental degradation and saving the mineral resource for future generations. It had also banned exports of the ore. The apex court lifted the ban imposed on iron ore export from mines of Bellary, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru districts in Karnataka and allowed miners to sell ore through direct sale while asking them to comply with the Government of India's rules on iron ore exports. --IANS mka/shs ( 431 Words) 2022-10-07-20:02:02 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday invited Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal to set up a semiconductor chip industry in Rajasthan. The Chief Minister, during the 'Invest Rajasthan' Summit, told Agarwal, "You are always worried about Rajasthan. If there is a fight between Maharashtra and Gujarat for the semiconductor industry worth Rs one lakh crore, then you should set up a semiconductor chip industry in Rajasthan." Agarwal, meanwhile, said that the discussion about Rajasthan can be heard in Canada as well. "In Canada, mines can be operated for only six months. Because of the snowfall, the mines have to be closed for six months. At the same time, in Rajasthan, the mines are operational all the time, so there are more possibilities here," he added. --IANS arc/shs ( 141 Words) 2022-10-07-22:30:02 (IANS) The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of ayurveda in India under the Ministry of AYUSH (MoA), and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, have signed an MoU for academic establishment. AIST is a reputed and one of the largest public research organisations in Japan, focusing on technologies and on "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialisation. The MoU was signed virtually by Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, and Tamura Tomohiro, Director General, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, AIST. The event was graced by Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Head AIST-India DAILAB, Dept of Life Science and Biotechnology, whose efforts have been instrumental in making this collaboration a reality. Other dignitaries who were present virtually on the occasion were Manoj Nesari, Advisor, MoA, Govt of India; Chiba, Director, AIST, Japan; Ohmiya Yoshihiro, Principal Senior Researcher, AIST; Sunil Kaul, Invited Senior Researcher, Dept of Life Science & Biotechnology, AIST; and Sheila Tirky, representative of MoA. With the signing of this MoU, AIIA aims to promote the institute's research activities both at the national and international level. The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and build capacities in the field of the ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed with the support of the Ministry of Ayush. The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research activities in the field of ayurveda, including studies in design and execution with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, exchanging scientists, researchers and staff as determined by the collaborators on a project-to-project basis, students' participation in collaborative activities, to achieve excellence in ayurveda towards achieving scientific advances, tools, and techniques. AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany, Western Sydney University, Australia, Graz Medical University, Austria, College of Medical, UK, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil etc. --IANS san/arm ( 365 Words) 2022-10-07-22:30:03 (IANS) The wait is finally over. The first trailer for Nintendo's animated 'Super Mario Bros.' movie is out and now we all know what Chris Pratt's Mario voice sounds like. Alongside Pratt as its central character, the "Mario" movie boasts a star-studded cast of Mushroom Kingdom characters including Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike, Variety reported. The trailer opens on Bowser and his massive, fiery castle descending upon an ice kingdom. Bowser's army of Koopa Troopas, led by Spike the Magikoopa, face off against the ice kingdom's legions of blue penguins, seen in the "Mario" games. However, the penguins' snowballs are no match for Bowser. He burns down the icy castle and takes control of a "Mario" star power-up. "I finally found it. Now, who's gonna stop me?" Bowser yells. Enter: everyone's favorite Italian plumber. In a new scene, Mario flies through a green pipe into the Mushroom Kingdom, where he bounces off huge, red mushrooms until he flops on the ground. The "Mario" theme song twinkles in the background as he awakens to find Toad. "What is this place?" Mario wonders aloud, in a very Pratt-like voice. Toad leads Mario through the valley of gigantic mushrooms, with Princess Peach's castle looming in the distance. After the credits roll, the trailer ends with Luigi being chased through a spooky forest by a group of Dry Bones. Sharing his experience voicing Mario, Pratt had earlier told Variety, "I worked really closely with the directors and trying out a few things and landed on something that I'm really proud of and can't wait for people to see and hear. It's an animated voiceover narrative. It's not a live-action movie. I'm not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over. I'm providing a voice for an animated character, and it is updated and unlike anything you've heard in the 'Mario' world before." Reacting to the trailer, a social media user commented, "Extremely nostalgic." "It took me to a time when I used to play Mario with my brother. Can't wait for the film," another one wrote on Instagram. 'Super Mario Bros.' will arrive in theatres on April 7, 2023. (ANI) Amid the ongoing turmoil in Iran, actor Priyanka Chopra has come out in support of Iranian women who have been protesting over the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa was arrested on September 13 as she was leaving a Tehran metro station with her brother and other relatives. She was arrested for allegedly breaching Iran's strict rules for women on wearing hijab headscarves and modest clothing. Mahsa was in a coma for three days, then died "of natural causes," as the authorities claimed, but according to activists, the cause of her death was a fatal blow to the head. After the incident, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets over the last two weeks to protest the death of Mahsa Amini. Women around the globe have shown solidarity with Iranian women's plight in rallies and demonstrations by cutting or shaving their hair in public or while being filmed. Like many other women, Priyanka Chopra also has extended her support on social media. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, "Women in Iran and around the world are standing up and raising their voices, publicly cutting their hair and many other forms of protest for Mahsa Amini, whose young life was taken away so brutally by the Iranian Morality Police for wearing her hijab 'improperly'. The voices that speak after ages of forced silence, will rightfully burst like a volcano! And they will not and MUST not be stemmed." She added, "I am in awe of your courage and your purpose. It is not easy to risk your life, literally, to challenge the patriarchal establishment and fight for your rights. But, you are courageous women doing this every day regardless of the cost to yourselves." Priyanka urged the authorities and people in power to hear the protestors' call and understand their issues. "To ensure that this movement will have a lasting effect, we must hear their call, understand the issues and then join in with our collective voices. We must also get everyone who can influence others to join as well. Numbers matter. Add your voice to this critical movement. Stay informed and be vocal, so these voices can no longer be forced to stay silent. I stand with you. Jin, jiyan , azaadi... Women, life, freedom," she added. Prior to Priyanka, Elnaaz Norouzi has also shown her support for Iranian women. (ANI) According to a royal biographer, the UK royal family is "hugely nervous" about Prince Harry's upcoming memoir. Page Six has reported that Tom Bower, the author of 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors', has claimed that the planned book by the Duke of Sussex is a "time bomb." In light of Queen Elizabeth II's passing last month, it has been previously claimed that Harry is frantically trying to revise the book. He wants to "take out or reduce" what he wrote about King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton. Bower, though, is of the opinion that he cannot. "I think that everybody knows that the Sussexes can't amend the book in any way," he opined. "Can they make it nastier? Because otherwise, we wouldn't get sales," added Bower. According to Bower, the book is rumoured to be coming out around Easter and will have a chapter on the Queen's funeral. According to Page Six, Charles is reportedly waiting until the couple's various media projects are finished before deciding whether to give Harry and Meghan Markle's children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, the titles of prince and princess. Harry and Meghan have also been working on a Netflix docuseries for more than a year. The fifth season of popular TV series 'The Crown' is likely to be released on November 9, and according to Page Six, the duke and duchess have also wanted to re-edit the series, which Netflix had hoped to screen in December. According to a source, such revisions "may likely delay its release until later in 2023." Harry and Meghan wed in May 2018 and retired from their royal duties less than two years later. At the time, allegations surfaced that the former actress and their first child, Archie, encountered racial hostility and that she had considered committing suicide while pregnant with him. Later, they relocated to California and struck lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. (ANI) Johnny Depp is soon going to take the center stage in New York alongside Jeff Beck as a part of his North American tour which the duo kick-started last week. According to Page Six, on October 14 and 15, the pair will play back-to-back shows at The Paramount in Huntington, Long Island. Desure will be a special guest on the program. The 29-date tour by Beck and Depp began on September 23 in Austin, Texas, and will end on November 12 in Reno, Nevada. Depp has shared the stage with Beck numerous times this year, most recently during the latter's most recent UK tour. As Depp awaited the verdict in his much-publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, the duo's performance attracted much attention. The duo shared the stage together multiple times earlier this year. On July 15, they also launched the album "18." Meanwhile, last month, it was revealed that Johnny Depp had a romantic relationship with Joelle Rich, one of the defence lawyers who defended him in his libel case against the Sun in 2018. Johnny Depp and his lawyer Joelle Rich are dating but according to a new report by TMZ, the couple isn't exclusive. The verdict in that trial, in which Depp's attorneys argued that the Sun had defamed the actor by calling him a "wife beater," came down in late 2020. 12 specific incidents of the "Edward Scissorhands" star physically abusing his ex-wife Amber Heard were deemed to be "basically accurate" by the court presiding over the case. Depp's counsel quickly submitted the appeal, but it was rejected in March 2021. Rich wrote in a statement she gave to Deadline at the time that she "seriously questioned" the verdict. She nevertheless maintained optimism over Depp's pending legal actions in the US against Heard. "Complete, irrefutable evidence of the truth in the U.S. libel case against Ms Heard where she will have to provide full disclosure," she predicted the US trial would show. Heard, who was married to Depp from 2012 until 2016, was required to speak about her experiences of abuse during that time even though it was Depp who had filed the cases that started both the US and UK court battles. The US lawsuit took place in a courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia, during the course of April and May of 2022. It was based on the allegation that Heard had defamed Depp by referring to herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse" in a 2018 op-ed for the Washington Post. The jury infamously found Heard guilty of defaming Depp on June 1, 2022, and they ordered her to pay him USD 15 million in damages. In addition, they gave the "Aquaman" actress $2 million in restitution for Heard's public defamation by one of Depp's attorneys. Although there were speculations that Depp had a love relationship with Camille Vasquez, one of his defence attorneys at the US trial, the lawyer categorically denied those reports. Since then, it has been shown that Rich did in fact attend the trial at the Fairfax courthouse. This isn't Rich's first encounter with internationally renowned figures while working in her field. According to Page Six, the lawyer, a partner at the firm Schillings, successfully defended Meghan Markle in the Duchess' 2019 case against the Daily Mail over publishing a private letter to her estranged father, winning on behalf of her client in 2021. (ANI) After the backlash on 'Adipurush'director Om Raut for "misrepresentation" of Ramayana, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader and film producer Ameya Khopkar came out in support of the director and his film. Ameya Khopkar supported the director Om Raut and slammed people opposing the release of the movie 'Adipurush'. Ameya Khopkar said, "We support Om Raut and his movie 'Adipurush'. If you (BJP) are saying that you will not let the film run, this type of gundagardi will not be acceptable in Maharashtra. This film will get released and we MNS team are supporting the film." He added, "After just seeing the teaser and for your dirty politics, you are stopping this film. They need to think beyond politics. This type of dirty politics we don't accept, MNS doesn't support this type of politics. It's very easy to say that we oppose this film but with this movie, 400 to 500 people feed their stomachs. We (MNS) support all religions whether it's Hindu or Muslim, there is no difference for us. First, watch this movie and then take a decision, only watching the teaser you can't decide whether it's right or wrong." He continued, "Om Raut is a great director. He has previously created films like 'Tanaji' and 'Lokmanya'. He has also designed and executed a laser show which depicts the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Veer Savarkar Smarak in Shivaji park. Om Raut is a true hindutvawadi and I know him very well he can't direct movies against any Devi Devtas." Ameya Khopkar said, "Has Ram Kadam ever seen Ravana in his life or does he have a photo of Ravana in his pocket? You must give liberty to directors. To give liberty doesn't mean to disrespect Devi and Devtas. I oppose this controversy and MNS gives its full support to this movie (Adipurush)." Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, "We have an objection to the portrayal of the film Adipurush. It is not right to slander us by wrongly filming the focal points of the Hindu faith. I am writing a letter to filmmaker Om Raut to remove the objectionable scenes, if those scenes are not removed then we will take legal action." Speaking to ANI, BJP spokesperson Malavika Avinash said, "I am saddened by the fact that the director let alone researching the Valmiki's Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana or Tulsidasa's Ramayana, or the umpteen numbers of interpretations of Ramayana that are available across board as far as Thailand where they do beautiful performances of the Ramayana. The least he could have done is research our own films; there are so many Kannada films, Telugu films, Tamil films, which show how Raavana looked." "He could have just looked up NT Rama Rao or Dr Rajkumar in 'Bhookailasa' or any of these great actors, SV Ranga Rao in 'Sampoorna Ramayana', to understand how Raavana looked. The Raavana in the photograph that I see floating around is a guy who looks nothing Indian, who has blue eye makeup and is wearing a leather jacket. This is our history they are representing; they cannot do it in the guise of creative liberty," she continued. Malavika stated that "Ramayana is who we were" and added, "it represents this nation, its civilisation and its people. So no one can take it for granted, let alone a film director. I am angry and I am saddened by this misrepresentation". Raut made this film with the dream of bringing the story of Ramayana to the silver screen but ever since the first teaser of Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon-starrer 'Adipurush' dropped yesterday, there has been a unanimously negative response from various quarters. People have largely been disappointed due to the film's poor VFX and the unrealistic look of various characters including Saif's Raavan. Seeing Saif donning short spiked hairs, long beard and kajal eyes, several netizens have compared the actor's look in the film with that of Alauddin Khilji rather than Raavana. 'Adipurush' has been produced by T Series and Retrophiles. It is slated to hit the theatres on January 12, 2023, in IMAX and 3D. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Om, Prasad Sutar, and Rajesh Nair, the film will be released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. (ANI) Arjun Kapoor shared a picture with his bae, Malaika Arora, on Friday, on social media. Taking to his Instagram stories, the 'Half Girlfriend' actor enjoying his stay in London with Malaika. Sharing the picture, he wrote, "Breakfast with the bae..." In the picture, Arjun's shoes and shades were seen in focus and in the background, his lady love could be seen dressed in a printed beige-coloured pullover that she paired with ripped jeans. And Malaika was seen busy with her phone. The 'Gunday' actor, who is currently in London for the shoot of his upcoming untitled film, was joined by Malaika for the dinner in London. Malaika and Arjun have been dating for quite some time now. However, it was not until a couple of years ago that both decided to make their relationship public. Talking about Arjun Kapoor's work front, he will be next seen in an upcoming dark comedy film 'Kuttey' alongside Naseeruddin Shah and Konkana Sen Sharma. Helmed by Aasmaan Bhardwaj, the film is all set to hit the theatres on November 4, 2022.'Kuttey' will be facing a big Bollywood clash with Katrina Kaif, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishan Khattar's next horror comedy film 'Phone Bhoot'. Apart from that, he also has director Ajay Behl's next 'The Ladykiller' alongside Bhumi Pednekar and another untitled romantic comedy film with Bhumi. Meanwhile, Malaika, after glamorizing the film industry with her sexy moves, is all set to become an author. She will soon write her debut book which is going to be all about nutrition. The actor, who also serves as a judge on the reality show 'India's Best Dancer', will be sharing her wellness tips in the book. (ANI) A team of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and Haryana State Drugs Controller have collected samples of four cough syrups manufactured by Sonepat-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals over their alleged links to the deaths of dozens of children in west Africa. The government agencies sprung into action after the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an alert regarding the cough syrups manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals for their potential links to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia. Assistant State Drug Controller Manmohan Taneja told IANS that "a team of the CDSCO, the DCGI, and the State Drugs Controller, Haryana have collected the samples of the four cough syrups exported to The Gambia for investigation". The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution BP, Chlorphenamine Maleate, Phenylephrine HCI, Dextromethorphan HBR Syrup (Makoff Baby Cough Syrup), Pheniramine Maleate, Ammonium Chloride, Menthol Syrup (Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup), and Paracetamol Phenylephrine HCL & Chlorphenamine Maleate Syrup (MaGrip n Cold Syrup). The samples have been sent to a Kolkata-based lab and the result of the tests is expected in the next few days, he said. Meanwhile, sources said Maiden Pharmaceuticals has recalled its products for further investigation and waiting for the government's directions to proceed further. Sources also said during the preliminary enquiry revealed that Maiden Pharmaceutical is a manufacturer licensed by the state drug controller for the products under reference, and exported these products only to The Gambia. The company has two directors -- Naresh Kumar Goyal and Vivek Goyal - and two manufacturing plants, one based in Sonepat and the other in Panipat. Its corporate office is at Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura, Delhi. --IANS str/vd ( 291 Words) 2022-10-06-23:00:02 (IANS) Photo: IIO Independent Investigations Office of B.C. chief civilian director Ronald J. MacDonald. B.C.'s civilian-based police watchdog has cleared a Prince George RCMP officer of wrongdoing in relation to a chase that ended with a youth being struck by a vehicle. In a decision issued Thursday, Independent Investigations Office chief civilian director Ron MacDonald found that while the officer's actions may have indirectly caused the youth to choose to run into traffic, the officer "did not at any time act unreasonably or without lawful justification." The outcome stems from a May 14 incident at Exhibition Park when West Coast Amusements was in the city. The officer had responded to a complaint from security staff that the youth had been in a fight and was carrying a weapon. The security person later told IIO investigators that when the officer approached the youth, he immediately turned to walk away, then ran and dropped a softball-sized rock from his pocket after the officer grabbed him by the wrist. The officer chased the youth for 100 to 150 yards through an area filled with parked trucks until he lost sight of him. About 30 seconds later, the officer radioed dispatch to say the youth just got hit by a car. One driver managed to brake and avoid hitting the youth but he kept going and was struck by a second vehicle and thrown onto the grassy median. The youth suffered fractures to a hip and knee. The youth had consumed enough vodka and coolers to record a blood-alcohol level about 1 1/2 times the legal limit for driving in Canada, MacDonald noted. In all, IIO investigators collected statements from 14 people, including the youth and two police officers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda will visit Assam on Friday to take part in a mega party workers' meet here, a senior party leader said on Thursday. Bhabesh Kalita, BJP's Assam unit president said the two senior party leaders will also inaugurate the newly-built Assam state BJP headquarters on Saturday followed by a booth-level workers' meeting. The BJP has formed a new core committee along with a few others including an election management committee for upcoming elections. Shah and Nadda will meet core committee members on Friday evening to discuss various issues related to the state. Speaking to mediapersons here, Kalita said that at least 40,000 booth-level party workers across the state will take part in the meeting. All Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and district-level office bearers will also attend the meeting. A few veteran party workers will be felicitated during the occasion. It is believed that the programme is scheduled to kick-start the Lok Sabha poll preparation in Assam and other northeastern states. Three north-eastern states -- Meghalaya, Tripura, and Nagaland are going for poll early next year. In Mizoram, elections will be held in the last part of 2023. BJP is facing a sweet and sour relation with Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP) with Sangma announcing for going to elections without any pre-poll tie with the BJP in Meghalaya, while in Nagaland, the BJP has been enjoying a more favourable alliance with the ruling NDPP (National Democratic Progressive Party). In Mizoram, though the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is a part of the NDA, there were some clear discomforts between the allies. Party sources said Shah and Nadda may discuss these issues with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the chairman of Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) -- launched in 2016 with the objective of uniting the non-Congress parties in the region. --IANS tdr/pgh ( 323 Words) 2022-10-06-20:56:02 (IANS) An 11-year-old student was allegedly gang-raped by two seniors inside the washroom of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in the national capital. According to sources, the incident reportedly took place in July. The victim's family approached the police earlier this week after the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) highlighted the matter. The sources said DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to Delhi Police and the school principal in connection with the case. "The girl has alleged that she was gang-raped by two seniors in July. According to the girl, she was going to her classroom when she accidentally collided with the two boys studying in 11th-12th standard. The girl said she apologised to the boys, but they abused her and took her inside a washroom. She alleged that the boys locked the washroom from inside and raped her," the sources said. The victim said when she informed a teacher about the incident, she was told that the boys have been expelled and the matter was allegedly hushed up. In the meantime, the DCW came to know about the incident and taking suo moto cognisance of the case, Maliwal issued a notice to Delhi Police and the school principal, seeking an action taken report in the matter. The Commission has asked Delhi Police to provide a copy of the FIR and details of the arrests made in the matter. It has also asked Delhi Police and the school authorities to provide information about the action taken against the school teacher or any other staff for not reporting the matter to the police. According to Maliwal, the girl has alleged that her school teacher tried to hush up the matter. "The Commission has asked the school principal to inform as to when did the school authorities come to know about the matter and what action was taken by them. The Commission has also asked the school to furnish a copy of the inquiry report conducted in the matter," a DCW official said. "It is very unfortunate that even schools are not safe for children in the national capital. Strict action must be taken in this matter. Also, an inquiry must be conducted into the role of the school authorities," Maliwal said. --IANS atk/arm ( 387 Words) 2022-10-06-22:28:01 (IANS) Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he will not withdraw his nomination for the post of Congress party president for which election is scheduled to be held on October 17. "Rumours that I am going to withdraw is false, I will not withdraw," he told the mediapersons. The Congress leader also said that he was drawing huge support from the party leaders and cadres. The former Union minister also said that as he was a democratically inclined person, and he has not asked other candidates to withdraw their candidature. He said there was a need for a strong Congress party in the country to take on the BJP. Tharoor said that he wants to change the Congress into a "party of young India", and his support base is swelling. He also said that the youth who are the future of the country was backing him and added that 65 per cent of the population of the country are below 35, and his expectations are on this young generation. He also said the Gandhi family welcomed free and fair polls and the family has not indicated support for any candidate. Tharoor said that party colleagues from across the country have urged him to contest the elections. The senior Congress leader also said that he was getting "good ground support from Tamil Nadu", adding and that he is confident of the outcome of the polls. Earlier, Tharoor paid floral tributes to the memorials of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K. Kamaraj. --IANS aal/pgh ( 278 Words) 2022-10-06-23:14:03 (IANS) National Lok Adalat will be held on November 12, 2022 across the country to dispose of pending cases through settlement, said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Thursday. Considering the benefits of the Lok Adalat system and mutual settlement between parties a large number of consumer cases are expected to be disposed of, added the press release. The groundwork for this exercise has already been initiated and all the consumer commissions have been intimated to identify cases that have an element of settlement and prepare a list of pending cases that can be referred to Lok Adalat. Regular monitoring of the making of the list is been done by the department, as per the statement. To have maximum outreach and benefit consumers, Department is reaching out to consumers, companies, and organizations through SMS and emails. Department has the phone numbers and emails of three lakh parties whose cases are pending before the commissions. The Department has done a Video Conferencing with the Consumer Commission which has more than 200 pending cases. With the help of technology, a separate link is being created and circulated amongst all stakeholders wherein one can enter their pending case number and commission where the case is pending and easily refer the matter to Lok Adalat. The link shall be circulated through email and SMS. Through data analytics, sector-wise distribution of pendency has been identified such as banking with a total number of 71,379 pending cases, insurance with 1,68,827, e-commerce with 1,247, electricity with 33,919, railways with 2,316, etc., and efforts are being made towards the settlement of such consumer cases on priority. Department of Consumer Affairs is constantly monitoring the disposal of cases in Consumer Commissions and is in the process of collaborating with the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) for referring the inclusion of pending consumer cases to be disposed of through the upcoming National Lok Adalat, where both parties mutually agree on a settlement. Communication in this regard has already been made to NALSA. For further information and assistance to get their pending case referred to Lok Adalat, they can register their cases for the reference to Lok Adalat through the link http://cms.nic.in/ncdrcusersWeb/lad.do?method=lalp or can call on 1915, National Consumer Helpline who will assist them in the process. Also, the Consumer Commission can upload the updated list of referred cases on the portal through the above-mentioned link. National Lok Adalats are held at regular intervals where on a single day Lok Adalats are held throughout the country, in all the courts right from the Supreme Court to the District level wherein cases are disposed of in huge numbers. The mission of the Department of Consumer Affairs is to strengthen consumer protection and safety through progressive legislation, empower consumers through awareness and education, and provide access to fair and efficient grievance redressal mechanisms. National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) along with other Legal Service institutions conducts Lok Adalats. It is one of the alternate dispute redressal mechanisms, it's a forum where disputes/cases pending in the courts/commissions are settled/ compromised amicably. There are about 6, 07,996 consumer cases pending in the country. In NCDRC there are about 22,250 numbers of cases pending. The major states like Uttar Pradesh with 28,318 cases pending, Maharashtra with 18,093 pending cases, Delhi with 15,450 pending cases, Madhya Pradesh with 10,319, and, Karnataka with 9,615 pending cases are some of the states with the highest number of pendency. (ANI) The police recovered the woman's body from the courtyard behind the accused's house. "We were informed by a man that his elder brother, along with a few other family members, had killed his wife six months ago on suspicion of an illicit relationship. Police reached the spot and recovered the woman's body from the courtyard behind the accused's house," Sambhal Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra told ANI. "The body has been sent for a DNA test and further probe. The husband of the deceased and another family member were arrested. Further investigation is underway," he added. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has left for his three-day visit to Sikkim and Assam on Thursday. As per the Home Minister's recent tweet, he is scheduled to inaugurate the Eastern and North-Eastern Zones Dairy Cooperative Conclave 2022 at Sikkim's Gangtok today, which will be later followed by a series of programmes in Assam. "Leaving for the Northeast on my 3-day visit to Sikkim and Assam. Today will inaugurate the "Eastern and North-Eastern Zones Dairy Cooperative Conclave 2022" at Gangtok followed by a series of programs in Assam," Shah tweeted. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda will also arrive in the Northeast today to inaugurate the party's biggest office in the region. According to Assam State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, the top leaders of the party will inaugurate the newly constructed Assam state BJP office at the Basistha area of Guwahati on Saturday, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state party leaders. Nadda and Shah will also attend the party workers' meeting at the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara in Guwahati. "Our party national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reach Guwahati on October 7 evening and they will attend a party meeting. They will also attend party workers meeting to be held at Veterinary College playground, Khanapara where around 35,000-40,000 party workers across the state will participate," Bhabesh Kalita told ANI on Thursday. Kalita said that the preparations for the programmes have already been made. Official sources said Shah will attend a series of official meetings on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The Union Home Minister will attend the Conference of the Superintendent of Police at the Police Training College at Dergaon on Sunday and will then depart from the state on Sunday following several official engagements. According to BJP office bearers, the soon-to-be inaugurated Assam BJP state headquarters would be the biggest office of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the northeastern region. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the BJP office is expected to be full of all modern amenities. Spread over 95,000 square feet, the building will have six floors and an open rooftop premise. The new BJP Assam office will have an auditorium to accommodate 350 people along with top hi-tech conference halls with a capacity of 40 people each. It will also have five meeting halls to accommodate a strength of 50 people each. The office will also have a big press conference room along with a reception and a canteen. The foundation stone for this office of the BJP in Assam was laid by the then-party president Amit Shah in February 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid special emphasis on the progress of the north-east region through various programmes as he himself made over 50 visits to the region. In 2016 the BJP came to power in Assam for the first time breaking the record term of the Congress party and becoming the only party in the state apart from the Congress to have back-to-back governments. In 2017 the BJP formed a government in Manipur and also repeated its government again in 2022. Another first by BJP in the region was the formation of the government in Tripura ending the Left rule of over two decades in 2018. The BJP continues to be in power in Arunachal Pradesh as well as in coalition governments both in Meghalaya and Nagaland. (ANI) A total of 19 bodies have so far been recovered in rescue operations at the Draupadi ka Danda mountain peak, in Uttarakhand''s Uttarkashi district, where an avalanche hit a team of mountaineers on October 4 morning, according to officials. "A total of 19 bodies have been recovered from the crevice. Efforts are being made to bring the bodies to Matli helipad by Advanced Light Helicopter today," Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar told ANI. Out of the 19 bodies, four bodies were brought to the summit camp by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team deployed for the rescue operation, while 15 bodies were recovered at the place of the incident. "From the summit camp, according to SDRF constable, Sunil four bodies have been brought to the summit camp by the team," said DGP Ashok Kumar. Personnel from various teams of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), the Air Force, the Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the High Altitude War School in Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir have been deployed in the rescue operations, the official said. Mountaineers from the NIM participating in a training course were trapped in a glacier crevice on Tuesday morning after an avalanche hit the peak. The team was returning after summiting. NIM''s advanced training course team included trainees and instructors. On Thursday 12 more bodies were recovered. Of the bodies recovered 14 were of trainees and two were instructors, Uttarakhand Police said. Earlier, Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said condoled the deaths of mountaineers. Speaking to ANI. "The rescue teams are working continuously and I am monitoring the situation", the chief minister said. On Tuesday, about 41 trainees and instructors of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering were hit by an avalanche. The institute said that the Advanced Mountaineering Course commenced on September 14 at NIM Uttarkashi The course moved to the mountain on September 23 with 41 people- 34 trainees and 7 instructors and one nursing assistant and arrived at the Base Camp on September 25. As per the training programme, the course went on for high altitude training from October 2-October 4. After summiting the 5670 metre altitude Mt Draupadi ka Danda II the team was on its way back when the avalanche struck at around 8; 45 am above camp 1 in which 34 trainees and 7 instructors got caught in it, according to a release by the NIM on October 4. On Wednesday, the survivors of the avalanche in Uttarkashi narrated their horrific experiences. Deep Thakur, a trainee from Gujarat, who survived the accident while undergoing treatment at the district hospital, said that the avalanche came all of a sudden while he was climbing to Draupadi''s Danda Peak for a summit at around 9.45 am, due to which he along with his companions fell into the crevasses about 60 feet deep, where he struggled between death and life for about 3 hours. Another survivor, Akash Lalvani, a trainee from Mumbai, told that he was only about 100 meters below the summit of Draupadi''s Danda and the only plan was to summit the peak and get down after being photographed there, because the weather was also clear. But the sudden avalanche has left them with unforgettable sorrow. (ANI) The Central government has asked Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit to name his successor as he retires on November 8. As per the Memorandum of procedure of appointment (MoP) of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges on Friday, the Minister of Law and Justice has written to the Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for the appointment of his successor. There is only a month to go for the retirement of Justice Lalit, who had been sworn in as the Chief Justice of India on August 27 by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeded Justice NV Ramana, who retired on August 26, 2022. Justice Ramana had recommended Justice Lalit as his successor in keeping with convention and norms of seniority. The President subsequently confirmed Justice Lalit's appointment as the new CJI. Justice Lalit tenure would demit office on November 8. As per the established practice of the Chief Justice naming the senior-most judge as his or her successor, Justice DY Chandrachud is expected to be appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India. At the farewell function of Justice Ramana, Justice Lalit said that during his tenure of nearly three months he will focus on three key areas and one of his top priorities would be to make the listing of cases simple, clear and as transparent as possible. UU Lalit had also promised to ensure a clear-cut regime where any urgent matters could freely be mentioned before the respective benches of the top court. He also assured that there will be at least one Constitution Bench functioning throughout the year in the Supreme Court. Justice Lalit had said, "I have always believed that the role of the Supreme Court is to lay down law with clarity, consistency, and the best possible way to do it is to have larger benches as early as possible, wherever the matters are referred to such benches so that the issues get clarified immediately, the matter has consistency and the people are well aware of what exactly are the contours of the peculiar positions in law." Justice Lalit was a renowned senior advocate before he became the judge of the apex court. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on August 13, 2014. Justice Lalit has been the second CJI who was directly elevated to the Supreme Court bench from the Bar. Justice SM Sikri, who became the 13th CJI in January 1971, was the first lawyer to be elevated directly to the top court bench in March 1964. Born on November 9, 1957, in Maharashtra's Solapur, his father, UR Lalit, was an additional judge at the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court and a senior advocate at the Supreme Court. UU Lalit enrolled as an advocate in June 1983 after specialising in criminal law and practising at the Bombay High Court from 1983 to 1985. He shifted his practice to Delhi in January 1986, and in April 2004, he was designated as a senior advocate by the top court. He was later appointed a special public prosecutor for the CBI to conduct the trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case. After Justice Lalit's retirement on November 8, Justice DY Chandrachud is expected to be appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India. (ANI) The Jharkhand Police on Friday arrested a person for setting ablaze a girl after she refused to marry him. The girl has been referred to a Ranchi hospital. According to the police, the accused, Rajesh Raut, was known to the 19-year-old girl and was already married. "So far, it has been revealed that the girl was attacked while she was asleep by a man known to her. She has been referred to Ranchi. The accused is already married and wanted to marry the victim. The parents (of the girl) were not ready for the marriage," said Shivender, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jarmundi. DSP Shivender also said that the accused was seen running from the crime spot after committing the offence on Thursday night. Reacting to the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party's Pratul Shadeo on Friday took a strong jibe and said there is a "total collapse of law and order machinery in Jharkhand". He connected the case with that of a class 12 girl, Ankita, who was also burnt alive while sleeping for turning down a proposal in Dumka. Ankita was set ablaze on August 23 and succumbed to her injuries on August 28 during her treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS). The BJP leader said, "Fear of law has totally gone away from the miscreants and the people with the dubious mind. It is yet another incident when another daughter has been burnt alive just because she refused the marriage. Where is the fear of the law? He said that the incident is "very very shocking". "We believe that the government is totally indulged in corruption and the law and order is not its priority in a state where within 34 months, more than 5,000 rape cases have taken place and there is only 1 per cent which has been convicted," he said adding that these things are going to happen. "The girl has 90 per cent burns over her body and should be immediately airlifted and the Chief Minister should come heavily on the District officials. He further alleged that the government is not focussing on law and order in the state. Shadeo further added that the accused was also threatening the girl saying "I will burn you alive like Ankita". Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Vijay Hansda while assuring a thorough investigation into the matter said that there are some incidents and people who are of "criminal tendency" and the police administration will leave no stone unturned in the matter. "In previous incidents as well, the way the administration has worked effectively at the places wherever such incidents are taking place," JMM MP Hansda said. He further condemned the incident by stating that there is a need for social consciousness against people with "such ideologies so that they step back." "If a wrong incident takes place, it should be strongly condemned. However, I don't want to go to petty politics by bringing out the stats," he said. Meanwhile, JMM MLA Sudivya Kumar said that he has "just been" informed about the incident and will provide every possible assistance to the victim. Congress' spokesperson Rakesh Sinha on Friday also reacted on the matter and said that incident is completely condemnable and such incidents require the culprit to be punished by both the law and society and they should be boycotted with their families so that an environment of concern and fear in people's mind develops. "It is thought-provoking where the society is heading as they are setting ablaze people over every next issue. Such culprits should be hanged and society should also come forward to punish them," Rakesh Sinha said. Talking politically, Sinha further said, "It is a matter of fun if BJP comments over the law and order situation of another party." 'Instead of politicising such incidents, I believe even the BJP should think how to combat such incidents of heinous crimes," he said. (ANI) The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Friday arrested one person, the mastermind in connection with Mohali Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack on the intelligence building of Punjab Police earlier this year. According to the police, the arrested person hailed from Uttar Pradesh and had been assisting the terrorists. An RPG was fired at the Punjab Police's Intelligence headquarters in Mohali on the evening of May 9, triggering a blast at the site Addressing a press conference on May 13, the Punjab Police declared Lakhbir Singh Landa as the key conspirator in the Mohali blast case. The police had said that Landa was a resident of the Tarn Taran district, who is a gangster and shifted to Canada in 2017. He was said to be a close associate of Harinder Singh Rinda, who is in close proximity to Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawa Singh, as a part of ISI and operates from Pakistan. Lakhbir Singh Landa's main associates- Nishan Singh and Charad Singh were also from the Tarn Taran district, who have been arrested by the police as Nishan provided shelter to the two accused (involved in the incident). In May, the Central Intelligence Agencies had found the role of suspected overground workers of Khalistani extremists group associated with Pakistan-based terrorist groups in the Mohali blast. On the night of May 9, a minor blast occurred outside the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali where no casualty or loss of life was reported. "A minor explosion was reported at the Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters in sector 77, SAS Nagar at around 7:45 pm. No damage has been reported. Senior officers are on the spot and an investigation is being done," Mohali police had said on May 9. (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman rises during Question Period in Ottawa, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Lantsman, one of the party's deputy leaders and Eric Duncan, also on its leadership team, were among four Tory MPs who didn't vote when the question was called on a private member's bill surrounding medical assistance in dying. Three Conservative MPs who were absent from a vote in the House of Commons on conscience rights say they supported the proposed legislation. Melissa Lantsman, one of the party's deputy leaders, and Eric Duncan, also on its leadership team, were among four Tory MPs who didn't vote on a private member's bill on medical assistance in dying Wednesday. Dave Epp said late Thursday he supported the bill but has been out of the country so was unable to vote. Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kelly Block proposed the legislation, which sought to change the Criminal Code to make it an offence to compel a medical professional to "directly or indirectly" participate in the procedure. The federal Liberal government has said there is nothing in the current laws that force a health professional to provide or help to provide the procedure if it conflicts with their personal beliefs. Ontarios Court of Appeal has also ruled that allowing doctors to refuse to provide referrals would stigmatize already vulnerable patients and restrict their access to medical services. Block hails from the social conservative wing of the party, which champions the issue of conscience rights. Her bill was defeated by a vote of 208 to 115, with nearly all Conservative MPs voting in its favour. The governing Liberals, along with NDP and Bloc Quebecois, voted against it. Lantsman says she voiced her support for the bill in a previous debate and was observing Yom Kippur during the vote. A spokesperson for Duncan says he was at an international conference and unable to take part in the vote. The four-day-long, 81st Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), will be held in Lucknow from October 8 to 11 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan after 11 years, the official said on Friday. Uttar Pradesh will be hosting the event for the fifth time and the PWD will be the nodal department for making all arrangements. While Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony, UP CM Yogi Adityanath will preside over the event. Union Minister of State General (retd.) VK Singh will also be attending the event. Over 1,500 delegates from India and abroad are likely to participate in discussions about the use of technology in the construction of roads and bridges. About 200 delegates from UP will also participate in the event. After the convention, the participants will also be enlightened about the spiritual and cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh through places like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan, among others. "The development of Infrastructure and network of roads has been playing a significant role in meeting the target of turning the state into a $ 1 trillion economy as envisioned by CM Yogi Adityanath. There will be about 19 technical sessions in all, focussing on fields like road construction technologies and infrastructure which will greatly benefit UP," the official said. This is the fifth session of IRC in Uttar Pradesh. The first session was held in Delhi in December 1934. UP hosted it in 1937, 1985, 1995 and 2011. "During the sessions, presentations will be held on numerous subjects by technical experts from the country and abroad, engineers of the centre and state, road and bridge-related institutions, scientists and consultants," the official added. Moreover, 180 stalls will be set up during the technical exhibition, in which information related to equipment, machinery, materials and new technology will be available from various companies in road construction. Along with this, through One District, One Product (ODOP), the visitors will also be made aware of the skills of the local artisans and craftsmen of the state. The 'Hariharpur Gharana' will also be performing during a cultural evening. (ANI) Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Friday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in the national capital for questioning. Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh were summoned in the probe connected with an ongoing probe in the National Herald money laundering case. The veteran Congress leader had asked for a pass as he wanted to be present during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. "I have been summoned by ED. I had requested them to call both me and my brother DK Suresh after October 23 but the concerned official directed us to present before him nonetheless. So we left the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the middle and arrived here," said Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar. Earlier Shivakumar had slammed the ED and termed the summons as a political harassment "I requested the Enforcement Directorate to postpone their summons in view of the BharatJodoYatra. Their rejection is a clear sign that the timing of their summons is political harassment. They don't like my participation in the BharathAikyataYatre," tweeted Shivakumar. On September 7, the ED Enforcement Directorate (ED) rejected Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar's request for extending the date of his appearance before the agency. Earlier DK Shivkumar also accused the government of misusing agencies to harass him after seeing the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress leader said he would discuss the summons with fellow party leaders and take a call on whether he should appear. The ED had filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar and others in a money laundering case in May. Shivakumar is currently serving as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. The money laundering case was registered by the Enforcement Directorate, based on a complaint filed by the Income Tax (IT) department. The I-T department, during the initial probe, had allegedly found unaccounted and misreported wealth linked to the Congress leader. DK Shivakumar earlier had called the charges "baseless" and "politically motivated". (ANI) The thick black smoke rose due to a fire at a building in Noida's Sector 3. Several fire tenders are on the spot to douse the flame. So far no loss of life has been reported. According to the police, the cause of the fire and the extent of damage have not been identified as of now. Ravi Shankar Chabbi, Joint Commissioner of Police, Law & Order) said, "We received the information of fire at a plastic tray manufacturing company. Several fire tenders are working to douse the fire. The building near the company has been evacuated. So far no injuries or loss of life have been reported." More details awaited.(ANI) The Uttarakhand government, in an order, said that the government has decided to register a case against the culprits who made irregularities in the recruitment examination held on 339 promotions in 2015-16 during the tenure of the Congress government. In this regard, the release stated that Additional Secretary Personnel Lalit Mohan Rayal had issued a letter to Vigilance, the order stated. The government has announced that it has issued directions to register the case under sections 420, 466, 467, 201 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 3, 7, 9, 10 and 45 of Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998, and sections 7 (A), 12, 13 (1) (A) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As per the order, severe irregularities took place in the recruitment examinations, including paper leaks, before the exam and manipulating the OMR mark sheet to benefit some specific people. (ANI) In furtherance of traditional Indo-Kenya ties and defence cooperation, Maj Gen FG Ahmed, Commandant, Kenya Military Academy, visited the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun from October 5 to October 7, 2022, along with a high-level delegation comprising five members from Kenya Military Academy. Maj Gen FG Ahmed is the first woman to hold the rank of General in the Kenya Armed Forces and the Commandant of Kenya Military Academy. The visiting delegation was shown in detail the training regime being followed at the Indian Military Academy including representation from friendly foreign countries. The General was highly impressed with the determined and daring junior leadership, the raw courage of our Gentleman Cadets at the tactical level and the swift execution of military strategy and plans displayed during the operational tasks assigned to them as part of training. The Kenya delegation appreciated the State of the Art training facilities at the Indian Military Academy being utilised for training the Gentleman Cadets to face the varied challenges of modern-day warfare. They also commended the staff for maintaining such stellar training standards. The General interacted with Lt Gen VK Mishra, AVSM, Commandant, Indian Military Academy on training and administrative matters. They exchanged notes on various aspects of military training. The interactions clearly symbolised the spirit of friendship and cooperation between the two friendly Nations. The Kenya Army General also interacted with the Gentleman Cadets undergoing pre-commission training at IMA. She applauded the GCs for their display of camaraderie, teamwork and resilience. She emphasised that it is commendable to mention that IMA has produced top-class military leaders who have risen to the highest levels not only in India but also in friendly countries that send their cadets for training here. The officers passing out from here have physical and mental toughness and are capable to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, hostile terrain, weather, and a determined enemy and bring glory to their motherland. (ANI) YS Sharmila, YSR Telangana Party president and sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday alleged corruption in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project in Telangana and described it as India's biggest scam. Sharmila alleged that a major part of the money invested in the Rs 80,500-crore project was embezzled. Addressing a press conference, Sharmila said, "I am here to highlight the biggest scam in India. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project scam is bigger as it is not just virtual money but also physical money that has cost the exchequer. The tune of money involved is Rs 1.2 Lakh crore." She further claimed that the irrigation project was originally the idea of her father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, but has now been mangled. "Kaleshwaram Project was the brainchild of my father but it has been distorted in every form. Of the Rs 1.2 lakh crore invested in this, around Rs 1 lakh crore came from central financial institutions. We met CBI Director and he assigned a DIG rank officer to look into the corruption: added Sharmila. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in June 2019 inaugurated the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project in Bhupalpally district, billed as the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme. The Project was mired in controversies since its inception. In August 2019, Congress MP from Bhongir, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging a scam of "thousands of crores of rupees" in executing the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Reddy had demanded a detailed inquiry and urged Prime Minister Modi to stop the work immediately and prevent the misuse of the huge amount pertaining to the Government exchequer. He also requested to order for calling tenders for executing the works with transparency. In October 2020, the National Green Tribunal held that the environmental clearances granted to the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project in Telangana were in violation of the law and directed to constitute an expert committee to assess the extent of damage and identify the restoration measures necessary. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation (KLIP) Project was constructed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL). B Srinivas Reddy, Director, MEIL had told ANI that Project was engineered to cater irrigation water to 37.08 lakh acres of land; another 18.82 lakh acres of command area was be stabilized with it. The project requires 7,152 MW of electricity to pump 3 TMCs of water daily. With an estimated cost of Rs 80,500 crore, the KLIP is the costliest irrigation project taken up by a state. It is designed to benefit farmers in the district of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy. (ANI) A clash between two groups going to perform 'Durga Visarjan' after two days of 'Vijayadashmi' occurred in the Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday. The groups were a part of tableaus of two different Durga Pandal committees, officials said. The clash between the two groups of the Durga Pandal committees- part of the tableaus going to perform 'Durga Visarjan'- started in the area of Karuna Chowk and Sadar Bazar over a DJ Vehicle. The brawl between the groups elevated and the two groups started stone-pelting, leading to a ruckus in the street. The accused used sticks and rods against each other, leaving many people injured. The car and Durga's idol were also vandalized by miscreants. According to ASP, Rajendra Jaiswal, "The clash between the two groups of tableau started around 6 am today in the Sadar Bazaar area of Kotwali police station". The youths of the two committees clashed with each other over a minor dispute over a DJ vehicle. Asked about the reason behind the clash, ASP Rajendra Jaiswal said that both the Durga committees wanted to go ahead and immerse the idol first which lead to a brawl between them. "On the complaints by both parties, a case has been lodged at the police station and the search is underway for the people accused in the incident". ASP Rajendra Yadav further said. Recently, a communal clash broke out in Vadodara, Gujarat on Monday in which 40 people were arrested. "A Muslim festival is coming up, owing to which a local group had tied their religious flag on an electronic pole. There is a temple nearby," said Vadodra rural police PR Patel. Earlier in August, two people died and six others were injured after a clash broke out between the two communities in the Hulihyder village of Koppal district in Karnataka. At present, the police investigation is underway and the police are searching for the miscreants seen in the video. (ANI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday met civil servants of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre at his residence in the national capital and discussed the priorities of the government for the Union territory and several issues with the officials. The Minister held a luncheon interaction with Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS) and also some Indian Forest Service officers belonging to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre and presently posted in the national capital. During the interaction, Singh said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi accords highest priority to Jammu and Kashmir and therefore it is the added responsibility of All India Service officers to strive to transform it into one of the best-governed States and UTs of the country." "Jammu and Kashmir highest priority of Prime Minister. Therefore, from time to time, he has also raised concerns about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and also reviewed it. He also stayed there and two days ago Home Minister Amit Shah had a very successful stay in UT," said the Union Minister. He said that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing new dawn of development and peace. "Today I interacted with the cadres of Jammu and Kashmir, who are currently posted in Delhi. Some information was taken from them. They were made aware of the priorities of the government of India towards Jammu and Kashmir because Union Territory is witnessing new dawn of development and peace," said Singh. He further said that Jammu and Kashmir has become an integral part of India's development journey under the leadership of PM Modi. Singh also informed the senior officers of IAS, IPS and IFoS from erstwhile J-K cadre that deputation rules of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) have been relaxed to encourage IAS and other All India Service Officers as well as officers of Central Services to get posted in J-K. He informed that due to this relaxation, 22 officers belonging to various services and different cadres have been posted in Jammu and Kashmir at various levels. "DoPT has played a major role in facilitating induction of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services Officers into IAS by coordinating with UT of J-K, Ministry of Home Affairs and UPSC. As a result, recently 16 officers from JKAS have been inducted into IAS and another eight such vacancies will be filled up shortly giving opportunities to the JKAS officers to become part of prestigious IAS service after a long gap of 12 years," he said. The Union Minister also added that Mid-Career Training of JKAS officers of various seniority was carried out in collaboration with LBSNAA and this has provided a new level of exposure to the JKAS Officers and more than 200 offices. According to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, he also expressed happiness that from January 2022 till date, 1.62 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir, which is the highest in 75 years of India's independence. "After three decades, Kashmir Valley is attracting lakhs of tourists, which not only heralds the return of the golden era of Kashmir tourism but also underlines the overall peace, development and change happening rapidly in the Union territory," he said. The Minister pointed out that PM Modi also fulfilled the 70-year-old demand of Kashmiris for international flights by starting direct flights from Srinagar to Sharjah. Singh was in Jammu and Srinagar on Tuesday and Wednesday in view of Home Minister Amit Shah's visit, where Paharis were assured of ST status like the Gujjars, Backcrawls and said that since Article 370 was rolled back, over Rs 56,000 crore investment reached Jammu and Kashmir opening new frontiers of job opportunities for the youth in the UT. "The new comprehensive Film Policy launched with much fanfare is attracting filmmakers for shooting after decades and within a year of notification of this policy, as many as 140 shooting permissions for films and web series have been issued. There is a proposal to set up a film studio with state-of-art facilities catering to the young talent of Jammu and Kashmir," he added. Senior IAS officers including Pradip Kumar Tripathi, Secretary, (Coordination) in Cabinet Secretariat, Sundeep Kumar Nayak, Director General, National Productivity Council (NPC), Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Manoj Kumar Dwivedi Joint Secretary DoPT, Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Niraj Kumar ARC, JK House among others exchanged views with Singh over a luncheon meeting at his residence. The IPS officers posted in crucial organisations like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were also present at the interaction. SM Sahai, Joint Secretary, Lalatendu Mohanti, DG, BSF Academy, Pankaj Saxena, Joint Secretary, Abdul Ghani Mir, IG, ITBP, Rajesh Kumar, ADGP, CRPF, T Namgyal Kalon, IG, SSB, Viplav Kumar Choudhry, DIG, NIA, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, DIG, NIA, Shri Amit Kumar, DIG, NIA, Keshav Ram Chaurasia, DIG, CBI, Tejinder Singh, SP, NIA, Shailendra Kumar Mishra, SP, NIA, Rajiv Omparkash Pande SP, NIA Nitish Kumar, S. Pani, Atul Kumar Goel, Rahul Malik, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, Uttam Chand joined the interaction. Among the Indian Forest officers, Biswajit Kumar Singh, Dr Rajeev Kumar Tiwari, Roop Avtar Kaur, Preet Pal Singh, Naveen Kumar Shah, Praveen Kumar Raghaw, Mohammad Sajid Sultan took part in the deliberations. (ANI) Family members of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, who was murdered in 2017, joined Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi on Friday. Indira Lankesh and Kavitha Lankesh - mother and sister of journalist walked with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as they participated in the party's march. Senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwari Naga on September 5, 2017. Lankesh was the editor of the Gauri Lankesh Patrike, a magazine described as an 'anti-establishment' publication. In November 2016, she was convicted of defamation and was sentenced to six months in jail, after she ran a piece in 2008 that Prahlad Joshi, a BJP MP from Dharwad, and Umesh Dushi, also of the BJP, found objectionable. However, the court also granted her bail and allowed her to appeal to a higher court. Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi shared a picture of the march with Gauri Lankesh's mother and sister and said that he stands with Gauri Lankesh and countless others like her, who represent the true spirit of India. "Gauri stood for Truth. Gauri stood for Courage. Gauri stood for Freedom. I stand for Gauri Lankesh and countless others like her, who represent the true spirit of India. Bharat Jodo Yatra is their voice. It can never be silenced," he tweeted. As the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 30th day on Friday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party workers resumed the padayatra from K Malenahalli in Mandya in Karnataka. The padayatra will be concluded today at Adhichunchanagiri Matha Stadium. On Thursday Sonia Gandhi joined the Party Padyatra in Mandya district of Karnataka. "We've sailed through storms in the past. Today, too, we will break the limits of all challenges and will together unite India," Rahul tweeted and posted a photograph of him walking with his mother, his arm around her. Rahul Gandhi is currently leading Bharat Jodo Yatra- the 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering as many as 12 states. The Padyatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day. The Padyatra (march) is covering a distance of 25 km every day. The march was aimed to cover as many as 12 states in five months. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north. According to Congress, the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is being held to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre and to awaken the people of the country to the dangers of economic inequalities, social polarisation and political centralisation. Notably, all the party MPs, leaders and workers along with Rahul Gandhi are staying in containers. Sleeping beds, toilets and ACs are also installed in some of the containers. During the journey, the temperature and environment will differ in many areas. The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI) The Yogi Adityanath government is planning to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sage Valmiki in a 'grand' manner across Uttar Pradesh. Valmiki Jayanti will be celebrated on October 9 this year. This year, the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, who is credited with writing the original Ramayana during the lifetime of Lord Ram, will be marked with various events in Uttar Pradesh, including the continuous recital of the Ramayana at all temples of Lord Rama and Hanuman as well as at all places associated with the epic along with the lighting of lamps or 'deepdan'. To celebrate the 'Valmiki Jayanti' with great enthusiasm, preparations are being made at the development block level. In pursuance of the objective of the government, the District Magistrate in Gorakhpur has issued detailed guidelines to the CDO, all SDMs, Deputy Director Buddhist Museum and Regional Tourism Officer. Ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh as the Chief Minister, every year Valmiki Jayanti has been celebrated with pomp in the entire state. The state government has also revamped the 'Ashram' of 'Sage Valmiki' in Chitrakoot which has now been developed as a tourist destination. Principal Secretary, Mukesh Kumar Meshram issued directions in this regard to all divisional commissioners and the district magistrates asking them to ensure that Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated on a grand scale throughout the state. The officials have been asked to arrange for the lighting of lamps or 'deepdan' as well as the continuous recital of the Ramayan for 8, 12 or 24 hours and organise similar other events at all places and temples related to Maharishi Valmiki on his Jayanti. The preparations for the events to be held on Valmiki Jayanti will be reviewed by the nodal officer nominated by the government on the evening of October 8. (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press The latest government study on teen vaping in the United States suggests there's been little progress in keeping e-cigarettes out of the hands of kids. The data seems to show more high school students vaping, with 14% saying they had done so recently, according to survey results released Thursday. In last year's survey, about 11% said they had vaped recently. But experts cautioned that a change in the survey makes it difficult to compare the two: This year, a much higher percentage of participants took the survey in schools, and vaping tends to be reported more in schools than in homes. It continues to be difficult to assess (vaping) trends since the pandemic, said Alyssa Harlow, a University of Southern California researcher who studies youth e-cigarette use. Despite its persistence, vaping appears to be less popular than it was: In 2019, 28% of high schoolers said they had recently vaped. Educators say vaping is still a big problem. Anecdotally, the 2021-22 school year was worse than it was before the pandemic, said Mike Rinaldi, principal of Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut. That school year was the first when most kids returned from remote learning following COVID-19 lockdowns, noted Rinaldi, who speculated that many kids may have taken up vaping as they dealt with mental health issues or stress related to the pandemic. Kids vaping in school bathrooms and stairwells remains "a constant battle, said Matt Forker, principal of the nearby Stamford High School. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers authored the new study, which is based on a Jan. 18 to May 31 online survey of about 28,000 U.S. middle and high school students. The study asked about use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in the previous 30 days. In addition to the 14% of high school students who said they vaped recently, about 3% of middle schoolers said they had done so. Of those who vaped, about 28% said they did it every day. Nearly 85% of the youth who vaped used flavored products. Favored brands included Puff Bar and Vuse, followed by Hyde and Smok. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday took action against the makers of both Puff Bar and Hyde following months of urging from congressional lawmakers and parent groups. The agency sent a warning letter to Puff Bar manufacturer EVO Brands, stating that the company never obtained U.S. permission to sell its products and that they are being marketed illegally. Only a handful of vaping companies have received FDA clearance for their products, which must demonstrate a health benefit for adult smokers. The agency also said it ordered Hyde manufacturer Magellan Technology to remove its products from the market, after rejecting its application for FDA authorization. The FDA has struggled to regulate the sprawling vaping landscape, which includes both established companies and smaller startups. Regulators have been pilloried by Congress and anti-vaping advocates for missing multiple deadlines to issue decisions on millions of vaping products submitted by companies. In the last three years, federal and state laws and regulations have raised the purchase age for tobacco and vaping products, and banned nearly all teen-preferred flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Some kids also may have been scared away by a 2019 outbreak of vaping-related illnesses and deaths most of them tied to a filler in black market vaping liquids that contained THC, the chemical that makes marijuana users feel high. Leaders of one advocacy group said they worry the battle to diminish youth vaping is not going well. The numbers "may not reflect the much larger reality of youth e-cigarette use that we hear about on a daily basis from parents, teachers, pediatricians, and prevention specialists who are experiencing this urgent and ongoing adolescent public-health crisis, the group, Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes, said in a statement. The FDA tried to ban the leading e-cigarette maker Juuls products earlier this summer, citing questions about its potential health risks. But its been forced to put that effort on hold following a court challenge. In this years survey, about one-fifth of teens who vape reported recently using Juul, though it was no longer a favorite brand. That's a big shift from 2019, when more than half of teens reported Juul as their usual brand. Instead, many young people have migrated to e-cigarettes delivering laboratory-made nicotine including Puff Bar a loophole in FDAs oversight that Congress closed this year. Despite gaining new authority over those products, the FDA missed a mid-July deadline to issue decisions on the vast majority of those products. The accused has been identified as Vicky Abhishek Sinha, 42, who is a resident of Indirapuram, Delhi. He was arrested in a fabricated arms licence case. The case against him was registered at the Cyber Police Station, Badarpur on September 30, 2022 bearing FIR number 117/2022 under sections 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police informed that a new case had been filed against the accused at Cyber Cell Police Station, Badarpur. FIR number 118/2022 under sections 223 and 224 of the IPC. Departmental action has been initiated against Sub-Inspector Mohit and Constable Ajay for the negligence of duty, the police said. (ANI) BJP leader Savio Rodrigues on Friday appealed National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Goa Police to continue to remain vigilant on the activities of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the state. PFI has been banned by the Central government for a period of five years. "NIA and Goa Police must continue to remain vigilant on PFI activities in Goa. PFI over the years has been receiving tacit support from politicians and minority religious institutions in the state. Financial trail of PFI linked NGOs and NGOs supporting PFI in Goa must be tracked," he said in a tweet. In a video message, Rodrigues claimed that PFI in Goa has been over the years receiving tacit support from politicians and minority religious institutions. "PFI was banned because it was working against the interest of India in particular national security. PFI has not been banned because it is a Muslim organisation as propagated by some with vested interests to stir communal interests," the BJP leader said. Urging the intelligence agencies to track the financial trail, Rodrigues, said, "The investigative agencies must follow the financial trail and track PFI, PFI-linked NGOs directly and NGOs who have supported PFI activities in the state." Rodrigues further appealed to the Muslims in Goa not to fall prey to the propaganda and stated, "PFI is nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing and did not work in the interest of the Indian Muslims." On September 28, the Government of India invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and declared a ban on PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years. "PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational, and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country," said a government notification. The notification had said that PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country. It had further said that some of the PFI's founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations. There have been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with global terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalization of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations, said the notification. (ANI) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed his happiness over the approval of Rs 2,006.82 crore for upgrading NH-734 section in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The upgradation of the NH-734 section includes the Moradabad--Thakurdwara--Kashipur, Moradabad and Kashipur bypass sections in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. CM Dhami thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for approving the upgradation of the NH-734 section. He said that the upgradation of highways will boost tourism and industry in Uttarakhand. He said that in the last few years, unprecedented work has been done in connecting the state from the rest of the country. Earlier on September 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the ongoing reconstruction works in Badrinath and Kedarnath through a virtual medium and inquired about the reconstruction works of the temples. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the virtual meeting from the Secretariat. "In the coming time, the number of devotees in Kedarnath and Badrinath would increase rapidly. The places near Kedarnath will also have to be developed from the point of view of spiritual tourism," said PM Modi. He said that efforts will have to be made in the direction of development of the surrounding area. "Attention should also be paid to the accommodation and basic facilities available to the devotees between Rambara and Kedarnath. A complete plan should be prepared of what can be done spiritually for the devotees in and around Vasukital, Garuda Chatti, Lincholi and their surroundings," said the PM. The Prime Minister stressed that along with Badrinath, a plan should also be made to develop the surrounding areas as a model. "Attention should also be paid to developing Mana village and its surrounding areas for rural tourism. In these, a good model of economy can be made by promoting local culture and local products," said PM Modi. The Prime Minister said that in view of the convenience of the devotees in Kedarnath and Badrinath, maximum cooperation should be taken from the servants and doctors also. "Public cooperation is also necessary with government systems," he added. Chief Minister Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the reconstruction work is going on at a fast pace in Badrinath and Kedarnath. (ANI) Delhi government will organise Chhath Puja at 1100 ghats this year for which the government has approved a budget of Rs 25 crore to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath. Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Friday held a review meeting on the preparedness of Chhath Puja in the national capital. The meeting was attended by Burari MLA Sanjiv Jha, the Divisional Commissioner and all the District Magistrates of Delhi. During the meeting, the Revenue Minister directed the department to ensure that the devotees should not face any inconvenience. He also directed the officers concerned to ensure smooth management and operationalization of all the 1100 sites of the Chhath Puja Celebration in Delhi. For this government has approved 25 crore this year to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath. In Delhi, the Revenue Department is the nodal department for the celebration of Chhath Puja in a safe, secure and eco-friendly manner with full festivity. The Revenue Department will make the necessary arrangements for tent and electrical items; such as tents, chairs, tables, lighting, sound system, CCTV, LED screens, power backup and so on at all the 1100 Puja sites. Furthermore, the Revenue Department will ensure the provision for the other required facilities in coordination with other departments of the Delhi Government such as the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for clean water arrangements, Health Department for primary health services and deployment of Ambulances, DUSIB for Mobile Toilet Vans (MTVs) and with agencies such as Delhi Police and CDV for safety and security, Traffic Police for Traffic Management and MCD/NDMC for sanitation and cleanliness. The Delhi Government has grown the celebration of Chhath Puja from 69 sites in 2014 to a whopping 1100 sites and increased the budget ten times from 2.5 crore in 2014 to approx. 25 Crore this year to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath. In a statement, Revenue Minister of Delhi Kailash Gahlot said, ''We are committed to ensure a grand celebration of Chhath Puja in Delhi. This year, the scale of the celebration would be unprecedented. We are ready with appropriate arrangements to ensure smooth execution in a safe and secure manner all over Delhi.'' Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagwaan (Sun God), which people believe sustains life on Earth. (ANI) In a bid to curb the menace of private firms, laboratories and hospitals who seek to fleece visiting patients, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here has strictly barred the entry of unidentified individuals, vendors and agents from its campus. AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas on Friday issued a circular asking all doctors and medical staff to immediately report on such elements. "All the doctors, nurses and staff members are hereby instructed that even on the slightest suspicion of the presence of any unauthorised or unidentified person in the campus or around the departments or areas of the campus be immediately reported to special WhatsApp number 935-502-3969. The security staff shall ensure that all such persons are handed over to the AIIMS Police outpost for trespassing and exploiting patients," the circular issued by Dr M Srinivas reads. Dr Srinivas said that these unidentified or unauthorised individuals belong to certain private hospitals, companies, laboratories, radiology centres etc. "It is observed that some unidentified or unauthorised individuals belonging to certain private companies, hospital laboratories, radiology centres, establishments etc are roaming inside AIIMS campus to seek monetary gain from the patients visiting AIIMS New Delhi. It is also learned that they are facilitating OPD cards and admissions at AIIMS. These agents are also offering and diverting patients from the laboratory, radiology investigations at private laboratories, radiology centres some of these agents are selling medications, disposable surgical items and implants etc.," he said "All such other unidentified individuals, vendors and agents etc, are strictly barred from AIIMS, New Delhi Campus," the circular further reads. Dr Srinivas directed the security staff to ensure that all such persons are handed over to the AIIMS Police outpost for trespassing and exploiting patients. "The security staff shall ensure that all such persons are handed over to the AIIMS Police outpost for trespassing and exploiting patients. That information may also be shared confidentially to the official email id director@aiims.edu. Identity of the staff who report about such unauthorised persons would be kept confidential and appropriate action will be taken to stop the exploitation of the patients," mentioned the circular. It is mentioned in the circular that if any such unauthorised person agent is found, in any part of the campus, the respective area in-charges like senior resident doctors, faculty, nursing officer, other staff shall also be held responsible and deemed to be helping these agents or touts and disciplinary action as deemed fit shall be taken. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a charge sheet against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal before the Special CBI court in Asansol in a case related to cattle smuggling. In a statement, CBI mentioned that during further investigation in the instant case, it was revealed that the main accused in the conspiracy along with other accused ran the cattle smuggling racket smoothly starting from procurement, and transportation of the same through the international border. As per the allegations, another accused named Mohammad Enamul Haque had paid huge amounts of money to Anubrata Mondal through other accused. During the period 2014-18, Anubrata Mondal had allegedly accumulated huge properties in and around Bolpur and Kolkata in his name and family members by using illegal cash received in cattle smuggling. Anubrata Mondal has allegedly invested around 18 crores in Fixed Deposit accounts and SB bank accounts maintained with different banks out of the illegal money received from Mohammad Enamul Haque. Earlier on Friday, a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reached Asansol jail to interrogate Saigal Hussain, the personal security guard of Mondal. On September 16, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided and arrested Mondal's daughter, Sukanya Mondal. On August 11, Mondal was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the CBI Special Court after he was arrested from his residence in Birbhum's Bolpur. Anubrata Mondal is the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Birbhum district president and is considered a close associate of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 21, 2020, arrested a former Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant, in connection with an illegal cattle smuggling case across the Indo-Bangladesh border. Anubrata Mondal's name came under the CBI scanner during the investigation of the case, the agency had said. The main office of the JHM Group in West Bengal's Bentinck street, which belonged to the nephews of Enamul Haque namely Humayun Kabir, Jahangir Alam, and Mehedi Hasan, was also raided in connection with the cattle smuggling case, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) informed. Enamul Haque was arrested by the ED on February 18 and is currently in judicial custody. The total attachment, in this case, has reached Rs 11.67 crore. The ED identified proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 418 crore till now. (ANI) Congress MLA from Satna, Siddharth Kushwaha, and Kotma MLA Suneel Saraf on Friday have been allegedly accused by a woman of molesting her onboard a train, said the Madhya Pradesh police. The Railway police received the information of molestation and a team of officials was sent to the train. "We received info about the molestation of a woman on a train bound for Bhopal from Rewa. Police officials were sent on the train. There are two accused named Siddharth Kushwaha and Sunil Saraf, they're yet to be nabbed", said SHO, GRP, Sagar. However, the MLAs claim to be innocent and they said that the accusations are false and baseless. Stating the claims to be false Congress MLA Siddharth Kushwaha said that they were standing at the gate of the train to Katni station. "These allegations are baseless, nothing as such happened. She is speaking anything, what was she doing on our seat? Nothing from our end was done, only she can tell what happened. We were standing at the gate of the train till Katni", he said. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sunil Saraf said that they were dumbfounded by the woman's claims adding, "When the police came, we came to know about allegations". MLA Sunil Saraf further added that there were other people on the train too but nobody said anything. The woman was sleeping on one of our berths. Her child was waking up due to a sound made by the door and she moved to another seat. When the police came, we came to know about the allegations. MP CM Kamal Nath has formed a team to probe into the matter. Further information on the matter is awaited. (ANI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be staying tonight at the Adichunchanagiri Mutt campus in Karnataka's Mandya. As per party sources, many Congress workers and Gandhi will stay inside the sprawling campus including in a stadium. The Adichunchanagiri Mutt is one of the most revered mutts of the state, especially by the Vokkaliga community. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityananth is also expected to visit the same Adichunchanagiri Mutt on October 16. Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently going on in the Mandya district of Karnataka. The region is considered a stronghold of Janata Dal (Secular) and the voters of the Vokkaliga community hold significant clout in the region. According to the party, a night halt is scheduled at the Mutt stadium on October 7. Congress has been trying to strengthen its base in the region ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka due next year, the sources said. Rahul Gandhi will also be addressing a press conference on Saturday as his Bharat Jodo Yatra completed its first month today. This will be Rahul Gandhi's third press conference since the start of the yatra. Earlier on Thursday, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi joined the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka's Mandya. The Congress supremo was seen walking in the company of her son and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi is currently leading Bharat Jodo Yatra- the 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering as many as 12 states. The march is aimed to cover the 12 states in five months. It entered its Karnataka leg on September 30. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving northwards. According to Congress, the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is being held to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre and to awaken the people of the country to the dangers of economic inequalities, social polarisation and political centralisation. Notably, many party MPs, leaders and workers along with Rahul Gandhi are staying in containers. Sleeping beds, toilets and ACs are also installed in some of the containers. During the journey, the temperature and environment will differ in many areas. The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI) A couple of MPs of Congress in Telangana are likely to leave the party around the time its leader Rahul Gandhi is in Telangana for his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao said on Thursday. "As we speak, a couple of Congress MPs are likely to leave around the time Rahul Gandhi is here," he told reporters. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader said he had information that 1-2 MPs of Congress in Telangana would leave the party. He, however, declined to answer if they will be joining the TRS. KTR, as Rao is popularly known, slammed the Congress party saying it has become the biggest liability for the country. Claiming that there is huge political vacuum in the country as the principal opposition party Congress has failed miserably The TRS leader said that the Congress party is facing an existential crisis and added that it will be very difficult for the party to survive this. "I don't think Congress exists anymore in this country. From a party that ruled the country for 50 years now confined to 50 and one wonders if it would be around after the next elections," he said. He said the Congress was unable to electorally perform in many states and in states where it performed it was unable to keep its flock together. "The Congress is non-existent in today's situation. In fact they have become the biggest liability for this country. I am sorry to say this but they have. Wherever Congress competes directly with BJP the conclusion is forgotten," he said. On Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he said the Congress leader should speak of 'Congress jodo' as the party is breaking up everywhere. "Rahul was walking in Kerala, his MLAs were leaving the party in Goa. He talked of making Ashok Gehlot the president of the party, he raised the banner of revolt in Rajasthan. Gandhis have totally lost control of the party," he said. "No one cares," he remarked when asked about Rahul Gandhi's plans to undertake the yatra in Telangana for 15 days. "He can spend even 15 months in Telangana. I am sure Rahul Gandhi will also appreciate the qualitative difference between Karnataka and Telangana as soon as he enters Telangana," he said. Rama Rao ridiculed the contest in the Congress party for the post of president. He remarked that neither Shahi Tharoor nor Mallikarjun Kharge can make any difference, saying the party is a disaster. "Congress is now the biggest liability for this country. Whatever Congress used to stand for is in shambles today." --IANS ms/pgh ( 445 Words) 2022-10-07-20:24:02 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of three children who died of food poisoning at a private children's home in Tiruppur. Extending his condolences to the families of the three children, Stalin announced the ex gratia amount to be given from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. On Wednesday, 14 inmates of the home and the warden had dinner and later some of them complained of uneasiness and by Thursday morning the situation turned worse. Two boys, Babu (10) and Athish (11), died at the centre while the remaining 12 children and the warden were rushed to the hospital. Another boy, Matheesh (14), died later while the warden Jayaraman (63) and 11 children are recouping at the hospital. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister, Geetha Jeevan, and Minister for Information and Public Relations, M.P. Saminathan, inspected the children's home on Friday, following which Jeevan ordered to shut it down. The ministers also announced Rs 1 lakh relief to each of the deceased children's family from the DMK party fund, and Rs 50,000 to those admitted to the hospital. Interacting with mediapersons, Jeevan said that stringent action would be taken against the administrator of the children's home, Senthilnathan. She said that action would also be initiated against the district child protection officer as there was lack of inspection on the part of the official, adding that the children were lodged in a building covered by tin sheets while a concrete building was there in the compound. The minister also said that after their recovery, the children will be shifted to government-run homes and their education would be taken care of. She also said that inspection would be conducted at all 13 children's homes in Tiruppur district. --IANS aal/arm ( 317 Words) 2022-10-07-21:24:03 (IANS) Photo: Submitted Paper Excellence is shutting down its paper mill in Crofton for an indefinite period, citing poor markets in China and escalating costs. When it shuts down in December, it will be the second Paper Excellence paper mill to shut down in one year and the third in two years. Last year, in December 2021, Paper Excellence announced that a temporary curtailment of its paper mill in Powell River would become indefinite. And the year prior, it shut down its paper mill in Mackenzie. The company plans to cease paper production in Crofton early December, but will continue its pulp operations there. The curtailment of the Crofton paper mill will affect 110 unionized workers, 80 of whom are with Unifor and 70 with PPWC. We recognize the hardship this will have on both our employees and the Cowichan Valley, the company said in a news release. We hope to minimize these impacts through union discussions that will consider secondments, utilization of earned time off and employment insurance. Paper Excellence cited weak markets in China for the curtailment, as well as rising input costs. Paper markets in China served by the mill have significantly weakened while there have been substantial cost escalations for chemicals, energy and wood fibre used at Crofton, the company said. The intersection of these pressures has materially impacted the financial viability of the paper operation. The company said it is working with both provincial and federal governments while it studies the possibility of accelerating a conversion from print paper to food and packaging grades. BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a three-day visit to Assam from Saturday. The occasion is inauguration of newly built Assam BJP headquaters at Beltola, Guwahati. Nadda was likely to visit Meghalaya on Sunday, but that has been reportedly deferred to later this month after Diwali. Three northeastern states, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura are scheduled to go for polls by February-March 2023. But both the BJP stalwarts making a joint visit to Assam gives more positive and clear signals about the saffron outfit's plans and preliminary preparations for all important 2024 general elections. The battle of 2024 would be occasion for making a hat-trick by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Encouraged by its performance - 282 in 2019 and 303 in 2014 - now the party wants to consolidate their hold further in east and northeast India. In Assam, in 2019, the BJP could win nine seats out of 14. The AIUDF had won one and Congress could win three. In 2021, BJP retained the state government in Assam. The Congress disappointment did not end with electoral defeat in the state where they had a fair chance of winning. What is politically significant is that the Congress is now a demoralised outfit in Assam - where it had a very strong base, and several Congressmen and women have already jumped ship while embracing BJP's right-wing politics. Ambitious Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is a good organiser and he has reportedly promised his new-found mentor Shah 'mega improvement' in BJP and its alliance partners' performance in Assam and other northeastern states. In 2019, BJP won both seats in Arunachal Pradesh and also Tripura. The Leftists are a much demoralised and marginilised entity in one time red-fortress Tripura and apparently, the saffron party's chief competitor in 2023 would be a local tribal-based party. Post West Bengal polls win in 2021, Trinamool Congress made a lot of noise vis-a-vis forays into Tripura but all such efforts have turned damp squib chiefly because there is no substantial Muslim vote bank in Tripura. Congress had one seat in Meghalaya while another seat had come to BJP's ally NPP of Conrad Sangma. In Nagaland and Mizoram, the solitary seat in each state had gone to regional partners in 2019. But with regard Nagaland's lone Lok Sabha seat, the saffron party would be asking for it. In Manipur also the BJP, which returned to power in early 2022, may easily win both Lok Sabha seats in 2024. The BJP is planning big in states such as West Bengal and Odisha. In Mamata Banerjee-ruled Bengal, much to the chagrin of its detractors, the BJP had won 18 seats. It would be more than happy to retain the hold and win at least 20-24 seats. In 2021 assembly polls, the Left parties including CPI-M and the Congress drew blank, thus showing the possible state of affairs in the state which has altogether 42 seats. While the northeast has 25 Lok Sabha seats, Odisha has 21 and with Bengal's 42 it comes to 88 seats. These 88 seats would be very important from 2024 polls point of view. In 2019, the saffron surge had resulted in victories over 40 seats. The law of the average suggests, the saffron party's tally for Lower House of Parliament may come down in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat in 2024. Thus, the poll strategists are working overtime to make a significant deeper penetration in north east and especially in Odisha. The BJD of Naveen Patnaik is a partner at the centre though not part of the NDA officially. The Chief Minister is now 75 and he will be around 77 when poll bugle is blown. In the absence of any second rung leader in the BJD; the Lotus party is trying to fill in the gap. A former Biju Janata Dal MP, Baijayant Panda is now saffron party's in-charge in Assam. Another Odisha leader and vocal national spokesman Sambit Patra is now coordinator for the party for all north eastern states. In Odisha, BJP could win eight while Naveen's party had won 12. The marginalised Congress could win only one and no body is really talking about prospects of Congress revival. On a slightly larger canvas, the BJP has to do well in southern states as well. For the ruling BJP, the 2024 battle would have to be negotiated in nine states mainly -- most in eastern and southern states. The states are Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. From these states again, the saffron party could win only 67 seats. While Karnataka contributed maximum (25) into the saffron party kitty out of 28, followed by 18 from Mamata-ruled West Bengal and eight from Odisha. Importantly again the challenge also comes from key regional chieftains including Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal -- that has 42 parliamentary seats and also YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh. There are also formidable regional challengers like K Chandrashekhar Rao in Telangana (TRS) and M K Stalin of DMK in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has pushed for aggressive works in Telangana and new in-charge is Tarun Chugh, who was involved in organisational matters as deputy B.L. Santhosh in the party headquarters. Another able hand Arvind Menon has been appointed as co-in-charge. Menon has handled states such as West Bengal and UP earlier. For Odisha, Sunil Bansal will be a key player as the in-charge. For the state of West Bengal, while Mangal Pandey will be the in-charge; he would be assisted by Amit Malviya and Asha Lakra as Saha Prabharis. Till recently, the BJP had control over 18 states after Maharashtra came into its kitty. The coming months and polls in key states will be vital in more ways than one. They are Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in December 2022, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura in Feb-March 2023, Karnataka April-May 2023, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram by November-December 2023. From the nine states in eastern and southern India, the BJP has 67 and its alliance partners have only eight making it 75 for NDA. That means 154 seats are with other parties and this is where the saffron strategies will have to chalk out innovative plans. (Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of book, 'The Talking Guns: North East India'. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS nirendra/shs ( 1082 Words) 2022-10-07-21:56:02 (IANS) In a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday said that politics is done in the field, not in the office of the investigative agency after Enforcement Directorate summoned him. Earlier on Friday, Shivakumar reached ED concerning a probe related to his financial contribution to Young India Pvt Ltd. The ED sent a summon to Shivakumar on September 23, asking him and his brother DK Suresh to be present physically in the agency's Delhi office on October 7 for questioning. The brothers had requested the agency to postpone the date, citing the Bharat Jodo Yatra. However, he had to "leave the Bharat Jodo yatra in the middle" to reach the ED office after it declined his request of extending the date of his appearance before the agency. "Politics should be done in the field, not in the office of an investigative agency. Even though I am in Karnataka president of Congress, I am unable to participate in the Bharat Jodo yatra today. What was the need to make this inquiry today? I asked for time but wasn't allowed," Shivakumar told the mediapersons in Bengaluru. "I told them, money was given to organizations that our leaders started during the time of Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi," he added. Shivakumar after appearing before the ED on Friday said that he gave all the details that were asked of him. The ED had filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar and others in a money laundering case in May. The Enforcement Directorate registered the money laundering case based on a complaint filed by the Income Tax (IT) department. The I-T department, during the initial probe, had allegedly found unaccounted and misreported wealth linked to the Congress leader. Earlier, Shivakumar had slammed the ED and termed the summons as political harassment, calling the charges "baseless" and "politically motivated". Meanwhile, Congress has called the ED summons to Shivakumar in the midst of the Bharat Jodo Yatra as an attempt to derail the march as BJP is anxious about the overwhelming response from people to the Yatra. (ANI) The police have arrested six persons after the post-mortem report indicated that a Jharkhand man, who was found dead on September 24, had died of injuries inflicted in a mob attack the previous night. On the night of September 23, the police had found the unidentified body the deceased after an angry mob reportedly attacked him on suspicion of being a child-lifter. DCP (Whitefield) Girish said that initially a case under CrPC 174 (C) was filed as there were no major injuries on the unidentified body. However, the police later registered a case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC when they came to know that he had been attacked by a mob. The police said that the deceased was later identified as Sanjay Tudu from Jharkhand, who was working as a mason in the city. They said it took them almost eight days to identify the body after which his family in Jharkhand was intimated. His body was handed to his family after the post-mortem was conducted on October 3. The report, which was recieved on Thursday, indicated that he had been assaulted and suffered several injuries, the police said. The police are also looking at any possible lapses on their part. --IANS pvn/arm ( 216 Words) 2022-10-07-22:38:04 (IANS) Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, an ISIS official known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters to support operations was killed near Qamishli village on Wednesday, as per the US Central Command. "Last night (Wednesday), U.S. Central Command forces conducted a helicopter raid in northeast Syria, near the village of Qamishli, targeting Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, an ISIS official known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters to support ISIS operations. During the operation, the targeted individual was killed and one of his associates was wounded," the US Central Command forces said in a statement on Thursday. The statement further added that two additional associates were detained by the forces. "USCENTCOM is committed to our allies and partners in the enduring defeat of ISIS," USCENTCOM spokesman Col. Joe Buccino said in the statement. No US forces were injured or killed during the operation, no civilians were killed or wounded, and there was no loss or damage to US equipment, as per the statement. (ANI) The United States condemned the mass shooting massacre that took place at a child care centre in Thailand and conveyed its "deepest condolences" to the bereaved families. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement said that the US was "horrified" by the tragic shooting at the day care in Thailand. "The United States was horrified by the tragic shooting at a day care center in Nong ua Lam Phu Province, Thailand. The images are heartbreaking and our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones. We condemn this act of violence and stand ready to assist our long-standing ally Thailand in whatever they need," the statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan read. Extending support, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that America is ready to assist its ally Thailand in the wake of the present tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, where a gunman took the lives of at least 38 people, including 24 children. This violence is both senseless and heartbreaking. We stand with the people of Thailand and extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones today. The United States is ready to assist our Thai allies in the wake of this tragedy," he said in the statement. A mass shooting took place on October 6 at the Child Development Center in Uthaisawan Na Klang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province. The fatalities in a mass shooting massacre rose to 38, including 24 children. The attacker was identified as Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former policeman who killed himself immediately after the attack. A statement from the Prime Minister's office as reported by CNN said: "The (Thailand) prime minister has expressed his condolences on the shooting incident." Earlier, the prime minister's office had urged all the securities officials to catch the culprit. Gun ownership in Thailand is relatively high compared with other countries in Southeast Asia. Mass shootings in the country are rare but in 2020 also, an incident saw a soldier killing 29 people in a shooting spree that began at a military site and then sent shoppers hunting for cover after the gunman entered a mall, reported CNN. (ANI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed condolences over the mass shooting massacre that took place at a child care centre in Thailand and said that he is "profoundly saddened" by the "heinous" incident. "I'm profoundly saddened by the heinous shooting at a childcare centre in Thailand. Learning centres should be spaces where children feel safe, never targeted. My condolences to the victims' loved ones & the people of Thailand," Guterres tweeted. A mass shooting took place on October 6 at the Child Development Center in Uthaisawan Na Klang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province. Earlier, The United States condemned the massacre that took place at a child care centre in Thailand. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement said that the US was "horrified" by the tragic shooting at the day care in Thailand. Extending support, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that America is ready to assist its ally Thailand in the wake of the present tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, where a gunman took the lives of at least 38 people, including 24 children. This violence is both senseless and heartbreaking. We stand with the people of Thailand and extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones today. The United States is ready to assist our Thai allies in the wake of this tragedy," he said in the statement. The fatalities in a massacre rose to 38, including 24 children. The attacker was identified as Panya Kamrab, a 34-year-old former policeman who killed himself immediately after the attack. A statement from the Prime Minister's office as reported by CNN said: "The (Thailand) prime minister has expressed his condolences on the shooting incident." Earlier, the prime minister's office had urged all the securities officials to catch the culprit.Gun ownership in Thailand is relatively high compared with other countries in Southeast Asia. Mass shootings in the country are rare but in 2020 also, an incident saw a soldier killing 29 people in a shooting spree that began at a military site and then sent shoppers hunting for cover after the gunman entered a mall, reported CNN. (ANI) Two female Indian students in Australia - Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena - have won the prestigious Victorian Premier's award. Amit Sarwal, writing in The Australia Today said that these awards are an initiative of the Victorian government to celebrate outstanding international students in Victoria. Divyangana Sharma has won the coveted Victorian Premier's Award - International Student of the Year 2021-22, while, Ritika Saxena won the International Student of the Year award in the Research category. Divyangana has also won Victorian International Education Awards 2021-22 in the Higher Education category. She came to Melbourne to study nursing at Holmesglen Institute in February 2020, said Sarwal. "The cultural diversity, inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community, education opportunities, art and culture is what makes Melbourne a unique city and works like a magnet for people wanting to study abroad," he said. Ritika moved to Melbourne as an 18-year-old and is now a PhD student involved in stem cell research, reported The Australia Today. "When you move to Victoria, you are an international student. But by the time you finish your degree, you will be truly global," said Ritika. Award winners in each student category, with the exception of the International Alumnus of the Year, are awarded USD 6,000 each to support their studies and up to two runners-up per student category are awarded USD 2,000 each. The recipient of the 'Premier's Award - International Student of the Year' receives USD 10,000 to support their studies, reported Sarwal. The awards are a ray of hope for Indian parents who are wary of sending their children abroad for studies after a spurt in hate crimes against Indian students abroad. Notably, Varun Manish Chheda, a 20-year-old Purdue University student was killed on Wednesday at a residence hall on the Indiana campus allegedly by his 22-year-old roommate who is in police custody for investigation. Chheda's roommate, 22-year-old Ji Min "Jimmy" Sha, from Korea is now in police custody and is the prime suspect in the case. Sha is a junior cybersecurity major and international student from Korea. This raises the basic question of how safe it is to pursue higher studies in foreign countries and how cautious parents and students need to be before applying for student visas. After several activities of vandalization of symbols of Hinduism including the Swaminarayan temple and anti-India graffiti in Canada, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens living in Canada to be cautious. Stating that there has been a "sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada", the Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens, especially students to register at the official Indian Embassy websites to ensure the fastest contact with the government. The MEA stated, "our High Commission/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action. The perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada." Canada is one of the top choices for Indian students studying abroad. Addressing the students, MEA said, "Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant." Indian Embassies and High Commissions in foreign countries are in touch with local officials as well as with Indian students studying abroad and issue circulars for their safety and keep them on their priority list, the COVID-19 and Ukraine evacuations are a glowing examples of it. These isolated incidents should not restrict parents to send their children for higher studies abroad. It is an opportunity to get a world-class education and global exposure. It is every individual's responsibility to be careful of his/her surroundings, the people they associate with and the activities they get involved in while living in a foreign country. Moreover, to create opportunities for new businesses, start-ups, and innovation between India and France, the Macron government aims to have 20,000 Indian students by 2025 to study in the country, a joint statement issued by the two countries said. "Recognising the benefit of bilateral student mobility, France maintains the objective of 20,000 Indian students by 2025 which will create opportunities for new businesses, start-ups and innovation between the two countries," the statement said. The two countries discussed ways to jointly increase the mobility of students, professionals and skilled workers while strengthening their efforts to combat irregular migration between the two. (ANI) Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh met his South Korean counterpart, Kim Young Joo, in Indonesia's Parliament while attending the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta. As per the statement of Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha's office, during the meeting, the Deputy Speaker of Korea emphasized the importance of the overall relationship between India and the Republic of Korea. Deputy Chairman Harivansh spoke about the 'special strategic partnership' between the two countries. He also underlined the need to not only maintain but further enhance the frequency and level of contact between the legislatures of the two countries. Harivansh reminded his counterpart of the long history of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. He recounted the princess of Ayodhya marrying Kim Suro of Gaya confederacy in 48 A.D. He also spoke of the positive role of India in Korea's independence, holding free and fair elections in the Republic of Korea and resolving the humanitarian issues arising out of conflict. Harivansh took the opportunity to assure Kim Young Joo of all possible assistance for his proposed visit to India in the near future. Earlier, on Thursday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the Presiding Officers of G-20 Parliaments on the theme "Effective Parliament, Vibrant Democracy," where he said that the Russia-Ukraine crisis has adversely affected food and energy security in the world and India firmly believes that such conflicts should be resolved through mutual dialogue and diplomacy. "It is in this spirit that India has called for supporting multilateralism for global peace and stability so that we can unite to address the challenges facing the world and find solutions in accordance with the aspirations of the people," Birla added. Birla said that the global instability caused by COVID-19 had created a food and energy security crisis worldwide. "This has significantly increased concerns regarding food and energy security for developing countries and weaker sections of society," he added. Om Birla and Harivansh reached Jakarta on Wednesday and were welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Manoj Bharti. Speaker Birla and the Indian parliamentary party welcomed the P-20 summit being held in Indonesia. The organization of the parliaments of G-20 countries is P-20. It represents 80 per cent of the world's GDP and 75 per cent of trade. It also represents two-thirds of the world's population. (ANI) The suspect in the kidnapping and murders of four Indian-origin family members in California, including a baby, was arrested late Thursday. Jesus Manuel Salgado was arrested on four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping. "This evening, Jesus Manuel Salgado, the suspect in the kidnapping and murder of Aroohi Dheri, Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh, was booked into the Merced County Jail. He was arrested for four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping. Our Detectives, alongside investigators from assisting agencies, will continue to follow up on any leads of additional people who may have been involved in this horrific incident," read Merced County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. Salgado, 48, is accused of kidnapping and killing 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents Jasleen Kaur and Jasdeep Singh, and her uncle Amandeep Singh. He was booked into the Merced County Jail, the sheriff's office said in a statement. After searching for the victims who were reported missing Monday, authorities recovered their bodies in a farm area Wednesday after a farmworker alerted them to remains in an orchard in central California's Merced County. The bodies of four members of the family, who originally hail from Punjab in India were discovered lying close to each other by a farm worker in a remote orchard in Merced county, Sheriff Vern Warnke said on Wednesday. "Tonight our worse fears have been confirmed," the Sheriff said addressing a press conference. "We found four people from the kidnapping. They are in fact deceased," Sheriff Vern Warnke said. "The family (of the victims) have been notified. We have arranged through other contacts to try and get them," he said. The police will process the scene of the crime to determine the motive for the killings, he said. 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri, along with 39-year-old Amandeep Singh was abducted, police said. The family was kidnapped at gunpoint - an abduction recorded on surveillance video - from their trucking business Monday morning in Merced, authorities said. Investigators learned they were missing after a family vehicle was found abandoned and on fire that morning, authorities said. The suspect attempted suicide sometime before he was taken into custody, and he has been receiving medical attention. Salgado was previously in prison for nearly a decade after being convicted of attempted false imprisonment, first-degree robbery and possession of a controlled substance, according to records from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Salgado has a previous conviction for armed robbery and witness intimidation, and according to neighbours, he may have prowled outside the family's business months before he attacked them, reported San Francisco Chronicle. "He would walk up and down the street for quite a while in front of that business and beyond, yelling at people," said Rene Calvazos, 64, who lives near the vast parking lot owned by the Singh family. Salgado was arrested in 2005, Warnke said, for a home invasion case "in which he kept his boss and (their) family at gunpoint over money he thought he was owed. I think this is the same kind of thing." Salgado received an 11-year state prison sentence in 2007 for first-degree armed robbery, attempted false imprisonment, and dissuading or tampering with a witness or victim under specified circumstances. A month later, he was handed an eight-month sentence for possession of a controlled substance. He served an eight-year prison term and was paroled from 2015 until 2018. (ANI) Togo's minister of education and research, Dr Wateba said that they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra University and will work in various fields. While addressing the presser, Dr Wateba, who is in Andhra Pradesh, said that one of the objectives of his visit is to collaborate on different fields like IT, Incubations, skill development, agriculture and space. He also said that they wanted to make a strong relationship with India so that the students, who were receiving training here, can contribute to their development. In the presence of the Indian Ambassador, Andhra University has announced that they have reduced the tuition fee structure for all African students on par with Indian self-finance students for all the courses i.e., Bachelor, Masters and Ph. D in Engineering, Pharmacy, Management from the 2022-23 academic year. Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Professor P.V.G.D. Prasad Reddy said that this collaboration will give the students access to Togo's market, which will be great for them. Indian Ambassador to Togo, Sanjiv Tandon, recently participated in the education fair held in Togo's capital Lome. Reddy said that the AU team also joined the embassy team to explain education and research opportunities in Indian institutions.AU Vice-Chancellor said, "Dr Wateba is Minister for Higher Education and Research, Govt. of Togo. He is an expert in infectious and tropical diseases. He is the man who handled the Covid-19 situation in Togo." Dr Wateba is also in teaching and research and was a Professor at the University of Lome', Togo before joining the Govt. of Togo. He came along with his wife. Reddy also said that they may appoint Prof. Wateba as an Emeritus Professor in the Human Genetics department of the University. "Some of the interesting subjects are upcoming technological areas such as machine learning, internet of things," Reddy said on the possible areas of collaboration. "They are interested to have faculty from Andhra University travel to Togo. So, it will not only be the exchange of students but also of faculty and scholars," he added. (ANI) Photo: Glacier Media When a 30-year-old man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a victim from a vehicle at gunpoint in Richmond will be sentenced remains unknown. Michael Husain appeared by video in Vancouver provincial court on Oct. 6. Husain pleaded guilty in March to three charges, including kidnapping using a firearm, assault causing bodily harm and using a firearm to commit an indictable offence. The charges relate to a September 2021 incident. Crown prosecutor Jeremy Hermanson told Judge John Milne Husain had fired his lawyer, prompting the judge to ask if he had a new one. No, Im still looking for a new lawyer, Husain said from Surrey Pretrial Centre where he is being held. He told the judge he had not received any of the Crown disclosure on his case, saying he had asked his previous lawyer for the documentation but had not received it. Milne directed that Husain receive the information on a thumb drive. The case returns to court Oct. 20. Three other people were charged in connection with the kidnapping. For her part in the offences, Ashley Smith was sentenced to almost six years behind bars Sept. 28. According to a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) statement at the time, the victim was assaulted, restrained and suffered significant, but non-life threatening injuries. Following a brief pursuit by police, VPD officers rescued the victim. The four suspects were arrested in Richmond. An investigation into home invasions, said police, led to the suspects being charged with kidnapping. An Indian-origin man, 74, has been arrested in California for shooting dead his daughter-in-law at the parking lot of a Walmart store in San Jose last week, local police said. 74-year-old Sital Singh Dosanjh, the primary suspect in the incident that took place on September 30 has been arrested from his house in Fresno on October 1, San Jose Police Department (SJPD) said in a statement. "During the course of the investigation, SJPD Homicide Unit Detectives determined that the suspect Sital Singh Dosanjh was the primary suspect in this homicide and obtained a warrant for his arrest. On October 1, 2022, the suspect was located and arrested at his residence in Fresno," the SJPD said. The suspect was subsequently transported to San Jose and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for homicide. The SJPD thanked the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno County Gang Task Force for their assistance with this investigation and apprehension. East Bay Times, a US-based daily, reported that Gurpreet Kaur Dosanjh was on a phone call with her uncle the afternoon she was killed. The uncle told police that she talked to him about her fears about Dosanjh. She also reportedly told her uncle that she saw Donsanjh driving into the parking lot, indicating that he had travelled 150 miles to find her, East Bay Times reported. According to the publication, the uncle told that his niece sounded "frightened" and that Dosanjh was approaching her car, while she was taking a break from work. That was the last thing the uncle said he heard before the phone call disconnected. And five hours later, a Walmart co-worker discovered the body of Gurpreet Kaur Dosanjh in the parking lot and suffering from at least two gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Giving details about the incident, SJPD said that the officers responded to a report of a person down in a vehicle. "Officers on scene and homicide detectives were able to identify a suspect believed to be responsible for the homicide and obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect. The suspect's information was disseminated to allied law enforcement agencies and on Saturday, October 1, the suspect was located at a residence in the city of Fresno," SJPD said. The police investigation further revealed that the phone call with her uncle occurred around 1 pm. And detectives found that surveillance video showed that Sital Dosanjh's black Silverado pickup truck was seen entering the parking lot at 1:17 pm, driving up near his daughter-in-law's car at 1:23 p.m., then leaving the lot at 1:30 p.m, the East Bay Times reported. The publication cited police to say that Gurpreet Kaur Dosanjh's uncle told investigators that his niece "was in the process of divorcing (the) suspect's son," and that the husband and his father lived in Fresno. Meanwhile, four members of a family of Indian-origin, including an eight-month old infant who went missing from Merced County were found dead on Thursday in an orchard. One person has been taken into police custody in connection with the case. (ANI) MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan met Minister of State, African Affairs of UAE H.E. Shakhboot bin Nahyan, on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council High-Level debate in New York. Taking to Twitter, MoS said, "Good to meet Minister of State, African Affairs of UAE H.E. Sheikh Shakhbout on the sidelines of UNSC High-Level debate in New York. Had a fruitful conversation on the significant progress made in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between two friendly countries." Earlier on Thursday, Muraleedharan met the foreign minister of Gabon Michael Adamo and held discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations. MoS tweeted, "Happy to meet FM of Gabon, H.E. Michael Adamo on the sidelines of UNSC High Level debate at New York. Useful discussion on various aspects of bilateral relations. Congratulated Gabon on assumption of UNSC Presidency in Oct 2022." He also invited the Gabon foreign minister to the counter-terrorism committee special meeting to be held in India towards the end of October 2022. Muraleedharan congratulated Gabon with best wishes and greetings on its Presidency of the Security Council for this month. Gabon, a central African country, officially took over as President of the UN Security Council for the month of October. At the UNSC debate over peace and security in Africa, MoS V. Muraleedharan highlighted that a violence-free Africa is necessary to prevent external forces including terrorists exploiting the resource-rich region. Those "guilty of aiding and supporting terrorism" in different parts of Africa and simultaneously exploiting the resources must be held accountable by the international community, he added. Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan made these remarks during a UNSC debate titled "Peace and Security in Africa: Strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources." In recent years, MoS said, terrorist and armed groups have been making deep inroads by exploiting security gaps and fragile governance institutions in the continent, particularly in the Horn of Africa, Sahel and East and Central Africa. He highlighted that the terrorist groups are accentuating their funding by exploiting the resource-rich region. "These regions have remained vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing. Terrorist and armed groups are increasingly funding their activities through illegal exploitation of natural resources and trafficking of wildlife, and extortion, etc., amongst other well-known activities." Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the concluding session of P20 and stressed dialogue and diplomacy are the only ways to resolve global issues for world peace and prosperity. Taking to Twitter, Om Birla said that he invited the delegates to the next P20 Summit which will be hosted by India as New Delhi will be hosting the G-20 (Group of 20) leaders' summit in New Delhi next year in 2023. "Participating in Concluding Session of #P20, thanked Parliament of Indonesia for successfully organising the Summit. Invited the Delegates to the next #P20 Summit which will be hosted by India," he said in a tweet. "Mentioning that mutual cooperation is the foundation of success for G-20, stressed on dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global issues for world peace & prosperity," Lok Sabha Speaker added. In the session, he outlined India's journey of democracy in the last 75 years and mentioned that the smooth transfer of power after every election has been the speciality of democracy. India's Parliament protects the interests of citizens and legislates purposively to fulfil their hopes and aspirations, Birla added. He also said that the shared efforts should guide the parliaments to innovate and to identify and resolve these challenges. Birla, who is in Jakarta to attend the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, also met the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, Chuan Leekpai and expressed condolences on the killings of children in the incident of firing in Bangkok. [{7e5b7bf2-96a1-44ee-a95c-9caf1f182206:intradmin/ANI-20221007074927.jpg}] The brutal incident took place on Thursday at the Child Development Center in Nong Bua Lamphu province's Uthaisawan Na Klang district. Taking to Twitter, Birla said, "Mentioning that foreign policies of India & Thailand complement each other, stressed on consolidating relationship on global fora. Improving port connectivity and several other issues were discussed." Earlier, Birla also met the Deputy of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, Duarte Pacheco and appreciated his initiatives to strengthen IPU as a global platform for raising the voices of the common man. [{81ec39d6-449b-4adf-97bf-33b2138409ad:intradmin/ANI-20221007074951.jpg}] Om Birla and Harivansh reached Jakarta on Wednesday and were welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Manoj Bharti. Speaker Birla and the Indian parliamentary party welcomed the P-20 summit being held in Indonesia. The organization of the parliaments of G-20 countries is P-20. It represents 80 per cent of the world's GDP and 75 per cent of trade. It also represents two-thirds of the world's population. (ANI) Consulate General of India in San Francisco is in contact with the family of the four members of Indian origin who were murdered in California and is providing all the necessary assistance, India said on Friday adding that the Merced county police is investigating the matter. A Sikh family of four, including 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri, along with 39-year-old Amandeep Singh were abducted. Later, the bodies of four family members, who originally hail from Punjab in India were discovered lying close to each other by a farm worker in a remote orchard in Merced county, Sheriff Vern Warnke said on Wednesday. Terming the incident "sad and unfortunate", Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said, "Our consulate general had put out some a tweet earlier. They are is in contact with family. We are aware of this. Merced county police is investigating it. We are in touch. The investigation is ongoing. This is a very shocking incident." During a weekly presser, Bagchi said that India will provide all the assistance that it can. The Indian-Origin family was kidnapped at gunpoint - an abduction recorded on surveillance video - from their trucking business Monday morning in Merced, authorities said. Investigators learned they were missing after a family vehicle was found abandoned and on fire that morning. Later the police discovered the bodies of all four family members. The suspect in the kidnapping and murders of four Indian-origin family members in California, including a baby, was arrested late Thursday. Jesus Manuel Salgado was arrested on four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping. The suspect attempted suicide sometime before he was taken into custody, and he has been receiving medical attention. Salgado was previously in prison for nearly a decade after being convicted of attempted false imprisonment, first-degree robbery and possession of a controlled substance, according to records from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Salgado has a previous conviction for armed robbery and witness intimidation, and according to neighbours, he may have prowled outside the family's business months before he attacked them, reported San Francisco Chronicle. "He would walk up and down the street for quite a while in front of that business and beyond, yelling at people," said Rene Calvazos, 64, who lives near the vast parking lot owned by the Singh family. Salgado was arrested in 2005, Warnke said, for a home invasion case "in which he kept his boss and (their) family at gunpoint over money he thought he was owed. I think this is the same kind of thing." Salgado received an 11-year state prison sentence in 2007 for first-degree armed robbery, attempted false imprisonment, and dissuading or tampering with a witness or victim under specified circumstances. A month later, he was handed an eight-month sentence for possession of a controlled substance.He served an eight-year prison term and was paroled from 2015 until 2018. (ANI) Around 50 people from Myanmar and 80 from Cambodia who were held captive in fake job rackets have been rescued, India said on Friday and added a word of caution asking citizens to remain extremely careful of dubious jobs they accept. "Around 50 people have been rescued so far. We are trying to get back others too. We do not have the exact number of people captive in Myanmar. We are in touch with many Indians there," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Indians stuck in Myanmar. He further added that some of these have been released from Myanmar's captivity and some are with Myanmar police as they entered the country illegally. Over instances of similar job rackets in Laos and Cambodia, Bagchi said that our Embassies in Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Bangkok have been helping in repatriating people from there. "We have issued advisories in this regard. Our embassy in Phnom Penh has issued advisories. I would like to reiterate to everyone to be extremely careful what kind of dubious jobs you accept because once you are stuck there it gets very difficult to bring you back safely. This is a word of caution," Bagchi noted. "Around 80 people have been rescued from Cambodia but it is an evolving number," he added. Earlier, India on Wednesday said that it has rescued around 45 Indians trapped in fake job rackets in Myanmar. The information was shared by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi who reiterated that India has been actively pursuing the case of Indians being trapped in fake job rackets in Myanmar. "Thanks to the efforts of @IndiainMyanmar & @IndiainThailand, around 32 Indians had already been rescued. Another 13 Indian citizens have now been rescued, and reached Tamil Nadu today," Bagchi had tweeted. He also said that some more Indian citizens have been rescued from their fake employers and are in the custody of Myanmar authorities and legal formalities have been initiated for their return. "Some more Indian citizens have been rescued from their fake employers and are in custody of Myanmar authorities for illegal entry into that country. Legal formalities have been initiated to get them repatriated at the earliest," added Bagchi. The spokesperson further stated that the details of agents allegedly involved in this job racket have been shared with relevant authorities in various states in India for appropriate action. "Sincere gratitude to all the agencies for ongoing cooperation in rescuing Indian nationals stuck in Cambodia," tweeted India in Cambodia. Bagchi further warned Indian citizens to cross-check before accepting dubious employment offers overseas and apply extreme caution against such jobs. Earlier in September, in an advisory to Indian citizens, the MEA had cautioned IT skilled youth who were the targets of such fake job rackets."Instances of fake job rackets offering lucrative jobs to entice Indian youths for the posts of 'Digital Sales and Marketing Executives' in Thailand by dubious IT firms involved in the call-centre scam and crypto-currency fraud have come to our notice recently by our Missions in Bangkok and Myanmar. The target groups are IT skilled youth who are duped in the name of lucrative data entry jobs in Thailand through social media advertisements as well as by Dubai and India-based agents," read the MEA statement. The victims were reportedly taken across the border illegally mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh conditions. "Indian nationals are advised not to get entrapped in such fake job offers being floated through social media platforms or other sources. Before travelling on tourist/visit visa for employment purposes, Indian nationals are advised to check/verify credentials of foreign employers through concerned Missions abroad, and antecedents of recruiting agents as well as any company before taking up any job offer," added the statement. (ANI) Regarding the increasing number of deaths of Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails, India on Friday reiterated that Pakistan is duty-bound to ensure the security of all Indians in its custody and said that incidents of deaths of Indian prisoners are alarming. In a weekly Presser, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi said, "These increasing incidents of deaths of Indian prisoners are alarming and raise the question of their safety and security in Pakistani jails." Underlining the situation as an ongoing problem, Bagchi noted that there have been an increasing number of deaths of fishermen in recent times and the Indian government has raised the question of the safety of Indian prisoners including fishermen to Pakistan. "This is an ongoing problem. What we understand is that there have been an increasing number of deaths of fishermen in recent times.... 6 Indian prisoners (out of which 5 of them were fishermen) have died in Pakistani custody in the last 9 months or so," Bagchi added. He pointed out that despite of completion of sentences for all six Indian prisoners and multiple demands from the Indian side for their release and repatriation, the prisoners were illegally detained by the neighbouring nation. However, India's High Commission in Islamabad has raised the issue several times of immediate repatriation of Indian prisoners. "We would like to reiterate that Pakistan is duty-bound to ensure the safety and security of all Indians in its custody and we request the Pakistan government once again to release and repatriate all Indians immediately," Bagchi added. Earlier in August, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the government has always given the highest priority to the security of Indian fishermen and all assistance is being provided for their early release from Pakistani custody. Moreover, time and again the cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats by Pakistan authorities are consistently raised with the Pakistan Government and it is conveyed that this issue may be considered on humanitarian and livelihood grounds. Earlier, as many as 20 Indian fishermen were released by the Pakistan government, on June 20, through the Attari Wagah border. The fishermen, who had entered the Pakistani waters unknowingly, were released after spending four years in prison. (ANI) Recalling the "Kanishka" bombings, India on Friday expressed worries over the banned "Sikh for Justice" activities in Canada and said that it is "unfortunate" that objectionable referendums are being allowed in a friendly country. "These objectionable referendums .. it is very unfortunate that these are being allowed in a friendly country. We have reiterated the same before as well. We have conveyed our concerns to the Canadian government at different levels," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a weekly presser. "We hope that these activities stop in future. India has issued an advisory as well that how anti-India activities are on a rise in Canada and how it is posing a risk to Indians. We must not forget Kanishka Bombings. There have been links in the past. We have already banned the SFJ outfit," Bagchi added. The group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is banned in India since 2019. Earlier they had organised a so-called referendum in Brampton, Canada, for carving out a separate nation. Notably, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 "Kanishka" from Canada off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing 329 passengers and crew. This included over 280 Canadian citizens including 29 entire families and 86 children under the age of 12. Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to probe these crimes. "There has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs and our High Commission/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action," the MEA said in a statement. The statement also stressed that "the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada." "In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant," the statement added. The advisory also said Indian nationals and students from India in Canada may also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. "Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any requirement or emergency," the advisory said. This advisory after India termed the so-called Khalistan referendum conducted by separatist groups as a "farcical exercise". (ANI) Marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties with both countries, MoS Meenakashi Lekhi will be on an official visit to Georgia and Kazakhstan to review various facets of bilateral cooperation as well as attend the 6th Summit meeting of CICA in Astana. Minister of State for External Affairs Lekhi will visit Georgia on October 10-11 and Kazakhstan on 12-13 October 2022, a Ministry of External Affairs press release read. This will be the first visit of MoS to Georgia. Bilateral relations with Georgia have intensified after the historic visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last year. During the visit, MoS will be meeting the Foreign Minister of Georgia, as well as other senior dignitaries to review various facets of bilateral cooperation. She will also be interacting with Indian students in Georgia, who are an important link between the two countries. MOS will be leading the Indian delegation to the 6th Summit meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. As one of the founding members of CICA, India has supported CICA's initiatives, including by organizing and participating in various CICA activities, the press release added. On the sidelines of the CICA Summit, MOS will also have some bilateral meetings with senior dignitaries and Ministers from other participating countries, including Kazakhstan. India has close and friendly ties with Georgia and Kazakhstan underpinned by cultural and historical linkages. MoS visit comes at an opportune time as India marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with both countries. The visit will further reinforce the momentum in India's bilateral relations with these countries. (ANI) In a protest against North Korea's continued ballistic missile launches including intercontinental missiles, the US on Friday imposed sanctions on two individuals and three entities for supporting DPRK's weapons programs. The US State Department said that these individuals and entities are connected to the "delivery of refined petroleum to North Korea, an action which directly supports the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military." "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues its unprecedented pace, scale, and scope of ballistic missile launches this year. This year alone, it has launched 41 ballistic missiles. Six of these were intercontinental ballistic missiles," State Department said. It added that these sanctions will send a clear message that US will continue to take "action against those who support the development and sustainment of the DPRK's military and weapons arsenal." The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assests Control (OFAC) designated the entity New Eastern Shipping Co Ltd., along with the individuals Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Huan, for having participated in the transfer or delivery of refined petroleum products to the DPRK. OFAC is also designating two entities owned or controlled by these individuals -- Anfsar Trading (S) Pte. Ltd. and Swanseas Port Services Pte. Ltd. US said that the UN Security Council resolutions prohibit ship-to-ship transfers of any cargo to or from DPRK-flagged vessels and limit the DPRK's import of refined petroleum products to 500,000 barrels per year starting in 2018 -- a cap that the DPRK has broken every year since it was imposed. "Any imports of refined petroleum to the DPRK under the cap are illicit if not reported to the UN 1718 Committee. By designating these entities and individuals, the United States is sending a clear message that we will continue to take actions against those who support the development and sustainment of the DPRK's military and weapons arsenal," it added. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, the Indian Navy wrote, "#INSTarkash in Walvis Bay #Namibia 03-06 Oct 22 as part of ongoing extended range Op Deployment.Interaction with senior #Namibian Govt functionaries, military officials & capability-building activities. #BridgesofFriendship @IndiainNamibia" The visit also marks the third visit of the war vessel to Namibia, the previous being in 2017 and 2019. Recently, INS Tarkash completed its anti-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) on Tuesday. Apart from anti-piracy patrol and joint exercises with regional navies at sea, the deployment was utilised for capacity-building activities like training in damage control and fire fighting, diving, medical aspects and casualty evacuation, the Indian Navy said in an official statement. Recently, the ship took part in a Joint Maritime Exercise with Nigerian Navy Patrol Ships on September 12-13. The exercise provided an opportunity to strengthen interoperability between the Indian and Nigerian navies in various facets of maritime operations like anti-piracy, assistance to vessels in distress, SAR drills, and anti-air and anti-surface operations. Earlier on August 15, INS Tarkash hoisted the tiranga at Rio De Janeiro, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and on July 29, the vessel completed her Mediterranean deployment and entered the Atlantic to continue with her long-range voyage. According to the Indian Navy, the ship participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise in the Atlantic with Royal Morocco Naval Ship Hassan 2, a Floreal Class Corvette on July 26. (ANI) I offer 22 additional questions that may be helpful to ask prior to the Oct. 15 Kelowna municipal election: 1. In 2018, why did the City of Kelowna reduce its sponsorship of the three-day Fat Cat Children's Festival from $20,000 to $5,000? (This past August, under the direction of the mayor and council, Festivals Kelowna organized the one-day Kelowna Made festival with a budget of $50,000, which was sparsely attended.) 2. It is more common for a city council to vote a pay increase for the next council than for themselves. In 2021, did any Kelowna city councillors vote against an automatic annual pay increase for themselves? 3. When asked what his vision for Kelowna is, he replied "Tech and towers." Who said that? a) Coun. Loyal Wooldridge b) City manager Doug Gilchrist c) Mayor Colin Basran. 4. Over the past eight years, council has encouraged biking, and increased the network of bike lanes and paths. Ask each councillor: How many times have you ridden a bike from your residence to a council meeting? 5. Why didn't city staff or council notify Hart Road residents of a pending 16-unit trailer park application, or the date when the issue would be decided at a council meeting? (July 11) 6. Why weren't Hart Road residents allowed to address the council at the July 11 meeting? 7. Which member of council, in an Aug. 25 interview, attacked the motivations of those who want to see a ward system for city council? 8. According to Zumper.com (a major online rental site), in August, was Kelowna the third, fifth, or 10th most expensive Canadian city in which to rent a one-bedroom apartment? 9. On Sept. 26, council voted to change 23 zoning designations to just six. What were the reasons for the change? 10. The 11-member Liveable Kelowna panel endorsed five male candidates and one female candidate for council. How many panel members are men? 11. A truly liveable city has a reliable public transit system, where residents can travel from A to B within a reasonable time. How would you rate the Kelowna public transit system? a) Excellent b) Good c) Satisfactory d) Fair e) Poor. Colin Basran (then a 2014 mayoral candidate) said: "It is important to improve the connectivity between them [town centres] via public transit and active transportation corridors. Not only does this promote health and active living, it also encourages people to leave their vehicles behind and off our crowded road system. As you are probably aware, we have one of the highest vehicle ownership rates in Canada, not something to be proud of, which incidentally are the biggest contributors of greenhouse gas in Kelowna. Thus, encouraging growth in our town centres, where all the popular amenities are located, can help reverse that trend." (Sept. 29, 2014) 12. Ask each councillor: How many times have you used public transit during the past 12 months? a) 12+ b) 6 to 11 c) 1 to 5 d) 0. 13. Should council incumbent candidates be given opportunities to attend city-sponsored events during the campaign period? 14. Should non-incumbent council candidates be given opportunities to attend city-sponsored events during the campaign period? 15. Regarding proposed changes to the Parkinson Recreation Centre, which of the four options from the 2015 feasibility study do you support? 16. Do you support the newest recreation centre proposal that would cost taxpayers about $80 million more, for a total of $166 million? 17. Coun. Maxine DeHart, director of sales and marketing at Kelowna's Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, is again running for re-election. Is it appropriate for Maxine DeHart's United Way Drive-Thru Breakfast to always take place just days before the election? 18. From Mayor Basran's 2022 campaign flyer: "I will not make unrealistic promises to win votes." Over his eight years as mayor, are there any promises he made that are still unfulfilled? 19. Do you believe 18-to-30-year-old Kelownians have the power to determine who's elected to city council if even 25% of this group voted? 20. Do you think incumbent council candidates prefer low or high voter turnout? 21. What should the new council's number one priority be over the next four years? a) Affordable housing b) Reduce traffic congestion c) Reduce homelessness d) Public safety e) Increase infrastructure f) Environmental sustainability & green space g) Other 22. If Mayor Basran and all other incumbent councillor candidates are returned to office for another four years, what do you imagine Kelowna will be like in Oct. 2026? David Buckna, Kelowna Recalling the guiding motto given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas' i.e. 'Development of all with the support of all and the trust of all' , Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh said that the slogan clearly manifests the spirit of social inclusion, gender equality and women's empowerment. He spoke on 'Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment' at the G20 Parliamentary Speaker's meeting on Friday in the Jarkarta Capital of Indonesia. Harivansh further said that this spirit is so much imbibed in Indian culture and social ethos that it has always been kept on a very high pedestal and has also been enshrined in Indian Constitution itself as gender equality to accord it a constitutional guarantee. Underlining a big jump seen in the new start-ups in India by women, especially in areas regarded as men's domain, Harivansh said that it is a testimony to the fact that the focus of women's empowerment is now on the paradigm shift from women's development to women-led development. He added that to give a boost to the women empowerment allocation for women-related schemes in India has been increased by 14 per cent. Dy Chairman Harivansh highlighted that India is working in mission mode for ensuring women's education, safety, health, nutrition and sanitation and also ensuring their economic empowerment through skilling, digital literacy and financial inclusion. Praising the role played by women during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the healthcare sector, Harivansh said that the women did a commendable job as frontline workers with more than 6 million women constituting around 70 per cent of the healthcare workforce in India. Speaking about different social schemes for gender equality and social inclusion initiated in India, Harivansh informed that 81 per cent of loans amounting from one million to ten million rupees have been given to women under the stand-up India scheme. In one of the largest financial inclusion programmes in the world, the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, more than 225 million women mostly in rural areas have benefited by opening their own bank accounts. Funds were directly transferred to the bank accounts of 28 million pregnant and lactating mothers. Under the PM Housing Scheme, most of the 20 million houses made are in the name of women. Harivansh said that the present Head of the State in India is a woman and also there are at present 114 women Members in both Houses of Parliament of India which includes 10 Ministers. He also highlighted that the local elected bodies at the grassroots level in India have now become the nurseries of future women leaders having more than 1.45 million i.e. 46-50 per cent of women as elected members. Harivansh called upon the parliamentarians of G20 countries to move on with the mission to make better the lives of all rich and poor, high and low, men and women and coming together to make a huge difference. An Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is visiting Jakarta, Indonesia from 5-7 October 2022 to attend the Eighth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20). (ANI) After weeks of protests in Iran over the death of a 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in custody of Morality Police, the country's forensic department in its medical report on Friday said that her death was "not caused by blows" but was due to multiple organ failure caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. This is contrary to Amini's father's statement where he accused the Morality Police of hitting his daughter after she was taken in custody. Iran's coroner said that the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody was not because she was hit but instead due to an illness, reported Al Jazeera quoting Iran's news agency IRNA. Since her death, on September 16 there have been wide spread protests in Iran against curbs on women's freedom. "Mahsa Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body," the official report said. It instead attributed Amini's death to multiple organ failure caused by cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen to the brain. "Due to the ineffective cardio-respiratory resuscitation in the first critical minutes, she suffered severe hypoxia and as a result brain damage despite recovery from cardiac functioning," it said. Notably, Amini was arrested in Tehran on September 13 for dressing "inappropriately." Three days later, she died while in custody. It sparked demonstrations and clashes with security forces where many people lost their lives. More than 100 people have been killed in nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, according to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO. Iranian schoolgirls and women have come out in huge numbers to demonstrate by removing their hijabs and staging rallies in protest over Amini's death. (ANI) Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship rescued six Indian fishermen who were drowning near the international maritime boundary line between India and Pakistan and were handed over to the Indian Coastal Gaurd ship operating in the area, PMSA said. PMSA in a tweet wrote, "During routine patrolling in Eastern maritime region, PMSA ship rescued 6 #Indian fishermen who were drowning close to Int'l Maritime Boundary Line b/w IND & PAK." PMSA Ship provided first aid and food to fishermen thus helping to stabilise their physical condition, it said and added that later, the rescued fishermen were handed over to ICG ship operating in the area. The humanitarian gesture of PMSA ship was appreciated by the rescued fishermen as well as by Indian Coastal Guard. Moreover, Pakistan on June 20 released 20 Indian fishermen through the Attari Wagah Border as a goodwill gesture. The fishermen, who had entered the Pakistani waters unknowingly, were released after spending four years in prison. Speaking to ANI, a fisherman named Kanji said, "We were caught in the sea in our own area. The speedboat started firing as it came and caught me for crossing the border." "I am coming back home after four years and looking forward to home-cooked meals as we used to cook our own food in prison," he added.Another fisherman Akil said he was caught while finding his net in the sea and never realised that he crossed the borders, adding that he is now happy to be back in his homeland as he hailed the Modi government. The fishermen who were released are Gujarat natives who were caught in different groups on October 2 and May 18 respectively, following which a judicial trial took place and they were sentenced to four years in prison.The release took place after immigration authorities carried out the required formalities, post which the Gujarat police came and took them under a safeguard towards their native places. (ANI) Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is prepared enough for the upcoming possible long march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Islamabad, as his party leadership decided that the government would crush its designs through the power of law, as per reports. The senior leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has put its weight behind the federal government during a meeting of the party leaders chaired by the prime minister. The participants of the meeting termed the PTI's plan of the long march a "conspiracy" against the state and decided that the government would crush its designs through the power of law, Dawn newspaper reported citing a statement issued by the PM House. "It will not be a political long march of PTI but a march for a conspiracy," the PML-N leaders said. Meanwhile, Imran Khan directed party workers to get ready for the 'Haqeeqi Azadi March' in Islamabad. After the announcement, the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government had decided to call out army and deploy troops in the capital city if PTI chief Imran Khan gave a call for the march. The ousted Prime minister claimed that there is only one way for Pakistan to come out of the prevailing situation and that is to ensure fresh general elections in the country. While addressing a mega rally last month in Punjab's Rahimyar Khan district, Khan said he would give the final call for anti-government protests when the time was ripe, asserting that it would come when he is assured that he can "take three wickets in one ball". Earlier Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had lashed out at the ex-PM and accused him of "treason against the state and the nation by spinning a deceitful narrative of conspiracy" against the ruling coalition and the state institutions. "It was treason committed against the nation and not less than that," the prime minister said while replying to a question about the conspiracy claims made by Imran Khan. In a comment on the leaked conversation between ex-PM Imran and his former principal secretary Azam Khan, the premier said the apparent use of the diplomatic cable by Imran Khan for political mileage had badly damaged Pakistan's relations with friendly countries. (ANI) Ten people were injured, including two children, after an New York City police vehicle collided with a car and crashed into a Bronx sidewalk Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The collision happened at about 3 p.m. ET near the intersection of Hoe and Westchester avenues, which is a little more than 2 miles east of Yankee Stadium, police said. Ten people were injured, Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey told reporters. The victims include a 65-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, Maddrey said. Two police officers were also among the injured, the Fire Department of New York said. Two officers were in their marked vehicle when it ran into a civilian's car, and "as a result of the collision, the police vehicle mounted a curb and struck multiple pedestrians," police said in a statement. The seriousness of their injuries was not immediately known. The officers were responding to larceny call when it was cut off in traffic, NBC New York reported. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Lawmakers are questioning Defense Department officials about the reduction in reimbursements for retail pharmacies in the Tricare network, expressing concern about the effects on military beneficiaries access to local pharmacies. These reductions may leave many retail pharmacies unable to participate in the Tricare Pharmacy Program, thus significantly impacting 9.6 million Tricare beneficiaries access to local pharmacies, stated the Sept. 29 letter to Seileen Mullen, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. The letter was signed by 100 senators and representatives. The lawmakers noted that over 90% of Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, and 76.5% of pharmacies in rural areas are independent community pharmacies. Defense officials confirmed that 27% of the pharmacies in the Tricare retail pharmacy network are leaving as of Oct. 24. Those leaving are community and independent pharmacies. Express Scripts Inc., the pharmacy contractor responsible for maintaining the Tricare pharmacy network, has said that of the roughly 55,586 network retail pharmacies, 14,963 will not continue participation in the network, said Peter Graves, spokesman for the Defense Health Agency, in a statement provided to Military Times. Despite this change, the Tricare retail network will continue to meet or exceed Tricares standard for pharmacy access, Graves said. CVS and Walgreens, as well as many grocery store pharmacies and smaller chains continue to participate. Beneficiaries will continue to have many convenient, local in-network options for filling their medications, including those beneficiaries in rural locations, he said. Nearly 95% of beneficiaries will maintain access to at least two network pharmacies within 15 minutes from their home, and 99.8% will have access within 30 minutes. Tricare doesnt participate in contract negotiations between Express Scripts and retail pharmacies, he said. Nearly 14,000 community pharmacies leaving Tricare network next month Story continues In a statement provided to Military Times, Express Scripts said the company offered new terms and conditions to pharmacies for participation in the new Tricare pharmacy retail network, and nearly 41,000 chain, grocery store and independent pharmacies agreed to participate. The new network will include at least 7,000 community pharmacies. The terms and conditions offered to pharmacies represented our best and final rates, and aligned with the economics necessary to provide the value to the Tricare program and ensure beneficiaries have access to the best possible prices for their prescription drug needs, officials stated. Officials said they structure the network terms and conditions to ensure the ongoing balance between access, quality, and cost in the Tricare pharmacy network. The changes are the result of their effort to ensure the best value and care for the Department of Defense, beneficiaries and taxpayers. The changes take effect Oct. 24, rather than at the end of the year, and the lawmakers also questioned that timing, which may force many beneficiaries to change pharmacies at a time when they receive annual vaccinations. Karen Ruedisueli, director of health affairs in government relations for the Military Officers Association of America, said that organization is concerned about the impact on those in rural areas. We are hearing from families who will have to drive past a community pharmacy and/or Walmart and then another 20 to 30 miles to get to a network pharmacy, she said. Walmart left the Tricare pharmacy network in December 2021. She said many long-term-care pharmacies are among the independent pharmacies leaving the Tricare network, creating a barrier to access for long-term-care residents, including those in assisted living and post-inpatient rehabilitation facilities serving the elderly and those with disabilities. MOAA is very concerned about the impact on long-term-care residents such as those in assisted living. They dont have the option of switching to a retail pharmacy or mail order and, for some, this cut to the network will present an insurmountable barrier to using their earned Tricare pharmacy benefit. Graves, spokesman for DHA, said Express Scripts began notifying affected beneficiaries about the changes in mid-September. Anyone with a prescription at an impacted pharmacy should transfer it to a new network pharmacy to avoid paying the full cost of the prescription up front or having to file a claim for reimbursement, he said. Beneficiaries who have a specialty medication prescription with one of the departing pharmacies will receive assistance from Express Scripts in transferring those prescriptions to a network pharmacy. Atlanta police are investigating a shooting involving two teenagers. Police said the shooting happened on Thursday. Officers were called out to 91 Lakeview Drive NE about a person shot. When they got to the scene, officers found a 19-year-old who had been shot. Police said he was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. TRENDING STORIES: After some investigation, police said the victim was shot by a 15-year-old boy. The boy was with an adult, at the time, suspected of a robbery. Police said the suspect and victim are familiar with each other. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A 16-year-old Burns High School student is facing charges Friday after a gun was found on campus, the Cleveland County sheriff said. ALSO READ: Gun found in students backpack at West Charlotte High School, source says Another student reported the gun to authorities. The accused teen consented to a search of their car where a pistol was discovered. The student was arrested and charged as a juvenile. An alert was sent to parents about the incident, the sheriff said. There was no threat to the school, authorities said. >>Watch Channel 9s LIVE STREAM wherever you are, at this link The identity of the teen was not released due to their age. VIDEO: Threat to Rock Hill high school traced back to Texas, police say Two U.S. citizens living in Mexico have pleaded guilty to buying firearms and smuggling them into Mexico, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Western District of Texas said in a news release Friday. Edwin Alejandro Rodriguez, 21, pleaded guilty earlier in the week and Martin Najera, 30, pleaded guilty the previous week to buying firearms and then smuggling them into Mexico, the news release said. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation in April into reports that Rodriguez and Najera were buying firearms and exporting them to Mexico. Agents from HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified approximately 31 firearms that were bought by the pair and then transported to Mexico. Mexican National Guard troops seized three rifles and three handguns being smuggled over the border into Juarez at the Bridge of the Americas in October 2021. Rodriguez and Najera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States. Sentencing for both men is expected in December. They face up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine sentencing after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; HSI Special Agent in Charge Frank Burrola, El Paso Division; and ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II, Dallas Division, made the announcement. HSI and ATF are investigating the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Denum is prosecuting. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence in order to make neighborhoods safer. On May 26, 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening Project Safe Neighborhoods based on the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 2 plead guilty to buying firearms, then smuggling them into Mexico Re: Anti-SOGI pamphlet distributed at Kelowna school parking lot (Castanet, Sept. 28) There are four candidates running in for Central Okanagan School District trustee (in Kelowna) who align themselves under the banner of ParentsVoice. The ParentsVoiceBC website is jumble of words that is obviously a smokescreen for its anti-science, anti-LGBTQ+ inclusivity, anti-government, wanting to ban books on inclusivity,( position). They avoid answering any questions directly and talk around the issues so as to appear supportive of all students. I would assume that since all four of the candidates Chris Fieber, Tovey Demman, Teresa Docksteader and Laurie Bowen are running as some sort of coalition, they all feel the same way. I will go ahead and make the assumption that the woman who was handing out pamphlets at Watson Road elementary about banning books to stop health education and inclusivity will be voting for the four candidates mentioned above. Quoting from Castanets article: The flyer bears the name of Action4Canada, a group that has gained notoriety during the pandemic for espousing anti-vaccine views and has campaigned against 5G technology, abortion, "political Islam," the United Nations, legal cannabis and LGBTQ issues. "Our mission is to protect Canadas rich heritage, which is founded on Judeo-Christian biblical principles," states the group's website. The pamphlet makes a number of false claims related to sexual orientation gender identity (SOGI) education in B.C. schools. If you are wondering if candidates will support our children, regardless of how they present, who they love, what colour they are, what religion they are, they will tell you in their platform. Just go look at (candidate) Wayne Broughtons or (candidate) Val Johnsons websites, like I just did. It is very clear what they stand for and what to expect from them. These are the candidates I assume will be focused on the best interests of all teachers and students in the district. If you dont support any cultures and lifestyles outside of the Judeo-Christian biblical norm, then youll probably want to vote for the PartentsVoice candidates. Quoting directly from the ParentsVoiceBC website: New (Conservative Party of Canada) leader Pierre Pollievre has encouraged Conservatives to vote in local elections for non-woke candidates. We would welcome his endorsement of our candidates. Sara Bennett The bodies of 534 civilians have been discovered in Ukrainian territories previously occupied by Russian troops, Serhii Bolvinov, who leads the investigative department of Kharkiv's regional police, told journalists Thursday. Nineteen of those bodies belonged to children and 226 were women, he said. The count includes remains that were found in shallow graves last month at a mass burial site in Izyum, where hundreds of corpses were discovered after Russian troops were forced out of the area by a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Bolvinov said authorities identified 22 sites that Russian troops used as torture chambers when they were occupying the area. "In almost all the big towns and settlements where the soldiers of the Russian army were based, they arranged these locations for detaining civilians and prisoners of war, where they got tortured," Bolvinov said. "The most common type of torture is connecting wires to shock someone's body, and causing pain by that. Severe beatings with sticks and other items. There is also evidence of the nails being removed and other horrible things, including usage of a gas-mask to stifle breathing." He said the most recent torture chamber to be discovered by Ukrainian investigators in the region had been continuously manned by about 10 soldiers. It was in the basement of a house in Pisky-Radkivski, a village near where Russian troops positioned their headquarters. Ukrainian detainees, who were captured for among other things breaking curfew or being accused of spotting for Ukrainian attacks, were held and tortured in that basement, which was about 8 feet long by 5 feet wide. "We have witnesses who are giving us information on the fact that they heard people screaming, begging for help, to be let out, and sometimes people asked to go to the toilet from this basement," Bolvinov said. "Sometimes, after these screams, the locals heard gunshots, and the screams stopped after that." Story continues In the basement, investigators found blindfolds, ropes, a dildo, military jackets, written notes of prisoner "confessions," a telephone, a gas mask, and a plastic container full of dentures and teeth. The teeth have been sent to be DNA profiled, to identify who they belong to and determine whether they were taken from a local dentist. Mariia Kashchenko contributed to this report. Julia Roberts on George Clooney: "I love being his foil" Arizona Senate Debate Showdown Drone captures stunning fall colors in Minnesota California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, shown at an event in Playa del Rey in April, announced Friday that 56 people were arrested in connection with an alleged $5-million stolen check scheme that targeted hundreds of California residents. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) Fifty-six people have been arrested in connection with the theft of nearly $5 million from hundreds of California residents in a widespread stolen check scheme, authorities said Friday. The suspects began operating the scheme in 2018 and targeted more than 750 victims across several counties, including Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said in a release. They are accused of altering stolen checks, depositing them into bank accounts and withdrawing the money from ATMs before banks discovered the forgeries, according to the release. The suspects then allegedly used the money to fund other crimes. Let this be a strong warning to anyone seeking to steal peoples hard-earned money: We will find you, and we will hold you accountable, Bonta said. The suspects are facing charges of aggravated white-collar crime in excess of $500,000, conspiracy to commit grand theft by false pretenses, forgery and money laundering, officials said. "Let this case be an example that this kind of criminal conduct, especially when it involves the U.S. Mail, will not be ignored, or go unpunished," said Carroll Harris, inspector in charge of the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The arrests mark the end of a yearlong investigation into the case that involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including postal inspectors and officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Fox News The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld has had enough of dowdy college students, claiming todays undergrads just arent hot enough. During a discussion on the Fox News show, Gutfeld, 58, was discussing student loans in a roundtable with his co-hosts on a college that is offering a course called Doing Nothing when he made the surprising admission that college doesnt look like its fun anymore. Have you seen how miserable and how miserable-looking a lot of these students are? he lamented. Gutfeld claimed students are deliberately ugly-fying themselves and rejecting the truth in beauty. He continued: You see them on TikTok, theyre out of shape, theyre asexual... they all look like rejects from the loony bin. 58-year-old Greg Gutfeld complains that today's college kids aren't hot enough. "They are deliberately ugly-fying themselves... They're out of shape, asexual, they're rejecting the truth in beauty, they all look like rejects from a loony bin. I'd steer clear of college, too!" pic.twitter.com/v9cUtlTJrA Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 6, 2022 When probed for his thoughts on the Doing Nothing course, he said: I think the course in doing nothing is actually majoring in gender studies, before complaining that the cost of college is one of the main reasons why people arent going. Afterward, he took to Twitter to promote his nightly show, Gutfeld!, on Twitter, describing it as another insane hour of quality programming hosted by the most handsome host on the planet (studies show). Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The occupier told his wife about the disappearance of those mobilized at the front In the intercept, which the ministry posted on the Telegram messenger on Oct. 7, one of the invaders can be heard complaining to his wife about the unbearable situation in Ukraine and being under constant fire. We have 65 people disappeared from those mobilized, the invader added. Read also: Thousands of newly-mobilized Russian conscripts in Belgorod complain about barbaric conditions They just arrived and disappeared the next day. Ukraine has launched phone hotlines and websites through which newly mobilized and regular Russian soldiers can obtain instructions on how to surrender safely to Ukrainian forces. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin early on Sept. 21 declared a partial mobilization in Russia and his readiness to use nuclear weapons in the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of Russia. Read also: At least three mobilized soldiers die at conscription points in Russia Later Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that 300,000 reservists would be called up during the partial mobilization. However, according to Russian opposition media, classified mobilization plans envisage sending one million Russians or more to war against Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, April 24, 2022. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70 on Friday. When he invaded Ukraine, he hoped to have comfortably conquered the country by now. Instead he's facing domestic unrest, military defeats, isolation, and sanctions. Despite being one of the most powerful people in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to be feeling invincible on his landmark 70th birthday. An apparent desire to recapture Russia's old empire, to reclaim land that he saw as Russian, drove Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine. At one point he explicitly compared himself to the Russian conqueror Peter the Great. He expected a quick victory with little opposition, hoping to unseat Ukraine's government, assert his will beyond Russia's borders, and paint NATO as hollow and ineffectual. Instead, Ukraine put up a fierce fight forcing Russia back from the capital Kyiv and compelling Putin to drastically scale back his war aims to conquering the eastern Donbas region. Even there, a months-long stalemate has in recent weeks evaporated as Ukraine pushed forward to retake swathes of territory and leave Russia on the run. After eight months of trying, Russia's once-feared military has achieved almost none of its objectives and is badly depleted. The situation forced Putin to announce an unpopular draft to compel more people to fight, prompting an exodus of military-age men from his country and undermining his iron grip on power. There are domestic protests against his mobilization efforts, and even the usually loyal Russian media and Putin's own officials are acknowledging how badly the war is going. Every Russian defeat also encourages Ukraine's Western allies to step up their support of the country, eroding what was once a widespread pessimism, particularly in European capitals, which held that Ukraine had no chance of victory. Faced with these setbacks, Putin has been left threatening to deploy nuclear weapons a desperate move which has left him further isolated. Story continues Putin said his attack on Ukraine was meant to counter the expansion of NATO towards Russia's borders. But his invasion only resulted in a surge in support for the military alliance, with the longtime neutral nations of Sweden and Finland abandoning that position to begin the process of joining. Putin's reduced status was clear even in his plans for the day. In past years, The Moscow Times reported, saw Putin meeting with leaders mighty nations like China and Japan, positioning Russia among the world's leading nations. In 2022, despite the landmark 70th birthday, Putin's plans were distinctly provincial with visits lined up from a handful of leaders from post-Soviet states like Belarus and Tajikistan. It will be hard for him to avoid the conclusion that he is beginning his eighth decade as the diminished leader of an isolated nation. Read the original article on Business Insider Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) holds a press conference to propose a 15-week abortion ban with representatives from anti-abortion organizations on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 13, 2022. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times) When Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., proposed a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the bill sparked controversy across the political spectrum. But few spoke of its potential impact on the growing number of women who are having children in their 30s. The proposed ban would allow exceptions to save a womans life and for some pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, but it notably lacks exceptions for fetal abnormalities. As such, it would sharply restrict options for the growing numbers of older women with pregnancies that are long-delayed and much wanted but also come with a greater risk of conditions like Down syndrome. The median childbearing age in the United States has increased in recent decades, reaching 30 in 2019, up from 27 in 1990. But older mothers are more likely to conceive fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities, and the test most commonly used to detect those disorders can only be performed after a pregnancy is 15 weeks along, beyond Grahams proposed window for abortion. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Some anatomical anomalies, too, cannot be diagnosed until later in pregnancy. Older mothers are also more likely to enter pregnancy with health conditions that can worsen as gestation progresses and can require termination to save the womans life or prevent disability. While highly educated women have long delayed childbearing, American women from all economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds are having children at older ages, according to Anne Morse, a survey statistician at the Census Bureau. The most significant changes have occurred among Black mothers and women who were not born in the United States, whose median age of giving birth increased to 28 from 24 and to 32 from 27, respectively, over the past 30 years. There have been large declines in births to women in their 20s in every single demographic group, Morse said. And every demographic group, with the exception of Native American and Alaska Native women, has seen an increase in birthrates among women ages 35 to 39, she said. Story continues Grahams bill, which is not expected to pass in a Congress narrowly controlled by Democrats, has been controversial even among Republicans who oppose abortion, and several Republican senators told reporters that the issue is best left to the states to decide. Only a small percentage of abortions take place after 15 weeks gestation: In 2019, 95.6% of abortions reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention occurred before the 16th week. Most of these rare procedures are performed for younger women and those with unplanned pregnancies, low incomes or limited access to care. But older women who have planned their pregnancies might be more likely to pursue an abortion after 15 weeks because of the higher risk of fetal abnormalities. While a woman in her early 20s has a 1 in 500 chance of conceiving a child with a chromosomal abnormality, the risk increases to 1 in 270 for a 30-year-old woman and to 1 in 60 for a 40-year-old. Studies have found that 67% to 85% of women chose termination after diagnoses of Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal abnormality, which results in a range of physical and developmental problems. Amniocentesis, a procedure in which amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and tested for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, and the all-important midpregnancy ultrasound that detects structural anomalies, can only be carried out after 15 weeks and at 20 weeks of gestation, respectively. Moreover, conditions that can make for a risky pregnancy like high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more prevalent among older women and pose more problems as pregnancies progress, straining the heart, lungs and kidney, several doctors noted. Women with college degrees have children an average of seven years later than those without degrees, and the average age of first marriage has risen to 28, up from 24 in 1990. A lot of women, including myself, delayed childbearing to get through at least part of their career trajectory, said Dr. Melissa Simon, vice chair for research in the obstetrics and gynecology department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. It puts you in your mid- to late 30s, and youre considered high-risk in the maternal care world, she added. You are at higher risk for genetic anomalies and at higher risk for more complications. At least 13 states have banned abortion altogether, and Georgia has banned the procedure at six weeks pregnancy. But among states where abortion is legal, Florida is the only one with a 15-week cutoff. (Utah has an 18-week cutoff, while others allow later terminations.) Grahams rationale for setting 15 weeks as the national cutoff is embedded in his legislations title, Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children From Late-Term Abortions Act. The measure contends that after 15 weeks, a fetus feels pain. But medical experts say the experience of pain requires the brains cortex, which doesnt develop until the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third trimester somewhere between 24 weeks and 28 weeks. Asked about the scientific basis for the assertion, a spokesperson for Grahams office directed a reporter to the website of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research institute of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which seeks to end all abortions. The entry regarding pain relies primarily on a paper published in a journal of medical ethics, which does not dispute the developmental timeline for the fetal cortex but suggests that other brain structures developing earlier may be sufficient for an experience that resembles pain. But in an interview, the author of that paper, Stuart Derbyshire, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, said he did not know why Grahams bill picked 15 weeks as a cutoff. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which represents some 60,000 providers, called the gestational age cited in the law arbitrary and unscientific. Many scientists say pain-sensing ability depends on consciousness, which, Derbyshire emphasized, the fetus does not have. We were very clear in this paper that we were not saying the fetus in the womb is going, Oooh, no, that really hurts; damn, this is a bad day, Derbyshire said. The fetus doesnt have the self-conscious, reflective experience you and I have. The proposed bill also requires that if an abortion takes place after 15 weeks, the fetus should be hospitalized, and a physician trained in neonatal resuscitation should be present to provide care. But the earliest viability outside the womb is 22 weeks, according to a study published this year, and experts say that fetuses born before then cannot survive. While technological advances have made it possible to screen for chromosomal abnormalities earlier in pregnancy than in the past, obtaining a definitive diagnosis depends on prenatal testing: either chorionic villus sampling, which involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta to test for chromosomal abnormalities, or amniocentesis. The sampling method can be done earlier than amniocentesis, but it cannot be done safely until after 10 weeks of pregnancy, and the result is often not known till the 12th or 14th week. It is also not readily available at all medical centers, according to Dr. Stephen Chasen, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine. Many centers rely on amniocentesis, which is not offered before the 15th week of pregnancy because the risks of complications are too high. Ultrasound scans to check for structural fetal anomalies which are not the same as chromosomal abnormalities are done as early as around 10 weeks to 12 weeks of pregnancy, but the comprehensive head-to-toe anatomy scan is done at 20 weeks. There are many structural abnormalities, including some really severe conditions involving the brain, heart, kidneys and skeletal structure that cant be suspected until late in the second trimester or even the third trimester, Chasen said. The majority of structural abnormalities would not be diagnosed or suspected before 15 weeks, he added. A 15-week ban would preclude women with those pregnancies from the opportunity to consider an abortion. 2022 The New York Times Company The Air Force unveiled ambitious goals to address the service's impact on climate change, ranging from using less jet fuel, powering bases with nuclear reactors and introducing electric vehicles into the fleet over the next decade. The service's 20-page Climate Action Plan, released Wednesday, comes as natural disasters have become a regular issue for bases, something scientists expect will become more common as a result of climate change. In 2016, wildfires delayed a rocket launch at what's now called Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, while 2018's Hurricane Michael leveled structures on Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and a 2019 flood at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska rendered runways unusable. Read Next: Ban on Pregnant Service Members and Civilians Applying to Air Force Officer Training School Lifted "Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent, severe weather conditions driven by climate change pose increasing risks to our installations and operational readiness," the plan reads. "We cannot launch or recover aircraft on a flooded runway, nor can we operate from installations devastated by hurricanes and wildfires." To shrink the service's contribution to climate change, the Air Force aims to have net-zero emissions by fiscal 2046, reducing 50% of emission levels by fiscal 2033. The majority of the Air Force's energy consumption, about 80% of it, comes from fuel burned for planes and jets, according to the climate plan. The service is aiming to decrease that percentage by creating more aerodynamic planes and also looking into alternative fuel sources. "Our overall goal is to deliver more combat power to the warfighter using less fuel," the plan reads. One way the service hopes to do this is through what it's calling the Mission Execution Excellence Program -- otherwise known as MEEP -- which tasks airmen to come up with new ways to identify fuel waste and make plans to use fuel more efficiently. Story continues "Over the next five years, we estimate these efforts will cut greenhouse gas emissions by a combined 3.7 percent (or approximately 650,000 metric tons annually), the equivalent of 67 million gallons of fuel," the plan details. Additionally, the Department of the Air Force is looking at using alternative energy sources such as solar power for various Air Force and Space Force bases. There are also designs on increasing the use of nuclear power. At Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, the department is currently testing a micro-reactor to "promote energy security and independence by employing a safe and resilient source of carbon pollution-free energy," according to the plan. The department is also working to fully electrify all non-tactical vehicles by 2035. The Air Force's plan was released on the same day as the Army's climate change initiatives. Notably, the U.S. military has been one of the largest contributors to climate change. A 2019 report from Brown University estimated that, in the last two decades, the U.S. military has emitted 1,212 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, outpacing several industrialized nations. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a statement that the Department of the Air Force remains focused on China, but that climate change must also be recognized as a threat. "Our mission remains unchanged, but we recognize that the world is facing ongoing and accelerating climate change and we must be prepared to respond, fight, and win in this constantly changing world," Kendall said in a press release. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Army Releases New Plan to 'Mitigate' Climate Change Alan Alda reflected on the 50th anniversary of his beloved TV series, "M*A*S*H," discussing its enduring legacy and the real-life friendships of him and his former castmates. Alan Alda played surgeon Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pierce/Hawkeye on the CBS sitcom "M*A*S*H." (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) The comedy-drama series, which followed a team of American doctors and support staff stationed in South Korea during the Korean War, still holds the record for the most watched finale in television history. Alan Alda shared how he and his former costars were friends in real life, and not just on the screen. . (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) "I'm not sure we ever knew what kind of impact it was having," Alda, who starred as Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, told PEOPLE. "It took a while to catch on, lingering near the bottom of the ratings for the first season, We got used to coming to work, doing the best shows we could and not worrying about the numbers. By the time that huge audience watched the last episode, we were kind of shocked." When asked what went through his mind when someone asks him about the show, Alda simply responded, "Gratitude that what we did all those years ago is still on peoples' minds." M.A.S.H STAR LORETTA SWIT SAYS SHE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT VETERANS IN OUR COUNTRY: THEYRE OUR HEROES Alda also shared how he and his on-screen costars were friends in real life. "The laughing and kidding as we sat for hours together between shots. We were pals," he said of his favorite moments from the show. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Oscar winner Hilary Swank stars in ABCs Alaska Daily as an investigative journalist who moves to Alaska to start over but did this weeks premiere move you to add the new drama to your season pass list? Swank plays Eileen Fitzgerald, who we meet as shes hounding a source to hand over dirt on a five-star general who is in line to be the next Secretary of Defense. Eileen works for a Buzzfeed-esque news outfit called The Vanguard one of those places that has screens up all over the office telling them which stories are getting the most clicks in real time and when another employee warns her about going to press with only one source, Eileen curtly dismisses her: Ive been doing this since you were finger-painting with baby food. She goes ahead and publishes the story, but the next day, the general claims the documents Eileen used as proof of his wrongdoing were forged. Plus, her source isnt answering her calls. She shrugs off the generals threats of a lawsuit but her editor also brings up allegations from the staff about Eileens abusive behavior. Eileen gets defensive (Youre trying to cancel me now?), and when the editor suggests they walk back her story, she threatens to quit. And when we jump forward four months, it looks like she did. More from TVLine Alaska Daily Premiere Stanley Jeff Perry Eileen is holed up in her apartment working on a book about the general whos now the defense secretary when she gets a visit from a former boss named Stanley, played by Scandals Jeff Perry. Hes now running a local newspaper in Anchorage, the Daily Alaskan, and he offers her a job up there, but she waves it off as the minor leagues. Shes clearly still hurting about how things went at The Vanguard, though, and at dinner, Stanley shows her a photo of Gloria Nanmac, a young Indigenous woman who went missing two years ago. When her body was found, the cops ruled out foul play, but her mom disagrees. Eileen thinks its just a small-potatoes crime story, but then Stanley hands her a pile of more missing women, all Indigenous. Eileen is intrigued and does a little digging on her own and before she knows it, shes on a plane to Alaska. Its not a smooth ride, though: She faints in the aisle mid-flight and doesnt realize she had a panic attack until a kindly village health aide named Melinda explains it to her. Shes greeted in Anchorage by a chipper assistant named Gabriel (Pablo Castelblanco), who hands her an eye mask, since the sun doesnt set until 11:30 pm around here. The next day, he takes her to the Daily Alaskans office, which has been downsized to a humble spot in a strip mall. The newsroom is cramped and bathed in fluorescent lights, and they do have real-time click stats but theirs barely top a thousand readers. At the daily news meeting, Eileen quickly makes a reporter bristle by attacking the papers ineffectual legal team. (We dont believe we need to be jerks to do our jobs, he declares.) Plus, Glorias mother Sylvia turns her away because shes still bitter about how the newspaper dropped her daughters story and painted Gloria as a criminal. Alaska Daily Premiere Eileen Roz Stanley thought that might happen and decides to pair Eileen up with a local cub reporter named Roz (Grace Dove). Shes just as fiery as Eileen (Do you know anything about Alaska? she sniffs), and neither of them want to share the story which probably means theyll make a good team. Eileen combs through Glorias social media and finds a guy, Toby Crenshaw, who invited her to the party where she went missing. She also calls in a favor and gets some records on another case the cops didnt want to release. At first, it just seemed like a local oddity: a naked man brandishing a gun at police. But the records show the mans apartment is owned by an oil money big shot named Jordan Teller, and when reporter Yuna (Ami Park) questions the naked guy, he admits Teller is his boyfriend and bought the place for him, but kicked him out after running into financial problems. Oh, and Teller is currently being investigated for misappropriation of funds. Hmmm this is getting juicy. Eileen clashes with Roz when she theorizes that Gloria may have just committed suicide, but she also gets a threatening call from a concerned citizen telling her to go back to New York before something bad happens. So she must be on the right track, somehow. (Plus, she meets a poetry-writing pilot played by Mare of Easttowns Joe Tippett at a bar and goes home with him, so she already has a potential love interest locked up.) Meanwhile, Yuna tracks down Jordan Teller to get his comment on the naked guys allegations about him, and Teller tries to deny it at first, but then he crumbles and tells her he intended to pay back the missing funds after a big sale went through, begging Yuna not to publish a story that could destroy his family. (Yes, hes married.) Eileen tries to talk to Glorias mother Sylvia again, this time with Roz by her side, and Sylvia is resistant until Roz shares the story of her own cousin going missing just like Gloria did. Sylvia softens and reveals that Glorias body mustve been dragged to where it was found because they didnt find her crutches nearby. (Her needing crutches was left out of the initial report.) Yuna comes back to the newsroom with her big Jordan Teller scoop but she doesnt want her byline on it, scared off by Tellers pleas about ruining his life. Eileen talks her down, conceding that their job isnt easy, but it matters, now more than ever. Her pep talk about local journalism works, and Yuna hugs her, saying, Were very lucky to have you. But as Yuna walks away, Eileen starts to have another panic attack, crouching down and taking deep breaths behind a parked car. Alright, its your turn: Give the Alaska Daily premiere a grade in our poll and tell us if youll keep watching, and then hit the comments to share your thoughts. Best of TVLine Get more from TVLine.com : Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Newsletter Click here to read the full article. A man arrested after the 2020 bombing outside an Alexandria payday loan business has been indicted on federal charges again. Daniel Dewayne Aikens pleaded not guilty Thursday via Zoom to a second federal grand jury indictment on eight charges. Aikens has been in custody since his arrest Jan. 6, 2020, four days after an explosion outside the PayDay Today location on MacArthur Drive. He will remain in custody until his trial, which online court records show is still set for Nov. 14. He now faces three counts of making a destructive device, three counts of possession of a destructive device in violation of the National Firearms Act, one count of using an explosive to commit a federal felony and one count of conveying malicious false information. A man arrested after the 2020 bombing outside an Alexandria payday loan business has been indicted on federal charges again. The latest indictment replaces another one filed against Aikens in November 2021. An indictment does not presume guilt or innocence but indicates the grand jury found prosecutors presented enough evidence to warrant a trial on the charge. Aikens, 40, is a former schoolteacher and Louisiana National Guard member who also is a suspect in the 2017 death of a Dry Prong man, 29-year-old Keelien Darquis Lewis, who worked for his lawn care business. It was the joint federal, state and local investigation into the bombing that led to a second-degree murder warrant being issued for Aikens in Lewis' death. Officials had said he was a suspect almost immediately, but Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain said investigators didn't have enough to secure a warrant until the bombing case. Grant Parish District Attorney Jay Lemoine said on Friday that since Aikens remains in federal custody, he still hasn't been arrested on the second-degree murder warrant. According to testimony during a Jan. 17, 2020, probable cause hearing in the explosion case, a man called the payday loan business' landline and told the lone employee there that his grandmother had left her keys in the building. Somehow, the conversation moved to cellphones as the employee searched the building and parking lot for the keys. Story continues As the employee walked back to the building, a pipe bomb hidden in a trash can at a nearby building exploded. The caller told her he had cause the explosion and demanded $10,000, according to testimony. The woman ran to a nearby convenience store, and police were called. She described the incident in a Facebook post later that night, saying she had been hit in the back by debris and that the caller knew details about her and her family. Daniel Aikens case:Probable cause found for extortion case against alleged Alexandria bomber 'Targeted and well-thought-out plan':Alexandria bombing defendant now accused in 2017 death of Dry Prong man Investigators were searching for a white Jeep Cherokee they believed to be connected to the case. Aikens was arrested when the Jeep was spotted and pulled over by Rapides Parish Sheriff's deputies on a MacArthur Drive service road. Federal investigators already had found the Jeep outside Aikens' Tennessee Avenue home earlier that day and had it under surveillance, according to the testimony of FBI Special Agent Jeffery Goins. He said so much was happening that word about the surveillance didn't reach all law enforcement in time. Members of Keelien Darquis Lewis' family stand next to Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain during an August 2020 press conference as he announces a warrant for second-degree murder has been issued in the 29-year-old Dry Prong man's 2017 death. Investigators believe Daniel Dewayne Aikens killed Lewis in an attempt to collect on a $250,000 life insurance policy. "That wasn't planned by the federal investigators," Goins said of the traffic stop. "We were actually hoping to see where it went." Investigators spent much of the next day searching Aikens' home and going door-to-door on his street, speaking to neighbors. Testimony during that hearing also alleged another bombing carried out by Aikens at a Jackson Street convenience store Dec. 20, 2019. Goins said a phone allegedly bought by Aikens at a Horseshoe Drive Dollar General store was connected to both incidents. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Alexandria man faces new federal charges in 2020 bombing Photo: The Canadian Press Danielle Smith makes a comment during the United Conservative Party of Alberta leadership candidate's debate in Medicine Hat, Alta., Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Danielle Smith, who is to become Alberta's next premier, came out of her first United Conservative Party caucus meeting with a message of unity heading into a 2023 provincial election. Smith defeated six rivals in party voting last night, capturing nearly 54 per cent of the vote on the sixth and final ballot to claim victory. She is to be sworn in as the province's next premier on Tuesday, but she still needs to secure a seat in the legislature. Michaela Frey, who had earlier signalled she did not intend to run in the 2023 provincial election, has resigned and says it's her hope that Smith will choose to run in the constituency of Brooks-Medicine Hat. Smith says she will visit the riding this weekend to meet with Frey's board and the local campaign team before making a formal announcement next week. In Edmonton, NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley chided Smith for being scared to run in the already-open Calgary-Elbow constituency and called on her to declare a byelection in that riding as soon as possible. Pep Guardiola has joked he wants Erling Haalands father to cook lasagne for his entire squad if that is the secret of his sons success. Haaland junior has made a sensational impact at Guardiolas Manchester City, scoring 19 goals in just 12 appearances including three hat-tricks since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian quipped this week that his dad Alf-Inge must have been putting something special in the pre-match lasagnes he has been preparing for him. Now Guardiola has joined in the fun by inviting Alf-Inge, who played for City from 2000 to 2003, to return to the club in the kitchen. The City manager said: We can make an offer so Erlings father comes to cook for us. If this is the secret of Erlings goals Im going to convince (chairman) Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) to bring him here! But I think theres not only one secret. Guardiola has been impressed by how Haaland, 22, has handled both the hype that accompanied his move to City and all the headlines and attention that he has subsequently attracted. Alf-Inge has undoubtedly played an important role in this regard, but Guardiola feels a lot of the credit is due to Haaland himself. He is comfortable with the pressure on his shoulders and the expectations, hes such a normal person, said Guardiola, whose side host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday. I think he can handle it. Im pretty sure it was good advice, from father to son. All fathers want the best for their sons, but in the end its Erlings own life and experiences. He has to take decisions for himself. What impresses me the most is how lovely a guy he is and that helps us to live our lives much, much better. In other culinary-related City matters, Sara Gundogan, the wife of club captain Ilkay Gundogan, has caused a stir this week by claiming she has not been able to find a good-quality restaurant in Manchester. I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but horrible food everywhere, she wrote on Instagram. Story continues This is despite Guardiola himself being a co-owner of the tapas restaurant Tast. Guardiola said: I am disappointed it still didnt prove (itself), my restaurant. That is what is annoying me! Gundo is not going to play one more minute! Im going to invite her and Gundo as well. Of course they are going to eat properly. Vancouver, British Columbia --News Direct-- Altaley Mining Corp Altaley Mining Corporation (TSXV: ATLY) (OTCQX: ATLYF) (FSE: TSGA) (the "Company" or "Altaley") Further to its news release dated June 27, 2022, the Company is advised that Mr. Roberto Guzman Garcia has filed a renewed Form 45-102F1 Notice of Intention to Distribute Securities under Section 2.8 of NI 45-102 Resale of Securities, since the forms previously filed on June 24, 2022 and July 29, 2022, have expired. The contents of Form 45-102F1 remain unchanged having not yet completed any sale of securities under the previous filings. About Altaley Mining Corporation Altaley Mining Corporation is a Canadian based mining company with two 100% owned Mexican gold, silver, and base metal mining projects. Altaley's Tahuehueto mining project is in north-western Durango State, Mexico, where construction of an initial 500 tpd operation is well advanced. The second stage, the 1000 tpd project, will follow immediately after commissioning the initial stage. The operation will generate gold, silver, lead, and zinc in concentrates. Campo Morado is an operating polymetallic base metal mine in Guerrero, Mexico, currently producing at an average of approximately 2,200 tonnes per day and is currently estimated to be Mexicos 6th largest zinc producer. Visit: www.altaleymining.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) Ralph Shearing Ralph Shearing, P. Geol, CEO, President, and Director Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions and 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. It should be noted that Altaley declared commercial production at Campo Morado prior to completing a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Altaleys production decision has been made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Campo Morado mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision. Altaley has completed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) mining study on the Campo Morado mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on the previously identified mineral resources (see News Release dated November 8, 2017, and April 4, 2018). ). Furthermore, It should be noted that Altaley intends to commence pre-production and ramp up to full commercial production at Tahuehueto prior to completing a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Altaleys pre-production and production decisions will be made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Tahuehueto mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make such production decisions. Altaley has completed a positive pre-feasibility study (the Pre-Feasibility Study) and updated mineral reserves/resources estimates at its flagship Tahuehueto Mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on a 1,000 tonne per day operation (see News Release dated March 7, 2022) Story continues Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking Information includes but is not limited to conditions or financial performance that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases; success of exploration, development and bulk sample processing activities, and timing for processing at its own mineral processing facility on the Tahuehueto project site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Campo Morado Mine and the Tahuehueto Project can be achieved; that commencement of pre-production mining and milling operations at Tahuehueto will proceed as planned; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information 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 Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact Details Glen Sandwell +1 604-684-8071 ir@altaleymining.com Company Website https://www.altaleymining.com/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/altaley-mining-controlling-shareholder-renews-form-45-102f1-notice-of-intent-to-sell-160385309 (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. is shutting down tests of its home delivery robot, the latest sign that the e-commerce giant is starting to wind down experimental projects amid slowing sales growth. Most Read from Bloomberg Work on Scout, an autonomous machine launched about three years ago, has already been halted, according to a person familiar with the situation. Amazon spokesperson Alisa Carroll said the Scout team was being disbanded and would be offered new jobs in the organization. About 400 people were working on the project globally, according to the person, who requested anonymity to discuss a private matter. A skeleton crew will continue to consider the idea of an autonomous robot, but the current iteration isnt working. During our Scout limited field test, we worked to create a unique delivery experience, but learned through feedback that there were aspects of the program that werent meeting customers needs, Carroll said. As a result, we are ending our field tests and reorienting the program. We are working with employees during this transition, matching them to open roles that best fit their experience and skills. The Seattle-based company began testing the cooler-sized bots on suburban sidewalks outside Seattle in 2019, before expanding the trials to Southern California, Georgia and Tennessee. The slow-moving devices, accompanied by human minders during tests, were designed to stop at a front door and pop open their lids so a customer could pick up a package. Amazon said the battery-powered robots were part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its delivery operations. Only a few month ago, Amazon was still holding meet-and-greets in communities where it was testing the devices. Sean Scott, the vice president who oversaw the robots development, left the company last year, according to his LinkedIn profile. Story continues Under Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy, Amazon is adjusting to slowing growth in its core retail group, delaying some investments and pulling the plug on others. The company has a reputation for backing radical experiments that can take years to come to fruition, a roster that includes cashierless stores, flying delivery drones and a satellite constellation that promises to beam internet access around the world. On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Amazon was discontinuing Amazon Glow, a kids-focused video calling device. The company has also frozen hiring for its corporate retail teams and is winding down Amazon Care, its startup telehealth service. (Updates with more context in the second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. By Ross Kerber (Reuters) - The impact of a new "anti-woke" Texas law designed to protect fossil fuel companies is about to be tested after state agencies reported their holdings in BlackRock Inc and other firms that have been censured by State Comptroller Glenn Hegar. The new law would have agencies divest from the stocks and investment products of financial companies Hegar, a Republican, identified in August as boycotting energy industry players. The law also contained many carve-outs and allowances for continued business such as for fiduciary obligations.[ nL1N3011D2] Last month the Texas General Land Office told Hegar that one of its arms can keep several BlackRock private equity funds under an exemption provided by the law. This drew a caution from Hegar that the agency should consider other paths, according to the September letters Hegar's office shared with Reuters. The exchange offers some early signs about the usefulness of the carve-outs in practice. BlackRock said in August, for example, that clauses in the law should allow it to keep public business in the Lone Star state. But Ropes & Gray attorney George Raine, who represents asset managers that have done public business in Texas, said the message from Hegar suggests investment firms will have a hard time relying on legal technicalities. "The clear signaling here is that this is a principled stand by the Texas comptroller to enforce both the spirit and letter of the law to punish those parties they've identified as being outside the good graces of the state of Texas," Raine said. Hegar spokesman Chris Bryan said the comptroller thinks under the spirit of the law state agencies should not use funds from the listed companies, but acknowledged the law's exemptions and noted Hegar does not have authority over agencies' decision-making. Public agencies will "need to establish for themselves in collaboration with their legal counsel and governing bodies whether to make use of the exemptions provided in the statute," Bryan said. Story continues Texas General Land Office officials did not respond to requests for comment. BlackRock declined to comment. STICK WITH BLACKROCK The Texas law is part of a broader campaign by Republican-led states to stymie Wall Street's growing consideration of environmental and social issues when lending and investing. They say such policies hurt legitimate industries. Other states including Arkansas, West Virginia and most recently Louisiana have targeted BlackRock whose CEO, Laurence Fink, is well-known for emphasizing themes like climate change.. At the same time, the $8.5 trillion asset manager remains a major investor in top oil, gas and coal companies and also receives criticism from climate activists who say it does too little to cut emissions at portfolio companies. Tasked with implementing the Texas law, Hegar in August listed BlackRock, nine European firms and hundreds of individual funds as boycotting the energy sector based on factors like their efforts to cut portfolio companies' emissions. Public investment agencies had until late September to report listed holdings and by Jan. 5 must spell out any resulting portfolio changes. [L1N3001GM] Some pension leaders may be skittish about using the law's exemptions because doing so would require they publicly explain their position, say company executives and fund attorneys. In letters responding to the September deadline, seven agencies described investments or funds Hegar listed as energy-boycotters. Only the Texas General Land Office detailed exemptions for some of its holdings. In the Sept. 20 letter, the Land Office's chief clerk told Hegar that one of its divisions has investments in BlackRock products including energy and power infrastructure funds that are exempt from divestment under a section of the new law that allows holdings of private equity. The letter did not indicate whether the office would seek to the keep the funds. While Hegar did not dispute the exemption, he responded that, given the importance of the underlying policy issues, government entities should "carefully examine all available options and consider alternative approaches where possible to meet their investment goals within appropriate fiduciary standards." Sinclair Capital managing partner Jon Lukomnik, a consultant to institutional investors, said the situation shows how political pressure can distort financial outcomes - in this case, the possible divestment from energy funds in the cause of protecting energy investments. "It's misaligned with their intentions," he said of the Republicans' effort. Daniel Garrett, a finance professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said Hegar's message was ambiguous and that the law leaves much unclear. "I'm very thankful I'm not the one enforcing this," he added. The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), the state's largest pension agency with $184 billion in assets, has said it may also have an exemption. At a Sept. 15 meeting, TRS executive director Brian Guthrie said it could decide that following the statue "would be inconsistent with our fiduciary responsibility," but cautioned further discussion with trustees would be needed. A TRS representative said it is reviewing holdings of the censured firms and their funds. (Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Michelle Price and Matthew Lewis) Ken Paxton A federal judge in Texas has ruled that employers in the state can ignore portions of the Biden administrations guidance on equal treatment of LGBTQ+ workers, particularly as it regards transgender ones. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by Donald Trump, ruled this week that guidance on implementing the Bostock v. Clayton County ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination is illegal, went too far. Employers may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, but the ban does not extend to all correlated conduct, he ruled. They do not have to allow workers to use the restrooms corresponding to their gender identity or dress according to that identity, nor do they have to use employees preferred pronouns, he wrote. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime opponent of LGBTQ+ equality and author of the opinion that parents should be investigated for child abuse if they let their children receive gender-affirming health care. Paxton filed the suit in September 2021, naming the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as defendant. He amended the suit to also name the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a defendant after HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued guidance saying federally funded agencies cant keep people from accessing medically necessary care, including gender-affirming care. Becerras guidance came in response to Paxtons child abuse opinion, which had led Gov. Greg Abbott to order investigations of trans-supportive families. Kacsmaryk ruled that Texas doesnt have to comply with the Becerra guidelines either. Paxton released a statement praising the ruling. The court decisions is not only a win for the rule of law, but for the safety and protection of Texas children, he said. The Biden Administrations attempts to radicalize federal law to track its woke political beliefs are beyond dangerous. I will continue to push back against these unlawful attempts to use federal agencies to normalize extremist positions that put millions of Texans at risk. Story continues Rochelle Garza, the Democrat challenging Republican Paxton in Novembers election, issued a statement saying hes the extremist, Once again, criminally indicted Ken Paxton is focusing on political grandstanding and litigating extremist, harmful policies that hurt some of the most vulnerable in Texas, she said, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Paxton should be in trial answering for his crimes instead of putting trans Texans at risk. As attorney general, I will work to protect every Texan. Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, and the case has not been resolved. Garzas race against Paxton is likely to be the closest statewide contest, the Express-News notes. The Department of Justice, which represents the federal government in court, didnt announce immediately if it would appeal Kacsmaryks ruling. It has appealed a similar ruling on the EEOC guidance in a lawsuit brought by 20 states led by Tennessee. Kacsmaryk is on record as opposed to LGBTQ+ equality. He has endorsed the view that being transgender is a delusion, denounced marriage equality, and referred to the Equality Act as the inequality act. A French court on Thursday slashed more than 700 million euros from a record 1.1-billion-euro fine imposed on US tech giant Apple in 2020, sources close to the case told AFP. France's competition authority levied the fine -- its biggest ever -- after concluding that the firm squeezed independent sellers of Apple products as it tried to push buyers towards its own stores and preferred retailers. But the Paris appeal court revised the decision and knocked 728 million from the fine, meaning Apple still faces having to pay 370 million euros. Apple says the fine is unfair and told AFP the whole complaint should be quashed. "We consider that the decision should have been annulled in its entirety and plan to appeal to the French supreme court," the firm told AFP in a statement. "The decision concerns practices that go back more than 10 years and that even the French competition authority has recognised as no longer being in force." The initial case was made up of three linked complaints -- one was dismissed by the appeals court and two were upheld. Sources close to the case, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed the amounts and the details of the decision. The Paris appeals court told AFP the ruling would be made public on Friday. jub-jxb-jt/rl By Paresh Dave (Reuters) - Facial recognition returned to the latest Google Pixel phones on Thursday after a short hiatus due to challenges on cost and performance, according to three former employees at the Alphabet Inc unit knowledgeable about the efforts. The feature on the new Pixel 7 is not as good Apple Inc's Face ID unlocking mechanism, as it can struggle in low light and is more vulnerable to being spoofed. In addition, Google has said it is not secure enough to enable signing into apps or making payments. The return comes after Google became stricter about launching products with facial recognition, in part due to questions about its performance on darker skin. The company took time to review its approach to training and testing facial recognition since the previous Pixel with the capability launched in 2019, one of the sources said. Google declined to comment on several specific questions about its history with face unlock. It said generally, "Thanks to advanced machine learning models for face recognition, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro feature Face Unlock, but were doing it a little differently." It added, "We achieve good facial accuracy performance with the front-facing camera." Google's pursuit of face unlock for Android smartphones spans at least a decade, but it came under greater pressure when Apple released Face ID in September 2017, the sources said. To that point, Google struggled to devise a system that both performed quickly and was impervious to spoofing, or the use of photos or hyper-realistic costumes to fool someone else's phone into unlocking, one of the sources said. Engineers toyed with requiring a smile or a blink - proving a person's "liveness" - to combat spoofing but it was awkward and slow, the source said. Another source noted that after the arrival of Apple's Face ID, which uses a depth-sensing and infrared camera called TrueDepth to map a face, Google executives signed off on a comparable technology. Google's Pixel 4, released in 2019, called its infrared depth-sensing setup uDepth. Story continues It performed well, including in dark conditions, with no more than a 1-in-50,000 chance that it would unlock a phone for an unauthorized face, according to Google. But the gear was expensive. And while Apple sells 240 million iPhones annually, Google has topped out at a few million, preventing it from buying parts at the volume discounts Apple does. Google dropped uDepth in the Pixel 5 in 2020 due to costs, the sources said. Face masking because of the pandemic gave Google reason to exclude the feature from last year's Pixel 6 and additional research time, two sources said. Face unlock on the new phones relies on a typical front camera. But unlike the previous system, it cannot securely unlock apps and payments because Google says spoofing chances - such as by holding up a user's photo - are greater than 20%, above the 7% threshold it requires to be considered most "secure." Low light and sunglasses also can cause trouble, Google says, noting fingerprint unlock remains an alternative. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Kenneth Li and Leslie Adler) Alabama players, coaches, and fans are well aware of what the outcome was last season against Texas A&M. It was one of the worst-played games since Nick Saban became the coach at Alabama. As a result, the Crimson Tide have had to wait a year to avenge their loss to the Aggies. It has created a lot of friction between the programs. After Saban stated his strong opinion on the state of college football in the name, image, likeness (NIL) era, especially the Aggies football recruiting philosophies, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher responded by calling him a narcissist. It hasnt sat well with the Alabama faithful. However, the time has now come for Alabama to settle the feud on the gridiron. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide will host the Aggies for a highly anticipated Week 6 matchup.. Roll Tide Wire will take a look at some of the areas of concern ahead of their matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies. Limiting Devon Achane Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Achane has been the center of the Aggies offense ever since wide receiver Ainias Smith suffered a season-ending injury against Arkansas. Thus far, Alabamas defense hasnt seen a player as dynamic as Achane. It will be something to keep an eye on throughout the course of the game. Transitioning quarterback preparation Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports It may not be that big of a deal to many, but Alabamas defensive staff will be tasked with preparing for quarterback Haynes King to start the game. Originally, it was expected that quarterback Max Johnson would be available to play in some capacity. However, he was reported to have a broken bone in his throwing hand. As a result, King will be taking the snaps and has some starting experience. It will be interesting to see how the defense responds to a shift in preparation this late in the week. Special teams miscues Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports Last week, the Alabama special teams unit had several woes. A bad snap from long-snapper Kneeland Hibbett and a blunder on the return team almost allowed Arkansas to get back into the game. The Crimson Tide will have to clean up these issues and be more prepared ahead of their matchup with Texas A&M. Story continues Limiting chunk plays Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Alabama has had a tough time in the past winning ball games when they allow multiple chunk plays. This weekend will be crucial for the defense to prevent chunk plays. The Aggies have a good core of wide receivers in Moose Muhammad III, Evan Stewart, and Chris Marshall. Each of the three has shown glimpses of being able to stretch the field. Alabamas secondary will certainly have to be up to the challenge. Protecting the quarterback Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports Regardless of whether the quarterback is Jalen Milroe or Bryce Young, it will be crucial for the offensive line to protect the passer. The Aggies have played well on the defensive side of the ball. This game will likely be decided in the trenches, so it will be key for the line to be stout up front. Story originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire Photo: pixabay A B.C. Securities Commission panel has found three B.C. residents conspired in an international Ponzi scheme that defrauded 137 fellow British Columbians of nearly $1.5 million. Between 2014 and 2015, Sabrina Ling Huei Wei and James Bernard Law, of Vancouver, and Justin Colin Villarin, of Surrey, solicited B.C. investors, organized events and sold membership units to American companies promising high, no-risk returns for what turned out to be sham gold mine operations in Brazil and Africa. In reality, noted the commission in a statement Oct. 6, DFRF Enterprises LLCs only source of money was from investors, some of whom told their anonymized stories to the panel of commissioners. Investors fleeced, lose family relationships One investor, a 41-year-old landscaper who lost $60,000, also referred family members, leading to his brother losing $15,000 and uncle losing $10,000, approximately. The panel noted he testified the fraud had a significant and permanent detrimental effect on his relationships with his family, including estrangement during the holidays. A 38-year-old student and immigrant from Jordan was roped into the fraud by having her partner invest, and lose, $15,000. The Vancouver resident described the experience as financially devastating and emotional torture, according to the panel's decision. A mother of four children from Richmond said she lost her savings but also her friends who she referred to the fraudsters. She also had her husband and other family members lose money. U.S. SEC found fraud originated in Florida On Oct. 22, 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission obtained default judgments against four key promoters of the Ponzi scheme. The promoters raised more than $15 million from at least 1,400 investors by recruiting new members in pyramid-scheme fashion to keep the fraud afloat, noted the SEC. Three promoters paid a US$160,000 penalty while lead promoter Daniel Fernandes Rojo Filho, a Brazilian living in Florida, was issued a $1-million fine and ordered to repay nearly US$10.2 million. Following several days of hearings, a BCSC panel ruled that Wei, Villarin and Law participated in the fraud by actively soliciting B.C. investors on DFRFs behalf, and that they knew or should have known that Filho was perpetrating a fraud, stated the B.C. commission. The BCSC highlighted some of the steps it took to catch the trio: acting on a tip, BCSC investigators went to a promotional event at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. Wei wooed the crowd, according to the panels findings. Wei spoke and explained that she was an accountant with a background in financial services, in real estate development and in mining development. She described DFRF as an opportunity for the average person to amass great wealth. She showed photographs of what she described as DFRFs U.S. headquarters in Florida (an impressive office tower) and DFRFs Canadian headquarters (the Jameson House building, which Wei noted is in the financial district of Vancouver). Attendees , the commission noted, were told to expect a monthly return of up to 15 per cent on their membership in interest, and that their principal was guaranteed by insurance. According to the panels findings, Wei is an accountant by training who articled with a major accounting firm and worked as an auditor; Law is a businessman involved in a number of smaller ventures, including at least one multi-level marketing business; and Villarin was registered to sell insurance and mutual fund products. The trio was found to be unrelenting in their promotion of the gold mines. The BCSC panel found that Wei, Law and Villarin chose to enable Filhos deceitful acts, and knew or should have known that Filhos claims, and theirs, were fraudulent. Although they became increasingly aware of red flags surrounding DFRF, including the promise of unreasonably high returns, the lack of details about its finances or mines, and the BCSCs investor alert, Wei, Law and Villarin continued to promote it to unwitting investors, noted the commissions statement. The panel found the trio committed fraud contrary to the B.C. Securities Act. A panel will determine sanctions at a future hearing. Prior to this ruling against Wei, Law and Villarin, a panel found on April 20, 2021, Monita Hung Mui Chan, of Burnaby, and Marie-Joy Vincent, of Surrey, likewise found to defrauded 52 B.C. investors as part of the scheme. Chan has paid $135,000 to the BCSC, while Vincent, who did not personally profit, has paid $6,500. Police in the Canadian city of Richmond are searching for a driver who allegedly struck an 11-year-old boy and left him to fend for himself on Wednesday. The incident, which cops described as a disturbing collision, reportedly occurred in the area of Number 1 Road and Tucker Avenue just before 9 a.m. The child was pushing his bicycle on a pedestrian crosswalk when a gray minivan hit him. The driver then proceeded to sideswipe another vehicle" before speeding off, according to Cpl. Dennis Hwang. The boy was transported to the hospital but was eventually released. He reportedly suffered minor injuries. More from NextShark: Thai former OnlyFans creator claims monk sexually harassed him, wanted to film porn Police described the suspect as an Asian woman in her 50s with a bob-style haircut. Her minivan is also believed to have possibly incurred light damage. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212. Those reporting are asked to quote file #2022-27171. More from NextShark: 'Pillar of the Community' Store Owner Fatally Shot in Utah Featured Image (cropped) via Haydn Blackey (CC BY-SA 2.0) Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! $1 Billion Raised for AAPI Same Day Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Act Signed Filipino American MMA fighter takes down NYC man accused of six separate unprovoked attacks Atlanta City Councilman Amir Farokhi and several other city leaders are pushing Washington D.C. to help fund a program to reconnect the communities that once lived where interstates 75 and 85 run through downtown Atlanta. The stitch is a great step to repair that divide. You saw in the 50s and 60s the interstate systems went through center cities, primarily displacing low- and middle-income Black neighborhoods and thats what happened here, Farokhi told Channel 2s Dave Huddleston. The 14-acre project would take shape from West Peachtree Street to Courtland Street and add green space and affordable housing. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It should be part of any housing conversation in the city, Farokhi said. Channel 2 Action News got copies of letters of support from both Senator Jon Ossoff and Senator Raphael Warnock and Atlantas congressional leader that represents this area. They want to help secure a $10.5 million grant to start the project. TRENDING STORIES: Even though it may stitch the neighbor back together, Farokhi said it may be too late to bring back the community, Will it bring residents back where they were before, no, but we have a chance to add a lot of housing and a lot of affordable housing, he explained. The total project will cost about $713 million. Several other cities, including Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, have similar projects over their downtown interstates. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Atlanta police say a 19-year-old college student who vanished while on a trip with her school last week has been found. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Atlanta Police said Rakeb Tilahun, 19, attends Talladega College in Alabama and was in Atlanta for a trip. She was last seen at the Hilton Hotel downtown on Oct. 5 at around 3:45 p.m. Tilahun was reported missing by her student advisor on Friday. TRENDING STORIES: Police say that Tilahun was located on Saturday. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Double check your polling location, Chicago it might not be the church, school, gymnasium or park district where you voted before. Following a controversial decision to significantly streamline the number of precincts in Chicago between the primary and the midterms, election officials said Chicago will have 945 polling places for the Nov. 8 election, down from the 1,043 that were in place for the June 28 primary. Adding to the potential confusion, a new ward map which takes effect with the 2023 municipal elections will also be used in Novembers general election to determine where voters need to go to cast their ballots. Thats why all voters should check their new ward, precinct and polling place assignment ahead of time at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website. Want to vote early instead? Registered city voters will still be able to vote at the more than 50 early voting sites, including the voting supersite at 191 N. Clark St. through Election Day, Nov. 8. Chicago polling places for the Nov. 8 general election An Iowa man was arrested Thursday on charges that he left a pair of threatening voicemails for a local election official in Arizona and an official associated with the state attorney general's office nearly a year after the 2020 election, the Justice Department said. Mark A. Rissi, of Hiawatha, Iowa, is accused of threatening to hang Clint Hickman, a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Rissi also allegedly left a threatening voicemail for an employee in Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovichs office. Rissi, 64, was charged with two counts of making a threatening interstate communication and one count of making a threatening telephone call, the Justice Department said. The case is part of the departments Election Threats Task Force, which was launched in June 2021. It has charged people in numerous states. Hickman, a Republican who attended then-President Donald Trumps final rally in the state just days before the 2020 election, was the chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, a Republican-controlled and -elected board that stood in staunch defense of the countys 2020 election. Joe Biden narrowly won Arizona. Rissi is alleged to have left the voicemail for Hickman last September, accusing him of lying about the fairness of the 2020 election. The board of supervisors oversees elections in the county. "I am glad that you are standing up for democracy and want to place your hand on the Bible and say that the election was honest and fair," he said, according to a Justice Department news release. "When we come to lynch your stupid lying Commie [expletive], youll remember that you lied on the [expletive] Bible, you piece of [expletive]. Youre gonna die, you piece of [expletive]. Were going to hang you. Were going to hang you. The Justice Department, which redacted the expletives, said the call was made three days after the Cyber Ninjas, a cybersecurity firm, released a partisan review of Maricopa Countys 2020 election, which had been ordered by the GOP-controlled state Senate. Story continues Hickman confirmed Thursday that he listened to the voicemail. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that voicemail. It was chilling. This wasnt a prank call. This wasnt protected speech. This was a serious threat to me and my family, he said in a statement. No one should be subjected to this kind of hatred, he added. And if we truly want to keep our country great, we will do everything we can to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy. Rissi is accused of leaving a separate voicemail with an official in Brnovich's office on Dec. 8, claiming he was a "victim of a crime" that he described as "the theft of the 2020 election" and threatening hanging. Im a victim of a crime. My family is a victim of a crime. My extended family is a victim of a crime. That crime was the theft of the 2020 election," Rissi is alleged to have said, suggesting that "conspirators" had deleted election fraud data from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors computer system. If he is convicted, Rissi could face up to five years in prison for each count of making a threatening interstate communication and up to two years in prison for the threatening telephone call charge. Rissi could not be reached for comment. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com IRYNA BALACHUK FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 16:57 Photo: Pixabay.com The administration of the city of Saint-Petersburg (Russia) decided to cancel New Year celebrations and use the saved money to equip the conscripts and volunteers who go to war in Ukraine. Source: Alexander Beglov, the governor of St. Petersburg, on Telegram Quote: "At the meeting with the members of the city council we made a decision to cancel the planned New Year celebrations. The saved money will be used to buy additional equipment for the volunteers and those who were mobilised, according to a special article in the budget of St. Petersburg, which allows [us] to buy the additional equipment". Details: Beglov states that concerts on the Palace Square and the Nevsky Prospect and a firework, as well as a charity reception in the Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg were cancelled. At the same time, the authorities decided not to cancel "the New Year programs" for families with children and traditional New Year celebrations for children. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg The UK government handed struggling rail operator Avanti a six-month lifeline, resisting pressure to take the vital West Coast network under state control following months of disruption. Avanti can go on running the route linking London with Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow until April 1 at least, even after it scrapped thousands of services amid a driver shortage, the Department for Transport said Friday. The decision will come as a relief to Avanti, owned by FirstGroup Plc and Trenitalia of Italy, after the government said it might nationalize the West Coast line. However, the DfT said Avanti had been put on a short-term contract as a last chance to deliver an urgently needed boost in train frequencies. This window is designed to provide Avanti with the opportunity to improve their services, the department said. The government will then consider Avantis performance while finalizing a national rail contract that will have a renewed focus on resilience of train services and continuity for passengers. FirstGroup shares traded 1.4% higher as of 11:25 a.m. in London, taking gains this year to 7.6%. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which represents workers in Avanti ticket offices and stations, condemned the contract extension, saying the government was rewarding failure and putting privatization before passengers. It renewed calls for the West Coast route to be brought under public ownership. Labours shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said the decision was a slap in the face for passengers. Read More: When Are the UKs Next Train Strikes? Train frequencies between London and Manchester were slashed to just one an hour as a result of a lack of drivers, which Avanti has suggested is largely due to employees refusing to work overtime as part of a wider nationwide dispute over pay and job security on the UK railway. Story continues Avantis schedules rely on drivers working on some rest days, and since July 30 they have largely refused to do so. The Aslef train drivers union says that model has been in place on the West Coast route for 20 years and needs changing. Timetable cuts have led to overcrowding and delays, with the release of tickets just days before the date of travel pushing up fares. Recruitment Pledge Avanti is midway through recruiting almost 100 additional drivers, allowing it to bring back trains on some key routes as it works toward swelling the weekday timetable by almost 50%, the DfT said. Hiring will continue to reduce reliance on rest-day working, with the business also committed to making tickets available early, it said. A transport minister said in July the fact that the East Coast line was operating effectively and with lower fares under state control would be taken into consideration when deciding the response to the West Coast upheaval. Still, taking Britains busiest intercity rail route under state control would have been a bold step for new Prime Minister Liz Truss after the Conservative government previously resisted pressure to renationalize the network. It opted instead to replace franchising deals with simpler contracts as part of the biggest shakeup since privatization in the 1990s. Rail travelers across Britain face disruption this weekend amid the latest in a wave of walkouts. Around 40,000 members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will strike at track owner Network Rail Ltd. and 15 train companies including Avanti, while TSSA has called for action at Avanti and two other firms. Walkouts will take place Saturday with disruption likely into Sunday. (Updates with FirstGroup shares in fifth paragraph, union response in sixth, Labour in seventh, Avanti service commitments in eighth, weekend strikes in last.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. IRYNA BALACHUK FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2022, 16:13 The Minister of Defence of Belarus, Vktor Khrenn, said that Iskander short-range ballistic missile complexes and S-400 missile air defence systems will soon be supplied to the Belarusian army. Source: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, on Telegram Quote: "The Minister of Defence announced that a number of new weapons would be supplied to the army; these are Iskander missile complexes and S-400 air defence systems." Details: The Ministry reports that unmanned combat systems will also be delivered to Belarus in October. Background: At the end of June, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that in the near future, Russia would supply Belarus with Iskander-M short-range missile complexes, which can shoot ballistic and cruise missiles. Putin emphasised that these missiles can carry nuclear warheads. On 4 October, Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, said that there is no need to announce mobilisation in Belarus, although he has been constantly preparing Belarus for war through all the years of his presidency. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!